Chapter 15

   The Lord Accepts Prasada at the House of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya

 

   The following summary of this chapter is given by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. After the Ratha-yatra festival, Sri Advaita Acarya Prabhu worshiped Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with flowers and tulasi. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in return, worshiped Advaita Acarya with the flowers and tulasi that remained on the offered plate and said a mantra, yo 'si so 'si ("What You are, You are"). Then Advaita Acarya Prabhu invited Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for prasada. When Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees performed the Nandotsava ceremony, the Lord personally dressed Himself as a cowherd boy. Thus the ceremony was very jubilant. Then the Lord and His devotees observed Vijayadasami, the day of victory when Lord Ramacandra conquered Lanka. The devotees all became soldiers of Lord Ramacandra, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in the ecstasy of Hanuman, manifested various transcendentally blissful activities. Thereafter, the Lord and His devotees observed various other ceremonies.

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then asked all the devotees to return to Bengal. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sent Nityananda Prabhu to Bengal for preaching and also sent Ramadasa, Gadadhara dasa and several other devotees with Him. Then Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, with great humility, sent some Jagannatha prasada and a cloth from Lord Jagannatha to His mother through Srivasa Thakura. When the Lord bade farewell to Raghava Pandita, Vasudeva Datta, the residents of Kulinagrama and other devotees, He praised them for their transcendental qualities. Ramananda Vasu and Satyaraja Khan asked some questions, and Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed them that all householder devotees must engage themselves in the service of Vaisnavas exclusively devoted to chanting the holy name of the Lord. He also directed the Vaisnavas from Khanda, instructed Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and Vidya-vacaspati, and praised Murari Gupta for his firm faith in the lotus feet of Lord Ramacandra. Considering the humble prayer of Vasudeva Datta, He established that Lord Sri Krsna is qualified to deliver all the conditioned souls.

   Thereafter, when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was accepting prasada at the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Sarvabhauma's son-in-law, Amogha, created trouble in the family with his criticisms. The following morning, he was attacked by the disease of visucika (cholera). Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu very kindly saved him from death and enlivened him in chanting the holy name of Lord Krsna.

 

                                TEXT 1

 

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                       sarvabhauma-grhe bhunjan

                        sva-nindakam amoghakam

                       angikurvan sphutam cakre

                     gaurah svam bhakta-vasyatam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarvabhauma-grhe--at the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; bhunjan--while eating; sva-nindakam--a person who was criticizing Him; amoghakam--named Amogha; angikurvan--accepting; sphutam--manifested; cakre--made; gaurah--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; svam--His; bhakta-vasyatam--obligation to His devotees.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   While Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was accepting prasada at the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Amogha criticized Him. At that time the Lord also showed how much He was obliged to His devotees.

 

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

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

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

 

                                TEXT 3

 

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               jaya sri-caitanya-caritamrta-srota-gana

               caitanya-caritamrta----yanra prana-dhana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jaya--all glories; sri-caitanya-caritamrta-srota-gana--to the listeners of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta; caitanya-caritamrta--Caitanya-caritamrta; yanra--of whom; prana-dhana--the life and soul.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All glories to the listeners of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta who have accepted it as their life and soul.

 

                                TEXT 4

 

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                 ei-mata mahaprabhu bhakta-gana-sange

                 nilacale rahi' kare nrtya-gita-range

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhakta-gana-sange--with His devotees; nilacale rahi'--staying at Nilacala, Jagannatha Puri; kare--performs; nrtya-gita-range--chanting and dancing with great pleasure.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   While Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at Jagannatha Puri, He constantly enjoyed chanting and dancing with His devotees.

 

                                TEXT 5

 

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                  prathamavasare jagannatha-darasana

               nrtya-gita kare danda-paranama, stavana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prathama-avasare--in the beginning; jagannatha-darasana--seeing the Deity of Lord Jagannatha; nrtya-gita kare--performs chanting and dancing; danda-paranama--offering obeisances; stavana--offering prayers.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In the beginning, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw the Deity of Lord Jagannatha in the temple. He offered Him obeisances and prayers and danced and sang before Him.

 

                                TEXT 6

 

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               'upala-bhoga' lagile kare bahire vijaya

                   haridasa mili' aise apana nilaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   upala-bhoga lagile--when there is an offering of food known as upala-bhoga; kare bahire vijaya--He remains outside; haridasa mili'--meeting Haridasa Thakura; aise--comes back; apana nilaya--to His residence.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After visiting the temple, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would remain outside during the upala-bhoga offering. He would then go meet Haridasa Thakura and return to His residence.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   At noon, when there was an upala-bhoga offering in a place called bhoga-vardhana-khanda, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would go outside the temple. Before going outside, He used to stand near the Garuda-stambha column and offer His obeisances and prayers. Afterwards, the Lord would visit Siddha-bakula, where Haridasa Thakura lived. After visiting with Haridasa Thakura, the Lord would return to His own place at the abode of Kasi Misra.

 

                                TEXT 7

 

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               ghare vasi' kare prabhu nama sankirtana

                  advaita asiya kare prabhura pujana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ghare vasi'--sitting in His room; kare--performs; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nama sankirtana--chanting on beads; advaita--Advaita Acarya; asiya--coming; kare--performs; prabhura pujana--worship of the Lord.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sitting in His room, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would chant on His beads, and Advaita Prabhu would come there to worship the Lord.

 

                                TEXT 8

 

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                 sugandhi-salile dena padya, acamana

              sarvange lepaye prabhura sugandhi candana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   su-gandhi-salile--with scented water; dena--offers; padya--water for washing the feet; acamana--washing the mouth; sarva-ange--all over the body; lepaye--smears; prabhura--of the Lord; su-gandhi candana--fragrant sandalwood pulp.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   While worshiping Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Advaita Acarya would offer Him scented water to wash His mouth and feet. Then Advaita Acarya would smear very fragrant sandalwood pulp all over His body.

 

                                TEXT 9

 

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                gale mala dena, mathaya tulasi-manjari

                 yoda-hate stuti kare pade namaskari'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gale--on the neck; mala--garland; dena--offers; mathaya--on the head; tulasi-manjari--flowers of tulasi; yoda-hate--with folded hands; stuti kare--offers prayers; pade--unto the lotus feet; namaskari'--offering obeisances.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Advaita Prabhu would also place a flower garland around the Lord's neck and tulasi flowers [manjaris] on His head. Then, with folded hands, Advaita Acarya would offer obeisances and prayers unto the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 10

 

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                puja-patre puspa-tulasi sesa ye achila

                  sei saba lana prabhu acarye pujila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   puja-patre--on the dish that holds flowers and tulasi; puspa-tulasi--flowers and tulasi; sesa--remaining; ye achila--whatever there were; sei saba--all of them; lana--taking; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; acarye pujila--worshiped Advaita Acarya.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After being worshiped by Advaita Acarya, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would take the dish containing flowers and tulasi and, with whatever paraphernalia remained, would also worship Advaita Acarya.

 

                               TEXT 11

 

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             "yo 'si so 'si namo 'stu te" ei mantra pade

               mukha-vadya kari' prabhu hasaya acaryere

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yah asi--whatever You are; sah asi--so You are; namah astu te--I offer My respects unto You; ei mantra pade--chants this mantra; mukha-vadya kari'--making a sound within the mouth; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; hasaya--causes to laugh; acaryere--Advaita Acarya.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would worship Advaita Acarya by chanting the mantra, "Whatever You are, You are-but I offer My respects unto You." In addition, the Lord would make some sounds within His mouth that would make Advaita Acarya laugh.

 

                               TEXT 12

 

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                   ei-mata anyonye karena namaskara

              prabhure nimantrana kare acarya bara bara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; anyonye--to one another; karena--offer; namaskara--obeisances; prabhure--unto Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nimantrana--invitation; kare--does; acarya--Advaita Acarya; bara bara--again and again.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In this way both Advaita Acarya and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would offer Their respectful obeisances unto one another. Then Advaita Acarya would extend invitations to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again and again.

 

                               TEXT 13

 

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                acaryera nimantrana----ascarya-kathana

                 vistari' varniyachena dasa-vrndavana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   acaryera nimantrana--the invitation of Advaita Acarya; ascarya-kathana--wonderful story; vistari'--very vividly; varniyachena--described; dasa-vrndavana--Vrndavana dasa Thakura.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Indeed, Sri Advaita Acarya's invitation is another wonderful story. It has been very vividly described by Vrndavana dasa Thakura.

 

                               TEXT 14

 

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                punarukti haya, taha na kailun varnana

               ara bhakta-gana kare prabhure nimantrana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   punah-ukti--reputation; haya--there is; taha--that; na--not; kailun--I have done; varnana--description; ara bhakta-gana--other devotees; kare--do; prabhure--unto Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nimantrana--invitation.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Since Advaita Acarya's invitation has been described by Vrndavana dasa Thakura, I shall not repeat the story. However, I shall say that other devotees also extended invitations to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 15

 

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              eka eka dina eka eka bhakta-grhe mahotsava

             prabhu-sange tahan bhojana kare bhakta saba

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka eka dina--each and every day; eka eka bhakta-grhe--in the house of one devotee after another; mahotsava--festival; prabhu-sange--with Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tahan--there; bhojana--lunch; kare--accept; bhakta--devotees; saba--all.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Every day one devotee after another would invite Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the other devotees to lunch and would also hold a festival.

 

                               TEXT 16

 

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                cari-masa rahila sabe mahaprabhu-sange

               jagannathera nana yatra dekhe maha-range

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   cari-masa--four months; rahila--remain; sabe--all the devotees; mahaprabhu-sange--with Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jagannathera--of Lord Jagannatha; nana yatra--many festivals; dekhe--they see; maha-range--with great pleasure.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All the devotees remained at Jagannatha Puri for four continuous months, and they observed all Lord Jagannatha's festivals with great pleasure.

 

                               TEXT 17

 

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                krsna-janma-yatra-dine nanda-mahotsava

               gopa-vesa haila prabhu lana bhakta saba

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krsna-janma-yatra--observance of the birth of Lord Krsna; dine--on the day of; nanda-mahotsava--the festival observed by Nanda Maharaja, the father of Krsna; gopa-vesa haila--dressed Himself as a cowherd boy; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; lana--taking; bhakta saba--all the devotees.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The devotees also celebrated the festival of Janmastami, Krsna's birthday, which is also called Nanda-mahotsava, the festival of Nanda Maharaja. At that time Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees dressed themselves as cowherd boys.

 

                               TEXT 18

 

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              dadhi-dugdha-bhara sabe nija-skandhe kari'

               mahotsava-sthane aila bali 'hari' 'hari'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dadhi-dugdha--of milk and yogurt; bhara--carriers; sabe--all of them; nija-skandhe--on their shoulders; kari'--keeping; mahotsava-sthane--to the place of the festival; aila--came; bali hari hari--chanting Hari, Hari.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Having dressed up like cowherd boys, all the devotees carried pots of milk and yogurt balanced on rods over their shoulders. Thus they all arrived at the festival grounds chanting the holy name of Hari.

 

                               TEXT 19

 

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              kanani-khutiya achena 'nanda'-vesa dhari'

               jagannatha-mahati hanachena 'vrajesvari'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kanani-khutiya--Kanani Khutiya; achena--is; nanda-vesa dhari'--in the dress of Nanda Maharaja; jagannatha-mahati--Jagannatha Mahati; hanachena--was; vrajesvari--mother Yasoda.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Kanani Khutiya dressed himself like Nanda Maharaja, and Jagannatha Mahati dressed himself as mother Yasoda.

 

                               TEXT 20

 

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                  apane prataparudra, ara misra-kasi

                sarvabhauma, ara padicha-patra tulasi

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   apane prataparudra--personally King Prataparudra; ara--and; misra-kasi--Kasi Misra; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; ara--and; padicha-patra tulasi--Padichapatra Tulasi, the temple superintendent.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   At that time, King Prataparudra was also personally present with Kasi Misra, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and Tulasi Padichapatra.

 

                               TEXT 21

 

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                inha-saba lana prabhu kare nrtya-ranga

             dadhi-dugdha haridra-jale bhare sabara anga

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   inha-saba lana--taking all of them; prabhu--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare nrtya-ranga--performed dancing in jubilation; dadhi--yogurt; dugdha--milk; haridra--turmeric; jale--with water; bhare--covered; sabara--of all of them; anga--bodies.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As usual, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced jubilantly. Everyone was covered with milk, yogurt and yellow turmeric water.

 

                               TEXT 22

 

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             advaita kahe,----satya kahi, na kariha kopa

                 laguda phiraite para, tabe jani gopa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   advaita kahe--Advaita Acarya says; satya kahi--I speak the truth; na kariha kopa--please do not be angry; laguda--stick, staff; phiraite para--if You can wheel around; tabe jani--then I shall understand; gopa--cowherd boy.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   It was at this time that Srila Advaita Acarya said, "Please do not be angry. I speak the truth. I shall know whether You are a cowherd boy only if You can wheel this rod about."

 

                               TEXT 23

 

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               tabe laguda lana prabhu phiraite lagila

                bara bara akase pheli' luphiya dharila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--then; laguda--rod; lana--taking; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; phiraite lagila--began to wheel it around; bara bara--again and again; akase--in the sky; pheli'--throwing; luphiya--tossing; dharila--He captured.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Accepting Advaita Acarya's challenge, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took a big rod and began to wheel it around and around. Again and again He threw the rod into the sky and caught it when it fell.

 

                               TEXT 24

 

                                 TEXT

 

               sirera upare, prsthe, sammukhe, dui-pase

           pada-madhye phiraya laguda,----dekhi' loka hase

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sirera upare--over the head; prsthe--behind the back; sammukhe--in front; dui-pase--on the two sides; pada-madhye--between the two legs; phiraya--wheels around; laguda--the rod; dekhi'--seeing; loka hase--all the people began to laugh.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wheeled and threw the rod, sometimes over His head, sometimes behind His back, sometimes in front of Him, sometimes to His side and sometimes between His legs. Indeed, all the people laughed to see this.

 

                               TEXT 25

 

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                  alata-cakrera praya laguda phiraya

                dekhi' sarva-loka-citte camatkara paya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   alata-cakrera--the circle of a firebrand; praya--like; laguda phiraya--wheels the rod; dekhi'--seeing; sarva-loka--all the people; citte--within the heart; camatkara paya--became very astonished.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu whirled the rod in a circle like a firebrand, the heart of everyone who saw it was astonished.

 

                               TEXT 26

 

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                  ei-mata nityananda phiraya laguda

              ke bujhibe tanha dunhara gopa-bhava gudha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; nityananda--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; phiraya laguda--wheels a rod; ke--who; bujhibe--will understand; tanha--there; dunhara--of both of Them; gopa-bhava--the ecstasy of the cowherd boys; gudha--very deep.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Nityananda Prabhu also played at whirling the rod. Who can understand how They were ecstatically immersed in the deep emotions of the cowherd boys?

 

                               TEXT 27

 

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                 prataparudrera ajnaya padicha-tulasi

               jagannathera prasada-vastra eka lana asi

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prataparudrera--of King Prataparudra; ajnaya--on the order; padicha-tulasi--the temple superintendent named Tulasi; jagannathera--of Lord Jagannatha; prasada-vastra--used cloth; eka--one; lana--taking; asi--came.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Following the orders of Maharaja Prataparudra, the temple superintendent named Tulasi brought one of Lord Jagannatha's used cloths.

 

                               TEXT 28

 

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              bahu-mulya vastra prabhu-mastake bandhila

                   acaryadi prabhura ganere paraila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bahu-mulya--very valuable; vastra--cloth; prabhu-mastake--on the head of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bandhila--wrapped; acarya-adi--headed by Advaita Acarya; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ganere--on the associates; paraila--put.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   This valuable cloth was wrapped around the head of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The other devotees, headed by Advaita Acarya, also had cloths wrapped about their heads.

 

                               TEXT 29

 

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               kanani-khutiya, jagannatha,----dui-jana

                 avese bilaila ghare chila yata dhana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kanani-khutiya--Kanani Khutiya; jagannatha--Jagannatha Mahati; dui-jana--two persons; avese--in ecstatic love; bilaila--distributed; ghare--at home; chila--was; yata--all; dhana--riches.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In ecstasy, Kanani Khutiya, who was dressed as Nanda Maharaja, and Jagannatha Mahati, who was dressed as mother Yasoda, distributed all the riches they had stocked at home.

 

                               TEXT 30

 

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                 dekhi' mahaprabhu bada santosa paila

                mata-pita-jnane dunhe namaskara kaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dekhi'--seeing; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bada--very much; santosa--satisfaction; paila--felt; mata-pita-jnane--accepting as father and mother; dunhe--unto both of them; namaskara kaila--offered obeisances.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was greatly satisfied to see this. Accepting them both as His father and mother, He offered them obeisances.

 

                               TEXT 31

 

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                 parama-avese prabhu aila nija-ghara

                  ei-mata lila kare gauranga-sundara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   parama-avese--in great ecstasy; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; aila--returned; nija-ghara--to His own residence; ei-mata--in this way; lila--pastimes; kare--performed; gauranga-sundara--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In great ecstasy, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to His residence. In this way, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, known as Gauranga-sundara, performed various pastimes.

 

                               TEXT 32

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 vijaya-dasami----lanka-vijayera dine

             vanara-sainya kaila prabhu lana bhakta-gane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vijaya--victory; dasami--tenth day; lanka-vijayera dine--on the day celebrating the conquering of Lanka; vanara-sainya--monkey soldiers; kaila--arranged; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; lana bhakta-gane--taking all the devotees.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   On the victory day celebrating the conquest of Lanka-a day known as Vijaya-dasami-Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu dressed up all His devotees like monkey soldiers.

 

                               TEXT 33

 

                                 TEXT

 

                hanuman-avese prabhu vrksa-sakha lana

                 lanka-gade cadi' phele gada bhangiya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hanuman-avese--in the emotion of being Hanuman; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vrksa-sakha lana--taking a large branch of a tree; lanka-gade--on the Lanka fort; cadi'--ascending; phele--breaks down; gada--the fort; bhangiya--dismantling.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Displaying the emotions of Hanuman, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took up a large tree branch, and, mounting the walls of the Lanka fort, began to dismantle it.

 

                               TEXT 34

 

                                 TEXT

 

                'kahanre ravna' prabhu kahe krodhavese

                jagan-mata hare papi, marimu savamse'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kahanre ravna--where is the rascal Ravana; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahe--says; krodha-avese--in great anger; jagat-mata--the mother of the universe; hare--kidnaps; papi--sinful; marimu--I shall kill; sa-vamse--with all his family.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In the ecstasy of Hanuman, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu angrily said, "Where is the rascal Ravana? He has kidnapped the universal mother, Sita. Now I shall kill him and all his family."

 

                               TEXT 35

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 gosanira avesa dekhi' loke camatkara

                sarva-loka jaya' jaya' bale bara bara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gosanira--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; avesa--ecstasy; dekhi'--by seeing; loke--all people; camatkara--astonished; sarva-loka--all people; jaya jaya--all glories; bale--speak; bara bara--again and again.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Everyone became very astonished to see the emotional ecstasy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and everyone began to chant, "All glories! All glories!" again and again.

 

                               TEXT 36

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   ei-mata rasa-yatra, ara dipavali

                 utthana-dvadasi-yatra dekhila sakali

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; rasa-yatra--rasa dancing of Lord Krsna; ara--and; dipa-avali--a row of lights, the day of Dipavali; utthana-dvadasi-yatra--the festival of Utthana-dvadasi; dekhila sakali--participated in all of them.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees participated in all the festivals known as Rasa-yatra, Dipavali and Utthana-dvadasi.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The Dipavali festival takes place on the dark-moon night in the month of Karttika (October-November). The Rasa-yatra, or rasa dancing of Krsna, takes place on the full-moon night of the same month. Utthana-dvadasi takes place the day after Ekadasi in the waxing fortnight of the moon in the same month. All the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu participated in all these festivals.

