# SB 7.12.8 ## Text > keśa-prasādhanonmarda- > snapanābhyañjanādikam > guru-strībhir yuvatibhiḥ > kārayen nātmano yuvā ## Synonyms *keśa*-*prasādhana*—brushing the hair; *unmarda*—massaging the body; *snapana*—bathing; *abhyañjana*-*ādikam*—massaging the body with oil and so on; *guru*-*strībhiḥ*—by the wife of the spiritual master; *yuvatibhiḥ*—very young; *kārayet*—should allow to do; *na*—never; *ātmanaḥ*—for personal service; *yuvā*—if the student is a young man. ## Translation **If the wife of the spiritual master is young, a young brahmacārī should not allow her to care for his hair, massage his body with oil, or bathe him with affection like a mother.** ## Purport 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-patnī*), 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 *brahmacārī* should not allow such a mother to touch him. This is strictly prohibited. There are seven kinds of mothers: > ātma-mātā guroḥ patnī > brāhmaṇī rāja-patnikā > dhenur dhātrī tathā pṛthvī > saptaitā mātaraḥ smṛtāḥ These mothers are the original mother, the wife of the teacher or spiritual master, the wife of a *brāhmaṇa,* 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.