They always adored Brahma in the sacrifices, and were free from desire. Endued with learning they got over all the bonds of life. The sacrifices of these men, their Vedic knowledge, their acts performed according to the ordinances, their study of the scriptures at the proper hours, and the wishes they formed, freed as they were from lust and anger, observant as they were of pious conduct and acts despite all difficulties, famous as they were for performing the duties of their own castes and mode of life, purified as their souls were on account of their very nature, characterised as they were by thorough sincerity, devoted as they were to tranquillity, and attentive as they were to their own practises, were at one with Infinite Brahma. This is the eternal Shruti we have heard. The penances of men who were so noble, of men whose conduct and acts were so difficult of observance and accomplishment, of men those wishes were crowned with success on account of the strict satisfaction of their duties, became potent instruments for the destruction of all worldly desires. The Brahmanas hold that that Good conduct, which is wonderful, whose origin may be traced to very old times, which is eternal, and whose marks are unchangeable, which differs from the practices which even the good follow in time of distress and represents their acts in other situations, which is at one with carefulness, over which lust, anger, and other evil passions have no control, and on account of which there was no transgression in all mankind, subsequently became divided into four sub-divisions, agreeing with the four modes of life, by person unable to follow its duties in ininute detail and entirety.
यजन्तोऽहरहर्यज्ञैर्निराशीर्बन्धना बुधाः। तेषां यज्ञाश्च वेदाश्च कर्माणि च यथागमम्॥ आगमाच यथाकाले संकल्पाच यथाक्रमम्। अपेतकामक्रोधानां दुश्चराचारकर्मणाम्॥ स्वकर्मभिः संशितानां प्रकृत्या शंसितात्मनाम्। ऋजूनां शमनित्यानां स्वेषु कर्मसु वर्तताम्॥ सर्वमानन्त्यमेवासीदिति नः शाश्वती श्रुतिः। तेषामदीनसत्त्वानां दुश्चराचारकर्मणाम्॥ स्वकर्मभिः सम्भृतानां तपो घोरत्वमागतम्। तं सदाचारमाश्चर्यं पुराणं शाश्वतं ध्रुवम्॥ अशक्नुवद्भिश्चरितुं किंचिद् धर्मेषु सूक्ष्मताम्। निरापद्धर्म आचारो ह्यप्रमादोऽपराभवः॥ सर्ववर्णेषु जातेषु नासीत कश्चिद् व्यतिक्रमः। व्यस्तमेकं चतुर्धा हि ब्राह्मणा आश्रमं विदुः॥