Text 103] The Glories of Haridasa Thakura 259

PURPORT

In the days of Haridasa Thakura, all the brahmanas worshiped Narayana in the
form of the sdlagrama-sila. Therefore begging from a brahmana’s house meant
taking krsna-prasada, which is transcendental (nirguna). If we take food from the
house of others, such as karmis, we shall have to share the qualities of those from
whom we take alms. Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took prasada in the
houses of Vaisnavas. This is the general process. The members of the Krsma con-
sciousness movement are advised not to take food from anywhere but a
Vaisnava’s or brahmana’s house where Deity worship is performed. Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu has said, visayira anna khdaile dusta haya mana: if a devotee takes
alms or food from the house of a karmi who is simply interested in money, his
mind will be unclean. We must always remember that a devotee’s life is one of
vairagya-vidya, or renunciation and knowledge. Therefore all devotees are
warned not to live unnecessarily luxurious lives at the cost of others. Grhasthas
living within the jurisdiction of the temple must be especially careful not to imi-
tate karmis by acquiring opulent clothing, food and conveyances. As far as possi-
ble, these should be avoided. A member of the temple, whether grhastha,
brahmacdari or sannydasi, must practice a life of renunciation, following in the
footsteps of Haridasa Thakura and the six Gosvamis. Otherwise, because mdyd is
very strong, at any time one may become a victim of maya and fall down from
spiritual life.

TEXT 102

CAS CHAT atI—arapee Liat |
CAMAATSR CHS HAS-latar i sor |}

sei desadhyaksa nama—ramacandra khanna
vaisnava-vidvesi sei pasanda-pradhana

SYNONYMS

sei—that; desa-adhyaksa—landholder; nama—whose name; ramacandra
kharina—Ramacandra Khan; vaisnava-vidvesi—envious of Vaisnavas; sei—that;
pasanda-pradhana—chief of the atheists.

TRANSLATION
A landholder named Ramacandra Khan was the zamindar of that district. He

was envious of Vaisnavas and was therefore a great atheist.
TEXT 103

afaatca cries Ace, alace a NCA |
Sta BATA SACS Atal BT SLA Sow ti
