4.69

viprad dvisad-guna-yutad aravinda-nabha-

padaravinda-vimukhat svapacam varistham

manye tad-arpita-mano-vacane ’hitartha-

pranam punati sa kulam na tu bhurimanah

SYNONYMS

viprat—than a brahmana; dvi-sat-guna-yutat—who has 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; vacane—words; ahita—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 " ’One may be born in a brahmana family and have all twelve brahminical qualities, but if in spite of being thus 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 be a pure devotee of the Lord.

Thus if a svapaca, or candala, is a devotee, he delivers not only himself but his entire family as well, whereas a brahmana who is not a devotee but simply has brahminical qualifications cannot even purify himself, what to speak of his family.’

PURPORT

This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.9.9).