Shloka 25

An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya

ब्रह्मचारी च पर्वाण्याद्याश्ततस्त्रस्तु वर्जयेत् / एवं गच्छं स्त्रियं क्षामां मघां मूलां च वर्जयेत्

brahmacārī ca parvāṇyādyāśtatastrastu varjayet / evaṃ gacchaṃ striyaṃ kṣāmāṃ maghāṃ mūlāṃ ca varjayet

พรหมจารีพึงหลีกเลี่ยงวันปัรวะ (วันรอยต่ออันศักดิ์สิทธิ์) และช่วงเริ่มต้นบางประการ อีกทั้งไม่พึงไปหาสตรีที่ซูบผอมอ่อนแรง และพึงเว้นนักษัตรอัปมงคล เช่น มฆา และ มูลา

ब्रह्मचारीa celibate/student
ब्रह्मचारी:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्म + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिके)
Formपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचनम्; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणि चारि)
and
:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात
पर्वाणिfestival/holy days
पर्वाणि:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootपर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) बहुवचनम्
आद्याःthe first (ones)
आद्याः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootआद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (understood: रात्रयः/तिथयः)
ततःthen/thereafter
ततः:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरवाचक (thereafter/then)
त्रास्frightening (times)/fears
त्रास्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootत्रास (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) बहुवचनम् (पाठभेद/संदिग्धः; सम्भाव्यं 'त्रासान्' = fears/terrifying times)
तुbut/indeed
तु:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)
वर्जयेत्should avoid
वर्जयेत्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative) परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person) एकवचनम्
एवम्thus
एवम्:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/in this manner)
गच्छन्approaching/going
गच्छन्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Root√गम् (धातु)
Formवर्तमानकृदन्तः (शतृ) परस्मैपदी; प्रथमा एकवचनम् पुंलिङ्गे; क्रियाविशेषणभावेन (while going/approaching)
स्त्रियम्a woman
स्त्रियम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootस्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचनम्
क्षामाम्emaciated/weak
क्षामाम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootक्षामा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्
मघाम्(on) Maghā (asterism)
मघाम्:
Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootमघा (प्रातिपदिक; नक्षत्रनाम)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचनम्; नक्षत्र-विशेषः (as time-marker)
मूलाम्(on) Mūlā (asterism)
मूलाम्:
Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootमूला (प्रातिपदिक; नक्षत्रनाम)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचनम्; नक्षत्र-विशेषः (as time-marker)
and
:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात
वर्जयेत्should avoid
वर्जयेत्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative) परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person) एकवचनम्

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda / Vinatā-putra)

Concept: Brahmacārin avoids certain parvan/junction times; avoid intercourse with an emaciated woman and avoid inauspicious nakṣatras (e.g., Maghā, Mūlā) for union.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha (sense restraint) and alignment with cosmic order (kāla/ṛtu) as supports for purity of mind.

Application: Practice disciplined boundaries; consider health and wellbeing of partners; if following traditional calendars, choose auspicious times and avoid harmful conditions.

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.95 (rtu, nakṣatra, and conduct regulations)

B
Brahmacārī

FAQs

This verse frames timing as part of dharmic discipline: a brahmacārī is advised to avoid certain junction-days and specific nakṣatras, emphasizing restraint and ritual propriety.

Rather than describing afterlife geography, it teaches preparatory dharma—brahmacharya supported by careful avoidance of situations and times considered spiritually destabilizing or ritually unsuitable.

Maintain self-restraint and choose supportive conditions for study and sādhana—avoid circumstances (including timing and associations) that weaken discipline, focus, and purity of conduct.