llent part, since he
was the first born, and since he possesses the _Veda_, he is by
right the chief of this whole creation.

8. Him, the Being, who exists of himself, produced in the beginning,
from his own mouth, that having performed holy rites, he might
present clarified butter to the gods, and cakes of rice to the
progenitors of mankind, for the preservation of this world.

9. What created being then can surpass Him, with whose mouth the
gods of the firmament continually feast on clarified butter, and the
manes of ancestors, on hallowed cakes?

10. Of created things, the most excellent are those which are
animated; of the animated, those which subsist by intelligence; of
the intelligent, mankind; and of men, the sacerdotal class.

11. Of priests those eminent in learning; of the learned, those who
know their duty; of those who know it, such as perform it
virtuously; and of the virtuous, those who seek beatitude from a
perfect acquaintance with scriptural doctrine.

12. The very birth of _Brahmins_ is a constant incarnation of
DHERMA, _God of Justice_; for the _Brahmin_ is born to promote
justice, and to procure ultimate happiness.

13. When a _Brahmin_ springs to light, he is borne above the world,
the chief of all creatures, assigned to guard the treasury of
duties, religious and civil.

14. Whatever exists in the universe, is all in effect, _though not
in form_, the wealth of the _Brahmin_; since the _Brahmin_ is
entitled to it all by his primogeniture and eminence of birth.

15. The _Brahmin_ eats but his own food; wears but his own apparel;
and bestows but his own in alms: through the benevolence of the
_Brahmin_, indeed, other mortals enjoy life.

16. To declare the sacerdotal duties, and those of the other classes
in due order, the sage MENU, sprung from the self-existing,
promulged this code of laws.

17. A code which must be studied with extreme care by every learned
_Brahmin_, and fully explained to his disciples, but _must be
taught_ by no other man _of an inferior class_.

18. The _Brahmin_ who studies this book, having performed sacred
rites, is perpetually free from offence in thought, in word, and in
deed.

19. He confers purity on his living family, on his ancestors, and
on his descendants, as far as the seventh person; and He alone