1294
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[ Canto 3, Ch. 30 ]
PURPORT
Family attraction is so strong that even if one is neglected by family members in his old age, he cannot give up family affection, and he remains at home just like a dog. In the Vedic way of life one has to give up family life when he is strong enough. It is advised that before getting too weak and being baffled in material activities, and before becoming diseased, one should give up family life and engage oneself completely in the service of the Lord for the remaining days of his life. It is enjoined, therefore, in the Vedic scriptures, that as soon as one passes fifty years of age, he must give up family life and live alone in the forest. After preparing himself fully, he should become a  sannyāsī  to distribute the knowledge of spiritual life to each and every home.
TEXT 15
आस्तेऽयमत्योपन्यस्तं गृहपाल श्वाहरन् ।
आमयाध्यप्रदीप्तप्रित्याहारोऽल्पचेष्टितः ॥१५॥
āste 'vamatyopanyastam grha-pāla ivāharan āmayāvy apradīptāgnir alpāhāro 'lpa-ceṣṭitaḥ
āste—he remains; avamatyā—negligently; upanyastam—what is placed; grha-pālaḥ—a dog; iva—like; āharan—eating; āmayāvī—diseased; apradīpta-agniḥ—having dyspepsia; alpa—little; āhāraḥ—eating; alpa—little; ceṣṭitaḥ—his activity.
TRANSLATION
Thus he remains at home just like a pet dog and eats whatever is so negligently given to him. Afflicted with many illnesses, such as dyspepsia and loss of appetite, he eats only very small morsels of food, and he becomes an invalid who cannot work any more.
PURPORT
Before meeting death one is sure to become a diseased invalid, and when he is neglected by his family members, his life becomes less than a dog's because he is put into so many miserable conditions of life. Vedic literatures enjoin, therefore, that before the arrival of such miserable conditions, one should leave home and die without the knowledge of his family members.