The Philosophy of the Upanishads c12.s3.t3.3

c12.s3.t3.3

(1) *Preliminary conditions of the Sannyâsa*. A clear distinction between these four âs'ramas is found only in Jâb. 4 and Âs'r. 1–4. The latter Upanishad distinguishes the third and fourth stages by the fact that all four varieties of the vânaprastha continue to observe the sacrifice in the forest, while the four varieties of the sannyâsin are absolved from it. Jâb. 4 enjoins entrance into the sannyâsa only after passing through the stages of brahmac'ârin, gṛihastha and vânaprastha, but permits the transition direct from any stage. Similarly in Kaṇṭh. 1 the injunction is given to renounce the world “in the right order,” while in Kaṇṭh. 2 a deviation from it is allowed. In Sanny. 1 renunciation is defined as an “advance beyond the stages of life” (therefore still not a fourth stage). According to the descriptions of Sanny. 2 and Kaṇṭh. 4 the transition is direct from the position of householder to renunciation; and the reason for this may be either that gṛihastha and vânaprastha are still placed side by side as preliminary stages of renunciation,¹ or that vânaprastha and sannyâsin are not yet definitely separated.²