View source for Prescribed duties (SB cantos 1 to 6)

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[[Category:Prescribed Duties|1]]
[[Category:Compilations from Books]]
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
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<div id="SB_Canto_1" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 1"><h3>SB Canto 1</h3>
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<div id="SB1111_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_1" book="SB" index="11" link="SB 1.1.11" link_text="SB 1.1.11">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 1.1.11|SB 1.1.11, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">There are many varieties of scriptures, and in all of them there are many prescribed duties, which can be learned only after many years of study in their various divisions. Therefore, O sage, please select the essence of all these scriptures and explain it for the good of all living beings, that by such instruction their hearts may be fully satisfied.</p>
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<div class="purport text"><p>Ātmā, or self, is distinguished from matter and material elements. It is spiritual in constitution, and thus it is never satisfied by any amount of material planning. All scriptures and spiritual instructions are meant for the satisfaction of this self, or ātmā. There are many varieties of approaches which are recommended for different types of living beings in different times and at different places. Consequently, the numbers of revealed scriptures are innumerable. There are different methods and prescribed duties recommended in these various scriptures.</p>
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<div id="SB1220_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_1" book="SB" index="43" link="SB 1.2.20" link_text="SB 1.2.20">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 1.2.20|SB 1.2.20, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Mostly men are conducted by the modes of passion and ignorance, and thus they are engaged always in lust, desire, hankerings, ignorance and sleep. Out of many such manlike animals, there is actually a man who knows the responsibility of human life and thus tries to make life perfect by following the prescribed duties.</p>
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<div id="SB1517_2" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_1" book="SB" index="148" link="SB 1.5.17" link_text="SB 1.5.17">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 1.5.17|SB 1.5.17, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Bharata Mahārāja was obliged to take his birth as a stag due to his intimate attachment to a stag. He thought of this stag when he died. As such, in the next birth he became a stag, although he did not forget the incident of his previous birth. Similarly, Citraketu also fell down due to his offenses at the feet of Śiva. But in spite of all this, the stress is given here to surrendering unto the lotus feet of the Lord, even if there is a chance of falling down, because even though one falls down from the prescribed duties of devotional service, he will never forget the lotus feet of the Lord.</p>
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<div id="SB1619_3" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_1" book="SB" index="190" link="SB 1.6.19" link_text="SB 1.6.19">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 1.6.19|SB 1.6.19, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">There is no mechanical process to see the form of the Lord. It completely depends on the causeless mercy of the Lord. We cannot demand the Lord to be present before our vision, just as we cannot demand the sun to rise whenever we like. The sun rises out of his own accord; so also the Lord is pleased to be present out of His causeless mercy. One should simply await the opportune moment and go on discharging his prescribed duty in devotional service of the Lord.</p>
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<div id="SB1930_4" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_1" book="SB" index="346" link="SB 1.9.30" link_text="SB 1.9.30">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 1.9.30|SB 1.9.30, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">The subject matter which attracts the dying man becomes the beginning of his next life. Therefore, if one is absorbed in thoughts of the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, he is sure to go back to Godhead without any doubt. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (8.5-15):</p>
<p>5: And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.</p>
<p>6: Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail.</p>
<p>7: Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of Kṛṣṇa and at the same time carry out your prescribed duty of fighting. With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt.</p>
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<div id="SB1143_5" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_1" book="SB" index="533" link="SB 1.14.3" link_text="SB 1.14.3">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 1.14.3|SB 1.14.3, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Foul means of livelihood implies deviation from one's occupational duty. There are prescribed duties for everyone, such as the brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra, but anyone who deviates from his prescribed duty and declares another's duty to be his own is following a foul and improper duty.</p>
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<div id="SB11443_6" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_1" book="SB" index="570" link="SB 1.14.43" link_text="SB 1.14.43">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 1.14.43|SB 1.14.43, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">It is the duty of a householder to feed first of all the children, the old members of the family, the brāhmaṇas and the invalids. Besides that, an ideal householder is required to call for any unknown hungry man to come and dine before he himself goes to take his meals. He is required to call for such a hungry man thrice on the road. The neglect of this prescribed duty of a householder, especially in the matter of the old men and children, is unpardonable.</p>
