Text 5

One should not increase the number of his unqualified disciples on the pretext of spreading bhakti. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.13.8) states:

न शिष्यान् अनुबध्नीत ग्रन्थान् नैवाभ्यसेद् बहून्
न व्याख्याम् उपयुञ्जीत नारम्भान् आरभेत् क्वचित्

na śiṣyān anubadhnīta granthān naivābhyased bahūn
na vyākhyām upayuñjīta nārambhān ārabhet kvacit

One should not make many disciples for material gain, nor study many books, nor give discourses on the scriptures to earn one’s livelihood. One should also give up large undertakings.

बहु-शिष्य-लोभेते अयोग्य शिष्य करे
भक्ति-शून्य शास्त्राभ्यासे तर्क करि’ मरे

bahu-śiṣya-lobhete ayogya śiṣya kare
bhakti-śūnya śāstrābhyāse tarka kari’ mare

व्याख्यावाद-बह्वारम्भे वृथा काल याय
नामे याङ्र रुचि सेइ ए सब ना चाय

vyākhyāvāda-bahvārambhe vṛthā kāla yāya
nāme yāṅra ruci sei e saba nā cāya

Commentary: Bhajana-rahasya-vṛtti:

While explaining the duty of a sannyāsī, Devarṣi Nārada said to Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja, “A sannyāsī should roam about, be devoted to Nārāyaṇa and be the well-wisher of all living entities. He should not engage in any occupation to maintain his life, nor should he engage in discussions only for the sake of debate. He should only accept objects that come through begging (bhikṣā ). He should not be attached to literature that discusses temporary, material subject matters, nor, for material benefit, should he give mantras to unqualified persons to increase the number of his disciples. He should not show his scholarly talent, but rather he should study literature on bhakti and put these teachings into practice. It is unfavourable to pure devotion, and also a waste of time, to establish and maintain large temples to make a show of opulence. Many kinds of unqualified persons will take shelter of such temples, and their devious activities will defame the society of sādhus. Saintly persons should perform bhajana under the guidance of their superiors, following the path designated by the disciplic succession (paramparā ). Only a sādhaka on the platform of bhāva is qualified to make disciples, and he does so only for the welfare of society and the protection of the sampradāya. The scriptures forbid unqualified persons from taking disciples.”