qual right to the performance of
these duties, O foremost of men. These three orders, betaking themselves
to duties other than those laid down for them, come to grief, O monarch
(and fall down from their own status), even as they go up and acquire
great merit by taking for their model some righteous individual of their
respective classes who is duly observant of his own duties. The Sudra
never falls down (by doing forbidden acts); nor is he worthy of any of
the rites of regeneration. The course of duties flowing from the Vedas is
not his. He is not interdicted, however, from practising the three and
ten duties that are common to all the orders. O ruler of the Videhas,
Brahmanas learned in the Vedas, O monarch, regard a (virtuous) Sudra as
equal to Brahmana himself. I, however, O king, look upon such a Sudra as
the effulgent Vishnu of the universe, the foremost one in all the
worlds.[1544] Persons of the lowest order, desiring to exterminate the
evil passions (of lust and wrath, etc.) may betake themselves to the
observance of the conduct of the good; and, indeed, while so acting, they
may earn great merit by performing all rites that lead to advancement,
omitting the mantras that are utterable by the other orders while
performing the self-same ceremonies. Wherever persons of the lowest order
adopt the behaviour of the good, they succeed in attaining to happiness
in consequence of which they are able to pass their time in felicity both
here and hereafter.'

"'"Janaka said, 'O great ascetic, is man stained by his acts or is he
stained by the order or class in which he is born? A doubt has arisen in
my mind. It behoveth thee to expound this to me.'

"'"Parasara said, 'Without doubt, O king, both, viz., acts and birth, are
sources of demerit. Listen now to their difference. That man who, though
stained by birth, does not commit sin, abstains from sin notwithstanding
birth and acts. If, however, a person of superior birth perpetrates
censurable acts, such acts stain him. Hence, of the two, viz., acts and
birth, acts stain man (more than birth).'[1545]

"'"Janaka said, 'What are those righteous acts in this world, O best of all
regenerate persons, the accomplishment of which does not inflict any
injury upon other creatures?'

"'"Parasara said, 'Hear from me, O monarch, about what thou askest me,
viz., those acts free from injury which always rescue man. Those who,
keeping aside their domestic fires, have dissociated themse