hmanas, becomes
endued with the desirable rewards of righteousness. O beautiful lady, I
have thus recited to thee what the duties are of the four orders. Indeed,
O blessed lady, I have told thee what their respective duties are. What
else dost thou wish to hear?"

"'"'Uma said, "Thou has recited to me what the respective duties are of the
four orders, auspicious and beneficial for them. Do thou now tell me, O
holy one, what the common duties are of all the orders."

"'"'Maheswara said, "The foremost of all beings in the universe viz., the
Creator Brahma, ever desirous of righteous accomplishments, created the
Brahmanas for rescuing all the worlds. Among all created beings, they
are, verily, gods on earth. I shall at the outset tell thee what the
religious acts are which they should do and what the rewards are which
they win through them. That religion which has been ordained for the
Brahmanas is the foremost of all religions. For the sake of the
righteousness of the world, three religions were created by the Self-born
One. Whenever the world is created (or re-created), those religions are
created by the Grandsire. Do thou listen. These are the three eternal
religions. The religion that is propounded in the Vedas is the highest;
that which is propounded in the Smritis is the next in the order of
importance; the third in importance is that which is based upon the
practices of those who are regarded as righteous. The Brahmans possessed
of learning should have the three Vedas. He should never make the study
of the Vedas (or recitation of the scriptures) the means of his
living.[562] He should devote himself to the three well-known acts (of
making gifts, studying the Vedas, and performing sacrifices). He should
transcend the three (viz., lust, wrath, and covetousness). He should be
the friend of all creatures. A person that possesses these attributes is
called a Brahmana. The lord of the universe declared these six acts for
the observance of Brahmanas. Listen to those eternal duties. The
performance of sacrifices, officiating at the sacrifices of others, the
making of gifts, the acceptance of gifts, teaching, and study, are the
six acts by accomplishing which a Brahmans wins religious merit. Verily,
the daily study of the Vedas is a duty. Sacrifice is (another) eternal
duty. The making of gifts according to the measure of his power and
agreeable to the ordinance, is, in his case, much applauded. Tranquillity
of mind is a hi