20.59
viprad dvisad-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 a 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 “ ’One may be born in a brahmana family and have all twelve brahminical qualities, but if 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 verse is spoken by Prahlada Maharaja in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.9.10).
A brahmana is supposed to be qualified with twelve qualities.
As stated in the Mahabharata:
dharmas ca satyam ca damas tapas ca
amatsaryam hris titiksanasuya
yajnas ca danam ca dhrtih srutam ca
vratani vai dvadasa brahmanasya “A brahmana 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 brahmana.” Bhagavad-gita describes the brahminical qualities in this way:
samo damas tapah saucam
ksantir arjavam eva ca
jnanam vijnanam astikyam
brahma-karma svabhava-jam “Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness-these are the qualities by which the brahmanas work.” (Bg.18.42) In the Muktaphala-tika, it is said:
samo damas tapah saucam
ksanty-arjava-virakta yah
jnana-vijnana-santosah