![[Bhaktivedanta Memorial Library Logo]](../../../grfx/bml_logo.gif){kind=logo}
Chapter 25
How All the Residents of Varanasi Became Vaisnavas
The following is a summary of Chapter Twenty-five. A Maharastrian brahmana who was living in Benares was a great devotee of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He was always very happy to hear of the glories of the Lord, and it was by his arrangement that all the sannyasis of Varanasi became devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He invited all the sannyasis to his house to meet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and this incident has been described in the Seventh Chapter of Adi-lila. From that day, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu became famous in the city of Varanasi, and many important men in that city became His followers. By and by, one of the disciples of the great sannyasi Prakasananda Sarasvati became devoted to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and this devotee explained Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to Prakasananda Sarasvati and supported His views with various arguments.
One day Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to take a bath at Panca-nada, and afterwards all His devotees began chanting the Hare Krsna mantra in front of the temple of Bindu Madhava. At this time Prakasananda Sarasvati and all his devotees approached the Lord. Prakasananda Sarasvati immediately fell down at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and very much regretted his past behavior toward the Lord. He asked Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu about devotional service in terms of the Vedanta-sutra, and the Lord told him about devotional service that is approved by great personalities who know the Vedanta-sutra. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then pointed out that Srimad-Bhagavatam is the proper commentary on the Vedanta-sutra. He then explained the catuh-sloki (four slokas) of Srimad-Bhagavatam, the essence of that great scripture.
From that day on, all the sannyasis of Varanasi became devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Before returning to His headquarters at Jagannatha Puri, the Lord advised Sanatana Gosvami to go to Vrndavana. The Lord then departed for Jagannatha Puri. Kaviraja Gosvami then describes something about Srila Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami and Subuddhi Raya. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to Jagannatha Puri through the great forest of Jharikhanda in central India. At the end of this chapter, Kaviraja Gosvami sums up the incidents of Madhya-lila and instructs every living being to read this sublime book of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes.
TEXT 1
TEXT
vaisnavi-krtya sannyasi-
mukhan kasi-nivasinah
sanatanam susamskrtya
prabhur niladrim agamat
SYNONYMS
vaisnavi-krtya--making into Vaisnavas; sannyasi-mukhan--headed by the sannyasis; kasi-nivasinah--the residents of Varanasi; sanatanam--Sanatana Gosvami; su-samskrtya--completely purifying; prabhuh--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; niladrim--to Jagannatha Puri; agamat--returned.
TRANSLATION
After converting into Vaisnavas all the residents of Varanasi, who were headed by the sannyasis, and after completely educating and instructing Sanatana Gosvami at Varanasi, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to Jagannatha Puri.
TEXT 2
TEXT
jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda
jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya--all glories; sri-caitanya--to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jaya--all glories; nityananda--to Nityananda Prabhu; jaya--all glories; advaita-candra--to Advaita Prabhu; jaya--all glories; gaura-bhakta-vrnda--to the devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Lord Caitanya! All glories to Lord Nityananda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!
TEXT 3
TEXT
ei mata mahaprabhu dui masa paryanta
sikhaila tanre bhakti-siddhantera anta
SYNONYMS
ei mata--in this way; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dui masa paryanta--for two months; sikhaila--instructed; tanre--him; bhakti-siddhantera anta--all the conclusions of devotional service.
TRANSLATION
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed Sri Sanatana Gosvami in all the conclusions of devotional service for two consecutive months.
TEXT 4
TEXT
'paramananda kirtaniya'--sekharera sangi
prabhure kirtana sunaya, ati bada rangi
SYNONYMS
paramananda kirtaniya--Paramananda Kirtaniya; sekharera sangi--a friend of Candrasekhara's; prabhure--unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kirtana sunaya--sings and chants; ati bada rangi--very humorous.
TRANSLATION
For as long as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was in Varanasi, Paramananda Kirtaniya, who was a friend of Candrasekhara's, chanted the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and other songs to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in a very humorous way.
TEXT 5
TEXT
sannyasira gana prabhure yadi upeksila
bhakta-duhkha khandaite tare krpa kaila
SYNONYMS
sannyasira gana--all the sannyasis; prabhure--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yadi--when; upeksila--criticized; bhakta-duhkha--the unhappiness of the devotees; khandaite--to drive away; tare--to them; krpa kaila--showed His mercy.
TRANSLATION
When the Mayavadi sannyasis at Varanasi criticized Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord's devotees became very depressed. To satisfy them, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu showed His mercy to the sannyasis.
TEXT 6
TEXT
sannyasire krpa purve likhiyachon vistariya
uddese kahiye ihan sanksepa kariya
SYNONYMS
sannyasire krpa--mercy upon the sannyasis; purve--before this; likhiyachon--I have described; vistariya--elaborately; uddese--in reference to that; kahiye--let me speak; ihan--here; sanksepa kariya--in brief.
TRANSLATION
In the Seventh Chapter of Adi-lila I have already elaborately described Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's deliverance of the sannyasis at Varanasi, but I shall briefly repeat it in this chapter.
TEXT 7
TEXT
yahan tahan prabhura ninda kare sannyasira gana
suni' duhkhe maharastriya vipra karaye cintana
SYNONYMS
yahan tahan--anywhere and everywhere; prabhura ninda--criticism of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare--do; sannyasira gana--the Mayavadi sannyasis; suni'--hearing; duhkhe--in great unhappiness; maharastriya vipra--the brahmana of Maharastra province; karaye cintana--was contemplating.
TRANSLATION
When the Mayavadi sannyasis were criticizing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu anywhere and everywhere in Varanasi, the Maharastrian brahmana, hearing this blasphemy, began to think about this unhappily.
TEXT 8
TEXT
"prabhura svabhava,--yeba dekhe sannidhane
'svarupa' anubhavi' tanre 'isvara' kari' mane
SYNONYMS
prabhura sva-bhava--the characteristics of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yeba--anyone who; dekhe--sees; sannidhane--nearby; sva-rupa--His personality; anubhavi'--realizing; tanre--Him; isvara kari'--as the Supreme Lord; mane--accepts.
TRANSLATION
The Maharastrian brahmana thought, "Whoever closely sees the characteristics of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately realizes His personality and accepts Him as the Supreme Lord.
TEXT 9
TEXT
kona prakare paron yadi ekatra karite
iha dekhi' sannyasi-gana habe inhara bhakte
SYNONYMS
kona prakare--by some means; paron--I am able; yadi--if; ekatra karite--to assemble; iha dekhi'--by seeing this (Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's personal characteristics); sannyasi-gana--the Mayavadi sannyasis of Varanasi; habe--will become; inhara bhakte--His devotees.
TRANSLATION
"If by some means I can assemble all the sannyasis together, they will certainly become His devotees after seeing His personal characteristics.
PURPORT
If one saw the personal characteristics and activities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, one would certainly be convinced that He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One can ascertain this by following in the footsteps of the sastric injunctions. This sincere study and appreciation of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is also applicable to His authorized devotees, and it is clearly stated in the Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 7.11):
kali-kalera dharma----krsna-nama-sankirtana
krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana
In this Age of Kali, real religious propaganda should induce people to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. This is possible for someone who is especially empowered by Krsna. No one can do this without being especially favored by Krsna. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments in this regard in his Anubhasya, wherein he quotes a verse from Narayana-samhita:
dvapariyair janair visnuh
pancaratrais tu kevalaih
kalau tu nama-matrena
pujyate bhagavan harih
"In Dvapara-yuga, devotees of Lord Visnu and Krsna rendered devotional service according to the principles of pancaratrika. In this Age of Kali, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshiped simply by the chanting of His holy names.» Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura then comments: "Without being empowered by the direct potency of Lord Krsna to fulfill His desire and without being specifically favored by the Lord, no human being can become the spiritual master of the whole world. He certainly cannot succeed by mental concoction, which is not meant for devotees or religious people. Only an empowered personality can distribute the holy name of the Lord and enjoin all fallen souls to worship Krsna. By distributing the holy name of the Lord, he cleanses the hearts of the most fallen people; therefore he extinguishes the blazing fire of the material world. Not only that, he broadcasts the shining brightness of Krsna's effulgence throughout the world. Such an acarya, or spiritual master, should be considered nondifferent from Krsna-that is, he should be considered the incarnation of Lord Krsna's potency. Such a personality is krsnalingita-vigraha-that is, he is always embraced by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. Such a person is above the considerations of the varnasrama institution. He is the guru or spiritual master for the entire world, a devotee on the topmost platform, the maha-bhagavata stage, and a paramahamsa-thakura, a spiritual form only fit to be addressed as paramahamsa or thakura."
Nonetheless, there are many people who are just like owls but never open their eyes to see the sunshine. These owlish personalities are inferior to the Mayavadi sannyasis who cannot see the brilliance of Krsna's favor. They are prepared to criticize the person engaged in distributing the holy name all over the world and following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who wanted Krsna consciousness preached in every town and city.
TEXT 10
TEXT
varanasi-vasa amara haya sarva-kale
sarva-kala duhkha paba, iha na karile"
SYNONYMS
varanasi-vasa--residence at Varanasi; amara--my; haya--there is; sarva-kale--always; sarva-kala--always; duhkha paba--I will suffer unhappiness; iha--this; na karile--if I do not execute.
TRANSLATION
"I shall have to reside at Varanasi the rest of my life. If I do not try to carry out this plan, I shall certainly continue to suffer mental depression."
TEXT 11
TEXT
eta cinti' nimantrila sannyasira gane
tabe sei vipra aila mahaprabhura sthane
SYNONYMS
eta cinti'--thinking this; nimantrila--he invited; sannyasira gane--all the sannyasis; tabe--then; sei vipra--that brahmana; aila--approached; mahaprabhura sthane--the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
Thinking like this, the Maharastrian brahmana extended an invitation to all the sannyasis of Varanasi. After doing this, he finally approached Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to extend Him an invitation.
TEXT 12
TEXT
hena-kale ninda suni' sekhara, tapana
duhkha pana prabhu-pade kaila nivedana
SYNONYMS
hena-kale--exactly at this time; ninda suni'--by hearing the criticism (of Lord Caitanya by the Mayavadi sannyasis); sekhara tapana--Candrasekhara and Tapana Misra; duhkha pana--feeling very unhappy; prabhu-pade--unto the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila nivedana--submitted a request.
TRANSLATION
At this time, Candrasekhara and Tapana Misra both heard blasphemous criticism against Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and felt very unhappy. They came to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's lotus feet to submit a request.
TEXT 13
TEXT
bhakta-duhkha dekhi' prabhu manete cintila
sannyasira mana phiraite mana ha-ila
SYNONYMS
bhakta-duhkha dekhi'--seeing the unhappiness of the devotees; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; manete cintila--considered within His mind; sannyasira mana--the minds of the Mayavadi sannyasis; phiraite--to turn; mana ha-ila--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu decided.
TRANSLATION
They submitted their request, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, seeing His devotees' unhappiness, decided to turn the minds of the Mayavadi sannyasis.
TEXT 14
TEXT
hena-kale vipra asi' karila nimantrana
aneka dainyadi kari' dharila carana
SYNONYMS
hena-kale--at this time; vipra--the Maharastrian brahmana; asi'--coming; karila nimantrana--invited Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; aneka--various; dainya-adi--submissions; kari'--doing; dharila carana--touched His lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
While Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was seriously considering meeting with the Mayavadi sannyasis, the Maharastrian brahmana approached Him and extended an invitation. The brahmana submitted his invitation with great humility, and he touched the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 15
TEXT
tabe mahaprabhu tanra nimantrana manila
ara dina madhyahna kari' tanra ghare gela
SYNONYMS
tabe--after this; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanra--his; nimantrana--invitation; manila--accepted; ara dina--the next day; madhyahna kari'--after finishing His madhyahna activities (taking bath and murmuring mantras); tanra ghare gela--He went to the house of the Maharastrian brahmana.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted his invitation, and the next day, after finishing His noontime activities, He went to the brahmana's house.
TEXT 16
TEXT
tahan yaiche kaila prabhu sannyasira nistara
panca-tattvakhyane taha kariyachi vistara
SYNONYMS
tahan--there; yaiche--how; kaila--performed; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sannyasira--of the Mayavadi sannyasis; nistara--deliverance; panca-tattva-akhyane--in describing the glories of the Panca-tattva (Sri Krsna Caitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhara and Srivasa); taha--that subject matter; kariyachi vistara--have described elaborately.
TRANSLATION
I have already described Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's deliverance of the Mayavadi sannyasis in the Seventh Chapter when I described the glories of the Panca-tattva-Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, Gadadhara Prabhu and Srivasa.
TEXT 17
TEXT
grantha bade, punarukti haya ta' kathana
tahan ye na likhilun, taha kariye likhana
SYNONYMS
grantha--the size of the book; bade--increases; punah-ukti--repetition; haya--would be; ta' kathana--of subject matters once described; tahan--there (in the Seventh Chapter); ye--whatever; na likhilun--I have not described; taha--that; kariye likhana--I am writing.
TRANSLATION
Since I have already described this incident very elaborately in the Seventh Chapter of Adi-lila, I do not wish to increase the size of this book by giving another description. However, I shall try to include in this chapter whatever was not described there.
TEXT 18
TEXT
ye divasa prabhu sannyasire krpa kaila
se divasa haite grame kolahala haila
SYNONYMS
ye divasa--the day when; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sannyasire--to the Mayavadi sannyasis; krpa kaila--showed His mercy; se divasa haite--beginning from that day; grame--in the locality; kolahala haila--there were many talks about this incident.
TRANSLATION
Beginning from the day on which Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu showed His mercy to the Mayavadi sannyasis, there were vivid discussions about this conversion among the inhabitants of Varanasi.
TEXT 19
TEXT
lokera sanghatta aise prabhure dekhite
nana sastre pandita aise sastra vicarite
SYNONYMS
lokera sanghatta--crowds of men; aise--come; prabhure dekhite--to see Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nana sastre pandita--scholars learned in various scriptures; aise--used to come; sastra vicarite--to talk on various scriptures.
TRANSLATION
Crowds of people came to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu from that day on, and scholars of various scriptures discussed different subject matters with the Lord.
TEXT 20
TEXT
sarva-sastra khandi' prabhu 'bhakti' kare sara
sayuktika vakye mana phiraya sabara
SYNONYMS
sarva-sastra khandi'--defeating all the false conclusions of different scriptures; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhakti kare sara--established the predominance of devotional service; sa-yuktika vakye--by talks full of pleasing logic and arguments; mana phiraya--turns the minds; sabara--of everyone.
TRANSLATION
When people came to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to discuss the principles of various scriptures, the Lord defeated their false conclusions and established the predominance of devotional service to the Lord. With logic and argument He very politely changed their minds.
PURPORT
We have been spreading this sankirtana movement in the Western countries, and in our recent tour of European cities like Rome, Geneva, Paris and Frankfurt, many learned Christian scholars, priests, philosophers and yogis came to see us, and by the grace of Krsna they agreed that this Krsna consciousness movement, the bhakti cult, offers the topmost conclusion. Following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we are trying to convince everyone that the devotional service of the Lord is enjoined in every scripture. If a person is religious, he must accept the supreme authority of the Lord, become His devotee and try to love Him. This is the real principle of religion. It does not matter whether one is Christian, Mohammedan or whatever. He simply must accept the sublime position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and render service unto Him. It is not a question of being Christian, Mohammedan or Hindu. One should be purely religious and freed from all these material designations. In this way one can learn the art of devotional service. This argument appeals to all intelligent men, and consequently this Krsna consciousness movement is gaining ground throughout the world. Due to our solid logic and scientific presentation, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's prediction that Krsna consciousness will spread in every town and village throughout the world is gradually being realized.
TEXT 21
TEXT
upadesa lana kare krsna-sankirtana
sarva-loka hase, gaya, karaye nartana
SYNONYMS
upadesa lana--getting instructions from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare--join; krsna-sankirtana--the sankirtana movement; sarva-loka hase--everyone began to laugh in pleasure; gaya--chant; karaye nartana--and dance.
TRANSLATION
As soon as people received instructions from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they began to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Thus everyone laughed, chanted and danced with the Lord.
TEXT 22
TEXT
prabhure pranata haila sannyasira gana
atma-madhye gosthi kare chadi' adhyayana
SYNONYMS
prabhure--unto Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; pranata haila--offered obeisances; sannyasira gana--all the Mayavadi sannyasis; atma-madhye--among themselves; gosthi kare--discussed; chadi' adhyayana--giving up so-called studies of Vedanta.
TRANSLATION
All the Mayavadi sannyasis offered their obeisances unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and then began to discuss His movement, giving up their studies of Vedanta and Mayavada philosophy.
TEXT 23
TEXT
prakasanandera sisya eka tanhara samana
sabha-madhye kahe prabhura kariya sammana
SYNONYMS
prakasanandera sisya eka--one of the disciples of Prakasananda Sarasvati; tanhara samana--equal in learning with Prakasananda Sarasvati; sabha-madhye--in the assembly of the sannyasis; kahe--explains; prabhura kariya sammana--respecting Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu seriously.
TRANSLATION
One of the disciples of Prakasananda Sarasvati, who was as learned as his guru, began to speak in that assembly, offering all respects to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 24
TEXT
sri-krsna-caitanya haya 'saksat narayana'
'vyasa-sutrera' artha karena ati-manorama
SYNONYMS
sri-krsna-caitanya--Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu; haya--is; saksat narayana--directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana; vyasa-sutrera--the codes of Vyasadeva (Vedanta-sutra); artha karena--He explains; ati-manorama--very nicely.
TRANSLATION
He said, "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana Himself. When He explains the Vedanta-sutra, He does so very nicely.
TEXT 25
TEXT
upanisadera karena mukhyartha vyakhyana
suniya pandita-lokera judaya mana-kana
SYNONYMS
upanisadera--of the Vedic version known as the Upanisads; karena--He does; mukhya-artha--the original meaning; vyakhyana--explanation; suniya--hearing; pandita-lokera--of the learned scholars; judaya--satisfies; mana-kana--the minds and ears.
TRANSLATION
"Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu explains the direct meaning of the Upanisads. When all learned scholars hear this, their minds and ears are satisfied.
TEXT 26
TEXT
sutra-upanisadera mukhyartha chadiya
acarya 'kalpana' kare agraha kariya
SYNONYMS
sutra-upanisadera--of the Vedanta-sutra and the Upanisads; mukhya-artha--the direct meaning; chadiya--giving up; acarya--Sankaracarya; kalpana--imagination; kare--does; agraha kariya--with great eagerness.
TRANSLATION
"Giving up the direct meaning of the Vedanta-sutra and the Upanisads, Sankaracarya imagines some other interpretation.
TEXT 27
TEXT
acarya-kalpita artha ye pandita sune
mukhe 'haya' 'haya' kare, hrdaya na mane
SYNONYMS
acarya-kalpita--imagined by Sankaracarya; artha--meaning; ye pandita sune--any learned person who hears; mukhe--only in the mouth; haya haya--yes it is, yes it is; kare--does; hrdaya--his heart; na mane--does not accept.
TRANSLATION
"All the interpretations of Sankaracarya are imaginary. Such imaginary interpretations are verbally accepted by learned scholars, but they do not appeal to the heart.
TEXT 28
TEXT
sri-krsna-caitanya-vakya drdha satya mani
kali-kale sannyase 'samsara' nahi jini
SYNONYMS
sri-krsna-caitanya-vakya--the words of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; drdha--very firm and convincing; satya mani--I admit as truth; kali-kale--in this Age of Kali; sannyase--simply by accepting the renounced order of life; samsara nahi jini--one cannot escape the material clutches.
TRANSLATION
"The words of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu are firm and convincing, and I accept them as true. In this Age of Kali, one cannot be delivered from material clutches simply by formally accepting the renounced order.
TEXT 29
TEXT
harer nama-slokera yei karila vyakhyana
sei satya sukhadartha parama pramana
SYNONYMS
harer nama-slokera--of the verse beginning harer nama harer nama; yei--whatever; karila--made; vyakhyana--the explanation; sei--that; satya--true; sukha-da-artha--a meaning that is pleasing to accept; parama pramana--the supreme evidence.
TRANSLATION
"Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's explanation of the verse beginning 'harer nama harer nama' is not only pleasing to the ear but is strong, factual evidence.
TEXT 30
TEXT
bhakti vina mukti nahe, bhagavate kaya
kali-kale namabhase sukhe mukti haya
SYNONYMS
bhakti vina--without devotional service; mukti nahe--there is no question of liberation; bhagavate kaya--it is said in Srimad-Bhagavatam; kali-kale--in this Age of Kali; nama-abhase--even by a slight appreciation of the Hare Krsna mantra; sukhe--without difficulty; mukti haya--one can get liberation.
TRANSLATION
"In this Age of Kali, one cannot attain liberation without taking to the devotional service of the Lord. In this age, even if one does not chant the holy name of Krsna perfectly, he still attains liberation very easily.
TEXT 31
TEXT
sreyah-srtim bhaktim udasya te vibho
klisyanti ye kevala-bodha-labdhaye
tesam asau klesala eva sisyate
nanyad yatha sthula-tusavaghatinam
SYNONYMS
sreyah-srtim--the auspicious path of liberation; bhaktim--devotional service; udasya--giving up; te--of You; vibho--O my Lord; klisyanti--accept increased difficulties; ye--all those persons who; kevala--only; bodha-labdhaye--for obtaining knowledge; tesam--for them; asau--that; klesalah--trouble; eva--only; sisyate--remains; na--not; anyat--anything else; yatha--as much as; sthula--bulky; tusa--husks of rice; avaghatinam--of those beating.
TRANSLATION
" 'My dear Lord, devotional service unto You is the only auspicious path. If one gives it up simply for speculative knowledge or the understanding that these living beings are spirit soul and the material world is false, he undergoes a great deal of trouble. He only gains troublesome and inauspicious activities. His actions are like beating a husk that is already devoid of rice. One's labor becomes fruitless.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.4).
TEXT 32
TEXT
ye 'nye 'ravindaksa vimukta-maninas
tvayy asta-bhavad avisuddha-buddhayah
aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah
patanty adho 'nadrta-yusmad-anghrayah
SYNONYMS
ye--all those who; anye--others (nondevotees); aravinda-aksa--O lotus-eyed one; vimukta-maninah--who consider themselves liberated; tvayi--unto You; asta-bhavat--without devotion; avisuddha-buddhayah--whose intelligence is not purified; aruhya--having ascended; krcchrena--by severe austerities and penances; param padam--to the supreme position; tatah--from there; patanti--fall; adhah--down; anadrta--without respecting; yusmat--Your; anghrayah--lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
" 'O lotus-eyed one, those who think they are liberated in this life but who are devoid of devotional service to You are of impure intelligence. Although they accept severe austerities and penances and rise to the spiritual position, to impersonal Brahman realization, they fall down again because they neglect to worship Your lotus feet.'
PURPORT
This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.2.32).
TEXT 33
TEXT
'brahma'-sabde kahe 'sad-aisvarya-purna bhagavan'
tanre 'nirvisesa' sthapi, 'purnata' haya hana
SYNONYMS
brahma-sabde--by the word brahma; kahe--is meant; sat-aisvarya-purna bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full in all six opulences; tanre--Him; nirvisesa sthapi--if we make impersonal; purnata haya hana--His completeness becomes damaged.
TRANSLATION
"The word Brahman means 'the greatest.' This means that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is full in all six opulences. However, if we take the one-sided impersonalist view, His fullness is diminished.
PURPORT
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is originally the Supreme Person. The Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (9.4):
maya tatam idam sarvam
jagad avyakta-murtina
mat-sthani sarva-bhutani
na caham tesv avasthitah
"By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them."
The potency of Krsna that is spread everywhere is impersonal. The sunlight is the impersonal expansion of the sun globe and the sun-god. If we simply take one side of the Supreme Personality of Godhead-His impersonal effulgence-that one side does not fully explain the Absolute Truth. Impersonal appreciation of the Absolute Truth is one-sided and incomplete. One should also accept the other side, the personal side-Bhagavan. Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate. One should not be satisfied simply by understanding the Brahman feature of the Personality of Godhead. One must also know the Lord's personal feature. That is complete understanding of the Absolute Truth.
TEXT 34
TEXT
sruti-purana kahe--krsnera cic-chakti-vilasa
taha nahi mani, pandita kare upahasa
SYNONYMS
sruti-purana kahe--the Vedic literatures and the Puranas confirm; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; cit-sakti-vilasa--activities of spiritual potencies; taha nahi mani--not accepting that; pandita kare upahasa--so-called scholars play jokes without perfect understanding.
TRANSLATION
"Vedic literatures, the Upanisads, the Brahma-sutra and the Puranas all describe the activities of the spiritual potency of the Lord. If one cannot accept the personal activities of the Lord, he jokes foolishly and gives an impersonal description.
PURPORT
In the Vedic literatures, including the Puranas, there are full descriptions of the spiritual potency of Krsna. All the pastimes of the Lord are eternal, blissful and full of knowledge, just as the form of Krsna Himself is eternal, blissful and full of knowledge (sac-cid-ananda-vigraha). Unintelligent people with a poor fund of knowledge compare their temporary bodies to the spiritual body of Krsna, and by such foolishness they try to understand Krsna as one of them. Avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam. Bhagavad-gita (9.11) points out that foolish people think of Krsna as one of them. Not understanding His spiritual potency, they simply decry the personal form of the Absolute Truth, foolishly thinking of themselves as jnanis cognizant of the complete truth. They cannot understand that just as the material energy of the Lord has a variety of activities, the spiritual energy has variety also. They consider activities in devotional service the same as activities in material consciousness. Under such a wrong impression, they sometimes dare joke about the spiritual activities of the Lord and His devotional service.
