Shloka 4
Varṇāśrama-ācāra and Vikarma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Safe Dharmas (शिवधर्मप्रश्नः)
सदारो वाप्यदारो वा आत्मवान् संयतेन्द्रिय: । वानप्रस्थाश्रमं गच्छेत् कृतकृत्यो गृहाश्रमात्
sadāro vāpyadāro vā ātmavān saṃyatendriyaḥ | vānaprasthāśramaṃ gacchet kṛtakṛtyo gṛhāśramāt ||
毗湿摩说道：无论携妻与否，凡能自持、制伏诸根之人——既已尽了家住期的职责——当离开家住阿湿罗摩，进入林栖阿湿罗摩。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
After completing the obligations of household life, one should move to the forest-dweller stage; the legitimacy of withdrawal depends on fulfilled duties and disciplined senses, not merely on age or circumstance.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira about the proper progression through the āśramas, stating that a person—whether with or without a spouse—should enter vānaprastha once gṛhastha responsibilities are completed.