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One’s devotional service is spoiled when he becomes too entangled in the
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385 One’s devotional service is spoiled when he becomes too entangled in the following six activities: (1) eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than required; (2) over-endeavoring for mundane things that are very difficult to obtain; (3) talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters; (4) Practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the sake of following them and not for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures and working independently or whimsically; (5) associating with worldly-minded persons who are not interested in Kĺńëa consciousness; and (6) being greedy for mundane achievements. TEXT 31 NaaeiÜJaeTaJaNaaÖqraeJaNa&caeÜeJaYaeNNaTau ) AiTavada&iSTaiTa+aeTaNaavMaNYaeTak-ÄNa ) dehMauiŐXYaPaXauvÜEr&ku-YaaRNNake-NaicTa( ))31)) nodvijeta janäd dhéro janaŕ codvejayen na tu ati-vädäŕs titikńeta nävamanyeta kaďcana deham uddiçya paçu-vad vairaŕ kuryän na kenacit A transcendentalist should not become frightened or disturbed by others, nor should he ever act in a way that disturbs others, or makes them fearful. He should tolerate the insults others hurl at him, and he should not criticize others. He should never create enmity simply for some material advantage, for that would make him no better than an animal. COMMENTARY The phrase ati-väda means “very harsh words.” PURPORT A saintly person does not cause anxiety to any living entity by means of his body, mind, or speech. In this regard, one should carefully contemplate this verse, which was spoken by Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. tĺëäd api sunécena taror api sahińëunä amäninä mänadena kértanéyaů sadä hariů One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street. One should be more tolerant 386 UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind, one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly. TEXT 32 Wk- WvParaeůaTMaa>aUTaeZvaTMaNYaviSQaTa> ) YaQaeNduĺdPaa}aezu>aUTaaNYaek-aTMak-aiNac ))32))
The understanding that frees one from enviousness is being described in this verse. The Supersoul is present within all living entities. Just as the moon, although one, is reflected in innumerable pots of water, the Supersoul, although one, is present within all living entities as the supreme director. Therefore, one should not envy anyone, knowing that the Supreme Lord is present within all material bodies, which are also manifestations of His energy.
An object and its reflection are certainly similar in many respects but one should never think that they are actually equal and thus disregard the object. The material bodies of the conditioned souls may certainly be subject to criticism but by understanding how the Supreme Lord is present within each of them, one should free himself by thoughts of duality, which are prominent in the society of animals. The devotees of the Lord are never hostile or violent toward anyone, knowing that everyone is the eternal servant of God.
TEXT 33 Al/BßaNaivzqdeTak-ale/k-ale/_XaNa&KvicTa( ) l/BßaNaôZYaeÖ*iTaMaaNau>aYa&dEvTaiN}aTaMa( ))33))
Description of Varëäçrama-dharma 387 If sometimes one does not get enough food, one should not be discouraged, just as when one receives delicious food, he should not become overjoyed. Being fixed in firm determination to remain a faithful devotee, one should understand both situations to be under the control of the Supreme Lord. COMMENTARY The phrase daiva tantritam means “under the control of providence.” PURPORT Happiness and distress come automatically in due course of time and thus one should remain undisturbed in either condition. We foolishly consider ourselves to be the doers of our activities, but due to this false ego of thinking ourselves to be the controllers, we are forced to experience happiness and distress, according to the quality of our activities. TEXT 34 AaharaQa|SaMaqheTaYau˘&-TaTPa[a Tatv&ivMa*XYaTaeTaeNaTaiÜjaYaivMauCYaTae ))34))
If food does not come automatically, or by begging, one should make an endeavor because food is necessary to sustain one’s life. If one’s body is in a healthy condition,
one can cultivate God consciousness without disturbance and as a result, make steady advancement.
One should not eat too much, nor eat too little. One should eat only as much as is required to keep the body fit for rendering devotional service to the Lord. Normally,
those who are endeavoring in spiritual life cannot maintain steady concentration if their mind and body are weakened by under-eating. On the other hand, extravagant
388 UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ eating is a great impediment for spiritual advancement and therefore should be given up.
Yad*C^YaaePaPaŕaŕMaŰaC^\eďMauTaaParMa( ) TaQaavaSaSTaQaaXaYYaa&Pa[aá&Pa[aá&>aJaeNMauiNa> ))35))
It is best if one can obtain food without any endeavor. A sage should not discriminate between delicious and tasteless food. He should be happy with whatever he is destined to obtain. TEXT 36 XaaEcMaacMaNa&ňaNa&NaTaucaedNaYaacreTa( ) ANYaa&ęiNaYaMaa&j(NaqYaQaah&l/Il/Yaeěr> ))36))
A devotee of the Lord is not a servant of rules and regulations, he is a servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Still, he executes the regulative duties in relation to the material body by his own free will and not as a servant of the rules and regulations. PURPORT One who leads his life in a way that is favorable for the service of the Supreme Lord is always a liberated soul, although situated within the material world. Devotees of
Description of Varëäçrama-dharma 389 the Lord on the paramahaŕsa platform are not compelled to perform bodily activities, such as brushing the teeth or bathing, like ordinary people. Such a paramahaŕsa may be impure or unclean according to material estimation, because he is a servant of Lord Kĺńëa and not of rules and regulations.
NaihTaSYaivk-LPaa:YaaYaacMaÜq+aYaahTaa ) AadehaNTaaTKvicT:YaaiTaSTaTa>SaMPaŰTae MaYaa ))37))
On the strength of realized knowledge of the Lord, one gives up the illusion that anything, anywhere, at any time, can be separate from Him. Still, Lord Kĺńëa has said that a devotee must keep his material body and mind fit for executing devotional service. Therefore, even a self-realized soul may sometimes appear to accept or reject certain conditions within this world. Such brief apparent duality of concentration upon material conditions does not change the liberated status of a self-realized soul, however, because he never forgets to see everything in relation to the Supreme Lord. PURPORT A devotee does not see anything as being separate from Lord Kĺńëa, and he does not consider his position within the material world to be permanent. His only desire is to render service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just as materialistic men are always found making arrangements for their personal enjoyment, devotees are busy throughout the day and night, planning how to best serve the Lord. Thus, they have no inclination to waste their time in the frivolous entertainments sought by the materialists. Materialistic men cannot understand this mentality of the devotee and so they sometimes dare to criticize him, thinking him to be just like an ordinary man. At the time of death, however, the results of the devotees and the results obtained by the materialists are very different.
390 UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ TEXT 38 du>%aedkeR-zuk-aMaezuJaaTaiNaveRd AaTMavaNa( ) AJjaiSaTaMaÖMaaeRMauiNa&GauĺMauPav]JaeTa( ))38))
One who has become disgusted with material enjoyment, knowing that it ultimately produces only misery, and who desires spiritual perfection, but has not understood the process for attaining it, should approach a spiritual master who is fixed in the devotional service of the Supreme Lord. COMMENTARY The Supreme Lord said: One who has attained wisdom and has thus become disgusted with the miserable condition of material enjoyment should inquire about Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. For that purpose, he should approach a bona fide spiritual master and thus receive transcendental knowledge in relation to Me.
One who is actually intelligent should be inquisitive to understand the cause of his suffering in this temporary world of birth and death. Thus, he should take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master, who is fully devoted to the service of the Lord and is therefore detached from desires for insignificant material enjoyment. Materialists, who are not engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Lord, are always baffled in their attempts to enjoy the material world and as a result, they are certainly in a miserable condition of life. A sober person who has realized the futility of material existence can become freed from material bondage by taking shelter of an experienced devotee of the Lord, thus giving up all unwanted association. TEXT 39 TaavTPaircre٢->é[ÖavaNaNaSaUYak-> ) YaavŘ]řivJaaNaqYaaNMaaMaevGauĺMaad*Ta> ))39))
Description of Varëäçrama-dharma COMMENTARY 391 The Supreme Lord said: The spiritual master is non-different from Me, being an external manifestation of My mercy. PURPORT A devotee who has pleased his spiritual master and is thus endowed with realization of the truth can directly engage in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is indicated in this verse that as long as one has not become sufficiently convinced of the truth of the teachings of his spiritual master, he should remain very close to his guru, to render personal service. TEXTS 40-41 YaSTvSa&YaTazÍGaR>Pa[c<@eiNd]YaSaariQa> ) jaNavEraGYarihTaińd<@MauPaJaqviTa ))40)) SauraNaaTMaaNaMaaTMaSQa&iNaöuTaeMaa&cDaMaRha ) AivPaKvk-zaYaae_SMaadMauZMaaŔivhqYaTae ))41))
The Lord herein condemns imitation sannyäsés who adopt the garb of a saintly person simply to gain material advantage. Such a person certainly cheats himself while disregarding the demigods and the Supersoul within. Such a bogus sannyäsé lives a most condemned existence, both in this world and in the next.
392 UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ PURPORT One who is not engaged in the devotional service of the Lord must be also devoid of genuine knowledge and renunciation. Unless the senses are fully engaged in the service of the Lord, they will restlessly drag one into inferior pursuits. Thus becoming a servant of his senses, the non-devotee fails to properly regulate his bodily activities, mind, and speech. One who adopts the dress of a sannyäsé simply for filling his belly is never accepted by intelligent followers of Vedic principles. However, such a so-called sannyäsé who ruins all Vedic religious principles sometimes becomes famous among foolish persons, but they are simply cheating themselves and their followers. These charlatan sannyäsés are never actually engaged in the loving devotional service of Lord Kĺńëa, and so the result they achieve is far different from that attained by genuine devotees. TEXT 42 i>a+aaeDaRMaR>XaMaae_ih&SaaTaPawR+aavNaaEk-Sa> ) Ga*ih The duty of a sannyäsé is to carefully control his mind and to remain free from envy of others. The duty of a vänaprastha is to perform austerities and clearly understand the difference between the body and the soul. The duty of a gĺhastha is to give shelter to all living entities and perform sacrifices. The duty of a brahmacäré is to serve the spiritual master.
PURPORT A brahmacäré’s duty is to serve the spiritual master. A gĺhastha’s duty is to maintain all living entities and engage in the service of the Supreme Lord while carefully observing religious principles. A vänaprastha’s duty is to perform austerity and master the power of discrimination between matter and spirit. The duty of a sannyäsé is to constantly engage
Description of Varëäçrama-dharma 393 in the service of the Supreme Lord without causing any anxiety to any living creature by means of his body, mind, or speech.
b]řcYa|TaPa>XaaEc&SaNTaaezae>aUTaSaaEôdMa( ) Ga*hSQaSYaaPYa*TaaEGaNTau>SaveRza&MaduPaaSaNaMa( ))43))
Generally, a householder should practice celibacy, although he may indulge in sex with his wife after her menstrual period, only for the purpose of procreation. The members of all the varëas and äçramas are duty-bound to worship the Supreme Lord. Without this understanding, the observance of religious principles is ultimately useless. This is confirmed in these two verses from the Çrémad-Bhägavatam (11.5.2-3): mukha-bähüru-pädebhyaů puruńasyäçramaiů saha catväro jajďire varëä guëair viprädayaů pĺthak From the mouth of Brahmä, the brahminical order has come into existence. Similarly, from his arms the kńatriyas have come, from his waist the vaiçyas have come, and from his legs the çüdras have come. These four orders and their spiritual counterparts (brahmacarya, gĺhastha, vänaprastha, and sannyäsa) combine to make human society complete. ya eńäŕ puruńaŕ säkńäd ätma-prabhavam éçvaram na bhajanty avajänanti sthänäd bhrańöäů patanty adhaů If one simply maintains an official position in the four varëas and äçramas but does not worship the Supreme Lord Vińëu, he falls down from his puffed-up position into a hellish condition. 394 UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ PURPORT It is the duty of the members of all the four äçramas to serve the Supreme Lord. A householder should practice celibacy, except that he may enjoy sex with his wife at an appropriate time, only for the sake of begetting children. A householder should act for the benefit all living entities, and he should remain pure and satisfied with his position in life.
wiTaMaa&Ya>SvDaMaeRaJaeiNNaTYaMaNaNYa>aak( ) SavR>aUTaezuMaŮavaeMaŮi˘&-ivNdTaed*!aMa( ))44))
In whatever social or occupational division of human society one may be, one must be a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and worship Him alone. In the Vedas it is sometime prescribed that householders should worship particular demigods or forefathers. How then can such householders be considered unalloyed devotees of the Supreme Lord? The answer is that those who cannot come to the standard of pure devotional service should at least meditate upon the Personality of Godhead as being situated within the demigods and all other living entities, understanding that all religious processes are ultimately meant for the pleasure of the Lord.
While engaged in performing one’s varëäçrama duties, one should see the Lord as the basis of everything. A devotee should concentrate on pleasing the Supreme Lord by all of his activities because this alone will enable him to be elevated to the stage of life called love of God, and thus bring him to the point of actual liberation. On the other hand, those who simply execute their duties within the varëäçrama system without trying to see everything in relation to Kĺńëa will be unable to attain the platform of devotional service to the Lord. To see how every living entity is engaged in the service of the Lord is the vision of the topmost Vaińëava.
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