Shloka 21
अन्तकाले च सम्प्राप्ते य इच्छेदा श्रमान्तरम् । सोशनुपूर्व्याश्रमान् राजन् गत्वा सिद्धिमवाप्रुयात्,निष्पाप नरेश! राजाको चाहिये कि पहले धर्माचरण-पूर्वक वेदों तथा राजशास्त्रोंका अध्ययन करे। फिर संतानोत्पादन आदि कर्म करके यज्ञमें सोमरसका सेवन करे। समस्त प्रजाओंका धर्मके अनुसार पालन करके राजसूय, अश्वमेध तथा दूसरे-दूसरे यज्ञोंका अनुष्ठान करे। शास्त्रोंकी आज्ञाके अनुसार सब सामग्री एकत्र करके ब्राह्मणोंको दक्षिणा दे। संग्राममें अल्प या महान् विजय पाकर राज्यपर प्रजाकी रक्षाके लिये अपने पुत्रको स्थापित कर दे। पुत्र न हो तो दूसरे गोत्रके किसी श्रेष्ठ क्षत्रियको राज्यसिंहासनपर अभिषिक्त कर दे। वक्ताओंमें श्रेष्ठ क्षत्रियशिरोमणि पाण्डुनन्दन! पितृयज्ञों-द्वारा विधिपूर्वक पितरोंका, देवयज्ञोंद्वारा देवताओंका तथा वेदोंके स्वाध्यायद्वारा ऋषियोंका यत्नपूर्वक भली-भाँति पूजन करके अन्तकाल आनेपर जो क्षत्रिय दूसरे आश्रमोंको ग्रहण करनेकी इच्छा करता है, वह क्रमश: आश्रमोंको अपनाकर परम सिद्धिको प्राप्त होता है
antakāle ca samprāpte ya icched āśramāntaram | so 'nupūrvyāśramān rājan gatvā siddhim avāpnuyāt ||
Bhīṣma said: “When the final time draws near, if a man wishes to enter another stage of life, then, O King, by proceeding through the āśramas in their proper sequence he may attain spiritual perfection. For a kṣatriya-ruler this means: first grounding himself in dharma through study of the Vedas and the science of kingship; then fulfilling the householder’s duties—marriage, progeny, and sacrificial life—protecting subjects according to righteousness and performing great royal sacrifices with due gifts to Brahmins; then, having secured the realm by installing a worthy successor, he may withdraw step by step into the later āśramas, and thus reach the highest goal.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that a person—especially a ruler—should transition between life-stages (āśramas) in the prescribed order. Having fulfilled study, household duties, protection of subjects, and sacrificial obligations, one may withdraw step by step toward renunciation; this orderly progression supports attainment of siddhi (spiritual perfection).
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Bhīṣma instructs King Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he explains how a kṣatriya, after completing royal and household responsibilities and ensuring stable succession, may adopt later āśramas as death approaches, thereby aiming for the highest spiritual end.