There are four Ashramas or periods in life – Brahmacharya (life of a celibate); Grihastha (life as a house-holder), Vanaprasta (life as a recluse) and Sannyasa (life as an ascetic). There are also four goals in life – Dharma (righteous living), Artha material well-being), Kama (achievement of desires) and Moksha (ultimate liberation). (SSB 1979, p. 148)
As all living things are dependent on the PranaVayu (life giving breath), so all Ashramas are dependent on the Grihastha. It is he who provides food and drink to the rest and fosters them. He promotes the study of the Vedas; he guards the scriptures. So, the Grihastashrama is the most important. In the Srutis, the Narada Parivrajakopanishad and in the Manu dharma shastra, it is declared that Grihastha who strictly adheres to his Ashrama dharma is worthy of the greatest respect (P.Vah, pp. 283-284)
To win Atma jnana, one need not prefer this Ashrama to that; all are capable of securing it. There is no superior or inferior. It is only conduct and character that can be labelled as superior and inferior. (P.Vah, p. 284)