Chapter 8
Ramacandra Puri Criticizes the Lord
The following summary of the Eighth Chapter is given by Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. This chapter describes the
history of the Lord's dealings with Ramacandra Puri. Although Ramacandra Puri
was one of the disciples of Madhavendra Puri, he was influenced by dry
Mayavadis, and therefore he criticized Madhavendra Puri. Therefore Madhavendra
Puri accused him of being an offender and rejected him. Because Ramacandra Puri
had been rejected by his spiritual master, he became concerned only with
finding faults in others and advising them according to dry Mayavada
philosophy. For this reason he was not very respectful to the Vaisnavas, and
later he became so fallen that he began criticizing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for
His eating. Hearing his criticisms, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu reduced His eating,
but after Ramacandra Puri left Jagannatha Puri, the Lord resumed His usual
behavior.
TEXT 1
TEXT
tam vande krsna-caitanyam
ramacandra-puri-bhayat
laukikaharatah svam yo
bhiksannam samakocayat
SYNONYMS
tam--to Him; vande--I offer my respectful obeisances;
krsna-caitanyam--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ramacandra-puri-bhayat--due to
fear of Ramacandra Puri; laukika--ordinary; aharatah--from eating; svam--His
own; yah--who; bhiksa-annam--quantity of food; samakocayat--reduced.
TRANSLATION
Let me offer my respectful obeisances to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who
reduced His eating due to fear of the criticism of Ramacandra Puri.
TEXT 2
TEXT
jaya jaya sri-caitanya karuna-sindhu-avatara
brahma-sivadika bhaje carana yanhara
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya--all glories; sri-caitanya--to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
karuna-sindhu-avatara--the incarnation of the ocean of mercy;
brahma-siva-adika--demigods, beginning from Lord Brahma and Siva;
bhaje--worship; carana--lotus feet; yanhara--whose.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the incarnation of the ocean of
mercy. His lotus feet are worshiped by demigods like Lord Brahma and Lord Siva.
TEXT 3
TEXT
jaya jaya avadhuta-candra nityananda
jagat bandhila yenha diya prema-phanda
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya--all glories; avadhuta-candra--to the moon of mendicants;
nityananda--Lord Nityananda; jagat--the world; bandhila--bound; yenha--who;
diya--by; prema-phanda--the noose of ecstatic love of Krsna.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Nityananda Prabhu, the greatest of mendicants, who bound
the entire world with a knot of ecstatic love for God.
TEXT 4
TEXT
jaya jaya advaita isvara avatara
krsna avatari' kaila jagat-nistara
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya--all glories; advaita--to Advaita Acarya; isvara--of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead; avatara--incarnation; krsna avatari'--inducing
Krsna to descend; kaila--did; jagat-nistara--deliverance of the entire world.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Advaita Prabhu, the incarnation of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead. He induced Krsna to descend and thus delivered the entire world.
TEXT 5
TEXT
jaya jaya srivasadi yata bhakta-gana
sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu----yanra prana-dhana
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya--all glories; srivasa-adi--headed by Srivasa Thakura; yata
bhakta-gana--to all the devotees; sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu--Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; yanra--whose; prana-dhana--life and soul.
TRANSLATION
All glories to all the devotees, headed by Srivasa Thakura. Sri Krsna
Caitanya Mahaprabhu is their life and soul.
TEXT 6
TEXT
ei-mata
gauracandra nija-bhakta-sange
nilacale krida kare krsna-prema-tarange
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; gauracandra--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
nija-bhakta-sange--with His own devotees; nilacale--at Jagannatha Puri; krida
kare--executes different pastimes; krsna-prema-tarange--in the waves of love of
Krsna.
TRANSLATION
Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, at Jagannatha Puri, performed His various
pastimes with His own devotees in the waves of love for Krsna.
TEXT 7
TEXT
hena-kale ramacandra-puri-gosani aila
paramananda-purire ara prabhure milila
SYNONYMS
hena-kale--at this time; ramacandra-puri-gosani--a sannyasi named
Ramacandra Puri; aila--came; paramananda-purire--Paramananda Puri; ara--and;
prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; milila--met.
TRANSLATION
Then a sannyasi named Ramacandra Puri Gosani came to see Paramananda
Puri and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 8
TEXT
paramananda-puri kaila carana vandana
puri-gosani kaila tanre drdha alingana
SYNONYMS
paramananda-puri--Paramananda Puri; kaila--did; carana--unto the feet;
vandana--offering obeisances; puri-gosani--Ramacandra Puri; kaila--did;
tanre--unto him; drdha--strong; alingana--embracing.
TRANSLATION
Paramananda Puri offered respects at the feet of Ramacandra Puri, and
Ramacandra Puri strongly embraced him.
