Shloka 22
Pratyakṣa–Āgama–Ācāra: Doubt, Proof, and the Practice of Dharma (प्रत्यक्ष–आगम–आचारविचारः)
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच स्वैरिणस्तपसा देवि सर्वे दारविहारिण: । तेषां मौण्ड्यं कषायश्न वासे रात्रिश्न कारणम्
śrīmaheśvara uvāca—svairiṇas tapasa devi sarve dāravihāriṇaḥ | teṣāṃ mauṇḍyaṃ kaṣāyaś ca vāse rātriś ca kāraṇam ||
圣大自在天说道：“女神啊，这些林居苦行者皆勤修苦行。其中有的随意游行（不蓄妻室），有的与己妻同住。随意游行者，以剃发与披赭衣为其标识；而与妻同住者，夜间则安住于自家林庵。”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse distinguishes two modes of forest-ascetic life: independent wandering without a wife versus a regulated forest life with one’s wife. External signs (shaved head, ochre clothing) and behavioral discipline (where one stays at night) function as markers of one’s chosen ascetic regimen within dharma.
Śrī Maheśvara addresses Devī and explains how different forest-dwellers (vānaprasthas/ascetics) conduct themselves—some roam freely and adopt visible renunciant markers, while others remain paired with their wives and keep the discipline of staying in their hermitage at night.