heart, moved also by the
inevitable delay that will occur in its accomplishment. It is for this
that thou art pale and lean. Verily, thou desirest, with the aid of thy
intelligence, to bring under thy influence, diverse persons with diverse
kinds of understandings and inclinations. It is for this that thou art
pale and lean.[537] Destitute of learning, without courage, and without
much wealth, thou seekest such fame as is won by knowledge and prowess
and gifts. Verily, it is for this that thou hast been pale and lean. Thou
hast not been able to acquire something upon which thou hast set thy
heart for a long time. Or, that which thou seekest to do is sought to be
undone by somebody else. It is for this that thou art pale and lean.
Verily, without being able to see any fault on thy part, thou hast been
cursed by somebody. It is for this that thou art pale and lean.[538]
Destitute of both wealth and accomplishments thou seekest in vain to
dispel the grief of thy friends and the sorrows of sorrowing men. It is
for this that thou art pale and lean. Beholding righteous persons the
domestic mode of life, unrighteous persons living according to the forest
mode, and emancipated persons attached to domesticity and fixed abodes,
thou hast become pale and lean. Verily, thy acts connected with
Righteousness, with Wealth, and with Pleasure, as also the well-timed
words spoken by thee, do not bear fruit. It is for this that thou art
pale and lean. Though endued with wisdom, yet desirous of living, thou
livest with wealth obtained by thee in gift from somebody of evil
conduct. It is for this that thou art pale and lean. Beholding
unrighteousness increasing on every side and righteousness languishing,
thou art filled with grief. It is for this that thou art pale and lean.
Urged by time thou seekest to please all thy friends even when they are
disputing and ranged on sides opposite to one another. It is for this
that thou art pale and lean. Beholding persons possessed of Vedic lore
engaged in improper acts, and persons of learning unable to keep their
senses under control, thou art filled with grief. It is for this that
thou art pale and lean.' Thus praised, the Rakshasa worshipped that
learned Brahmana in return, and making him his friend and bestowing
sufficient wealth upon him in gift, let him off (without devouring him)."'"

SECTION CXXV

"'Yudhishthira said, "Tell me, O grandsire, how a poor man, desirous of
achieving his own