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<div id="SB11527_7" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_1" book="SB" index="596" link="SB 1.15.27" link_text="SB 1.15.27">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 1.15.27|SB 1.15.27, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Prescribed duties of the human being, as directed in the Vedas, can gradually purify the sinful mind of the conditioned soul and raise him to the stage of knowledge.</p>
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<div id="SB11716_8" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_1" book="SB" index="663" link="SB 1.17.16" link_text="SB 1.17.16">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 1.17.16|SB 1.17.16, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">There are regular scriptural injunctions for different persons engaged in different occupational duties, and one who follows them is called svadharma-stha, or faithful in one's prescribed duties. In the Bhagavad-gītā (18.48) it is advised that one should not give up his occupational prescribed duties, even if they are not always flawless.</p>
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<div id="SB_Canto_2" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 2"><h3>SB Canto 2</h3>
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<div id="SB216_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_2" book="SB" index="7" link="SB 2.1.6" link_text="SB 2.1.6">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 2.1.6|SB 2.1.6, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">By the speculation of empiric philosophy, which discerns matter from spirit, or by cultivation of mystic powers, which ultimately helps the performer to reach any planet of the universe or beyond the universe, or by discharge of religious duties, one can achieve the highest perfection, provided one is able to reach the stage of nārāyaṇa-smṛti, or constant remembrance of the Personality of Godhead. This is possible only by the association of a pure devotee, who can give a finishing touch to the transcendental activities of all jñānīs, yogīs, or karmīs, in terms of prescribed duties defined in the scriptures.</p>
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<div id="SB225_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_2" book="SB" index="45" link="SB 2.2.5" link_text="SB 2.2.5">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 2.2.5|SB 2.2.5, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Everyone can become a fearless and honest person if his very existence is purified by discharging the prescribed duty for each and every order of life. One can become fixed in one's prescribed duty by faithful aural reception of Vedic instructions and assimilation of the essence of Vedic knowledge by devotional service to the Lord.</p>
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<div id="SB2214_2" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_2" book="SB" index="54" link="SB 2.2.14" link_text="SB 2.2.14">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 2.2.14|SB 2.2.14, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">Unless the gross materialist develops a sense of loving service unto the Supreme Lord, the seer of both the transcendental and material worlds, he should remember or meditate upon the universal form of the Lord at the end of his prescribed duties.</p>
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<div id="SB_Canto_3" class="sub_section" sec_index="3" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 3"><h3>SB Canto 3</h3>
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<div id="SB3117_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="17" link="SB 3.1.17" link_text="SB 3.1.17">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.1.17|SB 3.1.17, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Places of pilgrimages are meant for eradicating the sins of the pilgrims, and they are distributed all over the universe just to give facility to all concerned for attaining pure existence and God realization. One should not be satisfied, however, merely by visiting the places of pilgrimage and performing one's prescribed duties; he should be eager to meet the great souls who are already there, engaged in the service of the Lord. In each and every place of pilgrimage, the Lord is present in His various transcendental forms.</p>
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<div id="SB3326_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="105" link="SB 3.3.26" link_text="SB 3.3.26">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.3.26|SB 3.3.26, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">For pure devotees of the Lord who are completely satisfied with the transcendental loving service of the Lord, there is hardly any necessity to visit the various places of pilgrimage. But those who are not so advanced have the prescribed duties of visiting pilgrimage sites and regularly performing the rituals.</p>
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<div id="SB32536_2" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1039" link="SB 3.25.36" link_text="SB 3.25.36">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.25.36|SB 3.25.36, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">It is a prescribed duty in temple worship that not only should one visit the temple to see the Deity nicely decorated, but at the same time he should hear the recitation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā or some similar literature, which is regularly recited in the temple.</p>
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<div id="SB32721_3" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1138" link="SB 3.27.21" link_text="SB 3.27.21">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.27.21|SB 3.27.21, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: One can get liberation by seriously discharging devotional service unto Me and thereby hearing for a long time about Me or from Me. By thus executing one's prescribed duties, there will be no reaction, and one will be freed from the contamination of matter.</p>
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<div id="SB32721_4" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1138" link="SB 3.27.21" link_text="SB 3.27.21">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.27.21|SB 3.27.21, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">One can be liberated from all adverse circumstances simply by seriously engaging in devotional service. How this devotional service develops and becomes mature is explained here. In the beginning one has to perform his prescribed duties with a clean mind. Clean consciousness means Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One has to perform his prescribed duties in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. There is no necessity of changing one's prescribed duties; one simply has to act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.</p>
