Cc. Madhya 8.128

kibā vipra, kibā nyāsī, śūdra kene naya
yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā, sei ‘guru’ haya

kibāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkiba

what.—whether; vipraplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvipra

brahmaṇas; brāhmaṇa; brāhmaṇas; a brāhmaṇa; all the brāhmaṇas; and the brāhmaṇa; brāhmaṇa; brāhmaṇas; by brāhmaṇas; by such brāhmaṇas; especially the brāhmaṇas; incarnations as brāhmaṇas like Vāmanadeva; My dear brāhmaṇa; O brāhmaṇa; O brāhmaṇas; O holy brāhmaṇa; O learned brāhmaṇa; of a brāhmaṇa; of Lord Paraśurāma; of the brāhmaṇas; one brāhmaṇa; one brāhmaṇa; the brāhmaṇa (Gopāla Cāpāla); the brāhmaṇa; the brāhmaṇa Kṛṣṇadāsa; the brāhmaṇa of Deccan; the brāhmaṇas; the brāhmaṇa,; the brāhmaṇas; the elderly brāhmaṇa; the Mahārāṣṭrian brāhmaṇa; the word vipra.—a brāhmaṇa; kibāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkiba

what.—whether; nyāsīplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bignyasi

sannyāsī; a sannyāsī.—a sannyāsī; śūdraplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigśūdra

a śūdra; a fourth-class man; belonging to the śūdra community; born of a śūdra family; fourth-class men; the fourth social division; the laborer class of men; the laboring class; the lower caste.—a śūdra; keneplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkene

why is the child eating dirt?.—why; nayaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bignaya

are not; certainly is not; is not; is not possible; just carry; kindly lead; logic; not; then I shall not; they are not.—not; yeiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyei

any; anyone; anyone who; as; He who; one; one who; that; that one who; that person who; that which; the subject matter; those; those persons who; those who; what; what is; whatever; wherever; which; whichever; who; whoever.—anyone who; kṛṣṇaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkrsna

kṛṣ-ṇa; about Kṛṣṇa; and Kṛṣṇa; black; Hare Kṛṣṇa; in Kṛṣṇa; is Lord Kṛṣṇa; Kṛṣṇa; Kṛṣṇa is now present; Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; Lord Kṛṣṇa; Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself; Lord Kṛṣṇa's; Lord Kṛṣṇa's holy name; Lord Kṛṣṇa's name; Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; My dear Kṛṣṇa; O Kṛṣṇa; O Lord Kṛṣṇa; O my Lord Kṛṣṇa; of Kṛṣṇa; of Lord Kṛṣṇa; of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa; of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; of the mode of ignorance; the Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa; the holy name Kṛṣṇa; the holy name of Kṛṣṇa; the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; the Lord; the name of Kṛṣṇa; the Personality of Godhead; the Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa; the presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa; the Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead; the Supreme Lord; the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa; the Supreme Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa; to Lord Kṛṣṇa; unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; Śrī Kṛṣṇa.-tattvaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtattva

Absolute Truth; basic principles; conclusions; in truth; knowledge; of the Absolute Truth; of the truth; of the ultimate principles; real nature; that truth; the Absolute Truth; the fundamental principles; the principle; the truth; to the truth; truth; truths.-vettāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvettā

cognizant; knower; the knower.—a knower of the science of Kṛṣṇa; seiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsei

he; that; all of them; anyone; by that; hat; he; he is; in that; Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī; such; such a person; that mahā-pātra; that; that boy; that is; that King; that Kṛṣṇadāsa; that man; that officer; that person; that personality; that saintly person; that truth; that Vaiṣṇava; that Vijulī Khān; that woman; that Śrīkānta; the disciple of Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī; the governor; these; they; this; those; those very; to those; unto the.—that person; guruplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigguru

sannyāsa-guru; a superior; as the spiritual master; Droṇācārya; grave; great; heaviness; His spiritual master; master; momentous; My spiritual master; of spiritual master; of the spiritual master; preceptors; spiritual master; spiritual masters; superior; superior teacher; superiors; teacher; teachers; the spiritual master; the spiritual masters; the teacher; to the elders; to those on the level of the spiritual master.—the spiritual master; hayaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bighaya

are; is; appear; appears; are; are achieved; are there; assembled; awakened; awakens; became; become; become possible; becomes; becomes filled; becomes fulfilled; becomes manifest; becomes possible; becomes so; can be used; come out; happens; He is; here is; horse; increases; is; is certainly; is conducted; is it; is possible; is present; is there; it becomes; it becomes possible; it becomes so; it is; it is so; it so becomes; let it be; one becomes; remains; render; resounded; take place; takes; takes place; the horse; there are; there becomes; there can be; there is; there is awakening of; there was; there would be; they are; they become; they were; took place; was; were; will be; would be.—is. ¶

“Whether one is a brāhmaṇa, a sannyāsī or a śūdra-regardless of what he is-he can become a spiritual master if he knows the science of Kṛṣṇa.” ¶

This verse is very important to the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. In his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains that one should not think that because Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was born a brāhmaṇa and was situated in the topmost spiritual order as a sannyāsī, it was improper for Him to receive instructions from Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya, who belonged to the śūdra caste. To clarify this matter, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu informed Rāmānanda Rāya that knowledge of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is more important than caste. In the system of varṇāśrama-dharma there are various duties for the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras. Actually the brāhmaṇa is supposed to be the spiritual master of all other varṇas, or sects, but as far as Kṛṣṇa consciousness is concerned, everyone is capable of becoming a spiritual master because knowledge in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is on the platform of the spirit soul. To spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one need only be cognizant of the science of the spirit soul. It does not matter whether one is a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, sannyāsī, gṛhastha or whatever. If one simply understands this science, he can become a spiritual master. ¶

It is stated in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa that one should not accept initiation from a person who is not in the brahminical order if there is a fit person in the brahminical order present. This instruction is meant for those who are overly dependent on the mundane social order and is suitable for those who want to remain in mundane life. If one understands the truth of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and seriously desires to attain transcendental knowledge for the perfection of life, he can accept a spiritual master from any social status, provided the spiritual master is fully conversant with the science of Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura also states that although one is situated as a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, brahmacārī, vānaprastha, gṛhastha or sannyāsī, if he is conversant in the science of Kṛṣṇa he can become a spiritual master as vartma-pradarśaka-guru, dīkṣā-guru or śikṣā-guru. The spiritual master who first gives information about spiritual life is called the vartma-pradarśaka-guru, the spiritual master who initiates according to the regulations of the śāstras is called the dīkṣā-guru, and the spiritual master who gives instructions for elevation is called the śikṣā-guru. Factually the qualifications of a spiritual master depend on his knowledge of the science of Kṛṣṇa. It does not matter whether he is a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, sannyāsī or śūdra. This injunction given by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is not at all against the injunctions of the śāstras. In the Padma Purāṇa it is said: ¶

na śūdrāḥ bhagavad-bhaktās
te ‘pi bhāgavatottamāḥ
sarva-varṇeṣu te śūdrā
ye na bhaktā janārdane

One who is actually advanced in spiritual knowledge of Kṛṣṇa is never a śūdra, even though he may have been born in a śūdra family. However, even if a vipra, or brāhmaṇa, is very expert in the six brahminical activities (paṭhana, pāṭhana, yajana, yājana, dāna, pratigraha) and is also well versed in the Vedic hymns, he cannot become a spiritual master unless he is a Vaiṣṇava. But if one is born in the family of caṇḍālas yet is well versed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he can become a guru. These are the śāstric injunctions, and strictly following these injunctions, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, as a gṛhastha named Śrī Viśvambhara, was initiated by a sannyāsī-guru named Īśvara Purī. Similarly, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu was initiated by Mādhavendra Purī, a sannyāsī. According to others, however, He was initiated by Lakṣmīpati Tīrtha. Advaita Ācārya, although a gṛhastha, was initiated by Mādhavendra Purī, and Śrī Rasikānanda, although born in a brāhmaṇa family, was initiated by Śrī Śyāmānanda Prabhu, who was not born in a caste brāhmaṇa family. There are many instances in which a born brāhmaṇa took initiation from a person who was not born in a brāhmaṇa family. The brahminical symptoms are explained in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.11.35)plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigŚrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.11.35

If one shows the symptoms of being a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra, as described above, even if he has appeared in a different class, he should be accepted according to those symptoms of classification., wherein it is stated: ¶

yasya yal-lakṣaṇaṁ proktaṁ
puṁso varṇābhivyañjakam
yad anyatrāpi dṛśyeta
tat tenaiva vinirdiśet

If a person is born in a śūdra family but has all the qualities of a spiritual master, he should be accepted not only as a brāhmaṇa but as a qualified spiritual master also. This is also the instruction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura therefore introduced the sacred thread ceremony for all Vaiṣṇavas according to the rules and regulations. ¶

Sometimes a Vaiṣṇava who is a bhajanānandī does not take the sāvitra-saṁskāra (sacred thread initiation), but this does not mean that this system should be used for preaching work. There are two kinds of Vaiṣṇavas-bhajanānandī and goṣṭhy-ānandī. A bhajanānandī is not interested in preaching work, but a goṣṭhy-ānandī is interested in spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness to benefit the people and increase the number of Vaiṣṇavas. A Vaiṣṇava is understood to be above the position of a brāhmaṇa. As a preacher, he should be recognized as a brāhmaṇa; otherwise there may be a misunderstanding of his position as a Vaiṣṇava. However, a Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa is not selected on the basis of his birth but according to his qualities. Unfortunately, those who are unintelligent do not know the difference between a brāhmaṇa and a Vaiṣṇava. They are under the impression that unless one is a brāhmaṇa he cannot be a spiritual master. For this reason only, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu makes the statement in this verse: ¶

kibā vipra, kibā nyāsī, śūdra kene naya
yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā, sei ‘guru’ haya

If one becomes a guru, he is automatically a brāhmaṇa. Sometimes a caste guru says that ye kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā, sei guru haya means that one who is not a brāhmaṇa may become a śikṣā-guru or a vartma-pradarśaka-guru but not an initiator guru. According to such caste gurus, birth and family ties are considered foremost. However, the hereditary consideration is not acceptable to Vaiṣṇavas. The word guru is equally applicable to the vartma-pradarśaka-guru, śikṣā-guru and dīkṣā-guru. Unless we accept the principle enunciated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement cannot spread all over the world. According to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s intentions: pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi-grāma sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s cult must be preached all over the world. This does not mean that people should take to His teachings and remain śūdras or caṇḍālas. As soon as one is trained as a pure Vaiṣṇava, he must be accepted as a bona fide brāhmaṇa. This is the essence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s instructions in this verse. ¶