Practicing Vanaprastha Life

2009-02-20
Srimad Bhagavatam 07.12.17-24 - Practicing Vanaprastha Life (download mp3)
by HG Vrishabhanu Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty.
www.iskcondesiretree.net




SB 7.12.17
vanaprasthasya vaksyami
niyaman muni-sammatan
yan asthaya munir gacched
rsi-lokam uhaƱjasa

Translation:
O King, I shall now describe the qualifications for a vanaprastha, one who has retired from family life. By rigidly following the rules and regulations for the vanaprastha, one can easily be elevated to the upper planetary system known as Maharloka.


SB 7.12.18
na krsta-pacyam asniyad
akrstam capy akalatah
agni-pakvam athamam va
arka-pakvam utaharet

Translation:
A person in vanaprastha life should not eat grains grown by tilling of the fields. He should also not eat grains that have grown without tilling of the field but are not fully ripe. Nor should a vanaprastha eat grains cooked in fire. Indeed, he should eat only fruit ripened by the sunshine.


SB 7.12.19
vanyais caru-purodasan
nirvapet kala-coditan
labdhe nave nave 'nnadye
puranam ca parityajet

Translation:
A vanaprastha should prepare cakes to be offered in sacrifice from fruits and grains grown naturally in the forest. When he obtains some new grains, he should give up his old stock of grains.


SB 7.12.20
agny-artham eva saranam
utajam vadri-kandaram
srayeta hima-vayv-agni-
varsarkatapa-sat svayam

Translation:
A vanaprastha should prepare a thatched cottage or take shelter of a cave in a mountain only to keep the sacred fire, but he should personally practice enduring snowfall, wind, fire, rain and the shining of the sun.

SB 7.12.21
kesa-roma-nakha-smasru-
malani jatilo dadhat
kamandalv-ajine danda-
valkalagni-paricchadan

Translation:
The vanaprastha should wear matted locks of hair on his head and let his body hair, nails and moustache grow. He should not cleanse his body of dirt. He should keep a waterpot, deerskin and rod, wear the bark of a tree as a covering, and use garments colored like fire.


SB 7.12.22
cared vane dvadasabdan
astau va caturo munih
dvav ekam va yatha buddhir
na vipadyeta krcchratah

Translation:
Being very thoughtful, a vanaprastha should remain in the forest for twelve years, eight years, four years, two years or at least one year. He should behave in such a way that he will not be disturbed or troubled by too much austerity.

SB 7.12.23
yadakalpah sva-kriyayam
vyadhibhir jarayathava
anviksikyam va vidyayam
kuryad anasanadikam

Translation:
When because of disease or old age one is unable to perform his prescribed duties for advancement in spiritual consciousness or study of the Vedas, he should practice fasting, not taking any food.


SB 7.12.24
atmany agnin samaropya
sannyasyaham mamatmatam
karanesu nyaset samyak
sanghatam tu yatharhatah

Translation:
He should properly place the fire element in his own self and in this way give up bodily affinity, by which one thinks the body to be one's self or one's own. One should gradually merge the material body into the five elements [earth, water, fire, air and sky].

Purport:
The body is an effect of a cause, namely the five material elements (earth, water, fire, air and sky). In other words, one should know perfectly well that the material body is nothing but a combination of the five elements. This knowledge constitutes merging of the material body and the five material elements. Merging into Brahman in perfect knowledge means understanding perfectly that one is not the body but a spiritual soul.