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36 Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta

PURPORT

This exemplary behavior of Lord Caitanya definitely proves that a Vaisnava
sannyasi cannot accept invitations from Mayavadi sannyasis nor intimately mix
with them.

TEXT 47

FAsa catimiias arly Stare faferr |
Sis Freel mehr eiy gat afeeni 89 4

sanatana gosani asi’ tarihai milila
tanra siksa lagi’ prabhu du-masa rahila
SYNONYMS

sanatana—of the name Sanatana; gosafi—a great devotee; asi’—coming there;
tanhai—there at Varanasi; milila—visited Him; tanra—His; siksa—instruction; /agi’—
for the matter of; prabhu—Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; du-masa—two months;
rahifa—remained there.

TRANSLATION

When Sanatana Gosvami came from Bengal, he met Lord Caitanya at the house
of Tapana Misra, where Lord Caitanya remained continuously for two months to
teach him devotional service.

PURPORT

Lord Caitanya taught Sanatana Gosvami in the line of disciplic succession.
Sanatana Gosvami was a very learned scholar in Sanskrit and other languages, but
until instructed by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu he did not write anything about
Vaisnava behavior. His very famous book Hari-bhakti-vilasa, which gives directions
for Vaisnava candidates, was written completely in compliance with the instructions
of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In this Hari-bhakti-vilasa Sri Sanatana Gosvami gives
definite instructions that by proper initiation by a bona fide spiritual master one
can immediately become a brahmana. |n this connection he says:

yatha kafcanatam yati karnsyam rasa-vidhanatah
tatha diksa-vidhanena dvijatvarn jayate nrnam

“As bell metal is turned to gold when mixed with mercury in an alchemical process,
so one who is properly trained and initiated by a bona fide spiritual master immedi-
ately becomes a brahmana.’’ Sometimes those born in brahmana families protest
this, but they have no strong arguments against this principle. By the grace of Krsna
and His devotee, one’s life can change. This is confirmed in the Srimad-Bhagavatam
by the words jahati bandham and suddhanti. Jahati bandham indicates that a living
entity is conditioned by a particular type of body. The body is certainly an impedi-
ment, but one who associates with a pure devotee and follows his instructions can
avoid this impediment and become a regular brahmana by initiation under his strict
