therefore, the skin of their bodies is cracked all over; and in
consequence of observing and laying down for themselves various kinds of
rites and vows and acts, their flesh and blood and skin and bones become
emaciated.[580] Endued with great patience and fortitude, they live,
always practising the quality of goodness. That person who, with
restrained soul, observes such a course of duties originally ordained by
regenerate Rishis, burns all his sins like fire and obtains regions of
felicity difficult of attainment.'

"'"'I shall now describe the conduct of those called Parivrajakas. That is
as follows: freeing themselves from attachment to the sacred fire,
wealth, spouse and children, and robes, seats, beds, and such other
objects of enjoyment, and breaking the bonds of affection, they roam
about, regarding with an equal eye a clump of earth or rock and gold.
They never set their hearts on the acquisition or enjoyment of the triple
aggregate. They cast an equal eye on foes and friends and neutrals or
strangers. They never injure, in thought, word, or deed, immobile things
or creatures that are viviparous, or oviparous or born of filth, or
called vegetables. They have no homes. They roam over hills and
mountains, upon shores of rivers or seas, under shades of trees, and
among temples of deities. They may go to towns or villages for residence.
In a town, however, they should not live for more than five nights, while
in a village their residence should never exceed one night. Entering a
town or a village, they should, for the support of life, repair to the
abodes of only Brahmanas of liberal deeds.[581] They should never ask for
any alms except what is thrown into the (wooden) bowls they carry. They
should free themselves from lust, wrath, pride, cupidity, delusion,
miserliness, deceit, slander, vanity, and injury to living creatures. On
this subject there are some verses: that person, who, observing the vow
of taciturnity, roveth without giving any creature cause of fear, is
never inspired with any fear himself by any creature. That learned person
who performs the Agnihotra (not by kindling of external fire but) with
the aid of the fire that is his own body, indeed, who poureth libations
into his own mouth and upon the fire that exists in his own body,
succeeds in attaining to numerous regions of felicity in consequence of
that fire being fed with such libations obtained by a life of
eleemosynation. That person of regener