Shloka 5
Āśrama-dharma and Brahmacarya: Śuka’s Inquiry on Karma and Tyāga (शुक-प्रश्नः कर्मत्यागविवेकश्च)
प्रजासर्गेण दारैश्न ब्रह्मचर्येण वा पुन: । वने गुरुसकाशे वा यतिधर्मेण वा पुन:
vyāsa uvāca | prajāsargeṇa dāraiś ca brahmacaryeṇa vā punaḥ | vane gurusakāśe vā yatidharmeṇa vā punaḥ ||
Disse Vyāsa: Pode-se escolher sustentar o dharma entrando na vida de casa—tomando esposa e gerando descendência—ou, ainda, mantendo o brahmacarya (celibato) por toda a vida. Ou pode-se viver na floresta, ou permanecer junto ao mestre, ou, ainda, viver segundo a disciplina do renunciante (saṃnyāsa). Assim, reconhecem-se múltiplos caminhos legítimos de vida, cada qual alicerçado no autocontrole e na reta conduta.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse affirms that dharma can be pursued through multiple sanctioned life-paths—householder life with progeny, lifelong celibacy, forest-dwelling discipline, service near a guru, or renunciant practice—emphasizing that ethical living depends on disciplined conduct rather than a single uniform lifestyle.
In the Shanti Parva’s instructional setting, Vyāsa is presenting a normative teaching on permissible modes of life and spiritual discipline, outlining alternative commitments a person may adopt according to aptitude and intention.