Chapter 12

                 The Cleansing of the Gundica Temple

 

   In his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura summarizes this chapter as follows.

   The King of Orissa, Maharaja Prataparudra, tried his best to see Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Nityananda Prabhu and the other devotees informed the Lord about the King's desire, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would not agree to see him. At that time Sri Nityananda Prabhu devised a plan, and He sent a piece of the Lord's outward garment to the King. The next day, when Ramananda Raya again entreated Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to see the King, the Lord, denying the request, asked Ramananda Raya to bring the King's son before Him. The prince visited the Lord dressed like a Vaisnava, and this awakened remembrance of Krsna. Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu delivered the son of Maharaja Prataparudra.

   After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu washed the Gundica temple before the Ratha-yatra took place. He then took His bath at Indradyumna Lake and partook of prasada in the garden nearby. While Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu washed the temple of Gundica, a Gaudiya Vaisnava washed the lotus feet of the Lord and drank the water. This incident is very significant, for it awoke within the devotee ecstatic love. Then again, the son of Advaita Prabhu named Gopala fainted during kirtana, and when he did not come to his senses, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu favored him by awakening him. There was also some humorous talk between Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu during prasada. Advaita Prabhu said that Nityananda Prabhu was unknown to anyone and that it was not the duty of a householder brahmana to accept dinner with a person unknown in society. In answer to this humorous statement, Sri Nityananda Prabhu replied that Advaita Acarya was a monist and that one could not know how his mind could be turned by eating with such an impersonalist. The conversation of these two prabhus--Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu--carried a deep meaning that only an intelligent man can understand. After all the Vaisnavas finished their luncheon, Svarupa Damodara and others took their prasada within the room. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took great pleasure when He saw the Jagannatha Deity after the period of the Deity's retirement. At that time Lord Caitanya was accompanied by all the devotees, and all of them were very much pleased.

 

                                TEXT 1

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  sri-gundica-mandiram atma-vrndaih

                   sammarjayan ksalanatah sa gaurah

                  sva-citta-vac chitalam ujjvalam ca

                      krsnopavesaupayikam cakara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-gundica--known as Gundica; mandiram--the temple; atma-vrndaih--with His associates; sammarjayan--washing; ksalanatah--by cleansing; sah--that; gaurah--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sva-citta-vat--like His own heart; sitalam--cool and calm; ujjvalam--bright and clean; ca--and; krsna--of Lord Sri Krsna; upavesa--for the sitting; aupayikam--befitting; cakara--made.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu washed and cleansed the Gundica temple with His devotees and associates. In this way He made the temple as cool and bright as His own heart, and thus He made the place befitting for Lord Sri Krsna to sit.

 

                                TEXT 2

 

                                 TEXT

 

                jaya jaya gauracandra jaya nityananda

              jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jaya jaya--all glories; gauracandra--to Gauracandra, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jaya--all glories; nityananda--to Nityananda Prabhu; jaya--all glories; advaita-candra--to Advaita Prabhu; jaya--all glories; gaura-bhakta-vrnda--to the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All glories to Gauracandra! All glories to Nityananda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to the devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!

 

                                TEXT 3

 

                                 TEXT

 

                jaya jaya srivasadi gaura-bhakta-gana

               sakti deha,--kari yena caitanya varnana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jaya jaya--all glories; srivasa-adi--headed by Srivasa Thakura; gaura-bhakta-gana--to the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sakti deha--please give me power; kari yena--so that I may do; caitanya--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; varnana--description.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All glories to the devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, headed by Srivasa Thakura! I beg their power so that I can properly describe Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                                TEXT 4

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 purve daksina haite prabhu yabe aila

                tanre milite gajapati utkanthita haila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   purve--formerly; daksina haite--from South India; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yabe--when; aila--returned; tanre--Him; milite--to meet; gajapati--the King of Orissa; utkanthita--full of anxieties; haila--became.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned from His South Indian tour, Maharaja Prataparudra, the King of Orissa, became very anxious to meet Him.

 

                                TEXT 5

 

                                 TEXT

 

              kataka haite patri dila sarvabhauma-thani

                prabhura ajna haya yadi, dekhibare yai

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kataka haite--from Kataka, the capital of Orissa; patri--a letter; dila--sent; sarvabhauma--of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; thani--to the place; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ajna--order; haya--there is; yadi--if; dekhibare yai--I can go and see.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The King sent a letter from his capital, Kataka, to Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, entreating him to obtain the Lord's permission so that he could go and see Him.

 

                                TEXT 6

 

                                 TEXT

 

             bhattacarya likhila,--prabhura ajna na haila

                  punarapi raja tanre patri pathaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhattacarya likhila--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya replied; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ajna--order; na--not; haila--there is; punarapi--again; raja--the King; tanre--unto him; patri--a letter; pathaila--dispatched.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Replying to the King's letter, the Bhattacarya wrote that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had not given His permission. After this, the King wrote him another letter.

 

                                TEXT 7

 

                                 TEXT

 

                prabhura nikate ache yata bhakta-gana

                mora lagi' tan-sabare kariha nivedana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhura nikate--in the place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ache--there are; yata--all; bhakta-gana--devotees; mora lagi'--for me; tan-sabare--unto all of them; kariha--please submit; nivedana--petition.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In this letter the King requested Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, "Please appeal to all the devotees associated with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and submit this petition to them on my behalf.

 

                                TEXT 8

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   sei saba dayalu more hana sadaya

                 mora lagi' prabhu-pade karibe vinaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei saba--all of them; dayalu--merciful; more--unto me; hana--becoming; sa-daya--favorably disposed; mora lagi'--for me; prabhu-pade--at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karibe--will do; vinaya--humble submission.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "If all the devotees associated with the Lord are favorably disposed toward me, they can submit my petition at the lotus feet of the Lord.

 

                                TEXT 9

 

                                 TEXT

 

              tan-sabara prasade mile sri-prabhura paya

                prabhu-krpa vina mora rajya nahi bhaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tan-sabara prasade--by the mercy of all of them; mile--one gets; sri-prabhura paya--the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prabhu-krpa--the mercy of the Lord; vina--without; mora--my; rajya--kingdom; nahi--does not; bhaya--appeal to me.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "By the mercy of all the devotees, one can attain the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord. Without His mercy, my kingdom does not appeal to me.

 

                               TEXT 10

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  yadi more krpa na karibe gaurahari

               rajya chadi' yogi ha-i' ha-iba bhikhari

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yadi--if; more--unto me; krpa--mercy; na--not; karibe--will do; gaurahari--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; rajya chadi'--giving up the kingdom; yogi--mendicant; ha-i'--becoming; ha-iba--I shall become; bhikhari--a beggar.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "If Gaurahari, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, will not show mercy to me, I shall give up my kingdom, become a mendicant and beg from door to door."

 

                               TEXT 11

 

                                 TEXT

 

                bhattacarya patri dekhi' cintita hana

                 bhakta-gana-pasa gela sei patri lana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhattacarya--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; patri--the letter; dekhi'--seeing; cintita hana--becoming very anxious; bhakta-gana--all the devotees; pasa--near; gela--went; sei--that; patri--letter; lana--taking.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the Bhattacarya received this letter, he became very anxious. He then took the letter and went to the devotees of the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 12

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  sabare miliya kahila raja-vivarana

               piche sei patri sabare karaila darasana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sabare--everyone; miliya--meeting; kahila--said; raja-vivarana--description of the King's desire; piche--later; sei patri--that letter; sabare--unto everyone; karaila darasana--showed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya met with all the devotees and described the King's wishes. Then he presented the letter to all of them for inspection.

 

                               TEXT 13

 

                                 TEXT

 

               patri dekhi' sabara mane ha-ila vismaya

               prabhu-pade gajapatira eta bhakti haya!!

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   patri--the letter; dekhi'--seeing; sabara--of everyone; mane--in the mind; ha-ila--there was; vismaya--astonishment; prabhu-pade--unto the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gajapatira--of the King of Orissa; eta--so much; bhakti--devotion; haya--there is.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Upon reading the letter, everyone was astonished to see that King Prataparudra had so much devotion for the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 14

 

                                 TEXT

 

               sabe kahe,--prabhu tanre kabhu na milibe

                 ami-saba kahi yadi, duhkha se manibe

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sabe kahe--everyone said; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--unto him; kabhu--at any time; na--not; milibe--would see; ami-saba--all of us; kahi--say; yadi--if; duhkha--unhappiness; se--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; manibe--will feel.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The devotees gave their opinion and said, "The Lord will never meet the King, and if we requested Him to do so, the Lord will surely feel very unhappy."

 

                               TEXT 15

 

                                 TEXT

 

                sarvabhauma kahe,--sabe cala' eka-bara

               milite na kahiba, kahiba raja-vyavahara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarvabhauma kahe--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said; sabe cala'--let all of us go; eka-bara--once; milite--to meet; na kahiba--we shall not request; kahiba--we shall simply describe; raja-vyavahara--the behavior of the King.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya then said, "We shall go once again to the Lord, but we shall not request Him to meet the King. Rather, we shall simply describe the good behavior of the King."

 

                               TEXT 16

 

                                 TEXT

 

               eta bali' sabe gela mahaprabhura sthane

                 kahite unmukha sabe, na kahe vacane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta bali'--deciding like this; sabe--all of them; gela--went; mahaprabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sthane--to the place; kahite--to speak; unmukha--ready; sabe--all; na--do not; kahe--say; vacane--any word.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Having thus reached a decision, they all went to the place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There, although ready to speak, they could not even utter a word.

 

                               TEXT 17

 

                                 TEXT

 

                prabhu kahe,--ki kahite sabara agamana

              dekhiye kahite caha,--na kaha, ki karana?

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; ki--what; kahite--to speak; sabara--of all of you; agamana--there is the presence here; dekhiye--I see; kahite caha--you want to speak; na kaha--but do not speak; ki karana--what is the reason.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After they arrived at Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's place, the Lord, seeing them, said, "What have you all come here to say? I see that you want to say something, but you do not speak. What is the reason?"

 

                               TEXT 18

 

                                 TEXT

 

                nityananda kahe,--tomaya cahi nivedite

              na kahile rahite nari, kahite bhaya citte

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nityananda kahe--Lord Nityananda said; tomaya--unto You; cahi--we want; nivedite--to submit; na kahile--if we do not speak; rahite nari--we cannot stay; kahite--but to speak; bhaya citte--we are very fearful.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Nityananda Prabhu then said, "We want to tell You something. Although we cannot stay without speaking, we are still very much afraid to speak.

 

                               TEXT 19

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 yogyayogya tomaya saba cahi nivedite

                 toma na milile raja cahe yogi haite

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yogya--befitting; ayogya--not befitting; tomaya--unto You; saba--we all; cahi--want; nivedite--to submit; toma--You; na milile--if he does not meet; raja--the King; cahe--wants; yogi haite--to become a mendicant.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "We want to submit before You something that may or may not be befitting. The matter is this: unless he sees You, the King of Orissa will become a mendicant."

 

                               TEXT 20

 

                                 TEXT

 

                kane mudra la-i' muni ha-iba bhikhari

                rajya-bhoga nahe citte vina gaurahari

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kane mudra--a kind of earring; la-i'--taking; muni--I; ha-iba--shall become; bhikhari--a beggar; rajya-bhoga--enjoyment of the kingdom; nahe--not; citte--in the mind; vina--without; gaurahari--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Nityananda Prabhu continued, "The King has decided to become a mendicant and accept the sign of a mendicant by wearing an ivory earring. He does not want to enjoy his kingdom without seeing the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In India there is still a class of professional mendicants who are very much like the gypsies of Western countries. They know some magical art and mystical processes, and their business is to beg from door to door, sometimes pleading and sometimes threatening. Such mendicants are sometimes called yogis and sometimes kanaphata yogis. The word kanaphata refers to one who has put a hole in his ear to wear an earring made of ivory. Maharaja Prataparudra was so depressed by not getting to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that he decided to become such a yogi. Ordinary men think that a yogi must have an ivory earring in his ear, but this is not the sign of a real yogi. Maharaja Prataparudra also thought that to become a mendicant yogi, one must wear such an earring.

 

                               TEXT 21

 

                                 TEXT

 

                dekhiba se mukha-candra nayana bhariya

                 dhariba se pada-padma hrdaye tuliya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dekhiba--I shall see; se--that; mukha-candra--moonlike face; nayana bhariya--to the fulfillment of the eyes; dhariba--I shall catch; se--those; pada-padma--lotus feet; hrdaye--on my heart; tuliya--raising.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Nityananda Prabhu continued, "The King also expressed his desire to see the moonlike face of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his eye's full satisfaction. He would like to raise the lotus feet of the Lord to his heart."

 

                               TEXT 22

 

                                 TEXT

 

               yadyapi suniya prabhura komala haya mana

                 tathapi bahire kahe nisthura vacana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yadyapi--although; suniya--hearing; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; komala--softened; haya--becomes; mana--mind; tathapi--still; bahire--externally; kahe--He says; nisthura vacana--hard words.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Hearing all these statements, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mind was certainly softened, but externally He wished to speak some harsh words.

 

                               TEXT 23

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  toma-sabara iccha,--ei amare lana

                   rajake milaha ihan katakete giya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   toma-sabara--of all of you; iccha--the desire; ei--is; amare lana--taking Me; rajake--the King; milaha--meet; ihan--here; katakete giya--by going to Kataka.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "I can understand that you all desire to take Me to Kataka to see the King."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is naturally the reservoir of all kindness, and as soon as He heard the statement made by the King, His heart immediately softened. Thus the Lord was ready to go see the King even at Kataka. He did not even consider allowing the King to come from Kataka to Jagannatha Puri to see Him. It is significant that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was so kind that He was ready to go see the King at Kataka. Apparently it was never expected that the King wanted to see the Lord at His place, but by way of being externally harsh, the Lord indicated that if all the devotees so desired, He would go to Kataka to see the King.

 

                               TEXT 24

 

                                 TEXT

 

               paramartha thakuka--loke karibe nindana

                 loke rahu--damodara karibe bhartsana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   parama-artha thakuka--what to speak of spiritual advancement; loke--people in general; karibe nindana--will blaspheme; loke rahu--what to speak of people in general; damodara--Damodara Pandita; karibe--will do; bhartsana--chastisement.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "What to speak of spiritual advancement--all the people will blaspheme Me. And what to speak of all the people--Damodara would chastise Me.

 

                               TEXT 25

 

                                 TEXT

 

                toma-sabara ajnaya ami na mili rajare

                 damodara kahe yabe, mili tabe tanre

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   toma-sabara--of all of you; ajnaya--by the order; ami--I; na--not; mili--shall meet; rajare--the King; damodara--Damodara Pandita; kahe--says; yabe--when; mili--I shall meet; tabe--then; tanre--him.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I shall not meet the King at the request of all the devotees, but I shall do so if Damodara will give his permission."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   From the spiritual point of view, a sannyasi is strictly forbidden to see materialistic people, especially a king who is always engaged in counting pounds, shillings and pence. Indeed, the meeting between a sannyasi and a king is always considered abominable. A sannyasi is always subjected to public criticism, and a small fault on his part is taken seriously by the public. People actually expect a sannyasi to preach and not take part in any social or political matters. If a sannyasi is subject to public criticism, his preaching will not be fruitful. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu specifically wanted to avoid such criticism so that His preaching work would not be hampered. It so happened that while the Lord was talking to His disciples at that time, the devotee Damodara Pandita was present. This Damodara Pandita was a very faithful devotee and a staunch lover of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Whenever there was anything that might touch or taint the character of the Lord, Damodara Pandita would immediately point it out, not even considering the exalted position of the Lord. It is sometimes said that fools rush in where angels dare not, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to point out Damodara Pandita's foolishness in coming forward to criticize the Lord. This is why the Lord stated that if Damodara Pandita would give Him permission, He would go to see the King. There was deep meaning in this statement, for it is a warning that Damodara should not dare criticize the Lord any more, for it was not befitting his position as a devotee. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was considered the guide and spiritual master of all the devotees living with Him. Damodara Pandita was one of them, and the Lord rendered Damodara Pandita a special favor by warning him to avoid criticizing Him any further. A devotee or a disciple should never attempt to criticize the Lord or His representative, the spiritual master.

