“Uma said, ’O holy one, O lord of all creatures, O foremost of all observers of duties and religious rites, I have a great doubt, O wielder of Pinaka, O giver of boons.  These ascetics, O puissant lord, have undergone diverse kinds of austerities.  In the world are seen ascetics wandering everywhere under diverse forms and clad in diverse kinds of attire.  For benefiting this large assemblage of Rishis, as also myself, do thou kindly resolve, O chastiser of all foes, this doubt of mine.  What indications has Religion or Duty been said to possess?  How, indeed, do men become unacquainted with the details of Religion or Duty to succeed in observing them?  O puissant lord, O thou that art conversant with Religion, do thou tell me this.’

“Narada continued, ’When the daughter of Himavat put this question, conclave of Rishis there present worshipped the goddess and adored her with words adorned with Riks and with hymns fraught with deep import.’

“Maheswara said, ’Abstention from injury, truthfulness of speech, compassion towards all beings, tranquillity of soul, and the making of gifts to the best of one’s power, are the foremost duties of the householder.  Abstention from sexual congress with the spouses of other men, protection of the wealth and the woman committed to one’s charge, unwillingness to appropriate what is not given to one, and avoidance of honey and meat,—­these are the five chief duties.  Indeed, Religion or Duty has many branches all of which are fraught with happiness.  Even these are the duties which these embodied creatures who regard duty as superior should observe and practise.  Even these are the sources of merit.’

“Uma said, O holy one, I wish to ask thee another question about which I have great doubts.  It behoveth thee to answer it and dispel my doubts.  What are the meritorious duties of the four several orders?  What duties appertain to the Brahmana?  What to the Kshatriya?  What are the indications of those duties that appertain to the Vaisya?  And what kind of duties appertain to the Sudra?’

“The holy one said, ’O highly blessed lady, the question thou hast asked is a very proper one.  Those persons that belong to the regenerate order are regarded as highly blessed, and are, indeed, gods on earth.  Without doubt, the observance of fasts (i.e., subjugation of the senses) is always the duty of the Brahmana.  When the Brahmana succeeds in properly observing all his duties, he attains to identity with Brahma.[560] The proper observance of the duties of Brahmacharya, O goddess, are his ritual.  The observance of vows and the investiture with the sacred thread are his other duties.  It is by these that he becomes truly regenerate.  He becomes a Brahmana for worshipping his preceptors and other seniors as also the deities.  Verily, that religion which has for its soul the study of the Vedas is the source of all piety.  Even that is the religion which those embodied creatures who are devoted to piety and duty should observe and practise.’