14. Vedic Study
i. General
Āpastamba
प्रवचनयुक्तो वर्षाशरदं मैथुनं वर्जयेत् ॥1 मिथुनीभूय च न तया सह सर्वां रात्रिं शयीत ॥2 शयानश् चअध्यापनं वर्जयेत् ॥3 न च तस्यां शय्यायाम् अध्यापयेद् यस्यां शयीत ॥4
1 A man who is engaged in teaching the Vedas should refrain from sex during the rainy season and autumn, 2 and if he has sexual intercourse, let him not sleep with her the entire night. 3 While he is lying down, moreover, he should refrain from teaching, 4 nor should he teach sitting on the bed in which he sleeps. [A 1.32.1–4]
आ निशाया जागरणम् ॥11 अनध्यायो निशायाम् अन्यत्र धर्मौपदेशात्शिष्येभ्यः ॥12 मनसा वा स्वयम् ॥13 ऊर्ध्वम् अर्धरात्राद् अध्यापनम् ॥14 नअपररात्रम् उत्थायअनध्याय इति संविशेत् ॥15 कामम् अपश् शयीत ॥16 मनसा वाअधीयीत ॥17
11 He should keep awake until nightfall. 12 Vedic recitation is forbidden at night, with the exception of teaching the Law to pupils 13 and reciting the Veda mentally by himself. 14 Teaching the Veda is permitted after midnight. 15 If he gets up in the last watch of the night, he should not go back to sleep thinking that vedic recitation is forbidden. 16 He may, if he so wishes, rest leaning against something 17 or recite the Veda mentally. [A 1.32.11–17]
Gautama
अन्तर गमने पुनर् उपसदनम् । ॥58 श्वनकुलसर्पमण्डूकमार्जाराणां त्र्य् अहम् उपवासोविप्रवासश् च । ॥59 प्राणायामा घृतप्राशनं चेतरेषाम् । ॥60 श्मशानाभ्यध्ययने चैवम् । ॥61
58 If someone passes between the teacher and the pupil, this preparatory ceremony should be repeated. 59 If a dog, a mongoose, a snake, a frog, or a cat passes between them, he should observe a fast for three days and spend some time away from the teacher's house, 60 whereas if it is some other animal, he should control his breath and consume some ghee. 61 He shall do the same if he happens to recite the Veda in a cemetery. [G 1.58–61]
Vasiṣṭha
अधीयानानाम् अन्तरागमनेअहर्रात्रम् अभोजनम् ॥27 त्रिरात्रम् अभिषेकस्विवासस्चअन्योन्येन ॥28 श्वमार्जारनकुलशीघ्रगाणाम् अहर्रात्रम् ॥29
27 If someone passes between persons engaged in vedic recitation, he should fast for a day and night: 28 and the reciters should stay away from home for three nights and sprinkle each other with water. 29 They should do the same for a day and night if a dog, a cat, or a mongoose passes quickly between them. [Va 23.27–9]
ii. Annual Course of Study
Āpastamba
श्रावण्यां पौर्णमास्याम् अध्यायम् मासं प्रदोषे न ॥1 तैष्यां पौर्णमास्यां रोहिण्यां वा ॥2 अर्धपञ्चमांश् चतुरो मासान् इत्य् एके ॥3
1 After commencing his annual course of vedic study on the full moon of July-August, he should not recite the Veda in the evening for a month 2 and should conclude the course of study on the full moon or the lunar mansion Rohini of December-January. 3 According to some, the course of study lasts for four and a half months. [A 1.9.1–3]
तस्य विधिः ॥22 अकृतप्रातराश उदकअन्तं गत्वा प्रयतः शुचौ देशे ऽअधीयीत यथाअध्यायम् उत्सृजन् वाचा ॥23 मनसा चअनध्याये ॥24
22 This is its procedure: 23 he should go near the water before breakfast, purify himself, and, leaving out the chapter he has already finished, do his recitation at a clean spot aloud 24 or, if it is a time for suspending recitation, mentally. [A 1.11.22–4]
सर्वविद्यानाम् अप्य् उपनिषदाम् उपाकृत्यअनध्ययनं तद् अहः ॥1 अधीत्य चअविक्रमणं सद्यः ॥2 यदि त्वरेत गुरोः समीक्षायां स्वाध्यायम् अधीत्य कामं गच्छेत् एवम् उभयोः शिवं भवति ॥3
1 After commencing the annual study of all the Vedas and the Upaniṣads, vedic recitation is suspended for that day. 2 After completing the vedic study he should not go away immediately. 3 If he is in a hurry to leave, he should do the recitation of his Veda in the presence of the teacher and then go as he pleases. In this manner good fortune comes to both. [A 2.5.1–3]
Gautama
श्रावणादि वार्षिकं प्रोष्ठपदींवोपाकृत्याधीयीत च्छन्दांसि । ॥1 अर्धपञ्चमान् मासान् पञ्च दक्षिणायनं वा । ॥2 ब्रह्मचार्य् उत्सृष्टलोमा न मांसं भुञ्जीत । ॥3 द्वैमास्यो वा नियमः । ॥4
1 After commencing the annual course of study on the full-moon day of July-August or August-September, he should study the Vedas 2 for four and a half months, or five months, or else during the time the sun moves south. 3 During this period he should remain chaste, refrain from shaving, and abstain from meat. 4 Optionally, these rules may be observed for just two months. [G 16.1–4]
Baudhāyana
श्रावण्यां पौर्णमास्याम् आषाढ्यां वाउपाकृत्य तैष्यांमाघ्यां वाउत्सृजेयुः उत्सृजेयुः ॥16
16 People should commence the annual course of study on the full-moon day of July-August or August-September conclude it on the full-moon day of December-January or January-February. [B 1.12.16]
Vasiṣṭha
अथअतस्स्वाध्यायौपाकर्म श्रावण्याम् पौर्णमास्याम्प्रौष्ठपद्याम्वा ॥1 अग्निम् उपसमाधायअक्षतधानास्जुहोति ॥2 देवेभ्यसृषिभ्यस्छन्दोभ्यस्चैति ॥3 ब्राह्मणान् स्वस्तिवाच्य दधि प्राश्य ततसध्यायान् उपाकुर्वीरन् ॥4 अर्धपञ्चमान् मासान् अर्धषष्ठान् वा ॥5 अतसूर्ध्वम्शुक्लपक्षेषुअधीयीत ॥6 कामम्तु वेदअङ्गानि ॥7
1 Next, the commencement of the annual course of vedic study. It takes place on the full moon day of July-August or August-September. 2 He should kindle the fire and offer whole rice grains in it, 3 saying: "To the gods! To the seers! To the Vedas!" 4 He should get Brahmins to say "May there be well-being!", feed them with curd, and then begin the study of the vedic lessons. 5 He should continue the study for four and a half or five and a half months. 6 Outside of that period, he should study the Veda during the fortnights of the waxing moon. 7 If he wants to, he may study the Vedic Supplements. [Va 13.1–7]
iii. Suspension of Vedic Recitation
Āpastamba
निगमेष्व् अध्ययनं ॥4 आनडुहेन वा शकृत्पिण्डेन ऽ ॥5 श्मशाने सर्वतः शम्याप्रासात् ॥6 ग्रामेण क्षेत्रेण वा नअनध्यायः ॥7 तु तस्मिन्न् एव देशे न ॥8 श्मशानवच्शूद्रपतितौ ॥9 समानअगार इत्य् एके ॥10 शूद्रायां तु प्रेक्षणप्रतिप्रेक्षणयोर् एवअनध्यायः ॥11 तथाअन्यस्यां स्त्रियां मैथुने ॥12 ब्रह्म मलवद्वाससा ब्राह्मणेन संभाष्य तया संभाषेत संभाष्य तु ब्राह्मणेनएव संभाष्य एवं तस्याः प्रजानिःश्रेयसम् ॥13 अन्तःशवम् ॥14 अन्तश्चाण्डालम् ॥15 तु सीम्न्य् अनध्यायः ॥16 संदर्शने चअरण्ये ॥17 तद् अहर् च ग्रामं बाह्येषु ॥18 अपि सत्सु ॥19 संधावनुस्तनिते रात्रिम् ॥20 स्वप्नपर्यान्तं विद्युति ॥21 उपव्युषं यावता वा कृष्णां रोहिणीम् इति शम्याप्रासाद् एतस्मिन् काले सप्रदोषम् अहर् अनध्यायः ॥22 दह्रे ऽअपररात्रे स्तनयित्नुना ॥23 ऊर्ध्वम् अर्धरात्राद् इत्य् एके ॥24 गवां चअवरोधे ॥25 च यावता ॥26 पशूनां न ॥27 अहोरात्राव् अमावास्यासु ॥28 चातुर्मासीषु च ॥1 वैरमणो गुरुष्व् अष्टाक्य औपाकरण इति त्र्यहाः ॥2 तथा संबन्धेषु ज्ञातिषु ॥3 मातरि पितर्य् आचार्य इति द्वादशअहाः ॥4 तेषु चौदकौपस्पर्शनं तावन्तं कालम् ॥5 अनुभाविनां च परिवापनम् ॥6 न अन्यत्र विहाराद् इत्य् एके ॥7 अथअपि ब्राह्मणम्, रिक्तो वा एषो ऽ यन् मुण्डः तस्यएतद् अपिधानं यच्शिखाइति ॥8 सत्रेषु तु वचनाद् वपनं शिखायाः ॥9 आचार्ये त्रीन् अहोरात्रान् इत्य् एके ॥10 श्रोत्रियसंस्थायाम् अपरिसंवत्सरायाम् एकाम् ॥11 सब्रह्मचारिणिइत्य् एके ॥12 श्रोत्रियअभ्यागमे ऽ ऽ वा अधीयीत ॥13 वा ॥14 गुरुसंनिधौ च भो इत्य् अधीयीत ॥15 वा ॥16 उभयत उपसंग्रहणम् च ॥17 वा यत्रअन्यो एतम् एव शब्दम् उत्सृज्य ॥18 श्वगर्दभनादाः सलावृक्येकसृकौलूकशब्दाः सर्वे वादित्रशब्दा रोदनगीतसामशब्दाश् च ॥19 शाखान्तरे च साम्नाम् अनध्यायः ॥20 सर्वेषु च शब्दकर्मसु यत्र ॥21 स्वप्नअन्तम् ॥22 सर्पिर् वा ॥23 पूतीगन्धः ॥24 शुक्तं च ॥25 प्रदोषे च ॥26 प्रोदकयोश् च पाण्योः ॥27 चअन्नं सप्रदोषम् अहर् अनध्यायः ॥28 आ च विपाकात् ॥29 अश्राद्धेन तु ॥30 काण्डौपाकरणे चअमातृकस्य ॥1 काण्डसमापने चअपितृकस्य ॥2 मनुष्यप्रकृतीनां च देवानां यज्ञे इत्य् एके ॥3 तण्डुलैर् आममांसेन च नअनध्यायाः ॥4 तथाओषधिवनस्पतिमूलफलैः ॥5 यत् काण्डम् यस्य चअनुवाक्यं न तत् तद् अहर् ॥6 उपाकरणसमापनयोश् च पारायणस्य तां विद्याम् ॥7 वायुर् घोषवान् भूमौ वा तृण संवाहो वा यत्र धाराः प्रवहेत् ॥8 ग्रामआरण्ययोश् च सन्धौ ॥9 महापथे च ॥10 च समध्ययनं तद् अहः ॥11 स्वैरिकर्मसु च ॥