Our preceptor's son forms the fifth. Let
the Vedas shine in only us five! Even this is the boon that we
solicit.'--Hearing these words of his disciples, Vyasa, the son of
Parasara, possessed of great intelligence, well-conversant with the
meaning of the Vedas, endued with a righteous soul, and always engaged in
thinking of objects that confer benefits on a person in the world
hereafter, said unto his disciples these righteous words fraught with
great benefit: 'The Vedas should always be given unto him who is a
Brahmana, or unto him who is desirous of listening to Vedic instructions,
by him who eagerly wishes to attain a residence in the region of Brahman!
Do ye multiply. Let the Vedas spread (through your exertions). The Vedas
should never be imparted unto one that has not formally become a
disciple. Nor should they be given unto one who is not observant of good
vows. Nor should they be given for dwelling in one that is of uncleansed
soul. These should be known as the proper qualifications of persons that
can be accepted as disciples (for the communication of Vedic knowledge).
No science should be imparted unto one without a proper examination of
one's character, as pure gold is tested by heat, cutting and rubbing,
after the same manner disciples should be tested by their birth and
accomplishments. Ye should never set your disciples to tasks to which
they should not be set, or to tasks that are fraught with danger. One's
knowledge is always commensurate with one's understanding and diligence
in study. Let all disciples conquer all difficulties, and let all of them
meet with auspicious success. Ye are competent to lecture on the
scriptures unto persons of all the orders. Only ye should, while
lecturing, address a Brahmana, placing him in the van. These are the
rules in respect of the study of the Vedas. This again is regarded as a
high task. The Vedas were created by the Self-born for the purpose of
praising the deities therewith. That man who, through stupefaction of
intellect, speaks ill of a Brahmana well-conversant with the Vedas, is
certain to meet with humiliation in consequence of such evil-speaking. He
who disregarding all righteous rules, solicits knowledge, and he who,
disregarding the rules of righteousness, communicates knowledge, either
of them falls off and instead of that affection which should prevail
between preceptor and disciple, such questioning and such communication
are sure to produce distrust and s