# SB 7.12.16 > एवं विधो ब्रह्मचारी वानप्रस्थो यतिर्गृही > चरन्विदितविज्ञआनः परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति ॥१६॥ ## Text > evaṁ vidho brahmacārī > vānaprastho yatir gṛhī > caran vidita-vijñānaḥ > paraṁ brahmādhigacchati ## Synonyms *evam vidhaḥ*—in this way; *brahmacārī*—whether one is a *brahmacārī*; *vānaprasthaḥ*—or one is in the *vānaprastha-āśrama*; *yatiḥ*—or in the *sannyāsa-āśrama*; *gṛhī*—or in the *gṛhastha-āśrama*; *caran*—by practice of self-realization and understanding of the Absolute Truth; *vidita-vijñānaḥ*—fully conversant with the science of the Absolute Truth; *param*—the Supreme; *brahma*—the Absolute Truth; *adhigacchati*—one can understand. ## Translation **By practicing in this way, whether one be in the brahmacārī-āśrama, gṛhastha-āśrama, vānaprastha-āśrama or sannyāsa-āśrama, one must always realize the all-pervading presence of the Supreme Lord, for in this way it is possible to understand the Absolute Truth.** ## Purport This is the beginning of self-realization. One must first understand how Brahman is present everywhere and how He is acting. This education is called *brahma jijñāsā* and is the real concern of human life. Without such knowledge, one cannot claim to be a human being; rather, he remains in the animal kingdom. As it is said, *sa eva go-kharaḥ:* [SB 10.84.13] without such knowledge, one is no better than a cow or an ass.