Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.17.40

ijyādhyayana-dānāni

sarveshām ca dvi-janmanām

pratigraho 'dhyāpanam ca

brāhmanasyaiva yājanam

SYNONYMS

ijyā — sacrifice; adhyayana — Vedic study; dānāni — charity; sarveshām — of all; ca — also; dvi-janmanām — those who are twice-born; pratigrahah — acceptance of charity; adhyāpanam — teaching Vedic knowledge; ca — also; brāhmanasya — of the brāhmana; eva — only; yājanam — performing sacrifices for others.

TRANSLATION

All twice-born men — brāhmanas, kshatriyas and vaiśyas — must perform sacrifice, study the Vedic literature and give charity. Only the brāhmanas, however, accept charity, teach the Vedic knowledge and perform sacrifice on behalf of others.

PURPORT

All civilized men must participate in sacrificial performances, give charity and study the Vedic literature. The best of the twice-born, namely the brāhmanas, are specifically empowered to lead sacrificial performances on behalf of all members of society, teach everyone Vedic knowledge and receive everyone's charity. Without the assistance or participation of qualified brāhmanas, the lower classes cannot properly study the Vedic literature, perform sacrifices or give in charity, because they do not have the required intelligence to perfectly execute such functions. When kshatriyas and vaiśyas take shelter of bona fide brāhmanas, they are able to properly execute their respective duties, and society functions smoothly and efficiently.

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