with faith that are self-restrained, that have tranquil
minds, and that perform sacrifices from a sense of
duty (and not from desire of fruit), become productive
of fruit.[1189] Faith with respect to Brahma is the
daughter of Surya, O regenerate one. She is the
protectress and she is the giver of good birth.
Faith is superior to the merit born of (Vedic) recitations
and meditation.[1190] An act vitiated by defect of
speech is saved by Faith. An act vitiated by defect
of mind is saved by Faith. But neither speech
nor mind can save an act that is vitiated by want
of Faith.[1191] Men conversant with the occurrences
of the past recite in this connection the following
verse sung by Brahman. The offerings in sacrifices
of a person that is pure (in body and acts) but wanting
in Faith, and of another that is impure (in respect
of their worthiness of acceptance). The food,
again, of a person conversant with the Vedas but miserly
in behaviour, and that of a usurer that is liberal
in conduct,[1192] the deities after careful consideration,
had held to be equal (in respect of their worthiness
of acceptance). The’ Supreme Lord of all
creatures (viz., Brahman) then told them that they
had committed an error. The food of a liberal
person is sanctified by Faith. The food, however,
of the person that is void of Faith is lost in consequence
of such want of Faith. The food of a liberal
usurer is acceptable but not the food of a miser.[1193]
Only one person in the world, viz., he that is
bereft of Faith, is unfit to make offerings to the
deities. The food of only such a man is unfit
to be eaten. This is the opinion of men conversant
with duties. Want of Faith is a high sin.
Faith is a cleanser of sins. Like a snake casting
off its slough, the man of Faith succeeds in casting
off all his sin. The religion of abstention with
Faith is superior to all things considered sacred.
Abstaining from all faults of behaviour, he who betakes
himself to Faith, becomes sanctified. What need
hath such a person of penances, or of conduct, or of
endurance? Every man has Faith. Faith, however,
is of three kinds, viz., as affected by Sattwa,
by Rajas and by Tamas, and according to the kind of
Faith that one has, one is named. Persons endued
with goodness and possessed of insight into the true
import of morality have thus laid down the subject
of duties. We have, as the result of our enquiries,
got all this from the sage Dharmadarsana. O thou
of great wisdom, betake thyself to Faith, for thou
shalt then obtain that which is superior. He who
has Faith (in the declarations of the Srutis), and
who acts according to their import (in the belief
that they are good for him), is certainly of righteous
soul. O Jajali, he who adheres to his own path
(under the influence of Faith) is certainly a superior
person.’