Chapter 7

                    The Lord's Tour of South India

 

   In his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura summarizes the Seventh Chapter as follows. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the renounced order of life in the month of Magha (January-February) and went to Jagannatha Puri in the month of Phalguna (February-March). He saw the Dola-yatra festival during the month of Phalguna, and in the month of Caitra He liberated Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. During the month of Vaisakha, He began to tour South India. When He proposed to travel to South India alone, Sri Nityananda Prabhu gave Him a brahmana assistant named Krsnadasa. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was beginning His tour, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya gave Him four sets of clothes and requested Him to see Ramananda Raya, who was residing at that time on the bank of the river Godavari. Along with other devotees, Nityananda Prabhu accompanied the Lord to Alalanatha, but there Lord Caitanya left them all behind and went ahead with the brahmana Krsnadasa. The Lord began chanting the mantra "krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna he." In whatever village He spent the night, whenever a person came to see Him in His shelter, the Lord implored him to preach the Krsna consciousness movement. After teaching the people of one village, the Lord proceeded to other villages to increase devotees. In this way He finally reached Kurma-sthana. While there, He bestowed His causeless mercy upon a brahmana called Kurma and cured another brahmana, named Vasudeva, who was suffering from leprosy. After curing this brahmana leper, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu received the title Vasudevamrta-prada, meaning "one who delivered nectar to the leper Vasudeva."

 

                                TEXT 1

 

                                 TEXT

 

                     dhanyam tam naumi caitanyam

                       vasudevam dayardrah-dhi

                      nasta-kustham rupa-pustam

                       bhakti-tustam cakara yah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dhanyam--auspicious; tam--unto Him; naumi--I offer obeisances; caitanyam--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vasudevam--unto the brahmana Vasudeva; daya-ardrah-dhi--being compassionate; nasta-kustham--cured the leprosy; rupa-pustam--beautiful; bhakti-tustam--satisfied in devotional service; cakara--made; yah--the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, being very compassionate toward a brahmana named Vasudeva, cured him of leprosy. He transformed him into a beautiful man satisfied with devotional service. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the glorious Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                                TEXT 2

 

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                jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda

              jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

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

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityananda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Acarya! And all glories to the devotees of Lord Caitanya!

 

                                TEXT 3

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ei-mate sarvabhaumera nistara karila

                daksina-gamane prabhura iccha upajila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mate--in this way; sarvabhaumera--of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; nistara--the liberation; karila--was executed; daksina-gamane--in going to South India; prabhura--of the Lord; iccha--a desire; upajila--arose.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After delivering Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, the Lord desired to go to South India to preach.

 

                                TEXT 4

 

                                 TEXT

 

               magha-sukla-pakse prabhu karila sannyasa

                  phalgune asiya kaila nilacale vasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   magha-sukla-pakse--in the waxing fortnight of the month of Magha; prabhu--the Lord; karila--accepted; sannyasa--the renounced order of life; phalgune--in the next month, Phalguna; asiya--coming; kaila--did; nilacale--at Jagannatha Puri; vasa--residence.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the renounced order during the waxing fortnight of the month of Magha. During the following month, Phalguna, He went to Jagannatha Puri and resided there.

 

                                TEXT 5

 

                                 TEXT

 

                phalgunera sese dola-yatra se dekhila

                premavese tanha bahu nrtya-gita kaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   phalgunera--of the month of Phalguna; sese--at the end; dola-yatra--the Dola-yatra festival; se--that; dekhila--saw; prema-avese--in the ecstasy of love of Godhead; tanha--there; bahu--much; nrtya-gita--chanting and dancing; kaila--performed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   At the end of the month of Phalguna, He witnessed the Dola-yatra ceremony, and in His usual ecstatic love of God, He chanted and danced in various ways on the occasion.

 

                                TEXT 6

 

                                 TEXT

 

               caitre rahi' kaila sarvabhauma-vimocana

             vaisakhera prathame daksina yaite haila mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   caitre--in the month of Caitra (March-April); rahi'--residing there; kaila--did; sarvabhauma-vimocana--liberation of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; vaisakhera--of the month of Vaisakha; prathame--in the beginning; daksina--to South India; yaite--to go; haila--it was; mana--the mind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   During the month of Caitra, while living at Jagannatha Puri, the Lord delivered Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, and in the beginning of the next month (Vaisakha), He decided to go to South India.

 

                              TEXTS 7-8

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  nija-gana ani' kahe vinaya kariya

               alingana kari' sabaya sri-haste dhariya

 

                 toma-saba jani ami pranadhika kari'

             prana chada yaya, toma-saba chadite na pari

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nija-gana ani'--calling all the devotees; kahe--said; vinaya--humbleness; kariya--showing; alingana kari'--embracing; sabaya--all of them; sri-haste--with His hands; dhariya--catching them; toma-saba--all of you; jani--I know; ami--I; prana-adhika--more than My life; kari'--taking; prana chada--giving up life; yaya--is possible; toma-saba--all of you; chadite--to give up; na pari--I am not able.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu called all His devotees together and, holding them by the hand, humbly informed them, "You are all more dear to Me than My life. I can give up My life, but to give up you is difficult for Me.

 

                                TEXT 9

 

                                 TEXT

 

               tumi-saba bandhu mora bandhu-krtya kaile

                  ihan ani' more jagannatha dekhaile

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tumi-saba--all of you; bandhu--friends; mora--My; bandhu-krtya--duties of a friend; kaile--you have executed; ihan--here; ani'--bringing; more--to Me; jagannatha--Lord Jagannatha; dekhaile--you have shown.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "You are all My friends, and you have properly executed the duties of friends by bringing Me here to Jagannatha Puri and giving Me the chance to see Lord Jagannatha in the temple.

 

                               TEXT 10

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ebe saba-sthane muni magon eka dane

                 sabe meli' ajna deha, yaiba daksine

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ebe--now; saba-sthane--from all of you; muni--I; magon--beg; eka dane--one gift; sabe meli'--all combining together; ajna deha--give permission; yaiba--I shall go; daksine--to South India.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I now beg all of you for one bit of charity. Please give Me permission to leave for a tour of South India.

 

                               TEXT 11

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   visvarupa-uddese avasya ami yaba

                  ekaki yaiba, kaho sange na la-iba

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   visvarupa-uddese--to find Visvarupa; avasya--certainly; ami--I; yaba--shall go; ekaki--alone; yaiba--I shall go; kaho--someone; sange--in association; na--not; la-iba--I shall take.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I shall go to search out Visvarupa. Please forgive Me, but I want to go alone; I do not wish to take anyone with Me.

 

                               TEXT 12

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  setubandha haite ami na asi yavat

                   nilacale tumi saba rahibe tavat

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   setubandha--the extreme southern point of India; haite--from; ami--I; na--not; asi--returning; yavat--as long as; nilacale--in Jagannatha Puri; tumi--you; saba--all; rahibe--should stay; tavat--that long.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Until I return from Setubandha, all of you dear friends should remain at Jagannatha Puri."

 

                               TEXT 13

 

                                 TEXT

 

                visvarupa-siddhi-prapti janena sakala

                daksina-desa uddharite karena ei chala

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   visvarupa--of Visvarupa; siddhi--of perfection; prapti--achievement; janena--the Lord knows; sakala--everything; daksina-desa--South India; uddharite--just to liberate; karena--makes; ei--this; chala--pretense.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Knowing everything, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was aware that Visvarupa had already passed away. A pretense of ignorance was necessary, however, so that He could go to South India and liberate the people there.

 

                               TEXT 14

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 suniya sabara mane haila maha-duhkha

                nihsabda ha-ila, sabara sukaila mukha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   suniya--hearing this; sabara--of all the devotees; mane--in the minds; haila--there was; maha-duhkha--great unhappiness; nihsabda--silent; ha-ila--became; sabara--of everyone; sukaila--dried up; mukha--the faces.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Upon hearing this message from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, all the devotees became very unhappy and remained silent with sullen faces.

 

                               TEXT 15

 

                                 TEXT

 

            nityananda-prabhu kahe,----"aiche kaiche haya

                   ekaki yaibe tumi, ke iha sahaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nityananda-prabhu kahe--Lord Nityananda Prabhu replied; aiche kaiche haya--how is this possible; ekaki--alone; yaibe--shall go; tumi--You; ke--who; iha--this; sahaya--can tolerate.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Nityananda Prabhu then said, "How is it possible for You to go alone? Who can tolerate this?

 

                               TEXT 16

 

                                 TEXT

 

              dui-eka sange caluka, na pada hatha-range

                 yare kaha sei dui caluk tomara sange

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dui--two; eka--or one; sange--with You; caluka--let go; na--do not; pada--fall; hatha-range--in the clutches of thieves and rogues; yare--whoever; kaha--You say; sei--those; dui--two; caluk--let go; tomara--You; sange--along with.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Let one or two of us go with You; otherwise You may fall into the clutches of thieves and rogues along the way. They may be whomever You like, but two persons should go with You.

 

                               TEXT 17

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 daksinera tirtha-patha ami saba jani

                ami sange yai, prabhu, ajna deha tumi"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   daksinera--of South India; tirtha-patha--the ways to different places of pilgrimage; ami--I; saba--all; jani--know; ami--I; sange--with You; yai--go; prabhu--O My Lord; ajna--order; deha--give; tumi--You.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Indeed, I know all the paths to the different places of pilgrimage in South India. Just order Me, and I shall go with You."

 

                               TEXT 18

 

                                 TEXT

 

          prabhu kahe, "ami----nartaka, tumi----sutra-dhara

               tumi yaiche nacao, taiche nartana amara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--the Lord replied; ami--I; nartaka--a dancer; tumi--You; sutra-dhara--wire-puller; tumi--You; yaiche--just as; nacao--make dance; taiche--in that way; nartana--dancing; amara--My.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Lord replied, "I am simply a dancer, and You are the wire-puller. However You pull the wires to make Me dance, I shall dance in that way.

 

                               TEXT 19

 

                                 TEXT

 

                sannyasa kariya ami calilan vrndavana

                  tumi ama lana aile advaita-bhavana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sannyasa kariya--after accepting the renounced order; ami--I; calilan--went; vrndavana--toward Vrndavana; tumi--You; ama--Me; lana--taking; aile--went; advaita-bhavana--to the house of Advaita Prabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "After accepting the sannyasa order, I decided to go to Vrndavana, but You took Me instead to the house of Advaita Prabhu.

 

                               TEXT 20

 

                                 TEXT

 

               nilacala asite pathe bhangila mora danda

              toma-sabara gadha-snehe amara karya-bhanga

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nilacala--to Jagannatha Puri; asite--going there; pathe--on the road; bhangila--You broke; mora--My; danda--sannyasa staff; toma-sabara--of all of you; gadha-snehe--on account of the deep affection; amara--My; karya-bhanga--disturbance of activities.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "While on the way to Jagannatha Puri, You broke My sannyasa staff. I know that all of you have great affection for Me, but such things disturb My activities.

 

                               TEXT 21

 

                                 TEXT

 

                jagadananda cahe ama visaya bhunjaite

                   yei kahe sei bhaye cahiye karite

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jagadananda--Jagadananda; cahe--wants; ama--Me; visaya--sense gratification; bhunjaite--to cause to enjoy; yei kahe--whatever he says; sei--that; bhaye--out of fear; cahiye--I want; karite--to do.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Jagadananda wants Me to enjoy bodily sense gratification, and out of fear I do whatever he tells Me.

 

                               TEXT 22

 

                                 TEXT

 

                kabhu yadi inhara vakya kariye anyatha

                krodhe tina dina more nahi kahe katha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kabhu--sometimes; yadi--if; inhara--of Jagadananda; vakya--the words; kariye--I do; anyatha--other than; krodhe--in anger; tina dina--for three days; more--to Me; nahi--not; kahe--speaks; katha--words.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "If I sometimes do something against his desire, out of anger he will not talk to Me for three days.

 

                               TEXT 23

 

                                 TEXT

 

             mukunda hayena duhkhi dekhi' sannyasa-dharma

                 tinabare site snana, bhumite sayana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mukunda--Mukunda; hayena--becomes; duhkhi--unhappy; dekhi'--seeing; sannyasa-dharma--My regulative principles in the renounced order; tina-bare--three times; site--in the winter; snana--bath; bhumite--on the ground; sayana--lying down.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Being a sannyasi, I have a duty to lie down on the ground and take a bath three times a day, even during the winter. But Mukunda becomes very unhappy when he sees My severe austerities.

 

                               TEXT 24

 

                                 TEXT

 

                antare duhkhi mukunda, nahi kahe mukhe

            ihara duhkha dekhi' mora dvi-guna haye duhkhe

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   antare--within himself; duhkhi--unhappy; mukunda--Mukunda; nahi--not; kahe--says; mukhe--in the mouth; ihara--of him; duhkha--the unhappiness; dekhi'--seeing; mora--My; dvi-guna--twice; haye--there is; duhkhe--the unhappiness.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Of course, Mukunda does not say anything, but I know that he is very unhappy within, and upon seeing him unhappy, I become twice as unhappy.

 

                               TEXT 25

 

                                 TEXT

 

             ami ta'----sannyasi, damodara----brahmacari

               sada rahe amara upara siksa-danda dhari'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ami ta'--I indeed; sannyasi--in the renounced order of life; damodara--of the name Damodara; brahmacari--in a stage of complete celibacy; sada--always; rahe--remains; amara upara--on Me; siksa-danda--a stick for My education; dhari'--keeping.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Although I am in the renounced order of life and Damodara is a brahmacari, he still keeps a stick in his hand just to educate Me.

 

                               TEXT 26

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   inhara age ami na jani vyavahara

               inhare na bhaya svatantra caritra amara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   inhara age--in front of him; ami--I; na--not; jani--know; vyavahara--social etiquette; inhare--for him; na--not; bhaya--exists; svatantra--independent; caritra--character; amara--My.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "According to Damodara, I am still a neophyte as far as social etiquette is concerned; therefore he does not like My independent nature.

 

                               TEXT 27

 

                                 TEXT

 

                lokapeksa nahi inhara krsna-krpa haite

                 ami lokapeksa kabhu na pari chadite

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   loka-apeksa--care for society; nahi--there is none; inhara--of Damodara; krsna-krpa--the mercy of the Lord; haite--from; ami--I; loka-apeksa--dependence on public opinion; kabhu--at any time; na--not; pari--able; chadite--to give up.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Damodara Pandita and others are more advanced in receiving the mercy of Lord Krsna; therefore they are independent of public opinion. As such, they want Me to enjoy sense gratification, even though it be unethical. But since I am a poor sannyasi, I cannot abandon the duties of the renounced order, and therefore I follow them strictly.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   A brahmacari is supposed to assist a sannyasi; therefore a brahmacari should not try to instruct a sannyasi. That is the etiquette. Consequently Damodara should not have advised Caitanya Mahaprabhu of His duty.

 

                               TEXT 28

 

                                 TEXT

 

                    ataeva tumi saba raha nilacale

                 dina kata ami tirtha bhramiba ekale"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ataeva--therefore; tumi--you; saba--all; raha--remain; nilacale--at Jagannatha Puri; dina--days; kata--some; ami--I; tirtha--the sacred places of pilgrimage; bhramiba--I shall tour; ekale--alone.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "You should all therefore remain here in Nilacala for some days while I tour the sacred places of pilgrimage alone."

 

                               TEXT 29

 

                                 TEXT

 

               inha-sabara vasa prabhu haye ye ye gune

                  dosaropa-cchale kare guna asvadane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   inha-sabara--of all the devotees; vasa--controlled; prabhu--the Lord; haye--is; ye ye--whatever; gune--by the qualities; dosa-aropa-chale--on the plea of attributing faults; kare--does; guna--high qualities; asvadane--tasting.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Actually the Lord was controlled by the good qualities of all His devotees. On the pretense of attributing faults, He tasted all these qualities.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   All the accusations made by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu against His beloved devotees actually showed His great appreciation of their intense love for Him. Yet He mentioned these faults one after another as if He were offended by their intense affection. The personal associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sometimes behaved contrary to regulative principles out of intense love for the Lord, and because of their love Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself sometimes violated the regulative principles of a sannyasi. In the eyes of the public, such violations are not good, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was so controlled by His devotees' love that He was obliged to break some of the rules. Although accusing them, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was indirectly indicating that He was very satisfied with their behavior in pure love of Godhead. Therefore in verse 27 He mentions that His devotees and associates place more importance on love of Krsna than on social etiquette. There are many instances of devotional service rendered by previous acaryas who did not care about social behavior when intensely absorbed in love for Krsna. Unfortunately, as long as we are within this material world, we must observe social customs to avoid criticism by the general populace. This is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's desire.

 

                               TEXT 30

 

                                 TEXT

 

            caitanyera bhakta-vatsalya----akathya-kathana

                 apane vairagya-duhkha karena sahana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   caitanyera--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhakta-vatsalya--the love for His devotees; akathya-kathana--indescribable by words; apane--personally; vairagya--of the renounced order; duhkha--unhappiness; karena--does; sahana--toleration.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   No one can properly describe Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's affection for His devotees. He always tolerated all kinds of personal unhappiness resulting from His acceptance of the renounced order of life.

 

                               TEXT 31

 

                                 TEXT

 

               sei duhkha dekhi' yei bhakta duhkha paya

                sei duhkha tanra saktye sahana na yaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei duhkha--that unhappiness; dekhi'--seeing; yei--whatever; bhakta--the devotees; duhkha--unhappiness; paya--get; sei duhkha--that unhappiness; tanra--His; saktye--by the power; sahana--toleration; na--not; yaya--possible.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The regulative principles observed by Caitanya Mahaprabhu were sometimes intolerable, and all the devotees became greatly affected by them. Although strictly observing the regulative principles, Caitanya Mahaprabhu could not tolerate the unhappiness felt by His devotees.

 

                               TEXT 32

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 gune dosodgara-cchale saba nisedhiya

               ekaki bhramibena tirtha vairagya kariya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gune--in the good qualities; dosa-udgara-chale--on the plea of attributing faults; saba--all of them; nisedhiya--forbidding; ekaki--alone; bhramibena--will tour; tirtha--the sacred places of pilgrimage; vairagya--regulative principles of the renounced order of life; kariya--observing.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Therefore, to prevent them from accompanying Him and becoming unhappy, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu declared their good qualities to be faults.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The Lord wanted to tour all the places of pilgrimage alone and strictly observe the duties of the renounced order.

 

                               TEXT 33

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  tabe cari-jana bahu minati karila

               svatantra isvara prabhu kabhu na manila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--thereafter; cari-jana--four men; bahu--many; minati--petitions; karila--submitted; svatantra--independent; isvara--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kabhu--at any time; na--not; manila--accepted.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Four devotees then humbly insisted that they go with the Lord, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, being the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead, did not accept their request.

 

                               TEXT 34

 

                                 TEXT

 

               tabe nityananda kahe,----ye ajna tomara

                 duhkha sukha ye ha-uk kartavya amara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--thereupon; nityananda--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; kahe--says; ye ajna--whatever order; tomara--Your; duhkha sukha--distress or happiness; ye--whatever; ha-uk--let there be; kartavya--the duty; amara--My.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thereupon Lord Nityananda said, "Whatever You order is My duty, regardless of whether it results in happiness or unhappiness.

 

                               TEXT 35

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  kintu eka nivedana karon ara bara

                   vicara kariya taha kara angikara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kintu--but; eka--one; nivedana--petition; karon--I do; ara bara--again; vicara--consideration; kariya--giving; taha--that; kara--do; angikara--acceptance.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Yet I still submit one petition to You. Please consider it, and if You think it proper, please accept it.

 

                               TEXT 36

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  kaupina, bahir-vasa ara jala-patra

                  ara kichu nahi yabe, sabe ei matra

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kaupina--loincloth; bahir-vasa--outer garments; ara--and; jala-patra--waterpot; ara kichu--anything else; nahi--not; yabe--will go; sabe--all; ei--this; matra--only.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "You must take with You a loincloth, external clothes and a waterpot. You should take nothing more than this.

 

                               TEXT 37

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 tomara dui hasta baddha nama-ganane

                  jala-patra-bahirvasa vahibe kemane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tomara--Your; dui--two; hasta--hands; baddha--engaged; nama--the holy name; ganane--in counting; jala-patra--waterpot; bahir-vasa--external garments; vahibe--will carry; kemane--how.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Since Your two hands will always be engaged in chanting and counting the holy names, how will You be able to carry the waterpot and external garments?

 

                               PURPORT

 

   From this verse it is clear that Caitanya Mahaprabhu was chanting the holy names a fixed number of times daily. The Gosvamis used to follow in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and Haridasa Thakura also followed this principle. Concerning the Gosvamis--Srila Rupa Gosvami, Srila Sanatana Gosvami, Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Srila Jiva Gosvami, Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami--Srinivasa Acarya confirms: sankhya-purvaka-nama-gana-natibhih. (Sad-gosvamy-astaka 6) In addition to other duties, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the system of chanting the holy name of the Lord a fixed number of times daily, as confirmed in this verse (tomara dui hasta baddha nama-ganane). Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to count on His fingers. While one hand was engaged in chanting, the other hand kept the number of rounds. This is corroborated in the Caitanya-candramrta and also in Srila Rupa Gosvami's Stava-mala:

 

      badhnan prema-bhara-prakampita-karo granthin kati-dorakaih

        sankhyatum nija-loka-mangala-hare-krsneti namnam japan

 

                                              (Caitanya-candramrta 16)

 

           hare krsnety uccaih sphurita-rasano nama-ganana-

          krta-granthi-sreni-subhaga-kati-sutrojjvala-karah

 

                                            (Prathama-Caitanyastaka 5)

   Therefore devotees in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu must chant at least sixteen rounds daily, and this is the number prescribed by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Haridasa Thakura daily chanted 300,000 names. Sixteen rounds is about 28,000 names. There is no need to imitate Haridasa Thakura or the other Gosvamis, but chanting the holy name a fixed number of times daily is essential for every devotee.

 

                               TEXT 38

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  premavese pathe tumi habe acetana

                e-saba samagri tomara ke kare raksana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prema-avese--in ecstatic love of God; pathe--on the way; tumi--You; habe--will be; acetana--unconscious; e-saba--all this; samagri--paraphernalia; tomara--Your; ke--who; kare--does; raksana--protection.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "When, along the way, You fall unconscious in ecstatic love of Godhead, who will protect Your belongings--the waterpot, garments and so forth?"

 

                               TEXT 39

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 'krsnadasa'-name ei sarala brahmana

                inho sange kari' laha, dhara nivedana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krsnadasa-name--named Krsnadasa; ei--this; sarala--simple; brahmana--brahmana; inho--he; sange--with You; kari'--accepting; laha--take; dhara--just catch; nivedana--the petition.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Nityananda Prabhu continued, "Here is a simple brahmana named Krsnadasa. Please accept him and take him with You. That is My request.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This Krsnadasa, known as Kala Krsnadasa, is not the Kala Krsnadasa mentioned in the Eleventh Chapter, verse 37, of the Adi-lila. The Kala Krsnadasa mentioned in the Eleventh Chapter is one of the twelve gopalas (cowherd boys) who appeared to substantiate the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is known as a great devotee of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. The brahmana named Kala Krsnadasa who went with Sri Caitanya to South India and later to Bengal is mentioned in the Madhya-lila, Tenth Chapter, verses 62-79. One should not take these two to be the same person.

 

                               TEXT 40

 

                                 TEXT

 

               jala-patra-vastra vahi' toma-sange yabe

                ye tomara iccha, kara, kichu na balibe

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jala-patra--waterpot; vastra--and garments; vahi'--carrying; toma-sange--with You; yabe--will go; ye--whatever; tomara iccha--Your desire; kara--You do; kichu na balibe--he will not say anything.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "He will carry Your waterpot and garments. You may do whatever You like; he will not say a word."

