Adhyaya 18

Verse 1

श्रीभगवानुवाच वनं विविक्षु: पुत्रेषु भार्यां न्यस्य सहैव वा । वन एव वसेच्छान्तस्तृतीयं भागमायुष: ॥ १ ॥

The Supreme Lord said: One who wishes to adopt the third order of life, vānaprastha, should enter the forest with a peaceful mind, leaving his wife with his mature sons, or else taking her along, and dwell in the forest for the third portion of his life.

Verse 2

कन्दमूलफलैर्वन्यैर्मेध्यैर्वृत्तिं प्रकल्पयेत् । वसीत वल्कलं वासस्तृणपर्णाजिनानि वा ॥ २ ॥

Having adopted the vānaprastha order, one should maintain oneself by eating pure forest bulbs, roots, and fruits. One may dress in tree bark, grass and leaves, or animal skins.

Verse 3

केशरोमनखश्मश्रुमलानि बिभृयाद् दत: । न धावेदप्सु मज्जेत त्रिकालं स्थण्डिलेशय: ॥ ३ ॥

A vānaprastha should not groom the hair of his head, body, or face, nor trim his nails, nor make special endeavor for dental care. He should evacuate regularly, bathe in water three times daily, and sleep upon the bare ground.

Verse 4

ग्रीष्मे तप्येत पञ्चाग्नीन् वर्षास्वासारषाड्‍जले । आकण्ठमग्न: शिशिर एवंवृत्तस्तपश्चरेत् ॥ ४ ॥

Thus engaged as a vānaprastha, one should perform austerity in the blazing summer by the pañcāgni—fires on four sides and the fierce sun above; in the rainy season one should remain outdoors amid torrents of rain; and in the freezing winter one should stay in water up to the neck, practicing penance.

Verse 5

अग्निपक्वं समश्न‍ीयात् कालपक्व‍मथापि वा । उलूखलाश्मकुट्टो वा दन्तोलूखल एव वा ॥ ५ ॥

He may eat grains and other foods cooked by fire, or fruits ripened by the passage of time. He may grind his food with mortar and stone, or even with his own teeth, as though they were a mortar.

Verse 6

स्वयं सञ्चिनुयात् सर्वमात्मनो वृत्तिकारणम् । देशकालबलाभिज्ञो नाददीतान्यदाहृतम् ॥ ६ ॥

The vānaprastha should personally gather whatever is needed to maintain his body, mindful of place, time, and his own strength. He should not store provisions for the future, nor accept what others have brought.

Verse 7

वन्यैश्चरुपुरोडाशैर्निर्वपेत् कालचोदितान् । न तु श्रौतेन पशुना मां यजेत वनाश्रमी ॥ ७ ॥

One who has accepted the vānaprastha life should perform seasonal sacrifices, offering caru and sacrificial cakes (puroḍāśa) made from rice and other forest grains. Yet the vānaprastha must never worship Me by animal sacrifice, even if such rites are mentioned in the Vedas.

Verse 8

अग्निहोत्रं च दर्शश्च पौर्णमासश्च पूर्ववत् । चातुर्मास्यानि च मुनेराम्नातानि च नैगमै: ॥ ८ ॥

The vānaprastha should perform the agnihotra, darśa, and paurṇamāsa sacrifices just as he did in the gṛhastha-āśrama. He should also observe the cāturmāsya vows and sacrifices, for the knowers of the Vedas enjoin these rites for the vānaprastha-āśrama.

Verse 9

एवं चीर्णेन तपसा मुनिर्धमनिसन्तत: । मां तपोमयमाराध्य ऋषिलोकादुपैति माम् ॥ ९ ॥

Thus, by severe penance and by accepting only the bare necessities, the saintly vānaprastha becomes so emaciated that he seems mere skin and bones. Worshiping Me through such tapas, he attains Maharloka, the realm of the ṛṣis, and then directly reaches Me.

Verse 10

यस्त्वेतत् कृच्छ्रतश्चीर्णं तपो नि:श्रेयसं महत् । कामायाल्पीयसे युञ्ज्याद् बालिश: कोऽपरस्तत: ॥ १० ॥

One who, after long endeavor, performs this painful yet exalted penance that grants ultimate liberation, but employs it for petty sense enjoyment, must be deemed the greatest fool—who could be more foolish than he?

Verse 11

यदासौ नियमेऽकल्पो जरया जातवेपथु: । आत्मन्यग्नीन् समारोप्य मच्चित्तोऽग्निं समाविशेत् ॥ ११ ॥

If the vānaprastha is overtaken by old age and, trembling, can no longer perform his prescribed duties, he should, by meditation, place the sacrificial fire within his heart. Then, fixing his mind on Me, he should enter the fire and relinquish his body.

Verse 12

यदा कर्मविपाकेषु लोकेषु निरयात्मसु । विरागो जायते सम्यङ् न्यस्ताग्नि: प्रव्रजेत्तत: ॥ १२ ॥

If the vānaprastha, realizing that the worlds attained as the ripened fruits of karma—even Brahmaloka—are miserable like hell, develops complete detachment from all results of action, then he may abandon the sacred fires and depart as a renunciant, accepting the order of sannyāsa.

Verse 13

इष्ट्वा यथोपदेशं मां दत्त्वा सर्वस्वमृत्विजे । अग्नीन् स्वप्राण आवेश्य निरपेक्ष: परिव्रजेत् ॥ १३ ॥

Having worshiped Me according to the scriptural teaching and having given all one’s possessions to the ṛtvij, one should place the sacrificial fires within one’s own prāṇa; then, free of all dependence, one should depart into the sannyāsa āśrama.

Verse 14

विप्रस्य वै सन्न्यसतो देवा दारादिरूपिण: । विघ्नान् कुर्वन्त्ययं ह्यस्मानाक्रम्य समियात् परम् ॥ १४ ॥

For the brāhmaṇa who takes sannyāsa, the devas create obstacles by appearing as his former wife and other alluring objects, thinking, “He will surpass us and reach the Supreme”; but the sannyāsī should give no heed to them or to such manifestations.

Verse 15

बिभृयाच्चेन्मुनिर्वास: कौपीनाच्छादनं परम् । त्यक्तं न दण्डपात्राभ्यामन्यत् किञ्चिदनापदि ॥ १५ ॥

If the sannyāsī wishes to wear something besides a mere kaupīna, he may use another cloth around his waist to cover it; otherwise, unless there is an emergency, he should accept nothing beyond his daṇḍa and waterpot (kamandalu).

Verse 16

द‍ृष्टिपूतं न्यसेत् पादं वस्‍त्रपूतं पिबेज्जलम् । सत्यपूतां वदेद् वाचं मन:पूतं समाचरेत् ॥ १६ ॥

A saintly person should step only after seeing that no living creature will be harmed; he should drink water only after filtering it through cloth; he should speak words purified by truth; and he should act only in ways his mind has carefully ascertained to be pure.

Verse 17

मौनानीहानिलायामा दण्डा वाग्देहचेतसाम् । न ह्येते यस्य सन्त्यङ्ग वेणुभिर्न भवेद् यति: ॥ १७ ॥

Avoiding useless speech (mouna), avoiding useless activity (anīhā), and controlling the life air through prāṇāyāma—these are the three inner disciplines for speech, body, and mind. Without them, one does not become a yati (sannyāsī) merely by carrying bamboo rods.

Verse 18

भिक्षां चतुर्षु वर्णेषु विगर्ह्यान् वर्जयंश्चरेत् । सप्तागारानसङ्‍क्लृप्तांस्तुष्येल्ल‍ब्धेन तावता ॥ १८ ॥

Rejecting houses that are defiled and deemed untouchable, a mendicant may, as needed, beg among all four social orders. Without prior calculation he should approach seven houses and be satisfied with whatever alms are obtained there.

Verse 19

बहिर्जलाशयं गत्वा तत्रोपस्पृश्य वाग्यत: । विभज्य पावितं शेषं भुञ्जीताशेषमाहृतम् ॥ १९ ॥

Taking the food gathered by begging, one should leave the inhabited area for a secluded waterside. There, after bathing and thoroughly washing the hands, remaining silent, one should share portions with any who ask. Then, having purified what remains, one should eat all that was brought, leaving nothing for later.

