872 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 1, Ch. 16

and the scientific system of varna and asrama orders of life. Distinction of
human life and animal life therefore begins with the scientific system of
varna and asrama, guided by the experience of the sages in relation with
the demigods, gradually rising to the summit of reestablishing our eternal
relation with the Supreme Absolute Truth Personality of Godhead Lord
Sri Krsna. When God-made varnasrama-dharma, which is strictly meant for
developing animal consciousness into human consciousness and human
consciousness into godly consciousness, is broken by advancement of fool-
ishness, the whole system of peaceful and progressive life is at once dis-
turbed. In the age of Kali, the first attack of the venomous snake is struck
against the God-made varnasrama-dharma, and thus a person properly
qualified as a brahmana is called a siidra, and a Sidra by qualification
is passing as a brahmana, all on a false birthright claim. To become a
brahmana by a birthright claim is not at all bona fide, although it may be
a fulfillment of one of the conditions. But the real qualification of a
brahmana is to control the mind and the senses, and to cultivate tolerance,
simplicity, cleanliness, knowledge, truthfulness, devotion and faith in the
Vedic wisdom. In the present age, consideration of the necessary qualifi-
cation is being neglected, and the false birthright claim is being supported
even by a popular, sophisticated poet and author of Ramacarita-manas.
This is all due to the influence of the age of Kali. Thus mother earth,
represented as a cow, was lamenting the regrettable condition.

TEXTS 32-33

meee ag feed TEaTRATY-
PATA: TAA ATTA: |

a at: aaraataecad fers
TAUATTAS AAASATAT 132
faint: AAPA |

TAT SISA FA Fraga
WAT A At ATACAAM Art 113311

brahmadayo bahutitharn yad-apanga-moksa-
kamas-tapah samacaran bhagavat-prapannah

sd Srih sva-vasam aravinda-vanam vihaya
yat-pada-saubhagam alam bhajate ’nurakta
