Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 24

Varṇāśrama-dharma as a Path to Bhakti

Yuga-dharma Origins, Universal Virtues, Brahmacarya and Gṛhastha Duties

Devanagari script

स्‍नानभोजनहोमेषु जपोच्चारे च वाग्यत: । न च्छिन्द्यान्नखरोमाणि कक्षोपस्थगतान्यपि ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

snāna-bhojana-homeṣu japoccāre ca vāg-yataḥ na cchindyān nakha-romāṇi kakṣopastha-gatāny api

Translation

A brahmacārī should keep silence while bathing, eating, performing homa, chanting japa, and even while passing stool and urine. He should not cut his nails or hair, including armpit and pubic hair.

Synonyms

• snāna-bhojana-homeṣu: during bathing, eating, and fire-offerings
• snāna-bhojana-homeṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक) + bhojana (प्रातिपदिक) + homa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व: 'in bathing, eating, and offerings'

• japa-uccāre: in reciting japa
• japa-uccāre: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: japa (प्रातिपदिक) + uccāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'in the utterance/recitation of japa'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• vāk-yataḥ: restrained in speech
• vāk-yataḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāk (प्रातिपदिक) + yata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'speech-restrained'

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation particle)

• chindyāt: should cut
• chindyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √chid (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; निषेधार्थे 'न' सह = 'should not cut'

• nakha-romāṇi: nails and hair
• nakha-romāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakha (प्रातिपदिक) + roma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व: 'nails and hair'

• kakṣa-upastha-gatāni: those (hairs) in the armpits and groin
• kakṣa-upastha-gatāni: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + upastha (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (√gam, कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'located in armpit and groin'

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: emphasis)

Purport

Nārada Muni gives a similar technical description of Vedic brahmacārī life in Canto Seven, Chapter Twelve, of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about speaking during japa, bathing, and homa?

This verse advises vāg-yama—restrained speech—during bathing, eating, fire-offerings (homa), and the recitation of japa, treating these acts as sacred and requiring focused purity.

Why did Krishna say these rules to Uddhava in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava Gītā section, Kṛṣṇa teaches practical varṇāśrama-dharma and sādhana conduct to steady the mind and preserve sanctity in daily religious duties, especially as spiritual discipline declines in Kali-yuga.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life while doing mantra meditation?

Create a distraction-free routine: keep speech minimal during japa, treat meals and devotional practices as mindful rituals, and avoid grooming interruptions during sacred observances so attention remains on remembrance of the Lord.