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 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

“ ‘A person may be born in a brÄhmaṇa family and have all twelve brahminical qualities, but if in spite of being qualified 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.’

Purport

This and the following verse are quoted from ÅšrÄ«mad-BhÄgavatam (7.9.10 and 3.33.7).