1|Antya 16-1975: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Tastes Nectar
>|from the Lips of Lord Sri Krsna
2|Chapter 16
3|Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Tastes Nectar from the Lips of
>|Lord Sri Krsna
4|The Sixteenth Chapter is summarized by Srila Bhaktivinoda
>|Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. When the Bengali
>|devotees of the Lord returned to Jagannatha Puri, a
>|gentleman named Kalidasa who was an uncle of Raghunatha
>|dasa Gosvami went with them to see Sri Caitanya
>|Mahaprabhu. Kalidasa had tasted the remnants of food of all
>|the Vaisnavas in Bengal, even Jhadu Thakura. Because of
>|this, he received the shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at
>|Jagannatha Puri.
5|When Kavi-karnapura was only seven years old, he was
>|initiated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu into the Hare Krsna
>|maha-mantra. He later became the greatest poet among the
>|Vaisnava acaryas.
6|When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ate the remnants of food known
>|as vallabha-bhoga, He described the glories of such
>|remnants of the Lord's food and then fed all the devotees
>|the prasada. Thus they all tasted adharamrta, the nectar
>|from the lips of Lord Sri Krsna.
7|Antya 16.1
8|TEXT 1
9|TEXT
10|vande sri-krsna-caitanyam
11|krsna-bhavamrtam hi yah
12|asvadyasvadayan bhaktan
13|prema-diksam asiksayat
14|SYNONYMS
15|vande-I offer my respectful obeisances; sri-krsna-caitanyam-
>|unto Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krsna-bhava-amrtam-the
>|nectar of ecstatic love of Krsna; hi-certainly; yah-He who;
>|asvadya-tasting; asvadayan-causing to taste; bhaktan-the
>|devotees; prema-in love of Krsna; diksam-initiation;
>|asiksayat-instructed.
16|TRANSLATION
17|Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Caitanya
>|Mahaprabhu, who personally tasted the nectar of ecstatic
>|love for Krsna and then instructed His devotees how to
>|taste it. Thus He enlightened them about ecstatic love of
>|Krsna to initiate them into transcendental knowledge.
18|Antya 16.2
19|TEXT 2
20|TEXT
21|jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda
22|jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda
23|SYNONYMS
24|jaya jaya-all glories; sri-caitanya-to Lord Sri Krsna
>|Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jaya-all glories; nityananda-to
>|Nityananda Prabhu; jaya-all glories; advaita-candra-to
>|Advaita Acarya; jaya-all glories; gaura-bhakta-vrnda-to all
>|the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
25|TRANSLATION
26|All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Lord
>|Nityananda! All glories to Advaita Acarya! And all glories
>|to all the devotees of the Lord!
27|Antya 16.3
28|TEXT 3
29|TEXT
30|ei-mata mahaprabhu rahena nilacale
31|bhakta-gana-sange sada prema-vihvale
32|SYNONYMS
33|ei-mata-in this way; mahaprabhu-Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
>|rahena-stays; nilacale-in Jagannatha Puri; bhakta-gana-
>|sange-in the association of devotees; sada-always; prema-
>|vihvale-merged in ecstatic love.
34|TRANSLATION
35|Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu thus stayed at Jagannatha Puri in
>|the association of His devotees, always merged in ecstatic
>|devotional love.
36|Antya 16.4
37|TEXT 4
38|TEXT
39|varsantare aila saba gaudera bhakta-gana
40|purvavat asi' kaila prabhura milana
41|SYNONYMS
42|varsa-antare-the next year; aila-came; saba-all; gaudera-of
>|Bengal; bhakta-gana-the devotees; purva-vat-as previously;
>|asi'-coming; kaila-did; prabhura milana-meeting with Sri
>|Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
43|TRANSLATION
44|The next year, as usual, all the devotees from Bengal went
>|to Jagannatha Puri, and, as in previous years, there was a
>|meeting between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the devotees.
45|Antya 16.5
46|TEXT 5
47|TEXT
48|tan-sabara sange aila kalidasa nama
49|krsna-nama vina tenho nahi kahe ana
50|SYNONYMS
51|tan-sabara sange-with all of them; aila-came; kali-dasa
>|nama-a man named Kalidasa; krsna-nama-the holy name of
>|Krsna; vina-besides; tenho-he; nahi-does not; kahe-say; ana-
>|anything else.
52|TRANSLATION
53|Along with the devotees from Bengal came a gentleman named
>|Kalidasa. He never uttered anything but the holy name of
>|Krsna.
54|Antya 16.6
55|TEXT 6
56|TEXT
57|maha-bhagavata tenho sarala udara
58|krsna-nama-'sankete' calaya vyavahara
59|SYNONYMS
60|maha-bhagavata-a highly advanced devotee; tenho-he; sarala
>|udara-very simple and liberal; krsna-nama-sankete-with
>|chanting of the holy name of Krsna; calaya-performs;
>|vyavahara-ordinary dealings.
61|TRANSLATION
62|Kalidasa was a very advanced devotee, yet he was simple and
>|liberal. He would chant the holy name of Krsna while
>|performing all his ordinary dealings.
63|Antya 16.7
64|TEXT 7
65|TEXT
66|kautukete tenho yadi pasaka khelaya
67|'hare krsna' 'krsna' kari' pasaka calaya
68|SYNONYMS
69|kautukete-in jest; tenho-he; yadi-when; pasaka khelaya-
>|plays with dice; hare krsna-the holy name of the Lord;
>|krsna-Krsna; kari'-chanting; pasaka calaya-throws the dice.
70|TRANSLATION
71|When he used to throw dice in jest, he would throw the
>|dice while chanting Hare Krsna.
72|PURPORT
73|In this connection Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
>|warns the men of this age not to imitate the jesting of a
>|maha-bhagavata like Kalidasa. If someone imitates him by
>|playing with dice or gambling while chanting the Hare Krsna
>|maha-mantra, he will certainly become a victim of offenses
>|unto the holy name. As it is said, hari-nama-bale pape
>|pravrtti: one must not commit sinful activities on the
>|strength of chanting the Hare Krsna mantra. Playing with
>|dice is certainly gambling, but it is clearly said here
>|that Kalidasa did this only in jest. A maha-bhagavata can
>|do anything, but he never forgets the basic principles.
>|Therefore it is said, vaisnavera kriya-mudra
>|vijneha na bujhaya: "No one can
>|understand the activities of a pure devotee." We should not
>|imitate Kalidasa.
74|Antya 16.8
75|TEXT 8
76|TEXT
77|raghunatha-dasera tenho haya jnati-khuda
78|vaisnavera ucchista khaite tenho haila buda
79|SYNONYMS
80|raghunatha-dasera-of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; tenho-he (
>|Kalidasa); haya-is; jnati-relative; khuda-uncle; vaisnavera-
>|of the Vaisnavas; ucchista-remnants of food; khaite-eating;
>|tenho-he; haila-became; buda-aged.
81|TRANSLATION
82|Kalidasa was an uncle of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.
>|Throughout his entire life, even in his old age, he tried
>|to eat the remnants of food left by Vaisnavas.
83|Antya 16.9
84|TEXT 9
85|TEXT
86|gauda-dese haya yata vaisnavera gana
87|sabara ucchista tenho karila bhojana
88|SYNONYMS
89|gauda-dese-in Bengal; haya-are; yata-as many; vaisnavera
>|gana-Vaisnavas; sabara-of all; ucchista-remnants of food;
>|tenho-he; karila bhojana-ate.
90|TRANSLATION
91|Kalidasa ate the remnants of food of as many Vaisnavas as
>|there were in Bengal.
92|Antya 16.10
93|TEXT 10
94|TEXT
95|brahmana-vaisnava yata-chota, bada haya
96|uttama-vastu bheta lana tanra thani yaya
97|SYNONYMS
98|brahmana-vaisnava-Vaisnavas coming from brahmana families;
>|yata-all; chota-neophyte; bada-highly advanced; haya-are;
>|uttama-vastu-first-class eatables; bheta lana-taking as
>|gifts; tanra thani-to them; yaya-goes.
99|TRANSLATION
100|He would go to all the Vaisnavas born in brahmana families,
>|be they neophyte or advanced devotees, and present them
>|gifts of first-class eatables.
