Text 32]
Explanation of Devotional Service
1265
TRANSLATION
Among human beings, the society which is divided according to quality and work is best, and in that society, the intelligent men, who are designated as  brāhmaṇas , are best. Among the  brāhmaṇas , one who has studied the Vedas is the best, and among the  brāhmaṇas  who have studied the Vedas, one who knows the actual purport of Veda is the best.
PURPORT
The system of four classifications in human society according to quality and work is very scientific. This system of  brāhmaṇas ,  kṣatriyas ,  vaiśyas , and  śūdras  has now become vitiated as the present caste system in India, but it appears that this system has been current a very long time, since it is mentioned in  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam  and  Bhagavad-gītā . Unless there is such a division of the social orders in human society, including the intelligent class, the martial class, the mercantile class and the laborer class, then there is always confusion as to who is to work for what purpose. A person trained to the stage of understanding the Absolute Truth is a  brāhmaṇa , and when such a  brāhmaṇa  is  veda-jña , then he understands the purpose of  Veda . The purpose of  Veda  is to understand the Absolute. One who understands the Absolute Truth in three phases, namely Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān, and who understands the term Bhagavān to mean the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is considered to be the best of the  brāhmaṇas , or a Vaiṣṇava.
TEXT 32
अर्थशास्त्रंशयच्छेत्ता ततः श्रेयान् स्वकर्मकृत् । मुक्तसङ्गस्ततो भूयानदोग्धा धर्ममात्मनः ॥३२॥
artha-jñāt saṁśaya-cchettā   tataḥ śreyān sva-karma-kṛt   mukta-saṅgas tato bhūyān   adogdhā dharmam ātmanaḥ
artha-jñāt —than one who knows the purpose of the  Vedas ;  saṁśaya —doubts;  chettā —one who cuts off;  tataḥ —than him;  śreyān —better;  sva-karma —his prescribed duties;  kṛt —one who executes;  mukta-saṅgah —liberated from material association;  tataḥ —than him;  bhūyān —better;