474 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 12

PURPORT

The nucleus of the four social orders—brahmacarya or student life,
grhastha or household family life, vanaprastha or retired life for practicing
penance, and sannyasa or renounced life for preaching the truth—is the
four legs of religion. The vocational divisions are the brahmanas or the
intelligent class, the ksatriyas or administrative class, the vaigsyas or mercan-
tile productive class, and the sudras or general laborer class who have no
specific qualifications. All were systematically planned and created by
Brahma for the regular promotion of self-realization. Student life is meant
for acquiring the best education; household family life is meant for grati-
fying the senses, provided it is performed with a charitable disposition of
mind. Retirement from household life is meant for penance, for advance-
ment of spiritual life, and renounced life is meant for preaching the
Absolute Truth to the people in general. The combined actions of all
members of society make the whole situation favorable for the upliftment
of the mission of human life. The beginning of this social institution is
based on education meant for purifying the animal propensities of the
human being. The highest purificatory process is knowledge of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, the purest of the pure.

TEXT 42

Aat AAI FA AMT FETA |
aaaarytatyers xe Ft we lee

saviiram prajapatyam ca
brahmam catha brhat tatha
varta saficaya-salina-
Siloficha iti vai grhe

savitram—the thread ceremony of the twice-born; prajapatyam—to
execute the vow for one year; ca—and; brahmam—acceptance of the Vedas;
ca—and; atha—also; brhat—complete abstinence from sex life; tatha—then;
varta—vocation in terms of Vedic sanction; saficaya—professional duty ;
Salina—livelihood without asking anyone for cooperation; siloficha—
picking up rejected grains; iti—thus; vai—even though; grhe—in household
life.
