Srimad Bhagvatam
TRANSLATION
THE SYMPTOMS OF A BRAHMANA 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 varnasrama-dharma, the symptoms of a brahmana, kshatriya, vaisya, südra, brahmachari, grhastha, vanaprastha, and sannyasi are all described. THE ULTIMATE AIM IS ACHYUTATMATVAM—TO THINK ALWAYS OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, KRSHNA, OR VISHNU. To make advancement in Krshna consciousness, one has to become a brahmana, with the above-mentioned symptoms.
TRANSLATION
To be influential in battle, unconquerable, patient, challenging and charitable, to control the bodily necessities, to be forgiving, to be attached to the brahminical nature and to be always jolly and truthful—these are the symptoms of the kshatriya.
TRANSLATION
Being always devoted to the demigods, the spiritual master and the Supreme Lord, Vishnu; endeavoring for advancement in religious principles, economic development and sense gratification [dharma, artha and kama]; believing in the words of the spiritual master and scripture; and always endeavoring with expertise in earning money—these are the symptoms of the vaisya.
TRANSLATION
Offering obeisances to the higher sections of society [the brahmanas, kshatriyas and vaisyas], being always very clean, being free from duplicity, serving one's master, performing sacrifices without uttering mantras, not stealing, always speaking the truth and giving all protection to the cows and brahmanas—these are the symptoms of the südra.
PURPORT
It is everyone's experience that workers or servants are generally accustomed to stealing. A first-class servant is one who does not steal. Here it is recommended that a first-class südra must remain very clean, must not steal or speak lies, and must always render service to his master.
A südra may attend sacrifices and Vedic ritualistic ceremonies along with his master, but he should not utter the mantras, for these may be uttered only by the members of the higher sections of society. Unless one is completely pure and has been raised to the standard of a brahmana, kshatriya or vaisya—in other words, unless one is dvija, twiceborn—the chanting of mantras will not be fruitful.
