Manava Dharmashastra 2.118

2.118

abhivādanādyācāravidheḥ stutiriyam | sāvitrīmātraṃ sāraṃ pradhānaṃ yasya sa evamucyate, sāvitrīmātrādhyayanaḥ | varaṃ śreṣṭho vipro yadi suyantrito bhavati śāstranigṛhītātmā | ayantritastrive do'pi śāstravidapi | sarvāśī sarvamaśnāti lokācāragarhitaṃ sākṣātpratiṣiddhamapi | evaṃ sarva vikrayī | pradarśanārthaṃvāśanavikrayau anyasyāpi pratiṣiddhasya |
etaduktaṃ bhavati | yathā'nyaniyamatyāgānninyate evaṃ pratyutthānāditya gadapi |
"atha kathaṃ 'varaṃ vipra' iti, yāvatā 'varo vipra' iti bhavitavyam" |
kecidāhuḥ sāmānyopakramasya viśeṣasyābhidhānāt, 'varametat'--kiṃtat--'yatsuyantrito vipra' iti | anye tvāhurrāviṣṭaliṅgo varaśabdo napuṃsakaliṅgo'pyasti |

Better the Brāhmaṇa knowing the Sāvitrī alone, if he is thoroughly self-controlled,—and not he who knows all the three Vedas, but is not self-controlled, and eats all things and sells all things.—(118)

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
This verse is in praise of the rules regarding Salutation, etc.

He for whom the Sāvitrī is the sole essence, his all in all, is called ‘Sāvitrīmātrasāraḥ,’ ‘knowing the Sāvitrī alone.’

‘Better’—Superior;—‘the Brāhmaṇa,’ if he is thoroughly self- Controlled, i.e., who governs himself entirely in accordance with the scriptures.

One who is ‘not sell-controlled,’ ‘though the three Vedas’—fully conversant with the scriptures.

‘Eats all things,’—things even though not actually prohibited, yet against custom and usage.

Similarly ‘sells all things’—‘Selling’ is mentioned only by way of illustration, it stands for all that is prohibited.

The meaning of all this is ns that one becomes as much open to censure by omitting to rise to receive the teacher and other practices ns he is by the omission of other rules of conduct.

Objection.—“How is it that wè have the form ‘varam (neuter) vipraḥ (masculine)’; the correct form would be ‘varo vipraḥ’ (both masculine).”

In answer to this some people say that the phrase opens with the general and ends with the particular: the construction being—‘It is better,’—“What is better?”—‘that the Brāhmaṇa be self-controlled.’

Others however explain that the term ‘vara’ has no particular gender of its own; and it is used in the neuter gender also.—(118)

This verse is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Saṃskāra, p. 460).