Duty of the human society

Expressions researched:
"duty of the human society" |"duty of human society" |"duties of the humankind"

SB Canto 8

The duty of human society, therefore, is to accept the path of action enunciated by the Supreme Lord

SB 8.14.8, Purport: For the benefit of all human society, not only does the Lord assume the form of Manu as an incarnation to rule the universe properly, but He also assumes the forms of a teacher, yogi, jnani and so on, for the benefit of human society. The duty of human society, therefore, is to accept the path of action enunciated by the Supreme Lord. In the present age, the sum and substance of all Vedic knowledge is to be found in Bhagavad-gita, which is personally taught by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the same Supreme Godhead, assuming the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, expands the teachings of Bhagavad-gita all over the world. In other words, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is so kind and merciful to human society that He is always anxious to take the fallen souls back home, back to Godhead.

SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13

Therefore, the opportunity for purification should be regarded as the essential duty of human society

SB 10.8.10, Purport: Nanda Maharaja did not like the idea of avoiding the purificatory process. Despite the many obstacles, he wanted to take advantage of Gargamuni's presence and do what was needed. The purificatory process is essential specifically for brahmanas, ksatriyas and vaisyas. Therefore, since Nanda Maharaja presented himself as a vaisya, this process of purification was essential. Formerly, such institutional activities were compulsory. Catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah (Bg. 4.13). Without these activities of purification, the society would be considered a society of animals. To take advantage of Gargamuni's presence, Nanda Maharaja wanted to perform the nama-karana ceremonies, even secretly, without any gorgeous arrangements. Therefore, the opportunity for purification should be regarded as the essential duty of human society. In Kali-yuga, however, people have forgotten the essence. Mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutah (SB 1.1.10). In this age, people are all bad and unfortunate, and they do not accept Vedic instructions to make their life successful. Nanda Maharaja, however, did not want to neglect anything. To keep intact a happy society advanced in spiritual knowledge, he took full advantage of Gargamuni's presence to do what was necessary. How degraded society has become within five thousand years. Mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagyah. The human life is obtained after many, many millions of births, and it is intended for purification. Previously, a father was eager to give all kinds of help to elevate his children, but at present, because of being misguided, people are prepared even to kill to avoid the responsibility of raising children.

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

Because milk is very essential food for the human society, therefore cow protection is the duty of the human society

Lecture on BG 2.46-47 -- New York, March 28, 1966: In the Bhagavad-gita you will find that the mercantile class... Who are mercantile class? Krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.44]. Vaisya means the mercantile community. They are meant for giving protection to the animals, and produce grain, and distribute and make trade on them. That's all. Because formerly there was no industry -- people generally depended on agricultural work -- therefore the mercantile community, they used to produce food grains and distribute them, and protection of cow was their duty. As the king was entrusted to protect the life of the citizens, similarly, the vaisya class, or the mercantile class, they were entrusted to protect the life of cow. Why particularly cow is protected? Because milk is very essential food for the human society, therefore cow protection is the duty of the human society. That is the conception of Vedic literature.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Just like I want to see my wife and children happy, similarly, it is the duty of the human society to see that the cows feeling very happy. This is human civilization

Lecture on SB 1.10.4 -- London, November 25, 1973: So if you keep the cows happy, then cow will supply large quantity of milk. If the cow knows that you are going to kill it, she is always afraid, always fearful: "Oh, this man will kill." They can understand. I have seen in New Vrindaban. One cow, she was crying because her calf was taken away. So she was feeling so sorry. Now in our New Vrindaban, we see how the cows are happy, how they are dealing. They are not afraid. This is our duty, to keep the cows happy. Just like I want to see my wife and children happy, similarly, it is the duty of the human society to see that the cows feeling very happy. This is human civilization. Otherwise it is tiger civilization, meat-eaters. Meat is not eaten by human being. It is eaten by the dogs, by the tigers, by the animals.

So the sages said that if you execute the prescribed duties of the humankind, then ultimately you will be elevated to the planet where there is no anxiety and you will be liberated, provided you keep yourself without any contamination of this material world

Lecture on SB 4.14.14 -- November 16, 1971, Delhi: So the sages said that if you execute the prescribed duties of the humankind, then ultimately you will be elevated to the planet where there is no anxiety and you will be liberated, provided you keep yourself without any contamination of this material world. That can be done. That is also given by Rupa Gosvami.

anasaktasya visayan

yatharham upayunjatah

nirbandhe krsna-sambandhe

yukta-vairagyam ucyate

If we want to be aloof from the contamination of this material world, then everything, whatever we use, whatever we need, it must be in relation with Krsna. Then we can keep ourself aloof from the contamination. That is the liberated condition. That means you are eternal servant of Krsna. If you always be engaged in the service of the Krsna, then you are above this material world, uncontaminated. But if you have got any material intention, then again you are under the clutches of maya. We should always remember it.

General Lectures

My dear learned scholars, brāhmaṇas, the duty of the human society," ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ... The duties are different according to different divisions of social order and spiritual order. That is Vedic civilization

Lecture at Harvard University -- Boston, December 24, 1969:: Sri Suta Gosvami is addressing the learned sages assembled in a place called Naimisaranya. That place is still existing in India, in northern India. It is very old place. Now the place is named Nimsar, but original name is Naimisaranya. So in that Naimisaranya meeting, the president, Suta Gosvami, addressed the brahmanas. He said, atah pumbhir dvija-srestha. Dvija-srestha means in that assembly the high-class brahmanas, very intelligent class of men, they assembled. So he addressed them, "My dear learned scholars, brahmanas, the duty of the human society," atah pumbhir dvija-srestha varnasrama-vibhagasah... The duties are different according to different divisions of social order and spiritual order. That is Vedic civilization. There are four kinds of social orders and four kinds of spiritual orders. The social orders are the brahmanas, the ksatriyas, the vaisyas, and the sudras; or the intellectual class of men... Brahmana means intellectual class of men -- one who devotes his life only in studying Vedas and acquiring knowledge and distributing that.

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

Now the human civilization, is it not duty of the human society to know what kind of body I am going to accept?

Room Conversation -- February 27, 1973, Jakarta: Prabhupada: There are forms of body in the water, in the land, so many trees, plants and there are so many insects, reptiles. Then birds, then there are beasts, then there are human being. So there are 8,400,000 forms of body. Here it is indicated that after giving up this body, the soul is going to accept another body. Now the human civilization, is it not duty of the human society to know what kind of body I am going to accept?

So it is the duty of the human society to save the human being to degrade, from becoming again cats and dogs, or to elevate him higher and higher

Room Conversation -- February 27, 1973, Jakarta: Prabhupada: Yes. Whatever you like. That independence is there always. But he has... Just like we are speaking. This is the aim of life. Now if you like then take, you'll not take -- that depends on your independence. So that independence is all... Before that independence is there, therefore we are sometimes degrading from this human life to cats' and dogs' life. So it is the duty of the human society to save the human being to degrade, from becoming again cats and dogs, or to elevate him higher and higher. Does it mean that we are, we shall be satisfied with our present stage of life without knowing what we are going to accept? Is that very nice proposal? Or we shall try to elevate the human society, that is higher.

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