In ancient times, the sages laid out the proper ways of living for each varna, and the duties by which one could uphold dharma. For the Brahmin, it was taught that receiving gifts was considered superior even to officiating at sacrifices or imparting knowledge. The Vaiśya, meanwhile, was enjoined to earn his livelihood through moneylending, agriculture, trade, and the tending of cattle, all regarded as fitting pursuits. Above all, virtues such as nonviolence, truthfulness, abstention from stealing, purity, and control of the senses were to be cultivated by everyone. One’s means of livelihood should always be straightforward and free from deceit. For those whose food supply lasted a year, it was advised to perform the rites for the new and full moon beforehand, and to diligently carry out the Agrahaṇa and Cāturmāsya sacrifices. If one possesses the means to perform a rite that yields proper results, one should not settle for an inferior one. It was forbidden to take anything obtained for sacrifice for personal use, for even creatures such as crows or jackals would become impure by such an act. The sages taught that it was better, step by step, to live by gleaning fallen grains than by other means. Even in times of hunger, one should not desire wealth from kings, students, or priests. Purity was paramount: one should wear white garments, keep hair, beard, and nails trimmed, and remain clean. A Brahmacārin, disciplined and wearing the sacred thread, should never utter unpleasant words. Certain actions were strictly prohibited. One should not urinate in the shade of a river, on ashes, in a cow-pen, or on a path with water. It was forbidden to look upon a naked woman, at fire, at the sun, or at those engaged in sexual union. Spittle, blood, feces, urine, or poison must never be discharged into water. When drinking, one should use cupped hands, and it was advised not to wake someone who was sleeping. One was to avoid what was forbidden, funeral smoke, and the riverbank. Looking at a cow while she is being milked, or entering by the main entrance, was discouraged. The commencement of study was to be done in the month of Śrāvaṇa, or when the star Śravaṇa was present, or under the star Rohiṇī in the month of Pauṣa, or at the time of the aṣṭakā ceremony. If a student, ritual performer, teacher, or relative died, study was to be suspended for three days. Study was also forbidden during twilight, thunder, earthquakes, or the fall of meteors. On the fifteenth, fourteenth, and eighth lunar days, and during a solar or lunar eclipse, study was prohibited. The presence of certain animals such as cattle, frogs, mongooses, horses, snakes, cats, or boars, as well as the sounds of dogs, jackals, donkeys, owls, or the wailing of arrows, were also occasions to suspend study. Impure places, storms of lightning and thunder, burning of the quarters, dust storms, twilight, and times of great fear were all to be avoided for study. Likewise, study should not take place while mounting a donkey, camel, vehicle, elephant, horse, boat, tree, or mountain. One should never disregard what is prescribed in the Vedas, by the teacher, the king’s shadow, or another’s wife. The selves of Brahmins, beggars, and Kshatriyas were never to be disrespected. Conduct should always follow the teachings of the Śruti and Smṛti, and one should not touch the vital spots. Dharma must always be followed, never violated. Without removing the five lumps of food, one should not bathe in another’s water. Another’s bed and similar possessions should be avoided, except in distress. Food from those condemned by the king, aged, prostitutes, and those initiated into heretical groups, as well as from cruel, fierce, fallen, outcaste, hypocritical, and those who eat leftovers, was to be rejected. Likewise, food from murderers, slayers of kings, those who kill women, those who live by killing, bards, and goldsmiths was never to be accepted. Food that is stale, defiled, touched by a dog, or fallen on the ground was considered impure. Food smelled by a cow, left over by a bird, or intentionally touched by the foot was also to be avoided. Thus, the sages prescribed these rules for purity, conduct, and study, ensuring that dharma was upheld in every aspect of life.