is afflicted.  It is meet that I should go to heaven for good, before unrighteousness assails the world and establishes itself here![427] Before the time comes when Brahmanas, loudly uttering the fully Vedas, within the precincts of villages and inhabited places, cause the Sudras to hear them, before the time comes when kings often against the rules of Righteousness from motives of policy, I shall go to heaven for good!  Before men cease to regard the distinctions between the lower, the middle, and the higher classes, I shall go to heaven for good.  Before Ignorance assails the world and envelops all things in darkness, I shall go to heaven for good.[428] Before the time comes when the strong begin to lord it over the weak and treat them as slaves, I shall go to heaven for good.  Indeed, I dare not remain on earth for witnessing these things.’  The Rishis, much concerned at what he said, addressed that great ascetic and said, ’We have not stolen thy stalks!  Thou shouldst not harbour these suspicions against us.  O great Rishi, we shall take the most frightful oaths!’ Having said these words, conscious of their own innocence, and desirous of upholding the cause of righteousness, those Rishis and sages of royal descent then began to swear, one after another, the following oaths.’”

“Bhrigu said, ’Let him who has stolen thy stalks censure when censured, assail when assailed, and eat the flesh that is attached to the back-bone of animals (slaughtered in sacrifice)!’"[429]

“Vasishtha said, ’Let him who has stolen thy stalks neglect his Vedic studies, leash hounds, and having, taken himself to the mendicant order live in a city or town!’[430]

“Kasyapa said, ’Let him who has stolen thy stalks sell all things in all places, misappropriate deposits, and give false evidence!’

“Gautama said, ’Let him who has stolen thy stalks live, displaying pride in all things, with an understanding that does not see all creatures with an equal eye, and always yielding himself to the influence of desire and wrath!  Let him be a cultivator of the soil, and let him be inspired by malice!’[431]

“Angiras said, ’Let him who has stolen thy stalks be always impure!  Let him be a censurable Brahmana (for his misdeeds).  Let him leash hounds.  Let him be guilty of Brahmanicide.  Let him be averse to expiations after having committed transgressions!’”

“Dhundhumara said, ’Let him who has stolen thy stalks be ungrateful to his friends!  Let him take birth in a Sudra woman!  Let him eat alone any good food (coming to the house), without sharing it with others!’"[432]

“Dilipa said, ’Let him who has stolen thy stalks descend to those regions of misery and infamy which are reserved for that Brahmana who re-sides in a village having but one well and who has sexual congress with a Sudra woman!’"[433]

“Puru said, ’Let him who has stolen thy stalks adopt the occupation of a physician!  Let him be supported by the earnings of his wife!  Let him draw his sustenance from his father-in-law!’”