Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 683
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
भूतिकामेन मर्त्येन सत्यमेतद् ब्रवीमि ते । इस प्रकार उत्तम कुलमें उत्पन्न हुए ब्राह्मणोंने पूर्वकालमें यह प्रत्यक्ष देखा और अनुभव किया है; अत: अपना कल्याण चाहनेवाले मनुष्योंको शास्त्रमें जिन्हें त्याज्य बतलाया है
bhūtikāmena martyena satyam etad bravīmi te |
释迦罗说道：“凡求兴盛与安泰之凡人，我以真实告汝。往昔，出自上善家系之婆罗门，亲见其事，并以经验加以印证。故欲自利者，当舍弃经论（śāstra）所判为当避之行，而恒常奉行所命之职责。此乃我赐汝之真诚箴言。”
शक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
One who seeks welfare and prosperity should renounce actions that the śāstra marks as to be avoided and should consistently perform the duties that are prescribed; this is presented as verified by the direct experience of exemplary elders.
Śakra (Indra) speaks as an instructor, grounding his counsel in the precedent of ancient Brahmins who ‘saw and experienced’ the truth of the teaching, and urges adherence to śāstric duty while abandoning prohibited or harmful actions.