Description of Varnashrama-dharma

Verse 1 (bhagavata.11.18.1)

श्रीभगवानुवाच वनं विविक्षुः पुत्रेषु भार्यां न्यस्य सहैव वा । वन एव वसेच्छान्तस्तृतीयं भागमायुषः ॥ 18.1 ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca vanaṁ vivikṣuḥ putreṣu bhāryāṁ nyasya sahaiva vā vana eva vasec chāntas tṛtīyaṁ bhāgam āyuṣaḥ

Shri Bhagavan said: One who wishes to enter the forest should either leave his wife with their sons or take her with him, and, with a peaceful mind, should dwell in the forest itself for the third portion of his life.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.11.18.2)

कन्दमूलफलैर्वन्यैर्मेध्यैर्वृत्तिं प्रकल्पयेत् । वसीत वल्कलं वासस्तृणपर्णाजिनानि वा ॥ 18.2 ॥

kanda-mūla-phalair vanyair medhyair vṛttiṁ prakalpayet vasīta valkalaṁ vāsas tṛṇa-parṇājināni vā

He should sustain himself on pure forest produce — bulbs, roots and fruits — and clothe himself with bark, grass, leaves or deerskin.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.11.18.3)

केशरोमनखश्मश्रुमलानि बिभृयाद् दतः । न धावेदप्सु मज्जेत त्रिकालं स्थण्डिलेशयः ॥ 18.3 ॥

keśa-roma-nakha-śmaśru- malāni bibhṛyād dataḥ na dhāved apsu majjeta tri kālaṁ sthaṇḍile-śayaḥ

He should let his hair, body-hair, nails and beard grow, should not brush his teeth, should not attend to nature's calls at fixed times, should bathe in water three times a day, and should sleep on the bare ground.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.11.18.4)

ग्रीष्मे तप्येत पञ्चाग्नीन् वर्षास्वासारषाड्जले । आकण्ठमग्नः शिशिर एवंवृत्तस्तपश्चरेत् ॥ 18.4 ॥

grīṣme tapyeta pañcāgnīn varṣāsv āsāra-ṣāḍ jale ākaṇṭha-magnaḥ śiśira evaṁ vṛttas tapaś caret

In summer he should perform the austerity of the five fires, in the rainy season remain exposed to torrential downpour, and in winter stay immersed in water up to his neck — thus practicing austerity.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.11.18.5)

अग्निपक्वं समश्नीयात् कालपक्वमथापि वा । उलूखलाश्मकुट्टो वा दन्तोलूखल एव वा ॥ 18.5 ॥

agni-pakvaṁ samaśnīyāt kāla-pakvam athāpi vā ulūkhalāśma-kuṭṭo vā dantolūkhala eva vā

He may eat food cooked by fire or fruit ripened naturally by time, grinding his food with mortar and stone, or simply chewing it with his own teeth.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.11.18.6)

स्वयं सञ्चिनुयात् सर्वमात्मनो वृत्तिकारणम् । देशकालबलाभिज्ञो नाददीतान्यदाहृतम् ॥ 18.6 ॥

svayaṁ sañcinuyāt sarvam ātmano vṛtti-kāraṇam deśa-kāla-balābhijño nādadītānyadāhṛtam

He should himself gather everything needed for his sustenance, mindful of place, time and his own strength, and should not accept anything collected by another.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.11.18.7)

वन्यैश्चरुपुरोडाशैर्निर्वपेत् कालचोदितान् । न तु श्रौतेन पशुना मां यजेत वनाश्रमी ॥ 18.7 ॥

vanyaiś caru-puroḍāśair nirvapet kāla-coditān na tu śrautena paśunā māṁ yajeta vanāśramī

He should perform the seasonal sacrifices offering caru and purodasha made of forest produce; but the forest-dweller should never worship me through a Vedic animal sacrifice.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.11.18.8)

अग्निहोत्रं च दर्शश्च पौर्णमासश्च पूर्ववत् । चातुर्मास्यानि च मुनेराम्नातानि च नैगमैः ॥ 18.8 ॥

agnihotraṁ ca darśaś ca paurṇamāsaś ca pūrva-vat cāturmāsyāni ca muner āmnātāni ca naigamaiḥ

As before, he should perform agnihotra, darsha and paurnamasa; and he should also observe the chaturmasya vows prescribed for the forest-dweller by the knowers of the Veda.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.11.18.9)

