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Tulādhāra said.
If this path is adopted by the virtuous, or even if it is, let it be performed directly and properly; then you will know how it is.
Many of these birds move about all around; on your head are born hawks and other species.
O great Brahman, call these who are entering from all sides; see how they are joined in the hands and feet, and entirely in the body.
The birds that you have honored honor their father. Without a doubt, you are the father, O Jājala; call your sons.
Bhīṣma said.
Then, Jājali summoned the birds, and they uttered a divine speech, indeed, from the statement of dharma.
O Brāhmaṇa, actions such as non-violence and similar deeds bear fruit both here and in the next world; but jealousy destroys, and being overcome by it kills that man.
Even a sacrifice cannot protect one whose faith has grown only in speech and mind. Here, the knowers of old recite the verses called 'Brahmagītāḥ'.
The gods regarded the mind of the pure without faith, the faithful, and the impure as alike in the performance of sacrifice.
The gods equally prepared food for both the learned Brāhmaṇa who was a miser and the generous old man after examining them.
Prajapati said to them: "This has been done with inequality." The food of the generous is sanctified by faith, while that of others is ruined by lack of faith. The food to be eaten belongs to the generous, not to the miser, nor to the old man.
Those who lack faith alone are not worthy of offering to the gods; the food of such a person indeed should not be eaten—thus knowers of dharma know.
Lack of faith is the greatest sin, while faith removes sin. A faithful person casts off sin as a snake sheds its old skin.
The cessation from ritual purifications, when accompanied by faith, is superior. One whose conduct is free from faults and who is faithful is truly purified.
What is achieved by austerity, conduct, or self alone? This person is made of faith; as is his faith, so is he.
Thus, dharma has been explained by the virtuous who understand its purpose. We, seeking knowledge, have come to you after seeing the vision of dharma.
O wise Jājala, abandon rivalry; then you will attain the highest. The merchant who is faithful, trusting, and virtuous here, established in his own path, is greater.
Thus, the meaning of the majority opinion was spoken by the balance-holder; in this way, dharma was properly ascertained and the eternal dharma was declared.
O son of Kuntī, having heard the words of Tulādhāra, that brāhmaṇa of renowned valor truly attained peace.
Then, after a short time, Tuladhara and the other wise one, having gone to heaven, dwelt there happily, each attaining his own place as determined by the results of his own actions.
Among those who are equal, faithful, self-restrained, and wise, only what is performed as 'sacrifice' is truly sacrifice; sacrifice is never otherwise.
O king, faith is the sāttvic goddess, the daughter of the Sun—Savitri, the procreator, and the one who gives confidence to all living beings.
O Bhārata, faith protects the one advanced in speech, and the mind protects the one advanced in mind. Through such instruction by comparison, what more do you wish to hear?
