of aversion towards them, or impedeth or otherwise injureth agriculture, doth not deserve to mix with us.  Straw (for a seat), ground (for sitting upon), water (to wash the feet and face), and, fourthly sweet words,—­these are never wanting in the houses of the good.  Virtuous men devoted to the practice of righteous acts, when desirous of entertaining (guests), have these things ready for being offered with reverence.  As the Sandal tree, O king, though thin, is competent to bear weights which timbers of other trees (much thicker) cannot; so they that belong to high families are always able to bear the weight of great cares which ordinary men cannot.  He is no friend whose anger inspireth fear, or who is to be waited upon with fear.  He, however, on whom one can repose confidence as on a father, is a true friend.  Other friendships are nominal connection.  He that beareth himself as a friend, even though unconnected by birth of blood, is a true friend, a real refuge, and a protector.  He, whose heart is unsteady, or who doth not wait upon the aged, or who is of a restless disposition cannot make friends.  Success (in the attainment of objects) forsaketh the person whose heart is unsteady, or who hath no control over his mind, or who is a slave of his senses, like swans forsaking a tank whose waters have dried up.  They that are of weak minds suddenly give way to anger and are gratified without sufficient cause; they are like clouds that are so inconstant.  The very birds of prey abstain from touching the dead bodies of those who having been served and benefited by friends, show ingratitude to the latter.  Beest thou poor or beest thou rich, thou shouldst honour thy friends.  Until some service is asked, the sincerity or otherwise of friends cannot be known.  Sorrow killeth beauty; sorrow killeth strength; sorrow killeth the understanding; and sorrow bringeth on disease.  Grief, instead of helping the acquisition of his object, drieth up the body, and maketh one’s foes glad.  Therefore, do not yield to grief, Men repeatedly die and are reborn; repeatedly they wither away and grow; repeatedly they ask others for help, and they themselves are asked for help; repeatedly they lament and are lamented.  Happiness and misery, plenty and want, gain and loss, life and death, are shared by all in due order.  Therefore, he that is self-controlled should neither exult in joy nor repine in sorrow.  The six senses are always restless.  Through the most predominant one amongst them one’s understanding escapeth in proportion to the strength it assumes, like water from a pot through its holes.’

“Dhritarashtra said, ’King Yudhishthira who is like a flame of fire, has been deceived by me.  He will surely exterminate in battle all my wicked sons.  Everything, therefore, seems to me to be fraught with danger, and my mind is full of anxiety, O thou of great intelligence, tell me such words as may dispel my anxiety.’