 

                               TEXT 41

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tabe tanra vakya prabhu kari' angikare

                taha-saba lana gela sarvabhauma-ghare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--thereupon; tanra--of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; vakya--the words; prabhu--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kari'--doing; angikare--acceptance; taha-saba--all of them; lana--taking; gela--went; sarvabhauma-ghare--to the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Accepting the request of Lord Nityananda Prabhu, Lord Caitanya took all His devotees and went to the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.

 

                               TEXT 42

 

                                 TEXT

 

                namaskari' sarvabhauma asana nivedila

                   sabakare mili' tabe asane vasila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   namaskari'--offering obeisances; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; asana--sitting places; nivedila--offered; sabakare--all of them; mili'--meeting; tabe--after that; asane vasila--he took his seat.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As soon as they entered his house, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya offered the Lord obeisances and a place to sit. After seating all the others, the Bhattacarya took his seat.

 

                               TEXT 43

 

                                 TEXT

 

                nana krsna-varta kahi' kahila tanhare

                  'tomara thani ailan ajna magibare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nana--various; krsna-varta--topics on Lord Krsna; kahi'--discussing; kahila--He informed; tanhare--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; tomara thani--to your place; ailan--I have come; ajna--order; magibare--to beg.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After they had discussed various topics about Lord Krsna, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu informed Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, "I have come to your place just to receive your order.

 

                               TEXT 44

 

                                 TEXT

 

               sannyasa kari' visvarupa giyache daksine

                   avasya kariba ami tanra anvesane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sannyasa kari'--after accepting the sannyasa order; visvarupa--Visvarupa (the elder brother of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu); giyache--has gone; daksine--to South India; avasya--certainly; kariba--shall do; ami--I; tanra--of Him; anvesane--searching for.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "My elder brother, Visvarupa, has taken sannyasa and gone to South India. Now I must go search for Him.

 

                               TEXT 45

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ajna deha, avasya ami daksine caliba

                  tomara ajnate sukhe leuti' asiba'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ajna deha--please give permission; avasya--certainly; ami--I; daksine--in South India; caliba--shall go; tomara--your; ajnate--by the order; sukhe--in happiness; leuti'--returning; asiba--I shall come.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Please permit Me to go, for I must tour South India. With your permission, I shall soon return very happily."

 

                               TEXT 46

 

                                 TEXT

 

                suni' sarvabhauma haila atyanta katara

                  carane dhariya kahe visada-uttara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   suni'--hearing this; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; haila--became; atyanta--greatly; katara--agitated; carane--the lotus feet; dhariya--taking; kahe--says; visada--of lamentation; uttara--a reply.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Upon hearing this, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya became very agitated. Catching hold of the lotus feet of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he gave this sorrowful reply.

 

                               TEXT 47

 

                                 TEXT

 

             'bahu-janmera punya-phale painu tomara sanga

                hena-sanga vidhi mora karileka bhanga

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bahu-janmera--of many births; punya-phale--as the fruit of pious activities; painu--I got; tomara--Your; sanga--association; hena-sanga--such association; vidhi--providence; mora--my; karileka--has done; bhanga--breaking.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "After many births, due to some pious activity I got Your association. Now providence is breaking this invaluable association.

 

                               TEXT 48

 

                                 TEXT

 

                sire vajra pade yadi, putra mari' yaya

              taha sahi, tomara viccheda sahana na yaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sire--on the head; vajra--a thunderbolt; pade--falls; yadi--if; putra--son; mari'--dying; yaya--goes; taha--that; sahi--I can tolerate; tomara--Your; viccheda--separation; sahana--enduring; na yaya--cannot be done.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "If a thunderbolt falls on my head or if my son dies, I can tolerate it. But I cannot endure the unhappiness of Your separation.

 

                               TEXT 49

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 svatantra-isvara tumi karibe gamana

                dina katho raha, dekhi tomara carana'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   svatantra-isvara--the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead; tumi--You; karibe--will make; gamana--departure; dina--days; katho--some; raha--please stay; dekhi--I may see; tomara carana--Your lotus feet.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "My dear Lord, You are the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead. Certainly You will depart. I know that. Still, I ask You to stay here a few days more so that I can see Your lotus feet."

 

                               TEXT 50

 

                                 TEXT

 

              tahara vinaye prabhura sithila haila mana

                 rahila divasa katho, na kaila gamana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tahara--of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; vinaye--on the request; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sithila--slackened; haila--became; mana--the mind; rahila--stayed; divasa--days; katho--a few; na--not; kaila--did; gamana--departure.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Upon hearing Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya's request, Caitanya Mahaprabhu relented. He stayed a few days longer and did not depart.

 

                               TEXT 51

 

                                 TEXT

 

              bhattacarya agraha kari' karena nimantrana

               grhe paka kari' prabhuke kara'na bhojana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhattacarya--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; agraha--eagerness; kari'--showing; karena--did; nimantrana--invitation; grhe--at home; paka--cooking; kari'--doing; prabhuke--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kara'na--made; bhojana--eating.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Bhattacarya eagerly invited Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his home and fed Him very nicely.

 

                               TEXT 52

 

                                 TEXT

 

            tanhara brahmani, tanra nama----'sathira mata'

            randhi' bhiksa dena tenho, ascarya tanra katha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tanhara brahmani--his wife; tanra nama--her name; sathira mata--the mother of Sathi; randhi'--cooking; bhiksa dena--offers food; tenho--she; ascarya--wonderful; tanra--her; katha--narration.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Bhattacarya's wife, whose name was Sathimata (the mother of Sathi), did the cooking. The narrations of these pastimes are very wonderful.

 

                               TEXT 53

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  age ta' kahiba taha kariya vistara

               ebe kahi prabhura daksina-yatra-samacara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   age--later; ta'--indeed; kahiba--I shall speak; taha--all those incidents; kariya--doing; vistara--elaboration; ebe--now; kahi--let me describe; prabhura--of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; daksina--in South India; yatra--of the touring; samacara--the narration.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Later I shall tell about this in elaborate detail, but at present I wish to describe Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's South Indian tour.

 

                               TEXT 54

 

                                 TEXT

 

              dina panca rahi' prabhu bhattacarya-sthane

                   calibara lagi' ajna magila apane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dina panca--five days; rahi'--staying; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhattacarya-sthane--at Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya's place; calibara lagi'--for starting; ajna--order; magila--begged; apane--personally.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After staying five days at the home of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally asked his permission to depart for South India.

 

                               TEXT 55

 

                                 TEXT

 

              prabhura agrahe bhattacarya sammata ha-ila

              prabhu tanre lana jagannatha-mandire gela

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhura agrahe--by the eagerness of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhattacarya--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; sammata ha-ila--became agreeable; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--him (Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya); lana--taking; jagannatha-mandire--to the temple of Lord Jagannatha; gela--went.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After receiving the Bhattacarya's permission, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to see Lord Jagannatha in the temple. He took the Bhattacarya with Him.

 

                               TEXT 56

 

                                 TEXT

 

                darsana kari' thakura-pasa ajna magila

                pujari prabhure mala-prasada ani' dila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   darsana kari'--visiting the Lord; thakura-pasa--from the Lord; ajna magila--begged permission; pujari--the priest; prabhure--unto Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mala--garland; prasada--remnants of food; ani'--bringing; dila--delivered.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Seeing Lord Jagannatha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also begged His permission. The priest then immediately delivered prasada and a garland to Lord Caitanya.

 

                               TEXT 57

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ajna-mala pana harse namaskara kari'

                  anande daksina-dese cale gaurahari

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ajna-mala--the garland of permission; pana--getting; harse--in great jubilation; namaskara--obeisances; kari'--offering; anande--with great pleasure; daksina-dese--to South India; cale--goes; gaurahari--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus receiving Lord Jagannatha's permission in the form of a garland, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu offered obeisances, and then in great jubilation He prepared to depart for South India.

 

                               TEXT 58

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 bhattacarya-sange ara yata nija-gana

              jagannatha pradaksina kari' karila gamana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhattacarya-sange--with Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; ara--and; yata--all; nija-gana--personal devotees; jagannatha--Lord Jagannatha; pradaksina--circumambulation; kari'--finishing; karila--made; gamana--departure.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Accompanied by His personal associates and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu circumambulated the altar of Jagannatha. The Lord then departed on His South Indian tour.

 

                               TEXT 59

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  samudra-tire tire alalanatha-pathe

                sarvabhauma kahilena acarya-gopinathe

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   samudra-tire--on the shore of the sea; tire--on the shore; alalanatha-pathe--on the path to the temple of Alalanatha; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; kahilena--said; acarya-gopinathe--to Gopinatha Acarya.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   While the Lord was going along the path to Alalanatha, which was located on the seashore, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya gave the following orders to Gopinatha Acarya.

 

                               TEXT 60

 

                                 TEXT

 

                cari kopina-bahirvasa rakhiyachi ghare

               taha, prasadanna, lana aisa vipra-dvare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   cari kopina-bahirvasa--four sets of loincloths and external clothing; rakhiyachi--I have kept; ghare--at home; taha--that; prasada-anna--remnants of food of Lord Jagannatha; lana--taking; aisa--come here; vipra-dvare--by means of some brahmana.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Bring the four sets of loincloths and outer garments I keep at home, and also some prasada of Lord Jagannatha's. You may carry these things with the help of some brahmana."

 

                               TEXT 61

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tabe sarvabhauma kahe prabhura carane

                 avasya palibe, prabhu, mora nivedane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--thereafter; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; kahe--said; prabhura carane--unto the lotus feet of the Lord; avasya--certainly; palibe--You will keep; prabhu--my Lord; mora--my; nivedane--request.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   While Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was departing, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya submitted the following at His lotus feet, "My Lord, I have one final request that I hope You will kindly fulfill.

 

                               TEXT 62

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 'ramananda raya' ache godavari-tire

                  adhikari hayena tenho vidyanagare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ramananda raya--Ramananda Raya; ache--there is; godavari-tire--on the bank of river Godavari; adhikari--a responsible officer; hayena--is; tenho--he; vidya-nagare--in the town known as Vidyanagara.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "In the town of Vidyanagara, on the bank of the Godavari, there is a responsible government officer named Ramananda Raya.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, Bhaktivinoda Thakura states that Vidyanagara is today known as Porbandar. There is another Porbandar in western India in the province of Gujarat.

 

                               TEXT 63

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 sudra visayi-jnane upeksa na karibe

                   amara vacane tanre avasya milibe

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sudra--the fourth social division; visayi-jnane--by the impression of being a worldly man; upeksa--negligence; na karibe--should not do; amara--my; vacane--on the request; tanre--him; avasya--certainly; milibe--You shouid meet.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Please do not neglect him, thinking he belongs to a sudra family engaged in material activities. It is my request that You meet him without fail."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In the varnasrama-dharma, the sudra is the fourth division in the social status. Paricaryatmakam karma sudrasyapi svabhava-jam (Bg. 18.44). Sudras are meant to engage in the service of the three higher classes--brahmanas, ksatriyas and vaisyas. Sri Ramananda Raya belonged to the karana class, which is the equivalent of the kayastha class in Bengal. This class is regarded all over India as sudra. It is said that the Bengali kayasthas were originally engaged as servants of brahmanas who came from North India to Bengal. Later, the clerical class became the kayasthas in Bengal. Now there are many mixed classes known as kayastha. Sometimes it is said in Bengal that those who cannot claim any particular class belong to the kayastha class. Although these kayasthas or karanas are considered sudras, they are very intelligent and highly educated. Most of them are professionals such as lawyers or politicians. Thus in Bengal the kayasthas are sometimes considered ksatriyas. In Orissa, however, the kayastha class, which includes the karanas, is considered in the sudra category. Srila Ramananda Raya belonged to this karana class; therefore he was considered a sudra. He was also the governor of South India under the regime of Maharaja Prataparudra of Orissa. In other words, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya informed Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu that Ramananda Raya, although belonging to the sudra class, was a highly responsible government officer. As far as spiritual advancement is concerned, materialists, politicians and sudras are generally disqualified. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya therefore requested that Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu not neglect Ramananda Raya, who was highly advanced spiritually although he was born a sudra and a materialist.

   A visayi is one who is attached to family life and is interested only in wife, children and worldly sense gratification. The senses can be engaged either in worldly enjoyment or in the service of the Lord. Those who are not engaged in the service of the Lord and are interested only in material sense gratification are called visayi. Srila Ramananda Raya was engaged in government service, and he belonged to the karana class. He was certainly not a sannyasi in saffron cloth, yet he was in the transcendental position of a paramahamsa householder. Before becoming Caitanya Mahaprabhu's disciple, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya considered Ramananda Raya an ordinary visayi because he was a householder engaged in government service. However, when the Bhattacarya was actually enlightened in Vaisnava philosophy, he could understand the exalted transcendental position of Sri Ramananda Raya; therefore he referred to him as adhikari. An adhikari is one who knows the transcendental science of Krsna and is engaged in His service; therefore all grhastha devotees are designated as dasa adhikari.

 

                               TEXT 64

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 tomara sangera yogya tenho eka jana

               prthivite rasika bhakta nahi tanra sama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tomara--Your; sangera--of association; yogya--fit; tenho--he (Ramananda Raya); eka--one; jana--person; prthivite--in the world; rasika--expert in transcendental mellows; bhakta--devotee; nahi--there is none; tanra sama--like him.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya continued, "Ramananda Raya is a fit person to associate with You; no other devotee can compare with him in knowledge of the transcendental mellows.

 

                               TEXT 65

 

                                 TEXT

 

           panditya ara bhakti-rasa,----dunhera tenho sima

                sambhasile janibe tumi tanhara mahima

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   panditya--learning; ara--and; bhakti-rasa--the mellows of devotional service; dunhera--of these two; tenho--he; sima--the limit; sambhasile--when You talk with him; janibe--will know; tumi--You; tanhara--his; mahima--glories.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "He is a most learned scholar as well as an expert in devotional mellows. Actually he is most exalted, and if You talk with him, You will see how glorious he is.

 

                               TEXT 66

 

                                 TEXT

 

                alaukika vakya cesta tanra na bujhiya

              parihasa kariyachi tanre 'vaisnava' baliya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   alaukika--uncommon; vakya--words; cesta--endeavor; tanra--his; na--without; bujhiya--understanding; parihasa--joking; kariyachi--I have done; tanre--unto him; vaisnava--a devotee of the Lord; baliya--as.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I could not realize when I first spoke with Ramananda Raya that his topics and endeavors were all transcendentally uncommon. I made fun of him simply because he was a Vaisnava."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Anyone who is a not a Vaisnava, or an unalloyed devotee of the Supreme Lord, must be a materialist. A Vaisnava living according to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's injunctions is certainly not on the materialistic platform. Caitanya means "spiritual force." All of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's activities were carried out on the platform of spiritual understanding; therefore only those who are on the spiritual platform are able to understand the activities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Materialistic persons who cannot are generally known as karmis or jnanis. The jnanis are mental speculators who simply try to understand what is spirit and what is soul. Their process is neti neti: "This is not spirit, this is not Brahman." The jnanis are a little more advanced than the dull-headed karmis, who are simply interested in sense gratification. Before becoming a Vaisnava, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was a mental speculator (jnani), and being such, he always cut jokes with Vaisnavas. A Vaisnava never agrees with the speculative system of the jnanis. Both the jnanis and karmis depend on direct sense perception for their imperfect knowledge. The karmis never agree to accept anything not directly perceived, and the jnanis put forth only hypotheses. However, the Vaisnavas, the unalloyed devotees of the Lord, do not follow the process of acquiring knowledge by direct sense perception or mental speculation. Because they are servants of the Supreme Lord, devotees receive knowledge directly from the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He speaks it in the Bhagavad-gita, or sometimes as He imparts it from within as the caitya-guru. As stated in the Bhagavad-gita (10.10):

 

                        tesam satata-yuktanam

                       bhajatam priti-purvakam

                       dadami buddhi-yogam tam

                         yena mam upayanti te

 

   "To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me." (Bg. 10.10)

   The Vedas are considered to have been spoken by the Supreme Lord. They were first realized by Brahma, who is the first created being within the universe (tene brahma hrda ya adi-kavaye). Our process is to receive knowledge through the parampara system, from Krsna to Brahma, to Narada, Vyasa, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the six Gosvamis. By disciplic succession, Lord Brahma was enlightened from within by the original person, Krsna. Our knowledge is fully perfect due to being handed from master to disciple. A Vaisnava is always engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and thus neither karmis nor jnanis can understand the activities of a Vaisnava. It is said, vaisnavera kriya-mudra vijneha na bujhaya: even the most learned man depending on direct perception of knowledge cannot understand the activities of a Vaisnava. After being initiated into Vaisnavism by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Bhattacarya realized what a mistake he had made in trying to understand Ramananda Raya, who was very learned and whose endeavors were all directed to rendering transcendental loving service to the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 67

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tomara prasade ebe janinu tanra tattva

               sambhasile janibe tanra yemana mahattva

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tomara prasade--by Your mercy; ebe--now; janinu--I have understood; tanra--of him (Ramananda Raya); tattva--the truth; sambhasile--in talking together; janibe--You will know; tanra--his; yemana--such; mahattva--greatness.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Bhattacarya said, "By Your mercy I can now understand the truth about Ramananda Raya. In talking with him, You also will acknowledge his greatness."

 

                               TEXT 68

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 angikara kari' prabhu tanhara vacana

                tanre vidaya dite tanre kaila alingana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   angikara kari'--accepting this proposal; prabhu--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanhara--of him (Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya); vacana--the request; tanre--unto him; vidaya dite--to offer farewell; tanre--him; kaila--did; alingana--embracing.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya's request that He meet Ramananda Raya. Bidding Sarvabhauma farewell, the Lord embraced him.

 

                               TEXT 69

 

                                 TEXT

 

               "ghare krsna bhaji' more kariha asirvade

                  nilacale asi' yena tomara prasade"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ghare--at home; krsna--Lord Krsna; bhaji'--worshiping; more--unto Me; kariha--do; asirvade--blessing; nilacale--at Jagannatha Puri; asi'--returning; yena--so that; tomara--your; prasade--by the mercy.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked the Bhattacarya to bless Him while he engaged in the devotional service of Lord Krsna at home, so that by Sarvabhauma's mercy the Lord could return to Jagannatha Puri.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The word kariha asirvade means "continue to bestow your blessings upon Me." Being a sannyasi, Caitanya Mahaprabhu was on the highest platform of respect and adoration, whereas Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, as a householder, was on the second platform. Therefore a sannyasi is supposed to offer blessings to a grhastha. Now Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by His practical behavior requested the blessings of a grhastha. This is the special significance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's preaching. He gave equal status to everyone, regardless of material considerations. His movement is thoroughly spiritual. Although apparently a grhastha (householder), Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was unlike the so-called karmis interested in sense gratification. After being initiated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Bhattacarya was perfectly situated in the spiritual order; therefore it was quite possible for him to offer blessings even to a sannyasi. He was always engaged in the service of the Lord even at home. In our disciplic line we have the example of a perfect householder paramahamsa--Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. In his book Saranagati, Bhaktivinoda Thakura stated: ye-dina grhe, bhajana dekhi', grhete goloka bhaya (Saranagati 31.6). Whenever a householder glorifies the Supreme Lord in his home, his activities are immediately transformed into the activities of Goloka Vrndavana, spiritual activities taking place in the Goloka Vrndavana planet of Krsna. Activities exhibited by Krsna Himself at Bhauma Vrndavana, the Vrndavana-dhama existing on this planet, are not different from His activities on the planet Goloka Vrndavana. This is proper realization of Vrndavana anywhere. In our Krsna consciousness movement we inaugurated the New Vrndavana activities, wherein devotees are always engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and this is not different from Goloka Vrndavana. The conclusion is that one who acts strictly in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is competent to offer blessings to sannyasis, even though he be a grhastha householder. Although he is in an exalted position, a sannyasi yet must elevate himself to the transcendental platform by rendering service to the Lord. By his actual behavior, Caitanya Mahaprabhu begged the blessings of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. He set the example of how one should expect blessings from a Vaisnava, regardless of his social position.

 

                               TEXT 70

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  eta bali' mahaprabhu karila gamana

               murcchita hana tahan padila sarvabhauma

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta bali'--saying this; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karila--made; gamana--departure; murcchita--fainted; hana--becoming; tahan--there; padila--fell down; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu departed on His tour, and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya immediately fainted and fell to the ground.

 

                               TEXT 71

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  tanre upeksiya kaila sighra gamana

               ke bujhite pare mahaprabhura citta-mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tanre--unto Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; upeksiya--not paying serious attention; kaila--did; sighra--very fast; gamana--walking; ke--who; bujhite--to understand; pare--is able; mahaprabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; citta-mana--the mind and intention.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Although Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya fainted, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not take notice of him. Rather, He left quickly. Who can understand the mind and intention of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu?

 

                               PURPORT

 

   It was naturally expected that when Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya fainted and fell to the ground Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would have taken care of him and waited for him to regain consciousness, but He did not do so. Rather, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately started on His tour. It is therefore very difficult to understand the activities of a transcendental person. Sometimes they may seem rather odd, but a transcendental personality remains in his position, unaffected by material considerations.

 

                               TEXT 72

 

                                 TEXT

 

                mahanubhavera cittera svabhava ei haya

                puspa-sama komala, kathina vajra-maya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   maha-anubhavera--of a great personality; cittera--of the mind; svabhava--the nature; ei haya--this is; puspa-sama--like a flower; komala--soft; kathina--hard; vajra-maya--like a thunderbolt.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   This is the nature of the mind of an uncommon personality. Sometimes it is soft like a flower, but sometimes it is as hard as a thunderbolt.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The softness of a flower and the hardness of a thunderbolt are reconciled in the behavior of a great personality. The following quotation from Uttara-rama-carita (2.7) explains this behavior. One may also consult Madhya-lila, Third Chapter, verse 212.

 

                               TEXT 73

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         vajrad api kathorani

                          mrduni kusumad api

                         lokottaranam cetamsi

                        ko nu vijnatum isvarah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vajrat api--than a thunderbolt; kathorani--harder; mrduni--softer; kusumat api--than a flower; loka-uttaranam--persons above the human platform of behavior; cetamsi--the hearts; kah--who; nu--but; vijnatum--to understand; isvarah--able.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The hearts of those above common behavior are sometimes harder than a thunderbolt and sometimes softer than a flower. How can one accommodate such contradictions in great personalities?"

 

                               TEXT 74

 

                                 TEXT

 

                nityananda prabhu bhattacarye uthaila

                tanra loka-sange tanre ghare pathaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nityananda prabhu--Lord Sri Nityananda Prabhu; bhattacarye--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; uthaila--raised; tanra--His; loka-sange--along with associates; tanre--him (the Bhattacarya); ghare--to his home; pathaila--sent.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Nityananda Prabhu raised Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and with the help of His men saw him to his home.

 

                               TEXT 75

 

                                 TEXT

 

             bhakta-gana sighra asi' laila prabhura satha

               vastra-prasada lana tabe aila gopinatha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhakta-gana--devotees; sighra--very swiftly; asi'--coming; laila--took; prabhura--of the Lord; satha--the company; vastra--the garments; prasada--and Lord Jagannatha's prasada; lana--with; tabe--thereafter; aila--came; gopinatha--Gopinatha Acarya.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Immediately all the devotees came and partook of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's company. Afterwards, Gopinatha Acarya came with the garments and prasada.

 

                               TEXT 76

 

                                 TEXT

 

                saba-sange prabhu tabe alalanatha aila

                namaskara kari' tare bahu-stuti kaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   saba-sange--with all of them; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tabe--then; alalanatha--the place named Alalanatha; aila--reached; namaskara kari'--offering obeisances; tare--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bahu-stuti--many prayers; kaila--offered.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All the devotees followed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to a place known as Alalanatha. There they all offered respects and various prayers.

 

                               TEXT 77

 

                                 TEXT

 

                premavese nrtya-gita kaila kata-ksana

                  dekhite aila tahan vaise yata jana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prema-avese--in the great ecstasy of love of Godhead; nrtya-gita--dancing and chanting; kaila--performed; kata-ksana--for some time; dekhite--to see; aila--came; tahan--there; vaise--who live; yata jana--all the men.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In great ecstasy, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced and chanted for some time. Indeed, all the neighbors came to see Him.

 

                               TEXT 78

 

                                 TEXT

 

                caudikete saba loka bale 'hari' 'hari'

                premavese madhye nrtya kare gaurahari

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   caudikete--all around; saba loka--all persons; bale--shout; hari hari--the holy name of the Lord; prema-avese--in ecstatic love; madhye--in the middle; nrtya kare--dances; gaurahari--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All around Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is also known as Gaurahari, people began to shout the holy name of Hari. Lord Caitanya, immersed in His usual ecstasy of love, danced in the midst of them.

 

                               TEXT 79

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  kancana-sadrsa deha, aruna vasana

                 pulakasru-kampa-sveda tahate bhusana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kancana-sadrsa--like molten gold; deha--a body; aruna--saffron; vasana--garments; pulaka-asru--standing of hair and crying; kampa--trembling; sveda--perspiration; tahate--therein; bhusana--the ornaments.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The body of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was naturally very beautiful. It was like molten gold dressed in saffron cloth. Indeed, He was most beautiful for being ornamented with the ecstatic symptoms, which caused His hair to stand on end, tears to well in His eyes, and His body to tremble and perspire all over.

 

                               TEXT 80

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 dekhiya lokera mane haila camatkara

                 yata loka aise, keha nahi yaya ghara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dekhiya--seeing all this; lokera--of the people; mane--in the minds; haila--there was; camatkara--astonishment; yata--all; loka--people; aise--came there; keha--anyone; nahi--not; yaya--goes; ghara--home.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Everyone present was astonished to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's dancing and His bodily transformations. Whoever came did not want to return home.

 

                               TEXT 81

 

                                 TEXT

 

              keha nace, keha gaya, 'sri-krsna' 'gopala'

              premete bhasila loka,----stri-vrddha-abala

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   keha nace--someone dances; keha gaya--someone chants; sri-krsna--Lord Sri Krsna's name; gopala--Gopala's name; premete--in love of Godhead; bhasila--floated; loka--all the people; stri--women; vrddha--old men; a-bala--from the children.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Everyone--including children, old men and women--began to dance and chant the holy names of Sri Krsna and Gopala. In this way they all floated in the ocean of love of Godhead.

 

                               TEXT 82

 

                                 TEXT

 

              dekhi' nityananda prabhu kahe bhakta-gane

                  ei-rupe nrtya age habe grame-grame

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dekhi'--seeing this; nityananda--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; prabhu--the Lord; kahe--says; bhakta-gane--unto the devotees; ei-rupe--in this way; nrtya--dancing; age--ahead; habe--there will be; grame-grame--in every village.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Upon seeing the chanting and dancing of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Nityananda predicted that later there would be dancing and chanting in every village.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This prediction of Sri Nityananda Prabhu is applicable not only in India but also all over the world. That is now happening by His grace. The members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness are now traveling from one village to another in the Western countries and are even carrying the Deity with them. These devotees distribute various scriptures all over the world. We hope that these devotees who are preaching the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will very seriously follow strictly in His footsteps. If they follow the rules and regulations and chant sixteen rounds daily, their endeavor to preach the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will certainly be successful.

 

                               TEXT 83

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 atikala haila, loka chadiya na yaya

                 tabe nityananda-gosani srjila upaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   atikala--very late; haila--it was; loka--the people in general; chadiya--giving up; na yaya--do not go; tabe--at that time; nityananda--Srila Nityananda Prabhu; gosani--the spiritual master; srjila--invented; upaya--a means.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Seeing that it was already getting late, Lord Nityananda Prabhu, the spiritual master, invented a means to disperse the crowd.

 

                               TEXT 84

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 madhyahna karite gela prabhuke lana

                 taha dekhi' loka aise caudike dhana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   madhyahna karite--to take lunch at noon; gela--went; prabhuke--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; lana--taking; taha dekhi'--seeing that; loka--the people in general; aise--came; caudike--all around; dhana--running.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Lord Nityananda Prabhu took Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for lunch at noon, everyone came running around Them.

 

                               TEXT 85

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 madhyahna kariya aila devata-mandire

              nija-gana pravesi' kapata dila bahir-dvare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   madhyahna kariya--performing bathing, etc; aila--came back; devata-mandire--to the temple of the Lord; nija-gana pravesi'--allowing His own men; kapata dila--shut; bahir-dvare--the outside door.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After finishing Their baths, They returned at noon to the temple. Admitting His own men, Sri Nityananda Prabhu closed the outside door.

 

                               TEXT 86

 

                                 TEXT

 

              tabe gopinatha dui-prabhure bhiksa karaila

             prabhura sesa prasadanna sabe banti' khaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--thereupon; gopinatha--Gopinatha Acarya; dui-prabhure--unto the two Lords Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu; bhiksa karaila--gave prasada to eat; prabhura--of the Lord; sesa--the remnants; prasada-anna--food; sabe--all of them; banti'--sharing; kbaila--ate.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Gopinatha Acarya then brought prasada for the two Lords to eat, and after They had eaten, the remnants of the food were distributed to all the devotees.

 

                               TEXT 87

 

                                 TEXT

 

                suni' suni' loka-saba asi' bahir-dvare

                'hari' 'hari' bali' loka kolahala kare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   suni' suni'--hearing this; loka-saba--all the people; asi'--coming there; bahir-dvare--to the outside door; hari hari--the holy name of the Lord; bali'--chanting; loka--all the people; kolahala--tumultuous sound; kare--made.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Hearing about this, everyone there came to the outside door and began chanting the holy name, "Hari! Hari!" Thus there was a tumultuous sound.

 

                               TEXT 88

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 tabe mahaprabhu dvara karaila mocana

                   anande asiya loka paila darasana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--thereupon; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dvara--the door; karaila--made; mocana--opening; anande--in great pleasure; asiya--coming; loka--all the people; paila--got; darasana--sight.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After lunch, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu made them open the door. In this way everyone received His audience with great pleasure.

 

                               TEXT 89

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ei-mata sandhya paryanta loka ase, yaya

               'vaisnava' ha-ila loka, sabe nace, gaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; sandhya paryanta--until evening; loka--people; ase yaya--come and go; vaisnava--devotees; ha-ila--became; loka--all the people; sabe--all of them; nace--dance; gaya--and chant.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The people came and went until evening, and all of them became Vaisnava devotees and began to chant and dance.

 

                               TEXT 90

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ei-rupe sei thani bhakta-gana-sange

                 sei ratri gonaila krsna-katha-range

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-rupe--in this way; sei thani--in that place; bhakta-gana-sange--with the devotees; sei ratri--that night; gonaila--passed; krsna-katha-range--in great pleasure discussing Lord Krsna.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then passed the night there and discussed the pastimes of Lord Krsna with His devotees with great pleasure.

 

                               TEXT 91

 

                                 TEXT

 

                pratah-kale snana kari' karila gamana

                bhakta-gane vidaya dila kari' alingana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   pratah-kale--in the morning; snana--bath; kari'--after taking; karila--started; gamana--tour; bhakta-gane--to all the devotees; vidaya--farewell; dila--gave; kari'--doing; alingana--embracing.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The next morning, after taking His bath, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu started on His South Indian tour. He bade farewell to the devotees by embracing them.

 

                               TEXT 92

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  murcchita hana sabe bhumite padila

               tanha-saba pane prabhu phiri' na cahila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   murcchita hana--becoming unconscious; sabe--all; bhumite--to the ground; padila--fell down; tanha-saba--all of them; pane--toward; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; phiri'--turning; na--not; cahila--saw.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Although they all fell to the ground unconscious, the Lord did not turn to see them but proceeded onward.

 

                               TEXT 93

 

                                 TEXT

 

              vicchede vyakula prabhu calila duhkhi hana

                 pache krsnadasa yaya jala-patra lana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vicchede--in separation; vyakula--perturbed; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; calila--went on; duhkhi--unhappy; hana--becoming; pache--just behind; krsnadasa--His servant Krsnadasa; yaya--went; jala-patra--the waterpot; lana--taking.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In separation, the Lord became very perturbed and walked on unhappily. His servant, Krsnadasa, who was carrying His waterpot, followed behind.

 

                               TEXT 94

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  bhakta-gana upavasi tahani rahila

                  ara dine duhkhi hana nilacale aila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhakta-gana--the devotees; upavasi--fasting; tahani--there; rahila--remained; ara dine--on the next day; duhkhi--unhappy; hana--becoming; nilacale--to Jagannatha Puri; aila--returned.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All the devotees remained there and fasted, but the next day they all unhappily returned to Jagannatha Puri.

 

                               TEXT 95

 

                                 TEXT

 

                matta-simha-praya prabhu karila gamana

                 premavese yaya kari' nama-sankirtana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   matta-simha--a mad lion; praya--almost like; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karila--did; gamana--touring; prema-avese--in ecstatic love; yaya--goes; kari'--performing; nama-sankirtana--chanting Krsna's name.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Almost like a mad lion, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went on His tour filled with ecstatic love and performing sankirtana, chanting Krsna's names as follows.

 

                               TEXT 96

 

                                 TEXT

 

         krsna! krsna! krsna! krsna! krsna! krsna! krsna! he

         krsna! krsna! krsna! krsna! krsna! krsna! krsna! he

         krsna! krsna! krsna! krsna! krsna! krsna! raksa mam

          krsna! krsna! krsna! krsna! krsna! krsna! pahi mam

        rama! raghava! rama! raghava! rama! raghava! raksa mam

        krsna! kesava! krsna! kesava! krsna! kesava! pahi mam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krsna--Lord Krsna; he--O; raksa--please protect; mam--Me; pahi--please maintain; rama--Lord Rama; raghava--descendant of King Raghu; kesava--killer of the Kesi demon.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Lord chanted:

 

         Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! he

         Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! he

         Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Raksa mam

          Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Krsna! Pahi mam

   That is, "O Lord Krsna, please protect Me and maintain Me." He also chanted:

 

        Rama! Raghava! Rama! Raghava! Rama! Raghava! Raksa mam

        Krsna! Kesava! Krsna! Kesava! Krsna! Kesava! pahi mam

   That is, "O Lord Rama, descendant of King Raghu, please protect Me. O Krsna, O Kesava, killer of the Kesi demon, please maintain Me."

 

                               TEXT 97

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ei sloka padi' pathe calila gaurahari

            loka dekhi' pathe kahe,----bala 'hari' 'hari'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei sloka padi'--reciting this verse krsna! krsna!; pathe--on the way; calila--went; gaurahari--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; loka dekhi'--seeing other people; pathe--on the way; kahe--He says; bala--say; hari hari--the holy name of Lord Hari.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Chanting this verse, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, known as Gaurahari, went on His way. As soon as He saw someone, He would request him to chant "Hari! Hari!"

 

                               TEXT 98

 

                                 TEXT

 

            sei loka prema-matta hana bale 'hari' 'krsna'

              prabhura pache sange yaya darsana-satrsna

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei loka--that person; prema-matta--maddened in love of Godhead; hana--becoming; bale--says; hari krsna--the holy name of Lord Hari and Lord Krsna; prabhura pache--behind the Lord; sange--with Him; yaya--goes; darsana-satrsna--being very eager to see Him.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Whoever heard Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu chant "Hari, Hari," also chanted the holy name of Lord Hari and Krsna. In this way they all followed the Lord, very eager to see Him.

 

                               TEXT 99

 

                                 TEXT

 

                kata-ksane rahi' prabhu tare alingiya

                  vidaya karila tare sakti sancariya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kata-ksane rahi'--after remaining for some time; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tare--them; alingiya--embracing; vidaya karila--bade farewell; tare--in them; sakti--spiritual potency; sancariya--investing.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After some time the Lord would embrace these people and bid them to return home, having investing them with spiritual potency.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains that this spiritual potency is the essence of the pleasure potency and the knowledge potency. By these two potencies, one is empowered with devotional service. Lord Krsna Himself or His representative, the unalloyed devotee, can mercifully bestow these combined potencies upon any man. Being thus endowed with such potencies, one can become an unalloyed devotee of the Lord. Anyone favored by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was empowered with this bhakti-sakti. Thus the Lord's followers were able to preach Krsna consciousness by divine grace.

 

                               TEXT 100

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  sei-jana nija-grame kariya gamana

               'krsna' bali' hase, kande, nace anuksana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei-jana--that person; nija-grame--to his own village; kariya gamana--returning there; krsna bali'--saying the holy name of Lord Krsna; hase--laughs; kande--cries; nace--dances; anuksana--always.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Being thus empowered, they would return to their own villages, always chanting the holy name of Krsna and sometimes laughing, crying and dancing.

 

                               TEXT 101

 

                                 TEXT

 

              yare dekhe, tare kahe,----kaha krsna-nama

               ei-mata 'vaisnava' kaila saba nija-grama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yare dekhe--whomever he meets; tare--to him; kahe--he says; kaha krsna-nama--kindly chant the Hare Krsna mantra; ei-mata--in this way; vaisnava--devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kaila--made; saba--all; nija-grama--his own village.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   These empowered people used to request everyone and anyone--whomever they saw--to chant the holy name of Krsna. In this way all the villagers would also become devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In order to become an empowered preacher, one must be favored by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu or His devotee, the spiritual master. One must also request everyone to chant the maha-mantra. In this way, such a person can convert others to Vaisnavism, showing them how to become pure devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

                               TEXT 102

 

                                 TEXT

 

               gramantara haite dekhite aila yata jana

                 tanra darsana-krpaya haya tanra sama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   grama-antara haite--from different villages; dekhite--to see; aila--came; yata jana--all the persons; tanra--his; darsana-krpaya--by the mercy of seeing him; haya--become; tanra sama--similar Vaisnavas.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Simply by seeing such empowered individuals, people from different villages would become like them by the mercy of their glance.

 

                               TEXT 103

 

                                 TEXT

 

                sei yai' gramera loka vaisnava karaya

              anya-grami asi' tanre dekhi' vaisnava haya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei--that Vaisnava; yai'--going to his own village; gramera loka--all the people of the village; vaisnava--devotees; karaya--makes; anya-grami--inhabitants from different villages; asi'--coming there; tanre dekhi'--by seeing them; vaisnava haya--become devotees.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When these individuals returned to their villages, they also converted others into devotees. When others came to see them, they also were converted.

 

                               TEXT 104

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   sei yai' ara grame kare upadesa

              ei-mata 'vaisnava' haila saba daksina-desa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei--that man; yai'--going; ara--different; grame--to the villages; kare--gives; upadesa--instruction; ei-mata--in this way; vaisnava--devotees; haila--became; saba--all; daksina-desa--the people of South India.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In this way, as those men went from one village to another, all the people of South India became devotees.

 

                               TEXT 105

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ei-mata pathe yaite sata sata jana

                'vaisnava' karena tanre kari' alingana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; pathe--on the way; yaite--while passing; sata sata--hundreds and hundreds; jana--persons; vaisnava--devotees; karena--makes; tanre--Him; kari'--doing; alingana--embracing.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus many hundreds of people became Vaisnavas when they passed the Lord on the way and were embraced by Him.

 

                               TEXT 106

 

                                 TEXT

 

              yei grame rahi' bhiksa karena yanra ghare

                 sei gramera yata loka aise dekhibare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yei grame--in whatever village; rahi'--staying; bhiksa--alms; karena--accepts; yanra--whose; ghare--at home; sei--that; gramera--of the village; yata loka--all the persons; aise--come; dekhibare--to see.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In whatever village Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed to accept alms, many people came to see Him.

 

                               TEXT 107

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  prabhura krpaya haya mahabhagavata

                  sei saba acarya hana tarila jagat

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhura krpaya--by the mercy of the Lord; haya--become; maha-bhagavata--first-class devotees; sei saba--all such persons; acarya--teachers; hana--becoming; tarila--liberated; jagat--the whole world.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   By the mercy of the Supreme Lord, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, everyone became a first-class devotee. Later they became teachers or spiritual masters and liberated the entire world.

 

                               TEXT 108

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ei-mata kaila yavat gela setubandhe

            sarva-desa 'vaisnava' haila prabhura sambandhe

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; kaila--performed; yavat--until; gela--went; setubandhe--to the southernmost part of India; sarva-desa--all the countries; vaisnava--devotees; haila--became; prabhura--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sambandhe--in connection with.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In this way the Lord went to the extreme southern part of India, and He converted all the provinces to Vaisnavism.

 

                               TEXT 109

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 navadvipe yei sakti na kaila prakase

               se sakti prakasi' nistarila daksina-dese

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   navadvipe--at Navadvipa; yei--that which; sakti--the potency; na--not; kaila--did; prakase--manifestation; se--that; sakti--potency; prakasi'--manifesting; nistarila--delivered; daksina-dese--South India.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not manifest His spiritual potencies at Navadvipa, but He did manifest them in South India and liberated all the people there.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   At that time there were many smartas (nondevotee followers of Vedic rituals) at the holy place of Navadvipa, which was also the birthplace of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Followers of the smrti-sastra are called smartas. Most of them are nondevotees, and their main business is following the brahminical principles strictly. However, they are not enlightened in devotional service. In Navadvipa all the learned scholars are followers of the smrti-sastra, and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not attempt to convert them. Therefore the author has remarked that the spiritual potency Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not manifest at Navadvipa was by His grace manifest in South India. Thus everyone there became a Vaisnava. By this it is to be understood that people are really interested in preaching in a favorable situation. If the candidates for conversion are too disturbing, a preacher may not attempt to spread Krsna consciousness amongst them. It is better to go where the situation is more favorable. This Krsna consciousness movement was first attempted in India, but the people of India, being absorbed in political thoughts, did not take to it. They were entranced by the political leaders. We preferred, therefore, to come to the West, following the order of our spiritual master, and by the grace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu this movement is becoming successful.

 

                               TEXT 110

 

                                 TEXT

 

               prabhuke ye bhaje, tare tanra krpa haya

                 sei se e-saba lila satya kari' laya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhuke--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ye--anyone who; bhaje--worships; tare--unto him; tanra--of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krpa--the mercy; haya--there is; sei se--such person; e-saba--all these; lila--pastimes; satya--truth; kari'--accepting as; laya--takes.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's empowering of others can be understood by one who is actually a devotee of the Lord and who has received His mercy.

 

                               TEXT 111

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 alaukika-lilaya yara na haya visvasa

                  iha-loka, para-loka tara haya nasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   alaukika--uncommon; lilaya--in the pastimes; yara--of someone; na--not; haya--there is; visvasa--faith; iha-loka--in this world; para-loka--in the next world; tara--of him; haya--there is; nasa--destruction.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   If one does not believe in the uncommon, transcendental pastimes of the Lord, he is vanquished both in this world and in the next.

 

                               TEXT 112

 

                                 TEXT

 

               prathamei kahila prabhura ye-rupe gamana

                ei-mata janiha yavat daksina-bhramana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prathamei--at the beginning; kahila--I have explained; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ye-rupe--as; gamana--the touring; ei-mata--in this way; janiha--you should know; yavat--as long as; daksina-bhramana--touring in South India.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Whatever I have stated about the beginning of the Lord's movement should also be understood to hold for as long as the Lord toured South India.

 

                               TEXT 113

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ei-mata yaite yaite gela kurma-sthane

               kurma dekhi' kaila tanre stavana-praname

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; yaite yaite--while passing; gela--He went; kurma-sthane--to the place of pilgrimage known as Kurma-ksetra; kurma dekhi'--seeing Lord Kurma; kaila--offered; tanre--unto Him; stavana--prayers; praname--and obeisances.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to the holy place known as Kurma-ksetra, He saw the Deity and offered prayers and obeisances.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This Kurma-sthana is a well-known place of pilgrimage. There is a temple there of Kurmadeva. In the Prapannamrta it is said that Lord Jagannatha took Sri Ramanujacarya from Jagannatha Puri and one night threw him to Kurma-ksetra. This Kurma-ksetra is situated on the line of the Southern Railway in India. One has to go to the railway station known as Cika Kola Road. From this station one goes eight miles to the east to reach the holy place known as Kurmacala. Those who speak the Telugu language consider this holy place very important. This statement is reported in the government gazette known as Ganjama Manual. There is the Deity of Kurma there, and Srila Ramanujacarya was thrown from Jagannatha Puri to this place. At that time he thought that the Deity of Kurma was Lord Siva's deity; therefore he was fasting there. Later, when he understood that the kurma-murti was another form of Lord Visnu, he instituted very gorgeous worship of Lord Kurma. This statement is found in the Prapannamrta (Chapter Thirty-six). This holy place of Kurma-ksetra, or Kurma-sthana, was actually reestablished by Sripada Ramanujacarya under the influence of Lord Jagannatha-deva at Jagannatha Puri. Later the temple came under the jurisdiction of the king of Vijaya-nagara. The Deity was worshiped by the Vaisnavas of the Madhvacarya-sampradaya. In the temple there are some inscriptions said to be written by Sri Narahari Tirtha, who was in the disciplic succession of Madhvacarya. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura explains those inscriptions as follows: (1) Sri Purusottama Yati appeared as the instructor of many learned men. He was a very favorite devotee of Lord Visnu. (2) His preaching was accepted throughout the world with great respect, and by his power he would liberate many nondevotees with strong reason and logic. (3) He initiated Ananda Tirtha and converted many foolish men to accept sannyasa and punished them with his rod. (4) All his writings and words are very potent. He gave people devotional service to Lord Visnu so they could be elevated to liberation in the spiritual world. (5) His instructions in devotional service were able to elevate any man to the lotus feet of the Lord. (6) Narahari Tirtha was also initiated by him, and he became the ruler of the Kalinga province. (7) Narahari Tirtha fought with the Sabaras, who were candalas, or hunters, and thus saved the temple of Kurma. (8) Narahari Tirtha was a very religious and powerful king. (9) He died in the Saka Era 1203, in the month of Vaisakha in the fortnight of the moon's waxing period, on the day of Ekadasi, after the temple was constructed and dedicated to the holy name of Yogananda Nrsimhadeva. The tablet is dated A.D. 1281, 29 March, Saturday.

 

                               TEXT 114

 

                                 TEXT

 

               premavese hasi' kandi' nrtya-gita kaila

              dekhi' sarva lokera citte camatkara haila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prema-avese--in great ecstasy of love of Godhead; hasi'--laughing; kandi'--crying; nrtya-gita--dancing and chanting; kaila--performed; dekhi'--seeing; sarva lokera--of all the people there; citte--within the hearts; camatkara--astonishment; haila--there was.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   While at this place, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was in His usual ecstasy of love of Godhead and was laughing, crying, dancing and chanting. Everyone who saw Him was astonished.

 

                               TEXT 115

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ascarya suniya loka aila dekhibare

              prabhura rupa-prema dekhi' haila camatkare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ascarya--wonderful occurrence; suniya--hearing; loka--people; aila--came; dekhibare--to see; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; rupa--beauty; prema--and love of Godhead; dekhi'--seeing; haila--there was; camatkare--astonishment.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After hearing of these wonderful occurrences, everyone came to see Him there. When they saw the beauty of the Lord and His ecstatic condition, they were all struck with wonder.

 

                               TEXT 116

 

                                 TEXT

 

            darsane 'vaisnava' haila, bale 'krsna' 'hari'

                premavese nace loka urdhva bahu kari'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   darsane--in seeing; vaisnava haila--they became devotees; bale--started to say; krsna--Lord Krsna; hari--Lord Hari; prema-avese--in the great ecstasy of love of Godhead; nace--dance; loka--all the people; urdhva bahu kari'--raising the arms.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Just by seeing Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, everyone became a devotee. They began to chant "Krsna" and "Hari" and all the holy names. They all were merged in a great ecstasy of love, and they began to dance, raising their arms.

