474
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[ Canto 3, Ch. 12 ]
PURPORT
The nucleus of the four social orders— brahmacarya  or student life,  gṛhastha  or household family life,  vānaprastha  or retired life for practicing penance, and  sannyāsa  or renounced life for preaching the truth—is the four legs of religion. The vocational divisions are the  brāhmaṇas  or the intelligent class, the  kṣatriyas  or administrative class, the  vaiśyas  or mercantile productive class, and the  śūdras  or general laborer class who have no specific qualifications. All were systematically planned and created by Brahmā for the regular promotion of self-realization. Student life is meant for acquiring the best education; household family life is meant for gratifying the senses, provided it is performed with a charitable disposition of mind. Retirement from household life is meant for penance, for advancement of spiritual life, and renounced life is meant for preaching the Absolute Truth to the people in general. The combined actions of all members of society make the whole situation favorable for the upliftment of the mission of human life. The beginning of this social institution is based on education meant for purifying the animal propensities of the human being. The highest purificatory process is knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the purest of the pure.
TEXT 42
सावित्रं प्राजापत्यं च ब्राह्मं चाथ बृहत्तथा । वार्तासञ्चयशालीनशिलोच्छ इति वै गृहे ॥४२॥
sāvitram prājāpatyam ca brāhmam cātha bṛhat tathā vārtā sañcaya-śālīna- śiloñcha iti vai gṛhe
sāvitram —the thread ceremony of the twice-born;  prājāpatyam —to execute the vow for one year;  ca —and;  brāhmam —acceptance of the  Vedas ;  ca —and;  atha —also;  bṛhat —complete abstinence from sex life;  tathā —then;  vārtā —vocation in terms of Vedic sanction;  sañcaya —professional duty;  śālīna —livelihood without asking anyone for cooperation;  śiloñcha —picking up rejected grains;  iti —thus;  vai —even though;  gṛhe —in household life.