Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 13

Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Varṇāśrama’s Purpose, Ritualism’s Fall, and Yuga-Avatāras with Kali-yuga Saṅkīrtana

Devanagari script

यद् घ्राणभक्षो विहित: सुराया- स्तथा पशोरालभनं न हिंसा । एवं व्यवाय: प्रजया न रत्या इमं विशुद्धं न विदु: स्वधर्मम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

yad ghrāṇa-bhakṣo vihitaḥ surāyās tathā paśor ālabhanaṁ na hiṁsā evaṁ vyavāyaḥ prajayā na ratyā imaṁ viśuddhaṁ na viduḥ sva-dharmam

Translation

ตามบัญญัติพระเวท สุราที่ถวายในพิธีบูชายัญภายหลังให้รับเพียงด้วยการดมกลิ่น มิใช่ดื่ม และการถวายสัตว์ในยัญก็อนุญาต แต่ไม่มีข้อบัญญัติให้ฆ่าสัตว์อย่างกว้างขวาง เพศสัมพันธ์ก็อนุญาตในชีวิตสมรสเพื่อให้มีบุตร มิใช่เพื่อเสพกาม ทว่าเหล่าผู้ปัญญาน้อยไม่เข้าใจหน้าที่อันบริสุทธิ์นี้

Synonyms

• yat: that which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; relative pronoun introducing clause

• ghrāṇa-bhakṣaḥ: sniffing (as intake)
• ghrāṇa-bhakṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghrāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; compound: घ्राणस्य भक्षः (sniffing/olfactory intake)

• vihitaḥ: is prescribed
• vihitaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi√dhā (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate with ghrāṇa-bhakṣaḥ

• surāyāḥ: of liquor
• surāyāḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: surā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• tathā: similarly
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/conjunction (तुल्यताबोधक)

• paśoḥ: of an animal
• paśoḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• ālabhanam: slaughtering/immolation (taking for sacrifice)
• ālabhanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ā√labh (धातु) + lyuṭ (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; action noun (भाववाचक)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• hiṁsā: violence
• hiṁsā: Pradhāna-vākya-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hiṁsā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate noun

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• vyavāyaḥ: sexual intercourse
• vyavāyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyavāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• prajayā: by/for progeny
• prajayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• ratyā: by lust/pleasure
• ratyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• imam: this
• imam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying sva-dharmam

• viśuddham: pure
• viśuddham: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying sva-dharmam

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• viduḥ: they know
• viduḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• sva-dharmam: one’s own duty
• sva-dharmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; compound: स्वस्य धर्मः

Purport

Madhvācārya has given the following statement in regard to animal sacrifice:

Characters & Entities

• Karabhajana Rishi
• King Nimi

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about sex for pleasure vs. sex for procreation?

This verse states that sexual union (vyavāya) is meant to be regulated for producing children (prajā), not pursued merely for sensual enjoyment (rati).

Why does the Bhagavatam mention liquor and animal sacrifice in a discussion of dharma?

It uses them as examples of regulated concessions: liquor is restricted for the addicted, and sacrificial animal offering is framed as ritual regulation rather than ordinary violence—illustrating that dharma purifies by control, not indulgence.

Practical application: how can I follow this teaching in modern life?

Adopt conscious regulation: avoid intoxication, reject cruelty, and treat sexuality responsibly—guided by duty, self-control, and spiritual purpose rather than impulse.