# SB 7.11.21 ## Text > śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ > santoṣaḥ kṣāntir ārjavam > jñānaṁ dayācyutātmatvaṁ > satyaṁ ca brahma-lakṣaṇam ## Synonyms *śamaḥ*—control of the mind; *damaḥ*—control of the senses; *tapaḥ*—austerity and penance; *śaucam*—cleanliness; *santoṣaḥ*—satisfaction; *kṣāntiḥ*—forgiveness (being unagitated by anger); *ārjavam*—simplicity; *jñānam*—knowledge; *dayā*—mercy; *acyuta*-*ātmatvam*—accepting oneself as an eternal servant of the Lord; *satyam*—truthfulness; *ca*—also; *brahma*-*lakṣaṇam*—the symptoms of a *brāhmaṇa.* ## Translation **The symptoms of a brāhmaṇa are control of the mind, control of the senses, austerity and penance, cleanliness, satisfaction, forgiveness, simplicity, knowledge, mercy, truthfulness, and complete surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.** ## Purport In the institution of *varṇāśrama-dharma,* the symptoms of a *brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha,* and *sannyāsī* are all described. The ultimate aim is *acyutātmatvam*—to think always of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, or Viṣṇu. To make advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one has to become a *brāhmaṇa,* with the above-mentioned symptoms.