FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.16.5

अपि वाकुशलं किञ्चिद् गृहेषु गृहमेधिनि । धर्मस्यार्थस्य कामस्य यत्र योगो ह्ययोगिनाम् ॥ ५ ॥
api vākuśalaṁ kiñcid
[api vaakushalam kinchid]
gṛheṣu gṛha-medhini
[griheshu griha-medhini]
dharmasyārthasya kāmasya
[dharmasyaarthasya kaamasya]
yatra yogo hy ayoginām
[yatra yogo hy ayoginaam]
api — I am wondering vā — either akuśalam — inauspiciousness kiñcit — some gṛheṣu — at home gṛha-medhini — O my wife, who are attached to household life dharmasya — of the principles of religion arthasya — of the economic condition kāmasya — of satisfaction of desires yatra — at home yogaḥ — the result of meditation hi — indeed ayoginām — even of those who are not transcendentalists.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
api vākuśalaṁ kiñcid
api
I am wondering
vā
either
akuśalam
inauspiciousness
kiñcit
some
gṛheṣu gṛha-medhini
gṛheṣu
at home
gṛha-medhini
O my wife, who are attached to household life
dharmasya
of the principles of religion
dharmasyārthasya kāmasya
arthasya
of the economic condition
kāmasya
of satisfaction of desires
yatra yogo hy ayoginām
yatra
at home
yogaḥ
the result of meditation
hi
indeed
ayoginām
even of those who are not transcendentalists.
O my wife, who are very much attached to household life, if the principles of religion, economic development and satisfaction of the senses are properly followed in household life, one’s activities are as good as those of a transcendentalist. I wonder whether there have been any discrepancies in following these principles.

In this verse, Aditi has been addressed by her husband, Kaśyapa Muni, as gṛha-medhini, which means “one who is satisfied in household life for sense gratification.” Generally, those who are in household life pursue sense gratification in the field of activities performed for material results. Such gṛhamedhīs have only one aim in life — sense gratification. Therefore it is said, yan maithunādi-gṛhamedhi-sukhaṁ hi tuccham: the householder’s life is based on sense gratification, and therefore the happiness derived from it is very meager. Nonetheless, the Vedic process is so comprehensive that even in householder life one can adjust his activities according to the regulative principles of dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa. One’s aim should be to achieve liberation, but because one cannot at once give up sense gratification, in the śāstras there are injunctions prescribing how to follow the principles of religion, economic development and sense gratification. As explained in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.9) , dharmasya hy āpavargyasya nārtho ’rthāyopakalpate: “All occupational engagements are certainly meant for ultimate liberation. They should never be performed for material gain.” Those who are in household life should not think that religion is meant to improve the process of the householder’s sense gratification. Household life is also meant for advancement in spiritual understanding, by which one can ultimately gain liberation from the material clutches. One should remain in household life with the aim of understanding the ultimate goal of life ( tattva jijñāsā ). Then household life is as good as the life of a yogi. Kaśyapa Muni therefore inquired from his wife whether the principles of religion, economic development and sense gratification were being properly followed in terms of the śāstric injunctions. As soon as one deviates from the injunctions of the śāstra, the purpose of household life is immediately lost in confusion.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O my wife! Is there some inauspiciousness concerning dharma, artha or kāma in the house, where even the karmīs becomes qualified for yoga? Is there some misfortune for dharma in the house in which the karmīs get the result of yoga?
If dharma, artha, and kāma are properly followed in household life, one's activities equal those of a transcendentalist. Household life is not lesser; properly conducted, it equals renunciation. The question is conduct, not setting.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I undervalue my householder life as if only renunciation counted?
  • Which of the three — dharma, artha, kāma — is currently disordered in my home?
📝 My note

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