Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.7.17

viprā mantra-vido yuktās

tair yāḥ proktās tathāśiṣaḥ

tā niṣphalā bhaviṣyanti

na kadācid api sphuṭam

SYNONYMS

viprāḥ — the brāhmaṇas; mantra-vidaḥ — completely expert in chanting the Vedic hymns; yuktāḥ — perfect mystic yogīs; taiḥ — by them; yāḥ — whatsoever; proktāḥ — was spoken; tathā — becomes just so; āśiṣaḥ — all blessings; tāḥ — such words; niṣphalāḥ — useless, without fruit; bhaviṣyanti na — never will become; kadācit — at any time; api — indeed; sphuṭam — always factual, as it is.

TRANSLATION

The brāhmaṇas, who were completely expert in chanting the Vedic hymns, were all yogīs fully equipped with mystic powers. Whatever blessings they spoke were certainly never fruitless.

PURPORT

Brāhmaṇas fully equipped with the brahminical qualifications are always yogīs fully powerful in mystic yoga. Their words never fail. In every transaction with other members of society, brāhmaṇas are certainly dependable. In this age, however, one must take into account that the brāhmaṇas are uncertain in their qualifications. Because there are no yajñic brāhmaṇas, all yajñas are forbidden. The only yajña recommended in this age is sańkīrtana-yajña. Yajñaiḥ sańkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ (Bhāg. 11.5.32). Yajña is meant to satisfy Viṣṇu (yajñārthāt karmaṇo 'nyatra loko 'yaḿ karma-bandhanaḥ [Bg. 3.9])). Because in this age there are no qualified brāhmaṇas, people should perform yajña by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra (yajñaiḥ sańkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ). Life is meant for yajña, and yajña is performed by the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari