Shloka 26
Śreyas-nirdeśa (Discerning the Superior Good): Nārada–Gālava Saṃvāda
देवानामेष वै गोष्ठो यदरण्यमिति श्रुति: । गाँव या नगरमें रहकर स्त्री-पुत्रोंमें आसक्ति रखना--यह मृत्युका घर ही है। “यदरण्यम्” इस श्रुतिके अनुसार जो वानप्रस्थ-आश्रम है, यह देवताओंकी गोशालाके समान है ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | devānām eṣa vai goṣṭho yad araṇyam iti śrutiḥ | nibandhanī rajjur eṣā yā grāme vasato ratiḥ ||
毗湿摩说：圣典（Śruti）宣示：“森林确是诸天的牛栏”——受护持的神圣归处。相反，居于村落者若贪恋家室、系念妻子儿女，其乐便成缚人的绳索。因此，入林退隐的林栖期（vānaprastha）被称颂为神圣的庇护所；而执著于家居之乐，则被描绘为引向死亡与束缚的枷锁。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Attachment to settled household pleasures is likened to a binding rope, whereas retreat to the forest—symbolizing vānaprastha and disciplined withdrawal—is praised by śruti as a sacred refuge aligned with the divine.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and life-stages, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira by contrasting village/household attachment with the forest-dweller’s path, citing a scriptural saying to elevate vānaprastha as spiritually protective.