karmabhir gṛha-medhīyair
iṣṭvā mām eva bhaktimān
tiṣṭhed vanaḿ vopaviśet
prajāvān vā parivrajet
karmabhih -- by activities; griha-medhiyaih -- suitable for family life; ishtva -- worshiping; mam -- Me; eva -- indeed; bhakti-man -- being a devotee; tishthet -- one may remain at home; vanam -- the forest; va -- or; upaviset -- may enter; praja-van -- having responsible children; va -- or; parivrajet -- may take sannyasa.
A householder devotee who worships Me by execution of his family duties may remain at home, go to a holy place or, if he has a responsible son, take sannyasa.
This verse describes the three alternatives for a householder. He may continue at home, or he may take vanaprastha, which involves going to a sacred place with one's wife. Or if he has a responsible son to take over his family duties, he may take sannyasa, the renounced order, for a definitive solution to the problems of life. In all three asramas, ultimate success depends on sincere surrender to the Supreme Lord; therefore, the most important qualification one can have is Krishna consciousness.
