e
themselves earnestly to the study of the Vedas, restraining their senses.
They would make gods of those that are not gods, and not gods of those
that are gods. Enraged, they can create other worlds and other Regents of
the worlds than those that exist. Through the course of those high-souled
ones, the ocean became so saline as to be undrinkable. The fire of their
wrath yet burns in the forest of Dandaka, unquenched by time. They are
the gods of the gods, and the cause of all cause. They are the authority
of all authorities. What man of intelligence and wisdom is there that
would seek to humiliate them? Amongst them the young and the old all
deserve honours. They honour one another (not in consequence of
distinctions of age but) in consequence of distinctions in respect of
penances and knowledge. Even the Brahmana that is destitute of knowledge
is a god and is a high instrument for cleansing others. He amongst them,
then, that is possessed of knowledge is a much higher god and like unto
the ocean when full (to the brim). Learned or unlearned, Brahmana is
always a high deity. Sanctified or unsanctified (with the aid of
Mantras), Fire is ever a great deity. A blazing fire even when it burns
on a crematorium, is not regarded as tainted in consequence of the
character of the spot whereon it burns. Clarified butter looks beautiful
whether kept on the sacrificial altar or in a chamber. So, if a Brahmana
be always engaged in evil acts, he is still to be regarded as deserving
of honour. Indeed, know that the Brahmana is always a high deity."'"

SECTION CLII

"'Yudhishthira said, "Tell us, O king, what is that reward attached to the
worship of Brahmanas, seeing which thou worshippest them, O thou of
superior intelligence! Indeed, what is that success, flowing from their
worship, guided by which thou worshippest them?"

"'Bhishma said, "In this connection is cited this old narrative of a
conversation between Pavana and Arjuna, O Bharata! Endued with a thousand
arms and great beauty the mighty Kartavirya, in days of yore, became the
lord of all the world. He had his capital in the city of Mahishmati. Of
unbaffled prowess, that chief of the Haihaya race of Kshatriyas swayed
the whole earth with her belt of seas, together with all her islands and
all her precious mines of gold and gems. Keeping before him the duties of
the Kshatriya order, as also humility and Vedic knowledge, the king made
large gifts of wealth unto the Rish