Madhya-līlā

Chapter 25: How All the Residents of Vārāṇasī Became Vaiṣṇavas

Verse 194 of 282
Cc Madhya 25.194

তবে সুবুদ্ধিরায সেই ঽছদ্মঽ পাঞা বারাণসী আইলা, সব বিষয ছাদিযা

तबे सुबुद्धिराय सेइ ऽछद्मऽ पाञा वाराणसी आइला, सब विषय छादिया

tabe subuddhi-rāya sei 'chadma' pāñā vārāṇasī āilā, saba viṣaya chādiyā

Synonyms

tabeupon this; subuddhi-rāyaSubuddhi Rāya; seithat; chadmaplea; pāñāgetting an opportunity; vārāṇasī āilācame to Vārāṇasī; sabaall; viṣaya chādiyāgiving up the implications of material activities..

Translation

Taking the Nawab's sprinkling water upon him as an opportunity, Subuddhi Rāya left his family and business affairs and went to Vārāṇasī.

Purport

It appears that Subuddhi Rāya was a big landholder and a responsible, respectable gentleman. He could not, however, avoid the social misconception that one becomes a Mohammedan when water is sprinkled on one's face from a Mohammedan's pitcher. Actually he was planning to give up his material life and leave his family. Hindu culture recommends four divisions—brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa. Subuddhi Rāya was thinking of taking sannyāsa, and by the grace of Kṛṣṇa, he received this opportunity. He therefore left his family and went to Vārāṇasī. The system of varṇāśrama-dharma is very scientific. If one is directed by the varṇāśrama institution, he will naturally think of retiring from family life at the end of his life. Therefore sannyāsa is compulsory at the age of fifty.

Verse 194 of 282
Prabhupāda Says