Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 16
Vānaprastha-vidhi and Sannyāsa-dharma: Austerity, Detachment, and the Paramahaṁsa Ideal
दृष्टिपूतं न्यसेत् पादं वस्त्रपूतं पिबेज्जलम् । सत्यपूतां वदेद् वाचं मन:पूतं समाचरेत् ॥ १६ ॥
dṛṣṭi-pūtaṁ nyaset pādaṁ vastra-pūtaṁ pibej jalam satya-pūtāṁ vaded vācaṁ manaḥ-pūtaṁ samācaret
ಸಾಧು ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯು ಕಣ್ಣಿನಿಂದ ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಿ ಮಾತ್ರ ಪಾದವನ್ನು ನೆಲಕ್ಕೆ ಇಡಬೇಕು, ಯಾವುದೇ ಜೀವಿಗೆ ಹಾನಿಯಾಗದಂತೆ; ಬಟ್ಟೆಯಿಂದ ಶೋಧಿಸಿ ಮಾತ್ರ ನೀರನ್ನು ಕುಡಿಯಬೇಕು; ಸತ್ಯದಿಂದ ಪವಿತ್ರವಾದ ಮಾತನ್ನೇ ಹೇಳಬೇಕು; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಮನಸ್ಸು ಶುದ್ಧವೆಂದು ನಿಶ್ಚಯಿಸಿದ ಕಾರ್ಯಗಳನ್ನೇ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು।
While walking, a saintly person is careful not to kill any tiny creatures on the ground. Similarly, he filters his drinking water through cloth to avoid swallowing small creatures living within the water. Speaking untruths simply for sense gratification is detrimental to devotional service and should be avoided. Speaking impersonal philosophy and glorifying the sense gratification of the material world, even that found in heavenly planets, contaminates the heart and must be avoided by those desiring perfection in the loving service of the Lord. By serious consideration one can understand that any activity other than devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa has no ultimate value; therefore one should exclusively engage in the purified activities of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
FAQs
This verse teaches layered purity: be careful where you step, filter what you drink, speak only truth-purified words, and act only from a purified mind.
In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on practical dharma and renunciation, emphasizing that real spiritual life requires both external cleanliness and inner integrity.
Pause before speaking to ensure honesty and benefit, and before acting check motives—reduce anger, greed, and distraction through sādhana so actions arise from a clean, steady mind.