Srutis about celibacy

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Chandogya Upanishad

 

Text 24

 

atha yad yajna ity acaksate brahmacaryam eva tad brahmacaryena hy eva

yo jnata tam vindate 'tha yad istam ity acaksate brahmacaryam eva tad

brahmacaryena hy evestvatmanam anuvindate.

 

What is called "sacrifice" is actuallly celibacy, for by the sacrifice

of celibacy one understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead. What is

called "worship" is actually celibacy, for by worshiping the Supreme

Personality of Godhead in celibacy, one personally meets Him.

 

Text 25

 

atha yat sat-trayanam ity acaksate brahmacaryam eva tad brahmacaryena

hi eva sata atmanas tranam vindate 'tha yan maunam ity acaksate brahmacaryam

eva tad brahmacaryena hy evatmanam anuvidya manute.

 

What is called "self-protection" is actually celibacy, for by celibacy

one protects the interest of the eternal spirit soul. What is called

"silence" is actually celibacy, for by celibacy one directly perceives the

Supreme Personality of Godhead and meditates on Him in silence.

 

Text 26

 

atha yad anasakayanam ity acaksate brahmacaryam eva tad esa hy atma na

nasyati yam- brahmacaryenanuvindate 'tha yad aranyayanam ity acaksate

brahmacaryam eva tad arhas" ca ha vai nyas" carnavau brahmaloke

trtiyasyamitau divi tadairamadiyam- saras tad asvatthah" somasavanas tad

aparajita pur brahmanah" prabhu-vimitam- hiranmayam

 

What is called "deathlessness" is actually celibacy, for by celibacy

one understands the spirit soul, which never dies. What is called "living as

a hermit in the forest" (aranyayanam) is actually celibacy, for by celibacy

one attains the third realm of Brahman, where are the two oceans Ara and

Nya, the Airamadiya Lake, the Somavasana asvattha tree, the city Aparajita,

and the opulent abode of Brahma.

 

Text 27

 

tad ya evaitav aram ca nyas carnavau brahmaloke brahmacaryenanuvindanti

tesam evaisa brahmalokas tesam sarvesu lokesu kamacaro bhavati

 

By practicing celibacy one travels to the Ara and Nya oceans in

Brahmaloka. In this Brahmaloka all one's desires are fulfilled.

 

(Taken from Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya, Pramana Khanda by Thakura Bhaktivinoda

translated by Kusakratha Prabhu.)