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CHAPTER NINE

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Travels to the Holy Places

A summary of the ninth chapter is given by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. After leaving Vidyānagara, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited such places of pilgrimage as Gautamī-gaṅgā, Mallikārjuna, Ahovala-nṛsiṁha, Siddhavaṭa, Skanda-kṣetra, Trimaṭha, Vṛddhakāśī, Bauddha-sthāna, Tirupati, Tirumala, Pānā-nṛsiṁha, Śiva-kāñcī, Viṣṇu-kāñcī, Trikāla-hasti, Vṛddhakola, Śiyālī-bhairavī, the Kāverī River and Kumbhakarṇa-kapāla.

Finally the Lord went to Śrī Raṅga-kṣetra, where He converted a brāhmaṇa named Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa, who, along with his family, took up devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. After leaving Śrī Raṅga, Caitanya Mahāprabhu reached Ṛṣabha-parvata, where He met Paramānanda Purī, who later arrived at Jagannātha Purī. Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then proceeded farther, arriving at Setubandha Rāmeśvara. At Śrī Śaila-parvata, the Lord met Lord Śiva and his wife Durgā in the dress of a brāhmaṇa and brāhmaṇī. From there He went to Kāmakoṣṭhī-purī and later arrived at southern Mathurā. A brāhmaṇa devotee of Lord Rāmacandra talked with Him. Then the Lord took His bath in the river Kṛtamālā. On the hill known as Mahendra-śaila, the Lord saw Paraśurāma. Then the Lord went to Setubandha and took His bath at Dhanus-tīrtha. He also visited Rāmeśvara, where He collected some papers connected with Sītādevī, whose illusory form had been kidnapped by Rāvaṇa. The Lord next visited the places known as Pāṇḍya-deśa, the Tāmraparṇī River, Naya-tripati, Ciyaḍatalā, Tila-kāñcī, Gajendra-mokṣaṇa, Pānāgaḍi, Cāmtāpura, Śrī Vaikuṇṭha, Malaya-parvata and Kanyā-kumārī. The Lord then confronted the Bhaṭṭathāris at Mallāra-deśa and saved Kālā Kṛṣṇadāsa from their clutches. The Lord also collected the Brahma-saṁhitā, fifth chapter, on the banks of the Payasvinī River. He then visited Payasvinī, Śṛṅgavera-purī-maṭha and Matsya-tīrtha. At the village of Uḍupī He saw the Gopāla Deity installed by Śrī Madhvācārya. He then defeated the Tattvavādīs in śāstric conversation. The Lord next visited Phalgu-tīrtha, Tritakūpa, Pañcāpsarā, Sūrpāraka and Kolāpura. At Pāṇḍarapura the Lord received news from Śrī Raṅga Purī that Śaṅkarāraṇya (Viśvarūpa) had disappeared there. He then went to the banks of the Kṛṣṇa-veṇvā River, where He collected from among the Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇas a book written by Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura, Śrī Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta. The Lord then visited the Tāpī River, Māhiṣmatī-pura, the Narmadā River and Ṛṣyamūka-parvata. He entered Daṇḍakāraṇya and liberated seven palm trees. From there He visited a place known as Pampā-sarovara and visited Pañcavaṭī, Nāsika, Brahmagiri and also the source of the Godāvarī River, Kuśāvarta. Thus the Lord visited almost all the holy places in South India. He finally returned to Jagannātha Purī by taking the same route, after visiting Vidyānagara again.

Bengali

নানামতগ্রাহগ্রস্তান্ দাক্ষিণাত্যজনদ্বিপান্ ।
কৃপারিণা বিমুচ্যৈতান্ গৌরশ্চক্রে স বৈষ্ণবান্ ॥ ১ ॥

Text

nānā-mata-grāha-grastān
dākṣiṇātya-jana-dvipān
kṛpāriṇā vimucyaitān
gauraś cakre sa vaiṣṇavān

Synonyms

nānā-mata — by various philosophies; grāha — like crocodiles; grastān — captured; dākṣiṇātya-jana — the inhabitants of South India; dvipān — like elephants; kṛpā-ariṇā — by His disc of mercy; vimucya — liberating; etān — all these; gauraḥ — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; cakre — converted; saḥ — He; vaiṣṇavān — to the Vaiṣṇava cult.

Translation

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu converted the inhabitants of South India. These people were as strong as elephants, but they were in the clutches of the crocodiles of various philosophies, such as the Buddhist, Jain and Māyāvāda philosophies. With His disc of mercy the Lord delivered them all by converting them into Vaiṣṇavas, devotees of the Lord.

Purport

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s converting the people of South India into Vaiṣṇavas is compared herein to Lord Viṣṇu’s delivering Gajendra the elephant from the attack of a crocodile. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited southern India, almost all the residents were within the jaws of the crocodiles of Buddhist, Jain and Māyāvāda philosophy. Here Kavirāja Gosvāmī states that although these people were as strong as elephants, they were almost in the clutches of death because they were being attacked by the crocodiles of various philosophies. However, just as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in the form of Viṣṇu saved the elephant Gajendra from the clutches of a crocodile, so He saved all the people of South India from the clutches of various philosophies by converting them into Vaiṣṇavas.

Bengali

জয় জয় শ্রীচৈতন্য জয় নিত্যানন্দ ।
জয়াদ্বৈতচন্দ্র জয় গৌরভক্তবৃন্দ ॥ ২ ॥

Text

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda
jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

Synonyms

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

Translation

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

Bengali

দক্ষিণগমন প্রভুর অতি বিলক্ষণ ।
সহস্র সহস্র তীর্থ কৈল দরশন ॥ ৩ ॥

Text

dakṣiṇa-gamana prabhura ati vilakṣaṇa
sahasra sahasra tīrtha kaila daraśana

Synonyms

dakṣiṇa-gamana — touring in South India; prabhura — of the Lord; ati — very; vilakṣaṇa — extraordinary; sahasra sahasra — thousands and thousands; tīrtha — holy places; kaila — did; daraśana — visit.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s tour of South India was certainly very extraordinary because He visited many thousands of places of pilgrimage there.

Bengali

সেই সব তীর্থ স্পর্শি’ মহাতীর্থ কৈল ।
সেই ছলে সেই দেশের লোক নিস্তারিল ॥ ৪ ॥

Text

sei saba tīrtha sparśi’ mahā-tīrtha kaila
sei chale sei deśera loka nistārila

Synonyms

sei saba — all those; tīrtha — holy places; sparśi’ — touching; mahā-tīrtha — into great places of pilgrimage; kaila — made them; sei chale — under that plea; sei deśera — of those countries; loka — the people; nistārila — He delivered.

Translation

On the plea of visiting all those holy places, the Lord converted many thousands of residents and thus delivered them. Simply by touching the holy places, He made them into great places of pilgrimage.

Purport

It is said, tīrthī-kurvanti tīrthāni. A tīrtha, or holy place, is a place where great saintly personalities visit or reside. Although the holy places were already places of pilgrimage, they were all purified by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s visit. Many people go to these holy places and leave their sinful activities there, thus becoming free from contamination. When these contaminations pile up, they are counteracted by the visit of great personalities like Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His strict followers. Many kinds of patients come to a hospital, which may be infected by many types of diseases. Actually the hospital is always infected, but the expert physician keeps the hospital sterilized by his expert presence and management. Similarly, places of pilgrimage are always infected by the sins left by the sinners who go there, but when a personality like Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visits such a place, all contaminations vanish.

Bengali

সেই সব তীর্থের ক্রম কহিতে না পারি ।
দক্ষিণ-বামে তীর্থ-গমন হয় ফেরাফেরি ॥ ৫ ॥

Text

sei saba tīrthera krama kahite nā pāri
dakṣiṇa-vāme tīrtha-gamana haya pherāpheri

Synonyms

sei saba — all those; tīrthera — of holy places; krama — the chronological order; kahite — to tell of; pāri — I am unable; dakṣiṇa-vāme — left and right; tīrtha-gamana — visiting the holy places; haya — is; pherāpheri — going and coming back.

Translation

I cannot chronologically record all the places of pilgrimage visited by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. I can only summarize everything by saying that the Lord visited all holy places right and left, coming and going.

Bengali

অতএব নাম-মাত্র করিয়ে গণন ।
কহিতে না পারি তার যথা অনুক্রম ॥ ৬ ॥

Text

ataeva nāma-mātra kariye gaṇana
kahite nā pāri tāra yathā anukrama

Synonyms

ataeva — therefore; nāma-mātra — only as a token record; kariye gaṇana — I count; kahite — to tell; pāri — I am unable; tāra — of that; yathā — as; anukrama — chronological order.

Translation

Because it is impossible for me to record all these places in chronological order, I will simply make a token gesture of recording them.

Bengali

পূর্ববৎ পথে যাইতে যে পায় দরশন ।
যেই গ্রামে যায়, সে গ্রামের যত জন ॥ ৭ ॥
সবেই বৈষ্ণব হয়, কহে ‘কৃষ্ণ’ ‘হরি’ ।
অন্য গ্রাম নিস্তারয়ে সেই ‘বৈষ্ণব’ করি’ ॥ ৮ ॥

Text

pūrvavat pathe yāite ye pāya daraśana
yei grāme yāya, se grāmera yata jana
sabei vaiṣṇava haya, kahe ‘kṛṣṇa’ ‘hari’
anya grāma nistāraye sei ‘vaiṣṇava’ kari’

Synonyms

pūrva-vat — as done previously; pathe — on the way; yāite — while going; ye — anyone who; pāya — gets; daraśana — audience; yei — which; grāme — in the village; yāya — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu goes; se — that; grāmera — of the village; yata — all; jana — people; sabei — all of them; vaiṣṇava haya — become devotees; kahe — say; kṛṣṇa hari — the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Hari; anya grāma — other villages; nistāraye — delivers; sei — He; vaiṣṇava — devotees; kari’ — making.

Translation

As previously stated, all the residents of the villages visited by Lord Caitanya became Vaiṣṇavas and began to chant Hari and Kṛṣṇa. In this way, in all the villages visited by the Lord, everyone became a Vaiṣṇava, a devotee.

Purport

The holy names of Kṛṣṇa and Hari, or the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, are so spiritually powerful that even today, as our preachers go to remote parts of the world, people immediately begin chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. There cannot be anyone who can compare to Him or His potencies. However, because we are following in His footsteps and are also chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, the effect is almost as potent as during the time of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Our preachers mainly belong to European and American countries, yet by the grace of Lord Caitanya they have tremendous success wherever they go to open branches. Indeed, everywhere people are very seriously chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

Bengali

দক্ষিণ দেশের লোক অনেক প্রকার ।
কেহ জ্ঞানী, কেহ কর্মী, পাষণ্ডী অপার ॥ ৯ ॥

Text

dakṣiṇa deśera loka aneka prakāra
keha jñānī, keha karmī, pāṣaṇḍī apāra

Synonyms

dakṣiṇa deśera — of South India; loka — people; aneka — many; prakāra — varieties; keha — someone; jñānī — philosophical speculator; keha — someone; karmī — fruitive worker; pāṣaṇḍī — nondevotees; apāra — innumerable.

Translation

In South India there were many types of people. Some were philosophical speculators, and some were fruitive workers, but in any case there were innumerable nondevotees.

Bengali

সেই সব লোক প্রভুর দর্শনপ্রভাবে ।
নিজ-নিজ-মত ছাড়ি’ হইল বৈষ্ণবে ॥ ১০ ॥

Text

sei saba loka prabhura darśana-prabhāve
nija-nija-mata chāḍi’ ha-ila vaiṣṇave

Synonyms

sei saba loka — all those people; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; darśana-prabhāve — by the influence of His visit; nija-nija — their own; mata — opinion; chāḍi’ — giving up; ha-ila — became; vaiṣṇave — devotees.

Translation

By the influence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all these people abandoned their own opinions and became Vaiṣṇavas, devotees of Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

বৈষ্ণবের মধ্যে রাম-উপাসক সব ।
কেহ ‘তত্ত্ববাদী’, কেহ হয় ‘শ্রীবৈষ্ণব’ ॥ ১১ ॥

Text

vaiṣṇavera madhye rāma-upāsaka saba
keha ‘tattvavādī’, keha haya ‘śrī-vaiṣṇava’

Synonyms

vaiṣṇavera madhye — amongst Vaiṣṇavas; rāma-upāsaka saba — all worshipers of Lord Śrī Rāmacandra; keha — someone; tattva-vādī — followers of Madhvācārya; keha — someone; haya — is; śrī-vaiṣṇava — devotees following the disciplic succession of Śrī Rāmānujācārya.

Translation

At the time, all the South Indian Vaiṣṇavas were worshipers of Lord Rāmacandra. Some were Tattvavādīs, and some were followers of Rāmānujācārya.

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura points out that the word “Tattvavādī” refers to the followers of Śrīla Madhvācārya. To distinguish his disciplic succession from the Māyāvādī followers of Śaṅkarācārya, Śrīla Madhvācārya named his party the Tattvavādīs. Impersonal monists are always attacked by these Tattvavādīs, who attempt to defeat their philosophy of impersonalism. Generally, they establish the supremacy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Actually the disciplic succession of Madhvācārya is known as the Brahmā Vaiṣṇava sect; that is the sect coming down from Lord Brahmā. Consequently the Tattvavādīs, or followers of Madhvācārya, do not accept the incident of Lord Brahmā’s illusion, which is recorded in the Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Śrīla Madhvācārya has purposefully avoided commenting on that portion of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in which brahma-mohana, the illusion of Lord Brahmā, is mentioned. Śrīla Mādhavendra Purī was one of the ācāryas in the Tattvavāda disciplic succession, and he established the ultimate goal of transcendentalism to be attainment of pure devotional service, love of Godhead. Those Vaiṣṇavas belonging to the Gauḍīya-sampradāya, the disciplic succession following Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, are distinct from the Tattvavādīs, although they belong to the same Tattvavāda-sampradāya. The followers of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are therefore known as the Madhva-Gauḍīya-sampradāya.

The word pāṣaṇḍī refers to those who are opposed to pure devotional service. In particular, these are the Māyāvādīs, the impersonalists. A definition of pāṣaṇḍī is given in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (1.73), wherein it is stated:

yas tu nārāyaṇaṁ devaṁbrahma-rudrādi-daivataiḥ
samatvenaiva vīkṣeta
sa pāṣaṇḍī bhaved dhruvam

A pāṣaṇḍī is one who thinks that the Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa, the Personality of Godhead, is on the same level with the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva. A devotee never considers Lord Nārāyaṇa to be on the same platform with Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva. The Madhvācārya-sampradāya and Rāmānuja-sampradāya are mainly worshipers of Lord Rāmacandra, although the Śrī Vaiṣṇavas are supposed to be worshipers of Lord Nārāyaṇa and Lakṣmī and the Tattvavādīs are supposed to be worshipers of Lord Kṛṣṇa. At present, in most of the monasteries belonging to the Madhva-sampradāya, Lord Rāmacandra is worshiped.

In the book known as Adhyātma-rāmāyaṇa, there are statements in chapters twelve to fifteen about worshiping the Deities of Śrī Rāmacandra and Sītā. There it is stated that during Lord Rāmacandra’s time there was a brāhmaṇa who took a vow to fast until he saw Lord Rāmacandra. Sometimes, due to business, Lord Rāmacandra was absent from His capital for a full week and could not be seen by the citizens during that time. Because of his vow, the brāhmaṇa could not take even a drop of water during that week. Later, after eight or nine days, when the brāhmaṇa could see Lord Rāmacandra personally, he would break his fast. Upon observing the brāhmaṇa’s rigid vow, Lord Śrī Rāmacandra ordered His younger brother Lakṣmaṇa to deliver a pair of Sītā-Rāma Deities to the brāhmaṇa. The brāhmaṇa received the Deities from Śrī Lakṣmaṇajī and worshiped Them faithfully as long as he lived. At the time of his death, he delivered the Deities to Śrī Hanumānjī, who, for many years, hung Them around his neck and served Them with all devotion. After many years, when Hanumānjī departed on the hill known as Gandha-mādana, he delivered the Deities to Bhīmasena, one of the Pāṇḍavas, and Bhīmasena brought Them to his palace, where he kept Them very carefully. The last king of the Pāṇḍavas, Kṣemakānta, worshiped the Deities in that palace. Later, the same Deities were kept in the custody of the kings of Orissa known as Gajapatis. One of the ācāryas, known as Narahari Tīrtha, who was in the disciplic succession of Madhvācārya, received these Deities from the King of Orissa.

It may be noted that these particular Deities of Rāma and Sītā have been worshiped from the time of King Ikṣvāku. Indeed, They were worshiped by the royal princes even before the appearance of Lord Rāmacandra. Later, during Lord Rāmacandra’s presence, the Deities were worshiped by Lakṣmaṇa. It is said that just three months before his disappearance, Śrī Madhvācārya received these Deities and installed them in the Uḍupī temple. Since then the Deities have been worshiped by the Madhvācārya-sampradāya at that monastery. As far as the Śrī Vaiṣṇavas are concerned, beginning with Rāmānujācārya, they also worshiped Deities of Sītā-Rāma. Sītā-Rāma Deities are also being worshiped in Tirupati and other places. From the Śrī Rāmānuja-sampradāya there is another branch known as Rāmānandī or Rāmāt, and the followers of that branch also worship Deities of Sītā-Rāma very rigidly. The Rāmānuja-sampradāya Vaiṣṇavas prefer the worship of Lord Rāmacandra to that of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

সেই সব বৈষ্ণব মহাপ্রভুর দর্শনে ।
কৃষ্ণ-উপাসক হৈল, লয় কৃষ্ণনামে ॥ ১২॥

Text

sei saba vaiṣṇava mahāprabhura darśane
kṛṣṇa-upāsaka haila, laya kṛṣṇa-nāme

Synonyms

sei saba — all those; vaiṣṇava — devotees; mahāprabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; darśane — by seeing; kṛṣṇa-upāsaka — devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa; haila — became; laya — took; kṛṣṇa-nāme — the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

After meeting Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all those different Vaiṣṇavas became devotees of Kṛṣṇa and began chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

Bengali

রাম! রাঘব! রাম! রাঘব! রাম! রাঘব! পাহি মাম্ ।
কৃষ্ণ! কেশব! কৃষ্ণ! কেশব! কৃষ্ণ! কেশব! রক্ষ মাম্ ॥ ১৩ ॥

Text

rāma! rāghava! rāma! rāghava! rāma! rāghava! pāhi mām
kṛṣṇa! keśava! kṛṣṇa! keśava! kṛṣṇa! keśava! rakṣa mām

Synonyms

rāma — O Rāma; rāghava — O descendant of Raghu; pāhi — please protect; mām — me; kṛṣṇa — O Kṛṣṇa; keśava — O killer of Keśī; rakṣa — protect; mām — me.

Translation

“ ‘O Lord Rāmacandra, descendant of Mahārāja Raghu, kindly protect me! O Lord Kṛṣṇa, killer of the Keśī demon, kindly protect me!’ ”

Bengali

এই শ্লোক পথে পড়ি’ করিলা প্রয়াণ ।
গৌতমী-গঙ্গায় যাই’ কৈল গঙ্গাস্নান ॥ ১৪ ॥

Text

ei śloka pathe paḍi’ karilā prayāṇa
gautamī-gaṅgāya yāi’ kaila gaṅgā-snāna

Synonyms

ei śloka — this Sanskrit verse; pathe — on the way; paḍi’ — reciting; karilā — did; prayāṇa — going; gautamī-gaṅgāya — to the bank of the Gautamī-gaṅgā; yāi’ — going; kaila — did; gaṅgā-snāna — bathing in the Ganges.

Translation

While walking on the road, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to chant this Rāma Rāghava mantra. Chanting in this way, He arrived at the banks of the Gautamī-gaṅgā and took His bath there.

Purport

The Gautamī-gaṅgā is a branch of the river Godāvarī. Formerly a great sage named Gautama Ṛṣi used to live on the bank of this river opposite the city of Rajahmundry, and consequently this branch was called the Gautamī-gaṅgā.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says that Śrīla Kavirāja Gosvāmī has recorded the names of the holy places visited by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu but that there is no chronological order of the places visited. However, there is a notebook of Govinda dāsa’s containing a chronological order and references to geographical positions. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura requests the readers to refer to that book. According to Govinda dāsa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Trimanda from the Gautamī-gaṅgā. From there He went to Ḍhuṇḍirāma-tīrtha, another place of pilgrimage. According to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, after visiting the Gautamī-gaṅgā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Mallikārjuna-tīrtha.

Bengali

মল্লিকার্জুন-তীর্থে যাই’ মহেশ দেখিল ।
তাহাঁ সব লোকে কৃষ্ণনাম লওয়াইল ॥ ১৫ ॥

Text

mallikārjuna-tīrthe yāi’ maheśa dekhila
tāhāṅ saba loke kṛṣṇa-nāma laoyāila

Synonyms

mallikārjuna-tīrthe — to the holy place known as Mallikārjuna; yāi’ — going; maheśa — the deity of Lord Śiva; dekhila — He saw; tāhāṅ — there; saba loke — all the people; kṛṣṇa-nāma — Lord Kṛṣṇa’s holy name; laoyāila — He induced to chant.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then went to Mallikārjuna-tīrtha and saw the deity of Lord Śiva there. He also induced all the people to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

Purport

Mallikārjuna is also known as Śrī Saila. It is situated about one hundred miles northeast of Karṇula on the southern bank of the Kṛṣṇā River. There are great walls all around the village, and within the walls resides the deity known as Mallikārjuna. It is a deity of Lord Śiva and is one of the Jyotir-liṅgas.

Bengali

রামদাস মহাদেবে করিল দরশন ।
অহোবল-নৃসিংহেরে করিলা গমন ॥ ১৬ ॥

Text

rāmadāsa mahādeve karila daraśana
ahovala-nṛsiṁhere karilā gamana

Synonyms

rāma-dāsa — Rāmadāsa; mahā-deve — of Mahādeva; karila — did; daraśana — seeing; ahovala-nṛsiṁhere — to Ahovala-nṛsiṁha; karilā — did; gamana — going.

Translation

There he saw Lord Mahādeva [Śiva], the servant of Lord Rāma. He then went to Ahovala-nṛsiṁha.

Bengali

নৃসিংহ দেখিয়া তাঁরে কৈল নতি-স্তুতি ।
সিদ্ধবট গেলা যাহাঁ মূর্তি সীতাপতি ॥ ১৭ ॥

Text

nṛsiṁha dekhiyā tāṅre kaila nati-stuti
siddhavaṭa gelā yāhāṅ mūrti sītāpati

Synonyms

nṛsiṁha dekhiyā — after seeing the Lord Nṛsiṁha Deity; tāṅre — unto Him; kaila — did; nati-stuti — offering of various prayers; siddhavaṭa — to Siddhavaṭa; gelā — He went; yāhāṅ — where; mūrti — the Deity; sītā-pati — Lord Rāmacandra.

Translation

Upon seeing the Ahovala-nṛsiṁha Deity, Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered many prayers unto the Lord. He then went to Siddhavaṭa, where He saw the Deity of Rāmacandra, the Lord of Sītādevī.

Purport

Siddhavaṭa, also known as Sidhauṭa, is ten miles east of the village of Kuḍāpā. Previously this place was also known as the southern Benares. There is a great banyan tree there, and it is therefore known as Siddhavaṭa. Vaṭa means banyan tree.

Bengali

রঘুনাথ দেখি’ কৈল প্রণতি স্তবন ।
তাহাঁ এক বিপ্র প্রভুর কৈল নিমন্ত্রণ ॥ ১৮ ॥

Text

raghunātha dekhi’ kaila praṇati stavana
tāhāṅ eka vipra prabhura kaila nimantraṇa

Synonyms

raghu-nātha dekhi’ — after seeing Lord Rāmacandra, the descendant of Mahārāja Raghu; kaila — offered; praṇati — obeisances; stavana — prayers; tāhāṅ — there; eka — one; viprabrāhmaṇa; prabhura — to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kaila — did; nimantraṇa — invitation.

Translation

Upon seeing the Deity of Lord Rāmacandra, the descendant of King Raghu, the Lord offered His prayers and obeisances. Then a brāhmaṇa invited the Lord to take lunch.

Bengali

সেই বিপ্র রামনাম নিরন্তর লয় ।
‘রাম’ ‘রাম’ বিনা অন্য বাণী না কহয় ॥ ১৯ ॥

Text

sei vipra rāma-nāma nirantara laya
‘rāma’ ‘rāma’ vinā anya vāṇī nā kahaya

Synonyms

sei vipra — that brāhmaṇa; rāma-nāma — the holy name of Lord Rāmacandra; nirantara — constantly; laya — chants; rāma rāma — the holy names Rāma Rāma; vinā — without; anya — other; vāṇī — vibration; — does not; kahaya — speak.

Translation

That brāhmaṇa constantly chanted the holy name of Rāmacandra. Indeed, but for chanting Lord Rāmacandra’s holy name, that brāhmaṇa did not speak a word.

Bengali

সেই দিন তাঁর ঘরে রহি’ ভিক্ষা করি’ ।
তাঁরে কৃপা করি’ আগে চলিলা গৌরহরি ॥ ২০ ॥

Text

sei dina tāṅra ghare rahi’ bhikṣā kari’
tāṅre kṛpā kari’ āge calilā gaurahari

Synonyms

sei dina — on that day; tāṅra ghare — the house of that brāhmaṇa; rahi’ — staying; bhikṣā kari’ — accepting prasādam; tāṅre — unto him; kṛpā kari’ — showing mercy; āge — ahead; calilā — departed; gaura-hari — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Translation

That day, Lord Caitanya remained there and accepted prasādam at his house. After bestowing mercy upon him in this way, the Lord proceeded ahead.

Bengali

স্কন্দক্ষেত্র-তীর্থে কৈল স্কন্দ দরশন ।
ত্রিমঠ আইলা, তাঁহা দেখি’ ত্রিবিক্রম ॥ ২১ ॥

Text

skanda-kṣetra-tīrthe kaila skanda daraśana
trimaṭha āilā, tāhāṅ dekhi’ trivikrama

Synonyms

skanda-kṣetra-tīrthe — in the holy place known as Skanda-kṣetra; kaila — did; skanda daraśana — visiting Lord Skanda (Kārttikeya, son of Lord Śiva); trimaṭha — at Trimaṭha; āilā — arrived; tāhāṅ — there; dekhi’ — seeing; trivikrama — a form of Lord Viṣṇu, Trivikrama.

Translation

At the holy place known as Skanda-kṣetra, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the temple of Skanda. From there He went to Trimaṭha, where He saw the Viṣṇu Deity Trivikrama.

Bengali

পুনঃ সিদ্ধবট আইলা সেই বিপ্র-ঘরে ।
সেই বিপ্র কৃষ্ণনাম লয় নিরন্তরে ॥ ২২ ॥

Text

punaḥ siddhavaṭa āilā sei vipra-ghare
sei vipra kṛṣṇa-nāma laya nirantare

Synonyms

punaḥ — again; siddha-vaṭa — to the place known as Siddhavaṭa; āilā — returned; sei — that; vipra-ghare — in the house of the brāhmaṇa; sei vipra — that brāhmaṇa; kṛṣṇa-nāma — the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; laya — chants; nirantare — constantly.

Translation

After visiting the temple of Trivikrama, the Lord returned to Siddhavaṭa, where He again visited the house of the brāhmaṇa, who was now constantly chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

Bengali

ভিক্ষা করি’ মহাপ্রভু তাঁরে প্রশ্ন কৈল ।
“কহ বিপ্র, এই তোমার কোন্ দশা হৈল ॥ ২৩ ॥

Text

bhikṣā kari’ mahāprabhu tāṅre praśna kaila
‘‘kaha vipra, ei tomāra kon daśā haila

Synonyms

bhikṣā kari’ — after accepting lunch; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅre — unto him; praśna kaila — asked a question; kaha vipra — My dear brāhmaṇa friend, please say; ei — this; tomāra — your; kon — what; daśā — situation; haila — became.

Translation

After finishing His lunch there, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked the brāhmaṇa, “My dear friend, kindly tell Me what your position is now.

Bengali

পূর্বে তুমি নিরন্তর লৈতে রামনাম ।
এবে কেনে নিরন্তর লও কৃষ্ণনাম ॥” ২৪ ॥

Text

pūrve tumi nirantara laite rāma-nāma
ebe kene nirantara lao kṛṣṇa-nāma’’

Synonyms

pūrve — formerly; tumi — you; nirantara — constantly; laite — used to chant; rāma-nāma — the holy name of Lord Rāmacandra; ebe — now; kene — why; nirantara — constantly; lao — you chant; kṛṣṇa-nāma — the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“Formerly you were constantly chanting the holy name of Lord Rāma. Why are you now constantly chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa?”

Bengali

বিপ্র বলে, — এই তোমার দর্শন-প্রভাবে ।
তোমা দেখি’ গেল মোর আজন্ম স্বভাবে ॥ ২৫ ॥

Text

vipra bale, — ei tomāra darśana-prabhāve
tomā dekhi’ gela mora ājanma svabhāve

Synonyms

vipra bale — the brāhmaṇa replied; ei — this; tomāra darśana-prabhāve — by the influence of Your visit; tomā dekhi’ — after seeing You; gela — went; mora — my; ā-janma — from childhood; svabhāve — nature.

Translation

The brāhmaṇa replied, “This is all due to Your influence, Sir. After seeing You, I have lost my lifelong practice.

Bengali

বাল্যাবধি রামনাম-গ্রহণ আমার ।
তোমা দেখি’ কৃষ্ণনাম আইল একবার ॥ ২৬ ॥

Text

bālyāvadhi rāma-nāma-grahaṇa āmāra
tomā dekhi’ kṛṣṇa-nāma āila eka-bāra

Synonyms

bālya-avadhi — since the days of my childhood; rāma-nāma-grahaṇa — chanting the holy name of Lord Rāmacandra; āmāra — my; tomā dekhi’ — upon seeing You; kṛṣṇa-nāma — the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; āila — came; eka-bāra — once only.

Translation

“From my childhood I have been chanting the holy name of Lord Rāmacandra, but upon seeing You I chanted the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa just once.

Bengali

সেই হৈতে কৃষ্ণনাম জিহ্বাতে বসিলা ।
কৃষ্ণনাম স্ফুরে, রামনাম দূরে গেলা ॥ ২৭ ॥

Text

sei haite kṛṣṇa-nāma jihvāte vasilā
kṛṣṇa-nāma sphure, rāma-nāma dūre gelā

Synonyms

sei haite — since that time; kṛṣṇa-nāma — the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; jihvāte — on the tongue; vasilā — was seated tightly; kṛṣṇa-nāma — the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sphure — automatically comes; rāma-nāma — the holy name of Lord Rāmacandra; dūre — far away; gelā — went.

Translation

“Since then, the holy name of Kṛṣṇa has been tightly fixed upon my tongue. Indeed, since I have been chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, the holy name of Lord Rāmacandra has gone far away.

Bengali

বাল্যকাল হৈতে মোর স্বভাব এক হয় ।
নামের মহিমা-শাস্ত্র করিয়ে সঞ্চয় ॥ ২৮ ॥

Text

bālya-kāla haite mora svabhāva eka haya
nāmera mahimā-śāstra kariye sañcaya

Synonyms

bālya-kāla haite — from my childhood; mora — my; svabhāva — practice; eka — one; haya — there is; nāmera — of the holy name; mahimā — concerning the glories; śāstra — the revealed scriptures; kariye sañcaya — I collect.

Translation

“From my childhood I have been collecting the glories of the holy name from revealed scriptures.

Bengali

রমন্তে যোগিনোঽনন্তে সত্যানন্দে চিদাত্মনি ।
ইতি রামপদেনাসৌ পরং ব্রহ্মাভিধীয়তে ॥ ২৯ ॥

Text

ramante yogino ’nante
satyānande cid-ātmani
iti rāma-padenāsau
paraṁ brahmābhidhīyate

Synonyms

ramante — take pleasure; yoginaḥ — transcendentalists; anante — in the unlimited; satya-ānande — real pleasure; cit-ātmani — in spiritual existence; iti — thus; rāma — Rāma; padena — by the word; asau — He; param — supreme; brahma — truth; abhidhīyate — is called.

Translation

“ ‘The Supreme Absolute Truth is called Rāma because the transcendentalists take pleasure in the unlimited true pleasure of spiritual existence.’

Purport

This is the eighth verse of the Śata-nāma-stotra of Lord Rāmacandra, which is found in the Padma Purāṇa.

Bengali

কৃষির্ভূবাচকঃ শব্দো ণশ্চ নির্বৃতিবাচকঃ ।
তয়োরৈক্যং পরং ব্রহ্ম কৃষ্ণ ইত্যভিধীয়তে ॥ ৩০ ॥

Text

kṛṣir bhū-vācakaḥ śabdo
ṇaś ca nirvṛti-vācakaḥ
tayor aikyaṁ paraṁ brahma
kṛṣṇa ity abhidhīyate

Synonyms

kṛṣiḥ — the verbal root kṛṣ; bhū — attractive existence; vācakaḥ — signifying; śabdaḥ — word; ṇaḥ — the syllable ṇa; ca — and; nirvṛti — spiritual pleasure; vācakaḥ — indicating; tayoḥ — of both; aikyam — amalgamation; param — supreme; brahma — Absolute Truth; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; iti — thus; abhidhīyate — is called.

Translation

“ ‘The word “kṛṣ” is the attractive feature of the Lord’s existence, and “ṇa” means spiritual pleasure. When the verb “kṛṣ” is added to the affix “ṇa,” it becomes “Kṛṣṇa,” which indicates the Absolute Truth.’

Purport

This is a verse from the Mahābhārata (Udyoga-parva 71.4).

Bengali

পরংব্রহ্ম দুই নাম সমান হইল ।
পুনঃ আর শাস্ত্রে কিছু বিশেষ পাইল ॥ ৩১ ॥

Text

paraṁ brahma dui-nāma samāna ha-ila
punaḥ āra śāstre kichu viśeṣa pāila

Synonyms

param brahma — the Absolute Truth; dui-nāma — two names (Rāma and Kṛṣṇa); samāna — on an equal level; ha-ila — were; punaḥ — again; āra — further; śāstre — in revealed scriptures; kichu — some; viśeṣa — specification; pāila — is found.

Translation

“As far as the holy names of Rāma and Kṛṣṇa are concerned, they are on an equal level, but for further advancement we receive some specific information from the revealed scriptures.

Bengali

রাম রামেতি রামেতি রমে রামে মনোরমে ।
সহস্রনামভিস্তুল্যং রামনাম বরাননে ॥ ৩২ ॥

Text

rāma rāmeti rāmeti
rame rāme manorame
sahasra-nāmabhis tulyaṁ
rāma-nāma varānane

Synonyms

rāma — Rāma; rāma — Rāma; iti — thus; rāma — Rāma; iti — thus; rame — I enjoy; rāme — in the holy name of Rāma; manaḥ-rame — most beautiful; sahasra-nāmabhiḥ — with the one thousand names; tulyam — equal; rāma-nāma — the holy name of Rāma; vara-ānane — O lovely-faced woman.

Translation

“[Lord Śiva addressed his wife, Durgā:] ‘O Varānanā, I chant the holy name of Rāma, Rāma, Rāma and thus enjoy this beautiful sound. This holy name of Rāmacandra is equal to one thousand holy names of Lord Viṣṇu.’

Purport

This is a verse from the Bṛhad-viṣṇu-sahasranāma-stotra in the Uttara-khaṇḍa of the Padma Purāṇa (72.335).

Bengali

সহস্রনাম্নাং পুণ্যানাং ত্রিরাবৃত্ত্যা তু যৎ ফলম্ ।
একাবৃত্ত্যা তু কৃষ্ণস্য নামৈকং তৎ প্রযচ্ছতি ॥ ৩৩ ॥

Text

sahasra-nāmnāṁ puṇyānāṁ
trir-āvṛttyā tu yat phalam
ekāvṛttyā tu kṛṣṇasya
nāmaikaṁ tat prayacchati

Synonyms

sahasra-nāmnām — of one thousand names; puṇyānām — holy; triḥ-āvṛttyā — by thrice chanting; tu — but; yat — which; phalam — result; eka-āvṛttyā — by one repetition; tu — but; kṛṣṇasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; nāma — holy name; ekam — only one; tat — that result; prayacchati — gives.

Translation

“ ‘The pious results derived from chanting the thousand holy names of Viṣṇu three times can be attained by only one utterance of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.’

Purport

This verse from the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa is found in the Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta (1.5.354), by Rūpa Gosvāmī. Simply by chanting the name of Kṛṣṇa once, one can attain the same results achieved by chanting the holy name of Rāma three times.

Bengali

এই বাক্যে কৃষ্ণ নামের মহিমা অপার ।
তথাপি লইতে নারি, শুন হেতু তার ॥ ৩৪ ॥

Text

ei vākye kṛṣṇa-nāmera mahimā apāra
tathāpi la-ite nāri, śuna hetu tāra

Synonyms

ei vākye — in this statement; kṛṣṇa-nāmera — of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa; mahimā — glories; apāra — unlimited; tathāpi — still; la-ite — to chant; nāri — I am unable; śuna — just hear; hetu — the reason; tāra — of that.

Translation

“According to this statement of the śāstras, the glories of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa are unlimited. Still I could not chant His holy name. Please hear the reason for this.

Bengali

ইষ্টদেব রাম, তাঁর নামে সুখ পাই ।
সুখ পাঞা রামনাম রাত্রিদিন গাই ॥ ৩৫ ॥

Text

iṣṭa-deva rāma, tāṅra nāme sukha pāi
sukha pāñā rāma-nāma rātri-dina gāi

Synonyms

iṣṭa-deva — my worshipable Lord; rāma — Lord Śrī Rāmacandra; tāṅra nāme — in His holy name; sukha pāi — I get happiness; sukha pāñā — getting such transcendental happiness; rāma-nāma — the holy name of Lord Rāma; rātri-dina — day and night; gāi — I chant.

Translation

“My worshipable Lord has been Lord Rāmacandra, and by chanting His holy name I received happiness. Because I received such happiness, I chanted the holy name of Lord Rāma day and night.

Bengali

তোমার দর্শনে যবে কৃষ্ণনাম আইল ।
তাহার মহিমা তবে হৃদয়ে লাগিল ॥ ৩৬ ॥

Text

tomāra darśane yabe kṛṣṇa-nāma āila
tāhāra mahimā tabe hṛdaye lāgila

Synonyms

tomāra darśane — by meeting You; yabe — when; kṛṣṇa-nāma — the holy name of Kṛṣṇa; āila — appeared; tāhāra — His; mahimā — glories; tabe — at that time; hṛdaye — in the heart; lāgila — became fixed.

Translation

“By Your appearance, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s holy name also appeared, and at that time the glories of Kṛṣṇa’s name awoke in my heart.

Bengali

সেই কৃষ্ণ তুমি সাক্ষাৎ — ইহা নির্ধারিল ।
এত কহি’ বিপ্র প্রভুর চরণে পড়িল ॥ ৩৭ ॥

Text

sei kṛṣṇa tumi sākṣāt — ihā nirdhārila
eta kahi’ vipra prabhura caraṇe paḍila

Synonyms

sei — that; kṛṣṇa — the Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa; tumi — You; sākṣāt — directly; ihā — this; nirdhārila — concluded; eta kahi’ — saying this; vipra — the brāhmaṇa; prabhura — of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; caraṇe — at the lotus feet; paḍila — fell down.

Translation

“Sir, You are that Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. This is my conclusion.” Saying this, the brāhmaṇa fell down at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Bengali

তাঁরে কৃপা করি’ প্রভু চলিলা আর দিনে ।
বৃদ্ধকাশী আসি’ কৈল শিব-দরশনে ॥ ৩৮ ॥

Text

tāṅre kṛpā kari’ prabhu calilā āra dine
vṛddhakāśī āsi’ kaila śiva-daraśane

Synonyms

tāṅre — unto him; kṛpā kari’ — showing mercy; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; calilā — traveled; āra dine — the next day; vṛddhakāśī — to Vṛddhakāśī; āsi’ — coming; kaila — did; śiva-daraśane — visiting Lord Śiva’s temple.

Translation

After showing mercy to the brāhmaṇa, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left the next day and arrived at Vṛddhakāśī, where He visited the temple of Lord Śiva.

Purport

Vṛddhakāśī’s present name is Vṛddhācalam. It is situated in the southern Arcot district on the bank of the river Maṇimukha. This place is also known as Kālahastipura. Lord Śiva’s temple there was worshiped for many years by Govinda, the cousin of Rāmānujācārya.

Bengali

তাহাঁ হৈতে চলি’ আগে গেলা এক গ্রামে ।
ব্রাহ্মণ-সমাজ তাহাঁ, করিল বিশ্রামে ॥ ৩৯ ॥

Text

tāhāṅ haite cali’ āge gelā eka grāme
brāhmaṇa-samāja tāhāṅ, karila viśrāme

Synonyms

tāhāṅ haite — from there; cali’ — going; āge — forward; gelā — went; eka — one; grāme — to a village; brāhmaṇa-samāja — assembly of brāhmaṇas; tāhāṅ — there; karila viśrāme — He rested.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then left Vṛddhakāśī and proceeded further. In one village He saw that most of the residents were brāhmaṇas, and He took His rest there.

Bengali

প্রভুর প্রভাবে লোক আইল দরশনে ।
লক্ষার্বুদ লোক আইসে না যায় গণনে ॥ ৪০ ॥

Text

prabhura prabhāve loka āila daraśane
lakṣārbuda loka āise nā yāya gaṇane

Synonyms

prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; prabhāve — by the influence; loka — people; āila — came; daraśane — to see Him; lakṣa-arbuda — many millions; loka — persons; āise — came; — not; yāya gaṇane — can be counted.

Translation

Due to the influence of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, many millions of men came just to see Him. Indeed, the assembly being unlimited, its members could not be counted.

Bengali

গোসাঞির সৌন্দর্য দেখি’ তাতে প্রেমাবেশ ।
সবে ‘কৃষ্ণ’ কহে, ‘বৈষ্ণব’ হৈল সর্বদেশ ॥ ৪১ ॥

Text

gosāñira saundarya dekhi’ tāte premāveśa
sabe ‘kṛṣṇa’ kahe, ‘vaiṣṇava’ haila sarva-deśa

Synonyms

gosāñira — of the Lord; saundarya — the beauty; dekhi’ — seeing; tāte — in that; prema-āveśa — ecstatic love; sabe — everyone; kṛṣṇa kahe — uttered the holy name of Kṛṣṇa; vaiṣṇava — Vaiṣṇava devotees; haila — became; sarva-deśa — everyone.

Translation

The Lord’s bodily features were very beautiful, and in addition He was always in the ecstasy of love of Godhead. Simply by seeing Him, everyone began chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, and thus everyone became a Vaiṣṇava devotee.

Bengali

তার্কিক-মীমাংসক, যত মায়াবাদিগণ ।
সাংখ্য, পাতঞ্জল, স্মৃতি, পুরাণ, আগম ॥ ৪২ ॥

Text

tārkika-mīmāṁsaka, yata māyāvādi-gaṇa
sāṅkhya, pātañjala, smṛti, purāṇa, āgama

Synonyms

tārkika — logicians; mīmāṁsaka — followers of Mīmāṁsā philosophy; yata — all; māyāvādi-gaṇa — followers of Śaṅkarācārya; sāṅkhya — followers of Kapila; pātañjala — followers of mystic yoga; smṛti — supplementary Vedic literatures; purāṇaPurāṇas; āgama — the tantra-śāstras.

Translation

There are many kinds of philosophers. Some are logicians who follow Gautama or Kaṇāda. Some follow the Mīmāṁsā philosophy of Jaimini. Some follow the Māyāvāda philosophy of Śaṅkarācārya, and others follow Kapila’s Sāṅkhya philosophy or the mystic yoga system of Patañjali. Some follow the smṛti-śāstra composed of twenty religious scriptures, and others follow the Purāṇas and the tantra-śāstra. In this way there are many different types of philosophers.

Bengali

নিজ-নিজ-শাস্ত্রোদ্গ্রাহে সবাই প্রচণ্ড ।
সর্ব মত দুষি’ প্রভু করে খণ্ড খণ্ড ॥ ৪৩ ॥

Text

nija-nija-śāstrodgrāhe sabāi pracaṇḍa
sarva mata duṣi’ prabhu kare khaṇḍa khaṇḍa

Synonyms

nija-nija — their own; śāstra — of the scripture; udgrāhe — to establish the conclusion; sabāi — all of them; pracaṇḍa — very powerful; sarva — all; mata — opinions; duṣi’ — condemning; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kare — does; khaṇḍa khaṇḍa — breaking to pieces.

Translation

All of these adherents of various scriptures were ready to present the conclusions of their respective scriptures, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu broke all their opinions to pieces and established His own cult of bhakti based on the Vedas, Vedānta, the Brahma-sūtra and the philosophy of acintya-bhedābheda-tattva.

Bengali

সর্বত্র স্থাপয় প্রভু বৈষ্ণবসিদ্ধান্তে ।
প্রভুর সিদ্ধান্ত কেহ না পারে খণ্ডিতে ॥ ৪৪ ॥

Text

sarvatra sthāpaya prabhu vaiṣṇava-siddhānte
prabhura siddhānta keha nā pāre khaṇḍite

Synonyms

sarvatra — everywhere; sthāpaya — establishes; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; vaiṣṇava-siddhānte — the conclusion of the Vaiṣṇavas; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; siddhānta — conclusion; keha — anyone; pāre — is not able; khaṇḍite — to defy.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu established the devotional cult everywhere. No one could defeat Him.

Bengali

হারি’ হারি’ প্রভুমতে করেন প্রবেশ ।
এইমতে ‘বৈষ্ণব’ প্রভু কৈল দক্ষিণ দেশ ॥ ৪৫ ॥

Text

hāri’ hāri’ prabhu-mate karena praveśa
ei-mate ‘vaiṣṇava’ prabhu kaila dakṣiṇa deśa

Synonyms

hāri’ hāri’ — being defeated; prabhu-mate — into the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; karena praveśa — enter; ei-mate — in this way; vaiṣṇava — Vaiṣṇava devotees; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kaila — made; dakṣiṇa — South India; deśa — country.

Translation

Being thus defeated by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all these philosophers and their followers entered into His cult. In this way Lord Caitanya made South India into a country of Vaiṣṇavas.

Bengali

পাষণ্ডী আইল যত পাণ্ডিত্য শুনিয়া ।
গর্ব করি’ আইল সঙ্গে শিষ্যগণ লঞা ॥ ৪৬ ॥

Text

pāṣaṇḍī āila yata pāṇḍitya śuniyā
garva kari’ āila saṅge śiṣya-gaṇa lañā

Synonyms

pāṣaṇḍī — nonbelievers; āila — came there; yata — all; pāṇḍitya — erudition; śuniyā — hearing; garva kari’ — with great pride; āila — came there; saṅge — with; śiṣya-gaṇa — disciples; lañā — taking.

Translation

When the nonbelievers heard of the erudition of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they came to Him with great pride, bringing their disciples with them.

Bengali

বৌদ্ধাচার্য মহাপণ্ডিত নিজ নবমতে ।
প্রভুর আগে উদ্গ্রাহ করি’ লাগিলা বলিতে ॥ ৪৭ ॥

Text

bauddhācārya mahā-paṇḍita nija nava-mate
prabhura āge udgrāha kari’ lāgilā balite

Synonyms

bauddha-ācārya — the leader in Buddhist philosophy; mahā-paṇḍita — greatly learned scholar; nija — own; nava — nine; mate — philosophical conclusions; prabhura āge — before Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; udgrāha — argument; kari’ — making; lāgilā — began; balite — to speak.

Translation

One of them was a leader of the Buddhist cult and was a very learned scholar. To establish the nine philosophical conclusions of Buddhism, he came before the Lord and began to speak.

Bengali

যদ্যপি অসম্ভাষ্য বৌদ্ধ অযুক্ত দেখিতে ।
তথাপি বলিলা প্রভু গর্ব খণ্ডাইতে ॥ ৪৮ ॥

Text

yadyapi asambhāṣya bauddha ayukta dekhite
tathāpi balilā prabhu garva khaṇḍāite

Synonyms

yadyapi — although; asambhāṣya — not fit for discussion; bauddha — followers of Buddha’s philosophy; ayukta — not fit; dekhite — to see; tathāpi — still; balilā — spoke; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; garva — pride; khaṇḍāite — to diminish.

Translation

Although the Buddhists are unfit for discussion and should not be seen by Vaiṣṇavas, Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke to them just to decrease their false pride.

Bengali

তর্কং-প্রধান বৌদ্ধশাস্ত্র ‘নব মতে’ ।
তর্কেই খণ্ডিল প্রভু, না পারে স্থাপিতে ॥ ৪৯ ॥

Text

tarka-pradhāna bauddha-śāstra ‘nava mate’
tarkei khaṇḍila prabhu, nā pāre sthāpite

Synonyms

tarka-pradhāna — argumentative; bauddha-śāstra — scriptures of the Buddhist cult; nava mate — in nine basic principles; tarkei — by argument; khaṇḍila — refuted; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; — not; pāre — can; sthāpite — establish.

Translation

The scriptures of the Buddhist cult are chiefly based on argument and logic, and they contain nine chief principles. Because Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu defeated the Buddhists in their argument, they could not establish their cult.

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura states that according to the Buddhist cult there are two ways of understanding philosophy. One is called Hīnāyāna, and the other is called Mahāyāna. Along the Buddhist path there are nine principles: (1) The creation is eternal; therefore there is no need to accept a creator. (2) This cosmic manifestation is false. (3) “I am” is the truth. (4) There is repetition of birth and death. (5) Lord Buddha is the only source of understanding the truth. (6) The principle of nirvāṇa, or annihilation, is the ultimate goal. (7) The philosophy of Buddha is the only philosophical path. (8) The Vedas are compiled by human beings. (9) Pious activities, showing mercy to others and so on are advised.

No one can attain the Absolute Truth by argument. One may be very expert in logic, and another person may be even more expert in the art of argument. Because there is so much word jugglery in logic, one can never come to the real conclusion about the Absolute Truth by argument. The followers of the Vedic principles understand this. However, it is seen here that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu defeated the Buddhist philosophy by argument. Those who are preachers in ISKCON will certainly meet many people who believe in intellectual arguments. Most of these people do not believe in the authority of the Vedas. Nevertheless, they accept intellectual speculation and argument. Therefore the preachers of Kṛṣṇa consciousness should be prepared to defeat others by argument, just as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did. In this verse it is clearly said, tarkei khaṇḍila prabhu. Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu put forward such a strong argument that the Buddhists could not counter Him to establish their cult.

Their first principle is that the creation has always existed. But if this were the case, there could be no theory of annihilation. The Buddhists maintain that annihilation, or dissolution, is the highest truth. If the creation eternally exists, there is no question of dissolution or annihilation. This argument is not very strong because by practical experience we see that material things have a beginning, a middle and an end. The ultimate aim of the Buddhist philosophy is to dissolve the body. This is proposed because the body has a beginning. Similarly, the entire cosmic manifestation is a gigantic body, but if we accept that it always exists, there can be no question of annihilation. Therefore the attempt to annihilate everything in order to attain zero is an absurdity. By our own practical experience we have to accept the beginning of creation, and when we accept the beginning, we must accept a creator. Such a creator must possess an all-pervasive body, as pointed out in the Bhagavad-gītā (13.14):

sarvataḥ pāṇi-pādaṁ tatsarvato-’kṣi-śiro-mukham
sarvataḥ śruti-mal loke
sarvam āvṛtya tiṣṭhati

“Everywhere are His hands and legs, His eyes, heads and faces, and He has ears everywhere. In this way the Supersoul exists, pervading everything.”

The Supreme Person must be present everywhere. His body existed before the creation; otherwise He could not be the creator. If the Supreme Person is a created being, there can be no question of a creator. The conclusion is that the cosmic manifestation is certainly created at a certain time, and the creator existed before the creation; therefore the creator is not a created being. The creator is Parabrahman, or the Supreme Spirit. Matter is not only subordinate to spirit but is actually created on the basis of spirit. When the spirit soul enters the womb of a mother, the body is created by material ingredients supplied by the mother. Everything is created in the material world, and consequently there must be a creator who is the Supreme Spirit and who is distinct from matter. It is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā that the material energy is inferior and that the spiritual energy is the living entity. Both inferior and superior energies belong to a supreme person.

The Buddhists argue that the world is false, but this is not valid. The world is temporary, but it is not false. As long as we have the body, we must suffer the pleasures and pains of the body, even though we are not the body. We may not take these pleasures and pains very seriously, but they are factual nonetheless. We cannot actually say that they are false. If the bodily pains and pleasures were false, the creation would be false also, and consequently no one would take very much interest in it. The conclusion is that the material creation is not false or imaginary, but it is temporary.

The Buddhists maintain that the principle “I am” is the ultimate truth, but this excludes the individuality of “I” and “you.” If there is no “I” and “you,” or individuality, there is no possibility of argument. The Buddhist philosophy depends on argument, but there can be no argument if one simply depends on “I am.” There must be a “you,” or another person also. The philosophy of duality — the existence of the individual soul and the Supersoul — must be there. This is confirmed in the second chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā (2.12), wherein the Lord says:

na tv evāhaṁ jātu nāsaṁna tvaṁ neme janādhipāḥ
na caiva na bhaviṣyāmaḥ
sarve vayam ataḥ param

“Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.”

We existed in the past in different bodies, and after the annihilation of this body we shall exist in another body. The principle of the soul is eternal, and it exists in this body or in another body. Even in this lifetime we experience existence in a child’s body, a youth’s body, a man’s body and an old body. After the annihilation of the body, we acquire another body. The Buddhist cult also accepts the philosophy of transmigration, but the Buddhists do not properly explain the next birth. There are 8,400,000 species of life, and our next birth may be in any one of them; therefore this human body is not guaranteed.

According to the Buddhists’ fifth principle, Lord Buddha is the only source for the attainment of knowledge. We cannot accept this, for Lord Buddha rejected the principles of Vedic knowledge. One must accept a principle of standard knowledge because one cannot attain the Absolute Truth simply by intellectual speculation. If everyone is an authority, or if everyone accepts his own intelligence as the ultimate criterion — as is presently fashionable — the scriptures will be interpreted in many different ways, and everyone will claim that his own philosophy is supreme. This has become a very great problem, and everyone is interpreting scripture in his own way and setting up his own basis of authority. Yata mata tata patha. Now everybody and anybody is trying to establish his own theory as the ultimate truth. The Buddhists theorize that annihilation, or nirvāṇa, is the ultimate goal. Annihilation applies to the body, but the spirit soul transmigrates from one body to another. If this were not the case, how can so many multifarious bodies come into existence? If the next birth is a fact, the next bodily form is also a fact. As soon as we accept a material body, we must accept the fact that that body will be annihilated and that we will have to accept another body. If all material bodies are doomed to annihilation, we must obtain a nonmaterial body, or a spiritual body, if we wish the next birth to be anything but false. How the spiritual body is attained is explained by Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā (4.9):

janma karma ca me divyamevaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ
tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma
naiti mām eti so ’rjuna

“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.”

This is the highest perfection — to give up one’s material body and not accept another but to return home, back to Godhead. It is not that perfection means one’s existence becomes void or zero. Existence continues, but if we positively want to annihilate the material body, we have to accept a spiritual body; otherwise there can be no eternality for the soul.

We cannot accept the theory that the Buddhist philosophy is the only way, for there are so many defects in that philosophy. A perfect philosophy is one that has no defects, and that is Vedānta philosophy. No one can point out any defects in Vedānta philosophy, and therefore we can conclude that Vedānta is the supreme philosophical way of understanding the truth. According to the Buddhist cult, the Vedas are compiled by ordinary human beings. If this were the case, they would not be authoritative. From the Vedic literatures we understand that shortly after the creation Lord Brahmā was instructed in the Vedas. It is not that the Vedas were created by Brahmā, although Brahmā is the original person in the universe. If Brahmā did not create the Vedas but he is acknowledged as the first created being, wherefrom did Vedic knowledge come to Brahmā? Obviously the Vedas did not come from an ordinary person born in this material world. According to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye: after the creation, the Supreme Person imparted Vedic knowledge within the heart of Brahmā. There was no person in the beginning of the creation other than Brahmā, yet he did not compile the Vedas; therefore the conclusion is that the Vedas were not compiled by any created being. Vedic knowledge was given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who created this material world. This is also accepted by Śaṅkarācārya, although he is not a Vaiṣṇava.

It is stated that mercy is one of the qualities of a Buddhist, but mercy is a relative thing. We show our mercy to a subordinate or to one who is suffering more than ourselves. However, if there is a superior person present, the superior person cannot be the object of our mercy. Rather, we are objects for the mercy of the superior person. Therefore showing compassion and mercy is a relative activity. It is not the Absolute Truth. Apart from this, we also must know what actual mercy is. To give a sick man something forbidden for him to eat is not mercy. Rather, it is cruelty. Unless we know what mercy really is, we may create an undesirable situation. If we wish to show real mercy, we will preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness in order to revive the lost consciousness of human beings, the living entity’s original consciousness. Since the Buddhist philosophy does not admit the existence of the spirit soul, the so-called mercy of the Buddhists is defective.

Bengali

বৌদ্ধাচার্য ‘নব প্রশ্ন’ সব উঠাইল ।
দৃঢ় যুক্তি-তর্কে প্রভু খণ্ড খণ্ড কৈল ॥ ৫০ ॥

Text

bauddhācārya ‘nava praśna’ saba uṭhāila
dṛḍha yukti-tarke prabhu khaṇḍa khaṇḍa kaila

Synonyms

bauddha-ācārya — the teacher of the Buddhist cult; nava praśna — nine different types of questions; saba — all; uṭhāila — raised; dṛḍha — strong; yukti — argument; tarke — with logic; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; khaṇḍa khaṇḍa kaila — broke into pieces.

Translation

The teacher of the Buddhist cult set forth the nine principles, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu broke them to pieces with His strong logic.

Bengali

দার্শনিক পণ্ডিত সবাই পাইল পরাজয় ।
লোকে হাস্য করে, বৌদ্ধ পাইল লজ্জা-ভয় ॥ ৫১ ॥

Text

dārśanika paṇḍita sabāi pāila parājaya
loke hāsya kare, bauddha pāila lajjā-bhaya

Synonyms

dārśanika — philosophical speculators; paṇḍita — scholars; sabāi — all of them; pāila parājaya — were defeated; loke — people in general; hāsya kare — laugh; bauddha — the Buddhists; pāila — got; lajjā — shame; bhaya — fear.

Translation

All mental speculators and learned scholars were defeated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and when the people began to laugh, the Buddhist philosophers felt both shame and fear.

Purport

These philosophers were all atheists, for they did not believe in the existence of God. Atheists may be very expert in mental speculation and may be so-called great philosophers, but they can be defeated by a Vaiṣṇava firmly situated in his conviction and God consciousness. Following in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the preachers engaged in the service of ISKCON should be very expert in putting forward strong arguments and defeating all types of atheists.

Bengali

প্রভুকে বৈষ্ণব জানি’ বৌদ্ধ ঘরে গেল ।
সকল বৌদ্ধ মিলি’ তবে কুমন্ত্রণা কৈল ॥ ৫২ ॥

Text

prabhuke vaiṣṇava jāni’ bauddha ghare gela
sakala bauddha mili’ tabe kumantraṇā kaila

Synonyms

prabhuke — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; vaiṣṇava jāni’ — knowing to be a Vaiṣṇava; bauddha — the Buddhists; ghare gela — returned home; sakala bauddha — all the Buddhists; mili’ — coming together; tabe — thereafter; ku-mantraṇā — plot; kaila — made.

Translation

The Buddhists could understand that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was a Vaiṣṇava, and they returned home very unhappy. Later, however, they began to plot against the Lord.

Bengali

অপবিত্র অন্ন এক থালিতে ভরিয়া ।
প্রভু-আগে নিল ‘মহাপ্রসাদ’ বলিয়া ॥ ৫৩ ॥

Text

apavitra anna eka thālite bhariyā
prabhu-āge nila ‘mahā-prasāda’ baliyā

Synonyms

apavitra — polluted; anna — food; eka — one; thālite — plate; bhariyā — filling; prabhu-āge — in front of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; nila — brought; mahā-prasāda baliyā — calling it mahā-prasādam.

Translation

Having made their plot, the Buddhists brought a plate of untouchable food before Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and called it mahā-prasādam.

Purport

The word apavitra anna refers to food that is unacceptable for a Vaiṣṇava. In other words, a Vaiṣṇava cannot accept any food offered by an avaiṣṇava in the name of mahā-prasādam. This should be a principle for all Vaiṣṇavas. When asked, “What is the behavior of a Vaiṣṇava?” Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “A Vaiṣṇava must avoid the company of an avaiṣṇava [asat].” The word asat refers to an avaiṣṇava, that is, one who is not a Vaiṣṇava. Asat-saṅga-tyāga,ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra (Cc. Madhya 22.87). A Vaiṣṇava must be very strict in this respect and should not at all cooperate with an avaiṣṇava. If an avaiṣṇava offers food in the name of mahā-prasādam, it should not be accepted. Such food cannot be prasādam because an avaiṣṇava cannot offer anything to the Lord. Sometimes preachers in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement have to accept food in a home where the householder is an avaiṣṇava; however, if this food is offered to the Deity, it can be taken. Ordinary food cooked by an avaiṣṇava should not be accepted by a Vaiṣṇava. Even if an avaiṣṇava cooks food without fault, he cannot offer it to Lord Viṣṇu, and it cannot be accepted as mahā-prasādam. According to Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.26):

patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁyo me bhaktyā prayacchati
tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam
aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ

“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.”

Kṛṣṇa can accept anything offered by His devotee with devotion. An avaiṣṇava may be a vegetarian and a very clean cook, but because he cannot offer Viṣṇu the food he cooks, it cannot be accepted as mahā-prasādam. It is better that a Vaiṣṇava abandon such food as untouchable.

Bengali

হেন কালে মহাকায় এক পক্ষী আইল ।
ঠোঁটে করি’ অন্নসহ থালি লঞা গেল ॥ ৫৪ ॥

Text

hena-kāle mahā-kāya eka pakṣī āila
ṭhoṅṭe kari’ anna-saha thāli lañā gela

Synonyms

hena-kāle — at this time; mahā-kāya — having a large body; eka — one; pakṣī — bird; āila — appeared there; ṭhoṅṭe kari’ — by the beak; anna-saha — with food; thāli — the plate; lañā — taking; gela — went away.

Translation

When the contaminated food was offered to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, a very large bird appeared on the spot, picked up the plate in its beak and flew away.

Bengali

বৌদ্ধগণের উপরে অন্ন পড়ে অমেধ্য হৈয়া ।
বৌদ্ধাচার্যের মাথায় থালি পড়িল বাজিয়া ॥ ৫৫ ॥

Text

bauddha-gaṇera upare anna paḍe amedhya haiyā
bauddhācāryera māthāya thāli paḍila bājiyā

Synonyms

bauddha-gaṇera — all the Buddhists; upare — upon; anna — the food; paḍe — began to fall down; amedhya — untouchable; haiyā — being; bauddha-ācāryera — of the teacher of the Buddhists; māthāya — on the head; thāli — the plate; paḍila — fell down; bājiyā — making a great sound.

Translation

Indeed, the untouchable food fell upon the Buddhists, and the large bird dropped the plate on the head of the chief Buddhist teacher. When it fell on his head, it made a big sound.

Bengali

তেরছে পড়িল থালি, — মাথা কাটি’ গেল ।
মূর্চ্ছিত হঞা আচার্য ভূমিতে পড়িল ॥ ৫৬ ॥

Text

terache paḍila thāli, — māthā kāṭi’ gela
mūrcchita hañā ācārya bhūmite paḍila

Synonyms

terache — at an angle; paḍila — fell down; thāli — the plate; māthā — the head; kāṭi’ — cutting; gela — went; mūrcchita — unconscious; hañā — becoming; ācārya — the teacher; bhūmite — on the ground; paḍila — fell down.

Translation

The plate was made of metal, and when its edge hit the head of the teacher, it cut him, and the teacher immediately fell to the ground unconscious.

Bengali

হাহাকার করি’ কান্দে সব শিষ্যগণ ।
সবে আসি’ প্রভু-পদে লইল শরণ ॥ ৫৭ ॥

Text

hāhākāra kari’ kānde saba śiṣya-gaṇa
sabe āsi’ prabhu-pade la-ila śaraṇa

Synonyms

hāhā-kāra — a roaring sound; kari’ — making; kānde — cry; saba — all; śiṣya-gaṇa — disciples; sabe — all of them; āsi’ — coming; prabhu-pade — to the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; la-ila — took; śaraṇa — shelter.

Translation

When the teacher fell unconscious, his Buddhist disciples cried aloud and ran to the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for shelter.

Bengali

তুমি ত’ ঈশ্বর সাক্ষাৎ, ক্ষম অপরাধ ।
জীয়াও আমার গুরু, করহ প্রসাদ ॥ ৫৮ ॥

Text

tumi ta’ īśvara sākṣāt, kṣama aparādha
jīyāo āmāra guru, karaha prasāda

Synonyms

tumi — You; ta’ — indeed; īśvara — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sākṣāt — directly; kṣama — please excuse; aparādha — offense; jīyāo — bring back to consciousness; āmāra — our; guru — spiritual master; karaha — do; prasāda — this mercy.

Translation

They all prayed to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, addressing Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself and saying, “Sir, please excuse our offense. Please have mercy upon us and bring our spiritual master back to life.”

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — সবে কহ ‘কৃষ্ণ’ ‘কৃষ্ণ’ ‘হরি’ ।
গুরুকর্ণে কহ কৃষ্ণনাম উচ্চ করি’ ॥ ৫৯ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe, — sabe kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’ ‘kṛṣṇa’ ‘hari’
guru-karṇe kaha kṛṣṇa-nāma ucca kari’

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; sabe — all of you; kaha — chant; kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hari — the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Hari; guru-karṇe — near the ear of your spiritual master; kaha — chant; kṛṣṇa-nāma — the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; ucca kari’ — very loudly.

Translation

The Lord then replied to the Buddhist disciples, “You should all chant the names of Kṛṣṇa and Hari very loudly near the ear of your spiritual master.

Bengali

তোমা-সবার ‘গুরু’ তবে পাইবে চেতন ।
সব বৌদ্ধ মিলি’ করে কৃষ্ণসঙ্কীর্তন ॥ ৬০ ॥

Text

tomā-sabāra ‘guru’ tabe pāibe cetana
saba bauddha mili’ kare kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana

Synonyms

tomā-sabāra — all of you; guru — the spiritual master; tabe — then; pāibe — will get; cetana — consciousness; saba bauddha — all the Buddhist disciples; mili’ — coming together; kare — do; kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana — chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.

Translation

“By this method your spiritual master will regain his consciousness.” Following Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s advice, all the Buddhist disciples began to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa congregationally.

Bengali

গুরু-কর্ণে কহে সবে ‘কৃষ্ণ’ ‘রাম’ ‘হরি’ ।
চেতন পাঞা আচার্য বলে ‘হরি’ ‘হরি’ ॥ ৬১ ॥

Text

guru-karṇe kahe sabe ‘kṛṣṇa’ ‘rāma’ ‘hari’
cetana pāñā ācārya bale ‘hari’ ‘hari’

Synonyms

guru-karṇe — into the ear of the spiritual master; kahe — they said; sabe — all together; kṛṣṇa rāma hari — the holy names of the Lord, namely “Kṛṣṇa,” “Rāma” and “Hari”; cetana — consciousness; pāñā — getting; ācārya — the teacher; bale — chanted; hari hari — the name of Lord Hari.

Translation

When all the disciples chanted the holy names Kṛṣṇa, Rāma and Hari, the Buddhist teacher regained consciousness and immediately began to chant the holy name of Lord Hari.

Purport

Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura comments that all the Buddhist disciples were actually initiated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu into the chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, and when they chanted, they actually became different persons. At that time they were not Buddhists or atheists but Vaiṣṇavas. Consequently they immediately accepted Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s order. Their original Kṛṣṇa consciousness was revived, and they were immediately able to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and begin worshiping the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu.

It is the spiritual master who delivers the disciple from the clutches of māyā by initiating him into the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. In this way a sleeping human being can revive his consciousness by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. In other words, the spiritual master awakens the sleeping living entity to his original consciousness so that he can worship Lord Viṣṇu. This is the purpose of dīkṣā, or initiation. Initiation means receiving the pure knowledge of spiritual consciousness.

One point to note in this regard is that the spiritual master of the Buddhists did not initiate his disciples. Rather, his disciples were initiated by Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and they in turn were able to initiate their so-called spiritual master. This is the paramparā system. The so-called spiritual master of the Buddhists was actually in the position of a disciple, and after his disciples were initiated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they acted as his spiritual masters. This was possible only because the disciples of the Buddhist ācārya received the mercy of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Unless one is favored by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in the disciplic succession, one cannot act as a spiritual master. We should take the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the spiritual master of the whole universe, to understand how one becomes a spiritual master and a disciple.

Bengali

কৃষ্ণ বলি’ আচার্য প্রভুরে করেন বিনয় ।
দেখিয়া সকল লোক হইল বিস্ময় ॥ ৬২ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇa bali’ ācārya prabhure karena vinaya
dekhiyā sakala loka ha-ila vismaya

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa bali’ — chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa; ācārya — the so-called spiritual master of the Buddhists; prabhure — unto Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; karena — does; vinaya — submission; dekhiyā — seeing this; sakala loka — all the people; ha-ila — became; vismaya — astonished.

Translation

When the spiritual master of the Buddhists began to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and submitted to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the people who were gathered there were astonished.

Bengali

এইরূপে কৌতুক করি’ শচীর নন্দন ।
অন্তর্ধান কৈল, কেহ না পায় দর্শন ॥ ৬৩ ॥

Text

ei-rūpe kautuka kari’ śacīra nandana
antardhāna kaila, keha nā pāya darśana

Synonyms

ei-rūpe — in this way; kautuka kari’ — making fun; śacīra nandana — the son of mother Śacī; antardhāna kaila — disappeared; keha — anyone; — does not; pāya — get; darśana — audience.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of Śacīdevī, then suddenly and playfully disappeared from everyone’s sight, and it was impossible for anyone to find Him.

Bengali

মহাপ্রভু চলি’ আইলা ত্রিপতি-ত্রিমল্লে ।
চতুর্ভুজ মূর্তি দেখি’ ব্যেঙ্কটাদ্র্যে চলে ॥ ৬৪ ॥

Text

mahāprabhu cali’ āilā tripati-trimalle
catur-bhuja mūrti dekhi’ vyeṅkaṭādrye cale

Synonyms

mahāprabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; cali’ āilā — arrived by walking; tripati-trimalle — at the holy places named Tirupati and Tirumala; catur-bhuja — four-handed; mūrti — Deity; dekhi’ — seeing; vyeṅkaṭa-adrye — to the holy place Veṅkaṭa Hill; cale — began to proceed.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next arrived at Tirupati and Tirumala, where He saw a four-handed Deity. Then He proceeded toward Veṅkaṭa Hill.

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura has actually described the chronological order of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s visit. The Tirupati temple is sometimes called Tirupaṭura. It is situated on the northern side of Arcot in the district of Candragiri. It is a famous holy place of pilgrimage. In pursuance of His name, Veṅkaṭeśvara, the four-handed Lord Viṣṇu, the Deity of Bālājī, with His potencies named Śrī and Bhū, is located on Veṅkaṭa Hill, about eight miles from Tirupati. This Veṅkaṭeśvara Deity is in the form of Lord Viṣṇu, and the place where He is situated is known as Veṅkaṭa-kṣetra. There are many temples in southern India, but this Bālājī temple is especially opulent. A great fair is held there in the month of Āśvina (September-October). There is a railway station called Tirupati on the Southern Railway. Nimna-tirupati is located in the valley of Veṅkaṭa Hill. There are several temples there also, among which are those of Govindarāja and Lord Rāmacandra.

Bengali

ত্রিপতি আসিয়া কৈল শ্রীরাম দরশন ।
রঘুনাথ-আগে কৈল প্রণাম স্তবন ॥ ৬৫ ॥

Text

tripati āsiyā kaila śrī-rāma daraśana
raghunātha-āge kaila praṇāma stavana

Synonyms

tripati āsiyā — coming to Tirupati; kaila śrī-rāma daraśana — visited the temple of Rāmacandra; raghunātha-āge — before Lord Rāmacandra; kaila — did; praṇāma — obeisances; stavana — offering prayers.

Translation

After arriving at Tirupati, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the temple of Lord Rāmacandra. He offered His prayers and obeisances before Rāmacandra, the descendant of King Raghu.

Bengali

স্বপ্রভাবে লোক-সবার করাঞা বিস্ময় ।
পানা-নৃসিংহে আইলা প্রভু দয়াময় ॥ ৬৬ ॥

Text

sva-prabhāve loka-sabāra karāñā vismaya
pānā-nṛsiṁhe āilā prabhu dayā-maya

Synonyms

sva-prabhāve — by His own influence; loka-sabāra — of all the people; karāñā — inducing; vismaya — astonishment; pānā-nṛsiṁhe — to the Lord named Pānā-nṛsiṁha; āilā — came; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dayā-maya — the most merciful.

Translation

Everywhere Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went, His influence astonished everyone. He next arrived at the temple of Pānā-nṛsiṁha. The Lord is so merciful.

Purport

Pānā-nṛsiṁha, or Pānākal-narasiṁha, is located in the district of Krishna, in the hills known as Maṅgalagiri, about seven miles from a city known as Vijayawada. One must climb six hundred steps to reach the temple. It is said that when the Lord is offered food with syrup here, He does not take more than half. Within this temple is a conchshell presented by the late king of Tanjore, and it is said that this shell was used by Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. During the month of March, a great fair takes place in this temple.

Bengali

নৃসিংহে প্রণতি-স্তুতি প্রেমাবেশে কৈল ।
প্রভুর প্রভাবে লোক চমৎকার হৈল ॥ ৬৭ ॥

Text

nṛsiṁhe praṇati-stuti premāveśe kaila
prabhura prabhāve loka camatkāra haila

Synonyms

nṛsiṁhe — unto Lord Nṛsiṁha; praṇati-stuti — obeisances and prayers; prema-āveśe — in ecstatic love; kaila — offered; prabhura — of the Lord; prabhāve — by the influence; loka — the people; camatkāra haila — were astonished.

Translation

In great ecstatic love, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered obeisances and prayers unto Lord Nṛsiṁha. The people were astonished to see Lord Caitanya’s influence.

Bengali

শিবকাঞ্চী আসিয়া কৈল শিব দরশন ।
প্রভাবে ‘বৈষ্ণব’ কৈল সব শৈবগণ ॥ ৬৮ ॥

Text

śiva-kāñcī āsiyā kaila śiva daraśana
prabhāve ‘vaiṣṇava’ kaila saba śaiva-gaṇa

Synonyms

śiva-kāñcī — to the holy place named Śiva-kāñcī; āsiyā — coming; kaila — did; śiva daraśana — visiting the temple of Lord Śiva; prabhāve — by His influence; vaiṣṇava kaila — turned into Vaiṣṇavas; saba — all; śaiva-gaṇa — the devotees of Lord Śiva.

Translation

Arriving at Śiva-kāñcī, Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the deity of Lord Śiva. By His influence, He converted all the devotees of Lord Śiva into Vaiṣṇavas.

Purport

Śiva-kāñcī is also known as Kāñcīpuram, or the Benares of southern India. In Śiva-kāñcī there are hundreds of temples containing symbolic representations of Lord Śiva, and one of these temples is said to be very, very old.

Bengali

বিষ্ণুকাঞ্চী আসি’ দেখিল লক্ষ্মী-নারায়ণ ।
প্রণাম করিয়া কৈল বহুত স্তবন ॥ ৬৯ ॥

Text

viṣṇu-kāñcī āsi’ dekhila lakṣmī-nārāyaṇa
praṇāma kariyā kaila bahuta stavana

Synonyms

viṣṇu-kāñcī — to the holy place named Viṣṇu-kāñcī; āsi’ — coming; dekhila — the Lord saw; lakṣmī-nārāyaṇa — the Deity of Lord Nārāyaṇa with mother Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune; praṇāma kariyā — after offering obeisances; kaila — made; bahuta stavana — many prayers.

Translation

The Lord then visited a holy place known as Viṣṇu-kāñcī. There He saw Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa Deities, and He offered His respects and many prayers to please Them.

Purport

Viṣṇu-kāñcī is situated about five miles away from Kāñcīpuram. It is here that Lord Varadarāja, another form of Lord Viṣṇu, resides. There is also a big lake known as Ananta-sarovara.

Bengali

প্রেমাবেশে নৃত্য-গীত বহুত করিল ।
দিন-দুই রহি’ লোকে’ ‘কৃষ্ণভক্ত’ কৈল ॥ ৭০ ॥

Text

premāveśe nṛtya-gīta bahuta karila
dina-dui rahi’ loke ‘kṛṣṇa-bhakta’ kaila

Synonyms

prema-āveśe — in ecstatic love; nṛtya-gīta — dancing and chanting; bahuta — much; karila — performed; dina-dui — for two days; rahi’ — staying; loke — the people in general; kṛṣṇa-bhakta — devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa; kaila — made.

Translation

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed at Viṣṇu-kāñcī for two days, He danced and performed kīrtana in ecstasy. When all the people saw Him, they were converted into devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

ত্রিমলয় দেখি’ গেলা ত্রিকালহস্তি-স্থানে ।
মহাদেব দেখি’ তাঁরে করিল প্রণামে ॥ ৭১ ॥

Text

trimalaya dekhi’ gelā trikāla-hasti-sthāne
mahādeva dekhi’ tāṅre karila praṇāme

Synonyms

trimalaya dekhi’ — after seeing Trimalaya; gelā — went; trikāla-hasti-sthāne — to the place named Trikāla-hasti; mahādeva — Lord Śiva; dekhi’ — seeing; tāṅre — unto him; karila praṇāme — offered obeisances.

Translation

After visiting Trimalaya, Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to see Trikāla-hasti. There He saw Lord Śiva and offered him all respects and obeisances.

Purport

Trikāla-hasti, or Śrī Kāla-hasti, is situated about twenty-two miles east of Tirupati. On its western side is a river known as Suvarṇa-mukhī. The temple of Trikāla-hasti is located on the southern side of the river. The place is generally known as Śrī Kālahasti or Kālahasti and is famous for its temple of Lord Śiva. There he is called Vāyu-liṅga Śiva.

Bengali

পক্ষিতীর্থ দেখি’ কৈল শিব দরশন ।
বৃদ্ধকোল-তীর্থে তবে করিলা গমন ॥ ৭২ ॥

Text

pakṣi-tīrtha dekhi’ kaila śiva daraśana
vṛddhakola-tīrthe tabe karilā gamana

Synonyms

pakṣi-tīrtha dekhi’ — after visiting the place known as Pakṣi-tīrtha; kaila — did; śiva daraśana — visiting the temple of Lord Śiva; vṛddhakola-tīrthe — to the holy place known as Vṛddhakola; tabe — then; karilā gamana — went.

Translation

At Pakṣi-tīrtha, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the temple of Lord Śiva. Then He went to the Vṛddhakola place of pilgrimage.

Purport

Pakṣi-tīrtha, also called Tirukāḍi-kuṇḍam, is located nine miles southeast of Ciṁlipaṭ. It has a five-hundred-foot elevation and is situated in a chain of hills known as Vedagiri or Vedācalam. There is a temple of Lord Śiva there, and the deity is known as Vedagirīśvara. Two birds come there daily to receive food from the temple priest, and it is claimed that they have been coming since time immemorial.

Bengali

শ্বেতবরাহ দেখি, তাঁরে নমস্করি’ ।
পীতাম্বর-শিব-স্থানে গেলা গৌরহরি ॥ ৭৩ ॥

Text

śveta-varāha dekhi, tāṅre namaskari’
pītāmbara-śiva-sthāne gelā gaurahari

Synonyms

śveta-varāha — the white boar incarnation; dekhi — seeing; tāṅre — unto Him; namaskari’ — offering respect; pīta-ambara — dressed with yellow garments; śiva-sthāne — to the temple of Lord Śiva; gelā — went; gaurahari — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Translation

At Vṛddhakola, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the temple of Śveta-varāha, the white boar incarnation. After offering Him respects, the Lord visited the temple of Lord Śiva, wherein the deity is dressed with yellow garments.

Purport

The temple of the white boar incarnation is situated at Vṛddhakola, or Śrī Muṣṇam. The temple is made of stone and is located about one mile south of an oasis known as Balipīṭham. There is a Deity of the white boar incarnation, above whose head Śeṣa Nāga serves as an umbrella.

The temple of Lord Śiva mentioned here is situated in Pītāmbara, or Cidāmbaram, which lies twenty-six miles south of Cuddalore. The deity of Lord Śiva there is known as Ākāśaliṅga. The temple is situated on about thirty-nine acres of land, and all this land is surrounded by a wall and by a road that is about sixty feet wide.

Bengali

শিয়ালী ভৈরবী দেবী করি’ দরশন ।
কাবেরীর তীরে আইলা শচীর নন্দন ॥ ৭৪ ॥

Text

śiyālī bhairavī devī kari’ daraśana
kāverīra tīre āilā śacīra nandana

Synonyms

śiyālī bhairavī — Śiyālī-bhairavī; devī — goddess; kari’ daraśana — visiting; kāverīra tīre — on the bank of the river Kāverī; āilā — came; śacīra nandana — the son of mother Śacī.

Translation

After visiting the temple of Śiyālī-bhairavī [a form of the goddess Durgā], Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī, went to the bank of the river Kāverī.

Purport

The temple of Śiyālī-bhairavī is located in the Tanjore district, about forty-eight miles northeast of Tanjore City. There is a very much celebrated temple of Lord Śiva there and also a very large lake. It is said that once a small boy who was a devotee of Lord Śiva came to that temple, and the goddess Durgā, known as Bhairavī, gave him her breast to suck. After visiting this temple, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the bank of the river Kāverī (Kolirana) via the district of Tiruchchirāpalli. The Kāverī is mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.40) as a very pious river.

Bengali

গো-সমাজে শিব দেখি’ আইলা বেদাবন ।
মহাদেব দেখি’ তাঁরে করিলা বন্দন ॥ ৭৫ ॥

Text

go-samāje śiva dekhi’ āilā vedāvana
mahādeva dekhi’ tāṅre karilā vandana

Synonyms

go-samāje — at the place named Go-samāja; śiva dekhi’ — seeing the deity of Lord Śiva; āilā vedāvana — He arrived at Vedāvana; mahādeva dekhi’ — seeing Lord Śiva; tāṅre — unto him; karilā vandana — offered prayers.

Translation

The Lord then visited a place known as Go-samāja, where He saw Lord Śiva’s temple. He then arrived at Vedāvana, where He saw another deity of Lord Śiva and offered him prayers.

Purport

Go-samāja is a place of pilgrimage for the devotees of Lord Śiva. It is very important and is located near Vedāvana.

Bengali

অমৃতলিঙ্গ-শিব দেখি’ বন্দন করিল ।
সব শিবালয়ে শৈব ‘বৈষ্ণব’ হইল ॥ ৭৬ ॥

Text

amṛtaliṅga-śiva dekhi’ vandana karila
saba śivālaye śaiva ‘vaiṣṇava’ ha-ila

Synonyms

amṛta-liṅga-śiva — the Lord Śiva deity named Amṛta-liṅga; dekhi’ — seeing; vandana karila — offered obeisances; saba śiva-ālaye — in all the temples of Lord Śiva; śaiva — devotees of Lord Śiva; vaiṣṇava ha-ila — became devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

Seeing the Śiva deity named Amṛta-liṅga, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered His obeisances. Thus He visited all the temples of Lord Śiva and converted the devotees of Lord Śiva into Vaiṣṇavas.

Bengali

দেবস্থানে আসি’ কৈল বিষ্ণু দরশন ।
শ্রী-বৈষ্ণবের সঙ্গে তাহাঁ গোষ্ঠী অনুক্ষণ ॥ ৭৭ ॥

Text

deva-sthāne āsi’ kaila viṣṇu daraśana
śrī-vaiṣṇavera saṅge tāhāṅ goṣṭhī anukṣaṇa

Synonyms

deva-sthāne — to the place known as Devasthāna; āsi’ — coming; kaila — did; viṣṇu daraśana — visiting the temple of Lord Viṣṇu; śrī-vaiṣṇavera saṅge — with the Vaiṣṇavas in the disciplic succession of Rāmānuja; tāhāṅ — there; goṣṭhī — discussion; anukṣaṇa — always.

Translation

At Devasthāna, Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the temple of Lord Viṣṇu, and there He talked with the Vaiṣṇavas in the disciplic succession of Rāmānujācārya. These Vaiṣṇavas are known as Śrī Vaiṣṇavas.

Bengali

কুম্ভকর্ণ-কপালে দেখি’ সরোবর ।
শিব-ক্ষেত্রে শিব দেখে গৌরাঙ্গসুন্দর ॥ ৭৮ ॥

Text

kumbhakarṇa-kapāle dekhi’ sarovara
śiva-kṣetre śiva dekhe gaurāṅga-sundara

Synonyms

kumbhakarṇa-kapāle — at Kumbhakarṇa-kapāla; dekhi’ — after seeing; sarovara — the lake; śiva-kṣetre — at Śiva-kṣetra; śiva — Lord Śiva; dekhe — sees; gaurāṅga-sundara — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Translation

At Kumbhakarṇa-kapāla, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw a great lake and then the holy place named Śiva-kṣetra, where a temple of Lord Śiva is located.

Purport

Kumbhakarṇa is the name of the brother of Rāvaṇa. At the present moment the city of Kumbhakarṇa-kapāla is known as Kumbhakonam; it is situated twenty-four miles northeast of the city of Tanjore. There are twelve temples of Lord Śiva located at Kumbhakonam, as well as four Viṣṇu temples and one temple of Lord Brahmā. Śiva-kṣetra, within the city of Tanjore, is situated near a big lake known as Śiva-gaṅgā. At this place is a large temple of Lord Śiva known as Bṛhatīśvara-śiva-mandira.

Bengali

পাপনাশনে বিষ্ণু কৈল দরশন ।
শ্রীরঙ্গক্ষেত্রে তবে করিলা গমন ॥ ৭৯ ॥

Text

pāpa-nāśane viṣṇu kaila daraśana
śrī-raṅga-kṣetre tabe karilā gamana

Synonyms

pāpa-nāśane — at the place named Pāpanāśana; viṣṇu — Lord Viṣṇu; kaila — did; daraśana — visiting; śrī-raṅga-kṣetre — to the holy place named Śrī Raṅga-kṣetra; tabe — then; karilā — did; gamana — departure.

Translation

After visiting the holy place named Śiva-kṣetra, Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived at Pāpanāśana and there saw the temple of Lord Viṣṇu. Then He finally reached Śrī Raṅga-kṣetra.

Purport

There are two holy places known as Pāpanāśana: one is located eight miles southwest of Kumbhakonam, and the other lies near the river Tāmraparṇī, in the district of Tirunelveli, twenty miles west of the city of Tirunelveli (Pālamakoṭā).

Śrī Raṅga-kṣetra (Śrī Raṅgam) is a very famous place. It lies in the district of Tiruchchirāpalli, about ten miles west of Kumbhakonam and near the city of Tiruchchirāpalli, on an island in the Kāverī River. The Śrī Raṅgam temple is the largest in India, and there are seven walls and seven roads surrounding it. The ancient names of these roads are the road of Dharma, the road of Rājamahendra, the road of Kulaśekhara, the road of Ālināḍana, the road of Tiruvikrama, the Tirubiḍi road of Māḍamāḍi-gāisa, and the road of Aḍa-iyāvala-indāna. The temple was founded before the reign of Dharmavarma, who reigned before Rājamahendra. Many celebrated kings like Kulaśekhara and Yāmunācārya (Ālabandāru) resided in the temple of Śrī Raṅgam. Yāmunācārya, Śrī Rāmānuja, Sudarśanācārya and others also supervised this temple.

The incarnation of the goddess of fortune known as Godādevī or Śrī Āṇḍāl was one of the twelve Ālvārs, liberated persons known as divya-sūris. She was married to the Deity of Lord Śrī Raṅganātha, and later she entered into the body of the Lord. An incarnation of Kārmuka named Tirumaṅga (also one of the Ālvārs) acquired some money by stealing and built the fourth boundary wall of Śrī Raṅgam. It is said that in the year 289 of the Age of Kali, the Ālvār of the name Toṇḍaraḍippaḍi was born. While engaged in devotional service he fell victim to a prostitute, and Śrī Raṅganātha, seeing His devotee so degraded, sent one of His servants with a golden plate to that prostitute. When the golden plate was discovered missing from the temple, there was a search, and it was found in the prostitute’s house. When the devotee saw Raṅganātha’s mercy upon this prostitute, his mistake was rectified. He then prepared the third boundary wall of the Raṅganātha temple and cultivated a tulasī garden there.

There was also a celebrated disciple of Rāmānujācārya’s known as Kūreśa. Śrī Rāmapillāi was the son of Kūreśa, and his son was Vāgvijaya Bhaṭṭa, whose son was Vedavyāsa Bhaṭṭa, or Śrī Sudarśanācārya. When Sudarśanācārya was an old man, the Muslims attacked the temple of Raṅganātha and killed about twelve hundred Śrī Vaiṣṇavas. At that time the Deity of Raṅganātha was transferred to the temple of Tirupati, in the kingdom of Vijaya-nagara. The governor of Gingee, Goppaṇārya, brought Śrī Raṅganātha from the temple of Tirupati to a place known as Siṁha-brahma, where the Lord was situated for three years. In the year 1293 Śaka (A.D. 1371) the Deity was reinstalled in the Raṅganātha temple. On the eastern wall of the Raṅganātha temple is an inscription written by Vedānta-deśika relating how Raṅganātha was returned to the temple.

Bengali

কাবেরীতে স্নান করি’ দেখি’ রঙ্গনাথ ।
স্তুতি-প্রণতি করি’ মানিলা কৃতার্থ ॥ ৮০ ॥

Text

kāverīte snāna kari’ dekhi’ raṅganātha
stuti-praṇati kari’ mānilā kṛtārtha

Synonyms

kāverīte — in the river known as Kāverī; snāna kari’ — after bathing; dekhi’ — visiting; raṅga-nātha — the Raṅganātha temple; stuti — prayers; praṇati — obeisances; kari’ — offering; mānilā — thought Himself; kṛta-artha — very successful.

Translation

After bathing in the river Kāverī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the temple of Raṅganātha and offered His ardent prayers and obeisances. Thus He felt Himself successful.

Bengali

প্রেমাবেশে কৈল বহুত গান নর্তন ।
দেখি’ চমৎকার হৈল সব লোকের মন ॥ ৮১ ॥

Text

premāveśe kaila bahuta gāna nartana
dekhi’ camatkāra haila saba lokera mana

Synonyms

prema-āveśe — in the ecstasy of love; kaila — did; bahuta — various; gāna — songs; nartana — dancing; dekhi’ — seeing which; camatkāra — astonished; haila — were; saba — all; lokera — of persons; mana — minds.

Translation

In the temple of Raṅganātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanted and danced in ecstatic love of Godhead. Seeing His performance, everyone was struck with wonder.

Bengali

শ্রী-বৈষ্ণব এক, — ‘ব্যেঙ্কট ভট্ট’ নাম ।
প্রভুরে নিমন্ত্রণ কৈল করিয়া সম্মান ॥ ৮২ ॥

Text

śrī-vaiṣṇava eka, — ‘vyeṅkaṭa bhaṭṭa’ nāma
prabhure nimantraṇa kaila kariyā sammāna

Synonyms

śrī-vaiṣṇava eka — a devotee belonging to the Rāmānuja-sampradāya; vyeṅkaṭa bhaṭṭa — Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa; nāma — named; prabhure — unto Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; nimantraṇa — invitation; kaila — did; kariyā — offering; sammāna — great respect.

Translation

A Vaiṣṇava known as Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa then invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home with great respect.

Purport

Śrī Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa was a Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa and an inhabitant of Śrī Raṅga-kṣetra. He belonged to the disciplic succession of Śrī Rāmānujācārya. Śrī Raṅga is one of the places of pilgrimage in the province of Tamil Nadu. The inhabitants of that province do not retain the name Veṅkaṭa. It is therefore supposed that Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa did not belong to that province, although he may have been residing there for a very long time. Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa was in a branch of the Rāmānuja-sampradāya known as Vaḍagalai. He had a brother in the Rāmānuja-sampradāya known as Śrīpāda Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī. The son of Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa was later known in the Gauḍīya-sampradāya as Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, and he established the Rādhāramaṇa temple in Vṛndāvana. More information about him may be found in a book known as the Bhakti-ratnākara, by Narahari Cakravartī.

Bengali

নিজ-ঘরে লঞা কৈল পাদপ্রক্ষালন ।
সেই জল লঞা কৈল সবংশে ভক্ষণ ॥ ৮৩ ॥

Text

nija-ghare lañā kaila pāda-prakṣālana
sei jala lañā kaila sa-vaṁśe bhakṣaṇa

Synonyms

nija-ghare — to his own home; lañā — bringing; kaila — did; pāda-prakṣālana — washing of the feet; sei jala — that water; lañā — taking; kaila — did; sa-vaṁśe — with all the family members; bhakṣaṇa — drinking.

Translation

Śrī Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa took Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home. After he washed the Lord’s feet, all the members of his family drank the water.

Bengali

ভিক্ষা করাঞা কিছু কৈল নিবেদন ।
চাতুর্মাস্য আসি’ প্রভু, হৈল উপসন্ন ॥ ৮৪ ॥

Text

bhikṣā karāñā kichu kaila nivedana
cāturmāsya āsi’ prabhu, haila upasanna

Synonyms

bhikṣā karāñā — after offering lunch; kichu — some; kaila — did; nivedana — submission; cāturmāsya — the period of Cāturmāsya; āsi’ — coming; prabhu — my Lord; haila upasanna — has already arrived.

Translation

After offering lunch to the Lord, Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa submitted that the period of Cāturmāsya had already arrived.

Bengali

চাতুর্মাস্যে কৃপা করি’ রহ মোর ঘরে ।
কৃষ্ণকথা কহি’ কৃপায় উদ্ধার’ আমারে ॥ ৮৫ ॥

Text

cāturmāsye kṛpā kari’ raha mora ghare
kṛṣṇa-kathā kahi’ kṛpāya uddhāra’ āmāre

Synonyms

cāturmāsye — during this period of Cāturmāsya; kṛpā kari’ — being merciful; raha — please stay; mora ghare — at my place; kṛṣṇa-kathā — topics of Lord Kṛṣṇa; kahi’ — speaking; kṛpāya — by Your mercy; uddhāra’ āmāre — kindly deliver me.

Translation

Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa said, “Please be merciful to me and stay at my house during Cāturmāsya. Speak about Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes and kindly deliver me by Your mercy.”

Bengali

তাঁর ঘরে রহিলা প্রভু কৃষ্ণকথা-রসে ।
ভট্টসঙ্গে গোঙাইল সুখে চারি মাসে ॥ ৮৬ ॥

Text

tāṅra ghare rahilā prabhu kṛṣṇa-kathā-rase
bhaṭṭa-saṅge goṅāila sukhe cāri māse

Synonyms

tāṅra ghare — in his home; rahilā — stayed; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kṛṣṇa-kathā-rase — enjoying the transcendental mellow of discussing Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes; bhaṭṭa-saṅge — with Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa; goṅāila — passed; sukhe — in happiness; cāri māse — four months.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained at the house of Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa for four continuous months. The Lord passed His days in great happiness, enjoying the transcendental mellow of discussing Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.

Bengali

কাবেরীতে স্নান করি’ শ্রীরঙ্গ দর্শন ।
প্রতিদিন প্রেমাবেশে করেন নর্তন ॥ ৮৭ ॥

Text

kāverīte snāna kari’ śrī-raṅga darśana
pratidina premāveśe karena nartana

Synonyms

kāverīte — in the river known as Kāverī; snāna kari’ — taking a bath; śrī-raṅga darśana — visiting the temple of Śrī Raṅga; prati-dina — every day; prema-āveśe — in great happiness; karena — does perform; nartana — dancing.

Translation

While there, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took His bath in the river Kāverī and visited the temple of Śrī Raṅga. Every day the Lord also danced in ecstasy.

Bengali

সৌন্দর্যাদি প্রেমাবেশ দেখি, সর্বলোক ।
দেখিবারে আইসে, দেখে, খণ্ডে দুঃখ-শোক ॥ ৮৮ ॥

Text

saundaryādi premāveśa dekhi, sarva-loka
dekhibāre āise, dekhe, khaṇḍe duḥkha-śoka

Synonyms

saundarya-ādi — the beauty of the body, etc.; prema-āveśa — His ecstatic love; dekhi — seeing; sarva-loka — all men; dekhibāre — to see; āise — come there; dekhe — and see; khaṇḍe duḥkha-śoka — are relieved from all unhappiness and distress.

Translation

The beauty of Lord Caitanya’s body and His ecstatic love of God were witnessed by everyone. Many people used to come see Him, and as soon as they saw Him, all their unhappiness and distress vanished.

Bengali

লক্ষ লক্ষ লোক আইল নানা-দেশ হৈতে ।
সবে কৃষ্ণনাম কহে প্রভুকে দেখিতে ॥ ৮৯ ॥

Text

lakṣa lakṣa loka āila nānā-deśa haite
sabe kṛṣṇa-nāma kahe prabhuke dekhite

Synonyms

lakṣa lakṣa — many hundreds of thousands; loka — of people; āila — came there; nānā-deśa — different countries; haite — from; sabe — all of them; kṛṣṇa-nāma kahe — chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra; prabhuke — the Lord; dekhite — seeing.

Translation

Many hundreds of thousands of people from various countries came to see the Lord, and after seeing Him they all chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

Bengali

কৃষ্ণনাম বিনা কেহ নাহি কহে আর ।
সবে কৃষ্ণভক্ত হৈল, — লোকে চমৎকার ॥ ৯০ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇa-nāma vinā keha nāhi kahe āra
sabe kṛṣṇa-bhakta haila, — loke camatkāra

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa-nāma vinā — without chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra; keha — anyone; nāhi — does not; kahe — speak; āra — anything else; sabe — all of them; kṛṣṇa-bhakta — Lord Kṛṣṇa’s devotees; haila — became; loke — the people; camatkāra — astonished.

Translation

Indeed, they did not chant anything but the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, and all of them became Lord Kṛṣṇa’s devotees. Thus the general populace was astonished.

Bengali

শ্রীরঙ্গক্ষেত্রে বৈসে যত বৈষ্ণব-ব্রাহ্মণ ।
এক এক দিন সবে কৈল নিমন্ত্রণ ॥ ৯১ ॥

Text

śrī-raṅga-kṣetre vaise yata vaiṣṇava-brāhmaṇa
eka eka dina sabe kaila nimantraṇa

Synonyms

śrī-raṅga-kṣetre — in Śrī Raṅga-kṣetra; vaise — residing; yata — all; vaiṣṇava-brāhmaṇa — Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇas; eka eka dina — every day; sabe — all of them; kaila nimantraṇa — invited the Lord.

Translation

All the Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇas residing in Śrī Raṅga-kṣetra invited the Lord to their homes. Indeed, He had an invitation every day.

Bengali

এক এক দিনে চাতুর্মাস্য পূর্ণ হৈল ।
কতক ব্রাহ্মণ ভিক্ষা দিতে না পাইল ॥ ৯২ ॥

Text

eka eka dine cāturmāsya pūrṇa haila
kataka brāhmaṇa bhikṣā dite nā pāila

Synonyms

eka eka dine — day by day; cāturmāsya — the period of Cāturmāsya; pūrṇa haila — became filled; kataka brāhmaṇa — some of the brāhmaṇas; bhikṣā dite — to offer Him lunch; — did not; pāila — get the opportunity.

Translation

Each day the Lord was invited by a different brāhmaṇa, but some of the brāhmaṇas did not get the opportunity to offer Him lunch because the period of Cāturmāsya came to an end.

Bengali

সেই ক্ষেত্রে রহে এক বৈষ্ণব-ব্রাহ্মণ ।
দেবালয়ে আসি’ করে গীতা আবর্তন ॥ ৯৩ ॥

Text

sei kṣetre rahe eka vaiṣṇava-brāhmaṇa
devālaye āsi’ kare gītā āvartana

Synonyms

sei kṣetre — in that holy place; rahe — there was; eka — one; vaiṣṇava-brāhmaṇa — a brāhmaṇa following the Vaiṣṇava cult; deva-ālaye — in the temple; āsi’ — coming; kare — does; gītā — of the Bhagavad-gītā; āvartana — recitation.

Translation

In the holy place of Śrī Raṅga-kṣetra, a brāhmaṇa Vaiṣṇava used to visit the temple daily and recite the entire text of the Bhagavad-gītā.

Bengali

অষ্টাদশাধ্যায় পড়ে আনন্দ-আবেশে ।
অশুদ্ধ পড়েন, লোক করে উপহাসে ॥ ৯৪ ॥

Text

aṣṭādaśādhyāya paḍe ānanda-āveśe
aśuddha paḍena, loka kare upahāse

Synonyms

aṣṭādaśa-adhyāya — eighteen chapters; paḍe — reads; ānanda-āveśe — in great ecstasy; aśuddha paḍena — could not pronounce the text correctly; loka — people in general; kare — do; upahāse — joking.

Translation

The brāhmaṇa regularly read the eighteen chapters of the Bhagavad-gītā in great transcendental ecstasy, but because he could not pronounce the words correctly, people used to joke about him.

Bengali

কেহ হাসে, কেহ নিন্দে, তাহা নাহি মানে ।
আবিষ্ট হঞা গীতা পড়ে আনন্দিত-মনে ॥ ৯৫ ॥

Text

keha hāse, keha ninde, tāhā nāhi māne
āviṣṭa hañā gītā paḍe ānandita-mane

Synonyms

keha hāse — someone laughs; keha ninde — someone criticizes; tāhā — that; nāhi māne — he does not care for; āviṣṭa hañā — being in great ecstasy; gītā paḍe — reads the Bhagavad-gītā; ānandita — in great happiness; mane — his mind.

Translation

Due to his incorrect pronunciation, people sometimes criticized him and laughed at him, but he did not care. He was full of ecstasy due to reading the Bhagavad-gītā and was personally very happy.

Bengali

পুলকাশ্রু, কম্প, স্বেদ, — যাবৎ পঠন ।
দেখি’ আনন্দিত হৈল মহাপ্রভুর মন ॥ ৯৬ ॥

Text

pulakāśru, kampa, sveda, — yāvat paṭhana
dekhi’ ānandita haila mahāprabhura mana

Synonyms

pulaka — standing of the hairs of the body; aśru — tears; kampa — trembling; sveda — perspiration; yāvat — during; paṭhana — the reading of the book; dekhi’ — seeing this; ānandita — very happy; haila — became; mahāprabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; mana — the mind.

Translation

While reading the book, the brāhmaṇa experienced transcendental bodily transformations. The hairs on his body stood on end, tears welled up in his eyes, and his body trembled and perspired as he read. Seeing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy.

Purport

Although the brāhmaṇa could not pronounce the words very well due to illiteracy, he still experienced ecstatic symptoms while reading the Bhagavad-gītā. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased to observe these symptoms, and this indicates that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased by devotion, not by erudite scholarship. Even though the words were imperfectly pronounced, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, did not think this very serious. Rather, the Lord was pleased by the bhāva (devotion). In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.11) this is confirmed:

tad-vāg-visargo janatāgha-viplavo
yasmin prati-ślokam abaddhavaty api
nāmāny anantasya yaśo-’ṅkitāni yat
śṛṇvanti gāyanti gṛṇanti sādhavaḥ

“On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms and pastimes of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world’s misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.”

The purport to this verse may be considered for further information on this subject.

Bengali

মহাপ্রভু পুছিল তাঁরে, শুন, মহাশয় ।
কোন্ অর্থ জানি’ তোমার এত সুখ হয় ॥ ৯৭ ॥

Text

mahāprabhu puchila tāṅre, śuna, mahāśaya
kon artha jāni’ tomāra eta sukha haya

Synonyms

mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; puchila — inquired; tāṅre — from him; śuna — please hear; mahā-āśaya — My dear sir; kon — what; artha — meaning; jāni’ — knowing; tomāra — your; eta — so great; sukha — happiness; haya — is.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked the brāhmaṇa, “My dear sir, why are you in such ecstatic love? Which portion of the Bhagavad-gītā gives you such transcendental pleasure?”

Bengali

বিপ্র কহে, — মূর্খ আমি, শব্দার্থ না জানি ।
শুদ্ধাশুদ্ধ গীতা পড়ি, গুরু-আজ্ঞা মানি’ ॥ ৯৮ ॥

Text

vipra kahe, — mūrkha āmi, śabdārtha nā jāni
śuddhāśuddha gītā paḍi, guru-ājñā māni’

Synonyms

vipra kahe — the brāhmaṇa replied; mūrkha āmi — I am illiterate; śabda-artha — the meaning of the words; jāni — I do not know; śuddha-aśuddha — sometimes correct and sometimes not correct; gītā — the Bhagavad-gītā; paḍi — I read; guru-ājñā — the order of my spiritual master; māni’ — accepting.

Translation

The brāhmaṇa replied, “I am illiterate and therefore do not know the meaning of the words. Sometimes I read the Bhagavad-gītā correctly and sometimes incorrectly, but in any case I am doing this in compliance with the orders of my spiritual master.”

Purport

This is a good example of a person who had become so successful that he was able to capture the attention of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu even while reading the Bhagavad-gītā incorrectly. His spiritual activities did not depend on material things such as correct pronunciation. Rather, his success depended on strictly following the instructions of his spiritual master.

yasya deve parā bhaktiryathā deve tathā gurau
tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ
prakāśante mahātmanaḥ

“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.”(Śvetāśvatara Up. 6.23)

Actually the meaning of the words of the Bhagavad-gītā or Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam are revealed to one strictly following the orders of the spiritual master. They are also revealed to one who has equal faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, being faithful to both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master is the secret of success in spiritual life.

Bengali

অর্জুনের রথে কৃষ্ণ হয় রজ্জুধর ।
বসিয়াছে হাতে তোত্র শ্যামল সুন্দর ॥ ৯৯ ॥

Text

arjunera rathe kṛṣṇa haya rajju-dhara
vasiyāche hāte totra śyāmala sundara

Synonyms

arjunera — of Arjuna; rathe — in the chariot; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa; haya — is; rajju-dhara — holding the reins; vasiyāche — He was sitting there; hāte — in the hand; totra — a bridle; śyāmala — blackish; sundara — very beautiful.

Translation

The brāhmaṇa continued, “Actually I only see Lord Kṛṣṇa sitting on a chariot as Arjuna’s charioteer. Taking the reins in His hands, He appears very beautiful and blackish.

Bengali

অর্জুনেরে কহিতেছেন হিত-উপদেশ ।
তাঁরে দেখি’ হয় মোর আনন্দ-আবেশ ॥ ১০০ ॥

Text

arjunere kahitechena hita-upadeśa
tāṅre dekhi’ haya mora ānanda-āveśa

Synonyms

arjunere — unto Arjuna; kahitechena — He is speaking; hita-upadeśa — good instruction; tāṅre — Him; dekhi’ — seeing; haya — there is; mora — my; ānanda — transcendental happiness; āveśa — ecstasy.

Translation

“While seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa sitting in a chariot and instructing Arjuna, I am filled with ecstatic happiness.

Bengali

যাবৎ পড়োঁ, তাবৎ পাঙ তাঁর দরশন ।
এই লাগি’ গীতা-পাঠ না ছাড়ে মোর মন ॥ ১০১ ॥

Text

yāvat paḍoṅ, tāvat pāṅa tāṅra daraśana
ei lāgi’ gītā-pāṭha nā chāḍe mora mana

Synonyms

yāvat — as long as; paḍoṅ — I read; tāvat — so long; pāṅa — I get; tāṅra — His; daraśana — audience; ei lāgi’ — for this reason; gītā-pāṭha — reading the Bhagavad-gītā; chāḍe — does not quit; mora mana — my mind.

Translation

“As long as I read the Bhagavad-gītā, I simply see the Lord’s beautiful features. It is for this reason that I am reading the Bhagavad-gītā, and my mind cannot be distracted from this.”

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — গীতা-পাঠে তোমারই অধিকার ।
তুমি সে জানহ এই গীতার অর্থ-সার ॥ ১০২ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe, — gītā-pāṭhe tomārā-i adhikāra
tumi se jānaha ei gītāra artha-sāra

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — the Lord replied; gītā-pāṭhe — in reading the Bhagavad-gītā; tomārāi adhikāra — you have the proper authority; tumi — you; se — that; jānaha — know; ei — this; gītāra — of the Bhagavad-gītā; artha-sāra — the real purport.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told the brāhmaṇa, “Indeed, you are an authority in the reading of the Bhagavad-gītā. Whatever you know constitutes the real purport of the Bhagavad-gītā.”

Purport

According to the śāstras: bhaktyā bhāgavataṁ grāhyaṁ na buddhyā na ca ṭīkayā. One should understand the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by hearing them from a real devotee. One cannot understand them simply by erudite scholarship or sharp intelligence. It is also said:

gītādhītā ca yenāpibhakti-bhāvena cetasā
veda-śāstra-purāṇāni
tenādhītāni sarvaśaḥ

To one who reads the Bhagavad-gītā with faith and devotion, the essence of Vedic knowledge is revealed. And according to the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad (6.23):

yasya deve parā bhaktiryathā deve tathā gurau
tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ
prakāśante mahātmanaḥ

“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.”

All Vedic literatures are to be understood with faith and devotion, not by mundane scholarship. We have therefore presented Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. There are many so-called scholars and philosophers who read the Bhagavad-gītā in a scholarly way. They simply waste their time and mislead those who read their commentaries.

Bengali

এত বলি’ সেই বিপ্রে কৈল আলিঙ্গন ।
প্রভু-পদ ধরি’ বিপ্র করেন রোদন ॥ ১০৩ ॥

Text

eta bali’ sei vipre kaila āliṅgana
prabhu-pada dhari’ vipra karena rodana

Synonyms

eta bali’ — saying this; sei vipre — that brāhmaṇa; kaila āliṅgana — He embraced; prabhu-pada — the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dhari’ — catching; vipra — the brāhmaṇa; karena — does; rodana — crying.

Translation

After saying this, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced the brāhmaṇa, and the brāhmaṇa, catching the lotus feet of the Lord, began to cry.

Bengali

তোমা দেখি’ তাহা হৈতে দ্বিগুণ সুখ হয় ।
সেই কৃষ্ণ তুমি, — হেন মোর মনে লয় ॥ ১০৪ ॥

Text

tomā dekhi’ tāhā haite dvi-guṇa sukha haya
sei kṛṣṇa tumi, — hena mora mane laya

Synonyms

tomā dekhi’ — by seeing You; tāhā haite — than the vision of Lord Kṛṣṇa; dvi-guṇa — twice as much; sukha — happiness; haya — there is; sei kṛṣṇa — that Lord Kṛṣṇa; tumi — You are; hena — such; mora — my; mane — in the mind; laya — takes.

Translation

The brāhmaṇa said, “Upon seeing You, my happiness is doubled. I take it that You are the same Lord Kṛṣṇa.”

Bengali

কৃষ্ণস্ফূর্ত্যে তাঁর মন হঞাছে নির্মল ।
অতএব প্রভুর তত্ত্ব জানিল সকল ॥ ১০৫ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇa-sphūrtye tāṅra mana hañāche nirmala
ataeva prabhura tattva jānila sakala

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa-sphūrtye — by revelation of Lord Kṛṣṇa; tāṅra — his; mana — mind; hañāche — did become; nirmala — purified; ataeva — therefore; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tattva — truth; jānila — could understand; sakala — all.

Translation

The mind of the brāhmaṇa was purified by the revelation of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and therefore he could understand the truth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in all details.

Bengali

তবে মহাপ্রভু তাঁরে করাইল শিক্ষণ ।
এই বাত‌্ কাহাঁ না করিহ প্রকাশন ॥ ১০৬ ॥

Text

tabe mahāprabhu tāṅre karāila śikṣaṇa
ei bāt kāhāṅ nā kariha prakāśana

Synonyms

tabe — then; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅre — unto the brāhmaṇa; karāila — made; śikṣaṇa — instruction; ei bāt — this version; kāhāṅ — anywhere; — do not; kariha — do; prakāśana — revelation.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then taught the brāhmaṇa very thoroughly and requested him not to disclose the fact that He was Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself.

Bengali

সেই বিপ্র মহাপ্রভুর বড় ভক্ত হৈল ।
চারি মাস প্রভু-সঙ্গ কভু না ছাড়িল ॥ ১০৭ ॥

Text

sei vipra mahāprabhura baḍa bhakta haila
cāri māsa prabhu-saṅga kabhu nā chāḍila

Synonyms

sei vipra — that brāhmaṇa; mahāprabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; baḍa — big; bhakta — devotee; haila — became; cāri māsa — for four months; prabhu-saṅga — association of the Lord; kabhu — at any time; — did not; chāḍila — give up.

Translation

That brāhmaṇa became a great devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and for four continuous months he did not give up the Lord’s company.

Bengali

এইমত ভট্টগৃহে রহে গৌরচন্দ্র ।
নিরন্তর ভট্ট-সঙ্গে কৃষ্ণকথানন্দ ॥ ১০৮ ॥

Text

ei-mata bhaṭṭa-gṛhe rahe gauracandra
nirantara bhaṭṭa-saṅge kṛṣṇa-kathānanda

Synonyms

ei-mata — in this way; bhaṭṭa-gṛhe — in the house of Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa; rahe — remained; gauracandra — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; nirantara — constantly; bhaṭṭa-saṅge — with Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa; kṛṣṇa-kathā-ānanda — the transcendental bliss of talking about Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained at the house of Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa and constantly talked with him about Lord Kṛṣṇa. In this way He was very happy.

Bengali

‘শ্রী-বৈষ্ণব’ ভট্ট সেবে লক্ষ্মী-নারায়ণ ।
তাঁর ভক্তি দেখি’ প্রভুর তুষ্ট হৈল মন ॥ ১০৯ ॥

Text

śrī-vaiṣṇava’ bhaṭṭa seve lakṣmī-nārāyaṇa
tāṅra bhakti dekhi’ prabhura tuṣṭa haila mana

Synonyms

śrī-vaiṣṇava — a devotee of the Rāmānuja-sampradāya; bhaṭṭa — Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa; seve — used to worship; lakṣmī-nārāyaṇa — the Deities of Lord Nārāyaṇa and the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī; tāṅra — his; bhakti — devotion; dekhi’ — seeing; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tuṣṭa — happy; haila — became; mana — the mind.

Translation

Being a Vaiṣṇava in the Rāmānuja-sampradāya, Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa worshiped the Deities of Lakṣmī and Nārāyaṇa. Seeing his pure devotion, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very satisfied.

Bengali

নিরন্তর তাঁর সঙ্গে হৈল সখ্যভাব ।
হাস্য-পরিহাসে দুঁহে সখ্যের স্বভাব ॥ ১১০ ॥

Text

nirantara tāṅra saṅge haila sakhya-bhāva
hāsya-parihāse duṅhe sakhyera svabhāva

Synonyms

nirantara — constantly; tāṅra saṅge — being associated with him; haila — there was; sakhya-bhāva — a friendly relationship; hāsya — laughing; parihāse — joking; duṅhe — both of them; sakhyera — of fraternity; svabhāva — nature.

Translation

Constantly associating with each other, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa gradually developed a friendly relationship. Indeed, sometimes they laughed and joked together.

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — ভট্ট, তোমার লক্ষ্মী-ঠাকুরাণী ।
কান্ত-বক্ষঃস্থিতা, পতিব্রতা-শিরোমণি ॥ ১১১ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe, — bhaṭṭa, tomāra lakṣmī-ṭhākurāṇī
kānta-vakṣaḥ-sthitā, pativratā-śiromaṇi

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; bhaṭṭa — My dear Bhaṭṭācārya; tomāra — your; lakṣmī-ṭhākurāṇī — goddess of fortune; kānta — of her husband, Nārāyaṇa; vakṣaḥ-sthitā — situated on the chest; pati-vratā — chaste woman; śiromaṇi — the topmost.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told the Bhaṭṭācārya, “Your worshipable goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, always remains on the chest of Nārāyaṇa, and she is certainly the most chaste woman in the creation.

Bengali

আমার ঠাকুর কৃষ্ণ — গোপ, গো-চারক ।
সাধ্বী হঞা কেনে চাহে তাঁহার সঙ্গম ॥ ১১২ ॥

Text

āmāra ṭhākura kṛṣṇa — gopa, go-cāraka
sādhvī hañā kene cāhe tāṅhāra saṅgama

Synonyms

āmāra ṭhākura — My worshipable Deity; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa; gopa — cowherd; go-cāraka — a tender of cows; sādhvī hañā — being so chaste; kene — why; cāhe — wants; tāṅhāra — His; saṅgama — association.

Translation

“However, my Lord is Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, a cowherd boy who is engaged in tending cows. Why is it that Lakṣmī, being such a chaste wife, wants to associate with My Lord?

Bengali

এই লাগি’ সুখভোগ ছাড়ি’ চিরকাল ।
ব্রত-নিয়ম করি’ তপ করিল অপার ॥ ১১৩ ॥

Text

ei lāgi’ sukha-bhoga chāḍi’ cira-kāla
vrata-niyama kari’ tapa karila apāra

Synonyms

ei lāgi’ — for this reason; sukha-bhoga — the enjoyment of Vaikuṇṭha; chāḍi’ — giving up; cira-kāla — for a long time; vrata-niyama — vows and regulative principles; kari’ — accepting; tapa — austerity; karila apāra — performed unlimitedly.

Translation

“Just to associate with Kṛṣṇa, Lakṣmī abandoned all transcendental happiness in Vaikuṇṭha and for a long time accepted vows and regulative principles and performed unlimited austerities.”

Bengali

কস্যানুভাবোঽস্য ন দেব বিদ্মহে, তবাঙ্ঘ্র রেণুস্পরশাধিকারঃ
যদ্বাঞ্ছয়া শ্রীর্ললনাচরত্তপো, বিহায় কামান্ সুচিরং ধৃতব্রতা ॥ ১১৪ ॥

Text

kasyānubhāvo ’sya na deva vidmahe
tavāṅghri-reṇu-sparaśādhikāraḥ
yad-vāñchayā śrīr lalanācarat tapo
vihāya kāmān su-ciraṁ dhṛta-vratā

Synonyms

kasya — of what; anubhāvaḥ — a result; asya — of the serpent (Kāliya); na — not; deva — O Lord; vidmahe — we know; tava aṅghri — of Your lotus feet; reṇu — of the dust; sparaśa — for touching; adhikāraḥ — qualification; yat — which; vāñchayā — by desiring; śrīḥ — the goddess of fortune; lalanā — the topmost woman; acarat — performed; tapaḥ — austerity; vihāya — giving up; kāmān — all desires; su-ciram — for a long time; dhṛta — a law upheld; vratā — as a vow.

Translation

Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, “ ‘O Lord, we do not know how the serpent Kāliya attained such an opportunity to be touched by the dust of Your lotus feet. Even the goddess of fortune, for this end, performed austerities for centuries, giving up all other desires and observing austere vows. Indeed, we do not know how the serpent Kāliya got such an opportunity.’ ”

Purport

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.16.36) was spoken by the wives of the Kāliya serpent.

Bengali

ভট্ট কহে, কৃষ্ণ-নারায়ণ — একই স্বরূপ ।
কৃষ্ণেতে অধিক লীলা-বৈদগ্ধ্যাদিরূপ ॥ ১১৫ ॥

Text

bhaṭṭa kahe, kṛṣṇa-nārāyaṇa — eka-i svarūpa
kṛṣṇete adhika līlā-vaidagdhyādi-rūpa

Synonyms

bhaṭṭa kahe — Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa said; kṛṣṇa-nārāyaṇa — Kṛṣṇa and Nārāyaṇa; eka-i svarūpa — one and the same; kṛṣṇete — in Lord Kṛṣṇa; adhika — more; līlā — pastimes; vaidagdhya-ādi-rūpa — sportive nature.

Translation

Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa then said, “Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Nārāyaṇa are one and the same, but the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa are more relishable due to their sportive nature.

Bengali

তার স্পর্শে নাহি যায় পতিব্রতা-ধর্ম ।
কৌতুকে লক্ষ্মী চাহেন কৃষ্ণের সঙ্গম ॥ ১১৬ ॥

Text

tāra sparśe nāhi yāya pativratā-dharma
kautuke lakṣmī cāhena kṛṣṇera saṅgama

Synonyms

tāra sparśe — by the touching of Kṛṣṇa by Lakṣmī; nāhi — does not; yāya — disappear; pati-vratā-dharma — the vow of chastity; kautuke — in great fun; lakṣmī — the goddess of fortune; cāhena — wants; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; saṅgama — association.

Translation

“Since Kṛṣṇa and Nārāyaṇa are the same personality, Lakṣmī’s association with Kṛṣṇa does not break her vow of chastity. Rather, it was in great fun that the goddess of fortune wanted to associate with Lord Kṛṣṇa.”

Purport

This is the answer to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s question, and from this we can understand that Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa knew the truth. He told Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that Nārāyaṇa is a form of Kṛṣṇa associated with transcendental opulence. Although Kṛṣṇa is two-armed and Nārāyaṇa four-armed, there is no difference in the person. They are one and the same. Nārāyaṇa is as beautiful as Kṛṣṇa, but Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes are more sportive. It is not that the sportive pastimes of Kṛṣṇa make Him different from Nārāyaṇa. Lakṣmī’s desiring to associate with Kṛṣṇa was perfectly natural. In other words, it is understandable that a chaste woman wants to associate with her husband in all his different dresses. Therefore one should not criticize Lakṣmī for wanting to associate with Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

সিদ্ধান্ততস্ত্বভেদেঽপি শ্রীশ-কৃষ্ণস্বরূপয়োঃ ।
রসেনোৎকৃষ্যতে কৃষ্ণরূপমেষা রসস্থিতিঃ ॥ ১১৭ ॥

Text

siddhāntatas tv abhede ’pi
śrīśa-kṛṣṇa-svarūpayoḥ
rasenotkṛṣyate kṛṣṇa-
rūpam eṣā rasa-sthitiḥ

Synonyms

siddhāntataḥ — in reality; tu — but; abhede — no difference; api — although; śrī-īśa — of the husband of Lakṣmī, Nārāyaṇa; kṛṣṇa — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; svarūpayoḥ — between the forms; rasena — by transcendental mellows; utkṛṣyate — is superior; kṛṣṇa-rūpam — the form of Lord Kṛṣṇa; eṣā — this; rasa-sthitiḥ — reservoir of pleasure.

Translation

Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa continued, “ ‘According to transcendental realization, there is no difference between the forms of Nārāyaṇa and Kṛṣṇa. Yet in Kṛṣṇa there is a special transcendental attraction due to the conjugal mellow, and consequently He surpasses Nārāyaṇa. This is the conclusion of transcendental mellows.’

Purport

This verse quoted by Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa is also found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.59).

Bengali

কৃষ্ণসঙ্গে পতিব্রতা-ধর্ম নহে নাশ ।
অধিক লাভ পাইয়ে, আর রাসবিলাস ॥ ১১৮ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇa-saṅge pativratā-dharma nahe nāśa
adhika lābha pāiye, āra rāsa-vilāsa

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa-saṅge — in the association of Lord Kṛṣṇa; pati-vratā — of chastity; dharma — vow; nahe — is not; nāśa — lost; adhika — more; lābha — profit; pāiye — I get; āra — also; rāsa-vilāsa — the enjoyment in the rāsa dance.

Translation

“The goddess of fortune considered that her vow of chastity would not be damaged by her relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Rather, by associating with Kṛṣṇa she could enjoy the benefit of the rāsa dance.”

Bengali

বিনোদিনী লক্ষ্মীর হয় কৃষ্ণে অভিলাষ ।
ইহাতে কি দোষ, কেনে কর পরিহাস ॥ ১১৯ ॥

Text

vinodinī lakṣmīra haya kṛṣṇe abhilāṣa
ihāte ki doṣa, kene kara parihāsa

Synonyms

vinodinī — the enjoyer; lakṣmīra — of the goddess of fortune; haya — there is; kṛṣṇe — for Lord Kṛṣṇa; abhilāṣa — desire; ihāte — in this; ki — what; doṣa — fault; kene — why; kara — You do; parihāsa — joking.

Translation

Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa further explained, “Mother Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, is also an enjoyer of transcendental bliss; therefore if she wanted to enjoy herself with Kṛṣṇa, what fault is there? Why are You joking so about this?”

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — দোষ নাহি, ইহা আমি জানি ।
রাস না পাইল লক্ষ্মী, শাস্ত্রে ইহা শুনি ॥ ১২০ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe, — doṣa nāhi, ihā āmi jāni
rāsa nā pāila lakṣmī, śāstre ihā śuni

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — the Lord replied; doṣa nāhi — there is no fault; ihā āmi jāni — this I know; rāsa pāila lakṣmī — Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, could not join the rāsa dance; śāstre ihā śuni — we get this information from revealed scriptures.

Translation

Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “I know that there is no fault on the part of the goddess of fortune, but still she could not enter into the rāsa dance. We hear this from the revealed scriptures.

Bengali

নায়ং শ্রিয়োঽঙ্গ উ নিতান্তরতেঃ প্রসাদঃ ।
স্বর্যোষিতাং নলিনগন্ধরুচাং কুতোঽন্যাঃ ।
রাসোৎসবেঽস্য ভুজদণ্ডগৃহীতকণ্ঠ-
লব্ধাশিষাং য উদগাদ‌্‌ব্রজসুন্দরীণাম্ ॥ ১২১ ॥

Text

nāyaṁ śriyo ’ṅga u nitānta-rateḥ prasādaḥ
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 — one 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 exactly 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).

Bengali

লক্ষ্মী কেনে না পাইল, ইহার কি কারণ ।
তপ করি’ কৈছে কৃষ্ণ পাইল শ্রুতিগণ ॥ ১২২ ॥

Text

lakṣmī kene nā pāila, ihāra ki kāraṇa
tapa kari’ kaiche kṛṣṇa pāila śruti-gaṇa

Synonyms

lakṣmī — the goddess of fortune; kene — why; — did not; pāila — get; ihāra — of this; ki — what; kāraṇa — cause; tapa kari’ — undergoing severe austerities; aiche — how; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa; pāila — attained; śruti-gaṇa — Vedic authorities.

Translation

“But can you tell Me why the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, could not enter the rāsa dance? The authorities of Vedic knowledge could enter the dance and associate with Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

নিভৃতমরুন্মনোঽক্ষদৃঢ়যোগযুজো হৃদি য-
ন্মুনয় উপাসতে তদরয়োঽপি যযুঃ স্মরণাৎ ।
স্ত্রিয় উরগেন্দ্র-ভোগভুজদণ্ডবিষক্ত-ধিয়ো
বয়মপি তে সমাঃ সমদৃশোঽঙ্ঘ্রিসরোজসুধাঃ ॥ ১২৩ ॥

Text

nibhṛta-marun-mano-’kṣa-dṛḍha-yoga-yujo hṛdi yan-
munaya upāsate tad arayo ’pi yayuḥ smaraṇāt
striya uragendra-bhoga-bhuja-daṇḍa-viṣakta-dhiyo
vayam api te samāḥ samadṛśo ’ṅghri-saroja-sudhāḥ

Synonyms

nibhṛta — controlled; marut — the life air; manaḥ — the mind; akṣa — the senses; dṛḍha — strong; yoga — in the mystic yoga process; yujaḥ — who are engaged; hṛdi — within the heart; yat — who; munayaḥ — the great sages; upāsate — worship; tat — that; arayaḥ — the enemies; api — also; yayuḥ — obtain; smaraṇāt — from remembering; striyaḥ — the gopīs; uraga-indra — of serpents; bhoga — like the bodies; bhuja — the arms; daṇḍa — like rods; viṣakta — fastened to; dhiyaḥ — whose minds; vayam api — we also; te — Your; samāḥ — equal to them; sama-dṛśaḥ — having the same ecstatic emotions; aṅghri-saroja — of the lotus feet; sudhāḥ — the nectar.

Translation

“ ‘Great sages conquer the mind and senses by practicing the mystic yoga system and controlling the breath. Thus engaging in mystic yoga, they see the Supersoul within their hearts and ultimately enter into impersonal Brahman. But even the enemies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead attain that position simply by thinking of the Supreme Lord. However, the damsels of Vraja, the gopīs, being attracted by the beauty of Kṛṣṇa, simply wanted to embrace Him and His arms, which are like serpents. Thus the gopīs ultimately tasted the nectar of the lotus feet of the Lord. Similarly, we Upaniṣads can also taste the nectar of His lotus feet by following in the footsteps of the gopīs.’ ”

Purport

Bengali

শ্রুতি পায়, লক্ষ্মী না পায়, ইথে কি কারণ ।
ভট্ট কহে, — ইহা প্রবেশিতে নারে মোর মন ॥ ১২৪ ॥

Text

śruti pāya, lakṣmī nā pāya, ithe ki kāraṇa
bhaṭṭa kahe, — ihā praveśite nāre mora mana

Synonyms

śruti pāya — the Vedic authorities got admission; lakṣmī pāya — and the goddess of fortune could not get admission; ithe ki kāraṇa — what must be the reason for this; bhaṭṭa kahe — Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa replied; ihā — this; praveśite — to enter; nāre — is not able; mora — my; mana — mind.

Translation

Having been asked by Caitanya Mahāprabhu why the goddess of fortune could not enter into the rāsa dance whereas the authorities on Vedic knowledge could, Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa replied, “I cannot enter into the mysteries of this behavior.”

Bengali

আমি জীব, — ক্ষুদ্রবুদ্ধি, সহজে অস্থির ।
ঈশ্বরের লীলা — কোটিসমুদ্র-গম্ভীর ॥ ১২৫ ॥

Text

āmi jīva, — kṣudra-buddhi, sahaje asthira
īśvarera līlā — koṭi-samudra-gambhīra

Synonyms

āmi jīva — I am an ordinary living being; kṣudra-buddhi — possessing limited intelligence; sahaje asthira — very easily agitated; īśvarera līlā — the pastimes of the Lord; koṭi-samudra — as millions of oceans; gambhīra — as deep.

Translation

Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa then said, “I am an ordinary human being. Since my intelligence is very limited and I am easily agitated, my mind cannot enter within the deep ocean of the pastimes of the Lord.

Bengali

তুমি সাক্ষাৎ সেই কৃষ্ণ, জান নিজকর্ম ।
যারে জানাহ, সেই জানে তোমার লীলামর্ম ॥ ১২৬ ॥

Text

tumi sākṣāt sei kṛṣṇa, jāna nija-karma
yāre jānāha, sei jāne tomāra līlā-marma

Synonyms

tumi — You; sākṣāt — directly; sei — that; kṛṣṇa — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; jāna — You know; nija-karma — Your activities; yāre jānāha — and unto whom You make it known; sei — that person; jāne — knows; tomāra — Your; līlā-marma — the purport of the pastimes.

Translation

“You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa Himself. You know the purport of Your activities, and the person whom You enlighten can also understand Your pastimes.”

Purport

The Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa and His pastimes cannot be understood by blunt material senses. One has to purify the senses by rendering transcendental loving service unto the Lord. When the Lord is pleased and reveals Himself, one can understand the transcendental form, name, qualities and pastimes of the Lord. This is confirmed in the Kaṭha Upaniṣad (2.23) and Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad (3.2.3): yam evaiṣa vṛṇute tena labhyas tasyaiṣa ātmā vivṛṇute tanūṁ svām. “Anyone who is favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead can understand His transcendental name, qualities, form and pastimes.”

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — কৃষ্ণের এক স্বভাব বিলক্ষণ ।
স্বমাধুর্যে সর্ব চিত্ত করে আকর্ষণ ॥ ১২৭ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe, — kṛṣṇera eka svabhāva vilakṣaṇa
sva-mādhurye sarva citta kare ākarṣaṇa

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — the Lord replied; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; eka — one; svabhāva — characteristic; vilakṣaṇa — special; sva-mādhurye — His conjugal love; sarva — all; citta — hearts; kare — does; ākarṣaṇa — attraction.

Translation

The Lord replied, “Lord Kṛṣṇa has a special characteristic: He attracts everyone’s heart by the mellow of His personal conjugal love.

Bengali

ব্রজলোকের ভাবে পাইয়ে তাঁহার চরণ ।
তাঁরে ঈশ্বর করি’ নাহি জানে ব্রজজন ॥ ১২৮ ॥

Text

vraja-lokera bhāve pāiye tāṅhāra caraṇa
tāṅre īśvara kari’ nāhi jāne vraja-jana

Synonyms

vraja-lokera — of the inhabitants of Goloka Vṛndāvana; bhāve — in the ecstasy; pāiye — one gets; tāṅhāra — Lord Kṛṣṇa’s; caraṇa — lotus feet; tāṅre — unto Him; īśvara — the Supreme Person; kari’ — accepting; nāhi — do not; jāne — know; vraja-jana — the inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi.

Translation

“By following in the footsteps of the inhabitants of the planet known as Vrajaloka or Goloka Vṛndāvana, one can attain the shelter of the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. However, in that planet the inhabitants do not know that Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Bengali

কেহ তাঁরে পুত্র-জ্ঞানে উদুখলে বান্ধে ।
কেহ সখা-জ্ঞানে জিনি’ চড়ে তাঁর কান্ধে ॥ ১২৯ ॥

Text

keha tāṅre putra-jñāne udukhale bāndhe
keha sakhā-jñāne jini’ caḍe tāṅra kāndhe

Synonyms

keha — someone; tāṅre — Him; putra-jñāne — by accepting as a son; udukhale — to a big mortar; bāndhe — ties; keha — someone; sakhā-jñāne — by accepting as a friend; jini’ — conquering; caḍe — gets up; tāṅra — His; kāndhe — on the shoulder.

Translation

“There someone may accept Him as a son and sometimes bind Him to a grinding mortar. Someone else may accept Him as an intimate friend and, attaining victory over Him, playfully mount His shoulders.

Bengali

‘ব্রজেন্দ্রনন্দন’ বলি’ তাঁরে জানে ব্রজজন ।
ঐশ্বর্যজ্ঞানে নাহি কোন সম্বন্ধ-মানন ॥ ১৩০ ॥

Text

‘vrajendra-nandana’ bali’ tāṅre jāne vraja-jana
aiśvarya-jñāne nāhi kona sambandha-mānana

Synonyms

vrajendra-nandana — the son of Nanda Mahārāja, the King of Vrajabhūmi; bali’ — as; tāṅre — Him; jāne — know; vraja-jana — the inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi; aiśvarya-jñāne — in opulence; nāhi — there is not; kona — any; sambandha — relationship; mānana — regarding.

Translation

“The inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi know Kṛṣṇa as the son of Mahārāja Nanda, the King of Vrajabhūmi, and they consider that they can have no relationship with the Lord in the rasa of opulence.

Bengali

ব্রজলোকের ভাবে যেই করয়ে ভজন ।
সেই জন পায় ব্রজে ব্রজেন্দ্রনন্দন ॥ ১৩১ ॥

Text

vraja-lokera bhāve yei karaye bhajana
sei jana pāya vraje vrajendra-nandana

Synonyms

vraja-lokera — of the inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi; bhāve — in the ecstasy; yei — anyone who; karaye — does; bhajana — worship; sei jana — that person; pāya — attains; vraje — in Vraja; vrajendra-nandana — Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda.

Translation

“One who worships the Lord by following in the footsteps of the inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi attains Him in the transcendental planet of Vraja, where He is known as the son of Mahārāja Nanda.”

Purport

The inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi, or Goloka Vṛndāvana, know Kṛṣṇa as the son of Mahārāja Nanda. They do not accept Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as people in general do. The Lord is the supreme maintainer of everyone and the chief personality among all personalities. In Vrajabhūmi Kṛṣṇa is certainly the central point of love, but no one knows Him there as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Rather, a person may know Him as a friend, son, lover or master. In any case, the center is Kṛṣṇa. The inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi are related to the Lord in servitude, friendship, parental love and conjugal love. A person engaged in devotional service may accept any one of these transcendental relationships, which are known as mellows. When such a person reaches the perfectional stage, he returns home, back to Kṛṣṇa, in his pure spiritual identity.

Bengali

নায়ং সুখাপো ভগবান্ দেহিনাং গোপিকাসুতঃ ।
জ্ঞানিনাং চাত্মভূতানাং যথা ভক্তিমতামিহ ॥ ১৩২ ॥

Text

nāyaṁ sukhāpo bhagavān
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; yathā — as; bhakti-matām — for persons engaged in spontaneous devotional service; iha — in this world.

Translation

Caitanya Mahāprabhu then quoted, “ ‘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, also given in Madhya-līlā 8.227, is quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.9.21).

Bengali

শ্রুতিগণ গোপীগণের অনুগত হঞা ।
ব্রজেশ্বরীসুত ভজে গোপীভাব লঞা ॥ ১৩৩ ॥

Text

śruti-gaṇa gopī-gaṇera anugata hañā
vrajeśvarī-suta bhaje gopī-bhāva lañā

Synonyms

śruti-gaṇa — the authorities of Vedic hymns; gopī-gaṇera — of the gopīs; anugata hañā — following in the footsteps; vrajeśvarī-suta — the son of mother Yaśodā; bhaje — worship; gopī-bhāva — the ecstasy of the gopīs; lañā — accepting.

Translation

“The authorities in the Vedic literature who are known as the śruti-gaṇas worshiped Lord Kṛṣṇa in the ecstasy of the gopīs and followed in their footsteps.

Purport

The authorities in the Vedic literature who are known as the śruti-gaṇas desired to enter into Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa dance; therefore they began to worship the Lord in the ecstasy of the gopīs. In the beginning, however, they were unsuccessful. When they could not enter the dance simply by thinking of Kṛṣṇa in the ecstasy of the gopīs, they actually accepted bodies like those of the gopīs. They even took birth in Vrajabhūmi just like the gopīs and consequently became engrossed in the ecstasy of the gopīs’ love. In this way they were allowed to enter into the rāsa-līlā dance of the Lord.

Bengali

বাহ্যান্তরে গোপীদেহ ব্রজে যবে পাইল ।
সেই দেহে কৃষ্ণসঙ্গে রাসক্রীড়া কৈল ॥ ১৩৪ ॥

Text

bāhyāntare gopī-deha vraje yabe pāila
sei dehe kṛṣṇa-saṅge rāsa-krīḍā kaila

Synonyms

bāhya-antare — externally and internally; gopī-deha — the body of a gopī; vraje — in Vrajabhūmi; yabe — when; pāila — they got; sei dehe — in that body; kṛṣṇa-saṅge — with Kṛṣṇa; rāsa-krīḍā — pastimes of the rāsa dance; kaila — performed.

Translation

“The personified authorities on the Vedic hymns acquired bodies like those of the gopīs and took birth in Vrajabhūmi. In those bodies they were allowed to enter into the Lord’s rāsa-līlā dance.

Bengali

গোপজাতি কৃষ্ণ, গোপী — প্রেয়সী তাঁহার ।
দেবী বা অন্য স্ত্রী কৃষ্ণ না করে অঙ্গীকার ॥ ১৩৫ ॥

Text

gopa-jāti kṛṣṇa, gopī — preyasī tāṅhāra
devī vā anya strī kṛṣṇa nā kare aṅgīkāra

Synonyms

gopa-jāti — belonging to the cowherd community; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa; gopī — the damsels of Vrajabhūmi, the gopīs; preyasī — dearmost; tāṅhāra — His; devī — the wives of the demigods; — or; anya — other; strī — women; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa; — does not; kare — do; aṅgīkāra — acceptance.

Translation

“Lord Kṛṣṇa belongs to the cowherd community, and the gopīs are the dearmost lovers of Kṛṣṇa. Although the wives of the denizens of the heavenly planets are most opulent within the material world, neither they nor any other women in the material universe can acquire Kṛṣṇa’s association.

Bengali

লক্ষ্মী চাহে সেই দেহে কৃষ্ণের সঙ্গম ।
গোপিকা-অনুগা হঞা না কৈল ভজন ॥ ১৩৬ ॥

Text

lakṣmī cāhe sei dehe kṛṣṇera saṅgama
gopikā-anugā hañā nā kaila bhajana

Synonyms

lakṣmī — the goddess of fortune; cāhe — wants; sei — that; dehe — in the body; kṛṣṇera saṅgama — the association of Kṛṣṇa; gopikā — of the gopīs; anugā — follower; hañā — becoming; — did not; kaila — perform; bhajana — worship.

Translation

“The goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, wanted to enjoy Kṛṣṇa and at the same time retain her spiritual body in the form of Lakṣmī. However, she did not follow in the footsteps of the gopīs in her worship of Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

অন্য দেহে না পাইয়ে রাসবিলাস ।
অতএব ‘নায়ং’ শ্লোক কহে বেদব্যাস ॥ ১৩৭ ॥

Text

anya dehe nā pāiye rāsa-vilāsa
ataeva ‘nāyaṁ’ śloka kahe veda-vyāsa

Synonyms

anya dehe — in a body other than those of the gopīs; — not; pāiye — one gets; rāsa-vilāsa — the pastimes of the rāsa dance; ataeva — therefore; nāyam — beginning with the word nāyam; śloka — the Sanskrit verse; kahe — says; veda-vyāsa — Dvaipāyana Vedavyāsa.

Translation

“Vyāsadeva, the supreme authority on Vedic literature, composed the verse beginning ‘nāyaṁ sukhāpo bhagavān’ because no one can enter into the rāsa-līlā dance in any body other than that of a gopī.”

Purport

This verse confirms a verse of the Bhagavad-gītā (9.25):

yānti deva-vratā devānpitṝn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ
bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā
yānti mad-yājino ’pi mām

Lord Kṛṣṇa said, “Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods, those who worship the ancestors go to the ancestors, those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings, and those who worship Me will live with Me.”

In the material world, every conditioned soul changes his material body again and again, but when the spirit soul is purified of all material coverings, there is no longer a chance of his accepting a material body. Such a soul then remains in his original, spiritual identity, a state that is possible to achieve only by understanding Kṛṣṇa in truth through the practice of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. As Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā (4.9),

janma karma ca me divyamevaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ
tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma
naiti mām eti so ’rjuna

“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.”

Only when one regains his original spiritual body can he enter into the spiritual kingdom. As far as the rāsa-līlā pastimes of the Lord are concerned, it is futile for one who is within the material world to attempt to imitate the Lord’s dances. One has to attain a spiritual body like that of a gopī to enter into the pastimes of the rāsa-līlā. In the nāyaṁ sukhāpo verse, the devotees are referred to as bhaktimat, that is, fully engaged in devotional service and devoid of material contamination. One cannot enter into Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa-līlā dance simply by artificially imitating it or artificially thinking oneself a sakhī and dressing up like one. Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa-līlā dance is completely spiritual; it has nothing to do with material contamination. Therefore no one can enter into this pastime by artificial, material means. That is the instruction of the nāyaṁ sukhāpo verse, and it must be strictly understood.

Bengali

পূর্বে ভট্টের মনে এক ছিল অভিমান ।
‘শ্রীনারায়ণ’ হয়েন স্বয়ং-ভগবান্ ॥ ১৩৮ ॥

Text

pūrve bhaṭṭera mane eka chila abhimāna
‘śrī-nārāyaṇa’ hayena svayaṁ-bhagavān

Synonyms

pūrve — before this; bhaṭṭera — of Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa; mane — in the mind; eka — one; chila — there was; abhimāna — an impression; śrī-nārāyaṇa — the form of the Lord as Nārāyaṇa; hayena — is; svayam — personally; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Translation

Before this explanation was given by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa thought that Śrī Nārāyaṇa was the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Bengali

তাঁহার ভজন সর্বোপরি-কক্ষা হয় ।
‘শ্রী-বৈষ্ণবে’র ভজন এই সর্বোপরি হয় ॥ ১৩৯ ॥

Text

tāṅhāra bhajana sarvopari-kakṣā haya
śrī-vaiṣṇave’ra bhajana ei sarvopari haya

Synonyms

tāṅhāra bhajana — worship of Nārāyaṇa; sarva-upari — topmost; kakṣā — department; haya — is; śrī-vaiṣṇavera — of the followers of Rāmānujācārya; bhajana — worship; ei — this; sarva-upari haya — is the topmost.

Translation

Thinking in this way, Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa believed that worship of Nārāyaṇa was the supreme form of worship, superior to all other processes of devotional service, for it was followed by the Śrī Vaiṣṇava disciples of Rāmānujācārya.

Bengali

এই তাঁর গর্ব প্রভু করিতে খণ্ডন ।
পরিহাসদ্বারে উঠায় এতেক বচন ॥ ১৪০ ॥

Text

ei tāṅra garva prabhu karite khaṇḍana
parihāsa-dvāre uṭhāya eteka vacana

Synonyms

ei — this; tāṅra — his (Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa’s); garva — pride; prabhu — Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; karite khaṇḍana — to curb; parihāsa-dvāre — by joking; uṭhāya — raises; eteka — so many; vacana — words.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had understood this misconception of Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa’s, and to correct it the Lord talked so much in a joking way.

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — ভট্ট, তুমি না করিহ সংশয় ।
‘স্বয়ং-ভগবান্’ কৃষ্ণ এই ত’ নিশ্চয় ॥ ১৪১ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe, — bhaṭṭa, tumi nā kariha saṁśaya
‘svayaṁ-bhagavān’ kṛṣṇa ei ta’ niścaya

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — the Lord said; bhaṭṭa — My dear Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa; tumi — you; kariha — do not do; saṁśaya — doubt; svayam-bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kṛṣṇa — is Lord Kṛṣṇa; ei ta’ niścaya — this is the conclusion.

Translation

The Lord then continued, “My dear Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa, please do not continue doubting. Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and this is the conclusion of the Vedic literatures.

Bengali

কৃষ্ণের বিলাস-মূর্তি — শ্রীনারায়ণ ।
অতএব লক্ষ্মী-আদ্যের হরে তেঁহ মন ॥ ১৪২ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇera vilāsa-mūrti — śrī-nārāyaṇa
ataeva lakṣmī-ādyera hare teṅha mana

Synonyms

kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; vilāsa-mūrti — form for enjoyment; śrī-nārāyaṇa — Lord Nārāyaṇa; ataeva — therefore; lakṣmī-ādyera — of the goddess of fortune and her followers; hare — attracts; teṅha — He (Lord Nārāyaṇa); mana — the mind.

Translation

“Lord Nārāyaṇa, the opulent form of Kṛṣṇa, attracts the minds of the goddess of fortune and her followers.

Bengali

এতে চাংশকলাঃ পুংসঃ কৃষ্ণস্তু ভগবান্ স্বয়ম্ ।
ইন্দ্রারিব্যাকুলং লোকং মৃড়য়ন্তি যুগে যুগে ॥ ১৪৩ ॥

Text

ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ
kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam
indrāri-vyākulaṁ lokaṁ
mṛḍayanti yuge yuge

Synonyms

ete — these; ca — and; aṁśa — plenary portions; kalāḥ — parts of plenary portions; puṁsaḥ — of the puruṣa-avatāras; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; tu — but; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; svayam — Himself; indra-ari — the enemies of Lord Indra; vyākulam — full of; lokam — the world; mṛḍayanti — make happy; yuge yuge — at the right time in each age.

Translation

“ ‘All these incarnations of Godhead are either plenary portions or parts of the plenary portions of the puruṣa-avatāras. But Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. In every age He protects the world through His different features when the world is disturbed by the enemies of Indra.’

Purport

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.3.28).

Bengali

নারায়ণ হৈতে কৃষ্ণের অসাধারণ গুণ ।
অতএব লক্ষ্মীর কৃষ্ণে তৃষ্ণা অনুক্ষণ ॥ ১৪৪ ॥

Text

nārāyaṇa haite kṛṣṇera asādhāraṇa guṇa
ataeva lakṣmīra kṛṣṇe tṛṣṇā anukṣaṇa

Synonyms

nārāyaṇa haite — over and above Nārāyaṇa; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; asādhāraṇa guṇa — uncommon qualities; ataeva — therefore; lakṣmīra — of the goddess of fortune; kṛṣṇe — unto Kṛṣṇa; tṛṣṇā — desire; anukṣaṇa — always.

Translation

“Because Kṛṣṇa has four extraordinary qualities not possessed by Lord Nārāyaṇa, the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, always desires His company.

Purport

Lord Nārāyaṇa has sixty transcendental qualities. Over and above these, Kṛṣṇa has four extraordinary transcendental qualities absent in Lord Nārāyaṇa. These four qualities are (1) His wonderful pastimes, which are compared to an ocean, (2) His association in the circle of the supreme devotees in conjugal love (the gopīs), (3) His playing on the flute, whose vibration attracts the three worlds, and (4) His extraordinary beauty, which surpasses the beauty of the three worlds. Lord Kṛṣṇa’s beauty is unequaled and unsurpassed.

Bengali

তুমি যে পড়িলা শ্লোক, সে হয় প্রমাণ ।
সেই শ্লোকে আইসে ‘কৃষ্ণ — স্বয়ং ভগবান্’ ॥ ১৪৫ ॥

Text

tumi ye paḍilā śloka, se haya pramāṇa
sei śloke āise ‘kṛṣṇa — svayaṁ bhagavān’

Synonyms

tumi — you; ye — which; paḍilā — have recited; śloka — verse; se — that; haya — is; pramāṇa — evidence; sei śloke — in that verse; āise kṛṣṇa — Kṛṣṇa is; svayam bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Translation

“You have recited the śloka beginning with ‘siddhāntatas tv abhede ’pi.’ That very verse is evidence that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Bengali

সিদ্ধান্ততস্ত্বভেদেঽপি শ্রীশ-কৃষ্ণস্বরূপয়োঃ ।
রসেনোৎকৃষ্যতে কৃষ্ণরূপমেষা রসস্থিতিঃ ॥ ১৪৬ ॥

Text

siddhāntatas tv abhede ’pi
śrīśa-kṛṣṇa-svarūpayoḥ
rasenotkṛṣyate kṛṣṇa-
rūpam eṣā rasa-sthitiḥ

Synonyms

siddhāntataḥ — in reality; tu — but; abhede — no difference; api — although; śrī-īśa — of the husband of Lakṣmī, Nārāyaṇa; kṛṣṇa — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; svarūpayoḥ — between the forms; rasena — by transcendental mellows; utkṛṣyate — is superior; kṛṣṇa-rūpam — the form of Lord Kṛṣṇa; eṣā — this; rasa-sthitiḥ — the reservoir of pleasure.

Translation

“ ‘According to transcendental realization, there is no difference between the forms of Kṛṣṇa and Nārāyaṇa. Yet in Kṛṣṇa there is a special transcendental attraction due to the conjugal mellow, and consequently He surpasses Nārāyaṇa. This is the conclusion of transcendental mellows.’

Purport

This is a verse from the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.59). Here Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja says that Lord Caitanya spoke the verse to Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa, and earlier he said that Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa spoke it to the Lord. But since their conversation took place long, long before the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu was composed, the question my be raised as to how either of them quoted the verse. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains that this verse and many others like it were current among devotees long before the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu was composed. Thus devotees would always quote them and explain their purport in ecstasy.

Bengali

‘স্বয়ং ভগবান্ ‘কৃষ্ণ’ হরে লক্ষ্মীর মন ।
গোপিকার মন হরিতে নারে ‘নারায়ণ’ ॥ ১৪৭ ॥

Text

svayaṁ bhagavān ‘kṛṣṇa’ hare lakṣmīra mana
gopikāra mana harite nāre ‘nārāyaṇa’

Synonyms

svayam bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kṛṣṇa — is Lord Kṛṣṇa; hare — attracts; lakṣmīra — of the goddess of fortune; mana — the mind; gopikāra — of the gopīs; mana — the minds; harite — to attract; nāre — is not able; nārāyaṇa — Lord Nārāyaṇa.

Translation

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, attracts the mind of the goddess of fortune, but Lord Nārāyaṇa cannot attract the minds of the gopīs. This proves the superexcellence of Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

নারায়নের কা কথা, শ্রীকৃষ্ণ আপনে ।
গোপিকারে হাস্য করাইতে হয় ‘নারায়ণে’ ॥ ১৪৮ ॥

Text

nārāyaṇera kā kathā, śrī-kṛṣṇa āpane
gopikāre hāsya karāite haya ‘nārāyaṇe’

Synonyms

nārāyaṇera — of Lord Nārāyaṇa; kathā — what to speak; śrī-kṛṣṇa — Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; āpane — Himself; gopikāre — the gopīs; hāsya karāite — to make them jubilant; haya — becomes; nārāyaṇe — in the form of Nārāyaṇa.

Translation

“To say nothing of Lord Nārāyaṇa personally, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself appeared as Nārāyaṇa just to play a joke on the gopīs.

Bengali

‘চতুর্ভুজ-মূর্তি’ দেখায় গোপীগণের আগে ।
সেই ‘কৃষ্ণে’ গোপিকার নহে অনুরাগে ॥ ১৪৯ ॥

Text

‘catur-bhuja-mūrti’ dekhāya gopī-gaṇera āge
sei ‘kṛṣṇe’ gopikāra nahe anurāge

Synonyms

catur-bhuja-mūrti — four-handed form; dekhāya — exhibits; gopī-gaṇera — of the gopīs; āge — in front; sei kṛṣṇe — unto that Kṛṣṇa; gopikāra — of the gopīs; nahe — not; anurāge — attraction.

Translation

“Although Kṛṣṇa assumed the four-armed form of Nārāyaṇa, He could not attract the serious attention of the gopīs in ecstatic love.

Bengali

গোপীনাং পশুপেন্দ্রনন্দনজুষো ভাবস্য কস্তাং কৃতী
বিজ্ঞাতুং ক্ষমতে দুরূহপদবীসঞ্চারিণঃ প্রক্রিয়াম্ ।
আবিষ্কুর্বতি বৈষ্ণবীমপি তনুং তস্মিন্ ভুজৈর্জিষ্ণুভি-
র্যাসাং হন্ত চতুর্ভিরদ্ভুতরুচিং রাগোদয়ঃ কুঞ্চতি ॥ ১৫০ ॥

Text

gopīnāṁ paśupendra-nandana-juṣo bhāvasya kas tāṁ kṛtī
vijñātuṁ kṣamate durūha-padavī-sañcāriṇaḥ prakriyām
āviṣkurvati vaiṣṇavīm api tanuṁ tasmin bhujair jiṣṇubhir
yāsāṁ hanta caturbhir adbhuta-ruciṁ rāgodayaḥ kuñcati

Synonyms

gopīnām — of the gopīs; paśupa-indra-nandana-juṣaḥ — of the service of the son of Vraja’s King, Mahārāja Nanda; bhāvasya — ecstatic; kaḥ — what; tām — that; kṛtī — learned man; vijñātum — to understand; kṣamate — is able; durūha — very difficult to understand; padavī — the position; sañcāriṇaḥ — which provokes; prakriyām — activity; āviṣkurvati — He manifests; vaiṣṇavīm — of Viṣṇu; api — certainly; tanum — the body; tasmin — in that; bhujaiḥ — with arms; jiṣṇubhiḥ — very beautiful; yāsām — of whom (the gopīs); hanta — alas; caturbhiḥ — four; adbhuta — wonderfully; rucim — beautiful; rāga-udayaḥ — the evoking of ecstatic feelings; kuñcati — cripples.

Translation

“ ‘Once Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa playfully manifested Himself as Nārāyaṇa, with four victorious hands and a very beautiful form. When the gopīs saw this exalted form, however, their ecstatic feelings were crippled. A learned scholar, therefore, cannot understand the gopīs’ ecstatic feelings, which are firmly fixed upon the original form of Lord Kṛṣṇa as the son of Nanda Mahārāja. The wonderful feelings of the gopīs in ecstatic parama-rasa with Kṛṣṇa constitute the greatest mystery in spiritual life.’ ”

Purport

This is a verse spoken by Nārada Muni in the Lalita-mādhava-nāṭaka (6.14), a drama written by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.

Bengali

এত কহি’ প্রভু তাঁর গর্ব চূর্ণ করিয়া ।
তাঁরে সুখ দিতে কহে সিদ্ধান্ত ফিরাইয়া ॥ ১৫১ ॥

Text

eta kahi’ prabhu tāṅra garva cūrṇa kariyā
tāṅre sukha dite kahe siddhānta phirāiyā

Synonyms

eta kahi’ — saying this; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅra — his (of Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa); garva — pride; cūrṇa kariyā — smashing into pieces; tāṅre — unto him; sukha dite — to give happiness; kahe — says; siddhānta phirāiyā — turning the whole conversation.

Translation

In this way Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu deflated the pride of Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa, but just to make him happy again, He spoke as follows.

Bengali

দুঃখ না ভাবিহ, ভট্ট, কৈলুঁ পরিহাস ।
শাস্ত্রসিদ্ধান্ত শুন, যাতে বৈষ্ণব-বিশ্বাস ॥ ১৫২ ॥

Text

duḥkha nā bhāviha, bhaṭṭa, kailuṅ parihāsa
śāstra-siddhānta śuna, yāte vaiṣṇava-viśvāsa

Synonyms

duḥkha — unhappiness; — do not; bhāviha — bear; bhaṭṭa — My dear Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa; kailuṅ parihāsa — I was simply making a joke; śāstra-siddhānta — the conclusion of the revealed scriptures; śuna — hear; yāte — in which; vaiṣṇava-viśvāsa — the faith of the Vaiṣṇavas.

Translation

The Lord pacified Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa by saying, “Actually whatever I have said is by way of jest. Now you can hear from Me the conclusion of the śāstras, in which every Vaiṣṇava devotee has firm faith.

Bengali

কৃষ্ণ-নারায়ণ, যৈছে একই স্বরূপ ।
গোপী-লক্ষ্মী-ভেদ নাহি হয় একরূপ ॥ ১৫৩ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇa-nārāyaṇa, yaiche eka-i svarūpa
gopī-lakṣmī-bheda nāhi haya eka-rūpa

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa-nārāyaṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Nārāyaṇa; yaiche — as; eka-i — one; svarūpa — form; gopī — the gopīs; lakṣmī — the goddess of fortune; bheda — difference; nāhi — there is not; haya — there is; eka-rūpa — one form.

Translation

“There is no difference between Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Nārāyaṇa, for They are of the same form. Similarly, there is no difference between the gopīs and the goddess of fortune, for they also are of the same form.

Bengali

গোপীদ্বারে লক্ষ্মী করে কৃষ্ণসঙ্গাস্বাদ ।
ঈশ্বরত্বে ভেদ মানিলে হয় অপরাধ ॥ ১৫৪ ॥

Text

gopī-dvāre lakṣmī kare kṛṣṇa-saṅgāsvāda
īśvaratve bheda mānile haya aparādha

Synonyms

gopī-dvāre — through the gopīs; lakṣmī — the goddess of fortune; kare — does; kṛṣṇa-saṅga-āsvāda — tasting the sweetness of the association of Lord Kṛṣṇa; īśvaratve — in the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bheda — difference; mānile — if one considers; haya — there is; aparādha — offense.

Translation

“The goddess of fortune enjoys the association of Kṛṣṇa through the gopīs. One should not differentiate between the forms of the Lord, for such a conception is offensive.

Bengali

এক ঈশ্বর — ভক্তের ধ্যান-অনুরূপ ।
একই বিগ্রহে করে নানাকার রূপ ॥ ১৫৫ ॥

Text

eka īśvara — bhaktera dhyāna-anurūpa
eka-i vigrahe kare nānākāra rūpa

Synonyms

eka īśvara — the Lord is one; bhaktera — of the devotees; dhyāna — meditation; anurūpa — according to; eka-i — one; vigrahe — in form; kare — exhibits; nānā-ākāra — different; rūpa — forms.

Translation

“There is no difference between the transcendental forms of the Lord. Different forms are manifested due to different attachments of different devotees. Actually the Lord is one, but He appears in different forms just to satisfy His devotees.

Purport

In the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.33) it is stated:

advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam
ādyaṁ purāṇa-puruṣaṁ nava-yauvanaṁ ca

The Lord is advaita, without differentiation. There is no difference between the forms of Kṛṣṇa, Rāma, Nārāyaṇa and Viṣṇu. All of Them are one. Sometimes foolish people ask whether when we chant “Rāma” in the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra we refer to Lord Rāmacandra or Lord Balarāma. If a devotee says that the name Rāma in the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra refers to Balarāma, a foolish person may become angry because to him the name Rāma refers to Lord Rāmacandra. Actually there is no difference between Balarāma and Lord Rāma. It does not matter whether one refers to Balarāma or to Lord Rāmacandra when chanting Hare Rāma, for there is no difference between Them. However, it is offensive to think that Balarāma is superior to Lord Rāmacandra or vice versa. Neophyte devotees do not understand this śāstric conclusion, and consequently they unnecessarily create an offensive situation. In text 154 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu clarified this in a very lucid way: īśvaratve bheda mānile haya aparādha. “It is offensive for one to differentiate between the forms of the Lord.” On the other hand, one should not think that the forms of the Lord are the same as the forms of the demigods. This is certainly offensive, as confirmed by the Vaiṣṇava-tantra:

yas tu nārāyaṇaṁ devaṁbrahma-rudrādi-daivataiḥ
samatvenaiva vīkṣeta
sa pāṣaṇḍī bhaved dhruvam

“A pāṣaṇḍī is one who considers the great demigods such as Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva equal to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa.” (Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 7.117)

The conclusion is that we should neither differentiate between the forms of the Lord nor equate the forms of the Lord with the forms of demigods or human beings. For instance, sometimes foolish sannyāsīs, thinking the body of the Lord to be material, equate daridra-nārāyaṇa with Nārāyaṇa, and this is certainly offensive. Unless one is instructed by a bona fide spiritual master, he cannot perfectly understand these different forms. The Brahma-saṁhitā confirms, vedeṣu durlabham adurlabham ātma-bhaktau. One cannot understand the differences between the forms of the Lord simply by academic study or by reading Vedic literature. One must learn from a realized devotee. Only then can one learn how to distinguish between one form of the Lord and another. The conclusion is that there is no difference between the forms of the Lord, but there is a difference between His forms and those of the demigods.

Bengali

মণির্যথা বিভাগেন নীলপীতাদিভির্যুতঃ ।
রূপভেদমবাপ্নোতি ধ্যানভেদাত্তথাচ্যুতঃ ॥ ১৫৬ ॥

Text

maṇir yathā vibhāgena
nīla-pītādibhir yutaḥ
rūpa-bhedam avāpnoti
dhyāna-bhedāt tathācyutaḥ

Synonyms

maṇiḥ — jewel, specifically the jewel known as vaidūrya; yathā — as; vibhāgena — separately; nīla — blue; pīta — yellow; ādibhiḥ — and with other colors; yutaḥ — joined; rūpa-bhedam — difference of form; avāpnoti — gets; dhyāna-bhedāt — by different types of meditation; tathā — similarly; acyutaḥ — the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Translation

“ ‘When the jewel known as vaidūrya touches various other materials, it appears to be separated into different colors, and consequently its forms also appear different. Similarly, according to the meditational ecstasy of the devotee, the Lord, who is known as Acyuta [“the infallible one”], appears in different forms, although He is essentially one.’ ”

Purport

This is a verse quoted from Śrī Nārada-pañcarātra.

Bengali

ভট্ট কহে, — কাহাঁ আমি জীব পামর ।
কাহাঁ তুমি সেই কৃষ্ণ, — সাক্ষাৎ ঈশ্বর ॥ ১৫৭ ॥

Text

bhaṭṭa kahe, — kāhāṅ āmi jīva pāmara
kāhāṅ tumi sei kṛṣṇa, — sākṣāt īśvara

Synonyms

bhaṭṭa kahe — Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa said; kāhāṅ — whereas; āmi — I; jīva — an ordinary living being; pāmara — fallen; kāhāṅ — whereas; tumi — You; sei kṛṣṇa — the same Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa; sākṣāt īśvara — directly the Lord.

Translation

Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa then said, “I am an ordinary fallen living entity, but You are Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.

Bengali

অগাধ ঈশ্বর-লীলা কিছুই না জানি ।
তুমি যেই কহ, সেই সত্য করি’ মানি ॥ ১৫৮ ॥

Text

agādha īśvara-līlā kichui nā jāni
tumi yei kaha, sei satya kari’ māni

Synonyms

agādha — unfathomable; īśvara-līlā — pastimes of the Lord; kichui — anything; jāni — I do not know; tumi — You; yei — whatever; kaha — say; sei satya — that is right; kari’ māni — I accept.

Translation

“The transcendental pastimes of the Lord are unfathomable, and I do not know anything about them. Whatever You say I accept as the truth.

Purport

This is the way to understand the truth about the Supreme Personality of Godhead. After hearing the Bhagavad-gītā, Arjuna said very much the same thing:

sarvam etad ṛtaṁ manyeyan māṁ vadasi keśava
na hi te bhagavan vyaktiṁ
vidur devā na dānavāḥ

“O Kṛṣṇa, I totally accept as truth all that You have told me. Neither the demigods nor the demons, O Lord, can understand Your personality.” (Bg. 10.14)

It is not possible to understand the truth about the pastimes of the Lord simply by using our own logic, argument and academic education. We must receive bona fide information from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, just as Arjuna received information when Kṛṣṇa spoke the Bhagavad-gītā. We have to accept the Bhagavad-gītā or any other Vedic literature in good faith. These Vedic literatures are the only source of knowledge about the Lord. We must understand that we cannot comprehend the Absolute Truth by the speculative process.

Bengali

মোরে পূর্ণ কৃপা কৈল লক্ষ্মী-নারায়ণ ।
তাঁর কৃপায় পাইনু তোমার চরণ-দরশন ॥ ১৫৯ ॥

Text

more pūrṇa kṛpā kaila lakṣmī-nārāyaṇa
tāṅra kṛpāya pāinu tomāra caraṇa-daraśana

Synonyms

more — unto me; pūrṇa — complete; kṛpā — mercy; kaila — did; lakṣmī-nārāyaṇa — the Deity of mother goddess of fortune and Nārāyaṇa; tāṅra kṛpāya — by Their mercy; pāinu — I have gotten; tomāra — Your; caraṇa-daraśana — vision of the lotus feet.

Translation

“I have been engaged in the service of Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa, and it is due to Their mercy that I have been able to see Your lotus feet.

Bengali

কৃপা করি’ কহিলে মোরে কৃষ্ণের মহিমা ।
যাঁর রূপ-গুণৈশ্বর্যের কেহ না পায় সীমা ॥ ১৬০ ॥

Text

kṛpā kari’ kahile more kṛṣṇera mahimā
yāṅra rūpa-guṇaiśvaryera keha nā pāya sīmā

Synonyms

kṛpā kari’ — showing causeless mercy; kahile — You have spoken; more — unto me; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; mahimā — the glories; yāṅra — whose; rūpa-guṇa-aiśvaryera — of forms, qualities and opulence; keha — anyone; — not; pāya — gets; sīmā — the limit.

Translation

“Out of Your causeless mercy You have told me of the glories of Lord Kṛṣṇa. No one can reach the end of the opulence, qualities and forms of the Lord.

Bengali

এবে সে জানিনু কৃষ্ণভক্তি সর্বোপরি ।
কৃতার্থ করিলে, মোরে কহিলে কৃপা করি’ ॥ ১৬১ ॥

Text

ebe se jāninu kṛṣṇa-bhakti sarvopari
kṛtārtha karile, more kahile kṛpā kari’

Synonyms

ebe — now; se — that; jāninu — I understand; kṛṣṇa-bhakti — devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa; sarva-upari — above all; kṛta-artha — successful; karile — You have made; more — unto me; kahile — You have spoken; kṛpā kari’ — by Your causeless mercy.

Translation

“I can now understand that devotional service unto Lord Kṛṣṇa is the supreme form of worship. Out of Your causeless mercy You have made my life successful simply by explaining the facts.”

Bengali

এত বলি’ ভট্ট পড়িলা প্রভুর চরণে ।
কৃপা করি’ প্রভু তাঁরে কৈলা আলিঙ্গনে ॥ ১৬২ ॥

Text

eta bali’ bhaṭṭa paḍilā prabhura caraṇe
kṛpā kari’ prabhu tāṅre kailā āliṅgane

Synonyms

eta bali’ — saying this; bhaṭṭa — Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa; paḍilā — fell down; prabhura caraṇe — at the lotus feet of the Lord; kṛpā kari’ — showing him mercy; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅre — unto him; kailā — did; āliṅgane — embracing.

Translation

After saying this, Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa fell down before the lotus feet of the Lord, and the Lord, out of His causeless mercy, embraced him.

Bengali

চাতুর্মাস্য পূর্ণ হৈল, ভট্ট-আজ্ঞা লঞা ।
দক্ষিণ চলিলা প্রভু শ্রীরঙ্গ দেখিয়া ॥ ১৬৩ ॥

Text

cāturmāsya pūrṇa haila, bhaṭṭa-ājñā lañā
dakṣiṇa calilā prabhu śrī-raṅga dekhiyā

Synonyms

cāturmāsya — the period of Cāturmāsya; pūrṇa haila — became completed; bhaṭṭa-ājñā lañā — taking permission from Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa; dakṣiṇa — south; calilā — proceeded; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; śrī-raṅga dekhiyā — visiting Śrī Raṅga.

Translation

When the period of Cāturmāsya was completed, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took permission to leave from Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa, and after visiting Śrī Raṅga, He proceeded further toward southern India.

Bengali

সঙ্গেতে চলিলা ভট্ট, না যায় ভবনে ।
তাঁরে বিদায় দিলা প্রভু অনেক যতনে ॥ ১৬৪ ॥

Text

saṅgete calilā bhaṭṭa, nā yāya bhavane
tāṅre vidāya dilā prabhu aneka yatane

Synonyms

saṅgete — along with Him; calilā — began to go; bhaṭṭa — Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa; yāya bhavane — does not return to his home; tāṅre — unto him; vidāya dilā — gave farewell; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; aneka yatane — with great endeavor.

Translation

Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa did not want to return home but also wanted to go with the Lord. It was with great endeavor that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade him farewell.

Bengali

প্রভুর বিয়োগে ভট্ট হৈল অচেতন ।
এই রঙ্গলীলা করে শচীর নন্দন ॥ ১৬৫ ॥

Text

prabhura viyoge bhaṭṭa haila acetana
ei raṅga-līlā kare śacīra nandana

Synonyms

prabhura viyoge — on account of separation from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bhaṭṭa — Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa; haila — became; acetana — unconscious; ei — this; raṅga-līlā — pastime at Śrī Raṅga-kṣetra; kare — does; śacīra nandana — the son of mother Śacī.

Translation

When He did so, Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa fell down unconscious. Such are the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī, at Śrī Raṅga-kṣetra.

Bengali

ঋষভ-পর্বতে চলি’ আইলা গৌরহরি ।
নারায়ণ দেখিলা তাঁহা নতি-স্তুতি করি’ ॥ ১৬৬ ॥

Text

ṛṣabha-parvate cali’ āilā gaurahari
nārāyaṇa dekhilā tāṅhā nati-stuti kari’

Synonyms

ṛṣabha-parvate — to the Ṛṣabha Hill; cali’ — walking; āilā — arrived; gaurahari — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; nārāyaṇa — the Deity of Lord Nārāyaṇa; dekhilā — saw; tāṅhā — there; nati-stuti kari’ — offering obeisances and prayers.

Translation

When the Lord arrived at Ṛṣabha Hill, He saw the temple of Lord Nārāyaṇa and offered obeisances and various prayers.

Purport

Ṛṣabha Hill (Ānāgaḍa-malaya-parvata) lies twelve miles north of Madurai City, in the district of Madurai, in southern Tamil Nadu. It is one of the mountains known as the Kuṭakācalas. Nearby Ṛṣabha Hill is the forest where Lord Ṛṣabhadeva burned Himself to ashes.

Bengali

পরমানন্দপুরী তাহাঁ রহে চতুর্মাস ।
শুনি’ মহাপ্রভু গেলা পুরী-গোসাঞির পাশ ॥ ১৬৭ ॥

Text

paramānanda-purī tāhāṅ rahe catur-māsa
śuni’ mahāprabhu gelā purī-gosāñira pāśa

Synonyms

paramānanda-purī — Paramānanda Purī; tāhāṅ — there; rahe — remained; catur-māsa — four months; śuni’ — hearing; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; gelā — went; purī — Paramānanda Purī; gosāñira — the spiritual master; pāśa — near.

Translation

Paramānanda Purī had stayed at Ṛṣabha Hill during the four months of the rainy season, and when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard this, He immediately went to see him.

Bengali

পুরী-গোসাঞির প্রভু কৈল চরণ-বন্দন ।
প্রেমে পুরী গোসাঞি তাঁরে কৈল আলিঙ্গন ॥ ১৬৮ ॥

Text

purī-gosāñira prabhu kaila caraṇa vandana
preme purī gosāñi tāṅre kaila āliṅgana

Synonyms

purī-gosāñira — of Paramānanda Purī; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kaila — did; caraṇa vandana — worship of the lotus feet; preme — in ecstasy; purī gosāñi — Paramānanda Purī; tāṅre — unto Him; kaila — did; āliṅgana — embracing.

Translation

Upon meeting Paramānanda Purī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered him all respects, touching his lotus feet, and Paramānanda Purī embraced the Lord in ecstasy.

Bengali

তিনদিন প্রেমে দোঁহে কৃষ্ণকথা-রঙ্গে ।
সেই বিপ্র-ঘরে দোঁহে রহে-একসঙ্গে ॥ ১৬৯ ॥

Text

tina-dina preme doṅhe kṛṣṇa-kathā-raṅge
sei vipra-ghare doṅhe rahe eka-saṅge

Synonyms

tina-dina — three days; preme — in ecstasy; doṅhe — both; kṛṣṇa-kathā — discussing topics of Kṛṣṇa; raṅge — in jubilation; sei vipra-ghare — in the home of a brāhmaṇa; doṅhe — both of them; rahe — stayed; eka-saṅge — together.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed with Paramānanda Purī in the brāhmaṇa’s house where he was residing. The two of them passed three days there discussing topics of Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

পুরী-গোসাঞি বলে, — আমি যাব পুরুষোত্তমে ।
পুরুষোত্তম দেখি’ গৌড়ে যাব গঙ্গাস্নানে ॥ ১৭০ ॥

Text

purī-gosāñi bale, — āmi yāba puruṣottame
puruṣottama dekhi’ gauḍe yāba gaṅgā-snāne

Synonyms

purī-gosāñi — Paramānanda Purī; bale — said; āmi — I; yāba — shall go; puruṣottame — to Jagannātha Purī; puruṣottama dekhi’ — after visiting Jagannātha Purī; gauḍe yāba — I shall go to Bengal; gaṅgā-snāne — for bathing in the Ganges.

Translation

Paramānanda Purī informed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that he was going to see Puruṣottama at Jagannātha Purī. After seeing Lord Jagannātha there, he would go to Bengal to bathe in the Ganges.

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — তুমি পুনঃ আইস নীলাচলে ।
আমি সেতুবন্ধ হৈতে আসিব অল্পকালে ॥ ১৭১ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe, — tumi punaḥ āisa nīlācale
āmi setubandha haite āsiba alpa-kāle

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — the Lord said; tumi — you; punaḥ — again; āisa — come; nīlācale — to Jagannātha Purī; āmi — I; setubandha haite — from Rāmeśvara; āsiba — shall return; alpa-kāle — very soon.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told him, “Please return to Jagannātha Purī, for I will return there very soon from Rāmeśvara [Setubandha].

Bengali

তোমার নিকটে রহি, — হেন বাঞ্ছা হয় ।
নীলাচলে আসিবে মোরে হঞা সদয় ॥ ১৭২ ॥

Text

tomāra nikaṭe rahi, — hena vāñchā haya
nīlācale āsibe more hañā sadaya

Synonyms

tomāra nikaṭe — with you; rahi — I may stay; hena — such; vāñchā haya — is My desire; nīlācale — to Jagannātha Purī; āsibe — please come; more — unto Me; hañā — being; sa-daya — merciful.

Translation

“It is My desire to stay with you, and therefore if you would return to Jagannātha Purī, you would show great mercy to Me.”

Bengali

এত বলি’ তাঁর ঠাঞি এই আজ্ঞা লঞা ।
দক্ষিণে চলিলা প্রভু হরষিত হঞা ॥ ১৭৩ ॥

Text

eta bali’ tāṅra ṭhāñi ei ājñā lañā
dakṣiṇe calilā prabhu haraṣita hañā

Synonyms

eta bali’ — saying this; tāṅra ṭhāñi — from him; ei ājñā lañā — taking permission; dakṣiṇe calilā — departed for southern India; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; haraṣita hañā — being very pleased.

Translation

After talking in this way with Paramānanda Purī, the Lord took his permission to leave and, very pleased, departed for southern India.

Bengali

পরমানন্দ পুরী তবে চলিলা নীলাচলে ।
মহাপ্ৰভু চলি চলি আইলা শ্রীশৈলে ॥ ১৭৪ ॥

Text

paramānanda purī tabe calilā nīlācale
mahāprabhu cali cali āilā śrī-śaile

Synonyms

paramānanda purī — Paramānanda Purī; tabe — then; calilā nīlācale — departed for Jagannātha Purī; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; cali cali — walking; āilā — came; śrī-śaile — to Śrī Śaila.

Translation

Thus Paramānanda Purī started for Jagannātha Purī, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began walking toward Śrī Śaila.

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura remarks, “Which Śrī Śaila is being indicated by Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī is not clearly understood. There is no temple of Mallikārjuna in this area because the Śrī Śaila located in the district of Dhārwād cannot possibly be there. That Śrī Śaila is on the southern side of Belgaum, and the Śiva temple of Mallikārjuna is located there. (Refer to text 15 of this chapter.) It is said that on that hill Lord Śiva lived with Devī. Also, Lord Brahmā lived there with all the demigods.”

Bengali

শিব-দুর্গা রহে তাহাঁ ব্রাহ্মণের বেশে ।
মহাপ্রভু দেখি’ দোঁহার হইল উল্লাসে ॥ ১৭৫ ॥

Text

śiva-durgā rahe tāhāṅ brāhmaṇera veśe
mahāprabhu dekhi’ doṅhāra ha-ila ullāse

Synonyms

śiva-durgā — Lord Śiva and his wife, Durgā; rahe tāhāṅ — stayed there; brāhmaṇera veśe — in the dress of brāhmaṇas; mahāprabhu dekhi’ — seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; doṅhāra — of both of them; ha-ila — there was; ullāse — great pleasure.

Translation

In Śrī Śaila Lord Śiva and his wife Durgā lived in the dress of brāhmaṇas, and when they saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they became very pleased.

Bengali

তিন দিন ভিক্ষা দিল করি’ নিমন্ত্রণ ।
নিভৃতে বসি’ গুপ্তবার্তা কহে দুই জন ॥ ১৭৬ ॥

Text

tina dina bhikṣā dila kari’ nimantraṇa
nibhṛte vasi’ gupta-vārtā kahe dui jana

Synonyms

tina dina — for three days; bhikṣā dila — offered alms; kari’ nimantraṇa — inviting Him; nibhṛte — in a solitary place; vasi’ — sitting together; gupta-vārtā — confidential talks; kahe — speak; dui jana — both of them.

Translation

Lord Śiva, dressed like a brāhmaṇa, gave alms to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and invited Him to spend three days in a solitary place. Sitting there together, they talked very confidentially.

Bengali

তাঁর সঙ্গে মহাপ্রভু করি ইষ্টগোষ্ঠী ।
তাঁর আজ্ঞা লঞা আইলা পুরী কামকোষ্ঠী ॥ ১৭৭ ॥

Text

tāṅra saṅge mahāprabhu kari iṣṭagoṣṭhī
tāṅra ājñā lañā āilā purī kāmakoṣṭhī

Synonyms

tāṅra saṅge — with him; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kari iṣṭa-goṣṭhī — discussing spiritual subject matter; tāṅra — his; ājñā — order; lañā — taking; āilā — came; purī kāmakoṣṭhī — to Kāmakoṣṭhī-purī.

Translation

After talking with Lord Śiva, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took his permission to leave and went to Kāmakoṣṭhī-purī.

Bengali

দক্ষিণ-মথুরা আইলা কামকোষ্ঠী হৈতে ।
তাহাঁ দেখা হৈল এক ব্রাহ্মণ-সহিতে ॥ ১৭৮ ॥

Text

dakṣiṇa-mathurā āilā kāmakoṣṭhī haite
tāhāṅ dekhā haila eka brāhmaṇa-sahite

Synonyms

dakṣiṇa-mathurā — at southern Mathurā; āilā — arrived; kāmakoṣṭhī haite — from Kāmakoṣṭhī; tāhāṅ — there; dekhā haila — He met; eka — one; brāhmaṇa-sahite — with a brāhmaṇa.

Translation

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived at southern Mathurā from Kāmakoṣṭhī, He met a brāhmaṇa.

Purport

Southern Mathurā, presently known as Madurai, is situated on the banks of the Bhāgāi River. This place of pilgrimage is specifically meant for the devotees of Lord Śiva; therefore it is called Śaiva-kṣetra, that is, the place where Lord Śiva is worshiped. In this area there are mountains and forests. There are also two Śiva temples, one known as Rāmeśvara and the other known as Sundareśvara. There is also a temple to Devī called the Mīnākṣī-devī temple, which displays very great architectural craftsmanship. It was built under the supervision of the kings of the Pāṇḍya Dynasty, and when the Muslims attacked this temple, as well as the temple of Sundareśvara, great damage was done. In the Christian year 1372, a king named Kampanna Udaiyara reigned on the throne of Madurai. Long ago, Emperor Kulaśekhara ruled this area, and during his reign he established a colony of brāhmaṇas. A well-known king named Anantaguṇa Pāṇḍya is an eleventh-generation descendant of Emperor Kulaśekhara.

Bengali

সেই বিপ্র মহাপ্রভুকে কৈল নিমন্ত্রণ ।
রামভক্ত সেই বিপ্র — বিরক্ত মহাজন ॥ ১৭৯ ॥

Text

sei vipra mahāprabhuke kaila nimantraṇa
rāma-bhakta sei vipra — virakta mahājana

Synonyms

sei vipra — that brāhmaṇa; mahāprabhuke — unto Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kaila — did; nimantraṇa — invitation; rāma-bhakta — devotee of Lord Rāmacandra; sei — that; viprabrāhmaṇa; virakta — very much detached; mahājana — a great devotee and authority.

Translation

The brāhmaṇa who met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu invited the Lord to his home. This brāhmaṇa was a great devotee and an authority on Lord Śrī Rāmacandra. He was always detached from material activities.

Bengali

কৃতমালায় স্নান করি’ আইলা তাঁর ঘরে ।
ভিক্ষা কি দিবেন বিপ্র, — পাক নাহি করে ॥ ১৮০ ॥

Text

kṛtamālāya snāna kari’ āilā tāṅra ghare
bhikṣā ki dibena vipra, — pāka nāhi kare

Synonyms

kṛtamālāya — in the Kṛtamālā River; snāna kari’ — bathing; āilā — came; tāṅra — of the brāhmaṇa; ghare — to the home; bhikṣā — offering of alms; ki dibena — what shall give; vipra — the brāhmaṇa; pāka — cooking; nāhi kare — did not do.

Translation

After bathing in the river Kṛtamālā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the brāhmaṇa’s house to take lunch, but He saw that the food was unprepared because the brāhmaṇa had not cooked it.

Bengali

মহাপ্রভু কহে তাঁরে, — শুন মহাশয় ।
মধ্যাহ্ন হৈল, কেনে পাক নাহি হয় ॥ ১৮১ ॥

Text

mahāprabhu kahe tāṅre, — śuna mahāśaya
madhyāhna haila, kene pāka nāhi haya

Synonyms

mahāprabhu kahe — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; tāṅre — unto him; śuna mahāśaya — please hear, My dear sir; madhya-ahna haila — it is already noon; kene — why; pāka nāhi haya — you did not cook.

Translation

Seeing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “My dear sir, please tell Me why you have not cooked. It is already noon.”

Bengali

বিপ্র কহে, — প্রভু, মোর অরণ্যে বসতি ।
পাকের সামগ্রী বনে না মিলে সম্প্রতি ॥ ১৮২ ॥

Text

vipra kahe, — prabhu, mora araṇye vasati
pākera sāmagrī vane nā mile samprati

Synonyms

vipra kahe — the brāhmaṇa replied; prabhu — O Lord; mora — my; araṇye — in the forest; vasati — residence; pākera sāmagrī — the ingredients for cooking; vane — in the forest; mile — are not available; samprati — at this time.

Translation

The brāhmaṇa replied, “My dear Lord, we are living in the forest. For the time being we cannot get all the ingredients for cooking.

Bengali

বন্য শাক-ফল-মূল আনিবে লক্ষ্মণ ।
তবে সীতা করিবেন পাক-প্রয়োজন ॥ ১৮৩ ॥

Text

vanya śāka-phala-mūla ānibe lakṣmaṇa
tabe sītā karibena pāka-prayojana

Synonyms

vanya — of the forest; śāka — vegetables; phala-mūla — fruits and roots; ānibe — will bring; lakṣmaṇa — Lakṣmaṇa; tabe — that time; sītā — mother Sītā; karibena — will do; pāka-prayojana — the necessary cooking.

Translation

“When Lakṣmaṇa brings all the vegetables, fruits and roots from the forest, Sītā will do the necessary cooking.”

Bengali

তাঁর উপাসনা শুনি’ প্রভু তুষ্ট হৈলা ।
আস্তে-ব্যস্তে সেই বিপ্র রন্ধন করিলা ॥ ১৮৪ ॥

Text

tāṅra upāsanā śuni’ prabhu tuṣṭa hailā
āste-vyaste sei vipra randhana karilā

Synonyms

tāṅra — his; upāsanā — method of worship; śuni’ — hearing; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tuṣṭa hailā — was very pleased; āste-vyaste — with great haste; sei — that; viprabrāhmaṇa; randhana karilā — began to cook.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very satisfied to hear about the brāhmaṇa’s method of worship. Finally the brāhmaṇa hastily made arrangements for cooking.

Bengali

প্রভু ভিক্ষা কৈল দিনের তৃতীয়প্রহরে ।
নির্বিণ্ণ সেই বিপ্র উপবাস করে ॥ ১৮৫ ॥

Text

prabhu bhikṣā kaila dinera tṛtīya-prahare
nirviṇṇa sei vipra upavāsa kare

Synonyms

prabhu — Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bhikṣā kaila — took His luncheon; dinera — of the day; tṛtīya-prahare — at about three o’clock; nirviṇṇa — sorrowful; sei — that; viprabrāhmaṇa; upavāsa kare — fasted.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took His lunch at about three o’clock, but the brāhmaṇa, being very sorrowful, fasted.

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — বিপ্র কাঁহে কর উপবাস ।
কেনে এত দুঃখ, কেনে করহ হুতাশ ॥ ১৮৬ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe, — vipra kāṅhe kara upavāsa
kene eta duḥkha, kene karaha hutāśa

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; vipra — My dear brāhmaṇa; kāṅhe — why; kara upavāsa — you are fasting; kene — why; eta — so much; duḥkha — unhappiness; kene — why; karaha hutāśa — you express so much worry.

Translation

While the brāhmaṇa was fasting, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked him, “Why are you fasting? Why are you so unhappy? Why are you so worried?”

Bengali

বিপ্র কহে, — জীবনে মোর নাহি প্রয়োজন ।
অগ্নি-জলে প্রবেশিয়া ছাড়িব জীবন ॥ ১৮৭ ॥

Text

vipra kahe,jīvane mora nāhi prayojana
agni-jale praveśiyā chāḍiba jīvana

Synonyms

vipra kahe — the brāhmaṇa said; jīvane mora — for my life; nāhi — there is not; prayojana — necessity; agni — in fire; jale — in water; praveśiyā — entering; chāḍiba — I shall give up; jīvana — life.

Translation

The brāhmaṇa replied, “I have no reason to live. I shall give up my life by entering either fire or water.

Bengali

জগন্মাতা মহালক্ষ্মী সীতা-ঠাকুরাণী ।
রাক্ষসে স্পর্শিল তাঁরে, — ইহা কানে শুনি ॥ ১৮৮ ॥

Text

jagan-mātā mahā-lakṣmī sītā-ṭhākurāṇī
rākṣase sparśila tāṅre, — ihā kāne śuni

Synonyms

jagat-mātā — the mother of the universe; mahā-lakṣmī — the supreme goddess of fortune; sītā-ṭhākurāṇī — mother Sītā; rākṣase — the demon Rāvaṇa; sparśila — touched; tāṅre — her; ihā — this; kāne śuni — I have heard.

Translation

“My dear Sir, mother Sītā is the mother of the universe and the supreme goddess of fortune. She has been touched by the demon Rāvaṇa, and I am troubled upon hearing this news.

Bengali

এ শরীর ধরিবারে কভু না যুয়ায় ।
এই দুঃখে জ্বলে দেহ, প্রাণ নাহি যায় ॥ ১৮৯ ॥

Text

e śarīra dharibāre kabhu nā yuyāya
ei duḥkhe jvale deha, prāṇa nāhi yāya

Synonyms

e śarīra — this body; dharibāre — to keep; kabhu — ever; — not; yuyāya — deserve; ei duḥkhe — in this unhappiness; jvale deha — my body is burning; prāṇa — my life; nāhi yāya — does not go away.

Translation

“Sir, due to my unhappiness I cannot continue living. Although my body is burning, my life is not leaving.”

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — এ ভাবনা না করিহ আর ।
পণ্ডিত হঞা কেনে না করহ বিচার ॥ ১৯০ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe, — e bhāvanā nā kariha āra
paṇḍita hañā kene nā karaha vicāra

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — the Lord said; e bhāvanā — this kind of thinking; — do not; kariha — do; āra — anymore; paṇḍita hañā — being a learned paṇḍita; kena — why; karaha — you do not make; vicāra — consideration.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Please do not think this way any longer. You are a learned paṇḍita. Why don’t you consider the case?”

Bengali

ঈশ্বর-প্রেয়সী সীতা — চিদানন্দমূর্তি ।
প্রাকৃত-ইন্দ্রিয়ের তাঁরে দেখিতে নাহি শক্তি ॥ ১৯১ ॥

Text

īśvara-preyasī sītācid-ānanda-mūrti
prākṛta-indriyera tāṅre dekhite nāhi śakti

Synonyms

īśvara-preyasī — the dearmost wife of the Lord; sītā — mother Sītā; cit-ānanda-mūrti — spiritual blissful form; prākṛta — material; indriyera — of the senses; tāṅre — her; dekhite — to see; nāhi — there is not; śakti — power.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “Sītādevī, the dearmost wife of the Supreme Lord Rāmacandra, certainly has a spiritual form full of bliss. No one can see her with material eyes, for no materialist has such power.

Bengali

স্পর্শিবার কার্য আছুক, না পায় দর্শন ।
সীতার আকৃতি-মায়া হরিল রাবণ ॥ ১৯২ ॥

Text

sparśibāra kārya āchuka, nā pāya darśana
sītāra ākṛti-māyā harila rāvaṇa

Synonyms

sparśibāra — to touch; kārya — business; āchuka — let it be; — does not; pāya — get; darśana — sight; sītāra — of mother Sītā; ākṛti-māyā — the form made of māyā; harila — took away; rāvaṇa — the demon Rāvaṇa.

Translation

“To say nothing of touching mother Sītā, a person with material senses cannot even see her. When Rāvaṇa kidnapped her, he kidnapped only her material, illusory form.

Bengali

রাবণ আসিতেই সীতা অন্তর্ধান কৈল ।
রাবণের আগে মায়া-সীতা পাঠাইল ॥ ১৯৩ ॥

Text

rāvaṇa āsitei sītā antardhāna kaila
rāvaṇera āge māyā-sītā pāṭhāila

Synonyms

rāvaṇa — the demon Rāvaṇa; āsitei — as soon as he arrived; sītā — mother Sītā; antardhāna kaila — disappeared; rāvaṇera āge — before the demon Rāvaṇa; māyā-sītā — illusory, material form of Sītā; pāṭhāila — sent.

Translation

“As soon as Rāvaṇa arrived before Sītā, she disappeared. Then just to cheat Rāvaṇa she sent an illusory, material form.

Bengali

অপ্রাকৃত বস্তু নহে প্রাকৃত-গোচর ।
বেদ-পুরাণেতে এই কহে নিরন্তর ॥ ১৯৪ ॥

Text

aprākṛta vastu nahe prākṛta-gocara
veda-purāṇete ei kahe nirantara

Synonyms

aprākṛta — spiritual; vastu — substance; nahe — not; prākṛta — of matter; gocara — within the jurisdiction; veda-purāṇete — the Vedas and the Purāṇas; ei — this; kahe — say; nirantara — always.

Translation

“Spiritual substance is never within the jurisdiction of the material conception. This is always the verdict of the Vedas and Purāṇas.”

Purport

As stated in the Kaṭha Upaniṣad (2.3.9, 12):

na sandṛśe tiṣṭhati rūpam asya
na cakṣuṣā paśyati kaścanainam
hṛdā manīṣā manasābhikḷpto
ya etad vidur amṛtās te bhavanti
naiva vācā na manasāprāptuṁ śakyo na cakṣuṣā

“Spirit is not within the jurisdiction of material eyes, words or mind.”

Similarly, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.84.13) states:

yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātuke
sva-dhīḥ kalatrādiṣu bhauma ijya-dhīḥ
yat-tīrtha-buddhiḥ salile na karhicij
janeṣv abhijñeṣu sa eva go-kharaḥ

“A human being who identifies his body made of three elements with his self, who considers the by-products of his body to be his kinsmen, who considers the land of his birth worshipable, and who goes to a place of pilgrimage simply to take a bath rather than to meet men of transcendental knowledge there is to be considered like an ass or a cow.”

These are some Vedic statements about spiritual substance. Spiritual substance cannot be seen by the unintelligent, because they do not have the eyes or the mentality to see the spirit soul. Consequently they think that there is no such thing as spirit. But the followers of the Vedic injunctions take their information from Vedic statements, such as the verses from the Kaṭha Upaniṣad and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam quoted above..

Bengali

বিশ্বাস করহ তুমি আমার বচনে ।
পুনরপি কু-ভাবনা না করিহ মনে ॥ ১৯৫ ॥

Text

viśvāsa karaha tumi āmāra vacane
punarapi ku-bhāvanā nā kariha mane

Synonyms

viśvāsa karaha — believe; tumi — you; āmāra — My; vacane — in the words; punarapi — again; ku-bhāvanā — misconception; kariha — do not do; mane — in the mind.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then assured the brāhmaṇa, “Have faith in My words and do not burden your mind any longer with this misconception.”

Purport

This is the process of spiritual understanding. Acintyāḥ khalu ye bhāvā na tāṁs tarkeṇa yojayet: “We should not try to understand things beyond our material conception by argument and counterargument.” Mahā-jano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ: “We have to follow in the footsteps of great authorities coming down in the paramparā system.” If we approach a bona fide ācārya and keep faith in his words, spiritual realization will be easy.

Bengali

প্রভুর বচনে বিপ্রের হইল বিশ্বাস ।
ভোজন করিল, হৈল জীবনের আশ ॥ ১৯৬ ॥

Text

prabhura vacane viprera ha-ila viśvāsa
bhojana karila, haila jīvanera āśa

Synonyms

prabhura vacane — in the words of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; viprera — of the brāhmaṇa; ha-ila — was; viśvāsa — faith; bhojana karila — he took his lunch; haila — there was; jīvanera — for living; āśa — hope.

Translation

Although the brāhmaṇa was fasting, he had faith in the words of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and accepted food. In this way his life was saved.

Bengali

তাঁরে আশ্বাসিয়া প্রভু করিলা গমন ।
কৃতমালায় স্নান করি আইলা দুর্বশন ॥ ১৯৭ ॥

Text

tāṅre āśvāsiyā prabhu karilā gamana
kṛtamālāya snāna kari āilā durvaśana

Synonyms

tāṅre āśvāsiyā — assuring him; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; karilā gamana — departed; kṛtamālāya — in the river known as Kṛtamālā; snāna kari — bathing; āilā — came; durvaśana — to Durvaśana.

Translation

After thus assuring the brāhmaṇa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu proceeded further into southern India and finally arrived at Durvaśana, where He bathed in the river Kṛtamālā.

Purport

Presently the Kṛtamālā River is known as the river Bhāgāi or Vaigai. This river has three tributaries, named Surulī, Varāha-nadī and Baṭṭilla-guṇḍu. The river Kṛtamālā is also mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.39) by the sage Karabhājana.

Bengali

দুর্বশনে রঘুনাথে কৈল দরশন ।
মহেন্দ্র-শৈলে পরশুরামের কৈল বন্দন ॥ ১৯৮ ॥

Text

durvaśane raghunāthe kaila daraśana
mahendra-śaile paraśurāmera kaila vandana

Synonyms

durvaśane — at Durvaśana; raghunāthe — Lord Rāmacandra; kaila daraśana — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited; mahendra-śaile — on Mahendra-śaila; paraśu-rāmera — to Lord Paraśurāma; kaila vandana — offered prayers.

Translation

At Durvaśana Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the temple of Lord Rāmacandra, and on the hill known as Mahendra-śaila He saw Lord Paraśurāma.

Purport

In Durvaśana, or Darbhaśayana (now known as Tiruppullani), which is seven miles east of Ramnad, there is a temple of Lord Rāmacandra. The hill known as Mahendra-śaila is near Tirunelveli, and at the end of this hill is a city known as Tiruchendur. West of Mahendra-śaila is the territory of Tribāṅkura. There is mention of Mahendra-śaila in the Rāmāyaṇa.

Bengali

সেতুবন্ধে আসি’ কৈল ধনুস্তীর্থে স্নান ।
রামেশ্বর দেখি’ তাহাঁ করিল বিশ্রাম ॥ ১৯৯ ॥

Text

setubandhe āsi’ kaila dhanus-tīrthe snāna
rāmeśvara dekhi’ tāhāṅ karila viśrāma

Synonyms

setubandhe āsi’ — coming to Setubandha; kaila — did; dhanuḥ-tīrthe snāna — bathing at the holy place known as Dhanus-tīrtha; rāmeśvara dekhi’ — visiting the holy place Rāmeśvara; tāhāṅ — there; karila viśrāma — took rest.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then went to Setubandha [Rāmeśvara], where He took His bath at the place called Dhanus-tīrtha. From there He visited the Rāmeśvara temple and then took rest.

Purport

The path from Mandapam through the ocean to the island known as Pambam consists partly of sand and partly of water. The island of Pambam is about seventeen miles long and six miles wide. On this island, four miles north of Pambam Harbour, is Setubandha, where the temple of Rāmeśvara is located. This is a temple of Lord Śiva, and the name Rāmeśvara indicates that he is a great personality whose worshipable Deity is Lord Rāma. Thus the Lord Śiva found in the temple of Rāmeśvara is a great devotee of Lord Rāmacandra. It is said, devī-pattanam ārabhya gaccheyuḥ setu-bandhanam: “After visiting the temple of the goddess Durgā, one should go to the temple of Rāmeśvara.”

In this area there are twenty-four different holy places, one of which is Dhanus-tīrtha, located about twelve miles southeast of Rāmeśvara. It is near the last station of the Southern Railway, a station called Ramnad. It is said that here, on the request of Rāvaṇa’s younger brother Vibhīṣaṇa, Lord Rāmacandra destroyed the bridge to Laṅkā with His bow while returning to His capital. It is also said that one who visits Dhanus-tīrtha is liberated from the cycle of birth and death, and that one who bathes there gets all the fruitive results of performing the yajña known as Agniṣṭoma.

Bengali

বিপ্র-সভায় শুনে তাঁহা কূর্ম-পুরাণ ।
তার মধ্যে আইলা পতিব্রতা-উপাখ্যান ॥ ২০০ ॥

Text

vipra-sabhāya śune tāṅhā kūrma-purāṇa
tāra madhye āilā pativratā-upākhyāna

Synonyms

vipra-sabhāya — among the assembly of brāhmaṇas; śune — hears; tāṅhā — there; kūrma-purāṇa — the Kūrma Purāṇa; tāra madhye — within that book; āilā — there was; pati-vratā — of the chaste woman; upākhyāna — narration.

Translation

There, among the brāhmaṇas, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu listened to the Kūrma Purāṇa, wherein is mentioned the chaste woman’s narration.

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura remarks that only two khaṇḍas of the Kūrma Purāṇa are now available, namely the Pūrva-khaṇḍa and Uttara-khaṇḍa. Sometimes it is said that the Kūrma Purāṇa contains six thousand verses, but according to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam the original Kūrma Purāṇa contains seventeen thousand verses. It is considered the fifteenth of the the eighteen Mahā-purāṇas.

Bengali

পতিব্রতা-শিরোমণি জনক-নন্দিনী ।
জগতের মাতা সীতা — রামের গৃহিণী ॥ ২০১ ॥

Text

pativratā-śiromaṇi janaka-nandinī
jagatera mātā sītā — rāmera gṛhiṇī

Synonyms

pati-vratā — chaste woman; śiromaṇi — the topmost; janaka-nandinī — is the daughter of King Janaka; jagatera — of all the three worlds; mātā — the mother; sītā — Sītā; rāmera — of Lord Rāmacandra; gṛhiṇī — wife.

Translation

Śrīmatī Sītādevī is the mother of the three worlds and the wife of Lord Rāmacandra. Among chaste women she is supreme, and she is the daughter of King Janaka.

Bengali

রাবণ দেখিয়া সীতা লৈল অগ্নির শরণ ।
রাবণ হৈতে অগ্নি কৈল সীতাকে আবরণ ॥ ২০২ ॥

Text

rāvaṇa dekhiyā sītā laila agnira śaraṇa
rāvaṇa haite agni kaila sītāke āvaraṇa

Synonyms

rāvaṇa dekhiyā — after seeing Rāvaṇa; sītā — mother Sītā; laila — took; agnira — of fire; śaraṇa — shelter; rāvaṇa — Rāvaṇa; haite — from; agni — fire; kaila — did; sītāke — unto mother Sītā; āvaraṇa — covering.

Translation

When Rāvaṇa came to kidnap mother Sītā and she saw him, she took shelter of the fire-god, Agni. The fire-god covered the body of mother Sītā, and in this way she was protected from the hands of Rāvaṇa.

Bengali

‘মায়াসীতা’রাবণ নিল, শুনিলা আখ্যানে ।
শুনি’ মহাপ্রভু হইল আনন্দিত মনে ॥ ২০৩ ॥

Text

‘māyā-sītā’ rāvaṇa nila, śunilā ākhyāne
śuni’ mahāprabhu haila ānandita mane

Synonyms

māyā-sītā — false, illusory Sītā; rāvaṇa — the demon Rāvaṇa; nila — took; śunilā — heard; ākhyāne — in the narration of the Kūrma Purāṇa; śuni’ — hearing this; mahāprabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; haila — became; ānandita — very happy; mane — within the mind.

Translation

Upon hearing from the Kūrma Purāṇa how Rāvaṇa had kidnapped a false form of mother Sītā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very satisfied.

Bengali

সীতা লঞা রাখিলেন পার্বতীর স্থানে ।
‘মায়াসীতা’ দিয়া অগ্নি বঞ্চিলা রাবণে ॥ ২০৪ ॥

Text

sītā lañā rākhilena pārvatīra sthāne
‘māyā-sītā’ diyā agni vañcilā rāvaṇe

Synonyms

sītā lañā — taking away mother Sītā; rākhilena — kept; pārvatīra sthāne — with mother Pārvatī, or goddess Durgā; māyā-sītā — the false, illusory form of Sītā; diyā — delivering; agni — fire-god; vañcilā — cheated; rāvaṇe — the demon Rāvaṇa.

Translation

The fire-god, Agni, took away the real Sītā and brought her to the place of Pārvatī, goddess Durgā. An illusory form of mother Sītā was then delivered to Rāvaṇa, and in this way Rāvaṇa was cheated.

Bengali

রঘুনাথ আসি’ যবে রাবণে মারিল ।
অগ্নি-পরীক্ষা দিতে যবে সীতারে আনিল ॥ ২০৫ ॥

Text

raghunātha āsi’ yabe rāvaṇe mārila
agni-parīkṣā dite yabe sītāre ānila

Synonyms

raghunātha — Lord Rāmacandra; āsi’ — coming; yabe — when; rāvaṇe — Rāvaṇa; mārila — killed; agni-parīkṣā — test by fire; dite — to give; yabe — when; sītāre — Sītā; ānila — brought.

Translation

After Rāvaṇa was killed by Lord Rāmacandra, Sītādevī was brought before the fire and tested.

Bengali

তবে মায়াসীতা অগ্নি করি অন্তর্ধান ।
সত্য-সীতা আনি’ দিল রাম-বিদ্যমান ॥ ২০৬ ॥

Text

tabe māyā-sītā agni kari antardhāna
satya-sītā āni’ dila rāma-vidyamāna

Synonyms

tabe — at that time; māyā-sītā — the illusory form of Sītā; agni — the fire-god; kari — doing; antardhāna — disappearing; satya-sītā — real Sītā; āni’ — bringing; dila — delivered; rāma — of Rāmacandra; vidyamāna — in the presence.

Translation

When the illusory Sītā was brought before the fire by Lord Rāmacandra, the fire-god made the illusory form disappear and delivered the real Sītā to Lord Rāmacandra.

Bengali

শুনিঞা প্রভুর আনন্দিত হৈল মন ।
রামদাস-বিপ্রের কথা হইল স্মরণ ॥ ২০৭ ॥

Text

śuniñā prabhura ānandita haila mana
rāmadāsa-viprera kathā ha-ila smaraṇa

Synonyms

śuniñā — hearing; prabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; ānandita — very pleased; haila — became; mana — the mind; rāmadāsa-viprera — of the brāhmaṇa known as Rāmadāsa; kathā — words; ha-ila smaraṇa — He remembered.

Translation

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard this story, He was very pleased, and He remembered the words of Rāmadāsa Vipra.

Bengali

এ-সব সিদ্ধান্ত শুনি’ প্রভুর আনন্দ হৈল ।
ব্রাহ্মণের স্থানে মাগি’ সেই পত্র নিল ॥ ২০৮ ॥

Text

e-saba siddhānta śuni’ prabhura ānanda haila
brāhmaṇera sthāne māgi’ sei patra nila

Synonyms

e-saba siddhānta — all these conclusive statements; śuni’ — hearing; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; ānanda — happiness; haila — there was; brāhmaṇera sthāne — from the brāhmaṇas; māgi’ — asking; sei — those; patra — leaves; nila — took.

Translation

Indeed, when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard these conclusive statements from the Kūrma Purāṇa, He felt great happiness. After asking the brāhmaṇas’ permission, He took possession of the manuscript leaves of the Kūrma Purāṇa.

Bengali

নূতন পত্র লেখাঞা পুস্তকে দেওয়াইল ।
প্রতীতি লাগি’ পুরাতন পত্র মাগি’ নিল ॥ ২০৯ ॥

Text

nūtana patra lekhāñā pustake deoyāila
pratīti lāgi’ purātana patra māgi’ nila

Synonyms

nūtana — new; patra — leaves; lekhāñā — getting written; pustake — the book; deoyāila — He gave; pratīti lāgi’ — for direct evidence; purātana — the old; patra — leaves; māgi’ — requesting; nila — He took.

Translation

Since the Kūrma Purāṇa was very old, the manuscript was also very old. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took possession of the original leaves in order to have direct evidence. The text was copied onto new leaves in order that the Purāṇa be replaced.

Bengali

পত্র লঞা পুনঃ দক্ষিণ-মথুরা আইলা ।
রামদাস বিপ্রে সেই পত্র আনি দিলা ॥ ২১০ ॥

Text

patra lañā punaḥ dakṣiṇa-mathurā āilā
rāmadāsa vipre sei patra āni dilā

Synonyms

patra lañā — taking those leaves; punaḥ — again; dakṣiṇa-mathurā — to southern Mathurā; āilā — came; rāmadāsa vipre — unto the brāhmaṇa known as Rāmadāsa; sei patra — those leaves; āni — bringing back; dilā — delivered.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to southern Mathurā [Madurai] and delivered the original manuscript of the Kūrma Purāṇa to Rāmadāsa Vipra.

Bengali

সীতয়ারাধিতো বহ্নিশ্ছায়া-সীতামজীজনৎ ।
তাং জহার দশগ্রীবঃ সীতা বহ্নিপুরং গতা ॥ ২১১ ॥
পরীক্ষা-সময়ে বহ্নিং ছায়া-সীতা বিবেশ সা ।
বহ্নিঃ সীতাং সমানীয় তৎপুরস্তাদনীনয়ৎ ॥ ২১২ ॥

Text

sītayārādhito vahniś
chāyā-sītām ajījanat
tāṁ jahāra daśa-grīvaḥ
sītā vahni-puraṁ gatā
parīkṣā-samaye vahniṁ
chāyā-sītā viveśa sā
vahniḥ sītāṁ samānīya
tat-purastād anīnayat

Synonyms

sītayā — by mother Sītā; ārādhitaḥ — being called for; vahniḥ — the fire-god; chāyā-sītām — the illusory form of mother Sītā; ajījanat — created; tām — her; jahāra — kidnapped; daśa-grīvaḥ — the ten-faced Rāvaṇa; sītā — mother Sītā; vahni-puram — to the abode of the fire-god; gatā — departed; parīkṣā-samaye — at the time of testing; vahnim — the fire; chāyā-sītā — the illusory form of Sītā; viveśa — entered; — she; vahniḥ — the fire-god; sītām — the original mother Sītā; samānīya — bringing back; tat-purastāt — in His presence; anīnayat — brought back.

Translation

“When he was petitioned by mother Sītā, the fire-god, Agni, brought forth an illusory form of Sītā, and Rāvaṇa, who had ten heads, kidnapped the false Sītā. The original Sītā then went to the abode of the fire-god. When Lord Rāmacandra tested the body of Sītā, it was the false, illusory Sītā that entered the fire. At that time the fire-god brought the original Sītā from his abode and delivered her to Lord Rāmacandra.”

Purport

These two verses are taken from the Kūrma Purāṇa.

Bengali

পত্র পাঞা বিপ্রের হৈল আনন্দিত মন ।
প্রভুর চরণে ধরি’ করয়ে ক্রন্দন ॥ ২১৩ ॥

Text

patra pāñā viprera haila ānandita mana
prabhura caraṇe dhari’ karaye krandana

Synonyms

patra pāñā — getting the leaves; viprera — of the brāhmaṇa; haila — there was; ānandita — pleased; mana — mind; prabhura caraṇe — the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dhari’ — taking; karaye — does; krandana — crying.

Translation

Rāmadāsa Vipra was very pleased to receive the original leaf manuscript of the Kūrma Purāṇa, and he immediately fell down before the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and began to cry.

Bengali

বিপ্র কহে, — তুমি সাক্ষাৎ শ্রীরঘুনন্দন ।
সন্ন্যাসীর বেষে মোরে দিলা দরশন ॥ ২১৪ ॥

Text

vipra kahe, — tumi sākṣāt śrī-raghunandana
sannyāsīra veṣe more dilā daraśana

Synonyms

vipra kahe — the brāhmaṇa said; tumi — You; sākṣāt — directly; śrī-raghunandana — Lord Śrī Rāmacandra; sannyāsīra veṣe — in the dress of a mendicant; more — unto me; dilā — You gave; daraśana — audience.

Translation

After receiving the manuscript, the brāhmaṇa, being very pleased, said, “Sir, You are Lord Rāmacandra Himself and have come in the dress of a sannyāsī to give me audience.

Bengali

মহা-দুঃখ হইতে মোরে করিলা নিস্তার ।
আজি মোর ঘরে ভিক্ষা কর অঙ্গীকার ॥ ২১৫ ॥

Text

mahā-duḥkha ha-ite more karilā nistāra
āji mora ghare bhikṣā kara aṅgīkāra

Synonyms

mahā-duḥkha — great unhappiness; ha-ite — from; more — me; karilā nistāra — You delivered; āji — today; mora — my; ghare — at home; bhikṣā — lunch; kara — do; aṅgīkāra — accept.

Translation

“My dear Sir, You have delivered me from a very unhappy condition. I request that You take Your lunch at my place. Please accept this invitation.

Bengali

মনোদুঃখে ভাল ভিক্ষা না দিল সেই দিনে ।
মোর ভাগ্যে পুনরপি পাইলুঁ দরশনে ॥ ২১৬ ॥

Text

mano-duḥkhe bhāla bhikṣā nā dila sei dine
mora bhāgye punarapi pāiluṅ daraśane

Synonyms

mano-duḥkhe — out of great mental distress; bhāla bhikṣā — good lunch; dila — could not give You; sei dine — that day; mora bhāgye — because of my good fortune; punarapi — again; pāiluṅ — I have gotten; daraśane — visit.

Translation

“Due to my mental distress I could not give You a very nice lunch the other day. Now, by good fortune, You have come again to my home.”

Bengali

এত বলি’ সেই বিপ্র সুখে পাক কৈল ।
উত্তম প্রকারে প্রভুকে ভিক্ষা করাইল ॥ ২১৭ ॥

Text

eta bali’ sei vipra sukhe pāka kaila
uttama prakāre prabhuke bhikṣā karāila

Synonyms

eta bali’ — saying this; sei vipra — that brāhmaṇa; sukhe — in great happiness; pāka kaila — cooked; uttama prakāre — very nicely; prabhuke — unto Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bhikṣā — lunch; karāila — gave.

Translation

Saying this, the brāhmaṇa very happily cooked food, and a first-class dinner was offered to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Bengali

সেই রাত্রি তাহাঁ রহি’ তাঁরে কৃপা করি’ ।
পাণ্ড্যদেশে তাম্রপর্ণী গেলা গৌরহরি ॥ ২১৮ ॥

Text

sei rātri tāhāṅ rahi’ tāṅre kṛpā kari’
pāṇḍya-deśe tāmraparṇī gelā gaurahari

Synonyms

sei rātri — that night; tāhāṅ — there; rahi’ — staying; tāṅre — unto the brāhmaṇa; kṛpā kari’ — showing mercy; pāṇḍya-deśe — in the country known as Pāṇḍya-deśa; tāmraparṇī — to the river named Tāmraparṇī; gelā — went; gaurahari — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed that night in the house of the brāhmaṇa. Then, after showing him mercy, the Lord started toward the Tāmraparṇī River in Pāṇḍya-deśa.

Purport

Pāṇḍya-deśa is situated in the southern part of India known as Kerala and Cola. In all these areas there were many kings with the title Pāṇḍya who ruled over Madurai and Rāmeśvara. In the Rāmāyaṇa the Tāmraparṇī River is mentioned. The Tāmraparṇī, also known as the Puruṇai, flows through Tirunelveli before entering the Bay of Bengal. The Tāmraparṇī River is also mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.39).

Bengali

তাম্রপর্ণী স্নান করি’ তাম্রপর্ণী-তীরে ।
নয় ত্রিপতি দেখি’ বুলে কুতূহলে ॥ ২১৯ ॥

Text

tāmraparṇī snāna kari’ tāmraparṇī-tīre
naya tripati dekhi’ bule kutūhale

Synonyms

tāmraparṇī — in the Tāmraparṇī River; snāna kari’ — taking a bath; tāmraparṇī-tīre — on the bank of the Tāmraparṇī River; naya tripati — the place named Naya-tripati; dekhi’ — after seeing; bule — wandered on; kutūhale — in great curiosity.

Translation

There were nine temples of Lord Viṣṇu at Naya-tripati, on the bank of the river Tāmraparṇī, and after bathing in the river, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the Deities with great curiosity and wandered on.

Purport

The nine Viṣṇu temples known as Naya-tripati (Nava-tirupati) are situated in and around Ālvār Tirunagarai. This is a town about seventeen miles southeast of Tirunelveli. All the Deities of the temples assemble together during a yearly festival in the town.

Bengali

চিয়ড়তলা তীর্থে দেখি’ শ্রীরাম-লক্ষ্মণ ।
তিলকাঞ্চী আসি’ কৈল শিব দরশন ॥ ২২০ ॥

Text

ciyaḍatalā tīrthe dekhi’ śrī-rāma-lakṣmaṇa
tila-kāñcī āsi’ kaila śiva daraśana

Synonyms

ciyaḍatalā — named Ciyaḍatalā; tīrthe — at the holy place; dekhi’ — seeing; śrī-rāma-lakṣmaṇa — the Deity of Lord Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa; tila-kāñcī — to Tila-kāñcī; āsi’ — coming; kaila — did; śiva daraśana — visiting the temple of Lord Śiva.

Translation

After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to a holy place known as Ciyaḍatalā, where He saw the Deities of the two brothers Lord Rāmacandra and Lakṣmaṇa. He then proceeded to Tila-kāñcī, where He saw the temple of Lord Śiva.

Purport

Ciyaḍatalā is sometimes known as Cheratalā. It is near the city of Kaila, and there is a temple there dedicated to Lord Śrī Rāmacandra and His brother Lakṣmaṇa. Tila-kāñcī (Tenkasi) is about thirty miles northeast of the city of Tirunelveli.

Bengali

গজেন্দ্রমোক্ষণ-তীর্থে দেখি বিষ্ণুমূর্তি ।
পানাগড়ি-তীর্থে আসি’ দেখিল সীতাপতি ॥ ২২১ ॥

Text

gajendra-mokṣaṇa-tīrthe dekhi viṣṇu-mūrti
pānāgaḍi-tīrthe āsi’ dekhila sītāpati

Synonyms

gajendra-mokṣaṇa-tīrthe — at the holy place named Gajendra-mokṣaṇa; dekhi — seeing; viṣṇu-mūrti — the Deity of Lord Viṣṇu; pānāgaḍi-tīrthe — to the holy place Pānāgaḍi; āsi’ — coming; dekhila — saw; sītā-pati — Lord Śrī Rāmacandra and Sītādevī.

Translation

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then visited the holy place named Gajendra-mokṣaṇa, where He went to a temple of Lord Viṣṇu. He then came to Pānāgaḍi, a holy place where He saw the Deities of Lord Rāmacandra and Sītā.

Purport

The Gajendra-mokṣaṇa temple is sometimes mistaken for a temple of Lord Śiva. It is about two miles south of the city of Kaivera (Nagercoil). Actually the Deity is not of Lord Śiva but of Viṣṇu.

Pānāgaḍi (Pannakudi) is about thirty miles south of Tirunelveli. Formerly the temple there contained the Deity of Śrī Rāmacandra, but later the devotees of Lord Śiva replaced Lord Rāmacandra with a deity of Lord Śiva named Rāmeśvara or Rāma-liṅga Śiva.

Bengali

চাম্‌তাপুরে আসি’ দেখি’ শ্রীরাম-লক্ষ্মণ ।
শ্রীবৈকুণ্ঠে আসি’ কৈল বিষ্ণু দরশন ॥ ২২২ ॥

Text

cāmtāpure āsi’ dekhi’ śrī-rāma-lakṣmaṇa
śrī-vaikuṇṭhe āsi’ kaila viṣṇu daraśana

Synonyms

cāmtāpure — to Cāmtāpura; āsi’ — coming; dekhi’ — seeing; śrī-rāma-lakṣmaṇa — Lord Rāmacandra and Lakṣmaṇa; śrī-vaikuṇṭhe āsi’ — coming to Śrī Vaikuṇṭha; kaila — did; viṣṇu daraśana — seeing the temple of Lord Viṣṇu.

Translation

Later the Lord went to Cāmtāpura, where He saw the Deities of Lord Rāmacandra and Lakṣmaṇa. He then went to Śrī Vaikuṇṭha and saw the temple of Lord Viṣṇu there.

Purport

Cāmtāpura (sometimes called Chengannur) is located in the state of Kerala. A temple of Lord Rāmacandra and Lakṣmaṇa is located there. Śrī Vaikuṇṭha — about four miles north of Ālvār Tirunagarai and sixteen miles southeast of Tirunelveli — is situated on the bank of the Tāmraparṇī River.

Bengali

মলয়-পর্বতে কৈল অগস্ত্য-বন্দন ।
কন্যাকুমারী তাহাঁ কৈল দরশন ॥ ২২৩ ॥

Text

malaya-parvate kaila agastya-vandana
kanyā-kumārī tāhāṅ kaila daraśana

Synonyms

malaya-parvate — in the Malaya Hills; kaila — did; agastya-vandana — obeisances to Agastya Muni; kanyā-kumārī — Kanyā-kumārī; tāhāṅ — there; kaila daraśana — visited.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then went to Malaya-parvata and offered prayers to Agastya Muni. He then visited Kanyā-kumārī [Cape Comorin].

Purport

The range of mountains in South India beginning at Kerala and extending to Cape Comorin is called Malaya-parvata. Concerning Agastya, there are four opinions: (1) There is a temple of Agastya Muni in the village of Agastyampallī, in the district of Tanjore. (2) There is a temple of Lord Skanda on a hill known as Śiva-giri, and this temple is said to have been established by Agastya Muni. (3) Some say that the hill near Cape Comorin known as Paṭhiyā served as Agastya Muni’s residence. (4) There is a place known as Agastya-malaya, which is a range of hills on both sides of the Tāmraparṇī River. Cape Comorin itself is also known as Kanyā-kumārī.

Bengali

আম্‌লিতলায় দেখি’ শ্রীরাম গৌরহরি ।
মল্লার-দেশেতে আইলা যথা ভট্টথারি ॥ ২২৪ ॥

Text

āmlitalāya dekhi’ śrī-rāma gaurahari
mallāra-deśete āilā yathā bhaṭṭathāri

Synonyms

āmlitalāya — at Āmlitalā; dekhi’ — seeing; śrī-rāma — the Deity of Rāmacandra; gaurahari — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; mallāra-deśete — to Mallāra-deśa; āilā — came; yathā — where; bhaṭṭathāri — the Bhaṭṭathāri community.

Translation

After visiting Kanyā-kumārī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to Āmlitalā, where He saw the Deity of Śrī Rāmacandra. Thereafter He went to a place known as Mallāra-deśa, where a community of Bhaṭṭathāris lived.

Purport

North of Mallāra-deśa is South Kanara. To the east are Coorg and Mysore, to the south is Cochin, and to the west is the Arabian Sea. As far as the Bhaṭṭathāris are concerned, they are a nomadic community. They camp wherever they like and have no fixed place of residence. Outwardly they take up the dress of sannyāsīs, but their real business is stealing and cheating. They allure others to supply women for their camp, and they cheat many women and keep them within their community. In this way they increase their population. In Bengal also there is a similar community. Actually, all over the world there are nomadic communities whose business is simply to allure, cheat and steal innocent women.

Bengali

তমাল-কার্তিক দেখি’ আইল বেতাপনি ।
রঘুনাথ দেখি’ তাহাঁ বঞ্চিলা রজনী ॥ ২২৫ ॥

Text

tamāla-kārtika dekhi’ āila vetāpani
raghunātha dekhi’ tāhāṅ vañcilā rajanī

Synonyms

tamāla-kārtika — the place named Tamāla-kārtika; dekhi’ — seeing; āila — came; vetāpani — to Vetāpani; raghunātha dekhi’ — seeing the temple of Lord Rāmacandra; tāhāṅ — there; vañcilā rajanī — passed the night.

Translation

After visiting Mallāra-deśa, Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Tamāla-kārtika and then to Vetāpani. There He saw the temple of Raghunātha, Lord Rāmacandra, and passed the night.

Purport

Tamāla-kārtika is forty-four miles south of Tirunelveli and two miles south of Aramavallī Mountain. It is located within the jurisdiction of Tovalai. At Tamāla-kārtika is a temple of Subrahmaṇya, or Lord Kārtika, the son of Lord Śiva.

Vetāpani, or Vātāpāṇī, is north of Kaila in the Tamil Nadu state. It is also known as Bhūtapaṇḍi and is within the jurisdiction of the Tobala district. It is understood that formerly there was a Deity of Lord Rāmacandra there. Later the Deity was replaced with a deity of Lord Śiva known as Rāmeśvara or Bhūtanātha.

Bengali

গোসাঞির সঙ্গে রহে কৃষ্ণদাস ব্রাহ্মণ ।
ভট্টথারি-সহ তাহাঁ হৈল দরশন ॥ ২২৬ ॥

Text

gosāñira saṅge rahe kṛṣṇadāsa brāhmaṇa
bhaṭṭathāri-saha tāhāṅ haila daraśana

Synonyms

gosāñira — the Lord; saṅge — with; rahe — there was; kṛṣṇadāsa brāhmaṇa — a brāhmaṇa servant named Kṛṣṇadāsa; bhaṭṭathāri-saha — with the Bhaṭṭathāris; tāhāṅ — there; haila — there was; daraśana — a meeting.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was accompanied by His servant, Kṛṣṇadāsa. He was a brāhmaṇa, but he met with the Bhaṭṭathāris there.

Bengali

স্ত্রীধন দেখাঞা তাঁর লোভ জন্মাইল ।
আর্য সরল বিপ্রের বুদ্ধিনাশ কৈল ॥ ২২৭ ॥

Text

strī-dhana dekhāñā tāṅra lobha janmāila
ārya sarala viprera buddhi-nāśa kaila

Synonyms

strī-dhana — women; dekhāñā — showing; tāṅra — his; lobha — attraction; janmāila — they created; ārya — gentleman; sarala — simple; viprera — of the brāhmaṇa; buddhi-nāśa — loss of intelligence; kaila — they made.

Translation

With women the Bhaṭṭathāris allured the brāhmaṇa Kṛṣṇadāsa, who was simple and gentle. By virtue of their bad association, they polluted his intelligence.

Bengali

প্রাতে উঠি’ আইলা বিপ্র ভট্টথারি-ঘরে ।
তাহার উদ্দেশে প্রভু আইলা সত্বরে ॥ ২২৮ ॥

Text

prāte uṭhi’ āilā vipra bhaṭṭathāri-ghare
tāhāra uddeśe prabhu āilā satvare

Synonyms

prāte — in the morning; uṭhi’ — rising from bed; āilā — came; vipra — the brāhmaṇa Kṛṣṇadāsa; bhaṭṭathāri-ghare — to the place of the Bhaṭṭathāris; tāhāra uddeśe — for him; prabhu — Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; āilā — came; satvare — very soon.

Translation

Allured by the Bhaṭṭathāris, Kṛṣṇadāsa went to their place early in the morning. The Lord also went there very quickly just to find him.

Bengali

আসিয়া কহেন সব ভট্টথারিগণে ।
আমার ব্রাহ্মণ তুমি রাখ কি কারণে ॥ ২২৯ ॥

Text

āsiyā kahena saba bhaṭṭathāri-gaṇe
āmāra brāhmaṇa tumi rākha ki kāraṇe

Synonyms

āsiyā — coming; kahena — He said; saba — all; bhaṭṭathāri-gaṇe — to the Bhaṭṭathāris; āmāra — My; brāhmaṇabrāhmaṇa assistant; tumi — you; rākha — are keeping; ki — for what; kāraṇe — reason.

Translation

Upon reaching their community, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked the Bhaṭṭathāris, “Why are you keeping My brāhmaṇa assistant?

Bengali

আমিহ সন্ন্যাসী দেখ, তুমিহ সন্ন্যাসী ।
মোরে দুঃখ দেহ, — তোমার ‘ন্যায়’ নাহি বাসি’ ॥ ২৩০ ॥

Text

āmiha sannyāsī dekha, tumiha sannyāsī
more duḥkha deha, — tomāra ’nyāya’ nāhi vāsi

Synonyms

āmiha — I; sannyāsī — in the renounced order of life; dekha — you see; tumiha — you; sannyāsī — in the renounced order of life; more — unto Me; duḥkha — pains; deha — you give; tomāra — your; nyāya — logic; nāhi vāsi — I do not find.

Translation

“I am in the renounced order of life, and so are you. Yet you are purposefully giving Me pain, and I do not see any good logic in this.”

Bengali

শুনি’ সব ভট্টথারি উঠে অস্ত্র লঞা ।
মারিবারে আইল সবে চারিদিকে ধাঞা ॥ ২৩১ ॥

Text

śuni’ saba bhaṭṭathāri uṭhe astra lañā
māribāre āila sabe cāri-dike dhāñā

Synonyms

śuni’ — hearing; saba — all; bhaṭṭathāri — nomads; uṭhe — rise up; astra — weapons; lañā — taking; māribāre — to kill; āila — came; sabe — all; cāri-dike — all around; dhāñā — running.

Translation

Upon hearing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the Bhaṭṭathāris came running from all sides with weapons in their hands, desiring to hurt the Lord.

Bengali

তার অস্ত্র তার অঙ্গে পড়ে হাত হৈতে ।
খণ্ড খণ্ড হৈল ভট্টথারি পলায় চারি ভিতে ॥ ২৩২ ॥

Text

tāra astra tāra aṅge paḍe hāta haite
khaṇḍa khaṇḍa haila bhaṭṭathāri palāya cāri bhite

Synonyms

tāra astra — their weapons; tāra aṅge — on their bodies; paḍe — fall; hāta haite — from their hands; khaṇḍa khaṇḍa — cut into pieces; haila — became; bhaṭṭathāri — the nomads; palāya — run away; cāri bhite — in the four directions.

Translation

However, their weapons fell from their hands and struck their own bodies. When some of the Bhaṭṭathāris were thus cut to pieces, the others ran away in the four directions.

Bengali

ভট্টথারি-ঘরে মহা উঠিল ক্রন্দন ।
কেশে ধরি’ বিপ্রে লঞা করিল গমন ॥ ২৩৩ ॥

Text

bhaṭṭathāri-ghare mahā uṭhila krandana
keśe dhari’ vipre lañā karila gamana

Synonyms

bhaṭṭathāri-ghare — at the home of the Bhaṭṭathāris; mahā — great; uṭhila — there arose; krandana — crying; keśe dhari’ — catching by the hair; vipre — the brāhmaṇa Kṛṣṇadāsa; lañā — taking; karila — did; gamana — departure.

Translation

While there was much roaring and crying at the Bhaṭṭathāri community, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu grabbed Kṛṣṇadāsa by the hair and took him away.

Bengali

সেই দিন চলি’ আইলা পয়স্বিনী-তীরে ।
স্নান করি’ গেলা আদিকেশব-মন্দিরে ॥ ২৩৪ ॥

Text

sei dina cali’ āilā payasvinī-tīre
snāna kari’ gelā ādi-keśava-mandire

Synonyms

sei dina — on that very day; cali’ — walking; āilā — came; payasvinī-tīre — to the bank of the Payasvinī River; snāna kari’ — bathing; gelā — went; ādi-keśava-mandire — to the temple of Ādi-keśava.

Translation

That very night, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His assistant Kṛṣṇadāsa arrived at the bank of the Payasvinī River. They took their bath and then went to see the temple of Ādi-keśava.

Bengali

কেশব দেখিয়া প্রেমে আবিষ্ট হৈলা ।
নতি, স্তুতি, নৃত্য, গীত, বহুত করিলা ॥ ২৩৫ ॥

Text

keśava dekhiyā preme āviṣṭa hailā
nati, stuti, nṛtya, gīta, bahuta karilā

Synonyms

keśava dekhiyā — after seeing the Deity of Lord Keśava; preme — in ecstasy; āviṣṭa hailā — became overwhelmed; nati — obeisances; stuti — prayer; nṛtya — dancing; gīta — chanting; bahuta karilā — performed in various ways.

Translation

When the Lord saw the Ādi-keśava temple, He was immediately overwhelmed with ecstasy. Offering various obeisances and prayers, He chanted and danced.

Bengali

প্রেম দেখি’ লোকে হৈল মহা-চমৎকার ।
সর্বলোক কৈল প্রভুর পরম সৎকার ॥ ২৩৬ ॥

Text

prema dekhi’ loke haila mahā-camatkāra
sarva-loka kaila prabhura parama satkāra

Synonyms

prema dekhi’ — seeing His ecstatic features; loke — people; haila — became; mahā-camatkāra — greatly astonished; sarva-loka — all people; kaila — did; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; parama satkāra — great reception.

Translation

All the people there were greatly astonished to see the ecstatic pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. They all received the Lord very well.

Bengali

মহাভক্তগণসহ তাহাঁ গোষ্ঠী কৈল ।
‘ব্রহ্মসংহিতাধ্যায়’-পুঁথি তাহাঁ পাইল ॥ ২৩৭ ॥

Text

mahā-bhakta-gaṇa-saha tāhāṅ goṣṭhī kaila
‘brahma-saṁhitādhyāya’-puṅthi tāhāṅ pāila

Synonyms

mahā-bhakta-gaṇa-saha — among highly advanced devotees; tāhāṅ — there; goṣṭhī kaila — discussed; brahma-saṁhitā-adhyāya — one chapter of the Brahma-saṁhitā; puṅthi — scripture; tāhāṅ — there; pāila — found.

Translation

In the temple of Ādi-keśava, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu discussed spiritual matters among highly advanced devotees. While there, He found a chapter of the Brahma-saṁhitā.

Bengali

পুঁথি পাঞা প্রভুর হৈল আনন্দ অপার ।
কম্পাশ্রু-স্বেদ-স্তম্ভ-পুলক বিকার ॥ ২৩৮ ॥

Text

puṅthi pāñā prabhura haila ānanda apāra
kampāśru-sveda-stambha-pulaka vikāra

Synonyms

puṅthi pāñā — getting that scripture; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; haila — there was; ānanda — happiness; apāra — unlimited; kampa — trembling; aśru — tears; sveda — perspiration; stambha — being stunned; pulaka — jubilation; vikāra — transformations.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was greatly happy to find a chapter of that scripture, and symptoms of ecstatic transformation — trembling, tears, perspiration, trance and jubilation — were manifest in His body.

Bengali

সিদ্ধান্ত-শাস্ত্র নাহি ‘ব্রহ্মসংহিতা’র সম ।
গোবিন্দমহিমা জ্ঞানের পরম কারণ ॥ ২৩৯ ॥
অল্পাক্ষরে কহে সিদ্ধান্ত অপার ।
সকল-বৈষ্ণবশাস্ত্র-মধ্যে অতি সার ॥ ২৪০ ॥

Text

siddhānta-śāstra nāhi ‘brahma-saṁhitā’ra sama
govinda-mahimā jñānera parama kāraṇa
alpākṣare kahe siddhānta apāra
sakala-vaiṣṇava-śāstra-madhye ati sāra

Synonyms

siddhānta-śāstra — conclusive scripture; nāhi — there is not; brahma-saṁhitāra sama — like the scripture Brahma-saṁhitā; govinda-mahimā — of the glories of Lord Govinda; jñānera — of knowledge; parama — final; kāraṇa — cause; alpa-akṣare — briefly; kahe — expresses; siddhānta — conclusion; apāra — unlimited; sakala — all; vaiṣṇava-śāstra — devotional scriptures; madhye — among; ati sāra — very essential.

Translation

There is no scripture equal to the Brahma-saṁhitā as far as the final spiritual conclusion is concerned. Indeed, that scripture is the supreme revelation of the glories of Lord Govinda, for it reveals the topmost knowledge about Him. Since all conclusions are briefly presented in the Brahma-saṁhitā, it is essential among all the Vaiṣṇava literatures.

Purport

The Brahma-saṁhitā is a very important scripture. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu acquired the fifth chapter from the Ādi-keśava temple. In that fifth chapter, the philosophical conclusion of acintya-bhedābheda-tattva (simultaneous oneness and difference) is presented. The chapter also presents methods of devotional service, the eighteen-syllable Vedic hymn, discourses on the soul, the Supersoul and fruitive activity, an explanation of Kāma-gāyatrī, kāma-bīja and the original Mahā-Viṣṇu, and a detailed description of the spiritual world, specifically Goloka Vṛndāvana. The Brahma-saṁhitā also explains the demigod Gaṇeśa, Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, the origin of the Gāyatrī mantra, the form of Govinda and His transcendental position and abode, the living entities, the highest goal, the goddess Durgā, the meaning of austerity, the five gross elements, love of Godhead, impersonal Brahman, the initiation of Lord Brahmā, and the vision of transcendental love enabling one to see the Lord. The steps of devotional service are also explained. The mind, yoga-nidrā, the goddess of fortune, devotional service in spontaneous ecstasy, incarnations beginning with Lord Rāmacandra, Deities, the conditioned soul and its duties, the truth about Lord Viṣṇu, prayers, Vedic hymns, Lord Śiva, the Vedic literature, personalism and impersonalism, good behavior, and many other subjects are also discussed. There is also a description of the sun and the universal form of the Lord. All these subjects are conclusively explained in a nutshell in the Brahma-saṁhitā.

Bengali

বহু যত্নে সেই পুঁথি নিল লেখাইয়া ।
‘অনন্ত-পদ্মনাভ’ আইলা হরষিত হঞা ॥ ২৪১ ॥

Text

bahu yatne sei puṅthi nila lekhāiyā
‘ananta padmanābha’ āilā haraṣita hañā

Synonyms

bahu yatne — with great attention; sei puṅthi — that scripture; nila — took; lekhāiyā — having it copied; ananta-padmanābha — to Ananta Padmanābha; āilā — came; haraṣita — in great happiness; hañā — being.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu copied the Brahma-saṁhitā, and then with great pleasure He went to a place known as Ananta Padmanābha.

Purport

Concerning Ananta Padmanābha, one should refer to Madhya-līlā, chapter one, text 115.

Bengali

দিন-দুই পদ্মনাভের কৈল দরশন ।
আনন্দে দেখিতে আইলা শ্রীজনার্দন ॥ ২৪২ ॥

Text

dina-dui padmanābhera kaila daraśana
ānande dekhite āilā śrī-janārdana

Synonyms

dina-dui — two days; padmanābhera — of the Deity known as Padmanābha; kaila daraśana — visited the temple; ānande — in great ecstasy; dekhite — to see; āilā — came; śrī-janārdana — to the temple of Śrī Janārdana.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained for two or three days at Ananta Padmanābha and visited the temple there. Then, in great ecstasy He went to see the temple of Śrī Janārdana.

Purport

The temple of Śrī Janārdana is situated twenty-six miles north of Trivandrum, near the Varkala railway station.

Bengali

দিন-দুই তাহাঁ করি’ কীর্তন-নর্তন ।
পয়স্বিনী আসিয়া দেখে শঙ্কর নারায়ণ ॥ ২৪৩ ॥

Text

dina-dui tāhāṅ kari’ kīrtana-nartana
payasvinī āsiyā dekhe śaṅkara nārāyaṇa

Synonyms

dina-dui — two days; tāhāṅ — there; kari’ — performing; kīrtana-nartana — chanting and dancing; payasvinī āsiyā — coming to the bank of the Payasvinī River; dekhe — sees; śaṅkara nārāyaṇa — the temple of Śaṅkara-nārāyaṇa.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanted and danced at Śrī Janārdana for two days. He then went to the bank of the Payasvinī River and visited the temple of Śaṅkara-nārāyaṇa.

Bengali

শৃঙ্গেরি-মঠে আইলা শঙ্করাচার্য-স্থানে ।
মৎস্য-তীর্থ দেখি’ কৈল তুঙ্গভদ্রায় স্নানে ॥ ২৪৪ ॥

Text

śṛṅgeri-maṭhe āilā śaṅkarācārya-sthāne
matsya-tīrtha dekhi’ kaila tuṅgabhadrāya snāne

Synonyms

śṛṅgeri-maṭhe — to the Śṛṅgeri monastery; āilā — came; śaṅkarācārya-sthāne — at the place of Śaṅkarācārya; matsya-tīrtha — the holy place named Matsya-tīrtha; dekhi’ — seeing; kaila — did; tuṅgabhadrāya snāne — bathing in the river Tuṅgabhadrā.

Translation

Then He saw the monastery known as Śṛṅgeri-maṭha, the abode of Ācārya Śaṅkara. He then visited Matsya-tīrtha, a place of pilgrimage, and took a bath in the river Tuṅgabhadrā.

Purport

The monastery known as Śṛṅgeri-maṭha is situated in the state of Karnataka, in the district of Chikmagalur. This monastery is located at the confluence of the rivers Tuṅga and Bhadrā, seven miles south of Harihara-pura. The real name of this place is Śṛṅga-giri or Śṛṅgavera-purī, and it is the headquarters of Śaṅkarācārya.

Śaṅkarācārya had four principal disciples, and he established four centers under their management. In North India at Badarikāśrama, the monastery named Jyotir-maṭha was established. At Puruṣottama, the Bhogavardhana or Govardhana monastery was established. In Dvārakā, the Sāradā monastery was established. And the fourth monastery, established in South India, is known as Śṛṅgeri-maṭha. In the Śṛṅgeri-maṭha, the sannyāsīs assume the designations Sarasvatī, Bhāratī and Purī. They are all ekadaṇḍi-sannyāsīs, distinguished from the Vaiṣṇava sannyāsīs, who are known as tridaṇḍi-sannyāsīs. The Śṛṅgeri-maṭha is situated in South India, in a portion of the country comprising Āndhra, Draviḍa, Karṇāṭa and Kerala. The community is called Bhūrivāra, and the dynasty is called Bhūr-bhuvaḥ. The place is called Rāmeśvara, and the slogan is ahaṁ brahmāsmi. The Deity is Lord Varāha, and the energetic power is Kāmākṣī. The ācārya is Hastāmalaka, and the brahmacārī assistants of the sannyāsīs are known as Caitanya. The place of pilgrimage is called Tuṅgabhadrā, and the subject for Vedic study is the Yajur Veda.

The list of the disciplic succession from Śaṅkarācārya is available, and the names of the ācāryas and the dates of their accepting sannyāsa, according to the Śaka Era (or Śakābda), are as follows (for approximate Christian-era dates, add 78 years): Śaṅkarācārya, 622 Śaka; Sureśvarācārya, 630; Bodhanācārya, 680; Jñānadhanācārya, 768; Jñānottama-śivācārya, 827; Jñānagiri Ācārya, 871; Siṁhagiri Ācārya, 958; Īśvara Tīrtha, 1019; Narasiṁha Tīrtha, 1067; Vidyātīrtha Vidyā-śaṅkara, 1150; Bhāratī-kṛṣṇa Tīrtha, 1250; Vidyāraṇya Bhāratī, 1253; Candraśekhara Bhāratī, 1290; Narasiṁha Bhāratī, 1309; Puruṣottama Bhāratī, 1328; Śaṅkarānanda, 1350; Candraśekhara Bhāratī, 1371; Narasiṁha Bhāratī, 1386; Puruṣottama Bhāratī, 1398; Rāmacandra Bhāratī, 1430; Narasiṁha Bhāratī, 1479; Narasiṁha Bhāratī, 1485; Dhanamaḍi-narasiṁha Bhāratī, 1498; Abhinava-narasiṁha Bhāratī, 1521; Saccidānanda Bhāratī, 1544; Narasiṁha Bhāratī, 1585; Saccidānanda Bhāratī, 1627; Abhinava-saccidānanda Bhāratī, 1663; Nṛsiṁha Bhāratī, 1689; Saccidānanda Bhāratī, 1692; Abhinava-saccidānanda Bhāratī, 1730; Narasiṁha Bhāratī, 1739; Saccidānanda Śivābhinava Vidyā-narasiṁha Bhāratī, 1788.

Regarding Śaṅkarācārya, it is understood that he was born in the year 608 of the Śakābda Era, in the month of Vaiśākha, on the third day of the waxing moon, in a place in South India known as Kālāḍi. His father’s name was Śivaguru, and he lost his father at an early age. When Śaṅkarācārya was only eight years old, he completed his study of all scriptures and took sannyāsa from Govinda, who was residing on the banks of the Narmadā. After accepting sannyāsa, Śaṅkarācārya stayed with his spiritual master for some days. He then took his permission to go to Vārāṇasī, and from there he went to Badarikāśrama, where he stayed until his twelfth year. While there, he wrote a commentary on the Brahma-sūtra, as well as on ten Upaniṣads and the Bhagavad-gītā. He also wrote Sanat-sujātīya and a commentary on the Nṛsiṁha-tāpanī. Among his many disciples, his four chief disciples are Padmapāda, Sureśvara, Hastāmalaka and Troṭaka. After departing from Vārāṇasī, Śaṅkarācārya went to Prayāga, where he met a great learned scholar called Kumārila Bhaṭṭa. Śaṅkarācārya wanted to discuss the authority of the scriptures, but Kumārila Bhaṭṭa, being on his deathbed, sent him to his disciple Maṇḍana, in the city of Māhiṣmatī. It was there that Śaṅkarācārya defeated Maṇḍana Miśra in a discussion of the śāstras. Maṇḍana had a wife named Sarasvatī, or Ubhaya-bhāratī, who served as mediator between Śaṅkarācārya and her husband. It is said that she wanted to discuss erotic principles and amorous love with Śaṅkarācārya, but Śaṅkarācārya had been a brahmacārī since birth and therefore had no experience in amorous love. He took a month’s leave from Ubhaya-bhāratī and, by his mystic power, entered the body of a king who had just died. In this way Śaṅkarācārya experienced the erotic principles. After attaining this experience, he wanted to discuss erotic principles with Ubhaya-bhāratī, but without hearing his discussion she blessed him and assured the continuous existence of the Śṛṅgeri-maṭha. She then took leave of material life. Afterwards, Maṇḍana Miśra took the order of sannyāsa from Śaṅkarācārya and became known as Sureśvara. Śaṅkarācārya defeated many scholars throughout India and converted them to his Māyāvāda philosophy. He left his material body at the age of thirty-three.

As far as Matsya-tīrtha is concerned, it was supposedly situated beside the ocean in the district of Malabar.

Bengali

মধ্বাচার্য-স্থানে আইলা যাঁহা ‘তত্ত্ববাদী’ ।
উড়ুপীতে ‘কৃষ্ণ’ দেখি, তাহাঁ হৈল প্রেমোন্মাদী ॥ ২৪৫ ॥

Text

madhvācārya-sthāne āilā yāṅhā ‘tattvavādī’
uḍupīte ‘kṛṣṇa’ dekhi, tāhāṅ haila premonmādī

Synonyms

madhva-ācārya-sthāne — at the place of Madhvācārya; āilā — arrived; yāṅhā — where; tattva-vādī — philosophers known as Tattvavādīs; uḍupīte — at the place known as Uḍupī; kṛṣṇa — the Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa; dekhi — seeing; tāhāṅ — there; haila — became; prema-unmādī — mad in ecstasy.

Translation

Caitanya Mahāprabhu next arrived at Uḍupī, the place of Madhvācārya, where the philosophers known as Tattvavādīs resided. There He saw the Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa and became mad with ecstasy.

Purport

Śrīpāda Madhvācārya took his birth near Uḍupī, which is situated in the South Kanara district of South India, just west of Sahyādri. This is the chief city of the South Kanara province and is near the city of Mangalore, which is situated to the south of Uḍupī. Near the city of Uḍupī is a place called Pājakā-kṣetra, where Madhvācārya took his birth in a Śivāllī-brāhmaṇa dynasty as the son of Madhyageha Bhaṭṭa, in the year 1040 Śakābda (A.D. 1118). According to some, he was born in the year 1160 Śakābda (A.D. 1238).

In his childhood Madhvācārya was known as Vāsudeva, and there are some wonderful stories surrounding him. It is said that once when his father had piled up many debts, Madhvācārya converted tamarind seeds into actual coins to pay them off. When he was five years old, he was offered the sacred thread. A demon named Maṇimān lived near his abode in the form of a snake, and at the age of five Madhvācārya killed that snake with the toe of his left foot. When his mother was very much disturbed, he would appear before her in one jump. He was a great scholar even in childhood, and although his father did not agree, he accepted sannyāsa at the age of twelve. Upon receiving sannyāsa from Acyuta Prekṣa, he received the name Pūrṇaprajña Tīrtha. After traveling all over India, he finally discussed scriptures with Vidyāśaṅkara, the exalted leader of Śṛṅgeri-maṭha. Vidyāśaṅkara was actually diminished in the presence of Madhvācārya. Accompanied by Satya Tīrtha, Madhvācārya went to Badarikāśrama. It was there that he met Vyāsadeva and explained his commentary on the Bhagavad-gītā before him. Thus he became a great scholar by studying before Vyāsadeva.

By the time he came to the Ānanda-maṭha from Badarikāśrama, Madhvācārya had finished his commentary on the Bhagavad-gītā. His companion Satya Tīrtha wrote down the entire commentary. When Madhvācārya returned from Badarikāśrama, he went to Gañjāma, which is on the bank of the river Godāvarī. There he met with two learned scholars named Śobhana Bhaṭṭa and Svāmī Śāstrī. Later these scholars became known in the disciplic succession of Madhvācārya as Padmanābha Tīrtha and Narahari Tīrtha. When he returned to Uḍupī, he would sometimes bathe in the ocean. On such an occasion he composed a prayer in five chapters. Once, while sitting beside the sea engrossed in meditation upon Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, he saw that a large boat containing goods for Dvārakā was in danger. He gave some signs by which the boat could approach the shore, and it was saved. The owners of the boat wanted to give him a present, and at the time Madhvācārya agreed to take some gopī-candana. He received a big lump of gopī-candana, and as it was being brought to him, it broke apart and revealed a large Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa. The Deity had a stick in one hand and a lump of food in the other. As soon as Madhvācārya received the Deity of Kṛṣṇa in this way, he composed a prayer. The Deity was so heavy that not even thirty people could lift it. Yet Madhvācārya personally brought this Deity to Uḍupī. Eight of Madhvācārya’s sannyāsa disciples became directors of his eight monasteries. Worship of the Lord Kṛṣṇa Deity is still going on at Uḍupī according to the plans Madhvācārya established.

Madhvācārya then for the second time visited Badarikāśrama. While he was passing through Maharashtra, the local king was digging a big lake for the public benefit. As Madhvācārya passed through that area with his disciples, he was also obliged to help in the excavation. After some time, when Madhvācārya visited the king, he engaged the king in that work and departed with his disciples.

Often in the province of Gāṅga-pradeśa there were fights between Hindus and Muslims. The Hindus were on one bank of the river, and the Muslims on the other. Due to the community tension, no boat was available for crossing the river. The Muslim soldiers were always stopping passengers on the other side, but Madhvācārya did not care for these soldiers. He crossed the river anyway, and when he met the soldiers on the other side, he was brought before the king. The Muslim king was so pleased with him that he wanted to give him a kingdom and some money, but Madhvācārya refused. While walking on the road, he was attacked by some dacoits, but by his bodily strength he killed them all. When his companion Satya Tīrtha was attacked by a tiger, Madhvācārya separated them by virtue of his great strength. When he met Vyāsadeva, he received from him the śālagrāma-śilā known as Aṣṭamūrti. After this, he summarized the Mahābhārata.

Madhvācārya’s devotion to the Lord and his erudite scholarship became known throughout India. Consequently the owners of the Śṛṅgeri-maṭha, established by Śaṅkarācārya, became a little perturbed. At that time the followers of Śaṅkarācārya were afraid of Madhvācārya’s rising power, and they began to tease Madhvācārya’s disciples in many ways. There was even an attempt to prove that the disciplic succession of Madhvācārya was not in line with Vedic principles. A person named Puṇḍarīka Purī, a follower of the Māyāvāda philosophy of Śaṅkarācārya, came before Madhvācārya to discuss the śāstras. It is said that all of Madhvācārya’s books were taken away, but later they were found with the help of King Jayasiṁha, ruler of Kumla. In discussion, Puṇḍarīka Purī was defeated by Madhvācārya. A great personality named Trivikramācārya, who was a resident of Viṣṇumaṅgala, became Madhvācārya’s disciple, and his son later became Nārāyaṇācārya, the composer of Śrī Madhva-vijaya. After the death of Trivikramācārya, the younger brother of Nārāyaṇācārya took sannyāsa and later became known as Viṣṇu Tīrtha.

It was reputed that there was no limit to the bodily strength of Pūrṇaprajña, Madhvācārya. There was a person named Kaḍañjari who was famed for possessing the strength of thirty men. Madhvācārya placed the big toe of his foot upon the ground and asked the man to separate it from the ground, but the great strong man could not do so even after great effort. Śrīla Madhvācārya passed from this material world at the age of eighty while writing a commentary on the Aitareya Upaniṣad. For further information about Madhvācārya, one should read Madhva-vijaya, by Nārāyaṇācārya.

The ācāryas of the Madhva-sampradāya established Uḍupī as the chief center, and the monastery there was known as Uttararāḍhī-maṭha. A list of the different centers of the Madhvācārya-sampradāya can be found at Uḍupī, and their maṭha commanders are (1) Viṣṇu Tīrtha (Śoda-maṭha), (2) Janārdana Tīrtha (Kṛṣṇapura-maṭha) (3) Vāmana Tīrtha (Kanura-maṭha), (4) Narasiṁha Tīrtha (Adamara-maṭha), (5) Upendra Tīrtha (Puttugī-maṭha), (6) Rāma Tīrtha (Śirura-maṭha), (7) Hṛṣīkeśa Tīrtha (Palimara-maṭha), and (8) Akṣobhya Tīrtha (Pejāvara-maṭha). The disciplic succession of the Madhvācārya-sampradāya is as follows (the dates are those of birth in the Śakābda Era; for Christian era dates, add seventy-eight years.): (1) Haṁsa Paramātmā; (2) Caturmukha Brahmā; (3) Sanakādi; (4) Durvāsā; (5) Jñānanidhi; (6) Garuḍa-vāhana; (7) Kaivalya Tīrtha; (8) Jñāneśa Tīrtha; (9) Para Tīrtha; (10) Satyaprajña Tīrtha; (11) Prājña Tīrtha; (12) Acyuta Prekṣācārya Tīrtha; (13) Śrī Madhvācārya, 1040 Śaka; (14) Padmanābha, 1120; Narahari, 1127; Mādhava, 1136; and Akṣobhya 1159; (15) Jaya Tīrtha, 1167; (16) Vidyādhirāja, 1190; (17) Kavīndra, 1255; (18) Vāgīśa, 1261; (19) Rāmacandra, 1269; (20) Vidyānidhi, 1298; (21) Śrī Raghunātha, 1366; (22) Rayuvarya (who spoke with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu), 1424; (23) Raghūttama, 1471; (24) Vedavyāsa, 1517; (25) Vidyādhīśa, 1541; (26) Vedanidhi, 1553; (27) Satyavrata, 1557; (28) Satyanidhi, 1560;(29) Satyanātha, 1582; (30) Satyābhinava, 1595; (31) Satyapūrṇa, 1628; (32) Satyavijaya, 1648; (33) Satyapriya, 1659; (34) Satyabodha, 1666; (35) Satyasandha, 1705; (36) Satyavara, 1716; (37) Satyadharma, 1719; (38) Satyasaṅkalpa, 1752; (39) Satyasantuṣṭa, 1763; (40) Satyaparāyaṇa, 1763; (41) Satyakāma, 1785; (42) Satyeṣṭa, 1793; (43) Satyaparākrama, 1794; (44) Satyadhīra, 1801; (45) Satyadhīra Tīrtha, 1808.

After the sixteenth ācārya (Vidyādhirāja Tīrtha), there was another disciplic succession, including Rājendra Tīrtha, 1254; Vijayadhvaja; Puruṣottama; Subrahmaṇya; and Vyāsa Rāya, 1470-1520. The nineteenth ācārya, Rāmacandra Tīrtha, had another disciplic succession, including Vibudhendra, 1218; Jitāmitra, 1348; Raghunandana; Surendra; Vijendra; Sudhīndra; and Rāghavendra Tīrtha, 1545.

To date, in the Uḍupī monastery there are another fourteen Madhva-tīrtha sannyāsīs. As stated, Uḍupī is situated beside the sea in South Kanara, about thirty-six miles north of Mangalore.

Most of the information in this purport is available from the South Kānāḍā Manual and the Bombay Gazette.

Bengali

নর্তক গোপাল দেখে পরম-মোহনে ।
মধ্বাচার্যে স্বপ্ন দিয়া আইলা তাঁর স্থানে ॥ ২৪৬ ॥

Text

nartaka gopāla dekhe parama-mohane
madhvācārye svapna diyā āilā tāṅra sthāne

Synonyms

nartaka gopāla — dancing Gopāla; dekhe — saw; parama-mohane — most beautiful; madhva-ācārye — unto Madhvācārya; svapna diyā — appearing in a dream; āilā — came; tāṅra — his; sthāne — to the place.

Translation

While at the Uḍupī monastery, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw “dancing Gopāla,” a most beautiful Deity. This Deity appeared to Madhvācārya in a dream.

Bengali

গোপীচন্দন-তলে আছিল ডিঙ্গাতে ।
মধ্বাচার্য সেই কৃষ্ণ পাইলা কোনমতে ॥ ২৪৭ ॥

Text

gopī-candana-tale āchila ḍiṅgāte
madhvācārya sei kṛṣṇa pāilā kona-mate

Synonyms

gopī-candana-tale — under heaps of gopī-candana (yellowish clay used for tilaka); āchila — came; ḍiṅgāte — in a boat; madhva-ācārya — Madhvācārya; sei kṛṣṇa — that Kṛṣṇa Deity; pāilā — got; kona-mate — somehow or other.

Translation

Madhvācārya had somehow or other acquired the Deity of Kṛṣṇa from a heap of gopī-candana that had been transported in a boat.

Bengali

মধ্বাচার্য আনি’ তাঁরে করিলা স্থাপন ।
অদ্যাবধি সেবা করে তত্ত্ববাদিগণ ॥ ২৪৮ ॥

Text

madhvācārya āni’ tāṅre karilā sthāpana
adyāvadhi sevā kare tattvavādi-gaṇa

Synonyms

madhva-ācārya — Madhvācārya; āni’ — bringing; tāṅre — Him; karilā sthāpana — installed; adya-avadhi — to date; sevā kare — worship; tattvavādi-gaṇa — the Tattvavādīs.

Translation

Madhvācārya brought this dancing Gopāla Deity to Uḍupī and installed Him in the temple. To date, the followers of Madhvācārya, known as Tattvavādīs, worship this Deity.

Bengali

কৃষ্ণমূর্তি দেখি’ প্রভু মহাসুখ পাইল ।
প্রেমাবেশে বহুক্ষণ নৃত্য-গীত কৈল ॥ ২৪৯ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇa-mūrti dekhi’ prabhu mahā-sukha pāila
premāveśe bahu-kṣaṇa nṛtya-gīta kaila

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa-mūrti dekhi’ — seeing the Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; mahā-sukha — great happiness; pāila — got; prema-āveśe — in ecstatic love; bahu-kṣaṇa — for a long time; nṛtya-gīta — dancing and singing; kaila — performed.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu received great pleasure in seeing this beautiful form of Gopāla. For a long time He danced and chanted in ecstatic love.

Bengali

তত্ত্ববাদিগণ প্ৰভুকে ‘মায়াবাদী’ জ্ঞানে ।
প্রথম দর্শনে প্রভুকে না কৈল সম্ভাষণে ॥ ২৫০ ॥

Text

tattvavādi-gaṇa prabhuke ‘māyāvādī’ jñāne
prathama darśane prabhuke nā kaila sambhāṣaṇe

Synonyms

tattvavādi-gaṇa — the Tattvavādīs; prabhuke — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; māyāvādī jñāne — considering as a Māyāvādī sannyāsī; prathama darśane — in the first meeting; prabhuke — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; — did not; kaila — do; sambhāṣaṇe — addressing.

Translation

When the Tattvavādī Vaiṣṇavas first saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they considered Him a Māyāvādī sannyāsī. Therefore they did not talk to Him.

Bengali

পাছে প্রেমাবেশ দেখি’ হৈল চমৎকার ।
বৈষ্ণব-জ্ঞানে বহুত করিল সৎকার ॥ ২৫১ ॥

Text

pāche premāveśa dekhi’ haila camatkāra
vaiṣṇava-jñāne bahuta karila satkāra

Synonyms

pāche — later; prema-āveśa — ecstatic love; dekhi’ — seeing; haila camatkāra — became struck with wonder; vaiṣṇava-jñāne — understanding as a Vaiṣṇava; bahuta — much; karila — did; satkāra — reception.

Translation

Later, after seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in ecstatic love, they were struck with wonder. Then, considering Him a Vaiṣṇava, they gave Him a nice reception.

Bengali

‘বৈষ্ণবতা’ সবার অন্তরে গর্ব জানি’ ।
ঈষৎ হাসিয়া কিছু কহে গৌরমণি ॥ ২৫২ ॥

Text

‘vaiṣṇavatā’ sabāra antare garva jāni’
īṣat hāsiyā kichu kahe gauramaṇi

Synonyms

vaiṣṇavatā — Vaiṣṇavism; sabāra — of all of them; antare — within the mind; garva — pride; jāni’ — knowing; īṣat — mildly; hāsiyā — smiling; kichu — something; kahe — says; gaura-maṇi — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could understand that the Tattvavādīs were very proud of their Vaiṣṇavism. He therefore smiled and began to speak to them.

Bengali

তাঁ-সবার অন্তরে গর্ব জানি গৌরচন্দ্র ।
তাঁ-সবা-সঙ্গে গোষ্ঠী করিলা আরম্ভ ॥ ২৫৩ ॥

Text

tāṅ-sabāra antare garva jāni gauracandra
tāṅ-sabā-saṅge goṣṭhī karilā ārambha

Synonyms

tāṅ-sabāra — of all of them; antare — within the mind; garva — pride; jāni — knowing; gaura-candra — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅ-sabā-saṅge — with them; goṣṭhī — discussion; karilā — made; ārambha — beginning.

Translation

Considering them very proud, Caitanya Mahāprabhu began His discussion.

Bengali

তত্ত্ববাদী আচার্য — সব শাস্ত্রেতে প্রবীণ ।
তাঁরে প্রশ্ন কৈল প্রভু হঞা যেন দীন ॥ ২৫৪ ॥

Text

tattvavādī ācārya — saba śāstrete pravīṇa
tāṅre praśna kaila prabhu hañā yena dīna

Synonyms

tattvavādī ācārya — the chief preacher of the Tattvavāda community; saba — all; śāstrete — in revealed scriptures; pravīṇa — experienced; tāṅre — unto him; praśna — question; kaila — did; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; hañā — becoming; yena — as if; dīna — very humble.

Translation

The chief ācārya of the Tattvavāda community was very learned in the revealed scriptures. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu humbly questioned him.

Bengali

সাধ্য-সাধন আমি না জানি ভালমতে ।
সাধ্য-সাধন-শ্রেষ্ঠ জানাহ আমাতে ॥ ২৫৫ ॥

Text

sādhya-sādhana āmi nā jāni bhāla-mate
sādhya-sādhana-śreṣṭha jānāha āmāte

Synonyms

sādhya-sādhana — the aim of life and how to achieve it; āmi — I; — not; jāni — know; bhāla-mate — very well; sādhya-sādhana — the aim of life and how to achieve it; śreṣṭha — the best; jānāha — kindly explain; āmāte — unto Me.

Translation

Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “I do not know very well the aim of life and how to achieve it. Please tell Me of the best ideal for humanity and how to attain it.”

Bengali

আচার্য কহে, — ‘বর্ণাশ্রম-ধর্ম, কৃষ্ণে সমর্পণ’ ।
এই হয় কৃষ্ণভক্তের শ্রেষ্ঠ ‘সাধন’ ॥ ২৫৬ ॥

Text

ācārya kahe,‘varṇāśrama-dharma, kṛṣṇe samarpaṇa’
ei haya kṛṣṇa-bhaktera śreṣṭha ‘sādhana’

Synonyms

ācārya kahe — the ācārya said; varṇa-āśrama-dharma — the institution of four castes and four āśramas; kṛṣṇe — unto Kṛṣṇa; samarpaṇa — to dedicate; ei haya — this is; kṛṣṇa-bhaktera — of the devotee of Kṛṣṇa; śreṣṭha sādhana — the best means of achievement.

Translation

The ācārya replied, “When the activities of the four castes and the four āśramas are dedicated to Kṛṣṇa, they constitute the best means whereby one can attain the highest goal of life.

Bengali

‘পঞ্চবিধ মুক্তি’ পাঞা বৈকুণ্ঠে গমন ।
‘সাধ্য-শ্রেষ্ঠ’ হয়, — এই শাস্ত্র-নিরূপণ ॥ ২৫৭ ॥

Text

‘pañca-vidha mukti’ pāñā vaikuṇṭhe gamana
‘sādhya-śreṣṭha’ haya, — ei śāstra-nirūpaṇa

Synonyms

pañca-vidha mukti — five kinds of liberation; pāñā — getting; vaikuṇṭhe — to the spiritual world; gamana — transference; sādhya-śreṣṭha haya — is the highest achievement of the goal of life; ei — this; śāstra-nirūpaṇa — the verdict of all revealed scriptures.

Translation

“When one dedicates the duties of varṇāśrama-dharma to Kṛṣṇa, he is eligible for five kinds of liberation. Thus he is transferred to the spiritual world in Vaikuṇṭha. This is the highest goal of life and the verdict of all revealed scriptures.”

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — শাস্ত্রে কহে শ্রবণ-কীর্তন ।
কৃষ্ণপ্রেমসেবা-ফলের ‘পরম সাধন’ ॥ ২৫৮ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe,śāstre kahe śravaṇa-kīrtana
kṛṣṇa-prema-sevā-phalera ‘parama-sādhana’

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; śāstre kahe — in the śāstra it is said; śravaṇa-kīrtana — the process of chanting and hearing; kṛṣṇa-prema-sevā — of loving service to Lord Kṛṣṇa; phalera — of the result; parama-sādhana — best process of achievement.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “According to the verdict of the śāstras, the process of hearing and chanting is the best means to attain loving service to Kṛṣṇa.

Purport

According to the Tattvavādīs, the best process for achieving the highest goal of life is to execute the duties of the four varṇas and āśramas. In the material world, unless one is situated in one of the varṇas (brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra) one cannot manage social affairs properly to attain the ultimate goal. One also has to follow the principles of the āśramas (brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa), since these principles are considered essential for the attainment of the highest goal. In this way the Tattvavādīs establish that the execution of the principles of varṇa and āśrama for the sake of Kṛṣṇa is the best way to attain the topmost goal. The Tattvavādīs thus established their principles in terms of human society. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, differed when He said that the best process is hearing and chanting about Lord Viṣṇu. According to the Tattvavādīs, the highest goal is returning home, back to Godhead, but in Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s opinion the highest goal is attaining love of Godhead, in either the material world or the spiritual world. In the material world this is practiced according to śāstric injunction, and in the spiritual world the real achievement is already there.

Bengali

শ্রবণং কীর্তনং বিষ্ণোঃ স্মরণং পাদসেবনম্ ।
অর্চনং বন্দনং দাস্যং সখ্যমাত্মনিবেদনম্ ॥ ২৫৯ ॥
ইতি পুংসার্পিতা বিষ্ণৌ ভক্তিশ্চেন্নবলক্ষণা ।
ক্রিয়েত ভগবত্যদ্ধা তন্মন্যেঽধীতমুত্তমম্ ॥ ২৬০ ॥

Text

śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ
sakhyam ātma-nivedanam
iti puṁsārpitā viṣṇau
bhaktiś cen nava-lakṣaṇā
kriyeta bhagavaty addhā
tan manye ’dhītam uttamam

Synonyms

śravaṇam — hearing of the holy name, form, qualities, entourage and pastimes, all of which must pertain to Lord Viṣṇu; kīrtanam — vibrating transcendental sounds pertaining to the holy name, form, qualities and entourage, and inquiring about them (these also should be only in relationship to Viṣṇu); viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; smaraṇam — remembering the holy name, form and entourage, and inquiring about them, also only for Viṣṇu; pāda-sevanam — executing devotional service according to time, circumstances and situation, only in relationship with Viṣṇu; arcanam — worshiping the Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Lord Rāmacandra, Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa or the other forms of Viṣṇu; vandanam — offering prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; dāsyam — always thinking oneself an eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sakhyam — making friends with the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ātma-nivedanam — dedicating everything (body, mind and soul) for the service of the Lord; iti — thus; puṁsā — by the human being; arpitā — dedicated; viṣṇau — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu; bhaktiḥ — devotional service; cet — if; nava-lakṣaṇā — possessing nine different systems, as above mentioned; kriyeta — one should execute; bhagavati — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; addhā — directly (not indirectly through karma, jñāna or yoga); tat — that; manye — I understand; adhītam — studied; uttamam — first class.

Translation

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

Purport

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu quoted these verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.23-24).

Bengali

শ্রবণ-কীর্তন হইতে কৃষ্ণে হয় ‘প্রেমা’ ।
সেই পঞ্চম পুরুষার্থ — পুরুষার্থের সীমা ॥ ২৬১ ॥

Text

śravaṇa-kīrtana ha-ite kṛṣṇe haya ‘premā’
sei pañcama puruṣārtha
puruṣārthera sīmā

Synonyms

śravaṇa-kīrtana — hearing and chanting; ha-ite — from; kṛṣṇe — unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; haya — there is; premā — transcendental love; sei — that; pañcama puruṣa-artha — the fifth platform of perfection of life; puruṣa-arthera sīmā — the limit of goals of life.

Translation

“When one comes to the platform of loving service to Lord Kṛṣṇa by executing these nine processes, beginning with hearing and chanting, he has attained the fifth platform of success and the limit of life’s goals.

Purport

Everyone is after success in religion, economic development, sense gratification and ultimately merging into the existence of Brahman. These are the general practices of the common man, but according to the strict principles of the Vedas, the highest attainment is to rise to the platform of śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam, hearing and chanting about the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.1.2):

dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo ’tra paramo nirmatsarāṇāṁ satāṁ
vedyaṁ vāstavam atra vastu śiva-daṁ tāpa-trayonmūlanam
śrīmad-bhāgavate mahā-muni-kṛte kiṁ vā parair īśvaraḥ
sadyo hṛdy avarudhyate ’tra kṛtibhiḥ śuśrūṣubhis tat-kṣaṇāt

“Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhāgavata Purāṇa propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries. This beautiful Bhāgavatam, compiled by the great sage Śrī Vyāsadeva, is sufficient in itself for God realization. What is the need of any other scripture? As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhāgavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart.” This verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam rejects as cheating processes all religious activities that aim at achieving materialistic goals, including dharma, artha, kāma and even mokṣa, or liberation.

According to Śrīdhara Svāmī, the material conception of success (mokṣa, or liberation) is desired by those in material existence. Devotees, however, not being situated in material existence, have no desire for liberation.

A devotee is always liberated in all stages of life because he is always engaged in the nine items of devotional service (śravaṇam, kīrtanam, etc.). Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s philosophy holds that devotional service to Kṛṣṇa always exists in everyone’s heart. It simply has to be awakened by the process of śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ. Śravaṇādi śuddha-citte karaye udaya (Cc. Madhya 22.107). When a person is actually engaged in devotional service, his eternal relationship with the Lord, the servant-master relationship, is awakened.

Bengali

এবংব্রতঃ স্বপ্রিয়নাম-কীর্ত্যা
জাতানুরাগো দ্রুতচিত্ত উচ্চৈঃ ।
হসত্যথো রোদিতি রৌতি গায়-
ত্যুন্মাদবন্নৃত্যতি লোকবাহ্যঃ ॥ ২৬২ ॥

Text

evaṁ-vrataḥ sva-priya-nāma-kīrtyā
jātānurāgo druta-citta uccaiḥ
hasaty atho roditi rauti gāyaty
unmāda-van nṛtyati loka-bāhyaḥ

Synonyms

evam-vrataḥ — when one thus engages in a vow to chant and dance; sva — own; priya — very dear; nāma — holy name; kīrtyā — by chanting; jāta — in this way develops; anurāgaḥ — attachment; druta-cittaḥ — very eagerly; uccaiḥ — loudly; hasati — laughs; atho — also; roditi — cries; rauti — becomes agitated; gāyati — chants; unmāda-vat — like a madman; nṛtyati — dances; loka-bāhyaḥ — without caring for outsiders.

Translation

“ ‘When a person is actually advanced and takes pleasure in chanting the holy name of the Lord, who is very dear to him, he is agitated and loudly chants the holy name. He also laughs, cries, becomes agitated and chants just like a madman, not caring for outsiders.’

Purport

This verse is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.40).

Bengali

কর্মনিন্দা, কর্মত্যাগ, সর্বশাস্ত্রে কহে ।
কর্ম হৈতে প্রেমভক্তি কৃষ্ণে কভু নহে ॥ ২৬৩ ॥

Text

karma-nindā, karma-tyāga, sarva-śāstre kahe
karma haite prema-bhakti kṛṣṇe kabhu nahe

Synonyms

karma-nindā — condemnation of fruitive activities; karma-tyāga — renunciation of fruitive activities; sarva-śāstre kahe — is announced in every revealed scripture; karma haite — from fruitive activities; prema-bhakti — devotional service in ecstatic love; kṛṣṇe — for Kṛṣṇa; kabhu nahe — can never be achieved.

Translation

“In every revealed scripture there is condemnation of fruitive activities. It is advised everywhere to give up engagement in fruitive activities, for no one can attain the highest goal of life, love of Godhead, by executing them.

Purport

In the Vedas there are three kāṇḍas, or divisions: karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa and upāsanā-kāṇḍa. The karma-kāṇḍa portion stresses the execution of fruitive activities. But ultimately it is advised that one abandon both karma-kāṇḍa and jñāna-kāṇḍa (speculative knowledge) and accept only upāsanā-kāṇḍa, or bhakti-kāṇḍa. One cannot attain love of Godhead by executing karma-kāṇḍa or jñāna-kāṇḍa. But by dedicating one’s karma, or fruitive activities, to the Supreme Lord, one may be relieved from the polluted mind, and becoming free from mental pollution helps elevate one to the spiritual platform. Then, however, one needs the association of a pure devotee, for only by a pure devotee’s association can one become a pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. When one comes to the stage of pure devotional service, the process of śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam is very essential. By executing the nine items of devotional service, beginning with śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam, one is completely purified. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam (Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.1.11). Only then is one able to execute Kṛṣṇa’s orders in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.65, 66):

man-manā bhava mad-bhaktomad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyam te
pratijāne priyo ’si me
sarva-dharmān parityajyamām ekaṁ śaranaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ

“Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend. Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” In this way one develops his original constitutional position of rendering loving service to the Lord.

One cannot be elevated to the highest platform of devotional service by karma-kāṇḍa or jñāna-kāṇḍa. Pure devotional service can be understood and attained only through the association of pure devotees. In this regard, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura states that there are two types of karma-kāṇḍa activities — pious and impious. Pious activities are certainly better than impious activities, but even pious activities cannot bring about ecstatic love of God, Kṛṣṇa. Pious and impious activities can bring about material happiness and distress, but there is no possibility of one’s becoming a pure devotee simply by acting piously or impiously. Bhakti, devotional service, means satisfying Kṛṣṇa. In every revealed scripture, whether stressing jñāna-kāṇḍa or karma-kāṇḍa, the principle of renunciation is always praised. The ripened fruit of Vedic knowledge, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, is the supreme Vedic evidence. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.12) it is said:

naiṣkarmyam apy acyuta-bhāva-varjitaṁ
na śobhate jñānam alaṁ nirañjanam
kutaḥ punaḥ śaśvad abhadram īśvare
na cārpitaṁ karma yad apy akāraṇam

“Knowledge of self-realization, even though freed from all material affinity, does not look well if devoid of a conception of the Infallible [God]. What, then, is the use of fruitive activities, which are naturally painful from the very beginning and transient by nature, if they are not utilized for the devotional service of the Lord?” This means that even knowledge, which is superior to fruitive activity, is not successful if it is devoid of devotional service. Therefore in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam — in the beginning, middle and end — karma-kāṇḍa and jñāna-kāṇḍa are condemned. For example, in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.2 it is said, dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo ’tra.

This is explained in the following verses taken from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.11.32) and the Bhagavad-gītā (18.66).

Bengali

আজ্ঞায়ৈবং গুণান্ দোষান্ময়াদিষ্টানপি স্বকান্ ।
ধর্মান্ সন্ত্যজ্য যঃ সর্বান্মাং ভজেৎ স চ সত্তমঃ ॥ ২৬৪ ॥

Text

ājñāyaivaṁ guṇān doṣān
mayādiṣṭān api svakān
dharmān santyajya yaḥ sarvān
māṁ bhajet sa ca sattamaḥ

Synonyms

ājñāya — knowing perfectly; evam — thus; guṇān — qualities; doṣān — faults; mayā — by Me; ādiṣṭān — instructed; api — although; svakān — own; dharmān — occupational duties; santyajya — giving up; yaḥ — anyone who; sarvān — all; mām — unto Me; bhajet — may render service; saḥ — he; ca — and; sat-tamaḥ — first-class person.

Translation

“ ‘Occupational duties are described in the religious scriptures. If one analyzes them, he can fully understand their qualities and faults and then give them up completely to render service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A person who does so is considered a first-class man.’

Bengali

সর্বধর্মান্ পরিত্যজ্য মামেকং শরণং ব্রজ ।
অহং ত্বাং সর্বপাপেভ্যো মোক্ষয়িষ্যামি মা শুচঃ ॥ ২৬৫ ॥

Text

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

Synonyms

sarva-dharmān — all kinds of occupational duties; parityajya — giving up; mām ekam — unto Me only; śaraṇam — as shelter; vraja — go; aham — I; tvām — unto you; sarva-pāpebhyaḥ — from all the reactions of sinful life; mokṣayiṣyāmi — will give liberation; — do not; śucaḥ — worry.

Translation

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

Bengali

তাবৎ কর্মাণি কুর্বীত ন নির্বিদ্যেত যাবতা ।
মৎকথা-শ্রবণাদৌ বা শ্রদ্ধা যাবন্ন জায়তে ॥ ২৬৬ ॥

Text

tāvat karmāṇi kurvīta
na nirvidyeta yāvatā
mat-kathā-śravaṇādau vā
śraddhā yāvan na jāyate

Synonyms

tāvat — up to that time; karmāṇi — fruitive activities; kurvīta — one should execute; na nirvidyeta — is not satiated; yāvatā — as long as; mat-kathā — of discourses about Me; śravaṇa-ādau — in the matter of śravaṇam, kīrtanam, and so on; — or; śraddhā — faith; yāvat — as long as; na — not; jāyate — is awakened.

Translation

“ ‘As long as one is not satiated by fruitive activity and has not awakened his taste for devotional service by śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ, one has to act according to the regulative principles of the Vedic injunctions.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.20.9).

Bengali

পঞ্চবিধ মুক্তি ত্যাগ করে ভক্তগণ ।
ফল্গু করি’ ‘মুক্তি’ দেখে নরকের সম ॥ ২৬৭ ॥

Text

pañca-vidha mukti tyāga kare bhakta-gaṇa
phalgu kari’ ‘mukti’ dekhe narakera sama

Synonyms

pañca-vidha — five kinds of; mukti — liberation; tyāga kare — give up; bhakta-gaṇa — devotees; phalgu — insignificant; kari’ — considering; mukti — liberation; dekhe — see; narakera — to hell; sama — equal.

Translation

“Pure devotees reject the five kinds of liberation; indeed, for them liberation is very insignificant because they see it as hellish.

Bengali

সালোক্য-সার্ষ্টি-সামীপ্য-সারূপ্যৈকত্বমপ্যুত ।
দীয়মানং ন গৃহ্ণন্তি বিনা মৎসেবনং জনাঃ ॥ ২৬৮ ॥

Text

sālokya-sārṣṭi-sāmīpya-
sārūpyaikatvam apy uta
dīyamānaṁ na gṛhnanti
vinā mat-sevanaṁ janāḥ

Synonyms

sālokya — to live on the same planet as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sārṣṭi — to possess opulence equal to the Lord’s; sāmīpya — to always associate with the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sārūpya — to possess bodily features like the Lord’s; ekatvam — to merge into the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; api — even; uta — certainly; dīyamānam — being offered; na — never; gṛhṇanti — accept; vinā — without; mat — My; sevanam — devotional service; janāḥ — devotees.

Translation

“ ‘Pure devotees always reject the five kinds of liberation, which include living in the spiritual Vaikuṇṭha planets, possessing the same opulences as those possessed by the Supreme Lord, having the same bodily features as the Lord’s, associating with the Lord and merging into the body of the Lord. The pure devotees do not accept these benedictions without the service of the Lord.’

Purport

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.29.13).

Bengali

যো দুস্ত্যজান্ ক্ষিতিসুতস্বজনার্থদারান্
প্রার্থ্যাং শ্রিয়ং সুরবরৈঃ সদয়াবলোকাম্ ।
নৈচ্ছন্‌নৃপস্তদুচিতং মহতাং মধুদ্বিট্-
সেবানুরক্তমনসামভবোঽপি ফল্গুঃ ॥ ২৬৯ ॥

Text

yo dustyajān kṣiti-suta-svajanārtha-dārān
prārthyāṁ śriyaṁ sura-varaiḥ sadayāvalokām
naicchan nṛpas tad ucitaṁ mahatāṁ madhu-dviṭ-
sevānurakta-manasām abhavo ’pi phalguḥ

Synonyms

yaḥ — one who; dustyajān — very difficult to give up; kṣiti — land; suta — children; svajana — relatives; artha — riches; dārān — and wife; prārthyām — desirable; śriyam — fortune; sura-varaiḥ — by the best of the demigods; sa-dayā — merciful; avalokām — whose glance; na aicchat — did not desire; nṛpaḥ — the King (Mahārāja Bharata); tat — that; ucitam — is befitting; mahatām — of great personalities; madhu-dviṭ — of the killer of the demon Madhu; sevā-anurakta — engaged in the service; manasām — the minds of whom; abhavaḥ — cessation of the repetition of birth and death; api — even; phalguḥ — insignificant.

Translation

“ ‘It is very difficult to give up material opulence, land, children, society, friends, riches, wife or the blessings of the goddess of fortune, which are desired even by great demigods. But King Bharata did not desire such things, and this was quite befitting his position, because for a pure devotee whose mind is always engaged in the service of the Lord, even liberation, or merging into the existence of the Lord, is insignificant. And what to speak of material opportunities?’

Purport

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.14.44) concerning the glorification of King Bharata, whom Śukadeva Gosvāmī was describing to King Parīkṣit.

Bengali

নারায়ণপরাঃ সর্বে ন কুতশ্চন বিভ্যতি ।
স্বর্গাপবর্গনরকেষ্বপি তুল্যার্থদর্শিনঃ ॥ ২৭০ ॥

Text

nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve
na kutaścana bibhyati
svargāpavarga-narakeṣv
api tulyārtha-darśinaḥ

Synonyms

nārāyaṇa-parāḥ — persons who are devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Nārāyaṇa; sarve — all; na — never; kutaścana — anywhere; bibhyati — are afraid; svarga — in the heavenly planetary system; apavarga — on the path of liberation; narakeṣu — or in a hellish condition of life; api — even; tulya — equal; artha — value; darśinaḥ — seers of.

Translation

“ ‘A person who is a devotee of Lord Nārāyaṇa is not afraid of a hellish condition, because he considers it the same as elevation to the heavenly planets or liberation. The devotees of Lord Nārāyaṇa are accustomed to seeing all these things on the same level.’

Purport

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.17.28) regarding the personality Citraketu. Once when Citraketu saw the goddess Pārvatī sitting on the lap of Lord Śambhu (Śiva), he criticized Lord Śiva for being shameless and sitting just like an ordinary man with his wife on his lap. For this reason Citraketu was cursed by Pārvatī. Later he became a demon named Vṛtrāsura. Citraketu was a very powerful king and a devotee, and he could certainly retaliate even against Lord Śiva, but when Pārvatī cursed him, he immediately accepted the curse with a bowed head. When he agreed to accept this curse, Lord Śiva praised him and told Pārvatī that a devotee of Lord Nārāyaṇa is never afraid of accepting any position provided there is a chance to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the purport of nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve na kutaścana bibhyati.

Bengali

মুক্তি, কর্ম — দুই বস্তু ত্যজে ভক্তগণ ।
সেই দুই স্থাপ’ তুমি ‘সাধ্য’, ‘সাধন’ ॥ ২৭১ ॥

Text

mukti, karma — dui vastu tyaje bhakta-gaṇa
sei dui sthāpa’ tumi ‘sādhya’, ‘sādhana’

Synonyms

mukti — liberation; karma — fruitive activities; dui — two; vastu — things; tyaje — give up; bhakta-gaṇa — the devotees; sei — those; dui — two; sthāpa’ — establish; tumi — you; sādhya — the goal of life; sādhana — the process of achievement.

Translation

“Both liberation and fruitive activity are rejected by devotees. You are trying to establish these things as life’s goal and the process for attaining it.”

Bengali

সন্ন্যাসী দেখিয়া মোরে করহ বঞ্চন ।
না কহিলা তেঞি সাধ্য-সাধন-লক্ষণ ॥ ২৭২ ॥

Text

sannyāsī dekhiyā more karaha vañcana
nā kahilā teñi sādhya-sādhana-lakṣaṇa

Synonyms

sannyāsī — a person in the renounced order of life; dekhiyā — seeing; more — unto Me; karaha — you do; vañcana — duplicity; kahilā — did not describe; teñi — therefore; sādhya — objective; sādhana — process of achievement; lakṣaṇa — symptoms.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued speaking to the Tattvavādī ācārya: “Seeing that I am a mendicant in the renounced order of life, you have been playing with Me in a duplicitous way. You have not actually described the process and ultimate objective.”

Bengali

শুনি’ তত্ত্বাচার্য হৈলা অন্তরে লজ্জিত ।
প্রভুর বৈষ্ণবতা দেখি, হইলা বিস্মিত ॥ ২৭৩ ॥

Text

śuni’ tattvācārya hailā antare lajjita
prabhura vaiṣṇavatā dekhi, ha-ilā vismita

Synonyms

śuni’ — hearing; tattva-ācārya — the ācārya of the Tattvavāda sampradāya; hailā — became; antare — within the mind; lajjita — ashamed; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; vaiṣṇavatā — devotion in Vaiṣṇavism; dekhi — seeing; ha-ilā — became; vismita — struck with wonder.

Translation

After hearing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the ācārya of the Tattvavāda sampradāya became very much ashamed. Upon observing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s rigid faith in Vaiṣṇavism, he was struck with wonder.

Bengali

আচার্য কহে, — তুমি যেই কহ, সেই সত্য হয় ।
সর্বশাস্ত্রে বৈষ্ণবের এই সুনিশ্চয় ॥ ২৭৪ ॥

Text

ācārya kahe, — tumi yei kaha, sei satya haya
sarva-śāstre vaiṣṇavera ei suniścaya

Synonyms

ācārya kahe — the Tattvavādī ācārya said; tumi — You; yei — whatever; kaha — say; sei — that; satya — truth; haya — is; sarva-śāstre — in all revealed scriptures; vaiṣṇavera — of the devotees of Lord Viṣṇu; ei — this; su-niścaya — conclusion.

Translation

The Tattvavādī ācārya replied, “What You have said is certainly factual. It is the conclusion of all the revealed scriptures of the Vaiṣṇavas.

Bengali

তথাপি মধ্বাচার্য যে করিয়াছে নির্বন্ধ ।
সেই আচরিয়ে সবে সম্প্রদায়-সম্বন্ধ ॥ ২৭৫ ॥

Text

tathāpi madhvācārya ye kariyāche nirbandha
sei ācariye sabe sampradāya-sambandha

Synonyms

tathāpi — still; madhva-ācārya — Madhvācārya; ye — whatever; kariyāche — formulated; nirbandha — rules and regulations; sei — that; ācariye — we practice; sabe — all; sampradāya — party; sambandha — relationship.

Translation

“Still, whatever Madhvācārya has established as the formula for our party we practice as a party policy.”

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — কর্মী, জ্ঞানী, — দুই ভক্তিহীন ।
তোমার সম্প্রদায়ে দেখি সেই দুই চিহ্ন ॥ ২৭৬ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe,karmī, jñānī, — dui bhakti-hīna
tomāra sampradāye dekhi sei dui cihna

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; karmī — fruitive worker; jñānī — mental speculator; dui — both of them; bhakti-hīna — nondevotees; tomāra — your; sampradāye — in the community; dekhi — I see; sei — those; dui — both; cihna — symptoms.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Both the fruitive worker and the speculative philosopher are considered nondevotees. We see both elements present in your sampradāya.

Bengali

সবে, এক গুণ দেখি তোমার সম্প্রদায়ে ।
সত্যবিগ্রহ করি’ ঈশ্বরে করহ নিশ্চয়ে ॥ ২৭৭ ॥

Text

sabe, eka guṇa dekhi tomāra sampradāye
satya-vigraha kari’ īśvare karaha niścaye

Synonyms

sabe — in all; eka — one; guṇa — quality; dekhi — I see; tomāra — your; sampradāye — in the party; satya-vigraha — the form of the Lord as truth; kari’ — accepting; īśvare — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; karaha — you do; niścaye — conviction.

Translation

“The only qualification that I see in your sampradāya is that you accept the form of the Lord as truth.”

Purport

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to point out to the Tattvavādī ācārya, who belonged to the Madhvācārya-sampradāya, that the general behavior of the Tattvavādīs did not favor pure devotional service, which must be devoid of the taints of fruitive activity and speculative knowledge. As far as fruitive activity is concerned, the contamination is the desire for elevation to a higher standard of life, and for speculative knowledge the contamination is the desire to merge into the existence of the Absolute Truth. The Tattvavāda sampradāya of the Madhvācārya school sticks to the principle of varṇāśrama-dharma, which involves fruitive activity. Their ultimate goal (mukti) is simply a form of material desire. A pure devotee should be free from all kinds of material desire. He simply engages in the service of the Lord. Nonetheless, Caitanya Mahāprabhu was pleased that the Madhvācārya-sampradāya, or the Tattvavāda sampradāya, accepted the transcendental form of the Lord. This is the great qualification of the Vaiṣṇava sampradāyas.

It is the Māyāvāda sampradāya that does not accept the transcendental form of the Lord. If a Vaiṣṇava sampradāya is also carried away by that impersonal attitude, that sampradāya has no position at all. It is a fact that there are many so-called Vaiṣṇavas whose ultimate aim is to merge into the existence of the Lord. For example, the sahajiyās’ Vaiṣṇava philosophy is to become one with the Supreme. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu points out that Śrī Mādhavendra Purī accepted Madhvācārya only because his sampradāya accepted the transcendental form of the Lord.

Bengali

এইমত তাঁর ঘরে গর্ব চূর্ণ করি’ ।
ফল্গুতীর্থে তবে চলি আইলা গৌরহরি ॥ ২৭৮ ॥

Text

ei-mata tāṅra ghare garva cūrṇa kari’
phalgu-tīrthe tabe cali āilā gaurahari

Synonyms

ei-mata — in this way; tāṅra ghare — at his place; garva — pride; cūrṇa — broken; kari’ — making; phalgu-tīrthe — to the holy place named Phalgu-tīrtha; tabe — then; cali — walking; āilā — came; gaurahari — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Translation

Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu broke the pride of the Tattvavādīs to pieces. He then went to the holy place known as Phalgu-tīrtha.

Bengali

ত্রিতকূপে বিশালার করি’ দরশন ।
পঞ্চাপ্সরা-তীর্থে আইলা শচীর নন্দন ॥ ২৭৯ ॥

Text

tritakūpe viśālāra kari’ daraśana
pañcāpsarā-tīrthe āilā śacīra nandana

Synonyms

tritakūpe — to Tritakūpa; viśālāra — of the Deity named Viśālā; kari’ — doing; daraśana — visiting; pañca-apsarā-tīrthe — to Pañcāpsarā-tīrtha; āilā — came; śacīra nandana — the son of mother Śacī.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī, next went to Tritakūpa, and after seeing the Viśālā Deity there, He went to the holy place known as Pañcāpsarā-tīrtha.

Purport

The Apsarās, denizens of the heavenly planets, are generally known as dancing girls. The girls in the heavenly planets are exquisitely beautiful, and if a woman on earth is found to be very beautiful, she is compared to the Apsarās. There were five Apsarās named Latā, Budbudā, Samīcī, Saurabheyī and Varṇā. It is said that these five beautiful dancing girls were sent by Indra to break the severe austerity of a saintly person called Acyuta Ṛṣi. This action was typical of Indra, the King of heaven. Whenever Indra discovered someone undergoing severe austerities, he would begin to fear for his post. Indra was always anxious about his position, fearing that if someone became more powerful than he was, he would lose his elevated position. Thus as soon as he would see a saint undergoing severe austerities, he would send dancing girls to distract him. Even the great saint Viśvāmitra Muni fell victim to his plan.

When the five Apsarās went to break Acyuta Ṛṣi’s meditation, they were all chastised and cursed by the saint. As a result, the girls turned into crocodiles in a lake that came to be known as Pañcāpsarā. Lord Rāmacandra also visited this place. From Śrī Nārada Muni’s narration, it is understood that when Arjuna went to visit the holy places, he learned about the condemnation of the five Apsarās. He delivered them from their abominable condition, and from that day the lake known as Pañcāpsarā became a place of pilgrimage.

Bengali

গোকর্ণে শিব দেখি’ আইলা দ্বৈপায়নি ।
সূর্পারক-তীর্থে আইলা ন্যাসিশিরোমণি ॥ ২৮০ ॥

Text

gokarṇe śiva dekhi’ āilā dvaipāyani
sūrpāraka-tīrthe āilā nyāsi-śiromaṇi

Synonyms

gokarṇe — in the place named Gokarṇa; śiva — the temple of Lord Śiva; dekhi’ — seeing; āilā — came; dvaipāyani — to Dvaipāyani; sūrpāraka-tīrthe — to the holy place named Sūrpāraka; āilā — came; nyāsi-śiromaṇi — the best of the sannyāsīs, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Translation

After seeing Pañcāpsarā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Gokarṇa. While there, He visited the temple of Lord Śiva, and then He went to Dvaipāyani. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the crown jewel of all sannyāsīs, then went to Sūrpāraka-tīrtha.

Purport

Gokarṇa is situated in North Kanara, in the Karnataka state. It is about thirty-three miles southeast of Karwar. This place is very famous for the temple of Lord Śiva known as Mahā-baleśvara. Hundreds and thousands of pilgrims come to see this temple.

Sūrpāraka is about twenty-six miles north of Bombay. In the Maharashtra province, near Bombay, is a district known as Thānā and a place known as Sopārā. Sūrpāraka is mentioned in the Mahābhārata (Śānti-parva, chapter 41, verses 66-67).

Bengali

কোলাপুরে লক্ষ্মী দেখি’ দেখেন ক্ষীর-ভগবতী ।
লাঙ্গ-গণেশ দেখি’ দেখেন চোর-পার্বতী ॥ ২৮১ ॥

Text

kolāpure lakṣmī dekhi’ dekhena kṣīra-bhagavatī
lāṅga-gaṇeśa dekhi’ dekhena cora-pārvatī

Synonyms

kolāpure — at Kolāpura; lakṣmī — the goddess of fortune; dekhi’ — seeing; dekhena — He visited; kṣīra-bhagavatī — the temple of Kṣīra-bhagavatī; lāṅga-gaṇeśa — the deity Lāṅga-gaṇeśa; dekhi’ — seeing; dekhena — He sees; cora-pārvatī — the goddess Pārvatī, who is known as a thief.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then visited the town of Kolāpura, where He saw the goddess of fortune in the temple of Kṣīra-bhagavatī and saw Lāṅga-gaṇeśa in another temple, known as Cora-pārvatī.

Purport

Kolāpura is a town in the Maharashtra province, formerly known as Bombay Pradesh. Formerly Kolāpura was a native state, and it is bordered on the north by the district of Sāṅtārā, on the east and south by the district of Belagāma, and on the west by the district of Ratnagiri. In Kolāpura there is a river named Urṇā. From the Bombay Gazette it is understood that there were about 250 temples there, out of which six are very famous. These are (1) Ambābāi, or Mahālakṣmī Mandira, (2) Viṭhobā Mandira, (3) Ṭemblāi Mandira, (4) Mahākālī Mandira, (5) Phirāṅga-i, or Pratyaṅgirā Mandira, and (6) Yāllāmmā Mandira.

Bengali

তথা হৈতে পাণ্ডরপুরে আইলা গৌরচন্দ্র ।
বিঠ্ঠল-ঠাকুর দেখি’ পাইলা আনন্দ ॥ ২৮২ ॥

Text

tathā haite pāṇḍarapure āilā gauracandra
viṭhṭhala-ṭhākura dekhi’ pāilā ānanda

Synonyms

tathā haite — from there; pāṇḍara-pure — to Pāṇḍarapura; āilā — came; gauracandra — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; viṭhṭhala-ṭhākura — the Deity known as Viṭhṭhala; dekhi’ — seeing; pāilā — got; ānanda — great happiness.

Translation

From there Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Pāṇḍarapura, where He happily saw the temple of Viṭhṭhala Ṭhākura.

Purport

The city of Pāṇḍarapura is situated on the river Bhīmā. It is said that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu initiated Tukārāma when He visited Pāṇḍarapura, and thus Tukārāma became His disciple. Tukārāma Ācārya became very famous in the Maharashtra province, and he spread the saṅkīrtana movement all over the province. The saṅkīrtana party belonging to Tukārāma is still very popular in Bombay and throughout the province of Maharashtra. Tukārāma’s book is known as Abhaṅga. His saṅkīrtana party exactly resembles the Gauḍīya-Vaiṣṇava saṅkīrtana parties, for they chant the holy name of the Lord with mṛdaṅga and karatālas.

The Lord Viṭhṭhaladeva mentioned in this verse is a form of Lord Viṣṇu with two hands. He is Nārāyaṇa.

Bengali

প্রেমাবেশে কৈল বহুত কীর্তন-নর্তন ।
তাহাঁ এক বিপ্র তাঁরে কৈল নিমন্ত্রণ ॥ ২৮৩ ॥

Text

premāveśe kaila bahuta kīrtana-nartana
tāhāṅ eka vipra tāṅre kaila nimantraṇa

Synonyms

prema-āveśe — in the great ecstasy of love; kaila — performed; bahuta — much; kīrtana-nartana — chanting and dancing; tāhāṅ — there; eka — one; viprabrāhmaṇa; tāṅre — unto Him; kaila — did; nimantraṇa — invitation.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanted and danced in various ways as usual. A brāhmaṇa, seeing Him in ecstatic love, was very pleased and invited the Lord to his home for lunch.

Bengali

বহুত আদরে প্রভুকে ভিক্ষা করাইল ।
ভিক্ষা করি’ তথা এক শুভবার্তা পাইল ॥ ২৮৪ ॥

Text

bahuta ādare prabhuke bhikṣā karāila
bhikṣā kari’ tathā eka śubha-vārtā pāila

Synonyms

bahuta ādare — with great love; prabhuke — unto Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bhikṣā karāila — offered lunch; bhikṣā kari’ — after finishing His lunch; tathā — there; eka — one; śubha-vārtā — auspicious news; pāila — got.

Translation

The brāhmaṇa offered Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu food with great respect and love. After finishing His lunch, the Lord received auspicious news.

Bengali

মাধব-পুরীর শিষ্য ‘শ্রীরঙ্গ-পুরী’ নাম ।
সেই গ্রামে বিপ্রগৃহে করেন বিশ্রাম ॥ ২৮৫ ॥

Text

mādhava-purīra śiṣya ‘śrī-raṅga-purī’ nāma
sei grāme vipra-gṛhe karena viśrāma

Synonyms

mādhava-purīra śiṣya — a disciple of Mādhavendra Purī; śrī-raṅga-purī — Śrī Raṅga Purī; nāma — named; sei grāme — in that village; vipra-gṛhe — in the house of a brāhmaṇa; karena viśrāma — rests.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu received word that Śrī Raṅga Purī, one of the disciples of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī, was present in that village at the home of a brāhmaṇa.

Bengali

শুনিয়া চলিলা প্রভু তাঁরে দেখিবারে ।
বিপ্রগৃহে বসি’ আছেন, দেখিলা তাঁহারে ॥ ২৮৬ ॥

Text

śuniyā calilā prabhu tāṅre dekhibāre
vipra-gṛhe vasi’ āchena, dekhilā tāṅhāre

Synonyms

śuniyā — hearing; calilā — went; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅre — him; dekhibāre — to see; vipra-gṛhe — at the house of the brāhmaṇa; vasi’ — sitting; āchena — was; dekhilā — saw; tāṅhāre — him.

Translation

Hearing this news, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately went to see Śrī Raṅga Purī at the brāhmaṇa’s home. Upon entering, the Lord saw him sitting there.

Bengali

প্রেমাবেশে করে তাঁরে দণ্ড-পরণাম ।
অশ্রু, পুলক, কম্প, সর্বাঙ্গে পড়ে ঘাম ॥ ২৮৭ ॥

Text

premāveśe kare tāṅre daṇḍa-paraṇāma
aśru, pulaka, kampa, sarvāṅge paḍe ghāma

Synonyms

prema-āveśe — in ecstatic love; kare — does; tāṅre — unto him; daṇḍa-paraṇāma — obeisances, falling flat; aśru — tears; pulaka — jubilation; kampa — trembling; sarva-aṅge — all over the body; paḍe — there was; ghāma — perspiration.

Translation

As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Śrī Raṅga Purī, He immediately offered him obeisances in ecstatic love, falling flat on the ground. The symptoms of transcendental transformation were visible — namely, tears, jubilation, trembling and perspiration.

Bengali

দেখিয়া বিস্মিত হৈল শ্রীরঙ্গ-পুরীর মন ।
‘উঠহ শ্রীপাদ’ বলি’ বলিলা বচন ॥ ২৮৮ ॥

Text

dekhiyā vismita haila śrī-raṅga-purīra mana
‘uṭhaha śrīpāda’ bali’ balilā vacana

Synonyms

dekhiyā — seeing; vismita — astonished; haila — became; śrī-raṅga-purīra — of Śrī Raṅga Purī; mana — the mind; uṭhaha — get up; śrī-pāda — Your Holiness; bali’ — saying; balilā vacana — began to speak.

Translation

Upon seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in such an ecstatic mood, Śrī Raṅga Purī said, “Your Holiness, please get up.

Bengali

শ্রীপাদ, ধর মোর গোসাঞির সম্বন্ধ ।
তাহা বিনা অন্যত্র নাহি এই প্রেমার গন্ধ ॥ ২৮৯ ॥

Text

śrīpāda, dhara mora gosāñira sambandha
tāhā vinā anyatra nāhi ei premāra gandha

Synonyms

śrī-pāda — O Your Holiness; dhara — You hold; mora — my; gosāñira — with Śrī Mādhavendra Purī; sambandha — relationship; tāhā vinā — without him; anyatra — elsewhere; nāhi — there is not; ei — this; premāra — of ecstasy; gandha — fragrance.

Translation

“Your Holiness is certainly related to Śrī Mādhavendra Purī, without whom there is no fragrance of ecstatic love.”

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura remarks that up to the advent of His Holiness Śrīpāda Lakṣmīpati Tīrtha, it was the system in the disciplic succession of Madhvācārya to worship Lord Kṛṣṇa alone. After Śrīla Mādhavendra Purī, worship of both Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa was established. For this reason Śrī Mādhavendra Purī is accepted as the root of worship in ecstatic love. Unless one is connected to the disciplic succession of Mādhavendra Purī, there is no possibility of awakening the symptoms of ecstatic love. The word gosāñi is significant in this connection. The spiritual master who is fully surrendered unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead and has no business other than the Lord’s service is called the best of the paramahaṁsas. A paramahaṁsa has no program for sense gratification; he is interested only in satisfying the senses of the Lord. One who has control of the senses in this way is called a gosāñi or a gosvāmī, master of the senses. The senses cannot be controlled unless one is engaged in the service of the Lord; therefore the bona fide spiritual master, who has full control over his senses, engages twenty-four hours a day in the Lord’s service. He can therefore be addressed as gosāñi or gosvāmī. The title gosvāmī cannot be inherited but can be given only to a bona fide spiritual master.

There were six great Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana — Śrīla Rūpa, Sanātana, Bhaṭṭa Raghunātha, Śrī Jīva, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa and Dāsa Raghunātha — and none of them inherited the title of gosvāmī. All the Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana were bona fide spiritual masters situated on the highest platform of devotional service, and for that reason they were called gosvāmīs. All the temples of Vṛndāvana were certainly started by the six Gosvāmīs. Later the worship in the temples was entrusted to some householder disciples of the Gosvāmīs, and since then the hereditary title of gosvāmī has been used. However, only one who is a bona fide spiritual master expanding the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, and who is in full control of his senses can be addressed as a gosvāmī. Unfortunately, the hereditary process is going on; therefore at the present moment, in most cases the title is being misused due to ignorance of the word’s etymology.

Bengali

এত বলি’ প্রভুকে উঠাঞা কৈল আলিঙ্গন ।
গলাগলি করি’ দুঁহে করেন ক্রন্দন ॥ ২৯০ ॥

Text

eta bali’ prabhuke uthāñā kaila āliṅgana
galāgali kari’ duṅhe karena krandana

Synonyms

eta bali’ — saying this; prabhuke — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; uthāñā — lifting up; kaila — did; āliṅgana — embracing; galāgali — shoulder to shoulder; kari’ — doing; duṅhe — both of them; karena — do; krandana — crying.

Translation

After saying this, Śrī Raṅga Purī lifted Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu up and embraced Him. As they embraced shoulder to shoulder, they both began to cry in ecstasy.

Bengali

ক্ষণেকে আবেশ ছাড়ি’ দুঁহার ধৈর্য হৈল ।
ঈশ্বর-পুরীর সম্বন্ধ গোসাঞি জানাইল ॥ ২৯১ ॥

Text

kṣaṇeke āveśa chāḍi’ duṅhāra dhairya haila
īśvara-purīra sambandha gosāñi jānāila

Synonyms

kṣaṇeke — after just a few moments; āveśa — ecstasy; chāḍi’ — giving up; duṅhāra — of both of them; dhairya — patience; haila — there was; īśvara-purīra — of Īśvara Purī; sambandha — relationship; gosāñi — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; jānāila — disclosed.

Translation

After some moments, they came to their senses and became patient. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then informed Śrī Raṅga Purī about His relationship with Īśvara Purī.

Bengali

অদ্ভুত প্রেমের বন্যা দুঁহার উথলিল ।
দুঁহে মান্য করি’ দুঁহে আনন্দে বসিল ॥ ২৯২ ॥

Text

adbhuta premera vanyā duṅhāra uthalila
duṅhe mānya kari’ duṅhe ānande vasila

Synonyms

adbhuta — wonderful; premera — of love of Godhead; vanyā — inundation; duṅhāra — of both of them; uthalila — arose; duṅhe — both of them; mānya kari’ — offering respect; duṅhe — both of them; ānande — with great happiness; vasila — sat down.

Translation

They were both inundated by the wonderful ecstasy of love that was aroused in them. Finally they sat down and respectfully began to converse.

Bengali

দুই জনে কৃষ্ণকথা কহে রাত্রি-দিনে ।
এইমতে গোঙাইল পাঁচ-সাত দিনে ॥ ২৯৩ ॥

Text

dui jane kṛṣṇa-kathā kahe rātri-dine
ei-mate goṅāila pāṅca-sāta dine

Synonyms

dui jane — both the persons; kṛṣṇa-kathā — topics of Kṛṣṇa; kahe — speak; rātri-dine — day and night; ei-mate — in this way; goṅāila — passed; pāṅca-sāta — five to seven; dine — days.

Translation

In this way they discussed topics about Lord Kṛṣṇa continually for five to seven days.

Bengali

কৌতুকে পুরী তাঁরে পুছিল জন্মস্থান
গোসাঞি কৌতুকে কহেন ‘নবদ্বীপ’ নাম ॥ ২৯৪ ॥

Text

kautuke purī tāṅre puchila janma-sthāna
gosāñi kautuke kahena ‘navadvīpa’ nāma

Synonyms

kautuke — out of curiosity; purī — Śrī Raṅga Purī; tāṅre — Him; puchila — asked; janma-sthāna — the place of birth; gosāñi — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kautuke — as a matter of course; kahena — said; nava-dvīpa — Navadvīpa; nāma — name.

Translation

Out of curiosity, Śrī Raṅga Purī asked Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu about His birthplace, and the Lord informed him that it was Navadvīpa-dhāma.

Bengali

শ্রীমাধব-পুরীর সঙ্গে শ্রীরঙ্গ-পুরী ।
পূর্বে আসিয়াছিলা তেঁহো নদীয়া-নগরী ॥ ২৯৫ ॥

Text

śrī-mādhava-purīra saṅge śrī-raṅga-purī
pūrve āsiyāchilā teṅho nadīyā-nagarī

Synonyms

śrī-mādhava-purīra saṅge — with Śrī Mādhavendra Purī; śrī-raṅga-purī — Śrī Raṅga Purī; pūrve — formerly; āsiyāchilā — came; teṅho — he; nadīyā-nagarī — to the city of Nadia.

Translation

Śrī Raṅga Purī had formerly gone to Navadvīpa with Śrī Mādhavendra Purī, and he therefore remembered the incidents that had taken place there.

Bengali

জগন্নাথমিশ্র-ঘরে ভিক্ষা যে করিল ।
অপূর্ব মোচার ঘণ্ট তাহাঁ যে খাইল ॥ ২৯৬ ॥

Text

jagannātha-miśra-ghare bhikṣā ye karila
apūrva mocāra ghaṇṭa tāhāṅ ye khāila

Synonyms

jagannātha-miśra-ghare — in the house of Śrī Jagannātha Miśra; bhikṣā — lunch; ye — that; karila — took; apūrva — unprecedented; mocāra ghaṇṭa — curry made of plantain flowers; tāhāṅ — there; ye — that; khāila — ate.

Translation

As soon as Śrī Raṅga Purī recalled Navadvīpa, he also recalled accompanying Śrī Mādhavendra Purī to the house of Jagannātha Miśra, where Raṅga Purī had taken lunch. He even remembered the taste of an unprecedented curry made of banana flowers.

Bengali

জগন্নাথের ব্রাহ্মণী, তেঁহ — মহা-পতিব্রতা ।
বাৎসল্যে হয়েন তেঁহ যেন জগন্মাতা ॥ ২৯৭ ॥

Text

jagannāthera brāhmaṇī, teṅha — mahā-pativratā
vātsalye hayena teṅha yena jagan-mātā

Synonyms

jagannāthera — of Jagannātha Miśra; brāhmaṇī — wife; teṅha — she; mahā — great; pati-vratā — devoted to her husband; vātsalye — in affection; hayena — was; teṅha — she; yena — as if; jagat-mātā — the mother of the whole universe.

Translation

Śrī Raṅga Purī also remembered the wife of Jagannātha Miśra. She was very devoted and chaste. As for her affection, she was exactly like the mother of the universe.

Bengali

রন্ধনে নিপুণা তাঁ-সম নাহি ত্রিভুবনে ।
পুত্রসম স্নেহ করেন সন্ন্যাসি-ভোজনে ॥ ২৯৮ ॥

Text

randhane nipuṇā tāṅ-sama nāhi tribhuvane
putra-sama sneha karena sannyāsi-bhojane

Synonyms

randhane — in cooking; nipuṇā — very expert; tāṅ-sama — like her; nāhi — there is none; tri-bhuvane — in the three worlds; putra-sama — like to her own sons; sneha karena — she was affectionate; sannyāsi-bhojane — in feeding the sannyāsīs.

Translation

He also remembered how Śrī Jagannātha Miśra’s wife, Śacīmātā, was expert in cooking. He recalled that she was very affectionate toward the sannyāsīs and fed them exactly like her own sons.

Bengali

তাঁর এক যোগ্য পুত্র করিয়াছে সন্ন্যাস ।
‘শঙ্করারণ্য’ নাম তাঁর অল্প বয়স ॥ ২৯৯ ॥

Text

tāṅra eka yogya putra kariyāche sannyāsa
‘śaṅkarāraṇya’ nāma tāṅra alpa vayasa

Synonyms

tāṅra — her; eka — one; yogya — deserving; putra — son; kariyāche — has accepted; sannyāsa — the renounced order of life; śaṅkarāraṇya — Śaṅkarāraṇya; nāma — named; tāṅra — his; alpa — little; vayasa — age.

Translation

Śrī Raṅga Purī also remembered that one of her deserving sons had accepted the renounced order at a very young age. His name was Śaṅkarāraṇya.

Bengali

এই তীর্থে শঙ্করারণ্যের সিদ্ধিপ্রাপ্তি হৈল ।
প্রস্তাবে শ্রীরঙ্গ-পুরী এতেক কহিল ॥ ৩০০ ॥

Text

ei tīrthe śaṅkarāraṇyera siddhi-prāpti haila
prastāve śrī-raṅga-purī eteka kahila

Synonyms

ei tīrthe — in this holy place; śaṅkarāraṇyera — of Śaṅkarāraṇya; siddhi-prāpti — attainment of perfection; haila — became fulfilled; prastāve — in the course of conversation; śrī-raṅga-purī — Śrī Raṅga Purī; eteka — thus; kahila — spoke.

Translation

Śrī Raṅga Purī informed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that the sannyāsī named Śaṅkarāraṇya had attained perfection in that holy place, Pāṇḍarapura.

Purport

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s elder brother was named Viśvarūpa. He left home before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and accepted the sannyāsa order under the name of Śaṅkarāraṇya Svāmī. He traveled all over the country and finally went to Pāṇḍarapura, where He passed away after attaining perfection. In other words, He entered the spiritual world after giving up His mortal body at Pāṇḍarapura. Śrī Raṅga Purī, a disciple of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī and Godbrother of Īśvara Purī, disclosed this important news to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — পূর্বাশ্রমে তেঁহ মোর ভ্রাতা ।
জগন্নাথ মিশ্র — পূর্বাশ্রমে মোর পিতা ॥ ৩০১ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe,pūrvāśrame teṅha mora bhrātā
jagannātha miśra
pūrvāśrame mora pitā

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — the Lord replied; pūrva-āśrame — in My previous āśrama; teṅha — He; mora bhrātā — My brother; jagannātha miśra — Jagannātha Miśra; pūrva-āśrame — in My previous āśrama; mora pitā — My father.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “In My previous āśrama, Śaṅkarāraṇya was My brother and Jagannātha Miśra was My father.”

Bengali

এইমত দুইজনে ইষ্টগোষ্ঠী করি’ ।
দ্বারকা দেখিতে চলিলা শ্রীরঙ্গপুরী ॥ ৩০২ ॥

Text

ei-mata dui-jane iṣṭa-goṣṭhī kari’
dvārakā dekhite calilā śrī-raṅga-purī

Synonyms

ei-mata — in this way; dui-jane — both of them; iṣṭa-goṣṭhī kari’ — discussing many topics; dvārakā dekhite — to see Dvārakā; calilā — started; śrī-raṅga-purī — Śrī Raṅga Purī.

Translation

After finishing his talks with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Śrī Raṅga Purī started for Dvārakā-dhāma.

Bengali

দিন চারি তথা প্রভুকে রাখিল ব্রাহ্মণ ।
ভীমানদী স্নান করি’ করেন বিঠ্ঠল দর্শন ॥ ৩০৩ ॥

Text

dina cāri tathā prabhuke rākhila brāhmaṇa
bhīmā-nadī snāna kari’ karena viṭhṭhala darśana

Synonyms

dina — days; cāri — four; tathā — there; prabhuke — Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; rākhila — kept; brāhmaṇa — the brāhmaṇa; bhīmā-nadī — in the river Bhīmā; snāna kari’ — bathing; karena — does; viṭhṭhala darśana — visit the temple of Viṭhṭhala.

Translation

After Śrī Raṅga Purī departed for Dvārakā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained with the brāhmaṇa at Pāṇḍarapura for four more days. He took His bath in the Bhīmā River and visited the temple of Viṭhṭhala.

Bengali

তবে মহাপ্রভু আইলা কৃষ্ণবেণ্বা-তীরে ।
নানা তীর্থ দেখি’ তাহাঁ দেবতা-মন্দিরে ॥ ৩০৪ ॥

Text

tabe mahāprabhu āilā kṛṣṇa-veṇvā-tīre
nānā tīrtha dekhi’ tāhāṅ devatā-mandire

Synonyms

tabe — thereafter; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; āilā — came; kṛṣṇa-veṇvā-tīre — to the bank of the river Kṛṣṇa-veṇvā; nānā — various; tīrtha — holy places; dekhi’ — seeing; tāhāṅ — there; devatā-mandire — in the temples of some gods.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next went to the bank of the Kṛṣṇa-veṇvā River, where He visited many holy places and the temples of various gods.

Purport

This river is a branch of the river Kṛṣṇā. It is said that Ṭhākura Bilvamaṅgala resided on the banks of this river, which is also called the Vīnā, the Veṇī, the Sinā and the Bhīmā.

Bengali

ব্রাহ্মণ-সমাজ সব — বৈষ্ণব-চরিত ।
বৈষ্ণব সকল পড়ে ‘কৃষ্ণকর্ণামৃত’ ॥ ৩০৫ ॥

Text

brāhmaṇa-samāja saba — vaiṣṇava-carita
vaiṣṇava sakala paḍe ‘kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta’

Synonyms

brāhmaṇa-samāja — the community of brāhmaṇas; saba — all; vaiṣṇava-carita — pure devotees; vaiṣṇava sakala — all the Vaiṣṇavas; paḍe — study; kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta — the Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta of Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura.

Translation

The brāhmaṇa community there was composed of pure devotees. They regularly studied a book entitled Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta, which was composed by Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura.

Purport

This book was composed by Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura in 112 verses. There are two or three other books bearing the same name, and there are also two commentaries on Bilvamaṅgala’s book. One commentary was written by Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī and the other by Caitanya dāsa Gosvāmī.

Bengali

কৃষ্ণকর্ণামৃত শুনি’ প্রভুর আনন্দ হৈল ।
আগ্রহ করিয়া পুঁথি লেখাঞা লৈল ॥ ৩০৬ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta śuni’ prabhura ānanda haila
āgraha kariyā puṅthi lekhāñā laila

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta śuni’ — after hearing the Kṛṣṇa-karnāmṛta; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; ānanda haila — there was great happiness; āgraha kariya — with great eagerness; puṅthi — the book; lekhāñā — getting copied; laila — took.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased to hear the book Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta, and with great eagerness He had it copied and took it with Him.

Bengali

‘কর্ণামৃত’-সম বস্তু নাহি ত্রিভুবনে ।
যাহা হৈতে হয় কৃষ্ণে শুদ্ধপ্রেমজ্ঞানে ॥ ৩০৭ ॥

Text

‘karṇāmṛta’-sama vastu nāhi tribhuvane
yāhā haite haya kṛṣṇe śuddha-prema-jñāne

Synonyms

karṇāmṛta — the Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta; sama — like; vastu nāhi — there is nothing; tri-bhuvane — in the three worlds; yāhā haite — from which; haya — there is; kṛṣṇe — unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; śuddha-prema-jñāne — knowledge of pure devotional service.

Translation

There is no comparison to the Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta within the three worlds. By studying this book, one is elevated to the knowledge of pure devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

সৌন্দর্য-মাধুর্য-কৃষ্ণলীলার অবধি ।
সেই জানে, যে ‘কর্ণামৃত’ পড়ে নিরবধি ॥ ৩০৮ ॥

Text

saundarya-mādhurya-kṛṣṇa-līlāra avadhi
sei jāne, ye ‘karṇāmṛta’ paḍe niravadhi

Synonyms

saundarya — beauty; mādhurya — sweetness; kṛṣṇa-līlāra — of the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa; avadhi — limit; sei jāne — he knows; ye — one who; karṇāmṛta — the book Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta; paḍe — studies; niravadhi — constantly.

Translation

One who constantly reads the Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta can fully understand the beauty and melodious taste of the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

‘ব্রহ্মসংহিতা’, ‘কর্ণামৃত’ দুই পুঁথি পাঞা ।
মহারত্নপ্রায় পাই আইলা সঙ্গে লঞা ॥ ৩০৯ ॥

Text

‘brahma-saṁhitā’, ‘karṇāmṛta’ dui puṅthi pāñā
mahā-ratna-prāya pāi āilā saṅge lañā

Synonyms

brahma-saṁhitā — the book Brahma-saṁhitā; karṇāmṛta — the book Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta; dui — two; puṅthi — books; pāñā — getting; mahā-ratna-prāya — like the most valuable jewels; pāi — getting; āilā — came back; saṅge — with Him; lañā — taking.

Translation

The Brahma-saṁhitā and Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta were two books that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu considered to be most valuable jewels. Therefore He took them with Him on His return trip.

Bengali

তাপী স্নান করি’ আইলা মাহিষ্মতীপুরে ।
নানা তীর্থ দেখি তাহাঁ নর্মদার তীরে ॥ ৩১০ ॥

Text

tāpī snāna kari’ āilā māhiṣmatī-pure
nānā tīrtha dekhi tāhāṅ narmadāra tīre

Synonyms

tāpī — in the Tāpī River; snāna kari’ — taking a bath; āilā — arrived; māhiṣmatī-pure — at Māhiṣmatī-pura; nānā tīrtha — many holy places; dekhi — seeing; tāhāṅ — there; narmadāra tīre — on the bank of the river Narmadā.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next arrived at the banks of the river Tāpī. After bathing there, He went to Māhiṣmatī-pura. While there, He saw many holy places on the banks of the river Narmadā.

Purport

The river Tāpī is also known as Tāpti. The river’s source is a mountain called Multāi, and the river flows westward through the state of Saurāṣṭra and into the Arabian Sea.

Māhiṣmatī-pura (Maheshwar) is mentioned in Mahābhārata in connection with Sahadeva’s victory. Sahadeva, the youngest brother of the Pāṇḍavas, conquered that part of the country. As stated in the Mahābhārata:

tato ratnāny upādāyapurīṁ māhiṣmatīṁ yayau
tatra nīlena rājñā sa
cakre yuddhaṁ nararṣabhaḥ

“After acquiring jewels, Sahadeva went to the city of Māhiṣmatī, where he fought with a king called Nīla.”

Bengali

ধনুস্তীর্থ দেখি’ করিলা নির্বিন্ধ্যাতে স্নানে ।
ঋষ্যমূক-গিরি আইলা দণ্ডকারণ্যে ॥ ৩১১ ॥

Text

dhanus-tīrtha dekhi’ karilā nirvindhyāte snāne
ṛṣyamūka-giri āilā daṇḍakāraṇye

Synonyms

dhanuḥ-tīrtha — Dhanus-tīrtha; dekhi’ — seeing; karilā — did; nirvindhyāte — in the river Nirvindhyā; snāne — bathing; ṛṣyamūka-giri — at the Ṛṣyamūka Mountain; āilā — arrived; daṇḍaka-araṇye — in the forest known as Daṇḍakāraṇya.

Translation

The Lord next arrived at Dhanus-tīrtha, where He took His bath in the river Nirvindhyā. He then arrived at Ṛṣyamūka Mountain and then went to Daṇḍakāraṇya.

Purport

According to some opinions, Ṛṣyamūka is a chain of mountains beginning at the village of Hāmpi-grāma in the district of Belāri. The mountain chain begins along the bank of the river Tuṅgabhadrā, which gradually reaches the state of Hyderabad. According to other opinions, this hill is situated in Madhya Pradesh and bears the present name of Rāmpa. Daṇḍakāraṇya is a spacious tract of land which begins north of Khāndeśa and extends up to the southern Āhammada-nagara through Nāsika and Āuraṅgābāda. The Godāvarī River flows through this tract of land, and there is a great forest there where Lord Rāmacandra lived.

Bengali

‘সপ্ততাল-বৃক্ষ’দেখে কানন-ভিতর ।
অতি বৃদ্ধ, অতি স্থূল, অতি উচ্চতর ॥ ৩১২ ॥

Text

‘saptatāla-vṛkṣa’ dekhe kānana-bhitara
ati vṛddha, ati sthūla, ati uccatara

Synonyms

sapta-tāla-vṛkṣa — seven palm trees; dekhe — sees; kānana bhitara — within the forest; ati vṛddha — very old; ati sthūla — very bulky; ati uccatara — very high.

Translation

Within the Daṇḍakāraṇya forest Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then visited a place called Saptatāla. The seven palm trees there were very old, very bulky and very high.

Purport

The name Saptatāla is mentioned in the Kiṣkindhyā section of the Rāmāyaṇa and is described in the eleventh and twelfth chapters of that section.

Bengali

সপ্ততাল দেখি’ প্রভু আলিঙ্গন কৈল ।
সশরীরে সপ্ততাল বৈকুণ্ঠে চলিল ॥ ৩১৩ ॥

Text

saptatāla dekhi’ prabhu āliṅgana kaila
saśarīre saptatāla vaikuṇṭhe calila

Synonyms

sapta-tāla dekhi’ — upon seeing the seven palm trees; prabhu — Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; āliṅgana kaila — embraced; sa-śarīre — with their bodies; sapta-tāla — the seven palm trees; vaikuṇṭhe calila — returned to Vaikuṇṭhaloka.

Translation

Upon seeing the seven palm trees, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced them. As a result, they all returned to Vaikuṇṭhaloka, the spiritual world.

Bengali

শূন্যস্থল দেখি’ লোকের হৈল চমৎকার ।
লোকে কহে, এ সন্ন্যাসী — রাম-অবতার ॥ ৩১৪ ॥

Text

śūnya-sthala dekhi’ lokera haila camatkāra
loke kahe, e sannyāsī — rāma-avatāra

Synonyms

śūnya-sthala — the vacant place; dekhi’ — seeing; lokera — of the people in general; haila — there was; camatkāra — astonishment; loke kahe — all people began to say; e sannyāsī — this sannyāsī; rāma-avatāra — incarnation of Lord Rāmacandra.

Translation

After the seven palm trees had departed for Vaikuṇṭha, everyone was astonished to see that they were gone. The people then began to say, “This sannyāsī called Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu must be an incarnation of Lord Rāmacandra.

Bengali

সশরীরে তাল গেল শ্রীবৈকুণ্ঠ-ধাম ।
ঐছে শক্তি কার হয়, বিনা এক রাম ॥ ৩১৫ ॥

Text

saśarīre tāla gela śrī-vaikuṇṭha-dhāma
aiche śakti kāra haya, vinā eka rāma

Synonyms

sa-śarīre — with the material body; tāla — the palm trees; gela — went; śrī-vaikuṇṭha-dhāma — to the spiritual kingdom, known as Vaikuṇṭha; aiche — such; śakti — power; kāra — whose; haya — is; vinā — without; eka — one; rāma — Lord Rāmacandra.

Translation

“Only Lord Rāmacandra has the power to send seven palm trees to the spiritual Vaikuṇṭha planets.”

Bengali

প্রভু আসি’ কৈল পম্পা-সরোবরে স্নান ।
পঞ্চবটী আসি, তাহাঁ করিল বিশ্রাম ॥ ৩১৬ ॥

Text

prabhu āsi’ kaila pampā-sarovare snāna
pañcavaṭī āsi, tāhāṅ karila viśrāma

Synonyms

prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; āsi’ — coming; kaila — did; pampā-sarovare — in the lake known as Pampā; snāna — bathing; pañcavaṭī āsi — then coming to Pañcavaṭī; tāhāṅ — there; karila — took; viśrāma — rest.

Translation

Eventually Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived at a lake known as Pampā, where He took His bath. He then went to a place called Pañcavaṭī, where He rested.

Purport

According to some, the old name of the Tuṅgabhadrā River was Pambā. According to others, Vijaya-nagara, the capital of the state, was known as Pampātīrtha. According to still others, the lake near Anāguṇḍi, in the direction of Hyderabad, is Pampā-sarovara. The river Tuṅgabhadrā also flows through there. There are many different opinions about the lake called Pampā-sarovara.

Bengali

নাসিকে ত্র্যম্বক দেখি’ গেলা ব্রহ্মগিরি ।
কুশাবর্তে আইলা যাহাঁ জন্মিলা গোদাবরী ॥ ৩১৭ ॥

Text

nāsike tryambaka dekhi’ gelā brahmagiri
kuśāvarte āilā yāhāṅ janmilā godāvarī

Synonyms

nāsike — at the holy place Nāsika; tryambaka — a deity of Lord Śiva; dekhi’ — after seeing; gelā — went; brahmagiri — to the place known as Brahmagiri; kuśāvarte āilā — then He came to the holy place known as Kuśāvarta; yāhāṅ — where; janmilā — took birth; godāvarī — the river Godāvarī.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then visited Nāsika, where He saw the deity of Tryambaka [Lord Śiva]. He then went to Brahmagiri and then to Kuśāvarta, the source of the river Godāvarī.

Purport

Kuśāvarta is located in the western ghāṭa, at Sahyādri. It is near Nāsika, a holy place, but according to some it was situated in the valley of Vindhya.

Bengali

সপ্ত গোদাবরী আইলা করি’ তীর্থ বহুতর ।
পুনরপি আইলা প্রভু বিদ্যানগর ॥ ৩১৮ ॥

Text

sapta godāvarī āilā kari’ tīrtha bahutara
punarapi āilā prabhu vidyānagara

Synonyms

sapta godāvarī — to the place known as Sapta-godāvarī; āilā — came; kari’ tīrtha bahutara — visiting various holy places; punarapi — again; āilā — came back; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; vidyānagara — to the place where He met Rāmānanda Rāya.

Translation

After visiting many other holy places, the Lord went to Sapta-godāvarī. At last He returned to Vidyānagara.

Purport

In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu traveled from the source of the Godāvarī River and eventually visited the northern side of Hyderabad state. He finally arrived at the state of Kaliṅga.

Bengali

রামানন্দ রায় শুনি প্রভুর আগমন ।
আনন্দে আসিয়া কৈল প্রভুসহ মিলন ॥ ৩১৯ ॥

Text

rāmānanda rāya śuni’ prabhura āgamana
ānande āsiyā kaila prabhu-saha milana

Synonyms

rāmānanda rāya — Rāmānanda Rāya; śuni’ — hearing; prabhura — of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; āgamana — return; ānande — in great happiness; āsiyā — coming; kaila — did; prabhu-saha — with Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; milana — meeting.

Translation

When Rāmānanda Rāya heard of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s arrival, he was very pleased, and he immediately went to see Him.

Bengali

দণ্ডবৎ হঞা পড়ে চরণে ধরিয়া ।
আলিঙ্গন কৈল প্রভু তাঁরে উঠাঞা ॥ ৩২০ ॥

Text

daṇḍavat hañā paḍe caraṇe dhariyā
āliṅgana kaila prabhu tāṅre uṭhāñā

Synonyms

daṇḍavat hañā — like a stick; paḍe — fell; caraṇe — the lotus feet; dhariyā — catching; āliṅgana — embracing; kaila — did; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅre — him; uṭhāñā — getting up.

Translation

When Rāmānanda Rāya fell flat, touching the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord immediately raised him to his feet and embraced him.

Bengali

দুই জনে প্রেমাবেশে করেন ক্রন্দন ।
প্রেমানন্দে শিথিল হৈল দুঁহাকার মন ॥ ৩২১ ॥

Text

dui jane premāveśe karena krandana
premānande śithila haila duṅhākāra mana

Synonyms

dui jane — both of them; prema-āveśe — in ecstatic love; karena — do; krandana — crying; prema-ānande — in ecstatic love; śithila haila — became slackened; duṅhākāra — of both of them; mana — minds.

Translation

In great ecstatic love they both began to cry, and thus their minds were slackened.

Bengali

কতক্ষণে দুই জনা সুস্থির হঞা ।
নানা ইষ্টগোষ্ঠী করে একত্র বসিয়া ॥ ৩২২ ॥

Text

kata-kṣaṇe dui janā susthira hañā
nānā iṣṭa-goṣṭhī kare ekatra vasiyā

Synonyms

kata-kṣaṇe — after some time; dui — two; janā — people; su-sthira hañā — coming to their senses; nānā — various; iṣṭa-goṣṭhī — discussions; kare — do; ekatra — together; vasiyā — sitting.

Translation

After some time they regained their senses and sat together to discuss various subjects.

Bengali

তীর্থ-যাত্রা-কথা প্রভু সকল কহিলা ।
কর্ণামৃত, ব্রহ্মসংহিতা, — দুই পুঁথি দিলা ॥ ৩২৩ ॥

Text

tīrtha-yātrā-kathā prabhu sakala kahilā
karnāmṛta, brahma-saṁhitā, — dui puṅthi dilā

Synonyms

tīrtha-yātrā-kathā — topics of His pilgrimage; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; sakala kahilā — described everything; karṇāmṛta — the book named Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta; brahma-saṁhitā — the book named Brahma-saṁhitā; dui — two; puṅthi — scriptures; dilā — delivered.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave Rāmānanda Rāya a vivid description of His travels to the holy places and told him how He had acquired the two books named Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta and Brahma-saṁhitā. The Lord delivered the books to Rāmānanda Rāya.

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — তুমি যেই সিদ্ধান্ত কহিলে ।
এই দুই পুঁথি সেই সব সাক্ষী দিলে ॥ ৩২৪ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe, — tumi yei siddhānta kahile
ei dui puṅthi sei saba sākṣī dile

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — the Lord said; tumi — you; yei — whatever; siddhānta — conclusion; kahile — informed; ei dui — these two; puṅthi — books; sei — that; saba — everything; sākṣī — evidence; dile — gave.

Translation

The Lord said, “Whatever you have told Me about devotional service is all supported by these two books.”

Bengali

রায়ের আনন্দ হৈল পুস্তক পাইয়া ।
প্রভু-সহ আস্বাদিল, রাখিল লিখিয়া ॥ ৩২৫ ॥

Text

rāyera ānanda haila pustaka pāiyā
prabhu-saha āsvādila, rākhila likhiyā

Synonyms

rāyera — of Rāya Rāmānanda; ānanda — happiness; haila — there was; pustaka pāiyā — getting those two books; prabhu-saha — with the Lord; āsvādila — tasted; rākhila — kept; likhiyā — writing.

Translation

Rāmānanda Rāya was very happy to receive these books. He tasted their contents along with the Lord and made a copy of each.

Bengali

‘গোসাঞি আইলা’ গ্রামে হইল কোলাহল ।
প্রভুকে দেখিতে লোক আইল সকল ॥ ৩২৬ ॥

Text

‘gosāñi āilā’ grāme haila kolāhala
prabhuke dekhite loka āila sakala

Synonyms

gosāñi — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; āilā’ — has returned; grāme — in the village; haila — there was; kolāhala — commotion; prabhuke — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dekhite — to see; loka — people; āila — came there; sakala — all.

Translation

News spread in the village of Vidyānagara about the arrival of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and everyone came to see Him once again.

Bengali

লোক দেখি’ রামানন্দ গেলা নিজ-ঘরে ।
মধ্যাহ্নে উঠিলা প্রভু ভিক্ষা করিবারে ॥ ৩২৭ ॥

Text

loka dehki’ rāmānanda gelā nija-ghare
madhyāhne uṭhilā prabhu bhikṣā karibāre

Synonyms

loka dekhi’ — seeing the people; rāmānanda — Rāya Rāmānanda; gelā — departed; nija-ghare — to his own home; madhyāhne — at noon; uṭhilā prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu got up; bhikṣā karibāre — to take His lunch.

Translation

After seeing the people who gathered there, Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya returned to his own home. At noon, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu got up to take His lunch.

Bengali

রাত্রিকালে রায় পুনঃ কৈল আগমন ।
দুই জনে কৃষ্ণকথায় কৈল জাগরণ ॥ ৩২৮ ॥

Text

rātri-kāle rāya punaḥ kaila āgamana
dui jane kṛṣṇa-kathāya kaila jāgaraṇa

Synonyms

rātri-kāle — at night; rāya — Rāmānanda Rāya; punaḥ — again; kaila — did; āgamana — coming; dui jane — the two of them; kṛṣṇa-kathāya — in discourses on topics of Kṛṣṇa; kaila — did; jāgaraṇa — keeping awake through the night.

Translation

Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya returned at night, and he and the Lord discussed topics concerning Kṛṣṇa. Thus they passed the night.

Bengali

দুই জনে কৃষ্ণকথা কহে রাত্রি-দিনে ।
পরম-আনন্দে গেল পাঁচ-সাত দিনে ॥ ৩২৯ ॥

Text

dui jane kṛṣṇa-kathā kahe rātri-dine
parama-ānande gela pāṅca-sāta dine

Synonyms

dui jane — both of them; kṛṣṇa-kathā — topics of Kṛṣṇa; kahe — speak; rātri-dine — day and night; parama-ānande — in great happiness; gela — passed; pāṅca-sāta dine — five to seven days.

Translation

Rāmānanda Rāya and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu discussed Kṛṣṇa day and night, and thus they passed from five to seven days in great happiness.

Bengali

রামানন্দ কহে, — প্রভু, তোমার আজ্ঞা পাঞা ।
রাজাকে লিখিলুঁ আমি বিনয় করিয়া ॥ ৩৩০ ॥

Text

rāmānanda kahe,prabhu, tomāra ājñā pāñā
rājāke likhiluṅ āmi vinaya kariyā

Synonyms

rāmānanda kahe — Rāmānanda Rāya said; prabhu — my dear Lord; tomāra ājñā — Your permission; pāñā — getting; rājāke likhiluṅ — have written a letter to the King; āmi — I; vinaya kariyā — with great humility.

Translation

Rāmānanda Rāya said, “My dear Lord, with Your permission I have already written a letter to the King with great humility.

Bengali

রাজা মোরে আজ্ঞা দিল নীলাচলে যাইতে ।
চলিবার উদ্‌যোগ আমি লাগিয়াছি করিতে ॥ ৩৩১ ॥

Text

rājā more ājñā dila nīlācale yāite
calibāra udyoga āmi lāgiyāchi karite

Synonyms

rājā — the King; more — unto me; ājñā dila — has given an order; nīlācale yāite — to go to Jagannātha Purī; calibāra — to go; udyoga — arrangement; āmi — I; lāgiyāchi — began; karite — to do.

Translation

“The King has already given me an order to return to Jagannātha Purī, and I am making arrangements to do this.”

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — এথা মোর এ-নিমিত্তে আগমন ।
তোমা লঞা নীলাচলে করিব গমন ॥ ৩৩২ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe, — ethā mora e-nimitte āgamana
tomā lañā nīlācale kariba gamana

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; ethā — here; mora — My; e-nimitte — for this reason; āgamana — coming back; tomā lañā — taking you; nīlācale — to Jagannātha Purī; kariba — I shall do; gamana — going.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, “It is for this purpose alone that I have returned. I want to take you with Me to Jagannātha Purī.”

Bengali

রায় কহে, — প্রভু, আগে চল নীলাচলে ।
মোর সঙ্গে হাতী-ঘোড়া, সৈন্য-কোলাহলে ॥ ৩৩৩ ॥

Text

rāya kahe,prabhu, āge cala nīlācale
mora saṅge hātī-ghoḍā, sainya-kolāhale

Synonyms

rāya kahe — Rāmānanda Rāya replied; prabhu — Lord; āge cala — You go ahead; nīlācale — to Jagannātha Purī; mora saṅge — with me; hātī-ghoḍā — elephants and horses; sainya — soldiers; kolāhale — tumultuous roaring.

Translation

Rāmānanda Rāya said, “My dear Lord, it is better that You proceed to Jagannātha Purī alone because with me there will be many horses, elephants and soldiers, all roaring tumultuously.

Bengali

দিন-দশে ইহা-সবার করি’ সমাধান ।
তোমার পাছে পাছে আমি করিব প্রয়াণ ॥ ৩৩৪ ॥

Text

dina-daśe ihā-sabāra kari’ samādhāna
tomāra pāche pāche āmi kariba prayāṇa

Synonyms

dina-daśe — within ten days; ihā-sabāra — of all of this; kari’ samādhāna — making adjustment; tomāra — You; pāche pāche — following; āmi — I; kariba — shall do; prayāṇa — going.

Translation

“I shall make arrangements within ten days. Following You, I shall go to Nīlācala without delay.”

Bengali

তবে মহাপ্রভু তাঁরে আসিতে আজ্ঞা দিয়া ।
নীলাচলে চলিলা প্রভু আনন্দিত হঞা ॥ ৩৩৫ ॥

Text

tabe mahāprabhu tāṅre āsite ājñā diyā
nīlācale calilā prabhu ānandita hañā

Synonyms

tabe — then; mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅre — unto him; āsite — to come; ājñā diyā — giving an order; nīlācale — to Jagannātha Purī; calilā — departed; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; ānandita hañā — with great pleasure.

Translation

Giving orders to Rāmānanda Rāya to come to Nīlācala, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu departed for Jagannātha Purī with great pleasure.

Bengali

যেই পথে পূর্বে প্রভু কৈলা আগমন ।
সেই পথে চলিলা দেখি, সর্ব বৈষ্ণবগণ ॥ ৩৩৬ ॥

Text

yei pathe pūrve prabhu kailā āgamana
sei pathe calilā dekhi, sarva vaiṣṇava-gaṇa

Synonyms

yei pathe — the path by which; pūrve — formerly; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kailā āgamana — came; sei pathe — by that way; calilā — departed; dekhi — seeing; sarva — all; vaiṣṇava-gaṇa — Vaiṣṇavas.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned by the same road He had formerly taken to Vidyānagara, and all the Vaiṣṇavas along the way saw Him again.

Bengali

যাহাঁ যায়, লোক উঠে হরিধ্বনি করি’ ।
দেখি’ আনন্দিত-মন হৈলা গৌরহরি ॥ ৩৩৭ ॥

Text

yāhāṅ yāya, loka uṭhe hari-dhvani kari’
dekhi’ ānandita-mana hailā gaurahari

Synonyms

yāhāṅ yāya — wherever He goes; loka uṭhe — people stand up; hari-dhvani kari’ — vibrating the holy name of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra; dekhi’ — by seeing; ānandita — happy; mana — in mind; hailā — became; gaurahari — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Translation

Wherever Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went, the holy name of Śrī Hari was vibrated. Seeing this, the Lord became very happy.

Bengali

আলালনাথে আসি’ কৃষ্ণদাসে পাঠাইল ।
নিত্যানন্দ-আদি নিজগণে বোলাইল ॥ ৩৩৮ ॥

Text

ālālanāthe āsi’ kṛṣṇadāse pāṭhāila
nityānanda-ādi nija-gaṇe bolāila

Synonyms

ālālanāthe — to the place known as Ālālanātha; āsi’ — coming; kṛṣṇadāse — Kṛṣṇadāsa, His assistant; pāṭhāila — sent ahead; nityānanda — Lord Nityānanda; ādi — and others; nija-gaṇe — personal associates; bolāila — called for.

Translation

When the Lord reached Ālālanātha, He sent His assistant Kṛṣṇadāsa ahead to call for Nityānanda Prabhu and other personal associates.

Bengali

প্রভুর আগমন শুনি’ নিত্যানন্দ রায় ।
উঠিয়া চলিলা, প্রেমে থেহ নাহি পায় ॥ ৩৩৯ ॥

Text

prabhura āgamana śuni’ nityānanda rāya
uṭhiyā calilā, preme theha nāhi pāya

Synonyms

prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; āgamana — arrival; śuni’ — hearing; nityānanda rāya — Lord Nityānanda; uṭhiyā calilā — got up and started; preme — in great ecstasy; theha — patience; nāhi pāya — does not get.

Translation

As soon as Nityānanda Prabhu received news of the arrival of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He immediately got up and started out to see Him. Indeed, He was very impatient in His great ecstasy.

Bengali

জগদানন্দ, দামোদর-পণ্ডিত, মুকুন্দ ।
নাচিয়া চলিলা, দেহে না ধরে আনন্দ ॥ ৩৪০ ॥

Text

jagadānanda, dāmodara-paṇḍita, mukunda
nāciyā calilā, dehe nā dhare ānanda

Synonyms

jagadānanda — Jagadānanda; dāmodara-paṇḍita — Dāmodara Paṇḍita; mukunda — Mukunda; nāciyā — dancing; calilā — departed; dehe — the body; dhare — does not hold; ānanda — happiness.

Translation

Śrī Nityānanda Rāya, Jagadānanda, Dāmodara Paṇḍita and Mukunda all became ecstatic in their happiness, and dancing along the way, they went to meet the Lord.

Bengali

গোপীনাথাচার্য চলিলা আনন্দিত হঞা ।
প্রভুরে মিলিলা সবে পথে লাগ্ পাঞা ॥ ৩৪১ ॥

Text

gopīnāthācārya calilā ānandita hañā
prabhure mililā sabe pathe lāg pāñā

Synonyms

gopīnātha-ācārya — Gopīnātha Ācārya; calilā — departed; ānandita — in happiness; hañā — being; prabhure — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; mililā — met; sabe — all; pathe — along the way; lāg — contact; pāñā — getting.

Translation

Gopīnātha Ācārya also went in a very happy mood. They all went to meet the Lord, and they finally contacted Him on the way.

Bengali

প্রভু প্রেমাবেশে সবায় কৈল আলিঙ্গন ।
প্রেমাবেশে সবে করে আনন্দ-ক্রন্দন ॥ ৩৪২ ॥

Text

prabhu premāveśe sabāya kaila āliṅgana
premāveśe sabe kare ānanda-krandana

Synonyms

prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; prema-āveśe — in ecstatic love; sabāya — all of them; kaila āliṅgana — embraced; prema-āveśe — in ecstatic love; sabe kare — all of them did; ānanda-krandana — crying in pleasure.

Translation

The Lord was also filled with ecstatic love, and He embraced them all. Out of their love, they began to cry with pleasure.

Bengali

সার্বভৌম ভট্টাচার্য আনন্দে চলিলা ।
সমুদ্রের তীরে আসি’ প্রভুরে মিলিলা ॥ ৩৪৩ ॥

Text

sārvabhauma bhaṭṭācārya ānande calilā
samudrera tīre āsi’ prabhure mililā

Synonyms

sārvabhauma bhaṭṭācārya — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; ānande — in pleasure; calilā — went; samudrera tīre — on the beach by the ocean; āsi’ — coming; prabhure mililā — met the Lord.

Translation

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya also went to see the Lord with great pleasure, and he met Him on the beach by the sea.

Bengali

সার্বভৌম মহাপ্রভুর পড়িলা চরণে ।
প্রভু তাঁরে উঠাঞা কৈল আলিঙ্গনে ॥ ৩৪৪ ॥

Text

sārvabhauma mahāprabhura paḍilā caraṇe
prabhu tāṅre uṭhāñā kaila āliṅgane

Synonyms

sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; mahāprabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; paḍilā — fell down; caraṇe — at the feet; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅre — him; uṭhāñā — getting up; kaila āliṅgane — embraced.

Translation

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya fell down at the lotus feet of the Lord, and the Lord pulled him up and embraced him.

Bengali

প্রেমাবেশে সার্বভৌম করিলা রোদনে ।
সবা-সঙ্গে আইলা প্রভু ঈশ্বর-দরশনে ॥ ৩৪৫ ॥

Text

premāveśe sārvabhauma karilā rodane
sabā-saṅge āilā prabhu īśvara-daraśane

Synonyms

prema-āveśe — in ecstatic love; sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma; karilā rodane — cried; sabā-saṅge — with all of them; āilā — came; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; īśvara-daraśane — to see the Jagannātha temple.

Translation

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya cried in great ecstatic love. Then the Lord, accompanied by them all, went to the temple of Jagannātha.

Bengali

জগন্নাথ-দরশন প্রেমাবেশে কৈল ।
কম্প-স্বেদ-পুলকাশ্রুতে শরীর ভাসিল ॥ ৩৪৬ ॥

Text

jagannātha-daraśana premāveśe kaila
kampa-sveda-pulakāśrute śarīra bhāsila

Synonyms

jagannātha-daraśana — visiting Lord Jagannātha; prema-āveśe — in ecstatic love; kaila — made; kampa — trembling; sveda — perspiration; pulaka — jubilation; aśrute — with tears; śarīra — the whole body; bhāsila — was inundated.

Translation

Due to ecstatic love experienced upon visiting Lord Jagannātha, inundations of trembling, perspiration, tears and jubilation swept the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Bengali

বহু নৃত্যগীত কৈল প্রেমাবিষ্ট হঞা ।
পাণ্ডাপাল আইল সবে মালা-প্রসাদ লঞা ॥ ৩৪৭ ॥

Text

bahu nṛtya-gīta kaila premāviṣṭa hañā
pāṇḍā-pāla āila sabe mālā-prasāda lañā

Synonyms

bahu — much; nṛtya-gīta — dancing and chanting; kaila — performed; prema-āviṣṭa — in ecstatic love; hañā — being; pāṇḍā-pāla — the priests and attendants; āila — came; sabe — all; mālā-prasāda — a garland and remnants of the food of Jagannātha; lañā — offering.

Translation

In ecstatic love Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced and chanted. At that time all the attendants and priests came to offer Him a garland and the remnants of Lord Jagannātha’s food.

Purport

Those who are priests engaged in Lord Jagannātha’s service are called pāṇḍās or paṇḍitas, and they are brāhmaṇas. The attendants who look after the temple’s external affairs are called pālas. The priests and attendants went together to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Bengali

মালা-প্রসাদ পাঞা প্রভু সুস্থির হইলা ।
জগন্নাথের সেবক সব আনন্দে মিলিলা ॥ ৩৪৮ ॥

Text

mālā-prasāda pāñā prabhu susthira ha-ilā
jagannāthera sevaka saba ānande mililā

Synonyms

mālā-prasāda — the garland and prasādam; pāñā — getting; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; su-sthira ha-ilā — became patient; jagannāthera — of Lord Jagannātha; sevaka — servants; saba — all; ānande mililā — met Him in great pleasure.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became patient after receiving the garland and prasādam of Lord Jagannātha. All the servants of Lord Jagannātha met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with great pleasure.

Bengali

কাশীমিশ্র আসি’ প্রভুর পড়িলা চরণে ।
মান্য করি’ প্রভু তাঁরে কৈল আলিঙ্গনে ॥ ৩৪৯ ॥

Text

kāśī-miśra āsi’ prabhura paḍilā caraṇe
mānya kari’ prabhu tāṅre kaila āliṅgane

Synonyms

kāśī-miśra — Kāśī Miśra; āsi’ — coming; prabhura — of the Lord; paḍilā — fell down; caraṇe — at the feet; mānya kari’ — with great respect; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅre — unto him; kaila — did; āliṅgane — embracing.

Translation

Afterward, Kāśī Miśra came and fell down at the lotus feet of the Lord, and the Lord respectfully embraced him.

Bengali

প্রভু লঞা সার্বভৌম নিজ-ঘরে গেলা ।
মোর ঘরে ভিক্ষা বলি’ নিমন্ত্রণ কৈলা ॥ ৩৫০ ॥

Text

prabhu lañā sārvabhauma nija-ghare gelā
mora ghare bhikṣā bali’ nimantraṇa kailā

Synonyms

prabhu lañā — taking Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; nija-ghare — to his own home; gelā — went; mora — my; ghare — at home; bhikṣā — luncheon; bali’ — saying; nimantraṇa kailā — invited.

Translation

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then took the Lord with him to his home, saying, “Today’s luncheon will be at my home.” In this way he invited the Lord.

Bengali

দিব্য মহাপ্রসাদ অনেক আনাইল ।
পীঠা-পানা আদি জগন্নাথ যে খাইল ॥ ৩৫১ ॥

Text

divya mahā-prasāda aneka ānāila
pīṭhā-pānā ādi jagannātha ye khāila

Synonyms

divya — very nice; mahā-prasāda — remnants of food from Jagannātha; aneka — various; ānāila — brought; pīṭhā-pānā ādi — such as cakes and condensed milk; jagannātha — Lord Jagannātha; ye — which; khāila — ate.

Translation

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya brought various types of food remnants that had been left by Lord Jagannātha. He brought all kinds of cakes and condensed-milk preparations.

Bengali

মধ্যাহ্ন করিলা প্রভু নিজগণ লঞা ।
সার্বভৌম-ঘরে ভিক্ষা করিলা আসিয়া ॥ ৩৫২ ॥

Text

madhyāhna karilā prabhu nija-gaṇa lañā
sārvabhauma-ghare bhikṣā karilā āsiyā

Synonyms

madhyāhna — noon lunch; karilā — performed; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; nija-gaṇa lañā — accompanied by associates; sārvabhauma-ghare — at the home of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; bhikṣā — lunch; karilā — performed; āsiyā — coming.

Translation

Accompanied by all His associates, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s house and took His noon lunch there.

Bengali

ভিক্ষা করাঞা তাঁরে করাইল শয়ন ।
আপনে সার্বভৌম করে পাদসম্বাহন ॥ ৩৫৩ ॥

Text

bhikṣā karāñā tāṅre karāila śayana
āpane sārvabhauma kare pāda-saṁvāhana

Synonyms

bhikṣā karāñā — after giving lunch; tāṅre — Him; karāila — made; śayana — lie down to rest; āpane — personally; sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; kare — does; pāda-saṁvāhana — massaging the legs.

Translation

After offering food to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya made Him lie down to rest, and he personally began to massage the legs of the Lord.

Bengali

প্রভু তাঁরে পাঠাইল ভোজন করিতে ।
সেই রাত্রি তাঁর ঘরে রহিলা তাঁর প্রীতে ॥ ৩৫৪ ॥

Text

prabhu tāṅre pāṭhāila bhojana karite
sei rātri tāṅra ghare rahilā tāṅra prīte

Synonyms

prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅre — him; pāṭhāila — sent; bhojana karite — to take lunch; sei rātri — that night; tāṅra ghare — at his home; rahilā — remained; tāṅra prīte — just to satisfy him.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then sent Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya to take his lunch, and the Lord remained that night in his home just to please him.

Bengali

সার্বভৌম-সঙ্গে আর লঞা নিজগণ ।
তীর্থযাত্রা-কথা কহি’ কৈল জাগরণ ॥ ৩৫৫ ॥

Text

sārvabhauma-saṅge āra lañā nija-gaṇa
tīrtha-yātrā-kathā kahi’ kaila jāgaraṇa

Synonyms

sārvabhauma-saṅge — with Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; āra — and; lañā nija-gaṇa — taking His own associates; tīrtha-yātrā-kathā — topics of the pilgrimage; kahi’ — telling; kaila — did; jāgaraṇa — keeping awake through the night.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His personal associates remained with Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. They all stayed awake the entire night as the Lord spoke of His pilgrimage.

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — এত তীর্থ কৈলুঁ পর্যটন ।
তোমা-সম বৈষ্ণব না দেখিলুঁ একজন ॥ ৩৫৬ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe, — eta tīrtha kailuṅ paryaṭana
tomā-sama vaiṣṇava nā dekhiluṅ eka-jana

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — the Lord said; eta tīrtha — to so many holy places; kailuṅ paryaṭana — I have traveled; tomā-sama — like you; vaiṣṇava — devotee; — not; dekhiluṅ — I could see; eka-jana — one man.

Translation

The Lord told Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, “I have traveled to many holy places, but I could not find a Vaiṣṇava as good as you anywhere.”

Bengali

এক রামানন্দ রায় বহু সুখ দিল ।
ভট্ট কহে, — এই লাগি’ মিলিতে কহিল ॥ ৩৫৭ ॥

Text

eka rāmānanda rāya bahu sukha dila
bhaṭṭa kahe, — ei lāgi’ milite kahila

Synonyms

eka — one; rāmānanda rāya — Rāmānanda Rāya; bahu sukha — much pleasure; dila — gave; bhaṭṭa kahe — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied; ei lāgi’ — for this reason; milite — to meet; kahila — I requested.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “I received much pleasure from the talks of Rāmānanda Rāya.”

Purport

The Bhaṭṭācārya replied, “For this reason I requested that You meet him.”

In the Śrī Caitanya-candrodaya (beginning of the eighth act) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, “Sārvabhauma, I have traveled to many holy places, but I cannot find a Vaiṣṇava as good as you anywhere. However, I must admit that Rāmānanda Rāya is wonderful.”

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replies, “Therefore, my Lord, I requested that You see him.”

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then says, “There are, of course, many Vaiṣṇavas in these holy places, and most of them worship Lord Nārāyaṇa. Others, who are called Tattvavādīs, are also Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa worshipers, but they do not belong to the pure Vaiṣṇava cult. There are many worshipers of Lord Śiva, and there are also many atheists. Regardless, My dear Bhaṭṭācārya, I very much like Rāmānanda Rāya and his opinions.”

Bengali

তীর্থযাত্রা-কথা এই কৈলুঁ সমাপন ।
সংক্ষেপে কহিলুঁ, বিস্তার না যায় বর্ণন ॥ ৩৫৮ ॥

Text

tīrtha-yātrā-kathā ei kailuṅ samāpana
saṅkṣepe kahiluṅ, vistāra nā yāya varṇana

Synonyms

tīrtha-yātrā-kathā — topics of the pilgrimage; ei — these; kailuṅ samāpana — I have finished; saṅkṣepe kahiluṅ — I have described in brief; vistāra — expansively; yāya varṇana — it is not possible to describe.

Translation

Thus I have ended my narration about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pilgrimage, describing it in brief. It cannot be described very broadly.

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura points out that in the seventy-fourth verse of this chapter it is stated that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the temple of Śiyālī-bhairavī, but actually at Śiyālī Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the temple of Śrī Bhū-varāha. Near Śiyālī and Cidambaram there is a temple known as Śrī Muṣṇam. In this temple there is a Deity of Śrī Bhū-varāha. In the jurisdiction of Cidambaram there is a district known as southern Ārkaṭa. The town of Śiyālī is in that district. There is a temple of Śrī Bhū-varāhadeva nearby, not Bhairavī-devī. This is Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s conclusion.

Bengali

অনন্ত চৈতন্যলীলা কহিতে না জানি ।
লোভে লজ্জা খাঞা তার করি টানাটানি ॥ ৩৫৯ ॥

Text

ananta caitanya-līlā kahite nā jāni
lobhe lajjā khāñā tāra kari ṭānāṭāni

Synonyms

ananta — unlimited; caitanya-līlā — pastimes of Lord Caitanya; kahite — to speak; jāni — I do not know; lobhe — out of greed; lajjā khāñā — becoming shameless; tāra — of them; kari — I do; ṭānāṭāni — some attempt only.

Translation

The pastimes of Lord Caitanya are unlimited. No one can properly describe His activities, yet I make the attempt out of greed. This but reveals my shamelessness.

Bengali

প্রভুর তীর্থযাত্রা-কথা শুনে যেই জন ।
চৈতন্যচরণে পায় গাঢ় প্রেমধন ॥ ৩৬০ ॥

Text

prabhura tīrtha-yātrā-kathā śune yei jana
caitanya-caraṇe pāya gāḍha prema-dhana

Synonyms

prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tīrtha-yātrā — touring of sacred places of pilgrimage; kathā — topics about; śune — hears; yei — who; jana — person; caitanya-caraṇe — at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; pāya — gets; gāḍha — deep; prema-dhana — riches of ecstatic love.

Translation

Whoever hears of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pilgrimage to various holy places attains the riches of very deep ecstatic love.

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura remarks, “The impersonalists imagine some forms of the Absolute Truth through the direct perception of their senses. The impersonalists worship such imaginary forms, but neither Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam nor Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepts this sense gratificatory worship to be of any spiritual significance.” The Māyāvādīs imagine themselves to be the Supreme. They imagine that the Supreme has no personal form and that all His forms are imaginary like the will-o’-the-wisp or a flower in the sky. Both Māyāvādīs and those who imagine forms of God are misguided. According to them, worship of the Deity or any other form of the Lord is a result of the conditioned soul’s illusion. However, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu confirms the conclusion of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam on the strength of His philosophy of acintya-bhedābheda-tattva. That philosophy holds that the Supreme Lord is simultaneously one with and different from His creation. That is to say, there is unity in diversity. In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu proved the impotence of fruitive workers, speculative empiric philosophers and mystic yogīs. The realization of such men is simply a waste of time and energy.

To set the example, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally visited temples in various holy places. Wherever He visited, He immediately exhibited His ecstatic love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When a Vaiṣṇava visits the temple of a demigod, his vision of that demigod is different from the vision of the impersonalists and Māyāvādīs. The Brahma-saṁhitā supports this. A Vaiṣṇava’s visit to the temple of Lord Śiva, for example, is different from a nondevotee’s visit. The nondevotee considers the deity of Lord Śiva an imaginary form because he ultimately thinks that the Supreme Absolute Truth is void. However, a Vaiṣṇava sees Lord Śiva as being simultaneously one with and different from the Supreme Lord. In this regard, the example of milk and yogurt is given. Yogurt is actually nothing but milk, but at the same time it is not milk. It is simultaneously one with milk yet different from it. This is the philosophy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and it is confirmed by Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.4):

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

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

The Absolute Truth, God, is everything, but this does not mean that everything is God. For this reason Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His followers visited the temples of all the demigods, but they did not see them in the same way an impersonalist sees them. Everyone should follow in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and visit all temples. Sometimes mundane sahajiyās suppose that the gopīs visited the temple of Kātyāyanī in the same way mundane people visit the temple of Devī. However, the gopīs prayed to Kātyāyanī to grant them Kṛṣṇa as their husband, whereas mundaners visit the temple of Kātyāyanī to receive some material profit. That is the difference between a Vaiṣṇava’s visit and a nondevotee’s visit.

Not understanding the process of disciplic succession, so-called logicians put forward the theory of pañcopāsanā, in which a person worships one of five deities — namely Viṣṇu, Śiva, Durgā, the sun-god or Ganeśa. In this conception the impersonalists imagine one of these five deities as supreme and reject the others. Such philosophical speculation, which is certainly idol worship, is not accepted by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu or by Vaiṣṇavas. This imaginary deity worship has recently been transformed into Māyāvāda impersonalism. For want of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, people are victimized by the Māyāvāda philosophy, and consequently they sometimes become staunch atheists. However, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu established the process of self-realization by His own personal behavior. As stated in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 8.274):

sthāvara-jaṅgama dekhe, nā dekhe tāra mūrti
sarvatra haya nija iṣṭa-deva-sphūrti

“A Vaiṣṇava never sees the material form of anything, moving or nonmoving. Rather, everywhere he looks he sees the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and immediately he remembers the transcendental form of the Lord.”

Bengali

চৈতন্যচরিত শুন শ্রদ্ধা-ভক্তি করি’ ।
মাৎসর্য ছাড়িয়া মুখে বল ‘হরি’ ‘হরি’ ॥ ৩৬১ ॥

Text

caitanya-carita śuna śraddhā-bhakti kari’
mātsarya chāḍiyā mukhe bala ‘hari’ ‘hari’

Synonyms

caitanya-carita — the activities of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; śuna — hear; śraddhā — faith; bhakti — devotion; kari’ — accepting; mātsarya — envy; chāḍiyā — giving up; mukhe — by the mouth; bala — say; hari hari — the holy name of the Lord (Hari, Hari).

Translation

Please hear the transcendental pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with faith and devotion. Giving up envy of the Lord, everyone chant the Lord’s holy name, Hari.

Bengali

এই কলিকালে আর নাহি কোন ধর্ম ।
বৈষ্ণব, বৈষ্ণবশাস্ত্র, এই কহে মর্ম ॥ ৩৬২ ॥

Text

ei kali-kāle āra nāhi kona dharma
vaiṣṇava, vaiṣṇava-śāstra, ei kahe marma

Synonyms

ei kali-kāle — in this Age of Kali; āra — other; nāhi kona — there is not any; dharma — religious principle; vaiṣṇava — devotee; vaiṣṇava-śāstra — devotional literature; ei kahe marma — this is the purport.

Translation

In this Age of Kali there are no genuine religious principles other than those established by Vaiṣṇava devotees and the Vaiṣṇava scriptures. This is the sum and substance of everything.

Purport

One must have firm faith in the process of devotional service and the scriptures that support it. If one hears the activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with this faith, he can be freed from his envious position. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is meant for such nonenvious persons (nirmatsarāṇāṁ satām). In this age a person should not envy Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s movement but should chant the holy names of Hari and Kṛṣṇa, the mahā-mantra. That is the sum and substance of the eternal religion, known as sanātana-dharma. In this verse the word vaiṣṇava refers to a pure devotee and fully realized soul, and the word vaiṣṇava-śāstra refers to śruti, or the Vedas, which are called śabda-pramāṇa, the evidence of transcendental sound. One who strictly follows the Vedic literature and chants the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead will actually be situated in the transcendental disciplic succession. Those who want to attain life’s ultimate goal must follow this principle. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.19.17), it is said:

śrutiḥ pratyakṣam aitihyamanumānaṁ catuṣṭayam
pramāṇeṣv anavasthānād
vikalpāt sa virajyate

“Vedic literature, direct perception, history and hypothesis are the four kinds of evidential proofs. Everyone should stick to these principles for the realization of the Absolute Truth.”

Bengali

চৈতন্যচন্দ্রের লীলা — অগাধ, গম্ভীর ।
প্রবেশ করিতে নারি, — স্পর্শি রহি’ তীর ॥ ৩৬৩ ॥

Text

caitanya-candrera līlā — agādha, gambhīra
praveśa karite nāri, — sparśi rahi’ tīra

Synonyms

caitanya-candrera līlā — the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; agādha — unfathomable; gambhīra — deep; praveśa karite — to enter into; nāri — I am unable; sparśi — I touch; rahi’ tīra — standing on the bank.

Translation

The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are just like an unfathomable ocean. It is not possible for me to enter into it. Simply standing on the shore, I am but touching the water.

Bengali

চৈতন্যচরিত শ্রদ্ধায় শুনে যেই জন ।
যতেক বিচারে, তত পায় প্রেমধন ॥ ৩৬৪ ॥

Text

caitanya-carita śraddhāya śune yei jana
yateka vicāre, tata pāya prema-dhana

Synonyms

caitanya-carita — the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; śraddhāya — with faith; śune — hears; yei jana — which person; yateka vicāre — as far as he analytically studies; tata — so far; pāya — he gets; prema-dhana — the riches of ecstatic love.

Translation

The more one hears the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with faith, analytically studying them, the more one attains the ecstatic riches of love of Godhead.

Bengali

শ্রীরূপ-রঘুনাথ-পদে যার আশ ।
চৈতন্যচরিতামৃত কহে কৃষ্ণদাস ॥ ৩৬৫ ॥

Text

śrī-rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa
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

As usual the author concludes the chapter by reciting the names of Śrī Rūpa and Raghunātha and reinstating himself at their lotus feet.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, ninth chapter, describing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s travels to many holy places in South India.