f Mithila, questioned the
high-souled Parasara endued with certain knowledge in respect of all
duties.

"'"Janaka said, 'What is productive of good? What is the best path (for
living creatures)? What is that which being accomplished is never
destroyed? What is that spot repairing whither one has not to come back?
Tell me all this, O thou of high intelligence!'

"'"Parasara said, 'Dissociation (from attachments) is the root of what is
good.[1558] Knowledge is the highest path. Penances practised are never
destroyed, Gifts also, made to deserving persons, are not lost. When one,
breaking the bonds of sin, begins to take pleasure in righteousness, and
when one makes that highest of all gifts, viz., the pledge of
harmlessness unto all creatures, then does one achieve success. He who
gives away thousands of kine and hundreds of horses (to deserving
persons), and who gives unto all creatures the pledge of harmlessness,
receives in return the pledge of harmlessness from all. One may live in
the midst of all kinds of wealth and enjoyment, yet, if blessed with
intelligence, one does not live in them: while he that is destitute of
intelligence lives wholly in objects of enjoyment that are even
unsubstantial.[1559] Sin cannot attach to a man of wisdom even as water
cannot drench the leaves of the lotus. Sin adheres more firmly to him who
is without attachment even as lac and wood adhere firmly to each other.
Sin, which cannot be extinguished except by endurance of its fruits,
never abandons the doer. Verily, the doer, when the time comes, has to
endure the consequences arising from it.[1560] They, however, that are of
cleansed souls and that realise the existence of Brahma, are never
afflicted by the fruits of their acts. Heedless in respect of one's
senses of knowledge and of action, one that is not conscious of one's
wicked acts, and whose heart is attached to both good and bad, becomes
afflicted with great fear. One who at all times becomes entirely freed
from attachments and who completely subjugates the passion of wrath, is
never stained by sin even if he lives in the enjoyment of worldly
objects. As a dyke built across a river, if not washed away, causes the
waters thereof to swell up, even so the man who, without being attached
to objects of enjoyments, creates the dyke of righteousness whose
materials consist of the limitations set down in the scriptures, has
never to languish. On the other hand, his merits and penances i