Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 39
Nārada’s Instructions: Śrāddha, True Dharma, Contentment, Yoga, and Devotion-Centered Renunciation
गृहस्थस्य क्रियात्यागो व्रतत्यागो वटोरपि । तपस्विनो ग्रामसेवा भिक्षोरिन्द्रियलोलता ॥ ३८ ॥ आश्रमापसदा ह्येते खल्वाश्रमविडम्बना: । देवमायाविमूढांस्तानुपेक्षेतानुकम्पया ॥ ३९ ॥
gṛhasthasya kriyā-tyāgo vrata-tyāgo vaṭor api tapasvino grāma-sevā bhikṣor indriya-lolatā
家住（グリハスタ）が規定の行を捨て、師の庇護下にある梵行者（ブラフマチャーリー）が誓戒を捨て、林住（ヴァーナプラスタ）が村に留まり世俗の交際に耽り、出家（サンニャーシー）が感官の享楽に溺れるのは、いずれも忌むべきことである。彼らはアーシュラマの堕落者であり、修行を装う者で、至上主の外的エネルギー（マーヤー）に惑わされている。ゆえに職分から退けるか、あるいは慈悲をもって可能なら本来のアーシュラマ・ダルマへ戻るよう教導すべきである。
We have repeatedly stressed that human culture does not begin unless one takes to the principles of varṇāśrama-dharma. Although gṛhastha life is a concession for the enjoyment of sex, one cannot enjoy sex without following the rules and regulations of householder life. Furthermore, as already instructed, a brahmacārī must live under the care of the guru: brahmacārī gurukule vasan dānto guror hitam. If a brahmacārī does not live under the care of the guru, if a vānaprastha engages in ordinary activities, or if a sannyāsī is greedy and eats meat, eggs and all kinds of nonsense for the satisfaction of his tongue, he is a cheater and should immediately be rejected as unimportant. Such persons should be shown compassion, and if one has sufficient strength one should teach them to stop them from following the wrong path in life. Otherwise one should reject them and pay them no attention.
FAQs
In this verse, Prahlada explains that abandoning one’s proper āśrama duties while still seeking worldly life or sense enjoyment is mere imitation of spirituality; such pretenders are to be avoided, though viewed with compassion because they are bewildered by the Lord’s māyā.
Prahlada is instructing on proper conduct (varna-āśrama) and genuine detachment; he warns that spiritual labels without discipline—like a bhikṣu chasing sense pleasure—undermine dharma and mislead others.
Stay faithful to your stage-of-life responsibilities, avoid performative spirituality, and choose guidance from disciplined practitioners—while keeping a compassionate attitude toward those who are confused rather than becoming cynical.