Shloka 11
Jñāna-yoga and Karma-phala: Manu–Bṛhaspati on Akṣara and the Limits of Mantra
होमकाले तथा जुद्वन्नतुकाले तथा व्रजन् । अनन्यस्त्रीजन: प्राज्ञो ब्रह्मचारी तथा भवेत्
homakāle tathā yudvan ṛtukāle tathā vrajan | ananyastrījanaḥ prājño brahmacārī tathā bhavet ||
ভীষ্মে ক’লে—যি পুৰুষে যথাকাল নিত্য হোম কৰে, ঋতুকালত মাত্ৰ নিজৰ পত্নীৰ ওচৰলৈ যায়, আৰু পৰস্ত্ৰীলৈ কেতিয়াও দৃষ্টি নকৰে—সেই জ্ঞানী গৃহস্থো ব্রহ্মচাৰীসম গণ্য হয়: সংযমী, নিয়মবদ্ধ আৰু ধৰ্মনিষ্ঠ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Brahmacarya is presented not only as literal celibacy but as disciplined conduct: regular performance of sacred duties, conjugal relations confined to dharmically permitted times, and unwavering fidelity—no pursuit of other women. Such restraint makes a householder comparable to a brahmacārin in ethical stature.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira standards of self-control for householders. He defines a model of restrained domestic life—ritual regularity and sexual moderation—framing it as brahmacarya-like discipline within gṛhastha life.