एतानकालिकान्विद्यादनध्यायानृतावपि । प्रादुष्कृतेष्वग्निषु च विद्युत्स्तनितनिस्वने
Even out of season, these are to be known as forbidden times for study; also when fires are manifest, or when there is the sound of thunder and lightning.
सज्योतिः स्यादनध्यायः शेषे रात्रौ यथा दिवा । नित्यानध्याय एव स्याद्ग्रामेषु नगरेषु च
When there is lightning, study is forbidden at night just as during the day; and in villages and cities, these are always considered forbidden times for study.
धर्मनैपुण्यकामानां पूतिगंधे च नित्यशः । अंतः शवगतेग्रामे वृषलस्य च सन्निधौ
For those desiring virtue and skill, study is always forbidden where there is a foul smell, in a village containing a corpse, or in the presence of an outcaste.
अनध्यायोरुद्यमाने समये जलदस्य च । उदके चार्धरात्रे च विण्मूत्रं च विसर्जयन्
Study is forbidden when clouds are rising, at the time of rain, in water, at midnight, or while passing urine or feces.
उच्छिष्टः श्राद्धभुक्चैव मनसापि न चिंतयेत् । प्रतिगृह्य द्विजो विद्वानेकोद्दिष्टस्य वेतनम्
One who is impure, who has eaten at a śrāddha, or even mentally, should not think of study; and a learned twice-born, having accepted the fee for a specific rite, should not study.
त्र्यहं न कारयेद्ब्रह्म राज्ञो राहोश्च सूतके । यावदेकान्ननिष्ठा स्यात्स्नेहालोपश्च तिष्ठति
For three days, one should not recite the Veda after the birth of a king's son or during an eclipse of Rāhu; nor until only one meal remains or the oil has not been replenished.
विप्रस्य विदुषो देहे तावद्ब्रह्म न कीर्तयेत् । शयानः प्रौढपादश्च कृत्वा चैवावसक्थिकाम्
As long as a learned Brāhmaṇa's body is impure, he should not recite the Veda; nor while lying down, with legs stretched out, or with thighs raised.
नाधीयीतामिषं जग्ध्वा शूद्रश्राद्धान्नमेव च । नीहारे बाणशब्दे च संध्ययोरुभयोरपि
One should not study after eating meat or food from a śūdra's śrāddha; nor during fog, the sound of arrows, or at either of the twilights.
अमावास्या चतुर्दश्योः पौर्णमास्यष्टमीषु च । उपाकर्मणि चोत्सर्गे त्रिरात्रं क्षपणं स्मृतम्
On new moon, fourteenth, full moon, and eighth days, as well as at the time of initiation and expulsion, a three-night cessation of study is prescribed.
अष्टकासु अहोरात्रमृत्वंतासु च रात्रिषु । मार्गशीर्षे तथा पौषे माघमासे तथैव च
On the aṣṭakā days, for a day and night, and during those nights, as well as in the months of Mārgaśīrṣa, Pauṣa, and Māgha, study is likewise forbidden.
तिस्रोऽष्टकाः समाख्याता कृष्णपक्षेषु सूरिभिः । श्लेष्मातकस्य च्छायायां शाल्मलेर्मधुकस्य च
Three aṣṭakā observances are prescribed by the wise during the dark fortnight, under the shade of the śleṣmātaka, śālmalī, and madhuka trees.
कदाचिदपि नाध्येयं कोविदारकपित्थयोः । समानविद्ये च मृते तथा सब्रह्मचारिणि
One should never study under the kadamba or kapittha trees, nor when a fellow student has died, nor when a fellow celibate has passed away.
आचार्ये संस्थिते चापि त्रिरात्रं क्षपणं स्मृतम् । छिद्राण्येतानि विप्राणामनध्यायाः प्रकीर्तिताः
If the teacher has died, three nights of abstention are prescribed; these are the interruptions for brahmins, called periods of non-study.
हिंसंति राक्षसास्तेषु तस्मादेतान्विवर्जयेत् । नैत्यकेनास्त्यनध्यायः संध्योपासनमेव च
Demons cause harm during these times; therefore, one should avoid them. There is no interruption for daily rites or for the worship at twilight.
उपाकर्म्मणि होमांते होममध्ये तथैव च । एकामृचमथैकं वा यजुः सामानि वा पुनः
At the beginning of study, at the end of a sacrifice, and in the midst of a sacrifice, one may recite a single ṛc, or a single yajus, or a sāman again.
