Shloka 4
Varṇāśrama-ācāra and Vikarma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Safe Dharmas (शिवधर्मप्रश्नः)
सदारो वाप्यदारो वा आत्मवान् संयतेन्द्रिय: । वानप्रस्थाश्रमं गच्छेत् कृतकृत्यो गृहाश्रमात्
sadāro vāpyadāro vā ātmavān saṃyatendriyaḥ | vānaprasthāśramaṃ gacchet kṛtakṛtyo gṛhāśramāt ||
Baik bersama istri maupun tanpa istri, seorang yang teguh menguasai diri dan menaklukkan indria—setelah menunaikan kewajiban gṛhastha hingga tuntas—hendaknya meninggalkan gṛhastha-āśrama dan memasuki vānaprastha-āśrama.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
After completing the obligations of household life, one should move to the forest-dweller stage; the legitimacy of withdrawal depends on fulfilled duties and disciplined senses, not merely on age or circumstance.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira about the proper progression through the āśramas, stating that a person—whether with or without a spouse—should enter vānaprastha once gṛhastha responsibilities are completed.