Shloka 13
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 ||
हे विप्र! तुम एक-एक करके उन आश्रमों पर विचार करो और देखो कि उनके धर्म-उपदेश नाना रूपों और गुणों से युक्त होकर भी किस प्रकार पृथक्-पृथक् आधार पर स्थित हैं; इसे स्पष्ट समझो।
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.