12 यथा पादप्रक्षालनौत्सादनाअनुलेपनाणिइति ॥13 तावन्तं कालं न वा ॥14 सन्ध्योः ॥15 तथा वृक्षम् ॥16 अप्सु च ॥17 नक्तं च ॥18 दिवा चअपिहिते ॥19 अविहितम् अनुवाकअध्ययनम् आषाढवासन्तिकयोः ॥20 नित्यप्रश्नस्य चअविधिना ॥21 तपः स्वाध्याय इति ब्राह्मणम् ॥1 तत्र श्रूयते स यदि तिष्ठन्न् आसीनः शयानो वा स्वाध्यायम् अधीते तप एव तत् तप्यते तपो हि स्वाध्याय इति ॥2 अथअपि वाजसनेयिब्राह्मणम् ब्रह्मयज्ञो ह वा एष यत् स्वाध्यायः तस्यएते वषट्कारा* यत् ॥3 तस्य शाखाअन्तरे वाक्यसमाप्तिः ॥4 अथ यदि वातो वा वायात् स्तनयेद् वा विद्योतेत वाअवस्फूर्जेद् वाएकां वाऋचम् एकं वा यजुर् एकं वा सामअभिव्याहरेद् भूर् भुवः सुवः सत्यं तपः श्रद्धायां जुहोमिइति वाएतत् तेनो हएवअस्यएतद् अहः स्वाध्याय उपात्तो भवति ॥5 एवं सत्य् आर्यसमयेनअविप्रतिषिद्धम् ॥6 अध्यायअनध्यायं ह्य् उपदिशन्ति तद् अनर्थकं स्याद् वाजसनेयिब्राह्मणं चेद् अवेक्षेत ॥7 आर्यसमयो ह्य् अगृह्यमानकारणः ॥8 विद्यां प्रत्य् अनध्यायः श्रूयते न कर्मयोगे मन्त्राणाम् ॥9
4 He should refrain from reciting the Veda in a market town-5 he may optionally recite it there after smearing an area with the dung of an ox- 6 or in a cremation ground and the surrounding area up to a distance of a rod's throw. 7 The recitation is not suspended, however, when a cemetery has been overtaken by a village or agricultural land, 8 but he should not recite the Veda at a spot that he knows to have been a cemetery. 9 The rule pertaining to a cemetery applies also when Sūdras and outcastes are present, 10 although, according to some, it applies only if they are in the same house. 11 He shall suspend his vedic recitation, however, if he even exchanges glances with a Śūdra woman 12 or any other woman who has violated class boundaries in her sexual relations. 13 If he wants to speak with a menstruating woman when he is about to recite the Veda, he should first speak with a Brahmin and then speak with her. After he has spoken with her, however, he should speak again with a Brahmin and then recite the Veda. In this way the child she bears will prosper. 14 Vedic recitation is suspended in a village in which there is a corpse 15 or a Candala, 16 or when corpses are being carried within its boundaries; 17 in the wilderness when they are within sight; 18 and for the entire day when outsiders visit the village 19 even if they are respectable people. 20 When it thunders in the evening, vedic recitation is suspended during the night; 21 and when there is lightning, until he has slept. 22 When there is lightning about the time of dawn or at a time when one can distinguish a black cow from a red one at a distance of a rod's throw, vedic recitation is suspended for the day until the end of dusk; 23 as also when it thunders at the end of the last watch of the night 24 or, according to some, after midnight; 25 and when cows have to be kept in their pens. 26 When people condemned to death remain in prison, it is suspended until they have been executed. 27 Let him not recite the Veda while he is mounted on an animal. 28 Vedic recitation is suspended for two days and nights on new-moon days, as well as on the full-moon days that open a four-month season; 2 for three days after the conclusion of the annual course of vedic study, the death of an elder, an ancestral offering made on the eighth day after the full moon, the commencement of the annual course of vedic study, 3 and the death of a close relative; 4 and for twelve days after the death of one's mother, father, or teacher. 5 At their death one should also bathe daily for the same period of time; 6 in addition, the mourners should shave themselves completely. 7 Some maintain that students who have returned home should not shave except when they are consecrated for a sacrifice. 8 A Brāhmaṇa, moreover, declares: "Empty and uncovered, indeed, is he who is shaven-headed; the topknot is his cover." 