TEXT 73
gopinatha kahe,--inhara nahi bahyapeksa
ataeva bada sampradayera nahika apeksa
SYNONYMS
gopinatha kaheGopinatha Acarya replied; inharaof the Lord; nahithere is not; bahya-apeksadependence on any external formality; ataevatherefore; badabig; sampradayeraof a community; nahikathere is not; apeksanecessity.
TRANSLATION
Gopinatha Acarya replied, "Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu does not rely on any external formality. There is no need for Him to accept the sannyasa order from a superior sampradaya."
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted sannyasa from the Bharati sampradaya (community), which belongs to the disciplic succession of Sankaracarya. Sankaracarya introduced names for his sannyasa disciples, and these are ten in number. Out of these, the surnames Tirtha, Asrama and Sarasvati are considered topmost. In the monastery at Srngeri, the surname Sarasvati is considered first class, Bharati second class and Puri third class. A sannyasi who has very nicely understood the slogan tat tvam asi and who takes his bath at the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and Sarasvati is called a Tirtha. A person who is very eager to accept sannyasa, who is detached from worldly activities, who has no desire for any kind of material facilities, and who is thus saved from repeated birth and death is known as Asrama. When a sannyasi lives in a beautiful, solitary place in the forest and is freed from all material desires, he is called Vana. A sannyasi who always lives in the forest and renounces all connection with the world in order to be elevated to the heavenly planets, where he can live in the Nandana-kanana, is called Aranya. One who prefers living in the mountains engaging in the study of the Bhagavad-gita and whose intelligence is fixed is called Giri. One who prefers living in great mountains, even among ferocious animals, to attain the summit of philosophical speculation (understanding that the essence of this material world is useless) is called Parvata. A sannyasi who has dipped into the ocean of the Absolute Truth and collected some valuable stones of knowledge from that ocean, who never falls from the regulative principles of a sannyasi, is called Sagara. One who has learned the classical art of music, who engages in its culture, and who has become expert and completely aloof from material attachment is called Sarasvati. Sarasvati is the goddess of music and learning, and in one hand she holds a musical instrument called a vina. A sannyasi who is always engaged in music for spiritual elevation is called Sarasvati. One who has become completely educated and is freed from all kinds of ignorance and who is never unhappy, even in a distressed condition, is called Bharati. One who has become very expert in absolute knowledge, who is situated in the Absolute Truth, and who always discusses the Absolute Truth is called Puri.
All these sannyasis are assisted by brahmacaris, who are described as follows: One who knows his real identity and is fixed in his particular occupational duty, who is always happy in spiritual understanding, is called Svarupa-brahmacari. One who completely knows the Brahman effulgence and is always engaged in the practice of yoga is called Prakasa-brahmacari. One who has acquired absolute knowledge and who always meditates on the Absolute Truth, knowledge, the unlimited and the Brahman effulgence, thus keeping himself in transcendental bliss, is called Ananda-brahmacari. One who is able to distinguish between matter and spirit, who is never disturbed by material transformations, and who meditates on the unlimited, inexhaustible, auspicious Brahman effulgence is a first-class, learned brahmacari and is named Caitanya.
When Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was talking with Gopinatha Acarya about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's sannyasa community, he appreciated the first name, "Sri Krsna," but did not like the surname, "Caitanya," which is the name for a brahmacari belonging to the Bharati community. He therefore suggested that the Lord be elevated to the Sarasvati community. However, Gopinatha Acarya pointed out that the Lord does not depend on any external formality. Gopinatha Acarya was firmly convinced that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was Krsna Himself and therefore independent of any external ritual or formality. If one wants to engage in pure devotional service, he does not require titular superiority as a Bharati or a Sarasvati.

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