ANUSHAASANAM

Friends: Let me share with you a Hymn from Taittareya Upanishat that I had learnt in my tenth standard! It is a parting advice – nay, a command – from the teacher to a student who has stayed with him and learnt all the knowledge the teacher could impart.

In ancient India,Gurukulam-system of learning was in practice . Boys would go to a Gurukula run by a Teacher or Guru and stay with his family and learn all knowledge including scriptures.They would live as family members and learn their lessons and also assist the Guru and the lady of the house in their daily chores.There was no distinction of rich and poor,nor higher and lower cast.(An example is, Krishna,a prince and Kuchela a poor brahmin ,stayed together as friends and studied at Saandeepini’s Gurukula.)  The student has lived with him for several years and learnt, not just the 3 ‘R’s but the art of being a useful citizen. On completion of his studies,the student bids good-bye to his Guru. With all the affection he has to the parting student,the Guru , commands the student to follow this Code  of Conduct when he steps out  in to the world seeking livelihood. These Anushaasana or Commandments are still relevant even after these thousands of years!

Vedam-anuchya aacharyaha ante-vaasinam anushaasthi:

The teacher commands his pupil thus after teaching him all Vedas

Satyam vada, Dharmam chara, swaadhyaayan maa pramadaha!

Tell the Truth; Act righteously; Do not neglect to practice what you have learnt. 

Aachaaryaaya priyam dhaanam aahratya prajaa-tantum maa vyavachyetseehi.

Having given the teacher his fee, do not cut the procreation process (get married and rear a family)   (The teacher asks for his fee after the student completes his education, so that the student may earn and fulfill his obligation.)

Satyaan na pramaditavyam, Dharmaan na pramaditavyam, kushalaan na pramaditavyam.

Do not forsake Truth! Do not forsake Dharma or Righteousness; Do not neglect your wellbeing.

Bhutyai na pramaditavyam, Swaadhyaaya pravachanaabhyaam na pramaditavyam,

Do not neglect your environment; Do not neglect the process of studying and teaching others.

(Acquiring knowledge and imparting it to others ,is a process which should be continued even after formal learning at school )

Deva pitru kaaryaabhyaam na-pramaditavyam

Do not neglect your duty of performing rituals for Gods and Ancestors

Maatru devo bhava, Pitru  devo bhava, Aachaarya Devo bhava, Atithi devo bhava.

Consider Mother as God, Father as God, Teacher as God and a Guest as God

(In olden days, we used to have athiti, an invited guest, and abhyaagata, an uninvited guest who would turn up unexpectedly and both would be willingly invited to share the food )

Yaani anavadyaani karmaani taani sevitavyaani, no itaraani

Indulge in acts that are noble (?) not others

Yaanyasmaakam sucharitaani Thaani twayaa upaasyaani, no itaraani

Follow the ways of life of our noble characters, not others.

Yekechasmaat sreyaamso Brahmanaaha tesham twayaa aasane na-praswasitavyam.

When you meet a pious learned person and a well-wisher, do not stay seated, i.e. get up and show respect by offering your seat  -do not be arrogant.!

Shraddhayaa deyam, Ashrddhayaa adeyam

When you give a Daana or a gift to others, give it with sincerity, not without it.

Shriyaa deyam,Hriyaa deyam, Bhiyaa adeyam!

If you have wealth and can afford it, then you give (daanam) to others. Do not give it under fear!

Samvidaa deyam.   Give it with compassion

Atha yadi tay karma-vichikitsaava, vritti vichikitsaava syaat.

Whenever you have a doubt or confusion in your action or doubt in professional field (when you are bewildered as to how to act) then…

Ye tatra Brahmanaaha Sammarshinaha, yuktaa ayuktaaha Alookshaaha Dharma-kaamaaha syuhu  yathaa tay tatra varteran tathaa vartetaaha.     

The wise thing to do is to ask a learned person for guidance or observe what a learned and competent person would do under such situation, or follow those who tread righteous path; and act as they would act.

Yetad-anushaasanam!!      This is the Directive