||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 85 – Varnnashrama Dharma - 1

Maharishi Narada continued “ Oh! Rajan, the supreme Lord is beyond forms or the description can be realized with a calm and serene mind, meditation, worship with intense devotion and faith.  In this way, you can please the Supreme Lord who resides as ‘Antharathma’/soul, can be considered as your preceptor and contemplates upon him with intense faith and devotion.”

Dharmaputhra speaks to Maharishi Narada “ Oh! Maharishi, kindly describe the Varnnashrama Dharma?”

Maharishi Narada speaks “ Oh! Rajan, listen to me carefully, once I went to meet Lord Narayana in Badarikashram, he narrated the marvelous Varnnashrama Dharma, the righteous path to approach the eternal Bhramam was divided into four known as Varnnashrama Dharma.  The significant virtues required in an individual is Sathyam/truth, Dhaya/kindness, austerities/Thapas and Shuchi, Thithiksha, Shamam, Dhamam,  principles of non-violence, self-sacrifice, celibacy, Swadhyaya, Marjjavam, happiness, Samyadhrik/oneness in all, service to humanity, belief in non-duality, Athmavichar/contemplation upon self, Maunam/vow of silence, Shravanam, Keerthanam, association with the saintly men, performance of fire sacrifices and various rites, worship of Lord, good companion,  and humility,  is the greatest virtues required for the grace of supreme Lord.  The twice-born/Brahmin who was born from the face of supreme Lord required following strict austerities, the performance of Yagna and Yaga, learning scriptures Upanishads, and Veda, and spreading knowledge of Veda.   A Vipra should have the knowledge of Modham, Shamam, Dhamam, Shaucham, Kshamam, Gnanam, austerities, Dhaya, good control over senses, worship of Lord, and truthfulness.   He should take up studies under preceptor; he should be devoted to the preceptor, honest, humble, and sincere and should have great respect towards the preceptor.  He should perform rites to honor preceptor, worship Lord Surya during the hours of Sandhya, perform rites to please Earth and deities, he should practices lessons in Veda, he should obtain alms to serve his preceptor, he should consume the meal in lesser quantity, he should strictly follow celibacy, he should not live in the house of women, he should not clean shave or cut nails,  he should avoid fragrant scents,  and intoxicating drinks, he should have thorough knowledge of the all-pervading nature of the supreme Lord.  He should serve his preceptor like a servant, he should not be proud.   The Kshatriya who was born from the arms of Supreme Lord, required following service to the Kingdom, he is the protector of the borders of the Kingdom, he should have qualities like Shaurayam, Veeryam, Dhrithi, Thejas, Thyagam, good control over sense, patience, and he should ensure the protection of twice-born.  The Vaishya who was born from the thighs of the supreme Lord required qualities like devotion, commerce, and ensuring the happiness of the three Varnas/Bhramin, Kshatriya and Shudra.  The Shudra has the responsibility to worship Lord without any Vedic chants, he should be truthful, they should undertake the protection of cow, agriculture, and all the labor tasks.  The women should undertake strict austerities, righteousness, and vow, she should have the qualities like  humility,  truthfulness, devoted service to her husband, love, and affection, happiness, intelligence, untiring, cleanliness, steadfast, good health, free from anxieties and depression, she should consider her husband as Lord Narayana, ultimately she will attain the abode of Lord.  The people of four Varnna should strive for obtaining knowledge of all-pervading nature supreme Lord and ultimately attains the abode of Lord.  The Vanaprastha attain the abode of Rishis, he should eat the fruit ripened from the trees, fiber roots are grown on its own, he should not consume any of the vegetables produced in the farm or field, he should not consume cooked meals, they should stay in hermitage or cave and perform the fire rituals, he should be capable of withstand any of the extreme climatic conditions.  He should have perfect control over senses; he should have knotted hair locks, hairs and nails should not be removed, he should have Dhanda and Kamadalu, gradually he will burn/immerses himself in the Gnana and Yogagni, eventually he will sacrifice all those loin clothes, Danda and Kamandalu and walk on the Earth without fear, body consciousness, I consciousness, and meals.  He will be in the association of ascetics; completely staying away from practice or learning scriptures, he will be serene, live alike of deaf, dumb and blind.”

Maharishi Narada speaks “ Oh! Rajan, The Purusharththa is the ultimate object and Varnnashrama Dharma is the way to attain the ultimate object.   Dharma is the path to get attached to the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in us and gets disconnected from all that is perishable nature.  The attachment to the Supreme Lord can be attained with the guidance of a preceptor.  Our mind has the potential to desire for the material things as well as eternal, the desire for eternal truth is the final object/Moksha.  It is the union of the soul with the supreme soul/supreme Bhramam.  The elevation of the soul is possible through Varnnashrama Dharma which was established by supreme Lord.”