Chapter 7
The Lord’s Tour of South India
In his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura summarizes the Seventh Chapter as follows. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted the renounced order of life in the month of Māgha (January-February) and went to Jagannātha Purī in the month of Phālguna (February-March). He saw the Dola-yātrā festival during the month of Phālguna, and in the month of Caitra He liberated Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. During the month of Vaiśākha, He began to tour South India. When He proposed to travel to South India alone, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu gave Him a brāhmaṇa assistant named Kṛṣṇadāsa. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was beginning His tour, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya gave Him four sets of clothes and requested Him to see Rāmānanda Rāya, who was residing at that time on the bank of the river Godāvarī. Along with other devotees, Nityānanda Prabhu accompanied the Lord to Ālālanātha, but there Lord Caitanya left them all behind and went ahead with the brāhmaṇa Kṛṣṇadāsa. The Lord began chanting the mantra “kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa 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 Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. After teaching the people of one village, the Lord proceeded to other villages to increase devotees. In this way He finally reached Kūrma-sthāna. While there, He bestowed His causeless mercy upon a brāhmaṇa called Kūrma and cured another brāhmaṇa, named Vāsudeva, who was suffering from leprosy. After curing this brāhmaṇa leper, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu received the title Vāsudevāmṛta-prada, meaning “one who delivered nectar to the leper Vāsudeva.”
TEXT 1
dhanyaṁ taṁ naumi caitanyaṁ
vāsudevaṁ dayārdraḥ-dhī
naṣṭa-kuṣṭhaṁ rūpa-puṣṭaṁ
bhakti-tuṣṭaṁ cakāra yaḥ
SYNONYMS
dhanyam-auspicious; tam-unto Him; naumi-I offer obeisances; caitanyam-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; vāsudevam-unto the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva; dayā-ārdraḥ-dhī-being compassionate; naṣṭa-kuṣṭham-cured the leprosy; rūpa-puṣṭam-beautiful; bhakti-tuṣṭam-satisfied in devotional service; cakāra-made; yaḥ-the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, being very compassionate toward a brāhmaṇa named Vāsudeva, cured him of leprosy. He transformed him into a beautiful man satisfied with devotional service. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the glorious Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TEXT 2
jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda
jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya-all glories; śrī-caitanya-to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; jaya-all glories; nityānanda-to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu; jaya advaita-candra-all glories to Advaita Ācārya; jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda-all glories to the devotees of Lord Caitanya.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to the devotees of Lord Caitanya!
TEXT 3
ei-mate sārvabhaumera nistāra karila
dakṣiṇa-gamane prabhura icchā upajila
SYNONYMS
ei-mate-in this way; sārvabhaumera-of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; nistāra-the liberation; karila-was executed; dakṣiṇa-gamane-in going to South India; prabhura-of the Lord; icchā-a desire; upajila-arose.
TRANSLATION
After delivering Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, the Lord desired to go to South India to preach.
TEXT 4
māgha-śukla-pakṣe prabhu karila sannyāsa
phālgune āsiyā kaila nīlācale vāsa
SYNONYMS
māgha-śukla-pakṣe-in the waxing fortnight of the month of Māgha; prabhu-the Lord; karila-accepted; sannyāsa-the renounced order of life; phālgune-in the next month, Phālguna; āsiyā-coming; kaila-did; nīlācale-at Jagannātha Purī; vāsa-residence.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted the renounced order during the waxing fortnight of the month of Māgha. During the following month, Phālguna, He went to Jagannātha Purī and resided there.
TEXT 5
phālgunera śeṣe dola-yātrā se dekhila
premāveśe tāṅhā bahu nṛtya-gīta kaila
SYNONYMS
phālgunera-of the month of Phālguna; śeṣe-at the end; dola-yātrā-the Dola-yātrā festival; se-that; dekhila-saw; prema-āveśe-in the ecstasy of love of Godhead; tāṅhā-there; bahu-much; nṛtya-gīta-chanting and dancing; kaila-performed.
TRANSLATION
At the end of the month of Phālguna, He witnessed the Dola-yātrā ceremony, and in His usual ecstatic love of God, He chanted and danced in various ways on the occasion.
TEXT 6
caitre rahi’ kaila sārvabhauma-vimocana
vaiśākhera prathame dakṣiṇa yāite haila mana
SYNONYMS
caitre-in the month of Caitra (March-April); rahi’-residing there; kaila-did; sārvabhauma-vimocana-liberation of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; vaiśākhera-of the month of Vaiśākha; prathame-in the beginning; dakṣiṇa-to South India; yāite-to go; haila-it was; mana-the mind.
TRANSLATION
During the month of Caitra, while living at Jagannātha Purī, the Lord delivered Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, and in the beginning of the next month (Vaiśākha), He decided to go to South India.
TEXTS 7-8
nija-gaṇa āni’ kahe vinaya kariyā
āliṅgana kari’ sabāya śrī-haste dhariyā
tomā-sabā jāni āmi prāṇādhika kari’
prāṇa chāḍā yāya, tomā-sabā chāḍite nā pāri
SYNONYMS
nija-gaṇa āni’-calling all the devotees; kahe-said; vinaya-humbleness; kariyā-showing; āliṅgana kari’-embracing; sabāya-all of them; śrī-haste-with His hands; dhariyā-catching them; tomā-sabā-all of you; jāni-I know; āmi-I; prāṇa-adhika-more than My life; kari’-taking; prāṇa chāḍā-giving up life; yāya-is possible; tomā-sabā-all of you; chāḍite-to give up; nā pāri-I am not able.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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
tumi-saba bandhu mora bandhu-kṛtya kaile
ihāṅ āni’ more jagannātha dekhāile
SYNONYMS
tumi-saba-all of you; bandhu-friends; mora-My; bandhu-kṛtya-duties of a friend; kaile-you have executed; ihāṅ-here; āni’-bringing; more-to Me; jagannātha-Lord Jagannātha; dekhāile-you have shown.
TRANSLATION
“You are all My friends, and you have properly executed the duties of friends by bringing Me here to Jagannātha Purī and giving Me the chance to see Lord Jagannātha in the temple.
TEXT 10
ebe sabā-sthāne muñi māgoṅ eka dāne
sabe meli’ ājñā deha, yāiba dakṣiṇe
SYNONYMS
ebe-now; sabā-sthāne-from all of you; muñi-I; māgoṅ-beg; eka dāne-one gift; sabe meli’-all combining together; ājñā deha-give permission; yāiba-I shall go; dakṣiṇe-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
viśvarūpa-uddeśe avaśya āmi yāba
ekākī yāiba, kāho saṅge nā la-iba
SYNONYMS
viśvarūpa-uddeśe-to find Viśvarūpa; avaśya-certainly; āmi-I; yāba-shall go; ekākī-alone; yāiba-I shall go; kāho-someone; saṅge-in association; nā-not; la-iba-I shall take.
TRANSLATION
“I shall go to search out Viśvarūpa. Please forgive Me, but I want to go alone; I do not wish to take anyone with Me.
TEXT 12
setubandha haite āmi nā āsi yāvat
nīlācale tumi saba rahibe tāvat
SYNONYMS
setubandha-the extreme southern point of India; haite-from; āmi-I; nā-not; āsi-returning; yāvat-as long as; nīlācale-in Jagannātha Purī; tumi-you; saba-all; rahibe-should stay; tāvat-that long.
TRANSLATION
“Until I return from Setubandha, all of you dear friends should remain at Jagannātha Purī.”
TEXT 13
viśvarūpa-siddhi-prāpti jānena sakala
dakṣiṇa-deśa uddhārite karena ei chala
SYNONYMS
viśvarūpa-of Viśvarūpa; siddhi-of perfection; prāpti-achievement; jānena-the Lord knows; sakala-everything; dakṣiṇa-deśa-South India; uddhārite-just to liberate; karena-makes; ei-this; chala-pretense.
TRANSLATION
Knowing everything, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was aware that Viśvarūpa 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
śuniyā sabāra mane haila mahā-duḥkha
niḥśabda ha-ilā, sabāra śukāila mukha
SYNONYMS
śuniyā-hearing this; sabāra-of all the devotees; mane-in the minds; haila-there was; mahā-duḥkha-great unhappiness; niḥśabda-silent; ha-ilā-became; sabāra-of everyone; śukāila-dried up; mukha-the faces.
TRANSLATION
Upon hearing this message from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the devotees became very unhappy and remained silent with sullen faces.
TEXT 15
nityānanda-prabhu kahe,–“aiche kaiche haya
ekākī yāibe tumi, ke ihā sahaya
SYNONYMS
nityānanda-prabhu kahe-Lord Nityānanda Prabhu replied; aiche kaiche haya-how is this possible; ekākī-alone; yāibe-shall go; tumi-You; ke-who; ihā-this; sahaya-can tolerate.
TRANSLATION
Nityānanda Prabhu then said, “How is it possible for You to go alone? Who can tolerate this?
TEXT 16
dui-eka saṅge caluka, nā paḍa haṭha-raṅge
yāre kaha sei dui caluk tomāra saṅge
SYNONYMS
dui-two; eka-or one; saṅge-with You; caluka-let go; nā-do not; paḍa-fall; haṭha-raṅge-in the clutches of thieves and rogues; yāre-whoever; kaha-You say; sei-those; dui-two; caluk-let go; tomāra-You; saṅge-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
dakṣiṇera tīrtha-patha āmi saba jāni
āmi saṅge yāi, prabhu, ājñā deha tumi”
SYNONYMS
dakṣiṇera-of South India; tīrtha-patha-the ways to different places of pilgrimage; āmi-I; saba-all; jāni-know; āmi-I; saṅge-with You; yāi-go; prabhu-O My Lord; ājñā-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
prabhu kahe, “āmi–nartaka, tumi–sūtra-dhāra
tumi yaiche nācāo, taiche nartana āmāra
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe-the Lord replied; āmi-I; nartaka-a dancer; tumi-You; sūtra-dhāra-wire-puller; tumi-You; yaiche-just as; nācāo-make dance; taiche-in that way; nartana-dancing; āmāra-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
sannyāsa kariyā āmi calilāṅ vṛndāvana
tumi āmā lañā āile advaita-bhavana
SYNONYMS
sannyāsa kariyā-after accepting the renounced order; āmi-I; calilāṅ-went; vṛndāvana-toward Vṛndāvana; tumi-You; āmā-Me; lañā-taking; āile-went; advaita-bhavana-to the house of Advaita Prabhu.
TRANSLATION
“After accepting the sannyāsa order, I decided to go to Vṛndāvana, but You took Me instead to the house of Advaita Prabhu.
TEXT 20
nīlācala āsite pathe bhāṅgilā mora daṇḍa
tomā-sabāra gāḍha-snehe āmāra kārya-bhaṅga
SYNONYMS
nīlācala-to Jagannātha Purī; āsite-going there; pathe-on the road; bhāṅgilā-You broke; mora-My; daṇḍa-sannyāsa staff; tomā-sabāra-of all of you; gāḍha-snehe-on account of the deep affection; āmāra-My; kārya-bhaṅga-disturbance of activities.
TRANSLATION
“While on the way to Jagannātha Purī, You broke My sannyāsa staff. I know that all of you have great affection for Me, but such things disturb My activities.
TEXT 21
jagadānanda cāhe āmā viṣaya bhuñjāite
yei kahe sei bhaye cāhiye karite
SYNONYMS
jagadānanda-Jagadānanda; cāhe-wants; āmā-Me; viṣaya-sense gratification; bhuñjāite-to cause to enjoy; yei kahe-whatever he says; sei-that; bhaye-out of fear; cāhiye-I want; karite-to do.
TRANSLATION
“Jagadānanda wants Me to enjoy bodily sense gratification, and out of fear I do whatever he tells Me.
TEXT 22
kabhu yadi iṅhāra vākya kariye anyathā
krodhe tina dina more nāhi kahe kathā
SYNONYMS
kabhu-sometimes; yadi-if; iṅhāra-of Jagadānanda; vākya-the words; kariye-I do; anyathā-other than; krodhe-in anger; tina dina-for three days; more-to Me; nāhi-not; kahe-speaks; kathā-words.
TRANSLATION
“If I sometimes do something against his desire, out of anger he will not talk to Me for three days.
TEXT 23
mukunda hayena duḥkhī dekhi’ sannyāsa-dharma
tinabāre śīte snāna, bhūmite śayana
SYNONYMS
mukunda-Mukunda; hayena-becomes; duḥkhī-unhappy; dekhi’-seeing; sannyāsa-dharma-My regulative principles in the renounced order; tina-bāre-three times; śīte-in the winter; snāna-bath; bhūmite-on the ground; śayana-lying down.
TRANSLATION
“Being a sannyāsī, 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
antare duḥkhī mukunda, nāhi kahe mukhe
ihāra duḥkha dekhi’ mora dvi-guṇa haye duḥkhe
SYNONYMS
antare-within himself; duḥkhī-unhappy; mukunda-Mukunda; nāhi-not; kahe-says; mukhe-in the mouth; ihāra-of him; duḥkha-the unhappiness; dekhi’-seeing; mora-My; dvi-guṇa-twice; haye-there is; duḥkhe-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
āmi ta’–sannyāsī, dāmodara–brahmacārī
sadā rahe āmāra upara śikṣā-daṇḍa dhari’
SYNONYMS
āmi ta’-I indeed; sannyāsī-in the renounced order of life; dāmodara-of the name Dāmodara; brahmacārī-in a stage of complete celibacy; sadā-always; rahe-remains; āmāra upara-on Me; śikṣā-daṇḍa-a stick for My education; dhari’-keeping.
TRANSLATION
“Although I am in the renounced order of life and Dāmodara is a brahmacārī, he still keeps a stick in his hand just to educate Me.
TEXT 26
iṅhāra āge āmi nā jāni vyavahāra
iṅhāre nā bhāya svatantra caritra āmāra
SYNONYMS
iṅhāra āge-in front of him; āmi-I; nā-not; jāni-know; vyavahāra-social etiquette; iṅhāre-for him; nā-not; bhāya-exists; svatantra-independent; caritra-character; āmāra-My.
TRANSLATION
“According to Dāmodara, I am still a neophyte as far as social etiquette is concerned; therefore he does not like My independent nature.
TEXT 27
lokāpekṣā nāhi iṅhāra kṛṣṇa-kṛpā haite
āmi lokāpekṣā kabhu nā pāri chāḍite
SYNONYMS
loka-apekṣā-care for society; nāhi-there is none; iṅhāra-of Dāmodara; kṛṣṇa-kṛpā-the mercy of the Lord; haite-from; āmi-I; loka-apekṣā-dependence on public opinion; kabhu-at any time; nā-not; pāri-able; chāḍite-to give up.
TRANSLATION
“Dāmodara Paṇḍita and others are more advanced in receiving the mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa; 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 sannyāsī, I cannot abandon the duties of the renounced order, and therefore I follow them strictly.
PURPORT
A brahmacārī is supposed to assist a sannyāsī; therefore a brahmacārī should not try to instruct a sannyāsī. That is the etiquette. Consequently Dāmodara should not have advised Caitanya Mahāprabhu of His duty.
TEXT 28
ataeva tumi saba raha nīlācale
dina kata āmi tīrtha bhramiba ekale”
SYNONYMS
ataeva-therefore; tumi-you; saba-all; raha-remain; nīlācale-at Jagannātha Purī; dina-days; kata-some; āmi-I; tīrtha-the sacred places of pilgrimage; bhramiba-I shall tour; ekale-alone.
TRANSLATION
“You should all therefore remain here in Nīlācala for some days while I tour the sacred places of pilgrimage alone.”
TEXT 29
iṅhā-sabāra vaśa prabhu haye ye ye guṇe
doṣāropa-cchale kare guṇa āsvādane
SYNONYMS
iṅhā-sabāra-of all the devotees; vaśa-controlled; prabhu-the Lord; haye-is; ye ye-whatever; guṇe-by the qualities; doṣa-āropa-chale-on the plea of attributing faults; kare-does; guṇa-high qualities; āsvādane-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 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sometimes behaved contrary to regulative principles out of intense love for the Lord, and because of their love Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself sometimes violated the regulative principles of a sannyāsī. In the eyes of the public, such violations are not good, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was so controlled by His devotees’ love that He was obliged to break some of the rules. Although accusing them, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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 Kṛṣṇa than on social etiquette. There are many instances of devotional service rendered by previous ācāryas who did not care about social behavior when intensely absorbed in love for Kṛṣṇa. Unfortunately, as long as we are within this material world, we must observe social customs to avoid criticism by the general populace. This is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s desire.
TEXT 30
caitanyera bhakta-vātsalya–akathya-kathana
āpane vairāgya-duḥkha karena sahana
SYNONYMS
caitanyera-of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bhakta-vātsalya-the love for His devotees; akathya-kathana-indescribable by words; āpane-personally; vairāgya-of the renounced order; duḥkha-unhappiness; karena-does; sahana-toleration.
TRANSLATION
No one can properly describe Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’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
sei duḥkha dekhi’ yei bhakta duḥkha pāya
sei duḥkha tāṅra śaktye sahana nā yāya
SYNONYMS
sei duḥkha-that unhappiness; dekhi’-seeing; yei-whatever; bhakta-the devotees; duḥkha-unhappiness; pāya-get; sei duḥkha-that unhappiness; tāṅra-His; śaktye-by the power; sahana-toleration; nā-not; yāya-possible.
TRANSLATION
The regulative principles observed by Caitanya Mahāprabhu were sometimes intolerable, and all the devotees became greatly affected by them. Although strictly observing the regulative principles, Caitanya Mahāprabhu could not tolerate the unhappiness felt by His devotees.
TEXT 32
guṇe doṣodgāra-cchale sabā niṣedhiyā
ekākī bhramibena tīrtha vairāgya kariyā
SYNONYMS
guṇe-in the good qualities; doṣa-udgāra-chale-on the plea of attributing faults; sabā-all of them; niṣedhiyā-forbidding; ekākī-alone; bhramibena-will tour; tīrtha-the sacred places of pilgrimage; vairāgya-regulative principles of the renounced order of life; kariyā-observing.
TRANSLATION
Therefore, to prevent them from accompanying Him and becoming unhappy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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
tabe cāri-jana bahu minati karila
svatantra īśvara prabhu kabhu nā mānila
SYNONYMS
tabe-thereafter; cāri-jana-four men; bahu-many; minati-petitions; karila-submitted; svatantra-independent; īśvara-the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kabhu-at any time; nā-not; mānila-accepted.
TRANSLATION
Four devotees then humbly insisted that they go with the Lord, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, being the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead, did not accept their request.
TEXT 34
tabe nityānanda kahe,–ye ājñā tomāra
duḥkha sukha ye ha-uk kartavya āmāra
SYNONYMS
tabe-thereupon; nityānanda-Lord Nityānanda Prabhu; kahe-says; ye ājñā-whatever order; tomāra-Your; duḥkha sukha-distress or happiness; ye-whatever; ha-uk-let there be; kartavya-the duty; āmāra-My.
TRANSLATION
Thereupon Lord Nityānanda said, “Whatever You order is My duty, regardless of whether it results in happiness or unhappiness.
TEXT 35
kintu eka nivedana karoṅ āra bāra
vicāra kariyā tāhā kara aṅgīkāra
SYNONYMS
kintu-but; eka-one; nivedana-petition; karoṅ-I do; āra bāra-again; vicāra-consideration; kariyā-giving; tāhā-that; kara-do; aṅgīkāra-acceptance.
TRANSLATION
“Yet I still submit one petition to You. Please consider it, and if You think it proper, please accept it.
TEXT 36
kaupīna, bahir-vāsa āra jala-pātra
āra kichu nāhi yābe, sabe ei mātra
SYNONYMS
kaupīna-loincloth; bahir-vāsa-outer garments; āra-and; jala-pātra-waterpot; āra kichu-anything else; nāhi-not; yābe-will go; sabe-all; ei-this; mātra-only.
TRANSLATION
“You must take with You a loincloth, external clothes and a waterpot. You should take nothing more than this.
TEXT 37
tomāra dui hasta baddha nāma-gaṇane
jala-pātra-bahirvāsa vahibe kemane
SYNONYMS
tomāra-Your; dui-two; hasta-hands; baddha-engaged; nāma-the holy name; gaṇane-in counting; jala-pātra-waterpot; bahir-vāsa-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 Mahāprabhu was chanting the holy names a fixed number of times daily. The Gosvāmīs used to follow in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and Haridāsa Ṭhākura also followed this principle. Concerning the Gosvāmīs-Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrīla Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, Śrīla Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī-Śrīnivāsa Ācārya confirms: saṅkhyā-pūrvaka-nāma-gāna-natibhiḥ. (Ṣaḍ-gosvāmy-aṣṭaka 6) In addition to other duties, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu introduced the system of chanting the holy name of the Lord a fixed number of times daily, as confirmed in this verse (tomāra dui hasta baddha nāma-gaṇane). Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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-candrāmṛta and also in Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Stava-mālā:
badhnan prema-bhara-prakampita-karo granthīn kaṭī-dorakaiḥ
saṅkhyātuṁ nija-loka-maṅgala-hare-kṛṣṇeti nāmnāṁ japan
(Caitanya-candrāmṛta 16)
hare kṛṣṇety uccaiḥ sphurita-rasano nāma-gaṇanā-
kṛta-granthi-śreṇī-subhaga-kaṭi-sūtrojjvala-karaḥ
(Prathama-Caitanyāṣṭaka 5)
Therefore devotees in the line of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu must chant at least sixteen rounds daily, and this is the number prescribed by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Haridāsa Ṭhākura daily chanted 300,000 names. Sixteen rounds is about 28,000 names. There is no need to imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura or the other Gosvāmīs, but chanting the holy name a fixed number of times daily is essential for every devotee.
TEXT 38
premāveśe pathe tumi habe acetana
e-saba sāmagrī tomāra ke kare rakṣaṇa
SYNONYMS
prema-āveśe-in ecstatic love of God; pathe-on the way; tumi-You; habe-will be; acetana-unconscious; e-saba-all this; sāmagrī-paraphernalia; tomāra-Your; ke-who; kare-does; rakṣaṇa-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
‘kṛṣṇadāsa’-nāme ei sarala brāhmaṇa
iṅho saṅge kari’ laha, dhara nivedana
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇadāsa-nāme-named Kṛṣṇadāsa; ei-this; sarala-simple; brāhmaṇa-brāhmaṇa; iṅho-he; saṅge-with You; kari’-accepting; laha-take; dhara-just catch; nivedana-the petition.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu continued, “Here is a simple brāhmaṇa named Kṛṣṇadāsa. Please accept him and take him with You. That is My request.
PURPORT
This Kṛṣṇadāsa, known as Kālā Kṛṣṇadāsa, is not the Kālā Kṛṣṇadāsa mentioned in the Eleventh Chapter, verse 37, of the Ādi-līlā. The Kālā Kṛṣṇadāsa mentioned in the Eleventh Chapter is one of the twelve gopālas (cowherd boys) who appeared to substantiate the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He is known as a great devotee of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu. The brāhmaṇa named Kālā Kṛṣṇadāsa who went with Śrī Caitanya to South India and later to Bengal is mentioned in the Madhya-līlā, Tenth Chapter, verses 62-79. One should not take these two to be the same person.
