This chapter describes the general

principles by following which a human

being, and specifically one who is

as santana-dharma, the

eternal

religious system.
The varrama system delineates

interested in advancing in spiritual

the

life, can become perfect.

of brhmaa, katriya, vaiya and

divisions

By hearing about the characteristics

dra. It also sets forth the system

of Prahlda Mahrja, Mahrja Yudhi

of saskras. The garbhdhna sa

hira became extremely pleased. Now

skra, the ceremony for begetting a

he inquired from Nrada Muni about

child, must be observed by the higher

the actual religion of a human being

section

and

the dvijas. One

about

special

characteristics

of

people,

namely

who

follows

of varrama-dharma, which marks

the garbhdhna saskra system is

the

actually twice-born, but those who do

highest

status

of

human

civilization.

not, who deviate from the principles

When Mahrja Yudhihira asked N

of varrama-dharma, are

rada Muni about

called dvija-bandhus. The

these

principal

matters, Nrada Muni stopped giving

occupations

his

quoted

worshiping the Deity, teaching others

statements by Lord Nryaa, for He

how to worship the Deity, studying the

is the supreme authority for giving

Vedic literatures, teaching the Vedic

religious

literatures, accepting charity from

own

statements

and

codes

for

a brhmaa are

(dharma tu skd bhagavat-

others and again giving charity to

pratam [SB 6.3.19]). Every human

others. A brhmaa should make his

being is expected to acquire thirty

livelihood from these six occupational

qualities, such as truthfulness, mercy

duties. The duty of a katriya is to give

and austerity. The process of following

protection to the citizens and levy

the priniples of religion is known

taxes upon them, but he is forbidden

to tax the brhmaas. The members

and satynta (vijya)

of the Ka consciousness movement

accepted

should therefore be exempt from

the katriyas. For

government

taxation. Katriyas may

a katriya, engaging in the service of

tax

everyone

the vaiyas or dras is

but

cultivate the land, produce food grains

protect

the dras, who

the
by

cows,

whereas

quality

everyone

be
but

a brhmaa or
considered

the profession of dogs.

the brhmaas. Vaiyas should

and

by

may

never

Nrada Muni also described that

the

symptom

a brhmaa is

of

controlled senses, the symptoms of

become brhmaas,

a katriya are power and fame, the

katriyas or vaiyas, should serve the

symptom of a vaiya is service to

three higher classes and be satisfied.

the brhmaas and katriyas, and the

Other means of livelihood are also

symptom of a dra is service to the

prescribed

three higher classes. The qualification

these

for

the brhmaas, and

are

four

for a woman is to be a very faithful and

lna, yyvara, ila, and uchana.

chaste

In

this

Each of these occupational duties is

way, Nrada Munidescribed

the

successively better.

characteristics of higher and lower

wife.

One who is in a lower grade of

grades of people and recommended

social life cannot accept the profession

that one follow the principles of

of a higher class unless necessary. In

his caste or his hereditary occupation.

times of emergency, all the classes but

One cannot suddenly give up a

the katriyas may accept professional

profession to which he is accustomed,

duties

and therefore it is recommended that

of

livelihood

others.

The

means

of

known

one

gradually

be

awakened.

The

as ta(ilochana), amta (aycita),

symptoms of brhmaas, katriyas,

mta (yc), pramta (karaa),

vaiyas, and dras are

very

important, and therefore one should

giving religious codes (dharma tu

be designated only by these symptoms,

skd

and not by birth. Designation by birth

Every human being is expected to

is

strictly

forbidden

by Nrada Muni and

all

great

personalities

acquire

bhagavat-pratam).
thirty

qualities,

such

as

truthfulness, mercy and austerity. The

process of following the principles of
religion

principles by following which a human

dharma, the eternal religious system.

being, and specifically one who is

interested in advancing in spiritual life,
can become perfect.

is

known

as santana-

This chapter describes the general

The varrama system

the

divisions

delineates

of brhmaa,

katriya, vaiya and dra. It also

By hearing about the characteristics of

sets

Prahlda

Mahrja

of saskras. The garbhdhna

extremely

saskra, the

Mahrja,

Yudhis t hira

became

forth

the

system

ceremony

for

pleased. Now he inquired from Nrada

begetting a child, must be observed by

Muni about the actual religion of a

the higher section of people, namely

human

the dvijas. One

being

characteristics

and

about

special

of varrama-

who

follows

the garbhdhna

dharma, which marks the highest

saskra system is actually twice-

status of human civilization. When

born, but those who do not, who

Mahrja Yudhis t hira asked Nrada

deviate

Muni about these matters, Nrada Muni

of varrama-dharma, are

stopped giving his own statements and

called dvija-bandhus. The principal

quoted statements by Lord Nryan a ,

occupations

for He is the supreme authority for

worshiping the Deity, teaching others

from

for

the

principles

a brhmaa are

how to worship the Deity, studying the

occupational duties is successively

Vedic literatures, teaching the Vedic

better.

