Devanagari
आहारार्थं समीहेत युक्तं तत् प्राणधारणम् ।
तत्त्वं विमृश्यते तेन तद् विज्ञाय विमुच्यते ॥ ३४ ॥
Verse text
āhārārthaṁ samīheta
yuktaṁ tat-prāṇa-dhāraṇam
tattvaṁ vimṛśyate tena
tad vijṣāya vimucyate
Synonyms
āhāra
—
to eat
;
artham
—
in order
;
samīheta
—
one should endeavor
;
yuktam
—
proper
;
tat
—
of the person
;
prāṇa
—
life force
;
dhāraṇam
—
sustaining
;
tattvam
—
spiritual truth
;
vimṛśyate
—
is contemplated
;
tena
—
by that strength of the mind, senses and life air
;
tat
—
that truth
;
vijṣāya
—
understanding
;
vimucyate
—
one is liberated .
Translation
If required, one should endeavor to get sufficient foodstuffs, because it is always necessary and proper to maintain one’s health. When the senses, mind and life air are fit, one can contemplate spiritual truth, and by understanding the truth one is liberated.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
If required, one should endeavor to get sufficient foodstuffs, because it is always necessary and proper to maintain one life. When one is fit, one can contemplate spiritual truth, and by understanding the truth one is liberated.
If one receives nothing by begging, one should endeavor for some food. One should endeavor for just enough food, because one should maintain life. By that, one can contemplate the truth. From the truth one attains liberation.
Purport
If foodstuffs do not come automatically or by token begging, then one should endeavor to keep body and soul together so that one’s spiritual program will not be disturbed. Normally, those who are endeavoring in spiritual life cannot maintain steady concentration on the truth if their mind and body are weakened by undereating. On the other hand, extravagant consumption of food is a great impediment for spiritual advancement and should be given up. The word
āhārārtham
in this verse indicates eating only to keep oneself fit for spiritual advancement and does not justify unnecessary collecting or warehousing of so-called alms. If one collects more than necessary for one’s spiritual program, the surplus becomes a heavy weight that drags one down to the material platform.