Jai Shri Krishna,It is well known that living entities are superior to inanimate objects, and
among them, living entities who display life symptoms are better. Animals with
developed consciousness are better than them, and better still are those who
have developed sense perception.
The first division is made between dead, stone-like matter and the living
organism. A living organism is sometimes manifested even in stone. Experience
shows that some hills and mountains grow. This is due to the presence of the
soul within that stone. Above that, the next manifestation of the living
condition is development of consciousness, and the next manifestation is the
development of sense perception. In the Moksha-dharma section of the
Mahabharata it is stated that trees have developed sense perception; they can
see and smell. We know by experience that trees can see. Sometimes in its
growth a large tree changes its course of development to avoid some hindrances.
This means that a tree can see, and according to Mahabharata, a tree can also
smell. This indicates the development of sense perception.
Among the living entities who have developed sense perception, those who have
developed the sense of taste are better than those who have developed only the
sense of touch. Better than them are those who have developed the sense of
smell, and better still are those who have developed the sense of hearing.
It is said here that amongst the trees there are also evolutionary processes;
the different kinds of trees have touch perception. It is said that better than
the trees are the fish because fish have developed the sense of taste. Better
than the fish are the bees, who have developed the sense of smell, and better
than them are the serpents because serpents have developed the sense of
hearing. In the darkness of night a snake can find its eatables simply by
hearing the frog's very pleasant cry. The snake can understand, "There is the
frog," and he captures the frog simply because of its sound vibration. This
example is sometimes given for persons who vibrate sounds simply for death. One
may have a very nice tongue that can vibrate sound like the frogs, but that
kind of vibration is simply calling death. The best use of the tongue and of
sound vibration is to chant God's That will protect one from the
hands of cruel death.
Better than those living entities who can perceive sound are those who can
distinguish between one form and another. Better than them are those who have
developed upper and lower sets of teeth, and better still are those who have
many legs. Better than them are the quadrupeds, and better still are the human
beings.
It is said that certain birds, such as crows, can distinguish one form from
another. Living entities that have many legs, like the wasp, are better than
plants and grasses, which have no legs. Four-legged animals are better than
many-legged living entities, and better than the animals is the human being,
who has only two legs. So then why many feel that cats and dogs are leading
better life - unrestricted in everything - enjoying life to the maximum
extent??
It is said that among human beings, the society which is divided according to
quality and work is best, and in that society, the intelligent men, who are
designated as brahmanas, are best. Among the brahmanas, one who has studied the
Vedas is the best, and among the brahmanas who have studied the Vedas, one who
knows the actual purport of Veda is the best.
The system of four classifications in human society according to quality and
work is very scientific. This system of brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas and
sudras has now become vitiated as the present caste system in India, but it
appears that this system has been current a very long time, since it is
mentioned in Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Unless there is such a
division of the social orders in human society, including the intelligent
class, the martial class, the mercantile class and the laborer class, there is
always confusion as to who is to work for what purpose.
Better than the brahmana who knows the purpose of the Vedas is he who can
dissipate all doubts, and better than him is one who strictly follows the
brahminical principles. Better than him is one who is liberated from all
material contamination, and better than him is a pure devotee, who executes
devotional service without expectation of reward. Therefore the Lord Himself
has stated in Bhagavatam that He do not consider a greater person than he who
has no interest outside of Him and who therefore engages and dedicates all his
activities and all his life — everything — unto Him without cessation.
Such a perfect devotee offers respects to every living entity because he is
under the firm conviction that the Supreme Personality of Godhead has entered
the body of every living entity as the Supersoul, or controller.