Shloka 17
महाभूत–इन्द्रिय–मनस्–बुद्धि–अन्तरात्मा विवेकः | Discrimination of Elements, Senses, Mind, Intellect, and Inner Self
सांकृति: सुदिवा तण्डियथावासो5कृतश्रम: । अहोवीर्यस्तथा काव्यस्ताण्ड्यो मेधातिथिबुध:
sāṅkṛtiḥ sudivā taṇḍi yathāvāso'kṛtaśramaḥ | ahovīryas tathā kāvyas tāṇḍyo medhātithir budhaḥ ||
ਵਿਆਸ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—“ਸਾਂਕ੍ਰਿਤੀ, ਸੁਦਿਵਾ, ਤੰਡਿ, ਯਥਾਵਾਸ, ਅਕ੍ਰਿਤਸ਼੍ਰਮ, ਅਹੋਵੀਰ੍ਯ, ਕਾਵ੍ਯ (ਸ਼ੁਕ੍ਰਾਚਾਰ੍ਯ), ਤਾਂਡ੍ਯ, ਮੇਧਾਤਿਥਿ ਅਤੇ ਬੁਧ—ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਰਿਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਵਾਨਪ੍ਰਸਥ-ਧਰਮ ਦਾ ਆਚਰਨ ਕੀਤਾ।”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reinforces the authority and continuity of vānaprastha-dharma: exemplary sages practiced disciplined withdrawal, austerity, and teaching, showing that this life-stage is a respected ethical path leading to spiritual merit and higher worlds.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Vyāsa cites a roster of revered figures as precedents—naming those who observed the forest-dweller discipline—thereby validating the practice through lineage and example.