| Canto 11: General History | Chapter 17: Lord Krishna's Description of the Varnāśrama System |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.17.1-2
yas tvayābhihitah pūrvam
varnāśamācāravatām
yathānushthīyamānena
sva-dharmenāravindāksha
SYNONYMS
śrī-uddhavah uvāca — Śrī Uddhava said; yah — which; tvayā — by You; abhihitah — described; pūrvam — previously; dharmah — religious principles; tvat-bhakti-lakshanah — characterized by devotional service to Your Lordship; varna-āśrama — of the varnāśrama system; ācāravatām — of the faithful followers; sarveshām — of all; dvi-padām — of ordinary human beings (who do not follow the varnāśrama system); api — even; yathā — according to; anushthīyamānena — the process being executed; tvayi — in You; bhaktih — loving service; nrinām — of human beings; bhavet — may be; sva-dharmena — by one's own occupational duty; aravinda-aksha — O lotus-eyed one; tat — that; mama — to me; ākhyātum — to explain; arhasi — You ought.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Uddhava said: My dear Lord, previously You described the principles of devotional service that are to be practiced by followers of the varnāśrama system and even ordinary, unregulated human beings. My dear lotus-eyed Lord, now please explain to me how all human beings can achieve loving service unto You by the execution of their prescribed duties.
PURPORT
Lord Krishna has already elaborately explained the process of jñāna-yoga, bhakti-yoga and ashtāńga-yoga. Now Uddhava inquires how those inclined toward karma-yoga can achieve the perfection of life, Krishna consciousness. In Bhagavad-gītā (4.13) Lord Krishna describes that He is personally the creator of the varnāśrama system. Cātur-varnyam mayā srishtam guna-karma-vibhāgaśah. Therefore the ultimate goal of the varnāśrama system is to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, one should become a devotee of the Lord and learn the process of pure devotional service. The easiest method of achieving pure devotional service is by the association of pure devotees of the Lord. If one submissively and faithfully associates with pure devotees, one can immediately achieve the perfection of life. A Krishna conscious person is not required to execute all the formalities of the varnāśrama system, because a Krishna conscious person, absorbed in love of Godhead, automatically gives up all sense gratification and mental speculation. Those human beings who do not follow the varnāśrama system are here referred to as dvi-padām, or two-legged. In other words, one who does not follow the religious path of life is known to be human only by the possession of two legs. Even ordinary animals and insects are eagerly engaged in eating, sleeping, mating and defending; the human being, however, is distinguished from such lower forms of life by his capacity to become religious and, ultimately, to love God in pure Krishna consciousness.
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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari