Shloka 27
Nārada’s Darśana of Viśvarūpa Nārāyaṇa and the Caturmūrti Doctrine (नारदस्य नारायणदर्शनं चतुर्मूर्तिविचारश्च)
तमासाद्य तु मुक्तस्य दृष्टार्थस्य विपश्चित: । त्रिष्वाश्रमेषु को न्वर्थो भवेत् परमभीप्सत:
tam āsādya tu muktasya dṛṣṭārthasya vipaścitaḥ | triṣv āśrameṣu ko nv artho bhavet paramabhīpsataḥ ||
Wika ni Janaka: Kapag ang isang marunong ay nakamit na ang paglaya—at tuwirang nakita ang pinakamataas na layon—ano pa ang pangangailangan niya, na naghahangad sa Kataas-taasan, na dumaan sa tatlong natitirang yugto ng buhay? Para sa nakasaksi ng Katotohanan kahit sa brahmacarya, ang mga sumunod na āśrama ay hindi na sapilitang daan tungo sa ganap na kaganapan.
जनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Direct realization of the Supreme (mokṣa) is the decisive criterion; once attained, the remaining āśramas are not required as spiritual means. Social stages may exist, but they are not compulsory for one already established in liberation and knowledge.
King Janaka, speaking in a didactic context in the Śānti Parva, argues that if a seeker realizes Truth already in the brahmacarya stage, then moving through the other three āśramas has no further spiritual necessity for that liberated, discerning person.