usness is the refuge of those that are
good. From Righteousness have flowed the three worlds with their mobile
and immobile creatures. O thou that art eagerly desirous of enjoying all
agreeable objects, how is it that thou art not yet satiated with objects
of desire? Thou seest the honey, O thou of little understanding, but art
blind to the fall[1638]. As one desirous of earning the fruits of
knowledge should set oneself to the acquisition of knowledge, even so one
desirous of earning the fruits of Righteousness should set oneself to the
acquisition of Righteousness. If a wicked man from desire of virtue,
strives to accomplish an act that is pure and stainless, the fulfilment
of his desire becomes impossible. If, on the other hand, a good man,
impelled by the desire of earning virtue, strives to accomplish an act
that is even difficult, its accomplishment becomes easy for him. If,
while residing in the woods, one acts in such a way as to enjoy all the
pleasures of a residence amidst men in towns, one comes to be looked upon
not as a forest recluse but as a denizen of towns. Similarly, if one,
while residing in towns, acts in such a way as to enjoy the felicity that
attaches to the life of a forest recluse, once comes to be looked upon
not as a denizen of towns but as a forest recluse. Ascertaining the
merits of the religion of Acts and that of Abstention from acts, do thou,
with concentrated senses, be devoted to the practices of righteousness
that appertain to thought, words, and deed. Judging of the propriety of
time and place, purified by the observance of vows and other cleansing
rites, and solicited (by them), do thou, without malice, make large gifts
unto them that are good.[1639] Acquiring wealth by righteous means, one
should give it away unto those that are deserving. One should make gifts,
casting off anger; and having made gifts one should never give way to
sorrow nor proclaim those gifts with one's own mouth. The Brahmana who is
full of compassion, who is observant of candour, and whose birth is pure,
has been regarded as a person deserving of gifts. A person is said to be
pure in birth when he is born of mother that has only one husband and
that belongs to the same order to which her husband belongs. Indeed, such
a Brahmana, conversant with the three Vedas, viz., Rich, Yajush, and
Saman, possessed of learning, duly observant of the six duties (of
sacrificing on his own account, officiating at the sacrifices of