Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline
तत्र गुरुकुलवासमेव प्रथममाश्रममाहरंति सम्यगत्र शौचसस्कारनियमव्रतविनियतात्मा उभे संध्ये भास्कराग्निदैवतान्युपस्थाय विहाय तद्ध्यालस्यं गुरोरभिवादनवेदाब्यासश्रवणपवित्रघीकृतांतरात्मा त्रिषवणमुपस्पृश्य ब्रह्मचर्याग्निपरिचरणगुरुशुश्रूषा । नित्यभिक्षाभैक्ष्यादिसर्वनिवेदितांतरात्मा गुरुवचननिदेशानुष्टानाप्रतिकूलो गुरुप्रसादलब्धस्वाध्यायतत्परः स्यात् ॥ १०६ ॥
tatra gurukulavāsameva prathamamāśramamāharaṃti samyagatra śaucasaskāraniyamavrataviniyatātmā ubhe saṃdhye bhāskarāgnidaivatānyupasthāya vihāya taddhyālasyaṃ gurorabhivādanavedābyāsaśravaṇapavitraghīkṛtāṃtarātmā triṣavaṇamupaspṛśya brahmacaryāgniparicaraṇaguruśuśrūṣā | nityabhikṣābhaikṣyādisarvaniveditāṃtarātmā guruvacananideśānuṣṭānāpratikūlo guruprasādalabdhasvādhyāyatatparaḥ syāt || 106 ||
Aquí se declara que la residencia en la casa del maestro (gurukula) es, en verdad, el primer āśrama. En él, el estudiante—dominado por la pureza, la recta conducta, las observancias y los votos—debe, al alba y al ocaso, adorar debidamente a las deidades del Sol y del Fuego, abandonando la pereza en tal contemplación. Con el interior purificado por saludar al guru y por oír y practicar el Veda, ha de realizar tres veces al día las abluciones/ācaman purificatorias, guardar brahmacarya, atender el fuego sagrado y servir al maestro. Ofreciendo siempre su vida entera mediante la limosna diaria y actos semejantes, sin oponerse al cumplimiento de las instrucciones del guru, debe entregarse al svādhyāya (estudio de la Escritura) obtenido por la gracia del maestro.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
It defines the first āśrama as disciplined gurukula life, where purity, vows, Sandhyā worship, and guru-sevā purify the inner self and prepare the student for mokṣa-oriented living.
Bhakti is shown as humble surrender expressed through reverence to the guru, dedicated daily duties, and offering one’s life-activities (alms, service, study) as a continuous act of devotion and obedience.
It emphasizes svādhyāya (recitation/study) and śraavaṇa (hearing) of the Veda along with Sandhyā-related ritual discipline—foundational practice that supports later Vedāṅga learning and correct mantra/rite performance.