Text 3] Divinity and Divine Service 85
instruct him in the Vedas. The spiritual master accepts only the sincere
inquirer as his disciple and gives him the sacred thread. In this way a man
becomes twice-born, or a dvija. After qualifying as a dvija one may study
the Vedas, and after becoming well versed in the Vedas one becomes a
vipra. A vipra or a qualified brahmana thus realizes the Absolute and
makes further progress in spiritual life until he reaches the Vaisnava stage.
The Vaisnava stage is the postgraduate status of a brahmana. A progressive
brahmana must necessarily become a Vaisnava, for a Vaisnava is a self-
realized, learned brahmana.

Srila Sukadeva Gosvami was a Vaisnava from the beginning; therefore,
there was no need for him to undergo all the processes of the varnasrama
institution. Ultimately the aim of varnasrama-dharma is to turn a crude
man into a pure devotee of the Lord, or a Vaisnava. Anyone, therefore,
who becomes a Vaisnava accepted by the first-class Vaisnava or uttama-
adhikari V aisnava is already considered a brahmana, regardless of his birth
or past deeds. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted this principle and recog-
nized Srila Haridasa Thakur as the dcdrya of the holy name, although
Thakur Haridasa appeared in a Mohammedan family. In conclusion, Srila
Sukadeva Gosvami was born a Vaisnava, and, therefore, brahminism was
included in him. He did not have to undergo any ceremonies. Any low
born person—be he a Kirata, Hiina, Andhra, Pulinda, Pulkhasa, Abhira,
Sumbha, Yavana, Khasddi or even lower—can be delivered to the
highest transcendental position by the mercy of Vaisnavas. Srila Sukadeva
Gosvami was the spiritual master of Sri Sita Gosvami, and therefore he
offers his respectful obeisances unto him before he begins his answers to
the questions of the sages at Naimisaranya.

TEXT 3
Ft ATMA AS TAAT-
weqreacraatadttat TAISHTY |
AAT MISE TTT
Ff AA TTTATH TR AAAI 3 I
yah svanubhavam akhila-sruti-saram ekam
adhyatma-dipam atititirsatam tamo’ndham
samsdrinam karunayaha purana-guh yam
tam vydsa-siinum upayami gurum muninam
