Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 26
Varṇāśrama-dharma as a Path to Bhakti
Yuga-dharma Origins, Universal Virtues, Brahmacarya and Gṛhastha Duties
अग्न्यर्काचार्यगोविप्रगुरुवृद्धसुराञ्शुचि: । समाहित उपासीत सन्ध्ये द्वे यतवाग् जपन् ॥ २६ ॥
agny-arkācārya-go-vipra- guru-vṛddha-surāñ śuciḥ samāhita upāsīta sandhye dve yata-vāg japan
ಶುಚಿಯಾಗಿಯೂ ಸಮಾಹಿತಚಿತ್ತನಾಗಿಯೂ ಇರುವ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚಾರಿ ಅಗ್ನಿ, ಸೂರ್ಯ, ಆಚಾರ್ಯ, ಗೋವುಗಳು, ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರು, ಗುರು, ವೃದ್ಧ ಪೂಜ್ಯರು ಹಾಗೂ ದೇವತೆಗಳನ್ನು ಉಪಾಸಿಸಬೇಕು. ಪ್ರಾತಃ‑ಸಾಯಂ ಸಂಧ್ಯಾಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೌನವಾಗಿ ಮಂತ್ರಜಪದಿಂದ ಆರಾಧಿಸಬೇಕು.
FAQs
In 11.17.26, Kṛṣṇa instructs that one should worship sacred authorities (fire, sun, guru, cows, brāhmaṇas, elders, devas) and perform mantra-japa at both twilights with a composed mind and controlled speech.
Kṛṣṇa is teaching Uddhava the principles of righteous living (varṇāśrama-dharma) and daily spiritual discipline, emphasizing purity, reverence to sacred beings, and regular japa as foundational practices.
Set fixed times at sunrise and sunset for a few minutes of mantra repetition, reduce unnecessary talk during practice, and cultivate daily reverence through service to teachers, elders, and acts of compassion (such as cow protection/charity).