CHAP. II. On Education; or on the Sacerdotal Class, and the First Order. CHAP. 1. KNOW that system of duties, which is revered II. by such as are learned in the Vedas, and impressed, 6 ' as the means of attaining beatitude, on the hearts 6 of the just, who are ever exempt from hatred and inordinate affection. 2. Self-love is no laudable motive, yet an exemption from self-love is not to be found in this world: on self-love is grounded the study of scripture, and 'the practice of actions recommended in it. 3. Eager desire to act has its root in expectation of some advantage; and with such expectation are 'sacrifices performed; the rules of religious austerity and abstinence from sins are all known to arise 'from hope of remuneration. 4. Not a single act here below appears ever to be 'done by a man free from self-love; free from self-love; whatever he performs, it is wrought from his desire of a re'ward. 5. He, indeed, who should persist in discharging 'these duties without any view to their fruit, would ' attain hereafter the state of the immortals, and even ' in 21 ON EDUCATION. in this life, would enjoy all the virtuous gratifica- CHAP. tions, that his fancy could suggest. 6. The roots of law are the whole Veda, the ordinances and moral practices of such as perfectly understand it, the immemorial customs of good men, and, in cases quite indifferent, self-satisfaction. 7. Whatever law has been ordained for any person by MENU, that law is fully declared in the Véda: for HE was perfect in divine knowledge: 8. A man of true learning, who has viewed this complete system with the eye of sacred wisdom, 'cannot fail to perform all those duties, which are ordained on the authority of the Veda. 6 9. No doubt, that man who shall follow the rules prescribed in the Sruti and in the Smriti, will acquire fame in this life, and, in the next, inexpressible happiness: 10. By Sruti, or what was heard from above, is 'meant the Veda; and by Smriti, or what was remem'bered from the beginning, the body of law: those two 'must not be oppugned by heterodox arguments; 'since from those two, proceeds the whole system of 'duties. 11. Whatever man of the three highest classes, having addicted himself to heretical books, shall 'treat with contempt those two roots of law, he must • be II. 22 СНАР. 6 be driven, as an Atheist and a scorner of revelation, 'from the company of the virtuous. II. 12. The scripture, the codes of law, approved usage, and, in all indifferent cases, self-satisfaction, the wise have openly declared to be the quadruple description of the juridical system. 13. A knowledge of right is a sufficient incentive for men unattached to wealth or to sensuality; and to those who seek a knowledge of right, the supreme authority is divine revelation ; 14. But, when there are two sacred texts, apparently inconsistent, both are held to be law; for both are pronounced by the wise to be valid and recon• cilable; 6 15. 6 Thus in the Veda are these texts: "let the "sacrifice be when the sun has arisen," and, "before it "has risen," and, "when neither sun nor stars can "be seen:" the sacrifice, therefore, may be performed at any or all of those times. 6 16. He, whose life is regulated by holy texts, from ' his conception even to his funeral pile, has a decided right to study this code; but no other man what soever. 17. BETWEEN the two divine rivers Saraswati and Drishadwatí, lies the tract of land, which the sages have named Brahmáverta, because it was frequented by Gods: 18. The II. 18. The custom preserved by immemorial tradition CHAP. 19. Curueshétra, Matsya, Panchála, or Cányacubja, and Súraséna, or Mathurà, form the region called 'Brahmarshi, distinguished from Brahmáverta: 20. From a Brahmen who was born in that country, let all men on earth learn their several usages. 21. That country which lies between Himawat and Vindhya, to the east of Vinasana, and to the west ' of Prayaga, is celebrated by the title of Medhya'désa, or the central region. 22. As far as the eastern, and as far as the west ern oceans, between the two mountains just men tioned, lies the tract which the wise have named Aryaverta, or inhabited by respectable men. 23. That land, on which the black antelope natu rally grazes, is held fit for the performance of sa'crifices; but the land of Mléch' has or those who speak barbarously, differs widely from it. 6 24. Let the three first classes invariably dwell in 'those before-mentioned countries; but a Súdra, dis'tressed for subsistence, may sojourn wherever he 'chuses. 25. Thus has the origin of law been succinctly ' declared CHAP. II. 6 ' declared to you, together with the formation of this universe: now learn the laws of the several classes. 6 26. WITH auspicious acts prescribed by the Veda, must ceremonies on conception, and so forth, be duly performed, which purify the bodies of the three ' classes in this life, and qualify them for the next. 6 27. By oblations to fire during the mother's pregnancy, by holy rites on the birth of the child, by the 'tonsure of his head with a lock of hair left on it, "by the ligation of the sacrificial cord, are the se'minal and uterine taints of the three classes wholly ' removed: 28. By studying the Veda, by religious observ ances, by oblations to fire, by the ceremony of Traividya, by offering to the Gods and Manes, by "the procreation of children, by the five great sacraments, and by solemn sacrifices, this human body is rendered fit for a divine state. 29. Before the section of the navel string a ceremony is ordained on the birth of a male he must be made, while sacred texts are pronounced, to taste a little honey and clarified butter from a golden spoon. 30. Let the father perform or, if absent, cause to be performed, on the tenth or twelfth day after the birth, the ceremony of giving a name; or on some fortunate day of the moon, at a lucky hour, and under the influence of a star with good qualities 31. The |