In this chapter, it is pointed out that it is possible for those who are caṇḍālas by birth (jāti-caṇḍālas) to become free from their condition, but it is not possible for those who are caṇḍālas by activity (karma-caṇḍālas) to become free from their condition.

Sākṣāc-caṇḍāla-rūpiṇam indicates that he had the external signs of a caṇḍāla and so he was not a person understood in the scriptures to be a person of the nature of a caṇḍāla.

NOTE. Jāti-caṇḍālas are those who are called caṇḍālas because they are born to caṇḍālas by activity. Karma-caṇḍālas are those who are called caṇḍālas because they perform the activities of a caṇḍāla. In other words, the jāti-caṇḍālas are those who do not engage in the activities of a caṇḍālas themselves, but, due to a previous sinful activity or offense, are born as children of caṇḍālas by activity. It is not possible for a caṇḍāla by activity—a person engaging in the sinful activities of a caṇḍāla—to go to Svarga or higher. Therefore, in the process of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead also, one has to give up sinful activities beginning with meat eating, intoxication, gambling and illicit sex before he can make any tangible progress in spiritual realization. Once a person has absolutely taken shelter of Vedic dharma, his past should not be taken into consideration by the discriminating. This will become clear in this very chapter, and this is even more so for those who have taken to pure devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as pointed out by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī:

dṛṣṭaiḥ svabhāva-janitair vapuṣaś ca doṣair
na prākṛtatvam iha bhakta-janasya paśyet
gaṅgāmbhasāṁ na khalu budbuda-phena-paṅkair
brahma-dravatvam apagacchati nīra-dharmaiḥ

“Being situated in his original Kṛṣṇa conscious position, a pure devotee does not identify with the body. Such a devotee should not be seen from a materialistic point of view. Indeed, one should overlook a devotee’s having a body born in a low family, a body with a bad complexion, a deformed body, or a diseased or infirm body. According to ordinary vision, such imperfections may seem prominent in the body of a pure devotee, but despite such seeming defects, the body of a pure devotee cannot be polluted. It is exactly like the waters of the Ganges, which sometimes during the rainy season are full of bubbles, foam and mud. The Ganges waters do not become polluted. Those who are advanced in spiritual understanding will bathe in the Ganges without considering the condition of the water.” (Upadeśāmṛta 6)