carefulness,—­is these that are said to be possessed of behaviour that is virtuous; it is these, O Brahmana, that are said to properly guide their higher intelligence.  Forsaking those that are atheists, those that transgress virtue’s limits, those that are of wicked souls, those that live in sinfulness, betake thyself to knowledge reverencing those that are virtuous.  Lust and temptation are even like sharks in the river of life; the waters are the five senses.  Do thou cross over to the other side of this river in the boat of patience and resignation, avoiding the shoals of corporeal existence (repeated births in this world).  The supreme virtue consisting in the exercise of the intelligent principle and abstraction, when gradually super-added to virtuous conduct, becomes beautiful like dye on white fabrics.  Truthfulness and abstention from doing injury to any one, are virtues highly beneficial to all creatures.  Of these, that latter is a cardinal virtue, and is based on truth.  Our mental faculties have their proper play when their foundation is laid in truth, and in the exercise of virtue truth is of the highest value.  Purity of conduct is the characteristic of all good men.  Those that are distinguished for holy living are good and virtuous.  All creatures follow the principles of conduct which are innate in their nature.  The sinful being who has no control over self acquires lust, anger and other vices.  It is the immemorial rule that virtuous actions are those that are founded on justice, and it is also ordained by holy men that all iniquitous conduct is sin.  Those who are not swayed by anger, pride, haughtiness and envy, and those who are quiet and straight-forward, are men of virtuous conduct.  Those who are diligent in performing the rites enjoined in the three Vedas, who are wise, and of pure and virtuous conduct, who exercise self-restraint and are full of attention to their superior, are men of virtuous conduct.  The actions and conduct of such men of great power, are very difficult of attainment.  They are sanctified by the purification of their own actions, and consequently sin in them dies out of itself.  This virtue of good conduct is wonderful, ancient, immutable and eternal; and wise men observing this virtue with holiness, attain to heaven.  These men who believe in the existence of the Deity, who are free from false pride, and versed in holy writ, and who respect regenerate (twice-born) men, go to heaven.  Among holy men, virtue is differentiated in three ways—­that great virtue which is inculcated in the Vedas, the other which is inculcated in the dharmashastras (the minor scriptures), and virtuous conduct.  And virtuous conduct is indicated by acquisition of knowledge, pilgrimage to sacred places, truthfulness, forbearance, purity and straight-forwardness.  Virtuous men are always kind to all creatures, and well-disposed towards regenerate men.  They abstain from doing injury to any creature, and are never rude in speech.