h endued with might of
arms, and possessed of knowledge and great energy of mind, follow
censurable, sinful, and miserable professions. They seek to change such
professions for other pursuits (that are more dignified) but then they
are bound by their own acts (of a previous life) and by the force of
Destiny. The vilest man of the Pukkasa or the Chandala orders never
wishes to cast off his life. He is quite contented with the order of his
birth. Behold the illusion in this respect! Beholding those amongst thy
species that are destitute of arms, or struck with palsy, or afflicted
with other diseases, thou canst regard thyself as very happy and
possessed of valuable accompaniments amongst the members of thy own
order. If this thy regenerated body remains safe and sound, and free from
disease, and all thy limbs remain perfect, thou art sure of never
incurring any reproach amongst men. It would not behove thee, O Brahmana,
to cast off thy life even if any blame, founded on fact and capable of
bringing about thy dismissal from caste, attached to thee! Rise, and
practise virtue. It is not meet that thou shouldst throw away thy life!
If, O regenerate one, thou listen to me and place credence on my words,
thou wilt then obtain the highest reward of the religion inculcated in
the Vedas. Do thou set thyself to Vedic studies, and duly maintain thy
sacred fire, and observe truth, and self-restraint, and charity. Never
compare thyself boastfully with another. They who, by devoting themselves
to the study of the Vedas, become competent for performing sacrifices for
themselves and others, have no need to indulge in any kind of regret or
fear any kind of evil. They that are born under an auspicious
constellation on an auspicious lunation and at an auspicious hour, strive
their best for performing sacrifices, practising charity, and procreating
children, and desiring to pass their time cheerfully in those acts, at
last win very great happiness.[540] They, on the other hand, that are
born under evil constellations, inauspicious lunations, and at evil
hours, become destitute of sacrifices and progeny and at last fall into
the Asura order.[541] In my former life I had much useless learning. I
always sought for reasons and had very little faith. I was a slanderer of
the Vedas. I was destitute of the (fourfold) objects of life, and was
devoted to that science of argumentation which is based upon ocular or
tangible proofs.[542] I used to utter w