Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 41
Vānaprastha-vidhi and Sannyāsa-dharma: Austerity, Detachment, and the Paramahaṁsa Ideal
यस्त्वसंयतषड्वर्ग: प्रचण्डेन्द्रियसारथि: । ज्ञानवैराग्यरहितस्त्रिदण्डमुपजीवति ॥ ४० ॥ सुरानात्मानमात्मस्थं निह्नुते मां च धर्महा । अविपक्वकषायोऽस्मादमुष्माच्च विहीयते ॥ ४१ ॥
yas tv asaṁyata-ṣaḍ-vargaḥ pracaṇḍendriya-sārathiḥ jñāna-vairāgya-rahitas tridaṇḍam upajīvati
Ia yang tidak mengekang enam dorongan khayal—nafsu, amarah, loba, kegirangan liar, kesombongan palsu, dan mabuk; yang kecerdasannya, kusir indria, terikat kuat pada materi; yang tanpa pengetahuan dan tanpa pelepasan; yang memakai tanda sannyāsa (tridaṇḍa) demi mencari nafkah; yang menolak para dewa yang patut dihormati, jiwanya sendiri, dan Tuhan Tertinggi yang bersemayam di dalam dirinya (Aku); sehingga merusak dharma—orang yang masih tercemar ini tersesat dan binasa, baik di dunia ini maupun di dunia berikutnya.
Lord Kṛṣṇa here condemns bogus personalities who adopt the sannyāsa order of life for sense gratification while still maintaining all of the symptoms of gross illusion. A false show of sannyāsa is never accepted by intelligent followers of Vedic principles. So-called sannyāsīs who ruin all Vedic religious principles sometimes become famous among foolish persons, but they are simply cheating themselves and their followers. These charlatan sannyāsīs are never actually engaged in the loving devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
FAQs
This verse warns that one who denies the Lord situated within the self, and thus becomes a destroyer of dharma, loses both worldly stability and spiritual progress—becoming bereft of benefits in this life and the next.
In the Uddhava Gītā, Kṛṣṇa explains true varṇāśrama and genuine renunciation. Here He cautions Uddhava against hypocritical renunciants who lack self-control and inner purification, and who reject divine authority while living by religious symbols.
Cultivate inner integrity: practice self-control, humility, and purification rather than merely external religious identity. Respect the sacred presence of the Lord within all beings and live dharmically so that spiritual practice yields real transformation.