Laws of Manu, capítulo II

8/13/2019 Laws of Manu, captulo II

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CHAPTER II.

1. Learn that sacred law which is followed by men

learned (in the Veda and assented to in their hearts

by the !irt"o"s# who are e!er e$em%t from hatred

and inordinate affection.

&. To act solely from a desire for rewards is not

la"dable# yet an e$em%tion from that desire is not (tobe fo"nd in this (world' for on (that desire is

ro"nded the st"dy of the Veda and the %erformance

of the actions# %rescribed by the Veda.

). The desire (for rewards# indeed# has its root in the

conce%tion that an act can yield them# and inconse*"ence of (that conce%tion sacrifices are

%erformed+ !ows and the laws %rescribin restraints

are all stated to be ,e%t thro"h the idea that they

will bear fr"it.

-. ot a sinle act here (below a%%ears e!er to be

done by a man free from desire+ for whate!er (mandoes# it is (the res"lt of the im%"lse of desire.

/. He who %ersists in discharin these (%rescribed


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d"ties in the riht manner# reaches the deathless

state and e!en in this (life obtains (the f"lfilment of

all the desires that he may ha!e concei!ed.

0. The whole Veda is the (first so"rce of the sacred

law# ne$t the tradition and the !irt"o"s cond"ct of

those who ,now the (Veda f"rther# also the c"stoms

of holy men# and (finally selfsatisfaction.

2. 3hate!er law has been ordained for any (%ersonby 4an"# that has been f"lly declared in the Veda' for

that (sae was omniscient.

5. 6"t a learned man after f"lly scr"tinisin all this

with the eye of ,nowlede# sho"ld# in accordance

with the a"thority of the re!ealed te$ts# be intent on

(the %erformance of his d"ties.

7. 8or that man who obeys the law %rescribed in the

re!ealed te$ts and in the sacred tradition# ains fame

in this (world and after death "ns"r%assable bliss.

19. 6"t by :r"ti (re!elation is meant the Veda# and

by :mriti (tradition the Instit"tes of the sacred law'

those two m"st not be called into *"estion in any

matter# since from those two the sacred law shone

forth.


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11. E!ery twiceborn man# who# relyin on the

Instit"tes of dialectics# treats with contem%t those

two so"rces (of the law# m"st be cast o"t by the!irt"o"s# as an atheist and a scorner of the Veda.

1&. The Veda# the sacred tradition# the c"stoms of

!irt"o"s men# and one;s own %leas"re# they declare

to be !isibly the fo"rfold means of definin the

sacred law.

1). The ,nowlede of the sacred law is %rescribed for

those who are not i!en to the ac*"isition of wealth

and to the ratification of their desires+ to those who

see, the ,nowlede of the sacred law the s"%reme

a"thority is the re!elation (:r"ti.

1-. 6"t when two sacred te$ts (:r"ti are conflictin#

both are held to be law+ for both are %rono"nced by

the wise (to be !alid law.

1/. (Th"s the (Anihotra sacrifice may be

(o%tionally %erformed# at any time after the s"n hasrisen# before he has risen# or when neither s"n nor

stars are !isible+ that (is declared by Vedic te$ts.


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10.


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ri!er :aras!ati disa%%ears is called 4adhyadesa (the

central reion.

&&. 6"t (the tract between those two mo"ntains

(?"st mentioned# which (e$tends as far as the

eastern and the western oceans# the wise call

Arya!arta (the co"ntry of the Aryans.

&). That land where the blac, antelo%e nat"rally

roams# one m"st ,now to be fit for the %erformanceof sacrifices+ (the tract different from that (is the

co"ntry of the 4le,,has (barbarians.

&-. Let twiceborn men see, to dwell in those (abo!e

mentioned co"ntries+ b"t a :"dra# distressed for

s"bsistence# may reside anywhere.

&/. Th"s has the oriin of the sacred law been

s"ccinctly described to yo" and the oriin of this

"ni!erse+ learn (now the d"ties of the castes

(!arna.

&0. 3ith holy rites# %rescribed by the Veda# m"st the

ceremony on conce%tion and other sacraments be

%erformed for twiceborn men# which sanctify the

body and %"rify (from sin in this (life and after

death.


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&2. 6y b"rnt oblations d"rin (the mother;s

%renancy# by the =ata,arman (the ceremony after

birth# the


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)1. Let (the first %art of a 6rahmana;s name (denote

somethin a"s%icio"s# a


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)0. In the eihth year after conce%tion# one sho"ld

%erform the initiation ("%anayana of a 6rahmana# in

the ele!enth after conce%tion (that of a


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the Veda or by marriae.

-1. Let st"dents# accordin to the order (of their

castes# wear (as "%%er dresses the s,ins of blac,

antelo%es# s%otted deer# and heoats# and (lower

arments made of hem%# fla$ or wool.