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<div id="SB32721_5" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1138" link="SB 3.27.21" link_text="SB 3.27.21">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.27.21|SB 3.27.21, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">In discharging Kṛṣṇa conscious duties, one should determine whether, by his professional or occupational duties, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is satisfied. In another place in the Bhāgavatam it is said, svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam: ([[Vanisource:SB 1.2.13|SB 1.2.13]]) everyone has some prescribed duties to perform, but the perfection of such duties will be reached only if the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is satisfied by such actions. For example, Arjuna's prescribed duty was to fight, and the perfection of his fighting was tested by the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa wanted him to fight, and when he fought for the satisfaction of the Lord, that was the perfection of his professional devotional duty.</p>
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<div id="SB32721_6" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1138" link="SB 3.27.21" link_text="SB 3.27.21">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.27.21|SB 3.27.21, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">If one wants to perfect his life, he should discharge his prescribed duties for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa.</p>
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<div id="SB3282_7" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1148" link="SB 3.28.2" link_text="SB 3.28.2">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.28.2|SB 3.28.2, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">One should execute his prescribed duties to the best of his ability and avoid performing duties not allotted to him. One should be satisfied with as much gain as he achieves by the grace of the Lord, and one should worship the lotus feet of a spiritual master.</p>
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<div id="SB3282_8" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1148" link="SB 3.28.2" link_text="SB 3.28.2">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.28.2|SB 3.28.2, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">As long as we have this material body there are various duties prescribed for us. Such duties are divided by a system of four social orders: brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra. These particular duties are mentioned in the śāstra, and particularly in Bhagavad-gītā. Sva-dharmācaraṇam means that one must discharge the prescribed duties of his particular division of society faithfully and to the best of his ability. One should not accept another's duty. If one is born in a particular society or community, he should perform the prescribed duties for that particular division. If, however, one is fortunate enough to transcend the designation of birth in a particular society or community by being elevated to the standard of spiritual identity, then his sva-dharma, or duty, is solely that of serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead.</p>
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<div id="SB32915_9" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1203" link="SB 3.29.15" link_text="SB 3.29.15">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.29.15|SB 3.29.15, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">A devotee must execute his prescribed duties, which are glorious, without material profit. Without excessive violence, one should regularly perform one's devotional activities.</p>
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<div class="purport text"><p>One has to execute his prescribed duties according to his social position as a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra. The prescribed duties of the four classes of men in human society are also described in Bhagavad-gītā. The activities of brāhmaṇas are to control the senses and to become simple, clean, learned devotees. The kṣatriyas have the spirit for ruling, they are not afraid on the battlefield, and they are charitable. The vaiśyas, or the mercantile class of men, trade in commodities, protect cows and develop agricultural produce. The śūdras, or laborer class, serve the higher classes because they themselves are not very intelligent.</p>
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<div id="SB32915_10" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1203" link="SB 3.29.15" link_text="SB 3.29.15">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.29.15|SB 3.29.15, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">From every position, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā, sva-karmaṇā tam abhyarcya: ([[Vanisource:BG 18.46 (1972)|BG 18.46]]) one can serve the Supreme Lord by performing one's prescribed duty. It is not that only the brāhmaṇas can serve the Supreme Lord and not the śūdras. Anyone can serve the Supreme Lord by performing his prescribed duties under the direction of a spiritual master, or representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. No one should think that his prescribed duties are inferior.</p>
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<div id="SB32915_11" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1203" link="SB 3.29.15" link_text="SB 3.29.15">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.29.15|SB 3.29.15, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">A brāhmaṇa can serve the Lord by using his intelligence, and the kṣatriya can serve the Supreme Lord by using his military arts, just as Arjuna served Kṛṣṇa. Arjuna was a warrior; he had no time to study Vedānta or other highly intellectual books. The damsels in Vrajadhāma were girls born of the vaiśya class, and they engaged in protecting cows and producing agriculture. Kṛṣṇa's foster father, Nanda Mahārāja, and his associates were all vaiśyas. They were not at all educated, but they could serve Kṛṣṇa by loving Him and by offering everything to Him. Similarly, there are many instances in which caṇḍālas, or those lower than śūdras, have served Kṛṣṇa. Also, the sage Vidura was considered a śūdra because his mother happened to be śūdra. There are no distinctions, for it is declared by the Lord in Bhagavad-gītā that anyone engaged specifically in devotional service is elevated to the transcendental position without a doubt. Everyone's prescribed duty is glorious if it is performed in devotional service of the Lord, without desire for profit. Such loving service must be performed without reason, without impediment, and spontaneously. Kṛṣṇa is lovable, and one has to serve Him in whatever capacity one can. That is pure devotional service.</p>
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<div id="SB32925_12" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1213" link="SB 3.29.25" link_text="SB 3.29.25">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.29.25|SB 3.29.25, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">Performing his prescribed duties, one should worship the Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead until one realizes My presence in his own heart and in the hearts of other living entities as well.</p>
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<div class="purport text"><p>Worship of the Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is prescribed herewith even for persons who are simply discharging their prescribed duties. There are prescribed duties for the different social classes of men—the brāhmaṇas, the vaiśyas, the kṣatriyas and the śūdras—and for the different āśramas-brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa.</p>
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<div id="SB32925_13" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1213" link="SB 3.29.25" link_text="SB 3.29.25">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.29.25|SB 3.29.25, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">One should worship the Deity of the Lord until one appreciates the presence of the Lord in every living entity. In other words, one should not be satisfied simply by discharging his duties properly; he must realize his relationship and the relationship of all other living entities with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If he does not understand this, then even though he discharges his prescribed duties properly, it is to be understood that he is simply laboring without profit.</p>
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<div id="SB32925_14" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1213" link="SB 3.29.25" link_text="SB 3.29.25">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.29.25|SB 3.29.25, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">The word sva-karma-kṛt in this verse is very significant. Sva-karma-kṛt is one who engages in discharging his prescribed duties. It is not that one who has become a devotee of the Lord or who engages in devotional service should give up his prescribed duties. No one should be lazy under the plea of devotional service. One has to execute devotional service according to his prescribed duties. Sva-karma-kṛt means that one should discharge the duties prescribed for him without neglect.</p>
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<div id="SB3325_15" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1319" link="SB 3.32.5" link_text="SB 3.32.5">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.32.5|SB 3.32.5, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Persons who work at their prescribed duties, not for sense gratification but for gratification of the Supreme Lord, are called niḥsaṅga, freed from the influence of the modes of material nature.</p>
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<div id="SB33216_16" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1327" link="SB 3.32.16" link_text="SB 3.32.16">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.32.16|SB 3.32.16, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">Persons who are too addicted to this material world execute their prescribed duties very nicely and with great faith. They daily perform all such prescribed duties with attachment to the fruitive result.</p>
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<div id="SB33218_17" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1329" link="SB 3.32.18" link_text="SB 3.32.18">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.32.18|SB 3.32.18, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Persons who are simply interested in material enjoyment make plans to execute prescribed duties. They are interested in the three elevating processes of religious rituals, economic elevation and sense enjoyment.</p>
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<div id="SB3323436_18" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1345" link="SB 3.32.34-36" link_text="SB 3.32.34-36">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.32.34-36|SB 3.32.34-36, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">By performing fruitive activities and sacrifices, by distributing charity, by performing austerities, by studying various literatures, by conducting philosophical research, by controlling the mind, by subduing the senses, by accepting the renounced order of life and by performing the prescribed duties of one's social order; by performing the different divisions of yoga practice, by performing devotional service and by exhibiting the process of devotional service containing the symptoms of both attachment and detachment; by understanding the science of self-realization and by developing a strong sense of detachment, one who is expert in understanding the different processes of self-realization realizes the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is represented in the material world as well as in transcendence.</p>
