Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 19

Brahmacarya and Vānaprastha Duties; Gradual Dissolution of Bodily Identity

Devanagari script

वन्यैश्चरुपुरोडाशान् निर्वपेत् कालचोदितान् । लब्धे नवे नवेऽन्नाद्ये पुराणं च परित्यजेत् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

vanyaiś caru-puroḍāśān nirvapet kāla-coditān labdhe nave nave ’nnādye purāṇaṁ ca parityajet

Translation

A vānaprastha should, at the proper times, prepare sacrificial offerings—caru and puroḍāśa—from fruits and grains that grow naturally in the forest. When he obtains new grains, he should abandon his old stock.

Synonyms

• vanyaiḥ: with forest-produced (ingredients)
• vanyaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vanya (वन्य-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (caru-puroḍāśān इत्यस्य)

• caru-puroḍāśān: caru and puroḍāśa offerings
• caru-puroḍāśān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caru (चरु-प्रातिपदिक) + puroḍāśa (पुरोडाश-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (चरवश्च पुरोडाशाश्च)

• nirvapet: should offer/prepare (as oblation)
• nirvapet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-vap (निर्वप्-धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• kāla-coditān: prompted by the proper time (seasonally enjoined)
• kāla-coditān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla (काल-प्रातिपदिक) + codita (चुद्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कालेन चोदितान् = समयेन प्रेरितान्); विशेषण (caru-puroḍāśān)

• labdhe: when obtained
• labdhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: labdha (लभ्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute): "(यदा) लब्धे" = when obtained

• nave: in new (food)
• nave: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (नव-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (annādye)

• nave: again new / ever new
• nave: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (नव-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphasis)

• annādye: in food and the like
• annādye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (अन्न-प्रातिपदिक) + ādya (आद्य-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अन्न-आद्य = अन्नादि, food etc.)

• purāṇam: the old (stock)
• purāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (पुराण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• parityajet: should abandon/discard
• parityajet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-tyaj (परि-त्यज्-धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about offering food at the proper time?

This verse says offerings like caru and puroḍāśa should be prepared and offered according to prescribed times, emphasizing disciplined, time-bound dharma.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī instruct to discard old stored food in Bhagavatam 7.12?

In the context of varṇāśrama duties and purity, he advises using fresh grains when available and abandoning stale stock to maintain cleanliness and sattvic discipline in religious life.

Practical application of Bhagavatam 7.12.19 in modern life?

Keep spiritual routines consistent (right time, right method), and prefer fresh, wholesome food while avoiding stale habits and neglect in daily devotional and ethical discipline.