Guest guest Posted September 19, 1999 Report Share Posted September 19, 1999 Dear Bimal Krsna Prabhu, _/\o_ > Is it possible for some devotee(s) to please let me know from which > scripture the following shloka comes from: > > janmana jayate sudrah > samskarad bhaved dvijah > veda-pathad bhaved vipro > brahma janati brahmanah I'd recommend looking into Sanskrit dictionaries, dharma-sastras etc. The closest one in Manu-samhita (10.4): Brahmana, the Kshatriya, and the Vaisya castes (varna) are the twice-born ones, but the fourth, the Sudra, has one birth only; there is no fifth (caste). > Also can some one please provide references (besides Bg. 4.13 & SB 7.11.35) > from the scriptures in connection Brahmanas being recognised by guna & karma > and not by janma. from my limited resources: yaviyamsa ekasitirjayanteyah pitur adesakara maha-salina maha-srotriya yajna-silah karma-visuddha brahmana-babhuvuh. In addition to these nineteen sons mentioned above, there were eighty-one younger ones, all born of Rsabhadeva and Jayanti. According to the order of their father, they became well cultured, well behaved, very pure in their activities and expert in Vedic knowledge and the performance of Vedic rituals. Thus they all became perfectly qualified brahmanas. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.4.13) sudre tu yad bhavel laksma dvije tac ca na vidyate na vai sudro bhavec chudro brahmano na ca brahmanah "If the characteristics of a brahmana are found in a sudra and not in a brahmana, that sudra should not be known as a sudra, and that brahmana should not be known as a brahmana." (Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Chapter 180) sudra-yonau hi jatasya sad-gunanupatisthatah arjave vartamanasya brahmanyam abhijayate "If a person born in a sudra family has developed the qualities of a brahmana, such as satya [truthfulness], sama [peacefulness], dama [self-control] and arjava [simplicity], he attains the exalted position of a brahmana." (Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Chapter 211) sthito brahmana-dharmena brahman yam upajiva ti ksatriyo vatha vaisyo va brahma-bhuyah sa gacchati ebhis tu karmabhir devi subhair acaritais tatha sudro brahmanatam yati vaisyah ksatriyatam vrajet na yonir napi samskaro na srutam na ca santatih karanani dvijatvasya vrttam eva tu karanam "If one is factually situated in the occupation of a brahmana, he must be considered a brahmana, even if born of a ksatriya or vaisya family. "O Devi, if even a sudra is actually engaged in the occupation and pure behavior of a brahmana, he becomes a brahmana. Moreover, a vaisya can become a ksatriya. "Therefore, neither the source of one's birth, nor his reformation, nor his education is the criterion of a brahmana. The vrtta, or occupation, is the real standard by which one is known as a brahmana." (Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva, Chapter 163) Five brahmins, though as learned as Brhaspati, are never honoured: the impatient, the harsh, the haughty, the ill-clad and the uninvited. (Garuda Purana 1.115.22) tesam agama margena suddhir na srauta vartmana In Kali-yuga, whatever brahmanas take birth are equal to sudras and are equally impure. According to scriptural injunctions, they are purified, but in Kali-yuga, they cannot be purified by chanting or learning Vedic mantras. (Hari Bhakti Vilasa 5.5, from Visnu Yamala) (He who has not been initiated) should not pronounce (any) Vedic text excepting (those required for) the performance of funeral rites, since he is on a level with a Sudra before his birth from the Veda. (Manu-samhita 2.172) Canakya's Niti-sastra, ch. 11: 13. The brahmana who is engrossed in worldly affairs, brings up cows and is engaged in trade is really called a vaishya. 14. The brahmana who deals in lac-die, articles, oil, indigo, silken cloth, honey, clarified butter, liquor, and flesh is called a shudra. 15. The brahmana who thwarts the doings of others, who is hypocritical, selfish, and a deceitful hater, and while speaking mildly cherishes cruelty in his heart, is called a cat. 16. The brahmana who destroys a pond, a well, a tank, a garden and a temple is called a mleccha. 17. The brahmana who steals the property of the Deities and the spiritual preceptor, who cohabits with another's wife, and who maintains himself by eating anything and everything is called a chandala. Regarding the position of Vaisnava vs. brahmana and other varnas (and also outcastes) please refer to the file vaisvarn.txt in this file area. ys bh. Jan PS: I also look for an exact reference for the "kalau sudra sambhavah" verse, allegedly from Skanda Purana. Anyone has Sk.P. with index? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.