अध्याय १२८: शिव–उमा संवादः — तिलोत्तमा, श्मशान-मेध्यता, तथा चातुर्वर्ण्य-धर्मः
Chapter 128: Śiva–Umā Dialogue—Tilottamā, the Ritual Valence of the Śmaśāna, and the Fourfold Duty-Code
साधून् गृहस्थान् दृष्टवा च तथा साधून् वनेचरान् । मुक्तांक्षावसथे सक्तांस्तेनासि हरिण: कृश:
sādhūn gṛhasthān dṛṣṭvā ca tathā sādhūn vanecarān | muktākṣāvasathe saktāṁs tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ||
ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ କହିଲେ—ଗୃହସ୍ଥମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ସାଧୁଜନଙ୍କୁ, ଏବଂ ବନବାସୀ ସାଧୁଜନଙ୍କୁ, ଆଉ ଯେମାନେ ବିରକ୍ତି କହି ମଧ୍ୟ ‘ମୁକ୍ତି’ର ଆଶ୍ରମ (ମଠ-ଆଶ୍ରମ)ରେ ଆସକ୍ତ ରହନ୍ତି ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ଦେଖି—ହେ ହରିଣ, ତୁମେ ଫିକା ଓ କୃଶ ହୋଇପଡ଼ିଛ।
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Virtue is not confined to one life-stage: goodness can exist among householders and forest-dwellers alike. Conversely, even those who appear ‘liberated’ may still be attached to institutions or abodes. The teaching urges discernment—judge by inner detachment and conduct, not by external labels.
A brāhmaṇa addresses a deer, explaining the deer’s pallor and thinness as arising from what it has observed: genuine sādhus in different ways of life, and also people who claim renunciation yet remain attached to their dwellings. The speech frames a moral reflection on mixed examples in society and their effect on the observer.