Shloka 26
Śreyas-nirdeśa (Discerning the Superior Good): Nārada–Gālava Saṃvāda
देवानामेष वै गोष्ठो यदरण्यमिति श्रुति: । गाँव या नगरमें रहकर स्त्री-पुत्रोंमें आसक्ति रखना--यह मृत्युका घर ही है। “यदरण्यम्” इस श्रुतिके अनुसार जो वानप्रस्थ-आश्रम है, यह देवताओंकी गोशालाके समान है ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | devānām eṣa vai goṣṭho yad araṇyam iti śrutiḥ | nibandhanī rajjur eṣā yā grāme vasato ratiḥ ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: Ipinahahayag ng Śruti, “Ang gubat ay tunay na kulungan ng mga baka ng mga diyos”—isang banal at pinangangalagaang kanlungan. Sa kabaligtaran, ang pagkalugod at pagkakapit ng taong naninirahan sa nayon, na nakagapos sa mga ugnayang pangkabahayan, ay nagiging lubid na nagbubuklod. Kaya ang pamumuhay ng pag-urong sa gubat sa yugto ng vānaprastha ay pinupuri bilang banal na santuwaryo, samantalang ang pagkapit sa ligayang pangtahanan ay inilalarawan bilang tanikalang humahantong sa kamatayan at pagkaalipin.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Attachment to settled household pleasures is likened to a binding rope, whereas retreat to the forest—symbolizing vānaprastha and disciplined withdrawal—is praised by śruti as a sacred refuge aligned with the divine.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and life-stages, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira by contrasting village/household attachment with the forest-dweller’s path, citing a scriptural saying to elevate vānaprastha as spiritually protective.