Shloka 18
चत्वारोऽाश्रमाः — ब्रह्मचर्यादि मोक्षाश्रमपर्यन्तम्
The Four Āśramas as a graded path to mokṣa
वयःपरिणतौ राजन् कृतकृत्यो गृहाश्रमी पुत्रेषु भार्यां निक्षिप्य वनं गच्छेत् सहैव वा
vayaḥpariṇatau rājan kṛtakṛtyo gṛhāśramī putreṣu bhāryāṃ nikṣipya vanaṃ gacchet sahaiva vā
Tâu Đại vương, khi tuổi tác đã chín muồi và mục tiêu của đời gia chủ đã được hoàn thành đúng pháp, người an trú trong giai đoạn gia đình nên giao phó người vợ cho các con trai chăm nom rồi đi vào rừng—hoặc nếu nàng muốn, có thể cùng nàng đi chung.
Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya; addressing a kingly addressee within the teaching as 'rājan')
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Transition from gṛhastha to vānaprastha at the proper time; responsibilities toward spouse and children
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: compassionate
Concept: After fulfilling household aims and as age matures, one should responsibly hand over domestic duties and retire to the forest stage, alone or with one’s willing spouse.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Plan life stages: complete responsibilities, then simplify, reduce possessions, and increase contemplation and service; ensure dependents are cared for before withdrawal.
Vishishtadvaita: Vairāgya is not abandonment of dharma but its maturation—life is reordered toward single-minded remembrance of the Lord while honoring relational duties.
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse frames vānaprastha as a dharmic transition after fulfilling household obligations, enabling a disciplined turn toward austerity and spiritual focus without abandoning social responsibility.
Renunciation is not impulsive; it is recommended when age has matured and duties are completed (kṛtakṛtya), after ensuring dependents—especially one’s spouse—are responsibly cared for.
By prescribing orderly life-stages, the Purana positions dharma as a structured path culminating in higher spiritual pursuit—ultimately oriented toward realizing and serving Vishnu as the supreme ground of order and liberation.