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Chapter 17
The Lord Travels to Vrndavana
The following summary of the Seventeenth Chapter is given by Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. After attending the Ratha-yatra ceremony of Sri Jagannatha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu decided to start for Vrndavana. Sri Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami selected a brahmana named Balabhadra Bhattacarya to personally assist Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Early in the morning before sunrise, the Lord started for the town of Kataka. North of Kataka, He penetrated a dense forest and visited many tigers and elephants, whom He engaged in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Whenever He had a chance to visit a village, He would beg alms and acquire some rice and vegetables. If there were no village, He would cook whatever rice remained and collect some spinach from the forest to eat. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very pleased with the behavior of Balabhadra Bhattacarya.
In this way the Lord passed through the jungle of Jharikhanda and finally reached Varanasi. After taking His bath at the Manikarnika-ghata at Varanasi, He met Tapana Misra, who took the Lord to his place and respectfully gave Him a comfortable residence. At Varanasi, Vaidya Candrasekhara, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's old friend, also rendered service unto Him. Seeing the behavior of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, one Maharastriya brahmana informed Prakasananda Sarasvati, the leader of the Mayavadi sannyasis. Prakasananda made various accusations against the Lord. The Maharastriya brahmana was very sorry about this, and he brought the news to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, inquiring from Him why the Mayavadi sannyasis did not utter the holy name of Krsna. In reply, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that they were offenders and that one should not associate with them. In this way the Lord bestowed His blessings upon the brahmana.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu next passed through Prayaga and Mathura and then took His lunch at the home of a Sanodiya brahmana, a disciple of Madhavendra Puri. He bestowed His blessings upon the brahmana by accepting lunch at his place. Thereafter the Lord visited the twelve forests of Vrndavana and was filled with great ecstatic love. As He toured the Vrndavana forests, He heard the chirping of parrots and other birds.
TEXT 1
TEXT
gacchan vrndavanam gauro
vyaghrebhaina-khagan vane
premonmattan sahonnrtyan
vidadhe krsna-jalpinah
SYNONYMS
gacchan--going; vrndavanam--to Vrndavana-dhama; gaurah--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vyaghra--tigers; ibha--elephants; ena--deer; khagan--and birds; vane--in the forest; prema-unmattan--maddened by ecstatic love; saha--with; unnrtyan--dancing; vidadhe--made; krsna--Lord Krsna's name; jalpinah--chanting.
TRANSLATION
On His way to Vrndavana, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed through the forest of Jharikhanda and made all the tigers, elephants, deer and birds dance and chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Thus all these animals were overwhelmed by ecstatic love.
TEXT 2
TEXT
jaya jaya gauracandra jaya nityananda
jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya--all glories; gauracandra--to 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 Caitanya.
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
sarat-kala haila, prabhura calite haila mati
ramananda-svarupa-sange nibhrte yukati
SYNONYMS
sarat-kala haila--autumn arrived; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; calite--to travel; haila--was; mati--desire; ramananda--Ramananda Raya; svarupa--Svarupa Damodara; sange--with; nibhrte--solitary; yukati--consultation.
TRANSLATION
When autumn arrived, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu decided to go to Vrndavana. In a solitary place, He consulted with Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami.
TEXT 4
TEXT
"mora sahaya kara yadi, tumi-dui jana
tabe ami yana dekhi sri-vrndavana
SYNONYMS
mora--of Me; sahaya--help; kara--you do; yadi--if; tumi--you; dui jana--two persons; tabe--then; ami--I; yana--going; dekhi--shall see; sri-vrndavana--Sri Vrndavana-dhama.
TRANSLATION
The Lord requested Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami to help Him go to Vrndavana.
TEXT 5
TEXT
ratrye uthi' vana-pathe palana yaba
ekaki yaiba, kahon sange na la-iba
SYNONYMS
ratrye uthi'--rising at night; vana-pathe--on the road to the forest; palana yaba--I shall go away secretly; ekaki yaiba--I shall go alone; kahon--anyone; sange--with Me; na la-iba--I shall not take.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "I shall leave early in the morning and go incognito, taking the road to the forest. I shall go alone and not take anyone with Me.
TEXT 6
TEXT
keha yadi sanga la-ite pache uthi' dhaya
sabare rakhiba, yena keha nahi yaya
SYNONYMS
keha--someone; yadi--if; sanga la-ite--to take company; pache--behind; uthi'--getting up; dhaya--runs; sabare--everyone; rakhiba--please stop; yena--so that; keha--anyone; nahi yaya--does not go.
TRANSLATION
"If someone wants to follow Me, please stop him. I don't want anyone to go with Me.
TEXT 7
TEXT
prasanna hana ajna diba, na maniba 'duhkha'
toma-sabara 'sukhe' pathe habe mora 'sukha' "
SYNONYMS
prasanna hana--being pleased; ajna diba--give permission; na--do not; maniba duhkha--become unhappy; toma-sabara--of all of you; sukhe--by the happiness; pathe--on the road; habe--there will be; mora--My; sukha--happiness.
TRANSLATION
"Please give Me your permission with great pleasure and do not be unhappy. If you are happy, I shall be happy on My way to Vrndavana."
TEXT 8
TEXT
dui-jana kahe,----'tumi isvara 'svatantra'
yei iccha, sei kariba, naha 'paratantra'
SYNONYMS
dui-jana kahe--the two persons replied; tumi--You; isvara--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; svatantra--completely independent; yei iccha--whatever You desire; sei--that; kariba--You will do; naha--You are not; para-tantra--dependent on anyone.
TRANSLATION
Upon hearing this, Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami replied, "Dear Lord, You are completely independent. Since You are not dependent on anyone, You do whatever You desire.
TEXT 9
TEXT
kintu ama-dunhara suna eka nivedane
'tomara sukhe amara sukha'----kahila apane
SYNONYMS
kintu--but; ama-dunhara--of both of us; suna--please hear; eka nivedane--one submission; tomara sukhe--by your happiness; amara sukha--our happiness; kahila--You have already stated; apane--personally.
TRANSLATION
"Dear Lord, kindly hear our one petition. You have already said that You will derive happiness from our happiness. This is Your own statement.
TEXT 10
TEXT
ama-dunhara mane tabe bada 'sukha' haya
eka nivedana yadi dhara, dayamaya
SYNONYMS
ama-dunhara--of us two; mane--in the mind; tabe--therefore; bada--very much; sukha haya--there is happiness; eka nivedana--one request; yadi--if; dhara--You accept; daya-maya--merciful.
TRANSLATION
"If You will please accept just one request, we shall be very, very happy.
TEXT 11
TEXT
'uttama brahmana' eka sange avasya cahi
bhiksa kari' bhiksa dibe, yabe patra vahi'
SYNONYMS
uttama brahmana--a high-class brahmana; eka--one; sange--along; avasya--certainly; cahi--we want; bhiksa kari'--collecting alms; bhiksa dibe--will give You food; yabe--will go; patra vahi'--bearing Your waterpot.
TRANSLATION
"Our Lord, please take one very nice brahmana with You. He will collect alms for You, cook for You, give You prasada, and carry Your waterpot while traveling.
TEXT 12
TEXT
ana-pathe yaite nahi 'bhojyanna'-brahmana
ajna kara,----sange caluka vipra eka-jana'
SYNONYMS
vana-pathe--on the forest path; yaite--going; nahi--there is not; bhojya-anna-brahmana--a brahmana whose food can be accepted; ajna kara--please give permission; sange--along; caluka--may go; vipra--brahmana; eka-jana--one person.
TRANSLATION
"When You go through the jungle, there will be no brahmana available from whom You can accept lunch. Therefore please give permission for at least one pure brahmana to accompany You."
TEXT 13
TEXT
prabhu kahe,----nija-sangi kanho na la-iba
eka-jane nile, anera mane duhkha ha-iba
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied; nija-sangi--of My associates; kanho--anyone; na--not; la-iba--I shall take; eka-jane nile--if I take someone; anera mane--in the mind of others; duhkha ha-iba--there will be unhappiness.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said,"I shall not take any of My associates with Me because if I choose someone, all the others will be unhappy.
TEXT 14
TEXT
nutana sangi ha-ibeka,----snigdha yanra mana
aiche yabe pai, tabe la-i 'eka' jana
SYNONYMS
nutana--new; sangi--associate; ha-ibeka--must be; snigdha--very peaceful; yanra--whose; mana--mind; aiche--such; yabe--if; pai--I get; tabe--then; la-i--I take; eka jana--one person.
TRANSLATION
"Such a person must be a new man, and he must have a peaceful mind. If I can obtain such a man, I shall agree to take him with Me."
PURPORT
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu formerly went to South India, a brahmana named Kala Krsnadasa went with Him. It was Kala Krsnadasa who fell victim to a woman, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had to take the trouble to free him from the clutches of the gypsies. Therefore the Lord here says that He wants a new man who is peaceful in mind. One whose mind is not peaceful is agitated by certain drives, especially sex desire, even though he be in the company of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Such a man will become a victim of women and will fall down even in the company of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Maya is so strong that unless one is determined not to fall victim, even the Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot give protection. The Supreme Lord and His representative always want to give protection, but a person must take advantage of their personal contact. If one thinks that the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His representative is an ordinary man, he will certainly fall down. Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not want a person like Kala Krsnadasa to accompany Him. He wanted someone who was determined, who had a peaceful mind and who was not agitated by ulterior motives.
TEXT 15
TEXT
svarupa kahe,----ei balabhadra-bhattacarya
tomate susnigdha bada, pandita, sadhu, arya
SYNONYMS
svarupa kahe--Svarupa Damodara Gosvami said; ei--this; balabhadra-bhattacarya--Balabhadra Bhattacarya; tomate--unto You; su-snigdha--affectionate; bada--very; pandita--educated; sadhu--honest; arya--advanced in spiritual consciousness.
TRANSLATION
Svarupa Damodara then said, "Here is Balabhadra Bhattacarya, who has great love for You. He is an honest, learned scholar, and he is advanced in spiritual consciousness.
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted a new man, not a person like Kala Krsnadasa who would fall for women. Svarupa Damodara therefore immediately pointed out a new brahmana named Balabhadra Bhattacarya. Sri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami had studied this person very thoroughly and had seen that he had great love for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Not only did he love the Lord, but he was also learned and honest. He was not duplicitous, and he was advanced in Krsna consciousness. According to a Bengali proverb, ati bhakti corera laksana: "Too much devotion is a symptom of a thief." A person who assumes himself to be a great devotee but mentally is thinking of something else is duplicitous. One who is not duplicitous is called sadhu. Svarupa Damodara immediately pointed out that Balabhadra Bhattacarya was quite fit to accompany the Lord because he was a learned scholar and was simple and had great love for Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He was also advanced in Krsna consciousness; therefore he was considered appropriate to accompany the Lord as a personal servant.
The word snigdha (very peaceful) and the word su-snigdha (affectionate) are used in verses fourteen and fifteen, and they are also found in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.8): bruyuh snigdhasya sisyasya guravo guhyam apy uta. "A disciple who has actual love for his spiritual master is endowed, by the blessings of the spiritual master, with all confidential knowledge." Srila Sridhara Svami has commented that the word snigdhasya means prema-vatah. The word prema-vatah indicates that one has great love for his spiritual master.
TEXT 16
TEXT
prathamei toma-sange aila gauda haite
inhara iccha ache 'sarva-tirtha' karite
SYNONYMS
prathamei--in the beginning; toma-sange--with You; aila--came; gauda haite--from Bengal; inhara iccha--his desire; ache--is; sarva-tirtha--all places of pilgrimage; karite--to go see.
TRANSLATION
"In the beginning, he came with You from Bengal. It is his desire to see and visit all the holy places of pilgrimage.
TEXT 17
TEXT
inhara sange ache vipra eka 'bhrtya'
inho pathe karibena seva-bhiksa-krtya
SYNONYMS
inhara sange--with him; ache--is; vipra--brahmana; eka--one; bhrtya--servant; inho--this man; pathe--on the way; karibena--will do; seva--service; bhiksa-krtya--and arrangements for cooking.
TRANSLATION
"In addition, You may take another brahmana who would act as a servant en route and make arrangements for Your food.
TEXT 18
TEXT
inhare sange laha yadi, sabara haya 'sukha'
vana-pathe yaite tomara nahibe kona 'duhkha'
SYNONYMS
inhare--him; sange--along; laha--You accept; yadi--if; sabara haya sukha--everyone will be happy; vana-pathe--on the path through the jungle; yaite--going; tomara--Your; nahibe--there will not be; kona--any; duhkha--difficulty.
TRANSLATION
"If You can also take him with You, we will be very happy. If two people go with You through the jungle, there will certainly be no difficulty or inconvenience.
TEXT 19
TEXT
sei vipra vahi' nibe vastrambu-bhajana
bhattacarya bhiksa dibe kari' bhiksatana
SYNONYMS
sei vipra--the other brahmana; vahi' nibe--will carry; vastra-ambu-bhajana--the cloth and waterpot; bhattacarya--Balabhadra Bhattacarya; bhiksa dibe--will arrange for cooking; kari'--performing; bhiksa-atana--collecting alms.
TRANSLATION
"The other brahmana can carry Your cloth and waterpot, and Balabhadra Bhattacarya will collect alms and cook for You."
TEXT 20
TEXT
tanhara vacana prabhu angikara kaila
balabhadra-bhattacarye sange kari' nila
SYNONYMS
tanhara vacana--his words; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; angikara kaila--accepted; balabhadra-bhattacarye--Balabhadra Bhattacarya; sange kari' nila--took with Him.
TRANSLATION
Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the request of Svarupa Damodara Pandita and agreed to take Balabhadra Bhattacarya with Him.
TEXT 21
TEXT
purva-ratrye jagannatha dekhi' 'ajna' lana
sesa-ratre uthi' prabhu calila lukana
SYNONYMS
purva-ratrye--on the previous night; jagannatha dekhi'--seeing Lord Jagannatha; ajna lana--taking permission; sesa-ratre--near the end of night; uthi'--rising; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; calila--started; lukana--without being seen.
TRANSLATION
On the previous night, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had visited Lord Jagannatha and taken His permission. Now, near the end of night, the Lord got up and started immediately. He was not seen by others.
TEXT 22
TEXT
pratah-kale bhakta-gana prabhu na dekhiya
anvesana kari' phire vyakula hana
SYNONYMS
pratah-kale--early in the morning; bhakta-gana--all the devotees; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; na dekhiya--not seeing; anvesana kari'--searching; phire--wander; vyakula hana--becoming very anxious.
TRANSLATION
Because the Lord had departed, the devotees, unable to see Him early in the morning, began to search for Him with great anxiety.
TEXT 23
TEXT
svarupa-gosani sabaya kaila nivarana
nivrtta hana rahe sabe jani' prabhura mana
SYNONYMS
svarupa-gosani--Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; sabaya--unto everyone; kaila--did; nivarana--forbidding; nivrtta hana--being restrained; rahe--remain; sabe--all; jani'--knowing; prabhura mana--the mind of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
While all the devotees were searching for the Lord, Svarupa Damodara restrained them. Then everyone fell silent, knowing the mind of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 24
TEXT
prasiddha patha chadi' prabhu upapathe calila
'kataka' dahine kari' vane pravesila
SYNONYMS
prasiddha--well-known; patha--public way; chadi'--giving up; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; upapathe--through a bypass; calila--began to walk; kataka--the city of Kataka; dahine--on the right side; kari'--keeping; vane--within the forest; pravesila--entered.
TRANSLATION
The Lord abandoned walking on the well-known public road and went instead along a bypass. He thus kept the city of Kataka on His right as He entered the forest.
TEXT 25
TEXT
nirjana-vane cale prabhu krsna-nama lana
hasti-vyaghra patha chade prabhure dekhiya
SYNONYMS
nirjana-vane--in a solitary forest; cale--walks; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krsna-nama lana--chanting the holy name of Krsna; hasti--elephants; vyaghra--tigers; patha chade--leave the path; prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhiya--seeing.
TRANSLATION
When the Lord passed through the solitary forest chanting the holy name of Krsna, the tigers and elephants, seeing Him, gave way.
TEXT 26
TEXT
pale-pale vyaghra, hasti, gandara, sukara-gana
tara madhye avese prabhu karila gamana
SYNONYMS
pale-pale--in flocks; vyaghra--tigers; hasti--elephants; gandara--rhinoceros; sukara-gana--boars; tara madhye--through them; avese--in ecstasy; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karila gamana--passed.
TRANSLATION
When the Lord passed through the jungle in great ecstasy, packs of tigers, elephants, rhinoceros and boars came, and the Lord passed right through them.
TEXT 27
TEXT
dekhi' bhattacaryera mane haya maha-bhaya
prabhura pratape tara eka pasa haya
SYNONYMS
dekhi'--seeing; bhattacaryera--of Bhattacarya; mane--in the mind; haya--there was; maha-bhaya--great fear; prabhura pratape--by the influence of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tara--they; eka pasa haya--stand to one side.
TRANSLATION
Balabhadra Bhattacarya was very much afraid to see them, but by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's influence, all the animals stood to one side.
TEXT 28
TEXT
eka-dina pathe vyaghra kariyache sayana
avese tara gaye prabhura lagila carana
SYNONYMS
eka-dina--one day; pathe--on the path; vyaghra--a tiger; kariyache sayana--was lying down; avese--in ecstatic love; tara gaye--on his body; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; lagila--touched; carana--lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
One day a tiger was lying on the path, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, walking along the path in ecstatic love, touched the tiger with His feet.
TEXT 29
TEXT
prabhu kahe,----kaha 'krsna', vyaghra uthila
'krsna' 'krsna' kahi' vyaghra nacite lagila
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; kaha krsna--please chant Hare Krsna; vyaghra uthila--the tiger got up; krsna krsna kahi'--chanting the holy name of Krsna; vyaghra--the tiger; nacite--to dance; lagila--began.
TRANSLATION
The Lord said, "Chant the holy name of Krsna!" The tiger immediately got up and began to dance and chant,"Krsna! Krsna!"
TEXT 30
TEXT
ara dine mahaprabhu kare nadi snana
matta-hasti-yutha aila karite jala-pana
SYNONYMS
ara dine--another day; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare--does; nadi snana--bathing in the river; matta-hasti-yutha--a herd of maddened elephants; aila--came; karite--to do; jala-pana--drinking water.
TRANSLATION
Another day, while Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was bathing in a river, a herd of maddened elephants came there to drink water.
TEXT 31
TEXT
prabhu jala-krtya kare, age hasti aila
'krsna kaha' bali' prabhu jala pheli' marila
SYNONYMS
prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jala-krtya kare--bathed and was chanting the Gayatri mantra within the water; age--in front; hasti--the elephants; aila--came; krsna kaha--chant Hare Krsna; bali'--saying; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jala pheli'--throwing water; marila--struck.
TRANSLATION
While the Lord was bathing and murmuring the Gayatri mantra, the elephants came before Him. The Lord immediately splashed some water on the elephants and asked them to chant the name of Krsna.
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was the Supreme personality of Godhead playing the part of a very great advanced devotee. On the maha-bhagavata platform, the devotee makes no distinction between friends and enemies. On that platform he sees everyone as a servant of Krsna. As stated in Bhagavad-gita:
vidya-vinaya-sampanne
brahmane gavi hastini
suni caiva svapake ca
panditah sama-darsinah
"The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater [outcaste]." (Bg. 5.18)
A maha-bhagavata, being learned and advanced in spiritual consciousness, sees no difference between a tiger, an elephant or a learned scholar. The test of advanced spiritual consciousness is that one becomes fearless. He envies no one, and he is always engaged in the Lord's service. He sees every living entity as an eternal part and parcel of the Lord, rendering service according to his capacity by the will of the Supreme Lord. As Bhagavad-gita confirms:
sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto
mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca
"I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness." (Bg. 15.15)
The maha-bhagavata knows that Krsna is in everyone's heart. Krsna is dictating, and the living entity is following His dictations. Krsna is within the heart of the tiger, elephant and boar. Therefore Krsna tells them, "Here is a maha-bhagavata. Please do not disturb him." Why, then, should the animals be envious of such a great personality? Those who are neophytes or even a little progressed in devotional service should not try to imitate the maha-bhagavata. Rather, they should only follow in their footsteps. The word anukara means "imitating," and anusara means "trying to follow in the footsteps." We should not try to imitate the activities of a maha-bhagavata or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Our best efforts should be exerted in trying to follow them according to our ability. The maha-bhagavata's heart is completely freed from material contamination, and he can become very dear even to fierce animals like tigers and elephants. Indeed, the maha-bhagavata treats them as his very intimate friends. On this platform there is no question of envy. When the Lord was passing through the forest, He was in ecstasy, thinking the forest to be Vrndavana. He was simply searching for Krsna.
TEXT 32
TEXT
sei jala-bindu-kana lage yara gaya
sei 'krsna' 'krsna' kahe, preme nace, gaya
SYNONYMS
sei--those; jala--of water; bindu--drops; kana--particles; lage--touch; yara--whose; gaya--body; sei--they; krsna krsna--Krsna, Krsna; kahe--say; preme--in ecstasy; nace--dance; gaya--sing.
TRANSLATION
The elephants whose bodies were touched by the water splashed by the Lord began to chant,"Krsna! Krsna!" and dance and sing in ecstasy.
TEXT 33
TEXT
keha bhume pade, keha karaye citkara
dekhi' bhattacaryera mane haya camatkara
SYNONYMS
keha--some of them; bhume--on the ground; pade--fall down; keha--some of them; karaye--perform; cit-kara--screaming; dekhi'--seeing; bhattacaryera--of Bhattacarya; mane--in the mind; haya--there was; camatkara--astonishment.
TRANSLATION
Some of the elephants fell to the ground, and some screamed in ecstasy. Seeing this, Balabhadra Bhattacarya was completely astonished.
TEXT 34
TEXT
pathe yaite kare prabhu ucca sankirtana
madhura kantha-dhvani suni' aise mrgi-gana
SYNONYMS
pathe yaite--while passing on the path; kare--does; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ucca--loud; sankirtana--chanting of Hare Krsna; madhura--sweet; kantha-dhvani--the voice from His throat; suni'--hearing; aise--came; mrgi-gana--she-deer.
TRANSLATION
Sometimes Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu chanted very loudly while passing through the jungle. Hearing His sweet voice, all the does came near Him.
TEXT 35
TEXT
dahine-vame dhvani suni' yaya prabhu-sange
prabhu tara anga muche, sloka pade range
SYNONYMS
dahine-vame--right and left; dhvani--vibration; suni'--hearing; yaya--they follow; prabhu-sange--with the Lord; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tara--their; anga--bodies; muche--pats; sloka--verse; pade--recites; range--in great curiosity.
TRANSLATION
Hearing the Lord's great vibration, all the does followed Him left and right. While reciting a verse with great curiosity, the Lord patted them.
TEXT 36
TEXT
dhanyah sma mudha-matayo 'pi harinya eta
ya nanda-nandanam upatta-vicitra-vesam
akarnya venu-ranitam saha-krsna-sarah
pujam dadhur viracitam pranayavalokaih
SYNONYMS
dhanyah--fortunate, blessed; sma--certainly; mudha-matayah--foolish, without good sense; api--although; harinyah--she-deer; etah--these; yah--who; nanda-nandanam--the son of Maharaja Nanda; upatta-vicitra-vesam--dressed very attractively; akarnya--hearing; venu-ranitam--the sound of His flute; saha-krsna-sarah--accompanied by the black deer (their husbands); pujam dadhuh--they worshiped; viracitam--performed; pranaya-avalokaih--by their affectionate glances.
TRANSLATION
"Blessed are all these foolish deer because they have approached the son of Maharaja Nanda, who is gorgeously dressed and is playing on His flute. Indeed, both the does and the bucks worship the Lord with looks of love and affection."
PURPORT
This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.21.11) spoken by the gopis of Vrndavana.
TEXT 37
TEXT
hena-kale vyaghra tatha aila panca-sata
vyaghra-mrgi mili' cale mahaprabhura satha
SYNONYMS
hena-kale--at this time; vyaghra--tigers; tatha--there; aila--came; panca-sata--five to seven; vyaghra-mrgi--the tigers and deer; mili'--coming together; cale--go; mahaprabhura satha--with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
While Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was passing through the jungle, five or seven tigers came. Joining the deer, the tigers began to follow the Lord.
TEXT 38
TEXT
dekhi' mahaprabhura 'vrndavana'-smrti haila
vrndavana-guna-varnana sloka padila
SYNONYMS
dekhi'--seeing; mahaprabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vrndavana--of the holy land of Vrndavana; smrti haila--there was remembrance; vrndavana--of Sri Vrndavana; guna--of the qualities; varnana--description; sloka--verse; padila--recited.
TRANSLATION
Seeing the tigers and deer following Him, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately remembered the land of Vrndavana. He then began to recite a verse describing the transcendental quality of Vrndavana.
TEXT 39
TEXT
yatra naisarga-durvairah
sahasan nr-mrgadayah
mitranivajitavasa-
druta-rut-tarsanadikam
SYNONYMS
yatra--where; naisarga--by nature; durvairah--living in enmity; saha-asan--live together; nr--human beings; mrga-adayah--and animals; mitrani--friends; iva--like; ajita--of Lord Sri Krsna; avasa--residence; druta--gone away; ruj--anger; tarsana-adikam--thirst and so on.
TRANSLATION
"Vrndavana is the transcendental abode of the Lord. There is no hunger, anger or thirst there. Though naturally inimical, both human beings and fierce animals live together there in transcendental friendship."
PURPORT
This is a statement from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.13.60). After stealing the cowherd boys, calves and cows of Sri Krsna, Lord Brahma kept them asleep and hid them. After a moment, Brahma returned to see Krsna's condition. When he saw that Krsna was still busy with His cowherd boyfriends and animals and was not disturbed, Lord Brahma appreciated the transcendental opulence of Vrndavana.
TEXT 40
TEXT
'krsna krsna kaha' kari' prabhu yabe balila
'krsna' kahi' vyaghra-mrga nacite lagila
SYNONYMS
krsna krsna kaha--chant Krsna, Krsna; kari'--in this way; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yabe--when; balila--uttered; krsna kahi'--chanting the holy name of Krsna; vyaghra-mrga--the tigers and deer; nacite lagila--began to dance.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said,"Chant Krsna! Krsna!" the tigers and deer began to dance and chant, "Krsna!"
TEXT 41
TEXT
nace, kunde vyaghra-gana mrgi-gana-sange
balabhadra-bhattacarya dekhe apurva-range
SYNONYMS
nace--dance; kunde--jump; vyaghra-gana--the tigers; mrgi-gana-sange--with the does; balabhadra-bhattacarya--Balabhadra Bhattacarya; dekhe--sees; apurva-range--with great wonder.
TRANSLATION
When all the tigers and does danced and jumped, Balabhadra Bhattacarya saw them and was struck with wonder.
TEXT 42
TEXT
vyaghra-mrga anyonye kare alingana
mukhe mukha diya kare anyonye cumbana
SYNONYMS
vyaghra-mrga--the tigers and deer; anyonye--one another; kare--do; alingana--embracing; mukhe mukha diya--touching one anothers' mouths; kare--do; anyonye cumbana--kissing one another.
TRANSLATION
Indeed, the tigers and deer began to embrace one another, and, touching mouths, they began to kiss.
TEXT 43
TEXT
kautuka dekhiya prabhu hasite lagila
ta-sabake tahan chadi' age cali' gela
SYNONYMS
kautuka dekhiya--seeing this fun; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; hasite lagila--began to smile; ta-sabake--all of them; tahan chadi'--leaving there; age--forward; cali' gela--advanced.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw all this fun, He began to smile. Finally He left the animals and continued on His way.
TEXT 44
TEXT
mayuradi paksi-gana prabhure dekhiya
sange cale, 'krsna' bali' nace matta hana
SYNONYMS
mayura-adi--beginning with peacocks; paksi-gana--different types of birds; prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhiya--seeing; sange cale--go with Him; krsna bali'--chanting the holy name of Krsna; nace--dance; matta hana--becoming mad.
TRANSLATION
Various birds, including the peacock, saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and began to follow Him, chanting and dancing. They were all maddened by the holy name of Krsna.
TEXT 45
TEXT
'hari-bola' bali' prabhu kare ucca-dhvani
vrksa-lata----praphullita, sei dhvani suni'
SYNONYMS
hari-bola--the vibration of Hari-bol; bali'--chanting; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare--makes; ucca-dhvani--a loud sound; vrksa-lata--the trees and creepers; praphullita--very jubilant; sei--that; dhvani--sound; suni'--hearing.
TRANSLATION
When the Lord loudly chanted "Hari bol!" the trees and creepers became jubilant to hear Him.
PURPORT
The loud chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra is so powerful that it can even penetrate the ears of trees and creepers-what to speak of animals and human beings. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu once asked Haridasa Thakura how trees and plants could be delivered, and Haridasa Thakura replied that the loud chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra would benefit not only trees and plants but insects and all other living beings. One should therefore not be disturbed by the loud chanting of Hare Krsna, for it is beneficial not only to the chanter but to everyone who gets an opportunity to hear.
TEXT 46
TEXT
'jharikhande' sthavara-jangama ache yata
krsna-nama diya kaila premete unmatta
SYNONYMS
jharikhande--in the place known as Jharikhanda; sthavara-jangama--moving and not moving; ache--there are; yata--all; krsna-nama diya--giving them the holy name of Lord Krsna; kaila--made; premete--in ecstasy; unmatta--mad.
TRANSLATION
Thus all living entities-some moving and some standing still in the forest of Jharikhanda-became maddened by hearing the holy name of Lord Krsna vibrated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
PURPORT
The great forest of Jharikhanda is a great tract of land including Atagada, Dhenkanala, Angula, Lahara, Kiyanjhada, Bamada, Bonai, Gangapura, Chota Nagapura, Yasapura and Saraguja. All these places, which are covered with mountains and jungles, are known as Jharikhanda.
TEXT 47
TEXT
yei grama diya yana, yahan karena sthiti
se-saba gramera lokera haya 'prema-bhakti'
SYNONYMS
yei grama--which villages; diya yana--the Lord goes through; yahan--where; karena--takes; sthiti--rest; se-saba--all those; gramera--of the villages; lokera--of the people; haya--there is awakening of; prema-bhakti--ecstatic love of God.
TRANSLATION
In all the villages through which the Lord passed and in all the places He rested on His journey, everyone was purified and awakened to ecstatic love of God.
TEXTS 48-49
TEXT
keha yadi tanra mukhe sune krsna-nama
tanra mukhe ana sune tanra mukhe ana
sabe 'krsna' 'hari' bali' nace, kande, hase
paramparaya 'vaisnava' ha-ila sarva dese
SYNONYMS
keha--someone; yadi--when; tanra mukhe--from His mouth; sune--hears; krsna-nama--chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra; tanra mukhe--from the mouth of such chanters; ana sune--someone else hears; tanra mukhe--and from his mouth; ana--someone else; sabe--all of them; krsna--Lord Krsna's holy name; hari--another holy name of the Lord; bali'--chanting; nace--dance; kande--cry; hase--smile; paramparaya--by disciplic succession; vaisnava--devotees; ha-ila--became; sarva-dese--in all countries.
TRANSLATION
When someone heard the chanting of the holy name from the mouth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and someone else heard this chanting from that second person, and someone again heard this chanting from the third person, everyone in all countries became a Vaisnava through such disciplic succession. Thus everyone chanted the holy name of Krsna and Hari, and they danced, cried and smiled.
PURPORT
The transcendental power or potency of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is herein explained. First, the holy name is vibrated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When someone hears from Him directly, he is purified. When another person hears from that person, he also is purified. In this way the purification process is advanced among pure devotees. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and no one can claim His potency. Nonetheless, if one is a pure devotee, hundreds and thousands of men can be purified by his vibration. This potency is within every living being, provided he chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra offenselessly and without material motives. When a pure devotee chants offenselessly, another person will become a Vaisnava, and from him another Vaisnava will emerge. This is the parampara system.
TEXT 50
TEXT
yadyapi prabhu loka-sanghattera trase
prema 'gupta' karena, bahire na prakase
SYNONYMS
yadyapi--although; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; loka-sanghattera--of crowds of people; trase--being afraid; prema--ecstasy; gupta karena--keeps hidden; bahire--externally; na--does not; prakase--manifest.
TRANSLATION
The Lord did not always manifest His ecstasy. Being afraid of a great assembly of people, the Lord kept His ecstasy concealed.
TEXT 51
TEXT
tathapi tanra darsana-sravana-prabhave
sakala desera loka ha-ila 'vaisnave'
SYNONYMS
tathapi--still; tanra--His; darsana--of seeing; sravana--of hearing; prabhave--by the potency; sakala--all; desera--of countries; loka--people; ha-ila--became; vaisnave--pure devotees of the Lord.
TRANSLATION
Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not manifest His natural ecstatic love, everyone became a pure devotee simply by seeing and hearing Him.
PURPORT
Srila Rupa Gosvami has described Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as maha-vadanya-avatara, the most munificent incarnation. Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is not physically present now, simply by chanting His holy name (sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda) people throughout the world are becoming devotees. This is due to the ecstatic chanting of the holy name of the Lord. It is said that a pure devotee can see the Lord every moment, and because of this he is empowered by the Lord. This is confirmed in the Brahma-samhita: premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared five hundred years ago, but it cannot be said that now the potency of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is less powerful than it was in His presence. By hearing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu through the parampara system, one can be purified. Therefore in this verse it is said: tathapi tanra darsana-sravana-prabhave. It is not that everyone is able to see Krsna or Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu physically, but if one hears about Him through books like Sri Caitanya-caritamrta and through the parampara system of pure Vaisnavas, there is no difficulty in becoming a pure Vaisnava, free from mundane desires and personal motivations.
TEXT 52
TEXT
gauda, banga, utkala, daksina-dese giya
lokera nistara kaila apane bhramiya
SYNONYMS
gauda--Bengal; banga--East Bengal; utkala--Orissa; daksina-dese--southern India; giya--going; lokera--of all the people; nistara--liberation; kaila--did; apane--personally; bhramiya--touring.
TRANSLATION
In this way, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally toured Bengal, East Bengal, Orissa and the southern countries, and He delivered all kinds of people by spreading Krsna consciousness.
TEXT 53
TEXT
mathura yaibara chale asena jharikhanda
bhilla-praya loka tahan parama-pasanda
SYNONYMS
mathura--to Mathura; yaibara--of going; chale--on the pretext; asena--came; jharikhanda--to Jharikhanda; bhilla-praya--like the Bheels, a kind of low people; loka--people; tahan--there; parama-pasanda--without God consciousness.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to Jharikhanda on His way to Mathura, He found that the people there were almost uncivilized and were devoid of God consciousness.
PURPORT
The word bhilla refers to a class of men belonging to the Bheels. The Bheels are like Black Africans, and they are lower than sudras. Such people generally live in the jungle, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had to meet them.
TEXT 54
TEXT
nama-prema diya kaila sabara nistara
caitanyera gudha-lila bujhite sakti kara
SYNONYMS
nama-prema diya--bestowing upon them ecstatic love and the holy name; kaila--did; sabara nistara--liberation of all of them; caitanyera--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gudha-lila--confidential pastimes; bujhite--to understand; sakti--the power; kara--who has.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave even the Bheels an opportunity to chant the holy name and come to the platform of ecstatic love. Thus He delivered all of them. Who has the power to understand the transcendental pastimes of the Lord?
PURPORT
As evidence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy, we are experiencing that the people of Africa are taking to Krsna consciousness, chanting and dancing and taking prasada like other Vaisnavas. This is all due to the power of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Who can understand how His potency is working all over the world?
TEXT 55
TEXT
vana dekhi' bhrama haya----ei 'vrndavana'
saila dekhi' mane haya----ei 'govardhana'
SYNONYMS
vana dekhi'--seeing the forest; bhrama haya--there is illusion; ei--this; vrndavana--Vrndavana forest; saila dekhi'--seeing a hill; mane haya--considers; ei govardhana--this is Govardhana Hill.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed through the Jharikhanda forest, He took it for granted that it was Vrndavana. When He passed over the hills, He took it for granted that they were Govardhana.
TEXT 56
TEXT
yahan nadi dekhe tahan manaye----'kalindi'
maha-premavese nace prabhu pade kandi'
SYNONYMS
yahan--wherever; nadi--river; dekhe--sees; tahan--there; manaye--considers; kalindi--the River Yamuna; maha-prema-avese--in great ecstatic love; nace--dances; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; pade--falls down; kandi'--crying.
TRANSLATION
Similarly, whenever Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw a river, He immediately accepted it as the River Yamuna. Thus while in the forest He was filled with great ecstatic love, and He danced and fell down crying.
TEXT 57
TEXT
pathe yaite bhattacarya saka-mula-phala
yahan yei payena tahan layena sakala
SYNONYMS
pathe yaite--while passing on the way; bhattacarya--Balabhadra Bhattacarya; saka--spinach; mula--roots; phala--fruits; yahan--wherever; yei--whatever; payena--he gets; tahan--there; layena--he takes; sakala--all.
TRANSLATION
Along the way, Balabhadra Bhattacarya collected all kinds of spinach, roots and fruit whenever possible.
TEXT 58
TEXT
ye-grame rahena prabhu, tathaya brahmana
panca-sata jana asi' kare nimantrana
SYNONYMS
ye-grame--in whatever village; rahena--stays; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tathaya--there; brahmana--brahmanas; panca-sata jana--five or seven persons; asi'--coming; kare--do; nimantrana--invitation.
TRANSLATION
Whenever Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited a village, a few brahmanas-five or seven-would come and extend invitations to the Lord.
TEXT 59
TEXT
keha anna ani' deya bhattacarya-sthane
keha dugdha, dadhi, keha ghrta, khanda ane
SYNONYMS
keha--someone; anna--grains; ani'--bringing; deya--delivers; bhattacarya-sthane--before Balabhadra Bhattacarya; keha--someone; dugdha--milk; dadhi--yogurt; keha--someone; ghrta--ghee; khanda--sugar; ane--brings.
TRANSLATION
Some people would bring grains and deliver them to Balabhadra Bhattacarya. Others would bring milk and yogurt, and still others would bring ghee and sugar.
TEXT 60
TEXT
yahan vipra nahi tahan 'sudra-mahajana'
asi' sabe bhattacarye kare nimantrana
SYNONYMS
yahan--wherever; vipra--brahmana; nahi--there is not; tahan--there; sudra-maha-jana--devotees born in families other than brahmana; asi'--coming; sabe--all of them; bhattacarye--to Balabhadra Bhattacarya; kare nimantrana--make invitation.
TRANSLATION
In some villages there were no brahmanas; nonetheless, devotees born in non-brahmana families came and extended invitations to Balabhadra Bhattacarya.
PURPORT
Actually a sannyasi or a brahmana will not accept an invitation extended by a person born in a lower family. However, there are many devotees who are raised to the platform of brahmana by their initiation. These people are called sudra-mahajana. This indicates that one who is born in a non-brahmana family has accepted the brahmana status by initiation. Such devotees extended invitations to Balabhadra Bhattacarya. A Mayavadi sannyasi will accept an invitation only from a brahmana family, but a Vaisnava does not accept an invitation from a brahmana if he does not belong to the Vaisnava sect. However, a Vaisnava will accept an invitation from a brahmana or sudra-mahajana if that person is an initiated Vaisnava. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself accepted invitations from sudra-mahajanas, and this confirms the fact that anyone initiated by a Vaisnava mantra can be accepted as a brahmana. One can accept an invitation from such a person.
TEXT 61
TEXT
bhattacarya paka kare vanya-vyanjana
vanya-vyanjane prabhura anandita mana
SYNONYMS
bhattacarya--Balabhadra Bhattacarya; paka kare--cooks; vanya-vyanjana--all varieties of forest vegetables; vanya-vyanjane--by such forest vegetables; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; anandita mana--the mind is very happy.
TRANSLATION
Balabhadra Bhattacarya used to cook all kinds of vegetables gathered from the forest, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very pleased to accept these preparations.
TEXTS 62-63
TEXT
dui-cari dinera anna rakhena samhati
yahan sunya vana, lokera nahika vasati
tahan sei anna bhattacarya kare paka
phala-mule vyanjana kare, vanya nana saka
SYNONYMS
dui-cari--two to four; dinera--of days; anna--food grains; rakhena--keeps; samhati--in stock; yahan--wherever; sunya vana--the solitary forest; lokera--of people; nahika--there is not; vasati--habitation; tahan--there; sei--those; anna--food grains; bhattacarya--Balabhadra Bhattacarya; kare paka--cooks; phala-mule--with roots and fruits; vyanjana kare--he prepares vegetables; vanya--from the forest; nana saka--many kinds of spinach.
TRANSLATION
Balabhadra Bhattacarya used to keep a stock of food grains that would last from two to four days. Where there were no people, he would cook the grains and prepare vegetables, spinach, roots and fruits collected from the forest.
TEXT 64
TEXT
parama santosa prabhura vanya-bhojane
maha-sukha pana, ye dina rahena nirjane
SYNONYMS
parama--very much; santosa--satisfaction; prabhura--of the Lord; vanya-bhojane--in eating vegetables collected from the forest; maha-sukha pana--gets great happiness; ye dina--on which day; rahena--stays; nirjane--in a solitary place.
TRANSLATION
The Lord was always very happy to eat these forest vegetables, and He was even happier when He had an opportunity to stay in a solitary place.
TEXT 65
TEXT
bhattacarya seva kare, snehe yaiche 'dasa'
tanra vipra vahe jala-patra-bahirvasa
SYNONYMS
bhattacarya--Balabhadra Bhattacarya; seva kare--renders service; snehe--in great affection; yaiche--exactly like; dasa--a servant; tanra vipra--his brahmana assistant; vahe--carries; jala-patra--the waterpot; bahirvasa--and garments.
TRANSLATION
Balabhadra Bhattacarya was so affectionate to the Lord that he was rendering service just like a menial servant. His assistant brahmana carried the waterpot and garments.
TEXT 66
TEXT
nirjharete usnodake snana tina-bara
dui-sandhya agni-tapa kasthera apara
SYNONYMS
nirjharete--in the waterfalls; usna-udake--in warm water; snana--bath; tina-bara--thrice; dui-sandhya--morning and evening; agni-tapa--heating by a fire; kasthera--of wood; apara--without limit.
