FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.14.6

ज्ञातय: पितरौ पुत्रा भ्रातर: सुहृदोऽपरे । यद्वदन्ति यदिच्छन्ति चानुमोदेत निर्मम: ॥ ६ ॥
jñātayaḥ pitarau putrā
[jnaatayah pitarau putraa]
bhrātaraḥ suhṛdo ’pare
[bhraatarah suhrido ’pare]
yad vadanti yad icchanti
[yad vadanti yad ichchanti]
cānumodeta nirmamaḥ
[chaanumodeta nirmamah]
Word-for-word
jñātayaḥ — relatives, family members pitarau — the father and mother putrāḥ — children bhrātaraḥ — brothers suhṛdaḥ — friends apare — and others yat — whatever vadanti — they suggest (in regard to one’s means of livelihood) yat — whatever icchanti — they wish ca — and anumodeta — he should agree nirmamaḥ — but without taking them seriously.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
jñātayaḥ pitarau putrā
jñātayaḥ
relatives, family members
pitarau
the father and mother
putrāḥ
children
bhrātaraḥ suhṛdo ’pare
bhrātaraḥ
brothers
suhṛdaḥ
friends
apare
and others
yad vadanti yad icchanti
yat
whatever
vadanti
they suggest (in regard to one’s means of livelihood)
yat
whatever
icchanti
they wish
cānumodeta nirmamaḥ
ca
and
anumodeta
he should agree
nirmamaḥ
but without taking them seriously.
An intelligent man in human society should make his own program of activities very simple. If there are suggestions from his friends, children, parents, brothers or anyone else, he should externally agree, saying, “Yes, that is all right,” but internally he should be determined not to create a cumbersome life in which the purpose of life will not be fulfilled.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
To whatever his relatives, friends, children, parents, brothers or anyone else says or wants, he should agree, without being attached. Without attachment (nirmamaḥ) he should agree.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Keep your program simple. When friends or family suggest elaboration, agree externally but inwardly decline. Family pressure to complicate life is constant; quiet, determined simplicity is the householder's strongest discipline.
Reflection Questions
  • Where has well-meaning family advice complicated a life you intended to keep simple?
  • How do you preserve your inner decision without unnecessary conflict?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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