Does papa-yonayah in Gita 9.32 refer to a fourth category?

by Chaitanya CharanOctober 31, 2014

Article by Hari Parshad Prabhu that compiles and analyzes a dozen acharyas commentaries on Gita 9.32

Prabhupada quotes using papa-yonayah as a fourth category, to refer to those outside varnashrama (compiled by Revati Vallabha P)

Päpa-yoni means muci, less than the çüdras. If he takes to Kåñëa consciousness, te ‘pi yänti paräà gatim, they are also eligible to go back to home, back to Godhead. So even a muci or a päpa-yoni born in the low grade family, if he takes to Kåñëa consciousness, he becomes a devatä. This is also confirmed in the Çrémad-Bhägavatam by Çukadeva Gosvämé, kiräta-hüëändhra…  – Bhagavad-gétä 16.7 — Sanand, December 26, 1975

Päpa-yoni, low-born. Päpa-yoni. There are… They are mentioned in the çästras, kiräta-hüëändhra-pulinda-pulkaçä äbhéra-çumbhä yavanäù khasädayaù [SB 2.4.18]. They are considered as caëòäla, less than the çüdras.  – Bhagavad-gétä 16.1-3 — Hawaii, January 29, 1975

Kåñëa says that “Anyone who takes shelter of Me, even he belongs to the päpa-yoni…” Päpa-yoni means the caëòälas, less than the çüdras. Striyo vaiçyäs tathä çüdräù… Again He mentions. Te ‘pi yänti paräà gatim. So they are eligible to go back to home, back to Godhead. There are so many instances. Kiräta-hüëändhra-pulinda-pulkaçä äbhéra-çumbhä yavanäù khasädayaù, yenye ca päpäù: [SB 2.4.18] “Lower than them, still more sinful,” çudhyanti, “they can be purified,” prabhaviñëave namaù, “if he becomes a Vaiñëava.”  Çrémad-Bhägavatam 3.26.27 —Bombay, January 4, 1975

Kåñëa says in the Bhagavad-gétä, mäà hi pärtha vyapäçritya ye ‘pi syuù päpa-yonayaù [Bg. 9.32]. Päpa-yoni means to take birth in low class family or demonic family. So päpa-yonayaù. Kåñëa says openly, ye ‘pi syuù päpa-yonayaù. Anyone, it doesn’t matter, even if he is born in a päpa-yoni Päpa-yoni means generally less than the çüdras.  Çrémad-Bhägavatam 7.6.1 — Våndävana, December 2, 1975

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Chaitanya Charan
1 Comments
  • nitai prasad das
    November 6, 2014 at 4:41 pm

    Another quote:

    …In the Bhagavad-gītā (BG 9.32) it is said by the Lord that there is no bar to becoming a devotee of the Lord (even for those who are lowborn, or women, śūdras or vaiśyas), and by becoming a devotee everyone is eligible to return home, back to Godhead…
    – From Purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 2.4.18

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