Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 8

Vānaprastha-vidhi and Sannyāsa-dharma: Austerity, Detachment, and the Paramahaṁsa Ideal

Devanagari script

अग्निहोत्रं च दर्शश्च पौर्णमासश्च पूर्ववत् । चातुर्मास्यानि च मुनेराम्नातानि च नैगमै: ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

agnihotraṁ ca darśaś ca paurṇamāsaś ca pūrva-vat cāturmāsyāni ca muner āmnātāni ca naigamaiḥ

Translation

Ванапрастха должен совершать агнихотру, даршу и паурнамасу так же, как делал это в грихастха-ашраме. Также ему следует исполнять обеты и жертвоприношения чатурмасьи, ибо все эти обряды предписаны для ванапрастха-ашрама знатоками Вед.

Synonyms

• अग्निहोत्रम्: Agnihotra rite
• अग्निहोत्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निहोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्धसूचक (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• दर्शः: new-moon rite (Darśa)
• दर्शः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular (as ritual name)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्धसूचक (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• पौर्णमासः: full-moon rite (Paurṇamāsa)
• पौर्णमासः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर्णमास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular (as ritual name)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्धसूचक (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (पूर्ववत् = ‘as before/according to former rule’)

• चातुर्मास्यानि: Cāturmāsya rites
• चातुर्मास्यानि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चातुर्मास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; Accusative plural; seasonal four-month rites

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्धसूचक (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• मुनेः: of the sage
• मुनेः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• आम्नातानि: traditionally enjoined/handed down
• आम्नातानि: कर्म (Karma/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + म्ना/म्नै (धातु) → आम्नात (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; Accusative plural; past participle: ‘handed down/recited (in tradition)’

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्धसूचक (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• नैगमैः: by Vedic texts/authorities
• नैगमैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; ‘by Vedic authorities/texts’

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura has given a detailed explanation of the four rituals mentioned here, namely agnihotra, darśa, paurṇamāsa and cāturmāsya. The conclusion is that everyone should simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare and avoid the difficult entanglement of Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. If one neither chants Hare Kṛṣṇa nor performs such rituals, one certainly becomes a pāṣaṇḍī, an atheistic fool.

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Agnihotra and the new-moon/full-moon sacrifices?

This verse states that agnihotra, darśa (new-moon) and paurṇamāsa (full-moon) rites should be performed in the traditional way, following Vedic injunctions.

Why did Krishna speak about Vedic rituals to Uddhava in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on varṇāśrama-dharma—how prescribed duties and observances are to be followed according to Vedic tradition.

Practical application of Cāturmāsya and disciplined observances in modern life?

Adopt seasonal vows that increase purity and devotion—simplifying habits, regulating diet and conduct, and dedicating time to sādhana—while keeping the spirit of Vedic discipline and remembrance of the Lord.