Shloka 2
Varṇāśrama-ācāra and Vikarma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Safe Dharmas (शिवधर्मप्रश्नः)
Devanagari script
वानप्रस्थं भैक्ष्यचर्य गार्हस्थ्यं च महाश्रमम् । ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमं प्राहुश्नतुर्थ ब्राह्मणैर्वतम्
Translation
婆罗门们宣说：梵行期（brahmacarya）、家住期（gṛhastha，此为大住期）、林栖期（vānaprastha）与行乞出离之道（bhaikṣyacaryā，即三尼亚萨 sannyāsa）——此为四种阿湿罗摩。而第四住期的出离之道，唯婆罗门承行。
Word by Word
वानप्रस्थम्the forest-dweller stage (vānaprastha)
वानप्रस्थम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवानप्रस्थ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
भैक्ष्यचर्यम्the practice of living on alms (mendicancy)
भैक्ष्यचर्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभैक्ष्यचर्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
गार्हस्थ्यम्the householder stage (gārhasthya)
गार्हस्थ्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगार्हस्थ्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
महाश्रमम्the great āśrama (great stage of life)
महाश्रमम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमहाश्रम
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमम्the student stage (brahmacarya-āśrama)
ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मचर्याश्रम
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
प्राहुःthey declare / they call
प्राहुः:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + अह्
FormPerfect, Third, Plural
चतुर्थम्the fourth
चतुर्थम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootचतुर्थ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
ब्राह्मणैःby Brahmins
ब्राह्मणैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
व्रतम्vow; observance
व्रतम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootव्रत
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes