Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 8
Ātma-saṃyama-dharma: One-pointedness of Mind and Senses (शुक–व्यास संवादः)
विधूमे सन्नमुसले वानप्रस्थप्रतिश्रये । काले प्राप्ते चरन् भैक्ष्यं कल्पते ब्रह्म भूयसे
vidhūme sannamusale vānaprasthapratiśraye | kāle prāpte caran bhaikṣyaṃ kalpate brahma bhūyase ||
व्यासजी बोले—जब समय आए, तब भिक्षा पर जीवन निर्वाह करने वाला संन्यासी भिक्षा के लिए वानप्रस्थ के आश्रम पर उसी समय जाए जब रसोईघर में धुआँ न उठ रहा हो और मूसल की आवाज़ भी थम गई हो। इस प्रकार नियमपूर्वक रहने वाला भिक्षुक ब्रह्मभाव को प्राप्त करने योग्य हो जाता है।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A renunciant should beg in a way that minimizes burden and disturbance to householders/forest-dwellers—approaching only after cooking and pounding are finished—so that his livelihood remains pure, restrained, and aligned with the pursuit of Brahman.
Vyāsa lays down a practical rule of conduct for a mendicant: the sannyāsin should time his alms-round to a vānaprastha’s dwelling when there is no kitchen smoke and no sound of the pestle, indicating that the host’s work is done and the request will not cause disruption.