That best of Vipra
The Sanskrit text says “viprarsabha”. Literally #risabha means bull. It is an epithet to name a particularly powerful or important person
(Mahabharata, Adi Parva)
#Vipra:
Prabhupāda: No. A vipra, because he is studying… Vipra means one who is engaged in the studies of Vedas. That is… Veda-pathād bhaved vipraḥ. So if he is studying Vedas, then must be qualified with all the good qualities. Because just like Bhagavad-gītā, it is said that “These are the good qualities.” So study means to accept the instruction. Study does not mean simply to become a book… No. Study means to apply practically in life what you learn from the Vedas. So if anyone is seriously studying, then naturally he is qualified with all the good qualities. Yes. No. You can say.
(Srila Prabhupada, lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.10 — Montreal, July 10, 1968)
Vipra means a learned brāhmaṇa. Veda-pāṭhād bhaved vipraḥ. One who has learned, studied all the Vedic literatures and has acquired knowledge, he is called vipra. So simply studying Vedic literature will not do. Brahma jānātīti brāhmaṇaḥ. He must realize what is Brahman. Then he becomes brāhmaṇa. #Brāhmaṇa is a qualification. It is not by birth.
(Srila Prabhupada lecture on Bhagavad-gita 13.3 — Bombay, September 26, 1973).
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