their ability for the attainment of success.  I shall now tell thee the duties of Kshatriyas.  They are not unknown to thee.  Sacrifice, learning, exertion, ambition,[69] wielding ‘the rod of punishment,’ fierceness, protection of subjects., knowledge of the Vedas, practise of all kinds of penances, goodness of conduct, acquisition of wealth, and gifts to deserving persons,—­these, O king, well performed and acquired by persons of the royal order, secure for them both this world and the next, as heard by us.  Amongst these, O son of Kunti, wielding the rod of chastisement has been said to be the foremost.  Strength must always reside in a Kshatriya, and upon strength depends chastisement.  Those duties that I have mentioned are, O king, the principal ones for Kshatriyas and contribute greatly to their success.  Vrihaspati, in this connection, sang this verse:  ’Like a snake devouring a mouse, the Earth devours a king that is inclined to peace and a Brahmana that is exceedingly attached to a life of domesticity.’  It is heard again that the royal sage Sudyumna, only by wielding the rod of chastisement, obtained the highest success, like Daksha himself, the son of Prachetas.’

Yudhishthira said, ’O holy one, by what acts did Sudyumna, that lord of the earth, obtain the highest success?  I desire to hear the history of that king!’

“Vyasa said, ’In this connection is cited this old history.  There were two brothers, viz., Sankha and Likhita, of rigid vows.  The two brothers had two separate dwellings both of which were beautiful.  Situate by the bank of the stream called Vahuda, both of those residences were adorned with trees that were always burthened with flowers and fruits.  Once on a time Likhita came to the residence of his brother Sankha.  At that time, however, Sankha had gone out of his asylum on no fixed purpose.  Arrived at the asylum of his brother, Likhita plucked many ripe fruits.  Obtaining them the regenerate Likhita began to eat them without any qualms of conscience.  While still employed in the act of eating, Sankha came back to his retreat.  Beholding him eating, Sankha addressed his brother, saying, ’Whence have these fruits been obtained and for what reason art thou eating them?’ Approaching his elder brother and saluting him, Likhita smilingly replied, saying, ’I have taken them even from this retreat.’  Filled with great rage, Sankha said unto him, ’Thou hast committed theft by thyself taking these fruits.  Go and approaching the king confess to him what thou hast done.  Tell him, O best of kings, I have committed the offence of approaching what was not given to me.  Knowing me for a thief and observing the duty of thy order, do thou soon inflict upon me, O ruler of men, the punishment of a thief.’  Thus addressed, the highly blessed Likhita of rigid vows, at the command of his brother, proceeded to king Sudyumna.  Hearing from his gate-keepers that Likhita had come, king Sudyumna, with his counsellors,