Guest: So in order to understand what is God, one has to leave his family and come to some . . .
Prabhupāda: So why do you surmise like that? You do not know what is God. How do you surmise your proposal?
Guest: No, I mean, ah . . .
Prabhupāda: Now why you are asking this question? You know, I've explained, that one has to become brāhmaṇa. There are many . . . there are still there are many brāhmaṇas, those who are with children. Even Caitanya Mahāprabhu, although He had no children, He was family man. Nityānanda Prabhu was family man, and Advaita Prabhu was family man. They're all brāhmaṇas, family men, but They knew what is God. The real thing is to know God. Not to . . . because everything is allowed, these eight, four varṇas and four āśramas. There is no such thing that one has to become . . . to come to this form of life or that form of life.
So varṇāśramācaravatā. You must execute the varṇāśrama-dharma. Then you'll understand. It doesn't matter whether you are a brāhmaṇa or kṣatriya or vaiśya or śūdra. That is a cooperation. Just like in your body there must be the head, there must be the arms, there must be the belly and there must be the legs. By comparative study, head is more important than the leg. But leg is also required. You cannot do without leg. Similarly, brāhmaṇa is the head, kṣatriya is the arms, vaiśya is the belly and śūdra is the leg. So as much I require my head, so much I require the leg also. But the leg must do the leg's duty and the head must do the head's duty. Then it is perfect. And if the head is cracked, then everything is gone—madman.
So at the present moment there is no brāhmaṇa, qualified. Therefore the society is in chaos. In chaotic condition, all are searching after something substantial. That is the position of the Western countries. They have heard so many things about India's culture. Still, they respect India's culture, spiritual culture. They are hankering after. But unfortunately, the so-called yogīs, svāmīs come and cheat them. That is the difficulty. This is the first time that systematically we are presenting what is actual Vedic dharma, or Bhāgavata-dharma.
This question was raised by Rāmānanda Rāya before Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Varṇāśrama . . . he quoted this verse from Viṣṇu Purāṇa. Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, eho bāhya, āge kaha āra: "Yes, it is all right, varṇāśrama-dharma, but it is now external. If you know something better, you speak." So in this way the whole system was discussed. At last, Caitanya Mahāprabhu approved this system of śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ (SB 7.5.23), chanting and hearing about Viṣṇu. Varṇāśrama-dharma is also Viṣṇu. Viṣṇur ārādhyate. The real purpose is understanding Viṣṇu, the Supreme. So varṇāśrama-dharma is also meant for understanding Viṣṇu. Viṣṇur ārādhyate. So . . . but these formulas of brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, it is the . . . the age is so rotten that it is very difficult to revive this varṇāśrama-dharma culture. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, eho bāhya, āge kaha āra. "Yes, it is all right, but it is external now. It cannot be utilized at the present moment."