162 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila, Ch. 8
person cannot understand the science of Krsna. A proud person is deceived in
transcendental life and despite attaining a human form will again glide into hellish
conditions. By His personal example, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu explains how one
should be submissive and humble before a Vaisnava, even though one may be
situated on a high platform. Such is the teaching of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as
the acarya of the world, the supreme spiritual master and teacher.
TEXT 128
fea feel, feat ary, Iu CATA Aa
CAS FHOUIGl, cme “@w’ 2a sae I
kiba vipra, kiba nyasi, sidra kene naya
yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei ‘guru’ haya
SYNONYMS

kiba—whether; vipra—a brahmana; kibé—whether; nyasi—a_ sannyasi;”
stidra—a stidra; kene—why; naya—not; yei—anyone who; krsna-tattva-vetta —a
knower of the science of Krsna; sei—that person; guru—the spiritual master;
haya—is.

TRANSLATION

“Whether one is a brahmana, a sannyasi or a Sidra—regardless of what he

is—he can become a spiritual master if he knows the science of Krsna.”
PURPORT

This verse is very important to the Krsna consciousness movement. In his
Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains that one should not
think that because Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was born a brahmana and was situ-
ated in the topmost spiritual order as a sannydsi, it was improper for Him to
receive instructions from Srila Rimananda Raya, who belonged to the stra caste.
To clarify this matter, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu informed Ramananda Raya that
knowledge of Krsna consciousness is more important than caste. In the system of
varnasrama-dharma there are various duties for the brahmanas, ksatriyas and
stidras. Actually the braéhmana is supposed to be the spiritual master of all other
varnas or sects, but as far as Krsna consciousness is concerned, everyone is ca-
pable of becoming a spiritual master because knowledge in Krsna consciousness is
on the platform of the spirit soul. To spread Krsna consciousness, one need only
be cognizant of the science of the spirit soul. It does not matter whether one is a
brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, sannydasi, grhastha or whatever. If one simply
understands this science, he can become a spiritual master.
