In the Krita age, a concourse of Rishis, of rigid vows, having approached the great and powerful lord of creation, Manu, while seated at his case requested him to describe duties, saying,-What food should be taken, who is to be considered a deserving person (for gifts), what gifts should be made, how should a person study and what penances should one perform and how, and what acts should be done and what acts should not be done. O lord of creation, tell us everything in detail. Thus solicited by them, the divine and self-sprung Manu said to them,-Listen to me as I describe the duties in brief and in detail.
ऋषयस्तु व्रतपरा: समागम्य पुरा विभुम्। धर्मं पप्रच्छुरासीनमादिकाले प्रजापतिम्॥ कथमन्नं कथं पात्रं दानमध्ययनं तपः। कार्याकार्यं च यत् सर्वं शसं वै त्वं प्रजायते॥ तैरेवमुक्तो भगवान् मनुः स्वायम्भुवोऽब्रवीत्। शुश्रूषध्वं यथावृत्तं धर्मं व्याससमासतः॥