viprÄd dvi-á¹£aá¸-guṇa-yutÄd aravinda-nÄbha-
pÄdÄravinda-vimukhÄt Å›va-pacaá¹ variá¹£á¹ham
manye tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitÄrtha-
prÄṇaá¹ punÄti sa kulaá¹ na tu bhÅ«ri-mÄnaḥ
viprÄt - than a brÄhmaṇa; dvi-á¹£aá¹-guṇa-yutÄt - who is qualified with twelve brahminical qualifications; aravinda-nÄbha - of Lord Viṣṇu, who has a lotuslike navel; pÄda-aravinda - unto the lotus feet; vimukhÄt - than a person bereft of devotion; Å›va-pacam - a caṇá¸Äla, or a person accustomed to eating dogs; variá¹£á¹ham - more glorified; manye - I think; tat-arpita - dedicated unto Him; manaḥ - mind; vacana - words; Ä«hita - activities; artha - wealth; prÄṇam - life; punÄti - purifies; saḥ - he; kulam - his family; na tu - but not; bhÅ«ri-mÄnaḥ - a brÄhmaṇa proud of possessing such qualities.
This verse is spoken by PrahlÄda MahÄrÄja in ÅšrÄ«mad-BhÄgavatam (7.9.10). A brÄhmaṇa is supposed to be qualified with twelve qualities. As stated in the MahÄbhÄrata:
dharmaÅ› ca satyaá¹ ca damas tapaÅ› ca
amÄtsaryaá¹ hrÄ«s titiká¹£ÄnasÅ«yÄ
yajñaÅ› ca dÄnaá¹ ca dhá¹›tiḥ Å›rutaá¹ ca
vratÄni vai dvÄdaÅ›a brÄhmaṇasya
“A brÄhmaṇa 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 brÄhmaṇa.â€
The Bhagavad-gÄ«tÄ (18.42) describes the brahminical qualities in this way:
Å›amo damas tapaḥ Å›aucaá¹ ká¹£Äntir Ärjavam eva ca
jñÄnaá¹ vijñÄnam Ästikyaá¹ brahma-karma svabhÄva-jam
“Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness — these are the natural qualities by which the brÄhmaṇas work.â€
In the MuktÄphala-á¹Ä«kÄ, it is said:
Å›amo damas tapaḥ Å›aucaá¹ ká¹£Änty-Ärjava-viraktayaḥ
jñÄna-vijñÄna-santoá¹£Äḥ satyÄstikye dvi-á¹£aḠguṇÄḥ
“Mental equilibrium, sense control, austerity, cleanliness, tolerance, simplicity, detachment, theoretical and practical knowledge, satisfaction, truthfulness and firm faith in the Vedas are the twelve qualities of a brÄhmaṇa.â€