एवं चीर्णेन तपसा मुनिर्धमनिसन्ततः । मां तपोमयमाराध्य ऋषिलोकादुपैति माम् ॥ 18.9 ॥

evaṁ cīrṇena tapasā munir dhamani-santataḥ māṁ tapo-mayam ārādhya ṛṣi-lokād upaiti mām

Practicing austerity in this way, the sage — reduced to skin and veins — worships me, who am austerity itself, and thereby attains me, passing through the world of the sages.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.11.18.10)

यस्त्वेतत् कृच्छ्रतश्चीर्णं तपो निःश्रेयसं महत् । कामायाल्पीयसे युञ्ज्याद् बालिशः कोऽपरस्ततः ॥ 18.10 ॥

yas tv etat kṛcchrataś cīrṇaṁ tapo niḥśreyasaṁ mahat kāmāyālpīyase yuñjyād bāliśaḥ ko ’paras tataḥ

One who applies this great and supremely beneficial austerity, achieved with such difficulty, merely for some petty desire — what greater fool could there be than him?

Verse 11 (bhagavata.11.18.11)

यदासौ नियमेऽकल्पो जरया जातवेपथुः । आत्मन्यग्नीन् समारोप्य मच्चित्तोऽग्निं समाविशेत् ॥ 18.11 ॥

yadāsau niyame ’kalpo jarayā jāta-vepathuḥ ātmany agnīn samāropya mac-citto ’gniṁ samāviśet

When he becomes incapable of observing the rules because of old age, his body trembling, he should install the sacred fires within himself and, with mind fixed on me, enter the fire.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.11.18.12)

यदा कर्मविपाकेषु लोकेषु निरयात्मसु । विरागो जायते सम्यङ् न्यस्ताग्निः प्रव्रजेत्ततः ॥ 18.12 ॥

yadā karma-vipākeṣu lokeṣu nirayātmasu virāgo jāyate samyaṅ nyastāgniḥ pravrajet tataḥ

When complete detachment arises toward all the worlds attained through the fruits of action — regarding even Brahmaloka as no better than hell — he should give up the sacred fire and take sannyasa.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.11.18.13)

इष्ट्वा यथोपदेशं मां दत्त्वा सर्वस्वमृत्विजे । अग्नीन् स्वप्राण आवेश्य निरपेक्षः परिव्रजेत् ॥ 18.13 ॥

iṣṭvā yathopadeśaṁ māṁ dattvā sarva-svam ṛtvije agnīn sva-prāṇa āveśya nirapekṣaḥ parivrajet

Having worshiped me according to scriptural injunction, giving all he owns to the officiating priest, and merging his sacrificial fires into his own life-breath, he should wander as a sannyasi, free of all expectation.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.11.18.14)

विप्रस्य वै सन्न्यसतो देवा दारादिरूपिणः । विघ्नान् कुर्वन्त्ययं ह्यस्मानाक्रम्य समियात् परम् ॥ 18.14 ॥

viprasya vai sannyasato devā dārādi-rūpiṇaḥ vighnān kurvanty ayaṁ hy asmān ākramya samiyāt param

For the brahmana taking sannyasa, the gods, fearing he will surpass and go beyond them, create obstacles by appearing in the guise of his former wife and the like.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.11.18.15)

बिभृयाच्चेन्मुनिर्वासः कौपीनाच्छादनं परम् । त्यक्तं न दण्डपात्राभ्यामन्यत् किञ्चिदनापदि ॥ 18.15 ॥

bibhṛyāc cen munir vāsaḥ kaupīnācchādanaṁ param tyaktaṁ na daṇḍa-pātrābhyām anyat kiñcid anāpadi

If the sage wishes to wear something beyond the mere loincloth, he may keep one further cloth; but, barring an emergency, he should possess nothing beyond his staff and waterpot.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.11.18.16)

दृष्टिपूतं न्यसेत् पादं वस्त्रपूतं पिबेज्जलम् । सत्यपूतां वदेद् वाचं मनःपूतं समाचरेत् ॥ 18.16 ॥

dṛṣṭi-pūtaṁ nyaset pādaṁ vastra-pūtaṁ pibej jalam satya-pūtāṁ vaded vācaṁ manaḥ-pūtaṁ samācaret

He should place his foot only where his eyes have first verified it is clear, drink water strained through cloth, speak only speech purified by truth, and act only as his mind has purified.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.11.18.17)

मौनानीहानिलायामा दण्डा वाग्देहचेतसाम् । न ह्येते यस्य सन्त्यङ्ग वेणुभिर्न भवेद् यतिः ॥ 18.17 ॥

maunānīhānilāyāmā daṇḍā vāg-deha-cetasām na hy ete yasya santy aṅga veṇubhir na bhaved yatiḥ

Silence, inactivity and breath-control are the true restraints of speech, body and mind, dear one — one who lacks these does not become a true renunciant merely by carrying a bamboo staff.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.11.18.18)

भिक्षां चतुर्षु वर्णेषु विगर्ह्यान् वर्जयंश्चरेत् । सप्तागारानसङ्क्लृप्तांस्तुष्येल्लब्धेन तावता ॥ 18.18 ॥

bhikṣāṁ caturṣu varṇeṣu vigarhyān varjayaṁś caret saptāgārān asaṅkḷptāṁs tuṣyel labdhena tāvatā

He should beg among all four social classes, avoiding disreputable houses, approach seven houses without prior calculation, and be content with whatever is obtained there.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.11.18.19)

बहिर्जलाशयं गत्वा तत्रोपस्पृश्य वाग्यतः । विभज्य पावितं शेषं भुञ्जीताशेषमाहृतम् ॥ 18.19 ॥

bahir jalāśayaṁ gatvā tatropaspṛśya vāg-yataḥ vibhajya pāvitaṁ śeṣaṁ bhuñjītāśeṣam āhṛtam

Going outside to some reservoir of water, sipping water there for purification and keeping speech restrained, he should divide the purified alms he has received, and then eat all that remains without leaving any.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.11.18.20)

एकश्चरेन्महीमेतां निःसङ्गः संयतेन्द्रियः । आत्मक्रीड आत्मरत आत्मवान् समदर्शनः ॥ 18.20 ॥

ekaś caren mahīm etāṁ niḥsaṅgaḥ saṁyatendriyaḥ ātma-krīḍa ātma-rata ātma-vān sama-darśanaḥ

Free of attachment, senses controlled, delighting and rejoicing in the self, self-possessed and equal-visioned, he should wander this earth alone.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.11.18.21)

विविक्तक्षेमशरणो मद्भावविमलाशयः । आत्मानं चिन्तयेदेकमभेदेन मया मुनिः ॥ 18.21 ॥

vivikta-kṣema-śaraṇo mad-bhāva-vimalāśayaḥ ātmānaṁ cintayed ekam abhedena mayā muniḥ

Taking refuge in a solitary and safe place, his mind purified by absorption in me, the sage should meditate on the self as one, nondifferent from me.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.11.18.22)

अन्वीक्षेतात्मनो बन्धं मोक्षं च ज्ञाननिष्ठया । बन्ध इन्द्रियविक्षेपो मोक्ष एषां च संयमः ॥ 18.22 ॥

anvīkṣetātmano bandhaṁ mokṣaṁ ca jñāna-niṣṭhayā bandha indriya-vikṣepo mokṣa eṣāṁ ca saṁyamaḥ

Through steady knowledge he should investigate the soul's bondage and liberation — the scattering of the senses toward objects is bondage, and their restraint alone is liberation.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.11.18.23)

तस्मान्नियम्य षड्वर्गं मद्भावेन चरेन्मुनिः । विरक्तः क्षुद्रकामेभ्यो लब्ध्वात्मनि सुखं महत् ॥ 18.23 ॥

tasmān niyamya ṣaḍ-vargaṁ mad-bhāvena caren muniḥ viraktaḥ kṣudra-kāmebhyo labdhvātmani sukhaṁ mahat

Therefore, having mastered the mind and the five senses, the sage should live absorbed in awareness of me, detached from petty desires, having found the great happiness within the self.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.11.18.24)

पुरग्रामव्रजान्सार्थान् भिक्षार्थं प्रविशंश्चरेत् । पुण्यदेशसरिच्छैलवनाश्रमवतीं महीम् ॥ 18.24 ॥

pura-grāma-vrajān sārthān bhikṣārthaṁ praviśaṁś caret puṇya-deśa-saric-chaila- vanāśrama-vatīṁ mahīm

He should wander into cities, villages and cow-pastures for alms, and roam over the earth adorned with sacred places, rivers, mountains, forests and hermitages.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.11.18.25)

