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Best of the brahmanas means

Lectures

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

The best of the brāhmaṇas" means Kṛṣṇa conscious, one who knows the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Brāhmaṇa means one who knows the spirit distinguished from the matter.
Lecture on BG 4.18 -- Delhi, November 3, 1973: We are all parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord. Therefore our business is to act in such a way that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is satisfied. That is success of life. That is described in another place in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā
varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ
svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya
saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam
[SB 1.2.13]

This was spoken by Sūta Gosvāmī in the assembly of great saintly persons and brāhmaṇas, and he addressed the brāhmaṇas, dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ, "the best of the brāhmaṇas." "The best of the brāhmaṇas." Because he is especially addressing the brāhmaṇas. The thing is that unless one has attained the brahminical qualification, it is very difficult to understand what is spiritual life, what is spiritual success. Brahma jānātīti brāhmaṇaḥ. That is also explained:

brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā
na śocati na kāṅkṣati
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām
[Bg. 18.54]

Brahman realization, "I am not this body, I am spirit soul, part and parcel of God, "when we understand this position, then we are liberated from the reaction of karma or material activities.

So Sūta Gosvāmī addressed, dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ. Not only brāhmaṇa but "the best of the brāhmaṇas." "The best of the brāhmaṇas" means Kṛṣṇa conscious, one who knows the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Brāhmaṇa means one who knows the spirit distinguished from the matter. Brahma jānāti iti brāhmaṇaḥ. But when he understands the Supreme Brahman, Parabrahman, Kṛṣṇa, then he actually becomes brāhmaṇa-vaiṣṇava. Brāhmaṇa should advance farther to become Vaiṣṇava. Therefore one who is Vaiṣṇava, he is already a brāhmaṇa. This is to be understood. So Sūta Gosvāmī said, "Oh, the great brāhmaṇas present here..." Brāhmaṇas. Ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ, the best of the brāhmaṇas.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

And śreṣṭhāḥ, the best of the brāhmaṇas, means that he knows not only what is Brahman, but he knows what is Bhagavān.
Lecture on SB 1.2.13 -- Los Angeles, August 16, 1972: So when you meet God, you can meet God at any moment if you follow the instructions. Then what is your business? In that meeting, fully learned scholars were present, therefore it is called dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ, best of the brāhmaṇas. Best of the brāhmaṇas means these devotees. To become brāhmaṇa means the best of the learned scholars. Brahma jānāti iti brāhmaṇa. Everyone is born śūdra-janmanā jāyate śūdraḥ. Śūdra means the fourth-class man. Saṁskārād bhaved dvijaḥ. By reformation, by cultivation of knowledge and culture, one becomes second class, third class and first class. So brāhmaṇa means the first class, means one who knows—brāhmaṇa. And śreṣṭhāḥ, the best of the brāhmaṇas, means that he knows not only what is Brahman, but he knows what is Bhagavān. Brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti śabdyate [SB 1.2.11]. Three stages. Simply knowing Brahman is not perfect knowledge; you must know what is Paramātmā, you must know what is the Personality of Godhead. Therefore it is addressed here, dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ.
Page Title:Best of the brahmanas means
Compiler:Jamuna Priya
Created:22 of Nov, 2008
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=2, Con=0, Let=0
No. of Quotes:2