101|Antya 16.11
102|TEXT 11
103|TEXT
104|tanra thani sesa-patra layena magiya
105|kahan na paya, tabe rahe lukana
106|SYNONYMS
107|tanra thani-from them; sesa-patra-plates of remnants;
>|layena-takes; magiya-begging; kahan-where; na paya-does not
>|get; tabe-then; rahe-remains; lukana-hiding.
108|TRANSLATION
109|He would beg remnants of food from such Vaisnavas, and if
>|he did not receive any, he would hide.
110|Antya 16.12
111|TEXT 12
112|TEXT
113|bhojana karile patra phelana yaya
114|lukana sei patra ani' cati' khaya
115|SYNONYMS
116|bhojana karile-after eating; patra-the plate; phelana
>|yaya-is thrown away; lukana-hiding; sei patra-that
>|plate; ani'-bringing; cati' khaya-he licks up.
117|TRANSLATION
118|After the Vaisnavas finished eating, they would throw away
>|their dishes or leaves, and Kalidasa would come out of
>|hiding, take the leaves and lick up the remnants.
119|Antya 16.13
120|TEXT 13
121|TEXT
122|sudra-vaisnavera ghare yaya bheta lana
123|ei-mata tanra ucchista khaya lukana
124|SYNONYMS
125|sudra-vaisnavera-of Vaisnavas born in sudra families; ghare-
>|at the homes; yaya-goes; bheta lana-taking gifts; ei-mata-
>|in this way; tanra-their; ucchista-remnants of food; khaya-
>|eats; lukana-hiding.
126|TRANSLATION
127|He would also take gifts to the homes of Vaisnavas born in
>|sudra families. Then he would hide and eat
>|the remnants of food they threw away in this manner.
128|Antya 16.14
129|TEXT 14
130|TEXT
131|bhunimali-jati, 'vaisnava'-'jhadu' tanra nama
132|amra-phala lana tenho gela tanra sthana
133|SYNONYMS
134|bhunimali-jati-belonging to the bhunimali caste; vaisnava-a
>|great devotee; jhadu-Jhadu; tanra-his; nama-name; amra-
>|phala-mango fruits; lana-taking; tenho-he; gela-went; tanra
>|sthana-to his place.
135|TRANSLATION
136|There was a great Vaisnava named Jhadu Thakura, who
>|belonged to the bhunimali caste. Kalidasa went to his home,
>|taking mangoes with him.
137|PURPORT
138|Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura remarks that both
>|Kalidasa and Jhadu Thakura are worshiped at a place called
>|Sripatabati, in the village known as Bhedo or Bhaduya. This
>|village is situated about three miles south of the village
>|of Krsnapura, the birthplace of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami,
>|which is about one mile west of the Byandel junction of the
>|Burdwan line. A post office there is named Devananda-pura.
>|Jhadu Thakura used to worship the Deity of Sri Madana-
>|gopala. The Deity is still worshiped by one Ramaprasada
>|dasa, who belongs to the ramayet community. It is said that
>|the Deity worshiped by Kalidasa had been worshiped until
>|now in the village of Sankhya on the bank of the Sarasvati
>|River, but the Deity has been taken away by a gentleman
>|named Matilala Cattopadhyaya from the village of Triveni.
>|The Deity is now being worshiped at his place.
139|Antya 16.15
140|TEXT 15
141|TEXT
142|amra bheta diya tanra carana vandila
143|tanra patnire tabe namaskara kaila
144|SYNONYMS
145|amra-mangoes; bheta-gift; diya-presenting; tanra-his;
>|carana-feet; vandila-offered respects to; tanra patnire-to
>|his wife; tabe-thereafter; namaskara kaila-offered
>|respectful obeisances.
146|TRANSLATION
147|Kalidasa presented the mangoes to Jhadu Thakura and offered
>|him respectful obeisances. Then he also offered respectful
>|obeisances to the Thakura's wife.
148|Antya 16.16
149|TEXT 16
150|TEXT
151|patni-sahita tenho achena vasiya
152|bahu sammana kaila kalidasere dekhiya
153|SYNONYMS
154|patni-sahita-with his wife; tenho-he (Jhadu Thakura);
>|achena vasiya-was sitting; bahu-much; sammana-respect;
>|kaila-offered; kalidasere dekhiya-seeing Kalidasa.
