View source for The members of the varnas, or social orders-brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra-must be ascertained by their symptoms, not by birth. Birth is immaterial; quality is essential

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{{terms|"The members of the varnas, or social orders-brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra-must be ascertained by their symptoms, not by birth. Birth is immaterial; quality is essential"}}
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{{compiler|Visnu Murti}}
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{{first|24Dec10}}
{{last|24Dec10}}
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[[Category:Members]]
[[Category:Four Varnas]]
[[Category:Social Orders (Varnas)]]
[[Category:Intellectual Class - Brahmana]]
[[Category:Administrative Class - Ksatriya]]
[[Category:Mercantile Class - Vaisya]]
[[Category:Laborer Class - Sudra]]
[[Category:Must Be]]
[[Category:Ascertain]]
[[Category:Their]]
[[Category:Symptoms]]
[[Category:Not By Birth]]
[[Category:Immaterial]]
[[Category:Quality]]
[[Category:Essential]]
[[Category:Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 09 Chapter 21 Purports - The Dynasty of Bharata]]
[[Category:Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 09 Purports]]
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
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<div id="SB_Canto_9" class="sub_section" sec_index="9" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 9"><h3>SB Canto 9</h3>
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<div id="SB92121_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_9" book="SB" index="737" link="SB 9.21.21" link_text="SB 9.21.21">
<div class="heading">The members of the varṇas, or social orders-brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra-must be ascertained by their symptoms, not by birth. Birth is immaterial; quality is essential.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 9.21.21|SB 9.21.21, Translation and Purport]]: 
</span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">From King Hastī came three sons, named Ajamīḍha, Dvimīḍha and Purumīḍha. The descendants of Ajamīḍha, headed by Priyamedha, all achieved the position of brāhmaṇas.</p>
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<div class="purport text"><p>This verse gives evidence confirming the statement of Bhagavad-gītā that the orders of society—brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra—are calculated in terms of qualities and activities (guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 4.13 (1972)|BG 4.13]])). All the descendants of Ajamīḍha, who was a kṣatriya, became brāhmaṇas. This was certainly because of their qualities and activities. Similarly, sometimes the sons of brāhmaṇas or kṣatriyas become vaiśyas (brāhmaṇa-vaiśyatāṁ gatāḥ). When a kṣatriya or brāhmaṇa adopts the occupation or duty of a vaiśya (kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyam ([[Vanisource:BG 18.44 (1972)|BG 18.44]])), he is certainly counted as a vaiśya. On the other hand, if one is born a vaiśya, by his activities he can become a brāhmaṇa. This is confirmed by Nārada Muni. Yasya yal-lakṣaṇaṁ proktam. The members of the varṇas, or social orders-brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra-must be ascertained by their symptoms, not by birth. Birth is immaterial; quality is essential.</p>
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