6
TEACHINGS OF QUEEN KUNTĪ
the part of an innocent woman. Women in general are unable to speculate like philosophers, but they are blessed by the Lord because they believe at once in the superiority and almightiness of the Lord, and thus they offer obeisances without reservation. The Lord is so kind that He does not show special favor only to one who is a great philosopher. He knows the sincerity of purpose. For this reason only, women generally assemble in great number in any sort of religious function. In every country and in every sect of religion it appears that the women are more interested than the men. This simplicity of acceptance of the Lord's authority is more effective than showy insincere religious fervor.
Kuntīdevī prayed to the Lord very submissively, and this is the symptom of a Vaiṣṇava. The Lord, Kṛṣṇa, had come to Kuntīdevī to offer respect to her by taking the dust of her feet. Because Kṛṣṇa considered Kuntīdevī His aunt, He used to touch her feet. But although Kuntīdevī, a great devotee, was in such an exalted position, practically on the level of Yaśodāmayī, Kṛṣṇa's mother, she was so submissive that she prayed, "Kṛṣṇa, You are meant to be understood by the  paramahaṁsas , the most advanced transcendentalists, but I am a woman, so how can I see You?"
According to the Vedic system, there are four social divisions ( cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ ). The highest members of the social order are the  brāhmaṇas , those who are intelligent, and then come the  kṣatriyas  (military men and administrators), the  vaiśyas  (farmers and businessmen), and finally the  śūdras  (ordinary laborers). One's place in this system is determined by one's qualities and work ( guṇa-karma ). The  Bhagavad-gītā  mentions  striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrāḥ , and the  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam  speaks of  strī-śūdra-dvijabandhūnām . According to these references women,  śūdras , and  dvija-bandhus  are considered to belong to the same category. The word  dvija-bandhu  refers to one who is born in an exalted  brāhmaṇa  or  kṣatriya  family but who has no qualifications of his own. One's social standing, according to the Vedic system, is determined by one's qualifications. This is very practical. Suppose a man is born the son of a high-court judge. This does not mean that he himself is also a high-court judge. Yet because one happens to take birth in a  brāhmaṇa  family, even if he has no qualifications and is rascal number one, he claims to be a  brāhmaṇa , and although his qualifications are less than those of a  śūdra , people accept him as a  brāhmaṇa . This has caused the downfall of the Vedic civilization. The  brāhmaṇas  in India are sometimes very much against my movement because I train and accept  brāhmaṇas  from Europe and America. But we do not care about their arguments, nor will any other reasonable man. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said: