अजमीढस्य वंश्याः स्युः प्रियमेधादयो द्विजाः ॥२१॥
ajamÄ«á¸ho dvimÄ«á¸haÅ› ca
purumÄ«á¸haÅ› ca hastinaḥ
ajamÄ«á¸hasya vamÅ›yÄḥ syuḥ
priyamedhÄdayo dvijÄḥ
ajamÄ«á¸haḥ - AjamÄ«á¸ha; dvimÄ«á¸haḥ - DvimÄ«á¸ha; ca - also; purumÄ«á¸haḥ - PurumÄ«á¸ha; ca - also; hastinaḥ - became the sons of HastÄ«; ajamÄ«á¸hasya - of AjamÄ«á¸ha; vamÅ›yÄḥ - descendants; syuḥ - are; priyamedha-Ädayaḥ - headed by Priyamedha; dvijÄḥ - brÄhmaṇas.
From King HastÄ« came three sons, named AjamÄ«á¸ha, DvimÄ«á¸ha and PurumÄ«á¸ha. The descendants of AjamÄ«á¸ha, headed by Priyamedha, all achieved the position of brÄhmaṇas.
This verse gives evidence confirming the statement of Bhagavad-gÄ«tÄ that the orders of society — brÄhmaṇa, ká¹£atriya, vaiÅ›ya and śūdra — are calculated in terms of qualities and activities (guṇa-karma-vibhÄgaÅ›aḥ). All the descendants of AjamÄ«á¸ha, who was a ká¹£atriya, became brÄhmaṇas. This was certainly because of their qualities and activities. Similarly, sometimes the sons of brÄhmaṇas or ká¹£atriyas become vaiÅ›yas (brÄhmaṇa-vaiÅ›yatÄá¹ gatÄḥ). When a ká¹£atriya or brÄhmaṇa adopts the occupation or duty of a vaiÅ›ya (kṛṣi-goraká¹£ya-vÄṇijyam), he is certainly counted as a vaiÅ›ya. On the other hand, if one is born a vaiÅ›ya, by his activities he can become a brÄhmaṇa. This is confirmed by NÄrada Muni. Yasya yal-laká¹£aṇaá¹ proktam. The members of the varṇas, or social orders — brÄhmaṇa, ká¹£atriya, vaiÅ›ya and śūdra — must be ascertained by their symptoms, not by birth. Birth is immaterial; quality is essential.
