# Cc. Madhya 4.123 ## Text > ayācita-vṛtti purī—virakta, udāsa > ayācita pāile khā'na, nahe upavāsa ## Synonyms *ayācita*-*vṛtti*—accustomed to avoid begging; *purī*—Mādhavendra Purī; *virakta*—unattached; *udāsa*—indifferent; *ayācita*—without begging; *pāile*—if getting; *khā'na*—he eats; *nahe*—if not; *upavāsa*—fasting. ## Translation **Mādhavendra Purī avoided begging. He was completely unattached and indifferent to material things. If, without his begging, someone offered him some food, he would eat; otherwise he would fast.** ## Purport This is the *paramahaṁsa* stage, the highest stage for a *sannyāsī.* A *sannyāsī* can beg from door to door just to collect food, but a *paramahaṁsa* who has taken *ayācita-vṛtti,* or *ājagara-vṛtti,* does not ask anyone for food. If someone offers him food voluntarily, he eats. *Ayācita-vṛtti* means being accustomed to refrain from begging, and *ājagara-vṛtti* indicates one who is compared to a python, the big snake that makes no effort to acquire food but rather allows food to come automatically within its mouth. In other words, a *paramahaṁsa* simply engages exclusively in the service of the Lord without caring even for eating or sleeping. It was stated about the six Gosvāmīs: *nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau.* In the *paramahaṁsa* stage one conquers the desire for sleep, food and sense gratification. One remains a humble, meek mendicant engaged in the service of the Lord day and night. Mādhavendra Purī had attained this *paramahaṁsa* stage.