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 sitting 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, and at the beginning and end of the upākarma, a three-night suspension 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; in the months of Mārgaśīrṣa, Pauṣa, and Māgha as well.
तिस्रोऽष्टकाः समाख्याता कृष्णपक्षेषु सूरिभिः । श्लेष्मातकस्य च्छायायां शाल्मलेर्मधुकस्य च
Three aṣṭakās are declared by the wise in the dark fortnights; also, in the shade of the śleṣmātaka, śālmalī, and madhuka trees.
कदाचिदपि नाध्येयं कोविदारकपित्थयोः । समानविद्ये च मृते तथा सब्रह्मचारिणि
One should never study under the kovidāra or kapittha trees; nor when a fellow student or celibate has died.
आचार्ये संस्थिते चापि त्रिरात्रं क्षपणं स्मृतम् । छिद्राण्येतानि विप्राणामनध्यायाः प्रकीर्तिताः
When the teacher has died, a three-night suspension is prescribed; these are the interruptions to study declared for Brāhmaṇas.
हिंसंति राक्षसास्तेषु तस्मादेतान्विवर्जयेत् । नैत्यकेनास्त्यनध्यायः संध्योपासनमेव च
Rākṣasas cause harm during these times; therefore, one should avoid them. There is no suspension for daily rites or for the worship at twilight.
उपाकर्म्मणि होमांते होममध्ये तथैव च । एकामृचमथैकं वा यजुः सामानि वा पुनः
At the beginning of upākarma, at the end of a sacrifice, and in the midst of a sacrifice, one may recite a single ṛc, or one yajus, or one sāman again.
नाष्टकाद्यास्वधीयीत मारुते चाभिधावति । अनध्यायस्तु नांगेषु नेतिहासपुराणयोः
One should not study on aṣṭakā and similar days, nor when the wind is blowing violently; but there is no suspension for the limbs of the Veda, nor for Itihāsa and Purāṇa.
न धर्मशास्त्रेष्वन्येषु सर्वाण्येतानि वर्जयेत् । एष धर्मः समासेन कीर्तितो ब्रह्मचारिणः
In other treatises on dharma, one should not omit all these; this is the dharma of the brahmacārin, declared in summary.
ब्रह्मणाऽभिहितः पूर्वमृषीणां भावितात्मनाम् । योऽन्यत्र कुरुते यत्नमनधीत्य श्रुतिं द्विजः
This was formerly spoken by Brahmā to the sages of purified mind; a twice-born who exerts himself elsewhere, without studying the Veda,
स संमूढो न संभाष्यो वेदबाह्यो द्विजातिभिः । न वेदपाठमात्रेण संतुष्टो वै भवेद्द्विजः
He is deluded, not to be spoken with, 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
One who ends with mere recitation sinks like a cow in the mud; he who, having properly studied the Veda, does not reflect on its meaning,
स संमूढः शूद्रकल्पः पात्रतां न प्रपद्यते । यदित्वात्यंतिकं वासं कर्तुमिच्छति वै गुरौ
He is deluded, like a Śūdra, and does not attain worthiness; if he wishes to dwell long with the teacher,
युक्तः परिचरेदेनमाशरीरविमोक्षणम् । गत्वा वनं च विधिवज्जुहुयाज्जातवेदसम्
He should serve him properly until the release from the body; and, 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 thus constantly, steadfast in Brahman and concentrated; especially he should repeatedly practice the Sāvitrī, the Śatarudrīya, and the Upaniṣads, devoted to subsisting on alms.
एतद्विधानं परमं पुराणं वेदागमे सम्यगिहोदितं वः । पुरा महर्षिप्रवराभिपृष्टः स्वायंभुवो यन्मनुराह देवः
This supreme, ancient ordinance is properly declared to you in the Purāṇa and the Veda; formerly, when asked by the foremost great sages, the god Manu, son of Svāyambhuva, spoke this.
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, then the best of the twice-born should bathe.
गुरवे तु धनं दत्वा स्नायीत तदनुज्ञया । तीर्णव्रतोथ युक्तात्मा शक्तो वा स्नातुमर्हति
Having given wealth to the teacher, he should bathe with his permission; having completed his vows and being self-controlled, or if able, he is fit to bathe.
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; he should wear golden earrings, have his hair and nails cut, and be pure.
अन्यत्र कांचनाद्विप्रो न रक्तां बिभृयात्स्रजम् । शुक्लांबरधरो नित्यं सुगंधः प्रियदर्शनः
Except for gold, a brāhmaṇa should not wear a red garland; he should always wear white garments, be fragrant, and pleasing in appearance.
न जीर्ण मलवद्वासा भवेद्वै विभवे सति । न रक्तमुल्बणं चान्य धृतं वासो न कुंडलम्
He should not wear old or dirty clothes if he has means; nor should he wear red, harsh, or other inappropriate garments or earrings.
नोपानहौ स्रजं चाथ पादुके च प्रयोजयेत् । उपवीतमलंकारं दर्शयन्कृष्णमाजिनम्
He should not use shoes, garlands, or sandals improperly; he should display the sacred thread as an ornament and wear a black antelope skin.
नापसव्यं परीदध्याद्वासो न विकृतं वसेत् । आहरेद्विधिवद्दारान्सदृशानात्मनः शुभान्
He should not wear his garment over the left shoulder, nor wear deformed clothes; he should, according to rule, take a wife suitable and auspicious for himself.
रूपलक्षणसंयुक्तान्योनिदोषविवर्जितान् । अपितृगोत्रजभवामन्यमानुषगोत्रजाम्
She should possess beauty and good marks, be free from any other defect, not born of the same paternal lineage, but of a different human lineage.
आहरेद्ब्राह्मणो भार्यां शीलशौचसमन्विताम् । ऋतुकालाभिगामी स्याद्यावत्पुत्रोभिजायते
A brāhmaṇa should take a wife endowed with good conduct and purity; he should approach her at the proper season until a son is born.
वर्जयेत्प्रतिषिद्धानि प्रयत्नेन दिनानि तु । षष्ठ्यष्टमीं पंचदशीं द्वादशीं च चतुर्दशीम्
One should carefully avoid the prohibited days: the sixth, eighth, fifteenth, twelfth, and fourteenth days.
ब्रह्मचारी भवेन्नित्यं तद्वज्जन्मत्रयाहनि । आदधीत विवाहाग्निं जुहुयाज्जातवेदसम्
He should always observe celibacy, and likewise on the three days of birth; he should establish the marriage fire and offer oblations to Jātavedas.