उत्तरं तु समाम्नातं वासः कृष्णाजिनं शुभम् । अभावे गावयमपि रौरवं वा विधीयते
The upper garment prescribed is a pure black antelope skin; in its absence, one may use cowhide or ruru deer skin.
उद्धृत्य दक्षिणं बाहुं सव्यबाहौ समर्पितम् । उपवीतं भवेन्नित्यं निवीतं कंठसज्जने
Having raised the right arm, the sacred thread placed over the left shoulder becomes 'upavīta' (properly worn); when it is around the neck, it is called 'nivīta.'
सव्यबाहुं समुद्धृत्य दक्षिणे तु धृतं द्विजाः । प्राचीनावीतमित्युक्तं पित्र्येकर्मणि योजयेत्
When the left arm is raised and the thread is held on the right, O twice-born, it is called 'prācīnāvīta,' and should be used in ancestral rites.
अग्न्यागारे गवां गोष्ठे होमे तप्ये तथैव च । स्वाध्याये भोजने नित्यं ब्राह्मणानां च सन्निधौ
In the fire chamber, in the cowshed, during offerings, in penance, during study, at meals, and always in the presence of Brahmins—
उपासने गुरूणां च संध्ययोः साधुसंगमे । उपवीती भवेन्नित्यं विधिरेष सनातनः
In the service of teachers, at the two twilights, and in the company of the virtuous, one should always wear the thread as 'upavīta'; this is the eternal rule.
मौंजी त्रिवृत्समां श्लिष्टां कुर्याद्विप्रस्य मेखलाम् । मुंजाभावे कुशेनाहुर्ग्रंथिनैकेन वा त्रिभिः
A Brahmin should make his girdle of threefold muñja grass, well-twisted; in the absence of muñja, they say it may be made of kuśa grass or with one or three knots.
धारयेद्वैणवपालाशौ दंडौ केशांतिकौ द्विजः । यज्ञार्हवृक्षजं वाथ सौम्यमव्रणमेव च
The twice-born should carry two staffs, one of bamboo and one of palāśa, cut to the length of his hair; or else, one made from a tree fit for sacrifice, gentle and unblemished.
सायंप्रातर्द्विजः संध्यामुपासीत समाहितः । कामाल्लोभाद्भयान्मोहात्त्यक्त्वैनां पतितो भवेत्
A twice-born should perform the twilight worship with concentration, morning and evening; if he neglects it out of desire, greed, fear, or delusion, he becomes fallen.
अग्निकार्यं ततः कुर्यात्सायंप्रातः प्रसन्नधीः । स्नात्वा संतर्पयेद्देवानृषीन्पितृगणांस्तथा
After that, he should perform the fire ritual, morning and evening, with a clear mind; having bathed, he should satisfy the gods, seers, and groups of ancestors.
देवताभ्यर्चनं कुर्यात्पुष्पैः पत्रैर्यवांबुभिः । अभिवादनशीलः स्यान्नित्यं वृद्धेषु धर्मतः
He should worship the deities with flowers, leaves, barley, and water; he should always, by duty, be respectful in greeting elders.
असावहं भो नामेति सम्यक्प्रणतिपूर्वकम् । आयुरारोग्यसिद्ध्यर्थं तंद्रादिपरिवर्जितः
He should say, 'I am so-and-so, O revered one,' with proper salutation, free from drowsiness and the like, for the sake of attaining long life and health.
आयुष्मान्भव सौम्येति वचो विप्रोऽभिवादने । आकारश्चास्य नाम्नोंऽते वाच्यः पूर्वाक्षरप्लुतः
In return, the Brahmin should say in greeting, 'May you live long, gentle one,' and pronounce his name, drawing out the last syllable with the preceding letter.
यो न वेत्त्यभिवादस्य विप्रः प्रत्यभिवादनम् । नाभिवाद्यः स विदुषा यथा शूद्रस्तथैव सः
A Brahmin who does not know how to return a salutation should not be saluted by the learned; he is just like a Śūdra.
व्यत्यस्तपाणिना कार्यं पादसंग्रहणं गुरोः । सव्येन सव्यः स्प्रष्टव्यो दक्षिणेन तु दक्षिणः
When grasping the teacher's feet, one should use the opposite hand: left to left, right to right.
लौकिकं वैदिकं वापि तथाध्यात्मिकमेव वा । अवाप्य प्रयतो ज्ञानं तं पूर्वमभिवादयेत्
Whether the knowledge is worldly, Vedic, or spiritual, having received it with reverence, one should first salute the teacher.
