nd wealth and pleasure? How does one
become endued with happiness?"

"'Bhishma said, "In the month of Margasirsha, when the moon comes in
conjunction with the asterism called Mula, when his two feet are united
with that very asterism, O king, when Rohini is in his calf, when his
knee-joints are in Aswini, and his shins are in the two Ashadhas, when
Phalguni makes his anus, and Krittika his waist, when his navel is in
Bhadrapada, his ocular region in Revati, and his back on the
Dhanishthas, when Anuradha makes his belly, when with his two arms he
reaches the Visakhas, when his two hands are indicated by Hasta, when
Punarvasu, O king, makes his fingers, Aslesha his nails, when Jyeshtha is
known for his neck, when by Sravana is pointed out his ears, and his
mouth by Pushya, when Swati is said to constitute his teeth and lips,
when Satabhisha is his smile and Magha his nose, when Mrigasiras is known
to be in his eye, and Chitra in his forehead, when his head is in
Bharani, when Ardra constitutes his hair, O king, the vow called
Chandravrata should be commenced. Upon the completion of that vow, gift
of ghee should be made unto Brahmanas conversant with the Vedas. As the
fruit of that vow, one becomes possessed about knowledge. Indeed, one
becomes, in consequence of such a vow, as full (of every blessed
attribute) as the moon himself when he is at full."'"

SECTION CXI

"'Yudhishthira said, "O grandsire, O thou that art possessed of great
wisdom and conversant with all the scriptures, I desire to know those
excellent ordinances in consequence of which mortal creatures have to
travel through their rounds of rebirth. What is that conduct by following
which, O king, men succeed in attaining to high heaven, and what is that
conduct by which one sinks in Hell? When, abandoning the dead body that
is as inert as a piece of wood or clod of earth, people proceed to the
other world, what are those that follow them thither?"

"'Bhishma said, "Yonder comes the illustrious Vrihaspati of great
intelligence! Do thou ask his blessed self. The subject is an eternal
mystery. None else is capable of explaining the matter. There is no
speaker like Vrihaspati."

"Vaisampayana said, 'While the son of Pritha and the son of Ganga were
thus speaking with each other, there came to that spot from the firmament
the illustrious Vrihaspati of cleansed soul. King Yudhishthira, and all
others, with Dhritarashtra at their head, stood up and received