Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrī Caitanya Caritāmrita Antya 16.26

viprād dvi-shad-guna-yutād aravinda-nābha-

pādāravinda-vimukhāt śva-pacam varishtham

manye tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitārtha-

prānam punāti sa kulam na tu bhūri-mānah

SYNONYMS

viprāt — than a brāhmana; dvi-shat-guna-yutāt — who is qualified with twelve brahminical qualifications; aravinda-nābha — of Lord Vishnu, who has a lotuslike navel; pāda-aravinda — unto the lotus feet; vimukhāt — than a person bereft of devotion; śva-pacam — a candāla, or person accustomed to eating dogs; varishtham — more glorified; manye — I think; tat-arpita — dedicated unto Him; manah — mind; vacana — words; īhita — activities; artha — wealth; prānam — life; punāti — purifies; sah — he; kulam — his family; na tu — but not; bhūri-mānah — a brāhmana proud of possessing such qualities.

TRANSLATION

"'A person may be born in a brāhmana family and have all twelve brahminical qualities, but if in spite of being qualified he is not devoted to the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, who has a navel shaped like a lotus, he is not as good as a candāla who has dedicated his mind, words, activities, wealth and life to the service of the Lord. Simply to take birth in a brāhmana family or to have brahminical qualities is not sufficient. One must become a pure devotee of the Lord. If a śva-paca or candāla is a devotee, he delivers not only himself but his whole family, whereas a brāhmana who is not a devotee but simply has brahminical qualifications cannot even purify himself, what to speak of his family.'

PURPORT

This and the following verse are quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.9.10 and 3.33.7).

<<< >>>

Copyright ©r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness