Duty of the vaisnava

Expressions researched:
"duty of the Vaisnava" |"duty of a Vaisnava" |"duty of a pure Vaisnava" |"duties of a Vaisnava"

SB Canto 5

When Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu was requested to explain the duty of a Vaiṣṇava, a Kṛṣṇa conscious person, He immediately said, asat-saṅga-tyāga-ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra

SB 5.18.10, Purport: When Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu was requested to explain the duty of a Vaisnava, a Krsna conscious person, He immediately said, asat-sanga-tyaga-ei vaisnava-acara [Cc. Madhya 22.87]. The first business of a Vaisnava is to give up the association of persons who are not devotees of Krsna and who are too attached to material things -- wife, children, bank balance and so on. Prahlada Maharaja also prays to the Personality of Godhead that he may avoid the association of nondevotees attached to the materialistic way of life. If he must be attached to someone, he prays to be attached only to a devotee.

One must give up the occupational duties of a śūdra, kṣatriya or vaiśya and adopt the occupational duties of a Vaiṣṇava

SB 5.26.23, Purport: This can be done only if the Krsna consciousness movement is spread, for we are trying to elevate everyone to the platform of Vaisnava. As Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (18.66), sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: "Abandon all other duties and simply surrender unto Me." One must give up the occupational duties of a sudra, ksatriya or vaisya and adopt the occupational duties of a Vaisnava, which include the activities of a brahmana.

SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13

On the whole, the duty of a pure Vaiṣṇava devotee is to act for the welfare of others

SB 10.8.4, Purport: One who executes this mission of para-upakara, performing welfare activities for people in general, is recognized by Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as being very, very dear to Him (na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah [Bg. 18.69]). Similarly, Caitanya Mahaprabhu has advised this para-upakara, and He has especially advised the inhabitants of India:

bharata-bhumite haila manusya-janma yara

janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara

"One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India [Bharata-varsa] should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people." (Cc. Adi 9.41) On the whole, the duty of a pure Vaisnava devotee is to act for the welfare of others.

CC Madhya-lila

A Vaisnava travels to places of pilgrimage to purify them and reclaim fallen conditioned souls. This is one of the duties of a Vaisnava

CC Madhya 10.13, Translation: A Vaisnava travels to places of pilgrimage to purify them and reclaim fallen conditioned souls. This is one of the duties of a Vaisnava. Actually, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is not a living entity but the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Consequently, He is a fully independent controller, yet in His position as a devotee, He carries out the activities of a devotee

CC Antya-lila

It is the duty of a Vaiṣṇava ācārya to prevent his disciples and followers from violating the principles of Vaiṣṇava behavior

CC Antya 13.133, Purport: Raghunatha Bhatta never did anything harmful to a Vaisnava. In other words, he was never inattentive in the service of the Lord, nor did he ever violate the rules and regulations of a pure Vaisnava. It is the duty of a Vaisnava acarya to prevent his disciples and followers from violating the principles of Vaisnava behavior. He should always advise them to strictly follow the regulative principles, which will protect them from falling down. Although a Vaisnava preacher may sometimes criticize others, Raghunatha Bhatta avoided this. Even if another Vaisnava was actually at fault, Raghunatha Bhatta would not criticize him; he saw only that everyone was engaged in Krsna's service.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

If everyone has got the potency to go back to home, back to Godhead, it is the duty of the Vaiṣṇava to educate the whole world how to go back to home, back to Godhead. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement

Lecture on SB 1.2.2 -- Rome, May 26, 1974: This is Prahlada. This is Vaisnava. Para-duhkha-duhkhi krpambudhir yah. Vaisnava means for himself he has no problem, but he is very, very, I mean, morose, by seeing others in distressed condition without Krsna consciousness. This is Vaisnava. A Vaisnava has no problem. He can sit down anywhere and chant Hare Krsna. Everything will be supplied to him. Krsna said, yoga-ksemam vahamy aham [Bg. 9.22]. There is no problem. But it is a Vaisnava's business to execute the will of Krsna, as Krsna says,

mam hi partha vyapasritya

ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah

striyo vaisyas tatha sudras

te 'pi yanti param gatim

[Bg. 9.32]

If everyone has got the potency to go back to home, back to Godhead, it is the duty of the Vaisnava to educate the whole world how to go back to home, back to Godhead. This is Krsna consciousness movement. This is Krsna consciousness movement. It is not... [break] (end)

So it is the duty of the Vaiṣṇava to see that people are gradually educated to Kṛṣṇa consciousness

Lecture on SB 1.10.2 -- Mayapura, June 17, 1973: So it is the duty of the Vaisnava to see that people are gradually educated to Krsna consciousness. So perhaps it would be better if we can..., we also capture political power. As there are many parties, Communist party, Congress party, this party, that party, so there must be one Krsna's party. Why not? Then people will be happy, if Krsna's party comes to the governmental post. Immediately there will be peace.

He is advising to the sons of the demons because the demons, they cannot understand. But it is the duty of the Vaiṣṇava to preach, although Kṛṣṇa advises that "You don't preach the truth of Bhagavad-gītā to the demons

Lecture on SB 7.6.7 -- Vrndavana, December 9, 1975: He is advising to the sons of the demons because the demons, they cannot understand. But it is the duty of the Vaisnava to preach, although Krsna advises that "You don't preach the truth of Bhagavad-gita to the demons." He said, "Those who have not undergone austerities, those who are not very serious, don't speak about these lessons of Bhagavad-gita, sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66]." Means they'll not understand. But still, the devotees, they take the risk that "All right, let me try to convince this person that 'Take to Krsna consciousness.' " Even Krsna says that "Don't try, because they will not be able to understand," still, they try. That is a devotee. Therefore devotee is more merciful than Krsna. Devotee is more merciful. Even there is no hope to understand, still, he goes door to door: "Please take to Krsna consciousness. Please take to Krsna, and you'll be happy." It is not always... Just like you are trying to spread Krsna consciousness with so much endeavor. It's not that cent percent people of the world will take. That is not possible.

Some devotee asked Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Sir, what is the duty of a Vaiṣṇava?" So He immediately replied in two lines, asat-saṅga-tyāga ei vaiṣṇava ācāra: "To give up the company of materialistic persons

Lecture on SB 7.6.17-18 -- New Vrindaban, July 1, 1976: So Prahlada Maharaja warns his friends that if we become attached to this sense gratification, then vimocitum kama-drsam vihara-krida-mrgo yan-nigado visargah. Nigado, nigado means the root, the root cause of accepting the material body. These things are sense gratification. Tato vidurat, from distant place. Tato vidurat parihrtya daitya. "My dear friends, although you are born of daitya family, I am also born" -- his father is also daitya. Daityesu sangam visayatmakesu: "give up their..." Asat-sanga-tyaga ei vaisnava acara [Cc. Madhya 22.87]. The same thing. Caitanya Mahaprabhu also said. Who is a Vaisnava? Vaisnava, He immediately explained, that Vaisnava, what is the duty of Vaisnava? Some devotee asked Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "Sir, what is the duty of a Vaisnava?" So He immediately replied in two lines, asat-sanga-tyaga ei vaisnava acara: "To give up the company of materialistic persons." Then the next question may be "Who is materialistic?" Asat eka 'stri-sangi: "One who is attached to woman, he is asat." And krsna-bhakta ara, "And one who is not a devotee of Krsna."

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

When He was asked by one gṛhastha bhakta, "What is the duty of a Vaiṣṇava?" Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately said, asat-saṅga tyāgī ei vaiṣṇava acāra. A Vaiṣṇava means he must give up the association of nondevotees

Morning Walk -- December 18, 1975, Bombay: Yes, Canakya Pandita also advised: kalau durajana samsagyam bhaja sadhu samargama(?). This is..., he was a politician, and still he said, kalau durajana samsagyam bhaja sadhu samargama, and smara nityam anityada kuru punyam avoratram. This is his advise, that give up this bad association of atheist class of man. Sadhu means devotee. Durajana means nondevotee. So kalau durajana samsagyam bhaja sadhu samargama. Caitanya Mahaprabhu also says like that. When He was asked by one grhastha bhakta, "What is the duty of a Vaisnava?" Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately said, asat-sanga tyagi ei vaisnava acara. A Vaisnava means he must give up the association of nondevotees. Then the question will be, "Who is nondevotee?" Asat-stri-sangi krsna bhakta... One who is too much attached to material enjoyment. Stri-sangi is the basic point, and one who is not a devotee of Krsna, he is asat-sanga. Asat-sanga-tyagi..., there are two lines. And the moralist, Canakya Pandita, he also said, kalau durajana samsagyam bhaja sadhu samargama. You give up something, you must take something. Otherwise you will not be able to stay.