ot bereft of prowess yet not given to doing good turns cannot attain to
heaven by leading only a forest life. They should acquire religious merit
by other ways. If, O king, anybody were to obtain success from
renunciation, then mountains and trees would surely obtain it! These
latter are always seen to lead lives of renunciation. They do not injure
any one. They are, again, always aloof from a life of worldliness and are
all Brahmacharins. If it be the truth that a person's success depends
upon his own lot in life and not upon that of other, then (as a person
born in the Kshatriya order) thou shouldst betake thyself to action. He
that is reft of action can never have success. If they that fill only
their own stomachs could attain to success, then all aquatic creatures
would obtain it, for these have none else to support save their own
selves. Behold, the world moves on, with every creature on it employed in
acts proper to its nature. Therefore, one should betake oneself to
action. The man reft of action can never obtain success."'"

SECTION XI

"'Arjuna said, "In this connection an old history is cited, viz., the
discourse between certain ascetics and Sakra, O bull of Bharata's race! A
number of well-born Brahmana youth of little understanding, without the
hirsute honours of manhood, abandoning their homes, came to the woods for
leading a forest life. Regarding that to be virtue, those youths of
abundant resources became desirous of living as Brahmacharins, having
abandoned their brothers and sires. It so happened that Indra became
compassionate towards them. Assuming the form of a golden bird, the holy
Sakra addressed them, saying, 'That which is done by persons that eat the
remnants of a sacrifice is the most difficult of acts that men can
achieve.[16] Such an act is highly meritorious. The lives of such men are
worthy of every praise. Having attained the object of life, those men,
devoted to virtue obtain the highest end.' Hearing these words, the
Rishis said, 'Lo, this bird applauds those that subsist upon the remnants
of sacrifices. He informs us of it, for we live upon such remnants.' The
bird then said, 'I do not applaud you.' Ye are stationed with mire and
very impure. Living upon offals, ye are wicked. Ye are not persons
subsisting upon the remnants of sacrifice.

"'"The Rishis said, 'We regard this our course of life to be highly
blessed. Tell us, O bird, what is for our good. Thy words inspire us with
g