FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.15.36

य: प्रव्रज्य गृहात्पूर्वं त्रिवर्गावपनात्पुन: । यदि सेवेत तान्भिक्षु: स वै वान्ताश्यपत्रप: ॥ ३६ ॥
yaḥ pravrajya gṛhāt pūrvaṁ
[yah pravrajya grihaat poorvam]
tri-vargāvapanāt punaḥ
[tri-vargaavapanaat punah]
yadi seveta tān bhikṣuḥ
[yadi seveta taan bhikshuh]
sa vai vāntāśy apatrapaḥ
[sa vai vaantaashy apatrapah]
yaḥ — one who pravrajya — being finished for good and leaving for the forest (being situated in transcendental bliss) gṛhāt — from home pūrvam — at first tri-varga — the three principles of religion, economic development and sense gratification āvapanāt — from the field in which they are sown punaḥ — again yadi — if seveta — should accept tān — materialistic activities bhikṣuḥ — a person who has accepted the sannyāsa order saḥ — that person vai — indeed vānta-āśī — one who eats his own vomit apatrapaḥ — without shame.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yaḥ pravrajya gṛhāt pūrvaṁ
yaḥ
one who
pravrajya
being finished for good and leaving for the forest (being situated in transcendental bliss)
gṛhāt
from home
pūrvam
at first
tri-vargāvapanāt punaḥ
tri-varga
the three principles of religion, economic development and sense gratification
āvapanāt
from the field in which they are sown
punaḥ
again
yadi seveta tān bhikṣuḥ
yadi
if
seveta
should accept
tān
materialistic activities
bhikṣuḥ
a person who has accepted the sannyāsa order
sa vai vāntāśy apatrapaḥ
saḥ
that person
vai
indeed
vānta-āśī
one who eats his own vomit
apatrapaḥ
without shame.
One who accepts the sannyāsa order gives up the three principles of materialistic activities in which one indulges in the field of household life — namely religion, economic development and sense gratification. One who first accepts sannyāsa but then returns to such materialistic activities is to be called a vāntāśī, or one who eats his own vomit. He is indeed a shameless person.

Materialistic activities are regulated by the institution of varṇāśrama-dharma. Without varṇāśrama-dharma, materialistic activities constitute animal life. Yet even in human life, while observing the principles of varṇa and āśrama — brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa — one must ultimately accept sannyāsa, the renounced order, for only by the renounced order can one be situated in brahma-sukha, or transcendental bliss. In brahma-sukha one is no longer attracted by lusty desires. Indeed, when one is no longer disturbed, especially by lusty desires for sexual indulgence, he is fit to become a sannyāsī. Otherwise, one should not accept the sannyāsa order. If one accepts sannyāsa at an immature stage, there is every possibility of his being attracted by women and lusty desires and thus again becoming a so-called gṛhastha or a victim of women. Such a person is most shameless, and he is called vāntāśī, or one who eats that which he has already vomited. He certainly leads a condemned life. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement it is advised, therefore, that the sannyāsīs and brahmacārīs keep strictly aloof from the association of women so that there will be no chance of their falling down again as victims of lusty desires.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
One who, having renounced the house and artha, dharma and kāma, again enjoys them is a shameless eater of vomit. Tri-vargāvapanāt means “from the house in which there is complete planting of artha, dharma and kāma.” One who, previously renouncing the house, later enjoys household dharmas (tān) is a shameless eater of vomit.
A sannyāsī who gives up dharma, artha, and kāma but returns to them is shameless — like one who vomits and then eats it back. Real renunciation does not relapse. Half-renunciation degrades both renunciation and the householder life.
Reflection Questions
  • Where have you reclaimed something you once sincerely gave up, and what was the cost?
  • What would full integrity in your current commitments look like?
📝 My note

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