View source for The Srimad-Bhagavatam affirms that one should follow in the footsteps of great devotees, and that is the way of progress on the path of spiritual realization. BG 1972 purports

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{{terms|"also affirms that one should follow in the footsteps of great devotees, and that is the way of progress on the path of spiritual realization"}}
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[[Category:Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana)]]
[[Category:Affirm]]
[[Category:Following in the Footsteps of Devotees of God]]
[[Category:Great Devotees of God]]
[[Category:Progress]]
[[Category:Path]]
[[Category:Spiritual Realization]]
[[Category:Bhagavad-gita As It Is - 1972 Purports, Chapter 03 - Vaniquotes]]
[[Category:Bhagavad-gita As It Is - 1972 Purports, Chapters 01 to 18 - Vaniquotes]]
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<h2>Bhagavad-gita As it is</h2>
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<h3>BG Chapters 1 - 6</h3>
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The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam affirms that one should follow in the footsteps of great devotees, and that is the way of progress on the path of spiritual realization. The king or the executive head of a state, the father and the school teacher are all considered to be natural leaders of the innocent people in general. All such natural leaders have a great responsibility to their dependants; therefore they must be conversant with standard books of moral and spiritual codes.
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[[Vanisource:BG 3.21 (1972)|BG 3.21 (1972), Translation and Purport]]
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Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.
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People in general always require a leader who can teach the public by practical behavior. A leader cannot teach the public to stop smoking if he himself smokes. Lord Caitanya said that a teacher should behave properly even before he begins teaching. One who teaches in that way is called ācārya, or the ideal teacher. Therefore, a teacher must follow the principles of śāśtra (scripture) to reach the common man. The teacher cannot manufacture rules against the principles of revealed scriptures. The revealed scriptures, like Manu-saṁhitā and similar others, are considered the standard books to be followed by human society. Thus the leader's teaching should be based on the principles of the standard rules as they are practiced by the great teachers. The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam also affirms that one should follow in the footsteps of great devotees, and that is the way of progress on the path of spiritual realization. The king or the executive head of a state, the father and the school teacher are all considered to be natural leaders of the innocent people in general. All such natural leaders have a great responsibility to their dependants; therefore they must be conversant with standard books of moral and spiritual codes.
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