4
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta
[Antya-lilā, Ch. 16]
mahā-bhāgavata teṅho sarala udāra kṛṣṇa-nāma-‘saṅkete’ cālāya vyavahāra
SYNONYMS
mahā-bhāgavata —a highly advanced devotee;  teṅho —he;  sarala udāra —very simple and liberal;  kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkete —with chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa;  cālāya —performs;  vyavahāra —ordinary dealings.
TRANSLATION
Kālidāsa was a very advanced devotee, yet he was simple and liberal. He would chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa while performing all his ordinary dealings.
TEXT 7
कोतुकेते छैशे यदि पाणक थेलाय । ‘हरे कृष्ण’ ‘कृष्ण’ करि’ पाणक ठालाय ॥ १ ॥
kautukete teṅho yadi pāśaka khelāya ‘hare kṛṣṇa’ ‘kṛṣṇa’ kari’ pāśaka cālāya
SYNONYMS
kautukete —in jest;  teṅho —he;  yadi —when;  pāśaka khelāya —plays with dice;  hare kṛṣṇa —the holy name of the Lord;  kṛṣṇa —Kṛṣṇa;  kari’ —chanting;  pāśaka cālāya —throws the dice.
TRANSLATION
When he used to throw dice in jest, he would throw the dice while chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa.
PURPORT
In this connection Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura warns the men of this age not to imitate the jesting of a  mahā-bhāgavata  like Kālidāsa. If someone imitates him by playing with dice or gambling while chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa  mahā-mantra , he will certainly become a victim of offenses unto the holy name. As it is said,  hari-nāma-bale pāpe pravṛtti : one must not commit sinful activities on the strength of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa  mantra . Playing with dice is certainly gambling, but it is clearly said here that Kālidāsa did this only in jest. A  mahā-bhāgavata  can do anything, but he never forgets the basic principles. Therefore it is said,  vaiṣṇavera kriyā-mudrā vijñeha nā bujhaya : “No one can understand the activities of a pure devotee.” We should not imitate Kālidāsa.