Chapter 16

                The Lord's Attempt to Go to Vrndavana

 

   Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gives the following summary of this chapter in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to go to Vrndavana, Ramananda Raya and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya indirectly presented many obstructions. In due course of time, all the devotees of Bengal visited Jagannatha Puri for the third year. This time, all the wives of the Vaisnavas brought many types of food, intending to extend invitations to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Jagannatha Puri. When the devotees arrived, Caitanya Mahaprabhu sent his blessings in the form of garlands. In that year also, the Gundica temple was cleansed, and when the Caturmasya period was over, all the devotees returned to their homes in Bengal. Caitanya Mahaprabhu forbade Nityananda to visit Nilacala every year. Questioned by the inhabitants of Kulina-grama, Caitanya Mahaprabhu again repeated the symptoms of a Vaisnava. Vidyanidhi also came to Jagannatha Puri and saw the festival of Odana-sasthi. When the devotees bade farewell to the Lord, the Lord was determined to go to Vrndavana, and on the day of Vijaya-dasami, He departed.

   Maharaja Prataparudra made various arrangements for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's trip to Vrndavana. When He crossed the River Citrotpala, Ramananda Raya, Mardaraja and Haricandana went with Him. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu requested Gadadhara Pandita to go to Nilacala, Jagannatha Puri, but he did not abide by this order. From Kataka, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again requested Gadadhara Pandita to return to Nilacala, and He bade farewell to Ramananda Raya from Bhadraka. After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu crossed the border of Orissa state, and He arrived at Panihati by boat. Thereafter He visited the house of Raghava Pandita, and from there He went to Kumarahatta and eventually to Kuliya, where He excused many offenders. From there He went to Ramakeli, where He saw Sri Rupa and Sanatana and accepted them as His chief disciples. Returning from Ramakeli, He met Raghunatha dasa and after giving him instructions sent him back home. Thereafter the Lord returned to Nilacala and began to make plans to go to Vrndavana without a companion.

 

                                TEXT 1

 

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                       gaudodyanam gaura-meghah

                        sincan svalokanamrtaih

                       bhavagni-dagdha-janata-

                         virudhah samajivayat

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gauda-udyanam--upon the garden known as Gauda-desa; gaura-meghah--the cloud known as Gaura; sincan--pouring water; sva--His own; alokana-amrtaih--with the nectar of the glance; bhava-agni--by the blazing fire of material existence; dagdha--having been burnt; janata--the people in general; virudhah--who are like creepers and plants; samajivayat--revived.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   By the nectar of His personal glance, the cloud known as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu poured water upon the garden of Gauda-desa and revived the people, who were like creepers and plants burning in the forest fire of material existence.

 

                                TEXT 2

 

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                jaya jaya gauracandra jaya nityananda

              jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jaya jaya--all glories; gauracandra--to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jaya--all glories; nityananda--to Nityananda Prabhu; jaya--all glories; advaita-candra--to Advaita Acarya; 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! All glories to Advaitacandra! All glories to all the devotees of the Lord!

 

                                TEXT 3

 

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                prabhura ha-ila iccha yaite vrndavana

                  suniya prataparudra ha-ila vimana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ha-ila--there was; iccha--the desire; yaite--to go; vrndavana--to Vrndavana; suniya--hearing; prataparudra--Maharaja Prataparudra; ha-ila vimana--became morose.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu decided to go to Vrndavana, and Maharaja Prataparudra became very morose upon hearing this news.

 

                                TEXT 4

 

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                sarvabhauma, ramananda, ani' dui jana

                  dunhake kahena raja vinaya-vacana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma; ramananda--Ramananda; ani'--calling; dui jana--two persons; dunhake--unto both of them; kahena--said; raja--the King; vinaya-vacana--submissive words.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The King therefore called for Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and Ramananda Raya, and he spoke the following submissive words to them.

 

                                TEXT 5

 

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              niladri chadi' prabhura mana anyatra yaite

                 tomara karaha yatna tanhare rakhite

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   niladri--Jagannatha Puri; chadi'--giving up; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mana--the mind; anyatra--elsewhere; yaite--to go; tomara--both of you; karaha--make; yatna--endeavor; tanhare--Him; rakhite--to keep.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Prataparudra Maharaja said, "Please endeavor to keep Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu here at Jagannatha puri, for now He is thinking of going elsewhere.

 

                                TEXT 6

 

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                 tanha vina ei rajya more nahi bhaya

                   gosani rakhite karaha nana upaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tanha vina--without Him; ei rajya--this kingdom; more--to me; nahi bhaya--is not very pleasing; gosani--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; rakhite--to keep; karaha--do; nana upaya--various sorts of devices.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Without Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this kingdom is not pleasing to me. Therefore please try to devise some plan to enable the Lord to stay here."

 

                                TEXT 7

 

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               ramananda, sarvabhauma, dui-jana-sthane

              tabe yukti kare prabhu----'yaba vrndavane'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ramananda--Ramananda; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma; dui-jana-sthane--before the two persons; tabe--then; yukti kare--consulted; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yaba vrndavane--I shall go to Vrndavana.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself consulted Ramananda Raya and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, saying,"I shall go to Vrndavana."

 

                                TEXT 8

 

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               dunhe kahe,----ratha-yatra kara darasana

                   kartika aile, tabe kariha gamana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dunhe kahe--both of them said; ratha-yatra--the Ratha-yatra festival; kara darasana--please see; kartika aile--when the month of Karttika arrives; tabe--at that time; kariha gamana--You can go.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Ramananda Raya and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya requested the Lord to observe first the Ratha-yatra festival. Then when the month of Karttika arrived, He could go to Vrndavana.

 

                                TEXT 9

 

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                  kartika aile kahe----ebe maha-sita

                dola-yatra dekhi' yao----ei bhala rita

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kartika aile--when the month of Karttika arrived; kahe--both of them said; ebe--now; maha-sita--very cold; dola-yatra dekhi'--after seeing the Dola-yatra ceremony; yao--You go; ei--this; bhala rita--a very nice program.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   However, when the month of Karttika came, they both told the Lord, "Now it is very cold. It is better that You wait to see the Dola-yatra festival and then go. That will be very nice."

 

                               TEXT 10

 

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                 aji-kali kari' uthaya vividha upaya

                yaite sammati na deya vicchedera bhaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   aji-kali kari'--delaying today and tomorrow; uthaya--they put forward; vividha upaya--many devices; yaite--to go; sammati--permission; na deya--did not give; vicchedera bhaya--because of fearing separation.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In this way they both presented many impediments, indirectly not granting the Lord permission to go to Vrndavana. They did this because they were afraid of separation from Him.

 

                               TEXT 11

 

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                yadyapi svatantra prabhu nahe nivarana

               bhakta-iccha vina prabhu na kare gamana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yadyapi--although; svatantra--fully independent; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nahe nivarana--there is no checking Him; bhakta-iccha vina--without the permission of devotees; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; na kare gamana--does not go.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Although the Lord is completely independent and incapable of being checked by anyone, He still did not go without the permission of His devotees.

 

                               TEXT 12

 

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               trtiya vatsare saba gaudera bhakta-gana

                  nilacale calite sabara haila mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   trtiya vatsare--in the third year; saba--all; gaudera bhakta-gana--devotees from Bengal; nilacale--to Jagannatha Puri; calite--to go; sabara--of everyone; haila--there was; mana--the mind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Then, for the third year, all the devotees of Bengal wanted to return again to Jagannatha Puri.

 

                               TEXT 13

 

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                sabe meli' gela advaita acaryera pase

                 prabhu dekhite acarya calila ullase

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sabe--everyone; meli'--after assembling together; gela--went; advaita--Advaita; acaryera--of the leader of Navadvipa; pase--in the presence; prabhu dekhite--to see Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; acarya--Advaita Acarya; calila--departed; ullase--in great jubilation.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All the Bengali devotees gathered around Advaita Acarya, and in great jubilation Advaita Acarya departed to Jagannatha Puri to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TEXTS 14-15

 

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                 yadyapi prabhura ajna gaudete rahite

              nityananda-prabhuke prema-bhakti prakasite

 

                 tathapi calila mahaprabhure dekhite

               nityanandera prema-cesta ke pare bujhite

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yadyapi--although; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ajna--the order; gaudete rahite--to stay in Bengal; nityananda-prabhuke--unto Nityananda Prabhu; prema-bhakti--ecstatic love of Godhead; prakasite--to preach; tathapi--still; calila--departed; mahaprabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhite--to see; nityanandera--of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; prema-cesta--the activities of ecstatic love; ke--who; pare--is able; bujhite--to understand.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Although the Lord told Nityananda Prabhu to stay in Bengal and spread ecstatic love of God, Nityananda left to go see Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Who can understand Nityananda Prabhu's ecstatic love?

 

                             TEXTS 16-17

 

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               acaryaratna, vidyanidhi, srivasa, ramai

                vasudeva, murari, govindadi tina bhai

 

                  raghava pandita nija-jhali sajana

                kulina-grama-vasi cale patta-dori lana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   acaryaratna--Acaryaratna; vidyanidhi--Vidyanidhi; srivasa--Srivasa; ramai--Ramai; vasudeva--Vasudeva; murari--Murari; govinda-adi tina bhai--Govinda and his two brothers; raghava pandita--Raghava Pandita; nija-jhali--his own bags; sajana--assorting; kulina-grama-vasi--the inhabitants of Kulina-grama; cale--went; patta-dori lana--taking silken ropes.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All the devotees of Navadvipa departed, including Acaryaratna, Vidyanidhi, Srivasa, Ramai, Vasudeva, Murari, Govinda and his two brothers and Raghava Pandita, who took bags of assorted foods. The inhabitants of Kulina-grama, carrying silken ropes, also departed.

 

                               TEXT 18

 

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                khanda-vasi narahari, sri-raghunandana

                sarva-bhakta cale, tara ke kare ganana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   khanda-vasi narahari--Narahari, a resident of the village Khanda; sri-raghunandana--Sri Raghunandana; sarva-bhakta--all the devotees; cale--went; tara--of that; ke--who; kare ganana--can count.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Narahari and Sri Raghunandana, who were from the village of Khanda, and many other devotees also departed. Who can count them?

 

                               TEXT 19

 

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                 sivananda-sena kare ghati samadhana

                 sabare palana kari' sukhe lana yana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sivananda-sena--Sivananda Sena; kare--made; ghati samadhana--arrangements for expenditures to clear the tax collecting centers; sabare--everyone; palana--maintaining; kari'--doing; sukhe--in happiness; lana--taking; yana--goes.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sivananda Sena, who was in charge of the party, made arrangements to clear the tax collecting centers. He took care of all the devotees and happily traveled with them.

 

                               TEXT 20

 

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             sabara sarva-karya karena, dena vasa-sthana

                sivananda jane udiya-pathera sandhana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sabara--of all of them; sarva-karya--everything necessary to be done; karena--he does; dena--gives; vasa-sthana--residential places; sivananda--Sivananda; jane--knows; udiya-pathera--of the roads in Orissa; sandhana--the junctions.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sivananda Sena took care of all the necessities the devotees required. In particular, he made arrangements for residential quarters, and he knew the roads of Orissa.

 

                               TEXT 21

 

                                 TEXT

 

               se vatsara prabhu dekhite saba thakurani

                  calila acarya-sange acyuta-janani

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   se vatsara--that year; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhite--to see; saba thakurani--all the wives of the devotees; calila--went; acarya-sange--with Advaita Acarya; acyuta-janani--the mother of Acyutananda.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   That year also all the wives of the devotees [thakuranis] also went to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sitadevi, the mother of Acyutananda, went with Advaita Acarya.

 

                               TEXT 22

 

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                 srivasa pandita-sange calila malini

                 sivananda-sange cale tanhara grhini

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   srivasa pandita-sange--with Srivasa Pandita; calila--went; malini--his wife, Malini; sivananda-sange--with Sivananda Sena; cale--goes; tanhara--his; grhini--wife.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Srivasa Pandita also took his wife, Malini, and the wife of Sivananda Sena also went with her husband.

 

                               TEXT 23

 

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              sivanandera balaka, nama----caitanya-dasa

               tenho caliyache prabhure dekhite ullasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sivanandera balaka--the son of Sivananda; nama--named; caitanya-dasa--Caitanya dasa; tenho--he; caliyache--was going; prabhure--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhite--to see; ullasa--jubilantly.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Caitanya dasa, the son of Sivananda Sena, also jubilantly accompanied them as they went to see the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 24

 

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                acaryaratna-sange cale tanhara grhini

                 tanhara premera katha kahite na jani

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   acaryaratna-sange--with Candrasekhara; cale--goes; tanhara--his; grhini--wife; tanhara--his; premera katha--the description of the ecstatic love; kahite--to speak; na jani--I do not know how.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The wife of Candrasekhara [Acaryaratna] also went. I cannot speak of the greatness of Candrasekhara's love for the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 25

