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Chapter 5
The Activities of Saksi-gopala
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gives the following summary of the Fifth Chapter in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya: After passing through Yajapura, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu reached the town of Kataka (Cuttak) and there went to see the temple of Saksi-gopala. While there, He heard the story of Saksi-gopala from the mouth of Sri Nityananda Prabhu.
Once there were two brahmanas, one elderly and the other young, who were inhabitants of a place known as Vidyanagara. After touring many places of pilgrimage, the two brahmanas finally reached Vrndavana. The elderly brahmana was very satisfied with the service of the young brahmana, and he wanted to offer him his youngest daughter in marriage. The young brahmana received the promise of his elder before the Gopala Deity of Vrndavana. Thus the Gopala Deity acted as a witness. When both brahmanas returned to Vidyanagara, the younger brahmana raised the question of this marriage, but the elderly brahmana, due to obligations to his friends and wife, answered that he could not remember his promise. Because of this, the younger brahmana returned to Vrndavana and narrated the whole story to Gopalaji. Thus Gopalaji, being obliged by the young man's devotional service, accompanied him to southern India. Gopalaji followed the younger brahmana, who could hear the tinkling sound of Gopalaji's ankle bells. When all the respectable gentlemen of Vidyanagara were assembled, Gopalaji testified to the promise of the elderly brahmana. Thus the marriage was performed. Later, the King of that country constructed a fine temple for Gopala.
Afterwards, King Purusottama of Orissa was insulted by the King of Kataka, who refused to give him his daughter in marriage and called him a sweeper of Lord Jagannatha. With the help of Lord Jagannatha, King Purusottama fought the King of Kataka and defeated him. Thus he took charge of both the King's daughter and the state of Kataka as well. At that time, Gopalaji, being very much obligated by the devotional service of King Purusottama, was brought to the town of Kataka.
After hearing this narration, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited the temple of Gopala in great ecstasy of love of God. From Kataka He went to Bhuvanesvara and saw the temple of Lord Siva. In this way, He gradually arrived at Kamalapura, and on the banks of the Bhargi River He came to the temple of Lord Siva, where He entrusted His sannyasa staff to Nityananda Prabhu. However, Nityananda Prabhu broke the staff into three pieces and threw it into the Bhargi River at a place known as Atharanala. Being angry at not getting His staff back, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left the company of Nityananda Prabhu and went alone to see the Jagannatha temple.
TEXT 1
TEXT
padbhyam calan yah pratima-svarupo
brahmanya-devo hi sataha-gamyam
desam yayau vipra-krte 'dbhuteham
tam saksi-gopalam aham nato 'smi
SYNONYMS
padbhyam--by the two legs; calan--walking; yah--one who; pratima--of the Deity; svarupah--in the form; brahmanya-devah--the Supreme Lord of brahminical culture; hi--certainly; sata-aha--in one hundred days; gamyam--to be passed over; desam--the country; yayau--went; vipra-krte--for the benefit of a brahmana; adbhuta--most wonderful; iham--activity; tam--unto that; saksi-gopalam--the Gopala known as the witness Gopala; aham--I; natah asmi--offer respectful obeisances.
TRANSLATION
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of God [brahmanya-deva], who appeared as Saksi-gopala to benefit a brahmana. For one hundred days He traveled through the country, walking on His own legs. Thus His activities are wonderful.
TEXT 2
TEXT
jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda
jayadvaitacandra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda
SYNONYMS
jaya--all glories; jaya--all glories; sri-caitanya--to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jaya--all glories; nityananda--to Lord Sri Nityananda Prabhu; jaya--all glories; advaita-candra--to Advaita Acarya; jaya--all glories; gaura-bhakta-vrnda--to the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityananda Prabhu! All glories to Sri Advaita Prabhu! And all glories to the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!
TEXT 3
TEXT
calite calite aila yajapura-grama
varaha-thakura dekhi' karila pranama
SYNONYMS
calite calite--walking on and on; aila--reached; yajapura-grama--the village of Yajapura-grama; varaha-thakura--the temple of Varahadeva; dekhi'--seeing; karila--offered; pranama--obeisances.
TRANSLATION
Walking and walking, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His party finally arrived at Yajapura on the river Vaitarani. There He saw the temple of Varahadeva and offered His obeisances unto Him.
TEXT 4
TEXT
nrtya-gita kaila preme bahuta stavana
yajapure se ratri karila yapana
SYNONYMS
nrtya-gita--dancing and chanting; kaila--executed; preme--in love of Godhead; bahuta--various; stavana--prayers; yajapure--in the village of Yajapura; se ratri--that night; karila--did; yapana--passing.
TRANSLATION
In the temple of Varahadeva, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu engaged in chanting and dancing and offered prayers. He passed that night in the temple.
TEXT 5
TEXT
katake aila saksi-gopala dekhite
gopala-saundarya dekhi' haila anandite
SYNONYMS
katake--in the town of Kataka (Cuttak); aila--arrived; saksi-gopala--the witness Gopala; dekhite--to see; gopala--of the Deity of Gopala; saundarya--the beauty; dekhi'--seeing; haila--became; anandite--very pleased.
TRANSLATION
Afterwards, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to the town of Kataka to see the temple of the witness Gopala. When He saw the Deity of Gopala, He was very much pleased with His beauty.
TEXT 6
TEXT
premavese nrtya-gita kaila kata-ksana
avista hana kaila gopala stavana
SYNONYMS
prema-avese--in the ecstasy of love of God; nrtya-gita--dancing and chanting; kaila--performed; kata-ksana--for some time; avista hana--being overwhelmed; kaila--offered; gopala stavana--prayers to Gopala.
TRANSLATION
While there, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu engaged in chanting and dancing for some time, and being overwhelmed, He offered many prayers to Gopala.
TEXT 7
TEXT
sei ratri tahan rahi' bhakta-gana-sange
gopalera purva-katha sune bahu range
SYNONYMS
sei ratri--that night; tahan--there; rahi'--remaining; bhakta-gana-sange--with the other devotees; gopalera--of Lord Gopala; purva-katha--previous narration; sune--hears; bahu--much; range--in pleasure.
TRANSLATION
That night Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed in the temple of Gopala, and along with all the devotees, He heard the narration of the witness Gopala with great pleasure.
TEXT 8
TEXT
nityananda-gosani yabe tirtha bhramila
saksi-gopala dekhibare kataka aila
SYNONYMS
nityananda-gosani--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; yabe--when; tirtha bhramila--traveled to the places of pilgrimage; saksi-gopala--the witness Gopala; dekhibare--to see; kataka--to the town of Kataka; aila--came.
TRANSLATION
Previously, when Nityananda Prabhu had toured all over India to see different places of pilgrimage, He also had come to see Saksi-gopala at Kataka.
TEXT 9
TEXT
saksi-gopalera katha suni, loka-mukhe
sei katha kahena, prabhu sune maha-sukhe
SYNONYMS
saksi-gopalera--of the witness Gopala; katha--the narration; suni--hearing; loka-mukhe--from the people; sei katha--that narration; kahena--Nityananda Prabhu narrates; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sune--hears; maha-sukhe--in great pleasure.
TRANSLATION
At that time, Nityananda Prabhu had heard the story of Saksi-gopala from the townspeople. He now recited this again, and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard the narration with great pleasure.
PURPORT
The Saksi-gopala temple is situated between the Khurda Road junction railway station and the Jagannatha Puri station. The Deity is not presently situated in Kataka, but when Nityananda Prabhu traveled there, the Deity was present. Kataka is a town in Orissa situated on the Mahanadi River. When Saksi-gopala was brought from Vidyanagara in southern India, He stayed for some time at Kataka. Thereafter, He was situated for some time in the Jagannatha temple. It seems that in the temple of Jagannatha there was some disagreement between Jagannatha and Saksi-gopala, a disagreement called prema-kalaha, a quarrel of love. In order to settle this love quarrel, the King of Orissa constructed a village about six miles from Jagannatha Puri. The village was called Satyavadi, and Gopala was stationed there. Thereafter, a new temple was constructed. Now there is a Saksi-gopala station, and people go there to see the witness Gopala.
TEXT 10
TEXT
purve vidyanagarera dui ta' brahmana
tirtha karibare dunhe karila gamana
SYNONYMS
purve--previously; vidyanagarera--of the town known as Vidyanagara; dui--two; ta'--certainly; brahmana--brahmanas; tirtha karibare--to tour places of pilgrimage; dunhe--both of them; karila--began; gamana--journey.
TRANSLATION
Formerly at Vidyanagara in South India there were two brahmanas who made a long tour to see different places of pilgrimage.
TEXT 11
TEXT
gaya, varanasi, prayaga----sakala kariya
mathurate aila dunhe anandita hana
SYNONYMS
gaya--the pilgrimage site of the name Gaya; varanasi--Benares, or Kasi; prayaga--Allahabad; sakala--all; kariya--touring; mathurate--Mathura; aila--they reached; dunhe--both; anandita--pleased; hana--becoming.
TRANSLATION
First of all they visited Gaya, then Kasi, then Prayaga. Finally, with great pleasure, they came to Mathura.
TEXT 12
TEXT
vana-yatraya vana dekhi' dekhe govardhana
dvadasa-vana dekhi' sese gela vrndavana
SYNONYMS
vana-yatraya--in touring the different forests; vana dekhi'--while seeing the forests; dekhe--they see; govardhana--Govardhana Hill; dvadasa-vana dekhi'--visiting the twelve forests in Vrndavana; sese--at last; gela--reached; vrndavana--Vrndavana.
TRANSLATION
After reaching Mathura, they started visiting the different forests of Vrndavana and came to Govardhana Hill. They visited all twelve forests [vanas] and at last came to the town of Vrndavana.
PURPORT
The five forests situated on the eastern side of the river Yamuna are Bhadra, Bilva, Loha, Bhandira and Mahavana. The seven forests situated on the western side of the Yamuna are Madhu, Tala, Kumuda, Bahula, Kamya, Khadira and Vrndavana. After visiting all these forests, these pilgrims went to a place known as Pancakrosi Vrndavana. Out of the twelve forests, the Vrndavana forest extends from the town of Vrndavana up to Nanda-grama and Varsana, a distance of thirty-two miles, within which the Pancakrosi Vrndavana town is situated.
TEXT 13
TEXT
vrndavane govinda-sthane maha-devalaya
se mandire gopalera maha-seva haya
SYNONYMS
vrndavane--within Pancakrosi Vrndavana; govinda-sthane--at the place where the present Govinda temple is situated; maha-deva-alaya--a great temple; se mandire--in that temple; gopalera--of the Deity of Gopala; maha-seva--gorgeous worship; haya--there is.
TRANSLATION
In the village of Pancakrosi Vrndavana, at the site where the Govinda temple is now situated, there was a great temple where gorgeous worship of Gopala was performed.
TEXT 14
TEXT
kesi-tirtha, kaliya-hradadike kaila snana
sri-gopala dekhi' tahan karila visrama
SYNONYMS
kesi-tirtha--the bathing place on the bank of the Yamuna known as Kesi-ghata; kaliya-hrada--the bathing place on the bank of the Yamuna known as Kaliya-ghata; adike--in such different bathing places; kaila--did; snana--bathing; sri-gopala dekhi'--by visiting the temple of Gopala; tahan--there; karila--took; visrama--rest.
TRANSLATION
After taking baths at different bathing places along the river Yamuna, such as Kesi-ghata and Kaliya-ghata, the pilgrims visited the temple of Gopala. Afterwards, they took rest in that temple.
TEXT 15
TEXT
gopala-saundarya dunhara mana nila hari'
sukha pana rahe tahan dina dui-cari
SYNONYMS
gopala-saundarya--the beauty of the Gopala Deity; dunhara--of both of them; mana--the minds; nila--took away; hari'--carrying; sukha pana--feeling this transcendental happiness; rahe--remained; tahan--in that temple; dina--days; dui-cari--two or four.
TRANSLATION
The beauty of the Gopala Deity stole away their minds, and feeling great happiness, they remained there for two or four days.
TEXT 16
TEXT
dui-vipra-madhye eka vipra----vrddha-praya
ara vipra----yuva, tanra karena sahaya
SYNONYMS
dui-vipra-madhye--between the two brahmanas; eka vipra--one brahmana; vrddha-praya--elderly man; ara vipra--the second brahmana; yuva--young man; tanra--of the older brahmana; karena--does; sahaya--assistance.
TRANSLATION
One of the two brahmanas was an old man, and the other was young. The young man was assisting the old one.
TEXT 17
TEXT
chota-vipra kare sada tanhara sevana
tanhara sevaya viprera tusta haila mana
SYNONYMS
chota-vipra--the younger brahmana; kare--does; sada--always; tanhara--his (the old brahmana's); sevana--service; tanhara--his; sevaya--by the service; viprera--of the old brahmana; tusta--pacified; haila--became; mana--the mind.
TRANSLATION
Indeed, the young brahmana always rendered service to the older one, and the old man, being very satisfied with his service, was pleased with him.
