Text 13] Lord Viṣṇu's Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena
779
you may be posted by My arrangement, for your only duty here is to give protection to the citizens of your kingdom.
PURPORT
Here is an example of receiving direct instruction from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu. One has to execute the order of Lord Viṣṇu, whether receiving it directly from Him or from His bona fide representative, the spiritual master. Arjuna fought the Battle of Kurukṣetra under the direct order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. Similarly, here Pṛthu Mahārāja is also being given orders by Lord Viṣṇu regarding the execution of his duty. We have to stick to the principles stated in the  Bhagavad-gītā .  Vyavasāyātmikā buddhiḥ : every man's duty is to receive orders from Lord Kṛṣṇa or from His bona fide representative and take these orders as his life and soul, without personal considerations. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Thākura states that one should not care very much whether he is going to be liberated or not, but he should simply execute the direct order received from the spiritual master. If one sticks to the principle of abiding by the order of the spiritual master, he will always remain in a liberated position. A common man must execute the rules and regulations of  varṇāśrama-dharma  by working in his prescribed duty according to the caste system ( brāhmaṇa ,  kṣatriya ,  vaiśya  and  śūdra ) and the spiritual order system ( brahmacarya ,  gṛhastha ,  vāna-prastha  and  sannyāsa ). If one simply executes regularly and strictly the injunctions given for the different divisions of life, then one satisfies Lord Viṣṇu.
As a king, Pṛthu Mahārāja was ordered by Lord Viṣṇu to keep himself always aloof from the activities of the bodily situation and to engage always in the service of the Lord and thus keep himself in the liberated stage. The word  baddha-sauhṛdāḥ  in the previous verse is explained herewith. One can fully remain in intimate connection with the Supreme Lord directly or receive orders from His bona fide representative the spiritual master and execute the orders sincerely when one keeps aloof from the activities of the body. The Lord helps us by giving us directions how to act in devotional service and thus advance on the path back home, back to Godhead. He instructs us outwardly in the form of the spiritual master. Therefore, one should not accept the spiritual master as an ordinary human being. The Lord says,  ācāryam mām vijānīyān nāvamanyeta karhicit : one should not treat the spiritual master as an ordinary human being because