dvitÄ«yaá¹ prÄpyÄnupÅ«rvyÄj
janmopanayanaṠdvijaḥ
vasan guru-kule dÄnto
brahmÄdhÄ«yÄ«ta cÄhÅ«taḥ
dvitÄ«yam - second; prÄpya - achieving; ÄnupÅ«rvyÄt - by the gradual process of purificatory ceremonies; janma - birth; upanayanam - GÄyatrÄ« initiation; dvijaḥ - a twice-born member of society; vasan - residing; guru-kule - in the ÄÅ›rama of the spiritual master; dÄntaḥ - self-controlled; brahma - the Vedic literatures; adhÄ«yÄ«ta - should study; ca - and also understand; ÄhÅ«taḥ - being summoned by the spiritual master.
The term dvija, or “twice-born,†here indicates the three superior classes, namely brÄhmaṇas, ká¹£atriyas and vaiÅ›yas, who all receive the GÄyatrÄ« mantra, which signifies their second birth through spiritual initiation. One’s first birth is biological, or seminal, and does not necessarily indicate that one is intelligent or enlightened. A young brÄhmaṇa boy, if qualified, may be initiated with GÄyatrÄ« mantra at the age of twelve, and ká¹£atriyas and vaiÅ›yas a few years later. In order to become enlightened with spiritual knowledge, the boy resides within the gurukula, or ÄÅ›rama of the spiritual master. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness has established similar gurukulas all over the world and is issuing a great call to civilized human beings to arrange for the proper education of their children. Every young boy and girl should learn to be self-controlled and should become enlightened through study of authorized Vedic literatures. In this way, unlike ordinary animals, insects, fish and birds, etc., an enlightened human being may take birth twice and thus become perfect in the knowledge that leads to ultimate liberation. The word ÄnupÅ«rvyÄt in this verse indicates the system of saá¹skÄras, or purificatory rites, beginning with garbhÄdhÄna-saá¹skÄra, or the purification of the sexual act. Generally, śūdras and those who do not follow the Vedic system are not attracted to such purificatory ceremonies; therefore they remain ignorant of spiritual life and envious of the bona fide spiritual master. Those whose character has been civilized by a systematic cleansing process give up the tendency to be argumentative and whimsical and instead become submissive and eager to learn in the presence of a bona fide spiritual master.