Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrī Caitanya Caritāmrita Ādi 12.50

pratigraha kabhu nā karibe rāja-dhana

vishayīra anna khāile dushta haya mana

SYNONYMS

pratigraha — acceptance of alms; kabhu — at any time; nā — not; karibe — should do; rāja-dhana — charity by kings; vishayīra — of men who are materialistic; anna — food; khāile — by eating; dushta — polluted; haya — becomes; mana — mind.

TRANSLATION

"Advaita Ācārya, My spiritual master, should never accept charity from rich men or kings, because if a spiritual master accepts money or grains from such materialists his mind becomes polluted.

PURPORT

It is very risky to accept money or food from materialistic persons, for such acceptance pollutes the mind of the charity's recipient. According to the Vedic system, one should give charity to sannyāsīs and brāhmanas because one who thus gives charity becomes free from sinful activities. Formerly, therefore, brāhmanas would not accept charity from a person unless he were very pious. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave this instruction for all spiritual masters. Materialistic persons who are not inclined to give up their sinful activities like illicit sex, intoxication, gambling and meat-eating sometimes want to become our disciples, but, unlike professional spiritual masters who accept disciples regardless of their condition, Vaishnavas do not accept such cheap disciples. One must at least agree to abide by the rules and regulations for a disciple before a Vaishnava ācārya can accept him. In fact, a Vaishnava should not even accept charity or food from persons who do not follow the rules and regulations of the Vaishnava principles.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness