Chapter 15
The Lord Accepts Prasāda at the House of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya
The following summary of this chapter is given by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya. After the Ratha-yātrā festival, Śrī Advaita Ācārya Prabhu worshiped Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with flowers and tulasī. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, in return, worshiped Advaita Ācārya with the flowers and tulasī that remained on the offered plate and said a mantra, yo ‘si so ‘si (“What You are, You are”). Then Advaita Ācārya Prabhu invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for prasāda. When Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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 Vijayādaśamī, the day of victory when Lord Rāmacandra conquered Laṅkā. The devotees all became soldiers of Lord Rāmacandra, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, in the ecstasy of Hanumān, manifested various transcendentally blissful activities. Thereafter, the Lord and His devotees observed various other ceremonies.
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then asked all the devotees to return to Bengal. Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sent Nityānanda Prabhu to Bengal for preaching and also sent Rāmadāsa, Gadādhara dāsa and several other devotees with Him. Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, with great humility, sent some Jagannātha prasāda and a cloth from Lord Jagannātha to His mother through Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura. When the Lord bade farewell to Rāghava Paṇḍita, Vāsudeva Datta, the residents of Kulīnagrāma and other devotees, He praised them for their transcendental qualities. Rāmānanda Vasu and Satyarāja Khān asked some questions, and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu instructed them that all householder devotees must engage themselves in the service of Vaiṣṇavas exclusively devoted to chanting the holy name of the Lord. He also directed the Vaiṣṇavas from Khaṇḍa, instructed Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Vidyā-vācaspati, and praised Murāri Gupta for his firm faith in the lotus feet of Lord Rāmacandra. Considering the humble prayer of Vāsudeva Datta, He established that Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is qualified to deliver all the conditioned souls.
Thereafter, when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was accepting prasāda at the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Sārvabhauma’s son-in-law, Amogha, created trouble in the family with his criticisms. The following morning, he was attacked by the disease of visūcikā (cholera). Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu very kindly saved him from death and enlivened him in chanting the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 1
sārvabhauma-gṛhe bhuñjan
sva-nindakam amoghakam
aṅgīkurvan sphuṭāṁ cakre
gauraḥ svāṁ bhakta-vaśyatām
SYNONYMS
sārvabhauma-gṛhe-at the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; bhuñjan-while eating; sva-nindakam-a person who was criticizing Him; amoghakam-named Amogha; aṅgīkurvan-accepting; sphuṭām-manifested; cakre-made; gauraḥ-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; svām-His; bhakta-vaśyatām-obligation to His devotees.
TRANSLATION
While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was accepting prasāda at the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Amogha criticized Him. At that time the Lord also showed how much He was obliged to His devotees.
TEXT 2
jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda
jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya-all glories; śrī-caitanya-to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; jaya-all glories; nityānanda-unto Nityānanda Prabhu; jaya advaita-candra-all glories to Advaita Prabhu; jaya-all glories; gaura-bhakta-vṛnda-to the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!
TEXT 3
jaya śrī-caitanya-caritāmṛta-śrotā-gaṇa
caitanya-caritāmṛta–yāṅra prāṇa-dhana
SYNONYMS
jaya-all glories; śrī-caitanya-caritāmṛta-śrotā-gaṇa-to the listeners of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta; caitanya-caritāmṛta-Caitanya-caritāmṛta; yāṅra-of whom; prāṇa-dhana-the life and soul.
TRANSLATION
All glories to the listeners of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta who have accepted it as their life and soul.
TEXT 4
ei-mata mahāprabhu bhakta-gaṇa-saṅge
nīlācale rahi’ kare nṛtya-gīta-raṅge
SYNONYMS
ei-mata-in this way; mahāprabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bhakta-gaṇa-saṅge-with His devotees; nīlācale rahi’-staying at Nīlācala, Jagannātha Purī; kare-performs; nṛtya-gīta-raṅge-chanting and dancing with great pleasure.
TRANSLATION
While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed at Jagannātha Purī, He constantly enjoyed chanting and dancing with His devotees.
TEXT 5
prathamāvasare jagannātha-daraśana
nṛtya-gīta kare daṇḍa-paraṇāma, stavana
SYNONYMS
prathama-avasare-in the beginning; jagannātha-daraśana-seeing the Deity of Lord Jagannātha; nṛtya-gīta kare-performs chanting and dancing; daṇḍa-paraṇāma-offering obeisances; stavana-offering prayers.
TRANSLATION
In the beginning, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the Deity of Lord Jagannātha in the temple. He offered Him obeisances and prayers and danced and sang before Him.
TEXT 6
‘upala-bhoga’ lāgile kare bāhire vijaya
haridāsa mili’ āise āpana nilaya
SYNONYMS
upala-bhoga lāgile-when there is an offering of food known as upala-bhoga; kare bāhire vijaya-He remains outside; haridāsa mili’-meeting Haridāsa Ṭhākura; āise-comes back; āpana nilaya-to His residence.
TRANSLATION
After visiting the temple, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would remain outside during the upala-bhoga offering. He would then go meet Haridāsa Ṭhākura and return to His residence.
PURPORT
At noon, when there was an upala-bhoga offering in a place called bhoga-vardhana-khaṇḍa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would go outside the temple. Before going outside, He used to stand near the Garuḍa-stambha column and offer His obeisances and prayers. Afterwards, the Lord would visit Siddha-bakula, where Haridāsa Ṭhākura lived. After visiting with Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the Lord would return to His own place at the abode of Kāśī Miśra.
TEXT 7
ghare vasi’ kare prabhu nāma saṅkīrtana
advaita āsiyā kare prabhura pūjana
SYNONYMS
ghare vasi’-sitting in His room; kare-performs; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; nāma saṅkīrtana-chanting on beads; advaita-Advaita Ācārya; āsiyā-coming; kare-performs; prabhura pūjana-worship of the Lord.
TRANSLATION
Sitting in His room, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would chant on His beads, and Advaita Prabhu would come there to worship the Lord.
TEXT 8
sugandhi-salile dena pādya, ācamana
sarvāṅge lepaye prabhura sugandhi candana
SYNONYMS
su-gandhi-salile-with scented water; dena-offers; pādya-water for washing the feet; ācamana-washing the mouth; sarva-aṅge-all over the body; lepaye-smears; prabhura-of the Lord; su-gandhi candana-fragrant sandalwood pulp.
TRANSLATION
While worshiping Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Advaita Ācārya would offer Him scented water to wash His mouth and feet. Then Advaita Ācārya would smear very fragrant sandalwood pulp all over His body.
TEXT 9
gale mālā dena, māthāya tulasī-mañjarī
yoḍa-hāte stuti kare pade namaskari’
SYNONYMS
gale-on the neck; mālā-garland; dena-offers; māthāya-on the head; tulasī-mañjarī-flowers of tulasī; yoḍa-hāte-with folded hands; stuti kare-offers prayers; pade-unto the lotus feet; namaskari’-offering obeisances.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Advaita Prabhu would also place a flower garland around the Lord’s neck and tulasī flowers [mañjarīs] on His head. Then, with folded hands, Advaita Ācārya would offer obeisances and prayers unto the Lord.
TEXT 10
pūjā-pātre puṣpa-tulasī śeṣa ye āchila
sei saba lañā prabhu ācārye pūjila
SYNONYMS
pūjā-pātre-on the dish that holds flowers and tulasī; puṣpa-tulasī-flowers and tulasī; śeṣa-remaining; ye āchila-whatever there were; sei saba-all of them; lañā-taking; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; ācārye pūjila-worshiped Advaita Ācārya.
TRANSLATION
After being worshiped by Advaita Ācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would take the dish containing flowers and tulasī and, with whatever paraphernalia remained, would also worship Advaita Ācārya.
TEXT 11
“yo ‘si so ‘si namo ‘stu te” ei mantra paḍe
mukha-vādya kari’ prabhu hāsāya ācāryere
SYNONYMS
yaḥ asi-whatever You are; saḥ asi-so You are; namaḥ astu te-I offer My respects unto You; ei mantra paḍe-chants this mantra; mukha-vādya kari’-making a sound within the mouth; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; hāsāya-causes to laugh; ācāryere-Advaita Ācārya.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would worship Advaita Ācārya 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 Ācārya laugh.
TEXT 12
ei-mata anyonye karena namaskāra
prabhure nimantraṇa kare ācārya bāra bāra
SYNONYMS
ei-mata-in this way; anyonye-to one another; karena-offer; namaskāra-obeisances; prabhure-unto Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; nimantraṇa-invitation; kare-does; ācārya-Advaita Ācārya; bāra bāra-again and again.
TRANSLATION
In this way both Advaita Ācārya and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would offer Their respectful obeisances unto one another. Then Advaita Ācārya would extend invitations to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again and again.
TEXT 13
ācāryera nimantraṇa–āścarya-kathana
vistāri’ varṇiyāchena dāsa-vṛndāvana
SYNONYMS
ācāryera nimantraṇa-the invitation of Advaita Ācārya; āścarya-kathana-wonderful story; vistāri’-very vividly; varṇiyāchena-described; dāsa-vṛndāvana-Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura.
TRANSLATION
Indeed, Śrī Advaita Ācārya’s invitation is another wonderful story. It has been very vividly described by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura.
TEXT 14
punarukti haya, tāhā nā kailuṅ varṇana
āra bhakta-gaṇa kare prabhure nimantraṇa
SYNONYMS
punaḥ-ukti-reputation; haya-there is; tāhā-that; nā-not; kailuṅ-I have done; varṇana-description; āra bhakta-gaṇa-other devotees; kare-do; prabhure-unto Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; nimantraṇa-invitation.
TRANSLATION
Since Advaita Ācārya’s invitation has been described by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, I shall not repeat the story. However, I shall say that other devotees also extended invitations to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TEXT 15
eka eka dina eka eka bhakta-gṛhe mahotsava
prabhu-saṅge tāhāṅ bhojana kare bhakta saba
SYNONYMS
eka eka dina-each and every day; eka eka bhakta-gṛhe-in the house of one devotee after another; mahotsava-festival; prabhu-saṅge-with Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāhāṅ-there; bhojana-lunch; kare-accept; bhakta-devotees; saba-all.
TRANSLATION
Every day one devotee after another would invite Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the other devotees to lunch and would also hold a festival.
TEXT 16
cāri-māsa rahilā sabe mahāprabhu-saṅge
jagannāthera nānā yātrā dekhe mahā-raṅge
SYNONYMS
cāri-māsa-four months; rahilā-remain; sabe-all the devotees; mahāprabhu-saṅge-with Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; jagannāthera-of Lord Jagannātha; nānā yātrā-many festivals; dekhe-they see; mahā-raṅge-with great pleasure.
TRANSLATION
All the devotees remained at Jagannātha Purī for four continuous months, and they observed all Lord Jagannātha’s festivals with great pleasure.
TEXT 17
kṛṣṇa-janma-yātrā-dine nanda-mahotsava
gopa-veśa hailā prabhu lañā bhakta saba
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa-janma-yātrā-observance of the birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa; dine-on the day of; nanda-mahotsava-the festival observed by Nanda Mahārāja, the father of Kṛṣṇa; gopa-veśa hailā-dressed Himself as a cowherd boy; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; lañā-taking; bhakta saba-all the devotees.
TRANSLATION
The devotees also celebrated the festival of Janmāṣṭamī, Kṛṣṇa’s birthday, which is also called Nanda-mahotsava, the festival of Nanda Mahārāja. At that time Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees dressed themselves as cowherd boys.
TEXT 18
dadhi-dugdha-bhāra sabe nija-skandhe kari’
mahotsava-sthāne āilā bali ‘hari’ ‘hari’
SYNONYMS
dadhi-dugdha-of milk and yogurt; bhāra-carriers; sabe-all of them; nija-skandhe-on their shoulders; kari’-keeping; mahotsava-sthāne-to the place of the festival; āilā-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
kānāñi-khuṭiyā āchena ‘nanda’-veśa dhari’
jagannātha-māhāti hañāchena ‘vrajeśvarī’
SYNONYMS
kānāñi-khuṭiyā-Kānāñi Khuṭiyā; āchena-is; nanda-veśa dhari’-in the dress of Nanda Mahārāja; jagannātha-māhāti-Jagannātha Māhāti; hañāchena-was; vrajeśvarī-mother Yaśodā.
TRANSLATION
Kānāñi Khuṭiyā dressed himself like Nanda Mahārāja, and Jagannātha Māhāti dressed himself as mother Yaśodā.
TEXT 20
āpane pratāparudra, āra miśra-kāśī
sārvabhauma, āra paḍichā-pātra tulasī
SYNONYMS
āpane pratāparudra-personally King Pratāparudra; āra-and; miśra-kāśī-Kāśī Miśra; sārvabhauma-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; āra-and; paḍichā-pātra tulasī-Paḍichāpātra Tulasī, the temple superintendent.
TRANSLATION
At that time, King Pratāparudra was also personally present with Kāśī Miśra, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Tulasī Paḍichāpātra.
TEXT 21
iṅhā-sabā lañā prabhu kare nṛtya-raṅga
dadhi-dugdha haridrā-jale bhare sabāra aṅga
SYNONYMS
iṅhā-sabā lañā-taking all of them; prabhu-Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kare nṛtya-raṅga-performed dancing in jubilation; dadhi-yogurt; dugdha-milk; haridrā-turmeric; jale-with water; bhare-covered; sabāra-of all of them; aṅga-bodies.
TRANSLATION
As usual, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced jubilantly. Everyone was covered with milk, yogurt and yellow turmeric water.
TEXT 22
advaita kahe,–satya kahi, nā kariha kopa
laguḍa phirāite pāra, tabe jāni gopa
SYNONYMS
advaita kahe-Advaita Ācārya says; satya kahi-I speak the truth; nā kariha kopa-please do not be angry; laguḍa-stick, staff; phirāite pāra-if You can wheel around; tabe jāni-then I shall understand; gopa-cowherd boy.
TRANSLATION
It was at this time that Śrīla Advaita Ācārya 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
tabe laguḍa lañā prabhu phirāite lāgilā
bāra bāra ākāśe pheli’ luphiyā dharilā
SYNONYMS
tabe-then; laguḍa-rod; lañā-taking; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; phirāite lāgilā-began to wheel it around; bāra bāra-again and again; ākāśe-in the sky; pheli’-throwing; luphiyā-tossing; dharilā-He captured.
TRANSLATION
Accepting Advaita Ācārya’s challenge, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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
śirera upare, pṛṣṭhe, sammukhe, dui-pāśe
pāda-madhye phirāya laguḍa,–dekhi’ loka hāse
SYNONYMS
śirera upare-over the head; pṛṣṭhe-behind the back; sammukhe-in front; dui-pāśe-on the two sides; pāda-madhye-between the two legs; phirāya-wheels around; laguḍa-the rod; dekhi’-seeing; loka hāse-all the people began to laugh.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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
alāta-cakrera prāya laguḍa phirāya
dekhi’ sarva-loka-citte camatkāra pāya
SYNONYMS
alāta-cakrera-the circle of a firebrand; prāya-like; laguḍa phirāya-wheels the rod; dekhi’-seeing; sarva-loka-all the people; citte-within the heart; camatkāra pāya-became very astonished.
TRANSLATION
When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu whirled the rod in a circle like a firebrand, the heart of everyone who saw it was astonished.
TEXT 26
ei-mata nityānanda phirāya laguḍa
ke bujhibe tāṅhā duṅhāra gopa-bhāva gūḍha
SYNONYMS
ei-mata-in this way; nityānanda-Lord Nityānanda Prabhu; phirāya laguḍa-wheels a rod; ke-who; bujhibe-will understand; tāṅhā-there; duṅhāra-of both of Them; gopa-bhāva-the ecstasy of the cowherd boys; gūḍha-very deep.
TRANSLATION
Nityānanda 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
pratāparudrera ājñāya paḍichā-tulasī
jagannāthera prasāda-vastra eka lañā āsi
SYNONYMS
pratāparudrera-of King Pratāparudra; ājñāya-on the order; paḍichā-tulasī-the temple superintendent named Tulasī; jagannāthera-of Lord Jagannātha; prasāda-vastra-used cloth; eka-one; lañā-taking; āsi-came.
TRANSLATION
Following the orders of Mahārāja Pratāparudra, the temple superintendent named Tulasī brought one of Lord Jagannātha’s used cloths.
TEXT 28
bahu-mūlya vastra prabhu-mastake bāndhila
ācāryādi prabhura gaṇere parāila
SYNONYMS
bahu-mūlya-very valuable; vastra-cloth; prabhu-mastake-on the head of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bāndhila-wrapped; ācārya-ādi-headed by Advaita Ācārya; prabhura-of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; gaṇere-on the associates; parāila-put.
TRANSLATION
This valuable cloth was wrapped around the head of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The other devotees, headed by Advaita Ācārya, also had cloths wrapped about their heads.
TEXT 29
kānāñi-khuṭiyā, jagannātha,–dui-jana
āveśe bilāila ghare chila yata dhana
SYNONYMS
kānāñi-khuṭiyā-Kānāñi Khuṭiyā; jagannātha-Jagannātha Māhāti; dui-jana-two persons; āveśe-in ecstatic love; bilāila-distributed; ghare-at home; chila-was; yata-all; dhana-riches.
TRANSLATION
In ecstasy, Kānāñi Khuṭiyā, who was dressed as Nanda Mahārāja, and Jagannātha Māhāti, who was dressed as mother Yaśodā, distributed all the riches they had stocked at home.
TEXT 30
dekhi’ mahāprabhu baḍa santoṣa pāilā
mātā-pitā-jñāne duṅhe namaskāra kailā
SYNONYMS
dekhi’-seeing; mahāprabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; baḍa-very much; santoṣa-satisfaction; pāilā-felt; mātā-pitā-jñāne-accepting as father and mother; duṅhe-unto both of them; namaskāra kailā-offered obeisances.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was greatly satisfied to see this. Accepting them both as His father and mother, He offered them obeisances.
TEXT 31
parama-āveśe prabhu āilā nija-ghara
ei-mata līlā kare gaurāṅga-sundara
SYNONYMS
parama-āveśe-in great ecstasy; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; āilā-returned; nija-ghara-to His own residence; ei-mata-in this way; līlā-pastimes; kare-performed; gaurāṅga-sundara-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TRANSLATION
In great ecstasy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to His residence. In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, known as Gaurāṅga-sundara, performed various pastimes.
TEXT 32
vijayā-daśamī–laṅkā-vijayera dine
vānara-sainya kailā prabhu lañā bhakta-gaṇe
SYNONYMS
vijayā-victory; daśamī-tenth day; laṅkā-vijayera dine-on the day celebrating the conquering of Laṅkā; vānara-sainya-monkey soldiers; kailā-arranged; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; lañā bhakta-gaṇe-taking all the devotees.
TRANSLATION
On the victory day celebrating the conquest of Laṅkā-a day known as Vijayā-daśamī-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu dressed up all His devotees like monkey soldiers.
TEXT 33
hanumān-āveśe prabhu vṛkṣa-śākhā lañā
laṅkā-gaḍe caḍi’ phele gaḍa bhāṅgiyā
SYNONYMS
hanumān-āveśe-in the emotion of being Hanumān; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; vṛkṣa-śākhā lañā-taking a large branch of a tree; laṅkā-gaḍe-on the Laṅkā fort; caḍi’-ascending; phele-breaks down; gaḍa-the fort; bhāṅgiyā-dismantling.
TRANSLATION
Displaying the emotions of Hanumān, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took up a large tree branch, and, mounting the walls of the Laṅkā fort, began to dismantle it.
TEXT 34
‘kāhāṅre rāvṇā’ prabhu kahe krodhāveśe
jagan-mātā hare pāpī, mārimu savaṁśe’
SYNONYMS
kāhāṅre rāvṇā-where is the rascal Rāvaṇa; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kahe-says; krodha-āveśe-in great anger; jagat-mātā-the mother of the universe; hare-kidnaps; pāpī-sinful; mārimu-I shall kill; sa-vaṁśe-with all his family.
TRANSLATION
In the ecstasy of Hanumān, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu angrily said, “Where is the rascal Rāvaṇa? He has kidnapped the universal mother, Sītā. Now I shall kill him and all his family.”
TEXT 35
gosāñira āveśa dekhi’ loke camatkāra
sarva-loka jaya’ jaya’ bale bāra bāra
SYNONYMS
gosāñira-of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; āveśa-ecstasy; dekhi’-by seeing; loke-all people; camatkāra-astonished; sarva-loka-all people; jaya jaya-all glories; bale-speak; bāra bāra-again and again.
TRANSLATION
Everyone became very astonished to see the emotional ecstasy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and everyone began to chant, “All glories! All glories!” again and again.
TEXT 36
ei-mata rāsa-yātrā, āra dīpāvalī
utthāna-dvādaśī-yātrā dekhilā sakali
SYNONYMS
ei-mata-in this way; rāsa-yātrā-rāsa dancing of Lord Kṛṣṇa; āra-and; dīpa-āvalī-a row of lights, the day of Dīpāvalī; utthāna-dvādaśī-yātrā-the festival of Utthāna-dvādaśī; dekhilā sakali-participated in all of them.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees participated in all the festivals known as Rāsa-yātrā, Dīpāvalī and Utthāna-dvādaśī.
PURPORT
The Dīpāvalī festival takes place on the dark-moon night in the month of Kārttika (October-November). The Rāsa-yātrā, or rāsa dancing of Kṛṣṇa, takes place on the full-moon night of the same month. Utthāna-dvādaśī takes place the day after Ekādaśī in the waxing fortnight of the moon in the same month. All the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu participated in all these festivals.
TEXT 37
eka-dina mahāprabhu nityānande lañā
dui bhāi yukti kaila nibhṛte vasiyā
SYNONYMS
eka-dina-one day; mahāprabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; nityānande lañā-taking Lord Nityānanda Prabhu; dui bhāi-two brothers; yukti kaila-consulted; nibhṛte vasiyā-sitting in a solitary place.
TRANSLATION
One day the two brothers, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu, consulted one another, sitting together in a solitary place.
TEXT 38
kibā yukti kaila duṅhe, keha nāhi jāne
phale anumāna pāche kaila bhakta-gaṇe
SYNONYMS
kibā yukti kaila-what consultation They had; duṅhe-both of Them; keha nāhi jāne-no one knows; phale-by the result; anumāna-guess; pāche-later; kaila-did; bhakta-gaṇe-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
tabe mahāprabhu saba bhakte bolāila
gauḍa-deśe yāha sabe vidāya karila
SYNONYMS
tabe mahāprabhu-thereafter Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; saba-all; bhakte-the devotees; bolāila-called; gauḍa-deśe-to Bengal; yāha-return; sabe-all of you; vidāya karila-bade farewell.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called for all the devotees and asked them to return to Bengal. In this way, He bade farewell to them.
TEXT 40
sabāre kahila prabhu–pratyabda āsiyā
guṇḍicā dekhiyā yābe āmāre miliyā
SYNONYMS
sabāre-to all of them; kahila-said; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; prati-abda-every year; āsiyā-coming; guṇḍicā-the function at the Guṇḍicā temple; dekhiyā-seeing; yābe-you should go; āmāre miliyā-after meeting Me.
TRANSLATION
Bidding farewell to all the devotees, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested them to return to Jagannātha Purī every year to see Him and then see the cleansing of the Guṇḍicā temple.
TEXT 41
ācāryere ājñā dila kariyā sammāna
‘ā-caṇḍāla ādi kṛṣṇa-bhakti dio dāna’
SYNONYMS
ācāryere-unto Advaita Ācārya; ājñā dila-ordered; kariyā sammāna-with great respect; ā-caṇḍāla-even to the lowest of men, known as the caṇḍāla; ādi-beginning with; kṛṣṇa-bhakti-Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa; dio-deliver; dāna-in charity.
TRANSLATION
With great respect, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested Advaita Ācārya, “Give Kṛṣṇa consciousness, devotion to Kṛṣṇa, even to the lowest of men [caṇḍālas].”
PURPORT
This is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s order to all His devotees. Kṛṣṇa-bhakti, devotion to Kṛṣṇa, is open to everyone, even low-class men like caṇḍālas. One should follow this order in the disciplic succession stemming from Śrī Advaita and Nityānanda Prabhu and distribute Kṛṣṇa consciousness without discrimination throughout the world.
There are different kinds of men, beginning with the brāhmaṇa and going down to the lowest platform known as caṇḍāla. Whatever one’s position, everyone in this Age of Kali needs to be enlightened in Kṛṣṇa 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 kṛṣṇa-bhakti all over the world and thus follow the orders of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The Lord has ordered everyone to become a guru (Cc. Madhya 7.128): āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa. Everyone in every town and village should be enlightened by the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Kṛṣṇa consciousness should be distributed to everyone indiscriminately. In this way, the entire world will be peaceful and happy, and everyone will glorify Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, as He desires.
The word caṇḍāla actually refers to a dog-eater, who is considered the lowest of men. Even caṇḍālas can be enlightened in Kṛṣṇa consciousness due to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s benedictions. Kṛṣṇa-bhakti is not the monopoly of a certain caste. Everyone is eligible to receive this great benediction given by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Everyone should be given a chance to receive it and be happy.
The word dāna, meaning “charity,” is also significant in this verse. Whoever engages in the distribution of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is a charitable person. Professional men recite Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and discuss kṛṣṇa-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 Kṛṣṇa can give such transcendentally valuable benedictions out of charity.
TEXT 42
nityānande ājñā dila,–‘yāha gauḍa-deśe
anargala prema-bhakti kariha prakāśe
SYNONYMS
nityānande-unto Nityānanda Prabhu; ājñā dila-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered; yāha gauḍa-deśe-go to Gauḍa-deśa (Bengal); anargala-without restriction; prema-bhakti-devotional service in love of Godhead; kariha prakāśe-manifest.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Nityānanda Prabhu,”Go to Bengal and, without restriction, manifest devotional service to the Lord, Kṛṣṇa consciousness.”
PURPORT
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thus ordered Nityānanda Prabhu to deliver all the Bengalis to devotional service. In Bhagavad-gītā (9.32) it is said:
māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya
ye ‘pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ
striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās
te ‘pi yānti parāṁ gatim
“O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth-women, vaiśyas [merchants], as well as śūdras [workers]-can approach the supreme destination.” Whoever takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and follows the regulative principles can return home, back to Godhead.
In his Anubhāṣya, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura writes: “There is a class of so-called devotees called prākṛta-sahajiyās who think that Nityānanda Prabhu is an ordinary human being. They have spread the news that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Nityānanda Prabhu to return to Bengal from Orissa just to marry and beget children. This is certainly a great offense against Nityānanda Prabhu.”
Such an offense is called pāṣaṇḍa-buddhi, or an atheistic remark. Offenders consider Nityānanda Prabhu to be like one of them, an ordinary human being. They do not know of Nityānanda Prabhu’s identity with the viṣṇu-tattva. Thinking Nityānanda Prabhu to be an ordinary human being is the business of mental speculators known as kuṇapātma-vādīs. These people accept the material body, which is a bag of three material elements (kuṇape tri-dhātuke), as themselves. They think that Nityānanda 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 Nityānanda Prabhu, being the expansion of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, is the most munificent incarnation. No one should consider Him an ordinary human being or an entity like the prajāpatis, who were ordered by Brahmā to increase generation. Nityānanda 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 sahajiyās or other professional distributors of kṛṣṇa-bhakti.
TEXT 43
rāma-dāsa, gadādhara ādi kata jane
tomāra sahāya lāgi’ dilu tomāra sane
SYNONYMS
rāma-dāsa-Rāmadāsa; gadādhara-Gadādhara dāsa; ādi-and others; kata jane-some people; tomāra-Your; sahāya-assistants; lāgi’-as; dilu-I give; tomāra sane-with You.
TRANSLATION
Nityānanda Prabhu was given assistants like Rāmadāsa, Gadādhara dāsa and several others. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “I give them to You to assist You.
TEXT 44
madhye madhye āmi tomāra nikaṭa yāiba
alakṣite rahi’ tomāra nṛtya dekhiba’
SYNONYMS
madhye madhye-at intervals; āmi-I; tomāra nikaṭa-near You; yāiba-shall go; alakṣite rahi’-keeping invisible; tomāra nṛtya-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
śrīvāsa-paṇḍite prabhu kari’ āliṅgana
kaṇṭhe dhari’ kahe tāṅre madhura vacana
SYNONYMS
śrīvāsa-paṇḍite-unto Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kari’-doing; āliṅgana-embracing; kaṇṭhe dhari’-catching his neck; kahe-says; tāṅre-unto him; madhura vacana-sweet words.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then embraced Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita and, with His arm about his neck, began to speak to him in sweet words.
TEXT 46
tomāra ghare kīrtane āmi nitya nāciba
tumi dekhā pābe, āra keha nā dekhiba
SYNONYMS
tomāra ghare-in your house; kīrtane-in the performance of congregational chanting; āmi-I; nitya-daily; nāciba-shall dance; tumi-you; dekhā pābe-will be able to see; āra-else; keha-anyone; nā dekhiba-will not see.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, “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
ei vastra mātāke diha’, ei saba prasāda
daṇḍavat kari’ āmāra kṣamāiha aparādha
SYNONYMS
ei vastra-this cloth; mātāke diha’-deliver to My mother, Śacīdevī; ei saba prasāda-all these remnants of the food of Jagannātha; daṇḍavat kari’-offering obeisances; āmāra-My; kṣamāiha-cause to be excused; aparādha-offenses.
TRANSLATION
“Take this prasāda of Lord Jagannātha’s and this cloth and deliver them to My mother, Śacīdevī. After offering her obeisances, please request her to excuse My offenses.
TEXT 48
tāṅra sevā chāḍi’ āmi kariyāchi sannyāsa
dharma nahe, kari āmi nija dharma-nāśa
SYNONYMS
tāṅra sevā chāḍi’-giving up her service; āmi-I; kariyāchi-accepted; sannyāsa-the renounced order of life; dharma nahe-it is not My religion; kari-perform; āmi-I; nija dharma-nāśa-destruction of My religious principles.
TRANSLATION
“I have given up the service of My mother and have accepted the sannyāsa order. Actually I should not have done this, for by so doing, I have destroyed My religious principles.
TEXT 49
tāṅra prema-vaśa āmi, tāṅra sevā–dharma
tāhā chāḍi’ kariyāchi vātulera karma
SYNONYMS
tāṅra prema-vaśa-subordinate to her love; āmi-I; tāṅra sevā-her service; dharma-My religion; tāhā chāḍi’-giving up that; kariyāchi-I performed; vātulera 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
vātula bālakera mātā nāhi laya doṣa
ei jāni’ mātā more nā karaya roṣa
SYNONYMS
vātula bālakera-of a mad son; mātā-mother; nāhi-does not; laya-accept; doṣa-fault; ei jāni’-knowing this; mātā-mother; more-unto Me; nā karaya roṣa-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
ki kāya sannyāse mora, prema nija-dhana
ye-kāle sannyāsa kailuṅ, channa haila mana
SYNONYMS
ki kāya-what business; sannyāse-in the renounced order; mora-of Me; prema-love; nija-dhana-My real wealth; ye-kāle-at which time; sannyāsa kailuṅ-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 sannyāsa.
TEXT 52
nīlācale āchoṅ muñi tāṅhāra ājñāte
madhye madhye āsimu tāṅra caraṇa dekhite
SYNONYMS
nīlācale āchoṅ-stay at Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala; muñi-I; tāṅhāra ājñāte-under her order; madhye madhye-at intervals; āsimu-I shall go; tāṅra-her; caraṇa dekhite-to see the lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
“I am staying here at Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala, to comply with her orders. However, at intervals I shall go see her lotus feet.
TEXT 53
nitya yāi’ dekhi muñi tāṅhāra caraṇe
sphūrti-jñāne teṅho tāhā satya nāhi māne
SYNONYMS
nitya yāi’-going daily; dekhi-see; muñi-I; tāṅhāra caraṇe-her lotus feet; sphūrti-jñāne-feeling My appearance; teṅho-she; tāhā-that; satya nāhi māne-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
eka-dina śālyanna, vyañjana pāṅca-sāta
śāka, mocā-ghaṇṭa, bhṛṣṭa-paṭola-nimba-pāta
lembu-ādā-khaṇḍa, dadhi, dugdha, khaṇḍa-sāra
śālagrāme samarpilena bahu upahāra
SYNONYMS
eka-dina-one day; śāli-anna-cooked rice made of śāli paddy; vyañjana-vegetables; pāṅca-sāta-five to seven different kinds; śāka-spinach; mocā-ghaṇṭa-curry made from banana flowers; bhṛṣṭa-fried; paṭola-paṭola vegetables; nimba-pāta-with leaves of the nimba tree; lembu-lemon; ādā-khaṇḍa-pieces of ginger; dadhi-yogurt; dugdha-milk; khaṇḍa-sāra-sugar candy; śālagrāme-unto Lord Viṣṇu in the form of the śālagrāma; samarpilena-offered; bahu upahāra-many other varieties of food.
TRANSLATION
“One day My mother, Śacī, offered food to Śālagrāma Viṣṇu. She offered rice cooked from śāli paddies, various kinds of vegetables, spinach, curry made of banana flowers, fried paṭola with nimba leaves, pieces of ginger with lemon, and also yogurt, milk, sugar candy and many other foods.
TEXT 56
prasāda lañā kole karena krandana
nimāira priya mora–e-saba vyañjana
SYNONYMS
prasāda lañā-taking the remnants of food; kole-on her lap; karena krandana-was crying; nimāira-of Nimāi; priya-favorite; mora-My; e-saba vyañjana-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 Nimāi.
TEXT 57
nimāñi nāhika ethā, ke kare bhojana
mora dhyāne aśru-jale bharila nayana
SYNONYMS
nimāñi-Nimāi; nāhika ethā-is not present here; ke kare bhojana-who will eat them; mora dhyāne-on meditation upon Me; aśru-jale-with tears; bharila nayana-eyes become filled.
TRANSLATION
“My mother was thinking, ‘Nimāi is not here. Who will accept all this food?’ As she meditated upon Me in this way, her eyes filled with tears.
TEXT 58
śīghra yāi’ muñi saba karinu bhakṣaṇa
śūnya-pātra dekhi’ aśru kariyā mārjana
SYNONYMS
śīghra-very soon; yāi’-going; muñi-I; saba-all; karinu bhakṣaṇa-ate; śūnya-pātra dekhi’-seeing the dish empty; aśru-tears; kariyā mārjana-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
‘ke anna-vyañjana khāila, śūnya kene pāta?
bālagopāla kibā khāila saba bhāta?
SYNONYMS
ke-who; anna-vyañjana khāila-has eaten all this food; śūnya kene pāta-why is the dish empty; bāla-gopāla-the Deity Bāla-gopāla; kibā khāila-did He eat; saba bhāta-all the rice.
TRANSLATION
“She then began to wonder who had eaten all that food. ‘Why is the plate empty?’ she wondered, doubting that Bāla-gopāla had eaten it all.
TEXT 60
kibā mora kathāya mane bhrama hañā gela!
kibā kona jantu āsi’ sakala khāila?
SYNONYMS
kibā-or; mora kathāya-when I was thinking like that; mane-in the mind; bhrama hañā gela-I was mistaken; kibā-or; kona jantu-some animal; āsi’-coming; sakala khāila-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
kibā āmi anna-pātre bhrame nā bāḍila!’
eta cinti’ pāka-pātra yāñā dekhila
SYNONYMS
kibā-or; āmi-I; anna-pātre-on the plate for food; bhrame-by mistake; nā bāḍila-did not put anything; eta cinti’-thinking this; pāka-pātra-the kitchen pots; yāñā 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
anna-vyañjana-pūrṇa dekhi’ sakala bhājane
dekhiyā saṁśaya haila kichu camatkāra mane
SYNONYMS
anna-vyañjana-pūrṇa-filled with rice and vegetables; dekhi’-seeing; sakala bhājane-all the cooking pots; dekhiyā-seeing; saṁśaya haila-there was doubt; kichu-some; camatkāra-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
īśāne bolāñā punaḥ sthāna lepāila
punarapi gopālake anna samarpila
SYNONYMS
īśāne-to Īśāna, the servant; bolāñā-calling; punaḥ-again; sthāna-the place; lepāila-cleaned; punarapi-again; gopālake-unto Gopāla; anna-cooked rice and vegetables; samarpila-offered.
TRANSLATION
“Thus wondering, she called Īśāna, the servant, and had the place cleaned again. She then offered another plate to Gopāla.
TEXT 64
ei-mata yabe karena uttama randhana
more khāoyāite kare utkaṇṭhāya rodana
SYNONYMS
ei-mata-in this way; yabe-when; karena-does; uttama randhana-first-class cooking; more-Me; khāoyāite-to feed; kare-does; utkaṇṭhāya-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
tāṅra preme āni’ āmāya karāya bhojane
antare mānaye sukha, bāhye nāhi māne
SYNONYMS
tāṅra preme-by her love; āni’-bringing; āmāya-Me; karāya bhojane-causes to eat; antare-within herself; mānaye-she feels; sukha-happiness; bāhye-externally; nāhi māne-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
ei vijayā-daśamīte haila ei rīti
tāṅhāke puchiyā tāṅra karāiha pratīti
SYNONYMS
ei vijayā-daśamīte-on the previous Vijayā-daśamī day; haila-there was; ei rīti-such an incident; tāṅhāke-unto her; puchiyā-asking; tāṅra-her; karāiha-make; pratīti-belief.
TRANSLATION
“Such an incident took place on the last Vijayā-daśamī day. You can ask her about this incident and thus make her believe that I actually go there.”
TEXT 67
eteka kahite prabhu vihvala ha-ilā
loka vidāya karite prabhu dhairya dharilā
SYNONYMS
eteka kahite-saying this; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; vihvala ha-ilā-became overwhelmed; loka vidāya karite-to bid farewell to the devotees; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dhairya dharilā-maintained patience.
TRANSLATION
While describing all this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was a little overwhelmed, but just to finish bidding farewell to the devotees, He remained patient.
TEXT 68
rāghava paṇḍite kahena vacana sarasa
‘tomāra śuddha preme āmi ha-i’ tomāra vaśa’
SYNONYMS
rāghava paṇḍite-unto Rāghava Paṇḍita; kahena-says; vacana-words; sa-rasa-very relishable; tomāra-your; śuddha preme-by pure devotional service; āmi ha-i’-I become; tomāra-your; vaśa-under obligation.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next spoke some relishable words to Rāghava Paṇḍita. He said, “I am obliged to you due to your pure love for Me.”
TEXT 69
iṅhāra kṛṣṇa-sevāra kathā śuna, sarva-jana
parama-pavitra sevā ati sarvottama
SYNONYMS
iṅhāra-of him; kṛṣṇa-sevāra-of service to Lord Kṛṣṇa; kathā-stories; śuna-hear; sarva-jana-all people; parama-pavitra-supremely pure; sevā-service; ati-very much; sarva-uttama-well accomplished.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then informed everyone, “Just hear about the pure devotional service rendered to Kṛṣṇa by Rāghava Paṇḍita. Indeed, Rāghava Paṇḍita’s service is supremely pure and highly accomplished.
TEXT 70
āra dravya rahu–śuna nārikelera kathā
pāṅca gaṇḍā kari’ nārikela vikāya tathā
SYNONYMS
āra dravya rahu-apart from the other commodities; śuna-just hear; nārikelera kathā-the incident of offering coconuts; pāṅca gaṇḍā kari’-at the price of five gaṇḍās; nārikela-coconut; vikāya-is sold; tathā-there.
TRANSLATION
“Apart from other commodities, just hear about his coconut offering. A coconut is sold at the rate of five gaṇḍās each.
TEXT 71
vāṭite kata śata vṛkṣe lakṣa lakṣa phala
tathāpi śunena yathā miṣṭa nārikela
SYNONYMS
vāṭite-in his garden; kata śata-how many hundreds of; vṛkṣe-trees; lakṣa lakṣa phala-millions of fruits; tathāpi-still; śunena-hears; yathā-where; miṣṭa nārikela-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
eka eka phalera mūlya diyā cāri-cāri paṇa
daśa-krośa haite ānāya kariyā yatana
SYNONYMS
eka eka phalera-of each and every fruit; mūlya-price; diyā-giving; cāri-cāri paṇa-four paṇas each (one paṇa equals twenty gaṇḍās); daśa-krośa-twenty miles away; haite-from; ānāya-brings; kariyā yatana-with great endeavor.
TRANSLATION
“He collects coconut with great endeavor from a place twenty miles away, and he gives four paṇas each for them.
TEXT 73
prati-dina pāṅca-sāta phala cholāñā
suśītala karite rākhe jale ḍubāiñā
SYNONYMS
prati-dina-each day; pāṅca-sāta-five to seven; phala-fruits; cholāñā-clipping; su-śītala karite-to make it very cool; rākhe-keeps; jale-in water; ḍubāiñā-immersing.
TRANSLATION
“Every day five to seven coconuts are clipped and put into water to keep cool.
TEXT 74
bhogera samaya punaḥ chuli’ saṁskari’
kṛṣṇe samarpaṇa kare mukha chidra kari’
SYNONYMS
bhogera samaya-at the time of offering bhoga; punaḥ-again; chuli’-clipping; saṁskari’-cleansing; kṛṣṇe-unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; samarpaṇa-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 Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 75
kṛṣṇa sei nārikela-jala pāna kari’
kabhu śūnya phala rākhena, kabhu jala bhari’
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa-Lord Kṛṣṇa; sei-that; nārikela-jala-water of the coconut; pāna kari’-drinking; kabhu-sometimes; śūnya-vacant; phala rākhena-leaves the fruit; kabhu-sometimes; jala bhari’-being filled with water.
TRANSLATION
“Lord Kṛṣṇa 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
jala-śūnya phala dekhi’ paṇḍita–haraṣita
phala bhāṅgi’ śasye kare sat-pātra pūrita
SYNONYMS
jala-śūnya-without water; phala-fruit; dekhi’-by seeing; paṇḍita-Rāghava Paṇḍita; haraṣita-very pleased; phala bhāṅgi’-breaking the fruit; śasye-with the pulp; kare-makes; sat-pātra-another plate; pūrita-filled.
TRANSLATION
“When Rāghava Paṇḍita 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
śasya samarpaṇa kari’ bāhire dheyāna
śasya khāñā kṛṣṇa kare śūnya bhājana
SYNONYMS
śasya-the pulp; samarpaṇa kari’-offering; bāhire-outside the temple room; dheyāna-meditates; śasya khāñā-eating the pulp; kṛṣṇa-Lord Kṛṣṇa; kare-makes; śūnya-vacant; bhājana-the plate.
TRANSLATION
“After offering the pulp, he would meditate outside the temple door. In the meantime, Lord Kṛṣṇa, having eaten the pulp, would leave the plate empty.
TEXT 78
kabhu śasya khāñā punaḥ pātra bhare śāṁse
śraddhā bāḍe paṇḍitera, prema-sindhu bhāse
SYNONYMS
kabhu-sometimes; śasya khāñā-eating the pulp; punaḥ-again; pātra-the plate; bhare-fills; śāṁse-with pulp; śraddhā-faith; bāḍe-increases; paṇḍitera-of Rāghava Paṇḍita; prema-sindhu-in the ocean of love; bhāse-floats.
TRANSLATION
“Sometimes, after eating the pulp, Kṛṣṇa would fill the plate again with new pulp. In this way, Rāghava Paṇḍita’s faith increases, and he floats in an ocean of love.
TEXT 79
eka dina phala daśa saṁskāra kariyā
bhoga lāgāite sevaka āila lañā
SYNONYMS
eka dina-one day; phala-fruits; daśa-ten; saṁskāra kariyā-after cleansing; bhoga lāgāite-to offer bhoga; sevaka-servant; āila-came; lañā-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
avasara nāhi haya, vilamba ha-ila
phala-pātra-hāte sevaka dvāre ta’ rahila
SYNONYMS
avasara nāhi haya-there was little time; vilamba ha-ila-it was late; phala-pātra-the pot of fruits; hāte-in the hands; sevaka-the servant; dvāre-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
dvārera upara bhite teṅho hāta dila
sei hāte phala chuṅila, paṇḍita dekhila
SYNONYMS
dvārera upara-above the door; bhite-on the ceiling; teṅho-he; hāta dila-brushed his hand; sei hāte-with that hand; phala chuṅila-touched the fruit; paṇḍita-Rāghava Paṇḍita; dekhila-saw.
TRANSLATION
“Rāghava Paṇḍita then saw that the servant touched the ceiling above the door and then touched the coconuts with the same hand.
TEXT 82
paṇḍita kahe,–dvāre loka kare gatāyāte
tāra pada-dhūli uḍi’ lāge upara bhite
SYNONYMS
paṇḍita kahe-Rāghava Paṇḍita said; dvāre-through the door; loka-people in general; kare-do; gatāyāte-coming and going; tāra-their; pada-dhūli-dust of the feet; uḍi’-being blown; lāge-touches; upara-upward; bhite-the ceiling.
TRANSLATION
“Rāghava Paṇḍita then said, ‘People are always coming and going through that door. The dust from their feet blows up and touches the ceiling.
TEXT 83
sei bhite hāta diyā phala paraśilā
kṛṣṇa-yogya nahe, phala apavitra hailā
SYNONYMS
sei bhite-on that ceiling; hāta diyā-touching your hand; phala-the fruit; paraśilā-touched; kṛṣṇa-yogya nahe-is not fit to be offered to Kṛṣṇa; phala-the fruit; apavitra hailā-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 Kṛṣṇa because they are contaminated.’
PURPORT
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura states that Rāghava Paṇḍita 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-dhīḥ. Rāghava Paṇḍita was an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, 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 Kṛṣṇa with everything. Sometimes neophytes, devotees on the lower platform, try to imitate Rāghava Paṇḍita on the platform of material purity and impurity. Such imitation will not help anyone. As explained in Caitanya-caritāmṛta, (Antya-līlā 4.174): bhadrābhadra-vastu-jñāna nāhika ‘prākṛte’. 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’ bhadrābhadra-jñāna, saba–‘manodharma’
‘ei bhāla, 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
eta bali’ phala phele prācīra laṅghiyā
aiche pavitra prema-sevā jagat jiniyā
SYNONYMS
eta bali’-saying this; phala phele-throws away the fruits; prācīra laṅghiyā-across the boundary wall; aiche-such; pavitra-pure; prema-sevā-service in love; jagat jiniyā-conquering all the world.
TRANSLATION
“Such was the service of Rāghava Paṇḍita. 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
tabe āra nārikela saṁskāra karāila
parama pavitra kari’ bhoga lāgāila
SYNONYMS
tabe-thereafter; āra-other; nārikela-coconuts; saṁskāra karāila-made clipped and cleaned; parama pavitra kari’-with great attention to keep them pure; bhoga lāgāila-offered for eating.
