Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 33
Vānaprastha-vidhi and Sannyāsa-dharma: Austerity, Detachment, and the Paramahaṁsa Ideal
अलब्ध्वा न विषीदेत काले कालेऽशनं क्वचित् । लब्ध्वा न हृष्येद् धृतिमानुभयं दैवतन्त्रितम् ॥ ३३ ॥
alabdhvā na viṣīdeta kāle kāle ’śanaṁ kvacit labdhvā na hṛṣyed dhṛtimān ubhayaṁ daiva-tantritam
ചിലപ്പോൾ യോജ്യമായ ആഹാരം ലഭിക്കാതിരുന്നാൽ വിഷാദിക്കരുത്; സമൃദ്ധമായ ആഹാരം ലഭിച്ചാൽ അതിയായി ആഹ്ലാദിക്കയും അരുത്. ധൈര്യത്തോടെ രണ്ടും ഭഗവാന്റെ അധീനമാണെന്ന് അറിയണം।
Because we desire to enjoy the material body, the varieties of material experience bring us flickering happiness and inevitable suffering. We foolishly consider ourselves to be controllers and doers, and thus through false egotism we are subjected to the volatile feelings of the material body and mind.
FAQs
This verse teaches not to grieve when food is not obtained and not to become excited when it is obtained—both outcomes should be seen as under the Lord’s providence, and the devotee remains steady.
In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on renunciation and inner steadiness, showing how a spiritually focused person should live without being shaken by external circumstances.
Do your duty sincerely, but don’t let outcomes control your mind—when results are unfavorable, avoid despair; when favorable, avoid pride. Maintain steady effort and trust in divine arrangement.