in the future for hundreds and thousands of years do not possess efficacy greater than that of Truth.  Truth is one un deteriorating Brahma.  Truth is the one undeteriorating Penance.  Truth is the one undeteriorating sacrifice.  Truth is the one undeteriorating Veda.  Truth is awake in the Vedas.  The fruits attached to Truth have been said to be the highest.  From Truth arise Righteousness and Self-restraint.  Everything rests on Truth.  Truth is the Vedas and their branches.  Truth is Knowledge.  Truth is the Ordinance.  Truth is the observance of vows and fasts.  Truth is the Primeval Word Om.  Truth is the origin of creatures.  Truth is their progeny.  It is by Truth that the Wind moves.  It is by Truth that the Sun gives heat.  It is by Truth that Fire burns.  It is on Truth that Heaven rests.  Truth is Sacrifice, Penance, Vedas, the utterance of Samans, Mantras, and Saraswati.  It hath been heard by us that once on a time Truth and all religious observances were placed on a pair of scales.  When both were weighed, that scale on which Truth was, seen to be heavier.  There is Truth where Righteousness is.  Everything increaseth through Truth.  Why, O king, dost thou wish to do an act that is stained with falsehood?  Be firm in Truth.  Do not act falsely, O monarch!  Why wouldst thou falsify thy words ‘Give (me),’ which thou hast uttered?  If thou refusest, O monarch, to accept the fruits that I have given thee of my recitations, thou shalt then have to wander over the world, fallen away from Righteousness!  That person who does not give after having promised, and he also that does not accept after having solicited, are both stained with falsehood.  It behoveth thee, therefore, not to falsify thy own words.’

“The king said, ’To fight and protect (subjects) are the duties of Kshatriyas.  It is said that Kshatriyas are givers (of presents).  How then shall I take anything from thee (in gift)?’

“The Brahmana said, ’I never insisted on thee, O king (for accepting anything from me in the first instance).  I did not seek thy house.  Thyself, coming here, didst solicit me.  Why then dost thou not take?’

“Dharma said, ’Know ye both that I am Dharma himself.  Let there be no dispute between you.  Let the Brahmana become endued with the reward attaching to gift, and let the monarch also obtain the merit of Truth.’

“Heaven said, ’Know, O great king, that I am Heaven’s self in my embodied form, come hither in person.  Let this dispute between you cease.  You are both equal in respect of the merit or rewards earned.’

“The king said, ’I have no use with Heaven.  Go, O Heaven, to the place you have come from.  If this learned Brahmana desires to repair to thee, let him take the rewards that I have won (by my acts in life).’

“The Brahmana said, ’In my younger days I had, through ignorance, stretched my hand (for acceptance of gifts).  At present, however, I recite the Gayatri, observing the duty of abstention.[637] Why dost thou, O king, tempt me thus, me who have for a long time observed the duty of abstention?  I shall myself do what my duty is.  I do not wish to have any share of the rewards won by thee, O monarch!  I am devoted to penances and to study of the Vedas, and I have abstained from acceptance.’