Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Sri Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya 6.48

'namo narayanaya' bali' namaskara kaila

'krishne matir astu' bali' gosani kahila

SYNONYMS

namah narayanaya -- I offer my respects to Narayana; bali' -- saying; namaskara kaila -- offered respects to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krishne -- unto Lord Krishna; matih astu -- let there be attraction; bali' -- saying; gosani -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahila -- spoke.

TRANSLATION

Offering his obeisances to Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said, "Namo narayanaya" ["I offer my obeisances to Narayana"].

In return, Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Krishne matir astu" ["Let your attention be on Krishna"].

PURPORT

It is the etiquette among sannyasis, those on the fourth platform of spiritual life, to offer respects by saying om namo narayanaya ("I offer my respectful obeisances unto Narayana"). This greeting is used especially by Mayavadi sannyasis. According to the smriti scriptures, a sannyasi should not expect anything from anyone, nor should he consider himself identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vaishnava sannyasis never think of themselves as being one with the Lord; they always consider themselves eternal servants of Krishna, and they want to see everyone in the world become Krishna conscious. For this reason, a Vaishnava sannyasi always offers his blessings to everyone, saying krishne matir astu ("May you become Krishna conscious").

<<< >>>

Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness