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

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

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।

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॥

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

 

सर्वयज्ञप्रणीतस्य हयमेधेन यत्फलम्। वर्षे स द्वादशे देवि फलेनैतेन युज्यते॥

''upayuktaṁ ca yatteṣāṁ matimānnānuśocati। dharma ityeva saṅkalpya yastu tasya phalaṁ śr̥ṇu॥''

''upayuktaṁ ca yatteṣāṁ matimānnānuśocati। dharma ityeva saṅkalpya yastu tasya phalaṁ śr̥ṇu॥''

''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.  

''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" />

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

तेषुतेषु च प्रीणन्ति देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः। पितरः पितृलोकस्थाः स्वधर्मेण स रज्यते।।13.211.38<ref name=":10" />

तेषुतेषु च प्रीणन्ति देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः। पितरः पितृलोकस्थाः स्वधर्मेण स रज्यते।।13.211.38<ref name=":10" />

=== गृहस्थलक्षणानि ॥ Qualities of a Grhastha ===

=== गृहस्थलक्षणानि ॥ Qualities of a Grhastha ===