'iá¹…ho nÄ sparÅ›iha, iá¹…ho jÄti ati-hÄ«na!
vaidika, yÄjñika tumi kulÄ«na pravīṇa!'

 iá¹…ho - him; nÄ sparÅ›iha - do not touch; iá¹…ho - he; jÄti - caste; ati-hÄ«na - very low; vaidika - a follower of Vedic principles; yÄjñika - a performer of many sacrifices; tumi - you; kulÄ«na - aristocratic brÄhmaṇa; pravīṇa - an experienced person.


Text

ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu said, “Don’t touch him, for he belongs to a very low caste. You are a follower of Vedic principles and are a well experienced performer of many sacrifices. You also belong to the aristocracy.â€

Purport

Generally brÄhmaṇas are puffed up with false prestige because they belong to the aristocracy and perform many Vedic sacrifices. In South India especially, this fastidious position is most prominent. At any rate, this was the case five hundred years ago. ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu actually started a revolution against this brahminical system by inaugurating the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. By this chanting, one can be delivered regardless of caste, creed, color or social position. Whoever chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahÄ-mantra is immediately purified due to the transcendental position of devotional service. ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu is here hinting to Vallabha Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya that an exalted brÄhmaṇa who makes sacrifices and follows Vedic principles should not neglect a person who is engaged in devotional service by chanting the holy name of the Lord.

Actually RÅ«pa GosvÄmÄ« did not belong to a lower caste. He was from a highly aristocratic brÄhmaṇa family, but due to his association with the Muslim Nawab, he was considered fallen and was excommunicated from brÄhmaṇa society. However, due to his advanced devotional service, ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu accepted him as a gosvÄmÄ«. Vallabha Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya knew all this. One who is a devotee is above caste and creed, yet Vallabha Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya felt himself prestigious.

The present head of the Vallabha Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya sampradÄya of Bombay is named DÄ«ká¹£ita MahÄrÄja. He is very friendly to our movement, and whenever we meet him, this learned brÄhmaṇa scholar highly praises the activities of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement. He is a life member of our Society, and although he is a learned scholar in the brahminical caste tradition, he accepts our Society and considers its members bona fide devotees of Lord Viṣṇu.