her hand, which is accomplished with the aid of sound judgment
leads to excellent results.[444] Sacrifice, gift, compassions, the Vedas,
and truth, O lord of the earth--these five--are cleansing. The sixth is
penance well-performed. This last, O Janamejaya, is highly cleansing for
kings. By betaking thyself to it properly, thou art certain to earn great
merit and blessedness. Visiting sacred spots has also been said to be
highly cleansing. In this connection are cited the following verses sung
by Yayati: "That mortal who would earn life and longevity should, after
having performed sacrifices with devotion, renounce them (in old age) and
practise penances." The field of Kuru has been said to be sacred. The
river Saraswati has been said to be more so. The tirthas of the Saraswati
are more sacred than the Saraswati herself; and the tirtha called
Prithudaka is more sacred than all the tirthas of the Saraswati. One that
has bathed in Prithudaka. and drunk its waters will not have to grieve
for a premature death. Thou shouldst go to Mahasaras, to all the tirthas
designated by the name of Pushkara, to Prabhasa, to the northern lake
Manasa, and to Kalodaka. Thou shalt then regain life and acquire
longevity. Lake Manasa is on the spot where the Saraswati and the
Drisadwati mingle with each other. A person possessed of Vedic knowledge
should bathe in these places. Manu has said that liberality is the best
of all duties and that renunciation is better than liberality. In this
connection is cited the following verse composed by Satyavat. (One should
act) as a child full of simplicity and destitute of either merit or sin.
As regards all creatures there is in this world neither misery nor
happiness. (That which is called misery and that which is called
happiness are the results of a distraught imagination.) Even this is the
true nature of all living creatures. Of all creatures, their lives are
superior who have betaken themselves to renunciation and abstained from
acts both meritorious and sinful. I shall now tell thee those acts which
are best for a king. By putting forth thy might and liberality do thou
conquer heaven, O king! That man who possesses the attributes of might
and energy succeeds in attaining to righteousness.[445] Do thou rule the
earth, O king, for the sake of the Brahmanas and for the sake of
happiness. Thou usedst formerly to condemn the Brahmanas. Do thou gratify
them now. Though they have cried fie on thee and thoug