Verse 22

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In the teacher's house· Verses 22–30

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Having got the second birth, the initiation, in its proper order, the twice-born should live in the teacher's house, held in, and study the Veda when he is called to it. Wearing the belt, the deerskin, the staff, the bead string, the sacred thread and the water pot; his hair matted, his teeth and his cloth unwashed, taking no red seat, holding kusa grass. At bathing, at eating, at the fire offering, at the muttering of prayer and at the voiding of the body he keeps his speech in check. He should not cut his nails or his hair, not even the hair of armpit and groin. Holding the vow of Brahman, he should never of his own doing let his seed be spilt. If it is spilt, he should plunge into water, hold his breath, and mutter the three-footed verse.

Clean and collected, he should wait upon fire, sun, teacher, cow, brahmin, elder, old man and gods; and at the two joins of the day he should mutter his prayer with his speech in check. He should know the teacher to be me, and never think him small. He should not find fault with him, taking him for a mortal: the teacher is made of all the gods. Evening and morning he should bring in what he has begged and offer it to the teacher; and what is allowed him, and whatever else, he should use with himself held in. Waiting upon the teacher, he should attend on him always as a low man does, with folded hands, never far off, whether he is walking, lying, sitting or standing.

Behaving in this way he should live in the teacher's house, keeping clear of enjoyment, holding his vow unbroken, until his learning is finished.