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The Sacred Laws of the Âryas: Baudhâyana - Prasna I, Adhyâya 3
Kandikâ 5
1. Now (follow the duties) of a Snâtaka.1
2. He shall wear a lower garment and upper garment.2
3. Let him carry a staff made of bamboo,
4. And a pot filled with water.
5. Let him wear two sacrificial threads.
6. (He shall possess) a turban, an upper garment (consisting of) a skin, shoes, and a parasol. (He shall keep) a sacred fire and (offer) the new and full moon (Sthâlîpâkas).3
7. He shall cause the hair of his head, of his beard, and of his body, and his nails to be cut on the Parva days.4
8. His livelihood (he shall obtain in the following manner):5
9. Let him beg uncooked (food) from Brâhmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, or carpenters,6
10. Or (cooked) food (even from many).7
11. Let him remain silent (when he goes to beg).
12. Let him perform with that all Pâkayagñas, offered to the gods and manes, and the rites, securing welfare.8
13. Baudhâyana declares that by (following) this rule the most excellent sages reach the highest abode of Pragâpati Parameshthin.9
Footnotes
1. Regarding the term Snâtaka, see Âpastamba I, 11, 30, 1-4. Govinda thinks that the following rules are intended to apply In the first instance to a student who has performed the Samâvartana on completion of his studentship and lives unmarried at home. For though the Smriti declares it necessary for a student to enter, on completing his term, at once into one of the remaining three orders, it may happen; as the commentator observes, that the Snâtaka's marriage cannot take place immediately. The correctness of this view is proved by Âpastamba I, 2, 8, and by the fact that below, II, 3, 5, the rules for a married Snâtaka are given separately.
2. Vasishtha XII, 14.
3. Âpastamba I, 2, 8, 2.
4. Regarding the Parva days, see Vasishtha XII, 21 note.
5. Vasishtha XII, 2-4. 'Though the Snâtaka is the subject of the discussion, the word "his" is used (in this Sûtra) in order to introduce the remaining duties of a householder also.'--Govinda.
6. The carpenter (rathakâra) is a Sûdra, but connected with the Vedic sacrifices.
7. '"Food" (bhaiksham), i.e. a quantity of begged food. The meaning is that in times of distress he may beg from many.'--Govinda.
8. With that, i.e. with the food obtained by begging. Regarding the Pâkayagñas, see Gautama VIII, 18. Govinda gives as an instance of the rites securing welfare (bhûtikarmâni) the âyushyakaru, a rice-offering intended to procure long life.
9. Govinda explains Baudhâyana by Kânvâyana, and adds that either the author speaks of himself in the third person or a pupil must have compiled the book.
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