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Madhya 17-1975: The Lord Travels to Vrndavana

Chapter 17

The Lord Travels to Vrndavana

The following summary of the Seventeenth Chapter is given by

Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. After attending the

Ratha-yatra ceremony of Sri Jagannatha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu decided

to start for Vrndavana. Sri Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami

selected a brahmana named Balabhadra Bhattacarya to personally assist

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Early in the morning before sunrise, the Lord

started for the town of Kataka. North of Kataka, He penetrated a dense

forest and visited many tigers and elephants, whom He engaged in

chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Whenever He had a chance to

visit a village, He would beg alms and acquire some

rice and vegetables. If there were no village, He would cook

whatever rice remained and collect some spinach from the forest

to eat. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very pleased with the behavior

of Balabhadra Bhattacarya.

In this way the Lord passed through the jungle of Jharikhanda and

finally reached Varanasi. After taking His bath at the Manikarnika-ghata

at Varanasi, He met Tapana Misra, who took the Lord to his place and

respectfully gave Him a comfortable residence. At Varanasi, Vaidya

Candrasekhara, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's old friend, also rendered

service unto Him. Seeing the behavior of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, one

Maharastriya brahmana informed Prakasananda Sarasvati, the leader of

the Mayavadi sannyasis. Prakasananda made various accusations against

the Lord. The Maharastriya brahmana was very sorry about this, and he

brought the news to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, inquiring from Him why the

Mayavadi sannyasis did not utter the holy name of Krsna. In reply, Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that they were offenders and that one should

not associate with them. In this way the Lord bestowed His blessings

upon the brahmana.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu next passed through Prayaga and Mathura and then

took His lunch at the home of a Sanodiya brahmana, a disciple of

Madhavendra Puri. He bestowed His blessings upon the brahmana by

accepting lunch at his place. Thereafter the Lord visited the twelve

forests of Vrndavana and was filled with great ecstatic love. As He

toured the Vrndavana forests, He heard the chirping of parrots and other

birds.

Madhya 17.1

TEXT 1

TEXT

gacchan vrndavanam gauro

vyaghrebhaina-khagan vane

premonmattan sahonnrtyan

vidadhe krsna-jalpinah

SYNONYMS

gacchan -- going; vrndavanam -- to Vrndavana-dhama; gaurah -- Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vyaghra -- tigers; ibha -- elephants; ena -- deer;

khagan -- and birds; vane -- in the forest; prema-unmattan -- maddened

by ecstatic love; saha -- with; unnrtyan -- dancing; vidadhe -- made;

krsna -- Lord Krsna's name; jalpinah -- chanting.

TRANSLATION

On His way to Vrndavana, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed through the

forest of Jharikhanda and made all the tigers, elephants, deer and birds

dance and chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Thus all these

animals were overwhelmed by ecstatic love.

Madhya 17.2

TEXT 2

TEXT

jaya jaya gauracandra jaya nityananda

jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda

SYNONYMS

jaya jaya -- all glories; gauracandra -- 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 Lord Caitanya.

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!

Madhya 17.3

TEXT 3

TEXT

sarat-kala haila, prabhura calite haila mati

ramananda-svarupa-sange nibhrte yukati

SYNONYMS

sarat-kala haila -- autumn arrived; prabhura -- of Lord Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; calite -- to travel; haila -- was; mati -- desire; ramananda

-- Ramananda Raya; svarupa -- Svarupa Damodara; sange -- with; nibhrte --

solitary; yukati -- consultation.

TRANSLATION

When autumn arrived, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu decided to go to Vrndavana.

In a solitary place, He consulted with Ramananda Raya and Svarupa

Damodara Gosvami.

Madhya 17.4

TEXT 4

TEXT

"mora sahaya kara yadi, tumi-dui jana

tabe ami yana dekhi sri-vrndavana

SYNONYMS

mora -- of Me; sahaya -- help; kara -- you do; yadi -- if; tumi -- you;

dui jana -- two persons; tabe -- then; ami -- I; yana -- going; dekhi --

shall see; sri-vrndavana -- Sri Vrndavana-dhama.

TRANSLATION

The Lord requested Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami to help

Him go to Vrndavana.

Madhya 17.5

TEXT 5

TEXT

ratrye uthi' vana-pathe palana yaba

ekaki yaiba, kahon sange na la-iba

SYNONYMS

ratrye uthi' -- rising at night; vana-pathe -- on the road to the

forest; palana yaba -- I shall go away secretly; ekaki yaiba -- I shall

go alone; kahon -- anyone; sange -- with Me; na la-iba -- I shall not

take.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "I shall leave early in the morning and go

incognito, taking the road to the forest. I shall go alone and

not take anyone with Me.

Madhya 17.6

TEXT 6

TEXT

keha yadi sanga la-ite pache uthi' dhaya

sabare rakhiba, yena keha nahi yaya

SYNONYMS

keha -- someone; yadi -- if; sanga la-ite -- to take company; pache --

behind; uthi' -- getting up; dhaya -- runs; sabare -- everyone; rakhiba -

- please stop; yena -- so that; keha -- anyone; nahi yaya -- does not go.

TRANSLATION

"If someone wants to follow Me, please stop him. I don't want anyone to

go with Me.

Madhya 17.7

TEXT 7

TEXT

prasanna hana ajna diba, na maniba 'duhkha'

toma-sabara 'sukhe' pathe habe mora 'sukha' "

SYNONYMS

prasanna hana -- being pleased; ajna diba -- give permission; na -- do

not; maniba duhkha -- become unhappy; toma-sabara -- of all of you;

sukhe -- by the happiness; pathe -- on the road; habe -- there will be;

mora -- My; sukha -- happiness.

TRANSLATION

"Please give Me your permission with great pleasure and do not be

unhappy. If you are happy, I shall be happy on My way to Vrndavana."

Madhya 17.8

TEXT 8

TEXT

dui-jana kahe, -- 'tumi isvara 'svatantra'

yei iccha, sei kariba, naha 'paratantra'

SYNONYMS

dui-jana kahe -- the two persons replied; tumi -- You; isvara -- the

Supreme Personality of Godhead; svatantra -- completely

independent; yei iccha -- whatever You desire; sei -- that; kariba --

You will do; naha -- You are not; para-tantra -- dependent on anyone.

TRANSLATION

Upon hearing this, Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami replied, "

Dear Lord, You are completely independent. Since You are not dependent

on anyone, You do whatever You desire.

Madhya 17.9

TEXT 9

TEXT

kintu ama-dunhara suna eka nivedane

'tomara sukhe amara sukha' -- kahila apane

SYNONYMS

kintu -- but; ama-dunhara -- of both of us; suna -- please hear; eka

nivedane -- one submission; tomara sukhe -- by your happiness; amara

sukha -- our happiness; kahila -- You have already stated; apane --

personally.

TRANSLATION

"Dear Lord, kindly hear our one petition. You have already said that You

will derive happiness from our happiness. This is Your own statement.

Madhya 17.10

TEXT 10

TEXT

ama-dunhara mane tabe bada 'sukha' haya

eka nivedana yadi dhara, dayamaya

SYNONYMS

ama-dunhara -- of us two; mane -- in the mind; tabe -- therefore; bada --

very much; sukha haya -- there is happiness; eka nivedana -- one

request; yadi -- if; dhara -- You accept; daya-maya -- merciful.

TRANSLATION

"If You will please accept just one request, we shall be very, very

happy.

Madhya 17.11

TEXT 11

TEXT

'uttama brahmana' eka sange avasya cahi

bhiksa kari' bhiksa dibe, yabe patra vahi'

SYNONYMS

uttama brahmana -- a high-class brahmana; eka -- one; sange -- along;

avasya -- certainly; cahi -- we want; bhiksa kari' -- collecting alms;

bhiksa dibe -- will give You food; yabe -- will go; patra vahi' --

bearing Your waterpot.

TRANSLATION

"Our Lord, please take one very nice brahmana with You. He will collect

alms for You, cook for You, give You prasada, and carry Your waterpot

while traveling.

Madhya 17.12

TEXT 12

TEXT

vana-pathe yaite nahi 'bhojyanna'-brahmana

ajna kara, -- sange caluka vipra eka-jana'

SYNONYMS

vana-pathe -- on the forest path; yaite -- going; nahi -- there is not;

bhojya-anna-brahmana -- a brahmana whose food can be accepted; ajna kara

-- please give permission; sange -- along; caluka -- may go; vipra --

brahmana; eka-jana -- one person.

TRANSLATION

"When You go through the jungle, there will be no brahmana available

from whom You can accept lunch. Therefore please give permission for at

least one pure brahmana to accompany You."

Madhya 17.13

TEXT 13

TEXT

prabhu kahe, -- nija-sangi kanho na la-iba

eka-jane nile, anera mane duhkha ha-iba

SYNONYMS

prabhu kahe -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied; nija-sangi -- of My

associates; kanho -- anyone; na -- not; la-iba -- I shall take; eka-jane

nile -- if I take someone; anera mane -- in the mind of others; duhkha

ha-iba -- there will be unhappiness.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said,"I shall not take any of My associates

with Me because if I choose someone, all the others will be unhappy.

Madhya 17.14

TEXT 14

TEXT

nutana sangi ha-ibeka, -- snigdha yanra mana

aiche yabe pai, tabe la-i 'eka' jana

SYNONYMS

nutana -- new; sangi -- associate; ha-ibeka -- must be; snigdha -- very

peaceful; yanra -- whose; mana -- mind; aiche -- such; yabe -- if; pai --

I get; tabe -- then; la-i -- I take; eka jana -- one person.

TRANSLATION

"Such a person must be a new man, and he must have a peaceful mind. If I

can obtain such a man, I shall agree to take him with Me."

PURPORT

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu formerly went to South India, a

brahmana named Kala Krsnadasa went with Him. It was Kala Krsnadasa who

fell victim to a woman, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had to take the

trouble to free him from the clutches of the gypsies. Therefore the Lord

here says that He wants a new man who is peaceful in mind. One whose

mind is not peaceful is agitated by certain drives, especially sex

desire, even though he be in the company of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Such a

man will become a victim of women and will fall down even in the company

of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Maya is so strong that unless one

is determined not to fall victim, even the Supreme Personality of

Godhead cannot give protection. The Supreme Lord and His representative

always want to give protection, but a person must take advantage of

their personal contact. If one thinks that the Supreme Personality of

Godhead or His representative is an ordinary man, he will certainly fall

down. Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not want a person like Kala

Krsnadasa to accompany Him. He wanted someone who was determined, who

had a peaceful mind and who was not agitated by ulterior motives.

Madhya 17.15

TEXT 15

TEXT

svarupa kahe, -- ei balabhadra-bhattacarya

tomate susnigdha bada, pandita, sadhu, arya

SYNONYMS

svarupa kahe -- Svarupa Damodara Gosvami said; ei -- this; balabhadra-

bhattacarya -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; tomate -- unto You; su-snigdha --

affectionate; bada -- very; pandita -- educated; sadhu -- honest; arya --

advanced in spiritual consciousness.

TRANSLATION

Svarupa Damodara then said, "Here is Balabhadra Bhattacarya, who has

great love for You. He is an honest, learned scholar, and he is advanced

in spiritual consciousness.

PURPORT

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted a new man, not a person like Kala

Krsnadasa who would fall for women. Svarupa Damodara therefore

immediately pointed out a new brahmana named Balabhadra Bhattacarya. Sri

Svarupa Damodara Gosvami had studied this person very thoroughly and had

seen that he had great love for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Not only did he

love the Lord, but he was also learned and honest. He was not

duplicitous, and he was advanced in Krsna consciousness. According to a

Bengali proverb, ati bhakti corera laksana: "Too much devotion is a

symptom of a thief." A person who assumes himself to be a great devotee

but mentally is thinking of something else is duplicitous. One who is

not duplicitous is called sadhu. Svarupa Damodara immediately pointed

out that Balabhadra Bhattacarya was quite fit to accompany the Lord

because he was a learned scholar and was simple and had great love for

Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He was also advanced in Krsna

consciousness; therefore he was considered appropriate to accompany

the Lord as a personal servant.

The word snigdha (very peaceful) and the word su-snigdha (

affectionate) are used in verses fourteen and fifteen,

and they are also found in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.8): bruyuh snigdhasya

sisyasya guravo guhyam apy uta. "A disciple who has actual love for his

spiritual master is endowed, by the blessings of the spiritual master,

with all confidential knowledge." Srila Sridhara Svami has commented

that the word snigdhasya means prema-vatah. The word prema-vatah

indicates that one has great love for his spiritual master.

Madhya 17.16

TEXT 16

TEXT

prathamei toma-sange aila gauda haite

inhara iccha ache 'sarva-tirtha' karite

SYNONYMS

prathamei -- in the beginning; toma-sange -- with You; aila -- came;

gauda haite -- from Bengal; inhara iccha -- his desire; ache -- is;

sarva-tirtha -- all places of pilgrimage; karite -- to go see.

TRANSLATION

"In the beginning, he came with You from Bengal. It is his desire to

see and visit all the holy places of pilgrimage.

Madhya 17.17

TEXT 17

TEXT

inhara sange ache vipra eka 'bhrtya'

inho pathe karibena seva-bhiksa-krtya

SYNONYMS

inhara sange -- with him; ache -- is; vipra -- brahmana; eka -- one;

bhrtya -- servant; inho -- this man; pathe -- on the way; karibena --

will do; seva -- service; bhiksa-krtya -- and arrangements for cooking.

TRANSLATION

"In addition, You may take another brahmana who would act as a servant

en route and make arrangements for Your food.

Madhya 17.18

TEXT 18

TEXT

inhare sange laha yadi, sabara haya 'sukha'

vana-pathe yaite tomara nahibe kona 'duhkha'

SYNONYMS

inhare -- him; sange -- along; laha -- You accept; yadi -- if; sabara

haya sukha -- everyone will be happy; vana-pathe -- on the path through

the jungle; yaite -- going; tomara -- Your; nahibe -- there will not be;

kona -- any; duhkha -- difficulty.

TRANSLATION

"If You can also take him with You, we will be very happy. If two people

go with You through the jungle, there will certainly be no difficulty or

inconvenience.

Madhya 17.19

TEXT 19

TEXT

sei vipra vahi' nibe vastrambu-bhajana

bhattacarya bhiksa dibe kari' bhiksatana

SYNONYMS

sei vipra -- the other brahmana; vahi' nibe -- will carry; vastra-ambu-

bhajana -- the cloth and waterpot; bhattacarya -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya;

bhiksa dibe -- will arrange for cooking; kari' -- performing; bhiksa-

atana -- collecting alms.

TRANSLATION

"The other brahmana can carry Your cloth and waterpot, and Balabhadra

Bhattacarya will collect alms and cook for You."

Madhya 17.20

TEXT 20

TEXT

tanhara vacana prabhu angikara kaila

balabhadra-bhattacarye sange kari' nila

SYNONYMS

tanhara vacana -- his words; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; angikara

kaila -- accepted; balabhadra-bhattacarye -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya;

sange kari' nila -- took with Him.

TRANSLATION

Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the request of Svarupa Damodara

Pandita and agreed to take Balabhadra Bhattacarya with Him.

Madhya 17.21

TEXT 21

TEXT

purva-ratrye jagannatha dekhi' 'ajna' lana

sesa-ratre uthi' prabhu calila lukana

SYNONYMS

purva-ratrye -- on the previous night; jagannatha dekhi' -- seeing Lord

Jagannatha; ajna lana -- taking permission; sesa-ratre -- near the end

of night; uthi' -- rising; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; calila --

started; lukana -- without being seen.

TRANSLATION

On the previous night, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had visited Lord

Jagannatha and taken His permission. Now, near the end of night, the

Lord got up and started immediately. He was not seen by others.

Madhya 17.22

TEXT 22

TEXT

pratah-kale bhakta-gana prabhu na dekhiya

anvesana kari' phire vyakula hana

SYNONYMS

pratah-kale -- early in the morning; bhakta-gana -- all the devotees;

prabhu -- Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; na dekhiya -- not seeing;

anvesana kari' -- searching; phire -- wander; vyakula hana -- becoming

very anxious.

TRANSLATION

Because the Lord had departed, the devotees, unable to see Him early in

the morning, began to search for Him with great anxiety.

Madhya 17.23

TEXT 23

TEXT

svarupa-gosani sabaya kaila nivarana

nivrtta hana rahe sabe jani' prabhura mana

SYNONYMS

svarupa-gosani -- Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; sabaya -- unto everyone;

kaila -- did; nivarana -- forbidding; nivrtta hana -- being restrained;

rahe -- remain; sabe -- all; jani' -- knowing; prabhura mana -- the mind

of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

TRANSLATION

While all the devotees were searching for the Lord, Svarupa Damodara

restrained them. Then everyone fell silent, knowing the mind of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Madhya 17.24

TEXT 24

TEXT

prasiddha patha chadi' prabhu upapathe calila

'kataka' dahine kari' vane pravesila

SYNONYMS

prasiddha -- well-known; patha -- public way; chadi' -- giving up;

prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; upapathe -- through a bypass; calila -

- began to walk; kataka -- the city of Kataka; dahine -- on the right

side; kari' -- keeping; vane -- within the forest; pravesila -- entered.

TRANSLATION

The Lord abandoned walking on the well-known public road and went

instead along a bypass. He thus kept the city of Kataka on His right as

He entered the forest.

Madhya 17.25

TEXT 25

TEXT

nirjana-vane cale prabhu krsna-nama lana

hasti-vyaghra patha chade prabhure dekhiya

SYNONYMS

nirjana-vane -- in a solitary forest; cale -- walks; prabhu -- Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krsna-nama lana -- chanting the holy name of Krsna;

hasti -- elephants; vyaghra -- tigers; patha chade -- leave the path;

prabhure -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhiya -- seeing.

TRANSLATION

When the Lord passed through the solitary forest chanting the holy name

of Krsna, the tigers and elephants, seeing Him, gave way.

Madhya 17.26

TEXT 26

TEXT

pale-pale vyaghra, hasti, gandara, sukara-gana

tara madhye avese prabhu karila gamana

SYNONYMS

pale-pale -- in flocks; vyaghra -- tigers; hasti -- elephants; gandara --

rhinoceros; sukara-gana -- boars; tara madhye -- through them; avese --

in ecstasy; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karila gamana -- passed.

TRANSLATION

When the Lord passed through the jungle in great ecstasy, packs of

tigers, elephants, rhinoceros and boars came, and the Lord passed right

through them.

Madhya 17.27

TEXT 27

TEXT

dekhi' bhattacaryera mane haya maha-bhaya

prabhura pratape tara eka pasa haya

SYNONYMS

dekhi' -- seeing; bhattacaryera -- of Bhattacarya; mane -- in the mind;

haya -- there was; maha-bhaya -- great fear; prabhura pratape -- by the

influence of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tara -- they; eka pasa haya --

stand to one side.

TRANSLATION

Balabhadra Bhattacarya was very much afraid to see them, but by Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu's influence, all the animals stood to one side.

Madhya 17.28

TEXT 28

TEXT

eka-dina pathe vyaghra kariyache sayana

avese tara gaye prabhura lagila carana

SYNONYMS

eka-dina -- one day; pathe -- on the path; vyaghra -- a tiger; kariyache

sayana -- was lying down; avese -- in ecstatic love; tara gaye -- on his

body; prabhura -- of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; lagila -- touched;

carana -- lotus feet.

TRANSLATION

One day a tiger was lying on the path, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,

walking along the path in ecstatic love, touched the tiger with His feet.

Madhya 17.29

TEXT 29

TEXT

prabhu kahe, -- kaha 'krsna', vyaghra uthila

'krsna' 'krsna' kahi' vyaghra nacite lagila

SYNONYMS

prabhu kahe -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; kaha krsna -- please chant

Hare Krsna; vyaghra uthila -- the tiger got up; krsna krsna kahi' --

chanting the holy name of Krsna; vyaghra -- the tiger; nacite -- to

dance; lagila -- began.

TRANSLATION

The Lord said, "Chant the holy name of Krsna!" The tiger immediately got

up and began to dance and chant,"Krsna! Krsna!"

Madhya 17.30

TEXT 30

TEXT

ara dine mahaprabhu kare nadi snana

matta-hasti-yutha aila karite jala-pana

SYNONYMS

ara dine -- another day; mahaprabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare --

does; nadi snana -- bathing in the river; matta-hasti-yutha -- a herd of

maddened elephants; aila -- came; karite -- to do; jala-pana -- drinking

water.

TRANSLATION

Another day, while Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was bathing in a river, a

herd of maddened elephants came there to drink water.

Madhya 17.31

TEXT 31

TEXT

prabhu jala-krtya kare, age hasti aila

'krsna kaha' bali' prabhu jala pheli' marila

SYNONYMS

prabhu -- Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jala-krtya kare -- bathed and

was chanting the Gayatri mantra within the water; age -- in front; hasti

-- the elephants; aila -- came; krsna kaha -- chant Hare Krsna; bali' --

saying; prabhu -- Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jala pheli' -- throwing

water; marila -- struck.

TRANSLATION

While the Lord was bathing and murmuring the Gayatri mantra, the

elephants came before Him. The Lord immediately splashed some water on

the elephants and asked them to chant the name of Krsna.

PURPORT

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was the Supreme Personality of Godhead playing

the part of a very great advanced devotee. On the maha-bhagavata

platform, the devotee makes no distinction between friends and enemies.

On that platform he sees everyone as a servant of Krsna. As stated in

Bhagavad-gita:

vidya-vinaya-sampanne

brahmane gavi hastini

suni caiva svapake ca

panditah sama-darsinah

"The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a

learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater [

outcaste]." (Bg. 5.18)

A maha-bhagavata, being learned and advanced in spiritual consciousness,

sees no difference between a tiger, an elephant or a learned scholar.

The test of advanced spiritual consciousness is that one becomes

fearless. He envies no one, and he is always engaged in the Lord's

service. He sees every living entity as an eternal part and parcel of

the Lord, rendering service according to his capacity by the will of the

Supreme Lord. As Bhagavad-gita confirms:

sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto

mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca

"I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance,

knowledge and forgetfulness." (Bg. 15.15)

The maha-bhagavata knows that Krsna is in everyone's heart. Krsna is

dictating, and the living entity is following His dictations. Krsna is

within the heart of the tiger, elephant and boar. Therefore Krsna tells

them, "Here is a maha-bhagavata. Please do not disturb him." Why, then,

should the animals be envious of such a great personality? Those who are

neophytes or even a little progressed in devotional service should not

try to imitate the maha-bhagavata. Rather, they should only follow in

their footsteps. The word anukara means "imitating," and anusara means "

trying to follow in the footsteps." We should not try to imitate the

activities of a maha-bhagavata or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Our best

efforts should be exerted in trying to follow them according to our

ability. The maha-bhagavata's heart is completely freed from material

contamination, and he can become very dear even to fierce animals like

tigers and elephants. Indeed, the maha-bhagavata treats them as his very

intimate friends. On this platform there is no question of envy. When

the Lord was passing through the forest, He was in ecstasy, thinking the

forest to be Vrndavana. He was simply searching for Krsna.

Madhya 17.32

TEXT 32

TEXT

sei jala-bindu-kana lage yara gaya

sei 'krsna' 'krsna' kahe, preme nace, gaya

SYNONYMS

sei -- those; jala -- of water; bindu -- drops; kana -- particles; lage -

- touch; yara -- whose; gaya -- body; sei -- they; krsna krsna -- Krsna,

Krsna; kahe -- say; preme -- in ecstasy; nace -- dance; gaya -- sing.

TRANSLATION

The elephants whose bodies were touched by the water splashed by the

Lord began to chant,"Krsna! Krsna!" and dance and sing in ecstasy.

Madhya 17.33

TEXT 33

TEXT

keha bhume pade, keha karaye citkara

dekhi' bhattacaryera mane haya camatkara

SYNONYMS

keha -- some of them; bhume -- on the ground; pade -- fall down; keha --

some of them; karaye -- perform; cit-kara -- screaming; dekhi' -- seeing;

bhattacaryera -- of Bhattacarya; mane -- in the mind; haya -- there was;

camatkara -- astonishment.

TRANSLATION

Some of the elephants fell to the ground, and some screamed in ecstasy.

Seeing this, Balabhadra Bhattacarya was completely astonished.

Madhya 17.34

TEXT 34

TEXT

pathe yaite kare prabhu ucca sankirtana

madhura kantha-dhvani suni' aise mrgi-gana

SYNONYMS

pathe yaite -- while passing on the path; kare -- does; prabhu -- Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ucca -- loud; sankirtana -- chanting of Hare Krsna;

madhura -- sweet; kantha-dhvani -- the voice from His throat; suni' --

hearing; aise -- came; mrgi-gana -- she-deer.

TRANSLATION

Sometimes Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu chanted very loudly while passing

through the jungle. Hearing His sweet voice, all the does came near Him.

Madhya 17.35

TEXT 35

TEXT

dahine-vame dhvani suni' yaya prabhu-sange

prabhu tara anga muche, sloka pade range

SYNONYMS

dahine-vame -- right and left; dhvani -- vibration; suni' -- hearing;

yaya -- they follow; prabhu-sange -- with the Lord; prabhu -- Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tara -- their; anga -- bodies; muche -- pats; sloka

-- verse; pade -- recites; range -- in great curiosity.

TRANSLATION

Hearing the Lord's great vibration, all the does followed Him left and

right. While reciting a verse with great curiosity, the Lord patted them.

Madhya 17.36

TEXT 36

TEXT

dhanyah sma mudha-matayo 'pi harinya eta

ya nanda-nandanam upatta-vicitra-vesam

akarnya venu-ranitam saha-krsna-sarah

pujam dadhur viracitam pranayavalokaih

SYNONYMS

dhanyah -- fortunate, blessed; sma -- certainly; mudha-matayah --

foolish, without good sense; api -- although; harinyah -- she-deer; etah

-- these; yah -- who; nanda-nandanam -- the son of Maharaja Nanda;

upatta-vicitra-vesam -- dressed very attractively; akarnya -- hearing;

venu-ranitam -- the sound of His flute; saha-krsna-sarah -- accompanied

by the black deer (their husbands); pujam dadhuh -- they worshiped;

viracitam -- performed; pranaya-avalokaih -- by their affectionate

glances.

TRANSLATION

"Blessed are all these foolish deer because they have approached the

son of Maharaja Nanda, who is gorgeously dressed and is playing on

His flute. Indeed, both the does and the bucks worship the Lord with

looks of love and affection."

PURPORT

This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.21.11) spoken by the gopis of

Vrndavana.

Madhya 17.37

TEXT 37

TEXT

hena-kale vyaghra tatha aila panca-sata

vyaghra-mrgi mili' cale mahaprabhura satha

SYNONYMS

hena-kale -- at this time; vyaghra -- tigers; tatha -- there; aila --

came; panca-sata -- five to seven; vyaghra-mrgi -- the tigers and deer;

mili' -- coming together; cale -- go; mahaprabhura satha -- with Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

TRANSLATION

While Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was passing through the jungle, five or

seven tigers came. Joining the deer, the tigers began to follow the Lord.

Madhya 17.38

TEXT 38

TEXT

dekhi' mahaprabhura 'vrndavana'-smrti haila

vrndavana-guna-varnana sloka padila

SYNONYMS

dekhi' -- seeing; mahaprabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vrndavana -

- of the holy land of Vrndavana; smrti haila -- there was remembrance;

vrndavana -- of Sri Vrndavana; guna -- of the qualities; varnana --

description; sloka -- verse; padila -- recited.

TRANSLATION

Seeing the tigers and deer following Him, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

immediately remembered the land of Vrndavana. He then began to recite a

verse describing the transcendental qualitity of Vrndavana.

Madhya 17.39

TEXT 39

TEXT

yatra naisarga-durvairah

sahasan nr-mrgadayah

mitranivajitavasa-

druta-rut-tarsanadikam

SYNONYMS

yatra -- where; naisarga -- by nature; durvairah -- living in enmity;

saha-asan -- live together; nr -- human beings; mrga-adayah -- and

animals; mitrani -- friends; iva -- like; ajita -- of Lord Sri Krsna;

avasa -- residence; druta -- gone away; ruj -- anger; tarsana-adikam --

thirst and so on.

TRANSLATION

"Vrndavana is the transcendental abode of the Lord. There is no hunger,

anger or thirst there. Though naturally inimical, both human beings and

fierce animals live together there in transcendental friendship."

PURPORT

This is a statement from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.13.60). After stealing

the cowherd boys, calves and cows of Sri Krsna, Lord Brahma kept them

asleep and hid them. After a moment, Brahma returned to see Krsna's

condition. When he saw that Krsna was still busy with His cowherd

boyfriends and animals and was not disturbed, Lord Brahma appreciated

the transcendental opulence of Vrndavana.

Madhya 17.40

TEXT 40

TEXT

'krsna krsna kaha' kari' prabhu yabe balila

'krsna' kahi' vyaghra-mrga nacite lagila

SYNONYMS

krsna krsna kaha -- chant Krsna, Krsna; kari' -- in this way; prabhu --

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yabe -- when; balila -- uttered; krsna kahi' --

chanting the holy name of Krsna; vyaghra-mrga -- the tigers and deer;

nacite lagila -- began to dance.

TRANSLATION

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said,"Chant Krsna! Krsna!" the tigers and

deer began to dance and chant, "Krsna!"

Madhya 17.41

TEXT 41

TEXT

nace, kunde vyaghra-gana mrgi-gana-sange

balabhadra-bhattacarya dekhe apurva-range

SYNONYMS

nace -- dance; kunde -- jump; vyaghra-gana -- the tigers; mrgi-gana-

sange -- with the does; balabhadra-bhattacarya -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya;

dekhe -- sees; apurva-range -- with great wonder.

TRANSLATION

When all the tigers and does danced and jumped, Balabhadra Bhattacarya

saw them and was struck with wonder.

Madhya 17.42

TEXT 42

TEXT

vyaghra-mrga anyonye kare alingana

mukhe mukha diya kare anyonye cumbana

SYNONYMS

vyaghra-mrga -- the tigers and deer; anyonye -- one another; kare -- do;

alingana -- embracing; mukhe mukha diya -- touching one anothers'

mouths; kare -- do; anyonye cumbana -- kissing one another.

TRANSLATION

Indeed, the tigers and deer began to embrace one another, and, touching

mouths, they began to kiss.

Madhya 17.43

TEXT 43

TEXT

kautuka dekhiya prabhu hasite lagila

ta-sabake tahan chadi' age cali' gela

SYNONYMS

kautuka dekhiya -- seeing this fun; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;

hasite lagila -- began to smile; ta-sabake -- all of them; tahan chadi' -

- leaving there; age -- forward; cali' gela -- advanced.

TRANSLATION

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw all this fun, He began to smile.

Finally He left the animals and continued on His way.

Madhya 17.44

TEXT 44

TEXT

mayuradi paksi-gana prabhure dekhiya

sange cale, 'krsna' bali' nace matta hana

SYNONYMS

mayura-adi -- beginning with peacocks; paksi-gana -- different types of

birds; prabhure -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhiya -- seeing; sange

cale -- go with Him; krsna bali' -- chanting the holy name of Krsna;

nace -- dance; matta hana -- becoming mad.

TRANSLATION

Various birds, including the peacock, saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and

began to follow Him, chanting and dancing. They were all maddened by the

holy name of Krsna.

Madhya 17.45

TEXT 45

TEXT

'hari-bola' bali' prabhu kare ucca-dhvani

vrksa-lata -- praphullita, sei dhvani suni'

SYNONYMS

hari-bola -- the vibration of Hari-bol; bali' -- chanting; prabhu -

- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare -- makes; ucca-dhvani -- a loud sound;

vrksa-lata -- the trees and creepers; praphullita -- very jubilant; sei -

- that; dhvani -- sound; suni' -- hearing.

TRANSLATION

When the Lord loudly chanted "Hari bol!" the trees and creepers

became jubilant to hear Him.

PURPORT

The loud chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra is so powerful that it can

even penetrate the ears of trees and creepers -- what to speak

of animals and human beings. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu once asked Haridasa

Thakura how trees and plants could be delivered, and Haridasa Thakura

replied that the loud chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra would

benefit not only trees and plants but insects and all other living

beings. One should therefore not be disturbed by the loud chanting of

Hare Krsna, for it is beneficial not only to the chanter but to everyone

who gets an opportunity to hear.

Madhya 17.46

TEXT 46

TEXT

'jharikhande' sthavara-jangama ache yata

krsna-nama diya kaila premete unmatta

SYNONYMS

jharikhande -- in the place known as Jharikhanda; sthavara-jangama --

moving and not moving; ache -- there are; yata -- all; krsna-nama diya --

giving them the holy name of Lord Krsna; kaila -- made; premete -- in

ecstasy; unmatta -- mad.

TRANSLATION

Thus all living entities -- some moving and

some standing still in the forest of Jharikhanda -- became maddened by

hearing the holy name of Lord Krsna vibrated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

PURPORT

The great forest of Jharikhanda is a great tract of land including

Atagada, Dhenkanala, Angula, Lahara, Kiyanjhada, Bamada, Bonai,

Gangapura, Chota Nagapura, Yasapura and Saraguja. All these places,

which are covered with mountains and jungles, are known as Jharikhanda.

Madhya 17.47

TEXT 47

TEXT

yei grama diya yana, yahan karena sthiti

se-saba gramera lokera haya 'prema-bhakti'

SYNONYMS

yei grama -- which villages; diya yana -- the Lord goes through; yahan --

where; karena -- takes; sthiti -- rest; se-saba -- all those; gramera --

of the villages; lokera -- of the people; haya -- there is awakening of;

prema-bhakti -- ecstatic love of God.

TRANSLATION

In all the villages through which the Lord passed and in all the places

He rested on His journey, everyone was purified and awakened to ecstatic

love of God.

Madhya 17.48-49

TEXTS 48-49

TEXT

keha yadi tanra mukhe sune krsna-nama

tanra mukhe ana sune tanra mukhe ana

sabe 'krsna' 'hari' bali' nace, kande, hase

paramparaya 'vaisnava' ha-ila sarva dese

SYNONYMS

keha -- someone; yadi -- when; tanra mukhe -- from His mouth; sune --

hears; krsna-nama -- chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra; tanra mukhe --

from the mouth of such chanters; ana sune -- someone else hears; tanra

mukhe -- and from his mouth; ana -- someone else; sabe -- all of them;

krsna -- Lord Krsna's holy name; hari -- another holy name of the Lord;

bali' -- chanting; nace -- dance; kande -- cry; hase -- smile;

paramparaya -- by disciplic succession; vaisnava -- devotees; ha-ila --

became; sarva-dese -- in all countries.

TRANSLATION

When someone heard the chanting of the holy name from the mouth of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and someone else heard this chanting from that

second person, and someone again heard this chanting from the third

person, everyone in all countries became a Vaisnava through such

disciplic succession. Thus everyone chanted the holy name of Krsna and

Hari, and they danced, cried and smiled.

PURPORT

The transcendental power or potency of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is

herein explained. First, the holy name is vibrated by Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu. When someone hears from Him directly, he is purified. When

another person hears from that person, he also is purified. In this way

the purification process is advanced among pure devotees. Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and no one can claim

His potency. Nonetheless, if one is a pure devotee, hundreds and

thousands of men can be purified by his vibration. This potency is

within every living being, provided he chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra

offenselessly and without material motives. When a pure devotee chants

offenselessly, another person will become a Vaisnava, and from him

another Vaisnava will emerge. This is the parampara system.

Madhya 17.50

TEXT 50

TEXT

yadyapi prabhu loka-sanghattera trase

prema 'gupta' karena, bahire na prakase

SYNONYMS

yadyapi -- although; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; loka-sanghattera

-- of crowds of people; trase -- being afraid; prema -- ecstasy; gupta

karena -- keeps hidden; bahire -- externally; na -- does not; prakase --

manifest.

TRANSLATION

The Lord did not always manifest His ecstasy. Being afraid of a great

assembly of people, the Lord kept His ecstasy concealed.

Madhya 17.51

TEXT 51

TEXT

tathapi tanra darsana-sravana-prabhave

sakala desera loka ha-ila 'vaisnave'

SYNONYMS

tathapi -- still; tanra -- His; darsana -- of seeing; sravana -- of

hearing; prabhave -- by the potency; sakala -- all; desera -- of

countries; loka -- people; ha-ila -- became; vaisnave -- pure devotees

of the Lord.

TRANSLATION

Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not manifest His natural ecstatic

love, everyone became a pure devotee simply by seeing and hearing Him.

PURPORT

Srila Rupa Gosvami has described Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as maha-vadanya-

avatara, the most munificent incarnation. Although Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu is not physically present now, simply by chanting His holy

name (sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara

srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda) people throughout the world are becoming

devotees. This is due to the ecstatic chanting of the holy name of the

Lord. It is said that a pure devotee can see the Lord every moment,

and because of this he is empowered by the Lord. This is confirmed in

Brahma-samhita: premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah

sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared five

hundred years ago, but it cannot be said that now the potency of the

Hare Krsna maha-mantra is less powerful than it was in His presence. By

hearing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu through the parampara system, one can be

purified. Therefore in this verse it is said: tathapi tanra darsana-

sravana-prabhave. It is not that everyone is able to see Krsna or Sri

Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu physically, but if one hears about Him through

books like Sri Caitanya-caritamrta and through the parampara system of

pure Vaisnavas, there is no difficulty in becoming a pure Vaisnava, free

from mundane desires and personal motivations.

Madhya 17.52

TEXT 52

TEXT

gauda, banga, utkala, daksina-dese giya

lokera nistara kaila apane bhramiya

SYNONYMS

gauda -- Bengal; banga -- East Bengal; utkala -- Orissa; daksina-dese --

southern India; giya -- going; lokera -- of all the people; nistara --

liberation; kaila -- did; apane -- personally; bhramiya -- touring.

TRANSLATION

In this way, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally toured Bengal, East

Bengal, Orissa and the southern countries, and He delivered all kinds of

people by spreading Krsna consciousness.

Madhya 17.53

TEXT 53

TEXT

mathura yaibara chale asena jharikhanda

bhilla-praya loka tahan parama-pasanda

SYNONYMS

mathura -- to Mathura; yaibara -- of going; chale -- on the pretext;

asena -- came; jharikhanda -- to Jharikhanda; bhilla-praya -- like the

Bheels, a kind of low people; loka -- people; tahan -- there; parama-

pasanda -- without God consciousness.

TRANSLATION

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to Jharikhanda on His way to Mathura,

He found that the people there were almost uncivilized and were devoid

of God consciousness.

PURPORT

The word bhilla refers to a class of men belonging to the Bheels. The

Bheels are like Black Africans, and they are lower than sudras. Such

people generally live in the jungle, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had to

meet them.

Madhya 17.54

TEXT 54

TEXT

nama-prema diya kaila sabara nistara

caitanyera gudha-lila bujhite sakti kara

SYNONYMS

nama-prema diya -- bestowing upon them ecstatic love and the holy name;

kaila -- did; sabara nistara -- liberation of all of them; caitanyera --

of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gudha-lila -- confidential pastimes; bujhite

-- to understand; sakti -- the power; kara -- who has.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave even the Bheels an opportunity to chant the

holy name and come to the platform of ecstatic love. Thus He delivered

all of them. Who has the power to understand the transcendental pastimes

of the Lord?

PURPORT

As evidence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy, we are experiencing that

the people of Africa are taking to Krsna consciousness, chanting and

dancing and taking prasada like other Vaisnavas. This is all due to the

power of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Who can understand how His potency is

working all over the world?

Madhya 17.55

TEXT 55

TEXT

vana dekhi' bhrama haya -- ei 'vrndavana'

saila dekhi' mane haya -- ei 'govardhana'

SYNONYMS

vana dekhi' -- seeing the forest; bhrama haya -- there is illusion; ei --

this; vrndavana -- Vrndavana forest; saila dekhi' -- seeing a hill;

mane haya -- considers; ei govardhana -- this is Govardhana Hill.

TRANSLATION

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed through the Jharikhanda forest, He

took it for granted that it was Vrndavana. When He passed over the hills,

He took it for granted that they were Govardhana.

Madhya 17.56

TEXT 56

TEXT

yahan nadi dekhe tahan manaye -- 'kalindi'

maha-premavese nace prabhu pade kandi'

SYNONYMS

yahan -- wherever; nadi -- river; dekhe -- sees; tahan -- there; manaye -

- considers; kalindi -- the River Yamuna; maha-prema-avese -- in great

ecstatic love; nace -- dances; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; pade --

falls down; kandi' -- crying.

TRANSLATION

Similarly, whenever Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw a river, He immediately

accepted it as the River Yamuna. Thus while in the forest He was filled

with great ecstatic love, and He danced and fell down crying.

Madhya 17.57

TEXT 57

TEXT

pathe yaite bhattacarya saka-mula-phala

yahan yei payena tahan layena sakala

SYNONYMS

pathe yaite -- while passing on the way; bhattacarya -- Balabhadra

Bhattacarya; saka -- spinach; mula -- roots; phala -- fruits; yahan --

wherever; yei -- whatever; payena -- he gets; tahan -- there; layena --

he takes; sakala -- all.

TRANSLATION

Along the way, Balabhadra Bhattacarya collected all kinds of spinach,

roots and fruit whenever possible.

Madhya 17.58

TEXT 58

TEXT

ye-grame rahena prabhu, tathaya brahmana

panca-sata jana asi' kare nimantrana

SYNONYMS

ye-grame -- in whatever village; rahena -- stays; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; tathaya -- there; brahmana -- brahmanas; panca-sata jana --

five or seven persons; asi' -- coming; kare -- do; nimantrana --

invitation.

TRANSLATION

Whenever Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited a village, a few brahmanas --

five or seven -- would come and extend invitations to the Lord.

Madhya 17.59

TEXT 59

TEXT

keha anna ani' deya bhattacarya-sthane

keha dugdha, dadhi, keha ghrta, khanda ane

SYNONYMS

keha -- someone; anna -- grains; ani' -- bringing; deya -- delivers;

bhattacarya-sthane -- before Balabhadra Bhattacarya; keha -- someone;

dugdha -- milk; dadhi -- yogurt; keha -- someone; ghrta -- ghee; khanda -

- sugar; ane -- brings.

TRANSLATION

Some people would bring grains and deliver them to Balabhadra

Bhattacarya. Others would bring milk and yogurt, and still others would

bring ghee and sugar.

Madhya 17.60

TEXT 60

TEXT

yahan vipra nahi tahan 'sudra-mahajana'

asi' sabe bhattacarye kare nimantrana

SYNONYMS

yahan -- wherever; vipra -- brahmana; nahi -- there is not; tahan --

there; sudra-maha-jana -- devotees born in families other than brahmana;

asi' -- coming; sabe -- all of them; bhattacarye -- to Balabhadra

Bhattacarya; kare nimantrana -- make invitation.

TRANSLATION

In some villages there were no brahmanas; nonetheless, devotees born in

non-brahmana families came and extended invitations to Balabhadra

Bhattacarya.

PURPORT

Actually a sannyasi or a brahmana will not accept an invitation extended

by a person born in a lower family. However, there are many devotees who

are raised to the platform of brahmana by their initiation. These people

are called sudra-mahajana. This indicates that one who is born in a non-

brahmana family has accepted the brahmana status by initiation. Such

devotees extended invitations to Balabhadra Bhattacarya. A Mayavadi

sannyasi will accept an invitation only from a brahmana family, but a

Vaisnava does not accept an invitation from a brahmana if he does not

belong to the Vaisnava sect. However, a Vaisnava will accept an

invitation from a brahmana or sudra-mahajana if that person is an

initiated Vaisnava. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself accepted invitations

from sudra-mahajanas, and this confirms the fact that anyone initiated

by a Vaisnava mantra can be accepted as a brahmana. One can accept an

invitation from such a person.

Madhya 17.61

TEXT 61

TEXT

bhattacarya paka kare vanya-vyanjana

vanya-vyanjane prabhura anandita mana

SYNONYMS

bhattacarya -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; paka kare -- cooks; vanya-

vyanjana -- all varieties of forest vegetables; vanya-vyanjane -- by

such forest vegetables; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; anandita

mana -- the mind is very happy.

TRANSLATION

Balabhadra Bhattacarya used to cook all kinds of vegetables gathered

from the forest, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very pleased to accept

these preparations.

Madhya 17.62-63

TEXTS 62-63

TEXT

dui-cari dinera anna rakhena samhati

yahan sunya vana, lokera nahika vasati

tahan sei anna bhattacarya kare paka

phala-mule vyanjana kare, vanya nana saka

SYNONYMS

dui-cari -- two to four; dinera -- of days; anna -- food grains; rakhena

-- keeps; samhati -- in stock; yahan -- wherever; sunya vana -- the

solitary forest; lokera -- of people; nahika -- there is not; vasati --

habitation; tahan -- there; sei -- those; anna -- food grains;

bhattacarya -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; kare paka -- cooks; phala-mule --

with roots and fruits; vyanjana kare -- he prepares vegetables; vanya --

from the forest; nana saka -- many kinds of spinach.

TRANSLATION

Balabhadra Bhattacarya used to keep a stock of food grains that would

last from two to four days. Where there were no people, he would cook

the grains and prepare vegetables, spinach, roots and fruits collected

from the forest.

Madhya 17.64

TEXT 64

TEXT

parama santosa prabhura vanya-bhojane

maha-sukha pana, ye dina rahena nirjane

SYNONYMS

parama -- very much; santosa -- satisfaction; prabhura -- of the Lord;

vanya-bhojane -- in eating vegetables collected from the forest; maha-

sukha pana -- gets great happiness; ye dina -- on which day; rahena --

stays; nirjane -- in a solitary place.

TRANSLATION

The Lord was always very happy to eat these forest vegetables, and He

was even happier when He had an opportunity to stay in a solitary place.

Madhya 17.65

TEXT 65

TEXT

bhattacarya seva kare, snehe yaiche 'dasa'

tanra vipra vahe jala-patra-bahirvasa

SYNONYMS

bhattacarya -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; seva kare -- renders service;

snehe -- in great affection; yaiche -- exactly like; dasa -- a servant;

tanra vipra -- his brahmana assistant; vahe -- carries; jala-patra --

the waterpot; bahirvasa -- and garments.

TRANSLATION

Balabhadra Bhattacarya was so affectionate to the Lord that he was

rendering service just like a menial servant. His assistant brahmana

carried the waterpot and garments.

Madhya 17.66

TEXT 66

TEXT

nirjharete usnodake snana tina-bara

dui-sandhya agni-tapa kasthera apara

SYNONYMS

nirjharete -- in the waterfalls; usna-udake -- in warm water; snana --

bath; tina-bara -- thrice; dui-sandhya -- morning and evening; agni-tapa

-- heating by a fire; kasthera -- of wood; apara -- without limit.

TRANSLATION

The Lord used to bathe three times a day in the warm water of the

waterfalls. He also used to heat Himself morning and evening with a fire

made of the limitless wood.

Madhya 17.67

TEXT 67

TEXT

nirantara premavese nirjane gamana

sukha anubhavi' prabhu kahena vacana

SYNONYMS

nirantara -- always; prema-avese -- in ecstatic love; nirjane -- in a

solitary place; gamana -- going; sukha anubhavi' -- feeling happiness;

prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahena -- says; vacana -- statement.

TRANSLATION

While traveling in this secluded forest and feeling very happy, Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu made the following statement.

Madhya 17.68

TEXT 68

TEXT

suna, bhattacarya, -- "ami gelana bahu-desa

vana-pathe duhkhera kahan nahi pai lesa

SYNONYMS

suna -- please hear; bhattacarya -- My dear Bhattacarya; ami -- I;

gelana -- traveled; bahu-desa -- many countries; vana-pathe -- through

the forest path; duhkhera -- of unhappiness; kahan -- anywhere; nahi pai

-- I do not get; lesa -- even a trace.

TRANSLATION

"My dear Bhattacarya, I have traveled very far through the forest, and I

have not even slightly received any trouble.

