Bhagvat: Duties in varnasrama-dharma-27th May

Srimad Bhagvatam

TRANSLATION
THE SYMPTOMS OF A BRAHMANA ARE CONTROL OF THE MIND, CONTROL OF THE SENSES, AUSTERITY AND PENANCE, CLEANLINESS, SATISFACTION, FORGIVENESS, SIMPLICITY, KNOWLEDGE, MERCY, TRUTHFULNESS, AND COMPLETE SURRENDER TO THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD.

PURPORT
In the institution of varnasrama-dharma, the symptoms of a brahmana, kshatriya, vaisya, südra, brahmachari, grhastha, vanaprastha, and sannyasi are all described. THE ULTIMATE AIM IS ACHYUTATMATVAM—TO THINK ALWAYS OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, KRSHNA, OR VISHNU. To make advancement in Krshna consciousness, one has to become a brahmana, with the above-mentioned symptoms.

TRANSLATION
To be influential in battle, unconquerable, patient, challenging and charitable, to control the bodily necessities, to be forgiving, to be attached to the brahminical nature and to be always jolly and truthful—these are the symptoms of the kshatriya.

TRANSLATION
Being always devoted to the demigods, the spiritual master and the Supreme Lord, Vishnu; endeavoring for advancement in religious principles, economic development and sense gratification [dharma, artha and kama]; believing in the words of the spiritual master and scripture; and always endeavoring with expertise in earning money—these are the symptoms of the vaisya.

TRANSLATION
Offering obeisances to the higher sections of society [the brahmanas, kshatriyas and vaisyas], being always very clean, being free from duplicity, serving one's master, performing sacrifices without uttering mantras, not stealing, always speaking the truth and giving all protection to the cows and brahmanas—these are the symptoms of the südra.

PURPORT
It is everyone's experience that workers or servants are generally accustomed to stealing. A first-class servant is one who does not steal. Here it is recommended that a first-class südra must remain very clean, must not steal or speak lies, and must always render service to his master.

 

A südra may attend sacrifices and Vedic ritualistic ceremonies along with his master, but he should not utter the mantras, for these may be uttered only by the members of the higher sections of society. Unless one is completely pure and has been raised to the standard of a brahmana, kshatriya or vaisya—in other words, unless one is dvija, twiceborn—the chanting of mantras will not be fruitful.

Gita shloka 2.62: senses control,27th May

Bhagvad Gita (shloka 2.62):

TRANSLATION
WHILE CONTEMPLATING THE OBJECTS OF THE SENSES, A PERSON DEVELOPS ATTACHMENT FOR THEM, AND FROM SUCH ATTACHMENT LUST DEVELOPS, AND FROM LUST ANGER ARISES.

PURPORT
ONE WHO IS NOT KRSNA CONSCIOUS IS SUBJECTED TO MATERIAL DESIRES WHILE CONTEMPLATING THE OBJECTS OF SENSES.

THE SENSES REQUIRE REAL ENGAGEMENTS, AND IF THEY ARE NOT ENGAGED IN THE TRANSCENDENTAL LOVING SERVICE OF THE LORD, THEY WILL CERTAINLY SEEK ENGAGEMENT IN THE SERVICE OF MATERIALISM.

IN THE MATERIAL WORLD EVERYONE, INCLUDING LORD SIVA AND LORD BRAHMA—TO SAY NOTHING OF OTHER DEMIGODS IN THE HEAVENLY PLANETS—IS SUBJECTED TO THE INFLUENCE OF SENSE OBJECTS, AND THE ONLY METHOD TO GET OUT OF THIS PUZZLE OF MATERIAL EXISTENCE IS TO BECOME KRSNA CONSCIOUS.

LORD SIVA WAS DEEP IN MEDITATION, BUT WHEN PARVATI AGITATED HIM FOR SENSE PLEASURE, HE AGREED TO THE PROPOSAL, AND AS A RESULT KARTIKEYA WAS BORN.

When Haridasa Thakur was a young devotee of the Lord, he was similarly allured by the incarnation of Maya Devi, but Haridasa easily passed the test because of his unalloyed devotion to Lord Krsna.

As illustrated in the above-mentioned verse of Sri Yamunacharya, A SINCERE DEVOTEE OF THE LORD SHUNS ALL MATERIAL SENSE ENJOYMENT DUE TO HIS HIGHER TASTE FOR SPIRITUAL ENJOYMENT IN THE ASSOCIATION OF THE LORD.

THAT IS THE SECRET OF SUCCESS.

ONE WHO IS NOT, THEREFORE, IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, HOWEVER POWERFUL HE MAY BE IN CONTROLLING THE SENSES BY ARTIFICIAL REPRESSION, IS SURE ULTIMATELY TO FAIL, FOR THE SLIGHTEST THOUGHT OF SENSE PLEASURE WILL AGITATE HIM TO GRATIFY HIS DESIRES.

Gita shloka 2.62: senses control,27th May

Bhagvad Gita (shloka 2.62):

TRANSLATION
WHILE CONTEMPLATING THE OBJECTS OF THE SENSES, A PERSON DEVELOPS ATTACHMENT FOR THEM, AND FROM SUCH ATTACHMENT LUST DEVELOPS, AND FROM LUST ANGER ARISES.

PURPORT
ONE WHO IS NOT KRSNA CONSCIOUS IS SUBJECTED TO MATERIAL DESIRES WHILE CONTEMPLATING THE OBJECTS OF SENSES.

THE SENSES REQUIRE REAL ENGAGEMENTS, AND IF THEY ARE NOT ENGAGED IN THE TRANSCENDENTAL LOVING SERVICE OF THE LORD, THEY WILL CERTAINLY SEEK ENGAGEMENT IN THE SERVICE OF MATERIALISM.

IN THE MATERIAL WORLD EVERYONE, INCLUDING LORD SIVA AND LORD BRAHMA—TO SAY NOTHING OF OTHER DEMIGODS IN THE HEAVENLY PLANETS—IS SUBJECTED TO THE INFLUENCE OF SENSE OBJECTS, AND THE ONLY METHOD TO GET OUT OF THIS PUZZLE OF MATERIAL EXISTENCE IS TO BECOME KRSNA CONSCIOUS.

LORD SIVA WAS DEEP IN MEDITATION, BUT WHEN PARVATI AGITATED HIM FOR SENSE PLEASURE, HE AGREED TO THE PROPOSAL, AND AS A RESULT KARTIKEYA WAS BORN.

When Haridasa Thakur was a young devotee of the Lord, he was similarly allured by the incarnation of Maya Devi, but Haridasa easily passed the test because of his unalloyed devotion to Lord Krsna.

As illustrated in the above-mentioned verse of Sri Yamunacharya, A SINCERE DEVOTEE OF THE LORD SHUNS ALL MATERIAL SENSE ENJOYMENT DUE TO HIS HIGHER TASTE FOR SPIRITUAL ENJOYMENT IN THE ASSOCIATION OF THE LORD.

THAT IS THE SECRET OF SUCCESS.

ONE WHO IS NOT, THEREFORE, IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, HOWEVER POWERFUL HE MAY BE IN CONTROLLING THE SENSES BY ARTIFICIAL REPRESSION, IS SURE ULTIMATELY TO FAIL, FOR THE SLIGHTEST THOUGHT OF SENSE PLEASURE WILL AGITATE HIM TO GRATIFY HIS DESIRES.