50
Šrū Caitanya-caritāmrta
[[Madhya-lilā. Ch. 9]
PLURPORT
According to the Tattvavādīs, the best process is to execute the duties of the four  varṇas  and  āśramas . In the material world, unless one is situated in one of the  varṇas  ( brāhmaṇa ,  kṣatriya ,  vaiśya  and  śūdra ) one cannot manage social affairs properly to attain the ultimate goal. One also has to follow the principles of the  āśramas  ( brahmacarya ,  gṛhastha ,  vānaprastha  and  sannyāsa ), which are considered essential for the attainment of the highest goal. In this way the Tattvavādīs establish that the execution of the principles of  varṇa  and  āśrama  for the sake of Kṛṣṇa is the best way to attain the topmost goal. The Tattvavādīs thus established their principles in terms of human society. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, differed when He said that the best process is hearing and chanting about Lord Viṣṇu. According to the Tattvavādīs, the highest goal is returning home, back to Godhead, but in Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's opinion the highest goal is attaining love of Godhead, either in the material or spiritual world. In the material world this is practiced according to śāstric injunction, and in the spiritual world the real achievement is already there.
TEXTS 259-260
শ্রবণং কীর্তনং বিষ্ণোः স্মরণং পাদসেবনম্ ।  
 অর্চনং বন্দনং দাস্ত্যং সখ্যমাত্মনিবেদনম্ ॥ ২৫৯ ॥  
 ইতি পুংসাপিত। বিষ্ণৌ ভক্তিশ্চেন্নবলক্ষণ। ।  
 ক্রিয়েত ভগবত্যন্ধা তন্মন্ত্রেহধীতমুত্তমম্ ॥ ২৬০ ॥
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam
iti puṁsārpitā viṣṇau bhaktiś cen nava-lakṣaṇā kriyeta bhagavaty addhā tan manye 'dhītam uttamam
SYNONYMS
śravaṇam —hearing of the holy name, form, qualities, entourage and pastimes, which must pertain to Lord Viṣṇu;  kīrtanam —vibrating transcendental sounds pertaining to the holy name, form, qualities and entourage, and inquiring about them (these also should be only in relationship to Viṣṇu);  viṣṇoḥ —of Lord Viṣṇu;  smaraṇam —remembering the holy name, form and entourage, and inquiring about them, also only for Viṣṇu;  pāda-sevanam —executing devotional service according to time, circumstances and situation, only in relationship with Viṣṇu;  ar-