The Meeting of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Vallabha Bhaṭṭa

Translation

Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Simply by the causeless mercy of the devotees engaged in licking honey from His lotus feet, even a fallen soul becomes eternally liberated.

Word meanings

caitanya — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; caraṇa - ambhoja — at the lotus feet ; makaranda — the honey ; lihaḥ — unto those engaged in licking ; bhaje — I offer my obeisances ; yeṣām — of whom ; prasāda - mātreṇa — simply by the mercy ; pāmaraḥ — a fallen soul ; api — even ; amaraḥ — liberated ; bhavet — becomes .

Translation

All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

Word meanings

jaya jaya — all glories ; śrī - caitanya — to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; jaya — all glories ; nityānanda — to Nityānanda Prabhu ; jaya — all glories ; advaita - candra — to Advaita Ācārya ; jaya — all glories ; gaura - bhakta - vṛnda — to the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu .

Translation

The next year, all the devotees of Bengal went to visit Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and as previously, the Lord met each and every one of them.

Word meanings

varṣa - antare — the next year ; yata — all ; gauḍera — of Bengal ; bhakta - gaṇa — devotees ; āilā — came ; pūrva - vat — as previously ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; sabāre mililā — met every one of them .

Translation

Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed His pastimes with His devotees. Then a learned scholar named Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went to Jagannātha Purī to meet the Lord.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; vilāsa — pastimes ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bhakta - gaṇa lañā — with His devotees ; hena - kāle — at this time ; vallabha - bhaṭṭa — the greatly learned scholar named Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; milila — met ; āsiyā — coming .

Purport

For a description of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, one may refer to Madhya-līlā, chapter nineteen, text 61.

Translation

When Vallabha Bhaṭṭa arrived, he offered his obeisances at the lotus feet of the Lord. Accepting him as a great devotee, the Lord embraced him.

Word meanings

āsiyā — coming ; vandila — offered obeisances ; bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; prabhura caraṇe — at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bhāgavata - buddhye — accepting him as a great devotee ; kailā āliṅgane — embraced .

Translation

With great respect, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu seated Vallabha Bhaṭṭa near Him. Then Vallabha Bhaṭṭa very humbly began to speak.

Word meanings

mānya kari’ — with great respect ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; tāre — him ; nikaṭe — near ; vasāilā — seated ; vinaya kariyā — with great humility ; bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; kahite lāgilā — began to speak .

Translation

“For a long time,” he said, “I have desired to see You, my Lord. Now Lord Jagannātha has fulfilled this desire; therefore I am seeing You.

Word meanings

bahu - dina — for a long time ; manoratha — my desire ; tomā’ dekhibāre — to see You ; jagannātha — Lord Jagannātha ; pūrṇa kailā — has fulfilled ; dekhiluṅ tomāre — I have seen You .

Translation

“One who receives Your audience is fortunate indeed, for You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.

Word meanings

tomāra darśana — Your audience ; ye pāya — anyone who gets ; sei — he ; bhāgyavān — very fortunate ; tomāke dekhiye — I see You ; yena — as if ; sākṣāt bhagavān — directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead .

Translation

“Since one who remembers You is purified, why should it be astonishing that one becomes purified by seeing You?

Word meanings

tomāre — You ; ye — anyone who ; smaraṇa kare — remembers ; se — he ; haya — becomes ; pavitra — purified ; darśane — by seeing ; pavitra — purified ; habe — will be ; ithe — in this ; ki vicitra — what astonishment .

Translation

“ ‘One can immediately purify his entire house simply by remembering exalted personalities, to say nothing of directly seeing them, touching their lotus feet, washing their feet or offering them places to sit.’

Word meanings

yeṣām — of whom ; saṁsmaraṇāt — by remembrance ; puṁsām — of persons ; sadyaḥ — immediately ; śudhyanti — become purified ; vai — certainly ; gṛhāḥ — the houses ; kim punaḥ — what to speak of ; darśana — by seeing ; sparśa — touching ; pāda - śauca — washing the feet ; āsana - ādibhiḥ — by offering a seat and so on .

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.19.33) .

Translation

“The fundamental religious system in the Age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Unless empowered by Kṛṣṇa, one cannot propagate the saṅkīrtana movement.

Word meanings

kali - kālera — of this age of Kali ; dharma — the duty ; kṛṣṇa - nāma - saṅkīrtana — chanting the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; kṛṣṇa - śakti vinā — without being empowered by Lord Kṛṣṇa ; nahe — is not ; tāra — of that ; pravartana — propagation .

Translation

“You have spread the saṅkīrtana movement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore it is evident that You have been empowered by Lord Kṛṣṇa. There is no question about it.

Word meanings

tāhā — that ; pravartāilā — have propagated ; tumi — You ; ei — this ; ta — certainly ; pramāṇa — evidence ; kṛṣṇa - śakti — the energy of Kṛṣṇa ; dhara — bear ; tumi — You ; ithe nāhi āna — there is no question about it .

Purport

Śrī Madhvācārya has brought our attention to this quotation from the Nārāyaṇa-saṁhitā:

dvāparīyair janair viṣṇuḥ pañcarātrais tu kevalaiḥ kalau tu nāma-mātreṇa pūjyate bhagavān hariḥ

“In the Dvāpara-yuga one could satisfy Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu only by worshiping opulently according to the pāñcarātrikī system, but in the Age of Kali one can satisfy and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari simply by chanting His holy name.” Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains that unless one is directly empowered by the causeless mercy of Kṛṣṇa, one cannot become the spiritual master of the entire world ( jagad-guru ) . One cannot become an ācārya simply by mental speculation. The true ācārya presents Kṛṣṇa to everyone by preaching the holy name of the Lord throughout the world. Thus the conditioned souls, purified by chanting the holy name, are liberated from the blazing fire of material existence. In this way, spiritual benefit grows increasingly full, like the waxing moon in the sky. The true ācārya, the spiritual master of the entire world, must be considered an incarnation of Kṛṣṇa’s mercy. Indeed, he is personally embracing Kṛṣṇa. He is therefore the spiritual master of all the varṇas ( brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra ) and all the āśramas ( brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa ). Since he is understood to be the most advanced devotee, he is called paramahaṁsa-ṭhākura. Ṭhākura is a title of honor offered to the paramahaṁsa. Therefore one who acts as an ācārya, directly presenting Lord Kṛṣṇa by spreading His name and fame, is also to be called paramahaṁsa-ṭhākura.

Translation

“You have manifested the holy name of Kṛṣṇa throughout the entire world. Anyone who sees You is immediately absorbed in ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

jagate — throughout the entire world ; karilā — have done ; tumi — You ; kṛṣṇa - nāma prakāśe — manifestation of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; yei — anyone who ; tomā dekhe — sees You ; sei — he ; kṛṣṇa - preme — in ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa ; bhāse — floats .

Translation

“Without being especially empowered by Kṛṣṇa, one cannot manifest ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa, for Kṛṣṇa is the only one who gives ecstatic love. That is the verdict of all revealed scriptures.

Word meanings

prema — of ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa ; parakāśa — manifestation ; nahe — cannot be ; kṛṣṇa - śakti vine — without the power of Kṛṣṇa ; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; eka — the only one ; prema - dātā — giver of prema ; śāstra - pramāṇe — the verdict of all revealed scriptures .

Translation

“ ‘There may be many all-auspicious incarnations of the Personality of Godhead, but who other than Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa can bestow love of God upon the surrendered souls?’ ”

Word meanings

santu — let there be ; avatārāḥ — incarnations ; bahavaḥ — many ; puṣkara - nābhasya — of the Lord, from whose navel grows a lotus flower ; sarvataḥ bhadrāḥ — completely auspicious ; kṛṣṇāt — than Lord Kṛṣṇa ; anyaḥ — other ; kaḥ vā — who possibly ; latāsu — on the surrendered souls ; api — also ; prema - daḥ — the bestower of love ; bhavati — is .

Purport

This is a verse written by Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura. It is quoted by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in his Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta (1.5.37).

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “My dear Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, you are a learned scholar. Kindly listen to Me. I am a sannyāsī of the Māyāvāda school. Therefore I have no chance of knowing what kṛṣṇa-bhakti is.

Word meanings

mahāprabhu kahe — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied ; śuna — please hear ; bhaṭṭa — My dear Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; mahā - mati — learned scholar ; māyāvādī — in the Māyāvāda school ; sannyāsī — sannyāsī ; āmi — I ; nā jāni — I do not know ; kṛṣṇa - bhakti — devotional service to Kṛṣṇa .

Translation

“Nevertheless, My mind has become purified because I have associated with Advaita Ācārya, who is directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Word meanings

advaita - ācārya - gosāñi — Advaita Ācārya ; sākṣāt īśvara — directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; tāṅra saṅge — by His association ; āmāra — My ; mana — mind ; ha - ila — has become ; nirmala — purified .

Translation

“He is unparalleled in His understanding of all the revealed scriptures and the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore He is called Advaita Ācārya.

Word meanings

sarva - śāstre — in all revealed scriptures ; kṛṣṇa - bhaktye — in the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; nāhi — is not ; yāṅra — of whom ; sama — equal ; ataeva — therefore ; advaita — without a competitor ; ācārya — ācārya ; tāṅra nāma — His name .

Translation

“He is such a great personality that by His mercy He can convert even the meat-eaters [mlecchas] to the devotional service of Kṛṣṇa. Who, therefore, can estimate the power of His Vaiṣṇavism?

Word meanings

yāṅhāra — whose ; kṛpāte — by mercy ; mlecchera — of mlecchas ; haya — is ; kṛṣṇa - bhakti — devotional service to Kṛṣṇa ; ke — who ; kahite pāre — can describe ; tāṅra — His ; vaiṣṇavatā - śakti — power of Vaiṣṇavism .

Purport

It is extremely difficult to convert a mleccha, or meat-eater, into a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore anyone who can do so is situated on the highest level of Vaiṣṇavism.

Translation

“Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, the avadhūta, is also directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is always intoxicated with the madness of ecstatic love. Indeed, He is an ocean of love of Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

nityānanda — Lord Nityānanda ; avadhūta — paramahaṁsa ; sākṣāt īśvara — directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; bhāva - unmāde — by the madness of ecstatic love ; matta — overwhelmed, intoxicated ; kṛṣṇa - premera — of love of Kṛṣṇa ; sāgara — the ocean .