Madhya 17.69

TEXT 69

TEXT

krsna -- krpalu, amaya bahuta krpa kaila

vana-pathe ani' amaya bada sukha dila

SYNONYMS

krsna -- Lord Krsna; krpalu -- very kind; amaya -- upon Me; bahuta --

greatly; krpa -- mercy; kaila -- showed; vana-pathe -- on the path in

the forest; ani' -- bringing; amaya -- unto Me; bada -- very much; sukha

-- happiness; dila -- gave.

TRANSLATION

"Krsna is very merciful, especially to Me. He has shown His mercy by

bringing Me on this path through the forest. Thus He has given Me great

pleasure.

Madhya 17.70

TEXT 70

TEXT

purve vrndavana yaite karilana vicara

mata, ganga, bhakta-gane dekhiba eka-bara

SYNONYMS

purve -- formerly; vrndavana -- to the holy place of Vrndavana; yaite --

to go; karilana -- I did; vicara -- consideration; mata -- mother; ganga

-- the Ganges; bhakta-gane -- and devotees; dekhiba -- I shall see; eka-

bara -- once.

TRANSLATION

"Before this, I decided to go to Vrndavana and on the way see My mother,

the River Ganges and other devotees once again.

Madhya 17.71

TEXT 71

TEXT

bhakta-gana-sange avasya kariba milana

bhakta-gane sange lana yaba 'vrndavana'

SYNONYMS

bhakta-gana-sange -- with all My devotees; avasya -- certainly; kariba --

shall do; milana -- meeting; bhakta-gane -- all the devotees; sange --

along with Me; lana -- taking; yaba -- I shall go; vrndavana -- to

Vrndavana-dhama.

TRANSLATION

"I thought that once again I would see and meet all the devotees and

take them with Me to Vrndavana.

Madhya 17.72

TEXT 72

TEXT

eta bhavi' gauda-dese karilun gamana

mata, ganga bhakte dekhi' sukhi haila mana

SYNONYMS

eta bhavi' -- thinking like this; gauda-dese -- to Bengal; karilun

gamana -- I went; mata -- My mother; ganga -- the Ganges; bhakte --

devotees; dekhi' -- seeing; sukhi -- happy; haila -- became; mana -- My

mind.

TRANSLATION

"Thus I went to Bengal, and I was very happy to see My mother, the River

Ganges and the devotees.

Madhya 17.73

TEXT 73

TEXT

bhakta-gane lana tabe calilana range

laksa-koti loka tahan haila ama-sange

SYNONYMS

bhakta-gane -- all the devotees; lana -- taking; tabe -- then; calilana

range -- I started with great pleasure; laksa-koti -- many thousands and

millions; loka -- people; tahan -- there; haila -- became; ama-sange --

My companions.

TRANSLATION

"However, when I started for Vrndavana, many thousands and millions of

people gathered and began to go with Me.

Madhya 17.74

TEXT 74

TEXT

sanatana-mukhe krsna ama sikhaila

taha vighna kari' vana-pathe lana aila

SYNONYMS

sanatana-mukhe -- from the mouth of Sanatana; krsna -- Lord Krsna; ama --

unto Me; sikhaila -- gave instructions; taha -- that; vighna kari' --

making a hindrance; vana-pathe -- on the path through the forest; lana --

taking; aila -- came.

TRANSLATION

"Thus I was going to Vrndavana with a big crowd, but through the mouth

of Sanatana, Krsna taught Me a lesson. Thus by making some impediment,

He has brought Me on a path through the forest to Vrndavana.

Madhya 17.75

TEXT 75

TEXT

krpara samudra, dina-hine dayamaya

krsna-krpa vina kona 'sukha' nahi haya"

SYNONYMS

krpara samudra -- ocean of mercy; dina-hine -- unto the poor and fallen;

dayamaya -- very merciful; krsna-krpa -- the mercy of Krsna; vina --

without; kona -- any; sukha -- happiness; nahi haya -- there is not.

TRANSLATION

"Krsna is an ocean of mercy. He is especially merciful to the poor and

fallen. Without His mercy, there is no possibility of happiness."

Madhya 17.76

TEXT 76

TEXT

bhattacarye alingiya tanhare kahila

'tomara prasade ami eta sukha paila'

SYNONYMS

bhattacarye -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; alingiya -- embracing; tanhare --

unto him; kahila -- said; tomara prasade -- by your kindness; ami -- I;

eta -- so much; sukha -- happiness; paila -- got.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then embraced Balabhadra Bhattacarya and told

him, "It is only by your kindness that I am now so happy."

Madhya 17.77

TEXT 77

TEXT

tenho kahena, -- "tumi 'krsna', tumi 'dayamaya'

adhama jiva muni, more ha-ila sadaya

SYNONYMS

tenho kahena -- Bhattacarya said; tumi krsna -- You are Krsna

Himself; tumi -- You; daya-maya -- merciful; adhama -- the lowest of the

low; jiva -- living entity; muni -- I; more -- unto me; ha-ila -- You

have been; sa-daya -- favorable.

TRANSLATION

Balabhadra Bhattacarya replied, "My dear Lord, You are Krsna Himself,

and therefore You are merciful. I am a fallen living entity, but You

have bestowed a great favor upon me.

Madhya 17.78

TEXT 78

TEXT

muni chara, more tumi sange lana aila

krpa kari' mora hate 'prabhu' bhiksa kaila

SYNONYMS

muni -- I; chara -- most fallen; more -- me; tumi -- You; sange -- with;

lana -- taking; aila -- have come; krpa kari' -- showing great mercy;

mora hate -- from my hand; prabhu -- my Lord; bhiksa kaila -- You

accepted food.

TRANSLATION

"Sir, I am most fallen, yet You have brought me with You. Showing great

mercy, You have accepted food prepared by me.

Madhya 17.79

TEXT 79

TEXT

adhama-kakere kaila garuda-samana

'svatantra isvara' tumi -- svayam bhagavan"

SYNONYMS

adhama-kakere -- the most condemned crow; kaila -- You have made; garuda-

samana -- like Garuda; svatantra -- independent; isvara -- Supreme

Personality of Godhead; tumi -- You; svayam bhagavan -- the original

Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

"You have made me Your carrier Garuda, although I am no better than a

condemned crow. Thus You are the independent Personality of Godhead, the

original Lord.

Madhya 17.80

TEXT 80

TEXT

mukam karoti vacalam

pangum langhayate girim

yat-krpa tam aham vande

paramananda-madhavam

SYNONYMS

mukam -- a person who cannot speak; karoti -- makes; vacalam -- an

eloquent speaker; pangum -- a person who cannot even walk; langhayate --

causes to cross over; girim -- the mountain; yat-krpa -- whose mercy;

tam -- unto Him; aham -- I; vande -- offer obeisances; parama-ananda --

the transcendentally blissful; madhavam -- Supreme Personality of

Godhead.

TRANSLATION

" 'The Supreme Personality of Godhead has the form of sac-cid-ananda-

vigraha, transcendental bliss, knowledge and eternity. I

offer my respectful obeisances unto He who turns the dumb into

eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains. Such is the

mercy of the Lord.' "

PURPORT

This is a quotation from the Bhavartha-dipika commentary on Srimad-

Bhagavatam (1.1.1).

Madhya 17.81

TEXT 81

TEXT

ei-mata balabhadra karena stavana

prema-seva kari' tusta kaila prabhura mana

SYNONYMS

ei-mata -- in this way; balabhadra -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; karena --

offers; stavana -- prayers; prema-seva kari' -- rendering service in

love; tusta -- pacified; kaila -- made; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; mana -- the mind.

TRANSLATION

In this way Balabhadra Bhattacarya offered his prayers to the Lord. By

rendering service unto Him in ecstatic love, He pacified the Lord's mind.

Madhya 17.82

TEXT 82

TEXT

ei-mata nana-sukhe prabhu aila 'kasi'

madhyahna-snana kaila manikarnikaya asi'

SYNONYMS

ei-mata -- in this way; nana-sukhe -- in great happiness; prabhu -- Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu; aila -- came; kasi -- to the holy place named Kasi;

madhyahna-snana -- afternoon bath; kaila -- took; manikarnikaya -- to

the bathing place known as Manikarnika; asi' -- coming.

TRANSLATION

Finally the Lord with great happiness arrived at the holy place

called Kasi. There He took His bath in the bathing ghat known as

Manikarnika.

PURPORT

Kasi is another name for Varanasi (Benares). It has been a place of

pilgrimage since time immemorial. Two rivers named Asih and Varuna merge

there. Manikarnika is famous because, according to the opinion of great

personalities, a bejeweled earring fell there from the ear of Lord Visnu.

According to some, it fell from the ear of Lord Siva. The word mani

means "jewel," and karnika means "from the ear." According to some, Lord

Visvanatha is the great physician who cures the disease of material

existence by delivering a person through the ear, which receives the

vibration of the holy name of Lord Rama. Because of this, this holy

place is called Mani-karnika. It is said that there is no better

place than where the River Ganges flows, and the bathing ghat known as

Manikarnika is especially sanctified because it is very dear to Lord

Visvanatha. In the Kasi-khanda it is said: samsari-cintamanir atra

yasmat tarakam sajjana-karnikayam. sivo 'bhidhatte saha-santa-kale tad

giyate 'sau mani-karniketi. mukti-laksmi maha-pitha-manis tac-

caranabjayoh. karnikeyam tatah prahur yam jana mani-karnikam. According

to the Kasi-khanda, if one gives up his body at Manikarnika, he is

liberated simply by remembering Lord Siva's name.

Madhya 17.83

TEXT 83

TEXT

sei-kale tapana-misra kare ganga-snana

prabhu dekhi' haila tanra kichu vismaya jnana

SYNONYMS

sei-kale -- at that time; tapana-misra -- a brahmana named Tapana Misra;

kare ganga-snana -- was taking his bath in the Ganges; prabhu dekhi' --

seeing the Lord; haila -- there was; tanra -- his; kichu -- some;

vismaya jnana -- astonishment.

TRANSLATION

At that time, Tapana Misra was taking his bath in the Ganges, and he was

astonished to see the Lord there.

Madhya 17.84

TEXT 84

TEXT

'purve suniyachi prabhu karyachena sannyasa'

niscaya kariya haila hrdaye ullasa

SYNONYMS

purve -- formerly; suniyachi -- I have heard; prabhu -- Lord Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karyachena sannyasa -- has accepted the renounced

order of life; niscaya kariya -- ascertaining that; haila -- there was;

hrdaye -- within the heart; ullasa -- great jubilation.

TRANSLATION

Tapana Misra then began to think, "I have heard that Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu has accepted the renounced order." Thinking this, Tapana

Misra became very jubilant within his heart.

Madhya 17.85

TEXT 85

TEXT

prabhura carana dhari' karena rodana

prabhu tare uthana kaila alingana

SYNONYMS

prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carana -- lotus feet; dhari' --

touching; karena -- does; rodana -- crying; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; tare -- him; uthana -- raising; kaila -- did; alingana --

embracing.

TRANSLATION

He then clasped the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and began to

cry. The Lord raised him up and embraced him.

Madhya 17.86

TEXT 86

TEXT

prabhu lana gela visvesvara-darasane

tabe asi' dekhe bindu-madhava-carane

SYNONYMS

prabhu lana -- taking the Lord; gela -- he went; visvesvara-darasane --

to visit the temple of Visvesvara; tabe -- thereafter; asi' -- coming;

dekhe -- see; bindu-madhava-carane -- the lotus feet of Bindu Madhava.

TRANSLATION

Tapana Misra then took Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to visit the temple of

Visvesvara. Coming from there, they saw the lotus feet of Lord Bindu

Madhava.

PURPORT

This Bindu Madhava is the oldest Visnu temple in Varanasi.

Presently this temple is known as Veni Madhava, and it is

situated on the banks of the Ganges. Formerly five rivers converged

there, and they were named Dhutapapa, Kirana, Sarasvati, Ganga and

Yamuna. Now only the River Ganges is visible. The old temple of Bindu

Madhava, which was visited by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, was later

dismantled by Aurangzeb, the great Hindu-hating emperor of the Mogul

dynasty. In the place of this temple, he constructed a big majida, or

mosque. Later, another temple was constructed by the side of the mosque,

and this temple is still existing. In the temple of Bindu Madhava there

are Deities of four-handed Narayana and the goddess Laksmi. In front of

these Deities is a column of Sri Garuda, and along the side are deities

of Lord Rama, Sita, Laksmana and Sri Hanumanji.

In the province of Maharastra is a state known as Satara. During the

time of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, the native prince belonged to

the Vaisnava cult. Being a brahmana, he took charge of worshiping the

Deity. He was known as Srimanta Balasaheba Pantha Maharaja. The state

still bears the expenditure for temple maintenance. The first king in

this dynasty to take charge of worship in the temple, two hundred years

ago, was Maharaja Jagatjivana Rao Saheba.

Madhya 17.87

TEXT 87

TEXT

ghare lana aila prabhuke anandita hana

seva kari' nrtya kare vastra udana

SYNONYMS

ghare lana -- taking to his home; aila -- came; prabhuke -- Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; anandita hana -- in great happiness; seva kari' -- rendering

service; nrtya kare -- began to dance; vastra udana -- waving his cloth.

TRANSLATION

With great pleasure Tapana Misra brought Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his

home and rendered service unto Him. Indeed, he began to dance, waving

his cloth.

Madhya 17.88

TEXT 88

TEXT

prabhura caranodaka savamse kaila pana

bhattacaryera puja kaila kariya sammana

SYNONYMS

prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carana-udaka -- the water used

to wash the lotus feet; sa-vamse -- with his whole family; kaila pana --

drank; bhattacaryera -- of Bhattacarya; puja -- worship; kaila --

performed; kariya -- showing; sammana -- respect.

TRANSLATION

He washed the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and afterwards he

and his whole family drank the wash water. He also worshiped Balabhadra

Bhattacarya and showed him respect.

Madhya 17.89

TEXT 89

TEXT

prabhure nimantrana kari' ghare bhiksa dila

balabhadra-bhattacarye paka karaila

SYNONYMS

prabhure nimantrana kari' -- inviting the Lord; ghare -- at home; bhiksa

dila -- gave lunch; balabhadra-bhattacarye -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya;

paka karaila -- he had cook.

TRANSLATION

Tapana Misra invited Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to take lunch at his home,

and he had Balabhadra Bhattacarya cook.

PURPORT

While at Varanasi (Benares), Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at the house

of Tapana Misra. Near Tapana Misra's house was a bathing ghat known as

Pancanadi-ghata. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to take His bath daily at

this ghat, and He used to see the temple of Bindu Madhava. Then He took

His lunch at Tapana Misra's house. Near the Bindu Madhava temple is

a big banyan tree, and it is said that after eating, Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu used to rest beneath the tree. That banyan tree is still

known today as Caitanya-vata. Gradually, due to changes in language, the

name became Yatana-vata. The local people still call that place Yatana-

vata.

Presently, beside a lane there is a tomb of Vallabhacarya, but

there is no sign that Caitanya Mahaprabhu ever lived there.

Vallabhacarya was also known as Mahaprabhu among his disciples. Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu probably lived at Yatana-vata, but there is no sign

of Candrasekhara's or Tapana Misra's house, nor is there sign of the

Mayavadi sannyasi Prakasananda Sarasvati, with whom Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu discussed Vedanta-sutra. A little distance from Yatana-

vata is a temple of Gaura-Nityananda established by Sasibhusana Niyogi

Mahasaya of Calcutta. This temple is now

managed by the mother-in-law of Sasibhusana

and his brother-in-law Narayana-candra Ghosh.

Madhya 17.90

TEXT 90

TEXT

bhiksa kari' mahaprabhu karila sayana

misra-putra raghu kare pada-samvahana

SYNONYMS

bhiksa kari' -- after finishing His lunch; mahaprabhu -- Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; karila sayana -- took rest; misra-putra -- the son of Tapana

Misra; raghu -- Raghu; kare -- does; pada-samvahana -- massaging the

legs.

TRANSLATION

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took His rest after lunch, the son of

Tapana Misra, named Raghu, used to massage His legs.

Madhya 17.91

TEXT 91

TEXT

prabhura 'sesanna' misra savamse khaila

'prabhu aila' suni' candrasekhara aila

SYNONYMS

prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sesa-anna -- remnants of food;

misra -- Tapana Misra; sa-vamse -- along with his family; khaila -- ate;

prabhu aila -- the Lord has arrived; suni' -- hearing; candrasekhara

aila -- Candrasekhara came.

TRANSLATION

The remnants of food left by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu were taken by the

whole family of Tapana Misra. When news spread that the Lord had come,

Candrasekhara also came to see Him.

Madhya 17.92

TEXT 92

TEXT

misrera sakha tenho prabhura purva dasa

vaidya-jati, likhana-vrtti, varanasi-vasa

SYNONYMS

misrera sakha -- friend of Tapana Misra; tenho -- he; prabhura -- of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu; purva dasa -- former servant; vaidya-jati -- by

caste a physician; likhana-vrtti -- by profession a clerk; varanasi-vasa

-- resident of Varanasi.

TRANSLATION

Candrasekhara happened to be a friend of Tapana Misra's, and he was long

known to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as His servant. He was a physician by

caste, and by profession he was a clerk. At the time he was living in

Varanasi.

Madhya 17.93

TEXT 93

TEXT

asi' prabhu-pade padi' karena rodana

prabhu uthi' tanre krpaya kaila alingana

SYNONYMS

asi' -- coming; prabhu-pade -- at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; padi' -- falling down; karena -- does; rodana -- crying;

prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; uthi' -- standing; tanre -- unto him;

krpaya -- out of mercy; kaila -- did; alingana -- embracing.

TRANSLATION

When Candrasekhara came there, he fell down before the lotus feet of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu and began to cry. The Lord, standing up, embraced

him out of His causeless mercy.

Madhya 17.94

TEXT 94

TEXT

candrasekhara kahe, -- "prabhu, bada krpa kaila

apane asiya bhrtye darasana dila

SYNONYMS

candrasekhara kahe -- Candrasekhara said; prabhu -- my dear Lord; bada

krpa kaila -- You have shown Your causeless mercy; apane -- personally;

asiya -- coming; bhrtye -- unto Your servant; darasana dila -- gave Your

audience.

TRANSLATION

Candrasekhara said, "My dear Lord, You bestowed Your causeless

mercy upon me because I am Your old servant. Indeed, You have come here

personally to give me Your audience.

Madhya 17.95

TEXT 95

TEXT

apana-prarabdhe vasi' varanasi-sthane

'maya', 'brahma' sabda vina nahi suni kane

SYNONYMS

apana-prarabdhe -- because of my past deeds; vasi' -- staying; varanasi-

sthane -- in the place known as Varanasi; maya -- maya; brahma -- and

brahma; sabda -- the words; vina -- except; nahi suni -- I do not hear;

kane -- in the ear.

TRANSLATION

"Due to my past deeds, I am residing at Varanasi, but here I do not hear

anything but the words maya and Brahman."

PURPORT

The word prarabdhe (past deeds) is important in this verse. Since

Candrasekhara was a devotee, he was always eager to hear about Krsna and

His transcendental pastimes. Most of the inhabitants of Benares were and

are impersonalists, worshipers of Lord Siva and followers of the

pancopasana method. The impersonalists imagine some form of the

impersonal Brahman, and to facilitate meditation they concentrate upon

the forms of Visnu, Siva, Ganesa, Surya and goddess Durga. Actually

these pancopasakas are not devotees of anyone. As it is said, to be a

servant of everyone is to be the servant of no one. Varanasi, or Kasi,

is the chief holy place of pilgrimage for impersonalists, and it is not

at all suitable for devotees. A Vaisnava likes to live in a visnu-tirtha,

a place where Lord Visnu's temples are present. In Varanasi there are

many hundreds and thousands of Lord Siva's temples, or pancopasaka

temples. Consequently Candrasekhara expressed great unhappiness as he

informed Lord Caitanya that he was obliged to live at Benares due to his

past misdeeds. In Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu it is also said,

durjaty-arambhakam papam yat syat prarabdham eva tat. "According to one'

s past misdeeds, one takes birth on a lower platform." In the Brahma-

samhita (5.54) it is said: karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam.

There is no karma attached to the past deeds or misdeeds of one in

devotional service. A devotee is not subjected to karma-phala, the

effect of fruitive activity. Karma-phala is applicable to karmis, not

bhaktas.

There are three kinds of devotees: those who are eternally on the

transcendental platform (nitya-siddha), those elevated to

the transcendental platform by the execution of devotional service (

sadhana-siddha), and those who are neophytes advancing toward the

perfectional platform (sadhaka). The sadhakas are gradually becoming

free from fruitive reaction. Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.1.17)

describes the symptoms of bhakti-yoga thus:

klesa-ghni subhada moksa-

laghutakrt sudurlabha

sandrananda-visesatma

sri-krsnakarsini ca sa

Devotional service is klesa-ghni even for beginners. This means that it

reduces or nullifies all kinds of suffering. The word subhada

indicates that devotional service bestows all good fortune, and the

words krsna-akarsini indicate that devotional service gradually

attracts Krsna toward the devotee. Consequently a devotee is not subject

to any sinful reaction. In Bhagavad-gita (18.66) Krsna says:

sarva-dharman parityajya

mam ekam saranam vraja

aham tvam sarva-papebhyo

moksayisyami ma sucah

"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall

deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear."

Thus a fully surrendered, sincere devotee immediately receives relief

from all kinds of sinful reaction. There are three stages of

fructification for sinful activity. At one stage, one commits the sinful

act. Before that, the seed of this act exists, and before that there is

ignorance whereby one commits the sin. Suffering is involved in all

three stages. However, Krsna is merciful to His devotee, and

consequently He immediately nullifies all three stages -- the sin, the

seed of sin and the ignorance that leads one to sin. Padma Purana

confirms this:

aprarabdha-phalam papam

kutam bijam phalonmukham

kramenaiva praliyeta

visnu-bhakti-ratatmanam

For a further explanation of this, The Nectar of Devotion should

be consulted.

Madhya 17.96

TEXT 96

TEXT

sad-darsana-vyakhya vina katha nahi etha

misra krpa kari' more sunana krsna-katha

SYNONYMS

sat-darsana -- of six kinds of philosophical theses; vyakhya --

explanation; vina -- except; katha -- talk; nahi -- not; etha -- here;

misra -- Tapana Misra; krpa kari' -- being very merciful; more -- unto

me; sunana -- explains; krsna-katha -- topics of Lord Sri Krsna.

TRANSLATION

Candrasekhara continued, "There is no talk at Varanasi other than

discussions on the six philosophical theses. Nonetheless, Tapana Misra

has been very kind to me, for he speaks about topics relating to Lord

Krsna.

PURPORT

The six philosophical treatises are: (1) vaisesika, propounded by Kanada

Rsi, (2) nyaya, propounded by Gautama Rsi, (3) yoga or mysticism,

propounded by Patanjali Rsi, (4) the philosophy of sankhya, propounded

by Kapila Rsi, (5) the philosophy of karma-mimamsa, propounded by

Jaimini Rsi, and (6) the philosophy of brahma-mimamsa, or Vedanta, the

ultimate conclusion of the Absolute Truth (janmady asya yatah)

, propounded by Vedavyasa. Actually Vedanta philosophy is meant for the

devotees because in Bhagavad-gita Lord Krsna says, vedanta-

krd veda-vid eva caham: "I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the

knower of the Vedas." (Bg. 15.15) Vyasadeva is an incarnation of Krsna,

and consequently Krsna is the compiler of Vedanta philosophy. Therefore

Krsna clearly knows the purport of Vedanta philosophy. As stated in

Bhagavad-gita, whoever hears Vedanta philosophy from Krsna is actually

aware of the real meaning of Vedanta. The Mayavadis who have called

themselves Vedantists do not at all understand the purport of

Vedanta philosophy. Not being properly educated, people in general think

that Vedanta means the Sankarite interpretation.

Madhya 17.97

TEXT 97

TEXT

nirantara dunhe cinti tomara carana

'sarvajna isvara' tumi dila darasana

SYNONYMS

nirantara -- incessantly; dunhe -- we two; cinti -- think of; tomara

carana -- Your lotus feet; sarva-jna -- omniscient; isvara -- Supreme

Personality of Godhead; tumi -- You; dila darasana -- gave Your audience.

TRANSLATION

"My dear Lord, we two think of Your lotus feet incessantly. Although You

are the omniscient Supreme Personality of Godhead, You have granted us

Your audience.

Madhya 17.98

TEXT 98

TEXT

suni, -- 'mahaprabhu' yabena sri-vrndavane

dina kata rahi' tara' bhrtya dui-jane"

SYNONYMS

suni -- I hear; mahaprabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yabena -- will go;

sri-vrndavane -- to Vrndavana; dina kata -- for some days; rahi' --

staying; tara' -- please deliver; bhrtya -- servants; dui-jane -- two

persons.

TRANSLATION

"My Lord, I have heard that You are going to Vrndavana. After You stay

here at Varanasi for some days, please deliver us, for we are Your two

servants."

Madhya 17.99

TEXT 99

TEXT

misra kahe, -- 'prabhu, yavat kasite rahiba

mora nimantrana vina anya na maniba'

SYNONYMS

misra kahe -- Tapana Misra said; prabhu -- my Lord; yavat -- as long as;

kasite rahiba -- You will stay at Kasi, Varanasi; mora nimantrana -- my

invitation; vina -- besides; anya -- others; na maniba -- do not accept.

TRANSLATION

Tapana Misra then said, "My dear Lord, as long as You stay at Varanasi,

please do not accept any invitation other than mine."

Madhya 17.100

TEXT 100

TEXT

ei-mata mahaprabhu dui bhrtyera vase

iccha nahi, tabu tatha rahila dina-dase

SYNONYMS

ei-mata -- in this way; mahaprabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dui --

two; bhrtyera -- by servants; vase -- being obliged; iccha nahi -- there

was no such desire; tabu -- still; tatha -- there; rahila -- remained;

dina-dase -- for ten days.

TRANSLATION

Even though He had not made such a plan, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

remained for ten days at Varanasi, being obligated by the requests of

His two servants.

Madhya 17.101

TEXT 101

TEXT

maharastriya vipra aise prabhu dekhibare

prabhura rupa-prema dekhi' haya camatkare

SYNONYMS

maharastriya -- belonging to the Maharastra state; vipra -- one

brahmana; aise -- comes; prabhu dekhibare -- to see Lord Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; rupa-prema -- beauty

and ecstatic love; dekhi' -- seeing; haya camatkare -- becomes

astonished.

TRANSLATION

At Varanasi there was a Maharastriyan brahmana who used to come daily

to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This brahmana was simply astonished to

see the Lord's personal beauty and ecstatic love for Krsna.

Madhya 17.102

TEXT 102

TEXT

vipra saba nimantraya, prabhu nahi mane

prabhu kahe, -- 'aji mora hanache nimantrane'

SYNONYMS

vipra -- the brahmanas; saba -- all; nimantraya -- invite; prabhu --

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nahi mane -- does not accept; prabhu kahe -

- the Lord replies; aji -- today; mora -- My; hanache -- has been;

nimantrane -- invitation.

TRANSLATION

When the brahmanas of Varanasi would invite Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to

lunch, the Lord would not accept their invitations. He would reply, "I

have already been invited somewhere else."

Madhya 17.103

TEXT 103

TEXT

ei-mata prati-dina karena vancana

sannyasira sanga-bhaye na manena nimantrana

SYNONYMS

ei-mata -- in this way; prati-dina -- daily; karena vancana -- denies

other inviters; sannyasira -- of the Mayavadi sannyasis; sanga-bhaye --

from fear of the association; na manena -- does not accept; nimantrana --

invitation.

TRANSLATION

Every day Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu refused their invitation because He

feared associating with Mayavadi sannyasis.

PURPORT

A Vaisnava sannyasi never accepts an invitation from a party who

considers Mayavadi sannyasis and Vaisnava sannyasis to be one and the

same. In other words, Vaisnava sannyasis do not at all like to associate

with Mayavadi sannyasis, to say nothing of eating together. This

principle must be followed by the sannyasis of the Krsna consciousness

movement. That is the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu given by

His personal behavior.

Madhya 17.104

TEXT 104

TEXT

prakasananda sripada sabhate vasiya

'vedanta' padana bahu sisya-gana lana

SYNONYMS

prakasananda -- Prakasananda; sripada -- a great sannyasi; sabhate -- in

the assembly; vasiya -- sitting down; vedanta -- Vedanta philosophy;

padana -- instructs; bahu -- many; sisya-gana -- disciples; lana --

taking.

TRANSLATION

There was a great Mayavadi sannyasi named Prakasananda Sarasvati who

used to teach Vedanta philosophy to a great assembly of followers.

PURPORT

Sripada Prakasananda Sarasvati was a Mayavadi sannyasi, and his

characteristics have been described in Caitanya-bhagavata (Madhya-

khanda Chapter Three):

'hasta', 'pada', 'mukha' mora nahika 'locana'

veda more ei-mata kare vidambana

kasite padaya veta 'prakasa-ananda'

sei veta kare mora anga khanda-khanda

vakhanaye veda, mora vigraha na mane

sarvange ha-ila kustha, tabu nahi jane

sarva-yajnamaya mora ye-anga -- pavitra

'aja', 'bhava' adi gaya yanhara caritra

'punya' pavitrata paya ye-anga-parase

taha 'mithya' bale veta kemana sahase

In the Madhya-khanda, Chapter Twenty, it is said:

sannyasi 'prakasananda' vasaye kasite

more khanda-khanda veta kare bhala-mate

padaya 'vedanta', mora 'vigraha' na mane

kustha karailun ange, tabu nahi jane

'satya' mora 'lila-karma', 'satya' mora 'sthana'

iha 'mithya' bale, more kare khan-khan

Prakasananda Sarasvati used to explain

impersonalism, the Absolute Truth, as being without hands, legs, mouths

or eyes. In this way he used to cheat the people by denying the personal

form of the Lord. Such a foolish person was Prakasananda Sarasvati,

whose only business was to sever the limbs of the Lord by proving the

Lord impersonal. Although the Lord has form, Prakasananda Sarasvati

was attempting to cut off the hands and legs of the Lord. This is

the business of demons. The Vedas state that people who do not accept

the Lord's form are rascals. The form of the Lord is factual, for Krsna

states in Bhagavad-gita (15.15): vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah.

When Krsna says aham, He says "I am," which means "I," the person. He

adds the word eva, which is used for conclusive verification. It is by

Vedanta philosophy that one has to know the Supreme

Person. Whoever describes Vedic knowledge as impersonal is a demon. One

becomes successful in life by worshiping the form of the Lord. The

Mayavadi sannyasis deny the form of the Lord, which delivers all fallen

souls. Indeed, this form is cut to pieces by Mayavadi demons

The Personality of Godhead is worshiped by exalted demigods like Lord

Brahma and Lord Siva. The original Mayavadi sannyasi, Sankaracarya, also

accepted the fact that the Lord's form is transcendental. Narayanah paro

'vyaktat: "Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is beyond the

avyakta, the unmanifested material energy." Avyaktad anda-sambhavah: "

This material world is a creation of that unmanifested material energy."

However, Narayana has His own eternal form, which is not created by

material energy. Simply by worshiping the form of the Lord, one is

purified. However, Mayavadi sannyasis are impersonalist philosophers,

and they describe the form of the Lord as maya, or false. How can one be

purified by worshiping something false? Mayavadi philosophers have no

sufficient reason for being impersonalists. They blindly follow a

principle that cannot be supported by reason or argument. This was the

situation with Prakasananda Sarasvati, the chief Mayavadi sannyasi of

Benares. He was supposed to teach Vedanta philosophy, but he would not

accept the form of the Lord; therefore he was attacked with leprosy.

Nonetheless, he continued to commit sins by describing the Absolute

Truth as impersonal. The Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, always displays pastimes and activities, but Mayavadi sannyasis

claim that these activities are false.

Some people falsely claim that Prakasananda Sarasvati later became known

as Prabodhananda Sarasvati, but this is not a fact. Prabodhananda

Sarasvati was the uncle and spiritual master of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami.

In his grhastha life, Prabodhananda Sarasvati was a resident of Sri

Ranga-ksetra, and he belonged to the Vaisnava Ramanuja-sampradaya. It is

a mistake to consider Prakasananda Sarasvati and Prabodhananda Sarasvati

the same man.

Madhya 17.105

TEXT 105

TEXT

eka vipra dekhi' aila prabhura vyavahara

prakasananda-age kahe caritra tanhara

SYNONYMS

eka vipra -- one brahmana; dekhi' -- seeing; aila -- came; prabhura --

of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vyavahara -- activities; prakasananda-age --

before the Mayavadi sannyasi Prakasananda; kahe -- says; caritra tanhara

-- His characteristics.

TRANSLATION

One brahmana who saw the wonderful behavior of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

came to Prakasananda Sarasvati and described the Lord's characteristics.

Madhya 17.106

TEXT 106

TEXT

"eka sannyasi aila jagannatha haite

tanhara mahima-pratapa na pari varnite

SYNONYMS

eka -- one; sannyasi -- person in the renounced order of life; aila --

has come; jagannatha haite -- from Jagannatha Puri; tanhara -- His;

mahima -- glories; pratapa -- influence; na pari varnite -- I cannot

describe.

TRANSLATION

The brahmana told Prakasananda Sarasvati, "There is a sannyasi who has

come from Jagannatha Puri, and I cannot describe His wonderful influence

and glories.

Madhya 17.107

TEXT 107

TEXT

sakala dekhiye tante adbhuta-kathana

prakanda-sarira, suddha-kancana-varana

SYNONYMS

sakala dekhiye -- I see everything; tante -- in Him; adbhuta-kathana --

wonderful description; prakanda-sarira -- very large body; suddha --

pure; kancana -- gold; varana -- complexion.

TRANSLATION

"Everything is wonderful about that sannyasi. He has a very well built

and luxurious body, and His complexion is like purified gold.

Madhya 17.108

TEXT 108

TEXT

ajanu-lambita bhuja, kamala-nayana

yata kichu isvarera sarva sal-laksana

SYNONYMS

ajanu-lambita -- reaching down to the knees; bhuja -- arms; kamala-

nayana -- eyes like the petals of a lotus flower; yata -- as many as;

kichu -- any; isvarera -- of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarva --

all; sat-laksana -- transcendental symptoms.

TRANSLATION

"He has arms that extend to His knees, and His eyes are like the petals

of a lotus. In His person are all the transcendental symptoms of the

Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Madhya 17.109

TEXT 109

TEXT

taha dekhi' jnana haya -- 'ei narayana

yei tanre dekhe, kare krsna-sankirtana

SYNONYMS

taha dekhi' -- seeing that; jnana haya -- one comes to the conclusion;

ei narayana -- He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana

Himself; yei -- anyone who; tanre -- Him; dekhe -- sees; kare --

performs; krsna-sankirtana -- chanting of the holy name of Krsna.

TRANSLATION

"When one sees all these features, one takes Him to be Narayana Himself.

Whoever sees Him immediately begins to chant the holy name of Krsna.

Madhya 17.110

TEXT 110

TEXT

'maha-bhagavata'-laksana suni bhagavate

se-saba laksana prakata dekhiye tanhate

SYNONYMS

maha-bhagavata -- of a first-class devotee; laksana -- symptoms; suni --

we hear; bhagavate -- in Srimad-Bhagavatam; se-saba laksana -- all those

symptoms; prakata -- manifest; dekhiye -- I see; tanhate -- in Him.

TRANSLATION

"We have heard about the symptoms of a first-class devotee in Srimad-

Bhagavatam, and all those symptoms are manifest in the body of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Madhya 17.111

TEXT 111

TEXT

'nirantara krsna-nama' jihva tanra gaya

dui-netre asru vahe ganga-dhara-praya

SYNONYMS

nirantara -- incessantly; krsna-nama -- the holy name of the Lord; jihva

-- tongue; tanra -- His; gaya -- chants; dui-netre -- in the two eyes;

asru -- tears; vahe -- flow; ganga-dhara-praya -- like the flow of the

Ganges.

TRANSLATION

"His tongue is always chanting the holy name of Krsna, and from His eyes

tears incessantly fall like the flowing Ganges.

Madhya 17.112

TEXT 112

TEXT

ksane nace, hase, gaya, karaye krandana

ksane huhunkara kare, -- simhera garjana

SYNONYMS

ksane -- sometimes; nace -- dances; hase -- laughs; gaya -- sings;

karaye krandana -- cries; ksane -- sometimes; huhun-kara -- loud

vibrations; kare -- makes; simhera garjana -- the roaring of a lion.

TRANSLATION

"Sometimes He dances, laughs, sings and cries, and sometimes He roars

like a lion.

Madhya 17.113

TEXT 113

TEXT

jagat-mangala tanra 'krsna-caitanya'-nama

nama, rupa, guna tanra, saba -- anupama

SYNONYMS

jagat-mangala -- all-auspicious to the whole world; tanra -- His; krsna-

caitanya -- Sri Krsna Caitanya; nama -- name; nama -- name; rupa -- form;

guna -- the quality; tanra -- His; saba -- all; anupama -- unparalleled.

TRANSLATION

"His name, Krsna Caitanya, is all-auspicious to the world. Everything

about Him -- His name, for m, and qualities -- is unparalleled.

Madhya 17.114

TEXT 114

TEXT

dekhile se jani tanra 'isvarera riti'

alaukika katha suni' ke kare pratiti?"

SYNONYMS

dekhile -- simply by seeing; se -- Him; jani -- I understand; tanra --

His; isvarera riti -- characteristics of the Supreme Personality of

Godhead; alaukika -- uncommon; katha -- story; suni' -- hearing; ke --

who; kare pratiti -- will believe.

TRANSLATION

"Simply by seeing Him, one understands that He possesses all the

characteristics of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such

characteristics are certainly uncommon. Who will believe it?"

Madhya 17.115

TEXT 115

TEXT

suniya prakasananda bahuta hasila

vipre upahasa kari' kahite lagila

SYNONYMS

suniya -- hearing; prakasananda -- Prakasananda Sarasvati; bahuta hasila

-- laughed very much; vipre -- at the brahmana; upahasa kari' --

jokingly laughing; kahite lagila -- began to speak.

TRANSLATION

Prakasananda Sarasvati laughed very much to hear this description.

Joking and laughing at the brahmana, he began to speak as follows.

Madhya 17.116

TEXT 116

TEXT

"suniyachi gauda-desera sannyasi -- 'bhavuka'

kesava-bharati-sisya, loka-prataraka

SYNONYMS

suniyachi -- I have heard; gauda-desera sannyasi -- the sannyasi from

Bengal; bhavuka -- sentimental; kesava-bharati-sisya -- disciple of

Kesava Bharati; loka-prataraka -- a first-class pretender.

TRANSLATION

Prakasananda Sarasvati said, "Yes, I have heard about Him. He is a

sannyasi from Bengal, and He is very sentimental. I have also heard that

He belongs to the Bharati-sampradaya, for He is a disciple of Kesava

Bharati. However, He is only a pretender."

PURPORT

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was considered bhavuka (sentimental) because He

was always seen in the bhava stage. That is, He always exhibited

ecstatic love for Krsna. However, foolish people considered Him

sentimental. In the material world, so-called devotees sometimes exhibit

emotional symptoms. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's ecstatic love cannot be

compared to the imitative emotional exhibitions of pretenders. Such

exhibitions do not continue for very long. They are temporary. We

actually see that some emotional imitators exhibit certain symptoms, but

immediately after their exhibition, they are attracted to smoking and

other things. In the beginning, when Prakasananda Sarasvati heard of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu's activities, he considered them to be those of a

pretender. Consequently he called Him a loka-prataraka, a pretender.

Mayavadis cannot understand the transcendental symptoms exhibited by a

devotee; therefore when such symptoms are manifest, the Mayavadis equate

them with temporary emotional feelings. However, Prakasananda Sarasvati'

s statement is offensive, and consequently he should be considered an

atheist (pasandi). According to Srila Rupa Gosvami, since Prakasananda

Sarasvati was not engaged in the Lord's devotional service, his sannyasa

is to be considered phalgu-vairagya. This means that since he did not

know how to use things for the Lord's service, his renunciation of the

world was artificial.

Madhya 17.117

TEXT 117

TEXT

'caitanya'-nama tanra, bhavuka-gana lana

dese dese grame grame bule nacana

SYNONYMS

caitanya -- Caitanya; nama tanra -- His name; bhavuka-gana lana --

accompanied by some sentimentalists; dese dese -- from country to

country; grame grame -- from village to village; bule -- travels; nacana

-- causing to dance.

TRANSLATION

Prakasananda Sarasvati continued, "I know that His name is Sri Krsna

Caitanya and that He is accompanied by many sentimentalists. His

followers dance with Him, and He tours from country to country and

village to village.

Madhya 17.118

TEXT 118

TEXT

yei tanre dekhe, sei isvara kari' kahe

aiche mohana-vidya -- ye dekhe se mohe

SYNONYMS

yei -- anyone who; tanre -- Him; dekhe -- sees; sei -- that person;

isvara kari' -- as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kahe -- says;

aiche -- such; mohana-vidya -- hypnotism; ye dekhe -- anyone who sees;

se mohe -- he becomes illusioned.

TRANSLATION

"Whoever sees Him accepts Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Since He has some mystic power by which He hypnotizes people, everyone

who sees Him is illusioned.

Madhya 17.119

TEXT 119

TEXT

sarvabhauma bhattacarya -- pandita prabala

suni' caitanyera sange ha-ila pagala

SYNONYMS

sarvabhauma bhattacarya -- Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; pandita prabala -- a

learned scholar; suni' -- I have heard; caitanyera sange -- in the

association of Caitanya; ha-ila pagala -- has become a madman.

TRANSLATION

"Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was a very learned scholar, but I have heard

that he also has become a madman due to his association with this

Caitanya.

Madhya 17.120

TEXT 120

TEXT

'sannyasi' -- nama-matra, maha-indrajali!

'kasipure' na vikabe tanra bhavakali

SYNONYMS

sannyasi -- in the renounced order of life; nama-matra -- in name only;

maha-indrajali -- first-class magician; kasipure -- in Kasi; na vikabe --

will not sell; tanra -- His; bhavakali -- sentimental activities.

TRANSLATION

"This Caitanya is a sannyasi in name only. Actually He is a first-class

magician. In any case, His sentimentalism cannot be very much in demand

here in Kasi.

Madhya 17.121

TEXT 121

TEXT

'vedanta' sravana kara, na yaiha tanra pasa

ucchrnkhala-loka-sange dui-loka-nasa"

SYNONYMS

vedanta -- the philosophy of Vedanta; sravana kara -- go on hearing; na -

- do not; yaiha -- go; tanra pasa -- near Him; ucchrnkhala -- upstart;

loka -- people; sange -- in the association of; dui-loka-nasa --

destruction in this world and the next.

TRANSLATION

"Do not go to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Just continue hearing Vedanta.

If you associate with upstarts, you will be lost in this world and in

the next."

PURPORT

The word ucchrnkhala, meaning "whimsical," is significant in this verse.

In Bhagavad-gita (16.23), Lord Krsna Himself says:

yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya

vartate kama-karatah

na sa siddhim avapnoti

na sukham na param gatim

If one acts whimsically and does not follow the sastric principles, he

will never attain perfection, happiness or the spiritual world.

Madhya 17.122

TEXT 122

TEXT

eta suni' sei vipra maha-duhkha paila

'krsna' 'krsna' kahi' tatha haite uthi' gela

SYNONYMS

eta suni' -- hearing this; sei vipra -- that brahmana; maha-duhkha paila

-- became very much aggrieved; krsna krsna kahi' -- uttering the holy

name of Lord Krsna; tatha haite -- from there; uthi' gela -- got up and

went away.

TRANSLATION

When the brahmana heard Prakasananda Sarasvati speak like this about Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he became very grief-stricken. Chanting the

holy name of Krsna, he immediately left.

Madhya 17.123

TEXT 123

TEXT

prabhura darasane suddha hanache tanra mana

prabhu-age duhkhi hana kahe vivarana

SYNONYMS

prabhura darasane -- by seeing personally the Supreme Personality of

Godhead; suddha -- purified; hanache -- was; tanra mana -- his mind;

prabhu-age -- before the Lord; duhkhi hana -- being very much unhappy;

kahe vivarana -- described the incidents.

TRANSLATION

The brahmana's mind was already purified by seeing

the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He

therefore went to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and described what took

place before the Mayavadi sannyasi Prakasananda.

Madhya 17.124

TEXT 124

TEXT

suni' mahaprabhu tabe isat hasila

punarapi sei vipra prabhure puchila

SYNONYMS

suni' -- hearing; mahaprabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tabe -- then;

isat -- mildly; hasila -- smiled; punarapi -- again indeed; sei -- that;

vipra -- brahmana; prabhure puchila -- inquired from Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu.

TRANSLATION

Hearing this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu mildly smiled. The brahmana then

spoke again to the Lord.

Madhya 17.125

TEXT 125

TEXT

"tara age yabe ami tomara nama la-ila

seha tomara nama jane, -- apane kahila

SYNONYMS

tara age -- before him; yabe -- when; ami -- I; tomara -- Your; nama --

name; laila -- uttered; seha -- he; tomara -- Your; nama -- name;

jane -- knows; apane kahila -- he said himself.

TRANSLATION

The brahmana said,"As soon as I uttered Your name before him, he

immediately confirmed the fact that he knew Your name.

Madhya 17.126

TEXT 126

TEXT

tomara 'dosa' kahite kare namera uccara

'caitanya' 'caitanya' kari' kahe tina-bara

SYNONYMS

tomara dosa -- Your fault; kahite -- describing; kare -- does; namera --

of the name; uccara -- utterances; caitanya caitanya -- Caitanya,

Caitanya; kari' -- in that way; kahe tina-bara -- he uttered three times.

TRANSLATION

"While finding fault with You, he uttered Your name three times, saying,

'Caitanya, Caitanya, Caitanya.'

Madhya 17.127

TEXT 127

TEXT

tina-bare 'krsna-nama' na aila tara mukhe

'avajna'te nama laya, suni' pai duhkhe

SYNONYMS

tina-bare -- three times; krsna-nama -- the holy name of Krsna; na aila -

- did not come; tara mukhe -- in his mouth; avajna'te -- in contempt;

nama laya -- takes Your name; suni' -- hearing; pai duhkhe -- I was very

much aggrieved.

TRANSLATION

"Although he spoke Your name three times, he did not utter the name of

Krsna. Because he uttered Your name in contempt, I was very much

aggrieved.

PURPORT

Prakasananda Sarasvati vilified and blasphemed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Words like brahma, caitanya, atma, paramatma, jagadisa, isvara, virat,

vibhu, bhuma, visvarupa and vyapaka all indirectly indicate Krsna.

However, the chanter of these names is not actually attracted to the

Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna and His transcendental pastimes.

One may get a little light from these names, but one cannot understand

that the holy name of the Lord is identical with the Lord. One considers

the Lord's names material due to a poor fund of knowledge. Mayavadi

philosophers and the pancopasakas cannot in the least understand the

existence of the spiritual world and the blissful variegatedness there.

They cannot understand the Absolute Truth and its spiritual varieties --

name, form, qualities and pastimes. Consequently they conclude that

Krsna's transcendental activities are maya. Due to this,

one has to directly cultivate knowledge about the holy name of the Lord.

Mayavadi philosophers do not know this fact, and therefore they commit

great offenses. One should not hear anything about Krsna or devotional

service from the mouths of Mayavadi impersonalists.

Madhya 17.128

TEXT 128

TEXT

ihara karana more kaha krpa kari'

toma dekhi' mukha mora bale 'krsna' 'hari"

SYNONYMS

ihara -- of this; karana -- cause; more -- unto me; kaha -- please speak;

krpa kari' -- by Your causeless mercy; toma dekhi' -- seeing You; mukha

-- mouth; mora -- my; bale -- says; krsna hari -- the holy names of

Krsna and Hari.

TRANSLATION

"Why could Prakasananda not utter the names of Krsna and Hari? He

chanted the name Caitanya thrice. As far as I am concerned, simply by

seeing You I am moved to chant the holy names of Krsna and Hari."

