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Line 179: − + + + + + − मातरं वा स्वसारं वा मातुर्वा भगिनीं निजाम् । भिक्षेत भिक्षां प्रथमं या चैनं नावमानयेत् । । २.५० । ।<ref name=":1" />+ − mātaraṁ vā svasāraṁ vā māturvā bhaginīṁ nijām । bhikṣeta bhikṣāṁ prathamaṁ yā cainaṁ nāvamānayet । । 2.50 । ।+ − + − ''sāyaṁ prātaścaredbhaikṣaṁ gurave tannivedayet । bhuñjīta yadyanujñāto no cedupavasetkvacit ॥ 5॥''</blockquote>Some of the guidelines stated in the Manusmrti in this regard are as follows:+ − * A student, being pure, shall daily bring food from the houses of men who are not deficient in (the knowledge of) the Veda and in (performing) yajnas, and who are famous for (following their lawful) occupations. (2.183)<ref name=":0">The Laws of Manu, Translated by G.Buhler, [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/manu/manu02.htm Chapter 2]</ref> − − vedayajñairahīnānāṁ praśastānāṁ svakarmasu । brahmacāryāharedbhaikṣaṁ gr̥hebhyaḥ prayato'nvaham । । 2.183 । ।</blockquote>+ − * Let him not beg from the relatives of his teacher, nor from his own or his mother’s blood-relations; but if there are no houses belonging to strangers, let him go to one of those named above, taking the last-named first; Or, if there are no (virtuous men of the kind) mentioned above, he may go to each (house in the) village, being pure and remaining silent; but let him avoid Abhishastas (those accused of mortal papa). However, at his pleasure he may eat, when invited, the food of one man at (a rite) in honour of the gods, observing (however the conditions on his vow), or at a (funeral meal) in honor of the manes, behaving (however) like a hermit. (2.184, 185 and 189)<ref name=":0" /> − <blockquote>गुरोः कुले न भिक्षेत न ज्ञातिकुलबन्धुषु । अलाभे त्वन्यगेहानां पूर्वं पूर्वं विवर्जयेत् । । २.१८४ । । − + − व्रतवद्देवदैवत्ये पित्र्ये कर्मण्यथ र्षिवत् । कामं अभ्यर्थितोऽश्नीयाद्व्रतं अस्य न लुप्यते । । २.१८९ । ।<ref name=":1" />+ − + + + + + + + + + +
Brahmacharyashrama (ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमः) (view source)
Revision as of 23:59, 21 January 2022
, 23:59, 21 January 2022→भैक्षम् ॥ Living by Bhiksha: Editing
== भैक्षम् ॥ Living by Bhiksha ==
== भैक्षम् ॥ Living by Bhiksha ==
It is said that a brahmachari should always eat by asking for bhiksha. For, subsistence by bhiksha is considered equal to a vrata. However, it is also stated that he should not eat out of the grains of a single house.<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>भैक्षेण वर्तयेन्नित्यं नैकान्नादी भवेद्व्रती । भैक्षेण व्रतिनो वृत्तिरुपवाससमा स्मृता । । २.१८८ । ।<ref name=":1" />
It is said that a brahmachari should always eat by asking for bhiksha. For, subsistence by bhiksha is considered equal to a vrata. However, it is also stated that he should not eat out of the grains of a single house.<ref name=":12" /><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>The shastras mention 'Bhiksha' as the means of subsistence for a brahmachari and also enumerate guidelines regarding the same. For example, the Yajnavalkya Smrti states that a brahmachari should ask for bhiksha from blameless brahmanas for supporting the body. <blockquote>ब्राह्मणेषु चरेद्भैक्षं अनिन्द्येष्वात्मवृत्तये । । १.२९ । ।<ref name=":9" /> brāhmaṇeṣu caredbhaikṣaṁ anindyeṣvātmavr̥ttaye । । 1.29 । ।</blockquote>And Mitakshara, the commentary on Yajnavalkya Smrti, clarifies further that the vow of bhiksha is solely for the purpose of self-support. It should not be used as a means by a brahmachari to support others except his guru, guru's wife and son.<ref name=":8" />
bhaikṣeṇa vartayennityaṁ naikānnādī bhavedvratī । bhaikṣeṇa vratino vr̥ttirupavāsasamā smr̥tā । । 2.188 । ।</blockquote>The shastras mention 'Bhiksha' as the means of subsistence for a brahmachari and also enumerate guidelines regarding the same. For example, the Yajnavalkya Smrti states that a brahmachari should ask for bhiksha from blameless brahmanas for supporting the body. <blockquote>ब्राह्मणेषु चरेद्भैक्षं अनिन्द्येष्वात्मवृत्तये । । १.२९ । ।<ref name=":9" /> brāhmaṇeṣu caredbhaikṣaṁ anindyeṣvātmavr̥ttaye । । 1.29 । ।</blockquote>And Mitakshara, the commentary on Yajnavalkya Smrti, clarifies further that the vow of bhiksha is solely for the purpose of self-support. It should not be used as a means by a brahmachari to support others except his guru, guru's wife and son.<ref name=":8" />
Some such guidelines regarding bhiksha from various shastra texts are as follows:
