Volume 3 - Prabhupada Books

Text 58] Talks Between the Lord and Ramananda Raya 113
PURPORT
This is a quotation from the Vi$f)U Puraf)a (3.8.9). As stated by Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bha$ya: "The purport is that one can realize life's
perfection sim p ly by satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead." This is also
confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.13): _
atab pumbhir dvija-sre$tha
varf)asrama-vibhagasab
svanu?thitasya dharmasya
samsiddhir hari-to?af)am
"0 best among the twiceborn, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfec­
tion one can achieve, by discharging his prescribed duties [dharma] according to
caste divisions and order of life, is to please the Lord Hari."
Every man should perform his occupational duty in the light of his particular
tendency. According to his abilities, one should accept a position in the var­
f)asrama institution. The divisions of brahmaQa, k$atriya, vaisya and sudra are
natural divisions within society. Indeed, everyone has a prescribed duty according
to the varf)asrama-dharma. Those who properly execute their prescribed duties
live peacefully and are not disturbed by material conditions. The spiritual orders­
brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa-are called asramas. If one exe­
cutes his prescribed duty in both the social and spiritual order, the Supreme Per­
sonality of Godhead is satisfied. If one neglects his duties, however. he becomes a
transgressor and a candidate for a hellish condition. Actually we see that different
people are engaged in different ways; therefore there must be divisions according
to work. To attain perfection, one must make devotional service the center of life.
In this way one can awaken his natural instincts by work, association and educa­
tion. One should accept the varf)asrama divisions by qualification, not by birth.
Unless this system is introduced, human activities cannot be systematically ex­
ecuted.
The brahmaf)as are the intellectuals who can understand the Supreme Per­
sonality of Godhead. They are always engaged in the cultivation of knowledge. It
does not matter whether one is born in India or outside India. Those who are
naturally very heroic and who tend to rule over others are called k?atriyas. Those
who tend to produce food by agricultural methods, protect cows and other
animals and engage in trade are called vaisyas, or merchants. Those who are not
sufficiently intelligent to be brahmaf)as, k?atriyas or vaisyas are required to serve a
master and are called sudras. Thus everyone can engage in the service of the Lord
and Kr�r:ta consciousness. If a society does not function according to such natural
divisions, the social orders become degraded. The conclusion is that the scientific
method of varf)asrama-dharma should be adopted by society.