Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrī Caitanya Caritāmrita Antya 16.7

kautukete teńho yadi pāśaka khelāya

'hare krishna' 'krishna' kari' pāśaka cālāya

SYNONYMS

kautukete — in jest; teńho — he; yadi — when; pāśaka khelāya — plays with dice; hare krishna — the holy name of the Lord; krishna — Krishna; kari' — chanting; pāśaka cālāya — throws the dice.

TRANSLATION

When he used to throw dice in jest, he would chant Hare Krishna while throwing the dice.

PURPORT

In this connection Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thākura warns the men of this age not to imitate the jesting of a mahā-bhāgavata like Kālidāsa. If someone imitates him by playing with dice or gambling while chanting the Hare Krishna mahā-mantra, he will certainly become a victim of offenses unto the holy name. As it is said, hari-nāma-bale pāpe pravritti: one must not commit sinful activities on the strength of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. Playing with dice is certainly gambling, but it is clearly said here that Kālidāsa did this only in jest. A mahā-bhāgavata can do anything, but he never forgets the basic principles. Therefore it is said, tāra vākya, kriyā-mudrā vijñeha nā bujhaya: "No one can understand the activities of a pure devotee." We should not imitate Kālidāsa.

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