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Duty of man

Srimad-Bhagavatam

SB Canto 3

Please describe the duty of a man in an awkward position
SB 3.7.34, Translation: Please also describe the fruitive results of charity and penance and of digging reservoirs of water. Please describe the situation of persons who are away from home and also the duty of a man in an awkward position.
The household duty of a man is not to satisfy his sense gratification, but to remain with a wife and children and at the same time attain advancement in spiritual life
SB 3.22.11, Purport: The words grhamedhisu karmasu mean "in household duties." Another word is also used here: sarvatmananurupam. The purport is that a wife should not only be equal to her husband in age, character and qualities, but must be helpful to him in his household duties. The household duty of a man is not to satisfy his sense gratification, but to remain with a wife and children and at the same time attain advancement in spiritual life. One who does not do so is not a householder but a grhamedhi. Two words are used in Sanskrit literature; one is grhastha, and the other is grhamedhi. The difference between grhamedhi and grhastha is that grhastha is also an asrama, or spiritual order, but if one simply satisfies his senses as a householder, then he is a grhamedhi. For a grhamedhi, to accept a wife means to satisfy the senses, but for a grhastha a qualified wife is an assistant in every respect for advancement in spiritual activities. It is the duty of the wife to take charge of household affairs and not to compete with the husband. A wife is meant to help, but she cannot help her husband unless he is completely equal to her in age, character and quality.
Svāyambhuva Manu out of compassion for all living entities, taught the diverse sacred duties of men in general and the different varṇas and āśramas
SB 3.22.38, Translation: In reply to questions asked by certain sages, he [Svāyambhuva Manu], out of compassion for all living entities, taught the diverse sacred duties of men in general and the different varṇas and āśramas.

SB Canto 8

Śukrācārya stressed that one's material means of livelihood and one's material reputation, sense gratification and economic development must continue properly. To see to this is the first duty of a man who is a householder, especially one who is interested in material affairs
SB 8.20.2, Purport: Bali Maharaja's grave answer to Sukracarya is meaningful. Sukracarya stressed that one's material means of livelihood and one's material reputation, sense gratification and economic development must continue properly. To see to this is the first duty of a man who is a householder, especially one who is interested in material affairs. If a religious principle does not affect one's material condition, it is to be accepted. At the present time, in this age of Kali, this idea is extremely prominent. No one is prepared to accept any religious principle if it hampers material prosperity. Sukracarya, being a person of this material world, did not know the principles of a devotee. A devotee is determined to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead to His full satisfaction. Anything that hampers such determination should certainly be rejected. This is the principle of bhakti. Anukulyasya sankalpah pratikulyasya varjanam (Cc. Madhya 22.100). To perform devotional service, one must accept only that which is favorable and reject that which is unfavorable. Bali Maharaja had the opportunity to contribute everything he possessed to the lotus feet of Lord Vamanadeva, but Sukracarya was putting forward a material argument to hamper this process of devotional service. Under the circumstances, Bali Maharaja decided that such hindrances should certainly be avoided. In other words, he decided immediately to reject the advice of Sukracarya and go on with his duty. Thus he gave all his possessions to Lord Vamanadeva.

Lectures

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

So human life has got a great responsibility. If you become like cats and dog, the hippies, then utsanna, everything is destroyed
Introduction to Gitopanisad: So this is Vaisnavism. One who wants to satisfy Visnu, he is called Vaisnava. That is Vaisnavism. Visnu means the Supreme Lord. So everything is arranged to satisfy the Lord Visnu. So where from it begins? The cats and dogs, they can be trained up for satisfying Visnu? No, there is no possibility. They are dogs, animals. They are simply busy with four principles of life: eating, sleeping, sex-life and defending. That's all. They cannot be trained up that "You become very obedient to Lord Visnu. Become a devotee." Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. "You become the devotee of Krsna." No, that is not possible. Therefore it is said that manusyanam. Manusyanam. It is the duty of the manusya, not of the dog. Manusyanam. Utsanna-kula-dharmanam manusyanam janardana [Bg. 1.43]. So human life has got a great responsibility. If you become like cats and dog, the hippies, then utsanna, everything is destroyed. Utsanna-kula-dharma. They have no family. They don't care for any rules and regulation. Utsanna, everything destroyed. Jaghanya-guna-vrtti-sthah [Bg. 14.18]. No family life, no taking bath, no worship, nothing of... All irresponsible.

Philosophy Discussions

So to possess the knowledge of God, the best duty of man is to take knowledge from God about God
Philosophy Discussion on George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel:: So to possess the knowledge of God, the best duty of man is to take knowledge from God about God. I know myself, that he says, that God knows Himself. So if God knows, that is natural. I know what I am. So if you take knowledge of me from me instead of speculating, that is perfect knowledge. So here, in the Bhagavad-gita, the God is explaining Himself. So if you simply take the knowledge given by God, that is your perfected knowledge of God. Why you are speculating? You are wasting time. Take the knowledge from God about Him, and then you have perfect knowledge. Why should you speculate? Suppose I am studying you, I am speculating, "Well, Hayagriva may be like this, he might have so much money, he might have so much bank balance, he is living like that," this is speculation. But if I say, "Hayagriva, what you are?" you say, "I have got this, I do like this," that is my perfect knowledge. Why shall I speculate?

Conversations and Morning Walks

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

Ideal is that man must be first-class and he must be responsible to take care of the woman, and she should be given all protection, all necessities. That is the duty of man
Television Interview -- July 9, 1975, Chicago: Prabhupada: That is bad experience. But the ideal is different. Ideal is that man must be first-class and he must be responsible to take care of the woman, and she should be given all protection, all necessities. That is the duty of man. Just like father takes the charge of his daughter, similarly, husband should take charge of the woman. And similarly, elderly sons also took charge of the woman. The father never exploits the daughter. He gives all protection. That is the duty of the husband also. When she is grown up, she cannot remain under the protection of father. She is given, therefore, to a suitable boy to take charge. But the charge is the same, to give protection, all comforts. And because there is no first-class man to take charge of the woman, they are declaring independence. All the men are doing that. They keep girlfriend, make her pregnant, and go away, goes away.
Page Title:Duty of man
Compiler:Syamananda, Visnu Murti
Created:6march08,
No. of Quotes:4
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=4, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=0