happiness.’  The Yaksha asked,—­’What is the highest duty in the world?  What is that virtue which always beareth fruit?  What is that which if controlled, leadeth not to regret?  And who are they with whom an alliance cannot break?’ Yudhishthira answered,—­’The highest of duties is to refrain from injury; the rites ordained in the Three (Vedas) always bear fruit; the mind, if controlled, leadeth to no regret; and an alliance with the good never breaketh.’  The Yaksha asked,—­’What is that which, if renounced, maketh one agreeable?  What is that which, if renounced, leadeth to no regret?  What is that which, if renounced, maketh one wealthy?  And what is that which if renounced, maketh one happy?’ Yudhishthira answered,—­’Pride, if renounced, maketh one agreeable; wrath, if renounced leadeth to no regret; desire, if renounced, maketh one wealthy; and avarice, if renounced, maketh one happy.’  The Yaksha asked,—­’For what doth one give away to Brahmanas?  For what to mimes and dancers?  For what to servants?  And for what to the king?’ Yudhishthira answered,—­’It is for religious merit that one giveth away to Brahmanas; it is for fame that one giveth away to mimes and dancers; it is for supporting them that one giveth away to servants; and it is for obtaining relief from fear that one giveth to kings.’  The Yaksha asked,—­’With what is the world enveloped?  What is that owing to which a thing cannot discover itself?  For what are friends forsaken?  And for what doth one fail to go to heaven?’ Yudhishthira answered,—­’The world is enveloped with darkness.  Darkness doth not permit a thing to show itself.  It is from avarice that friends are forsaken.  And it is connection with the world for which one faileth to go to heaven.’  The Yaksha asked,—­’For what may one be considered as dead?  For what may a kingdom be considered as dead?  For what may a Sraddha be considered as dead?  And for what, a sacrifice?’ Yudhishthira answered,—­’For want of wealth may a man be regarded as dead.  A kingdom for want of a king may be regarded as dead.  A Sraddha that is performed with the aid of a priest that hath no learning may be regarded as dead.  And a sacrifice in which there are no gifts to Brahmanas is dead.’  The Yaksha asked,—­’What constitutes the way?  What hath been spoken of as water?  What, as food?  And what, as poison?  Tell us also what is the proper time of a Sraddha, and then drink and take away as much as thou likest!’ Yudhishthira answered,—­’They that are good constitute the way.[73] Space hath been spoken of as water.[74] The cow is food.[75] A request is poison.  And a Brahmana is regarded as the proper time of a Sraddha.[76] I do not know what thou mayst think of all this, O Yaksha?’ The Yaksha asked,—­’What hath been said to be the sign of asceticism?  And what is true restraint?  What constitutes forgiveness.  And what is shame?’ Yudhishthira answered,—­’Staying in one’s own religion is asceticism; the restraint