TRANSLATION
“Thereafter, Rāghava Paṇḍita had other coconuts gathered, cleansed and clipped, and with great attention he offered them to the Deity to eat.
TEXT 86
ei-mata kalā, āmra, nāraṅga, kāṅṭhāla
yāhā yāhā dūra-grāme śuniyāche bhāla
SYNONYMS
ei-mata-in this way; kalā-bananas; āmra-mangoes; nāraṅga-oranges; kāṅṭhāla-jackfruit; yāhā yāhā-whatever; dūra-grāme-in distant villages; śuniyāche-he heard; bhāla-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
bahu-mūlya diyā āni’ kariyā yatana
pavitra saṁskāra kari’ kare nivedana
SYNONYMS
bahu-mūlya-high price; diyā-offering; āni’-bringing; kariyā yatana-with great attention; pavitra-purified; saṁskāra 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, Rāghava Paṇḍita offered them to the Deity.
TEXT 88
ei mata vyañjanera śāka, mūla, phala
ei mata ciḍā, huḍuma, sandeśa sakala
SYNONYMS
ei mata-in this way; vyañjanera-of vegetables; śāka-spinach; mūla-radishes; phala-fruits; ei mata-in this way; ciḍā-chipped rice; huḍuma-powdered rice; sandeśa-sweetmeats; sakala-all.
TRANSLATION
“Thus with great care and attention Rāghava Paṇḍita would prepare spinach, other vegetables, radishes, fruits, chipped rice, powdered rice and sweetmeats.
TEXT 89
ei-mata piṭhā-pānā, kṣīra-odana
parama pavitra, āra kare sarvottama
SYNONYMS
ei-mata-in this way; piṭhā-pānā-cakes and sweet rice; kṣīra-odana-concentrated milk; parama pavitra-highly purified; āra-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
kāśamdi, ācāra ādi aneka prakāra
gandha, vastra, alaṅkāra, sarva dravya-sāra
SYNONYMS
kāśamdi-a kind of pickle; ācāra-other pickles; ādi-and so on; aneka pra-kāra-of many varieties; gandha-scents; vastra-clothing; alaṅkāra-ornaments; sarva-all; dravya-of things; sāra-best.
TRANSLATION
“Rāghava Paṇḍita would also offer all kinds of pickles, such as kāśamdi. He offered various scents, garments, ornaments and the best of everything.
TEXT 91
ei-mata premera sevā kare anupama
yāhā dekhi’ sarva-lokera juḍāna nayana
SYNONYMS
ei-mata-in this way; premera sevā-service in love; kare-performs; anupama-without comparison; yāhā dekhi’-seeing which; sarva-lokera-of all people; juḍāna-become pleased; nayana-the eyes.
TRANSLATION
“Thus Rāghava Paṇḍita would serve the Lord in an incomparable way. Everyone was very satisfied just to see him.”
TEXT 92
eta bali’ rāghavere kaila āliṅgane
ei-mata sammānila sarva bhakta-gaṇe
SYNONYMS
eta bali’-saying this; rāghavere-Rāghava Paṇḍita; kaila āliṅgane-He embraced; ei-mata-in this way; sammānila-showed respect; sarva-all; bhakta-gaṇe-to the devotees.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then mercifully embraced Rāghava Paṇḍita. The Lord also offered all the other devotees a reception with similar respect.
TEXT 93
śivānanda sene kahe kariyā sammāna
vāsudeva-dattera tumi kariha samādhāna
SYNONYMS
śivānanda sene-unto Śivānanda Sena; kahe-says; kariyā sammāna-with great respect; vāsudeva-dattera-of Vāsudeva Datta; tumi-you; kariha-take; samādhāna-care.
TRANSLATION
The Lord also respectfully told Śivānanda Sena, “Take care of Vāsudeva Datta very nicely.
TEXT 94
parama udāra iṅho, ye dina ye āise
sei dine vyaya kare, nāhi rākhe śeṣe
SYNONYMS
parama udāra-very liberal; iṅho-he; ye dina-every day; ye āise-whatever he gets; sei dine-on that very day; vyaya kare-spends; nāhi-does not; rākhe-keep; śeṣe-any balance.
TRANSLATION
“Vāsudeva Datta is very liberal. Every day, whatever income he receives, he spends. He does not keep any balance.
TEXT 95
‘gṛhastha’ hayena iṅho, cāhiye sañcaya
sañcaya nā kaile kuṭumba-bharaṇa nāhi haya
SYNONYMS
gṛhastha-householder; hayena-is; iṅho-he (Vāsudeva Datta); cāhiye sañcaya-requires to save some money; sañcaya nā kaile-without saving money; kuṭumba-bharaṇa-maintenance of a family; nāhi haya-is not possible.
TRANSLATION
“Being a householder, Vāsudeva Datta needs to save some money. Because he is not doing so, it is very difficult for him to maintain his family.
TEXT 96
ihāra gharera āya-vyaya saba–tomāra sthāne
‘sara-khela’ hañā tumi kariha samādhāne
SYNONYMS
ihāra-of Vāsudeva Datta; gharera-of household affairs; āya-vyaya-income and expenditures; saba-all; tomāra sthāne-at your place; sara-khela hañā-being the manager; tumi-you; kariha samādhāne-arrange.
TRANSLATION
“Please take care of Vāsudeva Datta’s family affairs. Become his manager and make the proper adjustments.
Both Vāsudeva Datta and Śivānanda Sena were living in the same neighborhood, which is presently called Kumārahaṭṭa or Hālisahara.
TEXT 97
prati-varṣe āmāra saba bhakta-gaṇa lañā
guṇḍicāya āsibe sabāya pālana kariyā
SYNONYMS
prati-varṣe-each and every year; āmāra-My; saba-all; bhakta-gaṇa lañā-accompanied by the devotees; guṇḍicāya-to perform the Guṇḍicā cleansing festival; āsibe-you will come; sabāya-to everyone; pālana kariyā-providing maintenance.
TRANSLATION
“Come every year and bring all My devotees with you to the Guṇḍicā festival. I also request you to maintain all of them.”
TEXT 98
kulīna-grāmīre kahe sammāna kariyā
pratyabda āsibe yātrāya paṭṭa-ḍorī lañā
SYNONYMS
kulīna-grāmīre-unto the inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma; kahe-says; sammāna kariyā-with great respect; prati-abda-each year; āsibe-please come; yātrāya-during the Ratha-yātrā festival; paṭṭa-ḍorī-silken rope; lañā-taking.
TRANSLATION
The Lord then with great respect extended an invitation to all the inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma, asking them to come every year and bring silken rope to carry Lord Jagannātha during the Ratha-yātrā festival.
TEXT 99
guṇarāja-khāṅna kaila śrī-kṛṣṇa-vijaya
tāhāṅ eka-vākya tāṅra āche premamaya
SYNONYMS
guṇarāja-khāṅna-Guṇarāja Khān; kaila-compiled; śrī-kṛṣṇa-vijaya-the book named Śrī Kṛṣṇa-vijaya; tāhāṅ-there; eka-vākya-one sentence; tāṅra-of it; āche-is; prema-maya-full of love of Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, “Guṇarāja Khān of Kulīna-grāma compiled a book named Śrī Kṛṣṇa-vijaya in which there is a sentence revealing the author’s ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa.”
PURPORT
Śrī Kṛṣṇa-vijaya is a book of poems considered to be the first poetry book written in Bengal. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura states that this book was compiled in the year 1395 śakābda (A.D. 1474). After seven years, it was completed (1402 śakābda). 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 Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Śrī Guṇarāja Khān was one of the topmost Vaiṣṇavas, and he has translated the Tenth and Eleventh Cantos of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam for the understanding of the common man. The book Śrī Kṛṣṇa-vijaya was highly praised by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and it is very valuable for all Vaiṣṇavas. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura gives a genealogical table and family history of Guṇarāja Khān. When a Bengali emperor named Ādiśūra first came from Kānyakubja, or Kānowj, he brought with him five brāhmaṇas and five kāyasthas. Since the king is supposed to be accompanied by his associates, the brāhmaṇas accompanied the King to help him in higher spiritual matters. The kāyasthas were to render other services. In the northern Indian high country, the kāyasthas are accepted as śūdras, but in Bengal the kāyasthas are considered among the higher castes. It is a fact that the kāyasthas came to Bengal from northern India, specifically from Kānyakubja, or Kānowj. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura says that the kāyasthas who came from Kānyakubja were high-class men. Of them, Daśaratha Vasu was a great personality, and the thirteenth generation of his family included Guṇarāja Khān.
His real name was Mālādhara Vasu, but the title Khān was given to him by the Emperor of Bengal. Thus he became known as Guṇarāja Khān. Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura gives the following genealogical table of Guṇarāja Khān: (1) Daśaratha Vasu; (2) Kuśala; (3) Śubhaśaṅkara; (4) Haṁsa; (5) Śaktirāma (Bāgāṇḍā), Muktirāma (Māinagara) and Alaṅkāra (Baṅgaja); (6) Dāmodara; (7) Anantarāma; (8) Guṇīnāyaka and Vīṇānāyaka. The twelfth generation included Bhagīratha, and the thirteenth Mālādhara Vasu, or Guṇarāja Khān. Śrī Guṇarāja Khān had fourteen sons, of whom the second son, Lakṣmīnāthavasu, received the title Satyarāja Khān. His son was Śrī Rāmānanda Vasu; therefore Rāmānanda Vasu belonged to the fifteenth generation. Guṇarāja Khān 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 Guṇarāja Khān was certainly very great. Śrī Guṇarāja Khān never cared for the artificial aristocracy introduced by Ballāl Sena.
TEXT 100
“nandanandana kṛṣṇa–mora prāṇa-nātha”
ei vākye vikāinu tāṅra vaṁśera hāta
SYNONYMS
nanda-nandana kṛṣṇa-Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja; mora prāṇa-nātha-my life and soul; ei vākye-because of this statement; vikāinu-I became sold; tāṅra-of him; vaṁśera hāta-in the hands of the descendants.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, ” ‘Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, is my life and soul.’ By this statement I am sold into the hands of the descendants of Guṇarāja Khān.
PURPORT
The full verse referred to here is:
eka-bhāve vanda hari yoḍa kari’ hāta
nandanandana kṛṣṇa–mora prāṇa-nātha
“With folded hands I offer my prayers unto Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, who is my life and soul.”
TEXT 101
tomāra ki kathā, tomāra grāmera kukkura
sei mora priya, anya-jana rahu dūra
SYNONYMS
tomāra-of you; ki kathā-what to speak; tomāra-of your; grāmera-village; kukkura-a dog; sei-that; mora-to Me; priya-very dear; anya-jana-others; rahu dūra-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
tabe rāmānanda, āra satyarāja khāṅna
prabhura caraṇe kichu kaila nivedana
SYNONYMS
tabe-after this; rāmānanda-Rāmānanda Vasu; āra-and; satyarāja khāṅna-Satyarāja Khān; prabhura caraṇe-at the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kichu-some; kaila-made; nivedana-submission.
TRANSLATION
After this, Rāmānanda Vasu and Satyarāja Khān both submitted questions at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TEXT 103
gṛhastha viṣayī āmi, ki mora sādhane
śrī-mukhe ājñā kara prabhu–nivedi caraṇe
SYNONYMS
gṛhastha-householder; viṣayī-materialistic man; āmi-I; ki-what; mora sādhane-the process of my advancement in spiritual life; śrī-mukhe-from Your own mouth; ājñā kara-please order; prabhu-my Lord; nivedi caraṇe-I submit unto Your lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
Satyarāja Khān 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
prabhu kahena,–‘kṛṣṇa-sevā’, ‘vaiṣṇava-sevana’
‘nirantara kara kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtana’
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahena-the Lord replied; kṛṣṇa-sevā-serving Kṛṣṇa; vaiṣṇava-sevana-abiding by the orders of Vaiṣṇavas; nirantara-without cessation; kara-do; kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtana-chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Without cessation continue chanting the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Whenever possible, serve Him and His devotees, the Vaiṣṇavas.”
TEXT 105
satyarāja bale,–vaiṣṇava ciniba kemane?
ke vaiṣṇava, kaha tāṅra sāmānya lakṣaṇe
SYNONYMS
satyarāja bale-Satyarāja Khān said; vaiṣṇava-a Vaiṣṇava; ciniba kemane-how shall I recognize; ke vaiṣṇava-who is a Vaiṣṇava; kaha-please say; tāṅra-of him; sāmānya lakṣaṇe-common symptoms.
TRANSLATION
Upon hearing this, Satyarāja said, “How can I recognize a Vaiṣṇava? Please let me know what a Vaiṣṇava is. What are his common symptoms?”
TEXT 106
prabhu kahe,–“yāṅra mukhe śuni eka-bāra
kṛṣṇa-nāma, sei pūjya,–śreṣṭha sabākāra”
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied; yāṅra mukhe-in whose mouth; śuni-I hear; eka-bāra-once; kṛṣṇa-nāma-the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sei pūjya-he is worshipable; śreṣṭha sabākāra-the best of all human beings;
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Whoever chants the holy name of Kṛṣṇa just once is worshipable and is the topmost human being.
PURPORT
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura says that simply by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa once, a person becomes perfect. Such a person is understood to be a Vaiṣṇava. With such faith and belief, one may begin a life of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but an ordinary person cannot chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa with such faith. This is confirmed by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in his Upadeśāmṛta: kṛṣṇeti yasya giri taṁ manasādriyeta. One should accept the holy name of Kṛṣṇa to be identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Transcendence Himself. The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is also identical with Kṛṣṇa and is also cintāmaṇi. The name Kṛṣṇa is the personification of sound perfectly transcendental and eternally liberated from material contamination. One should understand that the name Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa 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 Kṛṣṇa 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 Vaiṣṇavas.
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 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.47):
arcāyām eva haraye
pūjāṁ yaḥ śraddhayehate
na tad-bhakteṣu cānyeṣu
sa bhaktaḥ prākṛtaḥ smṛtaḥ
“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 Sanātana Gosvāmī, He said:
śraddhāvān jana haya bhakti-adhikārī
‘uttama’, ‘madhyama;’, ‘kaniṣṭha’–śraddhā-anusārī
yāhāra komala-śraddhā, se ‘kaniṣṭha’ jana
krame krame teṅho bhakta ha-ibe ‘uttama’
rati-prema-tāratamye bhakta-taratama
“A person who has attained firm faith is a real candidate for advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. According to the faith, there are first-class, second-class and neophyte devotees. One who has preliminary faith is called kaniṣṭha, 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-adhikārī and uttama-adhikārī.” (Cc. Madhya 22.64,69-70)
It is thus concluded that even a neophyte devotee is superior to the karmīs and jñānīs because he has full faith in chanting the holy name of the Lord. A karmī or a jñānī, regardless of his greatness, has no faith in Lord Viṣṇu, 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
“eka kṛṣṇa-nāme kare sarva-pāpa kṣaya
nava-vidhā bhakti pūrṇa nāma haite haya
SYNONYMS
eka kṛṣṇa-nāme-one holy name of Kṛṣṇa; kare-can do; sarva-pāpa-of all sinful reactions; kṣaya-destruction; nava-vidhā-nine processes; bhakti-of devotional service; pūrṇa-complete; nāma haite-simply by chanting the holy name; haya-are.
TRANSLATION
“Simply by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, 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 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.23):
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ
sakhyam ātma-nivedanam
iti puṁsārpitā viṣṇau
bhaktiś cen nava-lakṣaṇā
kriyeta bhagavaty addhā
tan manye ‘dhītam 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 Kṛṣṇa 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 śravaṇa and kīrtana can all be attained at once if one simply chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly.
In this regard, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī states in his book Bhakti-sandarbha (173): yadyapi anyā bhaktiḥ kalau kartavyā, tada kīrtanākhya-bhakti-saṁyogenaiva. Out of the nine processes of devotional service, kīrtana is very important. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī therefore instructs that the other processes, such as arcana, vandana, dāsya and sakhya, should be executed, but they must be preceded and followed by kīrtana, the chanting of the holy name. We have therefore introduced this system in all of our centers. Arcana, ārati, bhoga offering, Deity dressing and decoration are all preceded and followed by the chanting of the holy name of the Lord-Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
TEXT 108
dīkṣā-puraścaryā-vidhi apekṣā nā kare
jihvā-sparśe ā-caṇḍāla sabāre uddhāre
SYNONYMS
dīkṣā-initiation; puraścaryā-activities before initiation; vidhi-regulative principles; apekṣā-reliance on; nā-not; kare-does; jihvā-the tongue; sparśe-by touching; ā-caṇḍāla-even to the lowest of men, the caṇḍāla; sabāre-everyone; uddhāre-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 [caṇḍāla] can be delivered.
PURPORT
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains dīkṣā in his Bhakti-sandarbha (283):
divyaṁ jñānaṁ yato dadyāt
kuryāt pāpasya saṅkṣayam
tasmād dīkṣeti sā proktā
deśikais tattva-kovidaiḥ
“Dīkṣā 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 dīkṣā.” The regulative principles of dīkṣā are explained in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (2.3,4) and in Bhakti-sandarbha (283). As stated:
dvijānām anupetānāṁ svakarmādhyayanādiṣu
yathādhikāro nāstīha syāc copanayanād anu
tathātrādīkṣitānāṁ tu mantra-devārcanādiṣu
nādhikāro ‘sty ataḥ kuryād ātmānaṁ śiva-saṁstutam
“Even though born in a brāhmaṇa family, one cannot engage in Vedic rituals without being initiated and having a sacred thread. Although born in a brāhmaṇa family, one becomes a brāhmaṇa after initiation and the sacred thread ceremony. Unless one is initiated as a brāhmaṇa, he cannot worship the holy name properly.”
According to the Vaiṣṇava regulative principles, one must be initiated as a brāhmaṇa. The Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (2.6) quotes the following injunction from the Viṣṇu-yāmala:
adīkṣitasya vāmoru
kṛtaṁ sarvaṁ nirarthakam
paśu-yonim avāpnoti
dīkṣā-virahito janaḥ
“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-vilāsa (2.10) further quotes:
ato guruṁ praṇamyaivaṁ
sarva-svaṁ vinivedya ca
gṛhṇīyād vaiṣṇavaṁ mantraṁ
dīkṣā-pūrvaṁ vidhānataḥ
“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 Vaiṣṇava initiation from him.”
The Bhakti-sandarbha (298) gives the following quotation from the Tattva-sāgara:
yathā kāñcanatāṁ yāti
kāsyaṁ rasa-vidhānataḥ
tathā dīkṣā-vidhānena
dvijatvaṁ jāyate nṛṇām
“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 brāhmaṇa.”
The Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (17.11,12) in discussing the puraścaryā process, quotes the following verses from Agastya-saṁhitā:
pūjā traikālikī nityaṁ
japas tarpaṇam eva ca
homo brāhmaṇa-bhuktiś ca
puraścaraṇam ucyate
guror labdhasya mantrasya
prasādena yathā-vidhi
pañcāṅgopāsanā-siddhyai
puraś caitad vidhīyate
“In the morning, afternoon and evening, one should worship the Deity, chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, offer oblations, perform a fire sacrifice, and feed the brāhmaṇas. These five activities constitute puraścaryā. To attain full success when taking initiation from the spiritual master, one should first perform these puraścaryā processes.”
The word puraḥ means “before” and caryā 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 ārati and classes in the śāstras, practice the regulative principles and associate with other devotees. When one is actually advanced in the puraścaryā-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 Kṛṣṇa 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-vilāsa (17.4,5,7) it is stated:
vinā yena na siddhaḥ syān
mantro varṣa-śatair api
kṛtena yena labhate
sādhako vāñchitaṁ phalam
puraścaraṇa-sampanno
mantro hi phala-dhāyakaḥ
ataḥ puraṣkriyāṁ kuryāt
mantravit siddhi-kaṅksayā
puraṣkriyā hi mantrāṇāṁ
pradhānaṁ vīryam ucyate
vīrya-hīno yathā dehī
sarva-karmasu na kṣamaḥ
puraścaraṇa-hīno hi
tathā mantraḥ prakīrtitaḥ
“Without performing the puraścaryā activities, one cannot become perfect even by chanting this mantra for hundreds of years. However, one who has undergone the puraścaryā-vidhi process can attain success very easily. If one wishes to perfect his initiation, he must first undergo the puraścaryā activities. The puraścaryā 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 puraścaryā-vidhi, no mantra can be perfected.”
In his Bhakti-sandarbha (283), Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī states:
yadyapi śrī-bhāgavata-mate pañcarātrādi-vat arcana-mārgasya āvaśyakatvaṁ nāsti, tad vināpi śaraṇāpattyādīnām ekatareṇāpi puruṣārtha-siddher abhihitatvāt, tathāpi śrī-nāradādi-vartmānusaradbhiḥ śrī-bhagavatā saha sambandha-viśeṣaṁ dīkṣā-vidhānena śrī-guru-caraṇa-sampāditaṁ cikīrṣadbhiḥ kṛtāyāṁ dīkṣāyām arcanam avaśyaṁ kriyetaiva.
Of similar importance is dīkṣā, which is explained as follows in Bhakti-sandarbha (284):
yadyapi svarūpato nāsti, tathāpi prāyaḥ svabhāvato dehādi-sambandhena kardaya-śīlānāṁ vikṣipta-cittānāṁ janānāṁ tat-tat-saṅkocī-karaṇāya śrīmad-ṛṣi-prabhṛtibhir atrārcana-mārge kvacit kvacit kācit kācin maryādā sthāpitāsti.
Similarly in the Rāmārcana-candrikā it is stated:
vinaiva dīkṣāṁ viprendra
puraścaryāṁ vinaiva hi
vinaiva nyāsa-vidhinā
japa-mātreṇa siddhidā
In other words, the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is so powerful that it does not depend on official initiation, but if one is initiated and engages in pañcarātra-vidhi (Deity worship), his Kṛṣṇa 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 Kṛṣṇa mantra, cannot be identified with any material sound. If one accepts the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-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 Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi 7.73):
kṛṣṇa-mantra haite habe saṁsāra-mocana
kṛṣṇa-nāma haite pābe kṛṣṇera caraṇa
“Simply by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa one can obtain freedom from material existence. Indeed, simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa 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 puraścaryā or puraścaraṇa, the actual chanting of the holy name does not depend on puraścaryā-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-jihvā-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.
ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi
na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ
sevonmukhe hi jihvādau
svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ
According to Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 17.134):
ataeva kṛṣṇera ‘nāma’, ‘deha’, ‘vilāsa’
prākṛtendriya-grāhya nahe, haya sva-prakāśa
“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
anuṣaṅga-phale kare saṁsārera kṣaya
citta ākarṣiyā karāya kṛṣṇe premodaya
SYNONYMS
anuṣaṅga-phale-as a simultaneous result; kare-does; saṁsārera kṣaya-annihilation of entanglement in the material world; citta-thought; ākarṣiyā-attracting; karāya-causes; kṛṣṇe-unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; 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 Kṛṣṇa, and thus dormant love for Kṛṣṇa is awakened.
TEXT 110
ākṛṣṭiḥ kṛta-cetasāṁ sumanasām uccāṭanaṁ cāṁhasām
ācaṇḍālam amūka-loka-sulabho vaśyaś ca mukti-śriyaḥ
no dīkṣāṁ na ca sat-kriyāṁ na ca puraścaryāṁ manāg īkṣate
mantro ‘yaṁ rasanā-spṛg eva phalati śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmātmakaḥ
SYNONYMS
ākṛṣṭiḥ-attraction; kṛta-cetasām-of saintly persons; su-manasām-of the most liberal-minded; uccāṭanam-annihilator; ca-also; aṁhasām-of sinful reactions; ā-caṇḍālam-even to the caṇḍālas; amūka-except the dumb; loka-sulabhaḥ-very easy to achieve for all persons; vaśyaḥ-full controller; ca-and; mukti-śriyaḥ-of the opulence of liberation; no-not; dīkṣām-initiation; na-not; ca-also; sat-kriyām-pious activities; na-not; ca-also; puraścaryām-regulative principles before initiation; manāk-slightly; īkṣate-depends upon; mantraḥ-mantra; ayam-this; rasanā-tongue; spṛk-touching; eva-simply; phalati-is fruitful; śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāma-ātmakaḥ-consisting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
” ‘The holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa 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 caṇḍāla. The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is the controller of the opulence of liberation, and it is identical with Kṛṣṇa. 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 puraścaryā 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 Padyāvalī (29) by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.
TEXT 111
“ataeva yāṅra mukhe eka kṛṣṇa-nāma
sei ta’ vaiṣṇava, kariha tāṅhāra sammāna”
SYNONYMS
ataeva-therefore; yāṅra mukhe-in whose mouth; eka-one; kṛṣṇa-nāma-the holy name of Kṛṣṇa; sei ta’ vaiṣṇava-he is a Vaiṣṇava; kariha-offer; tāṅhāra-to him; sammāna-respect.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then finally advised, “One who is chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is understood to be a Vaiṣṇava; therefore you should offer all respects to him.”
PURPORT
In his Upadeśāmṛta, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī states: kṛṣṇeti yasya giri taṁ manasādriyeta dīkṣāsti 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. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura comments that serving Vaiṣṇavas is most important for householders. Whether a Vaiṣṇava is properly initiated or not is not a subject for consideration. One may be initiated and yet contaminated by the Māyāvāda philosophy, but a person who chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly will not be so contaminated. A properly initiated Vaiṣṇava 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 Vaiṣṇava. It is the duty of the householder to offer respects to such an unalloyed Vaiṣṇava. This is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s instruction.
TEXT 112
khaṇḍera mukunda-dāsa, śrī-raghunandana
śrī-narahari,–ei mukhya tina jana
SYNONYMS
khaṇḍera-of the place known as Khaṇḍa; mukunda-dāsa-Mukunda dāsa; śrī-raghunandana-Śrī Raghunandana; śrī-narahari-Śrī Narahari; ei-these; mukhya-chief; tina-three; jana-persons.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then turned His attention to three persons-Mukunda dāsa, Raghunandana and Śrī Narahari-inhabitants of the place called Khaṇḍa.
TEXT 113
mukunda dāsere puche śacīra nandana
‘tumi–pitā, putra tomāra–śrī-raghunandana?
SYNONYMS
mukunda dāsere-unto Mukunda dāsa; puche-inquired; śacīra nandana-the son of mother Śacī; tumi-you; pitā-father; putra-son; tomāra-your; śrī-raghunandana-Śrī Raghunandana.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī, next asked Mukunda dāsa, “You are the father, and your son is Raghunandana. Is that so?
TEXT 114
kibā raghunandana–pitā, tumi–tāra tanaya?
niścaya kariyā kaha, yāuka saṁśaya’
SYNONYMS
kibā-or; raghunandana-Raghunandana; pitā-father; tumi-you; tāra-his; tanaya-son; niścaya kariyā-making certain; kaha-just speak; yāuka saṁśaya-let My doubts be dissipated.
TRANSLATION
“Or is Śrīla Raghunandana your father whereas you are his son? Please let Me know the facts so that My doubts will go away.”
TEXT 115
mukunda kahe,–raghunandana mora ‘pitā’ haya
āmi tāra ‘putra’,–ei āmāra niścaya
SYNONYMS
mukunda kahe-Mukunda dāsa replied; raghunandana-my son Raghunandana; mora-my; pitā-father; haya-is; āmi-I; tāra-his; putra-son; ei-this; āmāra-my; niścaya-decision.
TRANSLATION
Mukunda replied,”Raghunandana is my father, and I am his son. This is my decision.
TEXT 116
āmā sabāra kṛṣṇa-bhakti raghunandana haite
ataeva pitā–raghunandana āmāra niścite
SYNONYMS
āmā sabāra-of all of us; kṛṣṇa-bhakti-devotion to Kṛṣṇa; raghunandana haite-because of Raghunandana; ataeva-therefore; pitā-father; raghunandana-Raghunandana; āmāra niścite-my decision.
TRANSLATION
“All of us have attained devotion to Kṛṣṇa due to Raghunandana. Therefore in my mind he is my father.”
TEXT 117
śuni’ harṣe kahe prabhu–“kahile niścaya
yāṅhā haite kṛṣṇa-bhakti sei guru haya”
SYNONYMS
śuni’-hearing; harṣe-in great jubilation; kahe prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; kahile niścaya-you have spoken correctly; yāṅhā haite-from whom; kṛṣṇa-bhakti-devotion to Kṛṣṇa; sei-that person; guru haya-is the spiritual master.
TRANSLATION
Hearing Mukunda dāsa give this proper decision, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu confirmed it, saying,”Yes, it is correct. One who awakens devotion to Kṛṣṇa is certainly a spiritual master.”
TEXT 118
bhaktera mahimā prabhu kahite pāya sukha
bhaktera mahimā kahite haya pañca-mukha
SYNONYMS
bhaktera mahimā-the glories of a devotee; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kahite-to speak; pāya sukha-gets happiness; bhaktera mahimā-the glories of a devotee; kahite-to speak; haya-becomes; pañca-mukha-five faced.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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
bhakta-gaṇe kahe,–śuna mukundera prema
nigūḍha nirmala prema, yena dagdha hema
SYNONYMS
bhakta-gaṇe kahe-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu informed His devotees; śuna-please hear; mukundera prema-Mukunda’s love of Godhead; nigūḍha-very deep; nirmala-pure; prema-ecstatic love; yena-as if; dagdha-clarified; hema-gold.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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
bāhye rāja-vaidya iṅho kare rāja-sevā
antare kṛṣṇa-prema iṅhāra jānibeka kebā
SYNONYMS
bāhye-externally; rāja-vaidya-royal physician; iṅho-he; kare-performs; rāja-sevā-government service; antare-within the heart; kṛṣṇa-prema-love of Kṛṣṇa; iṅhāra-of Mukunda dāsa; jānibeka-can know; kebā-who.
TRANSLATION
“Mukunda dāsa externally appears to be a royal physician engaged in governmental service, but internally he has a deep love for Kṛṣṇa. Who can understand his love?
PURPORT
Unless Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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-caritāmṛta (Madhya 23.39), tāṅra vākya, kriyā, mudrā vijñeha nā bujhaya: even the most perfect and learned scholar cannot understand a Vaiṣṇava’s activities. A Vaiṣṇava 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 Vaiṣṇava-that is, an eternally liberated Vaiṣṇava. Externally Mukunda dāsa was a royal physician, but internally he was the most liberated paramahaṁsa devotee. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu knew this very well, but ordinary men could not understand it, for the activities and plans of a Vaiṣṇava cannot be understood by ordinary men. However, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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
eka dina mleccha-rājāra ucca-ṭuṅgite
cikitsāra vāt kahe tāṅhāra agrete
SYNONYMS
eka dina-one day; mleccha-rājāra-of the Mohammedan King; ucca-ṭuṅgite-on a high platform; cikitsāra vāt-talk of medical treatment; kahe-was speaking; tāṅhāra agrete-before him.
TRANSLATION
“One day Mukunda dāsa, the royal physician, was seated with the Mohammedan King on a high platform and was telling the King about medical treatment.
TEXT 122
hena-kāle eka mayūra-pucchera āḍānī
rāja-śiropari dhare eka sevaka āni’
SYNONYMS
hena-kāle-at this time; eka-one; mayūra-pucchera-of peacock feathers; āḍānī-fan; rāja-śira-upari-above the head of the King; dhare-holds; eka-one; sevaka-servant; āni’-bringing.
TRANSLATION
“While the King and Mukunda dāsa 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
śikhi-piccha dekhi’ mukunda premāviṣṭa hailā
ati-ucca ṭuṅgi haite bhūmite paḍilā
SYNONYMS
śikhi-piccha-peacock feathers; dekhi’-seeing; mukunda-Mukunda dāsa; prema-āviṣṭa hailā-became ecstatic in love of Godhead; ati-ucca-very high; ṭuṅgi-platform; haite-from; bhūmite-on the ground; paḍilā-fell down.
TRANSLATION
“Just by seeing the peacock-feathered fan, Mukunda dāsa became absorbed in ecstatic love of Godhead and fell from the high platform onto the ground.
TEXT 124
rājāra jñāna,–rāja-vaidyera ha-ila maraṇa
āpane nāmiyā tabe karāila cetana
SYNONYMS
rājāra jñāna-the King thought; rāja-vaidyera-of the royal physician; ha-ila maraṇa-there was death; āpane-personally; nāmiyā-getting down; tabe-thereupon; karāila 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
rājā bale–vyathā tumi pāile kona ṭhāñi?
mukunda kahe,–ati-baḍa vyathā pāi nāi
SYNONYMS
rājā bale-the King said; vyathā-pain; tumi pāile-you have gotten; kona ṭhāñi-where; mukunda kahe-Mukunda replied; ati-baḍa vyathā-very much pain; pāi nāi-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
rājā kahe,–mukunda, tumi paḍilā ki lāgi’?
mukunda kahe, rājā, mora vyādhi āche mṛgī
SYNONYMS
rājā kahe-the King inquired; mukunda-O Mukunda; tumi paḍilā-you fell; ki lāgi’-for what reason; mukunda kahe-Mukunda replied; rājā-my dear King; mora-of me; vyādhi-disease; āche-is; mṛgī-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
mahā-vidagdha rājā, sei saba jāne
mukundere haila tāṅra ‘mahā-siddha’-jñāne
SYNONYMS
mahā-vidagdha-highly intelligent; rājā-the King; sei-he; saba jāne-knows everything; mukundere-upon Mukunda; haila-was; tāṅra-his; mahā-siddha-jñāne-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
raghunandana sevā kare kṛṣṇera mandire
dvāre puṣkariṇī, tāra ghāṭera upare
kadambera eka vṛkṣe phuṭe bāra-māse
nitya dui phula haya kṛṣṇa-avataṁse
SYNONYMS
raghunandana-Raghunandana; sevā kare-serves; kṛṣṇera mandire-in the temple of Lord Kṛṣṇa; dvāre-near the door; puṣkariṇī-a lake; tāra-of it; ghāṭera upare-on the bank; kadambera-of kadamba flowers; eka vṛkṣe-on one tree; phuṭe-blossom; bāra-māse-all year around; nitya-daily; dui phala-two flowers; haya-become; kṛṣṇa-avataṁse-decoration for Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
“Raghunandana is constantly engaged in serving the temple of Lord Kṛṣṇa. 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 Kṛṣṇa’s service.”
TEXT 130
mukundere kahe punaḥ madhura vacana
‘tomāra kārya–dharme dhana-upārjana
SYNONYMS
mukundere-to Mukunda; kahe-Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu says; punaḥ-again; madhura vacana-sweet words; tomāra kārya-your duty; dharme dhana-upārjana-to earn both material and spiritual wealth.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again spoke to Mukunda with sweet words: “Your duty is to earn both material and spiritual wealth.
TEXT 131
raghunandanera kārya–kṛṣṇera sevana
kṛṣṇa-sevā vinā iṅhāra anya nāhi mana
SYNONYMS
raghunandanera kārya-the duty of Raghunandana; kṛṣṇera sevana-worshiping Lord Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇa-sevā vinā-except for worshiping Kṛṣṇa; iṅhāra-of him; anya-other; nāhi-there is not; mana-intention.
TRANSLATION
“Furthermore it is the duty of Raghunandana to always engage in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s service. He has no other intention but the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.”
TEXT 132
narahari rahu āmāra bhakta-gaṇa-sane
ei tina kārya sadā karaha tina jane,
SYNONYMS
narahari-Narahari; rahu-let him remain; āmāra-My; bhakta-gaṇa-sane-along with other devotees; ei tina kārya-these three divisions of duty; sadā-always; karaha-execute; tina jane-you three persons.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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 Kṛṣṇa consciousness with the devotees. Apparently these three types of service appear separate, but actually they are not. When Kṛṣṇa or Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the center, everyone can engage in different activities for the service of the Lord. That is the verdict of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TEXT 133
sārvabhauma, vidyā-vācaspati,–dui bhāi
dui-jane kṛpā kari’ kahena gosāñi
SYNONYMS
sārvabhauma-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; vidyā-vācaspati-Vidyā-vācaspati; dui bhāi-two brothers; dui-jane-unto the two; kṛpā kari’-out of His causeless mercy; kahena-says; gosāñi-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TRANSLATION
Out of His causeless mercy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave the following directions to the brothers Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Vidyā-vācaspati.
TEXT 134
‘dāru’-jala’-rūpe kṛṣṇa prakaṭa samprati
‘daraśana’-‘snāne’ kare jīvera mukati
SYNONYMS
dāru-wood; jala-water; rūpe-in the forms of; kṛṣṇa-Lord Kṛṣṇa; prakaṭa-manifested; samprati-at the present moment; daraśana-by seeing; snāne-by bathing; kare-does; jīvera mukati-the deliverance of the conditioned souls.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “In this Age of Kali, Kṛṣṇa 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
‘dāru-brahma’-rūpe–sākṣāt śrī-puruṣottama
bhāgīrathī hana sākṣāt ‘jala-brahma’-sama
SYNONYMS
dāru-brahma-rūpe-in the form of Brahman as wood; sākṣāt-directly; śrī-puruṣottama-Lord Jagannātha; bhāgīrathī-the River Ganges; hana-is; sākṣāt-directly; jala-brahma-sama-the Supreme in the form of water.
TRANSLATION
“Lord Jagannātha 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, sarvaṁ khalv idaṁ brahma: everything is the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Brahman or Paraṁ Brahman. Parasya brahmaṇaḥ śaktis tathedam akhilaṁ jagat: everything is a manifestation of the energy of the Supreme Brahman. Since the energy and energetic are identical, actually everything is Kṛṣṇa, Paraṁ Brahman. Bhagavad-gītā (9.4) confirms this:
mayā tatam idaṁ sarvaṁ
jagad avyakta-mūrtinā
mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni
na cāhaṁ teṣv avasthitaḥ
“By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them.”
Kṛṣṇa 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 Jagannātha, and He is manifest through water as the River Ganges. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered the two brothers-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Vidyā-vācaspati-to worship Lord Jagannātha and the River Ganges.
TEXT 136
sārvabhauma, kara ‘dāru-brahma’-ārādhana
vācaspati, kara jala-brahmera sevana
SYNONYMS
sārvabhauma-O Sārvabhauma; kara-be engaged in; dāru-brahma-of wooden Brahman; ārādhana-worship; vācaspati-and you, Vācaspati; kara-do; jala-brahmera-of Paraṁ Brahman manifested in water; sevana-worship.
TRANSLATION
“Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, you should engage in the worship of Lord Jagannātha Puruṣottama, and Vācaspati should worship mother Ganges.”
TEXT 137
murāri-guptere prabhu kari’ āliṅgana
tāṅra bhakti-niṣṭhā kahena, śune bhakta-gaṇa
SYNONYMS
murāri-guptere-Murāri Gupta; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kari’ āliṅgana-embracing; tāṅra-his; bhakti-niṣṭhā-faith in devotional service; kahena-says; śune bhakta-gaṇa-all the devotees hear.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then embraced Murāri Gupta and began to speak about his firm faith in devotional service. This was heard by all the devotees.
TEXT 138
pūrve āmi iṅhāre lobhāila bāra bāra
parama madhura, gupta, vrajendra-kumāra
SYNONYMS
pūrve-previously; āmi-I; iṅhāre-him; lobhāila-induced to be allured; bāra bāra-again and again; parama madhura-very sweet; gupta-O Gupta; vrajendra-kumāra-Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Previously I induced Murāri Gupta again and again to be allured by Lord Kṛṣṇa. I said to him, ‘My dear Gupta, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Vrajendra-kumāra, is the supreme sweetness.
TEXT 139
svayaṁ bhagavān kṛṣṇa–sarvāṁśī, sarvāśraya
viśuddha-nirmala-prema, sarva-rasamaya
SYNONYMS
svayam bhagavān kṛṣṇa-Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarva-aṁśī-the source of all others; sarva-āśraya-the reservoir of all energies; viśuddha-transcendental; nirmala-free from all material contamination; prema-love; sarva-rasa-maya-the reservoir of all pleasure.
TRANSLATION
” ‘Kṛṣṇa 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
sakala-sadguṇa-vṛnda-ratna-ratnākara
vidagdha, catura, dhīra, rasika-śekhara
SYNONYMS
sakala-all; sat-guṇa-transcendental qualities; vṛnda-multitude; ratna-of gems; ratna-ākara-the mine; vidagdha-intelligent; catura-expert; dhīra-sober; rasika-śekhara-master of all humor.
TRANSLATION
” ‘Kṛṣṇa 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
madhura-caritra kṛṣṇera madhura-vilāsa
cāturya-vaidagdhya kare yāṅra līlā-rasa
SYNONYMS
madhura-caritra-pleasing character; kṛṣṇera-of Lord Kṛṣṇa; madhura-vilāsa-melodious pastimes; cāturya-expertise; vaidagdhya-intelligence; kare-manifests; yāṅra-whose; līlā-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
sei kṛṣṇa bhaja tumi, hao kṛṣṇāśraya
kṛṣṇa vinā anya-upāsanā mane nāhi laya
SYNONYMS
sei kṛṣṇa-that Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhaja tumi-engage yourself in His service; hao kṛṣṇa-āśraya-take shelter of Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇa vinā-except for Kṛṣṇa; anya-upāsanā-any other worship; mane nāhi laya-does not appeal to the mind.
TRANSLATION
“I then requested Murāri Gupta, ‘Worship Kṛṣṇa and take shelter of Him. But for His service, nothing appeals to the mind.’
TEXT 143
ei-mata bāra bāra śuniyā vacana
āmāra gaurave kichu phiri’ gela mana
SYNONYMS
ei-mata-in this way; bāra bāra-again and again; śuniyā vacana-hearing these words; āmāra 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
āmāre kahena,–āmi tomāra kiṅkara
tomāra ājñākārī āmi nāhi svatantara
SYNONYMS
āmāre kahena-he said unto Me; āmi-I; tomāra kiṅkara-Your servant; tomāra ājñā-kārī-Your order carrier; āmi-I; nāhi-am not; svatantara-independent.
TRANSLATION
“Murāri Gupta then replied, ‘I am Your servant and Your order carrier. I have no independent existence.’
TEXT 145
eta bali’ ghare gela, cinti’ rātri-kāle
raghunātha-tyāga-cintāya ha-ila vikale
SYNONYMS
eta bali’-saying this; ghare gela-went to his house; cinti’-thinking; rātri-kāle-at night; raghunātha-Lord Rāmacandra; tyāga-giving up; cintāya-by thoughts of; ha-ila vikale-became overwhelmed.
TRANSLATION
“After this, Murāri Gupta went home and spent the whole night thinking how he would be able to give up the association of Raghunātha, Lord Rāmacandra. Thus he was overwhelmed.
TEXT 146
kemane chāḍiba raghunāthera caraṇa
āji rātrye prabhu mora karāha maraṇa
SYNONYMS
kemane chāḍiba-how shall I give up; raghunāthera caraṇa-the lotus feet of Lord Raghunātha; āji rātrye-this night; prabhu-O Lord Raghunātha; mora-my; karāha maraṇa-please cause death.
TRANSLATION
“Murāri Gupta then began to pray at the lotus feet of Lord Rāmacandra. 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 Raghunātha.
TEXT 147
ei mata sarva-rātri karena krandana
mane soyāsti nāhi, rātri kaila jāgaraṇa
SYNONYMS
ei mata-in this way; sarva-rātri-the whole night; karena krandana-cried; mane-in the mind; soyāsti nāhi-there is no rest; rātri-the whole night; kaila-kept; jāgaraṇa-awake.
TRANSLATION
“Thus Murāri 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
prātaḥ-kāle āsi’ mora dharila caraṇa
kāndite kāndite kichu kare nivedana
SYNONYMS
prātaḥ-kāle-in the morning; āsi’-coming; mora-My; dharila-caught hold of; caraṇa-feet; kāndite kāndite-continuously crying; kichu kare nivedana-submits some appeals.
TRANSLATION
“In the morning Murāri Gupta came to see Me. Catching hold of My feet and crying, he submitted an appeal.
TEXT 149
raghunāthera pāya muñi veciyāchoṅ māthā
kāḍhite nā pāri māthā, mane pāi vyathā
SYNONYMS
raghunāthera pāya-unto the lotus feet of Lord Raghunātha; muñi-I; veciyāchoṅ-sold; māthā-head; kāḍhite-to cut off; nā pāri-I am unable; māthā-my head; mane-in my mind; pāi vyathā-I get too much pain.
TRANSLATION
“Murāri Gupta said, ‘I have sold my head to the lotus feet of Raghunātha. I cannot withdraw my head, for that would give me too much pain.
TEXT 150
śrī-raghunātha-caraṇa chāḍāna nā yāya
tava ājñā-bhaṅga haya, ki karoṅ upāya
SYNONYMS
śrī-raghunātha-caraṇa-the lotus feet of Lord Rāmacandra; chāḍāna nā yāya-cannot be given up; tava-Your; ājñā-order; bhaṅga-broken; haya-is; ki-what; karoṅ-shall I do; upāya-remedy.
TRANSLATION
” ‘It is not possible for me to give up the service of Raghunātha’s lotus feet. At the same time, if I do not do so I shall break your order. What can I do?’
TEXT 151
tāte more ei kṛpā kara, dayāmaya
tomāra āge mṛtyu ha-uka, yāuka saṁśaya
SYNONYMS
tāte-therefore; more-unto me; ei-this; kṛpā-mercy; kara-bestow; dayā-maya-O merciful one; tomāra āge-before You; mṛtyu ha-uka-let me die; yāuka saṁśaya-and let all doubts go away.
TRANSLATION
“In this way Murāri 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
eta śuni’ āmi baḍa mane sukha pāiluṅ
iṅhāre uṭhāñā tabe āliṅgana kailuṅ-
SYNONYMS
eta śuni’-hearing this; āmi-I; baḍa-very great; mane-in the mind; sukha-happiness; pāiluṅ-got; iṅhāre-him; uṭhāñā-raising; tabe-at that time; āliṅgana kailuṅ-I embraced.
TRANSLATION
“Hearing this, I became very happy. I then raised Murāri Gupta and embraced him.
TEXT 153
sādhu sādhu, gupta, tomāra sudṛḍha bhajana
āmāra vacaneha tomāra nā ṭalila mana
SYNONYMS
sādhu sādhu-all glories unto you; gupta-Murāri Gupta; tomāra-your; su-dṛḍha-firmly fixed; bhajana-method of worship; āmāra-My; vacaneha-even on the request; tomāra-your; nā ṭalila-did not budge; mana-mind.
TRANSLATION
“I said to him, ‘All glories to you, Murāri Gupta! Your method of worship is very firmly fixed-so much so that even upon My request your mind did not turn.
TEXT 154
ei-mata sevakera prīti cāhi prabhu-pāya
prabhu chāḍāileha, pada chāḍāna nā yāya
SYNONYMS
ei-mata-like this; sevakera-of the servitor; prīti-love; cāhi-is wanted; prabhu-pāya-unto the lotus feet of the Lord; prabhu chāḍāileha-even though the Lord causes separation; pada-the lotus feet of the Lord; chāḍāna nā yāya-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, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Nonetheless, there are many devotees attached to Lord Rāmacandra, and Murāri Gupta is a vivid example of such unalloyed devotion. He never agreed to give up Lord Rāmacandra’s worship, not even upon Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s request. Such is the chastity of devotional service, as stated in the Antya-līlā of Caitanya-caritāmṛta (4.46-47):
sei bhakta dhanya, ye nā chāḍe prabhura caraṇa
sei prabhu dhanya, ye nā chāḍe nija-jana
durdaive sevaka yadi yāya anya sthāne
sei ṭhākura dhanya tāre cule dhari’ āne
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
ei-mata tomāra niṣṭhā jānibāra tare
tomāre āgraha āmi kailuṅ bāre bāre
SYNONYMS
ei-mata-in this way; tomāra-your; niṣṭhā-firm faith; jānibāra tare-to understand; tomāre-unto you; āgraha-persistence; āmi kailuṅ-l did; bāre bāre-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 Rāmacandra to Kṛṣṇa.’
TEXT 156
sākṣāt hanumān tumi śrī-rāma-kiṅkara
tumi kene chāḍibe tāṅra caraṇa-kamala
SYNONYMS
sākṣāt-directly; hanumān-Hanumān; tumi-you; śrī-rāma-kiṅkara-the servant of Śrī Rāma; tumi-you; kene-why; chāḍibe-should give up; tāṅra-His; caraṇa-kamala-lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
“In this way, I congratulated Murāri Gupta, saying, ‘Indeed, you are the incarnation of Hanumān. Consequently you are the eternal servant of Lord Rāmacandra. Why should you give up the worship of Lord Rāmacandra and His lotus feet?’ “
TEXT 157
sei murāri-gupta ei–mora prāṇa sama
iṅhāra dainya śuni’ mora phāṭaye jīvana
SYNONYMS
sei murāri-gupta-that Murāri Gupta; ei-this; mora prāṇa sama-not different from My life and soul; iṅhāra-of him; dainya-humility; śuni’-hearing; mora-My; phāṭaye-perturbs; jīvana-life.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “I accept this Murāri Gupta as My life and soul. When I hear of his humility, it perturbs My very life.”
TEXT 158
tabe vāsudeve prabhu kari’ āliṅgana
tāṅra guṇa kahe hañā sahasra-vadana
SYNONYMS
tabe-then; vāsudeve-Vāsudeva; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kari’ āliṅgana-embracing; tāṅra guṇa-his good qualities; kahe-began to explain; hañā-becoming; sahasra-vadana-possessing thousands of mouths.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then embraced Vāsudeva Datta and began to speak of his glories as if He had a thousand mouths.
TEXT 159
nija-guṇa śuni’ datta mane lajjā pāñā
nivedana kare prabhura caraṇe dhariyā
SYNONYMS
nija-guṇa-his personal qualities; śuni’-hearing; datta-Vāsudeva Datta; mane-in the mind; lajjā pāñā-being ashamed; nivedana kare-submits; prabhura-of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; caraṇe dhariyā-catching the lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
When Caitanya Mahāprabhu glorified him, Vāsudeva Datta immediately became very embarrassed and shy. He then submitted himself, touching the Lord’s lotus feet.
TEXT 160
jagat tārite prabhu tomāra avatāra
mora nivedana eka karaha aṅgīkāra
SYNONYMS
jagat tārite-to deliver the whole world; prabhu-my Lord; tomāra-Your; avatāra-incarnation; mora-my; nivedana-petition; eka-one; karaha aṅgīkāra-please accept.
TRANSLATION
Vāsudeva Datta told Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “My dear Lord, You incarnate just to deliver all conditioned souls. I have now one petition, which I wish You would accept.
TEXT 161
karite samartha tumi hao, dayāmaya
tumi mana kara, tabe anāyāse haya
SYNONYMS
karite-to execute; samartha-capable; tumi-You; hao-are; dayā-maya-O merciful one; tumi mana kara-if You so desire; tabe-then; anāyāse-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
jīvera duḥkha dekhi’ mora hṛdaya bidare
sarva-jīvera pāpa prabhu deha’ mora śire
SYNONYMS
jīvera-of all conditioned souls; duḥkha dekhi’-by seeing the sufferings; mora-my; hṛdaya-heart; bidare-breaks; sarva-jīvera-of all living entities; pāpa-the sinful reactions; prabhu-My dear Lord; deha’-just put; mora śire-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
jīvera pāpa lañā muñi karoṅ naraka bhoga
sakala jīvera, prabhu, ghucāha bhava-roga
SYNONYMS
jīvera-of all conditioned souls; pāpa lañā-accepting the sinful reactions; muñi-I; karoṅ-do; naraka-hellish life; bhoga-suffering; sakala jīvera-of all living entities; prabhu-my dear Lord; ghucāha-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
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura 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 Śrī Vāsudeva Datta Ṭhākura and Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura 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 Vāsudeva Datta is here prepared to accept the sins of everyone in the universe. A Vaiṣṇava is so liberal that he is prepared to risk everything to rescue conditioned souls from material existence. Śrīla Vāsudeva Datta Ṭhākura is universal love itself, for he was willing to sacrifice everything and fully engage in the service of the Supreme.
Śrīla Vāsudeva Datta knew very well that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was the original Personality of Godhead. He was transcendence itself, above the material conception of illusion and māyā. 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. Śrīla Vāsudeva 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 Śrīla Vāsudeva 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. Vāsudeva Datta was so liberal that he requested Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to transfer all offensive activity upon him so the conditioned souls might be purified. This prayer was certainly without duplicity.
Vāsudeva 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 karmīs nor jñānīs are purified. In the words of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Ṭhākura, they are kukarmīs and kujñānīs-bad actors and bad speculators. The Māyāvādīs and karmīs should therefore turn their attention to the magnanimous Vāsudeva Datta, who wanted to suffer for others in a hellish condition. Nor should one consider Vāsudeva 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 Vāsudeva Datta. He was a Vaiṣṇava-para-duḥkha-duḥkhī-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 dāsa Ṭhākura confirms, Vāsudeva Datta is the ideal devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
gaurāṅgera saṅgi-gaṇe, nitya-siddha kari’ māne,
se yāya vrajendra-suta-pāśa
One who executes Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’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 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself.
namo mahā-vadānyāya
kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te
kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-
nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ
Such a personality factually represents Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu because his heart is always filled with compassion for conditioned souls.
TEXT 164
eta śuni’ mahāprabhura citta dravilā
aśru-kampa-svarabhaṅge kahite lāgilā
SYNONYMS
eta śuni’-hearing this; mahāprabhura-of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; citta-heart; dravilā-became softened; aśru-tears; kampa-trembling; svara-bhaṅge-with faltering of the voice; kahite-to speak; lāgilā-began.
TRANSLATION
When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard Vāsudeva 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
“tomāra vicitra nahe, tumi–sākṣāt prahlāda
tomāra upare kṛṣṇera sampūrṇa prasāda
SYNONYMS
tomāra-in you; vicitra nahe-this is not extraordinary; tumi-you; sākṣāt prahlāda-incarnation of Prahlāda Mahārāja; tomāra upare-upon you; kṛṣṇera-of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sampūrṇa-complete; prasāda-mercy.
TRANSLATION
Accepting Vāsudeva Datta as a great devotee, the Lord said, “Such a statement is not at all astonishing because you are the incarnation of Prahlāda Mahārāja. It appears that Lord Kṛṣṇa has bestowed complete mercy upon you. There is no doubt about it.
TEXT 166
kṛṣṇa sei satya kare, yei māge bhṛtya
bhṛtya-vāñchā-pūrti vinu nāhi anya kṛtya
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa-Lord Kṛṣṇa; sei-that; satya kare-fulfills as true; yei-whatever; māge-wants; bhṛtya-servant; bhṛtya-vāñchā-the desire of His servant; pūrti-fulfilling; vinu-without; nāhi-there is not; anya-other; kṛtya-duty.
TRANSLATION
“Whatever a pure devotee wants from his master, Lord Kṛṣṇa doubtlessly grants because He has no duty other than to fulfill the desire of His devotee.
TEXT 167
brahmāṇḍa jīvera tumi vāñchile nistāra
vinā pāpa-bhoge habe sabāra uddhāra
SYNONYMS
brahmāṇḍa-of the universe; jīvera-of all living entities; tumi vāñchile-if you desire; nistāra-deliverance; vinā-without; pāpa-bhoge-undergoing tribulations of sinful activities; habe-there will be; sabāra-everyone’s; uddhāra-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
asamartha nahe kṛṣṇa, dhare sarva bala
tomāke vā kene bhuñjāibe pāpa-phala?
SYNONYMS
asamartha nahe-is not unable; kṛṣṇa-Lord Kṛṣṇa; dhare-possesses; sarva bala-all potencies; tomāke-you; vā-then; kene-why; bhuñjāibe-would cause to suffer; pāpa-phala-results of sinful reactions.
TRANSLATION
“Kṛṣṇa is not incapable, for He has all potencies. Why would He induce you to suffer the sinful reactions of other living entities?
TEXT 169
tumi yāṅra hita vāñcha’, se haila ‘vaiṣṇava’
vaiṣṇavera pāpa kṛṣṇa dūra kare saba
SYNONYMS
tumi-you; yāṅra-of whom; hita vāñcha’-desire the welfare; se-such a person; haila-immediately becomes; vaiṣṇava-a devotee; vaiṣṇavera-of a Vaiṣṇava; pāpa-the accidental sinful life; kṛṣṇa-Lord Kṛṣṇa; dūra kare-vanquishes; saba-all.
TRANSLATION
“Whosever welfare you desire immediately becomes a Vaiṣṇava, and Kṛṣṇa delivers all Vaiṣṇavas from the reactions of their past sinful activities.
PURPORT
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu here informed Vāsudeva Datta that since Kṛṣṇa is all-powerful, He can immediately deliver all conditioned souls from material existence. In essence, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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 Vaiṣṇava immediately, and Kṛṣṇa delivers all Vaiṣṇavas from the reactions to their past sinful activities.” This is also promised in Bhagavad-gītā (18.66):
sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ
“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 Kṛṣṇa, he becomes a Vaiṣṇava. In this verse from Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa promises to relieve His devotee from all the reactions to sinful life. It is a fact that a fully surrendered Vaiṣṇava 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 Vaiṣṇava. In other words, if one is a Vaiṣṇava, his sinful life is certainly ended. According to Padma Purāṇa:
aprārabdha-phalaṁ pāpaṁ
kūṭaṁ bījaṁ phalonmukham
krameṇaiva pralīyeta
viṣṇu-bhakti-ratātmanām
“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 [kūṭa], or the reactions may be in a seedlike state [bīja]. In any case, all types of sinful reactions are vanquished one after another if a person engages in the devotional service of Lord Viṣṇu.”
TEXT 170
yas tv indra-gopam athavendram aho sva-karma-
bandhānurūpa-phala-bhājanam ātanoti
karmāṇi nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhājāṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
SYNONYMS
yaḥ-He who (Govinda); tu-but; indra-gopam-to the small red insect called indra-gopa; athavā-or even; indram-to Indra, King of heaven; aho-oh; sva-karma-of one’s own fruitive activities; bandha-bondage; anurūpa-according to; phala-of reactions; bhājanam-enjoying or suffering; ātanoti-bestows; karmāṇi-all fruitive activities and their reactions; nirdahati-destroys; kintu-but; ca-certainly; bhakti-bhājām-of persons engaged in devotional service; govindam-unto Lord Govinda; ādi-puruṣam-the original person; tam-unto Him; aham-I; bhajāmi-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-saṁhitā (5.54).
TEXT 171
tomāra icchā-mātre habe brahmāṇḍa-mocana
sarva mukta karite kṛṣṇera nāhi kichu śrama
SYNONYMS
tomāra icchā-mātre-simply by your desire; habe-there will be; brahmāṇḍa-mocana-deliverance of the universe; sarva-everyone; mukta karite-to liberate; kṛṣṇera-of Lord Kṛṣṇa; nāhi-there is not; kichu-even a little; śrama-labor.
TRANSLATION
“Because of your honest desire, all living entities within the universe will be delivered, for Kṛṣṇa does not have to do anything to deliver all the living entities of the universe.
TEXT 172
eka uḍumbara vṛkṣe lāge koṭi-phale
koṭi ye brahmāṇḍa bhāse virajāra jale
SYNONYMS
eka uḍumbara vṛkṣe-in one uḍumbara tree; lāge-there are; koṭi-phale-millions of fruits; koṭi-millions; ye-which; brahmāṇḍa-of universes; bhāse-float; virajāra-of the Virajā River; jale-in the water.
TRANSLATION
“Just as there are millions of fruits on the uḍumbara tree, millions of universes float on the waters of the river Virajā.
PURPORT
Virajā is a river that divides the material world from the spiritual world. On one side of the river Virajā is the effulgence of Brahmaloka and innumerable Vaikuṇṭha planets, and on the other side is this material world. It is to be understood that this side of the Virajā River is filled with material planets floating in the Causal Ocean. The name Virajā indicates a marginal position between the spiritual and material worlds, but this Virajā River is not under the control of material energy. Consequently it is devoid of the three guṇas.
TEXT 173
tāra eka phala paḍi’ yadi naṣṭa haya
tathāpi vṛkṣa nāhi jāne nija-apacaya
SYNONYMS
tāra-of the tree; eka phala-one fruit; paḍi’-falling down; yadi-if; naṣṭa haya-becomes destroyed; tathāpi-still; vṛkṣa-the tree; nāhi jāne-does not know; nija-apacaya-its loss.
TRANSLATION
“The uḍumbara 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
taiche eka brahmāṇḍa yadi mukta haya
tabu alpa-hāni kṛṣṇera mane nāhi laya
SYNONYMS
taiche-similarly; eka brahmāṇḍa-one universe; yadi-if; mukta haya-becomes liberated; tabu-still; alpa-hāni-very little loss; kṛṣṇera-of Lord Kṛṣṇa; mane-the mind; nāhi 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 Kṛṣṇa. He does not take it very seriously.
TEXT 175
ananta aiśvarya kṛṣṇera vaikuṇṭhādi-dhāma
tāra gaḍa-khāi–kāraṇābdhi yāra nāma
SYNONYMS
ananta-unlimited; aiśvarya-opulence; kṛṣṇera-of Lord Kṛṣṇa; vaikuṇṭha-ādi-dhāma-innumerable Vaikuṇṭha planets; tāra-of Vaikuṇṭhaloka; gaḍa-khāi-surrounding water; kāraṇa-abdhi-Causal Ocean; yāra-of which; nāma-name.
TRANSLATION
“The entire spiritual world constitutes the unlimited opulence of Kṛṣṇa, and there are innumerable Vaikuṇṭha planets there. The Causal Ocean is considered the surrounding waters of Vaikuṇṭhaloka.
TEXT 176
tāte bhāse māyā lañā ananta brahmāṇḍa
gaḍa-khāite bhāse yena rāi-pūrṇa bhāṇḍa
SYNONYMS
tāte-in that water; bhāse-floats; māyā-the material energy; lañā-taking; ananta-unlimited; brahmāṇḍa-universes; gaḍa-khāite-in the surrounding water; bhāse-floats; yena-as if; rāi-pūrṇa bhāṇḍa-a pot filled with mustard seeds.
TRANSLATION
“Māyā and her unlimited material universes are situated in that Causal Ocean. Indeed, māyā appears to be floating like a pot filled with mustard seeds.
TEXT 177
tāra eka rāi-nāśe hāni nāhi māni
aiche eka aṇḍa-nāśe kṛṣṇera nāhi hāni
SYNONYMS
tāra-of it; eka-one; rāi-nāśe-loss of a mustard seed; hāni-loss; nāhi-does not; māni-notice; aiche-in that way; eka-one; aṇḍa-universe; nāśe-being lost; kṛṣṇera-of Kṛṣṇa; nāhi hāni-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 Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 178
saba brahmāṇḍa saha yadi ‘māyā’ra haya kṣaya
tathāpi nā māne kṛṣṇa kichu apacaya
SYNONYMS
saba brahmāṇḍa-all the universes; saha-with; yadi-if; māyāra-of the material energy; haya kṣaya-there is destruction; tathāpi-still; nā-not; māne-considers; kṛṣṇa-Lord Kṛṣṇa; kichu-any; apacaya-lost.
TRANSLATION
“To say nothing of one universal mustard seed, even if all the universes and the material energy [māyā] are destroyed, Kṛṣṇa does not even consider the loss.
TEXT 179
koṭi-kāmadhenu-patira chāgī yaiche mare
ṣaḍ-aiśvarya-pati kṛṣṇera māyā kibā kare?
SYNONYMS
koṭi-of millions; kāma-dhenu-of desire cows; patira-of the master; chāgī-one she-goat; yaiche-as; mare-dies; ṣaṭ-aiśvarya-pati-the master of six opulences; kṛṣṇera-of Kṛṣṇa; māyā-external energy; kibā-what; kare-can do.
TRANSLATION
“If a person possessing millions of wish-fulfilling cows loses one she-goat, he does not consider the loss. Kṛṣṇa owns all six opulences in full. If the entire material energy is destroyed, what does He lose?”
PURPORT
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, 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 Kṛṣṇa when they are enticed by the material, external energy. Consequently they are called kṛṣṇa-bahirmukha-bereft of their relationship with Kṛṣṇa. 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 Kṛṣṇa 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 Kṛṣṇa 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
jaya jaya jahy ajām ajita doṣa-gṛbhīta-guṇāṁ
tvam asi yad ātmanā samavaruddha-samasta-bhagaḥ
aga-jagad-okasām akhila-śakty-avabodhaka te
kvacid ajayātmanā ca carato ‘nucaren nigamaḥ”
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya-kindly exhibit Your glory; jahi-please conquer; ajām-nescience, māyā; ajita-O unconquerable one; doṣa-faulty; gṛbhīta-guṇām-by which the qualities are accepted; tvam-You; asi-are; yat-because; ātmanā-by Your internal potency; samavaruddha-possessing; samasta-bhagaḥ-all kinds of opulences; aga-nonmoving; jagat-moving; okasām-of the embodied living entities; akhila-all; śakti-of potencies; avabodhaka-master; te-You; kvacit-sometimes; ajayā-by the external energy; ātmanā-of Your self; ca-also; carataḥ-manifesting pastimes (by Your glance); anucaret-confirm; nigamaḥ-all the Vedas.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.87.14). It is from the prayers of the śruti-gaṇa, 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. Bhayaṁ dvitīyābhiniveśataḥ. 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 (māyā) so that she will no longer manifest her powers, which bind all living entities, moving and inert.
TEXT 181
ei mata sarva-bhaktera kahi’ saba guṇa
sabāre vidāya dila kari’ āliṅgana
SYNONYMS
ei mata-in this way; sarva-bhaktera-of all the devotees; kahi’-describing; saba guṇa-all the good qualities; sabāre-unto everyone; vidāya dila-bade farewell; kari’ āliṅgana-embracing.
TRANSLATION
In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu described the good qualities of His devotees one after the other. He then embraced them and bade them farewell.
TEXT 182
prabhura vicchede bhakta karena rodana
bhaktera vicchede prabhura viṣaṇṇa haila mana
SYNONYMS
prabhura-from Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; vicchede-by separation; bhakta-all the devotees; karena-do; rodana-crying; bhaktera-of the devotees; vicchede-by the separation; prabhura-of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; viṣaṇṇa-morose; haila-became; mana-the mind.
TRANSLATION
Due to the impending separation from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the devotees began to cry. The Lord was also morose due to separation from the devotees.
TEXT 183
gadādhara-paṇḍita rahilā prabhura pāśe
yameśvare prabhu yāṅre karāilā āvāse
SYNONYMS
gadādhara-paṇḍita-Gadādhara Paṇḍita; rahilā-remained; prabhura pāśe-along with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; yameśvare-at Yameśvara; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; yāṅre-unto whom; karāilā-made to take; āvāse-residence.
TRANSLATION
Gadādhara Paṇḍita remained with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and he was given a place to live at Yameśvara.
PURPORT
Yameśvara is on the southwest side of the Jagannātha temple. Gadādhara Paṇḍita resided there, and there was a small garden and a sandy beach known as Yameśvara-ṭoṭā.
TEXTS 184-185
purī-gosāñi, jagadānanda, svarūpa-dāmodara
dāmodara-paṇḍita, āra govinda, kāśīśvara
ei-saba-saṅge prabhu vaise nīlācale
jagannātha-daraśana nitya kare prātaḥ-kāle
SYNONYMS
purī-gosāñi-Paramānanda Purī; jagadānanda-Jagadānanda; svarūpa-dāmodara-Svarūpa Dāmodara; dāmodara-paṇḍita-Dāmodara Paṇḍita; āra-and; govinda-Govinda; kāśīśvara-Kāśīśvara; ei-saba-all these personalities; saṅge-accompanied by; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; vaise-stays; nīlācale-at Jagannātha Purī; jagannātha-daraśana-seeing Lord Jagannātha; nitya-daily; kare-does; prātaḥ-kāle-in the morning.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained at Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala, with Paramānanda Purī, Jagadānanda, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Govinda and Kāśīśvara. It was Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s daily business to see Lord Jagannātha in the morning.
TEXT 186
prabhu-pāśa āsi’ sārvabhauma eka dina
yoḍa-hāta kari’ kichu kaila nivedana
SYNONYMS
prabhu-pāśa-in the presence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; āsi’-coming; sārvabhauma-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; eka dina-one day; yoḍa-hāta kari’-with folded hands; kichu-some; kaila-did; nivedana-submission.
TRANSLATION
One day Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya came before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with folded hands and submitted a request.
TEXT 187
ebe saba vaiṣṇava gauḍa-deśe cali’ gela
ebe prabhura nimantraṇe avasara haila
SYNONYMS
ebe-now; saba-all; vaiṣṇava-devotees; gauḍa-deśe-to Bengal; cali, gela-have returned; ebe-now; prabhura-of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; nimantraṇe-for invitations; avasara haila-there is a chance.
TRANSLATION
Since all the Vaiṣṇavas had returned to Bengal, there was a good chance that the Lord would accept an invitation.
TEXT 188
ebe mora ghare bhikṣā karaha ‘māsa’ bhari’
prabhu kahe,–dharma nahe, karite nā pāri
SYNONYMS
ebe-now; mora ghare-at my place; bhikṣā-lunch; karaha-accept; māsa bhari’-for one month; prabhu kahe-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied; dharma-religious principle; nahe-it is not; karite-to do; nā pāri-I am unable.
TRANSLATION
Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya 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 sannyāsī.”
TEXT 189
sārvabhauma kahe,–bhikṣā karaha viśa dina
prabhu kahe,–eha nahe yati-dharma-cihna
SYNONYMS
sārvabhauma kahe-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said; bhikṣā karaha-accept lunch; viśa dina-for twenty days; prabhu kahe-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; eha nahe-this is not; yati-dharma-cihna-the symptom of a person in the renounced order of life.
TRANSLATION
Sārvabhauma then said, “Please accept the invitation for twenty days,” but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “It is not a religious principle of the renounced order.”
TEXT 190
sārvabhauma kahe punaḥ,–dina ‘pañca-daśa’
prabhu kahe,–tomāra bhikṣā ‘eka’ divasa
SYNONYMS
sārvabhauma kahe-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said; punaḥ-again; dina pañca-daśa-fifteen days; prabhu kahe-the Lord replied; tomāra bhikṣā-lunch at your place; eka divasa-only one day.
TRANSLATION
When Sārvabhauma requested Caitanya Mahāprabhu to accept lunch for fifteen days, the Lord said, “I shall accept lunch at your place for one day only.”
TEXT 191
tabe sārvabhauma prabhura caraṇe dhariyā
‘daśa-dina bhikṣā kara’ kahe vinati kariyā
SYNONYMS
tabe-thereafter; sārvabhauma-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; prabhura-of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; caraṇe dhariyā-catching the lotus feet; daśa-dina-for ten days; bhikṣā kara-accept lunch; kahe-says; vinati kariyā-with great submission.
TRANSLATION
Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then caught hold of the Lord’s lotus feet and submissively begged,”Please accept lunch for at least ten days.”
TEXT 192
prabhu krame krame pāṅca-dina ghāṭāila
pāṅca-dina tāṅra bhikṣā niyama karila
SYNONYMS
prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; krame krame-gradually; pāṅca-dina-to five days; ghāṭāila-reduced; pāṅca-dina-for five days; tāṅra-his; bhikṣā-invitation for lunch; niyama karila-accepted regularly.
TRANSLATION
In this way, by and by, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu reduced the duration to five days. Thus for five days He regularly accepted the invitation to lunch.
TEXT 193
tabe sārvabhauma kare āra nivedana
tomāra saṅge sannyāsī āche daśa-jana
SYNONYMS
tabe-thereafter; sārvabhauma-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; kare-does; āra-another; nivedana-submission; tomāra saṅge-with You; sannyāsī-in the renounced order of life; āche-there are; daśa-jana-ten persons.
TRANSLATION
After this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, “My Lord, there are ten sannyāsīs with You.”
A sannyāsī should not cook food for himself or accept an invitation to eat at a devotee’s house continuously for many days. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very kind and affectionate toward His devotees, yet He would not accept a long invitation at Sārvabhauma’s house. Out of affection, He accepted only five days in the month. The ten sannyāsīs living with the Lord were (1) Paramānanda Purī, (2) Svarūpa Dāmodara, (3) Brahmānanda Purī, (4) Brahmānanda Bhāratī, (5) Viṣṇu Purī, (6) Keśava Purī, (7) Kṛṣṇānanda Purī, (8) Nṛsiṁha Tīrtha, (9) Sukhānanda Purī and (10) Satyānanda Bhāratī.
TEXT 194
purī-gosāñira bhikṣā pāṅca-dina mora ghare
pūrve āmi kahiyāchoṅ tomāra gocare
SYNONYMS
purī-gosāñira-of Paramānanda Purī; bhikṣā-invitation for lunch; pāṅca-dina-five days; mora ghare-at my home; pūrve-previously; āmi-I; kahiyāchoṅ-mentioned; tomāra gocare-it is known to you.
TRANSLATION
Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then submitted that Paramānanda Purī Gosvāmī should accept a five-day invitation at his place. This was settled before the Lord.
TEXT 195
dāmodara-svarūpa,–ei bāndhava āmāra
kabhu tomāra saṅge yābe, kabhu ekeśvara
SYNONYMS
dāmodara-svarūpa-Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī; ei-this; bāndhava āmāra-my very intimate friend; kabhu-sometimes; tomāra saṅge-with You; yābe-will come; kabhu-sometimes; ekeśvara-alone.
TRANSLATION
Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, “Dāmodara Svarūpa is my intimate friend. He will come sometimes with You and sometimes alone.
TEXT 196
āra aṣṭa sannyāsīra bhikṣā dui dui divase
eka eka-dina, eka eka jane pūrṇa ha-ila māse
SYNONYMS
āra-other; aṣṭa-eight; sannyāsīra-of sannyāsīs; bhikṣā-invitation for lunch; dui dui divase-two days each; eka eka-dina-on each day; eka eka jane-one person; pūrṇa-filled; ha-ila-will be; māse-the month.
TRANSLATION
“The other eight sannyāsīs 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, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would visit five days, Paramānanda Purī Gosvāmī five days, Svarūpa Dāmodara four days, and the eight other sannyāsīs two days each. In this way the thirty days of the month were completed.
TEXT 197
bahuta sannyāsī yadi āise eka ṭhāñi
sammāna karite nāri, aparādha pāi
SYNONYMS
bahuta sannyāsī-many sannyāsīs; yadi-if; āise-come; eka ṭhāñi-together; sammāna karite nāri-I cannot receive them properly; aparādha pāi-I shall be an offender.
TRANSLATION
“If all the sannyāsīs come together, it would not be possible for me to pay them proper respects. Therefore I would be an offender.
TEXT 198
tumiha nija-chāye āsibe mora ghara
kabhu saṅge āsibena svarūpa-dāmodara
SYNONYMS
tumiha-You; nija-chāye-alone; āsibe-will come; mora ghara-to my place; kabhu-sometimes; saṅge-with You; āsibena-will come; svarūpa-dāmodara-Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī.
TRANSLATION
“Sometimes You will come alone to my place, and sometimes You will be accompanied by Svarūpa Dāmodara.”
TEXT 199
prabhura iṅgita pāñā ānandita mana
sei dina mahāprabhura kaila nimantraṇa
SYNONYMS
prabhura-of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; iṅgita-acceptance; pāñā-receiving; ānandita-very happy; mana-mind; sei dina-on that day; mahāprabhura-of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kaila-made; nimantraṇa-invitation.
TRANSLATION
Having this arrangement confirmed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Bhaṭṭācārya became very glad and immediately invited the Lord to his house on that very day.
TEXT 200
‘ṣāṭhīra mātā’ nāma, bhaṭṭācāryera gṛhiṇī
prabhura mahā-bhakta teṅho, snehete jananī
SYNONYMS
ṣāṭhīra mātā-the mother of Ṣāṭhī; nāma-named; bhaṭṭācāryera gṛhiṇī-the wife of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; prabhura-of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; mahā-bhakta-a great devotee; teṅho-she; snehete-in affection; jananī-just like a mother.
TRANSLATION
Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s wife was known as the mother of Ṣāṭhī. She was a great devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and she was affectionate like a mother.
TEXT 201
ghare āsi’ bhaṭṭācārya tāṅre ājñā dila
ānande ṣāṭhīra mātā pāka caḍāila
SYNONYMS
ghare āsi’-coming home; bhaṭṭācārya-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; tāṅre-her; ājñā dila-ordered; ānande-with great satisfaction; ṣāṭhīra mātā-the mother of Ṣāṭhī; pāka caḍāila-began cooking.
TRANSLATION
After returning to his home, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya gave orders to his wife, and his wife, known as Ṣāṭhīra Mātā, the mother of Ṣāṭhī, began cooking with great pleasure.
TEXT 202
bhaṭṭācāryera gṛhe saba dravya āche bhari’
yebā śāka-phalādika, ānāila āhari’
SYNONYMS
bhaṭṭācāryera gṛhe-at the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; saba dravya-all kinds of ingredients; āche-there are; bhari’-filling; yebā-whatever; śāka-spinach; phala-ādika-fruits and so on; ānāila-he brought; āhari’-collecting.
TRANSLATION
At Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’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
āpani bhaṭṭācārya kare pākera saba karma
ṣāṭhīra mātā–vicakṣaṇā, jāne pāka-marma
SYNONYMS
āpani-personally; bhaṭṭācārya-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; kare-arranges; pākera-of cooking; saba karma-all activities; ṣāṭhīra mātā-the mother of Ṣāṭhī; vicakṣaṇā-very experienced; jāne-knows; pāka-marma-how to cook.
TRANSLATION
Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya personally began to help his wife cook. His wife, the mother of Ṣāṭhī, was very experienced, and she knew how to cook nicely.
TEXT 204
pāka-śālāra dakṣiṇe–dui bhogālaya
eka-ghare śālagrāmera bhoga-sevā haya
SYNONYMS
pāka-śālāra dakṣiṇe-on the southern side of the kitchen; dui bhoga-ālaya-two rooms for offering food; eka-ghare-in one room; śālagrāmera-of Lord Śālagrāma; bhoga-sevā-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 Śālagrāma Nārāyaṇa.
PURPORT
Among the followers of the Vedic way, śālagrāma-śilā, the vigraha of Nārāyaṇa, is worshiped in the form of a stone ball. In India, every brāhmaṇa still worships the śālagrāma-śilā in his home. The vaiśyas and kṣatriyas may also engage in this worship, but it is compulsory in the house of a brāhmaṇa.
TEXT 205
āra ghara mahāprabhura bhikṣāra lāgiyā
nibhṛte kariyāche bhaṭṭa nūtana kariyā
SYNONYMS
āra ghara-the other room; mahāprabhura-of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bhikṣāra lāgiyā-for taking lunch; nibhṛte kariyāche-constructed in a solitary place; bhaṭṭa-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; nūtana kariyā-newly done.
TRANSLATION
The other room was for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s lunch. The Lord’s lunch room was very secluded, and it was newly constructed by Bhaṭṭācārya.
TEXT 206
bāhye eka dvāra tāra, prabhu praveśite
pāka-śālāra eka dvāra anna pariveśite
SYNONYMS
bāhye-outside; eka dvāra-one door; tāra-of this room; prabhu praveśite-for the entrance of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; pāka-śālāra-of the kitchen; eka dvāra-another door; anna-food; pariveśite-to serve.
TRANSLATION
The room was so constructed that there was only one door as an entrance from the outside for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. There was another door attached to the kitchen, and it was through this door that the food was brought.
TEXT 207
battiśā-āṭhiyā kalāra āṅgaṭiyā pāte
tina-māna taṇḍulera ubhārila bhāte
SYNONYMS
battiśā-āṭhiyā-named battiśā-āṭhiyā; kalāra-of the banana tree; āṅgaṭiyā-without being divided; pāte-on a leaf; tina-three; māna-mānas (a certain weight); taṇḍulera-of rice; ubhārila-poured; bhāte-cooked rice.
TRANSLATION
First, three mānas 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 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This description is given by Kavirāja Gosvāmī, who, it is assumed, was an expert cook who knew both how to prepare and how to serve food.
TEXT 208
pīta-sugandhi-ghṛte anna sikta kaila
cāri-dike pāte ghṛta vahiyā calila
SYNONYMS
pīta-yellowish; su-gandhi-fragrant; ghṛte-with clarified butter; anna-rice; sikta-mixed; kaila-made; cāri-dike-on all sides; pāte-the leaf; ghṛta-the clarified butter; vahiyā 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
keyāpatra-kalākholā-ḍoṅgā sāri sāri
cāri-dike dhariyāche nānā vyañjana bhari’
SYNONYMS
keyā-patra-the leaf of the keyā plant; kalā-kholā-the skin of the banana tree; ḍoṅgā-pots; sāri sāri-one after another; cāri-dike-on all sides; dhariyāche-were holding; nānā-various; vyañjana-cooked vegetables; bhari’-filled.
TRANSLATION
There were a number of pots made of the bark of banana trees and the leaves of the keyā plant. These pots were filled with various cooked vegetables and placed on all sides of the leaf.
TEXT 210
daśa-prakāra śāka, nimba-tikta-sukhta-jhola
maricera jhāla, chānā-baḍā, baḍi ghola
SYNONYMS
daśa-prakāra śāka-spinach of ten varieties; nimba-tikta-sukhta-jhola-a soup called sukhta, made with bitter nimba leaf; maricera jhāla-a pungent preparation made with black pepper; chānā-baḍā-a mild cake made of fried curd; baḍi 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
dugdha-tumbī, dugdha-kuṣmāṇḍa, vesara, lāphrā
mocā-ghaṇṭa, mocā-bhājā, vividha śākrā
SYNONYMS
dugdha-tumbī-squash cooked with milk; dugdha-kuṣmāṇḍa-pumpkin cooked with milk; vesara-a preparation made from chick-pea flour; lāphrā-a combination of several vegetables; mocā-ghaṇṭa-boiled banana flowers; mocā-bhājā-fried banana flowers; vividha-various; śākrā-vegetables.
TRANSLATION
There were preparations of dugdha-tumbī, dugdha-kuṣmāṇḍa, vesara, lāphrā, mocā-ghaṇṭa, mocā-bhājā and other vegetables.
TEXT 212
vṛddha-kuṣmāṇḍa-baḍīra vyañjana apāra
phulabaḍī-phala-mūla vividha prakāra
SYNONYMS
vṛddha-kuṣmāṇḍa-baḍīra-of small pieces of fried dhal mixed with ripe pumpkin; vyañjana-vegetables; apāra-unlimited; phula-baḍī-small fried pieces of another kind of dhal; phala-fruits; mūla-roots; vividha prakāra-of different varieties.
TRANSLATION
There were unlimited quantities of vṛddha-kuṣmāṇḍa-baḍī, phula-baḍī, fruits and various roots.
TEXT 213
nava-nimbapatra-saha bhṛṣṭa-vārtākī
phula-baḍi paṭola-bhājā, kuṣmāṇḍa-māna-cākī
SYNONYMS
nava-newly grown; nimba-patra-nimba leaves; saha-along with; bhṛṣṭa-vārtākī-fried eggplant; phula-baḍī-light baḍī; paṭola-bhājā-fried paṭola vegetable; kuṣmāṇḍa-of pumpkin; māna-of squash; cākī-rounds.
TRANSLATION
Other preparations included eggplant mixed with newly grown nimba leaves fried together, light baḍī, fried paṭola, and fried rounds of squash and pumpkin.
TEXT 214
bhṛṣṭa-māṣa-mudga-sūpa amṛta nindaya
madhurāmla, baḍāmlādi amla pāṅca chaya
SYNONYMS
bhṛṣṭa-fried; māṣa-urd dhal; mudga-mung dhal; sūpa-soup; amṛta-nectar; nindaya-defeating; madhura-amla-sweet chutney; baḍa-amla-sour preparation made with fried dhal; ādi-and so on; amla-sour; pāṅca 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 baḍāmla.
TEXT 215
mudga-baḍā, māṣa-baḍā, kalā-baḍā miṣṭa
kṣīra-puli, nārikela-pulī āra yata piṣṭa
SYNONYMS
mudga-baḍā-fried cakes made of mung dhal; māṣa-baḍā-fried cakes made of urd dhal; kalā-baḍā-fried cakes made of banana; miṣṭa-very sweet; kṣīra-puli-cakes made with sweet rice; nārikela-pulī-coconut cake; āra-and; yata-varieties of; piṣṭa-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
kāṅji-baḍā, dugdha-ciḍā, dugdha-laklakī
āra yata piṭhā kaila, kahite nā śaki
SYNONYMS
kāṅji-baḍā-cakes made with sour rice-water; dugdha-ciḍā-sweet rice mixed with milk; dugdha-laklakī-another preparation of milk and cakes to be licked up; āra-and; yata-various types of; piṭhā-cakes; kaila-made; kahite-to describe; nā śaki-I am not able.
TRANSLATION
There was kāṅji-baḍā, dugdha-ciḍā, dugdha-laklakī and various cakes, which I am unable to describe.
TEXT 217
ghṛta-sikta paramānna, mṛt-kuṇḍikā bhari’
cāṅpākalā-ghanadugdha-āmra tāhā dhari
SYNONYMS
ghṛta-sikta parama-anna-sweet rice mixed with ghee; mṛt-kuṇḍikā bhari’-filling an earthen pot; cāṅpā-kalā-a kind of banana; ghana-dugdha-condensed milk; āmra-mango pulp; tāhā-that; dhari-including.
TRANSLATION
Sweet rice mixed with ghee was poured into an earthen pot and mixed with cāṅpā-kalā, condensed milk and mango.
TEXT 218
rasālā-mathita dadhi, sandeśa apāra
gauḍe utkale yata bhakṣyera prakāra
SYNONYMS
rasālā-delicious; mathita-churned; dadhi-curd; sandeśa-a sweetmeat; apāra-unlimited; gauḍe-in Bengal; utkale-in Orissa; yata-all; bhakṣyera-of eatables; prakāra-kinds.
TRANSLATION
Other preparations included a very delicious churned curd and a variety of sandeśa sweetmeats. Indeed, all the various eatables available in Bengal and Orissa were prepared.
TEXT 219
śraddhā kari’ bhaṭṭācārya saba karāila
śubhra-pīṭhopari sūkṣma vasana pātila
SYNONYMS
śraddhā kari’-with great respect; bhaṭṭācārya-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; saba karāila-had them all prepared; śubhra-white; pīṭha-a wooden platform; upari-over; sūkṣma-fine; vasana-cloth; pātila-spread.
TRANSLATION
Thus Bhaṭṭācārya prepared a great variety of food and spread a fine cloth over a white wooden platform.
TEXT 220
dui pāśe sugandhi śītala jala-jhārī
anna-vyañjanopari dila tulasī-mañjarī
SYNONYMS
dui pāśe-on two sides; su-gandhi-nicely scented; śītala-cold; jala-jhāri-pitchers of water; anna-vyañjana-upari-over the rice and vegetables; dila-placed; tulasī-mañjarī-flowers of tulasī.
TRANSLATION
On two sides of the stack of food were pitchers filled with scented cold water. The flowers of the tulasī tree were placed above the mound of rice.
TEXT 221
amṛta-guṭikā, piṭhā-pānā ānāila
jagannātha-prasāda saba pṛthak dharila
SYNONYMS
amṛta-guṭikā-the sweet named amṛta-guṭikā; piṭhā-pānā-cakes and sweet rice; ānāila-brought; jagannātha-prasāda-remnants of the food of Lord Jagannātha; saba-all; pṛthak dharila-kept separately.
TRANSLATION
Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya also included several types of food that had been offered to Lord Jagannātha. This included sweetballs known as amṛta-guṭikā, sweet rice and cakes. All these were kept separately.
PURPORT
Although the remnants of food left by Jagannātha were brought into Bhaṭṭācārya’s house, they were kept separate from the preparations he had made at his home. It sometimes happens that prasāda is mixed with a larger quantity of food and then distributed, but in this case we find that Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya kept the jagannātha-prasāda separate. He kept it aside particularly for the satisfaction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TEXT 222
hena-kāle mahāprabhu madhyāhna kariyā
ekale āila tāṅra hṛdaya jāniyā
SYNONYMS
hena-kāle-at this time; mahāprabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; madhyāhna kariyā-finishing His midday duties; ekale-alone; āila-came; tāṅra-of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; hṛdaya-the heart; jāniyā-knowing.
TRANSLATION
When everything was ready, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came there alone after finishing His midday duties. He knew the heart of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.
TEXT 223
bhaṭṭācārya kaila tabe pāda prakṣālana
gharera bhitare gelā karite bhojana
SYNONYMS
bhaṭṭācārya-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; kaila-performed; tabe-thereafter; pāda prakṣālana-washing the feet; gharera bhitare-within the room; gelā-entered; karite bhojana-to take lunch.
TRANSLATION
After Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya washed the Lord’s feet, the Lord entered the room to take His lunch.
TEXT 224
annādi dekhiyā prabhu vismita hañā
bhaṭṭācārye kahe kichu bhaṅgi kariyā
SYNONYMS
anna-ādi dekhiyā-seeing the arrangement of food; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; vismita hañā-being astonished; bhaṭṭācārye kahe-said to Bhaṭṭācārya; kichu-some; bhaṅgi-gesture; kariyā-making.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was a little astonished to see the gorgeous arrangement, and, gesturing, He spoke to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.
TEXT 225
alaukika ei saba anna-vyañjana
dui prahara bhitare kaiche ha-ila randhana?
SYNONYMS
alaukika-uncommon; ei-this; saba-all; anna-vyañjana-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
śata culāya śata jana pāka yadi kare
tabu śīghra eta dravya rāndhite nā pāre
SYNONYMS
śata culāya-in one hundred ovens; śata jana-one hundred men; pāka yadi kare-if engaged in cooking; tabu-still; śīghra-so soon; eta dravya-so many preparations; rāndhite nā pāre-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
kṛṣṇera bhoga lāgāñācha,–anumāna kari
upare dekhiye yāte tulasī-mañjarī
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇera bhoga lāgāñācha-you have offered to Kṛṣṇa; anumāna kari-I hope; upare-upon the food; dekhiye-I see; yāte-since; tulasī-mañjarī-flowers of the tulasī tree.
TRANSLATION
“I hope the food has already been offered to Kṛṣṇa, since I see there are tulasī flowers over the plates.
TEXT 228
bhāgyavān tumi, saphala tomāra udyoga
rādhā-kṛṣṇe lāgāñācha etādṛśa bhoga
SYNONYMS
bhāgyavān tumi-you are fortunate; sa-phala-successful; tomāra-your; udyoga-endeavor; rādhā-kṛṣṇe-unto Their Lordships Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa; lāgāñācha-you offered; etādṛśa-such; bhoga-food.
TRANSLATION
“You are most fortunate, and your endeavor is successful, for you have offered such wonderful food to Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 229
annera saurabhya, varṇa–ati manorama
rādhā-kṛṣṇa sākṣāt ihāṅ kariyāchena bhojana
SYNONYMS
annera saurabhya-the flavor of the cooked rice; varṇa-color; ati manorama-very attractive; rādhā-kṛṣṇa-Lord Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārāṇī; sākṣāt-directly; ihāṅ-all this; kariyāchena bhojana-have eaten.
TRANSLATION
“The color of the rice is so attractive and its aroma so good that it appears Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa have directly taken it.
TEXT 230
tomāra bahuta bhāgya kata praśaṁsiba
āmi–bhāgyavān, ihāra avaśeṣa pāba
SYNONYMS
tomāra-your; bahuta-great; bhāgya-fortune; kata-how much; praśaṁsiba-shall I praise; āmi-I; bhāgyavān-fortunate; ihāra-of this; avaśeṣa-remnants; pāba-shall get.
TRANSLATION
“My dear Bhaṭṭācārya, 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
kṛṣṇera āsana-pīṭha rākhaha uṭhāñā
more prasāda deha’ bhinna pātrete kariyā
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇera-of Lord Kṛṣṇa; āsana-pīṭha-the sitting place; rākhaha-keep aside; uthāñā-raising; more-unto Me; prasāda-prasāda; deha’-give; bhinna-separate; pātrete-on a plate; kariyā-putting.
TRANSLATION
“Take away Kṛṣṇa’s sitting place and put it aside. Then give me prasāda on a different plate.”
TEXT 232
bhaṭṭācārya bale–prabhu nā karaha vismaya
yei khābe, tāṅhāra śaktye bhoga siddha haya
SYNONYMS
bhaṭṭācārya bale-Bhaṭṭācārya said; prabhu-my Lord; nā karaha vismaya-do not become astonished; yei khābe-whoever shall eat; tāṅhāra śaktye-by His grace; bhoga-the food; siddha haya-has been prepared.
TRANSLATION
Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya 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
udyoga nā chila mora gṛhiṇīra randhane
yāṅra śaktye bhoga siddha, sei tāhā jāne
SYNONYMS
udyoga-exertion; nā chila-there was not; mora-of me; gṛhiṇīra-of my wife; randhane-in cooking; yāṅra śaktye-by whose potency; bhoga siddha-the food has been prepared; sei-He; tāhā jāne-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
eita āsane vasi’ karaha bhojana
prabhu kahe,–pūjya ei kṛṣṇera āsana
SYNONYMS
eita āsane-on this sitting place; vasi’-sitting; karaha bhojana-take Your lunch; prabhu kahe-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; pūjya-worshipable; ei-this; kṛṣṇera āsana-sitting place of Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
“Now please sit in this place and take Your lunch.” Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “This place is worshipable because it was used by Kṛṣṇa.”
