FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.2.26

सर्वभक्षा द्विजा वृत्त्यै धृतविद्यातपोव्रता: । वित्तदेहेन्द्रियारामा याचका विचरन्त्विह ॥ २६ ॥
sarva-bhakṣā dvijā vṛttyai
[sarva-bhakshaa dvijaa vrittyai]
dhṛta-vidyā-tapo-vratāḥ
[dhrita-vidyaa-tapo-vrataah]
vitta-dehendriyārāmā
[vitta-dehendriyaaraamaa]
yācakā vicarantv iha
[yaachakaa vicharantv iha]
sarva-bhakṣāḥ — eating everything dvijāḥ — the brāhmaṇas vṛttyai — for maintaining the body dhṛta-vidyā — having taken to education tapaḥ — austerity vratāḥ — and vows vitta — money deha — the body indriya — the senses ārāmāḥ — the satisfaction yācakāḥ — as beggars vicarantu — let them wander iha — here.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sarva-bhakṣā dvijā vṛttyai
sarva-bhakṣāḥ
eating everything
dvijāḥ
the brāhmaṇas
vṛttyai
for maintaining the body
dhṛta-vidyā-tapo-vratāḥ
dhṛta-vidyā
having taken to education
tapaḥ
austerity
vratāḥ
and vows
vitta-dehendriyārāmā
vitta
money
deha
the body
indriya
the senses
ārāmāḥ
the satisfaction
yācakā vicarantv iha
yācakāḥ
as beggars
vicarantu
let them wander
iha
here.
These brāhmaṇas take to education, austerity and vows only for the purpose of maintaining the body. They shall be devoid of discrimination between what to eat and what not to eat. They will acquire money, begging from door to door, simply for the satisfaction of the body.

The third curse inflicted by Nandīśvara on the brāhmaṇas who supported Dakṣa is completely functioning in the Age of Kali. The so-called brāhmaṇas are no longer interested in understanding the nature of the Supreme Brahman, although a brāhmaṇa means one who has attained knowledge about Brahman. In the Vedānta-sūtra also it is stated, athāto brahma-jijñāsā: this human form of life is meant for realization of the Supreme Brahman, the Absolute Truth, or, in other words, human life is meant for one’s elevation to the post of a brāhmaṇa. Unfortunately the modern brāhmaṇas, or so-called brāhmaṇas who come in originally brahminical families, have left their own occupational duties, but they do not allow others to occupy the posts of brāhmaṇas. The qualifications for brāhmaṇas are described in the scriptures, in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā and all other Vedic literatures. Brāhmaṇa is not a hereditary title or position. If someone from a non- brāhmaṇa family (for example, one born in a family of śūdras ) tries to become a brāhmaṇa by being properly qualified under the instruction of a bona fide spiritual master, these so-called brāhmaṇas will object. Such brāhmaṇas, having been cursed by Nandīśvara, are actually in a position where they have no discrimination between eatables and noneatables and simply live to maintain the perishable material body and its family. Such fallen conditioned souls are not worthy to be called brāhmaṇas, but in Kali-yuga they claim to be brāhmaṇas, and if a person actually tries to attain the brahminical qualifications, they try to hinder his progress. This is the situation in the present age. Caitanya Mahāprabhu condemned this principle very strongly. During His conversation with Rāmānanda Rāya, He said that regardless of whether a person is born in a brāhmaṇa family or śūdra family, regardless of whether he is a householder or a sannyāsī, if he knows the science of Kṛṣṇa he must be a spiritual master. Caitanya Mahāprabhu had many so-called śūdra disciples, like Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Rāmānanda Rāya. Even the Gosvāmīs, who were principal students of Lord Caitanya, were also ostracized from brāhmaṇa society, but Caitanya Mahāprabhu, by His grace, made them first-class Vaiṣṇavas.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Let the brāhmaṇas who eat anything and have taken vows of knowledge and austerity for maintaining the body, and who enjoy wealth, body and senses, wander about the earth as beggars. They will lose discrimination in what should be eaten and what should not be eaten. This is the third curse of the brāhmaṇas. They will take vows only for maintaining their bodies. This is the fourth curse. They will enjoy wealth, body and sense. That is the fifth curse. They will beg. That is the sixth curse.
Brāhmaṇas who study only to maintain the body lose discrimination about food and beg door-to-door for satisfaction — when learning serves bodily comfort alone, dignity erodes. Let your study serve the soul, or risk degradation.
Reflection Questions
  • Whom am I studying to please — my body, my reputation, or the Lord?
  • Where has my pursuit of comfort already cost me dignity?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 2