Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

बहिर्जलाशयं गत्वा तत्रोपस्पृश्य वाग्यत: । विभज्य पावितं शेषं भुञ्जीताशेषमाहृतम् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

bahir jalāśayaṁ gatvā tatropaspṛśya vāg-yataḥ vibhajya pāvitaṁ śeṣaṁ bhuñjītāśeṣam āhṛtam

Translation

เมื่อได้อาหารจากการขอทานแล้ว ให้ละจากชุมชนไปยังแหล่งน้ำอันสงัด ที่นั่นให้ชำระกายและล้างมือให้สะอาด โดยรักษาความเงียบ แล้วแบ่งส่วนให้ผู้ที่มาขอ จากนั้นชำระส่วนที่เหลือให้บริสุทธิ์ และฉันให้หมด ไม่เก็บไว้เพื่อภายหน้า

Synonyms

• bahiḥ: outside
• bahiḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahis (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• jalāśayam: a water-reservoir (pond/lake)
• jalāśayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jalāśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (singular); समास: जलस्य आशयः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, ल्यबन्त), ‘having gone’

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• upaspṛśya: having performed ablution/touched water
• upaspṛśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa√spṛś (उप + स्पृश् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त), ‘having touched/washed (sipping/ablution)’

• vāk-yataḥ: restrained in speech
• vāk-yataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāk + yata (वाच् प्रातिपदिक + यत प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; समास: वाचा यतः इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुष; meaning ‘restrained in speech’

• vibhajya: having divided
• vibhajya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√bhaj (वि + भज् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त), ‘having divided/apportioned’

• pāvitam: purified
• pāvitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāvita (पू धातु > पावित, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally: ‘purified’

• śeṣam: the remainder
• śeṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• bhuñjīta: he should eat
• bhuñjīta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (भुज् धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• aśeṣam: entire, without remainder
• aśeṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; adjective qualifying āhṛtam

• āhṛtam: brought (food)
• āhṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā√hṛ (आ + हृ धातु) > āhṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; past passive participle (क्त): ‘brought/collected’

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains that a saintly person should not argue or quarrel with materialistic persons who may request or demand part of his foodstuff. The word vibhajya indicates that one should give something to such persons to avoid disturbance, and then, offering the remnants to Lord Viṣṇu, one should eat everything on one’s plate, without saving food for the future. The word bahiḥ indicates that one should not eat in a public place, and vāg-yata indicates that one should eat silently, meditating upon the Lord’s mercy.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about purity and restraint for a renunciant?

This verse instructs a renunciant to purify himself at a water source, restrain speech, and accept food without waste—showing cleanliness, discipline, and simplicity.

Why does Krishna tell Uddhava to restrain speech (vāg-yama)?

In the Uddhava-gītā context, Krishna teaches that controlling speech supports inner steadiness, reduces distraction, and strengthens renunciation and devotion.

How can this teaching be applied in modern devotional life?

Maintain daily cleanliness, practice mindful or minimal speech, honor sanctified food (prasāda) without waste, and cultivate gratitude and simplicity.