Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 43
Varṇāśrama-dharma as a Path to Bhakti
Yuga-dharma Origins, Universal Virtues, Brahmacarya and Gṛhastha Duties
शिलोञ्छवृत्त्या परितुष्टचित्तो धर्मं महान्तं विरजं जुषाण: । मय्यर्पितात्मा गृह एव तिष्ठ- न्नातिप्रसक्त: समुपैति शान्तिम् ॥ ४३ ॥
śiloñcha-vṛttyā parituṣṭa-citto dharmaṁ mahāntaṁ virajaṁ juṣāṇaḥ mayy arpitātmā gṛha eva tiṣṭhan nāti-prasaktaḥ samupaiti śāntim
Ein brāhmaṇaischer Haushälter soll seinen Geist zufrieden halten, indem er von aufgelesenen, weggeworfenen Körnern (śiloñcha) aus Feldern und Märkten lebt. Frei von persönlichem Begehren übe er großmütige, makellose Religionspflichten, mit dem Bewusstsein auf Mich gerichtet; so kann er zu Hause bleiben, ohne starke Anhaftung, und Frieden sowie Befreiung erlangen.
Mahāntam refers to magnanimous religious principles such as very hospitably receiving guests, even those who are uninvited and unexpected. Householders must always be magnanimous and charitable to others, being alert to curb unnecessary affection and attachment in family life. In the past, very renounced brāhmaṇa householders would collect grains that had fallen on the ground in the marketplace or those that had been left behind in the fields after harvesting. The most important item here is mayy arpitātmā, or fixing the mind in Lord Kṛṣṇa. Despite his material situation, anyone who constantly meditates upon the Lord can become a liberated soul. As stated in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.187):
FAQs
This verse teaches that even while staying at home, one attains peace by offering oneself to Krishna, living simply, and avoiding excessive attachment.
In the Uddhava-gītā, Krishna instructs Uddhava on practical spiritual life; here He explains how a devotee can remain a householder yet practice pure, stainless dharma through simplicity and detachment.
Adopt voluntary simplicity—limit wants, avoid greed, accept honest necessities, and keep your work and home life centered on devotion and inner offering to God rather than constant accumulation.