TEXT 35
TEXT
cid-ananda krsna-vigraha 'mayika' kari' mani
ei bada 'papa',--satya caitanyera vani
SYNONYMS
cit-ananda krsna-vigraha--the transcendental form of Krsna, which is completely spiritual; mayika kari' mani--accept as made of the external energy, maya; ei bada papa--this is a great act of sin; satya--true; caitanyera vani--the words of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
"The Mayavadis do not recognize the personal form of the Lord as spiritual and full of bliss. This is a great sin. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's statements are actually factual.
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement especially aims at defeating the Mayavada conclusion about the Absolute Truth. Since the members of the Mayavada school cannot understand the spiritual form of the Lord, they incorrectly think the Lord's form is also made of material energy. They think that He is covered by a material body just like other living beings. Due to this offensive understanding, they cannot recognize that Sri Krsna's personal form is transcendental, not material. Their conclusion is a great offense at the lotus feet of the Lord. As explained by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Krsna has His eternal, blissful form that is full of knowledge, and all Vaisnava acaryas accept this. That is the proper understanding of the Absolute Truth.
TEXT 36
TEXT
natah param parama yad bhavatah svarupam
ananda-matram avikalpam aviddha-varcah
pasyami visva-srjam ekam avisvam atman
bhutendriyatmakam adas ta upasrito 'smi
SYNONYMS
na--not; atah--than this; param--more supreme; parama--O supreme one; yat--which; bhavatah--of Your Lordship; sva-rupam--the personal form; ananda--of transcendental bliss; matram--only; avikalpam--where there is no creation; aviddha--without contamination; varcah--having an effulgence; pasyami--I see; visva-srjam ekam--who alone has created this universe; avisvam--not belonging to the destructible material world; atman--O Supreme Soul; bhuta-indriya-atmakam--the original cause of the senses and the living beings; adah--transcendental; te--unto You; upasritah asmi--I take full shelter.
TRANSLATION
" 'O supreme one, the transcendental form I am now seeing is full of transcendental bliss. It is not contaminated by the external energy. It is full of effulgence. My Lord, there is no better understanding of You than this. You are the Supreme Soul and the creator of this material world, but You are not connected with this material world. You are completely different from created form and variety. I sincerely take shelter of that form of Yours which I am now seeing. This form is the original source of all living beings and their senses.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.9.3). This verse was spoken by Lord Brahma, who perfectly realized the Supreme Personality of Godhead after meditating upon the Lord within the water of the Garbhodhaka Ocean. Brahma realized that the form of the Lord is completely spiritual. This is certainly a better understanding of the Absolute Truth than impersonal understanding.
TEXT 37
TEXT
drstam srutam bhuta-bhavad-bhavisyat
sthasnus carisnur mahad alpakam va
vinacyutad vastu-taram na vacyam
sa eva sarvam paramatma-bhutah
SYNONYMS
drstam--experienced by direct perception; srutam--experienced by hearing; bhuta--past; bhavat--present; bhavisyat--which will be in the future; sthasnuh--immovable; carisnuh--movable; mahat--the greatest; alpakam--the smallest; va--or; vina--except; acyutat--the infallible Personality of Godhead; vastu-taram--anything else; na vacyam--not to be spoken; sah--that Supreme Personality of Godhead; eva--certainly; sarvam--everything; paramatma-bhutah--the origin of all causes.
TRANSLATION
" 'Lord Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the cause of all causes. He is past, present and future, and He is the movable and immovable. He is the greatest and the smallest, and He is visible and directly experienced. He is celebrated in Vedic literature. Everything is Krsna, and without Him there is no existence. He is the root of all understanding, and He is that which is understood by all words.'
PURPORT
This verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.46.43) was spoken by Uddhava when he came to pacify all the inhabitants of Vrndavana during Krsna's absence.
TEXT 38
TEXT
tad va idam bhuvana-mangala mangalaya
dhyane sma no darasitam ta upasakanam
tasmai namo bhagavate 'nuvidhema tubhyam
yo 'nadrto naraka-bhagbhir asat-prasangaih
SYNONYMS
tat--that; va--or; idam--this; bhuvana-mangala--O most auspicious of the entire world; mangalaya--for the benefit; dhyane--in meditation; sma--certainly; nah--of us; darasitam--manifested; te--by You; upasakanam--of devotees engaged in devotional service; tasmai--unto Him; namah--all obeisances; bhagavate--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; anuvidhema--we offer obeisances, following in the footsteps of the acaryas; tubhyam--unto You; yah--who is; anadrtah--not much appreciated; naraka-bhagbhih--by persons who are destined to go to a hellish condition of life; asat-prasangaih--who discuss the Supreme Personality of Godhead illogically.
TRANSLATION
" 'O most auspicious one! For our benefit You are worshiped by us. You manifest Your transcendental form, which You show to us in our meditation. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You, the Supreme Person, and we worship You whom impersonalists do not accept due to their poor fund of knowledge. Thus they are liable to descend into a hellish condition.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.9.4).
TEXT 39
TEXT
avajananti mam mudha
manusim tanum asritam
param bhavam ajananto
mama bhuta-mahesvaram
SYNONYMS
avajananti--decry; mam--Me; mudhah--rascals; manusim--just like a human being; tanum--a body; asritam--accepted; param--supreme; bhavam--position; ajanantah--without knowing; mama--My; bhuta-mahesvaram--exalted position as the Supreme Person, creator of the material world.
TRANSLATION
" 'Fools disrespect Me because I appear like a human being. They do not know My supreme position as the cause of all causes, the creator of the material energy.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Bhagavad-gita (9.11).
TEXT 40
TEXT
tan aham dvisatah kruran
samsaresu naradhaman
ksipamy ajasram asubhan
asurisv eva yonisu
SYNONYMS
tan--all of them; aham--I; dvisatah--those who are envious; kruran--always willing to do harm; samsaresu--in this material world; nara-adhaman--the lowest of men; ksipami--throw; ajasram--again and again; asubhan--engaged in inauspicious acts; asurisu--demoniac; eva--certainly; yonisu--in families.
TRANSLATION
" 'Those who are envious of My form, who are cruel and mischievous and lowest among men, are perpetually cast by Me into hellish existence in various demoniac species of life.'
PURPORT
This is also a quotation from Bhagavad-gita (16.19).
TEXT 41
TEXT
sutrera parinama-vada, taha na maniya
'vivarta-vada' sthape, 'vyasa bhranta' baliya
SYNONYMS
sutrera--of the codes of the Vedanta-sutra; parinama-vada--the transformation of energy; taha na maniya--not accepting this fact; vivarta-vada--the theory of illusion; sthape--establishes; vyasa bhranta baliya--accusing Vyasadeva to be mistaken.
TRANSLATION
"Not accepting the transformation of energy, Sripad Sankaracarya has tried to establish the theory of illusion under the plea that Vyasadeva has made a mistake.
PURPORT
For a further explanation of this verse, one may refer to Chapter Seven (verses 121-126).
TEXT 42
TEXT
ei ta' kalpita artha mane nahi bhaya
sastra chadi' kukalpana pasande bujhaya
SYNONYMS
ei ta'--this; kalpita--imaginary; artha--meaning; mane--to the mind; nahi--does not; bhaya--appeal; sastra--the authoritative scriptures; chadi'--giving up; ku-kalpana--mischievous imagination; pasande--to the atheistic class of men; bujhaya--teaches.
TRANSLATION
"Sripad Sankaracarya has given his interpretation and imaginary meaning. It does not actually appeal to the mind of any sane man. He has done this to convince the atheists and bring them under his control.
PURPORT
Sripad Sankaracarya's propaganda opposed the atheistic philosophy of Buddha. Lord Buddha's intention was to stop atheists from committing the sin of killing animals. Atheists cannot understand God; therefore Lord Buddha appeared and spread the philosophy of nonviolence to keep the atheists from killing animals. Unless one is free from the sin of animal killing, he cannot understand religion or God. Although Lord Buddha was an incarnation of Krsna, he did not speak about God, for the people were unable to understand. He simply wanted to stop animal killing. Sripad Sankaracarya wanted to establish the predominance of one's spiritual identity; therefore he wanted to convert the atheists through an imaginary interpretation of Vedic literatures. These are the secrets of the acaryas. Sometimes they conceal the real purpose of the Vedas and explain the Vedas in a different way. Sometimes they enunciate a different theory just to bring the atheists under their control. Thus it is said that Sankara's philosophy is for pasandas, atheists.
TEXT 43
TEXT
paramartha-vicara gela, kari matra 'vada'
kahan mukti paba, kahan krsnera prasada
SYNONYMS
parama-artha-vicara--discussion on spiritual matters; gela--has gone; kari--we do; matra vada--only argument and word jugglery; kahan--where; mukti--liberation; paba--we shall get; kahan--where; krsnera prasada--the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna.
TRANSLATION
"The atheists, headed by the Mayavadi philosophers, do not care for liberation or Krsna's mercy. They simply continue to put forward false arguments and counter-theories to atheistic philosophy, not considering or engaging in spiritual matters.
TEXT 44
TEXT
vyasa-sutrera artha acarya kariyache acchadana
ei haya satya sri-krsna-caitanya-vacana
SYNONYMS
vyasa-sutrera--of the codes of the Vedanta known as Vyasa-sutra; artha--the meanings; acarya--Sankaracarya; kariyache acchadana--has purposely covered; ei--this; haya--is; satya--the truth; sri-krsna-caitanya-vacana--the words and explanation given by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
"The conclusion is that the import of the Vedanta-sutra is covered by the imaginary explanation of Sankaracarya. Whatever Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said is perfectly true.
TEXT 45
TEXT
caitanya-gosani yei kahe, sei mata sara
ara yata mata, sei saba charakhara"
SYNONYMS
caitanya-gosani--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yei kahe--whatever He has said; sei mata sara--that explanation is actually the essence of Vedic knowledge; ara yata mata--any other opinion not in collaboration with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's statement; sei--these; saba charakhara--all distortions.
TRANSLATION
"Whatever meaning Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gives is perfect. Any other interpretation is only a distortion."
TEXT 46
TEXT
eta kahi' sei kare krsna-sankirtana
suni' prakasananda kichu kahena vacana
SYNONYMS
eta kahi'--speaking so much; sei--the disciple of Prakasananda Sarasvati; kare--performed; krsna-sankirtana--the chanting of the holy name of Krsna; suni'--hearing; prakasananda--the guru, Prakasananda Sarasvati; kichu--something; kahena--says; vacana--words.
TRANSLATION
After saying this, the disciple of Prakasananda Sarasvati began to chant the holy name of Krsna. Hearing this, Prakasananda Sarasvati made the following statement.
TEXT 47
TEXT
acaryera agraha--'advaita-vada' sthapite
tate sutrartha vyakhya kare anya rite
SYNONYMS
acaryera--of Sankaracarya; agraha--the eagerness; advaita-vada--monism; sthapite--to establish; tate--for that reason; sutra-artha--the meaning of the Brahma-sutra, or Vedanta philosophy; vyakhya--explanation; kare--does; anya rite--in a different way.
TRANSLATION
Prakasananda Sarasvati said, "Sankaracarya was very eager to establish the philosophy of monism. Therefore he explained Vedanta-sutra, or Vedanta philosophy, in a different way to support monistic philosophy.
TEXT 48
TEXT
'bhagavatta' manile 'advaita' na yaya sthapana
ataeva saba sastra karaye khandana
SYNONYMS
bhagavatta--the Personality of Godhead; manile--if one accepts; advaita--monism or nondualism; na--not; yaya--is possible; sthapana--establishing; ataeva--therefore; saba--all; sastra--revealed scriptures; karaye--does; khandana--refutation.
TRANSLATION
"If one accepts the Personality of Godhead, the philosophy that maintains that God and the living entity are one cannot be established. Therefore Sankaracarya argued against and refuted all kinds of revealed scriptures.
TEXT 49
TEXT
yei grantha-karta cahe sva-mata sthapite
sastrera sahaja artha nahe tanha haite
SYNONYMS
yei--anyone who; grantha-karta--author; cahe--wants; sva-mata sthapite--to establish his own opinion; sastrera--of the revealed scriptures; sahaja--the direct; artha--meaning; nahe--is not; tanha haite--from such an author.
TRANSLATION
"Anyone who wants to establish his own opinion or philosophy certainly cannot explain any scripture according to the principle of direct interpretation.
TEXT 50
TEXT
'mimamsaka' kahe,--'isvara haya karmera anga'
'sankhya' kahe,--jagatera prakrti karana-prasanga'
SYNONYMS
mimamsaka--the Mimamsaka philosophers; kahe--say; isvara--the Supreme Lord; haya--is; karmera anga--subject to fruitive activities; sankhya kahe--the atheistic Sankhya philosophers say; jagatera--of the cosmic manifestation; prakrti--nature; karana--the cause; prasanga--thesis.
TRANSLATION
"The Mimamsaka philosophers conclude that if there is a God, He is subjected to our fruitive activities. Similarly, the Sankhya philosophers who analyze the cosmic manifestation say that the cause of the cosmos is material nature.
TEXT 51
TEXT
'nyaya' kahe,--'paramanu haite visva haya'
'mayavadi' nirvisesa-brahme 'hetu' kaya
SYNONYMS
nyaya kahe--the philosophers following logic say; paramanu--the atom; haite--from; visva haya--the cosmic manifestation has come; mayavadi--the Mayavadi philosophers, impersonalists; nirvisesa-brahme--in the impersonal Brahman effulgence; hetu--the cause; kaya--say.
TRANSLATION
"The followers of nyaya, the philosophy of logic, maintain that the atom is the cause of the cosmic manifestation, and the Mayavadi philosophers maintain that the impersonal Brahman effulgence is the cause of the cosmic manifestation.
TEXT 52
TEXT
'patanjala' kahe,--'isvara haya svarupa-jnana'
veda-mate kahe tanre 'svayam-bhagavan'
SYNONYMS
patanjala kahe--the Patanjala philosophers say; isvara haya--the Supreme Lord is; svarupa-jnana--self-realization; veda-mate--in the Vedic version; kahe--they say; tanre--to Him; svayam-bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
"The Patanjala philosophers say that when one is self-realized, he understands the Lord. Similarly, according to the Vedas and Vedic principles, the original cause is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TEXT 53
TEXT
chayera chaya mata vyasa kaila avartana
sei saba sutra lana 'vedanta'-varnana
SYNONYMS
chayera--of the six philosophers; chaya mata--six different theses; vyasa--Vyasadeva; kaila avartana--analyzed fully; sei--that; saba--all; sutra--the codes; lana--taking; vedanta-varnana--explaining the Vedanta philosophy.
TRANSLATION
"After studying the six philosophical theses, Vyasadeva completely summarized them all in the codes of Vedanta philosophy.
TEXT 54
TEXT
'vedanta'-mate,--brahma 'sakara' nirupana
'nirguna' vyatireke tinho haya ta' 'saguna'
SYNONYMS
vedanta-mate--according to Vedanta philosophy; brahma--the Absolute Truth; sa-akara nirupana--established as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a person; nirguna--without material qualifications; vyatireke--by indirect explanations; tinho--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; haya--is; ta'--indeed; sa-guna--fully qualified with spiritual attributes.
TRANSLATION
"According to Vedanta philosophy, the Absolute Truth is a person. When the word nirguna [without qualities] is used, it is to be understood that the Lord has attributes that are totally spiritual.
TEXT 55
TEXT
parama karana isvara keha nahi mane
sva-sva-mata sthape para-matera khandane
SYNONYMS
parama karana--the supreme cause, the cause of all causes; isvara--the Supreme Lord; keha nahi mane--none of the above-mentioned philosophers accept; sva-sva-mata--their own personal opinions; sthape--they establish; para-matera khandane--busy in refuting the opinions of others.
TRANSLATION
"Of the philosophers mentioned, none really cares for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cause of all causes. They are always busy refuting the philosophical theories of others and establishing their own.
TEXT 56
TEXT
tate chaya darsana haite 'tattva' nahi jani
'mahajana' yei kahe, sei 'satya' mani
SYNONYMS
tate--therefore; chaya darsana haite--from the six philosophical principles; tat-tva nahi jani--we cannot understand the actual truth; mahajana--the great authorities; yei kahe--whatever they say; sei--that; satya mani--we can accept as truth.
TRANSLATION
"By studying the six philosophical theories, one cannot reach the Absolute Truth. It is therefore our duty to follow the path of the mahajanas, the authorities. Whatever they say should be accepted as the supreme truth.
PURPORT
In his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gives the following summary of the six philosophical processes. Prakasananda admitted that Sripad Sankaracarya, being very eager to establish his philosophy of monism, took shelter of the Vedanta philosophy and tried to explain it in his own way. The fact is, however, that if one accepts the existence of God, he certainly cannot establish the theory of monism. For this reason Sankaracarya refuted all kinds of Vedic literature that establishes the supremacy of the Personality of Godhead. In various ways, Sankaracarya has tried to refute Vedic literature. Throughout the world, ninety-nine percent of the philosophers following in the footsteps of Sankaracarya refuse to accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Instead they try to establish their own opinions. It is typical of mundane philosophers to want to establish their own opinions and refute those of others. Therefore: (1) The Mimamsaka philosophers, following the principles of Jaimini, stress fruitive activity and say that if there is a God, He must be under the laws of fruitive activity. In other words, if one performs his duties very nicely in the material world, God is obliged to give one the desired result. According to these philosophers, there is no need to become a devotee of God. If one strictly follows moral principles, one will be recognized by the Lord, who will give the desired reward. Such philosophers do not accept the Vedic principle of bhakti-yoga. Instead, they give stress to following one's prescribed duty. (2) Atheistic Sankhya philosophers like Kapila analyze the material elements very scrutinizingly and thereby come to the conclusion that material nature is the cause of everything. They do not accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the cause of all causes. (3) Nyaya philosophers like Gautama and Kanada have accepted a combination of atoms as the original cause of the creation. (4) Mayavadi philosophers say that everything is an illusion. Headed by philosophers like Astavakra, they stress the impersonal Brahman effulgence as the cause of everything. (5) Philosophers following the precepts of Patanjali practice raja-yoga. They imagine a form of the Absolute Truth within many forms. That is their process of self-realization.
All five of these philosophies completely reject the predominance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and strive to establish their own philosophical theories. However, Srila Vyasadeva wrote the Vedanta-sutra and, taking the essence of all Vedic literature, established the supremacy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All five of the philosophers mentioned above understand that impersonal Brahman is without material qualities, and they believe that when the Personality of Godhead appears, He is contaminated and covered by the material qualities. The technical term used is saguna. They say, "saguna Brahman" and "nirguna Brahman." Nirguna Brahman means impersonal, and saguna Brahman means "accepting material contamination." More or less, this kind of philosophical speculation is called Mayavada philosophy. The fact is, however, that the Absolute Truth has nothing to do with material qualities because He is transcendental. He is always complete with full spiritual qualities. The five philosophers mentioned above do not accept Lord Visnu as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but they are very busy refuting the philosophy of other schools. There are six kinds of philosophical processes in India. Because Vyasadeva is the Vedic authority, he is known as Vedavyasa. His philosophical explanation of the Vedanta-sutra is accepted by the devotees. As Krsna confirms in Bhagavad-gita (15.15):
sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto
mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca
vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedanta-krd veda-vid eva caham
"I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I am to be known; indeed, I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas."
The ultimate goal of studying all Vedic literature is the acceptance of Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This Krsna consciousness movement is propagating the philosophical conclusion of Srila Vyasadeva and following other great acaryas like Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Visnusvami, Nimbarka and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself.
TEXT 57
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
" '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 58
TEXT
sri-krsna-caitanya-vani--amrtera dhara
tinho ye kahaye vastu, sei 'tattva'--sara"
SYNONYMS
sri-krsna-caitanya-vani--the message of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; amrtera dhara--a continuous shower of nectar; tinho--the Lord; ye kahaye vastu--whatever He says to be the ultimate truth, the summum bonum; sei tattva sara--that is the essence of all spiritual knowledge.
TRANSLATION
"The words of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are a shower of nectar. Whatever He concludes to be the ultimate truth is indeed the summum bonum of all spiritual knowledge."
TEXT 59
TEXT
e saba vrttanta suni' maharastriya brahmana
prabhure kahite sukhe karila gamana
SYNONYMS
e saba vrttanta--all these descriptions; suni'--hearing; maharastriya brahmana--the Maharastrian brahmana; prabhure--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahite--to inform; sukhe--very happily; karila gamana--went.
TRANSLATION
After hearing all these statements, the Maharastrian brahmana very jubilantly went to inform Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 60
TEXT
hena-kale mahaprabhu panca-nade snana kari'
dekhite caliyachena 'bindu-madhava hari'
SYNONYMS
hena-kale--at this time; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; panca-nade snana kari'--taking His bath in the Ganges, called the Panca-nada; dekhite caliyachena--was going to see; bindu-madhava hari--the Deity known as Lord Bindu Madhava.
TRANSLATION
When the Maharastrian brahmana went to see Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord was going to the temple of Bindu Madhava after bathing in the waters of Panca-nada.
TEXT 61
TEXT
pathe sei vipra saba vrttanta kahila
suni' mahaprabhu sukhe isat hasila
SYNONYMS
pathe--on the way; sei vipra--that brahmana; saba vrttanta kahila--explained the whole incident; suni'--hearing; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sukhe--in happiness; isat--mildly; hasila--smiled.
TRANSLATION
While the Lord was on His way, the Maharastrian brahmana informed Him about the incident that took place in the camp of Prakasananda Sarasvati. Hearing this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu smiled happily.
TEXT 62
TEXT
madhava-saundarya dekhi' avista ha-ila
anganete asi' preme nacite lagila
SYNONYMS
madhava-saundarya dekhi'--after seeing the beauty of Lord Bindu Madhava; avista ha-ila--became ecstatic in love; anganete asi'--coming to the courtyard; preme--in great love; nacite lagila--began to dance.
TRANSLATION
Upon reaching the temple of Bindu Madhava, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, seeing the beauty of Lord Bindu Madhava, became overwhelmed in ecstatic love. He then began to dance in the courtyard of the temple.
TEXT 63
TEXT
sekhara, paramananda, tapana, sanatana
cari-jana mili' kare nama-sankirtana
SYNONYMS
sekhara--Candrasekhara; paramananda--Paramananda Puri; tapana--Tapana Misra; sanatana--Sanatana Gosvami; cari-jana mili'--all four of them; kare--perform; nama-sankirtana--chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra.
TRANSLATION
There were four people accompanying Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and these were Candrasekhara, Paramananda Puri, Tapana Misra and Sanatana Gosvami. They were all chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra in the following way.
TEXT 64
TEXT
"haraye namah krsna yadavaya namah
gopala govinda rama sri-madhusudana"
SYNONYMS
haraye--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; namah--obeisances; krsna--Lord Krsna; yadavaya--to the descendant of the Yadu family; namah--obeisances; gopala--Gopala; govinda--Govinda; rama--Rama; sri-madhusudana--Sri Madhusudana.
TRANSLATION
They chanted, "Haraye namah krsna yadavaya namah gopala govinda rama sri-madhusudana."
PURPORT
This is another way of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. The meaning is: "I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. He is the descendant of the Yadu family. Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Gopala, Govinda, Rama and Sri Madhusudana."
TEXT 65
TEXT
caudikete laksa loka bale 'hari' 'hari'
uthila mangala-dhvani svarga-martya bhari'
SYNONYMS
cau-dikete--all around; laksa--hundreds of thousands; loka--people; bale--chant; hari hari--O Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari; uthila--there arose; mangala-dhvani--an auspicious sound; svarga-martya bhari'--overwhelming all the universe.
TRANSLATION
In all directions, hundreds and thousands of people began to chant "Hari! Hari!" Thus there arose a tumultuous and auspicious sound filling the entire universe.
TEXT 66
TEXT
nikate hari-dhvani suni' parakasananda
dekhite kautuke aila lana sisya-vrnda
SYNONYMS
nikate--nearby; hari-dhvani suni'--after hearing the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra; parakasananda--Prakasananda Sarasvati; dekhite--to see; kautuke--in great eagerness; aila--came; lana--taking; sisya-vrnda--all the disciples.
TRANSLATION
When Prakasananda Sarasvati, who was staying nearby, heard this tumultuous chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, he and his disciples immediately came to see the Lord.
TEXT 67
TEXT
dekhiya prabhura nrtya, prema, dehera madhuri
sisya-gana-sange sei bale 'hari' 'hari'
SYNONYMS
dekhiya--seeing; prabhura nrtya--the dancing of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prema--ecstatic love; dehera madhuri--the transcendental beauty of His body; sisya-gana-sange--with his disciples; sei--Prakasananda Sarasvati; bale--chants; hari hari--Lord Hari's name.
TRANSLATION
When Prakasananda Sarasvati saw the Lord, he and his disciples also joined the chanting with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Prakasananda Sarasvati was charmed by the Lord's dancing and ecstatic love and by the transcendental beauty of His body.
TEXT 68
TEXT
kampa, svara-bhanga, sveda, vaivarnya, stambha
asru-dharaya bhije loka, pulaka-kadamba
SYNONYMS
kampa--trembling; svara-bhanga--faltering voice; sveda--perspiration; vaivarnya--fading of bodily color; stambha--becoming stunned; asru-dharaya--with showers of tears from the eyes; bhije--wet; loka--all the people; pulaka-kadamba--eruptions on the body like kadamba flowers.
TRANSLATION
Ecstatic spiritual transformations began to take place in the Lord's body. His body trembled, and His voice faltered. He perspired, turned pale and wept a constant flow of tears, which wet all the people standing there. The eruptions on the Lord's body appeared like kadamba flowers.
TEXT 69
TEXT
harsa, dainya, capalyadi 'sancari' vikara
dekhi' kasi-vasi lokera haila camatkara
SYNONYMS
harsa--jubilation; dainya--humility; capalya-adi--talking in ecstasy and so on; sancari vikara--the transient transformations; dekhi'--seeing; kasi-vasi--the inhabitants of Benares; lokera--of all the people; haila camatkara--there was astonishment.
TRANSLATION
All the people were astonished to see the Lord's jubilation and humility and to hear Him talk in ecstasy. Indeed, all the residents of Benares [Kasi] saw the bodily transformations and were astonished.
TEXT 70
TEXT
loka-sanghatta dekhi' prabhura 'bahya' yabe haila
sannyasira gana dekhi' nrtya samvarila
SYNONYMS
loka-sanghatta dekhi'--by seeing the great crowd of people; prabhura--of Lord Caitanya; bahya--external consciousness; yabe haila--when there was; sannyasira gana--the groups of Mayavadi sannyasis, headed by Prakasananda Sarasvati; dekhi'--seeing; nrtya samvarila--suspended His dancing.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu regained His external consciousness, He saw that many Mayavadi sannyasis and other people were gathered there. He therefore suspended His dancing for the time being.
TEXT 71
TEXT
prakasanandera prabhu vandila carana
prakasananda asi' tanra dharila carana
SYNONYMS
prakasanandera--of Prakasananda Sarasvati; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vandila--prayed; carana--at the feet; prakasananda--Prakasananda Sarasvati; asi'--coming; tanra--His; dharila carana--immediately caught the lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
After stopping the kirtana, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is a great example of humility, offered prayers unto the feet of Prakasananda Sarasvati. At this, Prakasananda Sarasvati immediately came forward and clasped the Lord's lotus feet.
TEXT 72
TEXT
prabhu kahe,--'tumi jagad-guru pujyatama
ami tomara na ha-i 'sisyera sisya' sama
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued to speak; tumi--you; jagat-guru--the spiritual master of the whole world; pujya-tama--the most worshipable; ami--I; tomara--your; na ha-i--am not; sisyera sisya sama--equal to the disciple of the disciple.
TRANSLATION
When Prakasananda Sarasvati caught hold of the Lord's lotus feet, the Lord said, "My dear sir, you are the spiritual master of the whole world; therefore you are most worshipable. As far as I am concerned, I am not even on the level of the disciple of your disciple."
PURPORT
Mayavadi sannyasis generally call themselves jagad-guru, the spiritual master of the whole world. Many consider themselves worshipable by everyone, although they do not even go outside India or their own district. Out of His great magnanimity and humility, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu presented Himself as a subordinate disciple of Prakasananda Sarasvati.
TEXT 73
TEXT
srestha hana kene kara hinera vandana
amara sarva-nasa haya, tumi brahma-sama
SYNONYMS
srestha hana--being a more honorable person; kene--why; kara--you do; hinera--of an inferior person; vandana--worship; amara sarva-nasa haya--I become minimized in My strength; tumi brahma-sama--you are equal with the impersonal Brahman.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "You are a great, spiritually advanced personality, and therefore you cannot worship a person like Me. I am far inferior. If you do so, My spiritual power will be diminished, for you are as good as the impersonal Brahman.
TEXT 74
TEXT
yadyapi tomare saba brahma-sama bhase
loka-siksa lagi' aiche karite na aise'
SYNONYMS
yadyapi--although; tomare--for you; saba--everyone; brahma-sama--equal to the impersonal Brahman; bhase--appears; loka-siksa lagi'--for the enlightenment of people in general; aiche--in such a way; karite na aise--you should not present yourself.
TRANSLATION
"My dear sir, for you everyone is on the level of impersonal Brahman, but for the enlightenment of people in general you should not behave in that way."
TEXT 75
TEXT
tenho kahe, 'tomara purve ninda-aparadha ye karila
tomara carana-sparse, saba ksaya gela
SYNONYMS
tenho kahe--he replied; tomara--of You; purve--formerly; ninda-aparadha--offenses and blasphemy; ye karila--whatever I have done; tomara carana-sparse--by touching Your lotus feet; saba ksaya gela--the effects of all those offenses have been destroyed.
TRANSLATION
Prakasananda Sarasvati replied, "Formerly I have committed many offenses against You by blaspheming You, but now the effects of my offenses are counteracted by my touching Your lotus feet.
TEXT 76
TEXT
jivan-mukta api punar
yanti samsara-vasanam
yady acintya-maha-saktau
bhagavaty aparadhinah
SYNONYMS
jivat-muktah--persons liberated during this life; api--also; punah--again; yanti--go; samsara-vasanam--to desire material enjoyment; yadi--if; acintya-maha-saktau--to the possessor of inconceivable spiritual potency; bhagavati--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; aparadhinah--offenders.
TRANSLATION
" 'If a person considered liberated in this life commits offenses against the reservoir of inconceivable potencies, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he will again fall down and desire the material atmosphere for material enjoyment.'
TEXT 77
TEXT
sa vai bhagavatah srimat-
pada-sparsa-hatasubhah
bheje sarpa-vapur hitva
rupam vidyadhararcitam
SYNONYMS
sah--he (the serpent); vai--indeed; bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna; srimat-pada-sparsa--by the touch of the lotus feet; hata-asubhah--relieved from all reactions of sinful life; bheje--achieved; sarpa-vapuh--the body of a snake; hitva--giving up; rupam--beauty; vidyadhara-arcitam--suitable for a person of Vidyadhara-loka.
TRANSLATION
" 'Being touched by the lotus feet of Sri Krsna, that serpent was immediately freed from the reactions of his sinful life. Thus the serpent gave up his body and assumed the body of a beautiful Vidyadhara demigod.' »
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.34.9). The inhabitants of Vrndavana, under the leadership of Nanda Maharaja, once wanted to go to the bank of the Sarasvati on a pilgrimage. Nanda Maharaja was fasting, and he lay down near the forest. At that time a serpent, who was formerly cursed by Angirasa Rsi, appeared. This serpent had formerly been named Sudarsana, and he had belonged to the Gandharvaloka planet. However, because he joked with the rsi, he was condemned to take on the body of a big snake. When this serpent attacked Nanda Maharaja, Nanda Maharaja began to call, "Krsna! Help!" Krsna immediately appeared and began to kick the serpent with His lotus feet. Due to being touched by the Lord's lotus feet, the serpent was immediately freed from the reactions of his sinful life. Being freed, he again assumed his original form of Sudarsana, the Gandharva.
TEXT 78
TEXT
prabhu kahe,--'visnu' 'visnu', ami ksudra jiva hina
jive 'visnu' mani--ei aparadha-cihna
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; visnu visnu--the holy name of Visnu; ami--I; ksudra--infinitesimal; jiva--a living entity; hina--bereft of all good qualities; jive--such a low-grade living entity; visnu mani--accepting as Lord Visnu or the Personality of Godhead; ei aparadha-cihna--this is a great offense.
TRANSLATION
When Prakasananda Sarasvati supported himself by quoting the verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately protested by uttering the holy name of Lord Visnu. The Lord then presented Himself as a most fallen living entity, and He said, "If someone accepts a fallen conditioned soul as Visnu, Bhagavan, or an incarnation, he commits a great offense."
PURPORT
Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He nonetheless, to teach us a lesson, denied belonging to the Visnu category. Unfortunately, there are many so-called Visnu incarnations in this Age of Kali. People do not know that posing oneself as an incarnation is most offensive. People should not accept an ordinary man as an incarnation of God, for this also is a very great offense.
TEXT 79
TEXT
jive 'visnu' buddhi dure--yei brahma-rudra-sama
narayane mane tare 'pasandite' ganana
SYNONYMS
jive--an ordinary living being; visnu--as Lord Visnu; buddhi--acceptance; dure--let alone; yei--anyone who; brahma-rudra-sama--equal to personalities like Lord Brahma and Lord Siva; narayane--Lord Narayana, Visnu; mane--accepts; tare--such a person; pasandite ganana--is grouped among the pasandis, atheistic offenders.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "To say nothing of ordinary living entities, even Lord Brahma and Lord Siva cannot be considered on the level of Visnu or Narayana. If one considers them as such, he is immediately considered an offender and atheist.
TEXT 80
TEXT
yas tu narayanam devam
brahma-rudradi-daivataih
samatvenaiva vikseta
sa pasandi bhaved dhruvam"
SYNONYMS
yah--any person who; tu--however; narayanam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of such demigods as Brahma and Siva; devam--the Lord; brahma--Lord Brahma; rudra--Lord Siva; adi--and others; daivataih--with such demigods; samatvena--on an equal level; eva--certainly; vikseta--observes; sah--such a person; pasandi--pasandi; bhavet--must be; dhruvam--certainly.
TRANSLATION
" 'A person who considers demigods like Brahma and Siva to be on an equal level with Narayana is to be considered an offender, a pasandi.' "
TEXT 81
TEXT
prakasananda kahe,--"tumi saksat bhagavan
tabu yadi kara tanra 'dasa'-abhimana
SYNONYMS
prakasananda kahe--Prakasananda Sarasvati replied; tumi--You; saksat--directly; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna; tabu--yet; yadi--if; kara--You pose; tanra dasa-abhimana--considering Yourself His servant.
TRANSLATION
Prakasananda replied, "You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna Himself. Nonetheless, You are considering Yourself His eternal servant.
TEXT 82
TEXT
tabu pujya hao, tumi bada ama haite
sarva-nasa haya mora tomara nindate
SYNONYMS
tabu--still; pujya hao--You are worshipable; tumi bada--You are much greater; ama haite--than me; sarva-nasa haya--everything becomes lost; mora--my; tomara nindate--by blaspheming You.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Lord, You are the Supreme Lord, and although You consider Yourself the Lord's servant, You are nonetheless worshipable. You are much greater than I am; therefore all my spiritual achievements have been lost because I have blasphemed You.
TEXT 83
TEXT
muktanam api siddhanam
narayana-parayanah
sudurlabhah prasantatma
kotisv api maha-mune
SYNONYMS
muktanam--of persons liberated or freed from the bondage of ignorance; api--even; siddhanam--of persons who have achieved perfection; narayana--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; parayanah--the devotee; su-durlabhah--very rare; prasanta-atma--completely satisfied, desireless; kotisu--among many millions; api--certainly; maha-mune--O great sage.
TRANSLATION
" 'O great sage, out of many millions of materially liberated people who are free from ignorance, and out of many millions of siddhas who have nearly attained perfection, there is hardly one pure devotee of Narayana. Only such a devotee is actually completely satisfied and peaceful.'
PURPORT
This verse is quoted from Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.14.5).
TEXT 84
TEXT
ayuh sriyam yaso dharmam
lokan asisa eva ca
hanti sreyamsi sarvani
pumso mahad-atikramah
SYNONYMS
ayuh--duration of life; sriyam--opulence; yasah--reputation; dharmam--religion; lokan--possessions; asisah--benedictions; eva--certainly; ca--and; hanti--destroys; sreyamsi--good fortune; sarvani--all; pumsah--of a person; mahat--of great souls; atikramah--violation.
TRANSLATION
" 'When a person mistreats great souls, his life span, opulence, reputation, religion, possessions and good fortune are all destroyed.'
PURPORT
This is a statement made by Sukadeva Gosvami, who was relating Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.4.46) to Maharaja Pariksit.
TEXT 85
TEXT
naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim
sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah
mahiyasam pada-rajo-'bhisekam
niskincananam na vrnita yavat
SYNONYMS
na--not; esam--of those who are attached to household life; matih--the interest; tavat--that long; urukrama-anghrim--the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is credited with uncommon activities; sprsati--touches; anartha--of unwanted things; apagamah--vanquishing; yat--of which; arthah--results; mahiyasam--of the great personalities, devotees; pada-rajah--of the dust of the lotus feet; abhisekam--sprinkling on the head; niskincananam--who are completely detached from material possessions; na vrnita--does not do; yavat--as long as.
TRANSLATION
" 'Unless human society accepts the dust of the lotus feet of great mahatmas-devotees who have nothing to do with material possessions-mankind cannot turn its attention to the lotus feet of Krsna. Those lotus feet vanquish all the unwanted miserable conditions of material life.'
PURPORT
This verse appears in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.32).
TEXT 86
TEXT
ebe tomara padabje upajibe bhakti
tathi lagi' kari tomara carane pranati"
SYNONYMS
ebe--now; tomara--Your; pada-abje--to the lotus feet; upajibe--will grow; bhakti--devotional service; tathi lagi'--for that reason; kari--I do; tomara carane pranati--humble obeisances at Your lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
"Henceforward I shall certainly develop devotional service unto Your lotus feet. For this reason I have come to You and have fallen down at Your lotus feet."
TEXT 87
TEXT
eta bali' prabhure lana tathaya vasila
prabhure prakasananda puchite lagila
SYNONYMS
eta bali'--saying this; prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; lana--taking; tathaya vasila--sat down there; prabhure--unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prakasananda--Prakasananda Sarasvati; puchite lagila--began to inquire.
TRANSLATION
After saying this, Prakasananda Sarasvati sat down with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and began to question the Lord as follows.
TEXT 88
TEXT
mayavade karila yata dosera akhyana
sabe ei jani' acaryera kalpita vyakhyana
SYNONYMS
mayavade--in the philosophy of Mayavada, impersonalism; karila--You have done; yata--all; dosera akhyana--description of the faults; sabe--all; ei--these; jani'--knowing; acaryera--of Sankaracarya; kalpita vyakhyana--imaginary explanations.
TRANSLATION
Prakasananda Sarasvati said, "We can understand the faults You have pointed out in the Mayavada philosophy. All the explanations given by Sankaracarya are imaginary.
TEXT 89
TEXT
sutrera karila tumi mukhyartha-vivarana
taha suni' sabara haila camatkara mana
SYNONYMS
sutrera--of the Brahma-sutra; karila--have done; tumi--You; mukhya-artha-vivarana--description of the direct meaning; taha suni'--hearing that; sabara--of everyone; haila--became; camatkara--astonished; mana--the mind.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Lord, whatever direct meaning You have given when explaining the Brahma-sutra is certainly very wonderful to all of us.
TEXT 90
TEXT
tumi ta' isvara, tomara ache sarva-sakti
sanksepa-rupe kaha tumi sunite haya mati
SYNONYMS
tumi ta'--indeed You are; isvara--the Supreme Lord; tomara--of You; ache--there are; sarva-sakti--all potencies; sanksepa-rupe--briefly; kaha--please explain; tumi--You; sunite haya mati--I wish to hear.
TRANSLATION
"You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore You have inconceivable energies. I wish to hear from You briefly about the Brahma-sutra."
PURPORT
Prakasananda Sarasvati said that he had already understood Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's explanation of the direct import of Brahma-sutra. Nonetheless, he was requesting the Lord to briefly give the purpose and purport of the Brahma-sutra, the Vedanta-sutra.
TEXT 91
TEXT
prabhu kahe,--"ami jiva', ati tuccha-jnana!
vyasa-sutrera gambhira artha, vyasa--bhagavan
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied; ami jiva--I am an insignificant living being; ati tuccha-jnana--My knowledge is very meager; vyasa-sutrera--of the Vedanta-sutra, written by Vyasadeva; gambhira artha--very grave meaning; vyasa--Vyasadeva; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "I am an ordinary living being, and therefore my knowledge is very insignificant. However, the meaning of the Brahma-sutra is very grave because its author, Vyasadeva, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.
PURPORT
An ordinary living being cannot actually understand the purpose of the Vedanta-sutra. One can understand the purpose if he hears it from the authority, Vyasadeva himself. For this reason, Vyasadeva gave a commentary on the Brahma-sutra in the form of Srimad-Bhagavatam. He had been instructed to do this by his spiritual master, Narada. Of course, Sankaracarya distorted the purpose of the Brahma-sutra because he had a motive to serve. He wanted to establish Vedic knowledge in place of the atheistic knowledge spread by Lord Buddha. All these necessities are there according to time and circumstances. Neither Lord Buddha nor Sankaracarya is to be blamed. The time required such an explanation for the understanding of various types of atheists. The conclusion is that one cannot understand the purpose of the Vedanta-sutra without going through Srimad-Bhagavatam and rendering devotional service. Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore further explains the matter in the following verses.
TEXT 92
TEXT
tanra sutrera artha kona jiva nahi jane
ataeva apane sutrartha kariyache vyakhyane
SYNONYMS
tanra sutrera artha--the meaning of Vyasadeva's Vedanta-sutra; kona--any; jiva--living being; nahi jane--does not know; ataeva--therefore; apane--personally; sutra-artha--the meanings of the sutras; kariyache vyakhyane--has described.
TRANSLATION
"The purpose of the Vedanta-sutra is very difficult for an ordinary person to understand, but Vyasadeva, out of his causeless mercy, has personally explained the meaning.
TEXT 93
TEXT
yei sutra-karta, se yadi karaye vyakhyana
tabe sutrera mula artha lokera haya jnana
SYNONYMS
yei sutra-karta--the person who has made the Vedanta-sutra; se--that person; yadi--if; karaye vyakhyana--explains the meaning; tabe--then; sutrera--of the codes of Vedanta-sutra; mula--the original; artha--meaning; lokera--of the people in general; haya jnana--comes within knowledge.
TRANSLATION
"If the Vedanta-sutra is explained by Vyasadeva himself, who has written it, its original meaning can be understood by the people in general.
TEXT 94
TEXT
pranavera yei artha, gayatrite sei haya
sei artha catuh-slokite vivariya kaya
SYNONYMS
pranavera--of the sound vibration, omkara; yei--whatever; artha--meaning; gayatrite--in the Gayatri mantra; sei--that; haya--there is; sei artha--that same meaning; catuh-slokite--in Srimad-Bhagavatam summarized in four slokas; vivariya--describing elaborately; kaya--has said.
TRANSLATION
"The meaning of the sound vibration omkara is present in the Gayatri mantra. The same is elaborately explained in the four slokas of Srimad Bhagavatam known as catuh-sloki.
TEXT 95
TEXT
brahmare isvara catuh-sloki ye kahila
brahma narade sei upadesa kaila
SYNONYMS
brahmare--to Lord Brahma; isvara--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; catuh-sloki--the four famous verses known as catuh-sloki; ye kahila--whatever was explained; brahma--Lord Brahma; narade--to Narada Muni; sei--that; upadesa kaila--instructed.
TRANSLATION
"Whatever was spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to Lord Brahma in the four verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam, was also explained to Narada by Lord Brahma.
TEXT 96
TEXT
narada sei artha vyasere kahila
suni' veda-vyasa mane vicara karila
SYNONYMS
narada--the great sage Narada; sei artha--the same purpose; vyasere kahila--explained to Vyasadeva; suni'--hearing; veda-vyasa--Vyasadeva; mane--within the mind; vicara karila--considered very carefully.
TRANSLATION
"Whatever Lord Brahma told Narada Muni was again explained by Narada Muni to Vyasadeva. Vyasadeva later considered these instructions in his mind.
TEXT 97
TEXT
"ei artha--amara sutrera vyakhyanurupa
'bhagavata' kariba sutrera bhasya-svarupa"
SYNONYMS
ei artha--this explanation; amara--my; sutrera--of Brahma-sutra; vyakhya--anurupa--a suitable explanation; bhagavata--Srimad-Bhagavata Purana; kariba--I shall make; sutrera--of the Brahma-sutra; bhasya-svarupa--as the original commentary.
TRANSLATION
"Srila Vyasadeva considered that whatever he had received from Narada Muni as an explanation of omkara he would elaborately explain in his book Srimad-Bhagavatam as a commentary on Brahma-sutra.
PURPORT
The sound vibration omkara is the root of Vedic knowledge. This omkara is known as maha-vakya, or the supreme sound. Whatever meaning is in the supreme sound omkara is further understood in the Gayatri mantra. Again, this same meaning is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam in the four slokas known as catuh-sloki, which begin with the words aham evasam evagre. The Lord says, "Only I existed before the creation." From this verse, four slokas have been composed, and these are known as the catuh-sloki. In this way the Supreme Personality of Godhead informed Lord Brahma about the purpose of the catuh-sloki. Again, Lord Brahma explained this to Narada Muni, and Narada Muni explained it to Srila Vyasadeva. This is the parampara system, the disciplic succession. The import of Vedic knowledge, the original word pranava, has been explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam. The conclusion is that the Brahma-sutra is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam.
TEXT 98
TEXT
cari-veda-upanisade yata kichu haya
tara artha lana vyasa karila sancaya
SYNONYMS
cari-veda--the four divisions of the Vedas (Sama, Yajur, Rg and Atharva); upanisade--and in 108 Upanisads; yata--whatever; kichu haya--is there; tara artha--the meanings of those Vedic literatures; lana--taking together; vyasa--Vyasadeva; karila sancaya--collected.
TRANSLATION
"Vyasadeva collected whatever Vedic conclusions were in the four Vedas and 108 Upanisads and placed them in the codes of the Vedanta-sutra.
TEXT 99
TEXT
yei sutre yei rk--visaya-vacana
bhagavate sei rk sloke nibandhana
SYNONYMS
yei sutre--in the codes of Vedanta-sutra; yei--whatever; rk--Vedic mantra; visaya-vacana--subject matter to be explained; bhagavate--in Srimad-Bhagavatam; sei rk--that same Vedic mantra; sloke--in eighteen thousand verses; nibandhana--compiling.
TRANSLATION
"In Vedanta-sutra, the purpose of all Vedic knowledge is explained, and in Srimad-Bhagavatam the same purpose has been explained in eighteen thousand verses.
TEXT 100
TEXT
ataeva brahma-sutrera bhasya--sri-bhagavata
bhagavata-sloka, upanisat kahe 'eka' mata
SYNONYMS
ataeva--therefore; brahma-sutrera bhasya--the commentary on the Brahma-sutra codes; sri-bhagavata--Srimad-Bhagavatam; bhagavata-sloka--the verses in Srimad-Bhagavatam; upanisat--the explanations in the Upanisads; kahe--state; eka mata--the same version.
TRANSLATION
"That which is explained in the verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam and in the Upanisads serves the same purpose.
TEXT 101
TEXT
atmavasyam idam visvam
yat kincij jagatyam jagat
tena tyaktena bhunjitha
ma grdhah kasyasvid dhanam
SYNONYMS
atma-avasyam--the expansion of the energy of the Supreme Soul, the Personality of Godhead; idam--this; visvam--universe; yat--whatever; kincit--something; jagatyam--within the universe; jagat--all that is animate or inanimate; tena--by Him; tyaktena--by things allotted to every person; bhunjitha--you should accept for your maintenance; ma--never; grdhah--encroach; kasyasvit--someone else's; dhanam--property.
TRANSLATION
" 'Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things for himself that are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (8.1.10). Communists and socialists are trying to propagate the philosophy that everything belongs to the mass of people or to the state. Such an idea is not perfect. When this idea is expanded, we can see that everything belongs to God. That will be the perfection of the communistic idea. The purpose of Srimad-Bhagavatam is here very nicely explained. Every one of us must be satisfied with those things the Supreme Personality of Godhead has allotted us. We should not encroach upon the possessions of others. This simple idea can be expanded in our daily lives. Everyone should have a piece of land given by the government, and everyone should possess a few cows. Both of these should be utilized for one's daily bread. Above that, if something is manufactured in a factory, it should be considered the property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead because the ingredients belong to the Supreme Lord. Actually, there is no need to manufacture such things artificially, but if it is done, one should consider that the goods produced belong to the Supreme Lord. Spiritual communism recognizes the supreme proprietorship of the Supreme Lord. As explained in Bhagavad-gita (5.29):
bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvaram
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
jnatva mam santim rcchati
"The sages, knowing Me as the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attain peace from the pangs of material miseries."
It is further explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam that no one should claim anything as his property. Whatever property one claims to be his actually belongs to Krsna.
One should be satisfied with whatever has been allotted by the Supreme Lord and should not encroach upon the property of others. This will lead to peace in the whole world.
TEXT 102
TEXT
bhagavatera sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana
catuh-slokite prakata tara kariyache laksana
SYNONYMS
bhagavatera--of Srimad-Bhagavatam; sambandha--a personal relationship with God; abhidheya--activities in that relationship; prayojana--the ultimate goal of life; catuh-slokite--in the four famous verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam; prakata--manifesting; tara--of them; kariyache--has done; laksana--the symptoms.
TRANSLATION
"The essence of Srimad-Bhagavatam-our relationship with the Supreme Lord, our activities in that connection and the goal of life-is manifest in the four verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam known as the catuh-sloki. Everything is explained in those verses.
TEXT 103
TEXT
"ami--'sambandha'-tattva, amara jnana-vijnana
ama paite sadhana-bhakti 'abhidheya'-nama
SYNONYMS
ami--I; sambandha-tattva--the center of all relationships; amara--of Me; jnana--knowledge; vijnana--practical application of that knowledge; ama paite--to obtain Me; sadhana-bhakti--the practice of devotional service; abhidheya-nama--is called activities in that relationship.
TRANSLATION
"Lord Krsna says, 'I am the center of all relationships. Knowledge of Me and the practical application of that knowledge is actual knowledge. Approaching Me for devotional service is called abhidheya.
PURPORT
Spiritual knowledge means fully understanding the Absolute Truth in three features-impersonal Brahman, localized Paramatma and the all-powerful Supreme Personality of Godhead. Ultimately when one takes shelter at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and engages in the Lord's service, the resultant knowledge is called vijnana, special knowledge, or the practical application of spiritual knowledge. One should be engaged in the Lord's devotional service to achieve the aim of life, called prayojana. The practice of devotional service to attain that goal of life is called abhidheya.
