Text 33]
Mahārāja Pṛthu's Going Back Home
1017
who is born in a brahminical family, the  kṣatriya  who is born in a  kṣatriya  family, the  vaiśya  who is born in a  vaiśya  family and the  śūdra  in a  śūdra  family. But whether one is a  brāhmaṇa ,  kṣatriya ,  vaiśya  or  śūdra , he can attain perfection simply by hearing and chanting.
To take birth in a family of  brāhmaṇas  is not the ultimate finishing touch; one must have the power of a  brāhmaṇa , which is called  brahma-tejas . Similarly, taking birth in a royal family is not the all in all; one must possess the power to rule the world. Similarly, taking birth as a  vaiśya  is not all; one must possess hundreds or thousands of animals (specifically cows) and rule over other  vaiśyas  as Nanda Mahārāja did in Vṛndāvana. Nanda Mahārāja was a  vaiśya  who possessed 900,000 cows and ruled over many cowherd men and boys. A person who is born in a  śūdra  family can become greater than a  brāhmaṇa  simply by accepting devotional service and giving aural reception to the pastimes of the Lord and His devotees.
TEXT 33
त्रिः कृत्व इदमाकर्ष्य नरो नार्यवाऽऽहता ।
अप्रजः सुप्रजतमो निर्धनो धनवत्तमः ॥३३॥
triḥ kṛtva idam ākarṇya naro nāry athavādṛtā aprajaḥ su-prajatamo nirdhano dhanavattamaḥ
triḥ—thrice; kṛtvaḥ—repeating; idam—this; ākarṇya—hearing; naraḥ—man; nārī—woman; athavā—or; ādṛtā—in great respect; aprajaḥ—one who has no children; su-prajatamaḥ—surrounded by many children; nirdhanaḥ—without any money; dhanavat—rich; tamaḥ—the greatest.
TRANSLATION
It doesn't matter whether one is a man or woman. Anyone who, with great respect, hears this narration of Mahārāja Pṛthu, will become the father of many children if he is without children, and will become the richest of men if he is without money.
PURPORT
Materialistic persons who are very fond of money and great families worship different demigods to attain their desires, especially Goddess Durgā, Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā. Such materialistic persons are called