Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Antya 13.112
Protecting Advancement From Sense Gratification
“After eight months, when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade farewell to Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, the Lord flatly forbade him to marry. “Do not marry,” the Lord said.”
What the purport teaches
- After eight months, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade farewell to Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa and firmly told him not to marry.
- Raghunātha Bhaṭṭācārya was already a greatly advanced devotee of Kṛṣṇa and naturally had no desire for sense gratification. Seeing this, the Lord advised him not to begin that process.
- The purport describes marriage as a concession for those unable to control their senses. It warns that family attachment and sense gratification can greatly slow or halt spiritual advancement.
Try this today
Set aside one unnecessary sense pleasure today and use that time for devotional service.
Ask yourself
Which desire for sense gratification is distracting me from spiritual advancement?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.