CHAPTER SEVEN
The Meeting of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Vallabha Bhaṭṭa
The following summary of chapter seven is given by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya. In this chapter, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s meeting with Vallabha Bhaṭṭa is described. There was some joking behavior between these two personalities, and finally Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu corrected Vallabha Bhaṭṭa and sympathetically accepted an invitation from him. Before this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw that Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was greatly attached to Gadādhara Paṇḍita. Therefore He acted as if displeased with Gadādhara Paṇḍita. Later, when Vallabha Bhaṭṭa became intimately connected with the Lord, the Lord advised him to take instructions from Gadādhara Paṇḍita. Thus the Lord expressed His feelings of love for Gadādhara Paṇḍita.
Text
makaranda-liho bhaje
yeṣāṁ prasāda-mātreṇa
pāmaro ’py amaro bhavet
Synonyms
Translation
Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Simply by the causeless mercy of the devotees engaged in licking honey from His lotus feet, even a fallen soul becomes eternally liberated.
Text
jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda
Synonyms
Translation
All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!
Text
pūrvavat mahāprabhu sabāre mililā
Synonyms
Translation
The next year, all the devotees of Bengal went to visit Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and as previously, the Lord met each and every one of them.
Text
hena-kāle vallabha-bhaṭṭa milila āsiyā
Synonyms
Translation
Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed His pastimes with His devotees. Then a learned scholar named Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went to Jagannātha Purī to meet the Lord.
Purport
For a description of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, one may refer to Madhya-līlā, chapter nineteen, text 61.
Text
prabhu ‘bhāgavata-buddhye’ kailā āliṅgane
Synonyms
Translation
When Vallabha Bhaṭṭa arrived, he offered his obeisances at the lotus feet of the Lord. Accepting him as a great devotee, the Lord embraced him.
Text
vinaya kariyā bhaṭṭa kahite lāgilā
Synonyms
Translation
With great respect, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu seated Vallabha Bhaṭṭa near Him. Then Vallabha Bhaṭṭa very humbly began to speak.
Text
jagannātha pūrṇa kailā, dekhiluṅ tomāre
Synonyms
Translation
“For a long time,” he said, “I have desired to see You, my Lord. Now Lord Jagannātha has fulfilled this desire; therefore I am seeing You.
Text
tomāke dekhiye, — yena sākṣāt bhagavān
Synonyms
Translation
“One who receives Your audience is fortunate indeed, for You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.
Text
darśane pavitra habe, — ithe ki vicitra?
Synonyms
Translation
“Since one who remembers You is purified, why should it be astonishing that one becomes purified by seeing You?
Text
sadyaḥ śudhyanti vai gṛhāḥ
kiṁ punar darśana-sparśa-
pāda-śaucāsanādibhiḥ
Synonyms
yeṣām — of whom; saṁsmaraṇāt — by remembrance; puṁsām — of persons; sadyaḥ — immediately; śudhyanti — become purified; vai — certainly; gṛhāḥ — the houses; kim punaḥ — what to speak of; darśana — by seeing; sparśa — touching; pāda-śauca — washing the feet; āsana-ādibhiḥ — by offering a seat and so on.
Translation
“ ‘One can immediately purify his entire house simply by remembering exalted personalities, to say nothing of directly seeing them, touching their lotus feet, washing their feet or offering them places to sit.’
Purport
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.19.33).
Text
kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nahe tāra pravartana
Synonyms
Translation
“The fundamental religious system in the Age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Unless empowered by Kṛṣṇa, one cannot propagate the saṅkīrtana movement.
Text
kṛṣṇa-śakti dhara tumi, — ithe nāhi āna
Synonyms
Translation
“You have spread the saṅkīrtana movement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore it is evident that You have been empowered by Lord Kṛṣṇa. There is no question about it.
Purport
Śrī Madhvācārya has brought our attention to this quotation from the Nārāyaṇa-saṁhitā:
kalau tu nāma-mātreṇa pūjyate bhagavān hariḥ
“In the Dvāpara-yuga one could satisfy Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu only by worshiping opulently according to the pāñcarātrikī system, but in the Age of Kali one can satisfy and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari simply by chanting His holy name.” Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains that unless one is directly empowered by the causeless mercy of Kṛṣṇa, one cannot become the spiritual master of the entire world (jagad-guru). One cannot become an ācārya simply by mental speculation. The true ācārya presents Kṛṣṇa to everyone by preaching the holy name of the Lord throughout the world. Thus the conditioned souls, purified by chanting the holy name, are liberated from the blazing fire of material existence. In this way, spiritual benefit grows increasingly full, like the waxing moon in the sky. The true ācārya, the spiritual master of the entire world, must be considered an incarnation of Kṛṣṇa’s mercy. Indeed, he is personally embracing Kṛṣṇa. He is therefore the spiritual master of all the varṇas (brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra) and all the āśramas (brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa). Since he is understood to be the most advanced devotee, he is called paramahaṁsa-ṭhākura. Ṭhākura is a title of honor offered to the paramahaṁsa. Therefore one who acts as an ācārya, directly presenting Lord Kṛṣṇa by spreading His name and fame, is also to be called paramahaṁsa-ṭhākura.
Text
yei tomā dekhe, sei kṛṣṇa-preme bhāse
Synonyms
Translation
“You have manifested the holy name of Kṛṣṇa throughout the entire world. Anyone who sees You is immediately absorbed in ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa.
Text
‘kṛṣṇa’ — eka prema-dātā, śāstra-pramāṇe
Synonyms
Translation
“Without being especially empowered by Kṛṣṇa, one cannot manifest ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa, for Kṛṣṇa is the only one who gives ecstatic love. That is the verdict of all revealed scriptures.
Text
kṛṣṇād anyaḥ ko vā latāsv api prema-do bhavati”
Synonyms
santu — let there be; avatārāḥ — incarnations; bahavaḥ — many; puṣkara-nābhasya — of the Lord, from whose navel grows a lotus flower; sarvataḥ bhadrāḥ — completely auspicious; kṛṣṇāt — than Lord Kṛṣṇa; anyaḥ — other; kaḥ vā — who possibly; latāsu — on the surrendered souls; api — also; prema-daḥ — the bestower of love; bhavati — is.
Translation
“ ‘There may be many all-auspicious incarnations of the Personality of Godhead, but who other than Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa can bestow love of God upon the surrendered souls?’ ”
Purport
This is a verse written by Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura. It is quoted by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in his Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta (1.5.37).
Text
māyāvādī sannyāsī āmi, nā jāni kṛṣṇa-bhakti
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “My dear Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, you are a learned scholar. Kindly listen to Me. I am a sannyāsī of the Māyāvāda school. Therefore I have no chance of knowing what kṛṣṇa-bhakti is.
Text
tāṅra saṅge āmāra mana ha-ila nirmala
Synonyms
Translation
“Nevertheless, My mind has become purified because I have associated with Advaita Ācārya, who is directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Text
ataeva ‘advaita-ācārya’ tāṅra nāma
Synonyms
Translation
“He is unparalleled in His understanding of all the revealed scriptures and the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore He is called Advaita Ācārya.
Text
ke kahite pāre tāṅra vaiṣṇavatā-śakti?
Synonyms
Translation
“He is such a great personality that by His mercy He can convert even the meat-eaters [mlecchas] to the devotional service of Kṛṣṇa. Who, therefore, can estimate the power of His Vaiṣṇavism?
Purport
It is extremely difficult to convert a mleccha, or meat-eater, into a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore anyone who can do so is situated on the highest level of Vaiṣṇavism.
Text
bhāvonmāde matta kṛṣṇa-premera sāgara
Synonyms
Translation
“Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, the avadhūta, is also directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is always intoxicated with the madness of ecstatic love. Indeed, He is an ocean of love of Kṛṣṇa.
Text
ṣaḍ-darśane jagad-guru bhāgavatottama
Synonyms
Translation
“Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya perfectly knows the six philosophical theses. He is therefore the spiritual master of the entire world in teaching the six paths of philosophy. He is the best of devotees.
Text
tāṅra prasāde jāniluṅ ‘kṛṣṇa-bhakti-yoga’ sāra
Synonyms
Translation
“Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya has shown Me the limit of devotional service. Only by his mercy have I understood that devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is the essence of all mystic yoga.
Text
teṅha jānāilā — kṛṣṇa — svayaṁ bhagavān
Synonyms
Translation
“Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya is the ultimate knower of the transcendental mellows of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service. He has instructed Me that Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Text
rāga-mārge prema-bhakti ‘sarvādhika’ jāni
Synonyms
Translation
“Through the mercy of Rāmānanda Rāya, I have understood that ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa is the highest goal of life and that spontaneous love of Kṛṣṇa is the highest perfection.
Purport
Puruṣārtha (“the goal of life”) generally refers to religion, economic development, satisfaction of the senses and, finally, liberation. However, above these four kinds of puruṣārthas, love of Godhead stands supreme. It is called parama-puruṣārtha (the supreme goal of life) or puruṣārtha-śiromaṇi (the most exalted of all puruṣārthas). Lord Kṛṣṇa is worshiped by regulative devotional service, but the highest perfection of devotional service is spontaneous love of Godhead.
Text
dāsa, sakhā, guru, kāntā, — ‘āśraya’ yāhāra
Synonyms
Translation
“The servant, friend, superior and conjugal lover are the shelters of the transcendental mellows called dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and śṛṅgāra.
Text
aiśvarya-jñāne nā pāi vrajendra-kumāra
Synonyms
Translation
“There are two kinds of emotion [bhāva]. Emotion with an understanding of the Lord’s full opulences is called aiśvarya-jñāna-yukta, and pure, uncontaminated emotion is called kevala. One cannot achieve shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, simply by knowing His opulences.
Purport
Vide Madhya-līlā, chapter nineteen, text 192.
Text
dehināṁ gopikā-sutaḥ
jñānināṁ cātma-bhūtānāṁ
yathā bhakti-matām iha
Synonyms
na — not; ayam — this Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; sukha-āpaḥ — easily available; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; dehinām — for materialistic persons who have accepted the body as the self; gopikā-sutaḥ — the son of mother Yaśodā; jñāninām — for persons addicted to mental speculation; ca — and; ātma-bhūtānām — for persons performing severe austerities and penances or for personal associates; yathā — as; bhakti-matām — for persons engaged in spontaneous devotional service; iha — in this world.
Translation
“ ‘The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the son of mother Yaśodā, is accessible to those devotees engaged in spontaneous loving service, but He is not as easily accessible to mental speculators, to those striving for self-realization by severe austerities and penances, or to those who consider the body the same as the self.’
Purport
This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.9.21).
Text
aiśvarya-jñāne lakṣmī nā pāilā vrajendra-nandana
Synonyms
Translation
“The word ‘ātma-bhūta’ means ‘personal associates.’ Through the understanding of the Lord’s opulence, the goddess of fortune could not receive the shelter of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja.
Purport
Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, has complete knowledge of Kṛṣṇa’s opulences, but she could not achieve the association of Kṛṣṇa by dint of such knowledge. The devotees in Vṛndāvana, however, actually enjoy the association of Kṛṣṇa.
Text
svar-yoṣitāṁ nalina-gandha-rucāṁ kuto ’nyāḥ
rāsotsave ’sya bhuja-daṇḍa-gṛhīta-kaṇṭha-
labdhāśiṣāṁ ya udagād vraja-sundarīṇām
Synonyms
na — not; ayam — this; śriyaḥ — of the goddess of fortune; aṅge — on the chest; u — alas; nitānta-rateḥ — who is very intimately related; prasādaḥ — the favor; svaḥ — of the heavenly planets; yoṣitām — of women; nalina — of the lotus flower; gandha — having the aroma; rucām — and bodily luster; kutaḥ — much less; anyāḥ — others; rāsa-utsave — in the festival of the rāsa dance; asya — of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; bhuja-daṇḍa — by the arms; gṛhīta — embraced; kaṇṭha — their necks; labdha-āśiṣām — who achieved such a blessing; yaḥ — which; udagāt — became manifest; vraja-sundarīṇām — of the beautiful gopīs, the transcendental girls of Vrajabhūmi.
Translation
“ ‘When Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was dancing with the gopīs in the rāsa-līlā, the gopīs were embraced around the neck by the Lord’s arms. This transcendental favor was never bestowed upon the goddess of fortune or the other consorts in the spiritual world. Nor was such a thing ever imagined by the most beautiful girls in the heavenly planets, girls whose bodily luster and aroma resemble the beauty and fragrance of lotus flowers. And what to speak of worldly women, who may be very, very beautiful according to material estimation?’
Purport
This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.47.60).
Text
śuddha-bhāve vrajeśvarī karena bandhana
Synonyms
Translation
“In pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness, a friend mounts the shoulder of Kṛṣṇa, and mother Yaśodā binds the Lord.
Purport
Śuddha-bhāva, pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness, is not dependent on an understanding of the Lord’s opulences. Even without such opulences, the devotee in śuddha-bhāva is inclined to love Kṛṣṇa as a friend or son.
Text
ataeva śuka-vyāsa kare praśaṁsana
Synonyms
Translation
“In pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness, without knowledge of the Lord’s opulences, a devotee considers Kṛṣṇa his friend or son. Therefore this devotional attitude is praised even by Śukadeva Gosvāmī and Vyāsadeva, the supreme authority.
Text
dāsyaṁ gatānāṁ para-daivatena
māyāśritānāṁ nara-dārakeṇa
sākaṁ vijahruḥ kṛta-puṇya-puñjāḥ
Synonyms
ittham — in this way; satām — of persons who prefer the impersonal feature of the Lord; brahma — of the impersonal effulgence; sukha — by the happiness; anubhūtyā — who is realized; dāsyam — the mode of servitude; gatānām — of those who have accepted; para-daivatena — who is the supreme worshipable Deity; māyā-āśritānām — for ordinary persons under the clutches of the external energy; nara-dārakeṇa — with Him, who is like a boy of this material world; sākam — in friendship; vijahruḥ — played; kṛta-puṇya-puñjāḥ — those who have accumulated volumes of pious activities.
Translation
“ ‘Neither those who are engaged in self-realization, appreciating the Brahman effulgence of the Lord, nor those engaged in devotional service while accepting the Supreme Personality of Godhead as master, nor those who are under the clutches of Māyā, thinking the Lord an ordinary person, can understand that certain exalted personalities, after accumulating volumes of pious activities, are now playing with the Lord in friendship as cowherd boys.’
Purport
This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.12.11).
