Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 4.124
Careful Respect for the Deity’s Offering
“A paramahaṁsa like Mādhavendra Purī is always satisfied in the loving service of the Lord. Material hunger and thirst cannot impede his activities. When he desired to taste a little sweet rice offered to the Deity, he considered that he had committed an offense by desiring to eat what was being offered to the Deity.”
What the purport teaches
- A paramahaṁsa is satisfied in loving service to the Lord, and material hunger and thirst cannot impede his activities. He conquers lust, anger, greed, illusion, enviousness, and hunger and thirst.
- Food being carried from the kitchen to the Deity room should be covered so that others do not desire to eat it before it is offered. It must be uncovered when brought before the Deity.
- Mādhavendra Purī wanted to taste the sweet rice so that he could prepare something similar for Gopāla. Yet he was so strict that he considered this desire an offense and quietly left the temple.
Try this today
When carrying a food offering to the Deity today, keep it covered until it is placed before the Deity.
Ask yourself
How carefully do I distinguish an offering for the Deity from food for my own enjoyment?
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.