The Hare Krsnas - The Philosophy - Writings of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

(Continued)

TEXT 71
krsnera ahvana kare saghana hunkara
hunkare akrsta haila vrajendra-kumara
SYNONYMS krsnera--of Lord Krsna; ahvana--invitation; kare--does; saghana--with great gravity; hunkara--vibration; hunkare--and by such loud cries; akrsta--attracted; haila--became; vrajendra-kumara--the son of Vrajendra, Lord Krsna.

TRANSLATION By loud cries He invited Krsna to appear, and this repeated invitation attracted Lord Krsna to descend.

TEXT 72
jagannathamisra-patni sacira udare
asta kanya krame haila, janmi' janmi' mare
SYNONYMS jagannatha-misra--of the name Jagannatha Misra; patni--his wife; sacira--of Sacimata; udare--within the womb; asta--eight; kanya--daughters; krame--one after another; haila--appeared; janmi'--after taking birth; janmi'--after taking birth; mare--all died.

TRANSLATION Before the birth of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, eight daughters took birth one after another from the womb of Sacimata, the wife of Jagannatha Misra. But just after their birth, they all died.

TEXT 73
apatya-virahe misrera duhkhi haila mana
putra lagi' aradhila visnura carana
SYNONYMS apatya--of children; virahe--in separation; misrera--of Jagannatha Misra; duhkhi--unhappy; haila--became; mana--mind; putra--son; lagi'--for the matter of; aradhila--worshiped; visnura--of Lord Visnu; carana--lotus feet.

TRANSLATION Jagannatha Misra was very unhappy at the death of his children one after another. Therefore, desiring a son, he worshiped the lotus feet of Lord Visnu.

TEXT 74
tabe putra janamila 'visvarupa' nama
maha-gunavan tenha----'baladeva'-dhama
SYNONYMS tabe--thereafter; putra--son; janamila--took birth; visvarupa--Visvarupa; nama--named; maha-gunavan--highly qualified; tenha--He; baladeva--of Lord Baladeva; dhama--incarnation.

TRANSLATION After this, Jagannatha Misra got a son of the name Visvarupa, who was most powerful and highly qualified because He was an incarnation of Baladeva.

PURPORT Visvarupa was the elder brother of Gaurahari, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When arrangements were being made for His marriage, He took sannyasa and left home. He took the sannyasa name of Sankararanya. In 1431 Sakabda Era (A.D. 1510), He disappeared in Panderapura in the district of Sholapur. As an incarnation of Sankarsana, He is both the ingredient and immediate cause of the creation of this material world. He is nondifferent from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as amsa and amsi, or the part and the whole, are not different. He belongs to the quadruple manifestation of catur-vyuha as an incarnation of Sankarsana. In the Gaura-candrodaya it is said that Visvarupa, after His so-called demise, remained mixed within Sri Nityananda Prabhu.

TEXT 75
baladeva-prakasa----parama-vyome 'sankarsana'
tenha----visvera upadana-nimitta-karana
SYNONYMS baladeva-prakasa--manifestation of Baladeva; parama-vyome--in the spiritual sky; sankarsana--of the name Sankarsana; tenha--He; visvera--the cosmic manifestation; upadana--ingredient; nimitta-karana--immediate cause.

TRANSLATION The expansion of Baladeva known as Sankarsana in the spiritual world is the ingredient and immediate cause of this material cosmic manifestation.

TEXT 76
tanha ba-i visve kichu nahi dekhi ara
ataeva 'visvarupa' nama ye tanhara
SYNONYMS tanha ba-i--except Him; visve--within this cosmic manifestation; kichu--something; nahi--there is none; dekhi--I see; ara--further; ataeva--therefore; visvarupa--universal form; nama--name; ye--that; tanhara--His.

TRANSLATION The gigantic universal form is called the Visvarupa incarnation of Maha-sankarsana. Thus we do not find anything within this cosmic manifestation except the Lord Himself.

TEXT 77
naitac citram bhagavati
hy anante jagad-isvare
otam protam idam yasmin
tantusv anga yatha patah
SYNONYMS na--not; etat--this; citram--wonderful; bhagavati--in the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hi--certainly; anante--in the unlimited; jagat-isvare--the master of the universe; otam--lengthwise; protam--breadthwise; idam--this universe; yasmin--in whom; tantusu--in the threads; anga--O King; yatha--as much as; patah--a cloth.

TRANSLATION "As the thread in a cloth spreads both lengthwise and breadthwise, so everything we see within this cosmic manifestation is directly and indirectly existing in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is not very wonderful for Him."

PURPORT This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.15.35).

TEXT 78
ataeva prabhu tanre bale, 'bada bhai'
krsna, balarama dui----caitanya, nitai
SYNONYMS ataeva--therefore; prabhu--Lord Caitanya; tanre--unto Visvarupa; bale--says; bada bhai--elder brother; krsna--Lord Krsna; balarama--and Baladeva; dui--two; caitanya--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nitai--and Lord Nityananda Prabhu.

TRANSLATION Because Maha-sankarsana is the ingredient and efficient cause of the cosmic manifestation, He is present in every detail of it. Lord Caitanya therefore called Him His elder brother. The two brothers are known as Krsna and Balarama in the spiritual world, but at the present moment they are Caitanya and Nitai. Therefore the conclusion is that Nityananda Prabhu is the original Sankarsana, Baladeva.

TEXT 79
putra pana dampati haila anandita mana
visese sevana kare govinda-carana
SYNONYMS putra--son; pana--having gotten; dampati--husband and wife; haila--became; anandita--pleased; mana--mind; visese--specifically; sevana--service; kare--render; govinda-carana--the lotus feet of Lord Govinda.

TRANSLATION The husband and wife [Jagannatha Misra and Sacimata], having gotten Visvarupa as their son, were very pleased within their minds. Because of their pleasure, they specifically began to serve the lotus feet of Govinda.

PURPORT There is a common saying in India that everyone goes to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead when he is in distress, but when a person is in an opulent position, he forgets God. In Bhagavad-gita (7.16) this is also confirmed:

catur-vidha bhajante mam
janah sukrtino 'rjuna
arto jijnasur artharthi
jnani ca bharatarsabha
"If backed by pious activities in the past, four kinds of men--namely, those who are distressed, those in need of money, those searching after knowledge and those who are inquisitive--become interested in devotional service." The husband and wife, Jagannatha Misra and Sacimata, were very unhappy because their eight daughters had passed away. Now, when they got Visvarupa as their son, certainly they became extremely happy. They knew that it was by the grace of the Lord that they were endowed with such happiness and opulence. Therefore instead of forgetting the Lord, they became more and more adherent in rendering service to the lotus feet of Govinda. When a common man becomes opulent, he forgets God; but the more opulent a devotee becomes by the grace of the Lord, the more he becomes attached to the service of the Lord.

TEXT 80
caudda-sata chaya sake sesa magha mase
jagannatha-sacira dehe krsnera pravese
SYNONYMS caudda-sata--1400; chaya--6; sake--in the year of the Saka Era; sesa--last; magha--Magha; mase--in the month; jagannatha--of Jagannatha Misra; sacira--and of Sacidevi; dehe--in the bodies; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; pravese--by the entrance.

TRANSLATION In the month of January in the year 1406 of the Saka Era (A.D. 1485), Lord Krsna entered the bodies of both Jagannatha Misra and Saci.

PURPORT Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu took His birth in the year 1407 Saka Era (A.D. 1486), in the month of Phalguna. But here we see that He entered the bodies of His parents in the year 1406 in the month of Magha. Therefore, the Lord entered the bodies of His parents thirteen full months before His birth. Generally a common child remains within the womb of his mother for ten lunar months, but here we see that the Lord remained within the body of His mother for thirteen lunar months.

TEXT 81
misra kahe saci-sthane,----dekhi ana rita
jyotirmaya deha, geha laksmi-adhisthita
SYNONYMS misra kahe--Jagannatha Misra began to speak; saci-sthane--in the presence of Sacidevi-mata; dekhi--I see; ana--extraordinary; rita--behavior; jyotir-maya--effulgent; deha--body; geha--home; laksmi--the goddess of fortune; adhisthita--situated.

TRANSLATION Jagannatha Misra said to Sacimata, "I see wonderful things! Your body is effulgent, and it appears as if the goddess of fortune were now staying personally in my home."

TEXT 82
yahan tahan sarva-loka karaye sammana
ghare pathaiya deya dhana, vastra, dhana
SYNONYMS yahan--wherever; tahan--anywhere; sarva-loka--all people; karaye--show; sammana--respect; ghare--at home; pathaiya--sending; deya--give; dhana--riches; vastra--cloth; dhana--paddy.

TRANSLATION "Anywhere and everywhere I go, all people offer me respect. Even without my asking, they voluntarily give me riches, clothing and paddy."

PURPORT A brahmana does not become anyone's servant. To render service to someone else is the business of the sudras. A brahmana is always independent because he is a teacher, spiritual master and advisor to society. The members of society provide him with all the necessities for life. In the Bhagavad-gita the Lord has divided society into four divisions--brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra. A society cannot run smoothly without this scientific division. A brahmana should give good advice to all the members of the society, a ksatriya should look after the administration, maintaining law and order in society, vaisyas should produce and trade to meet all the needs of society, whereas sudras should render service to the higher sections of society (the brahmanas, ksatriyas and vaisyas).
Jagannatha Misra was a brahmana; therefore people would send him all bodily necessities--money, cloth, grain and so on. While Lord Caitanya was in the womb of Sacimata, Jagannatha Misra received all these necessities of life without asking for them. Because of the presence of the Lord in his family, everyone offered him due respect as a brahmana. In other words, if a brahmana or Vaisnava sticks to his position as an eternal servant of the Lord and executes the will of the Lord, there is no question of scarcity for his personal maintenance or the needs of his family.

TEXT 83
saci kahe,----muni dekhon akasa-upare
divya-murti loka saba yena stuti kare
SYNONYMS saci kahe--mother Sacidevi replied; muni--I; dekhon--see; akasa-upare--in outer space; divya-murti--brilliant forms; loka--people; saba--all; yena--as if; stuti--prayers; kare--offering.

TRANSLATION Sacimata told her husband, "I also see wonderfully brilliant human beings appearing in outer space, as if offering prayers."

PURPORT Jagannatha Misra was honored by everyone on the earth and was supplied with all necessities. Similarly, mother Saci saw many demigods in outer space offering prayers to her because of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's presence in her womb.

TEXT 84
jagannatha misra kahe,----svapna ye dekhila
jyotirmaya-dhama mora hrdaye pasila
SYNONYMS jagannatha misra kahe--Jagannatha Misra replied; svapna--dream; ye--that; dekhila--I have seen; jyotir-maya--with a brilliant effulgence; dhama--abode; mora--my; hrdaye--in the heart; pasila--entered.

TRANSLATION Jagannatha Misra then replied, "In a dream I saw the effulgent abode of the Lord enter my heart.

TEXT 85
amara hrdaya haite gela tomara hrdaye
hena bujhi, janmibena kona mahasaye
SYNONYMS amara hrdaya haite--from my heart; gela--transferred; tomara hrdaye--into your heart; hena--like this; bujhi--I understand; janmibena--will take birth; kona--some; mahasaye--very great personality.

TRANSLATION "From my heart it entered your heart. I therefore understand that a great personality will soon take birth."

TEXT 86
eta bali' dunhe rahe harasita hana
salagrama seva kare visesa kariya
SYNONYMS eta bali'--after this conversation; dunhe--both of them; rahe--remained; harasita--jubilant; hana--becoming; salagrama--salagrama-narayana-sila; seva--service; kare--rendered; visesa--with special attention; kariya--giving it.

TRANSLATION After this conversation, both husband and wife were very jubilant, and together they rendered service to the household salagrama-sila.

PURPORT Especially in every brahmana's house there must be a salagrama-sila to be worshiped by the brahmana family. This system is still current. People who are brahmana by caste, who are born in a brahmana family, must worship the salagrama-sila. Unfortunately, with the progress of Kali-yuga, the so-called brahmanas, although very proud of taking birth in brahmana families, no longer worship the salagrama-sila. But actually it has been a custom since time immemorial that a person born in a brahmana family must worship the salagrama-sila in all circumstances. In our Krsna consciousness society, some of the members are very anxious to introduce the salagrama-sila, but we have purposely refrained from introducing it because most of the members of the Krsna consciousness movement do not originally come from families of the brahmana caste. After some time, when we find that they are actually situated strictly in the line of brahminical behavior, this salagrama-sila will be introduced.
In this age, the worship of the salagrama-sila is not as important as the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. That is the injunction of the sastra. Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam. kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha. Srila Jiva Gosvami's opinion is that by chanting the holy name offenselessly one becomes completely perfect. Nevertheless, just to purify the situation of the mind, worship of the Deity in the temple is also necessary. Therefore when one is advanced in spiritual consciousness or is perfectly situated on a spiritual platform he may take to the worship of the salagrama-sila.
The transference of the Lord from the heart of Jagannatha Misra to the heart of Sacimata is explained by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura as follows: "It is to be concluded that Jagannatha Misra and Sacimata are nitya-siddhas, ever purified associates of the Lord. Their hearts are always uncontaminated, and therefore they never forget the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A common man in this material world has a contaminated heart. He must therefore first purify his heart to come to the transcendental position. But Jagannatha Misra and Sacimata were not a common man and woman with contaminated hearts. When the heart is uncontaminated, it is said to be in the existential position of Vasudeva. Vasudeva can beget Vasudeva, or Krsna, who is transcendentally situated."
It is to be understood that Sacidevi did not become pregnant as an ordinary woman becomes pregnant because of sense indulgence. One should not think the pregnancy of Sacimata to be that of an ordinary woman because that is an offense. One can understand the pregnancy of Sacimata when one is actually advanced in spiritual consciousness and fully engaged in the devotional service of the Lord.
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.2.16) it is stated:

bhagavan api visvatma
bhaktanam abhayan-karah
avivesamsa-bhagena
mana anakadundubheh
This is a statement regarding the birth of Lord Krsna. The incarnation of the Lord entered the mind of Vasudeva and was then transferred to the mind of Devaki. Srila Sridhara Svami gives the following annotation in this connection: 'mana avivesa' manasy avirbabhuva; jivanam iva na dhatu-sambandha ity arthah. There was no question of the seminal discharge necessary for the birth of an ordinary human being. Srila Rupa Gosvami also comments in this connection that Lord Krsna first appeared in the mind of Anakadundubhi, Vasudeva, and was then transferred to the mind of Devaki-devi. Thus the spiritual bliss in the mind of Devaki-devi gradually increased, just as the moon increases every night until it becomes a full moon. At the time of His appearance, Lord Krsna came out of the mind of Devaki and appeared within the prison house of Kamsa by the side of Devaki's bed. At that time, by the spell of yogamaya, Devaki thought that her child had now been born. In this connection, even the demigods from the celestial kingdom were also bewildered. As it is stated, muhyanti yat surayah (Bhag. 1.1.1). They came to offer their prayers to Devaki, thinking that the Supreme Lord was within her womb. The demigods came to Mathura from their celestial kingdom. This indicates that Mathura is still more important than the celestial kingdom of the upper planetary system.
Lord Krsna, as the eternal son of Yasodamayi, is always present in Vrndavana. The pastimes of Lord Krsna are continuously going on within both this material world and the spiritual world. In such pastimes, the Lord always thinks Himself the eternal son of mother Yasoda and father Nanda Maharaja. In the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Chapter Six, verse 43, it is stated, "When magnanimous, broad-hearted Nanda Maharaja came back from a tour, he immediately took his son Krsna on his lap and experienced transcendental bliss by smelling His head." Similarly, in the Tenth Canto, Ninth Chapter, verse 21, it is said, "This Personality of Godhead, appearing as the son of a cowherd damsel, is easily available and understandable to devotees, whereas those who are under the concept of bodily life, even though they are very advanced in austerity and penance or even though they are great philosophers, are unable to understand Him."
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura next quotes Sripada Baladeva Vidyabhusana, who refers to the prayers offered by the demigods to Lord Krsna in the womb of Devaki and summarizes the birth of Krsna as follows: "As the rising moon manifests light in the east, so Devaki, who was always situated on the transcendental platform, having been initiated in the Krsna mantra by Vasudeva, the son of Surasena, kept Krsna within her heart." From this statement of Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.2.18) it is understood that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, having been transferred from the heart of Anakadundubhi, or Vasudeva, manifested Himself in the heart of Devaki. According to Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana, the "heart of Devaki" means the womb of Devaki because in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Tenth Canto, Second Chapter, verse 41, the demigods say, distyamba te kuksi-gatah parah puman: "Mother Devaki, the Lord is already within your womb." Therefore, that the Lord was transferred from the heart of Vasudeva to the heart of Devaki means that He was transferred to the womb of Devaki.
Similarly, in regard to the appearance of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu as described in the Caitanya-caritamrta, the words visese sevana kare govinda-carana, "they specifically began to worship the lotus feet of Govinda," indicate that exactly as Krsna appeared in the heart of Devaki through the heart of Vasudeva, so Lord Caitanya appeared in the heart of Sacidevi through the heart of Jagannatha Misra. This is the mystery of the appearance of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Consequently, one should not think of Lord Caitanya's appearance as that of a common man or living entity. This subject matter is a little difficult to understand, but for devotees of the Lord it will not at all be difficult to realize the statements given by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami.

TEXT 87
haite haite haila garbha trayodasa masa
tathapi bhumistha nahe,----misrera haila trasa
SYNONYMS haite haite--thus becoming; haila--it so became; garbha--pregnancy; trayodasa--thirteenth; masa--month; tathapi--still; bhumistha--delivery; nahe--there was no sign; misrera--of Jagannatha Misra; haila--became; trasa--apprehension.

TRANSLATION In this way the pregnancy approached its thirteenth month, but still there was no sign of the delivery of the child. Thus Jagannatha Misra became greatly apprehensive.

TEXT 88
nilambara cakravarti kahila ganiya
ei mase putra habe subha-ksana pana
SYNONYMS nilambara cakravarti--of the name Nilambara Cakravarti; kahila--said; ganiya--by astrological calculation; ei mase--in this month; putra--son; habe--will take birth; subha-ksana--auspicious moment; pana--taking advantage of.

TRANSLATION Nilambara Cakravarti [the grandfather of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu] then did an astrological calculation and said that in that month, taking advantage of an auspicious moment, the child would take birth.

TEXT 89
caudda-sata sata-sake masa ye phalguna
paurnamasira sandhya-kale haile subha-ksana
SYNONYMS caudda-sata sata-sake--in 1407 of the Saka Era (A.D. 1486); masa--month; ye--which; phalguna--of the name Phalguna; paurnamasira--of the full moon; sandhya-kale--in the evening; haile--there was; subha-ksana--an auspicious constellation.

TRANSLATION Thus in the year 1407 of the Saka Era (A.D. 1486), in the month of Phalguna [March-April], on the evening of the full moon, the desired auspicious moment appeared.

PURPORT Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, has presented the horoscope of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as follows:
sala 1407.10.22.28.45
dinam
7    11    8
15    54    38
40    37    40
13    6    23
The explanation of the horoscope given by Bhaktivinoda Thakura is that at the time of the birth of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu the constellations were situated as follows: Sukra (Venus) was in Mesa-rasi (Aries), in the constellation of Asvini; Ketu (the ninth planet) was in Simha-rasi (Leo), in Uttaraphalguni; Candra (the moon) was in Simha-rasi, in Purvaphalguni (the eleventh lunar mansion); Sani (Saturn) was in Vrscika-rasi (Scorpio), in Jyestha; Brhaspati (Jupiter) was in Dhanu-rasi, in Purvasadha (Sagittarius); Mangala (Mars) was in Makara-rasi (Capricorn), in Sravana; Ravi (the sun) and Rahu were in Kumbha-rasi (Aquarius), in Purvabhadrapada; and Budha (Mercury) was in Mina-rasi (Pisces), in Uttarabhadrapada.. The lagna was Simha.

TEXT 90
simha-rasi, simha-lagna, ucca graha-gana
sad-varga, asta-varga, sarva sulaksana
SYNONYMS simha--the lion; rasi--sign of the zodiac; simha--the lion; lagna--birth moment; ucca--high; graha-gana--all planets; sat-varga--six area; asta-varga--eight area; sarva--all; su-laksana--auspiciousness.

TRANSLATION According to the Jyotir-veda, or Vedic astronomy, when the figure of the lion appears both in the zodiac and the time of birth [lagna], this indicates a very high conjunction of planets, an area under the influence of sad-varga and asta-varga, which are all-auspicious moments.

PURPORT The divisions of the sad-varga area are technically called ksetra, hora, drekkana, navamsa, dvadasamsa and trimsamsa. According to Jyotir-vedic astrology, when it is calculated who rules the constellation of six areas, the auspicious moment is calculated. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who was previously also a great astrologer, says that in the book named Brhaj-jataka and other books there are directions for knowing the movements of the stars and planets. One who knows the process of drawing a straight line and thus understands the area of asta-varga can explain the auspicious constellations. This science is known especially by persons who are called hora-sastra-vit, or those who know the scripture of the name Hora. On the strength of astrological calculations from the Hora scripture, Nilambara Cakravarti, the grandfather of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, ascertained the auspicious moment in which the Lord would appear.

TEXT 91
a-kalanka gauracandra dila darasana
sa-kalanka candre ara kon prayojana
SYNONYMS a-kalanka--without contamination; gauracandra--the moon of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dila--gave; darasana--audience; sa-kalanka--with contamination; candre--for a moon; ara--also; kon--what; prayojana--necessity.

TRANSLATION When the spotless moon of Caitanya Mahaprabhu became visible, what would be the need for a moon full of black marks on its body?

TEXT 92
eta jani' rahu kaila candrera grahana
'krsna' 'krsna' 'hari' name bhase tri-bhuvana
SYNONYMS eta jani'--knowing all this; rahu--the zodiac figure Rahu; kaila--attempted; candrera--of the moon; grahana--eclipse; krsna krsna--the holy name of Krsna; hari--the holy name of Hari; name--the names; bhase--inundated; tri-bhuvana--the three worlds.

TRANSLATION Considering this, Rahu, the black planet, covered the full moon, and immediately vibrations of "Krsna! Krsna! Hari!" inundated the three worlds.

PURPORT According to the Jyotir-veda, the Rahu planet comes in front of the full moon, and thus a lunar eclipse takes place. It is customary in India that all the followers of the Vedic scriptures bathe in the Ganges or the sea as soon as there is a lunar or solar eclipse. All strict followers of Vedic religion stand up in the water throughout the whole period of the eclipse and chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. At the time of the birth of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu such a lunar eclipse took place, and naturally all the people standing in the water were chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

TEXT 93
jaya jaya dhvani haila sakala bhuvana
camatkara haiya loka bhave mane mana
SYNONYMS jaya jaya--all glories; dhvani--vibration; haila--there was; sakala--all; bhuvana--worlds; camatkara--wonderful; haiya--becoming; loka--all the people; bhave--state; mane mana--within their minds.

TRANSLATION All people thus chanted the Hare Krsna maha-mantra during the lunar eclipse, and their minds were struck with wonder.

TEXT 94
jagat bhariya loka bale----'hari' 'hari'
sei-ksane gaurakrsna bhume avatari
SYNONYMS jagat--the whole world; bhariya--fulfilling; loka--people; bale--said; hari hari--the holy name of the Lord; sei-ksane--at that time; gaurakrsna--Lord Krsna in the form of Gaurahari; bhume--on the earth; avatari--advented.

TRANSLATION When the whole world was thus chanting the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna in the form of Gaurahari advented Himself on the earth.

TEXT 95
prasanna ha-ila saba jagatera mana
'hari' bali' hinduke hasya karaye yavana
SYNONYMS prasanna--joyful; ha-ila--became; saba--all; jagatera--of the whole world; mana--the mind; hari--the holy name of the Lord; bali'--saying; hinduke--unto the Hindus; hasya--laughing; karaye--do so; yavana--the Muslims.

TRANSLATION The whole world was pleased. While the Hindus chanted the holy name of the Lord, the non-Hindus, especially the Muslims, jokingly imitated the words.

PURPORT Although the Muslims, or non-Hindus, have no interest in chanting the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, while the Hindus in Navadvipa chanted during the lunar eclipse the Muslims imitated them. Thus the Hindus and Muslims joined together in chanting the holy name of the Lord when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advented Himself.

TEXT 96
'hari' bali' narigana dei hulahuli
svarge vadya-nrtya kare deva kutuhali
SYNONYMS hari bali'--by saying the word Hari; nari-gana--all the ladies; dei--chanting; hulahuli--the sound of hulahuli; svarge--in the heavenly planets; vadya-nrtya--music and dance; kare--do; deva--demigods; kutuhali--curious.

TRANSLATION While all the ladies vibrated the holy name of Hari on earth, in the heavenly planets dancing and music were going on, for the demigods were very curious.

TEXT 97
prasanna haila dasa dik, prasanna nadijala
sthavara-jangama haila anande vihvala
SYNONYMS prasanna--jubilant; haila--became; dasa--ten; dik--directions; prasanna--satisfied; nadi-jala--the water of the rivers; sthavara--immovable; jangama--movable; haila--became; anande--in joy; vihvala--overwhelmed.

TRANSLATION In this atmosphere, all the ten directions became jubilant, as did the waves of the rivers. Moreover, all beings, moving and nonmoving, were overwhelmed with transcendental bliss.

TEXT 98
nadiya-udayagiri, purnacandra gaurahari,
krpa kari' ha-ila udaya
papa-tamah haila nasa, tri-jagatera ullasa,
jagabhari' hari-dhvani haya
SYNONYMS nadiya--the place known as Nadiya; udayagiri--is the appearing place; purna-candra--the full moon; gaurahari--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krpa--by mercy; kari'--doing so; ha-ila--became; udaya--risen; papa--sinful; tamah--darkness; haila--became; nasa--dissipated; tri-jagatera--of the three worlds; ullasa--happiness; jaga-bhari'--filling the whole world; hari-dhvani--the transcendental vibration of Hari; haya--resounded.

TRANSLATION Thus by His causeless mercy the full moon, Gaurahari, rose in the district of Nadia, which is compared to Udayagiri, where the sun first becomes visible. His rising in the sky dissipated the darkness of sinful life, and thus the three worlds became joyful and chanted the holy name of the Lord.

TEXT 99
sei-kale nijalaya, uthiya advaita raya,
nrtya kare anandita-mane
haridase lana sange, hunkara-kirtana-range
kene nace, keha nahi jane
SYNONYMS sei-kale--at that time; nija-alaya--in His own house; uthiya--standing; advaita--Advaita Acarya; raya--the rich man; nrtya--dancing; kare--performs; anandita--with joyful; mane--mind; haridase--Thakura Haridasa; lana--taking; sange--with Him; hunkara--loudly; kirtana--sankirtana; range--performing; kene--why; nace--dances; keha nahi--no one; jane--knows.

TRANSLATION At that time Sri Advaita Acarya Prabhu, in His own house at Santipura, was dancing in a pleasing mood. Taking Haridasa Thakura with Him, He danced and loudly chanted Hare Krsna. But why they were dancing, no one could understand.

PURPORT It is understood that Advaita Prabhu, at that time, was in His own paternal house at Santipura. Haridasa Thakura frequently used to meet Him. Coincidentally, therefore, he was also there, and upon the birth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu both of them immediately began to dance. But no one in Santipura could understand why those two saintly persons were dancing.

TEXT 100
dekhi' uparaga hasi', sighra ganga-ghate asi'
anande karila ganga-snana
pana uparaga-chale, apanara mano-bale,
brahmanere dila nana dana
SYNONYMS dekhi'--seeing; uparaga--the eclipse; hasi'--laughing; sighra--very soon; ganga-ghate--on the bank of the Ganges; asi'--coming; anande--in jubilation; karila--took; ganga-snana--bath in the Ganges; pana--taking advantage of; uparaga-chale--on the event of the lunar eclipse; apanara--His own; manah-bale--by the strength of mind; brahmanere--unto the brahmanas; dila--gave; nana--various; dana--charities.

TRANSLATION Seeing the lunar eclipse and laughing, both Advaita Acarya and Haridasa Thakura immediately went to the bank of the Ganges and bathed in the Ganges in great jubilation. Taking advantage of the occasion of the lunar eclipse, Advaita Acarya, by His own mental strength, distributed various types of charity to the brahmanas.

PURPORT It is the custom of Hindus to give in charity to the poor as much as possible during the time of a lunar or solar eclipse. Advaita Acarya, therefore, taking advantage of this eclipse, distributed many varieties of charity to the brahmanas. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam there is a statement in the Tenth Canto, Third Chapter, verse 11, that when Krsna took His birth, immediately Vasudeva, taking advantage of this moment, distributed ten thousand cows to the brahmanas. It is customary among Hindus that at the time a child is born, especially a male child, the parents distribute great charity in jubilation. Advaita Acarya was actually interested in distributing charity because of Lord Caitanya's birth at the time of the lunar eclipse. People could not understand, however, why Advaita Acarya was giving such a great variety of things in charity. He did so not because of the lunar eclipse but because of the Lord's taking birth at that moment. He distributed charity exactly as Vasudeva did at the time of Lord Krsna's appearance.

TEXT 101
jagat anandamaya, dekhi' mane sa-vismaya,
tharethore kahe haridasa
tomara aichana ranga, mora mana parasanna,
dekhi----kichu karye ache bhasa
SYNONYMS jagat--the whole world; ananda-maya--full of pleasure; dekhi'--seeing; mane--within the mind; sa-vismaya--with amazement; tharethore--by direct and indirect indications; kahe--says; haridasa--Haridasa Thakura; tomara--Your; aichana--that kind of; ranga--performance; mora--my; mana--mind; parasanna--very much pleased; dekhi--I can understand; kichu--something; karye--in work; ache--there is; bhasa--indication.

TRANSLATION When he saw that the whole world was jubilant, Haridasa Thakura, his mind astonished, directly and indirectly expressed himself to Advaita Acarya, "Your dancing and distributing charity are very pleasing to me. I can understand that there is some special purpose in these actions."

TEXT 102
acaryaratna, srivasa, haila mane sukhollasa
yai' snana kaila ganga-jale
anande vihvala mana, kare hari-sankirtana
nana dana kaila mano-bale
SYNONYMS acaryaratna--of the name Acaryaratna; srivasa--of the name Srivasa; haila--became; mane--in the mind; sukha-ullasa--happy; yai'--going; snana--bathing; kaila--executed; ganga-jale--in the water of the Ganges; anande--in jubilation; vihvala--overwhelmed; mana--mind; kare--does; hari-sankirtana--performance of sankirtana; nana--various; dana--charities; kaila--did; manah-bale--by the strength of the mind.

TRANSLATION Acaryaratna [Candrasekhara] and Srivasa Thakura were overwhelmed with joy, and immediately they went to the bank of the Ganges to take bath in the water of the Ganges. Their minds full of happiness, they chanted the Hare Krsna mantra and gave charity by mental strength.

TEXT 103
ei mata bhakta-tati, yanra yei dese sthiti,
tahan tahan pana mano-bale
nace, kare sankirtana, anande vihvala mana,
dana kare grahanera chale
SYNONYMS ei mata--in this way; bhakta-tati--all the devotees there; yanra--whose; yei--whichever; dese--in the country; sthiti--resident; tahan tahan--there and there; pana--taking advantage; manah-bale--by the strength of the mind; nace--dance; kare sankirtana--perform sankirtana; anande--in joyfulness; vihvala--overwhelmed; mana--mind; dana--in charity; kare--give; grahanera--of the lunar eclipse; chale--on the pretense.

TRANSLATION In this way all the devotees, wherever they were situated, in every city and every country, danced, performed sankirtana and gave charity by mental strength on the plea of the lunar eclipse, their minds overwhelmed with joy.

TEXT 104
brahmana-sajjana-nari, nana-dravye thali bhari'
aila sabe yautuka la-iya
yena kanca-sona-dyuti, dekhi' balakera murti,
asirvada kare sukha pana
SYNONYMS brahmana--the respectful brahmanas; sat-jana--gentlemen; nari--ladies; nana--varieties; dravye--with gifts; thali--plates; bhari'--filled up; aila--came; sabe--all; yautuka--presentations; la-iya--taking; yena--like; kanca--raw; sona--gold; dyuti--glaring; dekhi'--seeing; balakera--of the child; murti--form; asirvada--blessings; kare--offered; sukha--happiness; pana--achieving.

TRANSLATION All sorts of respectful brahmana gentlemen and ladies, carrying plates filled with various gifts, came with their presentations. Seeing the newborn child, whose form resembled natural glaring gold, all of them with happiness offered their blessings.

TEXT 105
savitri, gauri, sarasvati, saci, rambha, arundhati
ara yata deva-narigana
nana-dravye patra bhari', brahmanira vesa dhari',
asi' sabe kare darasana
SYNONYMS savitri--the wife of Lord Brahma; gauri--the wife of Lord Siva; sarasvati--the wife of Lord Nrsimhadeva; saci--the wife of King Indra; rambha--a dancing girl of heaven; arundhati--the wife of Vasistha; ara--and; yata--all; deva--celestial; nari-gana--women; nana--varieties; dravye--with gifts; patra bhari'--filling up the baskets; brahmanira--in the forms of brahmana ladies; vesa dhari'--dressing like that; asi'--coming there; sabe--all; kare--do; darasana--visit.

TRANSLATION Dressing themselves as the wives of brahmanas, all the celestial ladies, including the wives of Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, Lord Nrsimhadeva, King Indra and Vasistha Rsi, along with Rambha, a dancing girl of heaven, came there with varieties of gifts.

PURPORT When Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a newly born baby, He was visited by the neighboring ladies, most of whom were the wives of respectable brahmanas. In the dress of brahmanas' wives, celestial ladies like the wives of Lord Brahma and Lord Siva also came to see the newly born child. Ordinary people saw them as respectable brahmana ladies of the neighborhood, but actually they were all celestial ladies dressed in that way.

TEXT 106
antarikse deva-gana, gandharva, siddha, carana,
stuti-nrtya kare vadya-gita
nartaka, vadaka, bhata, navadvipe yara nata,
sabe asi' nace pana prita
SYNONYMS antarikse--in outer space; deva-gana--the demigods; gandharva--the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka; siddha--the inhabitants of Siddhaloka; carana--the professional singers of the heavenly planets; stuti--prayers; nrtya--dancing; kare--do; vadya--music; gita--song; nartaka--dancers; vadaka--professional drummers; bhata--professional blessers; navadvipe--in the city of Navadvipa; yara--of whom; nata--stage; sabe--all of them; asi'--coming; nace--began to dance; pana--achieving; prita--happiness.

TRANSLATION In outer space all the demigods, including the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka, Siddhaloka and Caranaloka, offered their prayers and danced to the accompaniment of music, songs and the beating of drums. Similarly, in Navadvipa city all the professional dancers, musicians and blessers gathered together, dancing in great jubilation.

PURPORT As there are professional singers, dancers and reciters of prayers in the heavenly planets, so in India still there are professional dancers, blessers and singers, all of whom assemble together during householder ceremonies, especially marriages and birth ceremonies. These professional men earn their livelihood by taking charity on such occasions from the homes of the Hindus. Eunuchs also take advantage of such ceremonies to receive charity. That is their means of livelihood. Such men never become servants or engage themselves in agriculture or business occupations; they simply take charity from neighborhood friends to maintain themselves peacefully. The bhatas are a class of brahmanas who go to such ceremonies to offer blessings by composing poems with references to the Vedic scriptures.

TEXT 107
keba ase keba yaya, keba nace keba gaya,
sambhalite nare kara bola
khandileka duhkha-soka, pramoda-purita loka,
misra haila anande vihvala
SYNONYMS keba--who; ase--is coming; keba--who; yaya--is going; keba--who; nace--is dancing; keba--who; gaya--is singing; sambhalite--to understand; nare--cannot; kara--others; bola--language; khandileka--dissipated; duhkha--unhappiness; soka--lamentation; pramoda--jubilation; purita--full of; loka--all people; misra--Jagannatha Misra; haila--became; anande--in happiness; vihvala--overwhelmed.

TRANSLATION No one could understand who was coming and who was going, who was dancing and who was singing. Nor could they understand one another's language. Yet all unhappiness and lamentation were immediately dissipated, and people became all-jubilant. Thus Jagannatha Misra was also overwhelmed with joy.

TEXT 108
acaryaratna, srivasa, jagannatha-misra-pasa,
asi' tanre kare savadhana
karaila jatakarma, ye achila vidhi-dharma,
tabe misra kare nana dana
SYNONYMS acaryaratna--Candrasekhara Acarya; srivasa--Srivasa Thakura; jagannatha-misra pasa--at the house of Jagannatha Misra; asi'--coming; tanre--unto him; kare--do; savadhana--attention; karaila--executed; jata-karma--the auspicious ceremony at the time of birth; ye--whatever; achila--there was; vidhi-dharma--regulative principles of religion; tabe--at that time; misra--Jagannatha Misra; kare--does; nana--varieties; dana--charities.

TRANSLATION Candrasekhara Acarya and Srivasa Thakura both came to Jagannatha Misra and drew his attention in various ways. They performed the ritualistic ceremonies prescribed at the time of birth according to religious principles. Jagannatha Misra also gave varieties of charity.

TEXT 109
yautuka paila yata, ghare va achila kata,
saba dhana vipre dila dana
yata nartaka, gayana, bhata, akincana jana,
dhana diya kaila sabara mana
SYNONYMS yautuka--presentation; paila--received; yata--as much as; ghare--in the house; va--or; achila--there was; kata--whatever; saba dhana--all riches; vipre--unto the brahmanas; dila--gave; dana--in charity; yata--all; nartaka--dancers; gayana--singers; bhata--blessers; akincana jana--poor men; dhana diya--giving them riches; kaila--did; sabara--everyone's; mana--honor.

TRANSLATION Whatever riches Jagannatha Misra collected in the form of gifts and presentations, and whatever he had in his house, he distributed among the brahmanas, professional singers, dancers, bhatas and the poor. He honored them all by giving them riches in charity.

TEXT 110
srivasera brahmani, nama tanra 'malini',
acaryaratnera patni-sange
sindura, haridra, taila, kha-i, kala, narikela,
diya puje narigana range
SYNONYMS srivasera brahmani--the wife of Srivasa Thakura; nama--name; tanra--her; malini--of the name Malini; acaryaratnera--of Candrasekhara (Acaryaratna); patni--wife; sange--along with; sindura--vermilion; haridra--turmeric; taila--oil; kha-i--fused rice; kala--banana; narikela--coconut; diya--giving; puje--worship; nari-gana--ladies; range--in a happy mood.

TRANSLATION The wife of Srivasa Thakura, whose name was Malini, accompanied by the wife of Candrasekhara [Acaryaratna] and other ladies, came there in great happiness to worship the baby with paraphernalia such as vermilion, turmeric, oil, fused rice, bananas and coconuts.

PURPORT Vermilion, kha-i (fused rice), bananas, coconuts and turmeric mixed with oil are all auspicious gifts for such a ceremony. As there is puffed rice, so there is another preparation of rice called kha-i, or fused rice, which, along with bananas, is taken as a very auspicious presentation. Also, turmeric mixed with oil and vermilion makes an auspicious ointment that is smeared over the body of a newly born baby or a person who is going to marry. These are all auspicious activities in family affairs. We see that five hundred years ago at the birth of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu all these ceremonies were performed rigidly, but at present such ritualistic performances hardly ever take place. Generally a pregnant mother is sent to the hospital, and as soon as her child is born he is washed with an antiseptic, and this concludes everything.

TEXT 111
advaita-acarya-bharya, jagat-pujita arya,
nama tanra 'sita thakurani'
acaryera ajna pana, gela upahara lana,
dekhite balaka-siromani
SYNONYMS advaita-acarya-bharya--the wife of Advaita Acarya; jagat-pujita--worshiped by the whole world; arya--the most advanced cultured lady; nama--name; tanra--her; sita thakurani--mother Sita; acaryera ajna pana--taking the order of Advaita Acarya; gela--went; upahara--presentation; lana--taking; dekhite--to see; balaka--the child; siromani--topmost.

TRANSLATION One day shortly after Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was born, Advaita Acarya's wife, Sitadevi, who is worshipable by the whole world, took her husband's permission and went to see that topmost child with all kinds of gifts and presentations.

PURPORT It appears that Advaita Acarya had two different houses, one at Santipura and one at Navadvipa. When Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was born, Advaita Acarya was residing not at His Navadvipa house but at His Santipura house. Therefore, as formerly explained (text 99), from Advaita's old paternal house in Santipura (nijalaya)Sita came to Navadvipa to present gifts to the newly born child, Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

TEXT 112
suvarnera kadi-ba-uli, rajatamudra-pasuli,
suvarnera angada, kankana
du-bahute divya sankha, rajatera malabanka,
svarna-mudrara nana haragana
SYNONYMS suvarnera--made of gold; kadi-ba-uli--bangles worn on the hand; rajata-mudra--gold coins; pasuli--a kind of ornament covering the foot; suvarnera--made of gold; angada--a kind of ornament; kankana--another kind of ornament for the hand; du-bahute--in two arms; divya--celestial; sankha--conchshell; rajatera--made of gold; malabanka--bangles for the foot; svarna-mudrara--made of gold; nana--varieties; hara-gana--necklaces.

TRANSLATION She brought different kinds of golden ornaments, including bangles for the hand, armlets, necklaces and anklets.

TEXT 113
vyaghra-nakha hema-jadi, kati-pattasutra-dori
hasta-padera yata abharana
citra-varna patta-sadi, buni photo pattapadi,
svarna-raupya-mudra bahu-dhana
SYNONYMS vyaghra-nakha--tiger nails; hema-jadi--set in gold; kati-pattasutra-dori--silken thread for the waist; hasta-padera--of the hands and legs; yata--all kinds of; abharana--ornaments; citra-varna--printed with varieties of colors; patta-sadi--silken saris; buni--woven; photo--small jackets for children; patta-padi--with embroidery of silk; svarna--gold; raupya--silver; mudra--coins; bahu-dhana--all kinds of riches.

TRANSLATION There were also tiger nails set in gold, waist decorations of silk and lace, ornaments for the hands and legs, nicely printed silken saris and a child's garment, also made of silk. Many other riches, including gold and silver coins, were also presented to the child.

PURPORT From the gifts presented by Sita Thakurani, Advaita Acarya's wife, it appears that Advaita Acarya was at that time a very rich man. Although brahmanas are not the rich men of society, Advaita Acarya, being the leader of the brahmanas in Santipura, was considerably well-to-do. Therefore He presented many ornaments to the baby, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. But Kamalakanta Visvasa's asking for three hundred rupees from the King of Jagannatha Puri, Maharaja Prataparudra, on the plea that Advaita Acarya was in debt for that amount, indicates that such a rich man, who could present many valuable ornaments, saris, etc., thought it difficult to repay three hundred rupees. Therefore the value of a rupee at that time was many thousands of times greater than it is now. At the present, no one feels difficulty over a debt of three hundred rupees, nor can an ordinary man accumulate such valuable ornaments to present to a friend's son. Probably the value of three hundred rupees at that time was equal to the present value of thirty thousand rupees.

TEXT 114
durva, dhanya, gorocana, haridra, kunkuma, candana,
mangala-dravya patra bhariya
vastra-gupta dola cadi' sange lana dasi cedi,
vastralankara petari bhariya
SYNONYMS durva--fresh grass; dhanya--rice paddy; gorocana--a yellow patch for the head of a cow; haridra--turmeric; kunkuma--a kind of scent produced in Kashmir; candana--sandalwood; mangala-dravya--auspicious things; patra bhariya--filling up a dish; vastra-gupta--covered by cloth; dola--palanquin; cadi'--riding; sange--along with; lana--taking; dasi--maidservant; cedi--female attendants; vastra-alankara--ornaments and clothes; petari--basket; bhariya--filled up.

TRANSLATION Riding in a palanquin covered with cloth and accompanied by maidservants, Sita Thakurani came to the house of Jagannatha Misra, bringing with her many auspicious articles such as fresh grass, paddy, gorocana, turmeric, kunkuma and sandalwood. All these presentations filled a large basket.

PURPORT The words vastra-gupta dola are very significant in this verse. Even fifty or sixty years ago in Calcutta, all respectable ladies would go to a neighboring place riding on a palanquin carried by four men. The palanquin was covered with soft cotton, and in that way there was no chance to see a respectable lady traveling in public. Ladies, especially those coming from respectable families, could not be seen by ordinary men. This system is still current in remote places. The Sanskrit word asurya-pasya indicates that a respectable lady could not be seen even by the sun. In the oriental culture this system was very much prevalent and was strictly observed by respectable ladies, both Hindu and Muslim. We have actual experience in our childhood that our mother would not go next door to her house to observe an invitation by walking; she would go in either a carriage or a palanquin carried by four men. This custom was also strictly followed five hundred years ago, and the wife of Advaita Acarya, being a very respectable lady, observed the customary rules current in that social environment.

TEXT 115
bhaksya, bhojya, upahara, sange la-ila bahu bhara,
saci-grhe haila upanita
dekhiya balaka-thama, saksat gokula-kana,
varna-matra dekhi viparita
SYNONYMS bhaksya--foods; bhojya--fried foods; upahara--presentation; sange--along with her; la-ila--took; bahu bhara--many packages; saci-grhe--in the house of mother Saci; haila--was; upanita--carried; dekhiya--seeing; balaka-thama--the feature of the child; saksat--directly; gokula-kana--Lord Krsna of Gokula; varna-matra--only the color; dekhi--seeing; viparita--opposite.

TRANSLATION When Sita Thakurani came to the house of Sacidevi, bringing with her many kinds of eatables, dresses and other gifts, she was astonished to see the newly born child, for she appreciated that except for a difference in color, the child was directly Krsna of Gokula Himself.

PURPORT A petari is a kind of big basket that is carried in pairs on the ends of a rod balanced over the shoulders. The man who carries such a load is called a bhari. This system of carrying luggage and packages is still current in India and other oriental countries, and we have seen that the same system is still current even in Jakarta, Indonesia.

TEXT 116
sarva anga----sunirmana, suvarna-pratima-bhana,
sarva anga----sulaksanamaya
balakera divya jyoti, dekhi' paila bahu priti,
vatsalyete dravila hrdaya
SYNONYMS sarva anga--all different parts of the body; sunirmana--well constructed; suvarna--gold; pratima--form; bhana--like; sarva--all; anga--parts of the body; sulaksana-maya--full of auspicious signs; balakera--of the child; divya--transcendental; jyoti--effulgence; dekhi'--seeing; paila--got; bahu--much; priti--satisfaction; vatsalyete--by parental affection; dravila--melted; hrdaya--her heart.

TRANSLATION Seeing the transcendental bodily effulgence of the child, each of His nicely constructed limbs full of auspicious signs and resembling a form of gold, Sita Thakurani was very much pleased, and because of her maternal affection, she felt as if her heart were melting.

TEXT 117
durva, dhanya, dila sirse, kaila bahu asise,
cirajivi hao dui bhai
dakini-sankhini haite, sanka upajila cite,
dare nama thuila 'nimai'
SYNONYMS durva--fresh grass; dhanya--paddy; dila--gave; sirse--on the head; kaila--did; bahu--with much; asise--blessing; cira-jivi--live long; hao--become; dui bhai--two brothers; dakini-sankhini--ghosts and witches; haite--from; sanka--doubt; upajila--grew; cite--in the heart; dare--out of fear; nama--name; thuila--kept; nimai--Lord Caitanya's childhood name, derived from the nima (nimba) tree.

TRANSLATION She blessed the newly born child by placing fresh grass and paddy on His head and saying, "May You be blessed with a long duration of life." But being afraid of ghosts and witches, she gave the child the name Nimai.

PURPORT Dakini and Sankhini are two companions of Lord Siva and his wife who are supposed to be extremely inauspicious, having been born of ghostly life. It is believed that such inauspicious living creatures cannot go near a nima tree. At least medically it is accepted that nima wood is extremely antiseptic, and formerly it was customary to have a nima tree in front of one's house. On very large roads in India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, there are hundreds and thousands of nima trees. Nima wood is so antiseptic that the Ayurvedic science uses it to cure leprosy. Medical scientists have extracted the active principle of the nima tree, which is called margosic acid. Nima is used for many purposes, especially to brush the teeth. In Indian villages ninety percent of the people use nima twigs for this purpose. Because of all the antiseptic effects of the nima tree and because Lord Caitanya was born beneath a nima tree, Sita Thakurani gave the Lord the name Nimai. Later in His youth He was celebrated as Nimai Pandita, and in the neighborhood villages He was called by that name, although His real name was Visvambhara.

TEXT 118
putramata-snanadine, dila vastra vibhusane,
putra-saha misrere sammani'
saci-misrera puja lana, manete harisa hana,
ghare aila sita thakurani
SYNONYMS putra-mata--of the mother and child; snana-dine--on the day of bathing; dila--gave; vastra--cloth; vibhusane--ornaments; putra-saha--with the child; misrere--unto Jagannatha Misra; sammani'--congratulating; saci--Sacidevi; misrera--Jagannatha Misra; puja--honor; lana--receiving; manete--within the mind; harisa--pleased; hana--becoming; ghare--home; aila--returned; sita thakurani--mother Sita, wife of Advaita Acarya.

TRANSLATION On the day the mother and son bathed and left the maternity home, Sita Thakurani gave them all kinds of ornaments and garments and then also honored Jagannatha Misra. Then Sita Thakurani, being honored by mother Sacidevi and Jagannatha Misra, was greatly happy within her mind, and thus she returned home.

PURPORT On the fifth day from the birth of a child, as also on the ninth day, the mother bathes either in the Ganges or in a sacred place. This is called niskramana, or the ceremony of coming out of the maternity home. Nowadays the maternity home is a hospital, but formerly in every respectable house one room was set aside as a maternity home where children would take birth, and on the ninth day after the birth of a child the mother would come into the regular rooms in the ceremony called niskramana. Of the ten purificatory processes, niskramana is one. Formerly, especially in Bengal, the higher castes observed four months after the birth of a child as a quarantine. At the end of the fourth month, the mother first had to see the sun rise. Later the higher castes, namely, the brahmanas, ksatriyas and vaisyas, observed only twenty-one days as a quarantine, whereas the sudras had to observe thirty days. For the sections of society known as kartabhaja and satima, the mother of the child was immediately purified after the quarantine by the throwing of hari-nuta, small pieces of sweetmeat, in sankirtana. Sacidevi and Jagannatha Misra, with the newly born child, were honored by Sita Thakurani. Similarly, while Sita Thakurani was returning home, she was also honored by Sacidevi and Jagannatha Misra. That was the system in respectable families of Bengal.

TEXT 119
aiche saci-jagannatha, putra pana laksminatha,
purna ha-ila sakala vanchita
dhana-dhanye bhare ghara, lokamanya kalevara,
dine dine haya anandita
SYNONYMS aiche--in that way; saci-jagannatha--mother Sacidevi and Jagannatha Misra; putra--son; pana--having obtained; laksmi-natha--personally the husband of the goddess of fortune; purna--fulfilled; ha-ila--became; sakala--all; vanchita--desires; dhana-dhanye--with riches and grains; bhare ghara--the house filled up; loka-manya kalevara--the body beloved by the people in general; dine dine--day after day; haya--becomes; anandita--pleased.

TRANSLATION In this way mother Sacidevi and Jagannatha Misra, having obtained a son who was the husband of the goddess of fortune, had all their desires fulfilled. Their house was always filled with riches and grains. As they saw the beloved body of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, day after day their pleasure increased.

PURPORT Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore everyone offered their respects to Him. Even the denizens of heaven used to come in the dress of ordinary men to offer their respect to the Lord. His father and mother, Jagannatha Misra and Sacidevi, seeing the honor of their transcendental son, also became very much pleased within their hearts.

TEXT 120
misra----vaisnava, santa, alampata, suddha, danta,
dhana-bhoge nahi abhimana
putrera prabhave yata, dhana asi' mile, tata,
visnu-prite dvije dena dana
SYNONYMS misra--Jagannatha Misra; vaisnava--a great devotee; santa--peaceful; alampata--very regular; suddha--purified; danta--controlled; dhana-bhoge--in the matter of enjoying material happiness; nahi--there is no; abhimana--desire; putrera--of their son; prabhave--by the influence; yata--all; dhana--riches; asi'--coming; mile--gets; tata--so much so; visnu-prite--for the satisfaction of Lord Visnu; dvije--to the brahmanas; dena--gives; dana--charity.

TRANSLATION Jagannatha Misra was an ideal Vaisnava. He was peaceful, restrained in sense gratification, pure and controlled. Therefore he had no desire to enjoy material opulence. Whatever money came because of the influence of his transcendental son, he gave it in charity to the brahmanas for the satisfaction of Visnu.

TEXT 121
lagna gani' harsamati, nilambara cakravarti,
gupte kichu kahila misrere
mahapurusera cihna, lagne ange bhinna bhinna,
dekhi,----ei taribe samsare
SYNONYMS lagna gani'--by astrological calculation of the birth moment; harsa-mati--very pleased; nilambara cakravarti--of the name Nilambara Cakravarti; gupte--in private; kichu--something; kahila--said; misrere--unto Jagannatha Misra; maha-purusera cihna--all the symptoms of a great personality; lagne--in the birth moment; ange--on the body; bhinna bhinna--different; dekhi--I see; ei--this child; taribe--shall deliver; samsare--all the three worlds.

TRANSLATION After calculating the birth moment of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nilambara Cakravarti privately said to Jagannatha Misra that he saw all the different symptoms of a great personality in both the body and birth moment of the child. Thus he understood that in the future this child would deliver all the three worlds.

TEXT 122
aiche prabhu saci-ghare, krpaya kaila avatare,
yei iha karaye sravana
gaura-prabhu dayamaya, tanre hayena sadaya,
sei paya tanhara carana
SYNONYMS aiche--in this way; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; saci-ghare--in the home of Sacidevi; krpaya--by His causeless mercy; kaila--made; avatare--advent; yei--anyone who; iha--this; karaye--does; sravana--hear; gaura-prabhu--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; daya-maya--being very merciful; tanre--upon him; hayena--becomes; sa-daya--merciful; sei--that person; paya--gets; tanhara--His; carana--lotus feet.

TRANSLATION In this way Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, out of His causeless mercy, made His advent in the house of Sacidevi. Lord Caitanya is very merciful to anyone who hears this narration of His birth, and thus such a person attains the lotus feet of the Lord.

TEXT 123
paiya manusa janma, ye na sune gaura-guna,
hena janma tara vyartha haila
paiya amrtadhuni, piye visa-garta-pani,
janmiya se kene nahi maila
SYNONYMS paiya manusa janma--anyone who has gotten the form of a human body; ye--who; na--does not; sune--hear; gaura-guna--the qualities of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; hena janma--such a birth; tara--his; vyartha haila--becomes useless; paiya--getting the opportunity; amrtadhuni--of the river of nectar; piye--drinks; visa-garta-pani--water in a poison pit of material happiness; janmiya--taking birth as a human being; se--he; kene--why; nahi--did not; maila--die.

TRANSLATION Anyone who attains a human body but does not take to the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is baffled in his opportunity. Amrtadhuni is a flowing river of the nectar of devotional service. If after getting a human body one drinks the water in a poison pit of material happiness instead of the water of such a river, it would be better for him not to have lived, but to have died long ago.

PURPORT In this connection Srimat Prabodhananda Sarasvati has composed the following verses in his Caitanya-candramrta (37, 36, 34):

acaitanyam idam visvam yadi caitanyam isvaram
na viduh sarva-sastra-jna hy api bhramyanti te janah
"This material world is without Krsna consciousness. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna consciousness personified. Therefore if a very learned scholar or scientist does not understand Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, certainly he is wandering uselessly in this world."

prasarita-maha-prema-piyusa-rasa-sagare
caitanya-candre prakate yo dino dina eva sah
"A person who does not take advantage of the nectar of devotional service overflowing during the presence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult is certainly the poorest of the poor."

avatirne gaura-candre vistirne prema-sagare
suprakasita-ratnaughe yo dino dina eva sah
"The advent of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is just like an expanding ocean of nectar. One who does not collect the valuable jewels within this ocean is certainly the poorest of the poor."
Similarly, the Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.3.19, 20, 23) states:

sva-vid-varahostra-kharaih
samstutah purusah pasuh
na yat-karna-pathopeto
jatu nama gadagrajah
bile batorukrama-vikraman ye
na srnvatah karna-pute narasya
jihvasati dardurikeva suta
na copagayaty urugaya-gathah
jivan chavo bhagavatanghri-renum
na jatu martyo 'bhilabheta yas tu
sri-visnu-padya manujas tulasyah
svasan chavo yas tu na veda gandham
"A person who has no connection with Krsna consciousness may be a very great personality in so-called human society, but actually he is no better than a great animal. Such big animals are generally praised by other animals like dogs, hogs camels and asses. A person who does not lend his aural reception to hearing about the Supreme Personality of Godhead must be considered to have earholes like holes in a field. Although that person has a tongue, it is like the tongue of a frog, which unnecessarily creates a disturbance by croaking, inviting the snake of death. Similarly, a person who neither takes advantage of the dust of the lotus feet of great devotees nor smells the tulasi leaves offered to the lotus feet of the Lord must be considered dead even though he is supposedly working."
Similarly, the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Tenth Canto, Chapter One, verse 4, states:

nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanad
bhavausadhac chrotra-mano-'bhirama
t ka uttamasloka-gunanuvadat
puman virajyeta vina pasu-ghnat
"Who but the animal-killer or the killer of the soul will not care to hear glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead? Such glorification is enjoyed by persons liberated from the contamination of this material world."
Similarly, in the Third Canto, Chapter Twenty-three, verse 56, the Bhagavatam says, na tirtha-pada-sevayai jivann api mrto hi sah: "Although a person is apparently living, if he does not serve the lotus feet of great devotees he is to be considered a dead body."

TEXT 124
sri-caitanya-nityananda, acarya advaitacandra,
svarupa-rupa-raghunathadasa
inha-sabara sri-carana, sire vandi nija-dhana,
janma-lila gaila krsnadasa
SYNONYMS sri-caitanya-nityananda--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu; acarya advaitacandra--Acarya Sri Advaitacandra; svarupa-rupa-raghunathadasa--Svarupa Damodara, Rupa Gosvami and Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; inha-sabara--of all of them; sri-carana--the lotus feet; sire--on the head; vandi--offering respect; nija-dhana--personal property; janma-lila--narration of the birth; gaila--sang; krsnadasa--Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami.

TRANSLATION Taking on my head as my own property the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, Acarya Advaitacandra, Svarupa Damodara, Rupa Gosvami and Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, I, Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, have thus described the advent of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

PURPORT Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda, Advaita Prabhu, Svarupa Damodara, Rupa Gosvami, Raghunatha dasa and their followers are all accepted by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami. Anyone who follows in the footsteps of Kaviraja Gosvami also accepts the lotus feet of the above-mentioned lords as his personal property. For a materialistic person, material wealth and opulence are only illusory. Actually they are not possessions but entanglements because by enjoying the material world a conditioned soul becomes more and more entangled by incurring debts for his present enjoyment. Unfortunately, a conditioned soul considers property for which he is in debt to be his own, and he is very busy acquiring such property. But a devotee considers such property not real property but simply an entanglement in the material world. If Lord Krsna is very much pleased with a devotee, He takes away his material property, as stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.88.8), where Lord Krsna says, yasyaham anugrhnami harisye tad-dhanam sanaih. "To show special favor to a devotee, I take away all his material property." Similarly, Narottama dasa Thakura says:

dhana mora nityananda, radha-krsna-sricarana
sei mora pranadhana
"My real riches are Nityananda Prabhu and the lotus feet of Sri Radha and Krsna." He further prays, "O Lord, kindly give me this opulence. I do not want anything but Your lotus feet as my property." Srila Narottama dasa Thakura has sung in many places that his real property is the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna. Unfortunately we are interested in unreal property and are neglecting our real property (adhane yatana kari' dhana teyaginu).
Sometimes smartas consider Raghunatha dasa Gosvami a sudra. But Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami here especially mentions svarupa-rupa-raghunathadasa. Therefore one who considers the lotus feet of Raghunatha dasa to be transcendental to all divisions of the caste system enjoys the riches of actual spiritual bliss.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Thirteenth Chapter, describing the advent of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.