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- Read on →: yasya yal lakṣaṇaṁ proktaṁ puṁso varṇābhivyañjakam
yasya yal lakṣaṇaṁ proktaṁ puṁso varṇābhivyañjakam |
yad anyatrāpi dṛśyeta tat tenaiva vinirdiśet ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 7.11.35)“If a characteristic which is said to be an indicator of a person’s varṇa should be observed even elsewhere [i.e., even in a person born in a different varṇa], one should designate him [i.e., the person in whom the characteristic was observed] specifically with that [i.e., with the varṇa of that characteristic which was observed].”
- Read on →: saṁskārā yatrāvicchinnāḥ sa dvijo’jo jagāda yam |
saṁskārā yatrāvicchinnāḥ sa dvijo’jo jagāda yam |
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 7.11.13)“He in regard to whom the saṁskāras are uninterrupted and whom the Unborn One [viz., Brahmādeva] has mentioned [i.e., designated to be such] is a twice-born (dvija).”
- Read on →: brāhmaṇā jātitaḥ pūjyā vedābhyāsāt tataḥ param
brāhmaṇā jātitaḥ pūjyā vedābhyāsāt tataḥ param ||
(Skanda Purāṇa: 7.106.16)“Brāhmaṇas are worthy of honor by birth (jāti), and more so by study of the Veda.”
- Read on →: brahmahā madyapaḥ stenas tathaiva guru-talpagaḥ
brahmahā madyapaḥ stenas tathaiva guru-talpagaḥ |
ete mahāpātakino yaś ca taiḥ saha saṁvaset ||
(Yājñavalkya Smṛti: 3.227)“A brāhmaṇa-killer, a wine-drinker, a thief, and a goer to the guru’s bed—they are great sinners, as is one who shall associate with them.”
- Read on →: steno hiraṇyasya surāṁ pibaṁś ca guros talpam āvasan brahmahā
steno hiraṇyasya surāṁ pibaṁś ca guros talpam āvasan brahmahā caite patanti catvāraḥ pañcamaś cācaraṁs tair iti |
(Chāndogya Upaniṣad: 5.10.9)“A thief of gold, a drinker of wine, a dweller in the guru’s bed, and a killer of a brāhmaṇa—these four [i.e., those who commit the four aforementioned sin], and a fifth who associates with them, fall.”
- Read on →: kṛṣṇasyānugraho’py ebhyo nānumīyeta sattamaiḥ
kṛṣṇasyānugraho’py ebhyo nānumīyeta sattamaiḥ |
sa cāvirbhavati śrīmann adhikṛtyaiva sevakam ||
hanūmad-ādivat tasya kāpi sevā kṛtāsti na |
paraṁ vighnākule citte smaraṇaṁ kriyate mayā ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 1.4.19–20)“Even Kṛṣṇa’s favor shall not be inferred from these [i.e., from someone’s overcoming impediments, teaching children, acting like a sādhu, being compassionate to living beings in distress, not accepting mokṣa, pleasing people in general, and other characteristics spoken of in the previous verse] by the best of the sat. O blessed one, furthermore that [i.e., Kṛṣṇa’s favor] appears only towards a servant [i.e., it is not bestowed upon someone like me who does not engage in service to Bhagavān]. Not sort of service to him like Hanumān [performs] has been performed by me. Only remembrance [of him] with a mind beset with disturbances is performed by me.”