वानप्रस्थाश्रमपदेष्वभीक्ष्णं भैक्ष्यमाचरेत् । संसिध्यत्याश्वसम्मोहः शुद्धसत्त्वः शिलान्धसा ॥ 18.25 ॥

vānaprasthāśrama-padeṣv abhīkṣṇaṁ bhaikṣyam ācaret saṁsidhyaty āśv asammohaḥ śuddha-sattvaḥ śilāndhasā

He should regularly beg at the hermitages of forest-dwellers; one who lives on such begged grain, freed from illusion, quickly becomes purified in being and attains perfection.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.11.18.26)

नैतद् वस्तुतया पश्येद् दृश्यमानं विनश्यति । असक्तचित्तो विरमेदिहामुत्र चिकीर्षितात् ॥ 18.26 ॥

naitad vastutayā paśyed dṛśyamānaṁ vinaśyati asakta-citto viramed ihāmutra-cikīrṣitāt

He should not regard as real that which is perceived, since all that is seen is perishing; with a mind free of attachment, he should cease from all he wishes to accomplish, in this life or the next.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.11.18.27)

यदेतदात्मनि जगन्मनोवाक्प्राणसंहतम् । सर्वं मायेति तर्केण स्वस्थस्त्यक्त्वा न तत् स्मरेत् ॥ 18.27 ॥

yad etad ātmani jagan mano-vāk-prāṇa-saṁhatam sarvaṁ māyeti tarkeṇa sva-sthas tyaktvā na tat smaret

By reasoning he should recognize this world of mind, speech and life-breath, appearing within the self, as entirely maya; established in himself, he should give it up and never again dwell on it.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.11.18.28)

ज्ञाननिष्ठो विरक्तो वा मद्भक्तो वानपेक्षकः । सलिङ्गानाश्रमांस्त्यक्त्वा चरेदविधिगोचरः ॥ 18.28 ॥

jñāna-niṣṭho virakto vā mad-bhakto vānapekṣakaḥ sa-liṅgān āśramāṁs tyaktvā cared avidhi-gocaraḥ

One dedicated to knowledge, or one who is detached, or my devotee who has no further expectation even of liberation, should give up all external symbols and orders of life and move beyond the bounds of formal rule.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.11.18.29)

बुधो बालकवत् क्रीडेत् कुशलो जडवच्चरेत् । वदेदुन्मत्तवद् विद्वान् गोचर्यां नैगमश्चरेत् ॥ 18.29 ॥

budho bālaka-vat krīḍet kuśalo jaḍa-vac caret vaded unmatta-vad vidvān go-caryāṁ naigamaś caret

Though wise, he should play like a child; though capable, he should act as though dull; though learned, he should speak as though mad; and though versed in the Vedas, he should move about freely, unbound by convention.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.11.18.30)

वेदवादरतो न स्यान्न पाषण्डी न हैतुकः । शुष्कवादविवादे न कञ्चित् पक्षं समाश्रयेत् ॥ 18.30 ॥

veda-vāda-rato na syān na pāṣaṇḍī na haitukaḥ śuṣka-vāda-vivāde na kañcit pakṣaṁ samāśrayet

He should not be devoted to mere Vedic ritualism, nor become a heretic, nor a mere logician; in barren disputation he should take no side whatsoever.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.11.18.31)

नोद्विजेत जनाद् धीरो जनं चोद्वेजयेन्न तु । अतिवादांस्तितिक्षेत नावमन्येत कञ्चन । देहमुद्दिश्य पशुवद् वैरं कुर्यान्न केनचित् ॥ 18.31 ॥

nodvijeta janād dhīro janaṁ codvejayen na tu ati-vādāṁs titikṣeta nāvamanyeta kañcana deham uddiśya paśu-vad vairaṁ kuryān na kenacit

The self-composed man should neither be frightened by others nor frighten anyone; he should tolerate harsh words, disrespect no one, and never, like an animal, create enmity for the sake of the body.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.11.18.32)

एक एव परो ह्यात्मा भूतेष्वात्मन्यवस्थितः । यथेन्दुरुदपात्रेषु भूतान्येकात्मकानि च ॥ 18.32 ॥

eka eva paro hy ātmā bhūteṣv ātmany avasthitaḥ yathendur uda-pātreṣu bhūtāny ekātmakāni ca

