Shloka : 188

साधवो येऽथ तै: सर्वैर्नेष्ठिकब्रह्मचारिव्रत ।

स्त्रीस्त्रैणसंड्.गदि वर्ज्यं जेतव्याश्चान्तरारय: ॥ 188 ॥

હવે સાધુના જે વિશેષ ધર્મ તે કહીએ છીએ: અમારે આશ્રિત જે સર્વ સાધુ તેમણે નૈષ્ઠિક બ્રહ્મચારીની પેઠે, સ્ત્રીઓનાં દર્શન-ભાષણાદિક પ્રસંગનો ત્યાગ કરવો; તથા સ્ત્રૈણ પુરુષનાં પ્રસંગાદિકનો ત્યાગ કરવો; અને અંત:શત્રુ જે કામ, ક્રોધ, લોભ અને માન આદિક - તેમને જીતવા. ॥ 188 ॥

Now, I explain the specific code of conduct for a saint. All My saints who have surrendered Me, should try to avoid the contact of a woman through sight, speech etc. just like staunch celibates; and they should try to avoid the contact of men, who are desirous of women's contact; and they should conquer the inner enemies like lust, anger, greed, ego etc. || 188 ||

Commentary

'Saints' means devotees of Shri Hari who have been initiated into a Tyagashram through Vasudevi Mahadiksha. Just like staunch celibates, they should try to avoid the contact through sight etc. of women and that of men who are desirous of women's contact. Because the virtues like celibacy, non-violence, lack of jealousy, piousness, forgiveness, compassion, truth, silence, honour intellect, shame, not to steal, calmness, self-control etc. are destroyed through the contact of women and that of men who desire women. And for the cycles of birth and death also the contact of women and lustful men are responsible.

Moreover Tyagi Sadhus should try to conquer the five great weaknesses, which create obstacles on the path of devotion of Shriji Maharaj. They are: 'greed' means greed of material possessions; 'lust' means desire to enjoy the sexual relationship with women; 'taste of tongue' means the desire to enjoy the tastes of tongue; 'affection' means affection for the bad company or for the relatives; 'ego' means ego of physical existence. These five weaknesses should be conquered with the help of knowledge, renouncement and ascetism etc.

Among these greed is the cause of the desires to enjoy the tastes of the tongue. And all other weaknesses also arise due to greed. Therefore, through the contact of great saints who have qualities like devotion, knowledge, ascetism etc., the Tyagi Sadhus should try to conquer the greed.

And lust is the refuge to all the weaknesses. Even the self-realized saints, who teach the knowledge of soul and supreme soul, are distracted by the enjoyments of sexual pleasures and become so involved in it that they consider it more pleasing than the bliss of unity with God. Therefore, evenif there is a danger of loosing one's life, one should never have sexual relationship with a woman. "The root cause of all happiness is true knowledge." And that could be attained only through a God-realized Guru. Therefore, the seekers of salvation should control their senses and serve their Guru. They should conquer their lust by renouncing the thoughts of a woman through their will power.

And the ego always brings misfortune. Ego generates anger and the anger destroys holy deeds, charity, prowess etc.. An egoistic person does not have control over his speech and therefore, he insults God-realized saints who could have helped him on the path of salvation. And he crosses the limits set by them. In the past whoever had attained great honour, they had attained it through renunciation of ego and through gentle and straight forward behaviour towards great saints. Therefore, one should not feel offended if someone uses harsh words or displays contempt, but should always remain (happy) cheerful. One should firmly follow the vow of celibacy because by weak will-power, the vow of celibacy could be broken. Enjoyments of tastes and affection will be discussed later.