TRANSLATION
The Lord used to bathe three times a day in the warm water of the waterfalls. He also used to heat Himself morning and evening with a fire made of the limitless wood.
TEXT 67
TEXT
nirantara premavese nirjane gamana
sukha anubhavi' prabhu kahena vacana
SYNONYMS
nirantara--always; prema-avese--in ecstatic love; nirjane--in a solitary place; gamana--going; sukha anubhavi'--feeling happiness; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahena--says; vacana--statement.
TRANSLATION
While traveling in this secluded forest and feeling very happy, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu made the following statement.
TEXT 68
TEXT
suna, bhattacarya,----"ami gelana bahu-desa
vana-pathe duhkhera kahan nahi pai lesa
SYNONYMS
suna--please hear; bhattacarya--My dear Bhattacarya; ami--I; gelana--traveled; bahu-desa--many countries; vana-pathe--through the forest path; duhkhera--of unhappiness; kahan--anywhere; nahi pai--I do not get; lesa--even a trace.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Bhattacarya, I have traveled very far through the forest, and I have not even slightly received any trouble.
TEXT 69
TEXT
krsna----krpalu, amaya bahuta krpa kaila
vana-pathe ani' amaya bada sukha dila
SYNONYMS
krsna--Lord Krsna; krpalu--very kind; amaya--upon Me; bahuta--greatly; krpa--mercy; kaila--showed; vana-pathe--on the path in the forest; ani'--bringing; amaya--unto Me; bada--very much; sukha--happiness; dila--gave.
TRANSLATION
"Krsna is very merciful, especially to Me. He has shown His mercy by bringing Me on this path through the forest. Thus He has given Me great pleasure.
TEXT 70
TEXT
purve vrndavana yaite karilana vicara
mata, ganga, bhakta-gane dekhiba eka-bara
SYNONYMS
purve--formerly; vrndavana--to the holy place of Vrndavana; yaite--to go; karilana--I did; vicara--consideration; mata--mother; ganga--the Ganges; bhakta-gane--and devotees; dekhiba--I shall see; eka-bara--once.
TRANSLATION
"Before this, I decided to go to Vrndavana and on the way see My mother, the River Ganges and other devotees once again.
TEXT 71
TEXT
bhakta-gana-sange avasya kariba milana
bhakta-gane sange lana yaba 'vrndavana'
SYNONYMS
bhakta-gana-sange--with all My devotees; avasya--certainly; kariba--shall do; milana--meeting; bhakta-gane--all the devotees; sange--along with Me; lana--taking; yaba--I shall go; vrndavana--to Vrndavana-dhama.
TRANSLATION
"I thought that once again I would see and meet all the devotees and take them with Me to Vrndavana.
TEXT 72
TEXT
eta bhavi' gauda-dese karilun gamana
mata, ganga bhakte dekhi' sukhi haila mana
SYNONYMS
eta bhavi'--thinking like this; gauda-dese--to Bengal; karilun gamana--I went; mata--My mother; ganga--the Ganges; bhakte--devotees; dekhi'--seeing; sukhi--happy; haila--became; mana--My mind.
TRANSLATION
"Thus I went to Bengal, and I was very happy to see My mother, the River Ganges and the devotees.
TEXT 73
TEXT
bhakta-gane lana tabe calilana range
laksa-koti loka tahan haila ama-sange
SYNONYMS
bhakta-gane--all the devotees; lana--taking; tabe--then; calilana range--I started with great pleasure; laksa-koti--many thousands and millions; loka--people; tahan--there; haila--became; ama-sange--My companions.
TRANSLATION
"However, when I started for Vrndavana, many thousands and millions of people gathered and began to go with Me.
TEXT 74
TEXT
sanatana-mukhe krsna ama sikhaila
taha vighna kari' vana-pathe lana aila
SYNONYMS
sanatana-mukhe--from the mouth of Sanatana; krsna--Lord Krsna; ama--unto Me; sikhaila--gave instructions; taha--that; vighna kari'--making a hindrance; vana-pathe--on the path through the forest; lana--taking; aila--came.
TRANSLATION
"Thus I was going to Vrndavana with a big crowd, but through the mouth of Sanatana, Krsna taught Me a lesson. Thus by making some impediment, He has brought Me on a path through the forest to Vrndavana.
TEXT 75
TEXT
krpara samudra, dina-hine dayamaya
krsna-krpa vina kona 'sukha' nahi haya"
SYNONYMS
krpara samudra--ocean of mercy; dina-hine--unto the poor and fallen; daya-maya--very merciful; krsna-krpa--the mercy of Krsna; vina--without; kona--any; sukha--happiness; nahi haya--there is not.
TRANSLATION
"Krsna is an ocean of mercy. He is especially merciful to the poor and fallen. Without His mercy, there is no possibility of happiness."
TEXT 76
TEXT
bhattacarye alingiya tanhare kahila
'tomara prasade ami eta sukha paila'
SYNONYMS
bhattacarye--Balabhadra Bhattacarya; alingiya--embracing; tanhare--unto him; kahila--said; tomara prasade--by your kindness; ami--I; eta--so much; sukha--happiness; paila--got.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then embraced Balabhadra Bhattacarya and told him, "It is only by your kindness that I am now so happy."
TEXT 77
TEXT
tenho kahena,----"tumi 'krsna', tumi 'dayamaya'
adhama jiva muni, more ha-ila sadaya
SYNONYMS
tenho kahena--Bhattacarya said; tumi krsna--You are Krsna Himself; tumi--You; daya-maya--merciful; adhama--the lowest of the low; jiva--living entity; muni--I; more--unto me; ha-ila--You have been; sa-daya--favorable.
TRANSLATION
Balabhadra Bhattacarya replied, "My dear Lord, You are Krsna Himself, and therefore You are merciful. I am a fallen living entity, but You have bestowed a great favor upon me.
TEXT 78
TEXT
muni chara, more tumi sange lana aila
krpa kari' mora hate 'prabhu' bhiksa kaila
SYNONYMS
muni--I; chara--most fallen; more--me; tumi--You; sange--with; lana--taking; aila--have come; krpa kari'--showing great mercy; mora hate--from my hand; prabhu--my Lord; bhiksa kaila--You accepted food.
TRANSLATION
"Sir, I am most fallen, yet You have brought me with You. Showing great mercy, You have accepted food prepared by me.
TEXT 79
TEXT
adhama-kakere kaila garuda-samana
'svatantra isvara' tumi----svayam bhagavan"
SYNONYMS
adhama-kakere--the most condemned crow; kaila--You have made; garuda-samana--like Garuda; svatantra--independent; isvara--Supreme Personality of Godhead; tumi--You; svayam bhagavan--the original Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
"You have made me Your carrier Garuda, although I am no better than a condemned crow. Thus You are the independent Personality of Godhead, the original Lord.
TEXT 80
TEXT
mukam karoti vacalam
pangum langhayate girim
yat-krpa tam aham vande
paramananda-madhavam
SYNONYMS
mukam--a person who cannot speak; karoti--makes; vacalam--an eloquent speaker; pangum--a person who cannot even walk; langhayate--causes to cross over; girim--the mountain; yat-krpa--whose mercy; tam--unto Him; aham--I; vande--offer obeisances; parama-ananda--the transcendentally blissful; madhavam--Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
" 'The Supreme Personality of Godhead has the form of sac-cid-ananda vigraha, transcendental bliss, knowledge and eternity. I offer my respectful obeisances unto He who turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains. Such is the mercy of the Lord.' "
PURPORT
This is a quotation from the Bhavartha-dipika commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.1).
TEXT 81
TEXT
ei-mata balabhadra karena stavana
prema-seva kari' tusta kaila prabhura mana
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; balabhadra--Balabhadra Bhattacarya; karena--offers; stavana--prayers; prema-seva kari'--rendering service in love; tusta--pacified; kaila--made; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mana--the mind.
TRANSLATION
In this way Balabhadra Bhattacarya offered his prayers to the Lord. By rendering service unto Him in ecstatic love, He pacified the Lord's mind.
TEXT 82
TEXT
ei-mata nana-sukhe prabhu aila 'kasi'
madhyahna-snana kaila manikarnikaya asi'
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; nana-sukhe--in great happiness; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; aila--came; kasi--to the holy place named Kasi; madhyahna-snana--afternoon bath; kaila--took; manikarnikaya--to the bathing place known as Manikarnika; asi'--coming.
TRANSLATION
Finally the Lord with great happiness arrived at the holy place called Kasi. There He took His bath in the bathing ghat known as Manikarnika.
PURPORT
Kasi is another name for Varanasi (Benares). It has been a place of pilgrimage since time immemorial. Two rivers named Asih and Varuna merge there. Manikarnika is famous because, according to the opinion of great personalities, a bejeweled earring fell there from the ear of Lord Visnu. According to some, it fell from the ear of Lord Siva. The word mani means "jewel," and karnika means "from the ear." According to some, Lord Visvanatha is the great physician who cures the disease of material existence by delivering a person through the ear, which receives the vibration of the holy name of Lord Rama. Because of this, this holy place is called Mani-karnika. It is said that there is no better place than where the River Ganges flows, and the bathing ghat known as Manikarnika is especially sanctified because it is very dear to Lord Visvanatha. In the Kasi-khanda it is said: samsari-cintamanir atra yasmat tarakam sajjana-karnikayam. sivo 'bhidhatte saha-santa-kale tad giyate 'sau mani-karniketi. mukti-laksmi maha-pitha-manis tac caranabjayoh. karnikeyam tatah prahur yam jana mani-karnikam. According to the Kasi-khanda, if one gives up his body at Manikarnika, he is liberated simply by remembering Lord Siva's name.
TEXT 83
TEXT
sei-kale tapana-misra kare ganga-snana
prabhu dekhi' haila tanra kichu vismaya jnana
SYNONYMS
sei-kale--at that time; tapana-misra--a brahmana named Tapana Misra; kare ganga-snana--was taking his bath in the Ganges; prabhu dekhi'--seeing the Lord; haila--there was; tanra--his; kichu--some; vismaya jnana--astonishment.
TRANSLATION
At that time, Tapana Misra was taking his bath in the Ganges, and he was astonished to see the Lord there.
TEXT 84
TEXT
'purve suniyachi prabhu karyachena sannyasa'
niscaya kariya haila hrdaye ullasa
SYNONYMS
purve--formerly; suniyachi--I have heard; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karyachena sannyasa--has accepted the renounced order of life; niscaya kariya--ascertaining that; haila--there was; hrdaye--within the heart; ullasa--great jubilation.
TRANSLATION
Tapana Misra then began to think, "I have heard that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has accepted the renounced order." Thinking this, Tapana Misra became very jubilant within his heart.
TEXT 85
TEXT
prabhura carana dhari' karena rodana
prabhu tare uthana kaila alingana
SYNONYMS
prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carana--lotus feet; dhari'--touching; karena--does; rodana--crying; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tare--him; uthana--raising; kaila--did; alingana--embracing.
TRANSLATION
He then clasped the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and began to cry. The Lord raised him up and embraced him.
TEXT 86
TEXT
prabhu lana gela visvesvara-darasane
tabe asi' dekhe bindu-madhava-carane
SYNONYMS
prabhu lana--taking the Lord; gela--he went; visvesvara-darasane--to visit the temple of Visvesvara; tabe--thereafter; asi'--coming; dekhe--see; bindu-madhava-carane--the lotus feet of Bindu Madhava.
TRANSLATION
Tapana Misra then took Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to visit the temple of Visvesvara. Coming from there, they saw the lotus feet of Lord Bindu Madhava.
PURPORT
This Bindu Madhava is the oldest Visnu temple in Varanasi. Presently this temple is known as Veni Madhava, and it is situated on the banks of the Ganges. Formerly five rivers converged there, and they were named Dhutapapa, Kirana, Sarasvati, Ganga and Yamuna. Now only the River Ganges is visible. The old temple of Bindu Madhava, which was visited by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, was later dismantled by Aurangzeb, the great Hindu-hating emperor of the Mogul dynasty. In the place of this temple, he constructed a big majida, or mosque. Later, another temple was constructed by the side of the mosque, and this temple is still existing. In the temple of Bindu Madhava there are Deities of four-handed Narayana and the goddess Laksmi. In front of these Deities is a column of Sri Garuda, and along the side are deities of Lord Rama, Sita, Laksmana and Sri Hanumanji.
In the province of Maharastra is a state known as Satara. During the time of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, the native prince belonged to the Vaisnava cult. Being a brahmana, he took charge of worshiping the Deity. He was known as Srimanta Balasaheba Pantha Maharaja. The state still bears the expenditure for temple maintenance. The first king in this dynasty to take charge of worship in the temple, two hundred years ago, was Maharaja Jagatjivana Rao Saheba.
TEXT 87
TEXT
ghare lana aila prabhuke anandita hana
seva kari' nrtya kare vastra udana
SYNONYMS
ghare lana--taking to his home; aila--came; prabhuke--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; anandita hana--in great happiness; seva kari'--rendering service; nrtya kare--began to dance; vastra udana--waving his cloth.
TRANSLATION
With great pleasure Tapana Misra brought Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his home and rendered service unto Him. Indeed, he began to dance, waving his cloth.
TEXT 88
TEXT
prabhura caranodaka savamse kaila pana
bhattacaryera puja kaila kariya sammana
SYNONYMS
prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carana-udaka--the water used to wash the lotus feet; sa-vamse--with his whole family; kaila pana--drank; bhattacaryera--of Bhattacarya; puja--worship; kaila--performed; kariya--showing; sammana--respect.
TRANSLATION
He washed the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and afterwards he and his whole family drank the wash water. He also worshiped Balabhadra Bhattacarya and showed him respect.
TEXT 89
TEXT
prabhure nimantrana kari' ghare bhiksa dila
balabhadra-bhattacarye paka karaila
SYNONYMS
prabhure nimantrana kari'--inviting the Lord; ghare--at home; bhiksa dila--gave lunch; balabhadra-bhattacarye--Balabhadra Bhattacarya; paka karaila--he had cook.
TRANSLATION
Tapana Misra invited Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to take lunch at his home, and he had Balabhadra Bhattacarya cook.
PURPORT
While at Varanasi (Benares), Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at the house of Tapana Misra. Near Tapana Misra's house was a bathing ghat known as Pancanadi-ghata. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to take His bath daily at this ghat, and He used to see the temple of Bindu Madhava. Then He took His lunch at Tapana Misra's house. Near the Bindu Madhava temple is a big banyan tree, and it is said that after eating, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to rest beneath the tree. That banyan tree is still known today as Caitanya-vata. Gradually, due to changes in language, the name became Yatana-vata. The local people still call that place Yatana-vata.
Presently, beside a lane there is a tomb of Vallabhacarya, but there is no sign that Caitanya Mahaprabhu ever lived there. Vallabhacarya was also known as Mahaprabhu among his disciples. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu probably lived at Yatana-vata, but there is no sign of Candrasekhara's or Tapana Misra's house, nor is there sign of the Mayavadi sannyasi Prakasananda Sarasvati, with whom Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu discussed Vedanta-sutra. A little distance from Yatana-vata is a temple of Gaura-Nityananda established by Sasibhusana Niyogi Mahasaya of Calcutta. This temple is now managed by the mother-in-law of Sasibhusana and his brother-in-law Narayana-candra Ghosh.
TEXT 90
TEXT
bhiksa kari' mahaprabhu karila sayana
misra-putra raghu kare pada-samvahana
SYNONYMS
bhiksa kari'--after finishing His lunch; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karila sayana--took rest; misra-putra--the son of Tapana Misra; raghu--Raghu; kare--does; pada-samvahana--massaging the legs.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took His rest after lunch, the son of Tapana Misra, named Raghu, used to massage His legs.
TEXT 91
TEXT
prabhura 'sesanna' misra savamse khaila
'prabhu aila' suni' candrasekhara aila
SYNONYMS
prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sesa-anna--remnants of food; misra--Tapana Misra; sa-vamse--along with his family; khaila--ate; prabhu aila--the Lord has arrived; suni'--hearing; candrasekhara aila--Candrasekhara came.
TRANSLATION
The remnants of food left by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu were taken by the whole family of Tapana Misra. When news spread that the Lord had come, Candrasekhara also came to see Him.
TEXT 92
TEXT
misrera sakha tenho prabhura purva dasa
vaidya-jati, likhana-vrtti, varanasi-vasa
SYNONYMS
misrera sakha--friend of Tapana Misra; tenho--he; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; purva dasa--former servant; vaidya-jati--by caste a physician; likhana-vrtti--by profession a clerk; varanasi-vasa--resident of Varanasi.
TRANSLATION
Candrasekhara happened to be a friend of Tapana Misra's, and he was long known to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as His servant. He was a physician by caste, and by profession he was a clerk. At the time he was living in Varanasi.
TEXT 93
TEXT
asi' prabhu-pade padi' karena rodana
prabhu uthi' tanre krpaya kaila alingana
SYNONYMS
asi'--coming; prabhu-pade--at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; padi'--falling down; karena--does; rodana--crying; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; uthi'--standing; tanre--unto him; krpaya--out of mercy; kaila--did; alingana--embracing.
TRANSLATION
When Candrasekhara came there, he fell down before the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and began to cry. The Lord, standing up, embraced him out of His causeless mercy.
TEXT 94
TEXT
candrasekhara kahe,----"prabhu, bada krpa kaila
apane asiya bhrtye darasana dila
SYNONYMS
candrasekhara kahe--Candrasekhara said; prabhu--my dear Lord; bada krpa kaila--You have shown Your causeless mercy; apane--personally; asiya--coming; bhrtye--unto Your servant; darasana dila--gave Your audience.
TRANSLATION
Candrasekhara said, "My dear Lord, You bestowed Your causeless mercy upon me because I am Your old servant. Indeed, You have come here personally to give me Your audience.
TEXT 95
TEXT
apana-prarabdhe vasi' varanasi-sthane
'maya', 'brahma' sabda vina nahi suni kane
SYNONYMS
apana-prarabdhe--because of my past deeds; vasi'--staying; varanasi-sthane--in the place known as Varanasi; maya--maya; brahma--and brahma; sabda--the words; vina--except; nahi suni--I do not hear; kane--in the ear.
TRANSLATION
"Due to my past deeds, I am residing at Varanasi, but here I do not hear anything but the words maya and Brahman."
PURPORT
The word prarabdhe (past deeds) is important in this verse. Since Candrasekhara was a devotee, he was always eager to hear about Krsna and His transcendental pastimes. Most of the inhabitants of Benares were and are impersonalists, worshipers of Lord Siva and followers of the pancopasana method. The impersonalists imagine some form of the impersonal Brahman, and to facilitate meditation they concentrate upon the forms of Visnu, Siva, Ganesa, Surya and goddess Durga. Actually these pancopasakas are not devotees of anyone. As it is said, to be a servant of everyone is to be the servant of no one. Varanasi, or Kasi, is the chief holy place of pilgrimage for impersonalists, and it is not at all suitable for devotees. A Vaisnava likes to live in a visnu-tirtha, a place where Lord Visnu's temples are present. In Varanasi there are many hundreds and thousands of Lord Siva's temples, or pancopasaka temples. Consequently Candrasekhara expressed great unhappiness as he informed Lord Caitanya that he was obliged to live at Benares due to his past misdeeds. In the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu it is also said, durjaty-arambhakam papam yat syat prarabdham eva tat. "According to one's past misdeeds, one takes birth on a lower platform." In the Brahma-samhita (5.54) it is said: karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam. There is no karma attached to the past deeds or misdeeds of one in devotional service. A devotee is not subjected to karma-phala, the effect of fruitive activity. Karma-phala is applicable to karmis, not bhaktas.
There are three kinds of devotees: those who are eternally on the transcendental platform (nitya-siddha), those elevated to the transcendental platform by the execution of devotional service (sadhana-siddha), and those who are neophytes advancing toward the perfectional platform (sadhaka). The sadhakas are gradually becoming free from fruitive reaction. Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.1.17) describes the symptoms of bhakti-yoga thus:
klesa-ghni subhada moksa-
laghutakrt sudurlabha
sandrananda-visesatma
sri-krsnakarsini ca sa
Devotional service is klesa-ghni even for beginners. This means that it reduces or nullifies all kinds of suffering. The word subhada indicates that devotional service bestows all good fortune, and the words krsna-akarsini indicate that devotional service gradually attracts Krsna toward the devotee. Consequently a devotee is not subject to any sinful reaction. In Bhagavad-gita (18.66) Krsna says:
sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah
"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear."
Thus a fully surrendered, sincere devotee immediately receives relief from all kinds of sinful reaction. There are three stages of fructification for sinful activity. At one stage, one commits the sinful act. Before that, the seed of this act exists, and before that there is ignorance whereby one commits the sin. Suffering is involved in all three stages. However, Krsna is merciful to His devotee, and consequently He immediately nullifies all three stages-the sin, the seed of sin and the ignorance that leads one to sin. Padma Purana confirms this:
aprarabdha-phalam papam
kutam bijam phalonmukham
kramenaiva praliyeta
visnu-bhakti-ratatmanam
For a further explanation of this, The Nectar of Devotion should be consulted.
TEXT 96
TEXT
sad-darsana-vyakhya vina katha nahi etha
misra krpa kari' more sunana krsna-katha
SYNONYMS
sat-darsana--of six kinds of philosophical theses; vyakhya--explanation; vina--except; katha--talk; nahi--not; etha--here; misra--Tapana Misra; krpa kari'--being very merciful; more--unto me; sunana--explains; krsna-katha--topics of Lord Sri Krsna.
TRANSLATION
Candrasekhara continued, "There is no talk at Varanasi other than discussions on the six philosophical theses. Nonetheless, Tapana Misra has been very kind to me, for he speaks about topics relating to Lord Krsna.
PURPORT
The six philosophical treatises are: (1) vaisesika, propounded by Kanada Rsi, (2) nyaya, propounded by Gautama Rsi, (3) yoga or mysticism, propounded by Patanjali Rsi, (4) the philosophy of sankhya, propounded by Kapila Rsi, (5) the philosophy of karma-mimamsa, propounded by Jaimini Rsi, and (6) the philosophy of brahma-mimamsa, or Vedanta, the ultimate conclusion of the Absolute Truth (janmady asya yatah), propounded by Vedavyasa. Actually Vedanta philosophy is meant for the devotees because in Bhagavad-gita Lord Krsna says, vedanta-krd veda-vid eva caham: "I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas." (Bg. 15.15) Vyasadeva is an incarnation of Krsna, and consequently Krsna is the compiler of Vedanta philosophy. Therefore Krsna clearly knows the purport of Vedanta philosophy. As stated in Bhagavad-gita, whoever hears Vedanta philosophy from Krsna is actually aware of the real meaning of Vedanta. The Mayavadis who have called themselves Vedantists do not at all understand the purport of Vedanta philosophy. Not being properly educated, people in general think that Vedanta means the Sankarite interpretation.
TEXT 97
TEXT
nirantara dunhe cinti tomara carana
'sarvajna isvara' tumi dila darasana
SYNONYMS
nirantara--incessantly; dunhe--we two; cinti--think of; tomara carana--Your lotus feet; sarva-jna--omniscient; isvara--Supreme Personality of Godhead; tumi--You; dila darasana--gave Your audience.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Lord, we two think of Your lotus feet incessantly. Although You are the omniscient Supreme Personality of Godhead, You have granted us Your audience.
TEXT 98
TEXT
suni,----'mahaprabhu' yabena sri-vrndavane
dina kata rahi' tara' bhrtya dui-jane"
SYNONYMS
suni--I hear; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yabena--will go; sri-vrndavane--to Vrndavana; dina kata--for some days; rahi'--staying; tara'--please deliver; bhrtya--servants; dui-jane--two persons.
TRANSLATION
"My Lord, I have heard that You are going to Vrndavana. After You stay here at Varanasi for some days, please deliver us, for we are Your two servants."
TEXT 99
TEXT
misra kahe,----'prabhu, yavat kasite rahiba
mora nimantrana vina anya na maniba'
SYNONYMS
misra kahe--Tapana Misra said; prabhu--my Lord; yavat--as long as; kasite rahiba--You will stay at Kasi, Varanasi; mora nimantrana--my invitation; vina--besides; anya--others; na maniba--do not accept.
TRANSLATION
Tapana Misra then said, "My dear Lord, as long as You stay at Varanasi, please do not accept any invitation other than mine."
TEXT 100
TEXT
ei-mata mahaprabhu dui bhrtyera vase
iccha nahi, tabu tatha rahila dina-dase
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dui--two; bhrtyera--by servants; vase--being obliged; iccha nahi--there was no such desire; tabu--still; tatha--there; rahila--remained; dina-dase--for ten days.
TRANSLATION
Even though He had not made such a plan, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu remained for ten days at Varanasi, being obligated by the requests of His two servants.
TEXT 101
TEXT
maharastriya vipra aise prabhu dekhibare
prabhura rupa-prema dekhi' haya camatkare
SYNONYMS
maharastriya--belonging to the Maharastra state; vipra--one brahmana; aise--comes; prabhu dekhibare--to see Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; rupa-prema--beauty and ecstatic love; dekhi'--seeing; haya camatkare--becomes astonished.
TRANSLATION
At Varanasi there was a Maharastriyan brahmana who used to come daily to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This brahmana was simply astonished to see the Lord's personal beauty and ecstatic love for Krsna.
TEXT 102
TEXT
vipra saba nimantraya, prabhu nahi mane
prabhu kahe,----'aji mora hanache nimantrane'
SYNONYMS
vipra--the brahmanas; saba--all; nimantraya--invite; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nahi mane--does not accept; prabhu kahe--the Lord replies; aji--today; mora--My; hanache--has been; nimantrane--invitation.
TRANSLATION
When the brahmanas of Varanasi would invite Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to lunch, the Lord would not accept their invitations. He would reply, "I have already been invited somewhere else."
TEXT 103
TEXT
ei-mata prati-dina karena vancana
sannyasira sanga-bhaye na manena nimantrana
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; prati-dina--daily; karena vancana--denies other inviters; sannyasira--of the Mayavadi sannyasis; sanga-bhaye--from fear of the association; na manena--does not accept; nimantrana--invitation.
TRANSLATION
Every day Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu refused their invitation because He feared associating with Mayavadi sannyasis.
PURPORT
A Vaisnava sannyasi never accepts an invitation from a party who considers Mayavadi sannyasis and Vaisnava sannyasis to be one and the same. In other words, Vaisnava sannyasis do not at all like to associate with Mayavadi sannyasis, to say nothing of eating together. This principle must be followed by the sannyasis of the Krsna consciousness movement. That is the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu given by His personal behavior.
TEXT 104
TEXT
prakasananda sripada sabhate vasiya
'vedanta' padana bahu sisya-gana lana
SYNONYMS
prakasananda--Prakasananda; sripada--a great sannyasi; sabhate--in the assembly; vasiya--sitting down; vedanta--Vedanta philosophy; padana--instructs; bahu--many; sisya-gana--disciples; lana--taking.
TRANSLATION
There was a great Mayavadi sannyasi named Prakasananda Sarasvati who used to teach Vedanta philosophy to a great assembly of followers.
PURPORT
Sripada Prakasananda Sarasvati was a Mayavadi sannyasi, and his characteristics have been described in Caitanya-bhagavata (Madhya-khanda Chapter Three):
'hasta', 'pada', 'mukha' mora nahika 'locana'
veda more ei-mata kare vidambana
kasite padaya veta 'prakasa-ananda'
sei veta kare mora anga khanda-khanda
vakhanaye veda, mora vigraha na mane
sarvange ha-ila kustha, tabu nahi jane
sarva-yajnamaya mora ye-anga----pavitra
'aja', 'bhava' adi gaya yanhara caritra
'punya' pavitrata paya ye-anga-parase
taha 'mithya' bale veta kemana sahase
In the Madhya-khanda, Chapter Twenty, it is said:
sannyasi 'prakasananda' vasaye kasite
more khanda-khanda veta kare bhala-mate
padaya 'vedanta', mora 'vigraha' na mane
kustha karailun ange, tabu nahi jane
'satya' mora 'lila-karma', 'satya' mora 'sthana'
iha 'mithya' bale, more kare khan-khan
Prakasananda Sarasvati used to explain impersonalism, the Absolute Truth, as being without hands, legs, mouths or eyes. In this way he used to cheat the people by denying the personal form of the Lord. Such a foolish person was Prakasananda Sarasvati, whose only business was to sever the limbs of the Lord by proving the Lord impersonal. Although the Lord has form, Prakasananda Sarasvati was attempting to cut off the hands and legs of the Lord. This is the business of demons. The Vedas state that people who do not accept the Lord's form are rascals. The form of the Lord is factual, for Krsna states in Bhagavad-gita (15.15): vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah. When Krsna says aham, He says "I am," which means "I," the person. He adds the word eva, which is used for conclusive verification. It is by Vedanta philosophy that one has to know the Supreme Person. Whoever describes Vedic knowledge as impersonal is a demon. One becomes successful in life by worshiping the form of the Lord. The Mayavadi sannyasis deny the form of the Lord, which delivers all fallen souls. Indeed, this form is cut to pieces by Mayavadi demons.
The Personality of Godhead is worshiped by exalted demigods like Lord Brahma and Lord Siva. The original Mayavadi sannyasi, Sankaracarya, also accepted the fact that the Lord's form is transcendental. Narayanah paro 'vyaktat: "Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is beyond the avyakta, the unmanifested material energy." Avyaktad anda-sambhavah: "This material world is a creation of that unmanifested material energy." However, Narayana has His own eternal form, which is not created by material energy. Simply by worshiping the form of the Lord, one is purified. However, Mayavadi sannyasis are impersonalist philosophers, and they describe the form of the Lord as maya, or false. How can one be purified by worshiping something false? Mayavadi philosophers have no sufficient reason for being impersonalists. They blindly follow a principle that cannot be supported by reason or argument. This was the situation with Prakasananda Sarasvati, the chief Mayavadi sannyasi of Benares. He was supposed to teach Vedanta philosophy, but he would not accept the form of the Lord; therefore he was attacked with leprosy. Nonetheless, he continued to commit sins by describing the Absolute Truth as impersonal. The Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, always displays pastimes and activities, but Mayavadi sannyasis claim that these activities are false.
Some people falsely claim that Prakasananda Sarasvati later became known as Prabodhananda Sarasvati, but this is not a fact. Prabodhananda Sarasvati was the uncle and spiritual master of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. In his grhastha life, Prabodhananda Sarasvati was a resident of Sri Ranga-ksetra, and he belonged to the Vaisnava Ramanuja-sampradaya. It is a mistake to consider Prakasananda Sarasvati and Prabodhananda Sarasvati the same man.
TEXT 105
TEXT
eka vipra dekhi' aila prabhura vyavahara
prakasananda-age kahe caritra tanhara
SYNONYMS
eka vipra--one brahmana; dekhi'--seeing; aila--came; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vyavahara--activities; prakasananda-age--before the Mayavadi sannyasi Prakasananda; kahe--says; caritra tanhara--His characteristics.
TRANSLATION
One brahmana who saw the wonderful behavior of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to Prakasananda Sarasvati and described the Lord's characteristics.
TEXT 106
TEXT
"eka sannyasi aila jagannatha haite
tanhara mahima-pratapa na pari varnite
SYNONYMS
eka--one; sannyasi--person in the renounced order of life; aila--has come; jagannatha haite--from Jagannatha Puri; tanhara--His; mahima--glories; pratapa--influence; na pari varnite--I cannot describe.
TRANSLATION
The brahmana told Prakasananda Sarasvati, "There is a sannyasi who has come from Jagannatha Puri, and I cannot describe His wonderful influence and glories.
TEXT 107
TEXT
sakala dekhiye tante adbhuta-kathana
prakanda-sarira, suddha-kancana-varana
SYNONYMS
sakala dekhiye--I see everything; tante--in Him; adbhuta-kathana--wonderful description; prakanda-sarira--very large body; suddha--pure; kancana--gold; varana--complexion.
TRANSLATION
"Everything is wonderful about that sannyasi. He has a very well built and luxurious body, and His complexion is like purified gold.
TEXT 108
TEXT
ajanu-lambita bhuja, kamala-nayana
yata kichu isvarera sarva sal-laksana
SYNONYMS
ajanu-lambita--reaching down to the knees; bhuja--arms; kamala-nayana--eyes like the petals of a lotus flower; yata--as many as; kichu--any; isvarera--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarva--all; sat-laksana--transcendental symptoms.
TRANSLATION
"He has arms that extend to His knees, and His eyes are like the petals of a lotus. In His person are all the transcendental symptoms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TEXT 109
TEXT
taha dekhi' jnana haya----'ei narayana
yei tanre dekhe, kare krsna-sankirtana
SYNONYMS
taha dekhi'--seeing that; jnana haya--one comes to the conclusion; ei narayana--He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana Himself; yei--anyone who; tanre--Him; dekhe--sees; kare--performs; krsna-sankirtana--chanting of the holy name of Krsna.
TRANSLATION
"When one sees all these features, one takes Him to be Narayana Himself. Whoever sees Him immediately begins to chant the holy name of Krsna.
TEXT 110
TEXT
'maha-bhagavata'-laksana suni bhagavate
se-saba laksana prakata dekhiye tanhate
SYNONYMS
maha-bhagavata--of a first-class devotee; laksana--symptoms; suni--we hear; bhagavate--in Srimad-Bhagavatam; se-saba laksana--all those symptoms; prakata--manifest; dekhiye--I see; tanhate--in Him.
TRANSLATION
"We have heard about the symptoms of a first-class devotee in Srimad Bhagavatam, and all those symptoms are manifest in the body of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 111
TEXT
'nirantara krsna-nama' jihva tanra gaya
dui-netre asru vahe ganga-dhara-praya
SYNONYMS
nirantara--incessantly; krsna-nama--the holy name of the Lord; jihva--tongue; tanra--His; gaya--chants; dui-netre--in the two eyes; asru--tears; vahe--flow; ganga-dhara-praya--like the flow of the Ganges.
TRANSLATION
"His tongue is always chanting the holy name of Krsna, and from His eyes tears incessantly fall like the flowing Ganges.
TEXT 112
TEXT
ksane nace, hase, gaya, karaye krandana
ksane huhunkara kare,----simhera garjana
SYNONYMS
ksane--sometimes; nace--dances; hase--laughs; gaya--sings; karaye krandana--cries; ksane--sometimes; huhun-kara--loud vibrations; kare--makes; simhera garjana--the roaring of a lion.
TRANSLATION
"Sometimes He dances, laughs, sings and cries, and sometimes He roars like a lion.
TEXT 113
TEXT
jagat-mangala tanra 'krsna-caitanya'-nama
nama, rupa, guna tanra, saba----anupama
SYNONYMS
jagat-mangala--all-auspicious to the whole world; tanra--His; krsna-caitanya--Sri Krsna Caitanya; nama--name; nama--name; rupa--form; guna--the quality; tanra--His; saba--all; anupama--unparalleled.
TRANSLATION
"His name, Krsna Caitanya, is all-auspicious to the world. Everything about Him-His name, form, and qualities-is unparalleled.
TEXT 114
TEXT
dekhile se jani tanra 'isvarera riti'
alaukika katha suni' ke kare pratiti?"
SYNONYMS
dekhile--simply by seeing; se--Him; jani--I understand; tanra--His; isvarera riti--characteristics of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; alaukika--uncommon; katha--story; suni'--hearing; ke--who; kare pratiti--will believe.
TRANSLATION
"Simply by seeing Him, one understands that He possesses all the characteristics of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such characteristics are certainly uncommon. Who will believe it?"
TEXT 115
TEXT
suniya prakasananda bahuta hasila
vipre upahasa kari' kahite lagila
SYNONYMS
suniya--hearing; prakasananda--Prakasananda Sarasvati; bahuta hasila--laughed very much; vipre--at the brahmana; upahasa kari'--jokingly laughing; kahite lagila--began to speak.
TRANSLATION
Prakasananda Sarasvati laughed very much to hear this description. Joking and laughing at the brahmana, he began to speak as follows.
TEXT 116
TEXT
"suniyachi gauda-desera sannyasi----'bhavuka'
kesava-bharati-sisya, loka-prataraka
SYNONYMS
suniyachi--I have heard; gauda-desera sannyasi--the sannyasi from Bengal; bhavuka--sentimental; kesava-bharati-sisya--disciple of Kesava Bharati; loka-prataraka--a first-class pretender.
TRANSLATION
Prakasananda Sarasvati said, "Yes, I have heard about Him. He is a sannyasi from Bengal, and He is very sentimental. I have also heard that He belongs to the Bharati-sampradaya, for He is a disciple of Kesava Bharati. However, He is only a pretender."
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was considered bhavuka (sentimental) because He was always seen in the bhava stage. That is, He always exhibited ecstatic love for Krsna. However, foolish people considered Him sentimental. In the material world, so-called devotees sometimes exhibit emotional symptoms. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's ecstatic love cannot be compared to the imitative emotional exhibitions of pretenders. Such exhibitions do not continue for very long. They are temporary. We actually see that some emotional imitators exhibit certain symptoms, but immediately after their exhibition, they are attracted to smoking and other things. In the beginning, when Prakasananda Sarasvati heard of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's activities, he considered them to be those of a pretender. Consequently he called Him a loka-prataraka, a pretender. Mayavadis cannot understand the transcendental symptoms exhibited by a devotee; therefore when such symptoms are manifest, the Mayavadis equate them with temporary emotional feelings. However, Prakasananda Sarasvati's statement is offensive, and consequently he should be considered an atheist (pasandi). According to Srila Rupa Gosvami, since Prakasananda Sarasvati was not engaged in the Lord's devotional service, his sannyasa is to be considered phalgu-vairagya. This means that since he did not know how to use things for the Lord's service, his renunciation of the world was artificial.
TEXT 117
TEXT
'caitanya'-nama tanra, bhavuka-gana lana
dese dese grame grame bule nacana
SYNONYMS
caitanya--Caitanya; nama tanra--His name; bhavuka-gana lana--accompanied by some sentimentalists; dese dese--from country to country; grame grame--from village to village; bule--travels; nacana--causing to dance.
TRANSLATION
Prakasananda Sarasvati continued, "I know that His name is Sri Krsna Caitanya and that He is accompanied by many sentimentalists. His followers dance with Him, and He tours from country to country and village to village.
TEXT 118
TEXT
yei tanre dekhe, sei isvara kari' kahe
aiche mohana-vidya----ye dekhe se mohe
SYNONYMS
yei--anyone who; tanre--Him; dekhe--sees; sei--that person; isvara kari'--as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kahe--says; aiche--such; mohana-vidya--hypnotism; ye dekhe--anyone who sees; se mohe--he becomes illusioned.
TRANSLATION
"Whoever sees Him accepts Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Since He has some mystic power by which He hypnotizes people, everyone who sees Him is illusioned.
TEXT 119
TEXT
sarvabhauma bhattacarya----pandita prabala
suni' caitanyera sange ha-ila pagala
SYNONYMS
sarvabhauma bhattacarya--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; pandita prabala--a learned scholar; suni'--I have heard; caitanyera sange--in the association of Caitanya; ha-ila pagala--has become a madman.
TRANSLATION
"Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was a very learned scholar, but I have heard that he also has become a madman due to his association with this Caitanya.
TEXT 120
TEXT
'sannyasi'----nama-matra, maha-indrajali!
'kasipure' na vikabe tanra bhavakali
SYNONYMS
sannyasi--in the renounced order of life; nama-matra--in name only; maha-indrajali--first-class magician; kasipure--in Kasi; na vikabe--will not sell; tanra--His; bhavakali--sentimental activities.
TRANSLATION
"This Caitanya is a sannyasi in name only. Actually He is a first-class magician. In any case, His sentimentalism cannot be very much in demand here in Kasi.
TEXT 121
TEXT
'vedanta' sravana kara, na yaiha tanra pasa
ucchrnkhala-loka-sange dui-loka-nasa"
SYNONYMS
vedanta--the philosophy of Vedanta; sravana kara--go on hearing; na--do not; yaiha--go; tanra pasa--near Him; ucchrnkhala--upstart; loka--people; sange--in the association of; dui-loka-nasa--destruction in this world and the next.
TRANSLATION
"Do not go to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Just continue hearing Vedanta. If you associate with upstarts, you will be lost in this world and in the next."
PURPORT
The word ucchrnkhala, meaning "whimsical," is significant in this verse. In Bhagavad-gita (16.23), Lord Krsna Himself says:
yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya
vartate kama-karatah
na sa siddhim avapnoti
na sukham na param gatim
If one acts whimsically and does not follow the sastric principles, he will never attain perfection, happiness or the spiritual world.
TEXT 122
TEXT
eta suni' sei vipra maha-duhkha paila
'krsna' 'krsna' kahi' tatha haite uthi' gela
SYNONYMS
eta suni'--hearing this; sei vipra--that brahmana; maha-duhkha paila--became very much aggrieved; krsna krsna kahi'--uttering the holy name of Lord Krsna; tatha haite--from there; uthi' gela--got up and went away.
TRANSLATION
When the brahmana heard Prakasananda Sarasvati speak like this about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he became very grief-stricken. Chanting the holy name of Krsna, he immediately left.
TEXT 123
TEXT
prabhura darasane suddha hanache tanra mana
prabhu-age duhkhi hana kahe vivarana
SYNONYMS
prabhura darasane--by seeing personally the Supreme Personality of Godhead; suddha--purified; hanache--was; tanra mana--his mind; prabhu-age--before the Lord; duhkhi hana--being very much unhappy; kahe vivarana--described the incidents.
TRANSLATION
The brahmana's mind was already purified by seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He therefore went to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and described what took place before the Mayavadi sannyasi Prakasananda.
TEXT 124
TEXT
suni' mahaprabhu tabe isat hasila
punarapi sei vipra prabhure puchila
SYNONYMS
suni'--hearing; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tabe--then; isat--mildly; hasila--smiled; punarapi--again indeed; sei--that; vipra--brahmana; prabhure puchila--inquired from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
Hearing this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu mildly smiled. The brahmana then spoke again to the Lord.
TEXT 125
TEXT
"tara age yabe ami tomara nama la-ila
seha tomara nama jane,----apane kahila
SYNONYMS
tara age--before him; yabe--when; ami--I; tomara--Your; nama--name; laila--uttered; seha--he; tomara--Your; nama--name; jane--knows; apane kahila--he said himself.
TRANSLATION
The brahmana said,"As soon as I uttered Your name before him, he immediately confirmed the fact that he knew Your name.
