Section II: The Way of The Householder

Chapter 5: Family Life

Verse 47
Striving towards liberation in family life, different stages of life are shown: Namakarana samskara, childbirth, marriage, old age and Pranava Upadesha.

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Weaver’s Wisdom

Verse 41

He alone may be called a householder who supports
students, elders and renunciates pursuing well their good paths.

Verse 42

The virtuous householder supports the needs
of renunciates, ancestors and the poor.

Verse 43

The foremost duty of family life is to serve duly these five:
God, guests, kindred, ancestors and oneself.

Verse 44

The posterity of householders who gather wealth without misdeeds
and share meals without miserliness will never perish.

Verse 45

When family life possesses love and virtue,
it has found both its essence and fruition.

Verse 46

If a man masters the duties of married life,
what further merits could monkhood offer him?

Verse 47

Among those who strive for liberation, the foremost are they
who live the blessed state of family life as it should be lived.

Verse 48

The householder dedicated to duty and to aiding
ascetics on their path of penance endures more than they do.

Verse 49

Domestic life is rightly called virtue. The monastic path,
rightly lived beyond blame, is likewise good.

Verse 50

He who rightly pursues the householder’s life here on Earth
will be rightfully placed among the Gods there in Heaven.