740
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 4, Ch. 19]
space in this way, the great sage Atri saw him and understood the whole situation.
PURPORT
The word  pākhaṇḍa  used in this verse is sometimes pronounced  pāṣaṇḍa . Both of these words indicate an imposter who presents himself as a very religious person but in actuality is sinful. Indra took up the saffron-colored dress as a way of cheating others. This saffron dress has been misused by many imposters who present themselves as liberated persons or incarnations of God. In this way people are cheated. As we have mentioned many times, the conditioned soul has a tendency to cheat; therefore this quality is also visible in a person like King Indra. It is understood that even King Indra is not liberated from the clutches of material contamination. Thus the word  āmuktam iva , meaning “as if he were liberated,” is used. The saffron dress worn by a  sannyāsī  announces to the world that he has renounced all worldly affairs and is simply engaged in the service of the Lord. Such a devotee is actually a  sannyāsī  or liberated person. In  Bhagavad-gītā  it is said:
anāśritaḥ karma-phalam kāryaṁ karma karoti yaḥ sa sannyāsī ca yogī ca na niragnīr na cākriyaḥ
“One who is unattached to the fruits of his work and who works as he is obligated is in the renounced order of life, and he is the true mystic: not he who lights no fire and performs no work.” (Bg. 6.1)
In other words, one who offers the results of his activities to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is actually a  sannyāsī  and  yogī . Cheating  sannyāsīs  and  yogīs  have existed since the time of Pṛthu Mahārāja’s sacrifice. This cheating was very foolishly introduced by King Indra. In some ages such cheating is very prominent, and in other ages not so prominent. It is the duty of a  sannyāsī  to be very cautious because, as stated by Lord Caitanya,  sannyāsīra alpa chidra sarva-loke gāya : a little spot in a  sannyāsī ’s character will be magnified by the public. Therefore, unless one is very sincere and serious, he should not take up the order of  sannyāsa . One should not use this order as a means to cheat the public. It is better not to take up  sannyāsa  in this age of Kali because provocations are very strong in this age. Only a very exalted person advanced in spiritual understanding should attempt to take up  sannyāsa . One should not adopt this order as a means of livelihood or for some material purpose.