The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 3.184.1

3.184.1

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca |
atraiva ca sarasvatyā gītaṃ parapuraṃjaya |
pṛṣṭayā muninā vīra śṛṇu tārkṣyeṇa dhīmatā || 1 ||

"Markandeya continued, 'O thou conqueror of hostile cities, in this connection Saraswati too, when interrogated by that intelligent Muni Tarkshya, had said (this). Do thou listen to her words! Tarkshya had asked, saying, 'Excellent lady, what is the best thing for a man to do here below, and how must he act so that he may not deviate from (the path of) virtue. Tell me all this, O beautiful lady, so that instructed by thee, I may not fall away from the path of virtue! When and how must one offer oblations to the (sacred) fire and when must he worship so that virtue may not be compromised? Tell me all this, O excellent lady, so that I may live without any passions, craving, or desire, in this world.'