Shloka 20
Brahmā’s Instruction on Brahmacarya, Vānaprastha, and the Aliṅga Path
Ethics of Non-attachment
वृत्ते शरावसम्पाते भैक्ष्यं लिप्सेत मोक्षवित् । बिना याचना किये
vṛtte śarāvasampāte bhaikṣyaṁ lipseta mokṣavit | labhena ca na hṛṣyet nālābhe vimanā bhavet | na cātikabhaikṣāṁ bhikṣet kevalaṁ prāṇayātrikaḥ ||
风神伐由说道：“通达解脱之人，当在时机成熟时方求乞食——不哀求，不筹算，随命运所赐之食而知足。清晨诸行既毕，唯待居家之人灶火已息、炊烟已断，家人皆已用餐，器皿洗净收好，然后方可出行乞。得施则不喜形于色，不得施亦不自沮丧。不可因贪而聚敛过多，只取足以维系生命旅程之量。”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches disciplined mendicancy grounded in detachment: seek alms at the proper time without manipulation, remain even-minded in gain or loss, and take only what is necessary for sustaining life—rejecting greed and accumulation.
Vāyudeva is instructing on mokṣa-dharma, outlining the ethical code for a renunciant: when to approach households for alms and the inner attitude to maintain—calm acceptance, restraint, and non-possessiveness.