Brahmacarya – Anuśīlana.in

varṇānām āśramāṇāṁ ca janma-bhūmy-anusāriṇīḥ

varṇānām āśramāṇāṁ ca janma-bhūmy-anusāriṇīḥ |
āsan prakṛtayo nṝṇāṁ nīcair nīcottamottamāḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.17.15)

“The lower, low, higher, and higher characteristics of the varṇas and āśramas of human beings have come about according to [their] place of birth [from the body of the Puruṣa described earlier in SB 11.17.13–14, i.e., the śūdras, vaiśyas, kṣatriyas, and brāhmaṇas are ranked from low to high in accord with their respective birth places from the feet, thighs, arms, and face of the Puruṣa, and gṛhasthas, brahmacārīs, vānaprasthas, and sannyāsīs are ranked from low to high in accord with their respective birth places from the loins, heart, chest, and head of the Puruṣa].”

Read on →

smaraṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ keliḥ prekṣaṇaṁ guhya-bhāṣaṇam

smaraṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ keliḥ prekṣaṇaṁ guhya-bhāṣaṇam |
saṅkalpo’dhyavasāyaś ca kriyā-nivṛttir eva ca ||
etan maithunam aṣṭāṅgaṁ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ |
viparītaṁ brahmacaryam etad evāṣṭa-lakṣaṇam ||
(Vairāgya-mārtaṇḍa: 12.144-145; cited in Sādhana-dīpikā)

“Remembering, mentioning, playing [alt., joking], looking, conversing privately, fancying, pursuing, and completing the act [itself]—the wise say these are the eight aspects of intercourse. The opposite of these are the eight characteristics of brahmacarya.”

Read on →

brahmacaryaṁ sadā rakṣed aṣṭadhā maithunaṁ pṛthak

brahmacaryaṁ sadā rakṣed aṣṭadhā maithunaṁ pṛthak |
smaraṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ keliḥ prekṣaṇaṁ guhya-bhāṣaṇam ||
saṅkalpo’dhyavasāyaś ca kriyā-niṣpattir eva ca |
etan maithunam aṣṭāṅgaṁ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ ||
(Dakṣa Smṛti: 7.31–33)

“One should always observe brahmacarya to the exclusion of eightfold intercourse. Remembering, mentioning, playing [alt., joking], looking, conversing privately, fancying, pursuing, and completing the act [itself]—the wise say these are the eight aspects of intercourse. The opposite of these are the eight characteristics of brahmacarya.”

Read on →

brahmacaryeṇa saṁtiṣṭhed apramādena maskarī

brahmacaryeṇa saṁtiṣṭhed apramādena maskarī |
darśanaṁ sparśanaṁ keliḥ kīrtanaṁ guhya-bhāṣaṇam ||
saṅkalpo’dhyavasāyaś ca kriyā-nivṛtttir eva ca |
etan maithunam aṣṭāṅgaṁ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ ||
viparītaṁ brahmacaryam anuṣṭheyaṁ mumukṣubhiḥ |
(Kaṭharudra Upaniṣad: 8.9–11)

“A sannyāsī (maskarī) should observe brahmacarya with vigilance. Looking, touching, playing [alt., joking], mentioning, conversing privately, fancying, pursuing, and completion of the act [itself]—the wise say these are the eight aspects of intercourse. The opposite [of these eight], brahmacarya, is to be practiced by seekers of mukti.”

Read on →