Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 14

Varṇāśrama-dharma as a Path to Bhakti

Yuga-dharma Origins, Universal Virtues, Brahmacarya and Gṛhastha Duties

Devanagari script

गृहाश्रमो जघनतो ब्रह्मचर्यं हृदो मम । वक्ष:स्थलाद्वनेवास: संन्यास: शिरसि स्थित: ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

gṛhāśramo jaghanato brahmacaryaṁ hṛdo mama vakṣaḥ-sthalād vane-vāsaḥ sannyāsaḥ śirasi sthitaḥ

Translation

Aus den Lenden Meiner universalen Gestalt entstand der Lebensstand des Hausvaters (gṛhastha), und aus Meinem Herzen der brahmacarya. Aus Meiner Brust erschien der Waldaufenthalt (vānaprastha), und der sannyāsa war im Haupt Meiner universalen Gestalt verankert.

Synonyms

• गृह-आश्रमः: the gṛhastha-āśrama (householder order)
• गृह-आश्रमः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः — ‘householder stage’

• जघनतः: from the loins
• जघनतः: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जघन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ‘from the loins/hips’

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: brahmacarya (student life)
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; another āśrama named

• हृदः: from the heart
• हृदः: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद्/हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन (Vedic/poetic ablative form); ‘from the heart’

• मम: my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; possessive genitive

• वक्षः-स्थलात्: from the chest
• वक्षः-स्थलात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः — ‘from the chest-region’

• वने-वासः: vānaprastha (forest-dwelling)
• वने-वासः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः — ‘dwelling in the forest’

• संन्यासः: renunciation (sannyāsa)
• संन्यासः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संन्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शिरसि: in the head
• शिरसि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• स्थितः: is situated
• स्थितः: क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय (Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु √स्था) → स्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with संन्यासः; ‘is situated/placed’

Purport

There are two classes of brahmacārī life. The naiṣṭhiki-brahmacārī remains celibate throughout life, whereas the upakurvāṇa-brahmacārī marries upon finishing his student life. One who remains perpetually celibate is situated within the heart of Lord Kṛṣṇa, but those brahmacārīs who eventually marry are situated within the loins of the universal form of the Lord. The word vane-vāsaḥ refers to vānaprastha, or the retired order of life, which is situated on the chest of the Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the four āśramas (stages of life)?

This verse presents the four āśramas as sacred and divinely rooted, describing them as situated on the Lord’s own body—indicating their spiritual purpose when followed in devotion.

Why does Krishna describe the āśramas as parts of His body in Canto 11?

While instructing Uddhava on dharma, Krishna shows that social-spiritual orders are meant to support God-realization; linking them to His body emphasizes their sanctity and their role in serving Him.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Whatever one’s life stage, align duties with devotion—student life with discipline, household life with responsibility and worship, gradual detachment in later years, and inner renunciation aimed at remembrance of Krishna.