860 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 22

chandomayas tapo-vidya-
yoga-yuktan alampatan

manuh—Manu; uvaca—said; brahma—Lord Brahma; asrjat—created; sva-
mukhatah—from his face; yusman—you (brahmanas); atma-paripsaya—to
protect himself by expanding; chandah-mayah—the form of the Vedas;
tapah-vid ya-yoga-yuktan—full of austerity, knowledge and mystic power;
alampatan—averse to sense gratification.

TRANSLATION

Manu replied: To expand himself in Vedic knowledge, Lord Brahma,
the personified Veda, from his face created you, the brahmanas, who are
full of austerity, knowledge and mystic power and are averse to sense
gratification.

PURPORT

The purpose of the Vedas is to propagate the transcendental knowledge
of the Absolute Truth. The brahmanas were created from the mouth of
the Supreme Person, and therefore they are meant to spread the knowledge
of the Vedas in order to spread the glories of the Lord. In Bhagavad-gita
also Lord Krsna says that all the Vedas are meant for understanding the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is especially mentioned here (yoga-
yuktan alampatan) that brahmanas are full of mystic power and are
completely averse to sense gratification. Actually there are two kinds of
occupations. One occupation, in the material world, is sense gratification,
and the other occupation is spiritual activity—to satisfy the Lord by His
glorification. Those who engage in sense gratification are called demons,
and those who spread the glorification of the Lord or satisfy the transcen-
dental senses of the Lord are called demigods. It is specifically mentioned
here that the brahmanas are created from the face of the cosmic
personality or virata-purusa; similarly the ksatriyas are said to be created
from His arms, the vaisyas are created from His waist, and the sudras are
created from His legs. Brahmanas are especially meant for austerity,
learning and knowledge and are averse to all kinds of sense gratification.

TEXT 3

FAMTATIAA A ATAAATY |
wad aa we aay AAA II 311
