hed on good conduct, is regarded as
possessed of the status of a Brahmana. The status of Brahma, O auspicious
lady, is equal wherever it exists. Even this is my opinion. He, indeed,
is a Brahmana in whom the status of Brahma exists,--that condition which
is bereft of attributes and which has no stain attached to it. The
boon-giving Brahma, while he created all creatures, himself said that the
distribution of human beings into the four orders dependent on birth is
only for purposes of classification. The Brahmana is a great field in
this world,--a field equipped with feet for it moves from place to place.
He who plants seeds in that field, O beautiful lady, reaps the crop in
the next world. That Brahmana who wishes to achieve his own good should
always live upon the remains of the food that may be there in his house
after gratifying the needs of all others. He should always adhere to the
path of righteousness. Indeed, he should tread along the path that
belongs to Brahma. He should live engaged in the study of the Samhitas
and remaining at home he should discharge all the duties of a
householder. He should always be devoted to the study of the Vedas, but
he should never derive the means of subsistence from such study. That
Brahmana who always conducts himself thus, adhering to the path of
righteousness, worshipping his sacred fire, and engaged in the study of
the Vedas, comes to be regarded as Brahma. The status of a Brahmana once
gained, it should always be protected with care, O thou of sweet smiles,
by avoiding the stain of contact with persons born in inferior orders,
and by abstaining from the acceptance of gifts. I have thus told thee a
mystery, viz., the manner in which a Sudra may become a Brahmana, or that
by which a Brahmana falls away from his own pure status and becomes a
Sudra."'"'"

SECTION CXLIV

"'"'Uma said, "O holy one, O Lord of all beings, O thou that art worshipped
by the deities and Asuras equally, tell me what are the duties and
derelictions of men. Indeed, O puissant one, resolve my doubts. It is by
these three, viz., thought, word, and deed, that men become bound with
bonds. It is by these same three that they become freed from those bonds.
By pursuing what conduct, O god,--indeed, by what kind of acts,--by what
behaviour and attributes and words, do men succeed in ascending to
heaven?"

"'"'The god of gods said, "O goddess, thou art well-conversant with the
true import of duties. Thou art