Kurma Purana

वैश्यं क्षेमं समागम्य शूद्रमारोग्यमेव तु

Upon meeting a Vaiśya, one should wish him prosperity; upon meeting a Śūdra, one should wish him health.

वर्णज्येष्ठः पितृव्यश्च पुंसो ऽत्र गुरवः स्मृताः

Among men, the elder of the caste and the paternal uncle are considered teachers.

श्वश्रूः पितामहीज्येष्ठा धात्री च गुरवः स्त्रियः

Among women, the mother-in-law, the eldest paternal grandmother, and the nurse are considered teachers.

अनुवर्तनमेतेषां मनोवाक्कायकर्मभिः

One should follow them through actions of mind, speech, and body.

नैतैरुपविशेत् सार्धं विवदेन्नात्मकारणात्

One should neither sit together with them nor argue with them for one's own sake.

उदितो ऽपि गुणैरन्यैर्गुरुद्वेषी पतत्यधः

Even if endowed with other virtues, one who hates the guru falls down.

तेषामाद्यास्त्रयः श्रेष्ठास्तेषां माता सुपूजिता

Among them, the first three are the best; among them, the mother is most highly honored.

ज्येष्ठो भ्राता च भर्ता च पञ्चैते गुरवः स्मृताः

The elder brother and the husband—these five are considered gurus.

पूजनीया विशेषेण पञ्चैते भूतिमिच्छता

These five should be especially honored by one who desires prosperity.

तावत् सर्वं परित्यज्य पुत्रः स्यात् तत्परायणः

The son should abandon everything and devote himself to them.

स पुत्रः सकलं धर्ममाप्नुयात् तेन कर्मणा

Such a son attains all righteousness through that action.

तयोः प्रत्युपकारो ऽपि न कथञ्चन विद्यते

There is no way to repay them, not in any manner.

न ताभ्यामननुज्ञातो धर्ममन्यं समाचरेत्

Without their permission, one should not perform any other duty.

धर्मसारः समुद्दिष्टः प्रेत्यानन्तफलप्रदः

The essence of dharma has been declared, which yields endless rewards after death.

शिष्यो विद्याफलं भुङ्क्ते प्रेत्य चापद्यते दिवि

The disciple enjoys the fruit of knowledge and, after death, attains heaven.

तेन दोषेण स प्रेत्य निरयं घोरमृच्छति

Because of that fault, he attains a terrible hell after death.

याति दातरि लोके ऽस्मिन् उपकाराद्धि गौरवम्

In this world, honor arises for the giver because of the benefit rendered.

तेषामथाक्षयांल्लोकान् प्रोवाच भगवान् मनुः

Then the venerable Manu declared to them those inexhaustible worlds.

असावहमिति ब्रूयुः प्रत्युत्थाय यवीयसः

The younger should rise and say, 'Here I am,' in their presence.

भोभवत्पूर्वकं त्वेनमभिभाषेत धर्मवित्

A knower of dharma should address him, beginning with 'O revered sir.'

ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियाद्यैश्च श्रीकामैः सादरं सदा

A brāhmaṇa should always respectfully address him, as should those desiring prosperity among kṣatriyas and others.

ज्ञानकर्मगुणोपेता यद्यप्येते बहुश्रुताः

Even though these are endowed with the qualities of knowledge and action, and are well-versed in many texts,

सवर्णेषु सवर्णानां कार्यमेवाभिवादनम्

Among those of the same class, greeting is to be performed only with those of the same class.

पतिरेको गुरुः स्त्रीणां सर्वत्राभ्यागतो गुरुः

For women, the husband alone is the teacher; wherever he is present, he is the teacher.

मान्यस्थानानि पञ्चाहुः पूर्वं पूर्वं गुरूत्तरात्

They declare five ranks of honor, each preceding one being superior to the next.

यत्र स्युः सो ऽत्र मानार्हः शूद्रो ऽपि दशमीं गतः

Wherever they are found, he is worthy of respect there—even a Śūdra who has attained the tenth stage.

वृद्धाय भारबुग्नाय रोगिणे दुर्बलाय च

To the aged, to one bent with burdens, to the sick, and to the weak,

निवेद्य गुरवे ऽश्नीयाद् वाग्यतस्तदनुज्ञया

One should eat only after informing the teacher, with controlled speech, and with his permission.

भवन्मध्यं तु राजन्यो वैश्यस्तु भवदुत्तरम्

A Kṣatriya should stand in the middle of the assembly, and a Vaiśya above the assembly.