470 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 1, Ch. 9

distinguished from the life of the lower animals engaged in eating, sleeping,
fearing and mating. Bhismadeva advised for all human beings nine qualifi-
cations: 1) not to become angry, 2) not to lie, 3) to equally distribute
wealth, 4) to forgive, 5) to beget children only by one’s legitimate wife,
6) to be pure in mind and hygenic in body. 7) not to be inimical toward
anyone, 8) to be simple, and 9) to support servants or subordinates. One
cannot be called a civilized person without acquiring the above-mentioned
preliminary qualities. Besides these, the brahmanas or the intelligent men,
the administrative men, the mercantile community and the laborer class
must acquire special qualities in terms of occupational duties mentioned
in all the Vedic scriptures. For the intelligent men, controlling the senses
is the most essential qualification, which is the basis of morality. Sex
indulgence even with a legitimate wife must also be controlled, and thereby
family control will automatically follow. An intelligent man abuses his
great qualifications if he does not follow the Vedic way of life. This means
he must seriously make a study of the Vedie literatures, especially of the
Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Bhagavad-gita. For learning Vedic knowledge.
one must approach a person who is cent percent engaged in devotional
service. He must not do things which are forbidden in the sastras. A person
cannot be a teacher if he drinks or smokes. In the modern system of
education the teacher's academic qualification is taken into consideration
without evaluation of his moral life. Therefore, the result of education is
misuse of high intelligence in so many ways.

The ksatriyas or the administrative class is especially advised to give in
charity and not toaccept charity in any circumstances. Modern administra-
tors raise subscriptions for some political functions, but never give in
charity to the citizens in any state function. It is just the reverse in the
injunctions of the sastras. The administrative class must be well versed in
the sustras, but must not take to the profession of teachers. The adminis-
trators should never pretend to become nonviolent and thereby go to hell.
When Arjuna wanted to become a nonviolent coward in the Battlefield
of Kuruksetra, he was severely chastised by Lord Krsna. The Lord de-
graded Arjuna at that time to the status of an uncivilized man for his
avowed acceptance of the cult of nonviolence. The administrative class
must be personally trained in the military education. Cowards should not
be elevated to the presidential throne by dint of numerical votes only.
The monarchs were all chivalrous personalities, and therefore monarchy
should be maintained provided the monarch is regularly trained in the
occupational duties of a king. In fighting, the king or the president should
never return home without being hurt by the enemy. The so-called king of
