314 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 9

He thought it wise to educate his son properly, and being absorbed
in this unsuccessful endeavor, he tried to teach his son the rules
and regulations of brahmacarya—including the execution of the
Vedic vows, cleanliness, study of the Vedas, the regulative
methods, service to the spiritual master and the method of offer-
ing a fire sacrifice. He tried his best to teach his son in this way, but
all his endeavors failed. In his heart he hoped that his son would
be a learned scholar, but all his attempts were unsuccessful. Like
everyone, this brahmana was attached to his home, and he had
forgotten that someday he would die. Death, however, was not
forgetful. At the proper time, death appeared and took him away.

PURPORT

Those too attached to family life, who forget that death comes in the
future to take them away, become attached and unable to finish their
duty as human beings. The duty of human life is to solve all the prob-
lems of life, but instead people remain attached to family affairs and
duties. Although they forget death, death will not forget them. Suddenly
they will be kicked off the platform of a peaceful family life. One may
forget that he has to die, but death never forgets. Death comes always at
the right time. The brdhmana father of Jada Bharata wanted to teach his
son the process of brahmacarya, but he was unsuccessful due to his son’s
unwillingness to undergo the process of Vedic advancement. Jada
Bharata was simply concerned with returning home, back to Godhead, by
executing devotional service through sravanam kirtanarn visnoh. He did
not care for the Vedic instructions of his father. When one is fully in-
terested in the service of the Lord, he does not need to follow all the
regulative principles enunciated in the Vedas. Of course, for an ordinary
man, the Vedic principles are imperative. No one can avoid them. But
when one has attained the perfection of devotional service, it is not very
important to follow the Vedic principles. Lord Krsna advised Arjuna to
ascend to the platform of nistraigunya, the transcendental position above
the Vedic principles.

traigunya-visaya veda
nistraigunyo bhavarjuna

nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho
niryoga-ksema dtmavan
