APASTAMBA PRASNA II, PATALA 2, KHANDA 5.
Hindu Index Index Previous Next

1. On the day on which, beginning the study of the whole sacred science, the Upanishads (and the rest, he performs the Upakarma in the morning) he shall not study (at night).
2. And he shall not leave his teacher at once afte having studied (the Veda and having returned home)
[5. 1. This rule refers to the Upakarma, to be performed yearly by householders. In our days, too, the custom is observed, and the whole Brahminical community change on this occasion their Genvis or sacrificial cords in the month of Sravana. The adherents of the various Sakhas of the Vedas, however, perform the ceremony on different days. According to Haradatta, the Upanishads are named, in order to show that they are of the highest importance. See also Satapatha-brahmana X, 3, 5, 12.
2. Others consider that this Sutra refers to the annual Upakarma of the householder. In that case the trarslation would be, 'And after having performed the Upakarma,' &c. Probably Apastamba,means to give a general rule, applicable both to householders and to students who have returned home.]
3. If he is in a hurry to go, he shall perform the daily recitation of the Veda in the presence of his teacher, and then go at his pleasure. In this manner (rood fortune will attend both of them.
4. If the (former) teacher visits him after he has returned home, he shall go out to meet him, embrace his (feet), and he shall not wash himself (after that act), showing disgust. He then shall let him pass first into the house, fetch (the materials necessary for a hospitable reception), and honour him according tothe rule.
5. If his former teacher is) present, he himself shall use a seat, a bed, food, and garments inferior to, and lower (than those offered to the teacher.
6. Standing (with his body bent), he shall place his left hand (under the water-vessel, and bending with his other hand its mouth downwards), he shall offer to his teacher water for sipping.
7. And (he shall offer water for sipping in this manner) to other guests also who possess all (good qualities) together.
8. He shall imitate (his teacher) in rising, sitting, walking, about, and smiling.
[4. 'Though he may suspect tnat the teacher had been defiled by the touch of a Kandala or the like, still he shall not show disgust nor wash himself.'--Haradatta. Regarding the rule of receiving guests, see below, II, 4, 8, 6 seq.
6. According to Haradatta, the repetition of the word dkiryam, 'the teacher,' in this Sutra, indicates that the rule holds good not only when the teacher comes as a guest to his former pupil, but on every occasion when he receives water for sipping.
7. 'He is called samudeta, "possessed of all (good qualities) together," who is endowed with (good) birth, disposition, behaviour, (great) learning, and a (venerable) age.'--Haradatta.
8. The word syat is to be understood from Sutra 5.]
9. In the presence (of his teacher) he shall not void excrements, discharge wind, speak aloud, laugh, spit, clean his teeth, blow his nose, frown, clap his hands, nor snap his fingers.
10. Nor shall he tenderly embrace or address caressing words to his wife or children.
11. He shall not contradict his teacher,
12. Nor any of his betters.
13. (He shall not) blame or revile any creature.
14. (He shall not revile one branch of) sacred learning by (invidiously comparing it with) another.
15. If he is not well versed in a (branch of) sacred learning (which he studied formerly), he shall again go to the (same) teacher and master it, observing the (same) rules as (during his first studentship).
16. The restrictions (to be kept) by the teacher from the beginning of the course of teaching to its end are, to avoid cutting the hair on the body, partaking of meat or of oblations to the Manes, and connection (with a woman).
17. Or (he may have conjugal intercourse) with his wife at the proper season.
18. He shall be attentive in instructing his pupils in the sacred learning, in such a manner that they
[13. Haradatta states that 'speaking evil' is forbidden here once more in order that it should be particularly avoided.
14. 'For example, he shall not say, "The Rig-veda is sweet to the ear, the other Vedas grate on the ear," or "the Taittiriya-veda is a Sakha consisting of leavings," or "the Brahmana proclaimed by Yagnavalkya is of modern origin."'--Haradatta. The second sentence refers to the story that Yagnavalkya vomited the Black Yagur-veda, and his fiellow-students, becoming partridges, picked it up. Regarding the third sentence, see Varttika on Panini IV, 3, 105, and Max Muller's History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, P. 363.
16. Weber, Ind. Stud. X, 42.]
master it, and in observing the restrictions (imposed upon householders during their teaching . He who acts thus, gains heavenly bliss for himself, his descendants and ancestors.
19. He who entirely avoids with mind, word, nose, eye, and ear the sensual objects (such as are) enjoyed by the touch, the organ, or the stomach, gains immortality.