You are the immortal covering, the shelter of all; and just as water is to be sipped before eating, so must one observe the sacred acts that purify. Having offered the initial oblations and sipped water in reverence, one may then partake of food, honoring the order of ritual. Even during the night, within the bounds of one’s capacity, one should provide guests with a bed, a seat, and food—hospitality is a sacred duty. If ever one abandons the path of proper conduct, expiation becomes necessary to restore balance and purity. When the time comes, a householder should entrust his wife to the care of his sons and depart to the forest, either alone or accompanied by her, to embrace the life of a forest-dweller. There, he should sleep upon the ground, practice celibacy, and remain devoted to the five great sacrifices. His heart should overflow with compassion for all beings, and his devotion should be fixed solely on Narayana. Restraining the senses, he should eat only eight morsels of food each day, never taking meals at night. He must abstain from sexual activity and likewise avoid excess sleep and laziness. The forest-dweller should undertake austere practices, such as the Chandrayana and similar vows, to purify his mind and body. When detachment blossoms in his heart toward all objects of the world, he should immerse himself in the study of Vedanta, becoming peaceful, self-controlled, and master over his senses. Endowed with tranquility, free from desire and anger, he remains equal to both enemy and friend, and responds with equanimity to honor and dishonor alike. He should live by collecting alms, never taking food from a single household, and wander only where there is no dispute. Constantly reciting the sacred Pranava, he remains self-controlled and master of his senses. For such a one, no expiation is prescribed, even if there are thousands of atonements—he stands beyond them all. Yet, if he strays from this path, he is to be regarded as equal to a Chandala, condemned by caste and stage of life. But when he is free from duality and possessiveness, peaceful, beyond illusion, and without envy, he shines with the nature of knowledge—stainless, the supreme, eternal light. He should meditate upon the supreme Self, beyond all attributes and higher than the highest. With senses subdued, he should always contemplate the God with a thousand heads—Narayana Himself. By such meditation, he attains supreme bliss, the eternal, radiant light. He reaches the highest state, where all grief ceases, and those devoted to Narayana ascend to that supreme abode of Vishnu. By merely hearing this sacred teaching, one is freed from all sins—there is no doubt about it. The one who sleeps on the ground, observes celibacy, and invites brahmanas at night fulfills his duties well. The performer of a śrāddha, however, should avoid food prepared by women at night and medicinal herbs, and both the performer and the eater should refrain from sleeping during the day. One who has committed the killing of a brahmana or who is an outcaste surely goes to hell. Therefore, one should be devoted to proper conduct, remain peaceful, and be born in a noble family. He should possess knowledge of the three kinds of honey and the three kinds of rice, and be supremely compassionate to all beings. He should be accomplished in the true meaning of Vedanta and devoted to the welfare of all worlds, engaging in instructing others and the exposition of true scriptures. Now, listen carefully to those who are to be avoided at a śrāddha: a leper, one with deformed nails, one with hanging ears, or one who has broken his vows; one who speaks ill of others, a turncoat, a temple-servant, or a wicked person; one devoted to false scriptures, or one who eats food belonging to others; a bald man, one with a round head, or a priest serving those unfit for sacrifice—all these are to be avoided in the performance of this sacred rite.