like that of Sakra, or Surya, or Vishnu, we have approached thee to ascertain the truth.  If thou hast first asked us who we were, we would never have been guilty of the incivility of asking thee first.  We now ask thee who thou art and why thou approachest hither.  Let thy fears be dispelled; let thy woes and afflictions cease.  Thou art now in the presence of the virtuous and the wise.  Even Sakra himself—­the slayer of Vala—­cannot here do thee any injury.  O thou of the prowess of the chief of the celestials, the wise and the virtuous are the support of their brethren in grief.  Here there are none but the wise and virtuous like thee assembled together.  Therefore, stay thou here in peace.  Fire alone hath power to give heat.  The Earth alone hath power to infuse life into the seed.  The sun alone hath power to illuminate everything.  So the guest alone hath power to command the virtuous and the wise.’”

SECTION LXXXIX

(Sambhava Parva continued)

“Yayati said, ’I am Yayati, the son of Nahusha and the father of Puru.  Cast off from the region of the celestials and of Siddhas and Rishis for having disregarded every creature, I am falling down, my righteousness having sustained diminution.  In years I am older than you; therefore, I have not saluted you first.  Indeed, the Brahmanas always reverence him who is older in years or superior in learning or in ascetic merit.’

“Ashtaka then replied, ’Thou sayest, O monarch, that he who is older in years is worthy of regard.  But it is said that he is truly worthy of worship who is superior in learning and ascetic merit.’

“Yayati replied to this, ’It is said that sin destroyeth the merits of four virtuous acts.  Vanity containeth the element of that which leadeth to hell.  The virtuous never follow in the footsteps of the vicious.  They act in such a way that their religious merit always increaseth.  I myself had great religious merit, but all that, however, is gone.  I will scarcely be able to regain it even by my best exertions.  Beholding my fate, he that is bent upon (achieving) his own good, will certainly suppress vanity.  He who having acquired great wealth performeth meritorious sacrifices, who having acquired all kinds of learning remaineth humble, and who having studied the entire Vedas devoteth himself to asceticism with a heart withdrawn from all mundane enjoyments, goeth to heaven.  None should exult in having acquired great wealth.  None should be vain of having studied the entire Vedas.  In the world men are of different dispositions.  Destiny is supreme.  Both power and exertion are all fruitless.  Knowing Destiny to be all-powerful, the wise, whatever their portions may be, should neither exult nor grieve.  When creatures know that their weal and woe are dependent on Destiny and not on their own exertion or power, they should neither grieve nor exult, remembering that Destiny is all powerful.  The wise should