Shloka 4
Adhyāya 112: Ṛṣyaśṛṅga’s Description of an Exemplary Brahmacārī
Ascetic Presence and Vow-Practice
विलग्नमध्यक्ष स नाभिदेशे कटिश्व तस्यातिकृतप्रमाणा । तथास्य चीरान्तरत: प्रभाति हिरण्मयी मेखला मे यथेयम्,उस ब्रह्मचारीके नाभिदेशके समीप जो शरीरका मध्य भाग था, वह बहुत पतला था और उसका नितम्बभाग अत्यन्त स्थूल था। जैसे मेरे कौपीनके नीचे यह मूँजकी मेखला बँधी है, इसी प्रकार उसके कटि-प्रदेशमें भी एक सोनेकी मेखला (करधनी) थी, जो उसके चीरके भीतरसे चमकती रहती थी
vilagnam adhyakṣa sa nābhideśe kaṭiṣu ca tasyātikṛtapramāṇā | tathāsya cīrāntarataḥ prabhāti hiraṇmayī mekhalā me yatheyam ||
Disse Ṛṣyaśṛṅga: “Ó venerável, sua parte média, perto do umbigo, era bem cingida e esguia, enquanto seus quadris eram desproporcionalmente largos. E, por dentro de sua veste, brilhava à cintura um cinto de ouro—assim como este cinto de capim munja está atado sob meu tapa-sexo, sendo eu um brahmacārin.”
ऋष्यशुड्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights outward markers of life-stages and conduct: the brahmacārin’s munja-girdle signifies discipline and restraint, while the contrasting golden girdle suggests worldly status or concealment—inviting ethical reflection on how appearances can signal (or mask) one’s true role and intentions.
R̥ṣyaśṛṅga describes a person’s physique and attire in detail, noting a slender navel-region, broad hips, and a golden waist-girdle shining from beneath the garment, comparing it to his own munja belt worn under the loincloth as a celibate student.