ng, tempt me thus, me who have for a long time observed the duty of
abstention? I shall myself do what my duty is. I do not wish to have any
share of the rewards won by thee, O monarch! I am devoted to penances and
to study of the Vedas, and I have abstained from acceptance.'

"'"The king said, 'If, O Brahmana, thou art really to give me the excellent
reward of thy recitation, then let half that reward be mine, thyself
taking at the same time half the reward that I myself have won by my
acts. Brahmanas are engaged in the duty of acceptance. Persons born in
the royal order are engaged in the duty of giving. If thou art not
unaware of the duties (laid down for both the orders), let our fruits be
equal (according to the suggestion I have made). Or, if thou dost not
wish to be my equal in respect of our rewards, take then the whole of the
rewards that I may have won. Do take the merit I have won, if thou
wishest to show me grace.'"

"'Bhishma continued, "At this time, two individuals of very ungainly
aspect came there. Each had his arm upon the other's shoulder; both were
ill-dressed. They said these words, 'Thou owest me nothing. I really owe
thee. If we dispute in this way, here is the king who ruleth individuals.
I say truly, thou owest me nothing! Thou speakest falsely. I do owe thee
a debt.' Both of them, waxing very hot in dispute, then addressed the
king, saying, 'See, O monarch, that none of us may become stained with
sin.'

"'"Virupa said, 'I owe my companion, Vikrita, O monarch, the merits of the
gift of a cow. I am willing to pay off that debt. This Vikrita, however,
refuses to take repayment.'[638]

"'"Vikrita said, 'This Virupa, O monarch, oweth me nothing. He speaks a
falsehood with the appearance of truth, O king.'

"'"The king said, 'Tell me, O Virupa, what is that which thou owest thy
friend here. It is my resolution to hear thee and then do what is proper.'

"'"Virupa said, 'Hear attentively, O king, all the circumstances in detail,
about how I owe my companion, viz., this Vikrita, O ruler of men. This
Vikrita had, in bygone days, for the sake of winning merit, O sinless
one, given away an auspicious cow, O royal sage, unto a Brahmana devoted
to penances as the study of the Vedas. Going unto him, O king, I begged
of him the reward of that act. With a pure heart, Vikrita made a gift to
me of that reward. I then, for my purification, did some good acts. I
also purchased two kapila cows with calves, both