Verse 4.123

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

सामध्वनावृग्यजुषी नाधीयीत कदा चन ।
वेदस्याधीत्य वाऽप्यन्तमारण्यकमधीत्य च ॥ १२३ ॥

sāmadhvanāvṛgyajuṣī nādhīyīta kadā cana |
vedasyādhītya vā'pyantamāraṇyakamadhītya ca || 123 ||

He shall never recite the Ṛk or the Yajuṣ during a Sāma-chant; nor after having read the end of the Veda, or after having read the Āraṇyaka.—(123).

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

While the Sāma-chant is being heard, one shall not recite either Ṛk verses or the Yajuṣ Mantras. This prohibition does not Apply to the Brāhmaṇas appertaining to the Ṛgveda and the Yajurveda; but the prohibition does apply to the reading of such Ṛk and Yajuṣ Mantras as happen to be contained in the Pañcaviṃśa Brāhmaṇa (of the Sāma-Veda).

‘End of the Veda;’—i.e., when the Veda comes to an end. This refers to the end of the Mantra (Saṃhitā) Text, as also to that of the Brāhrnaṇa Text.

‘Āraṇyaka’ is the name of a portion of the Veda; after having read this, one should not read any other hook.—(123)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

The first half of this verse is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Saṃskāra, p. 533) to the effect that the time, during which the Sāman is chanted, is unfit only for the reading of the Ṛgveda and the Yajurveda.

This verse is quoted in Smṛticandrikā (Saṃskāra, p. 160);—in Puruṣārthacintāmaṇi (p. 443);—in Hemādri (Kāla, p. 768);—and in Gadādharapaddhati (Kāla, p. 196).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Gautama (16.21).—‘There should be no reading of the Ṛk and the Yajuṣ verses so long as there is sound of Sāma-singing.’

Baudhāyana (1.11.23).—‘When there is rotting smell in the air, or when there is fog, and when there are sounds of......... Sāma,—then it is unlit for study, till they last.’

Āpastamba Dharmasūtra (1.10.19).—‘Sounds of Sāma also.’

Do. (1.11.6).—‘One should not read on that day that chapter of which he may have done the Upākarma.’

Viṣṇu (30.26).—‘So long as there are sounds of Sāma, the Ṛk and the Yajuṣ shall not be read.’

Yājñavalkya (1.145.148).—‘On completing the Veda, and after having read the Āraṇyaka, it will be unfit for study during the rest of the day and night. Also when there are sounds of dog......... and Sāma-singing.’

Pāraskara (2.11.6).—‘It will be unfit for study during the time that there are sounds of......... Sāma.’

Aṅgiras (Caturvargacintāmani, Paribhaṣa-Kāla, Adhyāya 14).—‘In as much as sacrifices to the deities of the cremation-ground are offered with the Sāmaveda,—the sound of that Veda is unclean.’

Yama (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 534).—‘The Rigveda and the Yajurveda shall not be read while there is sound of Sāma-singing; or when there is very high wind.’