Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.2.17
Visarga· Brahmā's creationRecognize Qualities, Not Birth
“From the son of Manu named Dhṛṣṭa came a kṣatriya caste called Dhārṣṭa, whose members achieved the position of brāhmaṇas in this world. Then, from the son of Manu named Nṛga came Sumati. From Sumati came Bhūtajyoti, and from Bhūtajyoti came Vasu.”
What the purport teaches
- The Dhārṣṭas descended from Dhṛṣṭa and belonged to the kṣatriya group, yet they achieved the position of brāhmaṇas.
- When the qualities of one group appear in someone from another, that person should be recognized by those qualities, not by family birth.
- The purport stresses that birth is not important in determining this position. One’s qualities are emphasized throughout Vedic literature.
Try this today
Notice one good quality in someone today without referring to that person’s family background.
Ask yourself
Do I judge people by their family background or by their actual qualities?
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.