-&. The irdle of a 6rahmana shall consist of a of a

tri%le cord of 4"na rass# smooth and soft+ (that of

a


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-0. The staff of a 6rahmana shall be made of s"ch

lenth as to reach the end of his hair+ that of a


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(from se!eral %ersons# and ha!in anno"nced it

witho"t "ile to his teacher# let him eat# t"rnin his

face towards the east# and ha!in %"rified himself by

si%%in water.

/&. (His meal will %roc"re lon life# if he eats facin

the east+ fame# if he t"rns to the so"th+ %ros%erity# if

he t"rns to the west+ tr"thf"lness# if he faces the

east.

/). Let a twiceborn man always eat his food with

concentrated mind# after %erformin an abl"tion+ and

after he has eaten# let him d"ly cleanse himself with

water and s%rin,le the ca!ities (of his head.

/-. Let him always worshi% his food# and eat it

witho"t contem%t+ when he sees it# let him re?oice#

show a %leased face# and %ray that he may always

obtain it.

//. 8ood# that is always worshi%%ed# i!es strenth

and manly !io"r+ b"t eaten irre!erently# it destroys

them both.

/0. Let him not i!e to any man what he lea!es# and

beware of eatin between (the two mealtimes+ let

him not o!ereat himself# nor o anywhere witho"t


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ha!in %"rified himself (after his meal.

/2. E$cessi!e eatin is %re?"dicial to health# to fame#

and to (bliss in hea!en+ it %re!ents (the ac*"isition

of s%irit"al merit# and is odio"s amon men+ one

o"ht# for these reasons# to a!oid it caref"lly.

/5. Let a 6rahmana always si% water o"t of the %art

of the hand (tirtha sacred to 6rahman# or o"t of that

sacred to


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north.

0&. A 6rahmana is %"rified by water that reaches his

heart# a


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%erformed for females (also# in order to sanctify the

body# at the %ro%er time and in the %ro%er order# b"t

witho"t (the recitation of sacred te$ts.

02. The n"%tial ceremony is stated to be the Vedic

sacrament for women (and to be e*"al to the

initiation# ser!in the h"sband (e*"i!alent to the

residence in (the ho"se of the teacher# and the

ho"sehold d"ties (the same as the (daily worshi% of

the sacred fire.

05. Th"s has been described the r"le for the initiation

of the twiceborn# which indicates a (new birth# and

sanctifies+ learn (now to what d"ties they m"st

afterwards a%%ly themsel!es.

07. Ha!in %erformed the (rite of initiation# the

teacher m"st first instr"ct the (%"%il in (the r"les of

%ersonal %"rification# of cond"ct# of the fireworshi%#

and of the twiliht de!otions.

29. 6"t (a st"dent who is abo"t to bein the :t"dy

(of the Veda# shall recei!e instr"ction# after he hassi%%ed water in accordance with the Instit"tes (of the

sacred law# has made the 6rahmanali# (has %"t on

a clean dress# and has bro"ht his orans "nder d"e

control.


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21. At the beinnin and at the end of (a lesson in

the Veda he m"st always clas% both the feet of his

teacher# (and he m"st st"dy# ?oinin his hands+ thatis called the 6rahmanali (?oinin the %alms for the

sa,e of the Veda.

2&. 3ith crossed hands he m"st clas% (the feet of

the teacher# and to"ch the left (foot with his left

(hand# the riht (foot with his riht (hand.

2). 6"t to him who is abo"t to bein st"dyin# the

teacher always "nwearied# m"st say' Ho# recite He

shall lea!e off (when the teacher says' Let a

sto%%ae ta,e %lace

2-. Let him always %rono"nce the syllable Bm at the

beinnin and at the end of (a lesson in the Veda+

(for "nless the syllable Bm %recede (the lesson will

sli% away (from him# and "nless it follow it will fade

away.

2/. :eated on (blades of


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20. Praa%ati (the lord of creat"res mil,ed o"t (as it

were from the three Vedas the so"nds A# @# and 4#

and (the Vyahritis 6h"h# 6h"!ah# :!ah.

22. 4oreo!er from the three Vedas Praa%ati# who

dwells in the hihest hea!en (Parameshthin# mil,ed

o"t (as it were that Ri,!erse# sacred to :a!itri

(:a!itri# which beins with the word tad# one foot

from each.

25. A 6rahmana# learned in the Veda# who recites

d"rin both twilihts that syllable and that (!erse#

%receded by the Vyahritis# ains the (whole merit

which (the recitation of the Vedas confers.

27. A twiceborn man who (daily re%eats those three

one tho"sand times o"tside (the !illae# will be

freed after a month e!en from reat "ilt# as a sna,e

from its slo"h.

59. The 6rahmana# the


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51.


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50. The fo"r Pa,ayanas and those sacrifices which

are en?oined by the r"les (of the Veda are all

toether not e*"al in !al"e to a si$teenth %art of the

sacrifice consistin of m"ttered %rayers.

52. 6"t# "ndo"btedly# a 6rahmana reaches the

hihest oal by m"tterin %rayers only+ (whether he

%erform other (rites or nelect them# he who

befriends (all creat"res is declared (to be a (tr"e

6rahmana.

55. A wise man sho"ld stri!e to restrain his orans

which r"n wild amon all"rin sens"al ob?ects# li,e a

charioteer his horses.

57. Those ele!en orans which former saes ha!e

named# I will %ro%erly (and %recisely en"merate in

d"e order#

79. (Vi. the ear# the s,in# the eyes# the ton"e# and

the nose as the fifth# the an"s# the oran of

eneration# hands and feet# and the (oran of

s%eech# named as the tenth.

71. 8i!e of them# the ear and the rest accordin to

their order# they call orans of sense# and fi!e of

them# the an"s and the rest# orans of action.


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7&.


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nor sacrifices# nor any (selfim%osed restraint# nor

a"sterities# e!er %roc"re the attainment (of rewards

to a man whose heart is contaminated (by

sens"ality.

75. That man may be considered to ha!e (really

s"bd"ed his orans# who on hearin and to"chin

and seein# on tastin and smellin (anythin

neither re?oices nor re%ines.

77. 6"t when one amon all the orans sli%s away

(from control# thereby (man;s wisdom sli%s away

from him# e!en as the water (flows thro"h the one

(o%en foot of a (watercarrier;s s,in.

199. If he ,ee%s all the (ten orans as well as the

mind in s"b?ection# he may ain all his aims# witho"t

red"cin his body by (the %ractice of Doa.

191. Let him stand d"rin the mornin twiliht#

m"tterin the :a!itri "ntil the s"n a%%ears# b"t (let

him recite it# seated# in the e!enin "ntil the

constellations can be seen distinctly.

19&. He who stands d"rin the mornin twiliht

m"tterin (the :a!itri# remo!es the "ilt contracted

d"rin the (%re!io"s niht+ b"t he who (recites it#


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seated# in the e!enin# destroys the sin he

committed d"rin the day.

19). 6"t he who does not (worshi% standin in the

mornin# nor sittin in the e!enin# shall be

e$cl"ded# ?"st li,e a :"dra# from all the d"ties and

rihts of an Aryan.

19-. He who (desires to %erform the ceremony (of

the daily (recitation# may e!en recite the :a!itrinear water# retirin into the forest# controllin his

orans and concentratin his mind.

19/. 6oth when (one st"dies the s"%%lementary

treatises of the Veda# and when (one recites the

daily %ortion of the Veda# no reard need be %aid to

forbidden days# li,ewise when (one re%eats the

sacred te$ts re*"ired for a b"rnt oblation.

190. There are no forbidden days for the daily

recitation# since that is declared to be a

6rahmasattra (an e!erlastin sacrifice offered to

6rahman+ at that the Veda ta,es the %lace of theb"rnt oblations# and it is meritorio"s (e!en# when

(nat"ral %henomena# re*"irin a cessation of the

Vedast"dy# ta,e the %lace of the e$clamation

Vashat.


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192. 8or him who# bein %"re and controllin his

orans# d"rin a year daily recites the Veda

accordin to the r"le# that (daily recitation will e!erca"se sweet and so"r mil,# clarified b"tter and honey

to flow.

195. Let an Aryan who has been initiated# (daily

offer f"el in the sacred fire# be food# slee% on the

ro"nd and do what is beneficial to this teacher# "ntil

(he %erforms the ceremony of :ama!artana (on

ret"rnin home.

197. Accordin to the sacred law the (followin ten

(%ersons# !i. the teacher;s son# one who desires to

do ser!ice# one who im%arts ,nowlede# one who is

intent on f"lfillin the law# one who is %"re# a %ersonconnected by marriae or friendshi%# one who

%ossesses (mental ability# one who ma,es %resents

of money# one who is honest# and a relati!e# may be

instr"cted (in the Veda.

119. @nless one be as,ed# one m"st not e$%lain

(anythin to anybody# nor (m"st one answer a

%erson who as,s im%ro%erly+ let a wise man# tho"h

he ,nows (the answer# beha!e amon men as (if he

were an idiot.


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111. Bf the two %ersons# him who illeally e$%lains

(anythin# and him who illeally as,s (a *"estion#

one (or both will die or inc"r (the other;s enmity.

11&. 3here merit and wealth are not (obtained by

teachin nor (at least d"e obedience# in s"ch (soil

sacred ,nowlede m"st not be sown# ?"st as ood

seed (m"st not (be thrown on barren land.

