71. At the beginning and at the end of (a lesson in the) Veda he must
always clasp both the feet of his teacher, (and) he must
study, joining his hands; that is called the Brahmangali
(joining the palms for the sake of the Veda).
72. With
crossed hands he must clasp (the feet) of the teacher,
and touch the left (foot) with his left (hand), the right
(foot) with his right (hand).
73. But to him who is
about to begin studying, the teacher always unwearied,
must say: Ho, recite! He shall leave o3 (when the teacher
says): Let a stoppage take place!
74. Let him always
pronounce the syllable Om at the beginning and at the
end of (a lesson in) the Veda; (for) unless the syllable
Om precede (the lesson) will slip away (from him), and
unless it follow it will fade away.
75. Seated on (blades
of Kusa grass) with their points to the east, purified by
Pavitras (blades of Kusa grass), and sanctified by three
suppressions of the breath (Pranayama), he is worthy (to
pronounce) the syllable Om.
76. Pragapati (the lord of
creatures) milked out (as it were) from the three Vedas
the sounds A, U, and M, and (the Vyahritis) Bhuh, Bhuvah, Svah.
77. Moreover from the three Vedas Pragapati, who dwells in the highest heaven (Parameshthin),
milked out (as it were) that Rik-verse, sacred to Savitri
(Savitri), which begins with the word tad, one foot from
each.
78. A Brahmana, learned in the Veda, who recites
during both twilights that syllable and that (verse), pre
ceded by the Vyahritis, gains the (whole) merit which
(the recitation of) the Vedas confers.
79. A twice-born
man who (daily) repeats those three one thousand times
outside (the village), will be freed after a month even
from great guilt, as a snake from its slough.
80. The
Brahmana, the Kshatriya, and the Vaisya who neglect
(the recitation of) that Rik-verse and the timely (performance of the) rites (prescribed for) them, will be blamed
among virtuous men.
|