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Parāśara said.
Who serves whom, and who gives to whom? Every living being performs all actions solely for their own sake, by themselves.
One should shun even a brother born of the same mother if he is abandoned out of respect and is devoid of affection; how much more, then, a stranger.
Among distinguished persons, giving and receiving are considered equal, but of the two, giving is more meritorious, especially when performed by a twice-born person.
It is decided that wealth acquired and increased justly by the classes must be protected with effort for the sake of righteousness.
A seeker of righteousness should not gain wealth through cruel deeds. One should perform all duties according to one's capacity and always remember prosperity.
If one, having purified water, whether cool or heated by fire, gives it to a guest according to his ability, he enjoys the fruit (of merit) when given to one afflicted by hunger.
Rantideva, the great-souled one, attained the worldly success he desired. He worshipped the sages with fruits, leaves, and roots.
With those very fruits and leaves, he pleased Māṭhara; therefore, even King Śaibya attained the highest position.
A person is born indebted to deities, guests, servants, ancestors, and to oneself; therefore, one should strive to become free from all debts.
One should honor the great sages through self-study, the gods through sacrificial acts, the ancestors through offerings of śrāddha, and people through acts of worship.
One should, from the very beginning, properly perform one's duty towards the group of servants, by protecting oneself and with what remains to be taken from speech.
The sages, even without wealth, attained perfection by their efforts and by properly offering to the fire.
The son of Ṛcīka became the son of Viśvāmitra. The greatly fortunate one praised the gods, who indeed have a share in the sacrifice, with Ṛg Vedic hymns.
Uśanā, having become Śukra by the grace of the Lord of lords, praised the goddess and now rejoices in the sky, surrounded by radiance.
Asita, Devala, Nārada and Parvata, Kakṣīvān, Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma), Rāma, Tāṇḍya, and Aṃśumān were also present.
Vasiṣṭha, Jamadagni, Viśvāmitra, Atri, Bharadvāja, Hariśmaśru, Kuṇḍadhāra, and Śrutaśravā are the sages mentioned here.
These great sages, after praising (him) and focusing together with the Viṣṇu-seekers, attained perfection through austerity by the grace of that wise one.
Even if unworthy people attain the status of the worthy and are praised by good people, one should not seek advancement here by performing a despicable act.
Only those gains acquired through righteousness are true; those gained through unrighteousness deserve condemnation. Righteousness is eternal in the world; one should never abandon it for the sake of wealth.
O king, one who has established the sacred fires, who is righteous and the foremost doer of virtuous deeds—know that all the Vedas are indeed established in the three sacred fires, O lord.
A brāhmaṇa who has established the sacred fire and whose ritual actions are not diminished—indeed, it is better to be without the sacred fire than to perform the Agnihotra ritual without proper activity.
O best of men, fire, the self, mother, father, and progenitor, as well as the teacher, should be served accordingly.
He who has given up pride, serves elders, is wise, and even if lacking in skill or self-restraint but is endowed with dharma and affection, such a noble person is truly honored by the virtuous in this world.
