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=== उमाशङ्करयोः संवादः ॥ 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">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%B5-208 Adhyaya 208]</ref> 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, grhasthashrama is indeed the foremost.<ref name=":12">Pandit Ramnarayanadatta Shastri Pandey, Mahabharata (Khanda 6), Gorakhpur: Gita Press.</ref><blockquote>गृहस्थः प्रवरस्तेषां गार्हस्थ्यं धर्ममाश्रितः।.. १३.२०८.४२<ref name=":9">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%B5-208 Adhyaya 208]</ref> gr̥hasthaḥ pravarasteṣāṁ gārhasthyaṁ dharmamāśritaḥ।.. 13.208.42</blockquote>

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> 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" /> ''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.  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  

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=":12" /><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> 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" /> ''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.  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  

धर्म इत्येव सङ्कल्प्य यस्तु तस्य फलं शृणु । सर्वयज्ञप्रणीतस्य हयमेधेन यत्फलम् । वर्षे स द्वादशे देवि फलेनैतेन युज्यते ॥१३.२११.५५<ref name=":10" />

धर्म इत्येव सङ्कल्प्य यस्तु तस्य फलं शृणु । सर्वयज्ञप्रणीतस्य हयमेधेन यत्फलम् । वर्षे स द्वादशे देवि फलेनैतेन युज्यते ॥१३.२११.५५<ref name=":10" />

''dharma ityeva saṅkalpya yastu tasya phalaṁ śr̥ṇu । sarvayajñapraṇītasya hayamedhena yatphalam ।''  

''dharma ityeva saṅkalpya yastu tasya phalaṁ śr̥ṇu । sarvayajñapraṇītasya hayamedhena yatphalam ।''  

''varṣe sa dvādaśe devi phalenaitena yujyate ॥13.211.55''</blockquote>Meaning: Listen to the virtue earned by the one who does not spare a second thought for what has been used up by 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 grhasthashrama 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=":8" />  

''varṣe sa dvādaśe devi phalenaitena yujyate ॥13.211.55''</blockquote>Meaning: Listen to the virtue earned by the one who does not spare a second thought for what has been used up by 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 grhasthashrama 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" />  

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" />

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" />

The Manusmrti states that a student who has studied, in due course, three Vedas, two Vedas or one Veda, enters the state of the householder having never deviated from the vows of brahmacharya (studentship).<ref name=":13">Ganganath Jha (1920-39), Manusmrti ([https://ia801603.us.archive.org/33/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.46010/2015.46010.Manusmrti--Vol-4.pdf Vol.4]), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref> <blockquote>वेदानधीत्य वेदौ वा वेदं वापि यथाक्रमम् । अविप्लुतब्रह्मचर्यो गृहस्थाश्रमं आवसेत् । । ३.२ । ।<ref name=":0">Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 3]</ref> vedānadhītya vedau vā vedaṁ vāpi yathākramam । aviplutabrahmacaryo gr̥hasthāśramaṁ āvaset । । 3.2 । ।</blockquote>

The Manusmrti states that a student who has studied, in due course, three Vedas, two Vedas or one Veda, enters the state of the householder having never deviated from the vows of brahmacharya (studentship).<ref name=":13">Ganganath Jha (1920-39), Manusmrti ([https://ia801603.us.archive.org/33/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.46010/2015.46010.Manusmrti--Vol-4.pdf Vol.4]), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref> <blockquote>वेदानधीत्य वेदौ वा वेदं वापि यथाक्रमम् । अविप्लुतब्रह्मचर्यो गृहस्थाश्रमं आवसेत् । । ३.२ । ।<ref name=":0">Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 3]</ref> vedānadhītya vedau vā vedaṁ vāpi yathākramam । aviplutabrahmacaryo gr̥hasthāśramaṁ āvaset । । 3.2 । ।</blockquote>

== गृहस्थधर्मः ॥ Grhastha Dharma ==

== गृहस्थधर्मः ॥ Grhastha Dharma ==

The Itihasas, smrti texts as well as the Puranas delineate how grhasthas of different varnas should conduct themselves and the qualities that should be cultured by every grhastha. Dharmas of a grhastha as described in the Mahabharata (Shanti Parva<ref name=":14" /> and Anushasana Parva<ref name=":12" />) include,

The Itihasas, Smrti texts as well as the Puranas delineate how grhasthas of different varnas should conduct themselves and the qualities that should be cultured by every grhastha. Dharmas of a grhastha as described in the Mahabharata (Shanti Parva<ref name=":14" /> and Anushasana Parva<ref name=":12" />) include,

{{Columns-list|*Observing the Pancha Mahayajnas.

{{Columns-list|*Observing the Pancha Mahayajnas.

*Always loving one's wife and staying away from other's women.

*Always loving one's wife and staying away from other's women.

*Being happy with one's own wife and approaching her for conjugal bliss at the right time alone.

*Being happy with one's own wife and approaching her for conjugal pleasure at the right time alone.

*Nourishing one's wife and children.

*Nourishing one's wife and children.

*Engaging in Svadhyaya (study) of vedas along with Agnihotra.

*Engaging in Svadhyaya (study) of vedas along with Agnihotra.