literatures,

accepting

charity

from

others and again giving charity to

others. A brhmaa should make his
livelihood from these six occupational
duties. The duty of a katriya is to
give protection to the citizens and levy
taxes upon them, but he is forbidden to
tax the brhmaas. The members of
the Kr s n a consciousness movement
should therefore be exempt from
government taxation. Katriyas may
tax

everyone

but

the brhmaas. Vaiyas should

cultivate the land, produce food grains
and

protect

the

cows,

whereas

the dras, who by quality never

become brhmaas,

One who is in a lower grade of social

life cannot accept the profession of a
higher class unless necessary. In times
of emergency, all the classes but
the katriyas may accept professional
duties

of

others.

The

livelihood

means

of

known

as ta (ilochana), amta (aycit

a), mta (yc), pramta (kara
a), and satynta (vijya) may
be

accepted

by

the katriyas. For

everyone

but

a brhmaa or

a katriya, engaging in the service of

the vaiyas or dras is considered
the profession of dogs.
Nrada Muni also described that the

katriyas or vaiyas, should

serve

symptom

of

a brhmaa is

the three higher classes and be satisfied.

controlled senses, the symptoms of

Other means of livelihood are also

a katriya are power and fame, the

prescribed for the brhmaas, and

symptom of a vaiya is service to

these are four lna, yyvara,

the brhmaas and katriyas, and

ila, and uchana. Each

the symptom of a dra is service to

of

these

the

three

higher

classes.

The

By hearing about the characteristics of

qualification for a woman is to be a

Prahlda

very faithful and chaste wife. In this

Yudhis t hira

way, Nrada

the

pleased. Now he inquired from Nrada

characteristics of higher and lower

Muni about the actual religion of a

grades of people and recommended that

human

one follow the principles of his caste or

characteristics

his hereditary occupation. One cannot

dharma, which marks the highest

suddenly give up a profession to which

status of human civilization. When

he is accustomed, and therefore it is

Mahrja Yudhis t hira asked Nrada

recommended that one gradually be

Muni about these matters, Nrada Muni

awakened.

symptoms

stopped giving his own statements and

katriyas,

quoted statements by Lord Nryan a,

very

for He is the supreme authority for

important, and therefore one should be

giving religious codes (dharma tu

designated only by these symptoms,

skd

and not by birth. Designation by birth is

Every human being is expected to

strictly forbidden by Nrada Muni and

acquire

all great personalities

truthfulness, mercy and austerity. The

Muni

described

The

of brhmaas,
vaiyas, and dras are

This chapter describes the general

principles by following which a human
being, and specifically one who is

Mahrja,

Mahrja

became

being

and

extremely

about

special

of varrama-

bhagavat-pratam).
thirty

qualities,

such

as

process of following the principles of

religion

is

known

as santana-

dharma, the eternal religious system.

interested in advancing in spiritual life,

The varrama system

can become perfect.

the

divisions

delineates

of brhmaa,

katriya, vaiya and dra. It also

sets

forth

the

system

should therefore be exempt from

of saskras. The garbhdhna

government taxation. Katriyas may

saskra, the

tax

ceremony

for

everyone

but

begetting a child, must be observed by

the brhmaas. Vaiyas should

the higher section of people, namely

cultivate the land, produce food grains

the dvijas. One

and

who

follows

protect

the

cows,

whereas

the garbhdhna

the dras, who by quality never

saskra system is actually twice-

become brhmaas,

born, but those who do not, who

katriyas or vaiyas, should

deviate

the three higher classes and be satisfied.

from

the

principles

serve

of varrama-dharma, are

Other means of livelihood are also

called dvija-bandhus. The principal

prescribed for the brhmaas, and

a brhmaa are

these are four lna, yyvara,

occupations

for

worshiping the Deity, teaching others

ila, and uchana. Each

how to worship the Deity, studying the

occupational duties is successively

Vedic literatures, teaching the Vedic

better.

literatures,

accepting

charity

from

others and again giving charity to

others. A brhmaa should make his
livelihood from these six occupational
duties. The duty of a katriya is to
give protection to the citizens and levy
taxes upon them, but he is forbidden to
tax the brhmaas. The members of
the Kr s n a consciousness movement

of

these

One who is in a lower grade of social

life cannot accept the profession of a
higher class unless necessary. In times
of emergency, all the classes but
the katriyas may accept professional
duties

of

livelihood

others.

The

means

of

known

as ta (ilochana), amta (aycit

a), mta (yc), pramta (kara

a), and satynta (vijya) may

of brhmaas,

be

vaiyas, and dras are

accepted

by

the katriyas. For

everyone

but

katriyas,
very

a brhmaa or

important, and therefore one should be

a katriya, engaging in the service of

designated only by these symptoms,

the vaiyas or dras is considered

and not by birth. Designation by birth is

the profession of dogs.

strictly forbidden by Nrada Muni and

Nrada Muni also described that the

symptom

a brhmaa is

of

all great personalities

Chapter11

controlled senses, the symptoms of

This chapter describes the general

a katriya are power and fame, the

principles by following which a human

symptom of a vaiya is service to

being, and specifically one who is

the brhmaas and katriyas, and

interested in advancing in spiritual life,

can become perfect.

the symptom of a dra is service to

the

three

higher

classes.

The

qualification for a woman is to be a

By

hearing

about

the

characteristics
of Prahlada Maharaja, Maharaja Yudhist

very faithful and chaste wife. In this

hira became extremely pleased. Now

way, Nrada

he

Muni

described

the

characteristics of higher and lower

grades of people and recommended that

inquired

from Narada Muni about

the actual religion of a human being

and

about

special

of varnasrama-dharma,

characteristics
which

marks

of

human

one follow the principles of his caste or

the

his hereditary occupation. One cannot

civilization.

suddenly give up a profession to which

When Maharaja Yudhisthira asked Nara

he is accustomed, and therefore it is

recommended that one gradually be
awakened.

The

symptoms

highest

status

da Muni about

these

matters, Narada Munistopped

giving

his

own

statements

and

quoted

statements by Lord Narayana, for He is

the

supreme

authority

for

religious

giving

livelihood from these six occupational

codes

duties. The duty of a ksatriya is to give

(dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-

protection to the citizens and levy

pranitam [SB 6.3.19]). Every human

taxes upon them, but he is forbidden to

being is expected to acquire thirty

tax the brahmanas. The members of

qualities, such as truthfulness, mercy

the Krsna consciousness

and austerity. The process of following

should

the

known

government taxation. Ksatriyas may

eternal

tax

priniples

of

religion

as sanatana-dharma,

is

the

religious system.

therefore

everyone

Vaisyas

be

but

should

movement
exempt

the

cultivate

from

brahmanas.
the

land,

produce food grains and protect the

The varnasrama system delineates
the

divisions

of brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudr

a. It also sets forth the system of
samskaras.

The

garbhadhana samskara, the ceremony

for begetting a child, must be observed
by the higher section of people, namely
the

dvijas.

One

who

follows

garbhadhana samskara system

the
is

cows, whereas the sudras, who by

quality

never

become

brahmanas,

ksatriyas or vaisyas, should serve the

three higher classes and be satisfied.
Other means of livelihood are also
prescribed for the brahmanas, and
these are four -- salina, yayavara, sila,
and

unchana.

occupational

Each

duties

is

of

these

successively

better.

actually twice-born, but those who do

not, who deviate from the principles
of varnasrama-dharma,

One who is in a lower grade of

are

social life cannot accept the profession

called dvija-bandhus.

The

principal

of a higher class unless necessary. In

occupations

a brahmana are

times of emergency, all the classes but

worshiping the Deity, teaching others

the ksatriyas may accept professional

how to worship the Deity, studying the

duties

Vedic literatures, teaching the Vedic

livelihood

literatures,

as rta (silonchana), amrta (ayacita), mr

for

accepting

charity

from

of

others.

The

means

of

known

others and again giving charity to

ta (yacna),

pramrta

(karsana),

and

others. A brahmana should make his

satyanrta (vanijya) may be accepted by

everyone

but

the

ksatriyas.

For

that

one

follow

the

principles

of

a brahmana or a ksatriya, engaging in

his caste or his hereditary occupation.

the service of the vaisyas or sudras is

One

considered the profession of dogs.

profession to which he is accustomed,

cannot

suddenly

give

up

and therefore it is recommended that

Narada Muni also
the

symptom

of

described

that

a brahmana is

controlled senses, the symptoms of

a ksatriya are power and fame, the
symptom of a vaisya is service to the
brahmanas

and

ksatriyas,

and

the

symptom of a sudra is service to the

three higher classes. The qualification
for a woman is to be a very faithful and
chaste

wife.

In

this

way, Narada Muni described

the

characteristics of higher and lower

grades of people and recommended

one

gradually

symptoms

of

be

awakened.

brahmanas,

The

ksatriyas,

vaisyas, and sudras are very important,

and

therefore

one

should

be

designated only by these symptoms,

and not by birth. Designation by birth is
strictly forbidden by Narada Muni and
all great personalities.