Verse 20

एकश्चरेन्महीमेतां नि:सङ्ग: संयतेन्द्रिय: । आत्मक्रीड आत्मरत आत्मवान् समदर्शन: ॥ २० ॥

Free from material attachment and with the senses fully controlled, the saint should wander the earth alone. Joyful and satisfied in realization of the Supreme Lord and the self, seeing equally everywhere, he remains steady on the spiritual platform.

Verse 21

विविक्तक्षेमशरणो मद्भ‍ावविमलाशय: । आत्मानं चिन्तयेदेकमभेदेन मया मुनि: ॥ २१ ॥

Dwelling in a safe and solitary place, his heart purified by constant remembrance of Me, the sage should concentrate on the soul alone, realizing it to be nondifferent from Me.

Verse 22

अन्वीक्षेतात्मनो बन्धं मोक्षं च ज्ञाननिष्ठया । बन्ध इन्द्रियविक्षेपो मोक्ष एषां च संयम: ॥ २२ ॥

Steady in knowledge, a sage should clearly discern the soul’s bondage and liberation. Bondage is the senses’ diversion toward sense enjoyment, and liberation is their complete restraint.

Verse 23

तस्मान्नियम्य षड्‍वर्गं मद्भ‍ावेन चरेन्मुनि: । विरक्त: क्षुद्रकामेभ्यो लब्ध्वात्मनि सुखं महत् ॥ २३ ॥

Therefore, fully restraining the sixfold group—senses and mind—by Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the sage should live. Detached from petty pleasures, he attains great bliss within the self.

Verse 24

पुरग्रामव्रजान्सार्थान् भिक्षार्थं प्रविशंश्चरेत् । पुण्यदेशसरिच्छैलवनाश्रमवतीं महीम् ॥ २४ ॥

The sage should wander in sanctified lands, along flowing rivers, and in the solitude of mountains and forests. He should enter cities, villages, and pastures only to beg his bare sustenance.

Verse 25

वानप्रस्थाश्रमपदेष्वभीक्ष्णं भैक्ष्यमाचरेत् । संसिध्यत्याश्वसम्मोह: शुद्धसत्त्व: शिलान्धसा ॥ २५ ॥

One in the vānaprastha order should constantly practice living by alms, for thus he is quickly freed from illusion and attains spiritual perfection. Indeed, subsisting on grains obtained in humble begging purifies one’s existence.

Verse 26

नैतद् वस्तुतया पश्येद् द‍ृश्यमानं विनश्यति । असक्तचित्तो विरमेदिहामुत्र चिकीर्षितात् ॥ २६ ॥

One should never regard as ultimate reality those material things that are plainly destined to perish. With consciousness free from attachment, one should withdraw from all activities meant for material advancement in this life and the next.

Verse 27

यदेतदात्मनि जगन्मनोवाक्प्राणसंहतम् । सर्वं मायेति तर्केण स्वस्थस्त्यक्त्वा न तत् स्मरेत् ॥ २७ ॥

By sound reasoning one should see that the universe, situated within the Lord, and one’s material body, formed of mind, speech, and life air, are ultimately products of the Lord’s illusory energy (māyā). Thus established in the self, one should abandon faith in these things and never again make them the object of meditation.

Verse 28

ज्ञाननिष्ठो विरक्तो वा मद्भ‍क्तो वानपेक्षक: । सलिङ्गानाश्रमांस्त्यक्त्वा चरेदविधिगोचर: ॥ २८ ॥

Whether one is a knower fixed in wisdom and detached, or My devotee who desires not even liberation—both abandon external marks and āśrama duties, and thus move beyond the reach of ritual rules.

Verse 29

बुधो बालकवत् क्रीडेत् कुशलो जडवच्चरेत् । वदेदुन्मत्तवद् विद्वान् गोचर्यां नैगमश्चरेत् ॥ २९ ॥

Though most wise, the paramahaṁsa should delight like a child; though most skilled, behave like one inept; though most learned, speak like one mad; and though versed in Vedic rules, live in unrestrained freedom.

Verse 30

वेदवादरतो न स्यान्न पाषण्डी न हैतुक: । शुष्कवादविवादे न कञ्चित् पक्षं समाश्रयेत् ॥ ३० ॥

A devotee should not cling to the fruit-seeking rituals of the Vedas’ karma-kāṇḍa, nor become a heretic opposing Vedic injunctions; he should not speak as a dry logician or skeptic, nor take any side in useless debate.

