How Pradyumna Miśra Received Instructions from Rāmānanda Rāya

Translation

I am infected by the germs of material activity and am suffering from the boils of envy. Therefore, falling in an ocean of humility, I take shelter of the great physician Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

vaiguṇya — of material activities ; kīṭa — by the germs ; kalitaḥ — bitten ; paiśunya — of envy ; vraṇa — from boils ; pīḍitaḥ — suffering ; dainya - arṇave — in the ocean of humility ; nimagnaḥ — merged ; aham — I ; caitanya - vaidyam — to the physician known as Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; āśraye — I surrender .

Translation

All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī! All glories to Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu! Indeed, He is the most glorious and merciful.

Word meanings

jaya jaya — all glories ; śacī - suta — to the son of mother Śacī ; śrī - kṛṣṇa - caitanya — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; jaya jaya — all glories ; kṛpā - maya — to the most merciful ; nityānanda dhanya — the glorious Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu .

Translation

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Advaita Prabhu, the ocean of mercy, and to all the devotees, such as Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī.

Word meanings

jaya advaita — all glories to Advaita Prabhu ; kṛpā - sindhu — the ocean of mercy ; jaya bhakta - gaṇa — all glories to the devotees ; jaya svarūpa — all glories to Svarūpa Dāmodara ; gadādhara — Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; rūpa — Rūpa Gosvāmī ; sanātana — Sanātana Gosvāmī .

Translation

One day Pradyumna Miśra came to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, offering his respects and inquiring from Him with great submission.

Word meanings

eka - dina — one day ; pradyumna - miśra — the devotee named Pradyumna Miśra ; prabhura caraṇe — at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; daṇḍavat kari’ — offering his respects ; kichu — something ; kare nivedane — submits as a petition .

Translation

“My Lord,” he said, “kindly hear me. I am a cripple-minded householder, the most fallen of men, but somehow, by my good fortune, I have received the shelter of Your lotus feet, which are rarely to be seen.

Word meanings

śuna — please hear ; prabhu — my Lord ; muñi — I ; dīna — very fallen ; gṛhastha — householder ; adhama — the lowest of men ; kona bhāgye — by some good fortune ; pāñāchoṅ — I have gotten ; tomāra — Your ; durlabha — rarely achieved ; caraṇa — lotus feet .

Translation

“I wish to hear topics concerning Lord Kṛṣṇa constantly. Be merciful unto me and kindly tell me something about Kṛṣṇa.”

Word meanings

kṛṣṇa - kathā — discussions on the subject of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; śunibāre — to hear ; mora — my ; icchā — desire ; haya — is ; kṛṣṇa - kathā — talks about Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa ; kaha — kindly speak ; more — unto me ; hañā — being ; sa - daya — kind .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “I do not know about topics concerning Lord Kṛṣṇa. I think that only Rāmānanda Rāya knows, for I hear these topics from him.

Word meanings

prabhu kahena — the Lord replied ; kṛṣṇa - kathā — talks about Lord Kṛṣṇa ; āmi — I ; nāhi jāni — do not know ; sabe — only ; rāmānanda jāne — Rāmānanda Rāya knows ; tāṅra mukhe — from his mouth ; śuni — I hear .

Translation

“It is your good fortune that you are inclined to hear topics regarding Kṛṣṇa. The best course for you would be to go to Rāmānanda Rāya and hear these topics from him.

Word meanings

bhāgye — by fortune ; tomāra — your ; kṛṣṇa - kathā — topics about Lord Kṛṣṇa ; śunite — to hear ; haya mana — there is an inclination ; rāmānanda - pāśa — to Rāmānanda Rāya ; yāi’ — going ; karaha śravaṇa — hear .

Translation

“I see that you have acquired a taste for hearing talks regarding Kṛṣṇa. Therefore you are extremely fortunate. Not only you but anyone who has awakened such a taste is considered most fortunate.

Word meanings

kṛṣṇa - kathāya — in talking of Kṛṣṇa ; ruci — taste ; tomāra — your ; baḍa bhāgyavān — very fortunate ; yāra — of whom ; kṛṣṇa - kathāya — in hearing about Kṛṣṇa ; ruci — taste ; sei bhāgyavān — he is very fortunate .

Translation

“ ‘A person who properly performs his regulative duties according to varṇa and āśrama but does not develop his dormant attachment for Kṛṣṇa or awaken his taste for hearing and chanting about Kṛṣṇa is certainly laboring fruitlessly.’ ”

Word meanings

dharmaḥ — execution of the system of varṇa and āśrama ; su - anuṣṭhitaḥ — properly executed ; puṁsām — of men ; viṣvaksena - kathāsu — in talks about Viṣvaksena, or Kṛṣṇa ; yaḥ — which ; na — not ; utpādayet — awakens ; yadi — if ; ratim — taste ; śramaḥ — labor ; eva — without doubt ; hi — certainly ; kevalam — only .

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.8) .

Translation

Pradyumna Miśra, being thus advised by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, went to the home of Rāmānanda Rāya. There the servant of Rāmānanda Rāya gave him a proper place to sit down.

Word meanings

tabe — thereafter ; pradyumna - miśra — Pradyumna Miśra ; gelā — went ; rāmānandera sthāne — to the place of Rāmānanda Rāya ; rāyera sevaka — the servant of Rāmānanda Rāya ; tāṅre — unto him ; vasāila āsane — gave a sitting place .

Translation

Unable to see Rāmānanda Rāya immediately, Pradyumna Miśra inquired from the servant, who then described what Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya was doing.

Word meanings

darśana — audience ; nā — not ; pāñā — getting ; miśra — Pradyumna Miśra ; sevake — unto the servant ; puchila — inquired ; rāyera — of Rāmānanda Rāya ; vṛttānta — activity ; sevaka — the servant ; kahite lāgila — began to describe .

Translation

“There are two dancing girls who are extremely beautiful. They are very youthful, and they are expert in dancing and singing.

Word meanings

dui — two ; deva - kanyā — dancing girls ; haya — are ; parama - sundarī — very, very beautiful ; nṛtya - gīte — in singing and dancing ; su - nipuṇā — very expert ; vayase — in age ; kiśorī — very young .

Translation

“Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya has taken these two girls to a solitary place in his garden, where he is teaching and directing them to dance according to the songs he has composed for his drama.

Word meanings

sei duṅhe — those two ; lañā — taking ; rāya — Rāmānanda Rāya ; nibhṛta udyāne — in a solitary place in the garden ; nija - nāṭaka — of the drama composed by him ; gītera — of the songs ; śikhāya — gives direction ; nartane — in dancing .

Purport

The drama being rehearsed by Rāmānanda Rāya and the two young girls was the well-known Jagannātha-vallabha-nāṭaka. The songs and dances were meant for the pleasure of Lord Jagannātha; therefore Rāmānanda Rāya was personally giving instructions on how to sing and dance for the drama.

Translation

“Please sit here and wait for a few moments. As soon as he comes, he will execute whatever order you give him.”

Word meanings

tumi — you ; ihāṅ — here ; vasi’ — sitting ; raha — just wait ; kṣaṇeke āsibena — he will come within a moment ; tabe — then ; yei — whatever ; ājñā — order ; deha — you give ; sei — he ; karibena — will do .

Translation

While Pradyumna Miśra remained seated there, Rāmānanda Rāya took the two girls to a solitary place.

Word meanings

tabe — then ; pradyumna - miśra — Pradyumna Miśra ; tāhāṅ — there ; rahila vasiyā — remained seated ; rāmānanda — Rāmānanda Rāya ; nibhṛte — in a solitary place ; sei — those ; dui - jana — two girls ; lañā — taking .

Translation

With his own hand, Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya massaged their bodies with oil and bathed them with water. Indeed, Rāmānanda Rāya cleansed their entire bodies with his own hand.

Word meanings

sva - haste — with his own hand ; karena — does ; tāra — of those two girls ; abhyaṅga - mardana — massaging the body with oil ; sva - haste — with his own hand ; karāna snāna — bathes them ; gātra sammārjana — cleansing the whole body .

Translation

Although he dressed the two young girls and decorated their bodies with his own hand, he remained unchanged. Such is the mind of Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya.

Word meanings

sva - haste — with his own hand ; parāna vastra — dresses them ; sarvāṅga maṇḍana — decorating the whole body ; tabu — still ; nirvikāra — without transformation ; rāya - rāmānandera — of Rāmānanda Rāya ; mana — the mind .

Translation

While touching the young girls, he was like a person touching wood or stone, for his body and mind were unaffected.

Word meanings

kāṣṭha — wood ; pāṣāṇa — stone ; sparśe — by touching ; haya — there is ; yaiche — as ; bhāva — mental position ; taruṇī - sparśe — by touching the young girls ; rāmānandera — of Rāmānanda Rāya ; taiche — like that ; svabhāva — nature .

Translation

Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya used to act in that way because he thought of himself in his original position as a maidservant of the gopīs. Thus although externally he appeared to be a man, internally, in his original spiritual position, he considered himself a maidservant and considered the two girls gopīs.

Word meanings

sevya - buddhi āropiyā — considering worshipable ; karena sevana — engages in service ; svābhāvika — by his natural position ; dāsī - bhāva — as a maidservant ; karena āropaṇa — considers .

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura writes in his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya: “Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya composed a drama named Jagannātha-vallabha-nāṭaka, and he engaged two young girls who were professional dancers and singers to demonstrate the ideology of the drama. Such girls, who are called deva-dāsīs, are still employed in the temple of Jagannātha, where they are called māhārīs. Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya engaged two such girls, and because they were meant to play the parts of gopīs, he taught them how to awaken thoughts like those of the gopīs. Because the gopīs are worshipable personalities, Rāmānanda Rāya, who considered the two girls gopīs and himself their maidservant, engaged in their service by massaging their bodies with oil to cleanse them completely. Because Rāmānanda Rāya always placed himself in the position of a maidservant of the gopīs, his rehearsal with the girls was actually on the spiritual platform.”

Because there was no question of personal sense gratification when Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya was serving the girls, his mind was steady and his body untransformed. This is not to be imitated, nor is such a mentality possible for anyone but Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will explain. The example of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya is certainly unique. The author of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta has given this description because in perfect devotional service one can attain such a position. Nevertheless, one must understand this subject very seriously and never attempt to imitate such activities.

Translation

The greatness of the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is exceedingly difficult to understand. Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya is unique among them all, for he showed how one can extend his ecstatic love to the extreme limit.

Word meanings

mahāprabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bhakta - gaṇera — of the devotees ; durgama — difficult to understand ; mahimā — greatness ; tāhe — in that connection ; rāmānandera — of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya ; bhāva - bhakti — of ecstatic devotion ; prema - sīmā — the limit of love of Kṛṣṇa .

Translation

Rāmānanda Rāya directed the two girls how to dance and express the deep meaning of his songs through dramatic performances.

Word meanings

tabe — thereupon ; sei — those ; dui - jane — two young girls ; nṛtya śikhāilā — directed how to dance ; gītera — of the songs ; gūḍha artha — the deep meaning ; abhinaya karāilā — taught how to express by dramatic performances .

Translation

He taught them how to express the symptoms of continuous, natural and transitional ecstasies with the movements of their faces, their eyes and the other parts of their bodies.

Word meanings

sañcārī — passing ; sāttvika — natural ; sthāyi — continuously existing ; bhāvera — of ecstasies ; lakṣaṇa — symptoms ; mukhe — in the facial expressions ; netre — in the movement of the eyes ; abhinaya — the dramatic performance ; kare prakaṭana — he demonstrates .

Translation

Through the feminine poses and dances they were taught by Rāmānanda Rāya, the two girls precisely exhibited all these expressions of ecstasy before Lord Jagannātha.

Word meanings

bhāva — ecstasy ; prakaṭana — manifesting ; lāsya — feminine poses and dancing ; rāya — Rāmānanda Rāya ; ye — which ; śikhāya — was teaching ; jagannāthera āge — in front of Lord Jagannātha ; duṅhe — both of them ; prakaṭa dekhāya — demonstrated .

Translation

Then Rāmānanda Rāya fed the two girls sumptuous prasādam and sent them to their homes unexposed.

Word meanings

tabe — then ; sei — to those ; dui - jane — two girls ; prasāda khāoyāilā — gave prasādam to eat ; nibhṛte — without being exposed ; duṅhāre — both of them ; nija - ghare — their homes ; pāṭhāilā — sent .

Translation

Every day he trained the two deva-dāsīs how to dance. Who among the small living entities, their minds always absorbed in material sense gratification, could understand the mentality of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya?

Word meanings

prati - dina — daily ; rāya — Rāmānanda Rāya ; aiche — in this way ; karāya sādhana — teaches regularly ; kon jāne — who can know ; kṣudra jīva — an insignificant living entity ; kāṅhā — where ; tāṅra — his ; mana — mind .

Purport

Rāmānanda Rāya’s service to the gopīs for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa is purely an affair of the spiritual world. Unless one is fully situated in the spiritual atmosphere, the activities of Rāmānanda Rāya are most difficult to understand.

Translation

When the servant informed Rāmānanda Rāya of Pradyumna Miśra’s arrival, Rāmānanda Rāya immediately went to the assembly room.

Word meanings

miśrera — of Pradyumna Miśra ; āgamana — arrival ; rāye — to Rāmānanda Rāya ; sevaka kahilā — the servant informed ; śīghra — very soon ; rāmānanda — Rāmānanda Rāya ; tabe — thereupon ; sabhāte āilā — came to the assembly room .

Translation

He offered his obeisances to Pradyumna Miśra with all respect and then, with great humility, spoke as follows.

Word meanings

miśrere — unto Pradyumna Miśra ; namaskāra kare — offers respectful obeisances ; sammāna kariyā — with all respect ; nivedana kare — submitted ; kichu — something ; vinīta hañā — with great humility .

Translation

“Sir, you came here long ago, but no one informed me. Therefore I have certainly become an offender at your lotus feet.

Word meanings

bahu - kṣaṇa — long ago ; āilā — you came ; more — me ; keha nā kahila — no one informed ; tomāra caraṇe — unto your lotus feet ; mora — my ; aparādha — offense ; ha - ila — there was .

Translation

“My entire home has been purified by your arrival. Kindly order me. What can I do for you? I am your servant.”

Word meanings

tomāra āgamane — because of your arrival ; mora — my ; pavitra — purified ; haila — became ; ghara — house ; ājñā kara — kindly order ; kyā karoṅ — what can I do ; tomāra kiṅkara — I am your servant .

Translation

Pradyumna Miśra replied, “I came simply to see you. Now I have purified myself by seeing Your Honor.”

Word meanings

miśra kahe — Pradyumna Miśra replied ; tomā — you ; dekhite — to see ; haila āgamane — I came ; āpanā — myself ; pavitra kailuṅ — I have purified ; tomāra daraśane — by seeing you .

Translation

Because Pradyumna Miśra saw that it was late, he did not say anything else to Rāmānanda Rāya. Instead, he took leave of him and returned to his own home.

Word meanings

atikāla dekhi’ — seeing that it was too late ; miśra — Pradyumna Miśra ; kichu — anything ; nā kahila — did not say ; vidāya ha - iyā — taking leave ; miśra — Pradyumna Miśra ; nija - ghara — to his own place ; gela — returned .

Translation

The next day, when Pradyumna Miśra arrived in the presence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord inquired, “Have you heard talks about Kṛṣṇa from Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya?”

Word meanings

āra dina — the next day ; miśra — Pradyumna Miśra ; āila — came ; prabhu - vidyamāne — in the presence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; prabhu kahe — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired ; kṛṣṇa - kathā — talks about Kṛṣṇa ; śunilā — have you heard ; rāya - sthāne — from Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya .

Translation

Pradyumna Miśra thereupon described the activities of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya. After hearing about these activities, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to speak.

Word meanings

tabe — thereupon ; miśra — Pradyumna Miśra ; rāmānandera — of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya ; vṛttānta kahilā — described the activities ; śuni’ — hearing ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; tabe — then ; kahite lāgilā — began to speak .

Translation

“I am a sannyāsī,” He said, “and I certainly consider Myself renounced. But what to speak of seeing a woman, if I even hear the name of a woman, I feel changes in My mind and body. Therefore who could remain unmoved by the sight of a woman? It is very difficult.

Word meanings

āmi — I ; ta’ — certainly ; sannyāsī — in the renounced order of life ; āpanāre — Myself ; virakta kari’ — having renounced everything ; māni — I consider ; darśana rahu dūre — what to speak of seeing ; prakṛtira — of a woman ; nāma — name ; yadi — if ; śuni — I hear ; tabahiṅ — immediately ; vikāra — transformation ; pāya — gets ; mora — My ; tanu - mana — mind and body ; prakṛti - darśane — by seeing a woman ; sthira — steady ; haya — is ; kon jana — what person .

Translation

“Everyone please hear these topics about Rāmānanda Rāya, although they are so wonderful and uncommon that they should not be spoken.

Word meanings

rāmānanda rāyera — of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya ; kathā — topics ; śuna — please hear ; sarva - jana — all people ; kahibāra — to be spoken ; kathā — talks ; nahe — they are not ; yāhā — which ; āścarya - kathana — wonderful and uncommon talks .

Translation

“The two professional dancing girls are beautiful and youthful, yet Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya personally massages their entire bodies with oil.

Word meanings

eke — on one side ; deva - dāsī — the professional dancing girls ; āra — and ; sundarī taruṇī — very beautiful and youthful ; tāra — their ; saba — all ; aṅga — of the body ; sevā — service ; karena āpani — performs personally .

Translation

“He personally bathes and dresses them and decorates them with ornaments. In this way, he naturally sees and touches the private parts of their bodies.

Word meanings

snāna - ādi karāya — he performs their bathing and so on ; parāya vāsa - vibhūṣaṇa — dresses and decorates the body with various types of ornaments ; guhya aṅgera — of the private parts of the body ; haya — there is ; tāhā — that ; darśana - sparśana — seeing and touching .

Translation

“Nevertheless, the mind of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya never changes, although he teaches the girls how to physically express all the transformations of ecstasy.

Word meanings

tabu — still ; nirvikāra — unchanged ; rāya - rāmānandera mana — the mind of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya ; nānā - bhāva - udgāra — all the symptoms and transformations of ecstasy ; tāre — unto them ; karāya śikṣaṇa — he teaches .

Translation

“His mind is as steady as wood or stone. Indeed, it is wonderful that even when he touches such young girls, his mind never changes.

Word meanings

nirvikāra — unchanged ; deha - mana — body and mind ; kāṣṭha - pāṣāṇa - sama — like wood or stone ; āścarya — wonderful ; taruṇī - sparśe — in touching young girls ; nirvikāra — unchanged ; mana — mind .

Translation

“The authority for such acts is the prerogative of Rāmānanda Rāya alone, for I can understand that his body is not material but has been completely transformed into a spiritual entity.

Word meanings

eka — only one ; rāmānandera — of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya ; haya — there is ; ei — this ; adhikāra — special authority ; tāte — in that way ; jāni — we can understand ; aprākṛta — spiritual ; deha — body ; tāṅhāra — his .

Translation

“He alone, and no one else, can understand the position of his mind.

Word meanings

tāṅhāra — his ; manera — of the mind ; bhāva — position ; teṅha — he ; jāne — knows ; mātra — only ; tāhā jānibāre — to understand that ; āra — other ; dvitīya — second ; nāhi — there is not ; pātra — eligible person .

Translation

“But I can make a guess in terms of directions from the śāstra. The Vedic scripture Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam gives the direct evidence in this matter.

Word meanings

kintu — but ; śāstra - dṛṣṭye — according to the direction of the śāstra ; eka — one ; kari anumāna — I make a guess ; śrī - bhāgavata - śāstra — the Vedic scripture Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ; tāhāte — in that connection ; pramāṇa — evidence .

Translation

“When one hears or describes with great faith the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa, such as His rāsa dance with the gopīs, the disease of lusty desires in his heart and the agitation caused by the three modes of material nature are immediately nullified, and he becomes sober and silent.

Word meanings

vraja - vadhū - saṅge — in the association of the damsels of Vrajabhūmi ; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; rāsa - ādi - vilāsa — pastimes like the rāsa dance ; yei — which ; jana — person ; kahe — describes ; śune — hears ; kariyā viśvāsa — with great faith ; hṛt - roga — the disease of the heart ; kāma — lust ; tāṅra — of him ; tat - kāle — at that time ; haya kṣaya — becomes nullified ; tina - guṇa — of the three modes of material nature ; kṣobha — agitation ; nahe — is not ; mahā - dhīra — very sober ; haya — becomes .

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura comments in this connection, “Any person seriously inclined to hear about the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa dance, as mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, with great faith and a transcendental, spiritually inspired mind, is immediately freed from the natural lusty desires found within the heart of a materialistic man.”

When a pure Vaiṣṇava speaks on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and another pure Vaiṣṇava hears Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from such a realized soul, both of them live in the transcendental world, where the contamination of the modes of material nature cannot touch them. Freed from the contamination of the modes of nature, the speaker and hearer are fixed in a transcendental mentality, knowing that their position on the transcendental platform is to serve the Supreme Lord. The class of men known as prākṛta-sahajiyās, who consider the transcendental pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa something like the behavior between a man and a woman in the material field, artificially think that hearing the rāsa-līlā will help them by diminishing the lusty desires of their diseased hearts. But because they do not follow the regulative principles but instead violate even ordinary morals, their contemplation of rāsa-līlā is a futile attempt, which sometimes results in their imitating the dealings of the gopīs and Lord Kṛṣṇa. To forbid such habits of the prākṛta-sahajiyās, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has excluded their material intelligence by using the word viśvāsa (“faith”). In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.33.30) , Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī says:

naitat samācarej jātu manasāpi hy anīśvaraḥ vinaśyaty ācaran mauḍhyād yathā rudro ’bdhijaṁ viṣam

“Certainly one who is not the Supreme Personality of Godhead should never, even within his mind, imitate the activities of the transcendental rāsa-līlā of Kṛṣṇa. If out of ignorance one does so, he will be destroyed, just as if he were to imitate Lord Śiva, who drank poison produced from the ocean.”

Translation

“Tasting transcendental, effulgent, sweetly ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa, such a person can enjoy life twenty-four hours a day in the transcendental bliss of the sweetness of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.

Word meanings

ujjvala — illuminated ; madhura — sweet ; prema - bhakti — ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa ; sei — he ; pāya — gets ; ānande — in transcendental bliss ; kṛṣṇa - mādhurye — the sweetness of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes ; vihare — enjoys ; sadāya — always .

Translation

“ ‘A transcendentally sober person who, with faith and love, continually hears from a realized soul about the activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa in His rāsa dance with the gopīs, or one who describes such activities, can attain full transcendental devotional service at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus lusty material desires, which are the heart disease of all materialistic persons, are for him quickly and completely vanquished.’

Word meanings

vikrīḍitam — the activity of the rāsa dance ; vraja - vadhūbhiḥ — the damsels of Vraja, the gopīs ; idam — this ; ca — and ; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; śraddhā - anvitaḥ — with transcendental faith ; anuśṛṇuyāt — continually hears in the paramparā system ; atha — also ; varṇayet — describes ; yaḥ — one who ; bhaktim — devotional service ; parām — transcendental ; bhagavati — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; pratilabhya — attaining ; kāmam — lusty material desires ; hṛt - rogam — the disease of the heart ; āśu — very soon ; apahinoti — gives up ; acireṇa — without delay ; dhīraḥ — one who is sober because of advanced devotional service .

Purport

All the activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa are transcendental, and the gopīs are also transcendentally situated. Therefore the activities of the gopīs and Lord Kṛṣṇa, if seriously understood, will certainly free one from material attachment. Then there is no possibility that lusty material desires will awaken.

Translation

“If a transcendentally situated person, following in the footsteps of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, hears and speaks about the rāsa-līlā dance of Kṛṣṇa and is always absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa while serving the Lord day and night within his mind, what shall I say about the result? It is so spiritually exalted that it cannot be expressed in words. Such a person is an eternally liberated associate of the Lord, and his body is completely spiritualized. Although he is visible to material eyes, he is spiritually situated, and all his activities are spiritual. By the will of Kṛṣṇa, such a devotee is understood to possess a spiritual body.

Word meanings

ye śune — anyone who hears ; ye paḍe — anyone who recites ; tāṅra — of him ; phala — the result ; etādṛśī — this ; sei — he ; bhāva - āviṣṭa — always absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa ; yei seve — who serves ; ahaḥ - niśi — day and night ; tāṅra — his ; phala — result ; ki kahimu — what shall I say ; kahane nā yāya — it is impossible to express ; nitya - siddha — eternally liberated ; sei — such a person ; prāya - siddha — transcendental ; tāṅra — his ; kāya — body .

Translation

“Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya is situated on the path of spontaneous love of Godhead. Therefore he is in his spiritual body, and his mind is not materially affected.

Word meanings

rāgānuga - mārge — on the path of spontaneous love of Kṛṣṇa ; jāni — we can understand ; rāyera bhajana — the devotional service of Rāmānanda Rāya ; siddha - deha — spiritual body ; tulya — equal to ; tāte — therefore ; prākṛta — material ; nahe — is not ; mana — mind .

Translation

“I also hear topics about Kṛṣṇa from Rāmānanda Rāya. If you want to hear such topics, go to him again.

Word meanings

āmiha — I also ; rāyera sthāne — from Rāmānanda Rāya ; śuni — hear ; kṛṣṇa - kathā — talks of Kṛṣṇa ; śunite — to hear ; icchā — desire ; haya — there is ; yadi — if ; punaḥ — again ; yāha — go ; tathā — there .

Translation

“You can mention My name before him, saying, ‘He has sent me to hear about Lord Kṛṣṇa from you.’

Word meanings

mora — My ; nāma — name ; la - iha — take ; teho — He ; pāṭhāilā — sent ; more — me ; tomāra sthāne — from you ; kṛṣṇa - kathā — topics of Kṛṣṇa ; śunibāra tare — to hear .

Translation

“Go hastily, while he is in the assembly room.” Hearing this, Pradyumna Miśra immediately departed.

Word meanings

śīghra yāha — go hastily ; yāvat — while ; teṅho — he ; āchena — is ; sabhāte — in the assembly room ; eta śuni’ — hearing this ; pradyumna - miśra — Pradyumna Miśra ; calilā — went ; turite — very hastily .

Translation

Pradyumna Miśra went to Rāmānanda Rāya, who offered him respectful obeisances and said, “Please order me. For what purpose have you come?”

Word meanings

rāya - pāśa — to Rāmānanda Rāya ; gela — he went ; rāya — Rāmānanda Rāya ; praṇati karila — offered his respects ; ājñā kara — please order me ; ye lāgi’ — for what purpose ; āgamana haila — have you come .

Translation

Pradyumna Miśra answered, “Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has sent me to hear topics about Lord Kṛṣṇa from you.”

Word meanings

miśra kahe — Pradyumna Miśra said ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; pāṭhāilā more — has sent me ; tomāra sthāne — from you ; kṛṣṇa - kathā — topics of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; śunibāra tare — to hear .

Translation

Hearing this, Rāmānanda Rāya became absorbed in ecstatic love and began to speak with great transcendental pleasure.

Word meanings

śuni’ — hearing ; rāmānanda rāya — Rāmānanda Rāya ; hailā — became ; prema - āveśe — absorbed in ecstatic love ; kahite lāgilā — began to speak ; kichu — something ; manera hariṣe — in transcendental pleasure .

Translation

“Following the instruction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, you have come to hear about Kṛṣṇa. This is my great fortune. How else would I get such an opportunity?”

Word meanings

prabhura ājñāya — under the instruction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kṛṣṇa - kathā — topics of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; śunite — to hear ; āilā ethā — you have come here ; ihā va - i — without this ; mahā - bhāgya — great fortune ; āmi — I ; pāba — will get ; kothā — where .

Translation

Saying this, Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya took Pradyumna Miśra to a secluded place and inquired from him, “What kind of kṛṣṇa-kathā do you want to hear from me?”

Word meanings

eta kahi — saying this ; tāre — him ; lañā — taking ; nibhṛte vasilā — sat in a secluded place ; ki kathā — what kind of topics ; śunite cāha — do you want to hear ; miśrere puchilā — he inquired from Pradyumna Miśra .

Translation

Pradyumna Miśra replied, “Kindly tell me about the same topics you spoke about at Vidyānagara.

Word meanings

teṅho kahe — he replied ; ye — what ; kahilā — you spoke ; vidyānagare — at Vidyānagara ; sei kathā — those topics ; krame — according to the order ; tumi — you ; kahibā — please speak ; āmāre — to me .

Translation

“You are an instructor even for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, what to speak of others. I am but a beggar brāhmaṇa, and you are my maintainer.

Word meanings

ānera ki kathā — what to speak of others ; tumi — you ; prabhura upadeṣṭā — an instructor of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; āmi — I ; ta’ — certainly ; bhikṣuka — beggar ; vipra — brāhmaṇa ; tumi — you ; mora — my ; poṣṭā — maintainer .

Translation

“I do not know how to inquire, for I do not know what is good and what is bad. Seeing me to be poor in knowledge, kindly speak whatever is good for me by your own good will.”

Word meanings

bhāla — good ; manda — bad ; kichu — something ; āmi — I ; puchite — to inquire ; nā jāni — do not know ; dīna — very poor in knowledge ; dekhi’ — seeing (me) ; kṛpā kari’ — very mercifully ; kahibā — please ; āpani — by your own good will .

Translation

Thereupon Rāmānanda Rāya gradually began speaking on topics of Kṛṣṇa. Thus the ocean of the transcendental mellows of those topics became agitated.

Word meanings

tabe — thereupon ; rāmānanda — Rāmānanda Rāya ; krame — gradually ; kahite lāgilā — began to speak ; kṛṣṇa - kathā — of the topics of Kṛṣṇa ; rasāmṛta - sindhu — the ocean of transcendental mellows ; uthalilā — became agitated .

Translation

He began personally posing questions and then answering them with conclusive statements. When afternoon came, the topics still did not end.

Word meanings

āpane — personally ; praśna kari’ — asking the question ; pāche — after that ; karena siddhānta — gives the conclusion ; tṛtīya prahara haila — it became afternoon ; nahe kathā - anta — there was no end to such topics .

Translation

The speaker and listener spoke and heard in ecstatic love. Thus they forgot their bodily consciousness. How, then, could they perceive the end of the day?

Word meanings

vaktā — the speaker ; śrotā — the listener ; kahe — speaks ; śune — hears ; duṅhe — both of them ; prema - āveśe — in ecstatic love ; ātma - smṛti nāhi — there was no bodily consciousness ; kāhāṅ — where ; jāniba — can understand ; dina - śeṣe — the end of day .

Translation

The servant informed them, “The day has already ended.” Then Rāmānanda Rāya ended his discourses about Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

sevaka kahila — the servant informed ; dina — the day ; haila avasāna — has ended ; tabe — at that time ; rāya — Rāmānanda Rāya ; kṛṣṇa - kathāra — the talks of Kṛṣṇa ; karilā viśrāma — ended .

Translation

Rāmānanda Rāya paid great respect to Pradyumna Miśra and bade him farewell. Pradyumna Miśra said, “I have become very satisfied.” He then began to dance.

Word meanings

bahu - sammāna — much respectful behavior ; kari’ — doing ; miśre — unto Pradyumna Miśra ; vidāya dilā — bade farewell ; kṛtārtha ha - ilāṅa — I have become very satisfied ; bali’ — saying ; miśra — Pradyumna Miśra ; nācite lāgilā — began to dance .

Translation

After returning home, Pradyumna Miśra bathed and ate his meal. In the evening he came to see the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

ghare giyā — returning home ; miśra — Pradyumna Miśra ; kaila — performed ; snāna — bathing ; bhojana — eating ; sandhyā - kāle — in the evening ; dekhite — to see ; āila — came ; prabhura caraṇa — the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu .

Translation

In great happiness he worshiped the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The Lord inquired, “Have you heard topics about Kṛṣṇa?”

Word meanings

prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; caraṇa — the lotus feet ; vande — he worships ; ullasita - mane — in great happiness ; prabhu kahe — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu says ; kṛṣṇa - kathā — talks of Kṛṣṇa ; ha - ila śravaṇe — did you hear .

Translation

Pradyumna Miśra said, “My dear Lord, You have made me extremely obliged to You because You have drowned me in a nectarean ocean of talks about Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

miśra kahe — Pradyumna Miśra said ; prabhu — my dear Lord ; more — me ; kṛtārtha — satisfied ; karilā — You have made ; kṛṣṇa - kathā — of talks about Kṛṣṇa ; amṛta - arṇave — in the ocean of the nectar ; more — me ; ḍubāilā — You have drowned .

Translation

“I cannot properly describe the discourses of Rāmānanda Rāya, for he is not an ordinary human being. He is fully absorbed in the devotional service of the Lord.

Word meanings

rāmānanda rāya - kathā — the speeches of Rāmānanda Rāya ; kahile — describing ; nā haya — is not possible ; manuṣya — an ordinary human being ; nahe — is not ; rāya — Rāmānanda Rāya ; kṛṣṇa - bhakti - rasa - maya — absorbed in the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa .

Purport

One is forbidden to accept the guru, or spiritual master, as an ordinary human being ( guruṣu nara-matiḥ ) . When Rāmānanda Rāya spoke to Pradyumna Miśra, Pradyumna Miśra could understand that Rāmānanda Rāya was not an ordinary human being. A spiritually advanced person who is authorized to act as the spiritual master speaks as the Supreme Personality of Godhead dictates from within. Thus it is not he that is personally speaking. In other words, when a pure devotee or spiritual master speaks, what he says should be accepted as having been directly spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the paramparā system.

Translation

“There is one other thing Rāmānanda Rāya said to me: ‘Do not consider me the speaker in these talks about Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

āra — another ; eka — one ; kathā — topic ; rāya — Rāmānanda Rāya ; kahilā āmāre — said to me ; kṛṣṇa - kathā - vaktā — the speaker on the talks of Kṛṣṇa ; kari’ — as ; nā jāniha more — do not consider me .

Translation

“ ‘Whatever I speak is personally spoken by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Like a stringed instrument, I vibrate whatever He causes me to speak.

Word meanings

mora mukhe — in my mouth ; kathā — topics ; kahena — speaks ; āpane — personally ; gaura - candra — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; yaiche kahāya — as He causes to speak ; taiche kahi — so I speak ; yena — like ; vīṇā - yantra — the stringed instrument called the vīṇā. .

Translation

“ ‘In this way the Lord speaks through my mouth to preach the cult of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Within the world, who will understand this pastime of the Lord’s?’

Word meanings

mora mukhe — in my mouth ; kahāya — causes to speak ; kathā — words ; kare paracāra — preaches ; pṛthivīte — in this world ; ke jānibe — who will understand ; e - līlā — this pastime ; tāṅhāra — His .

Translation

“What I have heard from Rāmānanda Rāya is like a nectarean ocean of discourses about Kṛṣṇa. Even the demigods, beginning with Lord Brahmā, cannot understand all these topics.

Word meanings

ye - saba — all that ; śuniluṅ — I heard ; kṛṣṇa - rasera — of the nectar of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; sāgara — the ocean ; brahmā - ādi - devera — of the demigods, beginning with Lord Brahmā ; e saba — all this ; nā haya gocara — is not possible to be understood .

Translation

“My dear Lord, You have made me drink this transcendental nectar of kṛṣṇa-kathā. Therefore I am sold to Your lotus feet, life after life.”

Word meanings

hena rasa — such transcendental mellows ; pāna — to drink ; more — me ; karāilā tumi — You have caused ; janme janme — life after life ; tomāra pāya — at Your feet ; vikāilāṅa āmi — I have become sold .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Rāmānanda Rāya is a mine of great humility. Therefore he has attributed his own words to another’s intelligence.

Word meanings

prabhu kahe — the Lord replied ; rāmānanda — Rāmānanda Rāya ; vinayera khani — a mine of humility ; āpanāra kathā — his own words ; para - muṇḍe — on another’s head ; dena — confers ; āni’ — bringing .

Translation

“This is a natural characteristic of those advanced in devotional service. They do not personally speak of their own good qualities.”

Word meanings

mahānubhavera — of those who are advanced in realization ; ei — this ; sahaja — natural ; svabhāva — characteristic ; haya — is ; āpanāra guṇa — their own personal qualities ; nāhi — do not ; āpane — personally ; kahaya — speak .

Translation

I have described but a fraction of the transcendental attributes of Rāmānanda Rāya, as revealed when he instructed Pradyumna Miśra.

Word meanings

rāmānanda - rāyera — of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya ; ei — this ; kahilu — I have spoken ; guṇa - leśa — a fraction of the transcendental attributes ; pradyumna miśrere — unto Pradyumna Miśra ; yaiche — in which way ; kailā upadeśa — he gave instruction .

Translation

Although Rāmānanda Rāya was a householder, he was not under the control of the six kinds of bodily changes. Although apparently a pounds-and-shillings man, he advised even persons in the renounced order.

Word meanings

gṛhastha hañā — being a householder ; nahe — is not ; rāya — Rāmānanda Rāya ; ṣaṭ - vargera vaśe — under the control of the six kinds of bodily changes ; viṣayī hañā — being a pounds-and-shillings man ; sannyāsīre upadeśe — advises persons in the renounced order of life .

Purport

Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya externally appeared to be a gṛhastha who was under the influence of the external, material energy, not a self-controlled brahmacārī, vānaprastha or sannyāsī. Gṛhasthas (householders) who are under the influence of the external energy accept householder life for the purpose of sense enjoyment, but a transcendentally situated Vaiṣṇava is not subjected to the influence of the senses by the Lord’s material rule of the six kinds of bodily changes ( kāma, krodha, lobha, moha, mada and mātsarya ), even when he plays the part of a gṛhastha. Thus although Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya acted as a gṛhastha and was accepted as an ordinary pounds-and-shillings man, he was always absorbed in the transcendental pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore his mind was spiritually situated, and he was interested only in the subject of Kṛṣṇa. Rāmānanda Rāya was not among the Māyāvādī impersonalists or materialistic logicians who are opposed to the principles of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental pastimes. He was already spiritually situated in the order of renounced life; therefore he was able to turn sand into gold by spiritual potency, or, in other words, to elevate a person from a material to a spiritual position.

Translation

To demonstrate the transcendental attributes of Rāmānanda Rāya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sent Pradyumna Miśra to hear discourses about Kṛṣṇa from him.

Word meanings

ei - saba — all these ; guṇa — attributes ; tāṅra — of Rāmānanda Rāya ; prakāśa karite — to demonstrate ; miśrere — Pradyumna Miśra ; pāṭhāilā — He sent ; tāhāṅ — there ; śravaṇa karite — to hear .

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, knows very well how to demonstrate the qualities of His devotees. Therefore, acting like an artistic painter, He does so in various ways and considers this His personal profit.

Word meanings

bhakta - guṇa — the attributes of a devotee ; prakāśite — to manifest ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bhāla jāne — knows very well how ; nānā - bhaṅgīte — by various ways ; guṇa — attributes ; prakāśi’ — manifesting ; nija - lābha — His profit ; māne — He considers .

Translation

There is yet another characteristic of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. O devotees, listen carefully to how He manifests His opulence and characteristics, although they are exceptionally deep.

Word meanings

āra — another ; eka — one ; svabhāva — characteristic ; gaurera — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; śuna — hear ; bhakta - gaṇa — O devotees ; aiśvarya - svabhāva — opulences and characteristics ; gūḍha — very deep ; kare — does ; prakaṭana — manifestation .

Translation

To vanquish the false pride of so-called renunciants and learned scholars, He spreads real religious principles, even through a śūdra, or lowborn, fourth-class man.

Word meanings

sannyāsī — persons in the renounced order ; paṇḍita - gaṇera — of the learned scholars ; karite — to do ; garva — pride ; nāśa — vanquishing ; nīca — lowborn ; śūdra — a fourth-class man ; dvārā — through ; karena — does ; dharmera prakāśa — spreading of real religious principles .

Purport

When a man is greatly learned in the Vedānta-sūtras, he is known as a paṇḍita, or learned scholar. Generally this qualification is attributed to brāhmaṇas and sannyāsīs. Sannyāsa, the renounced order of life, is the topmost position for a brāhmaṇa, a member of the highest of the four varṇas ( brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra ) . According to public opinion, a person born in a brāhmaṇa family, duly reformed by the purificatory processes and properly initiated by a spiritual master, is an authority on Vedic literature. When such a person is offered the sannyāsa order, he comes to occupy the topmost position. The brāhmaṇa is supposed to be the spiritual master of the other three varṇas, namely kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra, and the sannyāsī is supposed to be the spiritual master even of the exalted brāhmaṇas.

Generally brāhmaṇas and sannyāsīs are very proud of their spiritual positions. Therefore, to cut down their false pride, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu preached Kṛṣṇa consciousness through Rāmānanda Rāya, who was neither a member of the renounced order nor a born brāhmaṇa. Indeed, Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya was a gṛhastha belonging to the śūdra class, yet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arranged for him to be the master who taught Pradyumna Miśra, a highly qualified brāhmaṇa born in a brāhmaṇa family. Even Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself, although belonging to the renounced order, took instruction from Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya. In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exhibited His opulence through Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya. That is the special significance of this incident.

According to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s philosophy, yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā, sei ‘guru’ haya: anyone who knows the science of Kṛṣṇa can become a spiritual master, without reference to whether or not he is a brāhmaṇa or sannyāsī . Ordinary people cannot understand the essence of śāstra, nor can they understand the pure character, behavior and abilities of strict followers of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s principles. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is creating pure, exalted Vaiṣṇavas even from those born in families considered lower than those of śūdras. This is proof that a Vaiṣṇava may appear in any family, as confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.18) :

kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ ye ’nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ

“Kirātas, Hūṇas, Āndhras, Pulindas, Pulkaśas, Ābhīras, Śumbhas, Yavanas and members of the Khasa races, and even others addicted to sinful acts, can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.” ( Bhāg. 2.4.18 ) By the grace of the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, anyone can be completely purified, become a preacher of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and become the spiritual master of the entire world. This principle is accepted in all Vedic literature. Evidence can be quoted from authoritative śāstras showing how a lowborn person can become the spiritual master of the entire world. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is to be considered the most munificent personality, for He distributes the real essence of the Vedic śāstras to anyone who becomes qualified by becoming His sincere servant.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu preached about devotional service, ecstatic love and the Absolute Truth by making Rāmānanda Rāya, a gṛhastha born in a low family, the speaker. Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself, the exalted brāhmaṇa-sannyāsī, and Pradyumna Miśra, the purified brāhmaṇa, both became the hearers of Rāmānanda Rāya.

Word meanings

bhakti — devotional service ; prema — ecstatic love ; tattva — truth ; kahe — He says ; rāye — Rāmānanda Rāya ; kari’ — by making ; vaktā — the speaker ; āpani — Himself ; pradyumna - miśra — Pradyumna Miśra ; saha — with ; haya śrotā — becomes the listener .

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says in his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya that sannyāsīs in the line of Śaṅkarācārya always think that they have performed all the duties of brāhmaṇas and that, furthermore, having understood the essence of the Vedānta-sūtra and become sannyāsīs, they are the natural spiritual masters of all society. Similarly, persons born in brāhmaṇa families think that because they execute the ritualistic ceremonies recommended in the Vedas and follow the principles of smṛti, they alone can become spiritual masters of society. These highly exalted brāhmaṇas think that unless one is born in a brāhmaṇa family, one cannot become a spiritual master and teach the Absolute Truth. To cut down the pride of these birthright brāhmaṇas and Māyāvādī sannyāsīs, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu proved that a person like Rāmānanda Rāya, although born in a śūdra family and situated in the gṛhastha-āśrama, can become the spiritual master of such exalted personalities as Himself and Pradyumna Miśra. This is the principle of the Vaiṣṇava cult, as evinced in the teachings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. A person who knows what is spiritual and what is material and who is firmly fixed in the spiritual position can be jagad-guru, the spiritual master of the entire world. One cannot become jagad-guru simply by advertising oneself as jagad-guru without knowing the essential principles for becoming jagad-guru. Even people who never see what a jagad-guru is and never talk with other people become puffed-up sannyāsīs and declare themselves jagad-gurus. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not like this. Any person who knows the science of Kṛṣṇa and who is fully qualified in spiritual life can become jagad-guru. Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally took lessons from Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya and also sent Pradyumna Miśra, an exalted brāhmaṇa, to take lessons from him.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exhibited the glories of the holy name of the Lord through Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who was born in a Muslim family. Similarly, He exhibited the essence of devotional service through Sanātana Gosvāmī, who had almost been converted into a Muslim.

Word meanings

haridāsa - dvārā — through Haridāsa Ṭhākura ; nāma - māhātmya — of the glories of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra ; prakāśa — manifestation ; sanātana - dvārā — through Sanātana Gosvāmī ; bhakti - siddhānta - vilāsa — spreading the essence of devotional life .

Translation

Also, the Lord fully exhibited the ecstatic love and transcendental pastimes of Vṛndāvana through Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. Considering all this, who can understand the deep plans of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu?

Word meanings

śrī - rūpa - dvārā — through Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī ; vrajera — of Vṛndāvana ; prema - rasa - līlā — description of ecstatic love and pastimes ; ke — who ; bujhite pāre — can understand ; gambhīra — deep ; caitanyera khelā — the activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu .

Translation

The activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are just like an ocean of nectar. Even a drop of this ocean can inundate all the three worlds.

Word meanings

śrī - caitanya - līlā — transcendental activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; ei — these ; amṛtera sindhu — the ocean of nectar ; tri - jagat — the three worlds ; bhāsāite — to inundate ; pāre — is able ; yāra — of which ; eka bindu — one drop .

Purport

To inundate the three worlds with nectar is the purpose of the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. How this could be possible was exhibited by Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī and later by Ṭhākura Narottama dāsa and Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī, who all represented the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Now that same mercy is overflooding the entire world through the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. The present Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is nondifferent from the pastimes performed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu when He was personally present, for the same principles are being followed and the same actions performed without fail.

Translation

O devotees, relish daily the nectar of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta and the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, for by doing so one can merge in transcendental bliss and attain full knowledge of devotional service.

Word meanings

caitanya - caritāmṛta — this transcendental literature known as Caitanya-caritāmṛta ; nitya — daily ; kara pāna — do relish ; yāhā haite — by which ; prema - ānanda — transcendental bliss ; bhakti - tattva - jñāna — transcendental knowledge in devotional service .

Translation

Thus Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, accompanied by His associates, His pure devotees, enjoyed transcendental bliss in Jagannātha Purī [Nīlācala] by preaching the bhakti cult in many ways.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bhakta - gaṇa lañā — accompanied by His pure devotees ; nīlācale — at Jagannātha Purī ; viharaye — enjoys transcendental bliss ; bhakti pracāriyā — preaching the cult of devotional service .

Translation

A brāhmaṇa from Bengal wrote a drama about the characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and came with his manuscript to induce the Lord to hear it.

Word meanings

baṅga - deśī — from Bengal ; eka vipra — one brāhmaṇa ; prabhura carite — about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s characteristics ; nāṭaka kari’ — writing a drama ; lañā — taking ; āila — came ; prabhuke śunāite — to induce Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to hear .

Translation

The brāhmaṇa was acquainted with Bhagavān Ācārya, one of the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore after meeting him at Jagannātha Purī, the brāhmaṇa made his residence at Bhagavān Ācārya’s home.

Word meanings

bhagavān - ācārya — the devotee of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu named Bhagavān Ācārya ; sane — with ; tāra paricaya — his acquaintance ; tāṅre mili’ — meeting him ; tāṅra ghare — at his place ; karila ālaya — made residence .

Translation

First the brāhmaṇa induced Bhagavān Ācārya to hear the drama, and then many other devotees joined Bhagavān Ācārya in listening to it.

Word meanings

prathame — at first ; nāṭaka — the drama ; teṅho — he ; tāṅre — him ; śunāila — made to hear ; tāṅra saṅge — with him ; aneka — many ; vaiṣṇava — devotees ; nāṭaka śunila — listened to the drama .

Translation

All the Vaiṣṇavas praised the drama, saying, “Very good, very good.” They also desired that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu hear the drama.

Word meanings

sabei — all ; praśaṁse — praised ; nāṭaka — the drama ; parama uttama — “very good, very good” ; mahāprabhure — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; śunāite — to cause to hear ; sabāra — of everyone ; haila — there was ; mana — mind .

Translation

Customarily, anyone who composed a song, verse, literary composition or poem about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu first had to bring it to Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī to be heard.

Word meanings

gīta — song ; śloka — verse ; grantha — a literature ; kavitva — poetry ; yei — anyone who ; kari’ — making ; āne — brings ; prathame — first ; śunāya — recites ; sei — that person ; svarūpera sthāne — before Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī .

Translation

If passed by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, it could be presented for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to hear.

Word meanings

svarūpa - ṭhāñi — before Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī ; uttare — passes ; yadi — if one ; lañā — taking ; tāṅra mana — his mind ; tabe — thereafter ; mahāprabhu - ṭhāñi — before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; karāya śravaṇa — causes to be heard .

Translation

If there were a hint that transcendental mellows overlapped in a manner contrary to the principles of the bhakti cult, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would not tolerate it and would become very angry.

Word meanings

rasa - ābhāsa — overlapping of transcendental mellows ; haya — there is ; yadi — if ; siddhānta - virodha — against the principles of the bhakti cult ; sahite nā pāre — cannot tolerate ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; mane — within the mind ; haya — is ; krodha — anger .

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura quotes the following definition of rasābhāsa from the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu ( Uttara-vibhāga, Ninth Wave, 1-3, 33, 38 and 41):

pūrvam evānuśiṣṭena vikalā rasa-lakṣaṇā rasā eva rasābhāsā rasajñair anukīrtitāḥ

syus tridhoparasāś cānu- rasāś cāparasāś ca te uttamā madhyamāḥ proktāḥ kaniṣṭhāś cety amī kramāt

prāptaiḥ sthāyi-vibhāvānu- bhāvādyais tu virūpatām śāntādayo rasā eva dvādaśoparasā matāḥ

bhaktādibhir vibhāvādyaiḥ kṛṣṇa-sambandha-varjitaiḥ rasā hāsyādayaḥ sapta śāntaś cānurasā matāḥ

kṛṣṇa-tat-pratipakṣaś ced viṣayāśrayatāṁ gatāḥ hāsādīnāṁ tadā te ’tra prājñair aparasā matāḥ

bhāvāḥ sarve tadābhāsā rasābhāsāś ca kecana amī prokta-rasābhijñaiḥ sarve ’pi rasanād rasāḥ

“A mellow temporarily appearing transcendental but contradicting mellows previously stated and lacking some of a mellow’s necessities is called rasābhāsa, an overlapping mellow, by advanced devotees who know how to taste transcendental mellows. Such mellows are called uparasa (submellows), anurasa (imitation transcendental mellows) and aparasa (opposing transcendental mellows). Thus the overlapping of transcendental mellows is described as being first grade, second grade or third grade. When the twelve mellows — such as neutrality, servitorship and friendship — are characterized by adverse sthāyi-bhāva, vibhāva and anubhāva ecstasies, they are known as uparasa, submellows. When the seven indirect transcendental mellows and the dried-up mellow of neutrality are produced by devotees and moods not directly related to Kṛṣṇa and devotional service in ecstatic love, they are described as anurasa, imitation mellows. If Kṛṣṇa and the enemies who harbor feelings of opposition toward Him are respectively the object and abodes of the mellow of laughter, the resulting feelings are called aparasa, opposing mellows. Experts in distinguishing one mellow from another sometimes accept some overlapping transcendental mellows ( rasābhāsa ) as rasas due to their being pleasurable and tasteful.” Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says, paraspara-vairayor yadi yogas tadā rasābhāsaḥ: “When two opposing transcendental mellows overlap, they produce rasābhāsa, or an overlapping of transcendental mellows.”

Translation

Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would not hear anything before Svarūpa Dāmodara heard it first. The Lord made this etiquette a regulative principle.

Word meanings

ataeva — therefore ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kichu — anything ; āge — ahead ; nāhi śune — does not hear ; ei maryādā — this etiquette ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kariyāche niyame — has made a regulative principle .

Translation

Bhagavān Ācārya submitted to Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, “A good brāhmaṇa has prepared a drama about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that appears exceptionally well composed.

Word meanings

svarūpera ṭhāñi — before Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī ; ācārya — Bhagavān Ācārya ; kailā — did ; nivedana — submission ; eka vipra — one brāhmaṇa ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nāṭaka — drama ; kariyāche — has composed ; uttama — very nice .

Translation

“First you hear it, and if it is acceptable to your mind, I shall request Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to hear it.”

Word meanings

ādau — in the beginning ; tumi — you ; śuna — hear ; yadi — if ; tomāra mana māne — you accept ; pāche — thereafter ; mahāprabhure — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; tabe — then ; karāimu śravaṇe — I shall request to hear .

Translation

Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī replied, “Dear Bhagavān Ācārya, you are a very liberal cowherd boy. Sometimes the desire awakens within you to hear any kind of poetry.

Word meanings

svarūpa kahe — Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī said ; tumi — you ; gopa — cowherd boy ; parama - udāra — very liberal ; ye - se śāstra — anything written as scripture ; śunite — to hear ; icchā — desire ; upaje — awakens ; tomāra — of you .

Translation

“In the writings of so-called poets there is generally a possibility of overlapping transcendental mellows. When the mellows thus go against the conclusive understanding, no one likes to hear such poetry.

Word meanings

yadvā - tadvā kavira — of any so-called poet ; vākye — in the words ; haya — there is ; rasa - ābhāsa — overlapping of transcendental mellows ; siddhānta - viruddha — against the conclusive understanding ; śunite — to hear ; nā — not ; haya — there is ; ullāsa — joy .

Purport

Yadvā-tadvā kavi refers to anyone who writes poetry without knowledge of how to do so. Writing poetry, especially poetry concerning the Vaiṣṇava conclusion, is very difficult. If one writes poetry without proper knowledge, there is every possibility that the mellows will overlap. When this occurs, no learned or advanced Vaiṣṇava will like to hear it.

Translation

“A so-called poet who has no knowledge of transcendental mellows and the overlapping of transcendental mellows cannot cross the ocean of the conclusions of devotional service.

Word meanings

rasa — transcendental mellows ; rasa - ābhāsa — overlapping of transcendental mellows ; yāra — of whom ; nāhika vicāra — there is no consideration ; bhakti - siddhānta - sindhu — the ocean of the conclusions of devotional service ; nāhi — not ; pāya — attains ; pāra — the limit .

Translation

“A poet who does not know the grammatical regulative principles, who is unfamiliar with metaphorical ornaments, especially those employed in drama, and who does not know how to present the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa is condemned. Moreover, the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are especially difficult to understand.

Word meanings

vyākaraṇa — grammar ; nāhi jāne — does not know ; nā jāne — does not know ; alaṅkāra — metaphorical ornaments ; nāṭaka - alaṅkāra — of the metaphorical ornaments of drama ; jñāna — knowledge ; nāhika — there is not ; yāhāra — of whom ; kṛṣṇa - līlā — the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; varṇite — to describe ; nā jāne — does not know ; sei — he ; chāra — condemned ; viśeṣe — especially ; durgama — very, very difficult ; ei — these ; caitanya - vihāra — the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu .

Translation

“One who has accepted the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as his life and soul can describe the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa or the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

kṛṣṇa - līlā — the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; gaura - līlā — the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; se — he ; kare varṇana — describes ; gaura - pāda - padma — the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; yāṅra — whose ; haya — is ; prāṇa - dhana — the life and soul .

Translation

“Hearing the poetry of a person who has no transcendental knowledge and who writes about the relationships between man and woman simply causes unhappiness, whereas hearing the words of a devotee fully absorbed in ecstatic love causes great happiness.

Word meanings

grāmya - kavira — of a poet who writes poetry concerning man and woman ; kavitva — poetry ; śunite — to hear ; haya — there is ; duḥkha — unhappiness ; vidagdha - ātmīya — of a devotee fully absorbed in ecstatic love ; vākya — the words ; śunite — to hear ; haya — there is ; sukha — happiness .

Purport

Grāmya-kavi refers to a poet or writer such as the authors of novels and other fiction who write only about the relationships between man and woman. Vidagdha-ātmīya-vākya, however, refers to words written by a devotee who fully understands pure devotional service. Such devotees, who follow the paramparā system, are sometimes described as sajātīyāśaya-snigdha, or “pleasing to the same class of people.” Only the poetry and other writings of such devotees are accepted with great happiness by devotees.

Translation

“The standard for writing dramas has been set by Rūpa Gosvāmī. If a devotee hears the introductory portions of his two dramas, they enhance his transcendental pleasure.”

Word meanings

rūpa — Rūpa Gosvāmī ; yaiche — as ; dui — two ; nāṭaka — dramas ; kariyāche ārambhe — has compiled ; śunite — to hear ; ānanda bāḍe — transcendental happiness increases ; yāra — of which ; mukha - bandhe — even the introductory portion .

Translation

Despite the explanation of Svarūpa Dāmodara, Bhagavān Ācārya requested, “Please hear the drama once. If you hear it, you can consider whether it is good or bad.”

Word meanings

bhagavān - ācārya — Bhagavān Ācārya ; kahe — says ; śuna — please hear ; eka - bāra — once ; tumi śunile — if you hear ; bhāla - manda — good or bad ; jānibe vicāra — will be able to understand .

Translation

For two or three days Bhagavān Ācārya continually asked Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī to hear the poetry. Because of his repeated requests, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī wanted to hear the poetry written by the brāhmaṇa from Bengal.

Word meanings

dui tina dina — for two or three days ; ācārya — Bhagavān Ācārya ; āgraha karila — expressed his ardent desire ; tāṅra āgrahe — by his eagerness ; svarūpera — of Svarūpa Dāmodara ; śunite — to hear ; icchā — desire ; ha - ila — there was .

Translation

Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī sat down with other devotees to hear the poetry, and then the poet began to read the introductory verse.

Word meanings

sabā lañā — in the company of other devotees ; svarūpa gosāñi — Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī ; śunite vasilā — sat down to hear ; tabe — thereafter ; sei kavi — that poet ; nāndī - śloka — the introductory verse ; paḍilā — read .

Translation

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead has assumed a golden complexion and has become the soul of the body named Lord Jagannātha, whose blooming lotus eyes are widely expanded. Thus He has appeared in Jagannātha Purī and brought dull matter to life. May that Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanyadeva, bestow all good fortune upon you.”

Word meanings

vikaca — expanded ; kamala - netre — whose lotus eyes ; śrī - jagannātha - saṁjñe — named Śrī Jagannātha ; kanaka - ruciḥ — possessing a golden hue ; iha — here in Jagannātha Purī ; ātmani — in the body ; ātmatām — the state of being the self ; yaḥ — who ; prapannaḥ — has obtained ; prakṛti — matter ; jaḍam — inert ; aśeṣam — unlimitedly ; cetayan — enlivening ; āvirāsīt — has appeared ; saḥ — He ; diśatu — may bestow ; tava — unto you ; bhavyam — auspiciousness ; kṛṣṇa - caitanya - devaḥ — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, known as Kṛṣṇa Caitanya .

Translation

When everyone present heard the verse, they all commended the poet, but Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī requested him, “Kindly explain this verse.”

Word meanings

śloka śuni’ — hearing the verse ; sarva - loka — everyone ; tāhāre — him ; vākhāne — praised ; svarūpa kahe — Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī said ; ei śloka — this verse ; karaha vyākhyāne — kindly explain .

Translation

The poet said, “Lord Jagannātha is a most beautiful body, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is exceptionally grave, is the owner of that body.

Word meanings

kavi kahe — the poet said ; jagannātha — Lord Jagannātha ; sundara - śarīra — very beautiful body ; caitanya - gosāñi — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; śarīrī — possessor of the body ; mahā - dhīra — very grave .

Purport

Śarīrī refers to a person who owns the śarīra, or body. As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (2.13) :

dehino ’smin yathā dehe kaumāraṁ yauvanaṁ jarā tathā dehāntara-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati

“As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change.” For the ordinary living being in material existence there is a division or distinction between the body and the owner of the body. In spiritual existence, however, there is no such distinction, for the body is the owner himself and the owner is the body itself. In spiritual existence, everything must be spiritual. Therefore there is no distinction between the body and its owner.

Translation

“Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has appeared here in Nīlācala [Jagannātha Purī] to spiritualize the entire dull material world.”

Word meanings

sahaje — naturally ; jaḍa - jagatera — the dull material world ; cetana karāite — to inspire to spiritual consciousness ; nīlācale — at Jagannātha Purī ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; hailā āvirbhūte — has appeared .

Translation

Hearing this, everyone present was greatly happy. But Svarūpa Dāmodara, who alone was very unhappy, began to speak in great anger.

Word meanings

śuniyā — hearing ; sabāra — of all of them ; haila — there was ; ānandita - mana — great happiness in the mind ; duḥkha pāñā — becoming unhappy ; svarūpa kahe — Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī began to speak ; sa - krodha vacana — angry words .

Translation

“You are a fool,” he said. “You have brought ill fortune upon yourself, for you have no knowledge of the existence of the two Lords, Jagannāthadeva and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, nor have you faith in Them.

Word meanings

āre mūrkha — O fool ; āpanāra — of yourself ; kaili — you have done ; sarva - nāśa — loss of all auspiciousness ; dui ta’ īśvare — in the two controllers ; tora — your ; nāhika viśvāsa — there is no faith .

Translation

“Lord Jagannātha is completely spiritual and full of transcendental bliss, but you have compared Him to a dull, destructible body composed of the inert, external energy of the Lord.

Word meanings

pūrṇa - ānanda — complete transcendental bliss ; cit - svarūpa — the spiritual identity ; jagannātha - rāya — Lord Jagannātha ; tāṅre — Him ; kaili — you have made ; jaḍa — inert ; naśvara — perishable ; prākṛta — material ; kāya — possessing a body .

Purport

If one thinks that the form of Lord Jagannātha is an idol made of wood, he immediately brings ill fortune into his life. According to the direction of the Padma Purāṇa, arcye viṣṇau śilā-dhīḥ . . . yasya vā nārakī saḥ: “Anyone who considers the Deity in the temple to be made of stone or wood is a resident of hell.” Thus one who thinks that the body of Lord Jagannātha is made of matter and who distinguishes between Lord Jagannātha’s body and His soul is condemned, for he is an offender. A pure devotee who knows the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness makes no distinction between Lord Jagannātha and His body. He knows that they are identical, just as Lord Kṛṣṇa and His soul are one and the same. When one’s eyes are purified by devotional service performed on the spiritual platform, one can actually envision Lord Jagannātha and His body as being completely spiritual. The advanced devotee, therefore, does not see the worshipable Deity as having a soul within a body like an ordinary human being. There is no distinction between the body and the soul of Lord Jagannātha, for Lord Jagannātha is sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha, just as the body of Kṛṣṇa is sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha. There is actually no difference between Lord Jagannātha and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, but the ignorant poet from Bengal applied a material distinction to the body of Lord Śrī Jagannātha.

Translation

“You have calculated Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full in six opulences, to be on the level of an ordinary living being. Instead of knowing Him as the supreme fire, you have accepted Him as a spark.”

Word meanings

pūrṇa — complete ; ṣaṭ - aiśvarya — possessing six opulences ; caitanya — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; svayam — Himself ; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; tāṅre — Him ; kaili — you have made ; kṣudra jīva — an ordinary living entity ; sphuliṅga - samāna — exactly equal to the spark .

Purport

In the Upaniṣads it is said, yathāgner visphuliṅgā vyuccaranti: the living entities are like sparks of fire, and His Lordship the Supreme Personality of Godhead is considered the original great fire. When we hear this śruti-vākya, or message from the Vedas, we should understand the distinction between the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa and the living entities. A person under the control of the external energy, however, cannot understand that distinction. Such a person cannot understand that the Supreme Person is the original great fire, whereas the living entities are simply small fragmental parts of that Supreme Personality of Godhead. As Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā (15.7) :

mamaivāṁśo jīva-loke jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ manaḥ-ṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛti-sthāni karṣati

“The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.”

There is a distinction between the body and the soul of the materially existing living being, but because Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Jagannātha do not possess material bodies, there is no distinction between Their bodies and souls. On the spiritual platform, body and soul are identical; there is no distinction between them. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.11.38) :

etad īśanam īśasya prakṛti-stho ’pi tad-guṇaiḥ na yujyate sadātma-sthair yathā buddhis tad-āśrayā

“This is the divinity of the Personality of Godhead. He is not affected by the qualities of material nature, even though He is in contact with them. Similarly, the devotees who have taken shelter of the Lord cannot be influenced by the material qualities.” His Lordship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is unaffected by the influence of the three modes of material nature. Indeed, His devotees are also unpolluted by the influence of the external energy because they engage in the service of His Lordship. Even the very body of a devotee becomes spiritualized, just as an iron rod put into fire becomes as qualified as fire because it becomes red hot and will immediately burn anything it touches. Therefore the poet from Bengal committed a great offense by treating Lord Jagannātha’s body and Lord Jagannātha, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as two different entities, material and spiritual, as if the Lord were an ordinary living being. The Lord is always the master of the material energy; therefore He is not doomed to be covered by the material energy like an ordinary living entity.

Translation

Svarūpa Dāmodara continued, “Because you have committed an offense to Lord Jagannātha and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, you will attain a hellish destination. You do not know how to describe the Absolute Truth, but nevertheless you have tried to do so. Therefore you must be condemned.

Word meanings

dui - ṭhāñi — unto both ; aparādhe — by offense ; pāibi — you will get ; durgati — hellish destination ; a - tattva - jña — one who has no knowledge of the Absolute Truth ; tattva varṇe — describes the Absolute Truth ; tāra — his ; ei — this ; rīti — course .

Purport

The brāhmaṇa poet from Bengal was an offender in the estimation of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, for although the poet had no knowledge of the Absolute Truth, he had nevertheless tried to describe it. The Bengali poet was an offender to both Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Jagannātha. Because he had made a distinction between Lord Jagannātha’s body and His soul and because he had indicated that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was different from Lord Jagannātha, he had committed offenses to Them both. A-tattva-jña refers to one who has no knowledge of the Absolute Truth or who worships his own body as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If an ahaṅgrahopāsaka-māyāvādī, a person engaged in fruitive activities or a person interested only in sense gratification describes the Absolute Truth, he immediately becomes an offender.

Translation

“You are in complete illusion, for you have distinguished between the body and the soul of His Lordship [Lord Jagannātha or Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu]. That is a great offense.

Word meanings

āra eka — another one ; kariyācha — you have done ; parama — the supreme ; pramāda — illusion ; deha - dehi - bheda — the distinction between the body and the soul ; īśvare — in His Lordship ; kaile — you have done ; aparādha — an offense .

Purport

When one differentiates between the body and the soul of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he immediately becomes an offender. Because the living entities in the material world are generally covered by material bodies, the body and the soul of an ordinary human being cannot be identical. The Supreme Lord bestows the fruits of one’s activities, for He is the Lord of the results of fruitive action. He is also the cause of all causes, and He is the master of the material energy. Therefore He is supreme. An ordinary living being, however, in his material condition, experiences the results of his own fruitive activities and therefore falls under their influence. Even in the liberated stage of brahma-bhūta identification, he engages in rendering service to His Lordship. Thus there are distinctions between an ordinary human being and the Supreme Lord. Karmīs and jñānīs who ignore these distinctions are offenders against the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

An ordinary human being is prone to be subjugated by the material energy, whereas His Lordship the Supreme Personality of Godhead — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Kṛṣṇa or Lord Jagannātha — is always the master of the material energy and is therefore never subject to its influence. His Lordship the Supreme Personality of Godhead has an unlimited spiritual identity, never to be broken, whereas the consciousness of the living entity is limited and fragmented. The living entities are fragmental portions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead eternally ( mamaivāṁśo jīva-loke jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ ) . It is not that they are covered by the material energy in conditioned life but become one with the Supreme Personality of Godhead when freed from the influence of material energy. Such an idea is offensive.

According to the considerations of Māyāvādī fools, the Supreme Personality of Godhead accepts a material body when He appears in the material world. A Vaiṣṇava, however, knows perfectly well that for Kṛṣṇa, Lord Jagannātha or Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu — unlike for ordinary human beings — there is no distinction between the body and the soul. Even in the material world His Lordship retains His spiritual identity; therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa exhibited all opulences even in His childhood body. There is no distinction between the body and the soul of Kṛṣṇa; whether He is in His childhood body or His youthful body, He is always identical with His body. Even though Kṛṣṇa appears like an ordinary human being, He is never subjected to the rules and regulations of the material world. He is svarāṭ, or fully independent. He can appear in the material world, but contrary to the offensive conclusion of the Māyāvāda school, He has no material body. In this connection one may again refer to the above-mentioned verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.11.38) :

etad īśanam īśasya prakṛti-stho ’pi tad-guṇaiḥ na yujyate sadātma-sthair yathā buddhis tad-āśrayā

The Supreme Person has an eternal spiritual body. If one tries to distinguish between the body and the soul of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he commits a great offense.

Translation

“At no time is there a distinction between the body and the soul of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His personal identity and His body are made of blissful spiritual energy. There is no distinction between them.

Word meanings

īśvarera — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; nāhi — there is not ; kabhu — at any time ; deha - dehi - bheda — distinction between the body and the soul ; svarūpa — personal identity ; deha — body ; cit - ānanda — all made of blissful spiritual energy ; nāhika vibheda — there is no distinction .

Purport

Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, is advaya-jñāna; in other words, there is no distinction between His body and His soul, for His existence is completely spiritual. According to the verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam beginning with the words vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam (1.2.11), the Absolute Truth is always to be understood from three angles of vision as Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān. Unlike the objects of the material world, however, the Absolute Truth is always one and always the same. Thus there is no distinction between His body and His soul. His form, name, attributes and pastimes, therefore, are completely distinct from those of the material world. One should know perfectly well that there is no difference between the body and the soul of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When one conceives of a distinction between His body and His soul, one is immediately conditioned by material nature. Because a person in the material world makes such distinctions, he is called baddha-jīva, a conditioned soul.

Translation

“ ‘There is no distinction between the body and the soul of the Supreme Personality of Godhead at any time.’

Word meanings

deha — of the body ; dehi — of the embodied ; vibhāgaḥ — distinction ; ayam — this ; na — not ; īśvare — in the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; vidyate — exists ; kvacit — at any time .

Purport

This quotation, which is included in the Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta (1.5.342), is from the Kūrma Purāṇa.

Translation

“ ‘O my Lord, I do not see a form superior to Your present form of eternal bliss and knowledge. In Your impersonal Brahman effulgence in the spiritual sky, there is no occasional change and no deterioration of internal potency. I surrender unto You because, whereas I am proud of my material body and senses, Your Lordship is the cause of the cosmic manifestation. Yet You are untouched by matter.

Word meanings

na — do not ; ataḥ param — here after ; parama — O Supreme ; yat — that which ; bhavataḥ — of Your Lordship ; svarūpam — eternal form ; ānanda - mātram — impersonal Brahman effulgence ; avikalpam — without changes ; aviddha - varcaḥ — without deterioration of potency ; paśyāmi — do I see ; viśva - sṛjam — creator of the cosmic manifestation ; ekam — one without a second ; aviśvam — and yet not of matter ; ātman — O supreme cause ; bhūta — body ; indriya — senses ; ātmaka — on such identification ; madaḥ — pride ; te — unto You ; upāśritaḥ — surrendered ; asmi — I am ; tat — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; vā — or ; idam — this present form ; bhuvana - maṅgala — they are all-auspicious for all the universes ; maṅgalāya — for the sake of all prosperity ; dhyāne — in meditation ; sma — as it were ; naḥ — unto us ; daraśitam — manifested ; te — Your ; upāsakānām — of the devotees ; tasmai — unto Him ; namaḥ — my respectful obeisances ; bhagavate — unto the Personality of Godhead ; anuvidhema — I perform ; tubhyam — unto You ; yaḥ — which ; anādṛtaḥ — is neglected ; naraka - bhāgbhiḥ — by persons destined for hell ; asat - prasaṅgaiḥ — by material topics .

Purport

“ ‘This present form, or any transcendental form expanded by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is equally auspicious for all the universes. Since You have manifested this eternal personal form, upon whom Your devotees meditate, I therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto You. Those who are destined to be dispatched to the path of hell neglect Your personal form because of speculating on material topics.’

These verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.9.3-4) were spoken by Lord Brahmā.

Translation

“Whereas Kṛṣṇa, the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is full of transcendental bliss, possesses all six spiritual opulences in full, and is the master of the material energy, the small conditioned soul, who is always unhappy, is the servant of the material energy.

Word meanings

kāhāṅ — whereas ; pūrṇa — full ; ānanda — bliss ; aiśvarya — opulences ; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; māyā - īśvara — the master of the material energy ; kāhāṅ — whereas ; kṣudra jīva — the little conditioned soul ; duḥkhī — unhappy ; māyāra kiṅkara — the servant of the material energy .

Purport

The living entity is an ever-conditioned servant of the material energy, whereas Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the master of the material energy. How, then, could they be on an equal level? There can be no comparison between them. His Lordship is always in a happy condition of transcendental bliss, whereas the conditioned soul is always unhappy because of his contact with the material energy. The Supreme Lord controls the material energy, and the material energy controls the conditioned souls. There is therefore no comparison between the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the ordinary living entities.

Translation

“ ‘The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supreme controller, is always full of transcendental bliss and is accompanied by the potencies known as hlādinī and samvit. The conditioned soul, however, is always covered by ignorance and embarrassed by the threefold miseries of life. Thus he is a treasure house of all kinds of tribulations.’ ”

Word meanings

hlādinyā — by the hlādinī potency ; samvidā — by the samvit potency ; āśliṣṭaḥ — surrounded ; sat - cit - ānandaḥ — always transcendentally blissful ; īśvaraḥ — the supreme controller ; sva — own ; avidyā — by ignorance ; saṁvṛtaḥ — surrounded ; jīvaḥ — the living entity ; saṅkleśa — of the threefold miseries ; nikara — of the multitude ; ākaraḥ — the mine .

Purport

This verse is found in Śrīdhara Svāmī’s Bhāvārtha-dīpikā (1.7.6), wherein he quotes Śrī Viṣṇu Svāmī.

Translation

Hearing this explanation, all the members of the assembly were struck with wonder. “Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī has spoken the real truth,” they admitted. “The brāhmaṇa from Bengal has committed an offense by wrongly describing Lord Jagannātha and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.”

Word meanings

śuni’ — hearing ; sabhā - sadera — of all the members of the assembly ; citte — in the minds ; haila — there was ; camatkāra — wonder ; satya — the truth ; kahe — said ; gosāñi — Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī ; duṅhāra — of both ; kariyāche — has done ; tiraskāra — offense .

Translation

When the Bengali poet heard this chastisement from Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, he was ashamed, fearful and astonished. Indeed, being like a duck in a society of white swans, he could not say anything.

Word meanings

śuniyā — hearing ; kavira — of the poet ; haila — there was ; lajjā — shame ; bhaya — fear ; vismaya — astonishment ; haṁsa - madhye — in a society of white swans ; baka — a duck ; yaiche — just as ; kichu — anything ; nāhi — not ; kaya — utters .

Translation

Seeing the poet’s unhappiness, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, who was naturally very kindhearted, advised him so that he could derive some benefit.

Word meanings

tāra — his ; duḥkha dekhi — observing the unhappiness ; svarūpa — Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī ; sadaya - hṛdaya — very kindhearted ; upadeśa kailā — gave instruction ; tāre — unto him ; yaiche — so that ; hita — benefit ; haya — there can be .

Translation

“If you want to understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,” he said, “you must approach a self-realized Vaiṣṇava and hear from him. You can do this when you have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.”

Word meanings

yāha — just go ; bhāgavata paḍa — read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ; vaiṣṇavera sthāne — from a self-realized Vaiṣṇava ; ekānta āśraya kara — fully surrender ; caitanya - caraṇe — at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu .

Purport

Herein Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī instructs the poet from Bengal to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from a pure Vaiṣṇava and learn from him. In India especially, there is now a class of professional Bhāgavatam readers whose means of livelihood is to go from village to village, town to town, reading Bhāgavatam and collecting dakṣiṇā, or rewards, in the form of money or goods, like umbrellas, cloth and fruit. Thus there is now a system of Bhāgavata business, with recitations called bhāgavata-saptāha that continue for one week, although this is not mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Nowhere does Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam say that the Bhāgavatam should be heard for one week from professionals. Rather, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.17) says, śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ: one should regularly hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from a self-realized Vaiṣṇava. By such hearing, one becomes pious: hṛdy antaḥ-stho hy abhadrāṇi vidhunoti suhṛt satām. As one thus hears the Bhāgavatam regularly and sincerely, his heart is purified of all material contamination:

naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā bhagavaty uttama-śloke bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhikī

“By regularly hearing the Bhāgavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.” ( Bhāg. 1.2.18 )

This is the proper process, but people are accustomed to being misled by professional Bhāgavatam reciters. Therefore Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī herein advises that one should not hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from professional reciters. Instead, one must hear and learn the Bhāgavatam from a self-realized Vaiṣṇava. Sometimes it is seen that when a Māyāvādī sannyāsī reads the Bhāgavatam, flocks of men go to hear jugglery of words that cannot awaken their dormant love for Kṛṣṇa. Sometimes people go to see professional dramas and offer food and money to the players, who are expert at collecting these offerings very nicely. The result is that the members of the audience remain in the same position of gṛham andha-kūpam, family affection, and do not awaken their love for Kṛṣṇa.

In the Bhāgavatam (7.5.30) , it is said, matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā mitho ’bhipadyeta gṛha-vratānām: the gṛha-vratas, those who are determined to continue following the materialistic way of life, will never awaken their dormant love of Kṛṣṇa, for they hear the Bhāgavatam only to solidify their position in household life and to be happy in family affairs and sex. Condemning this process of hearing the Bhāgavatam from professionals, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī says, yāha, bhāgavata paḍa vaiṣṇavera sthāne: “To understand the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, you must approach a self-realized Vaiṣṇava.” One should rigidly avoid hearing the Bhāgavatam from a Māyāvādī or other nondevotee who simply performs a grammatical jugglery of words to twist some meaning from the text, collect money from the innocent public, and thus keep people in darkness.

Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī strictly prohibits the behavior of the materialistic so-called hearers of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Instead of awakening real love for Kṛṣṇa, such hearers of the Bhāgavatam become more and more attached to household affairs and sex life ( yan maithunādi-gṛhamedhi-sukhaṁ hi tuccham ) . One should hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from a person who has no connection with material activities, or, in other words, from a paramahaṁsa Vaiṣṇava, one who has achieved the highest stage of sannyāsa. This, of course, is not possible unless one takes shelter of the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is understandable only for one who can follow in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Translation

Svarūpa Dāmodara continued, “Associate regularly with the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, for then only will you understand the waves of the ocean of devotional service.

Word meanings

caitanyera — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bhakta - gaṇera — of the devotees ; nitya — regularly ; kara — do ; saṅga — association ; tabeta — then only ; jānibā — you will understand ; siddhānta - samudra - taraṅga — the waves of the ocean of devotional service .

Purport

It is clearly to be understood in this connection that the followers of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s way of devotional service are eternal associates of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and perfect knowers of the Absolute Truth. If one immediately follows the principles of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by associating with His devotees, lusty desires for material enjoyment will vanish from one’s heart. Then one will be able to understand the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the purpose of listening to it. Otherwise such understanding is impossible.

Translation

“Only if you follow the principles of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees will your learning be successful. Then you will be able to write about the transcendental pastimes of Kṛṣṇa without material contamination.

Word meanings

tabeta — then only ; pāṇḍitya — learning ; tomāra — your ; ha - ibe — will become ; sa - phala — successful ; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; svarūpa - līlā — the transcendental pastimes ; varṇibā — you will describe ; nirmala — without material contamination .

Translation

“You have composed this introductory verse to your great satisfaction, but the meaning you have expressed is contaminated by offenses to both Lord Jagannātha and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

ei śloka — this verse ; kariyācha — you have composed ; pāñā santoṣa — getting satisfaction ; tomāra hṛdayera — of your heart ; arthe — by the meaning ; duṅhāya — to both ; lāge doṣa — there is an offense .

Translation

“You have written something irregular, not knowing the regulative principles, but the goddess of learning, Sarasvatī, has used your words to offer her prayers to the Supreme Lord.

Word meanings

tumi — you ; yaiche - taiche — somehow or other ; kaha — speak ; nā jāniyā rīti — not knowing the regulative principles ; sarasvatī — the goddess of learning ; sei - śabde — in those words ; kariyāche stuti — has made prayers .

Purport

Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī informed the bengali poet, “Because of your ignorance and your leaning toward Māyāvāda philosophy, you cannot distinguish the difference between the Māyāvāda and Vaiṣṇava philosophies. Therefore the process you have adopted to praise Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Jagannātha does not follow the proper system; indeed, it is irregular and offensive. Fortunately, however, through your words, the goddess of learning, mother Sarasvatī, has tactfully offered her prayers to her master, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.”

Translation

“Sometimes demons, and even Lord Indra, the King of heaven, chastised Kṛṣṇa, but mother Sarasvatī, taking advantage of their words, offered prayers to the Lord.

Word meanings

yaiche — just like ; indra — Lord Indra, the King of heaven ; daitya — demons ; ādi — and others ; kare — do ; kṛṣṇera bhartsana — chastisement to Kṛṣṇa ; sei - śabde — by those words ; sarasvatī — the goddess of learning ; karena stavana — offers prayers .

Translation

“[Lord Indra said:] ‘This Kṛṣṇa, who is an ordinary human being, is talkative, childish, impudent and ignorant, although He thinks Himself very learned. The cowherd men in Vṛndāvana have offended me by accepting Him. This has not been greatly appreciated by me.’

Word meanings

vācālam — talkative ; bāliśam — childish ; stabdham — impudent ; ajñam — foolish ; paṇḍita - māninam — thinking Himself a very learned scholar ; kṛṣṇam — Kṛṣṇa ; martyam — an ordinary mortal human being ; upāśritya — taking shelter of ; gopāḥ — the cowherd men ; me — unto me ; cakruḥ — committed ; apriyam — that which is not very much appreciated .

Purport

This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.25.5) .

Translation

“Indra, the King of heaven, being too proud of his heavenly opulences, became like a madman. Thus bereft of his intelligence, he could not restrain himself from speaking nonsensically about Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

aiśvarya - made — being proud of his opulence ; matta — maddened ; indra — the King of heaven ; yena — as if ; mātoyāla — a mad person ; buddhi - nāśa — bereft of intelligence ; haila — became ; kevala — only ; nāhika — there is not ; sāmbhāla — caution .

Translation

“Thus Indra thought, ‘I have properly chastised Kṛṣṇa and defamed Him.’ But Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning, took this opportunity to offer prayers to Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

indra bale — Indra says ; muñi — I ; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; kariyāchi — have done ; nindana — chastisement and defamation ; tāra - i mukhe — from his mouth ; sarasvatī — mother Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning ; karena stavana — offers prayers .

Translation

“The word ‘vācāla’ is used to refer to a person who can speak according to Vedic authority, and the word ‘bāliśa’ means ‘innocent.’ Kṛṣṇa spoke the Vedic knowledge, yet He always presents Himself as a prideless, innocent boy.

Word meanings

vācāla — talkative ; kahiye — I say ; veda - pravartaka — one who can speak with the authority of the Vedas ; dhanya — glorious ; bāliśa — childish ; tathāpi — still ; śiśu - prāya — like a child ; garva - śūnya — without pride .

Translation

“When there is no one else to receive obeisances, one may be called ‘anamra,’ or one who offers obeisances to no one. This is the meaning of the word ‘stabdha.’ And because no one is found to be more learned than Kṛṣṇa, He may be called ‘ajña,’ indicating that nothing is unknown to Him.

Word meanings

vandya - abhāve — because there is no one else to be offered obeisances ; anamra — the one who does not offer obeisances ; stabdha - śadbe — by the word stabdha (“impudent”) ; kaya — says ; yāhā haite — than whom ; anya — other ; vijña — learned scholar ; nāhi — is not ; se — He ; ajña — one by whom nothing is unknown ; haya — is .

Translation

“The word ‘paṇḍita-mānī’ can be used to indicate that Kṛṣṇa is honored even by learned scholars. Nevertheless, because of affection for His devotees, Kṛṣṇa appears like an ordinary human being and may therefore be called ‘martya.’

Word meanings

paṇḍitera — of learned scholars ; mānya - pātra — worshipable object ; haya — is ; paṇḍita - mānī — a person honored by the learned scholars ; tathāpi — still ; bhakta - vātsalye — because of being very affectionate to the devotees ; manuṣya abhimānī — presents Himself as an ordinary human being .

Translation

“The demon Jarāsandha chastised Kṛṣṇa, saying, ‘You are the lowest of human beings. I shall not fight with You, for You killed Your own relatives.’

Word meanings

jarāsandha kahe — Jarāsandha says ; kṛṣṇa — Kṛṣṇa ; puruṣa - adhama — the lowest of human beings ; tora saṅge — with You ; nā yujhimu — I shall not fight ; yāhi — because ; bandhu - han — killer of Your own relatives .

Purport

In this verse also, mother Sarasvatī offers prayers to Kṛṣṇa. The word puruṣa-adhama refers to the Personality of Godhead, under whom all other persons remain, or, in other words, puruṣa-uttama, the best of all living beings. Similarly, the word bandhu-han means “the killer of māyā .” In the conditioned state of life, one is closely related with māyā as a friend, but when one comes in contact with Kṛṣṇa one is freed from that relationship.

Translation

“Mother Sarasvatī takes ‘puruṣādhama’ to mean ‘puruṣottama,’ ‘He to whom all men are subordinate.’

Word meanings

yāhā haite — from whom ; anya — other ; puruṣa — persons ; sakala — all ; adhama — subordinate ; sei — he ; haya — is ; puruṣa - adhama — the person under whom all others remain ; sarasvatīra mana — the explanation of mother Sarasvatī .

Translation

“Nescience, or māyā, may be called ‘bandhu’ because she entangles everyone in the material world. Therefore by using the word ‘bandhu-han,’ mother Sarasvatī says that Lord Kṛṣṇa is the vanquisher of māyā.

Word meanings

bāndhe — binds ; sabāre — everyone ; tāte — therefore ; avidyā — nescience, or māyā ; bandhu — binder or relative ; haya — is ; avidyā - nāśaka — vanquisher of māyā ; bandhu - han - śabde — by the word bandhu-han ; kaya — mother Sarasvatī says .

Purport

Everyone is entangled in the illusory energy, but as stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.14) , mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te: as soon as one surrenders to Kṛṣṇa, he is freed from māyā. Therefore Kṛṣṇa may be called bandhu-han, the killer of māyā.

Translation

“Śiśupāla also blasphemed Kṛṣṇa in this way, but the goddess of learning, Sarasvatī, offered her prayers to Kṛṣṇa even by his words.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; śiśupāla — Śiśupāla ; karila nindana — blasphemed ; sei - vākye — by those words ; sarasvatī — the goddess of learning ; karena stavana — offers prayers .

Translation

“In that way, although your verse is blasphemous according to your meaning, mother Sarasvatī has taken advantage of it to offer prayers to the Lord.

Word meanings

taiche — in that way ; ei śloke — in this verse ; tomāra — your ; arthe — by the meaning ; nindā — blasphemy ; āise — comes ; sarasvatīra artha — the meaning of mother Sarasvatī ; śuna — hear ; yāte — by which ; stuti — prayers ; bhāse — appear .

Translation

“There is no difference between Lord Jagannātha and Kṛṣṇa, but here Lord Jagannātha is fixed as the Absolute Person appearing in wood. Therefore He does not move.

Word meanings

jagannātha — Lord Jagannātha ; hana — is ; kṛṣṇera ātma - svarūpa — identical with Kṛṣṇa ; kintu — but ; ihāṅ — here, at Jagannātha Purī ; dāru - brahma — the Absolute appearing as wood ; sthāvara - svarūpa — nonmoving identity .

Translation

“Thus Lord Jagannātha and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, although appearing as two, are one because They are both Kṛṣṇa, who is one alone.

Word meanings

tāṅhā - saha — with Him ; ātmatā — the quality of being the self ; eka - rūpa hañā — being one form ; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; eka - tattva - rūpa — one principle ; dui — two ; rūpa — forms ; hañā — becoming .

Translation

“The supreme desire to deliver the entire world meets in the two of Them, and for that reason also They are one and the same.

Word meanings

saṁsāra - tāraṇa - hetu — for delivering the entire world ; yei — that ; icchā - śakti — the potency of will ; tāhāra — of that will ; milana kari’ — by the meeting ; ekatā — oneness ; yaiche — so that ; prāpti — attainment .

Translation

“To deliver all the materially contaminated people of the world, that same Kṛṣṇa has descended in the moving form of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

sakala — all ; saṁsārī — materially contaminated ; lokera — persons ; karite uddhāra — to deliver ; gaura — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; jaṅgama — moving ; rūpe — in the form ; kailā avatāra — has descended .

Translation

“By visiting Lord Jagannātha one is freed from material existence, but not all men of all countries can come or be admitted here in Jagannātha Purī.

Word meanings

jagannāthera — of Lord Jagannātha ; darśane — by visiting ; khaṇḍāya saṁsāra — one is freed from material existence ; saba - deśera — of all countries ; saba - loka — all men ; nāre āsibāra — cannot come .

Translation

“Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, moves from one country to another, personally or by His representative. Thus He, as the moving Brahman, delivers all the people of the world.

Word meanings

śrī - kṛṣṇa - caitanya - prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; deśe deśe yāñā — moving from one country to another ; saba - loke nistārilā — delivered all conditioned souls ; jaṅgama - brahma — moving Brahman ; hañā — being .

Translation

“Thus I have explained the meaning intended by mother Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning. It is your great fortune that you have described Lord Jagannātha and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in that way.

Word meanings

sarasvatīra — of Sarasvatī ; artha — meaning ; ei — this ; kahiluṅ vivaraṇa — I have explained ; eho — this ; bhāgya — great fortune ; tomāra aiche — in such a way ; karile varṇana — you have described .

Translation

“Sometimes it so happens that one who wants to chastise Kṛṣṇa utters the holy name, and thus the holy name becomes the cause of his liberation.”

Word meanings

kṛṣṇe — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; gāli dite — to blaspheme or chastise ; kare nāma uccāraṇa — chants the name of Kṛṣṇa ; sei nāma — that holy name ; haya — becomes ; tāra — his ; muktira kāraṇa — the cause of liberation .

Translation

Upon hearing this proper explanation by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, the bengali poet fell down at the feet of all the devotees and took shelter of them with a straw in his mouth.

Word meanings

tabe — thereupon ; sei — that ; kavi — poet ; sabāra — of all ; caraṇe — at the feet ; paḍiyā — falling down ; sabāra — of all the devotees ; śaraṇa laila — took shelter ; dante — in the mouth ; tṛṇa lañā — taking a straw .

Translation

Thereupon all the devotees accepted his association. Explaining his humble behavior, they introduced him to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

tabe — thereupon ; saba bhakta — all the devotees ; tāre — him ; aṅgīkāra kailā — accepted as one of the associates ; tāra guṇa kahi’ — explaining his humble behavior ; mahāprabhure milāilā — introduced him to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu .

Translation

By the mercy of the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, that poet from Bengal gave up all other activities and stayed with them at Jagannātha Purī. Who can explain the mercy of the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu?

Word meanings

sei kavi — that poet ; sarva tyaji’ — giving up all nonsensical activities ; rahilā — remained ; nīlācale — at Jagannātha Purī ; gaura - bhakta - gaṇera — of the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kṛpā — the mercy ; ke — who ; kahite pāre — can explain .

Translation

I have thus described the narration concerning Pradyumna Miśra and how, following the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he listened to discourses about Kṛṣṇa spoken by Rāmānanda Rāya.

Word meanings

ei ta’ kahiluṅ — thus I have described ; pradyumna - miśra - vivaraṇa — the descriptive narration of Pradyumna Miśra ; prabhura ājñāya — on the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kaila — did ; kṛṣṇa - kathāra śravaṇa — listening to discourses on topics concerning Kṛṣṇa .

Translation

Within the narration I have explained the glorious characteristics of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, through whom Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally described the limits of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

tāra madhye — within these statements ; kahiluṅ — I have explained ; rāmānandera mahimā — the glories of Rāmānanda Rāya ; āpane — personally ; śrī - mukhe — from his mouth ; prabhu — the Lord ; varṇe — explains ; yāṅra — of whom ; sīmā — the limit of ecstatic love .

Translation

In the course of the narration, I have also told about the drama by the poet from Bengal. Although he was ignorant, because of his faith and humility he nevertheless obtained shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

prastāve — by the way ; kahiluṅ — I have explained ; kavira — of the poet ; nāṭaka - vivaraṇa — description of the drama ; ajña hañā — although being ignorant ; śraddhāya — with faith and love ; pāila — got ; prabhura caraṇa — shelter at the lotus feet Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu .

Translation

The pastimes of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu are the essence of nectar. From the stream of one of His pastimes flow hundreds and thousands of branches.

Word meanings

śrī - kṛṣṇa - caitanya - līlā — the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; amṛtera sāra — the essence of nectar ; eka - līlā — of one pastime ; pravāhe — by the stream ; vahe — flow ; śata - śata dhāra — hundreds and hundreds of branches .

Translation

Anyone who reads and hears these pastimes with faith and love can understand the truth about devotional service, devotees and the transcendental mellows of the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

śraddhā kari’ — with faith and love ; ei līlā — these pastimes ; yei — anyone who ; paḍe śune — reads and hears ; gaura - līlā — the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bhakti - bhakta - rasa - tattva — the truth about devotional service, devotees and their transcendental mellows ; jāne — understands .

Translation

Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

Word meanings

śrī - rūpa — Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī ; raghunātha — Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī ; pade — at the lotus feet ; yāra — whose ; āśa — expectation ; caitanya - caritāmṛta — the book named Caitanya-caritāmṛta ; kahe — describes ; kṛṣṇadāsa — Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī .

Purport

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, fifth chapter, describing how Pradyumna Miśra received instructions from Rāmānanda Rāya.