156
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 5, Ch. 4]
within the  varṇāśrama-dharma . In this way He regulated the general populace in householder life, enabling them to develop religion and economic well-being and to attain reputations, sons and daughters, material pleasure and finally eternal life. By His instructions, He showed how people could remain householders and at the same time become perfect by following the principles of  varṇāśrama-dharma .
PURPORT
The  varṇāśrama-dharma  is meant for imperfect, conditioned souls. It trains them to become spiritually advanced in order to return home, back to Godhead. A civilization that does not know the highest aim of life is no better than an animal society. As stated in  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum . A human society is meant for elevation to spiritual knowledge so that all of the people can be freed from the clutches of birth, death, old age and disease. The  varṇāśrama-dharma  enables human society to become perfectly fit for getting out of the clutches of  māyā , and by following the regulative principles of  varṇāśrama-dharma , one can become successful. In this regard, see  Bhagavad-gītā  (3.21-24).
TEXT 15
यद्यच्छीर्षयात्रितं तत्तदनुवर्तते लोकः॥ १५ ॥
yad yac chīrṣaṇyācaritaṁ tat tad anuvartate lokaḥ.
yat yat—whatever; śīrṣaṇya—by the leading personalities; ācaritam—performed; tat tat—that; anuvartate—follow; lokaḥ—the people in general.
TRANSLATION
Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow.
PURPORT
A similar verse is also found in  Bhagavad-gītā  (3.21). It is essential for human society to have a section of men perfectly trained as qualified