Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 2

Avadhūta’s Teachers: Python, Ocean, Moth, Bee, Elephant, Deer, Fish—and Piṅgalā’s Song of Detachment

Devanagari script

ग्रासं सुमृष्टं विरसं महान्तं स्तोकमेव वा । यद‍ृच्छयैवापतितं ग्रसेदाजगरोऽक्रिय: ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

grāsaṁ su-mṛṣṭaṁ virasaṁ mahāntaṁ stokam eva vā yadṛcchayaivāpatitaṁ grased ājagaro ’kriyaḥ

Translation

Seguindo o exemplo da píton, deve-se abandonar os esforços materiais e aceitar, para a manutenção do corpo, o alimento que chega por si mesmo, seja saboroso ou insosso, abundante ou escasso.

Synonyms

• ग्रासम्: a morsel (of food)
• ग्रासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सु-मृष्टम्: well-cleaned/polished (well-prepared)
• सु-मृष्टम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + मृष्ट (मृज् धातु → मृष्ट, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: अव्ययीभाव (सु- उपसर्ग/अव्यय + मृष्ट); भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ग्रासम् इति विशेषण

• विरसम्: tasteless
• विरसम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (विगतः रसः यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ग्रासम् इति विशेषण

• महान्तम्: large
• महान्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ग्रासम् इति विशेषण

• स्तोकम्: small, little
• स्तोकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ग्रासम् इति विशेषण (alternative)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphasis particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प (disjunctive particle)

• यदृच्छया: by chance, spontaneously
• यदृच्छया: Hetu/Instrument (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदृच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन; अव्ययार्थे (adverbial use)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण

• आपतितम्: that has come (to one), obtained
• आपतितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-पत् (धातु) → आपतित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ग्रासम् इति विशेषण

• ग्रसेत्: should swallow/eat
• ग्रसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आजगरः: a python
• आजगरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आजगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अक्रियः: inactive, without exertion
• अक्रियः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-क्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; आजगरः इति विशेषण

Characters & Entities

• Avadhūta (Dattātreya)
• King Yadu

FAQs

What is ajagara-vṛtti (the python-like lifestyle) in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

In this verse, ajagara-vṛtti means not anxiously striving for food or comfort, but accepting whatever comes naturally—whether good or bad—while remaining peaceful and free from fruitive agitation.

Why does the Bhagavatam describe a saint as 'inactive' (akriyaḥ) here?

Because the teaching emphasizes freedom from compulsive material endeavor and anxiety; the sage maintains inner spiritual activity (remembrance and realization) while avoiding restless, desire-driven action.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life without becoming irresponsible?

Practice contentment and reduce unnecessary craving: do your essential duties calmly, but stop obsessing over outcomes; accept gains and losses with steadiness and keep spiritual priorities—bhakti, japa, and sādhana—at the center.