Vamana Purana — Rules of Purity (Shauca), Shloka 8

Rules of Purity (Śauca), Permissible Foods, and the Duties of the Householder and Forest-Dweller

Devanagari script

गार्हस्थ्याश्रमकामस्तु गार्हस्थ्याश्रममावसेत् वानप्रस्थाश्रमं वापि चतुर्थं स्वेच्छयात्मनः

Transliteration

gārhasthyāśramakāmastu gārhasthyāśramamāvaset vānaprasthāśramaṃ vāpi caturthaṃ svecchayātmanaḥ

Translation

ଯଦି ସେ ଗାର୍ହସ୍ଥ୍ୟାଶ୍ରମ ଚାହେ, ତେବେ ଗାର୍ହସ୍ଥ୍ୟାଶ୍ରମରେ ପ୍ରବେଶ କରୁ। ନଚେତ୍ ବାନପ୍ରସ୍ଥାଶ୍ରମକୁ, ଏବଂ ନିଜ ଇଚ୍ଛାନୁସାରେ ଚତୁର୍ଥ (ସନ୍ନ୍ୟାସ) ଆଶ୍ରମକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ପ୍ରବେଶ କରିପାରେ।

Word by Word

• गार्हस्थ्य-आश्रम-कामः: desiring the householder stage
• गार्हस्थ्य-आश्रम-कामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गार्हस्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (गार्हस्थ्याश्रमं कामयते/कामः)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेष (but/indeed)

• गार्हस्थ्य-आश्रमम्: the householder āśrama
• गार्हस्थ्य-आश्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गार्हस्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

• आवसेत्: should reside/enter
• आवसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• वानप्रस्थ-आश्रमम्: the forest-dweller āśrama
• वानप्रस्थ-आश्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानप्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प-बोधक (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपेक्षा (also/even)

• चतुर्थम्: the fourth (āśrama)
• चतुर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण

• स्वेच्छया: by one’s own wish
• स्वेच्छया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य इच्छा)

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speakers

• Not specified in input (likely within Pulastya → Nārada narrative layer; verify from chapter context).

Key Themes

• Varṇāśrama-dharma
• Gārhasthya
• Vānaprastha
• Sannyāsa (caturthāśrama)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is presented as a structured path with legitimate diversity: different temperaments may choose household life, forest retirement, or renunciation. The ethical core is alignment of one’s life-stage with inner readiness and disciplined duty.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

As with the prior verse, it is ancillary dharma instruction (ācāra/āśrama-niyama), not directly one of the five lakṣaṇas, though purāṇas often include such guidance alongside genealogies and narratives.

What is the symbolic significance?

The ‘fourth’ signifies ultimate detachment; placing it as a permissible choice underscores that liberation-oriented life is not merely an end-stage of aging but a vocation dependent on qualification (adhikāra).