Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 20
Puruṣa-sūkta Logic of the Virāṭ: Cosmic Anatomy, Sacrifice, and the Lord’s Transcendence
पादास्त्रयो बहिश्चासन्नप्रजानां य आश्रमा: । अन्तस्त्रिलोक्यास्त्वपरो गृहमेधोऽबृहद्व्रत: ॥ २० ॥
pādās trayo bahiś cāsann aprajānāṁ ya āśramāḥ antas tri-lokyās tv aparo gṛha-medho ’bṛhad-vrataḥ
Le monde spirituel, qui représente les trois quarts de l’énergie du Seigneur, se situe au-delà de ce monde matériel et est destiné surtout à ceux qui ne renaissent plus. Mais ceux qui s’attachent à la vie de famille et n’observent pas strictement le vœu de brahmacarya doivent demeurer dans les trois mondes matériels.
The climax of the system of varṇāśrama-dharma, or sanātana-dharma, is clearly expressed here in this particular verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. The highest benefit that can be awarded to a human being is to train him to be detached from sex life, particularly because it is only due to sex indulgence that the conditioned life of material existence continues birth after birth. Human civilization in which there is no control of sex life is a fourth-class civilization because in such an atmosphere there is no liberation of the soul encaged in the material body. Birth, death, old age and disease are related to the material body, and they have nothing to do with the spirit soul. But as long as the bodily attachment for sensual enjoyment is encouraged, the individual spirit soul is forced to continue the repetition of birth and death on account of the material body, which is compared to garments subjected to the law of deterioration.
FAQs
This verse describes gṛhamedha as the “fourth quarter” within the three worlds—household life centered on material aims and narrow vows—distinct from spiritually directed āśrama life aimed at liberation.
While explaining the Lord’s universal form and cosmic arrangement, Śukadeva shows that renunciant-oriented āśramas align with transcendence, whereas materialistic household absorption keeps one bound within the three worlds.
Live household life with a broad spiritual vow—center duties around devotion, self-control, and service—so home supports bhakti rather than becoming the sole purpose of life.