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Line 213: − + − − He should beg from blameless brahmanas for supporting the body. − − The mitakshara commentary on the Yajnavalkya smrti clarifies that the rule of begging for self-support incorporates the exception of one's guru, guru's wife and son.<ref name=":8" /> − − Balambhatta in his glossary on the Yajnavalkya Smrti quotes Manusmrti, − − मातरं वा स्वसारं वा मातुर्वा भगिनीं निजाम् । भिक्षेत भिक्षां प्रथमं या चैनं नावमानयेत् । । २.५० । ।<ref name=":1" /> − − Let him first beg food of his mother, or of his sister, or of his own maternal aunt, or of some other female, who will not disgrace him by a refusal.<ref name=":8" /> − − The Agni Purana also mentions that one should seek food first at such a place where one would be certain about getting food.<ref name=":10" /> − − प्रथमं तत्र भ्हिक्षेत यत्र भिक्षा ध्रुवं भवेत् ।१५३.१२<ref name=":11" /> −
Brahmacharyashrama (ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमः) (view source)
Revision as of 00:00, 21 January 2022
, 00:00, 21 January 2022→भैक्षम् ॥ Living by Bhiksha: Editing
== भैक्षम् ॥ Living by Bhiksha ==
== भैक्षम् ॥ Living by Bhiksha ==
<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>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>
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" />
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" />
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" />
<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" />
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 । ।
* 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" />
''sāyaṁ prātaścaredbhaikṣaṁ gurave tannivedayet । bhuñjīta yadyanujñāto no cedupavasetkvacit ॥ 5॥''</blockquote>Some of the guidelines stated in the Manusmrti in this regard are as follows:
''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" />
* 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>
<blockquote>वेदयज्ञैरहीनानां प्रशस्तानां स्वकर्मसु । ब्रह्मचार्याहरेद्भैक्षं गृहेभ्यः प्रयतोऽन्वहम् । । २.१८३ । ।<ref name=":1" />
<blockquote>वेदयज्ञैरहीनानां प्रशस्तानां स्वकर्मसु । ब्रह्मचार्याहरेद्भैक्षं गृहेभ्यः प्रयतोऽन्वहम् । । २.१८३ । ।<ref name=":1" />
<blockquote>अकृत्वा भैक्षचरणं असमिध्य च पावकम् । अनातुरः सप्तरात्रं अवकीर्णिव्रतं चरेत् । । २.१८७ । ।<ref name=":1" />
<blockquote>अकृत्वा भैक्षचरणं असमिध्य च पावकम् । अनातुरः सप्तरात्रं अवकीर्णिव्रतं चरेत् । । २.१८७ । ।<ref name=":1" />
akr̥tvā bhaikṣacaraṇaṁ asamidhya ca pāvakam । anāturaḥ saptarātraṁ avakīrṇivrataṁ caret । । 2.187 । ।</blockquote>ब्राह्मणेषु चरेद्भैक्षं अनिन्द्येष्वात्मवृत्तये । । १.२९ । ।<ref name=":9" />
akr̥tvā bhaikṣacaraṇaṁ asamidhya ca pāvakam । anāturaḥ saptarātraṁ avakīrṇivrataṁ caret । । 2.187 । ।</blockquote>
== आचारधर्मः || Code of Conduct ==
== आचारधर्मः || Code of Conduct ==
A child is said to have been initiated into Brahmacharyashrama with the chief goal of Veda Adhyayana and has to follow the rules laid down for them that are enlisted in various shastra texts. These texts that describe the rules as part of the ashrama dharmas include,
A child is said to have been initiated into Brahmacharyashrama with the chief goal of Veda Adhyayana and has to follow the rules laid down for them that are enlisted in various shastra texts. These texts that describe the rules as part of the ashrama dharmas include,