16
Šri Caitanya-caritāmrta
[[Madhya-lilā, Ch. 17
TRANSLATION
While the Lord was bathing and murmuring the Gāyatrī mantra, the elephants came before Him. The Lord immediately splashed some water on the elephants and asked them to chant the name of Krṣṇa.
PURPORT
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was the Supreme Personality of Godhead playing the part of a very great advanced devotee. On the  mahā-bhāgavata  platform, the devotee makes no distinction between friends and enemies. On that platform he sees everyone as a servant of Kṛṣṇa. As stated in  Bhagavad-gītā :
vidyā-vinaya-sampanne brāhmaṇe gavi hastini śuni caiva śvapāke ca paṇḍitāh sama-darśinah
“The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle  brāhmaṇa , a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater [outcaste].” (Bg. 5.18)
A  mahā-bhāgavata , being learned and advanced in spiritual consciousness, sees no difference between a tiger, an elephant or a learned scholar. The test of advanced spiritual consciousness is that one becomes fearless. He envies no one, and he is always engaged in the Lord's service. He sees every living entity as an eternal part and parcel of the Lord, rendering service according to his capacity by the will of the Supreme Lord. As  Bhagavad-gitā  confirms:
sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca
“I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.” (Bg. 15.15)
The  mahā-bhāgavata  knows that Kṛṣṇa is in everyone's heart. Kṛṣṇa is dictating, and the living entity is following His dictations. Kṛṣṇa is within the heart of the tiger, elephant and boar. Therefore Kṛṣṇa tells them, "Here is a  mahā-bhāgavata . Please do not disturb him." Why, then, should the animals be envious of such a great personality? Those who are neophytes or even a little progressed in devotional service should not try to imitate the  mahā-bhāgavata . Rather, they should only follow in their footsteps. The word  anukara  means "imitating," and  anusara  means "trying to follow in the footsteps." We should not try to imitate the activities of a  mahā-bhāgavata  or Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Our best efforts should be exerted in trying to follow them according to our ability. The  mahā-bhāgavata's