Brāhmaṇas

yasyāmṛtāmala-yaśaḥ-śravaṇāvagāhaḥ

yasyāmṛtāmala-yaśaḥ-śravaṇāvagāhaḥ
sadyaḥ punāti jagad āśvapacād vikuṇṭhaḥ |
so’haṁ bhavadbhya upalabdha-sutīrtha-kīrtiś
chindyāṁ sva-bāhum api vaḥ pratikūla-vṛttim ||
yat-sevayā caraṇa-padma-pavitra-reṇuṁ
sadyaḥ kṣatākhila-malaṁ pratilabdha-śīlam |
na śrīr viraktam api māṁ vijahāti yasyāḥ
prekṣā-lavārtham itare niyamān vahanti ||
nāhaṁ tathādmi yajamāna-havir vitāne
ścyotad-ghṛta-plutam adan huta-bhuṅ-mukhena |
yad brāhmaṇasya mukhataś carato’nughāsaṁ
tuṣṭasya mayy avahitair nija-karma-pākaiḥ ||
yeṣāṁ bibharmy aham akhaṇḍa-vikuṇṭha-yoga-
māyā-vibhūtir amalāṅghri-rajaḥ kirīṭaiḥ |
viprāṁs tu ko na viṣaheta yad-arhaṇāmbhaḥ
sadyaḥ punāti saha-candra-lalāma-lokān ||
ye me tanūr dvija-varān duhatīr madīyā
bhūtāny alabdha-śaraṇāni ca bheda-buddhyā |
drakṣyanty agha-kṣata-dṛśo hy ahi-manyavas tān
gṛdhrā ruṣā mama kuṣanty adhidaṇḍa-netuḥ ||
ye brāhmaṇān mayi dhiyā kṣipato’rcayantas
tuṣyad-dhṛdaḥ smita-sudhokṣita-padma-vaktrāḥ |
vāṇyānurāga-kalayātmajavad gṛṇantaḥ
sambodhayanty aham ivāham upāhṛtas taiḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 3.16.6–11)

“[Śrī Bhagavān addresses the four Kumāras:] He upon plunging into the nectar of hearing about whose untainted glory the [whole] world is immediately purified, including [even] dog-cookers—[that is,] I, Vikuṇṭha [i.e., Bhagavān]—who have attained the fame of being an excellent tīrtha [i.e., source of purification] because of you all [i.e., because of all of you brāhmaṇas], by the worship of whom I am (1) endowed with purifying dust on my lotus feet, (2) purged of all contamination instantly, (3) possessed of good character, and (4) such that Śrī—for the sake of [attaining] an instant of whose attention others [viz., the devas led by Brahmā] observe restraints (niyamas) [i.e., austerities, etc.]—does not abandon me although [I am] detached—[I who am such] shall cut off even my own arm [if it is] unfavorably engaged [towards you brāhmaṇas]. I do not eat an oblation from a performer of yajña in a sacrifice through the mouth of the fire [in the sacrifice] as I eat each morsel covered with dripping ghee through the mouth of an eating brāhmaṇa who is satisfied with the results of his own actions offered to me [i.e., I am more satisfied with offerings made to brāhmaṇas than I am with offerings made to me directly in the fire of a yajña]. Who would not forgive [even misbehaved] brāhmaṇas, whose taintless foot dust I carry on my crown—I who am possessed of the undivided and unchecked magnificence of [my] yogamāyā [potency] and whose worship water [i.e., the water used to worship whose feet] immediately purifies all planes along with Śiva? [i.e., everyone should forgive brāhmaṇas if they commit some transgression since even I do so and carry the foot dust of brāhmaṇas atop my head]. The principal administrator of justice’s [viz., Yamarāja’s] vultures [i.e., emissaries in vulture of form], wrathful like snakes, angrily tear apart they of vision impaired by sin who see the best of the twice-born, cows, and living beings devoid of shelter—[who are] forms of me [i.e., who are dwelling places (adhiṣṭhānas) of mine] and [who are] my own—with thought of distinction [from me, i.e., without recognizing that brāhmaṇas are objects of my sense of ‘I,’ cows are objects of my sense of ‘my,’ and the shelterless are objects of my compassion]. I am captivated by they of satisfied heart and lotus faces moistened with the nectar of gentle smiles who assuage [even] insulting brāhmaṇas just as I do [in the case of Bhṛgu and others], worshiping [them] with mind upon me [i.e., with vision of me within them] and praising [them] with speech replete with the art of affection like a son [who similarly pacifies his angry father].”

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varṇānām āśramāṇāṁ ca janma-bhūmy-anusāriṇīḥ

varṇānām āśramāṇāṁ ca janma-bhūmy-anusāriṇīḥ |
āsan prakṛtayo nṝṇāṁ nīcair nīcottamottamāḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.17.15)

“The lower, low, higher, and higher characteristics of the varṇas and āśramas of human beings have come about according to [their] place of birth [from the body of the Puruṣa described earlier in SB 11.17.13–14, i.e., the śūdras, vaiśyas, kṣatriyas, and brāhmaṇas are ranked from low to high in accord with their respective birth places from the feet, thighs, arms, and face of the Puruṣa, and gṛhasthas, brahmacārīs, vānaprasthas, and sannyāsīs are ranked from low to high in accord with their respective birth places from the loins, heart, chest, and head of the Puruṣa].”

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ahiṁsā satyam asteyam akāma-krodha-lobhatā

ahiṁsā satyam asteyam akāma-krodha-lobhatā |
bhūta-priya-hitehā ca dharmo’yaṁ sarva-varṇikaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.17.21)

“Non-violence, truthfulness, non-thievery, the absence of lust, anger, and greediness, action that is beneficial and pleasing to [all] beings [alt., fondness and well-wishing for all beings]—this is the dharma for all varṇas [i.e., these qualities are fit to be cultivated by the members of all the varṇas and by those outside the four varṇas as well].”

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śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ santoṣaḥ kṣāntir ārjavam

śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ santoṣaḥ kṣāntir ārjavam |
mad-bhaktiś ca dayā satyaṁ brahma-prakṛtayas tv imāḥ ||
tejo balaṁ dhṛtiḥ śauryaṁ titikṣaudāryam udyamaḥ |
sthairyaṁ brahmaṇyam aiśvaryaṁ kṣatra-prakṛtayas tv imāḥ ||
āstikyaṁ dāna-niṣṭhā ca adambho brahma-sevanam |
atuṣṭir arthopacayair vaiśya-prakṛtayas tv imāḥ ||
śuśrūṣaṇaṁ dvija-gavāṁ devānāṁ cāpy amāyayā |
tatra labdhena santoṣaḥ śūdra-prakṛtayas tv imāḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.17.16–19)

“Equanimity, self-control, austerity, cleanliness, contentment, forbearance, straightforwardness, bhakti to me, compassion, and truthfulness—these are the characteristics of brāhmaṇas. Might, vigor, resolve, valor, tolerance, munificence, endeavor, steadiness, brahmaṇya [i.e., support of brāhmaṇas], and dominion—these are the characteristics of kṣatriyas. Faith (āstikya) [in the śāstra], charitability, non-deceitfulness [i.e., honesty], service to brāhmaṇas, and non-satiation with increases of wealth—these are the characteristics of vaiśyas. Service without deceit to the twice-born, cows, and the devas, and satisfaction with that which is attained thereby—these are the characteristics of śūdras.”

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śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ santoṣaḥ kṣāntir ārjavam

śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ santoṣaḥ kṣāntir ārjavam |
jñānaṁ dayācyutātmatvaṁ satyaṁ ca brahma-lakṣaṇam ||
śauryaṁ vīryaṁ dhṛtis tejas tyāgaś cātma-jayaḥ kṣamā |
brahmaṇyatā prasādaś ca satyaṁ ca kṣatra-lakṣaṇam ||
deva-gurv-acyute bhaktis tri-varga-paripoṣaṇam |
āstikyam udyamo nityaṁ naipuṇyaṁ vaiśya-lakṣaṇam ||
śūdrasya san-natiḥ śaucaṁ sevā svāminy amāyayā |
amantra-yajño hy asteyaṁ satyaṁ go-vipra-rakṣaṇam ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 7.11.21–24)

“Equanimity, self-control, austerity, cleanliness, contentment, forbearance, straightforwardness, knowledge, compassion, being of mind upon Acyuta [i.e., devotion to Śrī Viṣṇu], and truthfulness are characteristics of a brāhmaṇa. Valor, influence, resolve, might, charitablility, control of the mind, tolerance, brahmaṇyatā [i.e., being supportive of brāhmaṇas], clarity [alt., kindness], and truthfulness are the characteristics of a kṣatriya. Bhakti to the devas, the guru, and Acyuta [i.e., Viṣṇu], fostering the tri-varga [i.e., dharma, artha, and kāma], faith (āstikya) [in the śāstra], continuous endeavor, and expertise are the characteristics of a vaiśya. [Offering] Obeisances to the sat, cleanliness, service to one’s master without deceit, [performing] sacrifice (yajña) without [uttering] mantras, non-thievery, truthfulness, and protection of cows and brāhmaṇas are the [characteristics] of a śūdra.”

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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].”

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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.”

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dvitīyaṁ prāpyānupūrvyāj janmopanayanaṁ dvijaḥ

dvitīyaṁ prāpyānupūrvyāj janmopanayanaṁ dvijaḥ |
vasan guru-kule dānto brahmādhīyīta cāhutaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.17.22)

“After receiving in sequence the second birth, the upanayana [-saṁskāra], and being invited [by a guru], a twice-born (dvija) should dwell in the house of the guru, be disciplined, and study the Veda.”

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