322 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Antya-lila, Ch. 3
SYNONYMS
tumi khaile—if you eat; haya—there is; koti-brahmana-bhojana—feeding ten
million brahmanas; eta bali—saying this; sraddha-patra—the dish offered to the
forefathers; karaila bhojana—made to eat.
TRANSLATION
“Feeding you is equal to feeding ten million brahmanas,” Advaita Acarya
said. ‘Therefore, accept this sraddha-patra.” Thus Advaita Acarya made him
eat.
PURPORT
Sraddha is prasdda offered to the forefathers at a certain date of the year or
month. The sraddha-patra, or plate offered to the forefathers, is then offered to
the best of the brahmanas in society. Instead of offering the sraddha-patra to any
other brahmana, Advaita Acarya offered it to Haridasa Thakura, considering him
greater than any of the foremost brahmanas. This act by Sri Advaita Acarya proves
that Haridasa Thakura was always situated in a transcendental position and was
therefore always greater than even the most exalted brahmana, for he was situ-
ated above the mode of goodness of the material world. Referring to the Bhakti-
sandarbha, verse 177, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura quotes the following
statements from the Garuda Purana in this connection:
brahmananam sahasrebhyah
satra-yaji visisyate
satra-ydaji-sahasrebhyah
sarva-ve danta-paragah
sarva-vedanta-vit-kotyd
visnu-bhakto visisyate
vaisnavanadm sahasrebhya
ekanty eko visisyate
A brahmana qualified to offer sacrifices is better than an ordinary brahmana, and
better than such a brahmana is one who has studied all the Vedic scriptures.
Among many such brahmanas, one who is a devotee of Lord Visnu is the best;
and among many such Vaisnavas, one who fully engages in the service of the Lord
is the best.”
bhaktir asta-vidhd hy esa
yasmin mlecche ‘pi vartate
sa viprendro muni-sresthah
sa jfidni sa ca panditah
tasmai deyarh tato grahyam
sa ca ptijyo yatha harih
