Shloka 27
महाभूत–इन्द्रिय–मनस्–बुद्धि–अन्तरात्मा विवेकः | Discrimination of Elements, Senses, Mind, Intellect, and Inner Self
केशलोमनखान् वाप्य वानप्रस्थो मुनिस्तत: । आश्रमादाश्रमं पुण्यं पूतो गच्छति कर्मभि:,तदनन्तर वानप्रस्थ मुनि केश, लोम और नख कटाकर कर्मोंसे पवित्र हो वानप्रस्थ- आश्रमसे पुण्यमय संन्यास-आश्रममें प्रवेश करे
keśalomnakhān vāpy vānaprastho munis tataḥ | āśramād āśramaṃ puṇyaṃ pūto gacchati karmabhiḥ ||
केशलोमनखान् वापि वानप्रस्थो मुनिस्ततः । आश्रमादाश्रमं पुण्यं पूतो गच्छति कर्मभिः ॥
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Progress to saṃnyāsa should follow purification through disciplined, dharmic conduct; external acts like trimming hair and nails symbolize readiness, but the real qualification is being 'purified by deeds' (karmabhiḥ pūtaḥ).
Vyāsa describes the proper transition of a vānaprastha: after completing the forest-dweller duties and adopting signs of austerity and cleanliness, he moves from that āśrama into the sacred saṃnyāsa āśrama.