# SB 9.2.23-24 ## Text > nābhāgo diṣṭa-putro 'nyaḥ > karmaṇā vaiśyatāṁ gataḥ > bhalandanaḥ sutas tasya > vatsaprītir bhalandanāt > vatsaprīteḥ sutaḥ prāṁśus > tat-sutaṁ pramatiṁ viduḥ > khanitraḥ pramates tasmāc > cākṣuṣo 'tha viviṁśatiḥ ## Synonyms *nābhāgaḥ*—by the name Nābhāga; *diṣṭa*-*putraḥ*—the son of Diṣṭa; *anyaḥ*—another; *karmaṇā*—by occupation; *vaiśyatām*—the order of the *vaiśyas*; *gataḥ*—achieved; *bhalandanaḥ*—by the name Bhalandana; *sutaḥ*—son; *tasya*—of him (Nābhāga); *vatsaprītiḥ*—by the name Vatsaprīti; *bhalandanāt*—from Bhalandana; *vatsaprīteḥ*—from Vatsaprīti; *sutaḥ*—the son; *prāṁśuḥ*—was named Prāṁśu; *tat*-*sutam*—the son of him (Prāṁśu); *pramatim*—was named Pramati; *viduḥ*—you should understand; *khanitraḥ*—was named Khanitra; *pramateḥ*—from Pramati; *tasmāt*—from him (Khanitra); *cākṣuṣaḥ*—was named Cākṣuṣa; *atha*—thus (from Cākṣuṣa); *viviṁśatiḥ*—the son named Viviṁśati. ## Translation **Diṣṭa had a son by the name Nābhāga. This Nābhāga, who was different from the Nābhāga described later, became a vaiśya by occupational duty. The son of Nābhāga was known as Bhalandana, the son of Bhalandana was Vatsaprīti, and his son was Prāṁśu. Prāṁśu's son was Pramati, Pramati's son was Khanitra, Khanitra's son was Cākṣuṣa, and his son was Viviṁśati.** ## Purport From Manu, one son became a *kṣatriya,* another a *brāhmaṇa,* and another a *vaiśya.* This confirms the statement by Nārada Muni, *yasya yal lakṣaṇaṁ proktaṁ puṁso varṇābhivyañjakam* [[sb/7/11/35|(SB 7.11.35)]]. One should always remember that *brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas* and *vaiśyas* should never be regarded as members of a caste by birth. A *brāhmaṇa* may be changed into a *kṣatriya,* and a *kṣatriya* into a *brāhmaṇa.* Similarly, a *brāhmaṇa* or *kṣatriya* may be changed into a *vaiśya,* and a *vaiśya* into a *brāhmaṇa* or *kṣatriya.* This is confirmed in *Bhagavad-gītā* (*cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ* [[bg/4/13|[Bg. 4.13] ]]). So one is a *brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya* or *vaiśya* never by birth, but by quality. There is a great need of *brāhmaṇas.* Therefore, in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, we are trying to train some *brāhmaṇas* to guide human society. Because at present there is a scarcity of *brāhmaṇas,* the brain of human society is lost. Because practically everyone is a *śūdra,* no one at the present moment can guide the members of society to the proper path by which to achieve perfection in life.