155|TRANSLATION
156|When Kalidasa went to Jhadu Thakura, he saw that saintly
>|person sitting with his wife. As soon as Jhadu Thakura saw
>|Kalidasa, he likewise offered his respectful obeisances
>|unto him.
157|Antya 16.17
158|TEXT 17
159|TEXT
160|istagosthi kata-ksana kari' tanra sane
161|jhadu-thakura kahe tanre madhura vacane
162|SYNONYMS
163|ista-gosthi-discussion; kata-ksana-for some time; kari'-
>|performing; tanra sane-with him; jhadu-thakura-Jhadu
>|Thakura; kahe-says; tanre-unto him (Kalidasa); madhura
>|vacane-in sweet words.
164|TRANSLATION
165|After a discussion for some time
>|with Kalidasa, Jhadu Thakura said something to him
>|in sweet words.
166|Antya 16.18
167|TEXT 18
168|TEXT
169|"ami-nica-jati, tumi,-atithi sarvottama
170|kon prakare karimu ami tomara sevana?
171|SYNONYMS
172|ami-I; nica-jati-belong to a low caste; tumi-you; atithi-
>|guest; sarva-uttama-very respectable; kon prakare-how;
>|karimu-shall perform; ami-I; tomara sevana-your service.
173|TRANSLATION
174|"I belong to a low caste, and you are a very respectable
>|guest. How shall I serve you?
175|Antya 16.19
176|TEXT 19
177|TEXT
178|ajna deha',-brahmana-ghare anna lana diye
179|tahan tumi prasada pao, tabe ami jiye"
180|SYNONYMS
181|ajna deha'-permit me; brahmana-ghare-to the house of a
>|brahmana; anna-food; lana diye-I shall offer; tahan-there;
>|tumi-you; prasada pao-take prasada; tabe-then; ami-I; jiye-
>|shall live.
182|TRANSLATION
183|"If you will permit me, I shall send some food to a
>|brahmana's house, and there you may take prasada. If you
>|do so, I shall then live very comfortably."
184|Antya 16.20
185|TEXT 20
186|TEXT
187|kalidasa kahe,-"thakura, krpa kara more
188|tomara darsane ainu mui patita pamare
189|SYNONYMS
190|kalidasa kahe-Kalidasa replied; thakura-my dear saintly
>|person; krpa kara-bestow your mercy; more-upon me; tomara
>|darsane-to see you; ainu-have come; mui-I; patita pamare-
>|very fallen and sinful.
191|TRANSLATION
192|Kalidasa replied, "My dear sir, please bestow your mercy
>|upon me. I have come to see you, although I am very fallen
>|and sinful.
193|Antya 16.21
194|TEXT 21
195|TEXT
196|pavitra ha-inu mui painu darasana
197|krtartha ha-inu, mora saphala jivana
198|SYNONYMS
199|pavitra ha-inu-have become purified; mui-I; painu darasana-
>|have gotten your interview; krta-artha-obliged; ha-inu-I
>|have become; mora-my; saphala-successful; jivana-life.
200|TRANSLATION
201|"Simply by seeing you, I have become purified. I am very
>|obligated to you, for my life is now successful.
202|Antya 16.22
203|TEXT 22
204|TEXT
205|eka vancha haya,-yadi krpa kari' kara
206|pada-raja deha', pada mora mathe dhara"
207|SYNONYMS
208|eka vancha-one desire; haya-there is; yadi-if; krpa kari'-
>|being merciful; kara-you do; pada-raja-the dust of your
>|feet; deha'-give; pada-feet; mora-my; mathe-on the head;
>|dhara-please place.
209|TRANSLATION
210|"My dear sir, I have one desire. Please be merciful to me
>|by kindly placing your feet upon my head so that the dust
>|on your feet may touch it."
211|Antya 16.23
212|TEXT 23
213|TEXT
214|thakura kahe ,-" aiche vat kahite
>| na yuyaya
215|ami-nica-jati, tumi-susajjana raya"
216|SYNONYMS
217|thakura kahe-Jhadu Thakura said; aiche vat-such a request;
>|kahite na yuyaya-should not be spoken; ami-I; nica-jati-
>|coming from a family of a very low caste; tumi-you; su-sat-
>|jana raya-very respectable and rich gentleman.
