is the keeping of kine.[344] The wise have said that a person who gives away the cow unto any of such sinful persons has to sink into everlasting hell.  One should never give unto a Brahmana a cow that is lean, or that produces calves that do not live, or that is barren, or that is diseased, or that is defective of limb, or that is worn out with toil.  The man that gives away ten thousand kine attains to heaven and sports in bliss in the companionship of Indra.  The man who makes gifts of kine by hundred thousand acquires many regions of inexhaustible felicity.  Thus have I recited to thee the merits attaching to the gift of kine and of sesame, as also to the gift of earth.  Listen now to me as I discourse to thee upon the gift of food, O Bharata.  The gift of food, O son of Kunti, is regarded as a very superior gift.  King Rantideva in days of yore ascended to heaven by having made gifts of food.  That king, who make a gift of food unto one that is toil-worn and hungry, attains to that region of supreme felicity which is the Self-born’s own.  Men fail to attain by gifts of gold and robes and of other thing, to that felicity to which givers of food succeed in attaining, O thou of great puissance!  Food is, indeed, the first article.  Food is regarded as the highest prosperity.  It is from food that life springs, as also energy and prowess and strength.  He who always makes gifts of food, with attention, unto the righteous, never falls into any distress..  Even this has been said by Parasara.  Having worshipped the deities duly, food should be first dedicated to them.  It has been said, O king, that the kind of food that is taken by particular men is taken also by the deities those men worship.[345] That man who makes a gift of food in the bright fortnight of the month of Kartika, succeeds in crossing every difficulty here add attains to inexhaustible felicity hereafter.  That man who makes a gift of food unto a hungry guest arrived at his abode, attains to all those regions, O chief of Bharata’s race, that are reserved for persons acquainted with Brahma.  The man who makes gifts of food is sure to cross every difficulty and distress.  Such a person comes over every sin and cleanses himself of every evil act.  I have thus discoursed to thee upon the merits of making gifts of food, of sesame, of earth, and of kine.’”

SECTION LXVII

“Yudhishthira said, ’I have heard, O sire, of the merits of the different kinds of gift upon which thou hast discoursed to me.  I understand, O Bharata, that the gift of food is especially laudable and superior.  What however, are the great merits of making gifts of drink.  I desire to hear of this in detail, O grandsire!’