[1188] All acts that are done without injuring any
creature become serviceable (to the doer) both here and hereafter. Those
acts, however, that involve injury to others, destroy faith, and faith
being destroyed, involves the destroyer in ruin. The sacrifices of those
that regard acquisition and non-acquisition in the same light, that are
endued with faith that are self-restrained, that have tranquil minds, and
that perform sacrifices from a sense of duty (and not from desire of
fruit), become productive of fruit.[1189] Faith with respect to Brahma is
the daughter of Surya, O regenerate one. She is the protectress and she
is the giver of good birth. Faith is superior to the merit born of
(Vedic) recitations and meditation.[1190] An act vitiated by defect of
speech is saved by Faith. An act vitiated by defect of mind is saved by
Faith. But neither speech nor mind can save an act that is vitiated by
want of Faith.[1191] Men conversant with the occurrences of the past
recite in this connection the following verse sung by Brahman. The
offerings in sacrifices of a person that is pure (in body and acts) but
wanting in Faith, and of another that is impure (in respect of their
worthiness of acceptance). The food, again, of a person conversant with
the Vedas but miserly in behaviour, and that of a usurer that is liberal
in conduct,[1192] the deities after careful consideration, had held to be
equal (in respect of their worthiness of acceptance). The' Supreme Lord
of all creatures (viz.
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