1294 Stimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 30

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. It is enjoined, therefore, 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 sannyasi to distribute the knowledge of spiritual life to
each and every home.

TEXT 15

TRASTINTI AWTS CTR |
MRTTTATNARTENASeTSVa: 1124

aste ‘vamatyopanyastam
grha-pala ivaharan

dmayavy apradiptagnir
alpaharo ’Ipa-cestitah

aste—he remains; avamatyd—negligently; upanyastam—what is placed;
grha-palah—a dog; iva—like; aharan—eating; Gmayavi—diseased; aprudipta-
agnih—having dyspepsia; alpa—little; Gharah—eating; alpa—little; cestitah—
his activity.
TRANSLATION

Thus he remains at home just like a pet dog and eats whatever is so neg-
ligently given to him. Afflicted with many illnesses, such as dyspepsia and
loss of appetite, he eats only very small morsels of food, and he tecomes
an invalid who cannot work any more.

PURPORT

Before meeting death one is sure to become a diseased invalid, and when
he is neglected by his family members, his life becomes less than a dog’s be-
cause he is put into so many miserable conditions of life. Vedic literatures
enjoin, therefore, that before the arrival of such miserable conditions, one
should leave home and die without the knowledge of his family members.
