from the consequences that are born of ignorance and error.[1731] The knowledge which a man of righteous deeds acquires from Vedic declarations leads to omniscience.  That omniscience is identical with the science of the highest object of human acquisition (viz., Emancipation).  Instruction, imparted to the grateful, became beneficial (in consequence of their leading to the attainment of that highest object of human acquisition).[1732] The pleasure that one takes in living amidst the habitations of men is truly a fast-binding cord.  Breaking that cord, men of righteous deeds repair to regions of great felicity.  Wicked men, however, fail to break that bond.  What use hast thou of wealth, O son, or with relatives, or with children, since thou hast to die:  Do thou employ thyself in seeking for thy soul which is hidden in a cave.  Where have all thy grandsires gone?  Do that today which thou wouldst keep for tomorrow.  Do that in the forenoon which thou wouldst keep for the afternoon.  Death does not wait for any one, to see whether one has or has not accomplished one’s task.  Following the body after one’s death (to the crematorium), one’s relatives and kinsmen and friends come back, throwing it on the funeral pyre.  Without a scruple do thou avoid those men that are sceptics, that are destitute of compassion, and that are devoted to wicked ways, and do thou endeavour to seek, without listlessness or apathy, that which is for thy highest good.  When, therefore, the world is thus afflicted by Death, do thou, with thy whole heart, achieve righteousness, aided all the while by unswerving patience.  That man who is well conversant with the means of attaining to Emancipation and who duly discharges the duties of his order, certainly attains to great felicity in the other world.  For thee that dost not recognise death in the attainment of a different body and that dost not deviate from the path trod by the righteous, there is no destruction.  He that increases the stock of righteousness is truly wise.  He, on the other hand, that falls away from righteousness is said to be a fool.  One that is engaged in the accomplishment of good deeds attains to heaven and other rewards as the fruits of those deeds; but he that is devoted to wicked deeds has to sink in hell.  Having acquired the status of humanity, so difficult of acquisition, that is the stepping-stone to heaven, one should fix one’s soul on Brahma so that one may not fall away once more.  That man whose understanding, directed to the path of heaven, does not deviate therefrom, is regarded by the wise as truly a man of righteousness and when he dies his friends should indulge in grief.  That man whose understanding is not restless and which is directed to Brahma and who has attained to heaven, becomes freed from a great terror (viz., hell).  They that are born in retreats of ascetics and that die there, do not earn much merit by abstaining all their life from enjoyments and the indulgence of desire.