Vanaprastha and Yati Dharma

Verse 1 (skanda.2.212.1)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । वानप्रस्थस्य वक्ष्यामि नियमानथ ते मुने । तृतीय आयुषो भागे तृतीयाश्रम ईरितः

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | vānaprasthasya vakṣyāmi niyamānatha te mune | tṛtīya āyuṣo bhāge tṛtīyāśrama īritaḥ

Sri Narayana said: Now, O sage, I shall tell you the rules of the forest-dwelling (Vanaprastha) stage. It is enjoined for the third portion of life and is declared to be the third ashrama.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.212.2)

अनुकूला स्वसेवायां विरक्ता च तपःप्रिया । यदि पत्नी भवेत्तर्हि तया सह वनं विशेत्

anukūlā svasevāyāṁ viraktā ca tapaḥpriyā | yadi patnī bhavettarhi tayā saha vanaṁ viśet

If his wife is devoted and helpful in serving him, detached from worldly life, and fond of austerity, then he should enter the forest together with her.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.212.3)

अन्यथा तु सुतादिभ्यस्तस्याः पोषणरक्षणम् । आदिश्य स्वयमेकाकी विरक्तो वनमाविशेत्

anyathā tu sutādibhyastasyāḥ poṣaṇarakṣaṇam | ādiśya svayamekākī virakto vanamāviśet

Otherwise, having entrusted her support and protection to his sons and others, he should enter the forest alone, in detachment.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.212.4)

निर्भयो निवसेत्तत्र तपोरुचिरतन्द्रितः । कुर्यादुटजमग्न्यर्थं स्वयं तु बहिरावसेत्

nirbhayo nivasettatra taporuciratandritaḥ | kuryāduṭajamagnyarthaṁ svayaṁ tu bahirāvaset

There he should dwell fearlessly, delighting in austerity and free from sloth. He should build a hut for the sacred fire, but should himself live outside it.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.212.5)

भवेत्पञ्चतपा ग्रीष्म उदवासश्च शैशिरे । आसारषाट्च वर्षासु जितक्रोधो जितेन्द्रियः

bhavetpañcatapā grīṣma udavāsaśca śaiśire | āsāraṣāṭca varṣāsu jitakrodho jitendriyaḥ

In summer he should practise the five-fire austerity; in the cold season he should stand exposed to water; in the rains he should stand exposed to the downpour — thus conquering anger and mastering the senses.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.212.6)

वासश्च तार्णं पार्णं वा वसीताजिनवल्कलम् । भुञ्जीत ऋषिधान्यानि वन्यं कन्दफलादि वा

vāsaśca tārṇaṁ pārṇaṁ vā vasītājinavalkalam | bhuñjīta ṛṣidhānyāni vanyaṁ kandaphalādi vā

His clothing should be of grass or leaves, or he may wear hide and bark-garments; he should eat grains fit for sages, or wild roots, fruits, and the like.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.212.7)

अग्निपक्वं वार्कपक्वमपक्वं वापि भक्षयेत् । अभावे त्वेष दन्तानामश्मोलूखलकुट्टितम्

agnipakvaṁ vārkapakvamapakvaṁ vāpi bhakṣayet | abhāve tveṣa dantānāmaśmolūkhalakuṭṭitam

He may eat food cooked on fire, or ripened by the sun, or even raw; and should his teeth fail him, food pounded in a stone mortar.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.212.8)

स्वयमेवाहरेदन्नं यथाकालं दिनेदिने । काले पराहृतं वापि गृह्णीयान्नान्यदा क्वचित्

svayamevāharedannaṁ yathākālaṁ dinedine | kāle parāhṛtaṁ vāpi gṛhṇīyānnānyadā kvacit

Each day he should himself gather food in due season, or he may accept food brought by others at the proper time, but never at any other time.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.212.9)

कालेपि कृष्टपच्यं तु न गृह्णीयादनापदि । वन्यैरेवाग्निकार्यं च धान्यैः कुर्वीत पूर्ववत्

kālepi kṛṣṭapacyaṁ tu na gṛhṇīyādanāpadi | vanyairevāgnikāryaṁ ca dhānyaiḥ kurvīta pūrvavat

Even in season he should not accept grain grown by ploughing, except in calamity; as before, he should perform the fire-rites only with wild grains.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.212.10)

रक्षेत्कमण्डलुं दण्डमग्निहोत्रपरिच्छदान् । केशरोमश्मश्रुनखान्धारयेन्मलिनान्दतः

rakṣetkamaṇḍaluṁ daṇḍamagnihotraparicchadān | keśaromaśmaśrunakhāndhārayenmalināndataḥ

He should keep his water-pot, staff, and the implements of the fire-sacrifice safe; and he should let his hair, body-hair, beard, and nails remain unkempt and untrimmed.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.212.11)

अंगान्यमर्दयन्स्नायाद्भूतले च शयीत सः । देशकाल बलावस्थानुसारेण तपश्चरेत्

aṁgānyamardayansnāyādbhūtale ca śayīta saḥ | deśakāla balāvasthānusāreṇa tapaścaret

He should bathe without rubbing his limbs, and sleep upon the bare ground; he should perform austerity according to place, time, and his own strength and condition.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.212.12)

फेनपाश्चौदुम्बराश्च वालखिल्यास्तथैव च । वैखानसेति कथिताश्चतुर्द्धा वनवासिनः

phenapāścaudumbarāśca vālakhilyāstathaiva ca | vaikhānaseti kathitāścaturddhā vanavāsinaḥ

The Phenapas, the Audumbaras, the Valakhilyas, and likewise the Vaikhanasas — forest-dwellers are said to be of these four kinds.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.212.13)

यथाशक्ति द्वादशाब्दानष्टौ वा चतुरो वने । वसेद्द्वावेकमेवापि ततः संन्यासमाश्रयेत्

yathāśakti dvādaśābdānaṣṭau vā caturo vane | vaseddvāvekamevāpi tataḥ saṁnyāsamāśrayet

According to his capacity he should dwell in the forest for twelve years, or eight, or four, or even two, or just one; thereafter he should take up renunciation.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.212.14)

यदि स्यात्तीव्रवैराग्यं तर्हि न्यासो हितावहः । वसेत्तत्रैवाऽन्यथा तु यावज्जीवं वने द्विजः

yadi syāttīvravairāgyaṁ tarhi nyāso hitāvahaḥ | vasettatraivā'nyathā tu yāvajjīvaṁ vane dvijaḥ

If intense dispassion has arisen, then renunciation is beneficial; otherwise the twice-born should remain in the forest for his whole life.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.212.15)

यथाविधि कृतत्यागस्तुरीयाश्रममास्थितः । साच्छादनं तु कौपीनं कन्थामेकां च धारयेत्

yathāvidhi kṛtatyāgasturīyāśramamāsthitaḥ | sācchādanaṁ tu kaupīnaṁ kanthāmekāṁ ca dhārayet

Having duly performed the rite of renunciation and entered the fourth ashrama, he should wear only a loincloth for covering and a single patched garment.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.212.16)

दण्डं कमण्डलुं चाम्बुगालनं बिभृयाच्च सः । सदाचारद्विजगृहे काले भिक्षां समाचरेत्

daṇḍaṁ kamaṇḍaluṁ cāmbugālanaṁ bibhṛyācca saḥ | sadācāradvijagṛhe kāle bhikṣāṁ samācaret

He should carry a staff, a water-pot, and a water-strainer; and at the proper time he should beg alms at the house of a twice-born of good conduct.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.212.17)

न कुर्यात्प्रत्यहं भिक्षामेकस्यैव गृहे यतिः । रसलुब्धो भवेन्नेव सकृच्च मितभुग्भवेत्

na kuryātpratyahaṁ bhikṣāmekasyaiva gṛhe yatiḥ | rasalubdho bhavenneva sakṛcca mitabhugbhavet

The ascetic should not beg every day at the same single house; he should never be greedy for taste, and should eat sparingly, only once.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.212.18)

वनस्थाश्रमिणो भिक्षां प्रायो गृह्णीत भिक्षुकः । तदन्धसातिशुद्धेन शुद्ध्यत्येवाऽस्य यन्मनः

vanasthāśramiṇo bhikṣāṁ prāyo gṛhṇīta bhikṣukaḥ | tadandhasātiśuddhena śuddhyatyevā'sya yanmanaḥ

