Chapter 21

             The Opulence and Sweetness of Lord Sri Krsna

 

   Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gives the following summary study of the Twenty-first Chapter. In this chapter Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu fully describes Krsnaloka, the spiritual sky, the Causal Ocean and the material world, which consists of innumerable universes. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then describes Lord Brahma's interview with Krsna at Dvaraka and the Lord's curbing the pride of Brahma. There is also a description of one of Krsna's pastimes with Brahma. In this chapter the author of Caitanya-caritamrta has presented some nice poems about the pastimes of Krsna and Krsna's superexcellent beauty. Throughout the rest of the chapter, our intimate relationship (sambandha) with Krsna is described.

 

                                TEXT 1

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        agaty-eka-gatim natva

                        hinarthadhika-sadhakam

                      sri-caitanyam likhamy asya

                       madhuryaisvarya-sikaram

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   agati-eka-gatim--to the only shelter for the conditioned souls who do not know the goal of life; natva--offering obeisances; hina-artha--of the necessities of the conditioned souls, who are poor in spiritual knowledge; adhika--increase; sadhakam--bringing about; sri-caitanyam--unto Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; likhami--I am writing; asya--of Him; madhurya-aisvarya--of the sweetness and opulence; sikaram--a small portion.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Offering my obeisances unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, let me describe a particle of His opulence and sweetness. He is most valuable for a fallen conditioned soul bereft of spiritual knowledge, and He is the only shelter for those who do not know the real goal of life.

 

                                TEXT 2

 

                                 TEXT

 

                jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda

              jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jaya--all glories; jaya--all glories; sri-caitanya--to 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 Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

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

 

                                TEXT 3

 

                                 TEXT

 

               sarva svarupera dhama----paravyoma-dhame

             prthak prthak vaikuntha saba, nahika ganane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarva--all; svarupera--of the personal forms; dhama--abode; para-vyoma-dhame--in the spiritual sky; prthak prthak--separate; vaikuntha--Vaikuntha planets; saba--all; nahika ganane--there is no counting.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued,"All the transcendental forms of the Lord are situated in the spiritual sky. They preside over spiritual planets in that abode, but there is no counting those Vaikuntha planets.

 

                                TEXT 4

 

                                 TEXT

 

               sata, sahasra, ayuta, laksa, koti-yojana

                 eka eka vaikunthera vistara varnana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sata--a hundred; sahasra--a thousand; ayuta--ten thousand; laksa--a hundred thousand; koti--ten million; yojana--a distance of eight miles; eka eka--each and every one; vaikunthera--of the spiritual planets; vistara--the breadth; varnana--description.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The breadth of each Vaikuntha planet is described as eight miles multiplied by one hundred, by one thousand, by ten thousand, by one hundred thousand, and by ten million. In other words, each Vaikuntha planet is expanded beyond our ability to measure.

 

                                TEXT 5

 

                                 TEXT

 

              saba vaikuntha----vyapaka, ananda-cinmaya

                 parisada-sadaisvarya-purna saba haya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   saba--all; vaikuntha--the spiritual planets; vyapaka--vast; ananda-cit-maya--made of spiritual bliss; parisada--associates; sat-aisvarya--six kinds of opulence; purna--in full; saba--all; haya--are.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Each Vaikuntha planet is very large, and each is made of spiritual bliss. The inhabitants are all associates of the Supreme Lord, and they have full opulence like the Lord Himself. Thus they are all situated.

 

                                TEXT 6

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ananta vaikuntha eka eka dese yara

                sei paravyoma-dhamera ke karu vistara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ananta vaikuntha--unlimited Vaikuntha planets; eka eka--certain; dese--in a place; yara--of which; sei--that; para-vyoma--of the spiritual sky; dhamera--of the abode; ke karu vistara--who can understand the breadth.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Since all the Vaikuntha planets are located in a certain corner of the spiritual sky, who can measure the spiritual sky?

 

                                TEXT 7

 

                                 TEXT

 

              ananta vaikuntha-paravyoma yara dala-sreni

                 sarvopari krsnaloka 'karnikara' gani

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ananta--unlimited; vaikuntha--Vaikuntha planets; para-vyoma--the spiritual sky; yara--of which; dala-sreni--the bunches of outlying petals; sarva-upari--in the topmost portion of the spiritual sky; krsna-loka--the abode of Lord Krsna; karnikara gani--we consider the whorl of the lotus flower.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The shape of the spiritual sky is compared to a lotus flower. The topmost region of that flower is called the whorl, and within that whorl is Krsna's abode. The petals of the spiritual lotus flower consist of many Vaikuntha planets.

 

                                TEXT 8

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ei-mata sad-aisvarya, sthana, avatara

             brahma, siva anta na paya----jiva kon chara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--such; sat-aisvarya--six opulences; sthana--abode; avatara--incarnations; brahma--Lord Brahma; siva--Lord Siva; anta na paya--cannot find the limit; jiva--a living entity; kon--what of; chara--worthless.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Each Vaikuntha planet is full of spiritual bliss, complete opulence and space, and each is inhabited by incarnations. If Lord Brahma and Lord Siva cannot estimate the length and breadth of the spiritual sky and the Vaikuntha planets, how can ordinary living entities begin to imagine them?

 

                                TEXT 9

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ko vetti bhuman bhagavan paratman

                   yogesvarotir bhavatas trilokyam

                   kva va katham va kati va kadeti

                    vistarayan kridasi yoga-mayam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kah--who; vetti--knows; bhuman--O supreme great one; bhagavan--O Supreme Personality of Godhead; para-atman--O Supersoul; yoga-isvara--O master of mystic power; utih--pastimes; bhavatah--of Your Lordship; tri-lokyam--in the three worlds; kva--where; va--or; katham--how; va--or; kati--how many; va--or; kada--when; iti--thus; vistarayan--expanding; kridasi--You play; yoga-mayam--spiritual energy.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'O supreme great one! O Supreme Personality of Godhead! O Supersoul, master of all mystic power! Your pastimes are taking place continuously in these worlds, but who can estimate where, how and when You are employing Your spiritual energy and performing Your pastimes? No one can understand the mystery of these activities.'

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This verse is quoted from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.21).

 

                               TEXT 10

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ei-mata krsnera divya sad-guna ananta

               brahma-siva-sanakadi na paya yanra anta

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; divya--transcendental; sat-guna--spiritual qualities; ananta--unlimited; brahma--Lord Brahma; siva--Lord Siva; sanaka-adi--the four Kumaras and so on; na--not; paya--obtain; yanra--of which; anta--the limit.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The spiritual qualities of Krsna are also unlimited. Great personalities like Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and the four Kumaras cannot estimate the spiritual qualities of the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 11

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   gunatmanas te 'pi gunan vimatum

                     hitavatirnasya ka isire 'sya

                   kalena yair va vimitah sukalpair

                  bhu-pamsavah khe mihika dyubhasah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   guna-atmanah--the overseer of the three qualities; te--of You; api--certainly; gunan--the qualities; vimatum--to count; hita-avatirnasya--who have descended for the benefit of all living entities; ke--who; isire--were able; asya--of the universe; kalena--in due course of time; yaih--by whom; va--or; vimitah--counted; su-kalpaih--by great scientists; bhu-pamsavah--the atoms of the universe; khe--in the sky; mihikah--particles of snow; dyu-bhasah--the illuminating stars and planets.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'In time, great scientists may be able to count all the atoms of the universe, all the stars and planets in the sky, and all the particles of snow, but who among them can count the unlimited transcendental qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead? He descends on the surface of the globe for the benefit of all living entities.'

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This verse is quoted from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.7).

 

                               TEXT 12

 

                                 TEXT

 

               brahmadi rahu----sahasra-vadane 'ananta'

              nirantara gaya mukhe, na paya gunera anta

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   brahma-adi rahu--leave aside Lord Brahma and others; sahasra-vadane--in thousands of mouths; ananta--Lord Ananta; nirantara--continuously; gaya--chants; mukhe--in the mouths; na paya--does not obtain; gunera--of qualities of the Lord; anta--the end.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "To say nothing of Lord Brahma, even Lord Ananta, who has thousands of heads, could not reach the end of the Lord's transcendental qualities, even though He is continuously chanting their praises.

 

                               TEXT 13

 

                                 TEXT

 

               nantam vidamy aham ami munayo 'grajas te

                 maya-balasya purusasya kuto 'vara ye

                 gayan gunan dasa-satanana adi-devah

                seso 'dhunapi samavasyati nasya param

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   na antam--no limit; vidami--know; aham--I; ami--those; munayah--great saintly persons; agrajah--brothers; te--of you; maya-balasya--who has multi-energies; purusasya--of the Personality of Godhead; kutah--how; avarah--less intelligent; ye--those who; gayan--chanting; gunan--the qualities; dasa-sata-ananah--who has a thousand hoods; adi-devah--the Personality of Godhead; sesah--Ananta Sesa; adhuna api--even until now; samavasyati--reaches; na--not; asya--of the Lord; param--limit.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'If I, Lord Brahma, and your elder brothers, the great saints and sages, cannot understand the limits of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is full of various energies, who else can understand them? Although constantly chanting about His transcendental qualities, the thousand-hooded Lord Sesa has not yet reached the end of the Lord's activities.'

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This verse, spoken to Narada Muni, is from Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.7.41).

 

                               TEXT 14

 

                                 TEXT

 

               seho rahu----sarvajna-siromani sri-krsna

               nija-gunera anta na pana hayena satrsna

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   seho rahu--let Him (Ananta) alone; sarva-jna--the omniscient; siromani--the topmost; sri-krsna--Lord Krsna; nija-gunera--of His personal qualities; anta--limit; na--not; pana--getting; hayena--becomes; sa-trsna--very inquisitive.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "To say nothing of Anantadeva, even Lord Krsna Himself cannot find an end to His transcendental qualities. Indeed, He Himself is always eager to know them.

 

                               TEXT 15

 

                                 TEXT

 

             dyu-pataya eva te na yayur antam anantataya

             tvam api yad antaranda-nicaya nanu savaranah

           kha iva rajamsi vanti vayasa saha yac chrutayas

           tvayi hi phalanty atannirasanena bhavan-nidhanah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dyu-patayah--the predominating deities of higher planetary systems (Lord Brahma and others); eva--also; te--Your; na--not; yayuh--could reach; antam--the limit of transcendental qualities; anantataya--due to being unlimited; tvam api--You also; yat--since; antara--within You; anda-nicayah--the groups of universes; nanu--O sir; savaranah--having different coverings; khe--in the sky; iva--like; rajamsi--atoms; vanti--rotate; vayasa--the course of time; saha--with; yat--what; srutayah--great personalities who understand the Vedas; tvayi--in You; hi--certainly; phalanti--end in; atannirasanena--by refuting the inferior elements; bhavat-nidhanah--whose conclusion is in You.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'My Lord, You are unlimited. Even the predominating deities of the higher planetary systems, including Lord Brahma, could not find Your limitations. Nor could You Yourself ascertain the limit of Your qualities. Like atoms in the sky, there are multi-universes with seven coverings, and these are rotating in due course of time. All the experts in Vedic understanding are searching for You by eliminating the material elements. In this way, searching and searching, they come to the conclusion that everything is complete in You. Thus You are the resort of everything. This is the conclusion of all Vedic experts.'

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.87.41) is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita:

 

                        bahunam janmanam ante

                       jnanavan mam prapadyate

                         vasudevah sarvam iti

                        sa mahatma sudurlabhah

 

   "After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare." (Bg. 7.19)

   After searching for the Absolute Truth throughout the universe, learned scholars and Vedic experts cannot reach the ultimate goal. In this way they come to Krsna.

   When there is a discussion about the Absolute Truth, there are always various pros and cons. The purpose of such arguments is to come to the right conclusion. Such an argument is generally known as neti neti ("not this, not that"). Until one comes to the right conclusion, the process of thinking, "This is not the Absolute Truth, that is not the Absolute Truth," will continue. When we come to the right conclusion, we accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, as the ultimate truth.

 

                               TEXT 16

 

                                 TEXT

 

                seha rahu----vraje yabe krsna avatara

               tanra caritra vicarite mana na paya para

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   seha rahu--leave aside such negative arguments; vraje--in Vrndavana; yabe--when; krsna--Lord Krsna; avatara--incarnation; tanra--His; caritra--character; vicarite--to deliberate; mana--mind; na--not; paya--gets; para--the limit.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Apart from all argument, logic and negative or positive processes, when Lord Sri Krsna was present as the Supreme Personality of Godhead at Vrndavana, one could not find a limit to His potencies by studying His characteristics and activities.

 

                               TEXT 17

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 prakrtaprakrta srsti kaila eka-ksane

                asesa-vaikunthajanda svasvanatha-sane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prakrta-aprakrta--material and spiritual; srsti--creation; kaila--did; eka-ksane--in one moment; asesa--unlimited; vaikuntha--Vaikuntha planets; aja-anda--material planets; sva-sva-natha-sane--with their own predominating deities.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "At Vrndavana, the Lord immediately created all material and spiritual planets in one moment. Indeed, all of them were created with their predominating deities.

 

                               TEXT 18

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  e-mata anyatra nahi suniye adbhuta

                  yahara sravane citta haya avadhuta

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   e-mata--like this; anyatra--anywhere else; nahi--not; suniye--I hear; adbhuta--wonderful event; yahara--of which; sravane--by hearing; citta--consciousness; haya--becomes; avadhuta--agitated and cleansed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "We do not hear of such wonderful things anywhere. Simply by hearing of those incidents, one's consciousness is agitated and cleansed.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   When Lord Krsna was present in the earthly Vrndavana, Lord Brahma, taking Him to be an ordinary cowherd boy, wanted to test His potency. Therefore Lord Brahma stole all the cows, calves and cowherd boys from Krsna and hid them by his illusory energy. When Krsna saw that Brahma had stolen His cows, calves and cowherd boys, He immediately created many material and spiritual planets in Lord Brahma's presence. Within a moment, cows, cowherd boys, calves and unlimited Vaikunthas-all expansions of the Lord's spiritual energy-were manifested. As stated in the Brahma-samhita: ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhih. Not only did Krsna create all the paraphernalia of His spiritual energy, but He also created unlimited material universes with unlimited Brahmas. All these pastimes, which are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam, will cleanse one's consciousness. In this way one can actually understand the Absolute Truth. The spiritual planets in the spiritual sky are called Vaikunthas, and each of them has a predominating Deity (Narayana) with a specific name. Similarly, in the material sky there are innumerable universes, and each is dominated by a specific deity, a Brahma. Krsna simultaneously created all these Vaikuntha planets and universes within a moment of Brahma's return.

   The word avadhuta means "rambling, agitating, moving, absorbed, defeated." In some readings of Caitanya-caritamrta, it is said: yahara sravane citta-mala haya dhuta. Instead of the word avadhuta, the words haya dhuta, meaning that the heart or consciousness is cleansed, is used. When the consciousness is cleansed, one can understand what and who Krsna is. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (7.28):

 

                      yesam tv anta-gatam papam

                        jananam punya-karmanam

                       te dvandva-moha-nirmukta

                      bhajante mam drdha-vratah

 

   "Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of delusion, engage themselves in My service with determination."

   Unless one is freed from the reaction of sinful activities, one cannot understand Krsna or engage in His transcendental loving service.

 

                               TEXT 19

 

                                 TEXT

 

            "krsna-vatsair asankhyataih"----sukadeva-vani

              krsna-sange kata gopa----sankhya nahi jani

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krsna-vatsaih asankhyataih--Krsna was accompanied by an unlimited number of calves and cowherd boys; sukadeva-vani--the words of Sukadeva Gosvami; krsna-sange--with Lord Krsna; kata gopa--how many cowherd boys; sankhya--the count; nahi jani--we do not know.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "According to Sukadeva Gosvami, Krsna had unlimited cows and cowherd boys with Him. No one could count their actual number.

 

                               TEXT 20

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  eka eka gopa kare ye vatsa carana

              koti, arbuda, sankha, padma, tahara ganana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka eka--one after another; gopa--cowherd boys; kare--do; ye--whatever; vatsa--calves; carana--grazing; koti--ten millions; arbuda--a hundred million; sankha--one trillion; padma--ten trillion; tahara ganana--the enumeration of that.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Each of the cowherd boys was tending calves to the extent of a koti, arbuda, sankha and padma. That is the way of counting.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   According to Vedic mathematical calculations, the following enumeration system is used: units, tens (dasa), hundreds (sata), thousands (sahasra), ten thousands (ayuta) and hundred thousands (laksa). Ten times laksa is niyuta. Ten times niyuta is koti. Ten times koti is arbuda. Ten times arbuda is vrnda. Ten times vrnda is kharva. Ten times kharva is nikharva. Ten times nikharva is sankha. Ten times sankha is padma, and ten times padma is sagara. Ten times sagara is antya, and ten times antya is madhya, and ten times madhya is parardha. Each item is ten times greater than the previous one. Thus all the cowherd boys who were companions of Krsna had many calves to take care of.

 

                               TEXT 21

 

                                 TEXT

 

              vetra, venu, dala, srnga, vastra, alankara

                gopa-ganera yata, tara nahi lekha-para

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vetra--canes; venu--flutes; dala--lotus flowers; srnga--horns; vastra--garments; alankara--ornaments; gopa-ganera yata--as many as are possessed by the cowherd boys; tara--of them; nahi--there is not; lekha-para--limitation to writing.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "All the cowherd boys had unlimited calves. Similarly, their canes, flutes, lotus flowers, horns, garments and ornaments were all unlimited. They cannot be limited by writing about them.

