Śrama means "labor" and kevalam means "only." Dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ: everyone has got some particular type of duty. I’m not speaking of those who are not following the Vedic prin . . . duty means to follow the duty enjoined by the scriptures. That is called duty.
Duty, you cannot make anything, manufacturing duty that, "This is my duty." No. Duty means it is authorized. So according to Vedic principle, everyone has some authorized duty. The classification is brahmin, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra. They are followers of the enjoined duties. Others, they are called pañcama; they are out of this core.
So even those who are following the duties—brahmin's duty, kṣatriya’s duty, vaiśya’s duties, śūdra’s duty . . . the more you come lower, the duty’s charge becomes smaller. Just like the brahmin, they have to qualify in twelve kinds of qualifications. The kṣatriyas, they have to qualify themselves in seven kinds of qualifications. The vaiśyas, they have to qualify themselves in three kinds of qualifications. And the śūdras, they have to qualify themselves in one, that’s all. What is that one? Simply to serve the master faithfully. That’s all. Paricaryātmakaṁ karma śūdrasyāpi svabhāva-jam (BG 18.44).
A śūdra means one who is simply to satisfy the master. He cannot live independently. He must seek out. Just like a dog: a dog’s living independently means it is a street dog; there is no comfort. A street dog has no comfort. The cats and dogs, they find out some shelter. Just like this cat (chuckles), Govinda dāsī's cat. As soon as Govinda dāsī comes out, immediately she comes on the feet, "My dear mother, please keep me on your feet." So that is fortunate, she has selected . . . it has selected a Vaiṣṇavī, so it will have some good affect. But if the selection is wrong . . .
So our Vaiṣṇava principle is we have to qualify ourselves, just like cats and dog. But we are not going to serve the ordinary person. Kṛṣṇa and His representative—then his life is perfect. Kalau śūdra sambhava. In this age, everyone is practically a śūdra seeking a master. But let him seek a master. Kṛṣṇa is prepared. He says, sarva-dharmān parityaja mām ekaṁ (BG 18.66)
"Just accept Me as your master." The master is ready. If we accept this master, then our life is successful. Even though you are now in śūdras, but don’t make mistake to find out a master who is a nonsense. Then life is spoiled.