नोदकं धारयेद्भैक्ष्यं पुष्पाणि समिधस्तथा । एवंविधानि चान्यानि न देवार्थेषु कर्म्मसु
One should not carry water, alms, flowers, or sacred sticks, or other such things, when engaged in acts for the deities.
ब्राह्मणं कुशलं पृच्छेत्क्षत्रबंधुमनामयम् । वैश्यं क्षेमं समागम्य शूद्रमारोग्यमेव च
One should ask a Brahmin about his welfare, a Kshatriya about his health, a Vaishya about his prosperity, and a Shudra only about his health.
उपाध्यायः पिता ज्येष्ठो भ्राता त्राता च भीतितः । मातुलः श्वशुरश्चैव मातामह पितामहौ
The preceptor, father, elder brother, protector in danger, maternal uncle, father-in-law, maternal grandfather, and paternal grandfather—
वर्णश्रेष्ठः पितृव्यश्च पुंसोऽत्र गुरवः स्मृताः । माता मातामही गुर्वी पितुर्मातुश्च सोदराः
Among men, those considered teachers are: the most excellent of the varṇa, the paternal uncle, the mother, the maternal grandmother, and the sisters of one's father and mother.
श्वश्रूः पितामही ज्येष्ठा धात्री च गुरवः स्त्रियः । ज्ञेयस्तु गुरुवर्गोऽयं मातृतः पितृतो द्विजाः
Among women, the mother-in-law, paternal grandmother, elder sister, and nurse are regarded as teachers; this group of teachers is to be understood as coming from the mother's and father's side, O twice-born.
अनुवर्तनमेतेषां मनोवाक्कायकर्मभिः । गुरून्दृष्ट्वा समुत्तिष्ठेदभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलि
One should follow these teachers in thought, word, and deed; upon seeing them, one should rise, greet them with joined palms, and offer respect.
नैतैरुपविशेत्सार्द्धं विवदेन्नात्मकारणात् । जीवितार्थमपि द्वेषाद्गुरुभिर्नैव भाषणम्
One should not sit together with them, nor argue for one's own sake; even for the sake of life, out of enmity, one must not speak harshly to teachers.
उद्रिक्तोऽपि गुणैरन्यैर्गुरुद्वेषी पतत्यधः । गुरूणामपि सर्वेषां पंच पूज्या विशेषतः
Even if someone excels in other virtues, if he is hostile to his teachers, he falls down; among all teachers, five are especially worthy of reverence.
तेषामाद्यास्त्रयः श्रेष्ठास्तेषां माता सुपूजिता । यो भावयति या सूते येन विद्योपदिश्यते
Of these, the first three are the best: she who gives birth, he by whom one is begotten, and the one by whom knowledge is imparted—these are to be especially honored.
ज्येष्ठो भ्राता च भर्ता च पंचैते गुरवः स्मृताः । आत्मनः सर्वयत्नेन प्राणत्यागेन वा पुनः
The elder brother and the husband are also remembered as teachers; for oneself, with all effort, even at the cost of one's life, these five must be honored.
पूजनीया विशेषेण पंचैते भूतिमिच्छता । यावत्पिता च माता च द्वावेतौ निर्विकारिणौ
These five are to be especially worshipped by one who desires prosperity; as long as the father and mother remain unchanged.
तावत्सर्वं परित्यज्य पुत्रः स्यात्तत्परायणः । पिता माता च सुप्रीतौ स्यातां पुत्रगुणैर्यदि
So long, the son should abandon everything else and be devoted to them; if the father and mother are truly pleased by the son's qualities.
स पुत्रः सकलं धर्मं प्राप्नुयात्तेन कर्मणा । नास्ति मातृसमं दैवं नास्ति पितृसमो गुरुः
That son, by such action, attains all righteousness; there is no divinity equal to the mother, nor any teacher equal to the father.
तयोः प्रत्युपकारोऽपि न कथंचन विद्यते । तयोर्नित्यं प्रियं कुर्यात्कर्मणा मनसा गिरा
There is, in no way, any possible repayment to them; one should always do what is pleasing to them, by deed, mind, and word.
न ताभ्यामननुज्ञातो धर्ममन्यं समाचरेत् । वर्जयित्वा मुक्तिफलं नित्यं नैमित्तिकं तथा
Without their permission, one should not perform any other duty, except for those that are perpetual or occasional and lead to liberation.