गुरुस्त्रीभिर्युवतिभिः कारयेन्नात्मनो युवा ॥८॥
keÅ›a-prasÄdhanonmarda-
snapanÄbhyañjanÄdikam
guru-strībhir yuvatibhiḥ
kÄrayen nÄtmano yuvÄ
keÅ›a-prasÄdhana - brushing the hair; unmarda - massaging the body; snapana - bathing; abhyañjana-Ädikam - massaging the body with oil and so on; guru-strÄ«bhiḥ - by the wife of the spiritual master; yuvatibhiḥ - very young; kÄrayet - should allow to do; na - never; Ätmanaḥ - for personal service; yuvÄ - if the student is a young man.
If the wife of the spiritual master is young, a young brahmacÄrÄ« should not allow her to care for his hair, massage his body with oil, or bathe him with affection like a mother.
The relationship between the student or disciple and the wife of the spiritual master or teacher is like that between son and mother. A mother sometimes cares for her son by combing his hair, massaging his body with oil, or bathing him. Similarly, the wife of the teacher is also a mother (guru-patnÄ«), and therefore she may also care for the disciple in a motherly way. If the wife of the teacher is a young woman, however, a young brahmacÄrÄ« should not allow such a mother to touch him. This is strictly prohibited. There are seven kinds of mothers:
Ätma-mÄtÄ guroḥ patnÄ«
brÄhmaṇī rÄja-patnikÄ
dhenur dhÄtrÄ« tathÄ pá¹›thvÄ«
saptaitÄ mÄtaraḥ smá¹›tÄḥ
These mothers are the original mother, the wife of the teacher or spiritual master, the wife of a brÄhmaṇa, the king’s wife, the cow, the nurse and the earth. Unnecessary association with women, even with one’s mother, sister or daughter, is strictly prohibited. This is human civilization. A civilization that allows men to mix unrestrictedly with women is an animal civilization. In Kali-yuga, people are extremely liberal, but mixing with women and talking with them as equals actually constitutes an uncivilized way of life.
