.[626] If a quantity of water be poured upon salt,
the latter immediately dissolves away. Even so when expiation is
performed, sin dissolves away. For these reasons one should never conceal
a sin. Concealed, it is certain to increase. Having committed a sin, one
should confess it in the presence of those that are good. They would
destroy it immediately. If one does not enjoy in good time what one has
stored with hope, the consequence is that the stored wealth finds another
owner after the death of him who has stored it. The wise have said that
the mind of every creature is the true test of Righteousness. Hence, all
creatures in the world have an innate tendency to achieve Righteousness.
One should achieve Righteousness alone or single-handed. Verily, one
should not proclaim oneself Righteous and walk with the standard of
Righteousness borne aloft for purpose of exhibition. They are said to be
traders in Righteousness who practise it for enjoying the fruits it
brings about. One should adore the deities without giving way to
sentiments of pride. Similarly, one should serve one's preceptor without
deceit. One should make arrangements for securing to oneself invaluable
wealth in the hereafter which consists in gifts made here to deserving
persons."'"

SECTION CLXIII

"'Yudhishthira said, "It is seen that if a person happens to be
unfortunate, he fails to acquire wealth, how great so ever his strength.
On the other hand, if one happens to be fortunate, he comes to the
possession of wealth, even if he be a weakling or a fool. When, again,
the time does not come for acquisition, one cannot make an acquisition
with even one's best exertion. When, however, the time comes for
acquisition, one wins great wealth without any exertion. Hundreds of men
may be seen who achieve no result even when they exert their best. Many
persons, again, are seen to make acquisitions without any exertion. If
wealth were the result of exertion, then one could, with exertion,
acquire it immediately. Verily, if the case were so, no man of learning
could then be seen to take the protection for the sake of his livelihood,
of one destitute of learning. Among men, that which is not (destined) to
be attained, O chief of the Bharatas, is never attained. Men are seen to
fail in achieving results even with the aid of their best exertions. One
may be seen to seek wealth by hundreds of means (and yet failing to
acquire it); while another, without at all seek