Texts 8 - 12,
TRANSLATION
These are the general principles to be followed by all human beings:
truthfulness, mercy, austerity (observing fasts on certain days of the
month), bathing twice a day, tolerance, discrimination between right
and wrong, control of the mind, control of the senses, nonviolence,
celibacy, charity, reading of scripture, simplicity, satisfaction,
rendering service to saintly persons, gradually taking leave of
unnecessary engagements, observing the futility of the unnecessary
activities of human society, remaining silent and grave and avoiding
unnecessary talk, considering whether one is the body or the soul,
distributing food equally to all living entities (both men and
animals), seeing every soul (especially in the human form) as a part of
the Supreme Lord, hearing about the activities and instructions given
by the Supreme Personality of Godhead (who is the shelter of the
saintly persons), chanting about these activities and instructions,
always remembering these activities and instructions, trying to render
service, performing worship, offering obeisances, becoming a servant,
becoming a friend, and surrendering one's whole self. O King
Yudhisthira, these thirty qualifications must be acquired in the human
form of life. Simply by acquiring these qualifications, one can satisfy
the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
PURPORT
In order that human beings be distinct from the animals, the great
saint Narada recommends that every human being be educated in terms of
the above-mentioned thirty qualifications. Nowadays there is propaganda
everywhere, all over the world, for a secular state, a state interested
only in mundane activities. But if the citizens of the state are not
educated in the above-mentioned good qualities, how can there be
happiness? For example, if the total populace is untruthful, how can
the state be happy? Therefore, without consideration of one's belonging
to a sectarian religion, whether Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or
any other sect, everyone should be taught to become truthful.
Similarly, everyone should be taught to be merciful, and everyone
should observe fasting on certain days of the month. Everyone should
bathe twice a day, cleanse his teeth and body externally, and cleanse
his mind internally by remembering the holy name of the Lord. The Lord
is one, whether one is Hindu, Muslim or Christian. Therefore, one
should chant the holy name of the Lord, regardless of differences in
linguistic pronunciation. Also, everyone should be taught to be very
careful not to discharge semen unnecessarily. This is very important
for all human beings. If semen is not discharged unnecessarily, one
becomes extremely strong in memory, determination, activity and the
vitality of one's bodily energy. Everyone should also be taught to be
simple in thought and feeling and satisfied in body and mind. These are
the general qualifications of a human being. There is no question of a
secular state or an ecclesiastical state. Unless one is educated in the
above-mentioned thirty qualities, there cannot be any peace. Ultimately
it is recommended:
"In one who has unflinching devotional service to Krishna, all the good
qualities of Krishna and the demigods are consistently manifest.
However, he who has no devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead
has no good qualifications because he is engaged by mental concoction
in material existence, which is the external feature of the Lord."
(cite>Srimad Bhagavatam 5.18.12)
Our Krishna
consciousness movement, therefore, is all-embracing. Human civilization
should take it very seriously and practice its principles for the peace
of the world.
