Sushruta Samhita Chapter 2: Shishyopanayaniya Adhyaya (Initiation of the Pupil)

The 2nd chapter of Sutrasthana of Sushruta Samhita is named as Shishyopaniya Adhyaya. This chapter deals with the Initiation of the Pupil.

अथातः शिष्योपनयनीयमध्यायं व्याख्यास्यामः ॥१॥
यथोवाच भगवान् धन्वन्तरिः ॥२॥
We will now expound the chapter called  Sisyopanayaniya – initiation of the pupil; as revealed by the Venerable Dhanvantari.

Eligibility for initiation of students / disciples

ब्रह्मणक्षत्रियवैश्यानामन्यतममन्वयवयः शीलशौर्यशौचाचारविनयशक्तिबलमेधाधृतिस्मृतिमतिप्रतिपत्तियुक्तं तनुजिह्वौष्ठदन्ताग्रमृजुवत्राक्शिनासं प्रसन्नचित्तवाक्चेष्टं क्लेशसहं च भिषक् शिष्यमुपनयेत्। अतो विपरीतगुणं नोपनयेत् ॥३॥
In this instance we are speaking about initiation of medical students. Therefore, the preceptor should necessarily be a physician who is experienced in identifying the ideal qualities in the disciples to be enrolled into the medical education.
The teacher, he or she – should initiate a student belonging to one of the sections / castes i.e., Brahmin, Kshatriya (soldiers, warriors), Vaishya (businessmen) or those belonging to any other good family.
The eligibility would include the students-to-be shall be endowed with the best of the below mentioned attributes –

• Anvaya Vayaha – should be of ideal age suitable to undertake medical studies under a preceptor,
• Shila – of good conduct, chastity
• Shourya – brave, courage,
• Shoucha – clean,
• Achara – of right conduct
• Vinaya – being polite
• Shakti – having good strength / enthusiasm / endurance
• Bala – of good strength / prowess
• Medha – intelligent
• Dhriti – courageous
• Smriti – of good memory,
• Mati – wise,
• Pratipatti – having the ability to grasp, understand and interpret the meaning of the words

Other qualities –

• Tanu Jihva, Oshta, Dantagra – should have thin lips, tongue and the top of the teeth,
• Rju Vaktra Akshi Nasam – should have straight (uncrooked) mouth, eyes and nose (anatomically perfect and healthy)
• Prasanna Chit Vaak Cheshta – should have pleasant mind, speech and activities
• Klesha saham – should be capable of withstanding hardships / strain

The student bestowed with the above said qualities shall be considered for training. On the other hand, if the student has attributes opposite to those mentioned above, the teacher should not teach him or her.

Upanayana Vidhi: Initiation Ceremony

उपनयनीयं तु ब्राह्मणं प्रशस्तेषु तिथिकरणमुहूर्तनक्षत्रेषु प्रशस्तायां दिशि शुचौ समे देशे चतुर्हस्तं चतुरस्त्रं स्थण्डिलमुपलिप्य गोमयेन,दर्भैः संस्तीर्य,,रत्नपुष्पलाजभक्तैर्देवताः पूजयित्वा विप्रान भिषजश्च,तत्रोल्लिख्याभ्युक्ष्य च दक्षिणतो ब्रह्माणं स्थापयित्वाऽगिमुपसमाधाय,खदिरपलाशदेवदारुबिल्वानां समिद्भिश्चतुर्णां वा क्षीरिवृक्षार्णां(न्यग्रोधोदुम्बरश्वत्थमधूकानां) दधिमधुघृयाक्ताभिर्दार्वीहौमिकेन विधिना सप्रणवाभिर्महाव्याहतिभिः स्त्रुवेणाज्याहुतीर्जुहुयात्,ततः प्रतिदैवतमृषींश्च स्वाहाकारं कुर्यात्,शिष्यमपिकारयेत् ॥४॥

Selection of auspicious date and time for initiation

After planning the initiation of pupils, the Brahmana – preceptor (preceptor) should select an auspicious

• tithi – date, day of the month,
• karana – difference between the degrees of Sun and Mon divided by 6 – half of tithi,
• muhurta – a period of 48 minutes (a moment, 30th part of a day) and
• naksatra – star constellation.

