Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 18

Brahmacarya and Vānaprastha Duties; Gradual Dissolution of Bodily Identity

Devanagari script

न कृष्टपच्यमश्नीयादकृष्टं चाप्यकालत: । अग्निपक्व‍मथामं वा अर्कपक्व‍मुताहरेत् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

na kṛṣṭa-pacyam aśnīyād akṛṣṭaṁ cāpy akālataḥ agni-pakvam athāmaṁ vā arka-pakvam utāharet

Translation

Ein Vānaprastha soll kein Getreide essen, das durch Pflügen des Feldes gewonnen wurde. Auch Getreide, das ohne Pflügen wuchs, aber noch nicht reif ist, soll er nicht nehmen. Weder am Feuer Gekochtes noch Rohes; er esse nur Früchte, die durch Sonnenschein gereift sind.

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• kṛṣṭa-pacyam: food that is to be cooked from cultivated (grain)
• kṛṣṭa-pacyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṭa (कृष्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त) + pacya (पच्-धातु, यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास ("कृष्टं च तत् पच्यं च")

• aśnīyāt: should eat
• aśnīyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: aś (अश्-धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• akṛṣṭam: uncultivated
• akṛṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṛṣṭa (कृष्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (kṛṣṭa-pacyam इत्यस्य)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-कारार्थक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• akālataḥ: at an improper time / out of season
• akālataḥ: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: akāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; अपादानार्थे (ablatival adverb): "अकालेतः" = अकाले (improper time) से

• agni-pakvam: cooked by fire
• agni-pakvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (अग्नि-प्रातिपदिक) + pakva (पच्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अग्निना पक्वम्)

• atha: or else/then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/and also)

• āmam: raw (food)
• āmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• arka-pakvam: ripened/cooked by the sun
• arka-pakvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arka (अर्क-प्रातिपदिक) + pakva (पच्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अर्केण/अर्कात् पक्वम् = सूर्यतापेन पक्वम्)

• uta: or else/and
• uta: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uta (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (and/or; emphatic)

• āharet: should take/collect
• āharet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-hṛ (आ-हृ-धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about disciplined eating and purity?

This verse advises regulated acceptance of food—avoiding improper or untimely eating—and taking only properly prepared food (cooked, suitably raw, or sun-ripened) as part of dharmic self-control.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe food rules in Canto 7 Chapter 12?

In this chapter he outlines varṇāśrama-based conduct and restraints that support purity, sense control, and steadiness—favorable for progress in devotion.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam teaching on food in modern life?

Eat at appropriate times, avoid impulsive or irregular eating, choose clean and wholesome food, and keep the purpose spiritual—supporting clarity, restraint, and devotion.