Shloka 15
Ātma-saṃyama-dharma: One-pointedness of Mind and Senses (शुक–व्यास संवादः)
चतुष्पदी हि नि:श्रेणी ब्रह्मण्येषा प्रतिष्िता । एतामारुहा[ नि:श्रेणीं ब्रह्मलोके महीयते
catuṣpadī hi niḥśreṇī brahmaṇy eṣā pratiṣṭhitā | etām āruhya niḥśreṇīṁ brahmaloke mahīyate ||
یہ چاروں آشرم برہمن ہی میں قائم ہیں اور برہمن تک پہنچانے والی چار زینوں کی سیڑھی کے مانند سمجھے گئے ہیں۔ اس سیڑھی پر چڑھ کر انسان برہملوک میں معزز ہوتا ہے۔
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the four āśramas (stages of life) function like a four-rung ladder grounded in Brahman; by properly living and completing this graded discipline, one becomes fit for the highest spiritual honor—attainment of Brahmaloka/realization oriented toward Brahman.
Vyāsa is explaining a doctrinal point within Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma: he frames the āśrama system as a structured path of ascent, emphasizing its spiritual purpose rather than merely social organization.