Madhya 17.129

TEXT 129

TEXT

prabhu kahe, -- "mayavadi krsne aparadhi

'brahma', 'atma' 'caitanya' kahe niravadhi

SYNONYMS

prabhu kahe -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; mayavadi -- the

impersonalists; krsne -- unto Krsna; aparadhi -- great offenders; brahma

-- brahma; atma -- atma; caitanya -- caitanya; kahe -- say; niravadhi --

without stopping.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "Mayavadi impersonalists are great

offenders unto Lord Krsna; therefore they simply utter the words

Brahman, atma and caitanya.

Madhya 17.130

TEXT 130

TEXT

ataeva tara mukhe na aise krsna-nama

'krsna-nama', 'krsna-svarupa' -- duita 'samana'

SYNONYMS

ataeva -- therefore; tara mukhe -- in their mouths; na -- not; aise --

manifests; krsna-nama -- the holy name of Krsna; krsna-nama -- the holy

name of Krsna; krsna-svarupa -- the personality of the Lord; duita

samana -- both identical.

TRANSLATION

"The holy name of Krsna is not manifest in their mouths because they

are offenders unto Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is

identical with His holy name

Madhya 17.131

TEXT 131

TEXT

'nama', 'vigraha', 'svarupa' -- tina eka-rupa

tine 'bheda' nahi, -- tina 'cid-ananda-rupa'

SYNONYMS

nama -- the name; vigraha -- form; sva-rupa -- personality; tina --

all three; eka-rupa -- one and the same; tine -- between the three;

bheda nahi -- there is no difference; tina -- all three; cit-ananda-rupa

-- transcendentally blissful.

TRANSLATION

"The Lord's holy name, His form and His personality are all one and the

same. There is no difference between them. Since all of them are

absolute, they are transcendentally blissful.

Madhya 17.132

TEXT 132

TEXT

deha-dehira, nama-namira krsne nahi 'bheda'

jivera dharma -- nama-deha-svarupe 'vibheda'

SYNONYMS

deha-dehira -- of the body and the owner of the body; nama-namira -- of

the name and the owner of the name; krsne -- in Krsna; nahi bheda --

there is no difference; jivera dharma -- the situation of the

conditioned soul; nama -- name; deha -- body; sva-rupe -- original

form; vibheda -- different.

TRANSLATION

"There is no difference between Krsna's body and Himself or between His

name and Himself. As far as the conditioned soul is concerned,

everything is different. One's name is different from the body, from

one's original form and so on.

PURPORT

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is herein pointing out to the brahmana that

Mayavadi philosophers cannot understand that the living entity is equal

in quality with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because they do not

accept this, they think that the living entity has been falsely divided

from the original Brahman due to being conditioned by maya. Mayavadis

believe that the Absolute Truth is ultimately impersonal. When an

incarnation of God or God Himself comes, they think He is covered by

maya. In other words, Mayavadi impersonalists think that the Lord's form

is also a product of this material world. Due to a poor fund of

knowledge, they cannot understand that Krsna has no body separate from

Himself. His body and Himself are both the same Absolute Truth. Not

having perfect knowledge of Krsna, such impersonalists certainly commit

offenses at His lotus feet. Therefore they do not utter the

original name of the Absolute Truth, Krsna. In their impersonal way,

they utter the name of impersonal Brahman, spirit soul. In other words,

they indulge in indirect indications of the Absolute Truth. Even if they

happen to utter the name of Govinda, Krsna or Madhava, they still

cannot understand that these names are as good as Govinda, Krsna or

Madhava the person. Because they are ultimately impersonalists, their

uttering of the personal name has no potency. Actually they do not

believe in Krsna but consider all these names to be material vibrations.

Not being able to appreciate the holy name of the Lord, they simply

utter indirect names like Brahman, atma and caitanya.

It is a fact, however, that the name of Krsna and Krsna the person are

both spiritual. Everything about Krsna is transcendental, blissful and

objective. For a conditioned soul, the body is different from the soul,

and the name given by the father is also different from the soul. The

conditioned living entity's identification with material objects keeps

him from attaining his actual position. Although he is an eternal

servant of Krsna, he acts differently. The svarupa, or actual

identification of the living entity, is described by Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu as jivera 'svarupa' haya -- krsnera 'nitya-dasa'

. The conditioned soul has forgotten the real activities of his

original position. However, this is not the case with Krsna. Krsna's

name and His person are identical. There is no such thing as maya Krsna

because Krsna is not a product of the material creation. There is no

difference between Krsna's body and His soul. Krsna is simultaneously

both soul and body. The distinction between body and soul applies to

conditioned souls. The body of the conditioned soul is different from

the soul, and the conditioned soul's name is different from his body.

One may be named Mr. John, but if we call for Mr. John, Mr. John may

never actually appear. However, if we utter the holy name of Krsna,

Krsna is immediately present on our tongue. In the Padma Purana, Krsna

says, mad-bhakta yatra gayanti tatra tisthami narada: "O Narada, I am

present wherever My devotees are chanting." When the devotees chant the

holy name of Krsna -- Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare -- Lord Krsna is immediately

present.

Madhya 17.133

TEXT 133

TEXT

nama cintamanih krsnas

caitanya-rasa-vigrahah

purnah suddho nitya-mukto

'bhinnatvan nama-naminoh

SYNONYMS

namah -- the holy name; cintamanih -- transcendentally blissful giver of

all spiritual benedictions; krsnah -- not different from Krsna; caitanya-

rasa-vigrahah -- the form of all transcendental mellows; purnah --

complete; suddhah -- pure, without material contamination; nitya --

eternal; muktah -- liberated; abhinna-tvat -- due to not being

different; nama -- of the holy name; naminoh -- and of the person who

has the name.

TRANSLATION

" 'The holy name of Krsna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all

spiritual benedictions, for it is Krsna Himself, the reservoir of all

pleasure. Krsna's name is complete, and it is the form of all

transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition,

and it is no less powerful than Krsna Himself. Since Krsna's name is not

contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its

being involved with maya. Krsna's name is always liberated and spiritual;

it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because

the name of Krsna and Krsna Himself are identical.'

PURPORT

This is a quotation from Padma Purana.

Madhya 17.134

TEXT 134

TEXT

ataeva krsnera 'nama', 'deha', 'vilasa'

prakrtendriya-grahya nahe, haya sva-prakasa

SYNONYMS

ataeva -- therefore; krsnera -- of Lord Krsna; nama -- the holy name;

deha -- the spiritual body; vilasa -- the pastimes; prakrta-indriya --

by the dull senses made of matter; grahya -- perceptible; nahe -- not;

haya -- are; sva-prakasa -- self-manifested.

TRANSLATION

"The holy name of Krsna, His body and His pastimes cannot be understood

by blunt material senses. They are manifest independently.

PURPORT

The transcendental body of Krsna, His name, form, qualities,

pastimes and entourage all constitute the Absolute Truth and are as

good as Krsna (sac-cid-ananda-vigraha). As long as the

living entity is conditioned by the three modes of material nature -- (

goodness, passion and ignorance) -- the objects of his material senses-

material form, taste, smell, sound and touch -- will not help him

understand spiritual knowledge and bliss. Rather, these are revealed to

the pure devotee. One's material name, form and qualities are certainly

different from one another. In the material world, there is no

conception of absolute; however, when we come to Krsna consciousness we

find that there is no material difference between Krsna's body and His

names, activities and entourage.

Madhya 17.135

TEXT 135

TEXT

krsna-nama, krsna-guna, krsna-lila-vrnda

krsnera svarupa-sama -- saba cid-ananda

SYNONYMS

krsna-nama -- the holy name of Krsna; krsna-guna -- the transcendental

qualities of Krsna; krsna-lila-vrnda -- the transcendental pastimes of

Lord Krsna; krsnera sva-rupa -- Krsna's personality; sama -- equal;

saba -- all; cit-ananda -- spiritual and full of bliss.

TRANSLATION

"The holy name of Krsna, His transcendental qualities and

pastimes as well as Lord Krsna Himself are all

equal. They are all spiritual and full of bliss.

Madhya 17.136

TEXT 136

TEXT

atah sri-krsna-namadi

na bhaved grahyam indriyaih

sevonmukhe hi jihvadau

svayam eva sphuraty adah

SYNONYMS

atah -- therefore (because Krsna's name, form, quality are all on

the absolute platform); sri-krsna-nama-adi -- Lord Krsna's name, form,

quality, pastimes and so on; na -- not; bhavet -- can be; grahyam --

perceived; indriyaih -- by the blunt material senses; seva-unmukhe -- to

one engaged in His service; hi -- certainly; jihva-adau -- beginning

with the tongue; svayam -- personally; eva -- certainly; sphurati --

become manifest; adah -- those (Krsna's name, form, quality, and so on)

TRANSLATION

" 'Therefore material senses cannot appreciate Krsna's holy name, form,

qualities and pastimes. When a conditioned soul is awakened to Krsna

consciousness and renders service by using his tongue to chant the Lord'

s holy name and taste the remnants of the Lord's food, the tongue is

purified, and one gradually comes to understand who Krsna really is.'

PURPORT

This verse is recorded in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.234).

Madhya 17.137

TEXT 137

TEXT

brahmananda haite purnananda lila-rasa

brahma-jnani akarsiya kare atma-vasa

SYNONYMS

brahma-ananda -- the pleasure of self-realization; haite -- from; purna-

ananda -- complete pleasure; lila-rasa -- the mellows of the pastimes of

the Lord; brahma-jnani -- those who are on the platform of Brahman

understanding; akarsiya -- attracting; kare -- make; atma-vasa --

subordinate to Krsna.

TRANSLATION

"The mellows of Lord Krsna's pastimes, which are full of bliss, attract

the jnani from the pleasure of Brahman realization and conquer him.

PURPORT

When one understands that he belongs not to the material world but to

the spiritual world, one is called liberated. Being situated in the

spiritual world is certainly pleasurable, but those who realize the

transcendental name, form, qualities and pastimes of Lord Krsna enjoy

transcendental bliss many times more than one who has simply realized

the self. When one is situated on the platform of self-realization, he

can certainly be easily attracted by Krsna and become a servant of the

Lord. This is explained in Bhagavad-gita:

brahma-bhutah prasannatma

na socati na kanksati

samah sarvesu bhutesu

mad-bhaktim labhate param

"One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme

Brahman and becomes joyful. He never laments or desires to have

anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state

he attains pure devotional service unto Me." (Bg. 18.54)

When one becomes spiritually realized (brahma-bhuta), he

becomes happy (prasannatma), for he is relieved from material

conceptions. One who has attained this platform is not agitated by

material action and reaction. He sees everyone on the platform of spirit

soul (panditah sama-darsinah). When one is completely

realized, he can rise to the platform of pure devotional service (mad-

bhaktim labhate param). When one comes to the platform of

bhakti, devotional service, he automatically realizes who Krsna is.

bhaktya mam abhijanati

yavan yas casmi tattvatah

tato mam tattvato jnatva

visate tad-anantaram

"One can understand the Supreme Personality as He

is only by devotional service. And when one is in full

consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into

the kingdom of God." (Bg. 18.55)

It is only on the bhakti platform that one can understand the Supreme

Personality of Godhead Krsna and His transcendental name, form,

qualities, pastimes and entourage. Being thus qualified spiritually (

visate tad-anantaram), one is allowed to enter the spiritual kingdom of

God and return home, back to Godhead.

Madhya 17.138

TEXT 138

TEXT

svasukha-nibhrta-cetas tad vyudastanya-bhavo

'py ajita-rucira-lilakrsta-saras tadiyam

vyatanuta krpaya yas tattva-dipam puranam

tam akhila-vrjina-ghnam vyasa-sunum nato 'smi

SYNONYMS

sva-sukha -- in happiness of the self; nibhrta -- solitary; cetah --

whose consciousness; tat -- because of that; vyudasta -- given up; anya-

bhavah -- any other type of consciousness; api -- although; ajita -- of

Sri Krsna; rucira -- pleasing; lila -- by the pastimes; akrsta --

attracted; sarah -- whose heart; tadiyam -- consisting of the activities

of the Lord; vyatanuta -- spread, manifested; krpaya -- mercifully; yah -

- who; tattva-dipam -- the bright light of the Absolute Truth; puranam --

the Purana (Srimad-Bhagavatam); tam -- unto him; akhila-vrjina-ghnam --

defeating everything inauspicious; vyasa-sunum -- the son of Vyasadeva;

natah asmi -- I offer my obeisances.

TRANSLATION

" 'Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the

son of Vyasadeva, Sukadeva Gosvami. It is he who defeats all

inauspicious things within this universe. Although in the beginning he

was absorbed in the happiness of Brahman realization and was living in a

secluded place, giving up all other types of consciousness, he became

attracted by the most melodious pastimes of Lord Sri Krsna. He therefore

mercifully spoke the supreme Purana, known as Srimad-Bhagavatam, which

is the bright light of the Absolute Truth and which describes the

activities of Lord Krsna.'

PURPORT

This verse was spoken by Suta Gosvami in Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.12.68).

Madhya 17.139

TEXT 139

TEXT

brahmananda haite purnananda krsna-guna

ataeva akarsaye atma-ramera mana

SYNONYMS

brahma-ananda -- the pleasure of Brahman realization; haite -- from;

purna-ananda -- complete bliss; krsna-guna -- the qualities of Lord

Krsna; ataeva -- therefore; akarsaye -- attract; atma-ramera mana --

the minds of self-realized persons.

TRANSLATION

"The transcendental qualities of Sri Krsna are completely blissful and

relishable. Consequently Lord Krsna's qualities attract even the minds

of self-realized persons from the bliss of self-realization.

Madhya 17.140

TEXT 140

TEXT

atmaramas ca munayo

nirgrantha apy urukrame

kurvanty ahaitukim bhaktim

ittham-bhuta-guno harih

SYNONYMS

atma-aramah -- persons who take pleasure in being transcendentally

situated in the service of the Lord; ca -- also; munayah -- great

saintly persons who have completely rejected material aspirations,

fruitive activities, and so forth; nirgranthah -- without interest in

any material desire; api -- certainly; urukrame -- unto the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, Krsna, whose activities are wonderful; kurvanti -

- do; ahaitukim -- causeless, or without material desires; bhaktim --

devotional service; ittham-bhuta -- so wonderful as to attract the

attention of the self-satisfied; gunah -- who has transcendental

qualities; harih -- the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

" 'Those who are self-satisfied and unattracted by external material

desires are also attracted to the loving service of Sri Krsna, whose

qualities are transcendental and whose activities are wonderful. Hari,

the Personality of Godhead, is called Krsna because He has such

transcendentally attractive features.'

Madhya 17.141

TEXT 141

TEXT

ei saba rahu -- krsna-carana-sambandhe

atmaramera mana hare tulasira gandhe

SYNONYMS

ei saba rahu -- apart from the pastimes of Lord Krsna; krsna-carana-

sambandhe -- in relation to the lotus feet of Krsna; atma-aramera -- of

self-realized persons; mana -- the mind; hare -- attracts; tulasira

gandhe -- the aroma of tulasi leaves.

TRANSLATION

"Apart from the pastimes of Lord Krsna, when tulasi leaves are offered

at the lotus feet of Sri Krsna, even the aroma of the leaves attracts

the minds of self-realized persons.

Madhya 17.142

TEXT 142

TEXT

tasyaravinda-nayanasya padaravinda-

kinjalka-misra-tulasi-makaranda-vayuh

antargatah svavivarena cakara tesam

sanksobham aksara-jusam api citta-tanvoh

SYNONYMS

tasya -- of Him; aravinda-nayanasya -- of the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, whose eyes are like the petals of a lotus; pada-aravinda -- of

the lotus feet; kinjalka -- with saffron; misra -- mixed; tulasi -- of

tulasi leaves; makaranda -- with the aroma; vayuh -- the air;

antargatah -- entered; sva-vivarena -- through the nostrils;

cakara -- created; tesam -- of them; sanksobham -- strong agitation;

aksara-jusam -- of the impersonally self-realized (Kumaras); api -- also;

citta-tanvoh -- of the mind and body.

TRANSLATION

" 'When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasi leaves and saffron from

the lotus feet of the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead entered through

the nostrils into the hearts of those sages [the Kumaras], they

experienced a change in both body and mind, even though they were

attached to impersonal Brahman understanding.'

PURPORT

This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.15.43). Vidura and Maitreya

discussed the pregnancy of Diti. Diti's pregnancy caused the demigods to

be very much afraid, and the demigods went to see Lord Brahma. Lord

Brahma explained the original incident involving the cursing of Jaya and

Vijaya by the Catuhsana Kumaras. Sometimes the Catuhsana Kumaras went to

Vaikuntha to visit Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and

once they were stopped from entering the palace at the seventh gate by

two doorkeepers named Jaya and Vijaya. Due to their jealousy, Jaya and

Vijaya would not allow the Kumaras entry, and consequently the Kumaras

became angry and cursed Jaya and Vijaya, condemning them to take birth

in a family of asuras in the material world. The omniscient Personality

of Godhead could immediately understand the incident, and He came with

His eternal consort the goddess of fortune. The Catuhsana Kumaras

immediately offered their obeisances unto the Lord. Simply by seeing the

Lord and smelling the aroma of tulasi and saffron from His lotus feet,

the Kumaras became devotees and abandoned their long-cherished

impersonalism. Thus the four Kumaras were turned into Vaisnavas simply

by smelling the aromatic tulasi mixed with saffron. Those who are

actually on the platform of Brahman realization and who have not

offended the lotus feet of Krsna can immediately become Vaisnavas simply

by smelling the aroma of the Lord's lotus feet. However, those who are

offenders or demons are never attracted to the Lord's personal feature,

even though they may visit the Lord's temple many times. In Vrndavana we

have seen many Mayavadi sannyasis who do not even come to the temple of

Govindaji, Gopinatha or Madana-mohana because they think that such

temples are maya. Therefore they are called Mayavadis. Sri Krsna

Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore said that the Mayavadis are the greatest

offenders.

Madhya 17.143

TEXT 143

TEXT

ataeva 'krsna-nama' na aise tara mukhe

mayavadi-gana yate maha bahirmukhe

SYNONYMS

ataeva -- therefore; krsna-nama -- the holy name of Krsna; na -- does

not; aise -- come; tara mukhe -- in their mouths; mayavadi-gana -- all

the Mayavadis; yate -- because; maha bahih-mukhe -- great offenders by

dint of strong atheism.

TRANSLATION

"Because the Mayavadis are great offenders and atheistic philosophers,

the holy name of Krsna does not come from their mouths.

PURPORT

Because they are constantly blaspheming the Supreme Personality of

Godhead by saying that He has no head, hands or legs, Mayavadi

philosophers remain offenders for many, many births, even though they

have partially realized Brahman. However, if such impersonalists are not

offenders at the lotus feet of the Lord, they immediately become

devotees in the association of a devotee. In other words, if an

impersonalist is not an offender, he can become a devotee if he gets a

chance to associate with other devotees. If he is an offender, he cannot

be converted even by the association of the Supreme Personality of

Godhead. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very much afraid of this

Mayavadi offender; therefore He spoke as follows.

Madhya 17.144

TEXT 144

TEXT

bhavakali vecite ami ailana kasipure

grahaka nahi, na vikaya, lana yaba ghare

SYNONYMS

bhavakali -- devotional sentiments; vecite -- to sell; ami -- I; ailana -

- came; kasipure -- to the city of Kasi; grahaka nahi -- there is no

customer; na vikaya -- do not sell; lana yaba ghare -- then I must take

my commodity back home.

TRANSLATION

"I have come here to sell My emotional ecstatic sentiments in this city

of Kasi, but I cannot find any customers. If they are not sold, I must

take them back home.

Madhya 17.145

TEXT 145

TEXT

bhari bojha lana ailana, kemane lana yaba?

alpa-svalpa-mulya paile, ethai veciba

SYNONYMS

bhari bojha -- heavy load; lana -- bearing; ailana -- I came; kemane --

how; lana yaba -- shall I take it back; alpa-svalpa-mulya -- a fraction

of the real price; paile -- if I get; ethai -- here; veciba -- I shall

sell.

TRANSLATION

"I have brought a heavy load to sell in this city. To take it back again

is a very difficult job; therefore if I get but a fraction of the price,

I shall sell it here in this city of Kasi."

PURPORT

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was selling the transcendental holy name of the

Lord. However, Kasi was a city of Mayavadis (impersonalists), and such

people will never chant the holy names of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.

Consequently Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was feeling disappointed. How could

He teach the Mayavadis the importance of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-

mantra? The attraction for chanting the holy name of the Lord belongs

absolutely to pure devotees, and there was no possibility of finding

pure devotees at Kasi. Consequently Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's commodity

was certainly very heavy. The Lord therefore suggested that even though

there were no pure devotees in Kasi, if someone was a little inclined to

chant the Hare Krsna mantra, He would deliver this big load, although

the proper price was not paid.

Actually we experienced this when we came to preach the Hare Krsna

movement in the West. When we came to New York in 1965, we never

expected that the Hare Krsna maha-mantra would be accepted in this

country. Nonetheless, we invited people to our storefront to join in

chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, and the Lord's holy name is so

attractive that simply by coming to our storefront in New York,

fortunate young people became Krsna conscious. Although this mission was

started with insignificant capital, it is now going nicely. The

spreading of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra in the West has become

successful because the young people were not offenders. The youths who

joined this movement were not very advanced as far as purity was

concerned, nor were they very well educated in Vedic knowledge, but

because they were not offenders, they could accept the importance of the

Hare Krsna movement. We are now very happy to see that this movement is

advancing more and more in the Western countries. We therefore conclude

that the so-called mlecchas and yavanas of the Western countries are

more purified than offensive Mayavadis or atheistic impersonalists.

Madhya 17.146

TEXT 146

TEXT

eta bali' sei vipre atmasatha kari'

prate uthi mathura calila gaurahari

SYNONYMS

eta bali' -- saying this; sei vipre -- that brahmana; atmasatha kari' --

accepting as His devotee; prate uthi -- rising early in the morning;

mathura calila -- started for Mathura; gaurahari -- Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu.

TRANSLATION

After saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted that brahmana as His

devotee. The next morning, rising very early, the Lord started for

Mathura.

Madhya 17.147

TEXT 147

TEXT

sei tina sange cale, prabhu nisedhila

dura haite tina-jane ghare pathaila

SYNONYMS

sei tina -- those three; sange -- with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; cale --

go; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nisedhila -- forbade; dura haite -

- from a distance; tina-jane -- the three persons; ghare -- home;

pathaila -- sent back.

TRANSLATION

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu started for Mathura, all three devotees

started to go with Him. However, the Lord forbade them to accompany Him,

and from a distance He asked them to return home.

Madhya 17.148

TEXT 148

TEXT

prabhura virahe tine ekatra miliya

prabhu-guna gana kare preme matta hana

SYNONYMS

prabhura virahe -- because of separation from the Lord; tine -- all

three; ekatra -- together; miliya -- meeting; prabhu-guna -- the

transcendental qualities of the Lord; gana kare -- chant; preme -- with

love; matta hana -- being mad.

TRANSLATION

Feeling separation from the Lord, the three used to meet and glorify the

holy qualities of the Lord. Thus they were absorbed in ecstatic love.

Madhya 17.149

TEXT 149

TEXT

'prayage' asiya prabhu kaila veni-snana

'madhava' dekhiya preme kaila nrtya-gana

SYNONYMS

prayage -- to Prayaga; asiya -- coming; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; kaila -- did; veni-snana -- bathing in the confluence of the

Ganges and Yamuna; madhava -- the predominating Deity there, Veni

Madhava; dekhiya -- seeing; preme -- in ecstatic love; kaila --

performed; nrtya-gana -- dancing and chanting.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then went to Prayaga, where He bathed at the

confluence of the Ganges and the Yamuna. He then visited the temple of

Veni Madhava and chanted and danced there in ecstatic love.

PURPORT

The city of Prayaga is situated a few miles from the city of Allahabad.

The name Prayaga is given due to successful sacrifices performed there.

It is said: prakrstah yagah yaga-phalam yasmat. If one performs

sacrifices at Prayaga, he certainly gets immediate results without

difficulty. Prayaga is also called Tirtharaja, the king of all places of

pilgrimage. This holy place is situated on the confluence of the Rivers

Ganges and Yamuna. Every year a fair takes place there known as Magha-

mela, and every twelve years a Kumbha-mela is also held. In any case,

many people come to bathe there every year. During Magha-mela, people

from the local district generally come, and during Kumbha-mela people

come from all over India to live there and bathe in the Ganges and

Yamuna. Whoever goes there immediately feels the place's spiritual

influence. A fort located there was constructed by the Emperor Akbar

about five hundred years ago, and near the fort is a place called

Triveni. On the other side of Prayaga is an old place known as

Pratisthana-pura. It is also well known as Jhunsi. Many saintly people

live there, and consequently it is very attractive from the spiritual

point of view.

Madhya 17.150

TEXT 150

TEXT

yamuna dekhiya preme pade jhanpa diya

aste-vyaste bhattacarya uthaya dhariya

SYNONYMS

yamuna -- the River Yamuna; dekhiya -- seeing; preme -- in ecstatic love;

pade -- falls down; jhanpa diya -- jumping; aste-vyaste -- in great

haste; bhattacarya -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; uthaya -- raises; dhariya -

- catching.

TRANSLATION

As soon as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw the River Yamuna, He threw

Himself in it. Balabhadra Bhattacarya hastily caught the Lord and very

carefully raised Him up again.

Madhya 17.151

TEXT 151

TEXT

ei-mata tina-dina prayage rahila

krsna-nama-prema diya loka nistarila

SYNONYMS

ei-mata -- in this way; tina-dina -- for three days; prayage -- at

Prayaga; rahila -- remained; krsna-nama -- the holy name of Lord Krsna;

prema -- and ecstatic love; diya -- delivering; loka nistarila --

delivered the people.

TRANSLATION

The Lord stayed at Prayaga for three days. He delivered the holy name of

Krsna and ecstatic love. Thus He delivered many people.

Madhya 17.152

TEXT 152

TEXT

'mathura' calite pathe yatha rahi' yaya

krsna-nama-prema diya lokere nacaya

SYNONYMS

mathura -- to Mathura; calite -- going; pathe -- on the road; yatha --

wherever; rahi' -- staying; yaya -- goes; krsna-nama-prema -- the holy

name of Krsna and His ecstatic love; diya -- delivering; lokere nacaya --

made the people dance.

TRANSLATION

Wherever the Lord stopped to rest on the way to Mathura, He delivered

the holy name of Krsna and ecstatic love of Krsna. Thus He made the

people dance.

Madhya 17.153

TEXT 153

TEXT

purve yena 'daksina' yaite loka nistarila

'pascima'-dese taiche saba 'vaisnava' karila

SYNONYMS

purve -- formerly; yena -- as; daksina -- South India; yaite -- going to;

loka -- the people; nistarila -- He delivered; pascima-dese -- in the

western countries; taiche -- similarly; saba -- all; vaisnava --

devotees; karila -- made.

TRANSLATION

When the Lord toured South India, He delivered many people, and when He

traveled in the western sector, He similarly converted many people to

Vaisnavism.

PURPORT

Formerly Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu converted people when He toured

southern and western India. Similarly, this Hare Krsna movement is now

delivering the people of the Western world wherever devotees are

chanting the holy names. This is all being done by the Lord's mercy. Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu predicted that He would deliver people in every city

and village of the world by giving them a chance to chant the Hare Krsna

maha-mantra.

Madhya 17.154

TEXT 154

TEXT

pathe yahan yahan haya yamuna-darsana

tahan jhanpa diya pade preme acetana

SYNONYMS

pathe -- on the road; yahan yahan -- wherever; haya -- there is; yamuna-

darsana -- meeting with the Yamuna River; tahan -- there; jhanpa diya

pade -- jumps over and falls down; preme acetana -- unconscious in the

ecstasy of love.

TRANSLATION

While the Lord was going to Mathura, He came across the River Yamuna

several times, and as soon as He saw the River Yamuna, He would

immediately jump in, falling unconscious in the water in the ecstasy of

love of Krsna.

Madhya 17.155

TEXT 155

TEXT

mathura-nikate aila -- mathura dekhiya

dandavat hana pade premavista hana

SYNONYMS

mathura-nikate -- near Mathura; aila -- came; mathura dekhiya -- seeing

the city of Mathura; dandavat hana -- offering obeisances; pade -- falls

down; prema-avista hana -- in the great ecstasy of love.

TRANSLATION

When He approached Mathura and saw the city, He immediately fell to the

ground and offered obeisances with great ecstatic love.

Madhya 17.156

TEXT 156

TEXT

mathura asiya kaila 'visranti-tirthe' snana

'janma-sthane' 'kesava' dekhi' karila pranama

SYNONYMS

mathura asiya -- coming in to Mathura; kaila -- performed; visranti-

tirthe -- at the bathing place known as Visrama-ghata; snana -- bathing;

janma-sthane -- at the place of Lord Krsna's birth; kesava -- the Deity

named Kesava; dekhi' -- seeing; karila pranama -- offered His respectful

obeisances.

TRANSLATION

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu entered the city of Mathura, He took His

bath at Visrama-ghata. He then visited the birthplace of Krsna and saw

the Deity named Kesavaji. He offered His respectful obeisances to this

Deity.

PURPORT

At the present moment, the temple of Kesavaji is very much improved. At

one time, Kesavaji-mandira was attacked by the emperor Aurangzeb, who

constructed such a big mosque there that the temple of Kesavaji was

insignificant in comparison. However, with the help of many rich

Madwaris, the temple has improved, and a very large temple is now

being constructed so that the mosque is now appearing diminished in

comparison. Many archeological discoveries have been made there, and

many people from foreign countries are beginning to appreciate Krsna's

birthplace. This Krsna consciousness movement is attracting many

foreigners to the Kesavaji temple, and now they will also be attracted

by the Krsna-Balarama temple in Vrndavana.

Madhya 17.157

TEXT 157

TEXT

premanande nace, gaya, saghana hunkara

prabhura premavesa dekhi' loke camatkara

SYNONYMS

prema-anande -- in ecstatic love; nace -- dances; gaya -- chants;

saghana -- repeatedly; hunkara -- tumultuous sound vibrations; prabhura -

- of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prema-avesa -- ecstatic love; dekhi' -

- seeing; loke -- all people; camatkara -- astonished.

TRANSLATION

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu chanted, danced and made loud vibrations,

all the people were astonished to see His ecstatic love.

Madhya 17.158

TEXT 158

TEXT

eka-vipra pade prabhura carana dhariya

prabhu-sange nrtya kare premavista hana

SYNONYMS

eka-vipra -- one brahmana; pade -- falls down; prabhura -- of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carana dhariya -- catching the lotus feet; prabhu-

sange -- with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nrtya kare -- he dances; prema-

avista hana -- being absorbed in ecstatic love.

TRANSLATION

One brahmana fell at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and then

began to dance with Him in ecstatic love.

Madhya 17.159

TEXT 159

TEXT

dunhe preme nrtya kari' kare kolakuli

hari krsna kaha dunhe bale bahu tuli'

SYNONYMS

dunhe -- both of them; preme -- in ecstatic love; nrtya kari' -- dancing;

kare -- do; kolakuli -- embracing; hari -- the holy name of Hari; krsna

-- the holy name of Krsna; kaha -- go on chanting; dunhe -- both of them;

bale -- speak; bahu tuli' -- raising the arms.

TRANSLATION

Both of them danced in ecstatic love and embraced one another.

Raising their arms, they said, "Chant the holy names of Hari and Krsna!"

Madhya 17.160

TEXT 160

TEXT

loka 'hari' 'hari' bale, kolahala haila

'kesava'-sevaka prabhuke mala paraila

SYNONYMS

loka -- all the people; hari hari bale -- began to chant the holy names

Hari, Hari; kolahala haila -- there was a great uproar; kesava-sevaka --

the priest in the service of Lord Kesava; prabhuke -- unto Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; mala paraila -- offered a garland.

TRANSLATION

All the people then began to chant, "Hari! Hari!" and there was a great

uproar. The priest in Lord Kesava's service offered Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu a garland.

Madhya 17.161

TEXT 161

TEXT

loke kahe prabhu dekhi' hana vismaya

aiche hena prema'laukika' kabhu naya

SYNONYMS

loke kahe -- the people said; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhi' -

- seeing; hana vismaya -- being struck with wonder; aiche -- such; hena -

- similar; prema -- love of Godhead; laukika -- ordinary; kabhu naya --

never is.

TRANSLATION

When the people saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's dancing and chanting, they

were struck with wonder, and they all said, "Such transcendental love is

never an ordinary thing."

Madhya 17.162

TEXT 162

TEXT

yanhara darsane loke preme matta hana

hase, kande, nace, gaya, krsna-nama lana

SYNONYMS

yanhara darsane -- by seeing whom; loke -- people; preme -- in love;

matta hana -- becoming mad; hase -- laugh; kande -- cry; nace -- dance;

gaya -- chant; krsna-nama lana -- taking the holy name of Lord Krsna.

TRANSLATION

The people said, "Simply by seeing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, everyone is

maddened with love of Krsna. Indeed, everyone is laughing, crying,

dancing, chanting and taking the holy name of Krsna.

Madhya 17.163

TEXT 163

TEXT

sarvatha-niscita -- inho krsna-avatara

mathura aila lokera karite nistara

SYNONYMS

sarvatha -- in every respect; niscita -- ascertained; inho -- He; krsna-

avatara -- incarnation of Lord Krsna; mathura aila -- has come to

Mathura; lokera -- of the people; karite -- to perform; nistara --

deliverance.

TRANSLATION

"Certainly Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is in all respects the incarnation of

Lord Krsna. Now He has come to Mathura to deliver everyone."

Madhya 17.164

TEXT 164

TEXT

tabe mahaprabhu sei brahmane lana

tanhare puchila kichu nibhrte vasiya

SYNONYMS

tabe -- after that; mahaprabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sei -- that;

brahmane -- brahmana; lana -- taking; tanhare -- unto him; puchila --

inquired; kichu -- something; nibhrte vasiya -- sitting in a solitary

place.

TRANSLATION

After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took aside the brahmana.

Sitting in a solitary place, the Lord began to question him.

Madhya 17.165

TEXT 165

TEXT

'arya, sarala, tumi -- vrddha brahmana

kahan haite paile tumi ei prema-dhana?'

SYNONYMS

arya -- advanced in devotional service; sarala -- simple; tumi -- you;

vrddha brahmana -- elderly brahmana; kahan haite -- from where; paile

tumi -- did you obtain; ei -- this; prema-dhana -- transcendental

opulence of ecstatic love.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "You are an elderly brahmana, you are

sincere, and you are advanced in spiritual life. Wherefrom have you

gotten this transcendental opulence of ecstatic love for Krsna?"

Madhya 17.166

TEXT 166

TEXT

vipra kahe, -- 'sripada sri-madhavendra-puri

bhramite bhramite aila mathura-nagari

SYNONYMS

vipra kahe -- the brahmana said; sripada -- His Holiness; sri-

madhavendra-puri -- Sri Madhavendra Puri; bhramite bhramite -- while

touring; aila -- came; mathura-nagari -- to the city of Mathura.

TRANSLATION

The brahmana replied, "His Holiness Srila Madhavendra Puri came to the

city of Mathura while he was on a tour.

Madhya 17.167

TEXT 167

TEXT

krpa kari' tenho mora nilaye aila

more sisya kari' mora hate 'bhiksa' kaila

SYNONYMS

krpa kari' -- by his causeless mercy; tenho -- he; mora nilaye -- to my

humble place; aila -- came; more -- me; sisya kari' -- accepting as his

disciple; mora hate -- from my hand; bhiksa kaila -- accepted lunch.

TRANSLATION

"While at Mathura, Sripada Madhavendra Puri visited my house and

accepted me as a disciple. He even took lunch at my home.

Madhya 17.168

TEXT 168

TEXT

gopala prakata kari' seva kaila 'mahasaya'

adyapiha tanhara seva 'govardhane' haya

SYNONYMS

gopala -- the Deity Gopala; prakata kari' -- installing; seva --

service; kaila -- did; mahasaya -- that great personality; adyapiha --

still now; tanhara -- of that Deity Gopala; seva -- the service;

govardhane -- on the Govardhana Hill; haya -- is conducted.

TRANSLATION

"After installing the Deity Gopala, Srila Madhavendra Puri rendered

Him service. That very Deity is still being worshiped at Govardhana Hill.

Madhya 17.169

TEXT 169

TEXT

suni' prabhu kaila tanra carana vandana

bhaya pana prabhu-paya padila brahmana

SYNONYMS

suni' -- after hearing; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila -- did;

tanra -- of him; carana vandana -- worshiping the feet; bhaya pana --

being afraid; prabhu-paya -- at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; padila -- fell down; brahmana -- the brahmana.

TRANSLATION

As soon as Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard about Madhavendra Puri's

relationship with the brahmana, He immediately offered obeisances at his

feet. Becoming fearful, the brahmana also immediately fell at the Lord's

feet.

Madhya 17.170

TEXT 170

TEXT

prabhu kahe, -- "tumi 'guru', ami 'sisya'-praya

'guru' hana 'sisye' namaskara na yuyaya

SYNONYMS

prabhu kahe -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; tumi -- you; guru -- My

spiritual master; ami -- I; sisya-praya -- like your disciple; guru hana

-- being the spiritual master; sisye -- unto the disciple; namaskara --

obeisances; na yuyaya -- is not befitting.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "You are on the platform of My spiritual

master, and I am your disciple. Since you are My spiritual master, it is

not befitting that you offer Me obeisances."

Madhya 17.171

TEXT 171

TEXT

suniya vismita vipra kahe bhaya pana

aiche vat kaha kene sannyasi hana

SYNONYMS

suniya -- after hearing; vismita -- astonished; vipra -- the brahmana;

kahe -- said; bhaya pana -- being afraid; aiche vat -- such a statement;

kaha -- You say; kene -- why; sannyasi hana -- although You are a

sannyasi.

TRANSLATION

Upon hearing this, the brahmana became afraid. He then said, "Why do You

speak like this? You are a sannyasi.

Madhya 17.172

TEXT 172

TEXT

kintu tomara prema dekhi' mane anumani

madhavendra-purira 'sambandha' dhara -- jani

SYNONYMS

kintu -- still; tomara prema -- Your ecstatic love; dekhi' -- after

seeing; mane -- in my mind; anumani -- I imagine; madhavendra-purira --

of Sri Madhavendra Puri; sambandha -- relationship; dhara -- You have;

jani -- I can understand.

TRANSLATION

"Upon seeing Your ecstatic love, I can just imagine that You must have

some relationship with Madhavendra Puri. This is my understanding.

Madhya 17.173

TEXT 173

TEXT

krsna-prema tanha, yanha tanhara'sambandha'

tahan vina ei premara kahan nahi gandha

SYNONYMS

krsna-prema -- love of Krsna; tanha -- there; yanha -- where; tanhara --

his; sambandha -- relationship; tahan vina -- without him; ei premara --

of this ecstatic love; kahan nahi gandha -- there is no possibility of

even a scent.

TRANSLATION

"This kind of ecstatic love can be experienced only when one has a

relationship with Madhavendra Puri. Without him, even a scent of such

transcendental ecstatic love is impossible."

Madhya 17.174

TEXT 174

TEXT

tabe bhattacarya tare 'sambandha' kahila

suni' anandita vipra nacite lagila

SYNONYMS

tabe -- thereafter; bhattacarya -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; tare -- unto

the brahmana; sambandha kahila -- explained the relationship; suni' --

after hearing; anandita -- being pleased; vipra -- the brahmana; nacite

lagila -- began to dance.

TRANSLATION

Balabhadra Bhattacarya then explained the relationship between

Madhavendra Puri and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. After hearing this, the

brahmana became very pleased and began to dance.

Madhya 17.175

TEXT 175

TEXT

tabe vipra prabhure lana aila nija-ghare

apana-icchaya prabhura nana seva kare

SYNONYMS

tabe -- thereafter; vipra -- the brahmana; prabhure -- Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; lana -- taking; aila -- came back; nija-ghare -- to his home;

apana-icchaya -- by his own will; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; nana -- various; seva -- services; kare -- rendered.

TRANSLATION

The brahmana then took Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his home and, out of

his own free will, began to serve the Lord in various ways.

Madhya 17.176

TEXT 176

TEXT

bhiksa lagi' bhattacarye karaila randhana

tabe mahaprabhu hasi' balila vacana

SYNONYMS

bhiksa lagi' -- for lunch; bhattacarye -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya;

karaila randhana -- made to cook; tabe -- at that time; mahaprabhu --

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; hasi' -- smiling; balila vacana -- said these

words.

TRANSLATION

He asked Balabhadra Bhattacarya to cook Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's lunch.

At that time, the Lord, smiling, spoke as follows.

Madhya 17.177

TEXT 177

TEXT

"puri-gosani tomara ghare karyachena bhiksa

more tumi bhiksa deha, -- ei mora 'siksa' "

SYNONYMS

puri-gosani -- Madhavendra Puri; tomara ghare -- at your place;

karyachena bhiksa -- accepted lunch; more -- for Me; tumi bhiksa deha --

better for you to cook; ei -- that; mora siksa -- My instruction.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Madhavendra Puri has already taken lunch

at your place. Therefore you may cook and give Me the food. That is My

instruction."

Madhya 17.178

TEXT 178

TEXT

yad yad acarati sresthas

tat tad evetaro janah

sa yat pramanam kurute

lokas tad anuvartate

SYNONYMS

yat yat -- however; acarati -- behaves; srestah -- the best man; tat

tat -- that; eva -- certainly; itarah -- the lesser; janah -- men; sah --

he; yat -- which; pramanam -- standard; kurute -- shows; lokah -- the

people; tat -- that; anuvartate -- follow.

TRANSLATION

"Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow.

And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.

PURPORT

This is a quotation from Bhagavad-gita (3.21).

Madhya 17.179

TEXT 179

TEXT

yadyapi 'sanodiya' haya seita brahmana

sanodiya-ghare sannyasi na kare bhojana

SYNONYMS

yadyapi -- although; sanodiya -- a priest of the Sanodiya community;

haya -- was; seita -- that; brahmana -- brahmana; sanodiya-ghare -- in

the house of a Sanodiya (goldsmith); sannyasi -- a person in the

renounced order of life; na kare bhojana -- does not accept food.

TRANSLATION

The brahmana belonged to the Sanodiya brahmana community, and a sannyasi

does not accept food from such a brahmana.

PURPORT

In northwestern India, vaisyas are divided in various subdivisions.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura points out that they are divided as

Agaraoyala, Kalaoyara and Sanoyada. Out of them, the Agaraoyalas are

supposed to be first-class vaisyas, and the Kalaoyaras and Sanoyadas are

considered lower due to their occupational degradation. The Kalaoyaras

generally take wine and other intoxicants. Although they are vaisyas,

they are considered to belong to a lower class. The priests who guide

the Kalaoyaras and the Sanoyadas are called Sanodiya brahmanas. Srila

Bhaktivinoda Thakura states that the word sanoyada in Bengal indicates

suvarna-vanik. In Bengal there are priests who guide the suvarna-vanik

community, which is also considered a low class. There is little

difference between the Sanoyada and the suvarna-vanik. Generally the

suvarna-vaniks are bankers dealing in gold and silver. In western India,

the Agaraoyalas also belong to the banking profession. This is the

original business of the suvarna-vanik or Agaraoyala community.

Historically, the Agaraoyalas came from the up-country named Ayodha, and

the suvarna-vanik community came from Ayodha. It appears

that the suvarna-vaniks and the Agaraoyalas belong to the same community.

The Sanodiya brahmanas were the guides of the Kalaoyara and Sanoyada.

They are therefore considered to be lower-class brahmanas, and a

sannyasi is not allowed to take alms or food from them. However, Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted lunch cooked by a Sanodiya brahmana simply

because he belonged to Madhavendra Puri's community. Srila Madhavendra

Puri was the spiritual master of Isvara Puri, who was the spiritual

master of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thus a spiritual relationship is

established on the spiritual platform without consideration of material

inferiority or superiority.

Madhya 17.180

TEXT 180

TEXT

tathapi puri dekhi' tanra 'vaisnava'-acara

'sisya' kari' tanra bhiksa kaila angikara

SYNONYMS

tathapi -- still; puri -- Madhavendra Puri; dekhi' -- after seeing;

tanra -- of the brahmana; vaisnava-acara -- behavior like a Vaisnava;

sisya kari' -- accepting him as his disciple; tanra bhiksa -- food

offered by him; kaila angikara -- accepted.

TRANSLATION

Although the brahmana belonged to the Sanodiya community, Srila

Madhavendra Puri saw that he behaved like a Vaisnava and

therefore accepted him as his disciple. The food he cooked was also

accepted by Madhavendra Puri.

Madhya 17.181

TEXT 181

TEXT

mahaprabhu tanre yadi 'bhiksa' magila

dainya kari' sei vipra kahite lagila

SYNONYMS

mahaprabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre -- from him; yadi -- when;

bhiksa magila -- requested lunch; dainya kari' -- out of humility; sei

vipra -- that brahmana; kahite lagila -- began to speak.

TRANSLATION

Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu willingly requested food from the

brahmana, and the brahmana, feeling a natural humility, began to speak

as follows.

Madhya 17.182

TEXT 182

TEXT

tomare 'bhiksa' diba -- bada bhagya se amara

tumi -- isvara, nahi tomara vidhi-vyavahara

SYNONYMS

tomare -- unto You; bhiksa diba -- I shall offer food; bada bhagya --

great fortune; se -- that; amara -- my; tumi -- You; isvara -- the

Supreme Personality of Godhead; nahi -- there is not; tomara -- of You;

vidhi-vyavahara -- regulative behavior.

TRANSLATION

"It is a great fortune for me to offer You food. You are the Supreme

Lord, and, being in the transcendental position, You are not restricted

in any way.

Madhya 17.183

TEXT 183

TEXT

'murkha'-loka karibeka tomara nindana

sahite na parimu sei 'duste'ra vacana

SYNONYMS

murkha-loka -- foolish persons; karibeka -- will do; tomara nindana --

blaspheming You; sahite na parimu -- I shall not be able to tolerate;

sei -- those; dustera vacana -- words of mischievous persons.

TRANSLATION

"Foolish people will blaspheme You, but I shall not tolerate the words

of such mischievous people."

PURPORT

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura remarks that although the

brahmana did not belong to a superior community, he fearlessly chastised

so-called caste brahmanas because he was situated on the platform of

pure devotional service. There are people who are opposed to Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu's accepting a Vaisnava belonging to a lower caste.

Such people do not consider maha-prasada transcendental, and therefore

they are described here as murkha (foolish) and dusta (mischievous). A

pure devotee has the power to challenge such high-caste people, and his

brave statements are not to be considered proud or puffed up. On the

contrary, he is to be considered straightforward. Such a person does not

like to flatter high-class brahmanas who belong to the non-Vaisnava

community.

Madhya 17.184

TEXT 184

TEXT

prabhu kahe, -- sruti, smrti, yata rsi-gana

sabe 'eka'-mata nahe, bhinna bhinna dharma

SYNONYMS

prabhu kahe -- Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; sruti -- the Vedas;

smrti -- the Puranas; yata -- all; rsi-gana -- great sages; sabe -- all

of them; eka-mata nahe -- do not agree; bhinna bhinna dharma --

different grades of religious principles.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "The Vedas, Puranas and great learned

sages are not always in agreement with one another. Consequently there

are different religious principles.

PURPORT

Unless one comes to the Absolute Truth, there is no possibility of

agreement. Nasav rsir yasya matam na bhinnam: it is said that a great

learned scholar or sage cannot be exalted unless he disagrees

. On the material platform, there is no possibility of

agreement; therefore there are different kinds of religious systems.

However, the Absolute Truth is one, and when one is situated in the

Absolute Truth, there is no disagreement. On that absolute platform the

Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshipable. As stated in Bhagavad-

gita (18.55): bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah. On the

absolute platform, the worshipful Deity is one, and the process of

worship is also one. That process is bhakti.

There are many different religions throughout the world because they are

not all on the absolute platform of devotional service. As confirmed in

Bhagavad-gita (18.66): sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam

vraja. The word ekam means "one," Krsna. On this platform, there are no

different religious systems. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.2):

dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra. On the material platform, religious

systems are different. Srimad-Bhagavatam describes them from the very

beginning as dharmah kaitavah, cheating religions. None of these

religions are actually genuine. The genuine religious system is that

which enables one to become a lover of the Supreme Personality of

Godhead. In the words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.6):

sa vai pumsam paro dharmo

yato bhaktir adhoksaje

ahaituky apratihata

yayatma suprasidati

"The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men

can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such

devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted in order to

completely satisfy the self."

On this platform there is nothing but the service of the Lord. When a

person has no ulterior motive, there is certainly oneness and agreement

of principles. Since everyone has a different body and mind, different

types of religions are needed. But when one is situated on the spiritual

platform, there are no bodily and mental differences. Consequently on

the absolute platform there is oneness in religion.

Madhya 17.185

TEXT 185

TEXT

dharma-sthapana-hetu sadhura vyavahara

puri-gosanira ye acarana, sei dharma sara

SYNONYMS

dharma-sthapana-hetu -- to establish the principles of religion; sadhura

vyavahara -- behavior of a devotee; puri-gosanira -- of Madhavendra Puri;

ye acarana -- the behavior; sei -- that; dharma sara -- the essence of

all religion.

TRANSLATION

"A devotee's behavior establishes the true purpose of religious

principles. The behavior of Madhavendra Puri Gosvami is the essence of

such religious principles."

PURPORT

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gives the following commentary

on this passage. A sadhu or an honest man is called a mahajana or a

mahatma. The mahatma is thus described in

Bhagavad-gita:

mahatmanas tu mam partha

daivim prakrtim asritah

bhajanty ananya-manaso

jnatva bhutadim avyayam

"O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under

the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in

devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, original and inexhaustible." (Bg. 9.13)

In the material world, the word mahatma is understood in different ways

by different religionists. Mundaners also come up with their different

angles of vision. For the conditioned soul busy in sense gratification,

a mahajana is recognized according to the proportion of sense

gratification he offers. For instance, a businessman may consider a

certain banker to be a mahajana, and karmis desiring material enjoyment

may consider philosophers like Jaimini to be mahajanas. There are many

yogis who want to control the senses, and for them Patanjali Rsi is a

mahajana. For the jnanis, the atheist Kapila, Vasistha, Durvasa,

Dattatreya and other impersonalist philosophers are mahajanas. For the

demons, Hiranyaksa, Hiranyakasipu, Ravana, Ravana's son Meghanada,

Jarasandha and others are accepted as mahajanas. For materialistic

anthropologists speculating on the evolution of the body, a person like

Darwin is a mahajana. The scientists who are bewildered by Krsna's

external energy have no relationship with the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, yet they are accepted by some as mahajanas. Similarly,

philosophers, historians, literary men, public speakers and social and

political leaders are sometimes accepted as mahajanas. Such mahajanas

are respected by certain men who have been described in Srimad-

Bhagavatam (2.3.19):

sva-vid-varahostra-kharaih

samstutah purusah pasuh

na yat-karna-pathopeto

jatu nama gadagrajah

"Men who are like dogs, hogs, camels and asses praise those men who

never listen to the transcendental pastimes of Lord Sri Krsna, the

deliverer from evils."

Thus on the material platform animalistic leaders are worshiped by

animals. Sometimes physicians, psychiatrists and social workers try to

mitigate bodily pain, distress and fear, but they have no knowledge of

spiritual identity and are bereft of a relationship with God. Yet they

are considered mahajanas by the illusioned. Self-deceived persons

sometimes accept leaders or spiritual masters from a priestly order that

has been officially appointed by the codes of material life. In this way,

they are deceived by official priests. Sometimes people accept as

mahajanas those who have been designated by Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura

as dhanga-vipras (imposter brahmanas). Such imposters imitate the

characteristics of Srila Haridasa Thakura, and they envy Haridasa

Thakura, who was certainly a mahajana. They make great artificial

endeavors, advertising themselves as great devotees of the Lord or as

mystic hypnotists knowledgeable in witchcraft, hypnotism and miracles.

Sometimes people accept demons like Putana, Trnavarta,

Vatsa, Baka, Aghasura and Dhenuka, Kaliya and Pralamba. Some people

accept imitators and adversaries of the Supreme Personality of Godhead,

such as Paundraka, Srgala Vasudeva, the spiritual master of the demons (

Sukracarya), or atheists like Carvaka, King Vena, Sugata and Arhat.

Such people have no faith in Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Rather, they

accept godless cheaters who present themselves as incarnations of God

and cheat foolish people within the material world by word jugglery.

Thus many rascals are accepted as mahajanas.

In this material world a person may be famous as a karma-vira, a

successful fruitive worker, or one may be very successful in performing

religious duties, or he may be known as a hero in mental speculation (

jnana-vira), or he may be a very famous renunciant. In any case, Srimad-

Bhagavatam (3.23.56) gives the following opinion in this matter.

neha yat karma dharmaya

na viragaya kalpate

na tirtha-pada-sevayai

jivann api mrto hi sah

"Anyone whose work is not meant to elevate him to religious life, anyone

whose religious ritualistic performances do not raise him to

renunciation, and anyone situated in renunciation that does not lead him

to devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead must be

considered dead, although he is breathing."

The conclusion is that all pious activity, fruitive activity, religious

principles and renunciation must ultimately lead to devotional service.

There are different types of processes for rendering service. One may

serve his country, people, society, the varnasrama-dharma, the sick, the

poor, the rich, women, demigods and so on. All this comes under the

heading of sense gratification, or enjoyment in the material world. It

is most unfortunate that people are more or less attracted by such

material activity and that the leaders of these activities are accepted

as mahajanas, great ideal leaders. Actually they are only misleaders,

but an ordinary man cannot understand how he is being misled.

Narottama dasa Thakura says: sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya, cittete kariya

aikya. A sadhu is a great personality like Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

The sastras are the injunctions of revealed scriptures. Those who are

devoid of devotional service sometimes mistake those who

have mundane motives for mahajanas. The only motive must be krsna-bhakti,

devotional service to the Lord. Sometimes fruitive workers, dry

philosophers, nondevotees, mystic yogis and persons attached to material

opulence, women and money are considered mahajanas. However, Srimad-

Bhagavatam (6.3.25) gives the following statements about such

unauthorized mahajanas:

prayena veda tad idam na mahajano 'yam

devya vimohita-matir bata mayayalam

trayyam jadi-krta-matir madhu-puspitayam

vaitanike mahati karmani yujyamanah

In this material world, karmis (fruitive actors) are accepted as

mahajanas by foolish people who do not know the value of devotional

service. Their mundane intelligence and mental speculative methods

are under the control of the three modes of material

nature. Consequently they cannot understand unalloyed devotional service.

They are attracted by material activities, and they become worshipers

of material nature. Thus they are known as fruitive actors. They even

become entangled in material activities disguised as spiritual

activities. In Bhagavad-gita, such people are described as veda-vada-

rata. They do not understand the real

purpose of the Vedas, yet they think of themselves as Vedic authorities.

People versed in Vedic knowledge must know Krsna as the Supreme

Personality of Godhead. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah. (Bg. 15.15)

A man covered by illusion cannot understand the proper way;

therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says: dharma-sthapana-hetu sadhura

vyavahara. The behavior of a devotee is the criterion for all other

behavior. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself followed the devotional

principles and taught others to follow them. Puri-gosanira

ye acarana, sei dharma sara. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally

followed the behavior of Madhavendra Puri and

advised others to follow his principles. Unfortunately, people have

been attracted to the material body since

time immemorial.

yasyatma-buddhih kunape tridhatuke

sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma ijya-dhih

yat-tirtha-buddhih salile na karhicij

janesv abhijnesu sa eva go-kharah

"A human being who identifies this body made of three elements with his

self, who considers the by-products of the body to be his kinsmen, who

considers the land of birth worshipable, and who goes to the place of

pilgrimage simply to take a bath rather than meet men of transcendental

knowledge there is to be considered like an ass or a cow." (Bhag. 10.84.

13) Those who accept the logic of gad-dalika-pravaha and follow in

the footsteps of pseudo-mahajanas are carried away by the waves of maya.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura therefore warns:

miche mayara vase, yaccha bhese',

khaccha habudubu, bhai

jiva krsna-dasa, e visvasa,

ka'rle ta' ara duhkha nai

"Don't be carried away by the waves of maya. Just surrender to the lotus

feet of Krsna, and all miseries will end." Those who follow social

customs and behavior forget to follow the path chalked out by the

mahajanas; thus they are offenders at the feet of the mahajanas.

Sometimes they consider such mahajanas very conservative, or they create

their own mahajanas. In this way they ignore the principles of the

parampara system. This is a great misfortune for everyone. If one does

not follow in the footsteps of a real mahajana, one's plans for

happiness will be frustrated. This is elaborately explained in

Madhya-lila (Chapter Twenty-five, verses 55, 56 and 58). It is there

stated:

parama karana isvare keha nahi mane

sva-sva-mata sthape para-matera khandane

tate chaya darsana haite 'tattva' nahi jani

'mahajana' yei kahe, sei 'satya' mani

sri-krsna-caitanya-vani -- amrtera dhara

tinho ye kahaye vastu, sei 'tattva' -- sara

People are so unfortunate that they do not accept the instructions of

the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Instead, they want to be supported

by so-called mahajanas, authorities. Tate chaya darsana haite 'tattva'

nahi jani: we cannot ascertain the real truth simply by following

speculators. We have to follow the footsteps of the mahajanas in the

disciplic succession. Then our attempt will be successful. Sri-krsna-

caitanya-vani-amrtera dhara: "Whatever is spoken by Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu is an incessant flow of nectar." Whoever accepts His words as

reality can understand the essence of the Absolute Truth. No one can

ascertain the Absolute Truth by following the philosophy of Sankhya or

Patanjali, for the followers of Sankhya or Patanjali do not accept Lord

Visnu as the Supreme Personality of Godhead (na te viduh svartha-gatim

hi visnum). The ambition of such people is never fulfilled; therefore

they are attracted by the external energy. Although mental speculators

may be renowned all over the world as great authorities, actually they

are not. Such leaders are themselves conservative and not at all liberal.

However, if we preach this philosophy, people will consider Vaisnavas

very sectarian. Srila Madhavendra Puri was a real mahajana, but

misguided people cannot distinguish the real from the unreal. However, a

person who is awakened to Krsna consciousness can understand the real

religious path chalked out by the Lord and His pure devotees. Sri

Madhavendra Puri was a real mahajana because he understood the Absolute

Truth properly and throughout his life behaved like a pure devotee. Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu approved the method of Sri Madhavendra Puri.

Therefore, although from the material viewpoint the Sanodiya brahmana

was on a lower platform, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu considered him situated

on the highest platform of spiritual realization.

Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.3.20) states that there are twelve mahajanas:

Brahma, Narada, Sambhu, Kumara, Kapila, Manu, Prahlada,

Janaka, Bhisma, Bali, Sukadeva and Yamaraja.

To select our mahajanas in the Gaudiya-sampradaya, we have to follow in

the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His representatives. His

next representative is Sri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, and the next

are the six Gosvamis -- Sri Rupa, Sri Sanatana, Bhatta

Raghunatha, Sri Jiva, Gopala Bhatta and Dasa Raghunatha. The follower of

Visnusvami was Sridhara Svami, the most well known commentator

on Srimad-Bhagavatam. He was also a mahajana. Similarly, Candidasa,

Vidyapati and Jayadeva were all mahajanas. One who tries to imitate the

mahajanas just to become an imitative spiritual master is certainly far

away from following in the footsteps of the mahajanas. Sometimes people

cannot actually understand how a mahajana follows other mahajanas. In

this way people are inclined to fall from devotional service.

Madhya 17.186

TEXT 186

TEXT

tarko 'pratisthah srutayo vibhinna

nasav rsir yasya matam na bhinnam

dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam

mahajano yena gatah sa panthah

SYNONYMS

tarkah -- dry argument; apratisthah -- not fixed; srutayah -- Vedas;

vibhinnah -- possessing different departments; na -- not; asau -- that;

rsih -- great sage; yasya -- whose; matam -- opinion; na -- not; bhinnam

-- separate; dharmasya -- of religious principles; tattvam -- truth;

nihitam -- placed; guhayam -- in the heart of a realized person; maha-

janah -- self-realized predecessors; yena -- by which way; gatah --

acted; sah -- that; panthah -- the pure unadulterated path.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued," 'Dry arguments are inconclusive. A

great personality whose opinion does not differ from others is not

considered a great sage. Simply by studying the Vedas, which are

variegated, one cannot come to the right path by which religious

principles are understood. The solid truth of religious principles is

hidden in the heart of an unadulterated self-realized person.

Consequently, as the sastras confirm, one should accept whatever

progressive path the mahajanas advocate.' "

PURPORT

This is a verse spoken by Yudhisthira Maharaja in the Mahabharata, Vana-

parva (313.117).

Madhya 17.187

TEXT 187

TEXT

tabe sei vipra prabhuke bhiksa karaila

madhu-purira loka saba prabhuke dekhite aila

SYNONYMS

tabe -- after that; sei vipra -- that brahmana; prabhuke -- unto Lord

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhiksa karaila -- gave lunch; madhu-purira --

of Mathura; loka -- people in general; saba -- all; prabhuke -- Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhite aila -- came to see.

TRANSLATION

After this discussion, the brahmana gave lunch to Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu. Then all the people residing in Mathura came to see the Lord.

Madhya 17.188

TEXT 188

TEXT

laksa-sankhya loka aise, nahika ganana

bahira hana prabhu dila darasana

SYNONYMS

laksa-sankhya -- numbering hundreds of thousands; loka aise -- people

came; nahika ganana -- there is no counting; bahira hana -- coming out;

prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dila darasana -- gave audience.

TRANSLATION

People came by hundreds of thousands, and no one could count them.

Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came out of the house to give audience

to the people.

Madhya 17.189

TEXT 189

TEXT

bahu tuli' bale prabhu 'hari-bola'-dhvani

preme matta nace loka kari' hari-dhvani

SYNONYMS

bahu tuli' -- raising the arms; bale -- says; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; hari-bola-dhvani -- the transcendental sound vibration Hari

bol; preme -- in ecstasy; matta -- maddened; nace -- dance; loka --

the people; kari' hari-dhvani -- making the transcendental vibration

Hari.

TRANSLATION

When the people assembled, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu raised His arms and

said very loudly,"Hari bol!" The people responded to the Lord and

became ecstatic. As if mad, they began to dance and vibrate the

transcendental sound, "Hari!"

Madhya 17.190

TEXT 190

TEXT

yamunara 'cabbisa ghate' prabhu kaila snana

sei vipra prabhuke dekhaya tirtha-sthana

SYNONYMS

yamunara -- of the River Yamuna; cabbisa ghate -- in the twenty-four

ghats, or bathing places; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila --

performed; snana -- bathing; sei vipra -- that brahmana; prabhuke --

unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhaya -- shows; tirtha-sthana -- the

holy places of pilgrimage.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bathed in twenty-four ghats along the banks

of the Yamuna, and the brahmana showed Him all the places of pilgrimage.

PURPORT

The twenty-four ghats (bathing places) along the Yamuna are (1) Avimukta,

(2) Adhirudha, (3) Guhya-tirtha, (4) Prayaga-tirtha, (5) Kanakhala-

tirtha, (6) Tinduka, (7) Surya-tirtha, (8) Vatasvami, (9) Dhruva-

ghata, (10) Rsi-tirtha, (11) Moksa-tirtha, (12) Bodha-tirtha, (13)

Gokarna, (14) Krsnaganga, (15) Vaikuntha, (16) Asi-kunda, (17)

Catuh-samudrika-kupa, (18) Akrura-tirtha, (19) Yajnika-vipra-sthana, (20)

Kubja-kupa, (21) Ranga-sthala, (22) Manca-sthala, (23) Mallayuddha-

sthana and (24) Dasasvamedha.

Madhya 17.191

TEXT 191

TEXT

svayambhu, visrama, dirgha-visnu, bhutesvara

mahavidya, gokarnadi dekhila vistara

SYNONYMS

svayambhu -- Svayambhu; visrama -- Visrama; dirgha-visnu -- Dirgha Visnu;

bhutesvara -- Bhutesvara; mahavidya -- Mahavidya; gokarna -- Gokarna;

adi -- and so on; dekhila -- saw; vistara -- many.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited all the holy places on the banks of the

Yamuna, including Svayambhu, Visrama-ghata, Dirgha Visnu, Bhutesvara,

Mahavidya and Gokarna.

Madhya 17.192

TEXT 192

TEXT

'vana' dekhibare yadi prabhura mana haila

sei ta brahmane prabhu sangete la-ila

SYNONYMS

vana -- the forests; dekhibare -- to see; yadi -- when; prabhura -- of

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mana -- mind; haila -- was; sei ta -- indeed

that; brahmane -- brahmana; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sangete

la-ila -- took along.

TRANSLATION

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to see the various forests of

Vrndavana, He took the brahmana with Him.

Madhya 17.193

TEXT 193

TEXT

madhu-vana, tala, kumuda, bahula-vana gela

tahan tahan snana kari' premavista haila

SYNONYMS

madhu-vana -- Madhuvana; tala -- Talavana; kumuda -- Kumudavana; bahula-

vana -- Bahulavana; gela -- He visited; tahan tahan -- here and there;

snana kari' -- taking bath; prema-avista haila -- became overwhelmed

by ecstatic love.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited the different forests, including

Madhuvana, Talavana, Kumudavana and Bahulavana. Wherever He went, He

took His bath with great ecstatic love.

PURPORT

The word vana means "forest." Vrndavana is the name given to the forest

where Srimati Vrndadevi (Tulasidevi) grows profusely. Actually it is not

a forest as we ordinarily consider a forest because it is very thick

with green vegetation. There are twelve such vanas in Vrndavana. Some

are located on the western side of the Yamuna and others on the

eastern side. The forests situated on the eastern side are Bhadravana,

Bilvavana, Lauhavana, Bhandiravana and Mahavana. On the western side are

Madhuvana, Talavana, Kumudavana, Bahulavana, Kamyavana, Khadiravana and

Vrndavana. These are the twelve forests of the Vrndavana area.

Madhya 17.194

TEXT 194

TEXT

pathe gabhi-ghata care prabhure dekhiya

prabhuke bedaya asi' hunkara kariya

SYNONYMS

pathe -- on the road; gabhi-ghata -- groups of cows; care -- graze;

prabhure dekhiya -- after seeing Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prabhuke

bedaya -- they surrounded the Lord; asi' -- coming; hun-kara kariya --

making a loud vibration.

TRANSLATION

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed through Vrndavana, herds of grazing

cows saw Him pass and, immediately surrounding Him, began to moo very

loudly.

Madhya 17.195

TEXT 195

TEXT

gabhi dekhi' stabdha prabhu premera tarange

vatsalye gabhi prabhura cate saba-ange

SYNONYMS

gabhi dekhi' -- seeing the cows; stabdha -- stunned; prabhu -- Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu; premera tarange -- in the waves of ecstatic love;

vatsalye -- in great affection; gabhi -- all the cows; prabhura --

of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; cate -- licked; saba-ange -- all over the

body.

TRANSLATION

Seeing the herds approach Him, the Lord was stunned with ecstatic love.

The cows then began to lick His body in great affection.

Madhya 17.196

TEXT 196

TEXT

sustha hana prabhu kare anga-kanduyana

prabhu-sange cale, nahi chade dhenu-gana

SYNONYMS

sustha hana -- becoming patient; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare

-- does; anga -- of the body; kanduyana -- scratching; prabhu-sange --

with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; cale -- go; nahi chade -- do not give up;

dhenu-gana -- all the cows.

TRANSLATION

Becoming pacified, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to caress the cows, and

the cows, being unable to give up His company, went with Him.

Madhya 17.197

TEXT 197

TEXT

kaste-srstye dhenu saba rakhila goyala

prabhu-kantha-dhvani suni' aise mrgi-pala

SYNONYMS

kaste-srstye -- with great difficulty; dhenu -- the cows; saba -- all;

rakhila -- kept back; goyala -- the cowherd men; prabhu-kantha-dhvani --

the musical voice of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; suni' -- hearing; aise --

came; mrgi-pala -- flocks of deer.

TRANSLATION

It was with great difficulty that the cowherd men were able to keep

the cows back. Then when the Lord chanted, all the deer heard His sweet

voice and approached Him.

Madhya 17.198

TEXT 198

TEXT

mrga-mrgi mukha dekhi' prabhu-anga cate

bhaya nahi kare, sange yaya vate-vate

SYNONYMS

mrga-mrgi -- the deer, both male and female; mukha dekhi' -- seeing His

face; prabhu-anga cate -- began to lick the body of the Lord; bhaya nahi

kare -- they were not at all afraid; sange yaya -- go with Him; vate-

vate -- all along the road.

TRANSLATION

When the does and bucks came and saw the Lord's face, they began to lick

His body. Not being at all afraid of Him, they accompanied Him along the

path.

Madhya 17.199

TEXT 199

TEXT

suka, pika, bhrnga prabhure dekhi' 'pancama' gaya

sikhi-gana nrtya kari' prabhu-age yaya

SYNONYMS

suka -- parrots; pika -- cuckoos; bhrnga -- bumblebees; prabhure -- Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhi' -- seeing; pancama -- the fifth musical note;

gaya -- sing; sikhi-gana -- peacocks; nrtya -- dancing; kari' --

performing; prabhu-age -- in front of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yaya --

go.

TRANSLATION

Bumblebees and birds like the parrot and cuckoo all began to sing loudly

on the fifth note, and the peacocks began to dance in front of the Lord.

Madhya 17.200

TEXT 200

TEXT

prabhu dekhi' vrndavanera vrksa-lata-gane

ankura pulaka, madhu-asru varisane

SYNONYMS

prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhi' -- seeing; vrndavane -- of

Vrndavana; vrksa-lata-gane -- the trees and creepers; ankura -- twigs;

pulaka -- jubilant; madhu-asru -- tears in the form of honey; varisane --

pour.

TRANSLATION

Upon seeing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the trees and creepers of Vrndavana

became jubilant. Their twigs stood up, and they began to shed tears of

ecstasy in the form of honey.

Madhya 17.201

TEXT 201

TEXT

phula-phala bhari' dala pade prabhu-paya

bandhu dekhi' bandhu yena'bheta' lana yaya

SYNONYMS

phula-phala bhari' -- loaded with fruits and flowers; dala -- the

branches; pade -- fall down; prabhu-paya -- at the lotus feet of the

Lord; bandhu dekhi' -- seeing one friend; bandhu -- another friend; yena

-- as if; bheta -- a presentation; lana -- taking; yaya -- goes.

TRANSLATION

The trees and creepers, overloaded with fruits and flowers,

fell down at the lotus feet of the Lord and greeted Him with various

presentations as if they were friends.

Madhya 17.202

TEXT 202

TEXT

prabhu dekhi' vrndavanera sthavara-jangama

anandita -- bandhu yena dekhe bandhu-gana

SYNONYMS

prabhu dekhi' -- seeing the Lord; vrndavanera -- of Vrndavana; sthavara-

jangama -- all living entities, moving and not moving; anandita -- very

jubilant; bandhu -- friend; yena -- as if; dekhe -- see; bandhu-gana --

friends.

TRANSLATION

Thus all the moving and nonmoving living entities of Vrndavana became

very jubilant to see the Lord. It was as if friends were made happy by

seeing another friend.

Madhya 17.203

TEXT 203

TEXT

ta-sabara priti dekhi' prabhu bhavavese

saba-sane krida kare hana tara vase

SYNONYMS

ta-sabara -- of all of them; priti -- affection; dekhi' -- seeing;

prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhava-avese -- in ecstatic love; saba-

sane -- with all of them; krida -- sporting; kare -- performs; hana --

being; tara -- their; vase -- under control.

TRANSLATION

Seeing their affection, the Lord was moved by ecstatic love. He began to

sport with them exactly as a friend sports with another friend. Thus He

voluntarily came under the control of His friends.

Madhya 17.204

TEXT 204

TEXT

prati vrksa-lata prabhu karena alingana

puspadi dhyane karena krsne samarpana

SYNONYMS

prati -- each and every; vrksa-lata -- tree and creeper; prabhu -- Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karena alingana -- embraced; puspa-adi -- all the

flowers and fruits; dhyane -- in meditation; karena -- do; krsne -- unto

Lord Krsna; samarpana -- offering.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to embrace each and every tree and creeper,

and they began to offer their fruits and flowers as if in meditation.

Madhya 17.205

TEXT 205

TEXT

asru-kampa-pulaka-preme sarira asthire

'krsna' bala, 'krsna' bala -- bale uccaihsvare

SYNONYMS

asru -- tears; kampa -- trembling; pulaka -- jubilation; preme -- in

ecstatic love; sarira -- the whole body; asthire -- restless; krsna bala

-- say Krsna; krsna bala -- say Krsna; bale -- the Lord says; uccaih-

svare -- very loudly.

TRANSLATION

The Lord's body was restless, and tears, trembling and jubilation were

manifest. He said very loudly, "Chant Krsna! Chant Krsna!"

Madhya 17.206

TEXT 206

TEXT

sthavara-jangama mili' kare krsna-dhvani

prabhura gambhira-svare yena prati-dhvani

SYNONYMS

sthavara-jangama -- all living entities, nonmoving and moving; mili' --

meeting together; kare -- perform; krsna-dhvani -- vibration of the

sound Hare Krsna; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gambhira-

svare -- deep voice; yena -- as if; prati-dhvani -- responsive vibration.

TRANSLATION

All moving and nonmoving creatures then began to vibrate the

transcendental sound of Hare Krsna, as if they were echoing the deep

sound of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Madhya 17.207

TEXT 207

TEXT

mrgera gala dhari' prabhu karena rodane

mrgera pulaka ange, asru nayane

SYNONYMS

mrgera -- of the deer; gala dhari' -- catching the necks; prabhu -- Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karena -- does; rodane -- crying; mrgera -- of the

deer; pulaka ange -- jubilation; asru -- tears; nayane -- in the eyes.

TRANSLATION

The Lord then clasped the necks of the deer and began to cry. There was

jubilation manifest in the bodies of the deer, and tears were in their

eyes.

Madhya 17.208

TEXT 208

TEXT

vrksa-dale suka-sari dila darasana

taha dekhi' prabhura kichu sunite haila mana

SYNONYMS

vrksa-dale -- on a branch of a tree; suka-sari -- male and female

parrots; dila -- gave; darasana -- appearance; taha dekhi' -- seeing

that; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kichu -- something; sunite

-- to hear; haila -- there was; mana -- mind.

TRANSLATION

When a male and female parrot appeared on the branches of a tree, the

Lord saw them and wanted to hear them speak.

Madhya 17.209

TEXT 209

TEXT

suka-sarika prabhura hate udi' pade

prabhuke sunana krsnera guna-sloka pade

SYNONYMS

suka-sarika -- the parrots, male and female; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; hate -- on the hand; udi' -- flying; pade -- fall; prabhuke -

- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sunana -- causing to hear; krsnera -- of Lord

Krsna; guna-sloka pade -- chanted verses about the transcendental

qualities.

TRANSLATION

Both parrots flew onto the hand of the Lord and began to chant the

transcendental qualities of Krsna, and the Lord listened to them.

Madhya 17.210

TEXT 210

TEXT

saundaryam lalanali-dhairya-dalanam lila rama-stambhini

viryam kandukitadri-varyam amalah pare-parardham gunah

silam sarva-jananuranjanam aho yasyayam asmat-prabhur

visvam visva-janina-kirtir avatat krsno jagan-mohanah

SYNONYMS

saundaryam -- the bodily beauty; lalana-ali -- of groups of gopis;

dhairya -- the patience; dalanam -- subduing; lila -- pastimes; rama --

the goddess of fortune; stambhini -- astounding; viryam -- strength;

kandukita -- making like a small ball for throwing; adri-varyam -- the

great mountain; amalah -- without a spot; pare-parardham -- unlimited;

gunah -- qualities; silam -- behavior; sarva-jana -- all kinds of living

entities; anuranjanam -- satisfying; aho -- oh; yasya -- whose; ayam --

this; asmat-prabhuh -- our Lord; visvam -- the whole universe; visva-

janina -- for the benefit of everyone; kirtih -- whose glorification;

avatat -- may He maintain; krsnah -- Lord Krsna; jagat-mohanah -- the

attractor of the whole world.

TRANSLATION

The male parrot sang: "The glorification of Lord Krsna, the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, is beneficial to everyone in the universe. His

beauty is victorious over the gopis of Vrndavana, and it subdues their

patience. His pastimes astound the goddess of fortune, and His bodily

strength turns Govardhana Hill into a small toy like a ball. His

spotless qualities are unlimited, and His behavior satisfies everyone.

Lord Krsna is attractive to everyone. Oh, may our Lord maintain the

whole universe!"

PURPORT

This verse is found in the Govinda-lilamrta (13.29).

Madhya 17.211

TEXT 211

TEXT

suka-mukhe suni' tabe krsnera varnana

sarika padaye tabe radhika-varnana

SYNONYMS

suka-mukhe -- in the mouth of the male parrot; suni' -- hearing; krsnera

varnana -- a description of Lord Krsna; sarika -- female parrot; padaye -

- recites; tabe -- then; radhika-varnana -- a description of Srimati

Radharani.

TRANSLATION

After hearing this description of Lord Krsna from the male parrot, the

female parrot began to recite a description of Srimati Radharani.

Madhya 17.212

TEXT 212

TEXT

sri-radhikayah priyata surupata

susilata nartana-gana-caturi

gunali-sampat kavita ca rajate

jagan-mano-mohana-citta-mohini

SYNONYMS

sri-radhikayah -- of Srimati Radharani; priyata -- affection; su-rupata -

- exquisite beauty; su-silata -- good behavior; nartana-gana -- in

chanting and dancing; caturi -- artistry; guna-ali-sampat -- possession

of such transcendental qualities; kavita -- poetry; ca -- also; rajate --

shine; jagat-manah-mohana -- of Krsna, who attracts the mind of the

whole universe; citta-mohini -- the attractor of the mind.

TRANSLATION

The female parrot said: "Srimati Radharani's affection, Her exquisite

beauty and good behavior, Her artistic dancing and chanting and Her

poetic compositions are all so attractive that they attract the mind of

Krsna, who attracts the mind of everyone in the universe."

PURPORT

This verse is found in the Govinda-lilamrta (13.30).

Madhya 17.213

TEXT 213

TEXT

punah suka kahe, -- krsna 'madana-mohana'

tabe ara sloka suka karila pathana

SYNONYMS

punah -- again; suka -- the male parrot; kahe -- says; krsna madana-

mohana -- Krsna is the conqueror of the mind of Cupid; tabe --

thereafter; ara -- another; sloka -- verse; suka -- the male parrot;

karila pathana -- recited.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter the male parrot said,"Krsna is the enchanter of the mind of

Cupid." He then began to recite another verse.

Madhya 17.214

TEXT 214

TEXT

vamsi-dhari jagan-nari-

citta-hari sa sarike

vihari gopa-naribhir

jiyan madana-mohanah

SYNONYMS

vamsi-dhari -- the carrier of the flute; jagat-nari -- of all women of

the universe; citta-hari -- the stealer of the hearts; sah -- He; sarike

-- my dear sari; vihari -- enjoyer; gopa-naribhih -- with the gopis;

jiyat -- let Him be glorified; madana -- of Cupid; mohanah -- the

enchanter.

TRANSLATION

The parrot then said, "My dear sari [female parrot], Sri Krsna

carries a flute and enchants the hearts of all women throughout the

universe. He is specifically the enjoyer of beautiful gopis, and He

is the enchanter of Cupid also. Let Him be glorified!"

PURPORT

This verse is also found in the Govinda-lilamrta (13.31).

Madhya 17.215

TEXT 215

TEXT

punah sari kahe suke kari' parihasa

taha suni' prabhura haila vismaya-premollasa

SYNONYMS

punah -- again; sari kahe -- the female parrot said; suke -- unto the

male parrot; kari' parihasa -- jokingly; taha suni' -- hearing that;

prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; haila -- there was; vismaya --

wonderful; prema-ullasa -- awakening of ecstatic love.

TRANSLATION

Then the female parrot began to speak jokingly to suka, and

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was struck with wonderful ecstatic love to hear

her speak.

Madhya 17.216

TEXT 216

TEXT

radha-sange yada bhati

tada 'madana-mohanah'

anyatha visva-moho 'pi

svayam 'madana-mohitah'

SYNONYMS

radha-sange -- with Srimati Radharani; yada -- when; bhati -- shines;

tada -- at that time; madana-mohanah -- the enchanter of the mind of

Cupid; anyatha -- otherwise; visva-mohah -- the enchanter of the whole

universe; api -- even though; svayam -- personally; madana-mohitah --

enchanted by Cupid.

TRANSLATION

The parrot sari said, "When Lord Sri Krsna is with Radharani, He is

the enchanter of Cupid; otherwise, when He is alone, He Himself is

enchanted by erotic feelings even though He enchants the whole universe."

PURPORT

This is another verse from the Govinda-lilamrta (13.32).

Madhya 17.217

TEXT 217

TEXT

suka-sari udi' punah gela vrksa-dale

mayurera nrtya prabhu dekhe kutuhale

SYNONYMS

suka-sari -- the male and female parrots; udi' -- flying; punah -- again;

gela -- went; vrksa-dale -- to the branch of a tree; mayurera -- of the

peacocks; nrtya -- dancing; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhe --

sees; kutuhale -- with curiosity.

TRANSLATION

Both parrots then flew onto a tree branch, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

began to watch the dancing of peacocks with curiosity.

Madhya 17.218

TEXT 218

TEXT

mayurera kantha dekhi' prabhura krsna-smrti haila

premavese mahaprabhu bhumite padila

SYNONYMS

mayurera -- of the peacocks; kantha -- necks; dekhi' -- seeing; prabhura

-- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krsna-smrti -- remembrance of Lord Krsna;

haila -- there was; prema-avese -- in ecstatic love; mahaprabhu -- Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhumite -- on the ground; padila -- fell down.

TRANSLATION

When the Lord saw the bluish necks of the peacocks, His remembrance of

Krsna immediately awakened, and He fell to the ground in ecstatic love.

Madhya 17.219

TEXT 219

TEXT

prabhure murcchita dekhi' sei ta brahmana

bhattacarya-sange kare prabhura santarpana

SYNONYMS

prabhure -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; murcchita -- unconscious; dekhi' --

seeing; sei ta brahmana -- indeed that brahmana; bhattacarya-sange --

with Bhattacarya; kare -- does; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; santarpana -- taking care.

TRANSLATION

When the brahmana saw that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was unconscious, he

and Balabhadra Bhattacarya took care of Him.

Madhya 17.220

TEXT 220

TEXT

aste-vyaste mahaprabhura lana bahirvasa

jala-seka kare ange, vastrera vatasa

SYNONYMS

aste-vyaste -- with great haste; mahaprabhura -- of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; lana -- taking; bahirvasa -- covering cloth; jala-seka kare -

- sprinkle water; ange -- on the body; vastrera vatasa -- fanning with

the cloth.

TRANSLATION

They hastily sprinkled water over the Lord's body. Then they took up His

cloth and began to fan Him with it.

Madhya 17.221

TEXT 221

TEXT

prabhu-karne krsna-nama kahe ucca kari'

cetana pana prabhu ya'na gadagadi

SYNONYMS

prabhu-karne -- in the ear of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krsna-nama -- the

holy name of Lord Krsna; kahe -- chant; ucca kari' -- loudly; cetana

pana -- coming to consciousness; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ya'

na -- goes; gadagadi -- rolling on the ground.

TRANSLATION

They then began to chant the holy name of Krsna into the Lord's ear.

When the Lord regained consciousness, He began rolling on the ground.

Madhya 17.222

TEXT 222

TEXT

kantaka-durgama vane anga ksata haila

bhattacarya kole kari' prabhure sustha kaila

SYNONYMS

kantaka-durgama -- difficult to traverse because of thorns; vane -- in

the forest; anga -- the body; ksata haila -- became injured; bhattacarya

-- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; kole kari' -- taking Him on his lap; prabhure

-- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sustha kaila -- pacified.

TRANSLATION

When the Lord rolled on the ground, sharp thorns injured His body.

Taking Him on his lap, Balabhadra Bhattacarya pacified Him.

Madhya 17.223

TEXT 223

TEXT

krsnavese prabhura preme garagara mana

'bol' 'bol' kari' uthi' karena nartana

SYNONYMS

krsna-avese -- in ecstatic love of Krsna; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu; preme -- by love; garagara -- disturbed; mana -- mind; bol

bol -- chant, chant; kari' -- saying; uthi' -- standing up; karena

nartana -- began to dance.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mind wandered in ecstatic love of

Krsna. He immediately stood up and said,"Chant! Chant!" Then He Himself

began to dance.

Madhya 17.224

TEXT 224

TEXT

bhattacarya, sei vipra 'krsna-nama' gaya

nacite nacite pathe prabhu cali' yaya

SYNONYMS

bhattacarya -- Bhattacarya; sei vipra -- that brahmana; krsna-nama

gaya -- chant the holy name of Krsna; nacite nacite -- dancing and

dancing; pathe -- on the road; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; cali'

yaya -- goes forward.

TRANSLATION

Being thus ordered by the Lord, both Balabhadra Bhattacarya and the

brahmana began to chant the holy name of Krsna. Then the Lord, dancing

and dancing, proceeded along the path.

Madhya 17.225

TEXT 225

TEXT

prabhura premavesa dekhi' brahmana -- vismita

prabhura raksa lagi' vipra ha-ila cintita

SYNONYMS

prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prema-avesa -- ecstatic love;

dekhi' -- seeing; brahmana -- the brahmana; vismita -- astonished;

prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; raksa lagi' -- for the

protection; vipra -- the brahmana; ha-ila -- became; cintita -- very

anxious.

TRANSLATION

The brahmana was astounded to see the symptoms of ecstatic love

exhibited by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He then became anxious to give the

Lord protection.

Madhya 17.226

TEXT 226

TEXT

nilacale chila yaiche premavesa mana

vrndavana yaite pathe haila sata-guna

SYNONYMS

nilacale -- at Jagannatha Puri; chila -- was; yaiche -- as; prema-avesa

mana -- always in a mentality of ecstatic love; vrndavana -- to

Vrndavana; yaite -- going; pathe -- on the road; haila -- became; sata-

guna -- one hundred times.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mind was absorbed in ecstatic love at

Jagannatha Puri, but when He passed along the road on the way to

Vrndavana, that love increased a hundred times.

Madhya 17.227

TEXT 227

TEXT

sahasra-guna prema bade mathura darasane

laksa-guna prema bade, bhramena yabe vane

SYNONYMS

sahasra-guna -- one thousand times; prema -- love; bade -- increased;

mathura -- Mathura; darasane -- upon seeing; laksa-guna -- a hundred

thousand times; prema bade -- love increases; bhramena -- wanders; yabe -

- when; vane -- in the forests of Vrndavana.

TRANSLATION

The Lord's ecstatic love increased a thousand times when He visited

Mathura, but it increased a hundred thousand times when He wandered in

the forests of Vrndavana.

Madhya 17.228-229

TEXTS 228-229

TEXT

anya-desa prema uchale 'vrndavana'-name

saksat bhramaye ebe sei vrndavane

preme garagara mana ratri-divase

snana-bhiksadi-nirvaha karena abhyase

SYNONYMS

anya-desa -- in other countries; prema -- love; uchale -- increases;

vrndavana-name -- by the name of Vrndavana; saksat -- directly; bhramaye

-- travels; ebe -- now; sei vrndavane -- in that Vrndavana; preme -- in

ecstatic love; garagara -- faltering; mana -- mind; ratri-divase -- day

and night; snana-bhiksa-adi -- bathing and accepting food; nirvaha --

accomplishing; karena -- does; abhyase -- by habit.

TRANSLATION

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was elsewhere, the very name of Vrndavana

was sufficient to increase His ecstatic love. Now, when He was actually

traveling in the Vrndavana forest, His mind was absorbed in great

ecstatic love day and night. He ate and bathed simply out of habit.

Madhya 17.230

TEXT 230

TEXT

ei-mata prema -- yavat bhramila 'bara' vana

ekatra likhilun, sarvatra na yaya varnana

SYNONYMS

ei-mata -- in this way; prema -- ecstatic love; yavat -- so long;

bhramila -- He traveled; bara vana -- through the twelve forests of

Vrndavana; ekatra -- in one place; likhilun -- I have written; sarvatra -

- everywhere; na yaya varnana -- cannot be described.

TRANSLATION

Thus I have written a description of the ecstatic love Lord Caitanya

manifested while He walked through the

twelve forests of Vrndavana. To describe it all

would be impossible.

Madhya 17.231

TEXT 231

TEXT

vrndavane haila prabhura yateka premera vikara

koti-granthe 'ananta' likhena tahara vistara

SYNONYMS

vrndavane -- in Vrndavana; haila -- there were; prabhura -- of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yateka -- as many; premera vikara --

transformations of ecstasy; koti-granthe -- in millions of books; ananta

-- Lord Ananta; likhena -- writes; tahara -- of them; vistara --

elaboration.

TRANSLATION

Lord Ananta writes millions of books elaborately describing the

transformations of ecstatic love experienced by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

in Vrndavana.

Madhya 17.232

TEXT 232

TEXT

tabu likhibare nare tara eka kana

uddesa karite kari dig-darasana

SYNONYMS

tabu -- yet; likhibare -- to write; nare -- is not able; tara -- of that;

eka -- one; kana -- fragment; uddesa -- indication; karite -- to make;

kari -- I perform; dik-darasana -- pointing out the direction.

TRANSLATION

Since Lord Ananta Himself cannot describe even a fragment of these

pastimes, I am simply pointing out the direction.

Madhya 17.233

TEXT 233

TEXT

jagat bhasila caitanya-lilara pathare

yanra yata sakti tata pathare santare

SYNONYMS

jagat -- the whole world; bhasila -- floated; caitanya-lilara -- of the

pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; pathare -- in the inundation; yanra

-- of whom; yata -- as much; sakti -- power; tata -- that much; pathare -

- in the inundation; santare -- swims.

TRANSLATION

The whole world became merged in the inundation of the pastimes of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One can swim in that water to the extent that he

has the strength.

Madhya 17.234

TEXT 234

TEXT

sri-rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa

caitanya-caritamrta kahe krsnadasa

SYNONYMS

sri-rupa -- Srila Rupa Gosvami; raghunatha -- Srila Raghunatha dasa

Gosvami; pade -- at the lotus feet; yara -- whose; asa -- expectation;

caitanya-caritamrta -- the book named Caitanya-caritamrta; kahe --

describes; krsnadasa -- Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami.

TRANSLATION

Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always

desiring their mercy, I, Krsnadasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,

following in their footsteps.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,

Madhya-lila, Seventeenth Chapter, describing the Lord's traveling to

Vrndavana.

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4117

 
 
Madhya 17: The Lord Travels to Vrndavana
 
Chapter 17: 
 
The Lord Travels to Vrndavana
 
The following summary of the Seventeenth Chapter is given by 
Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. After attending the 
Ratha-yatra ceremony of Sri Jagannatha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu decided 
to start for Vrndavana. Sri Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami 
selected a brahmana named Balabhadra Bhattacarya to personally assist 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Early in the morning before sunrise, the Lord 
started for the town of Kataka. North of Kataka, He penetrated a dense 
forest and came upon many tigers and elephants, whom He engaged in 
chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Whenever the Lord had a chance to 
visit a village, Balabhadra Bhattacarya would beg alms and acquire some 
rice and vegetables. If there were no village, Balabhadra would cook 
whatever rice remained and collect some spinach from the forest for the 
Lord to eat. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very pleased with the behavior 
of Balabhadra Bhattacarya.
 
In this way the Lord passed through the jungle of Jharikhanda and 
finally reached Varanasi. After taking His bath at the Manikarnika-ghata 
at Varanasi, He met Tapana Misra, who took the Lord to his place and 
respectfully gave Him a comfortable residence. At Varanasi, Vaidya 
Candrasekhara, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's old friend, also rendered 
service unto Him. Seeing the behavior of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, a 
Maharashtriyan brahmana informed Prakasananda Sarasvati, the leader of 
the Mayavadi sannyasis. Prakasananda made various accusations against 
the Lord. The Maharashtriyan brahmana was very sorry about this, and he 
brought the news to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, inquiring from Him why the 
Mayavadi sannyasis did not utter the holy name of Krsna. In reply, Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that they were offenders and that one should 
not associate with them. In this way the Lord bestowed His blessings 
upon the brahmana.
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu next passed through Prayaga and Mathura and then 
took His lunch at the home of a Sanodiya brahmana, a disciple of 
Madhavendra Puri. He bestowed His blessings upon the brahmana by 
accepting lunch at his place. Thereafter the Lord visited the twelve 
forests of Vrndavana and was filled with great ecstatic love. As He 
toured the Vrndavana forests, He heard the chirping of parrots and other 
birds.
 
Madhya 17.1
 
TEXT 1
 
TEXT
 
gacchan vrndavanam gauro
 vyaghrebhaina-khagan vane
premonmattan sahonnrtyan
 vidadhe krsna-jalpinah
SYNONYMS
 
gacchan -- going; vrndavanam -- to Vrndavana-dhama; gaurah -- Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vyaghra -- tigers; ibha -- elephants; ena -- deer; 
khagan -- and birds; vane -- in the forest; prema-unmattan -- maddened 
by ecstatic love; saha -- with; unnrtyan -- dancing; vidadhe -- made; 
krsna -- Lord Krsna's name; jalpinah -- chanting.
 
TRANSLATION
 
On His way to Vrndavana, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed through the 
forest of Jharikhanda and made all the tigers, elephants, deer and birds 
chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and dance. Thus all these 
animals were overwhelmed by ecstatic love.
 
Madhya 17.2
 
TEXT 2
 
TEXT
 
jaya jaya gauracandra jaya nityananda
jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda
SYNONYMS
 
jaya jaya -- all glories; gauracandra -- 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 Lord Caitanya.
 
TRANSLATION
 
All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityananda! 
All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of the 
Lord!
 
Madhya 17.3
 
TEXT 3
 
TEXT
 
sarat-kala haila, prabhura calite haila mati
ramananda-svarupa-sange nibhrte yukati
SYNONYMS
 
sarat-kala haila -- autumn arrived; prabhura -- of Lord Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; calite -- to travel; haila -- was; mati -- desire; ramananda 
-- Ramananda Raya; svarupa -- Svarupa Damodara; sange -- with; nibhrte --
 solitary; yukati -- consultation.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When autumn arrived, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu decided to go to Vrndavana. 
In a solitary place, He consulted with Ramananda Raya and Svarupa 
Damodara Gosvami.
 
Madhya 17.4
 
TEXT 4
 
TEXT
 
"mora sahaya kara yadi, tumi-dui jana
tabe ami yana dekhi sri-vrndavana
SYNONYMS
 
mora -- of Me; sahaya -- help; kara -- you do; yadi -- if; tumi -- you; 
dui jana -- two persons; tabe -- then; ami -- I; yana -- going; dekhi -- 
shall see; sri-vrndavana -- Sri Vrndavana-dhama.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The Lord requested Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami to help 
Him go to Vrndavana.
 
Madhya 17.5
 
TEXT 5
 
TEXT
 
ratrye uthi' vana-pathe palana yaba
ekaki yaiba, kahon sange na la-iba
SYNONYMS
 
ratrye uthi' -- rising at night; vana-pathe -- on the road through the 
forest; palana yaba -- I shall go away secretly; ekaki yaiba -- I shall 
go alone; kahon -- anyone; sange -- with Me; na la-iba -- I shall not 
take.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "I shall leave early in the morning and go 
incognito, taking the road through the forest. I shall go alone -- I 
shall not take anyone with Me.
 
Madhya 17.6
 
TEXT 6
 
TEXT
 
keha yadi sanga la-ite pache uthi' dhaya
sabare rakhiba, yena keha nahi yaya
SYNONYMS
 
keha -- someone; yadi -- if; sanga la-ite -- to take company; pache -- 
behind; uthi' -- getting up; dhaya -- runs; sabare -- everyone; rakhiba -
- please stop; yena -- so that; keha -- anyone; nahi yaya -- does not go.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"If someone wants to follow Me, please stop him. I don't want anyone to 
go with Me.
 
Madhya 17.7
 
TEXT 7
 
TEXT
 
prasanna hana ajna diba, na maniba ‘duhkha'
toma-sabara ‘sukhe' pathe habe mora ‘sukha'"
SYNONYMS
 
prasanna hana -- being pleased; ajna diba -- give permission; na -- do 
not; maniba duhkha -- become unhappy; toma-sabara -- of all of you; 
sukhe -- by the happiness; pathe -- on the road; habe -- there will be; 
mora -- My; sukha -- happiness.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Please give Me your permission with great pleasure and do not be 
unhappy. If you are happy, I shall be happy on My way to Vrndavana."
 
Madhya 17.8
 
TEXT 8
 
TEXT
 
dui-jana kahe, -- ‘tumi isvara ‘svatantra'
yei iccha, sei kariba, naha ‘paratantra'
SYNONYMS
 
dui-jana kahe -- the two persons replied; tumi -- You; isvara -- the 
Supreme Personality of Godhead; sva-tantra -- completely 
independent; yei iccha -- whatever You desire; sei -- that; kariba -- 
You will do; naha -- You are not; para-tantra -- dependent on anyone.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Upon hearing this, Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami replied, "
Dear Lord, You are completely independent. Since You are not dependent 
on anyone, You will do whatever You desire.
 
Madhya 17.9
 
TEXT 9
 
TEXT
 
kintu ama-dunhara suna eka nivedane
‘tomara sukhe amara sukha' -- kahila apane
SYNONYMS
 
kintu -- but; ama-dunhara -- of both of us; suna -- please hear; eka 
nivedane -- one submission; tomara sukhe -- by Your happiness; amara 
sukha -- our happiness; kahila -- You have already stated; apane -- 
personally.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Dear Lord, kindly hear our one petition. You have already said that You 
will derive happiness from our happiness. This is Your own statement.
 
Madhya 17.10
 
TEXT 10
 
TEXT
 
ama-dunhara mane tabe bada ‘sukha' haya
eka nivedana yadi dhara, dayamaya
SYNONYMS
 
ama-dunhara -- of us two; mane -- in the mind; tabe -- therefore; bada --
 very much; sukha haya -- there is happiness; eka nivedana -- one 
request; yadi -- if; dhara -- You accept; daya-maya -- merciful.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"If You will please accept just one request, we shall be very, very 
happy.
 
Madhya 17.11
 
TEXT 11
 
TEXT
 
‘uttama brahmana' eka sange avasya cahi
bhiksa kari' bhiksa dibe, yabe patra vahi'
SYNONYMS
 
uttama brahmana -- a high-class brahmana; eka -- one; sange -- along; 
avasya -- certainly; cahi -- we want; bhiksa kari' -- collecting alms; 
bhiksa dibe -- will give You food; yabe -- will go; patra vahi' -- 
bearing Your waterpot.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Our Lord, please take one very nice brahmana with You. He will collect 
alms for You, cook for You, give You prasadam and carry Your waterpot 
while traveling.
 
Madhya 17.12
 
TEXT 12
 
TEXT
 
vana-pathe yaite nahi ‘bhojyanna'-brahmana
ajna kara, -- sange caluka vipra eka-jana'
SYNONYMS
 
vana-pathe -- on the forest path; yaite -- going; nahi -- there is not; 
bhojya-anna-brahmana -- a brahmana whose food can be accepted; ajna kara 
-- please give permission; sange -- along; caluka -- may go; vipra-
brahmana; eka-jana -- one person.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"When You go through the jungle, there will be no brahmana available 
from whom You can accept lunch. Therefore please give permission for at 
least one pure brahmana to accompany You."
 
Madhya 17.13
 
TEXT 13
 
TEXT
 
prabhu kahe, -- nija-sangi kanho na la-iba
eka-jane nile, anera mane duhkha ha-iba
SYNONYMS
 
prabhu kahe -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied; nija-sangi -- of My 
associates; kanho -- anyone; na -- not; la-iba -- I shall take; eka-jane 
nile -- if I take someone; anera mane -- in the mind of others; duhkha 
ha-iba -- there will be unhappiness.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "I shall not take any of My associates 
with Me, because if I choose someone, all the others will be unhappy.
 
Madhya 17.14
 
TEXT 14
 
TEXT
 
nutana sangi ha-ibeka, -- snigdha yanra mana
aiche yabe pai, tabe la-i ‘eka' jana
SYNONYMS
 
nutana -- new; sangi -- associate; ha-ibeka -- must be; snigdha -- very 
peaceful; yanra -- whose; mana -- mind; aiche -- such; yabe -- if; pai --
 I get; tabe -- then; la-i -- I take; eka jana -- one person.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Such a person must be a new man, and he must have a peaceful mind. If I 
can obtain such a man, I shall agree to take him with Me."
 
PURPORT
 
Formerly, when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to South India, a 
brahmana named Kala Krsnadasa went with Him. Kala Krsnadasa 
fell victim to a woman, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had to take the 
trouble to free him from the clutches of the gypsies. Therefore the Lord 
here says that He wants a new man who is peaceful in mind. One whose 
mind is not peaceful is agitated by certain drives, especially sex 
desire, even though he be in the company of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Such a 
man will become a victim of women and will fall down even in the company 
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Maya is so strong that unless one 
is determined not to fall victim, even the Supreme Personality of 
Godhead cannot give protection. The Supreme Lord and His representative 
always want to give protection, but a person must take advantage of 
their personal contact. If one thinks that the Supreme Personality of 
Godhead or His representative is an ordinary man, he will certainly fall 
down. Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not want a person like Kala 
Krsnadasa to accompany Him. He wanted someone who was determined, who 
had a peaceful mind, and who was not agitated by ulterior motives.
 
Madhya 17.15
 
TEXT 15
 
TEXT
 
svarupa kahe, -- ei balabhadra-bhattacarya
tomate su-snigdha bada, pandita, sadhu, arya
SYNONYMS
 
svarupa kahe -- Svarupa Damodara Gosvami said; ei -- this; balabhadra-
bhattacarya -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; tomate -- unto You; su-snigdha -- 
affectionate; bada -- very; pandita -- educated; sadhu -- honest; arya --
 advanced in spiritual consciousness.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Svarupa Damodara then said, "Here is Balabhadra Bhattacarya, who has 
great love for You. He is an honest, learned scholar, and he is advanced 
in spiritual consciousness.
 
PURPORT
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted a new man, not a person like Kala 
Krsnadasa who would fall for women. Svarupa Damodara therefore 
immediately pointed out a new brahmana named Balabhadra Bhattacarya. Sri 
Svarupa Damodara Gosvami had studied this person very thoroughly and had 
seen that he had great love for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Not only did he 
love the Lord, but he was also learned and honest. He was not 
duplicitous, and he was advanced in Krsna consciousness. According to a 
Bengali proverb, ati bhakti corera laksana: "Too much devotion is a 
symptom of a thief." A person who assumes himself to be a great devotee 
but mentally is thinking of something else is duplicitous. One who is 
not duplicitous is called sadhu. Svarupa Damodara immediately pointed 
out that Balabhadra Bhattacarya was quite fit to accompany the Lord 
because he was a learned scholar and was simple and had great love for 
Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He was also advanced in Krsna 
consciousness; therefore he was considered appropriate for accompanying 
the Lord as a personal servant.
 
The words snigdha ("very peaceful") and su-snigdha ("
affectionate") are used in verses fourteen and fifteen respectively, and 
they are also found in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.8): bruyuh snigdhasya 
sisyasya guravo guhyam apy uta. "A disciple who has actual love for his 
spiritual master is endowed, by the blessings of the spiritual master, 
with all confidential knowledge." Srila Sridhara Svami has commented 
that the word snigdhasya means prema-vatah. The word prema-vatah 
indicates that one has great love for his spiritual master.
 
Madhya 17.16
 
TEXT 16
 
TEXT
 
prathamei toma-sange aila gauda haite
inhara iccha ache ‘sarva-tirtha' karite
SYNONYMS
 
prathamei -- in the beginning; toma-sange -- with You; aila -- came; 
gauda haite -- from Bengal; inhara iccha -- his desire; ache -- is; 
sarva-tirtha -- all places of pilgrimage; karite -- to go see.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"In the beginning, he came with You from Bengal. It is his desire to 
visit and see all the holy places of pilgrimage.
 
Madhya 17.17
 
TEXT 17
 
TEXT
 
inhara sange ache vipra eka ‘bhrtya'
inho pathe karibena seva-bhiksa-krtya
SYNONYMS
 
inhara sange -- with him; ache -- is; vipra-brahmana; eka -- one; 
bhrtya -- servant; inho -- this man; pathe -- on the way; karibena -- 
will do; seva -- service; bhiksa-krtya -- and arrangements for cooking.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"In addition, You may take another brahmana who will act as a servant 
en route and make arrangements for Your food.
 
Madhya 17.18
 
TEXT 18
 
TEXT
 
inhare sange laha yadi, sabara haya ‘sukha'
vana-pathe yaite tomara nahibe kona ‘duhkha'
SYNONYMS
 
inhare -- him; sange -- along; laha -- You accept; yadi -- if; sabara 
haya sukha -- everyone will be happy; vana-pathe -- on the path through 
the jungle; yaite -- going; tomara -- Your; nahibe -- there will not be; 
kona -- any; duhkha -- difficulty.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"If You can also take him with You, we will be very happy. If two people 
go with You through the jungle, there will certainly be no difficulty or 
inconvenience.
 
Madhya 17.19
 
TEXT 19
 
TEXT
 
sei vipra vahi' nibe vastrambu-bhajana
bhattacarya bhiksa dibe kari' bhiksatana
SYNONYMS
 
sei vipra -- the other brahmana; vahi' nibe -- will carry; vastra-ambu-
bhajana -- the cloth and waterpot; bhattacarya -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya;
 bhiksa dibe -- will arrange for cooking; kari' -- performing; bhiksa-
atana -- collecting alms.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"The other brahmana can carry Your cloth and waterpot, and Balabhadra 
Bhattacarya will collect alms and cook for You."
 
Madhya 17.20
 
TEXT 20
 
TEXT
 
tanhara vacana prabhu angikara kaila
balabhadra-bhattacarye sange kari' nila
SYNONYMS
 
tanhara vacana -- his words; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; angikara 
kaila -- accepted; balabhadra-bhattacarye -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; 
sange kari' nila -- took with Him.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the request of Svarupa Damodara 
Pandita and agreed to take Balabhadra Bhattacarya with Him.
 
Madhya 17.21
 
TEXT 21
 
TEXT
 
purva-ratrye jagannatha dekhi' ‘ajna' lana
sesa-ratre uthi' prabhu calila lukana
SYNONYMS
 
purva-ratrye -- on the previous night; jagannatha dekhi' -- seeing Lord 
Jagannatha; ajna lana -- taking permission; sesa-ratre -- near the end 
of night; uthi' -- rising; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; calila -- 
started; lukana -- without being seen.
 
TRANSLATION
 
On the previous night, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had visited Lord 
Jagannatha and taken His permission. Now, near the end of the night, the 
Lord got up and started immediately. He was not seen by others.
 
Madhya 17.22
 
TEXT 22
 
TEXT
 
pratah-kale bhakta-gana prabhu na dekhiya
anvesana kari' phire vyakula hana
SYNONYMS
 
pratah-kale -- early in the morning; bhakta-gana -- all the devotees; 
prabhu -- Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; na dekhiya -- not seeing; 
anvesana kari' -- searching; phire -- wander; vyakula hana -- becoming 
very anxious.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Because the Lord had departed, the devotees, unable to see Him early in 
the morning, began to search for Him with great anxiety.
 
Madhya 17.23
 
TEXT 23
 
TEXT
 
svarupa-gosani sabaya kaila nivarana
nivrtta hana rahe sabe jani' prabhura mana
SYNONYMS
 
svarupa-gosani -- Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; sabaya -- unto everyone; 
kaila -- did; nivarana -- forbidding; nivrtta hana -- being restrained; 
rahe -- remain; sabe -- all; jani' -- knowing; prabhura mana -- the mind 
of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
 
TRANSLATION
 
While all the devotees were searching for the Lord, Svarupa Damodara 
restrained them. Then everyone fell silent, knowing the mind of Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
 
Madhya 17.24
 
TEXT 24
 
TEXT
 
prasiddha patha chadi' prabhu upapathe calila
‘kataka' dahine kari' vane pravesila
SYNONYMS
 
prasiddha -- well-known; patha -- public way; chadi' -- giving up; 
prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; upapathe -- through a bypass; calila -
- began to walk; kataka -- the city of Kataka; dahine -- on the right 
side; kari' -- keeping; vane -- within the forest; pravesila -- entered.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The Lord abandoned walking on the well-known public road and went 
instead along a bypass. He thus kept the city of Kataka on His right as 
He entered the forest.
 
Madhya 17.25
 
TEXT 25
 
TEXT
 
nirjana-vane cale prabhu krsna-nama lana
hasti-vyaghra patha chade prabhure dekhiya
SYNONYMS
 
nirjana-vane -- in a solitary forest; cale -- walks; prabhu -- Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krsna-nama lana -- chanting the holy name of Krsna; 
hasti -- elephants; vyaghra -- tigers; patha chade -- leave the path; 
prabhure -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhiya -- seeing.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When the Lord passed through the solitary forest chanting the holy name 
of Krsna, the tigers and elephants, seeing Him, gave way.
 
Madhya 17.26
 
TEXT 26
 
TEXT
 
pale-pale vyaghra, hasti, gandara, sukara-gana
tara madhye avese prabhu karila gamana
SYNONYMS
 
pale-pale -- in flocks; vyaghra -- tigers; hasti -- elephants; gandara --
 rhinoceros; sukara-gana -- boars; tara madhye -- through them; avese -- 
in ecstasy; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karila gamana -- passed.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When the Lord passed through the jungle in great ecstasy, packs of 
tigers, elephants, rhinoceros and boars came, and the Lord passed right 
through them.
 
Madhya 17.27
 
TEXT 27
 
TEXT
 
dekhi' bhattacaryera mane haya maha-bhaya
prabhura pratape tara eka pasa haya
SYNONYMS
 
dekhi' -- seeing; bhattacaryera -- of Bhattacarya; mane -- in the mind; 
haya -- there was; maha-bhaya -- great fear; prabhura pratape -- by the 
influence of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tara -- they; eka pasa haya -- 
stand to one side.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Balabhadra Bhattacarya was very much afraid to see them, but by Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu's influence, all the animals stood to one side.
 
Madhya 17.28
 
TEXT 28
 
TEXT
 
eka-dina pathe vyaghra kariyache sayana
avese tara gaye prabhura lagila carana
SYNONYMS
 
eka-dina -- one day; pathe -- on the path; vyaghra -- a tiger; kariyache 
sayana -- was lying down; avese -- in ecstatic love; tara gaye -- on his 
body; prabhura -- of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; lagila -- touched; 
carana -- lotus feet.
 
TRANSLATION
 
One day a tiger was lying on the path, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, 
walking along the path in ecstatic love, touched the tiger with His feet.
 
Madhya 17.29
 
TEXT 29
 
TEXT
 
prabhu kahe, -- kaha ‘krsna', vyaghra uthila
‘krsna' ‘krsna' kahi' vyaghra nacite lagila
SYNONYMS
 
prabhu kahe -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; kaha krsna -- please chant 
Hare Krsna; vyaghra uthila -- the tiger got up; krsna krsna kahi' -- 
chanting the holy name of Krsna; vyaghra -- the tiger; nacite -- to 
dance; lagila -- began.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The Lord said, "Chant the holy name of Krsna!" The tiger immediately got 
up and began to dance and to chant "Krsna! Krsna!"
 
Madhya 17.30
 
TEXT 30
 
TEXT
 
ara dine mahaprabhu kare nadi snana
matta-hasti-yutha aila karite jala-pana
SYNONYMS
 
ara dine -- another day; mahaprabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare -- 
does; nadi snana -- bathing in the river; matta-hasti-yutha -- a herd of 
maddened elephants; aila -- came; karite -- to do; jala-pana -- drinking 
water.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Another day, while Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was bathing in a river, a 
herd of maddened elephants came there to drink water.
 
Madhya 17.31
 
TEXT 31
 
TEXT
 
prabhu jala-krtya kare, age hasti aila
‘krsna kaha' bali' prabhu jala pheli' marila
SYNONYMS
 
prabhu -- Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jala-krtya kare -- bathed and 
was chanting the Gayatri mantra within the water; age -- in front; hasti 
-- the elephants; aila -- came; krsna kaha -- chant Hare Krsna; bali' -- 
saying; prabhu -- Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jala pheli' -- throwing 
water; marila -- struck.
 
TRANSLATION
 
While the Lord was bathing and murmuring the Gayatri mantra, the 
elephants came before Him. The Lord immediately splashed some water on 
the elephants and asked them to chant the name of Krsna.
 
PURPORT
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was the Supreme Personality of Godhead playing 
the part of a very great, advanced devotee. On the maha-bhagavata 
platform, the devotee makes no distinction between friends and enemies. 
On that platform he sees everyone as a servant of Krsna. As stated in 
the Bhagavad-gita (5.18):
 
vidya-vinaya-sampanne brahmane gavi hastini
suni caiva sva-pake ca panditah sama-darsinah
 
 
"The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a 
learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater [
outcaste]."
 
A maha-bhagavata, being learned and advanced in spiritual consciousness, 
sees no difference between a tiger, an elephant or a learned scholar. 
The test of advanced spiritual consciousness is that one becomes 
fearless. He envies no one, and he is always engaged in the Lord's 
service. He sees every living entity as an eternal part and parcel of 
the Lord, rendering service according to his capacity by the will of the 
Supreme Lord. As Krsna confirms in the Bhagavad-gita (15.15):
 
sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto
 mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca
 
"I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, 
knowledge and forgetfulness."
 
The maha-bhagavata knows that Krsna is in everyone's heart. Krsna is 
dictating, and the living entity is following His dictations. Krsna is 
within the heart of the tiger, elephant and boar. Therefore Krsna tells 
them, "Here is a maha-bhagavata. Please do not disturb him." Why, then, 
should the animals be envious of such a great personality? Those who are 
neophytes or even a little progressed in devotional service should not 
try to imitate the maha-bhagavata. Rather, they should only follow in 
his footsteps. The word anukara means "imitating," and anusara means "
trying to follow in the footsteps." We should not try to imitate the 
activities of a maha-bhagavata or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Our best 
efforts should be exerted in trying to follow them according to our 
ability. The maha-bhagavata's heart is completely freed from material 
contamination, and he can become very dear even to fierce animals like 
tigers and elephants. Indeed, the maha-bhagavata treats them as his very 
intimate friends. On this platform there is no question of envy. When 
the Lord was passing through the forest, He was in ecstasy, thinking the 
forest to be Vrndavana. He was simply searching for Krsna.
 
Madhya 17.32
 
TEXT 32
 
TEXT
 
sei jala-bindu-kana lage yara gaya
sei ‘krsna' ‘krsna' kahe, preme nace, gaya
SYNONYMS
 
sei -- those; jala -- of water; bindu -- drops; kana -- particles; lage -
- touch; yara -- whose; gaya -- body; sei -- they; krsna krsna -- Krsna, 
Krsna; kahe -- say; preme -- in ecstasy; nace -- dance; gaya -- sing.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The elephants whose bodies were touched by the water splashed by the 
Lord began to chant "Krsna! Krsna!" and dance and sing in ecstasy.
 
Madhya 17.33
 
TEXT 33
 
TEXT
 
keha bhume pade, keha karaye citkara
dekhi' bhattacaryera mane haya camatkara
SYNONYMS
 
keha -- some of them; bhume -- on the ground; pade -- fall down; keha -- 
some of them; karaye -- perform; cit-kara -- screaming; dekhi' -- seeing;
 bhattacaryera -- of Bhattacarya; mane -- in the mind; haya -- there was;
 camatkara -- astonishment.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Some of the elephants fell to the ground, and some screamed in ecstasy. 
Seeing this, Balabhadra Bhattacarya was completely astonished.
 
Madhya 17.34
 
TEXT 34
 
TEXT
 
pathe yaite kare prabhu ucca sankirtana
madhura kantha-dhvani suni' aise mrgi-gana
SYNONYMS
 
pathe yaite -- while passing on the path; kare -- does; prabhu -- Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ucca -- loud; sankirtana -- chanting of Hare Krsna; 
madhura -- sweet; kantha-dhvani -- the voice from His throat; suni' -- 
hearing; aise -- came; mrgi-gana -- she-deer.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Sometimes Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu chanted very loudly while passing 
through the jungle. Hearing His sweet voice, all the does came near Him.
 
Madhya 17.35
 
TEXT 35
 
TEXT
 
dahine-vame dhvani suni' yaya prabhu-sange
prabhu tara anga muche, sloka pade range
SYNONYMS
 
dahine-vame -- right and left; dhvani -- vibration; suni' -- hearing; 
yaya -- they follow; prabhu-sange -- with the Lord; prabhu -- Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tara -- their; anga -- bodies; muche -- pats; sloka 
-- verse; pade -- recites; range -- in great curiosity.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Hearing the Lord's great vibration, all the does followed Him left and 
right. While reciting a verse with great curiosity, the Lord patted them.
 
Madhya 17.36
 
TEXT 36
 
TEXT
 
dhanyah sma mudha-matayo 'pi harinya eta
 ya nanda-nandanam upatta-vicitra-vesam
akarnya venu-ranitam saha-krsna-sarah
 pujam dadhur viracitam pranayavalokaih
SYNONYMS
 
dhanyah -- fortunate, blessed; sma -- certainly; mudha-matayah -- 
foolish, without good sense; api -- although; harinyah -- she-deer; etah 
-- these; yah -- who; nanda-nandanam -- the son of Maharaja Nanda; 
upatta-vicitra-vesam -- dressed very attractively; akarnya -- hearing; 
venu-ranitam -- the sound of His flute; saha-krsna-sarah -- accompanied 
by the black deer (their husbands); pujam dadhuh -- they worshiped; 
viracitam -- performed; pranaya-avalokaih -- by their affectionate 
glances.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"‘Blessed are all these foolish deer because they have approached 
Maharaja Nanda's son, who is gorgeously dressed and is playing on 
His flute. Indeed, both the does and the bucks worship the Lord with 
looks of love and affection.'"
 
PURPORT
 
This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.21.11) spoken by the gopis of 
Vrndavana.
 
Madhya 17.37
 
TEXT 37
 
TEXT
 
hena-kale vyaghra tatha aila panca-sata
vyaghra-mrgi mili' cale mahaprabhura satha
SYNONYMS
 
hena-kale -- at this time; vyaghra -- tigers; tatha -- there; aila -- 
came; panca-sata -- five to seven; vyaghra-mrgi -- the tigers and deer; 
mili' -- coming together; cale -- go; mahaprabhura satha -- with Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
 
TRANSLATION
 
While Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was passing through the jungle, five or 
seven tigers came. Joining the deer, the tigers began to follow the Lord.
 
Madhya 17.38
 
TEXT 38
 
TEXT
 
dekhi' mahaprabhura ‘vrndavana'-smrti haila
vrndavana-guna-varnana sloka padila
SYNONYMS
 
dekhi' -- seeing; mahaprabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vrndavana -
- of the holy land of Vrndavana; smrti haila -- there was remembrance; 
vrndavana -- of Sri Vrndavana; guna -- of the qualities; varnana -- 
description; sloka -- verse; padila -- recited.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Seeing the tigers and deer following Him, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu 
immediately remembered the land of Vrndavana. He then began to recite a 
verse describing the transcendental quality of Vrndavana.
 
Madhya 17.39
 
TEXT 39
 
TEXT
 
yatra naisarga-durvairah
 sahasan nr-mrgadayah
mitranivajitavasa-
 druta-rut-tarsanadikam
SYNONYMS
 
yatra -- where; naisarga -- by nature; durvairah -- living in enmity; 
saha asan -- live together; nr -- human beings; mrga-adayah -- and 
animals; mitrani -- friends; iva -- like; ajita -- of Lord Sri Krsna; 
avasa -- residence; druta -- gone away; rut -- anger; tarsana-adikam -- 
thirst and so on.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"‘Vrndavana is the transcendental abode of the Lord. There is no hunger, 
anger or thirst there. Though naturally inimical, human beings and 
fierce animals live together there in transcendental friendship.'"
 
PURPORT
 
This is a statement from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.13.60). After stealing 
the cowherd boys and calves of Sri Krsna, Lord Brahma kept them 
asleep and hid them. After a moment, Brahma returned to see Krsna's 
condition. When he saw that Krsna was still busy with His cowherd 
boyfriends and animals and was not disturbed, Lord Brahma appreciated 
the transcendental opulence of Vrndavana.
 
Madhya 17.40
 
TEXT 40
 
TEXT
 
‘krsna krsna kaha' kari' prabhu yabe balila
‘krsna' kahi' vyaghra-mrga nacite lagila
SYNONYMS
 
krsna krsna kaha -- chant "Krsna, Krsna"; kari' -- in this way; prabhu --
 Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yabe -- when; balila -- uttered; krsna kahi' --
 chanting the holy name of Krsna; vyaghra-mrga -- the tigers and deer; 
nacite lagila -- began to dance.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said "Chant ‘Krsna! Krsna!'" the tigers and 
deer began to chant "Krsna!" and dance.
 
Madhya 17.41
 
TEXT 41
 
TEXT
 
nace, kunde vyaghra-gana mrgi-gana-sange
balabhadra-bhattacarya dekhe apurva-range
SYNONYMS
 
nace -- dance; kunde -- jump; vyaghra-gana -- the tigers; mrgi-gana-
sange -- with the does; balabhadra-bhattacarya -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya;
 dekhe -- sees; apurva-range -- with great wonder.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When all the tigers and does danced and jumped, Balabhadra Bhattacarya 
saw them and was struck with wonder.
 
Madhya 17.42
 
TEXT 42
 
TEXT
 
vyaghra-mrga anyonye kare alingana
mukhe mukha diya kare anyonye cumbana
SYNONYMS
 
vyaghra-mrga -- the tigers and deer; anyonye -- one another; kare -- do; 
alingana -- embracing; mukhe mukha diya -- touching one another's 
mouths; kare -- do; anyonye cumbana -- kissing one another.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Indeed, the tigers and deer began to embrace one another, and touching 
mouths, they began to kiss.
 
Madhya 17.43
 
TEXT 43
 
TEXT
 
kautuka dekhiya prabhu hasite lagila
ta-sabake tahan chadi' age cali' gela
SYNONYMS
 
kautuka dekhiya -- seeing this fun; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; 
hasite lagila -- began to smile; ta-sabake -- all of them; tahan chadi' -
- leaving there; age -- forward; cali' gela -- advanced.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw all this fun, He began to smile. 
Finally He left the animals and continued on His way.
 
Madhya 17.44
 
TEXT 44
 
TEXT
 
mayuradi paksi-gana prabhure dekhiya
sange cale, ‘krsna' bali' nace matta hana
SYNONYMS
 
mayura-adi -- beginning with peacocks; paksi-gana -- different types of 
birds; prabhure -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhiya -- seeing; sange 
cale -- go with Him; krsna bali' -- chanting the holy name of Krsna; 
nace -- dance; matta hana -- becoming mad.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Various birds, including the peacock, saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and 
began to follow Him, chanting and dancing. They were all maddened by the 
holy name of Krsna.
 
Madhya 17.45
 
TEXT 45
 
TEXT
 
‘hari-bola' bali' prabhu kare ucca-dhvani
vrksa-lata -- praphullita, sei dhvani suni,
SYNONYMS
 
hari-bola -- the vibration of "Haribol"; bali' -- chanting; prabhu -
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare -- makes; ucca-dhvani -- a loud sound; 
vrksa-lata -- the trees and creepers; praphullita -- very jubilant; sei -
- that; dhvani -- sound; suni' -- hearing.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When the Lord loudly chanted "Haribol!" the trees and creepers 
became jubilant to hear Him.
 
PURPORT
 
The loud chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra is so powerful that it can 
even penetrate the ears of trees and creepers, what to speak of those 
of animals and human beings. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu once asked Haridasa 
Thakura how trees and plants could be delivered, and Haridasa Thakura 
replied that the loud chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra would 
benefit not only trees and plants but insects and all other living 
beings. One should therefore not be disturbed by the loud chanting of 
Hare Krsna, for it is beneficial not only to the chanter but to everyone 
who gets an opportunity to hear.
 
Madhya 17.46
 
TEXT 46
 
TEXT
 
‘jharikhande' sthavara-jangama ache yata
krsna-nama diya kaila premete unmatta
SYNONYMS
 
jharikhande -- in the place known as Jharikhanda; sthavara-jangama -- 
moving and not moving; ache -- there are; yata -- all; krsna-nama diya --
 giving them the holy name of Lord Krsna; kaila -- made; premete -- in 
ecstasy; unmatta -- mad.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Thus all living entities in the forest of Jharikhanda -- some moving and 
some standing still -- became maddened by 
hearing the holy name of Lord Krsna vibrated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
 
PURPORT
 
The great forest of Jharikhanda is a great tract of land including 
Atagada, Dhenkanala, Angula, Lahara, Kiyanjhada, Bamada, Bonai, 
Gangapura, Chota Nagapura, Yasapura and Saraguja. All these places, 
which are covered with mountains and jungles, are known as Jharikhanda.
 
Madhya 17.47
 
TEXT 47
 
TEXT
 
yei grama diya yana, yahan karena sthiti
se-saba gramera lokera haya ‘prema-bhakti'
SYNONYMS
 
yei grama -- which villages; diya yana -- the Lord goes through; yahan --
 where; karena -- takes; sthiti -- rest; se-saba -- all those; gramera --
 of the villages; lokera -- of the people; haya -- there is awakening of;
 prema-bhakti -- ecstatic love of God.
 
TRANSLATION
 
In all the villages through which the Lord passed and in all the places 
He rested on His journey, everyone was purified and awakened to ecstatic 
love of God.
 
Madhya 17.48–49
 
TEXTS 48–49
 
TEXT
 
keha yadi tanra mukhe sune krsna-nama
tanra mukhe ana sune tanra mukhe ana
sabe ‘krsna' ‘hari' bali' nace, kande, hase
paramparaya ‘vaisnava' ha-ila sarva dese
SYNONYMS
 
keha -- someone; yadi -- when; tanra mukhe -- from His mouth; sune -- 
hears; krsna-nama -- chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra; tanra mukhe -- 
from the mouth of such chanters; ana sune -- someone else hears; tanra 
mukhe -- and from his mouth; ana -- someone else; sabe -- all of them; 
krsna -- Lord Krsna's holy name; hari -- another holy name of the Lord; 
bali' -- chanting; nace -- dance; kande -- cry; hase -- smile; 
paramparaya -- by disciplic succession; vaisnava -- devotees; ha-ila -- 
became; sarva-dese -- in all countries.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When someone heard the chanting of the holy name from the mouth of Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and someone else heard this chanting from that 
second person, and someone again heard this chanting from the third 
person, everyone in all countries became a Vaisnava through such 
disciplic succession. Thus everyone chanted the holy name of Krsna and 
Hari, and they danced, cried and smiled.
 
PURPORT
 
The transcendental potency of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is 
herein explained. First, the holy name is vibrated by Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu. When someone hears from Him directly, he is purified. When 
another person hears from that person, he also is purified. In this way 
the purification process is advanced among pure devotees. Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and no one can claim 
His potency. Nonetheless, if one is a pure devotee, hundreds and 
thousands of men can be purified by his vibration. This potency is 
within every living being, provided he chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra 
offenselessly and without material motives. When a pure devotee chants 
offenselessly, another person will become a Vaisnava, and from him 
another Vaisnava will emerge. This is the parampara system.
 
Madhya 17.50
 
TEXT 50
 
TEXT
 
yadyapi prabhu loka-sanghattera trase
prema ‘gupta' karena, bahire na prakase
SYNONYMS
 
yadyapi -- although; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; loka-sanghattera 
-- of crowds of people; trase -- being afraid; prema -- ecstasy; gupta 
karena -- keeps hidden; bahire -- externally; na -- does not; prakase -- 
manifest.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The Lord did not always manifest His ecstasy. Being afraid of a great 
assembly of people, the Lord kept His ecstasy concealed.
 
Madhya 17.51
 
TEXT 51
 
TEXT
 
tathapi tanra darsana-sravana-prabhave
sakala desera loka ha-ila ‘vaisnave'
SYNONYMS
 
tathapi -- still; tanra -- His; darsana -- of seeing; sravana -- of 
hearing; prabhave -- by the potency; sakala -- all; desera -- of 
countries; loka -- people; ha-ila -- became; vaisnave -- pure devotees 
of the Lord.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not manifest His natural ecstatic 
love, everyone became a pure devotee simply by seeing and hearing Him.
 
PURPORT
 
Srila Rupa Gosvami has described Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as maha-vadanya-
avatara, the most munificent incarnation. Although Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu is not physically present now, simply by chanting His holy 
name (sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara 
srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda) people throughout the world are becoming 
devotees. This is due to the ecstatic chanting of the holy name of the 
Lord. It is said that a pure devotee can see the Lord at every moment, 
and because of this he is empowered by the Lord. This is confirmed in 
the Brahma-samhita (5.38): premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah 
sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared five 
hundred years ago, but it cannot be said that now the potency of the 
Hare Krsna maha-mantra is less than it was in His presence. By 
hearing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu through the parampara system, one can be 
purified. Therefore in this verse it is said, tathapi tanra darsana-
sravana-prabhave. It is not that everyone is able to see Krsna or Sri 
Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu physically, but if one hears about Him through 
books like Sri Caitanya-caritamrta and through the parampara system of 
pure Vaisnavas, there is no difficulty in becoming a pure Vaisnava, free 
from mundane desires and personal motivations.
 
Madhya 17.52
 
TEXT 52
 
TEXT
 
gauda, banga, utkala, daksina-dese giya
lokera nistara kaila apane bhramiya
SYNONYMS
 
gauda -- Bengal; banga -- East Bengal; utkala -- Orissa; daksina-dese -- 
southern India; giya -- going; lokera -- of all the people; nistara -- 
liberation; kaila -- did; apane -- personally; bhramiya -- touring.
 
TRANSLATION
 
In this way, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally toured Bengal, East 
Bengal, Orissa and the southern countries, and He delivered all kinds of 
people by spreading Krsna consciousness.
 
Madhya 17.53
 
TEXT 53
 
TEXT
 
mathura yaibara chale asena jharikhanda
bhilla-praya loka tahan parama-pasanda
SYNONYMS
 
mathura -- to Mathura; yaibara -- of going; chale -- on the pretext; 
asena -- came; jharikhanda -- to Jharikhanda; bhilla-praya -- like the 
Bheels, a kind of low people; loka -- people; tahan -- there; parama-
pasanda -- without God consciousness.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to Jharikhanda on His way to Mathura, 
He found that the people there were almost uncivilized and were devoid 
of God consciousness.
 
PURPORT
 
The word bhilla refers to a class of men belonging to the Bheels. The 
Bheels are like Black Africans, and they are lower than sudras. Such 
people generally live in the jungle, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had to 
meet them.
 
Madhya 17.54
 
TEXT 54
 
TEXT
 
nama-prema diya kaila sabara nistara
caitanyera gudha-lila bujhite sakti kara
SYNONYMS
 
nama-prema diya -- bestowing upon them ecstatic love and the holy name; 
kaila -- did; sabara nistara -- liberation of all of them; caitanyera -- 
of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gudha-lila -- confidential pastimes; bujhite 
-- to understand; sakti -- the power; kara -- who has.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave even the Bheels an opportunity to chant the 
holy name and come to the platform of ecstatic love. Thus He delivered 
all of them. Who has the power to understand the transcendental pastimes 
of the Lord?
 
PURPORT
 
As evidence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy, we are experiencing that 
the people of Africa are taking to Krsna consciousness, chanting and 
dancing and taking prasadam like other Vaisnavas. This is all due to the 
power of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Who can understand how His potency is 
working all over the world?
 
Madhya 17.55
 
TEXT 55
 
TEXT
 
vana dekhi' bhrama haya -- ei ‘vrndavana'
saila dekhi' mane haya -- ei ‘govardhana'
SYNONYMS
 
vana dekhi' -- seeing the forest; bhrama haya -- there is illusion; ei --
 this; vrndavana -- Vrndavana forest; saila dekhi' -- seeing a hill; 
mane haya -- considers; ei govardhana -- this is Govardhana Hill.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed through the Jharikhanda forest, He 
took it for granted that it was Vrndavana. When He passed over the hills,
 He took it for granted that they were Govardhana.
 
Madhya 17.56
 
TEXT 56
 
TEXT
 
yahan nadi dekhe tahan manaye -- ‘kalindi'
maha-premavese nace prabhu pade kandi'
SYNONYMS
 
yahan -- wherever; nadi -- river; dekhe -- sees; tahan -- there; manaye -
- considers; kalindi -- the river Yamuna; maha-prema-avese -- in great 
ecstatic love; nace -- dances; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; pade --
 falls down; kandi' -- crying.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Similarly, whenever Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw a river, He immediately 
accepted it as the river Yamuna. Thus while in the forest He was filled 
with great ecstatic love, and He danced and fell down crying.
 
Madhya 17.57
 
TEXT 57
 
TEXT
 
pathe yaite bhattacarya saka-mula-phala
yahan yei payena tahan layena sakala
SYNONYMS
 
pathe yaite -- while passing on the way; bhattacarya -- Balabhadra 
Bhattacarya; saka -- spinach; mula -- roots; phala -- fruits; yahan -- 
wherever; yei -- whatever; payena -- he gets; tahan -- there; layena -- 
he takes; sakala -- all.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Along the way, Balabhadra Bhattacarya collected all kinds of spinach, 
roots and fruit whenever possible.
 
Madhya 17.58
 
TEXT 58
 
TEXT
 
ye-grame rahena prabhu, tathaya brahmana
panca-sata jana asi' kare nimantrana
SYNONYMS
 
ye-grame -- in whatever village; rahena -- stays; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; tathaya -- there; brahmana-brahmanas; panca-sata jana -- 
five or seven persons; asi' -- coming; kare -- do; nimantrana -- 
invitation.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Whenever Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited a village, a few brahmanas -- 
five or seven -- would come and extend invitations to the Lord.
 
Madhya 17.59
 
TEXT 59
 
TEXT
 
keha anna ani' deya bhattacarya-sthane
keha dugdha, dadhi, keha ghrta, khanda ane
SYNONYMS
 
keha -- someone; anna -- grain; ani' -- bringing; deya -- delivers; 
bhattacarya-sthane -- before Balabhadra Bhattacarya; keha -- someone; 
dugdha -- milk; dadhi -- yogurt; keha -- someone; ghrta -- ghee; khanda -
- sugar; ane -- brings.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Some people would bring grain and deliver it to Balabhadra 
Bhattacarya. Others would bring milk and yogurt, and still others would 
bring ghee and sugar.
 
Madhya 17.60
 
TEXT 60
 
TEXT
 
yahan vipra nahi tahan ‘sudra-mahajana'
asi' sabe bhattacarye kare nimantrana
SYNONYMS
 
yahan -- wherever; vipra-brahmana; nahi -- there is not; tahan -- 
there; sudra-maha-jana -- devotees born in families other than brahmana; 
asi' -- coming; sabe -- all of them; bhattacarye -- to Balabhadra 
Bhattacarya; kare nimantrana -- make invitation.
 
TRANSLATION
 
In some villages there were no brahmanas; nonetheless, devotees born in 
non-brahmana families came and extended invitations to Balabhadra 
Bhattacarya.
 
PURPORT
 
Actually a sannyasi or a brahmana will not accept an invitation extended 
by a person born in a lower family. However, there are many devotees who 
are raised to the platform of brahmana by their initiation. These people 
are called sudra-mahajana. This indicates that one who is born in a non-
brahmana family has accepted the brahmana status by initiation. Such 
devotees extended invitations to Balabhadra Bhattacarya. A Mayavadi 
sannyasi will accept an invitation only from a brahmana family, but a 
Vaisnava does not accept an invitation from a brahmana if he does not 
belong to the Vaisnava sect. However, a Vaisnava will accept an 
invitation from a brahmana or sudra-mahajana if that person is an 
initiated Vaisnava. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself accepted invitations 
from sudra-mahajanas, and this confirms the fact that anyone initiated 
by a Vaisnava mantra can be accepted as a brahmana. One can accept an 
invitation from such a person.
 
Madhya 17.61
 
TEXT 61
 
TEXT
 
bhattacarya paka kare vanya-vyanjana
vanya-vyanjane prabhura anandita mana
SYNONYMS
 
bhattacarya -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; paka kare -- cooks; vanya-
vyanjana -- all varieties of forest vegetables; vanya-vyanjane -- by 
such forest vegetables; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; anandita 
mana -- the mind is very happy.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Balabhadra Bhattacarya used to cook all kinds of vegetables gathered 
from the forest, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very pleased to accept 
these preparations.
 
Madhya 17.62–63
 
TEXTS 62–63
 
TEXT
 
dui-cari dinera anna rakhena samhati
yahan sunya vana, lokera nahika vasati
tahan sei anna bhattacarya kare paka
phala-mule vyanjana kare, vanya nana saka
SYNONYMS
 
dui-cari -- two to four; dinera -- of days; anna -- food grain; rakhena 
-- keeps; samhati -- in stock; yahan -- wherever; sunya vana -- the 
solitary forest; lokera -- of people; nahika -- there is not; vasati -- 
habitation; tahan -- there; sei -- that; anna -- food grain; 
bhattacarya -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; kare paka -- cooks; phala-mule -- 
with roots and fruits; vyanjana kare -- he prepares vegetables; vanya -- 
from the forest; nana saka -- many kinds of spinach.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Balabhadra Bhattacarya used to keep a stock of food grain that would 
last from two to four days. Where there were no people, he would cook 
the grain and prepare vegetables, spinach, roots and fruits collected 
from the forest.
 
Madhya 17.64
 
TEXT 64
 
TEXT
 
parama santosa prabhura vanya-bhojane
maha-sukha pana, ye dina rahena nirjane
SYNONYMS
 
parama -- very much; santosa -- satisfaction; prabhura -- of the Lord; 
vanya-bhojane -- in eating vegetables collected from the forest; maha-
sukha pana -- gets great happiness; ye dina -- on which day; rahena -- 
stays; nirjane -- in a solitary place.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The Lord was always very happy to eat these forest vegetables, and He 
was even happier when He had an opportunity to stay in a solitary place.
 
Madhya 17.65
 
TEXT 65
 
TEXT
 
bhattacarya seva kare, snehe yaiche ‘dasa'
tanra vipra vahe jala-patra-bahirvasa
SYNONYMS
 
bhattacarya -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; seva kare -- renders service; 
snehe -- in great affection; yaiche -- exactly like; dasa -- a servant; 
tanra vipra -- his brahmana assistant; vahe -- carries; jala-patra -- 
the waterpot; bahirvasa -- and garments.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Balabhadra Bhattacarya was so affectionate to the Lord that he was 
rendering service just like a menial servant. His assistant brahmana 
carried the waterpot and garments.
 
Madhya 17.66
 
TEXT 66
 
TEXT
 
nirjharete usnodake snana tina-bara
dui-sandhya agni-tapa kasthera apara
SYNONYMS
 
nirjharete -- in the waterfalls; usna-udake -- in warm water; snana -- 
bath; tina-bara -- thrice; dui-sandhya -- morning and evening; agni-tapa 
-- heating by a fire; kasthera -- of wood; apara -- without limit.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The Lord used to bathe three times a day in the warm water of the 
waterfalls. He also used to heat Himself morning and evening with a fire 
made with the limitless wood.
 
Madhya 17.67
 
TEXT 67
 
TEXT
 
nirantara premavese nirjane gamana
sukha anubhavi' prabhu kahena vacana
SYNONYMS
 
nirantara -- always; prema-avese -- in ecstatic love; nirjane -- in a 
solitary place; gamana -- going; sukha anubhavi' -- feeling happiness; 
prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahena -- says; vacana -- statement.
 
TRANSLATION
 
While traveling in this secluded forest and feeling very happy, Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu made the following statement.
 
Madhya 17.68
 
TEXT 68
 
TEXT
 
suna, bhattacarya, -- "ami gelana bahu-desa
vana-pathe duhkhera kahan nahi pai lesa
SYNONYMS
 
suna -- please hear; bhattacarya -- My dear Bhattacarya; ami -- I; 
gelana -- traveled; bahu-desa -- many countries; vana-pathe -- through 
the forest path; duhkhera -- of unhappiness; kahan -- anywhere; nahi pai 
-- I do not get; lesa -- even a trace.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"My dear Bhattacarya, I have traveled very far through the forest, and I 
have not even slightly received any trouble.
 
Madhya 17.69
 
TEXT 69
 
TEXT
 
krsna -- krpalu, amaya bahuta krpa kaila
vana-pathe ani' amaya bada sukha dila
SYNONYMS
 
krsna -- Lord Krsna; krpalu -- very kind; amaya -- upon Me; bahuta -- 
greatly; krpa -- mercy; kaila -- showed; vana-pathe -- on the path in 
the forest; ani' -- bringing; amaya -- unto Me; bada -- very much; sukha 
-- happiness; dila -- gave.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Krsna is very merciful, especially to Me. He has shown His mercy by 
bringing Me on this path through the forest. Thus He has given Me great 
pleasure.
 
Madhya 17.70
 
TEXT 70
 
TEXT
 
purve vrndavana yaite karilana vicara
mata, ganga, bhakta-gane dekhiba eka-bara
SYNONYMS
 
purve -- formerly; vrndavana -- to the holy place of Vrndavana; yaite -- 
to go; karilana -- I did; vicara -- consideration; mata -- mother; ganga 
-- the Ganges; bhakta-gane -- and devotees; dekhiba -- I shall see; eka-
bara -- once.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Before this, I decided to go to Vrndavana and on the way see My mother, 
the river Ganges and other devotees once again.
 
Madhya 17.71
 
TEXT 71
 
TEXT
 
bhakta-gana-sange avasya kariba milana
bhakta-gane sange lana yaba ‘vrndavana'
SYNONYMS
 
bhakta-gana-sange -- with all My devotees; avasya -- certainly; kariba --
 shall do; milana -- meeting; bhakta-gane -- all the devotees; sange -- 
along with Me; lana -- taking; yaba -- I shall go; vrndavana -- to 
Vrndavana-dhama.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"I thought that once again I would see and meet all the devotees and 
take them with Me to Vrndavana.
 
Madhya 17.72
 
TEXT 72
 
TEXT
 
eta bhavi' gauda-dese karilun gamana
mata, ganga bhakte dekhi' sukhi haila mana
SYNONYMS
 
eta bhavi' -- thinking like this; gauda-dese -- to Bengal; karilun 
gamana -- I went; mata -- My mother; ganga -- the Ganges; bhakte -- 
devotees; dekhi' -- seeing; sukhi -- happy; haila -- became; mana -- My 
mind.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Thus I went to Bengal, and I was very happy to see My mother, the river 
Ganges and the devotees.
 
