Now we are acting under the influence of different guṇas. Therefore we find the brahminical class of men, the kṣatriya class of men, the vaiśya class of men, the śūdra class of men. That is natural. Natural. A śūdra class of man, his behavior, and a brāhmin class of man, his behavior, is different. And Nārada Muni says, and Bhāgavata also says, that we have to see the symptoms how one is acting.
Yasya yal lakṣaṇaṁ proktaṁ puṁso varṇābhivyañjakam (SB 7.11.35). Varṇa, this catur-varṇa—brāhmin, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra—there are symptoms. By symptoms . . . just like a physician diagnoses the disease by the symptoms of the disease, similarly, we have to accept one as Brahmin by the symptoms of his behavior, not by birth. It is not said in the Bhagavad-gītā or any śāstra.
That is going on in India at the present moment. By birthright one is claiming, "I am brāhmin," "I am kṣatriya." That is the cause of falldown of India's civilization. Without any quality they are claiming, and it is passing on. Here, in every śāstra—the Nārada Pañcarātra, Bhāgavata, Bhagavad-gītā, everywhere—it is said, yasya yal lakṣaṇaṁ proktam. Yasya: the varṇasya, of the varṇa, of the class, there are symptoms.
Just like in Bhagavad-gītā you will find, satyaṁ śamaḥ śaucam ārjavaṁ titikṣā, jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyaṁ brahma-karma svabhāva-jam (BG 18.42). By nature a Brahmin will be truthful. Satyaṁ śamaḥ. He will be controlling of the senses, controlling the mind, very cleansed, śaucam. Satyaṁ śaucaṁ śamaḥ damaḥ titikṣā, tolerant. Even in the severest type of danger, he is never disturbed. Tolerant. Satyaṁ śamaḥ damaḥ śaucam ārjavam, and simplicity; jñānam, full of knowledge; and vijñānam, practical application in life; āstikyam, firm faith in the scripture and Kṛṣṇa—these are the qualification of Brahmin.