Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 2

Paramahaṁsa-Dharma: The Avadhūta-like Sannyāsī and Prahlāda’s Dialogue with the ‘Python’ Saint

Devanagari script

बिभृयाद् यद्यसौ वास: कौपीनाच्छादनं परम् । त्यक्तं न लिङ्गाद् दण्डादेरन्यत् किञ्चिदनापदि ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

bibhṛyād yady asau vāsaḥ kaupīnācchādanaṁ param tyaktaṁ na liṅgād daṇḍāder anyat kiñcid anāpadi

Translation

สันยาสีควรหลีกเลี่ยงแม้แต่การนุ่งห่มปกปิดกาย; หากจำเป็นต้องสวมใส่ ก็ให้มีเพียงผ้าคาดเอว (เกาปีนะ) เท่านั้น เมื่อไม่จำเป็นก็ไม่ควรรับแม้แต่ไม้เท้า (ทัณฑะ) และเครื่องหมายอื่น ๆ; นอกจากทัณฑะและหม้อน้ำ (กมณฑลุ) ไม่ควรพกสิ่งใด

Synonyms

• बिभृयात्: should wear/bear
• बिभृयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; धातुः भृ—धारणे

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्ययम्; शर्तार्थक (conditional)

• असौ: that (person), he
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचनम्

• वासः: garment, clothing
• वासः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचनम्

• कौपीन-अच्छादनम्: a loincloth-covering
• कौपीन-अच्छादनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौपीन (प्रातिपदिक) + अच्छादन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative); नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचनम्

• परम्: only, mere, supreme (here: only)
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying)

• त्यक्तम्: abandoned, given up
• त्यक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यज् (धातु) → त्यक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचनम्; ‘त्यक्तम्’ = ‘abandoned’

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम् (negation particle)

• लिङ्गात्: from the insignia/marks (of an ascetic)
• लिङ्गात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी (5th case/ablative), एकवचनम्

• दण्ड-आदेः: of the staff and the like
• दण्ड-आदेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘of staff etc.’); पुल्लिङ्गः, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचनम्

• अन्यत्: anything else
• अन्यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचनम्

• किञ्चित्: something, anything
• किञ्चित्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अनिश्चित-प्रत्ययान्त (indefinite); नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचनम्

• अनापदि: when there is no emergency
• अनापदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनापद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; ‘आपदि’ (सप्तमी) उपपद-आधारितम्; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः = ‘in non-emergency’

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about keeping possessions for a renunciant?

This verse teaches radical simplicity: a renunciant should keep only the bare minimum (even just a loincloth) and avoid acquiring anything beyond the essential signs of the order, except in emergencies.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize a loincloth and the staff in Canto 7 Chapter 13?

He is defining the conduct of an advanced renunciant—showing that external markers like a staff may remain as signs of the order, but attachment to additional items contradicts the goal of complete detachment.

How can I apply this teaching of detachment in modern life?

Keep only what supports your dharma and devotional practice, reduce nonessential accumulation, and treat conveniences as optional—using them only when truly needed.