Changes

* Giving [[Annadana (अन्नदानम्)|Annadana]] to others.  

* Giving [[Annadana (अन्नदानम्)|Annadana]] to others.  

* Describing the qualities of a Vaishya, the Bhagavad Gita says,   

* Describing the qualities of a Vaishya, the Bhagavad Gita says,   

<blockquote>कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम् । परिचर्यात्मकं कर्म शूद्रस्यापि स्वभावजम् ॥१८- ४४॥<ref name=":5" /></blockquote><blockquote>''kr̥ṣigaurakṣyavāṇijyaṁ vaiśyakarma svabhāvajam । paricaryātmakaṁ karma śūdrasyāpi svabhāvajam ॥18- 44॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Agriculture, cattle-rearing and trade are the duties of the Vaishya (merchant class), born of (their own) nature; and action consisting of service is the duty of the Sudra (servant class), born of (their own) nature.<ref name=":6" />

<blockquote>कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम् । परिचर्यात्मकं कर्म शूद्रस्यापि स्वभावजम् ॥१८- ४४॥<ref name=":5" /></blockquote><blockquote>''kr̥ṣigaurakṣyavāṇijyaṁ vaiśyakarma svabhāvajam । paricaryātmakaṁ karma śūdrasyāpi svabhāvajam ॥18- 44॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Agriculture, cattle-rearing and trade are the duties of the Vaishya (merchant class), born of (their own) nature; and action consisting of seva (सेवा | selfless service) is the duty of the Sudra (servant class), born of (their own) nature.<ref name=":6" />

* Attaining one pointed concentration through adhyatmik practices and reading for attaining the aim of moksha.

* Attaining one pointed concentration through adhyatmik practices and reading for attaining the aim of moksha.

* Making sure that the teachers and soldiers do not fall short of financial and other facilities.

* Making sure that the teachers and soldiers do not fall short of financial and other facilities.

* Here onwards, the role, though not explicit, of the father as well as the guru who is referred to as Manasa Pita is of prime importance. Mother and other family members lend a helping hand.

* Here onwards, the role, though not explicit, of the father as well as the guru who is referred to as Manasa Pita is of prime importance. Mother and other family members lend a helping hand.

* This age is extremely conducive to inculcation of good habits. In this regard, the following are suggested.  

* This age is extremely conducive to inculcation of good habits. In this regard, the following are suggested.  

* In this phase, reprimanding according to the need, is accepted. The quality of Paropakara or Service should be inculcated. It is said that,<blockquote>परोपकाराय फलन्ति वृक्षाः परोपकाराय वहन्ति नद्यः । परोपकाराय दुहन्ति गावः परोपकारार्थमिदं शरीरम् ॥</blockquote><blockquote>''paropakārāya phalanti vr̥kṣāḥ paropakārāya vahanti nadyaḥ । paropakārāya duhanti gāvaḥ paropakārārthamidaṁ śarīram ॥''</blockquote>Meaning: The trees bear fruits to serve others. The rivers flow to serve others, Cows give milk to serve others. This human body is meant to serve others.  This value inspires every individual to serve society through every profession or a vocation. It is inspiring that rivers serve others, animals and plants serve others, and are not selfish; man being the highest form of life should not lag behind in serving others; not merely human beings, but all living beings.

* In this phase, reprimanding according to the need, is accepted. The quality of Paropakara or seva (सेवा | selfless service) should be inculcated. It is said that,<blockquote>परोपकाराय फलन्ति वृक्षाः परोपकाराय वहन्ति नद्यः । परोपकाराय दुहन्ति गावः परोपकारार्थमिदं शरीरम् ॥</blockquote><blockquote>''paropakārāya phalanti vr̥kṣāḥ paropakārāya vahanti nadyaḥ । paropakārāya duhanti gāvaḥ paropakārārthamidaṁ śarīram ॥''</blockquote>Meaning: The trees bear fruits to serve others. The rivers flow to serve others, Cows give milk to serve others. This human body is meant to serve others.  This value inspires every individual to serve society through every profession or a vocation. It is inspiring that rivers serve others, animals and plants serve others, and are not selfish; man being the highest form of life should not lag behind in serving others; not merely human beings, but all living beings.

Other responsibilities include,

Other responsibilities include,

# Getting them to chant stotras like the Ekatmata stotra everyday.  

# Getting them to chant stotras like the Ekatmata stotra everyday.  

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== गार्हस्थ्यम् ॥ Householder's phase (Age between 26 to 60) ==

== गार्हस्थ्यम् ॥ Householder's phase (Age between 26 to 60) ==

It is said that every individual should discharge four pious obligations; namely, Devaruna (towards God), Pitruruna (towards parents), Rishiruna (towards teachers) and Manavaruna (towards humanity). One should discharge Devaruna by worship of God, Pitruruna by maintaining continuity of the family, Rishiruna by the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge and Manavaruna by every type of social service.<blockquote>ऋणैश्चतुर्भिः संयुक्ता जायन्ते मनुजा भुवि । पितृदेवर्षिमनुजदेयैः शतसहस्रशः ॥ १११.१२ ॥<ref>Mahabharata, [https://sanskritdocuments.org/mirrors/mahabharata/unic/mbh01_sa.html Adiparva.]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''r̥ṇaiścaturbhiḥ saṁyuktā jāyante manujā bhuvi । pitr̥devarṣimanujadeyaiḥ śatasahasraśaḥ ॥ 12 ॥''</blockquote>

It is said that every individual should discharge four pious obligations; namely, Devaruna (towards God), Pitruruna (towards parents), Rishiruna (towards teachers) and Manavaruna (towards humanity). One should discharge Devaruna by worship of God, Pitruruna by maintaining continuity of the family, Rishiruna by the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge and Manavaruna by every type of social service or seva (सेवा | selfless service).<blockquote>ऋणैश्चतुर्भिः संयुक्ता जायन्ते मनुजा भुवि । पितृदेवर्षिमनुजदेयैः शतसहस्रशः ॥ १११.१२ ॥<ref>Mahabharata, [https://sanskritdocuments.org/mirrors/mahabharata/unic/mbh01_sa.html Adiparva.]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''r̥ṇaiścaturbhiḥ saṁyuktā jāyante manujā bhuvi । pitr̥devarṣimanujadeyaiḥ śatasahasraśaḥ ॥ 12 ॥''</blockquote>

* Pitru Rna : Giving birth to a generation greater than oneself.

* Pitru Rna : Giving birth to a generation greater than oneself.

In the second stage of life (ie. [[Grhasthashrama (गृहस्थाश्रमः)|the Grhasthashrama]]), after the acquisition of knowledge or completing education, an individual has to get married and commence family life. It was the joint responsibility of husband and wife to lead a pure and simple family life, to maintain sexual morality and to discharge the 'Pitruruna' by begetting children, educating them and making them good citizens. For, good children beget good name to parents. Therefore, fulfillment of Pitru Rna refers to giving birth to lustrous, talented, capable, humble progeny with good life goal by which the names of the ancestors may be made immortal. To do this effectively, they had to adjust to each other and live together.  

In the second stage of life (ie. [[Grhasthashrama (गृहस्थाश्रमः)|the Grhasthashrama]]), after the acquisition of knowledge or completing education, an individual has to get married and commence family life. It was the joint responsibility of husband and wife to lead a pure and simple family life, to maintain sexual morality and to discharge the 'Pitruruna' by begetting children, educating them and making them good citizens. For, good children beget good name to parents. Therefore, fulfillment of Pitru Rna refers to giving birth to lustrous, talented, capable, humble progeny with good life goal by which the names of the ancestors may be made immortal. To do this effectively, they had to adjust to each other and live together.  

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== प्रौढं वार्धक्यं च ॥ Old age ==

== प्रौढं वार्धक्यं च ॥ Old age ==

This is the stage of Vanaprasthashrama literally meaning, retirement to forest. It is nothing but life after retirement from profession and avocation (around the age of sixty). During this period, an individual was required to entrust the family responsibility to his grown up sons/daughters as the case may be, and to devote himself mainly to the service of the society. During this period, an individual was required to discharge his obligation to society, i.e., 'Manavaruna' to a greater extent by rendering various types of social services. In today's parlance, it refers to taking up Social service by giving up earning activity to the extent possible. That is, becoming a Social Worker. It is a stage of remaining in meditation and worship of God in the evening of life and giving advice and the benefit of one's experience to the younger generation. This stage of life is a reflection of devotion to divinity and humanity.  

This is the stage of Vanaprasthashrama literally meaning, retirement to forest. It is nothing but life after retirement from profession and avocation (around the age of sixty). During this period, an individual was required to entrust the family responsibility to his grown up sons/daughters as the case may be, and to devote himself mainly to the seva (सेवा | selfless service) of the society. During this period, an individual was required to discharge his obligation to society, i.e., 'Manavaruna' to a greater extent by rendering various types of social services. In today's parlance, it refers to taking up Social service or seva (सेवा | selfless service) by giving up earning activity to the extent possible. That is, becoming a Social Worker. It is a stage of remaining in meditation and worship of God in the evening of life and giving advice and the benefit of one's experience to the younger generation. This stage of life is a reflection of devotion to divinity and humanity.  

In this phase too, one may contribute to the educational, governmental and progressive systems.

In this phase too, one may contribute to the educational, governmental and progressive systems.