Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 33 Verse 14

Canto 3: The Status Quo | Chapter 33: Activities of Kapila

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.33.14

abhīkṣṇāvagāha-kapiśān

jaṭilān kuṭilālakān

ātmānaḿ cogra-tapasā

bibhratī cīriṇaḿ kṛśam

SYNONYMS

abhīkṣṇa — again and again; avagāha — by bathing; kapiśān — gray; jaṭilān — matted; kuṭila — curled; alakān — hair; ātmānam — her body; ca — and; ugra-tapasā — by severe austerities; bibhratī — became; cīriṇam — clothed in rags; kṛśam — thin.

TRANSLATION

She began to bathe three times daily, and thus her curling black hair gradually became gray. Due to austerity, her body gradually became thin, and she wore old garments.

PURPORT

It is the practice of the yogī, brahmacārī, vānaprastha and sannyāsī to bathe at least three times daily — early in the morning, during noontime and in the evening. These principles are strictly followed even by some gṛhasthas, especially brāhmaṇas, who are elevated in spiritual consciousness. Devahūti was a king's daughter and almost a king's wife also. Although Kardama Muni was not a king, by his yogic mystic power he accommodated Devahūti very comfortably in a nice palace with maidservants and all opulence. But since she had learned austerity even in the presence of her husband, there was no difficulty for her to be austere. Still, because her body underwent severe austerity after the departure of her husband and son, she became thin. To be too fat is not very good for spiritually advanced life. Rather, one should reduce because if one becomes fat it is an impediment to progress in spiritual understanding. One should be careful not to eat too much, sleep too much or remain in a comfortable position. Voluntarily accepting some penances and difficulties, one should take less food and less sleep. These are the procedures for practicing any kind of yoga, whether bhakti-yoga, jñāna-yoga or haṭha-yoga.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness