4 Srimad-Bhagavatam | Canto 4, Ch, 1

prajapatih—one who is entrusted to beget children; sah—he; bhagavan—
the most opulent; rucih—the great sage Ruci; tasyam—in her; ajijanat—gave
birth; mithunam—couple; brahma-varcasvi—very much spiritually powerful ;
paramena—with great strength; samadhina—in trance.

TRANSLATION

Ruci, who was very powerful in his brahminical qualifications and was
appointed one of the progenitors of the living entities, begot one son and
one daughter by his wife, Akiti.

PURPORT

The word brahma-varcasvi is very significant. Ruci was a brahmana, and
he executed the brahminical duties very rigidly. As stated in Bhagavad-
gilda, the brahminical qualifications are control of the senses, control of the
mind, cleanliness within and without, development of spiritual and
material knowledge, simplicity, truthfulness, faith in the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, etc. There are many qualities which indicate a
brahminical personality, and it is understood that Ruci followed all the
brahminical principles rigidly. Therefore he is specifically mentioned as
brahma-varcasvi. One who is born of a brahmana father but does not act
as a brahmana is called, in Vedic language, a brahma-bandhu, and is
calculated to be on the level of siidras and women. Thus in the Bhagavatam
we find that Mahabharata was specifically compiled by Vyasadeva for
stri-siidra-brahma-bandhu. Stri means women, siidra means the lower class
of civilized human society, and brahma-bandhu means persons who are
born in the families of brahmanas but do not follow the rules and
regulations carefully. All of these three classes are called less intelligent;
they have no access to the study of the Vedas, which are specifically
meant for persons who have acquired the brahminical qualifications. This
restriction is not based upon any sectarian distinction but upon qualifica-
tion. The Vedic literatures cannot be understood unless one has developed
the brahminical qualifications. It is regrettable, therefore, that persons
who have no brahminical qualifications and have never been trained under
a bona fide spiritual master nevertheless comment on Vedic literatures
like the Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Puranas, for they cannot deliver
their real message. Ruci was considered a first-class brahmana; therefore
he is mentioned here as brahma-varcasvi, one who has full prowess in
brahminical strength.
