The Ecstatic Dancing of the Lord at Ratha-yātrā

Translation

May the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, who danced in front of the car of Śrī Jagannātha, be all glorified! By seeing His dancing, not only was the whole universe held in wonder, but Lord Jagannātha Himself became very much astonished.

Word meanings

saḥ — He ; jīyāt — may live long ; kṛṣṇa - caitanyaḥ — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; śrī - ratha - agre — in the front of the car ; nanarta — danced ; yaḥ — who ; yena — by whom ; āsīt — there was ; jagatām — of the whole universe ; citram — wonder ; jagannāthaḥ — Lord Jagannātha ; api — also ; vismitaḥ — was astonished .

Translation

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

Word meanings

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

Translation

All glories to the listeners of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta! Please hear the description of the dancing of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu at the Ratha-yātrā festival. His dancing is very enchanting. Please hear of it with great attention.

Word meanings

jaya — all glories ; śrotā - gaṇa — to the listeners ; śuna — please hear ; kari’ — keeping yourself ; eka mana — in one attention ; ratha - yātrāya — in the car festival ; nṛtya — dancing ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; parama — extremely ; mohana — enchanting .

Translation

The next day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His personal associates got up in the dark and attentively took their early-morning baths.

Word meanings

āra dina — the next day ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; hañā — becoming ; sāvadhāna — very careful ; rātre uṭhi’ — getting up at night ; gaṇa - saṅge — with His personal devotees ; kaila — took ; prātaḥ - snāna — bathing early in the morning .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His personal associates then went to see the ceremony of Pāṇḍu-vijaya. During this ceremony, Lord Jagannātha leaves His throne and gets up onto the car.

Word meanings

pāṇḍu - vijaya — the ceremony named Pāṇḍu-vijaya ; dekhibāre — for seeing ; karila — did ; gamana — go ; jagannātha — Lord Jagannātha ; yātrā — departure ; kaila — did ; chāḍi’ — leaving ; siṁhāsana — the throne .

Translation

King Pratāparudra in person, as well as his entourage, allowed the Pāṇḍu-vijaya ceremony to be seen by all the associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

āpani — personally ; pratāparudra — King Pratāparudra ; lañā — taking with him ; pātra - gaṇa — his associates ; mahāprabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; gaṇe — associates ; karāya — causes ; vijaya - darśana — seeing the Pāṇḍu-vijaya ceremony .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His prominent devotees — Advaita Ācārya, Nityānanda Prabhu and others — were very happy to observe how Lord Jagannātha began the Ratha-yātrā.

Word meanings

advaita — Advaita Ācārya ; nitāi — Lord Nityānanda Prabhu ; ādi — headed by ; saṅge — with ; bhakta - gaṇa — devotees ; sukhe — in great happiness ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; dekhe — sees ; īśvara - gamana — how the Lord is starting .

Translation

The very strongly built dayitās [carriers of the Jagannātha Deity] were as powerful as drunken elephants. They manually carried Lord Jagannātha from the throne to the car.

Word meanings

baliṣṭha dayitā’ gaṇa — very strong dayitās, or carriers of Jagannātha ; yena — as if ; matta hātī — drunken elephants ; jagannātha — of Lord Jagannātha ; vijaya — departure ; karāya — cause ; kari’ — performing ; hātāhāti — hand to hand .

Purport

The word dayitā refers to one who has received the mercy of the Lord. Lord Jagannātha has a number of stalwart servants known as dayitās. These servants do not come from very high-caste families ( brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas or vaiśyas ), but because they are engaged in the service of the Lord, they have been elevated to a respected position. Thus they are known as dayitās. These servants of Lord Jagannātha take care of the Lord from the day of the Snāna-yātrā up to the time the Lord is carried from the throne to the Ratha car. In the Kṣetra-māhātmya these dayitās are said to come from the śabaras, a caste that keeps and sells pigs. However, among the dayitās there are also many who come from the brāhmaṇa caste. Those dayitās coming from the brāhmaṇa families are called dayitā-patis, or leaders of the dayitās. The dayitā-patis offer food such as sweetmeats to Lord Jagannātha during the anavasara, the resting period after Snāna-yātrā. They also make the early-morning offering of sweetmeats daily. It is said that during the anavasara Lord Jagannātha suffers from fever and that the dayitā-patis offer Him an infusion of drugs represented by fruit juice. It is said that in the beginning Lord Jagannātha was worshiped by the śabaras and was known as the Deity Nīla Mādhava. Later, when the Deity was established in the temple, the Lord became known as Jagannātha. Because the Deities were taken from the śabaras, all the śabara devotees were elevated to the position of dayitās.

Translation

While carrying the Deity of Lord Jagannātha, some of the dayitās took hold of the shoulders of the Lord, and some caught His lotus feet.

Word meanings

kataka dayitā — some of the dayitās ; kare — do ; skandha — of the shoulders ; ālambana — capturing ; kataka — some ; dayitā — servants called dayitās ; dhare — catch ; śrī - padma - caraṇa — the lotus feet of the Lord .

Translation

The Lord Jagannātha Deity was bound at the waist by a strong, thick rope made of silk. From two sides the dayitās caught hold of this rope and raised the Deity.

Word meanings

kaṭi - taṭe — on the waist ; baddha — bound ; dṛḍha — strong ; sthūla — thick ; paṭṭa - ḍorī — rope made of silk ; dui dike — from two sides ; dayitā - gaṇa — the dayitās ; uṭhāya — raise ; tāhā — that rope ; dhari’ — catching .

Translation

Strong, puffed-up cotton pads called tulīs were spread out from the throne to the car, and the heavy Deity of Lord Jagannātha was carried from one pillowlike pad to the next by the dayitās.

Word meanings

ucca — puffed up ; dṛḍha — strong ; tulī — pads made of cotton ; saba — all ; pāti’ — spreading ; sthāne sthāne — from one place to another ; eka tulī — one pad ; haite — from ; tvarāya — very soon ; āra — next ; tulīte — on the pad ; āne — bring .

Translation

While the dayitās carried the heavy Jagannātha Deity from one pad to the next, some of the pads broke, and the cotton contents floated into the air. When they broke, they made a heavy cracking sound.

Word meanings

prabhu - pada - āghāte — by the kicking of Lord Jagannātha ; tulī — the pads ; haya — become ; khaṇḍa khaṇḍa — broken to pieces ; tulā — cotton from inside ; saba — all ; uḍi’ yāya — rises ; śabda — sound ; haya — there is ; pracaṇḍa — very much .

Translation

Lord Jagannātha is the maintainer of the whole universe. Who can carry Him from one place to another? The Lord moves by His personal will just to perform His pastimes.

Word meanings

viśvambhara — the maintainer of the universe ; jagannāthe — Lord Jagannātha ; ke — who ; cālāite — cause to be carried ; pāre — can ; āpana — personal ; icchāya — by His will ; cale — moves ; karite — to act ; vihāre — in pastimes .

Translation

While the Lord was transported from the throne to the car, tumultuous sounds were made on various musical instruments. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was chanting “Maṇimā! Maṇimā!” but He could not be heard.

Word meanings

mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; maṇimā maṇimā — an honorific ; kare — makes ; dhvani — the sound ; nānā — various ; vādya — of musical instruments ; kolāhale — by the tumultuous sound ; kichui — anything ; nā — not ; śuni — can hear .

Purport

The word maṇimā is used to address a respectable person in Orissa. Lord Jagannātha was being respectfully addressed by Śrī Caitanya in this way.

Translation

While the Lord was being carried from the throne to the car, King Pratāparudra personally engaged in the Lord’s service by cleansing the road with a broom that had a golden handle.

Word meanings

tabe — at this time ; pratāparudra — King Pratāparudra ; kare — does ; āpane — personally ; sevana — service ; suvarṇa — golden ; mārjanī — broom ; lañā — taking ; kare — does ; patha — road ; sammārjana — cleansing .

Translation

The King sprinkled the road with sandalwood-scented water. Although he was the owner of the royal throne, he engaged in menial service for the sake of Lord Jagannātha.

Word meanings

candana - jalete — with sandalwood water ; kare — does ; patha — road ; niṣecane — sprinkling ; tuccha — insignificant, menial ; sevā — service ; kare — performs ; vasi’ — although in possession of ; rāja - siṁhāsane — the royal throne .

Translation

Although the King was the most exalted respectable person, still he accepted menial service for the Lord; he therefore became a suitable candidate for receiving the Lord’s mercy.

Word meanings

uttama hañā — although very respectable ; rājā — the King ; kare — accepts ; tuccha — menial ; sevana — service ; ataeva — therefore ; jagannāthera — of Lord Jagannātha ; kṛpāra — in the matter of mercy ; bhājana — suitable candidate .

Translation

Upon seeing the King engaged in such menial service, Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy. Simply by rendering this service, the King received the mercy of the Lord.

Word meanings

mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; sukha pāila — felt very happy ; se - sevā — that kind of service ; dekhite — to see ; mahāprabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kṛpā — mercy ; haila — there was ; se - sevā ha - ite — because of that service .

Purport

Unless one receives the mercy of the Lord, he cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead or engage in His devotional service.

athāpi te deva padāmbuja-dvaya- prasāda-leśānugṛhīta eva hi jānāti tattvaṁ bhagavan-mahimno na cānya eko ’pi ciraṁ vicinvan

( Bhāg. 10.14.29 )

A devotee who has received even a small fraction of the mercy of the Lord can understand Him. Others may engage in theoretical speculation to understand the Lord, but they cannot know anything about Him. Although Mahārāja Pratāparudra was very eager to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord refused to see him. But when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the King engaged in menial service for Lord Jagannātha, He became very happy. Thus the King became eligible to receive Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mercy. If a devotee accepts Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as the universal guru and Lord Jagannātha as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa, he is benefited by the combined mercy of Kṛṣṇa and guru. That is stated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in His instructions to Rūpa Gosvāmī (Cc. Madhya 19.151):

brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja

The seed of devotional service fructifies and becomes a transcendental creeper. Finally it reaches the lotus feet of the Lord in the spiritual sky. This seed is obtained by the mercy of the Lord and the guru. By the Lord’s mercy one gets the association of a bona fide guru, and by the mercy of the guru one gets a chance to render devotional service. Devotional service, the science of bhakti-yoga, carries one from this material world to the spiritual world.

Translation

Everyone was astonished to see the decorations on the Ratha car. The car appeared to be newly made of gold, and it was as high as Mount Sumeru.

Word meanings

rathera — of the car ; sājani — decoration ; dekhi’ — by seeing ; loke — everyone ; camatkāra — astonished ; nava — new ; hema - maya — golden ; ratha — car ; sumeru - ākāra — as high as the mountain Sumeru .

Purport

In the year 1973 there was a gorgeous Ratha-yātrā festival in London, England, and the car was brought to Trafalgar Square. The London daily newspaper The Guardian published a front-page photo caption: “ISKCON Ratha-yātrā is rival to the Nelson Column in Trafalgar Square.” The Nelson Column is a very impressive statue of Lord Nelson and can be seen from a good distance. Just as the residents of Purī compared the Ratha-yātrā car to Mount Sumeru, the residents of London considered the car rival to the Nelson Monument.

Translation

The decorations included bright mirrors and hundreds and hundreds of cāmaras [white whisks made of yak tails]. On top of the car were a neat and clean canopy and a very beautiful flag.

Word meanings

śata śata — hundreds upon hundreds ; su - cāmara — beautiful white whisks ; darpaṇe — with mirrors ; ujjvala — very bright ; upare — on the top ; patākā — flag ; śobhe — looks beautiful ; cāṅdoyā — canopy ; nirmala — thoroughly cleansed .

Translation

The car was also decorated with silken cloth and various pictures. Many brass bells, gongs and ankle bells rang.

Word meanings

ghāghara — gongs ; kiṅkiṇī — ankle bells ; bāje — were sounding ; ghaṇṭāra — of bells ; kvaṇita — tinkling sound ; nānā — various ; citra — pictures ; paṭṭa - vastre — with silken cloth ; ratha — the car ; vibhūṣita — decorated .

Translation

For the pastimes of the Ratha-yātrā ceremony, Lord Jagannātha got aboard one car, and His sister, Subhadrā, and elder brother, Balarāma, got aboard two other cars.

Word meanings

līlāya — for the matter of pastimes ; caḍila — got up ; īśvara — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; rathera — a car ; upara — aboard ; āra dui — another two ; rathe — in the cars ; caḍe — got up ; subhadrā — the sister of Lord Jagannātha ; haladhara — Balarāma .

Translation

For fifteen days the Lord had remained in a secluded place with the supreme goddess of fortune and had performed His pastimes with her.

Word meanings

pañca - daśa dina — fifteen days ; īśvara — the Lord ; mahā - lakṣmī — the supreme goddess of fortune ; lañā — with ; tāṅra saṅge — in her company ; krīḍā — enjoyment ; kaila — performed ; nibhṛte — in a solitary place ; vasiyā — sitting .

Purport

The fifteen-day period of anavasara is also called nibhṛta, in honor of the solitary place where the supreme goddess of fortune lives. After living there a fortnight, Lord Jagannātha took permission from the goddess of fortune to leave.

Translation

Having taken permission from the goddess of fortune, the Lord came out to ride on the Ratha car and perform His pastimes for the pleasure of the devotees.

Word meanings

tāṅhāra sammati — her permission ; lañā — taking ; bhakte — the devotees ; sukha dite — to please ; rathe caḍi’ — riding on the car ; bāhira haila — came out ; vihāra karite — to perform pastimes .

Purport

In this connection, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura comments that as an ideal husband, Lord Jagannātha remained fifteen days in a secluded place with His wife, the supreme goddess of fortune. Nonetheless, the Lord wanted to come out of seclusion to give happiness to His devotees. The Lord enjoys Himself in two ways, known as svakīya and parakīya. The Lord’s conjugal love in the svakīya-rasa relates to the regulative principles observed in Dvārakā, where the Lord has many married queens. But in Vṛndāvana the conjugal love of the Lord is not with His married wives but with His girlfriends, the gopīs. Conjugal love with the gopīs is called parakīya-rasa. Lord Jagannātha leaves the secluded place where He enjoys the company of the supreme goddess of fortune in svakīya-rasa, and He goes to Vṛndāvana, where He enjoys the parakīya-rasa. Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura therefore reminds us that the Lord’s pleasure in parakīya-rasa is superior to His pleasure in svakīya-rasa.

In the material world, parakīya-rasa, or loving affairs with unmarried girlfriends, is the most degraded relationship, but in the spiritual world this type of loving affair is considered the supreme enjoyment. In the material world everything is but a reflection of the spiritual world, and that reflection is perverted. We cannot understand the affairs of the spiritual world on the basis of our experience in the material world. The Lord’s pastimes with the gopīs are therefore misunderstood by mundane scholars and word-wranglers. The parakīya-rasa of the spiritual world should not be discussed except by one who is very advanced in pure devotional service. The parakīya-rasa in the spiritual world and that in the material world are not comparable. The former is like gold, and the latter is like iron. Because the difference between the two is so great, they cannot actually be compared. However, just as a knowledgeable person can easily distinguish gold from iron, one who has the proper realization can easily distinguish the transcendental activities of the spiritual world from material activities.

Translation

The fine, white sand spread all over the path resembled the bank of the Yamunā, and the small gardens on both sides looked just like those in Vṛndāvana.

Word meanings

sūkṣma — fine ; śveta - bālu — white sand ; pathe — on the path ; pulinera sama — just like the bank of the Yamunā ; dui dike — on two sides ; ṭoṭā — gardens ; saba — all ; yena — like ; vṛndāvana — the holy place Vṛndāvana .

Translation

As Lord Jagannātha rode in His car and saw the beauty on both sides, His mind was filled with pleasure.

Word meanings

rathe caḍi’ — riding on the car ; jagannātha — Lord Jagannātha ; karilā gamana — was passing ; dui - pārśve — on both sides ; dekhi’ — seeing ; cale — goes ; ānandita — full of pleasure ; mana — mind .

Translation

The pullers of the car were known as gauḍas, and they pulled with great pleasure. However, the car sometimes went very fast and sometimes very slow.

Word meanings

gauḍa — the pullers of the car ; saba — all ; ratha — the car ; ṭāne — pull ; kariyā — feeling ; ānanda — happiness ; kṣaṇe — sometimes ; śīghra cale — goes very fast ; ratha — the car ; kṣaṇe — sometimes ; cale — goes ; manda — very slow .

Translation

Sometimes the car would stand still and not move, even though it was pulled very vigorously. The chariot therefore moved by the will of the Lord, not by the strength of any ordinary person.

Word meanings

kṣaṇe — sometimes ; sthira — still ; hañā — becoming ; rahe — stays ; ṭānileha — in spite of being pulled ; nā cale — does not go ; īśvara - icchāya — by the will of the Lord ; cale — goes ; nā cale — does not go ; kāro — of anyone ; bale — by the strength .

Translation

As the car stood still, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gathered all His devotees and, with His own hand, decorated them with flower garlands and sandalwood pulp.

Word meanings

tabe — at that time ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; saba — all ; lañā — taking ; bhakta - gaṇa — devotees ; sva - haste — by His own hand ; parāila — decorated ; sabe — everyone ; mālya - candana — with flower garlands and pulp of sandalwood .

Translation

Paramānanda Purī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī were both personally given garlands and sandalwood pulp from the very hands of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This increased their transcendental pleasure.

Word meanings

paramānanda purī — Paramānanda Purī ; āra — and ; bhāratī brahmānanda — Brahmānanda Bhāratī ; śrī - haste — by the hand of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; candana — sandalwood pulp ; pāñā — getting ; bāḍila — increased ; ānanda — transcendental bliss .

Translation

Similarly, when Advaita Ācārya and Nityānanda Prabhu felt the touch of the transcendental hand of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, They were very pleased.

Word meanings

advaita - ācārya — Advaita Ācārya ; āra — and ; prabhu - nityānanda — Lord Nityānanda Prabhu ; śrī - hasta - sparśe — by the touch of the transcendental hand of Lord Caitanya ; duṅhāra — of both of Them ; ha - ila — there was ; ānanda — transcendental bliss .

Translation

The Lord also gave garlands and sandalwood pulp to the performers of saṅkīrtana. The two chief performers were Svarūpa Dāmodara and Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura.

Word meanings

kīrtanīyā - gaṇe — unto the performers of saṅkīrtana ; dila — gave ; mālya - candana — garlands and sandalwood pulp ; svarūpa — Svarūpa ; śrīvāsa — Śrīvāsa ; yāhāṅ — where ; mukhya — principal ; dui - jana — two persons .

Translation

There were altogether four parties of kīrtana performers, comprising twenty-four chanters. In each party there were also two mṛdaṅga players, making an additional eight persons.

Word meanings

cāri sampradāye — in the four parties ; haila — there were ; cabbiśa — twenty-four ; gāyana — performers of kīrtana ; dui dui — two in each party ; mārdaṅgika — players of mṛdaṅga drums ; haila — there were ; aṣṭa jana — eight persons .

Translation

When the four parties were formed, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, after some consideration, divided the chanters.

Word meanings

tabe — after this ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; mane — in the mind ; vicāra kariyā — considering ; cāri sampradāya — four parties ; dila — gave ; gāyana bāṅṭiyā — dividing the singers .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Nityānanda Prabhu, Advaita Ācārya, Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Vakreśvara Paṇḍita to dance in each of the four respective parties.

Word meanings

nityānanda — Lord Nityānanda ; advaita — Advaita Ācārya ; haridāsa — Haridāsa Ṭhākura ; vakreśvare — Vakreśvara Paṇḍita ; cāri jane — to these four persons ; ājñā dila — the Lord gave an order ; nṛtya karibāre — to dance .

Translation

Svarūpa Dāmodara was chosen as the leader of the first party and was given five assistants to respond to his chanting.

Word meanings

prathama sampradāye — in the first party ; kaila — fixed ; svarūpa — Svarūpa Dāmodara ; pradhāna — as the chief ; āra — another ; pañca - jana — five persons ; dila — gave ; tāṅra — his ; pāligāna — responders .

Translation

The five who responded to the singing of Svarūpa Dāmodara were Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Nārāyaṇa, Govinda Datta, Rāghava Paṇḍita and Śrī Govindānanda.

Word meanings

dāmodara — Dāmodara Paṇḍita ; nārāyaṇa — Nārāyaṇa ; datta govinda — Govinda Datta ; rāghava paṇḍita — Rāghava Paṇḍita ; āra — and ; śrī - govindānanda — Śrī Govindānanda .

Translation

Advaita Ācārya Prabhu was ordered to dance in the first group. The Lord then formed another group with Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura as the chief man.

Word meanings

advaitere — unto Advaita Ācārya ; nṛtya — dancing ; karibāre — for performing ; ājñā — order ; dila — gave ; śrīvāsa — Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura ; pradhāna — chief ; āra — another ; sampradāya — group ; kaila — formed .

Purport

In the first group, Dāmodara Svarūpa was appointed chief singer, and the responding singers were Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Nārāyaṇa, Govinda Datta, Rāghava Paṇḍita and Govindānanda. Śrī Advaita Ācārya was appointed as a dancer. The next group was formed, and the chief singer was Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura.

Translation

The five singers who responded to the singing of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura were Gaṅgādāsa, Haridāsa, Śrīmān, Śubhānanda and Śrī Rāma Paṇḍita. Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu was appointed as a dancer.

Word meanings

gaṅgādāsa — Gaṅgādāsa ; haridāsa — Haridāsa ; śrīmān — Śrīmān ; śubhānanda — Śubhānanda ; śrī - rāma paṇḍita — Śrī Rāma Paṇḍita ; tāhāṅ — there ; nāce — dances ; nityānanda — Lord Nityānanda .

Translation

Another group was formed consisting of Vāsudeva, Gopīnātha and Murāri. All these were responsive singers, and Mukunda was the chief singer.

Word meanings

vāsudeva — Vāsudeva ; gopīnātha — Gopīnātha ; murāri — Murāri ; yāhāṅ — where ; gāya — sing ; mukunda — Mukunda ; pradhāna — chief ; kaila — formed ; āra — another ; sampradāya — group .

Translation

Another two persons, Śrīkānta and Vallabha Sena, joined as responsive singers. In this group, the senior Haridāsa [Haridāsa Ṭhākura] was the dancer.

Word meanings

śrīkānta, vallabha - sena — Śrīkānta and Vallabha Sena ; āra — another ; dui jana — two persons ; haridāsa - ṭhākura — Haridāsa Ṭhākura ; tāhāṅ — there ; karena — performs ; nartana — dancing .

Purport

In the third group, Mukunda was appointed the chief singer. This party was composed of Vāsudeva, Gopīnātha, Murāri, Śrīkānta and Vallabha Sena. The senior Haridāsa (Haridāsa Ṭhākura) was the dancer.

Translation

The Lord formed another group, appointing Govinda Ghoṣa as leader. In this group the younger Haridāsa, Viṣṇudāsa and Rāghava were the responding singers.

Word meanings

govinda - ghoṣa — Govinda Ghoṣa ; pradhāna — the chief ; kaila — formed ; āra — another ; sampradāya — group ; haridāsa — the younger Haridāsa ; viṣṇudāsa — Viṣṇudāsa ; rāghava — Rāghava ; yāhāṅ — where ; gāya — sing .

Translation

Two brothers named Mādhava Ghoṣa and Vāsudeva Ghoṣa also joined this group as responsive singers. Vakreśvara Paṇḍita was the dancer.

Word meanings

mādhava — Mādhava ; vāsudeva - ghoṣa — Vāsudeva Ghoṣa ; dui sahodara — two brothers ; nṛtya karena — dances ; tāhāṅ — there ; paṇḍita - vakreśvara — Vakreśvara Paṇḍita .

Translation

There was a saṅkīrtana party from the village known as Kulīna-grāma, and Rāmānanda and Satyarāja were appointed the dancers in this group.

Word meanings

kulīna - grāmera — of the village known as Kulīna-grāma ; eka — one ; kīrtanīyā - samāja — saṅkīrtana party ; tāhāṅ — there ; nṛtya karena — dances ; rāmānanda — Rāmānanda ; satyarāja — Satyarāja Khān .

Translation

There was another party that came from Śāntipura and was formed by Advaita Ācārya. Acyutānanda was the dancer, and the rest of the men were singers.

Word meanings

śāntipurera — of Śāntipura ; ācāryera — of Advaita Ācārya ; eka — one ; sampradāya — group ; acyutānanda — the son of Advaita Ācārya ; nāce — dances ; tathā — there ; āra — the rest ; saba — all ; gāya — were singing .

Translation

Another party was formed by the people of Khaṇḍa. These people were singing in a different place. In that group, Narahari Prabhu and Raghunandana were dancing.

Word meanings

khaṇḍera — of the place named Khaṇḍa ; sampradāya — party ; kare — performs ; anyatra — in a different place ; kīrtana — chanting ; narahari — Narahari ; nāce — dances ; tāhāṅ — there ; śrī - raghunandana — Raghunandana .

Translation

Four parties chanted and danced in front of Lord Jagannātha, and on either side was another party. Yet another was at the rear.

Word meanings

jagannāthera āge — in front of the Deity of Lord Jagannātha ; cāri sampradāya gāya — four groups were chanting ; dui pāśe — on two sides ; dui — another two groups ; pāche — at the rear ; eka sampradāya — another group .

Translation

There were altogether seven parties of saṅkīrtana, and in each party two men were beating drums. Thus fourteen drums were being played at once. The sound was tumultuous, and all the devotees became mad.

Word meanings

sāta sampradāye — in seven groups ; bāje — were beating ; caudda — fourteen ; mādala — drums ; yāra — of which ; dhvani — the sound ; śuni’ — hearing ; vaiṣṇava — all the devotees ; haila — became ; pāgala — mad .

Translation

All the Vaiṣṇavas came together like an assembly of clouds. As the devotees chanted the holy names in great ecstasy, tears fell from their eyes like rain.

Word meanings

vaiṣṇavera — of the devotees ; megha - ghaṭāya — by the assembly of clouds ; ha - ila — there was ; bādala — rainfall ; kīrtana - ānande — in the blissful situation of chanting ; saba — all of them ; varṣe — rain ; netra - jala — tears from the eyes .

Translation

When the saṅkīrtana resounded, it filled the three worlds. Indeed, no one could hear any sounds or musical instruments other than the saṅkīrtana.

Word meanings

tri - bhuvana bhari’ — filling the three worlds ; uṭhe — arose ; kīrtanera dhvani — vibration of saṅkīrtana ; anya — other ; vādya - ādira — of musical instruments ; dhvani — the sound ; kichui — anything ; nā — not ; śuni — hears .

Translation

Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu wandered through all seven groups chanting the holy name, “Hari, Hari!” Raising His arms, He shouted, “All glories to Lord Jagannātha!”

Word meanings

sāta ṭhāñi — in the seven places ; bule — wanders ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; hari hari bali’ — chanting the holy names Hari, Hari ; jaya jagannātha — all glories to Lord Jagannātha ; balena — says ; hasta - yuga — His two arms ; tuli’ — raising .

Translation

Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu then exhibited another mystic power by performing pastimes simultaneously in all seven groups.

Word meanings

āra — another ; eka — one ; śakti — mystic power ; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; karila — made ; prakāśa — manifest ; eka - kāle — simultaneously ; sāta ṭhāñi — in seven places ; karila — performed ; vilāsa — pastimes .

Translation

Everyone said, “Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is present in my group. Indeed, He does not go anywhere else. He is bestowing His mercy upon us.”

Word meanings

sabe kahe — everyone said ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; āchena — is present ; mora sampradāya — in my group ; anya ṭhāñi — in other places ; nāhi — does not ; yā’na — go ; āmāre — unto me ; dayāya — bestows His mercy .

Translation

Actually, no one could see the inconceivable potency of the Lord. Only the most confidential devotees, those in pure, unalloyed devotional service, could understand.

Word meanings

keha — anyone ; lakhite — see ; nāre — cannot ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; acintya — inconceivable ; śakti — power ; antaraṅga — intimate ; bhakta — devotee ; jāne — knows ; yāṅra — whose ; śuddha - bhakti — pure devotional service .

Translation

Lord Jagannātha was very much pleased by the saṅkīrtana, and He brought His car to a standstill just to see the performance.

Word meanings

kīrtana dekhiyā — by seeing the performance of saṅkīrtana ; jagannātha — Lord Jagannātha ; haraṣita — very pleased ; saṅkīrtana — performance of saṅkīrtana ; dekhe — sees ; ratha — the car ; kariyā sthagita — stopping .

Translation

King Pratāparudra was also astonished to see the saṅkīrtana. He became inactive and was converted to ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

pratāparudrera — of King Pratāparudra ; haila — there was ; parama — very much ; vismaya — astonishment ; dekhite — to see ; vivaśa — inactive ; rājā — the King ; haila — became ; prema - maya — in ecstatic love .

Translation

When the King informed Kāśī Miśra of the glories of the Lord, Kāśī Miśra replied, “O King, your fortune has no limit!”

Word meanings

kāśī - miśre — unto Kāśī Miśra ; kahe — said ; rājā — the King ; prabhura mahimā — the glories of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kāśī - miśra kahe — Kāśī Miśra said ; tomāra — your ; bhāgyera — of fortune ; nāhi — there is not ; sīmā — a limit .

Translation

The King and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya were both aware of the Lord’s activities, but no one else could see the tricks of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

sārvabhauma - saṅge — with Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; rājā — the King ; kare — does ; ṭhārāṭhāri — indication ; āra — further ; keha — anyone ; nāhi — not ; jāne — knows ; caitanyera — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; curi — tricks .

Translation

Only a person who has received the mercy of the Lord can understand. Without the Lord’s mercy, even the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, cannot understand.

Word meanings

yāre — upon whom ; tāṅra — His ; kṛpā — mercy ; sei — that person ; jānibāre — to know ; pāre — is able ; kṛpā — mercy ; vinā — without ; brahma - ādika — the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā ; jānibāre — to know ; nāre — are not able .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had been very satisfied to see the King accept the menial task of sweeping the street, and for this humility the King received the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He could therefore observe the mystery of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s activities.

Word meanings

rājāra — of the King ; tuccha — insignificant, menial ; sevā — service ; dekhi’ — seeing ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; tuṣṭa — satisfied ; mana — mind ; sei — that ; ta’ — indeed ; prasāde — by mercy ; pāila — got ; rahasya - darśana — seeing of the mystery of the activities .

Purport

The mystery of the Lord’s activities is described by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. Lord Jagannātha was astonished to see the transcendental dancing and chanting of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and He stopped His car just to see the dancing. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu then danced in such a mystical way that He pleased Lord Jagannātha. The seer and the dancer were one and the same Supreme Person, but the Lord, being one and many at the same time, was exhibiting the variegatedness of His pastimes. This is the meaning behind His mysterious exhibition. By the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the King could understand how the two of Them were enjoying each other’s activities. Another mysterious exhibition was Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s simultaneous presence in seven groups. By the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the King could understand that also.

Translation

Although the King had been refused an interview, he was indirectly bestowed causeless mercy. Who can understand the internal potency of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu?

Word meanings

sākṣāte — directly ; nā — not ; deya — gives ; dekhā — interview ; parokṣe — indirectly ; ta’ — indeed ; dayā — there was mercy ; ke — who ; bujhite — to understand ; pāre — is able ; caitanya - candrera — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; māyā — internal potency .

Purport

As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was playing the part of a world teacher, He did not agree to see the King, because a king is a mundane person interested in money and women. Indeed, the very word “king” suggests one who is always surrounded by money and women. As a sannyāsī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was afraid of both money and women. The very word “king” is repugnant to one who is in the renounced order of life. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu refused to see the King, but indirectly, by the Lord’s causeless mercy, the King was able to understand the Lord’s mysterious activities. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s activities were exhibited sometimes to reveal Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and sometimes to show Him as a devotee. Both kinds of activities are mysterious and appreciated only by pure devotees.

Translation

When the two great personalities Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Kāśī Miśra saw Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s causeless mercy upon the King, they were astonished.

Word meanings

sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; kāśī - miśra — Kāśī Miśra ; dui mahāśaya — two great personalities ; rājāre — unto the King ; prasāda — mercy ; dekhi’ — seeing ; ha - ilā — became ; vismaya — astonished .

Translation

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed His pastimes for some time in this way. He personally sang and induced His personal associates to dance.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; līlā — pastimes ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kaila — performed ; kata - kṣaṇa — for some time ; āpane gāyena — personally sings ; nācā’na — made to dance ; nija - bhakta - gaṇa — His own personal devotees .

Translation

According to His need, the Lord sometimes exhibited one form and sometimes many. This was being executed by His internal potency.

Word meanings

kabhu — sometimes ; eka mūrti — one form ; kabhu — sometimes ; hana — becomes ; bahu - mūrti — many forms ; kārya - anurūpa — according to the program of activities ; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; prakāśaye — exhibits ; śakti — His internal potency .

Translation

Indeed, the Personality of Godhead forgot Himself in the course of His transcendental pastimes, but His internal potency [līlā-śakti], knowing the intentions of the Lord, made all arrangements.

Word meanings

līlā - āveśe — in the ecstasy of transcendental pastimes ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nāhi — there was not ; nija - anusandhāna — understanding about His personal self ; icchā jāni — knowing His desire ; līlā śakti — the potency known as līlā-śakti ; kare — does ; samādhāna — all arrangements .

Purport

It is stated in the Upaniṣads:

parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate svābhāvikī jñāna-bala-kriyā ca

“The Supreme Lord has multipotencies, which act so perfectly that all consciousness, strength and activity are being directed solely by His will.” ( Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.8)

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exhibited His mystic power in presenting Himself simultaneously in each and every saṅkīrtana group. Most people thought that He was one, but some saw that He was many. The internal devotees could understand that the Lord, although one, was exhibiting Himself as many in the different saṅkīrtana groups. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced, He forgot Himself and was simply absorbed in ecstatic bliss. But His internal potency arranged everything perfectly. This is the difference between the internal and external potency. In the material world, the external potency (material energy) can act only after one endeavors at great length, but when the Supreme Lord desires, everything is performed automatically by the internal potency. By His will, things happen so nicely and perfectly that they appear to be carried out automatically. Sometimes the activities of the internal potency are exhibited in the material world. In fact, all the activities of material nature are actually performed by the inconceivable energies of the Lord, but so-called scientists and students of material nature are unable to understand ultimately how things are happening. They evasively conclude that everything is being done by nature, but they do not know that behind nature is the potent Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Kṛṣṇa explains this in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.10) :

mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram hetunānena kaunteya jagad viparivartate

“This material nature, which is one of My energies, is working under My direction, O son of Kuntī, producing all moving and nonmoving beings. Under its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.”

Translation

Just as Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa formerly performed the rāsa-līlā dance and other pastimes at Vṛndāvana, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed uncommon pastimes moment after moment.

Word meanings

pūrve — formerly ; yaiche — as ; rāsa - ādi līlā — the rāsa-līlā and other pastimes ; kaila — performed ; vṛndāvane — at Vṛndāvana ; alaukika — uncommon ; līlā — pastimes ; gaura — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kaila — performed ; kṣaṇe kṣaṇe — moment after moment .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s dancing before the Ratha-yātrā car could be perceived only by pure devotees. Others could not understand. Descriptions of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s uncommon dancing can be found in the revealed scripture Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Word meanings

bhakta - gaṇa — all devotees ; anubhave — could perceive ; nāhi jāne — do not know ; āna — others ; śrī - bhāgavata - śāstra — the revealed scripture Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ; tāhāte — in that connection ; pramāṇa — evidence .

Purport

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa expanded Himself into many forms while engaged in the rāsa-līlā dance, and He also expanded Himself when He married 16,000 wives in Dvārakā. The same process was adopted by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu when He expanded Himself into seven forms to dance in each and every group of the saṅkīrtana party. These expansions were appreciated by pure devotees, including King Pratāparudra. Although for reasons of external formality Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu refused to see King Pratāparudra because he was a king, King Pratāparudra became one of the Lord’s most confidential devotees by the Lord’s special mercy upon him. The King could see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu simultaneously present in all seven groups. As confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, one cannot see the expansions of the transcendental forms of the Lord unless one is a pure devotee of the Lord.

Translation

In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced in great jubilation and inundated all the people with waves of ecstatic love.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kare — performs ; nṛtya - raṅge — dancing in great pleasure ; bhāsāila — inundated ; saba — all ; loka — people ; premera taraṅge — in waves of ecstatic love .

Translation

Thus Lord Jagannātha mounted His car, and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inspired all His devotees to dance in front of it.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; haila — there was ; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa ; rathe — on the car ; ārohaṇa — getting up ; tāra āge — before it ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nācāila — caused to dance ; bhakta - gaṇa — all devotees .

Translation

Now please hear about Lord Jagannātha’s going to the Guṇḍicā temple while Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced before the Ratha car.

Word meanings

āge — ahead ; śuna — hear ; jagannāthera — of Lord Jagannātha ; guṇḍicā - gamana — going to the Guṇḍicā temple ; tāra āge — before that ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; yaiche — as ; karilā — did ; nartana — dancing .

Translation

The Lord performed kīrtana for some time and, through His own endeavor, inspired all the devotees to dance.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; kīrtana — chanting ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; karila — performed ; kata - kṣaṇa — for some time ; āpana — personal ; udyoge — by endeavor ; nācāila — caused to dance ; bhakta - gaṇa — all the devotees .

Translation

When the Lord Himself wanted to dance, all seven groups combined together.

Word meanings

āpani — personally ; nācite — to dance ; yabe — when ; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; mana — mind ; haila — became ; sāta sampradāya — all the seven parties ; tabe — at that time ; ekatra karila — combined .

Translation

The Lord’s devotees — including Śrīvāsa, Rāmāi, Raghu, Govinda, Mukunda, Haridāsa, Govindānanda, Mādhava and Govinda — all combined together.

Word meanings

śrīvāsa — Śrīvāsa ; rāmāi — Rāmāi ; raghu — Raghu ; govinda — Govinda ; mukunda — Mukunda ; haridāsa — Haridāsa ; govindānanda — Govindānanda ; mādhava — Mādhava ; govinda — Govinda .

Translation

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu desired to jump high while dancing, He placed these nine people in the charge of Svarūpa Dāmodara.

Word meanings

uddaṇḍa - nṛtye — in the dancing with high jumps ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; yabe — when ; haila mana — it was the mind ; svarūpera — Svarūpa Dāmodara ; saṅge — with ; dila — gave ; ei — these ; nava jana — nine persons .

Translation

These devotees [Svarūpa Dāmodara and the devotees in his charge] sang along with the Lord, and they also ran beside Him. All the other groups of men also sang.

Word meanings

ei daśa jana — these ten persons ; prabhura — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; saṅge — with ; gāya — chant ; dhāya — run ; āra — others ; saba — all ; sampradāya — groups of men ; cāri dike — all around ; gāya — chant .

Translation

Offering obeisances to the Lord with folded hands, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu raised His face toward Jagannātha and prayed as follows.

Word meanings

daṇḍavat kari — offering obeisances ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; yuḍi’ — folding ; dui hāta — two hands ; ūrdhva - mukhe — raising the face upward ; stuti kare — offers prayer ; dekhi’ — seeing ; jagannātha — the Deity of Lord Jagannātha .

Translation

“ ‘Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is the worshipable Deity for all brahminical men, who is the well-wisher of cows and brāhmaṇas, and who is always benefiting the whole world. I offer my repeated obeisances to the Personality of Godhead, known as Kṛṣṇa and Govinda.’

Word meanings

namaḥ — all obeisances ; brahmaṇya - devāya — to the Lord worshipable by persons in brahminical culture ; go - brāhmaṇa — for cows and brāhmaṇas ; hitāya — beneficial ; ca — also ; jagat - hitāya — to one who always is benefiting the whole world ; kṛṣṇāya — unto Kṛṣṇa ; govindāya — unto Govinda ; namaḥ namaḥ — repeated obeisances .

Purport

This is a quotation from the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (1.19.65).

Translation

“ ‘All glories unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as the son of Devakī! All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as the light of the dynasty of Vṛṣṇi! All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose bodily luster is like that of a new cloud, and whose body is as soft as a lotus flower! All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appeared on this planet to deliver the world from the burden of demons, and who can offer liberation to everyone!’

Word meanings

jayati — all glories ; jayati — all glories ; devaḥ — to the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; devakī - nandanaḥ — the son of Devakī ; asau — He ; jayati jayati — all glories ; kṛṣṇaḥ — to Lord Kṛṣṇa ; vṛṣṇi - vaṁśa - pradīpaḥ — the light of the dynasty of Vṛṣṇi ; jayati jayati — all glories ; megha - śyāmalaḥ — to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who looks like a blackish cloud ; komala - aṅgaḥ — with a body as soft as a lotus flower ; jayati jayati — all glories ; pṛthvī - bhāra - nāśaḥ — to the deliverer of the whole world from its burden ; mukundaḥ — the deliverer of liberation to everyone .

Purport

This is a verse from the Mukunda-mālā (2).

Translation

“ ‘Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is He who is known as jana-nivāsa, the ultimate resort of all living entities, and who is also known as Devakī-nandana or Yaśodā-nandana, the son of Devakī and Yaśodā. He is the guide of the Yadu dynasty, and with His mighty arms He kills everything inauspicious, as well as every man who is impious. By His presence He destroys all things inauspicious for all living entities, moving and inert. His blissful smiling face always increases the lusty desires of the gopīs of Vṛndāvana. May He be all-glorious and happy!’

Word meanings

jayati — eternally lives gloriously ; jana - nivāsaḥ — He who lives among human beings like the members of the Yadu dynasty and is the ultimate resort of all living entities ; devakī - janma - vādaḥ — known as the son of Devakī (No one can actually become the father or mother of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore devakī-janma-vāda means that He is known as the son of Devakī. Similarly, He is also known as the son of mother Yaśodā, Vasudeva or Nanda Mahārāja.) ; yadu - vara - pariṣat — served by the members of the Yadu dynasty or the cowherd men of Vṛndāvana (all of whom are constant associates of the Supreme Lord and are the Lord’s eternal servants) ; svaiḥ dorbhiḥ — by His own arms, or by His devotees like Arjuna, who are just like His own arms ; asyan — killing ; adharmam — demons or the impious ; sthira - cara - vṛjina - ghnaḥ — the destroyer of all the ill fortune of all living entities, moving and not moving ; su - smita — always smiling ; śrī - mukhena — by His beautiful face ; vraja - pura - vanitānām — of the damsels of Vṛndāvana ; vardhayan — increasing ; kāma - devam — the lusty desires .

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.90.48) .

Translation

“ ‘I am not a brāhmaṇa, I am not a kṣatriya, I am not a vaiśya or a śūdra. Nor am I a brahmacārī, a householder, a vānaprastha or a sannyāsī. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the maintainer of the gopīs. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance.’ ”

Word meanings

na — not ; aham — I ; vipraḥ — a brāhmaṇa ; na — not ; ca — also ; nara - patiḥ — a king or kṣatriya ; na — not ; api — also ; vaiśyaḥ — belonging to the mercantile class ; na — not ; śūdraḥ — belonging to the worker class ; na — not ; aham — I ; varṇī — belonging to any caste, or brahmacārī (A brahmacārī may belong to any caste. Anyone can become a brahmacārī, or lead a life of celibacy.) ; na — not ; ca — also ; gṛha - patiḥ — householder ; no — not ; vana - sthaḥ — vānaprastha, one who, after retirement from family life, goes to the forest to learn how to be detached from family life ; yatiḥ — mendicant or renunciant ; vā — either ; kintu — but ; prodyan — brilliant ; nikhila — universal ; parama - ānanda — with transcendental bliss ; pūrṇa — complete ; amṛta - abdheḥ — who is the ocean of nectar ; gopī - bhartuḥ — of the Supreme Person, who is the maintainer of the gopīs ; pada - kamalayoḥ — of the two lotus feet ; dāsa — of the servant ; dāsa - anudāsaḥ — the servant of the servant .

Purport

This is verse 74 from the Padyāvalī, an anthology of verses compiled by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.

Translation

Having recited all these verses from scripture, the Lord again offered His obeisances, and all the devotees, with folded hands, also offered prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Word meanings

eta paḍi’ — reciting these ; punarapi — again ; karila — the Lord offered ; praṇāma — obeisances ; yoḍa - hāte — with folded hands ; bhakta - gaṇa — all the devotees ; vande — offer prayer ; bhagavān — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead .

Translation

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced and jumped high, roaring like thunder and moving in a circle like a wheel, He appeared like a circling firebrand.

Word meanings

uddaṇḍa — jumping ; nṛtya — dancing ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kariyā — making ; huṅkāra — loud vibration ; cakra - bhrami — making a circular movement like a wheel ; bhrame — moves ; yaiche — as if ; alāta - ākāra — circle of fire .

Purport

If a burning cinder of a firebrand is whirled about very swiftly, it gives the appearance of a circle of fire. This is called alāta-ākāra or alāta-cakra, a firebrand circle. This whole circle is not actually made of fire but is a single fire in motion. Similarly, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is a single personality, but when He danced and jumped high in a circle, He appeared like the alāta-cakra.

Translation

Wherever Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stepped while dancing, the whole earth, with its hills and seas, appeared to tilt.

Word meanings

nṛtye — while dancing ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; yāhāṅ yāṅhā — wherever ; paḍe — steps ; pada - tala — His foot ; sa - sāgara — with the oceans ; śaila — hills and mountains ; mahī — the earth ; kare — does ; ṭalamala — tilting .

Translation

When Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced, He displayed various blissful transcendental changes in His body. Sometimes He appeared as though stunned. Sometimes the hairs of His body stood on end. Sometimes He perspired, cried, trembled and changed color, and sometimes He exhibited symptoms of helplessness, pride, exuberance and humility.

Word meanings

stambha — being stunned ; sveda — perspiration ; pulaka — jubilation ; aśru — tears ; kampa — trembling ; vaivarṇya — change of color ; nānā - bhāve — in various ways ; vivaśatā — helplessness ; garva — pride ; harṣa — exuberance ; dainya — humility .

Translation

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fell down with a crash while dancing, He would roll on the ground. At such times it appeared that a golden mountain was rolling on the ground.

Word meanings

āchāḍa khāñā — crashing ; paḍe — falls ; bhūme — on the ground ; gaḍi’ — rolling ; yāya — goes ; suvarṇa - parvata — a golden mountain ; yaiche — as if ; bhūmete — on the ground ; loṭāya — rolls .

Translation

Nityānanda Prabhu would stretch out His two hands and try to catch the Lord when He was running here and there.

Word meanings

nityānanda - prabhu — Lord Nityānanda Prabhu ; dui — two ; hāta — hands ; prasāriyā — stretching ; prabhure — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; dharite — to catch ; cāhe — wants ; āśa - pāśa — here and there ; dhāñā — running .

Translation

Advaita Ācārya would walk behind the Lord and loudly chant “Haribol! Haribol!” again and again.

Word meanings

prabhu - pāche — behind the Lord ; bule — was walking ; ācārya — Advaita Ācārya ; kariyā — making ; huṅkāra — a loud vibration ; hari - bola hari - bola — chant the holy name of Hari ; bale — says ; bāra bāra — again and again .

Translation

Just to check the crowds from coming too near the Lord, the devotees formed three circles. The first circle was guided by Nityānanda Prabhu, who is Balarāma Himself, the possessor of great strength.

Word meanings

loka — the people ; nivārite — to check ; haila — there were ; tina — three ; maṇḍala — circles ; prathama - maṇḍale — in the first circle ; nityānanda — Lord Nityānanda ; mahā - bala — of great strength .

Translation

All the devotees headed by Kāśīśvara and Govinda linked hands and formed a second circle around the Lord.

Word meanings

kāśīśvara — Kāśīśvara ; govinda - ādi — headed by Govinda ; yata — all ; bhakta - gaṇa — devotees ; hātāhāti — linked hand to hand ; kari’ — doing ; haila — became ; dvitīya — a second ; āvaraṇa — covering circle .

Translation

Mahārāja Pratāparudra and his personal assistants formed a third circle around the two inner circles just to check the crowds from coming too near.

Word meanings

bāhire — outside ; pratāparudra — King Pratāparudra ; lañā — taking ; pātra - gaṇa — his own associates ; maṇḍala — circle ; hañā — becoming ; kare — does ; loka — of the crowd ; nivāraṇa — checking .

Translation

With his hands on the shoulders of Haricandana, King Pratāparudra could see Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu dancing, and the King felt great ecstasy.

Word meanings

haricandanera — of Haricandana ; skandhe — on the shoulder ; hasta — hand ; ālambiyā — putting ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nṛtya dekhe — sees the dancing ; rājā — Mahārāja Pratāparudra ; āviṣṭa hañā — in great ecstasy .

Translation

While the King beheld the dancing, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, standing in front of him, became ecstatic as he saw the dancing of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

hena - kāle — at this time ; śrīnivāsa — Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura ; prema - āviṣṭa - mana — with a greatly ecstatic mind ; rājāra āge — in front of the King ; rahi’ — keeping himself ; dekhe — sees ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nartana — the dancing .

Translation

Seeing Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura standing before the King, Haricandana touched Śrīvāsa with his hand and requested him to step aside.

Word meanings

rājāra āge — in front of the King ; haricandana — Haricandana ; dekhe — sees ; śrīnivāsa — Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura ; haste — with his hand ; tāṅre — him ; sparśi’ — touching ; kahe — says ; hao — please come ; eka - pāśa — to one side .

Translation

Absorbed in watching Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu dance, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura could not understand why he was being touched and pushed. After he was pushed again and again, he became angry.

Word meanings

nṛtya - āveśe — fully absorbed in seeing the dancing of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; śrīnivāsa — Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura ; kichui — anything ; nā — does not ; jāne — know ; bāra bāra — again and again ; ṭhele — when he pushes ; teṅho — Śrīvāsa ; krodha — angry ; haila — became ; mane — in the mind .

Translation

Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura slapped Haricandana to stop him from pushing him. In turn, this made Haricandana angry.

Word meanings

cāpaḍa māriyā — slapping ; tāre — him ; kaila nivāraṇa — stopped ; cāpada khāñā — getting the slap ; kruddha — angry ; hailā — became ; haricandana — Haricandana .

Translation

As the angered Haricandana was about to speak to Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, Pratāparudra Mahārāja personally stopped him.

Word meanings

kruddha hañā — becoming angry ; tāṅre — unto Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura ; kichu — something ; cāhe — wants ; balibāre — to speak ; āpani — personally ; pratāparudra — King Pratāparudra ; nivārila — stopped ; tāre — unto him .

Translation

King Pratāparudra said, “You are very fortunate, for you have been graced by the touch of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura. I am not so fortunate. You should feel obliged to him.”

Word meanings

bhāgyavān tumi — you are very fortunate ; iṅhāra — of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura ; hasta — of the hand ; sparśa — touch ; pāilā — have received ; āmāra bhāgye — in my fortune ; nāhi — there is no such thing ; tumi — you ; kṛta - artha hailā — have become graced .

Translation

Everyone was astonished by the dancing of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and even Lord Jagannātha became extremely happy to see Him.

Word meanings

prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nṛtya — dancing ; dekhi’ — seeing ; loke — everyone ; haila — became ; camatkāra — astonished ; anya āchuk — let alone others ; jagannāthera — of Lord Jagannātha ; ānanda apāra — there was extreme happiness .

Translation

The car came to a complete standstill and remained immobile while Lord Jagannātha, with unblinking eyes, watched the dancing of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

ratha — the car ; sthira kaila — stopped ; āge — forward ; nā — not ; kare — does ; gamana — moving ; animiṣa — unblinking ; netre — with eyes ; kare — does ; nṛtya — of the dancing ; daraśana — seeing .

Translation

The goddess of fortune, Subhadrā, and Lord Balarāma both felt great happiness and ecstasy within their hearts. Indeed, they were seen smiling at the dancing.

Word meanings

subhadrā — of the goddess Subhadrā ; balarāmera — and of Balarāma ; hṛdaye — in the hearts ; ullāsa — ecstasy ; nṛtya — dancing ; dekhi’ — seeing ; dui janāra — of the two persons ; śrī - mukhete — in the beautiful mouths ; hāsa — smiling .

Translation

When Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced and jumped high, eight wonderful transformations indicative of divine ecstasy were seen in His body. All these symptoms were visible simultaneously.

Word meanings

uddaṇḍa — jumping ; nṛtye — by dancing ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; adbhuta — wonderful ; vikāra — transformations ; aṣṭa sāttvika — eight transcendental kinds ; bhāva — ecstasy ; udaya haya — awaken ; sama - kāla — simultaneously .

Translation

His skin erupted with goose pimples, and the hairs of His body stood on end. His body resembled the śimulī [silk cotton tree], all covered with thorns.

Word meanings

māṁsa — skin ; vraṇa — pimples ; sama — like ; roma - vṛnda — the hairs of the body ; pulakita — erupted ; śimulīra vṛkṣa — cotton tree ; yena — as if ; kaṇṭaka — by thorns ; veṣṭita — surrounded .

Translation

Indeed, the people became afraid just to see His teeth chatter, and they even thought that His teeth would fall out.

Word meanings

eka eka — one after another ; dantera — of teeth ; kampa — movement ; dekhite — to see ; lāge — there is ; bhaya — fear ; loke jāne — the people understood ; danta — the teeth ; saba — all ; khasiyā — being loosened ; paḍaya — fall down .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s whole body flowed with perspiration and at the same time oozed blood. He made the sounds “jaja gaga, jaja gaga” in a voice choked with ecstasy.

Word meanings

sarvāṅge — all over the body ; prasveda — perspiration ; chuṭe — flows ; tāte — along with it ; rakta - udgama — oozing out of blood ; jaja gaga jaja gaga — a sound indicating the name Jagannātha ; gadgada — choked up due to ecstasy ; vacana — words .

Translation

Tears came forcefully from the eyes of the Lord, as if from a syringe, and all the people surrounding Him became wet.

Word meanings

jala - yantra — from a syringe ; dhārā — pouring of water ; yaiche — as if ; vahe — are flowing ; aśru - jala — tears from the eyes ; āśa - pāśe — on all sides ; loka — people ; yata — as many as there were ; bhijila — become wet ; sakala — all .

Translation

Everyone saw the complexion of His body change from white to pink, so that His luster resembled that of the mallikā flower.

Word meanings

deha - kānti — of the luster of the body ; gaura - varṇa — white complexion ; dekhiye — everyone saw ; aruṇa — pink ; kabhu — sometimes ; kānti — the luster ; dekhi — seeing ; yena — as if ; mallikā - puṣpa - sama — resembling the mallikā flower .

Translation

Sometimes He appeared stunned, and sometimes He rolled on the ground. Indeed, sometimes His legs and hands became as hard as dry wood, and He did not move.

Word meanings

kabhu — sometimes ; stambha — stunned ; kabhu — sometimes ; prabhu — Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bhūmite — on the ground ; loṭāya — rolls ; śuṣka — dry ; kāṣṭha — wood ; sama — like ; pada - hasta — legs and hands ; nā — do not ; calaya — move .

Translation

When the Lord fell to the ground, sometimes His breathing almost stopped. When the devotees saw this, their lives also became very feeble.

Word meanings

kabhu — sometimes ; bhūme — on the ground ; paḍe — falls down ; kabhu — sometimes ; śvāsa — breathing ; haya — becomes ; hīna — nil ; yāhā dekhi’ — seeing which ; bhakta - gaṇera — of the devotees ; prāṇa — life ; haya — becomes ; kṣīṇa — feeble .

Translation

Water flowed from His eyes and sometimes through His nostrils, and foam fell from His mouth. These flowings appeared to be torrents of nectar descending from the moon.

Word meanings

kabhu — sometimes ; netre — from the eyes ; nāsāya — from the nostrils ; jala — water ; mukhe — from the mouth ; paḍe — fell ; phena — foam ; amṛtera — of nectar ; dhārā — torrents ; candra - bimbe — from the moon ; vahe — flow ; yena — as if .

Translation

The foam that fell from the mouth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was taken and drunk by Śubhānanda because he was very fortunate and expert in relishing the mellow of ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

sei phena — that foam ; lañā — taking ; śubhānanda — a devotee named Śubhānanda ; kaila — did ; pāna — drinking ; kṛṣṇa - prema - rasika — relisher of ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa ; teṅho — he ; mahā - bhāgyavān — very fortunate .

Translation

After Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had performed His devastating dance for some time, His mind entered into a mood of ecstatic love.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; tāṇḍava - nṛtya — devastating dancing ; kaila — performed ; kata - kṣaṇa — for some time ; bhāva - viśeṣe — in a particular ecstasy ; prabhura — of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; praveśila mana — the mind entered .

Translation

After abandoning the dancing, the Lord ordered Svarūpa Dāmodara to sing. Understanding His mind, Svarūpa Dāmodara began to sing as follows.

Word meanings

tāṇḍava - nṛtya chāḍi’ — giving up such devastating dancing ; svarūpere — unto Svarūpa Dāmodara ; ājñā dila — gave an order ; hṛdaya — mind ; jāniyā — knowing ; svarūpa — Svarūpa Dāmodara ; gāite lāgila — began to sing .

Translation

“ ‘Now I have gained the Lord of My life, in the absence of whom I was being burned by Cupid and was withering away.’ ”

Word meanings

sei ta — that indeed ; parāṇa - nātha — the master of My life ; pāinu — I have gotten ; yāhā lāgi’ — for whom ; madana - dahane — being burned by Cupid ; jhuri’ genu — I became dried up .

Purport

This song refers to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s meeting with Kṛṣṇa at the holy place of Kurukṣetra, where Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and His brother and sister came to visit when there was a solar eclipse. It is a song of separation from Kṛṣṇa. When Rādhārāṇī met Kṛṣṇa at Kurukṣetra, She remembered His intimate association in Vṛndāvana, and She thought, “Now I have gained the Lord of My life. In His absence I was being burned by the arrow of Cupid, and thus I was withering away. Now I have My life again.”

Translation

When this refrain was loudly sung by Svarūpa Dāmodara, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again began rhythmically dancing in transcendental bliss.

Word meanings

ei dhuyā — this refrain ; uccaiḥ - svare — loudly ; gāya — sings ; dāmodara — Svarūpa Dāmodara ; ānande — in great ecstasy ; madhura — rhythmic ; nṛtya — dancing ; karena — performs ; īśvara — the Lord .

Translation

The car of Lord Jagannātha began to move slowly while the son of mother Śacī went ahead and danced in front.

Word meanings

dhīre dhīre — slowly, slowly ; jagannātha — Lord Jagannātha ; karena — does ; gamana — movement ; āge — in front ; nṛtya — dancing ; kari’ — performing ; calena — goes forward ; śacīra nandana — the son of mother Śacī .

Translation

While dancing and singing, all the devotees in front of Lord Jagannātha kept their eyes on Him. Caitanya Mahāprabhu then went to the end of the procession with the saṅkīrtana performers.

Word meanings

jagannāthe — on Lord Jagannātha ; netra — the eyes ; diyā — keeping ; sabe — all the devotees ; nāce gāya — dance and sing ; kīrtanīyā — the performers of saṅkīrtana ; saha — with ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; pāche pāche — at the rear ; yāya — goes forward .

Translation

His eyes and mind fully absorbed in Lord Jagannātha, Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to play the drama of the song with His two arms.

Word meanings

jagannāthe — in Lord Jagannātha ; magna — absorbed ; prabhura — of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nayana - hṛdaya — the eyes and mind ; śrī - hasta - yuge — with His two arms ; kare — performed ; gītera — of the song ; abhinaya — dramatic movement .

Translation

When Caitanya Mahāprabhu was dramatically enacting the song, He would sometimes fall behind in the procession. At such times, Lord Jagannātha would come to a standstill. When Caitanya Mahāprabhu again went forward, Lord Jagannātha’s car would slowly start again.

Word meanings

gaura — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; yadi — if ; pāche cale — goes behind ; śyāma — Jagannātha ; haya — becomes ; sthire — still ; gaura — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; āge cale — goes forward ; śyāma — Lord Jagannātha ; cale — goes ; dhīre - dhīre — slowly .

Translation

Thus there was a sort of competition between Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Jagannātha in seeing who would lead, but Caitanya Mahāprabhu was so strong that He made Lord Jagannātha wait in His car.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; gaura - śyāme — Lord Jagannātha and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; doṅhe — between both of Them ; ṭhelāṭheli — competition of pushing forward ; sva - rathe — in His own car ; śyāmere — Lord Jagannātha ; rākhe — keeps ; gaura — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; mahā - balī — greatly powerful .

Purport

In his Anubhāṣya, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura describes the ecstasy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as follows. After giving up the company of the gopīs in Vṛndāvana, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, engaged in His pastimes at Dvārakā. When Kṛṣṇa went to Kurukṣetra with His brother and sister and others from Dvārakā, He again met the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is rādhā-bhāva-dyuti-suvalita, that is, Kṛṣṇa Himself assuming the part of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī in order to understand Kṛṣṇa. Lord Jagannātha-deva is Kṛṣṇa, and Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s leading Lord Jagannātha toward the Guṇḍicā temple corresponded to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s leading Kṛṣṇa toward Vṛndāvana. Śrī Kṣetra, Jagannātha Purī, was taken as the kingdom of Dvārakā, the place where Kṛṣṇa enjoys supreme opulence. But He was being led by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to Vṛndāvana, the simple village where all the inhabitants are filled with ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. Śrī Kṣetra is a place of aiśvarya-līlā, just as Vṛndāvana is the place of mādhurya-līlā. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s following at the rear of the ratha indicated that Lord Jagannātha, Kṛṣṇa, was forgetting the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. Although Kṛṣṇa neglected the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, He could not forget them. Thus in His opulent Ratha-yātrā, He was returning to Vṛndāvana. In the role of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was examining whether the Lord still remembered the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. When Caitanya Mahāprabhu fell behind the Ratha car, Jagannātha-deva, Kṛṣṇa Himself, understood the mind of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Therefore, Jagannātha sometimes fell behind the dancing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to indicate to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī that He had not forgotten. Thus Lord Jagannātha would stop the forward march of the ratha and wait at a standstill. In this way Lord Jagannātha agreed that without the ecstasy of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī He could not feel satisfied. While Jagannātha was thus waiting, Gaurasundara, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, in His ecstasy of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, immediately came forward to Kṛṣṇa. At such times, Lord Jagannātha would proceed ahead very slowly. These competitive exchanges were all part of the love affair between Kṛṣṇa and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. In that competition between Lord Caitanya’s ecstasy for Jagannātha and Jagannātha’s ecstasy for Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Caitanya Mahāprabhu emerged successful.

Translation

While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was dancing, His ecstasy changed. Raising His two arms, He began to recite the following verse in a loud voice.

Word meanings

nācite nācite — while dancing ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; hailā — there was ; bhāva - antara — a change of ecstasy ; hasta tuli’ — raising the arms ; śloka paḍe — recites one verse ; kari’ — making ; uccaiḥ - svara — loud voice .

Translation

“ ‘That very personality who stole away my heart during my youth is now again my master. These are the same moonlit nights of the month of Caitra. The same fragrance of mālatī flowers is there, and the same sweet breezes are blowing from the kadamba forest. In our intimate relationship, I am also the same lover, yet still my mind is not happy here. I am eager to go back to that place on the bank of the Revā under the Vetasī tree. That is my desire.’ ”

Word meanings

yaḥ — that same person who ; kaumāra - haraḥ — the thief of my heart during youth ; saḥ — he ; eva hi — certainly ; varaḥ — lover ; tāḥ — these ; eva — certainly ; caitra - kṣapāḥ — moonlit nights of the month of Caitra ; te — those ; ca — and ; unmīlita — fructified ; mālatī — of mālatī flowers ; surabhayaḥ — fragrances ; prauḍhāḥ — full ; kadamba — with the fragrance of the kadamba flower ; anilāḥ — the breezes ; sā — that one ; ca — also ; eva — certainly ; asmi — I am ; tathāpi — still ; tatra — there ; surata - vyāpāra — in intimate transactions ; līlā — of pastimes ; vidhau — in the manner ; revā — of the river named Revā ; rodhasi — on the bank ; vetasī — of the name Vetasī ; taru - tale — underneath the tree ; cetaḥ — my mind ; samutkaṇṭhate — is very eager to go .

Purport

This verse appears in the Padyāvalī (386).

Translation

This verse was recited by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again and again. But for Svarūpa Dāmodara, no one could understand its meaning.

Word meanings

ei śloka — this verse ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; paḍe — recites ; bāra bāra — again and again ; svarūpa vinā — except for Svarūpa Dāmodara ; artha — meaning ; keha — anyone ; nā jāne — does not know ; ihāra — of this .

Translation

I have already explained this verse. Now I shall simply describe it in brief.

Word meanings

ei śloka - artha — the meaning of this verse ; pūrve — previously ; kariyāchi — I have done ; vyākhyāna — explanation ; ślokera — of the same verse ; bhāva - artha — purport ; kari — I do ; saṅkṣepe — in brief ; ākhyāna — description .

Purport

In this connection, see Madhya-līlā, chapter one, verses 53, 77-80 and 82-84.

Translation

Formerly, all the gopīs of Vṛndāvana were very pleased when they met with Kṛṣṇa in the holy place Kurukṣetra.

Word meanings

pūrve yaiche — as previously ; kuru - kṣetre — in the holy place known as Kurukṣetra ; saba gopī - gaṇa — all the gopīs of Vṛndāvana ; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; darśana — interview ; pāñā — getting ; ānandita mana — very pleased within the mind .

Translation

Similarly, after seeing Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu awoke with the ecstasy of the gopīs. Being absorbed in this ecstasy, He asked Svarūpa Dāmodara to sing the refrain.

Word meanings

jagannātha dekhi’ — by seeing Lord Jagannātha ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; se bhāva — that ecstasy ; uṭhila — awakened ; sei — that ; bhāva - āviṣṭa — absorbed in that ecstasy ; hañā — becoming ; dhuyā — refrain ; gāoyāila — caused to sing .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke thus to Lord Jagannātha: “You are the same Kṛṣṇa, and I am the same Rādhārāṇī. We are meeting again in the same way that We met in the beginning of Our lives.

Word meanings

avaśeṣe — at last ; rādhā — Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī ; kṛṣṇe — unto Lord Kṛṣṇa ; kare — does ; nivedana — submission ; sei tumi — You are the same Kṛṣṇa ; sei āmi — I am the same Rādhārāṇī ; sei nava saṅgama — We are meeting in the same new spirit as in the beginning .

Translation

“Although We are both the same, My mind is still attracted to Vṛndāvana-dhāma. I wish that You will please again appear with Your lotus feet in Vṛndāvana.

Word meanings

tathāpi — yet ; āmāra — My ; mana — mind ; hare — attracts ; vṛndāvana — Śrī Vṛndāvana ; vṛndāvane — at Vṛndāvana ; udaya karāo — please cause to reappear ; āpana - caraṇa — the brilliance of Your lotus feet .

Translation

“In Kurukṣetra there are crowds of people, elephants and horses, and also the rattling of chariots. But in Vṛndāvana there are flower gardens, and the humming of the bees and chirping of the birds can be heard.

Word meanings

ihāṅ — at this place, Kurukṣetra ; loka - araṇya — too great a crowd of people ; hātī — elephants ; ghoḍā — horses ; ratha - dhvani — the rattling sound of chariots ; tāhāṅ — there, in Vṛndāvana ; puṣpa - araṇya — the garden of flowers ; bhṛṅga — of bumblebees ; pika — of the birds ; nāda — sound ; śuni — I hear .

Translation

“Here at Kurukṣetra You are dressed like a royal prince, accompanied by great warriors, but in Vṛndāvana You appeared just like an ordinary cowherd boy, accompanied only by Your beautiful flute.

Word meanings

ihāṅ — here, at Kurukṣetra ; rāja - veśa — dressed like a royal prince ; saṅge — with You ; saba — all ; kṣatriya - gaṇa — great warriors ; tāhāṅ — there, in Vṛndāvana ; gopa - veśa — dressed like a cowherd boy ; saṅge — with You ; muralī - vādana — the blowing of Your transcendental flute .

Translation

“Here there is not even a drop of the ocean of transcendental happiness that I enjoyed with You in Vṛndāvana.

Word meanings

vraje — at Vṛndāvana ; tomāra — of You ; saṅge — in the company ; yei — what ; sukha - āsvādana — taste of transcendental bliss ; sei — that ; sukha - samudrera — of the ocean of transcendental bliss ; ihāṅ — here, at Kurukṣetra ; nāhi — there is not ; eka — one ; kaṇa — drop .

Translation

“I therefore request You to come to Vṛndāvana and enjoy pastimes with Me. If You do so, My ambition will be fulfilled.”

Word meanings

āmā lañā — taking Me ; punaḥ — again ; līlā — pastimes ; karaha — perform ; vṛndāvane — at Vṛndāvana ; tabe — then ; āmāra manaḥ - vāñchā — the desire of My mind ; haya — becomes ; ta’ — indeed ; pūraṇe — in fulfillment .

Translation

I have already described in brief Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s statement from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Word meanings

bhāgavate — in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ; āche — there is ; yaiche — as ; rādhikā - vacana — the statement of Śrīmatī Rādhikā ; pūrve — previously ; tāhā — that ; sūtra - madhye — in the synopsis ; kariyāchi varṇana — I have described .

Translation

In that ecstatic mood, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recited many other verses, but people in general could not understand their meaning.

Word meanings

sei — that ; bhāva - āveśe — in ecstasy ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; paḍe — recites ; āra — another ; śloka — verse ; sei — those ; saba ślokera — of all verses ; artha — meaning ; nāhi — do not ; bujhe — understand ; loka — people in general .

Translation

The meaning of those verses was known to Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, but he did not reveal it. However, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī has broadcast the meaning.

Word meanings

svarūpa - gosāñi — Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī ; jāne — knows ; nā — does not ; kahe — say ; artha — the meaning ; tāra — of those verses ; śrī - rūpa - gosāñi — Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī ; kaila — did ; se — that ; artha — of meaning ; pracāra — broadcasting .

Translation

While dancing, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to recite the following verse, which He tasted in the association of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī.

Word meanings

svarūpa saṅge — in the association of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī ; yāra — of which ; artha — meaning ; kare — does ; āsvādana — taste ; nṛtya - madhye — in the midst of dancing ; sei śloka — that verse ; karena paṭhana — recites .

Translation

“[The gopīs spoke thus:] ‘Dear Lord, whose navel is just like a lotus flower, Your lotus feet are the only shelter for those who have fallen into the deep well of material existence. Your feet are worshiped and meditated upon by great mystic yogīs and highly learned philosophers. We wish that these lotus feet may also be awakened within our hearts, although we are only ordinary persons engaged in household affairs.’ ”

Word meanings

āhuḥ — the gopīs said ; ca — and ; te — Your ; nalina - nābha — O Lord, whose navel is just like a lotus flower ; pada - aravindam — lotus feet ; yoga - īśvaraiḥ — by great mystic yogīs ; hṛdi — within the heart ; vicintyam — to be meditated upon ; agādha - bodhaiḥ — who are highly learned philosophers ; saṁsāra - kūpa — in the dark well of material existence ; patita — of those fallen ; uttaraṇa — for deliverance ; avalambam — the only shelter ; geham — in family affairs ; juṣām — of those engaged ; api — although ; manasi — in the minds ; udiyāt — let be awakened ; sadā — always ; naḥ — our .

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.82.48) . The gopīs were never interested in karma-yoga, jñāna-yoga or dhyāna-yoga. They were simply interested in bhakti-yoga. Unless they were forced, they never liked to meditate on the lotus feet of the Lord. Rather, they preferred to take the lotus feet of the Lord and place them on their breasts. Sometimes they regretted that their breasts were so hard, fearing that Kṛṣṇa might not be very pleased to keep His soft lotus feet there. When those lotus feet were pricked by the grains of sand in the Vṛndāvana pasturing ground, the gopīs were pained and began to cry. The gopīs wanted to keep Kṛṣṇa at home always, and in this way their minds were absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Such pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness can arise only in Vṛndāvana. Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to explain His own mind, which was saturated in the ecstasy of the gopīs.

Translation

Speaking in the mood of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “For most people, the mind and heart are one, but because My mind is never separated from Vṛndāvana, I consider My mind and Vṛndāvana to be one. My mind is already Vṛndāvana, and since You like Vṛndāvana, will You please place Your lotus feet there? I would deem that Your full mercy.

Word meanings

anyera — of others ; hṛdaya — consciousness ; mana — mind ; mora mana — My mind ; vṛndāvana — Vṛndāvana consciousness ; mane — with the mind ; vane — with Vṛndāvana ; eka kari’ — as one and the same ; jāni — I know ; tāhāṅ — there, at Vṛndāvana ; tomāra — Your ; pada - dvaya — two lotus feet ; karāha — You do ; yadi — if ; udaya — appearance ; tabe — then ; tomāra — Your ; pūrṇa — complete ; kṛpā — mercy ; māni — I accept .

Purport

The mind’s activities are thinking, feeling and willing, by which the mind accepts materially favorable things and rejects the unfavorable. This is the consciousness of people in general. But when one’s mind does not accept and reject but simply becomes fixed on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, then one’s mind becomes as good as Vṛndāvana. Wherever Kṛṣṇa is, there also are Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the gopīs, the cowherd boys and all the other inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. Thus as soon as one fixes Kṛṣṇa in his mind, his mind becomes identical with Vṛndāvana. In other words, when one’s mind is completely free from all material desires and is engaged only in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then one always lives in Vṛndāvana, and nowhere else.

Translation

“My dear Lord, kindly hear My true submission. My home is Vṛndāvana, and I wish Your association there. But if I do not get it, then it will be very difficult for Me to keep My life.

Word meanings

prāṇa - nātha — O My Lord, master of My life ; śuna — please hear ; mora — My ; satya — true ; nivedana — submission ; vraja — Vṛndāvana ; āmāra — My ; sadana — place ; tāhāṅ — there ; tomāra — Your ; saṅgama — association ; nā pāile — if I do not get ; nā — not ; rahe — does remain ; jīvana — life .

Purport

Only when the mind is free from designations can one desire the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The mind must have some occupation. If a person is to be free of material things, his mind cannot be vacant; there must be subject matters for thinking, feeling and willing. Unless one’s mind is filled with thoughts of Kṛṣṇa, feelings for Kṛṣṇa and a desire to serve Kṛṣṇa, the mind will be filled with material activities. Those who have given up all material activities and have ceased thinking of them should always retain the ambition to think of Kṛṣṇa. Without Kṛṣṇa, one cannot live, just as a person cannot live without some enjoyment for his mind.

Translation

“My dear Kṛṣṇa, formerly, when You were staying in Mathurā, You sent Uddhava to teach Me speculative knowledge and mystic yoga. Now You Yourself are speaking the same thing, but My mind doesn’t accept it. There is no place in My mind for jñāna-yoga or dhyāna-yoga. Although You know Me very well, You are still instructing Me in jñāna-yoga and dhyāna-yoga. It is not right for You to do so.”

Word meanings

pūrve — previously ; uddhava - dvāre — through Uddhava ; ebe — now ; sākṣāt — directly ; āmāre — unto Me ; yoga — mystic yogic meditation ; jñāne — philosophical speculation ; kahilā — You have said ; upāya — the means ; tumi — You ; vidagdha — very humorous ; kṛpā - maya — merciful ; jānaha — You know ; āmāra — My ; hṛdaya — mind ; more — unto Me ; aiche — in that way ; kahite — to speak ; nā yuyāya — is not at all befitting .

Purport

The process of mystic yoga, the speculative method for searching out the Supreme Absolute Truth, does not appeal to one who is always absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa. A devotee is not at all interested in speculative activities. Instead of cultivating speculative knowledge or practicing mystic yoga, a devotee should worship the Deity in the temple and continuously engage in the Lord’s service. Temple Deity worship is realized by the devotees to be the same as direct service to the Lord. The Deity is known as the arcā-vigraha or arcā-avatāra, an incarnation of the Supreme Lord in the form of a material manifestation (brass, stone or wood). Ultimately there is no difference between Kṛṣṇa manifest in matter or Kṛṣṇa manifest in spirit because both are His energies. For Kṛṣṇa, there is no distinction between matter and spirit. His manifestation in material form, therefore, is as good as His original form, sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha. A devotee constantly engaged in Deity worship according to the rules and regulations laid down in the śāstras and given by the spiritual master realizes gradually that he is in direct contact with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus he loses all interest in so-called meditation, yoga practice and mental speculation.

Translation

Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “I would like to withdraw My consciousness from You and engage it in material activities, but even though I try, I cannot do so. I am naturally inclined to You only. Your instructions for Me to meditate on You are therefore simply ludicrous. In this way, You are killing Me. It is not very good for You to think of Me as a candidate for Your instructions.

Word meanings

citta kāḍhi’ — withdrawing the consciousness ; tomā haite — from You ; viṣaye — in mundane subject matters ; cāhi — I want ; lāgāite — to engage ; yatna kari — I endeavor ; nāri kāḍhibāre — I cannot withdraw ; tāre — to such a servant ; dhyāna — of meditation ; śikṣā — instruction ; karāha — You give ; loka — people in general ; hāsāñā — laugh ; māra — You kill ; sthāna - asthāna — proper or improper place ; nā kara — You do not make ; vicāre — consideration .

Purport

Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī says in his Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.1.11):

anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam ānakūlyena kṛṣṇānu- śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā

For a pure devotee, there is no scope for indulgence in mystic yoga practice or the cultivation of speculative philosophy. It is indeed impossible for a pure devotee to engage his mind in such unwanted activities. Even if a pure devotee wanted to, his mind would not allow him to do so. That is a characteristic of a pure devotee — he is transcendental to all fruitive activity, speculative philosophy and mystic yoga meditation. The gopīs therefore expressed themselves as follows.

Translation

“The gopīs are not like the mystic yogīs. They will never be satisfied simply by meditating on Your lotus feet and imitating the so-called yogīs. Teaching the gopīs about meditation is another kind of duplicity. When they are instructed to undergo mystic yoga practice, they are not at all satisfied. On the contrary, they become more and more angry with You.”

Word meanings

nahe — not ; gopī — gopīs ; yogeśvara — masters of mystic yoga practice ; pada - kamala tomāra — Your lotus feet ; dhyāna kari’ — by meditation ; pāibe santoṣa — we get satisfaction ; tomāra — Your ; vākya — words ; paripāṭī — very kindly composed ; tāra madhye — within that ; kuṭināṭī — duplicity ; śuni’ — hearing ; gopīra — of the gopīs ; āro — more and more ; bāḍhe — increases ; roṣa — anger .

Purport

Śrīla Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī has stated ( Caitanya-candrāmṛta 5):

kaivalyaṁ narakāyate tridaśa-pūr ākāśa-puṣpāyate durdāntendriya-kāla-sarpa-paṭalī protkhāta-daṁṣṭrāyate viśvaṁ pūrṇa-sukhāyate vidhi-mahendrādiś ca kīṭāyate yat kāruṇya-katākṣa-vaibhava-vatāṁ taṁ gauram eva stumaḥ

For a pure devotee who has realized Kṛṣṇa consciousness through Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the monistic philosophy by which one becomes one with the Supreme appears hellish. The mystic yoga practice, by which the mind is controlled and the senses are subjugated, also appears ludicrous to a pure devotee. The devotee’s mind and senses are already engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord. In this way the poisonous effects of sensory activities are removed. If one’s mind is always engaged in the service of the Lord, there is no possibility that one will think, feel or act materially. Similarly, the fruitive workers’ attempt to attain to the heavenly planets is nothing more than a phantasmagoria for the devotee. After all, the heavenly planets are material, and in due course of time they will all be dissolved. Devotees do not care for such temporary things. They engage in transcendental devotional activities because they desire elevation to the spiritual world, where they can live eternally and peacefully and with full knowledge of Kṛṣṇa. In Vṛndāvana, the gopīs, cowherd boys and even the calves, cows, trees and water are fully conscious of Kṛṣṇa. They are never satisfied with anything but Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “The gopīs have fallen into the great ocean of separation and are being devoured by the timiṅgila fish of their ambition to serve You. The gopīs are to be delivered from the mouths of these timiṅgila fish, for they are pure devotees. Since they have no material conception of life, why should they aspire for liberation? The gopīs do not want that liberation desired by yogīs and jñānīs, for they are already liberated from the ocean of material existence.

Word meanings

deha - smṛti — bodily concept of life ; nāhi — not ; yāra — one whose ; saṁsāra - kūpa — blind well of material life ; kāhāṅ — where is ; tāra — his ; tāhā haite — from that ; nā — does not ; cāhe — want ; uddhāra — liberation ; viraha - samudra - jale — in the water of the ocean of separation ; kāma - timiṅgile — the transcendental Cupid in the form of timiṅgila fish ; gile — swallow ; gopī - gaṇe — the gopīs ; neha’ — please take out ; tāra pāra — beyond that .

Purport

The bodily conception is created by the desire for material enjoyment. This is called vipada-smṛti, which is the opposite of real life. The living entity is eternally the servant of Kṛṣṇa, but when he desires to enjoy the material world, he cannot progress in spiritual life. One can never be happy by advancing materially. This is also stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.30) : adānta-gobhir viśatāṁ tamisraṁ punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām. Through the uncontrolled senses, one may advance one’s hellish condition. He may continue to chew the chewed; that is, repeatedly accept birth and death. The conditioned souls use the duration of life between birth and death only to engage in the same hackneyed activities — eating, sleeping, mating and defending. In the lower animal species, we find the same activities. Since these activities are repeated, engaging in them is like chewing that which has already been chewed. If one can give up his ambition to engage in hackneyed material life and take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness instead, he will be liberated from the stringent laws of material nature. One does not need to make a separate attempt to become liberated. If one simply engages in the service of the Lord, he will be liberated automatically. As Śrīla Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura therefore says, muktiḥ svayaṁ mukulitāñjali sevate ’smān: “Liberation stands before me with folded hands, begging to serve me.”

Translation

“It is amazing that You have forgotten the land of Vṛndāvana. And how is it that You have forgotten Your father, mother and friends? How have You forgotten Govardhana Hill, the bank of the Yamunā and the forest where You enjoyed the rāsa-līlā dance?

Word meanings

vṛndāvana — the transcendental land known as Vṛndāvana ; govardhana — Govardhana Hill ; yamunā - pulina — the bank of the Yamunā ; vana — all the forests where the pastimes of the Lord took place ; sei kuñje — in the bushes in that forest ; rāsa - ādika līlā — the pastimes of the rāsa dance ; sei — that ; vrajera — of Vṛndāvana ; vraja - jana — inhabitants ; mātā — mother ; pitā — father ; bandhu - gaṇa — friends ; baḍa citra — most wonderful ; kemane pāsarilā — how have You forgotten .

Translation

“Kṛṣṇa, You are certainly a refined gentleman with all good qualities. You are well-behaved, softhearted and merciful. I know that there is not even a tinge of fault to be found in You. Yet Your mind does not even remember the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. This is only My misfortune, and nothing else.

Word meanings

vidagdha — most refined ; mṛdu — gentle ; sat - guṇa — endowed with all good qualities ; su - śīla — well-behaved ; snigdha — softhearted ; karuṇa — merciful ; tumi — You ; tomāra — Your ; nāhi — there is not ; doṣa - ābhāsa — even a tinge of fault ; tabe — still ; ye — indeed ; tomāra — Your ; mana — mind ; nāhi — does not ; smare — remember ; vraja - jana — the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana ; se — that ; āmāra — My ; durdaiva - vilāsa — suffering of past misdeeds .

Translation

“I do not care for My personal unhappiness, but when I see the morose face of mother Yaśodā and the hearts of all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana breaking because of You, I wonder whether You want to kill them all. Or do You want to enliven them by coming there? Why are You simply keeping them alive in a state of suffering?

Word meanings

nā gaṇi — I do not care ; āpana - duḥkha — My personal unhappiness ; dekhi’ — seeing ; vrajeśvarī - mukha — the face of mother Yaśodā ; vraja - janera — of all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana ; hṛdaya vidare — the hearts break ; kibā — whether ; māra’ vraja - vāsī — You want to kill the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana ; kibā — or ; jīyāo — You want to keep their lives ; vraje āsi’ — coming in Vṛndāvana ; kena — why ; jīyāo — You let them live ; duḥkha sahāibāre — just to cause to suffer unhappiness .

Translation

“The inhabitants of Vṛndāvana do not want You dressed like a prince, nor do they want You to associate with great warriors in a different country. They cannot leave the land of Vṛndāvana, and without Your presence, they are all dying. What is their condition to be?

Word meanings

tomāra — Your ; ye — that ; anya veśa — different dress ; anya saṅga — other associates ; anya deśa — other countries ; vraja - jane — to the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana ; kabhu — at any time ; nāhi — does not ; bhāya — appeal ; vraja - bhūmi — the land of Vṛndāvana ; chāḍite nāre — they do not like to leave ; tomā — You ; nā — not ; dekhile — seeing ; mare — they die ; vraja - janera — of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana ; ki — what ; habe — will be ; upāya — means .

Translation

“My dear Kṛṣṇa, You are the life and soul of Vṛndāvana-dhāma. You are especially the life of Nanda Mahārāja. You are the only opulence in the land of Vṛndāvana, and You are very merciful. Please come and let all the residents of Vṛndāvana live. Kindly keep Your lotus feet again in Vṛndāvana.”

Word meanings

tumi — You ; vrajera jīvana — the life and soul of Vṛndāvana ; vraja - rājera — and of the King of Vraja, Nanda Mahārāja ; prāṇa - dhana — the only life ; tumi — You ; vrajera — of Vṛndāvana ; sakala sampad — all opulence ; kṛpā - ardra — melting with kindness ; tomāra mana — Your mind ; āsi’ — coming ; jīyāo — give life ; vraja - jana — to all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana ; vraje — in Vṛndāvana ; udaya karāo — cause to appear ; nija - pada — Your lotus feet .

Purport

Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī did not express Her personal unhappiness at being separated from Kṛṣṇa. She wanted to evoke Kṛṣṇa’s feelings for the condition of all the others in Vṛndāvana-dhāma — mother Yaśodā, Mahārāja Nanda, the cowherd boys, the gopīs, the birds and bees on the banks of the Yamunā, the water of the Yamunā, the trees, the forests and all the other paraphernalia associated with Kṛṣṇa before He left Vṛndāvana for Mathurā. These feelings of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī were manifested by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and therefore He invited Lord Jagannātha, Kṛṣṇa, to return to Vṛndāvana. That is the purport of the Ratha-yātrā car’s going from Jagannātha Purī to the Guṇḍicā temple.

Translation

After hearing Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s statements, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s love for the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana was evoked, and His body and mind became very much perturbed. After hearing of their love for Him, He immediately thought Himself to be always indebted to the residents of Vṛndāvana. Then Kṛṣṇa began to pacify Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī as follows.

Word meanings

śuniyā — after hearing ; rādhikā - vāṇī — the statement of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī ; vraja - prema — the love of Vraja ; mane āni — remembering ; bhāve — in that ecstasy ; vyākulita — very much perturbed ; deha - mana — the body and mind ; vraja - lokera — of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana ; prema śuni’ — after hearing of the loving affairs ; āpanāke — Himself ; ṛṇī māni’ — considering very much indebted ; kare — does ; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; tāṅre — unto Her ; āśvāsana — pacification .

Translation

“My dearest Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, please hear Me. I am speaking the truth. I cry day and night simply upon remembering all you inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. No one knows how unhappy this makes Me.”

Word meanings

prāṇa - priye — O My dearmost ; śuna — please hear ; mora — of Me ; e - satya - vacana — this true statement ; tomā - sabāra — of all of you ; smaraṇe — by remembrance ; jhuroṅ — cry ; muñi — I ; rātri - dine — both day and night ; mora duḥkha — My distress ; nā jāne — does not know ; kona jana — anyone .

Purport

It is said: vṛndāvanaṁ parityajya padam ekaṁ na gacchati. In one sense, Kṛṣṇa, the original Personality of Godhead ( īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ ), does not even take one step away from Vṛndāvana. However, in order to take care of various duties, Kṛṣṇa had to leave Vṛndāvana. He had to go to Mathurā to kill Kaṁsa, and then He was taken by His father to Dvārakā, where He was busy with state affairs and disturbances created by demons. Kṛṣṇa was away from Vṛndāvana, and He was not at all happy, as He plainly disclosed to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. She is the dearmost life and soul of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and He expressed His mind to Her as follows.

Translation

Śrī Kṛṣṇa continued: “All the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana-dhāma — My mother, father, cowherd boyfriends and everything else — are like My life and soul. And among all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, the gopīs are My very life and soul. And among the gopīs, You, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, are the chief. Therefore You are the very life of My life.

Word meanings

vraja - vāsī yata jana — all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana-dhāma ; mātā — mother ; pitā — father ; sakhā - gaṇa — boyfriends ; sabe — all ; haya — are ; mora prāṇa - sama — as good as My life ; tāṅra madhye — among them ; gopī - gaṇa — the gopīs ; sākṣāt — directly ; mora jīvana — My life and soul ; tumi — You ; mora jīvanera jīvana — the life of My life .

Purport

Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the center of all Vṛndāvana’s activities. In Vṛndāvana, Kṛṣṇa is the instrument of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; therefore all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana still chant “Jaya Rādhe!” From Kṛṣṇa’s own statement given herein, it appears that Rādhārāṇī is the Queen of Vṛndāvana and that Kṛṣṇa is simply Her decoration. Kṛṣṇa is known as Madana-mohana, the enchanter of Cupid, but Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the enchanter of Kṛṣṇa. Consequently Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is called Madana-mohana-mohinī, the enchanter of the enchanter of Cupid.

Translation

“My dear Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, I am always subservient to the loving affairs of all of you. I am under your control only. My separation from you and residence in distant places have occurred due to My strong misfortune.