PURPORT
According to etiquette, things used by Kṛṣṇa 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 Kṛṣṇa 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
bhaṭṭa kahe,–anna, pīṭha,–samāna prasāda
anna khābe, pīṭhe vasite kāhāṅ aparādha?
SYNONYMS
bhaṭṭa kahe-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said; anna-food; pīṭha-sitting place; samāna-equal; prasāda-mercy remnants of the Lord; anna khābe-You will eat the food; pīṭhe vasite-to sit on the place; kāhāṅ aparādha-where is the offense.
TRANSLATION
Bhaṭṭācārya 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
prabhu kahe,–bhāla kaile, śāstra-ājñā haya
kṛṣṇera sakala śeṣa bhṛtya āsvādaya
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied; bhāla kaile-you have spoken correctly; śāstra-ājñā haya-there is such an order in the revealed scripture; kṛṣṇera sakala śeṣa-everything left by Kṛṣṇa; bhṛtya-the servant; āsvādaya-partakes of.
TRANSLATION
Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, “Yes, you have spoken correctly. The śāstras enjoin that the devotee can partake of everything left by Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 237
tvayopayukta-srag-gandha-
vāso ‘laṅkāra-carcitāḥ
ucchiṣṭa-bhojino dāsās
tava māyāṁ jayema hi
SYNONYMS
tvayā-by You; upayukta-used; srak-flower garlands; gandha-scented substances like sandalwood pulp; vāsaḥ-garments; alaṅkāra-ornaments; carcitāḥ-being decorated with; ucchiṣṭa-remnants of food; bhojinaḥ-eating; dāsāḥ-servants; tava-Your; māyām-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 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.6.46). In the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-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 Kṛṣṇa. This was during the time when the Uddhava-gītā was spoken. At that time there was some disturbance in Dvārakā, and Lord Kṛṣṇa 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. Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes in this material world are called prakaṭa-līlā (manifested pastimes), and His pastimes in the spiritual world are called aprakaṭa-līlā (unmanifested pastimes). By unmanifested we mean that they are not present before our eyes. It is not that Lord Kṛṣṇa’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-saṁhitā confirms:
ānanda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhāvitābhis
tābhir ya eva nija-rūpatayā kalābhiḥ
goloka eva nivasaty akhilātma-bhūto
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti
yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṇa-svarūpaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
“I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who resides in His own realm, Goloka, with Rādhā, who resembles His own spiritual figure and who embodies the ecstatic potency [hlādinī]. 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 Śyāmasundara, Kṛṣṇa 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
tathāpi eteka anna khāona nā yāya
bhaṭṭa kahe,–jāni, khāo yateka yuyāya
SYNONYMS
tathāpi-still; eteka-so much; anna-food; khāona-eating; nā yāya-is not possible; bhaṭṭa kahe-Bhaṭṭācārya said; jāni-I know; khāo-You can eat; yateka-how much; yuyāya-is possible.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, “There is so much food here that it is impossible to eat.” Bhaṭṭācārya replied,”I know how much You can eat.
TEXT 239
nīlācale bhojana tumi kara bāyānna bāra
eka eka bhogera anna śata śata bhāra
SYNONYMS
nīlācale-at Jagannātha Purī; bhojana-accepting lunch; tumi-You; kara-do; bāyānna bāra-fifty-two times; eka eka bhogera-of each and every offering; anna-eatables; śata śata bhāra-hundreds of buckets.
TRANSLATION
“After all, at Jagannātha Purī You eat fifty-two times a day, and each time You eat hundreds of buckets filled with prasāda.
TEXT 240
dvārakāte ṣola-sahasra mahiṣī-mandire
aṣṭādaśa mātā, āra yādavera ghare
SYNONYMS
dvārakāte-at Dvārakā-dhāma; ṣola-sahasra-sixteen thousand; mahiṣī-queens; mandire-palaces; aṣṭādaśa mātā-eighteen mothers; āra-and; yādavera ghare-in the house of the Yadu dynasty.
TRANSLATION
“At Dvārakā, 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
vraje jyeṭhā, khuḍā, māmā, pisādi gopa-gaṇa
sakhā-vṛnda sabāra ghare dvisandhyā-bhojana
SYNONYMS
vraje-at Vṛndāvana; jyeṭhā-the father’s elder brothers; khuḍā-the father’s younger brothers; māmā-the mother’s brothers; pisā-the husbands of aunts; ādi-and so on; gopa-gaṇa-cowherd men; sakhā-vṛnda-hundreds of friends; sabāra-of all of them; ghare-in the houses; dvi-sandhyā-twice a day; bho-jana-eating.
TRANSLATION
“In Vṛndāvana 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 Dvārakā, Lord Kṛṣṇa had eighteen mothers like Devakī, Rohiṇī and others. Besides these was. His foster mother Yaśodā in Vṛndāvana. Lord Kṛṣṇa also had two uncles, who were brothers of Nanda Mahārāja. As stated by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in his Śrī-kṛṣṇa-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, upanando ‘bhinandaś ca pitṛvyau pūr-va-jau pituḥ: “The elder brothers of Nanda Mahārāja were Upananda and Abhinanda.” Similarly, in the same book the names of the younger brothers of Nanda Mahārāja are given. Pitṛvyau tu kanīyāṁsau syātāṁ sannanda-nandanau: “Sannanda and Nandana, or Sunanda and Pāṇḍava, were the younger brothers of Kṛṣṇa’s father, Nanda Mahārāja.” Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s maternal uncles were also described there. Yaśodhara-yaśodeva-sudevādyās tu mātulāḥ: “Yaśodhara, Yaśodeva and Sudeva were the maternal uncles of Kṛṣṇa.” Kṛṣṇa’s uncles are also mentioned. Mahānīlaḥ sunīlaś ca ramaṇāv etayoḥ kramāt: “Mahānīla and Sunīla are the husbands of Kṛṣṇa’s aunts.”
TEXT 242
govardhana-yajñe anna khāilā rāśi rāśi
tāra lekhāya ei anna nahe eka grāsī
SYNONYMS
govardhana-yajñe-in the Govardhana-pūjā sacrifice; anna-food; khāilā-You ate; rāśi rāśi-stacks; tāra-to that; lekhāya-in comparison; ei-this; anna-food; nahe-not; eka grāsī-one morsel.
TRANSLATION
“Indeed,” Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, “at the Govardhana-pūjā ceremony You ate stacks of rice. In comparison to that, this small quantity is not even a morsel for You.
TEXT 243
tumi ta’ īśvara, muñi–kṣudra jīva chāra
eka-grāsa mādhukarī karaha aṅgīkāra
SYNONYMS
tumi-You; ta’-certainly; īśvara-the Supreme Personality of Godhead; muñi-I; kṣudra jīva-insignificant living being; chāra-worthless; eka-grāsa-one small quantity; mādhu-karī-as collected by the bees; karaha-please do; aṅgīkāra-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 sannyāsī 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 mādhukarī. The word mādhukarī comes from the word mādhukara 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. Sannyāsīs should collect a little from each and every householder and should eat simply what is necessary to maintain the body. Being a sannyāsī, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu could collect a little food from the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, and this was the Bhaṭṭācārya’s request. Compared to the food eaten by the Lord on other occasions, Bhaṭṭācārya’s feast was not even a morsel. This is what Bhaṭṭācārya is pointing out to the Lord.
TEXT 244
eta śuni’ hāsi’ prabhu vasilā bhojane
jagannāthera prasāda bhaṭṭa dena harṣa-mane
SYNONYMS
eta śuni’-hearing this; hāsi’-smiling; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; vasilā bhojane-sat down to eat; jagannāthera-of Lord Jagannātha; prasāda-remnants of food; bhaṭṭa-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; dena harṣa-mane-delivers in great happiness.
TRANSLATION
Hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu smiled and sat down to eat. Bhaṭṭācārya, with great pleasure, first offered Him the prasāda from the Jagannātha temple.
TEXT 245
hena-kāle ‘amogha,’–bhaṭṭācāryera jāmātā
kulīna, nindaka teṅho ṣāṭhī-kanyāra bhartā
SYNONYMS
hena-kāle-exactly at this time; amogha-Amogha; bhaṭṭācāryera jāmātā-the son-in-law of Bhaṭṭācārya; kulīna-of aristocratic birth; nindaka-blasphemer; teṅho-he; ṣāṭhī-kanyāra bhartā-the husband of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s daughter named Ṣāṭhī.
TRANSLATION
At this time Bhaṭṭācārya had a son-in-law named Amogha, who was the husband of his daughter named Ṣāṭhī. Although born in an aristocratic brāhmaṇa family, this Amogha was a great faultfinder and blasphemer.
TEXT 246
bhojana dekhite cāhe, āsite nā pāre
lāṭhī-hāte bhaṭṭācārya āchena duyāre
SYNONYMS
bhojana-the eating; dekhite cāhe-he wanted to see; āsite nā pāre-could not come; lāṭhī-hāte-with a stick in his hand; bhaṭṭācārya-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; āchena-was; duyāre-on the threshold.
TRANSLATION
Amogha wanted to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu eat, but he was not allowed to enter. Indeed, Bhaṭṭācārya guarded the threshold of his house with a stick in his hand.
TEXT 247
teṅho yadi prasāda dite hailā āna-mana
amogha āsi’ anna dekhi’ karaye nindana
SYNONYMS
teṅho-he (Bhaṭṭācārya); yadi-when; prasāda dite-supplying the prasāda; hailā-became; āna-mana-inattentive; amogha-Amogha; āsi’-coming; anna dekhi’-seeing the food; karaye nindana-began blaspheming.
TRANSLATION
However, as soon as Bhaṭṭācārya began distributing prasāda and was a little inattentive, Amogha came in. Seeing the quantity of food, he began to blaspheme.
TEXT 248
ei anne tṛpta haya daśa bāra jana
ekelā sannyāsī kare eteka bhakṣaṇa!
SYNONYMS
ei anne-with so much food; tṛpta haya-can be satisfied; daśa bāra jana-at least ten to twelve men; ekelā-alone; sannyāsī-this person in the renounced order; kare-does; eteka-so much; bhakṣaṇa-eating.
TRANSLATION
“This much food is sufficient to satisfy ten or twelve men, but this sannyāsī alone is eating so much!”
TEXT 249
śunitei bhaṭṭācārya ulaṭi’ cāhila
tāṅra avadhāna dekhi’ amogha palāila
SYNONYMS
śunitei-hearing; bhaṭṭācārya-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; ulaṭi’ cāhila-turned his eyes upon him; tāṅra-his; avadhāna-attention; dekhi’-seeing; amogha-Amogha; palāila-left.
TRANSLATION
As soon as Amogha said this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya turned his eyes upon him. Seeing Bhaṭṭācārya’s attitude, Amogha immediately left.
TEXT 250
bhaṭṭācārya lāṭhi lañā mārite dhāila
palāila amogha, tāra lāga nā pāila
SYNONYMS
bhaṭṭācārya-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; lāṭhi lañā-taking a stick; mārite-to strike; dhāila-ran; palāila-fled; amogha-Amogha; tāra-him; lāga nā pāila-could not catch.
TRANSLATION
Bhaṭṭācārya ran after him to strike him with a stick, but Amogha fled so fast that Bhaṭṭācārya could not catch him.
TEXT 251
tabe gāli, śāpa dite bhaṭṭācārya āilā
nindā śuni’ mahāprabhu hāsite lāgilā
SYNONYMS
tabe-at that time; gāli-calling by ill names; śāpa dite-cursing; bhaṭṭācārya-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; āilā-came back; nindā śuni’-hearing the criticism; mahāprabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; hāsite lāgilā-began to laugh.
TRANSLATION
Bhaṭṭācārya then began to curse and call his son-in-law ill names. When Bhaṭṭācārya returned, he saw that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was laughing to hear him criticize Amogha.
TEXT 252
śuni’ ṣāṭhīra mātā śire-buke ghāta māre
‘ṣāṭhī rāṇḍī ha-uka’–ihā bale bāre bāre
SYNONYMS
śuni’-hearing; ṣāṭhīra mātā-the mother of Ṣāṭhī; śire-on the head; buke-on the chest; ghāta māre-strikes; ṣāṭhī rāṇḍī ha-uka-let Ṣāṭhī become a widow; ihā bale-says this; bāre bāre-again and again.
TRANSLATION
When Ṣāṭhī’s mother, Bhaṭṭācārya’s wife, heard of this incident, she immediately began to strike her head and chest, saying again, “Let Ṣāṭhī become a widow!”
TEXT 253
duṅhāra duḥkha dekhi’ prabhu duṅhā prabodhiyā
duṅhāra icchāte bhojana kaila tuṣṭa hañā
SYNONYMS
duṅhāra duḥkha dekhi’-seeing the lamentation of both; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; duṅhā prabodhiyā-pacifying them; duṅhāra icchāte-by the will of both of them; bhojana kaila-took His lunch; tuṣṭa hañā-with great satisfaction.
TRANSLATION
Seeing the lamentation of both husband and wife, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu tried to pacify them. According to their desire, He ate the prasāda and was very satisfied.
TEXT 254
ācamana karāñā bhaṭṭa dila mukha-vāsa
tulasī-mañjarī, lavaṅga, elāci rasa-vāsa
SYNONYMS
ācamana karāñā-washing the mouth, hands and legs of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bhaṭṭa-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; dila mukha-vāsa-gave some flavored spices; tulasī-mañjarī-the flowers of tulasī; lavaṅga-cloves; elāci-cardamom; rasa-vāsa-that which brings saliva.
TRANSLATION
After Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu finished eating, Bhaṭṭācārya washed His mouth, hands and legs and offered Him flavored spices, tulasī-mañjarī, cloves, and cardamom.
TEXT 255
sarvāṅge parāila prabhura mālya-candana
daṇḍavat hañā bale sadainya vacana
SYNONYMS
sarva-aṅge-all over the body; parāila-put; prabhura-of the Lord; mālya-candana-a flower garland and sandalwood pulp; daṇḍavat hañā-offering obeisances; bale-says; sa-dainya-humble; vacana-statement.
TRANSLATION
The Bhaṭṭācārya then placed a flower garland over Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and smeared His body with sandalwood pulp. After offering obeisances, the Bhaṭṭācārya submitted the following humble statement.
TEXT 256
nindā karāite tomā āninu nija-ghare
ei aparādha, prabhu, kṣamā kara more
SYNONYMS
nindā karāite-just to cause blasphemy; tomā-You; āninu-I brought; nija-ghare-to my place; ei aparādha-this offense; prabhu-my Lord; kṣamā 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
prabhu kahe,–nindā nahe, ‘sahaja’ kahila
ihāte tomāra kibā aparādha haila?
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; nindā nahe-not blasphemy; sahaja-rightly; kahila-he spoke; ihāte-in this; tomāra-your; kibā-what; aparādha-offense; haila-was there.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “What Amogha has said is correct; therefore it is not blasphemy. What is your offense?”
TEXT 258
eta bali’ mahāprabhu calilā bhavane
bhaṭṭācārya tāṅra ghare gelā tāṅra sane
SYNONYMS
eta bali’-saying this; mahāprabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; calilā bhavane-returned to His residence; bhaṭṭācārya-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; tāṅra ghare-to His place; gelā-went; tāṅra sane-with Him.
TRANSLATION
After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left and returned to His residence. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya also followed Him.
TEXT 259
prabhu-pade paḍi’ bahu ātma-nindā kaila
tāṅre śānta kari’ prabhu ghare pāṭhāila
SYNONYMS
prabhu-pade-at the feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; paḍi’-falling down; bahu-much; ātma-nindā kaila-made self-reproach; tāṅre-him; śānta kari’-making pacified; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; ghare pāṭhāila-sent back to his home.
TRANSLATION
Falling down at the Lord’s feet, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said many things in self-reproach. The Lord then pacified him and sent him back to his home.
TEXT 260
ghare āsi’ bhaṭṭācārya ṣāṭhīra mātā-sane
āpanā nindiyā kichu balena vacane
SYNONYMS
ghare āsi’-returning home; bhaṭṭācārya-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; ṣāṭhīra mātā-sane-with the mother of Ṣāṭhī; āpanā nindiyā-condemning himself; kichu-some; balena vacane-speaks words.
TRANSLATION
After returning to his home, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya consulted with his wife, the mother of Ṣāṭhī. After personally condemning himself, he began to speak as follows.
TEXT 261
caitanya-gosāñira nindā śunila yāhā haite
tāre vadha kaile haya pāpa-prāyaścitte
SYNONYMS
caitanya-gosāñira-of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; nindā-blasphemy; śunila-I have heard; yāhā haite-from whom; tāre vadha kaile-if he is killed; haya-there is; pāpa-prāyaścitte-atonement for the sinful act.
TRANSLATION
“If the man who blasphemed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is killed, his sinful action may be atoned.”
PURPORT
The Hari-bhakti-vilāsa cites the following quotation from Skanda Purāṇa concerning the blaspheming of a Vaiṣṇava:
yo hi bhāgavataṁ lokam
upahāsaṁ nṛpottama
karoti tasya naśyanti
artha-dharma-yaśaḥ-sutāḥ
nindāṁ kurvanti ye mūḍhā
vaiṣṇavānāṁ mahātmanām
patanti pitṛbhiḥ sārdhaṁ
mahā-raurava-saṁjñite
hanti nindati vai dveṣṭi
vaiṣṇavān nābhinandati
krudhyate yāti no harṣaṁ
darśane patanāni ṣaṭ
In this conversation between Mārkaṇḍeya and Bhagīratha, 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. Vaiṣṇavas are all great souls. Whoever blasphemes them falls down to the hell known as Mahāraurava. He is also accompanied by his forefathers. Whoever kills or blasphemes a Vaiṣṇava and whoever is envious of a Vaiṣṇava or angry with him, or whoever does not offer him obeisances or feel joy upon seeing a Vaiṣṇava, certainly falls into a hellish condition.”
The Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (10.314) also gives the following quotation from Dvārakā-māhātmya:
kara-patraiś ca phālyante
sutīvrair yama-śāsanaiḥ
nindāṁ kurvanti ye pāpā
vaiṣṇavānāṁ mahātmanām
In a conversation between Prahlāda Mahārāja and Bali Mahārāja, it is said, “Those sinful people who blaspheme Vaiṣṇavas, who are all great souls, are subjected very severely to the punishment offered by Yamarāja.”
In the Bhakti-sandarbha (313) there is a statement concerning the blaspheming of Lord Viṣṇu.
ye nindanti hṛṣīkeśaṁ
tad-bhaktaṁ puṇya-rūpiṇam
śata-janmārjitaṁ puṇyaṁ
teṣāṁ naśyati niścitam
te pacyante mahā-ghore
kumbhīpāke bhayānake
bhakṣitāḥ kīṭa-saṅghena
yāvac candra-divākarau
śrī-viṣṇor avamānanād
gurutaraṁ śrī-vaiṣṇavollaṅghanam
tadīya-dūṣaka-janān
na paśyet puruṣādhamān
taiḥ sārdhaṁ vañcaka-janaiḥ
saha-vāsaṁ na kārayet
“One who criticizes Lord Viṣṇu and His devotees loses all the benefits accrued in a hundred pious births. Such a person rots in the Kumbhīpāka 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 Viṣṇu and His devotees. Never try to associate with such persons.”
In his Bhakti-sandarbha (265), Jīva Gosvāmī further quotes from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.74.40):
nindāṁ bhagavataḥ śṛṇvan
tat-parasya janasya vā
tato nāpaiti yaḥ so ‘pi
yāty adhaḥ sukṛtāc cyutaḥ
“If one does not immediately leave upon hearing the Lord or the Lord’s devotee blasphemed, he falls down from devotional service.” Similarly, Lord Śiva’s wife Satī states in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (4.4.17):
karṇau pidhāya nirayād yad akalpa īśe
dharmāvitary asṛṇibhir nṛbhir asyamāne
chindyāt prasahya ruśatīm asatīṁ prabhuś cej
jihvām asūn api tato visṛjet sa dharmaḥ
“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
kimvā nija-prāṇa yadi kari vimocana
dui yogya nahe, dui śarīra brāhmaṇa
SYNONYMS
kimvā-or; nija-prāṇa-my own life; yadi-if; kari vimocana-I give up; dui-both such actions; yogya nahe-are not befitting; dui śarīra-both the bodies; brāhmaṇa-brāhmaṇas.
TRANSLATION
Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya 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 brāhmaṇas.
TEXT 263
punaḥ sei nindakera mukha nā dekhiba
parityāga kailuṅ, tāra nāma nā la-iba
SYNONYMS
punaḥ-again; sei-that; nindakera-of the blasphemer; mukha-face; nā-not; dekhiba-I shall see; parityāga-giving up; kailuṅ-I do; tāra-his; nāma-name; nā-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
ṣāṭhīre kaha–tāre chāḍuka, se ha-ila ‘patita’
‘patita’ ha-ile bhartā tyajite ucita
SYNONYMS
ṣāṭhīre kaha-inform Ṣāṭhī; tāre chāḍuka-let her give him up; se ha-ila-he has become; patita-fallen; patita ha-ile-when one has fallen; bhartā-such a husband; tyajite-to give up; ucita-is the duty.
TRANSLATION
“Inform my daughter Ṣāṭhī 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
Śrīla Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya considered that if Amogha were killed, one would suffer sinful reactions for killing the body of a brāhmaṇa. For the same reason, it would have been undesirable for Bhaṭṭācārya to commit suicide because he also was a brāhmaṇa. Since neither course could be accepted, Bhaṭṭācārya decided to give up his relationship with Amogha and never see his face.
As far as killing the body of a brāhmaṇa is concerned, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.7.53) gives the following injunction:
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
brahma-bandhur na hantavya
ātatāyī vadhār-haṇaḥ
mayaivobhayam āmnātaṁ
paripāhy anuśāsanam
“The Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: A friend of a brāhmaṇa 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 smṛti, Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī comments on this quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam:
ātatāyinam āyāntam
api vedānta-pāragam
jighāṁ-santaṁ jighāṁsīyān
na tena brahmahā bhavet
“Even though an aggressor may be a very learned scholar of Vedānta, he should be killed because of his envy in killing others. In such a case, it is not sinful to kill a brāhmaṇa.”
It is also stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.7.57):
vapanaṁ draviṇādānaṁ
sthānān niryāpaṇaṁ tathā
eṣa hi brahma-bandhūnāṁ
vadho nānyo ‘sti daihikaḥ
“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 brāhmaṇa. 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 Ṣāṭhī, the daughter of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, was concerned, she was advised to give up her relationship with her husband. Concerning this, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.5.18) states, na patiś ca sa syān na mocayed yaḥ samupeta-mṛtyum: “One cannot be a husband if he cannot liberate his dependents from inevitable death.” If a person is not in Kṛṣṇa 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 Kṛṣṇa for further advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If she gives up her connection with her husband, who abandons Kṛṣṇa consciousness, she follows in the footsteps of the dvija-patnī, the wives of the brāhmaṇas who were engaged in performing sacrifices. The wife is not to be condemned for cutting off such a relationship. In this regard, Śrī Kṛṣṇa states in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.23.31-32):
patayo nābhyasūyeran
pitṛ-bhrātṛ-sutādayaḥ
lokāś ca vo mayopetā
devā apy anumanvate
na prītaye ‘nurāgāya
hy aṅga-saṅgo nṛṇām iha
tan mano mayi yuñjānā
acirān mām avāpsyatha
Such a separation is never condemned by the supreme will. No one should be envious of the order of Kṛṣṇa. 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 Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
TEXT 265
patiṁ ca patitaṁ 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 smṛti-śāstram. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.11.28):
santuṣṭālolupā dakṣā
dharma-jñā priya-satya-vāk
apramattā śuciḥ snigdhā
patiṁ tv apatitaṁ 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
sei rātre amogha kāhāṅ palāñā gela
prātaḥ-kāle tāra visūcikā-vyādhi haila
SYNONYMS
sei rātre-that night; amogha-the son-in-law of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; kāhāṅ-where; palāñā gela-fled; prātaḥ-kāle-in the morning; tāra-his; visūcikā-vyādhi-infection of cholera; haila-there was.
