Shloka 11
Adhyāya 214: Tapas Redefined—Perpetual Discipline, Hospitality, and the Ethics of Eating (तपः-निरूपणम्, विघसाशी-अतिथिप्रिय-धर्मः)
सुदुष्करं ब्रह्मचर्यमुपायं तत्र मे शृणु । सम्प्रदीप्तमुदीर्ण च निगृह्लीयाद् द्विजो रज:,ब्रह्मचर्यका पालन अत्यन्त कठिन है। उसके लिये जो उपाय है, वह मुझसे सुनो। ब्राह्मणको चाहिये कि जब रजोगुणकी वृत्ति प्रकट होने और बढ़ने लगे तो उसे रोक दे
suduṣkaraṃ brahmacaryam upāyaṃ tatra me śṛṇu | sampradīptam udīrṇaṃ ca nigṛhlīyād dvijo rajaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Brahmacarya amat sukar dipelihara. Dengarlah daripadaku cara untuknya: apabila daya rajas—yang telah menyala dan sedang meningkat—mula menampakkan diri, seorang dvija (yang ‘dua kali lahir’) hendaklah segera mengekangnya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Brahmacarya is difficult, so one must use a practical method: the moment passionate agitation (rajas) begins to flare up and grow, it should be checked immediately through restraint and disciplined vigilance.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, Bhīṣma continues advising (to Yudhiṣṭhira) on ethical self-governance, here focusing on how a dvija should preserve brahmacarya by promptly restraining rising rajas.