Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Antya 8.85
Eat to sustain, not indulge
“For a sannyāsī to indulge in satisfying the tongue is a great offense. The duty of a sannyāsī is to eat only as much as needed to keep body and soul together.”
What the purport teaches
- Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu described indulging in the satisfaction of the tongue as a great offense for a sannyāsī.
- He stated that a sannyāsī’s duty is to eat only as much as needed to keep body and soul together.
- The standard He gave was bodily maintenance, not indulgence in taste or giving up proper nourishment.
Try this today
At one meal today, choose an amount that properly nourishes you without unnecessary indulgence.
Ask yourself
How can I distinguish eating for nourishment from eating merely to satisfy my tongue?
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.