218|TRANSLATION
219|Jhadu Thakura replied, "It does not befit you to ask this
>|of me. I belong to a very low-caste family, whereas you are
>|a respectable rich gentleman."
220|Antya 16.24
221|TEXT 24
222|TEXT
223|tabe kalidasa sloka padi' sunaila
224|suni' jhadu-thakurera bada sukha ha-ila
225|SYNONYMS
226|tabe-thereafter; kalidasa-Kalidasa; sloka-verses; padi'-
>|reciting; sunaila-caused to hear; suni'-hearing; jhadu-
>|thakurera-of Jhadu Thakura; bada-very great; sukha-
>|happiness; ha-ila-there was.
227|TRANSLATION
228|Kalidasa then recited some verses, which Jhadu Thakura was
>|very happy to hear.
229|Antya 16.25
230|TEXT 25
231|TEXT
232|na me 'bhaktas catur-vedi
233|mad-bhaktah sva-pacah priyah
234|tasmai deyam tato grahyam
235|sa ca pujyo yatha hy aham
236|SYNONYMS
237|no-not; me-My; abhaktah-devoid of pure devotional service;
>|catuh-vedi-a scholar of the four Vedas; mat-bhaktah-My
>|devotee; sva-pacah-even from a family of dog-eaters; priyah-
>|very dear; tasmai-to him (the pure devotee); deyam-should
>|be given; tatah-from him; grahyam-should be accepted (
>|remnants of food); sah-that person; ca-also; pujyah-is
>|worshipable; yatha-as much as; hi-certainly; aham-I.
238|TRANSLATION
239|"Even though one is a very learned scholar in Sanskrit
>|literature, if he is not engaged in pure devotional service,
>| he is not accepted as My devotee. But if someone born in a
>|family of dog-eaters is a pure devotee with no motives for
>|enjoyment through fruitive activity or mental speculation,
>|he is very dear to Me. All respect should be given to him,
>|and whatever he offers should be accepted, for such
>|devotees are indeed as worshipable as I am.'
240|PURPORT
241|This verse spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead
>|is found in Hari-bhakti-vilasa .
242|Antya 16.26
243|TEXT 26
244|TEXT
245|viprad dvi-sad-guna-yutad aravinda-nabha-
246|padaravinda-vimukhat sva-pacam varistham
247|manye tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitartha-
248|pranam punati sa kulam na tu bhuri-manah
249|SYNONYMS
250|viprat-than a brahmana; dvi-sat-guna-yutat-who is qualified
>|with twelve brahminical qualifications; aravinda-nabha-of
>|Lord Visnu, who has a lotuslike navel; pada-aravinda-unto
>|the lotus feet; vimukhat-than a person bereft of devotion;
>|sva-pacam-a candala, or person accustomed to eating dogs;
>|varistham-more glorified; manye-I think; tat-arpita-
>|dedicated unto Him; manah-mind; vacana-words; ihita-
>|activities; artha-wealth; pranam-life; punati-purifies; sah-
>|he; kulam-his family; na tu-but not; bhuri-manah-a brahmana
>|proud of possessing such qualities.
251|TRANSLATION
252|"A person may be born in a brahmana family and have all
>|twelve brahminical qualities, but if in spite of being
>|qualified he is not devoted to the lotus feet of Lord Krsna,
>| who has a navel shaped like a lotus, he is not as good as
>|a candala who has dedicated his mind, words, activities,
>|wealth and life to the service of the Lord. Simply to take
>|birth in a brahmana family or to have brahminical qualities
>|is not sufficient. One must become a pure devotee of the
>|Lord. If a sva-paca or candala is a devotee, he delivers
>|not only himself but his whole family, whereas a brahmana
>|who is not a devotee but simply has brahminical
>|qualifications cannot even purify himself, not to speak of
>|his family.'
253|PURPORT
254|This and the following verse are quoted from Srimad-
>|Bhagavatam (7.9.10 and 3.33.7).
