Verse 11.224

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

स्थानासनाभ्यां विहरेदशक्तोऽधः शयीत वा ।
ब्रह्मचारी व्रती च स्याद् गुरुदेवद्विजार्चकः ॥ २२४ ॥

sthānāsanābhyāṃ viharedaśakto'dhaḥ śayīta vā |
brahmacārī vratī ca syād gurudevadvijārcakaḥ || 224 ||

He shall pass his time standing and sitting; or if he is unable to do so, he may lie down on the ground ; he shall remain chaste, firm in vows, worshipping his elders, gods and Brāhmaṇas.—(224)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

He shall remain either seated or standing; he shall not lie down anywhere.

But if ho is unable to do so, ‘he may lie down on the bare ground,’—not on a couch,

‘Chaste’—avoiding sexual intercourse.

‘Firm in his vows’—Against all that is deprecated by the cultured, he shall take the vow—‘I shall not do this.’

The ‘worshipping’ of the elders and the rest shall consist in offering to them, with due humility, garlands, sandal-paint and such things.—(224)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

‘Vratī syāt.’—‘Should resolve to abstain from what is forbidden by cultured men’ (Medhātithi);—‘should wear the Muñja-girdle, a staff and so forth’ (Govindarāja and Kullūka).

This verse is quoted in Madanapārijāta (p. 748);—in Aparārka (p. 1230);—and in Nṛsiṃhaprasāda (Prāyaścitta 38a).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Baudhāyana (3.8.15-16).—‘When he goes to rest, he mutters the words, “O fire, keep thou good watch.” When he awakes, the words, “O fire, thou art the protector of vows.”’

Vaśiṣṭha (24.5).—‘He shall carefully keep himself upright, in sitting posture, he shall stand during the day and remain seated during the night.’

Gautama (26.6).—‘He who desires to be purified quickly shall stand during the day and sit during the night.’

Visṇu (46.6-7).—‘During the day, let him be standing; at night, let him continue in a sitting position.’