O noble king, listen with reverence to the sacred duties of a householder, especially regarding the offering of food and the honoring of guests. When a guest enters a home, it is not merely a mortal who arrives, but the very deities themselves—Dhātā, Prajāpati, Indra, Agni, the Vasus, and Aryaman—who enter and partake of the food served. Thus, the wise know that to honor a guest is to honor the gods, and that eating without a guest is to consume only sin. With this understanding, the householder must always strive to welcome and honor guests. After doing so, it is his duty to first feed married women, those who are distressed, pregnant women, the elderly, and children with the food he has prepared. Only after all these have been satisfied should he partake himself. If he neglects this order and eats before these groups, he accumulates sin, and should he die in such a state, he is doomed to hell and rebirth as a worm-eater. There are further cautions for the householder: eating without bathing is to consume filth; eating without reciting mantras is to consume pus and blood; eating food that is unprepared is akin to consuming urine; and eating before children and others is as if eating excrement first. Moreover, one who eats without giving to others partakes of worms day and night and consumes what is improper. Therefore, O king of kings, listen to the proper way a householder should eat, so that he may not be bound by sin. When this is observed, health, great strength, intelligence, freedom from calamity, and protection from hostile sorcerers arise for the householder. He should bathe properly and make offerings to the gods, sages, and ancestors. With auspicious gems in hand and devotion in his heart, he should eat. He should recite mantras, make offerings into the fire, wear clean garments, and, adorned with auspicious fragrance and good garlands, give food to guests, Brāhmaṇas, teachers, and dependents before eating himself. He should avoid eating while wearing multiple garments or with wet hands or feet. With a purified face and a cheerful demeanor, he may eat, but never facing an improper direction. Facing east or north, and with his mind focused, he should partake of wholesome and suitable food, sprinkled with purifying water. He must never eat food brought with contempt or prepared in a manner causing disgust. After giving a portion to disciples and those who are hungry, the householder may eat. In a suitable, clean vessel, the twice-born should eat, free from anger. He should not eat from a vessel placed on sand or in an improper place, nor at an unsuitable time or in a crowded spot. After offering the first portion to fire, he may eat consecrated, wholesome food that is not stale, except for fruits, roots, dried branches, haritaki fruits, and sweet preparations made with jaggery. Only the portions with essence should be consumed. Leftovers should not be eaten, except for honey, water, ghee, and flour preparations, if the person is discerning. While eating, one should become absorbed in the food, first savoring the sweet taste, then salty and sour in the middle, and finally the pungent, bitter, and similar flavors. Liquid food should be consumed first, solid food in the middle, and again liquid at the end, so that strength and health are preserved. Food should be eaten in this way, without blame or criticism, and in silence for five mouthfuls, for this nourishes the vital energies. After eating properly and rinsing the mouth, whether facing east or north, one should rinse again as appropriate, washing the hands thoroughly. Calm and tranquil in mind, having arranged his seat, the householder should remember the desired deities. He should pray: “May fire, moved by wind, nourish the earthly element; having received space, may it digest, and may happiness be mine. May this food bring strength to me from earth, water, fire, and wind; as it is digested, may unobstructed happiness be mine. May food be nourishing for my prāṇa, apāna, samāna, udāna, and vyāna; may unobstructed happiness also be mine. May Agastya, fire, and the submarine fire digest the food I have eaten; may the happiness arising from its digestion grant me freedom from disease in my body. Viṣṇu, the indweller of all senses and bodies, is never in vain; by that truth, may all the food I have eaten bring me health and proper digestion. Vishnu is the eater, likewise the food, and so too its transformation; by this truth, the food I have eaten is digested.” Having recited these prayers, one should wipe the abdomen with one’s own hand and, without laziness, perform actions that bring ease. The day should be passed with wholesome scripture and similar recreation, without deviating from the right path. As evening approaches, one should attend to the evening twilight with concentration. At the end of the day, when the sun is with the eastern stars, having properly rinsed the mouth, the householder should attend to the evening twilight as is appropriate. Attendance at both twilights is prescribed at all times for a king, except in cases of impurity due to birth or death, confusion, illness, or fear. If one, though healthy, neglects the twilight worship at sunrise or sunset, expiation must be performed. Therefore, one should rise before sunrise and attend to the morning twilight, and, if asleep at sunset, attend to the evening twilight upon waking. Those who neglect either the morning or evening twilight are wicked and go to the dark hell. Again, in the evening, having prepared the offering, the householder should present the bali offering with the wife’s mantra, for the sake of the deities called Vaiśvadevas. Food should also be given in the same way to outcastes and others. If a guest arrives at that time, the wise should honor him according to their ability—with foot-washing, a seat, respectful greeting, and then by giving food and a bed. If a guest departs during the day without being received, the sin incurred is great; but if the guest departs at sunset without being received, the sin is eightfold. Therefore, O king of kings, one should honor a guest at sunset according to one’s ability; for when a guest is honored, all the deities are honored. Thus, O king, the sacred duties of the householder regarding food, guests, and daily worship are revealed. By following these, one attains health, happiness, and the favor of the gods.