Chapter 8

       Talks Between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya

 

   The summary of the Eighth Chapter is given by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya.

   After visiting the temple of Jiyada-nrsimha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to the banks of the river Godavari, to a place known as Vidyanagara. When Srila Ramananda Raya went there to take his bath, they met. After being introduced, Sri Ramananda Raya requested Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to remain in the village for some days. Honoring his request, Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed there in the home of some Vedic brahmanas. In the evening, Srila Ramananda Raya used to come to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Ramananda Raya, who was clothed in ordinary dress, offered the Lord respectful obeisances. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu questioned him on the object and process of worship and also asked him to recite verses from Vedic literature.

   First of all, Srila Ramananda Raya enunciated the system of the varnasrama institution. He recited various verses about karmarpana, stating that everything should be dedicated to the Lord. He then spoke of detached action, knowledge mixed with devotional service, and finally the spontaneous loving service of the Lord. After hearing Srila Ramananda Raya recite some verses, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the principle of pure devotional service devoid of all kinds of speculation. After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked Ramananda Raya to explain the higher platform of devotional service. Then Srila Ramananda Raya explained unalloyed devotional service, love of Godhead, and serving the Lord in the moods of pure servitude, fraternity and parental love. Finally he spoke of serving the Lord in conjugal love. He then spoke of how conjugal love can be developed in various ways. This conjugal love attains its highest perfection in Srimati Radharani's love for Krsna. He next described the position of Srimati Radharani and the transcendental mellows of love of God. Srila Ramananda Raya then recited a verse of his own concerning the platform of ecstatic vision, technically called prema-vilasa-vivarta. Srila Ramananda Raya also explained that all stages of conjugal love can be attained through the mercy of the residents of Vrndavana, especially by the mercy of the gopis. All these subject matters were thus vividly described. Gradually Ramananda Raya could understand the position of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu exhibited His real form, Ramananda Raya fell unconscious. After some days, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked Ramananda Raya to retire from government service and come to Jagannatha Puri. These descriptions of the meetings between Ramananda Raya and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are taken from the notebook of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami.

 

                                TEXT 1

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   sancarya ramabhidha-bhakta-meghe

                   sva-bhakti-siddhanta-cayamrtani

                   gaurabdhir etair amuna vitirnais

                   taj-jnatva-ratnalayatam prayati

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sancarya--by empowering; rama-abhidha--of the name Rama; bhakta-meghe--in the cloudlike devotee; sva-bhakti--of His own devotional service; siddhanta--of conclusions; caya--all collections; amrtani--nectar; gaura-abdhih--the ocean known as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; etaih--by these; amuna--by the cloud known as Ramananda Raya; vitirnaih--distributed; tat-jnatva--of knowledge of devotional service; ratna-alayatam--the quality of being an ocean containing valuable jewels; prayati--achieved.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is known as Gauranga, is the ocean of all conclusive knowledge in devotional service. He empowered Sri Ramananda Raya, who may be likened to a cloud of devotional service. This cloud was filled with the water of all the conclusive purports of devotional service and was empowered by the ocean to spread this water over the ocean of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself. Thus the ocean of Caitanya Mahaprabhu became filled with the jewels of the knowledge of pure devotional service.

 

                                TEXT 2

 

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                jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda

              jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jaya jaya--all glories; sri-caitanya--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jaya--all glories; nityananda--to Lord Nityananda; jaya advaita-candra--all glories to Advaita Acarya; jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda--all glories to the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All glories to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityananda! All glories to Advaita Acarya! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!

 

                                TEXT 3

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 purva-rite prabhu age gamana karila

                'jiyada-nrsimha'-ksetre kata-dine gela

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   purva-rite--according to His previous program; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; age--ahead; gamana--going; karila--did; jiyada-nrsimha--of the name Jiyada-nrsimha; ksetre--at the place of pilgrimage; kata-dine--after some days; gela--arrived.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   According to His previous program, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went forward on His tour and after some days arrived at the place of pilgrimage known as Jiyada-nrsimha.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The Jiyada-nrsimha temple is situated on the top of a hill about five miles away from Visakhapatnam. There is a railway station on the South Indian Railway known as Simhacala. The temple known as Simhacala is the best temple in the vicinity of Visakhapatnam. This temple is very affluent and is a typical example of the architecture of the area. In one stone tablet it is mentioned that formerly a queen covered the Deity with gold plate. This is mentioned in the Visakhapatnam Gazetteer. About the temple, there are residential quarters for the priests and devotees. Indeed, at the present moment there are many residential quarters to accommodate visiting devotees. The original Deity is situated within the depths of the temple, but there is another Deity, a duplicate, known as the vijaya-murti. This smaller Deity can be moved from the temple and taken on public processions. Priests who generally belong to the Ramanuja-sampradaya are in charge of the Deity worship.