 

                               TEXT 37

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 eka-dina mahaprabhu nityanande lana

                 dui bhai yukti kaila nibhrte vasiya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka-dina--one day; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nityanande lana--taking Lord Nityananda Prabhu; dui bhai--two brothers; yukti kaila--consulted; nibhrte vasiya--sitting in a solitary place.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   One day the two brothers, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu, consulted one another, sitting together in a solitary place.

 

                               TEXT 38

 

                                 TEXT

 

                kiba yukti kaila dunhe, keha nahi jane

                phale anumana pache kaila bhakta-gane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kiba yukti kaila--what consultation They had; dunhe--both of Them; keha nahi jane--no one knows; phale--by the result; anumana--guess; pache--later; kaila--did; bhakta-gane--all the devotees.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   No one could understand what the brothers discussed between Themselves, but later all the devotees could guess what the subject matter was.

 

                               TEXT 39

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 tabe mahaprabhu saba bhakte bolaila

                  gauda-dese yaha sabe vidaya karila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe mahaprabhu--thereafter Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; saba--all; bhakte--the devotees; bolaila--called; gauda-dese--to Bengal; yaha--return; sabe--all of you; vidaya karila--bade farewell.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thereafter, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu called for all the devotees and asked them to return to Bengal. In this way, He bade farewell to them.

 

                               TEXT 40

 

                                 TEXT

 

               sabare kahila prabhu----pratyabda asiya

                  gundica dekhiya yabe amare miliya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sabare--to all of them; kahila--said; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prati-abda--every year; asiya--coming; gundica--the function at the Gundica temple; dekhiya--seeing; yabe--you should go; amare miliya--after meeting Me.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Bidding farewell to all the devotees, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu requested them to return to Jagannatha Puri every year to see Him and then see the cleansing of the Gundica temple.

 

                               TEXT 41

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  acaryere ajna dila kariya sammana

                'a-candala adi krsna-bhakti dio dana'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   acaryere--unto Advaita Acarya; ajna dila--ordered; kariya sammana--with great respect; a-candala--even to the lowest of men, known as the candala; adi--beginning with; krsna-bhakti--Krsna consciousness, or devotional service to Lord Krsna; dio--deliver; dana--in charity.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   With great respect, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu requested Advaita Acarya, "Give Krsna consciousness, devotion to Krsna, even to the lowest of men [candalas]."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's order to all His devotees. Krsna-bhakti, devotion to Krsna, is open to everyone, even low-class men like candalas. One should follow this order in the disciplic succession stemming from Sri Advaita and Nityananda Prabhu and distribute Krsna consciousness without discrimination throughout the world.

   There are different kinds of men, beginning with the brahmana and going down to the lowest platform known as candala. Whatever one's position, everyone in this Age of Kali needs to be enlightened in Krsna consciousness. That is the greatest need of the day. Everyone is acutely feeling the pangs of material existence. Even in the ranks and files of the American Senate, the pinpricks of material existence are felt, so much so that April 30, 1974, was actually set aside as Prayer Day. Thus everyone is feeling the resultant pinpricks of Kali-yuga brought about by human society's indulging in illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. Now is the time for the members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to distribute krsna-bhakti all over the world and thus follow the orders of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The Lord has ordered everyone to become a guru (Cc. Madhya 7.128): amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa. Everyone in every town and village should be enlightened by the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Krsna consciousness should be distributed to everyone indiscriminately. In this way, the entire world will be peaceful and happy, and everyone will glorify Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as He desires.

   The word candala actually refers to a dog-eater, who is considered the lowest of men. Even candalas can be enlightened in Krsna consciousness due to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's benedictions. Krsna-bhakti is not the monopoly of a certain caste. Everyone is eligible to receive this great benediction given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Everyone should be given a chance to receive it and be happy.

   The word dana, meaning "charity," is also significant in this verse. Whoever engages in the distribution of Krsna consciousness is a charitable person. Professional men recite Srimad-Bhagavatam and discuss krsna-bhakti for an exchange of money. They cannot distribute such exalted transcendental property to everyone and anyone. Only pure devotees who have no motive other than serving Krsna can give such transcendentally valuable benedictions out of charity.

 

                               TEXT 42

 

                                 TEXT

 

              nityanande ajna dila,----'yaha gauda-dese

                 anargala prema-bhakti kariha prakase

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nityanande--unto Nityananda Prabhu; ajna dila--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered; yaha gauda-dese--go to Gauda-desa (Bengal); anargala--without restriction; prema-bhakti--devotional service in love of Godhead; kariha prakase--manifest.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Nityananda Prabhu,"Go to Bengal and, without restriction, manifest devotional service to the Lord, Krsna consciousness."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu thus ordered Nityananda Prabhu to deliver all the Bengalis to devotional service. In Bhagavad-gita (9.32) it is said:

 

                      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 approach the supreme destination." Whoever takes to Krsna consciousness and follows the regulative principles can return home, back to Godhead.

   In his Anubhasya, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes: "There is a class of so-called devotees called prakrta-sahajiyas who think that Nityananda Prabhu is an ordinary human being. They have spread the news that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Nityananda Prabhu to return to Bengal from Orissa just to marry and beget children. This is certainly a great offense against Nityananda Prabhu."

   Such an offense is called pasanda-buddhi, or an atheistic remark. Offenders consider Nityananda Prabhu to be like one of them, an ordinary human being. They do not know of Nityananda Prabhu's identity with the visnu-tattva. Thinking Nityananda Prabhu to be an ordinary human being is the business of mental speculators known as kunapatma-vadis. These people accept the material body, which is a bag of three material elements (kunape tri-dhatuke), as themselves. They think that Nityananda Prabhu's body was similarly material and that it was meant for sense gratification. Whoever thinks in this way is a candidate for the darkest regions of hell. Those who hanker after women and money, who are self-interested and have the mentality of merchants, can certainly discover many things with their fertile brains and speak against the authorized revealed scriptures. They also engage in some moneymaking businesses to cheat innocent people, and they try to support their business programs by making such offensive statements. Actually Nityananda Prabhu, being the expansion of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, is the most munificent incarnation. No one should consider Him an ordinary human being or an entity like the prajapatis, who were ordered by Brahma to increase generation. Nityananda Prabhu should not be considered instrumental for sense gratification. Although professional so-called preachers support this, such statements are not found in any authorized revealed scriptures. Actually there is no support for these statements made by sahajiyas or other professional distributors of krsna-bhakti.

 

                               TEXT 43

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  rama-dasa, gadadhara adi kata jane

                 tomara sahaya lagi' dilu tomara sane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   rama-dasa--Ramadasa; gadadhara--Gadadhara dasa; adi--and others; kata jane--some people; tomara--Your; sahaya--assistants; lagi'--as; dilu--I give; tomara sane--with You.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Nityananda Prabhu was given assistants like Ramadasa, Gadadhara dasa and several others. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "I give them to You to assist You.

 

                               TEXT 44

 

                                 TEXT

 

                madhye madhye ami tomara nikata yaiba

                 alaksite rahi' tomara nrtya dekhiba'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   madhye madhye--at intervals; ami--I; tomara nikata--near You; yaiba--shall go; alaksite rahi'--keeping invisible; tomara nrtya--Your dancing; dekhiba--I shall see.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I shall also go to see You at intervals. Keeping Myself invisible, I shall watch You dance."

 

                               TEXT 45

 

                                 TEXT

 

                srivasa-pandite prabhu kari' alingana

               kanthe dhari' kahe tanre madhura vacana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   srivasa-pandite--unto Srivasa Pandita; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kari'--doing; alingana--embracing; kanthe dhari'--catching his neck; kahe--says; tanre--unto him; madhura vacana--sweet words.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then embraced Srivasa Pandita and, with His arm about his neck, began to speak to him in sweet words.

 

                               TEXT 46

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tomara ghare kirtane ami nitya naciba

                 tumi dekha pabe, ara keha na dekhiba

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tomara ghare--in your house; kirtane--in the performance of congregational chanting; ami--I; nitya--daily; naciba--shall dance; tumi--you; dekha pabe--will be able to see; ara--else; keha--anyone; na dekhiba--will not see.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu requested Srivasa Thakura, "Perform congregational chanting daily, and be assured that I shall also dance in your presence. You will be able to see this dancing, but not others.

 

                               TEXT 47

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ei vastra matake diha', ei saba prasada

                dandavat kari' amara ksamaiha aparadha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei vastra--this cloth; matake diha'--deliver to My mother, Sacidevi; ei saba prasada--all these remnants of the food of Jagannatha; dandavat kari'--offering obeisances; amara--My; ksamaiha--cause to be excused; aparadha--offenses.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Take this prasada of Lord Jagannatha's and this cloth and deliver them to My mother, Sacidevi. After offering her obeisances, please request her to excuse My offenses.

 

                               TEXT 48

 

                                 TEXT

 

               tanra seva chadi' ami kariyachi sannyasa

                dharma nahe, kari ami nija dharma-nasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tanra seva chadi'--giving up her service; ami--I; kariyachi--accepted; sannyasa--the renounced order of life; dharma nahe--it is not My religion; kari--perform; ami--I; nija dharma-nasa--destruction of My religious principles.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I have given up the service of My mother and have accepted the sannyasa order. Actually I should not have done this, for by so doing, I have destroyed My religious principles.

 

                               TEXT 49

 

                                 TEXT

 

              tanra prema-vasa ami, tanra seva----dharma

                 taha chadi' kariyachi vatulera karma

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tanra prema-vasa--subordinate to her love; ami--I; tanra seva--her service; dharma--My religion; taha chadi'--giving up that; kariyachi--I performed; vatulera karma--the acts of a madman.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I am subordinate to the love of My mother, and it is My duty to serve her in return. Instead of doing so, I have accepted this renounced order. Certainly this is the act of a madman.

 

                               TEXT 50

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 vatula balakera mata nahi laya dosa

                  ei jani' mata more na karaya rosa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vatula balakera--of a mad son; mata--mother; nahi--does not; laya--accept; dosa--fault; ei jani'--knowing this; mata--mother; more--unto Me; na karaya rosa--is not at all angry.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "A mother is not offended by her mad son, and, knowing this, My mother is not offended by Me.

 

                               TEXT 51

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ki kaya sannyase mora, prema nija-dhana

              ye-kale sannyasa kailun, channa haila mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ki kaya--what business; sannyase--in the renounced order; mora--of Me; prema--love; nija-dhana--My real wealth; ye-kale--at which time; sannyasa kailun--I accepted the renounced order; channa--deranged; haila--was; mana--mind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I had no business in accepting this renounced order and sacrificing My love for My mother, which is My real property. Actually I was in a crazy state of mind when I accepted sannyasa.

 

                               TEXT 52

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  nilacale achon muni tanhara ajnate

               madhye madhye asimu tanra carana dekhite

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nilacale achon--stay at Jagannatha Puri, Nilacala; muni--I; tanhara ajnate--under her order; madhye madhye--at intervals; asimu--I shall go; tanra--her; carana dekhite--to see the lotus feet.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I am staying here at Jagannatha Puri, Nilacala, to comply with her orders. However, at intervals I shall go see her lotus feet.

 

                               TEXT 53

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 nitya yai' dekhi muni tanhara carane

               sphurti-jnane tenho taha satya nahi mane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nitya yai'--going daily; dekhi--see; muni--I; tanhara carane--her lotus feet; sphurti-jnane--feeling My appearance; tenho--she; taha--that; satya nahi mane--does not accept as true.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Indeed, I go there daily to see her lotus feet. She is able to feel My presence, although she does not believe it to be true.

 

                             TEXTS 54-55

 

                                 TEXT

 

                eka-dina salyanna, vyanjana panca-sata

             saka, moca-ghanta, bhrsta-patola-nimba-pata