advancement and
prosperity, one should, in this world, betake to conduct that is proper
and good. Good conduct succeeds in dispelling the inauspiciousness and
misery of even one that is sinful.[457] Righteousness has conduct for its
indication. They that are good and righteous are so in consequence of the
conduct they follow. The indications, again, of good conduct are afforded
by the acts of those that are good or righteous. People esteem that man
who acts righteously and who does good acts even if they only hear of him
without actually seeing him. They that are atheists, they that are
destitute of all acts, they that are disobedient to preceptors and
transgress the injunctions of the scriptures, they that are unacquainted
with and, therefore, unobservant of duties, and they that are wicked of
conduct, become shortlived. They that are of improper behaviour, they
that transgress all restraints, they that are unscrupulous in respect of
sexual congress, become shortlived here and have to go to Hell hereafter.
Even those men live for a hundred years who, though destitute of all
accomplishments, betake themselves to propriety and righteousness of
conduct and become endued with faith and freed from malice. He that is
free from wrath, that is truthful in speech, that never does any injury
to any creature in the universe, that is divested of malice and
crookedness and insincerity, succeeds in living for a hundred years. He
who always breaks little clods of earth, or tears up the grass that grows
under his feet, or cuts off his nails with his teeth, or is always
impure, or very restless, never succeeds in acquiring a long life.[458]
One should wake up from sleep at the hour known as the Brahma Muhurta and
then think of both religion and profit. Getting up from bed, one should
then wash one's face and mouth, and joining one's hands in an attitude of
reverence, say the morning prayers.[459] In this way, one should when
evening comes, say one's evening prayers also, restraining speech (with
other people) the while. One should never look at the rising sun, nor at
the setting sun.[460] Nor should one look at the sun when he is in
eclipse; nor at his image in the water; nor at midday when he is at the
meridian. The Rishis, in consequence of their adoring the two twilights
with great regularity succeeded in attaining to longevity. Hence, one
should, restraining speech, say one's prayers regularly at the two
twilights. As regards those