Manava Dharmashastra 2.233

2.233

ayaṃ lokaḥ pṛthivī | bhārasahatvāttulyā mātā pṛthivyāḥ | pitṛbhaktyā madhyamo loko'ntarikṣam | prajāpatiḥ pitoktaḥ | madhyamasthānaśca prajāpatirnairuktānām | sa hi varṣakarmaṇāṃ prajānāṃ pātā vā pālayitā vā | brahmalokama‌ādityalokam | ādityo brahmetyādeśaḥ | lokaḥ sthānaviśeṣastamaśnute prāpnoti | arthavādā ete | tatra nābhiniveṣṭavyam | na ca lokādhipatyakāmasya tadārādhanādhikāraḥ | nāyaṃ kāmyo vidhiḥ | pitṛtvamevātra nimittam, akaraṇe śāstrātikramaḥ |

He acquires this region by devotion to his Mother, the middle region by devotion to his Father, and the region of Brahman by serving his Preceptor.—(233)

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
‘This region;’—i.e., the Earth; the Mother being equal to the Earth, on account of both of them being capable of bearing burdens.

‘By devotion to his Father, the middle region;’—i.e., the sky. The Father has been described as Prajāpati; and according to the followers of the Nirukta, Prajāpati has his abode in the middle Region; and he is the sustainer or protector of men.

‘The Region of Brahman’—i.e., the solar region; according to the declaration (in the Chāndogya Upaniṣad) that ‘the Sun is Brahman, such is the teaching.’

‘Region’—means a particular place.

‘Acquires’—gains.

All this is a purely commendatory statement; and much attention need not be paid to it. Nor is it that only persons desirous of sovereignty over the said regions are to do honour to the Rather, etc.; for the injunction is not an optional one. In fact, the mere fact of the person being one’s father is the sole condition of his being honoured; and the omission of it involves a transgression of the scriptures.—(233)