regained his consciousness, and, affectionately eying Savitri again and again, like one come home after a sojourn in a strange land, he addressed her thus:

"Alas! I have slept long! Wherefore didst thou not wake me? And where is that same sable person that was dragging me away?"

At these words of his, Savitri said:

"Thou hast, O bull among men, slept long on my lap! That restrainer of creatures, the worshipful Yama, hath gone away. Thou art refreshed, O blessed one, and sleep hath forsaken thee, O son of a king! If thou art able, rise thou up! Behold, the night is deep!"

And, having regained consciousness, Satyavan rose up like one who had enjoyed a sweet sleep.

A HINDO0 CATECHISM.

KING YUDHISTHIRA ANSWERS THE YAKSHA'S QUESTIONS.

(From the Mahābhārata: translated by Protap Chandra Roy.)

The Yaksha-What exalteth the unpurified soul? What are those that keep company with the soul during its process of purification? Who lead the soul to its state of rest? On what is the soul established?

Yudhisthira-1. Self-knowledge. 2. Self-restraint, and other qualities of a godlike nature. 3. Rectitude, morality, and religious observances. 4. The soul is established on

truth, or pure knowledge.

By

The Yaksha-By what doth one become learned? what doth he attain what is very great? How can one have a second? And, O king, how can one acquire intelligence?

Yudhisthira- It is by the study of the Srutis that a person becometh learned. It is by ascetic austerities that one acquireth what is very great. It is by intelligence that a person acquireth a second. And it is by serving the old that one becometh wise. The Yaksha - What is of the foremost value to those that cultivate? What of the foremost value to those that sow? What of the foremost value to those that wish prosperity in

this world? And what of the foremost value to those that bring forth?

Yudhisthira-That which is of the foremost value to those that cultivate is rain. That of the foremost value to those that sow is seed. That of the foremost value to those that bring forth is offspring.

The Yaksha-What person, enjoying all the objects of the senses, endued with intelligence, regarded by the world and liked by all beings, doth not yet live, though breathing?

Yudhisthira-He that doth not offer anything to these five, namely, gods, guests, servants, Pitris, and himself, though endued with breath, is not yet alive.

The Yaksha - What is weightier than the earth itself? What is higher than the heavens? What is fleeter than the wind? And what is more numerous than the grass? Yudhisthira-The mother is weightier than the earth. The father is higher than the heavens. The mind is fleeter than the wind. And our thoughts are more numerous than grass. The Yaksha-What is that which doth not close its eyes. while asleep? What is that which doth not move after birth? What is that which is without heart? And what is that which swells with its own impetus?

Yudhisthira - A fish doth not close its eyes while asleep. An egg doth not move after birth. A stone is without heart. And a river swelleth with its own impetus.

The Yaksha-Who is the friend of the householder? Who is the friend of the exile? Who is the friend of him that ails? And who is the friend of one about to die?

Yudhisthira-The friend of the householder is his wife. The friend of the exile in a distant land is his companion. The friend of him that ails is the physician. And the friend of him about to die is charity.

The Yaksha-What is that which sojourneth alone? What is that which is reborn after its birth? What is the remedy against cold? And what is the largest field?

Yudhisthira-The sun sojourneth alone. The moon takes birth anew. Fire is the remedy against cold. And the earth is the largest field.

The Yaksha - What is the highest refuge of virtue? What, of fame? What, of heaven? And what, of happiness?

Yudhisthira-Liberality is the highest refuge of virtue. Gift, of fame; truth, of heaven; and good behavior, of happiness.

The Yaksha What is the soul of man? Who is that friend bestowed on man by the gods? What is man's chief support? And what also is his chief refuge?

Yudhisthira-The son is a man's soul. The wife is the friend bestowed on man by the gods. The clouds are his chief

support.

And gift is the chief refuge.

The Yaksha- What is the best of all laudable things? What is the most valuable of all possessions? What is the best of all gains? And what is the best of all kinds of happiness?

Yudhisthira - The best of all laudable things is skill. The best of all possessions is knowledge. The best of all gains is health. And the best of all kinds of happiness is contentment.

The Yaksha - What is the highest duty in the world? What is that virtue which always beareth fruit? What is that which, if controlled, leadeth not to regret? And who are they with whom an alliance cannot break?

Yudhisthira-The highest of duties is to refrain from injuries. The rites ordained in the three Vedas always bear fruit. The mind, if controlled, leadeth to no regret. And alliance with the good never breaketh.

The Yaksha-What is that which, if renounced, maketh one agreeable? What is that which, if renounced, leadeth to no regret? What is that which, if renounced, maketh one wealthy? And what is that which, if renounced, maketh one happy?

