Shloka 16
Brahmā’s Instruction on Brahmacarya, Vānaprastha, and the Aliṅga Path
Ethics of Non-attachment
शुचिदेह: सदा दक्षो वननित्य: समाहित: । एवं युक्तो जयेत् स्वर्ग वानप्रस्थो जितेन्द्रिय:
śucidehaḥ sadā dakṣo vananityaḥ samāhitaḥ | evaṃ yukto jayetsvargaṃ vānaprastho jitendriyaḥ ||
वायुरुवाच—शुचिदेहः सदा दक्षो धर्मकर्मसु तत्परः। वननित्यः समाहितः; एवं युक्तो जितेन्द्रियः वानप्रस्थः स्वर्गं जयति॥
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that a vānaprastha should maintain purity, competence in dharmic observances, steady forest-dwelling, and mental concentration; through such disciplined sense-control, he attains (wins) svarga.
Vāyudeva is instructing about the conduct and fruits of the vānaprastha āśrama, outlining the required qualities and stating the resulting attainment of heaven.