TEXT 104
TEXT
sadhanera phala--'prema' mula-prayojana
sei preme paya jiva amara 'sevana'
SYNONYMS
sadhanera phala--the result of devotional service; prema--love of Godhead; mula-prayojana--the chief goal; sei preme--by that love of Godhead; paya--gets; jiva--the living entity; amara--My; sevana--service.
TRANSLATION
" 'By rendering devotional service, one gradually rises to the platform of love of Godhead. That is the chief goal of life. On the platform of love of Godhead, one is eternally engaged in the service of the Lord.
TEXT 105
TEXT
jnanam parama-guhyam me
yad vijnana-samanvitam
sa-rahasyam tad-angam ca
grhana gaditam maya
SYNONYMS
jnanam--knowledge; parama--extremely; guhyam--confidential; me--of Me; yat--which; vijnana--realization; samanvitam--fully endowed with; sa-rahasyam--with mystery; tat--of that; angam--supplementary parts; ca--and; grhana--just try to take up; gaditam--explained; maya--by Me.
TRANSLATION
" 'Please hear attentively what I shall speak to you, for transcendental knowledge about Me is not only scientific but full of mysteries.
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.9.31).
TEXT 106
TEXT
ei 'tina' tattva ami kahinu tomare
'jiva' tumi ei tina naribe janibare
SYNONYMS
ei tina tattva--all three of these features of the Absolute Truth; ami--I; kahinu--shall speak; tomare--unto you; jiva--a living being; tumi--you; ei tina--these three; naribe--will not be able; janibare--to understand.
TRANSLATION
" 'O Brahma, I shall explain all these truths to you. You are a living being, and without My explanation you will not be able to understand your relationship with Me, devotional activity and life's ultimate goal.
TEXT 107
TEXT
yaiche amara 'svarupa', yaiche amara 'sthiti'
yaiche amara guna, karma, sad-aisvarya-sakti
SYNONYMS
yaiche--as far as; amara--My; svarupa--original form; yaiche--as far as; amara--My; sthiti--situation; yaiche--as far as; amara--My; guna--attributes; karma--activities; sat-aisvarya-sakti--six kinds of opulence.
TRANSLATION
" 'I shall explain to you My actual form and situation, My attributes, activities and six opulences.'
TEXT 108
TEXT
amara krpaya ei saba sphuruka tomare"
eta bali' tina tattva kahila tanhare
SYNONYMS
amara--My; krpaya--by mercy; ei saba--all these; sphuruka tomare--let them be awakened in you; eta bali'--saying this; tina tattva--the three truths; kahila tanhare--explained to him.
TRANSLATION
"Lord Krsna assured Lord Brahma, 'By My mercy all these things will be awakened in you.' Saying this, the Lord began to explain the three truths [tattvas] to Lord Brahma.
TEXT 109
TEXT
yavan aham yatha-bhavo
yad-rupa-guna-karmakah
tathaiva tattva-vijnanam
astu te mad-anugrahat
SYNONYMS
yavan--as I am in My eternal form; aham--I; yatha--in whichever manner; bhavah--transcendental existence; yat--whatever; rupa--various forms and colors; guna--qualities; karmakah--activities; tatha eva--exactly so; tattva-vijnanam--factual realization; astu--let there be; te--your; mat--My; anugrahat--by causeless mercy.
TRANSLATION
" 'By My causeless mercy, be enlightened in truth about My personality, manifestations, qualities and pastimes.
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.9.32). For an explanation see Adi-lila, Chapter One, texts 51-52.
TEXT 110
TEXT
srstira purve sad-aisvarya-purna ami ta' ha-iye
'prapanca', 'prakrti', 'purusa' amatei laye
SYNONYMS
srstira purve--before the creation of this cosmic manifestation; sat-aisvarya-purna--full of six opulences; ami--I; ta' ha-iye--indeed existed; prapanca--the total material energy; prakrti--material nature; purusa--the living entities; amatei laye--were all existing in Me.
TRANSLATION
" 'Before the creation of the cosmic manifestation,' the Lord said, 'I existed, and the total material energy, material nature and the living entities all existed in Me.
TEXT 111
TEXT
srsti kari' tara madhye ami pravesiye
prapanca ye dekha saba, seha ami ha-iye
SYNONYMS
srsti kari'--after creating; tara madhye--within the creation; ami pravesiye--I enter as Lord Visnu; prapanca--the cosmic manifestation; ye--whatever; dekha--you see; saba--all; seha--that; ami ha-iye--I am.
TRANSLATION
" 'After creating the cosmic manifestation, I entered into it. Whatever you see in the cosmic manifestation is but an expansion of My energy.
TEXT 112
TEXT
pralaye avasista ami 'purna' ha-iye
prakrta prapanca paya amatei laye
SYNONYMS
pralaye--at the time of annihilation; avasista--what remains; ami--I; purna--full; ha-iye--am; prakrta prapanca--the material cosmic manifestation; paya--obtains; amatei--in Me; laye--dissolution.
TRANSLATION
" 'When the whole universe dissolves, I remain full in Myself, and everything that is manifested is again preserved in Me.
TEXT 113
TEXT
aham evasam evagre
nanyad yat sad-asat-param
pascad aham yad etac ca
yo 'vasisyeta so 'smy aham
SYNONYMS
aham--I, the Personality of Godhead; eva--certainly; asam--existed; eva--only; agre--before the creation; na--never; anyat--anything else; yat--which; sat--the effect; asat--the cause; param--the supreme; pascat--after; aham--I, the Personality of Godhead; yat--which; etat--this creation; ca--also; yah--who; avasisyeta--remains; sah--that; asmi--am; aham--I, the Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
" 'Prior to the cosmic manifestation, only I exist, and no phenomena exist, either gross, subtle or primordial. After creation, only I exist in everything, and after annihilation, only I remain eternally.
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.9.33). It is the first verse of the catuh-sloki. For an explanation see Adi-lila, Chapter One, text 53.
TEXT 114
TEXT
"aham eva"-sloke 'aham'--tina-bara
purnaisvarya sri-vigraha-sthitira nirdhara
SYNONYMS
aham eva--I only; sloke--in this verse; aham--the word aham; tina-bara--three times; purna-aisvarya--full of all opulences; sri-vigraha--of the transcendental form of the Lord; sthitira--of the existence; nirdhara--confirmation.
TRANSLATION
" 'In the verse beginning "aham eva," the word "aham" is expressed three times. In the beginning there are the words "aham eva." In the second line there are the words "pascad aham." At the end are the words "so' smy aham." This "aham" indicates the Supreme Person. By the repetition of "aham," the transcendental personality who is complete with six opulences is confirmed.
TEXT 115
TEXT
ye 'vigraha' nahi mane, 'nirakara' mane
tare tiraskaribare karila nirdharane
SYNONYMS
ye--one who; vigraha--that Personality of Godhead; nahi mane--does not accept; nirakara mane--considers impersonal; tare--him; tiraskaribare--just to chastise; karila--has done; nirdharane--ascertainment.
TRANSLATION
" 'Impersonalists do not accept the personal feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Personality of Godhead is stressed in this verse in order to impress upon them the necessity of accepting Him. Therefore the word "aham" is mentioned three times. To stress something important, one repeats it three times.
TEXT 116
TEXT
ei saba sabde haya--'jnana'-'vijnana'-viveka
maya-karya, maya haite ami--vyatireka
SYNONYMS
ei saba--all these; sabde--in the words; haya--there is; jnana--of real spiritual knowledge; vijnana--of the practical application of the knowledge; viveka--consideration; maya-karya--the activities of the external energy; maya haite--from the activities of the material energy; ami--I; vyatireka--distinct.
TRANSLATION
" 'Actual spiritual knowledge and its practical application are considered in all these sound vibrations. Although the external energy comes from Me, I am different from it.
TEXT 117
TEXT
yaiche suryera sthane bhasaye 'abhasa'
surya vina svatantra tara na haya prakasa
SYNONYMS
yaiche--just as; suryera--of the sun; sthane--in place; bhasaye--appears; abhasa--the illumination; surya vina--without the sun; svatantra--independently; tara--of that; na haya--is not; prakasa--manifestation.
TRANSLATION
" 'Sometimes a reflection of the sun is experienced in place of the sun, but its illumination is never possible independent of the sun.
TEXT 118
TEXT
mayatita haile haya amara 'anubhava'
ei 'sambandha'-tattva kahilun, suna ara saba
SYNONYMS
maya-atita haile--when one becomes transcendentally situated above this external energy; haya--there is; amara anubhava--perception of Me; ei sambandha-tattva kahilun--this has been explained as the principle of a relationship with Me; suna--please hear; ara saba--all the rest.
TRANSLATION
" 'When one is transcendentally situated, he can perceive Me. This perception is the basis of one's relationship with the Supreme Lord. Now let Me further explain this subject matter.
PURPORT
Real spiritual knowledge has to be received from revealed scriptures. After this knowledge is attained, one can begin to perceive his actual spiritual life. Any knowledge achieved by speculation is imperfect. One must receive knowledge from the parampara system and from the guru, otherwise one will be bewildered, and will ultimately become an impersonalist. When one very scrutinizingly deliberates, he can realize the personal feature of the Absolute Truth. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is always transcendental to this material creation. Narayanah paro 'vyaktat: Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is always transcendental. He is not a creation of this material world. Without realizing spiritual knowledge, one cannot understand that the transcendental form of the Lord is always beyond the creative energy. The example of the sun and sunshine is given. The sunshine is not the sun, but still the sunshine is not separate from the sun. The philosophy of acintya-bhedabheda-tattva (simultaneously one and different) cannot be understood by one who is fully under the influence of the external energy. Consequently a person under the influence of the material energy cannot understand the nature and form of the Personality of the Absolute Truth.
TEXT 119
TEXT
rte 'rtham yat pratiyeta
na pratiyeta catmani
tad vidyad atmano mayam
yathabhaso yatha tamah
SYNONYMS
rte--without; artham--value; yat--that which; pratiyeta--appears to be; na--not; pratiyeta--appears to be; ca--certainly; atmani--in relation to Me; tat--that; vidyat--you must know; atmanah--My; mayam--illusory energy; yatha--just as; abhasah--the reflection; yatha--just as; tamah--the darkness.
TRANSLATION
" 'What appears to be truth without Me, is certainly My illusory energy, for nothing can exist without Me. It is like a reflection of a real light in the shadows, for in the light there are neither shadows nor reflections.
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.9.34). It is the second verse of the catuh-sloki. For an explanation of this verse, see Adi-lila, Chapter One, text 54.
TEXT 120
TEXT
'abhidheya' sadhana-bhaktira sunaha vicara
sarva-jana-desa-kala-dasate vyapti yara
SYNONYMS
abhidheya--the means to obtain an end; sadhana-bhaktira--of the process of executing devotional service; sunaha vicara--please hear the procedure; sarva--all; jana--people; desa--countries; kala--times; dasate--and in circumstances; vyapti yara--which is all-pervasive.
TRANSLATION
" 'Now please hear from Me about the process of devotional service, which is applicable in any country, for any person, at all times and in all circumstances.
PURPORT
The cult of bhagavata-dharma can be spread in all circumstances, among all people and in all countries. Many envious people accuse this Krsna consciousness movement of spoiling the rigidity of so-called Hinduism. That is not actually the fact. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu confirms that devotional service to the Lord-the cult of bhagavata-dharma, which is now being spread as the Hare Krsna movement-can be spread in every country, for every person, in any condition of life, and in all circumstances. Bhagavata-dharma does not restrict pure devotees to the Hindu community. A pure devotee is above a brahmana; therefore it is not incompatible to offer the sacred thread to devotees in Europe, America, Australia, Japan, Canada, and so on. Sometimes these pure devotees, who have been accepted by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, are not allowed to enter certain temples in India. Some high-caste brahmanas and gosvamis refuse to take prasada in the temples of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Actually this is against the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Devotees can come from any country, and they can belong to any creed or race. On the strength of this verse, those who are actually devotees and followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu must accept devotees from all parts of the world as pure Vaisnavas. They should be accepted not artificially but factually. One should see how they are advanced in Krsna consciousness and how they are conducting Deity worship, sankirtana and Ratha-yatra. Considering all these points, an envious person should refrain from malicious atrocities.
TEXT 121
TEXT
'dharmadi' visaye yaiche e 'cari, vicara
sadhana-bhakti--ei cari vicarera para
SYNONYMS
dharma-adi--of religious activities and so on; visaye--in the subject matter; yaiche--just as; e cari vicara--there is a consideration of four principles, namely the person, country, time and atmosphere; sadhana-bhakti--of devotional service; ei--these; cari--four; vicarera--to the considerations; para--transcendental.
TRANSLATION
" 'As far as religious principles are concerned, there is a consideration of the person, the country, the time and the circumstance. In devotional service, however, there are no such considerations. Devotional service is transcendental to all considerations.
PURPORT
When we are on the material platform, there are different types of religions-Hinduism, Christianity, Mohammedanism, Buddhism, and so on. These are instituted for a particular time, a particular country or a particular person. Consequently there are differences. Christian principles are different from Hindu principles, and Hindu principles are different from Mohammedan and Buddhist principles. These may be considered on the material platform, but when we come to the platform of transcendental devotional service, there are no such considerations. The transcendental service of the Lord (sadhana-bhakti) is above these principles. The world is anxious for religious unity, and that common platform can be achieved in transcendental devotional service. This is the verdict of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When one becomes a Vaisnava, he becomes transcendental to all these limited considerations. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (14.26):
mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunan samatityaitan
brahma-bhuyaya kalpate
"One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman."
The devotional activities of the Krsna consciousness movement are completely transcendental to material considerations. As far as different faiths are concerned, religions may be of different types, but on the spiritual platform, everyone has an equal right to execute devotional service. That is the platform of oneness and the basis for a classless society. In his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura confirms that one has to learn from a bona fide spiritual master about religious principles, economic development, sense gratification and ultimately liberation. These are the four divisions of regulated life, but they are subjected to the material platform. On the spiritual platform, the four principles are jnana, vijnana, tad-anga and tad-rahasya. Rules, regulations and restrictions are on the material platform, but on the spiritual platform one has to be equipped with transcendental knowledge, which is above the principles of religious rituals. Mundane religious activity is known as smarta-viddhi, but transcendental devotional service is called Gosvami-viddhi. Unfortunately many so-called gosvamis are on the platform of smarta-viddhi, yet they try to pass as Gosvami-viddhi, and thus the people are cheated. Gosvami-viddhi is strictly explained in Sanatana Gosvami's Hari-bhakti-vilasa, wherein it is stated:
yatha kancanatam yati
kamsyam rasa-vidhanatah
tatha diska-vidhanena
dvijatvam jayate nrnam
The conclusion is that devotional service is open for everyone, regardless of caste, creed, time and country. This Krsna consciousness movement is functioning according to this principle.
TEXT 122
TEXT
sarva-desa-kala-dasaya janera kartavya
guru-pase sei bhakti prastavya, srotavya
SYNONYMS
sarva--all; desa--countries; kala--times; dasaya--and in circumstances; janera--of every man; kartavya--the duty; guru-pase--in the care of a spiritual master; sei--that; bhakti--devotional service; prastavya--to be inquired; srotavya--and to be heard.
TRANSLATION
" 'It is therefore the duty of every man-in every country, in every circumstance and at all times-to approach the bona fide spiritual master, question him about devotional service and listen to him explain the process.
TEXT 123
TEXT
etavad eva jijnasyam
tattva-jijnasunatmanah
anvaya-vyatirekabhyam
yat syat sarvatra sarvada
SYNONYMS
etavat--up to this; eva--certainly; jijnasyam--to be inquired about; tattva--of the Absolute Truth; jijnasuna--by the student; atmanah--of the self; anvaya--directly; vyatirekabhyam--and indirectly; yat--whatever; syat--it may be; sarvatra--everywhere; sarvada--always.
TRANSLATION
" 'A person interested in transcendental knowledge must therefore always directly and indirectly inquire about it to know about the all-pervading truth.
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.9.36). It is the fourth verse of the catuh-sloki. For an explanation see Adi-lila, Chapter One, text 56.
TEXT 124
TEXT
amate ye 'priti', sei 'prema'--'prayojana'
karya-dvare kahi tara 'svarupa'-laksana
SYNONYMS
amate--unto Me; ye--whatever; priti--affection; sei--that; prema--love of Godhead; prayojana--the ultimate goal of life; karya-dvare--by practical example; kahi--let Me inform; tara--its; svarupa-laksana--natural characteristics.
TRANSLATION
" 'Supreme affection for Me is called love of Godhead, and that is the ultimate goal of life. Let Me explain by practical example the natural characteristics of such love.
TEXT 125
TEXT
panca-bhuta yaiche bhutera bhitare-bahire
bhakta-gane sphuri ami bahire-antare
SYNONYMS
panca-bhuta--the five material elements; yaiche--just as; bhutera--of the living entities; bhitare--inside; bahire--and outside; bhakta-gane--unto the devotees; sphuri--becoming manifest; ami--I; bahire-antare--externally and internally.
TRANSLATION
" 'The five material elements are existing inside and outside of every living entity. Similarly, I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, am manifest within the heart of the devotee as well as outside his body.
PURPORT
The pure devotee knows that he is a servant of Krsna eternally. He knows that everything can be used in the service of the Lord.
TEXT 126
TEXT
yatha mahanti bhutani
bhutesuccavacesv anu
pravistany apravistani
tatha tesu na tesv aham
SYNONYMS
yatha--as; mahanti--the universal; bhutani--elements; bhutesu--in the living entities; ucca-avacesu--both gigantic and minute; anu--after; pravistani--situated internally; apravistani--situated externally; tatha--so; tesu--in them; na--not; tesu--in them; aham--I.
TRANSLATION
" 'As the material elements enter the bodies of all living beings and yet remain outside them all, I exist within all material creations and yet am not within them.
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.9.35). It is also the third verse of the catuh-sloki. For an explanation see Adi-lila, Chapter One, text 55.
TEXT 127
TEXT
bhakta ama preme bandhiyache hrdaya-bhitare
yahan netra pade tahan dekhaye amare
SYNONYMS
bhakta--a devotee; ama--Me; preme--by love; bandhiyache--has bound; hrdaya-bhitare--within his heart; yahan--wherever; netra--the eyes; pade--fall; tahan--there; dekhaye--he sees; amare--Me.
TRANSLATION
" 'A highly elevated devotee can bind Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in his heart by love. Wherever he looks, he sees Me and nothing else.
TEXT 128
TEXT
visrjati hrdayam na yasya saksad
dharir avasabhihito 'py aghaugha-nasah
pranaya-rasanaya dhrtanghri-padmah
sa bhavati bhagavata-pradhana uktah
SYNONYMS
visrjati--gives up; hrdayam--the heart; na--not; yasya--whose; saksat--directly; harih--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; avasa-abhihitah--who is automatically glorified; api--although; aghaugha-nasah--who annihilates all kinds of inauspicious offenses for a devotee; pranaya-rasanaya--with the rope of love; dhrta-anghri-padmah--whose lotus feet are bound; sah--such a devotee; bhavati--is; bhagavata-pradhanah--the most elevated devotee; uktah--is said.
TRANSLATION
" 'Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who destroys everything inauspicious for His devotees, does not leave the hearts of His devotees even if they remember Him and chant about Him inattentively. This is because the rope of love always binds the Lord within the devotees' hearts. Such devotees should be accepted as most elevated.
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.55).
TEXT 129
TEXT
sarva-bhutesu yah pasyed
bhagavad-bhavam atmanah
bhutani bhagavaty atmany
esa bhagavatottamah
SYNONYMS
sarva-bhutesu--in all objects (in matter, spirit, or combinations of matter and spirit); yah--anyone who; pasyet--sees; bhagavat-bhavam--the capacity to be engaged in the service of the Lord; atmanah--of the Supreme Spirit Soul, or the transcendence beyond the material conception of life; bhutani--all beings; bhagavati--in the Supreme Personality of Godhead; atmani--the basic principle of all existence; esah--this; bhagavata-uttamah--a person advanced in devotional service.
TRANSLATION
" 'A person advanced in devotional service sees within everything the soul of souls, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna. Consequently he always sees the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the cause of all causes and understands that all things are situated in Him.
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.45).
TEXT 130
TEXT
gayanta uccair amum eva samhatah
vicikyur unmattakavad vanad vanam
papracchur akasavad antaram bahir
bhutesu santam purusam vanaspatin
SYNONYMS
gayantah--continuously singing; uccaih--very loudly; amum--that one (Lord Sri Krsna); eva--certainly; samhatah--being assembled together; vicikyuh--searched; unmattaka-vat--like those who have become mad; vanat--from one forest; vanam--to another forest; papracchuh--asked about; akasa-vat--like the sky; antaram--within; bahih--outside; bhutesu--in all living entities; santam--existing; purusam--the Supreme Person; vanaspatin--all the trees and plants.
TRANSLATION
" 'All the gopis assembled to chant the transcendental qualities of Krsna very loudly, and they began to wander from one forest to another like madwomen. They began to inquire about the Lord, who is situated in all living entities internally and externally. Indeed, they even asked all the plants and vegetables about Him, the Supreme Person.' »
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.30.4). The gopis almost went mad due to Krsna's suddenly leaving the rasa dance. Because the gopis were fully absorbed in thoughts of Krsna, they were imitating His different postures and pastimes. They became very saddened because of His absence, and this incident is explained by Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Pariksit.
TEXT 131
TEXT
ataeva bhagavate ei 'tina' kaya
sambandha-abhidheya-prayojana-maya
SYNONYMS
ataeva--therefore; bhagavate--in Srimad-Bhagavatam; ei tina--these three principles; kaya--are explained; sambandha-abhidheya-prayojana-maya--first one's relationship, then activities in devotional service, and then achieving the highest goal of life, love of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "One's relationship with the Lord, activities and devotional service, and the attainment of the highest goal of life, love of Godhead, are the subject matters of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
TEXT 132
TEXT
vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvam yaj jnanam advayam
brahmeti paramatmeti
bhagavan iti sabdyate
SYNONYMS
vadanti--they say; tat--that; tattva-vidah--those who know the Absolute Truth; tattvam--the ultimate goal; yat--which; jnanam advayam--identical knowledge; brahma iti--as the impersonal Brahman; paramatma iti--as the Supersoul; bhagavan iti--as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sabdyate--it is described.
TRANSLATION
" 'The Absolute Truth is known by the self-realized souls as a unified identity known by different names-impersonal Brahman, localized Paramatma, and Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.11).
TEXT 133
TEXT
bhagavan eka asedam
agra atmatmanam vibhuh
atmecchanugatav atma
ananamaty-upalaksanah
SYNONYMS
bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ekah--only; asa--was; idam--this universe; agre--before (before the creation of this cosmic manifestation); atma--the living force; atmanam--of all the living entities; vibhuh--the Supreme Lord; atma--of the Supreme; iccha--the will; anugatau--according to; atma--the Supersoul; ananamati-upalaksanah--who is not realized by persons having many angles of vision.
TRANSLATION
" 'Before the cosmic manifestation was created, the creative propensity was merged in His person. At that time all potencies and manifestations were preserved in the personality of the Supreme Lord. The Lord is the cause of all causes, and He is the all-pervading, self-sufficient person. Before the creation, He existed with His spiritual potency in the spiritual world, wherein various Vaikuntha planets are manifest.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.5.23).
TEXT 134
TEXT
ete camsa-kalah pumsah
krsnas tu bhagavan svayam
indrari-vyakulam lokam
mrdayanti yuge yuge
SYNONYMS
ete--these; ca--and; amsa--plenary portions; kalah--parts of plenary portions; pumsah--of the purusa-avataras; krsnah--Lord Krsna; tu--but; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; svayam--Himself; indra-ari--the enemies of Lord Indra; vyakulam--full of; lokam--the world; mrdayanti--make happy; yuge yuge--at the right time in each age.
TRANSLATION
" 'All these incarnations of Godhead are either plenary portions or parts of the plenary portions of the purusa-avataras. But Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. In every age He protects the world through His different features when the world is disturbed by the enemies of Indra.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.3.28). For an explanation, see Adi-lila, Chapter Two, text 67.
TEXT 135
TEXT
eita' 'sambandha', suna 'abhidheya' bhakti
bhagavate prati-sloke vyape yara sthiti
SYNONYMS
eita'--this; sambandha--relationship; suna--please hear; abhidheya--the function; bhakti--known as devotional service; bhagavate--in Srimad-Bhagavatam; prati-sloke--in each and every verse; vyape--pervades; yara--of which; sthiti--the situation.
TRANSLATION
"This is one's eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Now please hear about the execution of devotional service. This principle pervades practically all the verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
TEXT 136
TEXT
bhaktyaham ekaya grahyah
sraddhayatma priyah satam
bhaktih punati man-nistha
sva-pakan api sambhavat
SYNONYMS
bhaktya--by devotional service; aham--I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ekaya--unflinching; grahyah--obtainable; sraddhaya--by faith; atma--the most dear; priyah--to be served; satam--by the devotees; bhaktih--the devotional service; punati--purifies; mat-nistha--fixed only on Me; sva-pakan--the lowest grade of human beings, who are accustomed to eating dogs; api--certainly; sambhavat--from all faults due to birth and so on.
TRANSLATION
" 'Being very dear to the devotees and sadhus, I am attained through unflinching faith and devotional service. This bhakti-yoga system, which gradually increases attachment for Me, purifies even a human being born among dog-eaters. That is to say, everyone can be elevated to the spiritual platform by the process of bhakti-yoga.'
