FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.11.13

संस्कारा यत्राविच्छिन्ना: स द्विजोऽजो जगाद यम् । इज्याध्ययनदानानि विहितानि द्विजन्मनाम् । जन्मकर्मावदातानां क्रियाश्चाश्रमचोदिता: ॥ १३ ॥
saṁskārā yatrāvicchinnāḥ
[samskaaraa yatraavichchinnaah]
sa dvijo ’jo jagāda yam
[sa dvijo ’jo jagaada yam]
ijyādhyayana-dānāni
[ijyaadhyayana-daanaani]
vihitāni dvijanmanām
[vihitaani dvijanmanaam]
janma-karmāvadātānāṁ
[janma-karmaavadaataanaam]
kriyāś cāśrama-coditāḥ
[kriyaash chaashrama-choditaah]
saṁskārāḥ — reformatory processes yatra — wherein avicchinnāḥ — without interruption saḥ — such a person dvi-jaḥ — twice-born ajaḥ — Lord Brahmā jagāda — sanctioned yam — who ijyā — worshiping adhyayana — studies of the Vedas dānāni — and charity vihitāni — prescribed dvi-janmanām — of persons who are called twice-born janma — by birth karma — and activities avadātānām — who are purified kriyāḥ — activities ca — also āśrama-coditāḥ — recommended for the four āśramas..
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
saṁskārā yatrāvicchinnāḥ
saṁskārāḥ
reformatory processes
yatra
wherein
avicchinnāḥ
without interruption
sa dvijo ’jo jagāda yam
saḥ
such a person
dvi-jaḥ
twice-born
ajaḥ
Lord Brahmā
jagāda
sanctioned
yam
who
ijyādhyayana-dānāni
ijyā
worshiping
adhyayana
studies of the Vedas
dānāni
and charity
vihitāni dvijanmanām
vihitāni
prescribed
dvi-janmanām
of persons who are called twice-born
janma
by birth
janma-karmāvadātānāṁ
karma
and activities
avadātānām
who are purified
kriyāś cāśrama-coditāḥ
kriyāḥ
activities
ca
also
āśrama-coditāḥ
recommended for the four āśramas..
Those who have been reformed by the garbhādhāna ceremony and other prescribed reformatory methods, performed with Vedic mantras and without interruption, and who have been approved by Lord Brahmā, are dvijas, or twice-born. Such brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas, purified by their family traditions and by their behavior, should worship the Lord, study the Vedas and give charity. In this system, they should follow the principles of the four āśramas [brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa].

After giving a general list of thirty qualifications for one’s behavior, Nārada Muni now describes the principles of the four varṇas and four āśramas. A human being must be trained in the above-mentioned thirty qualities; otherwise, he is not even a human being. Then, among such qualified persons, the varṇāśrama process should be introduced. In the varṇāśrama system, the first ceremony for purification is garbhādhāna, which is performed with mantras at the time of sex for propagating a good child. One who uses sex life not for sensual pleasures but only to beget children according to the reformatory method is also accepted as a brahmacārī. One should not waste semen on sensual pleasure, violating the principles of Vedic life. Restraint in sex is possible, however, only when the populace is trained in the above-mentioned thirty qualities; otherwise, it is not possible. Even if one is born in a family of dvijas, or twice-born, if they have not followed the reformatory process he is called a dvija-bandhu — not one of the twice-born, but a friend of the twice-born. The whole purpose of this system is to create good population. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, when women are polluted the populace is varṇa-saṅkara, and when the varṇa-saṅkara population increases, the situation of the entire world becomes hellish. Therefore, all the Vedic literatures strongly warn against creating varṇa-saṅkara population. When there is varṇa-saṅkara population, the people cannot be properly controlled for peace and prosperity, regardless of great legislative assemblies, parliaments and similar bodies.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Those who without fail perform the saṁskāras and are thus approved by Brahmā are dvijas, or twice-born. Such brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas, purified by their family traditions and by their behavior, should worship the Lord, study the Vedas and give charity. They should follow the principles of the four āśramas. In speaking about varṇas, first the characteristics of the second born are described. He is called second born who has performed samskāras starting with garbhādhāna using mantras. [Note: Śūdras perform saṁskāras without mantras.] If the continuity of saṁskāras is broken, the person is a dvija-bandhu. Brahmā prescribed this for the second born at the beginning of creation. This means that birth from a pure mother and father is the chief characteristic of the second born.
Twice-born dvijas — purified by garbhādhāna and other samskāras — should worship the Lord, study the Vedas, give charity, and follow the four āśramas. The four-stage life is the human-form's full curriculum. Without samskāras, even the body's potential is uncultivated.
Reflection Questions
  • Which samskāra in your tradition has been forgotten that could be revived?
  • Where could acknowledging the four āśramas reshape your life-planning?
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