Canto 7: The Science of GodChapter 15: Instructions for Civilized Human Beings

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 7.15.30

yas citta-vijaye yattah

syan nihsango 'parigrahah

eko vivikta-sarano

bhikshur bhaikshya-mitasanah

SYNONYMS

yah -- one who; citta-vijaye -- conquering the mind; yattah -- is engaged; syat -- must be; nihsangah -- without contaminated association; aparigrahah -- without being dependent (on the family); ekah -- alone; vivikta-saranah -- taking shelter of a solitary place; bhikshuh -- a renounced person; bhaikshya -- by begging alms just to maintain the body; mita-asanah -- frugal in eating.

TRANSLATION

One who desires to conquer the mind must leave the company of his family and live in a solitary place, free from contaminated association. To maintain the body and soul together, he should beg as much as he needs for the bare necessities of life.

PURPORT

This is the process for conquering the agitation of the mind. One is recommended to take leave of his family and live alone, maintaining body and soul together by begging alms and eating only as much as needed to keep himself alive. Without such a process, one cannot conquer lusty desires. Sannyasa means accepting a life of begging, which makes one automatically very humble and meek and free from lusty desires. In this regard, the following verse appears in the Smriti literature:

dvandvahatasya garhasthyam

dhyana-bhangadi-karanam

lakshayitva grihi spashtam

sannyased avicarayan

In this world of duality, family life is the cause that spoils one's spiritual life or meditation. Specifically understanding this fact, one should accept the order of sannyasa without hesitation.

<<< >>>

Buy Online Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness