brethren.'

"'"The Chandala said, 'Men lay down their lives but they still do not set
their hearts on food that is unclean. They obtain the fruition of all
their wishes even in this world by conquering hunger. Do thou also
conquer thy hunger and obtain those rewards.'

"'"Viswamitra said, 'As regards myself, I am observant of rigid vows and my
heart is set on peace. For preserving the root of all religious merit, I
shall eat food that is unclean. It is evident that such an act would be
regarded as righteous in a person of cleansed soul. To a person, however,
of uncleansed soul, the eating of dog's flesh would appear sinful. Even
if the conclusion to which I have arrived be wrong, (and if I eat this
dog's meat) I shall not, for that act, become one like thee.'

"'"The Chandala said, 'It is my settled conclusion that I should endeavour
my best to restrain thee from this sin. A Brahmana by doing a wicked act
falls off from his high state. It is for this that I am reproving thee.'

"'"Viswamitra said, 'Kine continue to drink, regardless of the croaking of
the frogs. Thou canst lay no claim to what constitutes righteousness (and
what not). Do not be a self-eulogiser.'

"'"The Chandala said, 'I have become thy friend. For this reason only I am
preaching to thee. Do what is beneficial. Do not, from temptation, do
what is sinful.'

"'"Viswamitra said, 'If thou be a friend desirous of my happiness, do thou
then raise me up from this distress. In that case, relinquishing this
dog's haunch, I may consider myself saved by the aid of righteousness
(and not by that of sinfulness).'

"'"The Chandala said, 'I dare not make a present of this piece of meat to
thee, nor can I quietly suffer thee to rob me of my own food. If I give
thee this meat and if thou take it, thyself being a Brahmana, both of us
will become liable to sink in regions of woe in the next world.'

"'"Viswamitra said, 'By committing this sinful act today I shall certainly
save my life which is very sacred. Having saved my life, I shall
afterwards practise virtue and cleanse my soul. Tell me which of these
two is preferable (to die without food, or save my life by taking this
food that is unclean).'

"'"The Chandala said, 'In discharging the duties that appertain to one's
order or race, one's own self is the best judge (of its propriety or
impropriety). Thou thyself knowest which of those two acts is sinful. He
who would regard dog's meat as clean food, I think,