 

                                TEXT 4

 

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                nrsimha dekhiya kaila dandavat-pranati

                premavese kaila bahu nrtya-gita-stuti

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nrsimha dekhiya--by seeing Lord Nrsimha in the temple; kaila--did; dandavat-pranati--offering of obeisances, falling flat before the Deity; premavese--in ecstatic love; kaila--did; bahu--all kinds of; nrtya--dancing; gita--chanting; stuti--and offering of prayers.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After seeing the Deity of Lord Nrsimha in the temple, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu offered His respectful obeisances by falling flat. Then, in ecstatic love, He performed various dances, chanted, and offered prayers.

 

                                TEXT 5

 

                                 TEXT

 

            "sri-nrsimha, jaya nrsimha, jaya jaya nrsimha

              prahladesa jaya padma-mukha-padma-bhrnga"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-nrsimha--Lord Nrsimha with Laksmi; jaya nrsimha--all glories to Lord Nrsimha; jaya jaya--again and again glories; nrsimha--to Nrsimhadeva; prahlada-isa--to the Lord of Prahlada Maharaja; jaya--all glories; padma--of the goddess of fortune; mukha-padma--of the lotuslike face; bhrnga--the bee.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'All glories to Nrsimhadeva! All glories to Nrsimhadeva, who is the Lord of Prahlada Maharaja and, like a honeybee, is always engaged in beholding the lotuslike face of the goddess of fortune.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The goddess of fortune is always embraced by Lord Nrsimhadeva. This is mentioned in the commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam written by the great commentator Srila Sridhara Svami. The following verse was composed by Sridhara Svami in his commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.87.1):

 

                         vag-isa yasya vadane

                       laksmir yasya ca vaksasi

                        yasyaste hrdaye samvit

                       tam nrsimham aham bhaje

 

   "Lord Nrsimhadeva is always assisted by Sarasvati, the goddess of learning, and He is always embracing to His chest the goddess of fortune. The Lord is always complete in knowledge within Himself. Let us offer obeisances unto Nrsimhadeva."

   Similarly, in his commentary on the First Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.1), Sridhara Svami describes Lord Nrsimhadeva in this way:

 

                        prahlada-hrdayahladam

                        bhaktavidya-vidaranam

                        sarad-indu-rucim vande

                        parindra-vadanam harim

 

   "Let me offer my obeisances unto Lord Nrsimhadeva, who is always enlightening Prahlada Maharaja within his heart and who always kills the nescience that attacks the devotees. His mercy is distributed like moonshine, and His face is like that of a lion. Let me offer my obeisances unto Him again and again."

 

                                TEXT 6

 

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                        ugro 'py anugra evayam

                       sva-bhaktanam nr-kesari

                         kesariva sva-potanam

                        anyesam ugra-vikramah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ugrah--ferocious; api--although; anugrah--not ferocious; eva--certainly; ayam--this; sva-bhaktanam--to His pure devotees; nr-kesari--having the body of a human being and a lion; kesari iva--like a lioness; sva-potanam--to her young cubs; anyesam--to others; ugra--ferocious; vikramah--whose strength.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'Although very ferocious, the lioness is very kind to her cubs. Similarly, although very ferocious to nondevotees like Hiranyakasipu, Lord Nrsimhadeva is very, very soft and kind to devotees like Prahlada Maharaja.' "

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This verse was composed by Sridhara Svami in his commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.9.1).

 

                                TEXT 7

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ei-mata nana sloka padi' stuti kaila

                nrsimha-sevaka mala-prasada ani' dila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; nana--various; sloka--verses; padi'--reciting; stuti--prayers; kaila--offered; nrsimha-sevaka--the priest of Lord Nrsimhadeva in the temple; mala--garlands; prasada--and remnants of the food of Lord Nrsimhadeva; ani'--bringing; dila--offered.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In this way Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu recited different verses from the sastra. The priest of Lord Nrsimhadeva then brought garlands and the remnants of the Lord's food and offered them to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                                TEXT 8

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 purvavat kona vipre kaila nimantrana

                 sei ratri tahan rahi' karila gamana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   purva-vat--as previously; kona--some; vipre--brahmana; kaila--made; nimantrana--invitation; sei ratri--that night; tahan--there; rahi'--staying; karila--did; gamana--touring.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As usual, a brahmana offered Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu an invitation. The Lord passed the night in the temple and then commenced His tour again.

 

                                TEXT 9

 

                                 TEXT

 

               prabhate uthiya prabhu calila premavese

                  dig-vidik nahi jnana ratri-divase

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhate--in the morning; uthiya--rising; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; calila--went; prema-avese--in great ecstatic love; dik-vidik--the right or wrong direction; nahi--there was not; jnana--knowledge; ratri-divase--day and night.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The next morning, in the great ecstasy of love, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu started on His tour with no knowledge of the proper direction, and He continued the whole day and night.

 

                               TEXT 10

 

                                 TEXT

 

              purvavat 'vaisnava' kari' sarva loka-gane

                 godavari-tire prabhu aila kata-dine

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   purva-vat--as previously; vaisnava--devotees; kari'--making; sarva--all; loka-gane--the people; godavari-tire--on the bank of the river Godavari; prabhu--the Lord; aila--arrived; kata-dine--after some days.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As previously, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu converted to Vaisnavism many people He met on the road. After some days, the Lord reached the banks of the River Godavari.

 

                               TEXT 11

 

                                 TEXT

 

               godavari dekhi' ha-ila 'yamuna'-smarana

                tire vana dekhi' smrti haila vrndavana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   godavari--the River Godavari; dekhi'--seeing; ha-ila--there was; yamuna smarana--remembrance of the River Yamuna; tire--on the banks; vana--the forests; dekhi'--seeing; smrti--remembrance; haila--there was; vrndavana--Sri Vrndavana.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When He saw the River Godavari, the Lord remembered the River Yamuna, and when He saw the forest on the banks of the river, He remembered Sri Vrndavana-dhama.

 

                               TEXT 12

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 sei vane kata-ksana kari' nrtya-gana

                 godavari para hana tahan kaila snana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei vane--in that forest; kata-ksana--for some time; kari'--performing; nrtya-gana--dancing and chanting; godavari--the river; para hana--crossing; tahan--there; kaila--took; snana--bath.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After performing His usual chanting and dancing for some time in this forest, the Lord crossed the river and took His bath on the other bank.

 

                               TEXT 13

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ghata chadi' kata-dure jala-sannidhane

               vasi' prabhu kare krsna-nama-sankirtane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ghata chadi'--leaving the bathing place; kata-dure--a short distance away; jala-sannidhane--near the water; vasi'--sitting; prabhu--the Lord; kare--does; krsna-nama-sankirtane--chanting of the holy name of Lord Krsna.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After bathing in the river, the Lord walked a little distance from the bathing place and engaged in chanting the holy name of Krsna.

 

                               TEXT 14

 

                                 TEXT

 

                hena-kale dolaya cadi' ramananda raya

                  snana karibare aila, bajana bajaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hena-kale--at this time; dolaya cadi'--riding on a palanquin; ramananda raya--Srila Ramananda Raya; snana--bath; karibare--to take; aila--came there; bajana bajaya--accompanied by a musical band.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   At that time, accompanied by the sounds of music, Ramananda Raya came there on a palanquin to take his bath.

 

                               TEXT 15

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tanra sange bahu aila vaidika brahmana

                vidhi-mate kaila tenho snanadi-tarpana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tanra sange--with him; bahu--many; aila--came; vaidika--following the Vedic principles; brahmana--brahmanas; vidhi-mate--according to ritualistic ceremonies; kaila--did; tenho--he, Srila Ramananda Raya; snana-adi-tarpana--bathing and offering oblations, etc.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Many brahmanas, following the Vedic principles, accompanied Ramananda Raya. According to the Vedic rituals, Ramananda Raya took his bath and offered oblations to his forefathers.

