Shloka 39
प्राणवृत्त्यैव सन्तुष्येन्मुनिर्नैवेन्द्रियप्रियै: । ज्ञानं यथा न नश्येत नावकीर्येत वाङ्मन: ॥ ३९ ॥
prāṇa-vṛttyaiva santuṣyen munir naivendriya-priyaiḥ jñānaṁ yathā na naśyeta nāvakīryeta vāṅ-manaḥ
മുനി ജീവൻ നിലനിർത്താൻ വേണ്ടതിൽ മാത്രം തൃപ്തനാകണം; ഇന്ദ്രിയസുഖങ്ങളിൽ തൃപ്തി തേടരുത്. ശരീരപരിപാലനം ജ്ഞാനം നശിക്കാതെയും വാക്കും മനസ്സും ആത്മസാക്ഷാത്കാരത്തിൽ നിന്ന് വഴുതാതെയും ഇരിക്കേണ്ടതാണ്.
A wise man does not absorb his consciousness in the forms, flavors, aromas and sensations of material sense gratification, but rather accepts activities such as eating and sleeping simply to keep body and soul together. One must properly maintain one’s body by regulated activities of eating, sleeping, cleansing, etc., otherwise the mind will become weak, and one’s spiritual knowledge will fade away. If one eats too austerely, or if in the name of selflessness one accepts impure food, surely one loses control of the mind. On the other hand, if one eats food that is excessively fatty or rich there will be an unwanted increase in sleep and semen, and thus the mind and speech will be overwhelmed by the modes of passion and ignorance. Lord Kṛṣṇa has summarized the whole matter in Bhagavad-gītā by His statement yuktāhāra-vihārasya yukta-ceṣṭasya karmasu. One should moderately and intelligently regulate all of one’s bodily activities so that they are favorable for self-realization. This technique is taught by the bona fide spiritual master. If one is too austere or if one engages too much in sense gratification, self-realization is impossible.
FAQs
This verse teaches that a muni should be content with only what maintains life (prāṇa-vṛtti) and should not pursue sense pleasures, because such contentment safeguards one’s realized knowledge.
King Yadu approached the Avadhūta to learn the secret of his inner freedom; the Avadhūta explains that restraint and simplicity prevent the mind and speech from becoming scattered, preserving spiritual realization.
Live simply, reduce indulgent consumption, and structure habits so the mind and speech stay focused—protecting clarity, study, and devotional practice from constant distraction.