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The Bhagavata Purana describes the ideal nature of a brahmachari as follows:<blockquote>सुशीलो मितभुग्दक्षः श्रद्दधानो जितेन्द्रियः । यावदर्थं व्यवहरेत्स्त्रीषु स्त्रीनिर्जितेषु च ॥ ६॥<ref name=":4" /> ''suśīlo mitabhugdakṣaḥ śraddadhāno jitendriyaḥ । yāvadarthaṁ vyavaharetstrīṣu strīnirjiteṣu ca ॥ 6॥''</blockquote>Meaning: He should be of a good character, moderate in eating, alert and prompt (in work), of reverential faith in shastras and self-controlled. It is only when absolutely necessary and to that much extent only that he should deal with women (eg. for getting bhiksha) or with those who are influenced by women.<ref name=":3" />

The Bhagavata Purana describes the ideal nature of a brahmachari as follows:<blockquote>सुशीलो मितभुग्दक्षः श्रद्दधानो जितेन्द्रियः । यावदर्थं व्यवहरेत्स्त्रीषु स्त्रीनिर्जितेषु च ॥ ६॥<ref name=":4" /> ''suśīlo mitabhugdakṣaḥ śraddadhāno jitendriyaḥ । yāvadarthaṁ vyavaharetstrīṣu strīnirjiteṣu ca ॥ 6॥''</blockquote>Meaning: He should be of a good character, moderate in eating, alert and prompt (in work), of reverential faith in shastras and self-controlled. It is only when absolutely necessary and to that much extent only that he should deal with women (eg. for getting bhiksha) or with those who are influenced by women.<ref name=":3" />

=== गुरुभक्तिः ॥ Behaviour towards the Guru ===

=== गुरुभक्तिः ॥ Behaviour towards the Guru ===

In Brahmacharyashrama, the stage of gaining knowledge, the importance of a [[Guru (गुरुः)|Guru]] is unparalled. A student therefore, should be ever engaged in doing seva (सेवा | selfless service) to his preceptor.<ref name=":6" /> In fact, the behaviour of students towards their Gurus is specifically elaborated in detail in order to educate the young minds about the value of a Guru in life.  

In Brahmacharyashrama, the stage of gaining knowledge, the importance of a [[Guru (गुरुः)|Guru]] is unparalled. A student therefore, should be ever engaged in doing seva (सेवा | selfless service) to his preceptor.<ref name=":6" />

 

 

 

 

 

In fact, the behaviour of students towards their Gurus is specifically elaborated in detail in order to educate the young minds about the value of a Guru in life.  

According to the Bhagavata Purana, a brahmachari should dwell in the house of his preceptor. He should be self-controlled and comply with what is agreeable to the preceptor. He should behave humbly like a servant, and entertain very strong affection to his teacher.<ref name=":3" /><blockquote>ब्रह्मचारी गुरुकुले वसन् दान्तो गुरोर्हितम् । आचरन् दासवन्नीचो गुरौ सुदृढसौहृदः ॥ १॥<ref name=":4" />

According to the Bhagavata Purana, a brahmachari should dwell in the house of his preceptor. He should be self-controlled and comply with what is agreeable to the preceptor. He should behave humbly like a servant, and entertain very strong affection to his teacher.<ref name=":3" /><blockquote>ब्रह्मचारी गुरुकुले वसन् दान्तो गुरोर्हितम् । आचरन् दासवन्नीचो गुरौ सुदृढसौहृदः ॥ १॥<ref name=":4" />

* One must not speak of one's teacher by taking merely his name even behind his back. And must not mimic the teacher's gait, speech and demeanor.

* One must not speak of one's teacher by taking merely his name even behind his back. And must not mimic the teacher's gait, speech and demeanor.

* A Brahmachari must bring as per need water-filled pots, flowers, cowdung, clay and kusha grass and ask for bhiksha everyday.

* A Brahmachari must bring, as per need, water-filled pots, flowers, cowdung, clay and kusha grass and ask for bhiksha everyday.