11). E!en in times of dire distress a teacher of the

Veda sho"ld rather die with his ,nowlede than sow

it in barren soil.

11-. :acred Learnin a%%roached a 6rahmana and

said to him' ;I am thy treas"re# %reser!e me# deli!erme not to a scorner+ so (%reser!ed I shall become

s"%remely stron.;

11/. ;6"t deli!er me# as to the ,ee%er of thy

treas"re# to a 6rahmana whom tho" shalt ,now to be

%"re# of s"bd"ed senses# chaste and attenti!e.;

110. 6"t he who ac*"ires witho"t %ermission the

Veda from one who recites it# inc"rs the "ilt of

stealin the Veda# and shall sin, into hell.


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112. (A st"dent shall first re!erentially sal"te that

(teacher from whom he recei!es (,nowlede#

referrin to worldly affairs# to the Veda# or to the6rahman.

115. A 6rahmana who com%letely o!erns himself#

tho"h he ,now the :a!itri only# is better than he

who ,nows the three Vedas# (b"t does not control

himself# eats all (sorts of food# and sells all (sorts of

oods.

117. Bne m"st not sit down on a co"ch or seat which

a s"%erior occ"%ies+ and he who occ"%ies a co"ch or

seat shall rise to meet a (s"%erior# and (afterwards

sal"te him.

1&9. 8or the !ital airs of a yo"n man mo"nt "%wards

to lea!e his body when an elder a%%roaches+ b"t by

risin to meet him and sal"tin he reco!ers them.

1&1. He who habit"ally sal"tes and constantly %ays

re!erence to the aed obtains an increase of fo"r(thins# (!i. lenth of life# ,nowlede# fame# (and

strenth.


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1&&. After the (word of sal"tation# a 6rahmana who

reets an elder m"st %rono"nce his name# sayin# ;I

am . .;

1&). To those (%ersons who# when a name is

%rono"nced# do not "nderstand (the meanin of the

sal"tation# a wise man sho"ld say# ;It is I+; and (he

sho"ld address in the same manner all women.

1&-. In sal"tin he sho"ld %rono"nce after his namethe word bhoh+ for the saes ha!e declared that the

nat"re of bhoh is the same as that of (all %ro%er

names.

1&/. A 6rahmana sho"ld th"s be sal"ted in ret"rn#

;4ay;st tho" be lonli!ed# B entle one; and the

!owel ;a; m"st be added at the end of the name (of

the %erson addressed# the syllable %recedin it

bein drawn o"t to the lenth of three moras.

1&0. A 6rahmana who does not ,now the form of

ret"rnin a sal"tation# m"st not be sal"ted by a

learned man+ as a :"dra# e!en so is he.

1&2. Let him as, a 6rahmana# on meetin him# after

(his health# with the word ,"sala# a


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,shema# and a :"dra (with the word anaroya.

1&5. He who has been initiated (to %erform a :ra"ta

sacrifice m"st not be addressed by his name# e!en

tho"h he be a yo"ner man+ he who ,nows the

sacred law m"st "se in s%ea,in to s"ch (a man the

%article bhoh and (the %rono"n bha!at (yo"r

worshi%.

1&7. 6"t to a female who is the wife of another man#and not a bloodrelation# he m"st say# ;Lady;

(bha!ati or ;6elo!ed sister;

1)9. To his maternal and %aternal "ncles# fathersin

law# officiatin %riests# (and other !enerable

%ersons# he m"st say# ;I am . .#; and rise (to meet

them# e!en tho"h they be yo"ner (than himself.

1)1. A maternal a"nt# the wife of a maternal "ncle# a

motherinlaw# and a %aternal a"nt m"st be hono"red

li,e the wife of one;s teacher+ they are e*"al to the

wife of one;s teacher.

1)&. (The feet of the wife of one;s brother# if she be

of the same caste (!arna# m"st be clas%ed e!ery

day+ b"t (the feet of wi!es of (other %aternal and

maternal relati!es need only be embraced on one;s


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ret"rn from a ?o"rney.

1)). Towards a sister of one;s father and of one;s

mother# and towards one;s own elder sister# one

m"st beha!e as towards one;s mother+ (b"t the

mother is more !enerable than they.

1)-. 8ellowcitiens are called friends (and e*"als

tho"h one be ten years (older than the other# men

%ractisin (the same fine art (tho"h one be fi!eyears (older than the other# :rotriyas (tho"h three

years (inter!ene between their aes# b"t blood

relations only (if the difference of ae be !ery small.

1)/.


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and (so is also a :"dra who has entered the tenth

(decade of his life.

1)5. 3ay m"st be made for a man in a carriae# for

one who is abo!e ninety years old# for one diseased#

for the carrier of a b"rden# for a woman# for a

:nata,a# for the ,in# and for a brideroom.

