# SB 3.29.31 > ततो वर्णाश्च चत्वारस्तेषां ब्राह्मण उत्तमः । > ब्राह्मणेष्वपि वेदज्ञो ह्यर्थज्ञोऽभ्यधिकस्ततः ॥३१॥ ## Text > tato varṇāś ca catvāras > teṣāṁ brāhmaṇa uttamaḥ > brāhmaṇeṣv api veda-jño > hy artha-jño 'bhyadhikas tataḥ ## Synonyms *tataḥ*—among them; *varṇāḥ*—classes; *ca*—and; *catvāraḥ*—four; *teṣām*—of them; *brāhmaṇaḥ*—a *brāhmaṇa*; *uttamaḥ*—best; *brāhmaṇeṣu*—among the *brāhmaṇas*; *api*—moreover; *veda*—the *Vedas*; *jñaḥ*—one who knows; *hi*—certainly; *artha*—the purpose; *jñaḥ*—one who knows; *abhyadhikaḥ*—better; *tataḥ*—than him. ## Translation **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.** ## Purport The system of four classifications in human society according to quality and work is very scientific. This system of *brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas* and *śūdras* has now become vitiated as the present caste system in India, but it appears that this system has been current a very long time, since it is mentioned in *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* and *Bhagavad-gītā.* Unless there is such a division of the social orders in human society, including the intelligent class, the martial class, the mercantile class and the laborer class, there is always confusion as to who is to work for what purpose. A person trained to the stage of understanding the Absolute Truth is a *brāhmaṇa,* and when such a *brāhmaṇa* is *veda jña,* he understands the purpose of *Veda.* The purpose of *Veda* is to understand the Absolute. One who understands the Absolute Truth in three phases, namely Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān, and who understands the term *Bhagavān* to mean the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is considered to be the best of the *brāhmaṇas,* or a Vaiṣṇava.