In the Krita age, a concourse of Rishis, of rigid vows, having approached the great and powerful lord of creation, Manu, while seated at his case requested him to describe duties, saying,-What food should be taken, who is to be considered a deserving person (for gifts), what gifts should be made, how should a person study and what penances should one perform and how, and what acts should be done and what acts should not be done. O lord of creation, tell us everything in detail. Thus solicited by them, the divine and self-sprung Manu said to them,-Listen to me as I describe the duties in brief and in detail.