255|Antya 16.27
256|TEXT 27
257|TEXT
258|aho bata sva-paco 'to gariyan
259|yaj-jihvagre vartate nama tubhyam
260|tepus tapas te juhuvuh sasnur arya
261|brahmanucur nama grnanti ye te
262|SYNONYMS
263|aho bata-how wonderful it is; sva-pacah-a dog-eater; atah-
>|than the initiated brahmana; gariyan-more glorious; yat-of
>|whom; jihva-agre-on the tip of the tongue; vartate-remains;
>|nama-the holy name; tubhyam-of You, my Lord; tepuh-have
>|performed; tapah-austerity; te-they; juhuvuh-have performed
>|sacrifices; sasnuh-have bathed in all holy places; aryah-
>|actually belonging to the Aryan race; brahma-all the Vedas;
>|anucuh-have studied; nama-the holy name; grnanti-chant; ye-
>|who; te-they.
264|TRANSLATION
265|"My dear Lord, anyone who always keeps Your holy name on
>|his tongue is greater than an initiated brahmana. Although
>|he may be born in a family of dog-eaters and therefore, by
>|material calculations, be the lowest of men, he is glorious
>|nevertheless. That is the wonderful power of chanting the
>|holy name of the Lord. One who chants the holy name is
>|understood to have performed all kinds of austerities. He
>|has studied all the Vedas, he has performed all the great
>|sacrifices mentioned in the Vedas, he has already taken
>|his bath in all the holy places of pilgrimage , and it is
>|he who is factually the Aryan.' "
266|Antya 16.28
267|TEXT 28
268|TEXT
269|suni' thakura kahe,-"sastra ei satya kaya
270|sei srestha, aiche yante krsna-bhakti haya
271|SYNONYMS
272|suni'-hearing; thakura kahe-Jhadu Thakura said; sastra-
>|revealed scripture; ei-this; satya-truth; kaya-says; sei-he;
>| srestha-best; aiche-in such a way; yante-in whom; krsna-
>|bhakti-devotion to Krsna; haya-there is.
273|TRANSLATION
274|Hearing these quotations from the revealed scripture Srimad-
>|Bhagavatam, Jhadu Thakura replied, "Yes, this is true, for
>|it is the version of sastra. It is true, however, for one
>|who is genuinely advanced in devotion to Krsna.
275|Antya 16.29
276|TEXT 29
277|TEXT
278|ami-nica-jati, amara nahi krsna-bhakti
279|anya aiche haya, amaya nahi aiche sakti"
280|SYNONYMS
281|ami-I; nica-jati-belonging to a lower caste; amara-my; nahi-
>|there is not; krsna-bhakti-devotion to Krsna; anya-others;
>|aiche haya-may be such; amaya-unto me; nahi-there is not;
>|aiche sakti-such power.
282|TRANSLATION
283|"Such a position may befit others, but I do not possess
>|such spiritual power. I belong to a lower class and have
>|not even a pinch of devotion to Krsna."
284|PURPORT
285|In his statement, Jhadu Thakura presents himself as being
>|born in a low-caste family and not having the
>|qualifications of a bona fide devotee of Lord Krsna. He
>|accepts the statements declaring a lowborn person highly
>|exalted if he is a Vaisnava. However, he feels that these
>|descriptions from Srimad-Bhagavatam appropriately describe
>|others, but not himself. Jhadu Thakura's attitude is quite
>|befitting a real Vaisnava, for a Vaisnava never considers
>|himself exalted, even if he factually is. He is always meek
>|and humble and never thinks that he is an advanced devotee.
>|He assigns himself to a lower position, but that does not
>|mean that he is indeed low. Sanatana Gosvami once said that
>|he belonged to a low-caste family, for although he was born
>|in a brahmana family, he had associated with mlecchas and
>|yavanas in his service as a government minister. Similarly,
>|Jhadu Thakura presented himself as someone who belonged to
>|a low caste, but he was actually elevated above many
>|persons born in brahmana families. Not only is there
>|evidence for this in Srimad-Bhagavatam, as quoted by
>|Kalidasa in verses 26 and 27 ; there is also
>|considerable evidence for this conclusion in other sastras.
>|For example, in the Mahabharata , Vana-parva, Chapter 180
>|, it is stated:
286|sudre tu yad bhavel laksma
287|dvije tac ca na vidyate
>|
288|na vai sudro bhavec chudro
>|
>|
>|
289|brahmano na ca brahmanah
>|
290|"If the characteristics of a brahmana are found in a sudra
>|and not in a brahmana, that sudra should not be known as a
>|sudra, and that brahmana should not be known as a brahmana."
