ज्ञान, तप और दान — इनमें कौन श्रेष्ठ है

Bhishma said Thus addressed, the Holy one replied to Maitreya, saying, By good luck you are gifted with knowledge. By good luck your understanding is of this kind.

Good men highly speak of righteous qualities. By your good luck you are not overwhelmed by personal beauty, youth and prosperity.

This favour done to you is due to kindness of the celestials. Listen to me, as I describe to you what is even superior to gift.

All scriptures, religious treatises, and rites that are seen in the world, have all originated from the Vedas, according to their due order.

Following them I highly speak of gift. You highly speak of penances and Vedic learning. Penances are sacred. Penances are the means by which one may acquire the Vedas and the celestial region.

With the help of penances and of knowledge one acquires the highest fruits.; It is by penances that onc dissipates his sins and all else that is evil.

We have heard that with whatever purpose in view one performs performs one acquires the fruition thereof on account of those penances. The same may be said of knowledge.

Whatever is difficult to do whatever is dificult to conquer whatever is difficult to attain, and whatever is difficult to cross, can all be done with the help of penances. Of all things, penaces are of very superior power.

The man who drinks alcohol, or he who takes forcibly other men's properties, or he who is guilty of focticide, or he who violates the bed of his preceptor, succeeds in crossing with the help of penances. Indeed, one becomes purged off of all these sins through penances.

One gifted with all knowledge and therefore, having true vision and an ascetic of whatever kind, are equal. One should always bow to these two.

All men who have the Vedas for their wealth should be adored. Likewise all men gifted with penances deserve to be adored. They who make gifts get happiness in the next world and much prosperity in this world.

By making gifts of food righteous men of this world obtain both this world and that of Brahiman himself with many other regions of superior happiness.

Those men who are worshipped by all, theinselves worship him who makes gifts. Those men who are honoured everywhere, themselves honour him who makes gifts. Wherever the giver goes, he hears himself his own praise.

He who docs acts and he who omits to do them, gets each what is proportionate to his acts and omissions. Whether one lives in the upper regions or in the nether, one always acquires those places to which one becomes entitled by his deeds.

As regards yourself you will certainly obtain whatever food and drink you may covet, for you are gifted with intelligence, good birth, Vedic learning and mercy.

You are possessed of youth, O Maitreya! you are observant of vows. Be devoted to virtuc. Do you take instructions from me about thosc duties which you should first follow, the duties, viz., of householders.

That house in which the husband is pleased with his married wife, and the wife pleased with her husband, all auspicious results ensue.

As filth is washed away from the body with water, as darkness is removed by the light of fire, so is sin washed off by gifts and penances.

Bless you, O Maitreya, may you have palaces! I depart hence in peace. Do you remember what I have said. You shall then be able to reap many advantages!

Maitreya then walked round his illustrious guest and bowed his head to him, and joining his hands in respect said, Let blessing be to you also, O Holy one!