CHAPTER SEVEN
The Lord Begins His Tour of South India
In his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura summarizes the seventh chapter as follows. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted the renounced order of life in the month of Māgha (January-February) and went to Jagannātha Purī in the month of Phālguna (February-March). He saw the Dola-yātrā festival during the month of Phālguna, and in the month of Caitra He liberated Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. During the month of Vaiśākha, He began to tour South India. When He proposed to travel to South India alone, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu gave Him a brāhmaṇa assistant named Kṛṣṇadāsa. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was beginning His tour, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya gave Him four sets of clothes and requested Him to see Rāmānanda Rāya, who was residing at that time on the bank of the river Godāvarī. Along with other devotees, Nityānanda Prabhu accompanied the Lord to Ālālanātha, but there Lord Caitanya left them all behind and went ahead with the brāhmaṇa Kṛṣṇadāsa. The Lord began chanting the mantra “kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa he.” In whatever village He spent the night, whenever a person came to see Him in His shelter, the Lord implored him to preach the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. After teaching the people of one village, the Lord proceeded to other villages to increase devotees. In this way He finally reached Kūrma-sthāna. While there, He bestowed His causeless mercy upon a brāhmaṇa called Kūrma and cured another brāhmaṇa, named Vāsudeva, who was suffering from leprosy. After curing this brāhmaṇa leper, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu received the title Vāsudevāmṛta-prada, meaning “one who delivered nectar to the leper Vāsudeva.”
Bengali
নষ্টকুষ্ঠং রূপপুষ্টং ভক্তিতুষ্টং চকার যঃ ॥ ১ ॥
Text
vāsudevaṁ dayārdra-dhī
naṣṭa-kuṣṭhaṁ rūpa-puṣṭaṁ
bhakti-tuṣṭaṁ cakāra yaḥ
Synonyms
dhanyam — auspicious; tam — unto Him; naumi — I offer obeisances; caitanyam — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; vāsudevam — unto the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva; dayā-ārdra-dhī — being compassionate; naṣṭa-kuṣṭham — cured the leprosy; rūpa-puṣṭam — beautiful; bhakti-tuṣṭam — satisfied in devotional service; cakāra — made; yaḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Translation
Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, being very compassionate toward a brāhmaṇa named Vāsudeva, cured him of leprosy. He transformed him into a beautiful man satisfied with devotional service. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the glorious Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Bengali
জয়াদ্বৈতচন্দ্র জয় গৌরভক্তবৃন্দ ॥ ২ ॥
Text
jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda
Synonyms
Translation
All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!
Bengali
দক্ষিণ-গমনে প্ৰভুর ইচ্ছা উপজিল ॥ ৩ ॥
Text
dakṣiṇa-gamane prabhura icchā upajila
Synonyms
Translation
After delivering Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, the Lord desired to go to South India to preach.
Bengali
ফাল্গুনে আসিয়া কৈল নীলাচলে বাস ॥ ৪ ॥
Text
phālgune āsiyā kaila nīlācale vāsa
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted the renounced order during the waxing fortnight of the month of Māgha. During the following month, Phālguna, He went to Jagannātha Purī and resided there.
Bengali
প্রেমাবেশে তাঁহা বহু নৃত্যগীত কৈল ॥ ৫ ॥
Text
premāveśe tāṅhā bahu nṛtya-gīta kaila
Synonyms
Translation
At the end of the month of Phālguna, He witnessed the Dola-yātrā ceremony, and in His usual ecstatic love of God, He chanted and danced in various ways on the occasion.
Bengali
বৈশাখের প্রথমে দক্ষিণ যাইতে হৈল মন ॥ ৬ ॥
Text
vaiśākhera prathame dakṣiṇa yāite haila mana
Synonyms
Translation
During the month of Caitra, while living at Jagannātha Purī, the Lord delivered Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, and at the beginning of the next month (Vaiśākha), He decided to go to South India.
Bengali
আলিঙ্গন করি’ সবায় শ্রীহস্তে ধরিয়া ॥ ৭ ॥
প্রাণ ছাড়া যায়, তোমা-সবা ছাড়িতে না পারি ॥ ৮ ॥
Text
āliṅgana kari’ sabāya śrī-haste dhariyā
prāṇa chāḍā yāya, tomā-sabā chāḍite nā pāri
Synonyms
nija-gaṇa āni’ — calling all the devotees; kahe — said; vinaya — humbleness; kariyā — showing; āliṅgana kari’ — embracing; sabāya — all of them; śrī-haste — with His hands; dhariyā — catching them; tomā-sabā — all of you; jāni — I know; āmi — I; prāṇa-adhika — more than My life; kari’ — taking; prāṇa chāḍā — giving up life; yāya — is possible; tomā-sabā — all of you; chāḍite — to give up; nā pāri — I am not able.
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called all His devotees together and, holding them by the hand, humbly informed them, “You are all more dear to Me than My life. I can give up My life, but to give you up is difficult for Me.
Bengali
ইহাঁ আনি’ মোরে জগন্নাথ দেখাইলে ॥ ৯ ॥
Text
ihāṅ āni’ more jagannātha dekhāile
Synonyms
Translation
“You are all My friends, and you have properly executed the duties of friends by bringing Me here to Jagannātha Purī and giving Me the chance to see Lord Jagannātha in the temple.
Bengali
সবে মেলি’ আজ্ঞা দেহ, যাইব দক্ষিণে ॥ ১০ ॥
Text
sabe meli’ ājñā deha, yāiba dakṣiṇe
Synonyms
Translation
“I now beg all of you for one bit of charity. Please give Me permission to leave for a tour of South India.
Bengali
একাকী যাইব, কাহো সঙ্গে না লইব ॥ ১১ ॥
Text
ekākī yāiba, kāho saṅge nā la-iba
Synonyms
Translation
“I shall go to search out Viśvarūpa. Please forgive Me, but I want to go alone; I do not wish to take anyone with Me.
Bengali
নীলাচলে তুমি সব রহিবে তাবৎ ॥ ১২ ॥
Text
nīlācale tumi saba rahibe tāvat
Synonyms
Translation
“Until I return from Setubandha, all of you dear friends should remain at Jagannātha Purī.”
Bengali
দক্ষিণ-দেশ উদ্ধারিতে করেন এই ছল ॥ ১৩ ॥
Text
dakṣiṇa-deśa uddhārite karena ei chala
Synonyms
Translation
Knowing everything, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was aware that Viśvarūpa had already passed away. A pretense of ignorance was necessary, however, so that He could go to South India and liberate the people there.
Bengali
নিঃশব্দ হইলা, সবার শুকাইল মুখ ॥ ১৪ ॥
Text
niḥśabda ha-ilā, sabāra śukāila mukha
Synonyms
Translation
Upon hearing this message from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the devotees became very unhappy and remained silent with sullen faces.
Bengali
একাকী যাইবে তুমি, কে ইহা সহয় ॥ ১৫ ॥
Text
ekākī yāibe tumi, ke ihā sahaya
Synonyms
Translation
Nityānanda Prabhu then said, “How is it possible for You to go alone? Who can tolerate this?
Bengali
যারে কহ সেই দুই চলুক্ তোমার সঙ্গে ॥ ১৬ ॥
Text
yāre kaha sei dui caluk tomāra saṅge
Synonyms
Translation
“Let one or two of us go with You; otherwise You may fall into the clutches of thieves and rogues along the way. They may be whomever You like, but two persons should go with You.
Bengali
আমি সঙ্গে যাই, প্রভু, আজ্ঞা দেহ তুমি ॥” ১৭ ॥
Text
āmi saṅge yāi, prabhu, ājñā deha tumi”
Synonyms
Translation
“Indeed, I know all the paths to the different places of pilgrimage in South India. Just order Me, and I shall go with You.”
Bengali
তুমি যৈছে নাচাও, তৈছে নর্তন আমার ॥ ১৮ ॥
Text
tumi yaiche nācāo, taiche nartana āmāra
Synonyms
Translation
The Lord replied, “I am simply a dancer, and You are the wire-puller. However You pull the wires to make Me dance, I shall dance in that way.
Bengali
তুমি আমা লঞা আইলে অদ্বৈত-ভবন ॥ ১৯ ॥
Text
tumi āmā lañā āile advaita-bhavana
Synonyms
Translation
“After accepting the sannyāsa order, I decided to go to Vṛndāvana, but You took Me instead to the house of Advaita Prabhu.
Bengali
তোমা-সবার গাঢ়-স্নেহে আমার কার্য-ভঙ্গ ॥ ২০ ॥
Text
tomā-sabāra gāḍha-snehe āmāra kārya-bhaṅga
Synonyms
Translation
“While on the way to Jagannātha Purī, You broke My sannyāsa staff. I know that all of you have great affection for Me, but such things disturb My activities.
Bengali
যেই কহে সেই ভয়ে চাহিয়ে করিতে ॥ ২১ ॥
Text
yei kahe sei bhaye cāhiye karite
Synonyms
Translation
“Jagadānanda wants Me to enjoy bodily sense gratification, and out of fear I do whatever he tells Me.
Bengali
ক্রোধে তিন দিন মোরে নাহি কহে কথা ॥ ২২ ॥
Text
krodhe tina dina more nāhi kahe kathā
Synonyms
Translation
“If I sometimes do something against his desire, out of anger he will not talk to Me for three days.
Bengali
তিনবারে শীতে স্নান, ভূমিতে শয়ন ॥ ২৩ ॥
Text
tinabāre śīte snāna, bhūmite śayana
Synonyms
Translation
“Being a sannyāsī, I have a duty to lie down on the ground and to take a bath three times a day, even during the winter. But Mukunda becomes very unhappy when he sees My severe austerities.
Bengali
ইহার দুঃখ দেখি’ মোর দ্বিগুণ হয়ে দুঃখে ॥ ২৪ ॥
Text
ihāra duḥkha dekhi’ mora dvi-guṇa haye duḥkhe
Synonyms
Translation
“Of course, Mukunda does not say anything, but I know that he is very unhappy within, and upon seeing him unhappy, I become twice as unhappy.
Bengali
সদা রহে আমার উপর শিক্ষা-দণ্ড ধরি’ ॥ ২৫ ॥
Text
sadā rahe āmāra upara śikṣā-daṇḍa dhari’
Synonyms
Translation
“Although I am in the renounced order of life and Dāmodara is a brahmacārī, he still keeps a stick in his hand just to educate Me.
Bengali
ইঁহারে না ভায় স্বতন্ত্র চরিত্র আমার ॥ ২৬ ॥
Text
iṅhāre nā bhāya svatantra caritra āmāra
Synonyms
Translation
“According to Dāmodara, I am still a neophyte as far as social etiquette is concerned; therefore he does not like My independent nature.
Bengali
আমি লোকাপেক্ষা কভু না পারি ছাড়িতে ॥ ২৭ ॥
Text
āmi lokāpekṣā kabhu nā pāri chāḍite
Synonyms
Translation
“Dāmodara Paṇḍita and others are more advanced in receiving the mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa; therefore they are independent of public opinion. As such, they want Me to enjoy sense gratification, even though it be unethical. But since I am a poor sannyāsī, I cannot abandon the duties of the renounced order, and therefore I follow them strictly.
Purport
A brahmacārī is supposed to assist a sannyāsī; therefore a brahmacārī should not try to instruct a sannyāsī. That is the etiquette. Consequently Dāmodara should not have advised Caitanya Mahāprabhu of His duty.
Bengali
দিন কত আমি তীর্থ ভ্রমিব একলে ॥” ২৮ ॥
Text
dina kata āmi tīrtha bhramiba ekale”
Synonyms
Translation
“You should all therefore remain here in Nīlācala for some days while I tour the sacred places of pilgrimage alone.”
Bengali
দোষারোপ-চ্ছলে করে গুণ আস্বাদনে ॥ ২৯ ॥
Text
doṣāropa-cchale kare guṇa āsvādane
Synonyms
Translation
Actually the Lord was controlled by the good qualities of all His devotees. On the pretense of attributing faults, He tasted all these qualities.
Purport
All the accusations made by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu against His beloved devotees actually showed His great appreciation of their intense love for Him. Yet He mentioned these faults one after another as if He were offended by their intense affection. The personal associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sometimes behaved contrary to regulative principles out of intense love for the Lord, and because of their love Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself sometimes violated the regulative principles of a sannyāsī. In the eyes of the public, such violations are not good, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was so controlled by His devotees’ love that He was obliged to break some of the rules. Although accusing them, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was indirectly indicating that He was very satisfied with their behavior in pure love of Godhead. Therefore in verse 27 He mentions that His devotees and associates place more importance on love of Kṛṣṇa than on social etiquette. There are many instances of devotional service rendered by previous ācāryas who did not care about social behavior when intensely absorbed in love for Kṛṣṇa. Unfortunately, as long as we are within this material world, we must observe social customs to avoid criticism by the general populace. This is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s desire.
Bengali
আপনে বৈরাগ্য-দুঃখ করেন সহন ॥ ৩০ ॥
Text
āpane vairāgya-duḥkha karena sahana
Synonyms
Translation
No one can properly describe Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s affection for His devotees. He always tolerated all kinds of personal unhappiness resulting from His acceptance of the renounced order of life.
Bengali
সেই দুঃখ তাঁর শক্ত্যে সহন না যায় ॥ ৩১ ॥
Text
sei duḥkha tāṅra śaktye sahana nā yāya
Synonyms
Translation
The regulative principles observed by Caitanya Mahāprabhu were sometimes intolerable, and all the devotees became greatly affected by them. Although strictly observing the regulative principles, Caitanya Mahāprabhu could not tolerate the unhappiness felt by His devotees.
Bengali
একাকী ভ্রমিবেন তীর্থ বৈরাগ্য করিয়া ॥ ৩২ ॥
Text
ekākī bhramibena tīrtha vairāgya kariyā
Synonyms
Translation
Therefore, to prevent them from accompanying Him and becoming unhappy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu declared their good qualities to be faults.
Purport
The Lord wanted to tour all the places of pilgrimage alone and strictly observe the duties of the renounced order.
Bengali
স্বতন্ত্র ঈশ্বর প্রভু কভু না মানিল ॥ ৩৩ ॥
Text
svatantra īśvara prabhu kabhu nā mānila
Synonyms
Translation
Four devotees then humbly insisted that they go with the Lord, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, being the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead, did not accept their request.
Bengali
দুঃখ সুখ যে হউক্ কর্তব্য আমার ॥ ৩৪ ॥
Text
duḥkha sukha ye ha-uk kartavya āmāra
Synonyms
Translation
Thereupon Lord Nityānanda said, “Whatever You order is My duty, regardless of whether it results in happiness or unhappiness.
Bengali
বিচার করিয়া তাহা কর অঙ্গীকার ॥ ৩৫ ॥
Text
vicāra kariyā tāhā kara aṅgīkāra
Synonyms
Translation
“Yet I still submit one petition to You. Please consider it, and if You think it proper, please accept it.
Bengali
আর কিছু নাহি যাবে, সবে এই মাত্র ॥ ৩৬ ॥
Text
āra kichu nāhi yābe, sabe ei mātra
Synonyms
Translation
“You must take with You a loincloth, external clothes and a waterpot. You should take nothing more than this.
Bengali
জলপাত্র-বহির্বাস বহিবে কেমনে ॥ ৩৭ ॥
Text
jala-pātra-bahirvāsa vahibe kemane
Synonyms
Translation
“Since Your two hands will always be engaged in chanting and counting the holy names, how will You be able to carry the waterpot and external garments?
Purport
From this verse it is clear that Caitanya Mahāprabhu was chanting the holy names a fixed number of times daily. The Gosvāmīs used to follow in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and Haridāsa Ṭhākura also followed this principle. Concerning the Gosvāmīs — Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrīla Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, Śrīla Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī — Śrīnivāsa Ācārya confirms, saṅkhyā-pūrvaka-nāma-gāna-natibhiḥ. (Ṣaḍ-gosvāmy-aṣṭaka 6) In addition to other duties, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu introduced the system of chanting the holy name of the Lord a fixed number of times daily, as confirmed in this verse (tomāra dui hasta baddha nāma-gaṇane). Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to count on His fingers. While one hand was engaged in chanting, the other hand kept the number of rounds. This is corroborated in the Caitanya-candrāmṛta and also in Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Stava-mālā:
saṅkhyātuṁ nija-loka-maṅgala-hare-kṛṣṇeti nāmnāṁ japan
(Caitanya-candrāmṛta 16)
kṛta-granthi-śreṇī-subhaga-kaṭi-sūtrojjvala-karaḥ
(Prathama-caitanyāṣṭaka 5)
Therefore devotees in the line of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu must chant at least sixteen rounds daily, and this is the number prescribed by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Haridāsa Ṭhākura daily chanted 300,000 names. Sixteen rounds is about 28,000 names. There is no need to imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura or the other Gosvāmīs, but chanting the holy name a fixed number of times daily is essential for every devotee.
Bengali
এ-সব সামগ্রী তোমার কে করে রক্ষণ ॥ ৩৮ ॥
Text
e-saba sāmagrī tomāra ke kare rakṣaṇa
Synonyms
Translation
“When, along the way, You fall unconscious in ecstatic love of Godhead, who will protect Your belongings — the waterpot, garments and so forth?”
Bengali
ইঁহো সঙ্গে করি’ লহ, ধর নিবেদন ॥ ৩৯ ॥
Text
iṅho saṅge kari’ laha, dhara nivedana
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu continued, “Here is a simple brāhmaṇa named Kṛṣṇadāsa. Please accept him and take him with You. That is My request.
Purport
This Kṛṣṇadāsa, known as Kālā Kṛṣṇadāsa, is not the Kālā Kṛṣṇadāsa mentioned in the eleventh chapter, verse 37, of the Ādi-līlā. The Kālā Kṛṣṇadāsa mentioned in the eleventh chapter is one of the twelve gopālas (cowherd boys) who appeared to substantiate the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He is known as a great devotee of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu. The brāhmaṇa named Kālā Kṛṣṇadāsa who went with Śrī Caitanya to South India and later to Bengal is mentioned in the Madhya-līlā, tenth chapter, verses 62-79. One should not take these two to be the same person.
Bengali
যে তোমার ইচ্ছা, কর, কিছু না বলিবে ॥ ৪০ ॥
Text
ye tomāra icchā, kara, kichu nā balibe
Synonyms
Translation
“He will carry Your waterpot and garments. You may do whatever You like; he will not say a word.”
Bengali
তাহা-সবা লঞা গেলা সার্বভৌম ঘরে ॥ ৪১ ॥
Text
tāhā-sabā lañā gelā sārvabhauma-ghare
Synonyms
Translation
Accepting the request of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, Lord Caitanya took all His devotees and went to the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.
Bengali
সবাকারে মিলি’ তবে আসনে বসিল ॥ ৪২ ॥
Text
sabākāre mili’ tabe āsane vasila
Synonyms
namaskari’ — offering obeisances; sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; āsana — sitting places; nivedila — offered; sabākāre — all of them; mili’ — meeting; tabe — after that; āsane vasila — he took his seat.
Translation
As soon as they entered his house, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya offered the Lord obeisances and a place to sit. After seating all the others, the Bhaṭṭācārya took his seat.
Bengali
‘তোমার ঠাঞি আইলাঙ আজ্ঞা মাগিবারে ॥ ৪৩ ॥
Text
‘tomāra ṭhāñi āilāṅ ājñā māgibāre
Synonyms
Translation
After they had discussed various topics about Lord Kṛṣṇa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu informed Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, “I have come to your place just to receive your order.
Bengali
অবশ্য করিব আমি তাঁর অন্বেষণে ॥ ৪৪ ॥
Text
avaśya kariba āmi tāṅra anveṣaṇe
Synonyms
Translation
“My elder brother, Viśvarūpa, has taken sannyāsa and gone to South India. Now I must go search for Him.
Bengali
তোমার আজ্ঞাতে সুখে লেউটি’ আসিব’ ॥ ৪৫ ॥
Text
tomāra ājñāte sukhe leuṭi’ āsiba’
Synonyms
Translation
“Please permit Me to go, for I must tour South India. With your permission, I shall soon return very happily.”
Bengali
চরণে ধরিয়া কহে বিষাদ-উত্তর ॥ ৪৬ ॥
Text
caraṇe dhariyā kahe viṣāda-uttara
Synonyms
Translation
Upon hearing this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya became very much agitated. Catching hold of the lotus feet of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he gave this sorrowful reply.
Bengali
হেন-সঙ্গ বিধি মোর করিলেক ভঙ্গ ॥ ৪৭ ॥
Text
hena-saṅga vidhi mora karileka bhaṅga
Synonyms
Translation
“After many births, due to some pious activity I got Your association. Now providence is breaking this invaluable association.
Bengali
তাহা সহি, তোমার বিচ্ছেদ সহন না যায় ॥ ৪৮ ॥
Text
tāhā sahi, tomāra viccheda sahana nā yāya
Synonyms
Translation
“If a thunderbolt falls on my head or if my son dies, I can tolerate it. But I cannot endure the unhappiness of separation from You.
Bengali
দিন কথো রহ, দেখি তোমার চরণ’ ॥ ৪৯ ॥
Text
dina katho raha, dekhi tomāra caraṇa’
Synonyms
Translation
“My dear Lord, You are the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead. Certainly You will depart. I know that. Still, I ask You to stay here a few days more so that I can see Your lotus feet.”
Bengali
রহিল দিবস কথো, না কৈল গমন ॥ ৫০ ॥
Text
rahila divasa katho, nā kaila gamana
Synonyms
Translation
Upon hearing Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s request, Caitanya Mahāprabhu relented. He stayed a few days longer and did not depart.
Bengali
গৃহে পাক করি’ প্রভুকে করা’ন ভোজন ॥ ৫১ ॥
Text
gṛhe pāka kari’ prabhuke karā’na bhojana
Synonyms
Translation
The Bhaṭṭācārya eagerly invited Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home and fed Him very nicely.
Bengali
রান্ধি’ ভিক্ষা দেন তেঁহো, আশ্চর্য তাঁর কথা ॥ ৫২ ॥
Text
rāndhi’ bhikṣā dena teṅho, āścarya tāṅra kathā
Synonyms
Translation
The Bhaṭṭācārya’s wife, whose name was Ṣāṭhīmātā (the mother of Ṣāṭhī), did the cooking. The narrations of these pastimes are very wonderful.
Bengali
এবে কহি প্ৰভুর দক্ষিণ-যাত্রা-সমাচার ॥ ৫৩ ॥
Text
ebe kahi prabhura dakṣiṇa-yātrā-samācāra
Synonyms
Translation
Later I shall tell about this in elaborate detail, but at present I wish to describe Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s South Indian tour.
Bengali
চলিবার লাগি’ আজ্ঞা মাগিলা আপনে ॥ ৫৪ ॥
Text
calibāra lāgi’ ājñā māgilā āpane
Synonyms
Translation
After staying five days at the home of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally asked his permission to depart for South India.
Bengali
প্রভু তাঁরে লঞা জগন্নাথ-মন্দিরে গেলা ॥ ৫৫ ॥
Text
prabhu tāṅre lañā jagannātha-mandire gelā
Synonyms
Translation
After receiving the Bhaṭṭācārya’s permission, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to see Lord Jagannātha in the temple. He took the Bhaṭṭācārya with Him.
Bengali
পূজারী প্রভুরে মালা-প্রসাদ আনি’ দিলা ॥ ৫৬ ॥
Text
pūjārī prabhure mālā-prasāda āni’ dilā
Synonyms
Translation
Seeing Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu also begged His permission. The priest then immediately delivered prasādam and a garland to Lord Caitanya.
Bengali
আনন্দে দক্ষিণ-দেশে চলে গৌরহরি ॥ ৫৭ ॥
Text
ānande dakṣiṇa-deśe cale gaurahari
Synonyms
Translation
Thus receiving Lord Jagannātha’s permission in the form of a garland, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered obeisances, and then in great jubilation He prepared to depart for South India.
Bengali
জগন্নাথ প্রদক্ষিণ করি’ করিলা গমন ॥ ৫৮ ॥
Text
jagannātha pradakṣiṇa kari’ karilā gamana
Synonyms
bhaṭṭācārya-saṅge — with Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; āra — and; yata — all; nija-gaṇa — personal devotees; jagannātha — Lord Jagannātha; pradakṣiṇa — circumambulation; kari’ — finishing; karilā — made; gamana — departure.
Translation
Accompanied by His personal associates and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu circumambulated the altar of Jagannātha. The Lord then departed on His South Indian tour.
Bengali
সার্বভৌম কহিলেন আচার্য-গোপীনাথে ॥ ৫৯ ॥
Text
sārvabhauma kahilena ācārya-gopīnāthe
Synonyms
samudra-tīre — on the shore of the sea; tīre — on the shore; ālālanātha-pathe — on the path to the temple of Ālālanātha; sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; kahilena — said; ācārya-gopīnāthe — to Gopīnātha Ācārya.
Translation
While the Lord was going along the path to Ālālanātha, which was located on the seashore, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya gave the following orders to Gopīnātha Ācārya.
Bengali
তাহা, প্রসাদান্ন, লঞা আইস বিপ্রদ্বারে ॥ ৬০ ॥
Text
tāhā, prasādānna, lañā āisa vipra-dvāre
Synonyms
Translation
“Bring the four sets of loincloths and outer garments I keep at home, and also some prasādam of Lord Jagannātha. You may carry these things with the help of some brāhmaṇa.”
Bengali
অবশ্য পালিবে, প্রভু, মোর নিবেদনে ॥ ৬১ ॥
Text
avaśya pālibe, prabhu, mora nivedane
Synonyms
Translation
While Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was departing, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya submitted the following at His lotus feet: “My Lord, I have one final request that I hope You will kindly fulfill.
Bengali
অধিকারী হয়েন তেঁহো বিদ্যানগরে ॥ ৬২ ॥
Text
adhikārī hayena teṅho vidyānagare
Synonyms
Translation
“In the town of Vidyānagara, on the bank of the Godāvarī, there is a responsible government officer named Rāmānanda Rāya.
Purport
In the Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura states that Vidyānagara is today known as Porbandar. There is another Porbandar in western India, in the province of Gujarat.
Bengali
আমার বচনে তাঁরে অবশ্য মিলিবে ॥ ৬৩ ॥
Text
āmāra vacane tāṅre avaśya milibe
Synonyms
Translation
“Please do not neglect him, thinking he belongs to a śūdra family engaged in material activities. It is my request that You meet him without fail.”
Purport
In the varṇāśrama-dharma, the śūdra is the fourth division in the social status. Paricaryātmakaṁ karma śūdrasyāpi svabhāva-jam (Bg. 18.44). Śūdras are meant to engage in the service of the three higher classes — brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas. Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya belonged to the karaṇa class, which is the equivalent of the kāyastha class in Bengal. This class is regarded all over India as śūdra. It is said that the Bengali kāyasthas were originally engaged as servants of brāhmaṇas who came from North India to Bengal. Later, the clerical class became the kāyasthas in Bengal. Now there are many mixed classes known as kāyastha. Sometimes it is said in Bengal that those who cannot claim any particular class belong to the kāyastha class. Although these kāyasthas or karaṇas are considered śūdras, they are very intelligent and highly educated. Most of them are professionals such as lawyers or politicians. Thus in Bengal the kāyasthas are sometimes considered kṣatriyas. In Orissa, however, the kāyastha class, which includes the karaṇas, is considered in the śūdra category. Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya belonged to this karaṇa class; therefore he was considered a śūdra. He was also the governor of South India under the regime of Mahārāja Pratāparudra of Orissa. In other words, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya informed Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu that Rāmānanda Rāya, although belonging to the śūdra class, was a highly responsible government officer. As far as spiritual advancement is concerned, materialists, politicians and śūdras are generally disqualified. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya therefore requested that Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu not neglect Rāmānanda Rāya, who was highly advanced spiritually although he was born a śūdra and a materialist.
A viṣayī is one who is attached to family life and is interested only in wife, children and worldly sense gratification. The senses can be engaged either in worldly enjoyment or in the service of the Lord. Those who are not engaged in the service of the Lord and are interested only in material sense gratification are called viṣayī. Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya was engaged in government service, and he belonged to the karaṇa class. He was certainly not a sannyāsī in saffron cloth, yet he was in the transcendental position of a paramahaṁsa householder. Before becoming Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s disciple, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya considered Rāmānanda Rāya an ordinary viṣayī because he was a householder engaged in government service. However, when the Bhaṭṭācārya was actually enlightened in Vaiṣṇava philosophy, he could understand the exalted transcendental position of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya; therefore he referred to him as adhikārī. An adhikārī is one who knows the transcendental science of Kṛṣṇa and is engaged in His service; therefore all gṛhastha devotees are designated as dāsa adhikārī.
Bengali
পৃথিবীতে রসিক ভক্ত নাহি তাঁর সম ॥ ৬৪ ॥
Text
pṛthivīte rasika bhakta nāhi tāṅra sama
Synonyms
Translation
Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, “Rāmānanda Rāya is a fit person to associate with You; no other devotee can compare with him in knowledge of the transcendental mellows.
Bengali
সম্ভাষিলে জানিবে তুমি তাঁহার মহিমা ॥ ৬৫ ॥
Text
sambhāṣile jānibe tumi tāṅhāra mahimā
Synonyms
Translation
“He is a most learned scholar as well as an expert in devotional mellows. Actually he is most exalted, and if You talk with him, You will see how glorious he is.
Bengali
পরিহাস করিয়াছি তাঁরে ‘বৈষ্ণব’ বলিয়া ॥ ৬৬ ॥
Text
parihāsa kariyāchi tāṅre ‘vaiṣṇava’ baliyā
Synonyms
Translation
“I could not realize when I first spoke with Rāmānanda Rāya that his topics and endeavors were all transcendentally uncommon. I made fun of him simply because he was a Vaiṣṇava.”
Purport
Anyone who is a not a Vaiṣṇava, or an unalloyed devotee of the Supreme Lord, must be a materialist. A Vaiṣṇava living according to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s injunctions is certainly not on the materialistic platform. Caitanya means “spiritual force.” All of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s activities were carried out on the platform of spiritual understanding; therefore only those who are on the spiritual platform are able to understand the activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Materialistic persons cannot understand these activities and are generally known as karmīs or jñānīs. The jñānīs are mental speculators who simply try to understand what is spirit and what is matter. Their process is neti neti: “This is not spirit, this is not Brahman.” The jñānīs are a little more advanced than the dull-headed karmīs, who are simply interested in sense gratification. Before becoming a Vaiṣṇava, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was a mental speculator (jñānī), and being such, he always cut jokes with Vaiṣṇavas. A Vaiṣṇava never agrees with the speculative system of the jñānīs. Both the jñānīs and karmīs depend on direct sense perception for their imperfect knowledge. The karmīs never agree to accept anything not directly perceived, and the jñānīs put forth only hypotheses. However, the Vaiṣṇavas, the unalloyed devotees of the Lord, do not follow the process of acquiring knowledge by direct sense perception or mental speculation. Because they are servants of the Supreme Lord, devotees receive knowledge directly from the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He speaks it in the Bhagavad-gītā, or sometimes as He imparts it from within as the caittya-guru. As Lord Kṛṣṇa states in the Bhagavad-gītā (10.10):
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ yena mām upayānti te
“To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.”
The Vedas are considered to have been spoken by the Supreme Lord. They were first realized by Brahmā, who is the first created being within the universe (tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye). Our process is to receive knowledge through the paramparā system, from Kṛṣṇa to Brahmā, to Nārada, Vyāsa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the six Gosvāmīs. By disciplic succession, Lord Brahmā was enlightened from within by the original person, Kṛṣṇa. Our knowledge is fully perfect due to being handed from master to disciple. A Vaiṣṇava is always engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and thus neither karmīs nor jñānīs can understand the activities of a Vaiṣṇava. It is said, vaiṣṇavera kriyā-mudrā vijñeha nā bujhaya: even the most learned man depending on direct perception of knowledge cannot understand the activities of a Vaiṣṇava. After being initiated into Vaiṣṇavism by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya realized what a mistake he had made in trying to understand Rāmānanda Rāya, who was very learned and whose endeavors were all directed to rendering transcendental loving service to the Lord.
Bengali
সম্ভাষিলে জানিবে তাঁর যেমন মহত্ত্ব ॥ ৬৭ ॥
Text
sambhāṣile jānibe tāṅra yemana mahattva
Synonyms
Translation
The Bhaṭṭācārya said, “By Your mercy I can now understand the truth about Rāmānanda Rāya. In talking with him, You also will acknowledge his greatness.”
Bengali
তাঁরে বিদায় দিতে তাঁরে কৈল আলিঙ্গন ॥ ৬৮ ॥
Text
tāṅre vidāya dite tāṅre kaila āliṅgana
Synonyms
Translation
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s request that He meet Rāmānanda Rāya. Bidding Sārvabhauma farewell, the Lord embraced him.
Bengali
নীলাচলে আসি’ যেন তোমার প্রসাদে ॥” ৬৯ ॥
Text
nīlācale āsi’ yena tomāra prasāde”
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked the Bhaṭṭācārya to bless Him while he engaged in the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa at home, so that by Sārvabhauma’s mercy the Lord could return to Jagannātha Purī.
Purport
The word kariha āśīrvāde means “continue to bestow your blessings upon Me.” Being a sannyāsī, Caitanya Mahāprabhu was in the fourth order of life and was thus due all respect and adoration, whereas Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, as a householder, was in the second order. A sannyāsī is supposed to offer blessings to a gṛhastha, yet now, by His practical behavior, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested the blessings of a gṛhastha. This incident shows the special significance of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s preaching. He gave equal status to everyone, regardless of material considerations. His movement is thoroughly spiritual. Although apparently a gṛhastha (householder), Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was unlike the so-called karmīs interested in sense gratification. After being initiated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Bhaṭṭācārya was perfectly situated in the spiritual order; therefore it was quite possible for him to offer blessings even to a sannyāsī. He was always engaged in the service of the Lord, even at home. In our disciplic line we have the example of a perfect householder paramahaṁsa — Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. In his book Śaraṇāgati, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura states, ye-dina gṛhe, bhajana dekhi’, gṛhete goloka bhāya (Śaraṇāgati 31.6). Whenever a householder glorifies the Supreme Lord in his home, his activities are immediately transformed into the activities of Goloka Vṛndāvana, spiritual activities taking place in the Goloka Vṛndāvana planet of Kṛṣṇa. Activities exhibited by Kṛṣṇa Himself at Bhauma Vṛndāvana, the Vṛndāvana-dhāma existing on this planet, are not different from His activities on the planet Goloka Vṛndāvana. This is proper realization of Vṛndāvana anywhere. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement we inaugurated the New Vṛndāvana activities, wherein devotees are always engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and this is not different from Goloka Vṛndāvana. The conclusion is that one who acts strictly in the line of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is competent to offer blessings to sannyāsīs, even though he be a gṛhastha householder. Although he is in an exalted position, a sannyāsī still must elevate himself to the transcendental platform by rendering service to the Lord. By His actual behavior, Caitanya Mahāprabhu begged the blessings of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. In this way He set the example of how one should expect blessings from a Vaiṣṇava regardless of his social position.
Bengali
মূর্চ্ছিত হঞা তাহাঁ পড়িলা সার্বভৌম ॥ ৭০ ॥
Text
mūrcchita hañā tāhāṅ paḍilā sārvabhauma
Synonyms
eta bali’ — saying this; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; karilā — made; gamana — departure; mūrcchita — fainted; hañā — becoming; tāhāṅ — there; paḍilā — fell down; sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.
Translation
Saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu departed on His tour, and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya immediately fainted and fell to the ground.
Bengali
কে বুঝিতে পারে মহাপ্রভুর চিত্ত-মন ॥ ৭১ ॥
Text
ke bujhite pāre mahāprabhura citta-mana
Synonyms
Translation
Although Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya fainted, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not take notice of him. Rather, He left quickly. Who can understand the mind and intention of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu?
Purport
It was naturally expected that when Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya fainted and fell to the ground Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would have taken care of him and waited for him to regain consciousness, but He did not do so. Rather, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately started on His tour. It is therefore very difficult to understand the activities of a transcendental person. Sometimes they may seem rather odd, but a transcendental personality remains in his position, unaffected by material considerations.
Bengali
পুষ্প-সম কোমল, কঠিন বজ্রময় ॥ ৭২ ॥
Text
puṣpa-sama komala, kaṭhina vajra-maya
Synonyms
Translation
This is the nature of the mind of an uncommon personality. Sometimes it is soft like a flower, but sometimes it is as hard as a thunderbolt.
Purport
The softness of a flower and the hardness of a thunderbolt are reconciled in the behavior of a great personality. The following quotation from Uttara-rāma-carita (2.7) explains this behavior. One may also consult the Madhya-līlā, third chapter, verse 212.
Bengali
লোকোত্তরাণাং চেতাংসি কো নু বিজ্ঞাতুমীশ্বরঃ ॥ ৭৩ ॥
Text
mṛdūni kusumād api
lokottarāṇāṁ cetāṁsi
ko nu vijñātum īśvaraḥ
Synonyms
Translation
“The hearts of those above common behavior are sometimes harder than a thunderbolt and sometimes softer than a flower. How can one accommodate such contradictions in great personalities?”
Bengali
তাঁর লোকসঙ্গে তাঁরে ঘরে পাঠাইল ॥ ৭৪ ॥
Text
tāṅra loka-saṅge tāṅre ghare pāṭhāila
Synonyms
nityānanda prabhu — Lord Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu; bhaṭṭācārye — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; uṭhāila — raised; tāṅra — His; loka-saṅge — along with associates; tāṅre — him (the Bhaṭṭācārya); ghare — to his home; pāṭhāila — sent.
Translation
Lord Nityānanda Prabhu raised Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and with the help of His men saw him to his home.
Bengali
বস্ত্র-প্রসাদ লঞা তবে আইলা গোপীনাথ ॥ ৭৫ ॥
Text
vastra-prasāda lañā tabe āilā gopīnātha
Synonyms
Translation
Immediately all the devotees came and partook of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s company. Afterwards, Gopīnātha Ācārya came with the garments and prasādam.
Bengali
নমস্কার করি’ তারে বহুস্তুতি কৈলা ॥ ৭৬ ॥
Text
namaskāra kari’ tāre bahu-stuti kailā
Synonyms
Translation
All the devotees followed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to a place known as Ālālanātha. There they all offered respects and various prayers.
Bengali
দেখিতে আইলা তাহাঁ বৈসে যত জন ॥ ৭৭ ॥
Text
dekhite āilā tāhāṅ vaise yata jana
Synonyms
Translation
In great ecstasy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced and chanted for some time. Indeed, all the neighbors came to see Him.
Bengali
প্রেমাবেশে মধ্যে নৃত্য করে গৌরহরি ॥ ৭৮ ॥
Text
premāveśe madhye nṛtya kare gaurahari
Synonyms
Translation
All around Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is also known as Gaurahari, people began to shout the holy name of Hari. Lord Caitanya, immersed in His usual ecstasy of love, danced in the midst of them.
Bengali
পুলকাশ্রু-কম্প-স্বেদ তাহাতে ভূষণ ॥ ৭৯ ॥
Text
pulakāśru-kampa-sveda tāhāte bhūṣaṇa
Synonyms
Translation
The body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was naturally very beautiful. It was like molten gold dressed in saffron cloth. Indeed, He was most beautiful for being ornamented with the ecstatic symptoms, which caused His bodily hair to stand on end, tears to well up in His eyes, and His body to tremble and perspire all over.
Bengali
যত লোক আইসে, কেহ নাহি যায় ঘর ॥ ৮০ ॥
Text
yata loka āise, keha nāhi yāya ghara
Synonyms
Translation
Everyone present was astonished to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s dancing and His bodily transformations. Whoever came did not want to return home.
Bengali
প্রেমেতে ভাসিল লোক, — স্ত্রী-বৃদ্ধ-আবাল ॥ ৮১ ॥
Text
premete bhāsila loka, — strī-vṛddha-ābāla
Synonyms
Translation
Everyone — including children, old men and women — began to dance and to chant the holy names of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Gopāla. In this way they all floated in the ocean of love of Godhead.
Bengali
এইরূপে নৃত্য আগে হবে গ্রামে-গ্রামে ॥ ৮২ ॥
Text
ei-rūpe nṛtya āge habe grāme-grāme
Synonyms
Translation
Upon seeing the chanting and dancing of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Nityānanda predicted that later there would be dancing and chanting in every village.
Purport
This prediction of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu’s is applicable not only in India but also all over the world. That is now happening by His grace. The members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness are now traveling from one village to another in the Western countries and are even carrying the Deity with them. These devotees distribute various literatures all over the world. We hope that these devotees who are preaching the message of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will very seriously follow strictly in His footsteps. If they follow the rules and regulations and chant sixteen rounds daily, their endeavor to preach the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will certainly be successful.
Bengali
তবে নিত্যানন্দ-গোসাঞি সৃজিলা উপায় ॥ ৮৩ ॥
Text
tabe nityānanda-gosāñi sṛjilā upāya
Synonyms
Translation
Seeing that it was already getting late, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, the spiritual master, invented a means to disperse the crowd.
Bengali
তাহা দেখি’ লোক আইসে চৌদিকে ধাঞা ॥ ৮৪ ॥
Text
tāhā dekhi’ loka āise caudike dhāñā
Synonyms
Translation
When Lord Nityānanda Prabhu took Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for lunch at noon, everyone came running around Them.
Bengali
নিজগণ প্ৰবেশি’ কপাট দিল বহির্দ্বারে ॥ ৮৫ ॥
Text
nija-gaṇa praveśi’ kapāṭa dila bahir-dvāre
Synonyms
Translation
After finishing Their baths, They returned at noon to the temple. Admitting His own men, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu closed the outside door.
Bengali
প্রভুর শেষ প্রসাদান্ন সবে বাঁটি’ খাইল ॥ ৮৬ ॥
Text
prabhura śeṣa prasādānna sabe bāṅṭi’ khāila
Synonyms
Translation
Gopīnātha Ācārya then brought prasādam for the two Lords to eat, and after They had eaten, the remnants of the food were distributed to all the devotees.
Bengali
‘হরি’ ‘হরি’ বলি’ লোক কোলাহল করে ॥ ৮৭ ॥
Text
‘hari’ ‘hari’ bali’ loka kolāhala kare
Synonyms
Translation
Hearing about this, everyone there came to the outside door and began chanting the holy name, “Hari! Hari!” Thus there was a tumultuous sound.
Bengali
আনন্দে আসিয়া লোক পাইল দরশন ॥ ৮৮ ॥
Text
ānande āsiyā loka pāila daraśana
Synonyms
Translation
After lunch, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu made them open the door. In this way everyone received His audience with great pleasure.
Bengali
‘বৈষ্ণব’ হইল লোক, সবে নাচে, গায় ॥ ৮৯ ॥
Text
‘vaiṣṇava’ ha-ila loka, sabe nāce, gāya
Synonyms
Translation
The people came and went until evening, and all of them became Vaiṣṇava devotees and began to chant and dance.
Bengali
সেই রাত্রি গোঙাইলা কৃষ্ণকথা-রঙ্গে ॥ ৯০ ॥
Text
sei rātri goṅāilā kṛṣṇa-kathā-raṅge
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then passed the night there and discussed the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa with His devotees with great pleasure.
Bengali
ভক্তগণে বিদায় দিলা করি’ আলিঙ্গন ॥ ৯১ ॥
Text
bhakta-gaṇe vidāya dilā kari’ āliṅgana
Synonyms
Translation
The next morning, after taking His bath, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu started on His South Indian tour. He bade farewell to the devotees by embracing them.
Bengali
তাঁহা-সবা পানে প্রভু ফিরি’ না চাহিলা ॥ ৯২ ॥
Text
tāṅhā-sabā pāne prabhu phiri’ nā cāhilā
Synonyms
Translation
Although they all fell to the ground unconscious, the Lord did not turn to see them but proceeded onward.
Bengali
পাছে কৃষ্ণদাস যায় জলপাত্র লঞা ॥ ৯৩ ॥
Text
pāche kṛṣṇadāsa yāya jala-pātra lañā
Synonyms
Translation
In separation, the Lord became very much perturbed and walked on unhappily. His servant, Kṛṣṇadāsa, who was carrying His waterpot, followed behind.
Bengali
আর দিনে দুঃখী হঞা নীলাচলে আইলা ॥ ৯৪ ॥
Text
āra dine duḥkhī hañā nīlācale āilā
Synonyms
Translation
All the devotees remained there and fasted, and the next day they all unhappily returned to Jagannātha Purī.
Bengali
প্রেমাবেশে যায় করি’ নাম-সংকীর্তন ॥ ৯৫ ॥
Text
premāveśe yāya kari’ nāma-saṅkīrtana
Synonyms
Translation
Almost like a mad lion, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went on His tour filled with ecstatic love and performing saṅkīrtana, chanting Kṛṣṇa’s names as follows.
Bengali
কৃষ্ণ! কৃষ্ণ! কৃষ্ণ! কৃষ্ণ! কৃষ্ণ! কৃষ্ণ! কৃষ্ণ! হে ॥।
কৃষ্ণ! কৃষ্ণ! কৃষ্ণ! কৃষ্ণ! কৃষ্ণ! কৃষ্ণ! রক্ষ মাম্ ।
কৃষ্ণ! কৃষ্ণ! কৃষ্ণ! কৃষ্ণ! কৃষ্ণ! কৃষ্ণ! পাহি মাম্ ॥।
রাম! রাঘব! রাম! রাঘব! রাম! রাঘব! রক্ষ মাম্ ।
কৃষ্ণ! কেশব! কৃষ্ণ! কেশব! কৃষ্ণ! কেশব! পাহি মাম্ ॥ ৯৬ ॥
Text
kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! he
kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! rakṣa mām
kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! kṛṣṇa! pāhi mām
rāma! rāghava! rāma! rāghava! rāma! rāghava! rakṣa mām
kṛṣṇa! keśava! kṛṣṇa! keśava! kṛṣṇa! keśava! pāhi mām
Synonyms
Translation
The Lord chanted:
Purport
Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! he
Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! rakṣa mām
Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! pāhi mām
That is, “O Lord Kṛṣṇa, please protect Me and maintain Me.” He also chanted:
Kṛṣṇa! Keśava! Kṛṣṇa! Keśava! Kṛṣṇa! Keśava! pāhi mām
That is, “O Lord Rāma, descendant of King Raghu, please protect Me. O Kṛṣṇa, O Keśava, killer of the Keśī demon, please maintain Me.”
Bengali
লোক দেখি’ পথে কহে, — বল ‘হরি’ ‘হরি’ ॥ ৯৭ ॥
Text
loka dekhi’ pathe kahe, — bala ‘hari’ ‘hari’
Synonyms
Translation
Chanting this verse, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, known as Gaurahari, went on His way. As soon as He saw someone, He would request him to chant “Hari! Hari!”
Bengali
প্রভুর পাছে সঙ্গে যায় দর্শন-সতৃষ্ণ ॥ ৯৮ ॥
Text
prabhura pāche saṅge yāya darśana-satṛṣṇa
Synonyms
Translation
Whoever heard Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu chant “Hari! Hari!” also chanted the holy name of Lord Hari and Kṛṣṇa. In this way they all followed the Lord, very eager to see Him.
Bengali
বিদায় করিল তারে শক্তি সঞ্চারিয়া ॥ ৯৯ ॥
Text
vidāya karila tāre śakti sañcāriyā
Synonyms
Translation
After some time the Lord would embrace these people and bid them return home, having invested each of them with spiritual potency.
Purport
In his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains that this spiritual potency is the essence of the pleasure potency and the knowledge potency. By these two potencies, one is empowered with devotional service. Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself or His representative, the unalloyed devotee, can mercifully bestow these combined potencies upon any man. Being thus endowed with such potencies, one can become an unalloyed devotee of the Lord. Anyone favored by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was empowered with this bhakti-śakti. Thus the Lord’s followers were able to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness by divine grace.
Bengali
‘কৃষ্ণ’ বলি’ হাসে, কান্দে, নাচে অনুক্ষণ ॥ ১০০ ॥
Text
‘kṛṣṇa’ bali’ hāse, kānde, nāce anukṣaṇa
Synonyms
Translation
Each of these empowered persons would return to his own village, always chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and sometimes laughing, crying and dancing.
Bengali
এইমত ‘বৈষ্ণব’ কৈল সব নিজ-গ্রাম ॥ ১০১ ॥
Text
ei-mata ‘vaiṣṇava’ kaila saba nija-grāma
Synonyms
Translation
Such an empowered person would request everyone and anyone — whomever he saw — to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. In this way all the villagers would also become devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Purport
In order to become an empowered preacher, one must be favored by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu or His devotee, the spiritual master. One must also request everyone to chant the mahā-mantra. In this way, such a person can convert others to Vaiṣṇavism, showing them how to become pure devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Bengali
তাঁর দর্শন-কৃপায় হয় তাঁর সম ॥ ১০২ ॥
Text
tāṅra darśana-kṛpāya haya tāṅra sama
Synonyms
Translation
People from different villages who came to see such an empowered individual would become like him simply by seeing him and receiving the mercy of his glance.
Bengali
অন্যগ্ৰামী আসি’ তাঁরে দেখি’ বৈষ্ণব হয় ॥ ১০৩ ॥
Text
anya-grāmī āsi’ tāṅre dekhi’ vaiṣṇava haya
Synonyms
Translation
When each of these newly empowered individuals returned to his own village, he also converted the villagers into devotees. And when others came from different villages to see him, they were also converted.
Bengali
এইমত ‘বৈষ্ণব’ হৈল সব দক্ষিণ-দেশ ॥ ১০৪ ॥
Text
ei-mata ‘vaiṣṇava’ haila saba dakṣiṇa-deśa
Synonyms
Translation
In this way, as empowered men went from one village to another, all the people of South India became devotees.
Bengali
‘বৈষ্ণব’ করেন তাঁরে করি’ আলিঙ্গন ॥ ১০৫ ॥
Text
‘vaiṣṇava’ karena tāṅre kari’ āliṅgana
Synonyms
Translation
Thus many hundreds of people became Vaiṣṇavas when they passed the Lord on the way and were embraced by Him.
Bengali
সেই গ্রামের যত লোক আইসে দেখিবারে ॥ ১০৬ ॥
Text
sei grāmera yata loka āise dekhibāre
Synonyms
Translation
In whatever village Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed to accept alms, many people came to see Him.
Bengali
সেই সব আচার্য হঞা তারিল জগৎ ॥ ১০৭ ॥
Text
sei saba ācārya hañā tārila jagat
Synonyms
Translation
By the mercy of the Supreme Lord, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, everyone became a first-class devotee. Later they became teachers or spiritual masters and liberated the entire world.
Bengali
সর্বদেশ ‘বৈষ্ণব’ হৈল প্ৰভুর সম্বন্ধে ॥ ১০৮ ॥
Text
sarva-deśa ‘vaiṣṇava’ haila prabhura sambandhe
Synonyms
Translation
In this way the Lord went to the extreme southern part of India, and He converted all the provinces to Vaiṣṇavism.
Bengali
সে শক্তি প্ৰকাশি’ নিস্তারিল দক্ষিণদেশে ॥ ১০৯ ॥
Text
se śakti prakāśi’ nistārila dakṣiṇa-deśe
Synonyms
Translation
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not manifest His spiritual potencies at Navadvīpa, but He did manifest them in South India and liberated all the people there.
Purport
At that time there were many smārtas (nondevotee followers of Vedic rituals) at the holy place of Navadvīpa, which was also the birthplace of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Followers of the smṛti-śāstra are called smārtas. Most of them are nondevotees, and their main business is following the brahminical principles strictly. However, they are not enlightened in devotional service. In Navadvīpa all the learned scholars are followers of the smṛti-śāstra, and Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not attempt to convert them. Therefore the author has remarked that the spiritual potency Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not manifest at Navadvīpa was by His grace manifested in South India. Thus everyone there became a Vaiṣṇava. By this it is to be understood that people are really interested in preaching in a favorable situation. If the candidates for conversion are too disturbing, a preacher may not attempt to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness amongst them. It is better to go where the situation is more favorable. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement was first attempted in India, but the people of India, being absorbed in political thoughts, did not take to it. They were entranced by the political leaders. We preferred, therefore, to come to the West, following the order of our spiritual master, and by the grace of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu this movement is becoming successful.
Bengali
সেই সে এ-সব লীলা সত্য করি’ লয় ॥ ১১০ ॥
Text
sei se e-saba līlā satya kari’ laya
Synonyms
Translation
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s empowering of others can be understood by one who is actually a devotee of the Lord and who has received His mercy.
Bengali
ইহলোক, পরলোক তার হয় নাশ ॥ ১১১ ॥
Text
iha-loka, para-loka tāra haya nāśa
Synonyms
Translation
If one does not believe in the uncommon transcendental pastimes of the Lord, he is vanquished both in this world and in the next.
Bengali
এইমত জানিহ যাবৎ দক্ষিণ-ভ্রমণ ॥ ১১২ ॥
Text
ei-mata jāniha yāvat dakṣiṇa-bhramaṇa
Synonyms
Translation
Whatever I have stated about the beginning of the Lord’s tour should also be understood to hold for as long as the Lord toured South India.
Bengali
কূর্ম দেখি’ কৈল তাঁরে স্তবন-প্ৰণামে ॥ ১১৩ ॥
Text
kūrma dekhi’ kaila tāṅre stavana-praṇāme
Synonyms
Translation
When Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to the holy place known as Kūrma-kṣetra, He saw the Deity and offered prayers and obeisances.
Purport
Kūrma-sthāna is a well-known place of pilgrimage. There is a temple there of Kūrmadeva. In the Prapannāmṛta it is said that Lord Jagannātha took Śrī Rāmānujācārya from Jagannātha Purī and one night threw him to Kūrma-kṣetra. Kūrma-kṣetra is situated on the line of the Southern Railway in India. One has to go to the railway station known as Srikakulam Road. From this station one goes eight miles to the east to reach the holy place known as Kūrmācala. Those who speak the Telugu language consider this holy place very important. This statement is reported in the government gazette known as Gañjāma Manual. There is the Deity of Kūrma there, and, as mentioned above, Śrīla Rāmānujācārya was thrown from Jagannātha Purī to this place. At that time he thought that the Deity of Kūrma was Lord Śiva’s deity; therefore he was fasting there. Later, when he understood that the kūrma-mūrti was another form of Lord Viṣṇu, he instituted very gorgeous worship of Lord Kūrma. This statement is found in the Prapannāmṛta (chapter thirty-six). The holy place of Kūrma-kṣetra, or Kūrma-sthāna, was actually reestablished by Śrīpāda Rāmānujācārya under the influence of Lord Jagannātha-deva at Jagannātha Purī. Later the temple came under the jurisdiction of the king of Vijaya-nagara. The Deity was worshiped by the Vaiṣṇavas of the Madhvācārya-sampradāya. In the temple there are some inscriptions said to be written by Śrī Narahari Tīrtha, who was in the disciplic succession of Madhvācārya. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains those inscriptions as follows: (1) Śrī Puruṣottama Yati appeared as the instructor of many learned men. He was a very favorite devotee of Lord Viṣṇu. (2) His preaching was accepted throughout the world with great respect, and by his power he liberated many nondevotees with strong reason and logic. (3) He initiated Ānanda Tīrtha and converted many foolish men to accept sannyāsa and punished them with his rod. (4) All his writings and words are very potent. He gave people devotional service to Lord Viṣṇu so they could be elevated to liberation in the spiritual world. (5) His instructions in devotional service were able to elevate any man to the lotus feet of the Lord. (6) Narahari Tīrtha was also initiated by him and became the ruler of Kaliṅga Province. (7) Narahari Tīrtha fought with the Śabaras, who were caṇḍālas, or hunters, and thus saved the temple of Kūrma. (8) Narahari Tīrtha was a very religious and powerful king. (9) In the Śaka Era 1203, in the month of Vaiśākha, in the fortnight of the moon’s waxing period, on the day of Ekādaśī, Narahari Ṭīrtha dedicated to the holy name of Yogānanda Nṛsiṁhadeva the temple he had constructed on His order. [The tablet is dated that very day, corresponding to Saturday, March 29, 1281 A.D.]
Bengali
দেখি’ সর্ব লোকের চিত্তে চমৎকার হৈল ॥ ১১৪ ॥
Text
dekhi’ sarva lokera citte camatkāra haila
Synonyms
Translation
While at this place, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was in His usual ecstasy of love of Godhead and was laughing, crying, dancing and chanting. Everyone who saw Him was astonished.
Bengali
প্ৰভুর রূপ-প্রেম দেখি’ হৈলা চমত্কারে ॥ ১১৫ ॥
Text
prabhura rūpa-prema dekhi’ hailā camatkāre
Synonyms
Translation
After hearing of these wonderful occurrences, everyone came to see Him there. When they saw the beauty of the Lord and His ecstatic condition, they were all struck with wonder.
Bengali
প্রেমাবেশে নাচে লোক ঊর্ধ্ববাহু করি’ ॥ ১১৬ ॥
Text
premāveśe nāce loka ūrdhva bāhu kari’
Synonyms
Translation
Just by seeing Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, everyone became a devotee. They began to chant “Kṛṣṇa” and “Hari” and all the holy names. They all were merged in a great ecstasy of love, and they began to dance, raising their arms.
Bengali
সেই লোক ‘বৈষ্ণব’ কৈল অন্য সব গ্রাম ॥ ১১৭ ॥
Text
sei loka ‘vaiṣṇava’ kaila anya saba grāma
Synonyms
Translation
Always hearing them chant the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the residents of all the other villages also became Vaiṣṇavas.
Bengali
কৃষ্ণনামামৃত-বন্যায় দেশ ভাসাইল ॥ ১১৮ ॥
Text
kṛṣṇa-nāmāmṛta-vanyāya deśa bhāsāila
Synonyms
Translation
By hearing the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, the entire country became Vaiṣṇava. It was as if the nectar of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa overflooded the entire country.
Bengali
কূর্মের সেবক বহু সম্মান করিলা ॥ ১১৯ ॥
Text
kūrmera sevaka bahu sammāna karilā
Synonyms
Translation
After some time, when Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu manifested His external consciousness, a priest of the Lord Kūrma Deity gave Him various offerings.
Bengali
এক ঠাঞি কহিল, না কহিব আর বার ॥ ১২০ ॥
Text
eka ṭhāñi kahila, nā kahiba āra bāra
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mode of preaching has already been explained, and I shall not repeat the explanation. In whichever village the Lord entered, His behavior was the same.
Bengali
বহু শ্রদ্ধা-ভক্ত্যে কৈল প্রভুর নিমন্ত্রণ ॥ ১২১ ॥
Text
bahu śraddhā-bhaktye kaila prabhura nimantraṇa
Synonyms
Translation
In one village there was a Vedic brāhmaṇa named Kūrma. He invited Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home with great respect and devotion.
Bengali
সেই জল বংশ-সহিত করিল ভক্ষণ ॥ ১২২ ॥
Text
sei jala vaṁśa-sahita karila bhakṣaṇa
Synonyms
Translation
This brāhmaṇa brought Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home, washed His lotus feet and, with his family members, drank that water.
Bengali
গোসাঞির শেষান্ন সবংশে খাইল ॥ ১২৩ ॥
Text
gosāñira śeṣānna sa-vaṁśe khāila
Synonyms
Translation
With great affection and respect, that Kūrma brāhmaṇa made Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu eat all kinds of food. After that, the remnants were shared by all the members of the family.
Bengali
সেই পাদপদ্ম সাক্ষাৎ আইল মোর ঘরে ॥ ১২৪ ॥
Text
sei pāda-padma sākṣāt āila mora ghare
Synonyms
Translation
The brāhmaṇa then began to pray, “O my Lord, Your lotus feet are meditated upon by Lord Brahmā, and these very lotus feet have come into my home.
Bengali
আজি মোর শ্লাঘ্য হৈল জন্ম-কুল-ধন ॥ ১২৫ ॥
Text
āji mora ślāghya haila janma-kula-dhana
Synonyms
Translation
“My dear Lord, there is no limit to my great fortune. It cannot be described. Today my family, birth and riches have all been glorified.”
Bengali
সহিতে না পারি দুঃখ বিষয়-তরঙ্গে ॥’ ১২৬ ॥
Text
sahite nā pāri duḥkha viṣaya-taraṅge’
Synonyms
Translation
The brāhmaṇa begged Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “My dear Lord, kindly show me favor and let me go with You. I can no longer tolerate the waves of misery caused by materialistic life.”
Purport
This statement is applicable for everyone, regardless of how rich or prosperous one may be. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has confirmed this statement: saṁsāra-viṣānale, divā-niśi hiyā jvale. He states that the materialistic way of life causes a burning in the heart. One cannot make any provisions for the troublesome life of the material world. It is a fact that one may be very happy as far as riches are concerned and one may be very opulent in every respect, yet one has to manage the viṣayas to meet the demands of the body and of so many family members and subordinates. One has to take so much trouble to minister to others. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura therefore prays: viṣaya chāḍiyā kabe śuddha ha’be mana. Thus one must become freed from the materialistic way of life. One has to merge himself in the ocean of transcendental bliss. In other words, one cannot relish transcendental bliss without being freed from the materialistic way of life. It appears that the brāhmaṇa named Kūrma was materially very happy, for he expressed his family tradition as janma-kula-dhana. Now, being glorious, he wanted to leave all these material opulences. He wanted to travel with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. According to the Vedic way of civilization, one should leave his family after attaining fifty years of age and go to the forest of Vṛndāvana to devote the rest of his life to the service of the Lord.
Bengali
গৃহে রহি’ কৃষ্ণ-নাম নিরন্তর লৈবা ॥ ১২৭ ॥
Text
gṛhe rahi’ kṛṣṇa-nāma nirantara laibā
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Don’t speak like that again. Better to remain at home and chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa always.
Purport
It is not advisable in this Age of Kali to leave one’s family suddenly, for people are not trained as proper brahmacārīs and gṛhasthas. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised the brāhmaṇa not to be too eager to give up family life. It would be better to remain with his family and try to become purified by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra regularly under the direction of a spiritual master. This is the instruction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. If this principle is followed by everyone, there is no need to accept sannyāsa. In the next verse Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advises everyone to become an ideal householder by offenselessly chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and teaching the same principle to everyone he meets.
Bengali
আমার আজ্ঞায় গুরু হঞা তার’ এই দেশ ॥ ১২৮ ॥
Text
āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa
Synonyms
yāre — whomever; dekha — you meet; tāre — him; kaha — tell; kṛṣṇa-upadeśa — the instruction of the Bhagavad-gītā as it is spoken by the Lord or of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which advises one to worship Śrī Kṛṣṇa; āmāra ājñāya — under My order; guru hañā — becoming a spiritual master; tāra’ — deliver; ei deśa — this country.
Translation
“Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.”
Purport
This is the sublime mission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Many people come and inquire whether they have to give up family life to join the Society, but that is not our mission. One can remain comfortably in his residence. We simply request everyone to chant the mahā-mantra: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. If one is a little literate and can read Bhagavad-gītā As It Is and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, that is so much the better. These works are now available in an English translation and are done very authoritatively to appeal to all classes of men. Instead of living engrossed in material activities, people throughout the world should take advantage of this movement and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra at home with their families. One should also refrain from sinful activities — illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. Out of these four items, illicit sex is very sinful. Every person must get married. Every woman especially must get married. If the women outnumber the men, some men can accept more than one wife. In that way there will be no prostitution in society. If men can marry more than one wife, illicit sex life will be stopped. One can also produce many nice preparations to offer Kṛṣṇa — grain, fruit, flowers and milk. Why should one indulge in unnecessary meat-eating and maintain horrible slaughterhouses? What is the use of smoking and drinking tea and coffee? People are already intoxicated by material enjoyment, and if they indulge in further intoxication, what chance is there for self-realization? Similarly, one should not partake in gambling and unnecessarily agitate the mind. The real purpose of human life is to attain the spiritual platform and return to Godhead. That is the summum bonum of spiritual realization. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is trying to elevate human society to the perfection of life by pursuing the method described by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in His advice to the brāhmaṇa Kūrma. That is, one should stay at home, chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and preach the instructions of Kṛṣṇa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Bengali
পুনরপি এই ঠাঞি পাবে মোর সঙ্গ ॥” ১২৯ ॥
Text
punarapi ei ṭhāñi pābe mora saṅga”
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu further advised the brāhmaṇa Kūrma, “If you follow this instruction, your materialistic life at home will not obstruct your spiritual advancement. Indeed, if you follow these regulative principles, we will again meet here, or, rather, you will never lose My company.”
Purport
This is an opportunity for everyone. If one simply follows the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, under the guidance of His representative, and chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, teaching everyone as far as possible the same principle, the contamination of the materialistic way of life will not even touch him. It does not matter whether one lives in a holy place like Vṛndāvana, Navadvīpa or Jagannātha Purī or in the midst of European cities, where the materialistic way of life is very prominent. If a devotee follows the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he lives in the company of the Lord. Wherever he lives, he converts that place into Vṛndāvana and Navadvīpa. This means that materialism cannot touch him. This is the secret of success for one advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Bengali
সেই ঐছে কহে, তাঁরে করায় এই শিক্ষা ॥ ১৩০ ॥
Text
sei aiche kahe, tāṅre karāya ei śikṣā
Synonyms
Translation
At whosever house Śrī Caitanya accepted His alms by taking prasādam, He would convert the dwellers to His saṅkīrtana movement and advise them just as He advised the brāhmaṇa named Kūrma.
Purport
The cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is explained here very nicely. One who surrenders to Him and is ready to follow Him with heart and soul does not need to change his location. Nor is it necessary for one to change his status. One may remain a householder, a medical practitioner, an engineer or whatever. It doesn’t matter. One only has to follow the instruction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and instruct relatives and friends in the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. One has to learn humility and meekness at home, following the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and in that way one’s life will be spiritually successful. One should not try to be an artificially advanced devotee, thinking, “I am a first-class devotee, so it is best not to accept any disciples.” Such thinking should be avoided. One has to become purified at home by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and preaching the principles enunciated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Thus one can become a spiritual master and be freed from the contamination of material life.
There are many sahajiyās who decry the activities of the six Gosvāmīs — Śrīla Rūpa, Sanātana, Raghunātha dāsa, Bhaṭṭa Raghunātha, Jīva and Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmīs — who are the personal associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and who enlightened society by writing books on devotional service. Similarly, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura and other great ācāryas like Madhvācārya, Rāmānujācārya and others accepted many thousands of disciples to induce them to render devotional service. However, there is a class of sahajiyās who think that these activities are opposed to the principles of devotional service. Indeed, they consider such activities simply another phase of materialism. Thus opposing the principles of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they commit offenses at His lotus feet. They should better consider His instructions and, instead of seeking to be considered humble and meek, should refrain from criticizing the followers of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu who engage in preaching. To protect His preachers, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has given much clear advice in these verses of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.
Bengali
যাঁর ঘরে ভিক্ষা করে, সেই মহাজনে ॥ ১৩১ ॥
নীলাচলে পুনঃ যাবৎ না আইলা গোসাঞি ॥ ১৩২ ॥
Text
yāṅra ghare bhikṣā kare, sei mahā-jane
nīlācale punaḥ yāvat nā āilā gosāñi
Synonyms
pathe yāite — while passing on the road; devālaye — in a temple; rahe — He stays; yei grāme — in any village; yāṅra ghare — at whose place; bhikṣā kare — takes alms or eats; sei mahā-jane — to such a great personality; kūrme — unto the brāhmaṇa Kūrma; yaiche — just as; rīti — the process; taiche — in the same way; kaila — did; sarva-ṭhāñi — in all places; nīlācale — to Jagannātha Purī; punaḥ — again; yāvat — until; nā — not; āilā — returned; gosāñi — the Lord.
Translation
While on His tour, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would spend the night at a temple by the road. Whenever He accepted food from a person, He would give him the same advice He gave the brāhmaṇa named Kūrma. He adopted this process until He returned to Jagannātha Purī from His South Indian tour.
Bengali
এইমত জানিবে প্রভুর সর্বত্র ব্যবহার ॥ ১৩৩ ॥
Text
ei-mata jānibe prabhura sarvatra vyavahāra
Synonyms
Translation
Thus I have described the Lord’s behavior elaborately in the case of Kūrma. In this way, you will know Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s dealings throughout South India.
Bengali
প্রাতঃকালে প্রভু স্নান করিয়া চলিলা ॥ ১৩৪ ॥
Text
prātaḥ-kāle prabhu snāna kariyā calilā
Synonyms
Translation
Thus Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would remain at night in one place, and the next morning, after bathing, He would start again.
Bengali
প্রভু তাঁরে যত্ন করি’ ঘরে পাঠাইলা ॥ ১৩৫ ॥
Text
prabhu tāṅre yatna kari’ ghare pāṭhāilā
Synonyms
Translation
When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left, the brāhmaṇa Kūrma followed Him a great distance, but eventually Lord Caitanya took care to send him back home.
Bengali
সর্বাঙ্গে গলিত কুষ্ঠ, তাতে কীড়াময় ॥ ১৩৬ ॥
Text
sarvāṅge galita kuṣṭha, tāte kīḍā-maya
Synonyms
Translation
There was also a brāhmaṇa named Vāsudeva, who was a great person but was suffering from leprosy. Indeed, his body was filled with living worms.
Bengali
উঠাঞা সেই কীড়া রাখে সেই ঠাঞ ॥ ১৩৭ ॥
Text
uṭhāñā sei kīḍā rākhe sei ṭhāña
Synonyms
Translation
Although suffering from leprosy, the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva was enlightened. As soon as one worm fell from his body, he would pick it up and place it back again in the same location.
Bengali
দেখিবারে আইলা প্রভাতে কূর্মের ভবন ॥ ১৩৮ ॥
Text
dekhibāre āilā prabhāte kūrmera bhavana
Synonyms
Translation
Then one night Vāsudeva heard of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s arrival, and in the morning he came to see the Lord at the house of Kūrma.
Bengali
ভূমিতে পড়িলা দুঃখে মূর্চ্ছিত হঞা ॥ ১৩৯ ॥
Text
bhūmite paḍilā duḥkhe mūrcchita hañā
Synonyms
Translation
When the leper Vāsudeva came to Kūrma’s house to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he was informed that the Lord had already left. The leper then fell to the ground unconscious.
Bengali
সেইক্ষণে আসি’ প্রভু তাঁরে আলিঙ্গিলা ॥ ১৪০ ॥
Text
sei-kṣaṇe āsi’ prabhu tāṅre āliṅgilā
Synonyms
Translation
When Vāsudeva, the leper brāhmaṇa, was lamenting due to not being able to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord immediately returned to that spot and embraced him.
Bengali
আনন্দ সহিতে অঙ্গ সুন্দর হইল ॥ ১৪১ ॥
Text
ānanda sahite aṅga sundara ha-ila
Synonyms
Translation
When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu touched him, both the leprosy and his distress went to a distant place. Indeed, Vāsudeva’s body became very beautiful, to his great happiness.
Bengali
শ্লোক পড়ি’ পায়ে ধরি, করয়ে স্তবন ॥ ১৪২ ॥
Text
śloka paḍi’ pāye dhari, karaye stavana
Synonyms
Translation
The brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva was astonished to behold the wonderful mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and he began to recite a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, touching the Lord’s lotus feet.
Bengali
ব্রহ্মবন্ধুরিতি স্মাহং বাহুভ্যাং পরিরম্ভিতঃ ॥ ১৪৩ ॥
Text
kva kṛṣṇaḥ śrī-niketanaḥ
brahma-bandhur iti smāhaṁ
bāhubhyāṁ parirambhitaḥ
Synonyms
kva — who; aham — I; daridraḥ — poor; pāpīyān — sinful; kva — who; kṛṣṇaḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; śrī-niketanaḥ — the transcendental form of all opulence; brahma-bandhuḥ — the friend of a brāhmaṇa, not fit even to be called a brāhmaṇa; iti — thus; sma — certainly; aham — I; bāhubhyām — by the arms; parirambhitaḥ — embraced.
Translation
He said, “ ‘Who am I? A sinful, poor friend of a brāhmaṇa. And who is Kṛṣṇa? The Supreme Personality of Godhead, full in six opulences. Nonetheless, He has embraced me with His two arms.’ ”
Purport
This verse was spoken by Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.81.16), in connection with his meeting Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Bengali
জীবে এই গুণ নাহি, তোমাতে এই হয় ॥ ১৪৪ ॥
হেন-মোরে স্পর্শ’ তুমি, — স্বতন্ত্র ঈশ্বর ॥ ১৪৫ ॥
Text
jīve ei guṇa nāhi, tomāte ei haya
hena-more sparśa’ tumi, — svatantra īśvara
Synonyms
bahu — many; stuti — prayers; kari’ — presenting; kahe — says; śuna — kindly hear; dayā-maya — O greatly merciful Lord; jīve — in the living entity; ei — this; guṇa — quality; nāhi — there is not; tomāte — in You; ei — this; haya — is; more dekhi’ — by seeing me; mora gandhe — from smelling my body; palāya — runs away; pāmara — even a sinful man; hena-more — such a person as me; sparśa’ — touch; tumi — You; svatantra — fully independent; īśvara — the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Translation
The brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva continued, “O my merciful Lord, such mercy is not possible for ordinary living entities. Such mercy can be found only in You. Upon seeing me, even a sinful person goes away due to my bad bodily odor. Yet You have touched me. Such is the independent behavior of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
Bengali
এবে অহঙ্কার মোর জন্মিবে আসিয়া ॥ ১৪৬ ॥
Text
ebe ahaṅkāra mora janmibe āsiyā
Synonyms
Translation
Being meek and humble, the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva worried that he would become proud after being cured by the grace of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Bengali
নিরন্তর কহ তুমি ‘কৃষ্ণ’ ‘কৃষ্ণ’ নাম ॥ ১৪৭ ॥
Text
nirantara kaha tumi ‘kṛṣṇa’ ‘kṛṣṇa’ nāma
Synonyms
Translation
To protect the brāhmaṇa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised him to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra incessantly. By doing so, he would never become unnecessarily proud.
Bengali
অচিরাতে কৃষ্ণ তোমা করিবেন অঙ্গীকার ॥” ১৪৮ ॥
Text
acirāte kṛṣṇa tomā karibena aṅgīkāra”
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu also advised Vāsudeva to preach about Kṛṣṇa and thus liberate living entities. As a result, Kṛṣṇa would very soon accept him as His devotee.
Purport
Although Vāsudeva Vipra was a leper and had suffered greatly, still, after Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu cured him He instructed him to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Indeed, the only return the Lord wanted was that Vāsudeva preach the instructions of Kṛṣṇa and liberate all human beings. That is the process of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Each and every member of this Society was rescued from a very abominable condition, but now they are engaged in preaching the cult of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. They are not only cured of the disease called materialism but are also living a very happy life. Everyone accepts them as great devotees of Kṛṣṇa, and their qualities are manifest in their very faces. If one wants to be recognized as a devotee by Kṛṣṇa, he should take to preaching work, following the advice of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then one will undoubtedly attain the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, without delay.
Bengali
দুই বিপ্র গলাগলি কান্দে প্রভুর গুণে ॥ ১৪৯ ॥
Text
dui vipra galāgali kānde prabhura guṇe
Synonyms
Translation
After instructing the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva in that way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu disappeared from that place. Then the two brāhmaṇas, Kūrma and Vāsudeva, embraced each other and began to cry, remembering the transcendental qualities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Bengali
‘বাসুদেবামৃতপ্ৰদ’ হৈল প্রভুর নাম ॥ ১৫০ ॥
Text
‘vāsudevāmṛta-prada’ haila prabhura nāma
Synonyms
Translation
Thus I have described how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu reclaimed the leper Vāsudeva and so received the name Vāsudevāmṛta-prada.
Purport
The name Vāsudevāmṛta-prada is mentioned in the verses composed by Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.
Bengali
কূর্ম-দরশন, বাসুদেব-বিমোচন ॥ ১৫১ ॥
Text
kūrma-daraśana, vāsudeva-vimocana
Synonyms
Translation
Thus I end my description of the beginning of the tour of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, His visiting the temple of Kūrma and His liberating the leper brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva.
Bengali
অচিরাতে মিলয়ে তারে চৈতন্য-চরণ ॥ ১৫২ ॥
Text
acirāte milaye tāre caitanya-caraṇa
Synonyms
Translation
One who hears these pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with great faith will surely very soon attain the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Purport
When a person actually revives his consciousness with thoughts of Kṛṣṇa by the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he revives his spiritual life and becomes addicted to the service of the Lord. Only then can he act as an ācārya. In other words, everyone should engage in preaching, following in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In this way one will be very much appreciated by Lord Kṛṣṇa and will quickly be recognized by Him. Actually a devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu must engage in preaching in order to increase the followers of the Lord. By thus preaching actual Vedic knowledge all over the world, one will benefit all mankind.
Bengali
সেই লিখি, যেই মহান্তের মুখে শুনি ॥ ১৫৩ ॥
Text
sei likhi, yei mahāntera mukhe śuni
Synonyms
Translation
I admit that I do not know the beginning or the end of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pastimes. However, whatever I have written I have heard from the mouths of great personalities.
Bengali
তোমা-সবার চরণ — মোর একান্ত শরণ ॥ ১৫৪ ॥
Text
tomā-sabāra caraṇa — mora ekānta śaraṇa
Synonyms
Translation
O devotees, please do not consider my offenses in this regard. Your lotus feet are my only shelter.
Bengali
চৈতন্য-চরিতামৃত কহে কৃষ্ণদাস ॥ ১৫৫ ॥
Text
caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇadāsa
Synonyms
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, Madhya-līlā, seventh chapter, describing the start of the Lord’s tour of South India and the liberation of the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva.