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Library » Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta » Antya-līlā » CHAPTER ELEVEN

CC Antya 11.30

Text

aneka nācāilā more prasāda kariyā
viprera śrāddha-pātra khāinu ‘mleccha’ hañā

Synonyms

aneka — in many ways; nācāilā — You have made dance; more — me; prasāda kariyā — by Your mercy; viprera — of the brāhmaṇas; śrāddha-pātra — the dish of the śrāddha ceremony; khāinu — I have eaten; mleccha hañā — although born in a family of meat-eaters.

Translation

“My dear Lord, by Your mercy You have made me dance in many ways. For example, I was offered the śrāddha-pātra, which should have been offered to first-class brāhmaṇas. I ate from it even though I was born in a family of meat-eaters.

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, in his Anubhāṣya, quotes from the Viṣṇu-smṛti in reference to the śrāddha-pātra.

brāhmaṇāpasadā hy ete kathitāḥ paṅkti-dūṣakāḥ
etān vivarjayed yatnāt śrāddha-karmaṇi paṇḍitaḥ

According to this verse, if one is born in a brāhmaṇa family but does not behave according to brahminical standards, he should not be offered the śrāddha-pātra, which is prasādam offered to the forefathers. Advaita Ācārya offered the śrāddha-pātra to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, not to a brāhmaṇa who had been born in a brāhmaṇa family. Although Haridāsa Ṭhākura was born in the family of meat-eaters, because he was an advanced devotee he was shown more respect than a first-class brāhmaṇa.