Madhya-līlā

Chapter 4: Śrī Mādhavendra Puri's Devotional Service

Verse 123 of 212
Cc Madhya 4.123

অযাচিতবৃত্তি পুরী—বিরক্ত, উদাস অযাচিত পাইলে খাঽন, নহে উপবাস

अयाचितवृत्ति पुरी—विरक्त, उदास अयाचित पाइले खाऽन, नहे उपवास

ayācita-vṛtti purī—virakta, udāsa ayācita pāile khā'na, nahe upavāsa

Synonyms

ayācita-vṛttiaccustomed to avoid begging; purīMādhavendra Purī; viraktaunattached; udāsaindifferent; ayācitawithout begging; pāileif getting; khā'nahe eats; naheif not; upavāsafasting..

Translation

Mādhavendra Purī avoided begging. He was completely unattached and indifferent to material things. He would not beg. If someone offered him some food, he would eat; otherwise he would fast.

Purport

This is the paramahaṁsa stage, the highest stage for a sannyāsī. A sannyāsī can beg from door to door just to collect food, but a paramahaṁsa who has taken ayācita-vṛtti, or ājagara-vṛtti, does not ask anyone for food. If someone offers him food voluntarily, he eats. Ayācita-vṛtti means being accustomed to refrain from begging, and ājagara-vṛtti indicates one who is compared to a python, the big snake that makes no effort to acquire food, but rather allows food to come automatically within its mouth. In other words, a paramahaṁsa simply engages exclusively in the service of the Lord, without caring even for eating or sleeping. It was stated about the six Gosvāmīs: nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau. In the paramahaṁsa stage one conquers the desire for sleep, food and sense gratification. One remains a humble, meek mendicant engaged in the service of the Lord day and night. Mādhavendra Purī had attained this paramahaṁsa stage.

Verse 123 of 212
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