he Saddhyas, and the Viswedevas; the Adityas,
the two deities named the Ashvinis, the regents of the World, the great
Rishis, the Guhyakas, the Gandharvas, the Nagas, the Vidyadharas, the
Siddhas, the diverse deities, the Self-born visible in a body, with many
ascetics; the Hills and Mountains, Oceans and Seas and Rivers, the
diverse tribes of Apsaras; the Planets, the Years, the Half-years, and
the Seasons; and the whole universe of mobile and immobile entities, with
all the gods and Asuras.

"'Hearing their celebrity, and in consequence of a recitation of their
names and achievements, a man that has committed even terrible sins, will
be cleansed. Having, with a concentrated soul and cleansed body, heard
this history duly, from the beginning, and having reached its end, one
should make Sraddha offerings, O Bharata, unto those (foremost of persons
who have been mentioned in it). Unto the Brahmanas also, O chief of
Bharata's race, should, with due devotion and according to ones power, be
made large gifts and diverse kinds of gems, and kine, and vessels of
white brass for milking kine, and maidens decked with every ornament, and
possessed of every accomplishment suited to enjoyment, as also diverse
kinds of conveyances, beautiful mansions, plots of land, and cloths.
Animals also should be given, such as horses and elephants in rage, and
beds, and covered conveyances borne on the shoulders of men, and
well-decked cars. Whatever objects occur in the house, of the foremost
kind, whatever wealth of great value occurs in it, should be given away
unto Brahmanas. Indeed, one should give away one's own self, wives, and
children.

"'One desirous of hearing the Bharata, should hear it without a doubting
heart, with cheerfulness and joy; and as he proceeds listening to its
recitation, he should according to the extent of his power, make gifts
with great devotion.

"'Hear how a person that is devoted to truth and sincerity, that is
self-restrained, pure (in mind), and observant of those acts which lead
to purity of body, that is endued with faith, and that has subjugated
wrath, attains to success (in the matter of a recitation of the Bharata).
He should appoint as reciter one that is pure (of body), that is endued
with good and pious conduct, that should be robed in white, that should
have a complete mastery over his passions, that is cleansed of all
offences, that is conversant with every branch of learning, that is
endued with f