|
Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 11: Chapter 17: Verses 31-42
If the student seeks to ascend (after death) to (the highest heaven, viz.,) Satyaloka (the realm of Brahma), the home of the Vedas (living in a personal form), he should completely dedicate his body (life) to the preceptor for (further) study of the Vedas (as well as to repay his debt to the preceptor), observing the vow of lifelong celibacy. Full of splendour born of a study of the Vedas and devoid of (all) sin, the Brahmacari should have no sense of diversity (left in him) and should worship Me, the Supreme, (alone) in (the sacred) fire, the preceptor, his own self and in all created beings. He who is not a householder (a Brahmacari; an anchorite or a recluse) should give up the sight and touch of womankind, conversation and joking etc., with them and should (even) avoid coming face to face with living beings sexually united. Purity (of body and mind), rinsing one's mouth with water (after answering the calls of nature and taking one's meals or refreshment and sipping water before commencing a sacred rite or devotions or taking one's meals etc.), bathing (after passing stool and shaving oneself and on ceremonial occasions as well as on touching an untouchable person or object, and on the expiry of a period of impurity caused by birth or death in one's family and so on); saying the Sandhya prayers (both morning and evening as well as at midday), straightforwardness, resorting to holy places and sacred waters, muttering sacred texts (such as the Gayatri) and keeping aloof from untouchable persons and objects, prohibited food (and drink) and people who are not worth speaking to, looking upon all created beings as (no other than) Myself and control of mind, speech and body-this constitutes the Dharma (sacred duty) prescribed for all the Asramas (stages of life pertaining to the first three Varnas), 0 Uddhava (the delight of your race )! Having mastered the Vedas and with the seeds of his Karma burnt by intense Tapas (askesis), the Brahmacari observing the vow of perpetual celibacy and resplendent like fire becomes My devotee (and attains to Me) if he is devoid of impurity (in the shape of interested motives). He who, having duly investigated the purport of the Vedas, forthwith seeks to enter the next Asrama (stage of life, viz., the life of a householder) should after offering Daksina (a parting present by way of gratitude) to the preceptor perform the ceremony known as the Samavartana-Sar,skara (marking the completion of his studies and coming back home from the preceptor's house) with the approval of the preceptor. A Brahmacari may enter the life of a householder (if he has the sexual urge) or the life of an anchorite (if he is keen on self-purification) or (if he is pure-minded already and), if he is a Brahmana (the foremost of the twice-born classes), he may (even) renounce the world and go about as a mendicant recluse. (Or) he should (in the regular course) pass from one stage to another. He who is devoted to Me* should in no case act otherwise (i.e.,remain without embracing any Mrama or return from a higher Mrama to a lower one). A Brahmacari desiring to enter the life of a householder should take a wife belonging to his own Varna (grade of society); Unblemished (in point of pedigree and bodily and other characteristics), and younger (than himself) in age. If, however, he takes a wife belonging to a Varna different from his own, he should marry her after he has espoused a girl belonging to the same Varna as his won and that too in the proper order. Performance of sacrifices, study of the Vedas and bestowal of gifts are the duties of all the twice-born; whereas to accept gifts, to teach the Vedas and to officiate as a priest in sacrifices constitute the vocation of a Brahmana alone. (Looking upon acceptance of gifts as (something) detracting from his austerity, (Brahmanical) glory and renown, a Brahmana should live by the other two (vocations) alone or, perceiving the drawbacks of those vocations (too), should live by (gleaning) the food-grains left by the owner of a field after reaping the crop. This body of a Brahmana is surely not intended for trivial enjoyment but for (undergoing) hardship and investigation of truth in this life and for (attaining) everlasting happiness (in the shape of final beatitude) after death.
|
|
