There is nothing sweeter or more sacred, O thou of a hundred sacrifices,
than that food which such a person takes after serving the guest with
the first portion thereof. Each mouthful (of rice) that the Brahmana
eats after having served the guest, produces merit equal to what
attaches to the gift of a thousand kine. And whatever sins such a one
may have committed in his youth are all washed away of a certainty. The
water in the hands of the Brahmana that hath been fed and honoured with
a pecuniary gift (after the feeding is over) when touched with water
(sprinkled by him that feeds), instantly purges off all the sins of the
latter!"
[9] They, therefore, that lead deathless lives can enjoy this
bliss from day to day for ever.
"'Speaking of these and various other things with Vaka, the chief of the
gods went away to heaven.'"[10]
[10] It is difficult to understand how all that Vaka says can be
an answer to Indra's question. The chief of the gods enquires:
What are the joys of those that lead deathless lives? Vaka
breaks away unto a confused rigmarole about the merits of
independence and the religious merit of entertaining guests and
servants. All the printed editions have the passage as rendered
here.
SECTION CLXLIII
Vaisampayana said, "Then the sons of Pandu again addressed Markandeya
saying, 'Thou hast told us of greatness of Brahmanas. We desire now to
hear of the greatness of the royal Kshatriyas!" Thus addressed by them,
the great _Rishi_ Markandeya spoke, 'Listen now to the greatness of the
royal Kshatriyas.
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