Part 8

189. They should subjugate all the senses, more especially the sense of taste; they should neither lay by a store of property themselves, nor make others do so for them.

190. They must not take charge of any one's deposit, they should never relax their firmness, nor allow a woman to enter their abodes at any time. [Footnote: We may notice that there is no little repetition in this Book of instructions, especially in enforcing the duty of keeping clear of all feminine seductions.]

191. Except at a time of distress, they should never go anywhere by night without a companion, nor should they travel to any place singly.

192. They should not use a costly variegated cloth, or one dyed with kusumbha, or dyed in any other way; or any expensive cloth, though freely presented to them by another.

193. They should not go to the houses of householders unless for the purpose of asking alms, or for being present at an assembly. They should not spend time uselessly without devoting any of it to the worship of the Deity.

194. To the abode of a householder in which only males are employed for serving up the cooked food, and where no woman is to be seen--

195. To the house of such a householder only should my Sâdhus resort for participation in a meal, otherwise they should ask for uncooked food, and prepare it themselves.

196. All my holiest sages should conduct themselves in the same manner as Bharata, son of .Rishabha, the idiot Brâhman (Ja.da-vipra), did in ancient times. [Footnote: The story is told in Vish.nu-purâ.na, ii. 13. He feigned idiocy, that he might not be troubled with worldly society and might so give his undivided attention to devotional exercises.]

197. Those holy men (Sâdhus) who are Brahmaçârîs should diligently abstain from eating or using betel-leaves, opium, tobacco (tamâla), etc.

198. They should never accept a meal given on the performance of the Sanskâra ceremonies, beginning with that of conception; [Footnote: See note to verse 91.] nor on performing the Šrâddha ceremony at death, nor at that performed on the 12th day after decease.

199. They should never sleep during the day, unless afflicted with sickness, etc. They should never gossip about local matters, nor intentionally listen to such gossip.

200. They should not lie down on a bedstead except when suffering from illness or other affliction, and should be guileless and straightforward in their behaviour towards other Sâdhus.

201. They should patiently bear abusive language, or even blows from evil-minded persons, and wish good to (them in return).

202. They should not undertake the work of a go-between or informer, or spy; they should never show selfishness or partiality towards their relations.

203. Thus I have specified in a summary manner the general duties of all. Those who desire more particular instructions must refer to the sacred books handed down by tradition.

204. Having myself extracted the essence of an the sacred Šâstrâs, I have written this Directory, which leads men to the attainment of desired objects.

205. Hence it is incumbent on my followers, having their minds well controlled, to conduct themselves in conformity with its precepts, and not according to their own wills.

206. Those males and females of my disciples who will act according to these directions shall certainly obtain the four great objects of human desires (viz. Dharma, religious merit; Artha, wealth; Kâma, pleasure; and Moksha, final beatitude).

207. Those who will not act according to these (directions) shall be considered by my male and female followers as excluded from communion with my sect.

208. My followers should daily read this Book of directions, and those who do not know how to read should listen to others reading it.

209. But in the absence of a reader (vaktrabhâve), worship should be paid to it every day, and it should be honoured with the greatest reverence as my word and my representative.

210. This Directory should only be given to those persons who are endowed with a nature of the divine type; never to a man possessing a nature of the demoniacal type. [Footnote: The Purâ.nas divide all men into two classes: those whose nature is divine, and those whose nature is demoniacal.]

211. This Book of directions, bringing welfare (to all who study it), was completed on the first day of the season of spring in the year 1882 of the era of Vikramâditya. ( = A.D. 1826).

212. May K.rish.na, the remover of the sufferings of his worshippers, the maintainer of devotion, accompanied with the performance of proper duties, the bestower of the desires of the heart, grant us blessings of all kinds!