9 At sacrificial sessions, on the other hand, the topknot is shaved because it is explicitly enjoined, 10 According to some, vedic recitation is suspended for three days and nights after the death of one's teacher, 11 It is suspended for one day upon receiving news of the death of a vedic scholar within one year of his death, 12 but, according to some, only if he was a fellow student. 13–14 If he wishes to recite or teach or if he is actually engaged in reciting or teaching the Veda during the visit of a vedic scholar, he may do so only after receiving his permission. 15–16 In the presence of his teacher, moreover, he may recite or teach the Veda only after the teacher has said: "Ho, recite!" 17 Both when he intends to recite and when he has completed his recitation, he should clasp his teacher's feet. 18 Likewise, when someone comes in during vedic recitation, he may continue the recitation only after that person utters the same words, 19 Vedic recitation is suspended when dogs are barking, donkeys are braying, a wolf or a solitary jackal is howling, or an owl is hooting, and whenever the sound of music, weeping, singing, or Saman chants is heard. 20 Likewise, when texts of another vedic branch are being recited, the recitation of Saman chants is suspended. 21 Vedic recitation is suspended also when there is any other noise that may blend with the recitation; 22 after vomiting until he has slept 23 or consumed some ghee; 24 when there is a foul smell; 25 and when he has indigestion. 26 He should not recite the Veda after the evening meal 27 or when his hands are wet. 28 After eating food presented during a rite for a newly deceased person, vedic recitation is suspended for a full day and an evening, 29 or until the food is digested; 30 in addition, however, he should eat some food that has not been so offered. 'This provision applies also after eating food given by a motherless man on the day that a person starts a fresh vedic book; 2 after eating the food given by a fatherless man on the day that he completes the recitation of a vedic book; 3 and, according to some, after eating at a sacrifice for gods who were originally humans. 4 Vedic recitation is not suspended, however, after eating the following items given at such occasions: uncooked rice given the previous day and raw meat, 5 as well as roots and fruits of plants and trees. 6 On the day that he performs the ceremony for commencing the recitation of a vedic book and on the day that he formally commences its recitation, he should not recite that book. 7 On the day he performs the ceremony for commencing or ending the recitation of an entire Veda, moreover, he should not recite that Veda. 8 Vedic recitation is suspended in a place where the wind howls, swirls up grass on the ground, or drives the rain; 9 at the boundary between a village and the wilderness; 10 and on a highway. 11 When a fellow student is away, collective recitation is suspended for that day. 12 During personal activities 13 such as washing the feet, massaging, and applying oil, 14 he should neither recite nor teach the Veda as long as he is so occupied. 15 Vedic recitation is suspended at dawn and dusk; 16 while sitting on a tree 17 or standing in water; 18 at night when the doors are open; 19 and during the day when the doors are shut. 20 During the spring and summer festivals the recitation of an entire vedic chapter is forbidden, 21 as also the recitation of the daily vedic lesson if it is performed without following the proper procedure. 25 They forbid mental recitation when there is unremitting lightning or thunder, when one is impure or has eaten food offered to a newly deceased person, and when there is frost; 26 some forbid it only when one has eaten at an ancestral offering. 