Devotion to Krishna surpasses all material qualifications and brahmical status through selfless surrender.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.10 — July 9, 1968, Montreal 680709SB-MONTREAL [45:18 Minutes] Prabhupāda: [leads singing of Govindam] govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi Thank you. So Prahlāda Mahārāja has decided that any material qualification is not, I mean to say, the prerogative or any preferential admission or fee for entering into the kingdom of God. So he is explaining furthermore how it is so. He says, viprād dvi-ṣaḍ-guṇa-yutād aravinda-nābhapādāravinda-vimukhāt śvapacaṁ variṣṭham manye tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitārthaprāṇaṁ punāti sa kulaṁ na tu bhūrimānaḥ [SB 7.9.10] [If a brāhmaṇa has all twelve of the brahminical qualifications [as they are stated in the book called Sanat-sujāta] but is not a devotee and is averse to the lotus feet of the Lord, he is certainly lower than a devotee who is a dog-eater but who has dedicated everything—mind, words, activities, wealth and life—to the Supreme Lord. Such a devotee is better than such a brāhmaṇa because the devotee can purify his whole family, whereas the so-called brāhmaṇa in a position of false prestige cannot purify even himself.] Prahlāda Mahārāja says, "I think..." Whatever he thinks is right, because he is a great devotee.
Mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. [Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “’Dry arguments are inconclusive. A great personality whose opinion does not differ from others is not considered a great sage. Simply by studying the Vedas, which are variegated, one cannot come to the right path by which religious principles are understood. The solid truth of religious principles is hidden in the heart of an unadulterated, self-realized person. Consequently, as the śāstras confirm, one should accept whatever progressive path the mahājanas advocate.’”] The Vedic literatures indicate that you have to follow the footprints of great personalities, devotees. Tarko apratiṣṭhaḥ. If you want to understand the Absolute Truth by your argument and logic, oh, it is not possible.
Because our argument, logic, may be defeated by another man. Another man's argument may be defeated by another man. Because all of us, we are limited. Whatever qualification we have got, they are all limited, and there is greater and greatest, comparative, superlative degree in every field of activities. So that is not the way.
Tarko apratiṣṭhaḥ [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. If you want to understand the Absolute Truth by your arguments, teeny arguments, it is not possible. Tarko apratiṣṭhaḥ śrutayo vibhinnam. Śrutayo means scriptures.
If you want to understand the Absolute Truth by studying different scriptures... Just like the Hindus have got their different scriptures. They have got four Vedas, eighteen Purāṇas, Mahābhārata, Rāmāyaṇa, Vedānta-sūtra, 108 Upaniṣads, so many, similarly, in other countries also, they have got Bible or Buddhist literature or Muhammadan. They are all scriptures. But you cannot conclude about the Absolute Truth simply by studying scriptures.
It is not possible. Śrutayor vibhinnaḥ. Vibhinnaḥ means there are different... Every scripture is made according to the time, atmosphere, persons—so many things there are, conditional. Therefore we sometimes find difference in one scripture from another.
That is due to circumstances. So śrutayor vibhinnā nāsau munir yasya mataṁ na bhinnam. So far philosophers, great thinkers, muni—muni means great thinker—they have got their different theses. One muni, thinker, or philosopher, is trying to defeat another philosopher.