1)7. Amon all those# if they meet (at one time# a

:nata,a and the ,in m"st be (most hono"red+ andif the ,in and a :nata,a (meet# the latter recei!es

res%ect from the ,in.

1-9. They call that 6rahmana who initiates a %"%il

and teaches him the Veda toether with the


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1-). He who# bein (d"ly chosen (for the %"r%ose#

%erforms the Anyadheya# the Pa,ayanas# (and the

(:ra"ta sacrifices# s"ch as the Anishtoma (foranother man# is called (his officiatin %riest.

1--. That (man who tr"thf"lly fills both his ears with

the Veda# (the %"%il shall consider as his father and

mother+ he m"st ne!er offend him.

1-/. The teacher (a,arya is ten times more

!enerable than a s"bteacher ("%adhyaya# the

father a h"ndred times more than the teacher# b"t

the mother a tho"sand times more than the father.

1-0. Bf him who i!es nat"ral birth and him whoi!es (the ,nowlede of the Veda# the i!er of the

Veda is the more !enerable father+ for the birth for

the sa,e of the Veda (ens"res eternal (rewards both

in this (life and after death.

1-2. Let him consider that (he recei!ed a (mere

animal e$istence# when his %arents beat himthro"h m"t"al affection# and when he was born

from the womb (of his mother.


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1-5. 6"t that birth which a teacher ac*"ainted with

the whole Veda# in accordance with the law# %roc"res

for him thro"h the :a!itri# is real# e$em%t from ae

and death.

1-7. (The %"%il m"st ,now that that man also who

benefits him by (instr"ction in the Veda# be it little or

m"ch# is called in these (Instit"tes his ="r"# in

conse*"ence of that benefit (conferred by instr"ction

in the Veda.

1/9. That 6rahmana who is the i!er of the birth for

the sa,e of the Veda and the teacher of the

%rescribed d"ties becomes by law the father of an

aed man# e!en tho"h he himself be a child.

1/1. Do"n


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indeed a child# and he who teaches him the Veda is

his father+ for (the saes ha!e always said child to

an inorant man# and father to a teacher of the

Veda.;

1/-. either thro"h years# nor thro"h white

(hairs# nor thro"h wealth# nor thro"h (%owerf"l

,insmen (comes reatness. The saes ha!e made

this law# ;He who has learnt the Veda toether with

the Anas (An",ana is (considered reat by "s.;

1//. The seniority of 6rahmanas is from (sacred

,nowlede# that of


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cow with a cow is "n%rolific# and as a ift made to an

inorant man yields no reward# e!en so is a

6rahmana "seless# who (does not (,now the Ri,as.

1/7. Created beins m"st be instr"cted in (what

concerns their welfare witho"t i!in them %ain# and

sweet and entle s%eech m"st be "sed by (a

teacher who desires (to abide by the sacred law.

109. He# forsooth# whose s%eech and tho"hts are%"re and e!er %erfectly "arded# ains the whole

reward which is conferred by the Vedanta.

101. Let him not# e!en tho"h in %ain# (s%ea, words

c"ttin (others to the *"ic,+ let him not in?"re others

in tho"ht or deed+ let him not "tter s%eeches which

ma,e (others afraid of him# since that will %re!ent

him from ainin hea!en.

10&. A 6rahmana sho"ld always fear homae as if it

were %oison+ and constantly desire (to s"ffer scorn

as (he wo"ld lon for nectar.

10). 8or he who is scorned (ne!ertheless may slee%

with an easy mind# awa,e with an easy mind# and

with an easy mind wal, here amon men+ b"t the

scorner "tterly %erishes.


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10-. A twiceborn man who has been sanctified by

the (em%loyment of the means# (described abo!e in

d"e order# shall rad"ally and c"m"lati!ely %erformthe !ario"s a"sterities %rescribed for (those who

st"dy the Veda.

10/. An Aryan m"st st"dy the whole Veda toether

with the Rahasyas# %erformin at the same time

!ario"s ,inds of a"sterities and the !ows %rescribed

by the r"les (of the Veda.

100. Let a 6rahmana who desires to %erform

a"sterities# constantly re%eat the Veda+ for the st"dy

of the Veda is declared (to be in this world the

hihest a"sterity for a 6rahmana.

102. Verily# that twiceborn man %erforms the hihest

a"sterity "% to the e$tremities of his nails# who#

tho"h wearin a arland# daily recites the Veda in

%ri!ate to the "tmost of his ability.

105. A twiceborn man who# not ha!in st"died theVeda# a%%lies himself to other (and worldly st"dy#

soon falls# e!en while li!in# to the condition of a

:"dra and his descendants (after him.


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107. Accordin to the in?"nction of the re!ealed te$ts

the first birth of an Aryan is from (his nat"ral

mother# the second (ha%%ens on the tyin of the

irdle of 4"na rass# and the third on the initiationto (the %erformance of a (:ra"ta sacrifice.

129. Amon those (three the birth which is

symbolised by the in!estit"re with the irdle of

4"na rass# is his birth for the sa,e of the Veda+

they declare that in that (birth the :i!itri (!erse is

his mother and the teacher his father.

121. They call the teacher (the %"%il;s father

beca"se he i!es the Veda+ for nobody can %erform a

(sacred rite before the in!estit"re with the irdle of

4"na rass.

12&. (He who has not been initiated sho"ld not

%rono"nce (any Vedic te$t e$ce%tin (those re*"ired

for the %erformance of f"neral rites# since he is on a

le!el with a :"dra before his birth from the Veda.

12). The (st"dent who has been initiated m"st beinstr"cted in the %erformance of the !ows# and

rad"ally learn the Veda# obser!in the %rescribed

r"les.


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12-. 3hate!er dress of s,in# sacred thread# irdle#

staff# and lower arment are %rescribed for a

(st"dent at the initiation# the li,e (m"st aain be

"sed at the (%erformance of the !ows.

12/. 6"t a st"dent who resides with his teacher m"st

obser!e the followin restricti!e r"les# d"ly

controllin all his orans# in order to increase his

s%irit"al merit.

120. E!ery day# ha!in bathed# and bein %"rified#

he m"st offer libations of water to the ods# saes

and manes# worshi% (the imaes of the ods# and

%lace f"el on (the sacred fire.

122. Let him abstain from honey# meat# %erf"mes#

arlands# s"bstances ("sed for fla!o"rin (food#

women# all s"bstances t"rned acid# and from doin

in?"ry to li!in creat"res.

125. 8rom anointin (his body# a%%lyin collyri"m to

his eyes# from the "se of shoes and of an "mbrella

(or %arasol# from (sens"al desire# aner#co!eto"sness# dancin# sinin# and %layin (m"sical

instr"ments#

127. 8rom amblin# idle dis%"tes# bac,bitin# and


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lyin# from loo,in at and to"chin women# and from

h"rtin others.

159. Let him always slee% alone# let him ne!er waste

his manhood+ for he who !ol"ntarily wastes his

manhood# brea,s his !ow.

151. A twiceborn st"dent# who has in!ol"ntarily

wasted his manly strenth d"rin slee%# m"st bathe#

worshi% the s"n# and afterwards thrice m"tter theRi,!erse (which beins# ;Aain let my strenth

ret"rn to me.;

15&. Let him fetch a %ot f"ll of water# flowers#

cowd"n# earth# and


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ta,in the lastnamed first+

15/. Br# if there are no (!irt"o"s men of the ,ind

mentioned abo!e# he may o to each (ho"se in the

!illae# bein %"re and remainin silent+ b"t let him

a!oid Abhisastas (those acc"sed of mortal sin.

150. Ha!in bro"ht sacred f"el from a distance# let

him %lace it anywhere b"t on the ro"nd# and let

him# "nwearied# ma,e with it b"rnt oblations to thesacred fire# both e!enin and mornin.

152. He who# witho"t bein sic,# nelects d"rin

se!en (s"ccessi!e days to o o"t bein# and to

offer f"el in the sacred fire# shall %erform the

%enance of an A!a,irnin (one who has bro,en his

!ow.

155. He who %erforms the !ow (of st"dentshi% shall

constantly s"bsist on alms# (b"t not eat the food of

one (%erson only+ the s"bsistence of a st"dent on

beed food is declared to be e*"al (in merit to

fastin.

157. At his %leas"re he may eat# when in!ited# the

food of one man at (a rite in hono"r of the ods#

obser!in (howe!er the conditions on his !ow# or at a


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(f"neral meal in honor of the manes# beha!in

(howe!er li,e a hermit.

179. This d"ty is %rescribed by the wise for a

6rahmana only+ b"t no s"ch d"ty is ordained for a


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17/. Let him not answer or con!erse with (his

teacher# reclinin on a bed# nor sittin# nor eatin#

nor standin# nor with an a!erted face.

170. Let him do (that# standin "%# if (his teacher is

seated# ad!ancin towards him when he stands#

oin to meet him if he ad!ances# and r"nnin after

him when he r"ns+

172. =oin (ro"nd to face (the teacher# if his face isa!erted# a%%roachin him if he stands at a distance#

b"t bendin towards him if he lies on a bed# and if he

stands in a lower %lace.

175. 3hen his teacher is nih# let his bed or seat be

low+ b"t within siht of his teacher he shall not sit

carelessly at ease.

