12.066
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
O grandsire, I have heard from the ancients about the four human stages of life. Please explain their meaning to me, as I am asking you.
Bhīṣma said:
O Yudhiṣṭhira, all the dharmas here are known to you, just as they are to me, O mighty-armed one, and they are approved by the virtuous.
O Yudhishthira, you ask me about the dharma that is hidden in another sign; O best of the upholders of dharma, O king of men, understand that.
O son of Kunti, O best among men, all these qualities are found among those who are engaged in righteous conduct and in the duties of the four āśramas.
O Yudhiṣṭhira, for one who is free from desire and hatred, who observes all beings equally, the path of mendicancy (bhaikṣāśrama) is appropriate according to the policy of punishment.
He who understands both the acts of taking and giving, as well as restraint and favour, and who acts according to the prescribed conduct, attains the state of welfare and peace suitable for a hero. (12-66-6)
O Yudhishthira, when one's relatives, connections, and friends are afflicted, for one who is striving to rescue them, the state of initiation and hermitage is appropriate.
O Pārtha, for one performing daily, abundant offerings to beings, ancestors, and humans, the stage of the forest hermitage becomes appropriate.
By protecting all beings and his own kingdom, the king's consecration takes many forms; he may then enter the stage of forest hermitage.
Constancy in Vedic study, forbearance, worship of the teacher, and likewise service to the sub-teacher—these constitute the state of the Brahmanical hermitage.
O Bhārata, for one who always follows the straight and honest path among all beings, the state of the hermitage of Brahman is attained.
O Bhārata, among vānaprasthas, brāhmaṇas, and those learned in the three Vedas, one who gives abundant wealth may attain the next stage of life.
O Bhārata, one who practices compassion towards all beings and is devoted to non-cruelty attains a state in all circumstances.
O Yudhiṣṭhira, O descendant of Kuru, one should practice compassion towards children and the old in all conditions; in all circumstances, this should be the state.
O best of the Kurus, one should provide protection to beings who have been violated by force; O descendant of Kuru, among those who have sought refuge, one should live performing household duties.
He should live as a householder, always protecting all beings, both moving and unmoving, and performing proper worship as appropriate.
O Pārtha, restraint and favour towards the wives of elders and younger, brothers, sons, and grandsons—this is regarded as the austerity of householders.
O best of men, the householder's life should be for the protection of the virtuous, the venerable, and those among the people who have realized their true self.
O Bhārata, whoever in the house here supports all the hermitages with food, that is true householdership, O Yudhiṣṭhira.
Whoever is firmly established in the dharma created by the Creator, in accordance with reality, attains the highest fruit of all the āśramas.
O Yudhishthira, even one residing in an āśrama, in whom the qualities are always destroyed, is called the best among men, O son of Kunti.
O Yudhishthira, one who acts according to the measure of place, age, and family, indeed dwells harmoniously in all hermitages.
O son of Kunti, a king, the tiger among men, should uphold both the duties of the land and the family, and thus become one who is established in all stages of life.
At the proper time, honoring the sacred offerings and gifts of beings in the same way, O tiger among men, one should dwell in the hermitage of the virtuous.
O son of Kunti, he who possesses the tenfold dharma and also examines dharma becomes the king of all people, transcending the orders of life.
Those who are skilled in dharma in the world, the virtuous who perform dharma, being protected in whose domain, a portion of their merit belongs to that king.
Those who delight in dharma and those devoted to adharma do not protect people; O tiger among men, it is the kings who remove their sins.
O Yudhishthira, those who are the helpers in the protection of kings, they all, being sharers of the portion, indeed act in righteousness and in accordance with the natural order, O sinless one.
O tiger among men, it is said that householdership, which we approach, is the most decisive and purifying among all stages of life.
But among all beings, that human who treats others as himself, who has renounced violence and conquered anger, attains happiness after death.
The swift boat, built upon dharma, powered by courage and renunciation, will surely carry you across.
When all desires have been withdrawn from the heart, and the one who abides there is established in sattva, then he attains Brahman.
O king, if you are very pleased, with sincerity and dedication, O best of men, you will attain righteousness by being engaged in protection.
O sinless one, make every effort to protect the Brāhmaṇas who are devoted to the study of the Vedas and to virtuous deeds, as well as all the worlds.
O Bhārata, the king who protects dharma in the forest and in the āśramas attains that dharma a hundredfold.
O best of the Pāṇḍavas, this manifold dharma has been explained to you. Now, perform this, for it has been regarded as eternal by the ancients.
O Pāṇḍava, being single-minded in upholding the four āśramas and the four varṇas, and being devoted to the protection of dharma, O best among men, you will attain righteousness.
