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: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 17:35, 27 May 2022

Expressions researched:
"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"

Srimad-Bhagavatam

SB Canto 9

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.

SB 9.21.21, Translation and Purport:

From King Hastī came three sons, named Ajamīḍha, Dvimīḍha and Purumīḍha. The descendants of Ajamīḍha, headed by Priyamedha, all achieved the position of brāhmaṇas.

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 (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 (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.

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 [[Category:Four Varnas]]
 [[Category:Social Orders (Varnas)]]
-[[Category:Intellectual Class (Brahmana)]]
+[[Category:Intellectual Class - Brahmana]]
-[[Category:Administrative Class (Ksatriya)]]
+[[Category:Administrative Class - Ksatriya]]
-[[Category:Mercantile Class (Vaisya)]]
+[[Category:Mercantile Class - Vaisya]]
 [[Category:Laborer Class - Sudra]]
 [[Category:Must Be]]
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 [[Category:Their]]
 [[Category:Symptoms]]
-[[Category:By Birth]]
+[[Category:Not By Birth]]
-[[Category: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]]
 </div>
 <div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
@@ Line 34: / Line 35: @@
 <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.
 </div>
-<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>
+<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>
 </div>
-<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|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|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>
+<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>
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>