Manava Dharmashastra 6.6

6.6

carma raurugādīnām | cīraṃ vastrakhaṇḍam | sāyaṃ divasāvasānasamayaḥ | prage prāhnaḥ prathamodaye | evaṃ sāyaṃ snānavidhānādrātrau bhojanamasyāhuḥ, bhukte snānapratiṣedhāt | tadayuktamityanye | yataḥ snātakavrata’mataḥ snānamācaret bhuktve’ti | mahābhārate tu puruṣamātradharmatayā smaryate | traikālikamapyasya snānaṃ bhaviṣyati vaikalpikam | jaṭāśmaśrulomanakhāni na kartayet |

He should wear either skin or a bit of cloth; he shall bathe in the evening, as also in the meaning; he shall always wear matted locks, as also beard, hair on his body and nails.—(6)

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
Skin—of the bull, the deer and other such animals.

‘Cīra’—a bit of cloth.

‘Evening’—end of the day.

‘Morning’—opening of the day.

This rule regarding bathing in the evening implies that the man is to eat at night only; because Bathing after meals is forbidden.

This view, some say, is not right; because among the observances of the Accomplished Student, it is said that ‘after taking his food he shall bathe’ (which shows that bathing after meals is not entirely forbidden), in fact this bathing after meals is declared in the Mahābhārata as to be done by each and every person.

It is open to the Hermit to bathe thrice during the day—this being a matter of option.

‘Matted locks, beard, hairs on the body and nails’;—all this he shall not have cut.—(6)