Shloka 1
Gṛhastha-Dharma: How a Householder Attains Liberation by Offering All to Vāsudeva
श्रीयुधिष्ठिर उवाच गृहस्थ एतां पदवीं विधिना येन चाञ्जसा । यायाद्देवऋषे ब्रूहि मादृशो गृहमूढधी: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-yudhiṣṭhira uvāca gṛhastha etāṁ padavīṁ vidhinā yena cāñjasā yāyād deva-ṛṣe brūhi mādṛśo gṛha-mūḍha-dhīḥ
শ্ৰী যুধিষ্ঠিৰে ক’লে—হে দেৱঋষি! মই গৃহস্থ, গৃহমোহে বুদ্ধি মূঢ়। বেদবিধি অনুসাৰে আমি যেন সহজে মুক্তিপদ লাভ কৰিব পাৰোঁ, অনুগ্ৰহ কৰি কওক।
In the previous chapters the great sage Nārada has explained how a brahmacārī, a vānaprastha and a sannyāsī should act. He first explained the dealings of a brahmacārī, vānaprastha and sannyāsī because these three āśramas, or statuses of life, are extremely important for fulfillment of the goal of life. One should note that in the brahmacārī-āśrama, vānaprastha-āśrama and sannyāsa-āśrama there is no scope for sex life, whereas sex is allowed in gṛhastha life under regulations. Nārada Muni, therefore, first described brahmacarya, vānaprastha and sannyāsa because he wanted to stress that sex is not at all necessary, although one who absolutely requires it is allowed to enter gṛhastha life, or household life, which is also regulated by the śāstras and guru. Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja could understand all this. Therefore, as a gṛhastha, he presented himself as gṛha-mūḍha-dhīḥ, one who is completely ignorant of the goal of life. A person who remains a householder in family life is certainly ignorant of life’s goal; he is not very much advanced in intelligence. As soon as possible, one should give up his so-called comfortable life at home and prepare to undergo austerity, or tapasya. Tapo divyaṁ putrakā. According to the instructions given by Ṛṣabhadeva to His sons, we should not create a so-called comfortable situation, but must prepare to undergo austerity. This is how a human being should actually live to fulfill life’s ultimate goal.
FAQs
This verse shows that household life can be a genuine spiritual path when followed by proper principles, and Yudhiṣṭhira requests clear guidance on how to practice it without becoming spiritually bewildered.
Yudhiṣṭhira admits that domestic responsibilities can cloud one’s intelligence, so he asks Nārada—the divine sage—for a regulated, practical method to advance spiritually while living as a householder.
Approach family duties with regulated spiritual practice—seeking guidance, living by principles, and keeping devotion central—so that household responsibilities support rather than obstruct inner growth.