TEXT 21
ajamidho dvimidhas ca
purumidhas ca hastinah
ajamidhasya vamsyah syuh
priyamedhadayo dvijah
SYNONYMS
ajamidhah—Ajamidha; dvimidhah—Dvimidha; ca—also; purumidhah—Purumidha; ca—also; hastinah—became the sons of Hasti; ajamidhasya—of Ajamidha; vamsyah—descendants; syuh—are; priyamedha-adayah—headed by Priyamedha; dvijah—brahmanas.
TRANSLATION
From King Hasti came three sons, named Ajamidha, Dvimidha and Purumidha. The descendants of Ajamidha, headed by Priyamedha, all achieved the position of brahmanas.
PURPORT
This verse gives evidence confirming the statement of Bhagavad-gita that the orders of society—brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra—are calculated in terms of qualities and activities (guna-karma-vibhagasah). All the descendants of Ajamidha, who was a ksatriya, became brahmanas. This was certainly because of their qualities and activities. Similarly, sometimes the sons of brahmanas or ksatriyas become vaisyas (brahmana-vaisyatam gatah). When a ksatriya or brahmana adopts the occupation or duty of a vaisya (krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam [Bg. 18.44]), he is certainly counted as a vaisya. On the other hand, if one is born a vaisya, by his activities he can become a brahmana. This is confirmed by Narada Muni. Yasya yal-laksanam proktam. The members of the varnas, or social orders—brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra—must be ascertained by their symptoms, not by birth. Birth is immaterial; quality is essential.
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