Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23
Janaka Instructs Śuka: Āśrama-Sequence, Guru-Dependence, and Marks of Liberation
तमासाद्य तु मुक्तस्य दृष्टार्थस्य विपश्चितः । त्रिधाश्रमेषु कोन्वर्थो भवेत्परमभीप्सतः ॥ २३ ॥
tamāsādya tu muktasya dṛṣṭārthasya vipaścitaḥ | tridhāśrameṣu konvartho bhavetparamabhīpsataḥ || 23 ||
Namun bagi orang bijaksana yang telah mencapai ‘Itu’—yang telah bebas dan tujuannya telah terpenuhi—bagi dia yang mendambakan Yang Maha Tertinggi di atas segalanya, apakah lagi makna atau tujuan dalam tiga āśrama?
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vairagya (treated as shanta-leaning)
FAQs
It states that once the Supreme Reality is attained and liberation is firm, the conventional aims tied to the three āśramas lose their necessity, because the seeker’s purpose is already accomplished.
Indirectly, it highlights single-pointed pursuit of the Supreme (parama-abhīpsā). In mature devotion, the devotee’s identity centers on God-realization rather than social-stage duties, which become secondary once the highest aim is reached.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma-priority: āśrama disciplines are preparatory, and their role is fulfilled when realization/liberation is attained.