Delivering the Wives of the Brahmanas 159
elevated, are ignorant, foolish persons. All their activities are useless
because they do not know the purpose of the Vedas, as it is explained in
the Bhagavad-gita: to understand Krsna. In spite of their advancement in
Vedic knowledge and rituals, they do not understand Krsna; therefore
their knowledge of the Vedas is superficial. Lord Caitanya, therefore,
save His valuable opinion that a person does not have to be born in a
brahmana family; if he knows Krsna or the science of Krsna consciousness,
he is more than a brahmana, and he is quite fit to become spiritual master.

There are various details to be observed in the performance of sacrifices,
and they are known collectively as desa. They are as follows: kala means
the time, prthak dravya, the different detailed paraphernalia, mantra,
hymns, tantra, scriptural evidences, agni, fire, rtvij, learned performers of
sacrifices, devatd, the demigods, vajamdna, the performer of the sacrifices,
kratu, the sacrifice itself, and dharma, the procedures. All these are for
satisfying Krsna. It is confirmed that He is the actual enjoyer of all
sacrifices because He is directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead and
the Supreme Absolute Truth, beyond the conception or speculation of
material senses. He is present just like an ordinary human boy. But for
persons who identify themselves with this body, it is very difficult to
understand Him. The brahmanas were very interested in the comforts of
this material body and in elevation to the higher planetary residences
called suarga-vasa. They were therefore completely unable to understand
the position of Krsna.

When the boys saw that the brahmanas would not speak to them, they
became very disappointed. They then returned to Lord Krsna and Balarama
and explained everything that had happened. After hearing their state-
ments, the Supreme Personality began to smile. He told them that they
should not be sorry for being refused by the brahmanas because that is
the way of begging. He convinced them that while one is engaged in
collecting or begging, one should not think that he will be successful
everywhere. He may be unsuccessful in some places, but that should not
be cause for disappointment. Lord Krsna then asked all the boys to go
again, but this time to the wives of those brahmanas engaged in sacrifices.
He also informed them that these wives were great devotees. “They are
always absorbed in thinking of Us. Go there and ask for some food in My
name and the name of Balarama, and | am sure that they will deliver you
as much food as you desire.”

Carrying out Krsna’s order, the boys immediately went to the wives of
the brahmanas. They found the wives sitting inside their house. They
were very beautifully decorated with ornaments. After offering them all
