विप्रोष्य तूपसंग्राह्या ज्ञातिसंबन्धियोषितः
After returning from travel, one should respectfully greet women who are relatives by marriage.
मातृवद् वृत्तिमातिष्ठेन्मात् ताभ्यो गरीयसी
One should behave toward them as toward one’s mother, for the mother is greater than they.
वेदमध्यापयेद् धर्मं पुराणाङ्गानि नित्यशः
He should teach the Veda, the law, and the limbs of the Purāṇa daily.
हरते दुष्कृतं तस्य शिष्यस्य वसतो गुरुः
The teacher removes the sins of the student who dwells with him.
शक्तो ऽन्नदोर्ऽथो स्वःसाधुरध्याप्या दश धर्मतः
If able to provide food, wealth, and heaven, one should instruct ten students according to righteousness.
एतेषु ब्रह्मणो दानमन्यत्र तु यथोदितान्
Among these, the gift of knowledge is for Brahmins; for others, as previously described.
अधीष्व भो इति ब्रूयाद् विरामो ऽस्त्विति चारमेत्
He should say, 'Study, please,' and also, 'Let there be a pause,' thus guiding them.
प्राणायामैस्त्रिभिः पूतस्तत ओङ्कारमर्हति
Purified by three breaths, he is then worthy to utter the syllable 'Om.'
कुर्यादध्ययनं नित्यं स ब्रह्माञ्जलिपूर्वतः
He should study daily, beginning with the gesture of reverence to Brahman.
अधीयीताप्ययं नित्यं ब्राह्मण्याच्च्यवते ऽन्यथा
He should study daily; otherwise, he falls away from the state of a Brahmin.
प्रीणाति तर्पयन्त्येनं कामैस्तृप्ताः सदैव हि
They please and satisfy him, always content with their desires.
सामान्यधीते प्रीणाति घृताहुतिभिरन्वहम्
He pleases them daily with offerings of clarified butter in common recitation.
धर्माङ्गानि पुराणानि मांसैस्तर्पयते सुरान्
He satisfies the gods with meat offerings, reciting the limbs of dharma and the ancient texts.
गायत्रीमप्यधीयीत गत्वारण्यं समाहितः
One should also recite the Gayatri, having gone to the forest with focused mind.
गायत्रीं वै जपेन्नित्यं जपयज्ञः प्रकीर्तितः
Indeed, one should always repeat the Gayatri; this is called the sacrifice of recitation.
एकतश्चतुरो वेदान् गायत्रीं च तथैकतः
On one side are the four Vedas, and on the other, the Gayatri alone.
ततो ऽधीयीत सावित्रीमेकाग्रः श्रद्धयान्वितः
After that, one should recite the Savitri with single-mindedness and faith.
महाव्याहृतयस्तिस्त्रः सर्वाशुभनिबर्हणाः
The three great Vyahritis remove all inauspiciousness.
सत्त्वं रजस्तमस्तिस्त्रः क्रमाद् व्याहृतयः स्मृताः
Sattva, rajas, and tamas—these three are remembered as the Vyahritis in order.
एष मन्त्रो महायोगः सारात् सार उदाहृतः
This mantra is the great yoga, declared as the essence of all essences.
विज्ञायार्थं ब्रह्मचारी स याति परमां गतिम्
The student, understanding its meaning, attains the highest state.
न गायत्र्याः परं जप्यमेतद् विज्ञाय मुच्यते
There is no recitation higher than the Gayatri; knowing this, one is liberated.
आषाढ्यां प्रोष्ठपद्यां वा वेदोपाकरणं स्मृतम्
The ceremony of Vedic study is remembered in the month of Ashadha or Proshthapada.
अधीयीत शुचौ देशे ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः
The student should study in a pure place, with concentrated mind.
माघशुक्लस्य वा प्राप्ते पूर्वाह्ने प्रथमे ऽहनि
Or, when the bright fortnight of Magha arrives, in the morning of the first day.
वेदाङ्गानि पुराणानि कृष्णपक्षे च मानवम्
The limbs of the Vedas and the ancient texts, and the Manusmriti in the dark fortnight.
अध्यापनं च कुर्वाणो ह्यभ्यस्यन्नपि यत्नतः
Teaching and diligent practice should be performed even while studying.
आकालिकमनध्यायमेतेष्वाह प्रजापतिः
Prajapati said that these times are unsuitable for study.
तदा विद्यादनध्यायमनृतौ चाभ्रदर्शने
At that time, study is prohibited during the wrong season and when clouds are seen.
एतानाकालिकान् विद्यादनध्यायानृतावपि
These are considered improper times for study, even during the wrong season.