When a man offers fuel into the sacred fire, he becomes blessed with a radiant, shining flame—a symbol of purity and auspiciousness. In this spirit, one should always give to Brahmins with joy and the right intention, for such giving brings great benefit. The giver, through this act, becomes free from disease, finds happiness, and enjoys a long life. There are specific gifts that bring special merit: for instance, when a person gives an umbrella or sandals to another, he helps that person cross over great suffering. But in all acts of giving, it is essential to match each gift to a recipient who is worthy of it, seeking thereby to gain merit that will never perish. The timing and place of giving also matter greatly. Gifts offered at sacred times, such as the solstices, become inexhaustible in their merit. Likewise, giving on the banks of rivers or in the solitude of forests bestows merit that cannot be exhausted. Therefore, it is said that the twice-born—those who have undergone sacred initiation—should give to learned Brahmins. Anyone who seeks liberation should make offerings to Brahmins every day. But if someone obstructs the act of giving, that person accrues great sin and is destined to be reborn in the womb of animals. Such a person’s property should be seized by the king, and he should be exiled from the kingdom. If a Brahmin is found guilty of this, especially when other Brahmins are suffering or dying, he must be condemned and marked, and expelled from the land. His sin is even greater than those previously described, and he is tormented in hell. When giving, one should seek out those who possess truthfulness and self-restraint—the foremost among the twice-born. Gifts should not be given to fools who lack proper conduct, even if they have fasted for ten nights, for such an act brings ruin: the sinner burns up to the seventh generation of his own lineage. Instead, one should strive to give with effort to the truly worthy, surpassing all others present. Both the giver and the worthy recipient attain heaven; if the opposite occurs, both fall into hell. Among all heretics, none truly knows the Veda or the law. An unlearned person who accepts gifts is reduced to ashes, just as wood is consumed by fire. Gifts may be accepted even from those of mere birth, but never, in any way, from a Śūdra. If a Brahmin becomes attached to greed for wealth, he falls from his true state and does not attain the spiritual heights that come through self-restraint. A Brahmin who takes more than what is needed for his sustenance descends to a lower state, disturbing other beings just as a thief would. While a Brahmin may accept gifts from all directions, he should never become satisfied or complacent because of them. By living with self-restraint, he attains the supreme state. He should always wander alone, remaining indifferent and concentrated, practicing regularly what he knows, and encouraging other twice-born to do the same. In this way, he attains the highest nature and is freed from the cycle of birth. When a man has seen his child’s child and his own body has grown worn with age, he should enter the stage of the forest-dweller, taking with him his wife and sacred fire. In the forest, he should practice austerity with steadfast concentration. With whatever food he obtains, he should honor both the ancestors and the gods, and when bringing food from home, he should eat only eight mouthfuls, doing so with mindfulness. He should devote himself to self-study and otherwise restrain his speech. His sustenance should come from ascetic fare—pure foods, or vegetables, roots, and fruits. Compassion to all beings should guide his actions, and he should avoid accepting gifts. He should observe, in proper order, the northern and southern solstices, and make the appropriate offerings of sacrificial cakes and oblations, following the prescribed rules. Thus, by living with discipline, compassion, and restraint, a person fulfills the duties of the forest-dweller and moves ever closer to the highest realization.