94 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 13
should be constructed for the preaching of spiritual consciousness or
Krsna consciousness, not to provide free hotels for persons who are
useful for neither material nor spiritual purposes. Temples and monas-
teries should be strictly off limits to worthless clubs of crazy men. In the
Krsna consciousness movement we welcome everyone who agrees at least
to follow the movement’s regulative principles—no illicit sex, no intoxi-
cation, no meat-eating and no gambling. In the temples and monasteries,
gatherings of unnecessary, rejected, lazy fellows should be strictly dis-
allowed. The temples and monasteries should be used exclusively by de-
votees who are serious about spiritual advancement in Krsna conscious-
ness. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explains the word drambhan
as meaning mathddi-vydpdrdn, which means “‘attempts to construct
temples and monasteries.” The first business of the sannyasi is to preach
Krsna consciousness, but if, by the grace of Krsna, facilities are availa-
ble, then he may construct temples and monasteries to give shelter to the
serious students of Krsna consciousness. Otherwise such temples and
monasteries are not needed.
TEXT 9
a wae Te Tea: |
Teta TafaTS Hesqiged A ANT | 8 I
na yater dsramah prayo
dharma-hetur mahétmanah
Sdntasya sama-cittasya
bibhrydd uta va tyajet

na—not; yateh—of the sannydsi; 4sramah—the symbolic dress (with
danda and kamandalu); prayah—almost always; dharma-hetuh—the
cause of advancement in spiritual life; maha-atmanah—who is factually
exalted and advanced; sdntasya—who is peaceful; sama-cittasya—who
has attained the stage of being equipoised; bibhryat—one may accept
(such symbolic signs); uta—indeed; vd—or; tyajet—one may give up.

TRANSLATION

A peaceful, equipoised person who is factually advanced in

spiritual consciousness does not need to accept the symbols of a
