Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 5
Brahmacarya and Vānaprastha Duties; Gradual Dissolution of Bodily Identity
सायं प्रातश्चरेद्भैक्ष्यं गुरवे तन्निवेदयेत् । भुञ्जीत यद्यनुज्ञातो नो चेदुपवसेत् क्वचित् ॥ ५ ॥
sāyaṁ prātaś cared bhaikṣyaṁ gurave tan nivedayet bhuñjīta yady anujñāto no ced upavaset kvacit
ព្រហ្មចារីគួរចេញទៅសុំទានព្រឹក និងល្ងាច ហើយយកអ្វីដែលបានទាំងអស់ទៅថ្វាយគ្រូវិញ្ញាណ។ គាត់គួរញ៉ាំតែពេលគ្រូអនុញ្ញាត; បើមិនអនុញ្ញាត ទោះបីជាខ្លះៗក៏ត្រូវអត់អាហារ។
FAQs
This verse instructs that a brahmacārī should beg alms morning and evening, offer everything to the guru, and eat only with the guru’s permission—otherwise he should sometimes fast.
In Canto 7 Chapter 12, Śukadeva teaches varṇāśrama duties; offering the collected alms to the guru trains humility, detachment, and obedience—foundations for spiritual realization and bhakti.
Practice humility and discipline: earn or receive resources honestly, dedicate the results to God and one’s spiritual guidance, avoid sense-driven eating habits, and accept occasional voluntary restraint (like mindful fasting) to strengthen self-control.