Shloka 34
Brahmā’s Instruction on Brahmacarya, Vānaprastha, and the Aliṅga Path
Ethics of Non-attachment
परेभ्यो न प्रतिग्राह्मूं न च देयं कदाचन । दैन्यभावाच्च भूतानां संविभज्य सदा बुध:
parebhyo na pratigrāhyaṃ na ca deyaṃ kadācana | dainyabhāvāc ca bhūtānāṃ saṃvibhajya sadā budhaḥ ||
वायुरुवाच—परेभ्यो न प्रतिगृह्णीयान्न च देयं कदाचन। दैन्यभावाच्च भूतानां संविभज्य सदा बुधः॥
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches disciplined non-attachment for a renunciant: do not cultivate dependence through accepting gifts, and do not cultivate ego or desire through deliberate giving. Instead, maintain compassion by sharing what one has in a simple, need-based way (saṃvibhajya), especially toward beings in distress.
Vāyudeva is instructing on the conduct of a wise ascetic/renunciant. The focus is not on ritual or warfare but on inner discipline—how one should relate to wealth, alms, and charity while remaining compassionate and detached.