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== वेदाध्ययनम् ॥ Vedic Studies ==

== वेदाध्ययनम् ॥ Vedic Studies ==

* Adhyayana or self study is the primary duty of a student in the Brahmacharyashrama. Hence, it is said, <blockquote>चोदितो गुरुणा नित्यं अप्रचोदित एव वा । कुर्यादध्ययने यत्नं आचार्यस्य हितेषु च । । २.१९१ । ।<ref name=":1" />  codito guruṇā nityaṁ apracodita eva vā । kuryādadhyayane yatnaṁ ācāryasya hiteṣu ca । । 2.191 । ।</blockquote>Meaning: Both when ordered by his teacher, and without a (special) command, (a student) shall always exert himself in studying (the Veda), and in doing what is serviceable to his teacher. (2.191)<ref name=":0">The Laws of Manu, Translated by G.Buhler, [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/manu/manu02.htm Chapter 2]</ref>

Adhyayana or self study is the primary duty of a student in the Brahmacharyashrama. Hence, the Manusmrti says, <blockquote>चोदितो गुरुणा नित्यं अप्रचोदित एव वा । कुर्यादध्ययने यत्नं आचार्यस्य हितेषु च । । २.१९१ । ।<ref name=":1" />  codito guruṇā nityaṁ apracodita eva vā । kuryādadhyayane yatnaṁ ācāryasya hiteṣu ca । । 2.191 । ।</blockquote>Meaning: Whether instructed by the teacher everyday or not, a student should always strive towards learning and for the welfare of his teacher.<ref name=":12" />

*The Bhagavata Purana enumerates that having stayed in the preceptor's house, a dvija should study and understand to the best of his ability and to the extent of his requirements, the meaning of three Vedas (Rk, Saman and Yajus), along with their (six) auxilliaries (namely, Shiksha, Kalpa, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Chandas and Jyotish) and the Upanishads (Vedanta or philosophical treatises).<ref name=":5">Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, P.no.[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.150116/page/n101 970].</ref>

उषित्वैवं गुरुकुले द्विजोऽधीत्यावबुध्य च । त्रयीं साङ्गोपनिषदं यावदर्थं यथाबलम् ॥ १३॥<ref name=":4" />

''uṣitvaivaṁ gurukule dvijo'dhītyāvabudhya ca । trayīṁ sāṅgopaniṣadaṁ yāvadarthaṁ yathābalam ॥ 13॥''

And enumerating the object of study, the Bhagavata Purana says,<blockquote>उषित्वैवं गुरुकुले द्विजोऽधीत्यावबुध्य च । त्रयीं साङ्गोपनिषदं यावदर्थं यथाबलम् ॥ १३॥<ref name=":4" />

For the Yajnavalkya smrti states that

''uṣitvaivaṁ gurukule dvijo'dhītyāvabudhya ca । trayīṁ sāṅgopaniṣadaṁ yāvadarthaṁ yathābalam ॥ 13॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Having stayed in the preceptor's house, a dvija should study and understand to the best of his ability and to the extent of his requirements, the meaning of three Vedas (Rk, Saman and Yajus), along with their (six) auxilliaries (namely, Shiksha, Kalpa, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Chandas and Jyotish) and the Upanishads (Vedanta or philosophical treatises).<ref name=":5">Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, P.no.[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.150116/page/n101 970].</ref>

To the twice-born, Vedas are the highest agent of benefaction (means of attaining moksha) because (they all teach) yajnas, austerities and good work.<ref name=":8" />

Because Vedas are the highest agent of benefaction (means of attaining moksha) for the dvijas as it teaches yajnas, austerities and good work.<ref name=":8" /> <blockquote>यज्ञानां तपसां चैव शुभानां चैव कर्मणाम् । वेद एव द्विजातीनां निःश्रेयसकरः परः । । १.४० । ।<ref name=":9" />

यज्ञानां तपसां चैव शुभानां चैव कर्मणाम् । वेद एव द्विजातीनां निःश्रेयसकरः परः । । १.४० । ।<ref name=":9" />

yajñānāṁ tapasāṁ caiva śubhānāṁ caiva karmaṇām । veda eva dvijātīnāṁ niḥśreyasakaraḥ paraḥ । । 1.40 । ।</blockquote>This is iterated in the Manusmrti as well. It states that a brahmana who desires to perform austerities may constantly repeat the Veda. For, the study of Veda is declared to be, in this world, the highest austerity for a brahmana.<ref name=":8" /><blockquote>वेदं एव सदाभ्यस्येत्तपस्तप्स्यन्द्विजोत्तमः । वेदाभ्यासो हि विप्रस्य तपः परं इहोच्यते । । २.१६६ । ।<ref name=":1" />

