शुक उवाच व्यासेनोक्तो महाराज कुरु दारपरिग्रहम् । सर्वेषामाश्रमाणां च गृहस्थाश्रम उत्तमः
Śuka said: My father Vyāsa told me, 'O king, take a wife; among all the āśramas, the householder's stage is the highest.'
मया नाङ्गीकृतं वाक्यं मत्त्वा बन्धं गुरोरपि । न बन्धोऽस्तीति तेनोक्तो नाहं तत्कृतवान्पुनः
I did not accept that instruction, perceiving it as bondage, even from my guru; he then told me, 'It is not bondage.' Still, I did not act accordingly.
इति सन्दिग्धमनसं मत्वा स मुनिसत्तमः । उवाच वचनं तथ्यं मिथिलां गच्छ मा शुचः
Seeing my mind in doubt, that best of sages spoke truthful words: 'Go to Mithilā, do not grieve.'
याज्योऽस्ति जनकस्तत्र जीवन्मुक्तो नराधिपः । विदेहो लोकविदितः पाति राज्यमकण्टकम्
There, King Janaka, known as Videha and renowned among men as liberated while living, rules his kingdom without trouble.
कुर्वन् राज्यं तथा राजा मायापाशैर्न बध्यते । त्वं बिभेषि कथं पुत्र वनवृत्तिः परन्तप
Though ruling the kingdom, that king is not bound by the snares of illusion; why, O son, do you fear the life of a householder, scorcher of foes?
पश्य तं नृपशार्दूलं त्यज मोहं मनोगतम् । कुरु दारान्महाभाग पृच्छ वा भूपतिं च तम्
See that tiger among kings, abandon the delusion in your mind; O highly fortunate one, take a wife, or ask that king.
सन्देहं ते मनोजातं कथयिष्यति पार्थिवः । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य मामेहि तरसा सुत
The king will resolve the doubt that has arisen in your mind; after hearing his words, come to me quickly, my son.
सम्प्राप्तोऽहं महाराज त्वत्पुरे च तदाज्ञया । मोक्षकामोऽस्मि राजेन्द्र ब्रूहि कृत्यं ममानघ
O great king, I have come to your city by his command; I desire liberation, O king—tell me, O sinless one, what I should do.
तपस्तीर्थव्रतेज्याश्च स्वाध्यायस्तीर्थसेवनम् । ज्ञानं वा वद राजेन्द्र मोक्षं प्रति च कारणम्
O king, tell me whether austerity, pilgrimage, vows, sacrifices, study, or service at holy places, or knowledge is the means for liberation.
जनक उवाच शृणु विप्रेण कर्तव्यं मोक्षमार्गाश्रितेन यत् । उपनीतो वसेदादौ वेदाभ्यासाय वै गुरौ
Janaka said: Hear what a brāhmaṇa should do who seeks the path of liberation: after initiation, he should first reside with his teacher to study the Vedas.
अधीत्य वेदवेदान्तान्दत्त्वा च गुरुदक्षिणाम् । समावृत्तस्तु गार्हस्थ्ये सदारो निवसेन्मुनिः
Having studied the Vedas and Vedāntas, and given the teacher his due, he should return and, with a wife, dwell in the householder's stage.
न्यायवृत्तिस्तु सन्तोषी निराशी गतकल्मषः । अग्निहोत्रादिकर्माणि कुर्वाणः सत्यवाक्शुचिः
He should live righteously, content, free from expectation, purified of faults, performing rituals like agnihotra, speaking truth, and remaining pure.
पुत्रं पौत्रं समासाद्य वानप्रस्थाश्रमे वसेत् । तपसा षड्रिपूञ्जित्वा भार्यां पुत्रे निवेश्य च
Having obtained a son and grandson, he should enter the forest-dweller's stage, subduing the six enemies through austerity and entrusting his wife to his son.
सर्वानग्नीन्यथान्यायमात्मन्यारोप्य धर्मवित् । वसेत्तुर्याश्रमे श्रान्तः शुद्धे वैराग्यसम्भवे
Having properly transferred all sacred fires into himself, being learned in dharma, he should, when weary, dwell in the fourth stage, in purity and detachment.
विरक्तस्याधिकारोऽस्ति संन्यासे नान्यथा क्वचित् । वेदवाक्यमिदं तथ्यं नान्यथेति मतिर्मम
Only one who is detached is eligible for renunciation, never otherwise; this is the true statement of the Vedas, and this is my conviction.
