Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 10.13

vaisnavera ei haya eka svabhava niscala

tenho jiva nahena, hana svatantra isvara

SYNONYMS

vaisnavera -- of great devotees; ei -- this; haya -- is; eka -- one; svabhava -- nature; niscala -- unflinching; tenho -- He; jiva -- conditioned soul; nahena -- is not; hana -- is; svatantra -- independent; isvara -- controller.

TRANSLATION

"A Vaisnava travels to places of pilgrimage to purify them and reclaim fallen conditioned souls. This is one of the duties of a Vaisnava. Actually, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is not a living entity but the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Consequently, He is a fully independent controller, yet in His position as a devotee, He carries out the activities of a devotee."

PURPORT

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura points out that because there are many permanent residents in holy places who do not precisely follow the rules and regulations governing living in a sacred place, exalted devotees have to go to these places to reclaim such persons. This is the business of a Vaisnava. A Vaisnava is unhappy to see others materially enmeshed. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught these activities of a Vaisnava although He is the worshipable Deity of all Vaisnavas, the complete and independent Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is purnah suddho nitya-muktah -- complete, completely uncontaminated and eternally liberated. He is sanatana, for He has no beginning or end.

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