All who follow the prescribed ways attain the highest state. Now, let me recount for you, step by step, the dharma of the householder, from the moment of awakening until sleep. The ideal householder rises during the sacred Brahma hour, that still and auspicious time before dawn. Upon awakening, he contemplates dharma and the means of prosperity, reflects on the bodily hardships that arise from both, and considers the true purpose of knowledge. As the night ends, he rises, purifies himself, and bathes, remaining composed and diligent. He worships at the sacred twilight, never neglecting his duties at any time. In the morning, after cleaning his teeth, he again worships at the twilight. When nature calls during the day, he faces north for both urination and defecation. At night, he faces south for these acts, and at both the morning and evening twilights, he follows the same practice as during the day. Whether in shade, darkness, or daylight, the twice-born should always act as prescribed, even in times of danger to life, choosing ground purified by cow dung, charcoal, anthills, or freshly ploughed earth. He avoids relieving himself on roads, in shaded spots, in water, within temples, on anthills, or in places inhabited by mice. He does not use earth from others’ cleansing, nor from cremation grounds. For cleansing after urination, he uses earth once for one organ and twice for two organs, placing it in the left hand. For both organs, two portions are used; this is the proper method for cleansing after urination. For cleansing after defecation, three portions of earth are used at the anus, and ten in the left hand. For the foot, five portions; for one hand, ten; for both hands, seven portions. The first portion is half a handful, the second and third are each half of that. If, while seated, he cannot perform full cleansing after urination or defecation, he should at least perform half-cleansing. During the day, he uses half the amount at night, or even a quarter, as prescribed. A healthy person should follow these rules, but one who is ill should do as much as he is able. The bodily impurities to be removed are fat, semen, blood, marrow, saliva, feces, urine, earwax, and excrement. Phlegm, nasal mucus, and sweat are also counted—these twelve are the impurities of the human body, and cleanliness is to be maintained until they are removed. The number of acts of purification should not be exceeded by those who are not instructed. Cleanliness is of two kinds: external and internal. External purity is achieved by washing with earth and water; internal purity is found in clarity of mind. First, one rinses the mouth three times with water, then wipes the mouth twice. After wiping, he touches the mouth three times with the base of the thumb, then, with the thumb and forefinger, he touches the nose in order. With the thumb and ring finger, he touches the eyes and ears; with the little finger and thumb, the navel; with the palm, the heart. With all the fingers, he touches the head, then the arms with the fingertips. He then recites the Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma Vedas three times in order, offering reverence. First, he recites the Atharva and Āṅgiras hymns, then wipes twice for comfort, followed by recitation of the Itihāsas, Purāṇas, and the limbs of the Veda. He touches the sky at the mouth, the air at the nose, the sun at the eyes, and the directions at the ears. He touches the life-knot at the navel and Brahman at the heart. Having touched Rudra at the crown of the head, and the sages at the topknot, he touches the arms for Yama, Indra, Varuṇa, Kubera, Earth, and Fire. After sprinkling water, he touches Viṣṇu at the feet, Indra and Viṣṇu at the hands, and Agni, Vāyu, Sūrya, Candra, and the mountains at the finger joints. The Gaṅgā and other rivers are present in the lines at the center of the hand. When dawn arrives, purification is performed with proper attention. Next comes bathing, beginning with cleaning the teeth, for if the mouth is unclean, a person is always considered impure. Therefore, one should clean the teeth with all effort. The woods of kadamba, bilva, khadira, karavīra, vaṭa, and arjuna are recommended for this purpose, as are yūthī, bṛhatī, jātī, karañja, arka, atimuktaka, jambū, madhūka, pāmargha, śirīṣa, udumbara, and asana. Milky and thorny trees are also praised for cleaning the teeth. Sticks that are pungent, bitter, or astringent are especially beneficial, bringing wealth, health, and comfort. After eating, one should wash and, in a clean place, discard the tooth-stick and rinse the mouth. On the new moon, the sixth, ninth, and first lunar days, as well as on Sundays, one should avoid using a tooth-stick. If a stick is unavailable or forbidden on a particular lunar day, it should not be used. With twelve mouthfuls of water, the mouth should be cleansed. Morning bathing is greatly praised, bringing both seen and unseen benefits. Everyone who is pure in self, who bathes in the morning, and who engages in recitation and such, is worthy, for the body is extremely impure, filled with nine openings through which impurity flows day and night. Morning bathing purifies, brings clarity of mind, and increases beauty and good fortune. It removes sorrow and suffering. One should bathe as if in the Ganga, especially on days such as when the moon is in the hand, the tenth day, under the Jyeshtha star, or when the moon is bright. On the day that removes ten sins, one should avoid contrary conduct, violence, and association with another’s spouse, and should not retain the impurity of gifts. Harshness, falsehood, slander, irrelevant speech, coveting another’s wealth, and evil thoughts—these ten sins are to be destroyed by bathing in the Ganga. In brief, morning bathing is prescribed for forest-dwellers and householders. For ascetics, bathing is done three times daily; for celibates, once. After sipping water and invoking the sacred place, one should bathe, remembering the imperishable Hari. It should be known that there are three crores of demons called Mandehas, evil-minded beings who wish to devour the rising Sun. He who does not perform worship at sunrise harms the Sun, but these demons are burned by water purified by mantra, which takes the form of fire. Thus is the daily dharma of the householder, from awakening to purification, as revealed in the sacred teaching.