Śvādo 'pi sadyaḥ savanāya kalpate (SB 3.33.6). Even the dog-eaters. In the beginning, we did not know who is the dog-eater. Now, when we are traveling all over the world, we see so many dog-eaters. In Korea, China, Philippines, there are many dog-eaters. So in the śāstras it is mentioned: even the dog-eaters, śvādo. Śva means dog, and adaḥ, one who eats. Śvādo 'pi sadyaḥ savanāya kalpate. If one is elevated to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, even if he's born in the family of dog-eaters or he is a dog-eater . . .
Of course, he cannot remain dog-eater. After coming to become a Vaiṣṇava, he does not remain a dog-eater. But dog-eating is not disqualification. That is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's specific contribution. Nothing is disqualification to come to Krishna consciousness, provided one is serious to come to this platform. Śvādo 'pi sadyaḥ.
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has commented on this line, śvādo 'pi sadyaḥ, that a dog-eater, after becoming a devotee, immediately he becomes a qualified brāhmin, so much so that he becomes competent to become a priest in the matter of offering sacrifices. But Jīva Gosvāmī says that even a person is born in brāhmin family, he awaits the qualification of performing sacrifices. He has to be initiated, he has to be advanced in education—so many things. But one dog-eater, if he takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, immediately, without waiting for reformatory method, he becomes immediately competent to act as priest in performing sacrifices.
But we should not take advantage of this. Actually we should become on the platform of brāhmin, qualified brāhmin, qualified Vaiṣṇava so that others may not criticize. That is our special request. That chance is there, everyone. This path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is open to everyone. It does not matter.
My position is very precarious. This morning, one man came to challenge me that how I am converting these mlecchas and yavanas to Vaiṣṇava. Yes. But how I am com . . .? It is, it is there in the śāstra:
- kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā
- ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādhayaḥ
- ye 'nye ca pāpā yad-upāśrayāśrayāḥ
- śudhyanti . . .
- (SB 2.4.18)
They becomes purified according to śāstra. Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī gives direction, tathā dīkṣā-vidhānena dvijatvaṁ jāyate nṛṇām (Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 2.12). By dīkṣā-vidhāna, by proper initiation, any person can attain the stage of dvijatvam. So our method is not against the śāstra. Yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya (BG 16.23). If we give up the direction of the śāstra, then we are faulty. If we do not deviate the injunctions of the śāstras . . . sādhu-śāstra-guru-vākya tinete kariyā aikya (Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura). In the śāstra it is sanctioned. My Guru Mahārāja, he also ordered. Caitanya Mahāprabhu also ordered.