Chapter 15

   The Lord Accepts Prasada at the House of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya

 

   The following summary of this chapter is given by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. After the Ratha-yatra festival, Sri Advaita Acarya Prabhu worshiped Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with flowers and tulasi. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in return, worshiped Advaita Acarya with the flowers and tulasi that remained on the offered plate and said a mantra, yo 'si so 'si ("What You are, You are"). Then Advaita Acarya Prabhu invited Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for prasada. When Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees performed the Nandotsava ceremony, the Lord personally dressed Himself as a cowherd boy. Thus the ceremony was very jubilant. Then the Lord and His devotees observed Vijayadasami, the day of victory when Lord Ramacandra conquered Lanka. The devotees all became soldiers of Lord Ramacandra, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in the ecstasy of Hanuman, manifested various transcendentally blissful activities. Thereafter, the Lord and His devotees observed various other ceremonies.

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then asked all the devotees to return to Bengal. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sent Nityananda Prabhu to Bengal for preaching and also sent Ramadasa, Gadadhara dasa and several other devotees with Him. Then Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, with great humility, sent some Jagannatha prasada and a cloth from Lord Jagannatha to His mother through Srivasa Thakura. When the Lord bade farewell to Raghava Pandita, Vasudeva Datta, the residents of Kulinagrama and other devotees, He praised them for their transcendental qualities. Ramananda Vasu and Satyaraja Khan asked some questions, and Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed them that all householder devotees must engage themselves in the service of Vaisnavas exclusively devoted to chanting the holy name of the Lord. He also directed the Vaisnavas from Khanda, instructed Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and Vidya-vacaspati, and praised Murari Gupta for his firm faith in the lotus feet of Lord Ramacandra. Considering the humble prayer of Vasudeva Datta, He established that Lord Sri Krsna is qualified to deliver all the conditioned souls.

   Thereafter, when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was accepting prasada at the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Sarvabhauma's son-in-law, Amogha, created trouble in the family with his criticisms. The following morning, he was attacked by the disease of visucika (cholera). Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu very kindly saved him from death and enlivened him in chanting the holy name of Lord Krsna.

 

                                TEXT 1

 

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                       sarvabhauma-grhe bhunjan

                        sva-nindakam amoghakam

                       angikurvan sphutam cakre

                     gaurah svam bhakta-vasyatam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarvabhauma-grhe--at the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; bhunjan--while eating; sva-nindakam--a person who was criticizing Him; amoghakam--named Amogha; angikurvan--accepting; sphutam--manifested; cakre--made; gaurah--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; svam--His; bhakta-vasyatam--obligation to His devotees.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   While Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was accepting prasada at the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Amogha criticized Him. At that time the Lord also showed how much He was obliged to His devotees.

 

                                TEXT 2

 

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                jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda

              jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jaya jaya--all glories; sri-caitanya--to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jaya--all glories; nityananda--unto Nityananda Prabhu; jaya advaita-candra--all glories to Advaita Prabhu; jaya--all glories; gaura-bhakta-vrnda--to the devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityananda Prabhu! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!

 

                                TEXT 3

 

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               jaya sri-caitanya-caritamrta-srota-gana

               caitanya-caritamrta----yanra prana-dhana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jaya--all glories; sri-caitanya-caritamrta-srota-gana--to the listeners of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta; caitanya-caritamrta--Caitanya-caritamrta; yanra--of whom; prana-dhana--the life and soul.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All glories to the listeners of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta who have accepted it as their life and soul.

 

                                TEXT 4

 

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                 ei-mata mahaprabhu bhakta-gana-sange

                 nilacale rahi' kare nrtya-gita-range

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhakta-gana-sange--with His devotees; nilacale rahi'--staying at Nilacala, Jagannatha Puri; kare--performs; nrtya-gita-range--chanting and dancing with great pleasure.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   While Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at Jagannatha Puri, He constantly enjoyed chanting and dancing with His devotees.

 

                                TEXT 5

 

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                  prathamavasare jagannatha-darasana

               nrtya-gita kare danda-paranama, stavana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prathama-avasare--in the beginning; jagannatha-darasana--seeing the Deity of Lord Jagannatha; nrtya-gita kare--performs chanting and dancing; danda-paranama--offering obeisances; stavana--offering prayers.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In the beginning, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw the Deity of Lord Jagannatha in the temple. He offered Him obeisances and prayers and danced and sang before Him.

 

                                TEXT 6

 

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               'upala-bhoga' lagile kare bahire vijaya

                   haridasa mili' aise apana nilaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   upala-bhoga lagile--when there is an offering of food known as upala-bhoga; kare bahire vijaya--He remains outside; haridasa mili'--meeting Haridasa Thakura; aise--comes back; apana nilaya--to His residence.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After visiting the temple, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would remain outside during the upala-bhoga offering. He would then go meet Haridasa Thakura and return to His residence.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   At noon, when there was an upala-bhoga offering in a place called bhoga-vardhana-khanda, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would go outside the temple. Before going outside, He used to stand near the Garuda-stambha column and offer His obeisances and prayers. Afterwards, the Lord would visit Siddha-bakula, where Haridasa Thakura lived. After visiting with Haridasa Thakura, the Lord would return to His own place at the abode of Kasi Misra.

 

                                TEXT 7

 

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               ghare vasi' kare prabhu nama sankirtana

                  advaita asiya kare prabhura pujana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ghare vasi'--sitting in His room; kare--performs; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nama sankirtana--chanting on beads; advaita--Advaita Acarya; asiya--coming; kare--performs; prabhura pujana--worship of the Lord.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sitting in His room, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would chant on His beads, and Advaita Prabhu would come there to worship the Lord.

 

                                TEXT 8

 

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                 sugandhi-salile dena padya, acamana

              sarvange lepaye prabhura sugandhi candana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   su-gandhi-salile--with scented water; dena--offers; padya--water for washing the feet; acamana--washing the mouth; sarva-ange--all over the body; lepaye--smears; prabhura--of the Lord; su-gandhi candana--fragrant sandalwood pulp.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   While worshiping Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Advaita Acarya would offer Him scented water to wash His mouth and feet. Then Advaita Acarya would smear very fragrant sandalwood pulp all over His body.

 

                                TEXT 9

 

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                gale mala dena, mathaya tulasi-manjari

                 yoda-hate stuti kare pade namaskari'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gale--on the neck; mala--garland; dena--offers; mathaya--on the head; tulasi-manjari--flowers of tulasi; yoda-hate--with folded hands; stuti kare--offers prayers; pade--unto the lotus feet; namaskari'--offering obeisances.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Advaita Prabhu would also place a flower garland around the Lord's neck and tulasi flowers [manjaris] on His head. Then, with folded hands, Advaita Acarya would offer obeisances and prayers unto the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 10

 

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                puja-patre puspa-tulasi sesa ye achila

                  sei saba lana prabhu acarye pujila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   puja-patre--on the dish that holds flowers and tulasi; puspa-tulasi--flowers and tulasi; sesa--remaining; ye achila--whatever there were; sei saba--all of them; lana--taking; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; acarye pujila--worshiped Advaita Acarya.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After being worshiped by Advaita Acarya, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would take the dish containing flowers and tulasi and, with whatever paraphernalia remained, would also worship Advaita Acarya.

 

                               TEXT 11

 

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             "yo 'si so 'si namo 'stu te" ei mantra pade

               mukha-vadya kari' prabhu hasaya acaryere

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yah asi--whatever You are; sah asi--so You are; namah astu te--I offer My respects unto You; ei mantra pade--chants this mantra; mukha-vadya kari'--making a sound within the mouth; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; hasaya--causes to laugh; acaryere--Advaita Acarya.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would worship Advaita Acarya by chanting the mantra, "Whatever You are, You are-but I offer My respects unto You." In addition, the Lord would make some sounds within His mouth that would make Advaita Acarya laugh.

 

                               TEXT 12

 

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                   ei-mata anyonye karena namaskara

              prabhure nimantrana kare acarya bara bara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; anyonye--to one another; karena--offer; namaskara--obeisances; prabhure--unto Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nimantrana--invitation; kare--does; acarya--Advaita Acarya; bara bara--again and again.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In this way both Advaita Acarya and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would offer Their respectful obeisances unto one another. Then Advaita Acarya would extend invitations to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again and again.

 

                               TEXT 13

 

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                acaryera nimantrana----ascarya-kathana

                 vistari' varniyachena dasa-vrndavana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   acaryera nimantrana--the invitation of Advaita Acarya; ascarya-kathana--wonderful story; vistari'--very vividly; varniyachena--described; dasa-vrndavana--Vrndavana dasa Thakura.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Indeed, Sri Advaita Acarya's invitation is another wonderful story. It has been very vividly described by Vrndavana dasa Thakura.

 

                               TEXT 14

 

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                punarukti haya, taha na kailun varnana

               ara bhakta-gana kare prabhure nimantrana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   punah-ukti--reputation; haya--there is; taha--that; na--not; kailun--I have done; varnana--description; ara bhakta-gana--other devotees; kare--do; prabhure--unto Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nimantrana--invitation.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Since Advaita Acarya's invitation has been described by Vrndavana dasa Thakura, I shall not repeat the story. However, I shall say that other devotees also extended invitations to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 15

 

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              eka eka dina eka eka bhakta-grhe mahotsava

             prabhu-sange tahan bhojana kare bhakta saba

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka eka dina--each and every day; eka eka bhakta-grhe--in the house of one devotee after another; mahotsava--festival; prabhu-sange--with Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tahan--there; bhojana--lunch; kare--accept; bhakta--devotees; saba--all.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Every day one devotee after another would invite Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the other devotees to lunch and would also hold a festival.

 

                               TEXT 16

 

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                cari-masa rahila sabe mahaprabhu-sange

               jagannathera nana yatra dekhe maha-range

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   cari-masa--four months; rahila--remain; sabe--all the devotees; mahaprabhu-sange--with Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jagannathera--of Lord Jagannatha; nana yatra--many festivals; dekhe--they see; maha-range--with great pleasure.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All the devotees remained at Jagannatha Puri for four continuous months, and they observed all Lord Jagannatha's festivals with great pleasure.

 

                               TEXT 17

 

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                krsna-janma-yatra-dine nanda-mahotsava

               gopa-vesa haila prabhu lana bhakta saba

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krsna-janma-yatra--observance of the birth of Lord Krsna; dine--on the day of; nanda-mahotsava--the festival observed by Nanda Maharaja, the father of Krsna; gopa-vesa haila--dressed Himself as a cowherd boy; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; lana--taking; bhakta saba--all the devotees.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The devotees also celebrated the festival of Janmastami, Krsna's birthday, which is also called Nanda-mahotsava, the festival of Nanda Maharaja. At that time Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees dressed themselves as cowherd boys.

 

                               TEXT 18

 

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              dadhi-dugdha-bhara sabe nija-skandhe kari'

               mahotsava-sthane aila bali 'hari' 'hari'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dadhi-dugdha--of milk and yogurt; bhara--carriers; sabe--all of them; nija-skandhe--on their shoulders; kari'--keeping; mahotsava-sthane--to the place of the festival; aila--came; bali hari hari--chanting Hari, Hari.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Having dressed up like cowherd boys, all the devotees carried pots of milk and yogurt balanced on rods over their shoulders. Thus they all arrived at the festival grounds chanting the holy name of Hari.

 

                               TEXT 19

 

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              kanani-khutiya achena 'nanda'-vesa dhari'

               jagannatha-mahati hanachena 'vrajesvari'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kanani-khutiya--Kanani Khutiya; achena--is; nanda-vesa dhari'--in the dress of Nanda Maharaja; jagannatha-mahati--Jagannatha Mahati; hanachena--was; vrajesvari--mother Yasoda.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Kanani Khutiya dressed himself like Nanda Maharaja, and Jagannatha Mahati dressed himself as mother Yasoda.

 

                               TEXT 20

 

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                  apane prataparudra, ara misra-kasi

                sarvabhauma, ara padicha-patra tulasi

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   apane prataparudra--personally King Prataparudra; ara--and; misra-kasi--Kasi Misra; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; ara--and; padicha-patra tulasi--Padichapatra Tulasi, the temple superintendent.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   At that time, King Prataparudra was also personally present with Kasi Misra, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and Tulasi Padichapatra.

 

                               TEXT 21

 

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                inha-saba lana prabhu kare nrtya-ranga

             dadhi-dugdha haridra-jale bhare sabara anga

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   inha-saba lana--taking all of them; prabhu--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare nrtya-ranga--performed dancing in jubilation; dadhi--yogurt; dugdha--milk; haridra--turmeric; jale--with water; bhare--covered; sabara--of all of them; anga--bodies.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As usual, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced jubilantly. Everyone was covered with milk, yogurt and yellow turmeric water.

 

                               TEXT 22

 

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             advaita kahe,----satya kahi, na kariha kopa

                 laguda phiraite para, tabe jani gopa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   advaita kahe--Advaita Acarya says; satya kahi--I speak the truth; na kariha kopa--please do not be angry; laguda--stick, staff; phiraite para--if You can wheel around; tabe jani--then I shall understand; gopa--cowherd boy.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   It was at this time that Srila Advaita Acarya said, "Please do not be angry. I speak the truth. I shall know whether You are a cowherd boy only if You can wheel this rod about."

 

                               TEXT 23

 

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               tabe laguda lana prabhu phiraite lagila

                bara bara akase pheli' luphiya dharila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--then; laguda--rod; lana--taking; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; phiraite lagila--began to wheel it around; bara bara--again and again; akase--in the sky; pheli'--throwing; luphiya--tossing; dharila--He captured.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Accepting Advaita Acarya's challenge, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took a big rod and began to wheel it around and around. Again and again He threw the rod into the sky and caught it when it fell.

 

                               TEXT 24

 

                                 TEXT

 

               sirera upare, prsthe, sammukhe, dui-pase

           pada-madhye phiraya laguda,----dekhi' loka hase

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sirera upare--over the head; prsthe--behind the back; sammukhe--in front; dui-pase--on the two sides; pada-madhye--between the two legs; phiraya--wheels around; laguda--the rod; dekhi'--seeing; loka hase--all the people began to laugh.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wheeled and threw the rod, sometimes over His head, sometimes behind His back, sometimes in front of Him, sometimes to His side and sometimes between His legs. Indeed, all the people laughed to see this.

 

                               TEXT 25

 

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                  alata-cakrera praya laguda phiraya

                dekhi' sarva-loka-citte camatkara paya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   alata-cakrera--the circle of a firebrand; praya--like; laguda phiraya--wheels the rod; dekhi'--seeing; sarva-loka--all the people; citte--within the heart; camatkara paya--became very astonished.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu whirled the rod in a circle like a firebrand, the heart of everyone who saw it was astonished.

 

                               TEXT 26

 

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                  ei-mata nityananda phiraya laguda

              ke bujhibe tanha dunhara gopa-bhava gudha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; nityananda--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; phiraya laguda--wheels a rod; ke--who; bujhibe--will understand; tanha--there; dunhara--of both of Them; gopa-bhava--the ecstasy of the cowherd boys; gudha--very deep.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Nityananda Prabhu also played at whirling the rod. Who can understand how They were ecstatically immersed in the deep emotions of the cowherd boys?

 

                               TEXT 27

 

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                 prataparudrera ajnaya padicha-tulasi

               jagannathera prasada-vastra eka lana asi

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prataparudrera--of King Prataparudra; ajnaya--on the order; padicha-tulasi--the temple superintendent named Tulasi; jagannathera--of Lord Jagannatha; prasada-vastra--used cloth; eka--one; lana--taking; asi--came.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Following the orders of Maharaja Prataparudra, the temple superintendent named Tulasi brought one of Lord Jagannatha's used cloths.

 

                               TEXT 28

 

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              bahu-mulya vastra prabhu-mastake bandhila

                   acaryadi prabhura ganere paraila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bahu-mulya--very valuable; vastra--cloth; prabhu-mastake--on the head of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bandhila--wrapped; acarya-adi--headed by Advaita Acarya; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ganere--on the associates; paraila--put.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   This valuable cloth was wrapped around the head of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The other devotees, headed by Advaita Acarya, also had cloths wrapped about their heads.

 

                               TEXT 29

 

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               kanani-khutiya, jagannatha,----dui-jana

                 avese bilaila ghare chila yata dhana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kanani-khutiya--Kanani Khutiya; jagannatha--Jagannatha Mahati; dui-jana--two persons; avese--in ecstatic love; bilaila--distributed; ghare--at home; chila--was; yata--all; dhana--riches.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In ecstasy, Kanani Khutiya, who was dressed as Nanda Maharaja, and Jagannatha Mahati, who was dressed as mother Yasoda, distributed all the riches they had stocked at home.

 

                               TEXT 30

 

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                 dekhi' mahaprabhu bada santosa paila

                mata-pita-jnane dunhe namaskara kaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dekhi'--seeing; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bada--very much; santosa--satisfaction; paila--felt; mata-pita-jnane--accepting as father and mother; dunhe--unto both of them; namaskara kaila--offered obeisances.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was greatly satisfied to see this. Accepting them both as His father and mother, He offered them obeisances.

 

                               TEXT 31

 

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                 parama-avese prabhu aila nija-ghara

                  ei-mata lila kare gauranga-sundara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   parama-avese--in great ecstasy; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; aila--returned; nija-ghara--to His own residence; ei-mata--in this way; lila--pastimes; kare--performed; gauranga-sundara--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In great ecstasy, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to His residence. In this way, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, known as Gauranga-sundara, performed various pastimes.

 

                               TEXT 32

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 vijaya-dasami----lanka-vijayera dine

             vanara-sainya kaila prabhu lana bhakta-gane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vijaya--victory; dasami--tenth day; lanka-vijayera dine--on the day celebrating the conquering of Lanka; vanara-sainya--monkey soldiers; kaila--arranged; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; lana bhakta-gane--taking all the devotees.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   On the victory day celebrating the conquest of Lanka-a day known as Vijaya-dasami-Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu dressed up all His devotees like monkey soldiers.

 

                               TEXT 33

 

                                 TEXT

 

                hanuman-avese prabhu vrksa-sakha lana

                 lanka-gade cadi' phele gada bhangiya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hanuman-avese--in the emotion of being Hanuman; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vrksa-sakha lana--taking a large branch of a tree; lanka-gade--on the Lanka fort; cadi'--ascending; phele--breaks down; gada--the fort; bhangiya--dismantling.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Displaying the emotions of Hanuman, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took up a large tree branch, and, mounting the walls of the Lanka fort, began to dismantle it.

 

                               TEXT 34

 

                                 TEXT

 

                'kahanre ravna' prabhu kahe krodhavese

                jagan-mata hare papi, marimu savamse'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kahanre ravna--where is the rascal Ravana; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahe--says; krodha-avese--in great anger; jagat-mata--the mother of the universe; hare--kidnaps; papi--sinful; marimu--I shall kill; sa-vamse--with all his family.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In the ecstasy of Hanuman, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu angrily said, "Where is the rascal Ravana? He has kidnapped the universal mother, Sita. Now I shall kill him and all his family."

 

                               TEXT 35

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 gosanira avesa dekhi' loke camatkara

                sarva-loka jaya' jaya' bale bara bara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gosanira--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; avesa--ecstasy; dekhi'--by seeing; loke--all people; camatkara--astonished; sarva-loka--all people; jaya jaya--all glories; bale--speak; bara bara--again and again.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Everyone became very astonished to see the emotional ecstasy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and everyone began to chant, "All glories! All glories!" again and again.

 

                               TEXT 36

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   ei-mata rasa-yatra, ara dipavali

                 utthana-dvadasi-yatra dekhila sakali

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; rasa-yatra--rasa dancing of Lord Krsna; ara--and; dipa-avali--a row of lights, the day of Dipavali; utthana-dvadasi-yatra--the festival of Utthana-dvadasi; dekhila sakali--participated in all of them.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees participated in all the festivals known as Rasa-yatra, Dipavali and Utthana-dvadasi.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The Dipavali festival takes place on the dark-moon night in the month of Karttika (October-November). The Rasa-yatra, or rasa dancing of Krsna, takes place on the full-moon night of the same month. Utthana-dvadasi takes place the day after Ekadasi in the waxing fortnight of the moon in the same month. All the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu participated in all these festivals.

 

                               TEXT 37

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 eka-dina mahaprabhu nityanande lana

                 dui bhai yukti kaila nibhrte vasiya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka-dina--one day; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nityanande lana--taking Lord Nityananda Prabhu; dui bhai--two brothers; yukti kaila--consulted; nibhrte vasiya--sitting in a solitary place.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   One day the two brothers, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu, consulted one another, sitting together in a solitary place.

 

                               TEXT 38

 

                                 TEXT

 

                kiba yukti kaila dunhe, keha nahi jane

                phale anumana pache kaila bhakta-gane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kiba yukti kaila--what consultation They had; dunhe--both of Them; keha nahi jane--no one knows; phale--by the result; anumana--guess; pache--later; kaila--did; bhakta-gane--all the devotees.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   No one could understand what the brothers discussed between Themselves, but later all the devotees could guess what the subject matter was.

 

                               TEXT 39

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 tabe mahaprabhu saba bhakte bolaila

                  gauda-dese yaha sabe vidaya karila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe mahaprabhu--thereafter Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; saba--all; bhakte--the devotees; bolaila--called; gauda-dese--to Bengal; yaha--return; sabe--all of you; vidaya karila--bade farewell.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thereafter, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu called for all the devotees and asked them to return to Bengal. In this way, He bade farewell to them.

 

                               TEXT 40

 

                                 TEXT

 

               sabare kahila prabhu----pratyabda asiya

                  gundica dekhiya yabe amare miliya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sabare--to all of them; kahila--said; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prati-abda--every year; asiya--coming; gundica--the function at the Gundica temple; dekhiya--seeing; yabe--you should go; amare miliya--after meeting Me.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Bidding farewell to all the devotees, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu requested them to return to Jagannatha Puri every year to see Him and then see the cleansing of the Gundica temple.

 

                               TEXT 41

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  acaryere ajna dila kariya sammana

                'a-candala adi krsna-bhakti dio dana'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   acaryere--unto Advaita Acarya; ajna dila--ordered; kariya sammana--with great respect; a-candala--even to the lowest of men, known as the candala; adi--beginning with; krsna-bhakti--Krsna consciousness, or devotional service to Lord Krsna; dio--deliver; dana--in charity.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   With great respect, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu requested Advaita Acarya, "Give Krsna consciousness, devotion to Krsna, even to the lowest of men [candalas]."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's order to all His devotees. Krsna-bhakti, devotion to Krsna, is open to everyone, even low-class men like candalas. One should follow this order in the disciplic succession stemming from Sri Advaita and Nityananda Prabhu and distribute Krsna consciousness without discrimination throughout the world.

   There are different kinds of men, beginning with the brahmana and going down to the lowest platform known as candala. Whatever one's position, everyone in this Age of Kali needs to be enlightened in Krsna consciousness. That is the greatest need of the day. Everyone is acutely feeling the pangs of material existence. Even in the ranks and files of the American Senate, the pinpricks of material existence are felt, so much so that April 30, 1974, was actually set aside as Prayer Day. Thus everyone is feeling the resultant pinpricks of Kali-yuga brought about by human society's indulging in illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. Now is the time for the members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to distribute krsna-bhakti all over the world and thus follow the orders of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The Lord has ordered everyone to become a guru (Cc. Madhya 7.128): amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa. Everyone in every town and village should be enlightened by the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Krsna consciousness should be distributed to everyone indiscriminately. In this way, the entire world will be peaceful and happy, and everyone will glorify Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as He desires.

   The word candala actually refers to a dog-eater, who is considered the lowest of men. Even candalas can be enlightened in Krsna consciousness due to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's benedictions. Krsna-bhakti is not the monopoly of a certain caste. Everyone is eligible to receive this great benediction given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Everyone should be given a chance to receive it and be happy.

   The word dana, meaning "charity," is also significant in this verse. Whoever engages in the distribution of Krsna consciousness is a charitable person. Professional men recite Srimad-Bhagavatam and discuss krsna-bhakti for an exchange of money. They cannot distribute such exalted transcendental property to everyone and anyone. Only pure devotees who have no motive other than serving Krsna can give such transcendentally valuable benedictions out of charity.

 

                               TEXT 42

 

                                 TEXT

 

              nityanande ajna dila,----'yaha gauda-dese

                 anargala prema-bhakti kariha prakase

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nityanande--unto Nityananda Prabhu; ajna dila--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered; yaha gauda-dese--go to Gauda-desa (Bengal); anargala--without restriction; prema-bhakti--devotional service in love of Godhead; kariha prakase--manifest.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Nityananda Prabhu,"Go to Bengal and, without restriction, manifest devotional service to the Lord, Krsna consciousness."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu thus ordered Nityananda Prabhu to deliver all the Bengalis to devotional service. In Bhagavad-gita (9.32) it is said:

 

                      mam hi partha vyapasritya

                       ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah

                     striyo vaisyas tatha sudras

                       te 'pi yanti param gatim

 

   "O son of Prtha, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth-women, vaisyas [merchants], as well as sudras [workers]-can approach the supreme destination." Whoever takes to Krsna consciousness and follows the regulative principles can return home, back to Godhead.

