104 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 17
“Don't be carried away by the waves of maya. Just surrender to the lotus feet of
Krsna, and all miseries will end.” Those who follow social customs and behavior
forget to follow the path chalked out by the mahdjanas; thus they are offenders at
the feet of the mahdjanas. Sometimes they consider such mahdajanas very conser-
vative, or they create their own mahdjanas. In this way they ignore the principles
of the paramapard system. This is a great misfortune for everyone. If one does not
follow in the footsteps of a real mahdjana, one’s plans for happiness will be frus-
trated. This is elaborately explained in Madhya-lila (Chapter Twenty-
five, verses 55, 56 and 58). It is there stated:

parama karana isvare keha nahi mane

sva-sva-mata sthape para-matera khandane

tate chaya darsana haite ‘tattva’ nahi jani

‘mahdajana’ yei kahe, sei ‘satya’ mani

sri-krsna-caitanya-vani—amrtera dhara

tinhho ye kahaye vastu, sei ‘tattva’——sdra
People are so unfortunate that they do not accept the instructions of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Instead, they want to be supported by so-called maha-
janas, authorities. Tate chaya darsana haite ‘tattva’ nahi jani: we cannot ascertain
the real truth simply by following speculators. We have to follow the footsteps of
the mahdjanas in the disciplic succession. Then our attempt will be successful. Sri-
krsna-caitanya-vani—amrtera dhara: “Whatever is spoken by Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu is an incessant flow of nectar.” Whoever accepts His words as reality
can understand the essence of the Absolute Truth. No one can ascertain the Ab-
solute Truth by following the philosophy of Sankhya or Patafijali, for the followers
of Sankhya or Patafijali do not accept Lord Visnu as the Supreme Personality of
Godhead (na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum). The ambition of such people is
never fulfilled; therefore they are attracted by the external energy. Although
mental speculators may be renowned all over the world as great authorities, ac-
tually they are not. Such leaders are themselves conservative and not at all liberal.
However, if we preach this philosophy, people will consider Vaisnavas very sec-
tarian. Srila Madhavendra Puri was a real mahdjana, but misguided people cannot
distinguish the real from the unreal. However, a person who is awakened to Krsna
consciousness can understand the real religious path chalked out by the Lord and
His pure devotees. Sri Madhavendra Purl was a real mahdajana because he under-
stood the Absolute Truth properly and throughout his life behaved like a pure
devotee. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu approved the method of Sri Madhavendra
Puri. Therefore, although from the material viewpoint the Sanodiya brahmana was
on a lower platform, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu considered him situated on the
highest platform of spiritual realization.
