One should never touch these three things, while one is in an impure state, viz., fire, a cow and a Brahmana. By observing this rule one lives long.
त्रीणि तेजांसि नोच्छिष्ट आलभेत कदाचन॥ अग्निं गां ब्राह्मणं चैव तथा ह्यायुर्न रिष्यते।