TEXT 126
TEXT
tomara 'dosa' kahite kare namera uccara
'caitanya' 'caitanya' kari' kahe tina-bara
SYNONYMS
tomara dosa--Your fault; kahite--describing; kare--does; namera--of the name; uccara--utterances; caitanya caitanya--Caitanya, Caitanya; kari'--in that way; kahe tina-bara--he uttered three times.
TRANSLATION
"While finding fault with You, he uttered Your name three times, saying, 'Caitanya, Caitanya, Caitanya.'
TEXT 127
TEXT
tina-bare 'krsna-nama' na aila tara mukhe
'avajna'te nama laya, suni' pai duhkhe
SYNONYMS
tina-bare--three times; krsna-nama--the holy name of Krsna; na aila--did not come; tara mukhe--in his mouth; avajna'te--in contempt; nama laya--takes Your name; suni'--hearing; pai duhkhe--I was very much aggrieved.
TRANSLATION
"Although he spoke Your name three times, he did not utter the name of Krsna. Because he uttered Your name in contempt, I was very much aggrieved.
PURPORT
Prakasananda Sarasvati vilified and blasphemed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Words like brahma, caitanya, atma, paramatma, jagadisa, isvara, virat, vibhu, bhuma, visvarupa and vyapaka all indirectly indicate Krsna. However, the chanter of these names is not actually attracted to the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna and His transcendental pastimes. One may get a little light from these names, but one cannot understand that the holy name of the Lord is identical with the Lord. One considers the Lord's names material due to a poor fund of knowledge. Mayavadi philosophers and the pancopasakas cannot in the least understand the existence of the spiritual world and the blissful variegatedness there. They cannot understand the Absolute Truth and its spiritual varieties-name, form, qualities and pastimes. Consequently they conclude that Krsna's transcendental activities are maya. Due to this, one has to directly cultivate knowledge about the holy name of the Lord. Mayavadi philosophers do not know this fact, and therefore they commit great offenses. One should not hear anything about Krsna or devotional service from the mouths of Mayavadi impersonalists.
TEXT 128
TEXT
ihara karana more kaha krpa kari'
toma dekhi' mukha mora bale 'krsna' 'hari"
SYNONYMS
ihara--of this; karana--cause; more--unto me; kaha--please speak; krpa kari'--by Your causeless mercy; toma dekhi'--seeing You; mukha--mouth; mora--my; bale--says; krsna hari--the holy names of Krsna and Hari.
TRANSLATION
"Why could Prakasananda not utter the names of Krsna and Hari? He chanted the name Caitanya thrice. As far as I am concerned, simply by seeing You I am moved to chant the holy names of Krsna and Hari."
TEXT 129
TEXT
prabhu kahe,----"mayavadi krsne aparadhi
'brahma', 'atma' 'caitanya' kahe niravadhi
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; mayavadi--the impersonalists; krsne--unto Krsna; aparadhi--great offenders; brahma--brahma; atma--atma; caitanya--caitanya; kahe--say; niravadhi--without stopping.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "Mayavadi impersonalists are great offenders unto Lord Krsna; therefore they simply utter the words Brahman, atma and caitanya.
TEXT 130
TEXT
ataeva tara mukhe na aise krsna-nama
'krsna-nama', 'krsna-svarupa'----duita 'samana'
SYNONYMS
ataeva--therefore; tara mukhe--in their mouths; na--not; aise--manifests; krsna-nama--the holy name of Krsna; krsna-nama--the holy name of Krsna; krsna-svarupa--the personality of the Lord; duita samana--both identical.
TRANSLATION
"The holy name of Krsna is not manifest in their mouths because they are offenders unto Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is identical with His holy name.
TEXT 131
TEXT
'nama', 'vigraha', 'svarupa'----tina eka-rupa
tine 'bheda' nahi,----tina 'cid-ananda-rupa'
SYNONYMS
nama--the name; vigraha--form; sva-rupa--personality; tina--all three; eka-rupa--one and the same; tine--between the three; bheda nahi--there is no difference; tina--all three; cit-ananda-rupa--transcendentally blissful.
TRANSLATION
"The Lord's holy name, His form and His personality are all one and the same. There is no difference between them. Since all of them are absolute, they are transcendentally blissful.
TEXT 132
TEXT
deha-dehira, nama-namira krsne nahi 'bheda'
jivera dharma----nama-deha-svarupe 'vibheda'
SYNONYMS
deha-dehira--of the body and the owner of the body; nama-namira--of the name and the owner of the name; krsne--in Krsna; nahi bheda--there is no difference; jivera dharma--the situation of the conditioned soul; nama--name; deha--body; sva-rupe--original form; vibheda--different.
TRANSLATION
"There is no difference between Krsna's body and Himself or between His name and Himself. As far as the conditioned soul is concerned, everything is different. One's name is different from the body, from one's original form and so on.
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is herein pointing out to the brahmana that Mayavadi philosophers cannot understand that the living entity is equal in quality with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because they do not accept this, they think that the living entity has been falsely divided from the original Brahman due to being conditioned by maya. Mayavadis believe that the Absolute Truth is ultimately impersonal. When an incarnation of God or God Himself comes, they think He is covered by maya. In other words, Mayavadi impersonalists think that the Lord's form is also a product of this material world. Due to a poor fund of knowledge, they cannot understand that Krsna has no body separate from Himself. His body and Himself are both the same Absolute Truth. Not having perfect knowledge of Krsna, such impersonalists certainly commit offenses at His lotus feet. Therefore they do not utter the original name of the Absolute Truth, Krsna. In their impersonal way, they utter the name of impersonal Brahman, spirit soul. In other words, they indulge in indirect indications of the Absolute Truth. Even if they happen to utter the name of Govinda, Krsna or Madhava, they still cannot understand that these names are as good as Govinda, Krsna or Madhava the person. Because they are ultimately impersonalists, their uttering of the personal name has no potency. Actually they do not believe in Krsna but consider all these names to be material vibrations. Not being able to appreciate the holy name of the Lord, they simply utter indirect names like Brahman, atma and caitanya.
It is a fact, however, that the name of Krsna and Krsna the person are both spiritual. Everything about Krsna is transcendental, blissful and objective. For a conditioned soul, the body is different from the soul, and the name given by the father is also different from the soul. The conditioned living entity's identification with material objects keeps him from attaining his actual position. Although he is an eternal servant of Krsna, he acts differently. The svarupa, or actual identification of the living entity, is described by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as jivera 'svarupa' haya-krsnera 'nitya-dasa'. The conditioned soul has forgotten the real activities of his original position. However, this is not the case with Krsna. Krsna's name and His person are identical. There is no such thing as maya Krsna because Krsna is not a product of the material creation. There is no difference between Krsna's body and His soul. Krsna is simultaneously both soul and body. The distinction between body and soul applies to conditioned souls. The body of the conditioned soul is different from the soul, and the conditioned soul's name is different from his body. One may be named Mr. John, but if we call for Mr. John, Mr. John may never actually appear. However, if we utter the holy name of Krsna, Krsna is immediately present on our tongue. In the Padma Purana, Krsna says, mad-bhakta yatra gayanti tatra tisthami narada: "O Narada, I am present wherever My devotees are chanting." When the devotees chant the holy name of Krsna-Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-Lord Krsna is immediately present.
TEXT 133
TEXT
nama cintamanih krsnas
caitanya-rasa-vigrahah
purnah suddho nitya-mukto
'bhinnatvan nama-naminoh
SYNONYMS
namah--the holy name; cintamanih--transcendentally blissful giver of all spiritual benedictions; krsnah--not different from Krsna; caitanya-rasa-vigrahah--the form of all transcendental mellows; purnah--complete; suddhah--pure, without material contamination; nitya--eternal; muktah--liberated; abhinna-tvat--due to not being different; nama--of the holy name; naminoh--and of the person who has the name.
TRANSLATION
" 'The holy name of Krsna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Krsna Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Krsna's name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Krsna Himself. Since Krsna's name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with maya. Krsna's name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Krsna and Krsna Himself are identical.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Padma Purana.
TEXT 134
TEXT
ataeva krsnera 'nama', 'deha', 'vilasa'
prakrtendriya-grahya nahe, haya sva-prakasa
SYNONYMS
ataeva--therefore; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; nama--the holy name; deha--the spiritual body; vilasa--the pastimes; prakrta-indriya--by the dull senses made of matter; grahya--perceptible; nahe--not; haya--are; sva-prakasa--self-manifested.
TRANSLATION
"The holy name of Krsna, His body and His pastimes cannot be understood by blunt material senses. They are manifest independently.
PURPORT
The transcendental body of Krsna, His name, form, qualities, pastimes and entourage all constitute the Absolute Truth and are as good as Krsna (sac-cid-ananda-vigraha). As long as the living entity is conditioned by the three modes of material nature-(goodness, passion and ignorance)-the objects of his material senses-material form, taste, smell, sound and touch-will not help him understand spiritual knowledge and bliss. Rather, these are revealed to the pure devotee. One's material name, form and qualities are certainly different from one another. In the material world, there is no conception of absolute; however, when we come to Krsna consciousness we find that there is no material difference between Krsna's body and His names, activities and entourage.
TEXT 135
TEXT
krsna-nama, krsna-guna, krsna-lila-vrnda
krsnera svarupa-sama----saba cid-ananda
SYNONYMS
krsna-nama--the holy name of Krsna; krsna-guna--the transcendental qualities of Krsna; krsna-lila-vrnda--the transcendental pastimes of Lord Krsna; krsnera sva-rupa--Krsna's personality; sama--equal; saba--all; cit-ananda--spiritual and full of bliss.
TRANSLATION
"The holy name of Krsna, His transcendental qualities and pastimes as well as Lord Krsna Himself are all equal. They are all spiritual and full of bliss.
TEXT 136
TEXT
atah sri-krsna-namadi
na bhaved grahyam indriyaih
sevonmukhe hi jihvadau
svayam eva sphuraty adah
SYNONYMS
atah--therefore (because Krsna's name, form, quality are all on the absolute platform); sri-krsna-nama-adi--Lord Krsna's name, form, quality, pastimes and so on; na--not; bhavet--can be; grahyam--perceived; indriyaih--by the blunt material senses; seva-unmukhe--to one engaged in His service; hi--certainly; jihva-adau--beginning with the tongue; svayam--personally; eva--certainly; sphurati--become manifest; adah--those (Krsna's name, form, quality, and so on).
TRANSLATION
" 'Therefore material senses cannot appreciate Krsna's holy name, form, qualities and pastimes. When a conditioned soul is awakened to Krsna consciousness and renders service by using his tongue to chant the Lord's holy name and taste the remnants of the Lord's food, the tongue is purified, and one gradually comes to understand who Krsna really is.'
PURPORT
This verse is recorded in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.234).
TEXT 137
TEXT
brahmananda haite purnananda lila-rasa
brahma-jnani akarsiya kare atma-vasa
SYNONYMS
brahma-ananda--the pleasure of self-realization; haite--from; purna-ananda--complete pleasure; lila-rasa--the mellows of the pastimes of the Lord; brahma-jnani--those who are on the platform of Brahman understanding; akarsiya--attracting; kare--make; atma-vasa--subordinate to Krsna.
TRANSLATION
"The mellows of Lord Krsna's pastimes, which are full of bliss, attract the jnani from the pleasure of Brahman realization and conquer him.
PURPORT
When one understands that he belongs not to the material world but to the spiritual world, one is called liberated. Being situated in the spiritual world is certainly pleasurable, but those who realize the transcendental name, form, qualities and pastimes of Lord Krsna enjoy transcendental bliss many times more than one who has simply realized the self. When one is situated on the platform of self-realization, he can certainly be easily attracted by Krsna and become a servant of the Lord. This is explained in Bhagavad-gita:
brahma-bhutah prasannatma
na socati na kanksati
samah sarvesu bhutesu
mad-bhaktim labhate param
"One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me." (Bg. 18.54)
When one becomes spiritually realized (brahma-bhuta), he becomes happy (prasannatma), for he is relieved from material conceptions. One who has attained this platform is not agitated by material action and reaction. He sees everyone on the platform of spirit soul (panditah sama-darsinah). When one is completely realized, he can rise to the platform of pure devotional service (mad-bhaktim-labhate param). When one comes to the platform of bhakti, devotional service, he automatically realizes who Krsna is.
bhaktya mam abhijanati
yavan yas casmi tattvatah
tato mam tattvato jnatva
visate tad-anantaram
"One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God." (Bg. 18.55)
It is only on the bhakti platform that one can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna and His transcendental name, form, qualities, pastimes and entourage. Being thus qualified spiritually (visate tad-anantaram), one is allowed to enter the spiritual kingdom of God and return home, back to Godhead.
TEXT 138
TEXT
svasukha-nibhrta-cetas tad vyudastanya-bhavo
'py ajita-rucira-lilakrsta-saras tadiyam
vyatanuta krpaya yas tattva-dipam puranam
tam akhila-vrjina-ghnam vyasa-sunum nato 'smi
SYNONYMS
sva-sukha--in happiness of the self; nibhrta--solitary; cetah--whose consciousness; tat--because of that; vyudasta--given up; anya-bhavah--any other type of consciousness; api--although; ajita--of Sri Krsna; rucira--pleasing; lila--by the pastimes; akrsta--attracted; sarah--whose heart; tadiyam--consisting of the activities of the Lord; vyatanuta--spread, manifested; krpaya--mercifully; yah--who; tattva-dipam--the bright light of the Absolute Truth; puranam--the Purana (Srimad-Bhagavatam); tam--unto him; akhila-vrjina-ghnam--defeating everything inauspicious; vyasa-sunum--the son of Vyasadeva; natah asmi--I offer my obeisances.
TRANSLATION
" 'Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the son of Vyasadeva, Sukadeva Gosvami. It is he who defeats all inauspicious things within this universe. Although in the beginning he was absorbed in the happiness of Brahman realization and was living in a secluded place, giving up all other types of consciousness, he became attracted by the most melodious pastimes of Lord Sri Krsna. He therefore mercifully spoke the supreme Purana, known as Srimad-Bhagavatam, which is the bright light of the Absolute Truth and which describes the activities of Lord Krsna.'
PURPORT
This verse was spoken by Suta Gosvami in Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.12.69).
TEXT 139
TEXT
brahmananda haite purnananda krsna-guna
ataeva akarsaye atma-ramera mana
SYNONYMS
brahma-ananda--the pleasure of Brahman realization; haite--from; purna-ananda--complete bliss; krsna-guna--the qualities of Lord Krsna; ataeva--therefore; akarsaye--attract; atma-ramera mana--the minds of self-realized persons.
TRANSLATION
"The transcendental qualities of Sri Krsna are completely blissful and relishable. Consequently Lord Krsna's qualities attract even the minds of self-realized persons from the bliss of self-realization.
TEXT 140
TEXT
atmaramas ca munayo
nirgrantha apy urukrame
kurvanty ahaitukim bhaktim
ittham-bhuta-guno harih
SYNONYMS
atma-aramah--persons who take pleasure in being transcendentally situated in the service of the Lord; ca--also; munayah--great saintly persons who have completely rejected material aspirations, fruitive activities, and so forth; nirgranthah--without interest in any material desire; api--certainly; urukrame--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, whose activities are wonderful; kurvanti--do; ahaitukim--causeless, or without material desires; bhaktim--devotional service; ittham-bhuta--so wonderful as to attract the attention of the self-satisfied; gunah--who has transcendental qualities; harih--the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
" 'Those who are self-satisfied and unattracted by external material desires are also attracted to the loving service of Sri Krsna, whose qualities are transcendental and whose activities are wonderful. Hari, the Personality of Godhead, is called Krsna because He has such transcendentally attractive features.'
TEXT 141
TEXT
ei saba rahu----krsna-carana-sambandhe
atmaramera mana hare tulasira gandhe
SYNONYMS
ei saba rahu--apart from the pastimes of Lord Krsna; krsna-carana-sambandhe--in relation to the lotus feet of Krsna; atma-aramera--of self-realized persons; mana--the mind; hare--attracts; tulasira gandhe--the aroma of tulasi leaves.
TRANSLATION
"Apart from the pastimes of Lord Krsna, when tulasi leaves are offered at the lotus feet of Sri Krsna, even the aroma of the leaves attracts the minds of self-realized persons.
TEXT 142
TEXT
tasyaravinda-nayanasya padaravinda-
kinjalka-misra-tulasi-makaranda-vayuh
antargatah svavivarena cakara tesam
sanksobham aksara-jusam api citta-tanvoh
SYNONYMS
tasya--of Him; aravinda-nayanasya--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose eyes are like the petals of a lotus; pada-aravinda--of the lotus feet; kinjalka--with saffron; misra--mixed; tulasi--of tulasi leaves; makaranda--with the aroma; vayuh--the air; antargatah--entered; sva-vivarena--through the nostrils; cakara--created; tesam--of them; sanksobham--strong agitation; aksara-jusam--of the impersonally self-realized (Kumaras); api--also; citta-tanvoh--of the mind and body.
TRANSLATION
" 'When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasi leaves and saffron from the lotus feet of the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead entered through the nostrils into the hearts of those sages [the Kumaras], they experienced a change in both body and mind, even though they were attached to impersonal Brahman understanding.'
PURPORT
This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.15.43). Vidura and Maitreya discussed the pregnancy of Diti. Diti's pregnancy caused the demigods to be very much afraid, and the demigods went to see Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma explained the original incident involving the cursing of Jaya and Vijaya by the Catuh-sana Kumaras. Sometimes the Catuh-sana Kumaras went to Vaikuntha to visit Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and once they were stopped from entering the palace at the seventh gate by two doorkeepers named Jaya and Vijaya. Due to their jealousy, Jaya and Vijaya would not allow the Kumaras entry, and consequently the Kumaras became angry and cursed Jaya and Vijaya, condemning them to take birth in a family of asuras in the material world. The omniscient Personality of Godhead could immediately understand the incident, and He came with His eternal consort the goddess of fortune. The Catuh-sana Kumaras immediately offered their obeisances unto the Lord. Simply by seeing the Lord and smelling the aroma of tulasi and saffron from His lotus feet, the Kumaras became devotees and abandoned their long-cherished impersonalism. Thus the four Kumaras were turned into Vaisnavas simply by smelling the aromatic tulasi mixed with saffron. Those who are actually on the platform of Brahman realization and who have not offended the lotus feet of Krsna can immediately become Vaisnavas simply by smelling the aroma of the Lord's lotus feet. However, those who are offenders or demons are never attracted to the Lord's personal feature, even though they may visit the Lord's temple many times. In Vrndavana we have seen many Mayavadi sannyasis who do not even come to the temple of Govindaji, Gopinatha or Madana-mohana because they think that such temples are maya. Therefore they are called Mayavadis. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore said that the Mayavadis are the greatest offenders.
TEXT 143
TEXT
ataeva 'krsna-nama' na aise tara mukhe
mayavadi-gana yate maha bahirmukhe
SYNONYMS
ataeva--therefore; krsna-nama--the holy name of Krsna; na--does not; aise--come; tara mukhe--in their mouths; mayavadi-gana--all the Mayavadis; yate--because; maha bahih-mukhe--great offenders by dint of strong atheism.
TRANSLATION
"Because the Mayavadis are great offenders and atheistic philosophers, the holy name of Krsna does not come from their mouths.
PURPORT
Because they are constantly blaspheming the Supreme Personality of Godhead by saying that He has no head, hands or legs, Mayavadi philosophers remain offenders for many, many births, even though they have partially realized Brahman. However, if such impersonalists are not offenders at the lotus feet of the Lord, they immediately become devotees in the association of a devotee. In other words, if an impersonalist is not an offender, he can become a devotee if he gets a chance to associate with other devotees. If he is an offender, he cannot be converted even by the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very much afraid of this Mayavadi offender; therefore He spoke as follows.
TEXT 144
TEXT
bhavakali vecite ami ailana kasipure
grahaka nahi, na vikaya, lana yaba ghare
SYNONYMS
bhavakali--devotional sentiments; vecite--to sell; ami--I; ailana--came; kasipure--to the city of Kasi; grahaka nahi--there is no customer; na vikaya--do not sell; lana yaba ghare--then I must take my commodity back home.
TRANSLATION
"I have come here to sell My emotional ecstatic sentiments in this city of Kasi, but I cannot find any customers. If they are not sold, I must take them back home.
TEXT 145
TEXT
bhari bojha lana ailana, kemane lana yaba?
alpa-svalpa-mulya paile, ethai veciba
SYNONYMS
bhari bojha--heavy load; lana--bearing; ailana--I came; kemane--how; lana yaba--shall I take it back; alpa-svalpa-mulya--a fraction of the real price; paile--if I get; ethai--here; veciba--I shall sell.
TRANSLATION
"I have brought a heavy load to sell in this city. To take it back again is a very difficult job; therefore if I get but a fraction of the price, I shall sell it here in this city of Kasi."
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was selling the transcendental holy name of the Lord. However, Kasi was a city of Mayavadis (impersonalists), and such people will never chant the holy names of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Consequently Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was feeling disappointed. How could He teach the Mayavadis the importance of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra? The attraction for chanting the holy name of the Lord belongs absolutely to pure devotees, and there was no possibility of finding pure devotees at Kasi. Consequently Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's commodity was certainly very heavy. The Lord therefore suggested that even though there were no pure devotees in Kasi, if someone was a little inclined to chant the Hare Krsna mantra, He would deliver this big load, although the proper price was not paid.
