Prabhupāda: As yesterday we were talking of varṇāśrama-dharma, four varṇas and four āśramas—brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra. So the Vedic culture means to execute the varṇāśrama. Now we are known as Hindus. The 'Hindu' word is not to be found . . . (break) (aside:) A little disturbance will mar the situation. So Vedic culture means this varṇāśrama-dharma. The Muhammadans from the other side of River Sindhu, they have called us Hindu. Actually, this word 'Hindu' you'll not find any Vedic scripture. So to accept this position—brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa—is compulsory. It is not that one has to take sannyāsa as a fashion. No. Actually it is absolutely necessary for any person at the last stage of life to accept sannyāsa. This Rāmānanda Rāya also retired from the government service. He met Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised him that "Now you retire from your governorship and come to Jagannātha Purī, your home, and let us talk together about spiritual life." So in this way he retired. So all the associates of Caitanya Mahāprabhu—śrī-rūpa sanātana bhaṭṭa-raghunātha śrī-jīva gopāla-bhaṭṭa dāsa-raghunātha—Six Gosvāmīs, the direct disciples of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they were all in renounced order of life. Then? Read. You read. You'll hear.
Indian guest or devotee: "Although the Gosvāmīs were very aristocratic, they became mendicant just to deliver the fallen souls according to the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu." (Gaura-Govinda translates)
Prabhupāda: About Gosvāmīs, Śrīnivāsa Ācārya, he has written, tyaktvā tūrṇam aśeṣa-maṇḍala-pati-śreṇīṁ sadā tuccha-vat bhūtvā dīna-gaṇeśakau karuṇayā kaupīna-kanthāśritau. (child talking) (aside:) Please take out. Tyaktvā tūrṇam aśeṣa-maṇḍala-pati-śreṇīm. They were ministers. Naturally their associates were very, very big zamindars and rich men, aśeṣa-maṇḍala-pati-śreṇīm. Maṇḍala-pati means leaders—social, political.