Shloka 36
Brahmā’s Instruction on Brahmacarya, Vānaprastha, and the Aliṅga Path
Ethics of Non-attachment
मृदमापस्तथाजन्नानि पत्रपुष्पफलानि च | असंवृतानि गृह्नीयात् प्रवृत्तानि च कार्यवान्,मिट्टी, जल, अन्न, पत्र, पुष्प और फल--ये वस्तुएँ यदि किसीके अधिकारमें न हों तो आवश्यकता पड़नेपर क्रियाशील संन्यासी इन्हें काममें ला सकता है
mṛdam āpas tathā annāni patra-puṣpa-phalāni ca | asaṃvṛtāni gṛhṇīyāt pravṛttāni ca kāryavān ||
Vāyu said: “Earth (clay), water, food, and also leaves, flowers, and fruits—when these are not under anyone’s protected possession, a renunciant who is actively engaged in a necessary duty may take and use them. This is permitted when need arises, without violating dharma.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a dharmic boundary for renunciants: taking basic natural necessities (clay, water, food, leaves, flowers, fruits) is allowable when they are unguarded/not secured as someone’s protected property, and when genuine need or duty requires it—so that survival and necessary action do not become adharma.
Vāyu is instructing about proper conduct, clarifying when a duty-bound ascetic may use readily available natural items. The statement functions as an ethical guideline distinguishing permissible use from theft, especially in situations of need.