ld never
seat oneself upon husk of corn, or upon hair, or upon ashes, or upon
bones. One should, on no account, use the water that has been used by
another for bathing. One should always perform the Homa for propitiating
the deities, and recite the Savitri Mantra. One should always eat in a
seated posture. One should never eat while walking. One should never
answer a call of nature in a standing posture. One should never answer a
call of nature on ashes or in a cow-pen. One should wash one's feet
before sitting to one's meals. One should never sit or lie down for sleep
with wet feet. One who sits to one's meals after having washed one's
feet, lives for a hundred years. One should never touch these three
things of great energy, while one is in an impure state, viz., fire, a
cow, and a Brahmana. By observing this rule, one acquires longevity. One
should not, while one is in an impure state, cast one's eyes on these
three things of great energy, viz., the sun, the moon, and the stars. The
life-breaths of a young man go upwards when an old and venerable person
comes to his abode. He gets them back by standing up and properly
saluting the guest. Old men should always be saluted. One should, upon
seeing them, offer seats with one's own hand. After the old man has taken
his seat, one should seat oneself and remain with hands joined in
reverence. When an old man goes along the road, one should always follow
him instead of walking ahead. One should never sit on a torn or broken
seat. One should, without using it any longer, cast away a broken vessel
of white brass. One should never eat without a piece of upper garment
wrapping one's body. One should never bathe in a state of nudity. One
should never sleep in a state of nudity. One should never even touch the
remnants of other people's dishes and plates. One should never, while one
is in an impure state, touch another's head, for it is said in the
scriptures that the life-breaths are all concentrated in the head. One
should never strike another on the head or seize another by the hair. One
should not join one's hands together for scratching one's head. One
should not, while bathing, repeatedly dip one's head in water. By so
doing one shortens one's life. One who has bathed by dipping the head in
water should not, afterwards, apply oil to any part of one's body. One
should never take a meal without eating some sesame. One should never
teach (the Vedas or any scriptures) at a time wh
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