Listen, O noble one, to the ancient wisdom regarding the proper conduct at the sacred śrāddha rites and the feeding of Brahmins. A man who feeds Brahmins out of order or in a mixed group, disregarding their proper line, does not become free from sin even after passing through a hundred lifetimes. Whether he is formally appointed or not, the one who arranges the line for food incurs sin; evil swiftly overtakes him, and all his accumulated merit from sacrifices and charity is destroyed. Among all Brahmins gathered at a festival, the foremost is he who recites the Vedas together with the Itihasas and the fifth Veda. Immediately after him, the knowledgeable should appoint the one who knows the three Vedas, then the one who knows two Vedas, followed by the one versed in a single Veda. Next comes the student of logic, and then the others in their proper order. Let me explain to you those who purify the ritual line: all those previously mentioned, in their proper sequence—the one skilled in the six limbs of the Vedas, the disciplined, the yogi, and the expert in all rituals, as well as the wandering mendicant—these five are recognized as purifiers of the line. Moreover, anyone who has mastered even one of the eighteen branches of knowledge, and all those who conduct themselves properly, purify the line. Also, the one who knows the three Naciketas fires, the one who knows the three Vedas, and the twice-born who recites the Dharmas, as well as the Brahmin who has mastered the Barhaspatya Shastra—all these are declared to be purifiers of the line. But if a twice-born, invited to a śrāddha, engages in intercourse with a woman, his ancestors remain in his semen for that month. Likewise, he who, after giving and eating at a śrāddha, engages in sexual union, retains his ancestors in his semen for that month; there is no doubt about this. Therefore, one should give to a guest, feed a celibate student, and offer food to one devoted to meditation, to one compassionate and righteous. One may also feed an ascetic or the Vālakhilyas at a śrāddha; the forest-dweller, if present, is satisfied with mere honor. Feeding a householder causes the Viśvedevas to be worshipped; the forest-dweller satisfies the sages, and the Vālakhilyas please Indra. In the worship of ascetics, Brahma himself is worshipped. The five āśramas are purifying, but those outside the āśramas, bearing false marks, are not. The four āśramas should be honored at śrāddhas and at divine rites; one should not have śrāddha performed by those outside the four āśramas. If someone, though hungry, remains outside the four āśramas, or is an undisciplined or false renouncer, both are defilers of the line. One should avoid all those who are shaven-headed in vain, those with matted hair, those who wear rags, the cruel, those of deviant conduct, and those who eat anything. In offerings to gods and ancestors, one should avoid singers, dancers, actors, those excluded from all the Vedas, and those who recite divine stories. Even if they are twice-born, those who perform such acts must always be excluded from the śrāddha rite. Whoever engages in these practices loses their entire caste status; and all who eat together with a Śūdra defile the ritual line. For a brāhmaṇa, there is no proper occupation in killing, restraining by force, agriculture, trade, cattle-keeping, serving a non-brāhmaṇa, or secret work. Those brāhmaṇas who are established in knowledge and meditation but are false in resolve or of bad conduct are to be considered fallen twice-born. Those who know false doctrines, who are hypocrites and deceivers, who are associated with minor or major sins, are to be avoided. Those who assign Vedic recitation for hire, who seek gain from greed or delusion, and who sell the Veda, are to be excluded from the śrāddha rite. There is no hiring out of the Vedas; whoever does so commits sin. The one who enjoys the fruit of the Veda loses its reward, and the giver loses the merit of his gift. He who teaches for hire, and he who learns for hire, both are unfit for the śrāddha, for they make a trade of sacred rites. Both buyer and seller, when doing so for livelihood, are to be condemned; this is the occupation of a Vaiśya, but for a brāhmaṇa it is a sin. Those who know the Vedas declare that whoever lives off the Vedas is likewise condemned. Whoever approaches another's wife without reason, or performs a sacrifice without purpose, is unfit for the śrāddha, as is the twice-born who is an atheist. He who cooks food for himself alone, not for gods or guests, is unfit for the śrāddha, as are the fallen and the brahma-rākṣasa. Those whose wives go out at night, who delight in other men's wives, and those devoted to wealth and desire should not be fed at śrāddha rites. Those who act against the duties of their varṇa or āśrama, the thief, and the professional sacrificer—all these are defilers of the ritual line at śrāddha. A person who eats like a pig, or a twice-born who eats from his hand, or who eats with his left hand—such food is not accepted by the ancestors. One should not give śrāddha leftovers to a woman, a Śūdra, or one who is uninitiated; if given out of haste or delusion, it never reaches the ancestors. Therefore, leftovers from food at the śrāddha should not be given, except for curds and ghee, and only to a disciple or son, not otherwise. One should especially give food and edibles that are not defiled by leftovers; satisfaction is also gained from flowers, roots, and fruits, but chiefly from food. For as long as the food remains pure and does not lose its warmth, the ancestors partake of it, and for as long as those who are disciplined in speech eat. Giving, receiving, oblation, eating, and offering should all be performed with the thumb, so that it is not as it would be for the asuras. All these acts—giving and the rest—should especially be performed with the fingers joined together; likewise, sipping water should be done in the same manner. Thus, these are the sacred guidelines for honoring the ancestors and the twice-born at the śrāddha, preserving purity and merit for both giver and recipient, and ensuring the ritual line remains undefiled.