Shloka 16
महाभूत–इन्द्रिय–मनस्–बुद्धि–अन्तरात्मा विवेकः | Discrimination of Elements, Senses, Mind, Intellect, and Inner Self
अस्मिन्नेव युगे तात विप्रैः सर्वार्थदर्शिभि: । अगस्त्य: सप्त ऋषयो मधुच्छन्दो5घमर्षण:
asminneva yuge tāta vipraiḥ sarvārthadarśibhiḥ | agastyaḥ sapta ṛṣayo madhucchandāghamarṣaṇaḥ ||
Vyāsa disse: “Mesmo nesta era, meu filho, brāhmaṇas de visão longínqua—que discernem o verdadeiro sentido de todos os fins—têm sustentado e propagado o dharma do morador da floresta (vānaprastha). Entre eles estão Agastya, os Sete Ṛṣis, Madhucchandas e Aghamarṣaṇa.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
That the vānaprastha-dharma is not merely ancient theory but a living discipline upheld by far-seeing brāhmaṇas; ethical authority comes from practiced renunciation, restraint, and teaching by example.
Vyāsa is citing revered sages as precedents to validate and encourage the practice and propagation of the forest-dweller stage of life, grounding the instruction in recognized exemplars.