Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 12
Vānaprastha-vidhi and Sannyāsa-dharma: Austerity, Detachment, and the Paramahaṁsa Ideal
यदा कर्मविपाकेषु लोकेषु निरयात्मसु । विरागो जायते सम्यङ् न्यस्ताग्नि: प्रव्रजेत्तत: ॥ १२ ॥
yadā karma-vipākeṣu lokeṣu nirayātmasu virāgo jāyate samyaṅ nyastāgniḥ pravrajet tataḥ
Apabila vānaprastha memahami bahawa dunia-dunia hasil pematangan karma—bahkan Brahmaloka—hakikatnya menyedihkan seperti neraka, lalu timbul pelepasan yang sempurna daripada segala hasil perbuatan, maka dia boleh meninggalkan api korban dan menerima kehidupan pengembara; yakni mengambil tatanan sannyāsa.
FAQs
It says that when genuine detachment arises from seeing the painful, hell-like outcomes of fruitive karma, one should give up ritual household obligations (nyastāgni) and take up renunciation (pravrajyā).
In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa teaches Uddhava the progressive path of dharma and liberation, including when renunciation is appropriate—after real detachment from karma’s results has awakened.
Cultivate clear insight into the limitations and suffering inherent in karma-driven goals, reduce dependence on results, and prioritize spiritual practice and devotion—living with inner renunciation even while maintaining responsibilities.