One day, this ascetic sat on the banks of the Ganges to recite his prayers. A passing heron dropped its droppings on him. When the ascetic looked up with an angry gaze, he saw that the heron had been reduced to ashes by the fire of his anger and had fallen to the ground. Having thus burned the heron, he went to the house of the brahmin Narayana to ask for alms.

The brahmin’s wife, absorbed in serving her husband at the time, said to the angry and offended killer of an innocent bird, expecting alms:

«Don’t be angry, I’m not a heron to you.»

The hermit was frightened and surprised that she knew of his secret crime and asked how knowledge of the hidden is attained. Then the brahmin’s wife sent him to the hunter Dharmavyadha in the city of Varanasi. Devasharma saw the hunter there, busy selling meat, his hands bloodied, resembling Yama, and presented himself to him. After greeting him, the hunter brought him to his home and respectfully offered food to his parents, and then to Devasharma. Then Devasharma asked the hunter how the woman had acquired knowledge:

«How will she know all this, and how will you know?» The hunter replied:

«He who diligently observes the law enjoined by his caste avoids the major, medium, and minor sins. He is the true master of the house, the true saint, the righteous man, the ascetic, and the pious, who honors his parents and is always just. Here we are—I and that woman—possessing knowledge, but you, who have abandoned your parents and are wandering, are not worthy even to converse with the likes of me. I speak to you only because I consider you a guest.»

After this was said, the brahmin Devasharma humbly questioned him. He said:

«Those who disrespect the honorable and those who disrespect the honorable live in censure, and after death do not enter heaven.»

Admonished by this hunter, the Brahmin returned to his homeland. He was celebrated in this world and became a repository of glory in the next.

Therefore, remember the laws befitting a merchant’s family, and be obedient to your parents.