 

                               TEXT 16

 

                                 TEXT

 

              prabhu tanre dekhi' janila----ei rama-raya

               tanhare milite prabhura mana uthi' dhaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--him; dekhi'--seeing; janila--could understand; ei--this; rama-raya--Srila Ramananda Raya; tanhare--him; milite--to meet; prabhura--of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mana--mind; uthi'--rising; dhaya--runs after.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu could understand that the person who had come to bathe in the river was Ramananda Raya. The Lord wanted so much to meet him that His mind immediately began running after him.

 

                               TEXT 17

 

                                 TEXT

 

             tathapi dhairya dhari' prabhu rahila vasiya

                ramananda aila apurva sannyasi dekhiya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tathapi--still; dhariya dhari'--keeping patient; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; rahila--remained; vasiya--sitting; ramananda--Srila Ramananda Raya; aila--arrived; apurva--wonderful; sannyasi--renunciant; dekhiya--seeing.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was running after him mentally, He patiently remained sitting. Ramananda Raya, seeing the wonderful sannyasi, then came to see Him.

 

                               TEXT 18

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 surya-sata-sama kanti, aruna vasana

                subalita prakanda deha, kamala-locana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   surya-sata--hundreds of suns; sama--like; kanti--luster; aruna--saffron; vasana--garments; subalita--very strongly built; prakanda--big; deha--body; kamala-locana--eyes like lotus petals.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Srila Ramananda Raya then saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be as brilliant as a hundred suns. The Lord was covered by a saffron garment. He was large in body and very strongly built, and His eyes were like lotus petals.

 

                               TEXT 19

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 dekhiya tanhara mane haila camatkara

                   asiya karila dandavat namaskara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dekhiya--seeing; tanhara--his; mane--in the mind; haila--there was; camatkara--wonder; asiya--coming there; karila--did; danda-vat--like a rod; namaskara--obeisances.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Ramananda Raya saw the wonderful sannyasi, he was struck with wonder. He went to Him and immediately offered his respectful obeisances, falling down flat like a rod.

 

                               TEXT 20

 

                                 TEXT

 

           uthi' prabhu kahe,----utha, kaha 'krsna' 'krsna'

                tare alingite prabhura hrdaya satrsna

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   uthi'--rising; prabhu--the Lord; kahe--said; utha--get up; kaha--chant; krsna krsna--the holy name of Lord Krsna; tare--him; alingite--to embrace; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; hrdaya--the heart; sa-trsna--very eager.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Lord stood up and asked Ramananda Raya to arise and chant the holy name of Krsna. Indeed, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very eager to embrace him.

 

                               TEXT 21

 

                                 TEXT

 

               tathapi puchila,----tumi raya ramananda?

               tenho kahe,----sei hana dasa sudra manda

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tathapi--still; puchila--He inquired; tumi--you; raya ramananda--Ramananda Raya; tenho kahe--he replied; sei hana--I am that; dasa--servant; sudra--belonging to the sudra community; manda--very low.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then inquired whether he was Ramananda Raya, and he replied, "Yes, I am Your very low servant, and I belong to the sudra community."

 

                               TEXT 22

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tabe tare kaila prabhu drdha alingana

                premavese prabhu-bhrtya donhe acetana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--thereafter; tare--him; kaila--did; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; drdha--firm; alingana--embracing; prema-avese--in ecstatic love; prabhu-bhrtya--the servant and the master; donhe--both; acetana--unconscious.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then embraced Sri Ramananda Raya very firmly. Indeed, both the master and the servant almost lost consciousness due to ecstatic love.

 

                               TEXT 23

 

                                 TEXT

 

                svabhavika prema donhara udaya karila

                 dunha alingiya dunhe bhumite padila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   svabhavika--natural; prema--love; donhara--of both of them; udaya--awakening; karila--there was; dunha--both; alingiya--embracing; dunhe--both of them; bhumite--on the ground; padila--fell down.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Their natural love for each other was awakened in them both, and they embraced and fell down on the ground.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Ramananda Raya was an incarnation of the gopi Visakha. Since Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was Lord Krsna Himself, there was naturally an awakening of love between Visakha and Krsna. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the combination of Srimati Radharani and Krsna. The gopi Visakha is a principal gopi assisting Srimati Radharani. Ramananda Raya and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced, since their natural love also was awakened.