Some such guidelines regarding bhiksha from various shastra texts are as follows:
* The Agni Purana mentions that one should seek food first at such a place where one would be certain about getting food.<ref name=":10" />
* The Agni Purana mentions that one should seek food first at such a place where one would be certain about getting food.<ref name=":10" />
<blockquote>प्रथमं तत्र भ्हिक्षेत यत्र भिक्षा ध्रुवं भवेत् ।१५३.१२<ref name=":11" /> prathamaṁ tatra bhhikṣeta yatra bhikṣā dhruvaṁ bhavet ।153.12</blockquote>Infact the Manusmrti specifies that a brahmachari should first ask food of his mother, sister, maternal aunt or some other female, who will not disgrace him by a refusal.<ref name=":8" />
<blockquote>प्रथमं तत्र भ्हिक्षेत यत्र भिक्षा ध्रुवं भवेत् ।१५३.१२<ref name=":11" /> prathamaṁ tatra bhhikṣeta yatra bhikṣā dhruvaṁ bhavet ।153.12</blockquote>Infact the Manusmrti specifies that a brahmachari should first ask food of his mother, sister, maternal aunt or some other female, who will not disgrace him by a refusal.<ref name=":8" /><blockquote>मातरं वा स्वसारं वा मातुर्वा भगिनीं निजाम् । भिक्षेत भिक्षां प्रथमं या चैनं नावमानयेत् । । २.५० । ।<ref name=":1" />
mātaraṁ vā svasāraṁ vā māturvā bhaginīṁ nijām । bhikṣeta bhikṣāṁ prathamaṁ yā cainaṁ nāvamānayet । । 2.50 । ।</blockquote>
* According to the Bhagavata Purana, a brahmachari should ask for bhiksha 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" />
''sāyaṁ prātaścaredbhaikṣaṁ gurave tannivedayet । bhuñjīta yadyanujñāto no cedupavasetkvacit ॥ 5॥''</blockquote>
* According to the Bhagavata Purana, a brahmachari should ask 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 Manusmrti enumerates where a brahmachari should obtain his bhiksha from and where not. It says,
<blockquote>वेदयज्ञैरहीनानां प्रशस्तानां स्वकर्मसु । ब्रह्मचार्याहरेद्भैक्षं गृहेभ्यः प्रयतोऽन्वहम् । । २.१८३ । ।
<blockquote>वेदयज्ञैरहीनानां प्रशस्तानां स्वकर्मसु । ब्रह्मचार्याहरेद्भैक्षं गृहेभ्यः प्रयतोऽन्वहम् । । २.१८३ । ।<ref name=":1" />
गुरोः कुले न भिक्षेत न ज्ञातिकुलबन्धुषु । अलाभे त्वन्यगेहानां पूर्वं पूर्वं विवर्जयेत् । । २.१८४ । ।
सर्वं वापि चरेद्ग्रामं पूर्वोक्तानां असंभवे । नियम्य प्रयतो वाचं अभिशस्तांस्तु वर्जयेत् । । २.१८५ । ।
सर्वं वापि चरेद्ग्रामं पूर्वोक्तानां असंभवे । नियम्य प्रयतो वाचं अभिशस्तांस्तु वर्जयेत् । । २.१८५ । ।<ref name=":1" />
vedayajñairahīnānāṁ praśastānāṁ svakarmasu । brahmacāryāharedbhaikṣaṁ gr̥hebhyaḥ prayato'nvaham । । 2.183 । ।
guroḥ kule na bhikṣeta na jñātikulabandhuṣu । alābhe tvanyagehānāṁ pūrvaṁ pūrvaṁ vivarjayet । । 2.184 । ।
guroḥ kule na bhikṣeta na jñātikulabandhuṣu । alābhe tvanyagehānāṁ pūrvaṁ pūrvaṁ vivarjayet । । 2.184 । ।
sarvaṁ vāpi caredgrāmaṁ pūrvoktānāṁ asaṁbhave । niyamya prayato vācaṁ abhiśastāṁstu varjayet । । 2.185 । ।
sarvaṁ vāpi caredgrāmaṁ pūrvoktānāṁ asaṁbhave । niyamya prayato vācaṁ abhiśastāṁstu varjayet । । 2.185 । ।</blockquote>Meaning: A brahmachari should bring bhiksha from the houses of people who are not devoid of the practice of Vedas and Yajnas, and those who are devoted to the practice of their Nityakarma.
However, he should not ask for bhiksha in his gurukula and amongst his relatives. If he is unable to get bhiksha from other places, he may avoid his close relatives and ask for bhiksha from the distant ones.
And if there is dearth of people involved in dharmika activities within the village, the brahmachari must go to all villages to ask for bhiksha avoiding people who are Mahapatakas.<ref name=":12" />
* When invited to a Deva Yajna, a brahmachari may eat, the food meant for one person, except the forbidden dishes, to his satisfaction.<ref name=":12" />
* However, at his pleasure he may eat, when invited, the food of one man at (a rite) in honour of the gods, observing (however the conditions on his vow), or at a (funeral meal) in honor of the manes, behaving (however) like a hermit. (2.184, 185 and 189)<ref name=":0">The Laws of Manu, Translated by G.Buhler, [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/manu/manu02.htm Chapter 2]</ref>
<blockquote>व्रतवद्देवदैवत्ये पित्र्ये कर्मण्यथ र्षिवत् । कामं अभ्यर्थितोऽश्नीयाद्व्रतं अस्य न लुप्यते । । २.१८९ । ।<ref name=":1" />
vratavaddevadaivatye pitrye karmaṇyatha rṣivat । kāmaṁ abhyarthito'śnīyādvrataṁ asya na lupyate । । 2.189 । ।</blockquote>
vratavaddevadaivatye pitrye karmaṇyatha rṣivat । kāmaṁ abhyarthito'śnīyādvrataṁ asya na lupyate । । 2.189 । ।</blockquote>