Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 9
Avadhūta’s Teachers: Python, Ocean, Moth, Bee, Elephant, Deer, Fish—and Piṅgalā’s Song of Detachment
स्तोकं स्तोकं ग्रसेद् ग्रासं देहो वर्तेत यावता । गृहानहिंसन्नातिष्ठेद् वृत्तिं माधुकरीं मुनि: ॥ ९ ॥
stokaṁ stokaṁ grased grāsaṁ deho varteta yāvatā gṛhān ahiṁsann ātiṣṭhed vṛttiṁ mādhukarīṁ muniḥ
Ein Heiliger soll nur so viel Nahrung annehmen, wie den Körper erhält. Er gehe von Haus zu Haus, nehme von jeder Familie ein wenig und übe den madhukarī‑Lebensunterhalt wie eine Biene.
Sometimes a honeybee is attracted by the extraordinary aroma of a particular lotus flower and lingers there, neglecting his usual activity of flying from flower to flower. Unfortunately, at sunset the lotus flower closes, and thus the infatuated honeybee is trapped. Similarly, a sannyāsī or brahmacārī may discover that excellent foodstuff is available at a particular house, and therefore, instead of wandering from place to place, he may become a veritable resident of such a well-fed household. Thus he will become bewildered by the illusion of family life and fall down from the platform of renunciation. Also, if a mendicant takes unfair advantage of the Vedic custom of charity and takes too often from a single family, the resentment he causes will disturb the social order. An ideal sage should, like the honeybee, travel from place to place, but he must be careful not to become a chubby bee by going to many houses and eating sumptuously at each house. According to Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, such a chubby bee will undoubtedly become entangled in the network of māyā. No one should be overly attached to the gratification of his tongue, because this will lead to an overstuffed belly and then uncontrollable lust. In conclusion, one should not endeavor very much for material sense gratification but should instead endeavor strenuously to spread the glories of the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa. This is the proper use of human energy.
FAQs
This verse recommends that a sage accept only small portions from many homes—like a bee gathering nectar—so no single householder is burdened, and the renunciant remains detached and nonviolent.
Because the goal is spiritual realization, not sense enjoyment; maintaining the body minimally supports sādhana while reducing dependence, greed, and distraction.
Practice simplicity: take only what you truly need, avoid becoming a burden on others, and cultivate contentment and non-harming while focusing your energy on devotion and inner growth.