sed of every desirable attribute.

"'During the Drona-parva food of very superior kind should be given to
learned brahmanas, as also beds, O monarch, and bows and good swords.

"'During the recitation of the Karna-parva, food of the foremost kind,
besides being pure and well-cooked, should be presented unto the
brahmanas by the house-holder with rapt mind.

"'During the recitation of the Shalya-parva, O king of kings, food with
confectionery and rice boiled with raw sugar, as also cakes of wheat and
soothing and nutritive viands and drinks should be presented.

"'During the recitation of the Gada-parva, brahmanas should be entertained
with food mixed with mudga.

"'During the recitation of the Stri-parva, foremost of brahmanas should be
entertained with gems and precious stones; and during the recitation of
the Aishika-parva, rice boiled in ghee should first be given, and then
food pure and well-cooked, and possessed of every desirable quality,
should be presented.

"'During the recitation of the Shanti-parva, the brahmanas should be fed
with havisya.

"'When the Asvamedhika-parva is reached, food possessed of every agreeable
quality should be given; and when the Asramvasika is reached, brahmanas
should be entertained with havisya.

"'When the Mausala is reached, scents and garlands possessed of agreeable
qualities should be given away.

"'During the Mahaprasthanika, similar presents should be made, possessed
of every quality of an agreeable kind.

"'When the Svarga-parva is reached, the brahmanas should be fed with
havisya.

"'Upon the conclusion of the Harivansa, a 1,000 brahmanas should be fed.
Unto each of them should be presented a cow accompanied with a piece of
gold. Half of this should be presented to each poor man, O king.

"'Upon the conclusion of all the Parvas, the house-holder of wisdom should
give unto the reciter a copy of the Mahabharata with a piece of gold.
When the Harivansa Parva is being recited, Brahmanas should be fed with
frumenty at each successive Parana, O king. Having finished all the
Parvas, one versed in the scriptures, robing himself in white, wearing
garlands, decked with ornaments, and properly purified, should place a
copy of the Mahabharata on an auspicious spot and cover it with a piece
of silken cloth and worship it, according to due rites, with scents and
garlands, offering each at a time. Indeed, O king, the several volumes of
this treatise should be worshipped by one