Men should always avoid these twelve. Any one of them alone can bring about the destruction of men, O bull among men. Indeed, each of them lies in wait for its opportunity against men, as a hunter waits for his chance against deer. Asserting one's own superiority, desiring to enjoy the wives of others, humiliating others out of excessive pride, irascibility, fickleness, and refusing to support those worthy of support — these six wicked acts are ever committed by sinful men, heedless of every danger here and hereafter. He who counts the satisfaction of lust among the aims of life, he who is excessively proud, he who grieves over giving, he who never spends money, he who oppresses his subjects with hateful taxes, he who delights in the humiliation of others, and he who hates his own wives — these seven are the others likewise called wicked. Righteousness, truth (abstention from wrongdoing and truthfulness of speech), self-restraint, asceticism, joy in the happiness of others, modesty, forbearance, love for others, sacrifice, charity, perseverance, and knowledge of the scriptures — these twelve constitute the practices of brahmanas. He who succeeds in acquiring these twelve becomes able to sway the whole earth. He who is endowed with three, two, or even one of them should be considered possessed of heavenly prosperity. Self-restraint, renunciation, and knowledge of the Self — in this lies liberation. Those brahmanas who are endowed with wisdom say that these are qualities in which truth predominates. Self-restraint consists of eighteen virtues. Transgression and neglect of prescribed acts and omissions, falsehood, malice, lust, love of wealth, love of sensual pleasures, anger, grief, thirst, avarice, deceit, delight in others' misfortune, envy, harming others, regret, aversion to pious deeds, forgetfulness of duty, slandering others, and vanity — he who is freed from these eighteen faults is called a righteous man of self-restraint.