Shloka 5
Āśrama-dharma and Brahmacarya: Śuka’s Inquiry on Karma and Tyāga (शुक-प्रश्नः कर्मत्यागविवेकश्च)
प्रजासर्गेण दारैश्न ब्रह्मचर्येण वा पुन: । वने गुरुसकाशे वा यतिधर्मेण वा पुन:
vyāsa uvāca | prajāsargeṇa dāraiś ca brahmacaryeṇa vā punaḥ | vane gurusakāśe vā yatidharmeṇa vā punaḥ ||
Wika ni Vyāsa: Maaaring piliin ng tao na itaguyod ang dharma sa pagpasok sa buhay-sambahayan—pagkuha ng asawa at pagluwal ng supling—o kaya’y muling piliin ang panghabambuhay na brahmacarya (pagpigil sa pita). O maaari siyang manirahan sa gubat, o manatili malapit sa guro, o muling mamuhay ayon sa disiplina ng saṃnyāsa, ang landas ng pagtalikod. Sa gayon, kinikilala ang maraming wastong landas ng buhay, na ang bawat isa’y nakaugat sa pagpipigil-sa-sarili at tamang asal.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse affirms that dharma can be pursued through multiple sanctioned life-paths—householder life with progeny, lifelong celibacy, forest-dwelling discipline, service near a guru, or renunciant practice—emphasizing that ethical living depends on disciplined conduct rather than a single uniform lifestyle.
In the Shanti Parva’s instructional setting, Vyāsa is presenting a normative teaching on permissible modes of life and spiritual discipline, outlining alternative commitments a person may adopt according to aptitude and intention.