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
| Canto 3: The Status Quo | Chapter 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.31
tato varnāś ca catvāras
hy artha-jño 'bhyadhikas tatah
SYNONYMS
tatah — among them; varnāh — classes; ca — and; catvārah — four; teshām — of them; brāhmanah — a brāhmana; uttamah — best; brāhmaneshu — among the brāhmanas; api — moreover; veda — the Vedas; jñah — one who knows; hi — certainly; artha — the purpose; jñah — one who knows; abhyadhikah — better; tatah — than him.
TRANSLATION
Among human beings, the society which is divided according to quality and work is best, and in that society, the intelligent men, who are designated as brāhmanas, are best. Among the brāhmanas, one who has studied the Vedas is the best, and among the brāhmanas who have studied the Vedas, one who knows the actual purport of Veda is the best.
PURPORT
The system of four classifications in human society according to quality and work is very scientific. This system of brāhmanas, kshatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras has now become vitiated as the present caste system in India, but it appears that this system has been current a very long time, since it is mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad-gītā. Unless there is such a division of the social orders in human society, including the intelligent class, the martial class, the mercantile class and the laborer class, there is always confusion as to who is to work for what purpose. A person trained to the stage of understanding the Absolute Truth is a brāhmana, and when such a brāhmana is veda jña, he understands the purpose of Veda. The purpose of Veda is to understand the Absolute. One who understands the Absolute Truth in three phases, namely Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān, and who understands the term Bhagavān to mean the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is considered to be the best of the brāhmanas, or a Vaishnava.
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