By casting off thy
life-breaths for the sake of a Brahmana thou mayst attain a desirable
end! By throwing thy body on the fire of battle as a libation to the
beasts and birds of prey for the sake of a Brahmana, indeed, by casting
off thy life-breaths thus, thou mayst achieve emancipation! By no other
means wilt thou succeed in achieving it!'
"Bhishma continued, 'Thus addressed, that Chandala, O scorcher of foes,
poured his life-breaths as a libation on the fire of battle for the sake
of protecting a Brahmana's wealth and as the consequence of that act
attained to a very desirable end. Hence, O son, thou shouldst always
protect the property of the Brahmanas, if, O chief of Bharata's race,
thou desirest, O thou of mighty arms, an end that is eternal felicity!'"
SECTION CII
"Yudhishthira said, 'O grandsire, it has been said that all pious men
attain to the same region after death. Is it true, O Bharata, that there
is difference of position or status among them?'
"Bhishma said, 'By different deeds, O son of Pritha, men attain to
different regions. They who are righteous in conduct attain to regions of
felicity, while they who are sinful attain to regions that are fraught
with misery. In this connection is cited the old narrative of the
discourse, O son, between the ascetic Gautama and Vasava.
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