Text 82] The Lord Instructs Sandtana Gosvami 41

TRANSLATION

Sanatana replied, ‘I shall practice the process of madhukari. Why should |
accept full meals in the house of a brahmana?”’

PURPORT

The word mdadhukari comes from the word madhukara, which refers to bees
collecting honey from flower to flower. A madhukari is a saintly person or a men-
dicant who does not accept a full meal at one house but begs from door to door,
taking a little food from each householder’s place. In this way he does not overeat
or give householders unnecessary trouble. A person in the renounced order may
beg but not cook. His begging should not be a burden for the householders. The
madhukari process is strictly to be followed by a babaji, that is, one who has at-
tained the paramaharisa stage. This practice is still current in Vrndavana, and
there are many places where alms are offered. Unfortunately, there are many beg-
gars who have come to Vrndavana to accept alms but not follow the principles of
Sanatana Gosvami. People try to imitate him and lead an idle life by practicing
madhukari. It is almost impossible to strictly follow Sanatana Gosvami or Ripa
Gosvami. It is better to accept food offered to Krsna in the temple than to try to
imitate Sanatana Gosvami and Ripa Gosvami.

yuktahdra-vihdrasya
yukta-cestasya karmasu

yukta-svapnavabodhasya
yogo bhavati duhkha-ha

“He who is temperate in his habits of eating, sleeping, working and recreation can
mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.” (Bg. 6.17)
The ideal sannyasi strictly follows the ways practiced by the Gosvamis.

TEXT 82

FASTA CAMITAT AGT HAH BATT |
CBSA Alc AS ICS SCH Ala i wR

sanatanera vairagye prabhura dnanda apara
bhota-kambala pane prabhu cahe bare bara

SYNONYMS

sanatanera—of Sanatana Gosvami; vairagye—by the renunciation; prabhura—
of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ananda—happiness; apara—unlimited; bhota-kam-
bala—the woolen blanket; pane—towards; prabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
cahe—looks; bare bara—repeatedly. .
