Prabhupāda: Prahlāda Mahārāja further explains that viprād dvi-ṣaḍ-guṇa-yutād (SB 7.9.10). Vipra, vipra means those who are advancing to be brahmin. The intermediate stage before becoming a brahmin is called a vipra. Just like before becoming a graduate one is called undergraduate. One who has passed the school leaving examination but has not got the degree, but passed another examination, in India that is called I.A., Intermediate Art. Is such examination in this country, in between the graduate and school leaving?
Devotee: No.
Prabhupāda: So in India there is such examination. We had to pass first matriculation, then I.A., then B.A., so . . . then M.A. So intermediate stage . . . to be brahmin means spiritually graduate, and vipra means spiritually intermediate, and initiation means spiritually he is school leaving certificate, and to become a Vaiṣṇava means to pass M.A. examination in spiritual science. These are the different stages.
So here it is stated, viprād dvi-ṣaḍ yutād, how one can become a vipra. The first stage is śūdra. Śūdra means almost animal life—no cleanliness, no hygienic principle, simply working for living. No other ambition, no spiritual education, but some way or other filling our life. Just like animals, they become dependent on somebody. Whatever he likes, he can do on that animal.
Śūdra is not so dependent, but actually they were dependent. Just like in you country the Negroes were slaves, but fortunately they have been made free. Actually, they were being treated just like animals. So śūdra life means completely dependent on the other three higher class.
So everyone is born śūdra. Just like this child. This child is dependent completely. Just like animal is dependent, the child is also dependent. So they say, Vedic learned scholars, they say janmanā jāyate śūdraḥ. (Prema-vivarta)