 

                               TEXT 22

 

                                 TEXT

 

                sabe haila caturbhuja vaikunthera pati

             prthak prthak brahmandera brahma kare stuti

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sabe--all of them: haila--became; catuh-bhuja--four-handed; vaikunthera pati--predominating Deities of the Vaikuntha planets; prthak prthak--separately; brahmandera--of the universes; brahma--the predominating deities known as Lord Brahma; kare stuti--offer prayers.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The cowherd boys then became four-handed Narayanas, predominating Deities of Vaikuntha planets. All the separate Brahmas from different universes began to offer their prayers unto the Lords.

 

                               TEXT 23

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 eka krsna-deha haite sabara prakase

                   ksaneke sabai sei sarire pravese

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka--one; krsna-deha--transcendental body of Krsna; haite--from; sabara--of everyone; prakase--the manifestation; ksaneke--in a second; sabai--every one of Them; sei sarire--in that body of Krsna; pravese--enter.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "All these transcendental bodies emanated from the body of Krsna, and within a second They all entered again into His body.

 

                               TEXT 24

 

                                 TEXT

 

               iha dekhi' brahma haila mohita, vismita

                 stuti kari' ei pache karila niscita

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   iha dekhi'--seeing this; brahma--Lord Brahma; haila--became; mohita--astonished; vismita--struck with wonder; stuti kari'--offering prayers; ei--this; pache--at the end; karila--made; niscita--conclusion.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "When the Lord Brahma from this universe saw this pastime, he was astonished and struck with wonder. After offering his prayers, he gave the following conclusion.

 

                               TEXT 25

 

                                 TEXT

 

            "ye kahe----'krsnera vaibhava muni saba janon'

                se januka,----kaya-mane muni ei manon

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ye kahe--if anyone says; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; vaibhava--opulences; muni--I; saba--all; janon--know; se januka--let him know; kaya-mane--by my body and mind; muni--myself; ei--this; manon--accept.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Lord Brahma said, 'If someone says that he knows everything about Krsna's opulence, let him think that way. However, as far as I am concerned, with my body and mind I consider it in this way.

 

                               TEXT 26

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ei ye tomara ananta vaibhavamrta-sindhu

                  mora van-mano-gamya nahe eka bindu

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei ye--all this; tomara--Your; ananta--unlimited; vaibhava-amrta-sindhu--ocean of the nectar of Your opulence; mora--my; vak-manah-gamya--within the reach of words and mind; nahe--not; eka bindu--even a drop.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'My Lord, Your opulence is like an unlimited ocean of nectar, and it is verbally and mentally impossible for me to realize even a drop of that ocean.

 

                               TEXT 27

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         jananta eva janantu

                      kim bahuktya na me prabho

                          manaso vapuso vaco

                       vaibhavam tava gocarah"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   janantah--persons who think they are aware of Your unlimited potency; eva--certainly; janantu--let them think like that; kim--what is the use; bahu-uktya--with many words; na--not; me--my; prabho--O Lord; manasah--of the mind; vapusah--of the body; vacah--of the words; vaibhavam--opulences; tava--Your; gocarah--within the range.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'There are people who say, "I know everything about Krsna." Let them think that way. As far as I am concerned, I do not wish to speak very much about this matter. O my Lord, let me say this much. As far as Your opulences are concerned, they are all beyond the reach of my mind, body and words.'

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.38), spoken by Lord Brahma after he had stolen Lord Krsna's cows, calves and cowherd boys and Krsna had exhibited His transcendental opulence by re-creating all the stolen cows, calves and cowherd boys by His visnu-murti expansions. After he had seen this, Brahma offered the above prayer.

 

                               TEXT 28

 

                                 TEXT

 

                krsnera mahima rahu----keba tara jnata

               vrndavana-sthanera dekha ascarya vibhuta

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krsnera--of Lord Krsna; mahima--glories; rahu--let be; keba--who; tara--of those; jnata--a knower; vrndavana-sthanera--of the abode of Krsna, Vrndavana; dekha--just see; ascarya--wonderful; vibhuta--opulences.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Let the glories of Lord Krsna be! Who could be aware of all of them? His abode, Vrndavana, has many wonderful opulences. Just try to see them all.

 

                               TEXT 29

 

                                 TEXT

 

              sola-krosa vrndavana,----sastrera prakase

               tara eka-dese vaikunthajanda-gana bhase

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sola-krosa--measuring sixteen krosas (thirty-two miles); vrndavana--Vrndavana-dhama; sastrera prakase--according to the revelation of revealed scripture; tara--of Vrndavana; eka-dese--in one corner; vaikuntha--all the Vaikuntha planets; ajanda-gana--the innumerable universes; bhase--are situated.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "According to the revelations of revealed scripture, Vrndavana extends only sixteen krosas [thirty-two miles]. Nonetheless, all the Vaikuntha planets and innumerable universes are located in one corner of this tract.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In Vraja, the land is divided into various vanas, or forests. The forests total twelve, and their extension is estimated to be eighty-four krosas. Of these, the special forest known as Vrndavana is located from the present municipal city of Vrndavana to the village called Nanda-grama. This distance is sixteen krosas (thirty-two miles).

 

                               TEXT 30

 

                                 TEXT

 

               apara aisvarya krsnera----nahika ganana

                 sakha-candra-nyaye kari dig-darasana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   apara--unlimited; aisvarya--opulence; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; nahika ganana--there is no estimation; sakha-candra-nyaye--according to the logic of seeing the moon through the branches of a tree; kari--I make; dik-darasana--an indication only.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "No one can estimate the opulence of Krsna. That is unlimited. However, just as one sees the moon through the branches of a tree, I wish to give a little indication."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   First a child is shown the branches of a tree, and then he is shown the moon through the branches. This is called sakha-candra-nyaya. The idea is that first one must be given a simpler example. Then the more difficult background is explained.

 

                               TEXT 31

 

                                 TEXT

 

               aisvarya kahite sphurila aisvarya-sagara

              manendriya dubila, prabhu ha-ila phanpara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   aisvarya--opulence; kahite--to describe; sphurila--there manifested; aisvarya-sagara--an ocean of opulence; mana-indriya--the chief sense, namely the mind; dubila--immersed; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ha-ila--became; phanpara--perplexed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   While describing the transcendental opulences of Krsna, the ocean of opulence manifested in the mind of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and His mind and senses were immersed in this ocean. Thus He was perplexed.

 

                               TEXT 32

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  bhagavatera ei sloka padila apane

                artha asvadite sukhe karena vyakhyane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhagavatera--of Srimad-Bhagavatam; ei--this; sloka--verse; padila--recited; apane--personally; artha--the meaning; asvadite--to taste; sukhe--in happiness; karena vyakhyane--describes the meaning.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally recited the following verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam, and to relish the meaning, He began to explain it Himself.

 

                               TEXT 33

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  svayam tv asamyatisayas tryadhisah

                  svarajya-laksmy-apta-samasta-kamah

                   balim haradbhis cira-loka-palaih

                     kirita-kotidita-pada-pithah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   svayam--personally the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tu--but; asamya-atisayah--who has no equal nor superior; tri-adhisah--the master of three places, namely Goloka Vrndavana, Vaikunthaloka and the material world, or the master of Maha-Visnu, Garbhodakasayi Visnu and Ksirodakasayi Visnu, or the master of Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara, or the master of the three worlds (the higher, lower and middle planetary systems); svarajya-laksmi--by His personal spiritual potency; apta--already achieved; samasta-kamah--all desirable objects; balim--a presentation or taxation; haradbhih--who are offering; cira-loka-palaih--by the predominating deities of different planets; kirita-koti--by millions of helmets; idita--being worshiped; pada-pithah--whose lotus feet.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is the master of the three worlds and the three principal demigods [Brahma, Visnu and Siva]. No one is equal to or greater than Him. By His spiritual potency, known as svarajya-laksmi, all His desires are fulfilled. While offering their dues and presents in worship, the predominating deities of all the planets touch the lotus feet of the Lord with their helmets. Thus they offer prayers to the Lord.'

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This quotation is verse 21 of the Second Chapter, Third Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam.

 

                               TEXT 34

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 parama isvara krsna svayam bhagavan

                 tate bada, tanra sama keha nahi ana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   parama--supreme; isvara--controller; krsna--Lord Krsna; svayam--personally; bhagavan--the original Personality of Godhead; tate--therefore; bada--most exalted; tanra--His; sama--equal; keha--anyone; nahi--there is not; ana--else.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Krsna is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead; therefore He is the greatest of all. No one is equal to Him, nor is anyone greater than Him.

