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Sec. II]
STUDIES INTHE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
Rogopasṛṣṭatanudurvasatiṁ mumukṣuḥ prāyopaveśanamatiḥ nṛpatiḥ babhava" (VIII-94).
The same sentiment of the Raghuvamsa regarding the third stage of life is echoed also in the Padmapurana' where it is said that king Dasaratha too desired to retire to forest after getting initiated to asceticism, having realized the old stage of his life. "Tada Dasaratho bhīto bhṛśam samsaravasataḥ......... .........Samsatpravrajāmīti niścitam" (vv. 77 to 80).
So he ordered his ministers and other high dignitaries of his state to consecrate his first son, Rama as king quickly in the protection and governace of the kingdom so that he might enter the tapovana (forest of austerity) without any hindrances.
179
"Abhiṣiñcata me putram prathamaṁ rajyapālane /
Tvaritam yena nirvighnaṁ praviśāmi tapovanam" (v. 90) ||
The above evidences of the BhS corroborated by the Raghuvamsa and the Padmapurana clearly show that at the Vanaprastha stage a householder retired from the worldly life into the forest and began a new course of life as a hermit, having a mind free from attachment to desires, pleasures and enjoyments but concentrated on renunciation and self-purification. At this stage he led a life of dignity, calm and partial seclusion by devoting and dedicating himself to meditation for his spiritual progress.
Thus the Vanaprastha life of self-restraint and self-denial as incidentally referred to in this work is characterized by dis tinctive marks, such as, non-possession, continence, living in forest in solitude on its natural foodstuffs i.e. fruits, leaves, roots, etc., restraint of mind, speech, body (action). wearing of bark.cloth (vagalavatthaniyatthe) to cover nakedness, non-injury to living beings as far as possible, fasting, performance of sacrifice, entertaining of other ascetic-guests with 'caru' and practice of austerities and meditation according to the prescribed rules of religious systems.
13 Padmapurana, VV, 77 to 80. * BhS, 11, 9, 417.
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