Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 108: Jābāli Speaks the Philosophy of Materialism
Text 2.108.6
एवमेव मनुष्याणां पिता माता गृहं वसु।
आवासमात्रं काकुत्स्थ सज्जन्ते नात्र सज्जनाः॥
evam eva manuṣyāṇāṁ pitā mātā gṛhaṁ vasu
āvāsa-mātraṁ kākutstha sajjante nātra saj-janāḥ
evam eva = in the same way; manuṣyāṇām = of men; pitā = the father; mātā = mother; gṛham = home; vasu = and wealth; āvāsa-mātram = are nothing but [temporary] places for stay; kākutstha = O descendant of Kakutstha; sajjante = get attached; na = don’t; atra = to them; sat-janāḥ = gentlemen.
In the same way, the father, mother, home and wealth of men are nothing but [temporary] places for stay. O descendant of Kakutstha, gentlemen don’t get attached to them.
Though staying for a short while at a house by the road, a traveler gives it up, considering it to be merely a place for [temporary] stay, and doesn’t worry about it [any more]. [Similarly,] as long as one is with his mother, father and so on, they should be obeyed. But after they are [permanently] separated from him, even remembrance of them is useless, what to speak of performing [particular] activities for their pleasure. This is implied here.