 

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               saba thakurani mahaprabhuke bhiksa dite

             prabhura nana priya dravya nila ghara haite

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   saba thakurani--all the wives of the great devotees; mahaprabhuke--to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhiksa dite--to offer food; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nana--various; priya dravya--pleasing foods; nila--took; ghara haite--from home.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   To offer Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu various types of food, all the wives of the great devotees brought from home various things that pleased Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 26

 

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                  sivananda-sena kare saba samadhana

             ghatiyala prabodhi' dena sabare vasa-sthana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sivananda-sena--Sivananda Sena; kare--does; saba samadhana--all arrangements; ghatiyala--the men in charge of levying taxes; prabodhi'--satisfying; dena--gives; sabare--to everyone; vasa-sthana--resting places.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As stated, Sivananda Sena used to make all arrangements for the party's necessities. In particular, he used to pacify the men in charge of levying taxes, and he found resting places for everyone.

 

                               TEXT 27

 

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              bhaksya diya karena sabara sarvatra palane

                 parama anande yana prabhura darasane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhaksya diya--supplying food; karena--he does; sabara--of everyone; sarvatra--everywhere; palane--maintenance; parama anande--in great pleasure; yana--he goes; prabhura darasane--to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sivananda Sena also supplied food to all the devotees and took care of them along the way. In this way, feeling great happiness he went to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Jagannatha Puri.

 

                               TEXT 28

 

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               remunaya asiya kaila gopinatha darasana

                 acarya karila tahan kirtana, nartana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   remunaya--to Remuna; asiya--after coming; kaila--performed; gopinatha darasana--visiting the temple of Gopinatha; acarya--Advaita Acarya; karila--performed; tahan--there; kirtana--chanting; nartana--dancing.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When they all arrived at Remuna, they went to see Lord Gopinatha. In the temple there, Advaita Acarya danced and chanted.

 

                               TEXT 29

 

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                nityanandera paricaya saba sevaka sane

                bahuta sammana asi' kaila sevaka-gane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nityanandera--of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; paricaya--there was acquaintance; saba--all; sevaka sane--with the priests of the temple; bahuta sammana--great respect; asi'--coming; kaila--offered; sevaka-gane--all the priests.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All the priests of the temple had been previously acquainted with Sri Nityananda Prabhu; therefore they all came to offer great respects to the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 30

 

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                 sei ratri saba mahanta tahani rahila

                  bara ksira ani' age sevaka dharila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei ratri--that night; saba mahanta--all the great devotees; tahani rahila--remained there; bara--twelve pots; ksira--condensed milk; ani'--bringing; age--in front of Nityananda Prabhu; sevaka--the priests; dharila--placed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   That night, all the great devotees remained in the temple, and the priests brought twelve pots of condensed milk, which they placed before Lord Nityananda Prabhu.

 

                               TEXT 31

 

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              ksira banti' sabare dila prabhu-nityananda

               ksira-prasada pana sabara badila ananda

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ksira--the condensed milk; banti'--dividing; sabare--unto everyone; dila--gave; prabhu-nityananda--Nityananda Prabhu; ksira-prasada--remnants of condensed milk from the Deity; pana--getting; sabara--of everyone; badila--increased; ananda--the transcendental bliss.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the condensed milk was placed before Nityananda Prabhu, He distributed the prasada to everyone, and thus everyone's transcendental bliss increased.

 

                               TEXT 32

 

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                madhava-purira katha, gopala-sthapana

                 tanhare gopala yaiche magila candana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   madhava-purira katha--the narration of Madhavendra Puri; gopala-sthapana--installation of the Deity of Gopala; tanhare--unto him; gopala--Lord Gopala; yaiche--just as; magila--He begged; candana--sandalwood.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   They then all discussed the story of Sri Madhavendra Puri's installation of the Gopala Deity, and they discussed how Gopala begged sandalwood from him.

 

                               TEXT 33

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tanra lagi' gopinatha ksira curi kaila

                mahaprabhura mukhe age e katha sunila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tanra lagi'--for him (Madhavendra Puri); gopinatha--the Deity named Gopinatha; ksira--condensed milk; curi--stealing; kaila--performed; mahaprabhura mukhe--from the mouth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; age--previously; e katha--this incident; sunila--heard.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   It was Gopinatha who stole condensed milk for the sake of Madhavendra Puri. This incident had been previously related by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself.

 

                               TEXT 34

 

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               sei katha sabara madhye kahe nityananda

                  suniya vaisnava-mane badila ananda

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei katha--that incident; sabara madhye--among all of them; kahe--says; nityananda--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; suniya--hearing; vaisnava-mane--in the minds of all the Vaisnavas; badila--increased; ananda--the transcendental bliss.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   This same narration was again related by Lord Nityananda to all the devotees, and their transcendental bliss increased as they heard the story again.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The words mahaprabhura mukhe, "from the mouth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu," are significant because Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu first heard the story of Madhavendra Puri from His spiritual master, Sripada Isvara Puri. For this story refer to Madhya-lila, Chapter Four, verse eighteen. After staying at Sri Advaita's house in Santipura for some time, the Lord narrated the story of Madhavendra Puri to Nityananda Prabhu, Jagadananda Prabhu, Damodara Pandita and Mukunda dasa. When they went to Remuna to the temple of Gopinatha, He described Madhavendra Puri's installation of the Gopala Deity as well as Gopinatha's stealing condensed milk. Due to this incident, Lord Gopinatha became well known as Ksiracora, the thief who stole condensed milk.

 

                               TEXT 35

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   ei-mata cali' cali' kataka aila

               saksi-gopala dekhi' sabe se dina rahila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; cali' cali'--walking and walking; kataka aila--they reached the town known as Kataka; saksi-gopala dekhi'--after seeing the Deity known as Saksi-gopala; sabe--all the devotees; se dina--that day; rahila--stayed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Walking and walking in this way, the devotees arrived at the city of Kataka, where they remained for a day and saw the temple of Saksi-gopala.

 

                               TEXT 36

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 saksi-gopalera katha kahe nityananda

                  suniya vaisnava-mane badila ananda

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   saksi-gopalera--of the Deity known as Saksi-gopala; katha--the narration; kahe--describes; nityananda--Nityananda Prabhu; suniya--hearing; vaisnava-mane--in the minds of all the Vaisnavas; badila--increased; ananda--the transcendental bliss.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Nityananda Prabhu described all the activities of Saksi-gopala, transcendental bliss increased in the minds of all the Vaisnavas.

   For these activities refer to Madhya-lila, Chapter Five, verses 8--138.

 

                               TEXT 37

 

                                 TEXT

 

                prabhuke milite sabara utkantha antare

                 sighra kari' aila sabe sri-nilacale

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhuke milite--to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sabara--of everyone; utkantha--anxiety; antare--within the heart; sighra kari'--making great haste; aila--reached; sabe--all of them; sri-nilacale--Jagannatha Puri.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Everyone in the party was very anxious at heart to see Caitanya Mahaprabhu; therefore they hastily went on to Jagannatha Puri.

 

                               TEXT 38

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   atharanalake aila gosani suniya

                 dui-mala pathaila govinda-hate diya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   atharanalake--Atharanala; aila--they have reached; gosani--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; suniya--hearing; dui-mala--two garlands; pathaila--sent; govinda-hate diya--through the hands of Govinda.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When they all arrived at a bridge called Atharanala, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, hearing the news of their arrival, sent two garlands with Govinda.

 

                               TEXT 39

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  dui mala govinda dui-jane paraila

              advaita, avadhuta-gosani bada sukha paila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dui mala--the two garlands; govinda--Govinda; dui-jane paraila--placed on the necks of two personalities; advaita--Advaita Acarya; avadhuta-gosani--Nityananda Prabhu; bada sukha paila--became very happy.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Govinda offered the two garlands to Advaita Acarya and Nityananda Prabhu, and They both became very happy.

 

                               TEXT 40

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tahani arambha kaila krsna-sankirtana

                  nacite nacite cali' aila dui-jana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tahani--on that very spot; arambha kaila--began; krsna-sankirtana--chanting the holy name of Lord Krsna; nacite nacite--dancing and dancing; cali'--going; aila--reached; dui-jana--both of Them.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Indeed, They began chanting the holy name of Krsna on that very spot, and, dancing and dancing, both Advaita Acarya and Nityananda Prabhu reached Jagannatha Puri.

