Chapter 7
The Lord's Tour of South India
In his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura summarizes the
Seventh Chapter as follows. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the renounced
order of life in the month of Magha (January-February) and went to Jagannatha
Puri in the month of Phalguna (February-March). He saw the Dola-yatra festival
during the month of Phalguna, and in the month of Caitra He liberated
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. During the month of Vaisakha, He began to tour South
India. When He proposed to travel to South India alone, Sri Nityananda Prabhu
gave Him a brahmana assistant named Krsnadasa. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was
beginning His tour, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya gave Him four sets of clothes and
requested Him to see Ramananda Raya, who was residing at that time on the bank
of the river Godavari. Along with other devotees, Nityananda Prabhu accompanied
the Lord to Alalanatha, but there Lord Caitanya left them all behind and went
ahead with the brahmana Krsnadasa. The Lord began chanting the mantra
"krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna he." In whatever village
He spent the night, whenever a person came to see Him in His shelter, the Lord
implored him to preach the Krsna consciousness movement. After teaching the
people of one village, the Lord proceeded to other villages to increase
devotees. In this way He finally reached Kurma-sthana. While there, He bestowed
His causeless mercy upon a brahmana called Kurma and cured another brahmana,
named Vasudeva, who was suffering from leprosy. After curing this brahmana
leper, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu received the title Vasudevamrta-prada, meaning
"one who delivered nectar to the leper Vasudeva."
TEXT 1
TEXT
dhanyam tam naumi caitanyam
vasudevam dayardrah-dhi
nasta-kustham rupa-pustam
bhakti-tustam
cakara yah
SYNONYMS
dhanyam--auspicious; tam--unto Him; naumi--I offer obeisances;
caitanyam--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vasudevam--unto the brahmana Vasudeva;
daya-ardrah-dhi--being compassionate; nasta-kustham--cured the leprosy;
rupa-pustam--beautiful; bhakti-tustam--satisfied in devotional service;
cakara--made; yah--the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, being very compassionate toward a brahmana
named Vasudeva, cured him of leprosy. He transformed him into a beautiful man
satisfied with devotional service. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the
glorious Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 2
TEXT
jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda
jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya--all glories; sri-caitanya--to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
jaya--all glories; nityananda--to Lord Nityananda Prabhu; jaya
advaita-candra--all glories to Advaita Acarya; jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda--all
glories to the devotees of Lord Caitanya.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityananda
Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Acarya! And all glories to the devotees of Lord
Caitanya!
TEXT 3
TEXT
ei-mate sarvabhaumera nistara karila
daksina-gamane prabhura iccha upajila
SYNONYMS
ei-mate--in this way; sarvabhaumera--of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya;
nistara--the liberation; karila--was executed; daksina-gamane--in going to
South India; prabhura--of the Lord; iccha--a desire; upajila--arose.
TRANSLATION
After delivering Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, the Lord desired to go to
South India to preach.
TEXT 4
TEXT
magha-sukla-pakse prabhu karila sannyasa
phalgune asiya kaila nilacale vasa
SYNONYMS
magha-sukla-pakse--in the waxing fortnight of the month of Magha; prabhu--the
Lord; karila--accepted; sannyasa--the renounced order of life; phalgune--in the
next month, Phalguna; asiya--coming; kaila--did; nilacale--at Jagannatha Puri;
vasa--residence.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the renounced order during the waxing
fortnight of the month of Magha. During the following month, Phalguna, He went
to Jagannatha Puri and resided there.
TEXT 5
TEXT
phalgunera
sese dola-yatra se dekhila
premavese tanha bahu nrtya-gita kaila
SYNONYMS
phalgunera--of the month of Phalguna; sese--at the end; dola-yatra--the
Dola-yatra festival; se--that; dekhila--saw; prema-avese--in the ecstasy of
love of Godhead; tanha--there; bahu--much; nrtya-gita--chanting and dancing;
kaila--performed.
TRANSLATION
At the end of the month of Phalguna, He witnessed the Dola-yatra
ceremony, and in His usual ecstatic love of God, He chanted and danced in
various ways on the occasion.
TEXT 6
TEXT
caitre rahi' kaila sarvabhauma-vimocana
vaisakhera prathame daksina yaite haila mana
SYNONYMS
caitre--in the month of Caitra (March-April); rahi'--residing there;
kaila--did; sarvabhauma-vimocana--liberation of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya;
vaisakhera--of the month of Vaisakha; prathame--in the beginning; daksina--to
South India; yaite--to go; haila--it was; mana--the mind.
TRANSLATION
During the month of Caitra, while living at Jagannatha Puri, the Lord
delivered Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, and in the beginning of the next month
(Vaisakha), He decided to go to South India.
TEXTS 7-8
TEXT
nija-gana ani' kahe vinaya kariya
alingana kari' sabaya sri-haste dhariya
toma-saba jani ami pranadhika kari'
prana chada yaya, toma-saba chadite na pari
SYNONYMS
nija-gana ani'--calling all the devotees; kahe--said;
vinaya--humbleness; kariya--showing; alingana kari'--embracing; sabaya--all of
them; sri-haste--with His hands; dhariya--catching them; toma-saba--all of you;
jani--I know; ami--I; prana-adhika--more than My life; kari'--taking; prana
chada--giving up life; yaya--is possible; toma-saba--all of you; chadite--to
give up; na pari--I am not able.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu called all His devotees together and, holding
them by the hand, humbly informed them, "You are all more dear to Me than
My life. I can give up My life, but to give up you is difficult for Me.
TEXT 9
TEXT
tumi-saba bandhu mora bandhu-krtya kaile
ihan ani' more jagannatha dekhaile
SYNONYMS
tumi-saba--all of you; bandhu--friends; mora--My; bandhu-krtya--duties
of a friend; kaile--you have executed; ihan--here; ani'--bringing; more--to Me;
jagannatha--Lord Jagannatha; dekhaile--you have shown.
TRANSLATION
"You are all My friends, and you have properly executed the duties
of friends by bringing Me here to Jagannatha Puri and giving Me the chance to
see Lord Jagannatha in the temple.
TEXT 10
TEXT
ebe saba-sthane muni magon eka dane
sabe meli' ajna deha, yaiba daksine
SYNONYMS
ebe--now; saba-sthane--from all of you; muni--I; magon--beg; eka
dane--one gift; sabe meli'--all combining together; ajna deha--give permission;
yaiba--I shall go; daksine--to South India.
TRANSLATION
"I now beg all of you for one bit of charity. Please give Me
permission to leave for a tour of South India.
TEXT 11
TEXT
visvarupa-uddese avasya ami yaba
ekaki yaiba, kaho sange na la-iba
SYNONYMS
visvarupa-uddese--to find Visvarupa; avasya--certainly; ami--I;
yaba--shall go; ekaki--alone; yaiba--I shall go; kaho--someone; sange--in
association; na--not; la-iba--I shall take.
TRANSLATION
"I shall go to search out Visvarupa. Please forgive Me, but I want
to go alone; I do not wish to take anyone with Me.
TEXT 12
TEXT
setubandha haite ami na asi yavat
nilacale tumi saba rahibe tavat
SYNONYMS
setubandha--the extreme southern point of India; haite--from; ami--I;
na--not; asi--returning; yavat--as long as; nilacale--in Jagannatha Puri;
tumi--you; saba--all; rahibe--should stay; tavat--that long.
TRANSLATION
"Until I return from Setubandha, all of you dear friends should
remain at Jagannatha Puri."
TEXT 13
TEXT
visvarupa-siddhi-prapti janena sakala
daksina-desa uddharite karena ei chala
SYNONYMS
visvarupa--of Visvarupa; siddhi--of perfection; prapti--achievement;
janena--the Lord knows; sakala--everything; daksina-desa--South India; uddharite--just
to liberate; karena--makes; ei--this; chala--pretense.
TRANSLATION
Knowing everything, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was aware that Visvarupa had
already passed away. A pretense of ignorance was necessary, however, so that He
could go to South India and liberate the people there.
TEXT 14
TEXT
suniya sabara mane haila maha-duhkha
nihsabda ha-ila, sabara sukaila mukha
SYNONYMS
suniya--hearing this; sabara--of all the devotees; mane--in the minds;
haila--there was; maha-duhkha--great unhappiness; nihsabda--silent;
ha-ila--became; sabara--of everyone; sukaila--dried up; mukha--the faces.
TRANSLATION
Upon hearing this message from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, all the devotees
became very unhappy and remained silent with sullen faces.
TEXT 15
TEXT
nityananda-prabhu kahe,----"aiche kaiche haya
ekaki yaibe tumi, ke iha sahaya
SYNONYMS
nityananda-prabhu kahe--Lord Nityananda Prabhu replied; aiche kaiche
haya--how is this possible; ekaki--alone; yaibe--shall go; tumi--You; ke--who;
iha--this; sahaya--can tolerate.
TRANSLATION
Nityananda Prabhu then said, "How is it possible for You to go
alone? Who can tolerate this?
TEXT 16
TEXT
dui-eka sange caluka, na pada hatha-range
yare kaha sei dui caluk tomara sange
SYNONYMS
dui--two; eka--or one; sange--with You; caluka--let go; na--do not;
pada--fall; hatha-range--in the clutches of thieves and rogues; yare--whoever;
kaha--You say; sei--those; dui--two; caluk--let go; tomara--You; sange--along
with.
TRANSLATION
"Let one or two of us go with You; otherwise You may fall into the
clutches of thieves and rogues along the way. They may be whomever You like,
but two persons should go with You.
TEXT 17
TEXT
daksinera tirtha-patha ami saba jani
ami sange yai, prabhu, ajna deha tumi"
SYNONYMS
daksinera--of South India; tirtha-patha--the ways to different places of
pilgrimage; ami--I; saba--all; jani--know; ami--I; sange--with You; yai--go;
prabhu--O My Lord; ajna--order; deha--give; tumi--You.
TRANSLATION
"Indeed, I know all the paths to the different places of pilgrimage
in South India. Just order Me, and I shall go with You."
TEXT 18
TEXT
prabhu kahe, "ami----nartaka, tumi----sutra-dhara
tumi yaiche nacao, taiche nartana amara
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--the Lord replied; ami--I; nartaka--a dancer; tumi--You;
sutra-dhara--wire-puller; tumi--You; yaiche--just as; nacao--make dance;
taiche--in that way; nartana--dancing; amara--My.
TRANSLATION
The Lord replied, "I am simply a dancer, and You are the
wire-puller. However You pull the wires to make Me dance, I shall dance in that
way.
TEXT 19
TEXT
sannyasa kariya ami calilan vrndavana
tumi ama lana aile advaita-bhavana
SYNONYMS
sannyasa kariya--after accepting the renounced order; ami--I;
calilan--went; vrndavana--toward Vrndavana; tumi--You; ama--Me; lana--taking;
aile--went; advaita-bhavana--to the house of Advaita Prabhu.
TRANSLATION
"After accepting the sannyasa order, I decided to go to Vrndavana,
but You took Me instead to the house of Advaita Prabhu.
TEXT 20
TEXT
nilacala asite pathe bhangila mora danda
toma-sabara gadha-snehe amara karya-bhanga
SYNONYMS
nilacala--to Jagannatha Puri; asite--going there; pathe--on the road;
bhangila--You broke; mora--My; danda--sannyasa staff; toma-sabara--of all of
you; gadha-snehe--on account of the deep affection; amara--My;
karya-bhanga--disturbance of activities.
TRANSLATION
"While on the way to Jagannatha Puri, You broke My sannyasa staff.
I know that all of you have great affection for Me, but such things disturb My
activities.
TEXT 21
TEXT
jagadananda cahe ama visaya bhunjaite
yei kahe
sei bhaye cahiye karite
SYNONYMS
jagadananda--Jagadananda; cahe--wants; ama--Me; visaya--sense
gratification; bhunjaite--to cause to enjoy; yei kahe--whatever he says;
sei--that; bhaye--out of fear; cahiye--I want; karite--to do.
TRANSLATION
"Jagadananda wants Me to enjoy bodily sense gratification, and out
of fear I do whatever he tells Me.
TEXT 22
TEXT
kabhu yadi inhara
vakya kariye anyatha
krodhe tina dina more nahi kahe katha
SYNONYMS
kabhu--sometimes; yadi--if; inhara--of Jagadananda; vakya--the words;
kariye--I do; anyatha--other than; krodhe--in anger; tina dina--for three days;
more--to Me; nahi--not; kahe--speaks; katha--words.
TRANSLATION
"If I sometimes do something against his desire, out of anger he
will not talk to Me for three days.
TEXT 23
TEXT
mukunda hayena duhkhi dekhi' sannyasa-dharma
tinabare site snana, bhumite sayana
SYNONYMS
mukunda--Mukunda; hayena--becomes; duhkhi--unhappy; dekhi'--seeing;
sannyasa-dharma--My regulative principles in the renounced order;
tina-bare--three times; site--in the winter; snana--bath; bhumite--on the
ground; sayana--lying down.
TRANSLATION
"Being a sannyasi, I have a duty to lie down on the ground and take
a bath three times a day, even during the winter. But Mukunda becomes very
unhappy when he sees My severe austerities.
TEXT 24
TEXT
antare duhkhi mukunda, nahi kahe mukhe
ihara duhkha dekhi' mora dvi-guna haye duhkhe
SYNONYMS
antare--within himself; duhkhi--unhappy; mukunda--Mukunda; nahi--not;
kahe--says; mukhe--in the mouth; ihara--of him; duhkha--the unhappiness;
dekhi'--seeing; mora--My; dvi-guna--twice; haye--there is; duhkhe--the
unhappiness.
TRANSLATION
"Of course, Mukunda does not say anything, but I know that he is
very unhappy within, and upon seeing him unhappy, I become twice as unhappy.
TEXT 25
TEXT
ami ta'----sannyasi, damodara----brahmacari
sada rahe amara upara siksa-danda dhari'
SYNONYMS
ami ta'--I indeed; sannyasi--in the renounced order of life;
damodara--of the name Damodara; brahmacari--in a stage of complete celibacy;
sada--always; rahe--remains; amara upara--on Me; siksa-danda--a stick for My
education; dhari'--keeping.
TRANSLATION
"Although I am in the renounced order of life and Damodara is a
brahmacari, he still keeps a stick in his hand just to educate Me.
TEXT 26
TEXT
inhara age ami na jani vyavahara
inhare na bhaya svatantra caritra amara
SYNONYMS
inhara age--in front of him; ami--I; na--not; jani--know; vyavahara--social
etiquette; inhare--for him; na--not; bhaya--exists; svatantra--independent;
caritra--character; amara--My.
TRANSLATION
"According to Damodara, I am still a neophyte as far as social
etiquette is concerned; therefore he does not like My independent nature.
TEXT 27
TEXT
lokapeksa nahi inhara krsna-krpa haite
ami lokapeksa kabhu na pari chadite
SYNONYMS
loka-apeksa--care for society; nahi--there is none; inhara--of Damodara;
krsna-krpa--the mercy of the Lord; haite--from; ami--I; loka-apeksa--dependence
on public opinion; kabhu--at any time; na--not; pari--able; chadite--to give
up.
TRANSLATION
"Damodara Pandita and others are more advanced in receiving the
mercy of Lord Krsna; therefore they are independent of public opinion. As such,
they want Me to enjoy sense gratification, even though it be unethical. But
since I am a poor sannyasi, I cannot abandon the duties of the renounced order,
and therefore I follow them strictly.
PURPORT
A brahmacari is supposed to assist a sannyasi; therefore a brahmacari
should not try to instruct a sannyasi. That is the etiquette. Consequently
Damodara should not have advised Caitanya Mahaprabhu of His duty.
TEXT 28
TEXT
ataeva tumi saba raha nilacale
dina kata ami
tirtha bhramiba ekale"
SYNONYMS
ataeva--therefore; tumi--you; saba--all; raha--remain; nilacale--at
Jagannatha Puri; dina--days; kata--some; ami--I; tirtha--the sacred places of
pilgrimage; bhramiba--I shall tour; ekale--alone.
TRANSLATION
"You should all therefore remain here in Nilacala for some days
while I tour the sacred places of pilgrimage alone."
TEXT 29
TEXT
inha-sabara vasa prabhu haye ye ye gune
dosaropa-cchale kare guna asvadane
SYNONYMS
inha-sabara--of all the devotees; vasa--controlled; prabhu--the Lord;
haye--is; ye ye--whatever; gune--by the qualities; dosa-aropa-chale--on the
plea of attributing faults; kare--does; guna--high qualities;
asvadane--tasting.
TRANSLATION
Actually the Lord was controlled by the good qualities of all His
devotees. On the pretense of attributing faults, He tasted all these qualities.
PURPORT
All the accusations made by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu against His beloved
devotees actually showed His great appreciation of their intense love for Him.
Yet He mentioned these faults one after another as if He were offended by their
intense affection. The personal associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sometimes
behaved contrary to regulative principles out of intense love for the Lord, and
because of their love Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself sometimes violated the
regulative principles of a sannyasi. In the eyes of the public, such violations
are not good, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was so controlled by His devotees'
love that He was obliged to break some of the rules. Although accusing them,
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was indirectly indicating that He was very satisfied
with their behavior in pure love of Godhead. Therefore in verse 27 He mentions
that His devotees and associates place more importance on love of Krsna than on
social etiquette. There are many instances of devotional service rendered by
previous acaryas who did not care about social behavior when intensely absorbed
in love for Krsna. Unfortunately, as long as we are within this material world,
we must observe social customs to avoid criticism by the general populace. This
is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's desire.
TEXT 30
TEXT
caitanyera bhakta-vatsalya----akathya-kathana
apane vairagya-duhkha karena sahana
SYNONYMS
caitanyera--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhakta-vatsalya--the love
for His devotees; akathya-kathana--indescribable by words; apane--personally;
vairagya--of the renounced order; duhkha--unhappiness; karena--does;
sahana--toleration.
TRANSLATION
No one can properly describe Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's affection
for His devotees. He always tolerated all kinds of personal unhappiness
resulting from His acceptance of the renounced order of life.
