54 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 6, Ch. 7
na garhayanti hy arthesu
yavisthanghry-abhivadanam
chandobhyo ’nyatra na brahman
vayo jyaisthyasya karanam

na—not; garhayanti—forbid; hi—indeed; arthesu—in acquiring in-
terests: yavistha-arghri—at the lotus feet of a junior; abhivadanam—
offering obeisances; chandobhyah—the Vedic mantras; anyatra—apart
from; na—not; brahman—O brahmana; vayah—age; jyaisthyasya—
of seniority; kdranam—the cause.

TRANSLATION

The demigods continued: Do not fear criticism for being
younger than us. Such etiquette does not apply in regard to Vedic
mantras. Except in relationship to Vedic mantras, seniority is
determined by age, but one may offer respectful obeisances even
to a younger person who is advanced in chanting Vedic mantras.
Therefore although you are junior in relationship to us, you may
become our priest without hesitation.

PURPORT

It is said, vrddhatvam vayasa vind: one may be senior without being
advanced in age. Even if one is not old, one gains seniority if he is senior
in knowledge. Visvaripa was junior in relationship to the demigods be-
cause he was their nephew, but the demigods wanted to accept him as
their priest, and therefore he would have to accept obeisances from
them. The demigods explained that this should not be a cause for hesita-
tion: he could become their priest because he was advanced in Vedic
knowledge. Similarly. Canakya Pandita advises, nicdd apy uttamam
Jfidnam: one may accept education from a member of a lower social
order. The brahmanas, the members of the most elevated varna, are
teachers, but a person in a lower family, such as a family of ksatriyas,
vaisyas or even Stidras, may be accepted as a teacher if he has knowledge.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu approved of this when He expressed this opin-
ion before Ramananda Raya (Ce. Madhya 8.128):

kiba vipra, kiba nyasi, siidra kene naya
yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei ‘guru’ haya
