Shloka 5
Varṇāśrama-ācāra and Vikarma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Safe Dharmas (शिवधर्मप्रश्नः)
तत्रारण्यकशास्त्राणि समधीत्य स धर्मवित् । ऊर्ध्वरेता: प्रव्रजित्वा गच्छत्यक्षरसात्मताम्,वहाँ धर्मज्ञ पुरुष आरण्यकशास्त्रोंका अध्ययन करके वानप्रस्थ-धर्मका पालन करे। तत्पश्चात् ब्रह्मचर्य पालनपूर्वक उस आश्रमसे निकल जाय और विधिपूर्वक संन्यास ग्रहण कर ले। इस प्रकार संन्यास लेनेवाला पुरुष अविनाशी ब्रह्मभावको प्राप्त हो जाता है
tatrāraṇyakśāstrāṇi samadhītya sa dharmavit | ūrdhvaretaḥ pravrajitvā gacchaty akṣarasātmatām ||
Bhīṣma said: There, having thoroughly studied the Āraṇyaka teachings, that knower of dharma should live according to the discipline of the forest-dweller. Thereafter, maintaining strict continence, he should depart from that stage and, following due rule, accept renunciation. One who thus takes sannyāsa attains the imperishable state—identity with the Eternal (Brahman).
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse outlines a graded spiritual path within the āśrama framework: study of contemplative Vedic teachings (Āraṇyakas), disciplined forest-dweller life (vānaprastha), then celibate renunciation (pravrajyā/sannyāsa), culminating in realization of the Imperishable—Brahman.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma after the war. Here he describes how a dharma-knower should progress from forest discipline and scriptural study to formal renunciation, presenting liberation as the ethical and spiritual end of this progression.