Verse 2.175 [Rules to be observed by the Religious Student]

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

सेवेतैमांस्तु नियमान् ब्रह्मचारी गुरौ वसन् ।
सन्नियम्यैन्द्रियग्रामं तपोवृद्ध्यर्थमात्मनः ॥ १७५ ॥

sevetaimāṃstu niyamān brahmacārī gurau vasan |
sanniyamyaindriyagrāmaṃ tapovṛddhyarthamātmanaḥ || 175 ||

With a view to enhancing his own piety, the Rreligious Student should, while living with his Teacher, observe all these rules,—having fully subjugated all his organs.—(175)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The Author is going to set forth a set of restraints and observances, in a section by themselves; and the present verse is intended to emphasise the importance of these; the sense being that what has been said before must be done, but what is coming next is even more important and conducive to superior results.

The term ‘Religious Student’ has been added in order to preclude the suspicion that a fresh section having begun here, the duties that are going to bo described are not meant for the student.

“If the text is continuing to describe the duties of the Religious Student, why should this be regards as a different section?”

Even though what are going to be described are similar in character to those that have gone before, yet there is a certain superiority attaching to them; and it is purely on the ground of this slight distinction that their?tr?eatment has been regarded as forming a different section.

The remaining words of the Text are explained as added for the purpose of making up the verse.

‘Should observe,’—Should follow.

‘These’—Those going to be described. The pronoun ‘this’ always refers to what happens to be uppermost in the mind.

‘Living with his Teacher’—for the purpose of acquiring learning. The participle ‘living’ indicates permanent proximity.

‘Having fully controlled his organs’—in the manner described above. (Verses 88—100.)

‘With a view to enhancing piety’;—i.e., for the purpose of that embellishment of himself which is brought about by the proper observance of the Injunction of Vedic Study.—(175)

The Author proceeds to describe the rules spoken of in the preceding verse.

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Saṃskāra, p. 493) as laying down the necessity of observing the rules and regulations prescribed for the Student;—in Aparārka (p. 62), which explains that the particle ‘ca’ is added with a view to include those observances and restrictions that Have been prescribed'for the Religious Student in other Smṛtis;—and in Smṛticandrikā (Saṃskāra, p. 122).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Laghvāśvalāyana Smṛti (1.5).—‘The Religious Student, firm in his own duty, should remain devoted to the service of the Teacher.’

Laghvāśvālāyana Smṛti (12.15-16).—‘Then he should make the student get up the Veda on such days as are fit for study; being initiated, from that day onwards for six months, he should serve the Teacher and study the Veda in the prescribed manner.’

Vaśiṣṭha (5.2-3).—‘Having studied either one Veda, or two Vedas, or three Vedas,—his studentship unruffled, the Religious Student should serve the Teacher.’

Vaśiṣṭha (26.18-19).—‘As horses, without a chariot, or a chariot without horses, so is Austerity without Knowledge, and Knowledge without Austerity. Just as food mixed with honey, or honey mixed with food, is wholesome, so also are Knowledge and Austerity united.’

Gautama (3.9.5).—‘Conducting himself thus, with senses subdued, he reaches Brahmic regions.’

Āpastamba-Dharmasūtra (1.2,11,12,19,26).—‘After initiation, residence in the Teacher’s house...... He should never have sexual intercourse.’

Āpastamba-Dharmasūtra (4. 23, 29).—‘He should every day safeguard the interests of the Teacher by means of virtuous and prudent acts; the Religious Student, with mind concentrated, should perform all useful acts.’

Āpastamba-Dharmasūtra (5.1, 5, 9-11).—‘The term Austerity stands for the Restrictions; he should perform such acts as may be pleasing to the Teacher;—attentive to Vedic study, bent upon Dharma, fixed in austerity, straightforward and merciful, thus does the Religious Student become accomplished.’

Viṣṇu (27.47).—‘The Brāhmaṇa who carries on his studentship in this manner goes to the highest place and is not born again.’

Viṣṇu (1.24).—‘Delighting in learning the Veda, living under the Teacher, bent upon the Teacher’s good.’

Vyāsasmṛti (1.24).—‘Being initiated, he should reside in the Teacher’s house, ever calm and collected; on a sacred day, having pronounced the Praṇava and the Gāyatrī, he should begin the study of the Veda, also the Dharmaśāstra, for the purpose of understanding cleanliness and conduct; having duly read all this from the Teacher, he should act so as to please him; in this manner should he keep the observances of his studentship. He should ever attend upon him till he completes his Veda study.’

Nārada (5.8-15).—‘Till he has mastered the sciences, the student shall attend diligently on his Teacher; the same conduct has to be observed by him towards the Teacher’s wife and son. He shall preserve chastity and beg alms, lying on a low couch and using no ornaments. He shall go to rest after, and rise before, all persons in the Teacher’s house. He shall never come or stay without his Teacher’s bidding; his Teacher’s call he must obey without hesitation, when he is able to do so. He shall read at the proper time, when his Teacher is not averse to it, sitting on a lower seat than his Teacher, by his side, or on a bench and paying attention to what he says. Science, like the current of a stream, is constantly advancing towards the plain; therefore one studying science should be humble towards his Teacher. His Teacher shall correct him, if he is not obedient, scolding him or chastising him with a rope or with a small shoot of cane. The Teacher shall not strike him a heavy blow; nor on the head or on the chest; and he must encourage him after having chastised him. Otherwise the king shall punish the Teacher. After having completed his studies, he shall give the customary present to his Teacher and return home. Thus should be the conduct of the Student.’