Snataka Dharma (स्नातकधर्मः)

Snataka Dharma (Samskrit: स्नातकधर्मः) refers to the code of conduct prescribed for those who have completed their education in the brahmacharyashrama (graduates) and who are awaiting their entrance into the responsibilities of the Grhasthashrama.

परिचयः ॥ Introduction

According to the tradition of education in ancient Bharata, after the performance of Upanayana samskara, a child is sent to the Gurukula where he is trained in different shastras under the able guidance of a Guru. At the end of this training, the rite of Samavartana is performed to indicate completion of his training, and he is ready for the transition from brahmacharyashrama to the second phase of his life – the grhasthashrama.

The rite of samavartana includes a ritual abulation (स्नानम् ॥ snana) indicating the graduation of the student from the Gurukula. And such a student who has had the ritual abulation after completion of his study is called a Snataka (स्नातकः ॥ a graduate). The Manusmrti elaborates in detail about the code of conduct for a Snataka. His personal as well as social responsibilities have been enlisted therein.

स्नातकव्याख्या ॥ Snataka Vyakhya

Before we elaborate on the code of conduct prescribed for a Snataka, let us first understand the meaning of a Snataka.

Vachaspatya describes a Snataka as follows:

वेदाध्ययनानन्तरं गार्हस्थ्याय कृतसमावर्त्तनांङ्गस्नाने गृहस्थभेदे |

vedādhyayanānantaraṁ gārhasthyāya kr̥tasamāvarttanāṁṅgasnāne gr̥hasthabhede |

It refers to a brahmana who, after having completed the study of the Vedas, has entered the Grhasthashrama after performing the rite of Samavartana which is an abulation that indicates the graduation from brahmacharya to grhastha. However, according to Shabdakalpadruma,

ब्रह्मचर्य्यं त्यक्त्वा यो गृहाश्रमं गतः स स्नातकः । समाप्तवेदाध्ययनो यः स्नानशीलः आश्रमान्तरं न गतः सौऽपि स्नातकः ।

brahmacaryyaṁ tyaktvā yo gr̥hāśramaṁ gataḥ sa snātakaḥ । samāptavedādhyayano yaḥ snānaśīlaḥ āśramāntaraṁ na gataḥ sau'pi snātakaḥ ।

The one who abandons brahmacharya and goes to grhasthashrama is a Snataka. But, after having competed the Vedic studies, the one who is eligible for the ritual abulation but does not enter the grhasthashrama is also a Snataka. Because, Snataka is of three types.

• व्रतस्नातकः ॥ Vrata Snataka

  ब्रह्मचर्य्याचरणस्य यः शास्त्रबोधितोऽवधिः । तावद्वेदमुपास्यासमाप्तवेद एवाश्रमान्तरं गतो यः स व्रतस्नातकः ।

  brahmacaryyācaraṇasya yaḥ śāstrabodhito'vadhiḥ । tāvadvedamupāsyāsamāptaveda evāśramāntaraṁ gato yaḥ sa vratasnātakaḥ ।

  The one who enters the Grhasthashrama, studying the vedas only for the stipulated time prescribed by the shastras for the brahmacharyashrama, without completion, is a Vrata Snataka.
• विद्यास्नातकः || Vidya Snataka

  वेदमधीत्यगुरुसन्निधौ वेदाभ्यासं यः करोति स विद्यास्नातकः ।

  vedamadhītyagurusannidhau vedābhyāsaṁ yaḥ karoti sa vidyāsnātakaḥ ।

  The one who continues to stay with his Guru and study the Vedas even after the stipulated time is called a Vidya Snataka.
• उभयस्नातकः || Ubhaya Snataka

  पालितसम्यग्व्रतः प्राप्तवेदो यो द्वितीयाश्रमं गतः स उभयस्नातकः ।

  pālitasamyagvrataḥ prāptavedo yo dvitīyāśramaṁ gataḥ sa ubhayasnātakaḥ ।

  The one who observes the vow completely, absorbs the vedic teachings and graduates to the second ashrama is called Ubhaya Snataka.