1. Now, therefore, we will declare the acts productive of merit which form part of the customs of daily life, as they have been settled by the agreement (of those who know the law). 2. The authority (for these duties) is the agreement of those who know the law, 3. And (the authorities for the latter are) the Vedas alone. 4. (There are) four castes--Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras. 5. Amongst these, each preceding (caste) is superior by birth to the one following. 6. (For all these), excepting Śūdras and those who have committed bad actions, (are ordained) the initiation, the study of the Veda, and the kindling of the sacred fire; and (their) works are productive of rewards (in this world and the next). 7. To serve the other (three) castes (is ordained) for the Śūdra. 8. The higher the caste (which he serves) the greater is the merit. 9. The initiation is the consecration in accordance with the texts of the Veda, of a male who is desirous of (and can make use of) sacred knowledge. 10. A Brāhmaṇa declares that the Gāyatrī is learnt for the sake of all the (three) Vedas. 11. (Coming) out of darkness, he indeed enters darkness, whom a man unlearned in the Vedas, initiates, and (so does he) who, without being learned in the Vedas, (performs the rite of initiation.) That has been declared in a Brāhmaṇa. 12. As performer of this rite of initiation he shall seek to obtain a man in whose family sacred learning is hereditary, who himself possesses it, and who is devout (in following the law). 13. And under him the sacred science must be studied until the end, provided (the teacher) does not fall off from the ordinances of the law. 14. He from whom (the pupil) gathers (ācinoti) (the knowledge of) his religious duties (dharmān) (is called) the Ācārya (teacher). 15. Him he should never offend. 16. For he causes him (the pupil) to be born (a second time) by (imparting to him) sacred learning. 17. This (second) birth is the best. 18. The father and the mother produce the body only.