SB 4.4.19
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 19
- na veda-vādān anuvartate matiḥ
- sva eva loke ramato mahā-muneḥ
- yathā gatir deva-manuṣyayoḥ pṛthak
- sva eva dharme na paraṁ kṣipet sthitaḥ
SYNONYMS
na — not; veda-vādān — rules and regulations of the Vedas; anuvartate — follow; matiḥ — the mind; sve — in his own; eva — certainly; loke — in the self; ramataḥ — enjoying; mahā-muneḥ — of elevated transcendentalists; yathā — as; gatiḥ — the way; deva-manuṣyayoḥ — of the men and the demigods; pṛthak — separately; sve — in your own; eva — alone; dharme — occupational duty; na — not; param — another; kṣipet — should criticize; sthitaḥ — being situated.
TRANSLATION
It is better to execute one's own occupational duty than to criticize others'. Elevated transcendentalists may sometimes forgo the rules and regulations of the Vedas, since they do not need to follow them, just as the demigods travel in space whereas ordinary men travel on the surface of the earth.
PURPORT
The behavior of the most elevated transcendentalist and that of the most fallen conditioned soul appears to be the same. The elevated transcendentalist can surpass all the regulations of the Vedas, just as the demigods traveling in space surpass all the jungles and rocks on the surface of the globe, although a common man, who has no such ability to travel in space, has to face all those impediments. Although the most dear Lord Śiva appears not to observe all the rules and regulations of the Vedas, he is not affected by such disobedience, but a common man who wants to imitate Lord Śiva is mistaken. A common man must observe all the rules and regulations of the Vedas which a person who is in the transcendental position does not need to observe. Dakṣa found fault with Lord Śiva for not observing all the strict rules and regulations of the Vedas, but Satī asserted that he had no need to observe such rules. It is said that for one who is powerful like the sun or the fire, there is no consideration of purity or impurity. The sunshine can sterilize an impure place, whereas if someone else were to pass such a place he would be affected. One should not try to imitate Lord Śiva; rather, one should strictly follow one's prescribed occupational duties. One should never vilify a great personality like Lord Śiva.