 

                               TEXT 41

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 punah mala diya svarupadi nija-gana

                  agu badi' pathaila sacira nandana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   punah--again; mala--garlands; diya--offering; svarupa-adi--Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and others; nija-gana--personal associates; agu badi'--going forward; pathaila--sent; sacira nandana--the son of mother Saci.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Then, for the second time, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sent garlands through Svarupa Damodara and other personal associates. Thus they went forward, sent by the son of mother Saci.

 

                               TEXT 42

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  narendra asiya tahan sabare milila

                mahaprabhura datta mala sabare paraila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   narendra--to the lake named Narendra; asiya--coming; tahan--there; sabare--everyone; milila--met; mahaprabhura--by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; datta--given; mala--garlands; sabare paraila--offered to everyone.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the devotees from Bengal reached Lake Narendra, Svarupa Damodara and the others met them and offered them the garlands given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 43

 

                                 TEXT

 

               simha-dvara-nikate aila suni' gauraraya

                   apane asiya prabhu milila sabaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   simha-dvara--the lion gate; nikate--near; aila--arrived; suni'--hearing; gauraraya--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; apane--personally; asiya--coming; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; milila sabaya--met them all.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the devotees finally reached the lion gate, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard the news and personally went to meet them.

 

                               TEXT 44

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 saba lana kaila jagannatha-darasana

                  saba lana aila punah apana-bhavana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   saba lana--taking all of them; kaila--performed; jagannatha-darasana--seeing Lord Jagannatha; saba lana--taking them all; aila--went back; punah--again; apana-bhavana--to His own residence.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Then Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and all His devotees visited Lord Jagannatha. Finally, accompanied by them all, He returned to His own residence.

 

                               TEXT 45

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 vaninatha, kasi-misra prasada anila

               svahaste sabare prabhu prasada khaoyaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vaninatha--Vaninatha; kasi-misra--Kasi Misra; prasada anila--brought all kinds of prasada; sva-haste--with His own hand; sabare--unto everyone; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prasada--the remnants of the food of Jagannatha; khaoyaila--fed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Vaninatha Raya and Kasi Misra then brought a large quantity of prasada, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu distributed it with His own hand and fed them all.

 

                               TEXT 46

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 purva vatsare yanra yei vasa-sthana

                  tahan saba pathana karaila visrama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   purva vatsare--in the previous year; yanra--of whom; yei--wherever; vasa-sthana--place to stay; tahan--there; saba--all of them; pathana--sending; karaila visrama--made them rest.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In the previous year, everyone had his own particular residence, and the same residences were again offered. Thus they all went to take rest.

 

                               TEXT 47

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ei-mata bhakta-gana rahila cari masa

                 prabhura sahita kare kirtana-vilasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; bhakta-gana--the devotees; rahila--remained; cari masa--for four months; prabhura sahita--with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare--performed; kirtana-vilasa--the pastimes of sankirtana.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   For four continuous months all the devotees remained there and enjoyed chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 48

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 purvavat ratha-yatra-kala yabe aila

                 saba lana gundica-mandira praksalila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   purva-vat--as in the previous year; ratha-yatra-kala--the time for Ratha-yatra festival; yabe--when; aila--arrived; saba lana--taking all of them; gundica-mandira--the temple of Gundica; praksalila--washed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As in the previous year, they all washed the Gundica temple when the time for Ratha-yatra arrived.

 

                               TEXT 49

 

                                 TEXT

 

               kulina-grami patta-dori jagannathe dila

                  purvavat ratha-agre nartana karila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kulina-grami--the residents of Kulina-grama; patta-dori--silken ropes; jagannathe dila--offered to Lord Jagannatha; purva-vat--like the previous year; ratha-agre--in front of the car; nartana karila--danced.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The inhabitants of Kulina-grama delivered silken ropes to Lord Jagannatha, and as previously they all danced before the Lord's car.

 

                               TEXT 50

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 bahu nrtya kari' punah calila udyane

                 vapi-tire tahan yai' karila visrame

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bahu nrtya kari'--after dancing a great deal; punah--again; calila--started for; udyane--the garden; vapi-tire--on the bank of the lake; tahan yai'--going there; karila visrame--took rest.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After dancing a great deal, they all went to a nearby garden and took rest beside a lake.

 

                               TEXT 51

 

                                 TEXT

 

              radhi eka vipra, tenho----nityananda dasa

               maha-bhagyavan tenho, nama----krsnadasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   radhi eka vipra--one brahmana resident of Radha-desa (where the Ganges does not flow); tenho--he; nityananda dasa--servant of Lord Nityananda; maha-bhagyavan--greatly fortunate; tenho--he; nama--named; krsnadasa--Krsnadasa.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   One brahmana named Krsnadasa, who was a resident of Radha-desa and a servant of Lord Nityananda's, was a very fortunate person.

 

                               TEXT 52

 

                                 TEXT

 

              ghata bhari' prabhura tenho abhiseka kaila

                tanra abhiseke prabhu maha-trpta haila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ghata bhari'--filling one waterpot; prabhura--of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tenho--he; abhiseka kaila--performed the bathing; tanra--his; abhiseke--by the act of bathing the Lord; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; maha-trpta haila--became very satisfied.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   It was Krsnadasa who filled a great waterpot and poured it over the Lord while He was taking His bath. The Lord was greatly satisfied by this.

 

                               TEXT 53

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 balagandi-bhogera bahu prasada aila

                 saba sange mahaprabhu prasada khaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   balagandi-bhogera--of the food offered at Balagandi; bahu prasada--a great quantity of prasada; aila--arrived; saba sange--with all the devotees; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prasada--remnants of the food of Jagannatha; khaila--ate.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The remnants of food offered to the Lord at Balagandi then arrived in great quantity, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and all His devotees ate it.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In reference to Balagandi, see Madhya-lila (13.193).

 

                               TEXT 54

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 purvavat ratha-yatra kaila darasana

              hera-pancami-yatra dekhe lana bhakta-gana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   purva-vat--as in the previous year; ratha-yatra--the car festival; kaila darasana--saw; hera-pancami-yatra--the festival of Hera-pancami; dekhe--He sees; lana bhakta-gana--with all the devotees.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As in the previous year, the Lord, with all the devotees, saw the Ratha-yatra festival and the Hera-pancami festival as well.

 

                               TEXT 55

 

                                 TEXT

 

               acarya-gosani prabhura kaila nimantrana

               tara madhye kaila yaiche jhada-varisana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   acarya-gosani--Advaita Acarya; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila--made; nimantrana--invitation; tara madhye--within that episode; kaila--occurred; yaiche--just as; jhada-varisana--rainstorm.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Advaita Acarya then extended an invitation to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and there was a great rainstorm connected with that incident.

 

                               TEXT 56

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 vistari' varniyachena dasa-vrndavana

                srivasa prabhure tabe kaila nimantrana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vistari'--elaborating; varniyachena--has described; dasa-vrndavana--Vrndavana dasa Thakura; srivasa--Srivasa; prabhure--to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tabe--then; kaila nimantrana--gave an invitation.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All these episodes have been elaborately described by Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura. Then one day Srivasa Thakura extended an invitation to the Lord.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Caitanya-bhagavata (Antya-lila, Chapter Eight) gives the following description. One day Srila Advaita Acarya, having extended an invitation to Caitanya Mahaprabhu, thought that if the Lord came alone He would feed Him to His great satisfaction. It then so happened that when the other sannyasis were going to Advaita Acarya's to take lunch, there was a big rainstorm, and they could not reach His house. Thus, according to Advaita Acarya's desires, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came alone and accepted the prasada.

 

                               TEXT 57

 

                                 TEXT

 

             prabhura priya-vyanjana saba randhena malini

              'bhaktye dasi'-abhimana, 'snehete janani'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; priya-vyanjana--favorite vegetables; saba--all; randhena--cooks; malini--the wife of Srivasa Thakura; bhaktye dasi--in devotion she was just like a maidservant; abhimana--it was her conception; snehete--in affection; janani--exactly like a mother.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Lord's favorite vegetables were cooked by Malinidevi, the wife of Srivasa Thakura. She devotedly considered herself a maidservant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's, but in affection she was just like a mother.

 

                               TEXT 58

 

                                 TEXT

 

               acaryaratna-adi yata mukhya bhakta-gana

               madhye madhye prabhure karena nimantrana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   acaryaratna--Candrasekhara; adi--and others; yata--all; mukhya bhakta-gana--chief devotees; madhye madhye--at intervals; prabhure--to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karena nimantrana--gave invitations.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All the chief devotees, headed by Candrasekhara [Acaryaratna] used to extend invitations to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu periodically.

 

                               TEXT 59

 

                                 TEXT

 

                caturmasya-ante punah nityanande lana

                 kiba yukti kare nitya nibhrte vasiya