Text 15] — Lord Visnu’s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena 783
PURPORT

Lord Visnu advised King Prthu that everyone should follow the prin-
ciples of varnasrama-dharma; then, in whatever capacity one remains within
this material world, his salvation is guaranteed after death. In this age, how-
ever, since the system of varnasrama-dharma is topsy-turvy, it is very diffi-
cult to strictly follow all the principles. The only method for becoming
perfect in life is to develop Krsna consciousness. As varnasrama-dharma is
executed from different positions by different men, so the Krsna conscious-
ness principles can be followed by everyone in every part of the world.

There is a specific purpose in mentioning herein that one should follow
the dvijagryas, the most prominent brahmanas like Paragara and Manu.
These great sages have already given us instructions how to live according
to the principles of varnasrama-dharma. Similarly, Sanatana Gosvami and
Ripa Gosvami have given us rules and regulations for becoming pure devo-
tees of the Lord. It is essential, therefore, to follow the instructions of the
acaryas in the parampara system who have received the knowledge as
passed down from spiritual master to disciple. In this way, although living
in our material condition of life, we can get out of the entanglement of
material contamination without leaving our positions. Lord Caitanya
Mahaprabhu advises, therefore, that one does not have to change his posi-
tion. One simply has to hear from the perfect source (this is called param-
para) and follow the principles for practical application in life; thus one
can attain the highest perfection of life, liberation, and go back home, back
to Godhead. In other words, the change required is a change in conscious-
ness, not in the body. Unfortunately, in this fallen age, people are con-
cerned with the body, not with the soul. They have invented so many
“isms” pertaining to the body only, not to the soul.

In the modern age of democracy there are so many government repre-
sentatives voting for legislation. Every day they bring out a new law. But
because these laws are only mental concoctions manufactured by inex-
perienced conditioned souls, they cannot give relief to human society.
Formerly, although the kings were autocrats, they strictly followed the
principles laid down by great sages and saintly persons. There were no mis-
takes in ruling over the country, and everything went perfectly. The citi-
zens were completely pious, the king levied taxes legitimately, and therefore
the situation was very happy. At the present moment the so-called execu-
tive heads are more or less selected from materially ambitious persons who
simply look after their own personal interests; they have no knowledge of
the sastras. In other words, the executive heads are fools and rascals in the
strict sense of the terms, and the people in general are sudras. This combi-
