fruits of their good acts and endure those of their evil ones.

529. Literally, the verse runs,--'what is that which would forsake a
creature that is destitute of etc.,' meaning that such a creature has
been already forsaken by everything. Hence, 'the worm that is destitute
of speech, etc.' is destitute of everything. Its condition is really
fraught with great misery.

530. Jugupsita smritih jata is the paraphrase.

531. Swairini-kule implies, as the commentator explains, the race of
Munis. Swam (Dharamaya) irayati is the etymology. Ajnata-charitam-dharan
applied to Krishna-Dwaipayana. If it be read charam it would refer to
Maitreya.

532. Prithagatman implies one whose soul is still invested with upadhis;
Sukhatman is one whose soul has transcended all upadhis.

533. This literal version of the verse yields no sense. The meaning,
however, is this: Atichccheda or Atichcchanda implies a hyperbolic
statement, Ativaua means a paradox. It is said that by gift of even a
palmful of water one may attain to a place which is attainable by a
hundred sacrifices. This ordinance, which looks like a hyperbole, and its
statement by Vedic teachers that looks like a paradox, fill me with
wonder. The Vedas say that no one attains to such a place without a
hundred sacrifices. This seems to be untrue, for people do reach it by
making even slight gifts to deserving persons at proper times.

534. The sense is that those who pursue carnal pleasures meet with misery
as the end, and those who practise austerities meet with felicity as
their reward.

535. To obtain a sight of thee is the reward or result of my own acts. A
sight of thy person leads to prosperity, through the kindness thou
cherishest for us.

536. The sense is that an ascetic observant of penances, in whatever
stage, and a man possessed of omniscience, are regarded as equal.

537. Such an object can never be accomplished. Hence thy paleness and
leanness.

538. Though completely innocent, thou hast yet been cursed. The anxiety
due to this has made thee so.

539. Yamena praptam is the sense, as explained by the commentator.

540. The sense is this: one should not accept gifts made by a butcher or
slayer of animals. Ten butchers are equal to a single oilman. By
accepting a gift from an oilman, therefore, one incurs ten times as much
sin as by accepting a gift from a butcher. In this way, the measure of
sin goes on increasing according to the ratio given. A Nripa, as
ex