Translation

“Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya perfectly knows the six philosophical theses. He is therefore the spiritual master of the entire world in teaching the six paths of philosophy. He is the best of devotees.

Word meanings

ṣaṭ - darśana — of the six philosophical theses ; vettā — the knower ; bhaṭṭācārya - sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; ṣaṭ - darśane — in six philosophical theses ; jagat - guru — the spiritual master of the entire world ; bhāgavata - uttama — the best of the devotees .

Translation

“Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya has shown Me the limit of devotional service. Only by his mercy have I understood that devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is the essence of all mystic yoga.

Word meanings

teṅha — he ; dekhāilā — has shown ; more — to Me ; bhakti - yoga — of devotional service ; pāra — the limit ; tāṅra prasāde — by his mercy ; jāniluṅ — I have understood ; kṛṣṇa - bhakti — of devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa ; yoga — of the yoga system ; sāra — the essence .

Translation

“Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya is the ultimate knower of the transcendental mellows of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service. He has instructed Me that Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Word meanings

rāmānanda - rāya — Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya ; kṛṣṇa - rasera — of the transcendental mellows of Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service ; nidhāna — the mine ; teṅha — he ; jānāilā — has given instruction ; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; svayam — Himself ; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead .

Translation

“Through the mercy of Rāmānanda Rāya, I have understood that ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa is the highest goal of life and that spontaneous love of Kṛṣṇa is the highest perfection.

Word meanings

tāte — therefore ; prema - bhakti — devotional service in ecstatic love ; puruṣārtha — of all goals of human life ; śiromaṇi — the crown jewel ; rāga - mārge — on the path of spontaneous love ; prema - bhakti — love of Kṛṣṇa ; sarva - adhika — the highest of all ; jāni — I can understand .

Purport

Puruṣārtha (“the goal of life”) generally refers to religion, economic development, satisfaction of the senses and, finally, liberation. However, above these four kinds of puruṣārthas, love of Godhead stands supreme. It is called parama-puruṣārtha (the supreme goal of life) or puruṣārtha-śiromaṇi (the most exalted of all puruṣārthas ). Lord Kṛṣṇa is worshiped by regulative devotional service, but the highest perfection of devotional service is spontaneous love of Godhead.

Translation

“The servant, friend, superior and conjugal lover are the shelters of the transcendental mellows called dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and śṛṅgāra.

Word meanings

dāsya — servitude ; sakhya — friendship ; vātsalya — parental love ; āra — and ; ye — that ; śṛṅgāra — conjugal love ; dāsa — the servant ; sakhā — friend ; guru — superior ; kāntā — lover ; āśraya — the shelter ; yāhāra — of which .

Translation

“There are two kinds of emotion [bhāva]. Emotion with an understanding of the Lord’s full opulences is called aiśvarya-jñāna-yukta, and pure, uncontaminated emotion is called kevala. One cannot achieve shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, simply by knowing His opulences.

Word meanings

aiśvarya - jñāna - yukta — with understanding of the opulences ; kevala — pure ; bhāva — emotion ; āra — also ; aiśvarya - jñāne — by understanding of the opulences ; nā pāi — one does not get ; vrajendra - kumāra — the son of Nanda Mahārāja .

Purport

Vide Madhya-līlā, chapter nineteen, text 192.

Translation

“ ‘The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the son of mother Yaśodā, is accessible to those devotees engaged in spontaneous loving service, but He is not as easily accessible to mental speculators, to those striving for self-realization by severe austerities and penances, or to those who consider the body the same as the self.’

Word meanings

na — not ; ayam — this Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa ; sukha - āpaḥ — easily available ; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; dehinām — for materialistic persons who have accepted the body as the self ; gopikā - sutaḥ — the son of mother Yaśodā ; jñāninām — for persons addicted to mental speculation ; ca — and ; ātma - bhūtānām — for persons performing severe austerities and penances or for personal associates ; yathā — as ; bhakti - matām — for persons engaged in spontaneous devotional service ; iha — in this world .

Purport

This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.9.21) .

Translation

“The word ‘ātma-bhūta’ means ‘personal associates.’ Through the understanding of the Lord’s opulence, the goddess of fortune could not receive the shelter of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja.

Word meanings

ātma - bhūta - śabde — the word ātma-bhūta ; kahe — means ; pāriṣada - gaṇa — personal associates ; aiśvarya - jñāne — in the understanding of opulence ; lakṣmī — the goddess of fortune ; nā pāilā — could not get ; vrajendra - nandana — the shelter of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja .

Purport

Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, has complete knowledge of Kṛṣṇa’s opulences, but she could not achieve the association of Kṛṣṇa by dint of such knowledge. The devotees in Vṛndāvana, however, actually enjoy the association of Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“ ‘When Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was dancing with the gopīs in the rāsa-līlā, the gopīs were embraced around the neck by the Lord’s arms. This transcendental favor was never bestowed upon the goddess of fortune or the other consorts in the spiritual world. Nor was such a thing ever imagined by the most beautiful girls in the heavenly planets, girls whose bodily luster and aroma resemble the beauty and fragrance of lotus flowers. And what to speak of worldly women, who may be very, very beautiful according to material estimation?’

Word meanings

na — not ; ayam — this ; śriyaḥ — of the goddess of fortune ; aṅge — on the chest ; u — alas ; nitānta - rateḥ — who is very intimately related ; prasādaḥ — the favor ; svaḥ — of the heavenly planets ; yoṣitām — of women ; nalina — of the lotus flower ; gandha — having the aroma ; rucām — and bodily luster ; kutaḥ — much less ; anyāḥ — others ; rāsa - utsave — in the festival of the rāsa dance ; asya — of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa ; bhuja - daṇḍa — by the arms ; gṛhīta — embraced ; kaṇṭha — their necks ; labdha - āśiṣām — who achieved such a blessing ; yaḥ — which ; udagāt — became manifest ; vraja - sundarīṇām — of the beautiful gopīs, the transcendental girls of Vrajabhūmi .

Purport

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.47.60) .

Translation

“In pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness, a friend mounts the shoulder of Kṛṣṇa, and mother Yaśodā binds the Lord.

Word meanings

śuddha - bhāve — in pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness ; sakhā — friend ; kare — does ; skandhe — on the shoulder ; ārohaṇa — rising ; śuddha - bhāve — in pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness ; vraja - īśvarī — the Queen of Vraja ; karena bandhana — binds .

Purport

Śuddha-bhāva, pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness, is not dependent on an understanding of the Lord’s opulences. Even without such opulences, the devotee in śuddha-bhāva is inclined to love Kṛṣṇa as a friend or son.

Translation

“In pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness, without knowledge of the Lord’s opulences, a devotee considers Kṛṣṇa his friend or son. Therefore this devotional attitude is praised even by Śukadeva Gosvāmī and Vyāsadeva, the supreme authority.

Word meanings

mora sakhā — my friend ; mora putra — my son ; ei — this ; śuddha — pure ; mana — consciousness ; ataeva — therefore ; śuka - vyāsa — Śukadeva Gosvāmī and Vyāsadeva ; kare praśaṁsana — praise .

Translation

“ ‘Neither those who are engaged in self-realization, appreciating the Brahman effulgence of the Lord, nor those engaged in devotional service while accepting the Supreme Personality of Godhead as master, nor those who are under the clutches of Māyā, thinking the Lord an ordinary person, can understand that certain exalted personalities, after accumulating volumes of pious activities, are now playing with the Lord in friendship as cowherd boys.’

Word meanings

ittham — in this way ; satām — of persons who prefer the impersonal feature of the Lord ; brahma — of the impersonal effulgence ; sukha — by the happiness ; anubhūtyā — who is realized ; dāsyam — the mode of servitude ; gatānām — of those who have accepted ; para - daivatena — who is the supreme worshipable Deity ; māyā - āśritānām — for ordinary persons under the clutches of the external energy ; nara - dārakeṇa — with Him, who is like a boy of this material world ; sākam — in friendship ; vijahruḥ — played ; kṛta - puṇya - puñjāḥ — those who have accumulated volumes of pious activities .

Purport

This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.12.11).

Translation

“ ‘When mother Yaśodā saw all the universes within Kṛṣṇa’s mouth, she was astonished for the time being. The Lord is worshiped like Indra and other demigods by the followers of the three Vedas, who offer Him sacrifices. He is worshiped as impersonal Brahman by saintly persons who understand His greatness through studying the Upaniṣads, as the puruṣa by great philosophers who analytically study the universe, as the all-pervading Supersoul by great yogīs, and as the Supreme Personality of Godhead by devotees. Nevertheless, mother Yaśodā considered the Lord her own son.’

Word meanings

trayyā — by followers of the three Vedas who perform great sacrifices like those performed for Indra and other demigods ; ca — also ; upaniṣadbhiḥ — by the followers of the Upaniṣads, the topmost portion of Vedic knowledge ; ca — also ; sāṅkhya — by the philosophers who analytically study the universe ; yogaiḥ — by mystic yogīs ; ca — and ; sātvataiḥ — by devotees who follow the method of worship mentioned in the Pañcarātra and other Vedic literatures ; upagīyamāna — being sung ; māhātmyam — whose glories ; harim — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; sā — she, mother Yaśodā ; amanyata — considered ; ātma - jam — her own son, born out of her body .

Purport

This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.8.45) .

Translation

“ ‘O brāhmaṇa, what pious activities did Nanda Mahārāja perform to receive the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa as his son? And what pious activities did mother Yaśodā perform that made the Absolute Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa call her “Mother” and suck her breasts?’

Word meanings

nandaḥ — Nanda Mahārāja ; kim — what ; akarot — has performed ; brahman — O brāhmaṇa ; śreyaḥ — auspicious activities ; evam — thus ; mahā - udayam — rising to such an exalted position as the father of Kṛṣṇa ; yaśodā — mother Yaśodā ; vā — or ; mahā - bhāgā — most fortunate ; papau — drank ; yasyāḥ — of whom ; stanam — the breasts ; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead .

Purport

This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.8.46) .

Translation

“Even if a pure devotee sees the opulence of Kṛṣṇa, he does not accept it. Therefore pure consciousness is more exalted than consciousness of the Lord’s opulence.

