FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.16.17

బ్రహ్మణ్యస్య పరం దైవం బ్రాహ్మణా: కిల తే ప్రభో । విప్రాణాం దేవదేవానాం భగవానాత్మదైవతమ్ ॥ ౧౭ ॥
brahmaṇyasya paraṁ daivaṁ
[brahmanyasya param daivam]
brāhmaṇāḥ kila te prabho
[braahmanaah kila te prabho]
viprāṇāṁ deva-devānāṁ
[vipraanaam deva-devaanaam]
bhagavān ātma-daivatam
[bhagavaan aatma-daivatam]
Word-for-word
brahmaṇyasya — of the supreme director of the brahminical culture param — the highest daivam — position brāhmaṇāḥ — the brāhmaṇas kila — for the teaching of others te — Your prabho — O Lord viprāṇām — of the brāhmaṇas deva-devānām — to be worshiped by the demigods bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ātma — the self daivatam — worshipable Deity.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
brahmaṇyasya paraṁ daivaṁ
brahmaṇyasya
of the supreme director of the brahminical culture
param
the highest
daivam
position
brāhmaṇāḥ kila te prabho
brāhmaṇāḥ
the brāhmaṇas
kila
for the teaching of others
te
Your
prabho
O Lord
viprāṇāṁ deva-devānāṁ
viprāṇām
of the brāhmaṇas
deva-devānām
to be worshiped by the demigods
bhagavān ātma-daivatam
bhagavān
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
ātma
the self
daivatam
worshipable Deity.
O Lord, You are the supreme director of the brahminical culture. Your considering the brāhmaṇas to be in the highest position is Your example for teaching others. Actually You are the supreme worshipable Deity, not only for the gods but for the brāhmaṇas also.
Purport

In the Brahma-saṁhitā it is clearly stated that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the cause of all causes. There are undoubtedly many demigods, the chiefs of whom are Brahmā and Śiva. Lord Viṣṇu is the Lord of Brahmā and Śiva, not to speak of the brāhmaṇas in this material world. As mentioned in Bhagavad-gītā, the Supreme Lord is very favorable towards all activities performed according to brahminical culture, or the qualities of control of the senses and mind, cleanliness, forbearance, faith in scripture, and practical and theoretical knowledge. The Lord is the Supersoul of everyone. In Bhagavad-gītā it is said that the Lord is the source of all emanations; thus He is also the source of Brahmā and Śiva.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O Lord! The brāhmaṇas are the supreme deity only because you are fond of brāhmaṇas. You are the supreme deity of the brāhmaṇas, who are worshipped by the devatās. In this verse the Kumāras explain how it is hard to understand the Lord’s words. Only because you are fond of brāhmaṇas do the brāhmaṇas have a high position. They do not have that position naturally. The brāhmaṇas are worshipped by the devatās (deva-devānām), but you are Bhagavān. By nature (ātma-daivatam) you are in a high position. You are actually in the position of the Lord, not the brāhmaṇas. Ātma-daivatam also means without you they are simply dead. So what is the meaning of saying that without service to them your foot dust has no power?
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Source: vedabase.io

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