PURPORT
Because Ramacandra Puri was a disciple of Madhavendra Puri, both
Paramananda Puri and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu offered him respectful obeisances.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments that although Ramacandra Puri
was naturally very envious and although he was against the principles of
Vaisnavism--or, in other words, against the principles of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead and His devotees--common people nevertheless addressed
him as Gosvami or Gosani because he was superficially in the renounced order
and dressed like a sannyasi. In the modern age the title gosvami is used by a
caste of grhasthas, but formerly it was not. Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami,
for example, were called gosvami because they were in the renounced order.
Similarly, because Paramananda Puri was a sannyasi, he was called Puri Gosvami.
By careful scrutiny, therefore, one will find that gosvami is not the title for
a certain caste; rather, it is properly the title for a person in the renounced
order.
TEXT 9
TEXT
mahaprabhu kaila tanre dandavat nati
alingana kari' tenho kaila krsna-smrti
SYNONYMS
mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila--did; tanre--unto him;
dandavat nati--offering obeisances; alingana kari'--embracing;
tenho--Ramacandra Puri; kaila--did; krsna-smrti--remembrance of Krsna.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also offered obeisances unto Ramacandra Puri,
who then embraced Him and thus remembered Krsna.
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu offered obeisances to Ramacandra Puri in
consideration of his being a disciple of Srila Madhavendra Puri, the spiritual
master of His own spiritual master, Isvara Puri. When a Vaisnava sannyasi meets
another Vaisnava sannyasi, they both remember Krsna. Even Mayavadi sannyasis
generally remember Narayana, who is also Krsna, by saying om namo bhagavate
narayana or namo narayana. Thus it is the duty of a sannyasi to remember Krsna.
According to smrti-sastra, a sannyasi does not offer obeisances or blessings to
anyone. it is said, sannyasi nirasir nirnamaskriyah: a sannyasi should not
offer anyone blessings or obeisances.
TEXT 10
TEXT
tina-jane istha-gosthi kaila kata-ksana
jagadananda-pandita tanre kaila nimantrana
SYNONYMS
tina-jane--three persons; istha-gosthi--discussion on Krsna; kaila--performed;
kata-ksana--for some time; jagadananda-pandita--Jagadananda Pandita;
tanre--Ramacandra Puri; kaila nimantrana--invited.
TRANSLATION
The three of them talked about Krsna for some time, and then Jagadananda
came and extended an invitation to Ramacandra Puri.
TEXT 11
TEXT
jagannathera prasada anila bhiksara lagiya
yathesta bhiksa karila tenho nindara lagiya
SYNONYMS
jagannathera prasada--remnants of the food of Lord Jagannatha;
anila--brought; bhiksara lagiya--for feeding; yathesta bhiksa karila--ate
sumptuously; tenho--he; nindara lagiya--to find some fault.
TRANSLATION
A large quantity of the remnants of food from Lord Jagannatha was
brought in for distribution. Ramacandra Puri ate sumptuously, and then he
wanted to find faults in Jagadananda Pandita.
TEXT 12
TEXT
bhiksa kari' kahe puri,----"suna, jagadananda
avasesa prasada tumi karaha bhaksana"
SYNONYMS
bhiksa kari'--after finishing the lunch; kahe puri--Ramacandra Puri began
to speak; suna, jagadananda--my dear Jagadananda, just hear; avasesa
prasada--the remaining prasada; tumi--you; karaha bhaksana--eat.
TRANSLATION
After finishing the meal, Ramacandra Puri requested,"My dear
Jagadananda, please listen. You eat the food that is left."
TEXT 13
TEXT
agraha kariya tanre vasi' khaoyaila
apane agraha kari' parivesana kaila
SYNONYMS
agraha kariya--with great eagerness; tanre vasi'--seating him;
khaoyaila--he fed; apane--personally; agraha kari'--with great eagerness;
parivesana kaila --administered the prasada.
TRANSLATION
With great eagerness Ramacandra Puri seated Jagadananda Pandita and
personally served him prasada.
TEXT 14
TEXT
agraha kariya punah punah khaoyaila
acamana kaile ninda karite lagila
SYNONYMS
agraha kariya--with eagerness; punah punah--again and again;
khaoyaila--fed; acamana kaile--when he had washed his hands and mouth; ninda
karite lagila--began to criticize.
TRANSLATION
Encouraging him again and again, Ramacandra Puri fed him sumptuously,
but when Jagadananda had washed his hands and mouth, Ramacandra Puri began
criticizing him.
TEXT 15
TEXT
"suni, caitanya-gana kare bahuta bhaksana
'satya' sei vakya,----saksat dekhilun ekhana
SYNONYMS
suni--I have heard; caitanya-gana--the followers of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; kare bahuta bhaksana--eat more than necessary; satya--true; sei
vakya--that statement; saksat--directly; dekhilun--I have seen; ekhana--now.
TRANSLATION
"I have heard," he said,"that the followers of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu eat more than necessary. Now I have directly seen that this is true.
TEXT 16
TEXT
sannyasire eta khaoyana kare dharma nasa
vairagi hana eta khaya, vairagyera nahi 'bhasa' "
SYNONYMS
sannyasire--unto a sannyasi; eta--so much; khaoyana--feeding; kare
dharma nasa--destroys the regulative principles; vairagi hana--being in the
renounced order; eta--so much; khaya--eats; vairagyera nahi bhasa--there is no
trace of renunciation.
TRANSLATION
"Feeding a sannyasi too much breaks his regulative principles, for
when a sannyasi eats too much, his renunciation is destroyed."
TEXT 17
TEXT
ei ta' svabhava tanra agraha kariya
piche ninda kare, age bahuta khaoyana
SYNONYMS
ei--this; ta'--certainly; sva-bhava--characteristic; tanra--his; agraha
kariya--with great eagerness; piche--afterward; ninda kare--criticizes; age--at
first; bahuta--much; khaoyana--feeding.
TRANSLATION
The characteristic of Ramacandra Puri was that first he would induce
someone to eat more than necessary and then he would criticize him.
TEXT 18
TEXT
purve yabe madhavendra karena antardhana
ramacandra-puri tabe aila tanra sthana
SYNONYMS
purve--formerly; yabe--when; madhavendra--Madhavendra Puri; karena
antardhana--was about to die; ramacandra-puri--Ramacandra Puri; tabe--at that
time; aila--came; tanra sthana--to his place.
TRANSLATION
Formerly, when Madhavendra Puri was at the last stage of his life,
Ramacandra Puri came to where he was staying.
TEXT 19
TEXT
puri-gosani kare krsna-nama-sankirtana
'mathura na painu' bali' karena krandana
SYNONYMS
puri-gosani--Madhavendra Puri; kare--was performing;
krsna-nama-sankirtana--the chanting of the holy name of Lord Krsna; mathura na
painu--I did not get shelter at Mathura; bali'--saying; karena krandana--was
crying.
TRANSLATION
Madhavendra Puri was chanting the holy name of Krsna, and sometimes he
would cry, "O my Lord, I did not get shelter at Mathura."
TEXT 20
TEXT
ramacandra-puri tabe upadese tanre
sisya hana guruke kahe, bhaya nahi kare
SYNONYMS
ramacandra-puri--Ramacandra Puri; tabe--then; upadese tanre--instructed
him; sisya hana--being a disciple; guruke kahe--said to his spiritual master;
bhaya nahi kare--without fear.
TRANSLATION
Then Ramacandra Puri was so foolish that he fearlessly dared to instruct
his spiritual master.
TEXT 21
TEXT
"tumi----purna-brahmananda, karaha smarana
brahmavit hana kene karaha rodana?"
SYNONYMS
tumi--you; purna-brahma-ananda--full in transcendental bliss; karaha
smarana--you should remember; brahma-vit hana--being fully aware of Brahman;
kene--why; karaha rodana--are you crying.
TRANSLATION
"If you are in full transcendental bliss," he said,"you
should now remember only Brahman. Why are you crying?"
PURPORT
As stated in Bhagavad-gita, brahma-bhutah prasannatma: a Brahman
realized person is always happy. Na socati na kanksati: he neither laments nor
aspires for anything. Not knowing why Madhavendra Puri was crying, Ramacandra
Puri tried to become his advisor. Thus he committed a great offense, for a
disciple should never try to instruct his spiritual master.
TEXT 22
TEXT
suni' madhavendra-mane krodha upajila
'dura, dura, papistha' bali' bhartsana karila
SYNONYMS
suni'--hearing; madhavendra--of Madhavendra Puri; mane--in the mind;
krodha--anger; upajila--arose; dura dura--get out; papistha--you sinful rascal;
bali'--saying; bhartsana karila--he chastised.
TRANSLATION
Hearing this instruction, Madhavendra Puri, greatly angry, rebuked him
by saying, "Get out, you sinful rascal!
PURPORT
Ramacandra Puri could not understand that his spiritual master,
Madhavendra Puri, was feeling transcendental separation. His lamentation was
not material. Rather, it proceeded from the highest stage of ecstatic love of
Krsna. When he was crying in separation, "I could not achieve Krsna! I
could not reach Mathura!" this was not ordinary material lamentation.
Ramacandra Puri was not sufficiently expert to understand the feelings of
Madhavendra Puri, but nevertheless he thought himself very advanced. Therefore,
regarding Madhavendra Puri's expressions as ordinary material lamentation, he
advised him to remember Brahman because he was latently an impersonalist.
Madhavendra Puri understood Ramacandra Puri's position as a great fool and
therefore immediately rebuked him. Such a reprimand from the spiritual master
is certainly for the betterment of the disciple.
TEXT 23
TEXT
'krsna na painu, na painu 'mathura'
apana-duhkhe maron----ei dite aila jvala
SYNONYMS
krsna--Lord Krsna; na painu--I did not get; na painu--did not get; mathura--Mathura;
apana-duhkhe--in my own unhappiness; maron--i am dying; ei--this person; dite
aila jvala--has come to give more pain.
TRANSLATION
"O my Lord Krsna, I could not reach You, nor could I reach Your
abode, Mathura. I am dying in my unhappiness, and now this rascal has come to
give me more pain.
TEXT 24
TEXT
more mukha na dekhabi tui, yao yathi-tathi
tore dekhi' maile mora habe asad-gati
SYNONYMS
more--to me; mukha--face; na dekhabi--do not show; tui--you; yao--go;
yathi-tathi--anywhere else; tore--you; dekhi'--seeing; maile--if I die; mora
habe asat-gati--I shall not get my destination.
TRANSLATION
"Don't show your face to me! Go anywhere else you like. If I die
seeing your face, I shall not achieve the destination of my life.
TEXT 25
TEXT
krsna na painu muni maron apanara duhkhe
more 'brahma' upadese ei chara murkhe"
SYNONYMS
krsna--Krsna; na painu--could not get; muni--I; maron--I die; apanara
duhkhe--in my own unhappiness; more--to me; brahma--Brahman;
upadese--instructs; ei--this; chara--condemned; murkhe--fool.
TRANSLATION
"I am dying without achieving the shelter of Krsna, and therefore I
am greatly unhappy. Now this condemned foolish rascal has come to instruct me
about Brahman."
TEXT 26
TEXT
ei ye sri-madhavendra sri-pada upeksa karila
sei aparadhe inhara 'vasana, janmila
SYNONYMS
ei--this; ye--that; sri-madhavendra sri-pada--His Lordship Madhavendra
Puri; upeksa karila--neglected or denounced; sei aparadhe--because of the
offense; inhara--of Ramacandra Puri; vasana--material desire; janmila--arose.
TRANSLATION
Ramacandra Puri was thus denounced by Madhavendra Puri. Due to his
offense, gradually material desire appeared within him.
PURPORT
The word vasana ("material desires") refers to dry speculative
knowledge. Such speculative knowledge is only material. As confirmed in
Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.4), a person without devotional service who simply
wants to know things (kevala-bodha-labdhaye) gains only dry speculative
knowledge but no spiritual profit. This is also confirmed in the
Bhakti-sandarbha (111), wherein it is said:
jivan-mukta api punar
yanti samsara-vasanam
yady acintya-maha-saktau
bhagavaty aparadhinah
"Even though one is liberated in this life, if one offends the
Supreme Personality of Godhead he falls down in the midst of material desires,
of which dry speculation about spiritual realization is one."
In his Laghu-tosani commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.2.32), Jiva
Gosvami says;
jivan-mukta api punar
bandhanam yanti karmabhih
yady acintya-maha-saktau
bhagavaty aparadhinah
"Even if one is liberated in this life, he becomes addicted to
material desires because of offenses to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead."
A similar quotation from one of the Puranas also appears in the
Visnu-bhakti-candrodaya:
jivan-muktah prapadyante
kvacit samsara-vasanam
yogino na vilipyante
karmabhir bhagavat-parah
"Even liberated souls sometimes fall down to material desires, but
those who fully engaged in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead are not affected by such desires."
These are references from authoritative revealed scriptures. If one
becomes an offender to his spiritual master or the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, he falls down to the material platform to merely speculate.
TEXT 27
TEXT
suska-brahma-jnani, nahi krsnera 'sambandha'
sarva loka ninda kare, nindate nirbandha
SYNONYMS
suska--dry; brahma-jnani--impersonalist philosopher; nahi--there is not;
krsnera--with Lord Krsna; sambandha--relationship; sarva--all; loka--persons;
ninda kare--criticizes; nindate nirbandha--fixed in blaspheming.
TRANSLATION
One who is attached to dry speculative knowledge has no relationship
with Krsna. His occupation is criticizing Vaisnavas. Thus he is situated in
criticism.
PURPORT
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura has explained in his Anubhasya
that the word nirbandha indicates that Ramacandra Puri had a steady desire to
criticize others. Impersonalist Mayavadis who have no relationship with Krsna,
who cannot take to devotional service and who simply engage in material
arguments to understand Brahman regard devotional service to Krsna as
karma-kanda, or fruitive activities. According to them, devotional service to
Krsna is but another means for attaining dharma, artha, kama and moksa. Therefore
they criticize the devotees for engaging in material activities. They think
that devotional service is maya and that Krsna or Visnu is also maya. Therefore
they are called Mayavadis. Such a mentality awakens in a person who is an
offender to Krsna and His devotees.
TEXT 28
TEXT
isvara-puri gosani kare sri-pada-sevana
svahaste karena mala-mutradi marjana
SYNONYMS
isvara-puri--Isvara Puri; gosani--Gosvami; kare--performs;
sri-pada-sevana--service to Madhavendra Puri; sva-haste--with his own hand;
karena--performs; mala-mutra-adi--stool, urine, and so on; marjana--cleaning.
TRANSLATION
Isvara Puri, the spiritual master of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, performed
service to Madhavendra Puri, cleaning up his stool and urine with his own hand.
TEXT 29
TEXT
nirantara krsna-nama karaya smarana
krsna-nama, krsna-lila sunaya anuksana
SYNONYMS
nirantara--always; krsna-nama--the name of Lord Krsna; karaya
smarana--was reminding; krsna-nama--the holy name of Krsna; krsna-lila--pastimes
of Krsna; sunaya anuksana--was always causing to hear.
TRANSLATION
Isvara Puri was always chanting the holy name and pastimes of Lord Krsna
for Madhavendra Puri to hear. In this way he helped Madhavendra Puri remember
the holy name and pastimes of Lord Krsna at the time of death.
TEXT 30
TEXT
tusta hana puri tanre kaila alingana
vara dila----'krsne tomara ha-uka prema-dhana'
SYNONYMS
tusta hana--being pleased; puri--Madhavendra Puri; tanre--him; kaila
alingana--embraced; vara dila--gave the benediction; krsne--unto Krsna;
tomara--your; ha-uka--let there be; prema-dhana--the wealth of love.
TRANSLATION
Pleased with Isvara Puri, Madhavendra Puri embraced him and gave him the
benediction that he would be a great devotee and lover of Krsna.
TEXT 31
TEXT
sei haite isvara-puri----'premera sagara'
ramacandra-puri haila sarva-nindakara
SYNONYMS
sei haite--from that; isvara-puri--Isvara Puri; premera sagara--the
ocean of ecstatic love; ramacandra-puri--Ramacandra Puri; haila--became;
sarva-nindakara--critic of all others.
TRANSLATION
Thus Isvara Puri became like an ocean of ecstatic love for Krsna,
whereas Ramacandra Puri became a dry speculator and a critic of everyone else.
TEXT 32
TEXT
mahad-anugraha-nigrahera 'saksi' dui-jane
ei dui-dvare sikhaila jaga-jane
SYNONYMS
mahat--of an exalted personality; anugraha--of the blessing;
nigrahera--of chastisement; saksi--giving evidence; dui-jane--two persons; ei
dui-dvare--by these two; sikhaila--instructed; jaga-jane--the people of the
world.
TRANSLATION
Isvara Puri received the blessing of Madhavendra Puri, whereas
Ramacandra Puri received a rebuke from him. Therefore these two persons, Isvara
Puri and Ramacandra Puri, are examples of the objects of a great personality's
benediction and punishment. Madhavendra Puri instructed the entire world by
presenting these two examples.
TEXT 33
TEXT
jagad-guru madhavendra kari' prema dana
ei sloka padi' tenho kaila antardhana
SYNONYMS
jagat-guru--the spiritual master of the entire world;
madhavendra--Madhavendra Puri; kari' prema dana--giving ecstatic love of Krsna
as charity; ei sloka padi'--reciting this verse; tenho--he; kaila
antardhana--passed away from this material world.
TRANSLATION
His Divine Grace Madhavendra Puri, the spiritual master of the entire
world, thus distributed ecstatic love for Krsna. While passing away from the material
world, he chanted the following verse.
TEXT 34
TEXT
ayi dina-dayardra natha he
mathura-natha kadavalokyase
hrdayam tvad-aloka-kataram
dayita bhramyati kim karomy aham
SYNONYMS
ayi--O my Lord; dina--on the poor; daya-ardra--compassionate; natha--O
master; he--O; mathura-natha--the master of Mathura; kada--when; avalokyase--I
shall see you; hrdayam--my heart; tvat--of You; aloka--without seeing;
kataram--very much aggrieved; dayita--O most beloved; bhramyati--becomes
overwhelmed; kim--what; karomi--shall do; aham--I.
TRANSLATION
"O my Lord! O most merciful master! O master of Mathura! When shall
I see You again? Because of my not seeing You, my agitated heart has become
unsteady. O most beloved one, what shall I do now?"
TEXT 35
TEXT
ei sloke krsna-prema kare upadesa
krsnera virahe bhaktera bhava-visesa
SYNONYMS
ei sloke--in this verse; krsna-prema--love of Krsna; kare
upadesa--instructs; krsnera virahe--by feeling separation from Krsna;
bhaktera--of the devotee; bhava-visesa--transcendental situation.
TRANSLATION
In this verse Madhavendra Puri instructs how to achieve ecstatic love
for Krsna. By feeling separation from Krsna, one becomes spiritually situated.
TEXT 36
TEXT
prthivite ropana kari' gela premankura
sei premankurera vrksa----caitanya-thakura
SYNONYMS
prthivite--within this material world; ropana kari'--sowing; gela--went;
prema-ankura--the seed of ecstatic love for Krsna; sei prema-ankurera--of that
seed of ecstatic love for Krsna; vrksa--the tree; caitanya-thakura--Lord Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
Madhavendra Puri sowed the seed of ecstatic love for Krsna within this
material world and then departed. That seed later became a great tree in the
form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 37
TEXT
prastave kahilun puri-gosanira niryana
yei iha sune, sei bada bhagyavan
SYNONYMS
prastave--incidentally; kahilun--i have described; puri-gosanira--of
Madhavendra Puri; niryana--the passing away; yei--one who; iha--this;
sune--hears; sei--he; bada bhagyavan--very fortunate.
TRANSLATION
I have incidentally described the passing away of Madhavendra Puri.
Anyone who hears this must be considered very fortunate.
TEXT 38
TEXT
ramacandra-puri aiche rahila nilacale
virakta svabhava, kabhu rahe kona sthale
SYNONYMS
ramacandra-puri--Ramacandra Puri; aiche--in this way; rahila
nilacale--remained at Jagannatha Puri; virakta--renounced; sva-bhava--as is the
custom; kabhu--sometimes; rahe--he remained; kona sthale--at a particular
place.
TRANSLATION
Thus Ramacandra Puri stayed at Jagannatha Puri. As customary for those
in the renounced order, he would sometimes stay someplace and then go away.
TEXT 39
TEXT
animantrana bhiksa kare, nahika nirnaya
anyera bhiksara sthitira layena niscaya
SYNONYMS
animantrana--without being invited; bhiksa kare--accepts food; nahika
nirnaya--there is no certainty; anyera--of others; bhiksara--of acceptance of
prasada; sthitira--of the situation; layena niscaya--takes account.
TRANSLATION
There was no certainty of where Ramacandra Puri would take his meal, for
he would do so even uninvited. Nevertheless, he was very particular to keep
account of how others were taking their meals.
TEXT 40
TEXT
prabhura nimantrane lage kaudi cari pana
kabhu kasisvara, govinda khana tina jana
SYNONYMS
prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nimantrane--for invitation;
lage--is required; kaudi cari pana--four times eighty small conchshells; kabhu
kasisvara--sometimes Kasisvara; govinda--the personal servant of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; khana--eat; tina jana--three persons.
TRANSLATION
To invite Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would cost 320 kaudis [small
conchshells]. This would provide lunch for three people, including Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu and sometimes Kasisvara and Govinda.
TEXT 41
TEXT
pratyaha prabhura bhiksa iti-uti haya
keha yadi
mulya ane, cari-pana-nirnaya
SYNONYMS
prati-aha--daily; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhiksa--alms;
iti-uti--here and there; haya--is; keha--someone; yadi--if; mulya ane--pays;
cari-pana--four times eighty small conchshells; nirnaya--as a fixed amount.
TRANSLATION
Every day the Lord would take His meal at a different place, and if
someone was prepared to pay for a meal, the price was fixed at only four panas.
TEXT 42
TEXT
prabhura sthiti, riti, bhiksa, sayana, prayana
ramacandra-puri kare sarvanusandhana
SYNONYMS
prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sthiti--situation;
riti--regulative principles; bhiksa--accepting lunch; sayana--sleeping;
prayana--movement; ramacandra-puri--Ramacandra Puri; kare
sarva-anusandhana--takes all information of.
TRANSLATION
Ramacandra Puri concerned himself with gathering all sorts of
information about how Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was situated, including His
regulative principles, His lunch, His sleep and His movements.
TEXT 43
TEXT
prabhura yateka guna sparsite narila
chidra cahi' bule, kanha chidra na paila
SYNONYMS
prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yateka guna--all the
transcendental attributes; sparsite narila--could not touch or understand;
chidra cahi'--looking for faults; bule--he goes about; kanha--anywhere;
chidra--fault; na paila--he could not find.
TRANSLATION
Because Ramacandra Puri was interested only in finding faults, he could
not understand the transcendental qualities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. His
only concern was finding faults, but still he could not find any.
TEXT 44
TEXT
'sannyasi hana kare
mistanna bhaksana
ei bhoge haya kaiche indriya-varana'?
SYNONYMS
sannyasi hana--being a sannyasi; kare mistanna bhaksana--eats
sweetmeats; ei bhoge--by this eating; haya--there is; kaiche--how;
indriya-varana--controlling the senses.
TRANSLATION
At last he found a fault."How can a person in the renounced order
eat so many sweetmeats?" he said. "If one eats sweets, controlling
the senses is very difficult."
TEXT 45
TEXT
ei ninda kari' kahe sarva-loka-sthane
prabhure dekhiteha avasya aise prati-dine
SYNONYMS
ei ninda--this criticism; kari'--making; kahe--speaks;
sarva-loka-sthane--to everyone; prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
dekhiteha--to see, still; avasya--certainly; aise--comes; prati-dine--daily.
TRANSLATION
In this way Ramacandra Puri blasphemed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu before
everyone, but nevertheless he would regularly come to see the Lord every day.
TEXT 46
TEXT
prabhu guru-buddhye karena sambhrama, sammana
tenho chidra cahi' bule,----ei tara kama
SYNONYMS
prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; guru-buddhye--accepting him as a
Godbrother of His spiritual master; karena sambhrama sammana--offers full respect
and obeisances; tenho--Ramacandra Puri; chidra cahi'--trying to find fault;
bule--goes about; ei--this; tara--his; kama--business.
TRANSLATION
When they met, the Lord would offer him respectful obeisances, considering
him a Godbrother of His spiritual master. Ramacandra Puri's business, however,
was to search for faults in the Lord.
TEXT 47
TEXT
yata ninda kare taha prabhu saba jane
tathapi adara kare
bada-i sambhrame
SYNONYMS
yata--whatever; ninda--blasphemy; kare--does; taha--that; prabhu--Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; saba--all; jane--knows; tathapi--still; adara kare--offers
respect; bada-i sambhrame--with great attention.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu knew that Ramacandra Puri was criticizing Him
before everyone, but whenever Ramacandra Puri came to see Him, the Lord offered
him respects with great attention.
TEXT 48
TEXT
eka-dina pratah-kale aila prabhura ghara
pipilika dekhi' kichu kahena uttara
SYNONYMS
eka-dina--one day; pratah-kale--in the morning; aila--came; prabhura
ghara--to the place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; pipilika dekhi'--seeing many
ants; kichu kahena uttara--began to say something critical.
TRANSLATION
One day Ramacandra Puri came in the morning to the abode of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. Seeing many ants, he said something to criticize the Lord.
TEXT 49
TEXT
"ratrav atra aiksavam asit, tena
pipilikah sancaranti aho! viraktanam
sannyasinam iyam indriya-lalaseti
bruvann utthaya gatah."
SYNONYMS
ratrau--at night; atra--here; aiksavam--sugar candy; asit--was; tena--by
that; pipilikah--ants; sancaranti--wander about; aho--alas;
viraktanam--renounced; sannyasinam--of sannyasis; iyam--this; indriya--to the
senses; lalasa--attachment; iti--thus; bruvan--speaking; utthaya--getting up;
gatah--left.
TRANSLATION
"Last night there was sugar candy here," he said.
"Therefore ants are wandering about. Alas, this renounced sannyasi is
attached to such sense gratification!" After speaking in this way, he got
up and left.
TEXT 50
TEXT
prabhu paramparaya ninda kairachena sravana
ebe saksat sunilena 'kalpita' nindana
SYNONYMS
prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; paramparaya--by hearsay;
ninda--blasphemy; kairachena sravana--had heard; ebe--now; saksat--directly;
sunilena--He heard; kalpita--imaginary; nindana--blasphemy.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had heard rumors about Ramacandra Puri's
blasphemy. Now He directly heard his fanciful accusations.
PURPORT
Ramacandra Puri could find no faults in the character of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, for He is situated in a transcendental position as the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Ants are generally found everywhere, but when
Ramacandra Puri saw ants crawling in the abode of the Lord, he took for granted
that they must have been there because Caitanya Mahaprabhu had been eating
sweetmeats. He thus discovered imaginary faults in the Lord and then left.
TEXT 51
TEXT
sahajei pipilika sarvatra bedaya
tahate tarka uthana dosa lagaya
SYNONYMS
sahajei--generally; pipilika--ants; sarvatra--everywhere;
bedaya--loiter; tahate--by that; tarka uthana--raising a controversy; dosa
lagaya--find faults.
TRANSLATION
Ants generally crawl about here, there and everywhere, but Ramacandra
Puri, looking for imaginary faults, criticized Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by
alleging that there had been sweetmeats in His room.
TEXT 52
TEXT
suni' taha prabhura sankoca-bhaya mane
govinde bolana kichu kahena vacane
SYNONYMS
suni'--hearing; taha--that; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya; sankoca--doubt;
bhaya--fear; mane--in the mind; govinde bolana--calling for Govinda;
kichu--some; kahena--spoke; vacane--words.
TRANSLATION
After hearing this criticism, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was doubtful and
apprehensive. Therefore He called Govinda and instructed him as follows.
TEXT 53
TEXT
"aji haite bhiksa amara ei ta' niyama
pinda-bhogera eka cauthi, panca-gandara vyanjana
SYNONYMS
aji haite--from today; bhiksa amara--My accepting prasada; ei--this;
ta'--certainly; niyama--the rule; pinda-bhogera--of Lord Jagannatha's prasada;
eka cauthi--one-fourth of a pot; panca-gandara vyanjana--vegetables costing
five gandas (one ganda equals four kaudis).
TRANSLATION
"From today on it will be a rule that I shall accept only
one-fourth of a pot of Lord Jagannatha's prasada and five gandas worth of
vegetables.
TEXT 54
TEXT
iha ba-i adhika ara kichu na aniba
adhika anile ama etha na dekhiba"
SYNONYMS
iha ba-i--except for this; adhika--more; ara--extra; kichu--anything; na
aniba--do not bring; adhika anile--if more is brought; ama--Me; etha--here; na
dekhiba--you will not see.
TRANSLATION
"If you bring any more than this, you will not see Me here
anymore."
TEXT 55
TEXT
sakala vaisnave govinda kahe ei vat
suni' sabara mathe yaiche haila vajraghata
SYNONYMS
sakala vaisnave--to all the Vaisnavas; govinda--Govinda; kahe--informs;
ei vat--this message; suni'--hearing; sabara mathe--on everyone's head;
yaiche--as if; haila--there was; vajra-aghata--striking of lightning.
TRANSLATION
Govinda relayed this message to all the devotees. When they heard it,
they felt as if their heads had been struck by thunderbolts.
TEXT 56
TEXT
ramacandra-purike sabaya deya tiraskara
'ei papistha asi' prana la-ila sabara'
SYNONYMS
ramacandra-purike--unto Ramacandra Puri; sabaya--all the devotees; deya
tiraskara--offer chastisement; ei papistha--this sinful man; asi'--coming;
prana--life; la-ila--has taken; sabara--of everyone.
TRANSLATION
All the devotees condemned Ramacandra Puri, saying,"This sinful man
has come here and taken our lives."
TEXTS 57-58
TEXT
sei-dina eka-vipra kaila nimantrana
eka-cauthi bhata, panca-gandara vyanjana
ei-matra govinda kaila angikara
mathaya gha mare vipra, kare hahakara
SYNONYMS
sei-dina--that day; eka-vipra--one brahmana; kaila nimantrana--invited;
eka-cauthi bhata--one-fourth of a pot of rice; panca-gandara
vyanjana--vegetables worth only five gandas; ei-matra--only this; govinda--the
servant of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila angikara--accepted; mathaya--his
head; gha mare--struck; vipra--the brahmana; kare haha-kara--began to say,
"alas, alas."
TRANSLATION
That day, a brahmana extended an invitation to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
When Govinda accepted only five gandas worth of vegetables and a fourth of a
pot of rice, the brahmana, in great despair, struck his head with his hand and
cried, "Alas! Alas!"
TEXT 59
TEXT
sei bhata-vyanjana prabhu ardheka khaila
ye kichu rahila, taha govinda paila
SYNONYMS
sei--that; bhata--rice; vyanjana--vegetable; prabhu--Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; ardheka khaila--ate half; ye kichu rahila--whatever remained; taha--that;
govinda--Govinda; paila--got.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ate only half of the rice and vegetables, and
whatever remained was taken by Govinda.
TEXT 60
TEXT
ardhasana karena prabhu, govinda ardhasana
saba bhakta-gana tabe chadila bhojana
SYNONYMS
ardha-asana karena--eats half; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
govinda--Govinda; ardha-asana--eats half; saba bhakta-gana--all the devotees;
tabe--at that time; chadila bhojana--gave up eating.
TRANSLATION
Thus both Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Govinda ate only half the food
they needed. Because of this, all the other devotees gave up eating.
TEXT 61
TEXT
govinda-kasisvare prabhu kaila ajnapana
'dunhe anyatra magi' kara udara bharana'
SYNONYMS
govinda-kasisvare--unto Govinda and Kasisvara; prabhu--Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; kaila--made; ajnapana--order; dunhe--both of you;
anyatra--elsewhere; magi'--begging; kara udara bharana--fill your bellies.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Govinda and Kasisvara,"You may both
take alms elsewhere to fill your bellies."
TEXT 62
TEXT
ei-rupa maha-duhkhe dina kata gela
suni, ramacandra-puri prabhu-pasa aila
SYNONYMS
ei-rupa--in this way; maha-duhkhe--in great unhappiness; dina kata--some
days; gela--passed; suni'--hearing; ramacandra-puri--Ramacandra Puri;
prabhu-pasa aila--came to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
In this way, some days passed in great unhappiness. Hearing of all this,
Ramacandra Puri went to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 63
TEXT
pranama kari' prabhu kaila carana vandana
prabhure kahaye kichu hasiya vacana
SYNONYMS
pranama kari'--offering obeisances; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila
carana vandana--offered respect at his feet; prabhure--to Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
kahaye--he says; kichu--some; hasiya--smiling; vacana--words.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu offered His obeisances to Ramacandra Puri,
worshiping his feet. Then Ramacandra Puri smiled and spoke to the Lord.
TEXT 64
TEXT
"sannyasira dharma nahe 'indriya-tarpana'
yaiche taiche kare matra udara bharana
SYNONYMS
sannyasira--of a sannyasi; dharma--religious principle; nahe--is not;
indriya-tarpana--to gratify the senses; yaiche taiche--some way or other;
kare--does; matra--only; udara bharana--filling the belly.
TRANSLATION
Ramacandra Puri advised, "It is not the business of a sannyasi to
gratify his senses. He should fill his belly some way or other.
TEXT 65
TEXT
tomare ksina dekhi, suni,----kara ardhasana
ei 'suska-vairagya' nahe sannyasira 'dharma'
SYNONYMS
tomare--You; ksina--skinny; dekhi--I see; suni--I have heard; kara
ardha-asana--You are eating half; ei--this; suska-vairagya--dry renunciation;
nahe--is not; sannyasira dharma--the religion of a sannyasi.
TRANSLATION
"I have heard that You have cut Your eating in half. Indeed, I see
that You are skinny. Such dry renunciation is also not the religion of a
sannyasi.
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