Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 9.116
Lakṣmī’s Desire Does Not Break Her Chastity
“Since Kṛṣṇa and Nārāyaṇa are the same personality, Lakṣmī’s association with Kṛṣṇa does not break her vow of chastity. Rather, it was in great fun that the goddess of fortune wanted to associate with Lord Kṛṣṇa.”
What the purport teaches
- Nārāyaṇa is a form of Kṛṣṇa associated with transcendental opulence. Although Kṛṣṇa is two-armed and Nārāyaṇa four-armed, They are the same person.
- Nārāyaṇa is as beautiful as Kṛṣṇa, but Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes are more sportive. These sportive pastimes do not make Him a different person from Nārāyaṇa.
- Lakṣmī’s desire to associate with Kṛṣṇa was natural and did not break her chastity, just as a chaste woman may associate with her husband in different dresses. Therefore one should not criticize her desire.
Try this today
Explain the example of different dresses in your own words, keeping the conclusion that Kṛṣṇa and Nārāyaṇa are the same person.
Ask yourself
How does the example of a husband in different dresses help you understand Lakṣmī’s desire?
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.