'namo nÄrÄyaṇÄya' bali' namaskÄra kaila
'kṛṣṇe matir astu' bali' gosÄñi kahila
namaḥ nÄrÄyaṇÄya - I offer my respects to NÄrÄyaṇa; bali' - saying; namaskÄra kaila - offered respects to Lord Caitanya MahÄprabhu; kṛṣṇe - unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; matiḥ astu - let there be attraction; bali' - saying; gosÄñi - ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu; kahila - spoke.
Offering his obeisances to Caitanya MahÄprabhu, SÄrvabhauma Bhaá¹á¹ÄcÄrya said, “Namo nÄrÄyaṇÄya†[“I offer my obeisances to NÄrÄyaṇaâ€].
In return, Caitanya MahÄprabhu said, “Kṛṣṇe matir astu†[“Let your attention be on Kṛṣṇaâ€].
It is the etiquette among sannyÄsÄ«s, those on the fourth platform of spiritual life, to offer respects by saying oá¹ namo nÄrÄyaṇÄya (“I offer my respectful obeisances unto NÄrÄyaṇaâ€). This greeting is used especially by MÄyÄvÄdÄ« sannyÄsÄ«s. According to the smá¹›ti scriptures, a sannyÄsÄ« should not expect anything from anyone, nor should he consider himself identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vaiṣṇava sannyÄsÄ«s never think of themselves as being one with the Lord; they always consider themselves eternal servants of Kṛṣṇa, and they want to see everyone in the world become Kṛṣṇa conscious. For this reason, a Vaiṣṇava sannyÄsÄ« always offers his blessings to everyone, saying kṛṣṇe matir astu (“May you become Kṛṣṇa consciousâ€).