Yudhisthira - Pride, if renounced, maketh one agreeable. Wrath, if renounced, leadeth to no regret. Desire, if renounced, maketh one wealthy. And avarice, if renounced, maketh one happy.

The Yaksha-What has been said to be the sign of asceticism? What is true restraint? What constitutes forgiveness? And what is shame?

Yudhisthira-Staying in one's own religion is asceticism. The restraint of the mind is of all restraints the true one. Forgiveness consists in enduring enmity. And shame is withdrawing from all unworthy acts.

The Yaksha-What, O king, is said to be knowledge? What, tranquillity? What constitutes mercy? And what hath been called simplicity?

Yudhisthira - True knowledge is that of Divinity. True tranquillity is that of the heart. Mercy consists in wishing happiness to all. And simplicity is equanimity of heart.

The Yaksha-What enemy is invincible? What constitutes an incurable disease for man? What sort of man is called honest, and what dishonest?

Yudhisthira-Anger is an invincible enemy. Covetousness constitutes an incurable disease. He is honest that desires the weal of all creatures, and he is dishonest that is unmerciful.

The Yaksha - What, O king, is ignorance? And what is pride? What also is to be understood by idleness? And what hath been spoken of as grief?

Yudhisthira - True ignorance consists in not knowing one's duties. Pride is a consciousness of one's being himself an actor or a sufferer in life. Idleness consists in not discharging one's duties. And ignorance is grief.

The Yaksha-What hath steadiness been said to be? And what patience? What also is a real bath? And what is charity?

Yudhisthira-Steadiness consists in one's staying in one's own religion. True patience consists in the subjugation of the senses. A true bath consists in washing the mind clean of all impurities. And charity consists in protecting all creatures.

The Yaksha - What man should be regarded as learned, and who should be called an atheist? Who is also to be called ignorant? What is called desire, and what are the sources of desire? And what is envy?

Yudhisthira-He is to be called learned who knoweth his duties. An atheist is he who is ignorant, and he who is ignorant is an atheist. Desire is due to objects of possession. envy is nothing else than grief of heart.

And

The Yaksha-What is pride, and what hypocrisy ? What is the grace of the gods, and what is wickedness?

Yudhisthira-Stolid ignorance is pride; the setting up of a religious standard is hypocrisy. The grace of the gods is the fruit of our gifts; and wickedness consists in speaking ill of others.

The Yaksha-Virtue, profit, and desire are opposed to one another. How could things thus antagonistic to one another exist together?

Yudhisthira- When a wife and virtue agree with each other, then all the three thou hast mentioned may exist together. The Yaksha - O bull of the Bharata race, who is he that is condemned to everlasting hell?

Yudhisthira-He that summoneth a poor Brahmana, prom

ising to make him a gift, and then tells him that he hath nothing to give, goeth to everlasting hell. He also must go to everlasting hell who imputes falsehood to the Vedas, the Scriptures, the Brahmanas, the gods, and the ceremonies in honor of the Pitris. He also goeth to everlasting hell who, though in possession of wealth, never giveth away nor enjoyeth himself, from avarice, saying he hath none.

The Yaksha-By what, O king,- birth, behavior, study, or learning, doth a person become a Brahmana? Tell us with certitude!

Pro

Yudhisthira-Listen, O Yaksha! It is neither birth nor study nor learning that is the cause of Brahmanhood. Without doubt, it is behavior that constitutes it. One's behavior should always be well guarded, especially by a Brahmana. He who maintains his conduct unimpaired is never impaired himself. He, however, whose conduct is lost is lost himself. fessors and pupils, all who study the Scriptures, in fact, if addicted to wicked habits, are to be regarded as illiterate wretches. He only is learned who performeth his religious duties. He even that hath studied the four Vedas is to be regarded as a wicked wretch, scarcely distinguishable from a Sudra, if his conduct be not correct. He only who performeth the Agni-Votra and hath his senses under control is called a Brahmana.

The Yaksha-What doth one gain that speaketh agreeably? What doth he gain that always acteth with judgment? What doth he gain that hath many friends? And what he that is devoted to virtue?

Yudhisthira-He that speaketh agreeable words becometh agreeable to all. He that acteth with judgment obtaineth whatever he seeketh. He that hath many friends liveth happily. And he that is devoted to virtue obtaineth a happy state in the next world.

The Yaksha- Who is truly happy? What is most wonderful? What is the path? And what is the news?

Yudhisthira· A man who cooketh in his own house scanty vegetables on the fifth or the sixth day, but who is not in debt and who stirreth not from home, is truly happy. Day after day countless beings are going to the abode of Yama (the god of death), yet those that remain behind believe themselves to be immortal. What can be more wonderful than this? Argument leads to no certain conclusion; the Crutis are different