156 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 4

within the varnasrama-dharma. In this way He regulated the
general populace in householder life, enabling them to develop
religion and economic well-being and to attain reputations, sons
and daughters, material pleasure and finally eternal life. By His in-
structions, He showed how people could remain householders and
at the same time become perfect by following the principles of var-
nasrama-dharma.

PURPORT

The varnasrama-dharma is meant for imperfect, conditioned souls. It
trains them to become spiritually advanced in order to return home, back
to Godhead. A civilization that does not know the highest aim of life is no
better than an animal society. As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam: na te
viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum. A human society is meant for elevation
to spiritual knowledge so that all of the people can be freed from the
clutches of birth, death, old age and disease. The varnadsrama-dharma
enables human society to become perfectly fit for getting out of the
clutches of mdyd, and by following the regulative principles of var-
nasrama-dharma, one can become successful. In this regard, see
Bhagavad-gitd (3.21-24).

TEXT 15

° S
TERIA TIGA sls 24 II
yad yac chirsanyacaritam tat tad anuvartate lokah.

yat yat—whatever; Ssirsanya—by the leading personalities;
Gcaritam—performed; tat tat—that; anuvartate—follow; lokah—the
people in general.

TRANSLATION

Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men
follow.

PURPORT

A similar verse is also found in Bhagavad-gita (3.21). It is essential
for human society to have a section of men perfectly trained as qualified
