श्रीशक्रसंवादः — The Dialogue of Śrī
Lakṣmī) and Śakra (Indra
भार्या गच्छन् ब्रह्मचारी ऋतौ भवति वै द्विज: । ऋतवादी भवेन्नित्यं ज्ञाननित्यश्ष यो नर:
bhāryā gacchan brahmacārī ṛtau bhavati vai dvijaḥ | ṛtavādī bhavennityaṃ jñānanityaś ca yo naraḥ ||
ଯେ ଦ୍ୱିଜ ମାତ୍ର ଋତୁକାଳରେ ହିଁ ଭାର୍ଯ୍ୟାଙ୍କୁ ସମୀପ କରେ, ସେ ଆଚରଣରେ ବ୍ରହ୍ମଚାରୀ ସମାନ। ଯେ ସଦା ଋତୁ-ବିଷୟରେ ସତ୍ୟବାଦୀ ଓ ଜ୍ଞାନରେ ନିତ୍ୟ ସ୍ଥିର, ସେଇ ସଂଯମୀ ନର।
भीष्य उवाच
That disciplined restraint within household life—approaching one’s wife only at the proper time (ṛtu), speaking truthfully/acting in accord with that regulation, and remaining steady in knowledge—counts as a form of brahmacarya in conduct.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira standards of regulated conduct for a householder, emphasizing sexual restraint, truthfulness about proper timing, and constancy in right knowledge.