Text 43] Creation of the Kumaras and Others 475
TRANSLATION
Then the thread ceremony for the twice-born was inaugurated, as were
the rules to be followed for at least one year after acceptance of the Vedas,
rules for observing complete abstinence from sex life, vocations in terms of
Vedic injunctions, various professional duties in household life, and the
method of maintaining a livelihood without anyone’s cooperation by
picking up rejected grains.
PURPORT
During student life the brahmacaris were given full instructions about
the importance of the human form of life. Thus the basic education was
designed to encourage the student in becoming free from family encum-
brances. Only students who were unable to accept such a vow in life were
allowed to go home and marry a suitable wife. Otherwise, the student
would remain a permanent brahmacari, observing complete abstinence
from sex life for his whole life. It all depended on the quality of the
student’s training. We had the opportunily to meet an avowed brahmacari
in the personality of our spiritual master, Or Visnupada Sri- Srimad
Bhaktisiddhanta Gosvami Maharaja. Such a great soul is called a naisthika-
brahmacari.
TEXT 43
dara Tefen: Fan aa |
~ .
mre gaa: Wl Tela cafattaaT 1123
vaikhanasa valakhilyau-
dumbarah phenapa vane
nyase kuti-cakah purvam
bahvodo hamsa-niskriyau
vaikhanasah—the section of men who retire from active life and live on
half-boiled meals; valakhilya—one who quits his former stock of grains
on receipt of more; audumbarah—vone who lives on what he gets from the
direction towards which he starts after rising from bed; phenapah—one
who lives on the fruits which automatically fall from the tree; vane—in the
forest; nyase—in the order of renunciation; kuti-cakah—life in the family
without attachment; purvam—in the beginning; bahvodah—giving up all
material activities and engaging fully in transcendental service; hamsah—