Infact, this is ordained as a brahmachari's constant behaviour also towards other gurus imparting knowledge, father and others who are well-wishers saving him from adharma. One must behave as one does with a guru also with those senior by knowledge, tapas, virtues, son of the guru and anyone related to the guru. It is said that being a teacher of Vedas, a guru's son is considered equivalent to the guru himself, even if younger or same aged as oneself or a student in Yajna karma. Because, just as one obtains water by digging the ground with a spade, so does one obtain the knowledge held by the guru through Seva.<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>विद्यागुरुष्वेवं एव नित्या वृत्तिः स्वयोनिषु । प्रतिषेधत्सु चाधर्माद्धितं चोपदिशत्स्वपि । । २.२०६ । ।

Infact, this is ordained as a brahmachari's constant behaviour also towards other gurus imparting knowledge, father and others who are well-wishers saving him from adharma (Manu. 2.206).<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":1" /> It says, <blockquote>

श्रेयःसु गुरुवद्वृत्तिं नित्यं एव समाचरेत् । गुरुपुत्रेषु चार्येषु गुरोश्चैव स्वबन्धुषु । । २.२०७ । ।

श्रेयःसु गुरुवद्वृत्तिं नित्यं एव समाचरेत् । गुरुपुत्रेषु चार्येषु गुरोश्चैव स्वबन्धुषु । । २.२०७ । ।

यथा खनन्खनित्रेण नरो वार्यधिगच्छति । तथा गुरुगतां विद्यां शुश्रूषुरधिगच्छति । । २.२१८ । ।<ref name=":1" />

यथा खनन्खनित्रेण नरो वार्यधिगच्छति । तथा गुरुगतां विद्यां शुश्रूषुरधिगच्छति । । २.२१८ । ।<ref name=":1" />

śreyaḥsu guruvadvr̥ttiṁ nityaṁ eva samācaret । guruputreṣu cāryeṣu guroścaiva svabandhuṣu । । 2.207 । ।

śreyaḥsu guruvadvr̥ttiṁ nityaṁ eva samācaret । guruputreṣu cāryeṣu guroścaiva svabandhuṣu । । 2.207 । ।

bālaḥ samānajanmā vā śiṣyo vā yajñakarmaṇi । adhyāpayangurusuto guruvanmānaṁ arhati । । 2.208 । ।

bālaḥ samānajanmā vā śiṣyo vā yajñakarmaṇi । adhyāpayangurusuto guruvanmānaṁ arhati । । 2.208 । ।

yathā khanankhanitreṇa naro vāryadhigacchati । tathā gurugatāṁ vidyāṁ śuśrūṣuradhigacchati । । 2.218 । ।</blockquote>Therefore, Seva of three people ie. the mother, father and guru is considered the greatest austerity. It gets accomplished one's duties. Hence, one should always do that which is dear to the mother, father and guru. For, by their satisfaction all austerities are considered accomplished.<blockquote>तेषां त्रयाणां शुश्रूषा परमं तप उच्यते ... । । २.२२९ । । त्रिष्वेतेष्वितिकृत्यं हि पुरुषस्य समाप्यते ... । । २.२३७ । ।

yathā khanankhanitreṇa naro vāryadhigacchati । tathā gurugatāṁ vidyāṁ śuśrūṣuradhigacchati । । 2.218 । ।</blockquote>Meaning: One must behave as one does with a guru also with those senior by knowledge, tapas, virtues, son of the guru and anyone related to the guru. It is said that being a teacher of Vedas, a guru's son is considered equivalent to the guru himself, even if younger or same aged as oneself or a student in Yajna karma. Because, just as one obtains water by digging the ground with a spade, so does one obtain the knowledge held by the guru through Seva.

 

Therefore, Seva of three people ie. the mother, father and guru is considered the greatest austerity. It gets accomplished one's duties. And so, one should always do that which is dear to the mother, father and guru. For, by their satisfaction all austerities are considered accomplished.<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>तेषां त्रयाणां शुश्रूषा परमं तप उच्यते ... । । २.२२९ । । त्रिष्वेतेष्वितिकृत्यं हि पुरुषस्य समाप्यते ... । । २.२३७ । ।

तयोर्नित्यं प्रियं कुर्यादाचार्यस्य च सर्वदा । तेष्वेव त्रिषु तुष्टेषु तपः सर्वं समाप्यते । । २.२२८ । ।<ref name=":1" />

