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2 Mothers and Masters
the social vision that he gave us, so that we can methodically
work to ef fect it within the overall society. As with all other
endeavors undertaken for the sake of Kṛṣṇa, our approach
toward reforming society must begin with our ācāryas’ vision,
as they have explained it from the śāstras (authorized revealed
scriptures). This means that our social vision is primarily
realized from the verses of the Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Śrīmad-
Bhāgavatam, Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, and especially the
commentaries on them written by ISKCON’s founder-ācārya,
Śrīla Prabhupāda. Our social vision should be based on Śrīla
Prabhupāda’s books, because he ascribed the highest authority
to them.*
In the following quotation, based on the text of Śrīmad-
Bhāgavatam, Śrīla Prabhupāda explained the importance of
varṇāśrama-dharma:
The ef fect of adhering to the institution of varṇāśrama is
gradual elevation to the spiritual platform and liberation from
material bondage. By following the principles of varṇāśrama-
dharma, one gets the opportunity to associate with devotees.
Such association gradually awakens one’s dormant propensity
to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead and frees one
from all the basic principles of sinful life. One then gets the
opportunity to of fer unalloyed devotional service to the
Supreme Lord, Vāsudeva. 1
Or, as Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura put it:
The main reason for the cultivation of varṇāśrama-dharma
is to maintain the body, develop the mind, perform good
works for society, and learn spiritual topics, all with the goal
of developing pure devotional service. Who can deny the
* Lecture: Vaiṣṇava Ācāryas’ Social Initiatives <www.bvks.com/165>
1. SB 5.19, summary.