Varṇāśrama-ācāra and Vikarma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Safe Dharmas (शिवधर्मप्रश्नः)
यत्रास्तमितशायी स्यान्निराशीरनिकेतन: । यथोपलब्धजीवी स्यान्मुनिर्दान्तो जितेन्द्रिय:
yatrāstamitaśāyī syān nirāśīr aniketanaḥ | yathopalabdhajīvī syān munir dānto jitendriyaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Seorang saṃnyāsin hendaknya hidup laksana resi, mengekang batin dan indria. Ia tanpa hasrat dan tanpa tempat tinggal tetap; beristirahat di mana pun matahari terbenam. Dengan apa pun yang diperoleh tanpa dicari, sesuai prārabdha, ia menopang hidupnya.”
भीष्म उवाच
The verse teaches the ideal conduct of a renunciant: restrain mind and senses, abandon desires, avoid establishing a permanent residence, keep moving, and live on whatever comes unasked—cultivating detachment and inner discipline.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma after the war; here he outlines practical marks of a true ascetic/saṃnyāsī—how such a person should dwell, eat, and relate to possessions and expectations.