what belongs to a Brahmana.  Listen now to another mystery, unknown to all with regard to religion.  One should, endued with faith, always do the bidding of one’s preceptor and other seniors.  On the twelfth lunar day, as also on the day of the full moon, every month, one should make gifts unto Brahmanas of ghee and the offerings that constitute Akshata.  Listen to me as I say what the measure is of the merit that such a person acquires.  By such an act one is said to increase Soma and the Ocean.  Vasava, the chief of the celestials, confers upon him a fourth part of the merits that attach to a Horse-sacrifice.  By making such gifts, a person becomes endued with great energy and prowess.  The divine Soma, well-pleased with him, grants him the fruition of his wishes.  Listen now to another duty, together with the foundation on which it rests, that is productive of great merit.  In this age of Kali, that duty, if performed, brings about much happiness to men.  That man who, rising at early dawn and purifying himself by a bath, attires himself in white robes and with the concentrated attention makes gifts unto Brahmanas of vessels full of sesame seeds, who makes offerings unto the Pitris of water with sesame seeds and honey, and who gives lamps as also the food called Krisara acquires substantial merits.  Listen to me as I say what those merits are.  The divine chastiser of Paka has ascribed these merits to the gift of vessels of copper and brass filled with sesame seeds.  He who makes gifts of kine, he who makes gifts of land that are productive of eternal merit, he who performs the Agnishtoma sacrifice with copious presents in the form of Dakshina to the Brahmanas, are all regarded by the deities as acquiring, merits equal to those which one acquires by making gifts of vessels filled with sesame seeds.  Gifts of water with sesame seeds are regarded by the Pitr is as productive of eternal gratification to them.  The grandsires all become highly pleased with gifts of lamps and Krisara.  I have thus recited the ancient ordinance, laid down by the Rishis, that is highly applauded by both the Pitris and the deities in their respective regions.’”

SECTION CXXX

“Bhishma said, ’The Rishis there assembled, together with the Pitris and the deities, then, with concentrated attention, questioned Arundhati (the spouse of Vasishtha) who was endued with great ascetic merit.  Possessed of abundant wealth of penances, Arundhati was equal to her husband, the high-souled Vasishtha in energy for in both vows and conduct she was her husband’s equal.  Addressing her they said, ’We desire to hear from thee the mysteries of duty and religion.  It behoveth thee, O amiable lady, to tell us what thou regardest as a high mystery.’