312
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta
[Ādi-līlā, Ch. 17]
TRANSLATION
On another day an astrologer came who was supposed to know everything—past, present and future. Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu received him with all honor and put this question before him.
PURPORT
Brāhmaṇas  generally used to become astrologers, Āyur-vedic physicians, teachers and priests. Although highly learned and respectable, such  brāhmaṇas  went from door to door to distribute their knowledge. A  brāhmaṇa  would first go to a householder's home to give information about the functions to be performed on a particular  tithi , or date, but if there were sickness in the family, the family members would consult the  brāhmaṇa  as a physician, and the  brāhmaṇa  would give instruction and some medicine. Often, since the  brāhmaṇas  were expert in astrology, people would also be greatly inquisitive about their past, present and future.
Although the  brāhmaṇa  appeared at Lord Caitanya's house as a beggar, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu received him with great respect because he was a qualified  brāhmaṇa  who knew the astrological science perfectly. Although  brāhmaṇas  would go door to door just like beggars, they were honored as very respectable guests. This was the system in Hindu society five hundred years ago, during the time of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This system was current even one hundred years ago; even fifty or sixty years ago, when we were children, such  brāhmaṇas  would visit householders like humble beggars, and people would derive great benefit from the mercy of such  brāhmaṇas . The greatest benefit was that a householder could save a great deal of money from being spent on doctor bills because the  brāhmaṇas , aside from explaining the past, present and future, could ordinarily cure all kinds of diseases simply by giving instructions and some medicine. Thus no one was benefit of the benefit of a first-class physician, astrologer and priest. The important members of ISKCON should give careful attention to our Dallas school, where children are being taught Sanskrit and English to become perfect  brāhmaṇas . If they are actually trained as perfect  brāhmaṇas , they can save society from rogues and ruffians; indeed, people can live happily under the protection of qualified  brāhmaṇas . Therefore  Bhagavad-gītā  (4.13) gives special stress to the division of society ( cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ ). Unfortunately some people are now claiming to be  brāhmaṇas  simply by birthright, with no qualifications. Therefore the entire society is in chaos.
TEXT 104
কে আছিলু আমি পূর্বজন্মে কহ গণি'।
গণিতে লাগিলা সর্বজ্ঞ প্রভুবাক্য শুনি' ॥ ১০৪ ॥
ke āchiluṅ āmi pūrva-janme kaha gaṇi' gaṇite lāgilā sarva-jña prabhu-vākya śuni'
SYNONYMS
ke āchiluṅ āmi —who I was;  pūrva-janme —in My previous birth;  kaha —please say;  gaṇi —by your astrological calculation;  gaṇite —to calculate;  lāgilā —began;  sarva-jña —