Actually we experienced this when we came to preach the Hare Krsna movement in the West. When we came to New York in 1965, we never expected that the Hare Krsna maha-mantra would be accepted in this country. Nonetheless, we invited people to our storefront to join in chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, and the Lord's holy name is so attractive that simply by coming to our storefront in New York, fortunate young people became Krsna conscious. Although this mission was started with insignificant capital, it is now going nicely. The spreading of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra in the West has become successful because the young people were not offenders. The youths who joined this movement were not very advanced as far as purity was concerned, nor were they very well educated in Vedic knowledge, but because they were not offenders, they could accept the importance of the Hare Krsna movement. We are now very happy to see that this movement is advancing more and more in the Western countries. We therefore conclude that the so-called mlecchas and yavanas of the Western countries are more purified than offensive Mayavadis or atheistic impersonalists.
TEXT 146
TEXT
eta bali' sei vipre atmasatha kari'
prate uthi mathura calila gaurahari
SYNONYMS
eta bali'--saying this; sei vipre--that brahmana; atmasatha kari'--accepting as His devotee; prate uthi--rising early in the morning; mathura calila--started for Mathura; gaurahari--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
After saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted that brahmana as His devotee. The next morning, rising very early, the Lord started for Mathura.
TEXT 147
TEXT
sei tina sange cale, prabhu nisedhila
dura haite tina-jane ghare pathaila
SYNONYMS
sei tina--those three; sange--with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; cale--go; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nisedhila--forbade; dura haite--from a distance; tina-jane--the three persons; ghare--home; pathaila--sent back.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu started for Mathura, all three devotees started to go with Him. However, the Lord forbade them to accompany Him, and from a distance He asked them to return home.
TEXT 148
TEXT
prabhura virahe tine ekatra miliya
prabhu-guna gana kare preme matta hana
SYNONYMS
prabhura virahe--because of separation from the Lord; tine--all three; ekatra--together; miliya--meeting; prabhu-guna--the transcendental qualities of the Lord; gana kare--chant; preme--with love; matta hana--being mad.
TRANSLATION
Feeling separation from the Lord, the three used to meet and glorify the holy qualities of the Lord. Thus they were absorbed in ecstatic love.
TEXT 149
TEXT
'prayage' asiya prabhu kaila veni-snana
'madhava' dekhiya preme kaila nrtya-gana
SYNONYMS
prayage--to Prayaga; asiya--coming; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila--did; veni-snana--bathing in the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna; madhava--the predominating Deity there, Veni Madhava; dekhiya--seeing; preme--in ecstatic love; kaila--performed; nrtya-gana--dancing and chanting.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then went to Prayaga, where He bathed at the confluence of the Ganges and the Yamuna. He then visited the temple of Veni Madhava and chanted and danced there in ecstatic love.
PURPORT
The city of Prayaga is situated a few miles from the city of Allahabad. The name Prayaga is given due to successful sacrifices performed there. It is said: prakrstah yagah yaga-phalam yasmat. If one performs sacrifices at Prayaga, he certainly gets immediate results without difficulty. Prayaga is also called Tirtharaja, the king of all places of pilgrimage. This holy place is situated on the confluence of the Rivers Ganges and Yamuna. Every year a fair takes place there known as Magha-mela, and every twelve years a Kumbha-mela is also held. In any case, many people come to bathe there every year. During Magha-mela, people from the local district generally come, and during Kumbha-mela people come from all over India to live there and bathe in the Ganges and Yamuna. Whoever goes there immediately feels the place's spiritual influence. A fort located there was constructed by the Emperor Akbar about five hundred years ago, and near the fort is a place called Triveni. On the other side of Prayaga is an old place known as Pratisthana-pura. It is also well known as Jhunsi. Many saintly people live there, and consequently it is very attractive from the spiritual point of view.
TEXT 150
TEXT
yamuna dekhiya preme pade jhanpa diya
aste-vyaste bhattacarya uthaya dhariya
SYNONYMS
yamuna--the River Yamuna; dekhiya--seeing; preme--in ecstatic love; pade--falls down; jhanpa diya--jumping; aste-vyaste--in great haste; bhattacarya--Balabhadra Bhattacarya; uthaya--raises; dhariya--catching.
TRANSLATION
As soon as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw the River Yamuna, He threw Himself in it. Balabhadra Bhattacarya hastily caught the Lord and very carefully raised Him up again.
TEXT 151
TEXT
ei-mata tina-dina prayage rahila
krsna-nama-prema diya loka nistarila
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; tina-dina--for three days; prayage--at Prayaga; rahila--remained; krsna-nama--the holy name of Lord Krsna; prema--and ecstatic love; diya--delivering; loka nistarila--delivered the people.
TRANSLATION
The Lord stayed at Prayaga for three days. He delivered the holy name of Krsna and ecstatic love. Thus He delivered many people.
TEXT 152
TEXT
'mathura' calite pathe yatha rahi' yaya
krsna-nama-prema diya lokere nacaya
SYNONYMS
mathura--to Mathura; calite--going; pathe--on the road; yatha--wherever; rahi'--staying; yaya--goes; krsna-nama-prema--the holy name of Krsna and His ecstatic love; diya--delivering; lokere nacaya--made the people dance.
TRANSLATION
Wherever the Lord stopped to rest on the way to Mathura, He delivered the holy name of Krsna and ecstatic love of Krsna. Thus He made the people dance.
TEXT 153
TEXT
purve yena 'daksina' yaite loka nistarila
'pascima'-dese taiche saba 'vaisnava' karila
SYNONYMS
purve--formerly; yena--as; daksina--South India; yaite--going to; loka--the people; nistarila--He delivered; pascima-dese--in the western countries; taiche--similarly; saba--all; vaisnava--devotees; karila--made.
TRANSLATION
When the Lord toured South India, He delivered many people, and when He traveled in the western sector, He similarly converted many people to Vaisnavism.
PURPORT
Formerly Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu converted people when He toured southern and western India. Similarly, this Hare Krsna movement is now delivering the people of the Western world wherever devotees are chanting the holy names. This is all being done by the Lord's mercy. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu predicted that He would deliver people in every city and village of the world by giving them a chance to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.
TEXT 154
TEXT
pathe yahan yahan haya yamuna-darsana
tahan jhanpa diya pade preme acetana
SYNONYMS
pathe--on the road; yahan yahan--wherever; haya--there is; yamuna-darsana--meeting with the Yamuna River; tahan--there; jhanpa diya pade--jumps over and falls down; preme acetana--unconscious in the ecstasy of love.
TRANSLATION
While the Lord was going to Mathura, He came across the River Yamuna several times, and as soon as He saw the River Yamuna, He would immediately jump in, falling unconscious in the water in the ecstasy of love of Krsna.
TEXT 155
TEXT
mathura-nikate aila----mathura dekhiya
dandavat hana pade premavista hana
SYNONYMS
mathura-nikate--near Mathura; aila--came; mathura dekhiya--seeing the city of Mathura; dandavat hana--offering obeisances; pade--falls down; prema-avista hana--in the great ecstasy of love.
TRANSLATION
When He approached Mathura and saw the city, He immediately fell to the ground and offered obeisances with great ecstatic love.
TEXT 156
TEXT
mathura asiya kaila 'visranti-tirthe' snana
'janma-sthane' 'kesava' dekhi' karila pranama
SYNONYMS
mathura asiya--coming in to Mathura; kaila--performed; visranti-tirthe--at the bathing place known as Visrama-ghata; snana--bathing; janma-sthane--at the place of Lord Krsna's birth; kesava--the Deity named Kesava; dekhi'--seeing; karila pranama--offered His respectful obeisances.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu entered the city of Mathura, He took His bath at Visrama-ghata. He then visited the birthplace of Krsna and saw the Deity named Kesavaji. He offered His respectful obeisances to this Deity.
PURPORT
At the present moment, the temple of Kesavaji is very much improved. At one time, Kesavaji-mandira was attacked by the emperor Aurangzeb, who constructed such a big mosque there that the temple of Kesavaji was insignificant in comparison. However, with the help of many rich Madwaris, the temple has improved, and a very large temple is now being constructed so that the mosque is now appearing diminished in comparison. Many archeological discoveries have been made there, and many people from foreign countries are beginning to appreciate Krsna's birthplace. This Krsna consciousness movement is attracting many foreigners to the Kesavaji temple, and now they will also be attracted by the Krsna-Balarama temple in Vrndavana.
TEXT 157
TEXT
premanande nace, gaya, saghana hunkara
prabhura premavesa dekhi' loke camatkara
SYNONYMS
prema-anande--in ecstatic love; nace--dances; gaya--chants; saghana--repeatedly; hunkara--tumultuous sound vibrations; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prema-avesa--ecstatic love; dekhi'--seeing; loke--all people; camatkara--astonished.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu chanted, danced and made loud vibrations, all the people were astonished to see His ecstatic love.
TEXT 158
TEXT
eka-vipra pade prabhura carana dhariya
prabhu-sange nrtya kare premavista hana
SYNONYMS
eka-vipra--one brahmana; pade--falls down; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carana dhariya--catching the lotus feet; prabhu-sange--with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nrtya kare--he dances; prema-avista hana--being absorbed in ecstatic love.
TRANSLATION
One brahmana fell at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and then began to dance with Him in ecstatic love.
TEXT 159
TEXT
dunhe preme nrtya kari' kare kolakuli
hari krsna kaha dunhe bale bahu tuli'
SYNONYMS
dunhe--both of them; preme--in ecstatic love; nrtya kari'--dancing; kare--do; kolakuli--embracing; hari--the holy name of Hari; krsna--the holy name of Krsna; kaha--go on chanting; dunhe--both of them; bale--speak; bahu tuli'--raising the arms.
TRANSLATION
Both of them danced in ecstatic love and embraced one another. Raising their arms, they said, "Chant the holy names of Hari and Krsna!"
TEXT 160
TEXT
loka 'hari' 'hari' bale, kolahala haila
'kesava'-sevaka prabhuke mala paraila
SYNONYMS
loka--all the people; hari hari bale--began to chant the holy names Hari, Hari; kolahala haila--there was a great uproar; kesava-sevaka--the priest in the service of Lord Kesava; prabhuke--unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mala paraila--offered a garland.
TRANSLATION
All the people then began to chant "Hari! Hari!" and there was a great uproar. The priest in Lord Kesava's service offered Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu a garland.
TEXT 161
TEXT
loke kahe prabhu dekhi' hana vismaya
aiche hena prema'laukika' kabhu naya
SYNONYMS
loke kahe--the people said; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhi'--seeing; hana vismaya--being struck with wonder; aiche--such; hena--similar; prema--love of Godhead; laukika--ordinary; kabhu naya--never is.
TRANSLATION
When the people saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's dancing and chanting, they were struck with wonder, and they all said, "Such transcendental love is never an ordinary thing."
TEXT 162
TEXT
yanhara darsane loke preme matta hana
hase, kande, nace, gaya, krsna-nama lana
SYNONYMS
yanhara darsane--by seeing whom; loke--people; preme--in love; matta hana--becoming mad; hase--laugh; kande--cry; nace--dance; gaya--chant; krsna-nama lana--taking the holy name of Lord Krsna.
TRANSLATION
The people said, "Simply by seeing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, everyone is maddened with love of Krsna. Indeed, everyone is laughing, crying, dancing, chanting and taking the holy name of Krsna.
TEXT 163
TEXT
sarvatha-niscita----inho krsna-avatara
mathura aila lokera karite nistara
SYNONYMS
sarvatha--in every respect; niscita--ascertained; inho--He; krsna-avatara--incarnation of Lord Krsna; mathura aila--has come to Mathura; lokera--of the people; karite--to perform; nistara--deliverance.
TRANSLATION
"Certainly Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is in all respects the incarnation of Lord Krsna. Now He has come to Mathura to deliver everyone."
TEXT 164
TEXT
tabe mahaprabhu sei brahmane lana
tanhare puchila kichu nibhrte vasiya
SYNONYMS
tabe--after that; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sei--that; brahmane--brahmana; lana--taking; tanhare--unto him; puchila--inquired; kichu--something; nibhrte vasiya--sitting in a solitary place.
TRANSLATION
After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took aside the brahmana. Sitting in a solitary place, the Lord began to question him.
TEXT 165
TEXT
'arya, sarala, tumi----vrddha brahmana
kahan haite paile tumi ei prema-dhana?'
SYNONYMS
arya--advanced in devotional service; sarala--simple; tumi--you; vrddha brahmana--elderly brahmana; kahan haite--from where; paile tumi--did you obtain; ei--this; prema-dhana--transcendental opulence of ecstatic love.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "You are an elderly brahmana, you are sincere, and you are advanced in spiritual life. Wherefrom have you gotten this transcendental opulence of ecstatic love for Krsna?"
TEXT 166
TEXT
vipra kahe,----'sripada sri-madhavendra-puri
bhramite bhramite aila mathura-nagari
SYNONYMS
vipra kahe--the brahmana said; sripada--His Holiness; sri-madhavendra-puri--Sri Madhavendra Puri; bhramite bhramite--while touring; aila--came; mathura-nagari--to the city of Mathura.
TRANSLATION
The brahmana replied, "His Holiness Srila Madhavendra Puri came to the city of Mathura while he was on a tour.
TEXT 167
TEXT
krpa kari' tenho mora nilaye aila
more sisya kari' mora hate 'bhiksa' kaila
SYNONYMS
krpa kari'--by his causeless mercy; tenho--he; mora nilaye--to my humble place; aila--came; more--me; sisya kari'--accepting as his disciple; mora hate--from my hand; bhiksa kaila--accepted lunch.
TRANSLATION
"While at Mathura, Sripada Madhavendra Puri visited my house and accepted me as a disciple. He even took lunch at my home.
TEXT 168
TEXT
gopala prakata kari' seva kaila 'mahasaya'
adyapiha tanhara seva 'govardhane' haya
SYNONYMS
gopala--the Deity Gopala; prakata kari'--installing; seva--service; kaila--did; mahasaya--that great personality; adyapiha--still now; tanhara--of that Deity Gopala; seva--the service; govardhane--on the Govardhana Hill; haya--is conducted.
TRANSLATION
"After installing the Deity Gopala, Srila Madhavendra Puri rendered Him service. That very Deity is still being worshiped at Govardhana Hill."
TEXT 169
TEXT
suni' prabhu kaila tanra carana vandana
bhaya pana prabhu-paya padila brahmana
SYNONYMS
suni'--after hearing; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila--did; tanra--of him; carana vandana--worshiping the feet; bhaya pana--being afraid; prabhu-paya--at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; padila--fell down; brahmana--the brahmana.
TRANSLATION
As soon as Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard about Madhavendra Puri's relationship with the brahmana, He immediately offered obeisances at his feet. Becoming fearful, the brahmana also immediately fell at the Lord's feet.
TEXT 170
TEXT
prabhu kahe,----"tumi 'guru', ami 'sisya'-praya
'guru' hana 'sisye' namaskara na yuyaya
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; tumi--you; guru--My spiritual master; ami--I; sisya-praya--like your disciple; guru hana--being the spiritual master; sisye--unto the disciple; namaskara--obeisances; na yuyaya--is not befitting.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "You are on the platform of My spiritual master, and I am your disciple. Since you are My spiritual master, it is not befitting that you offer Me obeisances."
TEXT 171
TEXT
suniya vismita vipra kahe bhaya pana
aiche vat kaha kene sannyasi hana
SYNONYMS
suniya--after hearing; vismita--astonished; vipra--the brahmana; kahe--said; bhaya pana--being afraid; aiche vat--such a statement; kaha--You say; kene--why; sannyasi hana--although You are a sannyasi.
TRANSLATION
Upon hearing this, the brahmana became afraid. He then said, "Why do You speak like this? You are a sannyasi.
TEXT 172
TEXT
kintu tomara prema dekhi' mane anumani
madhavendra-purira 'sambandha' dhara----jani
SYNONYMS
kintu--still; tomara prema--Your ecstatic love; dekhi'--after seeing; mane--in my mind; anumani--I imagine; madhavendra-purira--of Sri Madhavendra Puri; sambandha--relationship; dhara--You have; jani--I can understand.
TRANSLATION
"Upon seeing Your ecstatic love, I can just imagine that You must have some relationship with Madhavendra Puri. This is my understanding.
TEXT 173
TEXT
krsna-prema tanha, yanha tanhara'sambandha'
tahan vina ei premara kahan nahi gandha
SYNONYMS
krsna-prema--love of Krsna; tanha--there; yanha--where; tanhara--his; sambandha--relationship; tahan vina--without him; ei premara--of this ecstatic love; kahan nahi gandha--there is no possibility of even a scent.
TRANSLATION
"This kind of ecstatic love can be experienced only when one has a relationship with Madhavendra Puri. Without him, even a scent of such transcendental ecstatic love is impossible."
TEXT 174
TEXT
tabe bhattacarya tare 'sambandha' kahila
suni' anandita vipra nacite lagila
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; bhattacarya--Balabhadra Bhattacarya; tare--unto the brahmana; sambandha kahila--explained the relationship; suni'--after hearing; anandita--being pleased; vipra--the brahmana; nacite lagila--began to dance.
TRANSLATION
Balabhadra Bhattacarya then explained the relationship between Madhavendra Puri and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. After hearing this, the brahmana became very pleased and began to dance.
TEXT 175
TEXT
tabe vipra prabhure lana aila nija-ghare
apana-icchaya prabhura nana seva kare
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; vipra--the brahmana; prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; lana--taking; aila--came back; nija-ghare--to his home; apana-icchaya--by his own will; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nana--various; seva--services; kare--rendered.
TRANSLATION
The brahmana then took Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his home and, out of his own free will, began to serve the Lord in various ways.
TEXT 176
TEXT
bhiksa lagi' bhattacarye karaila randhana
tabe mahaprabhu hasi' balila vacana
SYNONYMS
bhiksa lagi'--for lunch; bhattacarye--Balabhadra Bhattacarya; karaila randhana--made to cook; tabe--at that time; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; hasi'--smiling; balila vacana--said these words.
TRANSLATION
He asked Balabhadra Bhattacarya to cook Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's lunch. At that time, the Lord, smiling, spoke as follows.
TEXT 177
TEXT
"puri-gosani tomara ghare karyachena bhiksa
more tumi bhiksa deha,----ei mora 'siksa' "
SYNONYMS
puri-gosani--Madhavendra Puri; tomara ghare--at your place; karyachena bhiksa--accepted lunch; more--for Me; tumi bhiksa deha--better for you to cook; ei--that; mora siksa--My instruction.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Madhavendra Puri has already taken lunch at your place. Therefore you may cook and give Me the food. That is My instruction."
TEXT 178
TEXT
yad yad acarati sresthas
tat tad evetaro janah
sa yat pramanam kurute
lokas tad anuvartate
SYNONYMS
yat yat--however; acarati--behaves; srestah--the best man; tat tat--that; eva--certainly; itarah--the lesser; janah--men; sah--he; yat--which; pramanam--standard; kurute--shows; lokah--the people; tat--that; anuvartate--follow.
TRANSLATION
"Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues."
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Bhagavad-gita (3.21).
TEXT 179
TEXT
yadyapi 'sanodiya' haya seita brahmana
sanodiya-ghare sannyasi na kare bhojana
SYNONYMS
yadyapi--although; sanodiya--a priest of the Sanodiya community; haya--was; seita--that; brahmana--brahmana; sanodiya-ghare--in the house of a Sanodiya (goldsmith); sannyasi--a person in the renounced order of life; na kare bhojana--does not accept food.
TRANSLATION
The brahmana belonged to the Sanodiya brahmana community, and a sannyasi does not accept food from such a brahmana.
PURPORT
In northwestern India, vaisyas are divided in various subdivisions. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura points out that they are divided as Agaraoyala, Kalaoyara and Sanoyada. Out of them, the Agaraoyalas are supposed to be first-class vaisyas, and the Kalaoyaras and Sanoyadas are considered lower due to their occupational degradation. The Kalaoyaras generally take wine and other intoxicants. Although they are vaisyas, they are considered to belong to a lower class. The priests who guide the Kalaoyaras and the Sanoyadas are called Sanodiya brahmanas. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura states that the word sanoyada in Bengal indicates suvarna-vanik. In Bengal there are priests who guide the suvarna-vanik community, which is also considered a low class. There is little difference between the Sanoyada and the suvarna-vanik. Generally the suvarna-vaniks are bankers dealing in gold and silver. In western India, the Agaraoyalas also belong to the banking profession. This is the original business of the suvarna-vanik or Agaraoyala community. Historically, the Agaraoyalas came from the up-country named Ayodha, and the suvarna-vanik community came from Ayodha. It appears that the suvarna-vaniks and the Agaraoyalas belong to the same community. The Sanodiya brahmanas were the guides of the Kalaoyara and Sanoyada. They are therefore considered to be lower-class brahmanas, and a sannyasi is not allowed to take alms or food from them. However, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted lunch cooked by a Sanodiya brahmana simply because he belonged to Madhavendra Puri's community. Srila Madhavendra Puri was the spiritual master of Isvara Puri, who was the spiritual master of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thus a spiritual relationship is established on the spiritual platform without consideration of material inferiority or superiority.
