TEXT 17
dhrstad dharstam abhut ksatram
brahma-bhuyam gatam ksitau
nrgasya vamsah sumatir
bhutajyotis tato vasuh
SYNONYMS
dhrstatfrom Dhrsta, another son of Manu; dharstama caste of the name Dharsta; abhutwas produced; ksatrambelonging to the ksatriya group; brahma-bhuyamthe position of brahmanas; gatamhad achieved; ksitauon the surface of the world; nrgasyaof Nrga, another son of Manu; vamsahthe dynasty; sumatihof the name Sumati; bhutajyotihof the name Bhutajyoti; tatahthereafter; vasuhby the name Vasu.
TRANSLATION
From the son of Manu named Dhrsta came a ksatriya caste called Dharsta, whose members achieved the position of brahmanas in this world. Then, from the son of Manu named Nrga came Sumati. From Sumati came Bhutajyoti, and from Bhutajyoti came Vasu.
PURPORT
Here it is said, ksatram brahma-bhuyam gatam ksitau: although the Dharstas belonged to the ksatriya caste, they were able to convert themselves into brahmanas. This gives clear evidence supporting the following statement by Narada (Bhag. 7.11.35):
yasya yal laksanam proktam
pumso varnabhivyanjakam
yad anyatrapi drsyeta
tat tenaiva vinirdiset
If the qualities of one group are found in the men of another, those men should be recognized by their qualities, by their symptoms, not by the caste of the family in which they were born. Birth is not at all important; it is ones qualities that are stressed in all Vedic literature.

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