28 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 1

instead of reaching Visnu, people are bewildered by the external
manifestation of the material energy. Therefore progress in material ad-
vancement is blind, and the leaders of such material advancement are
also blind. They are leading their followers in the wrong way.

It is best, therefore, to accept the injunctions of the Vedas, which are
mentioned in this verse as yad-vaci. In accordance with those injunc-
tions, everyone should find out whether he is a brahmana, ksatriya,
vaisya or Ssiidra and should thus be educated accordingly. Then his life
will be successful. Otherwise, all of human society will be confused. If
human society is divided scientifically according to varna and dsrama,
and if the Vedic directions are followed, one’s life, regardless of his posi-
tion, will be successful. It is not that bréhmanas will be elevated to the
transcendental platform but not the sidras. If the Vedic injunctions are
followed, all of them—brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and siidras—will
be elevated to the transcendental platform, and their lives will be suc-
cessful. The injunctions in the Vedas are explicit directions from the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. The example cited in this verse is that
bulls tied by ropes in their nostrils move according to the direction of the
driver. Similarly, if we move according to the instructions of the Vedas,
the perfect paths for our lives will be set. Otherwise, if we do not move in
that way but act according to our whimsical ideas, our lives will be
spoiled by confusion and will end in despair. Actually, because people at
the present moment are not following the instructions of the Vedas, they
are all confused. We must therefore accept this instruction by Lord
Brahma to Priyavrata as the factual scientific direction leading to the
success of life. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (16.23):

yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya
vartate kama-karatah

na sa siddhim avapnoti
na sukham na param gatim

If we do not live according to the injunctions of the sdstras, the Vedas, we
shall never achieve success in life, to say nothing of happiness or eleva-
tion to higher statuses of living.
