Shloka 19
Brahmā’s Instruction on Brahmacarya, Vānaprastha, and the Aliṅga Path
Ethics of Non-attachment
अयाचितमसंक्लृप्तमुपपन्नं यदृच्छया । कृत्वा प्राह्ने चरेद् भैक्ष्यं विधूमे भुक्तवज्जने
ayācitam asaṅklṛptam upapannaṃ yadṛcchayā | kṛtvā prāhne cared bhaikṣyaṃ vidhūme bhuktavajjane ||
Vāyu bersabda: “Biarlah dia menerima hanya apa yang tidak diminta, tidak direka-reka, dan datang dengan sendirinya oleh kebetulan. Setelah menunaikan kewajipannya, pada waktu tengah hari hendaklah dia keluar mengutip sedekah makanan, dan hendaklah dia makan di kalangan orang yang telah selesai makan—mengambil makanan yang ‘tanpa asap’, yakni tidak dimasak khusus untuknya.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches disciplined renunciation: one should live on unsolicited, unarranged food that comes naturally, avoiding dependence and manipulation. By taking alms at a fixed time (midday) and eating what is not specially cooked for him, the seeker minimizes burden on householders and curbs greed and entitlement.
Vāyudeva is instructing a code of conduct consistent with ascetic or dharma-oriented living, describing how one should obtain and consume food: after completing one’s duties, go for alms at midday and accept only what is freely available without special preparation.