Scriptural Study

And whoever studies this sacred dialogue of ours — by him I would be worshiped through the sacrifice of knowledge. Such is my conviction.

अध्येष्यते च य इमं धर्म्यं संवादमावयोः | ज्ञानयज्ञेन तेनाहमिष्टः स्यामिति मे मतिः ||१८-७०||

There was Svetaketu, grandson of Aruna. His father said to him: 'Svetaketu, go and live as a student of sacred knowledge. No one in our family, my dear, remains unlearned and a brahmin by birth only.'

श्वेतकेतुर्हारुणेय आस तꣳ ह पितोवाच श्वेतकेतो वस ब्रह्मचर्यं न वै सोम्यास्मत्कुलीनोऽननूच्य ब्रह्मबन्धुरिव भवतीति

Having studied the books, the intelligent one intent on knowledge and realization should abandon the books entirely — as one wanting the grain discards the husk.

ग्रन्थमभ्यस्य मेधावी ज्ञानविज्ञानतत्परः । पलालमिव धान्यार्थी त्यजेद्ग्रन्थमशेषतः

Now Yajnavalkya had two wives, Maitreyi and Katyayani. Of the two, Maitreyi was a discourser on Brahman, while Katyayani had only a woman's understanding. Now Yajnavalkya was about to take up another mode of life.

अथ ह याज्ञवल्क्यस्य द्वे भार्ये बभूवतुर्मैत्रेयी च कात्यायनी च तयोर्ह मैत्रेयी ब्रह्मवादिनी बभूव स्त्रीप्रज्ञैव तर्हि कात्यायन्यथ ह याज्ञवल्क्योऽन्यद्वृत्तमुपाकरिष्यन् ॥ १॥

There were three men skilled in the Udgitha: Shilaka Shalavatya, Chaikitayana Dalbhya, and Pravahana Jaivali. They said, 'We are skilled in the Udgitha. Come, let us hold a discussion about the Udgitha.'

त्रयो होद्गीथे कुशला बभूवुः शिलकः शालावत्यश्चैकितायनो दाल्भ्यः प्रवाहणो जैवलिरिति ते होचुरुद्गीथे वै कुशलाः स्मो हन्तोद्गीथे कथां वदाम इति

What exactly is the Rig? What exactly is the Saman? What exactly is the Udgitha? This is now examined.

कतमा कतमर्क्कतमत्कतमत्साम कतमः कतम उद्गीथ इति विमृष्टं भवति

The right, and study and teaching; the true, and study and teaching; austerity, and study and teaching; self-control, and study and teaching; tranquility, and study and teaching; the sacred fires, and study and teaching; the fire-offering, and study and teaching; guests, and study and teaching; humane conduct, and study and teaching; offspring, and study and teaching; procreation, and study and teaching; the continuance of the race, and study and teaching. 'The true'—so said Satyavacas Rathitara. 'Austerity'—so said Taponitya Paurushishti. 'Study and teaching alone'—so said Naka Maudgalya; for that indeed is austerity, that indeed is austerity.

ऋतं च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । सत्यं च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । तपश्च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । दमश्च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । शमश्च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । अग्नयश्च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । अग्निहोत्रं च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । अतिथयश्च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । मानुषं च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । प्रजा च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । प्रजनश्च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । प्रजातिश्च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । सत्यमिति सत्यवचा राथी तरः । तप इति तपोनित्यः पौरुशिष्टिः । स्वाध्यायप्रवचने एवेति नाको मौद्गल्यः । तद्धि तपस्तद्धि तपः ॥ १॥

Two knowledges are to be known: the sound-Brahman and the supreme. One well-versed in the sound-Brahman attains the supreme Brahman.

द्वे विद्ये वेदितव्ये तु शब्दब्रह्म परं च यत् । शब्दब्रह्मणि निष्णातः परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति

This is what Brahma told to Prajapati, Prajapati to Manu, and Manu to his descendants. Having studied the Veda in the proper way in a teacher's house, in the time left over from his duties to the teacher; having then returned home and settled in a household, continuing his study of the sacred texts in a clean place; raising righteous children; withdrawing all his senses into the Self; and refraining from harming any creature except at the appointed places of sacrifice — one who lives in this way throughout his life reaches the world of Brahman and does not return again — yes, he does not return again.

