The honored guest was received with all due reverence. Water was offered for washing his feet, an arghya was presented, and he was respectfully seated upon a proper seat. Then Nārada spoke, his words gentle yet piercing: “You grieve for those not to be grieved for. Though you are wise, you do not truly understand. The wise do not mourn for the living or the dead. Even though your enemies might rejoice at your sorrow, still your son does not return. Remember, O learned one, devas, asuras, gandharvas, humans, beasts, and birds—every being that is born carries within it the certainty of death, for time in the form of death is ever-present. Your son was truly great, renowned, and a treasure of fortune. Having reached the destined time of death, he has now attained the highest divine state.” When Nārada had spoken thus, the best among the twice-born heard these words. Yet fear gripped him; his voice faltered, and he sighed repeatedly in sorrow. “Ah, best of great sages! Ah, foremost among knowers of dharma!” he cried. “Out of affection, friendship, or love, I will tell you—please listen. Out of deep affection for my son, I resolved to do what I did. Afterwards, I offered the rice-ball, spreading darbha grass upon the ground, as is the rite. Driven by the force of grief, I performed this act. My intellect, memory, and resolve were lost, deluded by ignorance. Now I see terrible fear arising from the fierce curse of the sage. But do not be afraid, O best of twice-born—take refuge in your father. I see no unrighteousness here; indeed, I am certain this is righteousness. By deed, by mind, and by speech, he took refuge in his father. Meditating thus, he quickly approached the ascetic endowed with great austerity, who comforted his son with auspicious and imperishable words. ‘This is the rite for ancestors, prescribed as duty by Brahma himself,’ the sage explained. ‘The Śrāddha was first performed by Svayambhū, the self-born, O best of the wise. The procedure for the Śrāddha rite and the acts for the departed are thus established. And by my grace, I bestow understanding upon him. One must certainly go, by the command of Dharmarāja. For one who is born, death is certain; and for one who has died, birth is certain. Sattva, rajas, and tamas—these three qualities are said to arise from the body. Those dominated by tamas, due to the fault of their actions, do not comprehend the sattvic. Those who know the Vedas, being sattvic, proceed on the path to liberation. The tamasic person is cruel, fearful, addicted to vice, violent, and shameless; know him by these signs, for when spoken to, he does not understand. He is strong in speech, unsteady in mind, and always suspicious. But he who is patient, self-controlled, pure in soul, and endowed with faith is to be known as sattvic. Thus reflecting, you should not give in to sorrow. Modesty, fortitude, righteousness, prosperity, fame, memory, and wisdom—all these, along with every virtue, abandon a man afflicted by grief. Deluded by the power of attachment, he commits violence and falsehood. Therefore, restraining attachment towards all, one should direct the mind towards righteousness. Now, I shall declare the duties of the four varnas, as spoken by Svayambhu.