PURPORT
This verse is from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.14.21).
TEXT 137
TEXT
na sadhayati mam yogo
na sankhyam dharma uddhava
na svadhyayas tapas tyago
yatha bhaktir mamorjita
SYNONYMS
na--never; sadhayati--causes to remain satisfied; mam--Me; yogah--the process of control; na--nor; sankhyam--the process of gaining philosophical knowledge about the Absolute Truth; dharmah--such an occupation; uddhava--My dear Uddhava; na--nor; svadhyayah--study of the Vedas; tapah--austerities; tyagah--renunciation, acceptance of sannyasa, or charity; yatha--as much as; bhaktih--devotional service; mama--unto Me; urjita--developed.
TRANSLATION
" 'The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, said: "My dear Uddhava, neither through astanga-yoga [the mystic yoga system to control the senses], nor through impersonalism or an analytical study of the Absolute Truth, nor through study of the Vedas, nor through practice of austerities, nor through charity, nor through acceptance of sannyasa, can one satisfy Me as much as one can by developing unalloyed devotional service unto Me.' "
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.14.20). For an explanation see Adi-lila, Chapter Seventeen, text 76.
TEXT 138
TEXT
bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syad
isad apetasya viparyayo 'smrtih
tan-mayayato budha abhajet tam
bhaktyaikayesam guru-devatatma
SYNONYMS
bhayam--fear; dvitiya-abhinivesatah--from the misconception of being a product of material energy; syat--arises; isat--from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna; apetasya--of one who has withdrawn (the conditioned soul); viparyayah--reversal of position; asmrtih--no conception of his relationship with the Supreme Lord; tat-mayaya--because of the illusory energy of the Supreme Lord; atah--therefore; budhah--one who is wise; abhajet--must worship; tam--Him; bhaktya--by devotional service; ekaya--undiverted to karma and jnana; isam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guru--as the spiritual master; devata--worshipable Lord; atma--Supersoul.
TRANSLATION
" 'When the living entity is attracted by the material energy, which is separate from Krsna, he is overpowered by fear. Because he is separated from the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the material energy, his conception of life is reversed. In other words, instead of being the eternal servant of Krsna, he becomes Krsna's competitor. This is called viparyayo 'smrtih. To nullify this mistake, one who is actually learned and advanced worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead as his spiritual master, worshipful Deity and source of life. He thus worships the Lord by the process of unalloyed devotional service.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.37).
TEXT 139
TEXT
ebe suna, prema, yei--mula 'prayojana'
pulakasru-nrtya-gita--yahara laksana
SYNONYMS
ebe suna--now hear; prema--love of Godhead; yei--which; mula prayojana--the chief objective; pulaka-asru-nrtya-gita--trembling of the body, tears in the eyes, dancing and chanting; yahara laksana--the symptoms of which.
TRANSLATION
"Now hear from Me what actual love of Godhead is. It is the prime object of life and is symptomized by bodily trembling, tears in the eyes, chanting and dancing.
TEXT 140
TEXT
smarantah smarayas ca
mitho 'ghaugha-haram harim
bhaktya sanjataya bhaktya
bibhraty utpulakam tanum
SYNONYMS
smarantah--remembering; smarayah ca--and reminding; mithah--one another; aghaugha-haram--who takes away everything inauspicious from the devotee; harim--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhaktya--by devotion; sanjataya--awakened; bhaktya--by devotion; bibhrati--possess; utpulakam--agitated by ecstasy; tanum--body.
TRANSLATION
" 'Pure devotees develop a spiritual body and symptoms of ecstatic love simply by remembering and reminding others of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who takes away everything inauspicious from the devotee. This position is attained by rendering devotional service according to the regulative principles and then rising to the platform of spontaneous love.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.3.31).
TEXT 141
TEXT
evam-vratah sva-priya-nama-kirtya
jatanurago druta-citta uccaih
hastay atho roditi rauti gayaty
unmadavan nrtyati loka-bahyah
SYNONYMS
evam-vratah--when one thus engages in a vow to chant and dance; sva--own; priya--very dear; nama--holy name; kirtya--by chanting; jata--in this way develops; anuragah--attachment; druta-cittah--very eagerly; uccaih--loudly; hasati--laughs; atho--also; roditi--cries; rauti--becomes agitated; gayati--chants; unmada-vat--like a madman; nrtyati--dances; loka-bahyah--without caring for outsiders.
TRANSLATION
" 'When a person is actually advanced and takes pleasure in chanting the holy name of the Lord, who is very dear to him, he is agitated and loudly chants the holy name. He also laughs, cries, becomes agitated and chants like a madman, not caring for outsiders.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.40).
TEXT 142
TEXT
ataeva bhagavata--sutrera 'artha'-rupa
nija-krta sutrera nija-'bhasya'-svarupa
SYNONYMS
ataeva--therefore; bhagavata--Srimad-Bhagavatam; sutrera--of the Brahma-sutra; artha--of the meaning; rupa--the form; nija-krta--made by himself; sutrera--of the Vedanta-sutra; nija-bhasya--of his own commentary; svarupa--the original form.
TRANSLATION
"Srimad-Bhagavatam gives the actual meaning of the Vedanta-sutra. The author of the Vedanta-sutra is Vyasadeva, and he himself has explained those codes in the form of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
TEXTS 143-144
TEXT
artho 'yam brahma-sutranam
bharatartha-vinirnayah
gayatri-bhasya-rupo 'sau
vedartha-paribrmhitah
purananam sama-rupah
saksad-bhagavatoditah
dvadasa-skandha-yukto 'yam
sata-viccheda-samyutah
grantho 'stadasa-sahasrah
srimad-bhagavatabhidhah
SYNONYMS
artah ayam--this is the meaning; brahma-sutranam--of the codes of Vedanta-sutra; bharata-artha-vinirnayah--the ascertainment of the Mahabharata; gayatri-bhasya-rupah--the purport of Brahma-gayatri, the mother of the Vedic literatures; asau--that; veda-artha-paribrmhitah--expanded by the meanings of all the Vedas; purananam--of the Puranas; sama-rupah--the best (like the Sama among the Vedas); saksat--directly; bhagavata uditah--spoken by Vyasadeva, an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; dvadasa-skanda-yuktah--having twelve cantos; ayam--this; sata-viccheda-samyutah--having 355 chapters; granthah--this great literature; astadasa-sahasrah--having 18,000 verses; srimad-bhagavata-abhidhah--named Srimad-Bhagavatam.
TRANSLATION
" 'The meaning of the Vedanta-sutra is present in Srimad-Bhagavatam. The full purport of the Mahabharata is also there. The commentary of the Brahma-gayatri is also there and fully expanded with all Vedic knowledge. Srimad Bhagavatam is the supreme Purana, and it was compiled by the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as Vyasadeva. There are twelve cantos, 335 chapters and eighteen thousand verses.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from the Garuda Purana.
TEXT 145
TEXT
sarva-vedetihasanam
saram saram samuddhrtam
SYNONYMS
sarva-veda--of all Vedic literature; itihasanam--of historical literature; saram saram--the essence of the essence; samuddhrtam--is collected (in Srimad-Bhagavatam).
TRANSLATION
" 'The essence of all Vedic literature and all histories has been collected in this Srimad-Bhagavatam.'
PURPORT
Srimad-Bhagavatam was collected by the incarnation of God, Vyasadeva, and it was later taught to his son, Sukadeva Gosvami. This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.3.42).
TEXT 146
TEXT
sarva-vedanta-saram hi
srimad-bhagavatam isyate
tad-rasamrta-trptasya
nanyatra syad ratih kvacit
SYNONYMS
sarva-vedanta-saram--the best part of all the Vedanta; hi--certainly; srimad-bhagavatam--the great literature about Bhagavan; isyate--is accepted; tat-rasa-amrta--by the transcendental mellow derived from that great literature; trp-tasya--of one who is satisfied; na--never; anyatra--anywhere else; syat--is; ratih--attraction; kvacit--at any time.
TRANSLATION
« 'Srimad-Bhagavatam is accepted as the essence of all Vedic literature and Vedanta philosophy. Whoever tastes the transcendental mellow of Srimad Bhagavatam is never attracted to any other literature.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.13.15).
TEXT 147
TEXT
gayatrira arthe ei grantha-arambhana
"satyam param"--sambandha, "dhimahi"--sadhana-prayojana
SYNONYMS
gayatrira arthe--with the meaning of Brahma-gayatri; ei--this; grantha--of the great literature; arambhana--the beginning; satyam param--the supreme Absolute Truth; sambandha--shows a relationship; dhimahi--we meditate (the end of the Gayatri mantra); sadhana-prayojana--the execution of service and the achievement of the ultimate goal.
TRANSLATION
"In the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam there is an explanation of the Brahma-gayatri mantra. 'The Absolute Truth [satyam param]' indicates the relationship, and 'we meditate [dhimahi] on Him' indicates the execution of devotional service and the ultimate goal of life.
TEXT 148
TEXT
janmady asya yato 'nvayad itaratas carthesv abhijnah svarat
tene brahma hrda ya adi-kavaye muhyanti yat surayah
tejo-vari-mrdam yatha vinimayo yatra tri-sargo 'mrsa
dhamna svena sada nirasta-kuhakam satyam param dhimahi
SYNONYMS
janma-adi--creation, maintenance and dissolution; asya--of this (the universe); yatah--from whom; anvayat--directly from the spiritual connection; itaratah--indirectly from the lack of material contact; ca--also; arthesu--in all affairs; abhijnah--perfectly cognizant; sva-rat--independent; tene--imparted; brahma--the Absolute Truth; hrda--through the heart; yah--who; adi-kavaye--unto Lord Brahma; muhyanti--are bewildered; yat--in whom; surayah--great personalities like Lord Brahma and other demigods or great brahmanas; tejah-vari-mrdam--of fire, water and earth; yatha--as; vinimayah--the exchange; yatra--in whom; tri-sargah--the material creation of three modes; amrsa--factual; dhamna--with the abode; svena--His own personal; sada--always; nirasta-kuhakam--devoid of all illusion; satyam--the truth; param--absolute; dhimahi--let us meditate upon.
TRANSLATION
" 'I offer my obeisances unto Lord Sri Krsna, son of Vasudeva, who is the supreme all-pervading Personality of Godhead. I meditate upon Him, the transcendent reality, who is the primeval cause of all causes, from whom all manifested universes arise, in whom they dwell and by whom they are destroyed. I meditate upon that eternally effulgent Lord who is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations and yet is beyond them. It is He only who first imparted Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahma, the first created being. Through Him this world, like a mirage, appears real even to great sages and demigods. Because of Him, the material universes, created by the three modes of nature, appear to be factual, although they are unreal. I meditate therefore upon Him, the Absolute Truth, who is eternally existent in His transcendental abode, and who is forever free of illusion.
PURPORT
This is the opening invocation of Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.1).
TEXT 149
TEXT
dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsaranam satam
vedyam vastavam atra vastu sivadam tapa-trayonmulanam
srimad-bhagavate mahamuni-krte kim va parair isvarah
sadyo hrdy avarudhyate 'tra krtibhih susrusubhis tat-ksanat
SYNONYMS
dharmah--religiosity; projjhita--completely rejected; kaitavah--in which there is fruitive intention; atra--herein; paramah--the highest; nirmatsaranam--of the one hundred percent pure in heart; satam--devotees; vedyam--to be understood; vastavam--factual; atra--herein; vastu--substance; siva-dam--giving well-being; tapa-traya--of the threefold miseries; unmulanam--causing uprooting; srimat--beautiful; bhagavate--in the Bhagavata Purana; maha-muni--by the great sage (Vyasadeva); krte--compiled; kim--what; va--indeed; paraih--with others; isvarah--the Supreme Lord; sadyah--at once; hrdi--within the heart; avarudhyate--becomes confined; atra--herein; krtibhih--by pious men; susrusubhih--desiring to hear; tat-ksanat--without delay.
TRANSLATION
" 'Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhagavata Purana propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries. This beautiful Bhagavatam, compiled by the great sage Sri Vyasadeva, is sufficient in itself for God realization. As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhagavatam, he becomes attached to the Supreme Lord.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.2). See also Adi-lila, Chapter One, text 91.
TEXT 150
TEXT
'krsna-bhakti-rasa-svarupa' sri-bhagavata
tate veda-sastra haite parama mahattva
SYNONYMS
krsna-bhakti--of devotional service to Krsna; rasa--of the transcendental mellow; svarupa--the very form; sri-bhagavata--Srimad-Bhagavatam; tate--therefore; veda-sastra--the Vedic literature; haite--than; parama mahattva--has greater utility and value.
TRANSLATION
"Srimad-Bhagavatam gives direct information of the mellow derived from service to Krsna. Therefore Srimad-Bhagavatam is above all other Vedic literatures.
TEXT 151
TEXT
nigama-kalpa-taror galitam phalam
suka-mukhad amrta-drava-samyutam
pibata bhagavatam rasam alayam
muhur aho rasika bhuvi bhavukah
SYNONYMS
nigama-kalpa-taroh--of the Vedic literature which is like a desire tree; galitam--completely ripened; phalam--fruit (which has come down without being distorted); suka-mukhat--from the mouth of Sukadeva Gosvami; amrta--which is like nectar; drava-samyutam--mixed with juice; pibata--just drink; bhagavatam--Srimad-Bhagavatam; rasam alayam--the reservoir of all mellows; muhuh--constantly; aho--O; rasikah--intelligent and humorous devotees; bhuvi--in this world; bhavukah--thoughtful.
TRANSLATION
" 'Srimad-Bhagavatam is the essence of all Vedic literatures, and it is considered the ripened fruit of the wish-fulfilling tree of Vedic knowledge. It has been sweetened by emanating from the mouth of Sukadeva Gosvami. You who are thoughtful and who relish mellows should always try to taste this ripened fruit. O thoughtful devotees, as long as you are not absorbed in transcendental bliss, you should continue tasting this Srimad-Bhagavatam, and when you are fully absorbed in bliss, you should go on tasting its mellows forever.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.3).
TEXT 152
TEXT
vayam tu na vitrpyama
uttamahsloka-vikrame
yac chrnvatam rasa-jnanam
svadu svadu pade pade
SYNONYMS
vayam tu--we of course; na--never; vitrpyamah--are satisfied; uttamah-sloka-vikrame--in the activities and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yat--which; srnvatam--of those hearing; rasa-jnanam--who know the taste of mellows; svadu svadu--more palatable; pade pade--in every step.
TRANSLATION
" 'We never tire of hearing the transcendental pastimes of the Personality of Godhead, who is glorified by hymns and prayers. Those who enjoy association with Him relish hearing His pastimes at every moment.' »
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.19).
TEXT 153
TEXT
ataeva bhagavata karaha vicara
iha haite pabe sutra-srutira artha-sara
SYNONYMS
ataeva--therefore; bhagavata--Srimad-Bhagavatam; karaha vicara--try to understand scrutinizingly; iha haite--from this; pabe--you will get; sutra-srutira--of the Vedic philosophy, the Brahma-sutra; artha-sara--the actual meaning.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised Prakasananda Sarasvati, "Study Srimad Bhagavatam very scrutinizingly. Then you will understand the actual meaning of Brahma-sutra"
TEXT 154
TEXT
nirantara kara krsna-nama-sankirtana
helaya mukti pabe, pabe prema-dhana
SYNONYMS
nirantara kara--constantly perform; krsna-nama-sankirtana--the chanting of the holy name of Krsna; helaya--very easily; mukti pabe--you will get liberation; pabe prema-dhana--you will achieve the highest goal, ecstatic love of Krsna.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "Always discuss Srimad-Bhagavatam and constantly chant the holy name of Lord Krsna. In this way you will be able to attain liberation very easily, and you will be elevated to the enjoyment of love of Godhead.
PURPORT
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura states that without studying Srimad-Bhagavatam, one cannot understand the purport of Brahma-sutra (Vedanta-sutra) or the Upanisads. If one tries to understand Vedanta philosophy and the Upanisads without studying Srimad-Bhagavatam, he will be bewildered and, construing a different meaning will gradually become an atheist or an impersonalist.
TEXT 155
TEXT
brahma-bhutah prasannatma
na socati na kanksati
samah sarvesu bhutesu
mad-bhaktim labhate param
SYNONYMS
brahma-bhutah--freed from material conceptions of life but attached to an impersonal situation; prasanna-atma--fully joyful; na socati--he does not lament; na kanksati--he does not hanker; samah--equally disposed; sarvesu--all; bhutesu--to the living entities; mat-bhaktim--My devotional service; labhate--achieves; param--transcendental.
TRANSLATION
" 'One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments nor desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.'
TEXT 156
TEXT
"mukta api lilaya vigraham
krtva bhagavantam bhajante"
SYNONYMS
muktah--liberated; api--although; lilaya--by pastimes; vigraham--the form of the Lord; krtva--having installed; bhagavantam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhajante--worship.
TRANSLATION
" 'Even a liberated soul merged in the impersonal Brahman effulgence is attracted to the pastimes of Krsna. He thus installs a Deity and renders the Lord service.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Sankaracarya's commentary on the Nrsimha-tapani.
TEXT 157
TEXT
parinisthito 'pi nairgunye
uttamahsloka-lilaya
grhita-ceta rajarse
akhyanam yad adhitavan
SYNONYMS
parinisthitah--situated; api--although; nairgunye--in the transcendental position, freed from the material modes of nature; uttamah-sloka-lilaya--by the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Uttamahsloka; grhita-ceta--the mind became fully taken over; rajarse--O great King; akhyanam--the narration; yat--which; adhitavan--studied.
TRANSLATION
" 'Sukadeva Gosvami addressed Pariksit Maharaja, "My dear King, although I was fully situated in the transcendental position, I was nonetheless attracted to the pastimes of Lord Krsna. Therefore I studied Srimad-Bhagavatam from my father.' "
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.1.9).
TEXT 158
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 flower; 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 the 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 quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.15.43).
TEXT 159
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.' "
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.7.10).
TEXT 160
TEXT
hena-kale sei maharastriya brahmana
sabhate kahila sei sloka-vivarana
SYNONYMS
hena-kale--at this time; sei--that; maharastriya brahmana--the brahmana of Maharastra province; sabhate--in the meeting; kahila--declared; sei--that; sloka-vivarana--the description of the atmarama-sloka explained by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
At this time the brahmana from the province of Maharastra mentioned Lord Caitanya's explanation of the atmarama verse.
TEXT 161
TEXT
ei slokera artha prabhu 'ekasasti' prakara
kariyachena, yaha suni' loke camatkara
SYNONYMS
ei slokera artha--the meanings of this verse; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; eka-sasti prakara--sixty-one varieties; kariyachena--has done; yaha suni'--hearing which; loke camatkara--everyone is astonished.
TRANSLATION
The Maharastrian brahmana stated that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had already explained that verse in sixty-one ways. Everyone was astonished to hear this.
TEXT 162
TEXT
tabe saba loka sunite agraha karila
'ekasasti' artha prabhu vivari' kahila
SYNONYMS
tabe--then; saba loka--all the people gathered there; sunite--to hear; agraha karila--expressed their eagerness; eka-sasti artha--sixty-one different meanings of the verse; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vivari'--elaborately; kahila--explained.
TRANSLATION
When all the people gathered there expressed the desire to hear again the sixty-one different meanings of the atmarama-sloka, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again explained them.
TEXT 163
TEXT
suniya lokera bada camatkara haila
caitanya-gosani--'sri-krsna', nirdharila
SYNONYMS
suniya--hearing; lokera--of all the people; bada--very great; camatkara--wonder; haila--there was; caitanya-gosani--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sri-krsna--personally Lord Krsna; nirdharila--they concluded.
TRANSLATION
When everyone heard Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's explanation of the atmarama-sloka, everyone was astonished and struck with wonder. They concluded that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was none other than Lord Krsna Himself.
TEXT 164
TEXT
eta kahi' uthiya calila gaurahari
namaskara kare loka hari-dhvani kari
SYNONYMS
eta kahi'--after speaking that; uthiya--standing; calila--began to walk; gaurahari--Sri Gaurasundara, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; namaskara kare loka--all the people offered their obeisances; hari-dhvani kari--loudly chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.
TRANSLATION
After giving those explanations again, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arose and took His leave. All the people there offered their obeisances unto Him and chanted the maha-mantra.
TEXT 165
TEXT
saba kasi-vasi kare nama-sankirtana
preme hase, kande, gaya, karaye nartana
SYNONYMS
saba kasi-vasi--all the inhabitants of Kasi (Varanasi); kare--performed; nama-sankirtana--chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra; preme--in ecstatic love of Godhead; hase--they laughed; kande--they cried; gaya--chanted; karaye nartana--and danced.
TRANSLATION
All the inhabitants of Kasi [Varanasi] began chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra in ecstatic love. Sometimes they laughed, sometimes they cried, sometimes they chanted, and sometimes they danced.
TEXT 166
TEXT
sannyasi pandita kare bhagavata vicara
varanasi-pura prabhu karila nistara
SYNONYMS
sannyasi--the Mayavadi sannyasis; pandita--the learned scholars; kare--do; bhagavata vicara--discussion on Srimad-Bhagavatam; varanasi-pura--the city known as Varanasi; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karila nistara--delivered.
TRANSLATION
After this, all the Mayavadi sannyasis and learned scholars at Varanasi began discussing Srimad-Bhagavatam. In this way Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu delivered them.
TEXT 167
TEXT
nija-loka lana prabhu aila vasaghara
varanasi haila dvitiya nadiya-nagara
SYNONYMS
nija-loka lana--with His personal associates; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; aila vasa-aghara--came to His residential place; varanasi--the city of Varanasi; haila--became; dvitiya--second; nadiya-nagara--Navadvipa (Nadia).
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then returned to His residence with His personal associates. Thus He turned the whole city of Varanasi into another Navadvipa [Nadiya-nagara].
PURPORT
Both Navadvipa and Varanasi were celebrated for their highly educational activities. At the present time these cities are still inhabited by great, learned scholars, but Varanasi is especially a center for Mayavadi sannyasis who are learned scholars. However, unlike Navadvipa, there are hardly any devotees in Varanasi. Consequently a discussion of Srimad-Bhagavatam was very rare in Varanasi. In Navadvipa, such a discussion was quite ordinary. After Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited Varanasi and turned Prakasananda Sarasvati and his disciples into Vaisnavas, Varanasi became like Navadvipa because so many devotees began discussing Srimad-Bhagavatam. Even at the present moment one can hear many discussions on Srimad-Bhagavatam taking place on the banks of the Ganges. Many scholars and sannyasis gather there to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam and perform sankirtana.
TEXT 168
TEXT
nija-gana lana prabhu kahe hasya kari'
kasite ami ailana vecite bhavakali
SYNONYMS
nija-gana lana--with His personal associates; prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; hasya kari'--laughingly; kasite--in Kasi; ami ailana--I came; vecite--to sell; bhavakali--emotional ecstatic love.
TRANSLATION
Among His own associates, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu laughingly said, "I came here to sell My emotional ecstatic love.
TEXT 169
TEXT
kasite grahaka nahi, vastu na vikaya
punarapi dese vahi' laoya nahi yaya
SYNONYMS
kasite--in Kasi (Benares); grahaka nahi--there was no customer; vastu na vikaya--it was not selling; punarapi--again; dese--to My own country; vahi'--carrying (it); laoya--to take; nahi yaya--was not possible.
TRANSLATION
"Although I came to Varanasi to sell My goods, there were no customers, and it appeared necessary for Me to carry them back to My own country.
TEXT 170
TEXT
ami bojha vahimu, toma-sabara duhkha haila
toma-sabara icchaya vina-mulye bilaila
SYNONYMS
ami--I; bojha--burden; vahimu--shall carry; toma-sabara duhkha haila--all of you became very unhappy; toma-sabara icchaya--only by your will; vina-mulye bilaila--I distributed without a price.
TRANSLATION
"All of you were feeling unhappy that no one was purchasing My goods and that I would have to carry them away. Therefore, by your will only, I have distributed them without charging."
PURPORT
When we began distributing the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the Western countries, a similar thing happened. In the beginning we were very disappointed for at least one year because no one came forth to help this movement, but by the grace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, some young boys joined this movement in 1966. Of course we distributed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's message of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra without bargaining or selling. As a result, this movement has spread all over the world, with the assistance of European and American boys and girls. We therefore pray for all the blessings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu upon all the devotees in the Western world who are spreading this movement.
TEXT 171
TEXT
sabe kahe,--loka tarite tomara avatara
'purva' 'daksina' 'pascima' karila nistara
SYNONYMS
sabe kahe--everyone says; loka tarite--to deliver the fallen souls; tomara avatara--Your incarnation; purva--east; daksina--south; pascima--west; karila nistara--You have delivered.
TRANSLATION
All the Lord's devotees then said, "You have incarnated to deliver fallen souls. You have delivered them in the east and in the south, and now you are delivering them in the west.
TEXT 172
TEXT
'eka' varanasi chila tomate vimukha
taha nistariya kaila ama-sabara sukha
SYNONYMS
eka--one; varanasi--the city of Varanasi; chila--remained; tomate vimukha--against Your missionary activities; taha--that; nistariya--delivering; kaila--have done; ama-sabara--of all of us; sukha--awakening of happiness.
TRANSLATION
"Only Varanasi was left because the people there were against Your missionary activities. Now You have delivered them, and we are all very happy."
TEXT 173
TEXT
varanasi-grame yadi kolahala haila
suni' grami desi loka asite lagila
SYNONYMS
varanasi-grame--in the city of Varanasi; yadi--when; kolahala haila--there was broadcasting of this news; suni'--hearing; grami--from the villages; desi--from the towns; loka asite lagila--people began to pour in.
