ighteously acquired wealth unto those Brahmanas that are well
conversant with the Vedas, and restrains his soul, is, O monarch,
regarded as the true renouncer. He, however, who, disregarding (a life of
domesticity, that is) the source of much happiness, jumps to the next
mode of life,--that renouncer of his own self,[23] O monarch, is a
renouncer labouring under the quality of darkness. That man who is
homeless, who roves over the world (in his mendicant rounds), who has the
foot of a tree for his shelter, who observes the vow of taciturnity,
never cooks for himself, and seeks to restrain all the functions of his
senses, is, O Partha, a renouncer in the observance of the vow of
mendicancy.[24] That Brahmana who, disregarding wrath and joy, and
especially deceitfulness, always employs his time in the study of the
Vedas, is a renouncer in the observance of the vow of mendicancy.[25] The
four different modes of life were at one time weighed in the balance. The
wise have said, O king, that when domesticity was placed on one scale, it
required the three others to be placed on the other for balancing it.
Beholding the result of this examination by scales, O Partha, and seeing
further, O Bharata, that domesticity alone contained both heaven and
pleasure, that became the way of the great Rishis and the refuge of all
persons conversant with the ways of the world. He, therefore, O bull of
Bharata's race, who betakes himself to this mode of life, thinking it to
be his duty and abandoning all desire for fruit, is a real renouncer, and
not that man of clouded understanding who goes to the woods, abandoning
home and its surroundings. A person, again, who under the hypocritical
garb of righteousness, fails to forget his desires (even while living in
the woods), is bound by the grim King of death with his deadly fetters
round the neck. Those acts that are done from vanity, are said to be
unproductive of fruit. Those acts, on the other hand, O monarch, that
are done from a spirit of renunciation, always bear abundant fruits.[26]
Tranquillity, self-restraint, fortitude, truth, purity, simplicity,
sacrifices, perseverance, and righteousness,--these are always regarded
as virtues recommended by the Rishis. In domesticity, it is said, are
acts intended for Pitris, gods, guests. In this mode of life alone, O
monarch, are the threefold aims to be attained.[27] The renouncer that
rigidly adheres to this mode of life, in which one is free to do al