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Brahmacari, householder and retired - everyone has got specific duty. That is mentioned in all the sastras

Expressions researched:
"brahmacārī, householder and retired—everyone has got specific duty. That is mentioned in all the śāstras"

Lectures

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Brahmacārī, householder and retired—everyone has got specific duty. That is mentioned in all the śāstras. In the Bhagavad-gītā also that is mentioned, and in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is also mentioned. And one is to be understood what he is according to his quality and work, not by birth.

The speech was being delivered by Sūta Gosvāmī amongst great sages. So he is addressing, "My dear learned brahmins." All the sages, they were brahmins. So, "My dear learned brahmins," ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ, "according to the division of social system . . ." What are the division?

The first-class man is a brahmin, full of knowledge, spiritual knowledge; the second-class man is the administrator, maintaining the state; and a third-class man, economic development, mercantile people—and fourth-class men, they are laborer class. This is the division of the society.

And there is division of spiritual advancement. What is that? That brahmacārī, the beginning of spiritual life; then gṛhastha, householder, to live just like gentleman, with responsibility with spiritual view, householder; then vānaprastha, retired life; then sannyāsa, renounced life. These are the divisions, varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ. Varṇa means four division of the social system, and āśrama means four division of spiritual enlightenment.

So here it is said: "My dear brahmins, learned brahmins, according to the division of the social status and spiritual status, everyone's duty is . . ." What is that duty? Svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya. Everyone has got particular, specific occupational duty. A brahmin has got his occupational duty. The kṣatriya has occupational duty.

Similarly, brahmacārī, householder and retired—everyone has got specific duty. That is mentioned in all the śāstras. In the Bhagavad-gītā also that is mentioned, and in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is also mentioned. And one is to be understood what he is according to his quality and work, not by birth.

When it is default, it is taken on the basis of birth. But actually, in the śāstras, or scripture, there is no question of birth. Anyone can become a brahmin, anyone can become a kṣatriya, anyone can become a sannyāsī, anyone can become a brahmacārī—provided he acts according to the quality of the work.

So here Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya: "Everyone has got a particular type of occupational duty, but the ultimate goal of that duty is saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam (SB 1.2.13). If you want to make perfection of your duty, then you have to satisfy the Supreme Lord." It doesn't matter what you are. You may be a brahmacārī, you may be a householder, you may be in the renounced order of life, and you may be a laborer class, you may be a brahmin or you may be administrator.

Whatever you may be, it doesn't matter. But your duty, your occupational service, will attain perfection when you try to satisfy the Supreme Lord by your occupation. That is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Page Title:Brahmacari, householder and retired - everyone has got specific duty. That is mentioned in all the sastras
Compiler:Nabakumar
Created:2023-03-09, 13:14:44
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=1, Con=0, Let=0
No. of Quotes:1