वेदान्त पारिजात सौरभ (भगवद् निम्बार्काचार्य - द्वैताद्वैत वेदान्त ब्रह्मसूत्र भाष्य सटीक)

[SŪ. 3. 4 39.
ADH. 9.] VEDĀNTA-KAUSTUBHA 757
Vedānta-kaustubha
"Than this," i.e. than standing midway, "the other", i.e. being
within a stage of life, is "better", since it secures the perfection of the
means to knowledge, i.e. is productive of knowledge within a short
time. Why? "On account of indication." The scriptural text:
"By it goes the knower of Brahman, the doer of meritorious deeds,
the shining one" (Bṛh. 4 4.9) shows the going of those belonging to
particular stages of life through the path of gods. The meaning of
the text is that 'the knower of Brahman', 'the doer of the meritorious
deeds', i.e. the doer of the works incumbent on his own stage of life,
"by it", i.e. by means of knowledge increased by works, go to Brahman
through the path of gods—on account of such a scriptural reference
to 'the doer of meritorious deeds' And, there are four stages of
life in conformity with the text: "And those who in the forest"
(Chānd. 5.10.1). On account of Smṛti passages as well, such as.
"Let not a twice-born remain outside the stages of life even for a
single day" ¹ (D.Sm. 1.10), "If one stays outside the stages of life for
a year, one should undergo penance. The Highest Person, forsooth,
the soul of the Universe, is pleased by a person who practises the
duties incumbent on his caste and stage of life; nothing else pleases
Him", and so on.
If, accidentally, it be impossible for one to enter any stage of
life, then one may attain salvation through the muttering of prayers,
fasting, charity, worship of the deity, non-violence, contentment,
straightforwardness, company of the great and so on. Thus says
Yājñavalkya: "Being within a stage of life is not the sole impetus to
performing religious duties; let a Brāhmaṇa practise them (whether
he be within a special stage of life or not). Hence, let no one do to
others what is unpalatable to one's own self".
It is said in historical legends too: "For what is the use of an
āśrama to one who abiding in knowledge is modest, who has the
senses under control and who abides in honesty?" For that very
reason, it has been said in the Mahā-bhārata that even in the absence
of the mark of an āśrama, one should perform religious duties thus:
"Even one who is corrupted should perform religious duties. The
mark (of an āśrama) is not the cause of religious duties". Hence it is

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¹ The text reads "kṣaṇam".