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.
सज्योतिः स्यादनध्यायः शेषरात्रौ यथा दिवा
When there is lightning, study is forbidden at night just as it is during the day.
धर्मनैपुण्यकामानां पूतिगन्धे च नित्यशः
For those who desire righteousness and merit, study is always forbidden in the presence of foul odors.
अनध्यायो रुद्यमाने समवाये जनस्य च
Study is prohibited when there is weeping or when people are gathered together.
उच्छिष्टः श्राद्धबुक् चैव मनसापि न चिन्तयेत्
One should not even think in the mind about study when impure, after eating, or after consuming food offered to ancestors.
त्र्यहं न कीर्तयेद् ब्रह्म राज्ञो राहोश्च सूतके
For three days, one should not recite the Veda during impurity caused by a king, Rāhu, or birth.
विप्रस्य विदुषो देहे तावद् ब्रह्म न कीर्तयेत्
As long as impurity remains in the body of a learned Brāhmaṇa, the Veda should not be recited.
नाधीयीतामिषं जग्ध्वा सूतकान्नाद्यमेव च
One should not study after eating meat or food from a house in mourning.
अमावास्यां चतुर्दश्यां पौर्णमास्यष्टमीषु च
On the new moon, fourteenth day, full moon, and eighth days, one should not study.
अष्टकासु त्वहोरात्रं ऋत्वन्त्यासु च रात्रिषु
On the aṣṭakā days, both day and night, and during the nights at the end of the seasons, study is forbidden.
तिस्त्रो ऽष्टकाः समाख्याता कृष्णपक्षेतु सूरिभिः
Three aṣṭakā days are declared by the wise to occur in the dark fortnight.
कदाचिदपि नाध्येयं कोविदारकपित्थयोः
Study should never be undertaken under the kovidāra or kapittha trees.
आचार्ये संस्थिते वापि त्रिरात्रं क्षपणं स्मृतम्
When the teacher has died, three nights of impurity are prescribed.
हिंसन्ति राक्षसास्तेषु तस्मादेतान् विवर्जयेत्
On these occasions, demons cause harm; therefore, one should avoid them.
उपाकर्मणि कर्मान्ते होममन्त्रेषु चैव हि
However, at the beginning of study, at the end of rituals, and during sacrificial mantras, study is permitted.
अष्टकाद्यास्वधीयीत मारुते चातिवायति
One may study on aṣṭakā days and when the wind is very strong.
न धर्मशास्त्रेष्वन्येषु पर्वण्येतानि वर्जयेत्
In other Dharmaśāstras, these rules are not prescribed for festival days.
ब्रह्मणाभिहितः पूर्वमृषीणां भावितात्मनाम्
This was formerly declared by Brahmā to the sages of purified mind.
स संमूढो न संभाष्यो वेदबाह्यो द्विजातिभिः
He who is thus deluded, and outside the Veda, should not be conversed with by twice-born men.
पाठमात्रावसन्नस्तु पङ्के गौरिव सीदति
One who stops at mere recitation sinks like a cow in the mud.
ससान्वयः शूद्रकल्पः पात्रतां न प्रपद्यते
Even if he knows the meaning, if he is like a Śūdra, he does not attain fitness for the vessel.