 

                               TEXT 35

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        isvarah paramah krsnah

                       sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah

                         anadir adir govindah

                         sarva-karana-karanam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   isvarah--the controller; paramah--supreme; krsnah--Lord Krsna; sat--eternal existence; cit--absolute knowledge; ananda--absolute bliss; vigrahah--whose form; anadih--without beginning; adih--the origin; govindah--Lord Govinda; sarva-karana-karanam--the cause of all causes.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'Krsna, known as Govinda, is the supreme controller. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin, for He is the prime cause of all causes.'

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This is the first verse of the Fifth Chapter of Brahma-samhita.

 

                               TEXT 36

 

                                 TEXT

 

              brahma, visnu, hara,----ei srstyadi-isvara

              tine ajnakari krsnera, krsna----adhisvara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   brahma--Lord Brahma; visnu--Lord Visnu; hara--and Lord Siva; ei--they; srsti-adi-isvara--the masters of material creation, maintenance and dissolution; tine--all three of them; ajnakari--order carriers; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; krsna--Lord Krsna; adhisvara--their master.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The primary predominating deities of this material creation are Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and Lord Visnu. Nonetheless, they simply carry out the orders of Lord Krsna, who is master of them all.

 

                               TEXT 37

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       srjami tan-niyukto 'ham

                        haro harati tad-vasah

                         visvam purusa-rupena

                        paripati trisakti-dhrk

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   srjami--create; tat-niyuktah--engaged by Him; aham--I; harah--Lord Siva; harati--annihilates; tat-vasah--under His control; visvam--the whole universe; purusa-rupena--in the form of Lord Visnu; paripati--maintains; tri-sakti-dhrk--the controller of the three modes of material nature.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Lord Brahma said, 'Following the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I create, Lord Siva destroys, and He Himself in the form of Ksirodakasayi Visnu maintains all the affairs of material nature. Thus the supreme controller of the three modes of material nature is Lord Visnu.'

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.6.32).

 

                               TEXT 38

 

                                 TEXT

 

               e samanya, tryadhisvarera suna artha ara

                    jagat-karana tina purusavatara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   e samanya--this is a general description; tri-adhisvarera--of the master of the three worlds; suna--please hear; artha--meaning; ara--another; jagat-karana--the cause of the material creation; tina--three; purusa-avatara--purusa incarnations of Visnu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "This is only a general description. Please try to understand another meaning of tryadhisa. The three purusa incarnations of Visnu are the original cause of the material creation.

 

                               TEXT 39

 

                                 TEXT

 

               maha-visnu, padmanabha, ksirodaka-svami

               ei tina----sthula-suksma-sarva-antaryami

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   maha-visnu--Maha-Visnu; padmanabha--Padmanabha (Garbhodakasayi Visnu); ksira-udaka-svami--Ksirodakasayi Visnu; ei tina--all these three; sthula-suksma--gross and subtle; sarva--of all; antaryami--the Supersoul.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Maha-Visnu, Padmanabha and Ksirodakasayi Visnu are the Supersouls of all subtle and gross existences.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Lord Maha-Visnu is known as Karanodakasayi Visnu, the Supersoul of everything. Garbhodakasayi Visnu, from whose lotus navel Brahma was created, is also called Hiranyagarbha and is the total Supersoul and the subtle Supersoul. Ksirodakasayi Visnu is the universal form and the gross Supersoul.

 

                               TEXT 40

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ei tina----sarvasraya, jagat-isvara

                eho saba kala-amsa, krsna----adhisvara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei tina--these three; sarva-asraya--the shelter of the whole material creation; jagat-isvara--supreme controllers of the universe; eho saba--all of Them; kala-amsa--plenary portions, or portions of the plenary portions; krsna--Lord Krsna; adhisvara--the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Although Maha-Visnu, Padmanabha and Ksirodakasayi Visnu are all shelters and controllers of the entire universe, They are nonetheless but plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of Krsna. Therefore He is the original Personality of Godhead.

 

                               TEXT 41

 

                                 TEXT

 

                yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya

                jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-anda-nathah

                visnur mahan sa iha yasya kala-viseso

                govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yasya--whose; eka--one; nisvasita--of breath; kalam--time; atha--thus; avalambya--taking shelter of; jivanti--live; loma-vilajah--grown from the hair holes; jagat-anda-nathah--the masters of the universes (the Brahmas); visnuh mahan--the Supreme Lord Maha-Visnu; sah--that; iha--here; yasya--whose; kala-visesah--particular plenary portion or expansion; govindam--Lord Govinda; adi-purusam--the original person; tam--Him; aham--I; bhajami--worship.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'The Brahmas and other lords of the mundane worlds appear from the pores of the Maha-Visnu and remain alive for the duration of His one exhalation. I adore the primeval Lord, Govinda, for Maha-Visnu is a portion of His plenary portion.'

