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Vyāsa said.
I have already described what was appointed for the aggregate of beings. Now, I shall tell you, who are asking, about the duty of the Brāhmaṇa.
From the rite of birth onwards, all rituals requiring fees should be performed until the completion of study, with the teacher who is accomplished in the Veda.
After studying all the Vedas and serving the teacher with devotion, and having discharged all debts to the teachers, the knower of sacrifice should graduate.
After being permitted by the teacher, one should properly observe one of the four āśramas until the body is liberated.
One may achieve the goal either by creating progeny, through married life, by practicing celibacy, or again; in the forest, in the presence of a teacher, or by following the path of an ascetic, or again.
The householder is regarded as the foundation of all four orders. There, one whose passions are matured and who is self-controlled, succeeds everywhere.
One who has progeny, is learned in the Vedas, and performs sacrifices, after being freed from the three divine debts, then, purified by actions, proceeds to the other āśramas.
One should reside in that place on earth which is the most meritorious for knowledge; one should strive there for authenticity and for attaining the highest fame.
The fame of Brāhmaṇas grows through austerity, great knowledge, recitation, worship, or giving gifts.
As long as his glorious fame endures in this world, a person enjoys the endless worlds attained by the meritorious.
He should teach, study, officiate at sacrifices, and perform sacrifices; he should not accept gifts in vain, nor should he give them in any way.
If great wealth comes from one who is to be sacrificed for, from a disciple, or from a maiden, one should use it for sacrifice or charity; one should never consume it alone in any way.
For a householder, there is no greater sacred act than accepting gifts for the sake of the gods, sages, ancestors, teachers, the aged, the sick, and the hungry.
Wealth should be given, even from what is earned and even beyond one's capacity, to those hidden and greatly afflicted who wish to live, according to one's ability.
For those who are worthy, nothing befitting them is to be withheld; even the horse Uccaiḥśravas should be acquired for the virtuous, as the good know.
Likewise, Kāvya (Śukra), who was truthful and of great vows, gave up his own life to save the lives of Brāhmaṇas and ascended to heaven.
Rantideva and Sāṅkṛtya, after offering both cold and hot water to the great sage Vasiṣṭha, are honored in heaven.
The wise king, having given various wealth to the venerable Ātreya and Candradamaya, went to endless worlds.
Having offered the camp, king Uśīnara's limbs, his son and dear offspring for the sake of a Brāhmaṇa, he has departed from here to heaven.
Pratardana, the king of Kāśi, by giving his own eyes to a Brāhmaṇa, attains incomparable fame both in this world and the next.
Devavriddha gave the divine, well-polished, golden, and supremely prosperous umbrella, and Sarastra ascended to heaven.
Sāṅkṛti and Atreya, after teaching their disciples about the attributeless Brahman, departed—being of great brilliance—to the highest worlds.
Ambarīṣa, the powerful king of Saurashtra, having given ten crores and eleven cows to the Brāhmaṇas, ascended to heaven.
Savitri and Janamejaya, having abandoned their divine bodies and earrings for the sake of a Brāhmaṇa, went to the highest world.
Having given all jewels, Vṛṣādarbha, Yuvanāśva, dear women, and a pleasant dwelling, he has entered this world.
Nimi, the king of Videha, Paraśurāma (descendant of Jamadagni), and Gaya each gave away their kingdoms or the earth to the Brāhmaṇas; Gaya gave the earth along with its cities.
When the rain-cloud failed to give rain and all beings suffered again and again, Vasiṣṭha sustained the creatures just as Prajāpati would sustain his creations.
But Marutta, the son of Karandhama and also a king, gave his daughter to Aṅgiras and then quickly ascended to heaven.
Brahmadatta, the king of Panchala and foremost among the wise, gave the treasure and the conch to the foremost Brahmins and thereby attained the worlds.
King Mitrasaha, after giving his beloved Madayantī to the noble Vasiṣṭha, departed to heaven along with her.
Sahasrajit, the royal sage of great fame, gave up his cherished life for the sake of a Brāhmaṇa and attained the highest worlds.
Śatadyumna, the king, having given his entire golden mansion with all its enjoyments to Mudgala, ascended to heaven.
The brilliant and valiant king of Śālva, named thus, after giving the kingdom to Ṛcīka, departed to the highest worlds.
Madiraśva, the royal sage, after giving his beautiful-waisted daughter to Hiraṇyahasta, attained the worlds praised by the gods.
Lomapada, the royal sage, gave his daughter Śāntā in marriage, and the lord was united with Ṛśyaśṛṅga, fulfilling all desires abundantly.
King Prasenajit, of great splendor, having given one hundred thousand cows with calves, attained the unsurpassed worlds.
These and many others, by charity and austerity, indeed, great-souled persons have attained heaven; those of disciplined self, conquerors of the senses.
Their established fame will last as long as the earth endures; by gifts, sacrifices, progeny, and creative acts, these indeed have attained heaven.
