Markandeya said:—"O my child, in the previous Yuga, the Brāhmanas, the sons of Bharadwāja, although carrying on Yoga practices, were polluted by their transgressions (1). On account of their degradation consequent upon the violation of Yoga practices they will remain in an unconscious state on the other side of the huge lake called Mānasa (2). Stupified by the thought that the transgressions (they had committed) had been washed away and having failed to attain to the state of union (with Brahman) they became invested with the characteristics of time⁴⁰ (3). And although they had deviated from the path of Yoga, they lived for a long time in the land of celestials. They will be born in the land of Kurus as foremost of men, the sons of Kushika (4). They will carry on religious practices by slaying creatures for the ancestral manes. And again being (thus) degraded they will come by the most inferior birth (5). On account of the favour of ancestral manes and their pristine birth they will have recollection of those inferior births (6). They will be of controlled minds and always carry on religious practices. And again by their own Karma they will acquire the status of Brāhmanas (7). They will then acquire the knowledge of unification (of the human soul with the divine soul) on account of their pristine birth. And then having attained perfection again they will acquire the eternal region (8). Thus you will repeatedly pay attention towards religion and acquire a most consummate mastery of Yoga (9). It is very difficult for men of limited understanding to acquire mastery of Yoga. If they happen to acquire it, that even is destroyed on account of their being contaminated by vices. Those who commit iniquities and torture their elders (also lose their Yoga) (10). Those, who do not beg by unfair means, who protect those seeking refuge with them, who do not disregard the poor, who are not elated with pride on account of their riches, who are of regular habits both as regards diet and other appetites, who energetically carry on their own work, who are bent upon carrying on meditation and studies, who do not seek to recover their stolen properties, who do not always seek enjoyments, who do not take meat or drink intoxicating liquors, who are not addicted to sexual pleasures, who serve the Brāhmanas, who do not take pleasure in impure conversation, who are not idle, who are not haughty and egoistic, such accomplished persons acquire Yoga, which it is so hard to acquire in this world. Persons of quiescent souls, who have mastered anger, who are shorn of egotism and pride and who are observant of vows, are crowned with blessings. Such were the Brāhmanas of that period (11-16). They used to remember their follies consequent upon their mistakes, engage in study and meditation and walk in the path of peace (17) There is no other religious rite, O you conversant with religion, superior to Yoga. It reigns supreme over all other religious observances. Practise it