278 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 16
TEXT 238
HEB-CAaAT ol FA CTS CHAE |
HUCarAs fata Sy’ Sei AS’ See] 1) Vv |
markata-vairagya na kara loka dekhafa
yatha-yogya visaya bhufja’ anasakta hafia
SYNONYMS

markata-vairagya—monkey renunciation; nd kara—do not do; loka—to the
people; dekhaia—showing off; yathda-yogya—as it is befitting; visaya—material
things; bhufija’—enjoy; andsakta—without attachment; haria—being.

TRANSLATION

“You should not make yourself a showbottle devotee and become a false
renunciant. For the time being, enjoy the material world in a befitting way and
do not become attached to it.”

PURPORT

The word markata-vairdgya, indicating false renunciation, is very important in
this verse. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, in commenting on this word,
points out that monkeys make an external show of renunciation by not accepting
clothing and by living naked in the forest. In this way they consider themselves
renunciants, but actually they are very busy enjoying sense gratification with
dozens of female monkeys. Such renunciation is called markata-vairagye —the
renunciation of a monkey. One cannot be really renounced until one actually be-
comes disgusted with material activity and sees it as a stumbling block to spiritual
advancement. Renunciation should not be phalgu, temporary, but should exist
throughout one’s life. Temporary renunciation, or monkey renunciation, is like the
renunciation one feels at a cremation ground. When a man takes a dead body to
the crematorium, he sometimes thinks, “This is the final end of the body. Why am
| working so hard day and night?” Such sentiments naturally arise in the mind of
any man who goes to a crematorial ghata. However, as soon as he returns from
the cremation grounds, he again engages in material activity for sense enjoyment.
This is called smasana-vairagya, or markata-vairagya.

In order to render service to the Lord, one may accept necessary things. If one
lives in this way, he may actually become renounced. In the Bhakti-rasamrta-
sindhu (1.2.108), it is said:

yavata syat sva-nirvahah
svikuryat tavad arthavit

adhikye nydnatayam ca
cyavate paramarthatah
