आहारार्थं समीहेत युक्तं तत् प्राणधारणम् ।
तत्त्वं विमृश्यते तेन तद् विज्ञाय विमुच्यते ॥
āhārārthaṁ samīheta yuktaṁ tat-prāṇa-dhāraṇam |
tattvaṁ vimṛśyate tena tad-vijñāya vimucyate ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.18.34)
“One should endeavor for the sake of food. Sustaining one’s life is rightful. Thereby, reality is deliberated upon, and by realizing it, one can become completely liberated.”
Commentary
alaṁ tarhi bhikṣā-prayatnenāpi ? tatrāha—āhāra-mātrārthaṁ samīhetaiva | yataḥ tasya prāṇa-dhāraṇaṁ yuktaṁ samyak | katham? tena prāṇa-dhāraṇena tattvaṁ vicāryate | kiṁ tenāpi? tad āha—tad vijñāyeti |
(Bhāvārtha-dīpikā)
“[A question is raised:] ‘Then is there no need even of the endeavor of begging [to obtain food]?’ To this, he [i.e., Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa] says that one should certainly endeavor for the sake of food alone [i.e., not other things beyond that] since sustaining of one’s life is rightful (yuktam). Why? Thereby, meaning, by means of sustaining [one’s] life, reality is deliberated upon.
“[A question is raised:] And by that what [is gained]?’ To this he says tad vijñāya … [i.e., by realizing it, one can become completely liberated].”
tatrāpy adhairye jāte āhārārthaṁ samīheta | kutaḥ? yatas tasya prāṇānāṁ mana-ādīndriyāṇāṁ dhāraṇaṁ sthirīkaraṇaṁ yuktam | anyathā tv aparipakvatvād vikṣepaḥ syād evety arthaḥ | tad-dhāraṇe ca kiṁ syāt? tatrāha—tattvam iti |
(Krama-sandarbha-ṭīkā)
“If even in that cause unsteadiness occurs, [then] one should endeavor for the sake of food? Why? Since sustaining of one’s life, that is, stabilizing one’s mind and other senses, is rightful. Otherwise [i.e., if one does not do this], then because of [one’s] being not fully mature [in spiritual realization], distraction shall certainly occur. This is the meaning.
“[A question is raised:] And when that is sustained, what shall come about? To this, he says tattva … [i.e., thereby, reality is deliberated upon, and by realizing it, one can become completely liberated].”