CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Ideal Family Life
This chapter describes the occupational duties of the householder accord-
ing to the time, the country and the performer. When Yudhisthira
Maharaja became very much inquisitive about the occupational duties for
the householder, Narada Muni advised him that a grhastha’s first duty is
to be fully dependent on Vasudeva, Krsna, and to try to satisfy Him in all
respects by executing one’s prescribed devotional service. This devo-
tional service will depend on the instructions of authorities and the asso-
ciation of devotees who are actually engaged in devotional service. The
beginning of devotional service is Sravanam, or hearing. One must hear
from the mouths of realized souls. In this way the grhastha’s attraction to
his wife and children will gradually be reduced.

As for the maintenance of his family, a grhastha, while earning what
he requires for his living, must be very conscientious and must not un-
dergo extraordinary endeavor simply to accumulate money and unneces-
sarily increase in material comforts. Although a grhastha should
externally be very active in earning his livelihood, he should internally
be situated as a fully self-realized person, without attachment for ma-
terial gains. His dealings with family members or friends should be per-
formed simply to fulfill their purpose; one should not be extravagantly
engaged in this way. Instructions from family members and society
should be accepted superficially, but in essence the grhastha should be
engaged in occupational duties advised by the spiritual master and sastra.
Specifically a grhastha should engage in agricultural activities to earn
money. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (18.44), krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam—
agriculture, cow protection and trade—are special duties of grhasthas. If
by chance or by the grace of the Lord more money comes, it should be
properly engaged for the Krsna consciousness movement. One should not
be eager to earn more money simply for sensual pleasure. A grhastha
should always remember that one who is endeavoring to accumulate
more money than necessary is to be considered a thief and is punishable
by the laws of nature.

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