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Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O grandsire, how is it that the twice-born, endowed with vows, eat this offering—food meant for the desire of a Brāhmaṇa?
Bhīṣma said.
O Yudhishthira, those who are endowed with vows not prescribed in the Veda, who enjoy and perform duties, and those who enjoy what is prescribed in the Veda but have lost their vows.
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
Ordinary people say that this fasting is austerity, O great king, but is this austerity, or what truly is austerity?
Bhīṣma said.
People think that fasting for a month or a fortnight is austerity, but self-inflicted harm is not considered austerity by the wise. Renunciation and humility are indeed regarded as the highest form of austerity.
He should always reside in a holy place, be ever celibate, always a sage, always a Brāhmaṇa, and should always worship the divine.
O Bhārata, a householder who desires dharma should always be wakeful, abstain from meat, remain pure, and constantly engage in recitation.
One should always eat pure food, never partake of harmful food, should always accept leftovers, and always be hospitable to guests.
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
How can a person always be a faster, how can he be a celibate? How can he be one who eats leftovers, and always be fond of guests?
Bhīṣma said.
One who does not eat at all between the morning and evening meals should always be considered as one who is constantly fasting.
A celibate student who approaches his wife at the proper time becomes a true brāhmaṇa; he should always speak the truth and be ever devoted to knowledge.
One who refrains from eating useless meat and does not eat meat indeed becomes always charitable, pure, and is one who does not sleep at night but sleeps during the day.
O Yudhishthira, know that he who always eats among servants and guests, after everyone else has eaten, truly partakes of all nectar.
If a twice-born always refrains from eating when food has not been eaten, by such abstention he indeed conquers heaven.
Whoever eats the remaining food without first offering it to the deities, ancestors, servants, and guests together, is called one who eats remnants.
Their worlds are truly endless; in the abode with Brahmā, the heavenly beings, together with the Apsarases, move about freely.
Those who, together with the gods and ancestors, enjoy and rejoice with their sons and grandsons—their destiny is the highest.