27 When lightning, thunder, and rain occur together out of season, vedic recitation is suspended for three days 28 or, according to some, until the ground becomes dry; 29 if only one or two of these occur, the suspension lasts until the same time the following day. 30 Anytime there is a solar or lunar eclipse, an earthquake, or a whirlwind, and anytime a meteor falls or a fire erupts, the recitation of all sacred texts is suspended until the same time the following day. 31 When a cloud appears out of season, when a halo appears around the sun or the moon, when a rainbow, a parhelion, or a comet is seen, and when there is a wind, a foul smell, or frost-vedic recitation is suspended for the duration of all these events, 32 and in the case of wind, for an "hour" after it has ceased. 33 Vedic recitation is suspended until after he has slept when he hears a wolf or a solitary jackal howling, 34 and at night in the wilderness if there is no fire or gold. 35 A section of the Veda that has not been previously studied should not be recited outside the proper time 36 or in the evening. 37 What has already been studied may be recited at any time. 38 With respect to particulars not given here, one should follow the directives of legal assemblies. 1 "Reciting one's Veda is austerity"-so states a Brāhmaṇa. 2 In the same vedic text we hear: "When a man does the recitation of his Veda, whether he does it standing, seated, or lying down, he is in reality performing an act of austerity, for reciting one's Veda is austerity". 3 The Brāhmaṇa of the Vajasaneyins, moreover, declares: "Reciting one's Veda is indeed a sacrifice offered to the Veda. When thunder rolls, when lightning flashes, when thunderclaps burst, and when the wind howls-they are the Vasat calls of that sacrifice. Therefore, when thunder rolls, when lightning flashes, when thunderclaps burst, and when the wind howls, one should recite the Veda without fail so that these Vasat calls would not be rendered futile." 4 This statement is made complete in a passage from a different vedic branch: 5 "If, moreover, the wind howls, thunder rolls, lightning flashes, or thunderclaps burst, he should recite a single Rcverse, a single Yajus-formula, or a single Saman-chant; or else recite: 'Earth! Atmosphere! Sky! I offer truth and austerity into faith!' In this manner, undoubtedly, the recitation of his Veda for that day is accomplished." 6 That being the case, the above provision does not go against the accepted practice of the Aryas, 7 for they teach both the recitation of the Veda and its suspension. That would become meaningless if we listened to the Brāhmaṇa of the Vajasaneyins, 8 for that accepted practice of the Aryas has no tangible motive. 9 The suspension of vedic recitation laid down in the vedic texts refers to vedic recitation and not to the ritual use of vedic formulas. [A 1.9.4–28; 1.10.1–30; 1.11.1–21, 25–38; 1.12.1–9]
Gautama
नाधीयीत वायौ दिवा पांसुहरे । ॥5 कर्णश्राविणि नक्तम् । ॥6 वाणभेरीमृदङ्गगर्तार्तशब्देषु । ॥7 श्वशृगालगर्दभसंह्रादे । ॥8 रोहितेन्द्रधनुर्नीहारेषु । ॥9 अभ्रदर्शने चापर्तौ । ॥10 मूत्रित उच्चारिते । ॥11 निशायां संध्योदकेषु । ॥12 वर्षति च । ॥13 एके वलीकसंतानाम् । ॥14 आचार्यपरिवेषणे । ॥15 ज्योतिषोश् च । ॥16 भीतो यानस्थः शयानः प्रौढपादः । ॥17 श्मशानग्रामान्तमहापथाशौचेषु । ॥18 पूतिगन्धान्तःशवदिवाकीर्त्यशूद्रसंनिधाने । ॥19 भुक्तके चोद्गारे । ॥20 ऋग्यजुषं च सामशब्दो यावत् । ॥21 आकालिका निर्घातभूमिकम्पराहुदर्शनोल्काः । ॥22 स्तनयित्नुवर्षविद्युतश् च प्रादुष्कृताग्निषु । ॥23 अहर् ऋतौ । ॥24 विद्युति नक्तं चापररात्रात् । ॥25 त्रिभागादिप्रवृत्तौ सर्वम् । ॥26 उल्का विद्युत्समेत्य् एकेषाम् । ॥27 स्तनयित्नुर् अपराह्णे । ॥28 अपि प्रदोषे । ॥29 सर्वं नक्तम् आर्धरात्रात् । ॥30 अहश् चेत् सज्योतिः । ॥31 विषयस्थे च राज्ञि प्रेते । ॥32 विप्रोष्य चान्योन्येन सह । ॥33 संकुलोपाहितवेदसमाप्तिच्छर्दिश्राद्धमनुष्ययज्ञभोजनेष्वहोरात्रम् । ॥34 अमावास्यायां च । ॥35 द्व्यहं वा । ॥36 कार्तिकी फाल्गुनीय्षाढी पौर्णमासी । ॥37 तिस्रो ऽष्टकाः त्रिरात्रम् । ॥38 अन्त्याम् एके । ॥39 अभितो वार्षिकम् । ॥40 सर्वे वर्षाविद्युत्स्तनयित्नुसंनिपाते । ॥41 प्रस्यन्दिनि । ॥42 ऊर्ध्वं भोजनाद् उत्सवे । ॥43 प्राधीतस्य च निशायां चतुर्मुहूर्तम् । ॥44 नित्यम् एके नगरे । ॥45 मानसम् अप्य् अशुचिः । ॥46 श्राद्धिनाम् आकालिकम् । ॥47 अकृतान्नश्राद्धिकसंयोगे ऽपि । ॥48 प्रतिविद्यं च यान् स्मरन्ति । ॥49
