Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.10

viprad dvi-shad-guna-yutad aravinda-nabha-

padaravinda-vimukhat svapacam varishtham

manye tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitartha-

pranam punati sa kulam na tu bhurimanah

SYNONYMS

viprat -- than a brahmana; dvi-shat-guna-yutat -- qualified with twelve brahminical qualities; aravinda-nabha -- Lord Vishnu, who has a lotus growing from His navel; pada-aravinda -- to the lotus feet of the Lord; vimukhat -- not interested in devotional service; sva-pacam -- one born in a low family, or a dog-eater; varishtham -- more glorious; manye -- I consider; tat-arpita -- surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Lord; manah -- his mind; vacana -- words; ihita -- every endeavor; artha -- wealth; pranam -- and life; punati -- purifies; sah -- he (the devotee); kulam -- his family; na -- not; tu -- but; bhurimanah -- one who falsely thinks himself to be in a prestigious position.

TRANSLATION

If a brahmana has all twelve of the brahminical qualifications [as they are stated in the book called Sanat-sujata] but is not a devotee and is averse to the lotus feet of the Lord, he is certainly lower than a devotee who is a dog-eater but who has dedicated everything -- mind, words, activities, wealth and life -- to the Supreme Lord. Such a devotee is better than such a brahmana because the devotee can purify his whole family, whereas the so-called brahmana in a position of false prestige cannot purify even himself.

PURPORT

Here is a statement by Prahlada Maharaja, one of the twelve authorities, regarding the distinction between a devotee and a brahmana expert in karma-kanda, or Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. There are four varnas and four asramas, which divide human society, but the central principle is to become a first-class pure devotee. It is said in the Hari-bhakti -- sudhodaya:

bhagavad-bhakti-hinasya

jatih sastram japas tapah

apranasyaiva dehasya

mandanam loka-ranjanam

"If one is born in a high family like that of a brahmana, kshatriya or vaisya but is not a devotee of the Lord, all his good qualifications as a brahmana, kshatriya or vaisya are null and void. Indeed, they are considered decorations of a dead body."

In this verse Prahlada Maharaja speaks of the vipras, the learned brahmanas. The learned brahmana is considered best among the divisions of brahmana, kshatriya, vaisya and sudra, but a devotee born in a low candala family is better than such brahmanas, not to speak of the kshatriyas, vaisyas and others. A devotee is better than anyone, for he is in the transcendental position on the Brahman platform.

mam ca yo vyabhicarena

bhakti-yogena sevate

sa gunan samatityaitan

brahma-bhuyaya kalpate

"One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman." (Bg. 14.26) The twelve qualities of a first-class brahmana, as stated in the book called Sanat-sujata, are as follows:

jnanam ca satyam ca damah srutam ca

hy amatsaryam hris titikshanasuya

yajnas ca danam ca dhritih samas ca

maha-vrata dvadasa brahmanasya

The European and American devotees in the Krishna consciousness movement are sometimes accepted as brahmanas, but the so-called caste brahmanas are very much envious of them. In answer to such envy, Prahlada Maharaja says that one who has been born in a brahmana family but is falsely proud of his prestigious position cannot even purify himself, not to speak of his family, whereas if a candala, a lowborn person, is a devotee and has fully surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Lord, he can purify his entire family. We have had actual experience of how Americans and Europeans, because of their full Krishna consciousness, have purified their whole families, so much so that a mother of a devotee, at the time of her death, inquired about Krishna with her last breath. Therefore it is theoretically true and has been practically proven that a devotee can give the best service to his family, his community, his society and his nation. The foolish accuse a devotee of following the principle of escapism, but actually the fact is that a devotee is the right person to elevate his family. A devotee engages everything in the service of the Lord, and therefore he is always exalted.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness