vanaprastha

noun

va·​na·​pras·​tha

ˌvənəˈprəstə

plural -s

: a forest-dwelling Hindu hermit

especially : one in the third stage of the Brahmanic scheme of life

Word History

Etymology

Sanskrit, literally, one who departs to the forest, from vana forest + pratiṣṭhati he sets forth, from pra- forward, forth + tiṣṭhati he stands

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