   In his Anubhasya, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes: "There is a class of so-called devotees called prakrta-sahajiyas who think that Nityananda Prabhu is an ordinary human being. They have spread the news that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Nityananda Prabhu to return to Bengal from Orissa just to marry and beget children. This is certainly a great offense against Nityananda Prabhu."

   Such an offense is called pasanda-buddhi, or an atheistic remark. Offenders consider Nityananda Prabhu to be like one of them, an ordinary human being. They do not know of Nityananda Prabhu's identity with the visnu-tattva. Thinking Nityananda Prabhu to be an ordinary human being is the business of mental speculators known as kunapatma-vadis. These people accept the material body, which is a bag of three material elements (kunape tri-dhatuke), as themselves. They think that Nityananda Prabhu's body was similarly material and that it was meant for sense gratification. Whoever thinks in this way is a candidate for the darkest regions of hell. Those who hanker after women and money, who are self-interested and have the mentality of merchants, can certainly discover many things with their fertile brains and speak against the authorized revealed scriptures. They also engage in some moneymaking businesses to cheat innocent people, and they try to support their business programs by making such offensive statements. Actually Nityananda Prabhu, being the expansion of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, is the most munificent incarnation. No one should consider Him an ordinary human being or an entity like the prajapatis, who were ordered by Brahma to increase generation. Nityananda Prabhu should not be considered instrumental for sense gratification. Although professional so-called preachers support this, such statements are not found in any authorized revealed scriptures. Actually there is no support for these statements made by sahajiyas or other professional distributors of krsna-bhakti.

 

                               TEXT 43

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  rama-dasa, gadadhara adi kata jane

                 tomara sahaya lagi' dilu tomara sane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   rama-dasa--Ramadasa; gadadhara--Gadadhara dasa; adi--and others; kata jane--some people; tomara--Your; sahaya--assistants; lagi'--as; dilu--I give; tomara sane--with You.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Nityananda Prabhu was given assistants like Ramadasa, Gadadhara dasa and several others. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "I give them to You to assist You.

 

                               TEXT 44

 

                                 TEXT

 

                madhye madhye ami tomara nikata yaiba

                 alaksite rahi' tomara nrtya dekhiba'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   madhye madhye--at intervals; ami--I; tomara nikata--near You; yaiba--shall go; alaksite rahi'--keeping invisible; tomara nrtya--Your dancing; dekhiba--I shall see.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I shall also go to see You at intervals. Keeping Myself invisible, I shall watch You dance."

 

                               TEXT 45

 

                                 TEXT

 

                srivasa-pandite prabhu kari' alingana

               kanthe dhari' kahe tanre madhura vacana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   srivasa-pandite--unto Srivasa Pandita; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kari'--doing; alingana--embracing; kanthe dhari'--catching his neck; kahe--says; tanre--unto him; madhura vacana--sweet words.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then embraced Srivasa Pandita and, with His arm about his neck, began to speak to him in sweet words.

 

                               TEXT 46

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tomara ghare kirtane ami nitya naciba

                 tumi dekha pabe, ara keha na dekhiba

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tomara ghare--in your house; kirtane--in the performance of congregational chanting; ami--I; nitya--daily; naciba--shall dance; tumi--you; dekha pabe--will be able to see; ara--else; keha--anyone; na dekhiba--will not see.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu requested Srivasa Thakura, "Perform congregational chanting daily, and be assured that I shall also dance in your presence. You will be able to see this dancing, but not others.

 

                               TEXT 47

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ei vastra matake diha', ei saba prasada

                dandavat kari' amara ksamaiha aparadha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei vastra--this cloth; matake diha'--deliver to My mother, Sacidevi; ei saba prasada--all these remnants of the food of Jagannatha; dandavat kari'--offering obeisances; amara--My; ksamaiha--cause to be excused; aparadha--offenses.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Take this prasada of Lord Jagannatha's and this cloth and deliver them to My mother, Sacidevi. After offering her obeisances, please request her to excuse My offenses.

 

                               TEXT 48

 

                                 TEXT

 

               tanra seva chadi' ami kariyachi sannyasa

                dharma nahe, kari ami nija dharma-nasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tanra seva chadi'--giving up her service; ami--I; kariyachi--accepted; sannyasa--the renounced order of life; dharma nahe--it is not My religion; kari--perform; ami--I; nija dharma-nasa--destruction of My religious principles.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I have given up the service of My mother and have accepted the sannyasa order. Actually I should not have done this, for by so doing, I have destroyed My religious principles.

 

                               TEXT 49

 

                                 TEXT

 

              tanra prema-vasa ami, tanra seva----dharma

                 taha chadi' kariyachi vatulera karma

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tanra prema-vasa--subordinate to her love; ami--I; tanra seva--her service; dharma--My religion; taha chadi'--giving up that; kariyachi--I performed; vatulera karma--the acts of a madman.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I am subordinate to the love of My mother, and it is My duty to serve her in return. Instead of doing so, I have accepted this renounced order. Certainly this is the act of a madman.

 

                               TEXT 50

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 vatula balakera mata nahi laya dosa

                  ei jani' mata more na karaya rosa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vatula balakera--of a mad son; mata--mother; nahi--does not; laya--accept; dosa--fault; ei jani'--knowing this; mata--mother; more--unto Me; na karaya rosa--is not at all angry.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "A mother is not offended by her mad son, and, knowing this, My mother is not offended by Me.

 

                               TEXT 51

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ki kaya sannyase mora, prema nija-dhana

              ye-kale sannyasa kailun, channa haila mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ki kaya--what business; sannyase--in the renounced order; mora--of Me; prema--love; nija-dhana--My real wealth; ye-kale--at which time; sannyasa kailun--I accepted the renounced order; channa--deranged; haila--was; mana--mind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I had no business in accepting this renounced order and sacrificing My love for My mother, which is My real property. Actually I was in a crazy state of mind when I accepted sannyasa.

 

                               TEXT 52

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  nilacale achon muni tanhara ajnate

               madhye madhye asimu tanra carana dekhite

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nilacale achon--stay at Jagannatha Puri, Nilacala; muni--I; tanhara ajnate--under her order; madhye madhye--at intervals; asimu--I shall go; tanra--her; carana dekhite--to see the lotus feet.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I am staying here at Jagannatha Puri, Nilacala, to comply with her orders. However, at intervals I shall go see her lotus feet.

 

                               TEXT 53

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 nitya yai' dekhi muni tanhara carane

               sphurti-jnane tenho taha satya nahi mane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nitya yai'--going daily; dekhi--see; muni--I; tanhara carane--her lotus feet; sphurti-jnane--feeling My appearance; tenho--she; taha--that; satya nahi mane--does not accept as true.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Indeed, I go there daily to see her lotus feet. She is able to feel My presence, although she does not believe it to be true.

 

                             TEXTS 54-55

 

                                 TEXT

 

                eka-dina salyanna, vyanjana panca-sata

             saka, moca-ghanta, bhrsta-patola-nimba-pata

 

             lembu-ada-khanda, dadhi, dugdha, khanda-sara

                  salagrame samarpilena bahu upahara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka-dina--one day; sali-anna--cooked rice made of sali paddy; vyanjana--vegetables; panca-sata--five to seven different kinds; saka--spinach; moca-ghanta--curry made from banana flowers; bhrsta--fried; patola--patola vegetables; nimba-pata--with leaves of the nimba tree; lembu--lemon; ada-khanda--pieces of ginger; dadhi--yogurt; dugdha--milk; khanda-sara--sugar candy; salagrame--unto Lord Visnu in the form of the salagrama; samarpilena--offered; bahu upahara--many other varieties of food.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "One day My mother, Saci, offered food to Salagrama Visnu. She offered rice cooked from sali paddies, various kinds of vegetables, spinach, curry made of banana flowers, fried patola with nimba leaves, pieces of ginger with lemon, and also yogurt, milk, sugar candy and many other foods.

 

                               TEXT 56

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  prasada lana kole karena krandana

                nimaira priya mora----e-saba vyanjana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prasada lana--taking the remnants of food; kole--on her lap; karena krandana--was crying; nimaira--of Nimai; priya--favorite; mora--My; e-saba vyanjana--all these varieties of cooked food.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Taking the food upon her lap, Mother was crying to think that all that food was very dear to her Nimai.

 

                               TEXT 57

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 nimani nahika etha, ke kare bhojana

                 mora dhyane asru-jale bharila nayana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nimani--Nimai; nahika etha--is not present here; ke kare bhojana--who will eat them; mora dhyane--on meditation upon Me; asru-jale--with tears; bharila nayana--eyes become filled.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "My mother was thinking, 'Nimai is not here. Who will accept all this food?' As she meditated upon Me in this way, her eyes filled with tears.

 

                               TEXT 58

 

                                 TEXT

 

                sighra yai' muni saba karinu bhaksana

                sunya-patra dekhi' asru kariya marjana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sighra--very soon; yai'--going; muni--I; saba--all; karinu bhaksana--ate; sunya-patra dekhi'--seeing the dish empty; asru--tears; kariya marjana--smearing with her hands.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "While she was thus thinking and crying, I immediately went there with great haste and ate everything. Seeing the dish empty, she wiped her tears away.

 

                               TEXT 59

 

                                 TEXT

 

              'ke anna-vyanjana khaila, sunya kene pata?

                  balagopala kiba khaila saba bhata?

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ke--who; anna-vyanjana khaila--has eaten all this food; sunya kene pata--why is the dish empty; bala-gopala--the Deity Bala-gopala; kiba khaila--did He eat; saba bhata--all the rice.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "She then began to wonder who had eaten all that food. 'Why is the plate empty?' she wondered, doubting that Bala-gopala had eaten it all.

 

                               TEXT 60

 

                                 TEXT

 

               kiba mora kathaya mane bhrama hana gela!

                 kiba kona jantu asi' sakala khaila?

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kiba--or; mora kathaya--when I was thinking like that; mane--in the mind; bhrama hana gela--I was mistaken; kiba--or; kona jantu--some animal; asi'--coming; sakala khaila--ate everything.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "She began to wonder whether there was actually anything on the plate in the first place. Then again she thought that some animal might have come and eaten everything.

 

                               TEXT 61

 

                                 TEXT

 

                kiba ami anna-patre bhrame na badila!'

                  eta cinti' paka-patra yana dekhila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kiba--or; ami--I; anna-patre--on the plate for food; bhrame--by mistake; na badila--did not put anything; eta cinti'--thinking this; paka-patra--the kitchen pots; yana dekhila--went and saw.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "She thought, 'Perhaps by mistake I did not put any food on the plate.' So thinking, she went into the kitchen and saw the pots.

 

                               TEXT 62

 

                                 TEXT

 

              anna-vyanjana-purna dekhi' sakala bhajane

              dekhiya samsaya haila kichu camatkara mane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   anna-vyanjana-purna--filled with rice and vegetables; dekhi'--seeing; sakala bhajane--all the cooking pots; dekhiya--seeing; samsaya haila--there was doubt; kichu--some; camatkara--wonder; mane--in the mind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "When she saw that all the pots were still filled with rice and vegetables, there was some doubt in her mind, and she was astonished.

 

                               TEXT 63

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  isane bolana punah sthana lepaila

                   punarapi gopalake anna samarpila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   isane--to Isana, the servant; bolana--calling; punah--again; sthana--the place; lepaila--cleaned; punarapi--again; gopalake--unto Gopala; anna--cooked rice and vegetables; samarpila--offered.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Thus wondering, she called Isana, the servant, and had the place cleaned again. She then offered another plate to Gopala.

 

                               TEXT 64

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ei-mata yabe karena uttama randhana

                more khaoyaite kare utkanthaya rodana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; yabe--when; karena--does; uttama randhana--first-class cooking; more--Me; khaoyaite--to feed; kare--does; utkanthaya--with great anxiety; rodana--crying.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Now whenever she prepares some good cooked food and wants to feed it to Me, she cries in great anxiety.

 

                               TEXT 65

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tanra preme ani' amaya karaya bhojane

                 antare manaye sukha, bahye nahi mane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tanra preme--by her love; ani'--bringing; amaya--Me; karaya bhojane--causes to eat; antare--within herself; manaye--she feels; sukha--happiness; bahye--externally; nahi mane--does not accept.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Being obliged by her love, I am brought there to eat. Mother knows all these things internally and feels happiness, but externally she does not accept them.

 

                               TEXT 66

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   ei vijaya-dasamite haila ei riti

                tanhake puchiya tanra karaiha pratiti

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei vijaya-dasamite--on the previous Vijaya-dasami day; haila--there was; ei riti--such an incident; tanhake--unto her; puchiya--asking; tanra--her; karaiha--make; pratiti--belief.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Such an incident took place on the last Vijaya-dasami day. You can ask her about this incident and thus make her believe that I actually go there."

 

                               TEXT 67

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  eteka kahite prabhu vihvala ha-ila

              loka vidaya karite prabhu dhairya dharila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eteka kahite--saying this; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vihvala ha-ila--became overwhelmed; loka vidaya karite--to bid farewell to the devotees; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dhairya dharila--maintained patience.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   While describing all this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a little overwhelmed, but just to finish bidding farewell to the devotees, He remained patient.

 

                               TEXT 68

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 raghava pandite kahena vacana sarasa

             'tomara suddha preme ami ha-i' tomara vasa'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghava pandite--unto Raghava Pandita; kahena--says; vacana--words; sa-rasa--very relishable; tomara--your; suddha preme--by pure devotional service; ami ha-i'--I become; tomara--your; vasa--under obligation.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu next spoke some relishable words to Raghava Pandita. He said, "I am obliged to you due to your pure love for Me."

 

                               TEXT 69

 

                                 TEXT

 

              inhara krsna-sevara katha suna, sarva-jana

                  parama-pavitra seva ati sarvottama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   inhara--of him; krsna-sevara--of service to Lord Krsna; katha--stories; suna--hear; sarva-jana--all people; parama-pavitra--supremely pure; seva--service; ati--very much; sarva-uttama--well accomplished.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then informed everyone, "Just hear about the pure devotional service rendered to Krsna by Raghava Pandita. Indeed, Raghava Pandita's service is supremely pure and highly accomplished.

 

                               TEXT 70

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ara dravya rahu----suna narikelera katha

               panca ganda kari' narikela vikaya tatha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ara dravya rahu--apart from the other commodities; suna--just hear; narikelera katha--the incident of offering coconuts; panca ganda kari'--at the price of five gandas; narikela--coconut; vikaya--is sold; tatha--there.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Apart from other commodities, just hear about his coconut offering. A coconut is sold at the rate of five gandas each.

 

                               TEXT 71

 

                                 TEXT

 

               vatite kata sata vrkse laksa laksa phala

                 tathapi sunena yatha mista narikela

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vatite--in his garden; kata sata--how many hundreds of; vrkse--trees; laksa laksa phala--millions of fruits; tathapi--still; sunena--hears; yatha--where; mista narikela--sweet coconut.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Although he already has hundreds of trees and millions of fruits, he is still very eager to hear about the place where sweet coconut is available.

 

                               TEXT 72

 

                                 TEXT

 

              eka eka phalera mulya diya cari-cari pana

                 dasa-krosa haite anaya kariya yatana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka eka phalera--of each and every fruit; mulya--price; diya--giving; cari-cari pana--four panas each (one pana equals twenty gandas); dasa-krosa--twenty miles away; haite--from; anaya--brings; kariya yatana--with great endeavor.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "He collects coconut with great endeavor from a place twenty miles away, and he gives four panas each for them.

 

                               TEXT 73

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 prati-dina panca-sata phala cholana

                  susitala karite rakhe jale dubaina

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prati-dina--each day; panca-sata--five to seven; phala--fruits; cholana--clipping; su-sitala karite--to make it very cool; rakhe--keeps; jale--in water; dubaina--immersing.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Every day five to seven coconuts are clipped and put into water to keep cool.

 

                               TEXT 74

 

                                 TEXT

 

                bhogera samaya punah chuli' samskari'

               krsne samarpana kare mukha chidra kari'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhogera samaya--at the time of offering bhoga; punah--again; chuli'--clipping; samskari'--cleansing; krsne--unto Lord Krsna; samarpana--offering; kare--makes; mukha--at the top; chidra kari'--making a hole.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "At the time of offering bhoga, the coconuts are again clipped and cleansed. After holes are made in them, they are offered to Lord Krsna.

 

                               TEXT 75

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  krsna sei narikela-jala pana kari'

             kabhu sunya phala rakhena, kabhu jala bhari'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krsna--Lord Krsna; sei--that; narikela-jala--water of the coconut; pana kari'--drinking; kabhu--sometimes; sunya--vacant; phala rakhena--leaves the fruit; kabhu--sometimes; jala bhari'--being filled with water.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Lord Krsna used to drink the juice from these coconuts, and sometimes the coconuts were left drained of juice. At other times the coconuts were filled with juice.

 

                               TEXT 76

 

                                 TEXT

 

             jala-sunya phala dekhi' pandita----harasita

              phala bhangi' sasye kare sat-patra purita

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jala-sunya--without water; phala--fruit; dekhi'--by seeing; pandita--Raghava Pandita; harasita--very pleased; phala bhangi'--breaking the fruit; sasye--with the pulp; kare--makes; sat-patra--another plate; purita--filled.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "When Raghava Pandita saw that the juice had been drunk from the coconuts, he was very pleased. He would then break the coconut, take out the pulp and put it on another plate.

 

                               TEXT 77

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 sasya samarpana kari' bahire dheyana

                 sasya khana krsna kare sunya bhajana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sasya--the pulp; samarpana kari'--offering; bahire--outside the temple room; dheyana--meditates; sasya khana--eating the pulp; krsna--Lord Krsna; kare--makes; sunya--vacant; bhajana--the plate.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "After offering the pulp, he would meditate outside the temple door. In the meantime, Lord Krsna, having eaten the pulp, would leave the plate empty.

 

                               TEXT 78

 

                                 TEXT

 

              kabhu sasya khana punah patra bhare samse

              sraddha bade panditera, prema-sindhu bhase

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kabhu--sometimes; sasya khana--eating the pulp; punah--again; patra--the plate; bhare--fills; samse--with pulp; sraddha--faith; bade--increases; panditera--of Raghava Pandita; prema-sindhu--in the ocean of love; bhase--floats.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Sometimes, after eating the pulp, Krsna would fill the plate again with new pulp. In this way, Raghava Pandita's faith increases, and he floats in an ocean of love.

 

                               TEXT 79

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 eka dina phala dasa samskara kariya

                    bhoga lagaite sevaka aila lana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka dina--one day; phala--fruits; dasa--ten; samskara kariya--after cleansing; bhoga lagaite--to offer bhoga; sevaka--servant; aila--came; lana--taking.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "One day it so happened that about ten coconuts were properly clipped and brought by a servant to offer to the Deity.

 

                               TEXT 80

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  avasara nahi haya, vilamba ha-ila

               phala-patra-hate sevaka dvare ta' rahila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   avasara nahi haya--there was little time; vilamba ha-ila--it was late; phala-patra--the pot of fruits; hate--in the hands; sevaka--the servant; dvare--at the door; ta'--indeed; rahila--remained.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "When the coconuts were brought, there was little time to offer them because it was already late. The servant, holding the container of coconuts, remained standing at the door.

 

                               TEXT 81

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 dvarera upara bhite tenho hata dila

               sei hate phala chunila, pandita dekhila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dvarera upara--above the door; bhite--on the ceiling; tenho--he; hata dila--brushed his hand; sei hate--with that hand; phala chunila--touched the fruit; pandita--Raghava Pandita; dekhila--saw.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Raghava Pandita then saw that the servant touched the ceiling above the door and then touched the coconuts with the same hand.

 

                               TEXT 82

 

                                 TEXT

 

              pandita kahe,----dvare loka kare gatayate

                tara pada-dhuli udi' lage upara bhite

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   pandita kahe--Raghava Pandita said; dvare--through the door; loka--people in general; kare--do; gatayate--coming and going; tara--their; pada-dhuli--dust of the feet; udi'--being blown; lage--touches; upara--upward; bhite--the ceiling.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Raghava Pandita then said, 'People are always coming and going through that door. The dust from their feet blows up and touches the ceiling.

 

                               TEXT 83

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  sei bhite hata diya phala parasila

                krsna-yogya nahe, phala apavitra haila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei bhite--on that ceiling; hata diya--touching your hand; phala--the fruit; parasila--touched; krsna-yogya nahe--is not fit to be offered to Krsna; phala--the fruit; apavitra haila--has become contaminated.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'After touching the ceiling above the door, you have touched the coconuts. Now they are no longer fit to be offered to Krsna because they are contaminated.'

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura states that Raghava Pandita was not simply a crazy fellow suffering from some cleansing phobia. He did not belong to the mundane world. In lower consciousness, accepting something to be spiritual when it is actually material is called bhauma-ijya-dhih. Raghava Pandita was an eternal servant of Krsna, and everything he saw was related to the service of the Lord. He was always absorbed in the transcendental thought of how he could always serve Krsna with everything. Sometimes neophytes, devotees on the lower platform, try to imitate Raghava Pandita on the platform of material purity and impurity. Such imitation will not help anyone. As explained in Caitanya-caritamrta, (Antya-lila 4.174): bhadrabhadra-vastu-jnana nahika 'prakrte'. On the transcendental platform there is no higher or lower, pure or impure. On the material platform, distinction is made between good and bad, but on the spiritual platform everything is of the same quality.

 

          'dvaite' bhadrabhadra-jnana, saba----'manodharma'

              'ei bhala, ei manda',----ei saba 'bhrama'

 

   "In the material world, conceptions of good and bad are all mental speculations. Therefore, saying, 'This is good, and this is bad, is all a mistake."(Cc. Antya 4.176)

 

                               TEXT 84

 

                                 TEXT

 

                eta bali' phala phele pracira langhiya

                aiche pavitra prema-seva jagat jiniya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta bali'--saying this; phala phele--throws away the fruits; pracira langhiya--across the boundary wall; aiche--such; pavitra--pure; prema-seva--service in love; jagat jiniya--conquering all the world.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Such was the service of Raghava Pandita. He did not accept the coconuts but threw them over the wall. His service is purely based on unalloyed love, and it conquers the whole world.

 

                               TEXT 85

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  tabe ara narikela samskara karaila

                  parama pavitra kari' bhoga lagaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--thereafter; ara--other; narikela--coconuts; samskara karaila--made clipped and cleaned; parama pavitra kari'--with great attention to keep them pure; bhoga lagaila--offered for eating.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Thereafter, Raghava Pandita had other coconuts gathered, cleansed and clipped, and with great attention he offered them to the Deity to eat.

 

                               TEXT 86

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ei-mata kala, amra, naranga, kanthala

                 yaha yaha dura-grame suniyache bhala

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; kala--bananas; amra--mangoes; naranga--oranges; kanthala--jackfruit; yaha yaha--whatever; dura-grame--in distant villages; suniyache--he heard; bhala--good.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "In this way he collected excellent bananas, mangoes, oranges, jackfruits and whatever first-class fruits from distant villages he had heard about.

 

                               TEXT 87

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  bahu-mulya diya ani' kariya yatana

                 pavitra samskara kari' kare nivedana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bahu-mulya--high price; diya--offering; ani'--bringing; kariya yatana--with great attention; pavitra--purified; samskara kari'--trimming; kare nivedana--offers to the Deity.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "All these fruits were collected from distant places and were bought at a high price. After trimming them with great care and purity, Raghava Pandita offered them to the Deity.

 

                               TEXT 88

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ei mata vyanjanera saka, mula, phala

                 ei mata cida, huduma, sandesa sakala

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei mata--in this way; vyanjanera--of vegetables; saka--spinach; mula--radishes; phala--fruits; ei mata--in this way; cida--chipped rice; huduma--powdered rice; sandesa--sweetmeats; sakala--all.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Thus with great care and attention Raghava Pandita would prepare spinach, other vegetables, radishes, fruits, chipped rice, powdered rice and sweetmeats.

 

                               TEXT 89

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   ei-mata pitha-pana, ksira-odana

                 parama pavitra, ara kare sarvottama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; pitha-pana--cakes and sweet rice; ksira-odana--concentrated milk; parama pavitra--highly purified; ara--and; kare--he makes; sarva-uttama--first class, tasteful.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "He prepared cakes, sweet rice, concentrated milk and everything else with great attention, and the cooking conditions were purified so that the food was first class and tasteful.