TEXT 40
jala-pātra-vastra vahi’ tomā-saṅge yābe
ye tomāra icchā, kara, kichu nā balibe
SYNONYMS
jala-pātra-waterpot; vastra-and garments; vahi’-carrying; tomā-saṅge-with You; yābe-will go; ye-whatever; tomāra icchā-Your desire; kara-You do; kichu nā 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
tabe tāṅra vākya prabhu kari’ aṅgīkāre
tāhā-sabā lañā gelā sārvabhauma-ghare
SYNONYMS
tabe-thereupon; tāṅra-of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu; vākya-the words; prabhu-Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kari’-doing; aṅgīkāre-acceptance; tāhā-sabā-all of them; lañā-taking; gelā-went; sārvabhauma-ghare-to the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.
TRANSLATION
Accepting the request of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, Lord Caitanya took all His devotees and went to the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.
TEXT 42
namaskari’ sārvabhauma āsana nivedila
sabākāre mili’ tabe āsane vasila
SYNONYMS
namaskari’-offering obeisances; sārvabhauma-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; āsana-sitting places; nivedila-offered; sabākāre-all of them; mili’-meeting; tabe-after that; āsane vasila-he took his seat.
TRANSLATION
As soon as they entered his house, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya offered the Lord obeisances and a place to sit. After seating all the others, the Bhaṭṭācārya took his seat.
TEXT 43
nānā kṛṣṇa-vārtā kahi’ kahila tāṅhāre
‘tomāra ṭhāñi āilāṅ ājñā māgibāre
SYNONYMS
nānā-various; kṛṣṇa-vārtā-topics on Lord Kṛṣṇa; kahi’-discussing; kahila-He informed; tāṅhāre-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; tomāra ṭhāñi-to your place; āilāṅ-I have come; ājñā-order; māgibāre-to beg.
TRANSLATION
After they had discussed various topics about Lord Kṛṣṇa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu informed Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, “I have come to your place just to receive your order.
TEXT 44
sannyāsa kari’ viśvarūpa giyāche dakṣiṇe
avaśya kariba āmi tāṅra anveṣaṇe
SYNONYMS
sannyāsa kari’-after accepting the sannyāsa order; viśvarūpa-Viśvarūpa (the elder brother of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu); giyāche-has gone; dakṣiṇe-to South India; avaśya-certainly; kariba-shall do; āmi-I; tāṅra-of Him; anveṣaṇe-searching for.
TRANSLATION
“My elder brother, Viśvarūpa, has taken sannyāsa and gone to South India. Now I must go search for Him.
TEXT 45
ājñā deha, avaśya āmi dakṣiṇe caliba
tomāra ājñāte sukhe leuṭi’ āsiba’
SYNONYMS
ājñā deha-please give permission; avaśya-certainly; āmi-I; dakṣiṇe-in South India; caliba-shall go; tomāra-your; ājñāte-by the order; sukhe-in happiness; leuṭi’-returning; āsiba-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
śuni’ sārvabhauma hailā atyanta kātara
caraṇe dhariyā kahe viṣāda-uttara
SYNONYMS
śuni’-hearing this; sārvabhauma-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; hailā-became; atyanta-greatly; kātara-agitated; caraṇe-the lotus feet; dhariyā-taking; kahe-says; viṣāda-of lamentation; uttara-a reply.
TRANSLATION
Upon hearing this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya became very agitated. Catching hold of the lotus feet of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he gave this sorrowful reply.
TEXT 47
‘bahu-janmera puṇya-phale pāinu tomāra saṅga
hena-saṅga vidhi mora karileka bhaṅga
SYNONYMS
bahu-janmera-of many births; puṇya-phale-as the fruit of pious activities; pāinu-I got; tomāra-Your; saṅga-association; hena-saṅga-such association; vidhi-providence; mora-my; karileka-has done; bhaṅga-breaking.
TRANSLATION
“After many births, due to some pious activity I got Your association. Now providence is breaking this invaluable association.
TEXT 48
śire vajra paḍe yadi, putra mari’ yāya
tāhā sahi, tomāra viccheda sahana nā yāya
SYNONYMS
śire-on the head; vajra-a thunderbolt; paḍe-falls; yadi-if; putra-son; mari’-dying; yāya-goes; tāhā-that; sahi-I can tolerate; tomāra-Your; viccheda-separation; sahana-enduring; nā yāya-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
svatantra-īśvara tumi karibe gamana
dina katho raha, dekhi tomāra caraṇa’
SYNONYMS
svatantra-īśvara-the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead; tumi-You; karibe-will make; gamana-departure; dina-days; katho-some; raha-please stay; dekhi-I may see; tomāra caraṇa-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
tāhāra vinaye prabhura śithila haila mana
rahila divasa katho, nā kaila gamana
SYNONYMS
tāhāra-of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; vinaye-on the request; prabhura-of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; śithila-slackened; haila-became; mana-the mind; rahila-stayed; divasa-days; katho-a few; nā-not; kaila-did; gamana-departure.
TRANSLATION
Upon hearing Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s request, Caitanya Mahāprabhu relented. He stayed a few days longer and did not depart.
TEXT 51
bhaṭṭācārya āgraha kari’ karena nimantraṇa
gṛhe pāka kari’ prabhuke karā’na bhojana
SYNONYMS
bhaṭṭācārya-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; āgraha-eagerness; kari’-showing; karena-did; nimantraṇa-invitation; gṛhe-at home; pāka-cooking; kari’-doing; prabhuke-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; karā’na-made; bhojana-eating.
TRANSLATION
The Bhaṭṭācārya eagerly invited Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home and fed Him very nicely.
TEXT 52
tāṅhāra brāhmaṇī, tāṅra nāma–‘ṣāṭhīra mātā’
rāndhi’ bhikṣā dena teṅho, āścarya tāṅra kathā
SYNONYMS
tāṅhāra brāhmaṇī-his wife; tāṅra nāma-her name; ṣāṭhīra mātā-the mother of Ṣāṭhī; rāndhi’-cooking; bhikṣā dena-offers food; teṅho-she; āścarya-wonderful; tāṅra-her; kathā-narration.
TRANSLATION
The Bhaṭṭācārya’s wife, whose name was Ṣāṭhīmātā (the mother of Ṣāṭhī), did the cooking. The narrations of these pastimes are very wonderful.
TEXT 53
āge ta’ kahiba tāhā kariyā vistāra
ebe kahi prabhura dakṣiṇa-yātrā-samācāra
SYNONYMS
āge-later; ta’-indeed; kahiba-I shall speak; tāhā-all those incidents; kariyā-doing; vistāra-elaboration; ebe-now; kahi-let me describe; prabhura-of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dakṣiṇa-in South India; yātrā-of the touring; samācāra-the narration.
TRANSLATION
Later I shall tell about this in elaborate detail, but at present I wish to describe Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s South Indian tour.
TEXT 54
dina pāṅca rahi’ prabhu bhaṭṭācārya-sthāne
calibāra lāgi’ ājñā māgilā āpane
SYNONYMS
dina pāṅca-five days; rahi’-staying; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bhaṭṭācārya-sthāne-at Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s place; calibāra lāgi’-for starting; ājñā-order; māgilā-begged; āpane-personally.
TRANSLATION
After staying five days at the home of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally asked his permission to depart for South India.
TEXT 55
prabhura āgrahe bhaṭṭācārya sammata ha-ilā
prabhu tāṅre lañā jagannātha-mandire gelā
SYNONYMS
prabhura āgrahe-by the eagerness of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bhaṭṭācārya-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; sammata ha-ilā-became agreeable; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅre-him (Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya); lañā-taking; jagannātha-mandire-to the temple of Lord Jagannātha; gelā-went.
TRANSLATION
After receiving the Bhaṭṭācārya’s permission, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to see Lord Jagannātha in the temple. He took the Bhaṭṭācārya with Him.
TEXT 56
darśana kari’ ṭhākura-pāśa ājñā māgilā
pūjārī prabhure mālā-prasāda āni’ dilā
SYNONYMS
darśana kari’-visiting the Lord; ṭhākura-pāśa-from the Lord; ājñā māgilā-begged permission; pūjārī-the priest; prabhure-unto Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; mālā-garland; prasāda-remnants of food; āni’-bringing; dilā-delivered.
TRANSLATION
Seeing Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu also begged His permission. The priest then immediately delivered prasāda and a garland to Lord Caitanya.
TEXT 57
ājñā-mālā pāñā harṣe namaskāra kari’
ānande dakṣiṇa-deśe cale gaurahari
SYNONYMS
ājñā-mālā-the garland of permission; pāñā-getting; harṣe-in great jubilation; namaskāra-obeisances; kari’-offering; ānande-with great pleasure; dakṣiṇa-deśe-to South India; cale-goes; gaurahari-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TRANSLATION
Thus receiving Lord Jagannātha’s permission in the form of a garland, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered obeisances, and then in great jubilation He prepared to depart for South India.
TEXT 58
bhaṭṭācārya-saṅge āra yata nija-gaṇa
jagannātha pradakṣiṇa kari’ karilā gamana
SYNONYMS
bhaṭṭācārya-saṅge-with Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; āra-and; yata-all; nija-gaṇa-personal devotees; jagannātha-Lord Jagannātha; pradakṣiṇa-circumambulation; kari’-finishing; karilā-made; gamana-departure.
TRANSLATION
Accompanied by His personal associates and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu circumambulated the altar of Jagannātha. The Lord then departed on His South Indian tour.
TEXT 59
samudra-tīre tīre ālālanātha-pathe
sārvabhauma kahilena ācārya-gopīnāthe
SYNONYMS
samudra-tīre-on the shore of the sea; tīre-on the shore; ālālanātha-pathe-on the path to the temple of Ālālanātha; sārvabhauma-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; kahilena-said; ācārya-gopīnāthe-to Gopīnātha Ācārya.
TRANSLATION
While the Lord was going along the path to Ālālanātha, which was located on the seashore, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya gave the following orders to Gopīnātha Ācārya.
TEXT 60
cāri kopīna-bahirvāsa rākhiyāchi ghare
tāhā, prasādānna, lañā āisa vipra-dvāre
SYNONYMS
cāri kopīna-bahirvāsa-four sets of loincloths and external clothing; rākhiyāchi-I have kept; ghare-at home; tāhā-that; prasāda-anna-remnants of food of Lord Jagannātha; lañā-taking; āisa-come here; vipra-dvāre-by means of some brāhmaṇa.
TRANSLATION
“Bring the four sets of loincloths and outer garments I keep at home, and also some prasāda of Lord Jagannātha’s. You may carry these things with the help of some brāhmaṇa.”
TEXT 61
tabe sārvabhauma kahe prabhura caraṇe
avaśya pālibe, prabhu, mora nivedane
SYNONYMS
tabe-thereafter; sārvabhauma-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; kahe-said; prabhura caraṇe-unto the lotus feet of the Lord; avaśya-certainly; pālibe-You will keep; prabhu-my Lord; mora-my; nivedane-request.
TRANSLATION
While Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was departing, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya submitted the following at His lotus feet, “My Lord, I have one final request that I hope You will kindly fulfill.
TEXT 62
‘rāmānanda rāya’ āche godāvarī-tīre
adhikārī hayena teṅho vidyānagare
SYNONYMS
rāmānanda rāya-Rāmānanda Rāya; āche-there is; godāvarī-tīre-on the bank of river Godāvarī; adhikārī-a responsible officer; hayena-is; teṅho-he; vidyā-nagare-in the town known as Vidyānagara.
TRANSLATION
“In the town of Vidyānagara, on the bank of the Godāvarī, there is a responsible government officer named Rāmānanda Rāya.
PURPORT
In his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura states that Vidyānagara is today known as Porbandar. There is another Porbandar in western India in the province of Gujarat.
TEXT 63
śūdra viṣayi-jñāne upekṣā nā karibe
āmāra vacane tāṅre avaśya milibe
SYNONYMS
śūdra-the fourth social division; viṣayi-jñāne-by the impression of being a worldly man; upekṣā-negligence; nā karibe-should not do; āmāra-my; vacane-on the request; tāṅre-him; avaśya-certainly; milibe-You shouid meet.
TRANSLATION
“Please do not neglect him, thinking he belongs to a śūdra family engaged in material activities. It is my request that You meet him without fail.”
PURPORT
In the varṇāśrama-dharma, the śūdra is the fourth division in the social status. Paricaryātmakaṁ karma śūdrasyāpi svabhāva-jam (Bg. 18.44). Śūdras are meant to engage in the service of the three higher classes-brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas. Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya belonged to the karaṇa class, which is the equivalent of the kāyastha class in Bengal. This class is regarded all over India as śūdra. It is said that the Bengali kāyasthas were originally engaged as servants of brāhmaṇas who came from North India to Bengal. Later, the clerical class became the kāyasthas in Bengal. Now there are many mixed classes known as kāyastha. Sometimes it is said in Bengal that those who cannot claim any particular class belong to the kāyastha class. Although these kāyasthas or karaṇas are considered śūdras, they are very intelligent and highly educated. Most of them are professionals such as lawyers or politicians. Thus in Bengal the kāyasthas are sometimes considered kṣatriyas. In Orissa, however, the kāyastha class, which includes the karaṇas, is considered in the śūdra category. Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya belonged to this karaṇa class; therefore he was considered a śūdra. He was also the governor of South India under the regime of Mahārāja Pratāparudra of Orissa. In other words, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya informed Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu that Rāmānanda Rāya, although belonging to the śūdra class, was a highly responsible government officer. As far as spiritual advancement is concerned, materialists, politicians and śūdras are generally disqualified. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya therefore requested that Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu not neglect Rāmānanda Rāya, who was highly advanced spiritually although he was born a śūdra and a materialist.
A viṣayī 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 viṣayī. Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya was engaged in government service, and he belonged to the karaṇa class. He was certainly not a sannyāsī in saffron cloth, yet he was in the transcendental position of a paramahaṁsa householder. Before becoming Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s disciple, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya considered Rāmānanda Rāya an ordinary viṣayī because he was a householder engaged in government service. However, when the Bhaṭṭācārya was actually enlightened in Vaiṣṇava philosophy, he could understand the exalted transcendental position of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya; therefore he referred to him as adhikārī. An adhikārī is one who knows the transcendental science of Kṛṣṇa and is engaged in His service; therefore all gṛhastha devotees are designated as dāsa adhikārī.
TEXT 64
tomāra saṅgera yogya teṅho eka jana
pṛthivīte rasika bhakta nāhi tāṅra sama
SYNONYMS
tomāra-Your; saṅgera-of association; yogya-fit; teṅho-he (Rāmānanda Rāya); eka-one; jana-person; pṛthivīte-in the world; rasika-expert in transcendental mellows; bhakta-devotee; nāhi-there is none; tāṅra sama-like him.
TRANSLATION
Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, “Rāmānanda Rāya is a fit person to associate with You; no other devotee can compare with him in knowledge of the transcendental mellows.
TEXT 65
pāṇḍitya āra bhakti-rasa,–duṅhera teṅho sīmā
sambhāṣile jānibe tumi tāṅhāra mahimā
SYNONYMS
pāṇḍitya-learning; āra-and; bhakti-rasa-the mellows of devotional service; duṅhera-of these two; teṅho-he; sīmā-the limit; sambhāṣile-when You talk with him; jānibe-will know; tumi-You; tāṅhāra-his; mahimā-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
alaukika vākya ceṣṭā tāṅra nā bujhiyā
parihāsa kariyāchi tāṅre ‘vaiṣṇava’ baliyā
SYNONYMS
alaukika-uncommon; vākya-words; ceṣṭā-endeavor; tāṅra-his; nā-without; bujhiyā-understanding; parihāsa-joking; kariyāchi-I have done; tāṅre-unto him; vaiṣṇava-a devotee of the Lord; baliyā-as.
TRANSLATION
“I could not realize when I first spoke with Rāmānanda Rāya that his topics and endeavors were all transcendentally uncommon. I made fun of him simply because he was a Vaiṣṇava.”
PURPORT
Anyone who is a not a Vaiṣṇava, or an unalloyed devotee of the Supreme Lord, must be a materialist. A Vaiṣṇava living according to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s injunctions is certainly not on the materialistic platform. Caitanya means “spiritual force.” All of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’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 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Materialistic persons who cannot are generally known as karmīs or jñānīs. The jñānīs 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 jñānīs are a little more advanced than the dull-headed karmīs, who are simply interested in sense gratification. Before becoming a Vaiṣṇava, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was a mental speculator (jñānī), and being such, he always cut jokes with Vaiṣṇavas. A Vaiṣṇava never agrees with the speculative system of the jñānīs. Both the jñānīs and karmīs depend on direct sense perception for their imperfect knowledge. The karmīs never agree to accept anything not directly perceived, and the jñānīs put forth only hypotheses. However, the Vaiṣṇavas, 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-gītā, or sometimes as He imparts it from within as the caitya-guru. As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (10.10):
teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ
bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ
yena mām upayānti 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 Brahmā, who is the first created being within the universe (tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye). Our process is to receive knowledge through the paramparā system, from Kṛṣṇa to Brahmā, to Nārada, Vyāsa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the six Gosvāmīs. By disciplic succession, Lord Brahmā was enlightened from within by the original person, Kṛṣṇa. Our knowledge is fully perfect due to being handed from master to disciple. A Vaiṣṇava is always engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and thus neither karmīs nor jñānīs can understand the activities of a Vaiṣṇava. It is said, vaiṣṇavera kriyā-mudrā vijñeha nā bujhaya: even the most learned man depending on direct perception of knowledge cannot understand the activities of a Vaiṣṇava. After being initiated into Vaiṣṇavism by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Bhaṭṭācārya realized what a mistake he had made in trying to understand Rāmānanda Rāya, who was very learned and whose endeavors were all directed to rendering transcendental loving service to the Lord.
TEXT 67
tomāra prasāde ebe jāninu tāṅra tattva
sambhāṣile jānibe tāṅra yemana mahattva
SYNONYMS
tomāra prasāde-by Your mercy; ebe-now; jāninu-I have understood; tāṅra-of him (Rāmānanda Rāya); tattva-the truth; sambhāṣile-in talking together; jānibe-You will know; tāṅra-his; yemana-such; mahattva-greatness.
TRANSLATION
The Bhaṭṭācārya said, “By Your mercy I can now understand the truth about Rāmānanda Rāya. In talking with him, You also will acknowledge his greatness.”
TEXT 68
aṅgīkāra kari’ prabhu tāṅhāra vacana
tāṅre vidāya dite tāṅre kaila āliṅgana
SYNONYMS
aṅgīkāra kari’-accepting this proposal; prabhu-Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅhāra-of him (Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya); vacana-the request; tāṅre-unto him; vidāya dite-to offer farewell; tāṅre-him; kaila-did; āliṅgana-embracing.
TRANSLATION
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s request that He meet Rāmānanda Rāya. Bidding Sārvabhauma farewell, the Lord embraced him.
TEXT 69
“ghare kṛṣṇa bhaji’ more kariha āśīrvāde
nīlācale āsi’ yena tomāra prasāde”
SYNONYMS
ghare-at home; kṛṣṇa-Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhaji’-worshiping; more-unto Me; kariha-do; āśīrvāde-blessing; nīlācale-at Jagannātha Purī; āsi’-returning; yena-so that; tomāra-your; prasāde-by the mercy.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked the Bhaṭṭācārya to bless Him while he engaged in the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa at home, so that by Sārvabhauma’s mercy the Lord could return to Jagannātha Purī.
PURPORT
The word kariha āśīrvāde means “continue to bestow your blessings upon Me.” Being a sannyāsī, Caitanya Mahāprabhu was on the highest platform of respect and adoration, whereas Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, as a householder, was on the second platform. Therefore a sannyāsī is supposed to offer blessings to a gṛhastha. Now Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by His practical behavior requested the blessings of a gṛhastha. This is the special significance of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s preaching. He gave equal status to everyone, regardless of material considerations. His movement is thoroughly spiritual. Although apparently a gṛhastha (householder), Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was unlike the so-called karmīs interested in sense gratification. After being initiated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Bhaṭṭācārya was perfectly situated in the spiritual order; therefore it was quite possible for him to offer blessings even to a sannyāsī. 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 paramahaṁsa-Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. In his book Śaraṇāgati, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura stated: ye-dina gṛhe, bhajana dekhi’, gṛhete goloka bhāya (Śaraṇāgati 31.6). Whenever a householder glorifies the Supreme Lord in his home, his activities are immediately transformed into the activities of Goloka Vṛndāvana, spiritual activities taking place in the Goloka Vṛndāvana planet of Kṛṣṇa. Activities exhibited by Kṛṣṇa Himself at Bhauma Vṛndāvana, the Vṛndāvana-dhāma existing on this planet, are not different from His activities on the planet Goloka Vṛndāvana. This is proper realization of Vṛndāvana anywhere. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement we inaugurated the New Vṛndāvana activities, wherein devotees are always engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and this is not different from Goloka Vṛndāvana. The conclusion is that one who acts strictly in the line of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is competent to offer blessings to sannyāsīs, even though he be a gṛhastha householder. Although he is in an exalted position, a sannyāsī yet must elevate himself to the transcendental platform by rendering service to the Lord. By his actual behavior, Caitanya Mahāprabhu begged the blessings of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. He set the example of how one should expect blessings from a Vaiṣṇava, regardless of his social position.
TEXT 70
eta bali’ mahāprabhu karilā gamana
mūrcchita hañā tāhāṅ paḍilā sārvabhauma
SYNONYMS
eta bali’-saying this; mahāprabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; karilā-made; gamana-departure; mūrcchita-fainted; hañā-becoming; tāhāṅ-there; paḍilā-fell down; sārvabhauma-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.
TRANSLATION
Saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu departed on His tour, and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya immediately fainted and fell to the ground.
TEXT 71
tāṅre upekṣiyā kaila śīghra gamana
ke bujhite pāre mahāprabhura citta-mana
SYNONYMS
tāṅre-unto Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; upekṣiyā-not paying serious attention; kaila-did; śīghra-very fast; gamana-walking; ke-who; bujhite-to understand; pāre-is able; mahāprabhura-of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; citta-mana-the mind and intention.
TRANSLATION
Although Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya fainted, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not take notice of him. Rather, He left quickly. Who can understand the mind and intention of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu?
PURPORT
It was naturally expected that when Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya fainted and fell to the ground Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would have taken care of him and waited for him to regain consciousness, but He did not do so. Rather, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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
mahānubhāvera cittera svabhāva ei haya
puṣpa-sama komala, kaṭhina vajra-maya
SYNONYMS
mahā-anubhāvera-of a great personality; cittera-of the mind; svabhāva-the nature; ei haya-this is; puṣpa-sama-like a flower; komala-soft; kaṭhina-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-rāma-carita (2.7) explains this behavior. One may also consult Madhya-līlā, Third Chapter, verse 212.
TEXT 73
vajrād api kaṭhorāṇi
mṛdūni kusumād api
lokottarāṇāṁ cetāṁsi
ko nu vijñātum īśvaraḥ
SYNONYMS
vajrāt api-than a thunderbolt; kaṭhorāṇi-harder; mṛdūni-softer; kusumāt api-than a flower; loka-uttarāṇām-persons above the human platform of behavior; cetāṁsi-the hearts; kaḥ-who; nu-but; vijñātum-to understand; īśvaraḥ-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
nityānanda prabhu bhaṭṭācārye uṭhāila
tāṅra loka-saṅge tāṅre ghare pāṭhāila
SYNONYMS
nityānanda prabhu-Lord Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu; bhaṭṭācārye-Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; uṭhāila-raised; tāṅra-His; loka-saṅge-along with associates; tāṅre-him (the Bhaṭṭācārya); ghare-to his home; pāṭhāila-sent.
TRANSLATION
Lord Nityānanda Prabhu raised Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and with the help of His men saw him to his home.
TEXT 75
bhakta-gaṇa śīghra āsi’ laila prabhura sātha
vastra-prasāda lañā tabe āilā gopīnātha
SYNONYMS
bhakta-gaṇa-devotees; śīghra-very swiftly; āsi’-coming; laila-took; prabhura-of the Lord; sātha-the company; vastra-the garments; prasāda-and Lord Jagannātha’s prasāda; lañā-with; tabe-thereafter; āilā-came; gopīnātha-Gopīnātha Ācārya.
TRANSLATION
Immediately all the devotees came and partook of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s company. Afterwards, Gopīnātha Ācārya came with the garments and prasāda.
TEXT 76
sabā-saṅge prabhu tabe ālālanātha āilā
namaskāra kari’ tāre bahu-stuti kailā
SYNONYMS
sabā-saṅge-with all of them; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tabe-then; ālālanātha-the place named Ālālanātha; āilā-reached; namaskāra kari’-offering obeisances; tāre-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bahu-stuti-many prayers; kailā-offered.
TRANSLATION
All the devotees followed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to a place known as Ālālanātha. There they all offered respects and various prayers.
TEXT 77
premāveśe nṛtya-gīta kaila kata-kṣaṇa
dekhite āilā tāhāṅ vaise yata jana
SYNONYMS
prema-āveśe-in the great ecstasy of love of Godhead; nṛtya-gīta-dancing and chanting; kaila-performed; kata-kṣaṇa-for some time; dekhite-to see; āilā-came; tāhāṅ-there; vaise-who live; yata jana-all the men.
TRANSLATION
In great ecstasy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced and chanted for some time. Indeed, all the neighbors came to see Him.
TEXT 78
caudikete saba loka bale ‘hari’ ‘hari’
premāveśe madhye nṛtya kare gaurahari
SYNONYMS
caudikete-all around; saba loka-all persons; bale-shout; hari hari-the holy name of the Lord; prema-āveśe-in ecstatic love; madhye-in the middle; nṛtya kare-dances; gaurahari-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TRANSLATION
All around Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, 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
kāñcana-sadṛśa deha, aruṇa vasana
pulakāśru-kampa-sveda tāhāte bhūṣaṇa
SYNONYMS
kāñcana-sadṛśa-like molten gold; deha-a body; aruṇa-saffron; vasana-garments; pulaka-aśru-standing of hair and crying; kampa-trembling; sveda-perspiration; tāhāte-therein; bhūṣaṇa-the ornaments.
TRANSLATION
The body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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
dekhiyā lokera mane haila camatkāra
yata loka āise, keha nāhi yāya ghara
SYNONYMS
dekhiyā-seeing all this; lokera-of the people; mane-in the minds; haila-there was; camatkāra-astonishment; yata-all; loka-people; āise-came there; keha-anyone; nāhi-not; yāya-goes; ghara-home.
TRANSLATION
Everyone present was astonished to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s dancing and His bodily transformations. Whoever came did not want to return home.
TEXT 81
keha nāce, keha gāya, ‘śrī-kṛṣṇa’ ‘gopāla’
premete bhāsila loka,–strī-vṛddha-ābāla
SYNONYMS
keha nāce-someone dances; keha gāya-someone chants; śrī-kṛṣṇa-Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s name; gopāla-Gopāla’s name; premete-in love of Godhead; bhāsila-floated; loka-all the people; strī-women; vṛddha-old men; ā-bāla-from the children.
TRANSLATION
Everyone-including children, old men and women-began to dance and chant the holy names of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Gopāla. In this way they all floated in the ocean of love of Godhead.
TEXT 82
dekhi’ nityānanda prabhu kahe bhakta-gaṇe
ei-rūpe nṛtya āge habe grāme-grāme
SYNONYMS
dekhi’-seeing this; nityānanda-Lord Nityānanda Prabhu; prabhu-the Lord; kahe-says; bhakta-gaṇe-unto the devotees; ei-rūpe-in this way; nṛtya-dancing; āge-ahead; habe-there will be; grāme-grāme-in every village.
TRANSLATION
Upon seeing the chanting and dancing of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Nityānanda predicted that later there would be dancing and chanting in every village.
PURPORT
This prediction of Śrī Nityānanda 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 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will certainly be successful.
TEXT 83
atikāla haila, loka chāḍiyā nā yāya
tabe nityānanda-gosāñi sṛjilā upāya
SYNONYMS
atikāla-very late; haila-it was; loka-the people in general; chāḍiyā-giving up; nā yāya-do not go; tabe-at that time; nityānanda-Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu; gosāñi-the spiritual master; sṛjilā-invented; upāya-a means.
TRANSLATION
Seeing that it was already getting late, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, the spiritual master, invented a means to disperse the crowd.
TEXT 84
madhyāhna karite gelā prabhuke lañā
tāhā dekhi’ loka āise caudike dhāñā
SYNONYMS
madhyāhna karite-to take lunch at noon; gelā-went; prabhuke-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; lañā-taking; tāhā dekhi’-seeing that; loka-the people in general; āise-came; caudike-all around; dhāñā-running.
TRANSLATION
When Lord Nityānanda Prabhu took Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for lunch at noon, everyone came running around Them.
TEXT 85
madhyāhna kariyā āilā devatā-mandire
nija-gaṇa praveśi’ kapāṭa dila bahir-dvāre
SYNONYMS
madhyāhna kariyā-performing bathing, etc; āilā-came back; devatā-mandire-to the temple of the Lord; nija-gaṇa praveśi’-allowing His own men; kapāṭa dila-shut; bahir-dvāre-the outside door.
TRANSLATION
After finishing Their baths, They returned at noon to the temple. Admitting His own men, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu closed the outside door.
TEXT 86
tabe gopīnātha dui-prabhure bhikṣā karāila
prabhura śeṣa prasādānna sabe bāṅṭi’ khāila
SYNONYMS
tabe-thereupon; gopīnātha-Gopīnātha Ācārya; dui-prabhure-unto the two Lords Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu; bhikṣā karāila-gave prasāda to eat; prabhura-of the Lord; śeṣa-the remnants; prasāda-anna-food; sabe-all of them; bāṅṭi’-sharing; kbāila-ate.
TRANSLATION
Gopīnātha Ācārya then brought prasāda for the two Lords to eat, and after They had eaten, the remnants of the food were distributed to all the devotees.
TEXT 87
śuni’ śuni’ loka-saba āsi’ bahir-dvāre
‘hari’ ‘hari’ bali’ loka kolāhala kare
SYNONYMS
śuni’ śuni’-hearing this; loka-saba-all the people; āsi’-coming there; bahir-dvāre-to the outside door; hari hari-the holy name of the Lord; bali’-chanting; loka-all the people; kolāhala-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
tabe mahāprabhu dvāra karāila mocana
ānande āsiyā loka pāila daraśana
SYNONYMS
tabe-thereupon; mahāprabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dvāra-the door; karāila-made; mocana-opening; ānande-in great pleasure; āsiyā-coming; loka-all the people; pāila-got; daraśana-sight.
TRANSLATION
After lunch, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu made them open the door. In this way everyone received His audience with great pleasure.
TEXT 89
ei-mata sandhyā paryanta loka āse, yāya
‘vaiṣṇava’ ha-ila loka, sabe nāce, gāya
SYNONYMS
ei-mata-in this way; sandhyā paryanta-until evening; loka-people; āse yāya-come and go; vaiṣṇava-devotees; ha-ila-became; loka-all the people; sabe-all of them; nāce-dance; gāya-and chant.
TRANSLATION
The people came and went until evening, and all of them became Vaiṣṇava devotees and began to chant and dance.
TEXT 90
ei-rūpe sei ṭhāñi bhakta-gaṇa-saṅge
sei rātri goṅāilā kṛṣṇa-kathā-raṅge
SYNONYMS
ei-rūpe-in this way; sei ṭhāñi-in that place; bhakta-gaṇa-saṅge-with the devotees; sei rātri-that night; goṅāilā-passed; kṛṣṇa-kathā-raṅge-in great pleasure discussing Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then passed the night there and discussed the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa with His devotees with great pleasure.
TEXT 91
prātaḥ-kāle snāna kari’ karilā gamana
bhakta-gaṇe vidāya dilā kari’ āliṅgana
SYNONYMS
prātaḥ-kāle-in the morning; snāna-bath; kari’-after taking; karilā-started; gamana-tour; bhakta-gaṇe-to all the devotees; vidāya-farewell; dilā-gave; kari’-doing; āliṅgana-embracing.
TRANSLATION
The next morning, after taking His bath, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu started on His South Indian tour. He bade farewell to the devotees by embracing them.
TEXT 92
mūrcchita hañā sabe bhūmite paḍilā
tāṅhā-sabā pāne prabhu phiri’ nā cāhilā
SYNONYMS
mūrcchita hañā-becoming unconscious; sabe-all; bhūmite-to the ground; paḍilā-fell down; tāṅhā-sabā-all of them; pāne-toward; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; phiri’-turning; nā-not; cāhilā-saw.
TRANSLATION
Although they all fell to the ground unconscious, the Lord did not turn to see them but proceeded onward.
TEXT 93
vicchede vyākula prabhu calilā duḥkhī hañā
pāche kṛṣṇadāsa yāya jala-pātra lañā
SYNONYMS
vicchede-in separation; vyākula-perturbed; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; calilā-went on; duḥkhī-unhappy; hañā-becoming; pāche-just behind; kṛṣṇadāsa-His servant Kṛṣṇadāsa; yāya-went; jala-pātra-the waterpot; lañā-taking.
TRANSLATION
In separation, the Lord became very perturbed and walked on unhappily. His servant, Kṛṣṇadāsa, who was carrying His waterpot, followed behind.
TEXT 94
bhakta-gaṇa upavāsī tāhāṅi rahilā
āra dine duḥkhī hañā nīlācale āilā
SYNONYMS
bhakta-gaṇa-the devotees; upavāsī-fasting; tāhāṅi-there; rahilā-remained; āra dine-on the next day; duḥkhī-unhappy; hañā-becoming; nīlācale-to Jagannātha Purī; āilā-returned.
TRANSLATION
All the devotees remained there and fasted, but the next day they all unhappily returned to Jagannātha Purī.
TEXT 95
matta-siṁha-prāya prabhu karilā gamana
premāveśe yāya kari’ nāma-saṅkīrtana
SYNONYMS
matta-siṁha-a mad lion; prāya-almost like; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; karilā-did; gamana-touring; prema-āveśe-in ecstatic love; yāya-goes; kari’-performing; nāma-saṅkīrtana-chanting Kṛṣṇa’s name.
TRANSLATION
Almost like a mad lion, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went on His tour filled with ecstatic love and performing saṅkīrtana, chanting Kṛṣṇa’s names as follows.
TEXT 96
kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! he
kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! he
kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! rakṣa mām
kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! pāhi mām
rāma! rāghava! rāma! rāghava! rāma! rāghava! rakṣa mām
kṛṣṇa! keśava! kṛṣṇa! keśava! kṛṣṇa! keśava! pāhi mām
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa-Lord Kṛṣṇa; he-O; rakṣa-please protect; mām-Me; pāhi-please maintain; rāma-Lord Rāma; rāghava-descendant of King Raghu; keśava-killer of the Keśī demon.
TRANSLATION
The Lord chanted:
Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! he
Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! he
Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Rakṣa mām
Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Pāhi mām
That is, “O Lord Kṛṣṇa, please protect Me and maintain Me.” He also chanted:
Rāma! Rāghava! Rāma! Rāghava! Rāma! Rāghava! Rakṣa mām
Kṛṣṇa! Keśava! Kṛṣṇa! Keśava! Kṛṣṇa! Keśava! pāhi mām
That is, “O Lord Rāma, descendant of King Raghu, please protect Me. O Kṛṣṇa, O Keśava, killer of the Keśī demon, please maintain Me.”
TEXT 97
ei śloka paḍi’ pathe calilā gaurahari
loka dekhi’ pathe kahe,–bala ‘hari’ ‘hari’
SYNONYMS
ei śloka paḍi’-reciting this verse kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa!; pathe-on the way; calilā-went; gaurahari-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; 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 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, known as Gaurahari, went on His way. As soon as He saw someone, He would request him to chant “Hari! Hari!”
TEXT 98
sei loka prema-matta hañā bale ‘hari’ ‘kṛṣṇa’
prabhura pāche saṅge yāya darśana-satṛṣṇa
SYNONYMS
sei loka-that person; prema-matta-maddened in love of Godhead; hañā-becoming; bale-says; hari kṛṣṇa-the holy name of Lord Hari and Lord Kṛṣṇa; prabhura pāche-behind the Lord; saṅge-with Him; yāya-goes; darśana-satṛṣṇa-being very eager to see Him.
TRANSLATION
Whoever heard Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu chant “Hari, Hari,” also chanted the holy name of Lord Hari and Kṛṣṇa. In this way they all followed the Lord, very eager to see Him.
TEXT 99
kata-kṣaṇe rahi’ prabhu tāre āliṅgiyā
vidāya karila tāre śakti sañcāriyā
SYNONYMS
kata-kṣaṇe rahi’-after remaining for some time; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāre-them; āliṅgiyā-embracing; vidāya karila-bade farewell; tāre-in them; śakti-spiritual potency; sañcāriyā-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 Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura 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 Kṛṣṇa 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 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was empowered with this bhakti-śakti. Thus the Lord’s followers were able to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness by divine grace.
TEXT 100
sei-jana nija-grāme kariyā gamana
‘kṛṣṇa’ bali’ hāse, kānde, nāce anukṣaṇa
SYNONYMS
sei-jana-that person; nija-grāme-to his own village; kariyā gamana-returning there; kṛṣṇa bali’-saying the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; hāse-laughs; kānde-cries; nāce-dances; anukṣaṇa-always.
TRANSLATION
Being thus empowered, they would return to their own villages, always chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and sometimes laughing, crying and dancing.
TEXT 101
yāre dekhe, tāre kahe,–kaha kṛṣṇa-nāma
ei-mata ‘vaiṣṇava’ kaila saba nija-grāma
SYNONYMS
yāre dekhe-whomever he meets; tāre-to him; kahe-he says; kaha kṛṣṇa-nāma-kindly chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra; ei-mata-in this way; vaiṣṇava-devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kaila-made; saba-all; nija-grāma-his own village.
TRANSLATION
These empowered people used to request everyone and anyone-whomever they saw-to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. 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 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu or His devotee, the spiritual master. One must also request everyone to chant the mahā-mantra. In this way, such a person can convert others to Vaiṣṇavism, showing them how to become pure devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TEXT 102
grāmāntara haite dekhite āila yata jana
tāṅra darśana-kṛpāya haya tāṅra sama
SYNONYMS
grāma-antara haite-from different villages; dekhite-to see; āila-came; yata jana-all the persons; tāṅra-his; darśana-kṛpāya-by the mercy of seeing him; haya-become; tāṅra sama-similar Vaiṣṇavas.
TRANSLATION
Simply by seeing such empowered individuals, people from different villages would become like them by the mercy of their glance.
TEXT 103
sei yāi’ grāmera loka vaiṣṇava karaya
anya-grāmī āsi’ tāṅre dekhi’ vaiṣṇava haya
SYNONYMS
sei-that Vaiṣṇava; yāi’-going to his own village; grāmera loka-all the people of the village; vaiṣṇava-devotees; karaya-makes; anya-grāmī-inhabitants from different villages; āsi’-coming there; tāṅre dekhi’-by seeing them; vaiṣṇava 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
sei yāi’ āra grāme kare upadeśa
ei-mata ‘vaiṣṇava’ haila saba dakṣiṇa-deśa
SYNONYMS
sei-that man; yāi’-going; āra-different; grāme-to the villages; kare-gives; upadeśa-instruction; ei-mata-in this way; vaiṣṇava-devotees; haila-became; saba-all; dakṣiṇa-deśa-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
ei-mata pathe yāite śata śata jana
‘vaiṣṇava’ karena tāṅre kari’ āliṅgana
SYNONYMS
ei-mata-in this way; pathe-on the way; yāite-while passing; śata śata-hundreds and hundreds; jana-persons; vaiṣṇava-devotees; karena-makes; tāṅre-Him; kari’-doing; āliṅgana-embracing.
TRANSLATION
Thus many hundreds of people became Vaiṣṇavas when they passed the Lord on the way and were embraced by Him.
TEXT 106
yei grāme rahi’ bhikṣā karena yāṅra ghare
sei grāmera yata loka āise dekhibāre
SYNONYMS
yei grāme-in whatever village; rahi’-staying; bhikṣā-alms; karena-accepts; yāṅra-whose; ghare-at home; sei-that; grāmera-of the village; yata loka-all the persons; āise-come; dekhibāre-to see.
TRANSLATION
In whatever village Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed to accept alms, many people came to see Him.
TEXT 107
prabhura kṛpāya haya mahābhāgavata
sei saba ācārya hañā tārila jagat
SYNONYMS
prabhura kṛpāya-by the mercy of the Lord; haya-become; mahā-bhāgavata-first-class devotees; sei saba-all such persons; ācārya-teachers; hañā-becoming; tārila-liberated; jagat-the whole world.
TRANSLATION
By the mercy of the Supreme Lord, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, everyone became a first-class devotee. Later they became teachers or spiritual masters and liberated the entire world.
TEXT 108
ei-mata kailā yāvat gelā setubandhe
sarva-deśa ‘vaiṣṇava’ haila prabhura sambandhe
SYNONYMS
ei-mata-in this way; kailā-performed; yāvat-until; gelā-went; setubandhe-to the southernmost part of India; sarva-deśa-all the countries; vaiṣṇava-devotees; haila-became; prabhura-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; 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 Vaiṣṇavism.
TEXT 109
navadvīpe yei śakti nā kailā prakāśe
se śakti prakāśi’ nistārila dakṣiṇa-deśe
SYNONYMS
navadvīpe-at Navadvīpa; yei-that which; śakti-the potency; nā-not; kailā-did; prakāśe-manifestation; se-that; śakti-potency; prakāśi’-manifesting; nistārila-delivered; dakṣiṇa-deśe-South India.
TRANSLATION
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not manifest His spiritual potencies at Navadvīpa, but He did manifest them in South India and liberated all the people there.
PURPORT
At that time there were many smārtas (nondevotee followers of Vedic rituals) at the holy place of Navadvīpa, which was also the birthplace of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Followers of the smṛti-śāstra are called smārtas. Most of them are nondevotees, and their main business is following the brahminical principles strictly. However, they are not enlightened in devotional service. In Navadvīpa all the learned scholars are followers of the smṛti-śāstra, and Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not attempt to convert them. Therefore the author has remarked that the spiritual potency Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not manifest at Navadvīpa was by His grace manifest in South India. Thus everyone there became a Vaiṣṇava. 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 Kṛṣṇa consciousness amongst them. It is better to go where the situation is more favorable. This Kṛṣṇa 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 Mahāprabhu this movement is becoming successful.
TEXT 110
prabhuke ye bhaje, tāre tāṅra kṛpā haya
sei se e-saba līlā satya kari’ laya
SYNONYMS
prabhuke-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; ye-anyone who; bhaje-worships; tāre-unto him; tāṅra-of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kṛpā-the mercy; haya-there is; sei se-such person; e-saba-all these; līlā-pastimes; satya-truth; kari’-accepting as; laya-takes.
TRANSLATION
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’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
alaukika-līlāya yāra nā haya viśvāsa
iha-loka, para-loka tāra haya nāśa
SYNONYMS
alaukika-uncommon; līlāya-in the pastimes; yāra-of someone; nā-not; haya-there is; viśvāsa-faith; iha-loka-in this world; para-loka-in the next world; tāra-of him; haya-there is; nāśa-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
prathamei kahila prabhura ye-rūpe gamana
ei-mata jāniha yāvat dakṣiṇa-bhramaṇa
SYNONYMS
prathamei-at the beginning; kahila-I have explained; prabhura-of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; ye-rūpe-as; gamana-the touring; ei-mata-in this way; jāniha-you should know; yāvat-as long as; dakṣiṇa-bhramaṇa-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
ei-mata yāite yāite gelā kūrma-sthāne
kūrma dekhi’ kaila tāṅre stavana-praṇāme
SYNONYMS
ei-mata-in this way; yāite yāite-while passing; gelā-He went; kūrma-sthāne-to the place of pilgrimage known as Kūrma-kṣetra; kūrma dekhi’-seeing Lord Kūrma; kaila-offered; tāṅre-unto Him; stavana-prayers; praṇāme-and obeisances.
TRANSLATION
When Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to the holy place known as Kūrma-kṣetra, He saw the Deity and offered prayers and obeisances.
PURPORT
This Kūrma-sthāna is a well-known place of pilgrimage. There is a temple there of Kūrmadeva. In the Prapannāmṛta it is said that Lord Jagannātha took Śrī Rāmānujācārya from Jagannātha Purī and one night threw him to Kūrma-kṣetra. This Kūrma-kṣetra is situated on the line of the Southern Railway in India. One has to go to the railway station known as Cikā Kola Road. From this station one goes eight miles to the east to reach the holy place known as Kūrmācala. Those who speak the Telugu language consider this holy place very important. This statement is reported in the government gazette known as Gañjāma Manual. There is the Deity of Kūrma there, and Śrīla Rāmānujācārya was thrown from Jagannātha Purī to this place. At that time he thought that the Deity of Kūrma was Lord Śiva’s deity; therefore he was fasting there. Later, when he understood that the kūrma-mūrti was another form of Lord Viṣṇu, he instituted very gorgeous worship of Lord Kūrma. This statement is found in the Prapannāmṛta (Chapter Thirty-six). This holy place of Kūrma-kṣetra, or Kūrma-sthāna, was actually reestablished by Śrīpāda Rāmānujācārya under the influence of Lord Jagannātha-deva at Jagannātha Purī. Later the temple came under the jurisdiction of the king of Vijaya-nagara. The Deity was worshiped by the Vaiṣṇavas of the Madhvācārya-sampradāya. In the temple there are some inscriptions said to be written by Śrī Narahari Tīrtha, who was in the disciplic succession of Madhvācārya. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains those inscriptions as follows: (1) Śrī Puruṣottama Yati appeared as the instructor of many learned men. He was a very favorite devotee of Lord Viṣṇu. (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 Ānanda Tīrtha and converted many foolish men to accept sannyāsa and punished them with his rod. (4) All his writings and words are very potent. He gave people devotional service to Lord Viṣṇu 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 Tīrtha was also initiated by him, and he became the ruler of the Kaliṅga province. (7) Narahari Tīrtha fought with the Śabaras, who were caṇḍālas, or hunters, and thus saved the temple of Kūrma. (8) Narahari Tīrtha was a very religious and powerful king. (9) He died in the Śaka Era 1203, in the month of Vaiśākha in the fortnight of the moon’s waxing period, on the day of Ekādaśī, after the temple was constructed and dedicated to the holy name of Yogānanda Nṛsiṁhadeva. The tablet is dated A.D. 1281, 29 March, Saturday.
TEXT 114
premāveśe hāsi’ kāndi’ nṛtya-gīta kaila
dekhi’ sarva lokera citte camatkāra haila
SYNONYMS
prema-āveśe-in great ecstasy of love of Godhead; hāsi’-laughing; kāndi’-crying; nṛtya-gīta-dancing and chanting; kaila-performed; dekhi’-seeing; sarva lokera-of all the people there; citte-within the hearts; camatkāra-astonishment; haila-there was.
TRANSLATION
While at this place, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was in His usual ecstasy of love of Godhead and was laughing, crying, dancing and chanting. Everyone who saw Him was astonished.
TEXT 115
āścarya śuniyā loka āila dekhibāre
prabhura rūpa-prema dekhi’ hailā camatkāre
SYNONYMS
āścarya-wonderful occurrence; śuniyā-hearing; loka-people; āila-came; dekhibāre-to see; prabhura-of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; rūpa-beauty; prema-and love of Godhead; dekhi’-seeing; hailā-there was; camatkāre-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
darśane ‘vaiṣṇava’ haila, bale ‘kṛṣṇa’ ‘hari’
premāveśe nāce loka ūrdhva bāhu kari’
SYNONYMS
darśane-in seeing; vaiṣṇava haila-they became devotees; bale-started to say; kṛṣṇa-Lord Kṛṣṇa; hari-Lord Hari; prema-āveśe-in the great ecstasy of love of Godhead; nāce-dance; loka-all the people; ūrdhva bāhu kari’-raising the arms.
TRANSLATION
Just by seeing Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, everyone became a devotee. They began to chant “Kṛṣṇa” 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
kṛṣṇa-nāma loka-mukhe śuni’ avirāma
sei loka ‘vaiṣṇava’ kaila anya saba grāma
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa-nāma-the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; loka-mukhe-from the mouth of those people; śuni’-hearing; avirāma-always; sei loka-those persons; vaiṣṇava-devotees; kaila-made; anya-other; saba-all; grāma-villages.
TRANSLATION
Always hearing them chant the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the residents of all the other villages also became Vaiṣṇavas.
TEXT 118
ei-mata paramparāya deśa ‘vaiṣṇava’ haila
kṛṣṇa-nāmāmṛta-vanyāya deśa bhāsāila
SYNONYMS
ei-mata-in this way; paramparāya-by disciplic succession; deśa-the country; vaiṣṇava haila-became devotees; kṛṣṇa-nāma-amṛta-of the nectar of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa; vanyāya-in the inundation; deśa-the whole country; bhāsāila-overflooded.
TRANSLATION
By hearing the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, the entire country became Vaiṣṇava. It was as if the nectar of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa overflooded the entire country.
TEXT 119
kata-kṣaṇe prabhu yadi bāhya prakāśilā
kūrmera sevaka bahu sammāna karilā
SYNONYMS
kata-kṣaṇe-after some time; prabhu-Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; yadi-when; bāhya-external consciousness; prakāśilā-manifested; kūrmera-of the Lord Kūrma Deity; sevaka-a servant; bahu-much; sammāna-respect; karilā-showed.
TRANSLATION
After some time, when Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu manifested His external consciousness, a priest of the Lord Kūrma Deity gave Him various offerings.
TEXT 120
yei grāme yāya tāhāṅ ei vyavahāra
eka ṭhāñi kahila, nā kahiba āra bāra
SYNONYMS
yei grāme-to whichever village; yāya-He goes; tāhāṅ-there; ei-this; vyavahāra-behavior; eka ṭhāñi-one place; kahila-described; nā-not; kahiba-shall describe; āra-another; bāra-time.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’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
‘kūrma’-nāme sei grāme vaidika brāhmaṇa
bahu śraddhā-bhaktye kaila prabhura nimantraṇa
SYNONYMS
kūrma-nāme-of the name Kūrma; sei-that; grāme-in the village; vaidika brāhmaṇa-a Vedic brāhmaṇa; bahu-much; śraddhā-bhaktye-with faith and devotion; kaila-made; prabhura-of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; nimantraṇa-invitation.
TRANSLATION
In one village there was a Vedic brāhmaṇa named Kūrma. He invited Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home with great respect and devotion.
TEXT 122
ghare āni’ prabhura kaila pāda prakṣālana
sei jala vaṁśa-sahita karila bhakṣaṇa
SYNONYMS
ghare āni’-after bringing Him home; prabhura-of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kaila-did; pāda prakṣālana-washing of the lotus feet; sei jala-that water; vaṁśa-sahita-with all the family members; karila bhakṣaṇa-drank.
TRANSLATION
This brāhmaṇa brought Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home, washed His lotus feet and, with his family members, drank that water.
TEXT 123
aneka-prakāra snehe bhikṣā karāila
gosāñira śeṣānna sa-vaṁśe khāila
SYNONYMS
aneka-prakāra-various kinds; snehe-in affection; bhikṣā-food; karāila-made Him eat; gosāñira-of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; śeṣa-anna-remnants of food; sa-vaṁśe-with all the members of the family; khāila-ate.
TRANSLATION
With great affection and respect, that Kūrma brāhmaṇa made Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu eat all kinds of food. After that, the remnants were shared by all the members of the family.
TEXT 124
‘yei pāda-padma tomāra brahmā dhyāna kare
sei pāda-padma sākṣāt āila mora ghare
SYNONYMS
yei-those; pāda-padma-lotus feet; tomāra-Your; brahmā-Lord Brahmā; dhyāna kare-meditates on; sei pāda-padma-those lotus feet; sākṣāt-directly; āila-have come; mora-my; ghare-to the home.
TRANSLATION
The brāhmaṇa then began to pray, “O my Lord, Your lotus feet are meditated upon by Lord Brahmā, and these very lotus feet have come into my home.
TEXT 125
mora bhāgyera sīmā nā yāya kahana
āji mora ślāghya haila janma-kula-dhana
SYNONYMS
mora-my; bhāgyera-of the fortune; sīmā-the limit; nā-not; yāya-possible; kahana-describing; āji-today; mora-my; ślāghya-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
kṛpā kara, prabhu, more, yāṅ tomā-saṅge
sahite nā pāri duḥkha viṣaya-taraṅge’
SYNONYMS
kṛpā kara-kindly show favor; prabhu-O my Lord; more-unto me; yāṅ-I go; tomā-saṅge-with You; sahite nā pāri-I cannot tolerate; duḥkha-the troubles; viṣaya-taraṅge-in the waves of materialistic life.
TRANSLATION
The brāhmaṇa begged Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “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 dāsa Ṭhākura has confirmed this statement: saṁsāra-viṣānale, divā-niśi hiyā 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 viṣayas 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 dāsa Ṭhākura therefore prays: viṣaya chāḍiyā kabe śuddha 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 brāhmaṇa named Kūrma 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 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. According to the Vedic way of civilization, one should leave his family after attaining fifty years of age and go to the forest of Vṛndāvana to devote the rest of his life to the service of the Lord.
TEXT 127
prabhu kahe,–“aiche bāt kabhu nā kahibā
gṛhe rahi’ kṛṣṇa-nāma nirantara laibā
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; aiche bāt-such words; kabhu-at any time; nā kahibā-you should not speak; gṛhe rahi’-staying at home; kṛṣṇa-nāma-the holy name of the Lord; nirantara-always; laibā-you should chant.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Don’t speak like that again. Better to remain at home and chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa always.
PURPORT
It is not advisable in this Age of Kali to leave one’s family suddenly, for people are not trained as proper brahmacārīs and gṛhasthas. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised the brāhmaṇa 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 Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra regularly under the direction of a spiritual master. This is the instruction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. If this principle is followed by everyone, there is no need to accept sannyāsa. In the next verse Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advises everyone to become an ideal householder by offenselessly chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and teaching the same principle to everyone he meets.
TEXT 128
yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa
āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa
SYNONYMS
yāre-whomever; dekha-you meet; tāre-him; kaha-tell; kṛṣṇa-upadeśa-the instruction of the Bhagavad-gītā as it is spoken by the Lord or of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which advises one to worship Śrī Kṛṣṇa; āmāra ājñāya-under My order; guru hañā-becoming a spiritual master; tāra’-deliver; ei deśa-this country.
TRANSLATION
“Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. 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 mahā-mantra: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. If one is a little literate and can read the Bhagavad-gītā As It Is and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 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 Kṛṣṇa mahā-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 Kṛṣṇa-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 Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is trying to elevate human society to the perfection of life by pursuing the method described by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in His advice to the brāhmaṇa Kūrma. That is, one should stay at home, chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and preach the instructions of Kṛṣṇa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
TEXT 129
kabhu nā bādhibe tomāra viṣaya-taraṅga
punarapi ei ṭhāñi pābe mora saṅga”
SYNONYMS
kabhu-at any time; nā-not; bādhibe-will obstruct; tomāra-your; viṣaya-taraṅga-materialistic way of life; punarapi-again; ei ṭhāñi-at this place; pābe-you will get; mora-My; saṅga-association.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu further advised the brāhmaṇa Kūrma, “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 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, under the guidance of His representative, and chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa 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 Vṛndāvana, Navadvīpa or Jagannātha Purī or in the midst of European cities, where the materialistic way of life is very prominent. If a devotee follows the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he lives in the company of the Lord. Wherever he lives, he converts that place into Vṛndāvana and Navadvīpa. This means that materialism cannot touch him. This is the secret of success for one advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
TEXT 130
ei mata yāṅra ghare kare prabhu bhikṣā
sei aiche kahe, tāṅre karāya ei śikṣā
SYNONYMS
ei mata-in this way; yāṅra-of whom; ghare-at the home; kare-does; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bhikṣā-accepting prasāda; sei-that man; aiche-similarly; kahe-says; tāṅre-unto him; karāya-does; ei-this; śikṣā-enlightenment.
TRANSLATION
At whosoever’s house Śrī Caitanya accepted His alms by taking prasāda, He would convert the dwellers to His saṅkīrtana movement and advise them just as He advised the brāhmaṇa named Kūrma.
PURPORT
The cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and instruct relatives and friends in the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. One has to learn humility and meekness at home, following the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, 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 Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and preaching the principles enunciated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Thus one can become a spiritual master and be freed from the contamination of material life.
There are many sahajiyās who decry the activities of the six Gosvāmīs-Śrīla Rūpa, Sanātana, Raghunātha dāsa, Bhaṭṭa Raghunātha, Jīva and Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmīs-who are the personal associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and who enlightened society by writing books on devotional service. Similarly, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura and other great ācāryas like Madhvācārya, Rāmānujācārya and others accepted many thousands of disciples to induce them to render devotional service. However, there is a class of sahajiyās 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 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, 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 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu who engage in preaching. To protect His preachers, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has given much clear advice in these verses of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.
TEXTS 131-132
pathe yāite devālaye rahe yei grāme
yāṅra ghare bhikṣā kare, sei mahā-jane
kūrme yaiche rīti, taiche kaila sarva-ṭhāñi
nīlācale punaḥ yāvat nā āilā gosāñi
SYNONYMS
pathe yāite-while passing on the road; devālaye-in a temple; rahe-He stays; yei grāme-in any village; yāṅra ghare-at whose place; bhikṣā kare-takes alms or eats; sei mahā-jane-to such a great personality; kūrme-unto the brāhmaṇa Kūrma; yaiche-just as; rīti-the process; taiche-in the same way; kaila-did; sarva-ṭhāñi-in all places; nīlācale-to Jagannātha Purī; punaḥ-again; yāvat-until; nā-not; āilā-returned; gosāñi-the Lord.
TRANSLATION
While on His tour, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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 brāhmaṇa named Kūrma. He adopted this process until He returned from His South Indian tour to Jagannātha Purī.
TEXT 133
ataeva ihāṅ kahilāṅ kariyā vistāra
ei-mata jānibe prabhura sarvatra vyavahāra
SYNONYMS
ataeva-therefore; ihāṅ-here; kahilāṅ-I have described; kariyā vistāra-elaborately; ei-mata-in this way; jānibe-you will know; prabhura-of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; sarvatra-everywhere; vyavahāra-the behavior.
TRANSLATION
Thus I have described the Lord’s behavior elaborately in the case of Kūrma. In this way, you will know Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s dealings throughout South India.
TEXT 134
ei-mata sei rātri tāhāṅi rahilā
prātaḥ-kāle prabhu snāna kariyā calilā
SYNONYMS
ei-mata-in this way; sei rātri-that night; tāhāṅi-there; rahilā-stayed; prātaḥ-kāle-in the morning; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; snāna-bath; kariyā-taking; calilā-again started.
TRANSLATION
Thus Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would remain at night in one place and the next morning, after bathing, start again.
TEXT 135
prabhura anuvraji’ kūrma bahu dūra āilā
prabhu tāṅre yatna kari’ ghare pāṭhāilā
SYNONYMS
prabhura-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; anuvraji’-following behind; kūrma-the brāhmaṇa named Kūrma; bahu-much; dūra-distance; āilā-came; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅre-him; yatna kari’-taking much care; ghare-to his home; pāṭhāilā-sent.
TRANSLATION
When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left, the brāhmaṇa Kūrma followed Him a great distance, but eventually Lord Caitanya took care to send him back home.
TEXT 136
‘vāsudeva’-nāma eka dvija mahāśaya
sarvāṅge galita kuṣṭha, tāte kīḍā-maya
SYNONYMS
vāsudeva-nāma-of the name Vāsudeva; eka dvija-one brāhmaṇa; mahāśaya-a great person; sarva-aṅge-all over his body; galita-acute; kuṣṭha-leprosy; tāte-in that; kīḍā-maya-full of living worms.
TRANSLATION
There was also a brāhmaṇa named Vāsudeva, who was a great person but was suffering from leprosy. Indeed, his body was filled with living worms.
TEXT 137
aṅga haite yei kīḍā khasiyā paḍaya
uṭhāñā sei kīḍā rākhe sei ṭhāña
SYNONYMS
aṅga haite-from his body; yei-which; kīḍā-a worm; khasiyā-drops; paḍaya-falling off; uṭhāñā-picking up; sei-that; kīḍā-worm; rākhe-places; sei ṭhāña-in the same place.
TRANSLATION
Although suffering from leprosy, the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva 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
rātrite śunilā teṅho gosāñira āgamana
dekhibāre āilā prabhāte kūrmera bhavana
SYNONYMS
rātrite-at night; śunilā-heard; teṅho-he; gosāñira-of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; āgamana-the arrival; dekhibāre-to see Him; āilā-he came; prabhāte-in the morning; kūrmera-of the brāhmaṇa named Kūrma; bhavana-to the house.
TRANSLATION
Then one night Vāsudeva heard of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s arrival, and in the morning he came to see the Lord at the house of Kūrma.
TEXT 139
prabhura gamana kūrma-mukhete śuniñā
bhūmite paḍilā duḥkhe mūrcchita hañā
SYNONYMS
prabhura-of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; gamana-the going; kūrma-mukhete-from the mouth of the brāhmaṇa Kūrma; śuniñā-hearing; bhūmite-on the ground; paḍilā-fell down; duḥkhe-in great distress; mūrcchita -unconsciousness; hañā-becoming.
TRANSLATION
When the leper Vāsudeva came to Kūrma’s house to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he was informed that the Lord had already left. The leper then fell to the ground unconscious.
TEXT 140
aneka prakāra vilāpa karite lāgilā
sei-kṣaṇe āsi’ prabhu tāṅre āliṅgilā
SYNONYMS
aneka prakāra-various kinds; vilāpa-lamentation; karite-to do; lāgilā-began; sei-kṣaṇe-immediately; āsi’-coming back; prabhu-Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅre-him; āliṅgilā-embraced.
TRANSLATION
When Vāsudeva, the leper brāhmaṇa, was lamenting due to not being able to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord immediately returned to that spot and embraced him.
TEXT 141
prabhu-sparśe duḥkha-saṅge kuṣṭha dūre gela
ānanda sahite aṅga sundara ha-ila
SYNONYMS
prabhu-sparśe-by the touch of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; duḥkha-saṅge-along with his unhappiness; kuṣṭha-the infection of leprosy; dūre-to a distant place; gela-went; ānanda sahite-with great pleasure; aṅga-whole body; sundara-beautiful; ha-ila-became.
TRANSLATION
When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu touched him, both the leprosy and his distress went to a distant place. Indeed, Vāsudeva’s body became very beautiful, to his great happiness.
TEXT 142
prabhura kṛpā dekhi’ tāṅra vismaya haila mana
śloka paḍi’ pāye dhari, karaye stavana
SYNONYMS
prabhura-of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kṛpā-the mercy; dekhi’-seeing; tāṅra-of the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva; vismaya haila mana-there was astonishment in his mind; śloka paḍi’-reciting a verse; pāye dhari-touching His lotus feet; karaye stavana-offers prayers.
TRANSLATION
The brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva was astonished to behold the wonderful mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and he began to recite a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, touching the Lord’s lotus feet.
TEXT 143
kvāhaṁ daridraḥ pāpīyān
kva kṛṣṇaḥ śrī-niketanaḥ
brahma-bandhur iti smāhaṁ
bāhubhyāṁ parirambhitaḥ
SYNONYMS
kva-who; aham-I; daridraḥ-poor; pāpīyān-sinful; kva-who; kṛṣṇaḥ-the Supreme Personality of Godhead; śrī-niketanaḥ-the transcendental form of all opulence; brahma-bandhuḥ-the friend of a brāhmaṇa, not fit even to be called a brāhmaṇa; iti-thus; sma-certainly; aham-I; bāhubhyām-by the arms; parirambhitaḥ-embraced.
TRANSLATION
He said, ” ‘Who am I? A sinful, poor friend of a brāhmaṇa. And who is Kṛṣṇa? The Supreme Personality of Godhead, full in six opulences. Nonetheless, He has embraced me with His two arms.’ “
PURPORT
This verse was spoken by Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.81.16), in connection with his meeting Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TEXTS 144-145
bahu stuti kari’ kahe,–śuna, dayā-maya
jīve ei guṇa nāhi, tomāte ei haya
more dekhi’ mora gandhe palāya pāmara
hena-more sparśa’ tumi,–svatantra īśvara
SYNONYMS
bahu-many; stuti-prayers; kari’-presenting; kahe-says; śuna-kindly hear; dayā-maya-O greatly merciful Lord; jīve-in the living entity; ei-this; guṇa-quality; nāhi-there is not; tomāte-in You; ei-this; haya-is; more dekhi’-by seeing me; mora gandhe-from smelling my body; palāya-runs away; pāmara-even a sinful man; hena-more-such a person as me; sparśa’-touch; tumi-You; svatantra-fully independent; īśvara-the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
The brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva 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
kintu āchilāṅ bhāla adhama hañā
ebe ahaṅkāra mora janmibe āsiyā
SYNONYMS
kintu-but; āchilāṅ-I was; bhāla-all right; adhama-the lowest of mankind; hañā-being; ebe-now; ahaṅkāra-pride; mora-my; janmibe-will appear; āsiyā-coming.
TRANSLATION
Being meek and humble, the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva worried that he would become proud after being cured by the grace of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TEXT 147
prabhu kahe,–“kabhu tomāra nā habe abhimāna
nirantara kaha tumi ‘kṛṣṇa’ ‘kṛṣṇa’ nāma
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe-the Lord said; kabhu-at any time; tomāra-your; nā-not; habe-there will be; abhimāna-pride; nirantara-incessantly; kaha-chant; tumi-you; kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa nāma-the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
To protect the brāhmaṇa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised him to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra incessantly. By doing so, he would never become unnecessarily proud.
TEXT 148
kṛṣṇa upadeśi’ kara jīvera nistāra
acirāte kṛṣṇa tomā karibena aṅgīkāra”
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa upadeśi’-instructing about Kṛṣṇa; kara-just do; jīvera-of all living entities; nistāra-the liberation; acirāte-very soon; kṛṣṇa-Lord Kṛṣṇa; tomā-you; karibena-will make; aṅgīkāra-acceptance.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu also advised Vāsudeva to preach about Kṛṣṇa and thus liberate living entities. As a result, Kṛṣṇa would very soon accept him as His devotee.
PURPORT
Although Vāsudeva Vipra was a leper and had suffered greatly, still Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu cured him. The only return the Lord wanted was that Vāsudeva preach the instructions of Kṛṣṇa 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 Kṛṣṇa 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 Kṛṣṇa, and their qualities are manifest in their very faces. If one wants to be recognized as a devotee by Kṛṣṇa, he should take to preaching work, following the advice of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then one will undoubtedly attain the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, without delay.
TEXT 149
eteka kahiyā prabhu kaila antardhāne
dui vipra galāgali kānde prabhura guṇe
SYNONYMS
eteka-so much; kahiyā-speaking; prabhu-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kaila-made; antardhāne-disappearance; dui vipra-the two brāhmaṇas, Kūrma and Vāsudeva; galāgali-embracing one another; kānde-cry; prabhura guṇe-due to the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TRANSLATION
After instructing the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva in that way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu disappeared from that place. Then the two brāhmaṇas, Kūrma and Vāsudeva, embraced each other and began to cry, remembering the transcendental qualities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TEXT 150
‘vāsudevoddhāra’ ei kahila ākhyāna
‘vāsudevāmṛta-prada’ haila prabhura nāma
SYNONYMS
vāsudeva-uddhāra-giving liberation to Vāsudeva; ei-this; kahila-is described; ākhyāna-narration; vāsudeva-amṛta-prada-the giver of nectar to Vāsudeva; haila-became; prabhura nāma-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s holy name.
TRANSLATION
Thus I have described how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu reclaimed the leper Vāsudeva and so received the name Vāsudevāmṛta-prada.
TEXT 151
ei ta’ kahila prabhura prathama gamana
kūrma-daraśana, vāsudeva-vimocana
SYNONYMS
ei ta’ kahila-thus I have described; prabhura-of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; prathama gamana-the first tour; kūrma-daraśana-visiting the temple of Kūrma; vāsudeva-vimocana-and liberating the leper brāhmaṇa of the name Vāsudeva.
TRANSLATION
Thus I end my description of the first tour of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, His visiting the temple of Kūrma and His liberating the leper brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva.
TEXT 152
śraddhā kari’ ei līlā ye kare śravaṇa
acirāte milaye tāre caitanya-caraṇa
SYNONYMS
śraddhā kari’-with great faith; ei līlā-this pastime; ye-anyone; kare-does; śravaṇa-hearing; acirāte-very soon; milaye-meets; tāre-him; caitanya-caraṇa-the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TRANSLATION
One who hears these pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with great faith will surely very soon attain the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TEXT 153
caitanya-līlāra ādi-anta nāhi jāni
sei likhi, yei mahāntera mukhe śuni
SYNONYMS
caitanya-līlāra-of the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; ādi-beginning; anta-and end; nāhi-not; jāni-I know; sei-that; likhi-I write; yei-which; mahāntera-of the great personalities; mukhe-from the mouths; śuni-I hear.
TRANSLATION
I admit that I do not know the beginning or the end of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pastimes. However, whatever I have written I have heard from the mouths of great personalities.
PURPORT
The name Vāsudevāmṛta-prada is mentioned in the verses composed by Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. When a person actually revives his consciousness with thoughts of Kṛṣṇa by the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he revives his spiritual life and becomes addicted to the service of the Lord. Only then can he act as an ācārya. In other words, everyone should engage in preaching, following in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In this way one will be very much appreciated by Lord Kṛṣṇa and will quickly be recognized by Him. Actually a devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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
ithe aparādha mora nā la-io, bhakta-gaṇa
tomā-sabāra caraṇa–mora ekānta śaraṇa
SYNONYMS
ithe-in this; aparādha-offenses; mora-my; nā la-io-do not take; bhakta-gaṇa-O devotees; tomā-of your; sabāra-of all; caraṇa-the lotus feet; mora-my; ekānta-only; śaraṇa-shelter.
TRANSLATION
O devotees, please do not consider my offenses in this regard. Your lotus feet are my only shelter.
TEXT 155
śrī-rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa
caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇadāsa
SYNONYMS
śrī-rūpa-Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī; raghunātha-Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī; pade-at the lotus feet; yāra-whose; āśa-expectation; caitanya-caritāmṛta-the book named Caitanya-caritāmṛta; kahe-describes; kṛṣṇadāsa-Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī.
TRANSLATION
Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Seventh Chapter, describing the liberation of the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva and the Lord’s tour of South India.