स्वकर्मनिरता नित्यं ब्राह्मणा विजितेन्द्रिया: । दानाध्ययनशीलाश्च संयताश्च परिग्रहे ।।1.6.13।।
Meaning
The brahmins were always devoted to their duties, in full command of their senses, given to charity and study, and disciplined in what they received and in their marital lives.
Word-by-word (pada-artha)
| Word | Devanagari | Meaning | Grammatical role |
|---|---|---|---|
| sva karma niratā | स्व कर्म निरता | in one's own, rituals, works, engaged in | Nominative singular (fem.) or vocative |
| nityam | नित्यम् | always | Accusative singular |
| brahmaṇā | ब्रह्मणा | Brahmana-s | Nominative singular (fem.) or vocative |
| vijitendriya: | विजितेन्द्रियः | with conquered, senses | Nominative singular (masc.) |
| dana adhyana śīla: ca | दन अध्यन शीलः च | donating, practicing, minded, also | Indeclinable/particle |
| samyatā: ca | सम्यताः च | principled, also | Indeclinable/particle |
| pratigrahe | प्रतिग्रहे | in accepting donations | Locative/Dative singular |
Scholar commentary
valmikiramayan.net Prose Commentary
Desiraju Hanumanta Rao's prose rendering with embedded explanatory notes
The source explains that Brahmins accepting donations were bound by real rules, not free to accept from anyone: a donor first had to establish their own good standing, and gifts like cows, gold, or land could only be accepted from a 'befitting hand' -- a scholar who accepted greedily or from an unworthy source was considered destined for hell. The reciprocal obligation, called daana-adhyayana, required the scholar to give something back: specifically, to teach the Vedas free of charge to deserving students.
1 of 16 traditions have commentary on this shloka. Traditions without a verse-specific commentary here are omitted rather than filled in.
Reference: 1.6.13 · Bāla Kāṇḍa