to righteousness instead of other sins.[626] If a
quantity of water be poured upon salt, the latter
immediately dissolves away. Even so when expiation
is performed, sin dissolves away. For these reasons
one should never conceal a sin. Concealed, it
is certain to increase. Having committed a sin,
one should confess it in the presence of those that
are good. They would destroy it immediately.
If one does not enjoy in good time what one has stored
with hope, the consequence is that the stored wealth
finds another owner after the death of him who has
stored it. The wise have said that the mind of
every creature is the true test of Righteousness.
Hence, all creatures in the world have an innate tendency
to achieve Righteousness. One should achieve
Righteousness alone or single-handed. Verily,
one should not proclaim oneself Righteous and walk
with the standard of Righteousness borne aloft for
purpose of exhibition. They are said to be traders
in Righteousness who practise it for enjoying the fruits
it brings about. One should adore the deities
without giving way to sentiments of pride. Similarly,
one should serve one’s preceptor without deceit.
One should make arrangements for securing to oneself
invaluable wealth in the hereafter which consists
in gifts made here to deserving persons.’”
“Yudhishthira said, ’It is seen that if
a person happens to be unfortunate, he fails to acquire
wealth, how great so ever his strength. On the
other hand, if one happens to be fortunate, he comes
to the possession of wealth, even if he be a weakling
or a fool. When, again, the time does not come
for acquisition, one cannot make an acquisition with
even one’s best exertion. When, however,
the time comes for acquisition, one wins great wealth
without any exertion. Hundreds of men may be
seen who achieve no result even when they exert their
best. Many persons, again, are seen to make acquisitions
without any exertion. If, wealth were the result
of exertion, then one could, with exertion, acquire
it immediately. Verily, if the case were so, no
man of learning could then be seen to take the protection
for the sake of his livelihood, of one destitute of
learning, Among men, that which is not (destined) to
be attained, O chief of the Bharatas, is never attained.
Men are seen to fail in achieving results even with
the aid of their best exertions. One may be seen
to seek wealth by hundreds of means (and yet failing
to acquire it); while another, without at all seeking
it, becomes happy in its possession. Men may
be seen doing evil acts continually (for wealth) and
yet failing to acquire it. Others are in the enjoyment
of wealth without doing any evil act whatever.
Others, again, who are observant of the duties assigned
to them by the scriptures, are without wealth.
One may be seen to be without any knowledge of the
science of morals and policy even after one has studied
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