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akr̥tvā bhaikṣacaraṇaṁ asamidhya ca pāvakam । anāturaḥ saptarātraṁ avakīrṇivrataṁ caret । । 2.187 । ।</blockquote>

akr̥tvā bhaikṣacaraṇaṁ asamidhya ca pāvakam । anāturaḥ saptarātraṁ avakīrṇivrataṁ caret । । 2.187 । ।</blockquote>

== आचरणधर्मः || Code of Conduct ==

== आचरणधर्मः || Code of Conduct ==

A child is said to have been initiated into Brahmacharyashrama with the chief goal of Veda Adhyayana and has to follow the rules laid down for them that are enlisted in various shastra texts. These texts that describe the rules as part of the ashrama dharmas include,

A child is said to have been initiated into Brahmacharyashrama with the chief goal of Veda Adhyayana and has to follow the rules laid down for them that are enlisted in various shastra texts. The Mahabharata says, <blockquote>ब्रह्मचारी व्रती नित्यं नित्यं दीक्षापरो वशी । गुरुच्छायानुगो नित्यमधीयानः सुयन्त्रितः । अविचाल्यव्रतोपेतं कृत्यं कुर्वन्वसेत्सदा ।।१२.६०.१९<ref name=":7" />

 

 

 

The texts that elaborate on the personal as well as social duties of a brahmachari as part of the ashrama dharmas include,

* Grhyasutras like Paraskara and Khadira  

* Grhyasutras like Paraskara and Khadira  

* Itihasa and Puranas like Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana, Agni Purana, etc.  

* Itihasa and Puranas like Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana, Agni Purana, etc.  

They elaborate on both the personal as well as social duties of a brahmachari.

For example, 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 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 (selfless service) to his preceptor.<ref name=":6" /> The Mahabharata says, <blockquote>वसन्नेको जपन्नेकः सर्वान्वेदान्युधिष्ठिर । एकस्मिन्नेव चाचार्ये शुश्रूषुर्मलपङ्कवान् ।।१२.६०.१८<ref name=":7" />

 

वसन्नेको जपन्नेकः सर्वान्वेदान्युधिष्ठिर। एकस्मिन्नेव चाचार्ये शुश्रूषुर्मलपङ्कवान्।। 12.60.18 (61.18)<ref name=":7" />  

 

 

 

 

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" />

vasanneko japannekaḥ sarvānvedānyudhiṣṭhira । ekasminneva cācārye śuśrūṣurmalapaṅkavān ।।12.60.18</blockquote>Meaning: A brahmachari should accomplish all tasks while contemplating on Vedic mantras and chanting the necessary mantras in solitude. Even when his body is tainted with dirt or mud, he must present himself to serve and always engross himself in the service of his teacher.<ref name=":13" />  

''brahmacārī gurukule vasan dānto gurorhitam । ācaran dāsavannīco gurau sudr̥ḍhasauhr̥daḥ ॥ 1॥''</blockquote>Respectful behavior towards gurus is regarded as one of the foremost duties of a brahmachari. Talking of respecting superiors, Manu says,<blockquote>शय्यासनेऽध्याचरिते श्रेयसा न समाविशेत् । शय्यासनस्थश्चैवैनं प्रत्युत्थायाभिवादयेत् । । २.११९ । ।

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" /> ''brahmacārī gurukule vasan dānto gurorhitam । ācaran dāsavannīco gurau sudr̥ḍhasauhr̥daḥ ॥ 1॥''</blockquote>Respectful behavior towards gurus is regarded as one of the foremost duties of a brahmachari. Talking of respecting superiors, Manu says,<blockquote>शय्यासनेऽध्याचरिते श्रेयसा न समाविशेत् । शय्यासनस्थश्चैवैनं प्रत्युत्थायाभिवादयेत् । । २.११९ । ।

ऊर्ध्वं प्राणा ह्युत्क्रामन्ति यूनः स्थविर आयति । प्रत्युत्थानाभिवादाभ्यां पुनस्तान्प्रतिपद्यते । । २.१२० । ।<ref name=":1">Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 2]</ref>

ऊर्ध्वं प्राणा ह्युत्क्रामन्ति यूनः स्थविर आयति । प्रत्युत्थानाभिवादाभ्यां पुनस्तान्प्रतिपद्यते । । २.१२० । ।<ref name=":1">Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 2]</ref>