In the previous chapters Lord Krishna described through the story of an avadhuta brahmana the qualities and character of a saintly person. Now the Lord describes the practical means for achieving such a saintly position. In the Pancaratra and other scriptures the Personality of Godhead gives instructions for executing devotional service. Similarly, in Bhagavad-gita (4.13) the Lord says, catur-varnyam maya srishtam guna-karma-vibhagasah: "I have personally created the varnasrama system." There are innumerable rules and regulations in the varnasrama system, and the devotee should execute those which do not contradict the process of devotional service. The term varna indicates different classes of human beings, some in the mode of ignorance, some in the mode of passion and some in the mode of goodness. Devotional service to the Lord is executed on the liberated platform, and therefore some injunctions for those persons in passion and ignorance may be contradictory to the regulative principles for those on the liberated platform. Therefore, under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master who is nondifferent from the Lord, one should execute the basic principles of varnasrama in a way favorable for advancement in Krishna consciousness.