Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 9.98
Success Through Following the Spiritual Master
“The brāhmaṇa replied, “I am illiterate and therefore do not know the meaning of the words. Sometimes I read the Bhagavad-gītā correctly and sometimes incorrectly, but in any case I am doing this in compliance with the orders of my spiritual master.””
What the purport teaches
- The brāhmaṇa did not know the meaning of the words and sometimes read incorrectly. Still, he read in compliance with his spiritual master’s orders.
- His reading attracted the attention of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, even though his pronunciation was not always correct.
- His spiritual success did not depend on material qualifications such as correct pronunciation. It depended on strictly following his spiritual master’s instructions.
Try this today
Write down one instruction you have received from your spiritual master and take one small step to follow it today.
Ask yourself
How does this example help you distinguish faithful obedience from perfect performance?
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.