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Chapter 16
The Lord's Attempt to Go to Vrndavana
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gives the following summary of this chapter in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to go to Vrndavana, Ramananda Raya and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya indirectly presented many obstructions. In due course of time, all the devotees of Bengal visited Jagannatha Puri for the third year. This time, all the wives of the Vaisnavas brought many types of food, intending to extend invitations to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Jagannatha Puri. When the devotees arrived, Caitanya Mahaprabhu sent his blessings in the form of garlands. In that year also, the Gundica temple was cleansed, and when the Caturmasya period was over, all the devotees returned to their homes in Bengal. Caitanya Mahaprabhu forbade Nityananda to visit Nilacala every year. Questioned by the inhabitants of Kulina-grama, Caitanya Mahaprabhu again repeated the symptoms of a Vaisnava. Vidyanidhi also came to Jagannatha Puri and saw the festival of Odana-sasthi. When the devotees bade farewell to the Lord, the Lord was determined to go to Vrndavana, and on the day of Vijaya-dasami, He departed.
Maharaja Prataparudra made various arrangements for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's trip to Vrndavana. When He crossed the River Citrotpala, Ramananda Raya, Mardaraja and Haricandana went with Him. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu requested Gadadhara Pandita to go to Nilacala, Jagannatha Puri, but he did not abide by this order. From Kataka, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again requested Gadadhara Pandita to return to Nilacala, and He bade farewell to Ramananda Raya from Bhadraka. After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu crossed the border of Orissa state, and He arrived at Panihati by boat. Thereafter He visited the house of Raghava Pandita, and from there He went to Kumarahatta and eventually to Kuliya, where He excused many offenders. From there He went to Ramakeli, where He saw Sri Rupa and Sanatana and accepted them as His chief disciples. Returning from Ramakeli, He met Raghunatha dasa and after giving him instructions sent him back home. Thereafter the Lord returned to Nilacala and began to make plans to go to Vrndavana without a companion.
TEXT 1
TEXT
gaudodyanam gaura-meghah
sincan svalokanamrtaih
bhavagni-dagdha-janata-
virudhah samajivayat
SYNONYMS
gauda-udyanam--upon the garden known as Gauda-desa; gaura-meghah--the cloud known as Gaura; sincan--pouring water; sva--His own; alokana-amrtaih--with the nectar of the glance; bhava-agni--by the blazing fire of material existence; dagdha--having been burnt; janata--the people in general; virudhah--who are like creepers and plants; samajivayat--revived.
TRANSLATION
By the nectar of His personal glance, the cloud known as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu poured water upon the garden of Gauda-desa and revived the people, who were like creepers and plants burning in the forest fire of material existence.
TEXT 2
TEXT
jaya jaya gauracandra jaya nityananda
jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya--all glories; gauracandra--to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jaya--all glories; nityananda--to Nityananda Prabhu; jaya--all glories; advaita-candra--to Advaita Acarya; jaya--all glories; gaura-bhakta-vrnda--to the devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityananda! All glories to Advaitacandra! All glories to all the devotees of the Lord!
TEXT 3
TEXT
prabhura ha-ila iccha yaite vrndavana
suniya prataparudra ha-ila vimana
SYNONYMS
prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ha-ila--there was; iccha--the desire; yaite--to go; vrndavana--to Vrndavana; suniya--hearing; prataparudra--Maharaja Prataparudra; ha-ila vimana--became morose.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu decided to go to Vrndavana, and Maharaja Prataparudra became very morose upon hearing this news.
TEXT 4
TEXT
sarvabhauma, ramananda, ani' dui jana
dunhake kahena raja vinaya-vacana
SYNONYMS
sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma; ramananda--Ramananda; ani'--calling; dui jana--two persons; dunhake--unto both of them; kahena--said; raja--the King; vinaya-vacana--submissive words.
TRANSLATION
The King therefore called for Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and Ramananda Raya, and he spoke the following submissive words to them.
TEXT 5
TEXT
niladri chadi' prabhura mana anyatra yaite
tomara karaha yatna tanhare rakhite
SYNONYMS
niladri--Jagannatha Puri; chadi'--giving up; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mana--the mind; anyatra--elsewhere; yaite--to go; tomara--both of you; karaha--make; yatna--endeavor; tanhare--Him; rakhite--to keep.
TRANSLATION
Prataparudra Maharaja said, "Please endeavor to keep Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu here at Jagannatha puri, for now He is thinking of going elsewhere.
TEXT 6
TEXT
tanha vina ei rajya more nahi bhaya
gosani rakhite karaha nana upaya
SYNONYMS
tanha vina--without Him; ei rajya--this kingdom; more--to me; nahi bhaya--is not very pleasing; gosani--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; rakhite--to keep; karaha--do; nana upaya--various sorts of devices.
TRANSLATION
"Without Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this kingdom is not pleasing to me. Therefore please try to devise some plan to enable the Lord to stay here."
TEXT 7
TEXT
ramananda, sarvabhauma, dui-jana-sthane
tabe yukti kare prabhu----'yaba vrndavane'
SYNONYMS
ramananda--Ramananda; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma; dui-jana-sthane--before the two persons; tabe--then; yukti kare--consulted; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yaba vrndavane--I shall go to Vrndavana.
TRANSLATION
After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself consulted Ramananda Raya and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, saying,"I shall go to Vrndavana."
TEXT 8
TEXT
dunhe kahe,----ratha-yatra kara darasana
kartika aile, tabe kariha gamana
SYNONYMS
dunhe kahe--both of them said; ratha-yatra--the Ratha-yatra festival; kara darasana--please see; kartika aile--when the month of Karttika arrives; tabe--at that time; kariha gamana--You can go.
TRANSLATION
Ramananda Raya and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya requested the Lord to observe first the Ratha-yatra festival. Then when the month of Karttika arrived, He could go to Vrndavana.
TEXT 9
TEXT
kartika aile kahe----ebe maha-sita
dola-yatra dekhi' yao----ei bhala rita
SYNONYMS
kartika aile--when the month of Karttika arrived; kahe--both of them said; ebe--now; maha-sita--very cold; dola-yatra dekhi'--after seeing the Dola-yatra ceremony; yao--You go; ei--this; bhala rita--a very nice program.
TRANSLATION
However, when the month of Karttika came, they both told the Lord, "Now it is very cold. It is better that You wait to see the Dola-yatra festival and then go. That will be very nice."
TEXT 10
TEXT
aji-kali kari' uthaya vividha upaya
yaite sammati na deya vicchedera bhaya
SYNONYMS
aji-kali kari'--delaying today and tomorrow; uthaya--they put forward; vividha upaya--many devices; yaite--to go; sammati--permission; na deya--did not give; vicchedera bhaya--because of fearing separation.
TRANSLATION
In this way they both presented many impediments, indirectly not granting the Lord permission to go to Vrndavana. They did this because they were afraid of separation from Him.
TEXT 11
TEXT
yadyapi svatantra prabhu nahe nivarana
bhakta-iccha vina prabhu na kare gamana
SYNONYMS
yadyapi--although; svatantra--fully independent; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nahe nivarana--there is no checking Him; bhakta-iccha vina--without the permission of devotees; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; na kare gamana--does not go.
TRANSLATION
Although the Lord is completely independent and incapable of being checked by anyone, He still did not go without the permission of His devotees.
TEXT 12
TEXT
trtiya vatsare saba gaudera bhakta-gana
nilacale calite sabara haila mana
SYNONYMS
trtiya vatsare--in the third year; saba--all; gaudera bhakta-gana--devotees from Bengal; nilacale--to Jagannatha Puri; calite--to go; sabara--of everyone; haila--there was; mana--the mind.
TRANSLATION
Then, for the third year, all the devotees of Bengal wanted to return again to Jagannatha Puri.
TEXT 13
TEXT
sabe meli' gela advaita acaryera pase
prabhu dekhite acarya calila ullase
SYNONYMS
sabe--everyone; meli'--after assembling together; gela--went; advaita--Advaita; acaryera--of the leader of Navadvipa; pase--in the presence; prabhu dekhite--to see Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; acarya--Advaita Acarya; calila--departed; ullase--in great jubilation.
TRANSLATION
All the Bengali devotees gathered around Advaita Acarya, and in great jubilation Advaita Acarya departed to Jagannatha Puri to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXTS 14-15
TEXT
yadyapi prabhura ajna gaudete rahite
nityananda-prabhuke prema-bhakti prakasite
tathapi calila mahaprabhure dekhite
nityanandera prema-cesta ke pare bujhite
SYNONYMS
yadyapi--although; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ajna--the order; gaudete rahite--to stay in Bengal; nityananda-prabhuke--unto Nityananda Prabhu; prema-bhakti--ecstatic love of Godhead; prakasite--to preach; tathapi--still; calila--departed; mahaprabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhite--to see; nityanandera--of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; prema-cesta--the activities of ecstatic love; ke--who; pare--is able; bujhite--to understand.
TRANSLATION
Although the Lord told Nityananda Prabhu to stay in Bengal and spread ecstatic love of God, Nityananda left to go see Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Who can understand Nityananda Prabhu's ecstatic love?
TEXTS 16-17
TEXT
acaryaratna, vidyanidhi, srivasa, ramai
vasudeva, murari, govindadi tina bhai
raghava pandita nija-jhali sajana
kulina-grama-vasi cale patta-dori lana
SYNONYMS
acaryaratna--Acaryaratna; vidyanidhi--Vidyanidhi; srivasa--Srivasa; ramai--Ramai; vasudeva--Vasudeva; murari--Murari; govinda-adi tina bhai--Govinda and his two brothers; raghava pandita--Raghava Pandita; nija-jhali--his own bags; sajana--assorting; kulina-grama-vasi--the inhabitants of Kulina-grama; cale--went; patta-dori lana--taking silken ropes.
TRANSLATION
All the devotees of Navadvipa departed, including Acaryaratna, Vidyanidhi, Srivasa, Ramai, Vasudeva, Murari, Govinda and his two brothers and Raghava Pandita, who took bags of assorted foods. The inhabitants of Kulina-grama, carrying silken ropes, also departed.
TEXT 18
TEXT
khanda-vasi narahari, sri-raghunandana
sarva-bhakta cale, tara ke kare ganana
SYNONYMS
khanda-vasi narahari--Narahari, a resident of the village Khanda; sri-raghunandana--Sri Raghunandana; sarva-bhakta--all the devotees; cale--went; tara--of that; ke--who; kare ganana--can count.
TRANSLATION
Narahari and Sri Raghunandana, who were from the village of Khanda, and many other devotees also departed. Who can count them?
TEXT 19
TEXT
sivananda-sena kare ghati samadhana
sabare palana kari' sukhe lana yana
SYNONYMS
sivananda-sena--Sivananda Sena; kare--made; ghati samadhana--arrangements for expenditures to clear the tax collecting centers; sabare--everyone; palana--maintaining; kari'--doing; sukhe--in happiness; lana--taking; yana--goes.
TRANSLATION
Sivananda Sena, who was in charge of the party, made arrangements to clear the tax collecting centers. He took care of all the devotees and happily traveled with them.
TEXT 20
TEXT
sabara sarva-karya karena, dena vasa-sthana
sivananda jane udiya-pathera sandhana
SYNONYMS
sabara--of all of them; sarva-karya--everything necessary to be done; karena--he does; dena--gives; vasa-sthana--residential places; sivananda--Sivananda; jane--knows; udiya-pathera--of the roads in Orissa; sandhana--the junctions.
TRANSLATION
Sivananda Sena took care of all the necessities the devotees required. In particular, he made arrangements for residential quarters, and he knew the roads of Orissa.
TEXT 21
TEXT
se vatsara prabhu dekhite saba thakurani
calila acarya-sange acyuta-janani
SYNONYMS
se vatsara--that year; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhite--to see; saba thakurani--all the wives of the devotees; calila--went; acarya-sange--with Advaita Acarya; acyuta-janani--the mother of Acyutananda.
TRANSLATION
That year also all the wives of the devotees [thakuranis] also went to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sitadevi, the mother of Acyutananda, went with Advaita Acarya.
TEXT 22
TEXT
srivasa pandita-sange calila malini
sivananda-sange cale tanhara grhini
SYNONYMS
srivasa pandita-sange--with Srivasa Pandita; calila--went; malini--his wife, Malini; sivananda-sange--with Sivananda Sena; cale--goes; tanhara--his; grhini--wife.
TRANSLATION
Srivasa Pandita also took his wife, Malini, and the wife of Sivananda Sena also went with her husband.
TEXT 23
TEXT
sivanandera balaka, nama----caitanya-dasa
tenho caliyache prabhure dekhite ullasa
SYNONYMS
sivanandera balaka--the son of Sivananda; nama--named; caitanya-dasa--Caitanya dasa; tenho--he; caliyache--was going; prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhite--to see; ullasa--jubilantly.
TRANSLATION
Caitanya dasa, the son of Sivananda Sena, also jubilantly accompanied them as they went to see the Lord.
TEXT 24
TEXT
acaryaratna-sange cale tanhara grhini
tanhara premera katha kahite na jani
SYNONYMS
acaryaratna-sange--with Candrasekhara; cale--goes; tanhara--his; grhini--wife; tanhara--his; premera katha--the description of the ecstatic love; kahite--to speak; na jani--I do not know how.
TRANSLATION
The wife of Candrasekhara [Acaryaratna] also went. I cannot speak of the greatness of Candrasekhara's love for the Lord.
TEXT 25
TEXT
saba thakurani mahaprabhuke bhiksa dite
prabhura nana priya dravya nila ghara haite
SYNONYMS
saba thakurani--all the wives of the great devotees; mahaprabhuke--to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhiksa dite--to offer food; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nana--various; priya dravya--pleasing foods; nila--took; ghara haite--from home.
TRANSLATION
To offer Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu various types of food, all the wives of the great devotees brought from home various things that pleased Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 26
TEXT
sivananda-sena kare saba samadhana
ghatiyala prabodhi' dena sabare vasa-sthana
SYNONYMS
sivananda-sena--Sivananda Sena; kare--does; saba samadhana--all arrangements; ghatiyala--the men in charge of levying taxes; prabodhi'--satisfying; dena--gives; sabare--to everyone; vasa-sthana--resting places.
TRANSLATION
As stated, Sivananda Sena used to make all arrangements for the party's necessities. In particular, he used to pacify the men in charge of levying taxes, and he found resting places for everyone.
TEXT 27
TEXT
bhaksya diya karena sabara sarvatra palane
parama anande yana prabhura darasane
SYNONYMS
bhaksya diya--supplying food; karena--he does; sabara--of everyone; sarvatra--everywhere; palane--maintenance; parama anande--in great pleasure; yana--he goes; prabhura darasane--to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
Sivananda Sena also supplied food to all the devotees and took care of them along the way. In this way, feeling great happiness he went to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Jagannatha Puri.
TEXT 28
TEXT
remunaya asiya kaila gopinatha darasana
acarya karila tahan kirtana, nartana
SYNONYMS
remunaya--to Remuna; asiya--after coming; kaila--performed; gopinatha darasana--visiting the temple of Gopinatha; acarya--Advaita Acarya; karila--performed; tahan--there; kirtana--chanting; nartana--dancing.
TRANSLATION
When they all arrived at Remuna, they went to see Lord Gopinatha. In the temple there, Advaita Acarya danced and chanted.
TEXT 29
TEXT
nityanandera paricaya saba sevaka sane
bahuta sammana asi' kaila sevaka-gane
SYNONYMS
nityanandera--of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; paricaya--there was acquaintance; saba--all; sevaka sane--with the priests of the temple; bahuta sammana--great respect; asi'--coming; kaila--offered; sevaka-gane--all the priests.
TRANSLATION
All the priests of the temple had been previously acquainted with Sri Nityananda Prabhu; therefore they all came to offer great respects to the Lord.
TEXT 30
TEXT
sei ratri saba mahanta tahani rahila
bara ksira ani' age sevaka dharila
SYNONYMS
sei ratri--that night; saba mahanta--all the great devotees; tahani rahila--remained there; bara--twelve pots; ksira--condensed milk; ani'--bringing; age--in front of Nityananda Prabhu; sevaka--the priests; dharila--placed.
TRANSLATION
That night, all the great devotees remained in the temple, and the priests brought twelve pots of condensed milk, which they placed before Lord Nityananda Prabhu.
TEXT 31
TEXT
ksira banti' sabare dila prabhu-nityananda
ksira-prasada pana sabara badila ananda
SYNONYMS
ksira--the condensed milk; banti'--dividing; sabare--unto everyone; dila--gave; prabhu-nityananda--Nityananda Prabhu; ksira-prasada--remnants of condensed milk from the Deity; pana--getting; sabara--of everyone; badila--increased; ananda--the transcendental bliss.
TRANSLATION
When the condensed milk was placed before Nityananda Prabhu, He distributed the prasada to everyone, and thus everyone's transcendental bliss increased.
TEXT 32
TEXT
madhava-purira katha, gopala-sthapana
tanhare gopala yaiche magila candana
SYNONYMS
madhava-purira katha--the narration of Madhavendra Puri; gopala-sthapana--installation of the Deity of Gopala; tanhare--unto him; gopala--Lord Gopala; yaiche--just as; magila--He begged; candana--sandalwood.
TRANSLATION
They then all discussed the story of Sri Madhavendra Puri's installation of the Gopala Deity, and they discussed how Gopala begged sandalwood from him.
TEXT 33
TEXT
tanra lagi' gopinatha ksira curi kaila
mahaprabhura mukhe age e katha sunila
SYNONYMS
tanra lagi'--for him (Madhavendra Puri); gopinatha--the Deity named Gopinatha; ksira--condensed milk; curi--stealing; kaila--performed; mahaprabhura mukhe--from the mouth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; age--previously; e katha--this incident; sunila--heard.
TRANSLATION
It was Gopinatha who stole condensed milk for the sake of Madhavendra Puri. This incident had been previously related by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself.
TEXT 34
TEXT
sei katha sabara madhye kahe nityananda
suniya vaisnava-mane badila ananda
SYNONYMS
sei katha--that incident; sabara madhye--among all of them; kahe--says; nityananda--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; suniya--hearing; vaisnava-mane--in the minds of all the Vaisnavas; badila--increased; ananda--the transcendental bliss.
TRANSLATION
This same narration was again related by Lord Nityananda to all the devotees, and their transcendental bliss increased as they heard the story again.
PURPORT
The words mahaprabhura mukhe, "from the mouth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu," are significant because Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu first heard the story of Madhavendra Puri from His spiritual master, Sripada Isvara Puri. For this story refer to Madhya-lila, Chapter Four, verse eighteen. After staying at Sri Advaita's house in Santipura for some time, the Lord narrated the story of Madhavendra Puri to Nityananda Prabhu, Jagadananda Prabhu, Damodara Pandita and Mukunda dasa. When they went to Remuna to the temple of Gopinatha, He described Madhavendra Puri's installation of the Gopala Deity as well as Gopinatha's stealing condensed milk. Due to this incident, Lord Gopinatha became well known as Ksiracora, the thief who stole condensed milk.
TEXT 35
TEXT
ei-mata cali' cali' kataka aila
saksi-gopala dekhi' sabe se dina rahila
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; cali' cali'--walking and walking; kataka aila--they reached the town known as Kataka; saksi-gopala dekhi'--after seeing the Deity known as Saksi-gopala; sabe--all the devotees; se dina--that day; rahila--stayed.
TRANSLATION
Walking and walking in this way, the devotees arrived at the city of Kataka, where they remained for a day and saw the temple of Saksi-gopala.
TEXT 36
TEXT
saksi-gopalera katha kahe nityananda
suniya vaisnava-mane badila ananda
SYNONYMS
saksi-gopalera--of the Deity known as Saksi-gopala; katha--the narration; kahe--describes; nityananda--Nityananda Prabhu; suniya--hearing; vaisnava-mane--in the minds of all the Vaisnavas; badila--increased; ananda--the transcendental bliss.
TRANSLATION
When Nityananda Prabhu described all the activities of Saksi-gopala, transcendental bliss increased in the minds of all the Vaisnavas.
For these activities refer to Madhya-lila, Chapter Five, verses 8--138.
TEXT 37
TEXT
prabhuke milite sabara utkantha antare
sighra kari' aila sabe sri-nilacale
SYNONYMS
prabhuke milite--to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sabara--of everyone; utkantha--anxiety; antare--within the heart; sighra kari'--making great haste; aila--reached; sabe--all of them; sri-nilacale--Jagannatha Puri.
TRANSLATION
Everyone in the party was very anxious at heart to see Caitanya Mahaprabhu; therefore they hastily went on to Jagannatha Puri.
TEXT 38
TEXT
atharanalake aila gosani suniya
dui-mala pathaila govinda-hate diya
SYNONYMS
atharanalake--Atharanala; aila--they have reached; gosani--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; suniya--hearing; dui-mala--two garlands; pathaila--sent; govinda-hate diya--through the hands of Govinda.
TRANSLATION
When they all arrived at a bridge called Atharanala, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, hearing the news of their arrival, sent two garlands with Govinda.
TEXT 39
TEXT
dui mala govinda dui-jane paraila
advaita, avadhuta-gosani bada sukha paila
SYNONYMS
dui mala--the two garlands; govinda--Govinda; dui-jane paraila--placed on the necks of two personalities; advaita--Advaita Acarya; avadhuta-gosani--Nityananda Prabhu; bada sukha paila--became very happy.
TRANSLATION
Govinda offered the two garlands to Advaita Acarya and Nityananda Prabhu, and They both became very happy.
TEXT 40
TEXT
tahani arambha kaila krsna-sankirtana
nacite nacite cali' aila dui-jana
SYNONYMS
tahani--on that very spot; arambha kaila--began; krsna-sankirtana--chanting the holy name of Lord Krsna; nacite nacite--dancing and dancing; cali'--going; aila--reached; dui-jana--both of Them.
TRANSLATION
Indeed, They began chanting the holy name of Krsna on that very spot, and, dancing and dancing, both Advaita Acarya and Nityananda Prabhu reached Jagannatha Puri.
TEXT 41
TEXT
punah mala diya svarupadi nija-gana
agu badi' pathaila sacira nandana
SYNONYMS
punah--again; mala--garlands; diya--offering; svarupa-adi--Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and others; nija-gana--personal associates; agu badi'--going forward; pathaila--sent; sacira nandana--the son of mother Saci.
TRANSLATION
Then, for the second time, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sent garlands through Svarupa Damodara and other personal associates. Thus they went forward, sent by the son of mother Saci.
TEXT 42
TEXT
narendra asiya tahan sabare milila
mahaprabhura datta mala sabare paraila
SYNONYMS
narendra--to the lake named Narendra; asiya--coming; tahan--there; sabare--everyone; milila--met; mahaprabhura--by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; datta--given; mala--garlands; sabare paraila--offered to everyone.
TRANSLATION
When the devotees from Bengal reached Lake Narendra, Svarupa Damodara and the others met them and offered them the garlands given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 43
TEXT
simha-dvara-nikate aila suni' gauraraya
apane asiya prabhu milila sabaya
SYNONYMS
simha-dvara--the lion gate; nikate--near; aila--arrived; suni'--hearing; gauraraya--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; apane--personally; asiya--coming; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; milila sabaya--met them all.
TRANSLATION
When the devotees finally reached the lion gate, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard the news and personally went to meet them.
TEXT 44
TEXT
saba lana kaila jagannatha-darasana
saba lana aila punah apana-bhavana
SYNONYMS
saba lana--taking all of them; kaila--performed; jagannatha-darasana--seeing Lord Jagannatha; saba lana--taking them all; aila--went back; punah--again; apana-bhavana--to His own residence.
TRANSLATION
Then Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and all His devotees visited Lord Jagannatha. Finally, accompanied by them all, He returned to His own residence.
TEXT 45
TEXT
vaninatha, kasi-misra prasada anila
svahaste sabare prabhu prasada khaoyaila
SYNONYMS
vaninatha--Vaninatha; kasi-misra--Kasi Misra; prasada anila--brought all kinds of prasada; sva-haste--with His own hand; sabare--unto everyone; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prasada--the remnants of the food of Jagannatha; khaoyaila--fed.
TRANSLATION
Vaninatha Raya and Kasi Misra then brought a large quantity of prasada, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu distributed it with His own hand and fed them all.
TEXT 46
TEXT
purva vatsare yanra yei vasa-sthana
tahan saba pathana karaila visrama
SYNONYMS
purva vatsare--in the previous year; yanra--of whom; yei--wherever; vasa-sthana--place to stay; tahan--there; saba--all of them; pathana--sending; karaila visrama--made them rest.
TRANSLATION
In the previous year, everyone had his own particular residence, and the same residences were again offered. Thus they all went to take rest.
TEXT 47
TEXT
ei-mata bhakta-gana rahila cari masa
prabhura sahita kare kirtana-vilasa
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; bhakta-gana--the devotees; rahila--remained; cari masa--for four months; prabhura sahita--with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare--performed; kirtana-vilasa--the pastimes of sankirtana.
TRANSLATION
For four continuous months all the devotees remained there and enjoyed chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 48
TEXT
purvavat ratha-yatra-kala yabe aila
saba lana gundica-mandira praksalila
SYNONYMS
purva-vat--as in the previous year; ratha-yatra-kala--the time for Ratha-yatra festival; yabe--when; aila--arrived; saba lana--taking all of them; gundica-mandira--the temple of Gundica; praksalila--washed.
TRANSLATION
As in the previous year, they all washed the Gundica temple when the time for Ratha-yatra arrived.
TEXT 49
TEXT
kulina-grami patta-dori jagannathe dila
purvavat ratha-agre nartana karila
SYNONYMS
kulina-grami--the residents of Kulina-grama; patta-dori--silken ropes; jagannathe dila--offered to Lord Jagannatha; purva-vat--like the previous year; ratha-agre--in front of the car; nartana karila--danced.
TRANSLATION
The inhabitants of Kulina-grama delivered silken ropes to Lord Jagannatha, and as previously they all danced before the Lord's car.
TEXT 50
TEXT
bahu nrtya kari' punah calila udyane
vapi-tire tahan yai' karila visrame
SYNONYMS
bahu nrtya kari'--after dancing a great deal; punah--again; calila--started for; udyane--the garden; vapi-tire--on the bank of the lake; tahan yai'--going there; karila visrame--took rest.
TRANSLATION
After dancing a great deal, they all went to a nearby garden and took rest beside a lake.
TEXT 51
TEXT
radhi eka vipra, tenho----nityananda dasa
maha-bhagyavan tenho, nama----krsnadasa
SYNONYMS
radhi eka vipra--one brahmana resident of Radha-desa (where the Ganges does not flow); tenho--he; nityananda dasa--servant of Lord Nityananda; maha-bhagyavan--greatly fortunate; tenho--he; nama--named; krsnadasa--Krsnadasa.
TRANSLATION
One brahmana named Krsnadasa, who was a resident of Radha-desa and a servant of Lord Nityananda's, was a very fortunate person.
TEXT 52
TEXT
ghata bhari' prabhura tenho abhiseka kaila
tanra abhiseke prabhu maha-trpta haila
SYNONYMS
ghata bhari'--filling one waterpot; prabhura--of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tenho--he; abhiseka kaila--performed the bathing; tanra--his; abhiseke--by the act of bathing the Lord; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; maha-trpta haila--became very satisfied.
TRANSLATION
It was Krsnadasa who filled a great waterpot and poured it over the Lord while He was taking His bath. The Lord was greatly satisfied by this.
TEXT 53
TEXT
balagandi-bhogera bahu prasada aila
saba sange mahaprabhu prasada khaila
SYNONYMS
balagandi-bhogera--of the food offered at Balagandi; bahu prasada--a great quantity of prasada; aila--arrived; saba sange--with all the devotees; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prasada--remnants of the food of Jagannatha; khaila--ate.
TRANSLATION
The remnants of food offered to the Lord at Balagandi then arrived in great quantity, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and all His devotees ate it.
PURPORT
In reference to Balagandi, see Madhya-lila (13.193).
TEXT 54
TEXT
purvavat ratha-yatra kaila darasana
hera-pancami-yatra dekhe lana bhakta-gana
SYNONYMS
purva-vat--as in the previous year; ratha-yatra--the car festival; kaila darasana--saw; hera-pancami-yatra--the festival of Hera-pancami; dekhe--He sees; lana bhakta-gana--with all the devotees.
TRANSLATION
As in the previous year, the Lord, with all the devotees, saw the Ratha-yatra festival and the Hera-pancami festival as well.
TEXT 55
TEXT
acarya-gosani prabhura kaila nimantrana
tara madhye kaila yaiche jhada-varisana
SYNONYMS
acarya-gosani--Advaita Acarya; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila--made; nimantrana--invitation; tara madhye--within that episode; kaila--occurred; yaiche--just as; jhada-varisana--rainstorm.
TRANSLATION
Advaita Acarya then extended an invitation to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and there was a great rainstorm connected with that incident.
TEXT 56
TEXT
vistari' varniyachena dasa-vrndavana
srivasa prabhure tabe kaila nimantrana
SYNONYMS
vistari'--elaborating; varniyachena--has described; dasa-vrndavana--Vrndavana dasa Thakura; srivasa--Srivasa; prabhure--to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tabe--then; kaila nimantrana--gave an invitation.
TRANSLATION
All these episodes have been elaborately described by Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura. Then one day Srivasa Thakura extended an invitation to the Lord.
PURPORT
Caitanya-bhagavata (Antya-lila, Chapter Eight) gives the following description. One day Srila Advaita Acarya, having extended an invitation to Caitanya Mahaprabhu, thought that if the Lord came alone He would feed Him to His great satisfaction. It then so happened that when the other sannyasis were going to Advaita Acarya's to take lunch, there was a big rainstorm, and they could not reach His house. Thus, according to Advaita Acarya's desires, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came alone and accepted the prasada.
TEXT 57
TEXT
prabhura priya-vyanjana saba randhena malini
'bhaktye dasi'-abhimana, 'snehete janani'
SYNONYMS
prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; priya-vyanjana--favorite vegetables; saba--all; randhena--cooks; malini--the wife of Srivasa Thakura; bhaktye dasi--in devotion she was just like a maidservant; abhimana--it was her conception; snehete--in affection; janani--exactly like a mother.
TRANSLATION
The Lord's favorite vegetables were cooked by Malinidevi, the wife of Srivasa Thakura. She devotedly considered herself a maidservant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's, but in affection she was just like a mother.
TEXT 58
TEXT
acaryaratna-adi yata mukhya bhakta-gana
madhye madhye prabhure karena nimantrana
SYNONYMS
acaryaratna--Candrasekhara; adi--and others; yata--all; mukhya bhakta-gana--chief devotees; madhye madhye--at intervals; prabhure--to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karena nimantrana--gave invitations.
TRANSLATION
All the chief devotees, headed by Candrasekhara [Acaryaratna] used to extend invitations to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu periodically.
TEXT 59
TEXT
caturmasya-ante punah nityanande lana
kiba yukti kare nitya nibhrte vasiya
SYNONYMS
caturmasya-ante--at the end of Caturmasya; punah--again; nityanande--Sri Nityananda Prabhu; lana--taking into confidence; kiba--what; yukti kare--They consult; nitya--daily; nibhrte--in a solitary place; vasiya--sitting.
TRANSLATION
At the end of the four-month Caturmasya period, Caitanya Mahaprabhu again consulted with Nityananda Prabhu daily in a solitary place. No one could understand what Their consultation was about.
TEXT 60
TEXT
acarya-gosani prabhuke kahe thare-thore
acarya tarja pade, keha bujhite na pare
SYNONYMS
acarya-gosani--Advaita Acarya; prabhuke--unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahe--speaks; thare-thore--by indications; acarya--Advaita Acarya; tarja pade--reads some poetic passages; keha--anyone; bujhite--to understand; na pare--was not able.
TRANSLATION
Then Srila Advaita Acarya said something to Caitanya Mahaprabhu through gestures and read some poetic passages, which no one understood.
TEXT 61
TEXT
tanra mukha dekhi' hase sacira nandana
angikara jani' acarya karena nartana
SYNONYMS
tanra mukha--His face; dekhi'--seeing; hase--smiles; sacira nandana--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; angikara jani'--understanding the acceptance; acarya--Advaita Acarya; karena--performed; nartana--dancing.
TRANSLATION
Seeing the face of Advaita Acarya, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu smiled. Understanding that the Lord had accepted the proposal, Advaita Acarya started to dance.
TEXT 62
TEXT
kiba prarthana, kiba ajna----keha na bujhila
alingana kari' prabhu tanre vidaya dila
SYNONYMS
kiba--what; prarthana--the request; kiba--what; ajna--the order; keha--anyone; na bujhila--did not know; alingana kari'--embracing; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--to Him; vidaya dila--bade farewell.
TRANSLATION
No one knew what Advaita Acarya requested or what the Lord ordered. After embracing the Acarya, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bade Him farewell.
TEXT 63
TEXT
nityanande kahe prabhu,----sunaha, sripada
ei ami magi, tumi karaha prasada
SYNONYMS
nityanande--unto Sri Nityananda Prabhu; kahe--says; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sunaha--please hear; sri-pada--O holy man; ei--this; ami--I; magi--request; tumi--You; karaha--kindly show; prasada--mercy.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then told Nityananda Prabhu, "Please hear Me, O holy man: I now request something of You. Kindly grant My request.
TEXT 64
TEXT
prati-varsa nilacale tumi na asiba
gaude rahi' mora iccha saphala kariba
SYNONYMS
prati-varsa--every year; nilacale--to Jagannatha Puri; tumi--You; na asiba--do not come; gaude rahi'--staying in Bengal; mora iccha--My desire; sa-phala kariba--make successful.
TRANSLATION
"Do not come to Jagannatha Puri every year, but stay in Bengal and fulfill My desire."
PURPORT
The mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is to spread the only medicine effective in this fallen age of Kali-the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Following the orders of His mother, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was residing at Jagannatha Puri, and the devotees were coming to see Him. However, the Lord felt that this message must be spread very elaborately in Bengal, and in His absence there was not a second person capable of doing it. Consequently the Lord requested Nityananda Prabhu to stay there and broadcast the message of Krsna consciousness. The Lord also entrusted a similar preaching responsibility to Rupa and Sanatana. Nityananda Prabhu was requested not to come every year to Jagannatha Puri, although seeing Lord Jagannatha greatly benefits everyone. Does this mean that the Lord was refusing Nityananda Prabhu a fortunate opportunity? No. One who is a faithful servant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu must execute His order, even if one has to sacrifice going to Jagannatha Puri to see Lord Jagannatha there. In other words, it is a greater fortune to carry out Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's order than to satisfy one's senses by seeing Lord Jagannatha.
Preaching Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult throughout the world is more important than staying in Vrndavana or Jagannatha Puri for one's own personal satisfaction. Spreading Krsna consciousness is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission; therefore His sincere devotees must carry out His desire.
prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama
The devotees of Lord Caitanya must preach Krsna consciousness in every village and town in the world. That will satisfy the Lord. It is not that one should act whimsically for his own personal satisfaction. This order comes down through the parampara system, and the spiritual master presents these orders to the disciple so that he can spread the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is the duty of every disciple to carry out the order of the bona fide spiritual master and spread Lord Caitanya's message all over the world.
TEXT 65
TEXT
tahan siddhi kare----hena anye na dekhiye
amara 'duskara' karma, toma haite haye
SYNONYMS
tahan--there; siddhi--success; kare--makes; hena--such; anye--other person; na--not; dekhiye--I see; amara--My; duskara--difficult to perform; karma--work; toma--You; haite--from; haye--becomes successful.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "You can perform a task that even I cannot do. But for You, I cannot find anyone in Gauda-desa who can fulfill My mission there."
PURPORT
Lord Caitanya's mission is to deliver the fallen souls of this age. In this Age of Kali, practically cent percent of the population is fallen. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu certainly delivered many fallen souls, but His disciples mainly came from the upper classes. For example, He delivered Srila Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and many others who were socially elevated but fallen from the spiritual point of view. Srila Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis were situated in government service, and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was the topmost scholar of India. Similarly, Prakasananda Sarasvati was a leader of many thousands of Mayavadi sannyasis. It was Srila Nityananda Prabhu, however, who delivered persons like Jagai and Madhai. Therefore, Lord Caitanya says, amara 'duskara' karma, toma haite haye. Jagai and Madhai were delivered solely by Nityananda Prabhu's mercy. When they injured Nityananda Prabhu, Lord Caitanya became angry and decided to kill them with His Sudarsana cakra, but Nityananda Prabhu saved them from the Lord's wrath and delivered them. In the incarnation of Gaura-Nitai, the Lord is not supposed to kill demons but deliver them by preaching Krsna consciousness. In the case of Jagai and Madhai, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was so angry that He would have immediately killed them, but Nityananda Prabhu was so kind that He not only saved them from death but elevated them to the transcendental position. Thus what was not possible for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was carried out by Nityananda Prabhu.
Similarly, if one is true to Gaura-Nitai's service in the disciplic succession, he can even excel Nityananda Prabhu's service. This is the process of disciplic succession. Nityananda Prabhu delivered Jagai and Madhai, but a servant of Nityananda Prabhu, by His grace, can deliver many thousands of Jagai's and Madhai's. That is the special benediction of the disciplic succession. One who is situated in the disciplic succession can be understood by the result of his activities. This is always true as far as the activities of the Lord and His devotees are concerned. Therefore Lord Siva says:
aradhananam sarvesam
visnor aradhanam param
tasmat parataram devi
tadiyanam samarcanam
"Of all types of worship, worship of Lord Visnu is best, and better than the worship of Lord Visnu is the worship of His devotee, the Vaisnava." (Padma Purana)
By the grace of Visnu, a Vaisnava can render better service than Visnu; that is the special prerogative of a Vaisnava. The Lord actually wants to see His servants work more gloriously than Himself. For instance, on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, Sri Krsna provoked Arjuna to fight because all the warriors on the battlefield were to die by Krsna's plan. Krsna Himself did not want to take credit; rather, He wanted Arjuna to take credit. Therefore He asked him to fight and win fame.
tasmat tvam uttistha yaso labhasva
jitva satrun bhunksva rajyam samrddham
mayaivaite nihatah purvam eva
nimitta-matram bhava savyasacin
"Therefore get up and prepare to fight. After conquering your enemies, you will enjoy a flourishing kingdom. They are already put to death by My arrangement, and you, O Savyasacin, can be but an instrument in the fight." (Bg. 11.33)
Thus the Supreme Personality of Godhead gives credit to a devotee who performs any heavy task perfectly. Hanumanji, or Vajrangaji, the servant of Lord Ramacandra, also serves as another example. It was Hanumanji who jumped over the sea in one leap and reached the shore of Lanka from the shore of Bharata-varsa. When Lord Ramacandra chose to go there, He paved the way with stones, although by His will the stones were able to float on the sea. If we simply follow Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instructions and follow in the footsteps of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, this Krsna consciousness movement can advance, and even more difficult tasks can be performed by the preachers remaining faithful to the service of the Lord.
TEXT 66
TEXT
nityananda kahe,----ami 'deha' tumi 'prana'
'deha' 'prana' bhinna nahe,----ei ta pramana
SYNONYMS
nityananda kahe--Lord Nityananda Prabhu said; ami--I; deha--the body; tumi--You; prana--the life; deha--the body; prana--the life; bhinna nahe--not separate; ei ta pramana--this is the evidence.
TRANSLATION
Nityananda Prabhu replied, "O Lord, You are the life, and I am the body. There is no difference between the body and life itself, but life is more important than the body.
TEXT 67
TEXT
acintya-saktye kara tumi tahara ghatana
ye karaha, sei kari, nahika niyama
SYNONYMS
acintya-saktye--by inconceivable energy; kara--do; tumi--You; tahara--of that relationship; ghatana--the operation; ye--whatever; karaha--You make Me do; sei--that; kari--I do; nahika--there is not; niyama--restriction.
TRANSLATION
"By Your inconceivable energy, You can do whatever You like, and whatever You make Me do, I do without restriction."
PURPORT
As stated in the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam: tene brahma hrda ya adi-kavaye. Lord Brahma is the first living creature within this universe, and he is also the creator of this universe. How is this possible? Although he is the first living entity, Lord Brahma is not in the category of visnu-tattva. Rather, he is part of the jiva-tattva. Nonetheless, by the grace of the Lord, who instructed him through the heart (tene brahma hrda), Lord Brahma could create a huge universe. Those who are actually pure devotees of the Lord are instructed by the Lord through the heart, where the Lord is always situated. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati (Bg. 18.61). If he follows the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the living entity, even though an insignificant creature, can perform the most difficult tasks by the Lord's grace. This also is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita:
tesam satata-yuktanam
bhajatam priti-purvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tam
yena mam upayanti te
"To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me," (Bg. 10.10)
Everything is possible for a pure devotee because he acts under the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Through His inconceivable energy, a pure devotee can perform tasks that are supposed to be very, very difficult. He can perform tasks not even previously performed by the Lord Himself. Therefore Nityananda Prabhu told Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, ye karaha, sei kari, nahika niyama: "I do not know by what regulative principle I am carrying out this wonderful work, but I know for certain that I will do whatever You desire." Although the Lord wants to give all credit to His devotee, the devotee himself never takes credit, for he acts only under the Lord's direction. Consequently all credit goes to the Lord. This is the nature of the relationship between the Lord and His devotee. The Lord wants to give all credit to His servant, but the servant does not take any credit, for he knows that everything is carried out by the Lord.
TEXT 68
TEXT
tanre vidaya dila prabhu kari' alingana
ei-mata vidaya dila saba bhakta-gana
SYNONYMS
tanre--unto Him (Nityananda Prabhu); vidaya dila--bade farewell; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kari'--doing; alingana--embracing; ei-mata--in this way; vidaya dila--bade farewell; saba--to all; bhakta-gana--the devotees.
TRANSLATION
In this way, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced Nityananda Prabhu and bade Him farewell. He then bade farewell to all the other devotees.
TEXT 69
TEXT
kulina-grami purvavat kaila nivedana
"prabhu, ajna kara,----amara kartavya sadhana"
SYNONYMS
kulina-grami--one of the residents of Kulina-grama; purva-vat--like last year; kaila--submitted; nivedana--petition; prabhu--my Lord; ajna kara--order; amara--my; kartavya--necessary; sadhana--performance.
TRANSLATION
As in the previous year, one of the inhabitants of Kulina-grama submitted a petition to the Lord, saying, "My Lord, kindly tell me what my duty is and how I should execute it."
TEXT 70
TEXT
prabhu kahe,----"vaisnava-seva, nama-sankirtana
dui kara, sighra pabe sri-krsna-carana"
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--the Lord replied; vaisnava-seva--service to the Vaisnavas; nama-sankirtana--chanting the holy name of the Lord; dui kara--you perform these two things; sighra--very soon; pabe--you will get; sri-krsna-carana--shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord, Sri Krsna.
TRANSLATION
The Lord replied, "You should engage yourself in the service of the servants of Krsna and always chant the holy name of Krsna. If you do these two things, you will very soon attain shelter at Krsna's lotus feet."
TEXT 71
TEXT
tenho kahe,----"ke vaisnava, ki tanra laksana?"
tabe hasi' kahe prabhu jani' tanra mana
SYNONYMS
tenho kahe--he said; ke--who; vaisnava--a Vaisnava; ki--what; tanra--of him; laksana--the symptoms; tabe--thereafter; hasi'--smiling; kahe--says; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jani'--knowing; tanra mana--his mind.
TRANSLATION
The inhabitant of Kulina-grama said, "Please let me know who is actually a Vaisnava and what his symptoms are." Understanding his mind, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu smiled and gave the following reply.
TEXT 72
TEXT
"krsna-nama nirantara yanhara vadane
sei vaisnava-srestha, bhaja tanhara carane
SYNONYMS
krsna-nama--the holy name of Lord Krsna; nirantara--incessantly; yanhara--whose; vadane--in the mouth; sei--such a person; vaisnava-srestha--a first-class Vaisnava; bhaja--worship; tanhara carane--his lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
"A person who is always chanting the holy name of the Lord is to be considered a first-class Vaisnava, and your duty is to serve his lotus feet."
PURPORT
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that any Vaisnava who is constantly chanting the holy name of the Lord should be considered to have attained the second platform of Vaisnavism. Such a devotee is superior to a neophyte Vaisnava who has just learned to chant the holy name of the Lord. A neophyte devotee simply tries to chant the holy name, whereas the advanced devotee is accustomed to chanting and takes pleasure in it. Such an advanced devotee is called madhyama-bhagavata, which indicates that he has attained the intermediate stage between the neophyte and the perfect devotee. Generally a devotee in the intermediate stage becomes a preacher. A neophyte devotee or an ordinary person should worship the madhyama-bhagavata, who is a via medium.
In his Upadesamrta Srila Rupa Gosvami says: pranatibhis ca bhajantam isam. This means that madhyama-adhikari devotees should exchange obeisances between themselves.
The word nirantara, meaning "without cessation, continuously, constantly," is very important in this verse. The word antara means "interval." if one has desires other than a desire to perform devotional service-in other words, if one sometimes engages in devotional service and sometimes strives for sense gratification-his service will be interrupted. A pure devotee, therefore, should have no other desire than to serve Krsna. He should be above fruitive activity and speculative knowledge. In his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Srila Rupa Gosvami says:
anyabhilasita-sunyam
jnana-karmady-anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanu-
silanam bhaktir uttama
This is the platform of pure devotional service. One should not be motivated by fruitive activity or mental speculation but should simply serve Krsna favorably. That is first-class devotion.
Another meaning of antara is "this body." The body is an impediment to self-realization because it is always engaged in sense gratification. Similarly, antara means "money." If money is not used in Krsna's service, it is also an impediment. Antara also means janata, "people in general." The association of ordinary persons may destroy the principles of devotional service. Similarly, antara may mean "greed," greed to acquire more money or enjoy more sense gratification. Finally, the word antara may also mean "atheistic ideas" by which one considers the temple Deity to be made of stone, wood or gold. All of these are impediments. The Deity in the temple is not material-He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Similarly, considering the spiritual master an ordinary human being (gurusu nara-matih) is also an impediment. Nor should one consider a Vaisnava a member of a particular caste or nation. Nor should a Vaisnava be considered material. Caranamrta should not be considered ordinary drinking water, and the holy name of the Lord should not be considered an ordinary sound vibration. Nor should one look on Lord Krsna as an ordinary human being, for He is the origin of all visnu-tattvas; nor should one regard the Supreme Lord as a demigod. Intermingling the spiritual with the material causes one to look on transcendence as material and the mundane as spiritual. This is all due to a poor fund of knowledge. One should not consider Lord Visnu and things related to him as being different. All this is offensive.
In the Bhakti-sandarbha (265), Srila Jiva Gosvami writes: namaikam yasya vaci smarana-patha-gatam ityadau deha-dravinadi-nimittaka-'pasanda'-sabdena ca dasa aparadha laksyante, pasandamayatvat tesam.
The Mayavadis look on Visnu and Vaisnavas imperfectly due to their poor fund of knowledge, and this is condemned. In Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.46), the intermediate Vaisnava is described as follows:
isvare tad-adhinesu
balisesu dvisatsu ca
prema-maitri-krpopeksa
yah karoti sa madhyamah
"The intermediate Vaisnava has to love God, make friends with the devotees, instruct the innocent and reject jealous people." These are the four functions of the Vaisnava in the intermediate stage. In Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 22.64) Sri Sanatana Gosvami is taught:
sraddhavan jana haya bhakti-adhikari
'uttama', 'madhyama', 'kanistha'----sraddha-anusari
"One who is faithful is a proper candidate for devotional service. In terms of one's degree of faith in devotional service, one is a first-class, second-class or neophyte Vaisnava."
sastra-yukti nahi jane drdha, sraddhavan
'madhyama-adhikari' sei maha-bhagyavan
"One who has attained the intermediate stage is not very advanced in sastric knowledge, but he has firm faith in the Lord. Such a person is very fortunate to be situated on the intermediate platform." (Cc. Madhya 22.67)
rati-prema-taratamye bhakta-tara-tama
"Attraction and love are the ultimate goal of devotional service. The degrees of such attraction and love for God distinguish the different stages of devotion-neophyte, intermediate and perfectional." (Cc. Madhya 22.71) An intermediate devotee is greatly attracted to chanting the holy name, and by chanting he is elevated to the platform of love. If one chants the holy name of the Lord with great attachment, he can understand his position as an eternal servant of the spiritual master, other Vaisnavas and Krsna Himself. Thus the intermediate Vaisnava considers himself krsna-dasa, Krsna's servant. He therefore preaches Krsna consciousness to innocent neophytes and stresses the importance of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. An intermediate devotee can identify the nondevotee or motivated devotee. The motivated devotee or the nondevotee are on the material platform, and they are called prakrta. The intermediate devotee does not mix with such materialistic people. However, he understands that the Supreme Personality of Godhead and everything related to Him are on the same transcendental platform. Actually none of them are mundane.
TEXT 73
TEXT
varsantare punah tanra aiche prasna kaila
vaisnavera taratamya prabhu sikhaila
SYNONYMS
varsantare--after one year; punah--again; tanra--they (the inhabitants of Kulina-grama); aiche--such; prasna--a question; kaila--made; vaisnavera--of Vaisnavas; taratamya--upper and lower gradations; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sikhaila--taught.
TRANSLATION
The following year, the inhabitants of Kulina-grama again asked the Lord the same question. Hearing this question, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again taught them about the different types of Vaisnavas.
TEXT 74
TEXT
yanhara darsane mukhe aise krsna-nama
tanhare janiha tumi 'vaisnava-pradhana'
SYNONYMS
yanhara darsane--by the sight of whom; mukhe--in the mouth; aise--automatically awakens; krsna-nama--the holy name of Krsna; tanhare--him; janiha--must know; tumi--you; vaisnava-pradhana--the first-class Vaisnava.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, «A first-class Vaisnava is he whose very presence makes others chant the holy name of Krsna."
PURPORT
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that if an observer immediately remembers the holy name of Krsna upon seeing a Vaisnava, that Vaisnava should be considered a maha-bhagavata, a first-class devotee. Such a Vaisnava is always aware of his Krsna conscious duty, and he is enlightened in self-realization. He is always in love with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, and this love is without adulteration. Because of this love, he is always awake to transcendental realization. Because he knows that Krsna consciousness is the basis of knowledge and action, he sees everything connected with Krsna. Such a person is able to chant the holy name of Krsna perfectly. Such a maha-bhagavata Vaisnava has the transcendental eyes to see who is sleeping under the spell of maya, and he engages himself in awakening sleeping conditioned beings by spreading the knowledge of Krsna consciousness. He opens eyes that are closed by forgetfulness of Krsna. Thus the living entity is liberated from the dullness of material energy and is engaged fully in the service of the Lord. The madhyama-adhikari Vaisnava can awaken others to Krsna consciousness and engage them in duties whereby they can advance. It is therefore said in Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila, Chapter Six, verse 279):
lohake yavat sparsi' hema nahi kare
tavat sparsa-mani keha cinite na pare
"One cannot understand the value of touchstone until it turns iron into gold." One should judge by action, not by promises. A maha-bhagavata can turn a living entity from abominable material life to the Lord's service. This is the test of a maha-bhagavata. Although preaching is not meant for a maha-bhagavata, a maha-bhagavata can descend to the platform of madhyama-bhagavata just to convert others to Vaisnavism. Actually a maha-bhagavata is fit to spread Krsna consciousness, but he does not distinguish where Krsna consciousness should be spread from where it should not. He thinks that everyone is competent to accept Krsna consciousness if the chance is provided. A neophyte and intermediate devotee should always be anxious to hear the maha-bhagavata and serve him in every respect. The neophyte and intermediate devotees can gradually rise to the platform of uttama-adhikari and become first-class devotees. Symptoms of a first-class devotee are given in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.45):
sarva-bhutesu yah pasyed
bhagavad-bhavam atmanah
bhutani bhagavaty atmany
esa bhagavatottamah
When teaching Sanatana Gosvami, the Lord further said:
sastra-yuktye sunipuna, drdha-sraddha yanra
'uttama-adhikari' se taraye samsara
"If one is expert in Vedic literature and has full faith in the Supreme Lord, then he is an uttama-adhikari, a first-class Vaisnava, a topmost Vaisnava who can deliver the whole world and turn everyone to Krsna consciousness." (Cc. Madhya 22.65) With great love and affection, the maha-bhagavata observes the Supreme Personality of Godhead, devotional service and the devotee. He observes nothing beyond Krsna, Krsna consciousness and Krsna's devotees. The maha-bhagavata knows that everyone is engaged in the Lord's service in different ways. He therefore descends to the middle platform to elevate everyone to the Krsna conscious position.
TEXT 75
TEXT
krama kari' kahe prabhu 'vaisnava'-laksana
'vaisnava', 'vaisnavatara', ara 'vaisnavatama'
SYNONYMS
krama kari'--dividing according to grades; kahe prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spoke; vaisnava-laksana--the symptoms of Vaisnavas; vaisnava--the ordinary Vaisnava (the positive platform); vaisnava-tara--the better Vaisnava (the comparative platform); ara--and; vaisnava-tama--the best Vaisnava (the superlative platform).
TRANSLATION
In this way, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed different types of Vaisnavas-the Vaisnava, Vaisnavatara and Vaisnavatama. He thus successively explained all the symptoms of a Vaisnava to the inhabitants of Kulina-grama.
TEXT 76
TEXT
ei-mata saba vaisnava gaude calila
vidyanidhi se vatsara niladri rahila
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; saba--all; vaisnava--devotees; gaude calila--returned to Bengal; vidyanidhi--Pundarika Vidyanidhi; se vatsara--that year; niladri rahila--remained at Niladri, Jagannatha Puri.
TRANSLATION
Finally all the Vaisnavas returned to Bengal, but that year Pundarika Vidyanidhi remained at Jagannatha Puri.
TEXT 77
TEXT
svarupa-sahita tanra haya sakhya-priti
dui-janaya krsna-kathaya ekatra-i sthiti
SYNONYMS
svarupa-sahita--with Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; tanra--his; haya--there is; sakhya-priti--very intimate friendship; dui-janaya--both of them; krsna-kathaya--in topics of Krsna; ekatra-i--on the same level; sthiti--position.
TRANSLATION
Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and Pundarika Vidyanidhi had a friendly, intimate relationship, and as far as discussing topics about Krsna, they were situated on the same platform.
TEXT 78
TEXT
gadadhara-pandite tenho punah mantra dila
odana-sasthira dine yatra ye dekhila
SYNONYMS
gadadhara-pandite--unto Gadadhara Pandita; tenho--Pundarika Vidyanidhi; punah--again, the second; mantra--initiation; dila--gave; odana-sasthira dine--on the day of performing the Odana-sasthi function; yatra--festival; ye--indeed; dekhila--he saw.
TRANSLATION
Pundarika Vidyanidhi initiated Gadadhara Pandita for the second time, and on the day of Odana-sasthi he saw the festival.
PURPORT
At the beginning of winter, there is a ceremony known as the Odana-sasthi. This ceremony indicates that from that day forward, a winter covering should be given to Lord Jagannatha. That covering is directly purchased from a weaver. According to the arcana-marga, a cloth should first be washed to remove all the starch, and then it can be used to cover the Lord. Pundarika Vidyanidhi saw that the priest neglected to wash the cloth before covering Lord Jagannatha. Since he wanted to find some fault in the devotees, he became indignant.
TEXT 79
TEXT
jagannatha parena tatha 'maduya' vasana
dekhiya saghrna haila vidyanidhira mana
SYNONYMS
jagannatha--Lord Jagannatha; parena--puts on; tatha--there; maduya vasana--cloth with starch; dekhiya--seeing; sa-ghrna--with hatred; haila--was; vidyanidhira mana--the mind of Vidyanidhi.
TRANSLATION
When Pundarika Vidyanidhi saw that Lord Jagannatha was given a starched garment, he became a little hateful. In this way his mind was polluted.
TEXT 80
TEXT
sei ratrye jagannatha-balai asiya
dui-bhai cada'na tanre hasiya hasiya
SYNONYMS
sei ratrye--on that night; jagannatha--Lord Jagannatha; balai--Lord Balarama; asiya--coming; dui-bhai--both brothers; cada'na--slapped; tanre--him; hasiya hasiya--smiling.
TRANSLATION
That night the brothers Lord Jagannatha and Balarama came to Pundarika Vidyanidhi and, smiling, began to slap him.
TEXT 81
TEXT
gala phulila, acarya antare ullasa
vistari' varniyachena vrndavana-dasa
SYNONYMS
gala--the cheeks; phulila--became swollen; acarya--Pundarika Vidyanidhi; antare--within the heart; ullasa--very happy; vistari'--elaborating; varniyachena--has narrated; vrndavana-dasa--Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura.
TRANSLATION
Although his cheeks were swollen from the slapping, Pundarika Vidyanidhi was very happy within. This incident has been elaborately described by Thakura Vrndavana dasa.
TEXT 82
TEXT
ei-mata pratyabda aise gaudera bhakta-gana
prabhu-sange rahi' kare yatra-darasana
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; prati-abda--every year; aise--come; gaudera--of Bengal; bhakta-gana--the devotees; prabhu-sange--with Lord Sri Caitanya Prabhu; rahi'--residing; kare--do; yatra-darasana--observing the Ratha-yatra festival.
TRANSLATION
Every year the devotees of Bengal would come and stay with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to see the Ratha-yatra festival.
TEXT 83
TEXT
tara madhye ye ye varse achaye visesa
vistariya age taha kahiba nihsesa
SYNONYMS
tara madhye--within those episodes; ye ye--whatever; varse--in years; achaye--there is; visesa--particular occurrence; vistariya--elaborating; age--ahead; taha--that; kahiba--I shall say; nihsesa--completely.
TRANSLATION
Whatever happened during those years that is worth noting shall be described later.
TEXT 84
TEXT
ei-mata mahaprabhura cari vatsara gela
daksina yana asite dui vatsara lagila
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; mahaprabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; cari--four; vatsara--years; gela--passed; daksina yana--after touring southern India; asite--to come back; dui vatsara lagila--He took two years.
TRANSLATION
Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed four years. He spent the first two years on His tour in South India.
TEXT 85
TEXT
ara dui vatsara cahe vrndavana yaite
ramananda-hathe prabhu na pare calite
SYNONYMS
ara dui vatsara--another two years; cahe--He wanted; vrndavana yaite--to go to Vrndavana; ramananda-hathe--by the tricks of Ramananda Raya; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; na pare--was not able; calite--to go.
TRANSLATION
The other two years, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to go to Vrndavana, but He could not leave Jagannatha Puri because of Ramananda Raya's tricks.
TEXT 86
TEXT
pancama vatsare gaudera bhakta-gana aila
ratha dekhi' na rahila, gaudere calila
SYNONYMS
pancama vatsare--on the fifth year; gaudera--of Bengal; bhakta-gana--the devotees; aila--came; ratha dekhi'--seeing the Ratha-yatra festival; na rahila--did not stay; gaudere calila--returned to Bengal.
TRANSLATION
During the fifth year, the devotees from Bengal came to see the Ratha-yatra festival. After seeing it, they did not stay but returned to Bengal.
TEXT 87
TEXT
tabe prabhu sarvabhauma-ramananda-sthane
alingana kari' kahe madhura vacane
SYNONYMS
tabe--then; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sarvabhauma-ramananda-sthane--before Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and Ramananda Raya; alingana kari'--embracing; kahe--says; madhura vacane--sweet words.
TRANSLATION
Then Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu placed a proposal before Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and Ramananda Raya. He embraced them and spoke sweet words.
TEXT 88
TEXT
bahuta utkantha mora yaite vrndavana
tomara hathe dui vatsara na kailun gamana
SYNONYMS
bahuta utkantha--great anxiety; mora--My; yaite vrndavana--to go to Vrndavana; tomara hathe--by your tricks; dui vatsara--for two years; na kailun--I did not do; gamana--going.
TRANSLATION
Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, «My desire to go to Vrndavana has very much increased. Because of your tricks, I have not been able to go there for the past two years.
TEXT 89
TEXT
avasya caliba, dunhe karaha sammati
toma-dunha vina mora nahi anya gati
SYNONYMS
avasya--certainly; caliba--I shall go; dunhe--both of you; karaha sammati--kindly agree to this proposal; toma-dunha vina--except you two; mora--My; nahi--there is not; anya gati--other resort.
TRANSLATION
"This time I must go. Will you please give Me permission? Save for you two, I have no other resort.
TEXT 90
TEXT
gauda-dese haya mora 'dui samasraya'
'janani' jahnavi',----ei dui dayamaya
SYNONYMS
gauda-dese--in Bengal; haya--there are; mora--My; dui--two; samasraya--shelters; janani--the mother; jahnavi--mother Ganges; ei dui--these two; daya-maya--very merciful.
TRANSLATION
"In Bengal I have two shelters-my mother and the River Ganges. Both of them are very merciful.
TEXT 91
TEXT
gauda-desa diya yaba tan-saba dekhiya
tumi dunhe ajna deha' parasanna hana
SYNONYMS
gauda-desa--the country known as Bengal; diya--through; yaba--I shall go; tan-saba--both of them; dekhiya--seeing; tumi dunhe--both of you; ajna deha'--give Me permission; parasanna hana--being very pleased.
TRANSLATION
"I shall go to Vrndavana through Bengal and see both My mother and the River Ganges. Now would you two be pleased to give Me permission?"
TEXT 92
TEXT
suniya prabhura vani mane vicaraya
prabhu-sane ati hatha kabhu bhala naya
SYNONYMS
suniya--hearing; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vani--the words; mane--in their minds; vicaraya--considered; prabhu-sane--with Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ati--very much; hatha--tricks; kabhu--at any time; bhala naya--s not very good.
TRANSLATION
When Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and Ramananda Raya heard these words, they began to consider that it was not at all good that they played so many tricks on the Lord.
TEXT 93
TEXT
dunhe kahe,----ebe varsa, calite nariba
vijaya-dasami aile avasya caliba
SYNONYMS
dunhe kahe--both of them said; ebe--now; varsa--rainy season; calite nariba--You will not be able to go; vijaya-dasami--the Vijaya-dasami day; aile--when it arrives; avasya--certainly; caliba--You will go.
TRANSLATION
They both said, "Now that the rainy season is here, it will be difficult for You to travel. It is better to wait for Vijaya-dasami before departing for Vrndavana."
TEXT 94
TEXT
anande mahaprabhu varsa kaila samadhana
vijaya-dasami-dine karila payana
SYNONYMS
anande--in great pleasure; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; varsa--the rainy season; kaila samadhana--passed; vijaya-dasami-dine--on Vijaya-dasami, the day when the victory was won by Lord Ramacandra; karila payana--He departed.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very pleased to thus receive their permission. He waited until the rainy season passed, and when the day of Vijaya-dasami arrived, He departed for Vrndavana.
TEXT 95
TEXT
jagannathera prasada prabhu yata panachila
kadara, candana, dora, saba sange laila
SYNONYMS
jagannathera--of Lord Jagannatha; prasada--the remnants of food; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yata--all; panachila--had obtained; kadara--a kind of tilaka; candana--sandalwood; dora--ropes; saba--all; sange laila--He took with Him.
TRANSLATION
The Lord collected whatever remnants of food were left by Lord Jagannatha. He also took remnants of the Lord's kadara ointment, sandalwood and ropes with Him.
TEXT 96
TEXT
jagannathe ajna magi' prabhate calila
udiya-bhakta-gana sange pache cali' aila
SYNONYMS
jagannathe--from Lord Jagannatha; ajna magi'--taking permission; prabhate--early in the morning; calila--departed; udiya-bhakta-gana--all the devotees of Orissa; sange--with Him; pache--following; cali' aila--went.
TRANSLATION
After taking Lord Jagannatha's permission early in the morning, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu departed, and all the devotees of Orissa began following Him.
TEXT 97
TEXT
udiya-bhakta-gane prabhu yatne nivarila
nija-gana-sange prabhu 'bhavanipura, aila
SYNONYMS
udiya-bhakta-gane--the devotees of Orissa; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yatne--with great care; nivarila--stopped; nija-gana-sange--with His personal associates; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhavanipura aila--came to Bhavanipura.
TRANSLATION
It was with great care that Caitanya Mahaprabhu forbade the Orissa devotees to follow Him. Accompanied by personal associates, He first went to Bhavanipura.
PURPORT
One goes through Bhavanipura before reaching a well-known place named Jankadei-pura, or Janakidevi-pura.
TEXT 98
TEXT
ramananda aila pache dolaya cadiya
vaninatha bahu prasada dila pathana
SYNONYMS
ramananda--Ramananda Raya; aila--came; pache--behind; dolaya cadiya--riding on a palanquin; vaninatha--Vaninatha Raya; bahu--a large quantity of; prasada--remnants of the food of Jagannatha; dila--gave; pathana--sending.
TRANSLATION
After Lord Caitanya reached Bhavanipura, Ramananda Raya arrived on his palanquin, and Vaninatha Raya had a large quantity of prasada sent to the Lord.
TEXT 99
TEXT
prasada bhojana kari' tathaya rahila
pratah-kale cali' prabhu'bhuvanesvara' aila
SYNONYMS
prasada bhojana kari'--after taking the prasada; tathaya rahila--He stayed there; pratah-kale--early in the morning; cali'--walking; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhuvanesvara aila--reached the place known as Bhuvanesvara.
TRANSLATION
After taking prasada, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu remained there for the night. Early in the morning, He began walking and finally reached Bhuvanesvara.
TEXT 100
TEXT
'katake' asiya kaila 'gopala' darasana
svapnesvara-vipra kaila prabhura nimantrana
SYNONYMS
katake--to the city of Kataka; asiya--coming; kaila--did; gopala darasana--seeing Lord Gopala; svapnesvara-vipra--the brahmana named Svapnesvara; kaila--did; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nimantrana--invitation.
TRANSLATION
After reaching the city of Kataka, He saw the temple of Gopala, and a brahmana there named Svapnesvara invited the Lord to eat.
TEXT 101
TEXT
ramananda-raya saba-gane nimantrila
bahira udyane asi' prabhu vasa kaila
SYNONYMS
ramananda-raya--Ramananda Raya; saba-gane--all the followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nimantrila--invited; bahira udyane--in an outside garden; asi'--coming; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vasa kaila--made His resting place.
TRANSLATION
Ramananda Raya invited all the others for their meals, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu made His resting place in a garden outside the temple.
TEXT 102
TEXT
bhiksa kari' bakula-tale karila visrama
prataparudra-thani raya karila payana
SYNONYMS
bhiksa kari'--after taking lunch; bakula-tale--underneath a bakula flower tree; karila visrama--took rest; prataparudra-thani--to the presence of Maharaja Prataparudra; raya--Ramananda Raya; karila payana--departed.
TRANSLATION
While Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was taking rest beneath a bakula tree, Ramananda Raya immediately went to Maharaja Prataparudra.
TEXT 103
TEXT
suni' anandita raja ati-sighra aila
prabhu dekhi' dandavat bhumete padila
SYNONYMS
suni'--hearing; anandita--very pleased; raja--the King; ati-sighra--hastily; aila--came; prabhu dekhi'--seeing Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dandavat--obeisances offered falling flat; bhumete--on the ground; padila--fell down. obeisances offered falling flat; bhumete--on the ground; padila--fell down.
TRANSLATION
The King was very happy to hear the news, and he hastily went there. Upon seeing the Lord, he fell flat to offer Him obeisances.
TEXT 104
TEXT
punah uthe, punah pade pranaya-vihvala
stuti kare, pulakanga, pade asru-jala
SYNONYMS
punah--again; uthe--he arose; punah--again; pade--he fell down; pranaya-vihvala--overwhelmed with love; stuti kare--offers prayers; pulaka-anga--the entire body quivering in joy; pade--fell down; asru-jala--tears.
TRANSLATION
Being overwhelmed with love, the King again and again got up and fell down. When he offered prayers, his whole body shivered, and tears fell from his eyes.
TEXT 105
TEXT
tanra bhakti dekhi' prabhura tusta haila mana
uthi' mahaprabhu tanre kaila alingana
SYNONYMS
tanra bhakti--his devotion; dekhi'--seeing; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tusta--pleased; haila--was; mana--mind; uthi'--standing up; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--him; kaila alingana--embraced.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very pleased to see the King's devotion, and He therefore stood up and embraced him.
TEXT 106
TEXT
punah stuti kari' raja karaye pranama
prabhu-krpa-asrute tanra deha haila snana
SYNONYMS
punah--again; stuti kari'--offering prayers; raja--the King; karaye pranama--offered obeisances; prabhu krpa--of the mercy of the Lord; asrute--by the tears; tanra--of the Lord; deha--the body; haila--became; snana--bathed.
TRANSLATION
When the Lord embraced the King, the King again and again offered prayers and obeisances. In this way, the Lord's mercy brought tears from the King, and the Lord's body was bathed with these tears.
TEXT 107
TEXT
sustha kari, ramananda rajare vasaila
kaya-mano-vakye prabhu tanre krpa kaila
SYNONYMS
sustha kari--comforting him; ramananda--Raya Ramananda; rajare vasaila--made the King sit down; kaya-mano-vakye--with body, mind and words; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--unto the King; krpa kaila--showed His mercy.
TRANSLATION
Finally Ramananda Raya pacified the King and made him sit down. The Lord also bestowed mercy upon him through His body, mind and words.
TEXT 108
TEXT
aiche tanhare krpa kaila gauraraya
"prataparudra-santrata" nama haila yaya
SYNONYMS
aiche--such; tanhare--unto the King; krpa--mercy; kaila--showed; gauraraya--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prataparudra-santrata--the deliverer of Maharaja Prataparudra; nama--the name; haila--became; yaya--by which.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu showed such mercy to the King that from that day on the Lord became known as Prataparudra-santrata, the deliverer of Maharaja Prataparudra.
TEXT 109
TEXT
raja-patra-gana kaila prabhura vandana
rajare vidaya dila sacira nandana
SYNONYMS
raja-patra-gana--the officers of the King; kaila--did; prabhura vandana--glorifying the Lord; rajare--unto the King; vidaya dila--bade farewell; sacira nandana--the son of mother Saci.
TRANSLATION
All the governmental officers also paid their respects to the Lord, and finally the King and his men were bade farewell by the son of mother Saci.
TEXT 110
TEXT
bahire asi' raja ajna-patra lekhaila
nija-rajye yata 'visayi', tahare pathaila
SYNONYMS
bahire asi'--coming outside; raja--the King; ajna-patra--letters of command; lekhaila--had written; nija-rajye--in his own kingdom; yata--all; visayi--government servants; tahare--unto them; pathaila--sent.
TRANSLATION
The King then went outside and had orders written down and sent to the government servants within his kingdom.
TEXT 111
TEXT
'grame-grame' nutana avasa kariba
panca-sata navya-grhe samagrye bhariba
SYNONYMS
grame-grame--in every village; nutana--new; avasa--residential places; kariba--you should construct; panca-sata--five to seven; navya-grhe--in new houses; samagrye--with food; bhariba--you should fill.
TRANSLATION
His orders read: "In every village you should construct new residences, and in five or seven new houses, you should store all kinds of food.
TEXT 112
TEXT
apani prabhuke lana tahan uttariba
ratri-diba vetra-haste sevaya rahiba
SYNONYMS
apani--personally, yourself; prabhuke--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; lana--taking; tahan uttariba--you should go there; ratri-diba--night and day; vetra-haste--with a cane in the hands; sevaya rahiba--should remain engaged in His service.
TRANSLATION
"You should personally take the Lord to these newly constructed houses. Day and night you should engage in His service with a stick in your hands."
TEXT 113
TEXT
dui maha-patra,----'haricandana', 'mardaraja'
tanre ajna dila raja----'kariha sarva kaya
SYNONYMS
dui maha-patra--two respectable officers; haricandana--Haricandana; mardaraja--Mardaraja; tanre--to them; ajna dila--gave orders; raja--the King; kariha--do; sarva kaya--everything needed.
TRANSLATION
The King ordered two respectable officers named Haricandana and Mardaraja to do whatever was necessary to carry out these orders.
TEXTS 114-115
TEXT
eka navya-nauka ani' rakhaha nadi-tire
yahan snana kari' prabhu ya'na nadi-pare
tahan stambha ropana kara 'maha-tirtha' kari'
nitya snana kariba tahan, tahan yena mari
SYNONYMS
eka--one; navya--new; nauka--boat; ani'--bringing; rakhaha--keep; nadi-tire--on the bank of the river; yahan--where; snana kari'--taking bath; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ya'na--goes; nadi-pare--on the other bank of the river; tahan--there; stambha--a memorial column; ropana kara--establish; maha-tirtha kari'--making that place a great place of pilgrimage; nitya--daily; snana kariba--I shall bathe; tahan--there; tahan--there; yena mari--let me die.
TRANSLATION
The King also ordered them to maintain a new boat on the banks of the river, and wherever Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took His bath or crossed to the other side of the river, they should establish a memorial column and make that place a great place of pilgrimage. "Indeed," said the King, "I will take my bath there. And let me also die there."
TEXT 116
TEXT
caturdvare karaha uttama navya vasa
ramananda, yaha tumi mahaprabhu-pasa
SYNONYMS
caturdvare--at the place named Caturdvara; karaha--make; uttama--very nice; navya vasa--new residential quarters; ramananda--Ramananda Raya; yaha tumi--you please go; mahaprabhu-pasa--near Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
The King continued, "At Caturdvara, please construct new residential quarters. Now, Ramananda, you can return to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu."
TEXT 117
TEXT
sandhyate calibe prabhu,----nrpati sunila
hasti-upara tambu-grhe stri-gane cadaila
SYNONYMS
sandhyate--in the evening; calibe prabhu--the Lord will start; nrpati sunila--the King heard; hasti-upara--upon the backs of elephants; tambu-grhe--in tents; stri-gane--all the ladies; cadaila--made get up.
TRANSLATION
When the King heard that the Lord was leaving that evening, he immediately made arrangements for some elephants with small tents on their backs to be brought there. Then all the ladies of the palace got on the elephants.
TEXT 118
TEXT
prabhura calibara pathe rahe sari hana
sandhyate calila prabhu nija-gana lana
SYNONYMS
prabhura--of the Lord; calibara pathe--on the route of walking; rahe--remained; sari hana--being in a line; sandhyate--in the evening; calila prabhu--the Lord departed; nija-gana lana--taking His own men.
TRANSLATION
All these ladies went to the road the Lord was taking and remained there in a line. That evening, the Lord departed with His devotees.
TEXT 119
TEXT
'citrotpala-nadi' asi' ghate kaila snana
mahisi-sakala dekhi' karaye pranama
SYNONYMS
citrotpala-nadi--to the river named Citrotpala; asi'--coming; ghate--on the bank; kaila snana--took a bath; mahisi-sakala--all the queens and ladies of the palace; dekhi'--seeing; karaye pranama--offered their obeisances.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to the bank of the River Citrotpala to take His bath, all the queens and ladies of the palace offered their obeisances to Him.
TEXT 120
TEXT
prabhura darasane sabe haila premamaya
'krsna' 'krsna' kahe, netra asru varisaya
SYNONYMS
prabhura darasane--by seeing the Lord; sabe--all of them; haila--became; prema-maya--overwhelmed with love; krsna krsna kahe--chanted the holy name of Krsna; netra--the eyes; asru--tears; varisaya--poured.
TRANSLATION
Upon seeing the Lord, they all felt themselves overwhelmed with love of Godhead, and, tears pouring from their eyes, they began to chant the holy name, "Krsna! Krsna!"
TEXT 121
TEXT
emana krpalu nahi suni tribhuvane
krsna-prema haya yanra dura darasane
SYNONYMS
emana krpalu--such a merciful person; nahi--not; suni--we hear; tri-bhuvane--within the three worlds; krsna-prema haya--one gets love of Krsna; yanra--of whom; dura darasane--by seeing from a distance.
TRANSLATION
There is no one as merciful as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu within all three worlds. Simply by seeing Him from a distance, one is overwhelmed with love of Godhead.
TEXT 122
TEXT
naukate cadiya prabhu haila nadi para
jyotsnavati ratrye cali' aila caturdvara
SYNONYMS
naukate cadiya--getting on the boat; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; haila--was; nadi para--across the river; jyotsnavati--lighted by the full moon; ratrye--in the night; cali'--walking; aila--came; caturdvara--to Caturdvara.
TRANSLATION
The Lord then got into a new boat and crossed the river. Walking in the full moonlight, He finally reached the town known as Caturdvara.
TEXT 123
TEXT
ratrye tatha rahi' prate snana-krtya kaila
hena-kale jagannathera maha-prasada aila
SYNONYMS
ratrye--on that night; tatha rahi'--staying there; prate--in the morning; snana-krtya kaila--took His bath; hena-kale--at that time; jagannathera--of Lord Jagannatha; maha-prasada aila--remnants of food arrived.
TRANSLATION
The Lord spent the night there and in the morning took His bath. At that time, remnants of Lord Jagannatha's food arrived.
TEXT 124
TEXT
rajara ajnaya padicha pathaya dine-dine
bahuta prasada pathaya diya bahu-jane
SYNONYMS
rajara ajnaya--by the order of the King; padicha--the superintendent of the temple; pathaya--sent; dine-dine--day after day; bahuta prasada--a large quantity of food; pathaya--he sent; diya bahu-jane--carried by many persons.
TRANSLATION
Following the King's orders, the superintendent of the temple sent large quantities of prasada every day, and it was carried by many persons.
TEXT 125
TEXT
svagana-sahite prabhu prasada angikari'
uthiya calila prabhu bali' 'hari' 'hari'
SYNONYMS
sva-gana-sahite--with His personal associates; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prasada--the remnants of food; angikari'--accepting; uthiya--standing up; calila--started; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bali'--uttering; hari hari--Hari, Hari.
TRANSLATION
After accepting the prasada, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stood up and started to go, chanting the holy names,"Hari! Hari!"
TEXT 126
TEXT
ramananda, mardaraja, sri-haricandana
sange seva kari' cale ei tina jana
SYNONYMS
ramananda--Ramananda; mardaraja--Mardaraja; sri-haricandana--Sri Haricandana; sange--in company; seva kari'--rendering service; cale--went; ei tina jana--these three gentlemen.
TRANSLATION
Ramananda Raya, Mardaraja and Sri Haricandana always went with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and rendered various services.
TEXTS 127-129
TEXT
prabhu-sange puri-gosani, svarupa-damodara
jagadananda, mukunda, govinda, kasisvara
haridasa-thakura, ara pandita-vakresvara
gopinathacarya, ara pandita-damodara
ramai, nandai, ara bahu bhakta-gana
pradhana kahilun, sabara ke kare ganana
SYNONYMS
prabhu-sange--with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; puri-gosani--Paramananda Puri; svarupa-damodara--Svarupa Damodara; jagadananda--Jagadananda; mukunda--Mukunda; govinda--Govinda; kasisvara--Kasisvara; haridasa-thakura--Haridasa Thakura; ara--and; pandita-vakresvara--Pandita Vakresvara; gopinatha-acarya--Gopinatha Acarya; ara--and; pandita-damodara--Pandita Damodara; ramai--Ramai; nandai--Nandai; ara--and; bahu bhakta-gana--many devotees; pradhana--the chief; kahilun--I have mentioned; sabara--of all of them; ke--who; kare ganana--can make an account.
TRANSLATION
Paramananda Puri Gosvami, Svarupa Damodara, Jagadananda, Mukunda, Govinda, Kasisvara, Haridasa Thakura, Vakresvara Pandita, Gopinatha Acarya, Damodara Pandita, Ramai, Nandai and many other devotees accompanied the Lord. I have mentioned only the chief devotees. No one can describe the total number.
TEXT 130
TEXT
gadadhara-pandita yabe sangete calila
'ksetra-sannyasa na chadiha'----prabhu nisedhila
SYNONYMS
gadadhara-pandita--Gadadhara Pandita; yabe--when; sangete--with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; calila--started to go; ksetra-sannyasa--the renounced order of life at a holy place of pilgrimage; na chadiha--do not give up; prabhu nisedhila--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu forbade.
TRANSLATION
When Gadadhara Pandita started to go with the Lord, he was forbidden to come and was asked not to give up the vow of ksetra-sannyasa.
PURPORT
When one takes ksetra-sannyasa, he leaves his household life and goes to a place of pilgrimage devoted to Lord Visnu. Such places include Purusottama (Jagannatha Puri), Navadvipa-dhama and Mathura-dhama. The ksetra-sannyasi lives in these places alone or with his family. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura considers ksetra-sannyasa to be the preferable vanaprastha situation in this Age of Kali. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya lived in this way, and he has been called a ksetra-sannyasi-that is, a sannyasi living in Jagannatha Puri.
TEXT 131
TEXT
pandita kahe,----"yahan tumi, sei nilacala
ksetra-sannyasa mora yauka rasatala"
SYNONYMS
pandita kahe--Gadadhara Pandita said; yahan--wherever; tumi--You are situated; sei--that; nilacala--Jagannatha Puri; ksetra-sannyasa--vow to remain in a holy place of pilgrimage; mora--my; yauka--let it go; rasatala--to hell.
TRANSLATION
When he was requested to return to Jagannatha Puri, Gadadhara Pandita told the Lord, "Wherever You are staying is Jagannatha Puri. Let my so-called ksetra-sannyasa go to hell."
TEXT 132
TEXT
prabhu kahe,----"inha kara gopinatha sevana"
pandita kahe,----"koti-seva tvat-pada-darsana"
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; inha--here; kara--just do; gopinatha sevana--worship of Gopinatha; pandita kahe--the pandita said; koti-seva--millions of times the service; tvat-pada-darsana--seeing Your lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked Gadadhara Pandita to remain at Jagannatha Puri and engage in Gopinatha's service, Gadadhara Pandita replied, "One renders service to Gopinatha a million times simply by seeing Your lotus feet."
TEXT 133
TEXT
prabhu kahe,----"seva chadibe, amaya lage dosa
inha rahi' seva kara,----amara santosa"
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; seva chadibe--you will give up the service; amaya--to Me; lage--will attach; dosa--fault; inha rahi'--staying here; seva kara--just be engaged in service; amara--My; santosa--satisfaction.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then said, "If you abandon His service, it will be My fault. It is better that you remain here and render service. That will be My satisfaction."
TEXT 134
TEXT
pandita kahe,----"saba dosa amara upara
toma-sange na yaiba, yaiba ekesvara
SYNONYMS
pandita kahe--the Pandita said; saba--all; dosa--fault; amara upara--upon me; toma-sange--with You; na yaiba--I shall not go; yaiba--I shall go; ekesvara--alone.
TRANSLATION
The Pandita replied, "Do not worry. All the faults will be on my head. I shall not accompany You but shall go alone.
TEXT 135
TEXT
ai'ke dekhite yaiba, na yaiba toma lagi'
'pratijna'-'seva'-tyaga-dosa, tara ami bhagi"
SYNONYMS
ai'ke--mother Sacidevi; dekhite--to see; yaiba--I shall go; na yaiba--I shall not go; toma lagi'--for Your sake; pratijna-seva--the vow and service to Gopinatha; tyaga-dosa--the fault of giving up; tara--for that; ami bhagi--I am responsible.
TRANSLATION
"I shall go to see Sacimata, but I shall not go for Your sake. I shall be responsible for the abandoning of my vow and service to Gopinatha."
TEXT 136
TEXT
eta bali' pandita-gosani prthak calila
kataka asi' prabhu tanre sange anaila
SYNONYMS
eta bali'--saying this; pandita-gosani--Gadadhara Pandita; prthak calila--proceeded separately; kataka asi'--when He came to Kataka; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--him; sange--with Him; anaila--brought.
TRANSLATION
Thus Gadadhara Pandita Gosvami traveled alone, but when they all arrived at Kataka, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu called him, and he went in the Lord's company.
TEXT 137
TEXT
panditera gauranga-prema bujhana na yaya
'pratijna', 'sri-krsna-seva' chadila trna-praya
SYNONYMS
panditera--of Gadadhara Pandita; gauranga-prema--the love for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bujhana--understanding; na yaya--is not possible; pratijna--a vow; sri-krsna-seva--the service of the Lord; chadila--gave up; trna-praya--almost like straw.
TRANSLATION
No one can understand the loving intimacy between Gadadhara Pandita and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Gadadhara Pandita gave up his vow and service to Gopinatha just as one gives up a piece of straw.
PURPORT
Just to get Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's association, Gadadhara Pandita gave up his life's vow to engage in Gopinatha's service. This kind of loving affection can be understood only by very confidential devotees. Ordinarily, no one can understand its purport.
TEXT 138
TEXT
tanhara caritre prabhu antare santosa
tanhara hate dhari' kahe kari' pranaya-rosa
SYNONYMS
tanhara caritre--in his behavior; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; antare--within His heart; santosa--very satisfied; tanhara hate dhari'--catching his hand; kahe--says; kari'--exhibiting; pranaya-rosa--anger in love.
TRANSLATION
Gadadhara Pandita's behavior was very pleasing to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's heart. Nevertheless, the Lord took his hand and spoke to him, displaying the anger of love.
TEXT 139
TEXT
'pratijna', 'seva' chadibe,----e tomara 'uddesa'
se siddha ha-ila----chadi' aila dura desa
SYNONYMS
pratijna--the vow; seva--and service; chadibe--will give up; e--this; tomara--your; uddesa--purpose; se--that; siddha--complete; ha-ila--has become; chadi'--giving up; aila--have come; dura desa--to a distant place.
TRANSLATION
"You have abandoned Gopinatha's service and broken your vow to live in Puri. All that is now complete because you have come so far.
TEXT 140
TEXT
amara sange rahite caha,----vancha nija-sukha
tomara dui dharma yaya,----amara haya 'duhkha'
SYNONYMS
amara sange--with Me; rahite--to remain; caha--you want; vancha--you desire; nija-sukha--your own sense gratification; tomara--your; dui dharma--two principles; yaya--go away; amara--of Me; haya--there is; duhkha--unhappiness.
TRANSLATION
"Your wanting to go with Me is simply a desire for sense gratification. In this way, you are breaking two religious principles, and because of this I am very unhappy.
TEXT 141
TEXT
mora sukha caha yadi, nilacale cala
amara sapatha, yadi ara kichu bala
SYNONYMS
mora--of Me; sukha--the satisfaction; caha--you want; yadi--if; nilacale cala--go back to Jagannatha Puri (Nilacala); amara sapatha--My condemnation; yadi--if; ara--more; kichu--something; bala--you say.
TRANSLATION
"If you want My happiness, please return to Nilacala. You will simply condemn Me if you say any more about this matter."
TEXT 142
TEXT
eta bali' mahaprabhu naukate cadila
murcchita hana pandita tathai padila
SYNONYMS
eta bali'--saying this; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; naukate cadila--got on a boat; murcchita hana--fainting; pandita--Gadadhara Pandita Gosvami; tathai--there; padila--fell down.
TRANSLATION
Saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu got into a boat, and Gadadhara Pandita immediately fell down in an unconscious state.
TEXT 143
TEXT
pandite lana yaite sarvabhaume ajna dila
bhattacarya kahe,----"utha, aiche prabhura lila
SYNONYMS
pandite lana--taking the Pandita; yaite--to go; sarvabhauma--unto Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; ajna dila--gave an order; bhattacarya kahe--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said; utha--please get up; aiche--such; prabhura lila--the way of the Lord's pastimes.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya to take Gadadhara Pandita with him. The Bhattacarya told Gadadhara Pandita,"Get up! Such are the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 144
TEXT
tumi jana, krsna nija-pratijna chadila
bhakta krpa-vase bhismera pratijna rakhila
SYNONYMS
tumi jana--you know; krsna--Lord Krsna; nija-pratijna--His own promise; chadila--gave up; bhakta krpa-vase--being obliged by the devotional service of a devotee; bhismera--of Grandfather Bhisma; pratijna rakhila--kept the promise.
TRANSLATION
"You should know that Lord Krsna Himself violated His own promise just to keep the promise of Grandfather Bhisma.
TEXT 145
TEXT
svanigamam apahaya mat-pratijnam
rtam adhikartum avapluto ratha-sthah
dhrta-ratha-carano 'bhyayac caladgur
harir iva hantum ibham gatottariyah
SYNONYMS
sva-nigamam--His own promise not to take a weapon and fight on behalf of the Pandavas; apahaya--giving up; mat-pratijnam--my promise; rtam--true; adhikartum--to make more; avaplutah--having jumped down; ratha-sthah--who was on the chariot (Lord Krsna); dhrta--who took up; ratha-caranah--the wheel of the chariot; abhyayat--ran forward; calat-guh--making the entire planet tremble; harih--a lion; iva--like; hantum--to kill; ibham--an elephant; gata-uttariyah--losing the outer garment.
TRANSLATION
" 'Intending to make my promise true, Lord Krsna broke His own promise not to take up a weapon at Kuruksetra. With His outer garment falling off, Lord Sri Krsna jumped from His chariot, picked up a wheel and came running at me to kill me. Indeed, He rushed at me like a lion going to kill an elephant, and He caused the whole earth to tremble.'
PURPORT
Lord Krsna promised not to fight in the battle of Kuruksetra or even take up a weapon. But when Bhisma wanted to keep his own promise to break the promise of the Lord, the Lord immediately got down from the chariot, and to make Bhisma's promise true He picked up a chariot wheel and rushed forward to kill him. This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.9.37).
TEXT 146
TEXT
ei-mata prabhu tomara viccheda sahiya
tomara pratijna raksa kaila yatna kariya"
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tomara--of you; viccheda sahiya--tolerating the separation; tomara pratijna--your vow; raksa kaila--protected; yatna kariya--with great endeavor.
TRANSLATION
"Similarly, tolerating your separation, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has protected your vow with great endeavor."
TEXT 147
TEXT
ei-mata kahi' tanre prabodha karila
dui-jane sokakula nilacale aila
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; kahi'--speaking; tanre--him; prabodha karila--awoke; dui-jane--the two persons; soka-akula--overwhelmed with grief; nilacale--to Jagannatha Puri; aila--went back.
TRANSLATION
In this way Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya revived Gadadhara Pandita. Then both of them, very much grief-stricken, returned to Jagannatha Puri, Nilacala.
TEXT 148
TEXT
prabhu lagi' dharma-karma chade bhakta-gana
bhakta-dharma-hani prabhura na haya sahana
SYNONYMS
prabhu lagi'--for the sake of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dharma-karma--all prescribed duties; chade--give up; bhakta-gana--all the devotees; bhakta-dharma--of the duty of a devotee; hani--the abandonment; prabhura--to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; na haya--is not; sahana--tolerable.
TRANSLATION
All the devotees would abandon all kinds of duties for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's sake, yet the Lord did not like the devotees' giving up their promised duties.
TEXT 149
TEXT
'premera vivarta' iha sune yei jana
acire miliye tanre caitanya-carana
SYNONYMS
premera vivarta--the misgivings of loving affairs; iha--this; sune--listens; yei jana--any person who; acire--very soon; miliye--meet; tanre--him; caitanya-carana--the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
All these are the misgivings of loving affairs. Whoever listens to these incidents gets Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's shelter very soon.
TEXT 150
TEXT
dui raja-patra yei prabhu-sange yaya
'yajapura' asi' prabhu tare dilena vidaya
SYNONYMS
dui raja-patra--the two government officers; yei--who; prabhu-sange--with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yaya--go; yajapura asi'--when coming to Yajapura; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tare--unto them; dilena vidaya--bade farewell.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His party arrived at Yajapura, the Lord asked the two government officers who had come with Him to return.
PURPORT
The place called Yajapura is very well known in Orissa. It is a subdivision of the Kataka district and is situated on the southern side of the Vaitarani River. Formerly great sages performed sacrifices on the northern bank of the Vaitarani River; consequently the place is known as Yajapura-"the place where sacrifices are performed." Some people say that this was one of the capital cities of King Yayati and that from the name Yayati-nagara the name Yajapura has come. As stated in Mahabharata (Vana-parva Chapter 114):
ete kalingah kaunteya
yatra vaitarani nadi
yatrayajata dharmo 'pi
devan saranam etya vai
atra vai rsayo 'nye ca
pura kratubhir ijire
According to the Mahabharata, great sages formerly performed sacrifices in this place. There are still many temples of demigods and incarnations there, and there is also a Deity of Sri Varahadeva. This Deity is especially important and is visited by many pilgrims. Those who worship the Supreme Lord's energy worship Varahi, Vaisnavi and Indrani, as well as many similar forms of Devi, the internal energy. There are many deities of Lord Siva, and there are many places along the river known as Dasasvamedha-ghata. Sometimes Yajapura is also called Nabhi-gaya or Viraja-ksetra.
TEXT 151
TEXT
prabhu vidaya dila, raya yaya tanra sane
krsna-katha ramananda-sane ratri-dine
SYNONYMS
prabhu vidaya dila--the Lord bade them farewell; raya--Ramananda Raya; yaya--goes; tanra sane--with Him; krsna-katha--discussion of topics of Lord Krsna; ramananda-sane--with Ramananda; ratri-dine--day and night.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bade farewell to the officers, and Raya Ramananda continued on with the Lord. The Lord talked to Ramananda Raya about Sri Krsna day and night.
TEXT 152
TEXT
prati-grame raja-ajnaya raja-bhrtya-gana
navya grhe nana-dravye karaye sevana
SYNONYMS
prati-grame--in each village; raja-ajnaya--by the order of the King; raja-bhrtya-gana--the government servants; navya grhe--in newly constructed houses; nana-dravye--with all kinds of food grains; karaye sevana--rendered service.
TRANSLATION
In each and every village, in compliance with the King's order, government officers constructed new houses and filled each of them with stocks of grains. Thus they served the Lord.
TEXT 153
TEXT
ei-mata cali' prabhu 'remuna' aila
tatha haite ramananda-raye vidaya dila
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; cali'--walking; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; remuna aila--came to Remuna; tatha haite--from there; ramananda-raye--unto Ramananda Raya; vidaya dila--bade farewell.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu finally arrived at Remuna, where He bade farewell to Sri Ramananda Raya.
PURPORT
It was stated in the First Chapter of Madhya-lila, verse 149, that Ramananda Raya was bade farewell from Bhadraka. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura states that in those days the place called Remuna also included Bhadraka.
TEXT 154
TEXT
bhumete padila raya nahika cetana
raye kole kari' prabhu karaye krandana
SYNONYMS
bhumete padila--fell down on the ground; raya--Ramananda Raya; nahika cetana--there was no consciousness; raye--Ramananda Raya; kole kari'--taking on the lap; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karaye krandana--began crying.
TRANSLATION
When Ramananda Raya fell to the ground and lost consciousness, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took him upon His lap and began to cry.
TEXT 155
TEXT
rayera vidaya-bhava na yaya sahana
kahite na pari ei tahara varnana
SYNONYMS
rayera vidaya-bhava--feelings of separation from Ramananda Raya; na yaya--not possible; sahana--to tolerate; kahite--to speak; na pari--I am not able; ei--this; tahara--of that; varnana--a description.
TRANSLATION
Ramananda Raya's separation from Caitanya Mahaprabhu is very difficult to describe. It is almost intolerable, and therefore I cannot describe it further.
TEXT 156
TEXT
tabe 'odhra-desa-sima' prabhu cali' aila
tatha raja-adhikari prabhure milila
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; odhra-desa-sima--the boundary of Orissa; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; cali'--traveling; aila--reached; tatha--there; raja-adhikari--a government officer; prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; milila--met.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu finally arrived at the border of the state of Orissa, a government officer came there to meet Him.
TEXT 157
TEXT
dina dui-cari tenho karila sevana
age calibare sei kahe vivarana
SYNONYMS
dina dui-cari--two or four days; tenho--he; karila sevana--served the Lord; age--forward; calibare--for going; sei--that officer; kahe--spoke; vivarana--detailed information.
TRANSLATION
For two or four days, the government officer served the Lord. He also gave the Lord detailed information of what was ahead.
TEXT 158
TEXT
madyapa yavana-rajara age adhikara
tanra bhaye pathe keha nare calibara
SYNONYMS
madyapa--drunkard; yavana--Mohammedan; rajara--of a king; age--ahead; adhikara--the government; tanra bhaye--being afraid of such a king; pathe--on the road; keha--anyone; nare--not able; calibara--to travel.
TRANSLATION
He informed the Lord that the territory ahead was ruled by a Moslem governor, who was a drunkard. Out of fear for this king, no one could walk the road freely.
TEXT 159
TEXT
pichalada paryanta saba tanra adhikara
tanra bhaye nadi keha haite nare para
SYNONYMS
pichalada--the place named Pichalada; paryanta--up to; saba--everything; tanra--of him; adhikara--under the authority; tanra bhaye--because of fear of him; nadi--the river; keha--anyone; haite--to cross; nare--not able; para--to the other side.
TRANSLATION
The jurisdiction of the Mohammedan government extended up to Pichalada. Due to fear of the Mohammedans, no one would cross the river.
PURPORT
During the old days, Pichalada was part of Tamaluka and Bengal. Pichalada is located about fourteen miles south of Tamaluka. The River Rupa-narayana is well known in Tamaluka, and Pichalada was situated on the bank of the Rupa-narayana River.
TEXT 160
TEXT
dina kata raha----sandhi kari' tanra sane
tabe sukhe naukate karaiba gamane
SYNONYMS
dina kata raha--stay here for a few days; sandhi kari'--making peaceful negotiations; tanra sane--with him; tabe--then; sukhe--in happiness; naukate--on the boat; karaiba gamane--I will help You start.
TRANSLATION
Maharaja Prataparudra's government officer further informed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that He should stay at the Orissa border for some days so that a peaceful agreement could be negotiated with the Mohammedan governor. In that way, the Lord would be able to cross the river peacefully in a boat.
TEXT 161
TEXT
sei kale se yavanera eka anucara
'udiya-katake' aila kari' vesantara
SYNONYMS
sei kale--at that time; se yavanera--of the Mohammedan governor; eka anucara--one follower; udiya-katake--to the camp of Orissan soldiers; aila--came; kari' vesa-antara--changing the dress.
TRANSLATION
At that time, a follower of the Mohammedan governor arrived at the Orissa encampment dressed in disguise.
TEXTS 162-163
TEXT
prabhura sei adabhuta caritra dekhiya
hindu-cara kahe sei yavana-pasa giya
'eka sannyasi aila jagannatha ha-ite
aneka siddha-purusa haya tanhara sahite
SYNONYMS
prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sei--that; adabhuta caritra--wonderful characteristics; dekhiya--seeing; hindu-cara--the Hindu spy; kahe--says; sei--that; yavana-pasa giya--going to the Mohammedan king; eka sannyasi--one mendicant; aila--has come; jagannatha ha-ite--from Jagannatha Puri; aneka--many; siddha-purusa--liberated persons; haya--are; tanhara sahite--with Him.
TRANSLATION
The Mohammedan spy saw the wonderful characteristics of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and when he returned to the Mohammedan governor, he told him, "A mendicant has come from Jagannatha Puri with many liberated persons.
TEXT 164
TEXT
nirantara kare sabe krsna-sankirtana
sabe hase, nace, gaya, karaye krandana
SYNONYMS
nirantara--without stopping; kare--perform; sabe--all; krsna-sankirtana--chanting of the holy name of the Lord; sabe--all of them; hase--laugh; nace--dance; gaya--sing; karaye krandana--and cry.
TRANSLATION
"All these saintly people incessantly chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, and they all laugh, dance, chant and cry.
TEXT 165
TEXT
laksa laksa loka aise taha dekhibare
tanre dekhi' punarapi yaite nare ghare
SYNONYMS
laksa laksa--millions upon millions; loka--people; aise--come; taha--that; dekhibare--to see; tanre dekhi'--after seeing Him; punarapi--again; yaite--to go; nare--are not able; ghare--home.
TRANSLATION
"Many millions upon millions of people come to see Him, and after they see Him, they cannot return home.
TEXT 166
TEXT
sei saba loka haya baulera praya
'krsna' kahi' nace, kande, gadagadi yaya
SYNONYMS
sei saba loka--all those persons; haya--are; baulera praya--almost like madmen; krsna kahi'--chanting the holy name of Krsna; nace--they dance; kande--they cry; gadagadi yaya--they roll on the ground.
TRANSLATION
"All these people become like madmen. They simply dance and chant the holy name of Krsna. Sometimes they even cry and roll on the ground.
TEXT 167
TEXT
kahibara katha nahe----dekhile se jani
tanhara prabhave tanre 'isvara' kari' mani'
SYNONYMS
kahibara katha--describable topic; nahe--this is not; dekhile--if one sees; se jani--he can understand; tanhara prabhave--by His influence; tanre--Him; isvara kari'--as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mani--I accept.
TRANSLATION
"Actually these things cannot even be described. One can understand them only by seeing. By His influence, I accept Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
TEXT 168
TEXT
eta kahi' sei cara 'hari' 'krsna' gaya
hase, kande, nace, gaya baulera praya
SYNONYMS
eta kahi'--saying this; sei cara--that messenger; hari--Hari; krsna--Krsna; gaya--chants; hase--laughs; kande--cries; nace--dances; gaya--sings; baulera praya--just like a madman.
TRANSLATION
After saying this, the messenger began to chant the holy names of Hari and Krsna. He also began to laugh and cry, dance and sing exactly like a madman.
TEXT 169
TEXT
eta suni' yavanera mana phiri' gela
apana-'visvasa' udiya sthane pathaila
SYNONYMS
eta suni'--after hearing this; yavanera--of the Mohammedan governor; mana--the mind; phiri' gela--became changed; apana--own; visvasa--secretary; udiya--of the representative of the Orissan government; sthane--to the place; pathaila--sent.
TRANSLATION
Upon hearing this, the mind of the Mohammedan governor was changed. He then sent his own secretary to the representative of the Orissan government.
TEXT 170
TEXT
'visvasa' asiya prabhura carana vandila
'krsna' 'krsna' kahi' preme vihvala ha-ila
SYNONYMS
visvasa--the secretary; asiya--coming; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carana--the lotus feet; vandila--worshiped; krsna krsna--the holy name of the Lord, Krsna, Krsna; kahi'--uttering; preme--in ecstasy; vihvala--overwhelmed; ha-ila--became.
TRANSLATION
The Mohammedan secretary came to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When he offered his respects to the Lord's lotus feet and uttered the holy name of the Lord, "Krsna, Krsna," he also was overwhelmed with ecstatic love.
TEXT 171
TEXT
dhairya hana udiyake kahe namaskari'
'toma-sthane pathaila mleccha adhikari
SYNONYMS
dhairya hana--becoming calm; udiyake--to the representative of the Orissan government; kahe--says; namaskari'--offering respect; toma-sthane--to your place; pathaila--has sent; mleccha--the Mohammedan; adhikari--governor.
TRANSLATION
After calming down, the Mohammedan secretary offered his respects and informed the representative of the Orissan government, "The Mohammedan governor has sent me here.
TEXT 172
TEXT
tumi yadi ajna deha' ethake asiya
yavana adhikari yaya prabhuke miliya
SYNONYMS
tumi--you; yadi--if; ajna--order; deha'--give; ethake--here; asiya--coming; yavana adhikari--the Mohammedan governor; yaya--may go; prabhuke--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; miliya--after meeting.
TRANSLATION
"If you agree, the Mohammedan governor will come here to meet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and then return.
TEXT 173
TEXT
bahuta utkantha tanra, karyache vinaya
toma-sane ei sandhi, nahi yuddha-bhaya'
SYNONYMS
bahuta--very much; utkantha--anxiety; tanra--his; karyache--has made; vinaya--submissive petition; toma-sane--with you; ei--this; sandhi--a peace proposal; nahi--there is not; yuddha-bhaya--fear of fighting.
TRANSLATION
"The Mohammedan governor is very eager, and he has submitted this petition with great respect. It is a proposal for peace. You need not fear that we will fight."
TEXT 174
TEXT
suni' maha-patra kahe hana vismaya
'madyapa yavanera citta aiche ke karaya!
SYNONYMS
suni'--hearing; maha-patra--the representative of the Orissan government; kahe--says; hana vismaya--becoming astonished; madyapa--drunkard; yavanera--of the Mohammedan; citta--the heart; aiche--in this way; ke karaya--who has made.
TRANSLATION
Upon hearing this proposal, the representative of the Orissan government, the maha-patra, was very astonished. He thought, "The Mohammedan governor is a drunkard. Who has changed his mind?
TEXT 175
TEXT
apane mahaprabhu tanra mana phiraila
darsana-smarane yanra jagat tarila'
SYNONYMS
apane--personally; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanra--his; mana--mind; phiraila--changed; darsana--by a personal visit; smarane--by remembrance; yanra--of whom; jagat--the whole world; tarila--He has delivered.
TRANSLATION
"It must be Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself who has changed the Mohammedan's mind. Due to His presence and even due to His remembrance, the whole world is liberated."
PURPORT
From this we can understand that the Mohammedan governor was a drunkard (madyapa). Ordinarily, there was no chance that he would change, but Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu could turn anyone's mind to Krsna consciousness. One can be delivered from material existence simply by remembering Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's holy name or by visiting Him. This Krsna consciousness movement is being spread throughout the world, but not even one yavana or mleccha addicted to drinking could have changed and accepted Krsna consciousness without Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's grace. People are often astonished to see many thousands of Westerners converted to Vaisnavism. Generally Westerners are addicted to meat-eating, drinking, gambling and illicit sex; therefore their taking up Krsna consciousness is astonishing. In India, especially, there is much astonishment at this. The answer, however, is given here: darsana-smarane yanra jagat tarila. This change is made possible simply by the remembrance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The Western devotees are very sincerely chanting the holy names of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates: sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. By the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates, people are being purified and their consciousness directed from maya to Krsna.
The word visvasa refers to a secretary. This title is generally found among the kayastha caste in the Hindu community. In Bengal, the title visvasa is still used by the kayasthas. The word visvasa means "faithful," and a visvasi is a person in whom one can place faith. Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura states that during the Mohammedan reign in Bengal, there was a secretariat entitled visvasa-khana. The office of visvasa-khana was a secretariat office in which only the most reliable people were employed. They were elected from the kayastha community, a community that is still very expert in managing business and government affairs. The secretariat, or visvasa-khana, is generally a very reliable and faithful servant. Whenever some confidential service was needed, these officers were employed.
TEXT 176
TEXT
eta bali' visvasere kahila vacana
"bhagya tanra----asi' karuka prabhu darasana
SYNONYMS
eta bali'--saying this; visvasere--unto the secretary of the Mohammedan governor; kahila vacana--spoke the following words; bhagya--great fortune; tanra--his; asi'--coming; karuka--let him do; prabhu darasana--visiting Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
After thinking this, the maha-patra immediately informed the Mohammedan secretary, "It is a great fortune for your governor. Let him come visit Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 177
TEXT
pratita kariye----yadi nirastra hana
asibeka panca-sata bhrtya sange lana?"
SYNONYMS
pratita--understood; kariye--I make; yadi--if; nirastra hana--being without weapons; asibeka--he will come; panca-sata--five to seven; bhrtya--servants; sange--in company; lana--taking.
TRANSLATION
"However, let me make it understood that he should come here without weapons. He may bring with him five or seven servants."
TEXT 178
TEXT
'visvasa' yana tanhare sakala kahila
hindu-vesa dhari' sei yavana aila
SYNONYMS
visvasa--the secretary; yana--returning; tanhare--unto the Mohammedan governor; sakala kahila--told everything; hindu-vesa dhari'--accepting the dress of a Hindu; sei yavana--that Mohammedan governor; aila--came.
TRANSLATION
The secretary returned to the Mohammedan governor and informed him of this news. Dressing himself like a Hindu, the Mohammedan governor then came to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 179
TEXT
dura haite prabhu dekhi' bhumete padiya
dandavat kare asru-pulakita hana
SYNONYMS
dura haite--from a distance; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhi'--seeing; bhumete padiya--falling down on the ground; dandavat kare--offered obeisances; asru--tears; pulakita--jubilant; hana--becoming.
TRANSLATION
Upon seeing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu from a distant place, the Mohammedan governor fell to the ground and offered obeisances. Tears came to his eyes, and he was jubilant with ecstatic emotions.
TEXT 180
TEXT
maha-patra anila tanre kariya sammana
yoda-hate prabhu-age laya krsna-nama
SYNONYMS
maha-patra--the Orissan representative; anila--brought; tanre--him; kariya sammana--showing great respect; yoda-hate--with folded hands; prabhu-age--before Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; laya krsna-nama--chanted the holy name of Krsna.
TRANSLATION
Arriving in that way, the Mohammedan governor was respectfully brought before Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by the maha-patra. The governor then stood before the Lord with folded hands, and he chanted the holy name of Krsna.
TEXT 181
TEXT
"adhama yavana-kule kena janma haila
vidhi more hindu-kule kena na janmaila
SYNONYMS
adhama--low; yavana-kule--in the family of a Mohammedan; kena--why; janma haila--there was birth; vidhi--providence; more--me; hindu-kule--in the family of a Hindu; kena--why; na--not; janmaila--caused to be born.
TRANSLATION
The governor then submissively asked,"Why was I born in a Mohammedan family? This is considered a low birth. Why didn't supreme Providence grant me a birth in a Hindu family?
TEXT 182
TEXT
'hindu' haile paitama tomara carana-sannidhana
vyartha mora ei deha, yauka parana"
SYNONYMS
hindu haile--if I was born in a Hindu family; paitama--I would have gotten; tomara--of You; carana--of the lotus feet; sannidhana--proximity; vyartha--useless; mora--my; ei--this; deha--body; yauka parana--let me die immediately.
TRANSLATION
"If I had taken birth in a Hindu family, it would have been easy for me to remain near Your lotus feet. Since my body is now useless, let me die immediately."
TEXT 183
TEXT
eta suni' maha-patra avista hana
prabhuke karena stuti carane dhariya
SYNONYMS
eta suni'--hearing this; maha-patra--the representative of the Orissan government; avista hana--being overwhelmed; prabhuke--unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karena--makes; stuti--prayers; carane dhariya--catching His feet.
TRANSLATION
Upon hearing the governor's submissive statement, the maha-patra was overwhelmed with joy. He clasped the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and began to offer the following prayers.
TEXT 184
TEXT
'candala----pavitra yanra sri-nama-sravane
hena-tomara ei jiva paila darasane
SYNONYMS
candala--the dog-eater, the lowest of mankind; pavitra--purified; yanra--of whom; sri-nama-sravane--by hearing the holy name; hena-tomara--of such a one as You; ei jiva--this conditioned living entity; paila--has gotten; darasane--the personal visit.
TRANSLATION
"Simply by hearing Your holy name, a candala, lowest of men, can be purified. Now this conditioned soul has received Your personal interview.
TEXT 185
TEXT
inhara ye ei gati, ithe ki vismaya?
tomara darsana-prabhava ei-mata haya'
SYNONYMS
inhara--of this Mohammedan governor; ye--which; ei--this; gati--result; ithe--in this; ki--what; vismaya--the wonder; tomara--of You; darsana-prabhava--influence of seeing; ei-mata haya--is like this.
TRANSLATION
"It is no wonder that this Mohammedan governor has attained such results. Simply by seeing You, all this is possible.
TEXT 186
TEXT
yan-namadheya-sravananukirtanad
yat-prahvanad yat-smaranad api kvacit
svado 'pi sadyah savanaya kalpate
kutah punas te bhagavan nu darsanat
SYNONYMS
yat--of whom; namadheya--of the name; sravana--from hearing; anukirtanat--and thereafter from chanting; yat--to whom; prahvanat--from offering respects; yat--of whom; smaranat--from simply remembering; api--also; kvacit--sometimes; svadah--a dog-eater; api--even; sadyah--immediately; savanaya--for performing Vedic sacrifices; kalpate--becomes eligible; kutah--what to speak; punah--again; te--of You; bhagavan--O Supreme Personality of Godhead; nu--certainly; darsanat--from seeing.
TRANSLATION
" 'To say nothing of the spiritual advancement of persons who see the Supreme Person face to face, even a person born in a family of dog-eaters becomes immediately eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices if he once utters the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or chants about Him, hears about His pastimes, offers Him obeisances or even remembers Him.' »
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.33.6). According to this verse, it doesn't matter what position a person holds. One may be the lowest of the low-a candala, or dog-eater-but if he takes to chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord, he is immediately eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices. This is especially true in this Age of Kali.
harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha
(Brhan-naradiya Purana 38.126)
A person born in a brahmana family cannot perform Vedic sacrifices until he is properly purified and has attained his sacred thread. However, according to this verse, it is understood that even a lowborn person can immediately perform sacrifices if he sincerely chants and hears the holy name of the Lord. Sometimes envious people ask how Europeans and Americans in this Krsna consciousness movement can become brahmanas and perform sacrifices. They do not know that the Europeans and Americans have already been purified by chanting the holy name of the Lord-Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. This is the proof. Svado 'pi sadyah savanaya kalpate. One may be born in a family of dog-eaters, but he can perform sacrifices simply by chanting the maha-mantra.
Those who find fault in the Western Vaisnavas should consider this statement from Srimad-Bhagavatam and the commentary on this verse by Srila Jiva Gosvami. In this regard, Srila Jiva Gosvami has stated that to become a brahmana, one has to wait for purification and undergo the sacred thread ceremony, but a chanter of the holy name does not have to wait for the sacred thread ceremony. We do not allow devotees to perform sacrifices until they are properly initiated in the sacred thread ceremony. Yet according to this verse, an offenseless chanter of the holy name is already fit to perform a fire ceremony, even though he is not doubly initiated by the sacred thread ceremony. This is the verdict given by Lord Kapiladeva in His instructions to His mother, Devahuti. It was Lord Kapiladeva who instructed Devahuti in pure Sankhya philosophy.
TEXT 187
TEXT
tabe mahaprabhu tanre krpa-drsti kari'
asvasiya kahe,----tumi kaha 'krsna' 'hari'
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--unto him; krpa-drsti kari'--glancing with mercy; asvasiya--giving assurance; kahe--says; tumi--you; kaha--utter; krsna--the holy name Krsna; hari--the holy name Hari.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then glanced with mercy at the Mohammedan governor. Giving him assurance, He asked him to chant the holy names Krsna and Hari.
PURPORT
It is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy that He advises everyone-even candalas, mlecchas and yavanas-to chant the holy name of the Lord. In other words, one who has taken to chanting the holy names Krsna and Hari has already received Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy. The Lord's request to chant the holy name of Krsna is now extended to everyone in the world through this Krsna consciousness movement. Whoever follows Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instructions will certainly be purified, and one who sincerely chants the holy name offenselessly is already more than a brahmana. Unfortunately there are many fools and rascals in India who do not allow Western Vaisnavas to enter certain temples. Such rascals do not clearly understand the Vedas. As stated previously: yan-namadheya-sravananukirtanad.
TEXT 188
TEXT
sei kahe,----'more yadi kaila angikara
eka ajna deha,----seva kari ye tomara
SYNONYMS
sei kahe--the Mohammedan governor said; more--me; yadi--if; kaila angikara--You have accepted; eka ajna--one order; deha--give; seva--service; kari--I may render; ye--so that; tomara--Your.
TRANSLATION
The Mohammedan governor then said, "Since You have so kindly accepted me, please give me some order so that I can render You some service."
PURPORT
If one is purified by following Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's orders-that is, by chanting the holy name of Krsna-one must certainly be eager to render service to the Lord. This is the test. When one engages enthusiastically in the Lord's service, it is to be understood that he is reaping the results of chanting the names of Krsna and Hari.
TEXT 189
TEXT
go-brahmana-vaisnave himsa karyachi apara
sei papa ha-ite mora ha-uka nistara
SYNONYMS
go-brahmana-vaisnave--to the cows, brahmanas and Vaisnavas; himsa--violence and envy; karyachi--I have done; apara--unlimitedly; sei papa ha-ite--from those sinful activities; mora--my; ha-uka--let there be; nistara--liberation.
TRANSLATION
The Mohammedan governor then prayed for liberation from the unlimited sinful activities he had previously incurred by being envious of brahmanas and Vaisnavas and killing cows.
PURPORT
By chanting the holy names Krsna and Hari, one is certainly liberated from sinful activities, such as killing cows or insulting brahmanas and Vaisnavas. It is most sinful to kill cows and insult brahmanas and Vaisnavas. The karma incurred by such activity is very great, but one can immediately nullify all this karma by surrendering to Lord Krsna and chanting His holy name. After being released from one's sinful reactions (karma), one becomes eager to serve the Lord. This is the test. Since the Mohammedan governor was immediately purified in the presence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he could utter the names of Krsna and Hari. Consequently he was anxious to render some service, and the Lord, anxious to fulfill his desires, immediately had the devotee Mukunda Datta inform the governor that there was some service to render.
TEXT 190
TEXT
tabe mukunda datta kahe,----'suna, mahasaya
ganga-tira yaite mahaprabhura mana haya
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; mukunda datta kahe--Mukunda Datta, a devotee of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, said; suna mahasaya--my dear sir, kindly hear me; ganga-tira yaite--to go to the bank of the Ganges; mahaprabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mana--the mind or desire; haya--is.
TRANSLATION
Mukunda Datta then told the Mohammedan governor, "My dear sir, please hear. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wishes to go to the bank of the Ganges.
TEXT 191
TEXT
tahan yaite kara tumi sahaya-prakara
ei bada ajna, ei bada upakara'
SYNONYMS
tahan yaite--to go there; kara--do; tumi--you; sahaya-prakara--all kinds of assistance; ei bada ajna--this is a great order; ei bada upakara--this is a great favor.
TRANSLATION
"Please give Him all assistance so that He can go there. This is your first great order, and if you can comply, you will render a great service."
TEXT 192
TEXT
tabe sei mahaprabhura carana vandiya
sabara carana vandi' cale hrsta hana
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; sei--the governor; mahaprabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carana vandiya--after worshiping the lotus feet; sabara carana vandi'--offering respect to the feet of all the other devotees; cale--departed; hrsta hana--being very pleased.
TRANSLATION
After this, the Mohammedan governor offered prayers to the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as well as to the lotus feet of all His devotees. After that, the governor departed. Indeed, he was very pleased.
TEXT 193
TEXT
maha-patra tanra sane kaila kolakuli
aneka samagri diya karila mitali
SYNONYMS
maha-patra--the Orissan representative; tanra sane--with him; kaila--performed; kolakuli--embracing; aneka--various; samagri--materials; diya--giving as gift; karila mitali--established friendship.
TRANSLATION
Before the governor left, the maha-patra embraced him and offered him many material gifts. He thus established a friendship with him.
TEXT 194
TEXT
pratah-kale sei bahu nauka sajana
prabhuke anite dila visvasa pathana
SYNONYMS
pratah-kale--in the morning; sei--the governor; bahu--many; nauka--boats; sajana--decorating; prabhuke--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; anite--to bring; dila--gave; visvasa--the secretary; pathana--sending.
TRANSLATION
The next morning the governor sent his secretary with many nicely decorated boats to bring Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to the other side of the river.
TEXT 195
TEXT
maha-patra cali' aila mahaprabhura sane
mleccha asi' kaila prabhura carana vandane
SYNONYMS
maha-patra--the Orissan government representative; cali'--moving; aila--went; mahaprabhura sane--with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mleccha--the governor of the other side; asi'--coming; kaila--performed; prabhura carana vandane--worshiping the lotus feet of the Lord.
TRANSLATION
The maha-patra crossed the river with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and when they reached the other shore, the Mohammedan governor personally received the Lord and worshiped His lotus feet.
TEXT 196
TEXT
eka navina nauka, tara madhye ghara
svagane cadaila prabhu tahara upara
SYNONYMS
eka--one; navina--new; nauka--boat; tara--of which; madhye--in the middle; ghara--a room; sva-gane--with His associates; cadaila--put on board; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tahara upara--on it.
TRANSLATION
One of the boats had been newly constructed, and it had a room in the middle. It was on this boat that they put Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates.
TEXT 197
TEXT
maha-patre mahaprabhu karila vidaya
kandite kandite sei tire rahi' caya
SYNONYMS
maha-patre--unto the maha-patra; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karila vidaya--bade farewell; kandite kandite--crying and crying; sei--that maha-patra; tire--on the bank; rahi' caya--stood and watched.
TRANSLATION
Finally Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bade farewell to the maha-patra. Standing on the river bank and looking at the boat, the maha-patra began to cry.
TEXT 198
TEXT
jala-dasyu-bhaye sei yavana calila
dasa nauka bhari' bahu sainya sange nila
SYNONYMS
jala-dasyu-bhaye--because of fearing pirates; sei--that; yavana--Mohammedan governor; calila--went along; dasa nauka bhari'--filling ten boats; bahu--many; sainya--soldiers; sange--with him; nila--took.
TRANSLATION
The Mohammedan governor then personally accompanied Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because of pirates, the governor took ten boats, which were full with many soldiers.
TEXT 199
TEXT
'mantresvara'-dusta-nade para karaila
'pichalda' paryanta sei yavana aila
SYNONYMS
mantresvara--named Mantresvara; dusta-nade--at a dangerous spot in the river; para karaila--arranged to cross; pichalda paryanta--up to the place named Pichalda; sei--that; yavana--Mohammedan governor; aila--accompanied Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
The Mohammedan governor accompanied Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu past Mantresvara. This place was very dangerous due to pirates. He took the Lord to a place named Pichalda, which was near Mantresvara.
The very wide mouth of the Ganges near present-day Diamond Harbor was called Mantresvara. Through the Ganges, the boat entered the Rupa-narayana River and reached the village of Pichalda. Pichalda and Mantresvara are located very close together. After passing Mantresvara, the Mohammedan governor accompanied the Lord as far as Pichalda.
TEXT 200
TEXT
tanre vidaya dila prabhu sei grama haite
se-kale tanra prema-cesta na pari varnite
SYNONYMS
tanre--unto the governor; vidaya dila--bade farewell; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sei grama haite--from the village known as Pichalda; se-kale--in those days; tanra--his; prema-cesta--activities in ecstatic love; na pari--I am not able; varnite--to describe.
TRANSLATION
Finally Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bade the governor farewell. The intense ecstatic love exhibited by the governor cannot be described.
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bade farewell to the Mohammedan governor at Pichalda. Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami herein states that the governor experienced symptoms of ecstatic love due to being separated from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. These symptoms, he admits, cannot be described.
TEXT 201
TEXT
alaukika lila kare sri-krsna-caitanya
yei iha sune tanra janma, deha dhanya
SYNONYMS
alaukika--uncommon; lila--pastimes; kare--performs; sri-krsna-caitanya--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yei--anyone who; iha--this; sune--hears; tanra--his; janma--birth; deha--body; dhanya--glorified.
TRANSLATION
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes are all uncommon. Whoever listens to His activities becomes glorious, and his life becomes perfect.
TEXT 202
TEXT
sei nauka cadi' prabhu aila 'panihati'
navikere paraila nija-krpa-sati
SYNONYMS
sei nauka cadi'--boarding the same boat; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; aila--reached; panihati--the place named Panihati; navikere--the captain of the boat; paraila--He put on; nija-krpa-sati--His own used cloth as special mercy.
TRANSLATION
The Lord finally reached Panihati, and, as an act of mercy, He gave the captain of the boat one of His personal garments.
TEXT 203
TEXT
'prabhu aila' bali' loke haila kolahala
manusya bharila saba, kiba jala, sthala
SYNONYMS
prabhu aila--the Lord has arrived; bali'--saying; loke--among the residents; haila--there was; kolahala--great broadcasting; manusya--all kinds of men; bharila--filled; saba--all; kiba jala--either on the water; sthala--or on land.
TRANSLATION
The place called Panihati was located on the bank of the Ganges. After hearing that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had arrived, all kinds of men assembled both on land and on the water.
The village of Panihati is situated on the banks of the Ganges near Khadadaha.
TEXT 204
TEXT
raghava-pandita asi' prabhu lana gela
pathe yaite loka-bhide kaste-srstye aila
SYNONYMS
raghava-pandita--Raghava Pandita; asi'--coming; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; lana--taking; gela--went to his place; pathe yaite--passing on the road; loka-bhide--in the crowd of men; kaste-srstye--with great difficulty; aila--reached.
TRANSLATION
At length Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was taken away by Raghava Pandita. There was a great crowd assembled along the way, and the Lord reached Raghava Pandita's residence with great difficulty.
TEXT 205
TEXT
eka-dina prabhu tatha kariya nivasa
prate kumarahatte aila,----yahan srinivasa
SYNONYMS
eka-dina--one day; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tatha--there; kariya nivasa--residing; prate--in the morning; kumarahatte--the town named Kumarahatta; aila--reached; yahan--where; srinivasa--the home of Srinivasa Thakura.
TRANSLATION
The Lord stayed at Raghava Pandita's place for only one day. The next morning, He went to Kumarahatta, where Srivasa Thakura lived.
PURPORT
The present name of Kumarahatta is Halisahara. After Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted sannyasa, Srivasa Thakura-due to separation from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu-left Navadvipa and went to Halisahara to live.
From Kumarahatta, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Kancanapalli (known as Kancadapada), where Sivananda Sena lived. After staying two days at Sivananda's house, the Lord went to the house of Vasudeva Datta. From there He went to the western side of Navadvipa to the village called Vidyanagara. From Vidyanagara He went to Kuliya-grama and stayed at Madhava dasa's house. He stayed there one week and excused the offenses of Devananda and others. Due to Kaviraja Gosvami's mentioning the name of Santipuracarya, some people think that Kuliya is a village near Kancadapada. Due to this mistaken idea, they invented another place known as New Kuliyara Pata. Actually such a place does not exist. Leaving the house of Vasudeva Datta, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to the house of Advaita Acarya. From there He went to the western side of Navadvipa to Vidyanagara and stayed at the house of Vidya-vacaspati. These accounts are given in the Caitanya-bhagavata, Caitanya-mangala, Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka and Caitanya-carita-kavya. Srila Kaviraja Gosvami has not vividly described this entire tour; therefore, on the basis of Caitanya-caritamrta, some unscrupulous people have invented a place called Kuliyara Pata near Kancadapada.
TEXT 206
TEXT
tahan haite age gela sivananda-ghara
vasudeva-grhe pache aila isvara
SYNONYMS
tahan haite--from there; age--ahead; gela--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu proceeded; sivananda-ghara--to the house of Sivananda Sena; vasudeva-grhe--to the house of Vasudeva Datta; pache--after this; aila--came; isvara--the Lord.
TRANSLATION
From the house of Srivasa Thakura, the Lord went to the house of Sivananda Sena and then to the house of Vasudeva Datta.
TEXT 207
TEXT
'vacaspati-grhe' prabhu yemate rahila
loka-bhida bhaye yaiche 'kuliya' aila
SYNONYMS
vacaspati-grhe--at the house of Vidya-vacaspati; prabhu--the Lord; yemate--as; rahila--stayed there for some time; loka-bhida bhaye--due to fear of crowds of people; yaiche--just as; kuliya aila--He came to Kuliya, the present city of Navadvipa.
TRANSLATION
The Lord remained some time at the house of Vidya-vacaspati, but then, because it was too crowded, He went to Kuliya.
PURPORT
The house of Vidya-vacaspati was located at Vidyanagara, which was near Koladvipa, or Kuliya. It was here that Devananda Pandita was residing. This information is found in Caitanya-bhagavata (Madhya-lila, Chapter Twenty-one). In Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka, the following statement is given about Kuliya. Tatah kumarahatte srivasa-pandita-vatyam abhyayayau: "From there the Lord went to the house of Srivasa Pandita in Kumarahatta." Tato 'dvaita-vatim abhyetya haridasenabhivanditas tathaiva tarani-vartmana navadvipasya pare kuliya-nama-grame madhava-dasa-vatyam uttirnavan. evam sapta-dinani tatra sthitva punas tata-vartmana eva calitavan: "From the house of Srivasa Acarya, the Lord went to the house of Advaita Acarya, where He was offered obeisances by Haridasa Thakura. The Lord then took a boat to the other side of Navadvipa to a place called Kuliya, where He stayed seven days at the house of Madhava dasa. He then proceeded along the banks of the Ganges."
In the Sri Caitanya-carita-maha-kavya, it is stated, anyedyuh sa sri-navadvipa-bhumeh pare gangam pascime kvapi dese, sriman sarva-praninam tat-tad-angair netranandam samyag agatya tene: "The Lord went to the eastern side of the Ganges at Navadvipa, and everyone was pleased to see the Lord coming."
In the Caitanya-bhagavata (Antya-khanda, Chapter Three), it is stated, sarva-parisada-sange sri-gaurasundara. acambite asi' uttarila tanra ghara: "The Lord suddenly came to Vidyanagara with a full party and stayed there in the house of Vidya-vacaspati," Navadvipadi sarva-dike haila dhvani: "Thus throughout Navadvipa, the Lord's arrival was made known." Vacaspati-ghare aila nyasi-cudamani: "Thus the chief of all the sannyasis, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, arrived at the house of Vidya-vacaspati." As further stated:
ananta arbuda loka bali' 'hari' 'hari'
calilena dekhibare gauranga sri-hari
patha nahi paya keho lokera gahale
vanadala bhangi' loka dasa-dike cale
lokera gahale yata aranya achila
ksaneke sakala divya pathamaya haila
ksaneke aila saba loka kheya-ghate
kheyari karite para padila sankate
satvare asila vacaspati mahasaya
karilena aneka naukara samuccaya
naukara apeksa ara keho nahi kare
nana mate para haya ye yemate pare
hena-mate ganga para ha-i' sarva-jana
sabhei dharena vacaspatira carana
lukana gela prabhu kuliya-nagara
kuliyaya ailena vaikuntha-isvara
sarva-loka'hari' bali' vacaspati-sange
sei-ksane sabhe calilena maha-range
kuliya-nagare ailena nyasi-mani
sei-ksane sarva-dike haila maha-dhvani
sabe ganga madhye nadiyaya-kuliyaya
suni' matra sarva-loke mahanande dhaya
vacaspatira grame (vidyanagare) chila yateka gahala
tara koti koti-gune purila sakala
laksa laksa nauka va aila kotha haite
na jani kateka para haya kata-mate
laksa laksa loka bhase jahnavira jale
sabhe para hayena parama kutuhale
gangaya hana para apana-apani
kolakoli kari' sabhe kare hari-dhvani
ksaneke kuliya-grama----nagara prantara
paripurna haila sthala, nahi avasara
ksaneke aila mahasaya vacaspati
tenho nahi payena prabhura kotha sthiti
kuliyaya prakase yateka papi chila
uttama, madhyama, nica,----sabe para haila
kuliya-gramete asi' sri-krsna-caitanya
hena nahi, yare prabhu na karila dhanya
"When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at Vidya-vacaspati's house, many hundreds and thousands of people went to see Him and chant the holy name of Hari. It was so crowded that people could not even find a place to walk; therefore they made room by clearing out the jungles near the village. Many roads were automatically excavated, and many people also came by boat to see the Lord. So many came that it was difficult for the boatmen to get them across the river. When Vidya-vacaspati suddenly arrived, he made arrangements for many boats to receive these people, but the people would not wait for the boats. Somehow or other they crossed the river and hurried toward the house of Vidya-vacaspati. Due to this great crowd, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu secretly went to Kuliya-nagara. After the Lord left Vidyanagara, however, all the people heard news of His leaving. They then accompanied Vacaspati to Kuliya-nagara. Since the news of the Lord's arrival was immediately broadcast, large crowds arrived and greeted Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with great jubilation. Indeed, when the crowd went to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, it increased ten thousand times in number. No one could say how many people crossed the river to see Him, but many hundreds of thousands made a great tumult when crossing the River Ganges. After crossing the river, everyone began to embrace one another because they heard the good news of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's arrival. Thus all the inhabitants of Kuliya, the sinful, intermediate, and spiritually advanced, were delivered and glorified by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu."
As stated in Caitanya-bhagavata (Antya-khanda, Chapter Six):
khanayoda, badagachi, ara dogachiya
gangara opara kabhu yayena 'kuliya'
As stated in Caitanya-mangala:
ganga-snana kari prabhu radha-desa diya
krame krame uttarila nagara 'kuliya'
mayera vacane punah gela navadvipa
varakona-ghata, nija vadira samipa
In the commentary of Premadasa it is said:
nadiyara majhakhane, sakala lokete
jane, 'kuliya-pahadapura' name sthana.
Sri Narahari Cakravarti, or Ghanasyama dasa, has written in his Bhakti-ratnakara:
kuliya pahadapura dekha srinivasa
purve 'koladvipa'-parvatakhya----e pracara
In a book named Navadvipa-parikrama, also written by Ghanasyama dasa, it is stated: kuliya-pahadapura grama purve koladvipa-parvatakhyananda nama. Therefore one can conclude that the present-day city of Navadvipa and the places known as Bahirdvipa, Kolera Ganja, Kola-amada, Kolera Daha, Gadakhali, etc. were known as Kuliya, but the so-called Kuliyara Pata is not the original Kuliya.
TEXT 208
TEXT
madhava-dasa-grhe tatha sacira nandana
laksa-koti loka tatha paila darasana
SYNONYMS
madhava-dasa-grhe--at the house of Madhava dasa; tatha--there; sacira nandana--the son of mother Saci; laksa-koti loka--many hundreds and thousands of people; tatha--there; paila darasana--got His audience.
TRANSLATION
When the Lord stayed at the house of Madhava dasa, many hundreds and thousands of people came to see Him.
PURPORT
Madhava dasa is identified as follows. In the family of Srikara Cattopadhyaya, Yudhisthira Cattopadhyaya took his birth. Formerly, he and his family members lived in Bilvagrama and Patuli. From there he went to Kuliya Pahadapura, formerly known as Padapura. The eldest son of Yudhisthira Cattopadhyaya is known as Madhava dasa, the second son was called Haridasa, and the youngest son was called Krsnasampatti Cattopadhyaya. The three brothers' nicknames were Chakadi, Tinakadi and Dukadi. The grandson of Madhava dasa was named Vamsivadana, and his grandson Ramacandra and their descendants are still living at Vaghnapada, or Vainci.
TEXT 209
TEXT
sata dina rahi' tatha loka nistarila
saba aparadhi-gane prakare tarila
SYNONYMS
sata dina--seven days; rahi'--staying; tatha--there; loka--the people; nistarila--He liberated; saba--all; aparadhi-gane--the offenders; prakare--in some fashion; tarila--delivered.
TRANSLATION
The Lord stayed there for seven days and delivered all kinds of offenders and sinners.
TEXT 210
TEXT
'santipuracarya'-grhe aiche aila
saci-mata mili' tanra duhkha khandaila
SYNONYMS
santipura-acarya--of Advaita Acarya; grhe--to the house; aiche--similarly; aila--went; saci-mata--mother Saci; mili'--meeting; tanra--her; duhkha--unhappiness; khandaila--pacified.
TRANSLATION
After leaving Kuliya, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited the house of Advaita Acarya at Santipura. It was there that the Lord's mother, Sacimata, met Him and was thus relieved of her great unhappiness.
TEXT 211
TEXT
tabe 'ramakeli'-grame prabhu yaiche gela
'natasala' haite prabhu punah phiri' aila
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; ramakeli-grame--in the village known as Ramakeli; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yaiche--similarly; gela--went; natasala--the place known as Kanai Natasala; haite--from; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; punah--again; phiri' aila--returned.
TRANSLATION
The Lord then visited the village known as Ramakeli and the place known as Kanai Natasala. From there He returned to Santipura.
TEXT 212
TEXT
santipure punah kaila dasa-dina vasa
vistari' varniyachena vrndavana-dasa
SYNONYMS
santipure--at Santipura; punah--again; kaila--made; dasa-dina--for ten days; vasa--residence; vistari'--elaborating; varniyachena--has described; vrndavana-dasa--Vrndavana dasa Thakura.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed in Santipura for ten days. This has all been described very elaborately by Vrndavana dasa Thakura.
TEXT 213
TEXT
ataeva ihan tara na kailun vistara
punarukti haya, grantha badaye apara
SYNONYMS
ataeva--therefore; ihan--here; tara--of that incident; na kailun--I did not give; vistara--elaboration; punarukti--repetition; haya--it is; grantha--the book; badaye--increases; apara--unlimitedly.
TRANSLATION
I will not narrate these incidents because they have already been described by Vrndavana dasa Thakura. There is no need to repeat the same information, for such repetition would unlimitedly increase the size of this book.
TEXTS 214-215
TEXT
tara madhye milila yaiche rupa-sanatana
nrsimhananda kaila yaiche pathera sajana
sutra-madhye sei lila ami ta' varnilun
ataeva punah taha ihan na likhilun
SYNONYMS
tara madhye--within that; milila--He met; yaiche--how; rupa-sanatana--the two brothers Rupa and Sanatana; nrsimhananda--Nrsimhananda; kaila--did; yaiche--how; pathera sajana--decoration of the road; sutra-madhye--in the synopsis; sei lila--those pastimes; ami--I; ta'--indeed; varnilun--have described; ataeva--therefore; punah--again; taha--that; ihan--here; na likhilun--I have not written.
TRANSLATION
Those narrations tell how Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu met the brothers Rupa and Sanatana and how Nrsimhananda decorated the road. I have already described these in an earlier synopsis of this book; therefore I will not repeat the narrations here.
PURPORT
This information is given in Adi-lila (Chapter Ten, verse 35) and Madhya-lila (Chapter One, verses 155--162 and 175--226).
TEXT 216
TEXT
punarapi prabhu yadi 'santipura' aila
raghunatha-dasa asi' prabhure milila
SYNONYMS
punarapi--again; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yadi--when; santipura aila--came to Santipura; raghunatha-dasa--Raghunatha dasa; asi'--coming; prabhure milila--met Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to Santipura, Raghunatha dasa came to meet Him.
TEXT 217
TEXT
'hiranya', 'govardhana',----dui sahodara
saptagrame bara-laksa mudrara isvara
SYNONYMS
hiranya--Hiranya; govardhana--Govardhana; dui sahodara--two brothers; saptagrame--in the village named Saptagrama; bara-laksa--1,200,000; mudrara--of coins; isvara--the masters.
TRANSLATION
Two brothers named Hiranya and Govardhana, who were residents of Saptagrama, had an income of 1,200,000 rupees.
PURPORT
Hiranya and Govardhana were inhabitants of Saptagrama in the district of Hugali. Actually they were inhabitants not of Saptagrama, but a nearby village named Krsnapura. They took their birth in a big kayastha family, and although their family title has not been ascertained, it is known that they came from an aristocratic family. The elder brother's name was Hiranya Majumadara, and the younger brother's name was Govardhana Majumadara. Sri Raghunatha dasa was the son of Govardhana Majumadara. Their family priest was Balarama Acarya, who was a favorite of Haridasa Thakura's, and the family's spiritual master was Yadunandana Acarya, a favorite of Vasudeva Datta's.
The village of Saptagrama is located on the eastern railway from Calcutta to Burdwan, and presently the railway station is called Trisabigha. In those days there was a large river there known as the Sarasvati, and present-day Trisabigha is a great port. In 1592, the Pathanas invaded, and due to a flooding of the Sarasvati River in the year 1632, this great port was partially destroyed. It is said that in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries, Portuguese businessmen used to come aboard their ships. In those days, Saptagrama, situated on the southern side of Bengal, was very rich and popular. The merchants, who were the principal residents, were called Saptagrama suvarna-vanik. There were very many rich people there, and Hiranya Majumadara and Govardhana Majumadara belonged to the kayastha community. They also were very rich, so much so that it is mentioned in this verse that their annual income as landlords amounted to 1,200,000 rupees. In this connection, one may refer to Adi-lila (Chapter Eleven, verse 41), which describes Uddharana Datta, who also belonged to the Saptagrami suvarna-vanik community.
TEXT 218
TEXT
mahaisvarya-yukta dunhe----vadanya, brahmanya
sadacari, satkulina, dharmikagra-ganya
SYNONYMS
maha-aisvarya-yukta--very opulent in riches; dunhe--both the brothers; vadanya--very magnanimous; brahmanya--devoted to brahminical culture; sat-acari--well-behaved; sat-kulina--aristocratic; dharmika-agra-ganya--on the top of the list of religious persons.
TRANSLATION
Both Hiranya Majumadara and Govardhana Majumadara were very opulent and magnanimous. They were well-behaved and devoted to brahminical culture. They belonged to an aristocratic family, and among religionists they were predominant.
TEXT 219
TEXT
nadiya-vasi, brahmanera upajivya-praya
artha, bhumi, grama diya karena sahaya
SYNONYMS
nadiya-vasi--inhabitants of Nadia; brahmanera--of all brahmanas; upajivya-praya--almost the entire source of income; artha--money; bhumi--land; grama--villages; diya--giving as charity; karena sahaya--give help.
TRANSLATION
Practically all the brahmanas residing in Nadia were dependent on the charity of Hiranya and Govardhana, who gave them money, land and villages.
PURPORT
Although Navadvipa was very opulent and populous during Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's time, practically all the brahmanas depended on the charity of Hiranya and Govardhana. Because the brothers highly respected the brahmanas, they very liberally gave them money.
TEXT 220
TEXT
nilambara cakravarti----aradhya dunhara
cakravarti kare dunhaya 'bhratr'-vyavahara
SYNONYMS
nilambara cakravarti--the grandfather of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; aradhya dunhara--very worshipable for these two; cakravarti--Nilambara Cakravarti; kare--does; dunhaya--to the two of them; bhratr-vyavahara--treating as brothers.
TRANSLATION
Nilambara Cakravarti, the grandfather of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, was much worshiped by the two brothers, but Nilambara Cakravarti used to treat them as his own brothers.
TEXT 221
TEXT
misra-purandarera purve karyachena sevane
ataeva prabhu bhala jane dui-jane
SYNONYMS
misra-purandarera--to Purandara Misra, the father of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; purve--previously; karyachena sevane--had rendered service; ataeva--therefore; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhala--very well; jane--knew; dui-jane--the two brothers.
TRANSLATION
Formerly, these two brothers rendered much service to Misra Purandara, the father of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because of this, the Lord knew them very well.
TEXT 222
TEXT
sei govardhanera putra----raghunatha dasa
balya-kala haite tenho visaye udasa
SYNONYMS
sei--that; govardhanera putra--son of Govardhana Majumadara; raghunatha dasa--Raghunatha dasa; balya-kala haite--from his very childhood; tenho--he; visaye udasa--indifferent to material happiness.
TRANSLATION
Raghunatha dasa was the son of Govardhana Majumadara. From childhood, he was uninterested in material enjoyment.
TEXT 223
TEXT
sannyasa kari' prabhu yabe santipura aila
tabe asi' raghunatha prabhure milila
SYNONYMS
sannyasa kari'--after accepting the sannyasa order; prabhu--the Lord; yabe--when; santipura aila--went to Santipura; tabe--at that time; asi'--coming; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; milila--met.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to Santipura after accepting the renounced order, Raghunatha dasa met Him.
TEXT 224
TEXT
prabhura carane pade premavista hana
prabhu pada-sparsa kaila karuna kariya
SYNONYMS
prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carane--at the lotus feet; pade--fell down; prema-avista--absorbed in ecstatic love; hana--becoming; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; pada-sparsa kaila--touched with His feet; karuna--mercy; kariya--showing.
TRANSLATION
When Raghunatha dasa went to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he fell at the Lord's lotus feet in ecstatic love. Showing him mercy, the Lord touched him with His feet.
TEXT 225
TEXT
tanra pita sada kare acarya-sevana
ataeva acarya tanre haila parasanna
SYNONYMS
tanra pita--his father; sada--always; kare--performs; acarya-sevana--worship of Advaita Acarya; ataeva acarya--therefore Advaita Acarya; tanre--upon him; haila parasanna--became pleased.
TRANSLATION
Raghunatha dasa's father, Govardhana, always rendered much service to Advaita Acarya. Consequently Advaita Acarya was very pleased with the family.
TEXT 226
TEXT
acarya-prasade paila prabhura ucchista-pata
prabhura carana dekhe dina panca-sata
SYNONYMS
acarya-prasade--by the mercy of Advaita Acarya; paila--got; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ucchista-pata--remnants of food; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carana--lotus feet; dekhe--sees; dina--days; panca-sata--five to seven.
TRANSLATION
When Raghunatha dasa was there, Advaita Acarya favored him by giving him the food remnants left by the Lord. Raghunatha dasa was thus engaged for five or seven days by rendering service to the Lord's lotus feet.
TEXT 227
TEXT
prabhu tanre vidaya diya gela nilacala
tenho ghare asi' haila premete pagala
SYNONYMS
prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--unto Raghunatha dasa; vidaya diya--bidding farewell; gela--went back; nilacala--to Jagannatha Puri; tenho--he; ghare asi'--returning home; haila--became; premete pagala--mad in ecstatic love.
TRANSLATION
After bidding farewell to Raghunatha dasa, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to Jagannatha Puri. After returning home, Raghunatha dasa became mad with ecstatic love.
TEXT 228
TEXT
bara bara palaya tenho niladri yaite
pita tanre bandhi' rakhe ani' patha haite
SYNONYMS
bara bara--again and again; palaya--leaves home; tenho--he; niladri yaite--to go to Jagannatha Puri; pita--his father; tanre--him; bandhi'--binding; rakhe--keeps; ani'--bringing back; patha haite--from the road.
TRANSLATION
Raghunatha dasa used to run away from home again and again to go to Jagannatha Puri, but his father kept binding him and bringing him back.
TEXT 229
TEXT
panca paika tanre rakhe ratri-dine
cari sevaka, dui brahmana rahe tanra sane
SYNONYMS
panca--five; paika--watchmen; tanre--him (Raghunatha dasa); rakhe--keep; ratri-dine--day and night; cari sevaka--four personal servants; dui brahmana--two brahmanas to cook; rahe--remain; tanra sane--with him.
TRANSLATION
His father even had five watchmen guard him day and night. Four personal servants were employed to look after his comfort, and two brahmanas were employed to cook for him.
TEXT 230
TEXT
ekadasa jana tanre rakhe nirantara
nilacale yaite na paya, duhkhita antara
SYNONYMS
ekadasa--eleven; jana--persons; tanre--him; rakhe--keep; nirantara--day and night; nilacale--to Jagannatha Puri; yaite--to go; na paya--was not able; duhkhita antara--very unhappy within the mind.
TRANSLATION
In this way, eleven people were incessantly keeping Raghunatha dasa under control. Thus he could not go to Jagannatha Puri, and because of this he was very unhappy.
TEXT 231
TEXT
ebe yadi mahaprabhu 'santipura' aila
suniya pitare raghunatha nivedila
SYNONYMS
ebe--now; yadi--when; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; santipura--to Santipura; aila--came; suniya--hearing; pitare--unto his father; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; nivedila--submitted.
TRANSLATION
When Raghunatha dasa learned that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had arrived at Santipura, he submitted a request to his father.
TEXT 232
TEXT
"ajna deha', yana dekhi prabhura carana
anyatha, na rahe mora sarire jivana"
SYNONYMS
ajna deha'--kindly give me permission; yana--going; dekhi--I may see; prabhura carana--the lotus feet of the Lord; anyatha--otherwise; na rahe--will not remain; mora--my; sarire--within the body; jivana--life.
TRANSLATION
Raghunatha dasa asked his father, "Please give me permission to go see the lotus feet of the Lord. If you do not, my life will not remain within this body."
TEXT 233
TEXT
suni' tanra pita bahu loka-dravya diya
pathaila bali' 'sighra asiha phiriya'
SYNONYMS
suni'--hearing; tanra--his; pita--father; bahu--many; loka-dravya--servants and materials; diya--giving; pathaila--sent; bali'--saying; sighra--very soon; asiha--come; phiriya--returning.
TRANSLATION
Hearing this request, Raghunatha dasa's father agreed. Giving him many servants and materials, the father sent him to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, requesting him to return soon.
TEXT 234
TEXT
sata dina santipure prabhu-sange rahe
ratri-divase ei manah-katha kahe
SYNONYMS
sata dina--for seven days; santipure--at Santipura; prabhu-sange--in the association of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; rahe--stayed; ratri-divase--both day and night; ei--these; manah-katha--words in his mind; kahe--says.
TRANSLATION
For seven days Raghunatha dasa associated with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Santipura. During those days and nights, he had the following thoughts.
TEXT 235
TEXT
'raksakera hate muni kemane chutiba!
kemane prabhura sange nilacale yaba?'
SYNONYMS
raksakera hate--from the clutches of the watchmen; muni--I; kemane--how; chutiba--shall get release; kemane--how; prabhura sange--with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nilacale--to Jagannatha Puri; yaba--I shall go.
TRANSLATION
Raghunatha dasa thought, "How shall I be able to get free from the hands of the watchmen? How shall I be able to go with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to Nilacala?"
TEXT 236
TEXT
sarvajna gauranga-prabhu jani' tanra mana
siksa-rupe kahe tanre asvasa-vacana
SYNONYMS
sarva-jna--omniscient; gauranga-prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jani'--knowing; tanra--his; mana--mind; siksa-rupe--as an instruction; kahe--says; tanre--unto Raghunatha dasa; asvasa-vacana--words of assurance.
TRANSLATION
Since Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was omniscient, He could understand Raghunatha dasa's mind. The Lord therefore instructed him with the following reassuring words.
TEXT 237
TEXT
"sthira hana ghare yao, na hao vatula
krame krame paya loka bhava-sindhu-kula
SYNONYMS
sthira hana--being patient; ghare yao--go back home; na--do not; hao--become; vatula--crazy; krame krame--gradually; paya--gets; loka--a person; bhava-sindhu-kula--the far shore of the ocean of material existence.
TRANSLATION
"Be patient and return home. Don't be a crazy fellow. By and by you will be able to cross the ocean of material existence.
PURPORT
As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.58):
samasrita ye pada-pallava-plavam
mahat-padam punya-yaso-murareh
bhavambudhir vatsa-padam param padam
padam padam yad vipadam na tesam
This material world is just like a big ocean. It begins with Brahmaloka and extends to Patalaloka, and there are many planets, or islands, in this ocean. Not knowing about devotional service, the living entity wanders about this ocean, just as a man tries to swim to reach the shore. Our struggle for existence is similar to this. Everyone is trying to get out of the ocean of material existence. One cannot immediately reach the coast, but if one endeavors, he can cross the ocean by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy. One may be very eager to cross this ocean, but he cannot attain success by acting like a madman. He must swim over the ocean very patiently and intelligently under the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu or His representative. Then, one day, he will reach the shore and return home, back to Godhead.
TEXT 238
TEXT
markata-vairagya na kara loka dekhana
yatha-yogya visaya bhunja' anasakta hana
SYNONYMS
markata-vairagya--monkey renunciation; na kara--do not do; loka--to the people; dekhana--showing off; yatha-yogya--as it is befitting; visaya--material things; bhunja'--enjoy; anasakta--without attachment; hana--being.
TRANSLATION
"You should not make yourself a showbottle devotee and become a false renunciant. For the time being, enjoy the material world in a befitting way and do not become attached to it."
PURPORT
The word markata-vairagya, indicating false renunciation, is very important in this verse. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, in commenting on this word, points out that monkeys make an external show of renunciation by not accepting clothing and by living naked in the forest. In this way they consider themselves renunciants, but actually they are very busy enjoying sense gratification with dozens of female monkeys. Such renunciation is called markata-vairagye-the renunciation of a monkey. One cannot be really renounced until one actually becomes disgusted with material activity and sees it as a stumbling block to spiritual advancement. Renunciation should not be phalgu, temporary, but should exist throughout one's life. Temporary renunciation, or monkey renunciation, is like the renunciation one feels at a cremation ground. When a man takes a dead body to the crematorium, he sometimes thinks, "This is the final end of the body. Why am I working so hard day and night?" Such sentiments naturally arise in the mind of any man who goes to a crematorial ghata. However, as soon as he returns from the cremation grounds, he again engages in material activity for sense enjoyment. This is called smasana-vairagya, or markata-vairagya.
In order to render service to the Lord, one may accept necessary things. If one lives in this way, he may actually become renounced. In the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.108), it is said:
yavata syat sva-nirvahah
svikuryat tavad arthavit
adhikye nyunatayam ca
cyavate paramarthatah
"The bare necessities of life must be accepted, but one should not superfluously increase his necessities. Nor should they be unnecessarily decreased. One should simply accept what is necessary to help one advance spiritually."
In his Durgama-sangamani, Sri Jiva Gosvami comments that the word sva-nirvahah actually means sva-sva-bhakti-nirvahah. The experienced devotee will accept only those material things that will help him render service to the Lord. In the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.256), markata-vairagya, or phalgu-vairagya, is explained as follows:
prapancikataya buddhya
hari-sambandhi-vastunah
mumuksubhih parityago
vairagyam phalgu kathyate
"Whatever is favorable for the rendering of service to the Lord should be accepted and should not be rejected as a material thing." Yukta-vairagya, or befitting renunciation, is thus explained:
anasaktasya visayan
yatharham upayunjatah
nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe
yuktam vairagyam ucyate
"Things should be accepted for the Lord's service and not for one's personal sense gratification. If one accepts something without attachment and accepts it because it is related to Krsna, one's renunciation is called yukta-vairagya." Since Krsna is the Absolute Truth, whatever is accepted for His service is also the Absolute Truth.
The word markata-vairagya is used by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to indicate so-called Vaisnavas who dress themselves in loincloths trying to imitate Srila Rupa Gosvami. Such people carry a beadbag and chant, but at heart they are always thinking about getting women and money. Unknown to others, these markata-vairagis maintain women but externally present themselves as renunciants. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very much opposed to these markata-vairagis, or pseudo-Vaisnavas.
TEXT 239
TEXT
antare nistha kara, bahye loka-vyavahara
acirat krsna tomaya karibe uddhara
SYNONYMS
antare--within the heart; nistha kara--keep strong faith; bahye--externally; loka-vyavahara--behavior like ordinary men; acirat--very soon; krsna--Lord Krsna; tomaya--unto you; karibe--will do; uddhara--liberation
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued: "Within your heart, you should keep yourself very faithful, but externally you may behave like an ordinary man. Thus Krsna will soon be very pleased and deliver you from the clutches of maya.
TEXT 240
TEXT
vrndavana dekhi' yabe asiba nilacale
tabe tumi ama-pasa asiha kona chale
SYNONYMS
vrndavana dekhi'--after visiting Vrndavana; yabe--when; asiba--I shall come back; nilacale--to Jagannatha Puri; tabe--at that time; tumi--you; ama-pasa--to Me; asiha--please come; kona chale--by some pretext.
TRANSLATION
"You may see me at Nilacala, Jagannatha Puri, when I return after visiting Vrndavana. By that time you can think of some trick to escape.
TEXT 241
TEXT
se chala se-kale krsna sphurabe tomare
krsna-krpa yanre, tare ke rakhite pare"
SYNONYMS
se chala--that trick; se-kale--at that time; krsna--Lord Krsna; sphurabe--will show; tomare--unto you; krsna-krpa--the mercy of Krsna; yanre--upon whom; tare--him; ke--who; rakhite--to keep; pare--is able.
TRANSLATION
"What kind of means you will have to use at that time will be revealed by Krsna. If one has Krsna's mercy, no one can check him."
PURPORT
Although Srila Raghunatha dasa was very anxious to join Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord advised him to wait for the mercy of Lord Krsna. He recommended that Raghunatha dasa keep his Krsna consciousness firmly fixed in his heart while externally behaving like an ordinary man. This is a trick for everyone advanced in Krsna consciousness. One can live in society like an ordinary human being, but at the same time one's own business should be to satisfy Krsna and spread His glories. A Krsna conscious person should not be absorbed in material things, for his only business is the devotional service of the Lord. If one is engaged in this way, Krsna will certainly bestow His mercy. As Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised Raghunatha dasa: yatha-yogya visaya bhunja' anasakta hana. The same is repeated: antare nistha kara, bahye loka-vyavahara. This means that one must have no other desire within his heart than to serve Krsna. On the basis of such a conviction, one can cultivate Krsna consciousness. This is confirmed in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.200):
laukiki vaidiki vapi
ya kriya kriyate mune
hari-sevanukulaiva
sa karya bhaktim icchata
A devotee may act as an ordinary human being or as a strict follower of Vedic injunctions. In either case, everything he does is favorable for the advancement of devotional service because he is in Krsna consciousness.
TEXT 242
TEXT
eta kahi' mahaprabhu tanre vidaya dila
ghare asi' mahaprabhura siksa acarila
SYNONYMS
eta kahi'--saying this; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--unto Raghunatha dasa; vidaya dila--bade farewell; ghare asi'--returning home; mahaprabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; siksa--the instruction; acarila--practiced.
TRANSLATION
In this way, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bade farewell to Raghunatha dasa, who returned home and did exactly what the Lord told him.
TEXT 243
TEXT
bahya vairagya, vatulata sakala chadiya
yatha-yogya karya kare anasakta hana
SYNONYMS
bahya vairagya--external renunciation; vatulata--craziness; sakala--all; chadiya--giving up; yatha-yogya--as it is befitting; karya--duties; kare--performs; anasakta hana--being without attachment.
TRANSLATION
After returning home, Raghunatha dasa gave up all craziness and external pseudo renunciation and engaged in his household duties without attachment.
TEXT 244
TEXT
dekhi' tanra pita-mata bada sukha paila
tanhara avarana kichu sithila ha-ila
SYNONYMS
dekhi'--seeing; tanra--his; pita-mata--father and mother; bada--very much; sukha--happiness; paila--got; tanhara avarana--strong vigilance upon him; kichu--something; sithila ha-ila--became slackened.
TRANSLATION
When Raghunatha dasa's father and mother saw that their son was acting like a householder, they became very happy. Because of this, they slackened their guard.
PURPORT
When Raghunatha dasa's father and mother saw that their son was no longer acting like a crazy fellow and was responsibly attending to his duties, they became very happy. The eleven people-five watchmen, four personal servants and two brahmanas-who were guarding him became less strict in their vigilance. When Raghunatha dasa actually took up his household affairs, his parents reduced the number of guards.
TEXTS 245-246
TEXT
ihan prabhu ekatra kari' saba bhakta-gana
advaita-nityanandadi yata bhakta-jana
saba alingana kari' kahena gosani
sabe ajna deha'----ami nilacale yai
SYNONYMS
ihan--here (at Santipura); prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ekatra kari'--assembling in one place; saba bhakta-gana--all the devotees; advaita-nityananda-adi--headed by Advaita Acarya and Nityananda Prabhu; yata bhakta-jana--all the devotees; saba alingana kari'--embracing every one of them; kahena gosani--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; sabe--all of you; ajna deha'--just give Me permission; ami--I; nilacale--to Nilacala, Jagannatha Puri; yai--may go.
TRANSLATION
Meanwhile, at Santipura, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu assembled all His devotees-headed by Advaita Acarya and Nityananda Prabhu-embraced them all and asked their permission to return to Jagannatha Puri.
TEXT 247
TEXT
sabara sahita ihan amara ha-ila milana
e varsa 'niladri' keha na kariha gamana
SYNONYMS
sabara sahita--with everyone; ihan--here; amara--of Me; ha-ila--there was; milana--meeting; e varsa--this year; niladri--to Jagannatha Puri; keha--any of you; na--not; kariha gamana--go.
TRANSLATION
Because He had met them all at Santipura, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu requested all the devotees not to go to Jagannatha Puri that year.
TEXT 248
TEXT
tahan haite avasya ami 'vrndavana' yaba
sabe ajna deha', tabe nirvighne asiba
SYNONYMS
tahan haite--from there; avasya--certainly; ami--I; vrndavana yaba--shall go to Vrndavana; sabe--all of you; ajna deha'--give Me permission; tabe--then; nirvighne--without disturbance; asiba--I shall come back.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "I shall certainly go to Vrndavana from Jagannatha Puri. If all of you give Me permission, I shall return here again without difficulty."
TEXT 249
TEXT
matara carane dhari' bahu vinaya karila
vrndavana yaite tanra ajna la-ila
SYNONYMS
matara--of Sacimata; carane--the feet; dhari'--catching; bahu vinaya karila--submitted most humbly; vrndavana yaite--to go to Vrndavana; tanra--her; ajna--permission; la-ila--took.
TRANSLATION
Clasping the feet of His mother, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu very humbly requested her permission. Thus she gave Him leave to go to Vrndavana.
TEXT 250
TEXT
tabe navadvipe tanre dila pathana
niladri calila sange bhakta-gana lana
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; navadvipe--to Navadvipa; tanre--her; dila pathana--sent back; niladri--to Jagannatha Puri; calila--departed; sange--with Him; bhakta-gana lana--taking all the devotees.
TRANSLATION
Srimati Sacidevi was sent back to Navadvipa, and the Lord and His devotees started for Jagannatha Puri, Niladri.
TEXT 251
TEXT
sei saba loka pathe karena sevana
sukhe nilacala aila sacira nandana
SYNONYMS
sei saba loka--all those persons; pathe--on the road; karena sevana--rendered all service; sukhe--in great happiness; nilacala--to Jagannatha Puri; aila--came back; sacira nandana--the son of mother Saci.
TRANSLATION
The devotees who accompanied Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu rendered all kinds of service on the way to Nilacala, Jagannatha Puri. Thus in great happiness the Lord returned.
TEXT 252
TEXT
prabhu asi' jagannatha darasana kaila
'mahaprabhu aila'----grame kolahala haila
SYNONYMS
prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; asi'--returning; jagannatha--to Lord Jagannatha; darasana--visit; kaila--made; mahaprabhu aila--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has come back; grame--in the town; kolahala haila--there was great agitation.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived in Jagannatha Puri, He visited the temple of the Lord. News then spread all over the city that He had returned.
TEXT 253
TEXT
anandita bhakta-gana asiya milila
prema-alingana prabhu sabare karila
SYNONYMS
anandita--very pleased; bhakta-gana--all the devotees; asiya--came; milila--met; prema-alingana--embracing in love; prabhu--the Lord; sabare--to all devotees; karila--offered.
TRANSLATION
All the devotees then came and met the Lord with great happiness. The Lord also embraced each of them in great ecstatic love.
TEXT 254
TEXT
kasi-misra, ramananda, pradyumna, sarvabhauma
vaninatha, sikhi-adi yata bhakta-gana
SYNONYMS
kasi-misra--Kasi Misra; ramananda--Ramananda; pradyumna--Pradyumna; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma; vaninatha--Vaninatha; sikhi-adi--Sikhi Mahiti and others; yata bhakta-gana--all the devotees.
TRANSLATION
Kasi Misra, Ramananda Raya, Pradyumna, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Vaninatha Raya, Sikhi Mahiti and all the other devotees met Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 255
TEXT
gadadhara-pandita asi' prabhure milila
sabara agrete prabhu kahite lagila
SYNONYMS
gadadhara-pandita--Gadadhara Pandita; asi'--coming; prabhure milila--met the Lord; sabara agrete--in front of all the devotees; prabhu--the Lord; kahite lagila--began to say.
TRANSLATION
Gadadhara Pandita also came and met the Lord. Then, before all the devotees, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to speak as follows.
TEXT 256
TEXT
'vrndavana yaba ami gauda-desa diya
nija-matara, gangara carana dekhiya
SYNONYMS
vrndavana yaba--shall go to Vrndavana; ami--I; gauda-desa diya--through Bengal; nija-matara--of My own mother; gangara--of the River Ganges; carana--the feet; dekhiya--seeing.
TRANSLATION
"It was My decision to go to Vrndavana through Bengal in order to see My mother and the River Ganges.
TEXT 257
TEXT
eta mate kari' kailun gaudere gamana
sahasreka sange haila nija-bhakta-gana
SYNONYMS
eta--such; mate--decision; kari'--making; kailun--I did; gaudere--to Bengal; gamana--going; sahasreka--thousands of men; sange--with Me; haila--there were; nija-bhakta-gana--My own devotees.
TRANSLATION
"Thus I went to Bengal, but thousands of devotees began to follow Me.
TEXT 258
TEXT
laksa laksa loka aise kautuka dekhite
lokera sanghatte patha na pari calite
SYNONYMS
laksa laksa loka--many thousands of people; aise--came; kautuka--out of curiosity; dekhite--to see; lokera sanghatte--by the assembly of so many men; patha--the road; na pari--I was not able; calite--to pass through.
TRANSLATION
"Many hundreds and thousands of people came to see Me out of curiosity, and due to such a large crowd I could not travel very freely on the road.
TEXT 259
TEXT
yatha rahi, tatha ghara-pracira haya curna
yatha netra pade tatha loka dekhi purna
SYNONYMS
yatha rahi--wherever I stayed; tatha--there; ghara-pracira--the building and the boundary walls; haya--became; curna--broken; yatha--wherever; netra--the eyes; pade--fell; tatha--there; loka--people; dekhi--I see; purna--filled.
TRANSLATION
"Indeed, the crowd was so large that the house and the boundary walls of the house where I stayed were destroyed, and wherever I looked I could see only large crowds.
TEXT 260
TEXT
kaste-srstye kari' gelana ramakeli-grama
amara thani aila 'rupa' 'sanatana' nama
SYNONYMS
kaste-srstye--with great difficulty; kari'--doing; gelana--I went; ramakeli-grama--to the village of Ramakeli; amara thani--before me; aila--came; rupa sanatana nama--the two brothers named Rupa and Sanatana.
TRANSLATION
"With great difficulty I went to the town of Ramakeli, where I met two brothers named Rupa and Sanatana.
TEXT 261
TEXT
dui bhai----bhakta-raja, krsna-krpa-patra
vyavahare----raja-mantri haya raja-patra
SYNONYMS
dui bhai--two brothers; bhakta-raja--kings of devotees; krsna-krpa-patra--suitable candidates for Krsna's mercy; vyavahare--in behavior; raja-mantri--ministers of the government; haya--are; raja-patra--government officers.
TRANSLATION
"These two brothers are great devotees and suitable recipients of Krsna's mercy, but in their ordinary dealings they are government officials, ministers to the King.
TEXT 262
TEXT
vidya-bhakti-buddhi-bale parama pravina
tabu apanake mane trna haite hina
SYNONYMS
vidya--education; bhakti--devotion; buddhi--and intelligence; bale--in strength; parama--very; pravina--experienced; tabu--still; apanake--themselves; mane--they think; trna--a straw; haite--than; hina--lower.
TRANSLATION
"Srila Rupa and Sanatana are very experienced in education, devotional service, intelligence and strength, yet they think themselves inferior to straw in the street.
TEXTS 263-264
TEXT
tanra dainya dekhi' suni' pasana bidare
ami tusta hana tabe kahilun donhare
"uttama hana hina kari' manaha apanare
acire karibe krsna tomara uddhare"
SYNONYMS
tanra dainya dekhi'--by seeing their humility; suni'--or even hearing about it; pasana--stone; bidare--becomes melted; ami--I; tusta hana--being very pleased; tabe--then; kahilun donhare--said to both of them; uttama hana--being actually superior in every respect; hina--inferior; kari'--proposing as; manaha--you accept; apanare--yourselves; acire--very soon; karibe--will do; krsna--Lord Krsna; tomara--of you; uddhare--liberation.
TRANSLATION
"Indeed, the humility of these two brothers could even melt stone. Because I was very pleased with their behavior, I told them, 'Although you are both very exalted, you consider yourselves inferior, and because of this, Krsna will very soon deliver you.'
PURPORT
Such are the qualifications of a pure devotee. Materially one may be very opulent, experienced, influential and educated, but if one still thinks himself lower than straw in the street, one attracts the attention of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu or Lord Krsna. Although Maharaja Prataparudra was a king, he took up a broom to cleanse the road for Lord Jagannatha's Ratha chariot. Because of this humble service, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very pleased with the King, and for that reason the Lord embraced him. According to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instructions, a devotee should never be puffed up by material power. He should know that material power is the result of one's past good activities (karma) and is consequently transient. At any moment all one's material opulence can be finished; therefore a devotee is never proud of such opulence. He is always humble and meek, considering himself lower than a piece of straw. Because of this, the devotees are eligible to return home, back to Godhead.
TEXTS 265-266
TEXT
eta kahi' ami yabe vidaya tanre dila
gamana-kale sanatana 'praheli' kahila
yanra sange haya ei loka laksa koti
vrndavana yaibara ei nahe paripati
SYNONYMS
eta kahi'--saying this; ami--I; yabe--when; vidaya--farewell; tanre--unto them; dila--gave; gamana-kale--while going; sanatana--Sanatana; praheli--enigma; kahila--said; yanra sange--with whom; haya--is; ei--this; loka--crowd of people; laksa koti--hundreds of thousands; vrndavana--to Vrndavana-dhama; yaibara--for going; ei--this; nahe--not; paripati--the method.
TRANSLATION
"After speaking to them in this way, I bade them farewell. As I was leaving, Sanatana told Me, 'It is not appropriate for one to be followed by a crowd of thousands when one goes to Vrndavana.'
TEXT 267
TEXT
tabu ami sunilun matra, na kailun avadhana
prate cali' ailana 'kanaira natasala'-grama
SYNONYMS
tabu--still; ami--I; sunilun--heard; matra--only; na--not; kailun--paid; avadhana--any attention; prate--in the morning; cali' ailana--I walked; kanaira natasala--to Kanai Natasala; grama--the place.
TRANSLATION
"Although I heard this, I did not pay it any attention. In the morning, however, I went to the place named Kanai Natasala.
TEXT 268
TEXT
ratri-kale mane ami vicara karila
sanatana more kiba 'praheli' kahila
SYNONYMS
ratri-kale--at night; mane--in the mind; ami--I; vicara karila--considered; sanatana--Sanatana; more--unto Me; kiba--what; praheli--enigma; kahila--spoke.
TRANSLATION
"At night, however, I considered what Sanatana had told Me.
TEXT 269
TEXT
bhalata' kahila,----mora eta loka sange
loka dekhi' kahibe more----'ei eka dhange'
SYNONYMS
bhalata' kahila--he has spoken very well; mora--of Me; eta--so much; loka--crowd; sange--in the company; loka--the people; dekhi'--seeing; kahibe more--will speak about Me; ei--this; eka--one; dhange--imposter.
TRANSLATION
"I decided that Sanatana had spoken very well. I was certainly being followed by a large crowd, and when people would see so many men, they would surely rebuke Me, saying, 'Here is another imposter.'
TEXT 270
TEXT
'durlabha' 'durgama' sei 'nirjana' vrndavana
ekaki yaiba, kiba sange eka-jana
SYNONYMS
durlabha--very rare; durgama--invincible; sei--that; nirjana--solitary; vrndavana--the land of Vrndavana; ekaki--alone; yaiba--I shall go; kiba--or; sange--with Me; eka-jana--only one person.
TRANSLATION
"I then began to consider that Vrndavana is a very solitary place. It is invincible and very difficult to attain. I therefore decided to go there alone or, at the most, take only one person with Me.
TEXT 271
TEXT
madhavendra-puri tatha gela 'ekesvare'
dugdha-dana-cchale krsna saksat dila tanre
SYNONYMS
madhavendra-puri--Madhavendra Puri; tatha--there; gela--went; ekesvare--alone; dugdha-dana-chale--on the plea of giving milk in charity; krsna--Lord Krsna; saksat--direct audience; dila--gave; tanre--unto him.
TRANSLATION
"Madhavendra Puri went to Vrndavana alone, and Krsna, on the pretext of giving him milk, granted him an audience.
TEXT 272
TEXT
badiyara baji pati' calilana tathare
bahu-sange vrndavana gamana na kare
SYNONYMS
badiyara--of a gypsy; baji--the magic; pati'--demonstrating; calilana--I went; tathare--there; bahu-sange--with many men; vrndavana--to Vrndavana dhama; gamana--going; na kare--no one does.
TRANSLATION
"I then understood that I was going to Vrndavana like a magician with his show, and this is certainly not good. No one should go to Vrndavana with so many men.
TEXT 273
TEXT
eka yaiba, kiba sange bhrtya eka-jana
tabe se sobhaya vrndavanera gamana
SYNONYMS
eka yaiba--I shall go alone; kiba--or; sange--with Me; bhrtya--servant; eka-jana--one; tabe--in that way; se--that; sobhaya--is beautiful; vrndavanera gamana--going to Vrndavana.
TRANSLATION
"I have therefore resolved to go alone or, at the utmost, with one servant. In this way, My journey to Vrndavana will be beautiful.
TEXT 274
TEXT
vrndavana yaba kahan 'ekaki' hana!
sainya sange caliyachi dhaka bajana!
SYNONYMS
vrndavana yaba--I should go to Vrndavana; kahan--whereas; ekaki hana--being alone; sainya--soldiers; sange--along with; caliyachi--I am going; dhaka bajana--beating the drum.
TRANSLATION
"I thought, 'Instead of going to Vrndavana alone, I am going with soldiers and the beating of drums.'
TEXT 275
TEXT
dhik, dhik apanake bali' ha-ilana asthira
nivrtta hana punah ailana ganga-tira
SYNONYMS
dhik dhik--fie! fie!; apanake--on Myself; bali'--saying; ha-ilana--I became; asthira--agitated; nivrtta hana--stopping such an action; punah--again; ailana--I came back; ganga-tira--to the bank of the Ganges.
TRANSLATION
"I therefore said, 'Fie upon Me!' and being very agitated, I returned to the banks of the Ganges.
TEXT 276
TEXT
bhakta-gane rakhiya ainu nija nija sthane
ama-sange aila sabe panca-chaya jane
SYNONYMS
bhakta-gane--the devotees; rakhiya--keeping; ainu--I came; nija nija sthane--in their respective places; ama-sange--with Me; aila--came; sabe--only; panca-chaya jane--five or six men.
TRANSLATION
"I then left all the devotees there and brought only five or six persons with Me.
TEXT 277
TEXT
nirvighne ebe kaiche yaiba vrndavane
sabe meli' yukti deha' hana parasanne
SYNONYMS
nirvighne--without obstacles; ebe--now; kaiche--how; yaiba--I shall go; vrndavane--to Vrndavana; sabe meli'--altogether; yukti deha'--give Me consultation; hana parasanne--being very pleased with Me.
TRANSLATION
"Now I wish that you all will be pleased with Me and give Me good consultation. Tell Me how I shall be able to go to Vrndavana without impediments.
TEXT 278
TEXT
gadadhare chadi' genu, inho duhkha paila
sei hetu vrndavana yaite narila
SYNONYMS
gadadhare chadi'--leaving aside Gadadhara Pandita; genu--I went; inho--Gadadhara Pandita; duhkha paila--became unhappy; sei hetu--for that reason; vrndavana--to Vrndavana-dhama; yaite narila--I was unable to go.
TRANSLATION
"I left Gadadhara Pandita here, and he became very unhappy. For this reason I could not go to Vrndavana."
TEXT 279
TEXT
tabe gadadhara-pandita premavista hana
prabhu-pada dhari' kahe vinaya kariya
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereupon; gadadhara pandita--Gadadhara Pandita; prema-avista hana--being absorbed in ecstatic love; prabhu-pada dhari'--catching hold of the lotus feet of the Lord; kahe--says; vinaya kariya--with great humility.
TRANSLATION
Being encouraged by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's words, Gadadhara Pandita became absorbed in ecstatic love. Immediately clasping the lotus feet of the Lord, he began to speak with great humility.
TEXT 280
TEXT
tumi yahan-yahan raha, tahan 'vrndavana'
tahan yamuna, ganga, sarva-tirtha-gana
SYNONYMS
tumi--You; yahan-yahan--wherever; raha--stay; tahan vrndavana--that place is Vrndavana; tahan--there; yamuna--the River Yamuna; ganga--the River Ganga; sarva-tirtha-gana--all other holy places of pilgrimage.
TRANSLATION
Gadadhara Pandita said, "Wherever You stay is Vrndavana, as well as the River Yamuna, the River Ganges and all other places of pilgrimage.
TEXT 281
TEXT
tabu vrndavana yaha' loka sikhaite
seita karibe, tomara yei laya citte
SYNONYMS
tabu--still; vrndavana yaha'--You go to Vrndavana; loka sikhaite--to teach the people in general; seita--that; karibe--You will do; tomara--of You; yei--what; laya--takes; citte--in the mind.
TRANSLATION
"Although wherever You stay is Vrndavana, You still go to Vrndavana just to instruct people. Otherwise, You do whatever You think best."
PURPORT
It was not essential for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to go to Vrndavana, for wherever He stayed was immediately converted to Vrndavana. Indeed, there was also the River Ganges, the River Yamuna and all other places of pilgrimage. This was also expressed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself when He danced in the Ratha-yatra. At that time He said that His very mind was Vrndavana (mora-mana--vrndavana). Because His mind was Vrndavana, all the pastimes of Radha and Krsna were taking place within Himself. Nonetheless, just to teach people, He visited bhauma-vrndavana, Vrndavana-dhama in this material world. In this way the Lord instructed everyone to visit Vrndavana-dhama, which is a very holy place. Materialists consider Vrndavana-dhama an unclean city because there are many monkeys and dogs there, and along the bank of the Yamuna there is refuse. Some time ago, a materialistic man asked me, "Why are you living in Vrndavana? Why have you selected such a dirty place to live after retiring?" Such a person cannot understand that Vrndavana-dhama is always a representation of the original Vrndavana-dhama. Consequently Vrndavana-dhama is as worshipable as Lord Krsna. Aradhyo bhagavan vrajesa-tanayas tad-dhama vrndavanam: according to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's philosophy, Lord Sri Krsna and His abode, Vrndavana, are equally worshipable. Sometimes materialistic people who have no spiritual understanding go to Vrndavana as tourists. One who goes to Vrndavana with such materialistic vision cannot derive any spiritual benefit. Such a person is not convinced that Krsna and Vrndavana are identical. Since they are identical, Vrndavana is as worshipable as Lord Krsna. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's vision (mora-mana-vrndavana) is different from the vision of an ordinary materialistic person. At the Ratha-yatra festival, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, absorbed in the ecstasy of Srimati Radharani, dragged Lord Krsna back to Vrndavana-dhama. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spoke of this in the verses beginning ahus ca te (Madhya 13.136).
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.84.13) it is stated:
yasyatma-buddhih kunape tridhatuke
svadhih kalatradisu bhauma ijya-dhih
yat-tirtha-buddhih salile na karhicij
janesv abhijnesu sa eva gokharah
"A human being who identifies this body made of three elements with his self, who considers the by-products of the body to be his kinsmen, who considers the land of birth as worshipable, and who goes to the place of pilgrimage simply to take a bath rather than meet men of transcendental knowledge there, is to be considered like an ass or a cow."
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally renovated Vrndavana-dhama and advised His chief disciples, Rupa and Sanatana, to develop it and open it to attract the spiritual vision of the general populace. At present there are about five thousand temples in Vrndavana, and still our society, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, is constructing a huge, magnificent temple for the worship of Lord Balarama, Radha-Krsna and Guru-Gauranga. Since there is no prominent Krsna-Balarama temple in Vrndavana, we are attempting to construct one so that people will be attracted to Krsna-Balarama, or Nitai-Gauracandra. Vrajendra-nandana yei, saci suta haila sei. Narottama dasa Thakura says that Balarama and the son of Maharaja Nanda have advented Themselves as Gaura-Nitai. To propagate this fundamental principle, we are establishing a Krsna-Balarama temple to broadcast to the world that worship of Gaura-Nitai is the same as worship of Krsna-Balarama.
Although it is very difficult to enter into the Radha-Krsna pastimes, most of the devotees of Vrndavana are attracted to the Radha-Krsna lila. However, since Nitai-Gauracandra are direct incarnations of Balarama and Krsna, we can be directly in touch with Lord Balarama and Lord Krsna through Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu. Those who are highly elevated in Krsna consciousness can enter into the pastimes of Radha-Krsna through the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is said: sri-krsna-caitanya radha-krsna nahe anya. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is a combination of Radha and Krsna.
Sometimes materialists, forgetting the pastimes of Radha-Krsna and Krsna-Balarama, go to Vrndavana, accept the land's spiritual facilities and engage in material activity. This is against the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The prakrta-sahajiyas proclaim themselves vraja-vasi or dhama-vasi, but they are mainly engaged in sense gratification. Thus they become more and more implicated in the materialistic way of life. Those who are pure devotees in Krsna consciousness condemn their activities. The eternal vraja-vasis like Svarupa Damodara did not even come to Vrndavana-dhama. Sri Pundarika Vidyanidhi, Sri Haridasa Thakura, Srivasa Pandita, Sivananda Sena, Sri Ramananda Raya, Sri Sikhi Mahiti, Sri Madhavidevi and Sri Gadadhara Pandita Gosvami never visited Vrndavana-dhama. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura points out that we have no authorized documents stating that these exalted personalities visited Vrndavana. Nonetheless, we find many nondevotees, Mayavadi sannyasis, prakrta-sahajiyas, fruitive workers, mental speculators and many others with material motives going to Vrndavana to live. Many of these people go there to solve their economic problems by becoming beggars. Although anyone living in Vrndavana somehow or other is benefited, the real Vrndavana is appreciated only by a pure devotee. As stated in the Brahma-samhita: premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena. When one has purified eyes, he can see that Sri Vrndavana and the original Goloka Vrndavana planet in the spiritual sky are identical.
Srila Narottama dasa Thakura, Srinivasa Acarya, Sri Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, Sri Bhagavan dasa Babaji Maharaja, Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja and later Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura of Calcutta always engaged in nama-bhajana and certainly did not live anywhere but Vrndavana. Presently, the members of the Hare Krsna movement throughout the world live in materially opulent cities, such as London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Moscow, Zurich and Stockholm. However, we are satisfied with following in the footsteps of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and other acaryas. Because we live in the temples of Radha-Krsna and continuously hold hari-nama-sankirtana-the chanting of Hare Krsna-we consequently live in Vrndavana and nowhere else. We are also following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by attempting to construct a temple in Vrndavana for our disciples throughout the world to visit.
TEXT 282
TEXT
ei age aila, prabhu, varsara cari masa
ei cari masa kara nilacale vasa
SYNONYMS
ei--just; age--ahead; aila--have come; prabhu--my Lord; varsara cari masa--the four months of the rainy season; ei cari masa--these four months; kara--just do; nilacale--at Jagannatha Puri; vasa--living.
TRANSLATION
Taking this opportunity, Gadadhara Pandita said, "Just now the four months of the rainy season have begun. You should therefore spend the next four months in Jagannatha Puri.
TEXT 283
TEXT
pache sei acariba, yei tomara mana
apana-icchaya cala, raha,----ke kare varana"
SYNONYMS
pache--thereafter; sei--that; acariba--You will do; yei--what; tomara mana--You like; apana-icchaya--by Your sweet will; cala--You always go; raha--You remain; ke--who; kare varana--can stop You.
TRANSLATION
"After remaining here for four months, You may be free to do as You like. Actually no one can stop You from going or remaining."
TEXT 284
TEXT
suni' saba bhakta kahe prabhura carane
sabakara iccha pandita kaila nivedane
SYNONYMS
suni'--hearing; saba--all; bhakta--devotees; kahe--said; prabhura carane--unto the lotus feet of the Lord; sabakara iccha--everyone's desire; pandita--Gadadhara Pandita; kaila--has made; nivedane--submission.
TRANSLATION
Upon hearing this statement, the devotees present at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stated that Gadadhara Pandita had properly presented their desire.
TEXT 285
TEXT
sabara icchaya prabhu cari masa rahila
suniya prataparudra anandita haila
SYNONYMS
sabara icchaya--because of everyone's desire; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; cari masa--for four months; rahila--remained; suniya--hearing; prataparudra--King Prataparudra; anandita haila--became very, very happy.
TRANSLATION
Being requested by all the devotees, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu agreed to remain at Jagannatha Puri for four months. Hearing this, King Prataparudra became very happy.
TEXT 286
TEXT
sei dina gadadhara kaila nimantrana
tahan bhiksa kaila prabhu lana bhakta-gana
SYNONYMS
sei dina--that day; gadadhara--Gadadhara Pandita; kaila nimantrana--gave an invitation; tahan--at his place; bhiksa kaila--took lunch; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; lana--with; bhakta-gana--His devotees.
TRANSLATION
That day Gadadhara Pandita extended an invitation to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and the Lord took His lunch at his place with the other devotees.
TEXT 287
TEXT
bhiksate panditera sneha, prabhura asvadana
manusyera saktye dui na yaya varnana
SYNONYMS
bhiksate--in feeding; panditera--of Gadadhara Pandita; sneha--the affection; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; asvadana--tasting; manusyera--of an ordinary human being; saktye--in the power; dui--these two; na yaya--not possible; varnana--the description.
TRANSLATION
No ordinary human being can possibly describe Gadadhara Pandita's affectionate presentation of food and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's tasting this food.
TEXT 288
TEXT
ei mata gaura-lila----ananta, apara
sanksepe kahiye, kaha na yaya vistara
SYNONYMS
ei mata--in this way; gaura-lila--pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ananta--unlimited; apara--unfathomed; sanksepe--in brief; kahiye--I describe; kaha--describing; na yaya vistara--no one can do elaborately and completely.
TRANSLATION
In this way, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu performs His pastimes, which are unlimited and unfathomable. Somehow or other, these have briefly been described. It is not possible to describe them elaborately.
TEXT 289
TEXT
sahasra-vadane kahe apane 'ananta'
tabu eka lilara tenho nahi paya anta
SYNONYMS
sahasra-vadane--in thousands of mouths; kahe--speaks; apane--personally; ananta--Anantadeva; tabu--still; eka lilara--of one pastime only; tenho--He (Anantadeva); nahi--not; paya--gets; anta--the end.
TRANSLATION
Although Lord Anantadeva is always describing the pastimes of the Lord with His thousands of mouths, He cannot reach the end of even one of the Lord's pastimes.
TEXT 290
TEXT
sri-rupa-raghunatha pade yara asa
sri-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 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, Sixteenth Chapter, describing Lord Caitanya's attempt to go to Vrndavana.