Shloka 20
Brahmā’s Instruction on Brahmacarya, Vānaprastha, and the Aliṅga Path
Ethics of Non-attachment
वृत्ते शरावसम्पाते भैक्ष्यं लिप्सेत मोक्षवित् । बिना याचना किये
vṛtte śarāvasampāte bhaikṣyaṁ lipseta mokṣavit | labhena ca na hṛṣyet nālābhe vimanā bhavet | na cātikabhaikṣāṁ bhikṣet kevalaṁ prāṇayātrikaḥ ||
वृत्ते शरावसम्पाते भैक्ष्यं लिप्सेत मोक्षवित्। अयाचितमसंक्लृप्तं दैवोपपन्नमेव च॥ प्रातःकृत्यं समाप्यैव यदा धूमो निवर्तते। भुक्त्वा च गृहिणः सर्वे धौतपात्रे निवेशिते॥ लाभेन न हृष्येत् कश्चिन्नालाभे विमना भवेत्। न चातिकं भैक्ष्यमादद्याद्यावन्मात्रं प्राणयात्रिकम्॥
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches disciplined mendicancy grounded in detachment: seek alms at the proper time without manipulation, remain even-minded in gain or loss, and take only what is necessary for sustaining life—rejecting greed and accumulation.
Vāyudeva is instructing on mokṣa-dharma, outlining the ethical code for a renunciant: when to approach households for alms and the inner attitude to maintain—calm acceptance, restraint, and non-possessiveness.