The mendicant should generally accept alms from those established in the forest-dwelling stage, for by that most pure food his mind alone becomes truly purified.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.212.19)

घ्राणेपि मांससुरयोः पाराकं व्रतमाचरेत् । शौचाचारविशुद्धः स्याच्छूद्रादींश्चापि न स्पृशेत्

ghrāṇepi māṁsasurayoḥ pārākaṁ vratamācaret | śaucācāraviśuddhaḥ syācchūdrādīṁścāpi na spṛśet

He should observe strict abstinence even from the smell of meat and liquor; he should remain pure in cleanliness and conduct, and should not even touch Shudras and the like.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.212.20)

नित्यं कुर्याद्विष्णुपूजा मद्याद्विष्णोर्न्निवेदितम् । द्वादशार्णं जपेद्विष्णोरष्टाक्षरमनुं च वा

nityaṁ kuryādviṣṇupūjā madyādviṣṇornniveditam | dvādaśārṇaṁ japedviṣṇoraṣṭākṣaramanuṁ ca vā

He should daily worship Vishnu and eat only the food that has been offered to Vishnu; he should recite the twelve-syllabled or the eight-syllabled mantra of Vishnu.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.212.21)

असद्वादं न कुर्वीत वृत्त्यर्थं नाचरेत्कथाम् । असच्छास्त्रे न सक्तः स्यान्नोपजीवेच्च जीविकाम्

asadvādaṁ na kurvīta vṛttyarthaṁ nācaretkathām | asacchāstre na saktaḥ syānnopajīvecca jīvikām

He should not indulge in false speech, nor recite stories merely for livelihood; he should not be attached to false scriptures, nor make his living by them.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.212.22)

सच्छास्त्रमभ्यसेच्चासौ बन्धमोक्षानुदर्शनम् । मठादीन्नैव बध्नीयादहन्ताममते त्यजेत्

sacchāstramabhyaseccāsau bandhamokṣānudarśanam | maṭhādīnnaiva badhnīyādahantāmamate tyajet

He should study the true scriptures that reveal bondage and liberation; he should not build monasteries and the like, and should abandon the sense of 'I' and 'mine'.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.212.23)

चातुर्मास्यं विनैकत्र वसेन्नाऽसावनापदि । आत्मनश्च हरे रूपं विद्याज्ज्ञानेन तत्त्वतः

cāturmāsyaṁ vinaikatra vasennā'sāvanāpadi | ātmanaśca hare rūpaṁ vidyājjñānena tattvataḥ

Except during the four months of the rainy season, he should not stay in one place without necessity; and through knowledge he should truly understand the nature of his own self and the form of Hari.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.212.24)

कामं क्रोधं भयं वैरं धनधान्यादिसंग्रहम् । नैव कुर्यात्पालयेत यमांश्च नियमान्यतिः

kāmaṁ krodhaṁ bhayaṁ vairaṁ dhanadhānyādisaṁgraham | naiva kuryātpālayeta yamāṁśca niyamānyatiḥ

The ascetic should never give way to desire, anger, fear, or enmity, nor accumulate wealth and grain; he should observe the yamas and niyamas.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.212.25)

तीव्रज्ञानविरागाभ्यां संपन्नोपि यतिर्ध्रुवम् । स्त्रीवित्तभूषासद्वस्त्रसंसर्गाद्भ्रष्टतां व्रजेत्

tīvrajñānavirāgābhyāṁ saṁpannopi yatirdhruvam | strīvittabhūṣāsadvastrasaṁsargādbhraṣṭatāṁ vrajet

Even an ascetic endowed with intense knowledge and dispassion will surely fall from his state through contact with women, wealth, ornaments, and fine clothes.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.212.26)

पुष्प चन्दनतैलादिसुगन्धिद्रव्यवर्जनम् । त्यागी कुर्वीतान्यथा तु भवेद्देहात्मधीः स वै

puṣpa candanatailādisugandhidravyavarjanam | tyāgī kurvītānyathā tu bhaveddehātmadhīḥ sa vai

The renunciate should avoid flowers, sandal-paste, oil, and other fragrant substances; otherwise his mind comes to identify itself with the body.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.212.27)

