12.061
Library: Ashrama dharmas elaborated by referencing Nārāyaṇa Gīta
Bhīṣma said:
O mighty-armed Yudhishthira, listen, O truly valiant one, to the duties of the four varṇas and āśramas here.
The forest-dwelling, alms-begging, and householder's stages are great āśramas; the Brāhmaṇas call the āśrama of celibacy the fourth, which they have adopted.
After performing the sacrament of making matted hair, attaining the status of a twice-born, completing rites such as initiation, and studying the Veda;
Whether with his wife or alone, a self-controlled man who has fulfilled his duties should leave the householder's life and enter the stage of a forest-dweller.
There, after thoroughly studying the forest treatises, the knower of dharma, having become celibate after begetting offspring, attains the state of the imperishable self.
O King, these indeed are the causes for the sages of ascetic discipline; these duties should be performed here by the Brāhmaṇa, at the beginning, by the wise.
O lord of men, for a Brāhmaṇa who has completed the vow of celibacy, the eligibility for the life of mendicancy is recommended here for those who seek liberation.
A sage who is self-restrained and has conquered his senses may sleep wherever the sun sets, without a fixed home or fire, and lives on whatever is obtained.
A brāhmaṇa, having attained the āśrama of security, should be without expectation, equal to all, free from enjoyment and change, and should proceed to the state of the imperishable self.
After studying the Vedas, fulfilling all duties, begetting children, and enjoying life's pleasures, one should, with a focused mind, practice that challenging householder's dharma as prescribed by the sages.
He is content with his own wife, approaches at the proper time, performs his duties, is neither deceitful nor crooked, is moderate in food, devoted to the gods, grateful, truthful, gentle, compassionate, and forbearing.
He should be self-restrained, obedient, vigilant in sacrificial offerings, always giving food to the twice-born, free from envy, generous to all, constantly performing Vaitāna rites, and established as a householder.
Now, O dear one, the great sages, who are great souls, have called this the Nārāyaṇa Gīta, which is of profound meaning and practiced with intense austerity; listen carefully as it is being spoken by me.
Truthfulness, straightforwardness, honoring guests, righteousness, wealth, and delight in one's wife are pleasures to be enjoyed in this world; indeed, in this and the next world, this is my opinion.
The supreme sages say that the āśrama where one supports sons and wives and completes the recitation of the Vedas is the best among the virtuous.
Thus, the brāhmaṇa who is devoted to sacrifice and properly lives the life of a householder, having thoroughly purified his conduct as a householder, attains the pure reward in heaven.
When he abandons his body, those desired by Kāmākṣā are regarded as such. For eternity, beings with eyes, heads, and mouths on all sides attend him.
O Yudhiṣṭhira, one was eating, one was reciting, one was moving; those covered with filth and mud served only one teacher.
A brahmacārī, who is an observer of vows, always devoted to consecration, self-controlled, should always live performing his Vedic duties without deliberation.
One should always serve and bow to the teacher, and in all six duties, neither be completely withdrawn nor fully engaged in any of them.
It is not practiced by authority nor by one who hates; this stage of life, O dear, is considered the āśrama of the brahmacārin (student of sacred knowledge).
