14.094
Janamejaya said.
O lord, the kings are engaged in sacrifice, the great sages are devoted to austerity, the Brāhmaṇas are intent on peace—which is tranquility and self-control. (14-94-1)
Therefore, nothing here is found equal to the fruits of sacrifice. "Thus" is my understanding, and this is without doubt. (14-94-2)
Indeed, O best of twice-born, many kings, having performed sacrifices, attained great fame here and, after death, departed from here to heaven. (14-94-3)
The king of the gods, the thousand-eyed Indra, by means of sacrifices with abundant gifts, has obtained the entire sovereignty of the gods in all his splendor. (14-94-4)
Just as King Yudhiṣṭhira, with Bhīma and Arjuna at his forefront, was equal to Devarāja (Indra) in both prosperity and valor. (14-94-5)
Then, why did Nakula reproach that Aśvamedha, the great sacrifice of that high-souled king? (14-94-6)
Vaiśampāyana said.
O king, O descendant of Bharata, hear from me properly here the excellent method of the sacrifice and its fruit indeed, O best of men, as I am speaking. (14-94-7)
Long ago, while Śakra was performing a sacrifice, all the great sages spoke as the priests were occupied in carrying out the extended ritual actions of the sacrifice. (14-94-8)
Offerings are made likewise in the fire to the priest endowed with many qualities, among the gods being invoked and present among the great sages. (14-94-9)
Then, O king, very well-versed brāhmaṇas, following their own traditions and chanting with melodious voices, as well as untiring and swift adhvaryu priests, attended (the rite). (14-94-10)
O great king, at that very moment when the animals were being seized, the great sages, full of compassion, appeared. (14-94-11)
Then, having seen the miserable animals, those sages endowed with austerity approached Śakra and said, "This sacrificial procedure is not auspicious." (14-94-12)
This is to be disregarded by you, who desire great dharma; indeed, animals are not prescribed by rule in the sacrifice, O Purandara. (14-94-13)
O lord, this action of yours is a destroyer of dharma; this is not true dharma, for violence is not called dharma. (14-94-14)
If you desire, let them perform your sacrifice only according to tradition. By a sacrifice prescribed by the rules, your merit will become very great. (14-94-15)
O Śakra, sacrifice with seeds that have been preserved for three years; when considered, this great dharma is attained. (14-94-16)
But Indra, being under the influence of pride and delusion, did not accept that statement spoken by the sages who see the truth. (14-94-17)
A very great dispute arose among Indra and the great sages as to whether sacrifices should be offered with offerings from moving beings or immovable beings, O Bhārata. (14-94-18)
But the sages, knowers of reality, being distressed by the dispute, then, having made peace by means of Śakra, asked King Vasu. (14-94-19)
O greatly fortunate one, O king, how is it that in sacrifices the tradition is maintained, that offerings should be made with pure animals, or with seeds, or even with goats? (14-94-20)
Having heard their words, the king, without considering strength or weakness, said: "The sacrifice should be performed with whatever has been brought." (14-94-21)
Having said this, the king entered the netherworld. Here, having told a falsehood, O king, the lord and ruler of the Cedis. (14-94-22)
The unwise person who performs sacrifice with wealth acquired unjustly, desiring virtue, does not enjoy the fruit of righteousness. (14-94-23)
But that wicked-souled man who is deprived of dharma, yet gives a gift to the Brāhmaṇas that causes trust among people. (14-94-24)
A Brāhmaṇa who acquires wealth through evil deeds, acts without restraint, and is possessed by passion and delusion, ultimately attains a degraded end. (14-94-25)
The gifts given by him, who is wicked and of ruined intelligence, if they do not reach a noble being, even the greatest of them perish. (14-94-26)
For one engaged in unrighteousness, violent, and evil-minded, there is no renown from giving, either after death or here, for the wicked-minded. (14-94-27)
Even an accumulation-minded person, indeed, under the sway of greed and delusion, being evil-minded, agitates living beings through violence. (14-94-28)
Thus, one who, having obtained wealth through greed, offers a sacrifice or gives (charity), he, having performed that action, does not succeed because of its impure acquisition. (14-94-29)
Ascetics subsist on gleaned grain, roots, fruits, vegetables, and a water-pot; by giving gifts from their wealth, righteous men reach heaven. (14-94-30)
This is dharma: great renunciation, charity, compassion for all beings, celibacy, truth, kindness, steadfastness, and forgiveness; these are the eternal roots of eternal dharma. (14-94-31)
Formerly, brahmans such as Viśvāmitra and other kings are indeed recorded. Viśvāmitra, Asita, and also Janaka, the king, as well as Kakṣasena and Arṣṭiṣeṇa, and Sindhudvīpa, are kings. (14-94-32)
These, as well as many others, have attained the highest perfection—kings through truthfulness, through gifts, and by means acquired righteously, and ascetics as their wealth. (14-94-33)
O Bhārata, Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras who have embraced austerity and are purified by the fire of charity and duty, they attain heaven. (14-94-34)
