# Cc. Madhya 8.58 ## Text > varṇāśramācāra-vatā > puruṣena paraḥ pumān > visṇur ārādhyate panthā > nānyat tat-toṣa-kāraṇam ## Synonyms *varṇa*-*āśrama*-*ācāra*-*vatā*—who behaves according to the system of four divisions of social order and four divisions of spiritual life; *puruṣeṇa*—by a man; *paraḥ*—the supreme; *pumān*—person; *viṣṇuḥ*—Lord Viṣṇu; *ārādhyate*—is worshiped; *panthā*—*way*; *na*—not; *anyat*—another; *tat*-*toṣa*-*kāraṇam*—cause of satisfying the Lord. ## Translation **"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, is worshiped by the proper execution of prescribed duties in the system of varṇa and āśrama. There is no other way to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One must be situated in the institution of the four varṇas and āśramas."** ## Purport This is a quotation from the *Viṣṇu Purāṇa* (3.8.9). As stated by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in his *Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya:* "The purport is that one can realize life's perfection simply by satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead." This is also confirmed in *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/1/2/13|(1.2.13)]]: > ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā > varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ > svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya > saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam "O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection one can achieve, by discharging his prescribed duties [*dharma*] according to caste divisions and order of life, is to please Lord Hari." Every man should perform his occupational duty in the light of his particular tendency. According to his abilities, one should accept a position in the *varṇāśrama* institution. The divisions of *brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya* and *śūdra* are natural divisions within society. Indeed, everyone has a prescribed duty according to the *varṇāśrama-dharma.* Those who properly execute their prescribed duties live peacefully and are not disturbed by material conditions. The spiritual orders—*brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha* and *sannyāsa*—are called *āśramas.* If one executes his prescribed duty in both the social and spiritual order, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is satisfied. If one neglects his duties, however, he becomes a transgressor and a candidate for a hellish condition. Actually we see that different people are engaged in different ways; therefore there must be divisions according to work. To attain perfection, one must make devotional service the center of life. In this way one can awaken his natural instincts by work, association and education. One should accept the *varṇāśrama* divisions by qualification, not by birth. Unless this system is introduced, human activities cannot be systematically executed. The *brāhmaṇas* are the intellectuals who can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They are always engaged in the cultivation of knowledge. It does not matter whether one is born in India or outside India. Those who are naturally very heroic and who tend to rule over others are called *kṣatriyas.* Those who tend to produce food by agricultural methods, protect cows and other animals and engage in trade are called *vaiśyas,* or merchants. Those who are not sufficiently intelligent to be *brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas* or *vaiśyas* are required to serve a master and are called *śūdras.* Thus everyone can engage in the service of the Lord and thus awaken his natural Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If a society does not function according to such natural divisions, the social orders become degraded. The conclusion is that the scientific method of *varṇāśrama-dharma* should be adopted by society.