धर्मसारः समुद्दिष्टः प्रेत्यानंतफलप्रदः । सम्यगाराध्य वक्तारं विसृष्टस्तदनुज्ञया
The essence of duty has been declared, which grants endless rewards after death; having properly honored the teacher and been dismissed with permission.
शिष्यो विद्याफलं भुंक्ते प्रेत्य चापद्यते दिवि । यो भ्रातरं पितृसमं ज्येष्ठं मूढोऽवमन्यते
The student enjoys the fruit of knowledge and, after death, attains heaven; but the fool who disrespects his elder brother as if he were not like a father—
तेन दोषेण संप्रेत्य निरयं घोरमृच्छति । पुंसां वर्त्मनि सृष्टेन पूज्यो भर्ता तु सर्वदा
Because of that fault, after death, he attains a terrible hell; on the path set for men, the husband is always to be honored.
अपि मातरि लोकेऽस्मिन्नुपकाराद्धि गौरवम् । मातुलांश्च पितृव्यांश्च श्वशुरानृत्विजो गुरून्
Even in this world, the mother is honored because of her help; one should honor maternal uncles, paternal uncles, fathers-in-law, ritual priests, and teachers.
असावहमिति ब्रूयात्प्रत्युत्थायाभिवादयेत् । अवाच्यो दीक्षितो नाम्ना यवीयानपि यो भवेत्
One should say, 'This is I,' rise to greet them, and offer salutations; an initiated person, even if younger, should not be addressed by name.
भो भवत्पूर्वकं त्वेनमभिभाषेत धर्मवित् । अभिवाद्यश्च पूज्यश्च शिरसानम्य एव च
One who knows dharma should address him with 'O sir,' or 'with your permission,' and so on; he should be saluted and honored, bowing the head.
ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियाद्यैश्च श्रीकामैः सादरं सदा । नाभिवाद्याश्च विप्रेण क्षत्रियाद्याः कथंचन
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and others, always desiring prosperity, should show respect; yet a Brahmin should never, under any circumstances, offer salutations to Kshatriyas and others.
ज्ञानकर्मगुणोपेता यद्यप्येते बहुश्रुताः । ब्राह्मणः सर्ववर्णानां स्वस्ति कुर्यादिति श्रुतिः
Even if these others possess knowledge, virtuous deeds, and many accomplishments, the scripture declares that the Brahmin alone should bestow blessings upon all the classes.
सवर्णेन सवर्णानां कार्यमेवाभिवादनम् । गुरुरग्निर्द्विजातीनां वर्णानां ब्राह्मणो गुरुः
Among those of the same class, mutual salutations are proper; among the twice-born, the teacher is like fire, and among all classes, the Brahmin is the teacher.
पतिरेको गुरुः स्त्रीणां सर्वत्राभ्यागतो गुरुः । विद्याकर्मवयोबंधुर्वित्तं भवति पंचमम्
For women, the husband is the sole teacher; wherever he is present, he is the guru. Knowledge, deeds, age, and kinship are bonds, and wealth is considered the fifth.
मान्यस्थानानि पंचाहुः पूर्वं पूर्वं गुरूत्तरात् । पंचानां त्रिषु वर्णेषु भूयांसि बलवंति च
They declare five objects of respect, each preceding the next in seniority; among the three classes, the greater ones are more powerful.
यत्र स्युः सोऽत्र मानार्हः शूद्रोऽपि दशमीं गतः । पंथा देयो ब्राह्मणाय स्त्रियै राज्ञे विचक्षुषे
Where these are present, there respect is due, even if a Shudra is in the tenth position. The path should be given to a Brahmin, a woman, a king, or a learned person.
वृद्धाय भारभग्नाय रोगिणे दुर्बलाय च । भिक्षामाहृत्य शिष्टानां गृहेभ्यः प्रयतोऽन्वहम्
To the elderly, to one bent with burdens, to the sick, and to the weak, one should yield. Having collected alms, one should, with effort, daily approach the homes of the virtuous.
निवेद्य गुरुवेऽश्नीयाद्वाग्यतस्तदनुज्ञया । भवत्पूर्वं चरेद्भैक्ष्यमुपवीती द्विजोत्तमः
Having offered the food to the teacher, one should eat, controlling speech and with the teacher's permission. The twice-born of highest rank should beg for alms first at your house.
भवन्मध्यं तु राजन्यो वैश्यस्तु भवदुत्तरम् । मातरं वा स्वसारं वा मातुर्वा भगिनीं निजाम्
In the middle, a Kshatriya, and at the end, a Vaishya should beg at your house. One may beg first from one's mother, sister, or one's own maternal aunt.
भिक्षेत भिक्षांप्रथमं याचैनं न विमानयेत् । सजातीयगृहेष्वेव सार्ववर्णिकमेव वा
He should beg for alms first and should not disdain her. This should be done in the houses of those of the same class, or in houses of all classes.
भैक्ष्यस्याचरणं प्रोक्तं पतिता दिवि वर्जितम् । वेदयज्ञैरहीनानां प्रशस्तानां स्वकर्म्मसु
The practice of begging for alms is prescribed, except from the fallen or those excluded from heaven, and from those lacking Vedic study or sacrifice, even if they are otherwise worthy in their own duties.
ब्रह्मचार्य्याहरेद्भैक्ष्यं गृहेभ्यः प्रयतोऽन्वहम् । गुरोः कुले न भिक्षेत न ज्ञातिकुलबंधुषु
A student should diligently collect alms daily from households, but not from the teacher's family or from relatives and kin.
अलाभेत्वन्यगेहानां पूर्वं पूर्वं विवर्जयेत् । सर्वं वा विचरेद्ग्रामं पूर्वोक्तानामसंभवे
If unsuccessful at other houses, he should avoid each previous one in order; or, if the previously mentioned are unavailable, he may go through the entire village.
नियम्य प्रयतो वाचं दिशस्त्वनवलोकयन् । समाहृत्य तु भैक्ष्यान्नं यावदर्थममायया
Restraining his speech and not looking in all directions, he should, with effort, collect just enough alms food, without deceit.
भुंजीत प्रयतो नित्यं वाग्यतोऽनन्यमानसः । भैक्ष्येण वर्तयेन्नित्यं नैवेकान्नो भवेद्व्रती
He should always eat with effort, controlling his speech, and with a mind free from distraction. He should always live by alms and not subsist on food from a single house.
भैक्ष्यैण वर्त्तिनो वृत्तिरुपवाससमा स्मृता । पूजयेदशनं नित्यमद्याच्चैनमकुत्सयन्
The livelihood of one living by alms is considered equal to fasting. He should always honor the food and eat it without disdain.
दृष्ट्वा हृष्येत्प्रसीदेच्च प्रतिनंदेच्च सर्वशः । अनारोग्यमनायुष्यमस्वर्ग्यं चातिभोजनम्
Seeing the food, he should rejoice, be pleased, and always express gratitude. Overeating leads to illness, short life, and lack of heaven.
अपुण्यं लोकविद्विष्टं तस्मात्तत्परिवर्जयेत् । प्राङ्मुखोऽन्नानि भुंजीत सूर्याभिमुखमेव वा
It is unmeritorious, despised by people, and therefore should be avoided. One should eat food facing east or facing the sun.
नाद्यादुदङ्मुखो नित्यं विधिरेष सनातनः । प्रक्षाल्य पाणिपादौ च भुंजानो द्विरुपस्पृशेत्
One should never eat facing north; this is an eternal rule. Having washed the hands and feet, one should touch water twice before eating.
शुद्धे देशे समासीनो भुक्त्वा च द्विरुपस्पृशेत्
Sitting in a clean place, after eating, one should touch water twice.
व्यास उवाच- भुक्त्वा पीत्वा च सुप्त्वा च स्नात्वा रथ्योपसर्पणे । ओष्ठावलोमकौ स्पृष्ट्वा वासो विपरिधाय च
Vyāsa said: After eating, drinking, sleeping, bathing, approaching the street, touching the lips or body hair, or after changing clothes—
रेतोमूत्रपुरीषाणामुत्सर्गेऽनृतभाषणे । ष्ठीवित्वाऽध्ययनारंभे कासश्वासागमे तथा
After passing semen, urine, or feces, speaking falsehood, spitting, beginning study, coughing, or sneezing—
चत्वरं वा श्मशानं वा समाक्रम्य द्विजोत्तमः । संध्ययोरुभयोस्तद्वदाचांतोऽप्याचमेत्पुनः
O best of twice-born, after stepping on a crossroad or cremation ground, or at both twilights, even if one is pure, one should touch water again.
चंडालम्लेच्छसंभाषे स्त्रीशूद्रोच्छिष्टभाषणे । उच्छिष्टं पुरुषं दृष्ट्वा भोज्यं चापि तथाविधम्
After conversing with a Caṇḍāla or foreigner, or after speaking with a woman, Śūdra, or someone who is impure from eating, or after seeing such a person or such food—