to
the acceptance of a gift.[1518] That wealth which is acquired by proper
means and increased also by proper means, should be protected with care
for the sake of acquiring virtue. This is an accepted truth. One desirous
of acquiring righteousness should never earn wealth by means involving
injury to others. One should accomplish one's acts according to one's
power, without zealously pursuing wealth. By giving water, whether cold
or heated by fire, with a devoted mind, unto a (thirsty) guest, according
to the best of one's power, one earns the merit that attaches to the act
of giving food to a hungry man. The high-souled Rantideva obtained
success in all the worlds by worshipping the ascetics with offerings of
only roots and fruits and leaves. The royal son of Sivi also won the
highest regions of felicity by having gratified Surya along with his
companion with offerings of the same kind. All men, by taking birth, incur
debts to gods, guests, servants, Pitris, and their own selves. Everyone
should, therefore, do his best for freeing himself from those debts. One
frees oneself from one's debt to the great Rishis by studying the Vedas.
One pays off one's debts to the gods by performing sacrifices. By
performing the rites of the Sraddha one is freed from one's debts to the
Pitris. One pays off one's debt to one's fellowmen by doing good offices to
them. One pays off the debts one owes to one's own self by listening to
Vedic recitations and reflecting on their import, by eating the remnants of
sacrifices, and by supporting one's body. One should duly discharge all
the acts, from the beginning, that one owes to one's servants. Though
destitute of wealth, men are seen to attain to success by great
exertions.[1519] Munis by duly adoring the deities and by duly pouring
libations of clarified butter on the sacred fire, have been seen to
attain to ascetic success. Richika's son became the son of Vishwamitra.
By adoring the deities who have shares in sacrificial offerings, with
Richs (he attained to success in after life). Usanas became Sukra by
having gratified the god of gods. Indeed, by hymning the praises of the
goddess (Uma), he sports in the firmament, endued with great
splendour.[1520] Then, again, Asita and Devala, and Narada and Parvata,
and Karkshivat, and Jamadagni's son Rama, and Tandya possessed of
cleansed soul, and Vasishtha, and Jamadagni, and Viswamitra and Atri, and
Bharadwaja, and Harismasru, and Kundadhara, and S