CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Instructions for Civilized Human Beings
The summary of the Fifteenth Chapter is as follows. In the previous chapter, Śrī Nārada Muni proved the importance of the  brāhmaṇa  in society. Now, in this chapter, he will show the differences between different grades of  brāhmaṇas . Among the  brāhmaṇas , some are householders and are mostly attached to fruitive activities or the betterment of social conditions. Above them, however, are  brāhmaṇas  who are very much attracted by austerities and penances and who retire from family life. They are known as  vānaprasthas . Other  brāhmaṇas  are very much interested in studying the  Vedas  and explaining the purport of the  Vedas  to others. Such  brāhmaṇas  are called  brahmacārīs . And still other  brāhmaṇas  are interested in different types of  yoga , especially  bhakti-yoga  and  jñāna-yoga . Such  brāhmaṇas  are mostly  sannyāsīs , members of the renounced order of life.
As far as householders are concerned, they engage in different types of scriptural activities, especially in offering oblations to their forefathers and giving as charity to other  brāhmaṇas  the paraphernalia engaged in such sacrifices. Generally the charity is given to  sannyāsī ,  brāhmaṇas  in the renounced order of life. If such a  sannyāsī  is not available, the charity is given to  brāhmaṇa  householders engaged in fruitive activities.
One should not make very elaborate arrangements to perform the  śrāddha  ceremony of offering oblations to one's forefathers. The best process for the  śrāddha  ceremony is to distribute  bhāgavata-prasāda  (remnants of food that has first been offered to Kṛṣṇa) to all of one's forefathers and relatives. This makes a first-class  śrāddha  ceremony. In the  śrāddha  ceremony there is no need to offer meat or eat meat. Unnecessary killing of animals must be avoided. Those who are in the lower grades of society prefer to perform sacrifices by killing animals, but one who is advanced in knowledge must avoid such unnecessary violence.
Brāhmaṇas  should execute their regulative duties in worshiping Lord Viṣṇu. Those who are advanced in knowledge of religious principles
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