Verse 2.209

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

उत्सादनं च गात्राणां स्नापनौच्छिष्टभोजने ।
न कुर्याद् गुरुपुत्रस्य पादयोश्चावनेजनम् ॥ २०९ ॥

utsādanaṃ ca gātrāṇāṃ snāpanaucchiṣṭabhojane |
na kuryād guruputrasya pādayoścāvanejanam || 209 ||

He shall not shampoo the limbs of his teacher’s son, nor assist him in bathing, nor eat of the food left by him; nor should he wash his feet.—(209)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘Shampooing’—rubbing after oiling—he shall not do.

‘Washing of his feet’ also he shall not do;—for the teacher’s son.

It is from this prohibition that it follows that, even though not directly enjoined, these acts should be done for the teacher. When however the teacher’s son himself becomes the teacher, by becoming fully equipped to teach the entire Veda,—then the eating of the food left by him, etc., come to be done for his own sake; and the present prohibition does not apply to the acts under such circumstances. For their prohibition refers to what is due to the son, through the injunction transferring to him the treatment accorded to the teacher,—and not to what would be due to him by direct injunction.—(209)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Saṃskāra, p. 462) as providing exception to the general rule of the preceding verse, which declares that all that is done for the teacher should be done for his son also; and the present verse specifies certain acts of service which, though done for the Teacher, are not permissible for the Teacher’s son. ‘Gātrotsādana’ means ‘nibbing and shampooing the body.’

It is quoted also in Vidhānapārijāta (p. 495).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 208-209)

See Comparative notes for Verse 2.208.