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Shloka 17

Brahmacarya and Vānaprastha Duties; Gradual Dissolution of Bodily Identity

वानप्रस्थस्य वक्ष्यामि नियमान्मुनिसम्मतान् । यानास्थाय मुनिर्गच्छेद‍ृषिलोकमुहाञ्जसा ॥ १७ ॥

vānaprasthasya vakṣyāmi niyamān muni-sammatān yān āsthāya munir gacched ṛṣi-lokam uhāñjasā

О царь, теперь я опишу правила для ванапрастхи, одобренные мудрецами. Тот, кто строго следует этим предписаниям, легко возвышается до мира риши, называемого Махарлокой.

vānaprasthasyaof the vānaprastha
vānaprasthasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootvānaprastha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन
vakṣyāmiI shall describe
vakṣyāmi:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√vac (धातु)
Formलृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; √वच् ‘to speak’
niyamānrules/observances
niyamān:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootniyama (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन
muni-sammatānapproved by sages
muni-sammatān:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootmuni (प्रातिपदिक) + sammata (कृदन्त, √man)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास ‘मुनिभिः सम्मताः’ (approved by sages); qualifying ‘niyamān’
yānwhich (rules)
yān:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; relative pronoun referring to ‘niyamān’
āsthāyahaving undertaken
āsthāya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootā-√sthā (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), from आ + √स्था ‘to undertake/adhere to’
muniḥthe sage
muniḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmuni (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
gacchetshould go
gacchet:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√gam (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; √गम् ‘to go’
ṛṣi-lokamto the world of sages
ṛṣi-lokam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास ‘ऋषीणां लोकः’
uhaindeed
uha:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootuha (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, emphatic/particle (निपात) used with āñjasā
añjasādirectly, without delay
añjasā:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootañjas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय-प्रयोग (instrumental used adverbially), तृतीया एकवचन; ‘straightway/directly’
Ś
Śukadeva Gosvāmī

FAQs

In this verse, Śukadeva Gosvāmī announces that he will describe the sage-approved disciplines of vānaprastha, which, when adopted, elevate one to the status of a muni and lead swiftly toward higher spiritual destinations.

In Canto 7, Chapter 12, Śukadeva instructs Parīkṣit on varṇāśrama-dharma—practical spiritual duties for different stages of life—so that a seeker can steadily advance toward liberation and devotion.

Adopt simplified living, increased spiritual discipline, reduced attachment to possessions and status, and stronger focus on contemplation and devotional practice—aligning one’s life with values endorsed by saintly authorities.