raddadhāno jitendriyaḥ
śraddadhāno jitendriyaḥ
yāvad-arthaṁ vyavaharet
strīṣu strī-nirjiteṣu ca
A brahmacārī should be well behaved, in control of his eating, industrious, faithful, in control of his senses, and should interact with women and men controlled by women only as much as necessary.
He may have to go to householders to beg, or go to the guru’s house (assuming the guru is married) to do service. That much he can interact with women.
|| 7.12.7 ||
varjayet pramadā-gāthām
agṛhastho bṛhad-vrataḥ
indriyāṇi pramāthīni
haranty api yater manaḥ
Anyone who has not accepted the gṛhastha-āśrama, must avoid talking with women or about women, for the senses are so powerful that they may agitate even the mind of a sannyāsī or brahmacārī for life.
Other than householders, all should avoid talk with women. Bṛhad-vrataḥ refers to a brahmacārī who vows to remain that way for life.
|| 7.12.8||
keśa-prasādhanonmarda-
snapanābhyañjanādikam
guru-strībhir yuvatibhiḥ
kārayen nātmano yuvā
If the wife of the guru is young, a young brahmacārī should not allow her to dress his hair, massage his body with oil, or bathe him with affection like a mother.
If the wife of the guru sees the student as a son out of affection and wants to dress his hair or do other such services by her own will, it should not be allowed.
|| 7.12.9 ||
nanv agniḥ pramadā nāma
ghṛta-kumbha-samaḥ pumān
sutām api raho jahyād
anyadā yāvad-artha-kṛt
Woman is compared to fire, and man is compared to a butter pot. Therefore a man should avoid associating even with his own daughter in a secluded place. One should associate with women only for important business, even if one not alone.
The reason for the rule is given in this verse. Rahaḥ means alone. Anyadā means in other circumstances, even if not alone. Even if not alone one should associate with women only when necessary to fulfill certain goals, and only for that long.
|| 7.12.10 ||
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