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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 12

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

यदा कर्मविपाकेषु लोकेषु निरयात्मसु । विरागो जायते सम्यङ् न्यस्ताग्नि: प्रव्रजेत्तत: ॥ १२ ॥

yadā karma-vipākeṣu lokeṣu nirayātmasu virāgo jāyate samyaṅ nyastāgniḥ pravrajet tataḥ

若林栖者了知由业果成熟而得之诸界——乃至梵天界——亦如地狱般苦恼,从而对一切行事之果生起圆满离贪,则可舍弃祭火而出家游行,即受持僧伽(sannyāsa)之道。

यदाwhen
यदा:
Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयदा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; कालवाचक (when)
कर्म-विपाकेषुin the results of karma
कर्म-विपाकेषु:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विपाक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; अधिकरण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कर्मणां विपाकाः)
लोकेषुin worlds
लोकेषु:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootलोक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; अधिकरण
निरय-आत्मसुhellish in nature
निरय-आत्मसु:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootनिरय (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; विशेषण (लोकेषु विशेषयति); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (निरयः आत्मा/स्वभावः येषां = ‘hellish in nature’)
विरागःdispassion
विरागः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविराग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
जायतेarises
जायते:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootजन् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन
सम्यक्properly, fully
सम्यक्:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसम्यक् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (properly, completely)
न्यस्त-अग्निःone who has given up the sacred fires
न्यस्त-अग्निः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootन्यस्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृपद; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (न्यस्ताः अग्नयः येन = ‘one who has laid aside the fires’)
प्रव्रजेत्should renounce/go forth
प्रव्रजेत्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-√व्रज् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘should go forth/renounce’
ततःthen
ततः:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक/हेत्वर्थक (then/thereupon)
K
Kṛṣṇa
U
Uddhava

FAQs

It says that when genuine detachment arises from seeing the painful, hell-like outcomes of fruitive karma, one should give up ritual household obligations (nyastāgni) and take up renunciation (pravrajyā).

In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa teaches Uddhava the progressive path of dharma and liberation, including when renunciation is appropriate—after real detachment from karma’s results has awakened.

Cultivate clear insight into the limitations and suffering inherent in karma-driven goals, reduce dependence on results, and prioritize spiritual practice and devotion—living with inner renunciation even while maintaining responsibilities.