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III, 81.
HOUSEHOLDER ; DAILY RITES.
89
of sacrifices, supports both the movable and the immovable creation.
76. An oblation duly thrown into the fire, reaches the sun; from the sun comes rain, from rain food, therefrom the living creatures (derive their subsistence).
77. As all living creatures subsist by receiving support from air, even so (the members of) all orders subsist by receiving support from the householder.
78. Because men of the three (other) orders are daily supported by the householder with (gifts of) sacred knowledge and food, therefore (the order of) householders is the most excellent order.
79. (The duties of) this order, which cannot be practised by men with weak organs, must be carefully observed by him who desires imperishable (bliss in) heaven, and constant happiness in this life).
80. The sages, the manes, the gods, the Bhūtas, and guests ask the householders (for offerings and gifts); hence he who knows (the law), must give to them (what is due to each).
81. Let him worship, according to the rule, the sages by the private recitation of the Veda, the gods by burnt oblations, the manes by funeral offerings
76. Vas. XI, 13. 77-78. Vas. VIII, 14-16; Vi. LIX, 27-28.
78. Medh. points out that this verse indicates that householders alone are, as a rule, to be the teachers of the Veda, not hermits or ascetics. He adds, however, that the Institutes of the Bhikshus prescribe that men of the latter two orders, too, shall teach. Similarly Nár. and Nand. point out that householders alone shall be teachers, except in times of distress' (Nand.). .
79. Of weak organs,' i.e.. of uncontrolled organs' (Medh., Gov., Kull.). Some MSS. of Medh. and Nand. read atyantam, excessive,' for nityam, 'constant.' 80. Vi. LIX, 29.
81. Yâgñ. I, 104.
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