Text 27]
The Activities of Mahārāja Priyavrata
51
TRANSLATION
Thus situated in the renounced order from the beginning of their lives, all three of them completely controlled the activities of their senses and thus became great saints. They concentrated their minds always upon the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the resting place of the totality of living entities and who is therefore celebrated as Vāsudeva. Lord Vāsudeva is the only shelter of those who are actually afraid of material existence. By constantly thinking of His lotus feet, these three sons of Mahārāja Priyavrata became advanced in pure devotional service. By the prowess of their devotional service, they could directly perceive the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in everyone's heart as the Supersoul, and realize that there was qualitatively no difference between themselves and Him.
PURPORT
The  paramahaṁsa  stage is the topmost position in renounced life. In  sannyāsa , the renounced order, there are four stages— kuṭīcaka ,  bahūdaka ,  parivrājakācārya  and  paramahaṁsa . According to the Vedic system, when one accepts the renounced order, he stays outside his village in a cottage, and his necessities, especially his food, are supplied from home. This is called the  kuṭīcaka  stage. When a  sannyāsī  advances further, he no longer accepts anything from home; instead, he collects his necessities, especially his food, from many places. This system is called  mādhukarī , which literally means "the profession of the bumblebees." As bumblebees collect honey from many flowers, a little from each, so a  sannyāsī  should beg from door to door but not accept very much food from any particular house; he should collect a little bit from every house. This is called the  bahūdaka  stage. When a  sannyāsī  is still more experienced, he travels all over the world to preach the glories of Lord Vāsudeva. He is then known as  parivrājakācārya . The  sannyāsī  reaches the  paramahaṁsa  stage when he finishes his preaching work and sits down in one place, strictly for the sake of advancing in spiritual life. An actual  paramahaṁsa  is one who completely controls his senses and engages in the unalloyed service of the Lord. Therefore all three of