5 He should suspend vedic recitation during daytime when the wind whirls up the dust; 6 at night when he can hear the wind blow; 7 when the sound of a lute, drum, side drum, chariot, or wailing is heard; 8 when dogs are barking, jackals are howling, and donkeys are braying; 9 when the sky turns crimson; when rainbow appears; when there is frost on the ground; 10 when clouds appear out of season; 11 when he has the urge to void urine or excrement; 12 in the middle of the night, at the time of twilight, and while standing in water; 13 when it is raining- 14 but, according to some, only when the water is running down the eaves -; 15 when Venus and Jupiter are surrounded by halos, 16 as also the sun and the moon; 17 when he is frightened, travelling in a vehicle, lying down, or has lifted his feet; 18 when he is in a cremation ground, at the village boundary, on a highway, or in an impure state; 19 when there is a foul smell; when there is a corpse or a Cāndāla in the village; when a Śūdra is near by; 20 and when he experiences an acrid belching. 21 The recitation of the Rgveda and the Yajurveda, moreover, is suspended as long as the recitation of the Samaveda is heard. 22 When there is lightning strike, an earthquake, an eclipse, or the fall of a meteor, vedic recitation is suspended until the same time the next day; 23 as also when there is thunder, rain, or lightning during twilight when the fires are visible. 24 When these happen during the rainy season, however, the suspension lasts only that day. 25 When there is lightning during the night, moreover, the suspension lasts until the last watch of the night; 26 but if it occurs during or after the third part of the day, the suspension lasts the whole night. 27 According to some, a meteor has the same effect as lightning with respect to the suspension of vedic recitation, 28 as does thunder when it occurs in the afternoon 29 or even at dusk. 30 If there is thunder before midnight, the suspension lasts for the whole night; 31 if it happens during the day, the suspension lasts throughout the daylight hours, 32 as also when the king of that realm dies, 33 and when one student goes on a journey and another stays behind with the teacher. 34 The suspension lasts for a day and a night when there has been a social disturbance or a fire; when he has finished reciting one Veda; when he has vomited; when he has eaten at an ancestral offering or at a sacrifice to humans; 35 on the new-moon day-36 alternatively, the suspension here may last for two days -; 37 and on the full-moon days of the lunar months October-November, February-March, and June-July, 38 At the three eighth-day offerings during the three fortnights of the waning moon following the full moon of November-December, the suspension lasts for three days; 39 according to some, the suspension takes place only at the last of these eighth-day offerings. 40 When the annual course of study is commenced and concluded, the suspension is in effect on that day, as well as on the preceding and following days. 41 In the opinion of all authorities, when rain, lightning, and thunder occur together, the suspension lasts for three days, 42 as also when there is heavy rain. 43 On a festive day vedic recitation is suspended after the meal. 44 Immediately after commencing the annual course of study, recitation is suspended during the first four "hours" of the night. 45 According to some, vedic recitation is always suspended in a town. 46 Even mental recitation is suspended when a person is impure. 47 After making an ancestral offering, the suspension lasts until the same time the next day, 48 as also when uncooked food is distributed at an ancestral offering. 49 Vedic recitation is also suspended for reasons given in each vedic branch. [G 16.5–49]
