Shloka 12
Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga
Non-attachment
नारद उवाच आश्रमास्तात चत्वारो यथासंकल्पिता: पृथक् । तान् सर्वाननुपश्य त्वं समाश्रित्येति गालव
nārada uvāca | āśramās tāta catvāro yathāsaṅkalpitāḥ pṛthak | tān sarvān anupaśya tvaṃ samāśrityeti gālava ||
那罗陀说道：“孩子啊，人生有四种住期（āśrama），皆依经典之旨而分别安立。噢，伽罗婆啊，当依止真实的知见，遍观它们一切，如实而察。”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Narada emphasizes that the four āśramas are a structured, scripturally defined framework for living dharma, and that one should understand them through clear discernment—seeing their purpose and proper practice rather than treating them as mere labels.
Narada addresses Gālava and introduces the topic of the four life-stages, instructing him to contemplate each āśrama carefully and to rely on true knowledge (right understanding) to grasp their distinct roles in a dharmic life.