174 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 2, Ch. 4

word mahdmanah, which puts him on an equal level with the mahatmdas
described in the Bhagavad-gita. In the later age also there were many
mahdtmds of this type, and they also gave up all karma-kandiya concep-
lions of life, solely and wholly depending on the Supreme Personality of
Godhead Krsna. Lord Caitanya, who is Lord Krsna Himself, taught us in
His Siksa@stakam:

aslisya vd pada-ratam pinastu mam adarsanadn marma-hatam karotu va
yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparah.

“Lord Krsna, who is the lover of many devotees (women), may embrace
this fully surrendered maidservant or may trample me with His feet, or He
may render me brokenhearted by not being present before me for a long
duration of time, still He is nothing less than the Absolute Lord of my
heart.”

Srila Ripa Gosvami spoke thus:

viracaya mayi dandam dina-bandho dayaém va
gatir tha na bhavattah kacid anya mamasti

nipatatu sata-koti nirbharam va navambhah
tad api kila payodah stiiyate catakena.

“O Lord of the poor,do what you like with me, give me either mercy or
punishment, but in this world I have none to look after except Your Lord-
ship. The cataka bird always prays for the cloud, regardless of whether it
showers. rains, or throws a thunderbolt.”

Srila Madhavendra Puri, the grand-spiritual master of Lord Caitanya,
took leave of all karma-kdndiya obligations in the following words:

sandhyd-vandana bhadram astu bhavato bhoh snaéna tubhyar namo
bho devah pitaras ca tarpana-vidhau naharh ksamah ksamyatam
yatra kvapi nisadya yadava-kulottamasya karsa-dvisah
smaram smdaram agham hardmi tad alarh manye kim anyena me.

“OQ my evening prayer, all good unto you. O my morning bath, | bid
you good-bye. O demigods and forefathers, please excuse me. | am unable
to perform any more offering for your pleasures. Now | have decided to
free myself from all reactions of sins simply by remembering anywhere
and everywhere the great descendant of Yadu and the great enemy of
Kamsa [Lord Krsna]. think this is sufficient for me. So what is the use of
further endeavors?”