TEXT 18
TEXT
vipra bale----tumi mora bahu seva kaila
sahaya hana more tirtha karaila
SYNONYMS
vipra bale--the elderly brahmana says; tumi--you; mora--my; bahu--various; seva--service; kaila--have rendered; sahaya--assistant; hana--being; more--to me; tirtha--pilgrimage; karaila--helped to do.
TRANSLATION
The older man told the younger, "You have rendered various types of service to me. You have assisted me in traveling to all these places of pilgrimage.
TEXT 19
TEXT
putreo pitara aiche na kare sevana
tomara prasade ami na pailama srama
SYNONYMS
putreo--even my own son; pitara--of the father; aiche--in this way; na--not; kare--renders; sevana--service; tomara--your; prasade--by the mercy; ami--I; na--not; pailama--have gotten; srama--fatigue.
TRANSLATION
"Even my own son does not render such service. By your mercy, I did not become fatigued while on this tour.
TEXT 20
TEXT
krta-ghnata haya tomaya na kaile sammana
ataeva tomaya ami diba kanya-dana
SYNONYMS
krta-ghnata--ungratefulness; haya--it is; tomaya--to you; na--not; kaile--if doing; sammana--respect; ataeva--therefore; tomaya--to you; ami--I; diba--shall give; kanya-dana--my daughter as charity.
TRANSLATION
"If I do not show you any respect, I will be ungrateful. Therefore, I promise to give you my daughter in charity."
TEXT 21
TEXT
chota-vipra kahe, "suna, vipra-mahasaya
asambhava kaha kene, yei nahi haya
SYNONYMS
chota-vipra--the younger brahmana; kahe--replies; suna--hear; vipra-mahasaya--my dear brahmana; asambhava--unlikely; kaha--you say; kene--why; yei--which; nahi--not; haya--happens.
TRANSLATION
The younger brahmana replied, "My dear sir, please hear me. You are saying something very unusual. Such a thing never happens.
TEXT 22
TEXT
maha-kulina tumi----vidya-dhanadi-pravina
ami akulina, ara dhana-vidya-hina
SYNONYMS
maha-kulina--highly aristocratic; tumi--you; vidya--education; dhana-adi--riches; pravina--enriched; ami--I; akulina--not aristocratic; ara--and; dhana-vidya-hina--without any wealth and education.
TRANSLATION
"You are a most aristocratic family man, well educated and very rich. I am not at all aristocratic, and I am without a decent education and have no wealth.
PURPORT
Due to pious activities, one can be enriched by four opulences: one may obtain birth in an aristocratic family, become highly educated, become very beautiful or get a sufficient quantity of riches. These are symptoms of pious activities performed in one's past life. In India it is still current for an aristocratic family never to consider a marriage with a common family. Though the caste may be the same, to maintain the aristocracy such marriages are rejected. No poor man will dare marry the daughter of a rich man. Because of this, when the elderly brahmana offered the young brahmana his daughter, the young brahmana did not believe that it would be possible to marry her. Therefore he asked the elderly brahmana why he was proposing something unprecedented (asambhava). It was unheard of for an aristocratic person to offer his daughter to a person who was both uneducated and poor.
TEXT 23
TEXT
kanya-dana-patra ami na ha-i tomara
krsna-pritye kari tomara seva-vyavahara
SYNONYMS
kanya-dana-patra--a bridegroom suitable for one's daughter; ami--I; na--not; ha-i--am; tomara--of you; krsna-pritye--only for satisfaction of Krsna; kari--I do; tomara--of you; seva--of service; vyavahara--activities.
TRANSLATION
"Sir, I am not a suitable bridegroom for your daughter. I render service to you only for the satisfaction of Krsna.
PURPORT
Both brahmanas were pure Vaisnavas. The younger man took special care of the older one simply to please Krsna. In Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.19.21) Krsna says, mad-bhakta-pujabhyadhika: "It is better to render service to My devotee." Thus, according to the Gaudiya-Vaisnava philosophy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, it is better to be a servant of the servant of God. One should not try to serve Krsna directly. A pure Vaisnava serves a servant of Krsna and identifies himself as a servant of a servant of Krsna. This is pleasing to Lord Krsna. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura confirms this philosophy: chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba. Unless one serves a liberated Vaisnava, he cannot attain liberation by directly serving Krsna. He must serve the servant of Krsna.
TEXT 24
TEXT
brahmana-sevaya krsnera priti bada haya
tanhara santose bhakti-sampad badaya"
SYNONYMS
brahmana-sevaya--by rendering service to a brahmana; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; priti--the satisfaction; bada--very great; haya--is; tanhara santose--by pleasing the Lord; bhakti--of devotional service; sampad--the opulence; badaya--increases.
TRANSLATION
"Lord Krsna is very pleased by service rendered to brahmanas, and when the Lord is pleased, the opulence of one's devotional service increases."
PURPORT
In this regard, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments that the younger brahmana rendered service to the older one with the purpose of pleasing Krsna. It was not a matter of ordinary worldly dealings. Krsna is pleased when a Vaisnava is rendered service. Because the younger brahmana served the older one, Lord Gopala agreed to become a witness of the marriage negotiation in order to maintain the prestige of both devotees. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would certainly not have liked to hear about marital dealings unless such dealings were exchanged between two Vaisnavas. Marriage arrangements and ceremonies belong to ordinary material karma-kanda sections of the scriptures. The Vaisnavas, however, are not interested in any kind of karma-kanda dealings. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says: karma-kanda jnana-kanda kevala visera bhanda. For a Vaisnava, the karma-kanda and jnana-kanda sections of the Vedas are unnecessary. Indeed, a real Vaisnava takes these sections as a poison pot (visera bhanda). Sometimes we take part in a marriage ceremony for our disciples, but this does not mean that we are interested in karma-kanda activities. Sometimes, not knowing the Vaisnava philosophy, an outsider criticizes such activity, maintaining that a sannyasi should not take part in a marriage ceremony between a young boy and a young girl. However, this is not a karma-kanda activity, because our purpose is to spread the Krsna consciousness movement. We are giving all facility to the general populace to take to Krsna consciousness, and in order to fix the devotees in concentration on the service of the Lord, marriage is sometimes allowed. We have experienced that such married couples actually render very important service to the mission. Therefore, one should not misunderstand when a sannyasi takes part in a marriage ceremony. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu took great pleasure in hearing about the marriage ceremony between the young brahmana and the daughter of the elderly brahmana.
TEXT 25
TEXT
bada-vipra kahe,----"tumi na kara samsaya
tomake kanya diba ami, karila niscaya"
SYNONYMS
bada-vipra--the older brahmana; kahe--replies; tumi--you; na--not; kara--do; samsaya--doubt; tomake--to you; kanya--the daughter; diba--shall give; ami--I; karila--made; niscaya--certainty.
TRANSLATION
The older brahmana replied, "My dear boy, do not doubt me. I will give you my daughter in charity. I have already decided this."
TEXT 26
TEXT
chota-vipra bale,----"tomara stri-putra saba
bahu jnati-gosthi tomara bahuta bandhava
SYNONYMS
chota-vipra--the young brahmana; bale--says; tomara--your; stri-putra--wife and sons; saba--all; bahu--many; jnati--of family relations; gosthi--group; tomara--your; bahuta--many; bandhava--friends.
TRANSLATION
The young brahmana said, "You have a wife and sons, and you have a large circle of relatives and friends.
TEXT 27
TEXT
ta'-sabara sammati vina nahe kanya-dana
rukminira pita bhismaka tahate pramana
SYNONYMS
ta'-sabara--of all of them; sammati--consent; vina--without; nahe--not; kanya-dana--giving the daughter in charity; rukminira--of Queen Rukmini; pita--father; bhismaka--of the name Bhismaka; tahate--of that; pramana--evidence.
TRANSLATION
"Without the consent of all your friends and relatives, it is not possible to give me your daughter in charity. Just consider the story of Queen Rukmini and her father, Bhismaka.
TEXT 28
TEXT
bhismakera iccha,----krsne kanya samarpite
putrera virodhe kanya narila arpite"
SYNONYMS
bhismakera--of King Bhismaka; iccha--the desire; krsne--unto Krsna; kanya--daughter; samarpite--to give; putrera--of his son; virodhe--by the objection; kanya--daughter; narila--was unable; arpite--to offer.
TRANSLATION
"King Bhismaka wanted to give his daughter, Rukmini, in charity to Krsna, but Rukmi, his eldest son, objected. Therefore he could not carry out his decision."
PURPORT
As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.52.25):
bandhunam icchatam datum
krsnaya bhaginim nrpa
tato nivarya krsna-dvid
rukmi caidyam amanyata
King Bhismaka of Vidarbha wanted to offer Krsna his daughter, Rukmini, but Rukmi, the eldest of his five sons, objected. Therefore he withdrew his decision and decided to offer Rukmini to the King of Cedi, Sisupala, who was a cousin of Krsna's. However, Rukmini conceived of a trick: she sent a letter to Krsna asking Him to kidnap her. Thus in order to please Rukmini, who was His great devotee, Krsna kidnapped her. There ensued a great fight between Krsna and the opposing party, headed by Rukmini's brother Rukmi. Rukmi was defeated and, because of his harsh words against Krsna, was about to be killed, but he was saved at the request of Rukmini. However, Krsna shaved off all of Rukmi's hair with His sword. Sri Balarama did not like this, and so to please Rukmini, Balarama rebuked Krsna.
TEXT 29
TEXT
bada-vipra kahe,----"kanya mora nija-dhana
nija-dhana dite nisedhibe kon jana
SYNONYMS
bada-vipra kahe--the elderly brahmana says; kanya--the daughter; mora--my; nija-dhana--own property; nija-dhana--one's own property; dite--to give; nisedhibe--will object; kon--what; jana--person.
TRANSLATION
The elderly brahmana said, "My daughter is my own property. If I choose to give my property to someone, who has the power to stop me?
TEXT 30
TEXT
tomake kanya diba, sabake kari' tiraskara
samsaya na kara tumi, karaha svikara"
SYNONYMS
tomake--to you; kanya--the daughter; diba--I shall offer; sabake--all others; kari'--doing; tiraskara--neglecting; samsaya--doubt; na--not; kara--do; tumi--you; karaha--just do; svikara--acceptance.
TRANSLATION
"My dear boy, I will give my daughter to you in charity, and I will neglect the position of all others. Don't doubt me in this regard; just accept my proposal."
TEXT 31
TEXT
chota-vipra kahe,----"yadi kanya dite mana
gopalera age kaha e satya-vacana"
SYNONYMS
chota-vipra kahe--the younger brahmana replies; yadi--if; kanya--daughter; dite--to give in charity; mana--the mind; gopalera--of the Gopala Deity; age--in front; kaha--say; e--these; satya-vacana--words in truth.
TRANSLATION
The younger brahmana replied, "If you have decided to give your young daughter to me, then say so before the Gopala Deity."
TEXT 32
TEXT
gopalera age vipra kahite lagila
'tumi jana, nija-kanya ihare ami dila'
SYNONYMS
gopalera age--in front of the Gopala Deity; vipra--the elderly brahmana; kahite--to speak; lagila--began; tumi jana--my Lord, please know; nila-kanya--my own daughter; ihare--to this boy; ami--I; dila--have given in charity.
TRANSLATION
Coming before Gopala, the elderly brahmana said, "My dear Lord, please witness that I have given my daughter to this boy."
PURPORT
In India it is still the custom for a daughter to be offered to someone simply by word. This is called vag-datta. This means that the father, brother or guardian of a girl has given his word that she will be married to a certain man. Consequently, that daughter cannot be married to anyone else. She is reserved by virtue of the honest words of the father or guardian. There are many instances in which the parents of a female child have given someone a verbal promise that their daughter will be married to his son. Both parties agree to wait until the boy and girl are grown up, and then the marriage takes place. Following this custom, which is very old in India, the elderly brahmana promised to give his daughter to the younger brahmana in charity, and he promised this before the Gopala Deity. In India the custom is to honor any promise made before the Deity. Such a promise cannot be canceled. In Indian villages, whenever there is a quarrel between two parties, they go to a temple to settle the quarrel. Whatever is spoken in front of the Deity is taken to be true, for no one would dare lie before the Deity. This same principle was followed in the Battle of Kuruksetra. Therefore in the very beginning of the Bhagavad-gita it is stated: dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre.
By not becoming God conscious, human society is deteriorating to the lowest standard of animal life. This Krsna consciousness movement is very essential to reviving God consciousness among the general populace. If people actually become God conscious, all quarrels can be settled outside of court, as happened in the case of the two brahmanas whose disagreement was settled by the witness Gopala.
TEXT 33
TEXT
chota-vipra bale,----"thakura, tumi mora saksi
toma saksi bolaimu, yadi anyatha dekhi"
SYNONYMS
chota-vipra bale--the younger brahmana replied; thakura--my dear Lord Gopala; tumi--You; mora--my; saksi--witness; toma--unto You; saksi--witness; bolaimu--I shall call as; yadi--if; anyatha--otherwise; dekhi--I see.
TRANSLATION
Then the younger brahmana addressed the Deity, saying, "My dear Lord, You are my witness. I shall call for You to testify if it is necessary later on."
TEXT 34
TEXT
eta bali' dui-jane calila desere
guru-buddhye chota-vipra bahu seva kare
SYNONYMS
eta bali'--speaking this; dui-jane--both the brahmanas; calila--went; desere--toward their own country; guru-buddhye--accepting the elderly brahmana as guru; chota-vipra--the young brahmana; bahu--various; seva--services; kare--renders.
TRANSLATION
After these talks, the two brahmanas started for home. As usual, the young brahmana accompanied the elderly brahmana as if the older brahmana were a guru [spiritual master] and rendered him service in various ways.
TEXT 35
TEXT
dese asi' dui-jane gela nija-ghare
kata dine bada-vipra cintita antare
SYNONYMS
dese asi'--after returning to their own country; dui-jane--both of them; gela--went; nija-ghare--to their respective homes; kata dine--after some time; bada-vipra--the elderly brahmana; cintita--very anxious; antare--within.
TRANSLATION
After returning to Vidyanagara, each brahmana went to his respective home. After some time, the elderly brahmana became very anxious.
TEXT 36
TEXT
tirthe vipre vakya dilun,----kemate satya haya
stri, putra, jnati, bandhu janibe niscaya
SYNONYMS
tirthe--on pilgrimage; vipre--to a brahmana; vakya--word of honor; dilun--I have given; kemate--how; satya--true; haya--it is; stri--wife; putra--sons; jnati--relatives; bandhu--friends; janibe--will know; niscaya--certainly.
TRANSLATION
He began to think, "I have given my word to a brahmana in a holy place, and what I promised will certainly come to pass. I must now disclose this to my wife, sons, other relatives and friends."
TEXT 37
TEXT
eka-dina nija-loka ekatra karila
ta-sabara age saba vrttanta kahila
SYNONYMS
eka-dina--one day; nija-loka--all his relatives; ekatra--in one place; karila--assembled; ta-sabara--of all of them; age--in front; saba--all; vrttanta--narration; kahila--spoke.
TRANSLATION
Thus one day the elderly brahmana called for a meeting of all his relatives and friends, and before them all he narrated what had taken place in front of Gopala.
TEXT 38
TEXT
suni' saba gosthi tara kare haha-kara
'aiche bat mukhe tumi na anibe ara
SYNONYMS
suni'--hearing; saba--all; gosthi--family members and friends; tara--of the elderly brahmana; kare--do; ha-ha-kara--exclamation of disappointment; aiche--such; bat--proposal; mukhe--in the mouth; tumi--you; na--not; anibe--should bring; ara--again.
TRANSLATION
When those who belonged to the family circle heard the narration of the old brahmana, they made exclamations showing their disappointment. They all requested that he not make such a proposal again.
TEXT 39
TEXT
nice kanya dile kula yaibeka nasa
sunina sakala loka karibe upahasa'
SYNONYMS
nice--to a lower family; kanya--daughter; dile--if offering; kula--family tradition; yaibeka--will go to; nasa--destruction; sunina--hearing; sakala--all; loka--friends; karibe--will do; upahasa--joking.
TRANSLATION
They unanimously agreed, "If you offer your daughter to a degraded family, your aristocracy will be lost. When people hear of this, they will make jokes and laugh at you."
TEXT 40
TEXT
vipra bale,----"tirtha-vakya kemane kari ana
ye ha-uk, se ha-uka, ami diba kanya-dana"
SYNONYMS
vipra bale--the brahmana says; tirtha-vakya--the promise made on the pilgrimage; kemane--how; kari--I shall do; ana--otherwise; ye ha-uk--whatever may be; se ha-uka--let it take place; ami--I; diba--shall give; kanya-dana--my daughter in charity.
TRANSLATION
The elderly brahmana said, "How can I undo the promise I made in a holy place while on pilgrimage? Whatever may happen, I must give him my daughter in charity."
TEXT 41
TEXT
jnati loka kahe,----'mora tomake chadiba'
stri-putra kahe,----'visa khaiya mariba'
SYNONYMS
jnati loka--the relatives; kahe--answer; mora--we all; tomake--you; chadiba--will give up; stri--wife; putra--sons; kahe--say; visa--poison; khaiya--drinking; mariba--we shall die.
TRANSLATION
The relatives unanimously said, "If you give your daughter to that boy, we shall give up all connection with you." Indeed, his wife and sons declared, "If such a thing happens, we shall take poison and die."
TEXT 42
TEXT
vipra bale,----"saksi bolana karibeka nyaya
jiti' kanya labe, mora vyartha dharma haya"
SYNONYMS
vipra bale--the brahmana says; saksi--a witness; bolana--calling for; karibeka--there will be; nyaya--justice; jiti'--winning; kanya--the daughter; labe--he will take; mora--my; vyartha--meaningless; dharma--religious principles; haya--will be.
TRANSLATION
The elderly brahmana said, "If I do not give my daughter to the young brahmana, he will call Sri Gopalaji as a witness. Thus he will take my daughter by force, and in that case my religious principles will become meaningless."
TEXT 43
TEXT
putra bale,----"pratima saksi, seha dura dese
ke tomara saksi dibe, cinta kara kise
SYNONYMS
putra bale--his son says; pratima--the Deity; saksi--witness; seha--He also; dura--distant; dese--in country; ke--who; tomara--of you; saksi--witness; dibe--will give; cinta--anxiety; kara--you do; kise--why.
TRANSLATION
His son replied, "The Deity may be a witness, but He is in a distant country. How can He come to bear witness against you? Why are you so anxious over this?
TEXT 44
TEXT
nahi kahi----na kahio e mithya-vacana
sabe kahibe----'mora kichu nahika smarana'
SYNONYMS
nahi kahi--I did not say; na kahio--do not say; e--this; mithya-vacana--false statement; sabe--only; kahibe--you shall say; mora--my; kichu--anything; nahika--not; smarana--remembrance.
TRANSLATION
"You do not have to flatly deny that you spoke such a thing. There is no need to make a false statement. Simply say that you do not remember what you said.
TEXT 45
TEXT
tumi yadi kaha,----'ami kichui na jani'
tabe ami nyaya kari' brahmanere jini"
SYNONYMS
tumi--you; yadi--if; kaha--say; ami kichui na jani--I do not remember anything; tabe--in that case; ami--I; nyaya kari'--arguing; brahmanere--the younger brahmana; jini--shall conquer.
TRANSLATION
"If you simply say, 'I do not remember,' I shall take care of the rest. By argument, I shall defeat the young brahmana."
PURPORT
The son of the elderly brahmana was an atheist and a follower of the Raghunatha-smrti. He was very expert in dealing with pounds-shillings-pence, but he was fool number one. Consequently, he did not believe in the spiritual position of the Deity, nor did he have any faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, as a typical idol worshiper, he considered the form of the Lord to be made of stone or wood. Thus he assured his father that the witness was only a stone Deity and was not capable of speaking. Besides that, he assured his father that the Deity was situated far away and consequently could not come to bear witness. In essence, he was saying: "Have no anxiety. You do not have to lie directly, but you should speak like a diplomat, like King Yudhisthira when he spoke to Dronacarya--asvatthama hata iti gajah. Following this principle, simply say that you do not remember anything and are completely unaware of the statements given by the young brahmana. If you make the background like that, I shall know how to fill in the argument and defeat him by word jugglery. Thus I shall save you from having to give your daughter to him. In this way, our aristocracy will be saved. You have nothing to worry about."
TEXT 46
TEXT
eta suni' viprera cintita haila mana
ekanta-bhave cinte vipra gopala-carana
SYNONYMS
eta suni'--hearing this; viprera--of the old brahmana; cintita--agitated; haila--became; mana--the mind; ekanta-bhave--with single-minded attention; cinte--thinks; vipra--the brahmana; gopala-carana--of the lotus feet of Sri Gopalaji.
TRANSLATION
When the elderly brahmana heard this, his mind became very agitated. Feeling helpless, he simply turned his attention to the lotus feet of Gopala.
TEXT 47
TEXT
'mora dharma raksa paya, na mare nija-jana
dui raksa kara, gopala, lainu sarana'
SYNONYMS
mora--my; dharma--religious principles; raksa paya--spared; na--not; mare--die; nija-jana--own kinsmen; dui--two; raksa kara--You kindly protect; gopala--my Lord Gopala; lainu--I have taken; sarana--shelter under Your lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
The elderly brahmana prayed, "My dear Lord Gopala, I have taken shelter of Your lotus feet, and therefore I request You to please protect my religious principles from disturbance and at the same time save my kinsmen from dying."
TEXT 48
TEXT
ei-mata vipra citte cintite lagila
ara dina laghu-vipra tanra ghare aila
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; vipra--the elderly brahmana; citte--within the mind; cintite--to think; lagila--began; ara dina--the next day; laghu-vipra--the young brahmana; tanra--his; ghare--to the home; aila--came.
TRANSLATION
The next day, the elderly brahmana was thinking deeply about this matter when the young brahmana came to his house.
TEXT 49
TEXT
asina parama-bhaktye namaskara kari'
vinaya karina kahe kara dui yudi'
SYNONYMS
asina--coming; parama-bhaktye--in great devotion; namaskara kari'--offering obeisances; vinaya karina--with great humility; kahe--says; kara--hands; dui--two; yudi'--folding.
TRANSLATION
The young brahmana came to him and offered respectful obeisances. Then, very humbly folding his hands, he spoke as follows.
TEXT 50
TEXT
'tumi more kanya dite karyacha angikara
ebe kichu nahi kaha, ki tomara vicara'
SYNONYMS
tumi--you; more--to me; kanya--your daughter; dite--to give in charity; karyacha--have made; angikara--a promise; ebe--now; kichu--something; nahi--not; kaha--you say; ki--what; tomara--your; vicara--conclusion.
TRANSLATION
"You have promised to give your daughter in charity to me. Now you do not say anything. What is your conclusion?"
TEXT 51
TEXT
eta suni' sei vipra rahe mauna dhari'
tanra putra marite aila hate thenga kari'
SYNONYMS
eta suni'--hearing this; sei vipra--the elderly brahmana; rahe--remains; mauna dhari'--holding silence; tanra--his; putra--son; marite--to strike; aila--came out; hate--in hand; thenga--stick; kari'--taking.
TRANSLATION
After the young brahmana submitted this statement, the elderly brahmana remained silent. Taking this opportunity, his son immediately came out with a stick to strike the younger man.
TEXT 52
TEXT
'are adhama! mora bhagni caha vivahite
vamana hana canda yena caha ta' dharite'
SYNONYMS
are adhama--O most degraded one; mora--my; bhagni--sister; caha--you want; vivahite--to marry; vamana--a dwarf; hana--being; canda--the moon; yena--as if; caha--you want; ta'--certainly; dharite--to capture.
TRANSLATION
The son said, "Oh, you are most degraded! You want to marry my sister, just like a dwarf who wants to catch the moon!"
TEXT 53
TEXT
thena dekhi' sei vipra palana gela
ara dina gramera loka ekatra karila
SYNONYMS
thena dekhi'--seeing the stick in his hand; sei vipra--the young brahmana; palana gela--fled from that place; ara dina--the next day; gramera loka--the inhabitants of the village; ekatra karila--gathered in one place.
TRANSLATION
Seeing a stick in the hand of the son, the younger brahmana fled. The next day, however, he gathered together all the people of the village.
TEXT 54
TEXT
saba loka bada-vipre dakiya anila
tabe sei laghu-vipra kahite lagila
SYNONYMS
saba loka--all the village inhabitants; bada-vipre--to the senior brahmana; dakiya--calling; anila--brought; tabe--then; sei laghu-vipra--the junior brahmana; kahite lagila--began to speak.
TRANSLATION
All the people of the village then called for the elderly brahmana and brought him to their meeting place. The young brahmana then began to speak before them as follows.
TEXT 55
TEXT
'inha more kanya dite karyache angikara
ebe ye na dena, pucha inhara vyavahara'
SYNONYMS
inha--this gentleman; more--to me; kanya--his daughter; dite--to give in charity; karyache--has made; angikara--promise; ebe--now; ye--indeed; na--not; dena--he gives; pucha--kindly ask; inhara--of him; vyavahara--the behavior.
TRANSLATION
"This gentleman has promised to hand over his daughter to me, yet now he does not follow his promise. Please ask him about his behavior."
TEXT 56
TEXT
tabe sei viprere puchila sarva-jana
'kanya kene na deha, yadi diyacha vacana'
SYNONYMS
tabe--then; sei--that; viprere--brahmana; puchila--asked; sarva-jana--all the people; kanya--daughter; kene--why; na deha--you do not give in charity; yadi--if; diyacha--have given; vacana--word of honor.
TRANSLATION
All the people gathered there asked the elderly brahmana, "If you have already promised to give him your daughter in charity, why are you not fulfilling your promise? You have given your word of honor."
TEXT 57
TEXT
vipra kahe,----'suna, loka, mora nivedana
kabe ki baliyachi, mora nahika smarana'
SYNONYMS
vipra kahe--the senior brahmana replied; suna--please hear; loka--all people; mora--my; nivedana--submission; kabe--when; ki--what; baliyachi--I have said; mora--my; nahika--there is not; smarana--remembrance.
TRANSLATION
The elderly brahmana said, "My dear friends, please hear what I have to submit. I do not exactly remember making a promise like that."
TEXT 58
TEXT
eta suni' tanra putra vakya-cchala pana
pragalbha ha-iya kahe sammukhe asina
SYNONYMS
eta suni'--hearing this; tanra putra--his son; vakya-cchala--for jugglery of words; pana--getting a chance; pragalbha--impudent; ha-iya--becoming; kahe--says; sammukhe--in the front; asina--coming.
TRANSLATION
When the elderly brahmana's son heard this, he took the opportunity to juggle some words. Becoming very impudent, he stood before the assembly and spoke as follows.
TEXT 59
TEXT
'tirtha-yatraya pitara sange chila bahu dhana
dhana dekhi ei dustera laite haila mana
SYNONYMS
tirtha-yatraya--when touring the holy places; pitara--my father; sange--with; chila--there was; bahu--much; dhana--money; dhana--money; dekhi--seeing; ei--this; dustera--of the rogue; laite--to take; haila--it was; mana--the intention.
TRANSLATION
"While touring various holy places of pilgrimage, my father carried much money. Seeing the money, this rogue decided to take it away.
TEXT 60
TEXT
ara keha sange nahi, ei sange ekala
dhutura khaoyana bape karila pagala
SYNONYMS
ara--anyone; keha--else; sange--in company; nahi--there was not; ei--this brahmana; sange--in company; ekala--alone; dhutura--an intoxicant; khaoyana--making him eat; bape--my father; karila--made; pagala--mad.
TRANSLATION
"There was no one besides this man with my father. Giving him an intoxicant known as dhutura to eat, this rogue made my father mad.
TEXT 61
TEXT
saba dhana lana kahe----'core la-ila dhana'
'kanya dite cahiyache'----uthaila vacana
SYNONYMS
saba--all; dhana--money; lana--taking; kahe--says; core--a thief; la-ila--took; dhana--all the money; kanya--the daughter; dite--to give in charity; cahiyache--has promised; uthaila--has raised; vacana--a slogan.
TRANSLATION
"Having taken all my father's money, this rogue claimed that it was taken by some thief. Now he is claiming that my father has promised to give him his daughter in charity.
TEXT 62
TEXT
tomara sakala loka karaha vicare
'mora pitara kanya dite yogya ki ihare'
SYNONYMS
tomara--you; sakala--all; loka--people; karaha--just make; vicare--judgment; mora--my; pitara--of the father; kanya--the daughter; dite--to give in charity; yogya--befitting; ki--is it; ihare--to him.
TRANSLATION
"All of you assembled here are gentlemen. Please judge whether it is befitting to offer this poor brahmana my father's daughter."
TEXT 63
TEXT
eta suni' lokera mane ha-ila samsaya
'sambhave,----dhana-lobhe loka chade dharma-bhaya'
SYNONYMS
eta suni'--hearing all this; lokera--of all the people; mane--in the minds; ha-ila--there was; samsaya--doubt; sambhave--possible; dhana-lobhe--by greed for money; loka--some man; chade--gives up; dharma-bhaya--religious principles.
TRANSLATION
Hearing all these statements, all the people gathered there became a little doubtful. They thought it quite possible that because of attraction for riches one might give up his religious principles.
TEXT 64
TEXT
tabe chota-vipra kahe, "suna, mahajana
nyaya jinibare kahe asatya-vacana
SYNONYMS
tabe--at that time; chota-vipra--the young brahmana; kahe--says; suna--please hear; maha-jana--all gentlemen; nyaya--the argument; jinibare--to win; kahe--he says; asatya-vacana--untruthful statements.
TRANSLATION
At that time the young brahmana said, "My dear gentlemen, please hear. Just to gain victory in an argument, this man is lying.
TEXT 65
TEXT
ei vipra mora sevaya tusta yabe haila
'tore ami kanya diba' apane kahila
SYNONYMS
ei vipra--this brahmana; mora--my; sevaya--by the service; tusta--fully satisfied; yabe--when; haila--he was; tore--to you; ami--I; kanya--daughter; diba--shall give; apane--of his own accord; kahila--promised.
TRANSLATION
"Being very satisfied with my service, this brahmana said to me of his own accord, 'I promise to hand over my daughter to you.'
TEXT 66
TEXT
tabe muni nisedhinu,----suna, dvija-vara
tomara kanyara yogya nahi muni vara
SYNONYMS
tabe--at that time; muni--I; nisedhinu--forbade; suna--hear; dvija-vara--O best of the brahmanas; tomara--your; kanyara--for the daughter; yogya--suitable; nahi--not; muni--I; vara--husband.
TRANSLATION
"At that time I forbade him to do this, telling him, 'O best of the brahmanas, I am not a fit husband for your daughter.
TEXT 67
TEXT
kahan tumi pandita, dhani, parama kulina
kahan muni daridra, murkha, nica, kula-hina
SYNONYMS
kahan--whereas; tumi--you; pandita--learned scholar; dhani--rich man; parama--first class; kulina--aristocracy; kahan--whereas; muni--I; daridra--poor man; murkha--not educated; nica--fallen; kula-hina--without aristocracy.
TRANSLATION
" 'Whereas you are a learned scholar, a rich man belonging to an aristocratic family, I am a poor man, uneducated and with no claim to aristocracy.'
TEXT 68
TEXT
tabu ei vipra more kahe bara bara
tore kanya dilun, tumi karaha svikara
SYNONYMS
tabu--still; ei--this; vipra--brahmana; more--to me; kahe--says; bara bara--again and again; tore--to you; kanya--my daughter; dilun--I have given in charity; tumi--you; karaha--make; svikara--acceptance.
TRANSLATION
"Still this brahmana insisted. Again and again he asked me to accept his proposal, saying, 'I have given you my daughter. Please accept her.'
TEXT 69
TEXT
tabe ami kahilan----suna, maha-mati
tomara stri-putra-jnatira na habe sammati
SYNONYMS
tabe--at that time; ami--I; kahilan--said; suna--please hear; maha-mati--O intelligent brahmana; tomara--your; stri-putra--wife and children; jnatira--kinsmen; na habe sammati--will not agree.
TRANSLATION
"I then said, 'Please hear. You are a learned brahmana. Your wife, friends and relatives will never agree to this proposal.
TEXT 70
TEXT
kanya dite naribe, habe asatya-vacana
punarapi kahe vipra kariya yatana
SYNONYMS
kanya--daughter; dite--to give; naribe--you will not be able; habe--it will become; asatya-vacana--a false statement; punarapi--again; kahe--he says; vipra--the brahmana; kariya yatana--with great attention.
TRANSLATION
" 'My dear sir, you will not be able to fulfill your promise. Your promise will be broken.' Yet, again and again the brahmana emphasized his promise.
TEXT 71
TEXT
kanya tore dilun, dvidha na kariha cite
atma-kanya diba, keba pare nisedhite
SYNONYMS
kanya--the daughter; tore--to you; dilun--I have given; dvidha--hesitation; na--do not; kariha--do; cite--within your mind; atma-kanya--my own daughter; diba--I shall give; keba--who; pare--is able; nisedhite--to forbid.
TRANSLATION
" 'I have offered you my daughter. Do not hesitate. She is my daughter, and I shall give her to you. Who can forbid me?'
TEXT 72
TEXT
tabe ami kahilan drdha kari' mana
gopalera age kaha e-satya vacana
SYNONYMS
tabe--at that time; ami--I; kahilan--said; drdha kari' mana--fixing my mind; gopalera age--in front of the Gopala Deity; kaha--speak; e-satya vacana--this truthful statement.
TRANSLATION
"At that time I concentrated my mind and requested the brahmana to make the promise before the Gopala Deity.
TEXT 73
TEXT
tabe inho gopalera agete kahila
tumi jana, ei vipre kanya ami dila
SYNONYMS
tabe--at that time; inho--this gentleman; gopalera--of the Gopala Deity; agete--in front; kahila--he said; tumi jana--my Lord, please know; ei vipre--unto this young brahmana; kanya--my daughter; ami--I; dila--have offered.
TRANSLATION
"Then this gentleman said in front of the Gopala Deity, 'My dear Lord, please bear witness. I have offered my daughter to this brahmana in charity.'
TEXT 74
TEXT
tabe ami gopalere saksi karina
kahilan tanra pade minati karina
SYNONYMS
tabe--at that time; ami--I; gopalere--to the Gopala Deity; saksi--the witness; karina--making; kahilan--said; tanra pade--at His lotus feet; minati--humility; karina--making.
TRANSLATION
"Accepting the Gopala Deity as my witness, I then submitted the following at His lotus feet.
TEXT 75
TEXT
yadi ei vipra more na dibe kanya-dana
saksi bolaimu tomaya, ha-io savadhana
SYNONYMS
yadi--if; ei--this; vipra--brahmana; more--to me; na--not; dibe--will give; kanya-dana--his daughter in charity; saksi bolaimu--I shall call as a witness; tomaya--You; ha-io savadhana--kindly be attentive.
TRANSLATION
" 'If this brahmana later hesitates to give me his daughter, my dear Lord, I shall call on You as a witness. Please note this with care and attention.'
TEXT 76
TEXT
ei vakye saksi mora ache mahajana
yanra vakya satya kari mane tribhuvana"
SYNONYMS
ei vakye--in this statement; saksi--witness; mora--my; ache--there is; mahajana--a great personality; yanra--whose; vakya--words; satya--true; kari--taking as; mane--accepts; tri-bhuvana--the whole world.
TRANSLATION
"Thus I have called upon a great personality in this transaction. I have asked the Supreme Godhead to be my witness. The entire world accepts the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
PURPORT
Although the young brahmana described himself as having no claims to aristocracy and being an uneducated common man, still he had one good qualification: he believed that the Supreme Personality of Godhead was the topmost authority, he accepted the words of Lord Krsna without hesitation, and he had firm faith in the Lord's consistency. According to Prahlada Maharaja, another authority on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, such a staunch and faithful devotee of the Lord must be understood to be a most learned scholar: tan manye 'dhitam uttamam (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.24). A pure devotee who has firm faith in the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is to be considered a most learned scholar, the topmost aristocrat and the richest man in the whole world. All godly qualities automatically exist in such a devotee. In the preaching work of the Krsna consciousness movement, we, as the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, fully believe in the words of Krsna and His servants, the disciplic succession. In this way we are presenting the words of Krsna throughout the world. Even though we are neither a rich man nor a very learned scholar, and even though we do not belong to any aristocracy, this movement is still being welcomed and is very easily spreading all over the world. Although we are very poor and have no professional source of income, Krsna supplies money whenever we need it. Whenever we need some men, Krsna supplies them. Thus it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita (6.22): yam labdhva caparam labham manyate nadhikam tatah. Actually, if we can attain the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, we do not need anything else. We certainly do not need those things which a mundane person considers to be material assets.
TEXTS 77-78
TEXT
tabe bada-vipra kahe, "ei satya katha
gopala yadi saksi dena, apane asi' etha
tabe kanya diba ami, janiha niscaya"
tanra putra kahe,----'ei bhala bata haya'
SYNONYMS
tabe--at that time; bada-vipra--the elderly brahmana; kahe--says; ei satya katha--this is true; gopala--the Gopala Deity; yadi--if; saksi--witness; dena--gives; apane--personally; asi'--coming; etha--here; tabe--at that time; kanya--daughter; diba--must give in charity; ami--I; janiha--you all know it; niscaya--certainly; tanra--his; putra--son; kahe--says; ei--this; bhala--nice; bata--statement; haya--is.
TRANSLATION
Taking this opportunity, the elderly brahmana immediately confirmed that this was really true. He said, "If Gopala personally comes here to serve as a witness, I shall surely give my daughter to the young brahmana." The elderly brahmana's son immediately confirmed this, saying, "Yes, this is a very nice settlement."
PURPORT
As the Supersoul within the heart of all living entities, Krsna knows everyone's desire, everyone's request and everyone's prayer. Although all these may be contradictory, the Lord has to create a situation in which everyone will be pleased. This is an instance of a marriage negotiation between an elderly brahmana and a youthful one. The elderly brahmana was certainly willing to give his daughter in charity to the young brahmana, but his son and relatives became impediments to this transaction. The elderly brahmana considered how to get out of this situation and still offer his daughter to the young brahmana. His son, an atheist and a very cunning fellow, was thinking of how to stop the marriage. The father and son were thinking in a contradictory way, yet Krsna created a situation wherein they both agreed. They both agreed that if the Gopala Deity would come and serve as a witness, the daughter would be given to the young brahmana.
TEXT 79
TEXT
bada-viprera mane,----'krsna bada dayavan
avasya mora vakya tenho karibe pramana'
SYNONYMS
bada-viprera mane--within the mind of the elderly brahmana; krsna--Lord Krsna; bada--very; dayavan--merciful; avasya--certainly; mora--my; vakya--words; tenho--He; karibe--will make; pramana--evidence.
TRANSLATION
The elderly brahmana thought, "Since Lord Krsna is very merciful, He will certainly come to prove my statement."
TEXT 80
TEXT
putrera mane,----'pratima na asibe saksi dite'
ei buddhye dui-jana ha-ila sammate
SYNONYMS
putrera mane--in the mind of the son; pratima--the Deity; na--not; asibe--will come; saksi dite--to give witness; ei--this; buddhye--in understanding; dui-jana--both the father and the son; ha-ila sammate--agreed.
TRANSLATION
The atheistic son thought, "It is not possible for Gopala to come and bear witness." Thinking thus, both father and son agreed.
TEXT 81
TEXT
chota-vipra bale,----'patra karaha likhana
punah yena nahi cale e-saba vacana'
SYNONYMS
chota-vipra--the young brahmana; bale--says; patra--paper; karaha--do; likhana--writing; punah--again; yena--so that; nahi--not; cale--change; e-saba--all these; vacana--statements.
TRANSLATION
The young brahmana took this opportunity to speak: "Please write this down on paper in black and white so that you may not again change your word of honor."
TEXT 82
TEXT
tabe saba loka meli' patra ta' likhila
dunhara sammati lana madhyastha rakhila
SYNONYMS
tabe--then; saba loka--all the people; meli'--gathered together; patra--paper; ta'--indeed; likhila--wrote; dunhara--of both of them; sammati--the agreement; lana--taking; madhya-stha--as mediator; rakhila--remained.
TRANSLATION
All the assembled people got this statement down in black and white and, taking the signatures of agreement from both of them, served as the mediators.
TEXT 83
TEXT
tabe chota-vipra kahe,----suna, sarva-jana
ei vipra----satya-vakya, dharma-parayana
SYNONYMS
tabe--at that time; chota-vipra--the young brahmana; kahe--says; suna--please hear; sarva-jana--O all gentlemen present here; ei vipra--this elderly brahmana; satya-vakya--always truthful; dharma-parayana--religious.
TRANSLATION
The young brahmana then said, "Will all you gentlemen present please hear me? This elderly brahmana is certainly truthful and is following religious principles.
TEXT 84
TEXT
sva-vakya chadite inhara nahi kabhu mana
svajana-mrtyu-bhaye kahe asatya-vacana
SYNONYMS
sva-vakya--his own promise; chadite--to give up; inhara--of this brahmana; nahi--not; kabhu--at any time; mana--the mind; sva-jana--of his own kinsmen; mrtyu-bhaye--fearing the suicide; kahe--says; asatya-vacana--untruthful words.
TRANSLATION
"He had no desire to break his promise, but fearing that his kinsmen would commit suicide, he deviated from the truth.
TEXT 85
TEXT
inhara punye krsne ani' saksi bolaiba
tabe ei viprera satya-pratijna rakhiba
SYNONYMS
inhara punye--by his piety; krsne--Lord Krsna; ani'--bringing; saksi--witness; bolaiba--I shall call; tabe--at that time; ei viprera--of this brahmana; satya--truthful; pratijna--the promise; rakhiba--I shall keep.
TRANSLATION
"By the piety of the elderly brahmana, I shall call the Supreme Personality of Godhead as a witness. Thus I shall keep his truthful promise intact."
TEXT 86
TEXT
eta suni' nastika loka upahasa kare
keha bale, isvara----dayalu, asiteha pare
SYNONYMS
eta suni'--hearing this; nastika--atheistic; loka--class of men; upahasa--joking; kare--do; keha bale--someone says; isvara--God; dayalu--merciful; asiteha pare--He is able to come.
TRANSLATION
Hearing the emphatic statement of the younger brahmana, some atheists in the meeting began to cut jokes. However, someone else said, "After all, the Lord is merciful, and if He likes, He can come."
TEXT 87
TEXT
tabe sei chota-vipra gela vrndavana
dandavat kari' kahe saba vivarana
SYNONYMS
tabe--after this; sei--that; chota-vipra--young brahmana; gela--went; vrndavana--to Vrndavana; dandavat kari'--after offering respects; kahe--tells; saba--all; vivarana--the description.
TRANSLATION
After the meeting, the young brahmana started for Vrndavana. Upon arriving there, he first offered his respectful obeisances to the Deity and then narrated everything in full detail.
TEXT 88
TEXT
"brahmanya-deva tumi bada daya-maya
dui viprera dharma rakha hana sadaya
SYNONYMS
brahmanya-deva--O Lord of brahminical culture; tumi--You; bada--very; daya-maya--merciful; dui--two; viprera--of brahmanas; dharma--the religious principles; rakha--protect; hana--becoming; sa-daya--merciful.
TRANSLATION
He said, "My Lord, You are the protector of brahminical culture, and You are also very merciful. Therefore, kindly show Your great mercy by protecting the religious principles of us two brahmanas.
TEXT 89
TEXT
kanya paba,----mora mane iha nahi sukha
brahmanera pratijna yaya----ei bada duhkha
SYNONYMS
kanya paba--I shall get the daughter; mora--my; mane--in the mind; iha--this; nahi--is not; sukha--happiness; brahmanera--of a pure brahmana; pratijna--the promise; yaya--becomes lost; ei--this; bada--very much; duhkha--unhappiness.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Lord, I am not thinking to become happy by getting the daughter as a bride. I am simply thinking that the brahmana has broken his promise, and that is giving me great pain."
PURPORT
It was not at all the intention of the young brahmana to get the daughter of the elderly brahmana in marriage and thus enjoy material happiness and sense gratification. It was not for that reason that the young brahmana went to Vrndavana to ask the Supreme Personality of Godhead to act as a witness. His only concern was that the elderly brahmana had promised something, and if Gopala did not bear witness to that transaction, then the older brahmana would incur a spiritual blemish. Therefore, the young brahmana wanted protection and help from the Deity. The young brahmana was thus a pure Vaisnava, and he had no desire for sense gratification. He wanted only to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the older brahmana, who was also a Vaisnava and very devoted to the Lord.
TEXT 90
TEXT
eta jani' tumi saksi deha, daya-maya
jani' saksi nahi deya, tara papa haya
SYNONYMS
eta jani'--knowing this; tumi--You; saksi--witness; deha--please give; daya-maya--O most merciful one; jani'--knowing; saksi--witness; nahi deya--does not give; tara--for him; papa--sin; haya--there is.
TRANSLATION
The young brahmana continued, "My dear sir, You are very merciful and You know everything. Therefore, kindly be a witness in this case. A person who knows things as they are and still does not bear witness becomes involved in sinful activities."
PURPORT
The dealings between a devotee and the Lord are very simple. The young brahmana said to the Lord, "You know everything, but if You do not bear witness, You will be involved in sinful activities." There is no possibility, however, of the Lord's being involved in sinful activities. A pure devotee, even though he knows everything of the Supreme Lord, can speak with the Lord exactly as if He were a common man. Although the dealings between the Lord and His devotee are always very simple and open, there is formality. All these things happen because of the connection between the Lord and the devotee.
TEXT 91
TEXT
krsna kahe,----vipra, tumi yaha sva-bhavane
sabha kari' more tumi kariha smarane
SYNONYMS
krsna kahe--Lord Krsna says; vipra--My dear brahmana; tumi--you; yaha--go back; sva-bhavane--to your own home; sabha kari'--calling a meeting of all the men; more--of Me; tumi--you; kariha--just do; smarane--remembering.
TRANSLATION
Lord Krsna replied, "My dear brahmana, go back to your home and call a meeting of all the men. In that meeting, just try to remember Me.
TEXT 92
TEXT
avirbhava hana ami tahan saksi diba
tabe dui viprera satya pratijna rakhiba
SYNONYMS
avirbhava--appearance; hana--making; ami--I; tahan--there; saksi--witness; diba--shall give; tabe--at that time; dui--two; viprera--of the brahmanas; satya--truthful; pratijna--promise; rakhiba--I shall keep.
TRANSLATION
"I shall certainly appear there, and at that time I shall protect the honor of both you brahmanas by bearing witness to the promise."
TEXT 93
TEXT
vipra bale,----"yadi hao caturbhuja-murti
tabu tomara vakye karu na habe pratiti
SYNONYMS
vipra bale--the young brahmana says; yadi--if; hao--You become; catuh-bhuja--four-handed; murti--Deity; tabu--still; tomara--Your; vakye--in the word; karu--of anyone; na--not; habe--there will be; pratiti--belief.
TRANSLATION
The young brahmana replied, "My dear sir, even if You appear there as a four-handed Visnu Deity, still, none of those people will believe in Your words.
TEXT 94
TEXT
ei murti giya yadi ei sri-vadane
saksi deha yadi----tabe sarva-loka sune"
SYNONYMS
ei--this; murti--in the form; giya--going; yadi--if; ei--this; sri-vadane--from Your beautiful face; saksi--witness; deha--You give; yadi--if; tabe--then; sarva-loka--all people; sune--will hear.
TRANSLATION
"Only if You go there in this form of Gopala and speak the words from Your beautiful face will Your testimony be heard by all the people."
TEXT 95
TEXT
krsna kahe,----"pratima cale, kothaha na suni"
vipra bale,----"pratima hana kaha kene vani
SYNONYMS
krsna kahe--Lord Krsna says; pratima cale--a Deity walks; kothaha--anywhere; na suni--I have not heard; vipra bale--the young brahmana replies; pratima hana--in Your Deity form; kaha kene vani--how do You speak words.
TRANSLATION
Lord Krsna said, "I've never heard of a Deity's walking from one place to another." The brahmana replied, "That is true, but how is it that You are speaking to me, although You are a Deity?
TEXT 96
TEXT
pratima naha tumi----saksat vrajendra-nandana
vipra lagi' kara tumi akarya-karana"
SYNONYMS
pratima--a statue; naha--are not; tumi--You; saksat--directly; vrajendra-nandana--the son of Nanda Maharaja; vipra lagi'--for the sake of the brahmana; kara tumi--You can do; akarya-karana--an action You have never done before.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Lord, You are not a statue; You are directly the son of Maharaja Nanda. Now, for the sake of the old brahmana, You can do something You have never done before."
TEXT 97
TEXT
hasina gopala kahe,----"sunaha, brahmana
tomara pache pache ami kariba gamana
SYNONYMS
hasina--smiling; gopala--the Lord Gopala; kahe--says; sunaha--just hear; brahmana--O My dear brahmana; tomara--you; pache pache--behind; ami--I; kariba--shall do; gamana--walking.
TRANSLATION
Sri Gopalaji then smiled and said, "My dear brahmana, just listen to Me. I shall walk behind you, and in this way I shall go with you."
PURPORT
The conversation between Lord Sri Krsna and the brahmana is proof that the Lord in His arca-murti, or form made of material elements, is not material, for those elements, although separated from the Lord, are also a part of the Lord's energy, as stated in the Bhagavad-gita. Because the elements are the Lord's own energy and because there is no difference between the energy and the energetic, the Lord can appear through any element. Just as the sun can act through the sunshine and thus distribute its heat and light, so Krsna, by His inconceivable power, can appear in His original spiritual form in any material element, including stone, wood, paint, gold, silver and jewels, because the material elements are all His energy. The sastras warn, arcye visnau sila-dhih . . . naraki sah: one should never think of the arca-murti, the Deity within the temple, as stone, wood or any other material element. Because of his advanced devotional position, the younger brahmana knew that although the Deity of Gopala appeared to be stone, He was not stone. He was the son of Nanda Maharaja, Vrajendra-nandana Himself.
As such, the Deity can act exactly as the Lord did in His original form as Krsna. Lord Krsna was talking to the young brahmana just to test his knowledge about the arca-vigraha. In other words, those who have understood the science of Krsna--Krsna's name, form, quality and so forth--can also talk with the Deity. To an ordinary person, however, the Deity will appear to be made of stone, wood or some other material. In the higher sense, since all material elements ultimately emanate from the supreme spiritual entity, nothing is really material. Being omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, Krsna can deal with His devotees in any form without difficulty. By the mercy of the Lord, the devotee knows perfectly well about the Lord's dealings. Indeed, he can talk face to face with the Lord.
TEXT 98
TEXT
ulatiya ama tumi na kariha darasane
amake dekhile, ami rahiba sei sthane
SYNONYMS
ulatiya--turning your face; ama--Me; tumi--you; na--not; kariha--do; darasane--seeing; amake--Me; dekhile--if you see; ami--I; rahiba--shall stay; sei sthane--in that very place.
TRANSLATION
The Lord continued, "Do not try to see Me by turning around. As soon as you see Me, I shall remain stationary in that very place.
TEXT 99
TEXT
nupurera dhvani-matra amara suniba
sei sabde amara gamana pratiti kariba
SYNONYMS
nupurera--of the ankle bells; dhvani-matra--the sound only; amara--My; suniba--you will hear; sei sabde--by hearing that sound; amara--My; gamana--coming; pratiti--understanding; kariba--you will do.
TRANSLATION
"You will know that I am walking behind you by the sound of My ankle bells.
TEXT 100
TEXT
eka-sera anna randhi' kariha samarpana
taha khana tomara sange kariba gamana
SYNONYMS
eka-sera--one kilogram; anna--of rice; randhi'--cooking; kariha--do; samarpana--offering; taha--that; khana--eating; tomara--of you; sange--in the company; kariba--I shall do; gamana--walking.
TRANSLATION
"Cook one kilogram of rice daily and offer it. I shall eat that rice and follow behind you."
TEXT 101
TEXT
ara dina ajna magi' calila brahmana
tara pache pache gopala karila gamana
SYNONYMS
ara dina--the next day; ajna--permission; magi'--begging; calila--started; brahmana--the young brahmana; tara--him; pache--behind; pache--behind; gopala--Lord Gopala; karila--began; gamana--following.
TRANSLATION
The next day, the brahmana begged permission from Gopala and started for his country. Gopala followed him, step by step.
TEXT 102
TEXT
nupurera dhvani suni' anandita mana
uttamanna paka kari' karaya bhojana
SYNONYMS
nupurera--of the ankle bells; dhvani--the sounds; suni'--hearing; anandita--very much pleased; mana--the mind; uttama-anna--first-class rice; paka--cooking; kari'--doing; karaya--causes; bhojana--eating.
TRANSLATION
While Gopala followed the young brahmana, the tinkling sound of His ankle bells could be heard. The brahmana became very pleased, and he cooked first-class rice for Gopala to eat.
TEXT 103
TEXT
ei-mate cali' vipra nija-dese aila
gramera nikata asi' manete cintila
SYNONYMS
ei-mate--in this way; cali'--walking; vipra--the brahmana; nija--own; dese--to the country; aila--returned; gramera--to the village; nikata--near; asi'--coming; manete--within his mind; cintila--thought.
TRANSLATION
The young brahmana walked and walked in this way until he eventually arrived in his own country. When he neared his own village, he began to think as follows.
TEXT 104
TEXT
'ebe muni grame ainu, yaimu bhavana
lokere kahiba giya saksira agamana
SYNONYMS
ebe--now; muni--I; grame--to the village; ainu--have come; yaimu--I shall go; bhavana--to my home; lokere--the people; kahiba--I shall tell; giya--going there; saksira--of the witness; agamana--about the arrival.
TRANSLATION
"I have now come to my village, and I shall go to my home and tell all the people that the witness has arrived."
TEXT 105
TEXT
saksate na dekhile mane pratiti na haya
ihan yadi rahena, tabu nahi kichu bhaya'
SYNONYMS
saksate--directly; na--not; dekhile--if seeing; mane--in the mind; pratiti--assurance; na--not; haya--there is; ihan--here; yadi--if; rahena--the Lord stays; tabu--still; nahi--there is not; kichu--any; bhaya--fear.
TRANSLATION
The brahmana then began to think that if the people didn't directly see the Gopala Deity, they would not believe that He had arrived. "But even if Gopala stays here," he thought, "there is still nothing to fear."
TEXT 106
TEXT
eta bhavi' sei vipra phiriya cahila
hasina gopala-deva tathaya rahila
SYNONYMS
eta bhavi'--thinking like this; sei--that; vipra--brahmana; phiriya--turning; cahila--saw; hasina--smiling; gopala-deva--Lord Gopaladeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tathaya--there; rahila--stayed.
TRANSLATION
Thinking this, the brahmana turned to look back, and He saw that Gopala, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was standing there smiling.
TEXT 107
TEXT
brahmanere kahe,----"tumi yaha nija-ghara
ethaya rahiba ami, na yaba atahpara"
SYNONYMS
brahmanere kahe--He asked the brahmana; tumi--you; yaha--go; nija-ghara--to your own home; ethaya--here in this place; rahiba--shall stay; ami--I; na--not; yaba--shall go; atahpara--hereafter.
TRANSLATION
The Lord told the brahmana, "Now you can go home. I shall stay here and shall not leave."
TEXT 108
TEXT
tabe sei vipra yai nagare kahila
sunina sakala loka camatkara haila
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; sei--that; vipra--brahmana; yai--going; nagare--to the town; kahila--said; sunina--hearing; sakala--all; loka--the people; camatkara--struck with wonder; haila--were.
TRANSLATION
The young brahmana then went to the town and informed all the people about Gopala's arrival. Hearing this, the people were struck with wonder.
TEXT 109
TEXT
aila sakala loka saksi dekhibare
gopala dekhina loka dandavat kare
SYNONYMS
aila--came; sakala--all; loka--the people; saksi--the witness; dekhibare--to see; gopala--Lord Gopala; dekhina--seeing; loka--all the people; dandavat--offering obeisances; kare--do.
TRANSLATION
All the townspeople went to see the witness Gopala, and when they saw the Lord actually standing there, they all offered their respectful obeisances.
TEXT 110
TEXT
gopala-saundarya dekhi' loke anandita
pratima calina aila,----sunina vismita
SYNONYMS
gopala--of Lord Gopala; saundarya--the beauty; dekhi'--seeing; loke--everyone; anandita--pleased; pratima--the Deity; calina--walking; aila--came; sunina--hearing this; vismita--surprised.
TRANSLATION
When the people arrived, they were very pleased to see the beauty of Gopala, and when they heard that He had actually walked there, they were all surprised.
TEXT 111
TEXT
tabe sei bada-vipra anandita hana
gopalera age pade dandavat hana
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; sei--that; bada-vipra--elderly brahmana; anandita--pleased; hana--becoming; gopalera--of Lord Gopala; age--in front; pade--falls down; dandavat--like a stick; hana--becoming.
TRANSLATION
Then the elderly brahmana, being very pleased, came forward and immediately fell like a stick in front of Gopala.
TEXT 112
TEXT
sakala lokera age gopala saksi dila
bada-vipra chota-vipre kanya-dana kaila
SYNONYMS
sakala--all; lokera--of the people; age--in the presence; gopala--Lord Gopala; saksi--witness; dila--gave; bada-vipra--the elderly brahmana; chota-vipre--unto the young brahmana; kanya-dana--giving the daughter in charity; kaila--did.
TRANSLATION
Thus in the presence of all the townspeople, Lord Gopala bore witness that the elderly brahmana had offered his daughter in charity to the young brahmana.
TEXT 113
TEXT
tabe sei dui vipre kahila isvara
"tumi-dui----janme-janme amara kinkara
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; sei--those; dui--two; vipre--unto the brahmanas; kahila--spoke; isvara--the Lord; tumi-dui--both of you; janme-janme--birth after birth; amara--My; kinkara--servants.
TRANSLATION
After the marriage ceremony was performed, the Lord informed both brahmanas, "You two brahmanas are My eternal servants, birth after birth."
PURPORT
Like these two brahmanas of Vidyanagara, there are many devotees who are eternal servants of the Lord. They are specifically known as nitya-siddha, eternally perfect. Although the nitya-siddhas appear in the material world and seem to be common members of the world, they never forget the Supreme Personality of Godhead in any condition. This is the symptom of a nitya-siddha.
There are two kinds of living entities--nitya-siddha and nitya-baddha. The nitya-siddha never forgets his relationship with the Supreme Personality, whereas the nitya-baddha is always conditioned, even before the creation. He always forgets his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Here the Lord informs the two brahmanas that they are His servants birth after birth. The phrase birth after birth refers to the material world because in the spiritual world there is no birth, death, old age or disease. By the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the nitya-siddha remains within this material world like an ordinary man, but the only business of the nitya-siddha is to broadcast the glories of the Lord. This incident appears to be an ordinary story about a marriage transaction involving two ordinary people. However, Krsna accepted the two brahmanas as His eternal servants. Both brahmanas took much trouble in these negotiations, just like mundane people, yet they were acting as eternal servants of the Lord. All nitya-siddhas within this material world may appear to toil like ordinary men, but they never forget their position as servants of the Lord.
Another point: The elderly brahmana belonged to an aristocratic family and was learned and wealthy. The young brahmana belonged to an ordinary family and was uneducated. But these mundane qualifications do not concern a nitya-siddha engaged in the service of the Lord. We have to accept the fact that the nitya-siddhas are completely distinct from the nitya-baddhas, who are ordinary human beings. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura confirms this statement:
gaurangera sangi-gane, nitya-siddha kari' mane,
se yaya vrajendra-suta-pasa
sri-gauda-mandala-bhumi, yeba jane cintamani,
tara haya vraja-bhume vasa
One who accepts the associates of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu as nitya-siddhas is certain to be elevated to the spiritual kingdom to become an associate of the Supreme Lord. One should also know that Gauda-mandala-bhumi--those places in Bengal where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed--are equal to Vrajabhumi, or Vrndavana. There is no difference between the inhabitants of Vrndavana and those of Gauda-mandala-bhumi, or Sridhama Mayapura.
TEXT 114
TEXT
dunhara satye tusta ha-ilan, dunhe maga' vara"
dui-vipra vara mage ananda-antara
SYNONYMS
dunhara satye--in the truthfulness of both of you; tusta ha-ilan--I have be come satisfied; dunhe--both of you; maga'--ask; vara--some benediction; dui-vipra--both the brahmanas; vara--a benediction; mage--beg; ananda--pleased; antara--within.
TRANSLATION
The Lord continued, "I have become very pleased by the truthfulness of you both. Now you can ask for a benediction." Thus with great pleasure the two brahmanas begged for a benediction.
TEXT 115
TEXT
"yadi vara dibe, tabe raha ei sthane
kinkarere daya tava sarva-loke jane"
SYNONYMS
yadi--if; vara--benediction; dibe--You will offer; tabe--then; raha--stay; ei sthane--in this quarter; kinkarere--to Your servants; daya--mercy; tava--Your; sarva-loke--all people; jane--may know.
TRANSLATION
The brahmanas said, "Please remain here so that people all over the world will know how merciful You are to Your servants."
TEXT 116
TEXT
gopala rahila, dunhe karena sevana
dekhite aila saba desera loka-jana
SYNONYMS
gopala--Lord Gopala; rahila--stayed; dunhe--both of them; karena--do; sevana--service; dekhite--to see; aila--came; saba--all; desera--of the countries; loka-jana--the people.
TRANSLATION
Lord Gopala stayed, and the two brahmanas engaged in His service. After hearing of the incident, many people from different countries began to come to see Gopala.
TEXT 117
TEXT
se desera raja aila ascarya sunina
parama santosa paila gopale dekhina
SYNONYMS
se desera--of that country; raja--the King; aila--came; ascarya--about the wonder; sunina--hearing; parama--great; santosa--satisfaction; paila--achieved; gopale--Gopala; dekhina--by seeing.
TRANSLATION
Eventually the King of that country heard of this wonderful story, and he also came to see Gopala and thus became very satisfied.
TEXT 118
TEXT
mandira kariya raja seva calaila
'saksi-gopala' bali' tanra nama khyati haila
SYNONYMS
mandira--a temple; kariya--constructing; raja--the King; seva--service; calaila--regularly carried on; saksi-gopala--by the name Saksi-gopala; bali'--known as; tanra--His; nama--name; khyati--celebrated; haila--was.
TRANSLATION
The King constructed a nice temple, and regular service was executed. Gopala became very famous under the name of Saksi-gopala [the witness Gopala].
TEXT 119
TEXT
ei mata vidyanagare saksi-gopala
seva angikara kari' achena cira-kala
SYNONYMS
ei mata--in this way; vidyanagare--in the town of Vidyanagara; saksi-gopala--the witness Gopala; seva--service; angikara--acceptance; kari'--doing; achena--remains; cira-kala--a long time.
TRANSLATION
Thus Saksi-gopala stayed in Vidyanagara and accepted service for a very long time.
PURPORT
This city of Vidyanagara is situated in Trailanga-desa, South India, on the bank of the river Godavari. The place where the Godavari flows into the Bay of Bengal is called Kotadesa. The Orissa kingdom was very powerful, and this Kotadesa was the capital of Orissa. It was then known as Vidyanagara. Formerly this city was situated on the southern side of the river Godavari. At that time King Purusottama-deva managed to control Orissa and appoint a government. The present city of Vidyanagara is on the southeast side of the river, only twenty to twenty-five miles from Rajamahendri. During the time of Maharaja Prataparudra, Sri Ramananda Raya was the governor there. Vijaya-nagara is not identical with Vidyanagara.
TEXT 120
TEXT
utkalera raja purusottama-deva nama
sei desa jini' nila kariya sangrama
SYNONYMS
utkalera--of Orissa; raja--the King; purusottama-deva--Purusottama-deva; nama--named; sei desa--this country; jini'--conquering; nila--took; kariya--executing; sangrama--fight.
TRANSLATION
Later there was a fight, and this country was conquered by King Purusottama-deva of Orissa.
TEXT 121
TEXT
sei raja jini' nila tanra simhasana
'manikya-simhasana' nama aneka ratana
SYNONYMS
sei raja--that King (Maharaja Purusottama-deva); jini'--conquering; nila--took; tanra--his; simha-asana--the throne; manikya-simhasana--the throne known as Manikya-simhasana; nama--named; aneka--various; ratana--bedecked with jewels.
TRANSLATION
That King was victorious over the King of Vidyanagara, and he took possession of his throne, the Manikya-simhasana, which was bedecked with many jewels.