Madhya 17.73
 
TEXT 73
 
TEXT
 
bhakta-gane lana tabe calilana range
laksa-koti loka tahan haila ama-sange
SYNONYMS
 
bhakta-gane -- all the devotees; lana -- taking; tabe -- then; calilana 
range -- I started with great pleasure; laksa-koti -- many thousands and 
millions; loka -- people; tahan -- there; haila -- became; ama-sange -- 
My companions.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"However, when I started for Vrndavana, many thousands and millions of 
people gathered and began to go with Me.
 
Madhya 17.74
 
TEXT 74
 
TEXT
 
sanatana-mukhe krsna ama sikhaila
taha vighna kari' vana-pathe lana aila
SYNONYMS
 
sanatana-mukhe -- from the mouth of Sanatana; krsna -- Lord Krsna; ama --
 unto Me; sikhaila -- gave instructions; taha -- that; vighna kari' -- 
making a hindrance; vana-pathe -- on the path through the forest; lana --
 taking; aila -- came.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Thus I was going to Vrndavana with a big crowd, but through the mouth 
of Sanatana, Krsna taught Me a lesson. Thus by making some impediment, 
He has brought Me on a path through the forest to Vrndavana.
 
Madhya 17.75
 
TEXT 75
 
TEXT
 
krpara samudra, dina-hine dayamaya
krsna-krpa vina kona ‘sukha' nahi haya"
SYNONYMS
 
krpara samudra -- ocean of mercy; dina-hine -- unto the poor and fallen; 
daya-maya -- very merciful; krsna-krpa -- the mercy of Krsna; vina --
 without; kona -- any; sukha -- happiness; nahi haya -- there is not.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Krsna is an ocean of mercy. He is especially merciful to the poor and 
fallen. Without His mercy, there is no possibility of happiness."
 
Madhya 17.76
 
TEXT 76
 
TEXT
 
bhattacarye alingiya tanhare kahila
‘tomara prasade ami eta sukha paila'
SYNONYMS
 
bhattacarye -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; alingiya -- embracing; tanhare -- 
unto him; kahila -- said; tomara prasade -- by your kindness; ami -- I; 
eta -- so much; sukha -- happiness; paila -- got.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then embraced Balabhadra Bhattacarya and told 
him, "It is only by your kindness that I am now so happy."
 
Madhya 17.77
 
TEXT 77
 
TEXT
 
tenho kahena, -- "tumi ‘krsna', tumi ‘dayamaya'
adhama jiva muni, more ha-ila sadaya
SYNONYMS
 
tenho kahena -- the Bhattacarya said; tumi krsna -- You are Krsna 
Himself; tumi -- You; daya-maya -- merciful; adhama -- the lowest of the 
low; jiva -- living entity; muni -- I; more -- unto me; ha-ila -- You 
have been; sa-daya -- favorable.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Balabhadra Bhattacarya replied, "My dear Lord, You are Krsna Himself, 
and therefore You are merciful. I am a fallen living entity, but You 
have bestowed a great favor upon me.
 
Madhya 17.78
 
TEXT 78
 
TEXT
 
muni chara, more tumi sange lana aila
krpa kari' mora hate ‘prabhu' bhiksa kaila
SYNONYMS
 
muni -- I; chara -- most fallen; more -- me; tumi -- You; sange -- with; 
lana -- taking; aila -- have come; krpa kari' -- showing great mercy; 
mora hate -- from my hand; prabhu -- my Lord; bhiksa kaila -- You 
accepted food.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Sir, I am most fallen, yet You have brought me with You. Showing great 
mercy, You have accepted food prepared by me.
 
Madhya 17.79
 
TEXT 79
 
TEXT
 
adhama-kakere kaila garuda-samana
‘svatantra isvara' tumi -- svayam bhagavan"
SYNONYMS
 
adhama-kakere -- the most condemned crow; kaila -- You have made; garuda-
samana -- like Garuda; svatantra -- independent; isvara -- Supreme 
Personality of Godhead; tumi -- You; svayam bhagavan -- the original 
Personality of Godhead.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"You have made me Your carrier Garuda, although I am no better than a 
condemned crow. Thus You are the independent Personality of Godhead, the 
original Lord.
 
Madhya 17.80
 
TEXT 80
 
TEXT
 
mukam karoti vacalam
 pangum langhayate girim
yat-krpa tam aham vande
 paramananda-madhavam
SYNONYMS
 
mukam -- a person who cannot speak; karoti -- makes; vacalam -- an 
eloquent speaker; pangum -- a person who cannot even walk; langhayate -- 
causes to cross over; girim -- the mountain; yat-krpa -- whose mercy; 
tam -- unto Him; aham -- I; vande -- offer obeisances; parama-ananda -- 
the transcendentally blissful; madhavam -- Supreme Personality of 
Godhead.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"‘The Supreme Personality of Godhead has the form of sac-cid-ananda-
vigraha [Bs. 5.1] -- transcendental bliss, knowledge and eternity. I 
offer my respectful obeisances unto Him, who turns the dumb into 
eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains. Such is the 
mercy of the Lord.'"
 
PURPORT
 
This is a quotation from the Bhavartha-dipika commentary on Srimad-
Bhagavatam (1.1.1).
 
Madhya 17.81
 
TEXT 81
 
TEXT
 
ei-mata balabhadra karena stavana
prema-seva kari' tusta kaila prabhura mana
SYNONYMS
 
ei-mata -- in this way; balabhadra -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; karena -- 
offers; stavana -- prayers; prema-seva kari' -- rendering service in 
love; tusta -- pacified; kaila -- made; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; mana -- the mind.
 
TRANSLATION
 
In this way Balabhadra Bhattacarya offered his prayers to the Lord. By 
rendering service unto Him in ecstatic love, he pacified the Lord's mind.
 
Madhya 17.82
 
TEXT 82
 
TEXT
 
ei-mata nana-sukhe prabhu aila ‘kasi'
madhyahna-snana kaila manikarnikaya asi'
SYNONYMS
 
ei-mata -- in this way; nana-sukhe -- in great happiness; prabhu -- Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; aila -- came; kasi -- to the holy place named Kasi; 
madhyahna-snana -- afternoon bath; kaila -- took; manikarnikaya -- to 
the bathing place known as Manikarnika; asi' -- coming.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Finally the Lord arrived with great happiness at the holy place 
called Kasi. There He took His bath in the bathing ghat known as 
Manikarnika.
 
PURPORT
 
Kasi is another name for Varanasi (Benares). It has been a place of 
pilgrimage since time immemorial. Two rivers named Asih and Varuna merge 
there. Manikarnika is famous because, according to the opinion of great 
personalities, a bejeweled earring fell there from the ear of Lord Visnu.
 According to some, it fell from the ear of Lord Siva. The word mani 
means "jewel," and karnika means "from the ear." According to some, Lord 
Visvanatha is the great physician who cures the disease of material 
existence by delivering a person through the ear, which receives the 
vibration of the holy name of Lord Rama. Because of this, this holy 
place is called Manikarnika. It is said that there is no better 
place than where the river Ganges flows, and the bathing ghat known as 
Manikarnika is especially sanctified because it is very dear to Lord 
Visvanatha. In the Kasi-khanda it is said:
 
samsari-cintamanir atra yasmat
 tarakam saj-jana-karnikayam
sivo 'bhidhatte saha-santa-kale
 tad giyate 'sau mani-karniketi
 
mukti-laksmi maha-pitha-manis tac-caranabjayoh
karnikeyam tatah prahur yam jana mani-karnikam
 
According to this passage from the Kasi-khanda, one who gives up his 
body at Manikarnika is liberated simply by remembering Lord Siva's name.
 
Madhya 17.83
 
TEXT 83
 
TEXT
 
sei-kale tapana-misra kare ganga-snana
prabhu dekhi' haila tanra kichu vismaya jnana
SYNONYMS
 
sei-kale -- at that time; tapana-misra -- a brahmana named Tapana Misra; 
kare ganga-snana -- was taking his bath in the Ganges; prabhu dekhi' -- 
seeing the Lord; haila -- there was; tanra -- his; kichu -- some; 
vismaya jnana -- astonishment.
 
TRANSLATION
 
At that time, Tapana Misra was taking his bath in the Ganges, and he was 
astonished to see the Lord there.
 
Madhya 17.84
 
TEXT 84
 
TEXT
 
‘purve suniyachi prabhu karyachena sannyasa'
niscaya kariya haila hrdaye ullasa
SYNONYMS
 
purve -- formerly; suniyachi -- I have heard; prabhu -- Lord Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karyachena sannyasa -- has accepted the renounced 
order of life; niscaya kariya -- ascertaining that; haila -- there was; 
hrdaye -- within the heart; ullasa -- great jubilation.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Tapana Misra then began to think, "I have heard that Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu has accepted the renounced order." Thinking this, Tapana 
Misra became very jubilant within his heart.
 
Madhya 17.85
 
TEXT 85
 
TEXT
 
prabhura carana dhari' karena rodana
prabhu tare uthana kaila alingana
SYNONYMS
 
prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carana -- lotus feet; dhari' -- 
touching; karena -- does; rodana -- crying; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; tare -- him; uthana -- raising; kaila -- did; alingana -- 
embracing.
 
TRANSLATION
 
He then clasped the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and began to 
cry. The Lord raised him up and embraced him.
 
Madhya 17.86
 
TEXT 86
 
TEXT
 
prabhu lana gela visvesvara-darasane
tabe asi' dekhe bindu-madhava-carane
SYNONYMS
 
prabhu lana -- taking the Lord; gela -- he went; visvesvara-darasane -- 
to visit the temple of Visvesvara; tabe -- thereafter; asi' -- coming; 
dekhe -- see; bindu-madhava-carane -- the lotus feet of Bindu Madhava.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Tapana Misra then took Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to visit the temple of 
Visvesvara. Coming from there, they saw the lotus feet of Lord Bindu 
Madhava.
 
PURPORT
 
The Bindu Madhava temple is the oldest Visnu temple in Varanasi. 
At present this temple is known as Veni Madhava, and it is 
situated on the banks of the Ganges. Formerly five rivers converged 
there, and they were named Dhutapapa, Kirana, Sarasvati, Ganga and 
Yamuna. Now only the river Ganges is visible. The old temple of Bindu 
Madhava, which was visited by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, was later 
dismantled by Aurangzeb, the great Hindu-hating emperor of the Mogul 
dynasty. In the place of this temple, he constructed a big masjid, or 
mosque. Later, another temple was constructed by the side of the mosque, 
and this temple is still existing. In the temple of Bindu Madhava there 
are Deities of four-handed Narayana and the goddess Laksmi. In front of 
these Deities is a column of Sri Garuda, and along the side are deities 
of Lord Rama, Sita, Laksmana and Sri Hanumanji.
 
In the province of Maharashtra is a state known as Satara. During the 
time of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, the native prince belonged to 
the Vaisnava cult. Being a brahmana, he took charge of worshiping the 
Deity. He was known as Srimanta Balasaheb Pantha Maharaja. The state 
still bears the expenditure for temple maintenance. The first king in 
this dynasty to take charge of worship in the temple, two hundred years 
ago, was Maharaja Jagatjivana Rao Saheb.
 
Madhya 17.87
 
TEXT 87
 
TEXT
 
ghare lana aila prabhuke anandita hana
seva kari' nrtya kare vastra udana
SYNONYMS
 
ghare lana -- taking to his home; aila -- came; prabhuke -- Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; anandita hana -- in great happiness; seva kari' -- rendering 
service; nrtya kare -- began to dance; vastra udana -- waving his cloth.
 
TRANSLATION
 
With great pleasure Tapana Misra brought Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his 
home and rendered service unto Him. Indeed, he began to dance, waving 
his cloth.
 
Madhya 17.88
 
TEXT 88
 
TEXT
 
prabhura caranodaka savamse kaila pana
bhattacaryera puja kaila kariya sammana
SYNONYMS
 
prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carana-udaka -- the water used 
to wash the lotus feet; sa-vamse -- with his whole family; kaila pana -- 
drank; bhattacaryera -- of Bhattacarya; puja -- worship; kaila -- 
performed; kariya -- showing; sammana -- respect.
 
TRANSLATION
 
He washed the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and afterwards he 
and his whole family drank the wash water. He also worshiped Balabhadra 
Bhattacarya and showed him respect.
 
Madhya 17.89
 
TEXT 89
 
TEXT
 
prabhure nimantrana kari' ghare bhiksa dila
balabhadra-bhattacarye paka karaila
SYNONYMS
 
prabhure nimantrana kari' -- inviting the Lord; ghare -- at home; bhiksa 
dila -- gave lunch; balabhadra-bhattacarye -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; 
paka karaila -- he had cook.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Tapana Misra invited Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to take lunch at his home, 
and he had Balabhadra Bhattacarya cook.
 
PURPORT
 
While at Varanasi (Benares), Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at the house 
of Tapana Misra. Near Tapana Misra's house was a bathing ghat known as 
Pancanadi-ghata. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to take His bath daily at 
this ghat, and He used to see the temple of Bindu Madhava. Then He would 
take His lunch at Tapana Misra's house. Near the Bindu Madhava temple is 
a big banyan tree, and it is said that after eating, Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu used to rest beneath the tree. That banyan tree is still 
known today as Caitanya-vata. Gradually, due to changes in language, the 
name became Yatana-vata. The local people still call that place Yatana-
vata.
 
At present, beside a lane there is a tomb of Vallabhacarya, but 
there is no sign that Caitanya Mahaprabhu ever lived there. 
Vallabhacarya was also known as Mahaprabhu among his disciples. Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu probably lived at Yatana-vata, but there is no sign 
of Candrasekhara's or Tapana Misra's house, nor is there any sign of the 
Mayavadi sannyasi Prakasananda Sarasvati, with whom Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu discussed the Vedanta-sutra. A little distance from Yatana-
vata is a temple of Gaura-Nityananda established by Sasibhusana Niyogi 
Mahasaya of Calcutta. During the time of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta 
Sarasvati, this temple was managed by the mother-in-law of Sasibhusana 
and his brother-in-law Narayana-candra Ghosa.
 
Madhya 17.90
 
TEXT 90
 
TEXT
 
bhiksa kari' mahaprabhu karila sayana
misra-putra raghu kare pada-samvahana
SYNONYMS
 
bhiksa kari' -- after finishing His lunch; mahaprabhu -- Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; karila sayana -- took rest; misra-putra -- the son of Tapana 
Misra; raghu -- Raghu; kare -- does; pada-samvahana -- massaging the 
legs.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took His rest after lunch, the son of 
Tapana Misra, named Raghu, used to massage His legs.
 
Madhya 17.91
 
TEXT 91
 
TEXT
 
prabhura ‘sesanna' misra savamse khaila
‘prabhu aila' suni' candrasekhara aila
SYNONYMS
 
prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sesa-anna -- remnants of food; 
misra -- Tapana Misra; sa-vamse -- along with his family; khaila -- ate; 
prabhu aila -- the Lord has arrived; suni' -- hearing; candrasekhara 
aila -- Candrasekhara came.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The remnants of food left by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu were taken by the 
whole family of Tapana Misra. When news spread that the Lord had come, 
Candrasekhara came to see Him.
 
Madhya 17.92
 
TEXT 92
 
TEXT
 
misrera sakha tenho prabhura purva dasa
vaidya-jati, likhana-vrtti, varanasi-vasa
SYNONYMS
 
misrera sakha -- friend of Tapana Misra; tenho -- he; prabhura -- of Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; purva dasa -- former servant; vaidya-jati -- by 
caste a physician; likhana-vrtti -- by profession a clerk; varanasi-vasa 
-- resident of Varanasi.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Candrasekhara happened to be a friend of Tapana Misra's, and he was long 
known to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as His servant. He was a physician by 
caste, and by profession he was a clerk. At the time he was living in 
Varanasi.
 
Madhya 17.93
 
TEXT 93
 
TEXT
 
asi' prabhu-pade padi' karena rodana
prabhu uthi' tanre krpaya kaila alingana
SYNONYMS
 
asi' -- coming; prabhu-pade -- at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; padi' -- falling down; karena -- does; rodana -- crying; 
prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; uthi' -- standing; tanre -- unto him; 
krpaya -- out of mercy; kaila -- did; alingana -- embracing.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When Candresekhara came there, he fell down before the lotus feet of Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu and began to cry. The Lord, standing up, embraced 
him out of His causeless mercy.
 
Madhya 17.94
 
TEXT 94
 
TEXT
 
candrasekhara kahe, -- "prabhu, bada krpa kaila
apane asiya bhrtye darasana dila
SYNONYMS
 
candrasekhara kahe -- Candrasekhara said; prabhu -- my dear Lord; bada 
krpa kaila -- You have shown Your causeless mercy; apane -- personally; 
asiya -- coming; bhrtye -- unto Your servant; darasana dila -- gave Your 
audience.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Candrasekhara said, "My dear Lord, You have bestowed Your causeless 
mercy upon me because I am Your old servant. Indeed, You have come here 
personally to give me Your audience.
 
Madhya 17.95
 
TEXT 95
 
TEXT
 
apana-prarabdhe vasi' varanasi-sthane
‘maya', ‘brahma' sabda vina nahi suni kane
SYNONYMS
 
apana-prarabdhe -- because of my past deeds; vasi' -- staying; varanasi-
sthane -- in the place known as Varanasi; maya-maya; brahma -- and 
brahma; sabda -- the words; vina -- except; nahi suni -- I do not hear; 
kane -- in the ear.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Due to my past deeds, I am residing at Varanasi, but here I do not hear 
anything but the words ‘maya' and ‘Brahman.'"
 
PURPORT
 
The word prarabdhe ("past deeds") is important in this verse. Since 
Candrasekhara was a devotee, he was always eager to hear about Krsna and 
His transcendental pastimes. Most of the inhabitants of Benares were and 
are impersonalists, worshipers of Lord Siva and followers of the 
pancopasana method. The impersonalists imagine some form of the 
impersonal Brahman, and to facilitate meditation they concentrate upon 
the forms of Visnu, Siva, Ganesa, Surya and goddess Durga. Actually 
these pancopasakas are not devotees of anyone. As it is said, to be a 
servant of everyone is to be a servant of no one. Varanasi, or Kasi, 
is the chief holy place of pilgrimage for impersonalists, and it is not 
at all suitable for devotees. A Vaisnava likes to live in a visnu-tirtha,
 a place where Lord Visnu's temples are present. In Varanasi there are 
many hundreds and thousands of Lord Siva's temples, or pancopasaka 
temples. Consequently Candrasekhara expressed great unhappiness as he 
informed Lord Caitanya that he was obliged to live at Benares due to his 
past misdeeds. As said in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, 
durjaty-arambhakam papam yat syat prarabdham eva tat: "According to one'
s past misdeeds, one takes birth on a lower platform." But in the Brahma-
samhita (5.54) it is said, karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam: "
There is no karma attached to the past deeds or misdeeds of one in 
devotional service." A devotee is not subjected to karma-phala, the 
effect of fruitive activity. Karma-phala is applicable to karmis, not 
bhaktas.
 
There are three kinds of devotees: those who are eternally on the 
transcendental platform (nitya-siddha), those who have been elevated to 
the transcendental platform by the execution of devotional service (
sadhana-siddha), and those who are neophytes advancing toward the 
perfectional platform (sadhaka). The sadhakas are gradually becoming 
free from fruitive reaction. The Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.1.17) 
describes the symptoms of bhakti-yoga thus:
 
klesa-ghni subha-da moksa-laghuta-krt su-durlabha
sandrananda-visesatma sri-krsnakarsini ca sa
 
 
 
Devotional service is klesa-ghni even for beginners. This means that it 
reduces or nullifies all kinds of suffering. The word subha-da 
indicates that devotional service bestows all good fortune, and the 
word krsna-akarsini indicates that devotional service gradually 
attracts Krsna toward the devotee. Consequently a devotee is not subject 
to any sinful reaction. In the Bhagavad-gita (18.66) Krsna says:
 
sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah
 
 
 
"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall 
deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear."
 
Thus a fully surrendered, sincere devotee immediately receives relief 
from all kinds of sinful reactions. There are three stages of 
fructification for sinful activity. At one stage, one commits the sinful 
act, before that the seed of this act exists, and before that there is 
ignorance whereby one commits the sin. Suffering is involved in all 
three stages. However, Krsna is merciful to His devotee, and 
consequently He immediately nullifies all three stages -- the sin, the 
seed of sin and the ignorance that leads one to sin. The Padma Purana 
confirms this:
 
aprarabdha-phalam papam kutam bijam phalonmukham
kramenaiva praliyeta visnu-bhakti-ratatmanam
 
 
For a further explanation of this topic, The Nectar of Devotion should 
be consulted.
 
Madhya 17.96
 
TEXT 96
 
TEXT
 
sad-darsana-vyakhya vina katha nahi etha
misra krpa kari' more sunana krsna-katha
SYNONYMS
 
sat-darsana -- of the six philosophical theses; vyakhya -- 
explanation; vina -- except; katha -- talk; nahi -- not; etha -- here; 
misra -- Tapana Misra; krpa kari' -- being very merciful; more -- unto 
me; sunana -- explains; krsna-katha -- topics of Lord Sri Krsna.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Candrasekhara continued, "There is no talk at Varanasi other than 
discussions on the six philosophical theses. Nonetheless, Tapana Misra 
has been very kind to me, for he speaks about topics relating to Lord 
Krsna.
 
PURPORT
 
The six philosophical theses are (1) Vaisesika, propounded by Kanada 
Rsi, (2) Nyaya, propounded by Gautama Rsi, (3) Yoga, or mysticism, 
propounded by Patanjali Rsi, (4) the philosophy of Sankhya, propounded 
by Kapila Rsi, (5) the philosophy of Karma-mimamsa, propounded by 
Jaimini Rsi, and (6) the philosophy of Brahma-mimamsa, or Vedanta, the 
ultimate conclusion of the Absolute Truth (janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1])
, propounded by Vedavyasa. Actually Vedanta philosophy is meant for the 
devotees because in the Bhagavad-gita (15.15) Lord Krsna says, vedanta-
krd veda-vid eva caham: "I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the 
knower of the Vedas." Vyasadeva is an incarnation of Krsna, 
and consequently Krsna is the compiler of Vedanta philosophy. Therefore 
Krsna clearly knows the purport of Vedanta philosophy. As stated in the 
Bhagavad-gita, whoever hears Vedanta philosophy from Krsna is actually 
aware of the real meaning of Vedanta. The Mayavadis call 
themselves Vedantists but do not at all understand the purport of 
Vedanta philosophy. Not being properly educated, people in general think 
that Vedanta means the Sankarite interpretation.
 
Madhya 17.97
 
TEXT 97
 
TEXT
 
nirantara dunhe cinti tomara carana
‘sarvajna isvara' tumi dila darasana
SYNONYMS
 
nirantara -- incessantly; dunhe -- we two; cinti -- think of; tomara 
carana -- Your lotus feet; sarva-jna -- omniscient; isvara -- Supreme 
Personality of Godhead; tumi -- You; dila darasana -- gave Your audience.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"My dear Lord, we two think of Your lotus feet incessantly. Although You 
are the omniscient Supreme Personality of Godhead, You have granted us 
Your audience.
 
Madhya 17.98
 
TEXT 98
 
TEXT
 
suni, -- ‘mahaprabhu' yabena sri-vrndavane
dina kata rahi' tara' bhrtya dui-jane"
SYNONYMS
 
suni -- I hear; mahaprabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yabena -- will go;
 sri-vrndavane -- to Vrndavana; dina kata -- for some days; rahi' -- 
staying; tara' -- please deliver; bhrtya -- servants; dui-jane -- two 
persons.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"My Lord, I have heard that You are going to Vrndavana. Please stay 
here at Varanasi for some days and deliver us, for we are Your two 
servants."
 
PURPORT
 
Although Candrasekhara is an eternal servant of the Lord, he humbly 
presented himself as fallen, and therefore he requested the Lord to 
deliver him and Tapana Misra, His two servants.
 
Madhya 17.99
 
TEXT 99
 
TEXT
 
misra kahe, -- ‘prabhu, yavat kasite rahiba
mora nimantrana vina anya na maniba'
SYNONYMS
 
misra kahe -- Tapana Misra said; prabhu -- my Lord; yavat -- as long as; 
kasite rahiba -- You will stay at Kasi, Varanasi; mora nimantrana -- my 
invitation; vina -- besides; anya -- others; na maniba -- do not accept.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Tapana Misra then said, "My dear Lord, as long as You stay at Varanasi, 
please do not accept any invitation other than mine."
 
Madhya 17.100
 
TEXT 100
 
TEXT
 
ei-mata mahaprabhu dui bhrtyera vase
iccha nahi, tabu tatha rahila dina-dase
SYNONYMS
 
ei-mata -- in this way; mahaprabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dui -- 
two; bhrtyera -- by servants; vase -- being obliged; iccha nahi -- there 
was no such desire; tabu -- still; tatha -- there; rahila -- remained; 
dina-dase -- for ten days.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Even though He had not made such a plan, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu 
remained for ten days at Varanasi, being obligated by the requests of 
His two servants.
 
Madhya 17.101
 
TEXT 101
 
TEXT
 
maharastriya vipra aise prabhu dekhibare
prabhura rupa-prema dekhi' haya camatkare
SYNONYMS
 
maharastriya -- belonging to the Maharashtra state; vipra -- one 
brahmana; aise -- comes; prabhu dekhibare -- to see Lord Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; rupa-prema -- beauty 
and ecstatic love; dekhi' -- seeing; haya camatkare -- becomes 
astonished.
 
TRANSLATION
 
At Varanasi there was a Maharashtriyan brahmana who used to come daily 
to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This brahmana was simply astonished to 
see the Lord's personal beauty and ecstatic love for Krsna.
 
Madhya 17.102
 
TEXT 102
 
TEXT
 
vipra saba nimantraya, prabhu nahi mane
prabhu kahe, -- ‘aji mora hanache nimantrane'
SYNONYMS
 
vipra -- the brahmanas; saba -- all; nimantraya -- invite; prabhu -- 
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nahi mane -- does not accept; prabhu kahe -
- the Lord replies; aji -- today; mora -- My; hanache -- has been; 
nimantrane -- invitation.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When the brahmanas of Varanasi would invite Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to 
lunch, the Lord would not accept their invitations. He would reply, "I 
have already been invited somewhere else."
 
Madhya 17.103
 
TEXT 103
 
TEXT
 
ei-mata prati-dina karena vancana
sannyasira sanga-bhaye na manena nimantrana
SYNONYMS
 
ei-mata -- in this way; prati-dina -- daily; karena vancana -- denies 
other inviters; sannyasira -- of the Mayavadi sannyasis; sanga-bhaye -- 
from fear of the association; na manena -- does not accept; nimantrana --
 invitation.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Every day Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu refused their invitations because He 
feared associating with Mayavadi sannyasis.
 
PURPORT
 
A Vaisnava sannyasi never accepts an invitation from a party who 
considers Mayavadi sannyasis and Vaisnava sannyasis to be one and the 
same. In other words, Vaisnava sannyasis do not at all like to associate 
with Mayavadi sannyasis, to say nothing of eating with them. This 
principle must be followed by the sannyasis of the Krsna consciousness 
movement. That is the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, given by 
His personal behavior.
 
Madhya 17.104
 
TEXT 104
 
TEXT
 
prakasananda sripada sabhate vasiya
‘vedanta' padana bahu sisya-gana lana
SYNONYMS
 
prakasananda -- Prakasananda; sripada -- a great sannyasi; sabhate -- in 
the assembly; vasiya -- sitting down; vedanta -- Vedanta philosophy; 
padana -- instructs; bahu -- many; sisya-gana -- disciples; lana -- 
taking.
 
TRANSLATION
 
There was a great Mayavadi sannyasi named Prakasananda Sarasvati, who 
used to teach Vedanta philosophy to a great assembly of followers.
 
PURPORT
 
Sripada Prakasananda Sarasvati was a Mayavadi sannyasi, and his 
characteristics have been described in Caitanya-bhagavata (Madhya-khanda,
 Chapter Three):
 
‘hasta', ‘pada', ‘mukha' mora nahika ‘locana'
veda more ei-mata kare vidambana
 
kasite padaya veta ‘prakasa-ananda'
sei veta kare mora anga khanda-khanda
 
vakhanaye veda, mora vigraha na mane
sarvange ha-ila kustha, tabu nahi jane
 
sarva-yajnamaya mora ye-anga -- pavitra
‘aja', ‘bhava' adi gaya yanhara caritra
 
‘punya' pavitrata paya ye-anga-parase
taha ‘mithya' bale veta kemana sahase
 
In the Madhya-khanda, Chapter Twenty, it is said:
 
sannyasi ‘prakasananda' vasaye kasite
more khanda-khanda veta kare bhala-mate
 
padaya ‘vedanta', mora ‘vigraha' na mane
kustha karailun ange, tabu nahi jane
 
‘satya' mora ‘lila-karma', ‘satya' mora ‘sthana'
iha ‘mithya' bale, more kare khan-khan
 
Being an impersonalist, Prakasananda Sarasvati used to explain 
the Absolute Truth as being without hands, legs, mouths 
or eyes. In this way he used to cheat the people by denying the personal 
form of the Lord. Such a foolish person was Prakasananda Sarasvati, 
whose only business was to sever the limbs of the Lord by proving the 
Lord impersonal. Although the Lord has form, Prakasananda Sarasvati 
attempted to cut off the hands and legs of the Lord. This is 
the business of demons. The Vedas state that people who do not accept 
the Lord's form are rascals. The form of the Lord is factual, for Krsna 
states in the Bhagavad-gita (15.15), vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah. 
When Krsna says aham, He says "I am," which means "I," the person. He 
adds the word eva, which is used for conclusive verification. Thus by 
studying Vedanta philosophy one must come to know the Supreme 
Person. Whoever describes Vedic knowledge as impersonal is a demon. One 
becomes successful in life by worshiping the form of the Lord. The 
Mayavadi sannyasis deny the form of the Lord, which delivers all fallen 
souls. Indeed, the Mayavadi demons try to cut this form to 
pieces.
 
The Personality of Godhead is worshiped by exalted demigods like Lord 
Brahma and Lord Siva. The original Mayavadi sannyasi, Sankaracarya, also 
accepted the fact that the Lord's form is transcendental: narayanah paro 
'vyaktat. "Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is beyond the 
avyakta, the unmanifested material energy." Avyaktad anda-sambhavah: "
This material world is a creation of that unmanifested material energy." 
However, Narayana has His own eternal form, which is not created by the 
material energy. Simply by worshiping the form of the Lord, one is 
purified. However, Mayavadi sannyasis are impersonalist philosophers, 
and they describe the form of the Lord as maya, or false. How can one be 
purified by worshiping something false? Mayavadi philosophers have no 
sufficient reason for being impersonalists. They blindly follow a 
principle that cannot be supported by reason or argument. This was the 
situation with Prakasananda Sarasvati, the chief Mayavadi sannyasi of 
Benares. He was supposed to teach Vedanta philosophy, but he would not 
accept the form of the Lord; therefore he was attacked with leprosy. 
Nonetheless, he continued to commit sins by describing the Absolute 
Truth as impersonal. The Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of 
Godhead, always displays pastimes and activities, but Mayavadi sannyasis 
claim that these activities are false.
 
Some people falsely claim that Prakasananda Sarasvati later became known 
as Prabodhananda Sarasvati, but this is not a fact. Prabodhananda 
Sarasvati was the uncle and spiritual master of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. 
In his grhastha life, Prabodhananda Sarasvati was a resident of Sri 
Ranga-ksetra, and he belonged to the Vaisnava Ramanuja-sampradaya. It is 
a mistake to consider Prakasananda Sarasvati and Prabodhananda Sarasvati 
the same man.
 
Madhya 17.105
 
TEXT 105
 
TEXT
 
eka vipra dekhi' aila prabhura vyavahara
prakasananda-age kahe caritra tanhara
SYNONYMS
 
eka vipra -- a brahmana; dekhi' -- seeing; aila -- came; prabhura -- 
of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vyavahara -- activities; prakasananda-age -- 
before the Mayavadi sannyasi Prakasananda; kahe -- says; caritra tanhara 
-- His characteristics.
 
TRANSLATION
 
A brahmana who saw the wonderful behavior of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu 
came to Prakasananda Sarasvati and described the Lord's characteristics.
 
Madhya 17.106
 
TEXT 106
 
TEXT
 
"eka sannyasi aila jagannatha haite
tanhara mahima-pratapa na pari varnite
SYNONYMS
 
eka -- a; sannyasi -- person in the renounced order of life; aila -- 
has come; jagannatha haite -- from Jagannatha Puri; tanhara -- His; 
mahima -- glories; pratapa -- influence; na pari varnite -- I cannot 
describe.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The brahmana told Prakasananda Sarasvati, "There is a sannyasi who has 
come from Jagannatha Puri, and I cannot describe His wonderful influence 
and glories.
 
Madhya 17.107
 
TEXT 107
 
TEXT
 
sakala dekhiye tante adbhuta-kathana
prakanda-sarira, suddha-kancana-varana
SYNONYMS
 
sakala dekhiye -- I see everything; tante -- in Him; adbhuta-kathana -- 
wonderful description; prakanda-sarira -- very large body; suddha -- 
pure; kancana -- gold; varana -- complexion.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Everything is wonderful about that sannyasi. He has a very well built 
and luxuriant body, and His complexion is like purified gold.
 
Madhya 17.108
 
TEXT 108
 
TEXT
 
ajanu-lambita bhuja, kamala-nayana
yata kichu isvarera sarva sal-laksana
SYNONYMS
 
ajanu-lambita -- reaching down to the knees; bhuja -- arms; kamala-
nayana -- eyes like the petals of a lotus flower; yata -- as many as; 
kichu -- any; isvarera -- of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarva --
 all; sat-laksana -- transcendental symptoms.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"He has arms that extend to His knees, and His eyes are like the petals 
of a lotus. In His person are all the transcendental symptoms of the 
Supreme Personality of Godhead.
 
Madhya 17.109
 
TEXT 109
 
TEXT
 
taha dekhi' jnana haya -- ‘ei narayana
yei tanre dekhe, kare krsna-sankirtana
SYNONYMS
 
taha dekhi' -- seeing that; jnana haya -- one comes to the conclusion; 
ei narayana -- He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana 
Himself; yei -- anyone who; tanre -- Him; dekhe -- sees; kare -- 
performs; krsna-sankirtana -- chanting of the holy name of Krsna.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"When one sees all these features, one takes Him to be Narayana Himself. 
Whoever sees Him immediately begins to chant the holy name of Krsna.
 
Madhya 17.110
 
TEXT 110
 
TEXT
 
‘maha-bhagavata'-laksana suni bhagavate
se-saba laksana prakata dekhiye tanhate
SYNONYMS
 
maha-bhagavata -- of a first-class devotee; laksana -- symptoms; suni -- 
we hear; bhagavate -- in Srimad-Bhagavatam; se-saba laksana -- all those 
symptoms; prakata -- manifest; dekhiye -- I see; tanhate -- in Him.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"We have heard about the symptoms of a first-class devotee in Srimad-
Bhagavatam, and all those symptoms are manifest in the body of Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
 
Madhya 17.111
 
TEXT 111
 
TEXT
 
‘nirantara krsna-nama' jihva tanra gaya
dui-netre asru vahe ganga-dhara-praya
SYNONYMS
 
nirantara -- incessantly; krsna-nama -- the holy name of the Lord; jihva 
-- tongue; tanra -- His; gaya -- chants; dui-netre -- in the two eyes; 
asru -- tears; vahe -- flow; ganga-dhara-praya -- like the flow of the 
Ganges.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"His tongue is always chanting the holy name of Krsna, and from His eyes 
tears incessantly fall like the flowing Ganges.
 
Madhya 17.112
 
TEXT 112
 
TEXT
 
ksane nace, hase, gaya, karaye krandana
ksane huhunkara kare, -- simhera garjana
SYNONYMS
 
ksane -- sometimes; nace -- dances; hase -- laughs; gaya -- sings; 
karaye krandana -- cries; ksane -- sometimes; huhun-kara -- loud 
vibrations; kare -- makes; simhera garjana -- the roaring of a lion.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Sometimes He dances, laughs, sings and cries, and sometimes He roars 
like a lion.
 
Madhya 17.113
 
TEXT 113
 
TEXT
 
jagat-mangala tanra ‘krsna-caitanya'-nama
nama, rupa, guna tanra, saba -- anupama
SYNONYMS
 
jagat-mangala -- all-auspicious to the whole world; tanra -- His; krsna-
caitanya -- Sri Krsna Caitanya; nama -- name; nama -- name; rupa -- form;
 guna -- the quality; tanra -- His; saba -- all; anupama -- unparalleled.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"His name, Krsna Caitanya, is all-auspicious for the world. Everything 
about Him -- His name, form and qualities -- is unparalleled.
 
Madhya 17.114
 
TEXT 114
 
TEXT
 
dekhile se jani tanra ‘isvarera riti'
alaukika katha suni' ke kare pratiti?"
SYNONYMS
 
dekhile -- simply by seeing; se -- Him; jani -- I understand; tanra -- 
His; isvarera riti -- characteristics of the Supreme Personality of 
Godhead; alaukika -- uncommon; katha -- story; suni' -- hearing; ke -- 
who; kare pratiti -- will believe.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Simply by seeing Him, one understands that He possesses all the 
characteristics of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such 
characteristics are certainly uncommon. Who will believe it?"
 
Madhya 17.115
 
TEXT 115
 
TEXT
 
suniya prakasananda bahuta hasila
vipre upahasa kari' kahite lagila
SYNONYMS
 
suniya -- hearing; prakasananda -- Prakasananda Sarasvati; bahuta hasila 
-- laughed very much; vipre -- at the brahmana; upahasa kari' -- 
jokingly laughing; kahite lagila -- began to speak.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Prakasananda Sarasvati laughed very much to hear this description. 
Joking and laughing at the brahmana, he began to speak as follows.
 
Madhya 17.116
 
TEXT 116
 
TEXT
 
"suniyachi gauda-desera sannyasi -- ‘bhavuka'
kesava-bharati-sisya, loka-prataraka
SYNONYMS
 
suniyachi -- I have heard; gauda-desera sannyasi -- the sannyasi from 
Bengal; bhavuka -- sentimental; kesava-bharati-sisya -- disciple of 
Kesava Bharati; loka-prataraka -- a first-class pretender.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Prakasananda Sarasvati said, "Yes, I have heard about Him. He is a 
sannyasi from Bengal, and He is very sentimental. I have also heard that 
He belongs to the Bharati-sampradaya, for He is a disciple of Kesava 
Bharati. However, He is only a pretender."
 
PURPORT
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was considered bhavuka (sentimental) because He 
was always seen in the bhava stage. That is, He always exhibited 
ecstatic love for Krsna. However, foolish people considered Him 
sentimental. In the material world, so-called devotees sometimes exhibit 
emotional symptoms. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's ecstatic love cannot be 
compared to the imitative emotional exhibitions of pretenders. Such 
exhibitions do not continue for very long. They are temporary. We 
actually see that some emotional imitators exhibit certain symptoms, but 
immediately after their exhibition, they are attracted to smoking and 
other things. In the beginning, when Prakasananda Sarasvati heard of Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu's activities, he considered them to be those of a 
pretender. Consequently he called Him a loka-prataraka, a pretender. 
Mayavadis cannot understand the transcendental symptoms exhibited by a 
devotee; therefore when such symptoms are manifest, the Mayavadis equate 
them with temporary emotional feelings. However, Prakasananda Sarasvati'
s statement is offensive, and consequently he should be considered an 
atheist (pasandi). According to Srila Rupa Gosvami, since Prakasananda 
Sarasvati was not engaged in the Lord's devotional service, his sannyasa 
is to be considered phalgu-vairagya. This means that since he did not 
know how to use things for the Lord's service, his renunciation of the 
world was artificial.
 
Madhya 17.117
 
TEXT 117
 
TEXT
 
‘caitanya'-nama tanra, bhavuka-gana lana
dese dese grame grame bule nacana
SYNONYMS
 
caitanya -- Caitanya; nama tanra -- His name; bhavuka-gana lana -- 
accompanied by some sentimentalists; dese dese -- from country to 
country; grame grame -- from village to village; bule -- travels; nacana 
-- causing to dance.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Prakasananda Sarasvati continued, "I know that His name is 
Caitanya and that He is accompanied by many sentimentalists. His 
followers dance with Him, and He tours from country to country and 
village to village.
 
Madhya 17.118
 
TEXT 118
 
TEXT
 
yei tanre dekhe, sei isvara kari' kahe
aiche mohana-vidya -- ye dekhe se mohe
SYNONYMS
 
yei -- anyone who; tanre -- Him; dekhe -- sees; sei -- that person; 
isvara kari' -- as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kahe -- says; 
aiche -- such; mohana-vidya -- hypnotism; ye dekhe -- anyone who sees; 
se mohe -- he becomes illusioned.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Whoever sees Him accepts Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 
Since He has some mystic power by which He hypnotizes people, everyone 
who sees Him becomes illusioned.
 
Madhya 17.119
 
TEXT 119
 
TEXT
 
sarvabhauma bhattacarya -- pandita prabala
suni' caitanyera sange ha-ila pagala
SYNONYMS
 
sarvabhauma bhattacarya -- Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; pandita prabala -- a 
learned scholar; suni' -- I have heard; caitanyera sange -- in the 
association of Caitanya; ha-ila pagala -- has become a madman.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was a very learned scholar, but I have heard 
that he also has become a madman due to his association with this 
Caitanya.
 
Madhya 17.120
 
TEXT 120
 
TEXT
 
‘sannyasi' -- nama-matra, maha-indrajali!
‘kasipure' na vikabe tanra bhavakali
SYNONYMS
 
sannyasi -- in the renounced order of life; nama-matra -- in name only; 
maha-indrajali -- first-class magician; kasipure -- in Kasi; na vikabe --
 will not sell; tanra -- His; bhavakali -- sentimental activities.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"This Caitanya is a sannyasi in name only. Actually He is a first-class 
magician. In any case, His sentimentalism cannot be very much in demand 
here in Kasi.
 
Madhya 17.121
 
TEXT 121
 
TEXT
 
‘vedanta' sravana kara, na yaiha tanra pasa
ucchrnkhala-loka-sange dui-loka-nasa"
SYNONYMS
 
vedanta -- the philosophy of Vedanta; sravana kara -- go on hearing; na -
- do not; yaiha -- go; tanra pasa -- near Him; ucchrnkhala -- upstart; 
loka -- people; sange -- in the association of; dui-loka-nasa -- 
destruction in this world and the next.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Do not go to see Caitanya. Just continue hearing Vedanta.
 If you associate with upstarts, you will be lost in this world and in 
the next."
 
PURPORT
 
The word ucchrnkhala, meaning "whimsical," is significant in this verse. 
In the Bhagavad-gita (16.23), Lord Krsna Himself says:
 
yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama-karatah
na sa siddhim avapnoti na sukham na param gatim
 
 
"If one acts whimsically and does not follow the sastric principles, he 
will never attain perfection, happiness or the spiritual world."
 
Madhya 17.122
 
TEXT 122
 
TEXT
 
eta suni' sei vipra maha-duhkha paila
‘krsna' ‘krsna' kahi' tatha haite uthi' gela
SYNONYMS
 
eta suni' -- hearing this; sei vipra -- that brahmana; maha-duhkha paila 
-- became very much aggrieved; krsna krsna kahi' -- uttering the holy 
name of Lord Krsna; tatha haite -- from there; uthi' gela -- got up and 
went away.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When the brahmana heard Prakasananda Sarasvati speak like this about Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he became very much grief-stricken. Chanting the 
holy name of Krsna, he immediately left.
 
Madhya 17.123
 
TEXT 123
 
TEXT
 
prabhura darasane suddha hanache tanra mana
prabhu-age duhkhi hana kahe vivarana
SYNONYMS
 
prabhura darasane -- by seeing personally the Supreme Personality of 
Godhead; suddha -- purified; hanache -- was; tanra mana -- his mind; 
prabhu-age -- before the Lord; duhkhi hana -- being very unhappy; 
kahe vivarana -- described the incidents.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The mind of the brahmana was already purified by his seeing 
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He 
therefore went to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and described what had taken 
place before the Mayavadi sannyasi Prakasananda.
 
Madhya 17.124
 
TEXT 124
 
TEXT
 
suni' mahaprabhu tabe isat hasila
punarapi sei vipra prabhure puchila
SYNONYMS
 
suni' -- hearing; mahaprabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tabe -- then; 
isat -- mildly; hasila -- smiled; punarapi -- again indeed; sei -- that; 
vipra-brahmana; prabhure puchila -- inquired from Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Hearing this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu mildly smiled. The brahmana then 
spoke again to the Lord.
 
Madhya 17.125
 
TEXT 125
 
TEXT
 
"tara age yabe ami tomara nama la-ila
seha tomara nama jane, -- apane kahila
SYNONYMS
 
tara age -- before him; yabe -- when; ami -- I; tomara -- Your; nama -- 
name; la-ila -- uttered; seha -- he; tomara -- Your; nama -- name; 
jane -- knows; apane kahila -- he said himself.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The brahmana said, "As soon as I uttered Your name before him, he 
immediately confirmed the fact that he knew Your name.
 
Madhya 17.126
 
TEXT 126
 
TEXT
 
tomara ‘dosa' kahite kare namera uccara
‘caitanya' ‘caitanya' kari' kahe tina-bara
SYNONYMS
 
tomara dosa -- Your fault; kahite -- describing; kare -- does; namera -- 
of the name; uccara -- utterances; caitanya caitanya -- Caitanya, 
Caitanya; kari' -- in that way; kahe tina-bara -- he uttered three times.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"While finding fault with You, he uttered Your name three times, saying 
‘Caitanya, Caitanya, Caitanya.'
 
Madhya 17.127
 
TEXT 127
 
TEXT
 
tina-bare ‘krsna-nama' na aila tara mukhe
‘avajna'te nama laya, suni' pai duhkhe
SYNONYMS
 
tina-bare -- three times; krsna-nama -- the holy name of Krsna; na aila -
- did not come; tara mukhe -- in his mouth; avajnate -- in contempt; 
nama laya -- takes Your name; suni' -- hearing; pai duhkhe -- I was very 
much aggrieved.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Although he spoke Your name three times, he did not utter the name ‘
Krsna.' Because he uttered Your name in contempt, I was very much 
aggrieved.
 
PURPORT
 
Prakasananda Sarasvati vilified and blasphemed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. 
Words like brahma, caitanya, atma, paramatma, jagadisa, isvara, virat, 
vibhu, bhuma, visvarupa and vyapaka all indirectly indicate Krsna. 
However, the chanter of these names is not actually attracted to the 
Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna and His transcendental pastimes. 
One may get a little light from these names, but one cannot understand 
that the holy name of the Lord is identical with the Lord. One considers 
the Lord's names material due to a poor fund of knowledge. Mayavadi 
philosophers and the pancopasakas cannot in the least understand the 
existence of the spiritual world and the blissful variegatedness there. 
They cannot understand the Absolute Truth and its spiritual varieties -- 
name, form, qualities and pastimes. Consequently they conclude that 
Krsna's transcendental activities are maya. To avoid this misconception 
one has to directly cultivate knowledge about the holy name of the Lord. 
Mayavadi philosophers do not know this fact, and therefore they commit 
great offenses. One should not hear anything about Krsna or devotional 
service from the mouths of Mayavadi impersonalists.
 
Madhya 17.128
 
TEXT 128
 
TEXT
 
ihara karana more kaha krpa kari'
toma dekhi' mukha mora bale ‘krsna' ‘hari'"
SYNONYMS
 
ihara -- of this; karana -- cause; more -- unto me; kaha -- please speak;
 krpa kari' -- by Your causeless mercy; toma dekhi' -- seeing You; mukha 
-- mouth; mora -- my; bale -- says; krsna hari -- the holy names of 
Krsna and Hari.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Why could Prakasananda not utter the names ‘Krsna' and ‘Hari'? He 
chanted the name ‘Caitanya' thrice. As far as I am concerned, simply by 
seeing You I am moved to chant the holy names ‘Krsna' and ‘Hari.'"
 
