Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

नैतद् वस्तुतया पश्येद् द‍ृश्यमानं विनश्यति । असक्तचित्तो विरमेदिहामुत्र चिकीर्षितात् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

naitad vastutayā paśyed dṛśyamānaṁ vinaśyati asakta-citto viramed ihāmutra-cikīrṣitāt

Translation

Chớ xem những vật chất hiển nhiên sẽ hoại diệt là thực tại tối hậu. Với tâm thức không chấp trước, hãy rút lui khỏi mọi hoạt động nhằm tiến bộ vật chất trong đời này và đời sau.

Synonyms

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (particle of negation)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• वस्तुतया: as real(ity)
• वस्तुतया: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्तुतया (प्रातिपदिक: वस्तुता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; adverbial-instrumental: ‘as reality/in reality’

• पश्येत्: should see/regard
• पश्येत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दृश्यमानम्: being seen/appearing
• दृश्यमानम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of object
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying ‘एतत्’

• विनश्यति: perishes
• विनश्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• असक्त: unattached
• असक्त: Viśeṣaṇa within compound
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; compound-member (stem form)

• चित्तः: one with unattached mind
• चित्तः: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of ‘विरमेत्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: असक्त-चित्तः = ‘one whose mind is unattached’

• विरमेत्: should desist/withdraw
• विरमेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + रम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (adverb of place)

• अमुत्र: there (in the other world)
• अमुत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अमुत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देश/परलोकवाचक (adverb: ‘there/thereafter’)

• चिकीर्षितात्: from (all) intended undertakings
• चिकीर्षितात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिकीर्षित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; desiderative-based past passive participle from √कृ (चिकीर्षति ‘wishes to do’) used as noun: ‘from intended action’

Purport

One may doubt how a gentleman can retire from family life and live as a beggar, eating meager foodstuffs. The Lord here responds by stating that sumptuous or palatable foods — along with all other material objects, such as the body itself — should never be seen as ultimate reality, since they are obviously perishable items. One should retire from material programs destined to enhance the quality of one’s illusion both in this life and the next.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the world being temporary?

This verse states that what is merely seen is subject to destruction; therefore it should not be treated as ultimate reality.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in the Uddhava Gita?

Kṛṣṇa was guiding Uddhava toward liberation by teaching him to give up attachment and cease fruitive striving aimed at enjoyment in this world or the next.

How can I apply detachment (vairagya) in modern life according to this shloka?

Recognize the impermanence of possessions and outcomes, reduce obsession with results, and act without attachment—prioritizing spiritual purpose over worldly gain.