TEXT 122
TEXT
purusottama-deva sei bada bhakta arya
gopala-carane mage,----'cala mora rajya
SYNONYMS
purusottama-deva--King Purusottama-deva; sei--that; bada--very great; bhakta--devotee; arya--Aryan; gopala-carane--at the lotus feet of Gopala; mage--begs; cala--please come; mora--my; rajya--to the kingdom.
TRANSLATION
King Purusottama-deva was a great devotee and was advanced in the civilization of the Aryans. He begged at the lotus feet of Gopala, "Please come to my kingdom."
TEXT 123
TEXT
tanra bhakti-vase gopala tanre ajna dila
gopala la-iya sei katake aila
SYNONYMS
tanra--his; bhakti-vase--under the obligation of the devotional service; gopala--Lord Gopala; tanre--unto Him; ajna dila--gave the order; gopala--the Gopala Deity; la-iya--taking; sei--that King; katake--to the city of Kataka; aila--returned.
TRANSLATION
When the King begged Him to come to his kingdom, Gopala, who was already obliged for his devotional service, accepted his prayer. Thus the King took the Gopala Deity and went back to Kataka.
TEXT 124
TEXT
jagannathe ani' dila manikya-simhasana
katake gopala-seva karila sthapana
SYNONYMS
jagannathe--unto Jagannatha; ani'--bringing; dila--presented; manikya-simhasana--the throne of the name Manikya-simhasana; katake--at Kataka; gopala-seva--the service of the Gopala Deity; karila sthapana--established.
TRANSLATION
After winning the Manikya throne, King Purusottama-deva took it to Jagannatha Puri and presented it to Lord Jagannatha. In the meantime, he also established regular worship of the Gopala Deity at Kataka.
TEXT 125
TEXT
tanhara mahisi aila gopala-darsane
bhakti kari' bahu alankara kaila samarpane
SYNONYMS
tanhara mahisi--his Queen; aila--came; gopala-darsane--to see the Gopala Deity; bhakti kari'--in great devotion; bahu--various; alankara--of ornaments; kaila--made; samarpane--presentation.
TRANSLATION
When the Gopala Deity was installed at Kataka, the Queen of Purusottama-deva went to see Him and, with great devotion, presented various kinds of ornaments.
TEXT 126
TEXT
tanhara nasate bahu-mulya mukta haya
taha dite iccha haila, manete cintaya
SYNONYMS
tanhara nasate--on the nostril of the Queen; bahu-mulya--very valuable; mukta--pearl; haya--there was; taha--that; dite--to give; iccha--the desire; haila--there was; manete--in the mind; cintaya--thinks.
TRANSLATION
The Queen had a very valuable pearl, which she wore on her nose, and she wished to give it to Gopala. She then began to think as follows.
TEXT 127
TEXT
thakurera nasate yadi chidra thakita
tabe ei dasi mukta nasaya paraita
SYNONYMS
thakurera nasate--in the nose of the Deity; yadi--if; chidra--a hole; thakita--there were; tabe--then; ei--this; dasi--maidservant; mukta--pearl; nasaya--on the nose; paraita--could put on.
TRANSLATION
"If there were a hole in the Deity's nose, I could transfer the pearl to Him."
TEXT 128
TEXT
eta cinti' namaskari' gela sva-bhavane
ratri-sese gopala tanre kahena svapane
SYNONYMS
eta cinti'--thinking like that; namaskari'--offering obeisances; gela--went; sva-bhavane--to the palace of the King; ratri-sese--at the end of night; gopala--the Gopala Deity; tanre--unto her; kahena--says; svapane--in a dream.
TRANSLATION
Considering this, the Queen offered her obeisances to Gopala and returned to her palace. That night she dreamed that Gopala appeared and began to speak to her as follows.
TEXT 129
TEXT
"balya-kale mata mora nasa chidra kari'
mukta paranachila bahu yatna kari'
SYNONYMS
balya-kale--in My childhood; mata--mother; mora--My; nasa--nose; chidra kari'--making a hole; mukta--a pearl; paranachila--was put on it; bahu--much; yatna--endeavor; kari'--taking.
TRANSLATION
"During My childhood My mother made a hole in My nose and with great endeavor set a pearl there.
TEXT 130
TEXT
sei chidra adyapiha achaye nasate
sei mukta paraha, yaha cahiyacha dite"
SYNONYMS
sei chidra--that hole; adyapiha--still, until now; achaye--is; nasate--in the nose; sei--that; mukta--pearl; paraha--put on; yaha--which; cahiyacha--you desired; dite--to give to Me.
TRANSLATION
"That very hole is still there, and you can use it to set the pearl you desired to give Me."
TEXT 131
TEXT
svapne dekhi' sei rani rajake kahila
raja-saha mukta lana mandire aila
SYNONYMS
svapne dekhi'--seeing the dream; sei rani--the Queen; rajake--unto the King; kahila--spoke; raja-saha--with the King; mukta--the pearl; lana--taking; mandire--to the temple; aila--they went.
TRANSLATION
After dreaming this, the Queen explained it to her husband, the King. Both the King and the Queen then went to the temple with the pearl.
TEXT 132
TEXT
paraila mukta nasaya chidra dekhina
maha-mahotsava kaila anandita hana
SYNONYMS
paraila--set; mukta--the pearl; nasaya--on the nose; chidra--the hole; dekhina--seeing; maha-mahotsava--a great festival; kaila--performed; anandita--pleased; hana--being.
TRANSLATION
Seeing the hole in the nose of the Deity, they set the pearl there and, being very pleased, held a great festival.
TEXT 133
TEXT
sei haite gopalera katakete sthiti
ei lagi 'saksi-gopala' nama haila khyati
SYNONYMS
sei haite--since that time; gopalera--of Gopala; katakete--in the town of Kataka; sthiti--the establishment; ei lagi--for this reason; saksi-gopala--the witness Gopala; nama--named; haila--became; khyati--celebrated.
TRANSLATION
Since then, Gopala has been situated in the city of Kataka [Cuttak], and He has been known ever since as Saksi-gopala.
TEXT 134
TEXT
nityananda-mukhe suni' gopala-carita
tusta haila mahaprabhu svabhakta-sahita
SYNONYMS
nityananda-mukhe--from the mouth of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; suni'--hearing; gopala-carita--the narration of Gopala; tusta haila--became very pleased; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sva-bhakta-sahita--with His devotees.
TRANSLATION
Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard the narration of Gopala's activities. Both He and His personal devotees became very pleased.
TEXT 135
TEXT
gopalera age yabe prabhura haya sthiti
bhakta-gane dekhe----yena dunhe eka-murti
SYNONYMS
gopalera age--in front of Gopala; yabe--when; prabhura--of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; haya--is; sthiti--situation; bhakta-gane--all the devotees; dekhe--see; yena--as if; dunhe--both of Them; eka-murti--one form.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was sitting before the Gopala Deity, all the devotees saw Him and the Deity as being of the same form.
TEXT 136
TEXT
dunhe----eka varna, dunhe----prakanda-sarira
dunhe----raktambara, dunhara svabhava----gambhira
SYNONYMS
dunhe--both of Them; eka varna--one complexion; dunhe--both of Them; prakanda-sarira--gigantic bodies; dunhe--both of Them; rakta-ambara--red clothes; dunhara--of both; svabhava--the natures; gambhira--grave.
TRANSLATION
Both of Them were of the same complexion, and both had the same gigantic bodies. Both wore saffron cloth, and both were very grave.
TEXT 137
TEXT
maha-tejo-maya dunhe kamala-nayana
dunhara bhavavesa, dunhe----candra-vadana
SYNONYMS
maha-tejah-maya--brilliantly effulgent; dunhe--both of Them; kamala-nayana--lotus-eyed; dunhara--of both of Them; bhava-avesa--absorbed in ecstasy; dunhe--both of Them; candra-vadana--moon-faced.
TRANSLATION
The devotees saw that both Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Gopala were brilliantly effulgent and had eyes like lotuses. They were both absorbed in ecstasy, and Their faces resembled full moons.
TEXT 138
TEXT
dunha dekhi' nityananda-prabhu maha-range
tharathari kari' hase bhakta-gana-sange
SYNONYMS
dunha dekhi'--seeing both of Them; nityananda-prabhu--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; maha-range--in great jubilation; tharathari--indication; kari'--doing; hase--laughs; bhakta-gana-sange--along with the other devotees.
TRANSLATION
When Nityananda saw both the Gopala Deity and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in that way, He began to exchange remarks with the devotees, all of whom were smiling.
TEXT 139
TEXT
ei-mata maha-range se ratri vanciya
prabhate calila mangala-arati dekhina
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; maha-range--in great pleasure; se--that; ratri--night; vanciya--passing; prabhate--in the morning; calila--departed; mangala-arati--the mangala-arati performance; dekhina--seeing.
TRANSLATION
Thus with great pleasure Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed that night in the temple. After seeing the mangala-arati ceremony in the morning, He started on His journey.
TEXT 140
TEXT
bhuvanesvara-pathe yaiche kaila darasana
vistari' varniyachena dasa-vrndavana
SYNONYMS
bhuvanesvara-pathe--on the way to Bhuvanesvara; yaiche--as; kaila--He did; darasana--visiting; vistari'--vividly; varniyachena--has described; dasa-vrndavana--Vrndavana dasa Thakura.
TRANSLATION
[In his book Caitanya-bhagavata] Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura has very vividly described the places visited by the Lord on the way to Bhuvanesvara.
PURPORT
In his book Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda, Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura has very nicely described the Lord's journey en route to Kataka (Cuttak). On that journey, the Lord visited a place known as Balihasta, or Balakaticati. He then visited the city of Bhuvanesvara, where Lord Siva's temple is located. The temple of Bhuvanesvara is situated about five to six miles from Balakaticati. The temple of Lord Siva is mentioned in the Skanda Purana in the narration about the Lord's garden and the one mango tree. A king named Kasiraja wanted to fight with Lord Krsna, and consequently he took shelter of Lord Siva to acquire the power to fight the Lord. Being pleased with his worship, Lord Siva helped him fight Krsna. Lord Siva's name is Asutosa, which indicates that he is very easily satisfied when one worships him, regardless of the purpose, and he gives his devotee whatever benediction the devotee wants. Therefore, people are generally very fond of worshiping Lord Siva. Thus Kasiraja was helped by Lord Siva, but in the fight with Lord Krsna he was not only defeated but killed. In this way the weapon known as Pasupata-astra was baffled, and Krsna set fire to the city of Kasi. Later Lord Siva became conscious of his mistake in helping Kasiraja, and he begged Lord Krsna's forgiveness. As a benediction from Lord Krsna, he received a place known as Ekamra-kanana. Later, the kings of the Kesari dynasty established their capital there, and for many hundreds of years they reigned over the state of Orissa.
TEXT 141
TEXT
kamalapure asi bharginadi-snana kaila
nityananda-hate prabhu danda dharila
SYNONYMS
kamala-pure--to the place known as Kamalapura; asi--coming; bhargi-nadi--in the small river of the name Bharginadi; snana kaila--took a bath; nityananda-hate--in the hands of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; danda--the sannyasa staff; dharila--left.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived at Kamalapura, He took His bath in the Bharginadi River and left His sannyasa staff in the hands of Lord Nityananda.
PURPORT
In the Caitanya-bhagavata (Antya-khanda, Chapter Two) it is said that when Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived at Sri Bhuvanesvara, He visited the temple of Lord Siva known as Gupta-kasi (the concealed Varanasi). Lord Siva established this as a place of pilgrimage by bringing water from all holy places and creating the lake known as Bindu-sarovara. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took His bath in this lake, feeling a great regard for Lord Siva. From the spiritual point of view, people still go to take a bath in this lake. Actually, by taking a bath there, one becomes very healthy even from the material viewpoint. Taking a bath and drinking the water of this lake can cure any disease of the stomach. Regular bathing certainly cures indigestion. The river Bhargi or Bharginadi is now known as Danda-bhanga-nadi. It is situated six miles north of Jagannatha Puri. The reason for the change in names is given as follows.
TEXTS 142-143
TEXT
kapotesvara dekhite gela bhakta-gana sange
etha nityananda-prabhu kaila danda-bhange
tina khanda kari' danda dila bhasana
bhakta-sange aila prabhu mahesa dekhina
SYNONYMS
kapotesvara--the Siva temple of the name Kapotesvara; dekhite--to see; gela--went; bhakta-gana sange--with the devotees; etha--here; nityananda-prabhu--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; kaila--did; danda--of the sannyasa staff; bhange--breaking; tina khanda--three parts; kari'--making; danda--the staff; dila--threw in; bhasana--washing away; bhakta-sange--with the devotees; aila--returned; prabhu--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mahesa dekhina--having seen the temple of Lord Siva.
TRANSLATION
When Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to the temple of Lord Siva known as Kapotesvara, Nityananda Prabhu, who was keeping His sannyasa staff in custody, broke the staff in three parts and threw it into the river Bharginadi. Later this river became known as Danda-bhanga-nadi.
