16.26
viprad dvi-sad-guna-yutad aravinda-nabha-
padaravinda-vimukhat sva-pacam varistham
manye tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitartha-
pranam punati sa kulam na tu bhuri-manah
SYNONYMS
viprat—than a brahmana; dvi-sat-guna-yutat—who is qualified with twelve brahminical qualifications; aravinda-nabha—of Lord Visnu, who has a lotuslike navel; pada-aravinda—unto the lotus feet; vimukhat—than a person bereft of devotion; sva-pacam—a candala, or person accustomed to eating dogs; varistham—more glorified; manye—I think; tat-arpita—dedicated unto Him; manah—mind; vacana—words; ihita—activities; artha—wealth; pranam—life; punati—purifies; sah—he; kulam—his family; na tu—but not; bhuri-manah—a brahmana proud of possessing such qualities "A person may be born in a brahmana family and have all twelve brahminical qualities, but if in spite of being qualified he is not devoted to the lotus feet of Lord Krsna, who has a navel shaped like a lotus, he is not as good as a candala who has dedicated his mind, words, activities, wealth and life to the service of the Lord.
Simply to take birth in a brahmana family or to have brahminical qualities is not sufficient.
One must become a pure devotee of the Lord.
If a sva-paca or candala is a devotee, he delivers not only himself but his whole family, whereas a brahmana who is not a devotee but simply has brahminical qualifications cannot even purify himself, not to speak of his family.’
PURPORT
This and the following verse are quoted from Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.9.10 and 3.33.7).