Caṇḍālas means the dog-eaters. In the human society, the division of higher class and lower class is determined by the standard of eating. So first-class men, just like brāhmin, Vaiṣṇava, they eat very purified prasādam. Their responsibility is practically does not depend on them. Because Vaiṣṇava . . . brāhmin also. Without becoming a brāhmin, nobody can become Vaiṣṇava. So when you speak of Vaiṣṇava, it is to be supposed that he's already brāhmin. Therefore, to bring the neophyte devotees to the perfectional stage, we offer the brāhmins sacred thread. But if people, after promising everything, and break their promise, that is very abominable. When they're initiated before the Deity, before the Lord, before the fire, they should not break it. That is most sinful if you break your promise. Otherwise, you should not be coming forward for initiation if you cannot keep your promise.
So the first-class, second-class, third-class, fourth-class men are considered according to the guṇa and karma, quality and work. That is described in the Śrīmad-Bhāg . . . er . . . Bhagavad-gītā, cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ (BG 4.13). That is the system; not by force one can become first class. According to the śāstra, who is first class, who is second class, who is third class, who is fourth class, who is fifth class, that is to be understood. Guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ. So when one becomes above the guṇas by devotional service . . . guṇa means quality. A devotee is on the position of first-class human society because a devotee is engaged in devotional service. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā:
- māṁ ca 'vyabhicāreṇa
- bhakti-yogena sevate
- sa guṇān samatītyaitān
- brahma-bhūyāya kalpate
- (BG 14.26)
"Anyone who is engaged cent percent without any motive in the devotional service of the Lord," māṁ ca 'vyabhicāreṇa bhakti-yogena, bhakti-yogena, avyabhicāreṇa, "without any adulteration, such person," māṁ ca 'vyabhicāreṇa bhakti-yogena sevate, sa guṇān . . . guṇān means these material qualities: goodness, passion and ignorance. These are guṇas. Sa guṇān samatītya, samah atītya, "fully transcendental, fully surpassing." Brahma-bhūyāya kalpate: "Then that is the stage of self-realization."