०३ शास्त्रावेक्षणम्

He shall always pore over such treatises as quickly enliven the intelligence, are conducive to wealth and are beneficial,—as also over the Vedic Scriptures.—(19)

बुद्धिवृद्धिकराणि इतिहासपुराणानि तर्कशास्त्राणि बार्हस्पत्यौशनसादीनि¹ । हितानि उपकारकाणि दृष्टार्थानि वैद्यकज्यौतिषादीनि,² अर्थशास्त्रस्य पृथगुपदेशात् । वैदिका निगमा वेदार्थज्ञानहेतवो निगमनिरुक्तव्याकरणमीमांसाः । ऋचो³ रुढिग्रहणे त्व् अदृष्टार्थता स्यात् ॥ ४.१९ ॥

‘As enliven the intelligence,’—e.g., Itihāsas, Purāṇas, Treatises on the Science of Reasoning, and also those written by Bṛhaspati, Uśanas and others.

‘Beneficial’—productive of benefit; i.e., leading to perceptible desirable results; such for instance, as the Sciences of Medicine and Astronomy;—the Science of Polity being mentioned separately (under those ‘conducive to wealth’).

‘Vedic Scriptures.’—This term stands here for those sciences that are helpful in understanding the meaning of the Veda; such sciences for instance, as those of Exegesis. Etymologies, Grammar and Interpretation,

If the term stood for the Vedic texts themselves, these would be conducive to imperceptible (and not perceptible) results.—(19).

‘Nigamas’—According to Medhātithi, the term Nigamas does not mean the Aṅgas, as stated by Buhler,—but it includes Nigama—Nirukta—Vyākaraṇa—Mīmāṃsā;—Kullūka explains the term as ‘works, called Nigama, explanatory of the meaning of the Veda’

This verse is quoted in Aparārka (p. 127), which explains ‘Nigamān’ as ‘the Nighaṇṭu and other works that help in ascertaining the meanings of words’;—in Vīramitrodaya (Saṃskāra, p. 509) as laying down what should be studied;—in Vīramitrodaya (Āhnika, p. 155), which explains ‘buddhivṛddhikarāṇi’ as ‘Tarka, Mīmāṃsā and the rest,’—dhanyāni’ as ‘the Arthaśāstras, which are conducive to the acquisition of wealth,’—‘hitāni’ as ‘the Ayurveda and so forth,’—and ‘nigamāḥ’ as ‘the Nighaṇṭu and other works that help in the understanding of the meanings of words’;—in Saṃskāramayūkha (p. 71);—and in Smṛticandrikā (p. 132).

(verses 4.19-20)

Kūrmapurāṇa (Parāśaramādhava, p. 246).—‘One shall teach the Veda, the Purāṇas and the subsidiary sciences to the person who is equipped with character, is of strong mind and is free from hypocrisy.’

Dakṣa (Parāśaramādhava, p. 34).—‘The getting-up of the Veda, the pondering over it, its continuous study, Japa, and imparting it to pupils,—thus fivefold is Vedic Study.’

Dakṣa (p. 71).—‘For these reasons, one shall continuously study the Veda.’

Yājñavalkya (1.99).—‘He should acquire a knowledge of the meaning of the Veda and also the various sciences.’

Āpastamba (Vīramitrodaya-Āhnika, p. 154).—‘If there is any science in which he does not shine, that he should acquire by going to the teacher again.’

Āpastamba (Vīramitrodaya-Āhnika, p. 154).—‘Śvetaketu has declared that even after settling down in the house, the man shall reside for two months in the year with the Teacher, seeking for further knowledge. This however is forbidden by the scriptures.’

019 Let him daily pore over those Institutes of science which soon give increase of wisdom, those which teach the acquisition of wealth, those which are beneficial (for other worldly concerns), and likewise over the Nigamas which explain the Veda.

For, as the man goes on studying a science, so does he go on understanding, and then his knowledge shines forth.—(20)

समधिगमो ऽभिनिवेशः अभ्यास इति यावत् । विजानाति विशेषेण जानाति । प्रत्यक्षं चैतद् अभ्यस्यमाने ग्रन्थे ऽपि यद् विद्यत इति । तदा विज्ञानं चास्य रोचते । उज्ज्वलं भवतित्य् अर्थः । पूर्वस्याः स्मृतेर् मूलकथनम् एतत् । रुचेर् अनभिलाषार्थत्वाद् रुच्यर्थानाम् इति संप्रदानत्वाभावः ॥ ४.२० ॥

‘Study’ here stands for application, repeated muling.

‘Under stands’—i.e., when one studies a treatise repeatedly, one comes to comprehend fully what is contained in it.

‘Then his knowledge shines forth’;—i.e., becomes bright. This verse states the reason for the foregoing verse.

The root ‘ruc’ governs the Dative only when it is used in the sense of ‘longing for;’ and, as it does not convey that meaning here, we do not have the Dative.—(20)

This verse is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Āhnika, p. 155), which explains ‘rocate’ as ‘becomes bright.’

**(verses 4.19-20)
**

See Comparative notes for [Verse 4.19].

020 For the more a man completely studies the Institutes of science, the more he fully understands (them), and his great learning shines brightly.