Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 11 - Chapter 1 - Verse 55

Sanskrit:

कर्मभिगृहमेधीयैरिष्ट्वा मामेव भक्तिमान् ।तिष्ठेद् वनं वोपविशेत् प्रजावान् वा परिव्रजेत् ॥ ५५ ॥

ITRANS:

karmabhir gṛha-medhīyairiṣṭvā mām eva bhaktimāntiṣṭhed vanaṁ vopaviśetprajāvān vā parivrajet

Translation:

A householder devotee who worships Me by execution of his family duties may remain at home, go to a holy place or, if he has a responsible son, take sannyāsa.

Purport:

This verse describes the three alternatives for a householder. He may continue at home, or he may take vānaprastha, which involves going to a sacred place with one’s wife. Or if he has a responsible son to take over his family duties, he may take sannyāsa, the renounced order, for a definitive solution to the problems of life. In all three āśramas, ultimate success depends on sincere surrender to the Supreme Lord; therefore, the most important qualification one can have is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.