Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.250
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12.250.1
प्रोक्ता गृहस्थवृत्तिस्ते विहिता या मनीषिभिः ।
तदनन्तरमुक्तं यत्तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर
व्यासेन कथितं पूर्वं पुत्राय सुमहात्मने। ॥ १२.२५०.१ ॥
Yudhiṣṭhira, the householder's way of life that the wise have prescribed for you has been declared. Now understand what was said next, which Vyāsa formerly related to his great-souled son.
12.250.2
क्रय…त्ववधृयैनां तृतीयां वृत्तिमुत्तमाम् ।
संयोगव्रत…वानप्रस्थाश्रमौकसाम् ॥ १२.२५०.२ ॥
…tva… having determined this, the third and supreme way of life… vow of union… of those who dwell in the forest-hermitage stage.
12.250.3
श्रूयतां पुत्र भद्रं ते सर्वलोकाश्रमात्मनाम् ।
प्रेक्षापूर्वं यदा पत्त्येद्वलीपलितमात्मना ॥ १२.२५०.३ ॥
Son, listen, may good come to you — for the selves dwelling in all worlds and stages of life. When one, with foresight, sees oneself wrinkled and grey-haired…
12.250.4
अपत्यस्यैव चापण्यं वनमेव तदाऽऽश्रयेत् ॥ १२.२५०.४ ॥
Of the offspring too… then one should resort to the forest alone.
12.250.5
तृतीयमायुषो भागं वानप्रस्थाश्रमे वसेत् ।
तानेवाग्नीन्पस्त्विरेद्यजमानो दि…कसः ॥ १२.२५०.५ ॥
A third part of life should be spent in the forest-hermitage stage. Those very fires… the sacrificer… di…
12.250.6
निय…नियताराहः षष्ठभक्तो …त्तवान ।
तदाग्रहात्रं तो … यज्ञाङ्गां व सर्वशः ॥ १२.२५०.६ ॥
One of restrained diet, observing the sixth-meal vow… by that firm resolve… entirely the limbs of sacrifice…
12.250.7
अवैकृष्टं व्रीहियव नीवारे विघसानि च ।
हवींषि संप्रयच्छेत मखेष्वत्रापि पञ्चसु ॥ १२.२५०.७ ॥
Rice, barley and wild rice grown on unploughed ground, and leftover food, one should offer as oblations here too, in these five sacrifices.
12.250.8
वानप्रस्खाश्रमेऽप्येताश्चतस्रो वृत्तयः स्मृताः ।
सद्यः प्रक्षालकाः केचित्केचिन्मासिकसंचयाः ॥ १२.२५०.८ ॥
In the forest-dweller stage too these four modes of livelihood are taught: some wash and eat at once, some store a month's supply.
12.250.9
वार्षिकं संचयं केचित्केतिद्द्वादशवार्षिकम् ।
कुर्वन्त्यतिथिपूजार्थं यज्ञतन्त्रार्थमेव वा ॥ १२.२५०.९ ॥
Some store for a year, and some store for twelve years, doing so either for honouring guests or for the procedure of sacrifice.
12.250.10
अभ्रावकाशा वर्षासु हेमन्ते जलसंश्रयाः ।
ग्रीष्मे च पञ्चतपसः शश्वच्च मितभोजनाः ॥ १२.२५०.१० ॥
Dwelling under the open sky in the rains, dwelling in water in winter, practising the five fires in summer, and always eating moderately.
12.250.11
भूमौ विपरिवर्तन्ते तिष्ठन्ति प्रपदैरपि ।
स्थानासनैर्वर्तयन्ति स वनेष्वभिषिञ्चते ॥ १२.२५०.११ ॥
They roll upon the ground, and stand even on the tips of their toes; they carry on life by standing and sitting postures, and in the forests they are consecrated.
12.250.12
दन्तोलूखलिकाः केचिदश्मकुट्टास्तथा परे ।
शुक्लपक्षे पिबन्त्येके यवागूं क्वथितां सकृत् ॥ १२.२५०.१२ ॥
Some are tooth-mortar eaters, and likewise others pound with stones; some in the bright fortnight drink barley gruel boiled once.
12.250.13
कृष्णपक्षे पिबन्त्यन्ये भुञ्जते वा यथागतम् ।
मूलैरेके फलैरेके पुष्पैरेके दृढव्रताः ॥ १२.२५०.१३ ॥
In the dark fortnight some drink, others eat whatever comes to hand. Some live on roots, some on fruits, some on flowers, firm in their vows.
12.250.14
वर्तयन्ति यथान्यायं वैखानसमतं श्रिताः ।
एताश्चान्याश्च विविधा दीक्षास्तेषां मनीषिणाम् ॥ १२.२५०.१४ ॥
Taking refuge in the doctrine of the Vaikhānasas, they follow these and other various consecrations duly. These and the many other vows belong to those wise men.
12.250.15
चतुर्थश्चौपनिषदो धर्मः साधारणः स्मृतः ।
वानप्रस्थाद्गृहस्थाच्च ततोऽन्यः संप्रवर्तते।
अस्मिन्नेव युगे तात वितैस्तत्वार्थदर्शिभिः ॥ १२.२५०.१५ ॥
The fourth, the dharma bound to the Upaniṣads, is remembered as common to all; it arises apart from the forest-dweller and the householder. Dear son, in this very age it has been taught by those who saw the true meaning of things.
12.250.16
अगस्त्यः सप्तऋषयो मधुच्छन्दोऽधमर्षणः ।
सांकृतिः सुदिवातण्डिर्यथावासो कृतश्रमः ॥ १२.२५०.१६ ॥
Agastya, the seven sages, Madhucchandas, Adhamarṣaṇa, Sāṃkṛti, Sudivā-Taṇḍi — who performed austerities according to their dwelling.
12.250.17
अहोवीर्यस्तथा काव्यस्ताण्ड्यो मेधातिथिदुऽ ।
बलवान्कर्णनिर्वाकः शून्यपालः कृतश्रम…।
एते धर्मे सुविद्वांसस्ततः स्वर्गमुसागमन ॥ १२.२५०.१७ ॥
Ahovīrya, likewise Kāvya, Tāṇḍya, Medhātithi, the mighty Karṇa-nirvāka, Śūnyapāla, who performed austerities. These were well learned in dharma; then they went to heaven.
12.250.18
तात प्रत्यक्षधर्माणस्तथा काथवारा गणाः ।
ऋषीणामुग्रतपसां धर्मनैपुणेदर्शिनाम् ॥ १२.२५०.१८ ॥
Dear son, likewise the companies of the Kāthavāras, sages of visible dharma, of fierce austerity, who see the mastery of dharma.
12.250.19
अन्ये चापरिमेयाश्च ब्राह्मणा वनमश्रितताः ।
वैखातसा वालखिल्याः सैकताच्च तथा परे ॥ १२.२५०.१९ ॥
Other immeasurable brahmins, who had taken refuge in the forest — the Vaikhānasas, the Vālakhilyas, the Saikatas, and others.
12.250.20
कर्मभिस्ते निरानन्दा धर्मनित्या जितेन्द्रियाः ।
गताः प्रत्यक्षधर्माणस्ते सर्वे वनमाश्रिताः ॥ १२.२५०.२० ॥
Free from delight in deeds, constant in dharma, and masters of their senses, they all, having attained dharma visible before them, went to the forest and took refuge there.
12.250.21
अनक्षत्रास्त्वनाधृष्या दृश्यते ज्योतिषां गणाः ।
जरया च परिद्यूना व्याधिना च प्रपीडिताः ॥ १२.२५०.२१ ॥
Though without constellations, the unassailable groups of luminaries are seen, worn down by old age and afflicted by sickness.
12.250.22
चतुर्थे चायुषः शेषे वानप्रस्थाश्रमं त्यजेत् ।
साद्यस्कां संनिरुप्येष्टिं सर्ववेदसदक्षिणाम् ॥ १२.२५०.२२ ॥
In the remaining portion of the fourth part of life one should give up the forest-dweller's stage, having arranged an immediately fruitful offering with a fee to all the Vedas.
12.250.23
आत्मयाजी सोऽत्मरतिरात्मक्रीडात्मसंश्रयः ।
आत्मन्यग्नीन्समारोप्य त्यक्त्वा सर्वपरिग्रहान् ॥ १२.२५०.२३ ॥
He is one who sacrifices within himself, who delights in the self, who plays in the self, who takes refuge in the self alone; having placed the fires in himself and abandoned all possessions.
12.250.24
साद्यस्कांश्च यजेद्यज्ञानिष्टीश्चैवेह सर्वदा ।
यदैव याजिनां यज्ञादात्मनीज्या प्रवर्तते ॥ १२.२५०.२४ ॥
Here one should always perform the immediately fruitful sacrifices and offerings, for when the sacrifice of those who sacrifice gives rise to the act of sacrifice within the self.
12.250.25
त्रींश्चैवाग्नींस्त्यजेत्सम्यगात्मन्येवात्ममोक्षणात् ।
प्राणेभ्यो यजुषां पञ्च षट् प्राश्नीयादकुत्सयन् ॥ १२.२५०.२५ ॥
For liberation of the self, one should fully relinquish the three fires within the self itself, and for the vital breaths, partake of five or six of the sacrificial formulas without reproach.
12.250.26
केशलोमनखान्वाप्य वानप्रस्थो मुनिस्ततः ।
आश्रमादाश्रमं पुण्यं पूतो गच्छति कर्मभिः ॥ १२.२५०.२६ ॥
Having shaved hair, body hair and nails, the forest-dwelling sage then, purified by his deeds, goes from one stage of life to another meritorious stage.
12.250.27
अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो दत्त्वा यः प्रव्रजेद्द्विजः ।
लोकास्तेजोमयास्तस्य प्रेत्य चानन्त्यमश्नुते ॥ १२.२५०.२७ ॥
The twice-born man who, having granted fearlessness to all beings, goes forth into renunciation, his worlds are made of radiance, and after death he attains infinity.
12.250.28
सुशीलवृत्तो व्यपनीतकल्मषो ।
नचेह नामुत्र च कर्तुमीहते।
अरोपमोहो गतसन्धिविग्रहो ।
भवेदुदासीनवदात्मविन्नरः ॥ १२.२५०.२८ ॥
A man of good conduct and character, free from stain, who desires to do nothing here or hereafter, free from the delusion of superimposition, having abandoned alliance and hostility, should be like one indifferent, a knower of the self.
12.250.29
यमेषु चैवानुगतेषु न व्यथे ।
त्स्वशास्त्रमूत्राहुतिमन्त्रविक्रमः।
भवेद्यथेष्टा गतिरात्मयाजिनो ।
न संशयो धर्मपरे जितेन्द्रिये ॥ १२.२५०.२९ ॥
Though following the restraints, one should not be distressed; one whose strength lies in his own scriptures, oblation of urine and mantra; the goal of one who sacrifices in the self becomes as desired. Without doubt, for the man intent on dharma with senses conquered.
12.250.30
ततः परं श्रेष्ठमतीव सद्गुणै ।
रधिष्ठितं त्रीनधिवृत्तिमुत्तमम्।
चतुर्थमुक्तं परमाश्रमं शृणु ।
प्रकीर्त्यमानं परमं परायणम् ॥ १२.२५०.३० ॥
Next, listen to the fourth stage of life, supreme and far above the other three, most excellent in its good qualities, proclaimed as the highest goal and the supreme refuge.