Text
sāṅkhya-yogaiś ca sātvataiḥ
upagīyamāna-māhātmyaṁ
hariṁ sāmanyatātmajam
Synonyms
trayyā — by followers of the three Vedas who perform great sacrifices like those performed for Indra and other demigods; ca — also; upaniṣadbhiḥ — by the followers of the Upaniṣads, the topmost portion of Vedic knowledge; ca — also; sāṅkhya — by the philosophers who analytically study the universe; yogaiḥ — by mystic yogīs; ca — and; sātvataiḥ — by devotees who follow the method of worship mentioned in the Pañcarātra and other Vedic literatures; upagīyamāna — being sung; māhātmyam — whose glories; harim — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sā — she, mother Yaśodā; amanyata — considered; ātma-jam — her own son, born out of her body.
Translation
“ ‘When mother Yaśodā saw all the universes within Kṛṣṇa’s mouth, she was astonished for the time being. The Lord is worshiped like Indra and other demigods by the followers of the three Vedas, who offer Him sacrifices. He is worshiped as impersonal Brahman by saintly persons who understand His greatness through studying the Upaniṣads, as the puruṣa by great philosophers who analytically study the universe, as the all-pervading Supersoul by great yogīs, and as the Supreme Personality of Godhead by devotees. Nevertheless, mother Yaśodā considered the Lord her own son.’
Purport
This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.8.45).
Text
śreya evaṁ mahodayam
yaśodā vā mahā-bhāgā
papau yasyāḥ stanaṁ hariḥ
Synonyms
nandaḥ — Nanda Mahārāja; kim — what; akarot — has performed; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; śreyaḥ — auspicious activities; evam — thus; mahā-udayam — rising to such an exalted position as the father of Kṛṣṇa; yaśodā — mother Yaśodā; vā — or; mahā-bhāgā — most fortunate; papau — drank; yasyāḥ — of whom; stanam — the breasts; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Translation
“ ‘O brāhmaṇa, what pious activities did Nanda Mahārāja perform to receive the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa as his son? And what pious activities did mother Yaśodā perform that made the Absolute Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa call her “Mother” and suck her breasts?’
Purport
This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.8.46).
Text
ataeva aiśvarya ha-ite ‘kevala’-bhāva pradhāna
Synonyms
Translation
“Even if a pure devotee sees the opulence of Kṛṣṇa, he does not accept it. Therefore pure consciousness is more exalted than consciousness of the Lord’s opulence.
Text
anargala rasa-vettā prema-sukhānanda
Synonyms
Translation
“Rāmānanda Rāya is extremely aware of transcendental mellows. He is incessantly absorbed in the happiness of ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa. It is he who has taught Me all this.
Text
rāya-prasāde jāniluṅ vrajera ‘śuddha’ bhāva
Synonyms
Translation
“It is impossible to describe the influence and knowledge of Rāmānanda Rāya, for only by his mercy have I understood the unalloyed love of the residents of Vṛndāvana.
Text
yāṅra saṅge haila vraja-madhura-rasa-jñāna
Synonyms
Translation
“The transcendental mellows of ecstatic love are personified by Svarūpa Dāmodara. By his association I have understood Vṛndāvana’s transcendental mellow of conjugal love.
Text
‘kṛṣṇa-sukha-tātparya’, — ei tāra cihna
Synonyms
Translation
“The unalloyed love of the gopīs and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is without any trace of material lust. The criterion of such transcendental love is that its only purpose is to satisfy Kṛṣṇa.
Text
bhītāḥ śanaiḥ priya dadhīmahi karkaśeṣu
tenāṭavīm aṭasi tad vyathate na kiṁ svit
kūrpādibhir bhramati dhīr bhavad-āyuṣāṁ naḥ
Synonyms
yat — which; te — Your; sujāta — very fine; caraṇa-ambu-ruham — lotus feet; staneṣu — on the breasts; bhītāḥ — being afraid; śanaiḥ — gently; priya — O dear one; dadhīmahi — we place; karkaśeṣu — rough; tena — with them; aṭavīm — the path; aṭasi — You roam; tat — they; vyathate — are distressed; na — not; kim svit — we wonder; kūrpa-ādibhiḥ — by small stones and so on; bhramati — flutters; dhīḥ — the mind; bhavat-āyuṣām — of those of whom Your Lordship is the very life; naḥ — of us.
Translation
“ ‘O dearly beloved! Your lotus feet are so soft that we place them gently on our breasts, fearing that Your feet will be hurt. Our lives rest only in You. Our minds, therefore, are filled with anxiety that Your tender feet might be wounded by pebbles as You roam about on the forest path.’
Purport
This verse is spoken by the gopīs in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.31.19).
Text
premete bhartsanā kare ei tāra cihna
Synonyms
Translation
“Obsessed with pure love, without knowledge of opulences, the gopīs sometimes chastise Kṛṣṇa. That is a symptom of pure ecstatic love.
Text
ativilaṅghya te ’nty acyutāgatāḥ
gati-vidas tavodgīta-mohitāḥ
kitava yoṣitaḥ kas tyajen niśi
Synonyms
pati — husbands; suta — sons; anvaya — family; bhrātṛ — brothers; bāndhavān — friends; ativilaṅghya — without caring for; te — Your; anti — dear shelter; acyuta — O infallible one; āgatāḥ — have come; gati-vidaḥ — who know everything of our activities; tava — of You; udgīta — by the singing flute; mohitāḥ — being attracted; kitava — O great cheater; yoṣitaḥ — beautiful women; kaḥ — who; tyajet — would give up; niśi — in the dead of night.
Translation
“ ‘O dear Kṛṣṇa, we gopīs have neglected the order of our husbands, sons, family, brothers and friends and have left their company to come to You. You know everything about our desires. We have come only because we are attracted by the supreme music of Your flute. But You are a great cheater, for who else would give up the company of young girls like us in the dead of night?’
Purport
This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.31.16).
Text
ataeva kṛṣṇa kahe, — ‘āmi tomāra ṛṇī’
Synonyms
Translation
“The conjugal love of the gopīs is the most exalted devotional service, surpassing all other methods of bhakti. Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa is obliged to say, ‘My dear gopīs, I cannot repay you. Indeed, I am always indebted to you.’
Text
sva-sādhu-kṛtyaṁ vibudhāyuṣāpi vaḥ
yā mābhajan durjaya-geha-śṛṅkhalāḥ
saṁvṛścya tad vaḥ pratiyātu sādhunā
Synonyms
na — not; pāraye — am able to make; aham — I; niravadya-saṁyujām — to those who are completely free from deceit; sva-sādhu-kṛtyam — proper compensation; vibudha-āyuṣā — with a lifetime as long as that of the demigods; api — although; vaḥ — to you; yāḥ — who; mā — Me; abhajan — have worshiped; durjaya-geha-śṛṅkhalāḥ — the chains of household life, which are difficult to overcome; saṁvṛścya — cutting; tat — that; vaḥ — of you; pratiyātu — let it be returned; sādhunā — by the good activity itself.
Translation
“ ‘O gopīs, I am not able to repay My debt for your spotless service, even within a lifetime of Brahmā. Your connection with Me is beyond reproach. You have worshiped Me, cutting off all domestic ties, which are difficult to break. Therefore please let your own glorious deeds be your compensation.’
Purport
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.32.22).
Text
pṛthivīte bhakta nāhi uddhava-samāna
Synonyms
Translation
“Completely distinct from love of Kṛṣṇa in opulence, pure love of Kṛṣṇa is on the highest level. On the surface of the world there is no devotee greater than Uddhava.
