Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu
by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī | 180,912 words
The English translation of the Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu verse 1.2.11; a medieval era Sanskrit book, written by Rupa Goswami (fl. 15th century) which represents a devotional (bhakti) masterpiece. In this work Goswami describes the nature and different forms of pure love (rasa) as well as various other topics on Vaishnavism and devotion.
Verse 1.2.11
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation:
यथा, एकादाशे (११.५.२-३) तु व्यक्तम् एवोक्तम्—
मुख बाहूरु-पादेभ्यः पुरुषस्याश्रमैः सह ।
चत्वारो जज्ञिरे वर्णा गुणैर् विप्रादयः पृथक् ॥१.२.१०॥
य एषां पुरुषं साक्षाद् आत्म-प्रभवम् ईश्वरम् ।
न भजन्त्य् अवजानन्ति स्थानाद् भ्रष्टाः पतन्त्य् अधः ॥१.२.११॥yathā, ekādāśe (11.5.2-3) tu vyaktam evoktam—
mukha bāhūru-pādebhyaḥ puruṣasyāśramaiḥ saha |
catvāro jajñire varṇā guṇair viprādayaḥ pṛthak ||1.2.10||
ya eṣāṃ puruṣaṃ sākṣād ātma-prabhavam īśvaram |
na bhajanty avajānanti sthānād bhraṣṭāḥ patanty adhaḥ ||1.2.11||
English translation
In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam [11.5.2-3] it is expressed clearly that vaidhī-bhakti should be followed by all varṇas and āśramas:
“Each of the four social orders, headed by the brāhmaṇas, was born through different combinations of the modes of nature, from the face, arms, thighs and feet of the Supreme Lord in His universal form. Thus the four spiritual orders were also generated. If any of the members of the four varṇas and four āśramas fail to worship or intentionally disrespect the Personality of Godhead, who is the source of their own creation, they will fall down from their position into a hellish state of life.”