Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga
Non-attachment
तेषां तेषां यथा हि त्वमाश्रमाणां ततस्ततः । नानारूपगुणोद्देशं पश्य विप्र स्थितं पृथक्
teṣāṃ teṣāṃ yathā hi tvam āśramāṇāṃ tatastataḥ | nānārūpaguṇoddeśaṃ paśya vipra sthitaṃ pṛthak ||
Nārada dit : «À mesure que tu considères chacun des āśramas, observe comment leurs enseignements sur le dharma —pourvus de formes et de qualités diverses— se tiennent distincts les uns des autres, ô brāhmane. Vois clairement leurs fondements propres et comprends-les.»
नारद उवाच
Dharma is taught with different emphases for different āśramas; one should discern each stage’s distinct duties and virtues rather than forcing a single uniform rule onto all.
Nārada addresses a brāhmaṇa interlocutor and instructs him to examine, one by one, the separate standing and character of the dharmas prescribed for the various āśramas.