20241016 Śrī Caitanya Śikṣāmṛta 2.3. Qualification for Karma and Caste Consideration

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānanda-mādhavam śrī caitanya īśvaram
Harihi oṁ tat sat

Second Shower — Consideration of secondary rules

Third Stream — Qualification for karma and caste consideration

Caste-adultery

Dharma in the form of varṇāśrama form continued in its pure form for a long time, but over time Jamadagni and his son Paraśurāma, who were kṣatriyas, were counted illegitimately as brāhmaṇas and as a result of dharma that is against the nature, due to selfishness, they broke the peace between the brāhmaṇas and the kṣatriyas. The seeds of discord between both of these castes were thus planted, and as a result, the caste system was gradually became deep-rooted. When those unusual rules were secretly introduced in the scriptures like manu-smṛti, kṣatriyas lost hope of attaining high caste and created Buddhism thus inventing a way to destroy the brāhmaṇas. When an action appears, the reaction also becomes equally strong. As a result, the caste system by birth was further strengthened. Mismanagement on one side and patriotism on the other side, these two feelings became conflicted and gradually made the Āryan children of India almost extinct.

Lack of one’s nature is the root of caste disorder

The brāhmaṇas in name only, without the nature of a brāhmaṇa, started depriving other castes by writing selfish dharma-śāstras. All the kṣatriyas without kṣatriya nature were defeated in battle and were overthrown from the kingdom, finally began preaching insignificant Buddhism. Vaiśyas without mercantile nature began to propagate Jainism and so on, and India’s vast trade collapsed. All the śūdras without the śūdra nature, without getting the qualification to do the prescribed work, became almost like the bandits. In that, Vedic scriptures were gradually abolished; The kings from the mleccha country invaded India and took possession of it. The usage of water carriage was stopped. Even the service was not done nicely. Therefore, Kali’s rights were strengthened.*

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this gives a description how the Aryan culture in India got gradually lost, with some details. So these things are not commonly known but Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, he knew the secrets. This is how in India, Kali-yuga became stronger.

Note:

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.15.38–40

gṛhasthasya kriyā-tyāgo
vrata-tyāgo vaṭor api
tapasvino grāma-sevā
bhikṣor indriya-lolatā

āśramāpasadā hy ete
khalv āśrama-viḍambanāḥ
deva-māyā-vimūḍhāṁs tān
upekṣetānukampayā

ātmānaṁ ced vijānīyāt
paraṁ jñāna-dhutāśayaḥ
kim icchan kasya vā hetor
dehaṁ puṣṇāti lampaṭaḥ

It is abominable for a person living in the gṛhastha-āśrama to give up the regulative principles, for a brahmacārī not to follow the brahmacārī vows while living under the care of the guru, for a vānaprastha to live in the village and engage in so-called social activities, or for a sannyāsī to be addicted to sense gratification. One who acts in this way is to be considered the lowest renegade. Such a pretender is bewildered by the external energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and one should either reject him from any position, or taking compassion upon him, teach him, if possible, to resume his original position. The human form of body is meant for understanding the self and the Supreme Self, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, both of whom are transcendentally situated. If both of them can be understood when one is purified by advanced knowledge, for what reason and for whom does a foolish, greedy person maintain the body for sense gratification?

Jayapatākā Swami: You see materially oriented people, they want to use the body for sense gratification, and they live for that purpose. One should actually live to please Kṛṣṇa, but they are degraded in this age.

Aha! It should be said that the present plight of the Indian Āryans, who are the rulers and teachers of all nations, is not only due to the aging of the nation, but also due to the illegal caste system. He who is able to control all living beings and all laws and establish auspiciousness from all evil, only if that Supreme Lord wills, then a śaktyāviṣṭa puruṣa (person invested with power) will re-establish the right dharma of caste. Hoping like us, the authors of Purāṇa are also waiting for the help of Lord Kalki. Such waiting is seen in the legend of Maru and King Devāpi. Let us now consider the actual rules.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the rules of varṇāśrama were gradually changed. The real rules are given by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.

The qualification for work is according to caste

What is the qualification for any action by any caste is written in the dharma-śāstras. It is difficult to write about them in our book with explanation. Annadāna in relation to guest reception, hospitality, Taking bath three times in relation to purity, worship of demigods and demi-goddesses, study of Vedas, giving advice and as priest doing welfare activities for the householders (purohitya) performing vratas such as upanayana, brahmacārya, sannyāsa are the rights only for the brāhmaṇas. Rights of kṣatriyas are in religious wars, ruling the kingdom (rājya-śāsana), protecting the citizens (prajā-rakṣaṇa), big charity etc. Rights of vaiśyas are in protection and maintenance of animals, agricultural and commercial activities. Worshiping gods without mantra (amantra deva sevā) and engaged in the service of other three castes are the rights of the śūdras. The rights of men and women of all castes are in marriage vows, devotion to God, doing welfare activity for others, general charity, serving the spiritual master (guru-sevā), reception of guest, purity, festivals, cow service (go-sevā), population increase and proper behavior. Serving husband (pati-sevā) is the special prerogative of women. The basic rule is that a person with a certain nature is qualified to perform an action that is suitable for that nature. Almost everyone can determine the qualification for an action by simple intelligence, if unable to determine, ask appropriate guru. If the Vaiṣṇavas, who are beyond the modes of nature, want to know more about these things, then discuss sat-kriyā-sāra-dīpikā by Śrīmad Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī.

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura is explaining some simple rules and each rule is appropriate for a particular class of people. In the end it says that to know about Vaiṣṇava rules one should read the Sat-kriyā-sāra-dīpikā by Śrīla Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī. So what is said here is that varṇāśrama is due to the different mixtures of the three modes of material nature. And then it says Vaiṣṇavas are beyond the modes of nature. For them he recommends the Sat-kriyā-sāra-dīpikā by Śrīla Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī. Śrīla Prabhupāda was making Vaiṣṇavas which was beyond the three modes of material nature. So Lord Caitanya’s mission was to make everyone a pure devotee.

Today was a long day for me!

Kṛṣṇe matir astu!