Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 28
Varṇāśrama-dharma as a Path to Bhakti
Yuga-dharma Origins, Universal Virtues, Brahmacarya and Gṛhastha Duties
सायं प्रातरुपानीय भैक्ष्यं तस्मै निवेदयेत् । यच्चान्यदप्यनुज्ञातमुपयुञ्जीत संयत: ॥ २८ ॥
sāyaṁ prātar upānīya bhaikṣyaṁ tasmai nivedayet yac cānyad apy anujñātam upayuñjīta saṁyataḥ
Am Morgen und am Abend soll er Almosenspeise und andere Dinge sammeln und sie dem spirituellen Meister darbringen. Danach soll er, in Selbstbeherrschung, für sich nur das annehmen, was der ācārya ihm zuteilt.
One who desires to receive the mercy of a bona fide spiritual master should not be eager to accumulate the paraphernalia of sense gratification; rather, whatever one is able to collect one should offer at the lotus feet of the ācārya. Being self-controlled, one should humbly accept that which is allotted by the bona fide spiritual master. Every living entity must ultimately be trained to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but until one has become expert in the techniques of spiritual service one should offer everything to the spiritual master, who is completely realized in the process of worshiping the Lord. When the spiritual master sees that the disciple is advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he then engages the disciple in directly worshiping the Personality of Godhead. A bona fide spiritual master does not use anything for his personal sense gratification and entrusts to his disciple only as much material opulence as the disciple can properly offer to the lotus feet of the Lord. The example may be given that when an ordinary father tries to train his son in business and other material activities, he entrusts to the son only as much wealth as the son can intelligently engage in profitable enterprises without foolishly wasting the father’s hard-earned money.
FAQs
This verse instructs that a disciple should bring alms morning and evening and first offer everything to the guru, accepting only what is permitted—showing humility, obedience, and self-control.
Krishna is teaching Uddhava the standards of disciplined spiritual life—especially the etiquette and restraint that support devotion and realization—by describing proper conduct toward the guru.
Offer the results of your work first to God and guru (or their mission), live within ethical permission and guidance, and practice restraint—using only what supports spiritual growth rather than indulgence.