 

                               TEXT 26

 

                                 TEXT

 

                damodara kahe,--tumi svatantra isvara

                 kartavyakartavya saba tomara gocara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   damodara kahe--Pandita Damodara said; tumi--You; svatantra--fully independent; isvara--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kartavya--duty which is permissible; akartavya--duty which is not permissible; saba--all; tomara--of You; gocara--within knowledge.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Damodara immediately replied, "My Lord, You are the fully independent Supreme Personality of Godhead. Since everything is known to You, You know what is permissible and what is not permissible.

 

                               TEXT 27

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ami kon ksudra-jiva, tomake vidhi diba?

                  apani milibe tanre, tahao dekhiba

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ami kon--I am just some; ksudra-jiva--insignificant living entity; tomake--unto You; vidhi--injunction; diba--I shall give; apani--You; milibe--will meet; tanre--the King; tahao dekhiba--I shall see it.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I am merely an insignificant jiva, so what power do I have to give directions to You? By Your own personal choice You will meet with the King. I shall see it.

 

                               TEXT 28

 

                                 TEXT

 

               raja tomare sneha kare, tumi--sneha-vasa

                tanra snehe karabe tanre tomara parasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raja--the King; tomare--You; sneha kare--loves; tumi--You; sneha-vasa--controlled by love and affection; tanra--his; snehe--by love; karabe--will do; tanre--unto him; tomara--Your; parasa--touching.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The King is very much attached to You, and You are feeling affection and love toward him. Thus I can understand that by virtue of the King's affection for You, You will touch him.

 

                               TEXT 29

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 yadyapi isvara tumi parama svatantra

                tathapi svabhave hao prema-paratantra

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yadyapi--although; isvara--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tumi--You; parama--supremely; svatantra--independent; tathapi--still; svabhave--by Your nature; hao--You become; prema-paratantra--subordinate to love.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Although You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead and are completely independent, still You are dependent on the love and affection of Your devotees. That is Your nature."

 

                               TEXT 30

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 nityananda kahe--aiche haya kon jana

                 ye tomare kahe, 'kara raja-darasana'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nityananda kahe--Nityananda Prabhu said; aiche--such; haya--there is; kon jana--any person; ye--who; tomare--unto You; kahe--orders; kara--do; raja-darasana--meeting the King.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Nityananda Prabhu then said, "Who is there in the three worlds who can ask You to see the King?

 

                               TEXT 31

 

                                 TEXT

 

                kintu anuragi lokera svabhava eka haya

                 ista na paile nija prana se chadaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kintu--still; anuragi--affectionate; lokera--of the people; svabhava--nature; eka--one; haya--there is; ista--desirable; na paile--without getting; nija--own; prana--life; se--he; chadaya--gives up.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Still, isn't it the nature of an attached man to give up his life if he does not attain his desired object?

 

                               TEXT 32

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 yajnika-brahmani saba tahate pramana

                 krsna lagi' pati-age chadileka prana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yajnika-brahmani--the wives of the brahmanas who were engaged in performing great sacrifices; saba--all; tahate--in that connection; pramana--evidence; krsna lagi'--for the matter of Krsna; pati-age--in front of their husbands; chadileka prana--gave up their lives.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "For instance, some of the wives of the brahmanas who were performing sacrifices gave up their lives in the presence of their husbands for the sake of Krsna."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This refers to the day Lord Sri Krsna and His cowherd boys and flocks of animals were present on the pasturing grounds near Mathura. At that time the cowherd boys, being a little hungry, requested food, and Lord Krsna asked them to go to the brahmanas who were engaged nearby in performing yajna, or sacrifice, and to get some food from that yajna. Being so ordered by the Lord, all the cowherd boys went to the brahmanas and asked them for food, but they were denied. After this, the cowherd boys begged food from the wives of the brahmanas. All these wives were very much devoted to Lord Krsna in spontaneous love, and as soon as they heard the request of the cowherd boys and understood that Krsna wanted some food, they immediately left the place of sacrifice. They were very much chastised for this by their husbands, and they were ready to give up their lives. It is the nature of a pure devotee to sacrifice his life for the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 33

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  eka yukti ache, yadi kara avadhana

               tumi na milileha tanre, rahe tanra prana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka yukti--one plan; ache--there is; yadi--if; kara avadhana--You consider it; tumi--You; na milileha--may not meet; tanre--with him; rahe--remains; tanra--his; prana--life.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Nityananda Prabhu then submitted one suggestion for the Lord's consideration. "There is a way," He suggested, "by which You need not meet the King but which would enable the King to continue living.