 

                               TEXT 24

 

                                 TEXT

 

            stambha, sveda, asru, kampa, pulaka, vaivarnya

             dunhara mukhete suni' gadgada 'krsna' varna

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   stambha--paralysis; sveda--perspiration; asru--tears; kampa--shivering; pulaka--horripilation; vaivarnya--paleness; dunhara--of both of them; mukhete--in the mouth; suni'--hearing; gadgada--faltering; krsna varna--Krsna's name.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When they embraced each other, ecstatic symptoms--paralysis, perspiration, tears, shivering, paleness and standing up of the bodily hairs--appeared. The word "Krsna" came from their mouths falteringly.

 

                               TEXT 25

 

                                 TEXT

 

               dekhiya brahmana-ganera haila camatkara

                 vaidika brahmana saba karena vicara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dekhiya--seeing this; brahmana-ganera--of the ritualistic brahmanas; haila--there was; camatkara--wonder; vaidika--followers of Vedic ritualistic ceremonies; brahmana--the brahmanas; saba--all; karena--did; vicara--consideration.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the stereotyped, ritualistic brahmanas who were following the Vedic principles saw this ecstatic manifestation of love, they were struck with wonder. All these brahmanas began to reflect as follows.

 

                               TEXT 26

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ei ta' sannyasira teja dekhi brahma-sama

                 sudre alingiya kene karena krandana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei ta'--this indeed; sannyasira--of the sannyasi, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; teja--bodily effulgence; dekhi--we see; brahma-sama--exactly like Brahman; sudre--a sudra, or worker; alingiya--embracing; kene--why; karena--does; krandana--crying.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   These brahmanas began to think, "We can see that this sannyasi has a luster like the effulgence of Brahman, but how is it He is crying upon embracing a sudra, a member of the fourth caste in the social order?"

 

                               TEXT 27

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ei maharaja----maha-pandita, gambhira

                sannyasira sparse matta ha-ila asthira

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei maharaja--this Ramananda Raya, who is the Governor; maha-pandita--a very learned person; gambhira--grave; sannyasira sparse--by touching a sannyasi; matta--mad; ha-ila--became; asthira--restless.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   They thought, "This Ramananda Raya is the Governor of Madras, a highly learned and grave person, a maha-pandita, but upon touching this sannyasi he has become restless like a madman."

 

                               TEXT 28

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ei-mata vipra-gana bhave mane mana

             vijatiya loka dekhi, prabhu kaila samvarana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; vipra-gana--all the brahmanas; bhave--think; mane mana--within their minds; vijatiya loka--outside people; dekhi--seeing; prabhu--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila--did; samvarana--restraining.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   While the brahmanas were thinking in this way about the activities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw those outsiders and restrained His transcendental emotions.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Ramananda Raya was intimately related to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; therefore he can be accepted as a sajatiya, a person within the intimate circle of the Lord. The brahmanas, however, were followers of the Vedic rituals and were not able to have an intimate connection with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Consequently they are called vijatiya-loka. In other words, they were not pure devotees. One may be a highly learned brahmana, but if he is not a pure devotee he is a vijatiya, an outcaste, one outside devotional service--in other words, a nondevotee. Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya were embracing in ecstasy, the Lord restrained His transcendental emotions upon seeing the outsider brahmanas.

 

                               TEXT 29

 

                                 TEXT

 

                sustha hana dunhe sei sthanete vasila

                 tabe hasi' mahaprabhu kahite lagila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   su-stha hana--becoming steady; dunhe--both of them; sei--that; sthanete--in the place; vasila--sat down; tabe--then; hasi'--smiling; mahaprabhu--Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahite--to speak; lagila--began.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When they regained their sanity, they both sat down, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu smiled and began to speak as follows.

 

                               TEXT 30

 

                                 TEXT

 

             'sarvabhauma bhattacarya kahila tomara gune

                   tomare milite more karila yatane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarvabhauma bhattacarya--of the name Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; kahila--has spoken; tomara--your; gune--good qualities; tomare--you; milite--to meet; more--Me; karila--made; yatane--endeavor.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya spoke of your good qualities, and he made a great endeavor to convince Me to meet you.

 

                               TEXT 31

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   toma milibare mora etha agamana

                bhala haila, anayase pailun darasana'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   toma--you; milibare--to meet; mora--My; etha--here; agamana--coming; bhala haila--it was very good; anayase--without difficulty; pailun--I have gotten; darasana--interview.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Indeed, I have come here just to meet you. It is very good that even without making an effort I have gotten your interview here."

