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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 7

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

वन्यैश्चरुपुरोडाशैर्निर्वपेत् कालचोदितान् । न तु श्रौतेन पशुना मां यजेत वनाश्रमी ॥ ७ ॥

vanyaiś caru-puroḍāśair nirvapet kāla-coditān na tu śrautena paśunā māṁ yajeta vanāśramī

വനാശ്രമിയായ വാനപ്രസ്ഥൻ കാലാനുസൃതമായി വനത്തിൽ ലഭിക്കുന്ന ധാന്യങ്ങളിൽ നിന്ന് ചരുവും പുരോഡാശവും മുതലായ ഹവിസ്സുകൾ അർപ്പിച്ച് ঋതുയാഗങ്ങൾ നടത്തണം. എന്നാൽ വേദങ്ങളിൽ പറഞ്ഞിട്ടുണ്ടെങ്കിലും ശ്രൗത പശുയാഗംകൊണ്ട് എന്നെ ഒരിക്കലും യജിക്കരുത്.

वन्यैःwith forest produce
वन्यैः:
करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootवन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; ‘with forest(-obtained items)’
चरु-पुरोडाशैःwith caru and puroḍāśa offerings
चरु-पुरोडाशैः:
करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootचरु + पुरोडाश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; द्वन्द्व: ‘with caru and puroḍāśa offerings’
निर्वपेत्should offer
निर्वपेत्:
क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootनिर् + वप् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘should offer/perform oblation’
काल-चोदितान्as enjoined by time
काल-चोदितान्:
कर्म (Karma/Object qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootकाल + चोदित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from √चुद्/चोद्)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; Accusative plural; तत्पुरुष: ‘prompted/required by time (seasonal rule)’
not
:
सम्बन्धसूचक (Negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; negation particle (निषेध)
तुbut
तु:
सम्बन्धसूचक (Contrast)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; adversative particle (विरोध/विशेष)
श्रौतेनwith śrauta (Vedic)
श्रौतेन:
करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रौत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; Instrumental singular; ‘with Vedic (śrauta)’
पशुनाby means of an animal (sacrifice)
पशुना:
करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootपशु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; Instrumental singular
माम्me
माम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formउत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular
यजेतshould worship
यजेत:
क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootयज् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘should worship/sacrifice’
वन-आश्रमीa forest-dwelling hermit
वन-आश्रमी:
कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootवन + आश्रमिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘one whose āśrama is in the forest’ (forest-dweller)

One who has taken the vānaprastha order of life should never perform animal sacrifices or eat meat.

K
Kṛṣṇa
U
Uddhava

FAQs

It says the forest-dweller should worship the Lord with simple offerings made from wild, naturally available foods at the prescribed times, rather than elaborate rituals.

Because the forest āśrama emphasizes austerity, non-violence, and simplicity; therefore worship should be performed with minimal means and without animal sacrifice.

Practice simple, sattvic devotion—offer what is honestly available, keep worship non-violent and uncomplicated, and align spiritual practice with one’s stage of life and capacity.