Mahābhārata

M. N. Dutt: The Blessed and Holy One said Formerly a blessed and foremost of women, was created by Brahman, called Tilottama, by collecting beauty from every beautiful object in the universe.

M. N. Dutt: One day, that lady of beautiful face, peerless in the universe for beauty of form, came to me, O goddess, for circumambulating me but, in sooth, moved by the desire of tempting me.

M. N. Dutt: In whatever direction that lady of beautiful teeth turned, a new face to mine instantly appeared. All these faces of mine became handsome to look at.

M. N. Dutt: Thus, on account of the desire of seeing her, I became fourfaced, through Yogapower. Thus I showed my high Yogapower in becoming fourfaced.

M. N. Dutt: With that face of mine which is turned towards the east, I exercise the sovereignty of the universe. With that face of mine which is turned towards the north, I sport with you, O you of faultless features.

M. N. Dutt: That face of mine which is turned towards the west is handsome and auspicious. With it I ordain the happiness of all creatures. That face cf mine which is turned towards the south is dreadful. With it I destroy all creatures.

M. N. Dutt: I live as a Brahmacharin with matted locks on iny head, for doing good in all creatures. The bow Pinaka is always in my hand for accomplishing the work of the celestials.

M. N. Dutt: Formerly, Indra, desirous of acquiring my prosperity, had hurled his thunderbolt at me. With that weapon my throat was scorched. Therefore I have become bluethroated.

M. N. Dutt: Uma said When, O foremost of all creatures, there are so many excellent beautiful cars, why have you selected a bull for your vehicle?

M. N. Dutt: Maheshvara said Formerly, the Grandfather Brahman created the celestial cow Surabhi giving profuse milk After her creation there sprang from her a large number of king all of which gave sufficient quantities of milk sweet as nectar.

M. N. Dutt: Once on a time a quantity of froth fell from the mouth of one of her calves on my body. I was enraged at this and my anger scorched all the kine which there upon became diversified in colour.

M. N. Dutt: I was then pacified by the Lord of all the worlds, viz., Brahman, conversant this bull both as a car for bearing me and as device on my banner.

M. N. Dutt: Uma said You have many houses, in the celestial region, of various forms and possessed of every comfort and luxury. Why, O Holy One, do you live in the crematorium, abandoning all those delightful palaces.

M. N. Dutt: The crematorium is full of the hair and bones (of the dead), abounds with vultures and jackals, and is covered with hundreds of funeral pyres.

M. N. Dutt: Full of carrion and muddy with fat and blood, with entrails and bones scattered all over it, and always echoing with the howls of jackals, it is certainly an impure place.

M. N. Dutt: Maheshvara said I always travel over the whole Earth in search after a sacred spot. I do not, however, see any spot that is more sacred than the crematorium.

M. N. Dutt: Therefore, of all houses, the crematorium appears to me to be the best, shaded as it generally is by branches of the banian and adorned with torn garlands of flowers.

M. N. Dutt: O you of sweet smiles, the multitudes of goblins that are my companions love to live in such spots. I do not like, O goddess, to live anywhere, without those goblins by my side.

M. N. Dutt: Therefore, the crematorium is a sacred house to me. Indeed, O auspicious lady, it appears to me to be very Heaven. Highly sacred and endued with great merit, the crematorium is much praised by persons desirous of having holy abodes.

M. N. Dutt: Uma said O Holy One, O lord of all creatures, O foremost of all observers of duties and religious rites, I have a great doubt, O holder of Pinaka, O giver of boons.

M. N. Dutt: These ascetics, O powerful lords, have practised various kinds of austerities. In the world are seen ascetics wandering everywhere under various forms and clad in various kinds of dress.

M. N. Dutt: For benefiting this large number of Rishis, as also myself, do you kindly remove, O chaister of all enemies, this doubt of mine.

M. N. Dutt: What are the characteristics of Religion or Duty? How, indeed, do men unacquainted with the details of Religion or Duty succeed in observing them. O powerful lord, O you who are conversant with Religion, do you tell me this.

M. N. Dutt: Narada said When the daughter of Himavat, put this question, the assemblage of Rishis there present, adored the goddess with words adorned with Richs and with hymns fraught with deep meaning.

M. N. Dutt: Maheshvara said Abstention from injury, truthfulness of speech, mercy towards all beings, tranquillity of soul, and the making of gifts to the best of one's power, form the foremost duties of the householder.

M. N. Dutt: Abstention from sexual union with the wife of other men, protection of the riches and the woman committed to his care, reluctance to appropriate what is not given to one, and avoidance of honey and meat, these are the five chief duties. Indeed, Religion or Duty had many branches all of which yield happy results. These are the duties which those embodied creatures who consider duty as superior, should observe and practise. These are the sources of merit.

M. N. Dutt: Uma said O Holy One, I wish to ask you another question about with I entertain great doubts. You should answer it and remove my doubts. What are the meritorious duties of the four castes.

M. N. Dutt: What are the duties of the Brahmana? What of the Kshatriya? What are the duties of the Vaishya? And what are the duties of the Shudra.

M. N. Dutt: Maheshvara said O highly blessed lady, the question you have put, is a very proper one. Those persons who belong to the twice bom order, are considered as highly blessed, and are, indeed, gods on earth.

M. N. Dutt: Forsooth, the observance of fasts, is always the duty of the Brahmana. When the Brahmana succeeds in properly observing all his duties, he becomes at one with Brahma.

