After a person has lived a full life as a householder, he may proceed to the forest-dweller stage, vanaprastha. He can take his wife with him or leave her in the care of his son. He will live in the forest on fruits and roots and leaves, he will sleep on the ground and he will not cut his hair or shave his beard. He will worship the gods, tend to guests and give alms to those who need them. His main duty is meditation.

The final ashrama is that of sannyasa. A person is ready to enter this when he can give up his sons, wife and all material possessions. To him all living beings will be friends and he will not harm any living being. He will live along and perform yoga (exercises that unite man with God). He will never stay in a village for more than one night at a time and in a city for more than one night at a time. A sanyasi or hermit will beg for his food. But he will come to a house for alms only after he is sure that everyone in the house has eaten.