CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ideal Family Life
This chapter describes the occupational duties of the householder according to the time, the country and the performer. When Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja became very much inquisitive about the occupational duties for the householder, Nārada Muni advised him that a  gṛhastha 's first duty is to be fully dependent on Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, and to try to satisfy Him in all respects by executing one's prescribed devotional service. This devotional service will depend on the instructions of authorities and the association of devotees who are actually engaged in devotional service. The beginning of devotional service is  śravaṇam , or hearing. One must hear from the mouths of realized souls. In this way the  gṛhastha 's attraction to his wife and children will gradually be reduced.
As for the maintenance of his family, a  gṛhastha , while earning what he requires for his living, must be very conscientious and must not undergo extraordinary endeavor simply to accumulate money and unnecessarily increase in material comforts. Although a  gṛhastha  should externally be very active in earning his livelihood, he should internally be situated as a fully self-realized person, without attachment for material gains. His dealings with family members or friends should be performed simply to fulfill their purpose; one should not be extravagantly engaged in this way. Instructions from family members and society should be accepted superficially, but in essence the  gṛhastha  should be engaged in occupational duties advised by the spiritual master and  śāstra . Specifically a  gṛhastha  should engage in agricultural activities to earn money. As stated in  Bhagavad-gūtā  (18.44),  kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇiyyam —agriculture, cow protection and trade—are special duties of  gṛhasthas . If by chance or by the grace of the Lord more money comes, it should be properly engaged for the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. One should not be eager to earn more money simply for sensual pleasure. A  gṛhastha  should always remember that one who is endeavoring to accumulate more money than necessary is to be considered a thief and is punishable by the laws of nature.
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