In the ancient teachings, it is said that many of the usual rules do not apply in the sacred rites performed for the gods and similar ceremonies. In daily life, however, when one encounters a Vaiśya, it is proper to wish him prosperity, and when meeting a Śūdra, one should wish him health. Among men, those who are elders of one’s own caste and paternal uncles are to be regarded as teachers, worthy of respect and reverence. Among women, the mother-in-law, the eldest paternal grandmother, and the nurse hold the status of teachers. A person should honor these teachers through the actions of mind, speech, and body, following their guidance sincerely. One should neither sit together with them in casual familiarity nor argue with them for one’s own benefit. Even if someone possesses many other virtues, if they harbor hatred toward the guru, they inevitably fall from grace. Of all these revered figures, the first three—elders of the caste, paternal uncle, and mother-in-law—are considered the best, and among them, the mother is honored above all. The elder brother and the husband are also counted among the five who are to be regarded as gurus. Anyone who seeks prosperity should especially honor these five, and the son should set aside all else to devote himself to their service. Through such devoted action, the son attains all righteousness. No matter what one does, there is truly no way to fully repay these teachers—not by any means. Without their permission, one should not undertake any other duty. Thus, the essence of dharma has been declared, a path that yields endless rewards after death. The disciple who follows this path enjoys the fruits of knowledge and, upon passing from this world, attains heaven; but if he fails in this duty, he falls into a terrible hell. In this world, honor comes to the giver because of the benefit rendered to others. At this point, venerable Manu revealed to the assembly the existence of inexhaustible worlds that await the righteous. In the presence of these respected elders, the younger should rise and announce themselves, saying, “Here I am.” One who knows dharma should address them beginning with, “O revered sir.” A brāhmaṇa should always speak to them with respect, as should kṣatriyas and others who desire prosperity. Even those endowed with knowledge and action, well-versed in many sacred texts, must observe these rules. Among those of the same class, proper greeting is to be exchanged only within that class. For women, the husband alone is considered the teacher; wherever he is present, he is the teacher to be honored. The wise declare five ranks of honor, each one superior to the next. Wherever these teachers are found, they are worthy of respect—even a Śūdra who has attained the tenth stage of spiritual progress. The aged, those bent with burdens, the sick, and the weak are all to be honored as well. A student should eat only after informing his teacher, speaking with restraint, and with the teacher’s permission. In assemblies, a Kṣatriya should stand in the center, while a Vaiśya should stand above the assembly. When seeking alms, one should first approach those who treat him with respect, and the practice of begging is prescribed except from those who have fallen from virtue. Each day, a student should collect alms from households with effort and purity. If he is unsuccessful, he should avoid, in order, the houses he previously approached. While doing so, he must restrain and control his speech, not glancing about in all directions. When eating, he should do so with effort, with controlled speech, and with an undistracted mind. The livelihood of those who observe vows and live on alms is considered equal in merit to fasting. When seeing others, one should rejoice, be pleased, and respond with approval. Therefore, one should avoid anything that is unholy or hated by the world. And finally, it is an eternal rule that one should not always eat facing north. Thus, the teachings offer a comprehensive guide to righteous conduct, respect, and discipline in all aspects of life.