of Brahman.  The father (if reverenced) can lead to the regions of Prajapati.  The guest is puissant enough to lead to the region of Indra.  The Ritwik has power in respect of the regions of the deities.  Female relatives of the paternal line have lordship in respect of the regions of the Apsaras, and kinsmen (by blood), in respect of the region of the Viswedevas.  Relatives by marriage and collateral kinsmen have power in respect of the several quarters of the horizon (viz., north, etc.), and the mother and the maternal uncle have power over the earth.  The old, the young, the afflicted the wasted have power over the sky.[1002] The eldest brother is like unto the sire himself (to all his younger brothers).  The wife and the son are one’s own body.  One’s menial servants are one’s own shadow.  The daughter is an object of great affection.  For these reason, a house-holder endued with learning, observant of duties, and possessed of endurance, should bear, without warmth or anxiety of heart every kind of annoyance and even censure from the last named relatives.  No righteous household should do any act, urged by considerations of wealth.  There are three courses of duty in respect of a life of domesticity.  Of these, that which comes next (in the order of enumeration) is more meritorious than the preceding one.[1003] As regards the four (principal) modes of life also, the same rule of merit applies, viz., the one that comes after is superior to the one preceding it.  Accordingly, domesticity is superior to Brahmacharya, forest life is superior to domesticity, and a life of mendicancy or complete renunciation is superior to a forest life.  One desirous of prosperity should accomplish all those duties and rites that have been ordained in the scriptures in respect of those modes.  That kingdom grows in prosperity where these highly deserving persons live, viz., those that lead a life of domesticity according to the Kumbhadhanya method, they that lead it according to the Unchha method, and they that lead it according to the Kapoti method.[1004] That man who cheerfully leads a life of domesticity in the observance of those duties, succeeds in sanctifying ten generations of his ancestors above and ten generations of descendants below.  A householder, duly observing the duties of domesticity, obtains an end that yields felicity equal to what occurs in the regions attained by great kings and emperors.  Even this is the end that has been ordained for those who have subdued their senses.  For all high-souled householders heaven has been ordained.  That heaven is equipped with delightful cars for each (moving at the will of the rider).  Even that is the delightful heaven indicated in the Vedas.  For all householders of restrained souls, the regions of heaven constitute the high reward.  The Self-born Brahman ordained that the domestic mode of life should be the productive cause of heaven.  And since it has been so ordained, a person, by gradually