Bhagvatam: IF ONE IS ADVANCED IN THE SCIENCE OF KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, REGARDLESS OF HIS POSITION IN HUMAN SOCIETY, HE MAY BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER
TRANSLATION
The demigods continued: Do not fear criticism for being younger than us. Such etiquette does not apply in regard to Vedic mantras. Except in relationship to Vedic mantras, seniority is determined by age, but one may offer respectful obeisances even to a younger person who is advanced in chanting Vedic mantras. Therefore although you are junior in relationship to us, you may become our priest without hesitation.
PURPORT
It is said, vrddhatvam vayasä vinä: one may be senior without being advanced in age. Even if one is not old, one gains seniority if he is senior in knowledge. Vishvarüpa was junior in relationship to the demigods because he was their nephew, but the demigods wanted to accept him as their priest, and therefore he would have to accept obeisances from them.
The demigods explained that this should not be a cause for hesitation; he could become their priest because he was advanced in Vedic knowledge. Similarly, Chänakya Pandita advises, nichäd apy uttamam jnänam: one may accept education from a member of a lower social order. The brähmanas, the members of the most elevated varna, are teachers, but a person in a lower family, such as a family of kshatriyas, vaishyas or even shüdras, may be accepted as a teacher if he has knowledge. Sri Chaitanya Mahäprabhu approved of this when He expressed this opinion before Rämänanda Räya (Cc. Madhya 8.128):
It does not matter whether one is a brähmana, shüdra, grhastha or sannyäsi. These are all material designations. A spiritually advanced person has nothing to do with such designations. Therefore, if one is advanced in the science of Krshna consciousness, regardless of his position in human society, he may become a spiritual master.
