Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 1.189
Conduct Matters Along With Birth
“Sir, we belong to the lowest class of men, and our associates and employment are also of the lowest type. Therefore we cannot introduce ourselves to You. We feel very much ashamed, standing here before You.
What the purport teaches
- Rūpa and Sanātana were actually born in respectable brāhmaṇa families originally from Karṇāṭa. They presented themselves as low because their employment and association had changed their customs and behavior.
- The purport describes three kinds of birth: birth from the mother, acceptance of the reformatory method, and initiation by the spiritual master.
- According to the śāstras, a person’s classification is recognized by particular symptoms. The brothers identified themselves as low because the symptoms of brahminical culture were almost absent from their lives.
Try this today
Identify one influence in your work or company that weakens your conduct, and take one small step to reduce it today.
Ask yourself
How are my daily work and associations shaping my conduct?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.