 

                               TEXT 32

 

                                 TEXT

 

             raya kahe,----sarvabhauma kare bhrtya-jnana

                  parokseha mora hite haya savadhana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raya kahe--Ramananda Raya replied; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; kare--does; bhrtya-jnana--thinks of me as his servant; parokseha--in my absence; mora--of me; hite--for the benefit; haya--is; savadhana--always careful.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Ramananda Raya replied, "Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya thinks of me as his servant. Even in my absence he is very careful to do me good.

 

                               TEXT 33

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  tanra krpaya painu tomara darasana

                aji saphala haila mora manusya-janama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tanra krpaya--by his mercy; painu--I have gotten; tomara--Your; darasana--interview; aji--today; sa-phala--successful; haila--has become; mora--my; manusya-janama--birth as a human being.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "By his mercy I have received Your interview here. Consequently I consider that today I have become a successful human being.

 

                               TEXT 34

 

                                 TEXT

 

              sarvabhaume tomara krpa,----tara ei cihna

                asprsya sparsile hana tanra premadhina

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarvabhaume--unto Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; tomara--Your; krpa--mercy; tara--of such mercy; ei--this; cihna--the symptom; asprsya--untouchable; sparsile--You have touched; hana--becoming; tanra--his; prema-adhina--influenced by love.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I can see that You have bestowed special mercy upon Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. Therefore You have touched me, although I am untouchable. This is due only to his love for You.

 

                               TEXT 35

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 kahan tumi----saksat isvara narayana

              kahan muni----raja-sevi visayi sudradhama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kahan--whereas; tumi--You; saksat--directly; isvara narayana--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kahan--whereas; muni--I; raja-sevi--government servant; visayi--materialist; sudra-adhama--worse than a sudra, or fourth-class man.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana Himself, and I am only a government servant interested in materialistic activities. Indeed, I am the lowest amongst men of the fourth caste.

 

                               TEXT 36

 

                                 TEXT

 

               mora sparse na karile ghrna, veda-bhaya

                   mora darsana toma vede nisedhaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mora--of me; sparse--by the touch; na--not; karile--You did; ghrna--hatred; veda-bhaya--afraid of the injunctions of the Vedas; mora--of me; darsana--seeing; toma--You; vede--the Vedic injunctions; nisedhaya--forbid.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "You do not fear the Vedic injunctions stating that You should not associate with a sudra. You were not contemptuous of my touch, although in the Vedas You are forbidden to associate with sudras.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In the Bhagavad-gita (9.32) the Lord says:

 

                      mam hi partha vyapasritya

                       ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah

                     striyo vaisyas tatha sudras

                       te 'pi yanti param gatim

 

   "O son of Prtha, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth--women, vaisyas [merchants], as well as sudras [workers]--can attain the supreme destination."

   The word papa-yonayah means "born of lower-caste women." The vaisyas are merchants, and the sudras or workers are servants. According to Vedic classifications, they belong to a lower social order. A low life means a life without Krsna consciousness. High and low positions in society were calculated by considering a person's Krsna consciousness. A brahmana is considered to be on the highest platform because he knows Brahman, the Absolute Truth. The second caste, the ksatriya caste, also know Brahman, but not as well as the brahmanas. The vaisyas and sudras do not clearly understand God consciousness, but if they take to Krsna consciousness by the mercy of Krsna and the spiritual master, they do not remain in the lower castes (papa-yonayah). It is clearly stated: te 'pi yanti param gatim.

   Unless one has attained the highest standard of life, one cannot return home, back to Godhead. One may be a sudra, vaisya or woman, but if one is situated in the service of the Lord in Krsna consciousness, one should not be considered stri, sudra, vaisya or lower than sudra.   Though a person may be from a lowborn family, if he is engaged in the Lord's service he should never be considered to belong to a lowborn family. The Padma Purana forbids: viksate jati-samanyat sa yati narakam-dhruvam. A person goes to hell quickly when he considers a devotee of the Lord in terms of birth. Although Sri Ramananda Raya supposedly took birth in a sudra family, he is not to be considered a sudra, for he was a great advanced devotee. Indeed, he was on the transcendental platform. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore embraced him. Out of spiritual humility, Sri Ramananda Raya presented himself as a sudra (raja-sevi visayi sudradhama). Even though one may engage in government service or in any other pound-shilling-pence business--in short, in materialistic life--he need only take to Krsna consciousness. Krsna consciousness is a very simple process. One need only chant the holy names of the Lord and strictly follow the principles forbidding sinful activity. In this way one can no longer be considered an untouchable, a visayi or a sudra. One who is advanced in spiritual life should not associate with nondevotees--namely men in government service and men engaged in materialistic activity for sense gratification or in the service of others. Such men are considered visayi, materialistic. It is said:

