112 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 1
PURPORT
Although the two brothers, Ripa and Sanatana (at that time Dabira Khadsa
and Sakara Mallika), presented themselves as being born in a low family, they
nonetheless belonged to a most respectable brahmana family that was
originally from Karnata. Thus they actually belonged to the brahmana caste.
Unfortunately, because of being associated with the Mohammedan govern-
mental service, their customs and behavior resembled those of the Moham-
medans. Therefore they presented themselves as nica-jati. The word jati
means birth. According to sastra, there are three kinds of birth. The first birth
is from the womb of the mother, the second birth is the acceptance of the
reformatory method, and the third birth is acceptance by the spiritual master
(initiation). One becomes abominable by adopting an abominable profession
or by associating with people who are naturally abominable. Ripa and
Sanatana, as Dabira Khasa and Sakara Mallika, associated with Moham-
medans, who were naturally opposed to brahminical culture and cow protec-
tion. In Srimad-Bhagavatam (Seventh Canto) it is stated that every person
belongs to a certain classification. A person is identifiable by the special
symptoms mentioned in the sdstras. By one’s symptoms, one is known to
belong to a certain caste. Both Dabira Khasa and Sakara Mallika belonged to
the brahmana caste, but because they were employed by Mohammedans,
their original habits degenerated into those of the Mohammedan community.
Since the symptoms of brahminical culture were almost nil, they identified
themselves with the lowest caste. In the Bhakti-ratndkara it is clearly stated
that because Sakara Mallika and Dabira Khasa associated with lower-class
men, they introduced themselves as belonging to the lower classes. Actually,
however, they had been born in respectable brahmana families.
TEXT 190
NECA APS AAT aTAAte) BFR |
HFIRCIR ET CH FH SOA AHCASA del
mat-tulyo nasti papatma
naparadhi ca kascana
parihare ‘pi lajja me
kim bruve purusottama
SYNONYMS
mat—me; tulyah—like; na asti—there is not; papa-atma—sinful man; na

aparadhi—nor an offender; ca—also; kascana—anyone; parihare—in beg-
