Text 3] King Yayati Achieves Liberation 37

Srnu—please hear; bhargavi—O daughter of Sukracarya; amiim—
this; gatham—history; mat-vidha—exactly resembling my behavior;
dcaritam—behavior; bhuvi—within this world; dhirah—those who are
sober and intelligent; yasya—of whom; anusocanti—lament very
much; vane—in the forest; gréma-nivdsinah—very much attached to
materialistic enjoyment.

TRANSLATION

My dearly beloved wife, daughter of Sukracarya, in this world
there was someone exactly like me. Please listen as I narrate the
history of his life. By hearing about the life of such a householder,
those who have retired from householder life always lament.

PURPORT

Persons who live in the village or town are called grdma-nivasi, and
those who live in the forest are called vana-vasi or vanaprastha. The
vanaprasthas, who have retired from family life, generally lament about
their past family life because it engaged them in trying to fulfill lusty
desires. Prahlada Maharaja said that one should retire from family life as
soon as possible, and he described family life as the darkest well
(hitvétma-patarn grham andha-kipam). If one continuously or perma-
nently concentrates on living with his family, he should be understood to
be killing himself. In the Vedic civilization, therefore, it is recommended
that one retire from family life at the end of his fiftieth year and go to
vana, the forest. When he becomes expert or accustomed to forest life, or
retired life as a vanaprastha, he should accept sannydsa. Vanam gato
yad dharim dsrayeta. Sannydsa means accepting unalloyed engagement
in the service of the Lord. Vedic civilization therefore recommends four
different stages of life—brahmacarya, grhastha, vdnaprastha and
sannydsa. One should be very much ashamed of remaining a house-
holder and not promoting oneself to the two higher stages, namely
vanaprastha and sannyasa.

TEXT 3
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