Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 34

Vānaprastha-vidhi and Sannyāsa-dharma: Austerity, Detachment, and the Paramahaṁsa Ideal

Devanagari script

आहारार्थं समीहेत युक्तं तत् प्राणधारणम् । तत्त्वं विमृश्यते तेन तद् विज्ञाय विमुच्यते ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

āhārārthaṁ samīheta yuktaṁ tat-prāṇa-dhāraṇam tattvaṁ vimṛśyate tena tad vijñāya vimucyate

Translation

ಅವಶ್ಯಕವಿದ್ದರೆ ಆಹಾರಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಯುಕ್ತವಾದ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು; ಪ್ರಾಣಧಾರಣೆಗೆ ಅದು ಅಗತ್ಯ. ಇಂದ್ರಿಯ, ಮನಸ್ಸು ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರಾಣವಾಯು ಸಮರ್ಥವಾಗಿದ್ದರೆ ತತ್ತ್ವವನ್ನು ಚಿಂತಿಸಬಹುದು; ತತ್ತ್ವವನ್ನು ತಿಳಿದು ಮುಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಬಹುದು।

Synonyms

• आहारार्थम्: for the sake of food
• आहारार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहार + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/चतुर्थीभावः: ‘आहारस्य/आहाराय अर्थः’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); प्रयोजनार्थक (purpose)

• समीहेत: should endeavor
• समीहेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√ईह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• युक्तम्: proper
• युक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP) ‘proper/appropriate’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular) (agreeing with प्राणधारणम्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); अन्वयः: ‘तत् (एव) प्राणधारणम्’

• प्राणधारणम्: maintenance of life-breaths; sustaining life
• प्राणधारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण + धारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: प्राणानां धारणम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्त्वम्: the truth/reality
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• विमृश्यते: is reflected upon
• विमृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√मृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• तेन: by that (means)
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्: that (truth)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विज्ञाय: having understood
• विज्ञाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (Absolutive/Gerund) ‘having known’

• विमुच्यते: is liberated
• विमुच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Purport

If foodstuffs do not come automatically or by token begging, then one should endeavor to keep body and soul together so that one’s spiritual program will not be disturbed. Normally, those who are endeavoring in spiritual life cannot maintain steady concentration on the truth if their mind and body are weakened by undereating. On the other hand, extravagant consumption of food is a great impediment for spiritual advancement and should be given up. The word āhārārtham in this verse indicates eating only to keep oneself fit for spiritual advancement and does not justify unnecessary collecting or warehousing of so-called alms. If one collects more than necessary for one’s spiritual program, the surplus becomes a heavy weight that drags one down to the material platform.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about eating only for maintaining life?

This verse teaches that one should seek food only as much as is properly needed to sustain the body, because regulated nourishment supports clarity for contemplating the Absolute Truth.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on renunciation and disciplined living; here He emphasizes moderation in food so the mind becomes fit for tattva-vicāra (inquiry into Truth) leading to liberation.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Practice mindful, moderate eating and avoid indulgence; use the steadiness gained to regularly study, reflect on spiritual truth, and cultivate detachment—supporting inner freedom.