291|Similarly, in the Vana-parva, Chapter 211, it is said:
292|sudra-yonau hi jatasya
293|sad-gunanupatisthatah
294|arjave vartamanasya
295|brahmanyam abhijayate
296|"If a person born in a sudra family has developed the
>|qualities of a brahmana, such as satya [truthfulness], sama
>|[peacefulness], dama [self-control] and arjava [simplicity],
>| he attains the exalted position of a brahmana."
297|in the Anusasana-parva, Chapter 163, it is said:
298|sthito brahmana-dharmena
299|brahmanyam upajivati
300|ksatriyo vatha vaisyo va
301|brahma -bhuyah sa gacchati
>|
302|ebhis tu karmabhir devi
303|subhair acaritais tatha
304|sudro brahmanatam yati
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
305|vaisyah ksatriyatam vrajet
306|na yonir napi samskaro
307|na srutam na ca santatih
308|karanani dvijatvasya
309|vrttam eva tu karanam
310|"If one is factually situated in the occupation of a
>|brahmana, he must be considered a brahmana, even if born of
>|a ksatriya or vaisya family.
311|"O Devi, if even a sudra is actually engaged in the
>|occupation and pure behavior of a brahmana, he becomes a
>|brahmana. Moreover, a vaisya can become a ksatriya.
312|"Therefore, neither the source of one's birth, nor his
>|reformation, nor his education is the criterion of a
>|brahmana. The vrtta, or occupation, is the real standard by
>|which one is known as a brahmana."
313|We have seen that a person who is not the son of a doctor
>|and has not attended a medical college is sometimes able to
>|practice medicine. By practical knowledge of how to perform
>|a surgical operation, how to mix medicine and how to give
>|certain medicines for certain diseases, a person can
>|receive a certificate and be registered as a medical
>|practitioner in the practical field. He can do a medical
>|man's work and be known as a doctor. Although qualified
>|medical men may consider him a quack, the government will
>|recognize his work. Especially in India, there are many
>|such doctors who perform their medical services perfectly.
>|They are accepted even by the government. Similarly, if one
>|is engaged in brahminical service or occupational duties,
>|he must be considered a brahmana despite the family in
>|which he is born. That is the verdict of all the sastras.
314|In the Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.11.35), it is said:
315|yasya yal laksanam proktam
316|pumso varnabhivyanjakam
317|yad anyatrapi drsyeta
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
318|tat tenaiva vinirdiset
319|This is a statement by Narada Muni to Maharaja Yudhisthira,
>|wherein Narada says that the symptoms of a brahmana,
>|ksatriya and vaisya are all described in sastra. Therefore,
>|if one is found exhibiting the symptoms and qualities of a
>|brahmana and serving in a brahminical occupation, even if
>|he is not born a brahmana or ksatriya, he should be
>|considered according to his qualifications and occupation.
320|Similarly, in the Padma purana it is said:
321|na sudra bhagavad-bhaktas
322|te tu bhagavata matah
323|sarva - varnesu te
>|
>|
>|
>| sudra
>|
324|ye na bhakta janardane
325|"A devotee should never be considered a sudra. All the
>|devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead should be
>|recognized as bhagavatas. If one is not a devotee of Lord
>|Krsna, however, even if born of a brahmana, ksatriya or
>|vaisya family, he should be considered a sudra."
326|In the Padma Purana it is also said:
327|sva-pakam iva nekseta
328|loke vipram avaisnavam
329|vaisnavo varno-bahyo 'pi
330|punati bhuvana-trayam
331|"If a person born in a brahmana family is an avaisnava, a
>|nondevotee, one should not see his face, exactly as one
>|should not look upon the face of a candala, or dog-eater.
>|However, a vaisnava found in varnas other than brahmana can
>|purify all the three worlds."
332|The Padma Purana further says:
333|sudram va bhagavad-bhaktam
334|nisadam sva-pacam tatha
335|viksate jati-samanyat
336|sa yati narakam dhruvam
337|"One who considers a devotee of the Supreme Personality of
>|Godhead who was born in a