Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 24

Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Māyā, Cosmic Dissolution, Guru-Śaraṇāgati, Bhakti, and Deity Worship

Devanagari script

शौचं तपस्तितिक्षां च मौनं स्वाध्यायमार्जवम् । ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसां च समत्वं द्वन्द्वसंज्ञयो: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

śaucaṁ tapas titikṣāṁ ca maunaṁ svādhyāyam ārjavam brahmacaryam ahiṁsāṁ ca samatvaṁ dvandva-saṁjñayoḥ

Translation

Pour servir le maître spirituel, le disciple doit apprendre la pureté, l’austérité, la tolérance, le silence, l’étude du savoir védique, la simplicité, le célibat, la non-violence et l’équanimité face aux dualités matérielles telles que chaud et froid, joie et peine.

Synonyms

• शौचम्: purity
• शौचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular (form identical to nominative)

• तितिक्षाम्: forbearance
• तितिक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तितिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• मौनम्: silence
• मौनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• स्वाध्यायम्: self-study (scriptural study)
• स्वाध्यायम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• आर्जवम्: straightforwardness
• आर्जवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्जव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: celibacy / brahmacarya
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular; समासः: ब्रह्मणि चर्यम्/ब्रह्मचर्यम् (तत्पुरुष)

• अहिंसाम्: non-violence
• अहिंसाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहिंसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• समत्वम्: equanimity
• समत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• द्वन्द्वसंज्ञयोः: of the pair of opposites (so-called dualities)
• द्वन्द्वसंज्ञयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वन्द्व + संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन — Genitive dual; समासः: द्वन्द्वस्य संज्ञा (तत्पुरुष)

Purport

Śaucam, or “cleanliness,” refers to both internal and external purity. One should remain externally clean by bathing with soap and water at least once and, if possible, three times daily. One is considered internally pure when he is free from the pollution of false pride and egotism. Tapaḥ, or “austerity,” means that despite the irrational impulses of the mind one should remain fixed in executing his proper duty in life. Specifically, one must control burning anger and the urge for wanton sex life. If a human being does not control the impulses of lust, anger and greed, he loses his power to understand his actual situation. Human life is a golden opportunity to solve the overwhelming problems of birth, death, old age and disease. According to the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (3.8.9):

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about cleanliness, austerity, and tolerance?

In Bhagavatam 11.3.24, Śrī Kṛṣṇa lists śauca (cleanliness), tapaḥ (austerity), and titikṣā (tolerance) as core disciplines that purify one’s character and steady the mind for spiritual life.

Why did Krishna speak these qualities to Uddhava in Canto 11?

Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on the practical foundations of dharma and inner discipline—virtues that support devotion and clear perception—within the broader teachings of the Uddhava-gītā.

How can I apply equanimity and nonviolence from Bhagavatam 11.3.24 in modern life?

Practice measured speech (mauna), avoid harm in thought-word-deed (ahiṁsā), keep daily spiritual study (svādhyāya), and respond to praise/blame or comfort/discomfort with steadiness (samatva) rather than reactivity.