NOTE. In order to progress in spiritual life, one is required to stick to his particular specific duties and not imitate others. Vasiṣṭha, as a brāhmaṇa, did not want to become violent like the kṣatriyas unnecessarily, for that will not help him in spiritual realization. In this regard, Śrīla Prabhupāda writes, “One’s occupational duty is prescribed in Bhagavad-gītā. As already discussed in previous verses, the duties of a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra are prescribed according to their particular modes of nature. One should not imitate another’s duty... Whether one is a kṣatriya, a vaiśya, or a śūdra doesn’t matter, if he serves, by his work, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Even brāhmaṇas, who perform different types of sacrifice, sometimes must kill animals because sometimes animals are sacrificed in such ceremonies.” Similarly, brāhmaṇas, under unavoidable emergencies, must take to violence. Vasiṣṭha did not want to go through that emergency route as much as possible, but now Śabalā will request him to do so, and he will comply with her request.