'
"Viswamitra said, 'I am a Brahmana. This my body is a friend of mine. It
is very dear to me and is worthy of the highest reverence from me. It is
from the desire of sustaining the body that the wish is entertained by me
of taking away that dog's haunch. So eager have I become that I have no
longer any fear of thee and thy fierce brethren.'
"The Chandala said, 'Men lay down their lives but they still do not set
their hearts on food that is unclean. They obtain the fruition of all
their wishes even in this world by conquering hunger. Do thou also
conquer thy hunger and obtain those rewards.'
"Viswamitra said, 'As regards myself, I am observant of rigid vows and my
heart is set on peace. For preserving the root of all religious merit, I
shall eat food that is unclean. It is evident that such an act would be
regarded as righteous in a person of cleansed soul. To a person, however,
of uncleansed soul, the eating of dog's flesh would appear sinful. Even
if the conclusion to which I have arrived be wrong, (and if I eat this
dog's meat) I shall not, for that act, become one like thee.'
"The Chandala said, 'It is my settled conclusion that I should endeavour
my best to restrain thee from this sin. A Brahmana by doing a wicked act
falls off from his high state. It is for this that I am reproving thee.'
"Viswamitra said, 'Kine continue to drink, regardless of the croaking of
the frogs. Thou canst lay no claim to what constitutes righteousness (and
what not).
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