12.148
Śaunaka said.
Therefore, I shall declare dharma to you, whose mind is turned inward. You, who are prosperous, mighty, and pleased, observe dharma. Formerly, having been fierce, that has now become even more excellent.
O king, beings are supported by their own conduct. Indeed, the world judges everything as either existence or non-existence. Where you, having become such, do not see dharma today.
O Janamejaya, it is indeed a marvel among beings that he gave up delightful food and pleasures to undertake austerity.
It is said that if a weak person is a giver, a miser, or an ascetic, it is not surprising; such things are not uncommon.
This is truly misery, when left wholly unexamined. Therefore, only through examination should it be; in that, then, lies virtue.
O lord of the earth, sacrifice, charity, compassion, the Vedas, and truth are five purifying things; the sixth purifier is good conduct and austerity.
O Janamejaya, that is truly the highest purifier for kings. By properly accepting it, you will attain superior dharma.
Going to a sacred place is regarded as supremely pure. Indeed, these verses, sung by Yayāti, are also cited as examples.
Any mortal who attains life or is reborn, having performed the sacrifice exclusively and then renounced it, should undertake austerity.
They declare Kurukshetra, where the Sarasvati flows with abundant water, to be holy; whoever bathes or drinks there will not suffer death the next day.
You will again go to the great lake, the lotuses, to Prabhāsa, Uttara, Mānasā, and Kāloda, having regained your life.
While serving the Sarasvatī and Dṛṣadvatī rivers and moving along, being devoted to self-study, you should perform the prescribed touch (purification) in all places.
The supreme dharma of renunciation for the pure was declared. Here too, these verses composed by the truthful are cited.
Just as a boy is simply truthful, neither virtuous nor sinful; in this world, since there is no suffering among all beings, how can there be happiness?
Thus, when the fall of merit is manifest, life is generally lost for all beings who act according to their nature, seek all associations, and abandon restraint.
I will tell you what is truly the greatest of a king's deeds. By strength and by fair distribution, win heaven and purify yourself.
He whose strength and vitality are thus, he is the lord of dharma, a true man. For the happiness of the Brāhmaṇas, you should go around this earth.
Just as you once reproached these people, now please them in the same way. Even if you are reproached or abandoned in many ways.
O wise one, perceive the self without the egoistic thought 'I am'; do not be angry. Strive in your own duties and perform the highest good.
O scorcher of foes, sometimes a king becomes like snow, fire, or something terrible; at other times, another becomes like a plough or a thunderbolt.
One should never consider anyone as entirely incurable, nor should one ever say 'I am not' and become attached to the wicked.
One is released from a portion of sin by suffering for wrongful action. By resolving "This should not be done again," one is further freed. By resolving "I shall practice only dharma," one is completely freed.
A person who wishes to prosper should approve of what is auspicious. Those who associate with the good become good, just as those who associate with the fragrant become fragrant, and those who associate with the foul become foul.
A person devoted to austerity is instantly freed from sin. One who is cursed is released after worshipping fire for a year. A slayer of the embryo is especially released after worshipping fire for three years.
If a person kills as many living beings of that kind by nature, but releases those who are being killed, the killer of an embryo is completely absolved.
Manu said: "Even by immersing oneself in water and reciting the Aghamarṣaṇa hymn three times, it is as meritorious as the final bath of the Aśvamedha sacrifice."
He quickly drives away sin and likewise obtains respect; moreover, even creatures, like those who are dull and mute, become pleased with him.
O king, all the gods and asuras, having assembled, engaged Bṛhaspati, the teacher of the gods. O great sage, you know the fruit of dharma when performed, and likewise, in the opposite case, in hell, in the world of the wicked.
O great sage, tell us: If both good and bad deeds belong to a person, which of the two prevails? What is the fruit of action? How does a person of virtuous conduct drive away sin?
Bṛhaspati said.
If one has committed sin previously out of ignorance, but then performs virtuous deeds with understanding, he, being of virtuous character, dispels that sin, just as a soiled garment is cleansed by alkali.
After committing a sin, a person should not think, 'I am not (the doer)'; rather, he should sincerely wish to do good, with faith and without envy.
Just as a good person covers the holes in a garment, so too, a man who has committed a sin attains goodness.
Just as the sun, when it rises, dispels all darkness, so too, by practicing good deeds, one dispels all sin.
Bhīṣma said.
After saying this, Indrota caused King Janamejaya to perform the horse-sacrifice according to the prescribed rites, as narrated by Śaunaka.
Then that king, purified of sin and endowed with splendour like blazing fire, entered his own kingdom, subduing his enemies, just as the full moon ascends into the heavens.
