Part 2

21. Never use nor listen to profane language against the Gods, sacred places, Brâhmans, holy women, Sâdhus and the Vedas.

22. The remains of the offering to that Goddess to whom flesh and liquor are offered and in whose presence the killing of goats, etc., takes place, are not to be eaten.

23. If you happen on the road to see before you a temple of Šiva or any other God, having first made a salutation, respectfully enter inside to view the image.

24. Let no one abandon the duties of the class and order to which he belongs, nor practise the religious duties of others; nor have anything to do with those propounded by heretical teachers.

25. The narrative of the exploits of the Lord K.rish.na should not be heard from the mouth of any person whose words lead one to fall from his worship or from duty.

26. Never tell a truth which is likely to cause serious injury to yourself or to any one else. Avoid associating with ungrateful persons. Never accept a bribe from any person whatever.

27. Never associate with thieves, wicked or vicious persons, heretics, people who are in love, and people who are engaged in dishonest occupations.

28. Never associate with those who, through eager desire to obtain a wife, wealth or some sensual gratification, practise sinful acts under pretext of devotion to religion or to sacred knowledge.

29. Never pay attention to those books in which K.rish.na and his incarnations are impugned by controversial arguments.

30. No unstrained water or milk should be drunk, nor should water containing minute insects be used for such purposes as bathing, etc.

31. Never take medicine which is mixed with spirituous liquor or flesh meat; or which has been prescribed by a physician whose character is unknown.

32. Never allow bodily excretions or evacuations or saliva to fall in places prohibited by the Šâstras or by public custom.

33. Never enter or leave (a house) by a side entrance (or private door); never take up your residence at a place belonging to another person, without asking the owner's permission.

34. Males ought not to listen to (discourses on) religious knowledge, or to tales (about the exploits of heroes) from the mouths of women, [Footnote: This is in strict unison with the present Hindû practice of keeping women ignorant. That women in ancient times were not only educated, but sometimes erudite and celebrated as religious teachers, is proved by the example of Maitreyî, Gârgî and others] nor ought they to carry on controversial discussions with females; nor with a king or his officials.

35. Never speak disrespectfully of religious preceptors, of superiors, of those who have gained renown in the world, of learned men, and of those that carry arms.

36. Never do any act rashly; nor be slow in a religious duty. Impart to others the knowledge you may receive, and daily associate with holy men.

37. Do not go empty-handed to pay a visit to a religious preceptor, a god or a king. Never betray a trust or violate confidence. Never praise yourself with your own lips.

38. The clothing of my followers should not be of such an improper kind that, when put on, the limbs are exposed to view.

39. The worship of K.rish.na must not be performed without attending to religious duties. Adoration of K.rish.na should not be abandoned through fear of the reproaches of ignorant people.

40. On religious festivals and on ordinary days, the males and females that go to K.rish.na's temple should keep separate and not touch each other.

41. Those twice-born persons who have received initiation into the worship of K.rish.na from a duly qualified religious teacher should always wear on their necks two rosaries made of Tulsî wood (one for Râdhâ and another for K.rish.na), and should make an upright mark on their foreheads.

42. This mark should be made with Gopî-çandana (i.e. white earth from Dvârikâ), or with sandal which is left from that employed in the worship of Hari (K.rish.na), and mixed with saffron.

43. Within this (erect mark) there ought to be made a round (v.ritta) mark with the materials (or earth) used for the Pu.n.dra, or with saffron which has served for the Prasâda of Râdhâ and K.rish.na (that is, with a portion left from that employed in their worship).

44. Those pure Šûdras who are worshippers of K.rish.na, while practising their own peculiar duties, should, like the twice-born, use a rosary and a vertical mark on the forehead.

45. By those (Šûdra) worshippers who are different from the pure Šûdras two rosaries made of sandal wood, etc., are to be worn on the throat, and only a round mark is to be made on the forehead.

46. Those twice-born of my followers, who have inherited from their forefathers the custom of using a rosary of Rudrâksha berries (sacred to Šiva), and the three horizontal (Šaiva) marks, should not discontinue that practice.

47. Nârâya.na and Šiva should be equally regarded as manifestations of one and the same Universal Spirit, since both have been declared in the Vedas to be forms of Brahma. [Footnote: This precept furnishes an interesting proof of the tolerant character of Vaish.navism, and of its harmony with the pantheism of the Vedânta.]

48. In times of slight distress my adherents shall not chiefly (or by preference) follow the laws which are laid down by the Šâstras for times of (excessive) distress.