TEXT 74
sucih sad-bhakti-diptagni-
dagdha-durjati-kalmasah
svapako 'pi budhaih slagyo
na vedajno 'pi nastikah
SYNONYMS
suciha brahmana purified internally and externally; sat-bhaktiof devotional service without motives; dipta-agniby the blazing fire; dagdhaburnt to ashes; durjatisuch as birth in a low family; kalmasahwhose sinful reactions; sva-pakah apieven though born in a family of dog-eaters; budhaihby learned scholars; slagyahrecognized; nanot; veda-jnah apieven though completely conversant in Vedic knowledge; nastikahan atheist.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, " 'A person who has the pure characteristics of a brahmana due to devotional service, which is like a blazing fire burning to ashes all the sinful reactions of past lives, is certainly saved from the consequences of sinful acts, such as taking birth in a lower family. Even though he may be born in a family of dog-eaters, he is recognized by learned scholars. However, although a person may be a learned scholar in Vedic knowledge, he is not recognized if he is an atheist.
PURPORT
This verse and the next are quoted from the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (3.11,12), a transcendental literature extracted from the Puranas.

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