“Bhishma said, ’O scorcher of foes, all spouses in this world are called by the name of Data.  Although that name is applied to all, yet there is this great distinction to be observed.  If, having married three wives belonging to the three other orders, a Brahmana takes a Brahmana wife the very last of all yet shall she be regarded as the first in rank among all the wives, and as deserving of the greatest respect.  Indeed, among all the co-wives, she shall be the foremost in consideration.  In her apartments should be kept all those articles that are necessary in view of the husband’s baths, personal decorations, washing of teeth, and application of collyrium to the eyes.  In her apartments should be kept the Havya and the Kavya and all else that the husband may require for the performance of his religious acts.  If the Brahmana wife is in the house, no other wife is entitled to attend to these needs of the husband.  Only the Brahmana wife, O Yudhishthira, should assist in these acts of the husband.  The husband’s food and drink and garlands and robes and ornaments, all these should be given by the Brahmana wife to the husband, for she is the foremost in rank and consideration among all the spouses of the husband.  These are the ordinances of the scriptures as laid down by Manu, O delighter of the Kurus!  Even this, O monarch, is seen to be the course of eternal usage.  If a Brahmana, O Yudhishthira, led by lust, acts in a different way, he shall come to be regarded as a Chandala among Brahmanas.[296] The son born of the Kshatriya wife has been said to be equal in status to the son born of the Brahmana wife.  For all that, a distinction attaches to the son of the Brahmana wife in consequence of the superiority of the Brahmana to the Kshatriya in respect of the order of birth.  The Kshatriya cannot be regarded as equal to the Brahmana woman in point of birth.  Hence, O best of kings, the son born of the Brahmana wife must be regarded as the first in rank and superior to the son born of the Kshatriya wife.  Because, again the Kshatriya is not equal in point of birth to the Brahmana wife, hence the son of the Brahmana wife takes one after another, all the best things, O Yudhishthira, among his father’s possessions.  Similarly, the Vaisya cannot be regarded as the equal of the Kshatriya in point of birth.  Prosperity, kingdom, and treasury, O Yudhishthira, belong to the Kshatriya.  All these have been ordained for the Kshatriya.  The whole earth, O king, with her belt of seas, is seen to belong to him.  By following the duties of his own order, the Kshatriya acquires an extensive affluence.  The sceptre of royalty is held by him.  Without the Kshatriya, O king, there can be no protection.  The Brahmanas are highly blessed, for they are the deities of the very deities.  Following the ordinances laid down by the Rishis, the Kshatriyas should worship the Brahmanas according to due rites.  Even this is the eternal usage.  Coveted by thieves and others, the possessions of all men are protected by