"Ashtaka said, 'Those knowledgeable of the Vedas differ in opinion as to how the followers of each of the four modes of life, viz., Grihastaa, Bhikshu, Brahmachaarin, and Vanaprashtaa, should conduct themselves in order to acquire merit of Dharma."
"Yayaati answered, 'These are what a Brahmachaarin must do. While staying in the abode of his Guru, he must receive lessons only when his Guru summons him to do so; he must attend to the service of his Guru without waiting for the latter's command; he must rise from his bed before his Guru rises, and go to bed after his Guru has gone to bed. He must be humble, must have his passions under complete control, must be patient, observant, and devoted to studies. It is then only that he can achieve success.
"It has been said in the oldest Upanishad that a Grihastaa, acquiring wealth by honest means, should perform yagnas; he should always give something in charity, should perform the rites of hospitality to all arriving at his home, and should never use anything without giving a portion thereof to others.
"A Muni, without search for forest, depending on his own energy, should stay away from all evil acts, should give away something in charity, should never inflict pain on any creature. It is then only that he can achieve success.
"He, indeed, is a true Bhikshu who does not support himself by any manual arts, who possesses numerous accomplishments, who has his passions under complete control, who is unconnected with worldly concerns, who sleeps not under the shelter of a householder's roof, who is without wife, and who going a little way every day, travels over a large extent of the country.
"A learned man should adopt the Vanaprastaa mode of life after performance of the necessary rites, when he has been able to control his appetites for enjoyment and desire of acquiring valuable possessions. When one dies in the forest while leading the Vanaprastaa mode of life, he makes his ancestors and the successors, numbering ten generations including himself, mix with the Divine essence.'
"Ashtaka asked, 'How many kinds of Munis are there?'
"Yayaati answered, 'He is, indeed, a Muni who, though dwelling in the forest, has an inhabited place near, or who, though staying in an inhabited place, has the forest near.'
"Ashtaka enquired, 'What is meant by Muni?'
"Yayaati replied, 'A Muni withdrawing himself from all worldly objects lives in the forest. Though he might never seek to surround himself with those objects that are procurable in an inhabited place, he might yet obtain them all by virtue of his power of Tapas. He may truly be said to stay in the forest having an inhabited place near to himself. Again a wise man withdrawn from all earthly objects, might live in an ashrama leading the life of a Muni. He may never exhibit the pride of family, birth or learning. Dressed in the minimal clothes, he may yet regard himself as attired in the richest vestments. He may rest content with food just enough for the support of life. Such a person, though staying in an inhabited place, lives yet in the forest.
"The person again, who, with passions under complete control, adoptes the vow of silence (Mouna Vrata in Sanskrit), refraining from action and entertaining no desire, achieves success. Why should you not, indeed, respect the man who lives on clean food, who refrains from ever injuring others, whose heart is ever pure, who stands in the splendour of Tapas characters, who is free from the heavy weight of desire, who abstains from injury even when sanctioned by Dharma?
"Thin by Tapas and reduced in flesh, marrow and blood, such a one conquers not only this but the highest world. When the Muni sits in yoga meditation, becoming indifferent to happiness and misery, honour and insult, he then leaves the world and enjoys communion with (Lord) Brahma. When the Muni takes food like Suraapaanaa and other animals, i. e., without providing for it advance and without any relish (like a sleeping infant feeding on the mother's lap), then like the all-pervading spirit he becomes identified with the whole universe and attains to salvation (Moksha in Sanskrit).'"
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