 

                               TEXT 34

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 eka bahirvasa yadi deha' krpa kari'

               taha pana prana rakhe tomara asa dhari'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka bahirvasa--one outward covering; yadi--if; deha'--You give; krpa kari'--by Your mercy; taha pana--getting that; prana rakhe--he would live; tomara asa dhari'--hoping to meet You some time in the future.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "If You, out of Your mercy, send one of Your outward garments to the King, the King would live hoping to see You some time in the future."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Sri Nityananda Prabhu was thus very tactfully suggesting that Caitanya Mahaprabhu give a piece of His old clothing to the King. Even though the King was not to meet the Lord, the King would then be pacified by receiving such a cloth. The King was very anxious to see the Lord, yet it was not possible for the Lord to see him. Just to resolve the situation, Nityananda Prabhu suggested that the Lord send an old piece of clothing. Thus the King would understand that the Lord was showing mercy to him. The King would then not do anything drastic like giving up his life or becoming a mendicant.

 

                               TEXT 35

 

                                 TEXT

 

                prabhu kahe,--tumi-saba parama vidvan

                  yei bhala haya, sei kara samadhana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--the Lord replied; tumi-saba--all of you; parama vidvan--greatly learned personalities; yei--whatever; bhala haya--is right; sei--that; kara samadhana--execute.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Lord said, "Since you are all very learned personalities, whatever you decide I shall accept."

 

                               TEXT 36

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tabe nityananda-gosani govindera pasa

                 magiya la-ila prabhura eka bahirvasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--at that time; nityananda-gosani--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; govindera pasa--from Govinda, the personal servant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; magiya--requesting; la-ila--took; prabhura--of the Lord; eka--one; bahirvasa--outer garment.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Nityananda Prabhu then obtained an external garment used by the Lord by requesting it from Govinda.

 

                               TEXT 37

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 sei bahirvasa sarvabhauma-pasa dila

                sarvabhauma sei vastra rajare patha'la

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei--that; bahirvasa--garment; sarvabhauma-pasa--in the care of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; dila--delivered; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; sei--that; vastra--cloth; rajare--unto the King; patha'la--sent.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus Nityananda Prabhu delivered the old cloth to the care of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya sent it to the King.

 

                               TEXT 38

 

                                 TEXT

 

                vastra pana rajara haila anandita mana

                prabhu-rupa kari' kare vastrera pujana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vastra pana--getting that cloth; rajara--of the King; haila--there was; anandita mana--very happy mind; prabhu-rupa kari'--accepting as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself; kare--executes; vastrera--of the cloth; pujana--worship.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the King received the old cloth, he began to worship it exactly as he would worship the Lord personally.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This is also the conclusion of the Vedic injunctions. Since the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Absolute Truth, everything in relation to Him is also on the same platform. The King had great affection for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and although he did not see the Lord, he had nonetheless already attained the conclusion of devotional service. Immediately upon receiving the cloth from Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, the King began to worship it, accepting it as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The Lord's clothing, bedding, slippers and everything required as an ordinary necessity are all transformations of Sesa, Visnu, the expansion of Sri Baladeva. Thus the cloth and other paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are but other forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Everything connected to the Lord is worshipable. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructs us that just as Krsna is worshipable, Krsna's place, Vrndavana, is also worshipable. And as Vrndavana is worshipable, similarly the paraphernalia in Vrndavana--the trees, roads, river, everything--is worshipable. A pure devotee thus sings, jaya jaya vrndavana-vasi yata jana: "All glories to the residents of Vrndavana." If a devotee has a staunch devotional attitude, all these conclusions will be awakened or revealed within the heart.

 

                       yasya deve para bhaktir

                        yatha deve tatha gurau

                      tasyaite kathita hy arthah

                        prakasante mahatmanah

 

   "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." (Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23)

   Thus following in the footsteps of Maharaja Prataparudra and other devotees, we should learn to worship everything belonging to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is referred to by Lord Siva as tadiyanam. In the Padma Purana it is said:

 

                         aradhananam sarvesam

                        visnor aradhanam param

                        tasmat parataram devi

                         tadiyanam samarcanam

 

   "O Devi, the most exalted system of worship is the worship of Lord Visnu. Greater than that is the worship of tadiya, or anything belonging to Visnu." Sri Visnu is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha. Similarly, the most confidential servant of Krsna, the spiritual master, and all devotees of Visnu are tadiya. The sac-cid-ananda-vigraha, guru, Vaisnavas, and things used by them must be considered tadiya and without a doubt worshipable by all living beings.

 

                               TEXT 39

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ramananda raya yabe 'daksina' haite aila

                 prabhu-sange rahite rajake nivedila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ramananda raya--Ramananda Raya; yabe--when; daksina--South India; haite--from; aila--returned; prabhu-sange--with Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; rahite--to stay; rajake--unto the King; nivedila--requested.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After returning from his service in South India, Ramananda Raya requested the King to allow him to remain with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 40

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 tabe raja santose tanhare ajna dila

                  apani milana lagi' sadhite lagila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--at that time; raja--the King; santose--in great satisfaction; tanhare--unto Ramananda Raya; ajna dila--gave the order; apani--personally; milana lagi'--to meet; sadhite lagila--began to solicit.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Ramananda Raya requested the King to allow him to stay with the Lord, the King immediately gave him permission with great satisfaction. As for the King himself, he began to solicit Ramananda Raya to make a meeting arrangement.

 

                               TEXT 41

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  mahaprabhu maha-krpa karena tomare

                 more milibare avasya sadhibe tanhare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; maha-krpa--great mercy; karena--does; tomare--unto you; more--me; milibare--for meeting; avasya--certainly; sadhibe--you must solicit; tanhare--Him.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The King told Ramananda Raya, "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is very, very merciful to you. Therefore please solicit my meeting with Him without fail."

 

                               TEXT 42

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 eka-sange dui jana ksetre yabe aila

                 ramananda raya tabe prabhure milila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka-sange--together; dui jana--these two persons; ksetre--at Jagannatha-ksetra (Jagannatha Puri); yabe--when; aila--came back; ramananda raya--Ramananda Raya; tabe--at that time; prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; milila--met.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The King and Ramananda Raya returned together to Jagannatha-ksetra [Puri], and Sri Ramananda Raya met Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 43

 

                                 TEXT

 

               prabhu-pade prema-bhakti janaila rajara

                  prasanga pana aiche kahe bara-bara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu-pade--unto the lotus feet of the Lord; prema-bhakti--ecstatic love; janaila--informed; rajara--of the King; prasanga--discussion; pana--getting; aiche--thus; kahe--says; bara-bara--again and again.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   At that time, Ramananda Raya informed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu about the ecstatic love of the King. Indeed, as soon as there was some opportunity, he repeatedly informed the Lord about the King.

 

                               TEXT 44

 

                                 TEXT

 

               raja-mantri ramananda--vyavahare nipuna

               raja-priti kahi' dravaila prabhura mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raja-mantri--diplomatic minister; ramananda--Sri Ramananda Raya; vyavahare--in general behavior; nipuna--very expert; raja-priti--the love of the King for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahi'--describing; dravaila--softened; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mana--the mind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Ramananda Raya was indeed a diplomatic minister for the King. His general behavior was very expert, and simply by describing the King's love for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he gradually softened the Lord's mind.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   A diplomat in the material world knows how to deal with people, especially in political affairs. Some of the great devotees of the Lord--like Ramananda Raya, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami and Rupa Gosvami--were government officers and had a background of very opulent householder life. Consequently they knew how to deal with people. In many instances we have seen the diplomacy of Rupa Gosvami, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami and Ramananda Raya employed in the service of the Lord. When Raghunatha dasa Gosvami's father and uncle were to be arrested by government officials, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami hid them and personally met the government officers and settled the affair diplomatically. This is but one instance. Similarly, Sanatana Gosvami, after resigning his ministership, was thrown in jail, and he bribed the attendant of the jail so he could leave the clutches of the Nawab and live with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Now we see Ramananda Raya, a most confidential devotee of the Lord, diplomatically soften the heart of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, despite the fact that the Lord definitely decided not to meet the King. The diplomacy of Ramananda Raya and entreaties of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and all the other great devotees succeeded. The conclusion is that diplomacy used for the service of the Lord is a form of devotional service.

 

                               TEXT 45

 

                                 TEXT

 

                utkanthate prataparudra nare rahibare

                ramananda sadhilena prabhure milibare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   utkanthate--in great anxiety; prataparudra--King Prataparudra; nare rahibare--could not stay; ramananda--Sri Ramananda Raya; sadhilena--solicited; prabhure--unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; milibare--to meet.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Maharaja Prataparudra, in great anxiety, could not endure not seeing the Lord; therefore Sri Ramananda Raya, by his diplomacy, arranged a meeting with the Lord for the King.

 

                               TEXT 46

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ramananda prabhu-paya kaila nivedana

                 eka-bara prataparudre dekhaha carana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ramananda--Ramananda; prabhu-paya--at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila--did; nivedana--submission; eka-bara--once only; prataparudre--unto Maharaja Prataparudra; dekhaha--show; carana--Your lotus feet.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Ramananda Raya frankly requested Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "Please show Your lotus feet to the King at least once."

 

                               TEXT 47

 

                                 TEXT

 

                prabhu kahe,--ramananda, kaha vicariya

                 rajake milite yuyaya sannyasi hana?

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; ramananda--My dear Ramananda; kaha--please ask Me; vicariya--after due consideration; rajake--the King; milite--to meet; yuyaya--is it befitting; sannyasi--in the renounced order of life; hana--being.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "My dear Ramananda, you should make this request after duly considering whether it is befitting for a sannyasi to meet a king.

 

                               TEXT 48

 

                                 TEXT

 

                rajara milane bhiksukera dui loka nasa

                   paraloka rahu, loke kare upahasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   rajara milane--by meeting with a king; bhiksukera--of the mendicant; dui loka--in two worlds; nasa--destruction; para-loka--spiritual world; rahu--let alone; loke--in this material world; kare--do; upahasa--joking.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "If a mendicant meets a king, this world and the next world are both destroyed for the mendicant. Indeed, what is there to say of the next world? In this world, people will joke if a sannyasi meets a king."

 

                               TEXT 49

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ramananda kahe,--tumi isvara svatantra

               kare tomara bhaya, tumi naha paratantra

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ramananda kahe--Ramananda said; tumi--You; isvara--the Supreme Lord; svatantra--independent; kare tomara bhaya--why should You be afraid of anyone; tumi naha--You are not; para-tantra--dependent.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Ramananda Raya replied, "My Lord, You are the supreme independent personality. You have nothing to fear from anyone because You are not dependent on anyone."

 

                               TEXT 50

 

                                 TEXT

 

              prabhu kahe,--ami manusya asrame sannyasi

                 kaya-mano-vakye vyavahare bhaya vasi

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--the Lord said; ami manusya--I am a human being; asrame--in the social order; sannyasi--a renounced person; kaya-manah-vakye--with My body, mind and words; vyavahare--in general dealings; bhaya--fear; vasi--I do.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Ramananda Raya addressed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Caitanya Mahaprabhu objected, saying, "I am not the Supreme Personality of Godhead but an ordinary human being. Therefore I must fear public opinion in three ways--with My body, mind and words.

 

                               TEXT 51

 

                                 TEXT

 

               sukla-vastre masi-bindu yaiche na lukaya

                sannyasira alpa chidra sarva-loke gaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sukla-vastre--on white cloth; masi-bindu--a spot of ink; yaiche--as much as; na--does not; lukaya--become hidden; sannyasira--of a sannyasi; alpa--a very little; chidra--fault; sarva-loke--the general public; gaya--advertise.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "As soon as the general public finds a little fault in the behavior of a sannyasi, they advertise it like wildfire. A black spot of ink cannot be hidden on a white cloth. It is always very prominent."

 

                               TEXT 52

 

                                 TEXT