Introduction a Introduction
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TEXT 39 Ga*haQasSad*Xaq&>aaYaaRMauÜhedJauGauiPSaTaaMa( ) YavqYaSaq&TauvYaSaaYa&Sav One who desires to marry should select a girl from his own caste. A brähmaëa can marry girls of all the four varëas, a kńatriya can marry girls from three varëas, a vaiçya can marry girls from two varëas, and a çüdra can only marry a girl of his varëa. This is the verdict of the revealed scriptures.
wJYaaDYaYaNadaNaaiNaSaveRza&ciÜJaNMaNaaMa( ) Pa[iTaGa]hae_DYaaPaNa&cb]ař 346 UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ ijyädhyayana-dänäni sarveńäŕ ca dvi-janmanäm pratigraho ‘dhyäpanaŕ ca brähmaëasyaiva yäjanam Those who belong to the three twice-born social orders should perform sacrifice, study the Vedas, and give charity. However, only brähmaëas can accept charity, teach the Vedas, and perform sacrifices on behalf of others. COMMENTARY Every member of the three higher varëas should worship the Supreme Lord, study the Vedas, and give charity. However, acceptance of charity, teaching the Vedas, and acting as a priest on another’s behalf can be done only by brähmaëas. PURPORT Those who are twice-born, who have undergone the purificatory procedures, must worship the Supreme Lord, study the Vedic literature, and give charity. Among the twice-born, only the brähmaëas are eligible to accept charity, conduct Vedic sacrifices on behalf of others, and teach the Vedic literature. Without the guidance of qualified
nor will they understand the Vedic literature, properly perform sacrifices, or give in charity to deserving persons. All of these activities require the guidance of those who are in perfect knowledge of the truth. When society works under the direction of qualified brähmaëas, peace and prosperity prevail, and not otherwise. TEXT 41 Pa[iTaGa]h&MaNYaMaaNaSTaPaSTaeJaaeYaXaaeNaudMa( ) ANYaa>YaaMaevJaqveTaiXalE/vaRdaezd*k( TaYaae> ))41))
Lord Kĺńëa’s Description of the Varëäçrama System COMMENTARY 347 If a brähmaëa finds fault in the occupations of a teacher of Vedic knowledge and sacrificial priest, then he should collect the grains that are found scattered in the agricultural fields.
his austerity, destroys his spiritual influence, and gives him a bad reputation, should simply depend upon the Lord’s mercy, and not make a great endeavor to earn wealth. A brähmaëa should simply depend upon the mercy of the Lord, and not endeavor unnecessarily for his family maintenance. The Lord has promised that He will maintain His devotee and one who is sincere does not doubt the words of the Lord. TEXT 42 b]ař k*-C^\aYaTaPaSaecehPa[eTYaaNaNTaSau%aYa c ))42))
The question may arise, “Why should a brähmaëa take so much trouble performing austerities?” The answer is that the body of a brähmaëa is not meant for fulfilling
insignificant material desires—it is meant for performing difficult austerities in this life, so that he will achieve unlimited happiness in the next life.
A bĺähmaëa who has realized the transcendental Personality of Godhead enjoys boundless spiritual happiness and so does not take pleasure in the gratification of the
senses. Such a devotee does not undergo severe austerities simply for the purpose of deceiving himself. Those who consider that surrendering to the Supreme Lord involves
great severe austerity think in that way because they are addicted to selfish acts of sense enjoyment. Being self-interested, they may ultimately engage in severe austerities
for the purpose of attaining liberation. Devotees of the Lord, however, on the strength 348 UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ of their engagement in devotional service, reject the pleasures of the senses as being insignificant. It is not the duty of a brähmaëa to become either a sense enjoyer or a dry ascetic. His training is simply meant for him to understand that he is the eternal servant of the Supreme Lord. If a brähmaëa carefully contemplates the meaning of the following three verses, he can surely come to the conclusion that human life is meant for engaging oneself in the devotional service of the Lord, and not for pursuing insignificant sense gratification. nähaŕ vande tava caraëayor dvandvam advandva-hetoů kumbhépäkaŕ gurum api hare närakaŕ näpanetum ramyä-rämä-mĺdu-tanu-latä nandane näpi rantuŕ bhäve bhäve hĺdaya-bhavane bhävayeyaŕ bhavantam O Lord Hari, it is not to be saved from the dualities of material existence or the grim tribulations of the Kumbhépäka hell that I pray to Your lotus feet. Nor is my purpose to enjoy the soft-skinned beautiful women who reside in the gardens of heaven. I pray to Your lotus feet only so that I may remember You alone in the core of my heart, birth after birth. (Mukunda-mälä-stotra 4) nästhä dharme na vasu-nicaye naiva kämopabhoge yad bhävyaŕ tad bhavatu bhagavan pürva-karmänurüpam etat prärthyaŕ mama bahu-mataŕ janma-janmäntare ’pi tvat-pädämbho-ruha-yuga-gatä niçcalä bhaktir astu I have no attraction for performing religious rituals or holding any earthly kingdom. I do not care for sense enjoyments; let them appear and disappear in accordance with my previous deeds. My only desire is to be fixed in devotional service to the lotus feet of the Lord, even though I may continue to take birth here life after life. (Mukunda-mälä-stotra 5) na dhanaŕ na janaŕ na sundaréŕ kavitäŕ vä jagad-éça kämaye mama janmani janmanéçvare bhavatäd bhaktir ahaituké tvayi O Almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor to enjoy beautiful women. Nor do I want any number of followers. What I want only is the causeless mercy of Your devotional service in my life, birth after birth. (Çikńäńöaka 4) Lord Kĺńëa’s Description of the Varëäçrama System TEXT 43 iXal/aeH^v*tYaaPairTauíictaaeDaMa|MahaNTa&ivrJa&Jauza ) MaYYaiPaRTaaTMaaGa*h WviTaďNNaaiTaPa[Sa˘->SaMauPaEiTaXaaiNTaMa( ))43))
A brähmaëa householder should remain satisfied while maintaining himself by collecting rejected grains found in the fields and marketplaces. Keeping himself free of personal desire, he should practice religious principles while fixing his mind on Me. In this way, a brähmaëa can remain at home, gradually cultivating detachment, and thus advance toward the ultimate goal of life. COMMENTARY The word unchavĺtti means “to collect rejected grains that have been left in the marketplaces and agricultural fields.” The phrase dharmaŕ mahäntaŕ especially refers to faithfully serving guests. PURPORT Çréla Narottama däsa Öhäkura has said that one should engage in the service of the Supreme Lord, whether one is living at home or residing in the forest. The essence of all the instructions of çästra is that it is the duty of all the members of the eight varëas and äçramas to serve the Supreme Lord, while remaining indifferent to material enjoyment. If one utilizes everything in the service of Lord Kĺńëa, then regardless of his position within the varëäçrama social system, he must be considered a liberated soul. In this regard, one should carefully consider the verse describing yukta vairägya, beginning with anäsaktasya, and the verse describing phalgu vairägya, beginning with
service will be awakened. Without being enlightened by the instructions of the bona fide spiritual master, unrestricted material desires that are fulfilled by engagement in fruitive activities, or on a higher platform, indulgence in mental speculation, will not allow one to favorably cultivate Kĺńëa consciousness. Brähmaëas who are attached to ritualistic activities that are meant for enjoying material happiness, or who practice renunciation in the hopes of merging into the impersonal Brahman, invite inauspiciousness to fall upon themselves. In this regard, one should carefully contemplate the purport of these two verses:
350 UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ yadĺcchayä mat-kathädau jäta-çraddhas tu yaů pumän na nirviëëo nätisakto bhakti-yogo ‘sya siddhidaů Somehow or other, if one is attracted to talks about Me and has faith in the instructions I have set forth in Bhagavad-gétä, and if one is actually detached from material things and material existence, his dormant love for Me will be awakened by devotional service. (Bhakti-rasämĺta-sindhu 1.2.15) ärädhito yadi haris tapasä tataů kiŕ narädhito yadi haris tapasä tataů kim antar bahir yadi haris tapasä tataů kiŕ näntar bahir yadi haris tapasä tataů kim If one is worshiping Lord Hari, what is the use of performing extraneous penances? And if one is not worshiping Lord Hari, no such penances will save one. If one can understand that Lord Hari is all-pervading, within and without, what is the need of performing penances? And if one is not able to understand that Hari is all-pervading, all his penances are useless. (Närada Paďcarätra) TEXT 44 SaMauÖriNTaYaeivPa[&SaqdNTa&MaTParaYa TaaNauÖirZYaeNaicradaPaŮyaeNaaEirva When a person gives up the service of the Lord to enjoy a life of sense gratificiation, he is certainly to be considered fallen. Such a person can still benefit himself if he gives
some of his hard-earned wealth for the service of the Lord. Here the example is given of a boat that rescues persons drowning in the ocean. Similarly, the Lord delivers those
who are drowning in the ocean of material existence if they render service in this way. Lord Kĺńëa’s Description of the Varëäçrama System PURPORT 351 If, by good fortune, one who has fallen into the ocean of material existence renders service to the pure devotees of the Supreme Lord, who are freed from all material desires, the Lord will deliver him, out of His causeless mercy. Simply by rendering service to the spiritual master and other advanced devotees, one surely receives the mercy of the Lord. It is a well-known fact that the Lord is more mercifully inclined toward those who consider themselves devotees of His devotees than those who claim to be His direct devotees.
SavaR>SaMauÖred]JaiPaTaevVYaSaNaaTPa[Jaa> ) AaTMaaNaMaaTMaNaaDaqraeYaQaaGaJaPaiTaGaRJaaNa( ))45))
The duty of a king is described in this verse. Just like a father, a king should protect his subjects from all kinds of danger.
Wv&ivDaaeNarPaiTaivRMaaNaeNaakRvcRSaa ) ivDaUYaehaXau>a&k*-TňiMaNd]e SaqdiNvPa[aevi %ÉeNavaPada§-aNTaaeNaěv*tYaak-QaÄNa ))47))
352 UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ sédan vipro vaëig-vĺttyä paëyair eväpadaŕ taret khaňgena väpadäkränto na çva-vĺttyä kathaďcana If a brähmaëa is unable to maintain himself by performing his prescribed duties, he may accept the occupation of a vaiçya and thus save himself from a life of poverty. If he still faces difficulty as a vaiçya, he can adopt the occupation of kńatriya, but he should never become like a dog by accepting an ordinary man as his master. COMMENTARY Beginning with this verse, the Lord describes what should be done if one experiences difficulty maintaining himself by performing the duties of his varëa. A brähmaëa may earn his livelihood by doing business, but he should not sell wine or salt. If in danger, a brähmaëa may also adopt the profession of a kńatriya. A brähmaëa is herein recommended to adopt the profession of a merchant rather than that of a kńatriya. The idea is that selling commodities as a vaiçya is better than killing enemies as a kńatriya, but it is emphasized that a brähmaëa should never earn his livelihood by serving low- class people. This is the opinion of Lord Kĺńëa.
vEXYav*tYaaTauraJaNYaaeJaqveNMa*GaYaYaaPaid ) creÜaivPa[ćPae If a kńatriya is unable to maintain himself by his own profession, he may adopt the profession of a brähmaëa by teaching Vedic knowledge.
XaUd]v*ita&>aJaeÜEXYa>XaUd]>k-aĺk-$=i§-YaaMa( ) k*-C^\aNMau˘-aeNaGaůeR Lord Kĺńëa’s Description of the Varëäçrama System çüdra-vĺttiŕ bhajed vaiçyaů çüdraů käru-kaöa-kriyäm kĺcchrän mukto na garhyeëa vĺttiŕ lipseta karmaëä 353 A vaiçya who cannot maintain himself may adopt the occupation of a çüdra, and a çüdra who cannot find a master can engage in simple work, like making baskets and mats out of straw. However, all members of society who have adopted inferior occupations due to emergency situations must give them up once the difficulties have passed. COMMENTARY When the emergency situation that caused one to accept an inferior occupation has passed, one must return to his normal occupational duties. One must never aspire to earn wealth by performing abominable activities. TEXT 50 vedaDYaaYaSvDaaSvahabLYaŕaŰEYaRQaaedYaMa( ) devizRiPaTa*>aUTaaiNaMad]UPaa After explaining what one should do in times of difficulty, the Lord once again describes the duties of a householder. A householder should repay his debt to the sages by studying the Vedas, his debt to the forefathers by offering them oblations, his debt to the demigods by performing sacrifices, his debt to living entities in general by offering them food, and his debt to the human beings by offering them food and water. In this way, a householder should repay the five kinds of debt.
Yad*C^YaaePaPaŕeNaXau©e-NaaePaaiJaRTaeNava ) DaNaeNaaPaq@YaN>a*TYaaNa( NYaaYaeNaEvahreT§-TaUNa( ))51))
354 UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ yadĺcchayopapannena çuklenopärjitena vä dhanenäpéňayan bhĺtyän nyäyenaiväharet kratün A householder should maintain his dependents by the wealth that has come to him of its own accord, as well as the wealth that he has earned by honest means. He should also utilize his wealth to perform sacrifices and other religious functions. COMMENTARY One should earn wealth by engaging in an honest profession and one should not endeavor too strenuously, knowing that the Lord will supply his necessities of life. One should perform religious activities, such as sacrifices, without committing violence to other living entities.
ku-$u=MbezuNaSaÂeTaNaPa[MaaŰeTku-$u=MBYaiPa ) ivPaięNNaěr&PaXYaedd*íMaiPad*ívTa( ))52))
In the next four verses, Lord Kĺńëa describes the duties of a detached householder. Even though a householder acts like a little lord, surrounded by his dependents, he should not forget the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord. He should know that his dependent family members are temporary, as are the unseen heavenly pleasures and visible pleasures of this world. The purport is that a householder should cultivate a mood of detachment so that he can guide his family members and other dependents back home, back to Godhead, for an eternal life of bliss and knowledge. PURPORT An intelligent person should not invite aversion to the Supreme Lord under the pretext that it is his primary duty to maintain his dependent family members by hook or
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