PURPORT
The mystery of the sannyasa-danda (staff) of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has been explained by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the order of sannyasa from a Mayavadi sannyasi. The Mayavadi sannyasis generally carry one staff, or danda. Taking advantage of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's absence, Srila Nityananda Prabhu broke the staff into three parts and threw it into the river now known as the Danda-bhanga-nadi. In the sannyasa order there are four divisions--kuticaka, bahudaka, hamsa and paramahamsa. Only when the sannyasi remains on the kuticaka and bahudaka platforms can he carry a staff. However, when one is elevated to the status of hamsa or paramahamsa, after touring and preaching the bhakti cult, he must give up the sannyasa staff.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is therefore said, sri-krsna-caitanya, radha-krsna nahe anya: "Two personalities--Srimati Radharani and Sri Krsna--are combined in the incarnation of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu." Therefore, considering Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be an extraordinary person, Lord Nityananda Prabhu did not wait for the paramahamsa stage. He reasoned that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is automatically on the paramahamsa stage; therefore He does not need to carry the sannyasa-danda.
This is the reason Sri Nityananda Prabhu broke the staff into three pieces and threw it into the water.
TEXT 144
TEXT
jagannathera deula dekhi' avista haila
dandavat kari preme nacite lagila
SYNONYMS
jagannathera--of Lord Jagannatha; deula--the temple; dekhi'--seeing; avista--ecstatic; haila--became; dandavat kari--offering obeisances; preme--in the ecstasy of love of God; nacite--to dance; lagila--began.
TRANSLATION
After seeing the temple of Jagannatha from a distant place, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately became ecstatic. After offering obeisances to the temple, He began to dance in the ecstasy of love of God.
PURPORT
The word deula refers to the temple where the Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated. The present temple of Jagannatha Puri was constructed by King Ananga-bhima. Historians say this temple must have been constructed at least two thousand years ago. During the time of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the small buildings surrounding the original temple had not been constructed. Nor was the high platform in front of the temple present during the time of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 145
TEXT
bhakta-gana avista hana, sabe nace gaya
premavese prabhu-sange raja-marge yaya
SYNONYMS
bhakta-gana--the devotees; avista--ecstatic; hana--being; sabe--all; nace--dance; gaya--sing; prema-avese--absorbed in love of God; prabhu-sange--with Lord Caitanya; raja-marge--on the pathway; yaya--going.
TRANSLATION
All the devotees became ecstatic in the association of Lord Caitanya, and thus absorbed in love of God, they were dancing and singing while going along the main road.
TEXT 146
TEXT
hase, kande, nace prabhu hunkara garjana
tina-krosa patha haila----sahasra yojana
SYNONYMS
hase--laughs; kande--cries; nace--dances; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; hunkara--ecstatic vibrations; garjana--resonations; tina-krosa--six miles; patha--the way; haila--became; sahasra yojana--thousands of miles.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu laughed, cried, danced and made many ecstatic vibrations and sounds. Although the temple was only six miles away, to Him the distance seemed thousands of miles.
PURPORT
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was in ecstasy, He considered one moment to last as long as twelve years. After seeing the Jagannatha temple from a distant place, the Lord became so ecstatic that He considered the six-mile path many thousands of miles long.
TEXT 147
TEXT
calite calite prabhu aila 'atharanala'
tahan asi' prabhu kichu bahya prakasila
SYNONYMS
calite calite--walking in this way; prabhu--the Lord; aila--arrived; atharanala--at a place known as Atharanala; tahan--there; asi'--coming; prabhu--the Lord; kichu--some; bahya--external consciousness; prakasila--expressed.
TRANSLATION
Thus walking and walking, the Lord eventually arrived at the place known as Atharanala. Arriving there, He expressed His external consciousness, speaking to Sri Nityananda Prabhu.
PURPORT
At the entrance to Jagannatha Puri is a bridge with eighteen arches called Atharanala. (Athara means eighteen.)
TEXT 148
TEXT
nityanande kahe prabhu,----deha mora danda
nityananda bale,----danda haila tina khanda
SYNONYMS
nityanande--to Lord Nityananda; kahe--asks; prabhu--Lord Caitanya; deha--give; mora--My; danda--sannyasa staff; nityananda bale--Sri Nityananda replies; danda--Your sannyasa staff; haila--became; tina khanda--divided into three parts.
TRANSLATION
When Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu had thus regained external consciousness, He asked Lord Nityananda Prabhu, "Please return My staff." Nityananda Prabhu then replied, "It has been broken into three parts."
TEXT 149
TEXT
premavese padila tumi, tomare dharinu
toma-saha sei danda-upare padinu
SYNONYMS
prema-avese--in an ecstatic condition; padila--fell down; tumi--You; tomare--You; dharinu--I caught; toma-saha--with You; sei--that; danda-upare--upon that staff; padinu--I fell down.
TRANSLATION
Nityananda Prabhu said, "When You fell down in ecstasy, I caught You, but both of Us together fell upon the staff.
TEXT 150
TEXT
dui-janara bhare danda khanda khanda haila
sei khanda kanha padila, kichu na janila
SYNONYMS
dui-janara--of Us two; bhare--by the weight; danda--the staff; khanda khanda--broken to pieces; haila--became; sei--those; khanda--pieces; kanha padila--where they fell; kichu--anything; na janila--is not known.
TRANSLATION
"Thus the staff broke under Our weight. Where the pieces have gone, I cannot say.
TEXT 151
TEXT
mora aparadhe tomara danda ha-ila khanda
ye ucita haya, mora kara tara danda"
SYNONYMS
mora--My; aparadhe--by the offense; tomara--Your; danda--sannyasa staff; ha-ila--became; khanda--broken; ye--whatever; ucita--fitting; haya--is; mora--to Me; kara--do; tara--for that; danda--punishment.
TRANSLATION
"It is certainly because of My offense that Your staff was broken. Now You can punish Me on this account as You think proper."
TEXT 152
TEXT
suni' kichu mahaprabhu duhkha prakasila
isat krodha kari' kichu kahite lagila
SYNONYMS
suni'--hearing this; kichu--some; mahaprabhu--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; duhkha--unhappiness; prakasila--expressed; isat--little; krodha--anger; kari'--showing; kichu--something; kahite--to speak; lagila--began.
TRANSLATION
After hearing the story about how His staff had been broken, the Lord expressed a little sadness and, displaying a bit of anger, began to speak as follows.
PURPORT
Sri Nityananda Prabhu considered Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's acceptance of sannyasa to be useless. He therefore relieved the Lord of the trouble of carrying the staff. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu expressed anger because He wanted to teach all other sannyasis that they should not give up the staff before attaining the platform of paramahamsa. Seeing that the regulative principles could be slackened by such action, Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to carry the staff personally. However, Nityananda broke it. For this reason Caitanya Mahaprabhu displayed a little anger. It is said in the Bhagavad-gita (3.21), yad yad acarati sresthas tat tad evetaro janah: Whatever great people do, others follow. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to follow the Vedic principles strictly in order to save inexperienced neophytes who try to imitate paramahamsas.
TEXT 153
TEXT
nilacale ani' mora sabe hita kaila
sabe danda-dhana chila, taha na rakhila
SYNONYMS
nilacale--to Jagannatha Puri; ani'--bringing; mora--My; sabe--all of you; hita--benefit; kaila--did; sabe--only; danda-dhana--one staff; chila--there was; taha--that also; na--not; rakhila--you kept.
TRANSLATION
Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "You have all benefited Me by bringing Me to Nilacala. However, My only possession was that one staff, and you have not kept it.
TEXT 154
TEXT
tumi-saba age yaha isvara dekhite
kiba ami age yai, na yaba sahite
SYNONYMS
tumi-saba--all of you; age--ahead; yaha--go; isvara dekhite--to see Jagannatha; kiba--or; ami--I; age--ahead; yai--go; na--not; yaba--I shall go; sahite--with you.
TRANSLATION
"So all of you should go before or behind Me to see Lord Jagannatha. I shall not go with you."
TEXT 155
TEXT
mukunda datta kahe,----prabhu, tumi yaha age
ami-saba pache yaba, na yaba tomara sange
SYNONYMS
mukunda datta kahe--the devotee named Mukunda Datta said; prabhu--my Lord; tumi--You; yaha--go; age--in front; ami-saba--all of us; pache--behind; yaba--shall go; na--not; yaba--shall go; tomara sange--with You.
TRANSLATION
Mukunda Datta told Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "My Lord, You should go ahead and allow all the others to follow. We shall not go with You."
TEXT 156
TEXT
eta suni' prabhu age calila sighra-gati
bujhite na pare keha dui prabhura mati
SYNONYMS
eta suni'--hearing this; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; age--in front of the other devotees; calila--began to go; sighra-gati--very swiftly; bujhite--to understand; na--not; pare--able; keha--anyone; dui--two; prabhura--of the Lords; mati--intentions.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then began to walk very swiftly before all the other devotees. No one could understand the real purpose of the two Lords, Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu.
TEXT 157
TEXT
inho kene danda bhange, tenho kene bhangaya
bhangana krodhe tenho inhake dosaya
SYNONYMS
inho--Nityananda; kene--why; danda--the staff; bhange--breaks; tenho--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kene--why; bhangaya--allows to break it; bhangana--after allowing to break it; krodhe--in anger; tenho--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; inhake--Lord Nityananda; dosaya--accuses.
TRANSLATION
The devotees could not understand why Nityananda Prabhu broke the staff, why Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu permitted Him to do so, or why, after permitting Him, Caitanya Mahaprabhu became angry.
TEXT 158
TEXT
danda-bhanga-lila ei----parama gambhira
sei bujhe, dunhara pade yanra bhakti dhira
SYNONYMS
danda-bhanga-lila--the pastime of breaking the staff; ei--this; parama--very; gambhira--grave; sei bujhe--one can understand; dunhara--of both of Them; pade--to the lotus feet; yanra--whose; bhakti--devotional service; dhira--fixed.
TRANSLATION
The pastime of the breaking of the staff is very deep. Only one whose devotion is fixed upon the lotus feet of the two Lords can understand it.
PURPORT
One who understands Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu in reality can understand Their identity as well as the breaking of the staff. All the previous acaryas, being induced to engage themselves fully in the service of the Lord, gave up attachment for material life and thus accepted the staff, which signifies full engagement of the mind, speech and body in the service of the Lord. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the regulative principles of the renounced order of life. That is completely clear. However, in the paramahamsa stage there is no need to accept a danda (staff), and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was certainly in the paramahamsa stage. Nonetheless, to indicate that everyone should take sannyasa at the end of life in order to engage fully in the service of the Lord, even paramahamsas like Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His confidential devotees follow the regulative principles unfailingly. Indeed, that was His purpose. Nityananda Prabhu, who was His eternal servitor, believed that there was no need for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to carry the staff, and to declare to the world that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was above all regulations, He broke it into three pieces. The pastime known as danda-bhanga-lila is thus explained by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.
TEXT 159
TEXT
brahmanya-deva-gopalera mahima ei dhanya
nityananda----vakta yara, srota----sri-caitanya
SYNONYMS
brahmanya-deva--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is merciful to the brahmanas; gopalera--of Gopala; mahima--glories; ei--these; dhanya--glorified; nityananda--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; vakta--the speaker; yara--of the narration; srota--the hearer; sri-caitanya--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
The glories of Lord Gopala, who is merciful to brahmanas, are very great. The narration of Saksi-gopala was spoken by Nityananda Prabhu and heard by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
PURPORT
There are four points of instruction one should consider in the story of Saksi-gopala. First, the Deity (arca-vigraha) of Sri Gopala is eternally sac-cid-ananda-vigraha, the transcendental form of the Lord. Second, the Deity surpasses material regulative principles and extends the reality of transcendental principles. Third, one can be situated in a transcendental position after becoming a brahmana, but as a brahmana, one has to follow the regulative principles very strictly. Lastly, brahmanya-deva indicates Lord Sri Krsna Himself, who is worshiped thus: namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana-hitaya ca. jagad-dhitaya krsnaya govindaya namo namah. This indicates that a devotee who is under the protection of Krsna is automatically situated as a brahmana, and such a brahmana is not illusioned. This is factual.
TEXT 160
TEXT
sraddha-yukta hana iha sune yei jana
acire milaye tare gopala-carana
SYNONYMS
sraddha-yukta--with faith and love; hana--being; iha--this narration; sune--hears; yei--which; jana--person; acire--very soon; milaye--gets; tare--he; gopala-carana--the lotus feet of Lord Gopala.
TRANSLATION
One who hears this narration of Lord Gopala with faith and love very soon attains the lotus feet of Lord Gopala.
TEXT 161
TEXT
sri-rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa
caitanya-caritamrta kahe krsnadasa
SYNONYMS
sri-rupa--Srila Rupa Gosvami; raghunatha--Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; pade--at the lotus feet; yara--whose; asa--expectation; caitanya-caritamrta--the book named Caitanya-caritamrta; kahe--describes; krsnadasa--Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami.
TRANSLATION
Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always desiring their mercy, I, Krsnadasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, following in their footsteps.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Fifth Chapter, describing the activities of Saksi-gopala.