Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 13
Vānaprastha-vidhi and Sannyāsa-dharma: Austerity, Detachment, and the Paramahaṁsa Ideal
इष्ट्वा यथोपदेशं मां दत्त्वा सर्वस्वमृत्विजे । अग्नीन् स्वप्राण आवेश्य निरपेक्ष: परिव्रजेत् ॥ १३ ॥
iṣṭvā yathopadeśaṁ māṁ dattvā sarva-svam ṛtvije agnīn sva-prāṇa āveśya nirapekṣaḥ parivrajet
Nachdem er Mich gemäß der Unterweisung der Schriften verehrt und seinen gesamten Besitz dem ṛtvij (Opferpriester) gegeben hat, soll er das Opferfeuer in sein eigenes prāṇa aufnehmen; so, völlig ungebunden im Geist, trete er in den āśrama des Sannyāsa ein.
One cannot maintain the sannyāsa order of life unless one gives up all materialistic association and engages exclusively in devotional service to the Supreme Lord. Any material desire will gradually prove to be a stumbling block in the prosecution of renounced life. Therefore, a liberated sannyāsī must vigilantly keep himself free from the weeds of material desires, which surface principally in the form of attachment to women, money and reputation. One may possess a beautiful garden filled with fruits and flowers, but without vigilant maintenance the garden will be overrun by weeds. Similarly, one who achieves a beautiful state of Kṛṣṇa consciousness takes the sannyāsa order of life, but if he does not vigilantly and painstakingly keep his heart clean, there is always the danger of a relapse into illusion.
FAQs
In this verse, Kṛṣṇa teaches that after worshiping Him as instructed and giving up possessions, one should become nirapekṣa—free from dependence—and wander as a renunciant.
These are Uddhava Gītā instructions, where Kṛṣṇa summarizes the path of detachment and God-centered living; here He explains the transition from ritual obligation to full renunciation.
Practice doing your duties as worship, reduce unnecessary dependencies, simplify possessions, and cultivate inner steadiness so your happiness rests on devotion rather than external outcomes.