CC Antya 16.26
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 26
- viprād dvi-ṣaḍ-guṇa-yutād aravinda-nābha-
- pādāravinda-vimukhāt śva-pacaṁ variṣṭham
- manye tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitārtha-
- prāṇaṁ punāti sa kulaṁ na tu bhūri-mānaḥ
SYNONYMS
viprāt—than a brāhmaṇa; dvi-ṣaṭ-guṇa-yutāt—who is qualified with 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 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.
TRANSLATION
"'A person may be born in a brāhmaṇa 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 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 become a pure devotee of the Lord. If a śva-paca or caṇḍāla is a devotee, he delivers not only himself but his whole family, whereas a brāhmaṇa who is not a devotee but simply has brahminical qualifications cannot even purify himself, what to speak of his family.'
PURPORT