Shloka 18
Diti’s Untimely Desire and the Birth-Cause of the Asura Line
Prelude to Hiranyākṣa–Varāha
सर्वाश्रमानुपादाय स्वाश्रमेण कलत्रवान् । व्यसनार्णवमत्येति जलयानैर्यथार्णवम् ॥ १८ ॥
sarvāśramān upādāya svāśrameṇa kalatravān vyasanārṇavam atyeti jala-yānair yathārṇavam
Gaya ng pagtawid sa karagatan sa pamamagitan ng mga sasakyang-dagat, gayundin, sa pamumuhay sa sariling dharma ng āśrama kasama ang asawa, nalalampasan ang mapanganib na dagat ng materyal na buhay.
There are four social orders for cooperation in the endeavor for liberation from material existence. The orders of brahmacarya, or pious student life, household life with a wife, retired life and renounced life all depend for successful advancement on the householder who lives with a wife. This cooperation is essential for the proper functioning of the institution of the four social orders and the four spiritual orders of life. This Vedic varṇāśrama system is generally known as the caste system. The man who lives with a wife has a great responsibility in maintaining the members of the other social orders — the brahmacārīs, vānaprasthas and sannyāsīs. Except for the gṛhasthas, or the householders, everyone is supposed to engage in the spiritual advancement of life, and therefore the brahmacārī, the vānaprastha and the sannyāsī have very little time to earn a livelihood. They therefore collect alms from the gṛhasthas, and thus they secure the bare necessities of life and cultivate spiritual understanding. By helping the other three sections of society cultivate spiritual values, the householder also makes advancement in spiritual life. Ultimately every member of society automatically becomes spiritually advanced and easily crosses the ocean of nescience.
FAQs
This verse teaches that even a householder, when properly situated in his own āśrama and duties, can cross the ocean of miseries—like using a boat to cross the sea—without needing to prematurely adopt other āśramas.
Because worldly life is vast and difficult to traverse; the verse emphasizes that following one’s prescribed path (svāśrama) becomes the practical ‘vessel’ by which one can safely pass beyond suffering.
Do your duties responsibly and ethically, keep spiritual practice steady (hearing, chanting, remembrance), and treat family life as an āśrama—structured for progress—rather than as mere enjoyment.