“Uma said, ’Tell me, O illustrious deity, O sinless lord of all creatures, what are those words by which one becomes enchained and what are those words by uttering which one may be freed from one’s bonds.’

“Maheswara said, ’Those men who never tell lies for either themselves or for others, or in jest or for exciting laughter, succeed in ascending to Heaven.  They who never tell lies for earning their subsistence or for earning merit or through mere caprice, succeed in ascending to Heaven.  They who utter words that are smooth and sweet and faultless, and who welcome all whom they meet with sincerity, succeed in ascending to Heaven.  They who never utter words that are harsh and bitter and cruel. and who are free from deceitfulness and evil of every kind, succeed in ascending to Heaven.  Those men who never utter words that are fraught with deceit or that cause breach of understanding between friends, and who always speak what is true and what promotes good feelings, succeed in ascending to Heaven.  Those men who avoid harsh speeches and abstain from quarrels with others, who are impartial in their behaviour to all creatures, and who have subjugated their souls, succeed in ascending to Heaven.  They who abstain from evil speech or sinful conversation, who avoid such speeches as are disagreeable, and who utter only such words as are auspicious and agreeable, succeed in ascending to Heaven.  They who never utter, under anger, such words as tear the hearts of other people, and who, even when under the influence of wrath, speak words that are peaceful and agreeable, succeed in ascending to Heaven.  The religion, O goddess, appertaining to speech, should always be followed by men.  It is auspicious and characterised by truth.  They that are possessed of wisdom should always avoid untruth.’

“Uma said, ’Do thou tell me, O god of gods, O wielder of Pinaka, O thou that art highly blessed, what those mental acts or thoughts are by which a person may be enchained.’

“Maheswara said, ’Endued with merit that arises from mental acts, O goddess, one ascends to Heaven.  Listen to me, O auspicious one, as I recite to thee what those acts are.  Listen to me, O thou of sweet face, how also a mind of ill-regulated features becomes enchained by ill-regulated or evil thoughts.  Those men who do not seek even mentally, to take what belongs to others even when they see it lying in a lone forest, succeed in ascending to Heaven.  Those men who care not to appropriate what belongs to others even when they see it lying in a house or a village that has been deserted, ascend to Heaven.  Those men that do not seek, even mentally, to associate with the wedded spouses of others even when they behold them in deserted places and under the influence of desire, succeed in ascending to Heaven.  Those men who, meeting with friends or foes, behave in the same friendly way towards all, succeed in ascending to Heaven.  Those men that are possessed of learning