The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 629 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 2.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 629 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 2.
away as much as thou likest!’ Yudhishthira said, ’I do not, O Yaksha, covet, what is already in thy possession!  O bull among male beings, virtuous persons never approve that one should applaud his own self (without boasting, I shall, therefore, answer thy questions, according to my intelligence).  Do thou ask me!’ The Yaksha then said, ’What is it that maketh the Sun rise?  Who keeps him company?  Who causeth him to set?  And in whom is he established?’ Yudhishthira answered, ’Brahma maketh the Sun rise; the gods keep him company; Dharma causeth him to set; and he is established in truth.’[68] The Yaksha asked, ’By what doth one become learned?  By what doth he attain what is very great?  How can one have a second?  And, O king, how can one acquire intelligence?’ Yudhishthira answered, ’It is by the (study of the) Srutis that a person becometh learned; it is by ascetic austerities that one acquireth what is very great; it is by intelligence that a person acquireth a second and it is by serving the old that one becometh wise.’[69] The Yaksha asked, ’What constituteth the divinity of the Brahmanas?  What even is their practice that is like that of the pious?  What also is the human attribute of the Brahmanas?  And what practice of theirs is like that of the impious?’ Yudhishthira answered, ’The study of the Vedas constitutes their divinity; their asceticism constitutes behaviour that is like that of the pious; their liability to death is their human attribute and slander is their impiety.’  The Yaksha asked, ’What institutes the divinity of the Kshatriyas?  What even is their practice that is like that of the pious?  What is their human attribute?  And what practice of theirs is like that of the impious?’ Yudhishthira answered, ’Arrows and weapons are their divinity; celebration of sacrifices is that act which is like that of the pious; liability to fear is their human attribute; and refusal of protection is that act of theirs which is like that of the impious.’  The Yaksha asked, ’What is that which constitutes the Sama of the sacrifice?  What the Yajus of the sacrifice?  What is that which is the refuge of a sacrifice?  And what is that which sacrifice cannot do without?’ Yudhishthira answered, ’Life is the Sama of the sacrifice; the mind is the Yajus of the sacrifice; the Rik is that which is the refuge of the sacrifice; and it is Rik alone which sacrifice cannot do without.’[70] The Yaksha asked, ’What is of the foremost value to those that cultivate?  What is of the foremost value to those that sow?  What is of the foremost value to those that wish for prosperity in this world?  And what is of the foremost value to those that bring forth?’ Yudhishthira answered, ’That which is of the foremost value to those that cultivate is rain; that of the foremost value to those that sow is seed; that of the foremost value to those that bring forth is offspring.’[71] The Yaksha asked, ’What person, enjoying all the objects of the
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The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 2 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.