SRI CAITANYA BHAGAVATA
Madhya Lila Chapter 16

The Lord Himself has instructed in the Vedas how to offer Him offerings of food with different `mudras' and `mantras' without these the Lord refuses to accept anything. But the Lord Himself has transgressed these rules and regulations for the sake of His pure devotees. The living proof of this is the eating of Suklambara's chipped rice. Therefore the conclusion is that loving devotion is the foremost of all rules, regulations and rituals. Rules and speculations are meant to be subservient and secondary to devotional service; those who are dissatisfied with this arrangement fall down from the path of self realization.

Srila Vedavyasa formulated in the Vedic literatures that devotional service is the source and root of all rules and regulations, Lord Gauranga now has directly substantiated this. The brahmana Suklambara did not voluntarily offer the rice with the required regulations of `mudras' yet the Lord ate it with painstaking care.

Those materialists who have been blinded by the glitter of gold, position and family cannot recognize a Vaisnava devotee. Lord Krsna never accepts the offerings of those who ridicule a Vaisnava seeing him only as a poor simpleton.

In the Srimad Bhagavatam it says, "na bhajah kumani sinam sa jyam harir adhanatma-dhana-priyo rasa-jnah sruta-dhana-kula-karmanam madairye vidadhati param akincanesu satsu" (SB 4.31.21)

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead became very dear to those devotees who have no material possessions but are fully happy in possessing the devotional service of the Lord. Indeed the Lord relishes the devotional activities of such devotees. Those who are puffed up with material education, wealth, aristocracy and furtive activity are very proud of possessing many material things and they often deride the devotees. Even if such people offer the Lord worship, the Lord never accepts it.

The Vedas glorify Krsna as being the life of the materially impoverished and surrendered souls, and Lord Gauranga is personally showing this by example. One who hears this narration of how Lord Caitanya ate Suklambara's rice will indeed attain loving devotion to Lord Caitanya's lotus feet.

Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya and Lord Nityananda Prabhu are my life and soul.
I, Vrndavana dasa, humbly offer this song at their lotus feet.