icked up from
the fields or roots or fruits or pot-herbs or water or leaves, acquire
great merit and proceed to Heaven. Even such gifts, as also compassion to
all creatures, and Brahmacharyya, truthfulness of speech and kindness,
and fortitude, and forgiveness, constitute the eternal foundations of
Righteousness which itself is eternal. We hear of Viswamitra and other
kings of ancient times. Indeed, Viswamitra, and Asita, and king Janaka,
and Kakshasena and Arshtisena, and king Sindhudwipa,--these and many
other kings, endued with wealth of penances, having made gifts of
articles acquired lawfully, have attained to high success. Those amongst
Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas and Sudras who betake themselves to
penances, O Bharata, and who purify themselves by gifts and other acts of
righteousness, proceed to Heaven.'"

SECTION XCII

"Janamejaya said, 'If, O illustrious one, Heaven is the fruit of wealth
acquired by lawful means, do thou discourse to me fully on it. Thou art
well-conversant with the subject and therefore, it behoveth thee to
explain it. O regenerate one, thou hast said unto me what the high fruit
was that accrued unto that Brahmana, who lived according to the Unccha
mode, through his gift of powdered barley. Without doubt, all thou hast
said is true. In what way, however, was the attainment held certain of
the highest end in all sacrifices? O foremost of regenerate persons, it
behoveth thee to expound this to me in all its details.'

"Vaisampayana said, 'In this connection is cited this old narrative, O
chastiser of foes, of what occurred in former days in the great sacrifice
of Agastya. In olden days, O king, Agastya of great energy, devoted to
the good of all creatures, entered into a Diksha extending for twelve
years.[219] In that sacrifice of the high-souled Rishi many Hotris were
engaged that resembled blazing fires in the splendour of their bodies.
Among them were men that subsisted upon roots or fruits, or that used two
pieces of stone only for husking their corn, or that were supported by
only the rays (of the moon). Among them were also men who never took any
food unless it was placed before them by others solicitous of feeding
them, and those who never ate anything without having first served the
deities, the Pitris, and guests, and those who never washed the food
which they took. There were also Yatis and Bikshus among them, O king.
All of them were men who had obtained a sight of th