Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 85
दूषितां स्वतनुं दृष्ट्वा पालिताद्यैश्च सत्तम । पुत्रेषु भार्यां निःक्षिप्य वनं गच्छेत्सहैव वा ॥ ८५ ॥
dūṣitāṃ svatanuṃ dṛṣṭvā pālitādyaiśca sattama | putreṣu bhāryāṃ niḥkṣipya vanaṃ gacchetsahaiva vā || 85 ||
Wahai yang paling mulia di antara orang saleh, ketika melihat tubuh sendiri melemah dan hidup hanya ditopang para pelayan dan sejenisnya, serahkan istri kepada putra-putra, lalu pergilah ke hutan—sendiri atau bersama dia.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within dharma-upadesha context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)
Secondary Rasa: karuna (compassion)
FAQs
It teaches timely vairāgya: when aging and dependence arise, one should shift focus from household maintenance to spiritual pursuit, formally transitioning toward vanaprastha and inner liberation.
By recommending withdrawal from burdensome worldly engagement, it creates the conditions for sustained sādhana—japa, worship, and remembrance—so bhakti can become steady as one approaches life’s final aims.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is āśrama-dharma procedure—responsibly transferring household duties to sons before adopting forest-discipline.