Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 11 Chapter 5:1-10

Book 11: Chapter5

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 11: Chapter 5: Verses 1-10

The king (Nimi) submitted : 0 jewels among those (sages) who have realized the belt! what will be the fate of those who do not generally adore Lord Sri Hari and whose desires have not been satiated and whose mind and senses are (yet) uncontrolled ? Camasa replied : From the mouth, arms, thighs and feet of the Lord were (respectively) evolved the four Varnas or castes with the (four) Asramas or stages in life. And they were distinctly divided into Brahmanas, Ksatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras according to their Gunas (or qualities of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas and their combinations). Among these they who do not adore the Supreme Person though knowing Him to be their direct Originator and Ruler and ignore Him, fall from their status and go down to hell. Many women, Sudras and others are remote from (through neglect or distaste) hearing the Lord's stories or discourses on them and also from singing His praises, and'deserve to be pitied by devotees like you. (It should be your duty to bring them to the right path). Brahmanas, Ksatriyas and Vaisyas stand (very) near the feet of Sri Hari by virtue of their birth and Vedic Sarnskaras (ceremonies for the twice-born). Yet they get misguided by the Vedas as they miss their real meaning and interpret them literally about the fruits of actions. They do not know the secret of action; though foolish, they consider themselves learned and become conceited; they indulge in fine talk and are fascinated by the honeyed words describing the transient fruit of actions. Being dominated by Rajas they resolve upon cruel deeds; their desire for pleasures is insatiable; their anger is like that of a serpent and they love ostentation and show pride. Such sinners laugh at the devotees of the Lord. Living in homes where sexual pleasures predominate, they remain devoted to women and talk among themselves of the pleasures of sense (alone). They perform sacrifices without observing the rules and without distributing food and giving money to the Brahmanas and only kill animals for sustenance, not realizing the sin involved in destruction of life. Blinded with pride born of their wealth and power, pedigree and learning, munificence, comeliness of form, .physical strength and -actions, those wicked men despise not only the saintly, who are beloved of Sri Hari, but the Lord Himself. Those fools do not heed what the Vedas say about the Lord, viz., that like the sky He is eternally present in alI`creatures as their very Self and as the ultimate object of all human pursuits. They interpret the Vedas as discussing only the objects of desire.

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