caret - should remain; vane - in the forest; dvādaśa-abdān - twelve years; aṣṭau - for eight years; vā - either; caturaḥ - four years; muniḥ - a saintly, thoughtful man; dvau - two; ekam - one; vā - either; yathā - as well as; buddhiḥ - intelligence; na - not; vipadyeta - bewildered; kṛcchrataḥ - because of hard austerities.

Being very thoughtful, a vānaprastha should remain in the forest for twelve years, eight years, four years, two years or at least one year. He should behave in such a way that he will not be disturbed or troubled by too much austerity.