Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrī Caitanya Caritāmrita Madhya 20.59

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 a 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

"'One may be born in a brāhmana family and have all twelve brahminical qualities, but if 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 verse is spoken by Prahlāda Mahārāja in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.9.10). A brāhmana is supposed to be qualified with twelve qualities. As stated in the Mahābhārata:

dharmaś ca satyam ca damas tapaś ca

amātsaryam hrīs titikshānasūyā

yajñaś ca dānam ca dhritih śrutam ca

vratāni vai dvādaśa brāhmanasya

"A brāhmana must be perfectly religious. He must be truthful, and he must be able to control his senses. He must execute severe austerities, and he must be detached, humble and tolerant. He must not envy anyone, and he must be expert in performing sacrifices and giving whatever he has in charity. He must be fixed in devotional service and expert in the knowledge of the Vedas. These are the twelve qualifications for a brāhmana."

The Bhagavad-gītā (18.42) describes the brahminical qualities in this way:

śamo damas tapah śaucam kshāntir ārjavam eva ca

jñānam vijñānam āstikyam brahma-karma svabhāva-jam

"Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness — these are the natural qualities by which the brāhmanas work."

In the Muktāphala-tīkā, it is said:

śamo damas tapah śaucam kshānty-ārjava-viraktayah

jñāna-vijñāna-santoshāh satyāstikye dvi-shad gunāh

"Mental equilibrium, sense control, austerity, cleanliness, tolerance, simplicity, detachment, theoretical and practical knowledge, satisfaction, truthfulness and firm faith in the Vedas are the twelve qualities of a brāhmana."

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