Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 7 - Chapter 1 - Verse 66


Sanskrit:

यद् यस्य वानिषिद्धं स्याद्येन यत्र यतो नृप ।स तेनेहेत कार्याणि नरो नान्यैरनापदि ॥ ६६ ॥

ITRANS:

yad yasya vāniṣiddhaṁ syādyena yatra yato nṛpasa teneheta kāryāṇinaro nānyair anāpadi

Translation:

In normal conditions, in the absence of danger, O King Yudhiṣṭhira, a man should perform his prescribed activities according to his status of life with the things, endeavors, process and living place that are not forbidden for him, and not by any other means.

Purport:

This instruction is given for men in all statuses of life. Generally society is divided into brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, śūdras, brahmacārīs, vānaprasthas, sannyāsīs and gṛhasthas. Everyone must act according to his position and try to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for that will make one’s life successful. This was instructed in Naimiṣāraṇya: “O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection one can achieve, by discharging his prescribed duties [dharma] according to caste divisions and order of life, is to please the Lord Hari.” (Bhāg. 1.2.13) Everyone should act according to his occupational duties just to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then everyone will be happy.