Chapter 19
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Instructs Srila Rupa Gosvami
A summary of this chapter is given by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his
Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. Meeting Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in a village called
Ramakeli, two brothers, Rupa and Sanatana, began to devise means to get out of
their government service. Both brothers appointed some brahmanas to perform
purascarana ceremonies and chant the holy name of Krsna. Srila Rupa Gosvami
deposited ten thousand gold coins with a grocer, and the balance he brought in
two boats to a place called Bakla Candradvipa. There he divided this money
among the brahmanas, Vaisnavas and his relatives, and a portion he kept for
emergency measures and personal needs. He was informed that Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu was going to Vrndavana from Jagannatha Puri through the forest of
Madhya Pradesh; therefore he sent two people to Jagannatha Puri to find out
when the Lord would leave for Vrndavana. In this way Rupa Gosvami retired, but
Sanatana Gosvami told the Nawab that he was sick and could not attend to his
work. Giving this excuse, he sat home and studied Srimad-Bhagavatam with
learned brahmana scholars. The Nawab Hussain Shah first sent his personal
physician to see what the real facts were; then he personally came to see why
Sanatana was not attending to official business. Knowing that he wanted to
resign his post, the Nawab had him arrested and imprisoned. The Nawab then went
off to attack Orissa.
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu started for Vrndavana through the forest of
Madhya Pradesh (Jharikhanda), Rupa Gosvami left home and sent news to Sanatana
that he was leaving home with his younger brother (Anupama Mallika) to meet Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Rupa Gosvami finally reached Prayaga and met with
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for ten successive days. During this time, Vallabha
Bhatta extended an invitation to the Lord with great respect. Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu introduced Srila Rupa Gosvami to Vallabha Bhatta. After this, a
brahmana scholar named Raghupati Upadhyaya arrived and discussed Krsna
consciousness with the Lord. Kaviraja Gosvami then extensively describes the
living condition of Sri Rupa and Sanatana at Vrndavana. During the ten days at
Prayaga, Srila Rupa Gosvami was instructed by the Lord, who gave him the basic
principles of the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. The Lord then sent Srila Rupa Gosvami
to Vrndavana. The Lord Himself returned to Varanasi and stayed at the home of
Candrasekhara.
TEXT 1
TEXT
vrndavaniyam rasa-keli-vartam
kalena luptam nija-saktim utkah
sancarya rupe vyatanot punah sa
prabhur vidhau prag iva loka-srstim
SYNONYMS
vrndavaniyam--related to Vrndavana; rasa-keli-vartam--talks about the
pastimes of Sri Krsna; kalena--with the course of time; luptam--lost;
nija-saktim--His personal potency; utkah--being eager; sancarya--infusing;
rupe--to Rupa Gosvami; vyatanot--manifested; punah--again; sah--He; prabhuh--Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vidhau--unto Lord Brahma; prak iva--as formerly;
loka-srstim--the creation of this cosmic manifestation.
TRANSLATION
Before the creation of this cosmic manifestation, the Lord enlightened
the heart of Lord Brahma with the details of the creation and manifested the
Vedic knowledge. In exactly the same way, the Lord, being anxious to revive the
Vrndavana pastimes of Lord Krsna, impregnated the heart of Rupa Gosvami with
spiritual potency. By this potency, Srila Rupa Gosvami could revive the
activities of Krsna in Vrndavana, activities almost lost to memory. In this
way, He spread Krsna consciousness throughout the world.
TEXT 2
TEXT
jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda
jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya sri-caitanya--all glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jaya
nityananda--all glories to Lord Nityananda; jaya advaita-candra--all glories to
Advaita Prabhu; jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda--all glories to the devotees of the
Lord.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Lord
Nityananda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees
of the Lord!
TEXT 3
TEXT
sri-rupa-sanatana rahe ramakeli-grame
prabhure miliya gela apana-bhavane
SYNONYMS
sri-rupa-sanatana--the brothers named Rupa and Sanatana; rahe--stayed;
ramakeli-grame--in Ramakeli; prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
miliya--meeting; gela--went back; apana-bhavane--to their own homes.
TRANSLATION
After meeting Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the village of Ramakeli, the
brothers Rupa and Sanatana returned to their homes.
TEXT 4
TEXT
dui-bhai
visaya-tyagera upaya srjila
bhau-dhana diya dui brahmane varila
SYNONYMS
dui-bhai--the two brothers; visaya-tyagera--of giving up material
activities; upaya srjila--discovered a means; bahu-dhana--much money;
diya--paying; dui brahmane--two brahmanas; varila--appointed.
TRANSLATION
The two brothers devised a means whereby they could give up their
material activities. For this purpose, they appointed two brahmanas and paid
them a large amount of money.
TEXT 5
TEXT
krsna-mantre karaila dui purascarana
acirat paibare caitanya-carana
SYNONYMS
krsna-mantre--in the holy mantra Hare Krsna; karaila--caused to perform;
dui--two; purascarana--religious ceremonies; acirat--without delay; paibare--to
get; caitanya-carana--the shelter of the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
The brahmanas performed religious ceremonies and chanted the holy name
of Krsna so that the two brothers might attain shelter at the lotus feet of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu very soon.
PURPORT
A purascarana is a ritualistic ceremony performed under the guidance of
an expert spiritual master or a brahmana. It is performed for the fulfillment
of certain desires. One rises early in the morning, chants the Hare Krsna
mantra, performs arcana by the arati ceremony and worships the Deities. These
activities are described in the Fifteenth Chapter, verse 108.
TEXT 6
TEXT
sri-rupa-gosani tabe naukate bhariya
sri-rupa-gosani apanara ghare aila bahu-dhana lana
SYNONYMS
sri-rupa-gosani--Sri Rupa Gosvami; tabe--thereafter; naukate
bhariya--filling boats; apanara ghare--to his own house; aila--returned;
bahu-dhana lana--taking large amounts of riches.
TRANSLATION
At this time, Sri Rupa Gosvami returned home, taking with him large
quantities of riches loaded in boats.
TEXT 7
TEXT
brahmana-vaisnave dila tara ardha-dhane
eka cauthi dhana dila kutumba-bharane
SYNONYMS
brahmana-vaisnave--to the brahmanas and Vaisnavas; dila--gave as
charity; tara--of the riches; ardha-dhane--fifty percent; eka cauthi
dhana--one-fourth of the riches; dila--gave; kutumba-bharane--to satisfy the
relatives.
TRANSLATION
Srila Rupa Gosvami divided the wealth that he brought back home. He gave
fifty percent in charity to brahmanas and Vaisnavas and twenty-five percent to
his relatives.
PURPORT
This is a practical example of how one should divide his money and
retire from household life. Fifty percent of one's money should be distributed
to qualified and pure devotees of the Lord. Twenty-five percent may be given to
family members, and twenty-five percent may be kept for personal use in case of
emergency.
TEXT 8
TEXT
danda-bandha lagi' cauthi sancaya karila
bhala-bhala vipra-sthane sthapya rakhila
SYNONYMS
danda-bandha lagi'--in case of legal implications; cauthi--one-fourth;
sancaya karila--he collected; bhala-bhala--very respectable; vipra-sthane--in
the custody of a brahmana; sthapya rakhila--kept deposited.
TRANSLATION
He kept one-fourth of his wealth with a respectable brahmana. He kept
this for his personal safety because he was expecting some legal complications.
TEXT 9
TEXT
gaude rakhila mudra dasa-hajare
sanatana vyaya kare, rakhe mudi-ghare
SYNONYMS
gaude--in Bengal; rakhila--kept; mudra--coins; dasa-hajare--ten
thousand; sanatana--his elder brother; vyaya kare--spent; rakhe--deposited;
mudi-ghare--in the place of a local grocer.
TRANSLATION
He deposited ten thousand coins, which were later spent by Sri Sanatana
Gosvami, in the custody of a local Bengali grocer.
TEXT 10
TEXT
sri-rupa sunila prabhura niladri-gamana
vana-pathe yabena prabhu sri-vrndavana
SYNONYMS
sri-rupa--Srila Rupa Gosvami; sunila--heard; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; niladri-gamana--departure for Jagannatha Puri; vana-pathe--on the
path through the forest; yabena--will go; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
sri-vrndavana--to Vrndavana.
TRANSLATION
Sri Rupa Gosvami heard that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had returned to
Jagannatha Puri and was preparing to go to Vrndavana through the forest.
TEXT 11
TEXT
rupa-gosani nilacale pathaila dui-jana
prabhu yabe vrndavana karena gamana
SYNONYMS
rupa-gosani--Rupa Gosvami; nilacale--to Jagannatha Puri; pathaila--sent;
dui-jana--two persons; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yabe--when;
vrndavana--to Vrndavana; karena--makes; gamana--departure.
TRANSLATION
Sri Rupa Gosvami sent two people to Jagannatha Puri to find out when Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu would depart for Vrndavana.
TEXT 12
TEXT
sighra asi' more tanra diba samacara
suniya tad-anurupa kariba vyavahara
SYNONYMS
sighra asi'--very hastily returning; more--unto me; tanra--His;
diba--give; samacara--news; suniya--hearing; tat-anurupa--accordingly; kariba--I
shall make; vyavahara--arrangements.
TRANSLATION
Sri Rupa Gosvami told the two men, "You are to return quickly and
let me know when He will depart. Then I shall make the proper
arrangements."
TEXT 13
TEXT
etha sanatana-gosani bhave mane mana
raja more priti kare, se----mora bandhana
SYNONYMS
etha--here (in Gauda-desa); sanatana-gosani--the elder brother, Sanatana
Gosvami; bhave--considers; mane mana--in the mind; raja--the Nawab; more--me;
priti kare--loves very much; se--that; mora--my; bandhana--great obligation.
TRANSLATION
While Sanatana Gosvami was at Gauda-desa, he was thinking, "The
Nawab is very pleased with me. I certainly have an obligation.
TEXT 14
TEXT
kona mate raja yadi more kruddha haya
tabe avyahati haya, karilun niscaya
SYNONYMS
kona mate--somehow or other; raja--the Nawab; yadi--if; more--upon me;
kruddha haya--becomes angry; tabe--then; avyahati--escape; haya--there is;
karilun niscaya--I have decided.
TRANSLATION
"Somehow or other, if the Nawab becomes angry with me, I shall be
greatly relieved. That is my conclusion."
TEXT 15
TEXT
asvasthyera chadma kari' rahe nija-ghare
raja-karya chadila, na yaya raja-dvare
SYNONYMS
asvasthyera--of not being well; chadma--pretext; kari'--making;
rahe--remains; nija-ghare--at home; raja-karya--government service;
chadila--relinquished; na yaya--did not go; raja-dvare--to the court of the
Nawab.
TRANSLATION
On the pretext of bad health, Sanatana Gosvami remained home. Thus he
gave up government service and did not go to the royal court.
TEXT 16
TEXT
lobhi kayastha-gana raja-karya kare
apane svagrhe kare sastrera vicare
SYNONYMS
lobhi--greedy; kayastha-gana--persons engaged in secretarial and
clerical work; raja-karya kare--executed the government service;
apane--personally; sva-grhe--at home; kare--did; sastrera vicare--discussion of
the revealed scriptures.
TRANSLATION
The greedy masters of his clerical and secretarial staff performed the
government duties while Sanatana personally remained home and discussed
revealed scriptures.
PURPORT
Sanatana Gosvami was the minister in charge of the government
secretariat, and his assistants-the undersecretaries and clerks-all belonged to
the kayastha community. Formerly the kayasthas belonged to the clerical and
secretarial staff of the government, and later if one served in such a post, he
was called a kayastha. Eventually if a person could not identify himself as a
brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or sudra, he used to introduce himself as a kayastha
to get a wealthy and honorable position. In Bengal it is said that if one
cannot give the identity of his caste, he calls himself a kayastha. On the
whole, the kayastha community is a mixture of all castes, and it especially
includes those engaged in clerical or secretarial work. Materially such people
are always busy occupying responsible government posts.
When Sanatana Gosvami was relaxing and feeling inclined to retire from
government service, many kayasthas on his secretarial staff were very eager to
occupy his post. In this regard, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura states that when
Sanatana Gosvami was a government minister and the kayasthas who assisted him
saw that he was reluctant to continue, they became very expert in their duties.
Sanatana Gosvami was a brahmana belonging to the Sarasvata brahmana community.
It is said that when he resigned, an underworker named Purandara Khan, who was
a kayastha, occupied his post.
TEXT 17
TEXT
bhattacarya pandita bisa trisa lana
bhagavata vicara karena sabhate vasiya
SYNONYMS
bhattacarya pandita--learned scholars known as bhattacaryas; bisa
trisa--twenty or thirty; lana--taking with him; bhagavata vicara--discussion of
Srimad-Bhagavatam; karena--does; sabhate vasiya--sitting in an assembly.
TRANSLATION
Sri Sanatana Gosvami used to discuss Srimad-Bhagavatam in an assembly of
twenty or thirty learned brahmana scholars.
PURPORT
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gives the following commentary
on the words bhagavata vicara. As confirmed in the Mundaka Upanisad (1.1.4,5),
there are two kinds of educational systems:
dve vidye veditavya iti, ha sma yad
brahma-vido vadanti-para caivapara ca. tatrapara rg-vedo yajur-vedah sama-vedo
'tharva-vedah siksa kalpo vyakaranam niruktam chando jyotisam iti. atha para
yaya tad-aksaram adhigamyate.
"There are two kinds of educational systems. One deals with
transcendental knowledge [para vidya] and the other with material knowledge
[apara vidya]. All the Vedas-Rg Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Veda and
their corollaries known as siksa, kalpa, vyakarana, nirukta, chanda and
jyotisa-belong to the inferior system of material knowledge [apara vidya]. By
para vidya, one can understand the aksara, Brahman or the Absolute Truth."
As far as Vedic literature is concerned, Vedanta-sutra is accepted as the para
vidya. Srimad-Bhagavatam is an explanation of that para vidya. Those who aspire
for liberation (mukti or moksa) and introduce themselves as vaidantika are also
equal to those groups aspiring to improve religion (dharma), economic
development (artha) and sense gratification (kama). Dharma, artha, kama and
moksa are called catur-varga. They are all within the system of inferior
material knowledge. Any literature giving information about the spiritual
world, spiritual life, spiritual identity and the spirit soul is called para
vidya. Srimad-Bhagavatam does not have anything to do with the materialistic
way of life; it gives transcendental information to educate people in the
superior system of para vidya. Sanatana Gosvami was engaged in discussing the
bhagavata-vidya, which means he discussed transcendental superior knowledge.
Those who are karmis, jnanis or yogis are not actually fit to discuss
Srimad-Bhagavatam. Only Vaisnavas or pure devotees are fit to discuss that
literature. As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam itself (12.13.18):
srimad-bhagavatam puranam amalam yad vaisnavanam priyam
yasmin paramahamsyam ekam amalam jnanam param giyate
yatra jnana-viraga-bhakti-sahitam naiskarmyam aviskrtam
tac chrnvan supathan vicarana-paro bhaktya vimucyen narah
Although Srimad-Bhagavatam is counted among the Puranas, it is called
the spotless Purana. Because it does not discuss anything material, it is liked
by transcendental Vaisnava devotees. The subject matter found in
Srimad-Bhagavatam is meant for paramahamsas. As it is said:
paramo-nirmatsaranam. A paramahamsa is one who does not live in the material world
and who does not envy others. In Srimad-Bhagavatam, devotional service is
discussed to arouse the living entity to the transcendental position of jnana
(knowledge) and vairagya (renunciation). As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam
(1.2.12):
tac
chraddadhanah munayo
jnana-vairagya-yuktaya
pasyanty atmani catmanam
bhaktya sruta-grhitaya
"That Absolute Truth is realized by the seriously inquisitive
student or sage who is well equipped with knowledge and who has become detached
by rendering devotional service and hearing the Vedanta-sruti."
This is not sentiment. Knowledge and renunciation can be obtained
through devotional service (bhaktya sruta-grhitaya), that is, by arousing one's
dormant devotional consciousness, Krsna consciousness. When Krsna consciousness
is aroused, it relieves one from fruitive activity, activity for economic
improvement and material enjoyment. This relief is technically called naiskarma,
and when one is relieved, he is no longer interested in working hard for sense
gratification. Srimad-Bhagavatam is Srila Vyasadeva's last mature contribution,
and one should read and hear it in an assembly of realized souls while engaging
in devotional service. At such a time one can be liberated from all material
bondage. This was the course taken by Sanatana Gosvami, who retired from
government service to study Srimad-Bhagavatam with learned scholars.
TEXT 18
TEXT
ara dina gaudesvara, sange eka-jana
acambite gosani-sabhate kaila agamana
SYNONYMS
ara dina--one day; gaudesvara--the Nawab of Bengal; sange--with;
eka-jana--one other person; acambite--suddenly; gosani-sabhate--in the assembly
of Sanatana Gosvami; kaila agamana--came.
TRANSLATION
While Sanatana Gosvami was studying Srimad-Bhagavatam in the assembly of
learned brahmanas, one day the Nawab of Bengal and another person suddenly
appeared.
The full name of the Nawab of Bengal (Hussain Shah) was Alauddina
Saiyada Husena Saha Seripha Makka, and he ruled Bengal for twenty-three years,
from 1420 to 1443 Sakabda Era. Sanatana Gosvami was studying Srimad-Bhagavatam
with the scholars in the year 1424.
TEXT 19
TEXT
patsaha dekhiya sabe sambhrame uthila
sambhrame asana diya rajare vasaila
SYNONYMS
patsaha dekhiya--seeing the Nawab; sabe--all of them; sambhrame--in
great respect; uthila--stood up; sambhrame--with great respect; asana
diya--giving a sitting place; rajare--the King; vasaila--made to sit.
TRANSLATION
As soon as all the brahmanas and Sanatana Gosvami saw the Nawab appear,
they all stood up and respectfully gave him a sitting place to honor him.
PURPORT
Although Nawab Hussain Shah was a mleccha-yavana, he was nonetheless the
governor of the country, and the learned scholars and Sanatana Gosvami offered
him all the respect due a king or a governor. When a person occupies an exalted
executive post, one should consider that he has acquired the grace of the Lord.
In Bhagavad-gita it is said:
yad yad vibhutimat sattvam
srimad urjitam eva va
tat tad evavagaccha tvam
mama tejo 'msa-sambhavam
"Know that all beautiful, glorious and mighty creations spring from
but a spark of My splendor." (Bg. 10.41)
Whenever we see something exalted, we must consider it part of the power
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A powerful man (vibhutimat sattvam) is
one who has obtained the grace of the Lord or has derived some power from Him.
In Bhagavad-gita (7.10) Krsna says, tejas tejasvinam aham: "I am the power
of the powerful." The learned brahmana scholars showed respect to Nawab
Hussain Shah because he represented a fraction of Krsna's power.
TEXT 20
TEXT
raja kahe,----tomara sthane vaidya pathailun
vaidya kahe,----vyadhi nahi, sustha ye dekhilun
SYNONYMS
raja kahe--the Nawab said; tomara sthane--to your place; vaidya--a
physician; pathailun--I sent; vaidya kahe--the physician said; vyadhi
nahi--there is no disease; su-stha--completely healthy; ye--that; dekhilun--I
have seen.
TRANSLATION
The Nawab said, "I sent my physician to you, and he has reported
that you are not diseased. As far as he could see, you are completely healthy.
TEXT 21
TEXT
amara ye kichu karya, saba toma lana
karya chadi' rahila tumi gharete vasiya
SYNONYMS
amara--my; ye kichu--whatever; karya--business; saba--everything;
toma--you; lana--with; karya chadi'--giving up your duties; rahila--remained;
tumi--you; gharete--at home; vasiya--sitting.
TRANSLATION
"I am depending on you to carry out so many of my activities, but
you have given up your governmental duties to sit here at home.
TEXT 22
TEXT
mora yata karya-kama, saba kaila nasa
ki tomara hrdaye ache, kaha mora pasa
SYNONYMS
mora--my; yata--all; karya-kama--occupational duties; saba--everything;
kaila nasa--you have spoiled; ki--what; tomara--your; hrdaye--within the heart;
ache--there is; kaha--kindly tell; mora pasa--to me.
TRANSLATION
"You have spoiled all my activities. What is your intention? Please
tell me frankly."
TEXT 23
TEXT
sanatana kahe,----nahe ama haite kama
ara eka-jana diya kara samadhana
SYNONYMS
sanatana kahe--Sanatana Gosvami replied; nahe--not; ama--me;
haite--from; kama--execution of the duty; ara eka-jana--someone else; diya--by
means of; kara samadhana--execute the management.
TRANSLATION
Sanatana Gosvami replied, "You can no longer expect any service
from me. Please arrange for someone else to tend to the management."
TEXT 24
TEXT
tabe
kruddha hana raja kahe ara-bara
tomara 'bada bhai' kare dasyu-vyavahara
SYNONYMS
tabe--at that time; kruddha hana--becoming angry; raja kahe--the Nawab
said; ara-bara--again; tomara bada bhai--your elder brother; kare--does;
dasyu-vyavahara--the activity of a plunderer.
TRANSLATION
Becoming angry with Sanatana Gosvami, the Nawab said, "Your elder
brother is acting just like a plunderer.
TEXT 25
TEXT
jiva-bahu mari' kaila cakla saba nasa
etha tumi kaila mora sarva karya nasa
SYNONYMS
jiva--living entities; bahu--many; mari'--killing; kaila--did;
cakla--the province of Bengal; saba--all; nasa--destruction; etha--here;
tumi--you; kaila--did; mora--my; sarva--all; karya--plans; nasa--destruction.
TRANSLATION
"By killing many living entities, your elder brother has destroyed
all Bengal. Now here you are destroying all my plans."
TEXT 26
TEXT
sanatana kahe,----tumi svatantra gaudesvara
ye yei dosa kare, deha' tara phala
SYNONYMS
sanatana kahe--Sanatana Gosvami said; tumi--you; svatantra--independent;
gauda-isvara--the ruler of Bengal; ye yei--whatever; dosa--faults; kare--one
commits; deha'--you award; tara phala--the results of that.
TRANSLATION
Sanatana Gosvami said, "You are the supreme ruler of Bengal and are
completely independent. Whenever someone commits a fault, you punish him
accordingly."
TEXT 27
TEXT
eta suni' gaudesvara uthi' ghare gela
palaiba bali' sanatanere bandhila
SYNONYMS
eta suni'--hearing this; gauda-isvara--the Nawab of Bengal; uthi'--standing
up; ghare gela--went back home; palaiba--I shall run away; bali'--because of
this; sanatanere bandhila--he arrested Sanatana.
TRANSLATION
Hearing this, the Nawab of Bengal stood up and returned to his home. He
ordered the arrest of Sanatana Gosvami so that he would not be able to leave.
PURPORT
It is said that the relationship between the Nawab of Bengal and
Sanatana Gosvami was very intimate. The Nawab used to consider Sanatana Gosvami
his younger brother, and when Sanatana Gosvami showed a very strong intention
to resign, the Nawab, feeling familial affection, essentially said, "I am
your elder brother, but I do not look after the state management. My only
business is attacking other states with my soldiers and fighting everywhere as
a plunderer. Because I am a meat-eater [yavana], I am used to hunting all kinds
of living beings. In this way I am destroying all kinds of living entities in
Bengal. While engaged in this destructive business, I am hoping that you will
tend to the administration of the state. Since I, your elder brother, am
engaged in such a destructive business, you, being my younger brother, should
look after the state management. If you do not, how will things continue?"
This talk was based on a family relationship, and Sanatana Gosvami also replied
in an intimate and joking way. Essentially he told the Nawab, "My dear
brother, you are the independent ruler of Bengal. You can act in whatever way
you like, and if someone commits fault, you can punish him accordingly."
In other words, Sanatana Gosvami was saying that since the Nawab was accustomed
to acting like a plunderer, he should go ahead and take action. Since Sanatana
was not showing much enthusiasm in performing his duty, the Nawab should
dismiss him from his service. The Nawab could understand the intention of
Sanatana Gosvami's statement. He therefore left in an angry mood and ordered
Sanatana Gosvami's arrest.
TEXT 28
TEXT
hena-kale gela raja udiya marite
sanatane kahe,----tumi cala mora sathe
SYNONYMS
hena-kale--at this time; gela--went; raja--the King; udiya marite--to
attack the Orissa province; sanatane kahe--he said to Sanatana Gosvami; tumi
cala--you come; mora sathe--along with me.
TRANSLATION
At this time, the Nawab was going to attack the province of Orissa, and
he told Sanatana Gosvami, "Come along with me."
PURPORT
Hussain Shah attacked the province of Orissa in 1424 Sakabda Era. At
that time he conquered the feudal princes of neighboring Orissa.
TEXT 29
TEXT
tenho kahe,----yabe tumi devataya duhkha dite
mora sakti nahi, tomara sange yaite
SYNONYMS
tenho kahe--Sanatana Gosvami replied; yabe--will go; tumi--you;
devataya--to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; duhkha dite--to give
unhappiness; mora sakti--my power; nahi--there is not; tomara sange--in company
with you; yaite--to go.
TRANSLATION
Sanatana Gosvami replied, "You are going to Orissa to give pain to
the Supreme Personality of Godhead. For this reason I am powerless to go with
you."
TEXT 30
TEXT
tabe tanre bandhi' rakhi' karila gamana
etha nilacala haite prabhu calila vrndavana
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; tanre--him; bandhi'--arresting; rakhi'--keeping;
karila gamana--he went away; etha--at this time; nilacala haite--from
Jagannatha Puri; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; calila vrndavana--departed
for Vrndavana.
TRANSLATION
The Nawab again arrested Sanatana Gosvami and kept him in prison. At
this time, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu departed for Vrndavana from Jagannatha Puri.
TEXT
31
TEXT
tabe sei dui cara rupa-thani aila
'vrndavana calila prabhu'----asiya kahila
SYNONYMS
tabe--at that time; sei--those; dui--two; cara--messengers;
rupa-thani--to the presence of Rupa Gosvami; aila--came back; vrndavana calila
prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has departed for Vrndavana; asiya--coming;
kahila--they informed.
TRANSLATION
The two persons who went to Jagannatha Puri to inquire about the Lord's
departure returned and informed Rupa Gosvami that the Lord had already departed
for Vrndavana.
TEXT 32
TEXT
suniya sri-rupa likhila
sanatana-thani
'vrndavana calila sri-caitanya-gosani
SYNONYMS
suniya--hearing; sri-rupa--Sri Rupa Gosvami; likhila--wrote;
sanatana-thani--to Sanatana Gosvami; vrndavana--to Vrndavana; calila--has gone;
sri-caitanya-gosani--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
Upon receiving this message from his two messengers, Rupa Gosvami
immediately wrote a letter to Sanatana Gosvami saying that Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu had departed for Vrndavana.
TEXT 33
TEXT
ami-dui-bhai calilana tanhare milite
tumi yaiche taiche chuti' aisa tahan haite
SYNONYMS
ami-dui-bhai--we two brothers; calilana--have gone; tanhare milite--to
meet Him; tumi--you; yaiche taiche--somehow or other; chuti'--getting free;
aisa--come; tahan haite--from there.
TRANSLATION
In his letter to Sanatana Gosvami, Srila Rupa Gosvami wrote, "We
two brothers are starting out to go see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You must also
somehow or other get released and come meet us."
PURPORT
The two brothers herein mentioned are Rupa Gosvami and his younger
brother, Anupama Mallika. Rupa Gosvami was informing Sanatana Gosvami that he
should join him and his younger brother.
TEXT 34
TEXT
dasa-sahasra
mudra tatha ache mudi-sthane
taha diya kara sighra atma-vimocane
SYNONYMS
dasa-sahasra mudra--ten thousand coins; tatha--there; ache--there are;
mudi-sthane--in the grocer's place; taha diya--with this amount; kara--get;
sighra--as soon as possible; atma-vimocane--release from the internment.
TRANSLATION
Rupa Gosvami further informed Srila Sanatana Gosvami: "I have left
a deposit of ten thousand coins with the grocer. Use that money to get out of
prison.
TEXT 35
TEXT
yaiche taiche chuti' tumi aisa vrndavana'
eta likhi' dui-bhai karila gamana
SYNONYMS
yaiche taiche--somehow or other; chuti'--getting released; tumi--you;
aisa--come; vrndavana--to Vrndavana; eta likhi'--writing this; dui-bhai--the
two brothers, namely Rupa Gosvami and his younger brother Anupama; karila
gamana--departed.
TRANSLATION
"Somehow or other get yourself released and come to
Vrndavana." After writing this, the two brothers [Rupa Gosvami and
Anupama] went to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 36
TEXT
anupama mallika, tanra nama----'sri-vallabha'
rupa-gosanira chota-bhai----parama-vaisnava
SYNONYMS
anupama mallika--Anupama Mallika; tanra nama--his name;
sri-vallabha--Sri Vallabha; rupa-gosanira--of Rupa Gosvami; chota-bhai--younger
brother; parama-vaisnava--great devotee.
TRANSLATION
Rupa Gosvami's younger brother was a great devotee whose actual name was
Sri Vallabha, but he was given the name Anupama Mallika.
TEXT 37
TEXT
tanha lana rupa-gosani prayage aila
mahaprabhu tahan suni' anandita haila
SYNONYMS
tanha lana--taking him along; rupa-gosani--Sri Rupa Gosvami; pra
yage--to Prayaga; aila--came; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
tahan--there; suni'--hearing; anandita haila--were very much pleased.
TRANSLATION
Sri Rupa Gosvami and Anupama Mallika went to Prayaga, and they were very
pleased to hear news that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was there.
TEXT 38
TEXT
prabhu caliyachena bindu-madhava-darasane
laksa laksa loka aise prabhura milane
SYNONYMS
prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; caliyachena--was going;
bindu-madhava-darasane--to see Lord Bindu Madhava; laksa laksa loka--many
hundreds of thousands of people; aise--came; prabhura--with Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; milane--for meeting.
TRANSLATION
At Prayaga, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to see the temple of Bindu
Madhava, and many hundreds of thousands of people followed Him just to meet
Him.
TEXT 39
TEXT
keha kande, keha hase, keha nace, gaya
'krsna' 'krsna' bali' keha gadagadi yaya
SYNONYMS
keha kande--some cried; keha hase--some laughed; keha nace--some danced;
gaya--chanted; krsna krsna bali'--saying Krsna, Krsna; keha--some; gadagadi
yaya--rolled on the ground.
TRANSLATION
Some of the people following the Lord were crying. Some were laughing,
some dancing and some chanting. Indeed, some of them were rolling on the
ground, exclaiming, "Krsna! Krsna!"
TEXT 40
TEXT
ganga-yamuna
prayaga narila dubaite
prabhu dubaila krsna-premera vanyate
SYNONYMS
ganga-yamuna--the River Ganges and River Yamuna; prayaga--Prayaga;
narila--were not able; dubaite--to flood; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
dubaila--flooded; krsna-premera--of ecstatic love of Krsna; vanyate--in an
inundation.
TRANSLATION
Prayaga is located at the confluence of two rivers-the Ganges and the
Yamuna. Although these rivers were not able to flood Prayaga with water, Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu inundated the whole area with waves of ecstatic love for
Krsna.
TEXT 41
TEXT
bhida dekhi' dui bhai rahila nirjane
prabhura avesa haila madhava-darasane
SYNONYMS
bhida dekhi'--seeing the crowd; dui bhai--the two brothers;
rahila--remained; nirjane--in a secluded place; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
avesa--ecstasy; haila--there was; madhava-darasane--by seeing the Deity, Bindu
Madhava.
TRANSLATION
Seeing the great crowd, the two brothers remained standing in a secluded
place. They could see that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was ecstatic to see Lord
Bindu Madhava.
TEXT 42
TEXT
premavese nace prabhu hari-dhvani kari'
urdhva bahu kari' bale----bala 'hari' 'hari'
SYNONYMS
prema-avese--in ecstatic love; nace--danced; prabhu--Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; hari-dhvani kari'--vibrating the holy name of Hari; urdhva--raised;
bahu--the arms; kari'--making; bale--says; bala hari hari--chant Hari, Hari.
TRANSLATION
The Lord was loudly chanting the holy name of Hari. Dancing in ecstatic
love and raising His arms, He asked everyone to chant "Hari! Hari!"
TEXT 43
TEXT
prabhura mahima dekhi' loke camatkara
prayage prabhura lila nari varnibara
SYNONYMS
prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mahima--the greatness;
dekhi'--seeing; loke--in all people; camatkara--astonishment; prayage--at
Prayaga; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; lila--the pastimes; nari--I am
not able; varnibara--to describe.
TRANSLATION
Everyone was astounded to see the greatness of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Indeed, I cannot properly describe the pastimes of the Lord at Prayaga.
TEXT 44
TEXT
daksinatya-vipra-sane ache paricaya
sei vipra nimantriya nila nijalaya
SYNONYMS
daksinatya--Deccan; vipra-sane--with a brahmana; ache--there was;
paricaya--acquaintance; sei--that; vipra--brahmana; nimantriya--inviting;
nila--brought; nija-alaya--to his own place.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had made an acquaintance with a brahmana from
Deccan [in South India], and that brahmana invited Him for meals and took Him
to his place.
TEXT 45
TEXT
vipra-grhe asi' prabhu nibhrte vasila
sri-rupa-vallabha dunhe asiya milila
SYNONYMS
vipra-grhe--to the house of that brahmana; asi'--coming; prabhu--Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nibhrte--in a solitary place; vasila--sat down;
sri-rupa-vallabha--the two brothers Rupa Gosvami and Sri Vallabha; dunhe--both
of them; asiya--coming; milila--met Him.
TRANSLATION
While Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was sitting in a solitary place in the
home of that Deccan brahmana, Rupa Gosvami and Sri Vallabha [Anupama Mallika]
came to meet Him.
TEXT 46
TEXT
dui-guccha trna dunhe dasane dhariya
prabhu dekhi' dure pade dandavat hana
SYNONYMS
dui-guccha--two bunches; trna--straw; dunhe--both of them; dasane
dhariya--holding in the teeth; prabhu dekhi'--seeing the Lord; dure--in a distant
place; pade--fell down; danda-vat--like rods; hana--becoming.
TRANSLATION
Seeing the Lord from a distance, the two brothers put two clumps of
straw between their teeth and immediately fell down on the ground like rods,
offering Him obeisances.
TEXT 47
TEXT
nana sloka padi' uthe, pade bara bara
prabhu dekhi' premavesa ha-ila dunhara
SYNONYMS
nana--various; sloka--verses; padi'--reciting; uthe--stood up;
pade--fell down; bara bara--again and again; prabhu dekhi'--seeing the Lord;
prema-avesa--ecstatic emotion; ha-ila--there was; dunhara--of both of them.
TRANSLATION
Both brothers were overwhelmed with ecstatic emotion, and reciting
various Sanskrit verses, they stood up and fell down again and again.
TEXT 48
TEXT
sri-rupe dekhiya prabhura prasanna haila mana
'utha, utha, rupa, aisa', balila vacana
SYNONYMS
sri-rupe dekhiya--seeing Srila Rupa Gosvami; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; prasanna--very pleased; haila--was; mana--mind; utha--please stand
up; utha--please stand up; rupa--My dear Rupa; aisa--come; balila--He said;
vacana--the words.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very pleased to see Srila Rupa Gosvami, and
He told him, "Stand up! Stand up! My dear Rupa, come here."
TEXT 49
TEXT
krsnera karuna kichu na yaya varnane
visaya-kupa haite kadila toma dui-jane
SYNONYMS
krsnera--of Lord Krsna; karuna--the mercy; kichu--any; na--not; yaya--is
possible; varnane--to describe; visaya-kupa haite--from the well of material
enjoyment; kadila--delivered; toma--you; dui-jane--both.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then said,"It is not possible to describe
Krsna's mercy, for He has delivered you both from the well of material
enjoyment.
TEXT 50
TEXT
na me
'bhaktas catur-vedi
mad-bhaktah svapacah priyah
tasmai deyam tato grahyam
sa ca pujyo yatha hy aham
SYNONYMS
na--not; me--My; abhaktah--devoid of pure devotional service;
catuh-vedi--a scholar in the four Vedas; mat-bhaktah--My devotee;
sva-pacah--even from a family of dog-eaters; priyah--very dear; tasmai--to him
(a pure devotee, even though born in a very low family); deyam--should be given;
tatah--from him; grahyam--should be accepted (remnants of food); sah--that
person; ca--also; pujyah--worshipable; yatha--as much as; hi--certainly;
aham--I.
TRANSLATION
" 'Even though a person is a very learned scholar of the Sanskrit
Vedic literatures, he is not accepted as My devotee unless he is pure in
devotional service. Even though a person is born in a family of dog-eaters, he
is very dear to Me if he is a pure devotee who has no motive to enjoy fruitive
activities or mental speculation. Indeed, all respects should be given to him,
and whatever he offers should be accepted. Such devotees are as worshipable as
I am.' "
PURPORT
This verse is included in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa (10.127) compiled by
Sanatana Gosvami.
TEXT 51
TEXT
ei sloka padi' dunhare kaila alingana
krpate dunhara mathaya dharila carana
SYNONYMS
ei sloka--this verse; padi'--reciting; dunhare--the two brothers; kaila
alingana--embraced; krpate--out of causeless mercy; dunhara--of both of them;
mathaya--on the heads; dharila--placed; carana--His feet.
TRANSLATION
After reciting this verse, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced both
brothers, and out of His causeless mercy He placed His feet on their heads.
TEXT 52
TEXT
prabhu-krpa pana dunhe dui hata yudi'
dina hana stuti kare vinaya acari'
SYNONYMS
prabhu-krpa--the Lord's mercy; pana--getting; dunhe--both of them;
dui--two; hata--hands; yudi'--folding; dina hana--most humbly; stuti
kare--offer prayers; vinaya acari'--with submission.
TRANSLATION
After receiving the Lord's causeless mercy, the brothers folded their
hands and in great humility offered the following prayers unto the Lord.
TEXT 53
TEXT
namo maha-vadanyaya
krsna-prema-pradaya te
krsnaya krsna-caitanya-
namne gaura-tvise namah
SYNONYMS
namah--obeisances; maha-vadanyaya--who is most munificent and charitably
disposed; krsna-prema--love of Krsna; pradaya--who can give; te--unto You;
krsnaya--the original Personality of Godhead; krsna-caitanya-namne--under the
name Krsna Caitanya; gaura-tvise--whose complexion is the golden complexion of
Srimati Radharani; namah--obeisances.
TRANSLATION
"O most munificent incarnation! You are Krsna Himself appearing as
Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You have assumed the golden color of Srimati
Radharani, and You are widely distributing pure love of Krsna. We offer our
respectful obeisances unto You.
TEXT 54
TEXT
yo ' jnana-mattam
bhuvanam dayalur
ullaghayann apy akarot pramattam
sva-prema-sampat-sudhayadbhuteham
sri-krsna-caitanyam amum prapadye
SYNONYMS
yah--that Personality of Godhead who; ajnana-mattam--maddened by
ignorance or foolishly passing time in karma, jnana, yoga and Mayavada
philosophy; bhuvanam--the entire three worlds; dayaluh--so merciful;
ullaghayan--subduing such processes as karma, jnana and yoga; api--despite;
akarot--made; pra-mattam--maddened; sva-prema-sampat-sudhaya--by the nectar of
His personal devotional service, which is an invaluable treasure of bliss;
adbhuta-iham--whose activities are wonderful; sri-krsna-caitanyam--unto Lord
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; amum--that; prapadye--I surrender.
TRANSLATION
"We offer our respectful obeisances unto that merciful Supreme
Personality of Godhead who has converted all three worlds, which were maddened
by ignorance, and saved them from their diseased condition by making them mad
with the nectar from the treasure-house of love of God. Let us take full
shelter of that Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna Caitanya, whose activities
are wonderful."
PURPORT
This verse is found in the Govinda-lilamrta (1.2).
TEXT 55
TEXT
tabe mahaprabhu tanre nikate vasaila
'sanatanera varta kaha'----tanhare puchila
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--them;
nikate--near Him; vasaila--sat down; sanatanera varta--news of Sanatana;
kaha--please tell; tanhare--them; puchila--questioned.
TRANSLATION
After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sat them down by His side and asked
them, "What news do you have of Sanatana?"
TEXT 56
TEXT
rupa kahena,----tenho bandi haya raja-ghare
tumi yadi uddhara', tabe ha-ibe uddhare
SYNONYMS
rupa kahena--Rupa Gosvami said; tenho--he; bandi--arrested; haya--is;
raja-ghare--in the court of the government; tumi--You; yadi--if;
uddhara'--kindly rescue; tabe--then; ha-ibe--he will be; uddhare--relieved from
that entanglement.
TRANSLATION
Rupa Gosvami replied, "Sanatana has now been arrested by the
government of Hussain Shah. If You kindly save him, he can be liberated from
that entanglement."
TEXT 57
TEXT
prabhu kahe,----sanatanera hanache mocana
acirat ama-saha ha-ibe milana
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; sanatanera--of Sanatana
Gosvami; hanache--there has been; mocana--release; acirat--very soon;
amasaha--with Me; ha-ibe milana--there will be meeting.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately replied, "Sanatana has already
been released from his confinement, and he will very soon meet with Me."
TEXT 58
TEXT
madhyahna karite vipra prabhure kahila
rupa-gosani se-divasa tathani rahila
SYNONYMS
madhyahna karite--to accept lunch; vipra--the brahmana of Deccan;
prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahila--requested; rupa-gosani--Rupa
Gosvami; se-divasa--that day; tathani--there; rahila--remained.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was then requested by the brahmana to accept His
lunch. Rupa Gosvami also remained there that day.
TEXT 59
TEXT
bhattacarya dui bhaiye nimantrana kaila
prabhura sesa prasada-patra dui-bhai paila
SYNONYMS
bhattacarya--Balabhadra Bhattacarya; dui bhaiye--the two brothers;
nimantrana kaila--invited to take lunch; prabhura sesa prasada-patra--the
remnants of the plate of food offered to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dui-bhai
paila--the two brothers obtained.
TRANSLATION
Balabhadra Bhattacarya invited the two brothers to take lunch also. The
remnants of food from the plate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu were offered to
them.
TEXT 60
TEXT
triveni-upara prabhura
vasa-ghara sthana
dui bhai vasa kaila prabhu-sannidhana
SYNONYMS
tri-veni-upara--on the bank of the confluence of the Yamuna and Ganges;
prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vasa-ghara--of the residential house;
sthana--the place; dui bhai--the two brothers; vasa kaila--resided;
prabhu-sannidhana--near Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu selected His residence beside the confluence of
the Ganges and Yamuna at a place called Triveni. The two brothers-Rupa Gosvami
and Sri Vallabha-selected their residence near the Lord's.
TEXT 61
TEXT
se-kale vallabha-bhatta rahe adaila-grame
mahaprabhu aila suni' aila tanra sthane
SYNONYMS
se-kale--at that time; vallabha-bhatta--Vallabha Bhatta; rahe--resided;
adaila-grame--in the village known as Adaila; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; aila--has come; suni'--hearing; aila--came; tanra sthane--to His
place.
TRANSLATION
At that time, Sri Vallabha Bhatta was staying at Adaila-grama, and when
he heard that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had arrived, he went to His place to see
Him.
PURPORT
Vallabha Bhatta was a great learned scholar of Vaisnavism. In the
beginning he was very much devoted to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but since he
thought that he could not receive proper respect from Him, he later joined the
Visnusvami sect and became acarya of that sect. His sect is celebrated as the
Vallabhacarya-sampradaya. This sampradaya has had great influence in Vrndavana
near Gokula and in Bombay. Vallabha Bhatta wrote many books, including a
commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam called Subodhini-tika, and notes on the
Vedanta-sutra, in the form of an Anubhasya. He also wrote a combination of
sixteen short works called Sodasa-grantha. Adaila-grama, where he was staying,
was near the confluence of the Rivers Ganges and Yamuna on the other side of
the Yamuna about one mile from the river. The village there is called
Adeli-grama, or Adaila-grama. A temple of Lord Visnu there still belongs to the
Vallabha-sampradaya.
Vallabha Bhatta was originally from a place in southern India called
Trailanga. There is a railway station there called Nidadabhalu. Sixteen miles
from that station is a village called Kankadabada, or Kakunrapadhu. A learned
brahmana named Laksmana Diksita used to live there, and Vallabha Bhatta was his
son. There are five sections of the brahmana community of Andhra Pradesh known
as bella-nati, vegi-nati, muraki-nati telagu-nati and kasala-nati. Out of these
five brahminical communities, Vallabhacarya took his birth in the community of
bella-nati in the year 1400 Sakabda Era. According to some people, Vallabha
Bhattacarya's father took sannyasa before Vallabha's birth, and he returned
home to take Vallabhacarya as his son. According to the opinion of others,
Vallabhacarya was born in 1400 Sakabda Era on the Ekadasi day of the dark moon
in the month of Caitra, and he took his birth in a brahmana family surnamed
Khambhampatibaru. According to this account, his father's name was Laksmana
Bhatta Diksita, and he was born in Campakaranya. In someone else's opinion,
Vallabhacarya appeared near the village named Canpa-jhara-grama, which is near
a railway station named Rajima in Madhya Pradesh.
After studying for eleven years at Varanasi, Vallabhacarya returned home.
On his return, he heard that his father had departed from the material world.
Keeping his brother and mother at home, he went to the banks of the River
Tungabhadra in a village called Vidyanagara, and it was there that he
enlightened Krsnadeva, the grandson of King Bukkaraja. After that, he traveled
throughout India thrice on trips lasting six years. Thus he passed eighteen
years and became victorious in his discussions of revealed scripture. When he
was thirty years old, he married Mahalaksmi, who belonged to the same brahmana
community. Near Govardhana Hill he established a Deity in the valley. Finally
he came to Adaila, which is on the other side of Prayaga.
Vallabhacarya had two sons, Gopinatha and Viththalesvara, and in his old
age he accepted the renounced order. In 1452 Sakabda Era, he passed away from
the material world at Varanasi. His book known as Sodasa-grantha and his
commentaries on Vedanta-sutra (Anubhasya) and Srimad-Bhagavatam (Subodhini) are
very famous. He has written many other books besides.
TEXT 62
TEXT
tenho dandavat kaila, prabhu kaila alingana
dui jane krsna-katha haila kata-ksana
SYNONYMS
tenho--he; dandavat--obeisances; kaila--made; prabhu--Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; kaila--did; alingana--embracing; dui jane--between the two of them;
krsna-katha--topics about Lord Krsna; haila--there were; kata-ksana--for some
time.
TRANSLATION
Vallabha Bhattacarya offered Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu his obeisances, and
the Lord embraced him. After that, they discussed topics about Krsna for some
time.
TEXT 63
TEXT
krsna-kathaya prabhura
maha-prema uthalila
bhattera sankoce prabhu samvarana kaila
SYNONYMS
krsna-kathaya--in the discussion on Krsna; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; maha-prema--great love; uthalila--arose; bhattera--of Bhattacarya;
sankoce--due to shyness; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; samvarana
kaila--restrained Himself.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu felt great ecstatic love when they began
discussing Krsna, but the Lord checked His feelings because He felt shy before
Vallabha Bhatta.
TEXT 64
TEXT
antare gara-gara prema, nahe samvarana
dekhi' camatkara haila vallabha-bhattera mana
SYNONYMS
antare--inside; gara-gara--raged; prema--ecstatic love; nahe--there was
not; samvarana--checking; dekhi'--detecting; camatkara--astonishment;
haila--there was; vallabha-bhattera mana--on the mind of Vallabha Bhatta.
TRANSLATION
Although the Lord restrained Himself externally, ecstatic love raged
within. There was no checking that. Vallabha Bhatta was astonished to detect
this.
TEXT 65
TEXT
tabe bhatta mahaprabhure nimantrana kaila
mahaprabhu dui-bhai tanhare milaila
SYNONYMS
tabe--then; bhatta--Vallabha Bhatta; mahaprabhure--Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; nimantrana kaila--invited; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, Vallabha Bhatta invited Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for lunch,
and the Lord introduced the brothers Rupa and Vallabha to him.
TEXT 66
TEXT
dui-bhai dura haite bhumite padiya
bhatte dandavat kaila ati dina hana
SYNONYMS
dui-bhai--the two brothers; dura haite--from a distance; bhumite--on the
ground; padiya--falling flat; bhatte--to Vallabha Bhatta; dandavat
kaila--offered obeisances; ati dina hana--being very humble.
TRANSLATION
From a distance, the brothers Rupa Gosvami and Sri Vallabha fell on the
ground and offered obeisances to Vallabha Bhatta with great humility.
TEXT 67
TEXT
bhatta milibare yaya, dunhe palaya dure
'asprsya
pamara muni, na chuniha more'
SYNONYMS
bhatta--Vallabha Bhatta; milibare--to meet; yaya--goes; dunhe--the two
brothers; palaya--ran away; dure--to a distant place; asprsya--untouchable;
pamara--most fallen; muni--I; na chuniha--do not touch; more--me.
TRANSLATION
When Vallabha Bhattacarya walked toward them, they ran away to a more
distant place. Rupa Gosvami said, "I am untouchable and most sinful.
Please do not touch me."
TEXT 68
TEXT
bhattera vismaya haila, prabhura harsa mana
bhattere kahila prabhu tanra vivarana
SYNONYMS
bhattera--of Vallabha Bhattacarya; vismaya haila--there was surprise;
prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; harsa--very happy; mana--the mind;
bhattere kahila--said to Vallabha Bhattacarya; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
tanra vivarana--description of Rupa Gosvami.
TRANSLATION
Vallabha Bhattacarya was very surprised at this. Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, however, was very pleased, and He therefore spoke to him this
description of Rupa Gosvami.
TEXT 69
TEXT
'inho na sparsiha, inho jati ati-hina!
vaidika, yajnika tumi kulina pravina!'
SYNONYMS
inho--him; na sparsiha--do not touch; inho--he; jati--caste;
ati-hina--very low; vaidika--a follower of Vedic principles; yajnika--a
performer of many sacrifices; tumi--you; kulina--aristocratic brahmana;
pravina--an experienced person.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Don't touch him, for he belongs to a
very low caste. You are a follower of Vedic principles and are a well
experienced performer of many sacrifices. You also belong to the
aristocracy."
PURPORT
Generally brahmanas are puffed up with false prestige because they
belong to the aristocracy and perform many Vedic sacrifices. In South India
especially, this fastidious position is most prominent. At any rate, this was
the case five hundred years ago. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu actually started a revolution
against this brahminical system by inaugurating the chanting of the Hare Krsna
mantra. By this chanting, one can be delivered regardless of caste, creed,
color or social position. Whoever chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is
immediately purified due to the transcendental position of devotional service.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is here hinting to Vallabha Bhattacarya that an exalted
brahmana who makes sacrifices and follows Vedic principles should not neglect a
person who is engaged in devotional service by chanting the holy name of the
Lord.
Actually Rupa Gosvami did not belong to a lower caste. He was from a
highly aristocratic brahmana family, but due to his association with the
Mohammedan Nawab, he was considered fallen and excommunicated from brahmana
society. However, due to his advanced devotional service, Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu accepted him as a gosvami. Vallabha Bhattacarya knew all this. One
who is a devotee is above caste and creed, yet Vallabha Bhattacarya felt
himself prestigious.
The present head of the Vallabha Bhattacarya sampradaya of Bombay is
named Diksita Maharaja. He is very friendly to our movement, and whenever we
meet him, this learned brahmana scholar highly praises the activities of the
Hare Krsna movement. He is a life member of our Society, and although he is a
learned scholar in the brahminical caste tradition, he accepts our Society and
considers its members bona fide devotees of Lord Visnu.
TEXT 70
TEXT
dunhara mukhe nirantara krsna-nama suni'
bhatta kahe, prabhura kichu ingita-bhangi jani'
SYNONYMS
dunhara mukhe--in the mouths of both Rupa Gosvami and his brother
Vallabha; nirantara--continuously; krsna-nama suni'--hearing the chanting of
the holy name of Krsna; bhatta kahe--Vallabha Bhattacarya said; prabhura--of
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kichu--some; ingita--indications; bhangi--hints;
jani'--understanding.
TRANSLATION
Hearing the holy name constantly vibrated by the two brothers, Vallabha
Bhattacarya could understand the hints of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 71
TEXT
'dunhara mukhe krsna-nama kariche nartana
ei-dui 'adhama' nahe, haya 'sarvottama'
SYNONYMS
dunhara mukhe--in the mouths of both; krsna-nama--the holy name of Lord
Krsna; kariche--is doing; nartana--dancing; ei-dui--both of them; adhama
nahe--not fallen; haya--are; sarva-uttama--the most exalted.
TRANSLATION
Vallabha Bhattacarya admitted, "Since these two are constantly
chanting the holy name of Krsna, how can they be untouchable? On the contrary,
they are most exalted."
PURPORT
Vallabha Bhattacarya's admission of the brothers' exalted position
should serve as a lesson to one who is falsely proud of his position as a
brahmana. Sometimes so-called brahmanas do not recognize our European an
