and lawful pleasure; by some, in virtue alone; by CHAP. others, in wealth alone; but the chief good here below is an assemblage of all three: this is a sure ' decision. II. 225. A TEACHER of the Véda is the image of God; a natural father, the image of BRAHMA'; a mother, 'the image of the earth; an elder whole brother, the image of the soul. 6 226. Therefore a spiritual and a natural father, a mother, and an elder brother, are not to be treated with disrespect, especially by a Bráhmen, though the student be grievously provoked. 227. That pain and care which a mother and father undergo in producing and rearing children, cannot be compensated in an hundred years. 228. Let every man constantly do what may please his parents and, on all occasions, what may please his preceptor: when those three are satisfied, his whole course of devotion is accomplished. 229. Due reverence to those three is considered as the highest devotion; and without their approbation he must perform no other duty. 230. Since they alone are held equal to the three worlds; they alone, to the three principal orders; they alone, to the three Vedas; they alone, to the three fires : 231. The natural father is considered as the gárhapatya, hapatya, or nuptial fire; the mother as the dacshina, or ceremonial; the spiritual guide, as the áhavaniya, or sacrificial: this triad of fires is most venerable. 232. He, who neglects not those three, when he becomes a house-keeper, will ultimately obtain dominion over the three worlds; and his body being irradiated like a God, he will enjoy supreme bliss in ' heaven. 233. 6 By honouring his mother he gains this ter' restrial world; by honouring his father, the intermediate, or etherial; and, by assiduous attention to his preceptor, even the celestial world of BRAHMA': 234. All duties are completely performed by that man, by whom those three are completely honoured; but to him by whom they are dishonoured, all ' other acts of duty are fruitless. 235. As long as those three live, so long he must perform no other duty for his own sake: but delighting in what may conciliate their affections and gratify their wishes, he must from day to day assiduously wait on them: 236 Whatever duty he may perform in thought, word, or deed, with a view with a view to the next world, ' without derogation from his respect to them; he must declare to them his entire performance of it. 237. By honouring those three, without more, a man effectually does whatever ought to be done : this is the highest duty, appearing before us like 'DHERMA dherma, or subordinate duty. 238. A A believer in scripture may knowledge even from a Súdra; a an upu receive pure lesson of the highest virtue, even from a Chandála; and a woman, bright as a gem, even from the basest family: 239. Even from poison may nectar be taken; even from a child, gentleness of speech; even from a foe, prudent conduct; and even from an impure substance, gold. 240. From every quarter, therefore, must be se'lected women bright as gems, knowledge, virtue, purity, gentle speech, and various liberal arts. 241. In case of necessity, a student is required to learn the Véda from one who is not a Bráhmen, and, as long as that instruction continues, to ho nour his instructor with obsequious assiduity; 242. But a pupil who seeks the incomparable path 'to heaven, should not live to the end of his days in the dwelling of a preceptor who is no Bráhmen, or who has not read all the Védas with their Angas. 243. If he anxiously desire to pass his whole life in the house of a sacerdotal teacher, he must serve 'him with assiduous care, till he be released from his mortal frame: 244.That Bráhmen, who has dutifully attended his preceptor, till the dissolution of his body, passes directly to the eternal mansion of GOD. 245. LET CHAP. CHAP. 6 245. LET not a student, who knows his duty, present any gift to his preceptor before his return home; but when, by his tutor's permission, he is going to perform the ceremony on his return, let ' him give the venerable man some valuable thing to the best of his power; 246. A field, or gold, a jewel, a cow, or a horse, an umbrella, a pair of sandals, a stool, corn, cloths, or even any very excellent vegetable: thus will he gain the affectionate remembrance of his instructor. 247. The student for life must, if his teacher die, ' attend on his virtuous son, or his widow, or on one ' of his paternal kinsmen, with the same respect which he showed to the living : 6 6 248. Should none of those be alive, he must oc cupy the station of his preceptor, the seat, and the place of religious exercises; must continually pay due attention to the fires, which he had consecrated; and must prepare his own soul for heaven. 249. The twice-born man, who shall thus without 'intermission have passed the time of his studentship, shall ascend, after death, to the most exalted ' of regions, and no more again spring to birth in this lower world. CHAP. 6 CHAP. III. On Marriage; or on the Second Order. 1. THE discipline of a student in the three Védas CHAP. may be continued for thirty-six years, in the house of his preceptor; or for half that time, or for a quar ter of it, or until he perfectly comprehend them: 2. A student, whose rules have not been violated, may assume the order of a married man, after he has read in succession a sác' há, or branch from each ' of the three, or from two, or from any one of them. 3. Being justly applauded for the strict performance of his duty, and having received from his natural or spiritual father the sacred gift of the Véda, let him • sit on an elegant bed, decked with a garland of flowers, and let his father honour him, before his nuptials, with a present of a cow. 6 6 4. Let the twice-born man, having obtained the consent of his venerable guide, and having performed his ablution with stated ceremonies, on his return 'home, as the law directs, espouse a wife of the same class with himself and endued with the marks of 'excellence. 5. She, who is not descended from his paternal or "maternal ancestors, within the sixth degree, and who is not known by her family name to be of the same III. |