Bhagavatapurana 3.29.31

3.29.31

tato varṇāś ca catvāras teṣāṃ brāhmaṇa uttamaḥ /
brāhmaṇeṣv api veda-jño hy artha-jño 'bhyadhikas tataḥ //

31. Among the bipeds the four castes take a high place and among these the Brahmana has the highest; and among Brahmanas he who knows the Vedas ranks higher than others and still higher does he who understands their meaning;