इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे वानप्रस्थाश्रमाचारधर्मो नामाष्टपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-eighth chapter, named 'The Duties of the Vanaprastha Ashrama,' in the Svarga-khanda of the glorious Padma Mahapurana.
व्यास उवाच- एवं वनाश्रमे स्थित्वा तृतीयं भागमायुषः । चतुर्थं चायुषो भागं संन्यासेन नयेत्क्रमात्
Vyasa said: Thus, having lived in the forest ashram for a third part of his life, he should spend the fourth part of his life in the order of renunciation, in due sequence.
अग्नीनात्मनि संस्थाप्य द्विजः प्रव्रजितो भवेत् । योगाभ्यासरतः शांतो ब्रह्मविद्यापरायणः
Having established the sacred fires within himself, the twice-born should become a renunciant, devoted to the practice of yoga, peaceful, and intent on the knowledge of Brahman.
यदा मनसि संपन्नं वैराग्यं सर्ववस्तुषु । तदा संन्यासमिच्छेच्च पतितः स्याद्विपर्यये
When dispassion toward all objects arises in his mind, then he should desire renunciation; otherwise, he would fall.
प्राजापत्यां निरूप्येष्टिमाग्नेयीमथवा पुनः । दांतः शुक्लकषायोसौ ब्रह्माश्रममुपाश्रयेत्
Having performed the Prājāpatya and Āgneya sacrifices, or again, being self-controlled and wearing white or ochre garments, he should resort to the ashram of Brahman.
ज्ञानसंन्यासिनः केचिद्वेदसंन्यासिनोऽपरे । कर्मसंन्यासिनस्त्वन्ये त्रिविधाः परिकीर्तिताः
Some are renunciants of knowledge, others of the Vedas, and still others of action; thus, three kinds are spoken of.
यः सर्वत्र विनिर्मुक्तो निर्द्वंद्वश्चैव निर्भयः । प्रोच्यते ज्ञानसंन्यासी आत्मन्येव व्यवस्थितः
He who is free from all attachments, beyond dualities, and fearless, is called a renunciant of knowledge, established in the self alone.
वेदमेवाभ्यसेन्नित्यं निराशीर्निष्परिग्रहः । प्रोच्यते वेदसंन्यासी मुमुक्षुर्विजितेंद्रियः
He who always studies the Veda, without desire or possessions, is called a renunciant of the Veda, seeking liberation and with senses subdued.
यस्त्वग्निमात्मसाकृत्वा ब्रह्मार्पणपरो द्विजः । ज्ञेयः स कर्मसंन्यासी महायज्ञपरायणः
But the twice-born who, making fire his very self, is devoted to offering to Brahman, should be known as a renunciant of action, intent on the great sacrifice.
त्रयाणामपि चैतेषां ज्ञानी त्वभ्यधिको मतः । न तस्य विद्यते कार्यं न लिंगं वा विपश्चितः
Of these three, the knower is considered superior; for him, there is no prescribed duty nor any external mark, being wise.
निर्ममो निर्भयः शांतो निर्द्वंद्वः पर्णभोजनः । जीर्णकौपीनवासाः स्यान्नग्नो वा ध्यानतत्परः
He should be without possessiveness, fearless, peaceful, beyond dualities, eating leaves, wearing worn-out loincloths, or even naked, intent on meditation.
ब्रह्मचारी जिताहारो ग्रामादन्नं समाहरेत् । अध्यात्मरतिरासीत निरपेक्षो निराशिषः
He should be celibate, moderate in food, collect food from the village, delight in the self, unattached, and without expectation.
आत्मनैव सहायेन सुखार्थं विचरेदिह । नाभिनंदेत मरणं नाभिनंदेत जीवनम्
With only himself as companion, he should wander here for the sake of happiness, neither desiring death nor desiring life.
कालमेव प्रतीक्षेत निर्देशं भृतको यथा । नाध्येतव्यं न वर्तव्यं श्रोतव्यं न कदाचन
He should simply await his time, like a servant awaiting orders; he should never study, act, or listen to anything.
एवं ज्ञानपरो योगी ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते । एकवासाथ वा विद्वान्कौपीनाच्छादनोपि वा
Thus, a yogi devoted to knowledge becomes fit for union with Brahman, whether he lives with a single garment or, being wise, is covered only by a loincloth.
मुंडी शिखी वाथ भवेत्त्रिदंडी निष्परिग्रहः । काषायवासाः सततं ध्यानयोगपरायणः
He may be shaven-headed or wear a topknot, may carry three staffs, and possess nothing; always clad in ochre robes, ever intent on meditation and yoga.
ग्रामांते वृक्षमूले वा वसेद्देवालयेपि वा । समः शत्रौ तथा मित्रे तथा मानापमानयोः
He may dwell at the edge of a village, at the root of a tree, or even in a temple; remaining equal toward enemy and friend, as well as in honor and dishonor.
भैक्ष्येण वर्तयेन्नित्यं नैकान्नादी भवेत्क्वच्चित् । यस्तु मोहेन वान्यस्मादेकान्नादी भवेद्यतिः
He should always subsist on alms, never taking food from only one house; but if, out of delusion, an ascetic takes food from a single house,
न तस्य निष्कृतिः काचिद्धर्मशास्त्रेषु दृश्यते । रागद्वेषवियुक्तात्मा समलोष्टाश्मकांचनः
for him, no expiation is found in the scriptures of dharma; his mind should be free from attachment and aversion, regarding clod, stone, and gold as the same.
प्राणिहिंसानिवृत्तश्च मौनी स्यात्सर्वनिस्पृहः । दृष्टिपूतं न्यसेत्पादं वस्त्रपूतं जलं पिबेत्
He should refrain from harming living beings, be silent, and free from all desires; place his foot only where his gaze has purified, and drink water filtered through cloth.
सत्यपूतां वदेद्वाणीं मनःपूतं समाचरेत् । नैकत्र निवसेद्देशे वर्षाभ्योन्यत्र भिक्षुकः
He should speak words purified by truth, act with a mind purified by discipline; a mendicant should not reside in the same place during the rains, but move elsewhere.
स्नात्वा शौचयुतो नित्यं कमंडलुकरः शुचिः । ब्रह्मचर्यरतो नित्यं वनवासरतो भवेत्
Having bathed and always maintaining purity, holding a water-pot, he should be chaste at all times and devoted to living in the forest.
मोक्षशास्त्रेषु निरतो ब्रह्मसूत्री जितेंद्रियः । दंभाहंकारनिर्मुक्तो निंदापैशुन्यवर्जितः
He should be devoted to the scriptures of liberation, versed in the Brahma-sutras, with senses controlled; free from hypocrisy and pride, avoiding slander and malice.
आत्मज्ञानगुणोपेतो यदि मोक्षमवाप्नुयात् । अभ्यसेत्सततं देवं प्रणवाख्यं सनातनम्
Endowed with the qualities of self-knowledge, if he attains liberation, he should constantly practice the eternal deity known as Pranava (Om).
स्नात्वाचम्य विधानेन शुचिर्देवालयादिषु । यज्ञोपवीती शांतात्मा कुशपाणिः समाहितः
Having bathed and performed purification according to rule, pure in temples and such places, wearing the sacred thread, with a peaceful mind, holding kusa grass, concentrated.
धौतकाषायवसनो तस्मिञ्छन्नतनूरुहः । अधियज्ञं ब्रह्मजपेदाधिदैविकमेव च
Wearing washed ochre garments, with body hair covered, he should recite the Brahman for the sacrifice, as well as that which pertains to the deities.
आध्यात्मिकं च सततं वेदान्ताभिहितं च यत् । पुत्रेषु चाथ निवसन्ब्रह्मचारी यतिर्मुनिः
And always recite that which is spiritual and taught in the Vedanta; whether living among sons or as a celibate, the ascetic sage.
वेदमेवाभ्यसेन्नित्यं स याति परमां गतिम् । अहिंसासत्यमस्तेयं ब्रह्मचर्यं तपः परम्
He should always study the Veda; he attains the highest state. Non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy, and supreme austerity—
क्षमादया च संतोषो व्रतान्यस्य विशेषतः । वेदांतज्ञाननिष्ठो वा पंचयज्ञान्समाहितः
forbearance, compassion, and contentment are especially his vows; established in Vedantic knowledge, intent on the five sacrifices.
कुर्य्यादहरहः स्नात्वा भिक्षार्थे नैव तेन हि । होममंत्रान्जपेन्नित्यं कालेकाले समाहितः
He should perform them daily, having bathed, and never for the sake of alms; he should always recite the mantras for the fire-offering, with concentration at the proper times.