bhikṣor dharmaḥ śamo 'hiḿsā
tapa īkṣā vanaukasaḥ
gṛhiṇo bhūta-rakṣejyā
dvijasyācārya-sevanam
bhikshoh -- of a sannyasi; dharmah -- the main religious principle; samah -- equanimity; ahimsa -- nonviolence; tapah -- austerity; iksha -- discrimination (between the body and the soul); vana -- in the forest; okasah -- of one dwelling, a vanaprastha; grihinah -- of a householder; bhuta-raksha -- offering shelter to all living entities; ijya -- performance of sacrifice; dvi-jasya -- of a brahmacari; acarya -- the spiritual master; sevanam -- serving.
The main religious duties of a sannyasi are equanimity and nonviolence, whereas for the vanaprastha 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 brahmacari is mainly engaged in serving the spiritual master.
The brahmacari lives in the asrama of the spiritual master and personally assists the acarya. Householders generally are entrusted with the performance of sacrifice and Deity worship and should provide maintenance for all living entities. The vanaprastha must clearly understand the difference between body and soul in order to maintain his status of renunciation, and he should also perform austerities. The sannyasi 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.
