The serpent said : If, O monarch, as you assert, a Brahmana is recognised by certain virtues, then, O longlived one, the distinction of castes is to no purpose so long as he does not posses these qualities.
सर्प उवाच यदि ते वृत्ततो राजन् ब्राह्मणः प्रसमीक्षितः। वृथा जातिस्तदाऽऽयुष्मन् कृतिर्यावन्न विद्यते॥