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- Read on →: saṅkīrṇa-yonayaḥ pūtā ye bhaktā madhusūdane
saṅkīrṇa-yonayaḥ pūtā ye bhaktā madhusūdane |
mleccha-tulyāḥ kulīnās te ye na bhaktā janārdane ||
(Skanda Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 10.129)“Those of mixed caste who are bhaktas of Madhusūdana are pure. Those who are of noble family but not bhaktas of Janārdana are equal to mlecchas [i.e., those of the very lowest caste].”
- Read on →: brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyaḥ vaiśyaḥ śūdro vā yadi vetaraḥ
brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyaḥ vaiśyaḥ śūdro vā yadi vetaraḥ |
viṣṇu-bhakti-samāyukto jñeyaḥ sarvottamottamaḥ ||
(Skanda Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 10.106; Bhakti Sandarbha: 100)“If a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, or anyone otherwise is fully endowed with Viṣṇu-bhakti, they are to be known as the best of the best of all.”
- Read on →: aṣṭaitāny avrata-ghnāni āpo mūlaṁ phalaṁ payaḥ
aṣṭaitāny avrata-ghnāni āpo mūlaṁ phalaṁ payaḥ |
havir brāhmaṇa-kāmyā ca guror vacanemauṣadham ||
(Mahābhārata; Udyama-parva; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 12.100)“These eight are non-breakers of a rite (vrata): (1) water, (2) roots, (3) fruits, (4) milk, (5) ghee, (6) that which is a request of a brāhmaṇa [i.e., something one is requested by a brāhmaṇa to take], (7) that which is an instruction of the guru [i.e., something the guru has instructed one to take], and (8) medicine.”
- Read on →: śvapaco’pi mahī-pāla viṣṇu-bhakto dvijādhikaḥ
śvapaco’pi mahī-pāla viṣṇu-bhakto dvijādhikaḥ |
viṣṇu-bhakti-vihīnas tu dvijo’pi śvapacādhikaḥ ||
(Nāradīya Purāṇa: 2.10.37; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 10.87; Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā on Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 5.455; Bhakti Sandarbha: 100)“O King, even a dog-cooker who is a Viṣṇu-bhakta is more [exalted] than a twice-born, whereas even a twice-born devoid of Viṣṇu-bhakti is more [inferior] than a dog-cooker.”
- Read on →: viprād dvi-ṣaḍ-guṇa-yutād aravinda-nābha-
viprād dvi-ṣaḍ-guṇa-yutād aravinda-nābha-
pādāravinda-vimukhāt śvapacaṁ variṣṭham |
manye tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitārtha-
prāṇaṁ punāti sa kulaṁ na tu bhūri-mānaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 7.9.10; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 10.192; Bhakti Sandarbha: 100; Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 2.20.59)“[Prahlāda Mahārāja:] I consider a dog-cooker whose mind, words, actions, wealth, and life are dedicated to him [viz., Śrī Bhagavān] superior to a brāhmaṇa possessed of [all] twelve [brahminical] qualities who is averse to the lotus feet of he of lotus navel. He [i.e., a dog-cooker who is a bhakta of Śrī Bhagavān] purifies his family, whereas one of great pride does not.”
- Read on →: brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vaiśyas trayo varṇā dvijātayaḥ
brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vaiśyas trayo varṇā dvijātayaḥ |
caturtha eka-jātis tu śūdro nāsti tu pañcamaḥ ||
(Manu Smṛti: 10.4)“Brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, and vaiśya—these three varṇas become the twice-born (dvijas). The fourth, the śūdra [-varṇa] is a caste (jāti), and there is no fifth [varṇa].”