M. N. Dutt: The proper observance of the duties of Brahmacharya, O goddess, are his ritual. The observar ce of vows and the investiture with the sacred thread form his other duties. It is by these that he becomes truly twice born.

M. N. Dutt: He becomes a Brahinana for adoring his preceptors and other elders as also the celestials. Indeed, that religion which has for its soul the study of the Vedas, is the source of all virtue. Even that is the religion which those embodied creatures who are given to virtue and duty, should observe and practise.

M. N. Dutt: Uma said O Holy One, my doubts have not been removed. You should explain in detail what the duties are of the four respective castes of men.

M. N. Dutt: Maheshvara said Listening to the mysteries of religion and duty, observance of the vows laid down in the Vedas, attention to the sacred fire, and accomplishment of the business of the preceptor, leading a mendicant life, always bearing the sacred thread, constant recitation of the Vedas, and rigid observance of the duties of a celebrate life, constitute the duties of the Brahmana.

M. N. Dutt: After the student life is over, the Brahmana, at the behest of his preceptor, should leave his preceptor's abode for returning to his fathers' house. Upon his return he should duly marry a proper wife.

M. N. Dutt: Another duty of the Brahmana consists of avoiding the food prepared by the Shudra. Walking along the path of virtue, always obscrving fasts and the practices of Brahmacharya form his other duties.

M. N. Dutt: The householder should keep up his domestic fire for daily adoration. He should study the Vedas. He should pour libations in honour of the departed Manes and the celestials. He should keep his senses under proper restraint. He should eat what remains after serving gods and guests and all his dependants. He should be abstemious in food, truthful in words, and pure both in body and mind.

M. N. Dutt: Attending to guests is another duty of the householder, as also the keeping up of the three sacrificial fires. The householder should also attend to the ordinary sacrifices called Ishti and should also dedicate animals to the deities according to the ordinances.

M. N. Dutt: Indeed, the celebration of sacrifices is his greatest duty as also a complete abstention from injury to all creatures. Never to eat before serving the celestials and guests and dependants is another duty of the householder. The food that remains after serving gods and guests and the dependants is called Vighasa. The householder should eat Vighasa.

M. N. Dutt: Indeed, to eat after the members of his family including servants and other dependants, is considered as one of the especial duties of the twiceborn householder, who should, besides, be conversant with the Vedas.

M. N. Dutt: The conduct of husband and wife, in the case of the householder, should be equal. He should every day make offerings of flowers and other articles to those celestials who preside over domesticity.

M. N. Dutt: The householder should see that his house is every day properly rubbed with (cowdung and water). He should also observe fasts every day. Wellcleaned and wellrubbed, his house should also be every day fumigated with the smoke of clarified butter poured on his sacred fire in honour of the celestials and the departed Manes.

M. N. Dutt: Even these are the duties of a twice born householder. Those duties really upholds the world. Those duties always and eternally emanate from those pious persons among the Brahmanas who live like householders.

M. N. Dutt: Do you listen to me with rapt attention, O goddess, for I shall now tell you what the dutics are of the Kshatriya and about which you have asked me.

M. N. Dutt: From the beginning it has been said that the duty of the Kshatriya is to protect all creatures. The king gets a fixed share of the merits acquired by his subjects. By that means the king becomes gifted with righteousness.

M. N. Dutt: The king who rules and protects his subjects piously, acquires, by virtue of the protection he offers to others, many regions of happiness in the next world.

M. N. Dutt: The other duties of a Kshatriya consist of self-control and Vedic study, the pouring of libations on the sacred fire, the making of gifts, study, the bearing of the sacred thread, sacrifices, the performance of religious rites, the support of servants and dependants, and perseverance in acts that have been undertaken.

Corresponding verse not found in M. N. Dutt's version.

M. N. Dutt: Another duty of his is to give punishments proportionate to the offences committed. It is also his duty to celebrate sacrifices and other religious rites according to the ordinances laid down in the Vedas. Properly judging the disputes of litigants before him, and truthfulness of speech, and interference for helping the distressed, are the other duties by doing which the king acquires great glory both in this world and in the next. He should also sacrifice his life on the field of battle, having shown great prowess on behalf of kine and Brahmanas.

M. N. Dutt: Such a king acquires in the celestial region। such regions of happiness as are capable of being acquired by the performance of Horsesacrifices.

M. N. Dutt: The duties of the Vaishya always are the keep of cattle and agriculture, the pouring of libations on the sacred fire, the making of gifts, and study.

M. N. Dutt: Trade, walking in the path of virtue, hospitality, peacefulness, self-control, welcoming of Brahmanas, and renouncing things are the other eternal duties of the Vaishya.

M. N. Dutt: The Vaishya, engaged in trade and walking in the path of virtue, should never sell sesame and perfumery and juices or liquid substances. He should perform the duties of hospitality towards all.

M. N. Dutt: He is at liberty to pursue virtue and profit and pleasure according to his means and asmuch as is judicious for him. The service of the three twice born classes forins the high duty of the Shudra.

M. N. Dutt: That Shudra who is truthful in speech and who has controlled his senses, is considered as having acquired meritorious penances. Indeed, the Shudra, who having got a guest, performs the duties of hospitality towards him, is considered as acquiring the merit of great penances.

M. N. Dutt: That intelligent Shudra whose wonduct is virtuous and who adores the deities and Brahmanas, gets desirable rewards of virtue.

M. N. Dutt: O beautiful lady, I have thus recited to you what are the duties of the four castes. Indeed,O blessed lady, I have told you what are their respective duties. What else do you wish to hear?