Verse Text
12-14. śiṣyādy-anubandhitvādi-trayaṁ, yathā saptame—
na śiṣyān anubadhnīta granthān naivābhyased bahūn |
na vyākhyām upayuṣjīta nārambhān ārabhet kvacit ||113||
Translation
Attachment to disciples and the following two items (verses 78 &79), illustrated in the Seventh Canto: A sannyāsī must not be eager to make unqualified disciples, nor should he unnecessarily read books that disrespect the Lord, or give discourses as a means of livelihood. [Note: Mukunda in his commentary says that na vyākhyām upayuṣjita is a representative statement, which indicates also learning in order to defeat others in arguments] He should not engage in big projects, which distract him from his spiritual goals. SB 7.13.8
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Though the topic under discussion in the Bhāgavatam is sannyāsa-dharma, and therefore the three rules apply to a renounced person, the rules are also applicable to other devotees. In any case, this rule means that one should not accept unqualified disciples. This is because we see examples of Nārada and others taking disciples, though they were renounced. If the rule was literally followed, and no disciples were made, then the sampradāya would be destroyed because there would no lineage. Consequently, there would be an appearance of false knowledge. Thus, the rule that a devotee should not be attached to making disciples actually means that the devotee should not accept unqualified disciples in order to increase the numbers in one’s sampradāya.
The injunction that one should not study many scriptures means that one should not study scriptures other than Vaiṣṇava scriptures—scriptures opposed to Bhāgavatam. The injunction about big projects should be similarly interpreted. [Note: Big projects pleasing to the Lord can be undertaken.]
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
Not Accepting Unfit Disciples, Constructing Many Temples or Reading Many Books
Another stricture is that a person may have many disciples, but he should not act in such a way that he will be obliged to any of them for some particular action or some favor. And one should also not be very enthusiastic about constructing new temples, nor should one be enthusiastic about reading various types of books, save and except the ones which lead to the advancement of devotional service. Practically, if one very carefully reads Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Teachings of Lord Caitanya and this Nectar of Devotion, that will give him sufficient knowledge to understand the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One need not take the trouble of reading other books.
In the Seventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Thirteenth Chapter, verse 8, Nārada Muni, while discussing with Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira the various functions of the different orders in society, especially mentions rules for the sannyāsīs, those persons who have renounced this material world. One who has accepted the sannyāsa order of life is forbidden to accept as a disciple anyone who is not fit. A sannyāsī should first of all examine whether a prospective student is sincerely seeking Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If he is not, he should not be accepted. However, Lord Caitanya’s causeless mercy is such that He advised all bona fide spiritual masters to speak about Kṛṣṇa consciousness everywhere. Therefore, in the line of Lord Caitanya even the sannyāsīs can speak about Kṛṣṇa consciousness everywhere, and if someone is seriously inclined to become a disciple, the sannyāsī always accepts him.
The one point is that without increasing the number of disciples, there is no propagation of the cult of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore, sometimes even at a risk, a sannyāsī in the line of Caitanya Mahāprabhu may accept even a person who is not thoroughly fit to become a disciple. Later on, by the mercy of such a bona fide spiritual master, the disciple is gradually elevated. However, if one increases the number of disciples simply for some prestige or false honor, he will surely fall down in the matter of executing Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Similarly, a bona fide spiritual master has no business reading many books simply to show his proficiency or to get popularity by lecturing in different places. One should avoid all these things. It is also stated that a sannyāsī should not be enthusiastic about constructing temples. We can see in the lives of various ācāryas in the line of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that they are not very enthusiastic about constructing temples. However, if somebody comes forward to offer some service, the same reluctant ācāryas will encourage the building of costly temples by such servitors. For example, Rūpa Gosvāmī was offered a favor by Mahārāja Mānsiṅgh, the commander-in-chief of Emperor Akbar, and Rūpa Gosvāmī instructed him to construct a large temple for Govindajī, which cost vast amounts of money.
So a bona fide spiritual master should not personally take any responsibility for constructing temples, but if someone has money and wants to spend it in the service of Kṛṣṇa, an ācārya like Rūpa Gosvāmī may utilize the devotee’s money to construct a nice, costly temple for the service of the Lord. Unfortunately, it happens that someone who is not fit to become a spiritual master may approach wealthy persons to contribute for temple constructions. If such money is utilized by unqualified spiritual masters for living comfortably in costly temples without actually doing any preaching work, this is not acceptable. In other words, a spiritual master needn’t be very enthusiastic for constructing temple buildings simply in the name of so-called spiritual advancement. Rather, his first and foremost activity should be to preach. In this connection, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Mahārāja recommended that a spiritual master print books. If one has money, instead of constructing costly temples, one should spend his money for the publication of authorized books in different languages for propagating the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.