FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.17.37

अथानन्तरमावेक्ष्यन् यथा जिज्ञासितागम: । गुरवे दक्षिणां दत्त्वा स्‍नायाद् गुर्वनुमोदित: ॥ ३७ ॥
athānantaram āvekṣyan
[athaanantaram aavekshyan]
yathā-jijñāsitāgamaḥ
[yathaa-jijnaasitaagamah]
gurave dakṣiṇāṁ dattvā
[gurave dakshinaam dattvaa]
snāyād gurv-anumoditaḥ
[snaayaad gurv-anumoditah]
atha — thus anantaram — after that āvekṣyan — desiring to enter family life yathā — properly jijñāsita — having studied āgamaḥ — the Vedic literature gurave — to the spiritual master dakṣiṇām — remuneration dattvā — giving snāyāt — the brahmacārī should cleanse himself, comb his hair, put on nice clothes, etc. guru — by the spiritual master anumoditaḥ — permitted.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
athānantaram āvekṣyan
atha
thus
anantaram
after that
āvekṣyan
desiring to enter family life
yathā-jijñāsitāgamaḥ
yathā
properly
jijñāsita
having studied
āgamaḥ
the Vedic literature
gurave dakṣiṇāṁ dattvā
gurave
to the spiritual master
dakṣiṇām
remuneration
dattvā
giving
snāyād gurv-anumoditaḥ
snāyāt
the brahmacārī should cleanse himself, comb his hair, put on nice clothes, etc.
guru
by the spiritual master
anumoditaḥ
permitted.
A brahmacārī who has completed his Vedic education and desires to enter household life should offer proper remuneration to the spiritual master, bathe, cut his hair, put on proper clothes, and so on. Then, taking permission from the guru, he should go back to his home.

This verse describes the process called samāvartana, or returning to one’s home after finishing Vedic education in the āśrama of the spiritual master. One who cannot concentrate all of his desires in the devotional service of the Lord is attracted to householder life, and if this attraction is not regulated, one will fall down. Being covered by the ignorance of fruitive activities and mental speculation, a living entity seeks enjoyment outside the devotional service of the Supreme Lord and becomes a nondevotee. One who takes to family life must rigidly follow the Vedic rules and regulations in order to avoid the collapse of his spiritual determination. One who enjoys intimate sense gratification with women must become duplicitous in his dealings with others and consequently falls down from the platform of simple, pure life. When the mind is disturbed by lust, one begins to resent the principle of submission to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His pure devotee, and the dark clouds of one’s offensive mentality completely cover the light of spiritual knowledge. One should dovetail his propensity to love someone by serving the lotus feet of a pure devotee. As stated in Vedic literature, “One who worships Govinda, Lord Kṛṣṇa, but does not worship His devotees is not to be considered an advanced Vaiṣṇava; rather, he is to be considered a proud hypocrite.”

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
A brahmacārī who has completed his Vedic education and desires to enter household life, taking permission from the guru, should offer proper remuneration to the guru, bathe, and return home. The graduation from studies of the brahmacārī who will become a householder is described. Desiring to enter household life (āvekṣyan) and having sufficiently deliberated on the meaning of the Vedas, he should bathe. This means he should anoint his body with oil, etc. and then return home.
On completing Vedic education, the brahmacārī offers proper remuneration, bathes, cuts hair, dresses well, takes guru's permission, and goes home. Transition itself is ritualized.
Reflection Questions
  • What transitions in my life have I made hastily that should have been ritualized?
  • What does a proper farewell look like?
📝 My note

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