तधैतद्ब्रह्मा प्रजापतयै उवाच प्रजापतिर्मनवे मनुः प्रजाभ्यः आचार्यकुलाद्वेदमधीत्य यथाविधानं गुरोः कर्मातिशेषेणाभिसमावृत्य कुटुम्बे शुचौ देशे स्वाध्यायमधीयानो धर्मिकान्विदधदात्मनि सर्वैन्द्रियाणि सम्प्रतिष्ठाप्याहिꣳसन्सर्व भूतान्यन्यत्र तीर्थेभ्यः स खल्वेवं वर्तयन्यावदायुषं ब्रह्मलोकमभिसम्पद्यते न च पुनरावर्तते न च पुनरावर्तते

One whose mind is thus disposed, through the service of scripture, guru, and the good, learns fully and duly, together with its secret meaning.

इत्थंभूतमतिः शास्त्रगुरुसज्जनसेवया । सरहस्यमशेषेण यथावदधिगच्छति

Om. Janaka of Videha performed a sacrifice with abundant gifts. Brahmins of the Kurus and Panchalas had gathered there, and Janaka of Videha wished to know which of these Brahmins was the most learned. So he penned up a thousand cows, and to the horns of each were bound ten padas of gold.

ॐ जनको ह वैदेहो बहुदक्षिणेन यज्ञेनेजे । तत्र ह कुरुपञ्चालानां ब्राह्मणा अभिसमेता बभूवुस्तस्य ह जनकस्य वैदेहस्य विजिज्ञासा बभूव कः स्विदेषां ब्राह्मणानामनूचानतम इति । स ह गवाꣳ सहस्रमवरुरोध दशदश पादा एकैकस्याः शृङ्गयोराबद्धा बभूवुः ॥ १॥

Now next, the Udgitha of the dogs. Baka Dalbhya — or Glava Maitreya — went out to recite the Veda in private.

अथातः शौव उद्गीथस्तद्ध बको दाल्भ्यो ग्लावो वा मैत्रेयः स्वाध्यायमुद्वव्राज

In mind, deed, and speech, one serves the good; and drawing wisdom from wherever one can, one constantly studies the scriptures.

मनसा कर्मणा वाचा सज्जनानुपसेवते । यतः कुतश्चिदानीय नित्यं शास्त्राण्यवेक्षते

Thus, inquiry into the meaning through such Vedic sentences is 'hearing'; and inquiry, through reasoning, into what is thereby made probable is 'reflection.'

इत्थं वाक्यैस्तथार्थानुसन्धानं श्रवणं भवेत् । युक्त्या संभावितत्वानुसन्धानं मननं तु तत्

The line is the same up to the son of Sanjivi: the son of Sanjivi from Mandukayani; Mandukayani from Mandavya; Mandavya from Kautsa; Kautsa from Mahitthi; Mahitthi from Vamakakshayana; Vamakakshayana from Shandilya; Shandilya from Vatsya; Vatsya from Kushri; Kushri from Yajnavachas Rajastambayana; Yajnavachas Rajastambayana from Tura Kavasheya; Tura Kavasheya from Prajapati; Prajapati from Brahman. Brahman is self-existent. Homage to Brahman.

समानमा साञ्जीवीपुत्रात् सञ्जिवीपुत्रो माण्डूकायनेर्माण्डूकायनिर्माण्डव्यान् माण्डव्यः कौत्सात् कौत्सो माहित्थेर्माहित्थिर्वामकक्षायणाद् वामकक्षायणः शाण्डिल्याच्छाण्डिल्यो वात्स्याद् वात्स्यः कुश्रेः कुश्रिर्यज्ञवचसो राजस्तम्बायनाद् यज्ञवचा राजस्तम्बायनस्तुरात्कावषेयात् तुरः कावषेयः प्रजापतेः प्रजापतिर्ब्रह्मणो ब्रह्म स्वयम्भु । ब्रह्मणे नमः ॥ ४॥

By the practice of the good scriptures and the doing of meritorious deeds, this vision of Reality duly grows clear and settled for the creature.

अभ्यासात्साधुशास्त्राणां करणात्पुण्यकर्मणाम् । जन्तोर्यथावदेवेयं वस्तुदृष्टिः प्रसीदति