bhiká¹£or dharmaḥ Å›amo 'hiá¹sÄ
tapa Ä«ká¹£Ä vanaukasaḥ
gá¹›hiṇo bhÅ«ta-raká¹£ejyÄ
dvijasyÄcÄrya-sevanam
bhiká¹£oḥ - of a sannyÄsÄ«; dharmaḥ - the main religious principle; Å›amaḥ - equanimity; ahiá¹sÄ - nonviolence; tapaḥ - austerity; Ä«ká¹£Ä - discrimination (between the body and the soul); vana - in the forest; okasaḥ - of one dwelling, a vÄnaprastha; gá¹›hiṇaḥ - of a householder; bhÅ«ta-raká¹£Ä - offering shelter to all living entities; ijyÄ - performance of sacrifice; dvi-jasya - of a brahmacÄrÄ«; ÄcÄrya - the spiritual master; sevanam - serving.
The main religious duties of a sannyÄsÄ« are equanimity and nonviolence, whereas for the vÄnaprastha austerity and philosophical understanding of the difference between the body and soul are prominent. The main duties of a householder are to give shelter to all living entities and perform sacrifices, and the brahmacÄrÄ« is mainly engaged in serving the spiritual master.
The brahmacÄrÄ« lives in the ÄÅ›rama of the spiritual master and personally assists the ÄcÄrya. Householders generally are entrusted with the performance of sacrifice and Deity worship and should provide maintenance for all living entities. The vÄnaprastha must clearly understand the difference between body and soul in order to maintain his status of renunciation, and he should also perform austerities. The sannyÄsÄ« should fully absorb his body, mind and words in self-realization. Having thus achieved equanimity of mind, he is the best well-wisher of all living entities.
