Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 43

Vānaprastha-vidhi and Sannyāsa-dharma: Austerity, Detachment, and the Paramahaṁsa Ideal

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचर्यं तप: शौचं सन्तोषो भूतसौहृदम् । गृहस्थस्याप्यृतौ गन्तु: सर्वेषां मदुपासनम् ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

brahmacaryaṁ tapaḥ śaucaṁ santoṣo bhūta-sauhṛdam gṛhasthasyāpy ṛtau gantuḥ sarveṣāṁ mad-upāsanam

Translation

Ein Haushälter soll sich seiner Frau nur in der vorgeschriebenen Zeit zur Zeugung von Kindern nähern; sonst übe er Enthaltsamkeit, Askese, Reinheit von Geist und Körper, Zufriedenheit in seiner natürlichen Stellung und Freundschaft zu allen Lebewesen. Die Verehrung Meiner Person ist von allen Menschen zu praktizieren, ungeachtet von Varṇa- oder Āśrama-Unterschieden.

Synonyms

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: celibacy; brahmacarya
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शौचम्: purity
• शौचम्: Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सन्तोषः: contentment
• सन्तोषः: Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्तोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भूत-सौहृदम्: friendliness to all beings
• भूत-सौहृदम्: Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + सौहृद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘friendliness toward beings’

• गृहस्थस्य: of a householder
• गृहस्थस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): ‘also/even’

• ऋतौ: in the proper season (for procreation)
• ऋतौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative 7), एकवचन

• गन्तुः: of one who approaches (his wife)
• गन्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; agent-noun from √गम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of the goer/one who approaches’ (i.e., of one who goes to his wife)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all (āśramas)
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-समासंग्राहक, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of all’

• मत्-उपासनम्: worship of me
• मत्-उपासनम्: Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + उपासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘worship of me’

Purport

Sarveṣāṁ mad-upāsanam indicates that all followers of the varṇāśrama system must worship Lord Kṛṣṇa or risk falling down from their position. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.3) , na bhajanty avajānanti sthānād bhraṣṭāḥ patanty adhaḥ: even though one may be advanced in the performance of Vedic rituals and customs, without worshiping the Supreme Lord one will certainly fall down.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about brahmacarya (celibacy) and self-control?

This verse lists brahmacarya (chastity), austerity, purity, contentment, and friendliness to all beings as universal disciplines, supporting spiritual life and devotion.

What does the Bhagavatam teach about sexual conduct for householders (gṛhasthas)?

It states that for householders, conjugal union is permitted only in the proper, regulated time (ṛtau), implying restraint and dharmic regulation rather than indulgence.

How can I apply this verse in modern life while practicing bhakti?

Adopt cleanliness and contentment, practice restraint in sense pleasures (especially sexuality), cultivate kindness to all beings, and make regular worship of Kṛṣṇa the core of daily life.