Shloka 36
Brahmā’s Instruction on Brahmacarya, Vānaprastha, and the Aliṅga Path
Ethics of Non-attachment
मृदमापस्तथाजन्नानि पत्रपुष्पफलानि च | असंवृतानि गृह्नीयात् प्रवृत्तानि च कार्यवान्
mṛdam āpas tathā annāni patra-puṣpa-phalāni ca | asaṃvṛtāni gṛhṇīyāt pravṛttāni ca kāryavān ||
风神（Vāyu）说道：“土（泥）、水、食物，以及叶、花、果——若这些不在任何人受护持的占有之下，则为履行必要之事而行的出家行者，在需要时可以取用。此乃随需而行的许可，不违背法（dharma）。”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a dharmic boundary for renunciants: taking basic natural necessities (clay, water, food, leaves, flowers, fruits) is allowable when they are unguarded/not secured as someone’s protected property, and when genuine need or duty requires it—so that survival and necessary action do not become adharma.
Vāyu is instructing about proper conduct, clarifying when a duty-bound ascetic may use readily available natural items. The statement functions as an ethical guideline distinguishing permissible use from theft, especially in situations of need.