ls as have not been killed in sacrifices. They
pour libations on the blazing sacrificial fire (every day) and are
obedient to the behests of their preceptors and seniors. All of them are
of souls under perfect control, and never take any food without dividing
it duly among their children. They always proceed on cars and other
vehicles together (without any of them riding his own vehicle while
others journey on foot). They never indulge in acts of congress with
their spouses when the latter are in midst of their functional period.
They all act in such a way as to attain to regions of felicity hereafter.
Indeed, they are always righteous in their deeds. When women quick with
child or old men have not eaten, they never eat anything themselves. They
never indulge in play or sports of any kind in the forenoon. They never
sleep during the day. When the Kapas have these and many other virtues
and accomplishments, why, indeed, would you seek to subjugate them? You
should abstain from the endeavour! Verily, by such abstention ye would
achieve what is for your good."

"'"'The Brahmanas said, "Oh, we shall subjugate the Kapas! In this matter,
we art one with the deities. Hence, the Kapas deserve slaughter at your
hands. As regards Dhanin, he should return whence he came!" After this,
Dhanin, returning to the Kapas, said unto them, "The Brahmanas are not
disposed to do you any good!" Hearing this, all the Kapas took up their
weapons and proceeded towards the Brahmanas. The Brahmanas, beholding the
Kapas advancing against them with the standards of their cars upraised,
forthwith created certain blazing fires for the destruction of the Kapas.
Those eternal fires, created with the aid of Vedic Mantras, having
effected the destruction of the Kapas, began to shine in the firmament
like so many (golden) clouds. The gods, having assembled together in
battle, slew many of the Danavas. They did not know at that time that it
was the Brahmanas who had effected their destruction. Then Narada of
great energy, coming there, O king, informed the deities how their foes,
the Kapas, had been really slain by the Brahmanas of mighty energy (and
not by deities themselves). Hearing these words of Narada, the denizens
of heaven became highly gratified. They also applauded those regenerate
allies of theirs that were possessed of great fame. The energy and
prowess of the deities then began to increase, and worshipped in all the
worlds, they acquired also th