towards the abode of Yama.[903] Persons possessed of wisdom and patience always succeed in crossing this awful river by employing the rafts of knowledge and wisdom.  What, however, can senseless fools, destitute of similar rafts do (when thrown into that furious stream)?  That only the man of wisdom succeeds in crossing this stream and not he that is unwise, is consistent with reason.  The former beholds from a distance the merits and faults of everything. (Accordingly, he succeeds in adopting or rejecting what is deserving of adoption or rejection).  The man, however, of unstable and little understanding, and whose soul is full of desire and cupidity, is always filled with doubt.  Hence the man destitute of wisdom never succeeds in crossing that river.  He also who sits inactively (in doubt) can never pass it over.  The man destitute of the raft of wisdom, in consequence of his having to bear the heavy weight of great faults, sinks down.  One that is seized by the crocodile of desire, even if possessed of knowledge, can never make knowledge one’s raft.[904] For these reasons, the man of wisdom and intelligence should strive to float over the stream of Time (without sinking in it).  He indeed, succeeds in keeping himself afloat who becomes conversant with Brahma.  One born in a noble race, abstaining from the three duties of teaching, officiating at other’s sacrifices and accepting gifts, and doing only the three other acts, viz., studying, sacrificing, and giving, should, for those reasons, strive to float over the stream.  Such a man is sure to cross it aided by the raft of wisdom.  One who is pure in conduct, who is self-restrained and observant of good vows, whose soul is under control, and who is possessed of wisdom, certainly wins success in this and the other world.  The Brahmana leading a domestic mode of life should conquer wrath and envy, practise the virtues already named, and worshipping the deities in the five sacrifices, eat after having fed the deities, Pitris, and guests.  He should conform to those duties which are observed by the good; he should do all his acts like a person of governed soul; and he should, without injuring any creature, draw his substance by adopting a course that is not censurable.  One who is well-versed in the truths of the Vedas and the other branches of knowledge, whose behaviour is like that of a person of well-governed soul, who is endued with a clear vision, who observes those duties that are laid down for his order, who does not, by his acts, produce an inter-mixture of duties, who attends to the observances set down in the scriptures, who is full of faith, who is self-restrained, who is possessed of wisdom, who is destitute of envy and malice, and who is well-conversant with the distinctions between righteousness and inequity, succeeds in crossing all his difficulties.  That Brahmana who is possessed of fortitude, who is always heedful, who is self-restrained, who is conversant with righteousness, whose soul is