*Following the rules of Vrata and Upavasa.}}

*Following the rules of Vrata and Upavasa.}}<blockquote>... पञ्चयज्ञक्रियाशौचं दारतुष्टिरतन्द्रिता ।।१३.२०८.४२ ऋतुकालाभिगमनं दानयज्ञतपांसि च । अविप्रवासस्तस्येष्टः स्वाध्यायश्वाग्निपूर्वकम् ।।१३.२०८.४३<ref name=":9" />

पञ्चयज्ञक्रियाशौचं दारतुष्टिरतन्द्रिता।।13.208.42

व्रतोपवासनियमस्तपो दानं च शक्तितः । भरणं भृत्यवर्गस्य दीनानामनुकम्पनम् ।।१३.२११.४५ परदारान्निवृत्तिश्च स्वदारेषु रतिः सदा ।...१३.२११.४६<ref name=":10" />

ऋतुकालाभिगमनं दानयज्ञतपांसि च। अविप्रवासस्तस्येष्टः स्वाध्यायश्वाग्निपूर्वकम्।।१३.२०८.४३<ref name=":9" />

भरणं पुत्रदाराणां वेदानां चानुपालनम् । सेवतामाश्रमं श्रेष्ठं वदन्ति परमर्षयः ।।१२.६०.१५<ref name=":6" />

व्रतोपवासनियमस्तपो दानं च शक्तितः। भरणं भृत्यवर्गस्य दीनानामनुकम्पनम्।।१३.२११.४५ परदारान्निवृत्तिश्च स्वदारेषु रतिः सदा।१३.२११.४६<ref name=":10" />

... pañcayajñakriyāśaucaṁ dāratuṣṭiratandritā ।।13.208.42

The duties of dvijas in the great garhasthya ashrama as stated by maharshis are nourishing one's wife and children and svadhyaya of the Vedas shastras.<ref name=":14" />

vratopavāsaniyamastapo dānaṁ ca śaktitaḥ । bharaṇaṁ bhr̥tyavargasya dīnānāmanukampanam ।।13.211.45

The Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva, Dana Dharma Upaparva) describes how grhasthas of different varnas should conduct themselves and the qualities that should be cultured by every grhastha as part of the Uma Maheshvara Samvada.

paradārānnivr̥ttiśca svadāreṣu ratiḥ sadā ।...13.211.46

Observing the Pancha Mahayajnas, outer and inner purity, being happy with one's own wife, approaching one's wife for conjugal bliss at the right time alone, being engrossed in dana, yajna and tapas, not travelling to foreign countries and engaging in the study of vedas along with agnihotra are the dharmas of a grhastha.<ref name=":8" />

bharaṇaṁ putradārāṇāṁ vedānāṁ cānupālanam । sevatāmāśramaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ vadanti paramarṣayaḥ ।।12.60.15</blockquote>

Following the rules of Vrata and Upavasa, doing tapasya, engaging in dana, nourishing the dependent class, being compasionate towards the poor, staying away from other's women, always loving one's wife are the duties of a grhastha.<ref name=":12">Pandit Ramnarayanadatta Shastri Pandey, Mahabharata (Khanda 6), Gorakhpur: Gita Press.</ref>

=== गृहस्थगुणाः ॥ ===

Speaking about the importance of the virtue of being devoted to one's wife alone, the Mahabharata says,

Speaking about the importance of the virtue of being devoted to one's wife alone, the Mahabharata says,

Doing homa in the vaivahika agni (the agni in whose presence one's marriage has taken place) as well as Vaishvadeva, Shanti-Paushtika karmas, Nitya paka, etc should be performed by a grhastha.<ref name=":15">Girija Prasad Dvivedi (1917), [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.343659/page/n217/mode/2up?view=theater The Manusmriti], Lucknow: Newal Kishore Press.</ref>

Doing homa in the vaivahika agni (the agni in whose presence one's marriage has taken place) as well as Vaishvadeva, Shanti-Paushtika karmas, Nitya paka, etc should be performed by a grhastha.<ref name=":15">Girija Prasad Dvivedi (1917), [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.343659/page/n217/mode/2up?view=theater The Manusmriti], Lucknow: Newal Kishore Press.</ref>

According to the Mahabharata, honouring of guests, protection of the 3 fires (ie. garhapatya and others) is the duty of a grhastha. He must also perform the various ishtis and Pashubandhas according to the vidhis.<ref name=":8" />

According to the Mahabharata, honouring of guests, protection of the 3 fires (ie. garhapatya and others) is the duty of a grhastha. He must also perform the various ishtis and Pashubandhas according to the vidhis.<ref name=":8">Shastri, Ramnarayanadatta Pandey, Mahabharata Volume 6 (With Hindi Translation), Gorakhpur:Gita Press.</ref>

अतिथिप्रियता धर्मो धर्मस्त्रेताग्निधारणम्। इष्टिर्वा पशुबन्धाश्च विधिपूर्वं परंतप।।13.208.18<ref name=":9" />

अतिथिप्रियता धर्मो धर्मस्त्रेताग्निधारणम्। इष्टिर्वा पशुबन्धाश्च विधिपूर्वं परंतप।।13.208.18<ref name=":9" />