192 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 14

TRANSLATION

My dear King, of all persons a qualified brahmana must be ac-
cepted as the best within this material world because such a
brahmana, by practicing austerity, Vedic studies and satisfaction,
becomes the counterpart body of the Supreme Personality of God-
head.

PURPORT
From the Vedas we learn that the Personality of Godhead is the

Supreme Person. Every living entity is an individual person, and the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is the Supreme Person. A
brahmana who is well versed in Vedic knowledge and fully conversant
with transcendental matters becomes a representative of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, and therefore one should worship such a
braéhmana or Vaisnava. A Vaisnava is superior to a brahmana because
whereas a bradhmana knows that he is Brahman, not matter, a Vaisnava
knows that he is not only Brahman but also an eternal servant of the
Supreme Brahman. Therefore, worship of a Vaisnava is superior to wor-
ship of the Deity in the temple. Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says,
saksad dharitvena samasta-sastraih: in all the scriptures the spiritual
master, who is the best of the brahmanas, the best of the Vaisnavas, is
considered to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This
does not mean, however, that the Vaisnava thinks himself God, for this is

- blasphemous. Although a brahmana or Vaisnava is worshiped as being as
good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, such a devotee always
remains a faithful servant of the Lord and never tries to enjoy the
prestige that might accrue to him from being the Supreme Lord’s repre-
sentative.

TEXT 42

ATA TAM THFMN TAI: |
Gat: Wea fretat Sad meq Nel
nanv asya brahmand rajan
krsnasya jagad-dtmanah
punantah pada-rajasa

tri-lokim daivatam mahat
