Text 330] Explanations of the Atmarama Verse 269

brahminical family and is very expert in performing sacrifices, he cannot be ac-
cepted as a guru if he is not a strict Vaisnava. A guru is a brahmana by qualifica-
tion, and he can turn others into brahmanas according to the Sastric principles and
brahminical qualifications. Brahmanism is not a question of heredity. In Srimad-
Bhagavatam (7.32.11) Sri Narada Muni tells Maharaja Yudhisthira what a brahmana
is. He states that if brahminical qualifications are observed in ksatriyas, vaisyas or
even stdras, one should accept them as brahmanas. In this regard, Srila Sridhara
Svami has commented: samdadibhir eva brahmandadi-vyavaharo mukhyah, na jati-
matradity 4ha—yasyeti. yad yadi anyatra varnantare ‘pi drsyeta, tad-varnantararmm
tenaiva laksana-nimittenaiva varnena vinirdiset, na tu jati-nimittenety arthah.

There is a similar statement made by Nilakantha, the commentator on
Mahabharata:

sudro ‘pi Samady-upeto braéhmana eva
brahmano ‘pi kamady-upetah sddra eva

“Although one may be born in a sddra family, if he is endowed with the brahmini-
cal qualities beginning with sama [control of the mind], he is to be accepted as a
brahmana. Although one may be born in a brahmana family, if he is endowed with
the qualities beginning with kama [lust], he is to be considered a stidra.”” No one
should present himself as a brahmana simply on the basis of being born in a
brahminical family. One must be qualified by the brahminical qualities mentioned
in the sastras, particularly Bhagavad-gita:

samo damas tapah saucarm
ksantir arjavam eva ca

jfidnam vijfidnam astikyam
brahma-karma svabhava-jam

“Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom,
knowledge and religiousness—these are the qualities by which the brahmanas
work.” (Bg. 18.42)

Unless one is qualified with all these attributes, he cannot be accepted as a
brahmana. It is not a question of simply taking birth in a brahmana family. In this
regard, Stila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura remarks that Narottama dasa
Thakura and Syamananda Gosvami, although not born in brahmana families, are
accepted as bona fide spiritual masters because they were brahmanas by
qualification. Personalities like Sri Ganga-narayana, Ramakrsna and many others,
who were actually born in brahmana families, accepted Narottama dasa Thakura
and Syamananda Gosvami as their spiritual masters.

The mahd-bhagavata is one who decorates his body with tilaka and whose
name indicates him to be a servant of Krsna by the word dasa. He is also initiated
