Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 5
Brahmacarya and Vānaprastha Duties; Gradual Dissolution of Bodily Identity
सायं प्रातश्चरेद्भैक्ष्यं गुरवे तन्निवेदयेत् । भुञ्जीत यद्यनुज्ञातो नो चेदुपवसेत् क्वचित् ॥ ५ ॥
sāyaṁ prātaś cared bhaikṣyaṁ gurave tan nivedayet bhuñjīta yady anujñāto no ced upavaset kvacit
O brahmacārī deve sair de manhã e à tarde para recolher esmolas e oferecer tudo ao mestre espiritual. Só deve comer se o guru ordenar; caso contrário, às vezes terá de jejuar.
FAQs
This verse instructs that a brahmacārī should beg alms morning and evening, offer everything to the guru, and eat only with the guru’s permission—otherwise he should sometimes fast.
In Canto 7 Chapter 12, Śukadeva teaches varṇāśrama duties; offering the collected alms to the guru trains humility, detachment, and obedience—foundations for spiritual realization and bhakti.
Practice humility and discipline: earn or receive resources honestly, dedicate the results to God and one’s spiritual guidance, avoid sense-driven eating habits, and accept occasional voluntary restraint (like mindful fasting) to strengthen self-control.