 

                               TEXT 117

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 krsna-nama loka-mukhe suni' avirama

              sei loka 'vaisnava' kaila anya saba grama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krsna-nama--the holy name of Lord Krsna; loka-mukhe--from the mouth of those people; suni'--hearing; avirama--always; sei loka--those persons; vaisnava--devotees; kaila--made; anya--other; saba--all; grama--villages.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Always hearing them chant the holy names of Lord Krsna, the residents of all the other villages also became Vaisnavas.

 

                               TEXT 118

 

                                 TEXT

 

              ei-mata paramparaya desa 'vaisnava' haila

                 krsna-namamrta-vanyaya desa bhasaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; paramparaya--by disciplic succession; desa--the country; vaisnava haila--became devotees; krsna-nama-amrta--of the nectar of the holy name of Krsna; vanyaya--in the inundation; desa--the whole country; bhasaila--overflooded.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   By hearing the holy name of Krsna, the entire country became Vaisnava. It was as if the nectar of the holy name of Krsna overflooded the entire country.

 

                               TEXT 119

 

                                 TEXT

 

                kata-ksane prabhu yadi bahya prakasila

                  kurmera sevaka bahu sammana karila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kata-ksane--after some time; prabhu--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yadi--when; bahya--external consciousness; prakasila--manifested; kurmera--of the Lord Kurma Deity; sevaka--a servant; bahu--much; sammana--respect; karila--showed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After some time, when Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu manifested His external consciousness, a priest of the Lord Kurma Deity gave Him various offerings.

 

                               TEXT 120

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  yei grame yaya tahan ei vyavahara

                 eka thani kahila, na kahiba ara bara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yei grame--to whichever village; yaya--He goes; tahan--there; ei--this; vyavahara--behavior; eka thani--one place; kahila--described; na--not; kahiba--shall describe; ara--another; bara--time.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mode of preaching has already been explained, and I shall not repeat the explanation. In whichever village the Lord entered, His behavior was the same.

 

                               TEXT 121

 

                                 TEXT

 

               'kurma'-name sei grame vaidika brahmana

            bahu sraddha-bhaktye kaila prabhura nimantrana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kurma-name--of the name Kurma; sei--that; grame--in the village; vaidika brahmana--a Vedic brahmana; bahu--much; sraddha-bhaktye--with faith and devotion; kaila--made; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nimantrana--invitation.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In one village there was a Vedic brahmana named Kurma. He invited Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his home with great respect and devotion.

 

                               TEXT 122

 

                                 TEXT

 

              ghare ani' prabhura kaila pada praksalana

                sei jala vamsa-sahita karila bhaksana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ghare ani'--after bringing Him home; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila--did; pada praksalana--washing of the lotus feet; sei jala--that water; vamsa-sahita--with all the family members; karila bhaksana--drank.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   This brahmana brought Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his home, washed His lotus feet and, with his family members, drank that water.

 

                               TEXT 123

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  aneka-prakara snehe bhiksa karaila

                   gosanira sesanna sa-vamse khaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   aneka-prakara--various kinds; snehe--in affection; bhiksa--food; karaila--made Him eat; gosanira--of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sesa-anna--remnants of food; sa-vamse--with all the members of the family; khaila--ate.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   With great affection and respect, that Kurma brahmana made Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu eat all kinds of food. After that, the remnants were shared by all the members of the family.

 

                               TEXT 124

 

                                 TEXT

 

              'yei pada-padma tomara brahma dhyana kare

                sei pada-padma saksat aila mora ghare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yei--those; pada-padma--lotus feet; tomara--Your; brahma--Lord Brahma; dhyana kare--meditates on; sei pada-padma--those lotus feet; saksat--directly; aila--have come; mora--my; ghare--to the home.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The brahmana then began to pray, "O my Lord, Your lotus feet are meditated upon by Lord Brahma, and these very lotus feet have come into my home.

 

                               TEXT 125

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  mora bhagyera sima na yaya kahana

               aji mora slaghya haila janma-kula-dhana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mora--my; bhagyera--of the fortune; sima--the limit; na--not; yaya--possible; kahana--describing; aji--today; mora--my; slaghya--glorious; haila--became; janma--birth; kula--family; dhana--and wealth.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "My dear Lord, there is no limit to my great fortune. It cannot be described. Today my family, birth and riches have all been glorified."

 

                               TEXT 126

 

                                 TEXT

 

               krpa kara, prabhu, more, yan toma-sange

                sahite na pari duhkha visaya-tarange'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krpa kara--kindly show favor; prabhu--O my Lord; more--unto me; yan--I go; toma-sange--with You; sahite na pari--I cannot tolerate; duhkha--the troubles; visaya-tarange--in the waves of materialistic life.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The brahmana begged Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "My dear Lord, kindly show me favor and let me go with You. I can no longer tolerate the waves of misery caused by materialistic life."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This statement is applicable for everyone, regardless of how rich or prosperous one may be. Narottama dasa Thakura has confirmed this statement: samsara-visanale, diva-nisi hiya jvale. He states that the materialistic way of life causes a burning in the heart. One cannot make any provisions for the troublesome life of the material world. It is a fact that one may be very happy as far as riches are concerned and one may be very opulent in every respect, yet one has to manage the visayas to meet the demands of the body and of so many family members and subordinates. One has to take so much trouble to minister to others. Narottama dasa Thakura therefore prays: visaya chadiya kabe suddha habe mana. Thus one must become freed from the materialistic way of life. One has to merge himself in the ocean of transcendental bliss. In other words, one cannot relish transcendental bliss without being freed from the materialistic way of life. It appears that the brahmana named Kurma was materially very happy, for he expressed his family tradition as janma-kula-dhana. Now, being glorious, he wanted to leave all these material opulences. He wanted to travel with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. According to the Vedic way of civilization, one should leave his family after attaining fifty years of age and go to the forest of Vrndavana to devote the rest of his life to the service of the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 127

 

                                 TEXT

 

              prabhu kahe,----"aiche bat kabhu na kahiba

                grhe rahi' krsna-nama nirantara laiba

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; aiche bat--such words; kabhu--at any time; na kahiba--you should not speak; grhe rahi'--staying at home; krsna-nama--the holy name of the Lord; nirantara--always; laiba--you should chant.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "Don't speak like that again. Better to remain at home and chant the holy name of Krsna always.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   It is not advisable in this Age of Kali to leave one's family suddenly, for people are not trained as proper brahmacaris and grhasthas. Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised the brahmana not to be too eager to give up family life. It would be better to remain with his family and try to become purified by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra regularly under the direction of a spiritual master. This is the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If this principle is followed by everyone, there is no need to accept sannyasa. In the next verse Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advises everyone to become an ideal householder by offenselessly chanting the Hare Krsna mantra and teaching the same principle to everyone he meets.

 

                               TEXT 128

 

                                 TEXT

 

                yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa

                 amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yare--whomever; dekha--you meet; tare--him; kaha--tell; krsna-upadesa--the instruction of the Bhagavad-gita as it is spoken by the Lord or of Srimad-Bhagavatam, which advises one to worship Sri Krsna; amara ajnaya--under My order; guru hana--becoming a spiritual master; tara'--deliver; ei desa--this country.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Sri Krsna as they are given in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This is the sublime mission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Many people come and inquire whether they have to give up family life to join the Society, but that is not our mission. One can remain comfortably in his residence. We simply request everyone to chant the maha-mantra: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. If one is a little literate and can read the Bhagavad-gita As It Is and Srimad-Bhagavatam, that is so much the better. These works are now available in an English translation and are done very authoritatively to appeal to all classes of men. Instead of living engrossed in material activities, people throughout the world should take advantage of this movement and chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra at home with their families. One should also refrain from sinful activities--illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. Out of these four items, illicit sex is very sinful. Every person must get married. Every woman especially must get married. If the women outnumber the men, some men can accept more than one wife. In that way there will be no prostitution in society. If men can marry more than one wife, illicit sex life will be stopped. One can also produce many nice preparations to offer Krsna--grain, fruit, flowers and milk. Why should one indulge in unnecessary meat-eating and maintain horrible slaughterhouses? What is the use of smoking and drinking tea and coffee? People are already intoxicated by material enjoyment, and if they indulge in further intoxication, what chance is there for self-realization? Similarly, one should not partake in gambling and unnecessarily agitate the mind. The real purpose of human life is to attain the spiritual platform and return to Godhead. That is the summum bonum of spiritual realization. The Krsna consciousness movement is trying to elevate human society to the perfection of life by pursuing the method described by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His advice to the brahmana Kurma. That is, one should stay at home, chant the Hare Krsna mantra and preach the instructions of Krsna as they are given in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.

 

                               TEXT 129

 

                                 TEXT

 

                kabhu na badhibe tomara visaya-taranga

                  punarapi ei thani pabe mora sanga"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kabhu--at any time; na--not; badhibe--will obstruct; tomara--your; visaya-taranga--materialistic way of life; punarapi--again; ei thani--at this place; pabe--you will get; mora--My; sanga--association.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu further advised the brahmana Kurma, "If you follow this instruction, your materialistic life at home will not obstruct your spiritual advancement. Indeed, if you follow these regulative principles, we will again meet here, or, rather, you will never lose My company."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This is an opportunity for everyone. If one simply follows the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, under the guidance of His representative, and chants the Hare Krsna mantra, teaching everyone as far as possible the same principle, the contamination of the materialistic way of life will not even touch him. It does not matter whether one lives in a holy place like Vrndavana, Navadvipa or Jagannatha Puri or in the midst of European cities, where the materialistic way of life is very prominent. If a devotee follows the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he lives in the company of the Lord. Wherever he lives, he converts that place into Vrndavana and Navadvipa. This means that materialism cannot touch him. This is the secret of success for one advancing in Krsna consciousness.

 

                               TEXT 130

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ei mata yanra ghare kare prabhu bhiksa

                sei aiche kahe, tanre karaya ei siksa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei mata--in this way; yanra--of whom; ghare--at the home; kare--does; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhiksa--accepting prasada; sei--that man; aiche--similarly; kahe--says; tanre--unto him; karaya--does; ei--this; siksa--enlightenment.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   At whosoever's house Sri Caitanya accepted His alms by taking prasada, He would convert the dwellers to His sankirtana movement and advise them just as He advised the brahmana named Kurma.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is explained here very nicely. One who surrenders to Him and is ready to follow Him with heart and soul does not need to change his location. Nor is it necessary for one to change status. One may remain a householder, a medical practitioner, an engineer or whatever. It doesn't matter. One only has to follow the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and instruct relatives and friends in the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. One has to learn humility and meekness at home, following the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and in that way one's life will be spiritually successful. One should not try to be an artificially advanced devotee, thinking, "I am a first-class devotee." Such thinking should be avoided. It is best not to accept any disciples. One has to become purified at home by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and preaching the principles enunciated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thus one can become a spiritual master and be freed from the contamination of material life.

   There are many sahajiyas who decry the activities of the six Gosvamis--Srila Rupa, Sanatana, Raghunatha dasa, Bhatta Raghunatha, Jiva and Gopala Bhatta Gosvamis--who are the personal associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and who enlightened society by writing books on devotional service. Similarly, Narottama dasa Thakura and other great acaryas like Madhvacarya, Ramanujacarya and others accepted many thousands of disciples to induce them to render devotional service. However, there is a class of sahajiyas who think that these activities are opposed to the principles of devotional service. Indeed, they consider such activities simply another phase of materialism. Thus opposing the principles of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they commit offenses at His lotus feet. They should better consider His instructions and, instead of seeking to be considered humble and meek, should refrain from criticizing the followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu who engage in preaching. To protect His preachers, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given much clear advice in these verses of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta.

 

                            TEXTS 131-132

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 pathe yaite devalaye rahe yei grame

                yanra ghare bhiksa kare, sei maha-jane

 

             kurme yaiche riti, taiche kaila sarva-thani

                 nilacale punah yavat na aila gosani

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   pathe yaite--while passing on the road; devalaye--in a temple; rahe--He stays; yei grame--in any village; yanra ghare--at whose place; bhiksa kare--takes alms or eats; sei maha-jane--to such a great personality; kurme--unto the brahmana Kurma; yaiche--just as; riti--the process; taiche--in the same way; kaila--did; sarva-thani--in all places; nilacale--to Jagannatha Puri; punah--again; yavat--until; na--not; aila--returned; gosani--the Lord.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   While on His tour, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would spend the night at a temple or on the roadside. Whenever He accepted food from a person, He would give him the same advice He gave the brahmana named Kurma. He adopted this process until He returned from His South Indian tour to Jagannatha Puri.

