Hear now, O noble one, the wise and gracious path of conduct as expounded in the ancient scripture. A person devoted to righteousness should keep his hair neat and clean, be fragrant, and wear attire that is pleasing to the eye. He should always adorn himself with white, delightful, and charming flowers. He must never take even the smallest portion of another’s property, nor utter even the slightest unpleasant word. He should not speak falsehoods to please others, nor point out the faults of anyone. Let him not covet the wealth or enmity of another, nor travel in a faulty vehicle or seek shelter beneath the shade of a riverbank. He should avoid the company of those who are despised, fallen, mad, hostile, or infested with insects, as well as prostitutes, their clients, and those who speak base lies. A wise person does not make friends with those who are excessively wasteful, fond of slander, or deceitful, nor should he travel alone. He must not enter the swift current of a river, nor a burning house, nor climb to the top of a tree. He should refrain from grinding his teeth or picking his nose; when he yawns, he must cover his mouth, and he should expel his breath or cough away from others. He should not laugh loudly or make disruptive noises, nor pass wind audibly. He must not eat with his nails, cut grass, or scratch the ground. A discerning person does not eat beard or clay, nor knead them. He should not gaze at fire, impure things, or forbidden acts. He must not look at a naked woman who is not his wife, nor at the sun during sunrise or sunset. He should never sniff a corpse, for the smell of a corpse is the fragrance of Soma. He should always avoid crossroads, sacred trees, cremation grounds, groves, and the company of wicked women at night. A wise person does not step over the shadow of a revered deity, a Brahmin, or a lamp, nor should he go alone into a deserted forest or dwell in an empty house. He should keep a respectful distance from hair, bones, thorns, impure things, remains of sacrifices, ashes, husks, and wet ground after bathing. He must not associate with non-Aryans, nor desire crookedness. He should avoid approaching snakes and should not stand or sit for excessive periods. He must not overindulge in staying awake or sleeping, bathing or sitting, lying down or exercising. One should shun, from a distance, those with fangs or horns, as well as mist, headwinds, and harsh sunlight. He should never bathe, sleep, or purify himself while naked, nor eat with loose hair, nor worship the gods in such a state. In acts of sacrifice, worship, or sipping water for purification, he must never proceed with only one garment or while reciting sacred texts. He should always avoid the company of those with bad conduct, for even a moment’s association with the virtuous is greatly praised. A wise person does not engage in conflict with those superior or inferior; marriage and disputes should be with equals. He should not initiate quarrels or maintain dry enmity. Even if he suffers slight loss, he should endure it, and never seek gain through enmity. After bathing, he should not wipe his limbs with the bathing cloth or with his hand, nor should he shake out his hair or eat immediately upon rising. He must not step on another’s foot, nor direct his foot toward what is to be revered. Without humility, he should never sit on a higher seat in the presence of a teacher. He should not walk to the left of temples, crossroads, or auspicious and venerable things, nor circumambulate them in the reverse direction, but always keep to the right. He must never spit, urinate, or defecate facing the moon, sun, fire, water, wind, or anything worthy of reverence. He should not urinate while standing, nor do so on roads, and must never step over phlegm, feces, urine, or blood. Expelling phlegm or nasal mucus is improper during meals, offerings, auspicious rites, recitation, sacrifice, or in the presence of many people. A wise man should not look down upon women, nor place undue trust in them; he should not be jealous of them, nor ever speak ill of them. A wise man devoted to good conduct should not leave his house without first honoring those worthy of reverence with auspicious items, flowers, gems, or clarified butter, and offering salutations. At crossroads, he should offer salutations, and, at the proper time, perform sacrifices. He should uplift the distressed, serve the virtuous, and associate with the learned. He who properly worships the gods and sages, offers water and food to ancestors, and honors guests, attains the highest worlds. He who speaks what is beneficial, measured, and pleasant at the right time, and who has self-control, reaches realms of undiminishing delight. The wise, modest, patient, faithful, and humble attain the highest worlds, honored by knowledge, noble lineage, and age. A wise man should suspend study during untimely thunder, on festival days, during impurity, and at eclipses or similar occasions. He who calms the angry, is free from enmity toward all relatives, consoles the fearful, and is virtuous— for him, even heaven is a small reward. In rain or sun, he should carry an umbrella; at night or in the forest, a staff; and, wishing to protect the body, he should always wear footwear. A wise man does not walk looking upward, sideways, or far off; he walks, observing only the space a yoke’s length ahead. He who, with self-control, avoids all causes of fault, never suffers the slightest loss of virtue, wealth, or desire. The wise man, devoted to good conduct, learned and disciplined, remains unstained even among the wicked. He speaks kindly even to the harsh, and with a heart full of friendship, liberation rests in his hand. Indeed, those who are free from passion, anger, and greed, and who are established in good conduct— by their very influence, the earth itself is sustained.