Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.29.31
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyUnderstand the Purpose of the Vedas
“Among human beings, the society which is divided according to quality and work is best, and in that society, the intelligent men, who are designated as brāhmaṇas, are best. Among the brāhmaṇas, one who has studied the Vedas is the best, and among the brāhmaṇas who have studied the Vedas, one who knows the actual purport of Veda is the best.”
What the purport teaches
- The four social classifications are based on quality and work. The purport distinguishes this system from its corrupted form in the present caste system.
- A brāhmaṇa is trained to understand the Absolute Truth. Studying the Vedas reaches its purpose when one understands the Absolute.
- The Absolute Truth is understood as Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān. One who understands Bhagavān as the Supreme Personality of Godhead is considered the best of the brāhmaṇas, or a Vaiṣṇava.
Try this today
Write one sentence explaining that the purpose of the Vedas is to understand the Absolute Truth.
Ask yourself
Am I studying simply to gather information, or to understand the Absolute Truth?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.