Shloka 8
वानप्रस्थाश्रमेडप्येता श्वतस््रो वृत्तय: स्मृता: । सद्य:प्रक्षालका: केचित् केचिन्मासिकसंचया:,वानप्रस्थ-आश्रममें भी चार प्रकारकी वृत्तियाँ मानी गयी हैं। कोई उतने ही अन्नका संग्रह करते हैं कि तुरंत बना-खाकर बर्तनको धो-माँजकर साफ कर लें अर्थात् वे दूसरे दिनके लिये कुछ नहीं बचाते। कुछ दूसरे लोग वे हैं, जो एक महीनेके लिये अनाजका संग्रह करते हैं
vyāsa uvāca | vānaprasthāśrame 'py etāś catasro vṛttayaḥ smṛtāḥ | sadyaḥprakṣālakāḥ kecit kecin māsikasañcayāḥ ||
ବାନପ୍ରସ୍ଥ-ଆଶ୍ରମରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଚାରି ପ୍ରକାର ଜୀବିକାବୃତ୍ତି ମାନାଯାଇଛି। କେହି ‘ସଦ୍ୟଃପ୍ରକ୍ଷାଳକ’—ଯେତେ ଧାନ୍ୟ ସେହିବେଳେ ରାନ୍ଧି ଖାଇ ପାତ୍ର ତୁରନ୍ତ ଧୋଇ ଶୁଦ୍ଧ କରିପାରିବେ, ସେତେମାତ୍ର ସଂଗ୍ରହ କରନ୍ତି; ପରଦିନ ପାଇଁ କିଛି ରଖନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ। ଆଉ କେହି ଏକ ମାସ ପାଇଁ ଧାନ୍ୟ ସଞ୍ଚୟ କରନ୍ତି।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches disciplined livelihood in the vānaprastha stage: one should regulate consumption and storage, practicing restraint and simplicity. Different accepted ‘vṛttis’ exist, ranging from taking only what is needed for the day to keeping a limited, time-bound store (e.g., a month), emphasizing moderation rather than indulgent accumulation.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Vyāsa enumerates recognized practices for forest-dwellers. Here he begins listing types of subsistence, contrasting those who do not keep leftovers with those who maintain a monthly stock, as part of a broader classification of ascetic conduct.