viprÄd dvi-á¹£aá¸-guṇa-yutÄd aravinda-nÄbha-
pÄdÄravinda-vimukhÄt Å›va-pacaá¹ variṣṭham
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; variṣṭham - 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.


Text

“ ‘One may be born in a brÄhmaṇa family and have all twelve brahminical qualities, but if he is not devoted to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who has a navel shaped like a lotus, he is not as good as a caṇá¸Äla who has dedicated his mind, words, activities, wealth and life to the service of the Lord. Simply to take birth in a brÄhmaṇa family or to have brahminical qualities is not sufficient. One must become a pure devotee of the Lord. If a Å›va-paca or caṇá¸Äla is a devotee, he delivers not only himself but his whole family, whereas a brÄhmaṇa who is not a devotee but simply has brahminical qualifications cannot even purify himself, what to speak of his family.’ â€

Purport

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€