नाष्टकाद्यास्वधीयीत मारुते चाभिधावति । अनध्यायस्तु नांगेषु नेतिहासपुराणयोः
One should not study aṣṭakā and similar texts when the wind is blowing violently; nor is there a break for limbs of the Veda, nor for Itihāsa and Purāṇa.
न धर्मशास्त्रेष्वन्येषु सर्वाण्येतानि वर्जयेत् । एष धर्मः समासेन कीर्तितो ब्रह्मचारिणः
Nor in the Dharmaśāstras or other texts; all these interruptions should be avoided. This is the rule, briefly stated, for the celibate student.
ब्रह्मणाऽभिहितः पूर्वमृषीणां भावितात्मनाम् । योऽन्यत्र कुरुते यत्नमनधीत्य श्रुतिं द्विजः
This was formerly declared by Brahmā to the sages of purified minds: a twice-born who exerts himself elsewhere without first studying the Veda is at fault.
स संमूढो न संभाष्यो वेदबाह्यो द्विजातिभिः । न वेदपाठमात्रेण संतुष्टो वै भवेद्द्विजः
He is deluded, not to be spoken with, and is considered outside the Veda by the twice-born. A twice-born should not be satisfied with mere recitation of the Veda.
पाठमात्रावसानस्तु पंके गौरिव सीदति । योऽधीत्य विधिवद्वेदं वेदार्थं न विचारयेत्
He who stops at mere recitation sinks like a cow in mud; one who studies the Veda properly but does not reflect on its meaning is the same.
स संमूढः शूद्रकल्पः पात्रतां न प्रपद्यते । यदित्वात्यंतिकं वासं कर्तुमिच्छति वै गुरौ
He is deluded, like a śūdra, and does not attain worthiness; but if he wishes to remain with his teacher for a long time,
युक्तः परिचरेदेनमाशरीरविमोक्षणम् । गत्वा वनं च विधिवज्जुहुयाज्जातवेदसम्
He should serve him properly until the body is relinquished; then, having gone to the forest according to rule, he should offer oblations to the fire.
अधीयीत तथा नित्यं ब्रह्मनिष्ठः समाहितः । सावित्रीं शतरुद्रीयं वेदांतांश्च विशेषतः । अभ्यसेत्सततं युक्तो भिक्षाशनपरायणः
He should study daily with a mind fixed on Brahman, especially the Sāvitrī, the Śatarudrīya, and the Vedānta texts, always practicing, devoted to alms as food.
एतद्विधानं परमं पुराणं वेदागमे सम्यगिहोदितं वः । पुरा महर्षिप्रवराभिपृष्टः स्वायंभुवो यन्मनुराह देवः
This supreme and ancient rule is fully declared in the Vedas and Āgamas; long ago, when asked by the foremost sages, the god Manu, son of Svāyambhuva, spoke thus.
व्यास उवाच- वेदं वेदौ तथा वेदान्वेदांगानि तथा द्विजाः । अधीत्य चाधिगम्यार्थं ततः स्नायाद्द्विजोत्तमः
Vyāsa said: Having studied the Veda, both Vedas, and the Vedāṅgas, and having understood their meaning, the best of the twice-born should then perform the graduation ceremony.
गुरवे तु धनं दत्वा स्नायीत तदनुज्ञया । तीर्णव्रतोथ युक्तात्मा शक्तो वा स्नातुमर्हति
Having given a gift to the teacher, and with his permission, he should graduate; one who has completed the vow and is self-controlled, or is able, is fit to graduate.
वैणवीं धारयेद्यष्टिमंतर्वासस्तथोत्तरम् । यज्ञोपवीतद्वितयं सोदकं च कमंडलुम्
He should wear a staff of bamboo, an upper and lower garment, two sacred threads, and carry a water pot with water.
छत्रं चोष्णीषममलं पादुके चाप्युपानहौ । रौक्मे च कुंडले धार्ये कृत्तकेशनखः शुचिः
He should carry a clean umbrella and turban, sandals and shoes, gold earrings, have his hair and nails cut, and be pure.
अन्यत्र कांचनाद्विप्रो न रक्तां बिभृयात्स्रजम् । शुक्लांबरधरो नित्यं सुगंधः प्रियदर्शनः
Except for gold, a Brahmin should not wear a red garland; he should always wear white clothing, be fragrant, and pleasing in appearance.
न जीर्ण मलवद्वासा भवेद्वै विभवे सति । न रक्तमुल्बणं चान्य धृतं वासो न कुंडलम्
If he has the means, he should not wear old or dirty garments; nor should he wear red, coarse, or other improper clothing, nor earrings.