33. 'No one I know in the world is more worthy than you to be worshipped by a sacrificial offering, O most mighty ruler of the earth. Well then, with the object of increasing my merit, deign to accept, like an officiating priest, Unmâdayantî as your sacrificial fee[1].'
The king said: 'No doubt it is your great affection for me that prompts you to the effort to promote my interest without considering what is right and wrong on your side. But this very consideration induces me the more to prevent you. Verily, indifference as to the censure of men cannot at any rate be approved. Look here!
34. 'Who, neglecting Righteousness, does not mind either the censure of men or the evil consequences in the next world, will attain but this: in this world people will distrust him; and surely, after death he will be destitute of bliss.
'And therefore I press this upon your mind.
35. 'Never delight in injuring Righteousness for the sake of life[2]. The sin you would incur would be great and unquestionable, the advantage trifling and doubtful.
'Moreover, you should consider also this.
36. 'The virtuous do not like for themselves a pleasure, procured at the expense of others, whom they have distressed by bringing them into disrepute and the like. For this reason, standing on the ground of Righteousness, I shall bear the charge of my private interests alone without causing pain to others.'
Abhipâraga replied: 'But how could there be any room for injustice here, after all, either on my side, if moved by attachment I should take care of the interest of my master, or on the side of Your Majesty receiving
- ↑ Properly speaking, giving the woman into marriage to the officiating priest at the end of a srauta-sacrifice as his fee (dakshinâ) is the second of the eight classical forms of wedding, the so-called daivo vivâhah.
- ↑ The meaning of this seems to be something like this: 'Do not seek after temporal pleasure here at the risk of long-lasting suffering after death.'
