Chapter 12
The Cleansing of the Gundica Temple
In his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura summarizes this
chapter as follows.
The King of Orissa, Maharaja Prataparudra, tried his best to see Lord
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Nityananda Prabhu and the other devotees informed
the Lord about the King's desire, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would not agree
to see him. At that time Sri Nityananda Prabhu devised a plan, and He sent a
piece of the Lord's outward garment to the King. The next day, when Ramananda
Raya again entreated Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to see the King, the Lord, denying
the request, asked Ramananda Raya to bring the King's son before Him. The
prince visited the Lord dressed like a Vaisnava, and this awakened remembrance
of Krsna. Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu delivered the son of Maharaja
Prataparudra.
After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu washed the Gundica temple before the
Ratha-yatra took place. He then took His bath at Indradyumna Lake and partook
of prasada in the garden nearby. While Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu washed the
temple of Gundica, a Gaudiya Vaisnava washed the lotus feet of the Lord and
drank the water. This incident is very significant, for it awoke within the
devotee ecstatic love. Then again, the son of Advaita Prabhu named Gopala
fainted during kirtana, and when he did not come to his senses, Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu favored him by awakening him. There was also some humorous talk
between Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu during prasada. Advaita Prabhu
said that Nityananda Prabhu was unknown to anyone and that it was not the duty
of a householder brahmana to accept dinner with a person unknown in society. In
answer to this humorous statement, Sri Nityananda Prabhu replied that Advaita
Acarya was a monist and that one could not know how his mind could be turned by
eating with such an impersonalist. The conversation of these two
prabhus--Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu--carried a deep meaning that only
an intelligent man can understand. After all the Vaisnavas finished their
luncheon, Svarupa Damodara and others took their prasada within the room. Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu took great pleasure when He saw the Jagannatha Deity after
the period of the Deity's retirement. At that time Lord Caitanya was
accompanied by all the devotees, and all of them were very much pleased.
TEXT 1
TEXT
sri-gundica-mandiram atma-vrndaih
sammarjayan ksalanatah sa gaurah
sva-citta-vac chitalam ujjvalam ca
krsnopavesaupayikam cakara
SYNONYMS
sri-gundica--known as Gundica; mandiram--the temple; atma-vrndaih--with
His associates; sammarjayan--washing; ksalanatah--by cleansing; sah--that;
gaurah--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sva-citta-vat--like His own heart;
sitalam--cool and calm; ujjvalam--bright and clean; ca--and; krsna--of Lord Sri
Krsna; upavesa--for the sitting; aupayikam--befitting; cakara--made.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu washed and cleansed the Gundica temple with His
devotees and associates. In this way He made the temple as cool and bright as
His own heart, and thus He made the place befitting for Lord Sri Krsna to sit.
TEXT 2
TEXT
jaya jaya gauracandra jaya nityananda
jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya--all glories; gauracandra--to Gauracandra, Lord Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; 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 Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Gauracandra! All glories to Nityananda! All glories to
Advaitacandra! And all glories to the devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!
TEXT 3
TEXT
jaya jaya srivasadi gaura-bhakta-gana
sakti deha,--kari yena caitanya varnana
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya--all glories; srivasa-adi--headed by Srivasa Thakura;
gaura-bhakta-gana--to the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sakti
deha--please give me power; kari yena--so that I may do; caitanya--of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; varnana--description.
TRANSLATION
All glories to the devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, headed by
Srivasa Thakura! I beg their power so that I can properly describe Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 4
TEXT
purve daksina haite
prabhu yabe aila
tanre milite gajapati utkanthita haila
SYNONYMS
purve--formerly; daksina haite--from South India; prabhu--Lord Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yabe--when; aila--returned; tanre--Him; milite--to meet;
gajapati--the King of Orissa; utkanthita--full of anxieties; haila--became.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned from His South Indian tour,
Maharaja Prataparudra, the King of Orissa, became very anxious to meet Him.
TEXT 5
TEXT
kataka haite patri dila sarvabhauma-thani
prabhura ajna haya yadi, dekhibare yai
SYNONYMS
kataka haite--from Kataka, the capital of Orissa; patri--a letter;
dila--sent; sarvabhauma--of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; thani--to the place;
prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ajna--order; haya--there is; yadi--if;
dekhibare yai--I can go and see.
TRANSLATION
The King sent a letter from his capital, Kataka, to Sarvabhauma
Bhattacarya, entreating him to obtain the Lord's permission so that he could go
and see Him.
TEXT 6
TEXT
bhattacarya likhila,--prabhura ajna na haila
punarapi raja tanre patri pathaila
SYNONYMS
bhattacarya likhila--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya replied; prabhura--of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ajna--order; na--not; haila--there is; punarapi--again;
raja--the King; tanre--unto him; patri--a letter; pathaila--dispatched.
TRANSLATION
Replying to the King's letter, the Bhattacarya wrote that Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu had not given His permission. After this, the King wrote him another
letter.
TEXT 7
TEXT
prabhura nikate ache yata bhakta-gana
mora lagi' tan-sabare
kariha nivedana
SYNONYMS
prabhura nikate--in the place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ache--there
are; yata--all; bhakta-gana--devotees; mora lagi'--for me; tan-sabare--unto all
of them; kariha--please submit; nivedana--petition.
TRANSLATION
In this letter the King requested Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, "Please
appeal to all the devotees associated with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and submit
this petition to them on my behalf.
TEXT 8
TEXT
sei saba dayalu more hana sadaya
mora lagi' prabhu-pade karibe vinaya
SYNONYMS
sei saba--all of them; dayalu--merciful; more--unto me; hana--becoming;
sa-daya--favorably disposed; mora lagi'--for me; prabhu-pade--at the lotus feet
of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karibe--will do; vinaya--humble submission.
TRANSLATION
"If all the devotees
associated with the Lord are favorably disposed toward me, they can submit my
petition at the lotus feet of the Lord.
TEXT 9
TEXT
tan-sabara prasade mile sri-prabhura paya
prabhu-krpa vina mora rajya nahi bhaya
SYNONYMS
tan-sabara prasade--by the mercy of all of them; mile--one gets;
sri-prabhura paya--the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prabhu-krpa--the
mercy of the Lord; vina--without; mora--my; rajya--kingdom; nahi--does not;
bhaya--appeal to me.
TRANSLATION
"By the mercy of all the devotees, one can attain the shelter of
the lotus feet of the Lord. Without His mercy, my kingdom does not appeal to
me.
TEXT 10
TEXT
yadi more krpa na karibe gaurahari
rajya chadi' yogi ha-i' ha-iba bhikhari
SYNONYMS
yadi--if; more--unto me; krpa--mercy; na--not; karibe--will do;
gaurahari--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; rajya chadi'--giving up the kingdom;
yogi--mendicant; ha-i'--becoming; ha-iba--I shall become; bhikhari--a beggar.
TRANSLATION
"If Gaurahari, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, will not show mercy to
me, I shall give up my kingdom, become a mendicant and beg from door to
door."
TEXT 11
TEXT
bhattacarya patri
dekhi' cintita hana
bhakta-gana-pasa gela sei patri lana
SYNONYMS
bhattacarya--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; patri--the letter; dekhi'--seeing;
cintita hana--becoming very anxious; bhakta-gana--all the devotees; pasa--near;
gela--went; sei--that; patri--letter; lana--taking.
TRANSLATION
When the Bhattacarya received this letter, he became very anxious. He
then took the letter and went to the devotees of the Lord.
TEXT 12
TEXT
sabare miliya kahila raja-vivarana
piche sei patri sabare karaila darasana
SYNONYMS
sabare--everyone; miliya--meeting; kahila--said;
raja-vivarana--description of the King's desire; piche--later; sei patri--that
letter; sabare--unto everyone; karaila darasana--showed.
TRANSLATION
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya met with all the devotees and described the
King's wishes. Then he presented the letter to all of them for inspection.
TEXT 13
TEXT
patri dekhi' sabara mane ha-ila vismaya
prabhu-pade
gajapatira eta bhakti haya!!
SYNONYMS
patri--the letter; dekhi'--seeing; sabara--of everyone; mane--in the
mind; ha-ila--there was; vismaya--astonishment; prabhu-pade--unto the lotus
feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gajapatira--of the King of Orissa; eta--so
much; bhakti--devotion; haya--there is.
TRANSLATION
Upon reading the letter, everyone was astonished to see that King
Prataparudra had so much devotion for the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 14
TEXT
sabe kahe,--prabhu tanre kabhu na milibe
ami-saba kahi yadi, duhkha se manibe
SYNONYMS
sabe kahe--everyone said; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
tanre--unto him; kabhu--at any time; na--not; milibe--would see; ami-saba--all
of us; kahi--say; yadi--if; duhkha--unhappiness; se--Lord Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; manibe--will feel.
TRANSLATION
The devotees gave their opinion and said, "The Lord will never meet
the King, and if we requested Him to do so, the Lord will surely feel very
unhappy."
TEXT 15
TEXT
sarvabhauma kahe,--sabe cala' eka-bara
milite na kahiba, kahiba raja-vyavahara
SYNONYMS
sarvabhauma kahe--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said; sabe cala'--let all of
us go; eka-bara--once; milite--to meet; na kahiba--we shall not request;
kahiba--we shall simply describe; raja-vyavahara--the behavior of the King.
TRANSLATION
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya then said, "We shall go once again to the
Lord, but we shall not request Him to meet the King. Rather, we shall simply
describe the good behavior of the King."
TEXT 16
TEXT
eta bali' sabe gela mahaprabhura sthane
kahite unmukha sabe,
na kahe vacane
SYNONYMS
eta bali'--deciding like this; sabe--all of them; gela--went;
mahaprabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sthane--to the place; kahite--to
speak; unmukha--ready; sabe--all; na--do not; kahe--say; vacane--any word.
TRANSLATION
Having thus reached a decision, they all went to the place of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There, although ready to speak, they could not even utter
a word.
TEXT 17
TEXT
prabhu kahe,--ki kahite sabara agamana
dekhiye kahite caha,--na kaha, ki karana?
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; ki--what; kahite--to speak;
sabara--of all of you; agamana--there is the presence here; dekhiye--I see;
kahite caha--you want to speak; na kaha--but do not speak; ki karana--what is
the reason.
TRANSLATION
After they arrived at Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's place, the Lord, seeing
them, said, "What have you all come here to say? I see that you want to
say something, but you do not speak. What is the reason?"
TEXT 18
TEXT
nityananda kahe,--tomaya cahi nivedite
na kahile rahite nari, kahite bhaya citte
SYNONYMS
nityananda kahe--Lord Nityananda said; tomaya--unto You; cahi--we want;
nivedite--to submit; na kahile--if we do not speak; rahite nari--we cannot
stay; kahite--but to speak; bhaya citte--we are very fearful.
TRANSLATION
Nityananda Prabhu then said, "We want to tell You something.
Although we cannot stay without speaking, we are still very much afraid to
speak.
TEXT 19
TEXT
yogyayogya tomaya saba cahi nivedite
toma na milile raja cahe yogi haite
SYNONYMS
yogya--befitting; ayogya--not befitting; tomaya--unto You; saba--we all;
cahi--want; nivedite--to submit; toma--You; na milile--if he does not meet;
raja--the King; cahe--wants; yogi haite--to become a mendicant.
TRANSLATION
"We want to submit before You something that may or may not be
befitting. The matter is this: unless he sees You, the King of Orissa will
become a mendicant."
TEXT 20
TEXT
kane mudra la-i' muni ha-iba bhikhari
rajya-bhoga nahe citte vina gaurahari
SYNONYMS
kane mudra--a kind of earring; la-i'--taking; muni--I; ha-iba--shall
become; bhikhari--a beggar; rajya-bhoga--enjoyment of the kingdom; nahe--not;
citte--in the mind; vina--without; gaurahari--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
Nityananda Prabhu continued, "The King has decided to become a mendicant
and accept the sign of a mendicant by wearing an ivory earring. He does not
want to enjoy his kingdom without seeing the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu."
PURPORT
In India there is still a class of professional mendicants who are very
much like the gypsies of Western countries. They know some magical art and
mystical processes, and their business is to beg from door to door, sometimes
pleading and sometimes threatening. Such mendicants are sometimes called yogis
and sometimes kanaphata yogis. The word kanaphata refers to one who has put a
hole in his ear to wear an earring made of ivory. Maharaja Prataparudra was so
depressed by not getting to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that he decided to
become such a yogi. Ordinary men think that a yogi must have an ivory earring
in his ear, but this is not the sign of a real yogi. Maharaja Prataparudra also
thought that to become a mendicant yogi, one must wear such an earring.
TEXT 21
TEXT
dekhiba se mukha-candra nayana bhariya
dhariba se pada-padma hrdaye tuliya
SYNONYMS
dekhiba--I shall see; se--that; mukha-candra--moonlike face; nayana bhariya--to
the fulfillment of the eyes; dhariba--I shall catch; se--those;
pada-padma--lotus feet; hrdaye--on my heart; tuliya--raising.
TRANSLATION
Nityananda Prabhu continued, "The King also expressed his desire to
see the moonlike face of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his eye's full
satisfaction. He would like to raise the lotus feet of the Lord to his
heart."
TEXT 22
TEXT
yadyapi suniya prabhura komala haya mana
tathapi bahire kahe nisthura vacana
SYNONYMS
yadyapi--although; suniya--hearing; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; komala--softened; haya--becomes; mana--mind; tathapi--still;
bahire--externally; kahe--He says; nisthura vacana--hard words.
TRANSLATION
Hearing all these statements, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mind was
certainly softened, but externally He wished to speak some harsh words.
TEXT 23
TEXT
toma-sabara iccha,--ei amare lana
rajake milaha ihan katakete giya
SYNONYMS
toma-sabara--of all of you; iccha--the desire; ei--is; amare
lana--taking Me; rajake--the King; milaha--meet; ihan--here; katakete giya--by
going to Kataka.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "I can understand that you all desire
to take Me to Kataka to see the King."
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is naturally the reservoir of all kindness, and
as soon as He heard the statement made by the King, His heart immediately
softened. Thus the Lord was ready to go see the King even at Kataka. He did not
even consider allowing the King to come from Kataka to Jagannatha Puri to see
Him. It is significant that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was so kind that He was
ready to go see the King at Kataka. Apparently it was never expected that the
King wanted to see the Lord at His place, but by way of being externally harsh,
the Lord indicated that if all the devotees so desired, He would go to Kataka
to see the King.
TEXT 24
TEXT
paramartha thakuka--loke karibe nindana
loke rahu--damodara karibe bhartsana
SYNONYMS
parama-artha thakuka--what to speak of spiritual advancement;
loke--people in general; karibe nindana--will blaspheme; loke rahu--what to
speak of people in general; damodara--Damodara Pandita; karibe--will do;
bhartsana--chastisement.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "What to speak of spiritual advancement--all
the people will blaspheme Me. And what to speak of all the people--Damodara
would chastise Me.
TEXT 25
TEXT
toma-sabara ajnaya ami na mili rajare
damodara
kahe yabe, mili tabe tanre
SYNONYMS
toma-sabara--of all of you; ajnaya--by the order; ami--I; na--not;
mili--shall meet; rajare--the King; damodara--Damodara Pandita; kahe--says;
yabe--when; mili--I shall meet; tabe--then; tanre--him.
TRANSLATION
"I shall not meet the King at the request of all the devotees, but
I shall do so if Damodara will give his permission."
PURPORT
From the spiritual point of view, a sannyasi is strictly forbidden to
see materialistic people, especially a king who is always engaged in counting
pounds, shillings and pence. Indeed, the meeting between a sannyasi and a king
is always considered abominable. A sannyasi is always subjected to public
criticism, and a small fault on his part is taken seriously by the public.
People actually expect a sannyasi to preach and not take part in any social or
political matters. If a sannyasi is subject to public criticism, his preaching
will not be fruitful. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu specifically wanted to avoid such
criticism so that His preaching work would not be hampered. It so happened that
while the Lord was talking to His disciples at that time, the devotee Damodara
Pandita was present. This Damodara Pandita was a very faithful devotee and a
staunch lover of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Whenever there was anything that
might touch or taint the character of the Lord, Damodara Pandita would
immediately point it out, not even considering the exalted position of the
Lord. It is sometimes said that fools rush in where angels dare not, and Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to point out Damodara Pandita's foolishness in
coming forward to criticize the Lord. This is why the Lord stated that if Damodara
Pandita would give Him permission, He would go to see the King. There was deep
meaning in this statement, for it is a warning that Damodara should not dare
criticize the Lord any more, for it was not befitting his position as a
devotee. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was considered the guide and spiritual master
of all the devotees living with Him. Damodara Pandita was one of them, and the
Lord rendered Damodara Pandita a special favor by warning him to avoid
criticizing Him any further. A devotee or a disciple should never attempt to
criticize the Lord or His representative, the spiritual master.
TEXT 26
TEXT
damodara kahe,--tumi svatantra isvara
kartavyakartavya saba tomara gocara
SYNONYMS
damodara kahe--Pandita Damodara said; tumi--You; svatantra--fully
independent; isvara--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kartavya--duty which
is permissible; akartavya--duty which is not permissible; saba--all; tomara--of
You; gocara--within knowledge.
TRANSLATION
Damodara immediately replied, "My Lord, You are the fully
independent Supreme Personality of Godhead. Since everything is known to You,
You know what is permissible and what is not permissible.
TEXT 27
TEXT
ami kon ksudra-jiva, tomake vidhi diba?
apani milibe tanre, tahao dekhiba
SYNONYMS
ami kon--I am just some; ksudra-jiva--insignificant living entity;
tomake--unto You; vidhi--injunction; diba--I shall give; apani--You;
milibe--will meet; tanre--the King; tahao dekhiba--I shall see it.
TRANSLATION
"I am merely an insignificant jiva, so what power do I have to give
directions to You? By Your own personal choice You will meet with the King. I
shall see it.
TEXT 28
TEXT
raja tomare sneha kare, tumi--sneha-vasa
tanra snehe karabe tanre tomara parasa
SYNONYMS
raja--the King; tomare--You; sneha kare--loves; tumi--You;
sneha-vasa--controlled by love and affection; tanra--his; snehe--by love;
karabe--will do; tanre--unto him; tomara--Your; parasa--touching.
TRANSLATION
"The King is very much attached to You, and You are feeling
affection and love toward him. Thus I can understand that by virtue of the
King's affection for You, You will touch him.
TEXT 29
TEXT
yadyapi isvara tumi parama svatantra
tathapi svabhave hao prema-paratantra
SYNONYMS
yadyapi--although; isvara--the Supreme Personality of Godhead;
tumi--You; parama--supremely; svatantra--independent; tathapi--still;
svabhave--by Your nature; hao--You become; prema-paratantra--subordinate to
love.
TRANSLATION
"Although You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead and are
completely independent, still You are dependent on the love and affection of
Your devotees. That is Your nature."
TEXT 30
TEXT
nityananda kahe--aiche haya kon jana
ye tomare kahe, 'kara raja-darasana'
SYNONYMS
nityananda kahe--Nityananda Prabhu said; aiche--such; haya--there is;
kon jana--any person; ye--who; tomare--unto You; kahe--orders; kara--do;
raja-darasana--meeting the King.
TRANSLATION
Nityananda Prabhu then said, "Who is there in the three worlds who
can ask You to see the King?
TEXT 31
TEXT
kintu anuragi lokera svabhava eka haya
ista na paile nija prana se chadaya
SYNONYMS
kintu--still; anuragi--affectionate; lokera--of the people;
svabhava--nature; eka--one; haya--there is; ista--desirable; na paile--without
getting; nija--own; prana--life; se--he; chadaya--gives up.
TRANSLATION
"Still, isn't it the nature of an attached man to give up his life
if he does not attain his desired object?
TEXT 32
TEXT
yajnika-brahmani saba tahate pramana
krsna lagi' pati-age chadileka prana
SYNONYMS
yajnika-brahmani--the wives of the brahmanas who were engaged in
performing great sacrifices; saba--all; tahate--in that connection;
pramana--evidence; krsna lagi'--for the matter of Krsna; pati-age--in front of
their husbands; chadileka prana--gave up their lives.
TRANSLATION
"For instance, some of the wives of the brahmanas who were
performing sacrifices gave up their lives in the presence of their husbands for
the sake of Krsna."
PURPORT
This refers to the day Lord Sri Krsna and His cowherd boys and flocks of
animals were present on the pasturing grounds near Mathura. At that time the
cowherd boys, being a little hungry, requested food, and Lord Krsna asked them
to go to the brahmanas who were engaged nearby in performing yajna, or
sacrifice, and to get some food from that yajna. Being so ordered by the Lord,
all the cowherd boys went to the brahmanas and asked them for food, but they
were denied. After this, the cowherd boys begged food from the wives of the
brahmanas. All these wives were very much devoted to Lord Krsna in spontaneous
love, and as soon as they heard the request of the cowherd boys and understood
that Krsna wanted some food, they immediately left the place of sacrifice. They
were very much chastised for this by their husbands, and they were ready to
give up their lives. It is the nature of a pure devotee to sacrifice his life
for the transcendental loving service of the Lord.
TEXT 33
TEXT
eka yukti ache, yadi kara avadhana
tumi na milileha tanre, rahe tanra prana
SYNONYMS
eka yukti--one plan; ache--there is; yadi--if; kara avadhana--You
consider it; tumi--You; na milileha--may not meet; tanre--with him;
rahe--remains; tanra--his; prana--life.
TRANSLATION
Nityananda Prabhu then submitted one suggestion for the Lord's
consideration. "There is a way," He suggested, "by which You
need not meet the King but which would enable the King to continue living.
TEXT 34
TEXT
eka
bahirvasa yadi deha' krpa kari'
taha pana prana rakhe tomara asa dhari'
SYNONYMS
eka bahirvasa--one outward covering; yadi--if; deha'--You give; krpa
kari'--by Your mercy; taha pana--getting that; prana rakhe--he would live;
tomara asa dhari'--hoping to meet You some time in the future.
TRANSLATION
"If You, out of Your mercy, send one of Your outward garments to
the King, the King would live hoping to see You some time in the future."
PURPORT
Sri Nityananda Prabhu was thus very tactfully suggesting that Caitanya
Mahaprabhu give a piece of His old clothing to the King. Even though the King
was not to meet the Lord, the King would then be pacified by receiving such a
cloth. The King was very anxious to see the Lord, yet it was not possible for
the Lord to see him. Just to resolve the situation, Nityananda Prabhu suggested
that the Lord send an old piece of clothing. Thus the King would understand
that the Lord was showing mercy to him. The King would then not do anything
drastic like giving up his life or becoming a mendicant.
TEXT 35
TEXT
prabhu kahe,--tumi-saba parama vidvan
yei bhala haya, sei kara samadhana
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--the Lord replied; tumi-saba--all of you; parama
vidvan--greatly learned personalities; yei--whatever; bhala haya--is right;
sei--that; kara samadhana--execute.
TRANSLATION
The Lord said, "Since you are all very learned personalities,
whatever you decide I shall accept."
TEXT 36
TEXT
tabe nityananda-gosani govindera pasa
magiya la-ila prabhura eka bahirvasa
SYNONYMS
tabe--at that time; nityananda-gosani--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; govindera
pasa--from Govinda, the personal servant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
magiya--requesting; la-ila--took; prabhura--of the Lord; eka--one;
bahirvasa--outer garment.
TRANSLATION
Lord Nityananda Prabhu then obtained an external garment used by the Lord
by requesting it from Govinda.
TEXT 37
TEXT
sei bahirvasa sarvabhauma-pasa dila
sarvabhauma sei vastra rajare patha'la
SYNONYMS
sei--that; bahirvasa--garment; sarvabhauma-pasa--in the care of
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; dila--delivered; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya;
sei--that; vastra--cloth; rajare--unto the King; patha'la--sent.
TRANSLATION
Thus Nityananda Prabhu delivered the old cloth to the care of
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya sent it to the King.
TEXT 38
TEXT
vastra pana rajara haila anandita mana
prabhu-rupa kari' kare vastrera pujana
SYNONYMS
vastra pana--getting that cloth; rajara--of the King; haila--there was;
anandita mana--very happy mind; prabhu-rupa kari'--accepting as Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu Himself; kare--executes; vastrera--of the cloth; pujana--worship.
TRANSLATION
When the King received the old cloth, he began to worship it exactly as
he would worship the Lord personally.
PURPORT
This is also the conclusion of the Vedic injunctions. Since the Supreme
Personality of Godhead is the Absolute Truth, everything in relation to Him is
also on the same platform. The King had great affection for Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, and although he did not see the Lord, he had nonetheless already
attained the conclusion of devotional service. Immediately upon receiving the
cloth from Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, the King began to worship it, accepting it
as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The Lord's clothing, bedding, slippers and
everything required as an ordinary necessity are all transformations of Sesa,
Visnu, the expansion of Sri Baladeva. Thus the cloth and other paraphernalia of
the Supreme Personality of Godhead are but other forms of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Everything connected to the Lord is worshipable. Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructs us that just as Krsna is worshipable, Krsna's
place, Vrndavana, is also worshipable. And as Vrndavana is worshipable, similarly
the paraphernalia in Vrndavana--the trees, roads, river, everything--is
worshipable. A pure devotee thus sings, jaya jaya vrndavana-vasi yata jana:
"All glories to the residents of Vrndavana." If a devotee has a
staunch devotional attitude, all these conclusions will be awakened or revealed
within the heart.
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)
Thus following in the footsteps of Maharaja Prataparudra and other
devotees, we should learn to worship everything belonging to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. This is referred to by Lord Siva as tadiyanam. In the
Padma Purana it is said:
aradhananam sarvesam
visnor aradhanam param
tasmat parataram devi
tadiyanam samarcanam
"O Devi, the most exalted system of worship is the worship of Lord
Visnu. Greater than that is the worship of tadiya, or anything belonging to Visnu."
Sri Visnu is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha. Similarly, the most confidential servant
of Krsna, the spiritual master, and all devotees of Visnu are tadiya. The
sac-cid-ananda-vigraha, guru, Vaisnavas, and things used by them must be
considered tadiya and without a doubt worshipable by all living beings.
TEXT 39
TEXT
ramananda raya yabe 'daksina' haite aila
prabhu-sange rahite rajake nivedila
SYNONYMS
ramananda raya--Ramananda Raya; yabe--when; daksina--South India;
haite--from; aila--returned; prabhu-sange--with Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
rahite--to stay; rajake--unto the King; nivedila--requested.
TRANSLATION
After returning from his service in South India, Ramananda Raya
requested the King to allow him to remain with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 40
TEXT
tabe raja santose tanhare ajna dila
apani milana lagi' sadhite lagila
SYNONYMS
tabe--at that time; raja--the King; santose--in great satisfaction;
tanhare--unto Ramananda Raya; ajna dila--gave the order; apani--personally;
milana lagi'--to meet; sadhite lagila--began to solicit.
TRANSLATION
When Ramananda Raya requested the King to allow him to stay with the
Lord, the King immediately gave him permission with great satisfaction. As for
the King himself, he began to solicit Ramananda Raya to make a meeting
arrangement.
TEXT 41
TEXT
mahaprabhu maha-krpa karena tomare
more milibare avasya sadhibe tanhare
SYNONYMS
mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; maha-krpa--great mercy;
karena--does; tomare--unto you; more--me; milibare--for meeting;
avasya--certainly; sadhibe--you must solicit; tanhare--Him.
TRANSLATION
The King told Ramananda Raya, "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is very,
very merciful to you. Therefore please solicit my meeting with Him without
fail."
TEXT 42
TEXT
eka-sange dui jana ksetre yabe aila
ramananda raya tabe prabhure milila
SYNONYMS
eka-sange--together; dui jana--these two persons; ksetre--at
Jagannatha-ksetra (Jagannatha Puri); yabe--when; aila--came back; ramananda
raya--Ramananda Raya; tabe--at that time; prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
milila--met.
TRANSLATION
The King and Ramananda Raya returned together to Jagannatha-ksetra [Puri],
and Sri Ramananda Raya met Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 43
TEXT
prabhu-pade prema-bhakti janaila rajara
prasanga pana aiche kahe bara-bara
SYNONYMS
prabhu-pade--unto the lotus feet of the Lord; prema-bhakti--ecstatic
love; janaila--informed; rajara--of the King; prasanga--discussion;
pana--getting; aiche--thus; kahe--says; bara-bara--again and again.
TRANSLATION
At that time, Ramananda Raya informed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu about the
ecstatic love of the King. Indeed, as soon as there was some opportunity, he
repeatedly informed the Lord about the King.
TEXT 44
TEXT
raja-mantri ramananda--vyavahare nipuna
raja-priti kahi' dravaila prabhura mana
SYNONYMS
raja-mantri--diplomatic minister; ramananda--Sri Ramananda Raya;
vyavahare--in general behavior; nipuna--very expert; raja-priti--the love of
the King for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahi'--describing; dravaila--softened;
prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mana--the mind.
TRANSLATION
Sri Ramananda Raya was indeed a diplomatic minister for the King. His
general behavior was very expert, and simply by describing the King's love for
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he gradually softened the Lord's mind.
PURPORT
A diplomat in the material world knows how to deal with people,
especially in political affairs. Some of the great devotees of the Lord--like
Ramananda Raya, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami and Rupa Gosvami--were
government officers and had a background of very opulent householder life.
Consequently they knew how to deal with people. In many instances we have seen
the diplomacy of Rupa Gosvami, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami and Ramananda Raya
employed in the service of the Lord. When Raghunatha dasa Gosvami's father and
uncle were to be arrested by government officials, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami hid
them and personally met the government officers and settled the affair
diplomatically. This is but one instance. Similarly, Sanatana Gosvami, after
resigning his ministership, was thrown in jail, and he bribed the attendant of
the jail so he could leave the clutches of the Nawab and live with Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. Now we see Ramananda Raya, a most confidential devotee of the Lord,
diplomatically soften the heart of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, despite the fact
that the Lord definitely decided not to meet the King. The diplomacy of
Ramananda Raya and entreaties of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and all the other
great devotees succeeded. The conclusion is that diplomacy used for the service
of the Lord is a form of devotional service.
TEXT 45
TEXT
utkanthate prataparudra nare rahibare
ramananda sadhilena prabhure milibare
SYNONYMS
utkanthate--in great anxiety; prataparudra--King Prataparudra; nare
rahibare--could not stay; ramananda--Sri Ramananda Raya; sadhilena--solicited;
prabhure--unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; milibare--to meet.
TRANSLATION
Maharaja Prataparudra, in great anxiety, could not endure not seeing the
Lord; therefore Sri Ramananda Raya, by his diplomacy, arranged a meeting with
the Lord for the King.
TEXT 46
TEXT
ramananda prabhu-paya kaila nivedana
eka-bara prataparudre dekhaha carana
SYNONYMS
ramananda--Ramananda; prabhu-paya--at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; kaila--did; nivedana--submission; eka-bara--once only;
prataparudre--unto Maharaja Prataparudra; dekhaha--show; carana--Your lotus
feet.
TRANSLATION
Sri Ramananda Raya frankly requested Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
"Please show Your lotus feet to the King at least once."
TEXT 47
TEXT
prabhu kahe,--ramananda, kaha vicariya
rajake milite yuyaya sannyasi hana?
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; ramananda--My dear Ramananda;
kaha--please ask Me; vicariya--after due consideration; rajake--the King;
milite--to meet; yuyaya--is it befitting; sannyasi--in the renounced order of
life; hana--being.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "My dear Ramananda, you should
make this request after duly considering whether it is befitting for a sannyasi
to meet a king.
TEXT 48
TEXT
rajara milane bhiksukera dui loka nasa
paraloka rahu, loke kare upahasa
SYNONYMS
rajara milane--by meeting with a king; bhiksukera--of the mendicant; dui
loka--in two worlds; nasa--destruction; para-loka--spiritual world; rahu--let
alone; loke--in this material world; kare--do; upahasa--joking.
TRANSLATION
"If a mendicant meets a king, this world and the next world are
both destroyed for the mendicant. Indeed, what is there to say of the next
world? In this world, people will joke if a sannyasi meets a king."
TEXT 49
TEXT
ramananda kahe,--tumi isvara svatantra
kare tomara bhaya, tumi naha paratantra
SYNONYMS
ramananda kahe--Ramananda said; tumi--You; isvara--the Supreme Lord;
svatantra--independent; kare tomara bhaya--why should You be afraid of anyone;
tumi naha--You are not; para-tantra--dependent.
TRANSLATION
Ramananda Raya replied, "My Lord, You are the supreme independent
personality. You have nothing to fear from anyone because You are not dependent
on anyone."
TEXT 50
TEXT
prabhu kahe,--ami manusya asrame sannyasi
kaya-mano-vakye vyavahare bhaya vasi
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--the Lord said; ami manusya--I am a human being; asrame--in
the social order; sannyasi--a renounced person; kaya-manah-vakye--with My body,
mind and words; vyavahare--in general dealings; bhaya--fear; vasi--I do.
TRANSLATION
When Ramananda Raya addressed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Caitanya Mahaprabhu objected, saying, "I am not
the Supreme Personality of Godhead but an ordinary human being. Therefore I
must fear public opinion in three ways--with My body, mind and words.
TEXT 51
TEXT
sukla-vastre masi-bindu yaiche na lukaya
sannyasira alpa chidra sarva-loke gaya
SYNONYMS
sukla-vastre--on white cloth; masi-bindu--a spot of ink; yaiche--as much
as; na--does not; lukaya--become hidden; sannyasira--of a sannyasi; alpa--a
very little; chidra--fault; sarva-loke--the general public; gaya--advertise.
TRANSLATION
"As soon as the general public finds a little fault in the behavior
of a sannyasi, they advertise it like wildfire. A black spot of ink cannot be
hidden on a white cloth. It is always very prominent."
TEXT 52
TEXT
raya kahe,--kata papira kariyacha avyahati
isvara-sevaka tomara bhakta gajapati
SYNONYMS
raya kahe--Ramananda Raya replied; kata papira--of numberless sinful
persons; kariyacha--You have done; avyahati--deliverance; isvara-sevaka--a
servitor of the Lord; tomara--Your; bhakta--devotee; gajapati--the King.
TRANSLATION
Ramananda Raya replied, "My dear Lord, You have delivered so many
sinful people. This King Prataparudra, the King of Orissa, is actually a
servitor of the Lord and Your devotee."
TEXT 53
TEXT
prabhu kahe,--purna yaiche dugdhera kalasa
sura-bindu-pate keha na kare parasa
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--the Lord replied; purna--completely filled; yaiche--just
as; dugdhera--of milk; kalasa--container; sura-bindu-pate--with simply a drop
of liquor; keha--anyone; na kare--does not; parasa--touch.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then said, "There may be much milk in a big
pot, but if it is contaminated by a drop of liquor, it is untouchable.
TEXT 54
TEXT
yadyapi prataparudra--sarva-gunavan
tanhare malina kaila eka 'raja'-nama
SYNONYMS
yadyapi--although; prataparudra--the King; sarva-guna-van--qualified in
every respect; tanhare--unto him; malina kaila--makes impure; eka--one;
raja-nama--the name "king."
TRANSLATION
"The King certainly possesses all good qualities, but simply by
taking up the name 'king,' he has infected everything.
TEXT 55
TEXT
tathapi tomara yadi mahagraha haya
tabe ani' milaha tumi tanhara tanaya
SYNONYMS
tathapi--still; tomara--your; yadi--if; maha-agraha--great eagerness;
haya--there is; tabe--then; ani'--bringing; milaha--cause to meet; tumi--you;
tanhara--his; tanaya--son.
TRANSLATION
"But if you are still very eager for the King to meet with Me,
please first bring his son to meet Me.
TEXT 56
TEXT
"atma vai jayate putrah"--ei sastra-vani
putrera milane yena milibe apani
SYNONYMS
atma vai jayate putrah--his self appears as the son; ei--this;
sastra-vani--the indication of revealed scriptures; putrera milane--by meeting the
son; yena--as if; milibe--he will meet; apani--personally.
TRANSLATION
"It is indicated in the revealed scriptures that the son represents
the father; therefore the son's meeting with Me would be just as good as the King's
meeting with Me."
PURPORT
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.78.36) it is said: atma vai putra utpanna iti
vedanusasanam. The Vedas enjoin that one is born as his own son. The son is
nondifferent from the father, and this is admitted in every revealed scripture.
In Christian theology it is believed that Christ, the son of God, is also God.
Both of them are identical.
TEXT 57
TEXT
tabe raya yai' saba rajare kahila
prabhura ajnaya tanra putra lana aila
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; raya--Ramananda Raya; yai'--going; saba--everything;
rajare--unto the King; kahila--described; prabhura ajnaya--under the order of
the Lord; tanra putra--his son; lana aila--he brought with him.
TRANSLATION
Ramananda Raya then went to inform the King about his talks with Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and, following the Lord's orders, brought the King's son
to see Him.
TEXT 58
TEXT
sundara, rajara putra--syamala-varana
kisora vayasa, dirgha kamala-nayana
SYNONYMS
sundara--beautiful; rajara putra--the son of
the King; syamala-varana--blackish complexion; kisora vayasa--the age just
before youth; dirgha--long; kamala-nayana--lotus eyes.
TRANSLATION
The prince, just entering upon his youth, was very beautiful. He was
blackish in complexion and had large lotus eyes.
TEXT 59
TEXT
pitambara, dhare ange ratna-abharana
sri-krsna-smarane tenha haila 'uddipana'
SYNONYMS
pita-ambara--dressed in yellow cloth; dhare--carries; ange--on the body;
ratna-abharana--ornaments of jewels; sri-krsna-smarane--for remembering Sri
Krsna; tenha--he; haila--was; uddipana--stimulation.
TRANSLATION
The prince was dressed in yellow cloth, and there were jeweled ornaments
decorating his body. Therefore anyone who saw him would remember Lord Krsna.
TEXT 60
TEXT
tanre dekhi, mahaprabhura krsna-smrti haila
premavese tanre mili' kahite lagila
SYNONYMS
tanre dekhi--seeing him; mahaprabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
krsna-smrti--remembrance of Krsna; haila--there was; prema-avese--in ecstatic
love; tanre--him; mili'--meeting; kahite lagila--began to say.
TRANSLATION
Seeing the boy, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately remembered Krsna.
Meeting the boy in ecstatic love, the Lord began to speak.
TEXT 61
TEXT
ei--maha-bhagavata, yanhara darsane
vrajendra-nandana-smrti haya sarva-jane
SYNONYMS
ei--here is; maha-bhagavata--a first-class devotee; yanhara darsane--by
the sight of whom; vrajendra-nandana--of the son of the King of Vraja;
smrti--remembrance; haya--becomes; sarva-jane--for everyone.
TRANSLATION
"Here is a great devotee," Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said.
"Upon seeing him, everyone can remember the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, Krsna, son of Maharaja Nanda."
PURPORT
On his Anubhasya, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura states that a
materialist mistakenly accepts the body and mind as the source of material
enjoyment. In other words, a materialist accepts the bodily conception of life.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not regard the son of Maharaja Prataparudra with
the idea that he was a materialist, being the son of a materialist. Nor did He
consider Himself the enjoyer. Mayavadi philosophers make a great mistake by
assuming that the sac-cid-ananda-vigraha, the transcendental form of the Lord,
is like a material body. However, there is no material contamination in
transcendence, nor is there any possibility of imagining a spirituality in
matter. One cannot accept matter as spirit. As indicated by the technical words
bhauma ijya-dhih (Bhag. 10.84.13), materialistic Mayavadis imagine the form of
God in matter, although according to their imagination, God is unlimitedly
formless. This is simply mental speculation. Even though Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He placed Himself in the
position of a gopi. He also accepted the King's son directly as the son of
Maharaja Nanda, Vrajendra-nandana Hari. This is perfect vision according to the
direction of the Vedic culture, as confirmed in Srimad Bhagavad-gita (panditah
sama-darsinah). Such acceptance of the Absolute Truth according to Vaisnava
philosophy is explained in both the Mundaka Upanisad (3.2.3) and the Katha
Upanisad (1.2.23) in the following words:
nayam atma pravacanena labhyo
na
medhaya na bahuna srutena
yam evaisa vrnute tena labhyas
tasyaisa atma vivrnute tanum svam
"The Supreme Lord is not obtained by expert explanations, by vast
intelligence, nor even by much hearing. He is obtained only by one whom He
Himself chooses. To such a person He manifests His own form."
The living entity is entangled in material existence due to his lack of
such spiritual vision. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung in his
Kalyana-kalpataru: samsare asiya prakrti bhajiya 'purusa' abhimane mari. When
the living entity comes to the material world, he thinks himself the enjoyer.
Thus he becomes more and more entangled.
TEXT 62
TEXT
krtartha ha-ilana ami inhara darasane
eta bali' punah tare kaila alingane
SYNONYMS
krta-artha ha-ilana--have become very much obligated; ami--I; inhara--of
this boy; darasane--by seeing; eta bali'--saying this; punah--again; tare--him;
kaila--did; alingane--embrace.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "I have become very much
obligated just by seeing this boy." After saying this, the Lord again embraced
the prince.
TEXT 63
TEXT
prabhu-sparse raja-putrera haila premavesa
sveda, kampa, asru, stambha, pulaka visesa
SYNONYMS
prabhu-sparse--because of being touched by the Lord; raja-putrera--of
the King's son; haila--there was; prema-avesa--ecstatic love;
sveda--perspiration; kampa--trembling; asru--tears; stambha--being stunned;
pulaka--jubilation; visesa--specifically.
TRANSLATION
As soon as the prince was touched by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
symptoms of ecstatic love immediately manifested themselves in his body. These
symptoms included perspiration, trembling, tears, being stunned and jubilation.
TEXT 64
TEXT
'krsna' 'krsna' kahe, nace, karaye rodana
tanra bhagya dekhi' slagha kare bhakta-gana
SYNONYMS
krsna krsna--O Krsna, O Krsna; kahe--chants; nace--dances; karaye--does;
rodana--crying; tanra--his; bhagya--fortune; dekhi'--seeing; slagha--praise;
kare--do; bhakta-gana--all the devotees.
TRANSLATION
The boy began to cry and dance, and he chanted, "Krsna!
Krsna!" Upon seeing his bodily symptoms and his chanting and dancing, all
the devotees praised him for his great spiritual fortune.
TEXT 65
TEXT
tabe
mahaprabhu tanre dhairya karaila
nitya asi' amaya miliha--ei ajna dila
SYNONYMS
tabe--at that time; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--the boy;
dhairya--patient; karaila--caused to be; nitya--daily; asi'--coming; amaya--Me;
miliha--meet; ei ajna--this order; dila--gave.
TRANSLATION
At that time, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu calmed the youth and ordered him
to come there daily to meet Him.
TEXT 66
TEXT
vidaya hana raya aila raja-putre lana
raja sukha paila putrera cesta dekhiya
SYNONYMS
vidaya hana--taking leave; raya--Ramananda Raya; aila--came back;
raja-putre lana--taking the King's son; raja--the King; sukha paila--felt great
happiness; putrera--of his son; cesta--activities; dekhiya--seeing.
TRANSLATION
Ramananda Raya and the boy then departed from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
and Ramananda took him back to the King's palace. The King was very happy when
he heard of his son's activities.
TEXT 67
TEXT
putre alingana kari' premavista haila
saksat parasa yena mahaprabhura paila
SYNONYMS
putre--his son; alingana--embracing; kari'--doing; prema-avista
haila--he became ecstatic; saksat--directly; parasa--touch; yena--as if;
mahaprabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; paila--he got.
TRANSLATION
Just by embracing his son, the King was filled with ecstatic love, just
as if he had touched Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu directly.
TEXT 68
TEXT
sei haite bhagyavan rajara nandana
prabhu-bhakta-gana-madhye haila eka-jana
SYNONYMS
sei haite--from that day; bhagyavan--the most fortunate; rajara
nandana--the son of the King; prabhu-bhakta-gana-madhye--among the intimate
devotees of the Lord; haila--became; eka-jana--one of them.
TRANSLATION
From then on, the fortunate prince was one of the most intimate devotees
of the Lord.
PURPORT
In this regard, Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati writes:
yat-karunya-kataksa-vaibhava-vatam. If Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu simply glanced
at someone for a moment, that person immediately turned into one of the most
confidential devotees of the Lord. The prince came to see the Lord for the
first time, but by the Lord's mercy the boy immediately became a topmost
devotee. This was not in theory but in practice. We cannot apply the nagna-matrka-nyaya
formula. This states that if one's mother was naked in her childhood, she
should continue to remain naked, even though she has become a mother of so many
children. If a person is actually blessed by the mercy of the Lord, he can
immediately become a topmost devotee of the Lord. The logic of nagna-matrka
states that if a person is not elevated on such and such a date, he cannot
become an exalted devotee overnight, as it were. This particular instance
offers evidence to contradict that theory. On the previous day, the boy was
simply an ordinary prince, and the next day he was counted as one of the
topmost devotees of the Lord. This was all made possible by the causeless mercy
of the Lord. The Lord is omnipotent, all-powerful and almighty, and He can act
as He likes.
TEXT 69
TEXT
ei-mata mahaprabhu bhakta-gana-sange
nirantara krida kare sankirtana-range
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
bhakta-gana-sange--in the society of His pure devotees; nirantara--constantly;
krida kare--performs pastimes; sankirtana-range--in the course of His
sankirtana movement.
TRANSLATION
Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu acts in the society of His pure devotees,
performing His pastimes and spreading the sankirtana movement.
TEXT 70
TEXT
acaryadi bhakta kare prabhure nimantrana
tahan tahan bhiksa kare lana bhakta-gana
SYNONYMS
acarya-adi--headed by Advaita Acarya; bhakta--devotees; kare--do;
prabhure--unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nimantrana--invitation; tahan
tahan--here and there; bhiksa kare--takes His lunch; lana--taking;
bhakta-gana--all the devotees.
TRANSLATION
Some of the prominent devotees like Advaita Acarya used to invite Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu to take His meals at their homes. The Lord accepted such
invitations accompanied by His devotees.
TEXT 71
TEXT
ei-mata nana range dina kata gela
jagannathera ratha-yatra nikata ha-ila
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; nana range--in great jubilation; dina kata--some
days; gela--passed; jagannathera--of Lord Sri Jagannatha; ratha-yatra--the car
festival; nikata ha-ila--became nearer.
TRANSLATION
In this way, the Lord passed some days in great jubilation. Then the car
festival of Lord Jagannatha approached.
TEXT 72
TEXT
prathamei kasi-misre prabhu bolaila
padicha-patra, sarvabhaume bolana anila
SYNONYMS
prathamei--in the beginning; kasi-misre--Kasi Misra; prabhu--Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bolaila--called for; padicha-patra--the superintendent of
the temple; sarvabhaume--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; bolana--calling;
anila--brought.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu first of all called for Kasi Misra, then for the
superintendent of the temple, then for Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.
TEXT 73
TEXT
tina-jana-pase prabhu hasiya kahila
gundica-mandira-marjana-seva magi' nila
SYNONYMS
tina-jana-pase--in the presence of the three persons; prabhu--the Lord;
hasiya--smiling; kahila--said; gundica-mandira-marjana--of washing the temple
known as Gundica; seva--service; magi' nila--obtained by begging.
TRANSLATION
When these three people came before the Lord, He begged them for
permission to wash the temple known as Gundica.
PURPORT
The Gundica temple is situated two miles northeast of the Jagannatha
temple. At the time of the Ratha-yatra festival, Lord Jagannatha goes to the
Gundica temple from His original temple and stays there for one week. After one
week, He returns to His original temple. It is understood by hearsay that the
wife of Indradyumna, the King who established the Jagannatha temple, was known
as Gundica. There is also mention of the name of the Gundica temple in
authoritative scripture. The area of the Gundica temple is estimated to be 288
cubits by 215 cubits. The main temple inside is about 36 cubits by 30 cubits,
and the kirtana hall is 32 cubits by 30 cubits.
TEXT 74
TEXT
padicha kahe,--ami-saba sevaka tomara
ye tomara iccha sei kartavya amara
SYNONYMS
padicha kahe--the superintendent said; ami-saba--we are all; sevaka
tomara--Your servants; ye tomara--whatever Your; iccha--desire; sei--that;
kartavya amara--our duty.
TRANSLATION
Upon hearing the Lord's request for them to wash the Gundica temple, the
padicha, the superintendent of the temple, said, "My dear sir, we are all
Your servants. Whatever You desire is our duty to perform.
TEXT 75
TEXT
visese rajara ajna hanache amare
prabhura ajna yei, sei sighra karibare
SYNONYMS
