d by the latter even if he had any interest of the slightest
value to subserve by frustrating it. Amongst even their better classes
have appeared traders and dealers in goods, intent upon taking the wealth
of others. The Sudras amongst them have taken to the practice of
penances. Some amongst them have begun to study, without making any rules
for regulating their hours and food. Others have begun to study, making
rules that are useless. Disciples have abstained from rendering obedience
and service to preceptors. Preceptors again have come to treat disciples
as friendly companions. Fathers and mothers are worn out with work, and
have abstained from indulging in festivities. Parents in old age,
divested of power over sons, have been forced to beg their food of the
latter. Amongst them, even persons of wisdom, conversant with the Vedas,
and resembling the ocean itself in gravity of deportment, have begun to
betake themselves to agriculture and such other pursuits. Persons who are
illiterate and ignorant have begun to be fed at Sraddhas.[864] Every
morning, disciples, instead of approaching preceptors for making dutiful
enquiries for ascertaining what acts awaited accomplishment and for
seeking commissions which they are to discharge, are themselves waited
upon by preceptors who discharge those functions. Daughters-in-law, in
the presence of their husbands' mothers and fathers, rebuke and chastise
servants and maids, and summoning their husbands lecture and rebuke
them. Sires, with great care, seek to keep sons in good humour, or
dividing through fear their wealth among children, live in woe and
affliction.[865] Even persons enjoying the friendship of the victims,
beholding the latter deprived of wealth in conflagrations or by robbers
or by the king, have begun to indulge in laughter from feelings of
mockery. They have become ungrateful and unbelieving and sinful and
addicted to adulterous congress with even the spouses of their
preceptors. They have betaken themselves to eating forbidden food. They
have transgressed all bounds and restraints. They have become divested of
that splendour which had distinguished them before. In consequence of
these and other indications of wicked conduct and the reversal of their
former nature, I shall not, O chief of the gods, dwell among them any
longer. I have, therefore, come to thee of my own accord. Receive me with
respect, O lord of Sachi! Honoured by thee, O chief of the celestials, I
s