CC Madhya 1.91

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta - Madhya-līlā - Chapter 1: The Later Pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

Madhya-līlā 1.90 - Madhya-līlā 1.92

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His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TEXT 91

prathama sūtra prabhura sannyāsa-karaṇa

sannyāsa kari’ calilā prabhu śrī-vṛndāvana

SYNONYMS

prathama — first; sūtra — synopsis; prabhura — of the Lord; sannyāsa-karaṇa — accepting the sannyāsa order; sannyāsa kari’ — after accepting the renounced order; calilā — went; prabhu — the Lord; śrī-vṛndāvana — toward Vṛndāvana.

TRANSLATION

This is the first synopsis: After accepting the sannyāsa order, Caitanya Mahāprabhu proceeded toward Vṛndāvana.

PURPORT

Clearly these statements are a real account of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s acceptance of the renounced order of life. His acceptance of this renounced order is not at all comparable to the acceptance of sannyāsa by Māyāvādīs. After accepting sannyāsa, Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to reach Vṛndāvana. He was unlike the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs, who desire to merge into the existence of the Absolute. For a Vaiṣṇava, acceptance of sannyāsa means getting relief from all material activities and completely devoting oneself to the transcendental loving service of the Lord. This is confirmed by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī (Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.255): anāsaktasya viṣayān yathārham upayuñjataḥ/ nirbandhaḥ kṛṣṇa-sambandhe yuktaṁ vairāgyam ucyate. For a Vaiṣṇava, the renounced order means completely giving up attachment for material things and engaging nonstop in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. The Māyāvādī sannyāsīs, however, do not know how to engage everything in the service of the Lord. Because they have no devotional training, they think material objects to be untouchable. Brahma satyaṁ jagan mithyā: The Māyāvādīs think that the world is false, but the Vaiṣṇava sannyāsīs do not think like this. Vaiṣṇavas say, “Why should the world be false? It is reality, and it is meant for the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” For a Vaiṣṇava sannyāsī, renunciation means not accepting anything for personal sense enjoyment. Devotional service means engaging everything for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.