Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 9
महाव्याहृतिपूर्वं च वेदमध्यापयेद्गुरुः । उपनीय च तं शिष्यं शौचाचारे च योजयेत्
mahāvyāhṛtipūrvaṃ ca vedamadhyāpayedguruḥ | upanīya ca taṃ śiṣyaṃ śaucācāre ca yojayet
Guru hendaklah mengajarkan Veda dengan mendahului mahāvyāhṛti; dan setelah mengupayakan upanayana bagi murid itu, hendaklah dia meneguhkannya dalam kesucian serta adab dan laku yang benar.
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A guru seated on a kuśa-mat under a banyan, right hand raised in teaching mudrā; a newly initiated student sits with folded hands, yajñopavīta visible; above them, the three vyāhṛtis appear as luminous syllables; nearby, a water-pot and clean utensils symbolize śauca.
FAQs
Sacred knowledge is transmitted with sacred preparation—mantra, initiation, and disciplined conduct together form true learning.
The verse is instructional; its placement in the Kāśī Khaṇḍa aligns the teaching with Kāśī’s ideal of purity, learning, and dharmic living.
Vedic teaching begins with mahāvyāhṛtis, and the disciple is formally initiated (upanayana) and trained in śauca (cleanliness) and ācāra (conduct).