Baudhāyana
पौर्णमस्यष्टकाअमावास्याअग्न्युत्पातभूमिकम्पश्मशानदेशपतिश्रोत्रियएकतीर्थप्रयाणेष्व् अहोरात्रम् अनध्यायः ॥4 वाते पूतिगन्धे नीहारे चनृत्तगीतवादित्ररुदितसामशब्देषु तावन्तं कालम् ॥5 स्तनयित्नुवर्षविद्युत्संनिपाते त्र्यहम् अनध्यायोअन्यत्रवर्षाकालात् ॥6 वर्षाकालेअपि वर्षवर्जम् अहोरात्रयोश् च तत्कालम् ॥7 पित्र्यप्रतिग्रहभोजनयोश् च तद्दिवसशेषम् ॥8 भोजनेष्व् आ जरणम् ॥9 पाणिमुखो हि ब्राह्मणः ॥10 अथअप्य् उदाहरन्ति ॥11 भुक्तं प्रतिगृहीतं च निर्विशेषम् इति श्रुतिः ॥11 पितर्य् उपरते त्रिरात्रम् ॥12 द्वयम् उ ह वै सुश्रवसोअनूचानस्य रेतोब्राह्मणस्यऊर्ध्वं नाभेर् अधस्ताद् अन्यत् स यद् ऊर्ध्वं नाभेस्तेन हएतत् प्रजायते यद् ब्राह्मणान् उपनयति यद् अध्यापयति यद्याजयति यत् साधु करोति सर्वाअस्यएषा प्रजा भवति अथ यदवाचीणं नाभेः तेन हअस्यऔरसी प्रजा भवति तस्मात्श्रोत्रियमनूचानम् अप्रजोअसिइति न वदन्ति ॥13 तस्माद् द्विनामा द्विमुखो विप्रो द्विरेता द्विजन्मा चैति ॥14 शूद्रअपपात्रश्रवणसंदर्शनयोश् च तावन्तं कालम् ॥15 नक्तं शिवाविरावे नअधीयीत स्वप्नअन्तम् ॥16 अहोरात्रयोश् च संध्ययोः पर्वसु च नअधीयीत ॥17 न मांसम् अश्नीयान् न स्त्रियम् उपेयात् ॥18 पर्वसु हि रक्षःपिशाचा व्यभिचारवन्तो भवन्तिइतिविज्ञायते ॥19 अन्येषु चअद्भुतौत्पातेष्व् अहोरात्रम् अनध्यायोअन्यत्रमानसात् ॥20 मानसेअपि जननमरणयोर् अनध्यायः ॥21 अथअप्य् उदाहरन्ति ॥22 हन्तिअष्टमी ह्य् उपाध्यायं हन्ति शिष्यं चतुर्दशी ॥22 हन्ति पञ्चदशी विद्यां तस्मात् पर्वणि वर्जयेत् ॥22 तस्मात् पर्वणि वर्जयेद् इति ॥22
4 Vedic recitation is suspended for a day and a night on the following occasions: full-moon day; eighth day of each fortnight; new-moon day; fall of a meteor; earthquake; visiting a cemetery; and the death of the king, a vedic scholar, or someone who has studied under the same teacher. 5 When there is wind, a foul smell, or frost, and at the sound of dancing, music, weeping, or the singing of Samans, vedic recitation is suspended for their duration. 6 When thunder, rain, and lightning occur together outside of the rainy season, vedic recitation is suspended for three days; 7 and even during the rainy season when they occur without rain, it is suspended until the same time the next day. 8 When someone has received a gift or eaten food at an ancestral offering, the suspension lasts for the remainder of that day-9 after eating, however, until the food has been digested-10 for a Brahmin's hand is his mouth. 11 Now, they also quote: "There is no difference between what is eaten and what is received, states a vedic text." 12 At the death of one's father, the suspension lasts for three days. 13 A Brahmin who is a renowned vedic savant has clearly two kinds of semen, the one located above the navel and the other below. By means of the semen above the navel he begets offspring when he initiates Brahmins, when he teaches them, when he makes them offer sacrifices, and when he makes them good people. All these become his children. By means of the semen going downward from the navel, on the other hand, he obtains the children of his loins. About a vedic scholar and savant, therefore, they never say, "You have no children". 14 "Therefore," it is said, "a learned Brahmin has two names, two mouths, two kinds of semen, and two births." 15 Within sight- or hearing of a Śūdra or a degraded person, furthermore, vedic recitation is suspended for the duration. 16 When someone hears the howling of a jackal at night, he should not recite the Veda until he has slept. 