 

               niskincanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya

                param param jigamisor bhava-sagarasya

                sandarsanam visayinam atha yositam ca

              ha hanta hanta visa-bhaksanato 'py asadhu

 

   "A person who is very seriously engaged in cultivating devotional service with a view to crossing the ocean of nescience and who has completely abandoned all material activities should never see a sudra, a vaisya or a woman." (Sri Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka 8.23)

 

                               TEXT 37

 

                                 TEXT

 

               tomara krpaya tomaya karaya nindya-karma

               saksat isvara tumi, ke jane tomara marma

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tomara krpaya--Your mercy; tomaya--unto You; karaya--induces; nindya-karma--forbidden actions; saksat isvara--directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tumi--You; ke jane--who can know; tomara--Your; marma--purpose.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself; therefore no one can understand Your purpose. By Your mercy You are touching me, although this is not sanctioned by the Vedas.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   A sannyasi is strictly forbidden to see the visayis, the materialistic people. But Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, out of His boundless and causeless mercy, could show favor to anyone, regardless of birth and position.

 

                               TEXT 38

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ama nistarite tomara ihan agamana

                   parama-dayalu tumi patita-pavana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ama nistarite--to deliver me; tomara--Your; ihan--here; agamana--appearance; parama-dayalu--greatly merciful; tumi--You; patita-pavana--the deliverer of all fallen souls.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "You have come here specifically to deliver me. You are so merciful that You alone can deliver all fallen souls.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Narottama dasa Thakura sings in his Prarthana (39):

 

              sri-krsna-caitanya-prabhu daya kara more,

                  toma vina ke dayalu jagat-samsare

 

                   patita-pavana-hetu tava avatara,

                  mo sama patita prabhu na paibe ara

 

   "My dear Lord, please be merciful to me. Who can be more merciful than Your Lordship within these three worlds? You appear as an incarnation just to reclaim the conditioned, fallen souls, but I assure You that You will not find a soul more fallen than me."

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's specific mission is to deliver fallen souls. Of course, in this Age of Kali there is hardly anyone who is not fallen according to the calculations of Vedic behavior. In His instructions to Rupa Gosvami, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu described the so-called followers of Vedic religion in this way (Madhya 19.146):

 

             veda-nistha-madhye ardheka veda 'mukhe' mane

              veda-nisiddha papa kare, dharma nahi gane

 

   So-called followers of Vedic principles simply accept the Vedas formally, but they act against Vedic principles. This is symptomatic of this Age of Kali. People claim to follow a certain type of religion, saying formally, "I am Hindu," "I am Muslim," "I am Christian," "I am this or that," but actually no one follows the principles enunciated in religious scriptures. This is the disease of this age. But the merciful Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has simply advised us to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra: harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam. The Lord can deliver anyone and everyone, even though one may have fallen from the injunctions of revealed scriptures. This is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's special mercy. Consequently He is known as patita-pavana, the deliverer of all fallen souls.

 

                               TEXT 39

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  mahanta-svabhava ei tarite pamara

                 nija karya nahi tabu yana tara ghara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mahanta-svabhava--the nature of saintly persons; ei--this; tarite--to deliver; pamara--fallen souls; nija--own; karya--business; nahi--there is not; tabu--still; yana--goes; tara--his; ghara--house.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "It is the general practice of all saintly people to deliver the fallen. Therefore they go to people's houses, although they have no personal business there.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   A sannyasi is supposed to beg from door to door. He does not beg simply because he is hungry. His real purpose is to enlighten the occupant of every house by preaching Krsna consciousness. A sannyasi does not abandon his superior position and become a beggar just for the sake of begging. Similarly, a person in householder life may be very important, but he may also voluntarily take to the mendicant way of life. Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami were ministers, but they voluntarily accepted the mendicant's life in order to humbly preach Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's message. It is said about them: tyaktva turnam asesa-mandala-pati-srenim sada tuccha-vat bhutva dina-ganesakau karunaya kaupina-kanthasritau. Although the Gosvamis were very aristocratic, they became mendicants just to deliver the fallen souls according to the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One should also consider that those who engage in the missionary activities of Krsna consciousness are under the guidance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They are not actually beggars; their real business is to deliver fallen souls. Therefore they may go from door to door just to introduce a book about Krsna consciousness so that people can become enlightened by reading. Formerly brahmacaris and sannyasis used to beg from door to door. At the present moment, especially in the Western countries, a person may be handed over to the police if he begs from door to door. In Western countries, begging is considered criminal. Members of the Krsna consciousness movement have no business begging. Instead, they work very hard to introduce some books about Krsna consciousness so that people can read them and be benefited. But if one gives some contribution to a Krsna conscious man, he never refuses it.

