Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 43
Vānaprastha-vidhi and Sannyāsa-dharma: Austerity, Detachment, and the Paramahaṁsa Ideal
ब्रह्मचर्यं तप: शौचं सन्तोषो भूतसौहृदम् । गृहस्थस्याप्यृतौ गन्तु: सर्वेषां मदुपासनम् ॥ ४३ ॥
brahmacaryaṁ tapaḥ śaucaṁ santoṣo bhūta-sauhṛdam gṛhasthasyāpy ṛtau gantuḥ sarveṣāṁ mad-upāsanam
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.
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.
FAQs
This verse lists brahmacarya (chastity), austerity, purity, contentment, and friendliness to all beings as universal disciplines, supporting spiritual life and devotion.
It states that for householders, conjugal union is permitted only in the proper, regulated time (ṛtau), implying restraint and dharmic regulation rather than indulgence.
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.