Selection of place and arrangements

Later the preceptor should select a place located in an auspicious direction. The place should be clean and even. An altar of four arm’s length and similar breadth shall be made. This altar should be smeared with cow dung. He should spread Darbha grass on it. Then, he should worship Gods, Brahmans and physicians – with flowers, laja (fried paddy), bhakta (cooked rice) and ratna (various kinds of precious gems).

Then lines should be drawn in upward direction on the altar. Later, holy water shall be sprinkled over it.

A figure of Lord Brahma shall be made and installed towards the south direction. Agni – fire shall be placed nearby i.e. a fire altar shall be prepared and the fire shall be lit.

Performing the fire sacrifice

Following this, he shall use the twigs of the below mentioned trees dipped in curds, honey and ghee –

–        Khadira – Acacia catechu
–        Palasa – Butea monosperma
–        Devadaru – Cedrus deodara and
–        Bilva – Aegle marmelos or
–        Twigs of Ksiri Vrksas – i.e. four trees which yield milk sap i.e. Nyagrodha – Ficus Benghalensis, Udumbara – Ficus racemosa, Asvattha – Ficus religiosa and Madhuka –  Madhuka longifolia.

While chanting Pranava (OM) and Mahavyahrti, the preceptor shall perform the fire sacrifice in Darvihoma method using these twigs. At the same time, he should offer oblations of ghee to each God and sages, uttering the word ‘Svaha’ each time.

The disciples who are given with initiation also should be instructed to perform the rituals in the same way as the preceptor does.

Which preceptor can conduct Upanayana to whom?

 ब्राह्मणस्त्र्याणां वर्णनामुपनयनं कर्तुमर्हति,(राजन्यो द्वदस्य, वैश्यो वैश्यस्यैवेति) शुद्रमपि कुलगुणसंपन्न मन्त्रवर्जमनुपनीतमध्यापयेदित्येके ॥५॥
Brahmana – the priest or initiator belonging to Brahmana caste is eligible to initiate the pupils of all the three castes i.e. Brahmana, Kshatriya and Vaisya.

Rajanya / Kshatriya – the priest of warrior caste is eligible to initiate the pupils of only two castes i.e., Kshatriya and Vaisya and not the pupils of Brahmana caste.

Vaisya – the priest of merchant or businessmen caste is eligible to initiate the pupils of only one caste i.e. their caste, Vaisya and cannot initiate the pupils of Brahmana and Kshatriya castes.

Sudra – According to the opinion of some authorities / experts, in spite of Sudra being lower caste, a Sudra student may also be initiated if he or she belongs to a good family / clan and possesses good qualities i.e. good behavior and knowledge. But the initiator shall see that the Sudra pupil should not chant sacred hymns and without undergoing upanayana i.e. initiating or swearing in the oath. These pupils shall then receive the teachings related to science.

Pratijna Svikara: Taking Oath

ततोऽग्रिं त्रिः परिणीयाग्रिसाक्षिकं शिष्यं बूयात्- कामक्रोधलोभमोहमानाङ्करेर्ष्यापारुष्यपैशुन्यानृतालस्यायशस्यानि हित्वा नीचनखरोम्णा  शुचिना कषायवाससा सत्यव्रतब्रह्मचर्याभिवादनतत्परेणावश्यं  भवितव्यं,मदनुमतस्थानगमनशयनासनभोजनाश्ययनपरेण भूत्वामत्प्रियहितेषु वर्तितव्यम् ;अतोन्यथा ते वर्तमानस्याशर्मो भवति,अफला च विद्या,न च प्राकाश्यं प्रापोति॥६॥
Next, the preceptor should give instructions to his disciples. He should do that after having offered the oblations, going around the fire altar for three times and in the presence of fire. The instructions should be as said below –

“While you stay here for your studies make sure that you avoid your desires, anger, greed, infatuation, pride, egoism, jealousy, harsh words, creating false rumors about others, speaking lies, being lazy and indulging in any acts of ill repute.

