Shloka 18
चत्वारोऽाश्रमाः — ब्रह्मचर्यादि मोक्षाश्रमपर्यन्तम्
The Four Āśramas as a graded path to mokṣa
वयःपरिणतौ राजन् कृतकृत्यो गृहाश्रमी पुत्रेषु भार्यां निक्षिप्य वनं गच्छेत् सहैव वा
vayaḥpariṇatau rājan kṛtakṛtyo gṛhāśramī putreṣu bhāryāṃ nikṣipya vanaṃ gacchet sahaiva vā
ข้าแต่มหาราช เมื่อวัยสุกงอมและกิจแห่งคฤหัสถ์ได้สำเร็จครบถ้วนแล้ว ผู้ตั้งมั่นในอาศรมคฤหัสถ์พึงมอบภรรยาไว้ในความดูแลของบุตร แล้วออกสู่ป่า—หรือหากนางประสงค์ ก็อาจไปพร้อมกันได้
Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya; addressing a kingly addressee within the teaching as 'rājan')
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Transition from gṛhastha to vānaprastha at the proper time; responsibilities toward spouse and children
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: compassionate
Concept: After fulfilling household aims and as age matures, one should responsibly hand over domestic duties and retire to the forest stage, alone or with one’s willing spouse.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Plan life stages: complete responsibilities, then simplify, reduce possessions, and increase contemplation and service; ensure dependents are cared for before withdrawal.
Vishishtadvaita: Vairāgya is not abandonment of dharma but its maturation—life is reordered toward single-minded remembrance of the Lord while honoring relational duties.
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse frames vānaprastha as a dharmic transition after fulfilling household obligations, enabling a disciplined turn toward austerity and spiritual focus without abandoning social responsibility.
Renunciation is not impulsive; it is recommended when age has matured and duties are completed (kṛtakṛtya), after ensuring dependents—especially one’s spouse—are responsibly cared for.
By prescribing orderly life-stages, the Purana positions dharma as a structured path culminating in higher spiritual pursuit—ultimately oriented toward realizing and serving Vishnu as the supreme ground of order and liberation.