TEXT 180
TEXT
tathapi puri dekhi' tanra 'vaisnava,-acara
'sisya' kari' tanra bhiksa kaila angikara
SYNONYMS
tathapi--still; puri--Madhavendra Puri; dekhi'--after seeing; tanra--of the brahmana; vaisnava-acara--behavior like a Vaisnava; sisya kari'--accepting him as his disciple; tanra bhiksa--food offered by him; kaila angikara--accepted.
TRANSLATION
Although the brahmana belonged to the Sanodiya community, Srila Madhavendra Puri saw that he behaved like a Vaisnava and therefore accepted him as his disciple. The food he cooked was also accepted by Madhavendra Puri.
TEXT 181
TEXT
mahaprabhu tanre yadi 'bhiksa' magila
dainya kari' sei vipra kahite lagila
SYNONYMS
mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--from him; yadi--when; bhiksa magila--requested lunch; dainya kari'--out of humility; sei vipra--that brahmana; kahite lagila--began to speak.
TRANSLATION
Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu willingly requested food from the brahmana, and the brahmana, feeling a natural humility, began to speak as follows.
TEXT 182
TEXT
tomare 'bhiksa' diba----bada bhagya se amara
tumi----isvara, nahi tomara vidhi-vyavahara
SYNONYMS
tomare--unto You; bhiksa diba--I shall offer food; bada bhagya--great fortune; se--that; amara--my; tumi--You; isvara--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nahi--there is not; tomara--of You; vidhi-vyavahara--regulative behavior.
TRANSLATION
"It is a great fortune for me to offer You food. You are the Supreme Lord, and, being in the transcendental position, You are not restricted in any way.
TEXT 183
TEXT
'murkha'-loka karibeka tomara nindana
sahite na parimu sei 'duste'ra vacana
SYNONYMS
murkha-loka--foolish persons; karibeka--will do; tomara nindana--blaspheming You; sahite na parimu--I shall not be able to tolerate; sei--those; dustera vacana--words of mischievous persons.
TRANSLATION
"Foolish people will blaspheme You, but I shall not tolerate the words of such mischievous people."
PURPORT
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura remarks that although the brahmana did not belong to a superior community, he fearlessly chastised so-called caste brahmanas because he was situated on the platform of pure devotional service. There are people who are opposed to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's accepting a Vaisnava belonging to a lower caste. Such people do not consider maha-prasada transcendental, and therefore they are described here as murkha (foolish) and dusta (mischievous). A pure devotee has the power to challenge such high-caste people, and his brave statements are not to be considered proud or puffed up. On the contrary, he is to be considered straightforward. Such a person does not like to flatter high-class brahmanas who belong to the non-Vaisnava community.
TEXT 184
TEXT
prabhu kahe,----sruti, smrti, yata rsi-gana
sabe 'eka'-mata nahe, bhinna bhinna dharma
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; sruti--the Vedas; smrti--the Puranas; yata--all; rsi-gana--great sages; sabe--all of them; eka-mata nahe--do not agree; bhinna bhinna dharma--different grades of religious principles.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "The Vedas, Puranas and great learned sages are not always in agreement with one another. Consequently there are different religious principles.
PURPORT
Unless one comes to the Absolute Truth, there is no possibility of agreement. Nasav rsir yasya matam na bhinnam: it is said that a great learned scholar or sage cannot be exalted unless he disagrees. On the material platform, there is no possibility of agreement; therefore there are different kinds of religious systems. However, the Absolute Truth is one, and when one is situated in the Absolute Truth, there is no disagreement. On that absolute platform the Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshipable. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (18.55): bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah. On the absolute platform, the worshipful Deity is one, and the process of worship is also one. That process is bhakti.
There are many different religions throughout the world because they are not all on the absolute platform of devotional service. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (18.66): sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja. The word ekam means "one," Krsna. On this platform, there are no different religious systems. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.2): dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra. On the material platform, religious systems are different. Srimad-Bhagavatam describes them from the very beginning as dharmah kaitavah, cheating religions. None of these religions are actually genuine. The genuine religious system is that which enables one to become a lover of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.6):
sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata
yayatma suprasidati
"The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted in order to completely satisfy the self."
On this platform there is nothing but the service of the Lord. When a person has no ulterior motive, there is certainly oneness and agreement of principles. Since everyone has a different body and mind, different types of religions are needed. But when one is situated on the spiritual platform, there are no bodily and mental differences. Consequently on the absolute platform there is oneness in religion.
TEXT 185
TEXT
dharma-sthapana-hetu sadhura vyavahara
puri-gosanira ye acarana, sei dharma sara
SYNONYMS
dharma-sthapana-hetu--to establish the principles of religion; sadhura vyavahara--behavior of a devotee; puri-gosanira--of Madhavendra Puri; ye acarana--the behavior; sei--that; dharma sara--the essence of all religion.
TRANSLATION
"A devotee's behavior establishes the true purpose of religious principles. The behavior of Madhavendra Puri Gosvami is the essence of such religious principles."
PURPORT
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gives the following commentary on this passage. A sadhu or an honest man is called a mahajana or a mahatma. The mahatma is thus described in Bhagavad-gita:
mahatmanas tu mam partha
daivim prakrtim asritah
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jnatva bhutadim avyayam
"O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible." (Bg. 9.13)
In the material world, the word mahatma is understood in different ways by different religionists. Mundaners also come up with their different angles of vision. For the conditioned soul busy in sense gratification, a mahajana is recognized according to the proportion of sense gratification he offers. For instance, a businessman may consider a certain banker to be a mahajana, and karmis desiring material enjoyment may consider philosophers like Jaimini to be mahajanas. There are many yogis who want to control the senses, and for them Patanjali Rsi is a maha-jana. For the jnanis, the atheist Kapila, Vasistha, Durvasa, Dattatreya and other impersonalist philosophers are mahajanas. For the demons, Hiranyaksa, Hiranyakasipu, Ravana, Ravana's son Meghanada, Jarasandha and others are accepted as mahajanas. For materialistic anthropologists speculating on the evolution of the body, a person like Darwin is a mahajana. The scientists who are bewildered by Krsna's external energy have no relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, yet they are accepted by some as mahajanas. Similarly, philosophers, historians, literary men, public speakers and social and political leaders are sometimes accepted as mahajanas. Such mahajanas are respected by certain men who have been described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.3.19):
sva-vid-varahostra-kharaih
samstutah purusah pasuh
na yat-karna-pathopeto
jatu nama gadagrajah
"Men who are like dogs, hogs, camels and asses praise those men who never listen to the transcendental pastimes of Lord Sri Krsna, the deliverer from evils."
Thus on the material platform animalistic leaders are worshiped by animals. Sometimes physicians, psychiatrists and social workers try to mitigate bodily pain, distress and fear, but they have no knowledge of spiritual identity and are bereft of a relationship with God. Yet they are considered mahajanas by the illusioned. Self-deceived persons sometimes accept leaders or spiritual masters from a priestly order that has been officially appointed by the codes of material life. In this way, they are deceived by official priests. Sometimes people accept as maha-janas those who have been designated by Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura as dhanga-vipras (imposter brahmanas). Such imposters imitate the characteristics of Srila Haridasa Thakura, and they envy Haridasa Thakura, who was certainly a mahajana. They make great artificial endeavors, advertising themselves as great devotees of the Lord or as mystic hypnotists knowledgeable in witchcraft, hypnotism and miracles. Sometimes people accept demons like Putana, Trnavarta, Vatsa, Baka, Aghasura and Dhenuka, Kaliya and Pralamba. Some people accept imitators and adversaries of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, such as Paundraka, Srgala Vasudeva, the spiritual master of the demons (Sukracarya), or atheists like Carvaka, King Vena, Sugata and Arhat. Such people have no faith in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Rather, they accept godless cheaters who present themselves as incarnations of God and cheat foolish people within the material world by word jugglery. Thus many rascals are accepted as mahajanas.
In this material world a person may be famous as a karma-vira, a successful fruitive worker, or one may be very successful in performing religious duties, or he may be known as a hero in mental speculation (jnana-vira), or he may be a very famous renunciant. In any case, Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.23.56) gives the following opinion in this matter.
neha yat karma dharmaya
na viragaya kalpate
na tirtha-pada-sevayai
jivann api mrto hi sah
"Anyone whose work is not meant to elevate him to religious life, anyone whose religious ritualistic performances do not raise him to renunciation, and anyone situated in renunciation that does not lead him to devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead must be considered dead, although he is breathing."
The conclusion is that all pious activity, fruitive activity, religious principles and renunciation must ultimately lead to devotional service. There are different types of processes for rendering service. One may serve his country, people, society, the varnasrama-dharma, the sick, the poor, the rich, women, demigods and so on. All this comes under the heading of sense gratification, or enjoyment in the material world. It is most unfortunate that people are more or less attracted by such material activity and that the leaders of these activities are accepted as mahajanas, great ideal leaders. Actually they are only misleaders, but an ordinary man cannot understand how he is being misled.
Narottama dasa Thakura says: sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya, cittete kariya aikya. A sadhu is a great personality like Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The sastras are the injunctions of revealed scriptures. Those who are devoid of devotional service sometimes mistake those who have mundane motives for mahajanas. The only motive must be krsna-bhakti, devotional service to the Lord. Sometimes fruitive workers, dry philosophers, nondevotees, mystic yogis and persons attached to material opulence, women and money are considered mahajanas. However, Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.3.25) gives the following statements about such unauthorized mahajanas:
prayena veda tad idam na mahajano 'yam
devya vimohita-matir bata mayayalam
trayyam jadi-krta-matir madhu-puspitayam
vaitanike mahati karmani yujyamanah
In this material world, karmis (fruitive actors) are accepted as mahajanas by foolish people who do not know the value of devotional service. Their mundane intelligence and mental speculative methods are under the control of the three modes of material nature. Consequently they cannot understand unalloyed devotional service. They are attracted by material activities, and they become worshipers of material nature. Thus they are known as fruitive actors. They even become entangled in material activities disguised as spiritual activities. In Bhagavad-gita, such people are described as veda-vada-rata. They do not understand the real purpose of the Vedas, yet they think of themselves as Vedic authorities. People versed in Vedic knowledge must know Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah. (Bg. 15.15)
A man covered by illusion cannot understand the proper way; therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says: dharma-sthapana-hetu sadhura vyavahara. The behavior of a devotee is the criterion for all other behavior. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself followed the devotional principles and taught others to follow them. Puri-gosanira ye acarana, sei dharma sara. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally followed the behavior of Madhavendra Puri and advised others to follow his principles. Unfortunately, people have been attracted to the material body since time immemorial.
yasyatma-buddhih kunape tridhatuke
sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma ijya-dhih
yat-tirtha-buddhih salile na karhicij
janesv abhijnesu sa eva go-kharah
"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 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." (Bhag. 10.84.13) Those who accept the logic of gad-dalika-pravaha and follow in the footsteps of pseudo-mahajanas are carried away by the waves of maya. Bhaktivinoda Thakura therefore warns:
miche mayara vase, yaccha bhese',
khaccha habudubu, bhai
jiva krsna-dasa, e visvasa,
ka'rle ta' ara duhkha nai
"Don't be carried away by the waves of maya. Just surrender to the lotus feet of Krsna, and all miseries will end." Those who follow social customs and behavior forget to follow the path chalked out by the mahajanas; thus they are offenders at the feet of the mahajanas. Sometimes they consider such mahajanas very conservative, or they create their own mahajanas. In this way they ignore the principles of the parampara system. This is a great misfortune for everyone. If one does not follow in the footsteps of a real mahajana, one's plans for happiness will be frustrated. This is elaborately explained in Madhya-lila (Chapter Twenty-five, verses 55, 56 and 58). It is there stated:
parama karana isvare keha nahi mane
sva-sva-mata sthape para-matera khandane
tate chaya darsana haite 'tattva' nahi jani
'mahajana' yei kahe, sei 'satya' mani
sri-krsna-caitanya-vani----amrtera dhara
tinho ye kahaye vastu, sei 'tattva'----sara
People are so unfortunate that they do not accept the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Instead, they want to be supported by so-called mahajanas, authorities. Tate chaya darsana haite 'tattva' nahi jani: we cannot ascertain the real truth simply by following speculators. We have to follow the footsteps of the mahajanas in the disciplic succession. Then our attempt will be successful. Sri-krsna-caitanya-vani-amrtera dhara: "Whatever is spoken by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is an incessant flow of nectar." Whoever accepts His words as reality can understand the essence of the Absolute Truth. No one can ascertain the Absolute Truth by following the philosophy of Sankhya or Patanjali, for the followers of Sankhya or Patanjali do not accept Lord Visnu as the Supreme Personality of Godhead (na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum). The ambition of such people is never fulfilled; therefore they are attracted by the external energy. Although mental speculators may be renowned all over the world as great authorities, actually they are not. Such leaders are themselves conservative and not at all liberal. However, if we preach this philosophy, people will consider Vaisnavas very sectarian. Srila Madhavendra Puri was a real mahajana, but misguided people cannot distinguish the real from the unreal. However, a person who is awakened to Krsna consciousness can understand the real religious path chalked out by the Lord and His pure devotees. Sri Madhavendra Puri was a real mahajana because he understood the Absolute Truth properly and throughout his life behaved like a pure devotee. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu approved the method of Sri Madhavendra Puri. Therefore, although from the material viewpoint the Sanodiya brahmana was on a lower platform, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu considered him situated on the highest platform of spiritual realization.
Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.3.20) states that there are twelve mahajanas: Brahma, Narada, Sambhu, Kumara, Kapila, Manu, Prahlada, Janaka, Bhisma, Bali, Sukadeva and Yamaraja.
To select our mahajanas in the Gaudiya-sampradaya, we have to follow in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His representatives. His next representative is Sri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, and the next are the six Gosvamis-Sri Rupa, Sri Sanatana, Bhatta Raghunatha, Sri Jiva, Gopala Bhatta and Dasa Raghunatha. The follower of Visnusvami was Sridhara Svami, the most well known commentator on Srimad-Bhagavatam. He was also a mahajana. Similarly, Candidasa, Vidyapati and Jayadeva were all mahajanas. One who tries to imitate the mahajanas just to become an imitative spiritual master is certainly far away from following in the footsteps of the mahajanas. Sometimes people cannot actually understand how a mahajana follows other mahajanas. In this way people are inclined to fall from devotional service.
TEXT 186
TEXT
tarko 'pratisthah srutayo vibhinna
nasav rsir yasya matam na bhinnam
dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam
mahajano yena gatah sa panthah
SYNONYMS
tarkah--dry argument; apratisthah--not fixed; srutayah--Vedas; vibhinnah--possessing different departments; na--not; asau--that; rsih--great sage; yasya--whose; matam--opinion; na--not; bhinnam--separate; dharmasya--of religious principles; tattvam--truth; nihitam--placed; guhayam--in the heart of a realized person; maha-janah--self-realized predecessors; yena--by which way; gatah--acted; sah--that; panthah--the pure unadulterated path.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued," 'Dry arguments are inconclusive. A great personality whose opinion does not differ from others is not considered a great sage. Simply by studying the Vedas, which are variegated, one cannot come to the right path by which religious principles are understood. The solid truth of religious principles is hidden in the heart of an unadulterated self-realized person. Consequently, as the sastras confirm, one should accept whatever progressive path the mahajanas advocate.' »
PURPORT
This is a verse spoken by Yudhisthira Maharaja in the Mahabharata, Vana-parva (313.117).
TEXT 187
TEXT
tabe sei vipra prabhuke bhiksa karaila
madhu-purira loka saba prabhuke dekhite aila
SYNONYMS
tabe--after that; sei vipra--that brahmana; prabhuke--unto Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhiksa karaila--gave lunch; madhu-purira--of Mathura; loka--people in general; saba--all; prabhuke--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhite aila--came to see.
TRANSLATION
After this discussion, the brahmana gave lunch to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Then all the people residing in Mathura came to see the Lord.
TEXT 188
TEXT
laksa-sankhya loka aise, nahika ganana
bahira hana prabhu dila darasana
SYNONYMS
laksa-sankhya--numbering hundreds of thousands; loka aise--people came; nahika ganana--there is no counting; bahira hana--coming out; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dila darasana--gave audience.
TRANSLATION
People came by hundreds of thousands, and no one could count them. Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came out of the house to give audience to the people.
TEXT 189
TEXT
bahu tuli' bale prabhu 'hari-bola'-dhvani
preme matta nace loka kari' hari-dhvani
SYNONYMS
bahu tuli'--raising the arms; bale--says; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; hari-bola-dhvani--the transcendental sound vibration Hari bol; preme--in ecstasy; matta--maddened; nace--dance; loka--the people; kari' hari-dhvani--making the transcendental vibration Hari.
TRANSLATION
When the people assembled, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu raised His arms and said very loudly,"Hari bol!" The people responded to the Lord and became ecstatic. As if mad, they began to dance and vibrate the transcendental sound, "Hari!"
TEXT 190
TEXT
yamunara 'cabbisa ghate' prabhu kaila snana
sei vipra prabhuke dekhaya tirtha-sthana
SYNONYMS
yamunara--of the River Yamuna; cabbisa ghate--in the twenty-four ghats, or bathing places; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila--performed; snana--bathing; sei vipra--that brahmana; prabhuke--unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhaya--shows; tirtha-sthana--the holy places of pilgrimage.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bathed in twenty-four ghats along the banks of the Yamuna, and the brahmana showed Him all the places of pilgrimage.
PURPORT
The twenty-four ghats (bathing places) along the Yamuna are (1) Avimukta, (2) Adhirudha, (3) Guhya-tirtha, (4) Prayaga-tirtha, (5) Kanakhala-tirtha, (6) Tinduka, (7) Surya-tirtha, (8) Vatasvami, (9) Dhruva-ghata, (10) Rsi-tirtha, (11) Moksa-tirtha, (12) Bodha-tirtha, (13) Gokarna, (14) Krsnaganga, (15) Vaikuntha, (16) Asi-kunda, (17) Catuh-samudrika-kupa, (18) Akrura-tirtha, (19) Yajnika-vipra-sthana, (20) Kubja-kupa, (21) Ranga-sthala, (22) Manca-sthala, (23) Mallayuddha-sthana and (24) Dasasvamedha.
TEXT 191
TEXT
svayambhu, visrama, dirgha-visnu, bhutesvara
mahavidya, gokarnadi dekhila vistara
SYNONYMS
svayambhu--Svayambhu; visrama--Visrama; dirgha-visnu--Dirgha Visnu; bhutesvara--Bhutesvara; mahavidya--Mahavidya; gokarna--Gokarna; adi--and so on; dekhila--saw; vistara--many.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited all the holy places on the banks of the Yamuna, including Svayambhu, Visrama-ghata, Dirgha Visnu, Bhutesvara, Mahavidya and Gokarna.
TEXT 192
TEXT
'vana' dekhibare yadi prabhura mana haila
sei ta brahmane prabhu sangete la-ila
SYNONYMS
vana--the forests; dekhibare--to see; yadi--when; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mana--mind; haila--was; sei ta--indeed that; brahmane--brahmana; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sangete la-ila--took along.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to see the various forests of Vrndavana, He took the brahmana with Him.
TEXT 193
TEXT
madhu-vana, tala, kumuda, bahula-vana gela
tahan tahan snana kari' premavista haila
SYNONYMS
madhu-vana--Madhuvana; tala--Talavana; kumuda--Kumudavana; bahula-vana--Bahulavana; gela--He visited; tahan tahan--here and there; snana kari'--taking bath; prema-avista haila--became overwhelmed by ecstatic love.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited the different forests, including Madhuvana, Talavana, Kumudavana and Bahulavana. Wherever He went, He took His bath with great ecstatic love.
PURPORT
The word vana means "forest." Vrndavana is the name given to the forest where Srimati Vrndadevi (Tulasidevi) grows profusely. Actually it is not a forest as we ordinarily consider a forest because it is very thick with green vegetation. There are twelve such vanas in Vrndavana. Some are located on the western side of the Yamuna and others on the eastern side. The forests situated on the eastern side are Bhadravana, Bilvavana, Lauhavana, Bhandiravana and Mahavana. On the western side are Madhuvana, Talavana, Kumudavana, Bahulavana, Kamyavana, Khadiravana and Vrndavana. These are the twelve forests of the Vrndavana area.
TEXT 194
TEXT
pathe gabhi-ghata care prabhure dekhiya
prabhuke bedaya asi' hunkara kariya
SYNONYMS
pathe--on the road; gabhi-ghata--groups of cows; care--graze; prabhure dekhiya--after seeing Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prabhuke bedaya--they surrounded the Lord; asi'--coming; hun-kara kariya--making a loud vibration.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed through Vrndavana, herds of grazing cows saw Him pass and, immediately surrounding Him, began to moo very loudly.
TEXT 195
TEXT
gabhi dekhi' stabdha prabhu premera tarange
vatsalye gabhi prabhura cate saba-ange
SYNONYMS
gabhi dekhi'--seeing the cows; stabdha--stunned; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; premera tarange--in the waves of ecstatic love; vatsalye--in great affection; gabhi--all the cows; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; cate--licked; saba-ange--all over the body.
TRANSLATION
Seeing the herds approach Him, the Lord was stunned with ecstatic love. The cows then began to lick His body in great affection.