You should regularly cut your nails and hairs of the scalp which have grown excessively and keep them trimmed. Also keep yourself clean and wear the robes of ochre color.

You should essentially always be truthful. You should always maintain celibacy and keep up the habit of prostrating by offering worship to Gods, preceptors and elders.

You shall go to only such places approved and permitted by me. Other than that, you should not visit any prohibited areas and places.

Similarly, you should use beds, seats, food and mode of study which are approved and permitted by me.

You should always indulge in such activities which are pleasing, likable and beneficial to me. If you are indulged in doing anything else other than these it will be considered as unrighteous. By breaking the rules, your knowledge will be of no use and you might not earn any reputation anywhere.

On the other hand, if I misunderstand you and your acts in spite of you following all rules, regulations and instructions and live in accordance with them and also behave properly and act otherwise i.e., if I punish you or not teach you properly, then I will acquire sin and my knowledge will become futile.”

Duties of physician towards other people

अहं वा त्वयि सम्यग्वर्तमाने यद्यन्यथादार्शीस्यामेनोभग्भवेयमफलविद्यश्च ॥७॥
द्विजगुरुदरिद्रमित्रप्रवजितोपनतसाध्वनाथाभ्युपगतानां चात्मबान्धवानामिव स्वभैषजैः प्रतिकर्तव्यम्,एवं साधु भवति;व्याधशाकुनिकपतितपाकारिणां च न प्रतिकर्तव्यम् ;एवं विद्या प्रकाशते,मित्रयशोधर्मार्थकामांश्च प्राप्रोति ॥८॥
One should take care of the below mentioned kinds of people just like one’s kin. One should also treat them with their own medicines (the medicines they have). They are –

• Brahmanas
• The preceptor
• Poor persons
• A friend
• The ascetic
• The refugee
• The pious persons (sages, saints etc.)
• The orphans
• Persons coming from distant place seeking help

On the other hand, the below mentioned kinds of people should neither be cared for nor shall be treated:

• The hunter
• The bird catcher
• The unrighteous person
• The sinner

These acts would brighten up your knowledge. You will also acquire friends, fame, virtue, wealth, pleasures etc.

Anadhyayana: Unsuitable time for study

भवश्चात्र –
कृष्णे ऽष्टमी तन्निधनेऽहनी द्वे शुक्ले तथाऽप्येवमहर्द्विसन्ध्यम् ।
अकालविद्युत्स्तनयित्नुघोषेस्वतन्त्रराष्ट्रक्षितिपव्यथासु॥९॥
श्मशानयानाद्यतनाहवेषु महोत्सवौत्सवैत्पातिकदर्शनेषु।
नाध्येयमन्येषु च येषु विप्रा नाधीयते नाशुचिना च नित्यम् ॥१०॥

Some verses here,

Studying of science should not be undertaken in the below mentioned times, places and conditions –

• The eighth day of dark fortnight,
• The last two days before the end of dark fortnight (14th and 15th day)
• The eighth, fourteenth and fifteenth days of the bright fortnight
• During sunrise and sunset
• Untimely lightning and thunder occurring in seasons other than rainy season
• During emergency / calamity of self (occurring in the body) and of one’s relatives, one’s country and the king
• At the burial ground,
• While riding on animals
• In sacrificial grounds or places wherein animals are sacrificed
• During natural calamities like earthquakes etc. and presence of malevolent stars and comets etc.
• Days on which the Brahmanas do not study
• In conditions and days on which the person is unclean

इति श्रीसुश्रुतसंहितायां सूत्रस्थाने शिष्योपनयनीयो नाम द्वितीयोऽध्यायः ॥२॥ 
Thus end the second chapter by name Sisyopanayaniya in Sutra Sthana of Susruta Samhita.