सावित्रीपतितैः सार्धं संबंधं न समाचरेत्
One should not associate with those who have fallen from the observance of the Savitri.
वसीरन्नानुपूर्व्येण शाण क्षौमाविकानि च भवेत्त्रिवृत्समाश्लक्ष्णा विशस्तु शणतांतवी
The sacred thread should be made in order from wool, hemp, or flax; for Vaishyas, it should be of hemp threads, smooth and threefold.
मुंजाभावे विधातव्या कुशाश्मंतकबल्वजैः
In the absence of munja grass, it should be made from kusa, ashmanthaka, or balvaja grasses.
उपवीतक्रमेण स्यात्कार्पासं शाणमाविकम्
For the upavita, cotton, hemp, or wool may be used, following the proper order.
बिल्वपालाशयोर्दंडो ब्राह्मणस्य नृपस्य तु
The staff for a Brahmin should be from bilva or palasha wood, and for a king—
आमौलिं वाऽऽललाटंवाऽऽनासमूर्ध्वप्रमाणतः
It should reach up to the top of the head or the forehead, measured from the nose upward.
प्रदक्षिणं परीत्याग्निमुपस्थाय दिवाकरम् 4.1.36.
Having circumambulated the fire to the right, one should approach the sun.
मातृमातृष्वसृस्वसृपितृस्वसृपुरःसराः
In the presence of the mother, maternal aunt, sister, and paternal aunt—
यावद्वेदमधीते च चरन्वेदव्रतानि च
As long as he studies the Veda and observes the vows of Vedic studentship—
प्रोक्तोसावुपकुर्वाणो द्वितीयस्तत्र नैष्ठिकः
He is called upakurvāṇa; the second is known as naiṣṭhika.
गृहाश्रमं समाश्रित्य यः पुनर्ब्रह्मचर्यभाक्
He who, after entering the householder stage, again undertakes brahmacharya—
अनाश्रमी न तिष्ठेत दिनमेकमपि द्विजः
A twice-born should not remain even a single day without belonging to an āśrama.
जपं होमं व्रतं दानं स्वाध्यायं पितृतर्पणम्
Recitation, fire-offering, vow, charity, self-study, and ancestral offerings—
मेखलाजिनदंडाश्च लिंगं स्याद्ब्रह्मचारिणः
The girdle, deer skin, and staff are the marks of a brahmachārin.
त्रिदंडादि यतेरुक्तमुपलक्षणमत्र वै
The staff and other requisites of an ascetic have been mentioned here as indicative.
जीर्णं कमंडलुं दंडमुपवीताजिने अपि
A worn-out water pot, staff, sacred thread, and deerskin as well.
विदध्यात्षोडशे वर्षे केशांतकर्म च क्रमात् 4.1.36.
In the sixteenth year, one should perform the rite of cutting the hair, in due order.
तपो यज्ञ व्रतेभ्यश्च सर्वस्माच्छुभकर्मणः
Austerity, sacrifice, and vows, and all auspicious actions.
वेदारंभे विसर्गे च विदध्यात्प्रणवं सदा
At the commencement and conclusion of Vedic study, one should always utter the sacred syllable Om.
वेदस्य वदनं प्रोक्तं गायत्री त्रिपदा परा
The recitation of the Veda is said to be the Gayatri, the supreme three-footed metre.
सहस्रं साधिकं किंचित्त्रिकमैतज्जपन्यमी
This is to be recited a little over a thousand times, three times daily.
अत्यब्दमिति योभ्यस्येत्प्रतिघस्रमनन्यधीः
He who practices this without distraction for more than a year—
त्रिवर्णमयमोंकारं भूर्भुवःस्वरिति त्रयम्
The threefold syllable Om, composed of three varnas, is Bhūḥ, Bhuvaḥ, and Svaḥ.
एतदक्षरमेनां च जपेद्व्याहृतिपूर्विकाम्
One should recite this syllable, preceded by the vyāhṛtis, along with the Gayatri.
विधिक्रतोर्दशगुणं जपस्यफलमश्नुते
He attains the fruit of recitation ten times greater than that of ritual action.
उपांशुस्तच्छतगुणः सहस्रो मानसस्ततः
Recitation in a low voice yields a hundredfold result; mental recitation, a thousandfold.
अधीत्यवेदान्वेदौ वा वेदं वा शक्तितो द्विजः 4.1.36.
A twice-born should study the Vedas, or a Veda, or as much as he is able.
श्रुतिमेव सदाभ्यस्येत्तपस्तप्तुं द्विजोत्तमः
The best of twice-born should always practice recitation of the scripture to perform austerity.
हित्वा श्रुतेरध्ययनं योन्यत्पठितुमिच्छति
If, abandoning the study of scripture, one wishes to study something else—
उपनीय च वै शिष्यं वेदमध्यापयेद्द्विजः
And having initiated a student, the twice-born should teach him the Veda.