The one Supreme Self dwells alike in all beings and in one's own self, just as the single moon is reflected in many vessels of water — so are all beings essentially of that one self.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.11.18.33)

अलब्ध्वा न विषीदेत काले कालेऽशनं क्वचित् । लब्ध्वा न हृष्येद् धृतिमानुभयं दैवतन्त्रितम् ॥ 18.33 ॥

alabdhvā na viṣīdeta kāle kāle ’śanaṁ kvacit labdhvā na hṛṣyed dhṛtimān ubhayaṁ daiva-tantritam

He should not grieve when food is not obtained at a given time, nor rejoice when it is; the steadfast person should understand both conditions to be governed by providence.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.11.18.34)

आहारार्थं समीहेत युक्तं तत् प्राणधारणम् । तत्त्वं विमृश्यते तेन तद् विज्ञाय विमुच्यते ॥ 18.34 ॥

āhārārthaṁ samīheta yuktaṁ tat-prāṇa-dhāraṇam tattvaṁ vimṛśyate tena tad vijñāya vimucyate

He should exert himself for food only to the extent needed to sustain life; thereby he is able to reflect on the truth, and by knowing it he becomes liberated.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.11.18.35)

यदृच्छयोपपन्नान्नमद्याच्छ्रेष्ठमुतापरम् । तथा वासस्तथा शय्यां प्राप्तं प्राप्तं भजेन्मुनिः ॥ 18.35 ॥

yadṛcchayopapannānnam adyāc chreṣṭham utāparam tathā vāsas tathā śayyāṁ prāptaṁ prāptaṁ bhajen muniḥ

He should eat whatever food comes unsought, whether excellent or ordinary; likewise the sage should accept whatever clothing and bedding come to him, just as they come.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.11.18.36)

शौचमाचमनं स्नानं न तु चोदनया चरेत् । अन्यांश्च नियमाञ्ज्ञानी यथाहं लीलयेश्वरः ॥ 18.36 ॥

śaucam ācamanaṁ snānaṁ na tu codanayā caret anyāṁś ca niyamāñ jñānī yathāhaṁ līlayeśvaraḥ

Cleanliness, sipping water and bathing — these he should not perform under compulsion of rule; the man of knowledge should observe other regulations too, just as I, though the Lord, perform them only as play.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.11.18.37)

न हि तस्य विकल्पाख्या या च मद्वीक्षया हता । आदेहान्तात् क्वचित् ख्यातिस्ततः सम्पद्यते मया ॥ 18.37 ॥

na hi tasya vikalpākhyā yā ca mad-vīkṣayā hatā ā-dehāntāt kvacit khyātis tataḥ sampadyate mayā

The perception of difference, once destroyed by realization of me, no longer belongs to him; even if it should sometimes reappear until the body's end, thereafter he attains oneness with me.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.11.18.38)

दुःखोदर्केषु कामेषु जातनिर्वेद आत्मवान् । अजिज्ञासितमद्धर्मो मुनिं गुरुमुपव्रजेत् ॥ 18.38 ॥

duḥkhodarkeṣu kāmeṣu jāta-nirveda ātmavān ajijñāsita-mad-dharmo muniṁ gurum upavrajet

One who has grown detached from sense pleasures, knowing they end in suffering, who is self-possessed but has not yet inquired deeply into the path to me, should approach a wise and learned spiritual master.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.11.18.39)

तावत् परिचरेद् भक्तः श्रद्धावाननसूयकः । यावद् ब्रह्म विजानीयान्मामेव गुरुमादृतः ॥ 18.39 ॥

tāvat paricared bhaktaḥ śraddhāvān anasūyakaḥ yāvad brahma vijānīyān mām eva gurum ādṛtaḥ

The devotee, full of faith and free of envy, should serve the guru — who is nondifferent from me — with reverence, until he comes to know the Absolute.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.11.18.40)

यस्त्वसंयतषड्वर्गः प्रचण्डेन्द्रियसारथिः । ज्ञानवैराग्यरहितस्त्रिदण्डमुपजीवति ॥ 18.40 ॥

yas tv asaṁyata-ṣaḍ-vargaḥ pracaṇḍendriya-sārathiḥ jñāna-vairāgya-rahitas tridaṇḍam upajīvati

One who has not controlled the six passions, whose charioteer is his own violent senses, who is devoid of knowledge and detachment, and who takes up the triple staff merely to earn a livelihood —

Verse 41 (bhagavata.11.18.41)

सुरानात्मानमात्मस्थं निह्नुते मां च धर्महा । अविपक्वकषायोऽस्मादमुष्माच्च विहीयते ॥ 18.41 ॥

surān ātmānam ātma-sthaṁ nihnute māṁ ca dharma-hā avipakva-kaṣāyo ’smād amuṣmāc ca vihīyate

— that destroyer of dharma, who denies the gods, his own indwelling self and me as well, remains unripened in his impurities, and is lost both from this world and the next.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.11.18.42)

भिक्षोर्धर्मः शमोऽहिंसा तप ईक्षा वनौकसः । गृहिणो भूतरक्षेज्या द्विजस्याचार्यसेवनम् ॥ 18.42 ॥

bhikṣor dharmaḥ śamo ’hiṁsā tapa īkṣā vanaukasaḥ gṛhiṇo bhūta-rakṣejyā dvijasyācārya-sevanam

The duty of the renunciant is peace and non-violence; of the forest-dweller, austerity and discernment; of the householder, protecting living beings and performing sacrifice; and of the twice-born student, serving the teacher.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.11.18.43)

ब्रह्मचर्यं तपः शौचं सन्तोषो भूतसौहृदम् । गृहस्थस्याप्यृतौ गन्तुः सर्वेषां मदुपासनम् ॥ 18.43 ॥

brahmacaryaṁ tapaḥ śaucaṁ santoṣo bhūta-sauhṛdam gṛhasthasyāpy ṛtau gantuḥ sarveṣāṁ mad-upāsanam

Celibacy, austerity, purity, contentment and goodwill toward all beings — these apply even to the householder outside the season for procreation; and worship of me is common to all, whatever their order.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.11.18.44)

इति मां यः स्वधर्मेण भजेन् नित्यमनन्यभाक् । सर्वभूतेषु मद्भावो मद्भक्तिं विन्दते दृढाम् ॥ 18.44 ॥

iti māṁ yaḥ sva-dharmeṇa bhajen nityam ananya-bhāk sarva-bhūteṣu mad-bhāvo mad-bhaktiṁ vindate dṛḍhām

One who thus worships me constantly through his own prescribed duty, with undivided devotion, and who sees my presence in all beings, attains firm devotion to me.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.11.18.45)

भक्त्योद्धवानपायिन्या सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम् । सर्वोत्पत्त्यप्ययं ब्रह्म कारणं मोपयाति सः ॥ 18.45 ॥

bhaktyoddhavānapāyinyā sarva-loka-maheśvaram sarvotpatty-apyayaṁ brahma kāraṇaṁ mopayāti saḥ

O Uddhava, through unfailing devotion he attains me — the supreme lord of all the worlds, the Absolute, the cause of the origin and dissolution of everything.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.11.18.46)

इति स्वधर्मनिर्णिक्तसत्त्वो निर्ज्ञातमद्गतिः । ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्नो नचिरात् समुपैति माम् ॥ 18.46 ॥

iti sva-dharma-nirṇikta- sattvo nirjñāta-mad-gatiḥ jñāna-vijñāna-sampanno na cirāt samupaiti mām

Thus one whose being has been purified by his own prescribed duty, who has fully realized my nature, and who is endowed with both scriptural knowledge and direct realization, attains me very soon.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.11.18.47)

वर्णाश्रमवतां धर्म एष आचारलक्षणः । स एव मद्भक्तियुतो निःश्रेयसकरः परः ॥ 18.47 ॥

varṇāśramavatāṁ dharma eṣa ācāra-lakṣaṇaḥ sa eva mad-bhakti-yuto niḥśreyasa-karaḥ paraḥ

This is the dharma marked by proper conduct for followers of varnashrama; that very dharma, when joined with devotion to me, becomes the supreme bestower of the highest good.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.11.18.48)

एतत्तेऽभिहितं साधो भवान् पृच्छति यच्च माम् । यथा स्वधर्मसंयुक्तो भक्तो मां समियात् परम् ॥ 18.48 ॥

etat te ’bhihitaṁ sādho bhavān pṛcchati yac ca mām yathā sva-dharma-saṁyukto bhakto māṁ samiyāt param

O saintly one, I have now told you what you asked of me — how a devotee, engaged in his own prescribed duty, may attain me, the Supreme.