TEXT 31
TEXT
sei duhkha dekhi' yei bhakta duhkha paya
sei duhkha tanra saktye sahana na yaya
SYNONYMS
sei duhkha--that unhappiness; dekhi'--seeing; yei--whatever; bhakta--the
devotees; duhkha--unhappiness; paya--get; sei duhkha--that unhappiness;
tanra--His; saktye--by the power; sahana--toleration; na--not; yaya--possible.
TRANSLATION
The regulative principles observed by Caitanya Mahaprabhu were sometimes
intolerable, and all the devotees became greatly affected by them. Although
strictly observing the regulative principles, Caitanya Mahaprabhu could not
tolerate the unhappiness felt by His devotees.
TEXT 32
TEXT
gune dosodgara-cchale saba nisedhiya
ekaki bhramibena tirtha vairagya kariya
SYNONYMS
gune--in the good qualities; dosa-udgara-chale--on the plea of
attributing faults; saba--all of them; nisedhiya--forbidding; ekaki--alone;
bhramibena--will tour; tirtha--the sacred places of pilgrimage;
vairagya--regulative principles of the renounced order of life;
kariya--observing.
TRANSLATION
Therefore, to prevent them from accompanying Him and becoming unhappy,
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu declared their good qualities to be faults.
PURPORT
The Lord wanted to tour all the places of pilgrimage alone and strictly
observe the duties of the renounced order.
TEXT 33
TEXT
tabe cari-jana bahu minati karila
svatantra isvara prabhu kabhu na manila
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; cari-jana--four men; bahu--many; minati--petitions;
karila--submitted; svatantra--independent; isvara--the Supreme Personality of
Godhead; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kabhu--at any time; na--not;
manila--accepted.
TRANSLATION
Four devotees then humbly insisted that they go with the Lord, but Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, being the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead, did
not accept their request.
TEXT 34
TEXT
tabe nityananda kahe,----ye ajna tomara
duhkha sukha ye ha-uk kartavya amara
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereupon; nityananda--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; kahe--says; ye
ajna--whatever order; tomara--Your; duhkha sukha--distress or happiness;
ye--whatever; ha-uk--let there be; kartavya--the duty; amara--My.
TRANSLATION
Thereupon Lord Nityananda said, "Whatever You order is My duty,
regardless of whether it results in happiness or unhappiness.
TEXT 35
TEXT
kintu eka nivedana karon ara bara
vicara kariya taha kara angikara
SYNONYMS
kintu--but; eka--one; nivedana--petition; karon--I do; ara bara--again;
vicara--consideration; kariya--giving; taha--that; kara--do;
angikara--acceptance.
TRANSLATION
"Yet I still submit one petition to You. Please consider it, and if
You think it proper, please accept it.
TEXT 36
TEXT
kaupina, bahir-vasa ara jala-patra
ara kichu nahi yabe, sabe ei matra
SYNONYMS
kaupina--loincloth; bahir-vasa--outer garments; ara--and;
jala-patra--waterpot; ara kichu--anything else; nahi--not; yabe--will go;
sabe--all; ei--this; matra--only.
TRANSLATION
"You must take with You a loincloth, external clothes and a
waterpot. You should take nothing more than this.
TEXT 37
TEXT
tomara dui hasta baddha nama-ganane
jala-patra-bahirvasa vahibe kemane
SYNONYMS
tomara--Your; dui--two; hasta--hands; baddha--engaged; nama--the holy
name; ganane--in counting; jala-patra--waterpot; bahir-vasa--external garments;
vahibe--will carry; kemane--how.
TRANSLATION
"Since Your two hands will always be engaged in chanting and
counting the holy names, how will You be able to carry the waterpot and
external garments?
PURPORT
From this verse it is clear that Caitanya Mahaprabhu was chanting the
holy names a fixed number of times daily. The Gosvamis used to follow in the
footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and Haridasa Thakura also followed this
principle. Concerning the Gosvamis--Srila Rupa Gosvami, Srila Sanatana Gosvami,
Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Srila Jiva Gosvami, Srila Gopala Bhatta
Gosvami and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami--Srinivasa Acarya confirms:
sankhya-purvaka-nama-gana-natibhih. (Sad-gosvamy-astaka 6) In addition to other
duties, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the system of chanting the holy name
of the Lord a fixed number of times daily, as confirmed in this verse (tomara
dui hasta baddha nama-ganane). Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to count on His
fingers. While one hand was engaged in chanting, the other hand kept the number
of rounds. This is corroborated in the Caitanya-candramrta and also in Srila
Rupa Gosvami's Stava-mala:
badhnan prema-bhara-prakampita-karo granthin kati-dorakaih
sankhyatum nija-loka-mangala-hare-krsneti namnam japan
(Caitanya-candramrta 16)
hare krsnety uccaih sphurita-rasano nama-ganana-
krta-granthi-sreni-subhaga-kati-sutrojjvala-karah
(Prathama-Caitanyastaka
5)
Therefore devotees in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu must chant at
least sixteen rounds daily, and this is the number prescribed by the
International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Haridasa Thakura daily chanted
300,000 names. Sixteen rounds is about 28,000 names. There is no need to
imitate Haridasa Thakura or the other Gosvamis, but chanting the holy name a
fixed number of times daily is essential for every devotee.
TEXT 38
TEXT
premavese pathe tumi habe acetana
e-saba samagri tomara ke kare raksana
SYNONYMS
prema-avese--in ecstatic love of God; pathe--on the way; tumi--You;
habe--will be; acetana--unconscious; e-saba--all this; samagri--paraphernalia;
tomara--Your; ke--who; kare--does; raksana--protection.
TRANSLATION
"When, along the way, You fall unconscious in ecstatic love of
Godhead, who will protect Your belongings--the waterpot, garments and so
forth?"
TEXT 39
TEXT
'krsnadasa'-name ei sarala brahmana
inho sange kari' laha, dhara nivedana
SYNONYMS
krsnadasa-name--named Krsnadasa; ei--this; sarala--simple;
brahmana--brahmana; inho--he; sange--with You; kari'--accepting; laha--take;
dhara--just catch; nivedana--the petition.
TRANSLATION
Sri Nityananda Prabhu continued, "Here is a simple brahmana named
Krsnadasa. Please accept him and take him with You. That is My request.
PURPORT
This Krsnadasa, known as Kala Krsnadasa, is not the Kala Krsnadasa
mentioned in the Eleventh Chapter, verse 37, of the Adi-lila. The Kala
Krsnadasa mentioned in the Eleventh Chapter is one of the twelve gopalas
(cowherd boys) who appeared to substantiate the pastimes of Lord Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. He is known as a great devotee of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. The
brahmana named Kala Krsnadasa who went with Sri Caitanya to South India and
later to Bengal is mentioned in the Madhya-lila, Tenth Chapter, verses 62-79.
One should not take these two to be the same person.
TEXT 40
TEXT
jala-patra-vastra vahi' toma-sange yabe
ye tomara iccha, kara, kichu na balibe
SYNONYMS
jala-patra--waterpot; vastra--and garments; vahi'--carrying;
toma-sange--with You; yabe--will go; ye--whatever; tomara iccha--Your desire;
kara--You do; kichu na balibe--he will not say anything.
TRANSLATION
"He will carry Your waterpot and garments. You may do whatever You
like; he will not say a word."
TEXT 41
TEXT
tabe tanra vakya prabhu kari' angikare
taha-saba lana gela sarvabhauma-ghare
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereupon; tanra--of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; vakya--the words;
prabhu--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kari'--doing; angikare--acceptance;
taha-saba--all of them; lana--taking; gela--went; sarvabhauma-ghare--to the
house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.
TRANSLATION
Accepting the request of Lord Nityananda Prabhu, Lord Caitanya took all
His devotees and went to the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.
TEXT 42
TEXT
namaskari' sarvabhauma asana nivedila
sabakare mili' tabe asane vasila
SYNONYMS
namaskari'--offering obeisances; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya;
asana--sitting places; nivedila--offered; sabakare--all of them;
mili'--meeting; tabe--after that; asane vasila--he took his seat.
TRANSLATION
As soon as they entered his house, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya offered the
Lord obeisances and a place to sit. After seating all the others, the
Bhattacarya took his seat.
TEXT 43
TEXT
nana krsna-varta kahi' kahila tanhare
'tomara thani ailan ajna magibare
SYNONYMS
nana--various; krsna-varta--topics on Lord Krsna; kahi'--discussing;
kahila--He informed; tanhare--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; tomara thani--to your
place; ailan--I have come; ajna--order; magibare--to beg.
TRANSLATION
After they had discussed various
topics about Lord Krsna, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu informed Sarvabhauma
Bhattacarya, "I have come to your place just to receive your order.
TEXT 44
TEXT
sannyasa kari'
visvarupa giyache daksine
avasya kariba ami tanra anvesane
SYNONYMS
sannyasa kari'--after accepting the sannyasa order; visvarupa--Visvarupa
(the elder brother of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu); giyache--has gone; daksine--to
South India; avasya--certainly; kariba--shall do; ami--I; tanra--of Him;
anvesane--searching for.
TRANSLATION
"My elder brother, Visvarupa, has taken sannyasa and gone to South India.
Now I must go search for Him.
TEXT 45
TEXT
ajna deha, avasya ami daksine caliba
tomara ajnate sukhe leuti' asiba'
SYNONYMS
ajna deha--please give permission; avasya--certainly; ami--I;
daksine--in South India; caliba--shall go; tomara--your; ajnate--by the order;
sukhe--in happiness; leuti'--returning; asiba--I shall come.
TRANSLATION
"Please permit Me to go, for I must tour South India. With your
permission, I shall soon return very happily."
TEXT 46
TEXT
suni' sarvabhauma haila atyanta katara
carane dhariya kahe
visada-uttara
SYNONYMS
suni'--hearing this; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya;
haila--became; atyanta--greatly; katara--agitated; carane--the lotus feet;
dhariya--taking; kahe--says; visada--of lamentation; uttara--a reply.
TRANSLATION
Upon hearing this, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya became very agitated.
Catching hold of the lotus feet of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he gave this sorrowful
reply.
TEXT 47
TEXT
'bahu-janmera punya-phale painu tomara sanga
hena-sanga vidhi mora karileka bhanga
SYNONYMS
bahu-janmera--of many births; punya-phale--as the fruit of pious
activities; painu--I got; tomara--Your; sanga--association; hena-sanga--such
association; vidhi--providence; mora--my; karileka--has done; bhanga--breaking.
TRANSLATION
"After many births, due to some pious activity I got Your
association. Now providence is breaking this invaluable association.
TEXT 48
TEXT
sire vajra pade yadi, putra mari' yaya
taha sahi, tomara viccheda sahana na yaya
SYNONYMS
sire--on the head; vajra--a thunderbolt; pade--falls; yadi--if;
putra--son; mari'--dying; yaya--goes; taha--that; sahi--I can tolerate;
tomara--Your; viccheda--separation; sahana--enduring; na yaya--cannot be done.
TRANSLATION
"If a thunderbolt falls on my head or if my son dies, I can
tolerate it. But I cannot endure the unhappiness of Your separation.
TEXT 49
TEXT
svatantra-isvara tumi karibe gamana
dina katho raha, dekhi tomara carana'
SYNONYMS
svatantra-isvara--the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead; tumi--You;
karibe--will make; gamana--departure; dina--days; katho--some; raha--please
stay; dekhi--I may see; tomara carana--Your lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Lord, You are the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Certainly You will depart. I know that. Still, I ask You to stay here a few
days more so that I can see Your lotus feet."
TEXT 50
TEXT
tahara vinaye prabhura sithila haila mana
rahila divasa katho, na kaila gamana
SYNONYMS
tahara--of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; vinaye--on the request; prabhura--of
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sithila--slackened; haila--became; mana--the mind;
rahila--stayed; divasa--days; katho--a few; na--not; kaila--did;
gamana--departure.
TRANSLATION
Upon hearing Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya's request, Caitanya Mahaprabhu
relented. He stayed a few days longer and did not depart.
TEXT 51
TEXT
bhattacarya agraha kari' karena nimantrana
grhe paka kari' prabhuke kara'na bhojana
SYNONYMS
bhattacarya--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; agraha--eagerness; kari'--showing;
karena--did; nimantrana--invitation; grhe--at home; paka--cooking;
kari'--doing; prabhuke--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kara'na--made;
bhojana--eating.
TRANSLATION
The Bhattacarya eagerly invited
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his home and fed Him very nicely.
TEXT 52
TEXT
tanhara brahmani, tanra nama----'sathira mata'
randhi' bhiksa dena tenho, ascarya tanra katha
SYNONYMS
tanhara brahmani--his wife; tanra nama--her name; sathira mata--the
mother of Sathi; randhi'--cooking; bhiksa dena--offers food; tenho--she;
ascarya--wonderful; tanra--her; katha--narration.
TRANSLATION
The Bhattacarya's wife, whose name was Sathimata (the mother of Sathi),
did the cooking. The narrations of these pastimes are very wonderful.
TEXT 53
TEXT
age ta' kahiba taha kariya vistara
ebe kahi prabhura daksina-yatra-samacara
SYNONYMS
age--later; ta'--indeed; kahiba--I shall speak; taha--all those
incidents; kariya--doing; vistara--elaboration; ebe--now; kahi--let me
describe; prabhura--of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; daksina--in South India;
yatra--of the touring; samacara--the narration.
TRANSLATION
Later I shall tell about this in elaborate detail, but at present I wish
to describe Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's South Indian tour.
TEXT 54
TEXT
dina panca rahi' prabhu bhattacarya-sthane
calibara
lagi' ajna magila apane
SYNONYMS
dina panca--five days; rahi'--staying; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; bhattacarya-sthane--at Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya's place; calibara
lagi'--for starting; ajna--order; magila--begged; apane--personally.
TRANSLATION
After staying five days at the home of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally asked his permission to depart for South India.
TEXT 55
TEXT
prabhura agrahe bhattacarya sammata ha-ila
prabhu tanre lana jagannatha-mandire gela
SYNONYMS
prabhura agrahe--by the eagerness of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
bhattacarya--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; sammata ha-ila--became agreeable;
prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--him (Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya);
lana--taking; jagannatha-mandire--to the temple of Lord Jagannatha; gela--went.
TRANSLATION
After receiving the Bhattacarya's permission, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu
went to see Lord Jagannatha in the temple. He took the Bhattacarya with Him.
TEXT 56
TEXT
darsana kari' thakura-pasa ajna magila
pujari prabhure mala-prasada ani' dila
SYNONYMS
darsana kari'--visiting the Lord; thakura-pasa--from the Lord; ajna
magila--begged permission; pujari--the priest; prabhure--unto Lord Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; mala--garland; prasada--remnants of food; ani'--bringing;
dila--delivered.
TRANSLATION
Seeing Lord Jagannatha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also begged His permission.
The priest then immediately delivered prasada and a garland to Lord Caitanya.
TEXT 57
TEXT
ajna-mala pana harse namaskara kari'
anande daksina-dese cale gaurahari
SYNONYMS
ajna-mala--the garland of permission; pana--getting; harse--in great
jubilation; namaskara--obeisances; kari'--offering; anande--with great
pleasure; daksina-dese--to South India; cale--goes; gaurahari--Lord Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
Thus receiving Lord Jagannatha's permission in the form of a garland,
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu offered obeisances, and then in great jubilation He
prepared to depart for South India.
TEXT 58
TEXT
bhattacarya-sange ara yata nija-gana
jagannatha pradaksina kari' karila gamana
SYNONYMS
bhattacarya-sange--with Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; ara--and; yata--all;
nija-gana--personal devotees; jagannatha--Lord Jagannatha;
pradaksina--circumambulation; kari'--finishing; karila--made;
gamana--departure.
TRANSLATION
Accompanied by His personal associates and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu circumambulated the altar of Jagannatha. The Lord then
departed on His South Indian tour.
TEXT 59
TEXT
samudra-tire tire
alalanatha-pathe
sarvabhauma kahilena acarya-gopinathe
SYNONYMS
samudra-tire--on the shore of the sea; tire--on the shore;
alalanatha-pathe--on the path to the temple of Alalanatha;
sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; kahilena--said; acarya-gopinathe--to
Gopinatha Acarya.
TRANSLATION
While the Lord was going along the path to Alalanatha, which was located
on the seashore, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya gave the following orders to Gopinatha
Acarya.
TEXT 60
TEXT
cari kopina-bahirvasa rakhiyachi ghare
taha, prasadanna, lana aisa vipra-dvare
SYNONYMS
cari kopina-bahirvasa--four sets of loincloths and external clothing;
rakhiyachi--I have kept; ghare--at home; taha--that; prasada-anna--remnants of
food of Lord Jagannatha; lana--taking; aisa--come here; vipra-dvare--by means
of some brahmana.
TRANSLATION
"Bring the four sets of loincloths and outer garments I keep at
home, and also some prasada of Lord Jagannatha's. You may carry these things
with the help of some brahmana."
TEXT 61
TEXT
tabe sarvabhauma kahe prabhura carane
avasya palibe, prabhu, mora nivedane
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; kahe--said;
prabhura carane--unto the lotus feet of the Lord; avasya--certainly;
palibe--You will keep; prabhu--my Lord; mora--my; nivedane--request.
TRANSLATION
While Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was departing, Sarvabhauma
Bhattacarya submitted the following at His lotus feet, "My Lord, I have
one final request that I hope You will kindly fulfill.
TEXT 62
TEXT
'ramananda raya' ache godavari-tire
adhikari hayena tenho vidyanagare
SYNONYMS
ramananda raya--Ramananda Raya; ache--there is; godavari-tire--on the
bank of river Godavari; adhikari--a responsible officer; hayena--is; tenho--he;
vidya-nagare--in the town known as Vidyanagara.
TRANSLATION
"In the town of Vidyanagara, on the bank of the Godavari, there is
a responsible government officer named Ramananda Raya.
PURPORT
In his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, Bhaktivinoda Thakura states that
Vidyanagara is today known as Porbandar. There is another Porbandar in western
India in the province of Gujarat.
TEXT 63
TEXT
sudra visayi-jnane upeksa na karibe
amara vacane tanre avasya milibe
SYNONYMS
sudra--the fourth social division; visayi-jnane--by the impression of
being a worldly man; upeksa--negligence; na karibe--should not do; amara--my;
vacane--on the request; tanre--him; avasya--certainly; milibe--You shouid meet.
TRANSLATION
"Please do not neglect him, thinking he belongs to a sudra family
engaged in material activities. It is my request that You meet him without
fail."
PURPORT
In the varnasrama-dharma, the sudra is the fourth division in the social
status. Paricaryatmakam karma sudrasyapi svabhava-jam (Bg. 18.44). Sudras are
meant to engage in the service of the three higher classes--brahmanas,
ksatriyas and vaisyas. Sri Ramananda Raya belonged to the karana class, which
is the equivalent of the kayastha class in Bengal. This class is regarded all
over India as sudra. It is said that the Bengali kayasthas were originally
engaged as servants of brahmanas who came from North India to Bengal. Later,
the clerical class became the kayasthas in Bengal. Now there are many mixed
classes known as kayastha. Sometimes it is said in Bengal that those who cannot
claim any particular class belong to the kayastha class. Although these
kayasthas or karanas are considered sudras, they are very intelligent and
highly educated. Most of them are professionals such as lawyers or politicians.
Thus in Bengal the kayasthas are sometimes considered ksatriyas. In Orissa,
however, the kayastha class, which includes the karanas, is considered in the
sudra category. Srila Ramananda Raya belonged to this karana class; therefore
he was considered a sudra. He was also the governor of South India under the
regime of Maharaja Prataparudra of Orissa. In other words, Sarvabhauma
Bhattacarya informed Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu that Ramananda Raya, although
belonging to the sudra class, was a highly responsible government officer. As
far as spiritual advancement is concerned, materialists, politicians and sudras
are generally disqualified. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya therefore requested that
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu not neglect Ramananda Raya, who was highly advanced
spiritually although he was born a sudra and a materialist.
A visayi is one who is attached to family life and is interested only in
wife, children and worldly sense gratification. The senses can be engaged
either in worldly enjoyment or in the service of the Lord. Those who are not
engaged in the service of the Lord and are interested only in material sense
gratification are called visayi. Srila Ramananda Raya was engaged in government
service, and he belonged to the karana class. He was certainly not a sannyasi
in saffron cloth, yet he was in the transcendental position of a paramahamsa
householder. Before becoming Caitanya Mahaprabhu's disciple, Sarvabhauma
Bhattacarya considered Ramananda Raya an ordinary visayi because he was a
householder engaged in government service. However, when the Bhattacarya was
actually enlightened in Vaisnava philosophy, he could understand the exalted
transcendental position of Sri Ramananda Raya; therefore he referred to him as
adhikari. An adhikari is one who knows the transcendental science of Krsna and
is engaged in His service; therefore all grhastha devotees are designated as
dasa adhikari.
TEXT 64
TEXT
tomara sangera yogya tenho eka jana
prthivite rasika bhakta nahi tanra sama
SYNONYMS
tomara--Your; sangera--of association; yogya--fit; tenho--he (Ramananda
Raya); eka--one; jana--person; prthivite--in the world; rasika--expert in
transcendental mellows; bhakta--devotee; nahi--there is none; tanra sama--like
him.
TRANSLATION
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya continued, "Ramananda Raya is a fit person
to associate with You; no other devotee can compare with him in knowledge of
the transcendental mellows.
TEXT 65
TEXT
panditya ara bhakti-rasa,----dunhera tenho sima
sambhasile janibe tumi tanhara mahima
SYNONYMS
panditya--learning; ara--and; bhakti-rasa--the mellows of devotional
service; dunhera--of these two; tenho--he; sima--the limit; sambhasile--when
You talk with him; janibe--will know; tumi--You; tanhara--his; mahima--glories.
TRANSLATION
"He is a most learned scholar as well as an expert in devotional
mellows. Actually he is most exalted, and if You talk with him, You will see
how glorious he is.
TEXT 66
TEXT
alaukika vakya cesta tanra na bujhiya
parihasa kariyachi tanre 'vaisnava' baliya
SYNONYMS
alaukika--uncommon; vakya--words; cesta--endeavor; tanra--his; na--without;
bujhiya--understanding; parihasa--joking; kariyachi--I have done; tanre--unto
him; vaisnava--a devotee of the Lord; baliya--as.
TRANSLATION
"I could not realize when I first spoke with Ramananda Raya that
his topics and endeavors were all transcendentally uncommon. I made fun of him
simply because he was a Vaisnava."
PURPORT
Anyone who is a not a Vaisnava, or an unalloyed devotee of the Supreme
Lord, must be a materialist. A Vaisnava living according to Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu's injunctions is certainly not on the materialistic platform.
Caitanya means "spiritual force." All of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's
activities were carried out on the platform of spiritual understanding; therefore
only those who are on the spiritual platform are able to understand the
activities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Materialistic persons who cannot are
generally known as karmis or jnanis. The jnanis are mental speculators who
simply try to understand what is spirit and what is soul. Their process is neti
neti: "This is not spirit, this is not Brahman." The jnanis are a
little more advanced than the dull-headed karmis, who are simply interested in
sense gratification. Before becoming a Vaisnava, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was a
mental speculator (jnani), and being such, he always cut jokes with Vaisnavas.
A Vaisnava never agrees with the speculative system of the jnanis. Both the
jnanis and karmis depend on direct sense perception for their imperfect knowledge.
The karmis never agree to accept anything not directly perceived, and the
jnanis put forth only hypotheses. However, the Vaisnavas, the unalloyed
devotees of the Lord, do not follow the process of acquiring knowledge by
direct sense perception or mental speculation. Because they are servants of the
Supreme Lord, devotees receive knowledge directly from the Supreme Personality
of Godhead as He speaks it in the Bhagavad-gita, or sometimes as He imparts it
from within as the caitya-guru. As stated in the Bhagavad-gita (10.10):
tesam satata-yuktanam
bhajatam priti-purvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tam
yena mam upayanti te
"To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I
give the understanding by which they can come to Me." (Bg. 10.10)
The Vedas are considered to have been spoken by the Supreme Lord. They
were first realized by Brahma, who is the first created being within the
universe (tene brahma hrda ya adi-kavaye). Our process is to receive knowledge
through the parampara system, from Krsna to Brahma, to Narada, Vyasa, Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the six Gosvamis. By disciplic succession, Lord Brahma
was enlightened from within by the original person, Krsna. Our knowledge is
fully perfect due to being handed from master to disciple. A Vaisnava is always
engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and thus neither
karmis nor jnanis can understand the activities of a Vaisnava. It is said,
vaisnavera kriya-mudra vijneha na bujhaya: even the most learned man depending
on direct perception of knowledge cannot understand the activities of a
Vaisnava. After being initiated into Vaisnavism by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
Bhattacarya realized what a mistake he had made in trying to understand
Ramananda Raya, who was very learned and whose endeavors were all directed to
rendering transcendental loving service to the Lord.
TEXT 67
TEXT
tomara prasade ebe janinu tanra tattva
sambhasile janibe tanra yemana mahattva
SYNONYMS
tomara prasade--by Your mercy; ebe--now; janinu--I have understood;
tanra--of him (Ramananda Raya); tattva--the truth; sambhasile--in talking
together; janibe--You will know; tanra--his; yemana--such; mahattva--greatness.
TRANSLATION
The Bhattacarya said, "By Your mercy I can now understand the truth
about Ramananda Raya. In talking with him, You also will acknowledge his
greatness."
TEXT 68
TEXT
angikara kari' prabhu tanhara vacana
tanre vidaya dite tanre kaila alingana
SYNONYMS
angikara kari'--accepting this proposal; prabhu--Lord Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; tanhara--of him (Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya); vacana--the request;
tanre--unto him; vidaya dite--to offer farewell; tanre--him; kaila--did; alingana--embracing.
TRANSLATION
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya's request
that He meet Ramananda Raya. Bidding Sarvabhauma farewell, the Lord embraced
him.
TEXT 69
TEXT
"ghare krsna bhaji' more kariha asirvade
nilacale asi' yena tomara prasade"
SYNONYMS
ghare--at home; krsna--Lord Krsna; bhaji'--worshiping; more--unto Me;
kariha--do; asirvade--blessing; nilacale--at Jagannatha Puri; asi'--returning;
yena--so that; tomara--your; prasade--by the mercy.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked the Bhattacarya to bless Him while he engaged
in the devotional service of Lord Krsna at home, so that by Sarvabhauma's mercy
the Lord could return to Jagannatha Puri.
PURPORT
The word kariha asirvade means "continue to bestow your blessings
upon Me." Being a sannyasi, Caitanya Mahaprabhu was on the highest
platform of respect and adoration, whereas Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, as a
householder, was on the second platform. Therefore a sannyasi is supposed to
offer blessings to a grhastha. Now Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by His practical
behavior requested the blessings of a grhastha. This is the special
significance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's preaching. He gave equal status to
everyone, regardless of material considerations. His movement is thoroughly
spiritual. Although apparently a grhastha (householder), Sarvabhauma
Bhattacarya was unlike the so-called karmis interested in sense gratification.
After being initiated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Bhattacarya was perfectly
situated in the spiritual order; therefore it was quite possible for him to
offer blessings even to a sannyasi. He was always engaged in the service of the
Lord even at home. In our disciplic line we have the example of a perfect
householder paramahamsa--Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. In his book Saranagati,
Bhaktivinoda Thakura stated: ye-dina grhe, bhajana dekhi', grhete goloka bhaya
(Saranagati 31.6). Whenever a householder glorifies the Supreme Lord in his
home, his activities are immediately transformed into the activities of Goloka
Vrndavana, spiritual activities taking place in the Goloka Vrndavana planet of
Krsna. Activities exhibited by Krsna Himself at Bhauma Vrndavana, the
Vrndavana-dhama existing on this planet, are not different from His activities
on the planet Goloka Vrndavana. This is proper realization of Vrndavana
anywhere. In our Krsna consciousness movement we inaugurated the New Vrndavana
activities, wherein devotees are always engaged in the transcendental loving
service of the Lord, and this is not different from Goloka Vrndavana. The
conclusion is that one who acts strictly in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
is competent to offer blessings to sannyasis, even though he be a grhastha
householder. Although he is in an exalted position, a sannyasi yet must elevate
himself to the transcendental platform by rendering service to the Lord. By his
actual behavior, Caitanya Mahaprabhu begged the blessings of Sarvabhauma
Bhattacarya. He set the example of how one should expect blessings from a
Vaisnava, regardless of his social position.
TEXT 70
TEXT
eta bali' mahaprabhu karila gamana
murcchita hana tahan padila sarvabhauma
SYNONYMS
eta bali'--saying this; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
karila--made; gamana--departure; murcchita--fainted; hana--becoming;
tahan--there; padila--fell down; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.
TRANSLATION
Saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu departed on His tour, and
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya immediately fainted and fell to the ground.
TEXT 71
TEXT
tanre upeksiya kaila sighra gamana
ke bujhite pare mahaprabhura citta-mana
SYNONYMS
tanre--unto Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; upeksiya--not paying serious
attention; kaila--did; sighra--very fast; gamana--walking; ke--who; bujhite--to
understand; pare--is able; mahaprabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
citta-mana--the mind and intention.
TRANSLATION
Although Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya fainted, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did
not take notice of him. Rather, He left quickly. Who can understand the mind
and intention of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu?
PURPORT
It was naturally expected that when Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya fainted and
fell to the ground Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would have taken care of him and
waited for him to regain consciousness, but He did not do so. Rather, Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately started on His tour. It is therefore very
difficult to understand the activities of a transcendental person. Sometimes
they may seem rather odd, but a transcendental personality remains in his
position, unaffected by material considerations.
TEXT 72
TEXT
mahanubhavera cittera svabhava ei haya
puspa-sama komala, kathina vajra-maya
SYNONYMS
maha-anubhavera--of a great personality; cittera--of the mind;
svabhava--the nature; ei haya--this is; puspa-sama--like a flower;
komala--soft; kathina--hard; vajra-maya--like a thunderbolt.
TRANSLATION
This is the nature of the mind of an uncommon personality. Sometimes it
is soft like a flower, but sometimes it is as hard as a thunderbolt.
PURPORT
The softness of a flower and the hardness of a thunderbolt are
reconciled in the behavior of a great personality. The following quotation from
Uttara-rama-carita (2.7) explains this behavior. One may also consult
Madhya-lila, Third Chapter, verse 212.
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