TEXT 196
TEXT
sustha hana prabhu kare anga-kanduyana
prabhu-sange cale, nahi chade dhenu-gana
SYNONYMS
sustha hana--becoming patient; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare--does; anga--of the body; kanduyana--scratching; prabhu-sange--with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; cale--go; nahi chade--do not give up; dhenu-gana--all the cows.
TRANSLATION
Becoming pacified, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to caress the cows, and the cows, being unable to give up His company, went with Him.
TEXT 197
TEXT
kaste-srstye dhenu saba rakhila goyala
prabhu-kantha-dhvani suni' aise mrgi-pala
SYNONYMS
kaste-srstye--with great difficulty; dhenu--the cows; saba--all; rakhila--kept back; goyala--the cowherd men; prabhu-kantha-dhvani--the musical voice of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; suni'--hearing; aise--came; mrgi-pala--flocks of deer.
TRANSLATION
It was with great difficulty that the cowherd men were able to keep the cows back. Then when the Lord chanted, all the deer heard His sweet voice and approached Him.
TEXT 198
TEXT
mrga-mrgi mukha dekhi' prabhu-anga cate
bhaya nahi kare, sange yaya vate-vate
SYNONYMS
mrga-mrgi--the deer, both male and female; mukha dekhi'--seeing His face; prabhu-anga cate--began to lick the body of the Lord; bhaya nahi kare--they were not at all afraid; sange yaya--go with Him; vate-vate--all along the road.
TRANSLATION
When the does and bucks came and saw the Lord's face, they began to lick His body. Not being at all afraid of Him, they accompanied Him along the path.
TEXT 199
TEXT
suka, pika, bhrnga prabhure dekhi' 'pancama' gaya
sikhi-gana nrtya kari' prabhu-age yaya
SYNONYMS
suka--parrots; pika--cuckoos; bhrnga--bumblebees; prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhi'--seeing; pancama--the fifth musical note; gaya--sing; sikhi-gana--peacocks; nrtya--dancing; kari'--performing; prabhu-age--in front of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yaya--go.
TRANSLATION
Bumblebees and birds like the parrot and cuckoo all began to sing loudly on the fifth note, and the peacocks began to dance in front of the Lord.
TEXT 200
TEXT
prabhu dekhi' vrndavanera vrksa-lata-gane
ankura pulaka, madhu-asru varisane
SYNONYMS
prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhi'--seeing; vrndavane--of Vrndavana; vrksa-lata-gane--the trees and creepers; ankura--twigs; pulaka--jubilant; madhu-asru--tears in the form of honey; varisane--pour.
TRANSLATION
Upon seeing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the trees and creepers of Vrndavana became jubilant. Their twigs stood up, and they began to shed tears of ecstasy in the form of honey.
TEXT 201
TEXT
phula-phala bhari' dala pade prabhu-paya
bandhu dekhi' bandhu yena'bheta' lana yaya
SYNONYMS
phula-phala bhari'--loaded with fruits and flowers; dala--the branches; pade--fall down; prabhu-paya--at the lotus feet of the Lord; bandhu dekhi'--seeing one friend; bandhu--another friend; yena--as if; bheta--a presentation; lana--taking; yaya--goes.
TRANSLATION
The trees and creepers, overloaded with fruits and flowers, fell down at the lotus feet of the Lord and greeted Him with various presentations as if they were friends.
TEXT 202
TEXT
prabhu dekhi' vrndavanera sthavara-jangama
anandita----bandhu yena dekhe bandhu-gana
SYNONYMS
prabhu dekhi'--seeing the Lord; vrndavanera--of Vrndavana; sthavara-jangama--all living entities, moving and not moving; anandita--very jubilant; bandhu--friend; yena--as if; dekhe--see; bandhu-gana--friends.
TRANSLATION
Thus all the moving and nonmoving living entities of Vrndavana became very jubilant to see the Lord. It was as if friends were made happy by seeing another friend.
TEXT 203
TEXT
ta-sabara priti dekhi' prabhu bhavavese
saba-sane krida kare hana tara vase
SYNONYMS
ta-sabara--of all of them; priti--affection; dekhi'--seeing; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhava-avese--in ecstatic love; saba-sane--with all of them; krida--sporting; kare--performs; hana--being; tara--their; vase--under control.
TRANSLATION
Seeing their affection, the Lord was moved by ecstatic love. He began to sport with them exactly as a friend sports with another friend. Thus He voluntarily came under the control of His friends.
TEXT 204
TEXT
prati vrksa-lata prabhu karena alingana
puspadi dhyane karena krsne samarpana
SYNONYMS
prati--each and every; vrksa-lata--tree and creeper; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karena alingana--embraced; puspa-adi--all the flowers and fruits; dhyane--in meditation; karena--do; krsne--unto Lord Krsna; samarpana--offering.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to embrace each and every tree and creeper, and they began to offer their fruits and flowers as if in meditation.
TEXT 205
TEXT
asru-kampa-pulaka-preme sarira asthire
'krsna' bala, 'krsna' bala----bale uccaihsvare
SYNONYMS
asru--tears; kampa--trembling; pulaka--jubilation; preme--in ecstatic love; sarira--the whole body; asthire--restless; krsna bala--say Krsna; krsna bala--say Krsna; bale--the Lord says; uccaih-svare--very loudly.
TRANSLATION
The Lord's body was restless, and tears, trembling and jubilation were manifest. He said very loudly, "Chant Krsna! Chant Krsna!"
TEXT 206
TEXT
sthavara-jangama mili' kare krsna-dhvani
prabhura gambhira-svare yena prati-dhvani
SYNONYMS
sthavara-jangama--all living entities, nonmoving and moving; mili'--meeting together; kare--perform; krsna-dhvani--vibration of the sound Hare Krsna; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gambhira-svare--deep voice; yena--as if; prati-dhvani--responsive vibration.
TRANSLATION
All moving and nonmoving creatures then began to vibrate the transcendental sound of Hare Krsna, as if they were echoing the deep sound of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 207
TEXT
mrgera gala dhari' prabhu karena rodane
mrgera pulaka ange, asru nayane
SYNONYMS
mrgera--of the deer; gala dhari'--catching the necks; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karena--does; rodane--crying; mrgera--of the deer; pulaka ange--jubilation; asru--tears; nayane--in the eyes.
TRANSLATION
The Lord then clasped the necks of the deer and began to cry. There was jubilation manifest in the bodies of the deer, and tears were in their eyes.
TEXT 208
TEXT
vrksa-dale suka-sari dila darasana
taha dekhi' prabhura kichu sunite haila mana
SYNONYMS
vrksa-dale--on a branch of a tree; suka-sari--male and female parrots; dila--gave; darasana--appearance; taha dekhi'--seeing that; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kichu--something; sunite--to hear; haila--there was; mana--mind.
TRANSLATION
When a male and female parrot appeared on the branches of a tree, the Lord saw them and wanted to hear them speak.
TEXT 209
TEXT
suka-sarika prabhura hate udi' pade
prabhuke sunana krsnera guna-sloka pade
SYNONYMS
suka-sarika--the parrots, male and female; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; hate--on the hand; udi'--flying; pade--fall; prabhuke--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sunana--causing to hear; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; guna-sloka pade--chanted verses about the transcendental qualities.
TRANSLATION
Both parrots flew onto the hand of the Lord and began to chant the transcendental qualities of Krsna, and the Lord listened to them.
TEXT 210
TEXT
saundaryam lalanali-dhairya-dalanam lila rama-stambhini
viryam kandukitadri-varyam amalah pare-parardham gunah
silam sarva-jananuranjanam aho yasyayam asmat-prabhur
visvam visva-janina-kirtir avatat krsno jagan-mohanah
SYNONYMS
saundaryam--the bodily beauty; lalana-ali--of groups of gopis; dhairya--the patience; dalanam--subduing; lila--pastimes; rama--the goddess of fortune; stambhini--astounding; viryam--strength; kandukita--making like a small ball for throwing; adri-varyam--the great mountain; amalah--without a spot; pare-parardham--unlimited; gunah--qualities; silam--behavior; sarva-jana--all kinds of living entities; anuranjanam--satisfying; aho--oh; yasya--whose; ayam--this; asmat-prabhuh--our Lord; visvam--the whole universe; visva-janina--for the benefit of everyone; kirtih--whose glorification; avatat--may He maintain; krsnah--Lord Krsna; jagat-mohanah--the attractor of the whole world.
TRANSLATION
The male parrot sang: "The glorification of Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is beneficial to everyone in the universe. His beauty is victorious over the gopis of Vrndavana, and it subdues their patience. His pastimes astound the goddess of fortune, and His bodily strength turns Govardhana Hill into a small toy like a ball. His spotless qualities are unlimited, and His behavior satisfies everyone. Lord Krsna is attractive to everyone. Oh, may our Lord maintain the whole universe!"
PURPORT
This verse is found in the Govinda-lilamrta (13.29).
TEXT 211
TEXT
suka-mukhe suni' tabe krsnera varnana
sarika padaye tabe radhika-varnana
SYNONYMS
suka-mukhe--in the mouth of the male parrot; suni'--hearing; krsnera varnana--a description of Lord Krsna; sarika--female parrot; padaye--recites; tabe--then; radhika-varnana--a description of Srimati Radharani.
TRANSLATION
After hearing this description of Lord Krsna from the male parrot, the female parrot began to recite a description of Srimati Radharani.
TEXT 212
TEXT
sri-radhikayah priyata surupata
susilata nartana-gana-caturi
gunali-sampat kavita ca rajate
jagan-mano-mohana-citta-mohini
SYNONYMS
sri-radhikayah--of Srimati Radharani; priyata--affection; su-rupata--exquisite beauty; su-silata--good behavior; nartana-gana--in chanting and dancing; caturi--artistry; guna-ali-sampat--possession of such transcendental qualities; kavita--poetry; ca--also; rajate--shine; jagat-manah-mohana--of Krsna, who attracts the mind of the whole universe; citta-mohini--the attractor of the mind.
TRANSLATION
The female parrot said: "Srimati Radharani's affection, Her exquisite beauty and good behavior, Her artistic dancing and chanting and Her poetic compositions are all so attractive that they attract the mind of Krsna, who attracts the mind of everyone in the universe."
PURPORT
This verse is found in the Govinda-lilamrta (13.30).
TEXT 213
TEXT
punah suka kahe,----krsna 'madana-mohana'
tabe ara sloka suka karila pathana
SYNONYMS
punah--again; suka--the male parrot; kahe--says; krsna madana-mohana--Krsna is the conqueror of the mind of Cupid; tabe--thereafter; ara--another; sloka--verse; suka--the male parrot; karila pathana--recited.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter the male parrot said,"Krsna is the enchanter of the mind of Cupid." He then began to recite another verse.
TEXT 214
TEXT
vamsi-dhari jagan-nari-
citta-hari sa sarike
vihari gopa-naribhir
jiyan madana-mohanah
SYNONYMS
vamsi-dhari--the carrier of the flute; jagat-nari--of all women of the universe; citta-hari--the stealer of the hearts; sah--He; sarike--my dear sari; vihari--enjoyer; gopa-naribhih--with the gopis; jiyat--let Him be glorified; madana--of Cupid; mohanah--the enchanter.
TRANSLATION
The parrot then said, "My dear sari [female parrot], Sri Krsna carries a flute and enchants the hearts of all women throughout the universe. He is specifically the enjoyer of beautiful gopis, and He is the enchanter of Cupid also. Let Him be glorified!"
PURPORT
This verse is also found in the Govinda-lilamrta (13.31).
TEXT 215
TEXT
punah sari kahe suke kari' parihasa
taha suni' prabhura haila vismaya-premollasa
SYNONYMS
punah--again; sari kahe--the female parrot said; suke--unto the male parrot; kari' parihasa--jokingly; taha suni'--hearing that; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; haila--there was; vismaya--wonderful; prema-ullasa--awakening of ecstatic love.
TRANSLATION
Then the female parrot began to speak jokingly to suka, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was struck with wonderful ecstatic love to hear her speak.
TEXT 216
TEXT
radha-sange yada bhati
tada 'madana-mohanah'
anyatha visva-moho 'pi
svayam 'madana-mohitah'
SYNONYMS
radha-sange--with Srimati Radharani; yada--when; bhati--shines; tada--at that time; madana-mohanah--the enchanter of the mind of Cupid; anyatha--otherwise; visva-mohah--the enchanter of the whole universe; api--even though; svayam--personally; madana-mohitah--enchanted by Cupid.
TRANSLATION
The parrot sari said, "When Lord Sri Krsna is with Radharani, He is the enchanter of Cupid; otherwise, when He is alone, He Himself is enchanted by erotic feelings even though He enchants the whole universe."
PURPORT
This is another verse from the Govinda-lilamrta (13.32).
TEXT 217
TEXT
suka-sari udi' punah gela vrksa-dale
mayurera nrtya prabhu dekhe kutuhale
SYNONYMS
suka-sari--the male and female parrots; udi'--flying; punah--again; gela--went; vrksa-dale--to the branch of a tree; mayurera--of the peacocks; nrtya--dancing; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhe--sees; kutuhale--with curiosity.
TRANSLATION
Both parrots then flew onto a tree branch, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to watch the dancing of peacocks with curiosity.
TEXT 218
TEXT
mayurera kantha dekhi' prabhura krsna-smrti haila
premavese mahaprabhu bhumite padila
SYNONYMS
mayurera--of the peacocks; kantha--necks; dekhi'--seeing; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krsna-smrti--remembrance of Lord Krsna; haila--there was; prema-avese--in ecstatic love; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhumite--on the ground; padila--fell down.
TRANSLATION
When the Lord saw the bluish necks of the peacocks, His remembrance of Krsna immediately awakened, and He fell to the ground in ecstatic love.
TEXT 219
TEXT
prabhure murcchita dekhi' sei ta brahmana
bhattacarya-sange kare prabhura santarpana
SYNONYMS
prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; murcchita--unconscious; dekhi'--seeing; sei ta brahmana--indeed that brahmana; bhattacarya-sange--with Bhattacarya; kare--does; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; santarpana--taking care.
TRANSLATION
When the brahmana saw that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was unconscious, he and Balabhadra Bhattacarya took care of Him.
TEXT 220
TEXT
aste-vyaste mahaprabhura lana bahirvasa
jala-seka kare ange, vastrera vatasa
SYNONYMS
aste-vyaste--with great haste; mahaprabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; lana--taking; bahirvasa--covering cloth; jala-seka kare--sprinkle water; ange--on the body; vastrera vatasa--fanning with the cloth.
TRANSLATION
They hastily sprinkled water over the Lord's body. Then they took up His cloth and began to fan Him with it.
TEXT 221
TEXT
prabhu-karne krsna-nama kahe ucca kari'
cetana pana prabhu ya'na gadagadi
SYNONYMS
prabhu-karne--in the ear of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krsna-nama--the holy name of Lord Krsna; kahe--chant; ucca kari'--loudly; cetana pana--coming to consciousness; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ya'na--goes; gadagadi--rolling on the ground.
TRANSLATION
They then began to chant the holy name of Krsna into the Lord's ear. When the Lord regained consciousness, He began rolling on the ground.
TEXT 222
TEXT
kantaka-durgama vane anga ksata haila
bhattacarya kole kari' prabhure sustha kaila
SYNONYMS
kantaka-durgama--difficult to traverse because of thorns; vane--in the forest; anga--the body; ksata haila--became injured; bhattacarya--Balabhadra Bhattacarya; kole kari'--taking Him on his lap; prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sustha kaila--pacified.
TRANSLATION
When the Lord rolled on the ground, sharp thorns injured His body. Taking Him on his lap, Balabhadra Bhattacarya pacified Him.
TEXT 223
TEXT
krsnavese prabhura preme garagara mana
'bol' 'bol' kari' uthi' karena nartana
SYNONYMS
krsna-avese--in ecstatic love of Krsna; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; preme--by love; garagara--disturbed; mana--mind; bol bol--chant, chant; kari'--saying; uthi'--standing up; karena nartana--began to dance.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mind wandered in ecstatic love of Krsna. He immediately stood up and said,"Chant! Chant!" Then He Himself began to dance.
TEXT 224
TEXT
bhattacarya, sei vipra 'krsna-nama' gaya
nacite nacite pathe prabhu cali' yaya
SYNONYMS
bhattacarya--Bhattacarya; sei vipra--that brahmana; krsna-nama gaya--chant the holy name of Krsna; nacite nacite--dancing and dancing; pathe--on the road; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; cali' yaya--goes forward.
TRANSLATION
Being thus ordered by the Lord, both Balabhadra Bhattacarya and the brahmana began to chant the holy name of Krsna. Then the Lord, dancing and dancing, proceeded along the path.
TEXT 225
TEXT
prabhura premavesa dekhi' brahmana----vismita
prabhura raksa lagi' vipra ha-ila cintita
SYNONYMS
prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prema-avesa--ecstatic love; dekhi'--seeing; brahmana--the brahmana; vismita--astonished; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; raksa lagi'--for the protection; vipra--the brahmana; ha-ila--became; cintita--very anxious.
TRANSLATION
The brahmana was astounded to see the symptoms of ecstatic love exhibited by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He then became anxious to give the Lord protection.
TEXT 226
TEXT
nilacale chila yaiche premavesa mana
vrndavana yaite pathe haila sata-guna
SYNONYMS
nilacale--at Jagannatha Puri; chila--was; yaiche--as; prema-avesa mana--always in a mentality of ecstatic love; vrndavana--to Vrndavana; yaite--going; pathe--on the road; haila--became; sata-guna--one hundred times.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mind was absorbed in ecstatic love at Jagannatha Puri, but when He passed along the road on the way to Vrndavana, that love increased a hundred times.
TEXT 227
TEXT
sahasra-guna prema bade mathura darasane
laksa-guna prema bade, bhramena yabe vane
SYNONYMS
sahasra-guna--one thousand times; prema--love; bade--increased; mathura--Mathura; darasane--upon seeing; laksa-guna--a hundred thousand times; prema bade--love increases; bhramena--wanders; yabe--when; vane--in the forests of Vrndavana.
TRANSLATION
The Lord's ecstatic love increased a thousand times when He visited Mathura, but it increased a hundred thousand times when He wandered in the forests of Vrndavana.
TEXTS 228-229
TEXT
anya-desa prema uchale 'vrndavana'-name
saksat bhramaye ebe sei vrndavane
preme garagara mana ratri-divase
snana-bhiksadi-nirvaha karena abhyase
SYNONYMS
anya-desa--in other countries; prema--love; uchale--increases; vrndavana-name--by the name of Vrndavana; saksat--directly; bhramaye--travels; ebe--now; sei vrndavane--in that Vrndavana; preme--in ecstatic love; garagara--faltering; mana--mind; ratri-divase--day and night; snana-bhiksa-adi--bathing and accepting food; nirvaha--accomplishing; karena--does; abhyase--by habit.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was elsewhere, the very name of Vrndavana was sufficient to increase His ecstatic love. Now, when He was actually traveling in the Vrndavana forest, His mind was absorbed in great ecstatic love day and night. He ate and bathed simply out of habit.
TEXT 230
TEXT
ei-mata prema----yavat bhramila 'bara' vana
ekatra likhilun, sarvatra na yaya varnana
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; prema--ecstatic love; yavat--so long; bhramila--He traveled; bara vana--through the twelve forests of Vrndavana; ekatra--in one place; likhilun--I have written; sarvatra--everywhere; na yaya varnana--cannot be described.
TRANSLATION
Thus I have written a description of the ecstatic love Lord Caitanya manifested while He walked through the twelve forests of Vrndavana. To describe it all would be impossible.
TEXT 231
TEXT
vrndavane haila prabhura yateka premera vikara
koti-granthe 'ananta' likhena tahara vistara
SYNONYMS
vrndavane--in Vrndavana; haila--there were; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yateka--as many; premera vikara--transformations of ecstasy; koti-granthe--in millions of books; ananta--Lord Ananta; likhena--writes; tahara--of them; vistara--elaboration.
TRANSLATION
Lord Ananta writes millions of books elaborately describing the transformations of ecstatic love experienced by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Vrndavana.
TEXT 232
TEXT
tabu likhibare nare tara eka kana
uddesa karite kari dig-darasana
SYNONYMS
tabu--yet; likhibare--to write; nare--is not able; tara--of that; eka--one; kana--fragment; uddesa--indication; karite--to make; kari--I perform; dik-darasana--pointing out the direction.
TRANSLATION
Since Lord Ananta Himself cannot describe even a fragment of these pastimes, I am simply pointing out the direction.
TEXT 233
TEXT
jagat bhasila caitanya-lilara pathare
yanra yata sakti tata pathare santare
SYNONYMS
jagat--the whole world; bhasila--floated; caitanya-lilara--of the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; pathare--in the inundation; yanra--of whom; yata--as much; sakti--power; tata--that much; pathare--in the inundation; santare--swims.
TRANSLATION
The whole world became merged in the inundation of the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One can swim in that water to the extent that he has the strength.
TEXT 234
TEXT
sri-rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa
caitanya-caritamrta kahe krsnadasa
SYNONYMS
sri-rupa--Srila Rupa Gosvami; raghunatha--Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; pade--at the lotus feet; yara--whose; asa--expectation; caitanya-caritamrta--the book named Caitanya-caritamrta; kahe--describes; krsnadasa--Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami.
TRANSLATION
Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always desiring their mercy, I, Krsnadasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, following in their footsteps.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Seventeenth Chapter, describing the Lord's traveling to Vrndavana.