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Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 12.3.33

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty

Spiritual Life Requires Genuine Conduct

“The brahmacārīs will fail to execute their vows and become generally unclean, the householders will become beggars, the vānaprasthas will live in the villages, and the sannyāsīs will become greedy for wealth.”

Śrīla Prabhupāda · Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.3.33, translation

What the purport teaches

  • The verse predicts students neglecting vows and cleanliness, householders becoming beggars, retired people remaining in villages, and renunciants becoming greedy for wealth.
  • The purport stresses charitable household life and retirement devoted to austerity and spiritual perfection, rather than continued sense gratification.
  • Genuine spiritual leadership requires faithfully observing vows, not using religion to gain wealth. The purport supports authentic stages of spiritual life centered on serving the Lord and spreading His glories.

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From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

One of the 108 chosen lessons, close to this verseChanting Overcomes Kali-yuga’s FaultsSB 12.3.51Next · LeadTeach what you are livingTurn this chapter into a timed class plan or a short reel script.Open Lecture Studio