Shloka 43
Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas
Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue
वानप्रस्थं द्विजातीनां त्रयाणामुपदिश्यते । सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां गार्हस्थ्यं तद् विधीयते
vānaprasthaṃ dvijātīnāṃ trayāṇām upadiśyate | sarveṣām eva varṇānāṃ gārhasthyaṃ tad vidhīyate ||
Vāyu nói: “Giai đoạn đời sống gọi là Vānaprastha được truyền dạy cho ba giai tầng ‘hai lần sinh’. Còn đối với mọi giai tầng xã hội, nếp sống gia chủ (Gārhasthya) thì được quy định.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse distinguishes eligibility and universality within āśrama-dharma: vānaprastha is specifically prescribed for the three twice-born varṇas, while gārhasthya (householder duty) is prescribed for all varṇas as the common social and ethical foundation.
Vāyudeva is instructing the listener(s) on dharma-oriented life-stages, setting out who is enjoined to undertake forest-dwelling austerities and affirming that household responsibilities apply across society, as part of a broader teaching that leads toward self-knowledge and disciplined living.