viprād dviṣaḍ-guṇa-yutād aravinda-nābha-
pādāravinda-vimukhāt śvapacaṁ variṣṭham
manye tad-arpita-mano-vacane 'hitārtha-
prāṇaṁ punāti sa kulaṁ na tu bhūrimānaḥ
pādāravinda-vimukhāt śvapacaṁ variṣṭham
manye tad-arpita-mano-vacane 'hitārtha-
prāṇaṁ punāti sa kulaṁ na tu bhūrimānaḥ
Synonyms
viprāt-than a brāhmaṇa; dvi-ṣaṭ-guṇa-yutāt-who has twelve brahminical qualifications; aravinda-nābha-of Lord Viṣṇu, who has a lotuslike navel; pāda-aravinda-unto the lotus feet; vimukhāt-than a person bereft of devotion; śva-pacam-a caṇḍāla, or person accustomed to eating dogs; variṣṭham-more glorified; manye-I think; tat-arpita-dedicated unto Him; manaḥ-mind; vacane-words; ahita-activities; artha-wealth; prāṇam-life; punāti-purifies; saḥ-he; kulam-his family; na tu-but not; bhūri-mānaḥ-a brāhmaṇa proud of possessing such qualities.
Translation
" 'One may be born in a brāhmaṇa family and have all twelve brahminical qualities, but if in spite of being thus qualified he is not devoted to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who has a navel shaped like a lotus, he is not as good as a caṇḍāla who has dedicated his mind, words, activities, wealth and life to the service of the Lord. Simply to take birth in a brāhmaṇa family or to have brahminical qualities is not sufficient. One must be a pure devotee of the Lord. Thus if a śvapaca, or caṇḍāla, is a devotee, he delivers not only himself but his entire family as well, whereas a brāhmaṇa who is not a devotee but simply has brahminical qualifications cannot even purify himself, what to speak of his family.'
Purport
This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.9.9).