Madhya 17.129
 
TEXT 129
 
TEXT
 
prabhu kahe, -- "mayavadi krsne aparadhi
‘brahma', ‘atma' ‘caitanya' kahe niravadhi
SYNONYMS
 
prabhu kahe -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; mayavadi -- the 
impersonalists; krsne -- unto Krsna; aparadhi -- great offenders; brahma
-brahma; atma-atma; caitanya-caitanya; kahe -- say; niravadhi -- 
without stopping.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "The Mayavadi impersonalists are great 
offenders unto Lord Krsna; therefore they simply utter the words ‘
Brahman,' ‘atma' and ‘caitanya.'
 
Madhya 17.130
 
TEXT 130
 
TEXT
 
ataeva tara mukhe na aise krsna-nama
‘krsna-nama', ‘krsna-svarupa' -- duita ‘samana'
SYNONYMS
 
ataeva -- therefore; tara mukhe -- in their mouths; na -- not; aise -- 
manifests; krsna-nama -- the holy name "Krsna"; krsna-nama -- the holy 
name "Krsna"; krsna-svarupa -- the personality of the Lord; duita 
samana -- both identical.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Because they 
are offenders unto Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is 
identical with His holy name, the holy name ‘Krsna' does not manifest in 
their mouths.
 
Madhya 17.131
 
TEXT 131
 
TEXT
 
‘nama', ‘vigraha', ‘svarupa' -- tina eka-rupa
tine ‘bheda' nahi, -- tina ‘cid-ananda-rupa'
SYNONYMS
 
nama -- the name; vigraha -- form; svarupa -- personality; tina -- 
all three; eka-rupa -- one and the same; tine -- between the three; 
bheda nahi -- there is no difference; tina -- all three; cit-ananda-rupa 
-- transcendentally blissful.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"The Lord's holy name, His form and His personality are all one and the 
same. There is no difference between them. Since all of them are 
absolute, they are all transcendentally blissful.
 
Madhya 17.132
 
TEXT 132
 
TEXT
 
deha-dehira, nama-namira krsne nahi ‘bheda'
jivera dharma -- nama-deha-svarupe ‘vibheda'
SYNONYMS
 
deha-dehira -- of the body and the owner of the body; nama-namira -- of 
the name and the owner of the name; krsne -- in Krsna; nahi bheda -- 
there is no difference; jivera dharma -- the situation of the 
conditioned soul; nama -- name; deha -- body; svarupe -- original 
form; vibheda -- different.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"There is no difference between Krsna's body and Himself or between His 
name and Himself. But as far as the conditioned soul is concerned, 
one's name is different from one's body, from 
one's original form and so on.
 
PURPORT
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is herein pointing out to the brahmana that 
Mayavadi philosophers cannot understand that the living entity is equal 
in quality with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because they do not 
accept this, they think that the living entity has been falsely divided 
from the original Brahman due to being conditioned by maya. Mayavadis 
believe that the Absolute Truth is ultimately impersonal. When an 
incarnation of God or God Himself comes, they think He is covered by 
maya. In other words, Mayavadi impersonalists think that the Lord's form 
is also a product of this material world. Due to a poor fund of 
knowledge, they cannot understand that Krsna has no body separate from 
Himself. His body and Himself are both the same Absolute Truth. Not 
having perfect knowledge of Krsna, such impersonalists certainly commit 
offenses at His lotus feet. Therefore they do not utter "Krsna, " the 
original name of the Absolute Truth. In their impersonal way, 
they utter the name of impersonal Brahman, spirit soul. In other words, 
they indulge in indirect indications of the Absolute Truth. Even if they 
happen to utter the names "Govinda," "Krsna" or "Madhava," they still 
cannot understand that these names are as good as Govinda, Krsna or 
Madhava the person. Because they are ultimately impersonalists, their 
uttering of the personal name has no potency. Actually they do not 
believe in Krsna but consider all these names to be material vibrations. 
Not being able to appreciate the holy name of the Lord, they simply 
utter indirect names like Brahman, atma and caitanya.
 
It is a fact, however, that the name of Krsna and Krsna the person are 
both spiritual. Everything about Krsna is transcendental, blissful and 
objective. For a conditioned soul, the body is different from the soul, 
and the name given by the father is also different from the soul. The 
conditioned living entity's identification with material objects keeps 
him from attaining his actual position. Although he is an eternal 
servant of Krsna, he acts differently. The svarupa, or actual 
identification of the living entity, is described by Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu as jivera ‘svarupa' haya -- krsnera ‘nitya-dasa' [Cc. Madhya 
20.108]. The conditioned soul has forgotten the real activities of his 
original position. However, this is not the case with Krsna. Krsna's 
name and His person are identical. There is no such thing as maya Krsna 
because Krsna is not a product of the material creation. There is no 
difference between Krsna's body and His soul. Krsna is simultaneously 
both soul and body. The distinction between body and soul applies to 
conditioned souls. The body of the conditioned soul is different from 
the soul, and the conditioned soul's name is different from his body. 
One may be named Mr. John, but if we call for Mr. John, Mr. John may 
never actually appear. However, if we utter the holy name of Krsna, 
Krsna is immediately present on our tongue. In the Padma Purana, Krsna 
says, mad-bhakta yatra gayanti tatra tisthami narada: "O Narada, I am 
present wherever My devotees are chanting." When the devotees chant the 
holy name of Krsna -- Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ 
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare -- Lord Krsna is immediately 
present.
 
Madhya 17.133
 
TEXT 133
 
TEXT
 
nama cintamanih krsnas
 caitanya-rasa-vigrahah
purnah suddho nitya-mukto
 'bhinnatvan nama-naminoh
SYNONYMS
 
namah -- the holy name; cintamanih -- transcendentally blissful giver of 
all spiritual benedictions; krsnah -- not different from Krsna; caitanya-
rasa-vigrahah -- the form of all transcendental mellows; purnah -- 
complete; suddhah -- pure, without material contamination; nitya -- 
eternal; muktah -- liberated; abhinnatvat -- due to not being 
different; nama -- of the holy name; naminoh -- and of the person who 
has the name.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"‘The holy name of Krsna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all 
spiritual benedictions, for it is Krsna Himself, the reservoir of all 
pleasure. Krsna's name is complete, and it is the form of all 
transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, 
and it is no less powerful than Krsna Himself. Since Krsna's name is not 
contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its 
being involved with maya. Krsna's name is always liberated and spiritual;
 it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because 
the name of Krsna and Krsna Himself are identical.'
 
PURPORT
 
This is a quotation from the Padma Purana.
 
Madhya 17.134
 
TEXT 134
 
TEXT
 
ataeva krsnera ‘nama', ‘deha', ‘vilasa'
prakrtendriya-grahya nahe, haya sva-prakasa
SYNONYMS
 
ataeva -- therefore; krsnera -- of Lord Krsna; nama -- the holy name; 
deha -- the spiritual body; vilasa -- the pastimes; prakrta-indriya -- 
by the dull senses made of matter; grahya -- perceptible; nahe -- not; 
haya -- are; sva-prakasa -- self-manifested.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"The holy name of Krsna, His body and His pastimes cannot be understood 
by the blunt material senses. They are manifested independently.
 
PURPORT
 
Since Krsna's transcendental body, name, form, qualities, 
pastimes and entourage are all the Absolute Truth, they are as 
good as Krsna Himself (sac-cid-ananda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1]). As long as the 
living entity is conditioned by the three modes of material nature (
goodness, passion and ignorance), the objects of his material senses --
 material form, taste, smell, sound and touch -- will not help him 
understand spiritual knowledge and bliss. Rather, these are revealed to 
the pure devotee. One's material name, form and qualities are certainly 
different from one another. In the material world, there is no 
conception of absolute; however, when we come to Krsna consciousness we 
find that there is no material difference between Krsna's body and His 
names, activities and entourage.
 
Madhya 17.135
 
TEXT 135
 
TEXT
 
krsna-nama, krsna-guna, krsna-lila-vrnda
krsnera svarupa-sama -- saba cid-ananda
SYNONYMS
 
krsna-nama -- the holy name of Krsna; krsna-guna -- the transcendental 
qualities of Krsna; krsna-lila-vrnda -- the transcendental pastimes of 
Lord Krsna; krsnera svarupa -- Krsna's personality; sama -- equal; 
saba -- all; cit-ananda -- spiritual and full of bliss.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Krsna's holy name, transcendental qualities and 
transcendental pastimes are all equal to Lord Krsna Himself
. They are all spiritual and full of bliss.
 
Madhya 17.136
 
TEXT 136
 
TEXT
 
atah sri-krsna-namadi
 na bhaved grahyam indriyaih
sevonmukhe hi jihvadau
 svayam eva sphuraty adah
SYNONYMS
 
atah -- therefore (because Krsna's name, form and qualities are all on 
the absolute platform); sri-krsna-nama-adi -- Lord Krsna's name, form, 
qualities, pastimes and so on; na -- not; bhavet -- can be; grahyam -- 
perceived; indriyaih -- by the blunt material senses; seva-unmukhe -- to 
one engaged in His service; hi -- certainly; jihva-adau -- beginning 
with the tongue; svayam -- personally; eva -- certainly; sphurati -- 
become manifest; adah -- those (Krsna's name, form, qualities and so on)
.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"‘Therefore material senses cannot appreciate Krsna's holy name, form, 
qualities and pastimes. When a conditioned soul is awakened to Krsna 
consciousness and renders service by using his tongue to chant the Lord'
s holy name and taste the remnants of the Lord's food, the tongue is 
purified, and one gradually comes to understand who Krsna really is.'
 
PURPORT
 
This verse is recorded in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.234).
 
Madhya 17.137
 
TEXT 137
 
TEXT
 
brahmananda haite purnananda lila-rasa
brahma-jnani akarsiya kare atma-vasa
SYNONYMS
 
brahma-ananda -- the pleasure of self-realization; haite -- from; purna-
ananda -- complete pleasure; lila-rasa -- the mellows of the pastimes of 
the Lord; brahma-jnani -- those who are on the platform of Brahman 
understanding; akarsiya -- attracting; kare -- make; atma-vasa -- 
subordinate to Krsna.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"The mellows of Lord Krsna's pastimes, which are full of bliss, attract 
the jnani from the pleasure of Brahman realization and conquer him.
 
PURPORT
 
When one understands that he belongs not to the material world but to 
the spiritual world, one is called liberated. Being situated in the 
spiritual world is certainly pleasurable, but those who realize the 
transcendental name, form, qualities and pastimes of Lord Krsna enjoy 
transcendental bliss many times more than one who has simply realized 
the self. When one is situated on the platform of self-realization, he 
can certainly be easily attracted by Krsna and become a servant of the 
Lord. This is explained in the Bhagavad-gita (18.54):
 
brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati
samah sarvesu bhutesu mad-bhaktim labhate param
 
 
 
"One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme 
Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have 
anything. He is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state 
he attains pure devotional service unto Me."
 
When one becomes spiritually realized (brahma-bhuta [SB 4.30.20]), he 
becomes happy (prasannatma), for he is relieved from material 
conceptions. One who has attained this platform is not agitated by 
material action and reaction. He sees everyone on the platform of spirit 
soul (panditah sama-darsinah [Bg. 5.18]). When one is completely 
realized, he can rise to the platform of pure devotional service (mad-
bhaktim labhate param [Bg. 18.54]). When one comes to the platform of 
bhakti, devotional service, he automatically realizes who Krsna is. As 
the Lord says in the Bhagavad-gita (18.55):
 
bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah
tato mam tattvato jnatva visate tad-anantaram
 
"One can understand Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
 only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of 
Me by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God."
 
 
It is only on the bhakti platform that one can understand the Supreme 
Personality of Godhead Krsna and His transcendental name, form, 
qualities, pastimes and entourage. Being thus qualified spiritually
, one is allowed to enter the spiritual kingdom of 
God and return home, back to Godhead (visate tad-anantaram).
 
Madhya 17.138
 
TEXT 138
 
TEXT
 
sva-sukha-nibhrta-cetas tad vyudastanya-bhavo
'py ajita-rucira-lilakrsta-saras tadiyam
vyatanuta krpaya yas tattva-dipam puranam
 tam akhila-vrjina-ghnam vyasa-sunum nato 'smi
SYNONYMS
 
sva-sukha -- in happiness of the self; nibhrta -- solitary; cetah -- 
whose consciousness; tat -- because of that; vyudasta -- given up; anya-
bhavah -- any other type of consciousness; api -- although; ajita -- of 
Sri Krsna; rucira -- pleasing; lila -- by the pastimes; akrsta -- 
attracted; sarah -- whose heart; tadiyam -- consisting of the activities 
of the Lord; vyatanuta -- spread, manifested; krpaya -- mercifully; yah -
- who; tattva-dipam -- the bright light of the Absolute Truth; puranam --
 the Purana (Srimad-Bhagavatam); tam -- unto him; akhila-vrjina-ghnam -- 
defeating everything inauspicious; vyasa-sunum -- the son of Vyasadeva; 
natah asmi -- I offer my obeisances.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"‘Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the 
son of Vyasadeva, Sukadeva Gosvami. It is he who defeats all 
inauspicious things within this universe. Although in the beginning he 
was absorbed in the happiness of Brahman realization and was living in a 
secluded place, giving up all other types of consciousness, he became 
attracted by the most melodious pastimes of Lord Sri Krsna. He therefore 
mercifully spoke the supreme Purana, known as Srimad-Bhagavatam, which 
is the bright light of the Absolute Truth and which describes the 
activities of Lord Krsna.'
 
PURPORT
 
This verse was spoken by Suta Gosvami in Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.12.69).
 
Madhya 17.139
 
TEXT 139
 
TEXT
 
brahmananda haite purnananda krsna-guna
ataeva akarsaye atmaramera mana
SYNONYMS
 
brahma-ananda -- the pleasure of Brahman realization; haite -- from; 
purna-ananda -- complete bliss; krsna-guna -- the qualities of Lord 
Krsna; ataeva -- therefore; akarsaye -- attract; atma-aramera mana -- 
the minds of self-realized persons.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"The transcendental qualities of Sri Krsna are completely blissful and 
relishable. Consequently Lord Krsna's qualities attract even the minds 
of self-realized persons from the bliss of self-realization.
 
Madhya 17.140
 
TEXT 140
 
TEXT
 
atmaramas ca munayo
 nirgrantha apy urukrame
kurvanty ahaitukim bhaktim
 ittham-bhuta-guno harih
SYNONYMS
 
atma-aramah -- persons who take pleasure in being transcendentally 
situated in the service of the Lord; ca -- also; munayah -- great 
saintly persons who have completely rejected material aspirations, 
fruitive activities, and so forth; nirgranthah -- without interest in 
any material desire; api -- certainly; urukrame -- unto the Supreme 
Personality of Godhead, Krsna, whose activities are wonderful; kurvanti -
- do; ahaitukim -- causeless, or without material desires; bhaktim -- 
devotional service; ittham-bhuta -- so wonderful as to attract the 
attention of the self-satisfied; gunah -- who has transcendental 
qualities; harih -- the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"‘Those who are self-satisfied and unattracted by external material 
desires are also attracted to the loving service of Sri Krsna, whose 
qualities are transcendental and whose activities are wonderful. Hari, 
the Personality of Godhead, is called Krsna because He has such 
transcendentally attractive features.'
 
Madhya 17.141
 
TEXT 141
 
TEXT
 
ei saba rahu -- krsna-carana-sambandhe
atmaramera mana hare tulasira gandhe
SYNONYMS
 
ei saba rahu -- apart from the pastimes of Lord Krsna; krsna-carana-
sambandhe -- in relation to the lotus feet of Krsna; atma-aramera -- of 
self-realized persons; mana -- the mind; hare -- attracts; tulasira 
gandhe -- the aroma of tulasi leaves.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Apart from the pastimes of Lord Krsna, when tulasi leaves are offered 
at the lotus feet of Sri Krsna, even the aroma of the leaves attracts 
the minds of self-realized persons.
 
Madhya 17.142
 
TEXT 142
 
TEXT
 
tasyaravinda-nayanasya padaravinda-
 kinjalka-misra-tulasi-makaranda-vayuh
antar-gatah sva-vivarena cakara tesam
 sanksobham aksara-jusam api citta-tanvoh
SYNONYMS
 
tasya -- of Him; aravinda-nayanasya -- of the Supreme Personality of 
Godhead, whose eyes are like the petals of a lotus; pada-aravinda -- of 
the lotus feet; kinjalka -- with saffron; misra -- mixed; tulasi -- of 
tulasi leaves; makaranda -- with the aroma; vayuh -- the air; antah-
gatah -- entered; sva-vivarena -- through the nostrils; cakara -- 
created; tesam -- of them; sanksobham -- strong agitation; aksara-jusam -
- of the impersonally self-realized (Kumaras); api -- also; citta-tanvoh 
-- of the mind and body.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"‘When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasi leaves and saffron from 
the lotus feet of the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead entered through 
the nostrils into the hearts of those sages [the Kumaras], they 
experienced a change in both body and mind, even though they were 
attached to the impersonal Brahman understanding.'
 
PURPORT
 
This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.15.43). Vidura and Maitreya 
discussed the pregnancy of Diti. Diti's pregnancy caused the demigods to 
be very much afraid, and the demigods went to see Lord Brahma. Lord 
Brahma explained the original incident involving the cursing of Jaya and 
Vijaya by the Catuhsana Kumaras. Once the Catuhsana Kumaras went to 
Vaikuntha to visit Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but
 they were stopped from entering the palace at the seventh gate by 
two doorkeepers named Jaya and Vijaya. Due to their jealousy, Jaya and 
Vijaya would not allow the Kumaras entry, and consequently the Kumaras 
became angry and cursed Jaya and Vijaya, condemning them to take birth 
in a family of asuras in the material world. The omniscient Personality 
of Godhead could immediately understand the incident, and He came with 
His eternal consort, the goddess of fortune. The Catuhsana Kumaras 
immediately offered their obeisances unto the Lord. Simply by seeing the 
Lord and smelling the aroma of tulasi and saffron from His lotus feet, 
the Kumaras became devotees and abandoned their long-cherished 
impersonalism. Thus the four Kumaras were turned into Vaisnavas simply 
by smelling the aromatic tulasi mixed with saffron. Those who are 
actually on the platform of Brahman realization and who have not 
offended the lotus feet of Krsna can immediately become Vaisnavas simply 
by smelling the aroma of the Lord's lotus feet. But those who are 
offenders or demons are never attracted to the Lord's personal feature, 
even though they may visit the Lord's temple many times. In Vrndavana we 
have seen many Mayavadi sannyasis who do not even come to the temple of 
Govindaji, Gopinatha or Madana-mohana because they think that such 
temples are maya. Therefore they are called Mayavadis. Sri Krsna 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore said that the Mayavadis are the greatest 
offenders.
 
Madhya 17.143
 
TEXT 143
 
TEXT
 
ataeva ‘krsna-nama' na aise tara mukhe
mayavadi-gana yate maha bahirmukhe
SYNONYMS
 
ataeva -- therefore; krsna-nama -- the holy name of Krsna; na -- does 
not; aise -- come; tara mukhe -- in their mouths; mayavadi-gana -- all 
the Mayavadis; yate -- because; maha bahih-mukhe -- great offenders by 
dint of strong atheism.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Because the Mayavadis are great offenders and atheistic philosophers, 
the holy name of Krsna does not come from their mouths.
 
PURPORT
 
Because they are constantly blaspheming the Supreme Personality of 
Godhead by saying that He has no head, hands or legs, Mayavadi 
philosophers remain offenders for many, many births, even though they 
have partially realized Brahman. However, if such impersonalists are not 
offenders at the lotus feet of the Lord, they immediately become 
devotees in the association of a devotee. In other words, if an 
impersonalist is not an offender, he can become a devotee if he gets a 
chance to associate with other devotees. If he is an offender, he cannot 
be converted even by the association of the Supreme Personality of 
Godhead. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very much afraid of this 
Mayavadi offender; therefore He spoke as follows.
 
Madhya 17.144
 
TEXT 144
 
TEXT
 
bhavakali vecite ami ailana kasipure
grahaka nahi, na vikaya, lana yaba ghare
SYNONYMS
 
bhavakali -- devotional sentiments; vecite -- to sell; ami -- I; ailana -
- came; kasipure -- to the city of Kasi; grahaka nahi -- there is no 
customer; na vikaya -- do not sell; lana yaba ghare -- then I must take 
my commodity back home.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"I have come here to sell My emotional ecstatic sentiments in this city 
of Kasi, but I cannot find any customers. If they are not sold, I must 
take them back home.
 
Madhya 17.145
 
TEXT 145
 
TEXT
 
bhari bojha lana ailana, kemane lana yaba?
alpa-svalpa-mulya paile, ethai veciba
SYNONYMS
 
bhari bojha -- heavy load; lana -- bearing; ailana -- I came; kemane -- 
how; lana yaba -- shall I take it back; alpa-svalpa-mulya -- a fraction 
of the real price; paile -- if I get; ethai -- here; veciba -- I shall 
sell.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"I have brought a heavy load to sell in this city. To take it back again 
is a very difficult job; therefore if I get but a fraction of the price, 
I shall sell it here in this city of Kasi."
 
PURPORT
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was selling the transcendental holy name of the 
Lord. But Kasi was a city of Mayavadis (impersonalists), and such 
people will never chant the holy names of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. 
Consequently Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was feeling disappointed. How could 
He teach the Mayavadis the importance of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-
mantra? The attraction for chanting the holy name of the Lord belongs 
absolutely to pure devotees, and there was no possibility of finding 
pure devotees at Kasi. Consequently Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's commodity 
was certainly very heavy. The Lord therefore suggested that even though 
there were no pure devotees in Kasi, if someone was a little inclined to 
chant the Hare Krsna mantra, He would deliver this big load, although 
the proper price was not paid.
 
Actually we experienced this when we came to preach the Hare Krsna 
movement in the West. When we came to New York in 1965, we never 
expected that the Hare Krsna maha-mantra would be accepted in this 
country. Nonetheless, we invited people to our storefront to join in 
chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, and the Lord's holy name is so 
attractive that simply by coming to our storefront in New York, 
fortunate young people became Krsna conscious. Although this mission was 
started with insignificant capital, it is now going nicely. The 
spreading of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra in the West has become 
successful because the young people were not offenders. The youths who 
joined this movement were not very advanced as far as purity is 
concerned, nor were they very well educated in Vedic knowledge, but 
because they were not offenders, they could accept the importance of the 
Hare Krsna movement. We are now very happy to see that this movement is 
advancing more and more in the Western countries. We therefore conclude 
that the so-called mlecchas and yavanas of the Western countries are 
more purified than offensive Mayavadis or atheistic impersonalists.
 
Madhya 17.146
 
TEXT 146
 
TEXT
 
eta bali' sei vipre atmasatha kari'
prate uthi mathura calila gaurahari
SYNONYMS
 
eta bali' -- saying this; sei vipre -- that brahmana; atmasatha kari' -- 
accepting as His devotee; prate uthi -- rising early in the morning; 
mathura calila -- started for Mathura; gaurahari -- Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu.
 
TRANSLATION
 
After saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted that brahmana as His 
devotee. The next morning, rising very early, the Lord started for 
Mathura.
 
Madhya 17.147
 
TEXT 147
 
TEXT
 
sei tina sange cale, prabhu nisedhila
dura haite tina-jane ghare pathaila
SYNONYMS
 
sei tina -- those three; sange -- with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; cale -- 
go; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nisedhila -- forbade; dura haite -
- from a distance; tina-jane -- the three persons; ghare -- home; 
pathaila -- sent back.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu started for Mathura, all three devotees 
started to go with Him. But the Lord forbade them to accompany Him, 
and from a distance He asked them to return home.
 
Madhya 17.148
 
TEXT 148
 
TEXT
 
prabhura virahe tine ekatra miliya
prabhu-guna gana kare preme matta hana
SYNONYMS
 
prabhura virahe -- because of separation from the Lord; tine -- all 
three; ekatra -- together; miliya -- meeting; prabhu-guna -- the 
transcendental qualities of the Lord; gana kare -- chant; preme -- with 
love; matta hana -- being mad.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Feeling separation from the Lord, the three used to meet and glorify the 
holy qualities of the Lord. Thus they were absorbed in ecstatic love.
 
Madhya 17.149
 
TEXT 149
 
TEXT
 
‘prayage' asiya prabhu kaila veni-snana
‘madhava' dekhiya preme kaila nrtya-gana
SYNONYMS
 
prayage -- to Prayaga; asiya -- coming; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; kaila -- did; veni-snana -- bathing in the confluence of the 
Ganges and Yamuna; madhava -- the predominating Deity there, Veni 
Madhava; dekhiya -- seeing; preme -- in ecstatic love; kaila -- 
performed; nrtya-gana -- dancing and chanting.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then went to Prayaga, where He bathed at the 
confluence of the Ganges and the Yamuna. He then visited the temple of 
Veni Madhava and chanted and danced there in ecstatic love.
 
PURPORT
 
The city of Prayaga is situated a few miles from the city of Allahabad. 
The name Prayaga is given due to successful sacrifices performed there. 
It is said, prakrsto yago yaga-phalam yasmat. If one performs 
sacrifices at Prayaga, he certainly gets immediate results without 
difficulty. Prayaga is also called Tirtharaja, the king of all places of 
pilgrimage. This holy place is situated on the confluence of the rivers 
Ganges and Yamuna. Every year a fair takes place there known as Magha-
mela, and every twelve years a Kumbha-mela is also held. In any case, 
many people come to bathe there every year. During Magha-mela, people 
from the local district generally come, and during Kumbha-mela people 
come from all over India to live there and bathe in the Ganges and 
Yamuna. Whoever goes there immediately feels the place's spiritual 
influence. A fort located there was constructed by the emperor Akbar 
about five hundred years ago, and near the fort is a place called 
Triveni. On the other side of Prayaga is an old place known as 
Pratisthana-pura. It is also well known as Jhunsi. Many saintly people 
live there, and consequently it is very attractive from the spiritual 
point of view.
 
Madhya 17.150
 
TEXT 150
 
TEXT
 
yamuna dekhiya preme pade jhanpa diya
aste-vyaste bhattacarya uthaya dhariya
SYNONYMS
 
yamuna -- the river Yamuna; dekhiya -- seeing; preme -- in ecstatic love;
 pade -- falls down; jhanpa diya -- jumping; aste-vyaste -- in great 
haste; bhattacarya -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; uthaya -- raises; dhariya -
- catching.
 
TRANSLATION
 
As soon as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw the river Yamuna, He threw 
Himself into it. Balabhadra Bhattacarya hastily caught the Lord and very 
carefully raised Him up again.
 
Madhya 17.151
 
TEXT 151
 
TEXT
 
ei-mata tina-dina prayage rahila
krsna-nama-prema diya loka nistarila
SYNONYMS
 
ei-mata -- in this way; tina-dina -- for three days; prayage -- at 
Prayaga; rahila -- remained; krsna-nama -- the holy name of Lord Krsna; 
prema -- and ecstatic love; diya -- delivering; loka nistarila -- 
delivered the people.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The Lord stayed at Prayaga for three days. He delivered the holy name of 
Krsna and ecstatic love. Thus He delivered many people.
 
Madhya 17.152
 
TEXT 152
 
TEXT
 
‘mathura' calite pathe yatha rahi' yaya
krsna-nama-prema diya lokere nacaya
SYNONYMS
 
mathura -- to Mathura; calite -- going; pathe -- on the road; yatha -- 
wherever; rahi' -- staying; yaya -- goes; krsna-nama-prema -- the holy 
name of Krsna and His ecstatic love; diya -- delivering; lokere nacaya --
 made the people dance.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Wherever the Lord stopped to rest on the way to Mathura, He delivered 
the holy name of Krsna and ecstatic love of Krsna. Thus He made the 
people dance.
 
Madhya 17.153
 
TEXT 153
 
TEXT
 
purve yena ‘daksina' yaite loka nistarila
‘pascima'-dese taiche saba ‘vaisnava' karila
SYNONYMS
 
purve -- formerly; yena -- as; daksina -- South India; yaite -- going to;
 loka -- the people; nistarila -- He delivered; pascima-dese -- in the 
western countries; taiche -- similarly; saba -- all; vaisnava -- 
devotees; karila -- made.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When the Lord toured South India, He delivered many people, and when He 
traveled in the western sector, He similarly converted many people to 
Vaisnavism.
 
PURPORT
 
Formerly Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu converted people when He toured 
southern and western India. Similarly, the Hare Krsna movement is now 
delivering the people of the Western world wherever devotees are 
chanting the holy names. This is all being done by the Lord's mercy. Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu predicted that He would deliver people in every city 
and village of the world by giving them a chance to chant the Hare Krsna 
maha-mantra.
 
Madhya 17.154
 
TEXT 154
 
TEXT
 
pathe yahan yahan haya yamuna-darsana
tahan jhanpa diya pade preme acetana
SYNONYMS
 
pathe -- on the road; yahan yahan -- wherever; haya -- there is; yamuna-
darsana -- meeting with the Yamuna River; tahan -- there; jhanpa diya 
pade -- jumps over and falls down; preme acetana -- unconscious in the 
ecstasy of love.
 
TRANSLATION
 
While the Lord was going to Mathura, He came across the river Yamuna 
several times, and as soon as He saw the river Yamuna, He would 
immediately jump in, falling unconscious in the water in the ecstasy of 
love of Krsna.
 
Madhya 17.155
 
TEXT 155
 
TEXT
 
mathura-nikate aila -- mathura dekhiya
dandavat hana pade premavista hana
SYNONYMS
 
mathura-nikate -- near Mathura; aila -- came; mathura dekhiya -- seeing 
the city of Mathura; dandavat hana -- offering obeisances; pade -- falls 
down; prema-avista hana -- in the great ecstasy of love.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When He approached Mathura and saw the city, He immediately fell to the 
ground and offered obeisances with great ecstatic love.
 
Madhya 17.156
 
TEXT 156
 
TEXT
 
mathura asiya kaila ‘visranti-tirthe' snana
‘janma-sthane' ‘kesava' dekhi' karila pranama
SYNONYMS
 
mathura asiya -- coming in to Mathura; kaila -- performed; visranti-
tirthe -- at the bathing place known as Visrama-ghata; snana -- bathing; 
janma-sthane -- at the place of Lord Krsna's birth; kesava -- the Deity 
named Kesava; dekhi' -- seeing; karila pranama -- offered His respectful 
obeisances.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu entered the city of Mathura, He took His 
bath at Visrama-ghata. He then visited the birthplace of Krsna and saw 
the Deity named Kesavaji. He offered His respectful obeisances to this 
Deity.
 
PURPORT
 
At the present moment, the temple of Kesavaji is very much improved. At 
one time, Kesavaji-mandira was attacked by the emperor Aurangzeb, who 
constructed such a big mosque there that the temple of Kesavaji was 
insignificant in comparison. But with the help of many rich 
Marwaris, the temple has been improved, and a very large temple is now 
being constructed so that the mosque is now appearing diminished in 
comparison. Many archeological discoveries have been made there, and 
many people from foreign countries are beginning to appreciate Krsna's 
birthplace. This Krsna consciousness movement is attracting many 
foreigners to the Kesavaji temple, and now they will also be attracted 
by the Krsna-Balarama temple in Vrndavana.
 
Madhya 17.157
 
TEXT 157
 
TEXT
 
premanande nace, gaya, saghana hunkara
prabhura premavesa dekhi' loke camatkara
SYNONYMS
 
prema-anande -- in ecstatic love; nace -- dances; gaya -- chants; 
saghana -- repeatedly; hunkara -- tumultuous sound vibrations; prabhura -
- of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prema-avesa -- ecstatic love; dekhi' -
- seeing; loke -- all people; camatkara -- astonished.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu chanted, danced and made loud vibrations, 
all the people were astonished to see His ecstatic love.
 
Madhya 17.158
 
TEXT 158
 
TEXT
 
eka-vipra pade prabhura carana dhariya
prabhu-sange nrtya kare premavista hana
SYNONYMS
 
eka-vipra -- one brahmana; pade -- falls down; prabhura -- of Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carana dhariya -- catching the lotus feet; prabhu-
sange -- with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nrtya kare -- he dances; prema-
avista hana -- being absorbed in ecstatic love.
 
TRANSLATION
 
One brahmana fell at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and then 
began to dance with Him in ecstatic love.
 
Madhya 17.159
 
TEXT 159
 
TEXT
 
dunhe preme nrtya kari' kare kolakuli
hari krsna kaha dunhe bale bahu tuli'
SYNONYMS
 
dunhe -- both of them; preme -- in ecstatic love; nrtya kari' -- dancing;
 kare -- do; kolakuli -- embracing; hari -- the holy name of Hari; krsna 
-- the holy name of Krsna; kaha -- go on chanting; dunhe -- both of them;
 bale -- speak; bahu tuli' -- raising the arms.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The two of them danced in ecstatic love and embraced each other. 
Raising their arms, they said, "Chant the holy names of Hari and Krsna!"
 
Madhya 17.160
 
TEXT 160
 
TEXT
 
loka ‘hari' ‘hari' bale, kolahala haila
‘kesava'-sevaka prabhuke mala paraila
SYNONYMS
 
loka -- all the people; hari hari bale -- began to chant the holy names 
Hari, Hari; kolahala haila -- there was a great uproar; kesava-sevaka -- 
the priest in the service of Lord Kesava; prabhuke -- unto Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; mala paraila -- offered a garland.
 
TRANSLATION
 
All the people then began to chant, "Hari! Hari!" and there was a great 
uproar. The priest in Lord Kesava's service offered Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu a garland.
 
Madhya 17.161
 
TEXT 161
 
TEXT
 
loke kahe prabhu dekhi' hana vismaya
aiche hena prema ‘laukika' kabhu naya
SYNONYMS
 
loke kahe -- the people said; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhi' -
- seeing; hana vismaya -- being struck with wonder; aiche -- such; hena -
- similar; prema -- love of Godhead; laukika -- ordinary; kabhu naya -- 
never is.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When the people saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's dancing and chanting, they 
were struck with wonder, and they all said, "Such transcendental love is 
never an ordinary thing."
 
Madhya 17.162
 
TEXT 162
 
TEXT
 
yanhara darsane loke preme matta hana
hase, kande, nace, gaya, krsna-nama lana
SYNONYMS
 
yanhara darsane -- by seeing whom; loke -- people; preme -- in love; 
matta hana -- becoming mad; hase -- laugh; kande -- cry; nace -- dance; 
gaya -- chant; krsna-nama lana -- taking the holy name of Lord Krsna.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The people said, "Simply by seeing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, everyone is 
maddened with love of Krsna. Indeed, everyone is laughing, crying, 
dancing, chanting and taking the holy name of Krsna.
 
Madhya 17.163
 
TEXT 163
 
TEXT
 
sarvatha-niscita -- inho krsna-avatara
mathura aila lokera karite nistara
SYNONYMS
 
sarvatha -- in every respect; niscita -- ascertained; inho -- He; krsna-
avatara -- incarnation of Lord Krsna; mathura aila -- has come to 
Mathura; lokera -- of the people; karite -- to perform; nistara -- 
deliverance.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Certainly Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is in all respects the incarnation of 
Lord Krsna. Now He has come to Mathura to deliver everyone."
 
Madhya 17.164
 
TEXT 164
 
TEXT
 
tabe mahaprabhu sei brahmane lana
tanhare puchila kichu nibhrte vasiya
SYNONYMS
 
tabe -- after that; mahaprabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sei -- that; 
brahmane-brahmana; lana -- taking; tanhare -- unto him; puchila -- 
inquired; kichu -- something; nibhrte vasiya -- sitting in a solitary 
place.
 
TRANSLATION
 
After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took the brahmana aside. 
Sitting in a solitary place, the Lord began to question him.
 
Madhya 17.165
 
TEXT 165
 
TEXT
 
‘arya, sarala, tumi -- vrddha brahmana
kahan haite paile tumi ei prema-dhana?'
SYNONYMS
 
arya -- advanced in devotional service; sarala -- simple; tumi -- you; 
vrddha brahmana -- elderly brahmana; kahan haite -- from where; paile 
tumi -- did you obtain; ei -- this; prema-dhana -- transcendental 
opulence of ecstatic love.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "You are an elderly brahmana, you are 
sincere, and you are advanced in spiritual life. Wherefrom have you 
gotten this transcendental opulence of ecstatic love for Krsna?"
 
Madhya 17.166
 
TEXT 166
 
TEXT
 
vipra kahe, -- ‘sripada sri-madhavendra-puri
bhramite bhramite aila mathura-nagari
SYNONYMS
 
vipra kahe -- the brahmana said; sripada -- His Holiness; sri-
madhavendra-puri -- Sri Madhavendra Puri; bhramite bhramite -- while 
touring; aila -- came; mathura-nagari -- to the city of Mathura.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The brahmana replied, "His Holiness Srila Madhavendra Puri came to the 
city of Mathura while he was on tour.
 
Madhya 17.167
 
TEXT 167
 
TEXT
 
krpa kari' tenho mora nilaye aila
more sisya kari' mora hate ‘bhiksa' kaila
SYNONYMS
 
krpa kari' -- by his causeless mercy; tenho -- he; mora nilaye -- to my 
humble place; aila -- came; more -- me; sisya kari' -- accepting as his 
disciple; mora hate -- from my hand; bhiksa kaila -- accepted lunch.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"While at Mathura, Sripada Madhavendra Puri visited my house and 
accepted me as a disciple. He even took lunch at my home.
 
Madhya 17.168
 
TEXT 168
 
TEXT
 
gopala prakata kari' seva kaila ‘mahasaya'
adyapiha tanhara seva ‘govardhane' haya
SYNONYMS
 
gopala -- the Gopala Deity; prakata kari' -- installing; seva -- 
service; kaila -- did; mahasaya -- that great personality; adyapiha -- 
still now; tanhara -- of that Gopala Deity; seva -- the service; 
govardhane -- on Govardhana Hill; haya -- is conducted.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"After installing the Deity of Gopala, Srila Madhavendra Puri rendered 
Him service. That very Deity is still being worshiped at Govardhana Hill.
"
 
Madhya 17.169
 
TEXT 169
 
TEXT
 
suni' prabhu kaila tanra carana vandana
bhaya pana prabhu-paya padila brahmana
SYNONYMS
 
suni' -- after hearing; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila -- did; 
tanra -- of him; carana vandana -- worshiping the feet; bhaya pana -- 
being afraid; prabhu-paya -- at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; padila -- fell down; brahmana -- the brahmana.
 
TRANSLATION
 
As soon as Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard about Madhavendra Puri's 
relationship with the brahmana, He immediately offered obeisances at his 
feet. Becoming fearful, the brahmana also immediately fell at the Lord's 
feet.
 
Madhya 17.170
 
TEXT 170
 
TEXT
 
prabhu kahe, -- "tumi ‘guru', ami ‘sisya'-praya
‘guru' hana ‘sisye' namaskara na yuyaya
SYNONYMS
 
prabhu kahe -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; tumi -- you; guru -- My 
spiritual master; ami -- I; sisya-praya -- like your disciple; guru hana 
-- being the spiritual master; sisye -- unto the disciple; namaskara -- 
obeisances; na yuyaya -- is not befitting.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "You are on the platform of My spiritual 
master, and I am your disciple. Since you are My spiritual master, it is 
not befitting that you offer Me obeisances."
 
Madhya 17.171
 
TEXT 171
 
TEXT
 
suniya vismita vipra kahe bhaya pana
aiche bat kaha kene sannyasi hana
SYNONYMS
 
suniya -- after hearing; vismita -- astonished; vipra -- the brahmana; 
kahe -- said; bhaya pana -- being afraid; aiche bat -- such a statement; 
kaha -- You say; kene -- why; sannyasi hana -- although You are a 
sannyasi.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Upon hearing this, the brahmana became afraid. He then said, "Why do You 
speak like this? You are a sannyasi.
 
Madhya 17.172
 
TEXT 172
 
TEXT
 
kintu tomara prema dekhi' mane anumani
madhavendra-purira ‘sambandha' dhara -- jani
SYNONYMS
 
kintu -- still; tomara prema -- Your ecstatic love; dekhi' -- after 
seeing; mane -- in my mind; anumani -- I imagine; madhavendra-purira -- 
of Sri Madhavendra Puri; sambandha -- relationship; dhara -- You have; 
jani -- I can understand.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Upon seeing Your ecstatic love, I can just imagine that You must have 
some relationship with Madhavendra Puri. This is my understanding.
 
Madhya 17.173
 
TEXT 173
 
TEXT
 
krsna-prema tanha, yanha tanhara ‘sambandha'
tahan vina ei premara kahan nahi gandha
SYNONYMS
 
krsna-prema -- love of Krsna; tanha -- there; yanha -- where; tanhara -- 
his; sambandha -- relationship; tahan vina -- without him; ei premara -- 
of this ecstatic love; kahan nahi gandha -- there is no possibility of 
even a scent.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"This kind of ecstatic love can be experienced only when one has a 
relationship with Madhavendra Puri. Without him, even a scent of such 
transcendental ecstatic love is impossible."
 
Madhya 17.174
 
TEXT 174
 
TEXT
 
tabe bhattacarya tare ‘sambandha' kahila
suni' anandita vipra nacite lagila
SYNONYMS
 
tabe -- thereafter; bhattacarya -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; tare -- unto 
the brahmana; sambandha kahila -- explained the relationship; suni' -- 
after hearing; anandita -- being pleased; vipra -- the brahmana; nacite 
lagila -- began to dance.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Balabhadra Bhattacarya then explained the relationship between 
Madhavendra Puri and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. After hearing this, the 
brahmana became very pleased and began to dance.
 
Madhya 17.175
 
TEXT 175
 
TEXT
 
tabe vipra prabhure lana aila nija-ghare
apana-icchaya prabhura nana seva kare
SYNONYMS
 
tabe -- thereafter; vipra -- the brahmana; prabhure -- Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; lana -- taking; aila -- came back; nija-ghare -- to his home;
 apana-icchaya -- by his own will; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; nana -- various; seva -- services; kare -- rendered.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The brahmana then took Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his home and, out of 
his own free will, began to serve the Lord in various ways.
 
Madhya 17.176
 
TEXT 176
 
TEXT
 
bhiksa lagi' bhattacarye karaila randhana
tabe mahaprabhu hasi' balila vacana
SYNONYMS
 
bhiksa lagi' -- for lunch; bhattacarye -- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; 
karaila randhana -- made to cook; tabe -- at that time; mahaprabhu -- 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; hasi' -- smiling; balila vacana -- said these 
words.
 
TRANSLATION
 
He asked Balabhadra Bhattacarya to cook Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's lunch. 
At that time the Lord, smiling, spoke as follows.
 
Madhya 17.177
 
TEXT 177
 
TEXT
 
"puri-gosani tomara ghare karyachena bhiksa
more tumi bhiksa deha, -- ei mora ‘siksa'"
SYNONYMS
 
puri-gosani -- Madhavendra Puri; tomara ghare -- at your place; 
karyachena bhiksa -- accepted lunch; more -- for Me; tumi bhiksa deha -- 
better for you to cook; ei -- that; mora siksa -- My instruction.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Madhavendra Puri has already taken lunch 
at your place. Therefore you may cook and give Me the food. That is My 
instruction."
 
Madhya 17.178
 
TEXT 178
 
TEXT
 
yad yad acarati sresthas
 tat tad evetaro janah
sa yat pramanam kurute
 lokas tad anuvartate
SYNONYMS
 
yat yat -- however; acarati -- behaves; sresthah -- the best man; tat 
tat -- that; eva -- certainly; itarah -- the lesser; janah -- men; sah --
 he; yat -- which; pramanam -- standard; kurute -- shows; lokah -- the 
people; tat -- that; anuvartate -- follow.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow.
 And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.
"
 
PURPORT
 
This is a quotation from the Bhagavad-gita (3.21).
 
Madhya 17.179
 
TEXT 179
 
TEXT
 
yadyapi ‘sanodiya' haya seita brahmana
sanodiya-ghare sannyasi na kare bhojana
SYNONYMS
 
yadyapi -- although; sanodiya -- a priest of the Sanodiya community; 
haya -- was; seita -- that; brahmana-brahmana; sanodiya-ghare -- in 
the house of a Sanodiya (goldsmith); sannyasi -- a person in the 
renounced order of life; na kare bhojana -- does not accept food.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The brahmana belonged to the Sanodiya brahmana community, and a sannyasi 
does not accept food from such a brahmana.
 
PURPORT
 
In northwestern India, vaisyas are divided into various subdivisions. 
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura points out that they are divided as 
Agarwala, Kalawara and Sanwada. Out of them, the Agarwalas are 
said to be first-class vaisyas, and the Kalawaras and Sanwadas are 
considered lower due to their occupational degradation. The Kalawaras 
generally take wine and other intoxicants. Although they are vaisyas, 
they are considered to belong to a lower class. The priests who guide 
the Kalawaras and the Sanwadas are called Sanodiya brahmanas. Srila 
Bhaktivinoda Thakura states that the word sanoyada in Bengal indicates 
suvarna-vanik. In Bengal there are priests who guide the suvarna-vanik 
community, which is also considered a low class. There is little 
difference between the Sanwadas and the suvarna-vaniks. Generally the 
suvarna-vaniks are bankers dealing in gold and silver. In western India, 
the Agarwalas also belong to the banking profession. This is the 
original business of the suvarna-vanik or Agarwala community. 
Historically, the Agarwalas came from the up-country named Ayodha, and 
the suvarna-vanik community also came from Ayodha. It therefore appears 
that the suvarna-vaniks and the Agarwalas belong to the same community.
 The Sanodiya brahmanas were the guides of the Kalawaras and Sanwadas. 
They are therefore considered to be lower-class brahmanas, and a 
sannyasi is not allowed to take alms or food from them. However, Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted lunch cooked by a Sanodiya brahmana simply 
because he belonged to Madhavendra Puri's community. Srila Madhavendra 
Puri was the spiritual master of Isvara Puri, who was the spiritual 
master of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thus a spiritual relationship is 
established on the spiritual platform, without consideration of material 
inferiority or superiority.
 
Madhya 17.180
 
TEXT 180
 
TEXT
 
tathapi puri dekhi' tanra ‘vaisnava'-acara
‘sisya' kari' tanra bhiksa kaila angikara
SYNONYMS
 
tathapi -- still; puri -- Madhavendra Puri; dekhi' -- after seeing; 
tanra -- of the brahmana; vaisnava-acara -- behavior like a Vaisnava; 
sisya kari' -- accepting him as his disciple; tanra bhiksa -- food 
offered by him; kaila angikara -- accepted.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Although the brahmana belonged to the Sanodiya community, Srila 
Madhavendra Puri had seen that he behaved like a Vaisnava and had 
therefore accepted him as his disciple. The food he had cooked had also 
been accepted by Madhavendra Puri.
 
Madhya 17.181
 
TEXT 181
 
TEXT
 
mahaprabhu tanre yadi ‘bhiksa' magila
dainya kari' sei vipra kahite lagila
SYNONYMS
 
mahaprabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre -- from him; yadi -- when; 
bhiksa magila -- requested lunch; dainya kari' -- out of humility; sei 
vipra -- that brahmana; kahite lagila -- began to speak.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu willingly requested food from the 
brahmana, and the brahmana, feeling natural humility, began to speak 
as follows.
 
Madhya 17.182
 
TEXT 182
 
TEXT
 
tomare ‘bhiksa' diba -- bada bhagya se amara
tumi -- isvara, nahi tomara vidhi-vyavahara
SYNONYMS
 
tomare -- unto You; bhiksa diba -- I shall offer food; bada bhagya -- 
great fortune; se -- that; amara -- my; tumi -- You; isvara -- the 
Supreme Personality of Godhead; nahi -- there is not; tomara -- of You; 
vidhi-vyavahara -- regulative behavior.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"It is a great fortune for me to offer You food. You are the Supreme 
Lord, and being in the transcendental position, You are not restricted 
in any way.
 
Madhya 17.183
 
TEXT 183
 
TEXT
 
‘murkha'-loka karibeka tomara nindana
sahite na parimu sei ‘duste'ra vacana
SYNONYMS
 
murkha-loka -- foolish persons; karibeka -- will do; tomara nindana -- 
blaspheming You; sahite na parimu -- I shall not be able to tolerate; 
sei -- those; dustera vacana -- words of mischievous persons.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"Foolish people will blaspheme You, but I shall not tolerate the words 
of such mischievous people."
 
PURPORT
 
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura remarks that although the 
brahmana did not belong to a superior community, he fearlessly chastised 
so-called caste brahmanas because he was situated on the platform of 
pure devotional service. There are people who are opposed to Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu's accepting a Vaisnava belonging to a lower caste. 
Such people do not consider maha-prasadam transcendental, and therefore 
they are described here as murkha (foolish) and dusta (mischievous). A 
pure devotee has the power to challenge such high-caste people, and his 
brave statements are not to be considered proud or puffed up. On the 
contrary, he is to be considered straightforward. Such a person does not 
like to flatter high-class brahmanas who belong to the non-Vaisnava 
community.
 
Madhya 17.184
 
TEXT 184
 
TEXT
 
prabhu kahe, -- sruti, smrti, yata rsi-gana
sabe ‘eka'-mata nahe, bhinna bhinna dharma
SYNONYMS
 
prabhu kahe -- Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; sruti -- the Vedas; 
smrti -- the Puranas; yata -- all; rsi-gana -- great sages; sabe -- all 
of them; eka-mata nahe -- do not agree; bhinna bhinna dharma -- 
different grades of religious principles.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "The Vedas, Puranas and great learned 
sages are not always in agreement with one another. Consequently there 
are different religious principles.
 
PURPORT
 
Unless one comes to the Absolute Truth, there is no possibility of 
agreement. Nasav rsir yasya matam na bhinnam: it is said that a great 
learned scholar or sage cannot be exalted unless he disagrees with other 
scholars and sages. On the material platform, there is no possibility of 
agreement; therefore there are different kinds of religious systems. 
But the Absolute Truth is one, and when one is situated in the 
Absolute Truth, there is no disagreement. On that absolute platform the 
Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshipable. As stated in the Bhagavad-
gita (18.55), bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah. On the 
absolute platform, the worshipful Deity is one, and the process of 
worship is also one. That process is bhakti.
 
There are many different religions throughout the world because they are 
not all on the absolute platform of devotional service. As confirmed in 
the Bhagavad-gita (18.66): sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam 
vraja. The word ekam means "one," Krsna. On this platform, there are no 
different religious systems. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.2), 
dharmah projjhita-kaitavo ‘tra. On the material platform, religious 
systems are different. Srimad-Bhagavatam describes them from the very 
beginning as dharmah kaitavah, cheating religions. None of these 
religions is actually genuine. The genuine religious system is that 
which enables one to become a lover of the Supreme Personality of 
Godhead. In the words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.6):
 
sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata yayatma suprasidati
 
 
 
"The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men 
can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such 
devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted in order to 
completely satisfy the self."
 
On this platform there is nothing but the service of the Lord. When a 
person has no ulterior motive, there is certainly oneness and agreement 
of principles. Since everyone has a different body and mind, different 
types of religions are needed. But when one is situated on the spiritual 
platform, there are no bodily and mental differences. Consequently on 
the absolute platform there is oneness in religion.
 
Madhya 17.185
 
TEXT 185
 
TEXT
 
dharma-sthapana-hetu sadhura vyavahara
puri-gosanira ye acarana, sei dharma sara
SYNONYMS
 
dharma-sthapana-hetu -- to establish the principles of religion; sadhura 
vyavahara -- behavior of a devotee; puri-gosanira -- of Madhavendra Puri;
 ye acarana -- the behavior; sei -- that; dharma sara -- the essence of 
all religion.
 
TRANSLATION
 
"A devotee's behavior establishes the true purpose of religious 
principles. The behavior of Madhavendra Puri Gosvami is the essence of 
such religious principles."
 
PURPORT
 
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gives the following commentary 
on this passage. A sadhu, or honest man, is called a mahajana or a 
mahatma. The mahatma is described thus by Lord Krsna in the 
Bhagavad-gita (9.13):
 
mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah
bhajanty ananya-manaso jnatva bhutadim avyayam
 
 
 
"O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under 
the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in 
devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of 
Godhead, original and inexhaustible."
 
In the material world, the word mahatma is understood in different ways 
by different religionists. Mundaners also come up with their different 
angles of vision. For the conditioned soul busy in sense gratification, 
a mahajana is recognized according to the proportion of sense 
gratification he offers. For instance, a businessman may consider a 
certain banker to be a mahajana, and karmis desiring material enjoyment 
may consider philosophers like Jaimini to be mahajanas. There are many 
yogis who want to control the senses, and for them Patanjali Rsi is a 
mahajana. For the jnanis, the atheist Kapila, Vasistha, Durvasa, 
Dattatreya and other impersonalist philosophers are mahajanas. For the 
demons, Hiranyaksa, Hiranyakasipu, Ravana, Ravana's son Meghanada, 
Jarasandha and others are accepted as mahajanas. For materialistic 
anthropologists speculating on the evolution of the body, a person like 
Darwin is a mahajana. The scientists who are bewildered by Krsna's 
external energy have no relationship with the Supreme Personality of 
Godhead, yet they are accepted by some as mahajanas. Similarly, 
philosophers, historians, literary men, public speakers and social and 
political leaders are sometimes accepted as mahajanas. Such mahajanas 
are respected by certain men who have been described in Srimad-
Bhagavatam (2.3.19):
 
sva-vid-varahostra-kharaih samstutah purusah pasuh
na yat-karna-pathopeto jatu nama gadagrajah
 
 
 
"Men who are like dogs, hogs, camels and asses praise those men who 
never listen to the transcendental pastimes of Lord Sri Krsna, the 
deliverer from evils."
 
Thus on the material platform animalistic leaders are worshiped by 
animals. Sometimes physicians, psychiatrists and social workers try to 
mitigate bodily pain, distress and fear, but they have no knowledge of 
spiritual identity and are bereft of a relationship with God. Yet they 
are considered mahajanas by the illusioned. Self-deceived persons 
sometimes accept leaders or spiritual masters from a priestly order that 
has been officially appointed by the codes of material life. In this way,
 they are deceived by official priests. Sometimes people accept as 
mahajanas those who have been designated by Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura 
as dhanga-vipras (imposter brahmanas). Such imposters imitate the 
characteristics of Srila Haridasa Thakura, and they envy Haridasa 
Thakura, who was certainly a mahajana. They make great artificial 
endeavors, advertising themselves as great devotees of the Lord or as 
mystic hypnotists knowledgeable in witchcraft, hypnotism and miracles. 
Sometimes people accept as mahajanas demons like Putana, Trnavarta, 
Vatsa, Baka, Aghasura, Dhenuka, Kaliya and Pralamba. Some people 
accept imitators and adversaries of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, 
such as Paundraka, Srgala Vasudeva, the spiritual master of the demons (
Sukracarya), or atheists like Carvaka, King Vena, Sugata and Arhat. 
People who accept such imitators as mahajanas have no faith in Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Rather, they 
accept godless cheaters who present themselves as incarnations of God 
and cheat foolish people within the material world by word jugglery. 
Thus many rascals are accepted as mahajanas.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
It 
is those
 who are 
devoid of devotional service who sometimes mistakenly accept persons 
with mundane motives as mahajanas. The only motive must be krsna-bhakti,
 devotional service to the Lord. Sometimes fruitive workers, dry 
philosophers, nondevotees, mystic yogis and persons attached to material 
opulence, women and money are considered mahajanas. But Srimad-
Bhagavatam (6.3.25) gives the following statement about such 
unauthorized mahajanas:
 
prayena veda tad idam na mahajano ‘yam
 devya vimohita-matir bata mayayalam
trayyam jadi-krta-matir madhu-puspitayam
 vaitanike mahati karmani yujyamanah
 
In this material world, karmis (fruitive actors) are accepted as 
mahajanas by foolish people who do not know the value of devotional 
service. The mundane intelligence and mental speculative methods of 
such foolish people are under the control of the three modes of material 
nature. Consequently they cannot understand unalloyed devotional service.
 They are attracted by material activities, and they become worshipers 
of material nature. Thus they are known as fruitive actors. They even 
become entangled in material activities disguised as spiritual 
activities. In the Bhagavad-gita such people are described as veda-vada-
ratah, supposed followers of the Vedas. They do not understand the real 
purport of the Vedas, yet they think of themselves as Vedic authorities. 
People versed in Vedic knowledge must know Krsna as the Supreme 
Personality of Godhead. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah. (Bg. 15.15)
 
In this material world a person 
may be famous as a karma-vira,
 a successful 
fruitive worker, 
or he may be very successful in performing 
religious duties, or he may be known as a 
hero in mental speculation (jnana-vira), or he 
may be a very famous renunciant. In any case, 
Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.23.56) gives the following opinion in 
this matter.
 
neha yat karma dharmaya na viragaya kalpate
na tirtha-pada-sevayai jivann api mrto hi sah
 
"Anyone whose work is not meant for elevating him to religious life, 
anyone whose religious ritualistic performances do not raise him to 
renunciation, and anyone situated in renunciation that does not lead him 
to devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead must be 
considered dead, although he is breathing."
 
The conclusion is that all pious activity, fruitive activity, religious 
principles and renunciation must ultimately lead to devotional service. 
There are different types of processes for rendering service. One may 
serve his country, people and society, the varnasrama-dharma system, the 
sick, the poor, the rich, women, demigods and so on. All this service 
comes under the heading of sense gratification, or enjoyment in the 
material world. It is most unfortunate that people are more or less 
attracted by such material activity and that the leaders of these 
activities are accepted as mahajanas, great ideal leaders. Actually they 
are only misleaders, but an ordinary man cannot understand how he is 
being misled.
 
Narottama dasa Thakura says, sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya, cittete kariya 
aikya: "One should accept as one's guide the words of the sadhus, the 
sastra and the guru." A sadhu is a great personality like Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu, the sastras are the injunctions of revealed scriptures, and 
the guru, or spiritual master, is one who confirms the scriptural 
injunctions. Accepting the guidance of these three is the actual way of 
following the great personalities (mahajanas) for real advancement in 
life (mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]). A man covered 
by illusion cannot understand the proper way; therefore Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu says, dharma-sthapana-hetu sadhura vyavahara: "The behavior 
of a devotee is the criterion for all other behavior." Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu Himself followed the devotional principles and taught others 
to follow them. Puri-gosanira ye acarana, sei dharma sara. Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu personally followed the behavior of Madhavendra Puri and 
advised others to follow his principles. Unfortunately, people have been 
attracted to the material body since time immemorial.
 
 
yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke
 sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma ijya-dhih
yat-tirtha-buddhih salile na karhicij
 janesv abhijnesu sa eva go-kharah
 
"A human being who identifies this body made of three elements with his 
self, who considers the by-products of the body to be his kinsmen, who 
considers his land of birth worshipable, and who goes to a place of 
pilgrimage simply to take a bath rather than meet men of transcendental 
knowledge there is to be considered like an ass or a cow." (SB 10.84.
13) Those who accept the logic of gaddalika-pravaha and follow in 
the footsteps of pseudo mahajanas are carried away by the waves of maya. 
Bhaktivinoda Thakura therefore warns:
 
miche mayara vase,     yaccha bhese',
khaccha habudubu, bhai
jiva krsna-dasa,     e visvasa,
ka'rle ta' ara duhkha nai
 
"Don't be carried away by the waves of maya. Just surrender to the lotus 
feet of Krsna, and all miseries will end." Those who follow social 
customs and behavior forget to follow the path chalked out by the 
mahajanas; thus they are offenders at the feet of the mahajanas. 
Sometimes they consider such mahajanas very conservative, or they create 
their own mahajanas. In this way they ignore the principles of the 
parampara system. This is a great misfortune for everyone. If one does 
not follow in the footsteps of the real mahajanas, one's plans for 
happiness will be frustrated. This is elaborately explained later in the 
Madhya-lila (Chapter Twenty-five, verses 55, 56 and 58). It is there 
stated:
 
parama karana isvare keha nahi mane
sva-sva-mata sthape para-matera khandane
 
tate chaya darsana haite ‘tattva' nahi jani
‘mahajana' yei kahe, sei ‘satya' mani
 
sri-krsna-caitanya-vani -- amrtera dhara
tinho ye kahaye vastu, sei ‘tattva' -- sara
 
People are so unfortunate that they do not accept the instructions of 
the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Instead, they want to be supported 
by so-called mahajanas, or authorities. Tate chaya darsana haite ‘tattva'
 nahi jani: we cannot ascertain the real truth simply by following 
speculators. We have to follow the footsteps of the mahajanas in the 
disciplic succession. Then our attempt will be successful. Sri-krsna-
caitanya-vani -- amrtera dhara: "Whatever is spoken by Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu is an incessant flow of nectar." Whoever accepts His words as 
reality can understand the essence of the Absolute Truth.
 
No one can ascertain the Absolute Truth by following the philosophy of 
Sankhya or the yoga system of Patanjali, for neither the followers of 
Sankhya nor the yogis who follow Patanjali accept Lord Visnu as the 
Supreme Personality of Godhead (na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 
7.5.31]). The ambition of such people is never fulfilled; therefore they 
are attracted by the external energy. Although mental speculators may be 
renowned all over the world as great authorities, actually they are not. 
Such leaders are themselves conservative and not at all liberal. However,
 if we preach this philosophy, people will consider Vaisnavas very 
sectarian. Srila Madhavendra Puri was a real mahajana, but misguided 
people cannot distinguish the real from the unreal. But a person who is 
awakened to Krsna consciousness can understand the real religious path 
chalked out by the Lord and His pure devotees. Sri Madhavendra Puri was 
a real mahajana because he understood the Absolute Truth properly and 
throughout his life behaved like a pure devotee. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu 
approved the method of Sri Madhavendra Puri. Therefore, although from 
the material viewpoint the Sanodiya brahmana was on a lower platform, 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu considered him situated on the highest platform 
of spiritual realization.
 
Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.3.20) states that there are twelve mahajanas: 
Brahma, Narada, Sambhu, the four Kumaras, Kapila, Manu, Prahlada, 
Janaka, Bhisma, Bali, Sukadeva and Yamaraja.
 
To select our mahajanas in the Gaudiya-sampradaya, we have to follow in 
the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His representatives. His 
next representative is Sri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, and the next 
representatives are the six Gosvamis -- Sri Rupa, Sri Sanatana, Bhatta 
Raghunatha, Sri Jiva, Gopala Bhatta and Dasa Raghunatha. A follower of 
Visnu Svami's was Sridhara Svami, the most well known commentator 
on Srimad-Bhagavatam. He was also a mahajana. Similarly, Candidasa, 
Vidyapati and Jayadeva were all mahajanas. One who tries to imitate the 
mahajanas just to become an imitative spiritual master is certainly far 
away from following in the footsteps of the mahajanas. Sometimes people 
cannot actually understand how a mahajana follows other mahajanas. In 
this way people commit offenses and fall from devotional service.
 
Madhya 17.186
 
TEXT 186
 
TEXT
 
tarko ‘pratisthah srutayo vibhinna
 nasav rsir yasya matam na bhinnam
dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam
 mahajano yena gatah sa panthah
SYNONYMS
 
tarkah -- dry argument; apratisthah -- not fixed; srutayah-Vedas; 
vibhinnah -- possessing different departments; na -- not; asau -- that; 
rsih -- great sage; yasya -- whose; matam -- opinion; na -- not; bhinnam 
-- separate; dharmasya -- of religious principles; tattvam -- truth; 
nihitam -- placed; guhayam -- in the heart of a realized person; maha-
janah -- self-realized predecessors; yena -- by which way; gatah -- 
acted; sah -- that; panthah -- the pure unadulterated path.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "‘Dry arguments are inconclusive. A 
great personality whose opinion does not differ from others is not 
considered a great sage. Simply by studying the Vedas, which are 
variegated, one cannot come to the right path by which religious 
principles are understood. The solid truth of religious principles is 
hidden in the heart of an unadulterated, self-realized person. 
Consequently, as the sastras confirm, one should accept whatever 
progressive path the mahajanas advocate.'"
 
PURPORT
 
This is a verse spoken by Yudhisthira Maharaja in the Mahabharata, Vana-
parva (313.117).
 
Madhya 17.187
 
TEXT 187
 
TEXT
 
tabe sei vipra prabhuke bhiksa karaila
madhu-purira loka saba prabhuke dekhite aila
SYNONYMS
 
tabe -- after that; sei vipra -- that brahmana; prabhuke -- unto Lord 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhiksa karaila -- served lunch; madhu-purira -- 
of Mathura; loka -- people in general; saba -- all; prabhuke -- Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhite aila -- came to see.
 
TRANSLATION
 
After this discussion, the brahmana served lunch to Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu. Then all the people residing in Mathura came to see the Lord.
 
Madhya 17.188
 
TEXT 188
 
TEXT
 
laksa-sankhya loka aise, nahika ganana
bahira hana prabhu dila darasana
SYNONYMS
 
laksa-sankhya -- numbering hundreds of thousands; loka aise -- people 
came; nahika ganana -- there is no counting; bahira hana -- coming out; 
prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dila darasana -- gave audience.
 
TRANSLATION
 
People came by the hundreds of thousands, and no one could count them. 
Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came out of the house to give audience 
to the people.
 
Madhya 17.189
 
TEXT 189
 
TEXT
 
bahu tuli' bale prabhu ‘hari-bola'-dhvani
preme matta nace loka kari' hari-dhvani
SYNONYMS
 
bahu tuli' -- raising the arms; bale -- says; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; hari-bola-dhvani -- the transcendental sound vibration "
Haribol"; preme -- in ecstasy; matta -- maddened; nace -- dance; 
loka -- the people; kari' hari-dhvani -- making the transcendental 
vibration Hari.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When the people assembled, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu raised His arms and 
said very loudly, "Haribol!" The people responded to the Lord and 
became ecstatic. As if mad, they began to dance and to vibrate the 
transcendental sound "Hari!"
 
Madhya 17.190
 
TEXT 190
 
TEXT
 
yamunara ‘cabbisa ghate' prabhu kaila snana
sei vipra prabhuke dekhaya tirtha-sthana
SYNONYMS
 
yamunara -- of the river Yamuna; cabbisa ghate -- in the twenty-four 
ghats, or bathing places; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila -- 
performed; snana -- bathing; sei vipra -- that brahmana; prabhuke -- 
unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhaya -- shows; tirtha-sthana -- the 
holy places of pilgrimage.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bathed in the twenty-four ghats along the banks 
of the Yamuna, and the brahmana showed Him all the places of pilgrimage.
 
PURPORT
 
The twenty-four ghats (bathing places) along the Yamuna are (1) Avimukta,
 (2) Adhirudha, (3) Guhya-tirtha, (4) Prayaga-tirtha, (5) Kanakhala-
tirtha, (6) Tinduka, (7) Surya-tirtha, (8) Vata-svami, (9) Dhruva-
ghata, (10) Rsi-tirtha, (11) Moksa-tirtha, (12) Bodha-tirtha, (13) 
Gokarna, (14) Krsna-ganga, (15) Vaikuntha, (16) Asi-kunda, (17) 
Catuh-samudrika-kupa, (18) Akrura-tirtha, (19) Yajnika-vipra-sthana, (20)
 Kubja-kupa, (21) Ranga-sthala, (22) Manca-sthala, (23) Mallayuddha-
sthana and (24) Dasasvamedha.
 
Madhya 17.191
 
TEXT 191
 
TEXT
 
svayambhu, visrama, dirgha-visnu, bhutesvara
mahavidya, gokarnadi dekhila vistara
SYNONYMS
 
svayambhu -- Svayambhu; visrama -- Visrama; dirgha-visnu -- Dirgha Visnu;
 bhutesvara -- Bhutesvara; mahavidya -- Mahavidya; gokarna -- Gokarna; 
adi -- and so on; dekhila -- saw; vistara -- many.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited all the holy places on the banks of the 
Yamuna, including Svayambhu, Visrama-ghata, Dirgha Visnu, Bhutesvara, 
Mahavidya and Gokarna.
 
Madhya 17.192
 
TEXT 192
 
TEXT
 
‘vana' dekhibare yadi prabhura mana haila
seita brahmane prabhu sangete la-ila
SYNONYMS
 
vana -- the forests; dekhibare -- to see; yadi -- when; prabhura -- of 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mana -- mind; haila -- was; seita -- indeed 
that; brahmane-brahmana; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sangete 
la-ila -- took along.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to see the various forests of 
Vrndavana, He took the brahmana with Him.
 
Madhya 17.193
 
TEXT 193
 
TEXT
 
madhu-vana, tala, kumuda, bahula-vana gela
tahan tahan snana kari' premavista haila
SYNONYMS
 
madhu-vana -- Madhuvana; tala -- Talavana; kumuda -- Kumudavana; bahula-
vana -- Bahulavana; gela -- He visited; tahan tahan -- here and there; 
snana kari' -- taking a bath; prema-avista haila -- became overwhelmed 
by ecstatic love.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited the different forests, including 
Madhuvana, Talavana, Kumudavana and Bahulavana. Wherever He went, He 
took His bath with great ecstatic love.
 
PURPORT
 
The word vana means "forest." Vrndavana is the name given to the forest 
where Srimati Vrndadevi (Tulasidevi) grows profusely. Actually it is not 
a forest as we ordinarily consider a forest, because it is very thick 
with green vegetation. There are twelve such vanas in Vrndavana. Some 
are located on the western side of the Yamuna, and others are on the 
eastern side. The forests situated on the eastern side are Bhadravana, 
Bilvavana, Lauhavana, Bhandiravana and Mahavana. On the western side are 
Madhuvana, Talavana, Kumudavana, Bahulavana, Kamyavana, Khadiravana and 
Vrndavana. These are the twelve forests of the Vrndavana area.
 
Madhya 17.194
 
TEXT 194
 
TEXT
 
pathe gabhi-ghata care prabhure dekhiya
prabhuke bedaya asi' hunkara kariya
SYNONYMS
 
pathe -- on the road; gabhi-ghata -- groups of cows; care -- graze; 
prabhure dekhiya -- after seeing Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prabhuke 
bedaya -- they surrounded the Lord; asi' -- coming; hun-kara kariya -- 
making a loud vibration.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed through Vrndavana, herds of grazing 
cows saw Him pass and, immediately surrounding Him, began to moo very 
loudly.
 
Madhya 17.195
 
TEXT 195
 
TEXT
 
gabhi dekhi' stabdha prabhu premera tarange
vatsalye gabhi prabhura cate saba-ange
SYNONYMS
 
gabhi dekhi' -- seeing the cows; stabdha -- stunned; prabhu -- Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; premera tarange -- in the waves of ecstatic love; 
vatsalye -- out of great affection; gabhi -- all the cows; prabhura -- 
of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; cate -- licked; saba-ange -- all over the 
body.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Seeing the herds approach Him, the Lord was stunned with ecstatic love. 
The cows then began to lick His body out of great affection.
 
Madhya 17.196
 
TEXT 196
 
TEXT
 
sustha hana prabhu kare anga-kanduyana
prabhu-sange cale, nahi chade dhenu-gana
SYNONYMS
 
sustha hana -- becoming patient; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare 
-- does; anga -- of the body; kanduyana -- scratching; prabhu-sange -- 
with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; cale -- go; nahi chade -- do not give up; 
dhenu-gana -- all the cows.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Becoming pacified, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to caress the cows, and 
the cows, being unable to give up His company, went with Him.
 
Madhya 17.197
 
TEXT 197
 
TEXT
 
kaste-srstye dhenu saba rakhila goyala
prabhu-kantha-dhvani suni' aise mrgi-pala
SYNONYMS
 
kaste-srstye -- with great difficulty; dhenu -- the cows; saba -- all; 
rakhila -- kept back; goyala -- the cowherd men; prabhu-kantha-dhvani -- 
the musical voice of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; suni' -- hearing; aise -- 
came; mrgi-pala -- flocks of deer.
 
TRANSLATION
 
It was only with great difficulty that the cowherd men were able to keep 
the cows back. Then when the Lord chanted, all the deer heard His sweet 
voice and approached Him.
 
Madhya 17.198
 
TEXT 198
 
TEXT
 
mrga-mrgi mukha dekhi' prabhu-anga cate
bhaya nahi kare, sange yaya vate-vate
SYNONYMS
 
mrga-mrgi -- the deer, both male and female; mukha dekhi' -- seeing His 
face; prabhu-anga cate -- began to lick the body of the Lord; bhaya nahi 
kare -- they were not at all afraid; sange yaya -- go with Him; vate-
vate -- all along the road.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When the does and bucks came and saw the Lord's face, they began to lick 
His body. Not being at all afraid of Him, they accompanied Him along the 
path.
 
Madhya 17.199
 
TEXT 199
 
TEXT
 
suka, pika, bhrnga prabhure dekhi' ‘pancama' gaya
sikhi-gana nrtya kari' prabhu-age yaya
SYNONYMS
 
suka -- parrots; pika -- cuckoos; bhrnga -- bumblebees; prabhure -- Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhi' -- seeing; pancama -- the fifth musical note;
 gaya -- sing; sikhi-gana -- peacocks; nrtya -- dancing; kari' -- 
performing; prabhu-age -- in front of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yaya -- 
go.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Bumblebees and birds like the parrot and cuckoo all began to sing loudly 
on the fifth note, and the peacocks began to dance in front of the Lord.
 
Madhya 17.200
 
TEXT 200
 
TEXT
 
prabhu dekhi' vrndavanera vrksa-lata-gane
ankura pulaka, madhu-asru varisane
SYNONYMS
 
prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhi' -- seeing; vrndavanera -- of 
Vrndavana; vrksa-lata-gane -- the trees and creepers; ankura -- twigs; 
pulaka -- jubilant; madhu-asru -- tears in the form of honey; varisane --
 pour.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Upon seeing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the trees and creepers of Vrndavana 
became jubilant. Their twigs stood up, and they began to shed tears of 
ecstasy in the form of honey.
 
Madhya 17.201
 
TEXT 201
 
TEXT
 
phula-phala bhari' dala pade prabhu-paya
bandhu dekhi' bandhu yena ‘bheta' lana yaya
SYNONYMS
 
phula-phala bhari' -- loaded with fruits and flowers; dala -- the 
branches; pade -- fall down; prabhu-paya -- at the lotus feet of the 
Lord; bandhu dekhi' -- seeing one friend; bandhu -- another friend; yena 
-- as if; bheta -- a presentation; lana -- taking; yaya -- goes.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The tree branches and creepers, overloaded with fruits and flowers, 
fell down at the lotus feet of the Lord and greeted Him with various 
presentations as if they were friends.
 
Madhya 17.202
 
TEXT 202
 
TEXT
 
prabhu dekhi' vrndavanera sthavara-jangama
anandita -- bandhu yena dekhe bandhu-gana
SYNONYMS
 
prabhu dekhi' -- seeing the Lord; vrndavanera -- of Vrndavana; sthavara-
jangama -- all living entities, moving and not moving; anandita -- very 
jubilant; bandhu -- friend; yena -- as if; dekhe -- see; bandhu-gana -- 
friends.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Thus all the moving and nonmoving living entities of Vrndavana became 
very jubilant to see the Lord. It was as if friends were made happy by 
seeing another friend.
 
Madhya 17.203
 
TEXT 203
 
TEXT
 
ta-sabara priti dekhi' prabhu bhavavese
saba-sane krida kare hana tara vase
SYNONYMS
 
ta-sabara -- of all of them; priti -- affection; dekhi' -- seeing; 
prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhava-avese -- in ecstatic love; saba-
sane -- with all of them; krida -- sporting; kare -- performs; hana -- 
being; tara -- their; vase -- under control.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Seeing their affection, the Lord was moved by ecstatic love. He began to 
sport with them exactly as a friend sports with his friends. Thus He 
voluntarily came under the control of His friends.
 
Madhya 17.204
 
TEXT 204
 
TEXT
 
prati vrksa-lata prabhu karena alingana
puspadi dhyane karena krsne samarpana
SYNONYMS
 
prati -- each and every; vrksa-lata -- tree and creeper; prabhu -- Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karena alingana -- embraced; puspa-adi -- all the 
flowers and fruits; dhyane -- in meditation; karena -- do; krsne -- unto 
Lord Krsna; samarpana -- offering.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to embrace each and every tree and creeper,
 and they began to offer their fruits and flowers as if in meditation.
 
Madhya 17.205
 
TEXT 205
 
TEXT
 
asru-kampa-pulaka-preme sarira asthire
‘krsna' bala, ‘krsna' bala -- bale uccaihsvare
SYNONYMS
 
asru -- tears; kampa -- trembling; pulaka -- jubilation; preme -- in 
ecstatic love; sarira -- the whole body; asthire -- restless; krsna bala 
-- say Krsna; krsna bala -- say Krsna; bale -- the Lord says; uccaih-
svare -- very loudly.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The Lord's body was restless, and tears, trembling and jubilation were 
manifest. He said very loudly, "Chant ‘Krsna!' Chant ‘Krsna!'"
 
Madhya 17.206
 
TEXT 206
 
TEXT
 
sthavara-jangama mili' kare krsna-dhvani
prabhura gambhira-svare yena prati-dhvani
SYNONYMS
 
sthavara-jangama -- all living entities, nonmoving and moving; mili' -- 
meeting together; kare -- perform; krsna-dhvani -- vibration of the 
sound "Hare Krsna"; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gambhira-
svare -- deep voice; yena -- as if; prati-dhvani -- responsive vibration.
 
TRANSLATION
 
All moving and nonmoving creatures then began to vibrate the 
transcendental sound of Hare Krsna, as if they were echoing the deep 
sound of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
 
Madhya 17.207
 
TEXT 207
 
TEXT
 
mrgera gala dhari' prabhu karena rodane
mrgera pulaka ange, asru nayane
SYNONYMS
 
mrgera -- of the deer; gala dhari' -- catching the necks; prabhu -- Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karena -- does; rodane -- crying; mrgera -- of the 
deer; pulaka ange -- jubilation; asru -- tears; nayane -- in the eyes.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The Lord then clasped the necks of the deer and began to cry. There was 
jubilation manifest in the bodies of the deer, and tears were in their 
eyes.
 
Madhya 17.208
 
TEXT 208
 
TEXT
 
vrksa-dale suka-sari dila darasana
taha dekhi' prabhura kichu sunite haila mana
SYNONYMS
 
vrksa-dale -- on a branch of a tree; suka-sari -- male and female 
parrots; dila -- gave; darasana -- appearance; taha dekhi' -- seeing 
that; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kichu -- something; sunite 
-- to hear; haila -- there was; mana -- mind.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When a male and female parrot appeared on the branches of a tree, the 
Lord saw them and wanted to hear them speak.
 
Madhya 17.209
 
TEXT 209
 
TEXT
 
suka-sarika prabhura hate udi' pade
prabhuke sunana krsnera guna-sloka pade
SYNONYMS
 
suka-sarika -- the parrots, male and female; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; hate -- on the hand; udi' -- flying; pade -- fall; prabhuke -
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sunana -- causing to hear; krsnera -- of Lord 
Krsna; guna-sloka pade -- chanted verses about the transcendental 
qualities.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Both parrots flew onto the hand of the Lord and began to chant the 
transcendental qualities of Krsna, and the Lord listened to them.
 
Madhya 17.210
 
TEXT 210
 
TEXT
 
saundaryam lalanali-dhairya-dalanam lila rama-stambhini
 viryam kandukitadri-varyam amalah pare-parardham gunah
silam sarva-jananuranjanam aho yasyayam asmat-prabhur
 visvam visva-janina-kirtir avatat krsno jagan-mohanah
SYNONYMS
 
saundaryam -- the bodily beauty; lalana-ali -- of groups of gopis; 
dhairya -- the patience; dalanam -- subduing; lila -- pastimes; rama -- 
the goddess of fortune; stambhini -- astounding; viryam -- strength; 
kandukita -- making like a small ball for throwing; adri-varyam -- the 
great mountain; amalah -- without a spot; pare-parardham -- unlimited; 
gunah -- qualities; silam -- behavior; sarva-jana -- all kinds of living 
entities; anuranjanam -- satisfying; aho -- oh; yasya -- whose; ayam -- 
this; asmat-prabhuh -- our Lord; visvam -- the whole universe; visva-
janina -- for the benefit of everyone; kirtih -- whose glorification; 
avatat -- may He maintain; krsnah -- Lord Krsna; jagat-mohanah -- the 
attractor of the whole world.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The male parrot sang, "The glorification of Lord Krsna, the Supreme 
Personality of Godhead, is beneficial to everyone in the universe. His 
beauty is victorious over the gopis of Vrndavana, and it subdues their 
patience. His pastimes astound the goddess of fortune, and His bodily 
strength turns Govardhana Hill into a small toy like a ball. His 
spotless qualities are unlimited, and His behavior satisfies everyone. 
Lord Krsna is attractive to everyone. Oh, may our Lord maintain the 
whole universe!"
 
PURPORT
 
This verse is found in the Govinda-lilamrta (13.29).
 
Madhya 17.211
 
TEXT 211
 
TEXT
 
suka-mukhe suni' tabe krsnera varnana
sarika padaye tabe radhika-varnana
SYNONYMS
 
suka-mukhe -- in the mouth of the male parrot; suni' -- hearing; krsnera 
varnana -- a description of Lord Krsna; sarika -- female parrot; padaye -
- recites; tabe -- then; radhika-varnana -- a description of Srimati 
Radharani.
 
TRANSLATION
 
After hearing this description of Lord Krsna from the male parrot, the 
female parrot began to recite a description of Srimati Radharani.
 
Madhya 17.212
 
TEXT 212
 
TEXT
 
sri-radhikayah priyata su-rupata
 su-silata nartana-gana-caturi
gunali-sampat kavita ca rajate
 jagan-mano-mohana-citta-mohini
SYNONYMS
 
sri-radhikayah -- of Srimati Radharani; priyata -- affection; su-rupata -
- exquisite beauty; su-silata -- good behavior; nartana-gana -- in 
chanting and dancing; caturi -- artistry; guna-ali-sampat -- possession 
of such transcendental qualities; kavita -- poetry; ca -- also; rajate --
 shine; jagat-manah-mohana -- of Krsna, who attracts the mind of the 
whole universe; citta-mohini -- the attractor of the mind.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The female parrot said, "Srimati Radharani's affection, Her exquisite 
beauty and good behavior, Her artistic dancing and chanting and Her 
poetic compositions are all so attractive that they attract the mind of 
Krsna, who attracts the mind of everyone in the universe."
 
PURPORT
 
This verse is also found in the Govinda-lilamrta (13.30).
 
Madhya 17.213
 
TEXT 213
 
TEXT
 
punah suka kahe, -- krsna ‘madana-mohana'
tabe ara sloka suka karila pathana
SYNONYMS
 
punah -- again; suka -- the male parrot; kahe -- says; krsna madana-
mohana -- Krsna is the conqueror of the mind of Cupid; tabe -- 
thereafter; ara -- another; sloka -- verse; suka -- the male parrot; 
karila pathana -- recited.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Thereafter the male parrot said, "Krsna is the enchanter of the mind of 
Cupid." He then began to recite another verse.
 
Madhya 17.214
 
TEXT 214
 
TEXT
 
vamsi-dhari jagan-nari-
 citta-hari sa sarike
vihari gopa-naribhir
 jiyan madana-mohanah
SYNONYMS
 
vamsi-dhari -- the carrier of the flute; jagat-nari -- of all women of 
the universe; citta-hari -- the stealer of the hearts; sah -- He; sarike 
-- my dear sari; vihari -- enjoyer; gopa-naribhih -- with the gopis; 
jiyat -- let Him be glorified; madana -- of Cupid; mohanah -- the 
enchanter.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The male parrot then said, "My dear sari [female parrot], Sri Krsna 
carries a flute and enchants the hearts of all women throughout the 
universe. He is specifically the enjoyer of the beautiful gopis, and He 
is the enchanter of Cupid also. Let Him be glorified!"
 
PURPORT
 
This verse is also found in the Govinda-lilamrta (13.31).
 
Madhya 17.215
 
TEXT 215
 
TEXT
 
punah sari kahe suke kari' parihasa
taha suni' prabhura haila vismaya-premollasa
SYNONYMS
 
punah -- again; sari kahe -- the female parrot said; suke -- unto the 
male parrot; kari' parihasa -- jokingly; taha suni' -- hearing that; 
prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; haila -- there was; vismaya -- 
wonderful; prema-ullasa -- awakening of ecstatic love.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Then the female parrot began to speak jokingly to the male parrot, and 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was struck with wonderful ecstatic love to hear 
her speak.
 
Madhya 17.216
 
TEXT 216
 
TEXT
 
radha-sange yada bhati
 tada ‘madana-mohanah'
anyatha visva-moho ‘pi
 svayam ‘madana-mohitah'
SYNONYMS
 
radha-sange -- with Srimati Radharani; yada -- when; bhati -- shines; 
tada -- at that time; madana-mohanah -- the enchanter of the mind of 
Cupid; anyatha -- otherwise; visva-mohah -- the enchanter of the whole 
universe; api -- even though; svayam -- personally; madana-mohitah -- 
enchanted by Cupid.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The female parrot said, "When Lord Sri Krsna is with Radharani, He is 
the enchanter of Cupid; otherwise, when He is alone, He Himself is 
enchanted by erotic feelings even though He enchants the whole universe."
 
PURPORT
 
This is another verse from the Govinda-lilamrta (13.32).
 
Madhya 17.217
 
TEXT 217
 
TEXT
 
suka-sari udi' punah gela vrksa-dale
mayurera nrtya prabhu dekhe kutuhale
SYNONYMS
 
suka-sari -- the male and female parrots; udi' -- flying; punah -- again;
 gela -- went; vrksa-dale -- to the branch of a tree; mayurera -- of the 
peacocks; nrtya -- dancing; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhe -- 
sees; kutuhale -- with curiosity.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Both parrots then flew onto a tree branch, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu 
began to watch the dancing of the peacocks with curiosity.
 
Madhya 17.218
 
TEXT 218
 
TEXT
 
mayurera kantha dekhi' prabhura krsna-smrti haila
premavese mahaprabhu bhumite padila
SYNONYMS
 
mayurera -- of the peacocks; kantha -- necks; dekhi' -- seeing; prabhura 
-- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krsna-smrti -- remembrance of Lord Krsna; 
haila -- there was; prema-avese -- in ecstatic love; mahaprabhu -- Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhumite -- on the ground; padila -- fell down.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When the Lord saw the bluish necks of the peacocks, His remembrance of 
Krsna immediately awakened, and He fell to the ground in ecstatic love.
 
Madhya 17.219
 
TEXT 219
 
TEXT
 
prabhure murcchita dekhi' sei ta brahmana
bhattacarya-sange kare prabhura santarpana
SYNONYMS
 
prabhure -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; murcchita -- unconscious; dekhi' -- 
seeing; sei ta brahmana -- indeed that brahmana; bhattacarya-sange -- 
with the Bhattacarya; kare -- does; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; santarpana -- taking care.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When the brahmana saw that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was unconscious, he 
and Balabhadra Bhattacarya took care of Him.
 
Madhya 17.220
 
TEXT 220
 
TEXT
 
aste-vyaste mahaprabhura lana bahirvasa
jala-seka kare ange, vastrera vatasa
SYNONYMS
 
aste-vyaste -- with great haste; mahaprabhura -- of Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; lana -- taking; bahirvasa -- covering cloth; jala-seka kare -
- sprinkle water; ange -- on the body; vastrera vatasa -- fanning with 
the cloth.
 
TRANSLATION
 
They hastily sprinkled water over the Lord's body. Then they took up His 
outer cloth and began to fan Him with it.
 
Madhya 17.221
 
TEXT 221
 
TEXT
 
prabhu-karne krsna-nama kahe ucca kari'
cetana pana prabhu ya'na gadagadi
SYNONYMS
 
prabhu-karne -- in the ear of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krsna-nama -- the 
holy name of Lord Krsna; kahe -- chant; ucca kari' -- loudly; cetana 
pana -- coming to consciousness; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ya'
na -- goes; gadagadi -- rolling on the ground.
 
TRANSLATION
 
They then began to chant the holy name of Krsna into the Lord's ear. 
When the Lord regained consciousness, He began rolling on the ground.
 
Madhya 17.222
 
TEXT 222
 
TEXT
 
kantaka-durgama vane anga ksata haila
bhattacarya kole kari' prabhure sustha kaila
SYNONYMS
 
kantaka-durgama -- difficult to traverse because of thorns; vane -- in 
the forest; anga -- the body; ksata haila -- became injured; bhattacarya 
-- Balabhadra Bhattacarya; kole kari' -- taking Him on his lap; prabhure 
-- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sustha kaila -- pacified.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When the Lord rolled on the ground, sharp thorns injured His body. 
Taking Him on his lap, Balabhadra Bhattacarya pacified Him.
 
Madhya 17.223
 
TEXT 223
 
TEXT
 
krsnavese prabhura preme garagara mana
‘bol' ‘bol' kari' uthi' karena nartana
SYNONYMS
 
krsna-avese -- in ecstatic love of Krsna; prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya 
Mahaprabhu; preme -- by love; garagara -- disturbed; mana -- mind; bol 
bol -- chant, chant; kari' -- saying; uthi' -- standing up; karena 
nartana -- began to dance.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The mind of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wandered in ecstatic love of 
Krsna. He immediately stood up and said, "Chant! Chant!" Then He Himself 
began to dance.
 
Madhya 17.224
 
TEXT 224
 
TEXT
 
bhattacarya, sei vipra ‘krsna-nama' gaya
nacite nacite pathe prabhu cali' yaya
SYNONYMS
 
bhattacarya -- the Bhattacarya; sei vipra -- that brahmana; krsna-nama 
gaya -- chant the holy name of Krsna; nacite nacite -- dancing and 
dancing; pathe -- on the road; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; cali' 
yaya -- goes forward.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Being thus ordered by the Lord, both Balabhadra Bhattacarya and the 
brahmana began to chant the holy name of Krsna. Then the Lord, dancing 
and dancing, proceeded along the path.
 
Madhya 17.225
 
TEXT 225
 
TEXT
 
prabhura premavesa dekhi' brahmana -- vismita
prabhura raksa lagi' vipra ha-ila cintita
SYNONYMS
 
prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prema-avesa -- ecstatic love; 
dekhi' -- seeing; brahmana -- the brahmana; vismita -- astonished; 
prabhura -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; raksa lagi' -- for the 
protection; vipra -- the brahmana; ha-ila -- became; cintita -- very 
anxious.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The brahmana was astounded to see the symptoms of ecstatic love 
exhibited by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He then became anxious to give the 
Lord protection.
 
Madhya 17.226
 
TEXT 226
 
TEXT
 
nilacale chila yaiche premavesa mana
vrndavana yaite pathe haila sata-guna
SYNONYMS
 
nilacale -- at Jagannatha Puri; chila -- was; yaiche -- as; prema-avesa 
mana -- always in a mentality of ecstatic love; vrndavana -- to 
Vrndavana; yaite -- going; pathe -- on the road; haila -- became; sata-
guna -- one hundred times.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mind was absorbed in ecstatic love at 
Jagannatha Puri, but when He passed along the road on the way to 
Vrndavana, that love increased a hundred times.
 
Madhya 17.227
 
TEXT 227
 
TEXT
 
sahasra-guna prema bade mathura darasane
laksa-guna prema bade, bhramena yabe vane
SYNONYMS
 
sahasra-guna -- one thousand times; prema -- love; bade -- increased; 
mathura -- Mathura; darasane -- upon seeing; laksa-guna -- a hundred 
thousand times; prema bade -- love increases; bhramena -- wanders; yabe -
- when; vane -- in the forests of Vrndavana.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The Lord's ecstatic love increased a thousand times when He visited 
Mathura, but it increased a hundred thousand times when He wandered in 
the forests of Vrndavana.
 
Madhya 17.228–229
 
TEXTS 228–229
 
TEXT
 
anya-desa prema uchale ‘vrndavana'-name
saksat bhramaye ebe sei vrndavane
preme garagara mana ratri-divase
snana-bhiksadi-nirvaha karena abhyase
SYNONYMS
 
anya-desa -- in other countries; prema -- love; uchale -- increases; 
vrndavana-name -- by the name of Vrndavana; saksat -- directly; bhramaye 
-- travels; ebe -- now; sei vrndavane -- in that Vrndavana; preme -- in 
ecstatic love; garagara -- faltering; mana -- mind; ratri-divase -- day 
and night; snana-bhiksa-adi -- bathing and accepting food; nirvaha -- 
accomplishing; karena -- does; abhyase -- by habit.
 
TRANSLATION
 
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was elsewhere, the very name of Vrndavana 
was sufficient to increase His ecstatic love. Now, when He was actually 
traveling in the Vrndavana forest, His mind was absorbed in great 
ecstatic love day and night. He ate and bathed simply out of habit.
 
Madhya 17.230
 
TEXT 230
 
TEXT
 
ei-mata prema -- yavat bhramila ‘bara' vana
ekatra likhilun, sarvatra na yaya varnana
SYNONYMS
 
ei-mata -- in this way; prema -- ecstatic love; yavat -- so long; 
bhramila -- He traveled; bara vana -- through the twelve forests of 
Vrndavana; ekatra -- in one place; likhilun -- I have written; sarvatra -
- everywhere; na yaya varnana -- cannot be described.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Thus I have written a description of the ecstatic love Lord Caitanya 
manifested in one of the places He visited while walking through the 
twelve forests of Vrndavana. To describe what He experienced everywhere 
would be impossible.
 
Madhya 17.231
 
TEXT 231
 
TEXT
 
vrndavane haila prabhura yateka premera vikara
koti-granthe ‘ananta' likhena tahara vistara
SYNONYMS
 
vrndavane -- in Vrndavana; haila -- there were; prabhura -- of Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yateka -- as many; premera vikara -- 
transformations of ecstasy; koti-granthe -- in millions of books; ananta 
-- Lord Ananta; likhena -- writes; tahara -- of them; vistara -- 
elaboration.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Lord Ananta writes millions of books elaborately describing the 
transformations of ecstatic love experienced by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu 
in Vrndavana.
 
Madhya 17.232
 
TEXT 232
 
TEXT
 
tabu likhibare nare tara eka kana
uddesa karite kari dig-darasana
SYNONYMS
 
tabu -- yet; likhibare -- to write; nare -- is not able; tara -- of that;
 eka -- one; kana -- fragment; uddesa -- indication; karite -- to make; 
kari -- I perform; dik-darasana -- pointing out the direction.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Since Lord Ananta Himself cannot describe even a fragment of these 
pastimes, I am simply pointing out the direction.
 
Madhya 17.233
 
TEXT 233
 
TEXT
 
jagat bhasila caitanya-lilara pathare
yanra yata sakti tata pathare santare
SYNONYMS
 
jagat -- the whole world; bhasila -- floated; caitanya-lilara -- of the 
pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; pathare -- in the inundation; yanra 
-- of whom; yata -- as much; sakti -- power; tata -- that much; pathare -
- in the inundation; santare -- swims.
 
TRANSLATION
 
The whole world became merged in the inundation of the pastimes of Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One can swim in that water to the extent that he 
has the strength.
 
Madhya 17.234
 
TEXT 234
 
TEXT
 
sri-rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa
caitanya-caritamrta kahe krsnadasa
SYNONYMS
 
sri-rupa -- Srila Rupa Gosvami; raghunatha -- Srila Raghunatha dasa 
Gosvami; pade -- at the lotus feet; yara -- whose; asa -- expectation; 
Caitanya-caritamrta -- the book named Caitanya-caritamrta; kahe -- 
describes; krsnadasa -- Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami.
 
TRANSLATION
 
Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always 
desiring their mercy, I, Krsnadasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, 
following in their footsteps.
 
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,
 Madhya-lila, Seventeenth Chapter, describing the Lord's traveling to 
Vrndavana.
 