Shloka 21
महाभूत–इन्द्रिय–मनस्–बुद्धि–अन्तरात्मा विवेकः | Discrimination of Elements, Senses, Mind, Intellect, and Inner Self
तात! जिनकी तपस्या उग्र है, जिन्होंने धर्मकी निपुणताको देखा और अनुभव किया है, उन ऋषियोंके यायावर नामक गण भी वानप्रस्थी हैं, जिन्हें धर्मके फलका प्रत्यक्ष अनुभव है। वे तथा और भी असंख्य वनवासी ब्राह्मण, बालखिल्य और सैकत नामवाले दूसरे मुनि भी वैखानस (वानप्रस्थ) धर्मका पालन करनेवाले हैं ।।
tāta! yeṣāṁ tapasya ugrā, ye dharmasya nipuṇatāṁ dṛṣṭvā anubhūtavantaḥ, teṣāṁ ṛṣīṇāṁ yāyāvara-nāmaka-gaṇā api vānaprasthinaḥ, ye dharma-phalasya pratyakṣānubhava-yuktāḥ. te ca anye’pi asaṅkhyeyā vana-vāsinaḥ brāhmaṇāḥ, bālakhilyāḥ, saikata-nāmānaś ca anye munayaḥ api vaikhānasa (vānaprastha) dharmaṁ pālayanti. karmabhis te nirānandā dharma-nityā jitendriyāḥ; gatāḥ pratyakṣa-dharmāṇas te sarve vanam āśritāḥ.
Sinabi ni Vyāsa: “Mahal kong anak, yaong may mabibigat na pagtalima at matinding tapa—na nakita at naranasan mismo ang maselang kasanayan ng dharma—ay kinabibilangan, maging sa hanay ng mga vānaprastha (naninirahan sa gubat), ng mga pangkat na tinatawag na Yāyāvara, sapagkat tuwirang natitikman nila ang bunga ng dharma. Kasama nila ang di-mabilang na mga brāhmaṇa na naninirahan sa kakahuyan, ang mga Bālakhilya, at iba pang ascetang tinatawag na Saikata—na pawang sumusunod sa disiplina ng Vaikhānasa sa buhay-vānaprastha. Sa pamamagitan ng itinakdang mga gawain, sila’y walang ligayang makamundo, laging matatag sa dharma, at may pagpipigil sa mga pandama; ginawang bagay na ‘nasasaksihan’ ang dharma, at silang lahat ay sumilong sa gubat.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is not merely theoretical: the highest ascetics embody it through disciplined practice, sense-control, and detachment, making its ‘fruit’ directly experienced. The vānaprastha/vaikhānasa path is presented as a lived ethical training grounded in austerity and restraint.
Vyāsa describes various classes of sages—Yāyāvaras, Bālakhilyas, Saikatas, and many forest-dwelling Brahmins—who have taken to the forest and follow the vānaprastha (Vaikhānasa) discipline, characterized by steady dharma, conquered senses, and freedom from worldly pleasures.