 

                               TEXT 90

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   kasamdi, acara adi aneka prakara

             gandha, vastra, alankara, sarva dravya-sara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kasamdi--a kind of pickle; acara--other pickles; adi--and so on; aneka pra-kara--of many varieties; gandha--scents; vastra--clothing; alankara--ornaments; sarva--all; dravya--of things; sara--best.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Raghava Pandita would also offer all kinds of pickles, such as kasamdi. He offered various scents, garments, ornaments and the best of everything.

 

                               TEXT 91

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ei-mata premera seva kare anupama

                yaha dekhi' sarva-lokera judana nayana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; premera seva--service in love; kare--performs; anupama--without comparison; yaha dekhi'--seeing which; sarva-lokera--of all people; judana--become pleased; nayana--the eyes.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Thus Raghava Pandita would serve the Lord in an incomparable way. Everyone was very satisfied just to see him."

 

                               TEXT 92

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  eta bali' raghavere kaila alingane

                 ei-mata sammanila sarva bhakta-gane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta bali'--saying this; raghavere--Raghava Pandita; kaila alingane--He embraced; ei-mata--in this way; sammanila--showed respect; sarva--all; bhakta-gane--to the devotees.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then mercifully embraced Raghava Pandita. The Lord also offered all the other devotees a reception with similar respect.

 

                               TEXT 93

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  sivananda sene kahe kariya sammana

                vasudeva-dattera tumi kariha samadhana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sivananda sene--unto Sivananda Sena; kahe--says; kariya sammana--with great respect; vasudeva-dattera--of Vasudeva Datta; tumi--you; kariha--take; samadhana--care.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Lord also respectfully told Sivananda Sena, "Take care of Vasudeva Datta very nicely.

 

                               TEXT 94

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  parama udara inho, ye dina ye aise

                 sei dine vyaya kare, nahi rakhe sese

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   parama udara--very liberal; inho--he; ye dina--every day; ye aise--whatever he gets; sei dine--on that very day; vyaya kare--spends; nahi--does not; rakhe--keep; sese--any balance.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Vasudeva Datta is very liberal. Every day, whatever income he receives, he spends. He does not keep any balance.

 

                               TEXT 95

 

                                 TEXT

 

                'grhastha' hayena inho, cahiye sancaya

              sancaya na kaile kutumba-bharana nahi haya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   grhastha--householder; hayena--is; inho--he (Vasudeva Datta); cahiye sancaya--requires to save some money; sancaya na kaile--without saving money; kutumba-bharana--maintenance of a family; nahi haya--is not possible.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Being a householder, Vasudeva Datta needs to save some money. Because he is not doing so, it is very difficult for him to maintain his family.

 

                               TEXT 96

 

                                 TEXT

 

            ihara gharera aya-vyaya saba----tomara sthane

               'sara-khela' hana tumi kariha samadhane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ihara--of Vasudeva Datta; gharera--of household affairs; aya-vyaya--income and expenditures; saba--all; tomara sthane--at your place; sara-khela hana--being the manager; tumi--you; kariha samadhane--arrange.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Please take care of Vasudeva Datta's family affairs. Become his manager and make the proper adjustments.

   Both Vasudeva Datta and Sivananda Sena were living in the same neighborhood, which is presently called Kumarahatta or Halisahara.

 

                               TEXT 97

 

                                 TEXT

 

               prati-varse amara saba bhakta-gana lana

                 gundicaya asibe sabaya palana kariya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prati-varse--each and every year; amara--My; saba--all; bhakta-gana lana--accompanied by the devotees; gundicaya--to perform the Gundica cleansing festival; asibe--you will come; sabaya--to everyone; palana kariya--providing maintenance.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Come every year and bring all My devotees with you to the Gundica festival. I also request you to maintain all of them."

 

                               TEXT 98

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  kulina-gramire kahe sammana kariya

               pratyabda asibe yatraya patta-dori lana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kulina-gramire--unto the inhabitants of Kulina-grama; kahe--says; sammana kariya--with great respect; prati-abda--each year; asibe--please come; yatraya--during the Ratha-yatra festival; patta-dori--silken rope; lana--taking.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Lord then with great respect extended an invitation to all the inhabitants of Kulina-grama, asking them to come every year and bring silken rope to carry Lord Jagannatha during the Ratha-yatra festival.

 

                               TEXT 99

 

                                 TEXT

 

                gunaraja-khanna kaila sri-krsna-vijaya

                 tahan eka-vakya tanra ache premamaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gunaraja-khanna--Gunaraja Khan; kaila--compiled; sri-krsna-vijaya--the book named Sri Krsna-vijaya; tahan--there; eka-vakya--one sentence; tanra--of it; ache--is; prema-maya--full of love of Krsna.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then said, "Gunaraja Khan of Kulina-grama compiled a book named Sri Krsna-vijaya in which there is a sentence revealing the author's ecstatic love of Krsna."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Sri Krsna-vijaya is a book of poems considered to be the first poetry book written in Bengal. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura states that this book was compiled in the year 1395 sakabda (A.D. 1474). After seven years, it was completed (1402 sakabda). This book was written in plain language, and even half-educated Bengalis and women could read it very clearly. Even ordinary men with little knowledge of the alphabet could read this book and understand it. Its language is not very ornamental, and sometimes the poetry is not very sweet to hear. Although according to the sonnet style each line should contain fourteen syllables, there are sometimes sixteen, twelve and thirteen syllables in his verse. Many words used in those days could be understood only by local inhabitants, yet this book is still so popular that no book store is complete without it. It is very valuable for those who are interested in advancing in Krsna consciousness.

   Sri Gunaraja Khan was one of the topmost Vaisnavas, and he has translated the Tenth and Eleventh Cantos of Srimad-Bhagavatam for the understanding of the common man. The book Sri Krsna-vijaya was highly praised by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and it is very valuable for all Vaisnavas. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gives a genealogical table and family history of Gunaraja Khan. When a Bengali emperor named Adisura first came from Kanyakubja, or Kanowj, he brought with him five brahmanas and five kayasthas. Since the king is supposed to be accompanied by his associates, the brahmanas accompanied the King to help him in higher spiritual matters. The kayasthas were to render other services. In the northern Indian high country, the kayasthas are accepted as sudras, but in Bengal the kayasthas are considered among the higher castes. It is a fact that the kayasthas came to Bengal from northern India, specifically from Kanyakubja, or Kanowj. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that the kayasthas who came from Kanyakubja were high-class men. Of them, Dasaratha Vasu was a great personality, and the thirteenth generation of his family included Gunaraja Khan.

   His real name was Maladhara Vasu, but the title Khan was given to him by the Emperor of Bengal. Thus he became known as Gunaraja Khan. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gives the following genealogical table of Gunaraja Khan: (1) Dasaratha Vasu; (2) Kusala; (3) Subhasankara; (4) Hamsa; (5) Saktirama (Baganda), Muktirama (Mainagara) and Alankara (Bangaja); (6) Damodara; (7) Anantarama; (8) Guninayaka and Vinanayaka. The twelfth generation included Bhagiratha, and the thirteenth Maladhara Vasu, or Gunaraja Khan. Sri Gunaraja Khan had fourteen sons, of whom the second son, Laksminathavasu, received the title Satyaraja Khan. His son was Sri Ramananda Vasu; therefore Ramananda Vasu belonged to the fifteenth generation. Gunaraja Khan was a very well known and wealthy man. His palace, fort and temples are still existing, and from these we can deduce that the opulence of Gunaraja Khan was certainly very great. Sri Gunaraja Khan never cared for the artificial aristocracy introduced by Ballal Sena.

 

                               TEXT 100

 

                                 TEXT

 

               "nandanandana krsna----mora prana-natha"

                 ei vakye vikainu tanra vamsera hata

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nanda-nandana krsna--Krsna, the son of Nanda Maharaja; mora prana-natha--my life and soul; ei vakye--because of this statement; vikainu--I became sold; tanra--of him; vamsera hata--in the hands of the descendants.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, " 'Krsna, the son of Nanda Maharaja, is my life and soul.' By this statement I am sold into the hands of the descendants of Gunaraja Khan.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The full verse referred to here is:

 

                 eka-bhave vanda hari yoda kari' hata

                nandanandana krsna----mora prana-natha

 

   "With folded hands I offer my prayers unto Krsna, the son of Nanda Maharaja, who is my life and soul."

 

                               TEXT 101

 

                                 TEXT

 

               tomara ki katha, tomara gramera kukkura

                 sei mora priya, anya-jana rahu dura

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tomara--of you; ki katha--what to speak; tomara--of your; gramera--village; kukkura--a dog; sei--that; mora--to Me; priya--very dear; anya-jana--others; rahu dura--apart from.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "To say nothing of you, even a dog living in your village is very dear to Me. What, then, to speak of others?"

 

                               TEXT 102

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 tabe ramananda, ara satyaraja khanna

                 prabhura carane kichu kaila nivedana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--after this; ramananda--Ramananda Vasu; ara--and; satyaraja khanna--Satyaraja Khan; prabhura carane--at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kichu--some; kaila--made; nivedana--submission.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After this, Ramananda Vasu and Satyaraja Khan both submitted questions at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 103

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 grhastha visayi ami, ki mora sadhane

             sri-mukhe ajna kara prabhu----nivedi carane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   grhastha--householder; visayi--materialistic man; ami--I; ki--what; mora sadhane--the process of my advancement in spiritual life; sri-mukhe--from Your own mouth; ajna kara--please order; prabhu--my Lord; nivedi carane--I submit unto Your lotus feet.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Satyaraja Khan said, "My dear Lord, being a householder and a materialistic man, I do not know the process of advancing in spiritual life. I therefore submit myself unto Your lotus feet and request You to give me orders."

 

                               TEXT 104

 

                                 TEXT

 

          prabhu kahena,----'krsna-seva', 'vaisnava-sevana'

                'nirantara kara krsna-nama-sankirtana'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahena--the Lord replied; krsna-seva--serving Krsna; vaisnava-sevana--abiding by the orders of Vaisnavas; nirantara--without cessation; kara--do; krsna-nama-sankirtana--chanting of the holy name of Lord Krsna.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "Without cessation continue chanting the holy name of Lord Krsna. Whenever possible, serve Him and His devotees, the Vaisnavas."

 

                               TEXT 105

 

                                 TEXT

 

              satyaraja bale,----vaisnava ciniba kemane?

               ke vaisnava, kaha tanra samanya laksane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   satyaraja bale--Satyaraja Khan said; vaisnava--a Vaisnava; ciniba kemane--how shall I recognize; ke vaisnava--who is a Vaisnava; kaha--please say; tanra--of him; samanya laksane--common symptoms.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Upon hearing this, Satyaraja said, "How can I recognize a Vaisnava? Please let me know what a Vaisnava is. What are his common symptoms?"

 

                               TEXT 106

 

                                 TEXT

 

              prabhu kahe,----"yanra mukhe suni eka-bara

             krsna-nama, sei pujya,----srestha sabakara"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied; yanra mukhe--in whose mouth; suni--I hear; eka-bara--once; krsna-nama--the holy name of Lord Krsna; sei pujya--he is worshipable; srestha sabakara--the best of all human beings;

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "Whoever chants the holy name of Krsna just once is worshipable and is the topmost human being.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that simply by chanting the holy name of Krsna once, a person becomes perfect. Such a person is understood to be a Vaisnava. With such faith and belief, one may begin a life of Krsna consciousness, but an ordinary person cannot chant the holy name of Krsna with such faith. This is confirmed by Srila Rupa Gosvami in his Upadesamrta: krsneti yasya giri tam manasadriyeta. One should accept the holy name of Krsna to be identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Transcendence Himself. The holy name of Krsna is also identical with Krsna and is also cintamani. The name Krsna is the personification of sound perfectly transcendental and eternally liberated from material contamination. One should understand that the name Krsna and Krsna are identical. Having such faith, one must continue to chant the holy name. When one is situated on the neophyte platform, one cannot understand the devotional ingredients of a pure, unalloyed devotee. However, when the novice engages in devotional service-especially in Deity worship-and follows the order of a bona fide spiritual master, he becomes a pure devotee. Anyone can take advantage of hearing about Krsna consciousness from a pure devotee and thus gradually become purified.

   A devotee who believes that the holy name of the Lord is identical with the Lord is a pure devotee, even though he may be in the neophyte stage. By his association, others may also become Vaisnavas.

   One is known as a materialistic devotee if he simply worships the Deity of Hari with faith but does not show proper respect to the devotees and to others. This is confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.47):

 

                          arcayam eva haraye

                       pujam yah sraddhayehate

                       na tad-bhaktesu canyesu

                      sa bhaktah prakrtah smrtah

 

   "Anyone who engages with faith in the worship of the Deity of Hari but does not show proper respect to the devotees and to others is known as a materialistic devotee." However, by associating with a neophyte devotee who believes that the holy name of the Lord is identical with the Lord, one can become a devotee also. When Lord Caitanya was teaching Sanatana Gosvami, He said:

 

                 sraddhavan jana haya bhakti-adhikari

         'uttama', 'madhyama;', 'kanistha'----sraddha-anusari

 

              yahara komala-sraddha, se 'kanistha' jana

               krame krame tenho bhakta ha-ibe 'uttama'

 

                 rati-prema-taratamye bhakta-taratama

 

   "A person who has attained firm faith is a real candidate for advancing in Krsna consciousness. According to the faith, there are first-class, second-class and neophyte devotees. One who has preliminary faith is called kanistha, or a neophyte. The neophyte, however, can become an advanced devotee if he strictly follows the regulative principles set down by the spiritual master. The pure devotee whose faith advances becomes a madhyama-adhikari and uttama-adhikari." (Cc. Madhya 22.64,69--70)

   It is thus concluded that even a neophyte devotee is superior to the karmis and jnanis because he has full faith in chanting the holy name of the Lord. A karmi or a jnani, regardless of his greatness, has no faith in Lord Visnu, His holy name or His devotional service. One may be advanced religiously, but if he is not trained in devotional service, he has very little credit on the transcendental platform. Even a neophyte devotee engaged in Deity worship in accordance with the regulations set forth by the spiritual master is in a position superior to that of the fruitive worker and speculative philosopher.

 

                               TEXT 107

 

                                 TEXT

 

                "eka krsna-name kare sarva-papa ksaya

               nava-vidha bhakti purna nama haite haya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka krsna-name--one holy name of Krsna; kare--can do; sarva-papa--of all sinful reactions; ksaya--destruction; nava-vidha--nine processes; bhakti--of devotional service; purna--complete; nama haite--simply by chanting the holy name; haya--are.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Simply by chanting the holy name of Krsna, one is relieved from all the reactions of a sinful life. One can complete the nine processes of devotional service simply by chanting the holy name.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The nine types of devotional service are mentioned in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.23):

 

                       sravanam kirtanam visnoh

                        smaranam pada-sevanam

                       arcanam vandanam dasyam

                        sakhyam atma-nivedanam

 

                        iti pumsarpita visnau

                       bhaktis cen nava-laksana

                       kriyeta bhagavaty addha

                      tan manye 'dhitam uttamam

 

   These are the activities of hearing, chanting, remembering, serving, worshiping, praying, obeying, maintaining friendship and surrendering everything. As far as chanting the holy name of Krsna is concerned, one can be freed from all sinful reactions by chanting the holy name without committing offenses. If one chants offenselessly, he may be saved from all sinful reactions. It is very important in devotional service to chant the holy name of the Lord without committing offenses. The nine devotional processes such as sravana and kirtana can all be attained at once if one simply chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly.

   In this regard, Srila Jiva Gosvami states in his book Bhakti-sandarbha (173): yadyapi anya bhaktih kalau kartavya, tada kirtanakhya-bhakti-samyogenaiva. Out of the nine processes of devotional service, kirtana is very important. Srila Jiva Gosvami therefore instructs that the other processes, such as arcana, vandana, dasya and sakhya, should be executed, but they must be preceded and followed by kirtana, the chanting of the holy name. We have therefore introduced this system in all of our centers. Arcana, arati, bhoga offering, Deity dressing and decoration are all preceded and followed by the chanting of the holy name of the Lord-Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

 

                               TEXT 108

 

                                 TEXT

 

                diksa-purascarya-vidhi apeksa na kare

                jihva-sparse a-candala sabare uddhare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   diksa--initiation; purascarya--activities before initiation; vidhi--regulative principles; apeksa--reliance on; na--not; kare--does; jihva--the tongue; sparse--by touching; a-candala--even to the lowest of men, the candala; sabare--everyone; uddhare--delivers.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "One does not have to undergo initiation or execute the activities required before initiation. One simply has to vibrate the holy name with his lips. Thus even a man in the lowest class [candala] can be delivered.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Jiva Gosvami explains diksa in his Bhakti-sandarbha (283):

 

                      divyam jnanam yato dadyat

                       kuryat papasya sanksayam

                       tasmad dikseti sa prokta

                       desikais tattva-kovidaih

 

   "Diksa is the process by which one can awaken his transcendental knowledge and vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity. A person expert in the study of the revealed scriptures knows this process as diksa." The regulative principles of diksa are explained in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa (2.3,4) and in Bhakti-sandarbha (283). As stated:

 

               dvijanam anupetanam svakarmadhyayanadisu

              yathadhikaro nastiha syac copanayanad anu

              tathatradiksitanam tu mantra-devarcanadisu

          nadhikaro 'sty atah kuryad atmanam siva-samstutam

 

   "Even though born in a brahmana family, one cannot engage in Vedic rituals without being initiated and having a sacred thread. Although born in a brahmana family, one becomes a brahmana after initiation and the sacred thread ceremony. Unless one is initiated as a brahmana, he cannot worship the holy name properly."

   According to the Vaisnava regulative principles, one must be initiated as a brahmana. The Hari-bhakti-vilasa (2.6) quotes the following injunction from the Visnu-yamala:

 

                          adiksitasya vamoru

                       krtam sarvam nirarthakam

                         pasu-yonim avapnoti

                         diksa-virahito janah

 

   "Unless one is initiated by a bona fide spiritual master, all his devotional activities are useless. A person who is not properly initiated can descend again into the animal species."

   Hari-bhakti-vilasa (2.10) further quotes:

 

                        ato gurum pranamyaivam

                       sarva-svam vinivedya ca

                      grhniyad vaisnavam mantram

                       diksa-purvam vidhanatah

 

   "It is the duty of every human being to surrender to a bona fide spiritual master. Giving him everything-body, mind and intelligence-one must take a Vaisnava initiation from him."

   The Bhakti-sandarbha (298) gives the following quotation from the Tattva-sagara:

 

                        yatha kancanatam yati

                        kasyam rasa-vidhanatah

                        tatha diksa-vidhanena

                        dvijatvam jayate nrnam

 

   "By chemical manipulation, bell metal is turned into gold when touched by mercury; similarly, when a person is properly initiated, he can acquire the qualities of a brahmana."

   The Hari-bhakti-vilasa (17.11,12) in discussing the purascarya process, quotes the following verses from Agastya-samhita:

 

                        puja traikaliki nityam

                        japas tarpanam eva ca

                       homo brahmana-bhuktis ca

                         purascaranam ucyate

 

                      guror labdhasya mantrasya

                        prasadena yatha-vidhi

                       pancangopasana-siddhyai

                        puras caitad vidhiyate

 

   "In the morning, afternoon and evening, one should worship the Deity, chant the Hare Krsna mantra, offer oblations, perform a fire sacrifice, and feed the brahmanas. These five activities constitute purascarya. To attain full success when taking initiation from the spiritual master, one should first perform these purascarya processes."

   The word purah means "before" and carya means "activities." Due to the necessity of these activities, we do not immediately initiate disciples in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. For six months, a candidate for initiation must first attend arati and classes in the sastras, practice the regulative principles and associate with other devotees. When one is actually advanced in the purascarya-vidhi, he is recommended by the local temple president for initiation. It is not that anyone can be suddenly initiated without meeting the requirements. When one is further advanced by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra sixteen rounds daily, following the regulative principles and attending classes, he receives the sacred thread (brahminical recognition) after the second six months.

   In the Hari-bhakti-vilasa (17.4,5,7) it is stated:

 

                      vina yena na siddhah syan

                       mantro varsa-satair api

                         krtena yena labhate

                       sadhako vanchitam phalam

 

                         purascarana-sampanno

                       mantro hi phala-dhayakah

                       atah puraskriyam kuryat

                      mantravit siddhi-kanksaya

 

                       puraskriya hi mantranam

                       pradhanam viryam ucyate

                        virya-hino yatha dehi

                       sarva-karmasu na ksamah

                         purascarana-hino hi

                      tatha mantrah prakirtitah

 

   "Without performing the purascarya activities, one cannot become perfect even by chanting this mantra for hundreds of years. However, one who has undergone the purascarya-vidhi process can attain success very easily. If one wishes to perfect his initiation, he must first undergo the purascarya activities. The purascarya process is the life-force by which one is successful in chanting the mantra. Without the life-force, one cannot do anything; similarly, without the life force of purascarya-vidhi, no mantra can be perfected."

   In his Bhakti-sandarbha (283), Srila Jiva Gosvami states:

 

yadyapi sri-bhagavata-mate pancaratradi-vat arcana-margasya avasyakatvam nasti, tad vinapi saranapattyadinam ekatarenapi purusartha-siddher abhihitatvat, tathapi sri-naradadi-vartmanusaradbhih sri-bhagavata saha sambandha-visesam diksa-vidhanena sri-guru-carana-sampaditam cikirsadbhih krtayam diksayam arcanam avasyam kriyetaiva.

 

   Of similar importance is diksa, which is explained as follows in Bhakti-sandarbha (284):

 

yadyapi svarupato nasti, tathapi prayah svabhavato dehadi-sambandhena kardaya-silanam viksipta-cittanam jananam tat-tat-sankoci-karanaya srimad-rsi-prabhrtibhir atrarcana-marge kvacit kvacit kacit kacin maryada sthapitasti.

 

   Similarly in the Ramarcana-candrika it is stated:

 

                       vinaiva diksam viprendra

                        purascaryam vinaiva hi

                        vinaiva nyasa-vidhina

                        japa-matrena siddhida

 

   In other words, the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is so powerful that it does not depend on official initiation, but if one is initiated and engages in pancaratra-vidhi (Deity worship), his Krsna consciousness will awaken very soon, and his identification with the material world will be vanquished. The more one is freed from material identification, the more one can realize that the spirit soul is qualitatively as good as the Supreme Soul. At such a time, when one is situated on the absolute platform, he can understand that the holy name of the Lord and the Lord Himself are identical. At that stage of realization, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krsna mantra, cannot be identified with any material sound. If one accepts the Hare Krsna maha-mantra as a material vibration, he falls down. One should worship and chant the holy name of the Lord by accepting it as the Lord Himself. One should therefore be initiated properly according to revealed scriptures under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master. Although chanting the holy name is good for both the conditioned and liberated soul, it is especially beneficial to the conditioned soul because by chanting it one is liberated. When a person who chants the holy name is liberated, he attains the ultimate perfection by returning home, back to Godhead. In the words of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 7.73):

 

                krsna-mantra haite habe samsara-mocana

                 krsna-nama haite pabe krsnera carana

 

   "Simply by chanting the holy name of Krsna one can obtain freedom from material existence. Indeed, simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra one will be able to see the lotus feet of the Lord."

   The offenseless chanting of the holy name does not depend on the initiation process. Although initiation may depend on purascarya or purascarana, the actual chanting of the holy name does not depend on purascarya-vidhi, or the regulative principles. If one chants the holy name once without committing an offense, he attains all success. During the chanting of the holy name, the tongue must work. Simply by chanting the holy name, one is immediately delivered. The tongue is sevonmukha-jihva-it is controlled by service. One whose tongue is engaged in tasting material things and also talking about them cannot use the tongue for absolute realization.

 

                        atah sri-krsna-namadi

                     na bhaved grahyam indriyaih

                        sevonmukhe hi jihvadau

                       svayam eva sphuraty adah

 

   According to Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 17.134):

 

               ataeva krsnera 'nama', 'deha', 'vilasa'

             prakrtendriya-grahya nahe, haya sva-prakasa

 

   "With these material senses, one cannot understand the transcendental holy name of the Lord or His form, activities and pastimes. However, when one actually engages in devotional service, utilizing the tongue, the Lord is revealed."

 

                               TEXT 109

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 anusanga-phale kare samsarera ksaya

                citta akarsiya karaya krsne premodaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   anusanga-phale--as a simultaneous result; kare--does; samsarera ksaya--annihilation of entanglement in the material world; citta--thought; akarsiya--attracting; karaya--causes; krsne--unto Lord Krsna; prema-udaya--arousal of transcendental love.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "By chanting the holy name of the Lord, one dissolves his entanglement in material activities. After this, one becomes very attracted to Krsna, and thus dormant love for Krsna is awakened.

 

                               TEXT 110

 

                                 TEXT

 

          akrstih krta-cetasam sumanasam uccatanam camhasam

         acandalam amuka-loka-sulabho vasyas ca mukti-sriyah

      no diksam na ca sat-kriyam na ca purascaryam manag iksate

       mantro 'yam rasana-sprg eva phalati sri-krsna-namatmakah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   akrstih--attraction; krta-cetasam--of saintly persons; su-manasam--of the most liberal-minded; uccatanam--annihilator; ca--also; amhasam--of sinful reactions; a-candalam--even to the candalas; amuka--except the dumb; loka-sulabhah--very easy to achieve for all persons; vasyah--full controller; ca--and; mukti-sriyah--of the opulence of liberation; no--not; diksam--initiation; na--not; ca--also; sat-kriyam--pious activities; na--not; ca--also; purascaryam--regulative principles before initiation; manak--slightly; iksate--depends upon; mantrah--mantra; ayam--this; rasana--tongue; sprk--touching; eva--simply; phalati--is fruitful; sri-krsna-nama-atmakah--consisting of the holy name of Lord Krsna.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'The holy name of Lord Krsna is an attractive feature for many saintly, liberal people. It is the annihilator of all sinful reactions and is so powerful that save for the dumb who cannot chant it, it is readily available to everyone, including the lowest type of man, the candala. The holy name of Krsna is the controller of the opulence of liberation, and it is identical with Krsna. Simply by touching the holy name with one's tongue, immediate effects are produced. Chanting the holy name does not depend on initiation, pious activities or the purascarya regulative principles generally observed before initiation. The holy name does not wait for all these activities. It is self-sufficient.' "

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This verse is found in the Padyavali (29) by Srila Rupa Gosvami.

 

                               TEXT 111

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  "ataeva yanra mukhe eka krsna-nama

              sei ta' vaisnava, kariha tanhara sammana"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ataeva--therefore; yanra mukhe--in whose mouth; eka--one; krsna-nama--the holy name of Krsna; sei ta' vaisnava--he is a Vaisnava; kariha--offer; tanhara--to him; sammana--respect.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then finally advised, "One who is chanting the Hare Krsna mantra is understood to be a Vaisnava; therefore you should offer all respects to him."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In his Upadesamrta, Srila Rupa Gosvami states: krsneti yasya giri tam manasadriyeta diksasti cet. An advanced devotee should respect a person who has been initiated by a bona fide spiritual master and who is situated on the transcendental platform, chanting the holy name with faith and obeisances and following the instructions of the spiritual master. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura comments that serving Vaisnavas is most important for householders. Whether a Vaisnava is properly initiated or not is not a subject for consideration. One may be initiated and yet contaminated by the Mayavada philosophy, but a person who chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly will not be so contaminated. A properly initiated Vaisnava may be imperfect, but one who chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly is all-perfect. Although he may apparently be a neophyte, he still has to be considered a pure unalloyed Vaisnava. It is the duty of the householder to offer respects to such an unalloyed Vaisnava. This is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instruction.

 

                               TEXT 112

 

                                 TEXT

 

               khandera mukunda-dasa, sri-raghunandana

                 sri-narahari,----ei mukhya tina jana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   khandera--of the place known as Khanda; mukunda-dasa--Mukunda dasa; sri-raghunandana--Sri Raghunandana; sri-narahari--Sri Narahari; ei--these; mukhya--chief; tina--three; jana--persons.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then turned His attention to three persons-Mukunda dasa, Raghunandana and Sri Narahari-inhabitants of the place called Khanda.

 

                               TEXT 113

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 mukunda dasere puche sacira nandana

           'tumi----pita, putra tomara----sri-raghunandana?

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mukunda dasere--unto Mukunda dasa; puche--inquired; sacira nandana--the son of mother Saci; tumi--you; pita--father; putra--son; tomara--your; sri-raghunandana--Sri Raghunandana.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the son of mother Saci, next asked Mukunda dasa, "You are the father, and your son is Raghunandana. Is that so?

 

                               TEXT 114

 

                                 TEXT

 

           kiba raghunandana----pita, tumi----tara tanaya?

                 niscaya kariya kaha, yauka samsaya'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kiba--or; raghunandana--Raghunandana; pita--father; tumi--you; tara--his; tanaya--son; niscaya kariya--making certain; kaha--just speak; yauka samsaya--let My doubts be dissipated.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Or is Srila Raghunandana your father whereas you are his son? Please let Me know the facts so that My doubts will go away."

 

                               TEXT 115

 

                                 TEXT

 

            mukunda kahe,----raghunandana mora 'pita' haya

                ami tara 'putra',----ei amara niscaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mukunda kahe--Mukunda dasa replied; raghunandana--my son Raghunandana; mora--my; pita--father; haya--is; ami--I; tara--his; putra--son; ei--this; amara--my; niscaya--decision.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Mukunda replied,"Raghunandana is my father, and I am his son. This is my decision.

 

                               TEXT 116

 

                                 TEXT

 

              ama sabara krsna-bhakti raghunandana haite

              ataeva pita----raghunandana amara niscite

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ama sabara--of all of us; krsna-bhakti--devotion to Krsna; raghunandana haite--because of Raghunandana; ataeva--therefore; pita--father; raghunandana--Raghunandana; amara niscite--my decision.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "All of us have attained devotion to Krsna due to Raghunandana. Therefore in my mind he is my father."

 

                               TEXT 117

 

                                 TEXT

 

              suni' harse kahe prabhu----"kahile niscaya

               yanha haite krsna-bhakti sei guru haya"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   suni'--hearing; harse--in great jubilation; kahe prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; kahile niscaya--you have spoken correctly; yanha haite--from whom; krsna-bhakti--devotion to Krsna; sei--that person; guru haya--is the spiritual master.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Hearing Mukunda dasa give this proper decision, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu confirmed it, saying,"Yes, it is correct. One who awakens devotion to Krsna is certainly a spiritual master."

 

                               TEXT 118

 

                                 TEXT

 

               bhaktera mahima prabhu kahite paya sukha

               bhaktera mahima kahite haya panca-mukha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhaktera mahima--the glories of a devotee; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahite--to speak; paya sukha--gets happiness; bhaktera mahima--the glories of a devotee; kahite--to speak; haya--becomes; panca-mukha--five faced.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu became very happy just to speak of the glories of His devotees. Indeed, when He spoke of their glories, it was as if He had five faces.

 

                               TEXT 119

 

                                 TEXT

 

              bhakta-gane kahe,----suna mukundera prema

               nigudha nirmala prema, yena dagdha hema

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhakta-gane kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu informed His devotees; suna--please hear; mukundera prema--Mukunda's love of Godhead; nigudha--very deep; nirmala--pure; prema--ecstatic love; yena--as if; dagdha--clarified; hema--gold.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then informed all His devotees, "Please hear about Mukunda's love of Godhead. It is a very deep and pure love and can only be compared with purified gold.

 

                               TEXT 120

 

                                 TEXT

 

                bahye raja-vaidya inho kare raja-seva

               antare krsna-prema inhara janibeka keba

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bahye--externally; raja-vaidya--royal physician; inho--he; kare--performs; raja-seva--government service; antare--within the heart; krsna-prema--love of Krsna; inhara--of Mukunda dasa; janibeka--can know; keba--who.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Mukunda dasa externally appears to be a royal physician engaged in governmental service, but internally he has a deep love for Krsna. Who can understand his love?

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Unless Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu discloses the fact, no one can understand who is actually a great devotee of the Lord engaged in His service. It is therefore said in Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 23.39), tanra vakya, kriya, mudra vijneha na bujhaya: even the most perfect and learned scholar cannot understand a Vaisnava's activities. A Vaisnava may be engaged in governmental service or in a professional business so that externally one cannot understand his position. Internally, however, he may be a nitya-siddha Vaisnava-that is, an eternally liberated Vaisnava. Externally Mukunda dasa was a royal physician, but internally he was the most liberated paramahamsa devotee. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu knew this very well, but ordinary men could not understand it, for the activities and plans of a Vaisnava cannot be understood by ordinary men. However, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His representative understand everything about a devotee, even though the devotee may externally pretend to be an ordinary householder and professional businessman.

 

                               TEXT 121

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 eka dina mleccha-rajara ucca-tungite

                  cikitsara vat kahe tanhara agrete

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka dina--one day; mleccha-rajara--of the Mohammedan King; ucca-tungite--on a high platform; cikitsara vat--talk of medical treatment; kahe--was speaking; tanhara agrete--before him.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "One day Mukunda dasa, the royal physician, was seated with the Mohammedan King on a high platform and was telling the King about medical treatment.

 

                               TEXT 122

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 hena-kale eka mayura-pucchera adani

                 raja-siropari dhare eka sevaka ani'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hena-kale--at this time; eka--one; mayura-pucchera--of peacock feathers; adani--fan; raja-sira-upari--above the head of the King; dhare--holds; eka--one; sevaka--servant; ani'--bringing.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "While the King and Mukunda dasa were conversing, a servant brought a fan made of peacock feathers to shade the head of the King from the sun. Consequently he held the fan above the King's head.

 

                               TEXT 123

 

                                 TEXT

 

             sikhi-piccha dekhi' mukunda premavista haila

                 ati-ucca tungi haite bhumite padila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sikhi-piccha--peacock feathers; dekhi'--seeing; mukunda--Mukunda dasa; prema-avista haila--became ecstatic in love of Godhead; ati-ucca--very high; tungi--platform; haite--from; bhumite--on the ground; padila--fell down.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Just by seeing the peacock-feathered fan, Mukunda dasa became absorbed in ecstatic love of Godhead and fell from the high platform onto the ground.

 

                               TEXT 124

 

                                 TEXT

 

             rajara jnana,----raja-vaidyera ha-ila marana

                   apane namiya tabe karaila cetana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   rajara jnana--the King thought; raja-vaidyera--of the royal physician; ha-ila marana--there was death; apane--personally; namiya--getting down; tabe--thereupon; karaila cetana--brought him to consciousness.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The King, fearing that the royal physician was killed, personally descended and brought him to his consciousness.

 

                               TEXT 125

 

                                 TEXT

 

              raja bale----vyatha tumi paile kona thani?

               mukunda kahe,----ati-bada vyatha pai nai

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raja bale--the King said; vyatha--pain; tumi paile--you have gotten; kona thani--where; mukunda kahe--Mukunda replied; ati-bada vyatha--very much pain; pai nai--I have not gotten.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "When the King asked Mukunda, 'Where is it paining you?' Mukunda replied, 'I am not very much pained.'

 

                               TEXT 126

 

                                 TEXT

 

             raja kahe,----mukunda, tumi padila ki lagi'?

              mukunda kahe, raja, mora vyadhi ache mrgi

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raja kahe--the King inquired; mukunda--O Mukunda; tumi padila--you fell; ki lagi'--for what reason; mukunda kahe--Mukunda replied; raja--my dear King; mora--of me; vyadhi--disease; ache--is; mrgi--epilepsy.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The King then inquired, 'Mukunda, why did you fall down?' Mukunda replied, 'My dear King, I have a disease that is like epilepsy.'

 

                               TEXT 127

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  maha-vidagdha raja, sei saba jane

              mukundere haila tanra 'maha-siddha'-jnane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   maha-vidagdha--highly intelligent; raja--the King; sei--he; saba jane--knows everything; mukundere--upon Mukunda; haila--was; tanra--his; maha-siddha-jnane--calculation as the most perfect devotee.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Being extraordinarily intelligent, the King could understand the whole affair. In his estimation, Mukunda was a most uncommon, exalted, liberated personality.

 

                            TEXTS 128-129

 

                                 TEXT

 

                raghunandana seva kare krsnera mandire

                 dvare puskarini, tara ghatera upare

 

                 kadambera eka vrkse phute bara-mase

                 nitya dui phula haya krsna-avatamse

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghunandana--Raghunandana; seva kare--serves; krsnera mandire--in the temple of Lord Krsna; dvare--near the door; puskarini--a lake; tara--of it; ghatera upare--on the bank; kadambera--of kadamba flowers; eka vrkse--on one tree; phute--blossom; bara-mase--all year around; nitya--daily; dui phala--two flowers; haya--become; krsna-avatamse--decoration for Lord Krsna.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Raghunandana is constantly engaged in serving the temple of Lord Krsna. Beside the entrance of the temple is a lake, and on its banks is a kadamba tree, which daily delivers two flowers to be used for Krsna's service."

 

                               TEXT 130

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 mukundere kahe punah madhura vacana

                'tomara karya----dharme dhana-uparjana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mukundere--to Mukunda; kahe--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu says; punah--again; madhura vacana--sweet words; tomara karya--your duty; dharme dhana-uparjana--to earn both material and spiritual wealth.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again spoke to Mukunda with sweet words: "Your duty is to earn both material and spiritual wealth.

 

                               TEXT 131

 

                                 TEXT

 

                raghunandanera karya----krsnera sevana

                krsna-seva vina inhara anya nahi mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghunandanera karya--the duty of Raghunandana; krsnera sevana--worshiping Lord Krsna; krsna-seva vina--except for worshiping Krsna; inhara--of him; anya--other; nahi--there is not; mana--intention.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Furthermore it is the duty of Raghunandana to always engage in Lord Krsna's service. He has no other intention but the service of Lord Krsna."

 

                               TEXT 132

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 narahari rahu amara bhakta-gana-sane

                 ei tina karya sada karaha tina jane,

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   narahari--Narahari; rahu--let him remain; amara--My; bhakta-gana-sane--along with other devotees; ei tina karya--these three divisions of duty; sada--always; karaha--execute; tina jane--you three persons.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then ordered Narahari: "I wish you to remain here with My devotees. In this way the three of you should always execute these three duties for the service of the Lord."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu set forth three duties for three different people. Mukunda was to earn money and follow the religious principles, whereas Narahari was to remain with the Lord's devotees, and Raghunandana was to engage in the Lord's service in the temple. Thus one person worships in the temple, another earns money honestly by executing his professional duty, and yet another preaches Krsna consciousness with the devotees. Apparently these three types of service appear separate, but actually they are not. When Krsna or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the center, everyone can engage in different activities for the service of the Lord. That is the verdict of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 133

 

                                 TEXT

 

              sarvabhauma, vidya-vacaspati,----dui bhai

                  dui-jane krpa kari' kahena gosani

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; vidya-vacaspati--Vidya-vacaspati; dui bhai--two brothers; dui-jane--unto the two; krpa kari'--out of His causeless mercy; kahena--says; gosani--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Out of His causeless mercy, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave the following directions to the brothers Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and Vidya-vacaspati.

 

                               TEXT 134

 

                                 TEXT

 

               'daru'-jala'-rupe krsna prakata samprati

                'darasana'-'snane' kare jivera mukati

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   daru--wood; jala--water; rupe--in the forms of; krsna--Lord Krsna; prakata--manifested; samprati--at the present moment; darasana--by seeing; snane--by bathing; kare--does; jivera mukati--the deliverance of the conditioned souls.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "In this Age of Kali, Krsna is manifest in two forms-wood and water. Thus He helps conditioned souls to become liberated by seeing the wood and bathing in the water.

 

                               TEXT 135

 

                                 TEXT

 

             'daru-brahma'-rupe----saksat sri-purusottama

              bhagirathi hana saksat 'jala-brahma'-sama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   daru-brahma-rupe--in the form of Brahman as wood; saksat--directly; sri-purusottama--Lord Jagannatha; bhagirathi--the River Ganges; hana--is; saksat--directly; jala-brahma-sama--the Supreme in the form of water.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Lord Jagannatha is the Supreme Lord Himself in the form of wood, and the River Ganges is the Supreme Lord Himself in the form of water.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The Vedas enjoin, sarvam khalv idam brahma: everything is the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Brahman or Param Brahman. Parasya brahmanah saktis tathedam akhilam jagat: everything is a manifestation of the energy of the Supreme Brahman. Since the energy and energetic are identical, actually everything is Krsna, Param Brahman. Bhagavad-gita (9.4) confirms this:

 

                        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."

   Krsna is spread throughout the whole universe in His impersonal form. Since everything is a manifestation of the Lord's energy, the Lord can manifest Himself through any energy. In this age, the Lord is manifest through wood as Lord Jagannatha, and He is manifest through water as the River Ganges. Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered the two brothers-Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and Vidya-vacaspati-to worship Lord Jagannatha and the River Ganges.

 

                               TEXT 136

 

                                 TEXT

 

               sarvabhauma, kara 'daru-brahma'-aradhana

                 vacaspati, kara jala-brahmera sevana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarvabhauma--O Sarvabhauma; kara--be engaged in; daru-brahma--of wooden Brahman; aradhana--worship; vacaspati--and you, Vacaspati; kara--do; jala-brahmera--of Param Brahman manifested in water; sevana--worship.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, you should engage in the worship of Lord Jagannatha Purusottama, and Vacaspati should worship mother Ganges."

 

                               TEXT 137

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 murari-guptere prabhu kari' alingana

             tanra bhakti-nistha kahena, sune bhakta-gana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   murari-guptere--Murari Gupta; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kari' alingana--embracing; tanra--his; bhakti-nistha--faith in devotional service; kahena--says; sune bhakta-gana--all the devotees hear.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then embraced Murari Gupta and began to speak about his firm faith in devotional service. This was heard by all the devotees.

 

                               TEXT 138

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 purve ami inhare lobhaila bara bara

               parama madhura, gupta, vrajendra-kumara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   purve--previously; ami--I; inhare--him; lobhaila--induced to be allured; bara bara--again and again; parama madhura--very sweet; gupta--O Gupta; vrajendra-kumara--Lord Krsna, the son of Nanda Maharaja.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Previously I induced Murari Gupta again and again to be allured by Lord Krsna. I said to him, 'My dear Gupta, Lord Sri Krsna, Vrajendra-kumara, is the supreme sweetness.

 

                               TEXT 139

 

                                 TEXT

 

            svayam bhagavan krsna----sarvamsi, sarvasraya

                visuddha-nirmala-prema, sarva-rasamaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   svayam bhagavan krsna--Lord Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarva-amsi--the source of all others; sarva-asraya--the reservoir of all energies; visuddha--transcendental; nirmala--free from all material contamination; prema--love; sarva-rasa-maya--the reservoir of all pleasure.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the origin of all incarnations and the source of everything. He is pure transcendental love itself, and He is the reservoir of all pleasure.

 

                               TEXT 140

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 sakala-sadguna-vrnda-ratna-ratnakara

               vidagdha, catura, dhira, rasika-sekhara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sakala--all; sat-guna--transcendental qualities; vrnda--multitude; ratna--of gems; ratna-akara--the mine; vidagdha--intelligent; catura--expert; dhira--sober; rasika-sekhara--master of all humor.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'Krsna is the reservoir of all transcendental qualities. He is like a mine of gems. He is expert at everything, very intelligent and sober, and He is the summit of all humors.

 

                               TEXT 141

 

                                 TEXT

 

                madhura-caritra krsnera madhura-vilasa

               caturya-vaidagdhya kare yanra lila-rasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   madhura-caritra--pleasing character; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; madhura-vilasa--melodious pastimes; caturya--expertise; vaidagdhya--intelligence; kare--manifests; yanra--whose; lila--of pastimes; rasa--mellows.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'His character is very sweet, and His pastimes are melodious. He is expert in intelligence, and thus He enjoys all His pastimes and mellows.'

 

                               TEXT 142

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 sei krsna bhaja tumi, hao krsnasraya

                krsna vina anya-upasana mane nahi laya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei krsna--that Lord Krsna; bhaja tumi--engage yourself in His service; hao krsna-asraya--take shelter of Krsna; krsna vina--except for Krsna; anya-upasana--any other worship; mane nahi laya--does not appeal to the mind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I then requested Murari Gupta, 'Worship Krsna and take shelter of Him. But for His service, nothing appeals to the mind.'

 

                               TEXT 143

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   ei-mata bara bara suniya vacana

                 amara gaurave kichu phiri' gela mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; bara bara--again and again; suniya vacana--hearing these words; amara gaurave--because of My influence; kichu--somewhat; phiri' gela--transformed; mana--his mind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "In this way, he heard from Me again and again. By My influence, his mind was a little converted.

 

                               TEXT 144

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 amare kahena,----ami tomara kinkara

                 tomara ajnakari ami nahi svatantara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   amare kahena--he said unto Me; ami--I; tomara kinkara--Your servant; tomara ajna-kari--Your order carrier; ami--I; nahi--am not; svatantara--independent.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Murari Gupta then replied, 'I am Your servant and Your order carrier. I have no independent existence.'

 

                               TEXT 145

 

                                 TEXT

 

               eta bali' ghare gela, cinti' ratri-kale

                raghunatha-tyaga-cintaya ha-ila vikale

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta bali'--saying this; ghare gela--went to his house; cinti'--thinking; ratri-kale--at night; raghunatha--Lord Ramacandra; tyaga--giving up; cintaya--by thoughts of; ha-ila vikale--became overwhelmed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "After this, Murari Gupta went home and spent the whole night thinking how he would be able to give up the association of Raghunatha, Lord Ramacandra. Thus he was overwhelmed.

 

                               TEXT 146

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  kemane chadiba raghunathera carana

                 aji ratrye prabhu mora karaha marana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kemane chadiba--how shall I give up; raghunathera carana--the lotus feet of Lord Raghunatha; aji ratrye--this night; prabhu--O Lord Raghunatha; mora--my; karaha marana--please cause death.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Murari Gupta then began to pray at the lotus feet of Lord Ramacandra. He prayed that death would come that night because it was not possible for him to give up the service of the lotus feet of Raghunatha.

 

                               TEXT 147

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ei mata sarva-ratri karena krandana

               mane soyasti nahi, ratri kaila jagarana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei mata--in this way; sarva-ratri--the whole night; karena krandana--cried; mane--in the mind; soyasti nahi--there is no rest; ratri--the whole night; kaila--kept; jagarana--awake.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Thus Murari Gupta cried the entire night. There was no rest for his mind; therefore he could not sleep but stayed awake the entire night.

 

                               TEXT 148

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 pratah-kale asi' mora dharila carana

                 kandite kandite kichu kare nivedana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   pratah-kale--in the morning; asi'--coming; mora--My; dharila--caught hold of; carana--feet; kandite kandite--continuously crying; kichu kare nivedana--submits some appeals.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "In the morning Murari Gupta came to see Me. Catching hold of My feet and crying, he submitted an appeal.

 

                               TEXT 149

 

                                 TEXT

 

               raghunathera paya muni veciyachon matha

                kadhite na pari matha, mane pai vyatha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghunathera paya--unto the lotus feet of Lord Raghunatha; muni--I; veciyachon--sold; matha--head; kadhite--to cut off; na pari--I am unable; matha--my head; mane--in my mind; pai vyatha--I get too much pain.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Murari Gupta said, 'I have sold my head to the lotus feet of Raghunatha. I cannot withdraw my head, for that would give me too much pain.

 

                               TEXT 150

 

                                 TEXT

 

                sri-raghunatha-carana chadana na yaya

                tava ajna-bhanga haya, ki karon upaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-raghunatha-carana--the lotus feet of Lord Ramacandra; chadana na yaya--cannot be given up; tava--Your; ajna--order; bhanga--broken; haya--is; ki--what; karon--shall I do; upaya--remedy.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'It is not possible for me to give up the service of Raghunatha's lotus feet. At the same time, if I do not do so I shall break your order. What can I do?'

 

                               TEXT 151

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   tate more ei krpa kara, dayamaya

                tomara age mrtyu ha-uka, yauka samsaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tate--therefore; more--unto me; ei--this; krpa--mercy; kara--bestow; daya-maya--O merciful one; tomara age--before You; mrtyu ha-uka--let me die; yauka samsaya--and let all doubts go away.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "In this way Murari Gupta appealed to Me, saying, 'Kindly grant me this mercy because You are all-merciful. Let me die before You so that all my doubts will be finished.'

 

                               TEXT 152

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 eta suni' ami bada mane sukha pailun

                 inhare uthana tabe alingana kailun-

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta suni'--hearing this; ami--I; bada--very great; mane--in the mind; sukha--happiness; pailun--got; inhare--him; uthana--raising; tabe--at that time; alingana kailun--I embraced.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Hearing this, I became very happy. I then raised Murari Gupta and embraced him.

 

                               TEXT 153

 

                                 TEXT

 

              sadhu sadhu, gupta, tomara sudrdha bhajana

                 amara vacaneha tomara na talila mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sadhu sadhu--all glories unto you; gupta--Murari Gupta; tomara--your; su-drdha--firmly fixed; bhajana--method of worship; amara--My; vacaneha--even on the request; tomara--your; na talila--did not budge; mana--mind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I said to him, 'All glories to you, Murari Gupta! Your method of worship is very firmly fixed-so much so that even upon My request your mind did not turn.

 

                               TEXT 154

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ei-mata sevakera priti cahi prabhu-paya

               prabhu chadaileha, pada chadana na yaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--like this; sevakera--of the servitor; priti--love; cahi--is wanted; prabhu-paya--unto the lotus feet of the Lord; prabhu chadaileha--even though the Lord causes separation; pada--the lotus feet of the Lord; chadana na yaya--cannot be given up.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'The servitor must have love and affection for the lotus feet of the Lord exactly like this. Even if the Lord wants separation, a devotee cannot abandon the shelter of His lotus feet.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The word prabhu, or master, indicates that the Lord is to be continuously served by His devotee. The original prabhu is the Lord, Sri Krsna. Nonetheless, there are many devotees attached to Lord Ramacandra, and Murari Gupta is a vivid example of such unalloyed devotion. He never agreed to give up Lord Ramacandra's worship, not even upon Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's request. Such is the chastity of devotional service, as stated in the Antya-lila of Caitanya-caritamrta (4.46-47):

 

            sei bhakta dhanya, ye na chade prabhura carana

               sei prabhu dhanya, ye na chade nija-jana

 

                durdaive sevaka yadi yaya anya sthane

               sei thakura dhanya tare cule dhari' ane

 

   In a firm relationship with the Lord, the devotee does not give up the Lord's service under any circumstance. As far as the Lord Himself is concerned, if the devotee chooses to leave, the Lord brings him back again, dragging him by the hair.

 

                               TEXT 155

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ei-mata tomara nistha janibara tare

                  tomare agraha ami kailun bare bare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; tomara--your; nistha--firm faith; janibara tare--to understand; tomare--unto you; agraha--persistence; ami kailun--l did; bare bare--again and again.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'Just to test your firm faith in your Lord, I requested you again and again to change your worship from Lord Ramacandra to Krsna.'

 

                               TEXT 156

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 saksat hanuman tumi sri-rama-kinkara

                tumi kene chadibe tanra carana-kamala

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   saksat--directly; hanuman--Hanuman; tumi--you; sri-rama-kinkara--the servant of Sri Rama; tumi--you; kene--why; chadibe--should give up; tanra--His; carana-kamala--lotus feet.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "In this way, I congratulated Murari Gupta, saying, 'Indeed, you are the incarnation of Hanuman. Consequently you are the eternal servant of Lord Ramacandra. Why should you give up the worship of Lord Ramacandra and His lotus feet?' "

 

                               TEXT 157

 

                                 TEXT

 

                sei murari-gupta ei----mora prana sama

               inhara dainya suni' mora phataye jivana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei murari-gupta--that Murari Gupta; ei--this; mora prana sama--not different from My life and soul; inhara--of him; dainya--humility; suni'--hearing; mora--My; phataye--perturbs; jivana--life.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "I accept this Murari Gupta as My life and soul. When I hear of his humility, it perturbs My very life."

 

                               TEXT 158

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 tabe vasudeve prabhu kari' alingana

                 tanra guna kahe hana sahasra-vadana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--then; vasudeve--Vasudeva; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kari' alingana--embracing; tanra guna--his good qualities; kahe--began to explain; hana--becoming; sahasra-vadana--possessing thousands of mouths.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then embraced Vasudeva Datta and began to speak of his glories as if He had a thousand mouths.

 

                               TEXT 159

 

                                 TEXT

 

                nija-guna suni' datta mane lajja pana

                nivedana kare prabhura carane dhariya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nija-guna--his personal qualities; suni'--hearing; datta--Vasudeva Datta; mane--in the mind; lajja pana--being ashamed; nivedana kare--submits; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carane dhariya--catching the lotus feet.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Caitanya Mahaprabhu glorified him, Vasudeva Datta immediately became very embarrassed and shy. He then submitted himself, touching the Lord's lotus feet.

 

                               TEXT 160

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  jagat tarite prabhu tomara avatara

                  mora nivedana eka karaha angikara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jagat tarite--to deliver the whole world; prabhu--my Lord; tomara--Your; avatara--incarnation; mora--my; nivedana--petition; eka--one; karaha angikara--please accept.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Vasudeva Datta told Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "My dear Lord, You incarnate just to deliver all conditioned souls. I have now one petition, which I wish You would accept.

 

                               TEXT 161

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  karite samartha tumi hao, dayamaya

                  tumi mana kara, tabe anayase haya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   karite--to execute; samartha--capable; tumi--You; hao--are; daya-maya--O merciful one; tumi mana kara--if You so desire; tabe--then; anayase--without difficulty; haya--it becomes possible.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "My Lord, You are certainly capable of doing whatever You like, and You are indeed merciful. If You so desire, You can very easily do whatever You want.

 

                               TEXT 162

 

                                 TEXT

 

               jivera duhkha dekhi' mora hrdaya bidare

               sarva-jivera papa prabhu deha' mora sire

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jivera--of all conditioned souls; duhkha dekhi'--by seeing the sufferings; mora--my; hrdaya--heart; bidare--breaks; sarva-jivera--of all living entities; papa--the sinful reactions; prabhu--My dear Lord; deha'--just put; mora sire--upon my head.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "My Lord, my heart breaks to see the sufferings of all conditioned souls; therefore I request You to transfer the karma of their sinful lives upon my head.

 

                               TEXT 163

 

                                 TEXT

 

               jivera papa lana muni karon naraka bhoga

              sakala jivera, prabhu, ghucaha bhava-roga

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jivera--of all conditioned souls; papa lana--accepting the sinful reactions; muni--I; karon--do; naraka--hellish life; bhoga--suffering; sakala jivera--of all living entities; prabhu--my dear Lord; ghucaha--please finish; bhava-roga--the material disease.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "My dear Lord, let me suffer perpetually in a hellish condition, accepting all the sinful reactions of all living entities. Please finish their diseased material life."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gives the following commentary on this verse. In the Western countries, Christians believe that Lord Jesus Christ, their spiritual master, appeared in order to eradicate all the sins of his disciples. To this end, Lord Jesus Christ appeared and disappeared. Here, however, we find Sri Vasudeva Datta Thakura and Srila Haridasa Thakura to be many millions of times more advanced even when compared to Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ relieved only his followers from all sinful reactions, but Vasudeva Datta is here prepared to accept the sins of everyone in the universe. A Vaisnava is so liberal that he is prepared to risk everything to rescue conditioned souls from material existence. Srila Vasudeva Datta Thakura is universal love itself, for he was willing to sacrifice everything and fully engage in the service of the Supreme.

   Srila Vasudeva Datta knew very well that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was the original Personality of Godhead. He was transcendence itself, above the material conception of illusion and maya. Lord Jesus Christ certainly finished the sinful reactions of his followers by his mercy, but that does not mean that he completely delivered them from the pangs of material existence. A person may be relieved from sins once, but it is a practice among Christians to confess sins and yet commit them again. By getting freed from sins and again engaging in them, one cannot attain freedom from the pangs of material existence. A diseased person may go to a physician for relief, but after he leaves the hospital he may again be infected due to his unclean habits. Thus material existence continues. Srila Vasudeva Datta wanted to completely relieve the conditioned souls from material existence so that they would no longer have an opportunity to commit sinful acts. This is the difference between Srila Vasudeva Datta and Lord Jesus Christ. It is a great offense to receive pardon for sins and then commit the same sins again. Such an offense is more dangerous than the sinful activity itself. Vasudeva Datta was so liberal that he requested Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to transfer all offensive activity upon him so the conditioned souls might be purified. This prayer was certainly without duplicity.

   Vasudeva Datta's example is unique not only within this world but within the universe. It is beyond the conception of fruitive actors or the speculation of mundane philosophers. Due to being illusioned by the external energy and due to a poor fund of knowledge, people tend to envy one another. Because of this they are entangled in fruitive activity, and they try to escape this fruitive activity by mental speculation. Consequently neither karmis nor jnanis are purified. In the words of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Thakura, they are kukarmis and kujnanis--bad actors and bad speculators. The Mayavadis and karmis should therefore turn their attention to the magnanimous Vasudeva Datta, who wanted to suffer for others in a hellish condition. Nor should one consider Vasudeva Datta a mundane philanthropist or welfare worker. He was not interested in merging into the Brahman effulgence, nor was he interested in material honor or reputation. He was far above philanthropists, philosophers and fruitive actors. He was a most exalted personality who wanted to show mercy upon conditioned souls. This is not an exaggeration of his transcendental qualities. It is perfectly true. Actually there cannot be any comparison to Vasudeva Datta. He was a Vaisnava--para-duhkha-duhkhi--very much aggrieved to see others suffer. The entire world is purified simply by the appearance of such a great devotee. By his presence the whole world is glorified, and all conditioned souls-due to his transcendental presence-are also glorified. As Narottama dasa Thakura confirms, Vasudeva Datta is the ideal devotee of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

          gaurangera sangi-gane,    nitya-siddha kari' mane,

                     se yaya vrajendra-suta-pasa

 

   One who executes Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission must be considered to be eternally liberated. He is a transcendental person and does not belong to this material world. Such a devotee engaging in the deliverance of the total population is as magnanimous as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself.

 

                         namo maha-vadanyaya

                        krsna-prema-pradaya te

                       krsnaya krsna-caitanya-

                       namne gaura-tvise namah

 

   Such a personality factually represents Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu because his heart is always filled with compassion for conditioned souls.

 

                               TEXT 164

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 eta suni' mahaprabhura citta dravila

                 asru-kampa-svarabhange kahite lagila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta suni'--hearing this; mahaprabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; citta--heart; dravila--became softened; asru--tears; kampa--trembling; svara-bhange--with faltering of the voice; kahite--to speak; lagila--began.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard Vasudeva Datta's statement, His heart became very soft. Tears flowed from His eyes, and He began to tremble. In a faltering voice He spoke as follows.

 

                               TEXT 165

 

                                 TEXT

 

            "tomara vicitra nahe, tumi----saksat prahlada

                tomara upare krsnera sampurna prasada

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tomara--in you; vicitra nahe--this is not extraordinary; tumi--you; saksat prahlada--incarnation of Prahlada Maharaja; tomara upare--upon you; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; sampurna--complete; prasada--mercy.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Accepting Vasudeva Datta as a great devotee, the Lord said, "Such a statement is not at all astonishing because you are the incarnation of Prahlada Maharaja. It appears that Lord Krsna has bestowed complete mercy upon you. There is no doubt about it.

 

                               TEXT 166

 

                                 TEXT

 

                krsna sei satya kare, yei mage bhrtya

               bhrtya-vancha-purti vinu nahi anya krtya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krsna--Lord Krsna; sei--that; satya kare--fulfills as true; yei--whatever; mage--wants; bhrtya--servant; bhrtya-vancha--the desire of His servant; purti--fulfilling; vinu--without; nahi--there is not; anya--other; krtya--duty.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Whatever a pure devotee wants from his master, Lord Krsna doubtlessly grants because He has no duty other than to fulfill the desire of His devotee.

 

                               TEXT 167

 

                                 TEXT

 

                brahmanda jivera tumi vanchile nistara

                 vina papa-bhoge habe sabara uddhara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   brahmanda--of the universe; jivera--of all living entities; tumi vanchile--if you desire; nistara--deliverance; vina--without; papa-bhoge--undergoing tribulations of sinful activities; habe--there will be; sabara--everyone's; uddhara--liberation.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "If you desire the deliverance of all living entities within the universe, then all of them can be delivered even without your undergoing the tribulations of sinful activity.

 

                               TEXT 168

 

                                 TEXT

 

                asamartha nahe krsna, dhare sarva bala

                 tomake va kene bhunjaibe papa-phala?

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   asamartha nahe--is not unable; krsna--Lord Krsna; dhare--possesses; sarva bala--all potencies; tomake--you; va--then; kene--why; bhunjaibe--would cause to suffer; papa-phala--results of sinful reactions.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Krsna is not incapable, for He has all potencies. Why would He induce you to suffer the sinful reactions of other living entities?

 

                               TEXT 169

 

                                 TEXT

 

             tumi yanra hita vancha', se haila 'vaisnava'

                 vaisnavera papa krsna dura kare saba

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tumi--you; yanra--of whom; hita vancha'--desire the welfare; se--such a person; haila--immediately becomes; vaisnava--a devotee; vaisnavera--of a Vaisnava; papa--the accidental sinful life; krsna--Lord Krsna; dura kare--vanquishes; saba--all.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Whosever welfare you desire immediately becomes a Vaisnava, and Krsna delivers all Vaisnavas from the reactions of their past sinful activities.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu here informed Vasudeva Datta that since Krsna is all-powerful, He can immediately deliver all conditioned souls from material existence. In essence, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "You desire the liberation of all kinds of living entities without discrimination. You are very anxious for their good fortune, and I say that simply by your prayer all living entities within the universe can be liberated. You do not even have to take up the burden of their sinful activities. Thus there is no need for you to suffer for their sinful lives. Whoever receives your compassion becomes a Vaisnava immediately, and Krsna delivers all Vaisnavas from the reactions to their past sinful activities." This is also promised in Bhagavad-gita (18.66):

 

                       sarva-dharman parityajya

                        mam ekam saranam vraja

                       aham tvam sarva-papebhyo

                        moksayisyami ma sucah

 

   "Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear."

   As soon as one fully surrenders to Krsna, he becomes a Vaisnava. In this verse from Bhagavad-gita, Krsna promises to relieve His devotee from all the reactions to sinful life. It is a fact that a fully surrendered Vaisnava is completely out of the range of material infection. This is to say that he does not suffer the results of pious or impious actions. Unless one is freed from a sinful life, he cannot become a Vaisnava. In other words, if one is a Vaisnava, his sinful life is certainly ended. According to Padma Purana:

 

                       aprarabdha-phalam papam

                       kutam bijam phalonmukham

                         kramenaiva praliyeta

                       visnu-bhakti-ratatmanam

 

   "There are different stages of dormant reactions to sinful activities to be observed in a sinful life. Sinful reactions may be just waiting to take effect [phalonmukha], reactions may be still further dormant [kuta], or the reactions may be in a seedlike state [bija]. In any case, all types of sinful reactions are vanquished one after another if a person engages in the devotional service of Lord Visnu.»

 

                               TEXT 170

 

                                 TEXT

 

            yas tv indra-gopam athavendram aho sva-karma-

                 bandhanurupa-phala-bhajanam atanoti

               karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam

                govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yah--He who (Govinda); tu--but; indra-gopam--to the small red insect called indra-gopa; athava--or even; indram--to Indra, King of heaven; aho--oh; sva-karma--of one's own fruitive activities; bandha--bondage; anurupa--according to; phala--of reactions; bhajanam--enjoying or suffering; atanoti--bestows; karmani--all fruitive activities and their reactions; nirdahati--destroys; kintu--but; ca--certainly; bhakti-bhajam--of persons engaged in devotional service; govindam--unto Lord Govinda; adi-purusam--the original person; tam--unto Him; aham--I; bhajami--offer my obeisances.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the original Personality of Godhead, Govinda, who regulates the sufferings and enjoyments of fruitive activity for everyone-from the heavenly King Indra down to the smallest insect [indra-gopa]. That very Personality of Godhead destroys the fruitive karma of one engaged in devotional service.'

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This is a quotation from Brahma-samhita (5.54).

 

                               TEXT 171

 

                                 TEXT

 

               tomara iccha-matre habe brahmanda-mocana

             sarva mukta karite krsnera nahi kichu srama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tomara iccha-matre--simply by your desire; habe--there will be; brahmanda-mocana--deliverance of the universe; sarva--everyone; mukta karite--to liberate; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; nahi--there is not; kichu--even a little; srama--labor.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Because of your honest desire, all living entities within the universe will be delivered, for Krsna does not have to do anything to deliver all the living entities of the universe.

 

                               TEXT 172

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  eka udumbara vrkse lage koti-phale

                koti ye brahmanda bhase virajara jale

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka udumbara vrkse--in one udumbara tree; lage--there are; koti-phale--millions of fruits; koti--millions; ye--which; brahmanda--of universes; bhase--float; virajara--of the Viraja River; jale--in the water.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Just as there are millions of fruits on the udumbara tree, millions of universes float on the waters of the river Viraja.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Viraja is a river that divides the material world from the spiritual world. On one side of the river Viraja is the effulgence of Brahmaloka and innumerable Vaikuntha planets, and on the other side is this material world. It is to be understood that this side of the Viraja River is filled with material planets floating in the Causal Ocean. The name Viraja indicates a marginal position between the spiritual and material worlds, but this Viraja River is not under the control of material energy. Consequently it is devoid of the three gunas.

 

                               TEXT 173

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 tara eka phala padi' yadi nasta haya

                 tathapi vrksa nahi jane nija-apacaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tara--of the tree; eka phala--one fruit; padi'--falling down; yadi--if; nasta haya--becomes destroyed; tathapi--still; vrksa--the tree; nahi jane--does not know; nija-apacaya--its loss.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The udumbara tree is filled with millions of fruits, and if one falls down and is destroyed, the tree does not even consider the loss.

 

                               TEXT 174

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 taiche eka brahmanda yadi mukta haya

                tabu alpa-hani krsnera mane nahi laya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   taiche--similarly; eka brahmanda--one universe; yadi--if; mukta haya--becomes liberated; tabu--still; alpa-hani--very little loss; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; mane--the mind; nahi laya--does not take it very seriously.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "In the same way, if one universe is vacated due to the living entities' having been liberated, that is a very little thing for Krsna. He does not take it very seriously.

 

                               TEXT 175

 

                                 TEXT

 

              ananta aisvarya krsnera vaikunthadi-dhama

                tara gada-khai----karanabdhi yara nama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ananta--unlimited; aisvarya--opulence; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; vaikuntha-adi-dhama--innumerable Vaikuntha planets; tara--of Vaikunthaloka; gada-khai--surrounding water; karana-abdhi--Causal Ocean; yara--of which; nama--name.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The entire spiritual world constitutes the unlimited opulence of Krsna, and there are innumerable Vaikuntha planets there. The Causal Ocean is considered the surrounding waters of Vaikunthaloka.

 

                               TEXT 176

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tate bhase maya lana ananta brahmanda

               gada-khaite bhase yena rai-purna bhanda

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tate--in that water; bhase--floats; maya--the material energy; lana--taking; ananta--unlimited; brahmanda--universes; gada-khaite--in the surrounding water; bhase--floats; yena--as if; rai-purna bhanda--a pot filled with mustard seeds.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Maya and her unlimited material universes are situated in that Causal Ocean. Indeed, maya appears to be floating like a pot filled with mustard seeds.

 

                               TEXT 177

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   tara eka rai-nase hani nahi mani

                aiche eka anda-nase krsnera nahi hani

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tara--of it; eka--one; rai-nase--loss of a mustard seed; hani--loss; nahi--does not; mani--notice; aiche--in that way; eka--one; anda--universe; nase--being lost; krsnera--of Krsna; nahi hani--there is no loss.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Of the millions of mustard seeds floating in that pot, if one seed is lost, the loss is not at all significant. Similarly, if one universe is lost, it is not significant to Lord Krsna.

 

                               TEXT 178

 

                                 TEXT

 

             saba brahmanda saha yadi 'maya'ra haya ksaya

                 tathapi na mane krsna kichu apacaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   saba brahmanda--all the universes; saha--with; yadi--if; mayara--of the material energy; haya ksaya--there is destruction; tathapi--still; na--not; mane--considers; krsna--Lord Krsna; kichu--any; apacaya--lost.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "To say nothing of one universal mustard seed, even if all the universes and the material energy [maya] are destroyed, Krsna does not even consider the loss.

 

                               TEXT 179

 

                                 TEXT

 

               koti-kamadhenu-patira chagi yaiche mare

              sad-aisvarya-pati krsnera maya kiba kare?

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   koti--of millions; kama-dhenu--of desire cows; patira--of the master; chagi--one she-goat; yaiche--as; mare--dies; sat-aisvarya-pati--the master of six opulences; krsnera--of Krsna; maya--external energy; kiba--what; kare--can do.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "If a person possessing millions of wish-fulfilling cows loses one she-goat, he does not consider the loss. Krsna owns all six opulences in full. If the entire material energy is destroyed, what does He lose?"

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, in clarifying verses 171--179, states that the meaning of these stanzas is very simple but that the purport is a little difficult to understand. Generally, conditioned souls forget Krsna when they are enticed by the material, external energy. Consequently they are called krsna-bahirmukha-bereft of their relationship with Krsna. When such a living entity comes under the jurisdiction of the material energy, he is sent into one of the innumerable material universes created by the material energy to give a chance to conditioned souls to enjoy their desires in the material world. Being very eager to enjoy the fruits of their activities, conditioned souls become involved in the actions and reactions of material life. Consequently one has to enjoy and suffer the results of karma. However, if a conditioned soul becomes Krsna conscious, the karma of his pious and impious activities is completely destroyed. Simply by becoming a devotee, one is bereft of all the reactions of karma. Similarly, simply by the desire of a devotee, a conditioned soul can attain liberation and transcend the results of karma. If everyone is liberated in this way, one may conclude that according to the sweet will of the devotee, the material world exists or does not exist. Ultimately, however, it is not the sweet will of the devotee but the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who, if He so desires, can completely annihilate the material creation. There is no loss on His part. The owner of millions of cows does not consider the loss of one she-goat. Similarly, Lord Krsna is the proprietor of both material and spiritual universes. The material world constitutes only one-fourth of His creative energy. If, according to the desire of the devotee, the Lord completely destroys the creation, He is so opulent that He will not mind the loss.

 

                               TEXT 180

 

                                 TEXT

 

             jaya jaya jahy ajam ajita dosa-grbhita-gunam

           tvam asi yad atmana samavaruddha-samasta-bhagah

             aga-jagad-okasam akhila-sakty-avabodhaka te

            kvacid ajayatmana ca carato 'nucaren nigamah"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jaya jaya--kindly exhibit Your glory; jahi--please conquer; ajam--nescience, maya; ajita--O unconquerable one; dosa--faulty; grbhita-gunam--by which the qualities are accepted; tvam--You; asi--are; yat--because; atmana--by Your internal potency; samavaruddha--possessing; samasta-bhagah--all kinds of opulences; aga--nonmoving; jagat--moving; okasam--of the embodied living entities; akhila--all; sakti--of potencies; avabodhaka--master; te--You; kvacit--sometimes; ajaya--by the external energy; atmana--of Your self; ca--also; caratah--manifesting pastimes (by Your glance); anucaret--confirm; nigamah--all the Vedas.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, " 'O my Lord, O unconquerable one, O master of all potencies, please exhibit Your internal potency to conquer the nescience of all moving and inert living entities. Due to nescience, they accept all kinds of faulty things, thus provoking a fearful situation. O Lord, please show Your glories! You can do this very easily, for Your internal potency is beyond the external potency, and You are the reservoir of all opulence. You are also the demonstrator of the material potency. You are also always engaged in Your pastimes in the spiritual world. You exhibit Your reserved internal potency and sometimes exhibit the external potency by glancing over it. Thus You manifest Your pastimes. The Vedas confirm Your two potencies and accept both types of pastimes due to them.' "

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This verse is taken from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.87.14). It is from the prayers of the sruti-gana, the personified Vedas who glorify the Lord.

   The almighty Personality of Godhead has three potencies-internal, external and marginal. When the conditioned souls are condemned due to forgetfulness, the external potency creates the material world and puts the living entities under its control. The three modes of material nature keep the living entity in a constant state of fear. Bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah. The controlled conditioned soul is always fearful due to being controlled by the external potency; therefore the conditioned soul should always pray to the almighty Lord to conquer the external potency (maya) so that she will no longer manifest her powers, which bind all living entities, moving and inert.

 

                               TEXT 181

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ei mata sarva-bhaktera kahi' saba guna

                  sabare vidaya dila kari' alingana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei mata--in this way; sarva-bhaktera--of all the devotees; kahi'--describing; saba guna--all the good qualities; sabare--unto everyone; vidaya dila--bade farewell; kari' alingana--embracing.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In this way, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu described the good qualities of His devotees one after the other. He then embraced them and bade them farewell.

 

                               TEXT 182

 

                                 TEXT

 

                prabhura vicchede bhakta karena rodana

            bhaktera vicchede prabhura visanna haila mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhura--from Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vicchede--by separation; bhakta--all the devotees; karena--do; rodana--crying; bhaktera--of the devotees; vicchede--by the separation; prabhura--of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; visanna--morose; haila--became; mana--the mind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Due to the impending separation from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, all the devotees began to cry. The Lord was also morose due to separation from the devotees.

 

                               TEXT 183

 

                                 TEXT

 

                gadadhara-pandita rahila prabhura pase

                 yamesvare prabhu yanre karaila avase

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gadadhara-pandita--Gadadhara Pandita; rahila--remained; prabhura pase--along with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yamesvare--at Yamesvara; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yanre--unto whom; karaila--made to take; avase--residence.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Gadadhara Pandita remained with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and he was given a place to live at Yamesvara.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Yamesvara is on the southwest side of the Jagannatha temple. Gadadhara Pandita resided there, and there was a small garden and a sandy beach known as Yamesvara-tota.

 

                            TEXTS 184-185

 

                                 TEXT

 

              puri-gosani, jagadananda, svarupa-damodara

               damodara-pandita, ara govinda, kasisvara

 

                 ei-saba-sange prabhu vaise nilacale

              jagannatha-darasana nitya kare pratah-kale

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   puri-gosani--Paramananda Puri; jagadananda--Jagadananda; svarupa-damodara--Svarupa Damodara; damodara-pandita--Damodara Pandita; ara--and; govinda--Govinda; kasisvara--Kasisvara; ei-saba--all these personalities; sange--accompanied by; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vaise--stays; nilacale--at Jagannatha Puri; jagannatha-darasana--seeing Lord Jagannatha; nitya--daily; kare--does; pratah-kale--in the morning.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu remained at Jagannatha Puri, Nilacala, with Paramananda Puri, Jagadananda, Svarupa Damodara, Damodara Pandita, Govinda and Kasisvara. It was Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's daily business to see Lord Jagannatha in the morning.

 

                               TEXT 186

 

                                 TEXT

 

                prabhu-pasa asi' sarvabhauma eka dina

                 yoda-hata kari' kichu kaila nivedana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu-pasa--in the presence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; asi'--coming; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; eka dina--one day; yoda-hata kari'--with folded hands; kichu--some; kaila--did; nivedana--submission.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   One day Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya came before Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with folded hands and submitted a request.

 

                               TEXT 187

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ebe saba vaisnava gauda-dese cali' gela

                ebe prabhura nimantrane avasara haila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ebe--now; saba--all; vaisnava--devotees; gauda-dese--to Bengal; cali, gela--have returned; ebe--now; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nimantrane--for invitations; avasara haila--there is a chance.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Since all the Vaisnavas had returned to Bengal, there was a good chance that the Lord would accept an invitation.

 

                               TEXT 188

 

                                 TEXT

 

              ebe mora ghare bhiksa karaha 'masa' bhari'

             prabhu kahe,----dharma nahe, karite na pari

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ebe--now; mora ghare--at my place; bhiksa--lunch; karaha--accept; masa bhari'--for one month; prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied; dharma--religious principle; nahe--it is not; karite--to do; na pari--I am unable.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said, "Please accept my invitation for lunch for one month." The Lord replied,"That is not possible because it is against the religious principles of a sannyasi."

 

                               TEXT 189

 

                                 TEXT

 

             sarvabhauma kahe,----bhiksa karaha visa dina

              prabhu kahe,----eha nahe yati-dharma-cihna

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarvabhauma kahe--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said; bhiksa karaha--accept lunch; visa dina--for twenty days; prabhu kahe--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; eha nahe--this is not; yati-dharma-cihna--the symptom of a person in the renounced order of life.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sarvabhauma then said, "Please accept the invitation for twenty days," but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "It is not a religious principle of the renounced order."

 

                               TEXT 190

 

                                 TEXT

 

             sarvabhauma kahe punah,----dina 'panca-dasa'

              prabhu kahe,----tomara bhiksa 'eka' divasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarvabhauma kahe--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said; punah--again; dina panca-dasa--fifteen days; prabhu kahe--the Lord replied; tomara bhiksa--lunch at your place; eka divasa--only one day.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Sarvabhauma requested Caitanya Mahaprabhu to accept lunch for fifteen days, the Lord said, "I shall accept lunch at your place for one day only."

 

                               TEXT 191

 

                                 TEXT

 

               tabe sarvabhauma prabhura carane dhariya

              'dasa-dina bhiksa kara' kahe vinati kariya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--thereafter; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carane dhariya--catching the lotus feet; dasa-dina--for ten days; bhiksa kara--accept lunch; kahe--says; vinati kariya--with great submission.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya then caught hold of the Lord's lotus feet and submissively begged,"Please accept lunch for at least ten days."

 

                               TEXT 192

 

                                 TEXT

 

                prabhu krame krame panca-dina ghataila

                panca-dina tanra bhiksa niyama karila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krame krame--gradually; panca-dina--to five days; ghataila--reduced; panca-dina--for five days; tanra--his; bhiksa--invitation for lunch; niyama karila--accepted regularly.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In this way, by and by, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu reduced the duration to five days. Thus for five days He regularly accepted the invitation to lunch.

 

                               TEXT 193

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  tabe sarvabhauma kare ara nivedana

                 tomara sange sannyasi ache dasa-jana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--thereafter; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; kare--does; ara--another; nivedana--submission; tomara sange--with You; sannyasi--in the renounced order of life; ache--there are; dasa-jana--ten persons.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After this, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said, "My Lord, there are ten sannyasis with You."

   A sannyasi should not cook food for himself or accept an invitation to eat at a devotee's house continuously for many days. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very kind and affectionate toward His devotees, yet He would not accept a long invitation at Sarvabhauma's house. Out of affection, He accepted only five days in the month. The ten sannyasis living with the Lord were (1) Paramananda Puri, (2) Svarupa Damodara, (3) Brahmananda Puri, (4) Brahmananda Bharati, (5) Visnu Puri, (6) Kesava Puri, (7) Krsnananda Puri, (8) Nrsimha Tirtha, (9) Sukhananda Puri and (10) Satyananda Bharati.

 

                               TEXT 194

 

                                 TEXT

 

              puri-gosanira bhiksa panca-dina mora ghare

                  purve ami kahiyachon tomara gocare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   puri-gosanira--of Paramananda Puri; bhiksa--invitation for lunch; panca-dina--five days; mora ghare--at my home; purve--previously; ami--I; kahiyachon--mentioned; tomara gocare--it is known to you.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya then submitted that Paramananda Puri Gosvami should accept a five-day invitation at his place. This was settled before the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 195

 

                                 TEXT

 

                damodara-svarupa,----ei bandhava amara

               kabhu tomara sange yabe, kabhu ekesvara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   damodara-svarupa--Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; ei--this; bandhava amara--my very intimate friend; kabhu--sometimes; tomara sange--with You; yabe--will come; kabhu--sometimes; ekesvara--alone.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said, "Damodara Svarupa is my intimate friend. He will come sometimes with You and sometimes alone.

 

                               TEXT 196

 

                                 TEXT

 

              ara asta sannyasira bhiksa dui dui divase

             eka eka-dina, eka eka jane purna ha-ila mase

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ara--other; asta--eight; sannyasira--of sannyasis; bhiksa--invitation for lunch; dui dui divase--two days each; eka eka-dina--on each day; eka eka jane--one person; purna--filled; ha-ila--will be; mase--the month.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The other eight sannyasis will accept invitations for two days each. In this way there will be engagements for each and every day during the entire month.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   For the entire month consisting of thirty days, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would visit five days, Paramananda Puri Gosvami five days, Svarupa Damodara four days, and the eight other sannyasis two days each. In this way the thirty days of the month were completed.

 

                               TEXT 197

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 bahuta sannyasi yadi aise eka thani

                  sammana karite nari, aparadha pai

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bahuta sannyasi--many sannyasis; yadi--if; aise--come; eka thani--together; sammana karite nari--I cannot receive them properly; aparadha pai--I shall be an offender.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "If all the sannyasis come together, it would not be possible for me to pay them proper respects. Therefore I would be an offender.

 

                               TEXT 198

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  tumiha nija-chaye asibe mora ghara

                 kabhu sange asibena svarupa-damodara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tumiha--You; nija-chaye--alone; asibe--will come; mora ghara--to my place; kabhu--sometimes; sange--with You; asibena--will come; svarupa-damodara--Svarupa Damodara Gosvami.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Sometimes You will come alone to my place, and sometimes You will be accompanied by Svarupa Damodara."

 

                               TEXT 199

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  prabhura ingita pana anandita mana

                sei dina mahaprabhura kaila nimantrana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ingita--acceptance; pana--receiving; anandita--very happy; mana--mind; sei dina--on that day; mahaprabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila--made; nimantrana--invitation.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Having this arrangement confirmed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Bhattacarya became very glad and immediately invited the Lord to his house on that very day.

 

                               TEXT 200

 

                                 TEXT

 

              'sathira mata' nama, bhattacaryera grhini

              prabhura maha-bhakta tenho, snehete janani

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sathira mata--the mother of Sathi; nama--named; bhattacaryera grhini--the wife of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; maha-bhakta--a great devotee; tenho--she; snehete--in affection; janani--just like a mother.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya's wife was known as the mother of Sathi. She was a great devotee of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and she was affectionate like a mother.

 

                               TEXT 201

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ghare asi' bhattacarya tanre ajna dila

                   anande sathira mata paka cadaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ghare asi'--coming home; bhattacarya--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; tanre--her; ajna dila--ordered; anande--with great satisfaction; sathira mata--the mother of Sathi; paka cadaila--began cooking.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After returning to his home, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya gave orders to his wife, and his wife, known as Sathira Mata, the mother of Sathi, began cooking with great pleasure.

 

                               TEXT 202

 

                                 TEXT

 

              bhattacaryera grhe saba dravya ache bhari'

                  yeba saka-phaladika, anaila ahari'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhattacaryera grhe--at the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; saba dravya--all kinds of ingredients; ache--there are; bhari'--filling; yeba--whatever; saka--spinach; phala-adika--fruits and so on; anaila--he brought; ahari'--collecting.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   At Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya's house, there was always a full stock of food. Whatever spinach, vegetables, fruit and so on were required, he collected and brought back home.

 

                               TEXT 203

 

                                 TEXT

 

               apani bhattacarya kare pakera saba karma

              sathira mata----vicaksana, jane paka-marma

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   apani--personally; bhattacarya--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; kare--arranges; pakera--of cooking; saba karma--all activities; sathira mata--the mother of Sathi; vicaksana--very experienced; jane--knows; paka-marma--how to cook.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya personally began to help his wife cook. His wife, the mother of Sathi, was very experienced, and she knew how to cook nicely.

 

                               TEXT 204

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 paka-salara daksine----dui bhogalaya

                eka-ghare salagramera bhoga-seva haya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   paka-salara daksine--on the southern side of the kitchen; dui bhoga-alaya--two rooms for offering food; eka-ghare--in one room; salagramera--of Lord Salagrama; bhoga-seva--offering of food; haya--there is.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   On the southern side of the kitchen were two rooms for offering food, and in one of them the food was offered to Salagrama Narayana.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Among the followers of the Vedic way, salagrama-sila, the vigraha of Narayana, is worshiped in the form of a stone ball. In India, every brahmana still worships the salagrama-sila in his home. The vaisyas and ksatriyas may also engage in this worship, but it is compulsory in the house of a brahmana.

 

                               TEXT 205

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ara ghara mahaprabhura bhiksara lagiya

                nibhrte kariyache bhatta nutana kariya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ara ghara--the other room; mahaprabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhiksara lagiya--for taking lunch; nibhrte kariyache--constructed in a solitary place; bhatta--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; nutana kariya--newly done.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The other room was for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's lunch. The Lord's lunch room was very secluded, and it was newly constructed by Bhattacarya.

 

                               TEXT 206

 

                                 TEXT

 

                bahye eka dvara tara, prabhu pravesite

                paka-salara eka dvara anna parivesite

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bahye--outside; eka dvara--one door; tara--of this room; prabhu pravesite--for the entrance of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; paka-salara--of the kitchen; eka dvara--another door; anna--food; parivesite--to serve.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The room was so constructed that there was only one door as an entrance from the outside for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There was another door attached to the kitchen, and it was through this door that the food was brought.

 

                               TEXT 207

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 battisa-athiya kalara angatiya pate

                  tina-mana tandulera ubharila bhate

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   battisa-athiya--named battisa-athiya; kalara--of the banana tree; angatiya--without being divided; pate--on a leaf; tina--three; mana--manas (a certain weight); tandulera--of rice; ubharila--poured; bhate--cooked rice.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   First, three manas of cooked rice-almost six pounds-was poured on a big banana leaf.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This is the beginning of a description of the food prepared for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This description is given by Kaviraja Gosvami, who, it is assumed, was an expert cook who knew both how to prepare and how to serve food.

 

                               TEXT 208

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 pita-sugandhi-ghrte anna sikta kaila

                  cari-dike pate ghrta vahiya calila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   pita--yellowish; su-gandhi--fragrant; ghrte--with clarified butter; anna--rice; sikta--mixed; kaila--made; cari-dike--on all sides; pate--the leaf; ghrta--the clarified butter; vahiya calila--began to flood.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Then, the whole stack of rice was mixed with so much yellowish and fragrant clarified butter that it began to overflow the leaf.

 

                               TEXT 209

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 keyapatra-kalakhola-donga sari sari

              cari-dike dhariyache nana vyanjana bhari'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   keya-patra--the leaf of the keya plant; kala-khola--the skin of the banana tree; donga--pots; sari sari--one after another; cari-dike--on all sides; dhariyache--were holding; nana--various; vyanjana--cooked vegetables; bhari'--filled.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   There were a number of pots made of the bark of banana trees and the leaves of the keya plant. These pots were filled with various cooked vegetables and placed on all sides of the leaf.

 

                               TEXT 210

 

                                 TEXT

 

             dasa-prakara saka, nimba-tikta-sukhta-jhola

                maricera jhala, chana-bada, badi ghola

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dasa-prakara saka--spinach of ten varieties; nimba-tikta-sukhta-jhola--a soup called sukhta, made with bitter nimba leaf; maricera jhala--a pungent preparation made with black pepper; chana-bada--a mild cake made of fried curd; badi ghola--buttermilk with small pieces of fried dhal.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   There were about ten kinds of spinach, a soup called sukhta, which was made with bitter nimba leaves, a pungent preparation made with black pepper, a mild cake made of fried curd, and buttermilk mixed with small fried pieces of dhal.

 

                               TEXT 211

 

                                 TEXT

 

            dugdha-tumbi, dugdha-kusmanda, vesara, laphra

                moca-ghanta, moca-bhaja, vividha sakra

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dugdha-tumbi--squash cooked with milk; dugdha-kusmanda--pumpkin cooked with milk; vesara--a preparation made from chick-pea flour; laphra--a combination of several vegetables; moca-ghanta--boiled banana flowers; moca--bhaja--fried banana flowers; vividha--various; sakra--vegetables.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   There were preparations of dugdha-tumbi, dugdha-kusmanda, vesara, laphra, moca-ghanta, moca-bhaja and other vegetables.

 

                               TEXT 212

 

                                 TEXT

 

                vrddha-kusmanda-badira vyanjana apara

                 phulabadi-phala-mula vividha prakara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vrddha-kusmanda-badira--of small pieces of fried dhal mixed with ripe pumpkin; vyanjana--vegetables; apara--unlimited; phula-badi--small fried pieces of another kind of dhal; phala--fruits; mula--roots; vividha prakara--of different varieties.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   There were unlimited quantities of vrddha-kusmanda-badi, phula-badi, fruits and various roots.

 

                               TEXT 213

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 nava-nimbapatra-saha bhrsta-vartaki

             phula-badi patola-bhaja, kusmanda-mana-caki

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nava--newly grown; nimba-patra--nimba leaves; saha--along with; bhrsta-vartaki--fried eggplant; phula-badi--light badi; patola-bhaja--fried patola vegetable; kusmanda--of pumpkin; mana--of squash; caki--rounds.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Other preparations included eggplant mixed with newly grown nimba leaves fried together, light badi, fried patola, and fried rounds of squash and pumpkin.

 

                               TEXT 214

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 bhrsta-masa-mudga-supa amrta nindaya

                madhuramla, badamladi amla panca chaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhrsta--fried; masa--urd dhal; mudga--mung dhal; supa--soup; amrta--nectar; nindaya--defeating; madhura-amla--sweet chutney; bada-amla--sour preparation made with fried dhal; adi--and so on; amla--sour; panca chaya--five or six kinds.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   There was a soup made with fried urad dhal and mung dhal, defeating nectar. There were also sweet chutney and five or six kinds of sour preparations, beginning with badamla.

 

                               TEXT 215

 

                                 TEXT

 

                mudga-bada, masa-bada, kala-bada mista

               ksira-puli, narikela-puli ara yata pista

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mudga-bada--fried cakes made of mung dhal; masa-bada--fried cakes made of urd dhal; kala-bada--fried cakes made of banana; mista--very sweet; ksira-puli--cakes made with sweet rice; narikela-puli--coconut cake; ara--and; yata--varieties of; pista--cakes.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   There were bharats made of mung dhal, of urd dhal and of sweet bananas, and there was sweet rice cake, coconut cake and various other cakes.

 

                               TEXT 216

 

                                 TEXT

 

               kanji-bada, dugdha-cida, dugdha-laklaki

                 ara yata pitha kaila, kahite na saki

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kanji-bada--cakes made with sour rice-water; dugdha-cida--sweet rice mixed with milk; dugdha-laklaki--another preparation of milk and cakes to be licked up; ara--and; yata--various types of; pitha--cakes; kaila--made; kahite--to describe; na saki--I am not able.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   There was kanji-bada, dugdha-cida, dugdha-laklaki and various cakes, which I am unable to describe.

 

                               TEXT 217

 

                                 TEXT

 

              ghrta-sikta paramanna, mrt-kundika bhari'

                canpakala-ghanadugdha-amra taha dhari

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ghrta-sikta parama-anna--sweet rice mixed with ghee; mrt-kundika bhari'--filling an earthen pot; canpa-kala--a kind of banana; ghana-dugdha--condensed milk; amra--mango pulp; taha--that; dhari--including.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sweet rice mixed with ghee was poured into an earthen pot and mixed with canpa-kala, condensed milk and mango.

 

                               TEXT 218

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 rasala-mathita dadhi, sandesa apara

                 gaude utkale yata bhaksyera prakara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   rasala--delicious; mathita--churned; dadhi--curd; sandesa--a sweetmeat; apara--unlimited; gaude--in Bengal; utkale--in Orissa; yata--all; bhaksyera--of eatables; prakara--kinds.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Other preparations included a very delicious churned curd and a variety of sandesa sweetmeats. Indeed, all the various eatables available in Bengal and Orissa were prepared.

 

                               TEXT 219

 

                                 TEXT

 

                sraddha kari' bhattacarya saba karaila

                subhra-pithopari suksma vasana patila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sraddha kari'--with great respect; bhattacarya--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; saba karaila--had them all prepared; subhra--white; pitha--a wooden platform; upari--over; suksma--fine; vasana--cloth; patila--spread.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus Bhattacarya prepared a great variety of food and spread a fine cloth over a white wooden platform.

 

                               TEXT 220

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 dui pase sugandhi sitala jala-jhari

                anna-vyanjanopari dila tulasi-manjari

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dui pase--on two sides; su-gandhi--nicely scented; sitala--cold; jala-jhari--pitchers of water; anna-vyanjana-upari--over the rice and vegetables; dila--placed; tulasi-manjari--flowers of tulasi.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   On two sides of the stack of food were pitchers filled with scented cold water. The flowers of the tulasi tree were placed above the mound of rice.

 

                               TEXT 221

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   amrta-gutika, pitha-pana anaila

                jagannatha-prasada saba prthak dharila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   amrta-gutika--the sweet named amrta-gutika; pitha-pana--cakes and sweet rice; anaila--brought; jagannatha-prasada--remnants of the food of Lord Jagannatha; saba--all; prthak dharila--kept separately.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya also included several types of food that had been offered to Lord Jagannatha. This included sweetballs known as amrta-gutika, sweet rice and cakes. All these were kept separately.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Although the remnants of food left by Jagannatha were brought into Bhattacarya's house, they were kept separate from the preparations he had made at his home. It sometimes happens that prasada is mixed with a larger quantity of food and then distributed, but in this case we find that Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya kept the jagannatha-prasada separate. He kept it aside particularly for the satisfaction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 222

 

                                 TEXT

 

                hena-kale mahaprabhu madhyahna kariya

                    ekale aila tanra hrdaya janiya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hena-kale--at this time; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; madhyahna kariya--finishing His midday duties; ekale--alone; aila--came; tanra--of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; hrdaya--the heart; janiya--knowing.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When everything was ready, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came there alone after finishing His midday duties. He knew the heart of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.

 

                               TEXT 223

 

                                 TEXT

 

                bhattacarya kaila tabe pada praksalana

                 gharera bhitare gela karite bhojana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhattacarya--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; kaila--performed; tabe--thereafter; pada praksalana--washing the feet; gharera bhitare--within the room; gela--entered; karite bhojana--to take lunch.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya washed the Lord's feet, the Lord entered the room to take His lunch.

 

                               TEXT 224

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  annadi dekhiya prabhu vismita hana

                 bhattacarye kahe kichu bhangi kariya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   anna-adi dekhiya--seeing the arrangement of food; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vismita hana--being astonished; bhattacarye kahe--said to Bhattacarya; kichu--some; bhangi--gesture; kariya--making.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a little astonished to see the gorgeous arrangement, and, gesturing, He spoke to Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.

 

                               TEXT 225

 

                                 TEXT

 

                    alaukika ei saba anna-vyanjana

             dui prahara bhitare kaiche ha-ila randhana?

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   alaukika--uncommon; ei--this; saba--all; anna-vyanjana--rice and vegetables; dui prahara bhitare--within six hours; kaiche--how; ha-ila randhana--cooking was finished.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "This is most uncommon! How was this arrangement of rice and vegetables finished within six hours?

 

                               TEXT 226

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 sata culaya sata jana paka yadi kare

               tabu sighra eta dravya randhite na pare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sata culaya--in one hundred ovens; sata jana--one hundred men; paka yadi kare--if engaged in cooking; tabu--still; sighra--so soon; eta dravya--so many preparations; randhite na pare--could not cook.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Even a hundred men cooking on a hundred ovens could not possibly finish all these preparations within so short a time.

 

                               TEXT 227

 

                                 TEXT

 

               krsnera bhoga laganacha,----anumana kari

                  upare dekhiye yate tulasi-manjari

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krsnera bhoga laganacha--you have offered to Krsna; anumana kari--I hope; upare--upon the food; dekhiye--I see; yate--since; tulasi-manjari--flowers of the tulasi tree.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I hope the food has already been offered to Krsna, since I see there are tulasi flowers over the plates.

 

                               TEXT 228

 

                                 TEXT

 

                bhagyavan tumi, saphala tomara udyoga

                 radha-krsne laganacha etadrsa bhoga

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhagyavan tumi--you are fortunate; sa-phala--successful; tomara--your; udyoga--endeavor; radha-krsne--unto Their Lordships Radha and Krsna; laganacha--you offered; etadrsa--such; bhoga--food.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "You are most fortunate, and your endeavor is successful, for you have offered such wonderful food to Radha-Krsna.

 

                               TEXT 229

 

                                 TEXT

 

               annera saurabhya, varna----ati manorama

             radha-krsna saksat ihan kariyachena bhojana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   annera saurabhya--the flavor of the cooked rice; varna--color; ati manorama--very attractive; radha-krsna--Lord Krsna and Radharani; saksat--directly; ihan--all this; kariyachena bhojana--have eaten.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The color of the rice is so attractive and its aroma so good that it appears Radha and Krsna have directly taken it.

 

                               TEXT 230

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 tomara bahuta bhagya kata prasamsiba

                 ami----bhagyavan, ihara avasesa paba

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tomara--your; bahuta--great; bhagya--fortune; kata--how much; prasamsiba--shall I praise; ami--I; bhagyavan--fortunate; ihara--of this; avasesa--remnants; paba--shall get.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "My dear Bhattacarya, your fortune is very great. How much shall I praise you? I also am very fortunate to be able to take the remnants of this food.

 

                               TEXT 231

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  krsnera asana-pitha rakhaha uthana

               more prasada deha' bhinna patrete kariya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krsnera--of Lord Krsna; asana-pitha--the sitting place; rakhaha--keep aside; uthana--raising; more--unto Me; prasada--prasada; deha'--give; bhinna--separate; patrete--on a plate; kariya--putting.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Take away Krsna's sitting place and put it aside. Then give me prasada on a different plate."

 

                               TEXT 232

 

                                 TEXT

 

             bhattacarya bale----prabhu na karaha vismaya

             yei khabe, tanhara saktye bhoga siddha haya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhattacarya bale--Bhattacarya said; prabhu--my Lord; na karaha vismaya--do not become astonished; yei khabe--whoever shall eat; tanhara saktye--by His grace; bhoga--the food; siddha haya--has been prepared.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said, "It is not so wonderful, my Lord. Everything has been made possible by the energy and mercy of He who will eat the food.

