without eating anything during the interval. Such a Brahmana, by always
speaking the truth and by adhering always to wisdom, and by going to his
wife only in her season and never at other times, becomes a Brahmacharin
(celibate). By never eating meat of animals not killed for sacrifice, he
will become a strict vegetarian. By always becoming charitable he will
become ever pure, and by abstaining from sleep during the day he will
become one that is always wakeful. Know, O Yudhishthira, that that man
who eats only after having fed his servants and guests becomes an eater
always of ambrosia. That Brahmana who never eats till gods and guests are
fed, wins, by such abstention, heaven itself. He is said to subsist upon
sacrificial remnants, who eats only what remains after feeding the gods,
the Pitris, servants, and guests. Such men win numberless regions of
felicity in next life. To their homes come, with Brahman himself, the
gods and the Apsaras. They who share their food with the deities and the
Pitris pass their days in constant happiness with their sons and
grandsons and at last, leaving off this body, attain to a very high end."'"

SECTION CCXXII

"'Yudhishthira said, "In this world, O Bharata, acts good and bad attach
themselves to man for the purpose of producing fruits for enjoyment or
endurance. Is man, however, to be regarded as their doer or is he not to
be regarded so? Doubt fills my mind with respect to this question. I
desire to hear this in detail from thee, O grandsire!"

"'Bhishma said, "In this connection, O Yudhishthira, is cited the old
narrative of a discourse between Prahlada and Indra. The chief of the
Daityas, viz., Prahlada, was unattached to all worldly objects. His sins
had been washed away. Of respectable parentage, he was possessed of great
learning. Free from stupefaction and pride, ever observant of the quality
of goodness, and devoted to various vows, he took praise and censure
equally. Possessed of self-restraint, he was then passing his time in an
empty chamber. Conversant with the origin and the destruction of all
created objects, mobile and immobile, he was never angry with things that
displeased him and never rejoiced at the accession of objects that were
agreeable. He cast an equal eye upon gold and a clump of earth. Steadily
engaged in study of the Soul and in acquiring Emancipation, and firm in
knowledge, he had arrived at fixed conclusions in respect of truth.
Acquainted with wh