# SB 7.14.1 ## Text > śrī-yudhiṣṭhira uvāca > gṛhastha etāṁ padavīṁ > vidhinā yena cāñjasā > yāyād deva-ṛṣe brūhi > mādṛśo gṛha-mūḍha-dhīḥ ## Synonyms *śrī*-*yudhiṣṭhiraḥ* *uvāca*—Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja said; *gṛhasthaḥ*—a person living with his family; *etām*—this (the process mentioned in the previous chapter); *padavīm*—position of liberation; *vidhinā*—according to the instructions of Vedic scripture; *yena*—by which; *ca*—also; *añjasā*—easily; *yāyāt*—may get; *deva*-*ṛṣe*—O great sage among the demigods; *brūhi*—kindly explain; *mādṛśaḥ*—such as me; *gṛha*-*mūḍha*-*dhīḥ*—completely ignorant of the goal of life. ## Translation **Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira inquired from Nārada Muni: O my lord, O great sage, kindly explain how we who are staying at home without knowledge of the goal of life may also easily attain liberation, according to the instructions of the Vedas.** ## Purport In the previous chapters the great sage Nārada has explained how a *brahmacārī,* a *vānaprastha* and a *sannyāsī* should act. He first explained the dealings of a *brahmacārī, vānaprastha* and *sannyāsī* because these three *āśramas,* or statuses of life, are extremely important for fulfillment of the goal of life. One should note that in the *brahmacārī-āśrama, vānaprastha-āśrama* and *sannyāsa-āśrama* there is no scope for sex life, whereas sex is allowed in *gṛhastha* life under regulations. Nārada Muni, therefore, first described *brahmacarya, vānaprastha* and *sannyāsa* because he wanted to stress that sex is not at all necessary, although one who absolutely requires it is allowed to enter *gṛhastha* life, or household life, which is also regulated by the *śāstras* and *guru.* Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja could understand all this. Therefore, as a *gṛhastha,* he presented himself as *gṛha-mūḍha-dhīḥ,* one who is completely ignorant of the goal of life. A person who remains a householder in family life is certainly ignorant of life's goal; he is not very much advanced in intelligence. As soon as possible, one should give up his so-called comfortable life at home and prepare to undergo austerity, or *tapasya. Tapo divyaṁ putrakā* [[sb/5/5/1|[SB 5.5.1] ]]. According to the instructions given by Ṛṣabhadeva to His sons, we should not create a so-called comfortable situation, but must prepare to undergo austerity. This is how a human being should actually live to fulfill life's ultimate goal.