Shloka 14

पुंसां क्रिया-विभागः, संस्काराः, नामकरणम्, विवाहविधानम्

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचर्येण वा कालं कुर्यात् संकल्पपूर्वकम् गुरोः शुश्रूषणं कुर्यात् तत्पुत्रादेर् अथापि वा

Transliteration

brahmacaryeṇa vā kālaṃ kuryāt saṃkalpapūrvakam guroḥ śuśrūṣaṇaṃ kuryāt tatputrāder athāpi vā

Translation

Atau, dengan tekad yang mantap, hendaklah ia menjalani waktu dalam brahmacarya; ia melayani guru dengan penuh perhatian, atau bila perlu melayani putra guru dan para tanggungannya juga.

Word by Word

ब्रह्मचर्येणby brahmacarya (celibate studentship)

वाor

कालम्time, period

कुर्यात्should spend/do

संकल्प-पूर्वकम्with prior resolve

गुरोःof the teacher

शुश्रूषणम्service, attentive attendance

कुर्यात्should do

तत्-पुत्र-आदेःof his son and others

अथthen, also

अपिalso

वाor

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Characters & Entities

Guru

Guru’s son (tatputra)

FAQs

What is the significance of brahmacharya in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents brahmacharya as a consciously chosen discipline sustained by sankalpa (resolve), shaping the student’s life through regulated conduct and dedicated service.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the student’s duty toward the guru?

He frames it as śuśrūṣā—active, attentive service—extending, when appropriate, to the guru’s son and dependents, emphasizing humility and continuity of the teacher’s household tradition.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though Vishnu is not named here, the dharma of disciplined living and selfless service is presented as part of the cosmic order upheld by the Supreme (Vishnu), aligning personal conduct with universal sovereignty and moral law.