[Advaita-l] The source of the word Dvija in Vedas

[V Subrahmanian]

On Tue, Jul 23, 2024 at 6:09 AM K Ram via Advaita-l <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> Pranams to all the experts in the group. This maybe slightly off topic from
> a strict Advaitic or Vedantic standpoint, but I'm trying to find the source
> of the word "Dvija" being mentioned in Vedas either in Karma Kanda or
> Upasana Kanda.
>
> Since Dvija sets the tone for all of Purva Mimamsa practices and rituals,
> I'm trying find the Shastra Pramanam for it in Vedas. To be clear, I've
> seen it being mentioned in Manu Smriti but not in Shruthi (including the
> Upanishads) and hence the need for clarity.
>
> Can someone please throw some light on this?
>

Namaste

Shankara cites this Gautama Dharma Sutra which has that word dvija, in the
Brahma sutra bhashya:  ‘द्विजातीनामध्ययनमिज्या दानम्’(गौ॰ध॰सू॰ २-१-१) इति च
।

Shankara cites a Mahabharata verse:  ‘तस्मादव्यक्तमुत्पन्नं त्रिगुणं
द्विजसत्तम’(म॰भा॰
१२-३३४-२९,३०,३१)

Another:  Daksha smriti:   ‘अनाश्रमी न तिष्ठेत दिनमेकमपि द्विजः ।
संवत्सरमनाश्रमी स्थित्वा कृच्छ्रमेकं चरेत्’(द॰स्मृ॰ १-१०)

Bhagavadgita  first ch.  अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम ।
नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ॥ ७ ॥ There are many in the
Bh.Gita itself.

‘एतद्धि जन्मसामग्र्यं ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषतः । प्राप्यैतत्कृतकृत्यो हि द्विजो
भवति नान्यथा’ (मनु. १२ । ९३)   Manu Smriti, cited by Shankara.  Many more
in Manu smriti.

“मोक्षाश्रमो यश्चरते यथोक्तं शुचिः सुसङ्कल्पितबुद्धियुक्तः ।
अनिन्धनज्योतिरिव प्रशान्तं स ब्रह्मलोकं श्रयते द्विजातिः ॥ “     Purana.

In Veda/Upanishads too this word must be there.

regards
subbu



>
> Namaskaram
> -Karthik Ram
> _______________________________________________
> Archives: https://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/
>
> To unsubscribe or change your options:
> https://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/advaita-l
>
> For assistance, contact:
> listmaster at advaita-vedanta.org
>