Verse 2.191

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

चोदितो गुरुणा नित्यमप्रचोदित एव वा ।
कुर्यादध्ययने यत्नमाचार्यस्य हितेषु च ॥ १९१ ॥

codito guruṇā nityamapracodita eva vā |
kuryādadhyayane yatnamācāryasya hiteṣu ca || 191 ||

Prompted by the Teacher, or even when not prompted, he should put forth his exertion to study, and also to doing what is helpful to the teacher.—(191)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘Prompted’—ordered—‘by the teacher, he put forth his exertion’—make an effort—‘to study.’

“It has been already laid down that ‘one should rend when wanted by the Teacher.’ How then can there he any exertion put forth by one who is not prompted?”

What is here said refers to the student who has learnt a part of the Veda, and is going to learn the remainder; for this latter the ‘instruction of the teacher’ is not necessary.

Similarly he should do, without being told to do so, such helpful acts for the teacher as fetching jars of water, massaging his body whenever he happens to be fatigued, and so forth.—(191)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vidhānapārijāta (p. 521);—in Madanapārijāta (p. 100);—in Aparārka (p. 64);—and in Nṛsiṃhaprasāda (Saṃskāra, p. 47a).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Gautama (2.36, 37).—‘Reading, when called upon to do so;—addicted to what is agreeable and beneficial to the Teacher.’

Āpastamba-Dharmasūtra (1.4.24, 26).—‘Engaged in work for the Teacher:—Reading when called upon to do so.’

Viṣṇu (28.6, 7).—‘Reading on being called upon;—doing what is agreeable and beneficial to the Teacher.’

Yājñavalkya (1-27).—‘On being called upon, he should read; whatever he obtains as alms, he should present to the teacher; he should always do, with mind, body and aot, what is good for the teacher.’

Gobhila Gṛhyasūtra (3.1.15).—‘He should be entirely under the teacher.’