आहारो यस्य यावांस्तं तावान्स्त्रीकाम आविशेत् । अतो मितं नीरसं च भोजनं त्यागिनो हितम्

āhāro yasya yāvāṁstaṁ tāvānstrīkāma āviśet | ato mitaṁ nīrasaṁ ca bhojanaṁ tyāgino hitam

As much as a man eats, so much does desire for women enter into him; therefore measured and unstimulating food is beneficial for the renunciate.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.212.28)

न श्राव्या ग्राम्यवार्त्ता च मोक्षसिद्धिमभीप्सता । नश्येद्यच्छ्रवणान्नॄणां सद्यो विष्णुकथा रुचिः

na śrāvyā grāmyavārttā ca mokṣasiddhimabhīpsatā | naśyedyacchravaṇānnṝṇāṁ sadyo viṣṇukathā ruciḥ

One who desires the attainment of liberation should not listen to worldly gossip, for by hearing it men's taste for the stories of Vishnu at once perishes.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.212.29)

अपि चित्रमयीं नारीं त्यागी नेक्षेत न स्पृशेत् । स्त्र्याकारदर्शनादेव भ्रष्टा भूरि तपस्विनः

api citramayīṁ nārīṁ tyāgī nekṣeta na spṛśet | stryākāradarśanādeva bhraṣṭā bhūri tapasvinaḥ

The renunciate should not even look at or touch a painted image of a woman, for merely by the sight of a woman's form many ascetics have fallen.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.212.30)

कुटीचको बहूदश्च हंसः परमहंसकः । एवं चतुर्द्धा कथितो यतिर्वैराग्यभेदतः

kuṭīcako bahūdaśca haṁsaḥ paramahaṁsakaḥ | evaṁ caturddhā kathito yatirvairāgyabhedataḥ

Kutichaka, Bahudaka, Hamsa, and Paramahamsa — thus the ascetic is said to be of four kinds, according to degrees of dispassion.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.212.31)

काषायवाससो ये मे भविष्याः साधवश्च तैः । कार्यं मदर्थपाकादि तुर्याश्रमस्थितैरपि

kāṣāyavāsaso ye me bhaviṣyāḥ sādhavaśca taiḥ | kāryaṁ madarthapākādi turyāśramasthitairapi

Those who wear ochre robes shall be my saints in time to come; even those established in the fourth ashrama should engage in cooking offerings and the like for my sake.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.212.32)

श्रीवासुदेवभक्ता ये तीव्रवैराग्यशालिनः । तेषां धर्मस्तु तत्सेवा प्रोक्ताहस्सु च रात्रिषु

śrīvāsudevabhaktā ye tīvravairāgyaśālinaḥ | teṣāṁ dharmastu tatsevā proktāhassu ca rātriṣu

Those devotees of Sri Vasudeva who are endowed with intense dispassion — their true duty is declared to be His service, day and night.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.212.33)

एकोपि च क्षणस्तेषां ज्ञानविज्ञानभूयसाम् । भक्तिं नवविधां विष्णोर्विना व्यर्थो न वै भवेत्

ekopi ca kṣaṇasteṣāṁ jñānavijñānabhūyasām | bhaktiṁ navavidhāṁ viṣṇorvinā vyartho na vai bhavet

Even a single moment of those who abound in knowledge and spiritual wisdom does not go to waste, joined as it is with the ninefold devotion to Vishnu.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.212.34)

सर्वेर्गुणैरुपेतोपि भगवद्विमुखो यदि । स्वजनोपि भवेत्तं तु जह्युरेव हि वैष्णवाः

sarverguṇairupetopi bhagavadvimukho yadi | svajanopi bhavettaṁ tu jahyureva hi vaiṣṇavāḥ

Even one endowed with every virtue, if he is averse to the Lord, the Vaishnavas will surely forsake him, though he be their own kinsman.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.212.35)

प्रासादिकं हरेरन्नं प्रोक्षितं तत्पदाम्बुना । भुञ्जीरंस्तुलसीमिश्रं प्रत्यहं सात्वता जनाः

prāsādikaṁ harerannaṁ prokṣitaṁ tatpadāmbunā | bhuñjīraṁstulasīmiśraṁ pratyahaṁ sātvatā janāḥ