TRANSLATION
After the news of these events was broadcast, everyone from the surrounding neighborhoods began to pour in to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 174
TEXT
laksa koti loka aise, nahika ganana
sankirna-sthane prabhura na paya darasana
SYNONYMS
laksa koti--hundreds and thousands; loka--people; aise--come; nahika ganana--there was no counting; sankirna-sthane--in a small place; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; na paya darasana--could not get an audience.
TRANSLATION
Hundreds and thousands of people came to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There was no counting the number. Because the Lord's residence was very small, not everyone could see Him.
TEXT 175
TEXT
prabhu yabe snane yana visvesvara-darasane
dui-dike loka kare prabhu-vilokane
SYNONYMS
prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yabe--when; snane yana--goes to bathe; visvesvara-darasane--or to see the Deity of Lord Visvesvara; dui-dike--on two sides; loka--all the people; kare--do; prabhu-vilokane--seeing of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to take His bath in the Ganges and to see the temple of Visvesvara, people would line up on both sides to see the Lord.
TEXT 176
TEXT
bahu tuli' prabhu kahe--bala 'krsna' 'hari'
dandavat kare loke hari-dhvani kari'
SYNONYMS
bahu tuli'--raising His two arms; prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says; bala--please say; krsna hari--Krsna, Hari; danda vat kare--offer their respects; loke--the people; hari-dhvani kari'--loudly chanting the name of Hari.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed by the people, He would raise His arms and say, "Please chant Krsna! Please chant Hari!" All the people received Him by chanting Hare Krsna, and they offered their respects to Him by this chanting.
TEXT 177
TEXT
ei-mata dina panca loka nistariya
ara dina calila prabhu udvigna hana
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; dina panca--five days; loka--the people; nistariya--delivering; ara dina--on the next day; calila--departed; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; udvigna hana--being very eager.
TRANSLATION
In this way, for five days, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu delivered the people of Varanasi. Finally, on the next day, He became very eager to leave.
TEXT 178
TEXT
ratre uthi' prabhu yadi karila gamana
pache lag la-ila tabe bhakta panca jana
SYNONYMS
ratre uthi'--rising at night; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yadi--when; karila gamana--departed; pache--behind Him; lag la-ila--began to follow; tabe--then; bhakta panca jana--five devotees.
TRANSLATION
After rising very early on the sixth day, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu started to leave, and five devotees began to follow Him.
TEXT 179
TEXT
tapana misra, raghunatha, maharastriya brahmana
candrasekhara, kirtaniya-paramananda,--panca jana
SYNONYMS
tapana misra--Tapana Misra; raghunatha--Raghunatha; maharastriya brahmana--the Maharastrian brahmana; candrasekhara--Candrasekhara; kirtaniya-paramananda--Paramananda, who used to perform kirtana; panca jana--these five persons.
TRANSLATION
These five devotees were Tapana Misra, Raghunatha, the Maharastrian brahmana, Candrasekhara and Paramananda Kirtaniya.
TEXT 180
TEXT
sabe cahe prabhu-sange nilacala yaite
sabare vidaya dila prabhu yatna-sahite
SYNONYMS
sabe cahe--every one of them wanted; prabhu-sange--with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nilacala yaite--to go to Jagannatha Puri; sabare--to all of them; vidaya dila--bade farewell; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yatna-sahite--with great attention.
TRANSLATION
These five wanted to accompany Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to Jagannatha Puri, but the Lord attentively bade them farewell.
TEXT 181
TEXT
"yanra iccha, pache aisa amare dekhite
ebe ami eka yamu jharikhanda-pathe"
SYNONYMS
yanra--of one who; iccha--there is a desire; pache--later; aisa--you may come; amare dekhite--to see Me; ebe--but at this time; ami--I; eka--alone; yamu--shall go; jharikhanda-pathe--through the forest known as Jharikhanda.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "If you want to see Me, you may come later, but for the time being I shall go alone through the Jharikhanda forest."
TEXT 182
TEXT
sanatane kahila,--tumi yaha' vrndavana
tomara dui bhai tatha kariyache gamana
SYNONYMS
sanatane kahila--he advised Sanatana Gosvami; tumi--you; yaha' vrndavana--go to Vrndavana; tomara--your; dui bhai--two brothers; tatha--there; kariyache gamana--have already gone.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised Sanatana Gosvami to proceed toward Vrndavana, and He informed him that his two brothers had already gone there.
TEXT 183
TEXT
kantha-karangiya mora kangala bhakta-gana
vrndavane aile tandera kariha palana
SYNONYMS
kantha--torn quilt; karangiya--a small waterpot; mora--My; kangala--poor; bhakta-gana--devotees; vrndavane aile--when they come to Vrndavana; tandera--of all of them; kariha palana--take care.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu told Sanatana Gosvami, "All My devotees who go to Vrndavana are generally very poor. They each have nothing with them but a torn quilt and a small waterpot. Therefore, Sanatana, you should give them shelter and maintain them."
PURPORT
Following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we have constructed temples both in Vrndavana and Mayapur, Navadvipa, just to give shelter to the foreign devotees coming from Europe and America. Since the Hare Krsna movement started, many Europeans and Americans have been visiting Vrndavana, but they have not been properly received by any asrama or temple there. It is the purpose of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to give them shelter and train them in devotional service. There are also many tourists eager to come to India to understand India's spiritual life, and the devotees in our temples both in Vrndavana and in Navadvipa should make arrangements to accommodate them as far as possible.
TEXT 184
TEXT
eta bali' calila prabhu saba alingiya
sabei padila tatha murcchita hana
SYNONYMS
eta bali'--saying this; calila--began to proceed; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; saba--all of them; alingiya--embracing; sabei--all of them; padila--fell down; tatha--there; murcchita hana--fainting.
TRANSLATION
After saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced them all and began to proceed on His way, and they all fainted and fell down.
TEXT 185
TEXT
kata-ksane uthi' sabe duhkhe ghare aila
sanatana-gosani vrndavanere calila
SYNONYMS
kata-ksane--after some time; uthi'--rising; sabe--all of them; duhkhe--in great unhappiness; ghare aila--returned to their homes; sanatana-gosani--Sanatana Gosvami; vrndavanere calila--proceeded toward Vrndavana.
TRANSLATION
After some time, all the devotees got up and returned to their homes very much grief-stricken. Sanatana Gosvami proceeded toward Vrndavana alone.
TEXT 186
TEXT
etha rupa-gosani yabe mathura aila
dhruva-ghate tanre subuddhi-raya milila
SYNONYMS
etha--there; rupa-gosani--Rupa Gosani; yabe--when; mathura aila--came to Mathura; dhruva-ghate--at the bank of the Yamuna known as Dhruva-ghata; tanre--him; subuddhi-raya--a devotee of Lord Caitanya named Subuddhi Raya; milila--met.
TRANSLATION
When Rupa Gosvami reached Mathura, he met Subuddhi Raya on the banks of the Yamuna at a place called Dhruva-ghata.
TEXT 187
TEXT
purve yabe subuddhi-raya chila gaude 'adhikari'
husena-khan 'saiyada' kare tahara cakari
SYNONYMS
purve--formerly; yabe--when; subuddhi-raya--Subuddhi Raya; chila--resided; gaude--in Bengal; adhikari--a very respectable man; husena-khan--Nawab Hussain Khan; saiyada--named Saiyada; kare--performed; tahara cakari--service of Subuddhi Raya.
TRANSLATION
Formerly Subuddhi Raya had been a big landholder in Gauda-desa [Bengal]. Saiyada Hussain Khan was then a servant of Subuddhi Raya.
TEXT 188
TEXT
dighi khodaite tare 'munsipha' kaila
chidra pana raya tare cabuka marila
SYNONYMS
dighi khodaite--to dig a big lake; tare--Hussain Khan; munsipha kaila--appointed as the supervisor; chidra pana--finding some fault; raya--Subuddhi Raya; tare--him; cabuka marila--whipped.
TRANSLATION
Subuddhi Raya put Hussain Khan in charge of digging a big lake, but, once, finding fault with him, he struck him with a whip.
TEXT 189
TEXT
pache yabe husena-khan gaude 'raja' ha-ila
subuddhi-rayere tinho bahu badaila
SYNONYMS
pache--later; yabe--when; husena-khan--Hussain Khan; gaude--in Bengal; raja ha-ila--was appointed Nawab, or governor, by the central Mohammedan government; subuddhi-rayere--unto Subuddhi Raya; tinho--he; bahu badaila--increased the opulences.
TRANSLATION
Later Hussain Khan somehow or other was appointed Nawab by the central Mohammedan government. As a matter of obligation, he increased the opulences of Subuddhi Raya.
TEXT 190
TEXT
tara stri tara ange dekhe maranera cihne
subuddhi-rayere marite kahe raja-sthane
SYNONYMS
tara stri--his wife; tara ange--on his body; dekhe--sees; maranera cihne--the mark of the whip; subuddhi-rayere--Subuddhi Raya; marite--to kill; kahe--says; raja-sthane--in the presence of the King.
TRANSLATION
Later, when the wife of Nawab Saiyada Hussain Khan saw the whip marks on his body, she requested him to kill Subuddhi Raya.
TEXT 191
TEXT
raja kahe,--amara posta raya haya 'pita'
tahare marimu ami,--bhala nahe katha
SYNONYMS
raja kahe--the King said; amara--my; posta--maintainer; raya--Subuddhi Raya; haya--is; pita--just like my father; tahare marimu--shall kill him; ami--I; bhala nahe katha--this is not a good proposal.
TRANSLATION
Hussain Khan replied, "Subuddhi Raya has maintained me very carefully. He was just like a father to me," he said. "Now you are asking me to kill him. This is not a very good proposal."
TEXT 192
TEXT
stri kahe,--jati laha', yadi prane na maribe
raja kahe,--jati nile inho nahi jibe
SYNONYMS
stri kahe--the wife replied; jati laha'--then take his caste; yadi--if; prane na maribe--you will not kill him; raja kahe--the King replied; jati nile--if I take his caste; inho nahi jibe--he will not live (he will commit suicide).
TRANSLATION
As a last alternative, the wife suggested that the Nawab take away Subuddhi Raya's caste and turn him into a Mohammedan, but Hussain Khan replied that if he did this, Subuddhi Raya would not live.
TEXT 193
TEXT
stri marite cahe, raja sankate padila
karonyara pani tara mukhe deoyaila
SYNONYMS
stri--the wife; marite cahe--wants to kill Subuddhi Raya; raja--the King; sankate padila--became very perplexed; karonyara pani--water from a pitcher especially used by Mohammedans; tara mukhe--on his head; deoyaila--forced to be sprinkled.
TRANSLATION
This became a perplexing problem for him because his wife kept requesting him to kill Subuddhi Raya. Finally the Nawab sprinkled a little water on Subuddhi Raya's head from a pitcher that had been used by a Mohammedan.
PURPORT
More than five hundred years ago in India, the Hindus were so rigid and strict that if a Mohammedan would sprinkle a little water from his pitcher upon a Hindu, the Hindu would be immediately ostracized. Recently, in 1947, during the partition days, there was a big riot between Hindus and Muslims, especially in Bengal. The Hindus were forcibly made to eat cow's flesh, and consequently they began crying, thinking that they had become Mohammedans. Actually the Mohammedans in India did not come from the country of the Mohammedans, but Hindus instituted the custom that somehow or other if one contacted a Mohammedan, he became a Mohammedan. Rupa and Sanatana Gosvami were born in a high brahmana family, but because they accepted employment under a Mohammedan government, they were considered Mohammedans. Subuddhi Raya was sprinkled with water from the pitcher of a Mohammedan, and consequently he was condemned to have become a Mohammedan. Later, Aurangzeb, the Mohammedan emperor, introduced a tax especially meant for Hindus. Being oppressed in the Hindu community, many low-caste Hindus preferred to become Mohammedans. In this way the Mohammedan population increased. Later the British government made it a policy to divide the Hindus and the Muslims, and thus they maintained ill feelings between them. The result was that India was divided into Pakistan and Hindustan.
From early histories it appears that the entire earth was under one culture, Vedic culture, but gradually, due to religious and cultural divisions, the rule fragmented into many subdivisions. Now the earth is divided into many countries, religions and political parties. Despite these political and religious divisions, we advocate that everyone should unite again under one culture-Krsna consciousness. People should accept one God, Krsna; one scripture, Bhagavad-gita; and one activity, devotional service to the Lord. Thus people may live happily upon this earth and combine to produce sufficient food. In such a society, there would be no question of scarcity, famine, or cultural or religious degradation. So-called caste systems and national divisions are artificial. According to our Vaisnava philosophy, these are all external bodily designations. The Krsna consciousness movement is not based upon bodily designations. It is a transcendental movement on the platform of spiritual understanding. If the people of the world understood that the basic principle of life is spiritual identification, they would understand that the business of the spirit soul is to serve the Supreme Spirit, Krsna. As Lord Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (15.7), mamaivamso jiva-loke jiva-bhutah sanatanah: "The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts." All living entities in different life forms are sons of Krsna. Therefore they are all meant to serve Krsna, the original supreme father. If this philosophy is accepted, the failure of the United Nations to unite all nations will be sufficiently compensated all over the world by a great Krsna consciousness movement. Recently we had talks with Christian leaders in Australia, including the Bishop of Australia, and everyone there was pleased with our philosophy of oneness in religious consciousness.
TEXT 194
TEXT
tabe subuddhi-raya sei 'chadma' pana
varanasi aila, saba visaya chadiya
SYNONYMS
tabe--upon this; subuddhi-raya--Subuddhi Raya; sei--that; chadma--plea; pana--getting an opportunity; varanasi aila--came to Varanasi; saba--all; visaya chadiya--giving up the implications of material activities.
TRANSLATION
Taking the Nawab's sprinkling water upon him as an opportunity, Subuddhi Raya left his family and business affairs and went to Varanasi.
PURPORT
It appears that Subuddhi Raya was a big landholder and a responsible, respectable gentleman. He could not, however, avoid the social misconception that one becomes a Mohammedan when water is sprinkled on one's face from a Mohammedan's pitcher. Actually he was planning to give up his material life and leave his family. Hindu culture recommends four divisions-brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa. Subuddhi Raya was thinking of taking sannyasa, and by the grace of Krsna, he received this opportunity. He therefore left his family and went to Varanasi. The system of varnasrama-dharma is very scientific. If one is directed by the varnasrama institution, he will naturally think of retiring from family life at the end of his life. Therefore sannyasa is compulsory at the age of fifty.
TEXT 195
TEXT
prayascitta puchila tinho panditera gane
tanra kahe,--tapta-ghrta khana chada' prane
SYNONYMS
prayascitta--atonement; puchila--inquired; tinho--he; panditera gane--among the learned scholars or brahmana-panditas in Varanasi; tanra kahe--they advised; tapta-ghrta--hot clarified butter; khana--drinking; chada'--give up; prane--your life.
TRANSLATION
When Subuddhi Raya consulted the learned brahmanas at Varanasi, asking them how his conversion to Mohammedanism could be counteracted, they advised him to drink hot ghee and give up his life.
TEXT 196
TEXT
keha kahe,--ei nahe, 'alpa' dosa haya
suniya rahila raya kariya samsaya
SYNONYMS
keha kahe--some of the learned brahmanas said; ei--this; nahe--not; alpa--insignificant; dosa--fault; haya--is; suniya--hearing; rahila--remained; raya--Subuddhi Raya; kariya--making; samsaya--doubt.
TRANSLATION
When Subuddhi Raya consulted some other brahmanas, they told him that he had not committed a grievous fault and that consequently he should not drink hot ghee and give up his life. As a result, Subuddhi Raya was doubtful about what to do.
PURPORT
This is another instance of Hindu custom. One brahmana would give advice condoning a particular fault, and another would give advice to the contrary. Typically, lawyers and physicians differ, giving one kind of instruction and then another. Due to the brahmanas' different opinions, Subuddhi Raya became further perplexed. He did not know what to do or what not to do.
TEXT 197
TEXT
tabe yadi mahaprabhu varanasi aila
tanre mili' raya apana-vrttanta kahila
SYNONYMS
tabe--at this moment; yadi--when; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; varanasi aila--came to Varanasi; tanre mili'--meeting Him; raya--Subuddhi Raya; apana-vrttanta kahila--explained his personal situation.
TRANSLATION
In his state of perplexity, Subuddhi Raya met Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu when the Lord was at Varanasi. Subuddhi Raya explained his position and asked Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu what he should do.
TEXT 198
TEXT
prabhu kahe,--ihan haite yaha' vrndavana
nirantara kara krsna-nama-sankirtana
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--the Lord advised; ihan haite--from this place; yaha' vrndavana--go to Vrndavana; nirantara--incessantly; kara--perform; krsna-nama-sankirtana--chanting of the holy name of Krsna.
TRANSLATION
The Lord advised him, "Go to Vrndavana and chant the Hare Krsna mantra constantly."
PURPORT
This is a solution to all sinful activities. In this Age of Kali everyone is perplexed by so many inconveniences-social, political and religious-and naturally no one is happy. Due to the contamination of this age, everyone has a very short life. There are many fools and rascals who advise people to adopt this way of life or that way of life, but real liberation from life's perplexities means preparation for the next life. Tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati. One should be situated in his spiritual identity and return home, back to Godhead. The simplest method for this is recommended herein by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. We should constantly chant the holy names of the Lord, the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this Krsna consciousness movement is recommending this process all over the world. We are saying, "Chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, be freed from all the complexities of life and realize Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Engage in His devotional service and perfect your life so that you can return home, back to Godhead."
TEXT 199
TEXT
eka 'namabhase' tomara papa-dosa yabe
ara 'nama' la-ite krsna-carana paibe
SYNONYMS
eka--one; nama-abhase--by a reflection of the pure chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra; tomara--your; papa-dosa yabe--all the sinful reactions will go away; ara--then again; nama la-ite--after chanting purely the name of the Lord; krsna-carana paibe--you will get shelter at the lotus feet of Krsna.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu further advised Subuddhi Raya: "Begin chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, and when your chanting is almost pure, all your sinful reactions will go away. After you chant perfectly, you will get shelter at the lotus feet of Krsna.
PURPORT
The ten kinds of offenses should be considered. In the beginning, when one is initiated into the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, there are naturally many offenses. However, the devotee should be very careful to avoid these offenses and chant purely. This does not mean that the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is sometimes pure and sometimes impure. Rather, the chanter is impure due to material contamination. He has to purify himself so that the holy names will be perfectly effective. Chanting the holy name of the Lord inoffensively will help one get immediate shelter at Krsna's lotus feet. This means that by chanting purely, one will immediately be situated on the transcendental platform. We should note, however, that according to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instructions, one should not wait to purify himself before chanting the Hare Krsna mantra. Whatever our condition may be, we should begin chanting immediately. By the power of the Hare Krsna mantra, we will gradually be relieved from all material contamination and will get shelter at the lotus feet of Krsna, the ultimate goal of life.
TEXT 200
TEXT
ara krsna-nama laite krsna-sthane sthiti-
maha-patakera haya ei prayascitti
SYNONYMS
ara--further; krsna-nama--the Hare Krsna maha-mantra; laite--continuously chanting; krsna-sthane sthiti--being situated in company with Lord Krsna; maha-patakera--of all kinds of sinful activity; haya--is; ei--this; prayascitti--atonement.
TRANSLATION
"When you are situated at the lotus feet of Krsna, no sinful reaction can touch you. This is the best solution to all sinful activity."
TEXT 201
TEXT
pana ajna raya vrndavanere calila
prayaga, ayodhya diya naimisaranye aila
SYNONYMS
pana ajna--getting this order; raya--Subuddhi Raya; vrndavanere calila--went toward Vrndavana; pra yaga--Allahabad; ayodhya--Ayodhya (the kingdom of Lord Ramacandra); diya--through; naimisaranye aila--came to Naimisaranya, (a place near Lucknow).
TRANSLATION
Thus receiving the order from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to go to Vrndavana, Subuddhi Raya left Varanasi and went through Prayaga, Ayodhya and Naimisaranya toward Vrndavana.
TEXT 202
TEXT
kataka divasa raya naimisaranye rahila
prabhu vrndavana haite prayaga yaila
SYNONYMS
kataka divasa--a few days; raya--Subuddhi Raya; naimisaranye rahila--stayed at Naimisaranya; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vrndavana haite--from Vrndavana; prayaga--to Allahabad; yaila--went.
TRANSLATION
Subuddhi Raya stayed for some time at Naimisaranya. During that time, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Prayaga after visiting Vrndavana.
TEXT 203
TEXT
mathura asiya raya prabhu-varta paila
prabhura laga na pana mane bada duhkha haila
SYNONYMS
mathura asiya--when he came to Mathura; raya--Subuddhi Raya; prabhu-varta paila--got information of the Lord's itinerary; prabhura--of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; laga--contact; na pana--not getting; mane--in the mind; bada--very great; duhkha--unhappiness; haila--there was.
TRANSLATION
After reaching Mathura, Subuddhi Raya received information of the Lord's itinerary. He became very unhappy because he was not able to contact the Lord.
TEXT 204
TEXT
suska-kastha ani' raya vece mathurate
panca chaya paisa haya eka eka bojhate
SYNONYMS
suska-kastha ani'--collecting dry wood from the forest; raya--Subuddhi Raya; vece--sells; mathurate--at Mathura; panca chaya--five or six; paisa--paise; haya--are; eka eka bojhate--in exchange for each load of dry wood.
TRANSLATION
Subuddhi Raya would collect dry wood in the forest and take it to the city of Mathura to sell. For each load he would receive five or six paise.
TEXT 205
TEXT
apane rahe eka paisara cana cabaiya
ara paisa baniya-sthane rakhena dhariya
SYNONYMS
apane--personally; rahe--lives; eka paisara--of one paisa's worth; cana--fried chick-peas; cabaiya--chewing; ara--the balance; paisa--four or five paise; baniya-sthane--in the custody of a merchant; rakhena--keeps; dhariya--depositing.
TRANSLATION
Earning his livelihood by selling dry wood, Subuddhi Raya would live on only one paise's worth of fried chick-peas, and he would deposit whatever other paises he had with some merchant.
PURPORT
In those days there was no banking system like the one now found in Western countries. If one had excess money, he would deposit it with some merchant, usually a grocer. That was the banking system. Subuddhi Raya would deposit his extra money with a mercantile man and spend it when necessary. When one is in the renounced order, saving money is not recommended. However, if one saves money for the service of the Lord or a Vaisnava, that is accepted. These are the dealings of Subuddhi Raya, who is one of the confidential devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Rupa Gosvami also followed this principle by spending fifty percent of his money in order to serve Krsna through brahmanas and Vaisnavas. He gave twenty-five percent of his money to relatives, and twenty-five percent he deposited in the custody of a merchant. These are the approved methods recommended in Caitanya-caritamrta. Whether in the renounced order or in the grhastha order, a Vaisnava should follow these principles set forth by the previous acaryas.
TEXT 206
TEXT
duhkhi vaisnava dekhi' tanre karana bhojana
gaudiya aile dadhi, bhata, taila-mardana
SYNONYMS
duhkhi vaisnava--a poverty-stricken Vaisnava; dekhi'--seeing; tanre--to him; karana bhojana--gives food for eating; gaudiya aile--when a Bengali Vaisnava came to Mathura; dadhi--yogurt; bhata--cooked rice; taila-mardana--massaging mustard oil on the body.
TRANSLATION
Subuddhi Raya used to spend his savings to supply yogurt to Bengali Vaisnavas who came to Mathura. He also gave them cooked rice and oil massages. When he saw a poverty-stricken Vaisnava, he would use his money to feed him.
PURPORT
There is a special reference for the maintenance of Bengali Vaisnavas. A Gaudiya Vaisnava is a Bengali Vaisnava. Most of the devotees of Lord Caitanya at that time were Gaudiyas and Oriyas, inhabitants of Bengal and Orissa. There are still many hundreds and thousands of disciples in Bengal and Orissa. Bengalis are habituated to eating cooked rice as their staple food. When they went to Mathura in the North, they found that the people generally ate chapatis or roti made of wheat. The Bengalis could not digest this food because they were used to cooked rice. Therefore as soon as Subuddhi Raya saw a Bengali Vaisnava arriving in Mathura, he would try to supply him with cooked rice. Bengalis are also accustomed to taking a massage with mustard oil. In any case, Subuddhi Raya wanted to serve the Vaisnavas according to their needs. Therefore he would supply yogurt to ease the digestion of food eaten in Mathura, particularly the wheat-made chapatis and roti.
TEXT 207
TEXT
rupa-gosani, aile tanre bahu priti kaila
apana-sange lana 'dvadasa vana' dekhaila
SYNONYMS
rupa-gosani--Rupa Gosani; aile--when he came to Mathura; tanre--unto him; bahu--much; priti--love; kaila--showed; apana-sange lana--taking Rupa Gosvami personally with him; dvadasa vana--the twelve forests of Vrndavana; dekhaila--showed.
TRANSLATION
When Rupa Gosvami arrived at Mathura, Subuddhi Raya, out of love and affection for him, wanted to serve him in so many ways. He personally took Rupa Gosvami to see all the twelve forests of Vrndavana.
PURPORT
Srila Rupa Gosvami had been a minister in the government of Hussain Shah, and Subuddhi Raya was also known to Hussain Shah, because as a boy, he had been Subuddhi Raya's servant. It appears that Subuddhi Raya was elderly, yet while he was living in Mathura he showed Rupa Gosvami the twelve forests of Vrndavana.
TEXT 208
TEXT
masa-matra rupa-gosani rahila vrndavane
sighra cali' aila sanatananusandhane
SYNONYMS
masa-matra--only one month; rupa-gosani--Rupa Gosani; rahila--remained; vrndavane--at Vrndavana; sighra--very soon; cali' aila--returned; sanatana-anu-sandhane--to search for Sanatana Gosvami.
TRANSLATION
Rupa Gosvami remained in Mathura and Vrndavana for one month in the association of Subuddhi Raya. After that, he left Vrndavana to search for his elder brother, Sanatana Gosvami.
TEXT 209
TEXT
ganga-tira-pathe prabhu prayagere aila
taha suni' dui-bhai se pathe calila
SYNONYMS
ganga-tira-pathe--on the road on the bank of the Ganges; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prayagere aila--came to Prayaga; taha suni'--hearing this news; dui-bhai--the two brothers named Rupa and Anupama; se pathe calila--traveled on that path.
TRANSLATION
When Rupa Gosvami heard that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had gone to Prayaga on the road along the banks of the Ganges, both Rupa and his brother Anupama went that way to meet the Lord.
TEXT 210
TEXT
etha sanatana gosani prayage asiya
mathura aila sarana raja-patha diya
SYNONYMS
etha--here (at the other end); sanatana gosani--Sanatana Gosani; prayage asiya--coming to Prayaga; mathura aila--he reached Vrndavana; sarana--directly; raja-patha diya--on the government road or public road.
TRANSLATION
After reaching Prayaga, Sanatana Gosvami, following the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, went to Vrndavana along the public road.
PURPORT
This is especially significant because when Sanatana Gosvami went from Bengal to Benares, due to the political situation he did not go along the public road. After meeting Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Benares, however, he was ordered to proceed to Vrndavana along the public road leading to Mathura. In other words, he was advised not to fear for his political situation.
TEXT 211
TEXT
mathurate subuddhi-raya tahare milila
rupa-anupama-katha sakali kahila
SYNONYMS
mathurate--at Mathura; subuddhi-raya--Subuddhi Raya; tahare milila--met him; rupa-anupama-katha--news about his younger brothers, Rupa Gosvami and Anupama; sakali--everything; kahila--described.
TRANSLATION
When Sanatana Gosvami met Subuddhi Raya at Mathura, Subuddhi Raya explained everything about his younger brothers Rupa Gosvami and Anupama.
TEXT 212
TEXT
ganga-pathe dui-bhai raja-pathe sanatana
ataeva tanha sane na haila milana
SYNONYMS
ganga-pathe--on the road on the bank of the Ganges; dui-bhai--the two brothers Rupa and Anupama; raja-pathe--on the public road; sanatana--Sanatana Gosvami; ataeva--because of this; tanha sane--with him; na haila milana--there was not a meeting.
TRANSLATION
Since Sanatana Gosvami went along the public road to Vrndavana and Rupa Gosvami and Anupama went on the road along the Ganges banks, it was not possible for them to meet.
TEXT 213
TEXT
subuddhi-raya bahu sneha kare sanatane
vyavahara-sneha sanatana nahi mane
SYNONYMS
subuddhi-raya--Subuddhi Raya; bahu--much; sneha--affection; kare--does; sanatane--unto Sanatana Gosvami; vyavahara-sneha--love and affection because of a previous relationship; sanatana--Sanatana Gosvami; nahi mane--was hesitant to accept.
TRANSLATION
Subuddhi Raya and Sanatana Gosvami knew one another before accepting the renounced order. Therefore Subuddhi Raya showed much affection to Sanatana Gosvami, but Sanatana Gosvami hesitated to accept his sentiments and affections.
TEXT 214
TEXT
maha-virakta sanatana bhramena vane vane
prati-vrkse, prati-kunje rahe ratri-dine
SYNONYMS
maha-virakta--highly elevated in the renounced order of life; sanatana--Sanatana Gosvami; bhramena--wanders; vane vane--from forest to forest; prati-vrkse--under every tree; prati-kunje--in every bush; rahe ratri-dine--remains day and night.
TRANSLATION
Being very advanced in the renounced order, Sanatana Gosvami used to wander from forest to forest, never taking shelter of any habitation built of stone. He used to live under trees or beneath bushes both day and night.
TEXT 215
TEXT
mathura-mahatmya-sastra sangraha kariya
lupta-tirtha prakata kaila vanete bhramiya
SYNONYMS
mathura-mahatmya--giving a description of the greatness of Mathura; sastra--books; sangraha kariya--collecting; lupta-tirtha--lost holy places; prakata--discovering; kaila--he did; vanete bhramiya--traveling within the forest.
TRANSLATION
Srila Sanatana Gosvami collected some books about archaeological excavations in Mathura, and, wandering in the forest, he sought to renovate all those holy places.
TEXT 216
TEXT
ei-mata sanatana vrndavanete rahila
rupa-gosani dui-bhai kasite aila
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; sanatana--Sanatana Gosvami; vrndavanete rahila--remained in Vrndavana; rupa-gosani--Rupa Gosani; dui-bhai--the two brothers; kasite aila--came to Varanasi (Kasi).
TRANSLATION
Sanatana Gosvami remained in Vrndavana, and Rupa Gosvami and Anupama returned to Varanasi.
TEXT 217
TEXT
maharastriya dvija, sekhara, misra-tapana
tina-jana saha rupa karila milana
SYNONYMS
maharastriya dvija--the brahmana of Maharastra province; sekhara--Candrasekhara; misra-tapana--Tapana Misra; tina-jana--these three persons; saha--with; rupa--Rupa Gosvami; karila milana--met.
TRANSLATION
When Rupa Gosvami arrived at Varanasi, he met the Maharastrian brahmana, Candrasekhara and Tapana Misra.
TEXT 218
TEXT
sekharera ghare vasa, misra-ghare bhiksa
misra-mukhe sune sanatane prabhura 'siksa'
SYNONYMS
sekharera ghare vasa--residence in the house of Candrasekhara; misra-ghare bhiksa--prasada at the house of Tapana Misra; misra-mukhe--from the mouth of Tapana Misra; sune--hears; sanatane--unto Sanatana; prabhura siksa--instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
While Rupa Gosvami was staying at Varanasi, he resided at the house of Candrasekhara and took prasada at the house of Tapana Misra. In this way he heard of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instructions to Sanatana Gosvami in Varanasi.
TEXT 219
TEXT
kasite prabhura caritra suni' tinera mukhe
sannyasire krpa suni' paila bada sukhe
SYNONYMS
kasite--at Varanasi (Kasi); prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; caritra--the activity; suni'--hearing; tinera mukhe--from the mouths of the three persons; sannyasire krpa--the mercy shown to the Mayavadi sannyasis; suni'--hearing about; paila--he got; bada sukhe--very great pleasure.
TRANSLATION
While staying at Varanasi, Rupa Gosvami heard of all Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's activities. When he heard of His deliverance of the Mayavadi sannyasis, he became very happy.
TEXT 220
TEXT
mahaprabhura upara lokera pranati dekhiya
sukhi haila loka-mukhe kirtana suniya
SYNONYMS
mahaprabhura--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; upara--upon; lokera--of the people in general; pranati dekhiya--seeing the surrender; sukhi haila--became very happy; loka-mukhe--from the general public; kirtana suniya--hearing the description.
TRANSLATION
When Rupa Gosvami saw that all the people of Varanasi respected Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he became very happy. He even heard stories from the general populace.
TEXT 221
TEXT
dina dasa rahi' rupa gaude yatra kaila
sanatana-rupera ei caritra kahila
SYNONYMS
dina dasa--about ten days; rahi'--remaining; rupa--Rupa Gosvami; gaude yatra kaila--went back to Bengal; sanatana-rupera--of Sri Sanatana Gosvami and Rupa Gosvami; ei--thus; caritra--character; kahila--I have described.
TRANSLATION
After staying in Varanasi for about ten days, Rupa Gosvami returned to Bengal. In this way I have described the activities of Rupa and Sanatana.
TEXT 222
TEXT
etha mahaprabhu yadi niladri calila
nirjana vana-pathe yaite maha sukha paila
SYNONYMS
etha--on the other side; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yadi--when; niladri calila--went back to Jagannatha Puri; nirjana vana-pathe--on a solitary forest path; yaite--traveling; maha sukha paila--got very great pleasure.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to Jagannatha Puri, He passed through the solitary forest, and He received great pleasure in doing so.
TEXT 223
TEXT
sukhe cali' aise prabhu balabhadra-sange
purvavat mrgadi-sange kaila nana-range
SYNONYMS
sukhe--in a very pleasing atmosphere; cali' aise--comes back; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; balabhadra-sange--with the servant of Balabhadra Bhattacarya; purva-vat--as previously; mrga-adi-sange--with the forest animals; kaila--performed; nana-range--various pleasing activities.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu happily returned to Jagannatha Puri in the company of His servant, Balabhadra Bhattacarya. As previously, the Lord performed many pleasing pastimes with the forest animals.
TEXT 224
TEXT
atharanalate asi' bhattacarya brahmane
pathana bolaila nija-bhakta-gane
SYNONYMS
atharanalate--to a place near Jagannatha Puri named Atharanala; asi'--coming; bhattacarya brahmane--the brahmana known as Balabhadra Bhattacarya; pathana--sending; bolaila--called for; nija-bhakta-gane--His own personal associates.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived at a place known as Atharanala near Jagannatha Puri, He sent Balabhadra Bhattacarya to call for His devotees.
TEXT 225
TEXT
suniya bhaktera gana yena punarapi jila
dehe prana aile, yena indriya uthila
SYNONYMS
suniya--hearing; bhaktera gana--the hordes of devotees at Jagannatha Puri; yena--as if; punarapi--again; jila--became alive; dehe--in the body; prana aile--consciousness returned; yena--as if; indriya--senses; uthila--became agitated.
TRANSLATION
Hearing news of the Lord's arrival from Balabhadra Bhattacarya, hordes of devotees became so happy that they seemed to be getting their lives back. It was as though their consciousness had returned to their bodies. Their senses also became agitated.
TEXT 226
TEXT
anande vihvala bhakta-gana dhana aila
narendre asiya sabe prabhure milila
SYNONYMS
anande--in great pleasure; vihvala--overwhelmed; bhakta-gana--all the devotees; dhana aila--very hastily came; narendre asiya--coming to the shore of Narendra Lake; sabe--all of them; prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; milila--met.
TRANSLATION
Being overwhelmed with great pleasure, all the devotees hastily went to see the Lord. They met Him on the banks of Narendra-sarovara, the celebrated lake.
TEXT 227
TEXT
puri-bharatira prabhu vandilena carana
donhe mahaprabhure kaila prema-alingana
SYNONYMS
puri--Paramananda Puri; bharatira--and of Brahmananda Bharati; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vandilena carana--worshiped the feet; donhe--both the elderly sannyasis; mahaprabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila--did; prema-alingana--embracing in love.
TRANSLATION
When Paramananda Puri and Brahmananda Bharati met Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord offered them His respectful obeisances due to their being Godbrothers of His spiritual master. They both then embraced Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in love and affection.
TEXT 228
TEXT
damodara-svarupa, pandita-gadadhara
jagadananda, kasisvara, govinda, vakresvara
SYNONYMS
damodara-svarupa--Svarupa Damodara; pandita-gadadhara--Gadadhara, the learned scholar; jagadananda--Jagadananda; kasisvara--Kasisvara; govinda--Govinda; vakresvara--Vakresvara.
TRANSLATION
Devotees like Svarupa Damodara, Gadadhara Pandita, Jagadananda, Kasisvara, Govinda and Vakresvara all came to meet the Lord.
TEXT 229
TEXT
kasi-misra, pradyumna-misra, pandita-damodara
haridasa-thakura, ara pandita-sankara
SYNONYMS
kasi-misra--Kasi Misra; pradyumna-misra--Pradyumna Misra; pandita-damodara--Damodara Pandita; haridasa-thakura--Haridasa Thakura; ara--and; pandita-sankara--Sankara Pandita.
TRANSLATION
Kasi Misra, Pradyumna Misra, Damodara Pandita, Haridasa Thakura and Sankara Pandita also came there to meet the Lord.
TEXT 230
TEXT
ara saba bhakta prabhura carane padila
saba alingiya prabhu premavista haila
SYNONYMS
ara saba bhakta--all the other devotees; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carane padila--fell down at the lotus feet; saba alingiya--embracing all of them; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prema-avista--overwhelmed in ecstatic love and emotion; haila--became.
TRANSLATION
All the other devotees also came and fell down at the Lord's lotus feet. In return, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced them all with great ecstatic love.
TEXT 231
TEXT
ananda-samudre bhase saba bhakta-gane
saba lana cale prabhu jagannatha-darasane
SYNONYMS
ananda-samudre--in the ocean of transcendental bliss; bhase--float; saba bhakta-gane--all the devotees; saba lana--taking all of them; cale--goes; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jagannatha-darasane--to see the Jagannatha Deity in the temple.
TRANSLATION
Thus they all merged in the ocean of transcendental bliss. Then the Lord and all His devotees proceeded toward the temple of Jagannatha to see the Deity.
TEXT 232
TEXT
jagannatha dekhi' prabhu premavista haila
bhakta-sange bahu-ksana nrtya-gita kaila
SYNONYMS
jagannatha dekhi'--seeing Lord Jagannatha; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prema-avista haila--became overwhelmed with love and affection; bhakta-sange--in the society of the devotees; bahu-ksana--for a long time; nrtya-gita kaila--chanted and danced.
TRANSLATION
As soon as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw Lord Jagannatha in the temple, He was immediately overwhelmed with love and affection. He chanted and danced with His devotees for a long time.
TEXT 233
TEXT
jagannatha-sevaka ani' mala-prasada dila
tulasi padicha asi' carana vandila
SYNONYMS
jagannatha-sevaka--the priests who were servitors of Lord Jagannatha; ani'--bringing; mala-prasada dila--distributed flower garlands and prasada; tulasi padicha--the temple servant known as Tulasi; asi'--coming; carana vandila--worshiped the lotus feet of the Lord.
TRANSLATION
The priests immediately brought them flower garlands and prasada. The temple's watchman, who was named Tulasi, also came and offered his obeisances to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 234
TEXT
'mahaprabhu aila'--grame kolahala haila
sarvabhauma, ramananda, vaninatha milila
SYNONYMS
mahaprabhu aila--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has arrived; grame--in the town; kolahala haila--there was spreading of the news; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma; ramananda--Ramananda; vaninatha--Vaninatha; milila--came and met Him.
TRANSLATION
When the news spread that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had arrived at Jagannatha Puri, devotees like Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Ramananda Raya and Vaninatha Raya all came to meet Him.
TEXT 235
TEXT
saba sange lana prabhu misra-vasa aila
sarvabhauma, pandita-gosani nimantrana kaila
SYNONYMS
saba sange lana--taking all of them; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; misra-vasa aila--came to Kasi Misra's house; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; pandita-gosani--Gadadhara Pandita; nimantrana kaila--invited the Lord to take prasada.
TRANSLATION
The Lord and all His devotees then went to the residence of Kasi Misra. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and Pandita Gosani also invited the Lord to dine at their homes.
TEXT 236
TEXT
prabhu kahe,--"maha-prasada ana' ei sthane
saba-sange ihan aji karimu bhojane"
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; maha-prasada ana'--bring maha-prasada; ei sthane--to this place; saba-sange--with all; ihan--here; aji--today; karimu bhojane--I shall dine.
TRANSLATION
Accepting their invitation, the Lord asked them to bring all the prasada there so that He could eat it with His devotees.
TEXT 237
TEXT
tabe dunhe jagannatha-prasada anila
saba-sange mahaprabhu bhojana karila
SYNONYMS
tabe--then; dunhe--both Sarvabhauma and Pandita Gosani; jagannatha-prasada anila--brought the maha-prasada of Jagannatha; saba-sange--with all of them; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhojana karila--dined.
TRANSLATION
Upon receiving Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's order, both Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and Pandita Gosani brought sufficient prasada from the temple of Jagannatha. The Lord then dined with everyone at His own place.
TEXT 238
TEXT
ei ta' kahilun,--prabhu dekhi' vrndavana
punah karilena yaiche niladri gamana
SYNONYMS
ei ta' kahilun--thus I have described; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhi' vrndavana--after visiting Vrndavana; punah--again; karilena--did; yaiche--as; niladri gamana--coming back to Jagannatha Puri.
TRANSLATION
Thus I have described how Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to Jagannatha Puri from Vrndavana.
TEXT 239
TEXT
iha yei sraddha kari' karaye sravana
acirat paya sei caitanya-carana
SYNONYMS
iha--this; yei--anyone who; sraddha kari'--with faith and love; karaye sravana--hears; acirat--very soon; paya--gets; sei--he; caitanya-carana--the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
Whoever hears Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes with faith and love very soon attains shelter at the Lord's lotus feet.
TEXT 240
TEXT
madhya-lilara karilun ei dig-darasana
chaya vatsara kaila yaiche gamanagamana
SYNONYMS
madhya-lilara--of this division, known as Madhya-lila; karilun--I have done; ei dik-darasana--this summary inspection; chaya vatsara--continuously for six years; kaila--performed; yaiche--just as; gamana-agamana--going and coming back.
TRANSLATION
I have thus given a summary of the Madhya-lila, which is a special description of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's travels to and from Jagannatha Puri. Indeed, the Lord traveled to and fro continuously for six years.
TEXT 241
TEXT
sesa astadasa vatsara nilacale vasa
bhakta-gana-sange kare kirtana-vilasa
SYNONYMS
sesa astadasa vatsara--the remaining eighteen years; nilacale vasa--residence at Jagannatha Puri; bhakta-gana-sange--with devotees; kare--performs; kirtana-vilasa--the pastimes of chanting the Hare Krsna mantra.
TRANSLATION
After taking sannyasa at the age of twenty-four, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu lived another twenty-four years. For six of these years, He traveled extensively throughout India, sometimes going to Jagannatha Puri and sometimes leaving. After traveling for six years, the Lord fixed His residence at Jagannatha Puri and stayed there for the eighteen remaining years of His life. During these eighteen years He mainly chanted Hare Krsna with His devotees.
TEXT 242
TEXT
madhya-lilara krama ebe kari anuvada
anuvada kaile haya kathara asvada
SYNONYMS
madhya-lilara krama--a chronological list of the pastimes described in the Madhya-lila of Caitanya-caritamrta; ebe--now; kari--I may do; anuvada--assessment; anuvada kaile--by assessing in that way; haya--there is; kathara asvada--tasting of all the topics.
TRANSLATION
I shall now chronologically reassess the chapters of Madhya-lila so that one can relish the transcendental features of these topics.
TEXT 243
TEXT
prathama paricchede--sesa-lilara sutra-gana
tathi-madhye kona bhagera vistara varnana
SYNONYMS
prathama paricchede--in the First Chapter; sesa-lilara sutra-gana--the codes of the Antya-lila, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes at the end; tathi-madhye--within that; kona bhagera--of some portion of the book; vistara varnana--a vivid description.
TRANSLATION
In the First Chapter I have given a synopsis of the last pastimes [Antya-lila]. Within this chapter is a vivid description of some of the pastimes of the Lord that took place toward the end of His life.
TEXT 244
TEXT
dvitiya paricchede--prabhura pralapa-varnana
tathi-madhye nana-bhavera dig-darasana
SYNONYMS
dvitiya paricchede--in the Second Chapter; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; pralapa-varnana--a description of His behaving like a crazy man; tathi-madhye--within that; nana-bhavera--of different emotional ecstasies; dik-darasana--indication.
TRANSLATION
In the Second Chapter I have described Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's talking like a crazy man. Within this chapter it is indicated how Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu manifested His different emotional moods.
TEXT 245
TEXT
trtiya paricchede--prabhura kahilun sannyasa
acaryera ghare yaiche karila vilasa
SYNONYMS
trtiya paricchede--in the Third Chapter; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahilun--I have described; sannyasa--acceptance of the renounced order of life; acaryera ghare--at the house of Advaita Acarya; yaiche--how; karila vilasa--enjoyed His pastimes.
TRANSLATION
In the Third Chapter I have described the Lord's acceptance of the renounced order and how He enjoyed His pastimes in the house of Advaita Acarya.
TEXT 246
TEXT
caturthe--madhava purira caritra-asvadana
gopala sthapana, ksira-curira varnana
SYNONYMS
caturthe--in the Fourth Chapter; madhava purira--of Madhavendra Puri; caritra-asvadana--relishing the characteristics; gopala sthapana--the installation of Gopala; ksira-curira varnana--a description of Gopinatha's stealing condensed milk at Remuna.
TRANSLATION
In the Fourth Chapter I have described Madhavendra Puri's installation of the Gopala Deity as well as Gopinatha's stealing a pot of condensed milk at Remuna.
TEXT 247
TEXT
pancame--saksi-gopala-caritra-varnana
nityananda kahe, prabhu karena asvadana
SYNONYMS
pancame--in the Fifth Chapter; saksi-gopala--Saksi-gopala; caritra-varnana--a description of the characteristics; nityananda kahe--Lord Nityananda described this; prabhu--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karena asvadana--tasted it.
TRANSLATION
In the Fifth Chapter I have narrated the story of Saksi-gopala. Lord Nityananda Prabhu narrated this while Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu listened.
TEXT 248
TEXT
sasthe--sarvabhaumera karila uddhara
saptame--tirtha-yatra, vasudeva nistara
SYNONYMS
sasthe--in the Sixth Chapter; sarvabhaumera--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; karila uddhara--the Lord delivered; saptame--in the Seventh Chapter; tirtha-yatra--going to different holy places; vasudeva nistara--delivering Vasudeva.
TRANSLATION
In the Sixth Chapter I have told how Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was delivered, and in the Seventh Chapter I have described the Lord's tour of different holy places and His deliverance of Vasudeva.
TEXT 249
TEXT
astame--ramananda-samvada vistara
apane sunila 'sarva-siddhantera sara'
SYNONYMS
astame--in the Eighth Chapter; ramananda-samvada vistara--an elaborate discussion with Sri Ramananda Raya; apane--personally; sunila--listened; sarva--all; siddhantera--of conclusions; sara--the essence.
TRANSLATION
In the Eighth Chapter I have recorded the Lord's elaborate discussion with Ramananda Raya. The Lord personally listened as Ramananda gave the conclusive essence of all Vedic literatures.
TEXT 250
TEXT
navame--kahilun daksina-tirtha-bhramana
dasame--kahilun sarva-vaisnava-milana
SYNONYMS
navame--in the Ninth Chapter; kahilun--I have described; daksina-tirtha-bhramana--going on pilgrimage in South India; dasame--in the Tenth Chapter; kahilun--I have described; sarva-vaisnava-milana--meeting of all kinds of devotees.
TRANSLATION
In the Ninth Chapter I have described the Lord's tour of South India and the different places of pilgrimage. In the Tenth Chapter I have described the meeting of all the devotees of the Lord.
TEXT 251
TEXT
ekadase--sri-mandire 'beda-sankirtana'
dvadase--gundica-mandira-marjana-ksalana
SYNONYMS
ekadase--in the Eleventh Chapter; sri-mandire--in the Jagannatha temple; beda-sankirtana--chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra all around; dvadase--in the Twelfth Chapter; gundica-mandira--of the temple known as Gundica; marjana-ksalana--cleansing and washing.
TRANSLATION
In the Eleventh Chapter I have described the great chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra that surrounded the Lord. In the Twelfth Chapter I have given a narration of the cleansing and washing of the Gundica temple.
TEXT 252
TEXT
trayodase--ratha-age prabhura nartana
caturdase--'hera-pancami'-yatra-darasana
SYNONYMS
trayodase--in the Thirteenth Chapter; ratha-age--in front of the Jagannatha Ratha; prabhura nartana--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's dancing; caturdase--in the Fourteenth Chapter; hera-pancami--Hera-pancami, which takes place on the fifth day of Ratha-yatra; yatra--festival; darasana--visiting.
TRANSLATION
In the Thirteenth Chapter I have described Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's dancing before the chariot of Jagannatha. In the Fourteenth Chapter, there is an account of the Hera-pancami function.
TEXT 253
TEXT
tara madhye vraja-devira bhavera sravana
svarupa kahila, prabhu kaila asvadana
SYNONYMS
tara madhye--in that; vraja-devira--of the gopis; bhavera--of ecstatic emotion; sravana--hearing; svarupa kahila--Svarupa Damodara Gosvami described; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila asvadana--personally tasted.
TRANSLATION
Also in the Fourteenth Chapter the emotional ecstasy of the gopis was described by Svarupa Damodara and tasted by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 254
TEXT
pancadase--bhaktera guna sri-mukhe kahila
sarvabhauma-ghare bhiksa, amogha tarila
SYNONYMS
pancadase--in the Fifteenth Chapter; bhaktera--of the devotees; guna--qualities; sri-mukhe kahila--Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally described; sarvabhauma-ghare--at the house of Sarvabhauma; bhiksa--accepting lunch; amogha tarila--He delivered Amogha.
TRANSLATION
In the Fifteenth Chapter Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu highly praised the qualities of His devotees and accepted lunch at the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. At that time, He delivered Amogha.
TEXT 255
TEXT
sodase--vrndavana-yatra gauda-desa-pathe
punah nilacale aila, natasala haite
SYNONYMS
sodase--in the Sixteenth Chapter; vrndavana-yatra--departure for visiting Vrndavana; gauda-desa-pathe--on the way through the province of Bengal; punah--again; nilacale aila--came back to Jagannatha Puri; natasala haite--from Kanai Natasala.
TRANSLATION
In the Sixteenth Chapter Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu departed for Vrndavana and journeyed through Bengal. He later returned to Jagannatha Puri from Kanai Natasala.
TEXT 256
TEXT
saptadase--vanapathe mathura-gamana
astadase--vrndavana-vihara-varnana
SYNONYMS
saptadase--in the Seventeenth Chapter; vana-pathe--through the forest path; mathura-gamana--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's going to Mathura; astadase--in the Eighteenth Chapter; vrndavana-vihara-varnana--description of His touring the forest of Vrndavana.
TRANSLATION
In the Seventeenth Chapter I have described the Lord's journey through the great forest of Jharikhanda and His arrival at Mathura. In the Eighteenth Chapter there is a description of His tour of the forest of Vrndavana.
TEXT 257
TEXT
unavimse--mathura haite prayaga-gamana
tara madhye sri-rupere sakti-sancarana
SYNONYMS
unavimse--in the Nineteenth Chapter; mathura haite--from Mathura; prayaga-gamana--going to Prayaga; tara madhye--within that; sri-rupere--Sri Rupa Gosvami; sakti-sancarana--empowering to spread devotional service.
TRANSLATION
In the Nineteenth Chapter, the Lord returned to Prayaga from Mathura and empowered Sri Rupa Gosvami to spread devotional service.
TEXT 258
TEXT
vimsati paricchede--sanatanera milana
tara madhye bhagavanera svarupa-varnana
SYNONYMS
vimsati paricchede--in the Twentieth Chapter; sanatanera milana--meeting with Sanatana Gosvami; tara madhye--within that; bhagavanera--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; svarupa-varnana--description of personal features.
TRANSLATION
In the Twentieth Chapter the Lord's meeting with Sanatana is described. The Lord described the personal features of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in depth.
TEXT 259
TEXT
ekavimse--krsnaisvarya-madhurya varnana
dvavimse--dvividha sadhana-bhaktira vivarana
SYNONYMS
eka-vimse--in the Twenty-first Chapter; krsna-aisvarya--of the opulence of Krsna; madhurya--of the pleasing beauty; varnana--description; dva-vimse--in the Twenty-second Chapter; dvi-vidha--twofold; sadhana-bhaktira--of the discharge of devotional service; vivarana--description.
TRANSLATION
In the Twenty-first Chapter there is a description of Krsna's beauty and opulence, and in the Twenty-second Chapter there is a description of the twofold discharge of devotional service.
TEXT 260
TEXT
trayovimse--prema-bhakti-rasera kathana
caturvimse--'atmaramah'-slokartha varnana
SYNONYMS
trayah-vimse--in the Twenty-third Chapter; prema-bhakti--of ecstatic love of Godhead; rasera--of the mellow; kathana--narration; catuh-vimse--in the Twenty-fourth Chapter; atmaramah--known as atmarama; sloka-artha--the meaning of the verse; varnana--description.
TRANSLATION
In the Twenty-third Chapter there is a description of the mellows of transcendental loving service, and in the Twenty-fourth Chapter the Lord analyzes the atmarama verse.
TEXT 261
TEXT
pancavimse--kasi-vasire vaisnava-karana
kasi haite punah nilacale agamana
SYNONYMS
panca-vimse--in the Twenty-fifth Chapter; kasi-vasire--the residents of Varanasi (Kasi); vaisnava-karana--making Vaisnavas; kasi haite--from Kasi; punah--again; nilacale agamana--coming back to Jagannatha Puri (Nilacala).
TRANSLATION
In the Twenty-fifth Chapter there is a description of how the residents of Varanasi were converted to Vaisnavism. The Lord also returned to Nilacala [Jagannatha Puri] from Varanasi.
TEXT 262
TEXT
pancavimsati paricchede ei kailun anuvada
yahara sravane haya granthartha-asvada
SYNONYMS
panca-vimsati paricchede--in the Twenty-fifth Chapter; ei--this; kailun anuvada--I have made repetition; yahara sravane--hearing which; haya--there is; grantha-artha-asvada--understanding of the whole contents of the book.
TRANSLATION
I have thus summarized these pastimes in the Twenty-fifth Chapter. Hearing this, one can understand the whole purport of this scripture.
TEXT 263
TEXT
sanksepe kahilun ei madhya-lilara sara
koti-granthe varnana na yaya ihara vistara
SYNONYMS
sanksepe--in brief; kahilun--I have described; ei--this; madhya-lilara sara--essence of Madhya-lila; koti-granthe--in millions of books; varnana--description; na yaya--is not possible; ihara vistara--elaborately.
TRANSLATION
I have now summarized the entire subject matter of the Madhya-lila. These pastimes cannot be described elaborately even in millions of books.
TEXT 264
TEXT
jiva nistarite prabhu bhramila dese-dese
apane asvadi' bhakti karila prakase
SYNONYMS
jiva nistarite--to deliver all the fallen souls; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhramila--traveled; dese-dese--in various countries; apane--personally; asvadi'--tasting; bhakti--devotional service; karila--did; prakase--broadcasting.
TRANSLATION
To deliver all fallen souls, the Lord traveled from country to country. He personally tasted the transcendental pleasure of devotional service, and He simultaneously spread the cult of devotion everywhere.
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally traveled to different regions of India to spread the bhakti cult throughout the country. He also personally relished transcendental activities. By His personal behavior He has given an example for devotees to follow. That is, one should broadcast the cult of devotional service. He specifically instructed His devotees to enjoin all Indians to broadcast this message throughout the world because at that time the Lord could not personally travel to other parts of the world. In this regard, He has left two instructions:
bharata-bhumite haila manusya-janma yara
janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara
"All Indians should seriously take up the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and should perfect their lives by adopting the process of devotional service. After perfecting their lives, they should broadcast this message all over the world for the welfare of all human beings (para-upakara)." (Cc. Adi 9.41) A Vaisnava is especially interested in para-upakara, doing good to others. Prahlada Maharaja was also interested in this. He did not want to be delivered alone; rather, he wanted to deliver all fallen souls, who are bereft of knowledge of bhakti and who misuse their intelligence for the temporary benefit of the material body. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also wanted His mission spread all over the world.
prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama
"In every town and village, the chanting of My name will be heard."
Following in His footsteps, we are trying to broadcast His message throughout the world. By His mercy, people are taking this movement very seriously. Indeed, our books are extensively distributed in the Western countries, especially in America and Europe. Even the ecclesiastical orders in these countries are appreciating the value of this Krsna consciousness movement and are ready to unite for the highest benefit of human society. The followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu may therefore take this movement seriously and broadcast it throughout the world, from village to village and from town to town, just as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself did.
TEXT 265
TEXT
krsna-tattva, bhakti-tattva, prema-tattva sara
bhava-tattva, rasa-tattva, lila-tattva ara
SYNONYMS
krsna-tattva--the truth of Krsna; bhakti-tattva--the truth of devotional service; prema-tattva--the truth of ecstatic love of Godhead; sara--the essence; bhava-tattva--the emotional truth; rasa-tattva--the truth of transcendental mellow; lila-tattva--the truth of pastimes of the Lord; ara--also.
TRANSLATION
Krsna consciousness means understanding the truth of Krsna, the truth of devotional service, the truth of love of Godhead, the truth of emotional ecstasy, the truth of transcendental mellow and the truth of the pastimes of the Lord.
TEXT 266
TEXT
sri-bhagavata-tattva-rasa karila pracare
krsna-tulya bhagavata, janaila samsare
SYNONYMS
sri-bhagavata-tattva-rasa--the truth and transcendental taste of Srimad-Bhagavatam; karila pracare--Caitanya Mahaprabhu preached elaborately; krsna-tulya--identical with Krsna; bhagavata--Srimad-Bhagavatam; janaila samsare--has preached within this world.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has personally preached the transcendental truths and mellows of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Supreme Personality of Godhead are identical, for Srimad-Bhagavatam is the sound incarnation of Sri Krsna.
TEXT 267
TEXT
bhakta lagi' vistarila apana-vadane
kahan bhakta-mukhe kahai sunila apane
SYNONYMS
bhakta lagi'--especially for the purpose of His devotees; vistarila--expansively described; apana-vadane--personally, with His own mouth; kahan--sometimes; bhakta-mukhe--through the mouth of His devotees; kahai--making describe; sunila apane--listened Himself.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu broadcast the purpose of Srimad-Bhagavatam. He sometimes spoke for the benefit of His devotees and sometimes empowered one of His devotees to speak while He listened.
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as an ideal teacher, or acarya, explained Srimad-Bhagavatam very elaborately Himself. He sometimes also empowered His devotees to speak while He listened. This is the way an acarya should train His disciples. Not only should he describe the bhagavata cult personally, but he should also train his disciples to speak on this sublime subject.
TEXT 268
TEXT
sri-caitanya-sama ara krpalu vadanya
bhakta-vatsala na dekhi trijagate anya
SYNONYMS
sri-caitanya-sama--equal to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ara--anyone else; krpalu--merciful; vadanya--magnanimous; bhakta-vatsala--very kind to the devotees; na dekhi--I do not see; tri-jagate--in these three worlds; anya--anyone else.
TRANSLATION
All sane men within these three worlds certainly accept the conclusion that no one is more merciful and magnanimous than Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and that no one is as kind to His devotees.
TEXT 269
TEXT
sraddha kari' ei lila suna, bhakta-gana
ihara prasade paiba caitanya-carana
SYNONYMS
sraddha kari'--having faith and love; ei lila--these pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; suna--hear; bhakta-gana--O devotees; ihara prasade--by the grace of this transcendental hearing; paiba--you will get; caitanya-carana--the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
All devotees should hear about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes with faith and love. By the grace of the Lord, one can thus attain shelter at His lotus feet.
TEXT 270
TEXT
ihara prasade paiba krsna-tattva-sara
sarva-sastra-siddhantera ihan paiba para
SYNONYMS
ihara prasade--by hearing these teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; paiba--you will get; krsna-tattva-sara--the essence of the truth of Krsna; sarva-sastra--of all revealed scriptures; siddhantera--of conclusions; ihan--here; paiba--you will get; para--the ultimate limit.
TRANSLATION
By understanding the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, one can understand the truth about Krsna. By understanding Krsna, one can understand the limit of all knowledge described in various revealed scriptures.
PURPORT
As stated in Bhagavad-gita (7.3):
manusyanam sahasresu
kascid yatati siddhaye
yatatam api siddhanam
kascin mam vetti tattvatah
"Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth."
It is very difficult to understand Krsna, but if one tries to understand Srimad-Bhagavatam through Caitanya Mahaprabhu's bhakti cult, one will undoubtedly understand Krsna very easily. If somehow or other one understands Krsna, his life will be successful. Again, as stated in Bhagavad-gita (4.9):
janma karma ca me divyam
evam yo vetti tattvatah
tyaktva deham punar janma
naiti mam eti so 'rjuna
"One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna."
TEXT 271
TEXT
krsna-lila amrta-sara, tara sata sata dhara,
dasa-dike vahe yaha haite
se caitanya-lila haya, sarovara aksaya,
mano-hamsa caraha' tahate
SYNONYMS
krsna-lila amrta-sara--the pastimes of Lord Krsna are the essence of all eternal bliss; tara sata sata dhara--the flow of that eternal bliss is running in hundreds of branches; dasa-dike--in all the ten directions; vahe--flows; yaha haite--from which; se--those; caitanya-lila--pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; haya--are; sarovara aksaya--a transcendental eternal lake; manah-hamsa--my mind, which is like a swan; caraha'--please wander; tahate--in that lake.
TRANSLATION
The pastimes of Lord Krsna are the essence of all nectar. They flow in hundreds of rivulets and in all directions. The pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are an eternal reservoir, and one is advised to let his mind swim like a swan on this transcendental lake.
PURPORT
The essence of spiritual knowledge is found in the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, which are identical with the pastimes of Lord Krsna. This is the essence of knowledge. If knowledge does not include the understanding of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Krsna, it is simply superfluous. By Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's grace, the nectar of Lord Sri Krsna's pastimes is flowing in different directions in hundreds and thousands of rivers. One should not think that the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are different from Krsna's pastimes. It is said: sri-krsna-caitanya, radha-krsna nahe anya. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is a combination of Radha-Krsna, and without understanding His pastimes, one cannot understand Radha and Krsna. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura therefore sings: rupa-raghunatha-pade haibe akuti. kabe hama bujhaba se yugala piriti. "When shall I become very eager to study the books left by the six Gosvamis? Then I shall be able to understand the conjugal pastimes of Radha and Krsna." Caitanya Mahaprabhu directly empowered Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami. Following in their footsteps, the other six Gosvamis understood Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His mission. One should understand Sri Krsna Caitanya and Lord Sri Krsna from the Gosvamis in the parampara system. This Krsna consciousness movement is following as strictly as possible in the footsteps of the Gosvamis. Narottama dasa Thakura says, ei chaya gosani yara, mui tara dasa: "I am the servant of the six Gosvamis." The philosophy of Krsna consciousness is to become the servant of the servant of the servant of the Lord. Whoever wants to understand the difficult subject matter of krsna-katha should accept the disciplic succession. If one is somehow or other able to understand Krsna, his life will be successful. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so 'rjuna. A perfect devotee is able to understand Krsna through the disciplic succession, and his entrance into the kingdom of God is thereby certainly opened. When one understands Krsna, there is no difficulty in transferring oneself to the spiritual kingdom.
TEXT 272
TEXT
bhakta-gana, suna mora dainya-vacana
toma-sabara pada-dhuli, ange vibhusana kari',
kichu muni karon nivedana
SYNONYMS
bhakta-gana--O devotees; suna--please hear; mora--my; dainya-vacana--humble submission; toma-sabara--of all of you; pada-dhuli--the dust of the feet; ange--on my body; vibhusana kari'--taking as ornaments; kichu--something; muni--I; karon nivedana--wish to submit.
TRANSLATION
With all humility, I submit myself to the lotus feet of all of you devotees, taking the dust from your feet as my bodily ornaments. Now, my dear devotees, please hear one thing more from me.
TEXT 273
TEXT
krsna-bhakti-siddhanta-gana, yate praphulla padma-vana,
tara madhu kari' asvadana
prema-rasa-kumuda-vane, praphullita ratri-dine,
tate carao mano-bhrnga-gana
SYNONYMS
krsna-bhakti-siddhanta-gana--the conclusive understanding of devotional service to Krsna; yate--by which; praphulla--enlivened; padma-vana--the forest of lotus flowers; tara madhu--the honey collected from those lotus flowers; kari' asvadana--relishing; prema-rasa--of transcendental love of Krsna; kumuda-vane--in the forest of kumuda flowers (a type of lotus); praphullita--being jubilant; ratri-dine--day and night; tate--in that forest of lotus flowers; carao--make wander; manah-bhrnga-gana--the bumblebees of your minds.
TRANSLATION
Devotional service to Krsna is exactly like a pleasing, jubilant forest of lotus flowers wherein there is ample honey. I request everyone to taste this honey. If all the mental speculators bring the bees of their minds into this forest of lotus flowers and jubilantly enjoy ecstatic love of Krsna day and night, their mental speculation will be completely transcendentally satisfied.
TEXT 274
TEXT
nana-bhavera bhakta-jana, hamsa-cakravaka-gana,
yate sabe' karena vihara
krsna-keli sumrnala, yaha pai sarva-kala,
bhakta-hamsa karaye ahara
SYNONYMS
nana-bhavera bhakta-jana--devotees relishing relationships with Krsna in different ecstasies; hamsa-cakravaka-gana--compared to swans and cakravaka birds; yate--in that place; sabe'--all; karena vihara--enjoy life; krsna-keli--the pastimes of Krsna; su-mrnala--sweet buds; yaha pai--which one can get; sarva-kala--eternally; bhakta-hamsa--the devotees, who are just like swans; karaye--do; ahara--eating.
TRANSLATION
The devotees who have a relationship with Krsna are like the swans and cakravaka birds that play in the forest of lotus flowers. The buds of those lotus flowers are the pastimes of Krsna, and they are edibles for the swanlike devotees. Lord Sri Krsna is always engaged in His transcendental pastimes; therefore the devotees, following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, can always eat those lotus buds, for they are the pastimes of the Lord.
TEXT 275
TEXT
sei sarovare giya, hamsa-cakravaka hana,
sada tahan karaha vilasa
khandibe sakala duhkha, paiba parama sukha,
anayase habe premollasa
SYNONYMS
sei sarovare giya--going to that lake where the clusters of lotus flowers exist; hamsa-cakravaka hana--becoming swans or cakravaka birds; sada--always; tahan--there; karaha vilasa--enjoy life; khandibe--will be diminished; sakala duhkha--all material anxieties and miseries; paiba--you will get; parama sukha--the highest happiness; anayase--very easily; habe--there will be; prema-ullasa--jubilation in love of God.
TRANSLATION
All the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu should go to that lake and, remaining always under the shelter of the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, become swans and cakravaka birds in those celestial waters. They should go on rendering service to Lord Sri Krsna and enjoy life perpetually. In this way all miseries will be diminished, the devotees will attain great happiness, and there will be jubilant love of God.
TEXT 276
TEXT
ei amrta anuksana, sadhu mahanta-megha-gana,
visvodyane kare varisana
tate phale amrta-phala, bhakta khaya nirantara,
tara sese jiye jaga-jana
SYNONYMS
ei amrta--this nectar; anuksana--continuously; sadhu mahanta-megha-gana--pure devotees and saintly persons, who are compared to clouds; visva-udyane--in the garden of the universe; kare varisana--rain down these nectarean pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Sri Krsna; tate--because of that; phale--grows; amrta-phala--the fruit of nectar; bhakta khaya nirantara--and the devotees eat such fruit continuously; tara sese--after their eating; jiye jaga-jana--the living entities all over the world live peacefully.
TRANSLATION
The devotees who have taken shelter of the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu take the responsibility for distributing nectarean devotional service all over the world. They are like clouds pouring water on the ground that nourishes the fruit of love of Godhead in this world. The devotees eat that fruit to their hearts' content, and whatever remnants they leave are eaten by the general populace. Thus they live happily.
TEXT 277
TEXT
caitanya-lila--amrta-pura, krsna-lila--sukarpura,
duhe mili' haya sumadhurya
sadhu-guru-prasade, taha yei asvade,
sei jane madhurya-pracurya
SYNONYMS
caitanya-lila amrta-pura--the pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are full of nectar; krsna-lila su-karpura--the pastimes of Lord Krsna are exactly like camphor; duhe mili'--the two meeting; haya--become; su-madhurya--very, very palatable; sadhu-guru-prasade--by the mercy of saintly persons and devotees in the transcendental position; taha--that; yei--anyone who; asvade--relishes this palatable nectar; sei jane--he can understand; madhurya-pracurya--the extensive quantity of sweetness in devotional service.
TRANSLATION
The pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are full of nectar, and the pastimes of Lord Krsna are like camphor. When one mixes these, they taste very sweet. By the mercy of the pure devotees, whoever tastes them can understand the depths of that sweetness.
TEXT 278
TEXT
ye lila-amrta vine, khaya yadi anna-pane,
tabe bhaktera durbala jivana
yara eka-bindu-pane, utphullita tanu-mane,
hase, gaya, karaye nartana
SYNONYMS
ye--he who; lila--of the pastimes of Lord Krsna and Caitanya Mahaprabhu; amrta vine--without nectar; khaya yadi anna-pane--if one eats only ordinary food grains; tabe--then; bhaktera--of the devotees; durbala jivana--life becomes weakened; yara--of which; eka-bindu-pane--if one drinks one drop; utphullita tanu-mane--the body and mind become jubilant; hase--laughs; gaya--chants; karaye nartana--dances.
TRANSLATION
Men become strong and stout by eating sufficient grains, but the devotee who simply eats ordinary grains but does not taste the transcendental pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Krsna gradually becomes weak and falls down from the transcendental position. However, if one drinks but a drop of the nectar of Krsna's pastimes, his body and mind begin to bloom, and he begins to laugh, sing and dance.
PURPORT
All the devotees connected with this Krsna consciousness movement must read all the books that have been translated (Caitanya-caritamrta, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita and others); otherwise, after some time, they will simply eat, sleep and fall down from their position. Thus they will miss the opportunity to attain an eternal, blissful life of transcendental pleasure.
TEXT 279
TEXT
e amrta kara pana, yara sama nahi ana,
citte kari' sudrdha visvasa
na pada' kutarka-garte, amedhya karkasa avarte,
yate padile haya sarva-nasa
SYNONYMS
e amrta kara pana--all of you must drink this nectar; yara sama nahi ana--there is no comparison to this nectar; citte--within the mind; kari' sudrdha visvasa--having firm faith in this conclusion; na pada' kutarka garte--do not fall down into the pit of false arguments; amedhya karkasa avarte--in the untouchable, harsh whirlpool; yate--in which; padile--if one falls down; haya sarva-nasa--the purpose of life will be spoiled.
TRANSLATION
The readers should relish this wonderful nectar because nothing compares to it. Keeping their faith firmly fixed within their minds, they should be careful not to fall into the pit of false arguments or the whirlpools of unfortunate situations. If one falls into such positions, he is finished.
TEXT 280
TEXT
sri-caitanya, nityananda, advaitadi bhakta-vrnda,
ara yata srota bhakta-gana
toma-sabara sri-carana, kari sire vibhusana,
yaha haite abhista-purana
SYNONYMS
sri-caitanya nityananda--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda; advaita-adi bhakta-vrnda--as well as the devotees like Advaita Acarya; ara--and; yata srota bhakta-gana--all the devotees who listen; toma-sabara sri-carana--the lotus feet of all of you; kari sire vibhusana--I keep on my head as a helmet; yaha haite--from which; abhista-purana--all my purposes will be served.
TRANSLATION
In conclusion, I submit to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, and all the other devotees and readers that I accept your lotus feet as the helmet on my head. In this way, all my purposes will be served.
TEXT 281
TEXT
sri-rupa-sanatana-raghunatha-jiva-carana,
sire dhari,--yara karon asa
krsna, lilamrtanvita, caitanya-caritamrta,
kahe kichu dina krsnadasa
SYNONYMS
sri-rupa-sanatana--of Srila Rupa Gosvami and of Sanatana Gosvami; raghunatha-jiva--of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami and Srila Jiva Gosvami; carana--the lotus feet; sire dhari--taking on my head; yara--of which; karon asa--I always desire; krsna-lila-amrta-anvita--mixed with the nectar of krsna-lila; caitanya-caritamrta--the pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahe--is trying to speak; kichu--something; dina--most humble; krsnadasa--Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami.
TRANSLATION
Taking the feet of Srila Rupa Gosvami, Sri Sanatana Gosvami, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami and Jiva Gosvami on my head, I always desire their mercy. Thus I, Krsnadasa, humbly try to describe the nectar of the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, which are mixed with the pastimes of Lord Krsna.
TEXT 282
TEXT
sriman-madana-gopala-
govindadeva-tustaye
caitanyarpitam astv etac
caitanya-caritamrtam
SYNONYMS
sriman-madana-gopala--of the Deity named Sriman Madana-gopala; govinda-deva--of the Deity named Govindadeva; tustaye--for the satisfaction; caitanya-arpitam--offered unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; astu--let it be; etat--this; caitanya-caritamrtam--the book known as Caitanya-caritamrta.
TRANSLATION
For the satisfaction of Sri Madana-gopala and Govindadeva, we pray that this book, Caitanya-caritamrta, may be offered to Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 283
TEXT
tad idam ati-rahasyam gaura-lilamrtam yat
khala-samudaya-kolair nadrtam tair alabhyam
ksatir iyam iha ka me svaditam yat samantat
sahrdaya-sumanobhir modam esam tanoti
SYNONYMS
tat--that (Caitanya-caritamrta); idam--this; ati-rahasyam--full of spiritual mysteries; gaura-lila-amrtam--the nectar of the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yat--which; khala-samudaya--envious rascals; kolaih--by pigs; na--never; adrtam--praised; taih--by them; alabhyam--not obtainable; ksatih iyam iha ka--what is the loss in this connection; me--of me; svaditam--tasted; yat--which; samantat--completely; sahrdaya-sumanobhih--by those who are friendly and whose minds are very clean; modam--enjoyment; esam--of them; tanoti--expands.
TRANSLATION
The Caitanya-caritamrta pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu constitute a very secret literature. It is the life and soul of all devotees. Those who are not fit to relish this literature, who are envious like hogs and pigs, will certainly not adore it. However, this will not harm my attempt. These pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will certainly please all saintly people who have clear hearts. They will certainly enjoy it. We wish that this will enhance their enjoyment more and more.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Twenty-fifth Chapter, describing how the inhabitants of Varanasi were converted to Vaisnavism.
Note:
The author of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, has condemned all his enemies by comparing them to envious hogs and pigs. This Krsna consciousness movement, which is spreading throughout the world, is being appreciated by sincere people, although they have never previously heard of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Krsna's pastimes. Now even the higher, priestly circles are appreciating this movement. They have concluded that this movement is very nice and that they have something to learn from it. Nonetheless, in India there are some people who say that they belong to this cult but who are actually very envious of the acarya. They have tried to suppress our activities in many ways, but as far as we are concerned, we follow in the footsteps of Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami and take them as envious pigs and hogs. We simply wish to present the pastimes of Lord Krsna and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to the best of our ability so that those who are really honest can cleanse their hearts. We hope that they enjoy this literature and bestow their blessings upon us. It appears that even such a great personality as Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami met with some envious obstacles; what, then, to speak of us, who are only insignificant creatures in this universe. We are simply trying to execute the orders of our spiritual master to the best of our ability.
END OF THE MADHYA-LILA
HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada