A true brahmin

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True Brahminism has been described in various parts by Bhagwan Vyasacharya:

 

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In the Mahabharata:

 

Na yonih na samskarah na shrutam na samnathi karanani dvijatvasya vrttam eva tu

karanam

Not the act of physical birth, nor the performance of the sacraments, not Vedic

learning, nor humility: none of these lead to the twice born state - it is

conduct alone.

 

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Dharmas ca satyam ca damas tapas ca

Amatsaryam hris titiksanasuya

Yajnas ca danam ca dhrtih srutam ca

Vratani vai dvadasa brahmanasya

 

Adherence to dharma.

Adherence to the truth

Control of sense-organs.

Austerity - in body, in mind and speech.

Absence of covetousness

Humility

Non-envy

Forebearance.

Sacrifices - yajna

Charity - Danam.

Adherence to vratas

Committment to Vedic learning.

 

- These are the twelve qualifications for a brahmana. "

 

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satyam danam ksama-silam

anrsyamsam tapo ghrna

drsyante yatra nagendra

sa brahmana iti smrtah

 

One possessed of:

 

Truthfulness,

Charity,

Forgiveness,

Sobriety,

Gentleness,

Austerity and

Lack of hatred

- is called a brahmana. "

 

 

The Bhagavad- gita (18.42), the qualities of a brahmana are as follows —

samo damas tapah saucam

ksantir arjavam eva ca

jnanam vijnanam astikyam

brahma-karma svabhava-jam

 

 

Control of the mind,

Control of the senses,

Austerity,

Purity - both internal and external,

Tolerance,

Honesty, straightforwardness

Knowledge of scriptures,

Wisdom and

Faith in the Vedas

— these are the qualities by which a brahmana is characterized "

 

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In the Srimad Bhagavatam -

samo damas tapah saucam

santosah ksantir arjavam

jnanam dayacyutatmatvam

satyam ca brahma-laksanam

 

" The characteristics of a brahmana are

 

Control of the mind,

Control of the senses,

Austerity - of body,mind and speech

Cleanliness - external and internal,

Contentment,

Forgiveness,

Straightforwardness ,

Knowledge of the scriptures,

Compassion,

Truthfulness, and

Surrender to Lord

 

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