Word meanings

aiśvarya — opulence ; dekhileha — even after seeing ; śuddhera — of a pure devotee ; nahe — is not ; aiśvarya - jñāna — knowledge of opulence ; ataeva — therefore ; aiśvarya ha - ite — than the understanding of opulence ; kevala - bhāva — pure emotion ; pradhāna — more eminent .

Translation

“Rāmānanda Rāya is extremely aware of transcendental mellows. He is incessantly absorbed in the happiness of ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa. It is he who has taught Me all this.

Word meanings

e saba — all this ; śikhāilā — instructed ; more — unto Me ; rāya - rāmānanda — Rāmānanda Rāya ; anargala — incessantly ; rasa - vettā — one who understands transcendental mellows ; prema - sukha - ānanda — absorbed in the happiness of ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa .

Translation

“It is impossible to describe the influence and knowledge of Rāmānanda Rāya, for only by his mercy have I understood the unalloyed love of the residents of Vṛndāvana.

Word meanings

kahana nā yāya — cannot be described ; rāmānandera prabhāva — the influence of Rāmānanda Rāya ; rāya — of Rāmānanda Rāya ; prasāde — by the mercy ; jāniluṅ — I have understood ; vrajera — of the inhabitants of Vraja ; śuddha bhāva — unalloyed love .

Translation

“The transcendental mellows of ecstatic love are personified by Svarūpa Dāmodara. By his association I have understood Vṛndāvana’s transcendental mellow of conjugal love.

Word meanings

dāmodara - svarūpa — Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī ; prema - rasa — the transcendental mellows of ecstatic love ; mūrtimān — personified ; yāṅra saṅge — by whose association ; haila — there was ; vraja — of Vraja ; madhura - rasa — of the mellow of conjugal love ; jñāna — knowledge .

Translation

“The unalloyed love of the gopīs and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is without any trace of material lust. The criterion of such transcendental love is that its only purpose is to satisfy Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

śuddha - prema — unalloyed love ; vraja - devīra — of the gopīs or Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī ; kāma - gandha - hīna — without a scent of material lust ; kṛṣṇa — of Kṛṣṇa ; sukha — happiness ; tātparya — the purpose ; ei — this ; tāra — of that ; cihna — the symptom .

Translation

“ ‘O dearly beloved! Your lotus feet are so soft that we place them gently on our breasts, fearing that Your feet will be hurt. Our lives rest only in You. Our minds, therefore, are filled with anxiety that Your tender feet might be wounded by pebbles as You roam about on the forest path.’

Word meanings

yat — which ; te — Your ; sujāta — very fine ; caraṇa - ambu - ruham — lotus feet ; staneṣu — on the breasts ; bhītāḥ — being afraid ; śanaiḥ — gently ; priya — O dear one ; dadhīmahi — we place ; karkaśeṣu — rough ; tena — with them ; aṭavīm — the path ; aṭasi — You roam ; tat — they ; vyathate — are distressed ; na — not ; kim svit — we wonder ; kūrpa - ādibhiḥ — by small stones and so on ; bhramati — flutters ; dhīḥ — the mind ; bhavat - āyuṣām — of those of whom Your Lordship is the very life ; naḥ — of us .

Purport

This verse is spoken by the gopīs in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.31.19) .

Translation

“Obsessed with pure love, without knowledge of opulences, the gopīs sometimes chastise Kṛṣṇa. That is a symptom of pure ecstatic love.

Word meanings

gopī - gaṇera — of the gopīs ; śuddha - prema — unalloyed love ; aiśvarya - jñāna - hīna — devoid of knowledge of opulences ; premete — of pure love ; bhartsanā — chastisement ; kare — do ; ei — this ; tāra — of that ; cihna — the symptom .

Translation

“ ‘O dear Kṛṣṇa, we gopīs have neglected the order of our husbands, sons, family, brothers and friends and have left their company to come to You. You know everything about our desires. We have come only because we are attracted by the supreme music of Your flute. But You are a great cheater, for who else would give up the company of young girls like us in the dead of night?’

Word meanings

pati — husbands ; suta — sons ; anvaya — family ; bhrātṛ — brothers ; bāndhavān — friends ; ativilaṅghya — without caring for ; te — Your ; anti — dear shelter ; acyuta — O infallible one ; āgatāḥ — have come ; gati - vidaḥ — who know everything of our activities ; tava — of You ; udgīta — by the singing flute ; mohitāḥ — being attracted ; kitava — O great cheater ; yoṣitaḥ — beautiful women ; kaḥ — who ; tyajet — would give up ; niśi — in the dead of night .

Purport

This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.31.16) .

Translation

“The conjugal love of the gopīs is the most exalted devotional service, surpassing all other methods of bhakti. Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa is obliged to say, ‘My dear gopīs, I cannot repay you. Indeed, I am always indebted to you.’

Word meanings

sarva - uttama — above all ; bhajana — devotional service ; ei — this ; sarva - bhakti — all types of bhakti ; jini’ — conquering ; ataeva — therefore ; kṛṣṇa kahe — Lord Kṛṣṇa says ; āmi — I ; tomāra — your ; ṛṇī — debtor .

Translation

“ ‘O gopīs, I am not able to repay My debt for your spotless service, even within a lifetime of Brahmā. Your connection with Me is beyond reproach. You have worshiped Me, cutting off all domestic ties, which are difficult to break. Therefore please let your own glorious deeds be your compensation.’

Word meanings

na — not ; pāraye — am able to make ; aham — I ; niravadya - saṁyujām — to those who are completely free from deceit ; sva - sādhu - kṛtyam — proper compensation ; vibudha - āyuṣā — with a lifetime as long as that of the demigods ; api — although ; vaḥ — to you ; yāḥ — who ; mā — Me ; abhajan — have worshiped ; durjaya - geha - śṛṅkhalāḥ — the chains of household life, which are difficult to overcome ; saṁvṛścya — cutting ; tat — that ; vaḥ — of you ; pratiyātu — let it be returned ; sādhunā — by the good activity itself .

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.32.22) .

Translation

“Completely distinct from love of Kṛṣṇa in opulence, pure love of Kṛṣṇa is on the highest level. On the surface of the world there is no devotee greater than Uddhava.

Word meanings

aiśvarya - jñāna haite — than transcendental love in opulence ; kevalā - bhāva — pure love ; pradhāna — more prominent ; pṛthivīte — on the surface of the world ; bhakta nāhi — there is no devotee ; uddhava - samāna — like Uddhava .

Translation

“Uddhava desires to take on his head the dust of the gopīs’ lotus feet. I have learned about all these transcendental loving affairs of Lord Kṛṣṇa from Svarūpa Dāmodara.

Word meanings

teṅha — he ; yāṅra — whose ; pada - dhūli — dust of the lotus feet ; karena prārthana — desires ; svarūpera saṅge — from Svarūpa Dāmodara ; pāiluṅ — I have gotten ; e saba — all these ; śikṣaṇa — instructions .

Translation

“ ‘The gopīs of Vṛndāvana have given up the association of their husbands, sons and other family members, who are very difficult to give up, and they have forsaken the path of chastity to take shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, Kṛṣṇa, which one should search for by Vedic knowledge. Oh, let me be fortunate enough to become one of the bushes, creepers or herbs in Vṛndāvana, for the gopīs trample them and bless them with the dust of their lotus feet.’

Word meanings

āsām — of the gopīs ; aho — oh ; caraṇa - reṇu — the dust of the lotus feet ; juṣām — devoted to ; aham syām — let me become ; vṛndāvane — in Vṛndāvana ; kim api — anyone ; gulma - latā - auṣadhīnām — among bushes, creepers and herbs ; yā — those who ; dustyajam — very difficult to give up ; sva - janam — family members ; ārya - patham — the path of chastity ; ca — and ; hitvā — giving up ; bhejuḥ — worshiped ; mukunda - padavīm — the lotus feet of Mukunda, Kṛṣṇa ; śrutibhiḥ — by the Vedas ; vimṛgyām — to be searched for .

Purport

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.47.61) was spoken by Uddhava. When Uddhava was sent by Kṛṣṇa to see the condition of the gopīs in Vṛndāvana, he stayed there for a few months in their association and always talked with them about Kṛṣṇa. Although this greatly pleased the gopīs and other residents of Vrajabhūmi, Vṛndāvana, Uddhava saw that the gopīs were severely afflicted by their separation from Kṛṣṇa. Their hearts were so disturbed that their minds were sometimes deranged. Observing the unalloyed devotion and love of the gopīs for Kṛṣṇa, Uddhava desired to become a creeper, a blade of grass or an herb in Vṛndāvana so that sometimes the gopīs would trample him and he would receive the dust of their lotus feet on his head.

Translation

“Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the teacher of the holy name, is the most exalted of all pure devotees. Every day he chants 300,000 holy names of the Lord.

Word meanings

haridāsa - ṭhākura — Haridāsa Ṭhākura ; mahā - bhāgavata - pradhāna — the topmost of all pure devotees ; prati dina — every day ; laya — chants ; teṅha — he ; tina - lakṣa nāma — 300,000 holy names of the Lord .

Translation

“I have learned about the glories of the Lord’s holy name from Haridāsa Ṭhākura, and by his mercy I have understood these glories.

Word meanings

nāmera mahimā — the glories of the holy name ; āmi — I ; tāṅra ṭhāñi — from him ; śikhiluṅ — have learned ; tāṅra prasāde — by his mercy ; nāmera — of the holy name ; mahimā — the glories ; jāniluṅ — I could understand .

Translation

“Ācāryaratna, Ācāryanidhi, Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Jagadānanda, Dāmodara, Śaṅkara, Vakreśvara, Kāśīśvara, Mukunda, Vāsudeva, Murāri and many other devotees have descended in Bengal to preach to everyone the glories of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and the value of love for Him. I have learned from them the meaning of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.”

Word meanings

ācāryaratna — Ācāryaratna ; ācāryanidhi — Ācāryanidhi ; paṇḍita - gadādhara — Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; jagadānanda — Jagadānanda ; dāmodara — Dāmodara ; śaṅkara — Śaṅkara ; vakreśvara — Vakreśvara ; kāśīśvara — Kāśīśvara ; mukunda — Mukunda ; vāsudeva — Vāsudeva ; murāri — Murāri ; āra — and ; yata — as many as ; bhakta - gaṇa — devotees ; gauḍe — in Bengal ; avatari’ — having descended ; kṛṣṇa - nāma — the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; prema — ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa ; kailā — did ; jagate — all over the world ; pracāra — preaching ; iṅhā sabāra — of all of them ; saṅge — by association ; kṛṣṇa - bhakti — devotional service to Kṛṣṇa ; ye — which ; āmāra — My .

Translation

Knowing that Vallabha Bhaṭṭa’s heart was full of pride, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke these words, hinting at how one can learn about devotional service.

Word meanings

bhaṭṭera hṛdaye — in the heart of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; dṛḍha — fixed ; abhimāna — pride ; jāni’ — understanding ; bhaṅgī kari’ — making a hint ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kahe — spoke ; eta vāṇī — these words .

Purport

Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was greatly proud of his knowledge in devotional service, and therefore he wanted to speak about Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu without understanding the Lord’s position. The Lord therefore hinted in many ways that if Vallabha Bhaṭṭa wanted to know what devotional service actually is, he would have to learn from all the devotees He mentioned, beginning with Advaita Ācārya, Lord Nityānanda, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Rāmānanda Rāya. As Svarūpa Dāmodara has said, if one wants to learn the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, one must take lessons from a realized soul. One should not proudly think that one can understand the transcendental loving service of the Lord simply by reading books. One must become a servant of a Vaiṣṇava. As Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has confirmed, chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra peyeche kebā: one cannot be in a transcendental position unless one very faithfully serves a pure Vaiṣṇava. One must accept a Vaiṣṇava guru ( ādau gurv-āśrayam ), and then by questions and answers one should gradually learn what pure devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is. That is called the paramparā system.

Translation

[Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was thinking:] “I am a great Vaiṣṇava. Having learned all the conclusions of Vaiṣṇava philosophy, I can understand the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and explain it very well.”

Word meanings

āmi — I ; se — that ; vaiṣṇava — Vaiṣṇava ; bhakti - siddhānta — conclusions of devotional service ; saba — all ; jāni — I know ; āmi — I ; se — that ; bhāgavata - artha — meaning of the Bhāgavatam ; uttama — very well ; vākhāni — can explain .

Translation

Such pride had existed for a long time within the mind of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, but as he heard the preaching of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, his pride was cut down.

Word meanings

bhaṭṭera manete — in the mind of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; ei — this ; chila — was existing ; dīrgha — for a long time ; garva — pride ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; vacana — the words ; śuni’ — by hearing ; se — that ; ha - ila — was ; kharva — cut down .

Translation

When Vallabha Bhaṭṭa heard from the mouth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu about the pure Vaiṣṇavism of all these devotees, he immediately desired to see them.

Word meanings

prabhura mukhe — from the mouth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; vaiṣṇavatā — the standard of Vaiṣṇavism ; śuniyā sabāra — hearing of all the devotees ; bhaṭṭera — of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; icchā — desire ; haila — was ; tāṅ - sabāre — all of them ; dekhibāra — to see .

Translation

Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said, “Where do all these Vaiṣṇavas live, and how can I see them?”

Word meanings

bhaṭṭa kahe — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said ; e saba vaiṣṇava — all these Vaiṣṇavas ; rahe — live ; kon sthāne — where ; kon prakāre — how ; pāimu — shall I attain ; ihāṅ - sabāra darśane — seeing all these Vaiṣṇavas .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Although some of them live in Bengal and some in other states, they have all come here to see the Ratha-yātrā festival.

Word meanings

prabhu kahe — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied ; keha gauḍe — some in Bengal ; keha — some ; deśa - antare — in other states ; saba — all ; āsiyāche — have come ; ratha - yātrā dekhibāre — to see the car festival of Lord Jagannātha .

Translation

“At present they are all living here. Their residences are in various quarters. Here you will get the audience of them all.”

Word meanings

ihāṅi — here ; rahena sabe — all of them are living ; vāsā — their residential places ; nānā - sthāne — in various quarters ; ihāṅi — here ; pāibā — will get ; tumi — you ; sabāra darśane — everyone’s audience .

Translation

Thereafter, with great submission and humility, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to dine at his home.

Word meanings

tabe — thereafter ; bhaṭṭa kahe — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said ; bahu — very ; vinaya — humble ; vacana — words ; bahu dainya kari’ — in all humility ; prabhure — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kaila nimantraṇa — invited to dine .

Translation

The next day, when all the Vaiṣṇavas came to the abode of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord introduced Vallabha Bhaṭṭa to them all.

Word meanings

āra dina — the next day ; saba vaiṣṇava — all the Vaiṣṇavas ; prabhu - sthāne — to the place of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; āilā — came ; sabā - sane — with all of them ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bhaṭṭe milāilā — introduced Vallabha Bhaṭṭa .

Translation

He was surprised to see the brilliance of their faces. Indeed, among them Vallabha Bhaṭṭa seemed just like a glowworm.

Word meanings

vaiṣṇavera — of the Vaiṣṇavas ; teja — the brilliance ; dekhi’ — seeing ; bhaṭṭera — of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; camatkāra — surprise ; tāṅ - sabāra — of all of them ; āge — in front ; bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; khadyota - ākāra — like a glowworm .

Translation

Then Vallabha Bhaṭṭa brought in a great quantity of Lord Jagannātha’s mahā-prasādam and sumptuously fed Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates.

Word meanings

tabe — at that time ; bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; bahu — much ; mahā - prasāda — Lord Jagannātha’s remnants ; ānāila — brought in ; gaṇa - saha mahāprabhure — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with His associates ; bhojana karāila — he fed .

Translation

All the sannyāsī associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, headed by Paramānanda Purī, sat on one side and thus partook of the prasādam.

Word meanings

paramānanda purī - saṅge — with Paramānanda Purī ; sannyāsīra gaṇa — all the sannyāsī associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; eka - dike — on one side ; vaise — sat down ; saba — all ; karite bhojana — to accept the prasādam. .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat in the midst of the devotees. Advaita Ācārya and Lord Nityānanda each sat on one side of the Lord. The other devotees sat in front of the Lord and behind Him.

Word meanings

advaita — Advaita Ācārya ; nityānanda - rāya — Lord Nityānanda ; pārśve — on the sides ; dui - jana — two personalities ; madhye — in the middle ; mahāprabhu vasilā — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat down ; āge — in front ; pāche — behind ; bhakta - gaṇa — all the devotees .

Translation

The devotees from Bengal, whom I am unable to count, all sat down in lines in the courtyard.

Word meanings

gauḍera — of Bengal ; bhakta yata — all the devotees ; kahite — to mention ; nā pāri — I am unable ; aṅgane — in the courtyard ; vasilā — sat down ; saba — all ; hañā — being ; sāri sāri — in lines .

Translation

When Vallabha Bhaṭṭa saw all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he was greatly surprised, and in devotion he offered his obeisances at the lotus feet of each and every one of them.

Word meanings

prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bhakta - gaṇa — devotees ; dekhi’ — seeing ; bhaṭṭera — of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; camatkāra — surprise ; prati - eke — unto each and every one ; sabāra — of all ; pade — at the lotus feet ; kaila namaskāra — he offered obeisances .

Translation

Svarūpa Dāmodara, Jagadānanda, Kāśīśvara and Śaṅkara, along with Rāghava and Dāmodara Paṇḍita, took charge of distributing the prasādam.

Word meanings

svarūpa — Svarūpa ; jagadānanda — Jagadānanda ; kāśīśvara — Kāśīśvara ; śaṅkara — Śaṅkara ; pariveśana kare — distribute ; āra — and ; rāghava dāmodara — Rāghava and Dāmodara .

Translation

Vallabha Bhaṭṭa had brought a large quantity of mahā-prasādam offered to Lord Jagannātha. Thus all the sannyāsīs sat down to eat with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

mahā - prasāda — food offered to Śrī Jagannātha ; vallabha - bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; bahu — a large quantity ; ānāila — had brought ; prabhu - saha — with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; sannyāsi - gaṇa — all the sannyāsīs ; bhojane vasila — sat down to accept the prasādam. .

Translation

Accepting the prasādam, all the Vaiṣṇavas chanted the holy names “Hari! Hari!” The rising vibration of the holy name of Hari filled the entire universe.

Word meanings

prasāda — the prasādam ; pāya — accept ; vaiṣṇava - gaṇa — all the Vaiṣṇavas ; bale — chant ; hari hari — “Hari, Hari” ; hari hari dhvani — the vibration of Hari, Hari ; uṭhe — rises ; saba brahmāṇḍa — the entire universe ; bhari’ — filling .

Translation

When all the Vaiṣṇavas had finished eating, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa brought a large quantity of garlands, sandalwood pulp, spices and betel. He worshiped the devotees very respectfully and became extremely happy.

Word meanings

mālā — garlands ; candana — sandalwood pulp ; guvāka — spices ; pāna — betel ; aneka — much ; ānila — brought ; sabā’ pūjā kari’ — worshiping all the Vaiṣṇavas ; bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; ānandita haila — became very happy .

Translation

On the day of the car festival, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began the congregational chanting. As He had done previously, He divided all the devotees into seven groups.

Word meanings

ratha - yātrā - dine — on the day of the car festival ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kīrtana ārambhilā — began the congregational chanting ; pūrva - vat — as previously ; sāta sampradāya — in seven groups ; pṛthak karilā — He divided .

Translation

Seven devotees — Advaita, Nityānanda, Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Vakreśvara, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, Rāghava Paṇḍita and Gadādhara Paṇḍita — formed seven groups and began dancing. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, chanting “Haribol!” wandered from one group to another.

Word meanings

advaita — Advaita Ācārya ; nityānanda — Lord Nityānanda ; haridāsa — Ṭhākura Haridāsa ; vakreśvara — Vakreśvara ; śrīvāsa — Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura ; rāghava — Rāghava ; paṇḍita - gadādhara — Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; sāta jana — seven persons ; sāta - ṭhāñi — in seven groups ; karena nartana — dance ; hari - bola bali’ — uttering “Haribol” ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; karena bhramaṇa — wanders .

Translation

Fourteen mṛdaṅgas resounded with the loud congregational chanting, and in each group was a dancer whose dance of ecstatic love inundated the entire world.

Word meanings

caudda mādala — fourteen mṛdaṅgas ; bāje — were being played ; ucca saṅkīrtana — loud congregational chanting ; eka eka — of each group ; nartakera — of the dancer ; preme — in ecstatic love ; bhāsila bhuvana — inundated the entire world .

Translation

Seeing all this, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was completely astonished. He was overwhelmed by transcendental bliss and lost himself.

Word meanings

dekhi’ — seeing ; vallabha - bhaṭṭera — of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; haila camatkāra — was astonishment ; ānande vihvala — overwhelmed by transcendental happiness ; nāhi — there was not ; āpana - sāmbhāla — keeping his normal position .

Translation

Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stopped the dancing of the others, and as He had done previously, He personally began to dance.

Word meanings

tabe — thereafter ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; sabāra — of all of them ; nṛtya rākhilā — stopped the dancing ; pūrvavat — as previously ; āpane — personally ; nṛtya — dancing ; karite lāgilā — began to perform .

Translation

Seeing the beauty of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the awakening of His ecstatic love, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa concluded, “Here is Lord Kṛṣṇa, without a doubt.”

Word meanings

prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; saundarya — the beauty ; dekhi — seeing ; āra — also ; prema - udaya — arousing of ecstatic love ; ei — this ; ta’ — certainly ; sākṣāt — directly ; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; bhaṭṭera — of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; ha - ila — was ; niścaya — certainty .

Translation

Thus Vallabha Bhaṭṭa witnessed the car festival. He was simply astonished by the characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

eta mata — in this way ; ratha - yātrā — the car festival ; sakale — all ; dekhila — saw ; prabhura caritre — by the character of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bhaṭṭera — of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; camatkāra haila — there was astonishment .

Translation

One day, after the festival was over, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went to the abode of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and submitted a request at the lotus feet of the Lord.

Word meanings

yātrā - anantare — after the Ratha-yātrā ; bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; yāi — going ; mahāprabhu - sthāne — to the place of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; prabhu - caraṇe — at the lotus feet of the Lord ; kichu — some ; kaila — made ; nivedane — submission .

Translation

“I have written some commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,” he said. “Would Your Lordship kindly hear it?”

Word meanings

bhāgavatera — on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ; ṭīkā — commentary ; kichu — some ; kariyāchi likhana — I have written ; āpane — You ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; yadi — if ; karena śravaṇa — would hear .

Translation

The Lord replied, “I do not understand the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Indeed, I am not a suitable person to hear its meaning.

Word meanings

prabhu kahe — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied ; bhāgavata - artha — the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ; bujhite nā pāri — I cannot understand ; bhāgavata - artha — the purport of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ; śunite — to hear ; āmi nahi adhikārī — I am not the proper person .

Translation

“I simply sit and try to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, and although I chant all day and night, I nevertheless cannot complete the chanting of My prescribed number of rounds.”

Word meanings

vasi’ — sitting ; kṛṣṇa - nāma — the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; mātra — simply ; kariye grahaṇe — I chant ; saṅkhyā - nāma — a fixed number of rounds ; pūrṇa — complete ; mora — My ; nahe — is not ; rātri - dine — throughout the entire day and night .

Translation

Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said, “I have tried to describe elaborately the meaning of Kṛṣṇa’s holy name. Kindly hear the explanation.”

Word meanings

bhaṭṭa kahe — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said ; kṛṣṇa - nāmera — of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa ; artha - vyākhyāne — description of the meaning ; vistāra — very elaborately ; kairāchi — I have made ; tāhā — that ; karaha śravaṇe — kindly hear .

Translation

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “I do not accept many different meanings for the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. I know only that Lord Kṛṣṇa is Śyāmasundara and Yaśodānandana. That’s all I know.

Word meanings

prabhu kahe — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied ; kṛṣṇa - nāmera — of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa ; bahu artha — many meanings ; nā māni — I do not accept ; śyāma - sundara — Śyāmasundara ; yaśodā - nandana — Yaśodānandana ; ei - mātra — only this ; jāni — I know .

Translation

“ ‘The only purport of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa is that He is dark blue like a tamāla tree and is the son of mother Yaśodā. This is the conclusion of all the revealed scriptures.’

Word meanings

tamāla - śyāmala - tviṣi — whose complexion is dark blue, resembling a tamāla tree ; śrī - yaśodā - stanam - dhaye — sucking the breast of mother Yaśodā ; kṛṣṇa - nāmnaḥ — of the name Kṛṣṇa ; rūḍhiḥ — the chief meaning ; iti — thus ; sarva - śāstra — of all revealed scriptures ; vinirṇayaḥ — the conclusion .

Purport

This is a verse from the Nāma-kaumudī

Translation

“I conclusively know these two names, Śyāmasundara and Yaśodānandana. I do not understand any other meanings, nor have I the capacity to understand them.”

Word meanings

ei artha — this meaning ; āmi — I ; mātra — only ; jāniye — know ; nirdhāra — conclusion ; āra — other ; sarva — all ; arthe — meanings ; mora — My ; nāhi — is not ; adhikāra — capacity to understand .

Translation

Being omniscient, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could understand that Vallabha Bhaṭṭa’s explanations of Kṛṣṇa’s name and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam were useless. Therefore He did not care about them.

Word meanings

phalgu - prāya — generally useless ; bhaṭṭera — of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; nāma - ādi — the holy name and so on ; saba — all ; vyākhyā — explanations ; sarva - jña — omniscient ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; jāni’ — knowing ; tāre — him ; karena upekṣā — neglects .

Translation

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu rigidly declined to hear his explanations, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went home feeling morose. His faith in the Lord and devotion to Him changed.

Word meanings

vimanā hañā — feeling morose ; bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; gelā — went ; nija - ghara — to his home ; prabhu - viṣaye — unto Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bhakti — devotion ; kichu — somewhat ; ha - ila — became ; antara — different .

Translation

Thereafter, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went to the home of Gadādhara Paṇḍita. He kept coming and going, showing affection in various ways, and thus maintained a relationship with him.

Word meanings

tabe — thereafter ; bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; gelā — went ; paṇḍita - gosāñira ṭhāñi — to Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi ; nānā mate — in various ways ; prīti kari’ — showing affection ; kare āsā - yāi — comes and goes .

Translation

Because Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not take Vallabha Bhaṭṭa very seriously, none of the people in Jagannātha Purī would hear any of his explanations.

Word meanings

prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; upekṣāya — because of neglect ; saba — all ; nīlācalera jana — people in Jagannātha Purī ; bhaṭṭera vyākhyāna — explanation of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; kichu — any ; nā kare śravaṇa — do not hear .

Translation

Ashamed, insulted and unhappy, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went to Gadādhara Paṇḍita.

Word meanings

lajjita — ashamed ; haila — became ; bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; haila apamāne — felt insulted ; duḥkhita hañā — being unhappy ; gela — went ; paṇḍitera sthāne — to Gadādhara Paṇḍita .

Translation

Approaching him with great humility, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said, “I have taken shelter of you, my dear sir. Kindly be merciful to me and save my life.

Word meanings

dainya kari’ — with great humility ; kahe — said ; niluṅ — I have taken ; tomāra śaraṇa — shelter of you ; tumi — you ; kṛpā kari’ — being merciful ; rākha — keep ; āmāra jīvana — my life .

Translation

“Please hear my explanation of the meaning of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s name. In that way the mud of the shame that has come upon me will be washed off.”

Word meanings

kṛṣṇa - nāma — of the name of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; vyākhyā — explanation ; yadi — if ; karaha śravaṇa — you hear ; tabe — then ; mora — my ; lajjā - paṅka — the mud of shame ; haya — there is ; prakṣālana — washing .

Translation

Thus Paṇḍita Gosāñi fell into a dilemma. He was in such doubt that he could not decide alone what to do.

Word meanings

saṅkaṭe — into a dilemma ; paḍila paṇḍita — Paṇḍita Gosāñi fell ; karaye saṁśaya — felt doubts ; ki karibena — what he will do ; eko — alone ; karite nā pāre niścaya — cannot make a decision .

Purport

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not take Vallabha Bhaṭṭa very seriously. Therefore Paṇḍita Gosāñi, or Gadādhara Gosāñi, fell into perplexity. What would be his position if he heard Vallabha Bhaṭṭa’s explanation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s name? Certainly Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would be displeased. Therefore Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi could not make a decision.

Translation

Although Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi did not want to hear it, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa began to read his explanation with great force.

Word meanings

yadyapi — although ; paṇḍita — Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; āra — also ; nā kailā aṅgīkāra — did not accept ; bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; yāi’ — going ; tabu — still ; paḍe — reads ; kari’ balātkāra — forcibly .

Translation

Because Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was a learned brāhmaṇa, Gadādhara Paṇḍita could not forbid him. Thus he began to think of Lord Kṛṣṇa. “My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa,” he requested, “please protect me in this danger. I have taken shelter of You.

Word meanings

ābhijātye — because of his aristocracy ; paṇḍita — Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; karite nāre niṣedhana — could not forbid ; e saṅkaṭe — in this danger ; rākha — please protect ; kṛṣṇa — O Lord Kṛṣṇa ; la - ilāṅa — I have taken ; śaraṇa — shelter .

Translation

“Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is present in everyone’s heart, and He will certainly know my mind. Therefore I do not fear Him. His associates, however, are extremely critical.”

Word meanings

antaryāmī — existing in everyone’s heart ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; jānibena — will know ; mora mana — my mind ; tāṅre — of Him ; bhaya — fear ; nāhi — there is not ; kichu — any ; viṣama — very critical ; tāṅra gaṇa — His associates .

Purport

As the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exists in everyone’s heart. Therefore He would know the circumstances under which Paṇḍita Gosāñi agreed to hear Vallabha Bhaṭṭa’s explanations, and certainly He would not be angry. However, the Vaiṣṇavas who were always with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu might not understand Gadādhara Paṇḍita’s inner consciousness, and they might accuse him of having compromised with Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, despite his having been neglected by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi was seriously thinking in this way.

Translation

Although Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi was not in the least at fault, some of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s devotees showed affectionate anger toward him.

Word meanings

yadyapi — although ; vicāre — conclusively ; paṇḍitera — of Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; nāhi kichu doṣa — there was no fault ; tathāpi — still ; prabhura gaṇa — associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; tāṅre — unto him ; kare praṇaya - roṣa — showed affectionate anger .

Translation

Every day, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa would come to the place of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to engage in unnecessary arguments with Advaita Ācārya and other great personalities, such as Svarūpa Dāmodara.

Word meanings

prati - aha — daily ; vallabha - bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; āise — comes ; prabhu - sthāne — to the place of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; udgrāha - ādi prāya — unnecessary argument ; kare — does ; ācārya - ādi - sane — with Advaita Ācārya and others .

Translation

Whatever conclusions Vallabha Bhaṭṭa eagerly presented were refuted by personalities like Advaita Ācārya.

Word meanings

yei — whatever ; kichu — any ; kare — does ; bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; siddhānta — conclusion ; sthāpana — establishing ; śunitei — hearing ; ācārya — Advaita Ācārya ; tāhā — that ; karena khaṇḍana — refuted .

Translation

Whenever Vallabha Bhaṭṭa entered the society of devotees, headed by Advaita Ācārya, he was like a duck in a society of white swans.

Word meanings

ācārya - ādi - āge — in front of Advaita Ācārya and others ; bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; yabe yabe — whenever ; yāya — goes ; rāja - haṁsa - madhye — in a society of white swans ; yena — as ; rahe — remained ; baka - prāya — like a duck .

Translation

One day Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said to Advaita Ācārya, “Every living entity is female [prakṛti] and considers Kṛṣṇa her husband [pati].

Word meanings

eka - dina — one day ; bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; puchila ācāryere — inquired from Advaita Ācārya ; jīva — the living entity ; prakṛti — female ; pati — husband ; kari’ — as ; mānaye kṛṣṇere — accepts Kṛṣṇa .

Translation

“It is the duty of a chaste wife, devoted to her husband, not to utter her husband’s name, but all of you chant the name of Kṛṣṇa. How can this be called a religious principle?”

Word meanings

pati - vratā — devoted to the husband ; hañā — being ; patira — of the husband ; nāma — name ; nāhi laya — does not utter ; tomarā — all of you ; kṛṣṇa - nāma - laha — chant the name of Kṛṣṇa ; kon — what ; dharma — religious principle ; haya — is it .

Translation

Advaita Ācārya responded, “In front of you is Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the personification of religious principles. You should ask Him, for He will give you the proper answer.”

Word meanings

ācārya kahe — Advaita Ācārya said ; āge — in front ; tomāra — of you ; dharma — religious principles ; mūrtimān — personified ; iṅhāre puchaha — ask Him ; iṅha — He ; karibena — will make ; ihāra — of this ; samādhāna — solution .

Translation

Hearing this, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “My dear Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, you do not know religious principles. Actually, the first duty of a chaste woman is to carry out the order of her husband.

Word meanings

śuni’ — hearing ; prabhu kahena — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said ; tumi — you ; nā jāna — do not know ; dharma - marma — real religious principles ; svāmi — of the husband ; ājñā — order ; pāle — obeys ; ei — this ; pati - vratā - dharma — the religious principle of a chaste woman .

Translation

“The order of Kṛṣṇa is to chant His name incessantly. Therefore one who is chaste and adherent to the husband Kṛṣṇa must chant the Lord’s name, for she cannot deny the husband’s order.

Word meanings

patira ājñā — the husband’s order ; nirantara — always ; tāṅra — His ; nāma — name ; la - ite — to chant ; patira ājñā — the order of the husband ; pati - vratā — a chaste, devoted wife ; nā pāre laṅghite — cannot deny .

Translation

“Following this religious principle, a pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa always chants the holy name. As a result of this, he gets the fruit of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.”

Word meanings

ataeva — therefore ; nāma laya — chants the holy name ; nāmera — of the name ; phala — result ; pāya — gets ; nāmera phale — as a result of chanting the holy name ; kṛṣṇa - pade — at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa ; prema — ecstatic love ; upajāya — develops .

Translation

Hearing this, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was speechless. He returned home greatly unhappy and began to consider thus.

Word meanings

śuniyā — hearing ; vallabha - bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; haila — became ; nirvacana — speechless ; ghare yāi’ — returning home ; mane — in the mind ; duḥkhe — unhappy ; karena cintana — began to consider .

Translation

“Every day I am defeated in this assembly. If by chance I am one day victorious, that will be a great source of happiness for me, and all my shame will go away. But what means shall I adopt to establish my statements?”

Word meanings

nitya — daily ; āmāra — my ; ei — this ; sabhāya — in the assembly ; haya — there is ; kakṣā - pāta — defeat ; eka - dina — one day ; upare — on top ; yadi — if ; haya — are ; mora — my ; bāt — words ; tabe — then ; sukha — happiness ; haya — is ; āra — and ; saba — all ; lajjā — shame ; yāya — goes ; sva - vacana — my statement ; sthāpite — to establish ; āmi — I ; ki — what ; kari — shall adopt ; upāya — means .

Translation

The next day when he came to the assembly of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he sat down after offering obeisances to the Lord and said something with great pride.

Word meanings

āra dina — the next day ; āsi’ — coming ; vasilā — sat down ; prabhure namaskari’ — offering obeisances to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; sabhāte — in the assembly ; kahena — he said ; kichu — something ; mane — within the mind ; garva kari’ — being proud .

Translation

“In my commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,” he said, “I have refuted the explanations of Śrīdhara Svāmī. I cannot accept his explanations.

Word meanings

bhāgavate — in my commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ; svāmīra — of Śrīdhara Svāmī ; vyākhyāna — explanation ; kairāchi khaṇḍana — I have refuted ; la - ite nā pāri — I cannot accept ; tāṅra — his ; vyākhyāna - vacana — words of explanation .

Translation

“Whatever Śrīdhara Svāmī reads he explains according to the circumstances. Therefore he is inconsistent in his explanations and cannot be accepted as an authority.”

Word meanings

sei — he ; vyākhyā karena — explains ; yāhāṅ — wherever ; yei — whatever ; paḍe — reads ; āni’ — accepting ; eka - vākyatā — consistency ; nāhi — there is not ; tāte — therefore ; svāmī — Śrīdhara Svāmī ; nāhi māni — I cannot accept .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu smilingly replied, “One who does not accept the svāmī [husband] as an authority I consider a prostitute.”

Word meanings

prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; hāsi’ — smiling ; kahe — said ; svāmī — husband ; nā māne — does not accept ; yei jana — anyone who ; veśyāra bhitare — among the prostitutes ; tāre — him ; kariye gaṇana — I count .

Translation

After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very grave. All the devotees present derived great satisfaction from hearing this statement.

Word meanings

eta kahi’ — saying this ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; mauna dharilā — became very grave ; śuniyā — hearing ; sabāra — of all the devotees ; mane — in the mind ; santoṣa ha - ilā — there was great satisfaction .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu descended as an incarnation for the benefit of the entire world. Thus He knew the mind of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa very well.

Word meanings

jagatera — of the entire world ; hita lāgi’ — for the benefit ; gaura - avatāra — the incarnation of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; antarera abhimāna — internal pride ; jānena — understands ; tāhāra — his .

Translation

By various hints and refutations, Lord Caitanya, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, corrected Vallabha Bhaṭṭa exactly as Kṛṣṇa had cut down the false pride of Indra.

Word meanings

nānā — various ; avajñāne — by disrespect ; bhaṭṭe — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; śodhena — purifies ; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; yaiche — as ; khaṇḍilena — cuts down ; indrera abhimāna — the pride of Indra .

Purport

Indra, the King of heaven, was very proud of his position. Therefore when the residents of Vṛndāvana decided not to perform the Indra-yajña but instead to perform the Govardhana-yajña in accordance with the instructions of Kṛṣṇa, Indra, because of his false pride, wanted to chastise the residents of Vṛndāvana. Thinking himself extremely powerful, Indra poured incessant rain upon Vṛndāvana, but Lord Kṛṣṇa immediately cut down his pride by lifting Govardhana Hill as an umbrella to save the residents of Vṛndāvana. In this way Kṛṣṇa proved Indra’s power most insignificant in the presence of His own omnipotence.

Translation

An ignorant living being does not recognize his actual profit. Because of ignorance and material pride, he sometimes considers profit a loss, but when his pride is cut down he can actually see his true benefit.

Word meanings

ajña jīva — the ignorant living entity ; nija - hite — his personal benefit ; ahita kari’ māne — considers a loss ; garva cūrṇa haile — when pride is cut down ; pāche — afterward ; ughāḍe nayane — the eyes open .

Translation

Returning home that night, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa thought, “Previously, at Prayāga, Lord Caitanya was very kind to me.

Word meanings

ghare āsi’ — coming home ; rātrye — at night ; bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; cintite lāgila — began to think ; pūrve — previously ; prayāge — at Prayāga ; more — unto me ; mahā - kṛpā kaila — showed great mercy .

Translation

“He accepted my invitation with His other devotees, and He was kind to me. Why has He now changed so much here at Jagannātha Purī?

Word meanings

sva - gaṇa - sahite — accompanied by His personal associates ; mora — my ; mānilā — accepted ; nimantraṇa — invitation ; ebe — now ; kene — why ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; mote — unto me ; phiri’ gela — has changed ; mana — mind .

Translation

“Being very proud of my learning, I am thinking, ‘Let me become victorious.’ Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, is trying to purify me by nullifying this false pride, for a characteristic of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is that He acts for everyone’s welfare.

Word meanings

āmi jiti — let me become victorious ; ei — this ; garva — pride ; śūnya — devoid of ; ha - uka — let be ; iṅhāra cita — this person’s mind ; īśvara - svabhāva — the characteristic of the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; karena — He does ; sabākāra — of everyone ; hita — benefit .

Translation

“I am falsely proud, advertising myself as a learned scholar. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu insults me just to favor me by cutting down this false pride.

Word meanings

āpanā jānāite — advertising myself ; āmi — I ; kari abhimāna — am falsely proud ; se garva — that pride ; khaṇḍāite — to cut down ; mora karena apamāna — He insults me .

Translation

“He is actually acting for my benefit, although I interpret His actions as insults. This is exactly like the incident in which Lord Kṛṣṇa cut down Indra, the great, puffed-up fool, to correct him.”

Word meanings

āmāra — my ; hita — benefit ; karena — He is doing ; iho — this ; āmi — I ; māni — consider ; duḥkha — unhappiness ; kṛṣṇera upare — upon Kṛṣṇa ; kaila — did ; yena — as ; indra — Indra ; mahā - mūrkha — the great fool .

Translation

Thinking in this way, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa approached Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu the next morning, and in great humility, offering many prayers, he sought shelter and surrendered at the lotus feet of the Lord.

Word meanings

eta cinti’ — considering this ; prāte — in the morning ; āsi’ — coming ; prabhura caraṇe — to the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; dainya kari’ — with great humility ; stuti kari’ — offering many prayers ; la - ila śaraṇe — took shelter .

Translation

Vallabha Bhaṭṭa admitted, “I am a great fool, and indeed I have acted like a fool by trying to demonstrate my learning to You.

Word meanings

āmi — I ; ajña jīva — a foolish living being ; ajña - ucita — fit for a fool ; karma — activity ; kailuṅ — I have done ; tomāra āge — before You ; mūrkha — a fool ; āmi — I ; pāṇḍitya prakāśiluṅ — have tried to demonstrate learning .

Translation

“My dear Lord, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You have showed mercy to me in a way just befitting Your position by insulting me to cut down all my false pride.

Word meanings

tumi — You ; īśvara — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; nija - ucita — exactly befitting Your position ; kṛpā — mercy ; ye — that ; karilā — You showed ; apamāna kari’ — by insulting ; sarva — all ; garva — pride ; khaṇḍāilā — You have cut down .

Translation

“I am an ignorant fool, for I interpret as an insult what is meant for my benefit. In this way I am just like King Indra, who out of ignorance tried to surpass Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord.

Word meanings

āmi — I ; ajña — ignorant fool ; hita - sthāne — what is for my benefit ; māni — I consider ; apamāne — as an insult ; indra — King Indra ; yena — as ; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; nindā — offense ; karila — did ; ajñāne — out of ignorance .

Translation

“My dear Lord, You have cured the blindness of my false pride by smearing my eyes with the ointment of Your mercy. You have bestowed so much mercy upon me that my ignorance is now gone.

Word meanings

tomāra kṛpā - añjane — by the eye ointment of Your mercy ; ebe — now ; garva - āndhya — the blindness of false pride ; gela — has gone ; tumi — You ; eta — such ; kṛpā — mercy ; kailā — have shown ; ebe — now ; jñāna — knowledge ; haila — has become .

Translation

“My dear Lord, I have committed offenses. Please excuse me. I seek shelter of You. Please be merciful unto me by placing Your lotus feet on my head.”

Word meanings

aparādha kainu — I have committed offenses ; kṣama — please excuse ; la - inu śaraṇa — I have taken shelter ; kṛpā kari’ — being merciful ; mora māthe — on my head ; dharaha caraṇa — please keep Your lotus feet .

Translation

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “You are both a greatly learned scholar and a great devotee. Wherever there are two such attributes, there cannot be a mountain of false pride.

Word meanings

prabhu kahe — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said ; tumi — you ; paṇḍita — very learned scholar ; mahā - bhāgavata — great devotee ; dui - guṇa — two qualities ; yāhāṅ — wherever ; tāhāṅ — there ; nāhi — there cannot be ; garva - parvata — the mountain of pride .

Translation

“You have dared criticize Śrīdhara Svāmī, and you have begun your own commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, not accepting his authority. That is your false pride.

Word meanings

śrīdhara - svāmī — a great commentator on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ; nindi’ — blaspheming ; nija - ṭīkā — your own commentary ; kara — you make ; śrīdhara - svāmī — Śrīdhara Svāmī ; nāhi māna’ — you do not accept ; eta — this ; garva — pride ; dhara — you bear .

Translation

“Śrīdhara Svāmī is the spiritual master of the entire world because by his mercy we can understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. I therefore accept him as a spiritual master.

Word meanings

śrīdhara - svāmi — of Śrīdhara Svāmī ; prasāde — by the mercy ; bhāgavata jāni — we can understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ; jagat - guru — the spiritual master of the entire world ; śrīdhara - svāmī — Śrīdhara Svāmī ; guru kari’ — as a spiritual master ; māni — I accept .

Translation

“Whatever you might write due to false pride, trying to surpass Śrīdhara Svāmī, would carry a contrary purport. Therefore no one would pay attention to it.

Word meanings

śrīdhara - upare — above Śrīdhara Svāmī ; garve — in false pride ; ye kichu likhibe — whatever you write ; artha - vyasta — the opposite meaning ; likhana sei — such writing ; loke nā mānibe — no one will care about it .

Purport

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam has many ṭīkās, or commentaries, following the paramparā system, but Śrīdhara Svāmī’s is first. The commentaries of all the other ācāryas follow his. The paramparā system does not allow one to deviate from the commentaries of the previous ācāryas. By depending upon the previous ācāryas, one can write beautiful commentaries. However, one cannot defy the previous ācāryas. The false pride that makes one think that he can write better than the previous ācāryas will make one’s comments faulty. At the present moment it has become fashionable for everyone to write in his own way, but such writing is never accepted by serious devotees. Because of false pride, every scholar and philosopher wants to exhibit his learning by interpreting the śāstras, especially the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, in his own way. This system of commenting in one’s own way is fully condemned by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore He says, ‘artha-vyasta’ likhana sei. commentaries written according to one’s own philosophical way are never accepted; no one will appreciate such commentaries on the revealed scriptures.

Translation

“One who comments on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam following in the footsteps of Śrīdhara Svāmī will be honored and accepted by everyone.

Word meanings

śrīdharera — of Śrīdhara Svāmī ; anugata — following in the footsteps ; ye — anyone who ; kare likhana — writes ; saba loka — everyone ; mānya kari’ — with great honor ; karibe grahaṇa — will accept .

Translation

“Put forth your explanation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam following in the footsteps of Śrīdhara Svāmī. Giving up your false pride, worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

śrīdhara - anugata — following in the footsteps of Śrīdhara Svāmī ; kara — put forth ; bhāgavata - vyākhyāna — an explanation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ; abhimāna chāḍi’ — giving up false pride or false conceptions ; bhaja — worship ; kṛṣṇa bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa .

Translation

“Abandoning your offenses, chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, the holy names of the Lord. Then very soon you will achieve shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.”

Word meanings

aparādha chāḍi’ — giving up offenses ; kara kṛṣṇa - saṅkīrtana — chant the holy name of the Lord ; acirāt — very soon ; pābe — you will get ; tabe — thereupon ; kṛṣṇera caraṇa — shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa .

Translation

Vallabha Bhaṭṭa Ācārya requested Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “If You are actually pleased with me, please accept my invitation once again.”

Word meanings

bhaṭṭa kahe — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said ; yadi — if ; more — with me ; ha - ilā prasanna — You are pleased ; eka - dina — one day ; punaḥ — again ; mora — my ; māna’ — accept ; nimantraṇa — invitation .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who had descended to deliver the entire universe, accepted the invitation of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa just to give him happiness.

Word meanings

prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; avatīrṇa hailā — made His advent ; jagat — the universe ; tārite — to deliver ; mānilena — He accepted ; nimantraṇa — the invitation ; tāre — to him ; sukha — happiness ; dite — to give .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is always eager to see everyone in the material world happy. Therefore sometimes He chastises someone just to purify his heart.

Word meanings

jagatera — of the entire world ; hita — welfare ; ha - uka — let there be ; ei — this ; prabhura mana — the mind of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; daṇḍa kari’ — punishing ; kare — does ; tāra — his ; hṛdaya — heart ; śodhana — purifying .

Translation

When Vallabha Bhaṭṭa invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates, the Lord was very pleased with him.

Word meanings

sva - gaṇa - sahita — with His associates ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nimantraṇa — invitation ; kailā — made ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; tāre — upon him ; tabe — then ; prasanna ha - ilā — became very pleased .

Translation

Jagadānanda Paṇḍita’s pure ecstatic love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very deep. It can be compared to the love of Satyabhāmā, who always quarreled with Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

jagadānanda - paṇḍitera — of Jagadānanda Paṇḍita ; śuddha — pure ; gāḍha — deep ; bhāva — ecstatic love ; satyabhāmā - prāya — like Satyabhāmā ; prema — his love for the Lord ; vāmya - svabhāva — quarrelsome nature .

Translation

Jagadānanda Paṇḍita was accustomed to provoking loving quarrels with the Lord. There was always some disagreement between them.

Word meanings

bāra - bāra — again and again ; praṇaya — loving ; kalaha — quarrel ; kare — makes ; prabhu - sane — with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; anyo - ’nye — mutual ; khaṭmaṭi — picking a quarrel ; cale — goes on ; dui - jane — between the two .

Translation

Gadādhara Paṇḍita’s pure ecstatic love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was also very deep. It was like that of Rukmiṇīdevī, who was always especially submissive to Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

gadādhara - paṇḍitera — of Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; śuddha — pure ; gāḍha — deep ; bhāva — ecstatic love ; rukmiṇī - devīra — of Rukmiṇīdevī ; yaiche — as ; dakṣiṇa - svabhāva — submissive nature .

Translation

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sometimes desired to see Gadādhara Paṇḍita’s affectionate anger, but because of his knowledge of the Lord’s opulences, his anger was never invoked.

Word meanings

tāṅra — his ; praṇaya - roṣa — affectionate anger ; dekhite — to see ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; icchā haya — there is a desire ; aiśvarya - jñāne — due to knowledge of opulences ; tāṅra — his ; roṣa — anger ; nāhi — not ; upajaya — is awakened .

Purport

Joking with Rukmiṇīdevī in Dvārakā, Kṛṣṇa once advised her to accept another husband because He was unfit for her. Rukmiṇīdevī, however, unable to understand His joking words, took them very seriously and immediately fell to the ground in fear of separation from Him. In the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita was always in disagreement with the Lord like Satyabhāmā, whereas Gadādhara Paṇḍita was always awed by the Lord’s opulence and was therefore submissive to the Lord under all circumstances.

Translation

For this purpose Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sometimes showed His apparent anger. Hearing of this anger inspired great fear in the heart of Gadādhara Paṇḍita.

Word meanings

ei — this ; lakṣya — aim ; pāñā — taking ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kailā roṣa - ābhāsa — made a semblance of anger ; śuni’ — hearing ; paṇḍitera — of Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; citte — in the heart ; upajila — arose ; trāsa — fear .

Translation

Previously, in kṛṣṇa-līlā, when Lord Kṛṣṇa joked with Rukmiṇīdevī, she took His words seriously, and fear awoke within her mind.

Word meanings

pūrve — previously ; yena — as ; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; yadi — when ; parihāsa kaila — play a joke ; śuni’ — hearing ; rukmiṇīra mane — in the mind of Rukmiṇīdevī ; trāsa — fear ; upajila — arose .

Translation

Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was accustomed to worshiping the Lord as child Kṛṣṇa. Therefore he had been initiated into the Bāla-gopāla mantra and was thus worshiping the Lord.

Word meanings

vallabha - bhaṭṭera — of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; haya — there is ; vātsalyaupāsana — worship as a parent ; bāla - gopāla - mantre — with the mantra of Bāla-gopāla, child Kṛṣṇa ; teṅho — he ; karena — practices ; sevana — worship .

Translation

In the association of Gadādhara Paṇḍita, his mind was converted, and he dedicated his mind to worshiping Kiśora-gopāla, Kṛṣṇa as a young boy.

Word meanings

paṇḍitera sane — in the association of Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; tāra — his ; mana — mind ; phiri’ gela — became converted ; kiśora - gopāla — of Kṛṣṇa as a young boy ; upāsanāya — to the worship ; mana dila — he gave his mind .

Translation

Vallabha Bhaṭṭa wanted to be initiated by Gadādhara Paṇḍita, but Gadādhara Paṇḍita refused, saying, “The work of acting as a spiritual master is not possible for me.

Word meanings

paṇḍitera ṭhāñi — from Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; cāhe — wanted ; mantra - ādi śikhite — to be initiated ; paṇḍita kahe — Gadādhara Paṇḍita said ; ei karma — this work ; nahe āmā haite — is not possible for me .

Translation

“I am completely dependent. My Lord is Gauracandra, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. I cannot do anything independently, without His order.

Word meanings

āmi — I ; paratantra — dependent ; āmāra prabhu — my Lord ; gauracandra — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; tāṅra — His ; ājñā — order ; vinā — without ; āmi — I ; nā — not ; ha - i — am ; svatantra — independent .

Translation

“My dear Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, your coming to me is not appreciated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore He sometimes speaks to chastise me.”

Word meanings

tumi — you ; ye — that ; āmāra ṭhāñi — to me ; kara āgamana — come ; tāhātei — due to that ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; more — unto me ; dena — gives ; olāhana — punishment by words .

Translation

Some days passed, and when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, finally pleased with Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, accepted his invitation, the Lord sent Svarūpa Dāmodara, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and Govinda to call for Gadādhara Paṇḍita.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; bhaṭṭera — of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; katheka dina — some days ; gela — passed ; śeṣe — at last ; yadi — when ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; tāre — upon him ; su - prasanna haila — became very pleased ; nimantraṇera dine — on the day of invitation ; paṇḍite bolāilā — He called for Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; svarūpa — Svarūpa Dāmodara ; jagadānanda — Jagadānanda Paṇḍita ; govinde — Govinda ; pāṭhāilā — He sent .

Translation

On the way, Svarūpa Dāmodara said to Gadādhara Paṇḍita, “Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to test you. Therefore He neglected you.

Word meanings

pathe — on the way ; paṇḍitere — unto Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; svarūpa — Svarūpa Dāmodara ; kahena vacana — said some words ; parīkṣite — to test ; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; tomāre — you ; kailā upekṣaṇa — neglected .

Translation

“Why did you not retaliate by reproaching Him? Why did you fearfully tolerate His criticism?”

Word meanings

tumi — you ; kene — why ; āsi’ — coming ; tāṅre — unto Him ; nā dilā — did not give ; olāhana — chastisement ; bhīta - prāya — as if fearful ; hañā — being ; kāṅhe — why ; karilā sahana — did you tolerate .

Translation

Gadādhara Paṇḍita said, “Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is completely independent. He is the topmost omniscient personality. It would not look well for me to talk to Him as if I were His equal.

Word meanings

paṇḍita kahena — Gadādhara Paṇḍita said ; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; svatantra — independent ; sarvajña - śiromaṇi — the best of the omniscient ; tāṅra sane — with Him ; haṭha kari — if I talk on an equal level ; bhāla — good ; nāhi māni — I do not think it is .

Translation

“I can tolerate whatever He says, bearing it upon my head. He will automatically be merciful to me after considering my faults and attributes.”

Word meanings

yei kahe — whatever He says ; sei sahi — I tolerate that ; nija - śire — on my head ; dhari’ — bearing ; āpane — automatically ; karibena kṛpā — He will be merciful ; guṇa - doṣa — attributes and faults ; vicāri’ — after considering .

Translation

After saying this, Gadādhara Paṇḍita went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and fell down crying at the lotus feet of the Lord.

Word meanings

eta bali’ — saying this ; paṇḍita — Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; prabhura sthāne — to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; āilā — came ; rodana kariyā — crying ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; caraṇe — at the lotus feet ; paḍilā — fell down .

Translation

Smiling slightly, the Lord embraced him and spoke sweet words so that others would also hear.

Word meanings

īṣat hāsiyā — smiling slightly ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kailā āliṅgana — embraced ; sabāre — all others ; śunāñā — causing to hear ; kahena — began to say ; madhura vacana — sweet words .

Translation

“I wanted to agitate you,” the Lord said, “but you did not become agitated. Indeed, you could not say anything in anger. Instead, you tolerated everything.

Word meanings

āmi — I ; cālāiluṅ — tried to agitate ; tomā — you ; tumi — you ; nā calilā — did not become agitated ; krodhe — in anger ; kichu — anything ; nā kahilā — you did not say ; sakala — everything ; sahilā — you tolerated .

Translation

“Your mind was not disturbed by My tricks. Rather, you stayed fixed in your simplicity. In this way you have purchased Me.”

Word meanings

āmāra bhaṅgīte — by My trick ; tomāra mana — your mind ; nā calilā — did not become disturbed ; sudṛḍha — firm ; sarala - bhāve — by simplicity ; āmāre — Me ; kinilā — you have purchased .

Translation

No one can describe the characteristics and ecstatic love of Gadādhara Paṇḍita. Therefore another name for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Gadādhara-prāṇanātha, “the life and soul of Gadādhara Paṇḍita.”

Word meanings

paṇḍitera — of Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; bhāva - mudrā — characteristics and ecstatic love ; kahana nā yāya — cannot be described ; gadādhara - prāṇa - nātha — the Lord of the life of Gadādhara ; nāma — name ; haila — became ; yāya — goes .

Translation

No one can say how merciful the Lord is to Gadādhara Paṇḍita, but people know the Lord as Gadāira Gaurāṅga, “the Lord Gaurāṅga of Gadādhara Paṇḍita.”

Word meanings

paṇḍite — upon Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; prasāda — mercy ; kahana nā yāya — no one can explain ; gadāira gaurāṅga — the Gaurāṅga of Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; bali’ — as ; yāṅre — whom ; loke gāya — people say .

Translation

No one can understand the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. They are like the Ganges, for hundreds and thousands of branches flow from even one of His activities.

Word meanings

caitanya - prabhura līlā — the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; ke — who ; bujhite pāre — can understand ; eka - līlāya — in one activity ; vahe — flow ; gaṅgāra — of the Ganges ; śata śata dhāre — hundreds and hundreds of branches .

Translation

Gadādhara Paṇḍita is celebrated all over the world for his gentle behavior, his brahminical attributes and his steady love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

paṇḍitera saujanya — the gentle behavior of Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; brahmaṇyatā - guṇa — the attributes of a perfect brāhmaṇa ; dṛḍha — firm ; prema - mudrā — characteristic of love ; loke — people ; karilā khyāpana — proclaimed .

Translation

The Lord purified Vallabha Bhaṭṭa by cleansing him of the mud of false pride. By such activities the Lord also instructed others.

Word meanings

abhimāna - paṅka — the mud of false pride ; dhuñā — washing ; bhaṭṭere śodhilā — purified Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; sei - dvārā — by that ; āra saba — all other ; loke — persons ; śikhāilā — instructed .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was actually always merciful within His heart, but He was sometimes externally negligent of His devotees. We should not be preoccupied with His external feature, however, for if we do so we shall be vanquished.

Word meanings

antare — within the heart ; anugraha — mercy ; bāhye — externally ; upekṣāra prāya — like neglect ; bāhya - artha — the external meaning ; yei — anyone who ; laya — takes ; sei — he ; nāśa yāya — becomes vanquished .

Translation

The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are very deep. Who can understand them? Only one who has firm, deep devotion to His lotus feet can understand these pastimes.

Word meanings

nigūḍha — very deep ; caitanya - līlā — the pastimes of Lord Caitanya ; bujhite — to understand ; kā’ra — of whom ; śakti — the power ; sei bujhe — he understands ; gauracandre — unto Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; yāṅra — whose ; dṛḍha bhakti — fixed devotion .

Translation

Another day, Gadādhara Paṇḍita invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to dinner. The Lord took prasādam at his home with His personal associates.

Word meanings

dina - antare — another day ; paṇḍita — Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; kaila prabhura nimantraṇa — invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; tāhāṅ — there ; bhikṣā kaila — took prasādam ; lañā nija - gaṇa — with His personal associates .

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura comments that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu acted as a very merciful well-wisher toward Vallabha Bhaṭṭa by externally neglecting him in many ways to purify him of his false pride in being a learned scholar. The Lord neglected Gadādhara Paṇḍita for a few days because of his associating with Vallabha Bhaṭṭa. Actually He was not at all displeased with Gadādhara Paṇḍita. Indeed, because Gadādhara Paṇḍita is the personal potency of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, there is no chance of the Lord’s being dissatisfied with him. However, a person who is too much attracted to externals cannot understand the deep meaning of these dealings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. If one therefore becomes disrespectful to Gadādhara Paṇḍita, he will surely be vanquished.

Translation

There Vallabha Bhaṭṭa took permission from Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and his desire to be initiated by Gadādhara Paṇḍita was thus fulfilled.

Word meanings

tāhāṅi — there ; vallabha - bhaṭṭa — Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; prabhura ājñā — the permission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; laila — took ; paṇḍita - ṭhāñi — from Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; pūrva - prārthita — as previously petitioned ; saba siddhi haila — everything was perfectly executed .

Translation

I have thus explained the Lord’s meeting with Vallabha Bhaṭṭa. By hearing of this incident, one can achieve the treasure of love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

ei ta’ kahiluṅ — thus I have explained ; vallabha - bhaṭṭera milana — the meeting of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa ; yāhāra śravaṇe — by hearing which ; pāya — one can get ; gaura - prema - dhana — the treasure of love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu .

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, seventh chapter, describing the meeting of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.