Shloka 19
Varṇāśrama-ācāra and Vikarma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Safe Dharmas (शिवधर्मप्रश्नः)
ब्रह्मचारी व्रती नित्यं नित्यं दीक्षापरो वशी । परिचार्य तथा वेदं कृत्यं कुर्वन् वसेत् सदा
brahmacārī vratī nityaṁ nityaṁ dīkṣāparo vaśī | paricārya tathā vedaṁ kṛtyaṁ kurvan vaset sadā ||
Bhishma berkata—“Seorang brahmacārin hendaknya senantiasa memegang vrata, selalu tekun dalam dīkṣā dan laku disiplin, serta menguasai diri. Sambil melakukan swādhyāya Veda dan melayani sebagaimana mestinya, ia harus menjalankan kewajiban-kewajibannya dan selalu tinggal di rumah sang guru.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches brahmacārin-dharma: constant self-restraint, faithful observance of vows and disciplined practices, service to the teacher, regular Vedic study, and steady performance of obligatory duties while residing in the guru’s household.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he outlines the proper conduct of a Vedic student (brahmacārin), emphasizing life in the gurukula with service, study, and disciplined duty.