181.
A twice-born student, who has involuntarily wasted his
manly strength during sleep, must bathe, worship the
sun, and afterwards thrice mutter the Rik-verse (which
begins), 'Again let my strength return to me.'
182. Let
him fetch a pot full of water, flowers, cow dung, earth,
and Kusa grass, as much as may be required (by his
teacher), and daily go to beg food.
183. 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) sacrifices, and who are famous for
(following their lawful) occupations.
184. Let him not
beg from the relatives of his teacher, nor from his own or
his mother's blood-relations; but if there are no houses
belonging to strangers, let him go to one of those named
above, taking the last-named first;
185. Or, if there are
no (virtuous men of the kind) mentioned above, he may
go to each (house in the) village, being pure and remaining silent; but let him avoid Abhisastas (those accused of
mortal sin).
186. Having brought sacred fuel from a
distance, let him place it anywhere but on the ground, and
let him, unwearied, make with it burnt oblations to the sacred fire, both evening and morning.
187. He who,
without being sick, neglects during seven (successive)
days to go out begging, and to fire fuel in the sacred fire, shall perform the penance of an Avakirnin (one who
has broken his vow).
188. 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.
189. At his pleasure he may eat, when
invited, the food of one man at (a rite) in honour of the
gods, observing (however the conditions on his vow, or at
a (funeral meal) in honor of the manes, behaving (however) like a hermit.
190. This duty is prescribed by the
wise for a Brahmana only; but no such duty is ordained
for a Kshatriya and a Vaisya.
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