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.
नोपानहौ स्रजं चाथ पादुके च प्रयोजयेत् । उपवीतमलंकारं दर्शयन्कृष्णमाजिनम्
He should not use shoes, garlands, or sandals; he should display the sacred thread and ornaments, and the black antelope skin.
नापसव्यं परीदध्याद्वासो न विकृतं वसेत् । आहरेद्विधिवद्दारान्सदृशानात्मनः शुभान्
He should not wear his garment over the left shoulder, nor should he live in a deformed manner; he should, according to the proper rite, take a wife who is auspicious and suitable to himself.
रूपलक्षणसंयुक्तान्योनिदोषविवर्जितान् । अपितृगोत्रजभवामन्यमानुषगोत्रजाम्
She should possess beauty and good marks, be free from other faults, not be of the same paternal lineage, and be from a human family.
आहरेद्ब्राह्मणो भार्यां शीलशौचसमन्विताम् । ऋतुकालाभिगामी स्याद्यावत्पुत्रोभिजायते
A Brahmin should take a wife endowed with good conduct and purity, who approaches at the proper time, until a son is born.
वर्जयेत्प्रतिषिद्धानि प्रयत्नेन दिनानि तु । षष्ठ्यष्टमीं पंचदशीं द्वादशीं च चतुर्दशीम्
He should carefully avoid the forbidden days: the sixth, eighth, fifteenth, twelfth, and fourteenth days.
ब्रह्मचारी भवेन्नित्यं तद्वज्जन्मत्रयाहनि । आदधीत विवाहाग्निं जुहुयाज्जातवेदसम्
He should always be celibate on those days, as on the three days after birth; he should establish the marriage fire and offer oblations to Jātavedas.
एतानि स्नातको नित्यं पावनानि च पावयेत् । वेदोदितं स्वकं कर्म्म नित्यं कुर्यादतंद्रितः
A householder should always perform these purifying acts; he should diligently perform his own duties as prescribed in the Veda.
अकुर्वाणः पतत्याशु नरकानतिभीषणान् । अभ्यसेत्प्रयतो वेदं महायज्ञान्न हापयेत्
If he does not perform them, he quickly falls into terrifying hells; he should strive to study the Veda and never neglect the great sacrifices.
कुर्याद्गृह्याणि कार्याणि संध्योपासनमेव च । सख्यं समाधिकैः कुर्यादुपेयादीश्वरं सदा
He should perform the domestic rites and the worship at twilight; he should befriend those who are more advanced and always approach the Lord.
दैवतान्यभिगच्छेत कुर्य्याद्भार्य्याभिपोषणम् । न धर्मं ख्यापयेद्विद्वान्न पापं गूहयेदपि
He should worship the deities and provide for his wife; the wise man should not publicize his virtue nor conceal his sin.