तयोर्नित्यं प्रियं कुर्यादाचार्यस्य च सर्वदा । तेष्वेव त्रिषु तुष्टेषु तपः सर्वं समाप्यते । । २.२२८ । ।<ref name=":1" />

teṣāṁ trayāṇāṁ śuśrūṣā paramaṁ tapa ucyate ... । । 2.229 । । triṣveteṣvitikr̥tyaṁ hi puruṣasya samāpyate ... । । 2.237 । ।

teṣāṁ trayāṇāṁ śuśrūṣā paramaṁ tapa ucyate ... । । 2.229 । । triṣveteṣvitikr̥tyaṁ hi puruṣasya samāpyate ... । । 2.237 । ।

tayornityaṁ priyaṁ kuryādācāryasya ca sarvadā । teṣveva triṣu tuṣṭeṣu tapaḥ sarvaṁ samāpyate । । 2.228 । ।</blockquote>The Manusmrti also emphasizes that one who honours one's mother, father and guru is considered to have observed all the dharmas. While, the one who dishonours them, all his dharmas as well as karmas become fruitless.<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>सर्वे तस्यादृता धर्मा यस्यैते त्रय आदृताः । अनादृतास्तु यस्यैते सर्वास्तस्याफलाः क्रियाः । । २.२३४ । ।<ref name=":1" /> sarve tasyādr̥tā dharmā yasyaite traya ādr̥tāḥ । anādr̥tāstu yasyaite sarvāstasyāphalāḥ kriyāḥ । । 2.234 । ।</blockquote>Mahabharata

tayornityaṁ priyaṁ kuryādācāryasya ca sarvadā । teṣveva triṣu tuṣṭeṣu tapaḥ sarvaṁ samāpyate । । 2.228 । ।</blockquote>The Manusmrti also emphasizes that one who honours one's mother, father and guru is considered to have observed all the dharmas. While, the one who dishonours them, all his dharmas as well as karmas become fruitless.<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>सर्वे तस्यादृता धर्मा यस्यैते त्रय आदृताः । अनादृतास्तु यस्यैते सर्वास्तस्याफलाः क्रियाः । । २.२३४ । ।<ref name=":1" /> sarve tasyādr̥tā dharmā yasyaite traya ādr̥tāḥ । anādr̥tāstu yasyaite sarvāstasyāphalāḥ kriyāḥ । । 2.234 । ।</blockquote>He should serve or worship the preceptor for the sake of learning and should be attentive. (26)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He should serve or worship the preceptor for the sake of learning and should be attentive. (26)

And also he should study when invited. Whatever he obtains, he should present it to him. He should always promote his interest by all acts of mind, speech and body. (27)<ref name=":8" />

And also he should study when invited. Whatever he obtains, he should present it to him. He should always promote his interest by all acts of mind, speech and body. (27)<ref name=":8" />

ekaḥ śayīta sarvatra na retaḥ skandayetkva cit । kāmāddhi skandayanreto hinasti vrataṁ ātmanaḥ । । 2.180 । ।  

ekaḥ śayīta sarvatra na retaḥ skandayetkva cit । kāmāddhi skandayanreto hinasti vrataṁ ātmanaḥ । । 2.180 । ।  

svapne siktvā brahmacārī dvijaḥ śukraṁ akāmataḥ । snātvārkaṁ arcayitvā triḥ punarmāṁ ityr̥caṁ japet । । 2.181 । । </blockquote>

svapne siktvā brahmacārī dvijaḥ śukraṁ akāmataḥ । snātvārkaṁ arcayitvā triḥ punarmāṁ ityr̥caṁ japet । । 2.181 । । </blockquote>शुश्रूषां सततं कुर्वन्गुरोः संप्रणमेत च। षट्‌कर्मस्वनिवृत्तश्च न प्रवृत्तश्च सर्वशः।। 20

 

 

 

He must not exhibit his authority in his behaviour and must avoid the company of those who foster hatred. This is ashrama dharma enunciated for a brahmachari, says bhishma to Yudhishthira in the Rajadharmanushasana Parva (Adhyaya 61) in the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata.<ref name=":13" />

== The Period of Studentship ==

== The Period of Studentship ==

The Yajnavalkya Smrti says,

The Yajnavalkya Smrti says,