z:\ ambedkar\vol 04\vol4 05.indd MK SJ DK YS 23 9 2013/YS 8 11 2013 206
206 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
“In the eighth year after conception, one should perform the initiation ( upanayana ) of a Brahmana, in the eleventh after conception (that) of a Kshatriya, but in the twelfth that of a Vaisya [1] .”
“A twice-born man who, not having studied the Veda, applies himself to other (and worldly study), soon falls, even while living, to the condition of a Sudra and his descendants (after him).” [2]
“The vow of the three Vedas under a teacher must be kept for thirtysix years or for half that time, or for a quarter, or until the (student) has perfectly learnt them.”
“Who has studied in due order the three Vedas, or two, or even one only, without breaking the (rule of) studentship, shall enter the order of householder.” [3]
“The student, the householder, the hermit, and the ascetic, these (constitute) four separate orders, which all spring from (the order of) householders.”
“But all (or) even (any of) these orders, assumed successively in accordance with the Institutes (of the sacred law), lead the Brahmana who acts by the preceding (rules) to the highest state.”
“And in accordance with the precepts of the Veda and of the Smriti, the housekeeper is declared to be superior to all of them; for he supports the other three [4] .”
“A Twice-born Snataka, who has thus lived according to the law in the order of householders, may, taking a firm resolution and keeping his organs in subjection, dwell in the forest, duly (observing the rules given below):
“When a householder sees his (skin) wrinkled and (his hair) white, and the sons of his sons, then he may resort to the forest [5] .”
“But having thus passed the third part of (a man’s natural term of) life in the forest, he may live as an ascetic during the fourth part of his existence, after abandoning all attachment to worldly objects.”
“He who after passing from order to order, after offering sacrifices and subduing his senses, becomes tired with (giving alms and offerings of food), as ascetic, gains bliss after death.”
“When he has paid the three debts, let him apply his mind to (the attainment of) final liberation; he who seeks it without having paid (his debts) sinks downwards.”
1 Manu Smriti Chapter II 36.
2 Ibid., II 168.
3 Ibid. III 1-2.
4 Ibid., VI 87-89.
5 Ibid, VI 1-2.