This is iterated in the Manusmrti as well that mentions that a brahmana who desires to perform austerities may constantly repeat the Veda. For, the study of Veda is declared to be in this world the highest austerity for a brahmana.<ref name=":8" />

vedaṁ eva sadābhyasyettapastapsyandvijottamaḥ । vedābhyāso hi viprasya tapaḥ paraṁ ihocyate । । 2.166 । ।</blockquote>While the Yajnavalkya Smrti enumerates how Vedic studies are a medium for the students to satisfy the devas and pitrs in a manner that Vedic Yajnas do. It says, <blockquote>मधुना पयसा चैव स देवांस्तर्पयेद्द्विजः । पितॄन्मधुघृताभ्यां च ऋचोऽधीते च योऽन्वहम् । । १.४१ । ।

वेदं एव सदाभ्यस्येत्तपस्तप्स्यन्द्विजोत्तमः । वेदाभ्यासो हि विप्रस्य तपः परं इहोच्यते । । २.१६६ । ।<ref name=":1" />

यजूंषि शक्तितोऽधीते योऽन्वहं स घृतामृतैः । प्रीणाति देवानाज्येन मधुना च पितॄंस्तथा । । १.४२ । ।

That twice-born who daily reads the rks (hymns of the Rgveda), satisfies the Devas with honey and milk and the pitrs with honey and clarified butter.

मेदसा तर्पयेद्देवानथर्वाङ्गिरसः पठन् । पितॄंश्च मधुसर्पिर्भ्यां अन्वहं शक्तितो द्विजः । । १.४४ । ।

He, who daily studies to the best of his ability the Yajus (hymns of Yajurveda), pleases the devas with clarified butter and nectar and the pitrs with clarified butter and honey.

वाकोवाक्यं पुराणं च नाराशंसीश्च गाथिकाः । इतिहासांस्तथा विद्याः शक्त्याधीते हि योऽन्वहम् । । १.४५ । ।

मांसक्षीरौदनमधु तर्पणं स दिवौकसाम् । करोति तृप्तिं कुर्याच्च पितॄणां मधुसर्पिषा । । १.४६ । ।<ref name=":9" />

 

 

 

Satisfies the dwellers of heaven with meat, milf, boiled rice and honey and the pitrs with honey and clarified butter.

मधुना पयसा चैव स देवांस्तर्पयेद्द्विजः । पितॄन्मधुघृताभ्यां च ऋचोऽधीते च योऽन्वहम् । । १.४१ । ।

madhunā payasā caiva sa devāṁstarpayeddvijaḥ । pitr̥̄nmadhughr̥tābhyāṁ ca r̥co'dhīte ca yo'nvaham । । 1.41 । ।

यजूंषि शक्तितोऽधीते योऽन्वहं स घृतामृतैः । प्रीणाति देवानाज्येन मधुना च पितॄंस्तथा । । १.४२ । ।

yajūṁṣi śaktito'dhīte yo'nvahaṁ sa ghr̥tāmr̥taiḥ । prīṇāti devānājyena madhunā ca pitr̥̄ṁstathā । । 1.42 । ।

स तु सोमघृतैर्देवांस्तर्पयेद्योऽन्वहं पठेत् । सामानि तृप्तिं कुर्याच्च पितॄणां मधुसर्पिषा । । १.४३ । ।

sa tu somaghr̥tairdevāṁstarpayedyo'nvahaṁ paṭhet । sāmāni tr̥ptiṁ kuryācca pitr̥̄ṇāṁ madhusarpiṣā । । 1.43 । ।

मेदसा तर्पयेद्देवानथर्वाङ्गिरसः पठन् । पितॄंश्च मधुसर्पिर्भ्यां अन्वहं शक्तितो द्विजः । । १.४४ । ।

medasā tarpayeddevānatharvāṅgirasaḥ paṭhan । pitr̥̄ṁśca madhusarpirbhyāṁ anvahaṁ śaktito dvijaḥ । । 1.44 । ।

वाकोवाक्यं पुराणं च नाराशंसीश्च गाथिकाः । इतिहासांस्तथा विद्याः शक्त्याधीते हि योऽन्वहम् । । १.४५ । ।

vākovākyaṁ purāṇaṁ ca nārāśaṁsīśca gāthikāḥ । itihāsāṁstathā vidyāḥ śaktyādhīte hi yo'nvaham । । 1.45 । ।

 

It further suggests that whatever portion of the Vedas laying down methods of any yajna he studies daily, of that yajna he receives the fruit (ie. as if he had actually performed that yajna).<ref name=":8" />

māṁsakṣīraudanamadhu tarpaṇaṁ sa divaukasām । karoti tr̥ptiṁ kuryācca pitr̥̄ṇāṁ madhusarpiṣā । । 1.46 । ।</blockquote>Meaning:<ref name=":8" />

यं यं क्रतुं अधीते च तस्य तस्याप्नुयात्फलम् । । १.४७ । ।<ref name=":9" />

It also states that whatever portion of the Vedas laying down methods of any yajna a brahmachari studies daily, of that yajna he receives the fruit (ie. as if he had actually performed that yajna).<ref name=":8" /><blockquote>यं यं क्रतुं अधीते च तस्य तस्याप्नुयात्फलम् । । १.४७ । ।<ref name=":9" /> yaṁ yaṁ kratuṁ adhīte ca tasya tasyāpnuyātphalam । । 1.47 । ।</blockquote>Similarly, that fruit which is acquired by thrice three times giving away the earth filled with treasures and that fruit which accrues from the performance of the highest austerities such as Chandrayana, etc. all these are also acquired by a brahmachari who studies daily.<ref name=":8" /><blockquote>त्रिर्वित्तपूर्णपृथिवी दानस्य फलं अश्नुते । तपसश्च परस्येह नित्यं स्वाध्यायवान्द्विजः । । १.४८ । ।<ref name=":9" />

Similarly, that fruit which is acquired by thrice three times giving away the earth filled with treasures and that fruit which accrues from the performance of the highest austerities such as Chandrayana etc all these are acquired by him who studies daily.<ref name=":8" />

trirvittapūrṇapr̥thivī dānasya phalaṁ aśnute । tapasaśca parasyeha nityaṁ svādhyāyavāndvijaḥ । । 1.48 । ।</blockquote>Thereby, reiterating that Vedadhyayana in the brahmacharyashrama is capable of bestowing a brahmachari with the fruits that come from the performance of Yajna, Dana or Tapas.

== भैक्षम् ॥ Living by Bhiksha ==

== भैक्षम् ॥ Living by Bhiksha ==

<blockquote>भैक्षेण वर्तयेन्नित्यं नैकान्नादी भवेद्व्रती । भैक्षेण व्रतिनो वृत्तिरुपवाससमा स्मृता । । २.१८८ । ।<ref name=":1" />

<blockquote>भैक्षेण वर्तयेन्नित्यं नैकान्नादी भवेद्व्रती । भैक्षेण व्रतिनो वृत्तिरुपवाससमा स्मृता । । २.१८८ । ।<ref name=":1" />

bhaikṣeṇa vartayennityaṁ naikānnādī bhavedvratī । bhaikṣeṇa vratino vr̥ttirupavāsasamā smr̥tā । । 2.188 । ।</blockquote>It is said that, He who performs the vow (of studentship) shall constantly subsist on alms, (but) not eat the food of one (person only); the subsistence of a student on begged food is declared to be equal (in merit) to fasting.(2.188)<ref name=":0" />  

bhaikṣeṇa vartayennityaṁ naikānnādī bhavedvratī । bhaikṣeṇa vratino vr̥ttirupavāsasamā smr̥tā । । 2.188 । ।</blockquote>It is said that, He who performs the vow (of studentship) shall constantly subsist on alms, (but) not eat the food of one (person only); the subsistence of a student on begged food is declared to be equal (in merit) to fasting.(2.188)<ref name=":0">The Laws of Manu, Translated by G.Buhler, [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/manu/manu02.htm Chapter 2]</ref>  

The Bhagavata Purana enumerates that a brahmachari should beg for alms both in the morning and in the evening, and offer it to his teacher. If permitted, he should partake of the food, if not (as a test or a punishment or as occasionally required on days of observing fast), he should fast.<ref name=":3" /> <blockquote>सायं प्रातश्चरेद्भैक्षं गुरवे तन्निवेदयेत् । भुञ्जीत यद्यनुज्ञातो नो चेदुपवसेत्क्वचित् ॥ ५॥<ref name=":4" />

The Bhagavata Purana enumerates that a brahmachari should beg for alms both in the morning and in the evening, and offer it to his teacher. If permitted, he should partake of the food, if not (as a test or a punishment or as occasionally required on days of observing fast), he should fast.<ref name=":3" /> <blockquote>सायं प्रातश्चरेद्भैक्षं गुरवे तन्निवेदयेत् । भुञ्जीत यद्यनुज्ञातो नो चेदुपवसेत्क्वचित् ॥ ५॥<ref name=":4" />