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<div class="purport text"><p>As it is stated in the previous verse, one has to follow the principles of the scriptures. There are different prescribed duties for persons in the different social and spiritual orders. Here it is stated that performance of fruitive activities and sacrifices and distribution of charity are activities meant for persons who are in the householder order of society. There are four orders of the social system: brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa. For the gṛhasthas, or householders, performance of sacrifices, distribution of charity, and action according to prescribed duties are especially recommended. Similarly, austerity, study of Vedic literature, and philosophical research are meant for the vānaprasthas, or retired persons. Study of the Vedic literature from the bona fide spiritual master is meant for the brahmacārī, or student. Ātmendriya-jaya, control of the mind and taming of the senses, is meant for persons in the renounced order of life. All these different activities are prescribed for different persons so that they may be elevated to the platform of self-realization and from there to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, devotional service.</p>
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</div>
<div id="SB3323436_19" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="1345" link="SB 3.32.34-36" link_text="SB 3.32.34-36">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.32.34-36|SB 3.32.34-36, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">One can achieve elevation to the higher planetary systems like the heavenly kingdom by executing one's prescribed duties and by performing sacrifices.</p>
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<div id="SB_Canto_4" class="sub_section" sec_index="4" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 4"><h3>SB Canto 4</h3>
</div>
<div id="SB415_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="5" link="SB 4.1.5" link_text="SB 4.1.5">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.1.5|SB 4.1.5, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">In the Yajur Veda there are different ritualistic prescriptions for performing yajñas, and the beneficiary of all such yajñas is the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu. Therefore it is stated in Bhagavad-gītā (3.9), yajñārthāt karmaṇaḥ: one should act, but one should perform one's prescribed duties only for the sake of Yajña, or Viṣṇu. lf one does not act for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or if one does not perform devotional service, then there will be reactions to all one's activities.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB4323_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="115" link="SB 4.3.23" link_text="SB 4.3.23">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.3.23|SB 4.3.23, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">It is stated in Bhagavad-gītā (8.8), abhyāsa-yoga-yuktena. By executing one's prescribed duties in devotional service, cetasā nānya-gāminā, or simply by hearing about God and chanting about Him, if one's mind is always engaged in chanting and hearing and is not allowed to go elsewhere, one can realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB4872_2" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="359" link="SB 4.8.72" link_text="SB 4.8.72">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.8.72|SB 4.8.72, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">It is our duty to remember always that in comparison to Dhruva Mahārāja we are insignificant. We cannot do anything like what Dhruva Mahārāja did for self-realization because we are absolutely incompetent to execute such service. But by Lord Caitanya's mercy we have been given all concessions possible for this age, so at least we should always remember that neglect of our prescribed duties in devotional service will not make us successful in the mission we have undertaken. It is our duty to follow in the footsteps of Dhruva Mahārāja, for he was very determined. We should also be determined to finish our duties in executing devotional service in this life; we should not wait for another life to finish our job.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB4134_3" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="550" link="SB 4.13.4" link_text="SB 4.13.4">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.13.4|SB 4.13.4, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">In the Bhagavad-gītā (18.45) it is stated, sve sve karmaṇy abhirataḥ saṁsiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ: by executing one's prescribed duties one can please the Supreme Lord.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB41418_4" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="610" link="SB 4.14.18" link_text="SB 4.14.18">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.14.18|SB 4.14.18, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">In perfect human society, people are situated in the orders of varṇa and āśrama and are engaged in worshiping Lord Viṣṇu by their respective activities. Every citizen engaged in an occupation renders service by the resultant actions of his activities. That is the perfection of life. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (18.46):</p>
:yataḥ pravṛttir bhūtānāṁ
:yena sarvam idaṁ tatam
:sva-karmaṇā tam abhyarcya
:siddhiṁ vindati mānavaḥ
<p>"By worship of the Lord, who is the source of all beings and who is all-pervading, man can, in the performance of his own duty, attain perfection."Thus the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, śūdras and vaiśyas must execute their prescribed duties as these duties are stated in the śāstras.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB41418_5" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="610" link="SB 4.14.18" link_text="SB 4.14.18">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.14.18|SB 4.14.18, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">In perfect human society, people are situated in the orders of varṇa and āśrama and are engaged in worshiping Lord Viṣṇu by their respective activities. Every citizen engaged in an occupation renders service by the resultant actions of his activities. That is the perfection of life. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (18.46):</p>
:yataḥ pravṛttir bhūtānāṁ
:yena sarvam idaṁ tatam
:sva-karmaṇā tam abhyarcya
:siddhiṁ vindati mānavaḥ
<p>"By worship of the Lord, who is the source of all beings and who is all-pervading, man can, in the performance of his own duty, attain perfection."</p>
