desirous of the end that
is reserved for heroes and no longer expressed any disgust at leading a
householder's mode of life. Then, O foremost of men, Yudhishthira,
addressing all the other sons of Pandu, said unto them, "Let the words
which our grandfather has said command your faith." At this, all the
Pandavas with the famous Draupadi amongst them, applauded the words of
Yudhishthira and said, "Yes."'"

SECTION LVIII

"'Yudhishthira said, "I desire, O chief of the Bharatas, to hear from thee
what the rewards are which are attached, O best of the Kurus, to the
planting of trees and the digging of tanks."

"'Bhishma said, "A piece of land that is agreeable to the sight, fertile,
situate in the midst of delightful scenes adorned with diverse kinds of
metals, and inhabited by all sorts of creatures, is regarded as the
foremost of sports. A particular portion of such land should be selected
for digging a tank. I shall tell thee, in due order, about the different
kinds of tanks. I shall also tell thee what the merits also are that
attach to the digging of tanks (with the view of drawing water for the
benefit of all creatures). The man who causes a tank to be dug becomes
entitled to the respect and worship of the three worlds. A tank full of
water is as agreeable and beneficial as the house of a friend. It is
gratifying to Surya himself. It also contributes to growth to the
deities. It is the foremost of all things that lead to fame (with respect
to the person who causes it to be excavated). The wise have said that the
excavation of a tank contributes to the aggregate of three,
Righteousness, Wealth and Pleasure. A tank is said to be properly
excavated, if it is made on a piece of land that is inhabited by
respectable persons. A tank is said to be subservient to all the four
purposes of living creatures. Tanks, again, are regarded as constituting
the excellent beauty of a country. The deities and human beings and
Gandharvas and Pitris and Uragas and Rakshasas and even immobile
beings--all resort to a tank full of water as their refuge. I shall,
therefore, tell thee what the merits are that have been said by great
Rishis to be attached to tanks, and what the rewards are that are
attainable by persons that cause them to be excavated. The wise have said
that that man reaps the merit of an Agnihotra sacrifice in whose tank
water is held in the season of the rains. The high reward in the world
that is reaped by the person