# Cc. Madhya 19.74 ## Text > śuciḥ sad-bhakti-dīptāgni- > dagdha-durjāti-kalmaṣaḥ > śvapāko 'pi budhaiḥ ślāgyo > na vedajño 'pi nāstikaḥ ## Synonyms *śuciḥ*—a *brāhmaṇa* purified internally and externally; *sat*-*bhakti*—of devotional service without motives; *dīpta*-*agni*—by the blazing fire; *dagdha*—burnt to ashes; *durjāti*—such as birth in a low family; *kalmaṣaḥ*—whose sinful reactions; *śva*-*pākaḥ* *api*—even though born in a family of dog-eaters; *budhaiḥ*—by learned scholars; *ślāgyaḥ*—recognized; *na*—not; *veda*-*jñaḥ* *api*—even though completely conversant in Vedic knowledge; *nāstikaḥ*—an atheist. ## Translation **Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, " 'A person who has the pure characteristics of a brāhmaṇa due to devotional service, which is like a blazing fire burning to ashes all the sinful reactions of past lives, is certainly saved from the consequences of sinful acts, such as taking birth in a lower family. Even though he may be born in a family of dog-eaters, he is recognized by learned scholars. However, although a person may be a learned scholar in Vedic knowledge, he is not recognized if he is an atheist.** ## Purport This verse and the next are quoted from the *Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya* (3.11,12), a transcendental literature extracted from the *Purāṇas.*