50 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 9
PURPORT
According to the Tattvavadis, the best process is to execute the duties of the
four varnas and asramas. In the material world, unless one is situated in one of the
varnas (brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sddra) one cannot manage social affairs
properly to attain the ultimate goal. One also has to follow the principles of the
asramas (brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa), which are considered
essential for the attainment of the highest goal. In this way the Tattvavadis
establish that the execution of the principles of varna and adsrama for the sake of
Krsna is the best way to attain the topmost goal. The Tattvavadis thus established
their principles in terms of human society. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, however, dif-
fered when He said that the best process is hearing and chanting about Lord
Visnu. According to the Tattvavadis, the highest goal is returning home, back to
Godhead, but in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s opinion the highest goal is attaining
love of Godhead, either in the material or spiritual world. In the material world this
is practiced according to Sastric injunction, and in the spiritual world the real
achievement is already there.
TEXTS 259-260
was FTSas Facets Wale MAAR |
ROA THA AIDS AYAPUACAAT 1 Reo I
fe aah si face) oferoaqae |
FHTAS SITS SATIVA STSAT | we I
Sravanam kirtanam visnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam
sakhyam atma-nivedanam
iti pumsarpita visnau
bhaktis cen nava-laksana
kriyeta bhagavaty addha
tan manye ‘dhitam uttamam
SYNONYMS
sravanam—hearing of the holy name, form, qualities, entourage and pastimes,
which must pertain to Lord Visnu; kirtanam—vibrating transcendental sounds
pertaining to the holy name, form, qualities and entourage, and inquiring about
them (these also should be only in relationship to Visnu); visnoh—of Lord Visnu;
smaranam—remembering the holy name, form and entourage, and inquiring
about them, also only for Visnu; pada-sevanam —executing devotional service ac-
cording to time, circumstances and situation, only in relationship with Visnu; ar-
