1. Pure men of the first three castes shall prepare the food (of a householder which is used) at the Vaiśvadeva ceremony. 2. The (cook) shall not speak, nor cough, nor sneeze, while his face is turned towards the food. 3. He shall purify himself by touching water if he has touched his hair, his limbs, or his garment. 4. Or Śūdras may prepare the food, under the superintendence of men of the first three castes. 5. For them is prescribed the same rule of sipping water (as for their masters). 6. Besides, the (Śūdra cooks) daily shall cause to be cut the hair of their heads, their beards, the hair on their bodies, and their nails. 7. And they shall bathe, keeping their clothes on. 8. Or they may trim (their hair and nails) on the eighth day (of each half-month), or on the days of the full and. new moon. 9. He (the householder himself) shall place on the fire that food which has been prepared (by Śūdras) without supervision, and shall sprinkle it with water. Such food also they state to be fit for the gods. 10. When the food is ready, (the cook) shall place himself before his master and announce it to him (saying), 'It is ready.' 11. The answer (of the master) shall be, 'That well-prepared food is the means to obtain splendour; may it never fail!' 12. The burnt-oblations and Bali-offerings made with the food which the husband and his wife are to eat, bring (as their reward) prosperity, (and the enjoyment of) heaven. 13. Whilst learning the sacred formulas (to be recited during the performance) of those (burnt oblations and Bali-offerings, a householder) shall sleep on the ground, abstain from connubial intercourse and from eating pungent condiments and salt, during twelve days. 14. (When he studies the Mantras) for the last (Bali offered to the goblins), he shall fast for one (day and) night. 15. For each Bali-offering the ground must be prepared separately. (The performer) sweeps (the ground) with his (right) hand, sprinkles it with water, turning, the palm downwards, throws down (the offering), and afterwards sprinkles water around it. 16. (At the Vaiśvadeva sacrifice) he shall offer the oblations with his hand, (throwing them) into the kitchen-fire or into the sacred (Gṛhya)-fire, and reciting (each time one of) the first six Mantras (prescribed in the Nārāyaṇī Upaniṣad). 17. He shall sprinkle water all around both times (before and after the oblations), as (has been declared) above. 18. In like manner water is sprinkled around once only after the performance of those Bali-offerings that are performed in one place.