<p>Thus the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, śūdras and vaiśyas must execute their prescribed duties as these duties are stated in the śāstras.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB42013_6" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="806" link="SB 4.20.13" link_text="SB 4.20.13">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.20.13|SB 4.20.13, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">A common man must execute the rules and regulations of varṇāśrama-dharma by working in his prescribed duty according to the caste system (brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra) and the spiritual-order system (brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa). If one simply executes regularly and strictly the injunctions given for the different divisions of life, then one satisfies Lord Viṣṇu.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB42014_7" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="807" link="SB 4.20.14" link_text="SB 4.20.14">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.20.14|SB 4.20.14, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">The division of activities in society as arranged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead was not blindly or accidentally created, as foolish people say. The brāhmaṇa must do his duty properly, and the kṣatriya, the vaiśya and even the śūdra must do the same. And every one of them can achieve the highest perfection of life-liberation from this material bondage. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (18.45). Sve sve karmaṇy abhirataḥ saṁsiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ: "By executing one's prescribed duties, one can attain the highest perfection."</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB4217_8" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="837" link="SB 4.21.7" link_text="SB 4.21.7">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.21.7|SB 4.21.7, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">A responsible king or chief executive has many responsible duties to attend to in ruling over the citizens. The most important duty of the monarch or the government is to perform various sacrifices as enjoined in the Vedic literatures. The next duty of the king is to see that every citizen executes the prescribed duties for his particular community. It is the king's duty to see that everyone perfectly executes the duties prescribed for the varṇa and āśrama divisions of society.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB42127_9" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="857" link="SB 4.21.27" link_text="SB 4.21.27">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.21.27|SB 4.21.27, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">The most important point in human civilization is that while one engages in different occupational duties, he must try to satisfy the Supreme Lord by the execution of such duties. That is the highest perfection of life. Svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam: ([[Vanisource:SB 1.2.13|SB 1.2.13]]) by discharging one's prescribed duty, one can become very successful in life if he simply satisfies the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The vivid example is Arjuna. He was a kṣatriya, his duty was to fight, and by executing his prescribed duty he satisfied the Supreme Lord and therefore became perfect.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB42133_10" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="862" link="SB 4.21.33" link_text="SB 4.21.33">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.21.33|SB 4.21.33, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">In executing the prescribed duties of life, no one is higher or lower; there are such divisions as "higher" and "lower," but since there is actually a common interest—to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead—there are no distinctions between them.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB42250_11" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="931" link="SB 4.22.50" link_text="SB 4.22.50">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.22.50|SB 4.22.50, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Mahārāja Pṛthu was a responsible monarch, and he had to execute the duties of a kṣatriya, a king and a devotee at the same time. Being perfect in the Lord's devotional service, he could execute his prescribed duties with complete perfection as befitted the time and circumstance and his financial strength and personal ability.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB42724_12" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="1163" link="SB 4.27.24" link_text="SB 4.27.24">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.27.24|SB 4.27.24, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">According to the Vedic principles, one should rise early in the morning, take bath, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, offer maṅgala-ārati to the Deities, study Vedic literature, take prasāda and engage in dressing and decorating the Deities. One must also collect money for the temple expenditures, or if one is a householder he must go to work in accordance with the prescribed duties of a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB42845_13" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="1213" link="SB 4.28.45" link_text="SB 4.28.45">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.28.45|SB 4.28.45, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">The daughter of King Vidarbha continued as usual to serve her husband, who was seated in a steady posture, until she could ascertain that he had passed away from the body.</p>
</div>
<div class="purport text"><p>It appears that the Queen did not even talk to her husband while serving. She would simply perform her prescribed duties without talk. Thus she did not stop rendering service until she could ascertain that her husband had passed from the body.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB43016_14" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="1326" link="SB 4.30.16" link_text="SB 4.30.16">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.30.16|SB 4.30.16, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">"Work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed, otherwise work binds one to this material world. Therefore, O son of Kuntī, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain unattached and free from bondage."</p>
<p>One may act according to his own occupational duty just to satisfy the yajña-puruṣa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is called apṛthag-dharma. Different limbs of the body may act in different ways, but the ultimate objective is to maintain the entire body. Similarly, if we work for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we will find that we satisfy everything.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB43029_15" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="1339" link="SB 4.30.29" link_text="SB 4.30.29">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.30.29|SB 4.30.29, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">If a sincere devotee renders service to the Lord or to the arcā-vigraha, the form of the Lord, all his activities prove successful because the Lord is present within his heart and understands his sincerity. Thus if a devotee, with all confidence, goes on discharging the prescribed duties of devotional service, he will ultimately attain success.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB43044_16" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="1353" link="SB 4.30.44" link_text="SB 4.30.44">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.30.44|SB 4.30.44, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">As far as rain is concerned, it is the performance of yajña that attracts rain. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (3.14):</p>
:annād bhavanti bhūtāni
:parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ
:yajñād bhavati parjanyo
:yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ
<p>"All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains. Rains are produced by performance of yajña (sacrifice), and yajña is born of prescribed duties." By performing sacrifice, man will have sufficient rainfall and crops.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB_Canto_5" class="sub_section" sec_index="5" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 5"><h3>SB Canto 5</h3>
</div>
<div id="SB5114_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_5" book="SB" index="15" link="SB 5.1.14" link_text="SB 5.1.14">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 5.1.14|SB 5.1.14, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">The varṇāśrama system is scientific. Therefore if we accept the divisions of varṇa and āśrama according to the Vedic instructions, our lives will be successful. Unless human society is thus divided and arranged, it cannot be perfect. As stated in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (3.8.9):</p>
:varṇāśramācāravatā
:puruṣeṇa paraḥ pumān
:viṣṇur ārādhyate panthā
:nānyat tat-toṣa-kāraṇam
:([[Vanisource:CC Madhya 8.58|CC Madhya 8.58]])
<p>"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, is worshiped by the proper execution of prescribed duties in the system of varṇa and āśrama. There is no other way to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One must be situated in the institution of the four varṇas and āśramas."</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB532_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_5" book="SB" index="69" link="SB 5.3.2" link_text="SB 5.3.2">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 5.3.2|SB 5.3.2, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">One can understand and see the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the process of devotional service, and not in any other way. Although Mahārāja Nābhi performed prescribed duties and sacrifices, it should still be considered that the Lord appeared before him not due to his sacrifices but because of his devotional service.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB551013_2" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_5" book="SB" index="116" link="SB 5.5.10-13" link_text="SB 5.5.10-13">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 5.5.10-13|SB 5.5.10-13, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">O My sons, you should accept a highly elevated paramahaṁsa, a spiritually advanced spiritual master. In this way, you should place your faith and love in Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You should detest sense gratification and tolerate the duality of pleasure and pain, which are like the seasonal changes of summer and winter. Try to realize the miserable condition of living entities, who are miserable even in the higher planetary systems. Philosophically inquire about the truth. Then undergo all kinds of austerities and penances for the sake of devotional service. Give up the endeavor for sense enjoyment and engage in the service of the Lord. Listen to discussions about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and always associate with devotees. Chant about and glorify the Supreme Lord, and look upon everyone equally on the spiritual platform. Give up enmity and subdue anger and lamentation. Abandon identifying the self with the body and the home, and practice reading the revealed scriptures. Live in a secluded place and practice the process by which you can completely control your life air, mind and senses. Have full faith in the revealed scriptures, the Vedic literatures, and always observe celibacy. Perform your prescribed duties and avoid unnecessary talks. Always thinking of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, acquire knowledge from the right source. Thus practicing bhakti-yoga, you will patiently and enthusiastically be elevated in knowledge and will be able to give up the false ego.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB576_3" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_5" book="SB" index="164" link="SB 5.7.6" link_text="SB 5.7.6">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 5.7.6|SB 5.7.6, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">The Supreme Personality of Godhead says that as long as one does not develop the pure devotional service of śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam ([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.23-24|SB 7.5.23]]), hearing and chanting, one must carry out his prescribed duties.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB51440_4" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_5" book="SB" index="350" link="SB 5.14.40" link_text="SB 5.14.40">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 5.14.40|SB 5.14.40, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">One doesn't have to give up his occupation as a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra or whatever. In any position, while discharging his prescribed duty, one can develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness simply by associating with devotees who are representatives of Kṛṣṇa and who can teach this science.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB51624_5" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_5" book="SB" index="395" link="SB 5.16.24" link_text="SB 5.16.24">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 5.16.24|SB 5.16.24, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">"All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains. Rains are produced by performance of yajña (sacrifice), and yajña is born of prescribed duties." These are the prescriptions given in Bhagavad-gītā (3.14). If people follow these principles in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, human society will be prosperous, and they will be happy both in this life and in the next.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB51919_6" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_5" book="SB" index="483" link="SB 5.19.19" link_text="SB 5.19.19">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 5.19.19|SB 5.19.19, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, is worshiped by the proper execution of prescribed duties in the system of varṇa and āśrama. There is no other way to satisfy the Lord." In the land of Bhārata-varṣa, the institution of varṇāśrama-dharma may be easily adopted. At the present moment, certain demoniac sections of the population of Bhāratavarṣa are disregarding the system of varṇāśrama-dharma. Because there is no institution to teach people how to become brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras or brahmacārīs, gṛhasthas, vānaprasthas and sannyāsīs, these demons want a classless society.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB52618_7" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_5" book="SB" index="654" link="SB 5.26.18" link_text="SB 5.26.18">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 5.26.18|SB 5.26.18, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">"Work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed, otherwise work binds one to this material world. Therefore, O son of Kuntī, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain unattached and free from bondage." If we do not perform yajña and distribute prasāda to others, our lives are condemned. Only after performing yajña and distributing the prasāda to all dependents—children, brāhmaṇas and old men—should one eat. However, one who cooks only for himself or his family is condemned, along with everyone he feeds. After death he is put into the hell known as Kṛmibhojana.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB52622_8" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_5" book="SB" index="658" link="SB 5.26.22" link_text="SB 5.26.22">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 5.26.22|SB 5.26.22, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">A person who is born into a responsible family—such as a kṣatriya, a member of royalty or a government servant—but who neglects to execute his prescribed duties according to religious principles, and who thus becomes degraded, falls down at the time of death into the river of hell known as Vaitaraṇī. This river, which is a moat surrounding hell, is full of ferocious aquatic animals. When a sinful man is thrown into the River Vaitaraṇī, the aquatic animals there immediately begin to eat him, but because of his extremely sinful life, he does not leave his body. He constantly remembers his sinful activities and suffers terribly in that river, which is full of stool, urine, pus, blood, hair, nails, bones, marrow, flesh and fat.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB_Canto_6" class="sub_section" sec_index="6" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 6"><h3>SB Canto 6</h3>
</div>
<div id="SB6313_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_6" book="SB" index="120" link="SB 6.3.13" link_text="SB 6.3.13">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 6.3.13|SB 6.3.13, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">"O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection one can achieve, by discharging his prescribed duties (dharma) according to caste divisions and orders of life, is to please the Lord Hari." The varṇāśrama institution offers the perfect process for making one eligible to return home, back to Godhead, because the aim of every varṇa and āśrama is to please the Supreme Lord. One can please the Lord under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master. and if one does so his life is perfect.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB6127_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_6" book="SB" index="448" link="SB 6.12.7" link_text="SB 6.12.7">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 6.12.7|SB 6.12.7, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">One should fully depend on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is responsible for the victory and defeat of all living entities. The Lord advises, niyataṁ kuru karma tvaṁ karma jyāyo hy akarmaṇaḥ: "Perform your prescribed duty, for action is better than inaction." The living entity is ordered to act according to his position. Victory or defeat depends on the Supreme Lord. Karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana: "You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of actions." One must act sincerely, according to his position. Victory or defeat depends on the Lord.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB61611_2" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_6" book="SB" index="590" link="SB 6.16.11" link_text="SB 6.16.11">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 6.16.11|SB 6.16.11, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">"You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty." One should execute one's devotional duty, and for the results of one's actions one should depend upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB61616_3" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_6" book="SB" index="595" link="SB 6.16.16" link_text="SB 6.16.16">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 6.16.16|SB 6.16.16, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">The King bathed in the water of the Yamunā, and according to prescribed duties, he offered oblations of water to the forefathers and demigods. Very gravely controlling his senses and mind, he then offered his respects and obeisances to the sons of Lord Brahmā (Aṅgirā and Nārada).</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>