177. Let him not %rono"nce the mere name of his

teacher (witho"t addin an honorific title behind his

bac, e!en# and let him not mimic his ait# s%eech#

and de%ortment.

&99. 3here!er (%eo%le ?"stly cens"re or falsely

defame his teacher# there he m"st co!er his ears or

de%art thence to another %lace.


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&91. 6y cens"rin (his teacher# tho"h ?"stly# he will

become (in his ne$t birth an ass# by falsely defamin

him# a do+ he who li!es on his teacher;s s"bstance#will become a worm# and he who is en!io"s (of his

merit# a (larer insect.

&9&. He m"st not ser!e the (teacher by the

inter!ention of another while he himself stands

aloof# nor when he (himself is anry# nor when a

woman is near+ if he is seated in a carriae or on a

(raised seat# he m"st descend and afterwards sal"te

his (teacher.

&9). Let him not sit with his teacher# to the leeward

or to the windward (of him+ nor let him say anythin

which his teacher cannot hear.

&9-. He may sit with his teacher in a carriae drawn

by o$en# horses# or camels# on a terrace# on a bed of

rass or lea!es# on a mat# on a roc,# on a wooden

bench# or in a boat.

&9/. If his teacher;s teacher is near# let him beha!e

(towards him as towards his own teacher+ b"t let

him# "nless he has recei!ed %ermission from his

teacher# not sal"te !enerable %ersons of his own


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(family.

&90. This is li,ewise (ordained as his constant

beha!io"r towards (other instr"ctors in science#

towards his relati!es (to whom hono"r is d"e#

towards all who may restrain him from sin# or may

i!e him sal"tary ad!ice.

&92. Towards his betters let him always beha!e as

towards his teacher# li,ewise towards sons of histeacher# born by wi!es of e*"al caste# and towards

the teacher;s relati!es both on the side of the father

and of the mother.

&95. The son of the teacher who im%arts instr"ction

(in his father;s stead# whether yo"ner or of e*"al

ae# or a st"dent of (the science of sacrifices (or of

other Anas# deser!es the same hono"r as the

teacher.

&97. (A st"dent m"st not sham%oo the limbs of his

teacher;s son# nor assist him in bathin# nor eat the

framents of his food# nor wash his feet.

&19. The wi!es of the teacher# who belon to the

same caste# m"st be treated as res%ectf"lly as the

teacher+ b"t those who belon to a different caste#


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m"st be hono"red by risin and sal"tation.

&11. Let him not %erform for a wife of his teacher

(the offices of anointin her# assistin her in the

bath# sham%ooin her limbs# or arranin her hair.

&1&. (A %"%il who is f"ll twenty years old# and ,nows

what is becomin and "nbecomin# shall not sal"te a

yo"n wife of his teacher (by clas%in her feet.

&1). It is the nat"re of women to sed"ce men in this

(world+ for that reason the wise are ne!er "n"arded

in (the com%any of females.

&1-. 8or women are able to lead astray in (this world

not only a fool# b"t e!en a learned man# and (toma,e him a sla!e of desire and aner.

&1/. Bne sho"ld not sit in a lonely %lace with one;s

mother# sister# or da"hter+ for the senses are

%owerf"l# and master e!en a learned man.

&10. 6"t at his %leas"re a yo"n st"dent may

%rostrate himself on the ro"nd before the yo"n

wife of a teacher# in accordance with the r"le# and

say# ;I# . .# (worshi% thee# B lady.;


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&12. Bn ret"rnin from a ?o"rney he m"st clas% the

feet of his teacher;s wife and daily sal"te her (in the

manner ?"st mentioned# rememberin the d"ty ofthe !irt"o"s.

&15. As the man who dis with a s%ade (into the

ro"nd obtains water# e!en so an obedient (%"%il

obtains the ,nowlede which lies (hidden in his

teacher.

&17. A (st"dent may either sha!e his head# or wear

his hair in braids# or braid one loc, on the crown of

his head+ the s"n m"st ne!er set or rise while he (lies

aslee% in the !illae.

&&9. If the s"n sho"ld rise or set while he is slee%in#

be it (that he offended intentionally or

"nintentionally# he shall fast d"rin the (ne$t day#

m"tterin (the :a!itri.

&&1. 8or he who lies (slee%in# while the s"n sets or

rises# and does not %erform (that %enance# is taintedby reat "ilt.

&&&. P"rified by si%%in water# he shall daily worshi%


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d"rin both twilihts with a concentrated mind in a

%"re %lace# m"tterin the %rescribed te$t accordin

to the r"le.

&&). If a woman or a man of low caste %erform

anythin (leadin to ha%%iness# let him diliently

%ractise it# as well as (any other %ermitted act in

which his heart finds %leas"re.

