198 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 5

human beings are supposed to be the best, but they are few. Of these
small numbers of human beings, there are many low-class human beings
like mlecchas, Pulindas, bauddhas and sabaras. The human being ele-
vated enough to accept the Vedic principles is superior. Among those who
accept the Vedic principles generally known as varndsrama (presently
known as the Hindu system), few actually follow these principles. Of
those who actually follow the Vedic principles, most perform fruitive ac-
tivity or pious activity for elevation to a high position. Manusydnam
sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye: out of many attached to fruitive ac-
tivity, one may be a jridni—that is, one philosophically inclined and
superior to the karmis. Yatatam api siddhdnam kascin mam vetti tat-
tvatah: out of many jfidnis, one may be liberated from material bondage,
and out of many millions of liberated jridnis, one may become a devotee
of Krsna.

TEXT 23
TAM WAR
qeata fam: fea: og |
afrate: sed AaTe-
warty ard a aenfeert 221

na braéhmanais tulaye bhiitam anyat
pasyami viprah kim atah param tu

yasmin nrbhih prahutam sraddhayaham
asnami kamam na tathagni-hotre

na—not; brdhmanaih—with the brahmanas; tulaye—I count as
equal: bhitam—entity; anyat—other; pasyami—I can see; viprah—O
assembled brdhmanas; kim—anything; atah—to the brahmanas;
param—superior; tu—certainly; yasmin—through whom; nrbhih—by
people; prahutam —food offered after ritualistic ceremonies are properly
performed: sraddhaya—with faith and love: aham—I; asnami—eat:
kamam—with full satisfaction, na—not; tathad—in that way: agni-
hotre—in the fire sacrifice.
