| 86.
Thus the law (valid) for self restrained ascetics has been explained
to you; now listen to the (particular) duties of those who give up
(the rites prescribed by) the Veda.
87. The student, the householder, the
hermit, and the ascetic, these (constitute) four separate orders,
which all spring from (the order of) householders.
88. But all (or) even (any of) these
orders, assumed successively in accordance with the Institutes (of
the sacred law), lead the Brahmana who acts by the preceding (rules)
to the highest state.
89. And in accordance with the
precepts of the Veda and of the Smriti, the housekeeper is declared
to be superior to all of them; for he supports the other three.
90. As all rivers, both great and
small, find a resting place in the ocean, even so men of all orders
find protection with householders
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