Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 16
Nārāyaṇa-tejas: Kṛṣṇa’s Vrata, the Fire-Manifestation, and the Sages’ Inquiry (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय १२६)
कौमारचारी व्रतवान् मैत्रेय निरतो भव । एतदू गृहाण प्रथम प्रशस्तं गृहमेधिनाम्
kaumāra-cārī vratavān maitreya nirato bhava | etad ū gṛhāṇa prathamaṃ praśastaṃ gṛhamedhinām ||
毗湿摩说道：“噢，弥勒耶啊，当以梵行学生之身而住，坚守你的誓戒。将此受持为居家者最为首要、最堪称赞的准则。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma upholds brahmacarya (sexual restraint and disciplined conduct) and steadfast observance of vows as the foremost, most praiseworthy foundation even for the gṛhastha (householder) path—implying that household life should be governed by self-control and ethical discipline.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma addresses the sage Maitreya directly, exhorting him to remain devoted to celibate discipline and to accept this principle as a primary guideline for those who live the householder life.