Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 6 - Chapter 1 - Verse 35

Sanskrit:

श्रीविश्‍वरूप उवाचविगर्हितं धर्मशीलैर्ब्रह्मवर्चउपव्ययम् ।कथं नु मद्विधो नाथा लोकेशैरभियाचितम् ।प्रत्याख्यास्यति तच्छिष्य: स एव स्वार्थ उच्यते ॥ ३५ ॥

ITRANS:

śrī-viśvarūpa uvācavigarhitaṁ dharma-śīlairbrahmavarca-upavyayamkathaṁ nu mad-vidho nāthālokeśair abhiyācitampratyākhyāsyati tac-chiṣyaḥsa eva svārtha ucyate

Translation:

Śrī Viśvarūpa said: O demigods, although the acceptance of priesthood is decried as causing the loss of previously acquired brahminical power, how can someone like me refuse to accept your personal request? You are all exalted commanders of the entire universe. I am your disciple and must take many lessons from you. Therefore I cannot refuse you. I must agree for my own benefit.

Purport:

The professions of a qualified brāhmaṇa are paṭhana, pāṭhana, yajana, yājana, dāna and pratigraha. The words yajana and yājana mean that a brāhmaṇa becomes the priest of the populace for the sake of their elevation. One who accepts the post of spiritual master neutralizes the sinful reactions of the yajamāna, the one on whose behalf he performs yajña. Thus the results of the pious acts previously performed by the priest or spiritual master are diminished. Therefore priesthood is not accepted by learned brāhmaṇas. Nevertheless, the greatly learned brāhmaṇa Viśvarūpa became the priest of the demigods because of his profound respect for them.