Shloka 2
महाभूत–इन्द्रिय–मनस्–बुद्धि–अन्तरात्मा विवेकः | Discrimination of Elements, Senses, Mind, Intellect, and Inner Self
क्रमशस्त्ववधूयैनां तृतीयां वृत्तिमुत्तमाम् । संयोगव्रतखिन्नानां वानप्रस्थाश्रमौकसाम्
kramaśas tv avadhūyaināṁ tṛtīyāṁ vṛttim uttamām | saṁyoga-vrata-khinnānāṁ vānaprasthāśramaukāsām, vatsa |
Bhīṣma dijo: «Paso a paso, dejando de lado incluso este excelente “tercer modo de vida” (la disciplina del hogar), querido mío, describiré ahora el dharma de los sabios que habitan en el bosque: aquellos que, fatigados por votos y restricciones asumidos junto con la esposa, han tomado refugio en la etapa de vida del vānaprastha.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse introduces a transition in dharma-teaching: moving beyond the householder’s disciplined life toward the Vanaprastha ideal, emphasizing gradual renunciation and a shift from conjugal, socially embedded observances to forest-based austerity and contemplation.
Bhishma, instructing his listener (addressed as “vatsa”), signals that he will now explain the duties of Vanaprastha sages—those who have become tired of household vows performed with a spouse and have adopted the forest-dweller stage.