 

                               TEXT 40

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        mahad-vicalanam nrnam

                         grhinam dina-cetasam

                        nihsreyasaya bhagavan

                       nanyatha kalpate kvacit

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mahat-vicalanam--the wandering of saintly persons; nrnam--of human beings; grhinam--who are householders; dina-cetasam--low-minded; nihsreyasaya--for the ultimate benefit; bhagavan--O my Lord; na anyatha--not any other purpose; kalpate--one imagines; kvacit--at any time.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'My dear Lord, sometimes great saintly persons go to the homes of householders, although these householders are generally low-minded. When a saintly person visits their homes, one can understand that it is for no other purpose than to benefit the householders.'

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This verse is from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.8.4).

 

                               TEXT 41

 

                                 TEXT

 

                amara sange brahmanadi sahasreka jana

                tomara darsane sabara dravi-bhuta mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   amara sange--with me; brahmana-adi--brahmanas and others; sahasreka--more than one thousand; jana--persons; tomara--of You; darsane--in seeing; sabara--of all of them; dravi-bhuta--became melted; mana--the hearts.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Along with me there are about a thousand men--including the brahmanas--and all of them appear to have had their hearts melted simply by seeing You.

 

                               TEXT 42

 

                                 TEXT

 

               'krsna' 'krsna' nama suni sabara vadane

               sabara anga----pulakita, asru----nayane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krsna krsna--"Krsna," "Krsna"; nama--the holy name; suni--I hear; sabara--of everyone; vadane--in the mouths; sabara--of all; anga--the bodies; pulakita--gladdened; asru--tears; nayane--in the eyes.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I hear everyone chanting the holy name of Krsna. Everyone's body is thrilled with ecstasy, and there are tears in everyone's eyes.

 

                               TEXT 43

 

                                 TEXT

 

                akrtye-prakrtye tomara isvara-laksana

                  jive na sambhave ei aprakrta guna

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   akrtye--in bodily features; prakrtye--in behavior; tomara--of You; isvara--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; laksana--the symptoms; jive--in an ordinary living being; na--not; sambhave--possible; ei--these; aprakrta--transcendental; guna--qualities.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "My dear Sir, according to Your behavior and bodily features, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is impossible for ordinary living beings to possess such transcendental qualities."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's bodily features were uncommon. Indeed, His body was extraordinary in its measurements. The measurement of His chest and the measurement of His forearms were the same length. This is called nyagrodha-parimandala. As far as His nature is concerned, He was kind to everyone. No one but the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be kind to everyone. Therefore the Lord's name is Krsna, "all-attractive." As stated in the Bhagavad-gita (14.4), Krsna is kind to everyone. In every species of life (sarva-yonisu), He is the original father, the seed-giver (bija-pradah pita). How, then, can He be unkind to any living entity? One may be a man, an animal or even a tree, but the Lord is kind to everyone. That is God's qualification. He also says in the Bhagavad-gita (9.29), samo 'ham sarva-bhutesu: the Lord is equally kind to everyone. And He advises, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja. This instruction is meant not only for Arjuna but for all living entities. Whoever takes advantage of this offer is immediately immune to all sinful activity and returns home, back to Godhead. While present on this planet, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu made the same offer.

 

                               TEXT 44

 

                                 TEXT

 

               prabhu kahe,----tumi maha-bhagavatottama

                tomara darsane sabara drava haila mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--the Lord replied; tumi--you; maha-bhagavata-uttama--the best of the topmost devotees; tomara darsane--by seeing you; sabara--of everyone; drava--melted; haila--became; mana--the heart.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Lord replied to Ramananda Raya, "Sir, you are the best of the topmost devotees; therefore simply the sight of you has melted everyone' s heart.