The Lord Accepts Prasādam at the House of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya

Translation

While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was taking prasādam at the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Amogha criticized Him. Still, the Lord accepted Amogha, thereby showing how much He was obliged to His devotees.

Word meanings

sārvabhauma - gṛhe — at the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; bhuñjan — while eating ; sva - nindakam — a person who was criticizing Him ; amoghakam — named Amogha ; aṅgī - kurvan — accepting ; sphuṭām — manifested ; cakre — made ; gauraḥ — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; svām — His ; bhakta - vaśyatām — obligation to His devotees .

Translation

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

Word meanings

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

Translation

All glories to the listeners of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta who have accepted it as their life and soul!

Word meanings

jaya — all glories ; śrī - caitanya - caritāmṛta - śrotā - gaṇa — to the listeners of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta ; caitanya - caritāmṛta — Caitanya-caritāmṛta ; yāṅra — of whom ; prāṇa - dhana — the life and soul .

Translation

While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed at Jagannātha Purī, He constantly enjoyed chanting and dancing with His devotees.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bhakta - gaṇa - saṅge — with His devotees ; nīlācale rahi’ — staying at Nīlācala, Jagannātha Purī ; kare — performs ; nṛtya - gīta - raṅge — chanting and dancing with great pleasure .

Translation

In the beginning of the day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the Deity of Lord Jagannātha in the temple. He offered Him obeisances and prayers and danced and sang before Him.

Word meanings

prathama - avasare — in the beginning of the day ; jagannātha - daraśana — seeing the Deity of Lord Jagannātha ; nṛtya - gīta kare — performs chanting and dancing ; daṇḍa - paraṇāma — offering obeisances ; stavana — offering prayers .

Translation

After visiting the temple, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would remain outside during the upala-bhoga offering. He would then go meet Haridāsa Ṭhākura and return to His residence.

Word meanings

upala - bhoga lāgile — when there is an offering of food known as upala-bhoga ; kare bāhire vijaya — He remains outside ; haridāsa mili’ — meeting Haridāsa Ṭhākura ; āise — comes back ; āpana nilaya — to His residence .

Purport

At noon, when there was an upala-bhoga offering in a place called bhoga-vardhana-khaṇḍa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would go outside the temple. Before going outside, He used to stand near the Garuḍa-stambha column and offer His obeisances and prayers. Afterwards, the Lord would visit Siddha-bakula, where Haridāsa Ṭhākura lived. After visiting with Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the Lord would return to His own place at the abode of Kāśī Miśra.

Translation

Sitting in His room, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would chant on His beads, and Advaita Prabhu would come there to worship the Lord.

Word meanings

ghare vasi’ — sitting in His room ; kare — performs ; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nāma saṅkīrtana — chanting on beads ; advaita — Advaita Ācārya ; āsiyā — coming ; kare — performs ; prabhura pūjana — worship of the Lord .

Translation

While worshiping Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Advaita Ācārya would offer Him scented water to wash His mouth and feet. Then Advaita Ācārya would smear very fragrant sandalwood pulp all over His body.

Word meanings

su - gandhi - salile — with scented water ; dena — offers ; pādya — water for washing the feet ; ācamana — washing the mouth ; sarva - aṅge — all over the body ; lepaye — smears ; prabhura — of the Lord ; su - gandhi candana — fragrant sandalwood pulp .

Translation

Śrī Advaita Prabhu would also place a flower garland around the Lord’s neck and tulasī flowers [mañjarīs] on His head. Then, with folded hands, Advaita Ācārya would offer obeisances and prayers unto the Lord.

Word meanings

gale — on the neck ; mālā — garland ; dena — offers ; māthāya — on the head ; tulasī - mañjarī — flowers of tulasī ; yoḍa - hāte — with folded hands ; stuti kare — offers prayers ; pade — unto the lotus feet ; namaskari’ — offering obeisances .

Translation

After being worshiped by Advaita Ācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would take the dish containing flowers and tulasī and, with whatever paraphernalia remained, worship Advaita Ācārya.

Word meanings

pūjā - pātre — on the dish that holds flowers and tulasī ; puṣpa - tulasī — flowers and tulasī ; śeṣa — remaining ; ye āchila — whatever there were ; sei saba — all of them ; lañā — taking ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; ācārye pūjila — worshiped Advaita Ācārya .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would worship Advaita Ācārya by chanting the mantra “Whatever You are, You are — but I offer My respects unto You.” In addition, the Lord would make some sounds within His mouth that would make Advaita Ācārya laugh.

Word meanings

yaḥ asi — whatever You are ; saḥ asi — so You are ; namaḥ astu te — I offer My respects unto You ; ei mantra paḍe — chants this mantra ; mukha - vādya kari’ — making a sound within the mouth ; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; hāsāya — causes to laugh ; ācāryere — Advaita Ācārya .

Translation

In this way Advaita Ācārya and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would offer Their respectful obeisances unto each other. Then Advaita Ācārya would extend an invitation to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again and again.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; anyonye — to one another ; karena — offer ; namaskāra — obeisances ; prabhure — unto Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nimantraṇa — invitation ; kare — does ; ācārya — Advaita Ācārya ; bāra bāra — again and again .

Translation

Indeed, Śrī Advaita Ācārya’s invitation is another wonderful story. It has been very vividly described by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura.

Word meanings

ācāryera nimantraṇa — the invitation of Advaita Ācārya ; āścarya - kathana — wonderful story ; vistāri’ — very vividly ; varṇiyāchena — described ; dāsa - vṛndāvana — Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura .

Translation

Since Advaita Ācārya’s invitation has been described by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, I shall not repeat the story. But I shall say that other devotees also extended invitations to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

punaḥ - ukti — repetition ; haya — there is ; tāhā — that ; nā — not ; kailuṅ — I have done ; varṇana — description ; āra bhakta - gaṇa — other devotees ; kare — do ; prabhure — unto Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nimantraṇa — invitation .

Translation

Day after day, one devotee after another would invite Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the other devotees to lunch and would also hold a festival.

Word meanings

eka eka dina — each and every day ; eka eka bhakta - gṛhe — in the house of one devotee after another ; mahotsava — festival ; prabhu - saṅge — with Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; tāhāṅ — there ; bhojana — lunch ; kare — accept ; bhakta — devotees ; saba — all .

Translation

All the devotees remained at Jagannātha Purī for four continuous months, and they observed all Lord Jagannātha’s festivals with great pleasure.

Word meanings

cāri - māsa — four months ; rahilā — remain ; sabe — all the devotees ; mahāprabhu - saṅge — with Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; jagannāthera — of Lord Jagannātha ; nānā yātrā — many festivals ; dekhe — they see ; mahā - raṅge — with great pleasure .

Translation

The devotees celebrated the festival of Janmāṣṭamī, Kṛṣṇa’s birthday, which is also called Nanda-mahotsava, the festival of Nanda Mahārāja. At that time Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees dressed themselves as cowherd boys.

Word meanings

kṛṣṇa - janma - yātrā — observance of the birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; dine — on the day of ; nanda - mahotsava — the festival observed by Nanda Mahārāja, the father of Kṛṣṇa ; gopa - veśa hailā — dressed Himself as a cowherd boy ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; lañā — taking ; bhakta saba — all the devotees .

Translation

Having dressed up like cowherd boys, all the devotees carried pots of milk and yogurt balanced on rods over their shoulders. Thus they all arrived at the festival grounds chanting the holy name of Hari.

Word meanings

dadhi - dugdha — of milk and yogurt ; bhāra — carriers ; sabe — all of them ; nija - skandhe — on their shoulders ; kari’ — keeping ; mahotsava - sthāne — to the place of the festival ; āilā — came ; bali hari hari — chanting “Hari, Hari.” .

Translation

Kānāñi Khuṭiyā dressed himself like Nanda Mahārāja, and Jagannātha Māhiti dressed himself as mother Yaśodā.

Word meanings

kānāñi - khuṭiyā — Kānāñi Khuṭiyā ; āchena — is ; nanda - veśa dhari’ — in the dress of Nanda Mahārāja ; jagannātha - māhāti — Jagannātha Māhāti ; hañāchena — was ; vrajeśvarī — mother Yaśodā .

Translation

At that time, King Pratāparudra was also personally present with Kāśī Miśra, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Tulasī Paḍichāpātra.

Word meanings

āpane pratāparudra — personally King Pratāparudra ; āra — and ; miśra - kāśī — Kāśī Miśra ; sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; āra — and ; paḍichā - pātra tulasī — Paḍichāpātra Tulasī, the temple superintendent .

Translation

As usual, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced jubilantly. Everyone was covered with milk, yogurt and yellow turmeric water.

Word meanings

iṅhā - sabā lañā — taking all of them ; prabhu — Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kare nṛtya - raṅga — performed dancing in jubilation ; dadhi — yogurt ; dugdha — milk ; haridrā — turmeric ; jale — with water ; bhare — covered ; sabāra — of all of them ; aṅga — bodies .

Translation

At this time Śrīla Advaita Ācārya said, “Please do not be angry. I speak the truth. I shall know that You are a cowherd boy only if You can wheel this rod about.”

Word meanings

advaita kahe — Advaita Ācārya says ; satya kahi — I speak the truth ; nā kariha kopa — please do not be angry ; laguḍa — stick, staff ; phirāite pāra — if You can wheel around ; tabe jāni — then I shall understand ; gopa — cowherd boy .

Translation

Accepting Advaita Ācārya’s challenge, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took a big rod and began to wheel it around and around. Again and again He threw the rod into the sky and caught it when it fell.

Word meanings

tabe — then ; laguḍa — rod ; lañā — taking ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; phirāite lāgilā — began to wheel it around ; bāra bāra — again and again ; ākāśe — in the sky ; pheli’ — throwing ; luphiyā — tossing ; dharilā — He captured .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wheeled and threw the rod, sometimes over His head, sometimes behind His back, sometimes in front of Him, sometimes to His side and sometimes between His legs. All the people laughed to see this.

Word meanings

śirera upare — over the head ; pṛṣṭhe — behind the back ; sammukhe — in front ; dui - pāśe — on the two sides ; pāda - madhye — between the two legs ; phirāya — wheels around ; laguḍa — the rod ; dekhi’ — seeing ; loka hāse — all the people began to laugh .

Translation

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu whirled the rod in a circle like a firebrand, the heart of everyone who saw it was astonished.

Word meanings

alāta - cakrera — the circle of a firebrand ; prāya — like ; laguḍa phirāya — wheels the rod ; dekhi’ — seeing ; sarva - loka — all the people ; citte — within the heart ; camatkāra pāya — became very much astonished .

Translation

Nityānanda Prabhu also played at whirling the rod. Who can understand how They were ecstatically immersed in the deep emotions of the cowherd boys?

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; nityānanda — Lord Nityānanda Prabhu ; phirāya laguḍa — wheels a rod ; ke — who ; bujhibe — will understand ; tāṅhā — there ; duṅhāra — of both of Them ; gopa - bhāva — the ecstasy of the cowherd boys ; gūḍha — very deep .

Translation

Following the orders of Mahārāja Pratāparudra, the temple superintendent, named Tulasī, brought one of Lord Jagannātha’s used cloths.

Word meanings

pratāparudrera — of King Pratāparudra ; ājñāya — on the order ; paḍichā - tulasī — the temple superintendent named Tulasī ; jagannāthera — of Lord Jagannātha ; prasāda - vastra — used cloth ; eka — one ; lañā — taking ; āsi — came .

Translation

This valuable cloth was wrapped around the head of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The other devotees, headed by Advaita Ācārya, also had cloths wrapped about their heads.

Word meanings

bahu - mūlya — very valuable ; vastra — cloth ; prabhu - mastake — on the head of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bāndhila — wrapped ; ācārya - ādi — headed by Advaita Ācārya ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; gaṇere — on the associates ; parāila — put .

Translation

In ecstasy, Kānāñi Khuṭiyā, who was dressed as Nanda Mahārāja, and Jagannātha Māhiti, who was dressed as mother Yaśodā, distributed all the riches they had stocked at home.

Word meanings

kānāñi - khuṭiyā — Kānāñi Khuṭiyā ; jagannātha — Jagannātha Māhāti ; dui - jana — two persons ; āveśe — in ecstatic love ; vilāila — distributed ; ghare — at home ; chila — was ; yata — all ; dhana — riches .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was greatly satisfied to see this. Accepting them as His father and mother, He offered them obeisances.

Word meanings

dekhi’ — seeing ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; baḍa — very much ; santoṣa — satisfaction ; pāilā — felt ; mātā - pitā - jñāne — accepting as father and mother ; duṅhe — unto both of them ; namaskāra kailā — offered obeisances .

Translation

In great ecstasy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to His residence. In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, known as Gaurāṅga-sundara, performed various pastimes.

Word meanings

parama - āveśe — in great ecstasy ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; āilā — returned ; nija - ghara — to His own residence ; ei - mata — in this way ; līlā — pastimes ; kare — performed ; gaurāṅga - sundara — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu .

Translation

On the day celebrating the conquest of Laṅkā — a day known as Vijayā-daśamī — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu dressed up all His devotees as monkey soldiers.

Word meanings

vijayā — victory ; daśamī — tenth day ; laṅkā - vijayera dine — on the day celebrating the conquering of Laṅkā ; vānara - sainya — monkey soldiers ; kailā — arranged ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; lañā bhakta - gaṇe — taking all the devotees .

Translation

Displaying the emotions of Hanumān, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took up a large tree branch and, mounting the walls of the Laṅkā fort, began to dismantle it.

Word meanings

hanumān - āveśe — in the emotion of being Hanumān ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; vṛkṣa - śākhā lañā — taking a large branch of a tree ; laṅkā - gaḍe — on the Laṅkā fort ; caḍi’ — ascending ; phele — breaks down ; gaḍa — the fort ; bhāṅgiyā — dismantling .

Translation

In the ecstasy of Hanumān, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu angrily said, “Where is that rascal Rāvaṇa? He has kidnapped the universal mother, Sītā. Now I shall kill him and all his family.”

Word meanings

kāhāṅre rāvṇā — where is the rascal Rāvaṇa ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kahe — says ; krodha - āveśe — in great anger ; jagat - mātā — the mother of the universe ; hare — kidnaps ; pāpī — sinful ; mārimu — I shall kill ; sa - vaṁśe — with all his family .

Translation

Everyone became very much astonished to see the emotional ecstasy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and everyone began to chant, “All glories! All glories!” again and again.

Word meanings

gosāñira — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; āveśa — ecstasy ; dekhi’ — by seeing ; loke — all people ; camatkāra — astonished ; sarva - loka — all people ; jaya jaya — all glories ; bale — speak ; bāra bāra — again and again .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees participated in all the festivals, including Rāsa-yātrā, Dīpāvalī and Utthāna-dvādaśī.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; rāsa - yātrā — rāsa dancing of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; āra — and ; dīpa - āvalī — the day of Dīpāvalī, when rows of lights are lit ; utthāna - dvādaśī - yātrā — the festival of Utthāna-dvādaśī ; dekhilā sakali — participated in all of them .

Purport

The Dīpāvalī festival takes place on the dark-moon night in the month of Kārttika (October-November). The Rāsa-yātrā, or rāsa dancing of Kṛṣṇa, takes place on the full-moon night of the same month. Utthāna-dvādaśī takes place the day after Ekādaśī in the waxing fortnight of the moon in the same month. All the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu participated in all these festivals.

Translation

One day the two brothers, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu, consulted with each other while sitting together in a solitary place.

Word meanings

eka - dina — one day ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nityānande lañā — taking Lord Nityānanda Prabhu ; dui bhāi — two brothers ; yukti kaila — consulted ; nibhṛte vasiyā — sitting in a solitary place .

Translation

No one could understand what the brothers discussed between Themselves, but later all the devotees could guess what the subject matter was.

Word meanings

kibā yukti kaila — what consultation They had ; duṅhe — the two of Them ; keha nāhi jāne — no one knows ; phale — by the result ; anumāna — guess ; pāche — later ; kaila — did ; bhakta - gaṇe — all the devotees .

Translation

Thereafter, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called for all the devotees and asked them to return to Bengal. In this way, He bade farewell to them.

Word meanings

tabe mahāprabhu — thereafter Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; saba — all ; bhakte — the devotees ; bolāila — called ; gauḍa - deśe — to Bengal ; yāha — return ; sabe — all of you ; vidāya karila — bade farewell .

Translation

Bidding farewell to all the devotees, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested them to return to Jagannātha Purī every year to see Him and then see the cleansing of the Guṇḍicā temple.

Word meanings

sabāre — to all of them ; kahila — said ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; prati - abda — every year ; āsiyā — coming ; guṇḍicā — the function at the Guṇḍicā temple ; dekhiyā — seeing ; yābe — you should go ; āmāre miliyā — after meeting Me .

Translation

With great respect, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested Advaita Ācārya, “Give Kṛṣṇa consciousness, devotion to Kṛṣṇa, even to the lowest of men [caṇḍālas].”

Word meanings

ācāryere — unto Advaita Ācārya ; ājñā dila — ordered ; kariyā sammāna — with great respect ; ā - caṇḍāla — even to the lowest of men, known as the caṇḍāla ; ādi — beginning with ; kṛṣṇa - bhakti — Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa ; dio — deliver ; dāna — in charity .

Purport

This is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s order to all His devotees. Kṛṣṇa-bhakti, devotion to Kṛṣṇa, is open to everyone, even low-class men like caṇḍālas. One should follow this order in the disciplic succession stemming from Śrī Advaita and Nityānanda Prabhu and distribute Kṛṣṇa consciousness without discrimination throughout the world.

There are different kinds of men, beginning with the brāhmaṇa and going down to the lowest platform, known as caṇḍāla. Whatever one’s position, everyone in this Age of Kali needs to be enlightened in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is the greatest need of the day. Everyone is acutely feeling the pangs of material existence. Even in the ranks and files of the American Senate, the pinpricks of material existence are felt, so much so that April 30, 1974, was actually set aside as Prayer Day. Thus everyone is feeling the resultant pinpricks of Kali-yuga brought about by human society’s indulging in illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. Now is the time for the members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to distribute kṛṣṇa-bhakti all over the world and thus follow the orders of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The Lord has ordered everyone to become a guru (Cc. Madhya 7.128): āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa. Everyone in every town and village should be enlightened by the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Kṛṣṇa consciousness should be distributed to everyone indiscriminately. In this way, the entire world will be peaceful and happy, and everyone will glorify Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, as He desires.

The word caṇḍāla actually refers to a dog-eater, who is considered the lowest of men. Even caṇḍālas can be enlightened in Kṛṣṇa consciousness due to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s benedictions. Kṛṣṇa-bhakti is not the monopoly of a certain caste. Everyone is eligible to receive this great benediction given by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Everyone should be given a chance to receive it and be happy.

The word dāna, meaning “charity,” is also significant in this verse. Whoever engages in the distribution of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is a charitable person. Professional men recite Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and discuss kṛṣṇa-bhakti for an exchange of money. They cannot distribute such exalted transcendental property to everyone and anyone. Only pure devotees, who have no motive other than serving Kṛṣṇa, can give such transcendentally valuable benedictions out of charity.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Nityānanda Prabhu, “Go to Bengal and, without restriction, manifest devotional service to the Lord, Kṛṣṇa consciousness.”

Word meanings

nityānande — unto Nityānanda Prabhu ; ājñā dila — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered ; yāha gauḍa - deśe — go to Gauḍa-deśa (Bengal) ; anargala — without restriction ; prema - bhakti — devotional service in love of Godhead ; kariha prakāśe — manifest .

Purport

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thus ordered Nityānanda Prabhu to deliver all the Bengalis to devotional service. In the Bhagavad-gītā (9.32) the Lord says:

māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye ’pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās te ’pi yānti parāṁ gatim

“O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth — women, vaiśyas [merchants], and śūdras [workers] — can attain the supreme destination.” Whoever takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and follows the regulative principles can return home, back to Godhead.

In his Anubhāṣya, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura writes, “There is a class of so-called devotees called prākṛta-sahajiyās who think that Nityānanda Prabhu is an ordinary human being. They have spread the news that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Nityānanda Prabhu to return to Bengal from Orissa just to marry and beget children. This is certainly a great offense against Nityānanda Prabhu.”

Such an offense is called pāṣaṇḍa-buddhi, or an atheistic remark. Offenders consider Nityānanda Prabhu to be like one of them, an ordinary human being. They do not know of Nityānanda Prabhu’s identity with the viṣṇu-tattva. Thinking Nityānanda Prabhu to be an ordinary human being is the business of mental speculators known as kuṇapātma-vādīs. These people accept the material body, which is a bag of three material elements ( kuṇape tri-dhātuke ), as themselves. They think that Nityānanda Prabhu’s body was similarly material and that it was meant for sense gratification. Whoever thinks in this way is a candidate for the darkest regions of hell. Those who hanker after women and money, who are self-interested and have the mentality of merchants, can certainly discover many things with their fertile brains and speak against the authorized revealed scriptures. They also engage in some moneymaking businesses to cheat innocent people, and they try to support their business programs by making such offensive statements. Actually Nityānanda Prabhu, being the expansion of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, is the most munificent incarnation. No one should consider Him an ordinary human being or an entity like the prajāpatis, who were ordered by Brahmā to increase generations. Nityānanda Prabhu should not be considered instrumental for sense gratification. Although professional so-called preachers support this idea, such statements are not found in any authorized revealed scriptures. Actually there is no support for these statements made by sahajiyās or other professional distributors of kṛṣṇa-bhakti.

Translation

Nityānanda Prabhu was given assistants like Rāmadāsa, Gadādhara dāsa and several others. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “I give them to You to assist You.

Word meanings

rāma - dāsa — Rāmadāsa ; gadādhara — Gadādhara dāsa ; ādi — and others ; kata jane — some people ; tomāra — Your ; sahāya — assistants ; lāgi’ — as ; dilu — I give ; tomāra sane — with You .

Translation

“I shall also go to see You at intervals. Keeping Myself invisible, I shall watch You dance.”

Word meanings

madhye madhye — at intervals ; āmi — I ; tomāra nikaṭa — near You ; yāiba — shall go ; alakṣite rahi’ — keeping invisible ; tomāra nṛtya — Your dancing ; dekhiba — I shall see .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then embraced Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita and, with His arm about his neck, began to speak to him in sweet words.

Word meanings

śrīvāsa - paṇḍite — unto Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita ; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kari’ — doing ; āliṅgana — embracing ; kaṇṭhe dhari’ — catching his neck ; kahe — says ; tāṅre — unto him ; madhura vacana — sweet words .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, “Perform congregational chanting daily, and be assured that I shall also dance in your presence. You will be able to see this dancing, but not others.

Word meanings

tomāra ghare — in your house ; kīrtane — in the performance of congregational chanting ; āmi — I ; nitya — daily ; nāciba — shall dance ; tumi — you ; dekhā pābe — will be able to see ; āra — else ; keha — anyone ; nā dekhiba — will not see .

Translation

“Take this prasādam of Lord Jagannātha’s and this cloth and deliver them to My mother, Śacīdevī. After offering her obeisances, please request her to excuse My offenses.

Word meanings

ei vastra — this cloth ; mātāke diha’ — deliver to My mother, Śacīdevī ; ei saba prasāda — all these remnants of the food of Jagannātha ; daṇḍavat kari’ — offering obeisances ; āmāra — My ; kṣamāiha — cause to be excused ; aparādha — offenses .

Translation

“I have given up the service of My mother and have accepted the sannyāsa order. Actually I should not have done this, for by so doing I have destroyed My religious principles.

Word meanings

tāṅra sevā chāḍi’ — giving up her service ; āmi — I ; kariyāchi — accepted ; sannyāsa — the renounced order of life ; dharma nahe — it is not My religion ; kari — perform ; āmi — I ; nija dharma - nāśa — destruction of My religious principles .

Translation

“I am subordinate to the love of My mother, and it is My duty to serve her in return. Instead of doing so, I have accepted the renounced order. Certainly this is the act of a madman.

Word meanings

tāṅra prema - vaśa — subordinate to her love ; āmi — I ; tāṅra sevā — her service ; dharma — My religion ; tāhā chāḍi’ — giving that up ; kariyāchi — I performed ; vātulera karma — the acts of a madman .

Translation

“A mother is not offended by her mad son, and knowing this, My mother is not offended by Me.

Word meanings

vātula bālakera — of a mad son ; mātā — mother ; nāhi — does not ; laya — accept ; doṣa — fault ; ei jāni’ — knowing this ; mātā — mother ; more — unto Me ; nā karaya roṣa — is not at all angry .

Translation

“I had no business in accepting the renounced order and sacrificing My love for My mother, which is My real property. Actually I was in a crazy state of mind when I accepted sannyāsa.

Word meanings

ki kāya — what business ; sannyāse — in the renounced order ; mora — of Me ; prema — love ; nija - dhana — My real wealth ; ye - kāle — at which time ; sannyāsa kailuṅ — I accepted the renounced order ; channa — deranged ; haila — was ; mana — mind .

Translation

“I am staying here at Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala, to comply with her orders. But at intervals I go see her lotus feet.

Word meanings

nīlācale āchoṅ — stay at Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala ; muñi — I ; tāṅhāra ājñāte — under her order ; madhye madhye — at intervals ; āsimu — I shall go ; tāṅra — her ; caraṇa dekhite — to see the lotus feet .

Translation

“Indeed, I go there daily to see her lotus feet. She is able to feel My presence, although she does not believe it to be true.

Word meanings

nitya yāi’ — going daily ; dekhi — see ; muñi — I ; tāṅhāra caraṇe — her lotus feet ; sphūrti - jñāne — feeling My presence ; teṅho — she ; tāhā — that ; satya nāhi māne — does not accept as true .

Translation

“One day My mother, Śacī, offered food to Śālagrāma Viṣṇu. She offered rice cooked from śāli paddies, various kinds of vegetables, spinach, curry made of banana flowers, fried paṭola with nimba leaves, pieces of ginger with lemon, and also yogurt, milk, sugar candy and many other foods.

Word meanings

eka - dina — one day ; śāli - anna — cooked rice made of śāli paddy ; vyañjana — vegetables ; pāṅca - sāta — five to seven different kinds ; śāka — spinach ; mocā - ghaṇṭa — curry made from banana flowers ; bhṛṣṭa — fried ; paṭola — paṭola vegetables ; nimba - pāta — with leaves of the nimba tree ; lembu — lemon ; ādā - khaṇḍa — pieces of ginger ; dadhi — yogurt ; dugdha — milk ; khaṇḍa - sāra — sugar candy ; śālagrāme — unto Lord Viṣṇu in the form of the śālagrāma ; samarpilena — offered ; bahu upahāra — many other varieties of food .

Translation

“Taking the food upon her lap, Mother was crying to think that all that food was very dear to her Nimāi.

Word meanings

prasāda lañā — taking the remnants of food ; kole — on her lap ; karena krandana — was crying ; nimāira — of Nimāi ; priya — favorite ; mora — my ; e - saba vyañjana — all these varieties of cooked food .

Translation

“My mother was thinking, ‘Nimāi is not here. Who will accept all this food?’ As she meditated upon Me in this way, her eyes filled with tears.

Word meanings

nimāñi — Nimāi ; nāhika ethā — is not present here ; ke kare bhojana — who will eat them ; mora dhyāne — on meditation upon Me ; aśru - jale — with tears ; bharila nayana — eyes become filled .

Translation

“While she was thus thinking and crying, I immediately went there with great haste and ate everything. Seeing the dish empty, she wiped her tears away.

Word meanings

śīghra — very soon ; yāi’ — going ; muñi — I ; saba — all ; karinu bhakṣaṇa — ate ; śūnya - pātra dekhi’ — seeing the dish empty ; aśru — tears ; kariyā mārjana — smearing with her hands .

Translation

“She then began to wonder who had eaten all that food. ‘Why is the plate empty?’ she wondered, doubting that Bāla-gopāla had eaten it all.

Word meanings

ke — who ; anna - vyañjana khāila — has eaten all this food ; śūnya kene pāta — why is the dish empty ; bāla - gopāla — the Deity Bāla-gopāla ; kibā khāila — did He eat ; saba bhāta — all the rice .

Translation

“She began to wonder whether there had actually been anything on the plate in the first place. Then again she thought that some animal might have come and eaten everything.

Word meanings

kibā — or ; mora kathāya — when I was thinking like that ; mane — in the mind ; bhrama hañā gela — I was mistaken ; kibā — or ; kona jantu — some animal ; āsi’ — coming ; sakala khāila — ate everything .

Translation

“She thought, ‘Perhaps by mistake I did not put any food on the plate.’ So thinking, she went into the kitchen and saw the pots.

Word meanings

kibā — or ; āmi — I ; anna - pātre — on the plate for food ; bhrame — by mistake ; nā bāḍila — did not put anything ; eta cinti’ — thinking this ; pāka - pātra — the kitchen pots ; yāñā dekhila — went and saw .

Translation

“When she saw that all the pots were still filled with rice and vegetables, there was some doubt in her mind, and she was astonished.

Word meanings

anna - vyañjana - pūrṇa — filled with rice and vegetables ; dekhi’ — seeing ; sakala bhājane — all the cooking pots ; dekhiyā — seeing ; saṁśaya haila — there was doubt ; kichu — some ; camatkāra — wonder ; mane — in the mind .

Translation

“Thus wondering, she called Īśāna, the servant, and had the place cleaned again. She then offered another plate to Gopāla.

Word meanings

īśāne — to Īśāna, the servant ; bolāñā — calling ; punaḥ — again ; sthāna — the place ; lepāila — cleaned ; punarapi — again ; gopālake — unto Gopāla ; anna — cooked rice and vegetables ; samarpila — offered .

Translation

“Now whenever she prepares some good cooked food and wants to feed it to Me, she cries in great anxiety.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; yabe — when ; karena — does ; uttama randhana — first-class cooking ; more — Me ; khāoyāite — to feed ; kare — does ; utkaṇṭhāya — with great anxiety ; rodana — crying .

Translation

“Being obliged by her love, I am brought there to eat. Mother knows all these things internally and feels happiness, but externally she does not accept them.

Word meanings

tāṅra preme — by her love ; āni’ — bringing ; āmāya — Me ; karāya bhojane — causes to eat ; antare — within herself ; mānaye — she feels ; sukha — happiness ; bāhye — externally ; nāhi māne — does not accept .

Translation

“Such an incident took place on the last Vijayā-daśamī day. You can ask her about this incident and thus make her believe that I actually go there.”

Word meanings

ei vijayā - daśamīte — on the previous Vijayā-daśamī day ; haila — there was ; ei rīti — such an incident ; tāṅhāke — unto her ; puchiyā — asking ; tāṅra — her ; karāiha — make ; pratīti — belief .

Translation

While describing all this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became a little overwhelmed, but just to finish bidding farewell to the devotees, He remained patient.

Word meanings

eteka kahite — saying this ; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; vihvala ha - ilā — became overwhelmed ; loka vidāya karite — to bid farewell to the devotees ; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; dhairya dharilā — maintained patience .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next spoke some relishable words to Rāghava Paṇḍita. He said, “I am obliged to you due to your pure love for Me.”

Word meanings

rāghava paṇḍite — unto Rāghava Paṇḍita ; kahena — says ; vacana — words ; sa - rasa — very relishable ; tomāra — your ; śuddha preme — by pure devotional service ; āmi ha - i’ — I become ; tomāra — your ; vaśa — under obligation .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then informed everyone, “Just hear about the pure devotional service rendered to Kṛṣṇa by Rāghava Paṇḍita. Indeed, Rāghava Paṇḍita’s service is supremely pure and highly accomplished.

Word meanings

iṅhāra — of him ; kṛṣṇa - sevāra — of service to Lord Kṛṣṇa ; kathā — stories ; śuna — hear ; sarva - jana — all people ; parama - pavitra — supremely pure ; sevā — service ; ati — very much ; sarva - uttama — well accomplished .

Translation

“Apart from other commodities, just hear about his offering of coconuts. A coconut is sold at the rate of five gaṇḍās each.

Word meanings

āra dravya rahu — apart from the other commodities ; śuna — just hear ; nārikelera kathā — the incident of offering coconuts ; pāṅca gaṇḍā kari’ — at the price of five gaṇḍās ; nārikela — coconut ; vikāya — is sold ; tathā — there .

Translation

“Although he already has hundreds of trees and millions of fruits, he is still very eager to hear about the place where sweet coconuts are available.

Word meanings

vāṭite — in his garden ; kata śata — how many hundreds of ; vṛkṣe — trees ; lakṣa lakṣa phala — millions of fruits ; tathāpi — still ; śunena — hears ; yathā — where ; miṣṭa nārikela — sweet coconut .

Translation

“He collects coconuts with great endeavor from a place twenty miles away, and he pays four paṇas each for them.

Word meanings

eka eka phalera — of each and every fruit ; mūlya — price ; diyā — paying ; cāri - cāri paṇa — four paṇas each (one paṇa equals twenty gaṇḍās ) ; daśa - krośa — twenty miles away ; haite — from ; ānāya — brings ; kariyā yatana — with great endeavor .

Translation

“Every day five to seven coconuts are clipped and put into water to keep cool.

Word meanings

prati - dina — each day ; pāṅca - sāta — five to seven ; phala — fruits ; cholāñā — clipping ; su - śītala karite — to make it very cool ; rākhe — keeps ; jale — in water ; ḍubāiñā — immersing .

Translation

“At the time of offering bhoga, the coconuts are again clipped and cleansed. After holes are made in them at the top, they are offered to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

bhogera samaya — at the time of offering bhoga ; punaḥ — again ; chuli’ — clipping ; saṁskari’ — cleansing ; kṛṣṇe — unto Lord Kṛṣṇa ; samarpaṇa — offering ; kare — makes ; mukha — at the top ; chidra kari’ — making a hole .

Translation

“Lord Kṛṣṇa drinks the juice from these coconuts, and sometimes the coconuts are left drained of juice. At other times the coconuts remain filled with juice.

Word meanings

kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; sei — that ; nārikela - jala — water of the coconut ; pāna kari’ — drinking ; kabhu — sometimes ; śūnya — vacant ; phala rākhena — leaves the fruit ; kabhu — sometimes ; jala bhari’ — being filled with water .

Translation

“When Rāghava Paṇḍita sees that the juice has been drunk from the coconuts, he is very pleased. He then breaks the coconuts, takes out the pulp and puts it on another plate.

Word meanings

jala - śūnya — without water ; phala — fruit ; dekhi’ — by seeing ; paṇḍita — Rāghava Paṇḍita ; haraṣita — very pleased ; phala bhāṅgi’ — breaking the fruit ; śasye — with the pulp ; kare — makes ; sat - pātra — another plate ; pūrita — filled .

Translation

“After offering the pulp, he meditates outside the temple door. In the meantime, Lord Kṛṣṇa, having eaten the pulp, leaves the plate empty.

Word meanings

śasya — the pulp ; samarpaṇa kari’ — offering ; bāhire — outside the temple room ; dheyāna — meditates ; śasya khāñā — eating the pulp ; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; kare — makes ; śūnya — vacant ; bhājana — the plate .

Translation

“Sometimes, after eating the pulp, Kṛṣṇa fills the plate again with new pulp. In this way, the faith of Rāghava Paṇḍita increases, and he floats in an ocean of love.

Word meanings

kabhu — sometimes ; śasya khāñā — eating the pulp ; punaḥ — again ; pātra — the plate ; bhare — fills ; śāṁse — with pulp ; śraddhā — faith ; bāḍe — increases ; paṇḍitera — of Rāghava Paṇḍita ; prema - sindhu — in the ocean of love ; bhāse — floats .

Translation

“One day it so happened that about ten coconuts were properly clipped and brought by a servant to offer to the Deity.

Word meanings

eka dina — one day ; phala — fruits ; daśa — ten ; saṁskāra kariyā — after cleansing ; bhoga lāgāite — to offer bhoga ; sevaka — servant ; āila — came ; lañā — taking .

Translation

“When the coconuts were brought, there was little time to offer them because it was already late. The servant, holding the container of coconuts, remained standing at the door.

Word meanings

avasara nāhi haya — there was little time ; vilamba ha - ila — it was late ; phala - pātra — the pot of fruits ; hāte — in the hands ; sevaka — the servant ; dvāre — at the door ; ta’ — indeed ; rahila — remained .

Translation

“Rāghava Paṇḍita then saw that the servant touched the ceiling above the door and then touched the coconuts with the same hand.

Word meanings

dvārera upara — above the door ; bhite — on the ceiling ; teṅho — he ; hāta dila — brushed his hand ; sei hāte — with that hand ; phala chuṅila — touched the fruit ; paṇḍita — Rāghava Paṇḍita ; dekhila — saw .

Translation

“Rāghava Paṇḍita then said, ‘People are always coming and going through that door. The dust from their feet blows up and touches the ceiling.

Word meanings

paṇḍita kahe — Rāghava Paṇḍita said ; dvāre — through the door ; loka — people in general ; kare — do ; gatāyāte — coming and going ; tāra — their ; pada - dhūli — dust of the feet ; uḍi’ — being blown ; lāge — touches ; upara — upward ; bhite — the ceiling .

Translation

“ ‘After touching the ceiling above the door, you have touched the coconuts. Now they are no longer fit to be offered to Kṛṣṇa because they are contaminated.’

Word meanings

sei bhite — on that ceiling ; hāta diyā — touching your hand ; phala — the fruits ; paraśilā — touched ; kṛṣṇa - yogya nahe — is not fit to be offered to Kṛṣṇa ; phala — the fruits ; apavitra hailā — has become contaminated .

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura states that Rāghava Paṇḍita was not simply a crazy fellow suffering from some cleansing mania. He did not belong to the mundane world. In lower consciousness, accepting something to be spiritual when it is actually material is called bhauma ijya-dhīḥ. Rāghava Paṇḍita was an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, and everything he saw was related to the service of the Lord. He was always absorbed in the transcendental thought of how he could always serve Kṛṣṇa with everything. Sometimes neophytes, devotees on the lower platform, try to imitate Rāghava Paṇḍita on the platform of material purity and impurity. Such imitation will not help anyone. As explained in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Antya-līlā 4.174), bhadrābhadra-vastu-jñāna nāhika ‘prākṛte.’ On the transcendental platform there is no higher or lower, pure or impure. On the material platform, distinction is made between good and bad, but on the spiritual platform everything is of the same quality.

‘dvaite’ bhadrābhadra-jñāna, saba — ‘manodharma’ ‘ei bhāla, ei manda’, — ei saba ‘bhrama’

“In the material world, conceptions of good and bad are all mental speculations. Therefore, saying ‘This is good and that is bad’ is all a mistake.” (Cc. Antya 4.176)

Translation

“Such is the service of Rāghava Paṇḍita. He did not accept the coconuts but threw them over the wall. His service is purely based on unalloyed love, and it conquers the whole world.

Word meanings

eta bali’ — saying this ; phala phele — throws away the fruits ; prācīra laṅghiyā — across the boundary wall ; aiche — such ; pavitra — pure ; prema - sevā — service in love ; jagat jiniyā — conquering all the world .

Translation

“Thereafter, Rāghava Paṇḍita had other coconuts gathered, cleansed and clipped, and with great attention he offered them to the Deity to eat.

Word meanings

tabe — thereafter ; āra — other ; nārikela — coconuts ; saṁskāra karāila — had clipped and cleaned ; parama pavitra kari’ — with great attention to keep them pure ; bhoga lāgāila — offered for eating .

Translation

“In this way, from distant villages he collects excellent bananas, mangoes, oranges, jackfruits and whatever other first-class fruits he has heard about.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; kalā — bananas ; āmra — mangoes ; nāraṅga — oranges ; kāṅṭhāla — jackfruit ; yāhā yāhā — whatever ; dūra - grāme — in distant villages ; śuniyāche — he heard ; bhāla — good .

Translation

“All these fruits are collected from distant places and bought at a high price. After trimming them with great care and purity, Rāghava Paṇḍita offers them to the Deity.

Word meanings

bahu - mūlya — high price ; diyā — offering ; āni’ — bringing ; kariyā yatana — with great attention ; pavitra — purified ; saṁskāra kari’ — trimming ; kare nivedana — offers to the Deity .

Translation

“Thus with great care and attention Rāghava Paṇḍita prepares spinach, other vegetables, radishes, fruits, chipped rice, powdered rice and sweetmeats.

Word meanings

ei mata — in this way ; vyañjanera — of vegetables ; śāka — spinach ; mūla — radishes ; phala — fruits ; ei mata — in this way ; ciḍā — chipped rice ; huḍuma — powdered rice ; sandeśa — sweetmeats ; sakala — all .

Translation

“He prepares cakes, sweet rice, condensed milk and everything else with great attention, and the cooking conditions are purified so that the food is first class and delicious.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; piṭhā - pānā — cakes and sweet rice ; kṣīra - odana — condensed milk ; parama pavitra — highly purified ; āra — and ; kare — he makes ; sarva - uttama — first class, tasteful .

Translation

“Rāghava Paṇḍita also offers all kinds of pickles, such as kāśamdi. He offers various scents, garments, ornaments and the best of everything.

Word meanings

kāśamdi — a kind of pickle ; ācāra — other pickles ; ādi — and so on ; aneka prakāra — of many varieties ; gandha — scents ; vastra — clothing ; alaṅkāra — ornaments ; sarva — all ; dravya — of things ; sāra — best .

Translation

“Thus Rāghava Paṇḍita serves the Lord in an incomparable way. Everyone is very much satisfied just to see him.”

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; premera sevā — service in love ; kare — performs ; anupama — without comparison ; yāhā dekhi’ — seeing which ; sarva - lokera — of all people ; juḍāya — become pleased ; nayana — the eyes .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then mercifully embraced Rāghava Paṇḍita. The Lord also offered all the other devotees a farewell with similar respect.

Word meanings

eta bali’ — saying this ; rāghavere — Rāghava Paṇḍita ; kaila āliṅgane — He embraced ; ei - mata — in this way ; sammānila — showed respect ; sarva — all ; bhakta - gaṇe — to the devotees .

Translation

The Lord also respectfully told Śivānanda Sena, “Take care of Vāsudeva Datta very nicely.

Word meanings

śivānanda sene — unto Śivānanda Sena ; kahe — says ; kariyā sammāna — with great respect ; vāsudeva - dattera — of Vāsudeva Datta ; tumi — you ; kariha — take ; samādhāna — care .

Translation

“Vāsudeva Datta is very liberal. Every day, whatever income he receives, he spends. He does not keep any balance.

Word meanings

parama udāra — very liberal ; iṅho — he ; ye dina — every day ; ye āise — whatever he gets ; sei dine — on that very day ; vyaya kare — spends ; nāhi — does not ; rākhe — keep ; śeṣe — any balance .

Translation

“Being a householder, Vāsudeva Datta needs to save some money. Because he is not doing so, it is very difficult for him to maintain his family.

Word meanings

gṛhastha — householder ; hayena — is ; iṅho — he (Vāsudeva Datta) ; cāhiye sañcaya — requires to save some money ; sañcaya nā kaile — without saving money ; kuṭumba - bharaṇa — maintenance of a family ; nāhi haya — is not possible .

Translation

“Please take care of Vāsudeva Datta’s family affairs. Become his manager and make the proper adjustments.

Word meanings

ihāra — of Vāsudeva Datta ; gharera — of household affairs ; āya - vyaya — income and expenditures ; saba — all ; tomāra sthāne — at your place ; sara khela hañā — being the manager ; tumi — you ; kariha samādhāne — arrange .

Purport

Vāsudeva Datta and Śivānanda Sena were living in the same neighborhood, which is presently called Kumārahaṭṭa or Hālisahara.

Translation

“Come every year and bring all My devotees with you to the Guṇḍicā festival. I also request you to maintain all of them.”

Word meanings

prati - varṣe — each and every year ; āmāra — My ; saba — all ; bhakta - gaṇa lañā — accompanied by the devotees ; guṇḍicāya — to perform the Guṇḍicā cleansing festival ; āsibe — you will come ; sabāya — to everyone ; pālana kariyā — providing maintenance .

Translation

The Lord then with great respect extended an invitation to all the inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma, asking them to come every year and bring silken rope to carry Lord Jagannātha during the Ratha-yātrā festival.

Word meanings

kulīna - grāmīre — unto the inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma ; kahe — says ; sammāna kariyā — with great respect ; prati - abda — each year ; āsibe — please come ; yātrāya — during the Ratha-yātrā festival ; paṭṭa - ḍorī — silken rope ; lañā — taking .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, “Guṇarāja Khān of Kulīna-grāma compiled a book named Śrī Kṛṣṇa-vijaya, in which there is a sentence revealing the author’s ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa.”

Word meanings

guṇarāja - khāṅna — Guṇarāja Khān ; kaila — compiled ; śrī - kṛṣṇa - vijaya — the book named Śrī Kṛṣṇa-vijaya ; tāhāṅ — there ; eka - vākya — one sentence ; tāṅra — of it ; āche — is ; prema - maya — full of love of Kṛṣṇa .

Purport

Śrī Kṛṣṇa-vijaya is a book of poems considered to be the first poetry book written in Bengal. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura states that this book was begun in the year 1395 Śakābda (A.D. 1473). After seven years, it was completed (in 1402 Śakābda). This book was written in plain language, and even half-educated Bengalis and women could read it very clearly. Even ordinary men with little knowledge of the alphabet could read this book and understand it. Its language is not very ornamental, and sometimes the poetry is not very sweet to hear. Although according to the sonnet style each line should contain fourteen syllables, there are sometimes sixteen, twelve or thirteen syllables in his verse. Many words used in those days could be understood only by local inhabitants, yet this book is still so popular that no bookstore is complete without it. It is very valuable for those who are interested in advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Śrī Guṇarāja Khān was one of the topmost Vaiṣṇavas, and he translated the Tenth and Eleventh Cantos of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam for the understanding of the common man. The book Śrī Kṛṣṇa-vijaya was highly praised by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and it is very valuable for all Vaiṣṇavas. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura gives a genealogical table and family history of Guṇarāja Khān. When a Bengali emperor named Ādiśūra first came from Kānyakubja, or Kānauj, he brought with him five brāhmaṇas and five kāyasthas. Since the king is supposed to be accompanied by his associates, the brāhmaṇas accompanied the King to help him in higher spiritual matters. The kāyasthas were to render other services. In the northern Indian high country, the kāyasthas are accepted as śūdras, but in Bengal the kāyasthas are considered among the higher castes. It is a fact that the kāyasthas came to Bengal from northern India, specifically from Kānyakubja, or Kānauj. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura says that the kāyasthas who came from Kānyakubja were high-class men. Of them, Daśaratha Vasu was a great personality, and the thirteenth generation of his family included Guṇarāja Khān.

His real name was Mālādhara Vasu, but the title Khān was given to him by the Emperor of Bengal. Thus he became known as Guṇarāja Khān. Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura gives the following genealogical table of Guṇarāja Khān: (1) Daśaratha Vasu; (2) Kuśala; (3) Śubhaśaṅkara; (4) Haṁsa; (5) Śaktirāma (Bāgāṇḍā), Muktirāma (Māinagara) and Alaṅkāra (Baṅgaja); (6) Dāmodara; (7) Anantarāma; (8) Guṇīnāyaka and Vīṇānāyaka. The twelfth generation included Bhagīratha, and the thirteenth Mālādhara Vasu, or Guṇarāja Khān. Śrī Guṇarāja Khān had fourteen sons, of whom the second son, Lakṣmīnātha Vasu, received the title Satyarāja Khān. His son was Śrī Rāmānanda Vasu; therefore Rāmānanda Vasu belonged to the fifteenth generation. Guṇarāja Khān was a very well known and wealthy man. His palace, fort and temples are still existing, and from these we can deduce that the opulence of Guṇarāja Khān was certainly very great. Śrī Guṇarāja Khān never cared for the artificial aristocracy introduced by Ballāl Sena.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “ ‘Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, is my life and soul.’ By this statement I am sold into the hands of the descendants of Guṇarāja Khān.

Word meanings

nanda - nandana kṛṣṇa — Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja ; mora prāṇa - nātha — my life and soul ; ei vākye — because of this statement ; vikāinu — I became sold ; tāṅra — of him ; vaṁśera hāta — in the hands of the descendants .

Purport

The full verse-referred to here is:

eka-bhāve vanda hari yoḍa kari’ hāta nandanandana kṛṣṇa — mora prāṇa-nātha

“With folded hands I offer my prayers unto Kṛṣṇa, Nanda Mahārāja’s son, who is my life and soul.”

Translation

“To say nothing of you, even a dog living in your village is very dear to Me. What, then, to speak of others?”

Word meanings

tomāra — of you ; ki kathā — what to speak ; tomāra — of your ; grāmera — village ; kukkura — a dog ; sei — that ; mora — to Me ; priya — very dear ; anya - jana — others ; rahu dūra — apart from .

Translation

After this, Rāmānanda Vasu and Satyarāja Khān both submitted questions at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

tabe — after this ; rāmānanda — Rāmānanda Vasu ; āra — and ; satyarāja khāṅna — Satyarāja Khān ; prabhura caraṇe — at the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kichu — some ; kaila — made ; nivedana — submission .

Translation

Satyarāja Khān said, “My dear Lord, being a householder and a materialistic man, I do not know the process of advancing in spiritual life. I therefore submit myself unto Your lotus feet and request You to give me orders.”

Word meanings

gṛhastha — householder ; viṣayī — materialistic man ; āmi — I ; ki — what ; mora sādhane — the process of my advancement in spiritual life ; śrī - mukhe — from Your own mouth ; ājñā kara — please order ; prabhu — my Lord ; nivedi caraṇe — I submit unto Your lotus feet .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Without cessation continue chanting the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Whenever possible, serve Him and His devotees, the Vaiṣṇavas.”

Word meanings

prabhu kahena — the Lord replied ; kṛṣṇa - sevā — serving Kṛṣṇa ; vaiṣṇava - sevana — abiding by the orders of Vaiṣṇavas ; nirantara — without cessation ; kara — do ; kṛṣṇa - nāma - saṅkīrtana — chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa .

Translation

Upon hearing this, Satyarāja said, “How can I recognize a Vaiṣṇava? Please let me know what a Vaiṣṇava is. What are his common symptoms?”

Word meanings

satyarāja bale — Satyarāja Khān said ; vaiṣṇava — a Vaiṣṇava ; ciniba kemane — how shall I recognize ; ke vaiṣṇava — who is a Vaiṣṇava ; kaha — please say ; tāṅra — of him ; sāmānya lakṣaṇe — common symptoms .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Whoever chants the holy name of Kṛṣṇa just once is worshipable and is the topmost human being.

Word meanings

prabhu kahe — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied ; yāṅra mukhe — in whose mouth ; śuni — I hear ; eka - bāra — once ; kṛṣṇa - nāma — the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; sei pūjya — he is worshipable ; śreṣṭha sabākāra — the best of all human beings .

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura says that a person who simply chants the holy name of Kṛṣṇa once becomes perfect and should be regarded as a Vaiṣṇava. This is confirmed by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in his Upadeśāmṛta (5): kṛṣṇeti yasya giri taṁ manasādriyeta. With such faith in the holy name one may begin a life of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. But an ordinary person cannot chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa with such faith. One should accept the holy name of Kṛṣṇa to be identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Transcendence Himself. As the Padma Purāṇa states, “The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is identical with Kṛṣṇa and is like a cintāmaṇi gem, a touchstone . That name is Kṛṣṇa personified in sound and is therefore perfectly transcendental and eternally liberated from material contamination.” Thus one should understand that the name “Kṛṣṇa” and Kṛṣṇa Himself are identical. Having such faith, one must continue to chant the holy name.

When one is situated on the neophyte platform, one cannot understand the devotional ingredients of a pure, unalloyed devotee. However, when the novice engages in devotional service — especially in Deity worship — and follows the order of a bona fide spiritual master, he is a pure devotee. Anyone can take advantage of hearing about Kṛṣṇa consciousness from such a devotee and thus gradually become purified. In other words, any devotee who believes that the holy name of the Lord is identical with the Lord is a pure devotee, even though he may be in the neophyte stage. By his association, others may also become Vaiṣṇavas.

One is known as a materialistic devotee if he simply worships the Deity of Hari with faith but does not show proper respect to the devotees and to others. This is stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.47) :

arcāyām eva haraye pūjāṁ yaḥ śraddhayehate na tad-bhakteṣu cānyeṣu sa bhaktaḥ prākṛtaḥ smṛtaḥ

Yet even by associating with such a neophyte devotee, one can become a devotee also. When Lord Caitanya was teaching Sanātana Gosvāmī, He said:

śraddhāvān jana haya bhakti-adhikārī ‘uttama’, ‘madhyama’, ‘kaniṣṭha’ — śraddhā-anusārī

yāhāra komala-śraddhā, se ‘kaniṣṭha’ jana krame krame teṅho bhakta ha-ibe ‘uttama’

rati-prema-tāratamye bhakta-taratama

“A person who has attained firm faith is a real candidate for advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. According to the faith, there are first-class, second-class and neophyte devotees. One who has preliminary faith is called a kaniṣṭha-adhikārī, or a neophyte. The neophyte, however, can become an advanced devotee if he strictly follows the regulative principles set down by the spiritual master. Therefore it is on the basis of faith and attachment to Kṛṣṇa that one can judge who is a madhyama-adhikārī or an uttama-adhikārī. ” (Cc. Madhya 22.64, 69, 71)

It is thus concluded that even a neophyte devotee is superior to the karmīs and jñānīs because he has full faith in chanting the holy name of the Lord. A karmī or a jñānī, regardless of his greatness, has no faith in Lord Viṣṇu, His holy name or His devotional service. One may be advanced religiously, but if he is not trained in devotional service, he has very little credit on the transcendental platform. Even a neophyte devotee engaged in Deity worship in accordance with the regulations set forth by the spiritual master is in a position superior to that of the fruitive worker and speculative philosopher.

Translation

“Simply by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa once, a person is relieved from all the reactions of a sinful life. One can complete the nine processes of devotional service simply by chanting the holy name.

Word meanings

eka kṛṣṇa - nāme — one holy name of Kṛṣṇa ; kare — can do ; sarva - pāpa — of all sinful reactions ; kṣaya — destruction ; nava - vidhā — nine processes ; bhakti — of devotional service ; pūrṇa — complete ; nāma haite — simply by chanting the holy name ; haya — are .

Purport

The nine types of devotional service are mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.23):

śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam

iti puṁsārpitā viṣṇau bhaktiś cen nava-lakṣaṇā kriyeta bhagavaty addhā tan manye ’dhītam uttamam

“The process of devotional service entails hearing, chanting and remembering the holy name, form, pastimes, qualities and entourage of the Lord, offering service according to the time, place and performer, worshiping the Deity, offering prayers, always considering oneself the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, making friends with Him and dedicating everything unto Him. These nine items of devotional service, when directly offered to Kṛṣṇa, constitute the highest attainment of life. This is the verdict of the revealed scriptures.”

As for being freed from all sinful reactions by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa only once, one must chant the holy name without committing any offenses. Then chanting one name is sufficient to rescue a living being from all sinful reactions. Such a person who chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly is very important and woshipable. Indeed, the nine devotional processes, beginning with śravaṇa and kīrtana, can all be attained at once if one simply chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly.

In this regard, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī states in his book Bhakti-sandarbha (173): yadyapi anyā bhaktiḥ kalau kartavyā, tadā; kīrtanākhya-bhakti-saṁyogenaiva. Out of the nine processes of devotional service, kīrtana is very important. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī therefore instructs that the other processes, such as arcana, vandana, dāsya and sakhya, should be executed, but they must be preceded and followed by kīrtana, the chanting of the holy name. We have therefore introduced this system in all of our centers. Arcana, ārati, bhoga offering, Deity dressing and decoration are all preceded and followed by the chanting of the holy name of the Lord — Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

Translation

“One does not have to undergo initiation or execute the activities required before initiation. One simply has to vibrate the holy name with his lips. Thus even a man in the lowest class [caṇḍāla] can be delivered.

Word meanings

dīkṣā — initiation ; puraścaryā — activities before initiation ; vidhi — regulative principles ; apekṣā — reliance on ; nā — not ; kare — does ; jihvā — the tongue ; sparśe — by touching ; ā - caṇḍāla — even the lowest of men, the caṇḍāla ; sabāre — everyone ; uddhāre — delivers .

Purport

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains dīkṣā in his Bhakti-sandarbha (283):

divyaṁ jñānaṁ yato dadyāt kuryāt pāpasya saṅkṣayam tasmāt dīkṣeti sā proktā deśikais tattva-kovidaiḥ

“ Dīkṣā is the process by which one can awaken his transcendental knowledge and vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity. A person expert in the study of the revealed scriptures knows this process as dīkṣā. ” The regulative principles of dīkṣā are explained in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (2.3-4) and the Bhakti-sandarbha (283). As stated:

dvijānām anupetānāṁ svakarmādhyayanādiṣu yathādhikāro nāstīha syāc copanayanād anu tathātrādīkṣitānāṁ tu mantra-devārcanādiṣu nādhikāro ’sty ataḥ kuryād ātmānaṁ śiva-saṁstutam

“Even though born in a brāhmaṇa family, one cannot engage in Vedic rituals without being initiated and having a sacred thread. Although born in a brāhmaṇa family, one becomes a brāhmaṇa only after initiation and the sacred thread ceremony. Unless one is initiated as a brāhmaṇa, one cannot worship the holy name properly.”

According to the Vaiṣṇava regulative principles, one must be initiated as a brāhmaṇa. The Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (2.6) quotes the following injunction from the Viṣṇu-yāmala:

adīkṣitasya vāmoru kṛtaṁ sarvaṁ nirarthakam paśu-yonim avāpnoti dīkṣā-virahito janaḥ

“ ‘Unless one is initiated by a bona fide spiritual master, all his devotional activities are useless. A person who is not properly initiated can descend again into the animal species.’ ”

Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (2.10) further quotes:

ato guruṁ praṇamyaivaṁ sarva-svaṁ vinivedya ca gṛhṇīyād vaiṣṇavaṁ mantraṁ dīkṣā-pūrvaṁ vidhānataḥ

“ ‘It is the duty of every human being to surrender to a bona fide spiritual master. Giving him everything — body, mind and intelligence — one must take Vaiṣṇava initiation from him.’ ”

The Bhakti-sandarbha (298) gives the following quotation from the Tattva-sāgara:

yathā kāñcanatāṁ yāti kāṁsyaṁ rasa-vidhānataḥ tathā dīkṣā-vidhānena dvijatvaṁ jāyate nṛṇām

“ ‘By chemical manipulation, bell metal is turned into gold when touched by mercury; similarly, when a person is properly initiated, he can acquire the qualities of a brāhmaṇa. ’ ”

The Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (17.11-12), in discussing the puraścaryā process, quotes the following verses from the Agastya-saṁhitā:

pūjā traikālikī nityaṁ japas tarpaṇam eva ca homo brāhmaṇa-bhuktiś ca puraścaraṇam ucyate

guror labdhasya mantrasya prasādena yathā-vidhi pañcāṅgopāsanā-siddhyai puraś caitad vidhīyate

“ ‘In the morning, afternoon and evening one should worship the Deity, chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, offer oblations, perform a fire sacrifice and feed the brāhmaṇas. These five activities constitute puraścaryā. To attain full success when taking initiation from the spiritual master, one should first perform these puraścaryā processes.’ ”

The word puraḥ means “before,” and caryā means “activities.” Due to the necessity of these activities, we do not immediately initiate disciples in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. For six months, a candidate for initiation must first attend ārati and classes in the śāstras, practice the regulative principles and associate with other devotees. When one is actually advanced in the puraścaryā-vidhi, he is recommended by the local temple president for initiation. It is not that anyone can be suddenly initiated without meeting the requirements. When one is further advanced by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra sixteen rounds daily, following the regulative principles and attending classes, he receives the sacred thread (brahminical recognition) after the second six months.

In the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (17.4-5, 7) it is stated:

vinā yena na siddhaḥ syān mantro varṣa-śatair api kṛtena yena labhate sādhako vāñchitaṁ phalam

puraścaraṇa-sampanno mantro hi phala-dhāyakaḥ ataḥ puraṣkriyāṁ kuryāt mantra-vit siddhi-kaṅkṣayā

puraṣkriyā hi mantrāṇāṁ pradhānaṁ vīryam ucyate vīrya-hīno yathā dehī sarva-karmasu na kṣamaḥ puraścaraṇa-hīno hi tathā mantraḥ prakīrtitaḥ

“Without performing the puraścaryā activities, one cannot become perfect even by chanting this mantra for hundreds of years. But one who has undergone the puraścaryā-vidhi process can attain success very easily. If one wishes to perfect his initiation, he must first undergo the puraścaryā activities. The puraścaryā process is the life force by which one is successful in chanting the mantra. Without the life force, one cannot do anything; similarly, without the life force of puraścaryā-vidhi, no mantra can be perfected.”

In his Bhakti-sandarbha (283-84), Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī describes the importance of Deity worship and initiation ( dīkṣā ) as follows:

yadyapi śrī-bhāgavata-mate pañcarātrādi-vat arcana-mārgasya āvaśyakatvaṁ nāsti, tad vināpi śaraṇāpattyādīnām ekatareṇāpi puruṣārtha-siddher abhihitatvāt, tathāpi śrī-nāradādi-vartmānusaradbhiḥ śrī-bhagavatā saha sambandha-viśeṣaṁ dīkṣā-vidhānena śrī-guru-caraṇa-sampāditaṁ cikīrṣadbhiḥ kṛtāyāṁ dīkṣāyām arcanam avaśyaṁ kriyetaiva.

yadyapi svarūpato nāsti, tathāpi prāyaḥ svabhāvato dehādi-sambandhena kadarya-śīlānāṁ vikṣipta-cittānāṁ janānāṁ tat-tat-saṅkocī-karaṇāya śrīmad-ṛṣi-prabhṛtibhir atrārcana-mārge kvacit kvacit kācit kācin maryādā sthāpitāsti .

“It is Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam’s opinion that the process of Deity worship is not actually necessary, just as the specific prescriptions of the Pañcarātra and other scriptures do not have to be followed. The Bhāgavatam enjoins that even without practicing Deity worship one can achieve the complete success of human life by any of the other devotional processes, such as simply offering oneself at the Lord’s feet for His protection. Nonetheless, Vaiṣṇavas following the path of Śrī Nārada and his successors endeavor to establish a personal relationship with the Lord by receiving the grace of a bona fide spiritual master through initiation, and in this tradition the devotees are obliged at the time of initiation to begin engaging in Deity worship.

“Although Deity worship is not essential, the material conditioning of most candidates for devotional service requires that they engage in this activity. When we consider their bodily and mental conditions, we find that the character of such candidates is impure and their minds are agitated. Therefore, to rectify this material conditioning the great sage Nārada and others have at different times recommended various kinds of regulations for Deity worship.”

Similarly, the Rāmārcana-candrikā states:

vinaiva dīkṣāṁ viprendra puraścaryāṁ vinaiva hi vinaiva nyāsa-vidhinā japa-mātreṇa siddhi-dā

“O best of the brāhmaṇas, even without initiation, preliminary purification or acceptance of the renounced order, one can attain perfection in devotional service simply by chanting the Lord’s holy name.”

In other words, the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is so powerful that it does not depend on official initiation, but if one is initiated and engages in pañcarātra-vidhi (Deity worship), his Kṛṣṇa consciousness will awaken very soon, and his identification with the material world will be vanquished. The more one is freed from material identification, the more one can realize that the spirit soul is qualitatively as good as the Supreme Soul. At such a time, when one is situated on the absolute platform, one can understand that the holy name of the Lord and the Lord Himself are identical. At that stage of realization, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, cannot be identified with any material sound. If one accepts the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra as a material vibration, he falls down. One should worship and chant the holy name of the Lord by accepting it as the Lord Himself. One should therefore be initiated properly according to revealed scriptures under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master. Although chanting the holy name is good for both the conditioned and liberated soul, it is especially beneficial to the conditioned soul because by chanting it one is liberated. When a person who chants the holy name is liberated, he attains the ultimate perfection by returning home, back to Godhead. In the words of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Ādi 7.73):

kṛṣṇa-mantra haite habe saṁsāra-mocana kṛṣṇa-nāma haite pābe kṛṣṇera caraṇa

“Simply by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa one can obtain freedom from material existence. Indeed, simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra one will be able to see the lotus feet of the Lord.”

The offenseless chanting of the holy name does not depend on the initiation process. Although initiation may depend on puraścaryā or puraścaraṇa, the actual chanting of the holy name does not depend on puraścaryā-vidhi, or the regulative principles. If one chants the holy name even once without committing an offense, he attains all success. During the chanting of the holy name, the tongue must work. Simply by chanting the holy name, one is immediately delivered. The tongue is sevonmukha-jihvā — it is controlled by service. One whose tongue is engaged in tasting material things and also talking about them cannot use the tongue for absolute realization.

ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ

“With the material senses one cannot understand the transcendental holy name of the Lord or His form, activities and pastimes. But when one actually engages in devotional service, utilizing the tongue, the Lord is revealed.” As it is said in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Madhya 17.134) :

ataeva kṛṣṇera ‘nāma’, ‘deha’, ‘vilāsa’, prākṛtendriya-grāhya nahe, haya sva-prakāśa

“The holy name of Kṛṣṇa, His body and His pastimes cannot be understood by the blunt material senses. They are manifested independently.”

Translation

“By chanting the holy name of the Lord, one dissolves his entanglement in material activities. After this, one becomes very much attracted to Kṛṣṇa, and thus dormant love for Kṛṣṇa is awakened.

Word meanings

anuṣaṅga - phale — as a simultaneous result ; kare — does ; saṁsārera kṣaya — annihilation of entanglement in the material world ; citta — thought ; ākarṣiyā — attracting ; karāya — causes ; kṛṣṇe — unto Lord Kṛṣṇa ; prema - udaya — arousal of transcendental love .

Translation

“ ‘The holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa is an attractive feature for many saintly, liberal people. It is the annihilator of all sinful reactions and is so powerful that, save for the dumb who cannot chant it, it is readily available to everyone, including the lowest type of man, the caṇḍāla. The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is the controller of the opulence of liberation, and it is identical with Kṛṣṇa. When a person simply chants the holy name with his tongue, immediate effects are produced. Chanting the holy name does not depend on initiation, pious activities or the puraścaryā regulative principles generally observed before initiation. The holy name does not wait for any of these activities. It is self-sufficient.’ ”

Word meanings

ākṛṣṭiḥ — attraction ; kṛta - cetasām — of saintly persons ; su - manasām — of the most liberal-minded ; uccāṭanam — annihilator ; ca — also ; aṁhasām — of sinful reactions ; ā - caṇḍālam — even to the caṇḍālas ; amūka — except the dumb ; loka - su - labhaḥ — very easy to achieve for all persons ; vaśyaḥ — full controller ; ca — and ; mukti - śriyaḥ — of the opulence of liberation ; na u — not ; dīkṣām — initiation ; na — not ; ca — also ; sat - kriyām — pious activities ; na — not ; ca — also ; puraścaryām — regulative principles before initiation ; manāk — slightly ; īkṣate — depends upon ; mantraḥ — mantra ; ayam — this ; rasanā — tongue ; spṛk — touching ; eva — simply ; phalati — is fruitful ; śrī - kṛṣṇa - nāma - ātmakaḥ — consisting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa .

Purport

This verse is found in the Padyāvalī (29), an anthology of verses compiled by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then finally advised, “One who is chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is understood to be a Vaiṣṇava; therefore you should offer all respects to him.”

Word meanings

ataeva — therefore ; yāṅra mukhe — in whose mouth ; eka — one ; kṛṣṇa - nāma — the holy name of Kṛṣṇa ; sei ta’ vaiṣṇava — he is a Vaiṣṇava ; kariha — offer ; tāṅhāra — to him ; sammāna — respect .

Purport

In his Upadeśāmṛta, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī states: kṛṣṇeti yasya giri taṁ manasādriyeta dīkṣāsti cet praṇatibhiś ca bhajantam īśam. An advanced devotee should respect a person who has been initiated by a bona fide spiritual master and who is situated on the transcendental platform, chanting the holy name with faith and obeisances and following the instructions of the spiritual master. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura comments that serving Vaiṣṇavas is most important for householders. Whether a Vaiṣṇava is properly initiated or not is not a subject for consideration. One may be initiated and yet contaminated by the Māyāvāda philosophy, but a person who chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly will not be so contaminated. A properly initiated Vaiṣṇava may be imperfect, but one who chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly is all-perfect. Although he may apparently be a neophyte, he still has to be considered a pure, unalloyed Vaiṣṇava. It is the duty of the householder to offer respects to such an unalloyed Vaiṣṇava. This is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s instruction.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then turned His attention to three persons — Mukunda dāsa, Raghunandana and Śrī Narahari — inhabitants of the place called Khaṇḍa.

Word meanings

khaṇḍera — of the place known as Khaṇḍa ; mukunda - dāsa — Mukunda dāsa ; śrī - raghunandana — Śrī Raghunandana ; śrī - narahari — Śrī Narahari ; ei — these ; mukhya — chief ; tina — three ; jana — persons .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī, next asked Mukunda dāsa, “You are the father, and your son is Raghunandana. Is that so?

Word meanings

mukunda dāsere — unto Mukunda dāsa ; puche — inquired ; śacīra nandana — the son of mother Śacī ; tumi — you ; pitā — father ; putra — son ; tomāra — your ; śrī - raghunandana — Śrī Raghunandana .

Translation

“Or is Śrīla Raghunandana your father and you are his son? Please let Me know the facts so that My doubts will go away.”

Word meanings

kibā — or ; raghunandana — Raghunandana ; pitā — father ; tumi — you ; tāra — his ; tanaya — son ; niścaya kariyā — making certain ; kaha — just speak ; yāuka saṁśaya — let My doubts be dissipated .

Translation

Mukunda replied, “Raghunandana is my father, and I am his son. This is my decision.

Word meanings

mukunda kahe — Mukunda dāsa replied ; raghunandana — my son Raghunandana ; mora — my ; pitā — father ; haya — is ; āmi — I ; tāra — his ; putra — son ; ei — this ; āmāra — my ; niścaya — decision .

Translation

“All of us have attained devotion to Kṛṣṇa due to Raghunandana. Therefore in my mind he is my father.”

Word meanings

āmā sabāra — of all of us ; kṛṣṇa - bhakti — devotion to Kṛṣṇa ; raghunandana haite — because of Raghunandana ; ataeva — therefore ; pitā — father ; raghunandana — Raghunandana ; āmāra niścite — my decision .

Translation

Hearing Mukunda dāsa give this proper decision, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu confirmed it, saying, “Yes, it is correct. One who awakens devotion to Kṛṣṇa is certainly the spiritual master.”

Word meanings

śuni’ — hearing ; harṣe — in great jubilation ; kahe prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said ; kahile niścaya — you have spoken correctly ; yāṅhā haite — from whom ; kṛṣṇa - bhakti — devotion to Kṛṣṇa ; sei — that person ; guru haya — is the spiritual master .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy just to speak of the glories of His devotees. Indeed, when He spoke of their glories, it was as if He had five faces.

Word meanings

bhaktera mahimā — the glories of a devotee ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kahite — to speak ; pāya sukha — gets happiness ; bhaktera mahimā — the glories of a devotee ; kahite — to speak ; haya — becomes ; pañca - mukha — five-faced .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then informed all His devotees, “Please hear about Mukunda’s love of Godhead. It is a very deep and pure love and can only be compared to purified gold.

Word meanings

bhakta - gaṇe kahe — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu informed His devotees ; śuna — please hear ; mukundera prema — Mukunda’s love of Godhead ; nigūḍha — very deep ; nirmala — pure ; prema — ecstatic love ; yena — as if ; dagdha — clarified ; hema — gold .

Translation

“Mukunda dāsa externally appears to be a royal physician engaged in governmental service, but internally he has a deep love for Kṛṣṇa. Who can understand his love?

Word meanings

bāhye — externally ; rāja - vaidya — royal physician ; iṅho — he ; kare — performs ; rāja - sevā — government service ; antare — within the heart ; kṛṣṇa - prema — love of Kṛṣṇa ; iṅhāra — of Mukunda dāsa ; jānibeka — can know ; kebā — who .

Purport

Unless Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu discloses the fact, no one can understand who is actually a great devotee of the Lord engaged in His service. It is therefore said in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Madhya 23.39) , tāṅra vākya, kriyā, mudrā vijñeha nā bujhaya: even the most perfect and learned scholar cannot understand a Vaiṣṇava’s activities. A Vaiṣṇava may be engaged in governmental service or in a professional business so that externally one cannot understand his position. Internally, however, he may be a nitya-siddha Vaiṣṇava — that is, an eternally liberated Vaiṣṇava. Externally Mukunda dāsa was a royal physician, but internally he was the most liberated paramahaṁsa devotee. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu knew this very well, but ordinary men could not understand it, for the activities and plans of a Vaiṣṇava cannot be understood by ordinary men. However, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His representative understand everything about a devotee, even though the devotee may externally pretend to be an ordinary householder and professional businessman.

Translation

“One day Mukunda dāsa, the royal physician, was seated with the Muslim King on a high platform and was telling the King about medical treatment.

Word meanings

eka dina — one day ; mleccha - rājāra — of the Muslim King ; ucca - ṭuṅgite — on a high platform ; cikitsāra bāt — talk of medical treatment ; kahe — was speaking ; tāṅhāra agrete — before him .

Translation

“While the King and Mukunda dāsa were conversing, a servant brought a fan made of peacock feathers to shade the King’s head from the sun. Consequently he held the fan above the King’s head.

Word meanings

hena - kāle — at this time ; eka — one ; mayūra - pucchera — of peacock feathers ; āḍānī — fan ; rāja - śira - upari — above the head of the King ; dhare — holds ; eka — one ; sevaka — servant ; āni’ — bringing .

Translation

“Just by seeing the peacock-feathered fan, Mukunda dāsa became absorbed in ecstatic love of Godhead and fell from the high platform onto the ground.

Word meanings

śikhi - piccha — peacock feathers ; dekhi’ — seeing ; mukunda — Mukunda dāsa ; prema - āviṣṭa hailā — became ecstatic in love of Godhead ; ati - ucca — very high ; ṭuṅgi — platform ; haite — from ; bhūmite — on the ground ; paḍilā — fell down .

Translation

“The King, fearing that the royal physician had been killed, personally descended and brought him to consciousness.

Word meanings

rājāra jñāna — the King thought ; rāja - vaidyera — of the royal physician ; ha - ila maraṇa — there was death ; āpane — personally ; nāmiyā — getting down ; tabe — thereupon ; karāila cetana — brought him to consciousness .

Translation

“When the King asked Mukunda, ‘Where is it paining you?’ Mukunda replied, ‘I am not very much pained.’

Word meanings

rājā bale — the King said ; vyathā — pain ; tumi pāile — you have gotten ; kona ṭhāñi — where ; mukunda kahe — Mukunda replied ; ati - baḍa vyathā — very much pain ; pāi nāi — I have not gotten .

Translation

“The King then inquired, ‘Mukunda, why did you fall down?’

Word meanings

rājā kahe — the King inquired ; mukunda — O Mukunda ; tumi paḍilā — you fell ; ki lāgi’ — for what reason ; mukunda kahe — Mukunda replied ; rājā — my dear King ; mora — of me ; vyādhi — disease ; āche — is ; mṛgī — epilepsy .

Purport

“Mukunda replied, ‘My dear King, I have a disease like epilepsy.’

Translation

“Being extraordinarily intelligent, the King could understand the whole affair. In his estimation, Mukunda was a most uncommon, exalted, liberated personality.

Word meanings

mahā - vidagdha — highly intelligent ; rājā — the King ; sei — he ; saba jāne — knows everything ; mukundere — upon Mukunda ; haila — was ; tāṅra — his ; mahā - siddha - jñāne — calculation as the most perfect devotee .

Translation

“Raghunandana is constantly engaged in serving Lord Kṛṣṇa in the temple. Beside the entrance of the temple is a lake, and on its banks is a kadamba tree, which daily delivers two flowers to be used for Kṛṣṇa’s service.”

Word meanings

raghunandana — Raghunandana ; sevā kare — serves ; kṛṣṇera mandire — in the temple of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; dvāre — near the door ; puṣkariṇī — a lake ; tāra — of it ; ghāṭera upare — on the bank ; kadambera — of kadamba flowers ; eka vṛkṣe — on one tree ; phuṭe — blossom ; bāra - māse — all year around ; nitya — daily ; dui phala — two flowers ; haya — become ; kṛṣṇa - avataṁse — decoration for Lord Kṛṣṇa .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again spoke to Mukunda with sweet words: “Your duty is to earn both material and spiritual wealth.

Word meanings

mukundere — to Mukunda ; kahe — Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu says ; punaḥ — again ; madhura vacana — sweet words ; tomāra kārya — your duty ; dharme dhana - upārjana — to earn both material and spiritual wealth .

Translation

“Furthermore, it is the duty of Raghunandana to always engage in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s service. He has no other intention but the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.”

Word meanings

raghunandanera kārya — the duty of Raghunandana ; kṛṣṇera sevana — worshiping Lord Kṛṣṇa ; kṛṣṇa - sevā vinā — except for worshiping Kṛṣṇa ; iṅhāra — of him ; anya — other ; nāhi — there is not ; mana — intention .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then ordered Narahari: “I wish you to remain here with My devotees. In this way the three of you should always execute these three duties for the service of the Lord.”

Word meanings

narahari — Narahari ; rahu — let him remain ; āmāra — My ; bhakta - gaṇa - sane — along with other devotees ; ei tina kārya — these three divisions of duty ; sadā — always ; karaha — execute ; tina jane — you three persons .

Purport

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu set forth three duties for three different people. Mukunda was to earn money and follow the religious principles, whereas Narahari was to remain with the Lord’s devotees, and Raghunandana was to engage in the Lord’s service in the temple. Thus one person worships in the temple, another earns money honestly by executing his professional duty, and yet another preaches Kṛṣṇa consciousness with the devotees. Apparently these three types of service appear separate, but actually they are not. When Kṛṣṇa or Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the center, everyone can engage in different activities for the service of the Lord. That is the verdict of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Translation

Out of His causeless mercy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave the following directions to the brothers Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Vidyā-vācaspati.

Word meanings

sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; vidyā - vācaspati — Vidyā-vācaspati ; dui bhāi — two brothers ; dui - jane — unto the two ; kṛpā kari’ — out of His causeless mercy ; kahena — says ; gosāñi — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “In this Age of Kali, Kṛṣṇa is manifest in two forms — wood and water. Thus, by enabling the conditioned souls to see the wood and bathe in the water, He helps them become liberated.

Word meanings

dāru — wood ; jala — water ; rūpe — in the forms of ; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; prakaṭa — manifested ; samprati — at the present moment ; daraśana — by seeing ; snāne — by bathing ; kare — does ; jīvera mukati — the deliverance of the conditioned souls .

Translation

“Lord Jagannātha is the Supreme Lord Himself in the form of wood, and the river Ganges is the Supreme Lord Himself in the form of water.

Word meanings

dāru - brahma - rūpe — in the form of Brahman as wood ; sākṣāt — directly ; śrī - puruṣottama — Lord Jagannātha ; bhāgīrathī — the river Ganges ; hana — is ; sākṣāt — directly ; jala - brahma - sama — the Supreme in the form of water .

Purport

The Vedas enjoin, sarvaṁ khalv idaṁ brahma: everything is the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Brahman or Parambrahma. Parasya brahmaṇaḥ śaktis tathedam akhilaṁ jagat: everything is a manifestation of the energy of the Supreme Brahman. Since the energy and energetic are identical, actually everything is Kṛṣṇa, Parambrahma. In the Bhagavad-gītā (9.4) Lord Kṛṣṇa confirms this:

mayā tatam idaṁ sarvaṁ jagad avyakta-mūrtinā mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni na cāhaṁ teṣv avasthitaḥ

“By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them.”

Kṛṣṇa is spread throughout the whole universe in His impersonal form. Since everything is a manifestation of the Lord’s energy, the Lord can manifest Himself through any energy. In this age, the Lord is manifest through wood as Lord Jagannātha, and He is manifest through water as the river Ganges. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered the two brothers — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Vidyā-vācaspati — to worship Lord Jagannātha and the river Ganges.

Translation

“Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, you should engage in the worship of Lord Jagannātha Puruṣottama, and Vācaspati should worship mother Ganges.”

Word meanings

sārvabhauma — O Sārvabhauma ; kara — be engaged in ; dāru - brahma — of wooden Brahman ; ārādhana — worship ; vācaspati — and you, Vācaspati ; kara — do ; jala - brahmera — of Parambrahma manifested in water ; sevana — worship .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then embraced Murāri Gupta and began to speak about his firm faith in devotional service. This was heard by all the devotees.

Word meanings

murāri - guptere — Murāri Gupta ; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kari’ āliṅgana — embracing ; tāṅra — his ; bhakti - niṣṭhā — faith in devotional service ; kahena — says ; śune bhakta - gaṇa — all the devotees hear .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Previously I induced Murāri Gupta again and again to be allured by Lord Kṛṣṇa. I said to him, ‘My dear Gupta, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Vrajendra-kumāra, is the supreme sweetness.

Word meanings

pūrve — previously ; āmi — I ; iṅhāre — him ; lobhāila — induced to be allured ; bāra bāra — again and again ; parama madhura — very sweet ; gupta — O Gupta ; vrajendra - kumāra — Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja .

Translation

“ ‘Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the origin of all incarnations and the source of everything. He is pure transcendental love itself, and He is the reservoir of all pleasure.

Word meanings

svayam bhagavān kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; sarva - aṁśī — the source of all others ; sarva - āśraya — the reservoir of all energies ; viśuddha — transcendental ; nirmala — free from all material contamination ; prema — love ; sarva - rasa - maya — the reservoir of all pleasure .

Translation

“ ‘Kṛṣṇa is the reservoir of all transcendental qualities. He is like a mine of gems. He is expert at everything, very intelligent and sober, and He is the summit of all transcendental humors.

Word meanings

sakala — all ; sat - guṇa — transcendental qualities ; vṛnda — multitude ; ratna — of gems ; ratna - ākara — the mine ; vidagdha — intelligent ; catura — expert ; dhīra — sober ; rasika - śekhara — master of all transcendental humors .

Translation

“ ‘His character is very sweet, and His pastimes are melodious. He is expert in intelligence, and thus He enjoys all His pastimes and mellows.’

Word meanings

madhura - caritra — pleasing character ; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; madhura - vilāsa — melodious pastimes ; cāturya — expertise ; vaidagdhya — intelligence ; kare — manifests ; yāṅra — whose ; līlā — of pastimes ; rasa — mellows .

Translation

“I then requested Murāri Gupta, ‘Worship Kṛṣṇa and take shelter of Him. But for His service, nothing appeals to the mind.’

Word meanings

sei kṛṣṇa — that Lord Kṛṣṇa ; bhaja tumi — engage yourself in His service ; hao kṛṣṇa - āśraya — take shelter of Kṛṣṇa ; kṛṣṇa vinā — except for Kṛṣṇa ; anya - upāsanā — any other worship ; mane nāhi laya — does not appeal to the mind .

Translation

“In this way, he heard from Me again and again. By My influence, his mind was a little converted.

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; bāra bāra — again and again ; śuniyā vacana — hearing these words ; āmāra gaurave — because of My influence ; kichu — somewhat ; phiri’ gela — transformed ; mana — his mind .

Translation

“Murāri Gupta then replied, ‘I am Your servant and Your order-carrier. I have no independent existence.’

Word meanings

āmāre kahena — he said unto Me ; āmi — I ; tomāra kiṅkara — Your servant ; tomāra ājñā - kārī — Your order-carrier ; āmi — I ; nāhi — am not ; svatantara — independent .

Translation

“After this, Murāri Gupta went home and spent the whole night thinking how he would have to give up the association of Raghunātha, Lord Rāmacandra. Thus he was overwhelmed.

Word meanings

eta bali’ — saying this ; ghare gela — went to his house ; cinti’ — thinking ; rātri - kāle — at night ; raghunātha — Lord Rāmacandra ; tyāga — giving up ; cintāya — by thoughts of ; ha - ila vikale — became overwhelmed .

Translation

“Murāri Gupta then began to pray at the lotus feet of Lord Rāmacandra. He prayed that death would come that night because it was not possible for him to give up the service of the lotus feet of Raghunātha.

Word meanings

kemane chāḍiba — how shall I give up ; raghunāthera caraṇa — the lotus feet of Lord Raghunātha ; āji rātrye — this night ; prabhu — O Lord Raghunātha ; mora — my ; karāha maraṇa — please cause death .

Translation

“Thus Murāri Gupta cried the entire night. There was no rest for his mind; therefore he could not sleep but stayed awake the entire night.

Word meanings

ei mata — in this way ; sarva - rātri — the whole night ; karena krandana — cried ; mane — in the mind ; soyāsti nāhi — there is no rest ; rātri — the whole night ; kaila — kept ; jāgaraṇa — awake .

Translation

“In the morning Murāri Gupta came to see Me. Catching hold of My feet and crying, he submitted an appeal.

Word meanings

prātaḥ - kāle — in the morning ; āsi’ — coming ; mora — My ; dharila — caught hold of ; caraṇa — feet ; kāndite kāndite — continuously crying ; kichu kare nivedana — submits some appeals .

Translation

“Murāri Gupta said, ‘I have sold my head unto the lotus feet of Raghunātha. I cannot withdraw my head, for that would give me too much pain.

Word meanings

raghunāthera pāya — unto the lotus feet of Lord Raghunātha ; muñi — I ; veciyāchoṅ — sold ; māthā — head ; kāḍhite — to cut off ; nā pāri — I am unable ; māthā — my head ; mane — in my mind ; pāi vyathā — I get too much pain .

Translation

“ ‘It is not possible for me to give up the service of Raghunātha’s lotus feet. At the same time, if I do not do so I shall break Your order. What can I do?’

Word meanings

śrī - raghunātha - caraṇa — the lotus feet of Lord Rāmacandra ; chāḍāna nā yāya — cannot be given up ; tava — Your ; ājñā — order ; bhaṅga — broken ; haya — is ; ki — what ; karoṅ — shall I do ; upāya — remedy .

Translation

“In this way Murāri Gupta appealed to Me, saying, ‘You are all-merciful, so kindly grant me this mercy: Let me die before You so that all my doubts will be finished.’

Word meanings

tāte — therefore ; more — unto me ; ei — this ; kṛpā — mercy ; kara — bestow ; dayā - maya — O merciful one ; tomāra āge — before You ; mṛtyu ha - uka — let me die ; yāuka saṁśaya — and let all doubts go away .

Translation

“Hearing this, I became very happy. I then raised Murāri Gupta and embraced him.

Word meanings

eta śuni’ — hearing this ; āmi — I ; baḍa — very great ; mane — in the mind ; sukha — happiness ; pāiluṅ — got ; iṅhāre — him ; uṭhāñā — raising ; tabe — at that time ; āliṅgana kailuṅ — I embraced .

Translation

“I said to him, ‘All glories to you, Murāri Gupta! Your method of worship is very firmly fixed — so much so that even upon My request your mind did not turn.

Word meanings

sādhu sādhu — all glories unto you ; gupta — Murāri Gupta ; tomāra — your ; su - dṛḍha — firmly fixed ; bhajana — method of worship ; āmāra — My ; vacaneha — even on the request ; tomāra — your ; nā ṭalila — did not budge ; mana — mind .

Translation

“ ‘The servitor must have love and affection for the lotus feet of the Lord exactly like this. Even if the Lord wants separation, a devotee cannot abandon the shelter of His lotus feet.

Word meanings

ei - mata — like this ; sevakera — of the servitor ; prīti — love ; cāhi — is wanted ; prabhu - pāya — unto the lotus feet of the Lord ; prabhu chāḍāileha — even though the Lord causes separation ; pada — the lotus feet of the Lord ; chāḍāna nā yāya — cannot be given up .

Purport

The word prabhu, or master, indicates that the Lord is to be continuously served by His devotee. The original prabhu is the Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Nonetheless, there are many devotees attached to Lord Rāmacandra, and Murāri Gupta is a vivid example of such unalloyed devotion. He never agreed to give up Lord Rāmacandra’s worship, not even upon Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s request. Such is the chastity of devotional service, as stated in the Antya-līlā of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (4.46-47):

sei bhakta dhanya, ye nā chāḍe prabhura caraṇa sei prabhu dhanya, ye nā chāḍe nija-jana

durdaive sevaka yadi yāya anya sthāne sei ṭhākura dhanya tāre cule dhari’ āne

In a firm relationship with the Lord, the devotee does not give up the Lord’s service under any circumstance. As far as the Lord Himself is concerned, if the devotee chooses to leave, the Lord brings him back again, dragging him by the hair.

