Canto 11: General HistoryChapter 17: Lord Kṛṣṇa's Description of the Varṇāśrama System

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.17.24

snāna-bhojana-homeṣu

japoccāre ca vāg-yataḥ

na cchindyān nakha-romāṇi

kakṣopastha-gatāny api

SYNONYMS

snāna — while bathing; bhojana — while eating; homeṣu — and while attending sacrificial performances; japa — while chanting mantras to oneself; uccāre — while passing stool or urine; ca — also; vāk-yataḥ — remaining silent; na — not; chindyāt — should cut; nakha — the nails; romāṇi — or hairs; kakṣain the armpits; upastha — pubic; gatāni — including; api — even.

TRANSLATION

A brahmacārī should always remain silent while bathing, eating, attending sacrificial performances, chanting japa or passing stool and urine. He should not cut his nails and hair, including the armpit and pubic hair.

PURPORT

Nārada Muni gives a similar technical description of Vedic brahmacārī life in Canto Seven, Chapter Twelve of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
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