&&-. (:ome declare that the chief ood consists in(the ac*"isition of s%irit"al merit and wealth# (others

%lace it in (the ratification of desire and (the

ac*"isition of wealth# (others in (the ac*"isition of

s%irit"al merit alone# and (others say that the

ac*"isition of wealth alone is the chief ood here

(below+ b"t the (correct decision is that it consists

of the areate of (those three.

&&/. The teacher# the father# the mother# and an

elder brother m"st not be treated with disres%ect#

es%ecially by a 6rahmana# tho"h one be rie!o"sly

offended (by them.

&&0. The teacher is the imae of 6rahman# the father

the imae of Prai%ati (the lord of created beins#

the mother the imae of the earth# and an (elder f"ll

brother the imae of oneself.


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&&2. That tro"ble (and %ain which the %arents

"ndero on the birth of (their children# cannot be

com%ensated e!en in a h"ndred years.

&&5. Let him always do what is areeable to those

(two and always (what may %lease his teacher+

when those three are %leased# he obtains all (those

rewards which a"sterities (yield.

&&7. Bbedience towards those three is declared to be

the best (form of a"sterity+ let him not %erform other

meritorio"s acts witho"t their %ermission.

&)9. 8or they are declared to be the three worlds#

they the three (%rinci%al orders# they the threeVedas# and they the three sacred fires.

&)1. The father# forsooth# is stated to be the

=arha%atya fire# the mother the >a,shinani# b"t the

teacher the Aha!aniya fire+ this triad of fires is most

!enerable.

&)&. He who nelects not those three# (e!en after he

has become a ho"seholder# will con*"er the three

worlds and# radiant in body li,e a od# he will en?oy


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bliss in hea!en.

&)). 6y hono"rin his mother he ains this (nether

world# by hono"rin his father the middle s%here# b"t

by obedience to his teacher the world of 6rahman.

&)-. All d"ties ha!e been f"lfilled by him who

hono"rs those three+ b"t to him who hono"rs them

not# all rites remain fr"itless.

&)/. As lon as those three li!e# so lon let him not

(inde%endently %erform any other (meritorio"s acts+

let him always ser!e them# re?oicin (to do what is

areeable and beneficial (to them.

&)0. He shall inform them of e!erythin that withtheir consent he may %erform in tho"ht# word# or

deed for the sa,e of the ne$t world.

&)2. 6y (hono"rin these three all that o"ht to be

done by man# is accom%lished+ that is clearly the

hihest d"ty# e!ery other (act is a s"bordinate d"ty.

&)5. He who %ossesses faith may recei!e %"re

learnin e!en from a man of lower caste# the hihest

law e!en from the lowest# and an e$cellent wife e!en


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from a base family.

&)7. E!en from %oison nectar may be ta,en# e!en

from a child ood ad!ice# e!en from a foe (a lesson

in ood cond"ct# and e!en from an im%"re

(s"bstance old.

&-9. E$cellent wi!es# learnin# (the ,nowlede of

the law# (the r"les of %"rity# ood ad!ice# and

!ario"s arts may be ac*"ired from anybody.

&-1. It is %rescribed that in times of distress (a

st"dent may learn (the Veda from one who is not a

6rahmana+ and that he shall wal, behind and ser!e

(s"ch a teacher# as lon as the instr"ction lasts.

&-&. He who desires incom%arable bliss (in hea!en

shall not dwell d"rin his whole life in (the ho"se of

a non6rahmanical teacher# nor with a 6rahmana

who does not ,now the whole Veda and the Anas.

&-). 6"t if (a st"dent desires to %ass his whole life inthe teacher;s ho"se# he m"st diliently ser!e him#

"ntil he is freed from this body.

&--. A 6rahmana who ser!es his teacher till the


48/48

dissol"tion of his body# reaches forthwith the eternal

mansion of 6rahman.

&-/. He who ,nows the sacred law m"st not %resent

any ift to his teacher before (the :ama!artana+ b"t

when# with the %ermission of his teacher# he is abo"t

to ta,e the (final bath# let him %roc"re (a %resent

for the !enerable man accordin to his ability#

&-0. (Vi. a field# old# a cow# a horse# a %arasol andshoes# a seat# rain# (e!en !eetables# (and th"s

i!e %leas"re to his teacher.

&-2. (A %er%et"al st"dent m"st# if his teacher dies#

ser!e his son (%ro!ided he be endowed with ood

*"alities# or his widow# or his :a%inda# in the same

manner as the teacher.

&-5. :ho"ld none of these be ali!e# he m"st ser!e

the sacred fire# standin (by day and sittin (d"rin

the niht# and th"s finish his life.

&-7. A 6rahmana who th"s %asses his life as a

st"dent witho"t brea,in his !ow# reaches (after

death the hihest abode and will not be born aain

Documents

Laws of Manu, capítulo II