The devotees of the Lord should daily eat the sanctified food of Hari, sprinkled with the water that has washed His feet and mixed with tulasi leaves.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.212.36)

स्त्रीणां च स्त्रीषु सक्तानां प्रसंगो विष्णुचिन्तकैः । सर्वथैव परित्याज्यो भवेत्तद्ध्यानमन्यथा

strīṇāṁ ca strīṣu saktānāṁ prasaṁgo viṣṇucintakaiḥ | sarvathaiva parityājyo bhavettaddhyānamanyathā

Those who meditate on Vishnu must in every way avoid the company of women and of men attached to women; otherwise their meditation is destroyed.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.212.37)

भगवन्तं वासुदेवं विनैकमितरः पुमान् । कोपि नास्त्येव यो नारीं समीक्ष्य न विमुह्यति

bhagavantaṁ vāsudevaṁ vinaikamitaraḥ pumān | kopi nāstyeva yo nārīṁ samīkṣya na vimuhyati

Apart from the Lord Vasudeva alone, there is no other man whatsoever who, on beholding a woman, does not become bewildered.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.212.38)

यत्र स्थित्या मुहुः स्त्रीणां स्यातां शब्दश्रुतीक्षणे । त्यागी तत्र वसेन्नैव वसन्धर्मच्युतो भवेत्

yatra sthityā muhuḥ strīṇāṁ syātāṁ śabdaśrutīkṣaṇe | tyāgī tatra vasennaiva vasandharmacyuto bhavet

The renunciate should never dwell in a place where, by his staying there, the sound and sight of women would repeatedly occur; if he stays, he falls from his dharma.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.212.39)

कामो लोभो रसास्वादः स्नेहो मानस्तथा च रुट् । एते त्याज्याः प्रयत्नेन षड्दोषाः संसृतिप्रदाः

kāmo lobho rasāsvādaḥ sneho mānastathā ca ruṭ | ete tyājyāḥ prayatnena ṣaḍdoṣāḥ saṁsṛtipradāḥ

Desire, greed, craving for taste, attachment, pride, and anger — these six faults, which bind one to worldly existence, should be diligently abandoned.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.212.40)

प्रोक्तेषु धर्मेष्वेतेषु यस्ययस्य च्युतिर्भवेत् । यथाशक्ति यथाशास्त्रं कार्या तत्तस्य निष्कृतिः

prokteṣu dharmeṣveteṣu yasyayasya cyutirbhavet | yathāśakti yathāśāstraṁ kāryā tattasya niṣkṛtiḥ

Whoever falls short in any of these prescribed duties should, according to his ability and according to the scriptures, perform the appropriate expiation.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.212.41)

इत्थं चतुर्णां वर्णानामाश्रमाणां च नारद । धर्माः संक्षेपतः प्रोक्ता वैष्णवानां च ते मया

itthaṁ caturṇāṁ varṇānāmāśramāṇāṁ ca nārada | dharmāḥ saṁkṣepataḥ proktā vaiṣṇavānāṁ ca te mayā

Thus, O Narada, I have briefly declared to you the duties of the four varnas and ashramas, and those of the Vaishnavas.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.212.42)

वर्णी यतिश्च धर्मस्थो ब्रह्मलोकमुपैति वै । ऋषिलोकं वनस्थश्च गृहस्थः स्वर्गमाप्नुयात्

varṇī yatiśca dharmastho brahmalokamupaiti vai | ṛṣilokaṁ vanasthaśca gṛhasthaḥ svargamāpnuyāt

The celibate student and the ascetic, if steadfast in dharma, attain the world of Brahma; the forest-dweller attains the world of the sages, and the householder attains heaven.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.212.43)

भक्त्या सहैताञ्छ्रीविष्णोराचरेयुस्तु ये जनाः । ते तु सर्वेपि देहान्ते विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयुः

bhaktyā sahaitāñchrīviṣṇorācareyustu ye janāḥ | te tu sarvepi dehānte viṣṇulokamavāpnuyuḥ

But those people who perform these duties together with devotion — all of them, at the end of the body, attain the world of Vishnu.