Vyasa said-I have described to you fully that which you had asked me about the Creation of all beings. Listen to me as I tell you now what the duties are of a Brahmana.

The rituals of all ceremonies for which sacrificial fees are sanctioned, beginning with birth-rite and ending with Sama-vartana (return from preceptor's house) depend for their performance upon a preceptor well-versed in the Vedas.

Having read all the Vedas and having showed submission towards his preceptor while living with him, and having paid the preceptor's fee, the youth should return home with a perfect knowledge of all sacrifices.

Obtaining the permission of his preceptor, he should follow one of the four modes of life and live in it duly satisfying its duties till he renounces his body.

He should either live like a house-holder with wives and engaged in creating offspring, or live the life of celibacy or in the forest in the company of his preceptor, or follow the duties of a Yati.

A house-holder's life is said to be the root of all the other modes of life. A self-controlled house-holder who has mastered all his attachments of worldly objects always becomes successful.

By procreating children, by gaining a knowledge of the Vedas, and by celebrating sacrifices, a Brahmana satisfies the three debts he owes. He should then enter the other inodes of life, having purified himself by his acts.

He should live for good in that place which he may ascertain to be the most sacred spot on earth, and he should try, in all matters leading to fame, for attaining to an eminent position.

The fame of Brahmanas increases through austere penances, through mastery of the various branches of knowledge, through sacrifices, and through gifts.

Truly, a person enjoys endless regions of the righteous as long as his deeds or the memory thereof exists in this world.

A Brahmana should teach, study, officiate at other people's sacrifices, and offer sacrifices himself. He should not give away uselessly or accept other people's gifts uselessly.

Profuse wealth, that may come from one who is assisted in a sacrifice, from a pupil, or from marriage of a daughter, should be spent in the celebration of a sacrifice, or in making gifts. Wealth coming from any of these sources should never be enjoyed by a Brahmana alone.

For a Brahmana living like a house-holder, there is no means save the acceptance of gifts for the sake of the gods, or the Rishis, or the Pitris, or the preceptor, or the aged, or the diseased, or the hungry.

One should make gifts from his own siock, including even cooked food, more than he can fairly afford, to those who are persecuted by unseen foes, or those who are trying to the best of their power to acquire Knowledge.

There is nothing that cannot be given to a deserving person. The good and the wise deserve to have even the best of horses, called Uchchaishravas, belonging to Indra himself.

Of high vows, Satyasanaha, having, with due humility, offered his own life for saving a Brahmana, ascended to heaven.

Sankriti's son Rantideva, having given only lukewarm water to the great Vasistha, ascended to heaven and received great honours there.

Aftri's royal and highly intelligent son Indradamana, having given various kinds of wealth to a deserving person, acquired various regions of felicity in the next world,

Ushinara's son Shivi, having given away his own limbs and his dear son for the sake of a Brahmana, ascended to heaven from this world.

Having given away his very eyes to a Brahmana, Pratarddana, the king of Kasi, enjoyed great fame both here and hereafter.

Having given away a very beautiful and costly umbrella, with eight golden ribs, King Devavriddha proceeded to heaven with all the denizens of his kingdom.

Having given instruction to his disciples on the subject of Impersonal Brahma, Sanskriti of Atri's race, endued with great energy, proceeded to the regions of great felicity.

Having given to the Brahmanas eleven Arvudas of kine, Amvarisha of great prowess, proceeded to heaven with all the denizens of his kingdom.

By giving away her ear-rings, Savitri, and, by giving away his own body, king Janamejaya both proceeded to high regions of felicity.

By giving away various kinds of gems, a fine palace, and inany beautiful women, Yuvanashva the son of Vrishadabha ascended to heaven.

Nimi, the king the Videhas, gave away his kingdom, Jamadagni's son (Rama) gave away the whole Earth; and Gaya gave away the Earth with all her towns and cities, to the Brahmanas.

Once when the clouds ceased to pour, Vashishtha, resembling Brahman himself, kept alive all creatures like Prajapati (by his power and kindness).

By giving away his daughter to Angiras, Karandha's son Marutta of purified soul, quickly ascended to heaven.

Brahmadatta, the king of the Panchalas, possessed of great intelligence, by giving away two costly jewels called Nidhi and Shankha to some of the foremost of the Brahmanas, acquired many regions of felicity.

Having given his own dear wife Mayadanti to the great Vasistha, King Mitrasaha ascenued to heaven with that wife of his.

The royal and highly illustrious sage Shasrajit, having cast off his own dear life for the sake of a Brahmana, ascended to regions of great happiness.

Having given to Mudgala a golden palace furnished with every object of comfort and use, king shatadyumna ascended to heaven.

The king of the Shalvas, named Dyatimat, endued with great prowess gave to Richika his entire kingdom and ascended to heaven.

By giving away daughter Shanta to Rishyarshringa, the highly powerful royal sage Lomapada obtained the fruition of all his wishes. By giving away his slender waisted daughter of Hiranyahasta, the royal sage Madirashva, ascended to regions esteemed of the very gods.

By giving away a hundred thousand kine with calves, the highly energetic king Prasenajit ascended to excellent regions of happiness.

These and many others, endued with great and well-ordered souls, and having their senses under control, ascended, by means of gifts and penances, to heaven.

Their fame will last as long as the Earth lierself will exist. All of them have, by gifts and sacrifices and procreation of children proceeded to heaven.