viprāt - than a brāhmaṇa; dvi-ṣaṭ-guṇa-yutāt - who has twelve brahminical qualifications; aravinda-nābha - of Lord Viṣṇu, who has a lotuslike navel; pāda-aravinda - unto the lotus feet; vimukhāt - than a person bereft of devotion; śva-pacam - a caṇḍāla, or a person accustomed to eating dogs; variṣṭham - more glorified; manye - I think; tat-arpita - dedicated unto Him; manaḥ - mind; vacana - words; īhita - activities; artha - wealth; prāṇam - life; punāti - purifies; saḥ - he; kulam - his family; na tu - but not; bhūri-mānaḥ - a brāhmaṇa proud of possessing such qualities.

“ ‘One may be born in a brāhmaṇa family and have all twelve brahminical qualities, but if in spite of being thus 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 caṇḍāla who has dedicated his mind, words, activities, wealth and life to the service of the Lord. Simply to take birth in a brāhmaṇa family or to have brahminical qualities is not sufficient. One must be a pure devotee of the Lord. Thus if a śva-paca, or caṇḍāla, is a devotee, he delivers not only himself but his entire family as well, whereas a brāhmaṇa who is not a devotee but simply has brahminical qualifications cannot even purify himself, what to speak of his family.’