Shloka 8
वानप्रस्थाश्रमेडप्येता श्वतस््रो वृत्तय: स्मृता: । सद्य:प्रक्षालका: केचित् केचिन्मासिकसंचया:,वानप्रस्थ-आश्रममें भी चार प्रकारकी वृत्तियाँ मानी गयी हैं। कोई उतने ही अन्नका संग्रह करते हैं कि तुरंत बना-खाकर बर्तनको धो-माँजकर साफ कर लें अर्थात् वे दूसरे दिनके लिये कुछ नहीं बचाते। कुछ दूसरे लोग वे हैं, जो एक महीनेके लिये अनाजका संग्रह करते हैं
vyāsa uvāca | vānaprasthāśrame 'py etāś catasro vṛttayaḥ smṛtāḥ | sadyaḥprakṣālakāḥ kecit kecin māsikasañcayāḥ ||
Vyāsa said: Even in the forest-dweller’s stage of life (vānaprastha) four modes of subsistence are recognized. Some are “immediate-cleaners”—they gather only so much grain as can be cooked and eaten at once, washing the vessels right away and keeping nothing for the next day. Others, by contrast, store provisions sufficient for a month.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches disciplined livelihood in the vānaprastha stage: one should regulate consumption and storage, practicing restraint and simplicity. Different accepted ‘vṛttis’ exist, ranging from taking only what is needed for the day to keeping a limited, time-bound store (e.g., a month), emphasizing moderation rather than indulgent accumulation.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Vyāsa enumerates recognized practices for forest-dwellers. Here he begins listing types of subsistence, contrasting those who do not keep leftovers with those who maintain a monthly stock, as part of a broader classification of ascetic conduct.