9.5
esaba-prasade likhi caitanya-lila-guna
jani va na jani, kari apana-sodhana
SYNONYMS
esaba—all these; prasade—by the mercy of; likhi—I write; caitanya—of Lord Caitanya; lila-guna—pastimes and qualities; jani—know; va—or; na—not; jani—know; kari—do; apana—self; sodhana—purification.
It is by the mercy of all these Vaisnavas and gurus that I attempt to write about the pastimes and qualities of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Whether I know or know not, it is for self-purification that I write this book.
PURPORT
This is the sum and substance of transcendental writing.
One must be an authorized Vaisnava, humble and pure.
One should write transcendental literature to purify oneself, not for credit.
By writing about the pastimes of the Lord, one associates with the Lord directly.
One should not ambitiously think, “I shall become a great author.
I shall be celebrated as a writer.” These are material desires.
One should attempt to write for self-purification.
It may be published or it may not be published, but that does not matter.
If one is actually sincere in writing, all his ambitions will be fulfilled.
Whether one is known as a great author is incidental.
One should not attempt to write transcendental literature for material name and fame.