 

                               TEXT 133

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ataeva ihan kahilan kariya vistara

              ei-mata janibe prabhura sarvatra vyavahara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ataeva--therefore; ihan--here; kahilan--I have described; kariya vistara--elaborately; ei-mata--in this way; janibe--you will know; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sarvatra--everywhere; vyavahara--the behavior.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus I have described the Lord's behavior elaborately in the case of Kurma. In this way, you will know Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's dealings throughout South India.

 

                               TEXT 134

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   ei-mata sei ratri tahani rahila

                pratah-kale prabhu snana kariya calila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; sei ratri--that night; tahani--there; rahila--stayed; pratah-kale--in the morning; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; snana--bath; kariya--taking; calila--again started.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would remain at night in one place and the next morning, after bathing, start again.

 

                               TEXT 135

 

                                 TEXT

 

               prabhura anuvraji' kurma bahu dura aila

               prabhu tanre yatna kari' ghare pathaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhura--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; anuvraji'--following behind; kurma--the brahmana named Kurma; bahu--much; dura--distance; aila--came; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--him; yatna kari'--taking much care; ghare--to his home; pathaila--sent.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left, the brahmana Kurma followed Him a great distance, but eventually Lord Caitanya took care to send him back home.

 

                               TEXT 136

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  'vasudeva'-nama eka dvija mahasaya

                sarvange galita kustha, tate kida-maya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vasudeva-nama--of the name Vasudeva; eka dvija--one brahmana; mahasaya--a great person; sarva-ange--all over his body; galita--acute; kustha--leprosy; tate--in that; kida-maya--full of living worms.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   There was also a brahmana named Vasudeva, who was a great person but was suffering from leprosy. Indeed, his body was filled with living worms.

 

                               TEXT 137

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  anga haite yei kida khasiya padaya

                   uthana sei kida rakhe sei thana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   anga haite--from his body; yei--which; kida--a worm; khasiya--drops; padaya--falling off; uthana--picking up; sei--that; kida--worm; rakhe--places; sei thana--in the same place.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Although suffering from leprosy, the brahmana Vasudeva was enlightened. As soon as one worm fell from his body, he would pick it up and place it back again in the same location.

 

                               TEXT 138

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ratrite sunila tenho gosanira agamana

               dekhibare aila prabhate kurmera bhavana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ratrite--at night; sunila--heard; tenho--he; gosanira--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; agamana--the arrival; dekhibare--to see Him; aila--he came; prabhate--in the morning; kurmera--of the brahmana named Kurma; bhavana--to the house.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Then one night Vasudeva heard of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's arrival, and in the morning he came to see the Lord at the house of Kurma.

 

                               TEXT 139

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 prabhura gamana kurma-mukhete sunina

                 bhumite padila duhkhe murcchita hana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gamana--the going; kurma-mukhete--from the mouth of the brahmana Kurma; sunina--hearing; bhumite--on the ground; padila--fell down; duhkhe--in great distress; murcchita --unconsciousness; hana--becoming.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the leper Vasudeva came to Kurma's house to see Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he was informed that the Lord had already left. The leper then fell to the ground unconscious.

 

                               TEXT 140

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  aneka prakara vilapa karite lagila

                 sei-ksane asi' prabhu tanre alingila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   aneka prakara--various kinds; vilapa--lamentation; karite--to do; lagila--began; sei-ksane--immediately; asi'--coming back; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--him; alingila--embraced.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Vasudeva, the leper brahmana, was lamenting due to not being able to see Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord immediately returned to that spot and embraced him.

 

                               TEXT 141

 

                                 TEXT

 

             prabhu-sparse duhkha-sange kustha dure gela

                  ananda sahite anga sundara ha-ila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu-sparse--by the touch of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; duhkha-sange--along with his unhappiness; kustha--the infection of leprosy; dure--to a distant place; gela--went; ananda sahite--with great pleasure; anga--whole body; sundara--beautiful; ha-ila--became.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu touched him, both the leprosy and his distress went to a distant place. Indeed, Vasudeva's body became very beautiful, to his great happiness.

 

                               TEXT 142

 

                                 TEXT

 

            prabhura krpa dekhi' tanra vismaya haila mana

                sloka padi' paye dhari, karaye stavana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krpa--the mercy; dekhi'--seeing; tanra--of the brahmana Vasudeva; vismaya haila mana--there was astonishment in his mind; sloka padi'--reciting a verse; paye dhari--touching His lotus feet; karaye stavana--offers prayers.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The brahmana Vasudeva was astonished to behold the wonderful mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and he began to recite a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam, touching the Lord's lotus feet.

 

                               TEXT 143

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       kvaham daridrah papiyan

                       kva krsnah sri-niketanah

                      brahma-bandhur iti smaham

                       bahubhyam parirambhitah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kva--who; aham--I; daridrah--poor; papiyan--sinful; kva--who; krsnah--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sri-niketanah--the transcendental form of all opulence; brahma-bandhuh--the friend of a brahmana, not fit even to be called a brahmana; iti--thus; sma--certainly; aham--I; bahubhyam--by the arms; parirambhitah--embraced.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   He said, " 'Who am I? A sinful, poor friend of a brahmana. And who is Krsna? The Supreme Personality of Godhead, full in six opulences. Nonetheless, He has embraced me with His two arms.' "

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This verse was spoken by Sudama Brahmana in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.81.16), in connection with his meeting Lord Krsna.

 

                            TEXTS 144-145

 

                                 TEXT

 

              bahu stuti kari' kahe,----suna, daya-maya

                  jive ei guna nahi, tomate ei haya

 

                more dekhi' mora gandhe palaya pamara

             hena-more sparsa' tumi,----svatantra isvara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bahu--many; stuti--prayers; kari'--presenting; kahe--says; suna--kindly hear; daya-maya--O greatly merciful Lord; jive--in the living entity; ei--this; guna--quality; nahi--there is not; tomate--in You; ei--this; haya--is; more dekhi'--by seeing me; mora gandhe--from smelling my body; palaya--runs away; pamara--even a sinful man; hena-more--such a person as me; sparsa'--touch; tumi--You; svatantra--fully independent; isvara--the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The brahmana Vasudeva continued, "O my merciful Lord, such mercy is not possible for ordinary living entities. Such mercy can be found only in You. Upon seeing me, even a sinful person goes away due to my bad bodily odor. Yet You have touched me. Such is the independent behavior of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

 

                               TEXT 146

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   kintu achilan bhala adhama hana

                   ebe ahankara mora janmibe asiya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kintu--but; achilan--I was; bhala--all right; adhama--the lowest of mankind; hana--being; ebe--now; ahankara--pride; mora--my; janmibe--will appear; asiya--coming.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Being meek and humble, the brahmana Vasudeva worried that he would become proud after being cured by the grace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 147

 

                                 TEXT

 

            prabhu kahe,----"kabhu tomara na habe abhimana

               nirantara kaha tumi 'krsna' 'krsna' nama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--the Lord said; kabhu--at any time; tomara--your; na--not; habe--there will be; abhimana--pride; nirantara--incessantly; kaha--chant; tumi--you; krsna krsna nama--the holy name of Lord Krsna.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   To protect the brahmana, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised him to chant the Hare Krsna mantra incessantly. By doing so, he would never become unnecessarily proud.

 

                               TEXT 148

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  krsna upadesi' kara jivera nistara

                acirate krsna toma karibena angikara"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krsna upadesi'--instructing about Krsna; kara--just do; jivera--of all living entities; nistara--the liberation; acirate--very soon; krsna--Lord Krsna; toma--you; karibena--will make; angikara--acceptance.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also advised Vasudeva to preach about Krsna and thus liberate living entities. As a result, Krsna would very soon accept him as His devotee.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Although Vasudeva Vipra was a leper and had suffered greatly, still Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu cured him. The only return the Lord wanted was that Vasudeva preach the instructions of Krsna and liberate all human beings. That is the process of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Each and every member of this Society was rescued from a very abominable condition, but now they are engaged in preaching the cult of Krsna consciousness. They are not only cured of the disease called materialism but are also living a very happy life. Everyone accepts them as great devotees of Krsna, and their qualities are manifest in their very faces. If one wants to be recognized as a devotee by Krsna, he should take to preaching work, following the advice of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Then one will undoubtedly attain the lotus feet of Sri Krsna Caitanya, Lord Krsna Himself, without delay.

 

                               TEXT 149

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 eteka kahiya prabhu kaila antardhane

                dui vipra galagali kande prabhura gune

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eteka--so much; kahiya--speaking; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila--made; antardhane--disappearance; dui vipra--the two brahmanas, Kurma and Vasudeva; galagali--embracing one another; kande--cry; prabhura gune--due to the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After instructing the brahmana Vasudeva in that way, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu disappeared from that place. Then the two brahmanas, Kurma and Vasudeva, embraced each other and began to cry, remembering the transcendental qualities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 150

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  'vasudevoddhara' ei kahila akhyana

               'vasudevamrta-prada' haila prabhura nama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vasudeva-uddhara--giving liberation to Vasudeva; ei--this; kahila--is described; akhyana--narration; vasudeva-amrta-prada--the giver of nectar to Vasudeva; haila--became; prabhura nama--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's holy name.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus I have described how Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu reclaimed the leper Vasudeva and so received the name Vasudevamrta-prada.

 

                               TEXT 151

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ei ta' kahila prabhura prathama gamana

                  kurma-darasana, vasudeva-vimocana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei ta' kahila--thus I have described; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prathama gamana--the first tour; kurma-darasana--visiting the temple of Kurma; vasudeva-vimocana--and liberating the leper brahmana of the name Vasudeva.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus I end my description of the first tour of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, His visiting the temple of Kurma and His liberating the leper brahmana Vasudeva.

 

                               TEXT 152

 

                                 TEXT

 

                sraddha kari' ei lila ye kare sravana

                 acirate milaye tare caitanya-carana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sraddha kari'--with great faith; ei lila--this pastime; ye--anyone; kare--does; sravana--hearing; acirate--very soon; milaye--meets; tare--him; caitanya-carana--the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   One who hears these pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with great faith will surely very soon attain the lotus feet of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 153

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  caitanya-lilara adi-anta nahi jani

                 sei likhi, yei mahantera mukhe suni

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   caitanya-lilara--of the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; adi--beginning; anta--and end; nahi--not; jani--I know; sei--that; likhi--I write; yei--which; mahantera--of the great personalities; mukhe--from the mouths; suni--I hear.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   I admit that I do not know the beginning or the end of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes. However, whatever I have written I have heard from the mouths of great personalities.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The name Vasudevamrta-prada is mentioned in the verses composed by Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. When a person actually revives his consciousness with thoughts of Krsna by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he revives his spiritual life and becomes addicted to the service of the Lord. Only then can he act as an acarya. In other words, everyone should engage in preaching, following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In this way one will be very much appreciated by Lord Krsna and will quickly be recognized by Him. Actually a devotee of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu must engage in preaching in order to increase the followers of the Lord. By thus preaching actual Vedic knowledge all over the world, one will benefit all mankind.

 

                               TEXT 154

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ithe aparadha mora na la-io, bhakta-gana

               toma-sabara carana----mora ekanta sarana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ithe--in this; aparadha--offenses; mora--my; na la-io--do not take; bhakta-gana--O devotees; toma--of your; sabara--of all; carana--the lotus feet; mora--my; ekanta--only; sarana--shelter.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O devotees, please do not consider my offenses in this regard. Your lotus feet are my only shelter.

 

                               TEXT 155

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  sri-rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa

                  caitanya-caritamrta kahe krsnadasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

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

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

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

 

   Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Seventh Chapter, describing the liberation of the brahmana  Vasudeva and the Lord's tour of South India.

 


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