Text
svarūpera saṅge pāiluṅ e saba śikṣaṇa
Synonyms
Translation
“Uddhava desires to take on his head the dust of the gopīs’ lotus feet. I have learned about all these transcendental loving affairs of Lord Kṛṣṇa from Svarūpa Dāmodara.
Text
vṛndāvane kim api gulma-latauṣadhīnām
yā dustyajaṁ sva-janam ārya-pathaṁ ca hitvā
bhejur mukunda-padavīṁ śrutibhir vimṛgyām
Synonyms
āsām — of the gopīs; aho — oh; caraṇa-reṇu — the dust of the lotus feet; juṣām — devoted to; aham syām — let me become; vṛndāvane — in Vṛndāvana; kim api — anyone; gulma-latā-auṣadhīnām — among bushes, creepers and herbs; yā — those who; dustyajam — very difficult to give up; sva-janam — family members; ārya-patham — the path of chastity; ca — and; hitvā — giving up; bhejuḥ — worshiped; mukunda-padavīm — the lotus feet of Mukunda, Kṛṣṇa; śrutibhiḥ — by the Vedas; vimṛgyām — to be searched for.
Translation
“ ‘The gopīs of Vṛndāvana have given up the association of their husbands, sons and other family members, who are very difficult to give up, and they have forsaken the path of chastity to take shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, Kṛṣṇa, which one should search for by Vedic knowledge. Oh, let me be fortunate enough to become one of the bushes, creepers or herbs in Vṛndāvana, for the gopīs trample them and bless them with the dust of their lotus feet.’
Purport
This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.47.61) was spoken by Uddhava. When Uddhava was sent by Kṛṣṇa to see the condition of the gopīs in Vṛndāvana, he stayed there for a few months in their association and always talked with them about Kṛṣṇa. Although this greatly pleased the gopīs and other residents of Vrajabhūmi, Vṛndāvana, Uddhava saw that the gopīs were severely afflicted by their separation from Kṛṣṇa. Their hearts were so disturbed that their minds were sometimes deranged. Observing the unalloyed devotion and love of the gopīs for Kṛṣṇa, Uddhava desired to become a creeper, a blade of grass or an herb in Vṛndāvana so that sometimes the gopīs would trample him and he would receive the dust of their lotus feet on his head.
Text
prati dina laya teṅha tina-lakṣa nāma
Synonyms
Translation
“Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the teacher of the holy name, is the most exalted of all pure devotees. Every day he chants 300,000 holy names of the Lord.
Text
tāṅra prasāde nāmera mahimā jāniluṅ
Synonyms
Translation
“I have learned about the glories of the Lord’s holy name from Haridāsa Ṭhākura, and by his mercy I have understood these glories.
Text
jagadānanda, dāmodara, śaṅkara, vakreśvara
āra yata bhakta-gaṇa gauḍe avatari’
iṅhā sabāra saṅge kṛṣṇa-bhakti ye āmāra”
Synonyms
ācāryaratna — Ācāryaratna; ācāryanidhi — Ācāryanidhi; paṇḍita-gadādhara — Gadādhara Paṇḍita; jagadānanda — Jagadānanda; dāmodara — Dāmodara; śaṅkara — Śaṅkara; vakreśvara — Vakreśvara; kāśīśvara — Kāśīśvara; mukunda — Mukunda; vāsudeva — Vāsudeva; murāri — Murāri; āra — and; yata — as many as; bhakta-gaṇa — devotees; gauḍe — in Bengal; avatari’ — having descended; kṛṣṇa-nāma — the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; prema — ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa; kailā — did; jagate — all over the world; pracāra — preaching; iṅhā sabāra — of all of them; saṅge — by association; kṛṣṇa-bhakti — devotional service to Kṛṣṇa; ye — which; āmāra — My.
Translation
“Ācāryaratna, Ācāryanidhi, Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Jagadānanda, Dāmodara, Śaṅkara, Vakreśvara, Kāśīśvara, Mukunda, Vāsudeva, Murāri and many other devotees have descended in Bengal to preach to everyone the glories of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and the value of love for Him. I have learned from them the meaning of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.”
Text
bhaṅgī kari’ mahāprabhu kahe eta vāṇī
Synonyms
Translation
Knowing that Vallabha Bhaṭṭa’s heart was full of pride, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke these words, hinting at how one can learn about devotional service.
Purport
Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was greatly proud of his knowledge in devotional service, and therefore he wanted to speak about Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu without understanding the Lord’s position. The Lord therefore hinted in many ways that if Vallabha Bhaṭṭa wanted to know what devotional service actually is, he would have to learn from all the devotees He mentioned, beginning with Advaita Ācārya, Lord Nityānanda, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Rāmānanda Rāya. As Svarūpa Dāmodara has said, if one wants to learn the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, one must take lessons from a realized soul. One should not proudly think that one can understand the transcendental loving service of the Lord simply by reading books. One must become a servant of a Vaiṣṇava. As Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has confirmed, chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra peyeche kebā: one cannot be in a transcendental position unless one very faithfully serves a pure Vaiṣṇava. One must accept a Vaiṣṇava guru (ādau gurv-āśrayam), and then by questions and answers one should gradually learn what pure devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is. That is called the paramparā system.
Text
āmi se bhāgavata-artha uttama vākhāni
Synonyms
Translation
[Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was thinking:] “I am a great Vaiṣṇava. Having learned all the conclusions of Vaiṣṇava philosophy, I can understand the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and explain it very well.”
Text
prabhura vacana śuni’ se ha-ila kharva
Synonyms
Translation
Such pride had existed for a long time within the mind of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, but as he heard the preaching of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, his pride was cut down.
Text
bhaṭṭera icchā haila tāṅ-sabāre dekhibāra
Synonyms
Translation
When Vallabha Bhaṭṭa heard from the mouth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu about the pure Vaiṣṇavism of all these devotees, he immediately desired to see them.
Text
kon prakāre pāimu ihāṅ-sabāra darśane?”
Synonyms
Translation
Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said, “Where do all these Vaiṣṇavas live, and how can I see them?”
Text
saba āsiyāche ratha-yātrā dekhibāre
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Although some of them live in Bengal and some in other states, they have all come here to see the Ratha-yātrā festival.
Text
ihāṅi pāibā tumi sabāra darśane”
Synonyms
Translation
“At present they are all living here. Their residences are in various quarters. Here you will get the audience of them all.”
Text
bahu dainya kari’ prabhure kaila nimantraṇa
Synonyms
Translation
Thereafter, with great submission and humility, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to dine at his home.
Text
sabā-sane mahāprabhu bhaṭṭe milāilā
Synonyms
Translation
The next day, when all the Vaiṣṇavas came to the abode of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord introduced Vallabha Bhaṭṭa to them all.
Text
tāṅ-sabāra āge bhaṭṭa — khadyota-ākāra
Synonyms
Translation
He was surprised to see the brilliance of their faces. Indeed, among them Vallabha Bhaṭṭa seemed just like a glowworm.
Text
gaṇa-saha mahāprabhure bhojana karāila
Synonyms
Translation
Then Vallabha Bhaṭṭa brought in a great quantity of Lord Jagannātha’s mahā-prasādam and sumptuously fed Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates.
Text
eka-dike vaise saba karite bhojana
Synonyms
Translation
All the sannyāsī associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, headed by Paramānanda Purī, sat on one side and thus partook of the prasādam.
