The food offered by a man who feels no pain at seeing another display his own excellence, and who never eats without first setting aside the portion owed to brahmins and guests, is approved by the righteous. As a dog often devours its own vomit to its harm, so those yogins who earn their livelihood by displaying their own excellence devour their own vomit. The wise know as a true brahmin one who, living among his kinsmen, wishes his religious practices to remain forever unknown to them. What other brahmin deserves to know the Supreme Soul, which is unconditioned, without attributes, unchanging, one, and free of all duality? Through such practices a kshatriya, too, can come to know the Supreme Soul and behold It within his own soul. He who regards the Soul as the acting and feeling self — what sins does he not commit, this thief who strips the soul of its true qualities? A brahmin should be free of striving, should never accept gifts, should earn the respect of the righteous, and should be tranquil; and though his knowledge of the Veda should seem set apart from all this, it is only then that he can attain true knowledge and come to know Brahman. Those poor in earthly wealth but rich in the treasures of heaven and in sacrifice become unconquerable and fearless, and should be regarded as embodiments of Brahman. Even that man in this world who, by the performance of sacrifice, comes to meet the gods who grant every desired object to those who offer sacrifice, is not the equal of one who has come to know Brahman — for the performer of sacrifice must undergo toil, whereas the knower of Brahman attains Him without any such striving. It is said that the one truly honored is he who, without performing any act, is honored by the gods themselves.