शुकाष्टचत्वारिशद्वै संस्कारा वेदबोधिताः । चत्वारिंशद्गृहस्थस्य प्रोक्तास्तत्र महात्मभिः
O Śuka, the Vedas declare forty-eight sacraments; of these, forty are prescribed for the householder by the great sages.
अष्टौ च मुक्तिकामस्य प्रोक्ताः शमदमादयः । आश्रमादाश्रमं गच्छेदिति शिष्टानुशासनम्
Eight qualities, beginning with tranquility and self-control, are prescribed for one who seeks liberation; the instruction of the wise is to proceed from one stage of life to the next.
शुक उवाच उत्पन्ने हृदि वैराग्ये ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्भवे । अवश्यमेव वस्तव्यमाश्रमेषु वनेषु वा
Śuka said: When dispassion arises in the heart and knowledge along with realization is attained, one must certainly dwell in the stages of life or in the forests.
जनक उवाच इन्द्रियाणि बलिष्ठानि न नियुक्तानि मानद । अपक्वस्य प्रकुर्वन्ति विकारांस्ताननेकशः
Janaka said: The senses are powerful, O bestower of honor, and if not restrained, they cause many disturbances in one who is not mature.
भोजनेच्छां सुखेच्छां च शय्येच्छामात्मजस्य च । यती भूत्वा कथं कुर्याद्विकारे समुपस्थिते
How can one who has become a renunciant, when desires for food, pleasure, bed, or offspring arise, avoid being disturbed when such changes occur?
दुर्जरं वासनाजालं न शान्तिमुपयाति वै । अतस्तच्छमनार्थाय क्रमेण च परित्यजेत्
The web of desires is hard to overcome and does not lead to peace; therefore, for the sake of its pacification, one should gradually renounce them.
ऊर्ध्वं सुप्तः पतत्येव न शयानः पतत्यधः । परिव्रज्य परिभ्रष्टो न मार्गं लभते पुनः
One who is lying down does not fall downward, but one who is sleeping above does fall; similarly, a renunciant who falls from the path does not easily regain the way.
यथा पिपीलिका मूलाच्छाखायामधिरोहति । शनैः शनैः फलं याति सुखेन पदगामिनी
Just as an ant climbs from the root to the branch slowly, step by step, it reaches the fruit with ease, moving at its own pace.
विहङ्गस्तरसा याति विघ्नशङ्कामुदस्य वै । श्रान्तो भवति विश्रम्य सुखं याति पिपीलिका
A bird flies swiftly, disregarding obstacles, but becomes weary; the ant, resting as needed, reaches its goal comfortably.
मनस्तु प्रबलं काममजेयमकृतात्मभिः । अतः क्रमेण जेतव्यमाश्रमानुक्रमेण च
The mind, being strong in desire, cannot be conquered by those lacking self-mastery; therefore, it must be subdued gradually, following the order of the stages of life.
गृहस्थाश्रमसंस्थोऽपि शान्तः सुमतिरात्मवान् । न च हृष्येन्न च तपेल्लाभालाभे समो भवेत्
Even while established in the householder's stage, one who is peaceful, wise, and self-controlled should remain unaffected by gain or loss, neither rejoicing nor grieving, maintaining equanimity.
विहतं कर्म कुर्वाणस्त्यजंश्चिन्तान्वितं च यत् । आत्मलाभेन सन्तुष्टो मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
Performing one's duties, abandoning attachment and anxiety, and being content with self-realization, one is liberated—of this there is no doubt.
पश्याहं राज्यसंस्थोऽपि जीवन्मुक्तो यथानघ । विचरामि यथाकामं न मे किञ्चित्प्रजायते
See, even though I am established in kingship, I am liberated while living, O sinless one; I wander as I please, and nothing arises in me.
भुञ्जानो विविधान्भोगान्कुर्वन्कार्याण्यनेकशः । भविष्यामि यथाहं त्वं तथा मुक्तो भवानघ
Enjoying various pleasures and performing many duties, I remain as I am; in the same way, O sinless one, you too will become free.
कथ्यते खलु यद्दृश्यमदृश्यं बध्यते कुतः । दृश्यानि पञ्चभूतानि गुणास्तेषां तथा पुनः
Whatever is seen or unseen is said to be bound—how could it be otherwise? The visible things are the five elements, and their qualities as well.