Chapter 11
The Beda-kirtana Pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Bhaktivinoda Thakura summarizes the Eleventh Chapter in his
Amrta-pravaha-bhasya.
When Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya tried his best to arrange a meeting between
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and King Prataparudra, the Lord flatly denied his
request. At this time Sri Ramananda Raya returned from his governmental post,
and he praised King Prataparudra highly in Lord Caitanya's presence. Because of
this, the Lord became a little soft. The King also made promises to Sarvabhauma
Bhattacarya, who hinted how the King might meet the Lord. During Anavasara,
while Lord Jagannatha was resting for fifteen days, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
being unable to see Lord Jagannatha, went to Alalanatha. Later, when the
devotees from Bengal came to see Him, He returned to Jagannatha Puri. While
Advaita Acarya and the other devotees were coming to Jagannatha Puri, Svarupa
Damodara and Govinda, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's two personal assistants, went
to receive all the devotees with garlands. From the roof of his palace, King
Prataparudra could see all the devotees arriving. Gopinatha Acarya stood on the
roof with the King, and, following Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya's instructions,
identified each and every devotee. The King discussed the devotees with Gopinatha
Acarya, and he mentioned that the devotees were accepting prasada without
observing the regulative principles governing pilgrimages. They accepted
prasada without having shaved, and they neglected to fast in a holy place.
Nonetheless, the King arranged residential quarters for all the devotees and
saw to their prasada. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu talked very happily with Vasudeva
Datta and other devotees. Haridasa Thakura also came, and due to his humble and
submissive attitude, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave him a nice solitary place
near the temple. After this, the Lord began performing sankirtana, dividing all
the devotees into four divisions. After sankirtana, all the devotees left for
their residential quarters.
TEXT 1
TEXT
aty-uddandam tandavam gauracandrah
kurvan bhaktaih sri-jagannatha-gehe
nana-bhavalankrtangah sva-dhamna
cakre visvam prema-vanya-nimagnam
SYNONYMS
ati--very much; uddandam--high jumping; tandavam--very graceful dancing;
gaura-candrah--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kurvan--performing; bhaktaih--with
the devotees; sri-jagannatha-gehe--in the temple of Lord Jagannatha;
nana-bhava-alankrta-angah--having many ecstatic symptoms manifested in His
transcendental body; sva-dhamna--by the influence of His ecstatic love;
cakre--made; visvam--the whole world; prema-vanya-nimagnam--merged into the
inundation of ecstatic love.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu merged the entire world into the ocean of
ecstatic love by performing His beautiful dances within the temple of
Jagannatha. He danced exquisitely and jumped high.
TEXT 2
TEXT
jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda
jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya--all glories; sri-caitanya--to Lord Caitanya; jaya--all
glories; nityananda--to Nityananda Prabhu; jaya--all glories;
advaita-candra--to Advaita Prabhu; jaya--all glories; gaura-bhakta-vrnda--to
the devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!
All glories to Lord Nityananda Prabhu! All glories to Sri Advaita Prabhu! And
all glories to the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!
TEXT 3
TEXT
ara dina sarvabhauma kahe prabhu-sthane
abhaya-dana deha' yadi, kari nivedane
SYNONYMS
ara dina--the next day; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya;
kahe--says; prabhu-sthane--in the presence of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
abhaya-dana--the charity of fearlessness; deha'--You give; yadi--if; kari--I
do; nivedane--submission.
TRANSLATION
The next day Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya requested Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
to give him permission to submit a statement without fear.
TEXT 4
TEXT
prabhu kahe,--kaha tumi, nahi kichu bhaya
yogya haile kariba, ayogya haile naya
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; kaha tumi--yes, you can
speak; nahi--there is not; kichu--any; bhaya--fear; yogya--befitting; haile--if
it is; kariba--I shall grant; ayogya--not befitting; haile--if it is;
naya--then I shall not.
TRANSLATION
The Lord gave the Bhattacarya assurance that he could speak without
fear, but added that if his statement were suitable He would accept it, and if
it were not, He would reject it.
TEXT 5
TEXT
sarvabhauma kahe--ei prataparudra raya
utkantha hanache, toma milibare caya
SYNONYMS
sarvabhauma kahe--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said; ei--this; prataparudra
raya--King Prataparudra of Jagannatha Puri; utkantha hanache--has been very
anxious; toma--You; milibare--to meet; caya--he wants.
TRANSLATION
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said, "There is a king named Prataparudra
Raya. He is very anxious to meet You, and he wants Your permission."
TEXT 6
TEXT
karne hasta diya prabhu smare 'narayana'
sarvabhauma, kaha kena ayogya vacana
SYNONYMS
karne--on the ears; hasta--hands; diya--placing; prabhu--Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; smare--remembers; narayana--the holy name of Lord Narayana;
sarvabhauma--My dear Sarvabhauma; kaha--you say; kena--why; ayogya vacana--a
request that is not suitable.
TRANSLATION
As soon as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard this proposal, He immediately
covered His ears with His hands and said, "My dear Sarvabhauma, why are
you requesting such an undesirable thing from Me?
TEXT 7
TEXT
virakta sannyasi amara raja-darasana
stri-darasana-sama visera bhaksana
SYNONYMS
virakta--unattached; sannyasi--person in the renounced order; amara--My;
raja-darasana--meeting a king; stri-darasana--meeting a woman; sama--like;
visera--of poison; bhaksana--drinking.
TRANSLATION
"Since I am in the renounced order, it is as dangerous for Me to
meet a king as to meet a woman. To meet either would be just like drinking
poison."
TEXT 8
TEXT
niskincanasya
bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya
param param jigamisor bhava-sagarasya
sandarsanam visayinam atha yositam ca
ha hanta hanta visa-bhaksanato 'py asadhu
SYNONYMS
niskincanasya--of a person who has completely detached himself from
material enjoyment; bhagavat--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhajana--in
serving; unmukhasya--who is eager to be engaged; param--to the other side;
param--distant; jigamisoh--who is desiring to go; bhava-sagarasya--of the ocean
of material existence; sandarsanam--the seeing (for some material purpose);
visayinam--of persons engaged in material activities; atha--as well as;
yositam--of women; ca--also; ha--alas; hanta hanta--expression of great
lamentation; visa-bhaksanatah--than the act of drinking poison; api--even;
asadhu--more abominable.
TRANSLATION
Greatly lamenting, the Lord then informed Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya,
" 'Alas, for a person who is seriously desiring to cross the material
ocean and engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord without
material motives, seeing a materialist engaged in sense gratification or seeing
a woman who is similarly interested is more abominable than drinking poison
willingly.' "
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Sri Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka (8.23). Thus Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu enunciates the principles for a sannyasi renouncing the
material world for spiritual advancement. Spiritual advancement is not meant
for magic shows and jugglery but for crossing the material world and being
transferred to the spiritual world. Param param jigamisoh means desiring to go
to the other side of the material world. There is a river called Vaitarani, and
on one side of this river is the material world, and on the other side is the
spiritual world. Since the Vaitarani River is compared to a great ocean, it is
named bhava-sagara, the ocean of repeated birth and death. Spiritual life aims
at stopping this repetition of birth and death and entering into the spiritual
world, where one can live eternally cognizant and blissful.
Unfortunately, the general populace does not know anything about
spiritual life or the spiritual world. The spiritual world is mentioned in the
Bhagavad-gita (8.20):
paras tasmat tu bhavo 'nyo
'vyakto 'vyaktat sanatanah
yah sa sarvesu bhutesu
nasyatsu na vinasyati
"Yet there is another unmanifest nature, which is eternal and is
transcendental to this manifested and unmanifested matter. It is supreme and is
never annihilated. When all in this world is annihilated, that part remains as
it is."
Thus there is a spiritual nature beyond this material world, and that
spiritual nature exists eternally. Spiritual advancement means stopping
material activities and entering into spiritual activities. This is the process
of bhakti-yoga. In the material world, the via media for sense gratification is
mainly a woman. One who is seriously interested in spiritual life should
strictly avoid women. A sannyasi should never see a man or a woman for material
benefit. In addition, talks with materialistic men and women are also
dangerous, and they are compared to drinking poison. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
was very strict on this point. He therefore refused to see King Prataparudra,
who was naturally always engaged in political and economic affairs. The Lord
even refused to see the King despite the request of a personality like
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, who was the Lord's intimate friend and devotee.
TEXT 9
TEXT
sarvabhauma kahe,--satya tomara vacana
jagannatha-sevaka raja kintu bhaktottama
SYNONYMS
sarvabhauma kahe--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya replied; satya--true;
tomara--Your; vacana--statement; jagannatha-sevaka--servant of Lord Jagannatha;
raja--the King; kintu--but; bhakta-uttama--a great devotee.
TRANSLATION
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya replied, "My dear Lord, what You have said
is correct, but this King is not an ordinary king. He is a great devotee and
servant of Lord Jagannatha."
TEXT 10
TEXT
prabhu kahe,--tathapi raja kala-sarpakara
kastha-nari-sparse yaiche upaje vikara
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied; tathapi--still;
raja--the King; kala-sarpa-akara--just like a venomous snake; kastha-nari--a
woman made of wood; sparse--by touching; yaiche--as; upaje--arises;
vikara--agitation.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said,"Although it is correct that the King
is a great devotee, he is still to be considered a venomous snake. Similarly,
even though a woman be made of wood, one becomes agitated simply by touching
her form.
PURPORT
Sri Canakya Pandita in his moral instructions has stated: tyaja
durjana-samsargam bhaja sadhu-samagamam. This means that one has to abandon the
association of materialistic people and associate with spiritually advanced
people. However qualified a materialist may be, he is no better than a venomous
serpent. Everyone knows that a snake is dangerous and poisonous, and when its
hood is decorated with jewels, it is no less poisonous or dangerous. However
qualified a materialist may be, he is no better than a snake decorated with
jewels. One should therefore be careful in dealing with such materialists, just
as one would be careful in dealing with a bejeweled serpent.
Even though a woman be made of wood or stone, she becomes attractive
when decorated. One becomes sexually agitated even by touching the form.
Therefore one should not trust his mind, which is so fickle that it can give
way to enemies at any moment. The mind is always accompanied by six
enemies--namely, kama, krodha, mada, moha, matsarya and bhaya--that is, lust,
anger, intoxication, illusion, envy and fear. Although the mind may be merged
in spiritual consciousness, one should always be very careful in dealing with
it, just as one is careful in dealing with a snake. One should never think that
his mind is trained and that he can do whatever he likes. One interested in
spiritual life should always engage his mind in the service of the Lord so that
the enemies of the mind, who always accompany the mind, will be subdued. If the
mind is not engaged in Krsna consciousness at every moment, there is a chance
that it will give way to its enemies. In this way we become victims of the
mind.
Chanting the Hare Krsna mantra engages the mind at the lotus feet of
Krsna constantly; thus the mind's enemies do not have a chance to strike.
Following Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's example in these verses, we should be very
careful in dealing with the mind, which should not be indulged in any
circumstance. Once we indulge the mind, it can create havoc in this life, even
though we may be spiritually advanced. The mind is specifically agitated
through the association of materialistic men and women. Therefore Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, through His personal behavior, warns everyone to avoid meeting a
materialistic person or a woman.
TEXT 11
TEXT
akarad api bhetavyam
strinam visayinam api
yathaher manasah ksobhas
tatha tasyakrter api
SYNONYMS
akarat--from bodily features; api--even; bhetavyam--to be feared;
strinam--of women; visayinam--of materialistic persons; api--even; yatha--as;
aheh--from a serpent; manasah--of the mind; ksobhah--agitation; tatha--so;
tasya--of it; akrteh--from the appearance; api--even.
TRANSLATION
" 'Just as one is immediately frightened upon seeing a live serpent
or even the form of a serpent, one endeavoring for self-realization should
similarly fear a materialistic person and a woman. Indeed, he should not even
glance at their bodily features.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Sri Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka (8.24).
TEXT 12
TEXT
aiche bata punarapi mukhe na anibe
kaha yadi, tabe amaya etha na dekhibe
SYNONYMS
aiche bata--such a request; punarapi--again; mukhe--in the mouth; na--do
not; anibe--bring; kaha yadi--if you speak; tabe--then; amaya--Me; etha--here;
na--not; dekhibe--you will see.
TRANSLATION
"Bhattacarya, if you continue to speak like this, you will never
see Me here again. Therefore you should never let such a request come from your
mouth."
TEXT 13
TEXT
bhaya pana sarvabhauma nija ghare gela
vasaya giya bhattacarya cintita ha-ila
SYNONYMS
bhaya pana--being afraid; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma; nija--own; ghare--to
home; gela--returned; vasaya giya--reaching his residential place;
bhattacarya--the Bhattacarya; cintita ha-ila--became meditative.
TRANSLATION
Being afraid, Sarvabhauma returned home and began to meditate on the
matter.
TEXT 14
TEXT
hena kale prataparudra purusottame aila
patra-mitra-sange raja darasane calila
SYNONYMS
hena kale--at this time; prataparudra--King Prataparudra;
purusottame--at Jagannatha Puri; aila--arrived; patra-mitra-sange--accompanied
by his secretaries, ministers, military officers and so on; raja--the King;
darasane--to visit Lord Jagannatha; calila--departed.
TRANSLATION
At this time, Maharaja Prataparudra arrived at Jagannatha Puri,
Purusottama, and, accompanied by his secretaries, ministers and military
officers, went to visit the temple of Lord Jagannatha.
PURPORT
It appears that Maharaja Prataparudra used to live at Kataka, his
capital. Later he shifted his capital to Khurda, a few miles from Jagannatha
Puri. Presently there is a railway station there called Khurda Road.
TEXT 15
TEXT
ramananda raya aila gajapati-sange
prathamei prabhure asi' milila bahu-range
SYNONYMS
ramananda raya--Ramananda Raya; aila--came; gajapati-sange--with the
King; prathamei--in the first instance; prabhure--unto Lord Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; asi'--coming; milila--met; bahu-range--with great pleasure.
TRANSLATION
When King Prataparudra returned to Jagannatha Puri, Ramananda Raya also
came with him. Ramananda Raya immediately went to meet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
with great pleasure.
PURPORT
All Indian kings are given titles. Sometimes they are known as
Chatrapati, sometimes as Narapati, sometimes as Asvapati, and so on. The King
of Orissa is addressed as Gajapati.
TEXT 16
TEXT
raya pranati kaila, prabhu kaila alingana
dui jane premavese karena krandana
SYNONYMS
raya pranati kaila--Ramananda Raya offered his obeisances; prabhu--the
Lord; kaila--did; alingana--embracing; dui jane--both of them; prema-avese--in
ecstatic love; karena--did; krandana--crying.
TRANSLATION
Upon meeting Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Ramananda Raya offered his obeisances.
The Lord embraced him, and both of them began to cry in the great ecstasy of
love.
TEXT 17
TEXT
raya-sange prabhura dekhi' sneha-vyavahara
sarva bhakta-ganera mane haila camatkara
SYNONYMS
raya-sange--with Ramananda Raya; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
dekhi'--seeing; sneha-vyavahara--very intimate behavior; sarva--all;
bhakta-ganera--of all the devotees; mane--in the mind; haila--there was;
camatkara--astonishment.
TRANSLATION
Seeing Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's intimate dealings with Sri
Ramananda Raya, all the devotees there were astonished.
TEXT 18
TEXT
raya kahe,--tomara ajna rajake kahila
tomara icchaya raja mora visaya chadaila
SYNONYMS
raya kahe--Ramananda Raya said; tomara ajna--Your order; rajake
kahila--I informed the King; tomara icchaya--by Your grace; raja--the King;
mora--my; visaya--material activities; chadaila--gave me relief from.
TRANSLATION
Ramananda Raya said, "I duly informed King Prataparudra of Your
order for me to retire from service. By Your grace, the King was pleased to
relieve me of these material activities.
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu requested Ramananda Raya to retire from his
governorship, and according to the Lord's desire, Ramananda Raya petitioned the
King. The King was very much pleased to give him relief, and thus Ramananda
Raya retired from service and received a pension from the government.
TEXT 19
TEXT
ami kahi,--ama haite na haya 'visaya'
caitanya-carane rahon, yadi ajna haya
SYNONYMS
ami kahi--I said; ama haite--by me; na--not; haya--is possible; visaya--government
service; caitanya-carane--at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
rahon--I may stay; yadi ajna haya--if you kindly give me permission.
TRANSLATION
"I said, 'Your Majesty, I am now not willing to engage in political
activities. I desire only to stay at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Kindly give me permission.'
TEXT 20
TEXT
tomara nama suni' raja anandita haila
asana haite uthi'
more alingana kaila
SYNONYMS
tomara--Your; nama--name; suni'--hearing; raja--the King; anandita--very
much pleased; haila--became; asana haite--from his throne; uthi'--standing;
more--me; alingana kaila--embraced.
TRANSLATION
"When I submitted this proposal, the King immediately became very
much pleased upon hearing Your name. Indeed, he instantly arose from his throne
and embraced me.
TEXT 21
TEXT
tomara nama suni' haila maha-premavesa
mora hate dhari' kare piriti visesa
SYNONYMS
tomara--Your; nama--name; suni'--hearing; haila--became; maha--great;
prema-avesa--ecstasy of love; mora hate--my hand; dhari'--catching; kare--does;
piriti--loving symptoms; visesa--specific.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Lord, as soon as the King heard Your holy name, he was
immediately overwhelmed by great ecstatic love. Catching my hand, he displayed
all the symptoms of love.
TEXT 22
TEXT
tomara ye vartana, tumi khao sei vartana
niscinta
hana bhaja caitanyera carana
SYNONYMS
tomara--Your; ye--whatever; vartana--remuneration; tumi--you;
khao--take; sei--that; vartana--pension; niscinta hana--without anxiety;
bhaja--just worship; caitanyera--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carana--the
lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
"As soon as he heard my petition, he immediately granted me a
pension without reductions. Thus the King granted me a full salary as a pension
and requested me to engage without anxiety in the service of Your lotus feet.
TEXT 23
TEXT
ami--chara, yogya nahi tanra darasane
tanre yei bhaje tanra saphala jivane
SYNONYMS
ami--I; chara--very much fallen; yogya--fit; nahi--not; tanra--His;
darasane--for interviewing; tanre--Him; yei--anyone who; bhaje--worships;
tanra--his; saphala--successful; jivane--life.
TRANSLATION
"Then Maharaja Prataparudra very humbly said, 'I am most fallen and
abominable, and I am unfit to receive an interview with the Lord. One's life is
successful if one engages in His service.'
TEXT 24
TEXT
parama krpalu tenha vrajendra-nandana
kona-janme more avasya dibena darasana
SYNONYMS
parama--very much; krpalu--merciful; tenha--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
vrajendra-nandana--the son of Maharaja Nanda; kona-janme--in some future birth;
more--unto me; avasya--certainly; dibena--will give; darasana--interview.
TRANSLATION
"The King then said, 'Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna, the son of
Maharaja Nanda. He is very merciful, and I hope that in a future birth He will
allow me an interview.'
TEXT 25
TEXT
ye tanhara prema-arti dekhilun tomate
tara eka
prema-lesa nahika amate
SYNONYMS
ye--whatever; tanhara--his; prema-arti--painful feelings of love of
Godhead; dekhilun--I saw; tomate--unto You; tara--of that; eka--one;
prema-lesa--fraction of love; nahika--there is not; amate--in me.
TRANSLATION
"My Lord, I don't think that there is even a fraction of Maharaja
Prataparudra's loving ecstasy in me."
TEXT 26
TEXT
prabhu kahe,--tumi krsna-bhakata-pradhana
tomake ye priti kare, sei bhagyavan
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; tumi--you;
krsna-bhakata-pradhana--the chief of the devotees of Lord Krsna; tomake--unto
you; ye--anyone who; priti kare--shows love; sei--such a person;
bhagyavan--most fortunate.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then said, "My dear Ramananda Raya, you are
the foremost of all the devotees of Krsna; therefore whoever loves you is
certainly a very fortunate person.
TEXT 27
TEXT
tomate ye eta priti ha-ila rajara
ei gune
krsna tanre karibe angikara
SYNONYMS
tomate--unto you; ye--that; eta--so much; priti--love; ha-ila--was;
rajara--of the King; ei gune--for this reason; krsna--Lord Krsna; tanre--him;
karibe angikara--will accept.
TRANSLATION
"Because the King has shown so much love for you, Lord Krsna will
certainly accept him.
PURPORT
King Prataparudra requested an interview with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
through the Bhattacarya, who duly submitted the request. The Lord, however,
immediately refused this interview. Now when Ramananda Raya informed the Lord
how eager the King was to see Him, the Lord was immediately pleased. Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu requested Ramananda Raya to retire from his government post
and come to Sri Purusottama-ksetra (Jagannatha Puri) to live with Him. When
this proposal was submitted to King Prataparudra, he immediately accepted it
and also encouraged Ramananda Raya by allowing him a full pension. This was
very much appreciated by the Lord, and this confirms the fact that the Lord is
more pleased when one serves the servant of the Lord. In ordinary parlance it
is said, "If you love me, love my dog." To approach the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, one has to go through His confidential servant. This is the method.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu clearly says, "Because the King loves you,
Ramananda Raya, he is very fortunate. Krsna will certainly accept him due to
his love for you."
TEXT 28
TEXT
ye me bhakta-janah partha
na me bhaktas ca te janah
mad-bhaktanam ca ye bhaktas
te me bhakta-tama matah
SYNONYMS
ye--those who; me--My; bhakta-janah--devotees; partha--O Partha;
na--not; me--My; bhaktah--devotees; ca--and; te--those; janah--persons;
mat-bhaktanam--of My devotees; ca--certainly; ye--those who; bhaktah--devotees;
te--such persons; me--My; bhakta-tamah--most advanced devotees; matah--that is
My opinion.
TRANSLATION
"Lord Krsna told Arjuna, 'Those who are My direct devotees are
actually not My devotees, but those who are the devotees of My servant are
factually My devotees.'
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu quotes this verse from the Adi Purana. The verse
is also included in the Laghu-bhagavatamrta (2.6).
TEXTS 29-30
TEXT
adarah paricaryayam
sarvangair abhivandanam
mad-bhakta-pujabhyadhika
sarva-bhutesu man-matih
mad-arthesv anga-cesta ca
vacasa mad-guneranam
mayy arpanam ca manasah
sarva-kama-vivarjanam
SYNONYMS
adarah--respect, care; paricaryayam--in service; sarva-angaih--by all
the parts of the body; abhivandanam--offering obeisances; mat-bhakta--of My
devotees; puja--worshiping; abhyadhika--very high; sarva-bhutesu--in all living
entities; mat-matih--realization of having a relationship with Me; mat-arthesu--for
the sake of My service; anga-cestah--engaging the bodily energy; ca--and;
vacasa--by words; mat-guna-iranam--describing My glories; mayi--unto Me;
arpanam--dedicating; ca--and; manasah--of the mind; sarva-kama--all material
desires; vivarjanam--giving up.
TRANSLATION
" 'My devotees take great care and respect in rendering Me service.
They offer obeisances to Me with all their bodily limbs. They worship other
devotees and find all living entities related to Me. For Me they engage the
entire energy of their bodies. They engage the power of speech in the
glorification of My qualities and form. They also dedicate their minds unto Me
and try to give up all kinds of material desires. Thus My devotees are
characterized.'
PURPORT
These two verses are quoted from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.19.21-22). They
were spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna, who was
answering Uddhava's inquiry about devotional service.
TEXT 31
TEXT
aradhananam sarvesam
visnor aradhanam param
tasmat parataram devi
tadiyanam samarcanam
SYNONYMS
aradhananam--of varieties of worship; sarvesam--all; visnoh--of Lord
Visnu; aradhanam--worship; param--the most exalted; tasmat--and above such
worship of Lord Visnu; parataram--of greater value; devi--O goddess;
tadiyanam--of persons in relationship with Lord Visnu; samarcanam--rigid and
firm worship.
TRANSLATION
"Lord Siva told the goddess Durga, 'My dear Devi, although the
Vedas recommend worship of demigods, the worship of Lord Visnu is topmost.
However, above the worship of Lord Visnu is the rendering of service to
Vaisnavas, who are related to Lord Visnu.'
PURPORT
The Vedas are divided into three divisions--karma-kanda, jnana-kanda and
upasana-kanda. These are activities dealing with fruitive work, empiric
philosophical speculation and worship. There are recommendations in the Vedas
for the worship of various demigods as well as Lord Visnu. In this quotation
from the Padma Purana, Lord Siva answers a question posed to him by the goddess
Durga. This verse is also included in the Laghu-bhagavatamrta (2.4), by Srila
Rupa Gosvami. The words visnor aradhanam refer to the worship of Lord Visnu, or
Krsna. Thus the supreme form of worship is the satisfaction of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna. It is further concluded that the worshiper of
Lord Visnu renders better service by worshiping the devotee of Lord Krsna.
There are different types of devotees--those in santa-rasa, dasya-rasa,
sakhya-rasa, vatsalya-rasa and madhurya-rasa. Although all the rasas are on the
transcendental platform, madhurya-rasa is the supreme transcendental mellow.
Consequently it is concluded that the worship of devotees engaged in the Lord's
service in madhurya-rasa is the supreme spiritual activity. Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu and His followers mainly worship Lord Krsna in madhurya-rasa. Other
Vaisnava acaryas recommended worship up to vatsalya-rasa. Therefore Srila Rupa
Gosvami in his Vidagdha-madhava (1.2) describes Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult
as supreme:
anarpita-carim cirat karunayavatirnah kalau
samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasam sva-bhakti-sriyam
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in this Age of Kali to exhibit the
superexcellence of madhurya-rasa, a gift never previously bestowed by any
acarya or incarnation. Consequently Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is accepted as the
most magnanimous incarnation. It is He only who distributed love of Krsna while
exhibiting the superexcellence of loving Krsna in the conjugal rasa.
TEXT 32
TEXT
durapa hy alpa-tapasah
seva vaikuntha-vartmasu
yatropagiyate nityam
deva-devo janardanah
SYNONYMS
durapa--very difficult to achieve; hi--certainly; alpa-tapasah--by a
person not advanced in spiritual life; seva--service; vaikuntha-vartmasu--unto
persons on the path back home, back to Godhead; yatra--wherein; upagiyate--is
worshiped and glorified; nityam--regularly; deva-devah--the Supreme Personality
of Godhead; janardanah--Lord Krsna.
TRANSLATION
" 'Those whose austerity is meager can hardly obtain the service of
the pure devotees progressing on the path back to the kingdom of Godhead, the
Vaikunthas. Pure devotees engage one hundred percent in glorifying the Supreme
Lord, who is the Lord of the demigods and the controller of all living
entities.' "
PURPORT
This verse is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.7.20). It was spoken
by Vidura in his conversation with Maitreya Rsi, a great devotee of the Lord.
TEXT 33
TEXT
puri, bharati-gosani, svarupa, nityananda
jagadananda, mukundadi yata bhakta-vrnda
SYNONYMS
puri--Paramananda Puri; bharati--Brahmananda Bharati; gosani--on the
level of the spiritual master; svarupa--Svarupa Damodara Gosvami;
nityananda--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; jagadananda--Jagadananda; mukunda--Mukunda;
adi--and others; yata--all; bhakta-vrnda--devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
Paramananda Puri, Brahmananda Bharati Gosani, Svarupa Damodara Gosani,
Lord Nityananda, Jagadananda, Mukunda and others were present before the Lord
at that time.
TEXT 34
TEXT
cari gosanira kaila raya carana vandana
yatha-yogya saba bhaktera karila milana
SYNONYMS
cari gosanira--of the four gosanis, or spiritual masters; kaila--did;
raya--Ramananda Raya; carana vandana--worshiping the lotus feet;
yatha-yogya--as it is befitting; saba--all; bhaktera--of the devotees;
karila--did; milana--meeting.
TRANSLATION
Sri Ramananda Raya therefore offered his obeisances to all the Lord's
devotees, in particular to the four spiritual masters. Thus Ramananda Raya
suitably met all the devotees.
PURPORT
The four spiritual masters referred to in this verse are Paramananda
Puri, Brahmananda Bharati, Svarupa Damodara and Lord Nityananda.
TEXT 35
TEXT
prabhu kahe,--raya, dekhile kamala-nayana?
raya kahe--ebe yai paba darasana
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--the Lord said; raya--My dear Ramananda Raya; dekhile--have
you seen; kamala-nayana--the lotus-eyed Lord Jagannatha; raya kahe--Ramananda
Raya replied; ebe yai--now I shall go; paba darasana--I shall visit the temple.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu next asked Ramananda Raya, "Have you
already visited the temple of the lotus-eyed Lord Jagannatha?"
Ramananda Raya replied, "I shall now go visit the temple."
TEXT 36
TEXT
prabhu kahe,--raya, tumi ki karya karile?
isvare na dekhi' kene age etha aile?
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; raya--My dear Ramananda Raya;
tumi--you; ki karya--what; karile--have done; isvare--the Supreme Personality
of Godhead; na dekhi'--without seeing; kene--why; age--first; etha--here;
aile--you came.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "What have you done, My dear Raya?
Why did you not first see Lord Jagannatha and then come here? Why have you come
here first?"
TEXT 37
TEXT
raya kahe, carana--ratha, hrdaya--sarathi
yahan lana
yaya, tahan yaya jiva-rathi
SYNONYMS
raya kahe--Ramananda Raya replied; carana--the legs; ratha--chariot;
hrdaya--the heart; sarathi--chariot driver; yahan--wherever; lana--taking;
yaya--goes; tahan--there; yaya--goes; jiva-rathi--the living entity on the
chariot.
TRANSLATION
Ramananda Raya said, "The legs are like the chariot, and the heart
is like the charioteer. Wherever the heart takes the living entity, the living
entity is obliged to go."
PURPORT
In the Bhagavad-gita (18.61) Lord Krsna explains:
isvarah sarva-bhutanam
hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati
bhramayan sarva-bhutani
yantrarudhani mayaya
"The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is
directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine
made of material energy."
Thus the living entity wanders within this universe riding upon a
chariot (the body) bestowed by material nature. A similar explanation is given
in the Katha Upanisad (1.3.3-4):
atmanam rathinam viddhi
sariram ratham eva tu
buddhim tu sarathim viddhi
manah pragraham eva ca
indriyani hayan ahur
visayams tesu gocaran
atmendriya-mano-yuktam
bhoktety ahur manisinah
Here it is said that the living entity is the passenger riding in the
chariot of the body, which is offered by material nature. The intelligence is
the charioteer, the mind is the reins controlling the horses, and the senses
are the horses. Thus the living entity is the false enjoyer of the material
world.
One who is advanced in Krsna consciousness can control the mind and
intelligence and in this way rein in the horses, the senses, even though they
are very powerful. One who can control the senses by his mind and intelligence
can very easily approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or Visnu, who is
the ultimate goal of life. Tad visnoh paramam padam sada pasyanti surayah.
Those who are actually advanced approach Lord Visnu, their ultimate goal. Such
people are never captivated by Lord Visnu's external energy, the material
world.
TEXT 38
TEXT
ami ki kariba, mana ihan lana aila
jagannatha-darasane vicara na kaila
SYNONYMS
ami--I; ki--what; kariba--shall do; mana--my mind; ihan--here;
lana--taking; aila--arrived; jagannatha-darasane--to see Lord Jagannatha;
vicara--consideration; na--did not; kaila--make.
TRANSLATION
Sri Ramananda Raya continued, "What shall I do? My mind has brought
me here. I could not consider going first to Lord Jagannatha's temple."
TEXT 39
TEXT
prabhu kahe,--sighra giya kara darasana
aiche ghara yai' kara kutumba milana
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; sighra giya--going
hastily; kara darasana--see Lord Jagannatha; aiche--similarly; ghara
yai'--going home; kara--just do; kutumba--family; milana--meeting.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised, "Immediately go to Lord
Jagannatha's temple to see the Lord. Then go home and meet your family
members."
TEXT 40
TEXT
prabhu ajna pana raya calila darasane
rayera prema-bhakti-riti bujhe kon jane
SYNONYMS
prabhu ajna--the Lord's permission; pana--getting; raya--Ramananda Raya;
calila--departed; darasane--to see Lord Jagannatha; rayera--of Ramananda Raya;
prema-bhakti--of ecstatic love for Krsna; riti--process; bujhe--understands;
kon jane--what person.
TRANSLATION
Having received Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's permission, Ramananda Raya
hastily went to the temple of Lord Jagannatha. Who can understand the
devotional service of Raya Ramananda?
TEXT 41
TEXT
ksetre asi' raja sarvabhaume bolaila
sarvabhaume namaskari' tanhare puchila
SYNONYMS
ksetre--to Jagannatha Puri; asi'--coming; raja--the King;
sarvabhaume--for Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; bolaila--called; sarvabhaume--unto
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; namaskari'--offering obeisances; tanhare puchila--he
asked him.
TRANSLATION
When King Prataparudra returned to Jagannatha Puri, he called for
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. When the Bhattacarya went to see the King, the King
offered him respects and made the following inquiries.
TEXT 42
TEXT
mora lagi' prabhu-pade kaile
nivedana?
sarvabhauma kahe,--kainu aneka yatana
SYNONYMS
mora lagi'--on my behalf; prabhu-pade--at the lotus feet of the Lord;
kaile nivedana--did you submit my petition; sarvabhauma kahe--Sarvabhauma
replied; kainu--I did; aneka yatana--much endeavor.
TRANSLATION
The King asked, "Have you submitted my petition to the Lord?"
Sarvabhauma replied, "Yes, with much endeavor I have tried my best.
TEXT 43
TEXT
tathapi na kare tenha raja-darasana
ksetra chadi' yabena punah yadi kari nivedana
SYNONYMS
tathapi--yet; na kare--does not do; tenha--He; raja-darasana--visiting a
king; ksetra chadi'--leaving Jagannatha-ksetra; yabena--He will go away;
punah--again; yadi--if; kari nivedana--I request.
TRANSLATION
"Yet despite my great endeavor, the Lord would not agree to see a
king. Indeed, He said that if He were asked again, He would quit Jagannatha
Puri and go elsewhere."
TEXT 44
TEXT
suniya rajara mane duhkha upajila
visada kariya kichu kahite lagila
SYNONYMS
suniya--hearing; rajara--of the King; mane--in the mind;
duhkha--unhappiness; upajila--arose; visada--lamentation; kariya--doing; kichu--something;
kahite--to speak; lagila--began.
TRANSLATION
Hearing this, the King became very unhappy and, greatly lamenting, began
to speak as follows.
TEXT 45
TEXT
papi nica uddharite tanra avatara
jagai madhai tenha karila uddhara
SYNONYMS
papi--sinful; nica--lowborn; uddharite--to deliver; tanra--His;
avatara--incarnation; jagai--Jagai; madhai--Madhai; tenha--He; karila
uddhara--delivered.
TRANSLATION
The King said, "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has descended just to
deliver all kinds of sinful, lowborn persons. Consequently He has delivered
sinners like Jagai and Madhai.
TEXT 46
TEXT
prataparudra chadi' karibe jagat nistara
ei pratijna kari' kariyachena avatara?
SYNONYMS
prataparudra chadi'--except for Prataparudra; karibe--He will do;
jagat--of the whole universe; nistara--deliverance; ei pratijna--this promise;
kari'--making; kariyachena--has made; avatara--incarnation.
TRANSLATION
"Alas, has Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu incarnated to deliver all kinds
of sinners with the exception of a king named Maharaja Prataparudra?
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is thus described by Narottama dasa
Thakura: patita-pavana-hetu tava avatara. mo-sama patita prabhu na paibe ara.
If Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu descended to reclaim sinners, then one who is the
most sinful and lowborn is the first candidate for the Lord's consideration.
Maharaja Prataparudra considered himself a most fallen soul because he had to
deal with material things constantly and enjoy material profits. Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu's business was the deliverance of the most fallen. How, then, could
He reject the King? The more fallen a person is, the more he has the right to
be delivered by the Lord--provided, of course, he surrenders unto the Lord.
Maharaja Prataparudra was a fully surrendered soul; therefore the Lord could
not refuse him on the grounds that he was a worldly pounds-shillings man.
TEXT 47
TEXT
adarsaniyan api nica-jatin
samviksate hanta tathapi no mam
mad-eka-varjam krpayisyatiti
nirniya kim so 'vatatara devah
SYNONYMS
adarsaniyan--upon those who are unfit to be seen; api--although;
nica-jatin--the lower class of men; samviksate--puts His merciful glance;
hanta--alas; tatha api--still; na u--not; mam--upon me; mat--myself;
eka--alone; varjam--rejecting; krpayisyati--He will bestow His mercy;
iti--thus; nirniya--deciding; kim--whether; sah--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
avatatara--has descended; devah--the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
" 'Alas, has Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu made His advent deciding that
He will deliver all others with the exception of me? He bestows His merciful
glance upon many lower-class men who are usually not even to be seen.' "
PURPORT
This verse is found in the Sri Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka (8.28).
TEXT 48
TEXT
tanra pratijna--more na karibe darasana
mora pratijna--tanha vina chadiba jivana
SYNONYMS
tanra pratijna--His determination; more--unto me; na--not; karibe--will
do; darasana--seeing; mora pratijna--my promise; tanha vina--without Him;
chadiba--I will give up; jivana--life.
TRANSLATION
Maharaja Prataparudra continued, "If Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is
determined not to see me, then I am determined to give up my life if I do not
see Him.
PURPORT
A devotee with Maharaja Prataparudra's determination will certainly be
victorious in advancing in Krsna consciousness. Sri Krsna confirms this in the
Bhagavad-gita (9.14):
satatam kirtayanto mam
yatantas ca drdha-vratah
namasyantas ca
mam bhaktya
nitya-yukta upasate
"Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination,
bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with
devotion."
These are the symptoms of a mahatma engaged in the Lord's service in
full Krsna consciousness. Thus Maharaja Prataparudra's determination is very
much exalted and is called drdha-vrata. Because of this determination, he was
finally able to receive Lord Caitanya's direct mercy.
TEXT 49
TEXT
yadi sei mahaprabhura na pai krpa-dhana
kiba rajya, kiba deha,--saba akarana
SYNONYMS
yadi--if; sei--that; mahaprabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
na--not; pai--I get; krpa-dhana--the treasure of mercy; kiba rajya--what is the
value of my kingdom; kiba deha--what is the value of this body; saba
akarana--everything useless.
TRANSLATION
"If I do not receive Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy, my body and
my kingdom are certainly useless."
PURPORT
This is an excellent example of drdha-vrata, determination. If one does
not receive the Supreme Personality of Godhead's mercy, one's life is defeated.
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.5.5) it is said: parabhavas tavad abodha-jato yavan na
jijnasata atma-tattvam. Unless one inquires into spiritual life, everything is
useless. Without spiritual inquiry, our labor and the object of our labor are
simply a waste of time.
TEXT 50
TEXT
eta suni' sarvabhauma ha-ila cintita
rajara anuraga dekhi' ha-ila vismita
SYNONYMS
eta suni'--hearing this; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma; ha-ila--became;
cintita--very thoughtful; rajara--of the King; anuraga--attachment;
dekhi'--seeing; ha-ila--became; vismita--astonished.
TRANSLATION
Hearing King Prataparudra's determination, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya
became thoughtful. Indeed, he was very much astonished to see the King's
determination.
PURPORT
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was astonished because such determination is not
possible for a worldly man attached to material enjoyment. The King certainly
had ample opportunity for material enjoyment, but he was thinking that his
kingdom and everything else was useless if he could not see Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. This is certainly sufficient cause for astonishment. In
Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that bhakti, devotional service, must be
unconditional. No material impediments can actually check the advancement of
devotional service, be it executed by a common man or a king. In any case,
devotional service rendered to the Lord is always complete, despite the
devotee's material position. Devotional service is so exalted that it can be
executed by anyone in any position. One must simply be drdha-vrata, firmly
determined.
TEXT 51
TEXT
bhattacarya kahe--deva na kara visada
tomare prabhura avasya ha-ibe prasada
SYNONYMS
bhattacarya kahe--the Bhattacarya said; deva--O King; na kara visada--do
not be worried; tomare--unto you; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
avasya--certainly; ha-ibe--there must be; prasada--mercy.
TRANSLATION
Finally Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya
said, "My dear King, do not worry. Because of your firm determination, I
am sure that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy will definitely be bestowed upon
you."
PURPORT
Due to King Prataparudra's firm determination, the Bhattacarya predicted
that the King would receive Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy without fail. As
confirmed elsewhere in Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 19.151), guru-krsna-prasade
paya bhakti-lata-bija: "By the mercy of the spiritual master and Krsna,
one gets the seed of devotional service." The Bhattacarya was the
spiritual master of King Prataparudra, and he gave his blessings to the effect
that the Lord would be merciful upon the King. The mercy of the spiritual
master and Krsna combine to grant success to a devotee engaged in Krsna
consciousness. This is confirmed by the Vedas:
yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
prakasante
mahatmanah
"Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the
Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge
automatically revealed." (Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23)
Maharaja Prataparudra had firm faith in the Bhattacarya, who declared
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Having firm
faith in the Bhattacarya as his spiritual master, King Prataparudra immediately
accepted Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as the Supreme Lord. Thus he began worshiping
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in his mind. This is the process of devotional service.
According to Lord Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita (9.34):
man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi yuktvaivam
atmanam mat-parayanah
"Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee,
offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely
you will come to Me."
This process is very simple. One need only be firmly convinced by the
spiritual master that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If one
decides this, he can make further progress by thinking of Krsna, chanting of
Krsna and glorifying Him. There is then no doubt that such a fully surrendered
devotee will receive the blessings of Lord Krsna. Srila Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya
explains this further.
TEXT 52
TEXT
tenha--premadhina, tomara prema--gadhatara
avasya karibena krpa tomara upara
SYNONYMS
tenha--He (Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu); prema-adhina--under the control of
love; tomara prema--your love; gadha-tara--very deep; avasya--certainly;
karibena krpa--He will bestow mercy; tomara upara--upon you.
TRANSLATION
As soon as the Bhattacarya saw the King's firm determination, he
declared, "The Supreme Lord is approached only by pure love. Your love for
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is very, very deep; therefore without a doubt He will
be merciful upon you."
PURPORT
Such determination is the first qualification. As confirmed by Rupa
Gosvami (Upadesamrta 3): utsahan niscayad dhairyat. One must first have firm
determination, firm faith. When one engages in devotional service, he must
maintain this firm determination. Then Krsna will be pleased with his service.
The spiritual master can show the path of devotional service. If the disciple
follows the principles rigidly and undeviatingly, he will certainly receive the
mercy of Krsna. This is confirmed by the sastras.
TEXT 53
TEXT
tathapi
kahiye ami eka upaya
ei upaya kara' prabhu dekhibe yahaya
SYNONYMS
tathapi--still; kahiye--say; ami--I; eka upaya--one means; ei
upaya--this means; kara'--try to adopt; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
dekhibe--will see you; yahaya--by that.
TRANSLATION
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya then suggested, "There is one means by
which you can directly see Him.
TEXT 54
TEXT
ratha-yatra-dine prabhu saba bhakta lana
ratha-age nrtya karibena premavista hana
SYNONYMS
ratha-yatra-dine--on the day of the car festival ceremony; prabhu--Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; saba--all; bhakta--devotees; lana--taking with Him;
ratha--the chariot; age--in front of; nrtya karibena--will dance; prema-avista
hana--in great ecstatic love.
TRANSLATION
"On the day of the car festival, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will dance
before the Deity in great ecstatic love.
TEXT 55
TEXT
premavese puspodyane karibena pravesa
sei-kale ekale tumi chadi' raja-vesa
SYNONYMS
prema-avese--in ecstatic love; puspa-udyane--into the garden at Gundica
where the Lord stays; karibena pravesa--will enter; sei-kale--at that time;
ekale--alone; tumi--you; chadi'--giving up; raja-vesa--the royal dress.
TRANSLATION
"On that Ratha-yatra festival day, after dancing before the Lord,
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will enter the Gundica garden. At that time you should
go there alone, stripped of your royal dress.
TEXT 56
TEXT
'krsna-rasa-pancadhyaya' karite pathana
ekale yai' mahaprabhura dharibe carana
SYNONYMS
krsna-rasa-panca-adhyaya--the five chapters in the Tenth Canto of
Srimad-Bhagavatam in which Lord Krsna's pastimes of the rasa dance are
described; karite pathana--to recite; ekale yai'--going alone; mahaprabhura--of
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dharibe carana--catch hold of the lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
"When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu enters the Gundica, you should also
go there and read the five chapters about Lord Krsna's dancing with the gopis.
In this way you can catch hold of the Lord's lotus feet.
TEXT 57
TEXT
bahya-jnana nahi, se-kale krsna-nama suni,
alingana karibena tomaya 'vaisnava' jani'
SYNONYMS
bahya-jnana nahi--without external consciousness; se-kale--at that time;
krsna-nama suni'--by hearing the holy name of Lord Krsna; alingana karibena--He
will embrace; tomaya--you; vaisnava jani'--taking you to be a Vaisnava.
TRANSLATION
"Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will be in a mood of ecstatic love,
without external consciousness. At that time, as you recite those chapters from
Srimad-Bhagavatam, He will embrace you, knowing you to be a pure Vaisnava.
PURPORT
A Vaisnava is always ready to help another Vaisnava progress toward
realization of the Absolute Truth. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya could understand the
King's position as a pure Vaisnava. The King was always thinking of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and the Bhattacarya wanted to help him approach the Lord.
A Vaisnava is always compassionate, especially when he sees a prospective
devotee very much determined (drdha-vrata). Consequently the Bhattacarya was
ready to help the King.
TEXT 58
TEXT
ramananda raya, aji tomara prema-guna
prabhu-age kahite prabhura phiri' gela mana
SYNONYMS
ramananda raya--Ramananda Raya; aji--today; tomara--your;
prema-guna--quality of love; prabhu-age--in front of the Lord; kahite--when he
described; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; phiri' gela--became
changed; mana--the mind.
TRANSLATION
"The Lord has already changed His mind due to Ramananda Raya's
description of your pure love for Him."
PURPORT
At first the Lord did not want to see the King, but due to the
Bhattacarya's and Ramananda Raya's earnest endeavors, the Lord's mind was
changed. The Lord already declared that Krsna would be merciful upon the King
due to the King's service to the devotees. This is the process by which one can
advance in Krsna consciousness. First there must be the devotee's mercy; then
Krsna's mercy will descend. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado. yasyaprasadan na
gatih kuto 'pi. Our first duty, therefore, is to satisfy the spiritual master,
who can arrange for the Lord's mercy. A common man must first begin to serve
the spiritual master, or the devotee. Then, through the mercy of the devotee,
the Lord will be satisfied. Unless one receives the dust of a devotee's lotus
feet on one's head, there is no possibility of advancement. This is also
confirmed by a statement of Prahlada Maharaja's in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.32):
naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim
sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah
mahiyasam pada-rajo-'bhisekam
niskincananam na vrnita yavat
Unless one approaches a pure devotee, he cannot understand the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Maharaja Prataparudra worshiped both Ramananda Raya and
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. Thus he touched the lotus feet of pure devotees and
was able thereby to approach Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 59
TEXT
suni' gajapatira mane sukha upajila
prabhure milite ei mantrana drdha kaila
SYNONYMS
suni'--hearing; gajapatira--of King Prataparudra; mane--in the mind;
sukha--happiness; upajila--awakened; prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
milite--to meet; ei--this; mantrana--instruction; drdha kaila--decided to
accept rigidly.
TRANSLATION
Maharaja Prataparudra took the Bhattacarya's advice and firmly decided
to follow his instructions. Thus he felt transcendental happiness.
TEXT 60
TEXT
snana-yatra kabe habe puchila bhattere
bhatta kahe,--tina dina achaye yatrare
SYNONYMS
snana-yatra--the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannatha; kabe--when;
habe--will be; puchila--he inquired; bhattere--from the Bhattacarya; bhatta
kahe--the Bhattacarya said; tina dina--three days; achaye--there are still;
yatrare--until the festival.
TRANSLATION
When the King asked the Bhattacarya when the bathing ceremony
[Snana-yatra] of Lord Jagannatha would take place, the Bhattacarya replied that
there were only three days left before the ceremony.
TEXT 61
TEXT
rajare prabodhiya bhatta gela nijalaya
snana-yatra-dine prabhura ananda hrdaya
SYNONYMS
rajare--the King; prabodhiya--encouraging; bhatta--Sarvabhauma
Bhattacarya; gela--departed; nija-alaya--to his own home; snana-yatra-dine--on
the day of the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannatha; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; ananda--full of happiness; hrdaya--heart.
TRANSLATION
After thus encouraging the King, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya returned home.
On the day of Lord Jagannatha's bathing ceremony, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was
very happy at heart.
TEXT 62
TEXT
snana-yatra dekhi' prabhura haila bada sukha
isvarera 'anavasare' paila bada duhkha
SYNONYMS
snana-yatra--the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannatha; dekhi'--seeing;
prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; haila--became; bada--very much;
sukha--happiness; isvarera--of the Lord; anavasare--during the pastime of
retirement; paila--got; bada--very much; duhkha--unhappiness.
TRANSLATION
Upon seeing the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannatha, Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu became very happy. But when Lord Jagannatha retired after the
ceremony, Lord Caitanya became very unhappy because He could not see Him.
PURPORT
After the bathing ceremony of Sri Jagannatha, which takes place just a
fortnight before the Ratha-yatra ceremony, the body of the Lord Jagannatha
Deity is repainted, and this takes just about a fortnight to complete. This
period is called Anavasara. There are many who visit the temple to see Lord
Jagannatha regularly every day, and for them His retirement after the bathing
ceremony is unbearable. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu felt Lord Jagannatha's absence
from the temple very much.
TEXT 63
TEXT
gopi-bhave virahe prabhu vyakula hana
alalanathe gela prabhu sabare chadiya
SYNONYMS
gopi-bhave--in the mood of the gopis; virahe--in separation;
prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vyakula--agitated; hana--being;
alalanathe--to Alalanatha; gela--went; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
sabare--all; chadiya--having given up.
TRANSLATION
Due to separation from Lord Jagannatha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu felt the
same great anxiety the gopis feel in separation from Krsna. In this condition
He gave up all association and went to Alalanatha.
TEXT 64
TEXT
pache prabhura nikata aila bhakta-gana
gauda haite bhakta aise,--kaila nivedana
