doth a person become a Brahmana? Tell us with
certitude!’ Yudhishthira answered,-’Listen,
O Yaksha! It is neither birth, nor study, nor
learning, that is the cause of Brahmanahood, without
doubt, it is behaviour that constitutes it. One’s
behaviour should always be well-guarded, especially
by a Brahmana. He who maintaineth his conduct
unimpaired, is never impaired himself. Professors
and pupils, in fact, all who study the scriptures,
if addicted to wicked habits, are to be regarded as
illiterate wretches. He only is learned who performeth
his religious duties. He even that hath studied
the four Vedas is to be regarded as a wicked wretch
scarcely distinguishable from a Sudra (if his conduct
be not correct). He only who performeth the Agnihotra
and hath his senses under control, is called a Brahmana!’
The Yaksha asked,—’What doth one
gain that speaketh agreeable words? What doth
he gain that always acteth with judgment? What
doth he gain that hath many friends? And what
he, that is devoted to virtue?’—Yudhishthira
answered,—’He that speaketh agreeable
words becometh agreeable to all. He that acteth
with judgment obtaineth whatever he seeketh. He
that hath many friends liveth happily. And he
that is devoted to virtue obtaineth a happy state
(in the next world).’ The Yaksha asked,—’Who
is truly happy? What is most wonderful?
What is the path? And what is the news? Answer
these four questions of mine and let thy dead brothers
revive.’ Yudhishthira answered,—’O
amphibious creature, a man who cooketh in his own house,
on the fifth or the sixth part of the day, with scanty
vegetables, but who is not in debt and who stirreth
not from home, is truly happy. Day after day
countless creatures are going to the abode of Yama,
yet those that remain behind believe themselves to
be immortal. What can be more wonderful than
this? Argument leads to no certain conclusion,
the Srutis are different from one another; there is
not even one Rishi whose opinion can be accepted by
all; the truth about religion and duty is hid in caves:
therefore, that alone is the path along which the great
have trod. This world full of ignorance is like
a pan. The sun is fire, the days and nights are
fuel. The months and the seasons constitute the
wooden ladle. Time is the cook that is cooking
all creatures in that pan (with such aids); this is
the news.’ The Yaksha asked,—’Thou
hast, O represser of foes, truly answered all my questions!
Tell us now who is truly a man, and what man truly
possesseth every kind of wealth.’ Yudhishthira
answered,—’The report of one’s
good action reacheth heaven and spreadeth over the
earth. As long as that report lasteth, so long
is a person to whom the agreeable and the disagreeable,
weal and woe, the past and the future, are the same,
is said to possess every kind of wealth.’
The Yaksha said,—’Thou hast, O king
truly answered who is a man, and what man possesseth
every kind of wealth. Therefore, let one only
amongst thy brothers, whom thou mayst wish, get up