Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 17
Vānaprastha-vidhi and Sannyāsa-dharma: Austerity, Detachment, and the Paramahaṁsa Ideal
मौनानीहानिलायामा दण्डा वाग्देहचेतसाम् । न ह्येते यस्य सन्त्यङ्ग वेणुभिर्न भवेद् यति: ॥ १७ ॥
maunānīhānilāyāmā daṇḍā vāg-deha-cetasām na hy ete yasya santy aṅga veṇubhir na bhaved yatiḥ
มೌนะ (ละวาจาไร้สาระ), อนีหา (ละกิจกรรมไร้สาระ) และปราณายาม—นี่คือทัณฑะภายในของวาจา กาย และจิต. ผู้ใดไม่มีสิ่งเหล่านี้ ย่อมไม่เป็นยติ (สันนยาสี) เพียงเพราะถือไม้ไผ่เป็นท่อนๆ
The word daṇḍa indicates the staff carried by those in the renounced order of life, and daṇḍa also indicates severe discipline. The Vaiṣṇava sannyāsīs accept a staff made of three bamboo rods, signifying dedication of the body, mind and words to the service of the Supreme Lord. Here Lord Kṛṣṇa says that one must first accept these three daṇḍas, or disciplines (namely control of the voice, body and mind), within oneself. The practice of anilāyāma (or prāṇāyāma, regulating the life air) is meant to control the mind, and one who always thinks of service to Lord Kṛṣṇa has certainly achieved the perfection of prāṇāyāma. Merely carrying the three external daṇḍas without assimilating the internal daṇḍas of bodily, mental and vocal discipline can never make one an actual Vaiṣṇava sannyāsī, as explained here by Lord Kṛṣṇa.
FAQs
This verse says real renunciation is defined by inner discipline—silence, freedom from restless striving, prāṇa-control, and restraint of speech, body, and mind—not merely by carrying external bamboo staffs.
In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on renounced life and the paramahaṁsa standard, emphasizing inner transformation over outward appearance.
Practice measured speech, reduce unnecessary busyness, cultivate steady breath and attention, and align body and mind with spiritual purpose—so that simplicity and restraint become internal, not just a lifestyle label.