Verse 31

नोद्विजेत जनाद् धीरो जनं चोद्वेजयेन्न तु । अतिवादांस्तितिक्षेत नावमन्येत कञ्चन । देहमुद्दिश्य पशुवद् वैरं कुर्यान्न केनचित् ॥ ३१ ॥

A saintly person should not be disturbed by others, nor disturb others. He should tolerate insults, never belittle anyone, and for the sake of the body never create hostility with anyone, lest he become like an animal.

Verse 32

एक एव परो ह्यात्मा भूतेष्वात्मन्यवस्थित: । यथेन्दुरुदपात्रेषु भूतान्येकात्मकानि च ॥ ३२ ॥

The one Supreme Lord dwells within all material bodies and within the soul of everyone. As the moon is reflected in countless waters, so the Lord, though one, is present in all; thus every body is ultimately formed of His energy.

Verse 33

अलब्ध्वा न विषीदेत काले कालेऽशनं क्व‍‍चित् । लब्ध्वा न हृष्येद् धृतिमानुभयं दैवतन्त्रितम् ॥ ३३ ॥

If at times one does not obtain proper food, one should not be depressed; and when one obtains sumptuous food, one should not rejoice. Steady in resolve, one should know both conditions to be under the Lord’s control.

Verse 34

आहारार्थं समीहेत युक्तं तत् प्राणधारणम् । तत्त्वं विमृश्यते तेन तद् विज्ञाय विमुच्यते ॥ ३४ ॥

If required, one should make a proper effort to obtain sufficient food, for it is necessary to sustain life and health. When the senses, mind, and life air are fit, one can contemplate the truth; by realizing that truth, one is liberated.

Verse 35

यद‍ृच्छयोपपन्नान्नमद्याच्छ्रेष्ठमुतापरम् । तथा वासस्तथा शय्यां प्राप्तं प्राप्तं भजेन्मुनि: ॥ ३५ ॥

A sage should accept and eat whatever food comes of its own accord, whether excellent or inferior. Likewise with clothing and bedding: whatever is obtained, that alone should be accepted in contentment.

Verse 36

शौचमाचमनं स्‍नानं न तु चोदनया चरेत् । अन्यांश्च नियमाञ्ज्ञानी यथाहं लीलयेश्वर: ॥ ३६ ॥

Cleanliness, acamana, bathing, and other observances should be performed by the wise not by compulsion but by one’s own free will. Just as I, the Supreme Lord, carry out regulative duties in My divine lila, so should one who has realized Me.

Verse 37

न हि तस्य विकल्पाख्या या च मद्वीक्षया हता । आदेहान्तात् क्व‍‍चित् ख्यातिस्तत: सम्पद्यते मया ॥ ३७ ॥

A realized soul no longer sees anything as separate from Me, for his direct knowledge of Me has destroyed such illusory perception. Since the body and mind were formerly accustomed to it, that sense of separation may sometimes seem to recur; but at death the self-realized soul attains opulences equal to Mine.

Verse 38

दु:खोदर्केषु कामेषु जातनिर्वेद आत्मवान् । अजिज्ञासितमद्धर्मो मुनिं गुरुमुपव्रजेत् ॥ ३८ ॥

One who, knowing that sense pleasures end in misery, has become detached and self-controlled and seeks spiritual perfection, yet has not seriously examined the means of attaining Me, should approach a genuine, learned sage who is a true spiritual master.

Verse 39

तावत् परिचरेद् भक्त: श्रद्धावाननसूयक: । यावद् ब्रह्म विजानीयान्मामेव गुरुमाद‍ृत: ॥ ३९ ॥

Until a devotee clearly realizes spiritual knowledge, he should, with firm faith, respect, and without envy, continue to render personal service to the guru, honoring him as nondifferent from Me.

Verse 40

यस्त्वसंयतषड्‍वर्ग: प्रचण्डेन्द्रियसारथि: । ज्ञानवैराग्यरहितस्‍त्रिदण्डमुपजीवति ॥ ४० ॥ सुरानात्मानमात्मस्थं निह्नुते मां च धर्महा । अविपक्व‍कषायोऽस्मादमुष्माच्च विहीयते ॥ ४१ ॥

One who has not controlled the six deluding forces—lust, anger, greed, reckless excitement, false pride, and intoxication—whose intelligence, the driver of the senses, is fiercely attached to matter; who lacks knowledge and detachment; who takes up the tridaṇḍa and the sannyāsa order merely to earn a living; who denies the worshipable devas, his own self, and the Supreme Lord dwelling within (Me), thus destroying dharma; and who remains tainted by material impurity—such a person deviates and is lost in both this life and the next.

Verse 41

यस्त्वसंयतषड्‍वर्ग: प्रचण्डेन्द्रियसारथि: । ज्ञानवैराग्यरहितस्‍त्रिदण्डमुपजीवति ॥ ४० ॥ सुरानात्मानमात्मस्थं निह्नुते मां च धर्महा । अविपक्व‍कषायोऽस्मादमुष्माच्च विहीयते ॥ ४१ ॥

One who has not controlled the six deluding forces—lust, anger, greed, reckless excitement, false pride, and intoxication—whose intelligence, the driver of the senses, is fiercely attached to matter; who lacks knowledge and detachment; who takes up the tridaṇḍa and the sannyāsa order merely to earn a living; who denies the worshipable devas, his own self, and the Supreme Lord dwelling within (Me), thus destroying dharma; and who remains tainted by material impurity—such a person deviates and is lost in both this life and the next.

Verse 42

भिक्षोर्धर्म: शमोऽहिंसा तप ईक्षा वनौकस: । गृहिणो भूतरक्षेज्या द्विजस्याचार्यसेवनम् ॥ ४२ ॥

The chief duties of a bhikṣu (sannyāsī) are equanimity and nonviolence; for a vānaprastha, austerity and discerning insight into the difference between body and soul; for a householder, giving shelter to all beings and performing yajña; and for a brahmacārī (dvija), chiefly serving the ācārya, the spiritual master.

Verse 43

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

A householder should approach his wife only in the prescribed season for begetting children; otherwise he should practice celibacy, austerity, purity of mind and body, contentment in his rightful station, and friendship toward all beings. Worship of Me is to be performed by all people, beyond divisions of varṇa and āśrama.

Verse 44

इति मां य: स्वधर्मेण भजेन् नित्यमनन्यभाक् । सर्वभूतेषु मद्भ‍ावो मद्भ‍‍क्तिं विन्दते द‍ृढाम् ॥ ४४ ॥

One who worships Me daily through his prescribed duty, with no other object of worship, and who remains aware of Me as present within all living beings, attains steadfast, unshakable devotion to Me.

Verse 45

भक्त्योद्धवानपायिन्या सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम् । सर्वोत्पत्त्यप्ययं ब्रह्म कारणं मोपयाति स: ॥ ४५ ॥

My dear Uddhava, I am the Supreme Lord of all worlds; I create and destroy this universe, being its ultimate cause in both manifestation and dissolution. Thus I am the Absolute Truth, and one who worships Me with unfailing devotion comes to Me.

Verse 46

इति स्वधर्मनिर्णिक्तसत्त्वो निर्ज्ञातमद्गति: । ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्नो नचिरात् समुपैति माम् ॥ ४६ ॥

Thus, one who has purified his existence by performing his prescribed duties, who fully understands My supreme position, and who is endowed with both scriptural knowledge and realized wisdom, very soon attains Me.

Verse 47

वर्णाश्रमवतां धर्म एष आचारलक्षण: । स एव मद्भ‍‍क्तियुतो नि:श्रेयसकर: पर: ॥ ४७ ॥

This is the dharma of those who follow varṇāśrama: to live by the authorized traditions of proper conduct. When such varṇāśrama duties are offered to Me in loving service, they bestow the supreme perfection of life.

Verse 48

एतत्तेऽभिहितं साधो भवान् पृच्छति यच्च माम् । यथा स्वधर्मसंयुक्तो भक्तो मां समियात् परम् ॥ ४८ ॥

My saintly Uddhava, as you inquired, I have explained the means by which My devotee, faithfully engaged in his prescribed duty, can return to Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.