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.
एतानि स्नातको नित्यं पावनानि च पावयेत् । वेदोदितं स्वकं कर्म्म नित्यं कुर्यादतंद्रितः
A student who has completed his studies should always perform these purifying acts, and purify himself; he should diligently perform his own duties as prescribed in the Vedas.
अकुर्वाणः पतत्याशु नरकानतिभीषणान् । अभ्यसेत्प्रयतो वेदं महायज्ञान्न हापयेत्
One who does not perform them quickly falls into terrible hells; he should diligently study the Veda and not 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 cultivate friendship with those superior in concentration and always approach the Lord.
दैवतान्यभिगच्छेत कुर्य्याद्भार्य्याभिपोषणम् । न धर्मं ख्यापयेद्विद्वान्न पापं गूहयेदपि
He should worship the deities and provide for his wife; a wise man should not publicize his virtue nor conceal his sin.
कुर्वीतात्महितं नित्यं सर्वभूतानुकंपकः । वयसः कर्म्मणोऽर्थस्य श्रुतस्याभिजनस्य च
He should always act for his own welfare, showing compassion to all beings, considering age, action, wealth, learning, and lineage.
देशवाग्बुद्धिसारूप्यमाचरन्विचरेत्सदा । श्रुतिस्मृत्युदितं सम्यक्साधुभिर्यश्च सेवितः
He should always conduct himself with harmony in place, speech, and mind, following what is properly prescribed in the scriptures and practiced by the virtuous.
तमाचारं निषेवेत नेहेतान्यत्र कर्हिचित् । येनास्य पितरो याता येन याताः पितामहाः
He should observe that conduct and never pursue anything else, by which his fathers and grandfathers attained their goals.
तेन यायात्सतां मार्गं तेन गच्छन्न दुष्यति । नित्यं स्वाध्यायशीलः स्यान्नित्यं यज्ञोपवीतवान्
By following that path of the virtuous, he does not go astray; he should always be devoted to self-study and always wear the sacred thread.
सत्यवादी जितक्रोधो लोभमोहविवर्जितः । सावित्रीजाप निरतः श्राद्धकृन्मुच्यते गृही
He should speak the truth, control anger, be free from greed and delusion, devoted to reciting the Sāvitrī, performing ancestral rites—the householder is liberated.
मातापित्रोर्हिते युक्तो ब्राह्मणस्य हिते रतः । दाता यज्वा देवभक्तो ब्रह्मलोके महीयते
Engaged in the welfare of his parents and devoted to the good of the Brāhmaṇa, generous, performing sacrifices, devoted to the gods—he is honored in the world of Brahma.