 

                               TEXT 233

 

                                 TEXT

 

                udyoga na chila mora grhinira randhane

               yanra saktye bhoga siddha, sei taha jane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   udyoga--exertion; na chila--there was not; mora--of me; grhinira--of my wife; randhane--in cooking; yanra saktye--by whose potency; bhoga siddha--the food has been prepared; sei--He; taha jane--knows that.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "My wife and I did not especially exert ourselves in the cooking. He by whose power the food has been prepared knows everything.

 

                               TEXT 234

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   eita asane vasi' karaha bhojana

                prabhu kahe,----pujya ei krsnera asana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eita asane--on this sitting place; vasi'--sitting; karaha bhojana--take Your lunch; prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; pujya--worshipable; ei--this; krsnera asana--sitting place of Krsna.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Now please sit in this place and take Your lunch." Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "This place is worshipable because it was used by Krsna."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   According to etiquette, things used by Krsna should not be used by anyone else. Similarly, things used by the spiritual master should also not be used by anyone else. That is etiquette. Whatever is used by Krsna or the spiritual master is worshipable. In particular, their sitting or eating places should not be used by anyone else. A devotee must be very careful to observe this.

 

                               TEXT 235

 

                                 TEXT

 

            bhatta kahe,----anna, pitha,----samana prasada

               anna khabe, pithe vasite kahan aparadha?

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhatta kahe--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said; anna--food; pitha--sitting place; samana--equal; prasada--mercy remnants of the Lord; anna khabe--You will eat the food; pithe vasite--to sit on the place; kahan aparadha--where is the offense.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Bhattacarya said, "Both the food and the sitting place are the Lord's mercy. If You can eat the remnants of the food, what is the offense in Your sitting in this place?"

 

                               TEXT 236

 

                                 TEXT

 

            prabhu kahe,----bhala kaile, sastra-ajna haya

                 krsnera sakala sesa bhrtya asvadaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied; bhala kaile--you have spoken correctly; sastra-ajna haya--there is such an order in the revealed scripture; krsnera sakala sesa--everything left by Krsna; bhrtya--the servant; asvadaya--partakes of.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Caitanya Mahaprabhu then said, "Yes, you have spoken correctly. The sastras enjoin that the devotee can partake of everything left by Krsna.

 

                               TEXT 237

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      tvayopayukta-srag-gandha-

                        vaso 'lankara-carcitah

                        ucchista-bhojino dasas

                         tava mayam jayema hi

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tvaya--by You; upayukta--used; srak--flower garlands; gandha--scented substances like sandalwood pulp; vasah--garments; alankara--ornaments; carcitah--being decorated with; ucchista--remnants of food; bhojinah--eating; dasah--servants; tava--Your; mayam--illusory energy; jayema--can conquer over; hi--certainly.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'My dear Lord, the garlands, scented substances, garments, ornaments and other such things that have been offered to You may later be used by Your servants. By partaking of these things and eating the remnants of food You have left, we will be able to conquer the illusory energy.' "

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.6.46). In the Hare Krsna movement, the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, the dancing in ecstasy and the eating of the remnants of food offered to the Lord are very, very important. One may be illiterate or incapable of understanding the philosophy, but if he partakes of these three items, he will certainly be liberated without delay.

   This verse was spoken by Uddhava to Lord Krsna. This was during the time when the Uddhava-gita was spoken. At that time there was some disturbance in Dvaraka, and Lord Krsna had to leave the material world and enter the spiritual world. Uddhava could understand the situation, and he talked with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The verse quoted above is an excerpt from their conversations. Sri Krsna's pastimes in this material world are called prakata-lila (manifested pastimes), and His pastimes in the spiritual world are called aprakata-lila (unmanifested pastimes). By unmanifested we mean that they are not present before our eyes. It is not that Lord Krsna's pastimes are unmanifest. They are going on exactly as the sun is going on perpetually, but when the sun is present before our eyes, we call it daytime (manifest), and when it is not present, we call it night (unmanifest). Those who are above the jurisdiction of night are always in the spiritual world, where the Lord's pastimes are constantly manifest to them. As the Brahma-samhita confirms:

 

                 ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhis

                 tabhir ya eva nija-rupataya kalabhih

                 goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhuto

                govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

 

                premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena

                 santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti

               yam syamasundaram acintya-guna-svarupam

                govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

 

   "I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who resides in His own realm, Goloka, with Radha, who resembles His own spiritual figure and who embodies the ecstatic potency [hladini]. Their companions are Her confidantes, who embody extensions of Her bodily form and who are imbued and permeated with everblissful spiritual rasa. I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is Syamasundara, Krsna Himself with inconceivable innumerable attributes, whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love." (Bs. 5.37-38)

 

                               TEXT 238

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  tathapi eteka anna khaona na yaya

               bhatta kahe,----jani, khao yateka yuyaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tathapi--still; eteka--so much; anna--food; khaona--eating; na yaya--is not possible; bhatta kahe--Bhattacarya said; jani--I know; khao--You can eat; yateka--how much; yuyaya--is possible.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then said, "There is so much food here that it is impossible to eat." Bhattacarya replied,"I know how much You can eat.

 

                               TEXT 239

 

                                 TEXT

 

               nilacale bhojana tumi kara bayanna bara

                 eka eka bhogera anna sata sata bhara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nilacale--at Jagannatha Puri; bhojana--accepting lunch; tumi--You; kara--do; bayanna bara--fifty-two times; eka eka bhogera--of each and every offering; anna--eatables; sata sata bhara--hundreds of buckets.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "After all, at Jagannatha Puri You eat fifty-two times a day, and each time You eat hundreds of buckets filled with prasada.

 

                               TEXT 240

 

                                 TEXT

 

                dvarakate sola-sahasra mahisi-mandire

                  astadasa mata, ara yadavera ghare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dvarakate--at Dvaraka-dhama; sola-sahasra--sixteen thousand; mahisi--queens; mandire--palaces; astadasa mata--eighteen mothers; ara--and; yadavera ghare--in the house of the Yadu dynasty.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "At Dvaraka, You keep sixteen thousand queens in sixteen thousand palaces. Also, there are eighteen mothers and numerous friends and relatives of the Yadu dynasty.

 

                               TEXT 241

 

                                 TEXT

 

             vraje jyetha, khuda, mama, pisadi gopa-gana

             sakha-vrnda sabara ghare dvisandhya-bhojana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vraje--at Vrndavana; jyetha--the father's elder brothers; khuda--the father's younger brothers; mama--the mother's brothers; pisa--the husbands of aunts; adi--and so on; gopa-gana--cowherd men; sakha-vrnda--hundreds of friends; sabara--of all of them; ghare--in the houses; dvi-sandhya--twice a day; bho-jana--eating.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "In Vrndavana You also have Your father's elder brothers, Your father's younger brothers, maternal uncles, husbands of Your father's sisters and many cowherd men. There are also cowherd boy friends, and You eat twice a day, morning and evening, in the house of each and every one.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In Dvaraka, Lord Krsna had eighteen mothers like Devaki, Rohini and others. Besides these was. His foster mother Yasoda in Vrndavana. Lord Krsna also had two uncles, who were brothers of Nanda Maharaja. As stated by Srila Rupa Gosvami in his Sri-krsna-ganoddesa-dipika, upanando 'bhinandas ca pitrvyau pur-va-jau pituh: "The elder brothers of Nanda Maharaja were Upananda and Abhinanda." Similarly, in the same book the names of the younger brothers of Nanda Maharaja are given. Pitrvyau tu kaniyamsau syatam sannanda-nandanau: "Sannanda and Nandana, or Sunanda and Pandava, were the younger brothers of Krsna's father, Nanda Maharaja." Sri Krsna's maternal uncles were also described there. Yasodhara-yasodeva-sudevadyas tu matulah: "Yasodhara, Yasodeva and Sudeva were the maternal uncles of Krsna." Krsna's uncles are also mentioned. Mahanilah sunilas ca ramanav etayoh kramat: "Mahanila and Sunila are the husbands of Krsna's aunts."

 

                               TEXT 242

 

                                 TEXT

 

                govardhana-yajne anna khaila rasi rasi

                 tara lekhaya ei anna nahe eka grasi

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   govardhana-yajne--in the Govardhana-puja sacrifice; anna--food; khaila--You ate; rasi rasi--stacks; tara--to that; lekhaya--in comparison; ei--this; anna--food; nahe--not; eka grasi--one morsel.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Indeed," Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya continued, "at the Govardhana-puja ceremony You ate stacks of rice. In comparison to that, this small quantity is not even a morsel for You.

 

                               TEXT 243

 

                                 TEXT

 

              tumi ta' isvara, muni----ksudra jiva chara

                 eka-grasa madhukari karaha angikara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tumi--You; ta'--certainly; isvara--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; muni--I; ksudra jiva--insignificant living being; chara--worthless; eka-grasa--one small quantity; madhu-kari--as collected by the bees; karaha--please do; angikara--accept.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whereas I am a most insignificant living being. Therefore You may accept a little quantity of food from my house."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   A sannyasi is expected to collect a little food from each and every householder. That is to say, he should take whatever he requires to eat. This system is called madhukari. The word madhukari comes from the word madhukara and means "honey-collecting bees." Bees collect a little honey from each flower, but all these small quantities of honey accumulate to become a beehive. Sannyasis should collect a little from each and every householder and should eat simply what is necessary to maintain the body. Being a sannyasi, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu could collect a little food from the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, and this was the Bhattacarya's request. Compared to the food eaten by the Lord on other occasions, Bhattacarya's feast was not even a morsel. This is what Bhattacarya is pointing out to the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 244

 

                                 TEXT

 

                eta suni' hasi' prabhu vasila bhojane

             jagannathera prasada bhatta dena harsa-mane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta suni'--hearing this; hasi'--smiling; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vasila bhojane--sat down to eat; jagannathera--of Lord Jagannatha; prasada--remnants of food; bhatta--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; dena harsa-mane--delivers in great happiness.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Hearing this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu smiled and sat down to eat. Bhattacarya, with great pleasure, first offered Him the prasada from the Jagannatha temple.

 

                               TEXT 245

 

                                 TEXT

 

             hena-kale 'amogha,'----bhattacaryera jamata

              kulina, nindaka tenho sathi-kanyara bharta

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hena-kale--exactly at this time; amogha--Amogha; bhattacaryera jamata--the son-in-law of Bhattacarya; kulina--of aristocratic birth; nindaka--blasphemer; tenho--he; sathi-kanyara bharta--the husband of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya's daughter named Sathi.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   At this time Bhattacarya had a son-in-law named Amogha, who was the husband of his daughter named Sathi. Although born in an aristocratic brahmana family, this Amogha was a great faultfinder and blasphemer.

 

                               TEXT 246

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 bhojana dekhite cahe, asite na pare

                 lathi-hate bhattacarya achena duyare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhojana--the eating; dekhite cahe--he wanted to see; asite na pare--could not come; lathi-hate--with a stick in his hand; bhattacarya--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; achena--was; duyare--on the threshold.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Amogha wanted to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu eat, but he was not allowed to enter. Indeed, Bhattacarya guarded the threshold of his house with a stick in his hand.

 

                               TEXT 247

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tenho yadi prasada dite haila ana-mana

                amogha asi' anna dekhi' karaye nindana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tenho--he (Bhattacarya); yadi--when; prasada dite--supplying the prasada; haila--became; ana-mana--inattentive; amogha--Amogha; asi'--coming; anna dekhi'--seeing the food; karaye nindana--began blaspheming.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   However, as soon as Bhattacarya began distributing prasada and was a little inattentive, Amogha came in. Seeing the quantity of food, he began to blaspheme.

 

                               TEXT 248

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ei anne trpta haya dasa bara jana

                 ekela sannyasi kare eteka bhaksana!

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei anne--with so much food; trpta haya--can be satisfied; dasa bara jana--at least ten to twelve men; ekela--alone; sannyasi--this person in the renounced order; kare--does; eteka--so much; bhaksana--eating.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "This much food is sufficient to satisfy ten or twelve men, but this sannyasi alone is eating so much!"

 

                               TEXT 249

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  sunitei bhattacarya ulati' cahila

                 tanra avadhana dekhi' amogha palaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sunitei--hearing; bhattacarya--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; ulati' cahila--turned his eyes upon him; tanra--his; avadhana--attention; dekhi'--seeing; amogha--Amogha; palaila--left.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As soon as Amogha said this, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya turned his eyes upon him. Seeing Bhattacarya's attitude, Amogha immediately left.

 

                               TEXT 250

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 bhattacarya lathi lana marite dhaila

                  palaila amogha, tara laga na paila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhattacarya--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; lathi lana--taking a stick; marite--to strike; dhaila--ran; palaila--fled; amogha--Amogha; tara--him; laga na paila--could not catch.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Bhattacarya ran after him to strike him with a stick, but Amogha fled so fast that Bhattacarya could not catch him.

 

                               TEXT 251

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tabe gali, sapa dite bhattacarya aila

                 ninda suni' mahaprabhu hasite lagila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--at that time; gali--calling by ill names; sapa dite--cursing; bhattacarya--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; aila--came back; ninda suni'--hearing the criticism; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; hasite lagila--began to laugh.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Bhattacarya then began to curse and call his son-in-law ill names. When Bhattacarya returned, he saw that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was laughing to hear him criticize Amogha.

 

                               TEXT 252

 

                                 TEXT

 

               suni' sathira mata sire-buke ghata mare

              'sathi randi ha-uka'----iha bale bare bare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   suni'--hearing; sathira mata--the mother of Sathi; sire--on the head; buke--on the chest; ghata mare--strikes; sathi randi ha-uka--let Sathi become a widow; iha bale--says this; bare bare--again and again.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Sathi's mother, Bhattacarya's wife, heard of this incident, she immediately began to strike her head and chest, saying again, "Let Sathi become a widow!"

 

                               TEXT 253

 

                                 TEXT

 

            dunhara duhkha dekhi' prabhu dunha prabodhiya

               dunhara icchate bhojana kaila tusta hana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dunhara duhkha dekhi'--seeing the lamentation of both; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dunha prabodhiya--pacifying them; dunhara icchate--by the will of both of them; bhojana kaila--took His lunch; tusta hana--with great satisfaction.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Seeing the lamentation of both husband and wife, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu tried to pacify them. According to their desire, He ate the prasada and was very satisfied.

 

                               TEXT 254

 

                                 TEXT

 

                acamana karana bhatta dila mukha-vasa

               tulasi-manjari, lavanga, elaci rasa-vasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   acamana karana--washing the mouth, hands and legs of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhatta--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; dila mukha-vasa--gave some flavored spices; tulasi-manjari--the flowers of tulasi; lavanga--cloves; elaci--cardamom; rasa-vasa--that which brings saliva.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu finished eating, Bhattacarya washed His mouth, hands and legs and offered Him flavored spices, tulasi-manjari, cloves, and cardamom.

 

                               TEXT 255

 

                                 TEXT

 

               sarvange paraila prabhura malya-candana

                  dandavat hana bale sadainya vacana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarva-ange--all over the body; paraila--put; prabhura--of the Lord; malya-candana--a flower garland and sandalwood pulp; dandavat hana--offering obeisances; bale--says; sa-dainya--humble; vacana--statement.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Bhattacarya then placed a flower garland over Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and smeared His body with sandalwood pulp. After offering obeisances, the Bhattacarya submitted the following humble statement.

 

                               TEXT 256

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ninda karaite toma aninu nija-ghare

                 ei aparadha, prabhu, ksama kara more

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ninda karaite--just to cause blasphemy; toma--You; aninu--I brought; nija-ghare--to my place; ei aparadha--this offense; prabhu--my Lord; ksama kara--please pardon; more--me.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I brought You to my home just to have You blasphemed. This is a great offense. Please excuse me. I beg Your pardon."

 

                               TEXT 257

 

                                 TEXT

 

             prabhu kahe,----ninda nahe, 'sahaja' kahila

                  ihate tomara kiba aparadha haila?

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; ninda nahe--not blasphemy; sahaja--rightly; kahila--he spoke; ihate--in this; tomara--your; kiba--what; aparadha--offense; haila--was there.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "What Amogha has said is correct; therefore it is not blasphemy. What is your offense?"

 

                               TEXT 258

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 eta bali' mahaprabhu calila bhavane

               bhattacarya tanra ghare gela tanra sane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta bali'--saying this; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; calila bhavane--returned to His residence; bhattacarya--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; tanra ghare--to His place; gela--went; tanra sane--with Him.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left and returned to His residence. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya also followed Him.

 

                               TEXT 259

 

                                 TEXT

 

               prabhu-pade padi' bahu atma-ninda kaila

               tanre santa kari' prabhu ghare pathaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu-pade--at the feet of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; padi'--falling down; bahu--much; atma-ninda kaila--made self-reproach; tanre--him; santa kari'--making pacified; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ghare pathaila--sent back to his home.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Falling down at the Lord's feet, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said many things in self-reproach. The Lord then pacified him and sent him back to his home.

 

                               TEXT 260

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ghare asi' bhattacarya sathira mata-sane

                  apana nindiya kichu balena vacane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ghare asi'--returning home; bhattacarya--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; sathira mata-sane--with the mother of Sathi; apana nindiya--condemning himself; kichu--some; balena vacane--speaks words.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After returning to his home, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya consulted with his wife, the mother of Sathi. After personally condemning himself, he began to speak as follows.

 

                               TEXT 261

 

                                 TEXT

 

              caitanya-gosanira ninda sunila yaha haite

                tare vadha kaile haya papa-prayascitte

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   caitanya-gosanira--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ninda--blasphemy; sunila--I have heard; yaha haite--from whom; tare vadha kaile--if he is killed; haya--there is; papa-prayascitte--atonement for the sinful act.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "If the man who blasphemed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is killed, his sinful action may be atoned."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The Hari-bhakti-vilasa cites the following quotation from Skanda Purana concerning the blaspheming of a Vaisnava:

 

                        yo hi bhagavatam lokam

                          upahasam nrpottama

                        karoti tasya nasyanti

                       artha-dharma-yasah-sutah

 

                       nindam kurvanti ye mudha

                        vaisnavanam mahatmanam

                       patanti pitrbhih sardham

                        maha-raurava-samjnite

 

                       hanti nindati vai dvesti

                        vaisnavan nabhinandati

                       krudhyate yati no harsam

                         darsane patanani sat

 

   In this conversation between Markandeya and Bhagiratha, it is said: "My dear King, if one derides an exalted devotee, he loses the results of his pious activities, his opulence, his reputation and his sons. Vaisnavas are all great souls. Whoever blasphemes them falls down to the hell known as Maharaurava. He is also accompanied by his forefathers. Whoever kills or blasphemes a Vaisnava and whoever is envious of a Vaisnava or angry with him, or whoever does not offer him obeisances or feel joy upon seeing a Vaisnava, certainly falls into a hellish condition."

   The Hari-bhakti-vilasa (10.314) also gives the following quotation from Dvaraka-mahatmya:

 

                      kara-patrais ca phalyante

                       sutivrair yama-sasanaih

                       nindam kurvanti ye papa

                        vaisnavanam mahatmanam

 

   In a conversation between Prahlada Maharaja and Bali Maharaja, it is said, "Those sinful people who blaspheme Vaisnavas, who are all great souls, are subjected very severely to the punishment offered by Yamaraja."

   In the Bhakti-sandarbha (313) there is a statement concerning the blaspheming of Lord Visnu.

 

                        ye nindanti hrsikesam

                      tad-bhaktam punya-rupinam

                       sata-janmarjitam punyam

                        tesam nasyati niscitam

 

                        te pacyante maha-ghore

                         kumbhipake bhayanake

                       bhaksitah kita-sanghena

                        yavac candra-divakarau

                        sri-visnor avamananad

                   gurutaram sri-vaisnavollanghanam

 

                         tadiya-dusaka-janan

                        na pasyet purusadhaman

                     taih sardham vancaka-janaih

                        saha-vasam na karayet

 

   "One who criticizes Lord Visnu and His devotees loses all the benefits accrued in a hundred pious births. Such a person rots in the Kumbhipaka hell and is bitten by worms as long as the sun and moon exist. One should therefore not even see the face of a person who blasphemes Lord Visnu and His devotees. Never try to associate with such persons."

   In his Bhakti-sandarbha (265), Jiva Gosvami further quotes from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.74.40):

 

                       nindam bhagavatah srnvan

                        tat-parasya janasya va

                       tato napaiti yah so 'pi

                      yaty adhah sukrtac cyutah

 

   "If one does not immediately leave upon hearing the Lord or the Lord's devotee blasphemed, he falls down from devotional service." Similarly, Lord Siva's wife Sati states in Srimad-Bhagavatam (4.4.17):

 

                karnau pidhaya nirayad yad akalpa ise

                dharmavitary asrnibhir nrbhir asyamane

             chindyat prasahya rusatim asatim prabhus cej

               jihvam asun api tato visrjet sa dharmah

 

   "If one hears an irresponsible person blaspheme the master and controller of religion, he should block his ears and go away if unable to punish him. But if one is able to kill, then one should by force cut out the blasphemer's tongue and kill the offender, and after that he should give up his own life."

 

                               TEXT 262

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 kimva nija-prana yadi kari vimocana

                 dui yogya nahe, dui sarira brahmana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kimva--or; nija-prana--my own life; yadi--if; kari vimocana--I give up; dui--both such actions; yogya nahe--are not befitting; dui sarira--both the bodies; brahmana--brahmanas.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya continued, "Or, if I give up my own life, this sinful action may be atoned. However, neither of these ideas are befitting because both bodies belong to brahmanas.

 

                               TEXT 263

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 punah sei nindakera mukha na dekhiba

                parityaga kailun, tara nama na la-iba

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   punah--again; sei--that; nindakera--of the blasphemer; mukha--face; na--not; dekhiba--I shall see; parityaga--giving up; kailun--I do; tara--his; nama--name; na--not; la-iba--I shall take.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Instead, I shall never see the face of that blasphemer. I reject him and give up his relationship. I shall never even speak his name.

 

                               TEXT 264

 

                                 TEXT

 

           sathire kaha----tare chaduka, se ha-ila 'patita'

                 'patita' ha-ile bharta tyajite ucita

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sathire kaha--inform Sathi; tare chaduka--let her give him up; se ha-ila--he has become; patita--fallen; patita ha-ile--when one has fallen; bharta--such a husband; tyajite--to give up; ucita--is the duty.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Inform my daughter Sathi to abandon her relationship with her husband because he has fallen down. When the husband falls down, it is the wife's duty to relinquish the relationship.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya considered that if Amogha were killed, one would suffer sinful reactions for killing the body of a brahmana. For the same reason, it would have been undesirable for Bhattacarya to commit suicide because he also was a brahmana. Since neither course could be accepted, Bhattacarya decided to give up his relationship with Amogha and never see his face.

   As far as killing the body of a brahmana is concerned, Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.7.53) gives the following injunction:

 

                          sri-bhagavan uvaca

                      brahma-bandhur na hantavya

                         atatayi vadhar-hanah

                        mayaivobhayam amnatam

                         paripahy anusasanam

 

   "The Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna said: A friend of a brahmana is not to be killed, but if he is an aggressor, he must be killed. All these rulings are in the scriptures, and you should act accordingly."

   Quoting from the smrti, Srila Sridhara Svami comments on this quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam:

 

                          atatayinam ayantam

                         api vedanta-paragam

                      jigham-santam jighamsiyan

                       na tena brahmaha bhavet

 

   "Even though an aggressor may be a very learned scholar of Vedanta, he should be killed because of his envy in killing others. In such a case, it is not sinful to kill a brahmana."

   It is also stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.7.57):

 

                         vapanam dravinadanam

                       sthanan niryapanam tatha

                       esa hi brahma-bandhunam

                      vadho nanyo 'sti daihikah

 

   "Cutting the hair from his head, depriving him of his wealth and driving him from his residence are the prescribed punishments for the relative of a brahmana. There is no injunction for killing the body."

   Such punishment is sufficient for a brahma-bandhu. There is no need to personally kill his body. As far as Sathi, the daughter of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, was concerned, she was advised to give up her relationship with her husband. Concerning this, Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.5.18) states, na patis ca sa syan na mocayed yah samupeta-mrtyum: "One cannot be a husband if he cannot liberate his dependents from inevitable death." If a person is not in Krsna consciousness and is bereft of spiritual power, he cannot protect his wife from the path of repeated birth and death. Consequently such a person cannot be accepted as a husband. A wife should dedicate her life and everything to Krsna for further advancement in Krsna consciousness. If she gives up her connection with her husband, who abandons Krsna consciousness, she follows in the footsteps of the dvija-patni, the wives of the brahmanas who were engaged in performing sacrifices. The wife is not to be condemned for cutting off such a relationship. In this regard, Sri Krsna states in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.23.31--32):

 

                         patayo nabhyasuyeran

                        pitr-bhratr-sutadayah

                         lokas ca vo mayopeta

                         deva apy anumanvate

 

                         na pritaye 'nuragaya

                       hy anga-sango nrnam iha

                        tan mano mayi yunjana

                        aciran mam avapsyatha

 

   Such a separation is never condemned by the supreme will. No one should be envious of the order of Krsna. Even demigods support such action. In this material world, one does not become beloved simply by maintaining a bodily relationship. However, one can attain complete perfection by associating in Krsna consciousness.

 

                               TEXT 265

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       patim ca patitam tyajet

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   patim--husband; ca--and; patitam--fallen; tyajet--one should give up.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "When a husband is fallen, his relationship must be given up."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This is a quotation from smrti-sastram. As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.11.28):

 

                         santustalolupa daksa

                      dharma-jna priya-satya-vak

                       apramatta sucih snigdha

                       patim tv apatitam bhajet

 

   "A wife who is satisfied, who is not greedy, who is expert and knows religious principles, who speaks what is dear and truthful and is not bewildered, who is always clean and affectionate, should be very devoted to her husband who is not fallen."

 

                               TEXT 266

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  sei ratre amogha kahan palana gela

                pratah-kale tara visucika-vyadhi haila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei ratre--that night; amogha--the son-in-law of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; kahan--where; palana gela--fled; pratah-kale--in the morning; tara--his; visucika-vyadhi--infection of cholera; haila--there was.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   That night Amogha, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya's son-in-law, fled, and in the morning he immediately fell sick with cholera.

 

                               TEXT 267

 

                                 TEXT

 

               amogha marena----suni' kahe bhattacarya

                 sahaya ha-iya daiva kaila mora karya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   amogha marena--Amogha is dying; suni'--hearing; kahe bhattacarya--Bhattacarya said; sahaya ha-iya--helping; daiva--Providence; kaila--did; mora--my; karya--duty.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Bhattacarya heard that Amogha was dying of cholera, he thought,"It is the favor of Providence that He is doing what I want to do.

 

                               TEXT 268

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 isvare ta' aparadha phale tata-ksana

                  eta bali' pade dui sastrera vacana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   isvare--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ta'--indeed; aparadha--offense; phale--brings results; tata-ksana--immediately; eta bali'--saying this; pade--recites; dui--two; sastrera vacana--quotations from revealed scriptures.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "When one offends the Supreme Personality of Godhead, karma immediately takes effect." After saying this, he recited two verses from revealed scripture.

 

                               TEXT 269

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         mahata hi prayatnena

                      hasty-asva-ratha-pattibhih

                       asmabhir yad anustheyam

                      gandharvais tad anusthitam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mahata--very great; hi--certainly; prayatnena--by endeavor; hasti--elephants; asva--horses; ratha--chariots; pattibhih--and by infantry soldiers; asmabhih--by ourselves; yat--whatever; anustheyam--has to be arranged; gandharvaih--by the Gandharvas; tat--that; anusthitam--done.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'What we have had to arrange with great endeavor by collecting elephants, horses, chariots and infantry soldiers has already been accomplished by the Gandharvas.'

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This is a quotation from the Mahabharata (Vana-parva 241.15). Bhimasena made this statement when all the Pandavas were living incognito. At that time there was a fight between the Kauravas and the Gandharvas. The Kaurava soldiers were under the command of Karna, but the commander-in-chief of the Gandharvas was able to arrest all the Kauravas by virtue of superior military strength. At that time Duryodhana's ministers and commanders, who were living in the forest, requested Maharaja Yudhisthira to help. After being thus petitioned, Bhimasena spoke the verse given above, remembering Duryodhana's former nefarious and atrocious activities against them. Indeed, Bhimasena felt it very fitting that Duryodhana and his company were arrested. This could have been accomplished by the Pandavas only with great endeavor.

 

                               TEXT 270

 

                                 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. This quotation concerns the attempted killing of Krsna's sister (Yogamaya), who appeared before Krsna's birth as the daughter of mother Yasoda. This daughter Yogamaya and Krsna were born simultaneously, and Vasudeva replaced Krsna by taking Yogamaya away. When she was brought to Mathura and Kamsa attempted to kill her, Yogamaya slipped out of his hands. She could not be killed. She then informed Kamsa about the birth of his enemy, Krsna, and being thus baffled, Kamsa consulted his associates, who were all demons. When this big conspiracy was taking place, this verse was spoken by Sukadeva Gosvami. He points out that a demon can lose everything because of his nefarious activities.

   The word mahad-atikramah, meaning "envy of Lord Visnu and His devotees," is significant in this verse. The word mahat indicates a great personality, a devotee or the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Being always engaged in the

   Lord's service, the devotees themselves are as great as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The word mahat is also explained in Bhagavad-gita (9.13):

 

                       mahatmanas tu mam partha

                       daivim prakrtim asritah

                        bhajanty ananya-manaso

                       jnatva bhutadim avyayam

 

   "O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible."

   Being envious of the Lord and His devotees is not at all auspicious for a demon. By such envy, a demon loses everything considered beneficial.

 

                               TEXT 271

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 gopinathacarya gela prabhu-darasane

              prabhu tanre puchila bhattacarya-vivarane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gopinathacarya--Gopinatha Acarya; gela--went; prabhu-darasane--to see Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--unto Him; puchila--inquired; bhattacarya-vivarane--the affairs in the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   At this time, Gopinatha Acarya went to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and the Lord asked him about the events taking place in Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya's house.

 

                               TEXT 272

 

                                 TEXT

 

                acarya kahe,----upavasa kaila dui jana

               visucika-vyadhite amogha chadiche jivana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   acarya kahe--Gopinatha Acarya informed; upavasa--fasting; kaila--observed; dui jana--the two persons; visucika-vyadhite--by the disease of cholera; amogha--Amogha; chadiche jivana--is going to die.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Gopinatha Acarya informed the Lord that both the husband and wife were fasting and that their son-in-law Amogha was dying of cholera.

 

                               TEXT 273

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   suni' krpamaya prabhu aila dhana

                  amoghere kahe tara buke hasta diya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   suni'--hearing; krpa-maya--merciful; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; aila--came; dhana--running; amoghere--unto Amogha; kahe--He says; tara--His; buke--on the chest; hasta diya--keeping His hand.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As soon as Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard that Amogha was going to die, He immediately ran to him in great haste. Placing His hand on Amogha's chest, He spoke as follows.

 

                               TEXT 274

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 sahaje nirmala ei 'brahmana'-hrdaya

                 krsnera vasite ei yogya-sthana haya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sahaje--by nature; nirmala--without contamination; ei--this; brahmana-hrdaya--heart of a brahmana; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; vasite--to sit down; ei--this; yogya-sthana--proper place; haya--is.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The heart of a brahmana is by nature very clean; therefore it is a proper place for Krsna to sit.

 

                               TEXT 275

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 'matsarya'-candala kene ihan vasaile

                 parama pavitra sthana apavitra kaile

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   matsarya--jealousy; candala--the lowest of the men; kene--why; ihan--here; vasaile--you allowed to sit; parama pavitra--most purified; sthana--place; apavitra--impure; kaile--you have made.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Why have you allowed jealousy to sit here also? Because of this, you have become like a candala, the lowest of men, and you have also contaminated a most purified place-your heart.

 

                               TEXT 276

 

                                 TEXT

 

            sarvabhauma-sange tomara 'kalusa' haila ksaya

               'kalmasa' ghucile jiva 'krsna-nama' laya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarvabhauma-sange--by the association of Sarvabhauma; tomara--your; kalusa--contamination; haila ksaya--is now vanquished; kalmasa--contamination; ghucile--when dispelled; jiva--the living entity; krsna-nama--the Hare Krsna maha-mantra; laya--can chant.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "However, due to the association of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, all your contamination is now vanquished. When a person's heart is cleansed of all contamination, he is able to chant the maha-mantra, Hare Krsna.

 

                               TEXT 277

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 uthaha, amogha, tumi lao krsna-nama

                  acire tomare krpa karibe bhagavan

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   uthaha--get up; amogha--Amogha; tumi--you; lao--chant; krsna-nama--the holy name of Lord Krsna; acire--very soon; tomare--unto you; krpa--mercy; karibe--will bestow; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Therefore, Amogha, get up and chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra! If you do so, Krsna will unfailingly bestow mercy upon you."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The Absolute Truth is realized in three phases-impersonal Brahman, Paramatma and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan. All of these are one and the same truth, but Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan constitute three different features. Whoever understands Brahman is called a brahmana, and when a brahmana engages in the Lord's devotional service, he is called a Vaisnava. Unless one comes to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his realization of impersonal Brahman is imperfect. A brahmana can chant the Hare Krsna mantra on the platform of namabhasa, but not on the platform of pure vibration. When a brahmana engages in the Lord's service, fully understanding his eternal relationship, his devotional service is called abhidheya. When one attains that stage, he is called a bhagavata or a Vaisnava. This indicates that he is free from contamination and material attachment. This is confirmed by Bhagavad-gita (7.28):

 

                      yesam tv anta-gatam papam

                        jananam punya-karmanam

                       te dvandva-moha-nirmukta

                      bhajante mam drdha-vratah

 

   "Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of delusion, engage themselves in My service with determination."

   A brahmana may be a very learned scholar, but this does not mean that he is free from material contamination. A brahmana's contamination, however, is in the mode of goodness. In the material world, the three modes are goodness, passion and ignorance, and all of these are simply different gradations of contamination. Unless a brahmana transcends such contamination and approaches the platform of unalloyed devotional service, he cannot be accepted as a Vaisnava. An impersonalist may be aware of the impersonal Brahman feature of the Absolute Truth, but his activities are on the impersonal platform. Sometimes he imagines a form of the Lord (saguna-upasana), but such an attempt is never successful in helping one attain complete realization. The impersonalist may consider himself a brahmana and may be situated in the mode of goodness, but nonetheless he is conditioned by one of the modes of material nature. This means that he is not yet liberated, for liberation cannot be attained unless one is completely free from the modes. In any case, the Mayavada philosophy keeps one conditioned. If one becomes a Vaisnava through proper initiation, he automatically becomes a brahmana. There is no doubt about it. The Garuda Purana confirms this:

 

                       brahmananam sahasrebhyah

                         satra-yaji visisyate

                       satra-yaji-sahasrebhyah

                        sarva-vedanta-paragah

 

                       sarva-vedanta-vit-kotya

                        visnu-bhakto visisyate

 

   "Out of many thousands of brahmanas, one may become qualified to perform yajna. Out of many thousands of such qualified brahmanas, one may be fully aware of the Vedanta philosophy. Out of many millions of learned Vedanta scholars, there may be one visnu-bhakta, or devotee of Lord Visnu. It is he who is most exalted."

   Unless one is a fully qualified brahmana, he cannot advance in the spiritual science. A real brahmana is never envious of Vaisnavas. If he is, he is considered an imperfect neophyte. Impersonalist brahmanas are always opposed to Vaisnava principles. They are envious of Vaisnavas because they do not know the goal of life. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum. However, when a brahmana becomes a Vaisnava, there is no duality. If a brahmana does not become a Vaisnava, he certainly falls down from the brahmana platform. This is confirmed by Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.3): na bhajanty avajananti sthanad bhrastah patanty adhah.

   We can actually see that in this Age of Kali many so-called brahmanas are envious of Vaisnavas. The Kali-contaminated brahmanas consider Deity worship to be imaginative: arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhih. Such a contaminated brahmana may superficially imagine a form of the Lord, but actually he considers the Deity in the temple to be made of stone or wood. Similarly, such a contaminated brahmana considers the guru to be an ordinary human being, and he objects when a Vaisnava is created by the Krsna consciousness movement. Many so-called brahmanas attempt to fight us, saying, "How can you create a brahmana out of a European or American? A brahmana can be born only in a brahmana family." They do not consider that this is never stated in any revealed scripture. It is specifically stated in Bhagavad-gita (4.13): catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah. "According to the three modes of material nature and the work ascribed to them, the four divisions of human society were created by Me."

   Thus a brahmana is not a result of the caste system. He becomes a brahmana only by qualification. Similarly, a Vaisnava does not belong to a particular caste; rather, his designation is determined by the rendering of devotional service.

 

                               TEXT 278

 

                                 TEXT

 

              suni' 'krsna' 'krsna' bali' amogha uthila

                 premonmade matta hana nacite lagila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   suni'--hearing; krsna krsna--the holy name of Krsna; bali'--speaking; amogha uthila--Amogha stood up; premonmade--in ecstatic love of Krsna; matta hana--becoming maddened; nacite lagila--began to dance.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After hearing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and being touched by Him, Amogha, who was on his deathbed, immediately stood up and began to chant the holy name of Krsna. Thus he became mad with ecstatic love and began to dance emotionally.

 

                               TEXT 279

 

                                 TEXT

 

          kampa, asru, pulaka, stambha, sveda, svara-bhanga

               prabhu hase dekhi' tara premera taranga

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kampa--trembling; asru--tears; pulaka--jubilation; stambha--being stunned; sveda--perspiration; svara-bhanga--faltering of the voice; prabhu hase--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to laugh; dekhi'--seeing; tara--Amogha's; premera taranga--waves of ecstatic love.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   While Amogha danced in ecstatic love, he manifested all the ecstatic symptoms-trembling, tears, jubilation, trance, perspiration and a faltering voice. Seeing these waves of ecstatic emotion, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to laugh.

 

                               TEXT 280

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 prabhura carane dhari' karaye vinaya

                aparadha ksama more, prabhu, dayamaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhura carane--the lotus feet of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dhari'--catching; karaye--does; vinaya--submission; aparadha--offense; ksama--kindly excuse; more--me; prabhu--O Lord; daya-maya--merciful.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Amogha then fell before the Lord's lotus feet and submissively said, "O merciful Lord, please excuse my offense."

 

                               TEXT 281

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ei chara mukhe tomara karinu nindane

                  eta bali' apana gale cadaya apane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei chara mukhe--in this abominable mouth; tomara--Your; karinu--I did; nindane--blaspheming; eta bali'--saying this; apana--his own; gale--cheeks; cadaya--he slapped; apane--himself.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Not only did Amogha beg the Lord's pardon, but he also began slapping his own cheeks, saying, "By this mouth I have blasphemed You."

 

                               TEXT 282

 

                                 TEXT

 

                    cadaite cadaite gala phulaila

                 hate dhari' gopinathacarya nisedhila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   cadaite cadaite--slapping over and over again; gala--the cheeks; phulaila--he made them swollen; hate dhari'--catching his hands; gopinatha-acarya--Gopinatha Acarya; nisedhila--forbade.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Indeed, Amogha continued slapping his face over and over until his cheeks were swollen. Finally Gopinatha Acarya stopped him by catching hold of his hands.

 

                               TEXT 283

 

                                 TEXT

 

               prabhu asvasana kare sparsi' tara gatra

             sarvabhauma-sambandhe tumi mora sneha-patra

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; asvasana kare--pacifies; sparsi'--touching; tara--his; gatra--body; sarvabhauma-sambandhe--because of a relation to Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; tumi--you; mora--My; sneha-patra--object of affection.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu pacified Amogha by touching his body and saying, "You are the object of My affection because you are the son-in-law of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.

 

                               TEXT 284

 

                                 TEXT

 

                sarvabhauma-grhe dasa-dasi, ye kukkura

                 seha mora priya, anya jana rahu dura

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarvabhauma-grhe--at the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; dasa-dasi--servants and maidservants; ye kukkura--even a dog; seha--all of them; mora--to Me; priya--very dear; anya jana--others; rahu dura--what to speak of.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Everyone in Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya's house is very dear to Me, including his maids and servants and even his dog. And what to speak of his relatives?

 

                               TEXT 285

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 aparadha' nahi, sada lao krsna-nama

               eta bali' prabhu aila sarvabhauma-sthana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   aparadha' nahi--do not commit offenses; sada--always; lao--chant; krsna-nama--the Hare Krsna maha-mantra; eta bali'--saying this; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; aila--came; sarvabhauma-sthana--to the place of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Amogha, always chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and do not commit any further offenses." After giving Amogha this instruction, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Sarvabhauma's house."

 

                               TEXT 286

 

                                 TEXT

 

               prabhu dekhi' sarvabhauma dharila carane

                  prabhu tanre alingiya vasila asane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu dekhi'--seeing Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; dharila carane--caught hold of His feet; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--him; alingiya--embracing; vasila asane--sat down on the seat.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Upon seeing the Lord, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya immediately caught hold of His lotus feet. The Lord also embraced him and sat down.

 

                               TEXT 287

 

                                 TEXT

 

             prabhu kahe,----amogha sisu, kiba tara dosa

                  kene upavasa kara, kene kara rosa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; amogha sisu--Amogha is a child; kiba--what; tara dosa--his fault; kene--why; upavasa kara--are you fasting; kene--why; kara rosa--are you angry.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu pacified Sarvabhauma, saying, "After all, Amogha, your son-in-law, is a child. So what is his fault? Why are you fasting, and why are you angry?

 

                               TEXT 288

 

                                 TEXT

 

               utha, snana kara, dekha jagannatha-mukha

              sighra asi, bhojana kara, tabe mora sukha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   utha--get up; snana kara--take your bath; dekha--see; jagannatha-mukha--Lord Jagannatha's face; sighra asi--coming back very soon; bhojana kara--take your lunch; tabe mora sukha--then I shall be very happy.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Just get up and take your bath and go see the face of Lord Jagannatha. Then return here to eat your lunch. In this way I shall be happy.

 

                               TEXT 289

 

                                 TEXT

 

                    tavat rahiba ami ethaya vasiya

                  yavat na khaibe tumi prasada asiya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tavat--as long as; rahiba--shall stay; ami--I; ethaya--here; vasiya--sitting; yavat--as long as; na khaibe--will not eat; tumi--you; prasada--remnants of the food of Jagannatha; asiya--coming here.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I shall stay here until you return to take Lord Jagannatha's remnants for your lunch."

 

                               TEXT 290

 

                                 TEXT

 

               prabhu-pada dhari' bhatta kahite lagila

                  marita' amogha, tare kene jiyaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu-pada--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's lotus feet; dhari'--catching hold of; bhatta--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; kahite lagila--began to speak; marita' amogha--Amogha would have died; tare--him; kene--why; jiyaila--have You brought to life.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Catching hold of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's lotus feet, Bhattacarya said, "Why did You bring Amogha back to life? It would have been better had he died."

 

                               TEXT 291

 

                                 TEXT

 

              prabhu kahe,----amogha sisu, tomara balaka

               balaka-dosa na laya pita, tahate palaka

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; amogha sisu--Amogha is a child; tomara balaka--your son; balaka-dosa--the offense of a child; na laya--does not accept; pita--the father; tahate--unto him; palaka--the maintainer.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Amogha is a child and your son. The father does not take the faults of his son seriously, especially when he is maintaining him.

 

                               TEXT 292

 

                                 TEXT

 

              ebe 'vaisnava' haila, tara gela 'aparadha'

                   tahara upare ebe karaha prasada

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ebe--now; vaisnava haila--has become a Vaisnava; tara--his; gela--went away; aparadha--offenses; tahara upare--upon him; ebe--now; karaha prasada--show mercy.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Now that he has become a Vaisnava, he is offenseless. You can bestow your mercy upon him without hesitation."

 

                               TEXT 293

 

                                 TEXT

 

            bhatta kahe,----cala, prabhu, isvara-darasane

                snana kari' tanha muni asichon ekhane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhatta kahe--Bhattacarya said; cala--go; prabhu--my Lord; isvara-darasane--to see Lord Jagannatha, the Personality of Godhead; snana kari'--taking my bath; tanha--there; muni--I; asichon--shall come back; ekhane--here.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said, " Please go, my Lord, to see Lord Jagannatha. After taking my bath, I shall go there and then return."

 

                               TEXT 294

 

                                 TEXT

 

               prabhu kahe,----gopinatha, ihani rahiba

                inho prasada paile, varta amake kahiba

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; gopinatha--Gopinatha; ihani rahiba--please stay here; inho--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; prasada paile--when he takes his lunch; varta--the news; amake kahiba--inform Me.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then told Gopinatha, "Stay here and inform Me when Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya has taken his prasada."

 

                               TEXT 295

 

                                 TEXT

 

                eta bali' prabhu gela isvara-darasane

              bhatta snana darsana kari' karila bhojane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta bali'--saying this; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gela--went; isvara-darasane--to see Lord Jagannatha; bhatta--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; snana darsana kari'--finishing his bathing and seeing of Lord Jagannatha; karila bhojane--accepted food.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to see Lord Jagannatha. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya completed his bath, went to see Lord Jagannatha and then returned to his house to accept food.

 

                               TEXT 296

 

                                 TEXT

 

              sei amogha haila prabhura bhakta 'ekanta'

                preme nace, krsna-nama laya maha-santa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei amogha--that same Amogha; haila--became; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhakta--devotee; ekanta--unflinching; preme nace--dances in ecstasy; krsna-nama laya--chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra; maha-santa--very peaceful.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thereafter, Amogha became an unalloyed devotee of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He danced in ecstasy and peacefully chanted the holy name of Lord Krsna.

 

                               TEXT 297

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 aiche citra-lila kare sacira nandana

               yei dekhe, sune, tanra vismaya haya mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   aiche--in this way; citra-lila--varieties of pastimes; kare--performs; sacira nandana--the son of mother Saci; yei dekhe--anyone who sees; sune--hears; tanra--his; vismaya--astonished; haya--becomes; mana--mind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In this way, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu performed His various pastimes. Whoever sees them or hears of them becomes truly astonished.

 

                               TEXT 298

 

                                 TEXT

 

                aiche bhatta-grhe kare bhojana-vilasa

                tara madhye nana citra-caritra-prakasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   aiche--in this way; bhatta-grhe--in the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; kare--performs; bhojana-vilasa--pastime of eating; tara madhye--within that pastime; nana--various; citra-caritra--of varieties of activities; prakasa--manifestation.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu enjoyed eating in Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya's house. Within that one pastime, many wonderful pastimes were manifest.

 

                               TEXT 299

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 sarvabhauma-ghare ei bhojana-carita

                sarvabhauma-prema yanha ha-ila vidita

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarvabhauma-ghare--in the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; ei--these; bhojana-carita--eating affairs; sarvabhauma-prema--love of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; yanha--where; ha-ila--became; vidita--well known.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   These are the peculiar characteristics of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes. Thus the Lord ate in Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya's house, and in this way Sarvabhauma's love for the Lord has become very well known.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   As stated in the Sakha-nirnayamrta:

 

                        amogha-panditam vande

                       sri-gaurenatma-satkrtam

                       prema-gadgada-sandrangam

                         pulakakula-vigraham

 

   "I offer my obeisances unto Amogha Pandita, who was accepted by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. As a result of this acceptance, he was always merged in ecstatic love, and he manifested ecstatic symptoms such as choking of the voice and standing of the hairs on his body."

 

                               TEXT 300

 

                                 TEXT

 

              sathira matara prema, ara prabhura prasada

                bhakta-sambandhe yaha ksamila aparadha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sathira matara prema--the love of the mother of Sathi; ara--and; prabhura prasada--the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhakta-sambandhe--because of a relationship with a devotee; yaha--where; ksamila aparadha--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu excused the offense.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus I have related the ecstatic love of Sarvabhauma's wife, who is known as the mother of Sathi. I have also related Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's great mercy, which He manifested by excusing Amogha's offense. He did so due to Amogha's relationship with a devotee.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Amogha was an offender because he blasphemed the Lord. As a result, he was about to die of cholera. Amogha did not receive an opportunity to be freed from all offenses after being attacked by the disease, but Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and his wife were very dear to the Lord. Because of their relationship, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu excused Amogha. Instead of being punished by the Lord, he was saved by the Lord's mercy. All this was due to the unflinching love of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Externally, Amogha was Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya's son-in-law, and he was being maintained by Sarvabhauma. Consequently if Amogha were not excused, his punishment would have directly affected Sarvabhauma. Amogha's death would have indirectly brought about the death of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.

 

                               TEXT 301

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 sraddha kari' ei lila sune yei jana

                   acirat paya sei caitanya-carana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sraddha kari'--with faith and love; ei lila--this pastime; sune--hears; yei jana--whoever; acirat--very soon; paya--attains; sei--he; caitanya-carana--the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Whoever hears these pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with faith and love will attain the shelter of the Lord's lotus feet very soon.

 

                               TEXT 302

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  sri-rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa

                  caitanya-caritamrta kahe krsnadasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-rupa--Sri Rupa Gosvami; raghunatha--Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; pade--at the lotus feet; yara--whose; asa--expectation; caitanya-caritamrta--the book named Caitanya-caritamrta; kahe--describes; krsnadasa--Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always desiring their mercy, I, Krsnadasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, following in their footsteps.

 

   Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Fifteenth Chapter, describing the Lord's eating at the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.


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