1266 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 29
adogdha—not executing; dharmam—devotional service; aGtmanah—for
himself.

TRANSLATION

Better than the brahmana who knows the purpose of the Vedas is he
who can dissipate all doubts, and better than him is one who strictly
follows the brahminical principles. Better than him is one who is liberated
from all material contamination, and better than him is a pure devotee
who executes devotional service without expectation of reward.

PURPORT

Artha-jiia-brahmana refers to one who has made a thorough analytical
study of the Absolute Truth and who knows that the Absolute Truth is
realized in three different phases, namely Brahman, Paramatma and
Bhagavan. If someone not only has this knowledge but is able to clear all
doubts if questioned about the Absolute Truth, he is considered better.
Further, there may be a learned brahmana Vaisnava who can explain clearly
and eradicate all doubts, but if he does not follow the Vaisnava principles,
then he is not situated on a higher level. One must be able to clear all
doubts and simultaneously be situated in the brahminical characteristics.
Such a person, who knows the purpose of the Vedic injunctions, who can
employ the principles laid down in the Vedic literatures and who teaches his
disciples in that way, is called anacarya. The position of an acarya is that
he executes devotional service with no desire for elevation to a higher
position of life.

The highest perfectional brahmana is the Vaisnava. A Vaisnava who
knows the science of the Absolute Truth but is not able to preach such
knowledge to others is described as being in the lower stage, one who not
only understands the principles of the science of God but can also preach
is in the second stage, and one who not only can preach but who also sees
everything in the Absolute Truth and the Absolute Truth in everything is
in the highest class of Vaisnavas. It is mentioned here that a Vaisnava is
already a brah mana; in fact, the highest stage of brahminical perfection is
reached when one becomes a Vaisnava.

TEXT 33
TATA TTA S TTT ATT: |
meatier: Gat af dara: |
q Tent ot yanad: TAqTATA MRR
