listen to the regulations on this subject!  Man with his subtle original body created by God lays up a great store of virtue and vice.  After death he quits his frail (outer) body and is immediately born again in another order of beings.  He never remains non-existent for a single moment.  In his new life his actions follow him invariably as shadow and, fructifying, makes his destiny happy or miserable.  The wise man, by his spiritual insight, knows all creatures to be bound to an immutable destiny by the destroyer and incapable of resisting the fruition of his actions in good or evil fortune.  This, O Yudhishthira, is the doom of all creatures steeped in spiritual ignorance.  Do thou now hear of the perfect way attained by men of high spiritual perception!  Such men are of high ascetic virtue and are versed in all profane and holy writ, diligent in performing their religious obligations and devoted to truth.  And they pay due homage to their preceptors and superiors and practise Yoga, are forgiving, continent and energetic and pious and are generally endowed with every virtue.  By the conquest of the passions, they are subdued in mind; by practising yoga they become free from disease, fear and sorrow; they are not troubled (in mind).  In course of birth, mature or immature, or while ensconced in the womb, in every condition, they with spiritual eyes recognize the relation of their soul to the supreme Spirit.  Those great-minded Rishis of positive and intuitive knowledge passing through this arena of actions, return again to the abode of the celestials.  Men, O king, attain what they have in consequence of the grace of the gods of Destiny or of their own actions.  Do thou not think otherwise.  O Yudhishthira, I regard that as the highest good which is regarded so in this world.  Some attain happiness in this world, but not in the next; others do so in the next, but not in this.  Some, again, attain happiness in this as well as in the next world; and others neither here nor in the next world.  Those that have immense wealth, shine every day with well-decorated persons.  O slayer of mighty foes, being addicted to carnal pleasures, they enjoy happiness only in this world, but not in the next.  But those who are engaged in spiritual meditations and the study of the Vedas, who are diligent in asceticism, and who impair the vigour of their bodies by performing their duties, who have subdued their passions, and who refrain from killing any animated being, those men, O slayer of thy enemies, attain happiness in the next world, but not in this!  Those who first live a pious life, and virtuously acquire wealth in due time and then marry and perform sacrifices, attain bliss both in this and the next world.  Those foolish men again who do not acquire knowledge, nor are engaged in asceticism or charity or increasing their species; or in encompassing the pleasures and enjoyments of this world, attain bliss neither in this nor in the next world.  But all of you are proficient in knowledge and possessed