Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 21
Ṛṣabhadeva Instructs His Sons: Tapasya, Mahātmā-Sevā, and Cutting the Heart-Knot
भूतेषु वीरुद्भ्य उदुत्तमा ये सरीसृपास्तेषु सबोधनिष्ठा: । ततो मनुष्या: प्रमथास्ततोऽपि गन्धर्वसिद्धा विबुधानुगा ये ॥ २१ ॥ देवासुरेभ्यो मघवत्प्रधाना दक्षादयो ब्रह्मसुतास्तु तेषाम् । भव: पर: सोऽथ विरिञ्चवीर्य: स मत्परोऽहं द्विजदेवदेव: ॥ २२ ॥
bhūteṣu vīrudbhya uduttamā ye sarīsṛpās teṣu sabodha-niṣṭhāḥ tato manuṣyāḥ pramathās tato ’pi gandharva-siddhā vibudhānugā ye
Of the two energies manifest [spirit and dull matter], beings possessing living force [vegetables, grass, trees and plants] are superior to dull matter [stone, earth, etc.]. Superior to nonmoving plants and vegetables are worms and snakes, which can move. Superior to worms and snakes are animals that have developed intelligence. Superior to animals are human beings, and superior to human beings are ghosts because they have no material bodies. Superior to ghosts are the Gandharvas, and superior to them are the Siddhas. Superior to the Siddhas are the Kinnaras, and superior to them are the asuras. Superior to the asuras are the demigods, and of the demigods, Indra, the King of heaven, is supreme. Superior to Indra are the direct sons of Lord Brahmā, sons like King Dakṣa, and supreme among Brahmā’s sons is Lord Śiva. Since Lord Śiva is the son of Lord Brahmā, Brahmā is considered superior, but Brahmā is also subordinate to Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because I am inclined to the brāhmaṇas, the brāhmaṇas are best of all.
In this verse the brāhmaṇas are given a position superior to that of the Supreme Lord. The idea is that the government should be conducted under the guidance of the brāhmaṇas. Although Ṛṣabhadeva recommended His eldest son, Bharata, as emperor of the earth, he still had to follow the instructions of the brāhmaṇas in order to govern the world perfectly. The Lord is worshiped as brahmaṇya-deva. The Lord is very fond of devotees, or brāhmaṇas. This does not refer to so-called caste brāhmaṇas, but to qualified brāhmaṇas. A brāhmaṇa should be qualified with the eight qualities mentioned in text 24, such as śama, dama, satya and titikṣā. The brāhmaṇas should always be worshiped, and under their guidance the ruler should discharge his duty and rule the citizens. Unfortunately, in this Age of Kali, the executive is not selected by very intelligent people, nor is he guided by qualified brāhmaṇas. Consequently, chaos results. The mass of people should be educated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness so that according to the democratic process they can select a first-class devotee like Bharata Mahārāja to head the government. If the head of the state is headed by qualified brāhmaṇas, everything is completely perfect.
FAQs
This verse outlines a gradation of embodiment and awareness—from plants to crawling creatures, to higher animals, to humans, and then to higher celestial classes—implying increasing capacity for consciousness and responsibility.
He is teaching his sons that higher birth brings greater discernment and duty; the human level is especially meant for deliberate spiritual progress rather than mere sense life.
See human life as a rare opportunity: cultivate discrimination, self-control, and devotion, instead of living only for instinctive pleasure.