Hear now the wisdom recounted by Sūta, drawn from the sacred texts and the Arthaśāstra, a teaching that brings long life, merit, and even heaven itself to kings and commoners alike. First, he spoke of penance and the gravity of actions. If one has killed a quadruped, the expiation is to recite sacred prayers for a full day and night. For the killing of a Śūdra, one must undertake the kṛcchra penance; for a Vaiśya, the more severe atikṛcchra; for a Kṣatriya, the cāndrāyaṇa; and for a Brāhmaṇa, a rigorous penance of twenty-two or even thirty-three days. Turning to the essence of righteous living, Sūta declared: “If one desires success, one should always seek the company of virtuous people. Nothing good, neither in this world nor the next, comes from mingling with the wicked. Avoid idle chatter, shun the sight of the wicked, refrain from quarrelling with friends, and keep distance from those who serve your enemies. Even the wise are destroyed by teaching fools, by keeping a wicked wife, or by befriending the wicked. “From afar, avoid a childish Brāhmaṇa, a Kṣatriya who flees in battle, a dull Vaiśya, and a Śūdra who is learned in letters. The wise act according to what the time demands: they make peace with enemies at the right moment, and even quarrel with friends when it is called for. “Time itself ripens and withers all beings. When all sleep, time alone is awake—insurmountable and ever-moving. Time takes away strength and gives it; time creates and dissolves the world. It moves subtly, sometimes grossly, sometimes in ways unseen. Thus, Bṛhaspati taught Indra the essence of policy, by which Indra, becoming all-knowing, overcame the demons and ascended to heaven. “Kings, sages, and Brāhmaṇas should worship the gods and the learned, and perform great sacrifices like the Aśvamedha to destroy their sins. Associate always with the noble, speak with the wise, and befriend those who are free from greed—such a one never comes to ruin. Never indulge in slander, act solely for another’s profit, mock others, covet another’s wife, or live in another’s house. “Even a stranger who helps is a true friend, and a harmful relative is a stranger. A disease within is an enemy, but a healing herb from the wild is a friend. He is a friend who acts for your welfare; he a father who nourishes; that is a true friend in whom you have trust; that is a land where you can live in peace. A servant is one who obeys, a seed is that which sprouts, a wife is she who speaks kindly, and a son is he who is alive. “One truly lives who possesses virtue and righteousness; without these, life is empty. She is a wife who is skilled at home, gentle in speech, devoted to her husband, and regards him as her life. She is always clean, fragrant, speaks pleasantly, eats and speaks little, and is adorned with auspicious marks. Such a wife is ever virtuous, devoted, sweet-spoken, and desires union at the proper time. A man with such a wife flourishes like Indra among men. “But a wife who is quarrelsome, impure, sharp-tongued, and argumentative is like old age itself—she brings decay. One who seeks others, is shameless, and acts wickedly is truly old age. Yet, a wife who knows virtue, follows her husband, and is content with little is not just dear, but truly dear. Beware the evil wife, the deceitful friend, the disobedient servant, and a snake in the house—they are death itself. “Seek the good, avoid the wicked, perform righteous deeds always, and remember the world’s impermanence. Shun a woman fierce as a serpent, wild and cruel, sharp-tongued and wandering to other men’s houses—such a one is not to be served. “Sometimes, fate brings power to a child, virtue to the ungrateful, and fire a hundredfold in gold. Sometimes, desire arises for courtesans, and sometimes it does not. Who can remain steady when a snake is in the house, disease resists treatment, or the body is beset by childhood or old age at their appointed time? “In times of trouble, protect your wealth; but even wealth should be spent to protect your spouse; and above all, protect your own self, even at the cost of wealth or spouse. Sacrifice an individual for the family, the family for the village, the village for the land, and even the land for the sake of your own soul. “It is better to dwell in hell than in a house of evil conduct; for in hell, sin is exhausted, but in an evil house, it grows ever more. The wise move forward only after examining the next step, never abandoning their place in haste. Leave behind a land of bad conduct, a troubled dwelling, a miserly king, or a deceitful friend. “What use is wealth to a miser, or knowledge to one full of cunning? What is beauty without virtue, or a friend who abandons you in distress? Many become friends when you have power, but when you lose wealth and position, even your kin may turn against you. In adversity, you know a true friend; in battle, a hero; in solitude, a pure soul; in loss, a virtuous wife; and in famine, a dear guest. “Just as birds leave a tree without fruit, cranes desert a dried lake, courtesans forsake the poor, ministers abandon a fallen king, bees leave a faded flower, and deer flee a scorched forest, so too do people act according to their own interests—who truly belongs to whom? “A miser is pleased by gifts, a greedy man by deference, a fool by flattery, and a learned man by truth.” Thus, Sūta imparted the distilled wisdom of the ages, guiding all who listen toward righteousness, discernment, and lasting well-being.