who never discards anything (in
consequence of all things being pervaded by the Universal Soul), never
falls away from Emancipation. Without keeping the sacrificial fires and
without a fixed habitation, such a person should enter a village for only
begging his food. He should provide himself for the day without storing
for the morrow. He should betake himself to penances, with heart fixed on
the Supreme.[1022] Eating little and that even under proper regulations,
he should not eat more than once a day. The other indications of a
(religious) mendicant are the human skull, shelter under trees, rags for
wearing, solitude unbroken by the companionship of any one, and
indifference to all creatures.[1023] That person into whom words enter
like affrighted elephants into a well, and from whom they never come back
to the speaker, is fit to lead this mode of life which has Emancipation
for its object.[1024] The mendicant (or Renouncer) should never take note
of the evil acts of any person. He should never hear what is said in
dispraise of others. Especially should he avoid speaking evil of a
Brahmana. He should always say only what is agreeable to the Brahmanas.
When anything is said in dispraise (of himself), he should (without
answering) remain perfectly silent. Such silence, indeed, is the medical
treatment prescribed for him. That person in consequence of whose single
self the place he occupies becomes like the eastern sky, and who can make
a spot teeming with thousands of men and things appear to himself
perfectly solitary or unoccupied, is regarded by the deities to be a true
Brahmana.[1025] Him the gods know for a Brahmana who clothes himself with
whatever comes by the way, who subsists upon whatever he gets, and who
sleeps on whatever spot he finds. Him the gods know for a Brahmana who is
afraid of company as of a snake; of the full measure of gratification
(from sweet viands and drinks) as of hell; and of women as of a
corpse.[1026] Him the gods know for a Brahmana who is never glad when
honoured and never angry when insulted, and who has given assurances of
compassion unto all creatures. One in the observance of the last mode of
life should not view death with joy. Nor should he view life with joy. He
should only wait for his hour like a servant waiting for the behest (of
his master). He should purify his heart of all faults. He should purify
his speech of all faults. He should cleanse himself of all sins. As he
has no fo