४

अष्टमे वर्षे ब्राह्मणमुपनयेत् १

1 ¹. Let him initiate a Brāhmaṇa in his eighth year.

तस्या षोडशादनतीतः कालः २

2. For him the time (for being initiated) has not passed until his sixteenth (year).

एकादशे क्षत्रियम् ३

3. In the eleventh a Kshatriya.

तस्या द्वाविंशात् ४

4. For him (the time has not passed) until the twenty-second.

द्वादशे वैश्यम् ५

5. In the twelfth a Vaiśya.

तस्या चतुर्विंशात् ६

6. For him (the time has not passed) until the twenty-fourth.

कुशलीकृतमलङ्कृतमहतेनाच्छाद्य हुत्वाऽग्ने व्रतपत इति ७

7. After (the student’s) hair has been arranged, and he has been adorned, and dressed in a garment which has not yet been washed, (the teacher) should sacrifice with (the Mantras which the student recites), ‘Agni! Lord of the vow!’ (MB. I, 6, 9-13.)

उत्तरतोऽग्नेः प्रत्यङ्मुखमवस्थाप्याञ्जलिं कारयेत् ८

8. He should cause (the student) to stand northwards of the fire, facing the west, and to join his hands.

स्वयं चोपरि कुर्यात् ९

9. And he should himself join his hands above (the student’s hands).

दक्षिणतस्तिष्ठन्मन्त्रवान् ब्राह्मण आचार्यायोदकाञ्जलिं पूरयेत् १०

10. A Brāhmaṇa versed in the Mantras who stands towards the south, should fill the teacher’s joined hands with water.

आगन्त्रेति जपेत् प्रेक्षमाणे ११

11. While (the student?) looks at him, (the teacher) should murmur (the Mantra), ‘With him who comes to us’ (MB. I, 6, 14).

को नामासीत्युक्तो देवताश्रयं नक्षत्राश्रयं वाऽभिवादनीयं नाम ब्रूयादसावस्मीति १२

12. (The student) to whom (the teacher) has said, ‘What is thy name?’ should pronounce a name which he is to use at respectful salutations, derived from (the name of) a deity or a Nakshatra, ‘I am N.N.!’ (l.l. 17.)

उत्सृज्यापो देवस्य त इति दक्षिणोत्तराभ्यां हस्ताभ्यामञ्जलिं गृह्णीयादाचार्यः १३

13. Having let the water run (out of his joined hands over the student’s hands) the teacher should seize with his two hands, holding the right uppermost, (the student’s) joined hands, with (the formula), By the impulse of the god Sāvitrī’ (l.l. 18).

सूर्यस्येति प्रदक्षिणमावर्तयेत् १४

14. With (the formula), ‘Move in the sun’s course’ (l.l. 19) he should make him turn round from left to right.

दक्षिणमंसमन्ववमृश्यानन्तर्हितां नाभिमालभेत्प्राणानामिति १५

15. Grasping down over his right shoulder he should touch his uncovered navel with (the formula), ‘(Thou art the knot) of all breath’ (l.l. 20).

अथैनं परिदद्यादन्तकप्रभृतिभिः १६

16. He then should give him in charge (to the gods) with the Antaka and the other formulas (l.l. 20 seqq.).

दक्षिणमंसं प्रजापतये त्वेति १७

17. (He touches) his right shoulder with (the formula), ‘To Prajāpati (I give) thee (in charge)’ (l.l. 23),

सव्येन सव्यं देवाय त्वेति १८

18. His left shoulder with his left (hand) with (the formula), ‘To the god Savitr̥ (I give) thee (in charge)’ (l.l. 24).

ब्रह्मचार्यसीति १९

19. Having directed him (to observe the duties of Brahmacarya, by the formula), ‘A student art thou’ (l.l. 25, 26),

सम्प्रेष्योपविश्य दक्षिणजान्वक्तमञ्जलिकृतं प्रदक्षिणं मुञ्जमेखलामावध्नन्वाचयेदियं दुरुक्तादिति २०

(the teacher) sitting down should from left to right tie round the student, who bends his right knee and clasps his hands, the girdle made of Muñja grass, and should cause him to repeat (the verse), ‘Protecting us from evil word’ (l.l. 27).

अधीहि भो इत्युपसीदेत् २१

20. With (the words), ‘Recite, sir!’ (the student) should respectfully sit down near (the teacher).

तस्मा अन्वाह सावित्रीं पच्छोऽर्धर्चशस्सर्वामिति सावित्रीं वाचयेत् २२

21. He then recites the Sāvitrī (l.l. 29) to him, Pāda by Pāda, hemistich by hemistich, (and finally) the whole-thus he should teach him the Sāvitrī,

महाव्याहृतीश्चैकैकशः २३

22. And the Mahāvyāhr̥tis, one by one,

ॐकारं च २४

23. And the word Om.

प्रयच्छत्यस्मै वार्क्षं दण्डम् २५

24. He hands over to him the staff, which should be made of (the wood of) a tree -

सुश्रवस्सुश्रवसं मेति २६

25. With (the formula which the student has to recite), ‘O glorious one, make me glorious’ (l.l. 34).

समिधमादध्यादग्नये समिधमिति २७

26. Let him put a piece of wood (on the fire) with (the verse), ‘To Agni a piece of wood’ (l.l. 32).

भैक्षं चरेत् २८

27. Let him go to beg food;

मातरमग्रे २९

28. First of his mother,

अथान्यास्सुहृदः ३०

29. Then of other women friends.

आचार्याय भैक्षं निवेदयेत् ३१

30. He should announce the alms (received) to his teacher.

तिष्ठेदाऽस्तमयात्तूष्णीं ३२

31. He should stand silently till sunset.

त्रिरात्रं क्षारलवणदुग्धमिति वर्जयेत् ३३

Through a period of three nights he should avoid eating saline food and drinking milk.