Shloka 15
Brahmā’s Instruction on Brahmacarya, Vānaprastha, and the Aliṅga Path
Ethics of Non-attachment
दान्तो मैत्र: क्षमायुक्त: केशान् श्मश्रुच धारयन् । जुद्दन् स्वाध्यायशीलश्च सत्यधर्मपरायण:,इन्द्रियोंका संयम करे, सबके साथ मित्रताका बर्ताव करे, क्षमाशील बने और दाढ़ी-मूँछ तथा सिरके बालोंको धारण किये रहे। समयपर अग्निहोत्र और वेदोंका स्वाध्याय करे तथा सत्य-धर्मका पालन करे
dānto maitraḥ kṣamāyuktaḥ keśān śmaśrū ca dhārayan | juhvan svādhyāyaśīlaś ca satyadharmaparāyaṇaḥ ||
Vāyu said: “Let him be self-controlled and friendly, endowed with forbearance, and keep his hair and beard. Let him duly maintain the sacred fires (performing the agnihotra), be devoted to Vedic study, and remain steadfast in truth and dharma.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse prescribes an ethical-ritual ideal: mastery of the senses (dama), friendliness (maitrī), forgiveness (kṣamā), outward marks of a disciplined life (keeping hair and beard), regular fire-offerings (agnihotra), steady Vedic study (svādhyāya), and unwavering commitment to truth and dharma.
Vāyu is speaking as an instructor, laying down conduct and observances—both inner virtues and outer duties—that define a righteous life in the Ashvamedhika Parva’s didactic context.