FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.29.31

ततो वर्णाश्च चत्वारस्तेषां ब्राह्मण उत्तम: । ब्राह्मणेष्वपि वेदज्ञो ह्यर्थज्ञोऽभ्यधिकस्तत: ॥ ३१ ॥
tato varṇāś ca catvāras
[tato varnaash cha chatvaaras]
teṣāṁ brāhmaṇa uttamaḥ
[teshaam braahmana uttamah]
brāhmaṇeṣv api veda-jño
[braahmaneshv api veda-jno]
hy artha-jño ’bhyadhikas tataḥ
[hy artha-jno ’bhyadhikas tatah]
tataḥ — among them varṇāḥ — classes ca — and catvāraḥ — four teṣām — of them brāhmaṇaḥ — a brāhmaṇa uttamaḥ — best brāhmaṇeṣu — among the brāhmaṇas api — moreover veda — the Vedas jñaḥ — one who knows hi — certainly artha — the purpose jñaḥ — one who knows abhyadhikaḥ — better tataḥ — than him.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tato varṇāś ca catvāras
tataḥ
among them
varṇāḥ
classes
ca
and
catvāraḥ
four
teṣāṁ brāhmaṇa uttamaḥ
teṣām
of them
brāhmaṇaḥ
a brāhmaṇa
uttamaḥ
best
brāhmaṇeṣv api veda-jño
brāhmaṇeṣu
among the brāhmaṇas
api
moreover
veda
the Vedas
jñaḥ
one who knows
hy artha-jño ’bhyadhikas tataḥ
hi
certainly
artha
the purpose
jñaḥ
one who knows
abhyadhikaḥ
better
tataḥ
than him.
Among human beings, the society which is divided according to quality and work is best, and in that society, the intelligent men, who are designated as brāhmaṇas, are best. Among the brāhmaṇas, one who has studied the Vedas is the best, and among the brāhmaṇas who have studied the Vedas, one who knows the actual purport of Veda is the best.

The system of four classifications in human society according to quality and work is very scientific. This system of brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras has now become vitiated as the present caste system in India, but it appears that this system has been current a very long time, since it is mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad-gītā. Unless there is such a division of the social orders in human society, including the intelligent class, the martial class, the mercantile class and the laborer class, there is always confusion as to who is to work for what purpose. A person trained to the stage of understanding the Absolute Truth is a brāhmaṇa, and when such a brāhmaṇa is veda jña, he understands the purpose of Veda. The purpose of Veda is to understand the Absolute. One who understands the Absolute Truth in three phases, namely Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān, and who understands the term Bhagavān to mean the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is considered to be the best of the brāhmaṇas, or a Vaiṣṇava.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Among the humans, those within the varṇāśrama are superior. Among the varṇas, the bṛahmaṇas are the best. Among the brāhmaṇas, one who knows the Vedas is superior. Among the knowledgeable brāhmaṇas, one who knows the meaning of the Vedas is superior. Tataḥ means among the humans.
The Lord is named here as the actual proprietor of everything we manage. The verse asks us to relax our grip on what was never ours and let Him hold it again. Its centre of gravity is Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Reflection Questions
  • Whom do you actually address when you pray — a concept, or a person?
  • What would change if you treated one possession this week as belonging to the Lord and on loan to you?
📝 My note

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