Text
madhye mahāprabhu vasilā, āge-pāche bhakta-gaṇa
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat in the midst of the devotees. Advaita Ācārya and Lord Nityānanda each sat on one side of the Lord. The other devotees sat in front of the Lord and behind Him.
Text
aṅgane vasilā saba hañā sāri sāri
Synonyms
Translation
The devotees from Bengal, whom I am unable to count, all sat down in lines in the courtyard.
Text
pratyeke sabāra pade kaila namaskāra
Synonyms
Translation
When Vallabha Bhaṭṭa saw all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he was greatly surprised, and in devotion he offered his obeisances at the lotus feet of each and every one of them.
Text
pariveśana kare, āra rāghava, dāmodara
Synonyms
svarūpa — Svarūpa; jagadānanda — Jagadānanda; kāśīśvara — Kāśīśvara; śaṅkara — Śaṅkara; pariveśana kare — distribute; āra — and; rāghava dāmodara — Rāghava and Dāmodara.
Translation
Svarūpa Dāmodara, Jagadānanda, Kāśīśvara and Śaṅkara, along with Rāghava and Dāmodara Paṇḍita, took charge of distributing the prasādam.
Text
prabhu-saha sannyāsi-gaṇa bhojane vasila
Synonyms
Translation
Vallabha Bhaṭṭa had brought a large quantity of mahā-prasādam offered to Lord Jagannātha. Thus all the sannyāsīs sat down to eat with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Text
hari hari dhvani uṭhe saba brahmāṇḍa bhari’
Synonyms
Translation
Accepting the prasādam, all the Vaiṣṇavas chanted the holy names “Hari! Hari!” The rising vibration of the holy name of Hari filled the entire universe.
Text
sabā’ pūjā kari’ bhaṭṭa ānandita haila
Synonyms
Translation
When all the Vaiṣṇavas had finished eating, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa brought a large quantity of garlands, sandalwood pulp, spices and betel. He worshiped the devotees very respectfully and became extremely happy.
Text
pūrvavat sāta sampradāya pṛthak karilā
Synonyms
Translation
On the day of the car festival, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began the congregational chanting. As He had done previously, He divided all the devotees into seven groups.
Text
śrīvāsa, rāghava, paṇḍita-gadādhara
‘hari-bola’ bali’ prabhu karena bhramaṇa
Synonyms
advaita — Advaita Ācārya; nityānanda — Lord Nityānanda; haridāsa — Ṭhākura Haridāsa; vakreśvara — Vakreśvara; śrīvāsa — Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura; rāghava — Rāghava; paṇḍita-gadādhara — Gadādhara Paṇḍita; sāta jana — seven persons; sāta-ṭhāñi — in seven groups; karena nartana — dance; hari-bola bali’ — uttering “Haribol”; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; karena bhramaṇa — wanders.
Translation
Seven devotees — Advaita, Nityānanda, Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Vakreśvara, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, Rāghava Paṇḍita and Gadādhara Paṇḍita — formed seven groups and began dancing. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, chanting “Haribol!” wandered from one group to another.
Text
eka eka nartakera preme bhāsila bhuvana
Synonyms
Translation
Fourteen mṛdaṅgas resounded with the loud congregational chanting, and in each group was a dancer whose dance of ecstatic love inundated the entire world.
Text
ānande vihvala nāhi āpana-sāmbhāla
Synonyms
Translation
Seeing all this, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was completely astonished. He was overwhelmed by transcendental bliss and lost himself.
Text
pūrvavat āpane nṛtya karite lāgilā
Synonyms
Translation
Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stopped the dancing of the others, and as He had done previously, He personally began to dance.
Text
‘ei ta’ sākṣāt kṛṣṇa’ bhaṭṭera ha-ila niścaya
Synonyms
Translation
Seeing the beauty of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the awakening of His ecstatic love, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa concluded, “Here is Lord Kṛṣṇa, without a doubt.”
Text
prabhura caritre bhaṭṭera camatkāra haila
Synonyms
Translation
Thus Vallabha Bhaṭṭa witnessed the car festival. He was simply astonished by the characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Text
prabhu-caraṇe kichu kaila nivedane
Synonyms
Translation
One day, after the festival was over, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went to the abode of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and submitted a request at the lotus feet of the Lord.
Text
āpane mahāprabhu yadi karena śravaṇa”
Synonyms
bhāgavatera — on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; ṭīkā — commentary; kichu — some; kariyāchi likhana — I have written; āpane — You; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; yadi — if; karena śravaṇa — would hear.
Translation
“I have written some commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,” he said. “Would Your Lordship kindly hear it?”
Text
bhāgavatārtha śunite āmi nahi adhikārī
Synonyms
Translation
The Lord replied, “I do not understand the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Indeed, I am not a suitable person to hear its meaning.
Text
saṅkhyā-nāma pūrṇa mora nahe rātri-dine
Synonyms
Translation
“I simply sit and try to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, and although I chant all day and night, I nevertheless cannot complete the chanting of My prescribed number of rounds.”
Text
vistāra kairāchi, tāhā karaha śravaṇe”
Synonyms
Translation
Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said, “I have tried to describe elaborately the meaning of Kṛṣṇa’s holy name. Kindly hear the explanation.”
Text
‘śyāma-sundara’ ‘yaśodā-nandana,’ — ei-mātra jāni
Synonyms
Translation
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “I do not accept many different meanings for the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. I know only that Lord Kṛṣṇa is Śyāmasundara and Yaśodānandana. That’s all I know.
Text
śrī-yaśodā-stanan-dhaye
kṛṣṇa-nāmno rūḍhir iti
sarva-śāstra-vinirṇayaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
“ ‘The only purport of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa is that He is dark blue like a tamāla tree and is the son of mother Yaśodā. This is the conclusion of all the revealed scriptures.’
Purport
This is a verse from the Nāma-kaumudī
Text
āra sarva-arthe mora nāhi adhikāra”
Synonyms
Translation
“I conclusively know these two names, Śyāmasundara and Yaśodānandana. I do not understand any other meanings, nor have I the capacity to understand them.”
Text
sarvajña prabhu jāni’ tāre karena upekṣā
Synonyms
Translation
Being omniscient, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could understand that Vallabha Bhaṭṭa’s explanations of Kṛṣṇa’s name and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam were useless. Therefore He did not care about them.
Text
prabhu-viṣaye bhakti kichu ha-ila antara
Synonyms
Translation
When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu rigidly declined to hear his explanations, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went home feeling morose. His faith in the Lord and devotion to Him changed.
Text
nānā mate prīti kari’ kare āsā-yāi
Synonyms
Translation
Thereafter, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went to the home of Gadādhara Paṇḍita. He kept coming and going, showing affection in various ways, and thus maintained a relationship with him.
Text
bhaṭṭera vyākhyāna kichu nā kare śravaṇa
Synonyms
Translation
Because Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not take Vallabha Bhaṭṭa very seriously, none of the people in Jagannātha Purī would hear any of his explanations.
Text
duḥkhita hañā gela paṇḍitera sthāne
Synonyms
Translation
Ashamed, insulted and unhappy, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went to Gadādhara Paṇḍita.
Text
tumi kṛpā kari’ rākha āmāra jīvana
Synonyms
Translation
Approaching him with great humility, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said, “I have taken shelter of you, my dear sir. Kindly be merciful to me and save my life.
Text
tabe mora lajjā-paṅka haya prakṣālana”
Synonyms
Translation
“Please hear my explanation of the meaning of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s name. In that way the mud of the shame that has come upon me will be washed off.”
Text
ki karibena, — eko, karite nā pāre niścaya
Synonyms
Translation
Thus Paṇḍita Gosāñi fell into a dilemma. He was in such doubt that he could not decide alone what to do.
Purport
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not take Vallabha Bhaṭṭa very seriously. Therefore Paṇḍita Gosāñi, or Gadādhara Gosāñi, fell into perplexity. What would be his position if he heard Vallabha Bhaṭṭa’s explanation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s name? Certainly Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would be displeased. Therefore Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi could not make a decision.
Text
bhaṭṭa yāi’ tabu paḍe kari’ balātkāra
Synonyms
Translation
Although Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi did not want to hear it, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa began to read his explanation with great force.
Text
“e saṅkaṭe rākha, kṛṣṇa la-ilāṅa śaraṇa
Synonyms
Translation
Because Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was a learned brāhmaṇa, Gadādhara Paṇḍita could not forbid him. Thus he began to think of Lord Kṛṣṇa. “My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa,” he requested, “please protect me in this danger. I have taken shelter of You.
Text
tāṅre bhaya nāhi kichu, ‘viṣama’ tāṅra gaṇa”
Synonyms
Translation
“Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is present in everyone’s heart, and He will certainly know my mind. Therefore I do not fear Him. His associates, however, are extremely critical.”
Purport
As the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exists in everyone’s heart. Therefore He would know the circumstances under which Paṇḍita Gosāñi agreed to hear Vallabha Bhaṭṭa’s explanations, and certainly He would not be angry. However, the Vaiṣṇavas who were always with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu might not understand Gadādhara Paṇḍita’s inner consciousness, and they might accuse him of having compromised with Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, despite his having been neglected by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi was seriously thinking in this way.
Text
tathāpi prabhura gaṇa tāṅre kare praṇaya-roṣa
Synonyms
Translation
Although Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi was not in the least at fault, some of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s devotees showed affectionate anger toward him.
Text
‘udgrāhādi’ prāya kare ācāryādi-sane
Synonyms
Translation
Every day, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa would come to the place of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to engage in unnecessary arguments with Advaita Ācārya and other great personalities, such as Svarūpa Dāmodara.
Text
śunitei ācārya tāhā karena khaṇḍana
Synonyms
Translation
Whatever conclusions Vallabha Bhaṭṭa eagerly presented were refuted by personalities like Advaita Ācārya.
Text
rājahaṁsa-madhye yena rahe baka-prāya
Synonyms
Translation
Whenever Vallabha Bhaṭṭa entered the society of devotees, headed by Advaita Ācārya, he was like a duck in a society of white swans.
Text
“jīva-‘prakṛti’ ‘pati’ kari’ mānaye kṛṣṇere
Synonyms
Translation
One day Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said to Advaita Ācārya, “Every living entity is female [prakṛti] and considers Kṛṣṇa her husband [pati].
Text
tomarā kṛṣṇa-nāma laha, — kon dharma haya?”
Synonyms
Translation
“It is the duty of a chaste wife, devoted to her husband, not to utter her husband’s name, but all of you chant the name of Kṛṣṇa. How can this be called a religious principle?”
Text
iṅhāre puchaha, iṅha karibena ihāra samādhāna
Synonyms
Translation
Advaita Ācārya responded, “In front of you is Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the personification of religious principles. You should ask Him, for He will give you the proper answer.”
Text
svāmi-ājñā pāle, — ei pati-vratā-dharma
Synonyms
Translation
Hearing this, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “My dear Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, you do not know religious principles. Actually, the first duty of a chaste woman is to carry out the order of her husband.
Text
patira ājñā pati-vratā nā pāre laṅghite
Synonyms
Translation
“The order of Kṛṣṇa is to chant His name incessantly. Therefore one who is chaste and adherent to the husband Kṛṣṇa must chant the Lord’s name, for she cannot deny the husband’s order.
Text
nāmera phale kṛṣṇa-pade ‘prema’ upajāya”
Synonyms
Translation
“Following this religious principle, a pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa always chants the holy name. As a result of this, he gets the fruit of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.”
Text
ghare yāi’ mane duḥkhe karena cintana
Synonyms
Translation
Hearing this, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was speechless. He returned home greatly unhappy and began to consider thus.
Text
eka-dina upare yadi haya mora bāt
sva-vacana sthāpite āmi ki kari upāya?”
Synonyms
nitya — daily; āmāra — my; ei — this; sabhāya — in the assembly; haya — there is; kakṣā-pāta — defeat; eka-dina — one day; upare — on top; yadi — if; haya — are; mora — my; bāt — words; tabe — then; sukha — happiness; haya — is; āra — and; saba — all; lajjā — shame; yāya — goes; sva-vacana — my statement; sthāpite — to establish; āmi — I; ki — what; kari — shall adopt; upāya — means.
Translation
“Every day I am defeated in this assembly. If by chance I am one day victorious, that will be a great source of happiness for me, and all my shame will go away. But what means shall I adopt to establish my statements?”
Text
sabhāte kahena kichu mane garva kari’
Synonyms
Translation
The next day when he came to the assembly of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he sat down after offering obeisances to the Lord and said something with great pride.
Text
la-ite nā pāri tāṅra vyākhyāna-vacana
Synonyms
Translation
“In my commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,” he said, “I have refuted the explanations of Śrīdhara Svāmī. I cannot accept his explanations.
Text
eka-vākyatā nāhi, tāte ‘svāmī’ nāhi māni”
Synonyms
Translation
“Whatever Śrīdhara Svāmī reads he explains according to the circumstances. Therefore he is inconsistent in his explanations and cannot be accepted as an authority.”
Text
veśyāra bhitare tāre kariye gaṇana”
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu smilingly replied, “One who does not accept the svāmī [husband] as an authority I consider a prostitute.”
Text
śuniyā sabāra mane santoṣa ha-ilā
Synonyms
Translation
After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very grave. All the devotees present derived great satisfaction from hearing this statement.
Text
antarera abhimāna jānena tāhāra
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu descended as an incarnation for the benefit of the entire world. Thus He knew the mind of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa very well.
Text
kṛṣṇa yaiche khaṇḍilena indrera abhimāna
Synonyms
Translation
By various hints and refutations, Lord Caitanya, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, corrected Vallabha Bhaṭṭa exactly as Kṛṣṇa had cut down the false pride of Indra.
Purport
Indra, the King of heaven, was very proud of his position. Therefore when the residents of Vṛndāvana decided not to perform the Indra-yajña but instead to perform the Govardhana-yajña in accordance with the instructions of Kṛṣṇa, Indra, because of his false pride, wanted to chastise the residents of Vṛndāvana. Thinking himself extremely powerful, Indra poured incessant rain upon Vṛndāvana, but Lord Kṛṣṇa immediately cut down his pride by lifting Govardhana Hill as an umbrella to save the residents of Vṛndāvana. In this way Kṛṣṇa proved Indra’s power most insignificant in the presence of His own omnipotence.
Text
garva cūrṇa haile, pāche ughāḍe nayane
Synonyms
Translation
An ignorant living being does not recognize his actual profit. Because of ignorance and material pride, he sometimes considers profit a loss, but when his pride is cut down he can actually see his true benefit.
Text
“pūrve prayāge more mahā-kṛpā kaila
Synonyms
Translation
Returning home that night, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa thought, “Previously, at Prayāga, Lord Caitanya was very kind to me.
Text
ebe kene prabhura mote phiri’ gela mana?
Synonyms
Translation
“He accepted my invitation with His other devotees, and He was kind to me. Why has He now changed so much here at Jagannātha Purī?
Text
īśvara-svabhāva, — karena sabākāra hita
Synonyms
Translation
“Being very proud of my learning, I am thinking, ‘Let me become victorious.’ Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, is trying to purify me by nullifying this false pride, for a characteristic of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is that He acts for everyone’s welfare.
Text
se garva khaṇḍāite mora karena apamāna
Synonyms
Translation
“I am falsely proud, advertising myself as a learned scholar. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu insults me just to favor me by cutting down this false pride.
Text
kṛṣṇera upare kaila yena indra mahā-mūrkha”
Synonyms
Translation
“He is actually acting for my benefit, although I interpret His actions as insults. This is exactly like the incident in which Lord Kṛṣṇa cut down Indra, the great, puffed-up fool, to correct him.”
Text
dainya kari’ stuti kari’ la-ila śaraṇe
Synonyms
Translation
Thinking in this way, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa approached Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu the next morning, and in great humility, offering many prayers, he sought shelter and surrendered at the lotus feet of the Lord.
Text
tomāra āge mūrkha āmi pāṇḍitya prakāśiluṅ
Synonyms
Translation
Vallabha Bhaṭṭa admitted, “I am a great fool, and indeed I have acted like a fool by trying to demonstrate my learning to You.
Text
apamāna kari’ sarva garva khaṇḍāilā
Synonyms
Translation
“My dear Lord, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You have showed mercy to me in a way just befitting Your position by insulting me to cut down all my false pride.
Text
indra yena kṛṣṇera nindā karila ajñāne
Synonyms
Translation
“I am an ignorant fool, for I interpret as an insult what is meant for my benefit. In this way I am just like King Indra, who out of ignorance tried to surpass Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord.
Text
tumi eta kṛpā kailā, — ebe ‘jñāna’ haila
Synonyms
Translation
“My dear Lord, You have cured the blindness of my false pride by smearing my eyes with the ointment of Your mercy. You have bestowed so much mercy upon me that my ignorance is now gone.
Text
kṛpā kari’ mora māthe dharaha caraṇa”
Synonyms
Translation
“My dear Lord, I have committed offenses. Please excuse me. I seek shelter of You. Please be merciful unto me by placing Your lotus feet on my head.”
Text
dui-guṇa yāhāṅ, tāhāṅ nāhi garva-parvata
Synonyms
Translation
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “You are both a greatly learned scholar and a great devotee. Wherever there are two such attributes, there cannot be a mountain of false pride.
Text
śrīdhara-svāmī nāhi māna’, — eta ‘garva’ dhara!
Synonyms
Translation
“You have dared criticize Śrīdhara Svāmī, and you have begun your own commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, not accepting his authority. That is your false pride.
Text
jagad-guru śrīdhara-svāmī ‘guru’ kari’ māni
Synonyms
Translation
“Śrīdhara Svāmī is the spiritual master of the entire world because by his mercy we can understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. I therefore accept him as a spiritual master.
Text
‘artha-vyasta’ likhana sei, loke nā mānibe
Synonyms
Translation
“Whatever you might write due to false pride, trying to surpass Śrīdhara Svāmī, would carry a contrary purport. Therefore no one would pay attention to it.
Purport
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam has many ṭīkās, or commentaries, following the paramparā system, but Śrīdhara Svāmī’s is first. The commentaries of all the other ācāryas follow his. The paramparā system does not allow one to deviate from the commentaries of the previous ācāryas. By depending upon the previous ācāryas, one can write beautiful commentaries. However, one cannot defy the previous ācāryas. The false pride that makes one think that he can write better than the previous ācāryas will make one’s comments faulty. At the present moment it has become fashionable for everyone to write in his own way, but such writing is never accepted by serious devotees. Because of false pride, every scholar and philosopher wants to exhibit his learning by interpreting the śāstras, especially the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, in his own way. This system of commenting in one’s own way is fully condemned by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore He says, ‘artha-vyasta’ likhana sei. commentaries written according to one’s own philosophical way are never accepted; no one will appreciate such commentaries on the revealed scriptures.
Text
saba loka mānya kari’ karibe grahaṇa
Synonyms
Translation
“One who comments on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam following in the footsteps of Śrīdhara Svāmī will be honored and accepted by everyone.
Text
abhimāna chāḍi’ bhaja kṛṣṇa bhagavān
Synonyms
Translation
“Put forth your explanation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam following in the footsteps of Śrīdhara Svāmī. Giving up your false pride, worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.
Text
acirāt pābe tabe kṛṣṇera caraṇa”
Synonyms
Translation
“Abandoning your offenses, chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, the holy names of the Lord. Then very soon you will achieve shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.”
Text
eka-dina punaḥ mora māna’ nimantraṇa”
Synonyms
Translation
Vallabha Bhaṭṭa Ācārya requested Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “If You are actually pleased with me, please accept my invitation once again.”
Text
mānilena nimantraṇa, tāre sukha dite
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who had descended to deliver the entire universe, accepted the invitation of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa just to give him happiness.
Text
daṇḍa kari’ kare tāra hṛdaya śodhana
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is always eager to see everyone in the material world happy. Therefore sometimes He chastises someone just to purify his heart.
Text
mahāprabhu tāre tabe prasanna ha-ilā
Synonyms
Translation
When Vallabha Bhaṭṭa invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates, the Lord was very pleased with him.
Text
satyabhāmā-prāya prema ‘vāmya-svabhāva’
Synonyms
jagadānanda-paṇḍitera — of Jagadānanda Paṇḍita; śuddha — pure; gāḍha — deep; bhāva — ecstatic love; satyabhāmā-prāya — like Satyabhāmā; prema — his love for the Lord; vāmya-svabhāva — quarrelsome nature.
Translation
Jagadānanda Paṇḍita’s pure ecstatic love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very deep. It can be compared to the love of Satyabhāmā, who always quarreled with Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Text
anyo-’nye khaṭmaṭi cale dui-jane
Synonyms
Translation
Jagadānanda Paṇḍita was accustomed to provoking loving quarrels with the Lord. There was always some disagreement between them.
Text
rukmiṇī-devīra yaiche ‘dakṣiṇa-svabhāva’
Synonyms
Translation
Gadādhara Paṇḍita’s pure ecstatic love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was also very deep. It was like that of Rukmiṇīdevī, who was always especially submissive to Kṛṣṇa.
Text
aiśvarya-jñāne tāṅra roṣa nāhi upajaya
Synonyms
Translation
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sometimes desired to see Gadādhara Paṇḍita’s affectionate anger, but because of his knowledge of the Lord’s opulences, his anger was never invoked.
Purport
Joking with Rukmiṇīdevī in Dvārakā, Kṛṣṇa once advised her to accept another husband because He was unfit for her. Rukmiṇīdevī, however, unable to understand His joking words, took them very seriously and immediately fell to the ground in fear of separation from Him. In the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita was always in disagreement with the Lord like Satyabhāmā, whereas Gadādhara Paṇḍita was always awed by the Lord’s opulence and was therefore submissive to the Lord under all circumstances.
Text
śuni’ paṇḍitera citte upajila trāsa
Synonyms
Translation
For this purpose Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sometimes showed His apparent anger. Hearing of this anger inspired great fear in the heart of Gadādhara Paṇḍita.
Text
śuni’ rukmiṇīra mane trāsa upajila
Synonyms
Translation
Previously, in kṛṣṇa-līlā, when Lord Kṛṣṇa joked with Rukmiṇīdevī, she took His words seriously, and fear awoke within her mind.
Text
bāla-gopāla-mantre teṅho karena sevana
Synonyms
Translation
Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was accustomed to worshiping the Lord as child Kṛṣṇa. Therefore he had been initiated into the Bāla-gopāla mantra and was thus worshiping the Lord.
Text
kiśora-gopāla-upāsanāya mana dila
Synonyms
Translation
In the association of Gadādhara Paṇḍita, his mind was converted, and he dedicated his mind to worshiping Kiśora-gopāla, Kṛṣṇa as a young boy.
Text
paṇḍita kahe, — “ei karma nahe āmā haite
Synonyms
Translation
Vallabha Bhaṭṭa wanted to be initiated by Gadādhara Paṇḍita, but Gadādhara Paṇḍita refused, saying, “The work of acting as a spiritual master is not possible for me.
Text
tāṅra ājñā vinā āmi nā ha-i ‘svatantra’
Synonyms
Translation
“I am completely dependent. My Lord is Gauracandra, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. I cannot do anything independently, without His order.
Text
tāhātei prabhu more dena olāhana”
Synonyms
Translation
“My dear Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, your coming to me is not appreciated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore He sometimes speaks to chastise me.”
Text
śeṣe yadi prabhu tāre suprasanna haila
svarūpa, jagadānanda, govinde pāṭhāilā
Synonyms
ei-mata — in this way; bhaṭṭera — of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa; katheka dina — some days; gela — passed; śeṣe — at last; yadi — when; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāre — upon him; su-prasanna haila — became very pleased; nimantraṇera dine — on the day of invitation; paṇḍite bolāilā — He called for Gadādhara Paṇḍita; svarūpa — Svarūpa Dāmodara; jagadānanda — Jagadānanda Paṇḍita; govinde — Govinda; pāṭhāilā — He sent.
Translation
Some days passed, and when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, finally pleased with Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, accepted his invitation, the Lord sent Svarūpa Dāmodara, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and Govinda to call for Gadādhara Paṇḍita.
Text
“parīkṣite prabhu tomāre kailā upekṣaṇa
Synonyms
Translation
On the way, Svarūpa Dāmodara said to Gadādhara Paṇḍita, “Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to test you. Therefore He neglected you.
Text
bhīta-prāya hañā kāṅhe karilā sahana?”
Synonyms
Translation
“Why did you not retaliate by reproaching Him? Why did you fearfully tolerate His criticism?”
Text
tāṅra sane ‘haṭha’ kari, — bhāla nāhi māni
Synonyms
Translation
Gadādhara Paṇḍita said, “Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is completely independent. He is the topmost omniscient personality. It would not look well for me to talk to Him as if I were His equal.
Text
āpane karibena kṛpā guṇa-doṣa vicāri’ ”
Synonyms
Translation
“I can tolerate whatever He says, bearing it upon my head. He will automatically be merciful to me after considering my faults and attributes.”
Text
rodana kariyā prabhura caraṇe paḍilā
Synonyms
Translation
After saying this, Gadādhara Paṇḍita went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and fell down crying at the lotus feet of the Lord.
Text
sabāre śunāñā kahena madhura vacana
Synonyms
Translation
Smiling slightly, the Lord embraced him and spoke sweet words so that others would also hear.
Text
krodhe kichu nā kahilā, sakala sahilā
Synonyms
Translation
“I wanted to agitate you,” the Lord said, “but you did not become agitated. Indeed, you could not say anything in anger. Instead, you tolerated everything.
Text
sudṛḍha sarala-bhāve āmāre kinilā”
Synonyms
Translation
“Your mind was not disturbed by My tricks. Rather, you stayed fixed in your simplicity. In this way you have purchased Me.”
Text
‘gadādhara-prāṇa-nātha’ nāma haila yāya
Synonyms
Translation
No one can describe the characteristics and ecstatic love of Gadādhara Paṇḍita. Therefore another name for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Gadādhara-prāṇanātha, “the life and soul of Gadādhara Paṇḍita.”
Text
‘gadāira gaurāṅga’ bali’ yāṅre loke gāya
Synonyms
Translation
No one can say how merciful the Lord is to Gadādhara Paṇḍita, but people know the Lord as Gadāira Gaurāṅga, “the Lord Gaurāṅga of Gadādhara Paṇḍita.”
Text
eka-līlāya vahe gaṅgāra śata śata dhāre
Synonyms
Translation
No one can understand the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. They are like the Ganges, for hundreds and thousands of branches flow from even one of His activities.
Text
dṛḍha prema-mudrā loke karilā khyāpana
Synonyms
Translation
Gadādhara Paṇḍita is celebrated all over the world for his gentle behavior, his brahminical attributes and his steady love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Text
sei-dvārā āra saba loke śikhāilā
Synonyms
Translation
The Lord purified Vallabha Bhaṭṭa by cleansing him of the mud of false pride. By such activities the Lord also instructed others.
Text
bāhyārtha yei laya, sei nāśa yāya
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was actually always merciful within His heart, but He was sometimes externally negligent of His devotees. We should not be preoccupied with His external feature, however, for if we do so we shall be vanquished.
Text
sei bujhe, gauracandre yāṅra dṛḍha bhakti
Synonyms
Translation
The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are very deep. Who can understand them? Only one who has firm, deep devotion to His lotus feet can understand these pastimes.
Text
prabhu tāhāṅ bhikṣā kaila lañā nija-gaṇa
Synonyms
Translation
Another day, Gadādhara Paṇḍita invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to dinner. The Lord took prasādam at his home with His personal associates.
Purport
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura comments that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu acted as a very merciful well-wisher toward Vallabha Bhaṭṭa by externally neglecting him in many ways to purify him of his false pride in being a learned scholar. The Lord neglected Gadādhara Paṇḍita for a few days because of his associating with Vallabha Bhaṭṭa. Actually He was not at all displeased with Gadādhara Paṇḍita. Indeed, because Gadādhara Paṇḍita is the personal potency of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, there is no chance of the Lord’s being dissatisfied with him. However, a person who is too much attracted to externals cannot understand the deep meaning of these dealings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. If one therefore becomes disrespectful to Gadādhara Paṇḍita, he will surely be vanquished.
Text
paṇḍita-ṭhāñi pūrva-prārthita saba siddhi haila
Synonyms
Translation
There Vallabha Bhaṭṭa took permission from Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and his desire to be initiated by Gadādhara Paṇḍita was thus fulfilled.
Text
yāhāra śravaṇe pāya gaura-prema-dhana
Synonyms
Translation
I have thus explained the Lord’s meeting with Vallabha Bhaṭṭa. By hearing of this incident, one can achieve the treasure of love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Text
caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇadāsa
Synonyms
śrī-rūpa — Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī; raghunātha — Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī; pade — at the lotus feet; yāra — whose; āśa — expectation; caitanya-caritāmṛta — the book named Caitanya-caritāmṛta; kahe — describes; kṛṣṇadāsa — Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī.
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.
Purport
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, seventh chapter, describing the meeting of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.