गृहस्थवृत्तयस्तिस्रस्तासां निश्रेयसं परं। परस्परं तथैवाहुश्चातुराश्रम्यमेव च
There are three modes of household life, each leading to the highest good; likewise, it is said that the fourfold division of life is supreme.
ये चोक्तानि यमास्तेषां सर्वं कार्यं बुभूषुणा। कुंभधान्यैरुंच्छशिलैः कापोतीं वृत्तिमाश्रितैः
All the restraints previously mentioned must be observed by one who desires fulfillment, including those who follow the pot-carrying, gleaning, and pigeon-like ways of living.
यस्मिंश्चैते वसंत्यर्थास्तद्राष्ट्रमभिवर्धते। पूर्वापरान्दशपरान्पुनाति च पितामहान्
Where these means of livelihood are found, that region prospers; it purifies ancestors of ten generations before and after.
गृहस्थवृत्तिमप्येतां वर्तयेद्यो गतव्यथः। स चक्रधरलोकानां समानाम्प्राप्नुयाद्गतिम्
Whoever, free from affliction, practices even this household mode of life, attains the same realm as those who bear the discus.
जितेंद्रियाणामथवा गतिरेषा विधीयते। स्वर्गलोको गृहस्थानां प्रतिष्ठा नियतात्मनां
For those who have mastered their senses, this path is prescribed; the world of heaven is the established abode for householders of disciplined mind.
ब्रह्मणाभिहता श्रेणी ह्येषा यस्याः प्रमुच्यते। द्वितीयां क्रमशः प्राप्य स्वर्गलोके महीयते
This order, established by Brahma, when left behind, leads one to the second stage, where one is honored in the heavenly world.
तृतीयामपि वक्ष्यामि वानप्रस्थाश्रमं शृणु। गृहस्थस्तु यदा पश्येद्वलीपलितमात्मनः
I will now speak of the third, the forest-dweller stage; listen: when a householder perceives wrinkles and gray hair upon himself—
अपत्यस्यैव चापत्यं वनमेव तदाश्रयेत्। गृहस्थव्रतखिन्नानां वानप्रस्थाश्रमौकसां
And when his children have children, then he should resort to the forest; for householders weary of their vows, the forest-dweller stage is prescribed.
श्रूयतां भीष्म भद्रं ते सर्वलोकाश्रयात्मनां। दीक्षापूर्वं निवृत्तानां पुण्यदेशनिवासिनां
Hear, O Bhishma, blessings to you, about those who are the refuge of all worlds: those who, after initiation, dwell in holy places, having withdrawn from worldly life.
प्रज्ञाबलयुजां पुंसां सत्यशौचक्षमावतां। तृतीयमायुषो भागं वानप्रस्थाश्रमे वसन्
Those men endowed with wisdom and strength, possessing truth, purity, and patience, spend the third portion of their lives in the forest-dweller stage.
तानेवाग्नीन्परिचरेद्यजमानो दिवौकसः। नियतो नियताहारो विष्णुभक्तिप्रसक्तिमान्
They should tend the same sacred fires as before, being devoted to sacrifice, disciplined, moderate in food, and absorbed in devotion to Vishnu.
तदाग्निहोत्रमात्राणि यज्ञांगानि च सर्वशः। अकृष्टं वै व्रीहियवं नीवारं विघसानि च
At that time, only the offerings for the sacred fire and all the components of sacrifice are performed; with unplowed rice, barley, wild grains, and gleaned food.
ग्रीष्मे हविष्यं प्रायच्छेत्स माघेष्वपि पंचसु। वानप्रस्थाश्रमेप्येताश्चतस्रो वृत्तयः स्मृताः
In summer, one should offer sacrificial food, and likewise in the five months of winter; in the forest-dweller stage, these four modes of living are remembered.
सद्यः प्रभक्षकाः केचित्केचिन्मासिकसंचयान्। वार्षिकान्संचयान्केचित्केचिद्द्वादशवार्षिकान्
Some eat immediately what is obtained, some store food for a month, some for a year, and others for twelve years.
कुर्वन्त्यतिथिपूजार्थं यज्ञतन्त्रार्थमेव च। अभ्रावकाशा वर्षासु हेमंते जलसंश्रयाः
They do this for the worship of guests and for the purpose of sacrifice; in the rainy season, they dwell in open spaces, and in winter, they rely on water.
