ब्राह्मणाः भोजनप्रियाः!

When I was trying to think of an equivalent for the word "misconception" in sanskrit, some of the words that came up were

• अयथार्थः - loosely translated as 'false'
• विपर्यय - reversed, inverted, opposite hence erroneous knowledge
• तर्कः - this is very specific to तर्कशास्त्र - hypothetical reasoning/confutation
• मूढग्राह - this term I came upon at a website. I liked it immediately.

More often than not, misconceptions are based on ideas that have been handed down without the thinking that goes along with it. One such is the title of this post "ब्राह्मणाः भोजनप्रियाः!"

Sri Rama Shastri was very famous for thinking and providing out of the box explanations for some simple stuff. He has given a wonderful twist to this expression.

"ब्राह्मणाः भो! जनप्रियाः"

A brahmin's work, as enumerated by Manu, was यजनं, याजनम्, अध्ययनम्, अध्यापनं, दानं, प्रतिग्रहः, च। Each one of these was designed with the welfare of the whole world in mind. A brahmin performed sacrifices for लोकक्षेम, he helped others to perform sacrifice. He studied in order to teach others. He accepted donation in order give more in charity.

अत एव, भोः जनाः, जनप्रियान् ब्राह्मणान् भोजनप्रिया इति मूढबुद्धिं त्यजन्तु।

शास्त्रं वदति -20

saastram speaks -20

यथा काष्ठमयो हस्ती यथा चर्ममयो मृगः ।
यः च विप्रो अनधीयानः त्रयः ते नाम बिभ्रति ॥ (2. 157)

yatä käñöa mayo hasté yatä carmamayo mrgaù

yaù ca vipro anadhéyänaù trayaù te näma bibhrati

The above sloka is from manu smrti.

An elephant made of wood, a deer made of leather and a Brahmin who has not learned the scriptures, these three carry the names but not the substance.

यथा-Like a, काष्ठमयो – wooden, हस्ती- elephant, यथा-like a, मृगः- deer, चर्ममयो-made of leather, यः अनधीयानः – an unlearned, विप्रः-brahmin, त्रयः ते- those three, नाम-name, बिभ्रति-carry.

A person cannot proclaim himself as a brahmin just because he is born into it. He should perform the deeds that are prescribed to him.

शास्त्रं वदति – 15

Saastram speaks -15

This sloka is from the third chapter of manu smriti.

दैवकार्यात् द्विजातीनां पितृकार्यं विशिष्यते।
दैवं हि पितृकार्यस्य पूर्वम् आप्यायनं स्मृतम्।। (3, 203)

daivakāryāt dvijātīnāṁ pitṛkāryaṁ viśiṣyate|
daivaṁ hi pitṛkāryasya pūrvaṁ āpyāyanaṁ smṛtam||

For a Brahmin performing ceremonies for their ancestors (Shraadha) takes precedence over worshipping gods.
During ceremonies the act of worshipping gods is more to please ones ancestors.

द्विजातीनां – for a Brahmin, पितृकार्यं – rites in honour of the ancestors (shraadha), दैवकार्यात् – is more important than the rites in honour of gods, विशिष्यते- prescribed.

पितृकार्यस्य- ancestral rites, पूर्वम् – before, दैवं हि – worshipping the gods, आप्यायनं स्मृतम् – is considered as pleasing or satisfying the ancestors.

शास्त्रं वदति – 10

Saastram speaks -10

Manu has assigned duties for people belonging to each varNa or caste. The following sloka states the duties of a BrAhmin.

अध्यापनम् अध्ययनं यजनं याजनं तथा।
दानं प्रतिग्रहं च एव ब्राह्मणानाम् अकल्पयत् ।। (1- 8) .

adhyāpanam adhyayanaṁ yajanaṁ yājanaṁ tathā|
dānaṁ pratigrahaṁ caiva brāhmaṇanām akalpayat||

Teaching and studying the Vedas. Performing yAga or sacrifice for the welfare of the society and also for his own benefit. Giving and accepting alms. These are the duties assigned to a brAhmin.

अध्यापनम् – Teaching, अध्ययनम्- Learning, यजनं- sacrifice or the act of sacrificing, याजनं- performing or conducting a sacrifice ,तथा- Like that,
दानं- giving alms, च- and, प्रतिग्रहं- accepting alms, अकल्पयत् –thought or assigned, ब्राह्मणानां – for the brAhmins.