वेदस्य वदनं प्रोक्तं गायत्री त्रिपदा परा
The speech of the Veda is said to be the Gāyatrī, the supreme metre of three lines.
सहस्रं साधिकं किंचित्त्रिकमैतज्जपन्यमी
Its recitation is a little more than a thousand and three times.
अत्यब्दमिति योभ्यस्येत्प्रतिघस्रमनन्यधीः
Whoever, with undistracted mind, practices this for more than a year—
त्रिवर्णमयमोंकारं भूर्भुवःस्वरिति त्रयम्
The syllable Om, composed of three sounds, and the three—Bhūḥ, Bhuvaḥ, Svaḥ—
एतदक्षरमेनां च जपेद्व्याहृतिपूर्विकाम्
One should recite this syllable, preceded by the vyāhṛtis.
विधिक्रतोर्दशगुणं जपस्यफलमश्नुते
He attains ten times the fruit of recitation as prescribed by rule.
उपांशुस्तच्छतगुणः सहस्रो मानसस्ततः
Recitation in a low voice yields a hundred times that; mental recitation, a thousand times more.
अधीत्यवेदान्वेदौ वा वेदं वा शक्तितो द्विजः 4.1.36.
A twice-born who has studied the Vedas, or even a Veda, or as much as he is able—
श्रुतिमेव सदाभ्यस्येत्तपस्तप्तुं द्विजोत्तमः
The best of the twice-born should always practice recitation of the scripture to perform austerity.
हित्वा श्रुतेरध्ययनं योन्यत्पठितुमिच्छति
Whoever, abandoning the study of scripture, wishes to recite something else—
उपनीय च वै शिष्यं वेदमध्यापयेद्द्विजः
And having initiated a student, a twice-born should teach him the Veda.
योध्यापयेदेकदेशं श्रुतेरंगान्यथापि वा
He who teaches even a portion or the limbs of the scripture—
यथाविधि निषेकादि यः कर्म कुरुते द्विजः
A twice-born who performs rites from conception onwards according to rule—
अग्न्याधेयं पाकयज्ञानग्निष्टोमादिकान्मखान्
The establishment of the sacred fire, domestic sacrifices, and great sacrifices such as Agniṣṭoma—
उपाध्यायाद्दशाचार्य आचार्यात्तु शतं पिता
From the sub-teacher, tenfold; from the teacher, a hundredfold; from the father—
विप्राणां ज्ञानतो ज्यैष्ठ्यं बाहुजानां तु वीर्यतः
Among Brāhmaṇas, seniority is by knowledge; among warriors, by strength.
स्वप्ने सिक्त्वा ब्रह्मचारी द्विजः शुक्रमकामतः 4.1.36.
If, in a dream, a celibate twice-born involuntarily emits semen—
स्वधर्मनिरतानां च वेदयज्ञक्रियावताम्
Of those devoted to their own duty, and engaged in Vedic study and sacrifice—
अकृत्वा भैक्ष्यचरणमसमिध्य हुताशनम्
Without performing alms-begging and without kindling the sacrificial fire,
यथेष्टचेष्टो नभवेद्गुरोर्नयनगोचरे
One should not act as one pleases when within the sight of the teacher.
गुरुनिंदाभवेद्यत्र परिवादस्तु यत्र च
Where there is slander of the teacher, or where there is defamation,
खरो गुरोः परीवादाच्छ्वा भवेद्गुरुनिंदकः
From slandering the teacher one becomes a donkey; from reviling the teacher, a dog.
नाभिवाद्या गुरोः पत्नी स्पृष्ट्वांघ्री युवती सती
The teacher’s wife, though young and virtuous, is not to be greeted after touching her feet.
स्वभावश्चंचलः स्त्रीणां दोषः पुंसामतः स्मृतः
The inconstant nature of women is considered a fault by men.
विद्वांसमप्यविद्वांसं यतस्ताधर्षयंत्यलम्
Because of this, they readily overpower even the learned and the unlearned alike.
न मात्रा न दुहित्रा वा न स्वस्रैकांतशीलता
Neither with mother, nor daughter, nor sister should one be alone.
प्रयत्नेन खनन्यद्वद्भूमेर्वार्यधिगच्छति 4.1.36.
Just as one obtains water from the earth by diligent digging,
शयानमभ्युदयते ब्रध्नश्चेद्ब्रह्मचारिणम्
If a nocturnal emission arises while sleeping, for a student of celibacy,
सुतस्य संभवे क्लेशं सहेते पितरौ च यत्
The suffering that parents endure at the birth of a son,
अतस्तयोः प्रियं कुर्याद्गुरोरपि च सर्वदा
Therefore, one should always do what is pleasing to them and to the teacher as well.