Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 52
Varṇāśrama-dharma as a Path to Bhakti
Yuga-dharma Origins, Universal Virtues, Brahmacarya and Gṛhastha Duties
कुटुम्बेषु न सज्जेत न प्रमाद्येत् कुटुम्ब्यपि । विपश्चिन्नश्वरं पश्येददृष्टमपि दृष्टवत् ॥ ५२ ॥
kuṭumbeṣu na sajjeta na pramādyet kuṭumby api vipaścin naśvaraṁ paśyed adṛṣṭam api dṛṣṭa-vat
അനേകം ആശ്രിത കുടുംബാംഗങ്ങളെ പോഷിക്കുന്ന ഗൃഹസ്ഥനും അവരോടു ഭൗതികാസക്തനാകരുത്; ‘ഞാനാണ് അധിപൻ’ എന്നു കരുതി അശ്രദ്ധയിലോ മാനസികവ്യാമോഹത്തിലോ വീഴരുത്. വിവേകി ഗൃഹസ്ഥൻ ഭूत-ഭാവി സുഖങ്ങളെ, ഇനിയും ലഭിക്കാത്തതിനെപ്പോലും, അനുഭവിച്ച സുഖംപോലെ നശ്വരമെന്നു കാണണം.
A family man often acts like a lord, protecting his wife, ordering his children, maintaining servants, grandchildren, domestic animals, and so forth. The words na pramādyet kuṭumby api indicate that although one acts like a little lord, surrounded by his family, servants and friends, one should not, through false pride, become mentally unbalanced, considering oneself to be the actual lord. The word vipaścit indicates that one should remain sober and intelligent, never forgetting oneself to be the eternal servant of the Supreme Lord.
FAQs
This verse advises not to become entangled in family affairs; even as a householder one must remain spiritually alert, recognizing the temporary nature of worldly relationships and situations.
In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on dharma and liberation, emphasizing vigilance and detachment so devotion is not weakened by household attachment and complacency.
Do your duties responsibly, but regularly remember that wealth, status, and even relationships change; plan and act with spiritual priorities—steady sādhana, humility, and devotion—so you are not shocked when inevitable change arrives.