196 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 5
demigods; asurebhyah—than the asuras; maghavat-pradhanah—
headed by Indra; daksa-Gdayah—beginning with Daksa; brahma-
sutah—the direct sons of Brahma; tu—then; tesdm—of them;
bhavah—Lord Siva; parah—the best; sah—he (Lord Siva): atha—
moreover: viritica-viryah—producing from Lord Brahma; sah—he
(Brahma); mat-parah—My devotee; aham—I; dvija-deva-devah—a
worshiper of the brdhmanas, or the Lord of the bréhmanas.
TRANSLATION

Of the two energies manifest [spirit and dull matter], beings
possessing living force [vegetables, grass, trees and plants] are
superior to dull matter [stone, earth, etc.]. Superior to nonmoving
plants and vegetables are worms and snakes, which can move.
Superior to worms and snakes are animals that have developed in-
telligence. Superior to animals are human beings, and superior to
human beings are ghosts because they have no material bodies.
Superior to ghosts are the Gandharvas, and superior to them are
the Siddhas. Superior to the Siddhas are the Kinnaras, and
superior to them are the asuras. Superior to the asuras are the
demigods, and of the demigods, Indra, the King of heaven, is
supreme. Superior to Indra are the direct sons of Lord Brahma,
sons like King Daksa, and supreme among Brahmia’s sons is Lord
Siva. Since Lord Siva is the son of Lord Brahma, Brahma is con-
sidered superior, but Brahma is also subordinate to Me, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because I am inclined to the
brahmanas, the brahmanas are best of all.

PURPORT

In this verse the brahmanas are given a position superior to that of the
Supreme Lord. The idea is that the government should be conducted
under the guidance of the brdhmanas. Although Rsabhadeva recom-
mended His eldest son, Bharata, as emperor of the earth, he still had to
follow the instructions of the braéhmanas in order to govern the world
perfectly. The Lord is worshiped as brahmanya-deva. The Lord is very
fond of devotees, or braéhmanas. This does not refer to so-called caste
brahmanas, but to qualified brdhmanas. A brdhmana should be
