Section CCXIII

"Markandeya said,

'When, O Yudhishthira, all this mystery of salvation was explained to that Brahmana, he was highly pleased and he said addressing the fowler,

'All this that you have explained, is rational, and it seems to me that there is nothing in connection with the mysteries of religion which you dost not know.'

The fowler replied,

'O good and great Brahmana, you shalt perceive with thine own eyes, all the virtue that I lay claim to, and by reason of which I have attained this blissful state. Rise, worshipful sir, and quickly enter this inner apartment. O virtuous man, it is proper that you should see my father and my mother.'

Markandeya continued,

'Thus addressed the Brahmana went in, and beheld a fine beautiful mansion. It was a magnificent house divided in four suites of rooms, admired by gods and looking like one of their palaces; it was also furnished with seats and beds, and redolent of excellent perfumes. His revered parents clad in white robes, having finished their meals, were seated at ease. The fowler, beholding them, prostrated himself before them with his head at their feet.

His aged parents then addressed him thus,

'Rise, O man of piety, rise, may righteousness shield you; we are much pleased with you for your piety; mayst you be blessed with a long life, and with knowledge, high intelligence, and fulfilment of your desires. You are a good and dutiful son, for, we are constantly and reasonably looked after by you, and even amongst the celestials you have not another divinity to worship.

By constantly subduing thyself, you have become endowed with the self-restraining power of Brahmanas and all your grandsires and ancestors are constantly pleased with you for your self-restraining virtues and for your piety towards us. In thought, word or deed your attention to us never flags, and it seems that at present you have no other thought in your mind (save as to how to please us). As Rama, the son of Jamadagni, laboured to please his aged parents, so hast you, O Son, done to please us, and even more.'

Then the fowler introduced the Brahmana to his parents and they received him with the usual salutation of welcome, and the Brahmana accepting their welcome, enquired if they, with their children and servants, were all right at home, and if they were always enjoying good health at that time (of life).

The aged couple replied,

'At home, O Brahmana, we are all right, with all our servants. Hast you, adorable sir, reached this place without any difficulty?'

Markandeya continued,

"The Brahmana replied,

'Yes, I have.'

Then the fowler addressing himself to the Brahmana said to him,

'These my parents, worshipful sir, are the idols that I worship; whatever is due to the gods, I do unto them. As the thirty-three gods with Indra at their head are worshipped by men, so are these aged parents of mine worshipped by me. As Brahmanas exert themselves for the purpose of procuring offering for their gods, so do I act with diligence for these two (idols of mine).

These my father and mother, O Brahmana, are my supreme gods, and I seek to please them always with offering of flowers, fruits and gems. To me they are like the three sacred fires mentioned by the learned; and, O Brahmana, they seem to me to be as good as sacrifices or the four Vedas. My five life-giving airs, my wife and children and friends are all for them (dedicated to their service). And with my wife and children I always attend on them.

O good Brahmana, with my own hands I assist them in bathing and also wash their feet and give them food and I say to them only what is agreeable, leaving out what is unpleasant. I consider it to be my highest duty to do what is agreeable to them even though it be not strictly justifiable.

And, O Brahmana, I am always diligent in attending on them. The two parents, the sacred fire, the soul and the spiritual preceptor, these five, O good Brahmana, are worthy of the highest reverence from a person who seeks prosperity. By serving them properly, one acquires the merit of perpetually keeping up the sacred fire. And it is the eternal and invariable duty of all householders."