Word meanings

tomā - sabāra — of all of you ; prema - rase — by the ecstasy and mellows of loving affairs ; āmāke — Me ; karila — you have made ; vaśe — subservient ; āmi — I ; tomāra — of you ; adhīna — subservient ; kevala — only ; tomā - sabā — from all of you ; chāḍāñā — separating ; āmā — Me ; dūra - deśe — to distant countries ; lañā — taking ; rākhiyāche — has kept ; durdaiva — misfortune ; prabala — very powerful .

Translation

“When a woman is separated from the man she loves or a man is separated from his beloved woman, neither of them can live. It is a fact that they live only for each other, for if one dies and the other hears of it, he or she will die also.

Word meanings

priyā — a woman beloved ; priya - saṅga - hīnā — being separated from the man beloved ; priya — the man beloved ; priyā - saṅga vinā — being separated from the woman beloved ; nāhi jīye — cannot live ; e satya pramāṇa — this is factual evidence ; mora — My ; daśā — situation ; śone yabe — when one hears ; tāṅra — his ; ei — this ; daśā — situation ; habe — there will be ; ei bhaye — out of this fear ; duṅhe — both ; rākhe prāṇa — keep their life .

Translation

“Such a loving, chaste wife and loving husband desire all welfare for each other in separation and do not care for personal happiness. Desiring only each other’s well-being, such a pair certainly meet again without delay.

Word meanings

sei satī — that chaste wife ; prema - vatī — full of love ; prema - vān — loving ; sei pati — that husband ; viyoge — in separation ; ye — who ; vāñche — desire ; priya - hite — for the welfare of the other ; nā gaṇe — and do not care ; āpana - duḥkha — for personal unhappiness ; vāñche — desire ; priya - jana - sukha — the happiness of the dearmost beloved ; sei — those ; dui — two ; mile — meet ; acirāte — without delay .

Translation

“You are My most dear, and I know that in My absence You cannot live for a moment. Just to keep You living, I worship Lord Nārāyaṇa. By His merciful potency, I come to Vṛndāvana every day to enjoy pastimes with You. I then return to Dvārakā-dhāma. Thus You can always feel My presence there in Vṛndāvana.

Word meanings

rākhite — just to keep ; tomāra jīvana — Your life ; sevi āmi nārāyaṇa — I always worship Lord Nārāyaṇa ; tāṅra śaktye — by His potency ; āsi niti - niti — I come to You daily ; tomā - sane — with You ; krīḍā kari’ — enjoying pastimes ; niti — daily ; yāi yadu - purī — I return to Dvārakā-dhāma, known as Yadu-purī ; tāhā — that ; tumi — You ; mānaha — experience ; mora — My ; sphūrti — manifestation .

Translation

“Our love affair is more powerful because of My good fortune in receiving Nārāyaṇa’s grace. This allows Me to come there unseen by others. I hope that very soon I will be visible to everyone.

Word meanings

mora bhāgya — My fortune ; mo - viṣaye — in relation with Me ; tomāra — Your ; ye — whatever ; prema — love ; haye — there is ; sei prema — that love ; parama prabala — very powerful ; lukāñā — secretly ; āmā āne — brings Me ; saṅga karāya — obliges Me to associate ; tomā - sane — with You ; prakaṭeha — directly manifested ; ānibe — will bring ; satvara — very soon .

Purport

Kṛṣṇa has two kinds of presence — prakaṭa and aprakaṭa, manifest and unmanifest. These are identical for the sincere devotee. Even if Kṛṣṇa is not physically present, the devotee’s constant absorption in the affairs of Kṛṣṇa makes Him always present. This is confirmed in the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.38) :

premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṇa-svarūpaṁ govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

Due to his intense love, the pure devotee always sees Lord Kṛṣṇa present within his heart. All glories to Govinda, the primeval Personality of Godhead! When Kṛṣṇa is not manifest before the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, they are always absorbed in thoughts of Him. Therefore even though at that time Kṛṣṇa was living in Dvārakā, He was simultaneously present before all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. This was His aprakaṭa presence. Devotees who are always absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa will soon see Kṛṣṇa face to face without a doubt. In other words, devotees who are always engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and are fully absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa certainly return home, back to Godhead. They then see Kṛṣṇa directly, face to face, talk with Him and enjoy His company. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (4.9) : tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti so ’rjuna .

Because during his lifetime a pure devotee is always speaking of Kṛṣṇa and engaging in His service, as soon as he gives up his body he immediately returns to Goloka Vṛndāvana, where Kṛṣṇa is personally present. He then meets Kṛṣṇa directly. This is successful human life. This is the meaning of prakaṭeha ānibe satvara: The pure devotee will soon see the personal manifestation of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“I have already killed all the mischievous demons who are enemies of the Yadu dynasty, and I have also killed Kaṁsa and his allies. But there are two or four demons still living. I want to kill them, and after doing so I shall very soon return to Vṛndāvana. Please know this for certain.

Word meanings

yādavera vipakṣa — all the enemies of the Yadu dynasty ; yata — all ; duṣṭa — mischievous ; kaṁsa - pakṣa — the party of Kaṁsa ; tāhā — them ; āmi — I ; kailuṅ saba kṣaya — have annihilated all ; āche — there are still ; dui - cāri jana — two or four demons ; tāhā māri’ — after killing them ; vṛndāvana — to Vṛndāvana ; āilāma āmi — I am coming very soon ; jāniha niścaya — please know it very well .

Purport

Just as Kṛṣṇa does not take a step away from Vṛndāvana, Kṛṣṇa’s devotee also does not like to leave Vṛndāvana. However, when he has to tend to Kṛṣṇa’s business, he leaves Vṛndāvana. After finishing his mission, a pure devotee returns home, back to Vṛndāvana, back to Godhead. Kṛṣṇa assured Rādhārāṇī that after killing the demons outside Vṛndāvana, He would return. “I am coming back very soon,” He promised, “as soon as I have killed the few remaining demons.”

Translation

“I wish to protect the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana from the attacks of My enemies. That is why I remain in My kingdom; otherwise I am indifferent to My royal position. Whatever wives, sons and wealth I maintain in the kingdom are only for the satisfaction of the Yadus.

Word meanings

sei — those ; śatru - gaṇa haite — from enemies ; vraja - jana — to the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana ; rākhite — to give protection ; rahi — I remain ; rājye — in My kingdom ; udāsīna — indifferent ; hañā — becoming ; yebā — whatever ; strī - putra - dhane — with wives, sons and wealth ; kari rājya āvaraṇe — I decorate My kingdom ; yadu - gaṇera — of the Yadu dynasty ; santoṣa — satisfaction ; lāgiyā — for the matter of .

Translation

“Your loving qualities always attract Me to Vṛndāvana. Indeed, they will bring Me back within ten or twenty days, and when I return I shall enjoy both day and night with You and all the damsels of Vrajabhūmi.”

Word meanings

tomāra — Your ; ye — whatever ; prema - guṇa — qualities in ecstatic love ; kare — do ; āmā — Me ; ākarṣaṇa — attracting ; ānibe — will bring ; āmā — Me ; dina daśa biśe — within ten or twenty days ; punaḥ — again ; āsi’ — coming ; vṛndāvane — to Vṛndāvana ; vraja - vadhū — all the damsels of Vṛndāvana ; tomā - sane — with You ; vilasiba — I shall enjoy ; rajanī - divase — both day and night .

Translation

While speaking to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Kṛṣṇa became very anxious to return to Vṛndāvana. He made Her listen to a verse which banished all Her difficulties and which assured Her that She would again attain Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

eta — so much ; tāṅre — unto Rādhārāṇī ; kahi — speaking ; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; vraje — in Vṛndāvana ; yāite — to go ; sa - tṛṣṇa — very anxious ; eka śloka — one verse ; paḍi’ — reciting ; śunāila — making Her hear ; sei śloka — that verse ; śuni’ — hearing ; rādhā — Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī ; khāṇḍila — disappeared ; sakala — all kinds of ; bādhā — hindrances ; kṛṣṇa - prāptye — in achieving Kṛṣṇa ; pratīti ha - ila — there was assurance .

Translation

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: “Devotional service unto Me is the only way to attain Me. My dear gopīs, whatever love and affection you have attained for Me by good fortune is the only reason for My returning to you.”

Word meanings

mayi — unto Me ; bhaktiḥ — the nine kinds of devotional service, such as śravaṇa, kīrtana and smaraṇa ; hi — certainly ; bhūtānām — of all living entities ; amṛtatvāya — for becoming eternal associates of the Lord ; kalpate — is quite befitting ; diṣṭyā — by good fortune ; yat — whatever ; āsīt — there was ; mat - snehaḥ — love and affection for Me ; bhavatīnām — of all you gopīs ; mat - āpanaḥ — the cause for getting Me back .

Purport

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.82.44) .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would sit in His room with Svarūpa Dāmodara and taste the topics of these verses day and night.

Word meanings

ei saba — all these ; artha — meanings ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; svarūpera sane — with Svarūpa Dāmodara ; rātri - dine — both day and night ; ghare vasi’ — sitting within His room ; kare — does ; āsvādane — taste .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced completely absorbed in ecstatic emotion. While looking at the face of Lord Jagannātha, He danced and recited these verses.

Word meanings

nṛtya - kāle — while dancing ; sei bhāve — in such ecstasy ; āviṣṭa — absorbed ; hañā — becoming ; śloka paḍi’ — reciting these verses ; nāce — dances ; jagannātha - mukha — the face of Jagannātha ; cāñā — looking upon .

Translation

No one can describe the good fortune of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, for he is always absorbed in the service of the Lord with his body, mind and words.

Word meanings

svarūpa - gosāñira — of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī ; bhāgya — the fortune ; nā — not ; yāya varṇana — can be described ; prabhute — in the service of the Lord ; āviṣṭa — fully absorbed ; yāṅra — of whom ; kāya — body ; vākya — words ; mana — mind .

Translation

The senses of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were identical with the senses of Svarūpa. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to become fully absorbed in tasting the singing of Svarūpa Dāmodara.

Word meanings

svarūpera — of Svarūpa Dāmodara ; indriye — in the senses ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nija - indriya - gaṇa — own senses ; āviṣṭa hañā — being fully absorbed ; kare — does ; gāna — the singing ; āsvādana — tasting .

Translation

In emotional ecstasy, Caitanya Mahāprabhu would sometimes sit on the ground and, looking down, would write on the ground with His finger.

Word meanings

bhāvera āveśe — because of ecstatic emotion ; kabhu — sometimes ; bhūmite — on the ground ; vasiyā — sitting ; tarjanīte — with the ring finger ; bhūme — on the ground ; likhe — writes ; adhomukha hañā — looking down .

Translation

Fearing that the Lord would injure His finger by writing in this way, Svarūpa Dāmodara checked Him with his own hand.

Word meanings

aṅgulite — on the finger ; kṣata — injury ; habe — will take place ; jāni’ — knowing ; dāmodara — Svarūpa Dāmodara ; bhaye — out of fear ; nija - kare — by his own hand ; nivāraye — checks ; prabhu - kara — the hand of the Lord .

Translation

Svarūpa Dāmodara used to sing exactly according to the ecstatic emotion of the Lord. Whenever a particular mellow was being tasted by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Svarūpa Dāmodara would personify it by singing.

Word meanings

prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bhāva - anurūpa — following the ecstatic emotions ; svarūpera — of Svarūpa Dāmodara ; gāna — the singing ; yabe — when ; yei — whatever ; rasa — mellow ; tāhā — that ; kare — makes ; mūrtimān — personified .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu looked upon the beautiful lotuslike face and eyes of Lord Jagannātha.

Word meanings

śrī - jagannāthera — of Lord Jagannātha ; dekhe — sees ; śrī - mukha - kamala — the lotuslike face ; tāhāra upara — upon this ; sundara — beautiful ; nayana - yugala — a pair of eyes .

Translation

Lord Jagannātha was garlanded, dressed with nice garments and adorned with beautiful ornaments. His face was glittering from the rays of sunshine, and the entire atmosphere was fragrant.

Word meanings

sūryera — of the sun ; kiraṇe — by the rays of sunshine ; mukha — the face ; kare — does ; jhalamala — glittering ; mālya — garland ; vastra — garments ; divya alaṅkāra — beautiful ornaments ; parimala — surrounded by a fragrance .

Translation

An ocean of transcendental bliss expanded in the heart of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and symptoms of madness immediately intensified like a hurricane.

Word meanings

prabhura hṛdaye — in the heart of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; ānanda - sindhu — the ocean of transcendental bliss ; uthalila — arose ; unmāda — madness ; jhañjhā - vāta — hurricane ; tat - kṣaṇe — immediately ; uṭhila — intensified .

Translation

The madness of transcendental bliss created waves of various emotions. The emotions appeared like opposing soldiers staging a fight.

Word meanings

ānanda - unmāde — the madness of transcendental bliss ; uṭhāya — causes to arise ; bhāvera — of emotions ; taraṅga — waves ; nānā — various ; bhāva — emotions ; sainye — among soldiers ; upajila — there appeared ; yuddha - raṅga — fighting .

Translation

There was an increase in all the natural emotional symptoms. Thus there were awakening emotions, peacefulness, joined, mixed, transcendental and prevalent emotions, and impetuses for emotion.

Word meanings

bhāva - udaya — awakening of emotion ; bhāva - śānti — emotions of peace ; sandhi — the junction of different emotions ; śābalya — mixing of all emotions ; sañcārī — impetuses for all kinds of emotion ; sāttvika — transcendental ; sthāyī — prevalent ; svabhāva — natural emotion ; prābalya — increase .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s body appeared like a transcendental Himalayan mountain bearing ecstatic emotional flower trees, all of them blooming.

Word meanings

prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; śarīra — body ; yena — as if ; śuddha — transcendental ; hemācala — Himalayan mountain ; bhāva — emotional ; puṣpa - druma — flower trees ; tāhe — in that situation ; puṣpita — blooming with flowers ; sakala — all .

Translation

The sight of all these symptoms attracted everyone’s mind and consciousness. Indeed, the Lord sprinkled everyone’s mind with the nectar of transcendental love of Godhead.

Word meanings

dekhite — by seeing ; ākarṣaye — attracts ; sabāra — of everyone ; citta - mana — mind and consciousness ; prema - amṛta - vṛṣṭye — by the pouring of the nectar of transcendental love for God ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; siñce — sprinkled ; sabāra — everyone’s ; mana — mind .

Translation

He sprinkled the minds of the servants of Lord Jagannātha, the government officers, the pilgrim visitors, the general populace and all the residents of Jagannātha Purī.

Word meanings

jagannātha - sevaka — the servants of Lord Jagannātha ; yata — all ; rāja - pātra - gaṇa — and the government officers ; yātrika — pilgrim visitors ; loka — people in general ; nīlācala - vāsī — the residents of Jagannātha Purī ; yata jana — as many people as there were .

Translation

Upon seeing the dancing and ecstatic love of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, everyone became astonished. In their hearts they became infatuated with love of Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nṛtya — dancing ; prema — love ; dekhi’ — seeing ; haya — become ; camatkāra — astonished ; kṛṣṇa - prema — love of Kṛṣṇa ; uchalila — infatuated ; hṛdaye — in the hearts ; sabāra — of everyone .

Translation

Everyone danced and chanted in ecstatic love, and a great noise resounded. Everyone was overwhelmed with transcendental bliss just to see the dancing of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

preme — in ecstatic love ; nāce — dance ; gāya — chant ; loka — people in general ; kare — make ; kolāhala — a great noise ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nṛtya — dancing ; dekhi’ — seeing ; sabe — everyone ; ānande — in transcendental bliss ; vihvala — overwhelmed .

Translation

Apart from the others, even Lord Jagannātha and Lord Balarāma, with great happiness, began to move very slowly upon seeing the dancing of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

anyera ki kāya — apart from the actions of others ; jagannātha — Lord Jagannātha ; haladhara — Balarāma ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nṛtya — the dancing ; dekhi’ — seeing ; sukhe — in great happiness ; calilā — moved ; manthara — slowly .

Translation

Lord Jagannātha and Lord Balarāma sometimes stopped the car and happily observed Lord Caitanya’s dancing. Anyone who was able to see Them stop and watch the dancing bore witness to Their pastimes.

Word meanings

kabhu — sometimes ; sukhe — in great happiness ; nṛtya - raṅga — amusement in dancing ; dekhe — sees ; ratha — the car ; rākhi’ — stopping ; se kautuka — that amusement ; ye — anyone who ; dekhila — saw ; sei — he ; tāra — of that ; sākṣī — witness .

Translation

When Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was dancing and wandering in this way, He fell down in front of Mahārāja Pratāparudra.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nṛtya karite — dancing ; bhramite — wandering ; pratāparudrera — of King Pratāparudra ; āge — in front ; lāgilā — began ; paḍite — to fall down .

Translation

Mahārāja Pratāparudra picked the Lord up with great respect, but upon seeing the King, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to His external senses.

Word meanings

sambhrame — with great respect ; pratāparudra — King Pratāparudra ; prabhuke — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; dharila — picked up ; tāṅhāke — him ; dekhite — to see ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bāhya - jñāna — external consciousness ; ha - ila — there was .

Translation

After seeing the King, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu condemned Himself, saying, “Oh, how pitiful it is that I have touched a person who is interested in mundane affairs!”

Word meanings

rājā dekhi’ — by seeing the King ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; karena — does ; dhik - kāra — condemnation ; chi chi — how pitiable it is ; viṣayīra — of a person interested in mundane affairs ; sparśa ha - ila — there has been touching ; āmāra — of Me .

Translation

Not even Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, Kāśīśvara or Govinda took care of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu when He fell down. Nityānanda was in great ecstasy, and Kāśīśvara and Govinda were elsewhere.

Word meanings

āveśete — in great ecstasy ; nityānanda — Nityānanda Prabhu ; nā — not ; hailā — became ; sāvadhāne — careful ; kāśīśvara — Kāśīśvara ; govinda — Govinda ; āchilā — were ; anya - sthāne — in another place .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had already been satisfied by the King’s behavior, for the King had accepted the service of a sweeper for Lord Jagannātha. Therefore Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu actually desired to see the King.

Word meanings

yadyapi — although ; rājāra — of the King ; dekhi’ — seeing ; hāḍira sevana — the service of a sweeper ; prasanna hañāche — was satisfied ; tāṅre milibāre — to see him ; mana — His mind .

Translation

However, just to warn His personal associates, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, externally expressed feelings of anger.

Word meanings

tathāpi — still ; āpana - gaṇe — to personal associates ; karite — to do ; sāvadhāna — warning ; bāhye — externally ; kichu — some ; roṣa - ābhāsa — apparent anger ; kailā — showed ; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead .

Purport

When Mahārāja Pratāparudra asked to see the Lord, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately refused, saying:

niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya pāraṁ paraṁ jigamiṣor bhava-sāgarasya sandarśanaṁ viṣayiṇām atha yoṣitāṁ ca hā hanta hanta viṣa-bhakṣaṇato ’py asādhu

( Caitanya-candrodaya-nāṭaka 8.23)

The word niṣkiñcanasya refers to a person who has finished his material activities. Such a person can begin to execute his activities in Kṛṣṇa consciousness to cross over the ocean of nescience. It is very dangerous for such a person to have intimate relationships with mundane people or to become intimately related with women. This formality is to be observed by anyone who is serious about going back home, back to Godhead. To teach His personal associates these principles, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu expressed external anger when touched by the King. Since the Lord was very much satisfied with the humble behavior of the King, He intentionally allowed the King to touch Him, but externally He expressed anger just to warn His personal associates.

Translation

King Pratāparudra became frightened when Lord Caitanya showed external anger, but Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya told the King, “Don’t worry.”

Word meanings

prabhura vacane — by the words of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; rājāra — of the King ; mane — in the mind ; haila — there was ; bhaya — fear ; sārvabhauma kahe — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said ; tumi — you (the King) ; nā kara saṁśaya — do not be worried .

Translation

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya informed the King, “The Lord is very satisfied with you. By pointing you out, He was teaching His personal associates how to behave with mundane people.”

Word meanings

tomāra upare — upon you ; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; su - prasanna — very satisfied ; mana — the mind ; tomā — you ; lakṣya kari’ — pointing out ; śikhāyena — He teaches ; nija gaṇa — His personal associates .

Purport

Although outwardly the King was a mundane man interested in money and women, internally he was purified by devotional activities. He showed this by engaging as a street sweeper to please Lord Jagannātha. A person may appear to be a pounds-and-shillings man interested in money and women, but if he is actually very meek and humble and surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is not mundane. Such a judgment can be made only by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His very confidential devotees. As a general principle, however, no devotee should intimately mix with mundane people interested in money and women.

Translation

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, “I shall submit your petition when there is an opportune moment. It will then be easy for you to come and meet the Lord.”

Word meanings

avasara jāni’ — understanding an opportune moment ; āmi — I ; kariba — shall do ; nivedana — submission ; sei - kāle — at that time ; yāi’ — coming ; kariha — you do ; prabhura milana — meeting with Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu .

Translation

After circumambulating Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went behind the car and began pushing it with His head.

Word meanings

tabe — at that time ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; ratha — the car ; pradakṣiṇa — circumambulation ; kariyā — doing ; ratha - pāche — to the rear of the car ; yāi’ — going ; ṭhele — pushes ; rathe — on the car ; māthā diyā — by placing the head .

Translation

As soon as He pushed, the car immediately started to move, making a rattling noise. The people all around began to chant the holy name of the Lord, “Hari! Hari!”

Word meanings

ṭhelitei — as soon as He pushed ; calila — departed ; ratha — the car ; haḍa haḍa kari’ — making a rattling noise ; catuḥ - dike — all around ; loka — people in general ; saba — all ; bale — chant ; hari hari — the holy name of the Lord, “Hari, Hari.” .

Translation

As the car began to move, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took His personal associates in front of the cars occupied by Lord Balarāma and Subhadrā, the goddess of fortune. Greatly inspired, He then began to dance in front of them.

Word meanings

tabe — at that time ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nija — personal ; bhakta - gaṇa — devotees ; lañā — taking ; saṅge — with Him ; baladeva — of Lord Balarāma ; subhadrā — of the goddess of fortune Subhadrā ; agre — in front ; nṛtya — dancing ; kare — performed ; raṅge — in great amusement .

Translation

After finishing the dance before Lord Baladeva and Subhadrā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came before Lord Jagannātha’s car. Upon seeing Lord Jagannātha, He began to dance again.

Word meanings

tāhāṅ — there ; nṛtya kari’ — after performing the dance ; jagannātha — of Lord Jagannātha ; āge — in front ; āilā — appeared ; jagannātha dekhi’ — seeing Lord Jagannātha ; nṛtya — dancing ; karite — to perform ; lāgilā — began .

Translation

When they reached the place called Balagaṇḍi, Lord Jagannātha stopped His car and began to look left and right.

Word meanings

caliyā — moving ; āila — came ; ratha — the car ; balagaṇḍi - sthāne — at the place known as Balagaṇḍi ; jagannātha — Lord Jagannātha ; ratha — car ; rākhi’ — after stopping ; dekhe — sees ; ḍāhine vāme — left and right .

Translation

On the left side, Lord Jagannātha saw a neighborhood of brāhmaṇas and a coconut-tree grove. On the right side, He saw nice flower gardens resembling those in the holy place Vṛndāvana.

Word meanings

vāme — on the left ; vipra - śāsana — the place where brāhmaṇas lived ; nārikela - vana — coconut grove ; ḍāhine — on the right side ; ta’ — indeed ; puṣpa - udyāna — flower gardens ; yena — as if ; vṛndāvana — Vṛndāvana .

Purport

Vipra-śāsana is a word generally used in the Orissa province to indicate the quarters where brāhmaṇas live.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees were dancing in front of the car, and Lord Jagannātha, having stopped the car, watched the dancing.

Word meanings

āge — in front ; nṛtya kare — dances ; gaura — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; lañā — accompanied by ; bhakta - gaṇa — the devotees ; ratha rākhi’ — after stopping the car ; jagannātha — Lord Jagannātha ; karena daraśana — sees .

Translation

It was customary that food be offered to the Lord at vipra-śāsana. Indeed, innumerable dishes of food were offered, and Lord Jagannātha tasted each one of them.

Word meanings

sei sthale — in that place ; bhoga lāge — food is offered ; āchaye niyama — it is the custom ; koṭi bhoga — millions of dishes ; jagannātha — Lord Jagannātha ; kare — does ; āsvādana — tasting .

Translation

All kinds of devotees of Lord Jagannātha — from neophytes to the most advanced — offered their best cooked food to the Lord.

Word meanings

jagannāthera — of Lord Jagannātha ; choṭa — neophyte ; baḍa — advanced ; yata — all ; bhakta - gaṇa — devotees ; nija nija — personally cooked ; uttama - bhoga — first-class food ; kare — do ; samarpaṇa — offering .

Translation

These devotees included the King, his queens, his ministers and friends and all other big and small residents of Jagannātha Purī.

Word meanings

rājā — the King ; rāja - mahiṣī - vṛnda — the queens of the King ; pātra — ministers ; mitra - gaṇa — friends ; nīlācala - vāsī — all the residents of Jagannātha Purī ; yata — as many ; choṭa - baḍa — small and big ; jana — persons .

Translation

All the visitors who had come from different countries to Jagannātha Purī, as well as the local devotees, offered their personally cooked food to the Lord.

Word meanings

nānā - deśera — of various countries ; deśī — local ; yata — all kinds of ; yātrika — visiting ; jana — people ; nija - nija — personally cooked ; bhoga — food ; tāhāṅ — there ; kare — do ; samarpaṇa — offering .

Translation

The devotees offered their food everywhere — in front of the car and behind it, on the two sides and within the flower garden. Wherever possible, they made their offering to the Lord, for there were no hard and fast rules.

Word meanings

āge pāche — in front or at the end ; dui pārśve — on two sides ; puṣpa - udyāna - vane — in the flower gardens ; yei — one who ; yāhā pāya — gets the opportunity ; lāgāya — offers ; nāhika niyame — there are no hard and fast rules .

Translation

While the food was being offered, a large crowd of people gathered. At that time Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stopped His dancing and went to a nearby garden.

Word meanings

bhogera samaya — at the time the food was offered ; lokera — of all the people ; mahā — great ; bhiḍa — crowd ; haila — there was ; nṛtya chāḍi’ — giving up His dancing ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; upavane gela — went to a nearby garden .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu entered the garden and, immersed in great ecstatic emotion, fell flat on a raised platform there.

Word meanings

prema - āveśe — in ecstatic love ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; upavana pāñā — having come to a nice nearby garden ; puṣpa - udyāne — in that flower garden ; gṛha - piṇḍāya — on a raised platform ; rahilā — remained ; paḍiyā — falling flat .

Translation

The Lord was very much fatigued from the hard labor of dancing, and there was perspiration all over His body. He therefore enjoyed the fragrant, cool breeze of the garden.

Word meanings

nṛtya - pariśrame — by fatigue due to dancing ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; dehe — on the body ; ghana gharma — much perspiration ; sugandhi — fragrant ; śītala - vāyu — cool breeze ; karena sevana — enjoyed very much .

Translation

All the devotees who had been performing saṅkīrtana came there and took rest under each and every tree.

Word meanings

yata bhakta — all the devotees ; kīrtanīyā — who were performing saṅkīrtana ; āsiyā — coming ; ārāme — in the resting place ; prati - vṛkṣa - tale — under each and every tree ; sabe — all of them ; karena — take ; viśrāme — rest .

Translation

Thus I have described the great performance of congregational chanting by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as He danced in front of Lord Jagannātha.

Word meanings

ei ta’ — in this way ; kahila — I have described ; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; mahā - saṅkīrtana — the great congregational chanting ; jagannāthera āge — in front of Lord Jagannātha ; yaiche — as ; karila — He did ; nartana — dancing .

Translation

In his prayer known as the Caitanyāṣṭaka, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has given a vivid description of the Lord’s dancing before the car of Jagannātha.

Word meanings

ratha - agrete — in front of the car ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; yaiche — as ; karilā — performed ; nartana — dancing ; caitanya - aṣṭake — in the prayer named Caitanyāṣṭaka ; rūpa - gosāñi — Rūpa Gosvāmī ; karyāche — has done ; varṇana — a vivid description .

Purport

Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī composed three prayers with the title Caitanyāṣṭaka. The verse next quoted is text 7 from the first of the Caitanyāṣṭaka prayers, which are included in the book Stava-mālā.

Translation

“Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced down the main road in great ecstasy before Lord Jagannātha, the master of Nīlācala, who was sitting on His car. Overwhelmed by the transcendental bliss of dancing and surrounded by Vaiṣṇavas who sang the holy names, He manifested waves of ecstatic love of Godhead. When will Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again be visible to my vision?”

Word meanings

ratha - ārūḍhasya — of the Supreme Lord, who was placed aboard the car ; ārāt — in front ; adhipadavi — on the main road ; nīlācala - pateḥ — of Lord Jagannātha, the Lord of Nīlācala ; adabhra — great ; prema - ūrmi — by waves of love of Godhead ; sphurita — which was manifested ; naṭana - ullāsa - vivaśaḥ — being overwhelmed by the transcendental bliss of dancing ; sa - harṣam — with great pleasure ; gāyadbhiḥ — who were singing ; parivṛta — surrounded ; tanuḥ — body ; vaiṣṇava - janaiḥ — by the devotees ; saḥ caitanyaḥ — that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kim — whether ; me — my ; punaḥ api — again ; dṛśoḥ — of vision ; yāsyati — will enter ; padam — the path .

Translation

Anyone who hears this description of the car festival will attain Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He will also attain the elevated state by which he will have firm conviction in devotional service and love of Godhead.

Word meanings

ihā — this ; yei — anyone who ; śune — hears ; sei — that person ; śrī - caitanya pāya — will achieve Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; su - dṛḍha — firm ; viśvāsa — conviction ; saha — with ; prema - bhakti — devotional service in great love ; haya — there is .

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, Madhya-līlā, thirteenth chapter, describing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s ecstatic dancing at Lord Jagannātha’s car festival.