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This is a quotation from Brahma-samhita (5.48). See also Adi-lila (5.71).

 

                               TEXT 42

 

                                 TEXT

 

             ei artha----madhyama, suna 'gudha' artha ara

             tina avasa-sthana krsnera sastre khyati yara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei artha--this explanation; madhyama--middle; suna--please hear; gudha--confidential; artha--meaning; ara--another; tina--three; avasa-sthana--residential places; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; sastre--in the revealed scriptures; khyati--fame; yara--of which.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "This is the middle meaning. Now please hear the confidential meaning. Lord Krsna has three places of residence, which are well known from revealed scriptures.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Krsna has three abodes-His internal abode (Goloka Vrndavana), His intermediate abode (the spiritual sky), and His external abode (this material world).

 

                               TEXT 43

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 'antahpura'----goloka-sri-vrndavana

               yahan nitya-sthiti mata-pita-bandhu-gana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   antah-pura--the internal abode; goloka-sri-vrndavana--Goloka Vrndavana; yahan--where; nitya-sthiti--eternal residence; mata-pita--mother and father; bandhu-gana--and friends.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The internal abode is called Goloka Vrndavana. It is there that Lord Krsna's personal friends, associates, father and mother live.

 

                               TEXT 44

 

                                 TEXT

 

               madhuraisvarya-madhurya-krpadi-bhandara

                 yogamaya dasi yahan rasadi lila-sara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   madhura-aisvarya--of sweetness and opulence; madhurya--of conjugal love; krpa-adi--and of mercy and so on; bhandara--storehouse; yoga-maya--the spiritual energy; dasi--maidservant; yahan--where; rasa-adi--the rasa dance and other pastimes; lila-sara--the quintessence of all pastimes.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Vrndavana is the storehouse of Krsna's mercy and the sweet opulences of conjugal love. That is where the spiritual energy, working as a maidservant, exhibits the rasa dance, the quintessence of all pastimes.

 

                               TEXT 45

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       karuna-nikuramba-komale

                     madhuraisvarya-visesa-salini

                      jayati vraja-raja-nandane

                    na hi cinta-kanikabhyudeti nah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   karuna-nikuramba-komale--who is very soft because of great mercy; madhura-aisvarya-visesa-salini--especially by the opulence of conjugal love; jayati--all glories; vraja-raja-nandane--to the son of Maharaja Nanda; na--not; hi--certainly; cinta--of anxiety; kanika--even a particle; abhyudeti--awakens; nah--of us.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Vrndavana-dhama is very soft due to the mercy of the Supreme Lord, and it is especially opulent due to conjugal love. The transcendental glories of the son of Maharaja Nanda are exhibited here. Under the circumstances, not the least anxiety is awakened within us.

 

                               TEXT 46

 

                                 TEXT

 

               tara tale paravyoma----'visnuloka'-nama

                 narayana-adi ananta svarupera dhama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tara tale--below Vrndavana-dhama; para-vyoma--the spiritual sky; visnu-loka-nama--known as Visnuloka; narayana-adi--Narayana and others; ananta--unlimited; sva-rupera--of personal expansions; dhama--the place.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Below the Vrndavana planet is the spiritual sky, which is known as Visnuloka. In Visnuloka there are innumerable Vaikuntha planets controlled by Narayana and other innumerable expansions of Krsna.

 

                               TEXT 47

 

                                 TEXT

 

          'madhyama-avasa' krsnera----sad-aisvarya-bhandara

                  ananta svarupe yahan karena vihara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   madhyama-avasa--the middle residence; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; sat-aisvarya-bhandara--the storehouse of six opulences; ananta sva-rupe--in unlimited forms; yahan--where; karena vihara--enjoys His pastimes.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The spiritual sky, which is full in all six opulences, is the interim residence of Lord Krsna. It is there that an unlimited number of forms of Krsna enjoy Their pastimes.

 

                               TEXT 48

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ananta vaikuntha yahan bhandara-kothari

                parisada-gane sad-aisvarye ache bhari'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ananta--unlimited; vaikuntha--Vaikuntha planets; yahan--where; bhandara-kothari--like rooms of a treasure-house; parisada-gane--eternal associates; sat-aisvarye--with the six opulences; ache--are; bhari'--filling.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Innumerable Vaikuntha planets, which are just like different rooms of a treasure-house, are all there, filled with all opulences. Those unlimited planets house the Lord's eternal associates, who are also e