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acts, has not to encounter ruin either here or hereafter. The sinless
Lord of all creatures, of righteous soul, created creatures, with the
intention that they would adore him by sacrifices with profuse presents.
Creepers and trees and deciduous herbs, and animals that are clean, and
clarified butter, were created as ingredients of sacrifice. For one in
the observance of domesticity the performance of sacrifice is fraught
with impediments. For this, that mode of life has been said to be
exceedingly difficult and unattainable. Those persons, therefore, in the
observance of the domestic mode of life, who, possessed of wealth and
corn and animals, do not perform sacrifices, earn, O monarch, eternal
sin. Amongst Rishis, there are some that regard the study of the Vedas to
be a sacrifice, and some that regard contemplation to be a great
sacrifice which they perform in their minds. The very gods, O monarch,
covet the companionship of a regenerate person like this, who in
consequence of his treading along such a way which consists in the
concentration of the mind, has become equal to Brahma. By refusing to
spend in sacrifice the diverse kinds of wealth that thou hast taken from
thy foes, thou art only displaying thy want of faith. I have never seen,
O monarch, a king in the observance of a life of domesticity renouncing
his wealth in any other way except in the Rajasuya, the Aswamedha, and
other kinds of sacrifice. Like Sakra, the chief of the celestial, O sire,
perform those other sacrifices that are praised by the Brahmanas. That
king, through whose heedlessness the subjects are plunged by robbers, and
who does not offer protection to those whom he is called upon to govern,
is said to be the very embodiment of Kali. If, without giving away
steeds, and kine, and female slaves, and elephants adorned with
trappings, and villages, and populous regions, and fields, and houses,
unto Brahmanas, we retire into the woods with hearts not harbouring
friendly feeling towards kinsmen, even we shall be, O monarch, such Kalis
of the kingly order. Those members of the kingly order that do not
practise charity and give protection (to others), incur sin. Woe is their
portion hereafter and not bliss. If, O lord, without performing great
sacrifices and the rites in honour of thy deceased ancestors, and if,
without bathing in sacred waters, thou betakest thyself to a wandering
life, thou shalt then meet with destruction like a small cloud separa