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== गृहस्थाश्रमस्य महत्त्वम् ॥ Greatness of Grhasthashrama ==

== गृहस्थाश्रमस्य महत्त्वम् ॥ Greatness of Grhasthashrama ==

Refer [[Uma Shankara Samvada (उमाशङ्करयोः संवादः)|Uma Shankara Samvada]]

Greatness of the Grhasthashrama is described in the conversation between Uma and Shankara occuring in the Anushasana Parva of the Mahabharata.<ref name=":7">Bajaj, Jitendra and Mandayam, Srinivas (1996), Annam Bahu Kurvita, Madras:Centre for Policy Studies.</ref> In this dialogue, Uma seeks to know the dharma of ashramas, of the way one ought to lead life at different stages of a lifetime. And Shankara begins his answer to Uma's queries with the unequivocal assertion that of the four ashramas, grhasthashrama is indeed the foremost.<ref name=":8" /><blockquote>गृहस्थः प्रवरस्तेषां गार्हस्थ्यं धर्ममाश्रितः।.. १३.२०८.४२<ref name=":9" /> gr̥hasthaḥ pravarasteṣāṁ gārhasthyaṁ dharmamāśritaḥ।.. 13.208.42</blockquote>

Greatness of the Grhasthashrama is described in the conversation between Uma and Shankara occuring in the Anushasana parva of the Mahabharata.<ref name=":7">Bajaj, Jitendra and Mandayam, Srinivas (1996), Annam Bahu Kurvita, Madras:Centre for Policy Studies.</ref> In this dialogue, Uma seeks to know the dharma of ashramas, of the way one ought to lead life at different stages of a lifetime. And Shankara begins his answer to Uma's queries with the unequivocal assertion that of the four ashramas the grhastha ashrama is indeed the foremost.  

In fact, dealing with Vanaprasthashrama and Sannyasashrama in just about six and a half verses, Shankara returns to a very detailed description of the grhasthashrama suggesting that his heart seems to be in describing the grhasthashrama dharma for Uma. He says that the core of the discipline of a grhastha is in looking after and generously providing for the sustenance of all. Especially, of the guests who arrive at his door. And this opportunity to look after and sustain others is what makes the grhasthashrama so great that the severest austerities like tapas in cold water and in heat of summer during vanaprasthashrama cannot measure up to even the one-sixteenth part of the merit acquired by properly fulfilling the duties of the grhasthashrama.<ref name=":8">Shastri, Ramnarayanadatta Pandey, Mahabharata Volume 6 (With Hindi Translation), Gorakhpur:Gita Press.</ref><blockquote>सम्यक्तपश्चरन्तीह श्रद्दधाना वनाश्रमे । गृहाश्रमस्य ते देवि कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम् ।।१३.२११.३०<ref name=":10">Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-13-%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5-211 Adhyaya 211]</ref>

गृहस्थः प्रवरस्तेषां गार्हस्थ्यं धर्ममाश्रितः।13.208.42<ref name=":9" />

samyaktapaścarantīha śraddadhānā vanāśrame । gr̥hāśramasya te devi kalāṁ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm ।।13.211.30</blockquote>Shankara even provides an expansive listing of the diverse people and other living beings who keep looking up to the grhastha for their livelihood.  Thereby, emphasizing on the sustenance that flows from the grhastha in all directions. And concludes by equating the role of grhasthas in the society to protection of mothers.<ref name=":7" /> He says, <blockquote>यथा मातरमाश्रित्य सर्वे जीवन्ति जन्तवः । तथा गृहाश्रमं प्राप्य सर्वे जीवन्ति चाश्रमाः॥१३.२११.४९<ref name=":10" />  

In fact, dealing with Vanaprasthashrama and Sannyasashram in just about six and a half verses, Shankara returns to a very detailed description of the grhastha ashrama suggesting that his heart seems to be in describing the grhastha ashrama dharma for Uma. He says that the core of the discipline of a grhastha is in looking after and generously providing for the sustenance of all especially, of the guests who arrive at his door. And this opportunity to look after and sustain others is what makes the grhasthashrama so great that the severest austerities like tapas in cold water and in heat of summer during vanaprasthashrama cannot measure up to even the one-sixteenth part of the merit acquired by properly fulfilling the duties of the grhasthashrama.<ref name=":8">Shastri, Ramnarayanadatta Pandey, Mahabharata Volume 6 (With Hindi Translation), Gorakhpur:Gita Press.</ref><blockquote>सम्यक्तपश्चरन्तीह श्रद्दधाना वनाश्रमे। गृहाश्रमस्य ते देवि कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम्।।१३.२११.३०<ref name=":10">Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-13-%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5-211 Adhyaya 211]</ref></blockquote>Shankara even provides an expansive listing of the diverse people and other living beings who keep looking up to the grhastha for their livelihood thereby emphasizing on the sustenance that flows from the grhastha in all directions. He concludes by equating the role of grhasthas in the society to protection of mothers. He says, <blockquote>यथा मातरमाश्रित्य सर्वे जीवन्ति जन्तवः । तथा गृहाश्रमं प्राप्य सर्वे जीवन्ति चाश्रमाः॥13.211.49<ref name=":10" /> ''yathā mātaramāśritya sarve jīvanti jantavaḥ॥ tathā gr̥hāśramaṁ prāpya sarve jīvanti cāśramāḥ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Just as all living beings live under the protection of their mothers, so do all the asramas derive sustenance from the grhastha ashrama. It is no wonder that the merit of a grhastha whose labour sustains so much of life on earth is of course great. Hence it is said, <blockquote>उपयुक्तं च यत्तेषां मतिमान्नानुशोचति।13.211.54 धर्म इत्येव सङ्कल्प्य यस्तु तस्य फलं शृणु॥

''yathā mātaramāśritya sarve jīvanti jantavaḥ । tathā gr̥hāśramaṁ prāpya sarve jīvanti cāśramāḥ॥13.211.49''</blockquote>Meaning: Just as all living beings live under the protection of their mothers, so do all the ashramas derive sustenance from the grhasthashrama.

सर्वयज्ञप्रणीतस्य हयमेधेन यत्फलम्। वर्षे स द्वादशे देवि फलेनैतेन युज्यते॥13.211.55<ref name=":10" />

It is no wonder that the merit of a grhastha whose labour sustains so much of life on earth is of course great.<ref name=":7" /> Hence it is said, <blockquote>उपयुक्तं च यत्तेषां मतिमान्नानुशोचति ॥१३.२११.५४

''sarvayajñapraṇītasya hayamedhena yatphalam। varṣe sa dvādaśe devi phalenaitena yujyate॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Listen to the virtue earned by the one who does not spare a second thought for what has been used up by the men and other living beings that look up to him for sustenance, and who knows that sustaining them is indeed his dharma. Such a one, having fulfilled the dharma of grhastha ashrama for twelve years, attains the merit that accrues to those who perform an ashvamedha after having first accomplished all other yajnas.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":12" />

''upayuktaṁ ca yatteṣāṁ matimānnānuśocati ॥13.211.54''

Such is the glory of grhastha ashrama. And such are the yajnas of the grhastha, that sustain the whole world day after day.<ref name=":7" />

 

 

Such is the glory of grhasthashrama. And such are the yajnas of the grhastha, that sustain the whole world day after day.<ref name=":7" />

== Eligibility to Grhasthashrama ==

== Eligibility to Grhasthashrama ==