Shloka 13
Brahmacarya and Vānaprastha Duties; Gradual Dissolution of Bodily Identity
उषित्वैवं गुरुकुले द्विजोऽधीत्यावबुध्य च । त्रयीं साङ्गोपनिषदं यावदर्थं यथाबलम् ॥ १३ ॥ दत्त्वा वरमनुज्ञातो गुरो: कामं यदीश्वर: । गृहं वनं वा प्रविशेत्प्रव्रजेत्तत्र वा वसेत् ॥ १४ ॥
uṣitvaivaṁ gurukule dvijo ’dhītyāvabudhya ca trayīṁ sāṅgopaniṣadaṁ yāvad-arthaṁ yathā-balam
Ainsi, le dvija (brāhmane, kṣatriya ou vaiśya) doit demeurer au gurukula sous la protection du maître spirituel et étudier, selon sa force, la triple Veda avec ses auxiliaires et les Upaniṣad, en en comprenant le sens. Puis, offrant au guru la dakṣiṇā qu’il souhaite et recevant sa permission, il suivra son ordre et entrera dans l’āśrama de gṛhastha, vānaprastha ou sannyāsa, selon son appel.
To study the Vedas and understand them, of course, requires some special intelligence, but the members of the three higher sections of society — namely the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas — must learn the Vedic literatures according to their capability and power to understand. In other words, studying the Vedic literatures is compulsory for everyone but the śūdras and antyajas. The Vedic literature gives the knowledge that can lead one to understand the Absolute Truth — Brahman, Paramātmā or Bhagavān. Gurukula, or the reformatory educational institution, should be used only to understand Vedic knowledge. At the present time there are many educational institutions for training and technology, but such knowledge has nothing to do with understanding of the Absolute Truth. Technology, therefore, is meant for the śūdras, whereas the Vedas are meant for the dvijas. Consequently this verse states, dvijo ’dhītyāvabudhya ca trayīṁ sāṅgopaniṣadam. At the present time, in the Age of Kali, practically everyone is a śūdra, and no one is a dvija. Therefore the condition of society has very much deteriorated.
FAQs
It teaches that a twice-born student should live in the guru’s home and study the Vedas with their auxiliaries and Upaniṣads, aiming to understand the essential meaning according to his capacity.
Because mere recitation is incomplete—Bhagavatam stresses realized comprehension (avabodha) and grasping the intended meaning (yāvad-artha) as the purpose of Vedic learning.
Adopt guided learning under qualified teachers, study foundational texts systematically, and focus on understanding and applying the core principles rather than collecting information.