Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 21

Brahmacarya and Vānaprastha Duties; Gradual Dissolution of Bodily Identity

Devanagari script

केशरोमनखश्मश्रुमलानि जटिलो दधत् । कमण्डल्वजिने दण्डवल्कलाग्निपरिच्छदान् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

keśa-roma-nakha-śmaśru- malāni jaṭilo dadhat kamaṇḍalv-ajine daṇḍa- valkalāgni-paricchadān

Translation

The vānaprastha should wear matted locks of hair on his head and let his body hair, nails and moustache grow. He should not cleanse his body of dirt. He should keep a waterpot, deerskin and rod, wear the bark of a tree as a covering, and use garments colored like fire.

Synonyms

• keśa-roma-nakha-śmaśru-malāni: impurities of hair, body-hair, nails, and beard
• keśa-roma-nakha-śmaśru-malāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keśa (केश) + roma (रोम) + nakha (नख) + śmaśru (श्मश्रु) + mala (मल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (केशादीनि मलानि)

• jaṭilaḥ: matted-haired
• jaṭilaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaṭila (जटिल-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (अध्याहृतः मुनिः/तपस्वी)

• dadhat: bearing/keeping
• dadhat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धृ-धातु), शतृ-प्रत्यय (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक-परस्मैपदीय-शतृ (present active participle), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (bearing/keeping)

• kamaṇḍalum: water-pot
• kamaṇḍalum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamaṇḍalu (कमण्डलु-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ajine: (two) deerskins / a deerskin garment
• ajine: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajina (अजिन-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (या पाठे: अजिने = अजिने/अजिनौ; अत्र द्विवचन-रूपं सम्भाव्यते); उपकरण/परिधानार्थे

• daṇḍa: staff
• daṇḍa: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍa (दण्ड-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन-समासाङ्ग (paricchadān इत्यस्य)

• valkala: bark-garments
• valkala: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: valkala (वल्कल-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन-समासाङ्ग

• agni: fire (for rites)
• agni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (अग्नि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन-समासाङ्ग

• paricchadān: accessories/equipment
• paricchadān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paricchada (परिच्छद-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास-श्रृंखला (दण्ड-वल्कल-अग्नि-परिच्छदान् = दण्डादयः परिच्छदाः)

Characters & Entities

• (idealized) Vānaprastha/forest-dweller

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the lifestyle of a vānaprastha?

It describes a forest-dweller living simply with minimal possessions—waterpot, deerskin, staff, bark garments—and maintaining sacred duties, embracing austerity and detachment.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe untrimmed hair, nails, and beard in this verse?

To highlight the vānaprastha’s renounced, austere standard—reducing concern for bodily grooming and comfort while focusing on discipline and spiritual purpose.

How can modern seekers apply this Bhagavatam teaching without going to the forest?

Adopt simplicity and restraint: reduce unnecessary luxury, keep disciplined spiritual routines, and prioritize inner purification over external display.