Text 8
yadā sva-nigamenoktaṁ
dvijatvaṁ prāpya pūruṣaḥ
yathā yajeta māṁ bhaktyā
śraddhayā tan nibodha me
yadā — when; sva — specified according to one’s qualification; nigamena — by the Vedas; uktam — enjoined; dvijatvam — the status of becoming twice-born; prāpya — achieving; pūruṣaḥ — a person; yathā — in which way; yajeta — he should execute worship; mām — unto Me; bhaktyā — with devotion; śraddhayā — with faith; tat — that; nibodha — please hear; me — from Me.
Now please listen faithfully as I explain exactly how a person who has achieved twice-born status through the relevant Vedic prescriptions should worship Me with devotion.
The word sva-nigamena refers to the particular Vedic injunctions relevant to one’s social and occupational status. Members of the brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya and vaiśya communities all achieve dvijatvam, twice-born status, by initiation into the Gāyatrī mantra. Traditionally, fully qualified brāhmaṇa boys may be initiated at age eight, kṣatriyas at eleven and vaiśyas at twelve, provided the proper conditions are met. Having achieved twice-born status, one should faithfully worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His form of the Deity, as the Lord Himself will describe.