Praśna I, Paṭala 11, Khaṇḍa 30

1. Some declare, that a student shall bathe after (having acquired) the knowledge of the Veda, (however long or short the time of his studentship may have been).^[1]

2. (He may) also (bathe) after having kept the student's vow for forty-eight, (thirty-six or twenty-four) years, (though he may not have mastered the Veda).

Some declare, that the student (shall bathe) after (having acquired) the knowledge of the Veda and after (the expiration of) his vow.

4. To all those persons who have bathed (In accordance with any of the above rules must be shown) the honour clue to a Snātaka.

5. The reverence (shown to a Snātaka) brings, however, different rewards according to the degree of devotion or of learning (possessed by the person honoured).

6. Now follow the observances (chiefly to be kept) by a Snātaka.

7. He shall usually enter the village and leave it by the eastern or the northern gate.

8. During the morning and evening twilights, he shall sit outside the village, and not speak anything (referring to worldly matters).

9. (But an Agnihotrī, who is occupied at home by oblations in the morning and evening, must not go out; for) in the case of a conflict (of duties), that enjoined by the Veda is the more important.

10. He shall avoid all dyed dresses,^[2]

11. And all naturally black cloth.

12. He shall wear a dress that is neither shining,

13. Nor despicable, if he is able (to afford it).^[3]

14. And in the day-time he shall avoid to wrap up his head, except when voiding excrements.

15. But when voiding excrements, he shall envelop his head and place some (grass or the like) on the ground.^[4]

16. He shall not void excrements in the shade (of a tree, where travellers rest).

17. But he may discharge urine on his own shadow.

18. He shall not void excrements with his shoes on, nor on a ploughed field, nor on a path, nor in water.^[5]

19. He shall also avoid to spit into, or to have connection with a woman in water.^[6]

20. He shall not void excrements facing the fire, the sun, water, a Brāhmaṇa, cows, or (images of) the gods.^[7]

21. He shall avoid to clean his body from excrements with a stone, a clod of earth, or with (boughs of) herbs or trees which he has broken off, whilst they were on the tree and full of sap.

22. If possible, he shall not stretch out his feet towards a fire, water, a Brāhmaṇa, a cow, (iniages of) the gods, a door, or against the wind.^[8]

23. Now they quote also (the following verse):

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

30. The bath is taken at the end of the studentship, and forms part of the Samāvartana-ceremony. From this rite a student who has completed his course of study derives the name Snātaka, 'one who has bathed.' See also Weber, Ind. Stud. X, 125.

[2]:

The rule to wear white garments is given Yājñ. I, 131; Manu IV, 35. 33.

[3]:

Manu IV, 34.

[4]:

Manu IV, 49.

[5]:

Manu IV, 45, 46; Yājñ. I, 137.

[6]:

Manu IV, 56.

[7]:

Manu IV, 48, 52; Yājñ. I, 134.

[8]:

The prohibition to stretch the feet towards a fire occurs also Manu IV, 53; Yājñ. I, 137.