FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.14.41

पुरुषेष्वपि राजेन्द्र सुपात्रं ब्राह्मणं विदु: । तपसा विद्यया तुष्टय‍ा धत्ते वेदं हरेस्तनुम् ॥ ४१ ॥
puruṣeṣv api rājendra
[purusheshv api raajendra]
supātraṁ brāhmaṇaṁ viduḥ
[supaatram braahmanam viduh]
tapasā vidyayā tuṣṭyā
[tapasaa vidyayaa tushtyaa]
dhatte vedaṁ hares tanum
[dhatte vedam hares tanum]
puruṣeṣu — among persons api — indeed rāja-indra — O best of kings su-pātram — the best person brāhmaṇam — the qualified brāhmaṇa viduḥ — one should know tapasā — due to austerity vidyayā — education tuṣṭyā — and satisfaction dhatte — he assumes vedam — the transcendental knowledge known as Veda hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead tanum — body, or representation.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
puruṣeṣv api rājendra
puruṣeṣu
among persons
api
indeed
rāja-indra
O best of kings
supātraṁ brāhmaṇaṁ viduḥ
su-pātram
the best person
brāhmaṇam
the qualified brāhmaṇa
viduḥ
one should know
tapasā vidyayā tuṣṭyā
tapasā
due to austerity
vidyayā
education
tuṣṭyā
and satisfaction
dhatte vedaṁ hares tanum
dhatte
he assumes
vedam
the transcendental knowledge known as Veda
hareḥ
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
tanum
body, or representation.
My dear King, of all persons a qualified brāhmaṇa must be accepted as the best within this material world because such a brāhmaṇa, by practicing austerity, Vedic studies and satisfaction, becomes the counterpart body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

From the Vedas we learn that the Personality of Godhead is the Supreme Person. Every living entity is an individual person, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is the Supreme Person. A brāhmaṇa who is well versed in Vedic knowledge and fully conversant with transcendental matters becomes a representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore one should worship such a brāhmaṇa or Vaiṣṇava. A Vaiṣṇava is superior to a brāhmaṇa because whereas a brāhmaṇa knows that he is Brahman, not matter, a Vaiṣṇava knows that he is not only Brahman but also an eternal servant of the Supreme Brahman. Therefore, worship of a Vaiṣṇava is superior to worship of the Deity in the temple. Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says, sākṣād dharitvena samasta-śāstraiḥ: in all the scriptures the spiritual master, who is the best of the brāhmaṇas, the best of the Vaiṣṇavas, is considered to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This does not mean, however, that the Vaiṣṇava thinks himself God, for this is blasphemous. Although a brāhmaṇa or Vaiṣṇava is worshiped as being as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, such a devotee always remains a faithful servant of the Lord and never tries to enjoy the prestige that might accrue to him from being the Supreme Lord’s representative.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O best of kings! Among all persons, a brāhmaṇa must be accepted as the best within this material world because such a brāhmaṇa, by austerity, knowledge and satisfaction, possesses the Vedas, which are the body of the Supreme Lord. Among humans those with austerity and other good qualities are the best. The brāhmaṇa possesses the Vedas, which indicate the Lord or Brahman, by his knowledge. The word brāhmaṇa means a person who studies and knows the Veda.
A qualified brāhmaṇa — by austerity, Vedic study, and contentment — is recognized as best in the material world, becoming a 'counterpart body' of the Supreme Lord. Real brāhmaṇa-hood is a transformation, not a credential.
Reflection Questions
  • Which brāhmaṇical quality — austerity, study, contentment — most needs cultivation in you?
  • Whose example shows you what it looks like to become a 'counterpart body' of the Lord?
📝 My note

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