CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The Behavior of a Perfect Person

This Thirteenth Chapter describes the regulative principles for
sannydsis and also describes the history of an avadhita. It concludes
with a description of perfection for the student in spiritual advancement.

Sri Narada Muni has been describing the symptoms of various
Gsramas and varnas. Now, in this chapter, he specifically describes the
regulative principles to be followed by sannydsis. After retiring from
family life, one should accept the status of vanaprastha, in which he
must formally accept the body as his means of existence but gradually
forget the bodily necessities of life. After vanaprastha life, having left
home, one should travel to different places as a sannydsi. Without bodily
comforts and free from dependence on anyone with respect to bodily
necessities, one should travel everywhere, wearing almost nothing or ac-
tually walking naked. Without association with ordinary human society,
one should beg alms and always be satisfied in himself. One should be a
friend to every living entity and be very peaceful in Krsna consciousness.
A sannyasi should travel alone in this way, not caring for life or death,
waiting for the time when he will leave his material body. He should not
indulge in unnecessary books or adopt professions like astrology, nor
should he try to become a great orator. He should also give up the path of
unnecessary argument and should not depend on anyone under any
circumstances. He should not try to allure people into becoming his disci-
ples just so that the number of his disciples may increase. He should give
up the habit of reading many books as a means of livelihood, and he
should not attempt to increase the number of temples and mathas, or
monasteries. When a sannydsi thus becomes completely independent,
peaceful and equipoised, he can select the destination he desires after
death and follow the principles by which to reach that destination. Al-
though fully learned, he should always remain silent, like a dumb per-
son, and travel like a restless child.

In this regard, Narada Muni described a meeting between Prahlada
and a saintly person who had adopted the mode of life of a python. In this

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