Manava Dharmashastra 6.8

6.8

āśramabuddhyā svādhyāyādīnāṃ nivṛttimāśaṅkamāna āśramāntaratvāṃdasyānnivṛttyarthamāha | nityayuktaḥ | na yathā gārhasthye | tatra hi gṛhaceṣṭārthā api vyāpārāḥ santi, teṣvanuṣṭhoyamāneṣu nāsti svādhyāyaḥ | dāntaḥ| damayuktaḥ madavarjitaḥ | maitraḥ mitrakarmapradhānaḥ priyahitabhāṣī | sannihitasya cittānukūlanaparaḥ sa samāhitaḥ | nāsambaddhaṃ nāpākarakṣikaṃ bahu parādhīno'pi brūyāt | dātā apāṃ mūlabhikṣāyāṃ ca | anādātā pathyauṣadhārthamāśramāntarādāgataṃ na yāceta | sarvabhūtānukampakaḥ | anukampā kāruṇyam | satyapi kāruṇikatve na parārthamanyaṃ yāceta |

He should be always engaged in Vedic study, meek, conciliatory, quiet, ever liberal, not accepting any gifts, and compassionate towards all living beings.—(8).

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
This being a distinct stage of life, people might think that such duties as Vedic Study and the like, which pertain to other life-stages, should have to be omitted now; hence with a view to show that they do not cease, the Text has added—‘always engaged’; and not as in the Householder’s stage, during which, the man being busy with his household work, their performance leaves no time for Vedic study and such duties.

‘Meek’—endowed with humility; free from haughtiness.

‘Conciliatory’—abounding in the friendly spirit; always saying what is agreeable and wholesome; ever ready to conciliate his neighbour.

‘Quiet.’—Even when urged by others, he should not speak much of what may be irrelevant.

‘Ever liberal’—in making gifts of water, fruits and roots and alms.

‘Not accepting any gifts’—He should not beg anything for his medication or diet and such needs, from a person belonging to another stage of life and coming to see him.

‘Compassionate towards all living beings’—‘Compassion’ is pity. But even though he be compassionate, he should not, for the sake of any person, beg anything from another person.—(8).