# SB 4.23.32 > ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मवर्चस्वी राजन्यो जगतीपतिः । > वैश्यः पठन्विट्पतिः स्याच्छूद्रः सत्तमतामियात् ॥३२॥ ## Text > brāhmaṇo brahma-varcasvī > rājanyo jagatī-patiḥ > vaiśyaḥ paṭhan viṭ-patiḥ syāc > chūdraḥ sattamatām iyāt ## Synonyms *brāhmaṇaḥ*—the *brāhmaṇas*; *brahma-varcasvī*—one who has attained the power of spiritual success; *rājanyaḥ*—the royal order; *jagatī-patiḥ*—the king of the world; *vaiśyaḥ*—the mercantile class of men; *paṭhan*—by reading; *viṭ-patiḥ*—becomes master of animals; *syāt*—becomes; *śūdraḥ*—the laborer class of men; *sattama-tām*—the position of a great devotee; *iyāt*—attains. ## Translation **If one hears of the characteristics of Pṛthu Mahārāja and is a brāhmaṇa, he becomes perfectly qualified with brahminical powers; if he is a kṣatriya, he becomes a king of the world; if he is a vaiśya, he becomes a master of other vaiśyas and many animals; and if he is a śūdra, he becomes the topmost devotee.** ## Purport In *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* it is recommended that one should become a devotee regardless of one's condition. Whether one is without desire (*akāma*) or with desire (*sakāma*), or whether one desires liberation (*mokṣa-kāma*), he is advised to worship the Supreme Lord and execute devotional service unto Him. By so doing, one attains all perfection in any field of life. The process of devotional service—especially hearing and chanting—is so powerful that it can bring a person to the perfectional stage. In this verse *brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas* and *śūdras* are mentioned, but here it should be understood that that reference is to the *brāhmaṇa* who is born in a brahminical family, the *kṣatriya* who is born in a *kṣatriya* family, the *vaiśya* who is born in a *vaiśya* family and the *śūdra* in a *śūdra* family. But whether one is a *brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya* or *śūdra,* he can attain perfection simply by hearing and chanting. To take birth in a family of *brāhmaṇas* is not the ultimate finishing touch; one must have the power of a *brāhmaṇa,* which is called *brahma-tejas.* Similarly, taking birth in a royal family is not the all in all; one must possess the power to rule the world. Similarly, taking birth as a *vaiśya* is not all; one must possess hundreds or thousands of animals (specifically cows) and rule over other *vaiśyas* as Nanda Mahārāja did in Vṛndāvana. Nanda Mahārāja was a *vaiśya* who possessed nine hundred thousand cows and ruled over many cowherd men and boys. A person who is born in a *śūdra* family can become greater than a *brāhmaṇa* simply by accepting devotional service and giving aural reception to the pastimes of the Lord and His devotees.