Madhya-līlā

Chapter 11: The Beḍā-kīrtana Pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

Verse 209 of 239
Cc Madhya 11.209

নানা পিঠাপানা খায আকণ্ঠ পূরিযা মধ্যে মধ্যে ঽহরিঽ কহে আনন্দিত হঞা

नाना पिठापाना खाय आकण्ठ पूरिया मध्ये मध्ये ऽहरिऽ कहे आनन्दित हञा

nānā piṭhā-pānā khāya ākaṇṭha pūriyā madhye madhye 'hari' kahe ānandita hañā

Synonyms

nānāvarious; piṭhā-pānācakes and sweet rice; khāyaeat; ākaṇṭha pūriyāfilling up to the throat; madhye madhyeoccasionally; harithe holy name of Kṛṣṇa; kahethey speak; ānandita hañāin great jubilation..

Translation

They ate all kinds of cakes and sweet rice, filling themselves up to their throats, and at intervals they vibrated the holy name of the Lord in great jubilation.

Purport

It is the practice of Vaiṣṇavas while taking prasāda to chant the holy name of Lord Hari at intervals and also sing various songs, such as śarīra avidyā-jāla. Those who are honoring prasāda, accepting the remnants of food offered to the Deity, must always remember that prasāda is not ordinary food. Prasāda is transcendental. We are therefore reminded:

mahā-prasāde govinde
nāma-brahmaṇi vaiṣṇave
svalpa-puṇya-vatāṁ rājan
viśvāso naiva jāyate
[Skanda Purāṇa, Utkala-khaṇḍa]

Those who are not pious cannot understand the value of mahā-prasāda and the holy name of the Lord. Both prasāda and the Lord's name are on the Brahman or spiritual platform. One should never consider prasāda to be like ordinary hotel cooking. Nor should one touch any kind of food not offered to the Deity. Every Vaiṣṇava strictly follows this principle and does not accept any food that is not prasāda. One should take prasāda with great faith and should chant the holy name of the Lord and worship the Deity in the temple, always remembering that the Deity, mahā-prasāda and the holy name do not belong to the mundane platform. By worshiping the Deity, eating prasāda and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, one can always remain on the spiritual platform (brahma-bhūyāya kalpate).

Verse 209 of 239
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