Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 6.104
Gaurasundara Spreads Devotional Chanting
“ ‘The Lord [in the incarnation of Gaurasundara] has a golden complexion. Indeed, His entire body, which is very nicely constituted, is like molten gold. Sandalwood pulp is smeared all over His body. He will take the fourth order of spiritual life [sannyāsa] and will be very much self-controlled. He will be distinguished from Māyāvādī sannyāsīs in that He will be fixed in devotional service and will spread the saṅkīrtana movement.’”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord as Gaurasundara has a golden complexion and a beautifully constituted body like molten gold. Sandalwood pulp covers His body.
- He accepts sannyāsa, the fourth order of spiritual life, and is very self-controlled.
- He is distinguished from Māyāvādī sannyāsīs by being fixed in devotional service and spreading the saṅkīrtana movement. Gopīnātha Ācārya quotes this description from the Mahābhārata’s Viṣṇu-sahasra-nāma-stotra.
Try this today
Take a few minutes today to chant the Lord’s holy name as an act of devotional service.
Ask yourself
What does this description teach me about the importance of devotion alongside self-control?
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.