Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 5
Vānaprastha-vidhi and Sannyāsa-dharma: Austerity, Detachment, and the Paramahaṁsa Ideal
अग्निपक्वं समश्नीयात् कालपक्वमथापि वा । उलूखलाश्मकुट्टो वा दन्तोलूखल एव वा ॥ ५ ॥
agni-pakvaṁ samaśnīyāt kāla-pakvam athāpi vā ulūkhalāśma-kuṭṭo vā dantolūkhala eva vā
Il peut manger des aliments cuits au feu, tels que des grains, ou des fruits mûris par le temps. Il peut broyer sa nourriture au mortier et à la pierre, ou même avec ses propres dents, comme un mortier.
In Vedic civilization it is recommended that at the end of one’s life one should go to a holy place or forest for spiritual perfection. In sacred forests one does not find restaurants, supermarkets, fast-food chains and so on, and thus one must eat simply, reducing sense gratification.
FAQs
In this verse, Kṛṣṇa explains that a renunciant should accept extremely simple food—either cooked by fire or naturally ripened—minimizing dependence on complex preparation and living with austerity.
Kṛṣṇa is teaching Uddhava the conduct of renunciation and self-control—how an aspirant reduces bodily demands and cultivates detachment while remaining focused on spiritual realization.
Adopt voluntary simplicity: reduce unnecessary consumption, prefer plain and wholesome food, and cultivate gratitude and restraint so the mind can stay steady in devotion and self-discipline.