Verse 2.229

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

तेषां त्रयाणां शुश्रूषा परमं तप उच्यते ।
न तैरनभ्यनुज्ञातो धर्ममन्यं समाचरेत् ॥ २२९ ॥

teṣāṃ trayāṇāṃ śuśrūṣā paramaṃ tapa ucyate |
na tairanabhyanujñāto dharmamanyaṃ samācaret || 229 ||

The service of these three is declared to be the highest austerity; until permitted by them, one should not perform any other meritorious act.—(229)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

Question.—“How can the reward of austerities be obtained by means of serving the mother, etc., which is not austerity at all?”

Answer.—Because attending upon the feet of those persons is the best form of austerity.

‘Until he is permitted by them,’—the pupil—'should not perform any other meritorious act, that may stand in the way of his serving of the three persons; e.g., bathing at sacred places, keeping of vows and fasts, which, by reason of their leading to the boy’s body being emaciated, causes anxiety in their minds. Even for the performing of the Jyotiṣṭoma and other sacrifices, it is necessary to obtain their permission;

because the disregarding of these persons has been interdicted; and if the boy were not to consult them regarding the performance of acts involving much effort and expenditure of wealth, they would feel bewildered and would feel as if they were disregarded. There is no use in taking permission for the performing of such acts as are compulsory.—(229)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Smṛticandrikā (Saṃskāra, p. 95).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Viṣṇu (31.4.6).—‘One should do what they tell him to do;—he shall do nothing until permitted by them.’

Mahābhārata (12.108.5).—(Same as second half of Manu.)