TRANSLATION
That night Amogha, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s son-in-law, fled, and in the morning he immediately fell sick with cholera.
TEXT 267
amogha marena–śuni’ kahe bhaṭṭācārya
sahāya ha-iyā daiva kaila mora kārya
SYNONYMS
amogha marena-Amogha is dying; śuni’-hearing; kahe bhaṭṭācārya-Bhaṭṭācārya said; sahāya ha-iyā-helping; daiva-Providence; kaila-did; mora-my; kārya-duty.
TRANSLATION
When Bhaṭṭācārya 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
īśvare ta’ aparādha phale tata-kṣaṇa
eta bali’ paḍe dui śāstrera vacana
SYNONYMS
īśvare-unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ta’-indeed; aparādha-offense; phale-brings results; tata-kṣaṇa-immediately; eta bali’-saying this; paḍe-recites; dui-two; śāstrera 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
mahatā hi prayatnena
hasty-aśva-ratha-pattibhiḥ
asmābhir yad anuṣṭheyaṁ
gandharvais tad anuṣṭhitam
SYNONYMS
mahatā-very great; hi-certainly; prayatnena-by endeavor; hasti-elephants; aśva-horses; ratha-chariots; pattibhiḥ-and by infantry soldiers; asmābhiḥ-by ourselves; yat-whatever; anuṣṭheyaṁ-has to be arranged; gandharvaiḥ-by the Gandharvas; tat-that; anuṣṭhitam-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 Mahābhārata (Vana-parva 241.15). Bhīmasena made this statement when all the Pāṇḍavas were living incognito. At that time there was a fight between the Kauravas and the Gandharvas. The Kaurava soldiers were under the command of Karṇa, 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 Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira to help. After being thus petitioned, Bhīmasena spoke the verse given above, remembering Duryodhana’s former nefarious and atrocious activities against them. Indeed, Bhīmasena felt it very fitting that Duryodhana and his company were arrested. This could have been accomplished by the Pāṇḍavas only with great endeavor.
TEXT 270
āyuḥ śriyaṁ yaśo dharmaṁ
lokān āśiṣa eva ca
hanti śreyāṁsi sarvāṇi
puṁso mahad-atikramaḥ
SYNONYMS
āyuḥ-duration of life; śriyam-opulence; yaśaḥ-reputation; dharmam-religion; lokān-possessions; āśiṣaḥ-benedictions; eva-certainly; ca-and; hanti-destroys; śreyāṁsi-good fortune; sarvāṇi-all; puṁsaḥ-of a person; mahat-of great souls; atikramaḥ-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 Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who was relating Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.4.46) to Mahārāja Parīkṣit. This quotation concerns the attempted killing of Kṛṣṇa’s sister (Yogamāyā), who appeared before Kṛṣṇa’s birth as the daughter of mother Yaśodā. This daughter Yogamāyā and Kṛṣṇa were born simultaneously, and Vasudeva replaced Kṛṣṇa by taking Yogamāyā away. When she was brought to Mathurā and Kaṁsa attempted to kill her, Yogamāyā slipped out of his hands. She could not be killed. She then informed Kaṁsa about the birth of his enemy, Kṛṣṇa, and being thus baffled, Kaṁsa consulted his associates, who were all demons. When this big conspiracy was taking place, this verse was spoken by Śukadeva Gosvāmī. He points out that a demon can lose everything because of his nefarious activities.
The word mahad-atikramaḥ, meaning “envy of Lord Viṣṇu 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-gītā (9.13):
mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha
daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jñātvā bhūtādim avyayam
“O son of Pṛthā, 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
gopīnāthācārya gelā prabhu-daraśane
prabhu tāṅre puchila bhaṭṭācārya-vivaraṇe
SYNONYMS
gopīnāthācārya-Gopīnātha Ācārya; gelā-went; prabhu-daraśane-to see Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅre-unto Him; puchila-inquired; bhaṭṭācārya-vivaraṇe-the affairs in the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.
TRANSLATION
At this time, Gopīnātha Ācārya went to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and the Lord asked him about the events taking place in Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s house.
TEXT 272
ācārya kahe,–upavāsa kaila dui jana
visūcikā-vyādhite amogha chāḍiche jīvana
SYNONYMS
ācārya kahe-Gopīnātha Ācārya informed; upavāsa-fasting; kaila-observed; dui jana-the two persons; visūcikā-vyādhite-by the disease of cholera; amogha-Amogha; chāḍiche jīvana-is going to die.
TRANSLATION
Gopīnātha Ācārya informed the Lord that both the husband and wife were fasting and that their son-in-law Amogha was dying of cholera.
TEXT 273
śuni’ kṛpāmaya prabhu āilā dhāñā
amoghere kahe tāra buke hasta diyā
SYNONYMS
śuni’-hearing; kṛpā-maya-merciful; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; āilā-came; dhāñā-running; amoghere-unto Amogha; kahe-He says; tāra-His; buke-on the chest; hasta diyā-keeping His hand.
TRANSLATION
As soon as Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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
sahaje nirmala ei ‘brāhmaṇa’-hṛdaya
kṛṣṇera vasite ei yogya-sthāna haya
SYNONYMS
sahaje-by nature; nirmala-without contamination; ei-this; brāhmaṇa-hṛdaya-heart of a brāhmaṇa; kṛṣṇera-of Lord Kṛṣṇa; vasite-to sit down; ei-this; yogya-sthāna-proper place; haya-is.
TRANSLATION
“The heart of a brāhmaṇa is by nature very clean; therefore it is a proper place for Kṛṣṇa to sit.
TEXT 275
‘mātsarya’-caṇḍāla kene ihāṅ vasāile
parama pavitra sthāna apavitra kaile
SYNONYMS
mātsarya-jealousy; caṇḍāla-the lowest of the men; kene-why; ihāṅ-here; vasāile-you allowed to sit; parama pavitra-most purified; sthāna-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 caṇḍāla, the lowest of men, and you have also contaminated a most purified place-your heart.
TEXT 276
sārvabhauma-saṅge tomāra ‘kaluṣa’ haila kṣaya
‘kalmaṣa’ ghucile jīva ‘kṛṣṇa-nāma’ laya
SYNONYMS
sārvabhauma-saṅge-by the association of Sārvabhauma; tomāra-your; kaluṣa-contamination; haila kṣaya-is now vanquished; kalmaṣa-contamination; ghucile-when dispelled; jīva-the living entity; kṛṣṇa-nāma-the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra; laya-can chant.
TRANSLATION
“However, due to the association of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, all your contamination is now vanquished. When a person’s heart is cleansed of all contamination, he is able to chant the mahā-mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 277
uṭhaha, amogha, tumi lao kṛṣṇa-nāma
acire tomāre kṛpā karibe bhagavān
SYNONYMS
uṭhaha-get up; amogha-Amogha; tumi-you; lao-chant; kṛṣṇa-nāma-the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; acire-very soon; tomāre-unto you; kṛpā-mercy; karibe-will bestow; bhagavān-the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
“Therefore, Amogha, get up and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra! If you do so, Kṛṣṇa will unfailingly bestow mercy upon you.”
PURPORT
The Absolute Truth is realized in three phases-impersonal Brahman, Paramātmā and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavān. All of these are one and the same truth, but Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān constitute three different features. Whoever understands Brahman is called a brāhmaṇa, and when a brāhmaṇa engages in the Lord’s devotional service, he is called a Vaiṣṇava. Unless one comes to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his realization of impersonal Brahman is imperfect. A brāhmaṇa can chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra on the platform of nāmābhāsa, but not on the platform of pure vibration. When a brāhmaṇa 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 bhāgavata or a Vaiṣṇava. This indicates that he is free from contamination and material attachment. This is confirmed by Bhagavad-gītā (7.28):
yeṣāṁ tv anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ
janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām
te dvandva-moha-nirmuktā
bhajante māṁ dṛḍha-vratāḥ
“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 brāhmaṇa may be a very learned scholar, but this does not mean that he is free from material contamination. A brāhmaṇa’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 brāhmaṇa transcends such contamination and approaches the platform of unalloyed devotional service, he cannot be accepted as a Vaiṣṇava. 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 (saguṇa-upāsanā), but such an attempt is never successful in helping one attain complete realization. The impersonalist may consider himself a brāhmaṇa 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 Māyāvāda philosophy keeps one conditioned. If one becomes a Vaiṣṇava through proper initiation, he automatically becomes a brāhmaṇa. There is no doubt about it. The Garuḍa Purāṇa confirms this:
brāhmaṇānāṁ sahasrebhyaḥ
satra-yājī viśiṣyate
satra-yāji-sahasrebhyaḥ
sarva-vedānta-pāragaḥ
sarva-vedānta-vit-koṭyā
viṣṇu-bhakto viśiṣyate
“Out of many thousands of brāhmaṇas, one may become qualified to perform yajña. Out of many thousands of such qualified brāhmaṇas, one may be fully aware of the Vedānta philosophy. Out of many millions of learned Vedānta scholars, there may be one viṣṇu-bhakta, or devotee of Lord Viṣṇu. It is he who is most exalted.”
Unless one is a fully qualified brāhmaṇa, he cannot advance in the spiritual science. A real brāhmaṇa is never envious of Vaiṣṇavas. If he is, he is considered an imperfect neophyte. Impersonalist brāhmaṇas are always opposed to Vaiṣṇava principles. They are envious of Vaiṣṇavas because they do not know the goal of life. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum. However, when a brāhmaṇa becomes a Vaiṣṇava, there is no duality. If a brāhmaṇa does not become a Vaiṣṇava, he certainly falls down from the brāhmaṇa platform. This is confirmed by Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.3): na bhajanty avajānanti sthānād bhraṣṭāḥ patanty adhaḥ.
We can actually see that in this Age of Kali many so-called brāhmaṇas are envious of Vaiṣṇavas. The Kali-contaminated brāhmaṇas consider Deity worship to be imaginative: arcye viṣṇau śilā-dhīr guruṣu nara-matir vaiṣṇave jāti-buddhiḥ. Such a contaminated brāhmaṇa 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 brāhmaṇa considers the guru to be an ordinary human being, and he objects when a Vaiṣṇava is created by the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Many so-called brāhmaṇas attempt to fight us, saying, “How can you create a brāhmaṇa out of a European or American? A brāhmaṇa can be born only in a brāhmaṇa family.” They do not consider that this is never stated in any revealed scripture. It is specifically stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.13): cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ. “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 brāhmaṇa is not a result of the caste system. He becomes a brāhmaṇa only by qualification. Similarly, a Vaiṣṇava does not belong to a particular caste; rather, his designation is determined by the rendering of devotional service.
TEXT 278
śuni’ ‘kṛṣṇa’ ‘kṛṣṇa’ bali’ amogha uṭhilā
premonmāde matta hañā nācite lāgilā
SYNONYMS
śuni’-hearing; kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa-the holy name of Kṛṣṇa; bali’-speaking; amogha uṭhilā-Amogha stood up; premonmāde-in ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa; matta hañā-becoming maddened; nācite lāgilā-began to dance.
TRANSLATION
After hearing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and being touched by Him, Amogha, who was on his deathbed, immediately stood up and began to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Thus he became mad with ecstatic love and began to dance emotionally.
TEXT 279
kampa, aśru, pulaka, stambha, sveda, svara-bhaṅga
prabhu hāse dekhi’ tāra premera taraṅga
SYNONYMS
kampa-trembling; aśru-tears; pulaka-jubilation; stambha-being stunned; sveda-perspiration; svara-bhaṅga-faltering of the voice; prabhu hāse-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to laugh; dekhi’-seeing; tāra-Amogha’s; premera taraṅga-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, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to laugh.
TEXT 280
prabhura caraṇe dhari’ karaye vinaya
aparādha kṣama more, prabhu, dayāmaya
SYNONYMS
prabhura caraṇe-the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dhari’-catching; karaye-does; vinaya-submission; aparādha-offense; kṣama-kindly excuse; more-me; prabhu-O Lord; dayā-maya-merciful.
TRANSLATION
Amogha then fell before the Lord’s lotus feet and submissively said, “O merciful Lord, please excuse my offense.”
TEXT 281
ei chāra mukhe tomāra karinu nindane
eta bali’ āpana gāle caḍāya āpane
SYNONYMS
ei chāra mukhe-in this abominable mouth; tomāra-Your; karinu-I did; nindane-blaspheming; eta bali’-saying this; āpana-his own; gāle-cheeks; caḍāya-he slapped; āpane-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
caḍāite caḍāite gāla phulāila
hāte dhari’ gopīnāthācārya niṣedhila
SYNONYMS
caḍāite caḍāite-slapping over and over again; gāla-the cheeks; phulāila-he made them swollen; hāte dhari’-catching his hands; gopīnātha-ācārya-Gopīnātha Ācārya; niṣedhila-forbade.
TRANSLATION
Indeed, Amogha continued slapping his face over and over until his cheeks were swollen. Finally Gopīnātha Ācārya stopped him by catching hold of his hands.
TEXT 283
prabhu āśvāsana kare sparśi’ tāra gātra
sārvabhauma-sambandhe tumi mora sneha-pātra
SYNONYMS
prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; āśvāsana kare-pacifies; sparśi’-touching; tāra-his; gātra-body; sārvabhauma-sambandhe-because of a relation to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; tumi-you; mora-My; sneha-pātra-object of affection.
TRANSLATION
After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu pacified Amogha by touching his body and saying, “You are the object of My affection because you are the son-in-law of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.
TEXT 284
sārvabhauma-gṛhe dāsa-dāsī, ye kukkura
seha mora priya, anya jana rahu dūra
SYNONYMS
sārvabhauma-gṛhe-at the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; dāsa-dāsī-servants and maidservants; ye kukkura-even a dog; seha-all of them; mora-to Me; priya-very dear; anya jana-others; rahu dūra-what to speak of.
TRANSLATION
“Everyone in Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’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
aparādha’ nāhi, sadā lao kṛṣṇa-nāma
eta bali’ prabhu āilā sārvabhauma-sthāna
SYNONYMS
aparādha’ nāhi-do not commit offenses; sadā-always; lao-chant; kṛṣṇa-nāma-the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra; eta bali’-saying this; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; āilā-came; sārvabhauma-sthāna-to the place of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.
TRANSLATION
“Amogha, always chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and do not commit any further offenses.” After giving Amogha this instruction, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Sārvabhauma’s house.”
TEXT 286
prabhu dekhi’ sārvabhauma dharilā caraṇe
prabhu tāṅre āliṅgiyā vasilā āsane
SYNONYMS
prabhu dekhi’-seeing Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; sārvabhauma-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; dharilā caraṇe-caught hold of His feet; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅre-him; āliṅgiyā-embracing; vasilā āsane-sat down on the seat.
TRANSLATION
Upon seeing the Lord, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya immediately caught hold of His lotus feet. The Lord also embraced him and sat down.
TEXT 287
prabhu kahe,–amogha śiśu, kibā tāra doṣa
kene upavāsa kara, kene kara roṣa
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; amogha śiśu-Amogha is a child; kibā-what; tāra doṣa-his fault; kene-why; upavāsa kara-are you fasting; kene-why; kara roṣa-are you angry.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu pacified Sārvabhauma, 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
uṭha, snāna kara, dekha jagannātha-mukha
śīghra āsi, bhojana kara, tabe mora sukha
SYNONYMS
uṭha-get up; snāna kara-take your bath; dekha-see; jagannātha-mukha-Lord Jagannātha’s face; śīghra āsi-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 Jagannātha. Then return here to eat your lunch. In this way I shall be happy.
TEXT 289
tāvat rahiba āmi ethāya vasiyā
yāvat nā khāibe tumi prasāda āsiyā
SYNONYMS
tāvat-as long as; rahiba-shall stay; āmi-I; ethāya-here; vasiyā-sitting; yāvat-as long as; nā khāibe-will not eat; tumi-you; prasāda-remnants of the food of Jagannātha; āsiyā-coming here.
TRANSLATION
“I shall stay here until you return to take Lord Jagannātha’s remnants for your lunch.”
TEXT 290
prabhu-pada dhari’ bhaṭṭa kahite lāgilā
marita’ amogha, tāre kene jīyāilā
SYNONYMS
prabhu-pada-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s lotus feet; dhari’-catching hold of; bhaṭṭa-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; kahite lāgilā-began to speak; marita’ amogha-Amogha would have died; tāre-him; kene-why; jīyāilā-have You brought to life.
TRANSLATION
Catching hold of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s lotus feet, Bhaṭṭācārya said, “Why did You bring Amogha back to life? It would have been better had he died.”
TEXT 291
prabhu kahe,–amogha śiśu, tomāra bālaka
bālaka-doṣa nā laya pitā, tāhāte pālaka
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; amogha śiśu-Amogha is a child; tomāra bālaka-your son; bālaka-doṣa-the offense of a child; nā laya-does not accept; pitā-the father; tāhāte-unto him; pālaka-the maintainer.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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
ebe ‘vaiṣṇava’ haila, tāra gela ‘aparādha’
tāhāra upare ebe karaha prasāda
SYNONYMS
ebe-now; vaiṣṇava haila-has become a Vaiṣṇava; tāra-his; gela-went away; aparādha-offenses; tāhāra upare-upon him; ebe-now; karaha prasāda-show mercy.
TRANSLATION
“Now that he has become a Vaiṣṇava, he is offenseless. You can bestow your mercy upon him without hesitation.”
TEXT 293
bhaṭṭa kahe,–cala, prabhu, īśvara-daraśane
snāna kari’ tāṅhā muñi āsichoṅ ekhane
SYNONYMS
bhaṭṭa kahe-Bhaṭṭācārya said; cala-go; prabhu-my Lord; īśvara-daraśane-to see Lord Jagannātha, the Personality of Godhead; snāna kari’-taking my bath; tāṅhā-there; muñi-I; āsichoṅ-shall come back; ekhane-here.
TRANSLATION
Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, ” Please go, my Lord, to see Lord Jagannātha. After taking my bath, I shall go there and then return.”
TEXT 294
prabhu kahe,–gopīnātha, ihāñi rahibā
iṅho prasāda pāile, vārtā āmāke kahibā
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; gopīnātha-Gopīnātha; ihāñi rahibā-please stay here; iṅho-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; prasāda pāile-when he takes his lunch; vārtā-the news; āmāke kahibā-inform Me.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told Gopīnātha, “Stay here and inform Me when Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya has taken his prasāda.”
TEXT 295
eta bali’ prabhu gelā īśvara-daraśane
bhaṭṭa snāna darśana kari’ karilā bhojane
SYNONYMS
eta bali’-saying this; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; gelā-went; īśvara-daraśane-to see Lord Jagannātha; bhaṭṭa-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; snāna darśana kari’-finishing his bathing and seeing of Lord Jagannātha; karilā bhojane-accepted food.
TRANSLATION
After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to see Lord Jagannātha. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya completed his bath, went to see Lord Jagannātha and then returned to his house to accept food.
TEXT 296
sei amogha haila prabhura bhakta ‘ekānta’
preme nāce, kṛṣṇa-nāma laya mahā-śānta
SYNONYMS
sei amogha-that same Amogha; haila-became; prabhura-of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bhakta-devotee; ekānta-unflinching; preme nāce-dances in ecstasy; kṛṣṇa-nāma laya-chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra; mahā-śānta-very peaceful.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, Amogha became an unalloyed devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He danced in ecstasy and peacefully chanted the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 297
aiche citra-līlā kare śacīra nandana
yei dekhe, śune, tāṅra vismaya haya mana
SYNONYMS
aiche-in this way; citra-līlā-varieties of pastimes; kare-performs; śacīra nandana-the son of mother Śacī; yei dekhe-anyone who sees; śune-hears; tāṅra-his; vismaya-astonished; haya-becomes; mana-mind.
TRANSLATION
In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed His various pastimes. Whoever sees them or hears of them becomes truly astonished.
TEXT 298
aiche bhaṭṭa-gṛhe kare bhojana-vilāsa
tāra madhye nānā citra-caritra-prakāśa
SYNONYMS
aiche-in this way; bhaṭṭa-gṛhe-in the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; kare-performs; bhojana-vilāsa-pastime of eating; tāra madhye-within that pastime; nānā-various; citra-caritra-of varieties of activities; prakāśa-manifestation.
TRANSLATION
Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu enjoyed eating in Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s house. Within that one pastime, many wonderful pastimes were manifest.
TEXT 299
sārvabhauma-ghare ei bhojana-carita
sārvabhauma-prema yāṅhā ha-ilā vidita
SYNONYMS
sārvabhauma-ghare-in the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; ei-these; bhojana-carita-eating affairs; sārvabhauma-prema-love of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; yāṅhā-where; ha-ilā-became; vidita-well known.
TRANSLATION
These are the peculiar characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pastimes. Thus the Lord ate in Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s house, and in this way Sārvabhauma’s love for the Lord has become very well known.
PURPORT
As stated in the Śākhā-nirṇayāmṛta:
amogha-paṇḍitaṁ vande
śrī-gaureṇātma-sātkṛtam
prema-gadgada-sāndrāṅgaṁ
pulakākula-vigraham
“I offer my obeisances unto Amogha Paṇḍita, who was accepted by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. 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
ṣāṭhīra mātāra prema, āra prabhura prasāda
bhakta-sambandhe yāhā kṣamila aparādha
SYNONYMS
ṣāṭhīra mātāra prema-the love of the mother of Ṣāṭhī; āra-and; prabhura prasāda-the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bhakta-sambandhe-because of a relationship with a devotee; yāhā-where; kṣamila aparādha-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu excused the offense.
TRANSLATION
Thus I have related the ecstatic love of Sārvabhauma’s wife, who is known as the mother of Ṣāṭhī. I have also related Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’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 Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and his wife were very dear to the Lord. Because of their relationship, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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 Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Externally, Amogha was Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s son-in-law, and he was being maintained by Sārvabhauma. Consequently if Amogha were not excused, his punishment would have directly affected Sārvabhauma. Amogha’s death would have indirectly brought about the death of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.
TEXT 301
śraddhā kari’ ei līlā śune yei jana
acirāt pāya sei caitanya-caraṇa
SYNONYMS
śraddhā kari’-with faith and love; ei līlā-this pastime; śune-hears; yei jana-whoever; acirāt-very soon; pāya-attains; sei-he; caitanya-caraṇa-the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya.
TRANSLATION
Whoever hears these pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with faith and love will attain the shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet very soon.
TEXT 302
śrī-rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa
caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇadāsa
SYNONYMS
śrī-rūpa-Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī; raghunātha-Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī; pade-at the lotus feet; yāra-whose; āśa-expectation; caitanya-caritāmṛta-the book named Caitanya-caritāmṛta; kahe-describes; kṛṣṇadāsa-Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī.
TRANSLATION
Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Fifteenth Chapter, describing the Lord’s eating at the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.