CHAP. IV. 6 145. Let him be intent on those propitious observances which lead to good fortune, and on the dis', charge of his customary duties, his body and mind being pure, and his members kept in subjection; 'let him constantly without remissness repeat the gayatri, and present his oblation to fire: 6 146. To those, who are intent on good fortune and on the discharge of their duties, who are always pure, who repeat the holy text and make oblations to fire, no calamity happens. 147. In due season let him ever study the scrip'ture without negligence; for the sages call that his ' principal duty every other duty is declared to be subordinate. 148. By reading the Véda continually, by purity of body and mind, by rigorous devotion, and by doing no injury to animated creatures, he brings to re'membrance his former birth: 149. A Bráhmen, remembering his former birth, again reads the Véda, and, by reading it constantly, ' attains bliss without end. 150. On the days of the conjunction and opposition, let him constantly make those oblations, which are hallowed by the gáyatrì, and those, which avert 'misfortune; but on the eighth and ninth lunar days of the three dark fortnights after the end of Agraháyan, let him always do reverence to the manes of 151. 6 IV. Far from the mansion of holy fire, let him CHAP. remove all ordure; far let him remove water, in which feet have been washed; far let him remove all rem'nants of food, and all seminal impurity. 6 152. AT the beginning of each day let him discharge his feces, bathe, rub his teeth, apply a collyrium to his eyes, adjust his dress, and adore the gods. 153. On the dark lunar day, and on the other monthly parvans, let him visit the images of deities, ' and Bráhmens eminent in virtue, and the ruler of 'the land, for the sake of protection, and those whom ' he is bound to revere. 154. Let him humbly greet venerable men, who visit him, and give them his own seat; let him sit near them, closing the palms of his hands; and when they depart, let him walk some way behind 'them. 155. Let him practise without intermission that system of approved usages, which is the root of all duty religious and civil, declared at large in the scripture and sacred law tracts, together with the ceremonies peculiar to each act: 156. Since by such practice long life is attained; by such practice is gained wealth unperishable; such practice baffles every mark of ill fortune: 157. But, by an opposite practice, a man surely sinks to contempt in this world, has always a large ' portion CHAP. IV, portion of misery, is afflicted with disease and short• lived; ، 158. While the man, who is observant of approved usages, endued with faith in scripture, and free from a spirit of detraction, lives a hundred years, even though he bear no bodily mark of a prosperous • life. 159. Whatever act depends on another man, that act let him carefully shun; but whatever depends on himself, to that let him studiously attend; ALL, THAT DEPENDS ON ANOTHER, GIVES PAIN; 160. ALL, THAT 6 AND ALL, THAT DEPENDS ON HIMSELF, GIVES PLEASURE ; let him know this to be in few words the definition of pleasure and pain. 161. When an act, neither prescribed nor prohibited, gratifies the mind of him who performs it, let him perform it with diligence; but let him avoid its opposite. 162. Him, by whom he was invested with the sacri'ficial thread, him, who explained the Veda or even a part of it, his mother, and his father, natural or spiritual, let him never oppose; nor priests, nor cows, nor persons truly devout. 6 163. Denial of a future state, neglect of the scripture, and contempt of the deities, envy and hatred, vanity and pride, wrath and severity, let him at all times avoid. IV. 164. Let him not, when angry, throw a stick at CHAP. ' another man, nor smite him with any thing; unless 'hẻ be a son or a pupil: those two he may chastise for their improvement in learning. 6 6 165. A twice-born man, who barely assaults a Bráh men with intention to hurt him, shall be whirled about for a century in the hell named Támisra; 166. But, having smitten him in anger and by de sign, even with a blade of grass, he shall be born, ' in one and twenty transmigrations, from the wombs of impure quadrupeds. 167. ' He, who, through ignorance of the law, sheds blood from the body of a Bráhmen, not engaged in 'battle, shall feel excessive pain in his future life: 6 168. As many particles of dust as the blood shall roll up from the ground, for so many years shall 'the shedder of that blood be mangled by other ani'mals in his next birth. 169. Let not him then, who knows this law, even ' assault a Bráhmen at any time, nor strike him even 'with grass, nor cause blood to gush from his body. 170. EVEN here below an unjust man attains no felicity; nor he, whose wealth proceeds from giving 'false evidence; nor he, who constantly takes delight in mischief. 171. Though oppressed by penury, in consequence ' of his righteous dealings, let him never give his ' mind S mind to unrighteousness; for he may observe the speedy overthrow of iniquitous and sinful men. 172. Iniquity, committed in this world, produces not fruit immediately, but, like the earth, in due season; and, advancing by little and little, it eradicates the man who committed it. 173. Yes; iniquity, once committed, fails not of producing fruit to him, who wrought it; if not in his own person, yet in his sons; or, if not in his sons, yet in his grandsons : 174. He grows rich for a while through unrighteousC ness; then he beholds good things; then it is, that 'he vanquishes his foes; but he perishes at length from his whole root upwards. 6 175. LET a man continually take pleasure in truth, in justice, in laudable practices, and in purity; let him chastise those, whom he may chastise, in a legal mode; let him keep in subjection his speech, his arm, and his appetite : 176. Wealth and pleasures, repugnant to law, let him shun; and even lawful acts, which may cause future pain, or be offensive to mankind. 177. Let him not have nimble hands, restless feet, ' or voluble eyes; let him not be crooked in his ways; let him not be flippant in his speech, nor intelligent in doing mischief. 178. Let him walk in the path of good men; the |
