When a man is born, whoever he may be, there is born simultaneously a debt to the Gods, to the sages, to the ancestors and to men. When he performs sacrifice it is the debt to the Gods which is concerned. It is on their behalf, therefore, that he is taking action when he sacrifices or makes an oblation. And when he recites the Vedas it is the debt to the sages which is concerned. It is on their behalf, therefore, that he is taking action, for it is said of one who has recited the Vedas that he is the guardian of the treasure store of the sages. And when he desires offspring, it is the debt to the ancestors which is concerned. It is on their behalf, therefore, that he is taking action, so that their offspring may continue without interruption. And when he entertains guests, it is the debt to man which is concerned. It is on their behalf, therefore, that he is taking action if he entertains guests and gives them food and drink. The man who does all these things has performed a true work; he has obtained all, conquered all.§
Śukla Yajur Veda, Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 1.7.2.1-5. VE, 393§
With holy rites prescribed by the Veda must the ceremony on conception and other sacraments be performed for twice-born men, which sanctify the body and purify in this life and after death.§
Manu Dharma Śāstras 2.26. LM, 33§
Let the father perform or cause to be performed the nāmadheya, the rite of naming the child, on the tenth or twelfth day after birth, or on a lucky lunar day, in a lucky muhūrta under an auspicious constellation. The names of women should be easy to pronounce, not imply anything dreadful, possess a plain meaning, be pleasing and auspicious, end in long vowels and contain a word of benediction.§
Manu Dharma Śāstras 2.30; 33. LM, 35§
When the son is one year old, the chūḍākaraṇa, the tonsure of his head, should be performed, or before the lapse of the third year. When he is sixteen years old, the keśānta, the shaving of his beard, is to be done, or according as it is considered auspicious by all.§
Pāraskara Gṛiya Sūtra 2.1.1-4. GS, VOL. 29, 301§
Life universal shall guard and surround you. May Pūshan protect and precede you on the way! May Sāvitrī, the God, to that place lead you where go and dwell the doers of good deeds!§
Ṛig Veda 10.17.4. VE, 608§
I take thy hand in mine for happy fortune that thou may reach old age with me, thy husband. “This woman, strewing grains, prays thus, ‘May I bring bliss to my relations. May my husband live long. Svāhā!’” §
Ṛig Veda 10.85.36. LPG, VOL. 2, 544 & Śānkhāyana Gṛiya Sūtra 1.14.1. SB, VOL. 29, P. 37§
That the father and mother give birth to him from mutual desire, so that he is born from the womb; let this be known as his physical birth. But that birth which is given, according to the ordinance, through the Sāvitrī, by the preceptor who has mastered the Vedas, that is the true birth, the unaging and immortal.§
Manu Dharma Śāstras 2.147-8. SD, 156§
After completing the life of a student, let a man become a householder. After completing the life of a householder, let him become a forest dweller, let him renounce all things. Or he may renounce all things directly from the student state or from the householder’s state, as well as from that of the forest dweller.§
Śukla Yajur Veda, Jābāla Upanishad 4. VE, 440§
Having reached the last order of life, one should sit in a solitary place in a relaxed posture, with pure heart, with head, neck and body straight, controlling all the sense organs, having bowed with devotion to the master.§
Atharva Veda, Kaivalya Upanishad 5. VE, 442§
Having studied the Vedas in accordance with the rule, having begat sons according to the sacred law and having offered sacrifices according to his ability, he may direct his mind to final liberation.§
Manu Dharma Śāstras 6.36. LM, 205§
Knowingly or even unknowingly, intentionally or even unintentionally, a mortal, having gone to death in the Gaṅgā, obtains heaven and moksha.§
Pādma Purāṇa, Sṛishti, 60.65. HE, 105§
The boy grows to youth and youth as surely to old age decays. But time’s changes teach them not that nothing abides. He pervades this Earth and the space beyond. I long for His feet and desire there to remain.§
Tirumantiram 181. TM§