what one does, also the Being that is within every one.  He that with piety and without detraction hideth the faults of the honest and the wise like holes in his own attire, surely seeketh his salvation.  If a man seeketh redemption after having committed a sin, without doubt he is purged of all his sins and looketh pure and resplendent like the moon emerged from the clouds.  A man that seeketh redemption is washed of all his sins, even as the sun, upon rising, dispelleth all darkness.  O best of Brahmanas, it is temptation that constitutes the basis of sin.  Men that are ignorant commit sin, yielding to temptation alone.  Sinful men generally cover themselves with a virtuous exterior, like wells whose mouths are covered by long grass.  Outwardly they seem to possess self-control and holiness and indulge in preaching virtuous texts which, in their mouth are of little meaning.  Indeed, everything may be noticed in them except conduct that is truly virtuous!"’

“Markandeya continued, ’At these words, O best of men, of the fowler, that Brahmana endued with great wisdom, then asked the fowler, saying, “How shall I know what is virtuous conduct?  Blessed be thou, I desire to hear this, O thou foremost of virtuous men, from thee.  Therefore, O thou of exalted soul, tell me all about it truly.”  Hearing these words, the fowler replied, saying, “O best of Brahmanas, Sacrifices, Gift, Asceticism, the Vedas, and Truth—­these five holy things are ever present in conduct that is called virtuous.  Having subjugated lust and wrath, pride, avarice, and crookedness, they that take pleasure in virtue because it is virtue, are regarded as really virtuous and worthy of the approbation of persons that are virtuous.  These persons who are devoted to sacrifices, and study of the Vedas have no independent behaviour.  They follow only the practices of the honest and the good.  This indeed, is the second attribute of the virtuous.  Waiting upon superiors, Truth, Freedom from anger, and Gift, these four, O Brahmana, are inseparably connected with behaviour that is virtuous.  For the reputation that a person acquires by setting his heart on virtuous behaviour and adhering to it rigidly is incapable of acquisition except by practising the four virtues named above.  The essence of the Vedas is Truth:  the essence of Truth is self-control, and the essence of self-control is abstention from the pleasures of the world.  These all are to be noticed in behaviour that is virtuous.  They that follow those deluded fools that mock the forms of faith prevailing among men, are dragged into destruction for walking in such a sinful path.  They, however, that are virtuous and engaged in the observance of vows, who are devoted to the srutis and the virtue of abstention from the pleasure of the world, they in fact who tread in virtue’s path and follow the true religion, they that are obedient to the mandates of their preceptors, and who reflect upon the sense of the scriptures with patience and