Translation

“ ‘Just to test your firm faith in your Lord, I requested you again and again to change your worship from Lord Rāmacandra to Kṛṣṇa.’

Word meanings

ei - mata — in this way ; tomāra — your ; niṣṭhā — firm faith ; jānibāra tare — to understand ; tomāre — unto you ; āgraha — persistence ; āmi kailuṅ — I did ; bāre bāre — again and again .

Translation

“In this way, I congratulated Murāri Gupta, saying, ‘Indeed, you are the incarnation of Hanumān. Consequently you are the eternal servant of Lord Rāmacandra. Why should you give up the worship of Lord Rāmacandra and His lotus feet?’ ”

Word meanings

sākṣāt — directly ; hanumān — Hanumān ; tumi — you ; śrī - rāma - kiṅkara — the servant of Śrī Rāma ; tumi — you ; kene — why ; chāḍibe — should give up ; tāṅra — His ; caraṇa - kamala — lotus feet .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “I accept this Murāri Gupta as My life and soul. When I hear of his humility, it perturbs My very life.”

Word meanings

sei murāri - gupta — that Murāri Gupta ; ei — this ; mora prāṇa sama — not different from My life and soul ; iṅhāra — of him ; dainya — humility ; śuni’ — hearing ; mora — My ; phāṭaye — perturbs ; jīvana — life .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then embraced Vāsudeva Datta and began to speak of his glories as if He had a thousand mouths.

Word meanings

tabe — then ; vāsudeve — Vāsudeva ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kari’ āliṅgana — embracing ; tāṅra guṇa — his good qualities ; kahe — began to explain ; hañā — becoming ; sahasra - vadana — possessing thousands of mouths .

Translation

When Caitanya Mahāprabhu glorified him, Vāsudeva Datta immediately became very much embarrassed and shy. He then submitted himself, touching the Lord’s lotus feet.

Word meanings

nija - guṇa — his personal qualities ; śuni’ — hearing ; datta — Vāsudeva Datta ; mane — in the mind ; lajjā pāñā — being ashamed ; nivedana kare — submits ; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; caraṇe dhariyā — catching the lotus feet .

Translation

Vāsudeva Datta told Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “My dear Lord, You incarnate just to deliver all conditioned souls. I now have one petition, which I wish You would accept.

Word meanings

jagat tārite — to deliver the whole world ; prabhu — my Lord ; tomāra — Your ; avatāra — incarnation ; mora — my ; nivedana — petition ; eka — one ; karaha aṅgīkāra — please accept .

Translation

“My Lord, You are certainly able to do whatever You like, and You are indeed merciful. If You so desire, You can very easily do whatever You want.

Word meanings

karite — to execute ; samartha — capable ; tumi — You ; hao — are ; dayā - maya — O merciful one ; tumi mana kara — if You so desire ; tabe — then ; anāyāse — without difficulty ; haya — it becomes possible .

Translation

“My Lord, my heart breaks to see the sufferings of all the conditioned souls; therefore I request You to transfer the karma of their sinful lives upon my head.

Word meanings

jīvera — of all conditioned souls ; duḥkha dekhi’ — by seeing the sufferings ; mora — my ; hṛdaya — heart ; bidare — breaks ; sarva - jīvera — of all living entities ; pāpa — the sinful reactions ; prabhu — my dear Lord ; deha’ — just put ; mora śire — upon my head .

Translation

“My dear Lord, let me suffer perpetually in a hellish condition, accepting all the sinful reactions of all living entities. Please finish their diseased material life.”

Word meanings

jīvera — of all conditioned souls ; pāpa lañā — accepting the sinful reactions ; muñi — I ; karoṅ — do ; naraka — hellish life ; bhoga — experience ; sakala jīvera — of all living entities ; prabhu — my dear Lord ; ghucāha — please finish ; bhava - roga — the material disease .

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura gives the following commentary on this verse. In the Western countries, Christians believe that Lord Jesus Christ, their spiritual master, appeared in order to eradicate all the sins of his disciples. To this end, Lord Jesus Christ appeared and disappeared. Here, however, we find Śrī Vāsudeva Datta Ṭhākura and Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura to be many millions of times more advanced than even Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ relieved only his followers from all sinful reactions, but Vāsudeva Datta is here prepared to accept the sins of everyone in the universe. So the comparative position of Vāsudeva Datta is millions of times better than that of Lord Jesus Christ. A Vaiṣṇava is so liberal that he is prepared to risk everything to rescue the conditioned souls from material existence. Śrīla Vāsudeva Datta Ṭhākura is universal love itself, for he was willing to sacrifice everything and fully engage in the service of the Supreme Lord.

Śrīla Vāsudeva Datta knew very well that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was the original Personality of Godhead, Transcendence itself, above the material conception of illusion and māyā. Lord Jesus Christ certainly finished the sinful reactions of his followers by his mercy, but that does not mean he completely delivered them from the pangs of material existence. A person may be relieved from sins once, but it is a practice among Christians to confess sins and yet commit them again. By getting freed from sins and again engaging in them, one cannot attain freedom from the pangs of material existence. A diseased person may go to a physician for relief, but after he leaves the hospital he may again be infected due to his unclean habits. Thus material existence continues. Śrīla Vāsudeva Datta wanted to completely relieve the conditioned souls from material existence so that they would no longer have an opportunity to commit sinful acts. This is the significant difference between Śrīla Vāsudeva Datta and Lord Jesus Christ. It is a great offense to receive pardon for sins and then commit the same sins again. Such an offense is more dangerous than the sinful activity itself. Vāsudeva Datta was so liberal that he requested Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to transfer all offensive activity upon him so the conditioned souls would be purified and go back home, back to Godhead. This prayer was certainly without duplicity.

Vāsudeva Datta’s example is unique not only within this world but within the universe. It is beyond the conception of fruitive actors or the speculation of mundane philosophers. Due to being illusioned by the external energy and due to a poor fund of knowledge, people tend to envy one another. Because of this they are entangled in fruitive activity, and they try to escape this fruitive activity by mental speculation. Consequently neither karmīs nor jñānīs are purified. In the words of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Ṭhākura, they are kukarmīs and kujñānīs — bad fruitive actors and bad speculators. The Māyāvādīs and karmīs should therefore turn their attention to the magnanimous Vāsudeva Datta, who wanted to suffer for others in a hellish condition. No one should consider Vāsudeva Datta a mundane philanthropist or welfare worker. Nor was he interested in merging into the Brahman effulgence or in gaining material honor or reputation. He was far, far above philanthropists, philosophers and fruitive actors. He was the most exalted personality to ever show mercy to the conditioned souls. This is not an exaggeration of his transcendental qualities. It is perfectly true. Actually, there cannot be any comparison to Vāsudeva Datta. As the perfect Vaiṣṇava, he was para-duḥkha-duḥkhī, very much aggrieved to see others suffer. The entire world is purified simply by the appearance of such a great devotee. Indeed, by his transcendental presence the whole world is glorified and all conditioned souls are also glorified. As Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura confirms, Vāsudeva Datta is the ideal devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu:

gaurāṅgera saṅgi-gaṇe, nitya-siddha kari’ māne, se yāya vrajendrasuta-pāśa

One who executes Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mission must be considered eternally liberated. He is a transcendental person and does not belong to this material world. Such a devotee, engaging in the deliverance of the total population, is as magnanimous as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself.

namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya- nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ

Such a personality factually represents Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu because his heart is always filled with compassion for all conditioned souls.

Translation

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard Vāsudeva Datta’s statement, His heart became very soft. Tears flowed from His eyes, and He began to tremble. In a faltering voice He spoke as follows.

Word meanings

eta śuni’ — hearing this ; mahāprabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; citta — heart ; dravilā — became softened ; aśru — tears ; kampa — trembling ; svara - bhaṅge — with faltering of the voice ; kahite — to speak ; lāgilā — began .

Translation

Accepting Vāsudeva Datta as a great devotee, the Lord said, “Such a statement is not at all astonishing because you are the incarnation of Prahlāda Mahārāja. It appears that Lord Kṛṣṇa has bestowed complete mercy upon you. There is no doubt about it.

Word meanings

tomāra — in you ; vicitra nahe — this is not extraordinary ; tumi — you ; sākṣāt prahlāda — incarnation of Prahlāda Mahārāja ; tomāra upare — upon you ; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; sampūrṇa — complete ; prasāda — mercy .

Translation

“Whatever a pure devotee wants from his master, Lord Kṛṣṇa doubtlessly grants because He has no duty other than to fulfill the desire of His devotee.

Word meanings

kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; sei — that ; satya kare — fulfills as true ; yei — whatever ; māge — wants ; bhṛtya — servant ; bhṛtya - vāñchā — the desire of His servant ; pūrti — fulfilling ; vinu — without ; nāhi — there is not ; anya — other ; kṛtya — duty .

Translation

“If you desire the deliverance of all living entities within the universe, then all of them can be delivered even without your undergoing the tribulations of sinful activity.

Word meanings

brahmāṇḍa — of the universe ; jīvera — of all living entities ; tumi vāñchile — if you desire ; nistāra — deliverance ; vinā — without ; pāpa - bhoge — undergoing tribulations of sinful activities ; habe — there will be ; sabāra — everyone’s ; uddhāra — liberation .

Translation

“Kṛṣṇa is not incapable, for He has all potencies. Why would He induce you to suffer the sinful reactions of other living entities?

Word meanings

asamartha nahe — is not unable ; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; dhare — possesses ; sarva bala — all potencies ; tomāke — you ; vā — then ; kene — why ; bhuñjāibe — would cause to suffer ; pāpa - phala — results of sinful reactions .

Translation

“Whosever welfare you desire immediately becomes a Vaiṣṇava, and Kṛṣṇa delivers all Vaiṣṇavas from the reactions of their past sinful activities.

Word meanings

tumi — you ; yāṅra — of whom ; hita vāñcha’ — desire the welfare ; se — such a person ; haila — immediately becomes ; vaiṣṇava — a devotee ; vaiṣṇavera — of a Vaiṣṇava ; pāpa — the accidental sinful life ; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; dūra kare — vanquishes ; saba — all .

Purport

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu here informed Vāsudeva Datta that since Kṛṣṇa is all-powerful, He can immediately deliver all conditioned souls from material existence. In essence, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “You desire the liberation of all kinds of living entities without discrimination. You are very anxious for their good fortune, and I say that simply by your prayer all living entities within the universe can be liberated. You do not even have to take up the burden of their sinful activities. Thus there is no need for you to suffer for their sinful lives. Whoever receives your compassion becomes a Vaiṣṇava immediately, and Kṛṣṇa delivers all Vaiṣṇavas from the reactions to their past sinful activities.” Kṛṣṇa also promises this in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.66) :

sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ

“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.”

As soon as one fully surrenders to Kṛṣṇa, he becomes a Vaiṣṇava. In this verse from the Bhagavad-gītā Kṛṣṇa promises to relieve His devotee from all the reactions to sinful life. It is a fact that a fully surrendered Vaiṣṇava is completely out of the range of material infection. This is to say that he does not suffer the results of his previous pious or impious actions. Unless one is freed from sinful life, one cannot become a Vaiṣṇava. In other words, if one is a Vaiṣṇava, his sinful life is certainly ended. According to the Padma Purāṇa:

aprārabdha-phalaṁ pāpaṁ kūṭaṁ bījaṁ phalonmukham krameṇaiva pralīyeta viṣṇu-bhakti-ratātmanām

“There are different stages of dormant reactions to sinful activities to be observed in a sinful life. Sinful reactions may be just waiting to take effect [ phalonmukha ], reactions may be still further dormant [ kūṭa ], or the reactions may be in a seedlike state [ bīja ]. In any case, all types of sinful reactions are vanquished one after another if a person engages in the devotional service of Lord Viṣṇu.”

Translation

“ ‘Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the original Personality of Godhead, Govinda, who regulates the sufferings and enjoyments due to fruitive activity. He does this for everyone — from the heavenly King Indra down to the smallest insect [indra-gopa]. That very Personality of Godhead destroys the karmic reactions of one engaged in devotional service.’

Word meanings

yaḥ — He who (Govinda) ; tu — but ; indra - gopam — to the small red insect called indra-gopa ; atha vā — or even ; indram — to Indra, King of heaven ; aho — oh ; sva - karma — of one’s own fruitive activities ; bandha — bondage ; anurūpa — according to ; phala — of reactions ; bhājanam — enjoying or suffering ; ātanoti — bestows ; karmāṇi — all fruitive activities and their reactions ; nirdahati — destroys ; kintu — but ; ca — certainly ; bhakti - bhājām — of persons engaged in devotional service ; govindam — unto Lord Govinda ; ādi - puruṣam — the original person ; tam — unto Him ; aham — I ; bhajāmi — offer my obeisances .

Purport

This is a quotation from the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.54) .

Translation

“Because of your honest desire, all living entities within the universe will be delivered, for Kṛṣṇa does not have to do anything to deliver all the living entities of the universe.

Word meanings

tomāra icchā - mātre — simply by your desire ; habe — there will be ; brahmāṇḍa - mocana — deliverance of the universe ; sarva — everyone ; mukta karite — to liberate ; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; nāhi — there is not ; kichu — even a little ; śrama — labor .

Translation

“Just as there are millions of fruits on the uḍumbara tree, millions of universes float on the waters of the river Virajā.

Word meanings

eka uḍumbara vṛkṣe — in one uḍumbara tree ; lāge — there are ; koṭi - phale — millions of fruits ; koṭi — millions ; ye — which ; brahmāṇḍa — of universes ; bhāse — float ; virajāra — of the Virajā River ; jale — in the water .

Purport

Virajā is a river that divides the material world from the spiritual world. On one side of the river Virajā is the effulgence of Brahmaloka and innumerable Vaikuṇṭha planets, and on the other side is this material world. It is to be understood that this side of the Virajā River is filled with material planets floating in the Causal Ocean. The name Virajā indicates a marginal position between the spiritual and material worlds, but the Virajā River is not under the control of the material energy. Consequently it is devoid of the three guṇas.

Translation

“The uḍumbara tree is filled with millions of fruits, and if one falls down and is destroyed, the tree does not even consider the loss.

Word meanings

tāra — of the tree ; eka phala — one fruit ; paḍi’ — falling down ; yadi — if ; naṣṭa haya — becomes destroyed ; tathāpi — still ; vṛkṣa — the tree ; nāhi jāne — does not know ; nija - apacaya — its loss .

Translation

“In the same way, if one universe is vacated due to the living entities’ having been liberated, that is a very little thing for Kṛṣṇa. He does not take it very seriously.

Word meanings

taiche — similarly ; eka brahmāṇḍa — one universe ; yadi — if ; mukta haya — becomes liberated ; tabu — still ; alpa - hāni — very little loss ; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; mane — the mind ; nāhi laya — does not take it very seriously .

Translation

“The entire spiritual world constitutes the unlimited opulence of Kṛṣṇa, and there are innumerable Vaikuṇṭha planets there. The Causal Ocean is considered the surrounding waters of Vaikuṇṭhaloka.

Word meanings

ananta — unlimited ; aiśvarya — opulence ; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; vaikuṇṭha - ādi - dhāma — innumerable Vaikuṇṭha planets ; tāra — of Vaikuṇṭhaloka ; gaḍa - khāi — surrounding water ; kāraṇa - abdhi — Causal Ocean ; yāra — of which ; nāma — name .

Translation

“Māyā and her unlimited material universes are situated in that Causal Ocean. Indeed, māyā appears to be floating like a pot filled with mustard seeds.

Word meanings

tāte — in that water ; bhāse — floats ; māyā — the material energy ; lañā — taking ; ananta — unlimited ; brahmāṇḍa — universes ; gaḍa - khāite — in the surrounding water ; bhāse — floats ; yena — as if ; rāi - pūrṇa bhāṇḍa — a pot filled with mustard seeds .

Translation

“Of the millions of mustard seeds floating in that pot, if one seed is lost, the loss is not at all significant. Similarly, if one universe is lost, it is not significant to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

tāra — of it ; eka — one ; rāi - nāśe — loss of a mustard seed ; hāni — loss ; nāhi — does not ; māni — notice ; aiche — in that way ; eka — one ; aṇḍa — universe ; nāśe — being lost ; kṛṣṇera — of Kṛṣṇa ; nāhi hāni — there is no loss .

Translation

“To say nothing of one universal mustard seed, even if all the universes and the material energy [māyā] are destroyed, Kṛṣṇa does not even consider the loss.

Word meanings

saba brahmāṇḍa — all the universes ; saha — with ; yadi — if ; māyāra — of the material energy ; haya kṣaya — there is destruction ; tathāpi — still ; nā — not ; māne — considers ; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; kichu — any ; apacaya — lost .

Translation

“If a person possessing millions of wish-fulfilling cows loses one she-goat, he does not consider the loss. Kṛṣṇa owns all six opulences in full. If the entire material energy is destroyed, what does He lose?”

Word meanings

koṭi — of millions ; kāma - dhenu — of desire cows ; patira — of the master ; chāgī — one she-goat ; yaiche — as ; mare — dies ; ṣaṭ - aiśvarya - pati — the master of six opulences ; kṛṣṇera — of Kṛṣṇa ; māyā — external energy ; kibā — what ; kare — can do .

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, in clarifying verses 171-179, states that the meaning of these stanzas is very simple but that the purport is a little difficult to understand. Generally, the conditioned souls forget Kṛṣṇa when they are enticed by the material, external energy. Consequently they are called kṛṣṇa-bahirmukha, bereft of their relationship with Kṛṣṇa. When such a living entity comes under the jurisdiction of the material energy, he is sent into one of the innumerable material universes created by the material energy to give a chance to conditioned souls to fulfill their desires in the material world. Being very eager to enjoy the fruits of their activities, conditioned souls become involved in the actions and reactions of material life. Consequently they enjoy and suffer the results of karma. However, if a conditioned soul becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious, the karma of his pious and impious activities is completely destroyed. Simply by becoming a devotee, one is freed of all the reactions of karma. Similarly, simply by the desire of a devotee, a conditioned soul can attain liberation and transcend the results of karma. Since everyone can be liberated in this way, one may conclude that it is according to the sweet will of the devotee whether the material world exists or does not exist. Ultimately, however, it is not the sweet will of the devotee but the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who, if He so desires, can completely annihilate the material creation. There is no loss on His part. The owner of millions of cows does not consider the loss of one she-goat. Similarly, Lord Kṛṣṇa is the proprietor of both the material and spiritual universes. The material world constitutes only one-fourth of His creative energy. If, according to the desire of the devotee, the Lord completely destroys the creation, He is so opulent that He will not mind the loss.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “ ‘O my Lord, O unconquerable one, O master of all potencies, please exhibit Your internal potency to conquer the nescience of all moving and inert living entities. Due to nescience, they accept all kinds of faulty things, thus provoking a fearful situation. O Lord, please show Your glories! You can do this very easily, for Your internal potency is beyond the external potency, and You are the reservoir of all opulence. You are also the demonstrator of the material potency. You are also always engaged in Your pastimes in the spiritual world, where You exhibit Your reserved, internal potency, and sometimes You exhibit the external potency by glancing over it. Thus You manifest Your pastimes. The Vedas confirm Your two potencies and accept both types of pastimes due to them.’ ”

Word meanings

jaya jaya — kindly exhibit Your glory ; jahi — please conquer ; ajām — nescience, māyā ; ajita — O unconquerable one ; doṣa — faulty ; gṛbhīta - guṇām — by which the qualities are accepted ; tvam — You ; asi — are ; yat — because ; ātmanā — by Your internal potency ; samavaruddha — possessing ; samasta - bhagaḥ — all kinds of opulences ; aga — nonmoving ; jagat — moving ; okasām — of the embodied living entities ; akhila — all ; śakti — of potencies ; avabodhaka — master ; te — You ; kvacit — sometimes ; ajayā — by the external energy ; ātmanā — of Your self ; ca — also ; carataḥ — manifesting pastimes (by Your glance) ; anucaret — confirm ; nigamaḥ — all the Vedas .

Purport

This verse is taken from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.87.14) . It is from the prayers of the śruti-gaṇa, the personified Vedas, who glorify the Lord.

The almighty Personality of Godhead has three potencies — internal, external and marginal. The conditioned souls, who are condemned due to their forgetfulness of the Lord, are put under the control of the external potency when she creates the material world. The three modes of material nature keep the living entity in a constant state of fear ( bhayaṁ dvitīyābhiniveśataḥ ) . The conditioned soul is always fearful due to being controlled by the external potency; therefore the conditioned soul should always pray to the almighty Lord to conquer the external potency ( māyā ) so that she will no longer manifest her powers, which bind all living entities, moving and inert. By praying in this way one will become eligible to remain constantly in the association of the Lord, thus fulfilling the mission of going back home, back to Godhead.

Translation

In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu described the good qualities of His devotees one after the other. He then embraced them and bade them farewell.

Word meanings

ei mata — in this way ; sarva - bhaktera — of all the devotees ; kahi’ — describing ; saba guṇa — all the good qualities ; sabāre — unto everyone ; vidāya dila — bade farewell ; kari’ āliṅgana — embracing .

Translation

Due to the impending separation from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the devotees began to cry. The Lord was also morose due to separation from the devotees.

Word meanings

prabhura — from Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; vicchede — by separation ; bhakta — all the devotees ; karena — do ; rodana — crying ; bhaktera — of the devotees ; vicchede — by the separation ; prabhura — of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; viṣaṇṇa — morose ; haila — became ; mana — the mind .

Translation

Gadādhara Paṇḍita remained with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and he was given a place to live at Yameśvara.

Word meanings

gadādhara - paṇḍita — Gadādhara Paṇḍita ; rahilā — remained ; prabhura pāśe — along with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; yameśvare — at Yameśvara ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; yāṅre — unto whom ; karāilā — made to take ; āvāse — residence .

Purport

Yameśvara is on the southwest side of the Jagannātha temple. Gadādhara Paṇḍita resided there, and there was a small garden and a sandy beach known as Yameśvara-ṭoṭā.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained at Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala, with Paramānanda Purī, Jagadānanda, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Govinda and Kāśīśvara. It was Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s daily practice to see Lord Jagannātha in the morning.

Word meanings

purī - gosāñi — Paramānanda Purī ; jagadānanda — Jagadānanda ; svarūpa - dāmodara — Svarūpa Dāmodara ; dāmodara - paṇḍita — Dāmodara Paṇḍita ; āra — and ; govinda — Govinda ; kāśīśvara — Kāśīśvara ; ei - saba — all these personalities ; saṅge — accompanied by ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; vaise — stays ; nīlācale — at Jagannātha Purī ; jagannātha - daraśana — seeing Lord Jagannātha ; nitya — daily ; kare — does ; prātaḥ - kāle — in the morning .

Translation

One day Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya came before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with folded hands and submitted a request.

Word meanings

prabhu - pāśa — in the presence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; āsi’ — coming ; sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; eka dina — one day ; yoḍa - hāta kari’ — with folded hands ; kichu — some ; kaila — did ; nivedana — submission .

Translation

Since all the Vaiṣṇavas had returned to Bengal, there was a good chance that the Lord would accept an invitation.

Word meanings

ebe — now ; saba — all ; vaiṣṇava — devotees ; gauḍa - deśe — to Bengal ; cali’ gela — have returned ; ebe — now ; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nimantraṇe — for invitations ; avasara haila — there is a chance .

Translation

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, “Please accept my invitation for lunch for one month.”

Word meanings

ebe — now ; mora ghare — at my place ; bhikṣā — lunch ; karaha — accept ; māsa bhari’ — for one month ; prabhu kahe — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied ; dharma — religious principle ; nahe — it is not ; karite — to do ; nā pāri — I am unable .

Purport

The Lord replied, “That is not possible, because it is against the religious principles of a sannyāsī.”

Translation

Sārvabhauma then said, “Please accept the invitation for twenty days.”

Word meanings

sārvabhauma kahe — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said ; bhikṣā karaha — accept lunch ; biśa dina — for twenty days ; prabhu kahe — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said ; eha nahe — this is not ; yati - dharma - cihna — the symptom of a person in the renounced order of life .

Purport

But Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “It is not a religious principle of the renounced order.”

Translation

When Sārvabhauma requested Caitanya Mahāprabhu to accept lunch for fifteen days, the Lord said, “I shall accept lunch at your place for one day only.”

Word meanings

sārvabhauma kahe — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said ; punaḥ — again ; dina pañca - daśa — fifteen days ; prabhu kahe — the Lord replied ; tomāra bhikṣā — lunch at your place ; eka divasa — only one day .

Translation

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then caught hold of the Lord’s lotus feet and submissively begged, “Please accept lunch for at least ten days.”

Word meanings

tabe — thereafter ; sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; caraṇe dhariyā — catching the lotus feet ; daśa - dina — for ten days ; bhikṣā kara — accept lunch ; kahe — says ; vinati kariyā — with great submission .

Translation

In this way, by and by, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu reduced the duration to five days. Thus for five days He regularly accepted the Bhaṭṭācārya’s invitation to lunch.

Word meanings

prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; krame krame — gradually ; pāṅca - dina — to five days ; ghāṭāila — reduced ; pāñca - dina — for five days ; tāṅra — his ; bhikṣā — invitation for lunch ; niyama karila — accepted regularly .

Translation

After this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, “My Lord, there are ten sannyāsīs with You.”

Word meanings

tabe — thereafter ; sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; kare — does ; āra — another ; nivedana — submission ; tomāra saṅge — with You ; sannyāsī — in the renounced order of life ; āche — there are ; daśa - jana — ten persons .

Purport

A sannyāsī should not cook food for himself or accept an invitation to eat at a devotee’s house continuously for many days. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very kind and affectionate toward His devotees, yet He would not accept a long invitation at Sārvabhauma’s house. Out of affection, He accepted only five days in the month. The ten sannyāsīs living with the Lord were (1) Paramānanda Purī, (2) Svarūpa Dāmodara, (3) Brahmānanda Purī, (4) Brahmānanda Bhāratī, (5) Viṣṇu Purī, (6) Keśava Purī, (7) Kṛṣṇānanda Purī, (8) Nṛsiṁha Tīrtha, (9) Sukhānanda Purī and (10) Satyānanda Bhāratī.

Translation

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then submitted that Paramānanda Purī Gosvāmī would accept a five-day invitation at his place. This had already been settled before the Lord.

Word meanings

purī - gosāñira — of Paramānanda Purī ; bhikṣā — invitation for lunch ; pāṅca - dina — five days ; mora ghare — at my home ; pūrve — previously ; āmi — I ; kahiyāchoṅ — mentioned ; tomāra gocare — it is known to You .

Translation

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, “Dāmodara Svarūpa is my intimate friend. He will come sometimes with You and sometimes alone.

Word meanings

dāmodara - svarūpa — Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī ; ei — this ; bāndhava āmāra — my very intimate friend ; kabhu — sometimes ; tomāra saṅge — with You ; yābe — will come ; kabhu — sometimes ; ekeśvara — alone .

Translation

“The other eight sannyāsīs will accept invitations for two days each. In this way there will be engagements for each and every day during the entire month.

Word meanings

āra — other ; aṣṭa — eight ; sannyāsīra — of sannyāsīs ; bhikṣā — invitation for lunch ; dui dui divase — two days each ; eka eka - dina — on each day ; eka eka jane — one person ; pūrṇa — filled ; ha - ila — will be ; māse — the month .

Purport

During the entire month, consisting of thirty days, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would visit Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya for five days, Paramānanda Purī Gosvāmī would visit for five days, Svarūpa Dāmodara for four days, and the eight other sannyāsīs for two days each. In this way the thirty days of the month would be filled.

Translation

“If all the sannyāsīs came together, it would not be possible for me to pay them proper respects. Therefore I would be an offender.

Word meanings

bahuta sannyāsī — many sannyāsīs ; yadi — if ; āise — come ; eka ṭhāñi — together ; sammāna karite nāri — I cannot receive them properly ; aparādha pāi — I shall be an offender .

Translation

“Sometimes You will come alone to my place, and sometimes You will be accompanied by Svarūpa Dāmodara.”

Word meanings

tumiha — You ; nija - chāye — alone ; āsibe — will come ; mora ghara — to my place ; kabhu — sometimes ; saṅge — with You ; āsibena — will come ; svarūpa - dāmodara — Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī .

Translation

Having this arrangement confirmed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Bhaṭṭācārya became very glad and immediately invited the Lord to his house on that very day.

Word meanings

prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; iṅgita — acceptance ; pāñā — receiving ; ānandita — very happy ; mana — mind ; sei dina — on that day ; mahāprabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kaila — made ; nimantraṇa — invitation .

Translation

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s wife was known as Ṣāṭhīra Mātā, the mother of Ṣāṭhī. She was a great devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and she was affectionate like a mother.

Word meanings

ṣāṭhīra mātā — the mother of Ṣāṭhī ; nāma — named ; bhaṭṭācāryera gṛhiṇī — the wife of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; mahā - bhakta — a great devotee ; teṅho — she ; snehete — in affection ; jananī — just like a mother .

Translation

After returning to his home, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya gave orders to his wife, and his wife, Ṣāṭhīra Mātā, began cooking with great pleasure.

Word meanings

ghare āsi’ — coming home ; bhaṭṭācārya — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; tāṅre — her ; ājñā dila — ordered ; ānande — with great satisfaction ; ṣāṭhīra mātā — the mother of Ṣāṭhī ; pāka caḍāila — began cooking .

Translation

At Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s house, there was always a full stock of food. Whatever spinach, vegetables, fruit and so on were required, he collected and brought back home.

Word meanings

bhaṭṭācāryera gṛhe — at the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; saba dravya — all kinds of ingredients ; āche — there are ; bhari’ — filling ; yebā — whatever ; śāka — spinach ; phala - ādika — fruits and so on ; ānāila — he brought ; āhari’ — collecting .

Translation

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya personally began to help Ṣāṭhīra Mātā cook. She was very experienced, and she knew how to cook nicely.

Word meanings

āpani — personally ; bhaṭṭācārya — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; kare — arranges ; pākera — of cooking ; saba karma — all activities ; ṣāṭhīra mātā — the mother of Ṣāṭhī ; vicakṣaṇā — very experienced ; jāne — knows ; pāka - marma — how to cook .

Translation

On the southern side of the kitchen were two rooms for offering food, and in one of them the food was offered to Śālagrāma Nārāyaṇa.

Word meanings

pāka - śālāra dakṣiṇe — on the southern side of the kitchen ; dui bhoga - ālaya — two rooms for offering food ; eka - ghare — in one room ; śālagrāmera — of Lord Śālagrāma ; bhoga - sevā — offering of food ; haya — there is .

Purport

Among the followers of the Vedic way, the śālagrāma-śilā, the vigraha of Nārāyaṇa, is worshiped in the form of a stone ball. In India, every brāhmaṇa still worships the śālagrāma-śilā in his home. The vaiśyas and kṣatriyas may also engage in this worship, but it is compulsory in the house of a brāhmaṇa.

Translation

The other room was for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s lunch. The Lord’s lunchroom was very secluded, and it was newly constructed by the Bhaṭṭācārya.

Word meanings

āra ghara — the other room ; mahāprabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bhikṣāra lāgiyā — for taking lunch ; nibhṛte kariyāche — constructed in a solitary place ; bhaṭṭa — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; nūtana kariyā — newly done .

Translation

The room was so constructed that there was only one door opening on the outside, which served as an entrance for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. There was another door attached to the kitchen, and it was through this door that the food was brought.

Word meanings

bāhye — outside ; eka dvāra — one door ; tāra — of this room ; prabhu praveśite — for the entrance of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; pāka - śālāra — of the kitchen ; eka dvāra — another door ; anna — food ; pariveśite — to serve .

Translation

First, three mānas of cooked rice — almost six pounds — was poured onto a big banana leaf.

Word meanings

battiśā - āṭhiyā — named battiśā-āṭhiyā ; kalāra — of the banana tree ; āṅgaṭiyā — without being divided ; pāte — on a leaf ; tina — three ; māna — mānas (a certain weight) ; taṇḍulera — of rice ; ubhārila — poured ; bhāte — cooked rice .

Purport

This is the beginning of a description of the food prepared for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This description is given by Kavirāja Gosvāmī, who, it is assumed, was an expert cook who knew both how to prepare and how to serve food.

Translation

Then the whole stack of rice was mixed with so much yellowish and fragrant clarified butter that it began to overflow the leaf.

Word meanings

pīta — yellowish ; su - gandhi — fragrant ; ghṛte — with clarified butter ; anna — rice ; sikta — mixed ; kaila — made ; cāri - dike — on all sides ; pāte — the leaf ; ghṛta — the clarified butter ; vahiyā calila — began to flood .

Translation

There were a number of pots made of the bark of banana trees and the leaves of the keyā plant. These pots were filled with various cooked vegetables and placed on all sides of the leaf.

Word meanings

keyā - patra — the leaf of the keyā plant ; kalā - kholā — the skin of the banana tree ; ḍoṅgā — pots ; sāri sāri — one after another ; cāri - dike — on all sides ; dhariyāche — were holding ; nānā — various ; vyañjana — cooked vegetables ; bhari’ — filled .

Translation

There were about ten kinds of spinach, a soup called sukhta, which was made with bitter nimba leaves, a pungent preparation made with black pepper, a mild cake made of fried curd, and buttermilk mixed with small fried pieces of dhal.

Word meanings

daśa - prakāra śāka — spinach of ten varieties ; nimba - tikta - sukhta - jhola — a soup called sukhta, made with bitter nimba leaf ; maricera jhāla — a pungent preparation made with black pepper ; chānā - baḍā — a mild cake made of fried curd ; baḍi ghola — buttermilk with small pieces of fried dhal .

Translation

There were preparations of dugdha-tumbī, dugdha-kuṣmāṇḍa, vesara, lāphrā, mocā-ghaṇṭa, mocā-bhājā and other vegetables.

Word meanings

dugdha - tumbī — squash cooked with milk ; dugdha - kuṣmāṇḍa — pumpkin cooked with milk ; vesara — a preparation made from chick-pea flour ; lāphrā — a combination of several vegetables ; mocā - ghaṇṭa — boiled banana flowers ; mocā - bhājā — fried banana flowers ; vividha — various ; śākrā — vegetables .

Translation

There were unlimited quantities of vṛddha-kuṣmāṇḍa-baḍī, phula-baḍī, fruits and various roots.

Word meanings

vṛddha - kuṣmāṇḍa - baḍīra — of small pieces of fried dhal mixed with ripe pumpkin ; vyañjana — vegetables ; apāra — unlimited ; phula - baḍī — small fried pieces of another kind of dhal ; phala — fruits ; mūla — roots ; vividha prakāra — of different varieties .

Translation

Other preparations included eggplant mixed with newly grown nimba leaves fried together, light baḍī, fried paṭola and fried rounds of squash and pumpkin.

Word meanings

nava — newly grown ; nimba - patra — nimba leaves ; saha — along with ; bhṛṣṭa - vārtākī — fried eggplant ; phula - baḍī — light baḍī ; paṭola - bhājā — fried paṭola vegetable ; kuṣmāṇḍa — of pumpkin ; māna — of squash ; cākī — rounds .

Translation

There was a soup made with fried urad dhal and mung dhal, defeating nectar. There were also sweet chutney and five or six kinds of sour preparations, beginning with baḍāmla.

Word meanings

bhṛṣṭa — fried ; māṣa — urad dhal ; mudga — mung dhal ; sūpa — soup ; amṛta — nectar ; nindaya — defeating ; madhura - amla — sweet chutney ; baḍa - amla — sour preparation made with fried dhal ; ādi — and so on ; amla — sour ; pāṅca chaya — five or six kinds .

Translation

There were baḍās made of mung dhal, of urad dhal and of sweet bananas, and there were sweet-rice cakes, coconut cakes and various other cakes.

Word meanings

mudga - baḍā — fried cakes made of mung dhal ; māṣa - baḍā — fried cakes made of urad dhal ; kalā - baḍā — fried cakes made of banana ; miṣṭa — very sweet ; kṣīra - puli — cakes made with sweet rice ; nārikela - puli — coconut cake ; āra — and ; yata — varieties of ; piṣṭa — cakes .

Translation

There were kāṅji-baḍā, dugdha-ciḍā, dugdha-laklakī and various cakes that I am unable to describe.

Word meanings

kāṅji - baḍā — cakes made with sour rice-water ; dugdha - ciḍā — sweet rice mixed with milk ; dugdha - laklakī — another preparation of milk and cakes to be licked up ; āra — and ; yata — various types of ; piṭhā — cakes ; kaila — made ; kahite — to describe ; nā śaki — I am not able .

Translation

Sweet rice mixed with ghee was poured into an earthen pot and mixed with cāṅpā-kalā, condensed milk and mango.

Word meanings

ghṛta - sikta parama - anna — sweet rice mixed with ghee ; mṛt - kuṇḍikā bhari’ — filling an earthen pot ; cāṅpā - kalā — a kind of banana ; ghana - dugdha — condensed milk ; āmra — mango pulp ; tāhā — that ; dhari — including .

Translation

Other preparations included a very delicious churned curd and a variety of sandeśa sweetmeats. Indeed, all the various eatables available in Bengal and Orissa were prepared.

Word meanings

rasālā — delicious ; mathita — churned ; dadhi — curd ; sandeśa — a sweetmeat ; apāra — unlimited ; gauḍe — in Bengal ; utkale — in Orissa ; yata — all ; bhakṣyera — of eatables ; prakāra — kinds .

Translation

Thus the Bhaṭṭācārya prepared a great variety of food and spread a fine cloth over a white wooden platform.

Word meanings

śraddhā kari’ — with great respect ; bhaṭṭācārya — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; saba karāila — had them all prepared ; śubhra — white ; pīṭha — a wooden platform ; upari — over ; sūkṣma — fine ; vasana — cloth ; pātila — spread .

Translation

On two sides of the stack of food were pitchers filled with scented cold water. The flowers of the tulasī tree were placed atop the mound of rice.

Word meanings

dui pāśe — on two sides ; su - gandhi — nicely scented ; śītala — cold ; jala - jhāri — pitchers of water ; anna - vyañjana - upari — over the rice and vegetables ; dila — placed ; tulasī - mañjarī — flowers of tulasī. .

Translation

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya also included several types of food that had been offered to Lord Jagannātha. These included sweetballs known as amṛta-guṭikā, sweet rice and cakes. All these were kept separate.

Word meanings

amṛta - guṭikā — the sweet named amṛta-guṭikā ; piṭhā - pānā — cakes and sweet rice ; ānāila — brought ; jagannātha - prasāda — remnants of the food of Lord Jagannātha ; saba — all ; pṛthak dharila — kept separately .

Purport

Although the remnants of food left by Jagannātha were brought into the Bhaṭṭācārya’s house, they were kept separate from the preparations he had made at his home. It sometimes happens that prasādam is mixed with a larger quantity of food and then distributed, but in this case we find that Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya kept the jagannātha-prasādam separate. He kept it aside particularly for the satisfaction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Translation

When everything was ready, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came there alone after finishing His midday duties. He knew the heart of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

Word meanings

hena - kāle — at this time ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; madhyāhna kariyā — finishing His midday duties ; ekale — alone ; āila — came ; tāṅra — of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; hṛdaya — the heart ; jāniyā — knowing .

Translation

After Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya washed the Lord’s feet, the Lord entered the room to take His lunch.

Word meanings

bhaṭṭācārya — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; kaila — performed ; tabe — thereafter ; pāda prakṣālana — washing the feet ; gharera bhitare — within the room ; gelā — entered ; karite bhojana — to take lunch .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was a little astonished to see the gorgeous arrangement, and gesturing, He spoke to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

Word meanings

anna - ādi dekhiyā — seeing the arrangement of food ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; vismita hañā — being astonished ; bhaṭṭācārye kahe — said to the Bhaṭṭācārya ; kichu — some ; bhaṅgi — gesture ; kariyā — making .

Translation

“This is most uncommon! How was this arrangement of rice and vegetables finished within six hours?

Word meanings

alaukika — uncommon ; ei — this ; saba — all ; anna - vyañjana — rice and vegetables ; dui prahara bhitare — within six hours ; kaiche — how ; ha - ila randhana — cooking was finished .

Translation

“Even a hundred men cooking on a hundred stoves could not possibly finish all these preparations within so short a time.

Word meanings

śata culāya — on one hundred stoves ; śata jana — one hundred men ; pāka yadi kare — if engaged in cooking ; tabu — still ; śīghra — so soon ; eta dravya — so many preparations ; rāndhite nā pāre — could not cook .

Translation

“I hope the food has already been offered to Kṛṣṇa, since I see there are tulasī flowers on it.

Word meanings

kṛṣṇera bhoga lāgāñācha — you have offered to Kṛṣṇa ; anumāna kari — I hope ; upare — upon the food ; dekhiye — I see ; yāte — since ; tulasī - mañjarī — flowers of the tulasī tree .

Translation

“You are most fortunate, and your endeavor is successful, for you have offered such wonderful food to Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

bhāgyavān tumi — you are fortunate ; sa - phala — successful ; tomāra — your ; udyoga — endeavor ; rādhā - kṛṣṇe — unto Their Lordships Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa ; lāgāñācha — you offered ; etādṛśa — such ; bhoga — food .

Translation

“The color of the rice is so attractive and its aroma so good that it appears Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa have directly taken it.

Word meanings

annera saurabhya — the fragrance of the cooked rice ; varṇa — color ; ati manorama — very attractive ; rādhā - kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārāṇī ; sākṣāt — directly ; ihāṅ — all this ; kariyāchena bhojana — have eaten .

Translation

“My dear Bhaṭṭācārya, your fortune is very great. How much shall I praise you? I also am very fortunate to be able to take the remnants of this food.

Word meanings

tomāra — your ; bahuta — great ; bhāgya — fortune ; kata — how much ; praśaṁsiba — shall I praise ; āmi — I ; bhāgyavān — fortunate ; ihāra — of this ; avaśeṣa — remnants ; pāba — shall get .

Translation

“Take away Kṛṣṇa’s sitting place and put it aside. Then give Me prasādam on a different plate.”

Word meanings

kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; āsana - pīṭha — the sitting place ; rākhaha — keep aside ; uṭhāñā — raising ; more — unto Me ; prasāda — prasādam ; deha’ — give ; bhinna — separate ; pātrete — on a plate ; kariyā — putting .

Translation

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, “It is not so wonderful, my Lord. Everything has been made possible by the energy and mercy of Him who will eat the food.

Word meanings

bhaṭṭācārya bale — the Bhaṭṭācārya said ; prabhu — my Lord ; nā karaha vismaya — do not become astonished ; yei khābe — whoever shall eat ; tāṅhāra śaktye — by His grace ; bhoga — the food ; siddha haya — has been prepared .

Translation

“My wife and I did not especially exert ourselves in the cooking. He by whose power the food has been prepared knows everything.

Word meanings

udyoga — exertion ; nā chila — there was not ; mora — of me ; gṛhiṇīra — of my wife ; randhane — in cooking ; yāṅra śaktye — by whose potency ; bhoga siddha — the food has been prepared ; sei — He ; tāhā jāne — knows that .

Translation

“Now please sit in this place and take Your lunch.”

Word meanings

eita āsane — on this sitting place ; vasi’ — sitting ; karaha bhojana — take Your lunch ; prabhu kahe — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said ; pūjya — worshipable ; ei — this ; kṛṣṇera āsana — sitting place of Kṛṣṇa .

Purport

Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “This place is worshipable because it was used by Kṛṣṇa.”

According to etiquette, things used by Kṛṣṇa should not be used by anyone else. Similarly, things used by the spiritual master should also not be used by anyone else. That is etiquette. Whatever is used by Kṛṣṇa or the spiritual master is worshipable. In particular, their sitting or eating places should not be used by anyone else. A devotee must be very careful to observe this.

Translation

The Bhaṭṭācārya said, “Both the food and the sitting place are the Lord’s mercy. If You can eat the remnants of the food, what is the offense in Your sitting in this place?”

Word meanings

bhaṭṭa kahe — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said ; anna — food ; pīṭha — sitting place ; samāna — equal ; prasāda — mercy remnants of the Lord ; anna khābe — You will eat the food ; pīṭhe vasite — to sit on the place ; kāhāṅ aparādha — where is the offense .

Translation

Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, “Yes, you have spoken correctly. The śāstras enjoin that the devotee can partake of everything left by Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

prabhu kahe — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied ; bhāla kaile — you have spoken correctly ; śāstra - ājñā haya — there is such an order in the revealed scripture ; kṛṣṇera sakala śeṣa — everything left by Kṛṣṇa ; bhṛtya — the servant ; āsvādaya — partakes of .

Translation

“ ‘My dear Lord, the garlands, scented substances, garments, ornaments and other such things that have been offered to You may later be used by Your servants. By partaking of these things and eating the remnants of food You have left, we will be able to conquer the illusory energy.’ ”

Word meanings

tvayā — by You ; upayukta — used ; srak — flower garlands ; gandha — scented substances like sandalwood pulp ; vāsaḥ — garments ; alaṅkāra — ornaments ; carcitāḥ — being decorated with ; ucchiṣṭa — remnants of food ; bhojinaḥ — eating ; dāsāḥ — servants ; tava — Your ; māyām — illusory energy ; jayema — can conquer over ; hi — certainly .

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.6.46) . In the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, the dancing in ecstasy and the eating of the remnants of food offered to the Lord are very, very important. One may be illiterate or incapable of understanding the philosophy, but if he partakes of these three items, he will certainly be liberated without delay.

This verse was spoken by Uddhava to Lord Kṛṣṇa. This was during the time when the Uddhava-gītā was spoken. At that time there was some disturbance in Dvārakā, and Lord Kṛṣṇa decided to leave the material world and enter the spiritual world. Uddhava could understand the situation, and he talked with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The verse quoted above is an excerpt from their conversation. Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes in this material world are called prakaṭa-līlā (manifested pastimes), and His pastimes in the spiritual world are called aprakaṭa-līlā (unmanifested pastimes). By “unmanifested” we mean that they are not present before our eyes. It is not that Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes are nonexistent. They are going on exactly as the sun is shining perpetually, but when the sun is present before our eyes, we call it daytime (manifest), and when it is not present, we call it night (unmanifest). Those who are above the jurisdiction of night are always in the spiritual world, where the Lord’s pastimes are constantly manifest to them. As the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.37-38) confirms:

ānanda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhāvitābhis tābhir ya eva nija-rūpatayā kalābhiḥ goloka eva nivasaty akhilātma-bhūto govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

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

“I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who resides in His own realm, Goloka, with Rādhā, who resembles His own spiritual figure and who embodies the ecstatic potency [ hlādinī ] . Their companions are Her confidantes, who embody extensions of Her bodily form and who are imbued and permeated with ever-blissful spiritual rasa. I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is Śyāmasundara, Kṛṣṇa Himself, with inconceivable innumerable attributes, whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love.”

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, “There is so much food here that it is impossible to eat it all.”

Word meanings

tathāpi — still ; eteka — so much ; anna — food ; khāona — eating ; nā yāya — is not possible ; bhaṭṭa kahe — the Bhaṭṭācārya said ; jāni — I know ; khāo — You can eat ; yateka — how much ; yuyāya — is possible .

Purport

The Bhaṭṭācārya replied, “I know how much You can eat.

Translation

“After all, at Jagannātha Purī You eat fifty-two times a day, and each time You eat hundreds of buckets filled with prasādam.

Word meanings

nīlācale — at Jagannātha Purī ; bhojana — accepting lunch ; tumi — You ; kara — do ; bāyānna bāra — fifty-two times ; eka eka bhogera — of each and every offering ; anna — eatables ; śata śata bhāra — hundreds of buckets .

Translation

“At Dvārakā, You keep sixteen thousand queens in sixteen thousand palaces. Also, there are eighteen mothers and numerous friends and relatives of the Yadu dynasty.

Word meanings

dvārakāte — at Dvārakā-dhāma ; ṣola - sahasra — sixteen thousand ; mahiṣī — queens ; mandire — palaces ; aṣṭādaśa mātā — eighteen mothers ; āra — and ; yādavera ghare — in the house of the Yadu dynasty .

Translation

“In Vṛndāvana You also have Your father’s elder brothers, Your father’s younger brothers, maternal uncles, husbands of Your father’s sisters and many cowherd men. There are also cowherd boyfriends, and You eat twice a day, morning and evening, in the house of each and every one.

Word meanings

vraje — at Vṛndāvana ; jyeṭhā — the father’s elder brothers ; khuḍā — the father’s younger brothers ; māmā — the mother’s brothers ; pisā — the husbands of aunts ; ādi — and so on ; gopa - gaṇa — cowherd men ; sakhā - vṛnda — hundreds of friends ; sabāra — of all of them ; ghare — in the houses ; dvi - sandhyā — twice a day ; bhojana — eating .

Purport

In Dvārakā, Lord Kṛṣṇa had eighteen mothers — Devakī, Rohiṇī and others. Besides these was His foster mother, Yaśodā, in Vṛndāvana. Lord Kṛṣṇa also had many uncles. As stated by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in his Bṛhat Śrī Śrī Rādhā-kṛṣṇa-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (32), upanando ’bhinandaś ca pitṛvyau pūrva-jau pituḥ: “The elder brothers of Nanda Mahārāja were Upananda and Abhinanda.” Similarly, in the same verse the names of the younger brothers of Nanda Mahārāja are given: pitṛvyau tu kanīyāṁsau syātāṁ sannanda-nandanau. “Sannanda and Nandana [also known as Sunanda and Pāṇḍava] were the younger brothers of Kṛṣṇa’s father, Nanda Mahārāja.” Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s maternal uncles are also described in this book (in verse 46): yaśodhara-yaśodeva-sudevādyās tu mātulāḥ. “Yaśodhara, Yaśodeva and Sudeva were the maternal uncles of Kṛṣṇa.” Also mentioned in the Rādhā-kṛṣṇa-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (38) are Kṛṣṇa’s uncles who were the husbands of Nanda Mahārāja’s sisters: mahānīlaḥ sunīlaś ca ramaṇāv etayoḥ kramāt. “Mahānīla and Sunīla are the husbands of Kṛṣṇa’s aunts.”

Translation

“Indeed,” Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, “at the Govardhana-pūjā ceremony You ate stacks of rice. In comparison to that, this small quantity is not even a morsel for You.

Word meanings

govardhana - yajñe — in the Govardhana-pūjā sacrifice ; anna — food ; khāilā — You ate ; rāśi rāśi — stacks ; tāra — to that ; lekhāya — in comparison ; ei — this ; anna — food ; nahe — not ; eka grāsī — one morsel .

Translation

“You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whereas I am a most insignificant living being. Therefore please accept a little quantity of food from my house.”

Word meanings

tumi — You ; ta’ — certainly ; īśvara — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; muñi — I ; kṣudra jīva — insignificant living being ; chāra — worthless ; eka - grāsa — one small quantity ; mādhu - karī — as collected by the bees ; karaha — please do ; aṅgīkāra — accept .

Purport

A sannyāsī is expected to collect a little food from each and every householder. That is to say, he should take whatever he requires to eat. This system is called mādhukarī. The word mādhukarī comes from the word madhukara and means “honey-collecting bees.” Bees collect a little honey from each flower, but all these small quantities of honey accumulate to become a beehive. Sannyāsīs should collect a little from each and every householder and should eat simply what is necessary to maintain the body. Being a sannyāsī, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu could collect a little food from the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, and this was the Bhaṭṭācārya’s request. Compared to the food eaten by the Lord on other occasions, the Bhaṭṭācārya’s feast was not even a morsel. This is what the Bhaṭṭācārya is pointing out to the Lord.

Translation

Hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu smiled and sat down to eat. The Bhaṭṭācārya, with great pleasure, first offered Him the prasādam from the Jagannātha temple.

Word meanings

eta śuni’ — hearing this ; hāsi’ — smiling ; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; vasilā bhojane — sat down to eat ; jagannāthera — of Lord Jagannātha ; prasāda — remnants of food ; bhaṭṭa — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; dena harṣa - mane — delivers in great happiness .

Translation

At this time the Bhaṭṭācārya had a son-in-law named Amogha, who was the husband of his daughter Ṣāṭhī. Although born in an aristocratic brāhmaṇa family, Amogha was a great faultfinder and blasphemer.

Word meanings

hena - kāle — exactly at this time ; amogha — Amogha ; bhaṭṭācāryera jāmātā — the son-in-law of the Bhaṭṭācārya ; kulīna — of aristocratic birth ; nindaka — blasphemer ; teṅho — he ; ṣāṭhī - kanyāra bhartā — the husband of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s daughter Ṣāṭhī .

Translation

Amogha wanted to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu eat, but he was not allowed to enter. Indeed, the Bhaṭṭācārya guarded the threshold of his house with a stick in his hand.

Word meanings

bhojana — the eating ; dekhite cāhe — he wanted to see ; āsite nā pāre — could not come ; lāṭhi - hāte — with a stick in his hand ; bhaṭṭācārya — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; āchena — was ; duyāre — on the threshold .

Translation

However, as soon as the Bhaṭṭācārya began distributing prasādam and was a little inattentive, Amogha came in. Seeing the quantity of food, he began to blaspheme.

Word meanings

teṅho — he (the Bhaṭṭācārya) ; yadi — when ; prasāda dite — supplying the prasādam ; hailā — became ; āna - mana — inattentive ; amogha — Amogha ; āsi’ — coming ; anna dekhi’ — seeing the food ; karaye nindana — began blaspheming .

Translation

“This much food is sufficient to satisfy ten or twelve men, but this sannyāsī alone is eating so much!”

Word meanings

ei anne — with so much food ; tṛpta haya — can be satisfied ; daśa bāra jana — at least ten to twelve men ; ekelā — alone ; sannyāsī — this person in the renounced order ; kare — does ; eteka — so much ; bhakṣaṇa — eating .

Translation

As soon as Amogha said this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya turned his eyes upon him. Seeing the Bhaṭṭācārya’s attitude, Amogha immediately left.

Word meanings

śunitei — hearing ; bhaṭṭācārya — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; ulaṭi’ cāhila — turned his eyes upon him ; tāṅra — his ; avadhāna — attention ; dekhi’ — seeing ; amogha — Amogha ; palāila — left .

Translation

The Bhaṭṭācārya ran after him to strike him with a stick, but Amogha fled so fast that the Bhaṭṭācārya could not catch him.

Word meanings

bhaṭṭācārya — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; lāṭhi lañā — taking a stick ; mārite — to strike ; dhāila — ran ; palāila — fled ; amogha — Amogha ; tāra — him ; lāga nā pāila — could not catch .

Translation

The Bhaṭṭācārya then began to curse his son-in-law and call him ill names. When the Bhaṭṭācārya returned, he saw that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was laughing to hear him criticize Amogha.

Word meanings

tabe — at that time ; gāli — calling by ill names ; śāpa dite — cursing ; bhaṭṭācārya — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; āilā — came back ; nindā śuni’ — hearing the criticism ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; hāsite lāgilā — began to laugh .

Translation

When Ṣāṭhī’s mother, the Bhaṭṭācārya’s wife, heard of this incident, she immediately began to strike her head and chest, saying again and again, “Let Ṣāṭhī become a widow!”

Word meanings

śuni’ — hearing ; ṣāṭhīra mātā — the mother of Ṣāṭhī ; śire — on the head ; buke — on the chest ; ghāta māre — strikes ; ṣāṭhī rāṇḍī ha - uka — let Ṣāṭhī become a widow ; ihā bale — says this ; bāre bāre — again and again .

Translation

Seeing the lamentation of both husband and wife, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu tried to pacify them. According to their desire, He ate the prasādam and was very satisfied.

Word meanings

duṅhāra duḥkha dekhi’ — seeing the lamentation of both ; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; duṅhā prabodhiyā — pacifying them ; duṅhāra icchāte — by the will of both of them ; bhojana kaila — took His lunch ; tuṣṭa hañā — with great satisfaction .

Translation

After Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu finished eating, the Bhaṭṭācārya poured water for the Lord to wash His mouth, hands and legs and offered Him flavored spices, tulasī-mañjarīs, cloves and cardamom.

Word meanings

ācamana karāñā — providing water for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to wash His mouth, hands and legs ; bhaṭṭa — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; dila mukha - vāsa — gave some flavored spices ; tulasī - mañjarī — the flowers of tulasī ; lavaṅga — cloves ; elāci — cardamom ; rasa - vāsa — that which brings saliva .

Translation

The Bhaṭṭācārya then placed a flower garland over Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and smeared His body with sandalwood pulp. After offering obeisances, the Bhaṭṭācārya submitted the following humble statement.

Word meanings

sarva - aṅge — all over the body ; parāila — put ; prabhura — of the Lord ; mālya - candana — a flower garland and sandalwood pulp ; daṇḍavat hañā — offering obeisances ; bale — says ; sa - dainya — humble ; vacana — statement .

Translation

“I brought You to my home just to have You blasphemed. This is a great offense. Please excuse me. I beg Your pardon.”

Word meanings

nindā karāite — just to cause blasphemy ; tomā — You ; āninu — I brought ; nija - ghare — to my place ; ei aparādha — this offense ; prabhu — my Lord ; kṣamā kara — please pardon ; more — me .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “What Amogha has said is correct; therefore it is not blasphemy. What is your offense?”

Word meanings

prabhu kahe — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said ; nindā nahe — not blasphemy ; sahaja — rightly ; kahila — he spoke ; ihāte — in this ; tomāra — your ; kibā — what ; aparādha — offense ; haila — was there .

Translation

After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left and returned to His residence. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya followed Him.

Word meanings

eta bali’ — saying this ; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; calilā bhavane — returned to His residence ; bhaṭṭācārya — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; tāṅra ghare — to His place ; gelā — went ; tāṅra sane — with Him .

Translation

Falling down at the Lord’s feet, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said many things in self-reproach. The Lord then pacified him and sent him back to his home.

Word meanings

prabhu - pade — at the feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; paḍi’ — falling down ; bahu — much ; ātma - nindā kaila — made self-reproach ; tāṅre — him ; śānta kari’ — making pacified ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; ghare pāṭhāila — sent back to his home .

Translation

After returning to his home, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya consulted with his wife, the mother of Ṣāṭhī. After personally condemning himself, he began to speak as follows.

Word meanings

ghare āsi’ — returning home ; bhaṭṭācārya — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; ṣāṭhīra mātā - sane — with the mother of Ṣāṭhī ; āpanā nindiyā — condemning himself ; kichu — some ; balena vacane — speaks words .

Translation

“If the man who blasphemed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is killed, his sinful action may be atoned.”

Word meanings

caitanya - gosāñira — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nindā — blasphemy ; śunila — I have heard ; yāhā haite — from whom ; tāre vadha kaile — if he is killed ; haya — there is ; pāpa - prāyaścitte — atonement for the sinful act .

Purport

The Hari-bhakti-vilāsa cites the following quotation from the Skanda Purāṇa concerning the blaspheming of a Vaiṣṇava:

yo hi bhāgavataṁ lokam upahāsaṁ nṛpottama karoti tasya naśyanti artha-dharma-yaśaḥ-sutāḥ

nindāṁ kurvanti ye mūḍhā vaiṣṇavānāṁ mahātmanām patanti pitṛbhiḥ sārdhaṁ mahā-raurava-saṁjñite

hanti nindati vai dveṣṭi vaiṣṇavān nābhinandati krudhyate yāti no harṣaṁ darśane patanāni ṣaṭ

In a conversation between Mārkaṇḍeya and Bhagīratha, it is said, “My dear King, one who derides an exalted devotee loses the results of his pious activities, his opulence, his reputation and his sons. Vaiṣṇavas are all great souls. Whoever blasphemes them falls down to the hell known as Mahāraurava, accompanied by his forefathers. Whoever kills or blasphemes a Vaiṣṇava and whoever is envious of a Vaiṣṇava or angry with him, or whoever does not offer him obeisances or feel joy upon seeing him, certainly falls into a hellish condition.”

Also, the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (10.314) gives the following quotation from the Dvārakā-māhātmya:

kara-patraiś ca phālyante su-tīvrair yama-śāsanaiḥ nindāṁ kurvanti ye pāpā vaiṣṇavānāṁ mahātmanām

In a conversation between Prahlāda Mahārāja and Bali Mahārāja, it is said, “Those sinful people who blaspheme Vaiṣṇavas, who are all great souls, are subjected very severely to the punishment offered by Yamarāja.”

In his Bhakti-sandarbha (313), Jīva Gosvāmī quotes this statement concerning the blaspheming of Lord Viṣṇu:

ye nindanti hṛṣīkeśaṁ tad-bhaktaṁ puṇya-rūpiṇam śata-janmārjitaṁ puṇyaṁ teṣāṁ naśyati niścitam

te pacyante mahā-ghore kumbhīpāke bhayānake bhakṣitāḥ kīṭa-saṅghena yāvac candra-divākarau

śrī-viṣṇor avamānanād gurutaraṁ śrī-vaiṣṇavollaṅghanam

tadīya-dūṣaka-janān na paśyet puruṣādhamān taiḥ sārdhaṁ vañcaka-janaiḥ saha-vāsaṁ na kārayet

“ ‘One who criticizes Lord Viṣṇu and His devotees loses all the benefits accrued in a hundred pious births. Such a person rots in the Kumbhīpāka hell and is bitten by worms as long as the sun and moon exist. One should therefore not even see the face of a person who blasphemes Lord Viṣṇu and His devotees. Never try to associate with such persons.’ ”

In his Bhakti-sandarbha (265), Jīva Gosvāmī further quotes from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.74.40) :

nindāṁ bhagavataḥ śṛṇvaṁs tat-parasya janasya vā tato nāpaiti yaḥ so ’pi yāty adhaḥ sukṛtāc cyutaḥ

“ ‘If one does not immediately leave upon hearing the Lord or the Lord’s devotee blasphemed, he falls down from devotional service.’ ” Similarly, Lord Śiva’s wife Satī states in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (4.4.17) :

karṇau pidhāya nirayād yad akalpa īśe dharmāvitary asṛṇibhir nṛbhir asyamāne chindyāt prasahya ruśatīm asatīṁ prabhuś cej jihvām asūn api tato visṛjet sa dharmaḥ

“If one hears an irresponsible person blaspheme the master and controller of religion, he should block his ears and go away if unable to punish him. But if one is able to kill, then one should by force cut out the blasphemer’s tongue and kill the offender, and after that he should give up his own life.”

Translation

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, “Or, if I give up my own life, this sinful action may be atoned. However, neither of these ideas is befitting because both bodies belong to brāhmaṇas.

Word meanings

kimvā — or ; nija - prāṇa — my own life ; yadi — if ; kari vimocana — I give up ; dui — both such actions ; yogya nahe — are not befitting ; dui śarīra — both the bodies ; brāhmaṇa — brāhmaṇas. .

Translation

“Instead, I shall never see the face of that blasphemer. I reject him and give up my relationship with him. I shall never even speak his name.

Word meanings

punaḥ — again ; sei — that ; nindakera — of the blasphemer ; mukha — face ; nā — not ; dekhiba — I shall see ; parityāga — giving up ; kailuṅ — I do ; tāra — his ; nāma — name ; nā — not ; la - iba — I shall speak .

Translation

“Inform my daughter Ṣāṭhī to abandon her relationship with her husband because he has fallen down. When the husband falls down, it is the wife’s duty to relinquish the relationship.

Word meanings

ṣāṭhīre kaha — inform Ṣāṭhī ; tāre chāḍuka — let her give him up ; se ha - ila — he has become ; patita — fallen ; patita ha - ile — when one has fallen ; bhartā — such a husband ; tyajite — to give up ; ucita — is the duty .

Purport

Śrīla Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya considered that if Amogha were killed, the killer would suffer sinful reactions for killing the body of a brāhmaṇa. For the same reason, it would have been undesirable for the Bhaṭṭācārya to commit suicide because he also was a brāhmaṇa. Since neither course could be accepted, the Bhaṭṭācārya decided to give up his relationship with Amogha and never see his face.

As far as killing the body of a brāhmaṇa is concerned, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.7.53) gives the following injunction concerning a brahma-bandhu, a person born of a brāhmaṇa father but devoid of brahminical qualities:

śrī-bhagavān uvāca brahma-bandhur na hantavya ātatāyī vadhār-haṇaḥ

“The Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa said, ‘A brahma-bandhu is not to be killed, but if he is an aggressor, he must be killed.’ ”

Quoting from the smṛti, Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī comments on this quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam:

ātatāyinam āyāntam api vedānta-pāragam jighāṁ santaṁ jighāṁsīyān na tena brahma-hā bhavet

“ ‘An aggressor intent on killing may be a very learned scholar of Vedānta, yet he should be killed because of his envy in killing others. In such a case, it is not sinful to kill a brāhmaṇa. ’ ”

It is also stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.7.57) :

vapanaṁ draviṇādānaṁ sthānān niryāpaṇaṁ tathā eṣa hi brahma-bandhūnāṁ vadho nānyo ’sti daihikaḥ

“Cutting the hair from his head, depriving him of his wealth and driving him from his residence are the prescribed punishments for a brahma-bandhu. There is no injunction for killing the body.”

As far as Ṣāṭhī, the daughter of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, was concerned, she was advised to give up her relationship with her husband. Concerning this, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.5.18) states, na patiś ca sa syān na mocayed yaḥ samupeta-mṛtyum: “One cannot be a husband if he cannot liberate his dependents from inevitable death.” If a person is not in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and is bereft of spiritual power, he cannot protect his wife from the path of repeated birth and death. Consequently such a person cannot be accepted as a husband. A wife should dedicate her life and everything to Kṛṣṇa for further advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If her husband abandons Kṛṣṇa consciousness and she gives up her connection with him, she follows in the footsteps of the dvija-patnīs, the wives of the brāhmaṇas who were engaged in performing sacrifices. The wife is not to be condemned for cutting off such a relationship. In this regard, Śrī Kṛṣṇa assures the dvija-patnīs in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.23.31-32):

patayo nābhyasūyeran pitṛ-bhrātṛ-sutādayaḥ lokāś ca vo mayopetā devā apy anumanvate

na prītaye ’nurāgāya hy aṅga-saṅgo nṛṇām iha tan mano mayi yuñjānā acirān mām avāpsyatha

“My dear dvija-patnīs, rest assured that your husbands will not neglect you on your return, nor will your brothers, sons or fathers refuse to accept you. Because you are My pure devotees, not only your relatives but also people in general, as well as the demigods, will be satisfied with you. Transcendental love for Me does not depend upon bodily connection, but anyone whose mind is always absorbed in Me will surely, very soon, come to Me for My eternal association.”

Translation

“ ‘When a husband is fallen, one’s relationship with him must be given up.’ ”

Word meanings

patim — husband ; ca — and ; patitam — fallen ; tyajet — one should give up .

Purport

This is a quotation from the smṛti-śāstra. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.11.28) :

santuṣṭālolupā dakṣā dharma-jñā priya-satya-vāk apramattā śuciḥ snigdhā patiṁ tv apatitaṁ bhajet

“A wife who is satisfied, who is not greedy, who is expert and knows religious principles, who speaks what is dear and truthful and is not bewildered, and who is always clean and affectionate should be very much devoted to her husband if he is not fallen.”

Translation

That night Amogha, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s son-in-law, fled, and in the morning he immediately fell sick with cholera.

Word meanings

sei rātre — that night ; amogha — the son-in-law of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; kāhāṅ — where ; palāñā gela — fled ; prātaḥ - kāle — in the morning ; tāra — his ; visūcikā - vyādhi — infection of cholera ; haila — there was .

Translation

When the Bhaṭṭācārya heard that Amogha was dying of cholera, he thought, “It is the favor of Providence that He is doing what I want to do.

Word meanings

amogha marena — Amogha is dying ; śuni’ — hearing ; kahe bhaṭṭācārya — the Bhaṭṭācārya said ; sahāya ha - iyā — helping ; daiva — Providence ; kaila — did ; mora — my ; kārya — duty .

Translation

“When one offends the Supreme Personality of Godhead, karma immediately takes effect.” After saying this, he recited two verses from the revealed scripture.

Word meanings

īśvare — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; ta’ — indeed ; aparādha — offense ; phale — brings results ; tata - kṣaṇa — immediately ; eta bali’ — saying this ; paḍe — recites ; dui — two ; śāstrera vacana — quotations from the revealed scriptures .

Translation

“ ‘What we have had to arrange with great endeavor by collecting elephants, horses, chariots and infantry soldiers has already been accomplished by the Gandharvas.’

Word meanings

mahatā — very great ; hi — certainly ; prayatnena — by endeavor ; hasti — elephants ; aśva — horses ; ratha — chariots ; pattibhiḥ — and by infantry soldiers ; asmābhiḥ — by ourselves ; yat — whatever ; anuṣṭheyam — has to be arranged ; gandharvaiḥ — by the Gandharvas ; tat — that ; anuṣṭhitam — done .

Purport

This is a quotation from the Mahābhārata ( Vana-parva 241.15). Bhīmasena made this statement when all the Pāṇḍavas were living in exile in the forest. At that time there was a fight between the Kauravas and the Gandharvas. The Kaurava soldiers were under the command of Karṇa, but the commander-in-chief of the Gandharvas was able to arrest all the Kauravas by virtue of superior military strength. At that time Duryodhana’s ministers and commanders requested Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira to help. After being thus petitioned, Bhīmasena spoke the verse given above, remembering Duryodhana’s former nefarious and atrocious activities against them. Indeed, Bhīmasena felt it very fitting that Duryodhana and his company were arrested. This could have been accomplished by the Pāṇḍavas only with great endeavor.

Translation

“ ‘When a person mistreats great souls, his life span, opulence, reputation, religion, possessions and good fortune are all destroyed.’

Word meanings

āyuḥ — duration of life ; śriyam — opulence ; yaśaḥ — reputation ; dharmam — religion ; lokān — possessions ; āśiṣaḥ — benedictions ; eva — certainly ; ca — and ; hanti — destroys ; śreyāṁsi — good fortune ; sarvāṇi — all ; puṁsaḥ — of a person ; mahat — of great souls ; atikramaḥ — violation .

Purport

This statement ( Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.4.46 ) was made by Śukadeva Gosvāmī to Mahārāja Parīkṣit. This quotation concerns the attempted killing of Kṛṣṇa’s sister (Yogamāyā), who appeared before Kṛṣṇa’s birth as the daughter of mother Yaśodā. This daughter Yogamāyā and Kṛṣṇa were born simultaneously, and Vasudeva replaced Yogamāyā with Kṛṣṇa and took Yogamāyā away. When she was brought to Mathurā and Kaṁsa attempted to kill her, Yogamāyā slipped out of his hands. She could not be killed. She then informed Kaṁsa about the birth of his enemy, Kṛṣṇa, and being thus baffled, Kaṁsa consulted his associates, who were all demons. When this big conspiracy was taking place, this verse was spoken by Śukadeva Gosvāmī. He points out that a demon can lose everything because of his nefarious activities.

The word mahad-atikrama, meaning “envy of Lord Viṣṇu and His devotees,” is significant in this verse. The word mahat indicates a great personality, a devotee or the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Being always engaged in the Lord’s service, the devotees themselves are as great as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The word mahat is also explained by Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.13) :

mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ bhajanty ananya-manaso jñātvā bhūtādim avyayam

“O son of Pṛthā, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.”

Being envious of the Lord and His devotees is not at all auspicious for a demon. By such envy, a demon loses everything considered beneficial.

Translation

At this time, Gopīnātha Ācārya went to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and the Lord asked him about the events taking place in Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s house.

Word meanings

gopīnāthācārya — Gopīnātha Ācārya ; gelā — went ; prabhu - daraśane — to see Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; tāṅre — unto Him ; puchila — inquired ; bhaṭṭācārya - vivaraṇe — the affairs in the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya .

Translation

Gopīnātha Ācārya informed the Lord that both the husband and the wife were fasting and that their son-in-law, Amogha, was dying of cholera.

Word meanings

ācārya kahe — Gopīnātha Ācārya informed ; upavāsa — fasting ; kaila — observed ; dui jana — the two persons ; visūcikā - vyādhite — by the disease of cholera ; amogha — Amogha ; chāḍiche jīvana — is going to die .

Translation

As soon as Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard that Amogha was going to die, He immediately ran to him in great haste. Placing His hand on Amogha’s chest, He spoke as follows.

Word meanings

śuni’ — hearing ; kṛpā - maya — merciful ; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; āilā — came ; dhāñā — running ; amoghere — unto Amogha ; kahe — He says ; tāra — his ; buke — on the chest ; hasta diyā — keeping His hand .

Translation

“The heart of a brāhmaṇa is by nature very clean; therefore it is a proper place for Kṛṣṇa to sit.

Word meanings

sahaje — by nature ; nirmala — without contamination ; ei — this ; brāhmaṇa - hṛdaya — heart of a brāhmaṇa ; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; vasite — to sit down ; ei — this ; yogya - sthāna — proper place ; haya — is .

Translation

“Why have you allowed the caṇḍāla of jealousy to sit here also? In this way you have contaminated a most purified place, your heart.

Word meanings

mātsarya — jealousy ; caṇḍāla — the lowest of men ; kene — why ; ihāṅ — here ; vasāile — you allowed to sit ; parama pavitra — most purified ; sthāna — place ; apavitra — impure ; kaile — you have made .

Translation

“However, due to the association of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, all your contamination is now vanquished. When a person’s heart is cleansed of all contamination, he is able to chant the mahā-mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

sārvabhauma - saṅge — by the association of Sārvabhauma ; tomāra — your ; kaluṣa — contamination ; haila kṣaya — is now vanquished ; kalmaṣa — contamination ; ghucile — when dispelled ; jīva — the living entity ; kṛṣṇa - nāma — the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra ; laya — can chant .

Translation

“Therefore, Amogha, get up and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra! If you do so, Kṛṣṇa will unfailingly bestow mercy upon you.”

Word meanings

uṭhaha — get up ; amogha — Amogha ; tumi — you ; lao — chant ; kṛṣṇa - nāma — the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; acire — very soon ; tomāre — unto you ; kṛpā — mercy ; karibe — will bestow ; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead .

Purport

The Absolute Truth is realized in three phases — impersonal Brahman, Paramātmā and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavān. All of these are one and the same truth, but Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān constitute three different features. Whoever understands Brahman is called a brāhmaṇa, and when a brāhmaṇa engages in the Lord’s devotional service, he is called a Vaiṣṇava. Unless one comes to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his realization of impersonal Brahman is imperfect. A brāhmaṇa can chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra on the platform of nāmābhāsa, but not on the platform of pure vibration. When a brāhmaṇa engages in the Lord’s service, fully understanding his eternal relationship, his devotional service is called abhidheya. When one attains that stage, he is called a bhāgavata, or Vaiṣṇava. This indicates that he is free from contamination and material attachment. Lord Kṛṣṇa confirms this in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.28) :

yeṣāṁ tv anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām te dvandva-moha-nirmuktā bhajante māṁ dṛḍha-vratāḥ

“Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life and whose sinful actions are completely eradicated are freed from the duality of delusion, and they engage themselves in My service with determination.”

A brāhmaṇa may be a very learned scholar, but this does not mean that he is free from material contamination. A brāhmaṇa’s contamination, however, is in the mode of goodness. In the material world, the three modes are goodness, passion and ignorance, and all of these are simply different gradations of contamination. Unless a brāhmaṇa transcends such contamination and approaches the platform of unalloyed devotional service, he cannot be accepted as a Vaiṣṇava. An impersonalist may be aware of the impersonal Brahman feature of the Absolute Truth, but his activities are on the impersonal platform. Sometimes he imagines a form of the Lord ( saguṇa-upāsanā ), but such an attempt is never successful in helping one attain complete realization. The impersonalist may consider himself a brāhmaṇa and may be situated in the mode of goodness, but nonetheless he is conditioned by one of the modes of material nature. This means that he is not yet liberated, for liberation cannot be attained unless one is completely free from the modes. In any case, the Māyāvāda philosophy keeps one conditioned. If one becomes a Vaiṣṇava through proper initiation, he automatically becomes a brāhmaṇa. There is no doubt about it. The Garuḍa Purāṇa confirms this:

brāhmaṇānāṁ sahasrebhyaḥ satra-yājī viśiṣyate satra-yāji-sahasrebhyaḥ sarva-vedānta-pāragaḥ sarva-vedānta-vit-koṭyā viṣṇu-bhakto viśiṣyate

“Out of many thousands of brāhmaṇas, one may become qualified to perform yajña. Out of many thousands of such qualified brāhmaṇas, one may be fully aware of the Vedānta philosophy. Out of many millions of learned Vedānta scholars, there may be one viṣṇu-bhakta, or devotee of Lord Viṣṇu. It is he who is most exalted.”

Unless one is a fully qualified brāhmaṇa, he cannot advance in the spiritual science. A real brāhmaṇa is never envious of Vaiṣṇavas. If he is, he is considered an imperfect neophyte. Impersonalist brāhmaṇas are always opposed to Vaiṣṇava principles. They are envious of Vaiṣṇavas because they do not know the goal of life. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum. However, when a brāhmaṇa becomes a Vaiṣṇava, there is no duality. If a brāhmaṇa does not become a Vaiṣṇava, he certainly falls down from the brāhmaṇa platform. This is confirmed by Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.3) : na bhajanty avajānanti sthānād bhraṣṭāḥ patanty adhaḥ.

We can actually see that in this Age of Kali many so-called brāhmaṇas are envious of Vaiṣṇavas. The Kali-contaminated brāhmaṇas consider Deity worship to be imaginative: arcye viṣṇau śilā-dhīr guruṣu nara-matir vaiṣṇave jāti-buddhiḥ. Such a contaminated brāhmaṇa may superficially imagine a form of the Lord, but actually he considers the Deity in the temple to be made of stone or wood. Similarly, such a contaminated brāhmaṇa considers the guru to be an ordinary human being, and he objects when a Vaiṣṇava is created by the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Many so-called brāhmaṇas attempt to fight us, saying, “How can you create a brāhmaṇa out of a European or American? A brāhmaṇa can be born only in a brāhmaṇa family.” They do not consider that this is never stated in any revealed scripture. Lord Kṛṣṇa specifically states in the Bhagavad-gītā (4.13) , cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ: “According to the three modes of material nature and the work associated with them, the four divisions of human society are created by Me.”

Thus a brāhmaṇa is not a result of the caste system. He becomes a brāhmaṇa only by qualification. Similarly, a Vaiṣṇava does not belong to a particular caste; rather, his designation is determined by the rendering of devotional service.

Translation

After hearing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and being touched by Him, Amogha, who was on his deathbed, immediately stood up and began to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Thus he became mad with ecstatic love and began to dance emotionally.

Word meanings

śuni’ — hearing ; kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa — the holy name of Kṛṣṇa ; bali’ — speaking ; amogha uṭhilā — Amogha stood up ; premonmāde — in ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa ; matta hañā — becoming maddened ; nācite lāgilā — began to dance .

Translation

While Amogha danced in ecstatic love, he manifested all the ecstatic symptoms — trembling, tears, jubilation, trance, perspiration and a faltering voice. Seeing these waves of ecstatic emotion, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to laugh.

Word meanings

kampa — trembling ; aśru — tears ; pulaka — jubilation ; stambha — being stunned ; sveda — perspiration ; svara - bhaṅga — faltering of the voice ; prabhu hāse — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to laugh ; dekhi’ — seeing ; tāra — Amogha’s ; premera taraṅga — waves of ecstatic love .

Translation

Amogha then fell before the Lord’s lotus feet and submissively said, “O merciful Lord, please excuse my offense.”

Word meanings

prabhura caraṇe — the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; dhari’ — catching ; karaye — does ; vinaya — submission ; aparādha — offense ; kṣama — kindly excuse ; more — me ; prabhu — O Lord ; dayā - maya — merciful .

Translation

Not only did Amogha beg the Lord’s pardon, but he also began slapping his own cheeks, saying, “By this mouth I have blasphemed You.”

Word meanings

ei chāra mukhe — in this abominable mouth ; tomāra — Your ; karinu — I did ; nindane — blaspheming ; eta bali’ — saying this ; āpana — his own ; gāle — cheeks ; caḍāya — he slapped ; āpane — himself .

Translation

Indeed, Amogha continued slapping his face over and over until his cheeks were swollen. Finally Gopīnātha Ācārya stopped him by catching hold of his hands.

Word meanings

caḍāite caḍāite — slapping over and over again ; gāla — the cheeks ; phulāila — he made them swollen ; hāte dhari’ — catching his hands ; gopīnātha - ācārya — Gopīnātha Ācārya ; niṣedhila — forbade .

Translation

After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu pacified Amogha by touching his body and saying, “You are the object of My affection because you are the son-in-law of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

Word meanings

prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; āśvāsana kare — pacifies ; sparśi’ — touching ; tāra — his ; gātra — body ; sārvabhauma - sambandhe — because of a relation to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; tumi — you ; mora — My ; sneha - pātra — object of affection .

Translation

“Everyone in Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s house is very dear to Me, including his maids and servants and even his dog. And what to speak of his relatives?

Word meanings

sārvabhauma - gṛhe — at the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; dāsa - dāsī — servants and maidservants ; ye kukkura — even a dog ; seha — all of them ; mora — to Me ; priya — very dear ; anya jana — others ; rahu dūra — what to speak of .

Translation

“Amogha, always chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and do not commit any further offenses.” After giving Amogha this instruction, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Sārvabhauma’s house.

Word meanings

aparādha’ nāhi — do not commit offenses ; sadā — always ; lao — chant ; kṛṣṇa - nāma — the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra ; eta bali’ — saying this ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; āilā — came ; sārvabhauma - sthāna — to the place of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya .

Translation

Upon seeing the Lord, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya immediately caught hold of His lotus feet. The Lord embraced him and then sat down.

Word meanings

prabhu dekhi’ — seeing Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; dharilā caraṇe — caught hold of His feet ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; tāṅre — him ; āliṅgiyā — embracing ; vasilā āsane — sat down on the seat .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu pacified Sārvabhauma, saying, “After all, Amogha, your son-in-law, is a child. So what is his fault? Why are you fasting, and why are you angry?

Word meanings

prabhu kahe — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said ; amogha śiśu — Amogha is a child ; kibā — what ; tāra doṣa — his fault ; kene — why ; upavāsa kara — are you fasting ; kene — why ; kara roṣa — are you angry .

Translation

“Just get up and take your bath and go see the face of Lord Jagannātha. Then return here to eat your lunch. In this way I shall be happy.

Word meanings

uṭha — get up ; snāna kara — take your bath ; dekha — see ; jagannātha - mukha — Lord Jagannātha’s face ; śīghra āsi — coming back very soon ; bhojana kara — take your lunch ; tabe mora sukha — then I shall be very happy .

Translation

“I shall stay here until you return to take Lord Jagannātha’s remnants for your lunch.”

Word meanings

tāvat — as long as ; rahiba — shall stay ; āmi — I ; ethāya — here ; vasiyā — sitting ; yāvat — as long as ; nā khāibe — will not eat ; tumi — you ; prasāda — remnants of the food of Jagannātha ; āsiyā — coming here .

Translation

Catching hold of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s lotus feet, the Bhaṭṭācārya said, “Why did You bring Amogha back to life? It would have been better had he died.”

Word meanings

prabhu - pada — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s lotus feet ; dhari’ — catching hold of ; bhaṭṭa — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; kahite lāgilā — began to speak ; marita’ amogha — Amogha would have died ; tāre — him ; kene — why ; jīyāilā — have You brought to life .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Amogha is a child and your son. The father does not take the faults of his son seriously, especially when he is maintaining him.

Word meanings

prabhu kahe — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said ; amogha śiśu — Amogha is a child ; tomāra bālaka — your son ; bālaka - doṣa — the offense of a child ; nā laya — does not accept ; pitā — the father ; tāhāte — unto him ; pālaka — the maintainer .

Translation

“Now that he has become a Vaiṣṇava, he is offenseless. You can bestow your mercy upon him without hesitation.”

Word meanings

ebe — now ; vaiṣṇava haila — has become a Vaiṣṇava ; tāra — his ; gela — went away ; aparādha — offenses ; tāhāra upare — upon him ; ebe — now ; karaha prasāda — show mercy .

Translation

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, “Please go, my Lord, to see Lord Jagannātha. After taking my bath, I shall go there and then return.”

Word meanings

bhaṭṭa kahe — the Bhaṭṭācārya said ; cala — go ; prabhu — my Lord ; īśvara - daraśane — to see Lord Jagannātha, the Personality of Godhead ; snāna kari’ — taking my bath ; tāṅhā — there ; muñi — I ; āsichoṅ — shall come back ; ekhane — here .

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told Gopīnātha, “Stay here and inform Me when Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya has taken his prasādam.”

Word meanings

prabhu kahe — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said ; gopīnātha — Gopīnātha ; ihāñi rahibā — please stay here ; iṅho — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; prasāda pāile — when he takes his lunch ; vārtā — the news ; āmāke kahibā — inform Me .

Translation

After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to see Lord Jagannātha. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya completed his bath, went to see Lord Jagannātha and then returned to his house to accept food.

Word meanings

eta bali’ — saying this ; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; gelā — went ; īśvara - daraśane — to see Lord Jagannātha ; bhaṭṭa — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; snāna darśana kari’ — finishing his bathing and seeing of Lord Jagannātha ; karilā bhojane — accepted food .

Translation

Thereafter, Amogha became an unalloyed devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He danced in ecstasy and peacefully chanted the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

sei amogha — that same Amogha ; haila — became ; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bhakta — devotee ; ekānta — unflinching ; preme nāce — dances in ecstasy ; kṛṣṇa - nāma laya — chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra ; mahā - śānta — very peaceful .

Translation

In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed His various pastimes. Whoever sees them or hears them recounted becomes truly astonished.

Word meanings

aiche — in this way ; citra - līlā — varieties of pastimes ; kare — performs ; śacīra nandana — the son of mother Śacī ; yei dekhe — anyone who sees ; śune — hears ; tāṅra — his ; vismaya — astonished ; haya — becomes ; mana — mind .

Translation

Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu enjoyed eating in Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s house. Within that one pastime, many wonderful pastimes were manifested.

Word meanings

aiche — in this way ; bhaṭṭa - gṛhe — in the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; kare — performs ; bhojana - vilāsa — pastime of eating ; tāra madhye — within that pastime ; nānā — various ; citra - caritra — of varieties of activities ; prakāśa — manifestation .

Translation

These are the peculiar characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pastimes. Thus the Lord ate in Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s house, and in this way Sārvabhauma’s love for the Lord has become very well known.

Word meanings

sārvabhauma - ghare — in the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; ei — these ; bhojana - carita — eating affairs ; sārvabhauma - prema — love of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya ; yāṅhā — where ; ha - ilā — became ; vidita — well known .

Purport

As stated in the Śākhā-nirṇayāmṛta:

amogha-paṇḍitaṁ vande śrī-gaureṇātma-sātkṛtam prema-gadgada-sāndrāṅgaṁ pulakākula-vigraham

“I offer my obeisances unto Amogha Paṇḍita, who was accepted by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. As a result of this acceptance, he was always merged in ecstatic love, and he manifested ecstatic symptoms such as choking of the voice and standing of the hairs on his body.”

Translation

Thus I have related the ecstatic love of Sārvabhauma’s wife, who is known as the mother of Ṣāṭhī. I have also related Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s great mercy, which He manifested by excusing Amogha’s offense. He did so due to Amogha’s relationship with a devotee.

Word meanings

ṣāṭhīra mātāra prema — the love of the mother of Ṣāṭhī ; āra — and ; prabhura prasāda — the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; bhakta - sambandhe — because of a relationship with a devotee ; yāhā — where ; kṣamila aparādha — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu excused the offense .

Purport

Amogha was an offender because he blasphemed the Lord. As a result, he was about to die of cholera. Amogha did not receive an opportunity to be freed from all offenses after being attacked by the disease, but Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and his wife were very dear to the Lord. Because of their relationship, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu excused Amogha. Instead of being punished by the Lord, he was saved by the Lord’s mercy. All this was due to the unflinching love of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Externally, Amogha was Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s son-in-law, and he was being maintained by Sārvabhauma. Consequently if Amogha were not excused, his punishment would have directly affected Sārvabhauma. Amogha’s death would have indirectly brought about the death of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

Translation

Whoever hears these pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with faith and love will attain the shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet very soon.

Word meanings

śraddhā kari’ — with faith and love ; ei līlā — this pastime ; śune — hears ; yei jana — whoever ; acirāt — very soon ; pāya — attains ; sei — he ; caitanya - caraṇa — the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya .

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 — Śrī 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, fifteenth chapter, describing the Lord’s eating at the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.