With steadfast self-study and devoted worship, one must diligently keep away from certain influences. Even those who are pure and delight in practices such as breath-control should be avoided from afar. Likewise, it is advised to keep a distance from those who study the Atharvaśiras and possess knowledge of dharma. Never should you mislead or delude those who are devoted to the worship of the Lord and engaged in His service. There was one who performed the prescribed rites with faith; for this reason, worship of Lakshmi, the consort of the Lord, became established as a sacred duty. Since Lakshmi herself had been honored, it was decreed that she should always be revered in this manner. By my command, all beings—both moving and unmoving—came into existence as they had before. Through the power of yoga, Daksha, Atri, and Vasishta were created, and among them, Marichi and others who are devoted to Brahman are regarded as the true practitioners. The Lord fashioned the Vaishyas from His thighs and the Shudras from His feet, O revered ancestor. To protect the Vedas, the great sacrifice was born from them. This eternal, indestructible power is the very nature of Brahma Himself. In the beginning, she, who was composed of the Vedas, became the source from whom all activities arise. The wise do not take delight in those practices mentioned earlier; one who does so is considered a heretic. Know that the supreme dharma is that which is not established in other scriptures. All other pursuits are declared fruitless after death, leading only to darkness and misfortune. But those whose inner faculties are pure and who are always devoted to their own dharma are truly blessed. O best of sages, adharma is simply that which obstructs one’s own dharma. The attainments of others were born of rajas alone; all other accomplishments arose from that quality. Then, the all-pervading Brahma established action and means of livelihood for all beings. Hearing the duties of dharma from His own mouth, Bhrigu and the other sages spoke forth. Teaching, study, and the six prescribed duties were set for the twice-born, O noble one. For the Kshatriya, punishment and warfare were ordained, and for the Vaishya, agriculture. Craftsmanship, other means of livelihood, and the preparation of sacrificial food were also established as righteous duties. The four stages of life were set forth: the householder, the forest-dweller, the mendicant, and the student of celibacy. In brief, O best of sages, the duty of the householder is to provide and support. For the forest-dweller, it is to share justly with others. The duty of the mendicant is right knowledge and detachment. For the student of celibacy, it is the performance of twilight rituals and tending the sacred fire. Brahmacharya, or celibacy, was declared by the lotus-born one as a discipline common to all. For the householder, celibacy is prescribed except during sacred festivals. But, O best of Brahmins, one who neglects this is reborn as a slayer of the embryo, bearing grave consequences. The highest duty of the householder is the worship of the deities. Whether he travels to another land or his wife passes away, others continue to depend on him; thus, the householder’s life is considered superior. For this reason, householdership alone should be understood as the principal means to righteousness. Yet, even righteousness should not be pursued if it is opposed by all people. Righteousness alone leads to liberation; therefore, one should always resort to righteousness. Because all beings are subject to the qualities of sattva, rajas, and tamas, it is righteousness that should be chosen above all. Those who remain fixed in the conduct of tamas, the lowest quality, inevitably descend, falling into darkness. Thus, the wise are ever vigilant, following their prescribed dharma and striving for righteousness above all else.