Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 3.85
Apparent Condemnation Is Actually Praise
“Advaita Ācārya said, “You are a reject paramahaṁsa, and You have accepted the renounced order of life just to fill up Your belly. I can understand that Your business is to give trouble to brāhmaṇas.””
What the purport teaches
- The purport explains that smārta-brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇava gosvāmīs differ in opinion. Nityānanda Prabhu had nothing to do with the rules governing smārta-brāhmaṇas.
- By calling Nityānanda Prabhu a rejected paramahaṁsa, Advaita Ācārya was in a sense accepting Him as a paramahaṁsa. Under the pretense of condemning Him, He was actually praising Him.
- In the supermost avadhūta or paramahaṁsa stage, one may appear engaged in sense gratification but actually has nothing to do with it, and one's dress may vary. These words between Advaita Ācārya and Nityānanda Prabhu are jokes, not insults.
Try this today
Reread the apparent accusation alongside the purport, and write one sentence explaining how it praises Nityānanda Prabhu.
Ask yourself
Why is it important not to mistake this joking praise for an insult?
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.