ग्रीष्मे पंचाग्नितपसः शरद्यमृतभोजनाः। भूमौ विपरिवर्तंते तिष्ठंति प्रपदैरपि
In summer, they practice the austerity of five fires; in autumn, they eat nectar-like food; they move about on the earth, even standing on their toes.
स्थानासने च वर्तन्ते वसनेष्वपि संस्थिते। दंतोलूखलिनः केचिदश्मकुट्टास्तथा परे
They remain in standing or sitting postures, even when resting; some use pestles and mortars, while others crush with stones.
शुक्लपक्षे पिबन्त्येके यवागूं क्वथितां क्वचित्। कृष्णपक्षे पिबंत्येके भुंजते च यथागमम्
Some drink boiled barley gruel during the bright fortnight, while others do so in the dark fortnight, and some eat according to prescribed rules.
मूलैरेके फलैरेके जलैरेके दृढव्रताः। वर्त्तयंति यथान्यायं वैखानस धृतव्रताः
Some sustain themselves with roots, others with fruits, and others with water alone, steadfast in their vows; thus the Vaikhānasa ascetics live according to prescribed order, firm in their discipline.
एताश्चान्याश्च विविधा दीक्षास्तेषां मनस्विनां। चतुर्थश्चौपनिषदो धर्मः साधारणो मतः
These and various other initiations belong to those resolute ones; and the fourth, the Upanishadic Dharma, is considered common to all.
वानप्रस्थो गृहस्थश्च सततोन्यः प्रवर्त्तते। तस्मिन्नेव युगे तात विप्रैः सर्वार्थदर्शिभिः
The forest-dweller and the householder both continue constantly, O dear one, in the same age, among the Brahmins who see all purposes.
अगस्त्यश्च सप्तर्षयो मधुच्छंदो गवेषणः। सांकृतिः सदिवो भांडिर्यवप्रोथो ह्यथर्वणः
Agastya and the Seven Sages, Madhucchandas, Gaveshana, Samkriti, Sadiva, Bhandiryavapra, and Atharvana—
अहोवीर्यस्तथा काम्यः स्थाणुर्मेधातिथिर्बुधः। मनोवाकः शिनीवाकः शून्यपालो कृतव्रणः
Ahovirya, Kamya, Sthanu, Medhatithi, Budha, Manovaka, Shinivaka, Shunyapala, and Kritavrana—
एते कर्मसु विद्वांसस्ततः स्वर्गमुपागमन्। एते प्रत्यक्षधर्माणस्तथा यायावरागणाः
These wise ones, engaged in their duties, attained heaven; these were followers of direct dharma, as were the groups of wandering ascetics.
ऋषीणामुग्रतपसां धर्मनैपुण्यदर्शिनाम्। सुरेश्वरं समाराध्य ब्राह्मणा वनमाश्रिताः
Having worshipped the Lord of the gods, the Brahmins who had taken to the forest, who were seers of the subtleties of dharma and possessed of intense austerity,
अपास्योपरता मायां ब्राह्मणा वनमाश्रिताः। अनक्षत्रास्तथा धृष्या दृश्यन्ते प्रोषिता गणाः
Having cast off illusion and ceased from it, the Brahmins who had taken to the forest, without stars and bold, are seen as groups who have departed.
जरया तु परिद्यूना व्याधिना परिपीडिताः। चतुर्थं त्वाश्रमं शेषं वानप्रस्थाश्रमाद्ययुः
Worn out by old age, afflicted by disease, they went to the fourth remaining ashrama, the stage of the forest-dweller, after leaving the previous one.
सद्यस्कारी सुनिर्वाप्य सर्ववेदसदक्षिणाम्। आत्मयाजी सौम्यमतिरात्मक्रीडात्मसंश्रयः
The one who performs the Sadyaska rite, having offered all the Vedas with proper gifts, is a sacrificer to the self, gentle in mind, delighting in the self, and taking refuge in the self.
आत्मन्यग्निं समाधाय त्यक्त्वासर्वपरिग्रहम्। सद्यस्कश्च यजेद्यज्ञानिष्टिं चैवेह सर्वदा
Establishing the fire within oneself, renouncing all possessions, the Sadyaska should always perform the sacrifice and offering here.
सदैव याजिनां यज्ञानात्मनीज्या प्रवर्त्तते। त्रीनेवाग्नींस्त्यजेत्सम्यगात्मन्येवात्मना क्षणात्३५० 1.15.
For those who are always sacrificers, the worship of the self proceeds from the sacrifices; one should properly abandon the three fires, merging them instantly into the self by the self.