17 During the morning and evening twilights and on the days of the moon's change, one should not recite the Veda, 18 eat meat, or have sex with one's wife; 19 "for on the days of the moon's change," it is stated, "fiends and ghouls undertake their nefarious wanderings." 20 Also when other omens or portents occur, vedic recitation is suspended for a day and a night, with the exception of mental recitation; 21 and even mental recitation is suspended when there is a birth or a death. 22 Now, they also quote: "The eighth day slays the teacher, the fourteenth day slays the pupil, and the fifteenth day slays the knowledge; therefore, he should refrain from recitation during the days of the moon's change." [B 1.21.4–22]
Vasiṣṭha
तस्यअनध्यायाः ॥8 सन्ध्यास्तनिते ॥9 सन्ध्यासु ॥10 अन्तर्शवदिवाकीर्त्येषु नगरेषु ॥11 कामम्गोमयपर्युषिते परिलिखिते वा ॥12 श्मशानअन्ते ॥13 शयआनस्य ॥14 श्राद्धिकस्य ॥15 मानवम्चअत्र श्लोकम् उदाहरन्ति ॥16 फलानिअपः तिलान् भक्षान् यत्चअन्यत्श्राद्धिकम्भवेत् ॥16 प्रतिगृह्यअपिअनध्यायस्पाणिआस्यास्ब्राह्मणास्स्मृताः इति ॥16 धावतस्पूतिगन्धप्रभृतौईरिणे ॥17 वृक्षआरूढस्य ॥18 नावि सेनायाम्च ॥19 भुक्त्वा चआर्द्रपाणेः ॥20 वाणशब्दे ॥21 चतुर्दश्याम् आमावास्यायाम् अष्टम्याम् अष्टकासु ॥22 प्रसारितपादौपस्थकृतौपाश्रितस्य च ॥23 गुरुसमीपे ॥24 मैथुनव्यपेतायाम् ॥25 वाससा मैथुनव्यपेतेनअनिर्णिक्तेन ॥26 ग्रामअन्ते ॥27 छर्दितस्य ॥28 मूत्रितस्यौच्चारितस्य ॥29 ऋच्यजुषाम्च सामशब्दे वा ॥30 अजीर्णे ॥31 निर्घाते ॥32 भूमिचलने ॥33 चन्द्रसूर्यौपरागे ॥34 दिश्नादपर्वतप्रपातेषुउपलरुधिरपांसुवर्षेषुआकालिकम् ॥35 उल्काविद्युत्समासे त्रिरात्रम् ॥36 उल्काविद्युत् सज्योतिषम् ॥37 अपऋतौआकालिकम् ॥38 आचार्ये प्रेते त्रिरात्रम् ॥39 आचार्यपुत्रशिष्यभार्यासुअहर्रात्रम् ॥40
8 Vedic recitation is suspended 9 when it thunders during twilight; 10 at the morning and evening twilights; 11 in places where there is a corpse or a Cāṇḍāla; in towns—12 or, if he wishes, he may recite it there after smearing an area with cowdung and drawing a line around it—; 13 near a cemetery; 14 when he is lying down; 15 and when he has accepted anything at an ancestral offering. 16 In this connection, they cite this verse from Manu: "Even after accepting fruits, water, sesame seeds, foodstuffs, or anything else given at an ancestral offering, vedic recitation is suspended; a Brahmin's hand, tradition says, is his mouth." 17 Vedic recitation is suspended when he is running; when there is a foul smell and the like; in a barren area; 18 when he has climbed a tree; 19 in a boat and also in an army encampment; 20 after eating, as long as his hands are wet; 21 when the sound of a lute is heard; 22 on the fourteenth day of every fortnight; on new-moon days; on the eighth day of every fortnight; at the ancestral offerings on the eighth day after the full moon; 23 when he is seated with his legs stretched out, cross-legged, or leaning against something; 24 near his elders; 25 on the bed in which he has had sexual intercourse; 26 while wearing the clothes he had on when he had intercourse, unless they have been washed; 27 in the outskirts of a village; 28 after vomiting; 29 and after voiding urine or excrement. 30 The recitation of the Rgveda and the Yajurveda is suspended when the recitation of the Samaveda is heard. 31 Vedic recitation is suspended when he has indigestion; 32 when lightning strikes 33 when there is an earthquake; 34 and during an eclipse of the moon or the sun. 35 When strange sound comes from the sky or there is an earth slide on a mountain, and when it rains stones, blood, or dust, vedic recitation is suspended until the same time the next day. 36 When meteors fall and lightning flashes at the same time, the suspension lasts for three days; 37 if they happen separately, for that day; 38 and if they occur out of season, until the same time the next day; 39 when his teacher dies, for three days; 40 when the son, pupil, or wife of his teacher dies, for a day and a night. [Va 13.8–40]