SB 1.18.18 (1965)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 18
Suta Uvacha Aho vayam janmabhrito adya haasma Briddhanuvrittyapi vilomajatah. Douskulyam adhim vidunoti sighram Mahattamanam abhidhana yogah.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Aho—how, Vayam—we, Janmabhrito—promoted in birth, Adya—today, Ha—clearly, Asma—have become, Briddhanuvrittya—by serving those who are advanced in knowledge, Api—although, Vilomajatah—born in mixed caste, Douskulyam—disqualification of birth, Adhim—sufferings, Vidhunoti—purifies, Sighram—very soon, Mahattamanam—of those who are great, Abhidhana—conversation, Yogah—connection.
TRANSLATION
Oh, God, although we are born in the mixed caste still we are distinctly promoted in our birthright simply by serving and following the great who are advanced in knowledge. Even by connection with great souls in the matter of conversation, one can cleanse up disqualification of lower birth without any delay.
PURPORT
Suta Goswami did not take his birth in the family of Brahmin. He was born in the family of mixed caste or uncultured low family. But still on account of good and higher association like learning from Sri Sukadeva Goswami and again explaining them before the great Rishis of Naimsaranya, certainly the disqualification of his inferior birth was washed off. Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu followed this principles in pursuance of the Vedic usages and by His transcendental association. He elevated many low born or disqualified by birth or action to the status of devotional service and established them in the position of Acharyas or the authorities. He clearly defined that any man whatever he may be either a Brahmin or Sudra by birth, or a house-holder or mendicant by the order of society, if one is conversant with the science of Krishna, one can be accepted as the Acharya or Guru the spiritual master.
Suta Goswami learnt the science of Krishna from great Rishis and authorities like Sukdeva, Vyasdeva etc and he was so much qualified that even the sages of Naimisaranya eagerly wanted to hear from him the science of Krishna in the form of Srimad Bhagwatam. So he had double association of great souls in the matter of hearing and preaching also. Transcendental science or the science of Krishna has to be learnt from the authorities and being conversant in the science when one preaches the science, he becomes still more qualified. So Suta Goswami had both the advantages and as such undoubtedly he was completely freed from all disqualification of low birth disadvantages of mental agonies. This verse definitely proves it, that neither Srila Sukadeva Goswami denied to teach Suta Goswami about the transcendental science nor the sages of the Naimisaranya denied to have lessons from him on account of his inferior birth-right. This means that thousands of years before also there was not a bar in the matter of learning or preaching the transcendental science on account of inferior birth. The rigidity of so called caste-system in Hindu society became prominent within one hundred years or so only when the number of Dwijabandhus or disqualified men in the the family of higher castes, increased. Lord Sri Chaitanya revived original Vedic system and He elevated Thakur Haridas to the position of Namacharya or the authority in the matter of preaching the glories of the holy Name of the Lord, although His Holiness Srila Haridas Thakur was pleased to appear himself in the family of a Mahamedan.
Such is the power of pure devotees of the Lord. The Ganges water is accepted to be pure and one can become purified after taking bath in the water of the Ganges; but so far the great devotees of the Lord are concerned they can purify a degraded soul even by being seen by the low born and what to speak of associating with them? Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprbhu wanted to purify the whole atmosphere of the poluted world by sending qualified preachers all over the world and it remains with the Indians only to take up the task scientifically and thus to do the best kind of humanitarian work of preaching the holy Name of the Lord by qualified men than to immitate some stereo-typed immitation philanthropic work like opening of hospitals etc. The mental disease of the present generation is more acute than bodily diseases; it is quite fitness of things and proper to take up the work of preaching Srimad Bhagwatam all over the world by proper personalities and without any delay. Mahattamanam Abhidhana means also dictionary of great devotees or a book full of the words of great devotees. Such dictionary of the words of great devotees and that of the Lord in the Vedas and allied literatures specifically the Srimad Bhagwatam."