SB 3.30.14 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

तत्राप्यजातनिर्वेदो भ्रियमाण: स्वयम्भृतै: । जरयोपात्तवैरूप्यो मरणाभिमुखो गृहे ॥ १४ ॥

Verse text

tatrāpy ajāta-nirvedo bhriyamāṇaḥ svayam bhṛtaiḥ jarayopātta-vairūpyo maraṇābhimukho gṛhe

Synonyms

tatra — there ; api — although ; ajāta — not arisen ; nirvedaḥ — aversion ; bhriyamāṇaḥ — being maintained ; svayam — by himself ; bhṛtaiḥ — by those who were maintained ; jarayā — by old age ; upātta — obtained ; vairūpyaḥ — deformation ; maraṇa — death ; abhimukhaḥ — approaching ; gṛhe — at home .

Translation

The foolish family man does not become averse to family life although he is maintained by those whom he once maintained. Deformed by the influence of old age, he prepares himself to meet ultimate death.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Without disgust for his existence, maintained by his dependents, deformed by old age, he approaches death in his house.

Purport

Family attraction is so strong that even if one is neglected by family members in his old age, he cannot give up family affection, and he remains at home just like a dog. In the Vedic way of life one has to give up family life when he is strong enough. It is advised that before getting too weak and being baffled in material activities, and before becoming diseased, one should give up family life and engage oneself completely in the service of the Lord for the remaining days of his life. Therefore it is enjoined in the Vedic scriptures that as soon as one passes fifty years of age, he must give up family life and live alone in the forest. After preparing himself fully, he should become a sannyāsī to distribute the knowledge of spiritual life to each and every home.