Manava Dharmashastra 2.229

2.229

“kathaṃ punastapaḥ phalamatapasā mātrādiśuśrūṣayā ?” yasmāt etacca sarvottamaṃ tapo yat teṣāṃ pādasevanam | tairananujñāto māṇavakaḥ dharma manyaṃ tatsevāvirodhinaṃ tīrthasnānādirūpaṃ vratopavāsādi ca śarīraśoṣaṇayā teṣāṃ cittakhedakaram | jyotiṣṭomānuṣṭhāne'pyanujñā grahītavyā | yato' vamānapratiṣedhaḥ kṛtaḥ | mahārambheṣu ca karmasu bahudhanavyayāyāsasādhyeṣu muhyamānā avamanyerantāḥ bhaveyuḥ | nityakarmānuṣṭhāne tvanujñā nopakāriṇī |

The service of these three is declared to be the highest austerity; until permitted by them, one should not perform any other meritorious act.—(229)

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
Question.—“How can the reward of austerities be obtained by means of serving the mother, etc., which is not austerity at all?”

Answer.—Because attending upon the feet of those persons is the best form of austerity.

‘Until he is permitted by them,’—the pupil—'should not perform any other meritorious act, that may stand in the way of his serving of the three persons; e.g., bathing at sacred places, keeping of vows and fasts, which, by reason of their leading to the boy’s body being emaciated, causes anxiety in their minds. Even for the performing of the Jyotiṣṭoma and other sacrifices, it is necessary to obtain their permission;

because the disregarding of these persons has been interdicted; and if the boy were not to consult them regarding the performance of acts involving much effort and expenditure of wealth, they would feel bewildered and would feel as if they were disregarded. There is no use in taking permission for the performing of such acts as are compulsory.—(229)