96 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 20
sat-karma-nipuno vipro
mantra-tantra-visdradah
avaisnavo gurur na syad
vaisnavah svapaco guruh
‘A scholarly brahmana expert in all subjects of Vedic knowledge is unfit
to become a spiritual master without being a Vaisnava, but if a person
born in a family of a lower caste is a Vaisnava, he can become a spiritual
master.” (Padma Purana)
TEXT 2
aatawara
aes ATA Tih TAS Teatyary |
ont ard gatafa ay av arta aBfefag Ul 2 I
sri-balir uvaca
satyam bhagavata proktam
dharmo ’yarn grhamedhindm
artham kamam yaso vrttirn
yo na badheta karhicit
Sri-balih uvdca—Bali Maharaja said; satyam—it is truth;
bhagavata—by Your Greatness; proktam—what has already been
spoken; dharmah—a religious principle; ayam—that is; grha-
medhindm—especially for the householders; artham—economic
development; kamam-—sense gratification; yasah urttim—reputation
and means of livelihood; yah—which religious principle; na—not;
badheta—hinders; karhicit—at any time.
TRANSLATION
Bali Maharaja said: As you have already stated, the principle of
religion that does not hinder one’s economic development, sense
gratification, fame and means of livelihood is the real occupational
duty of the householder. I also think that this religious principle is
correct.
