In the 5th Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, we can hear of the activities of Maharaja Priyavrata .

Although a renunciant , he was instructed by Lord Bramha to rule the universe and engage in family life . He was to enjoy his karmic position and at the same time serve the purposes of Divinity. Lord Bramha assured him that would please Krishna.

For many years, he enjoyed family life and the association of his wife and family with  great opulences , and he properly administered his responsibility in guiding society , repelling those who sought to spread ignorance and encouraging progression in everyone’s lives , whilst enjoying family life.

After many years of duties, he began to think himself unnecessarily entangled in mundane duties and family life. Thus, he made plans for a more detached situation so he could increase his meditation on Krishna and made plans to leave his family life behind , leaving his sons to take up administration.

In modern times , we can consider as young devotees we are to assist with ISKCON or any other preaching mission and give our time energies and skills in dedicated services and  at the same time , we can enjoy family affairs and our alloted karmic position.

But in much older age , we should apply ourselves less to family affairs and much more to deep bhajan , giving up aspirations in the material world for ourselves or family , following the example of Rupa Ragganatha and Mahaprabhu . We can allow younger devotees to take on management of missionary activities  and the ongoing mission and retire and influence the mission in different ways , but most importantly actually aquire a spiritual body by meditation and the process of smaranam , fixing minds on forms and pastimes and aspiring to serve those that are eternally engaged in those activities , our acaryas in recent times and millions of years ago set that example.

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