nor is he worthy of any of the rites of regeneration.  The course of duties flowing from the Vedas is not his.  He is not interdicted, however, from practising the three and ten duties that are common to all the orders.  O ruler of the Videhas, Brahmanas learned in the Vedas, O monarch, regard a (virtuous) Sudra as equal to Brahmana himself.  I, however, O king, look upon such a Sudra as the effulgent Vishnu of the universe, the foremost one in all the worlds.[1544] Persons of the lowest order, desiring to exterminate the evil passions (of lust and wrath, etc.) may betake themselves to the observance of the conduct of the good; and, indeed, while so acting, they may earn great merit by performing all rites that lead to advancement, omitting the mantras that are utterable by the other orders while performing the self-same ceremonies.  Wherever persons of the lowest order adopt the behaviour of the good, they succeed in attaining to happiness in consequence of which they are able to pass their time in felicity both here and hereafter.’

“Janaka said, ’O great ascetic, is man stained by his acts or is he stained by the order or class in which he is born?  A doubt has arisen in my mind.  It behoveth thee to expound this to me.’

“Parasara said, ’Without doubt, O king, both, viz., acts and birth, are sources of demerit.  Listen now to their difference.  That man who, though stained by birth, does not commit sin, abstains from sin notwithstanding birth and acts.  If, however, a person of superior birth perpetrates censurable acts, such acts stain him.  Hence, of the two, viz., acts and birth, acts stain man (more than birth).[1545]

“Janaka said, ’What are those righteous acts in this world, O best of all regenerate persons, the accomplishment of which does not inflict any injury upon other creatures?’

“Parasara said, ‘Hear from me, O monarch, about what thou askest me’ viz., those acts free from injury which always rescue man.  Those who, keeping aside their domestic fires, have dissociated themselves from all worldly attachments, become freed from all anxieties.  Gradually ascending step by step, in the path of Yoga, they at last behold the stage of highest felicity (viz., Emancipation).[1546] Endued with faith and humility, always practising self-restraint, possessed of keen intelligence, and abstaining from all acts, they attain to eternal felicity.  All classes of men, O king, by properly accomplishing acts that are righteous, by speaking the truth, and by abstaining from unrighteousness, in this world, ascend to heaven.  In this there is no doubt.’”

SECTION CCXCVIII