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CC Antya 20

2026-06-04T18:31:19Z

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 20 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 20|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 20: The Śikṣāṣṭaka Prayers'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 19|Antya-līlā 19]] '''[[CC Antya 19|Antya-līlā 19]]'''</div>

'''[[CC Antya 20 Summary|Antya 20 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 20.1|Antya 20.1]]:''' Only the most fortunate will relish the mad words of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, which were mixed with jubilation, envy, agitation, submissiveness and grief, all produced by ecstatic loving emotions.

'''[[CC Antya 20.2|Antya 20.2]]:''' All glories to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Antya 20.3|Antya 20.3]]:''' While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thus resided at Jagannātha Purī [Nīlācala], He was continuously overwhelmed, night and day, by separation from Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 20.4|Antya 20.4]]:''' Day and night He tasted transcendental blissful songs and verses with two associates, namely Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and Rāmānanda Rāya.

'''[[CC Antya 20.5|Antya 20.5]]:''' He relished the symptoms of various transcendental emotions, such as jubilation, lamentation, anger, humility, anxiety, grief, eagerness and satisfaction.

'''[[CC Antya 20.6|Antya 20.6]]:''' He would recite His own verses, expressing their meanings and emotions, and thus enjoy tasting them with these two friends.

'''[[CC Antya 20.7|Antya 20.7]]:''' Sometimes the Lord would be absorbed in a particular emotion and would stay awake all night reciting related verses and relishing their taste.

'''[[CC Antya 20.8|Antya 20.8]]:''' In great jubilation, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "My dear Svarūpa Dāmodara and Rāmānanda Rāya, know from Me that chanting the holy names is the most feasible means of salvation in this Age of Kali.

'''[[CC Antya 20.9|Antya 20.9]]:''' "In this Age of Kali, the process of worshiping Kṛṣṇa is to perform sacrifice by chanting the holy name of the Lord. One who does so is certainly very intelligent, and he attains shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 20.10|Antya 20.10]]:''' "'In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the name of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.'

'''[[CC Antya 20.11|Antya 20.11]]:''' "Simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one can be freed from all undesirable habits. This is the means of awakening all good fortune and initiating the flow of waves of love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 20.12|Antya 20.12]]:''' "'Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. That chanting is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all education. The chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step.'

'''[[CC Antya 20.13|Antya 20.13]]:''' "By performing congregational chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, one can destroy the sinful condition of material existence, purify the unclean heart and awaken all varieties of devotional service.

'''[[CC Antya 20.14|Antya 20.14]]:''' "The result of chanting is that one awakens his love for Kṛṣṇa and tastes transcendental bliss. Ultimately, one attains the association of Kṛṣṇa and engages in His devotional service, as if immersing himself in a great ocean of love."

'''[[CC Antya 20.15|Antya 20.15]]:''' Lamentation and humility awoke within Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and He began reciting another of His own verses. By hearing the meaning of that verse, one can forget all unhappiness and lamentation.

'''[[CC Antya 20.16|Antya 20.16]]:''' "'My Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, in Your holy name there is all good fortune for the living entity, and therefore You have many names, such as "Kṛṣṇa" and "Govinda," by which You expand Yourself. You have invested all Your potencies in those names, and there are no hard and fast rules for remembering them. My dear Lord, although You bestow such mercy upon the fallen, conditioned souls by liberally teaching Your holy names, I am so unfortunate that I commit offenses while chanting the holy name, and therefore I do not achieve attachment for chanting.'

'''[[CC Antya 20.17|Antya 20.17]]:''' "Because people vary in their desires, You have distributed various holy names by Your mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 20.18|Antya 20.18]]:''' "Regardless of time or place, one who chants the holy name, even while eating or sleeping, attains all perfection.

'''[[CC Antya 20.19|Antya 20.19]]:''' "You have invested Your full potencies in each individual holy name, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attachment for chanting Your holy names."

'''[[CC Antya 20.20|Antya 20.20]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "O Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and Rāmānanda Rāya, hear from Me the symptoms of how one should chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra to awaken very easily one's dormant love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 20.21|Antya 20.21]]:''' "'One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor but is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord.'

'''[[CC Antya 20.22|Antya 20.22]]:''' "These are the symptoms of one who chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. Although he is very exalted, he thinks himself lower than the grass on the ground, and like a tree, he tolerates everything in two ways.

'''[[CC Antya 20.23|Antya 20.23]]:''' "When a tree is cut down, it does not protest, and even when drying up, it does not ask anyone for water.

'''[[CC Antya 20.24|Antya 20.24]]:''' "The tree delivers its fruits, flowers and whatever else it possesses to anyone and everyone. It tolerates scorching heat and torrents of rain, yet it still gives shelter to others.

'''[[CC Antya 20.25|Antya 20.25]]:''' "Although a Vaiṣṇava is the most exalted person, he is prideless and gives all respect to everyone, knowing everyone to be the resting place of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 20.26|Antya 20.26]]:''' "If one chants the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa in this manner, he will certainly awaken his dormant love for Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet."

'''[[CC Antya 20.27|Antya 20.27]]:''' As Lord Caitanya spoke in this way, His humility increased, and He began praying to Kṛṣṇa that He could discharge pure devotional service.

'''[[CC Antya 20.28|Antya 20.28]]:''' Wherever there is a relationship of love of Godhead, its natural symptom is that the devotee does not think himself a devotee. Instead, he always thinks that he has not even a drop of love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 20.29|Antya 20.29]]:''' "'O Lord of the universe, I do not desire material wealth, materialistic followers, a beautiful wife or fruitive activities described in flowery language. All I want, life after life, is unmotivated devotional service to You.'

'''[[CC Antya 20.30|Antya 20.30]]:''' "My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, I do not want material wealth from You, nor do I want followers, a beautiful wife or the results of fruitive activities. I only pray that by Your causeless mercy You give Me pure devotional service to You, life after life."

'''[[CC Antya 20.31|Antya 20.31]]:''' In great humility, considering Himself a conditioned soul of the material world, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again expressed His desire to be endowed with service to the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 20.32|Antya 20.32]]:''' "'O My Lord, O Kṛṣṇa, son of Mahārāja Nanda, I am Your eternal servant, but because of My own fruitive acts I have fallen into this horrible ocean of nescience. Now please be causelessly merciful to Me. Consider Me a particle of dust at Your lotus feet.'

'''[[CC Antya 20.33|Antya 20.33]]:''' "I am Your eternal servant, but I forgot Your Lordship. Now I have fallen into the ocean of nescience and have been conditioned by the external energy.

'''[[CC Antya 20.34|Antya 20.34]]:''' "Be causelessly merciful to Me by giving Me a place with the particles of dust at Your lotus feet so that I may engage in the service of Your Lordship as Your eternal servant."

'''[[CC Antya 20.35|Antya 20.35]]:''' Natural humility and eagerness then awoke in Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He prayed to Kṛṣṇa to be able to chant the mahā-mantra in ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Antya 20.36|Antya 20.36]]:''' "'My dear Lord, when will My eyes be beautified by filling with tears that constantly glide down as I chant Your holy name? When will My voice falter and all the hairs on My body stand erect in transcendental happiness as I chant Your holy name?'

'''[[CC Antya 20.37|Antya 20.37]]:''' "Without love of Godhead, My life is useless. Therefore I pray that You accept Me as Your servant and give Me the salary of ecstatic love of God."

'''[[CC Antya 20.38|Antya 20.38]]:''' Separation from Kṛṣṇa awoke various mellows of distress, lamentation and humility. Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke like a crazy man.

'''[[CC Antya 20.39|Antya 20.39]]:''' "'My Lord Govinda, because of separation from You, I consider even a moment a great millennium. Tears flow from My eyes like torrents of rain, and I see the entire world as void.'

'''[[CC Antya 20.40|Antya 20.40]]:''' "In My agitation, a day never ends, for every moment seems like a millennium. Pouring incessant tears, My eyes are like clouds in the rainy season.

'''[[CC Antya 20.41|Antya 20.41]]:''' "The three worlds have become void because of separation from Govinda. I feel as if I were burning alive in a slow fire.

'''[[CC Antya 20.42|Antya 20.42]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa has become indifferent to Me just to test My love, and My friends say, 'Better to disregard Him.'"

'''[[CC Antya 20.43|Antya 20.43]]:''' While Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī was thinking in this way, the characteristics of natural love became manifest because of Her pure heart.

'''[[CC Antya 20.44|Antya 20.44]]:''' The ecstatic symptoms of envy, great eagerness, humility, zeal and supplication all became manifest at once.

'''[[CC Antya 20.45|Antya 20.45]]:''' In that mood, the mind of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī was agitated, and therefore She spoke a verse of advanced devotion to Her gopī friends.

'''[[CC Antya 20.46|Antya 20.46]]:''' In the same spirit of ecstasy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recited that verse, and as soon as He did so, He felt like Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

'''[[CC Antya 20.47|Antya 20.47]]:''' "Let Kṛṣṇa tightly embrace this maidservant who has fallen at His lotus feet, or let Him trample Me or break My heart by never being visible to Me. He is a debauchee, after all, and can do whatever He likes, but He is still no one other than the worshipable Lord of My heart.

'''[[CC Antya 20.48|Antya 20.48]]:''' "I am a maidservant at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. He is the embodiment of transcendental happiness and mellows. If He likes He can tightly embrace Me and make Me feel oneness with Him, or by not giving Me His audience, He may corrode My mind and body. Nevertheless, it is He who is the Lord of My life.

'''[[CC Antya 20.49|Antya 20.49]]:''' "My dear friend, just hear the decision of My mind. Kṛṣṇa is the Lord of My life in all conditions, whether He shows Me affection or kills Me by giving Me unhappiness.

'''[[CC Antya 20.50|Antya 20.50]]:''' "Sometimes Kṛṣṇa gives up the company of other gopīs and becomes controlled, mind and body, by Me. Thus He manifests My good fortune and gives others distress by performing His loving affairs with Me.

'''[[CC Antya 20.51|Antya 20.51]]:''' "Or, since after all He is a very cunning, obstinate debauchee with a propensity to cheat, He takes to the company of other women. He then indulges in loving affairs with them in front of Me to give distress to My mind. Nevertheless, He is still the Lord of My life.

'''[[CC Antya 20.52|Antya 20.52]]:''' "I do not mind My personal distress. I only wish for the happiness of Kṛṣṇa, for His happiness is the goal of My life. However, if He feels great happiness in giving Me distress, that distress is the best of My happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 20.53|Antya 20.53]]:''' "If Kṛṣṇa, attracted by the beauty of some other woman, wants to enjoy with her but is unhappy because He cannot get her, I fall down at her feet, catch her hand and bring her to Kṛṣṇa to engage her for His happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 20.54|Antya 20.54]]:''' "When a beloved gopī shows symptoms of anger toward Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa is very satisfied. Indeed, He is extremely pleased when chastised by such a gopī. She shows her pride suitably, and Kṛṣṇa enjoys that attitude. Then she gives up her pride with a little endeavor.

'''[[CC Antya 20.55|Antya 20.55]]:''' "Why does a woman continue to live who knows that Kṛṣṇa's heart is unhappy but who still shows her deep anger toward Him? She is interested in her own happiness. I condemn such a woman to be struck on the head with a thunderbolt, for We simply want the happiness of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 20.56|Antya 20.56]]:''' "If a gopī envious of Me satisfies Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa desires her, I shall not hesitate to go to her house and become her maidservant, for then My happiness will be awakened.

'''[[CC Antya 20.57|Antya 20.57]]:''' "The wife of a brāhmaṇa suffering from leprosy manifested herself as the topmost of all chaste women by serving a prostitute to satisfy her husband. She thus stopped the movement of the sun, brought her dead husband back to life and satisfied the three principal demigods [Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara].

'''[[CC Antya 20.58|Antya 20.58]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa is My life and soul. Kṛṣṇa is the treasure of My life. Indeed, Kṛṣṇa is the very life of My life. I therefore keep Him always in My heart and try to please Him by rendering service. That is My constant meditation.

'''[[CC Antya 20.59|Antya 20.59]]:''' "My happiness is in the service of Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa's happiness is in union with Me. For this reason, I give My body in charity to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, who accepts Me as His loved one and calls Me His most beloved. It is then that I consider Myself His maidservant.

'''[[CC Antya 20.60|Antya 20.60]]:''' "Service to My lover is the home of happiness and is more sweet than direct union with Him. The goddess of fortune is evidence of this, for although she constantly lives on the heart of Nārāyaṇa, she wants to render service to His lotus feet. She therefore considers herself a maidservant and serves Him constantly."

'''[[CC Antya 20.61|Antya 20.61]]:''' These statements by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī show the symptoms of pure love for Kṛṣṇa tasted by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In that ecstatic love, His mind was unsteady. Transformations of transcendental love spread throughout His entire body, and He could not sustain His body and mind.

'''[[CC Antya 20.62|Antya 20.62]]:''' The pure devotional service in Vṛndāvana is like the golden particles in the river Jāmbū. In Vṛndāvana there is not a trace of personal sense gratification. It is to advertise such pure love in this material world that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has written the previous verse and explained its meaning.

'''[[CC Antya 20.63|Antya 20.63]]:''' Thus overwhelmed by ecstatic love, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke like a madman and recited suitable verses.

'''[[CC Antya 20.64|Antya 20.64]]:''' The Lord had formerly composed these eight verses to teach people in general. Now He personally tasted the meaning of the verses, which are called the Śikṣāṣṭaka.

'''[[CC Antya 20.65|Antya 20.65]]:''' If anyone recites or hears these eight verses of instruction by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, his ecstatic love and devotion for Kṛṣṇa increase day by day.

'''[[CC Antya 20.66|Antya 20.66]]:''' Although Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is as deep and grave as millions of oceans, when the moon of His various emotions rises, He becomes restless.

'''[[CC Antya 20.67-68|Antya 20.67-68]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu read the verses of Jayadeva's Gīta-govinda, of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, of Rāmānanda Rāya's drama Jagannātha-vallabha-nāṭaka, and of Bilvamańgala Ṭhākura's Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta, He was overwhelmed by the various ecstatic emotions of those verses. Thus He tasted their purports.

'''[[CC Antya 20.69|Antya 20.69]]:''' For twelve years, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained in that state day and night. With His two friends He tasted the meaning of those verses, which consists of nothing but the transcendental bliss and mellows of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

'''[[CC Antya 20.70|Antya 20.70]]:''' Even Anantadeva, who has thousands of faces, could not reach the end of describing the transcendental bliss of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's pastimes.

'''[[CC Antya 20.71|Antya 20.71]]:''' How, then, could an ordinary living being with very little intelligence describe such pastimes? Nevertheless, I am trying to touch but a particle of them just to rectify myself.

'''[[CC Antya 20.72|Antya 20.72]]:''' There is no limit to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's activities and His words of madness. Therefore describing them all would greatly increase the size of this book.

'''[[CC Antya 20.73|Antya 20.73]]:''' Whatever pastimes Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has first described I have merely summarized.

'''[[CC Antya 20.74|Antya 20.74]]:''' I have only very briefly described the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu not described by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura. Nevertheless, because those transcendental pastimes are so numerous, the size of this book has increased.

'''[[CC Antya 20.75|Antya 20.75]]:''' It is impossible to describe all the pastimes elaborately. I shall therefore end this description and offer them my respectful obeisances.

'''[[CC Antya 20.76|Antya 20.76]]:''' What I have described gives merely an indication, but by following this indication one may obtain a taste of all the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 20.77|Antya 20.77]]:''' I cannot understand the very deep, meaningful pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. My intelligence cannot penetrate them, and therefore I could not properly describe them.

'''[[CC Antya 20.78|Antya 20.78]]:''' After offering my respectful obeisances to the lotus feet of all my Vaiṣṇava readers, I shall therefore end this description of the characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 20.79|Antya 20.79]]:''' The sky is unlimited, but many birds fly higher and higher according to their own abilities.

'''[[CC Antya 20.80|Antya 20.80]]:''' The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are like the unlimited sky. How, then, can an ordinary living being describe them all?

'''[[CC Antya 20.81|Antya 20.81]]:''' I have tried to describe them as far as my intelligence allows, as if trying to touch a drop in the midst of a great ocean.

'''[[CC Antya 20.82|Antya 20.82]]:''' Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura is Lord Nityānanda's favorite devotee, and therefore he is the original Vyāsadeva in describing the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 20.83|Antya 20.83]]:''' Although Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has within his jurisdiction the full store of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's pastimes, he has left aside most of them and described but a small portion.

'''[[CC Antya 20.84|Antya 20.84]]:''' What I have described was left aside by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, but although he could not describe these pastimes, he gave us a synopsis.

'''[[CC Antya 20.85|Antya 20.85]]:''' In his book named Caitanya-mańgala [Caitanya-bhāgavata], he has described these pastimes in many places. I request my readers to hear that book, for that is the best evidence.

'''[[CC Antya 20.86|Antya 20.86]]:''' I have described the pastimes very briefly, for it is impossible for me to describe them in full. In the future, however, Vedavyāsa will describe them elaborately.

'''[[CC Antya 20.87|Antya 20.87]]:''' In the Caitanya-mańgala, Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has stated in many places the factual truth that in the future Vyāsadeva will describe the Lord's pastimes elaborately.

'''[[CC Antya 20.88|Antya 20.88]]:''' The ocean of nectarean pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is like the ocean of milk. According to his thirst, Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura filled his pitcher and drank from that ocean.

'''[[CC Antya 20.89|Antya 20.89]]:''' Whatever remnants of milk Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has given me are sufficient to fill my belly. Now my thirst is completely satiated.

'''[[CC Antya 20.90-91|Antya 20.90-91]]:''' I am a very insignificant living being, like a small red-beaked bird. Just as such a bird drinks the water of the sea to quench its thirst, so I have touched only a drop of the ocean of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's pastimes. From this example, you may all understand how expansive are the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 20.92|Antya 20.92]]:''' I infer that "I have written" is a false understanding, for my body is like a wooden doll.

'''[[CC Antya 20.93|Antya 20.93]]:''' I am old and troubled by invalidity. I am almost blind and deaf, my hands tremble, and my mind and intelligence are unsteady.

'''[[CC Antya 20.94|Antya 20.94]]:''' I am infected with so many diseases that I can neither properly walk nor properly sit. Indeed, I am always exhausted by five kinds of diseases. I may die at any time of the day or night.

'''[[CC Antya 20.95|Antya 20.95]]:''' I have previously given an account of my inabilities. Please hear the reason why I nevertheless still write.

'''[[CC Antya 20.96-98|Antya 20.96-98]]:''' I am writing this book by the mercy of the lotus feet of Śrī Govindadeva, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Nityānanda, Advaita Ācārya, other devotees and the readers of this book, as well as Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, who is my spiritual master, and Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī. I have also been specifically favored by another Supreme Personality.

'''[[CC Antya 20.99|Antya 20.99]]:''' Śrī Madana-mohana Deity of Vṛndāvana has given the order that is making me write. Although this should not be disclosed, I disclose it because I am unable to remain silent.

'''[[CC Antya 20.100|Antya 20.100]]:''' If I did not disclose this fact, I would be guilty of ingratitude to the Lord. Therefore, my dear readers, please do not consider me too proud and be angry at me.

'''[[CC Antya 20.101|Antya 20.101]]:''' It is because I have offered my prayers unto the lotus feet of all of you that whatever I have written about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has been possible.

'''[[CC Antya 20.102|Antya 20.102]]:''' Now let me repeat all the pastimes of the Antya-līlā, for if I do so I shall taste the pastimes again.

'''[[CC Antya 20.103|Antya 20.103]]:''' The First Chapter describes how Rūpa Gosvāmī met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for the second time and how the Lord heard his two dramas [Vidagdha-mādhava and Lalita-mādhava].

'''[[CC Antya 20.104|Antya 20.104]]:''' That chapter also describes the incident of Śivānanda Sena's dog, who was induced by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and was thus liberated.

'''[[CC Antya 20.105|Antya 20.105]]:''' The Second Chapter tells how the Lord instructively punished Junior Haridāsa. Also in that chapter is a description of the wonderful vision of Śivānanda Sena.

'''[[CC Antya 20.106|Antya 20.106]]:''' In the Third Chapter is a description of the forceful glories of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. That chapter also mentions how Dāmodara Paṇḍita spoke words of criticism to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 20.107|Antya 20.107]]:''' The Third Chapter also tells how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu delivered everyone by bestowing upon the universe the holy name of the Lord, and it describes how Haridāsa Ṭhākura established the glories of the holy name by his practical example.

'''[[CC Antya 20.108|Antya 20.108]]:''' The Fourth Chapter describes Sanātana Gosvāmī's second visit with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and how the Lord saved him from committing suicide.

'''[[CC Antya 20.109|Antya 20.109]]:''' The Fourth Chapter also tells how Sanātana Gosvāmī was tested in the sunshine of Jyaiṣṭha [May-June] and was then empowered and sent back to Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Antya 20.110|Antya 20.110]]:''' The Fifth Chapter tells how the Lord showed His favor to Pradyumna Miśra and made him hear topics of Kṛṣṇa from Rāmānanda Rāya.

'''[[CC Antya 20.111|Antya 20.111]]:''' That chapter also describes how Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī rejected the drama of a poet from Bengal and established the glories of the Deity.

'''[[CC Antya 20.112|Antya 20.112]]:''' The Sixth Chapter describes how Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and performed the chipped rice festival in accordance with Nityānanda Prabhu's order.

'''[[CC Antya 20.113|Antya 20.113]]:''' That chapter also tells how the Lord entrusted Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī to the care of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and gave Raghunātha dāsa the gift of a stone from Govardhana Hill and a garland of small conchshells.

'''[[CC Antya 20.114|Antya 20.114]]:''' The Seventh Chapter tells how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu met Vallabha Bhaṭṭa and dismantled his false pride in various ways.

'''[[CC Antya 20.115|Antya 20.115]]:''' The Eighth Chapter describes the arrival of Rāmacandra Purī and how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu minimized His eating due to fear of him.

'''[[CC Antya 20.116|Antya 20.116]]:''' In the Ninth Chapter is a description of how Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka was delivered and how the people of the three worlds were able to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 20.117|Antya 20.117]]:''' In the Tenth Chapter I have described how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu tasted the food given by His devotees, and I have also described the assortment of prasādam in the bags of Rāghava Paṇḍita.

'''[[CC Antya 20.118|Antya 20.118]]:''' Also in that chapter is a description of how the Lord examined Govinda and how He danced in the temple.

'''[[CC Antya 20.119|Antya 20.119]]:''' The Eleventh Chapter describes the disappearance of Haridāsa Ṭhākura and how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, showed His affection for His devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 20.120|Antya 20.120]]:''' In the Twelfth Chapter are descriptions of how Jagadānanda Paṇḍita broke a pot of oil and how Lord Nityānanda chastised Śivānanda Sena.

'''[[CC Antya 20.121|Antya 20.121]]:''' The Thirteenth Chapter tells how Jagadānanda Paṇḍita went to Mathurā and returned and how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by chance heard a song sung by a deva-dāsī dancing girl.

'''[[CC Antya 20.122|Antya 20.122]]:''' Also in the Thirteenth Chapter is an account of how Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who by His causeless mercy sent him to Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Antya 20.123|Antya 20.123]]:''' The Fourteenth Chapter describes the beginning of the Lord's spiritual trance, in which His body was at Jagannātha Purī but His mind was in Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Antya 20.124|Antya 20.124]]:''' Also in that chapter is a description of how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fell down in front of the Siḿha-dvāra gate of the Jagannātha temple, His bones separated at the joints, and how various transcendental symptoms awakened in Him.

'''[[CC Antya 20.125|Antya 20.125]]:''' Also in that chapter is a description of how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ran toward Caṭaka-parvata and spoke like a madman.

'''[[CC Antya 20.126|Antya 20.126]]:''' In the Fifteenth Chapter is a description of how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu entered a garden on the seashore and mistook it for Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Antya 20.127|Antya 20.127]]:''' Also in that chapter is a description of the attraction of Lord Caitanya's five senses to Kṛṣṇa and how He searched for Kṛṣṇa in the rāsa dance.

'''[[CC Antya 20.128|Antya 20.128]]:''' The Sixteenth Chapter tells how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu showed His mercy to Kālidāsa and thus demonstrated the result of eating the remnants of the food of Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Antya 20.129|Antya 20.129]]:''' It also describes how Śivānanda's son composed a verse and how the doorkeeper of the Siḿha-dvāra showed Kṛṣṇa to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 20.130|Antya 20.130]]:''' Also in that chapter, the glories of mahā-prasādam are explained, and a verse is tasted describing the effect of nectar from the lips of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 20.131|Antya 20.131]]:''' The Seventeenth Chapter recounts how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fell among the cows and assumed the form of a tortoise as His ecstatic emotions awakened.

'''[[CC Antya 20.132|Antya 20.132]]:''' That chapter also tells how the attributes of Kṛṣṇa's sound attracted the mind of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who then described in ecstasy the meaning of the "kā stry ańga te" verse.

'''[[CC Antya 20.133|Antya 20.133]]:''' The Seventeenth Chapter also tells how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, due to the conjunction of various ecstatic emotions, again began speaking like a madman and described in detail the meaning of a verse from the Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta.

'''[[CC Antya 20.134|Antya 20.134]]:''' In the Eighteenth Chapter is an account of how the Lord fell into the ocean and in ecstasy saw in a dream the pastimes of a water fight between Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs.

'''[[CC Antya 20.135|Antya 20.135]]:''' In that dream, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Kṛṣṇa's picnic in the forest. As Lord Caitanya floated in the sea, a fisherman caught Him, and then the Lord returned to His own residence. All this is recounted in the Eighteenth Chapter.

'''[[CC Antya 20.136|Antya 20.136]]:''' In the Nineteenth Chapter is a description of how Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu rubbed His face against the walls and spoke like a madman because of separation from Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 20.137|Antya 20.137]]:''' That chapter also describes Kṛṣṇa's wandering in a garden on a spring night, and it fully describes the meaning of a verse about the scent of Kṛṣṇa's body.

'''[[CC Antya 20.138|Antya 20.138]]:''' The Twentieth Chapter tells how Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recited His own eight stanzas of instruction and tasted their meaning in ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Antya 20.139|Antya 20.139]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu composed those eight stanzas to instruct the devotees, but He also personally tasted their meaning.

'''[[CC Antya 20.140|Antya 20.140]]:''' I have thus repeated the principal pastimes and their meaning, for by such repetition one can remember the descriptions in the book.

'''[[CC Antya 20.141|Antya 20.141]]:''' In every chapter there are various topics, but I have repeated only those that are principal, for not all of them could be described again.

'''[[CC Antya 20.142-143|Antya 20.142-143]]:''' The Vṛndāvana Deities of Madana-mohana with Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Govinda with Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, and Gopīnātha with Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī are the life and soul of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Antya 20.144-146|Antya 20.144-146]]:''' So that my desires may be fulfilled, I place the lotus feet of these personalities on my head: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, with Lord Nityānanda, Advaita Ācārya and Their devotees, as well as Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, who is my spiritual master, and Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 20.147|Antya 20.147]]:''' The mercy of their lotus feet is my spiritual master, and my words are my disciples, whom I have made dance in various ways.

'''[[CC Antya 20.148|Antya 20.148]]:''' Seeing the fatigue of the disciples, the spiritual master has stopped making them dance, and because that mercy no longer makes them dance, my words now sit silently.

'''[[CC Antya 20.149|Antya 20.149]]:''' My inexperienced words do not know how to dance by themselves. The mercy of the guru made them dance as much as possible, and now, after dancing, they have taken rest.

'''[[CC Antya 20.150|Antya 20.150]]:''' I now worship the lotus feet of all my readers, for by the mercy of their lotus feet there is all good fortune.

'''[[CC Antya 20.151|Antya 20.151]]:''' If one hears the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as described in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, I wash his lotus feet and drink the water.

'''[[CC Antya 20.152|Antya 20.152]]:''' I decorate my head with the dust of the lotus feet of my audience. Now you have all drunk this nectar, and therefore my labor is successful.

'''[[CC Antya 20.153|Antya 20.153]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

'''[[CC Antya 20.154|Antya 20.154]]:''' Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta is filled with the activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. It invokes all good fortune and destroys everything inauspicious. If one tastes the nectar of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta with faith and love, I become like a bumblebee tasting the honey of transcendental love from his lotus feet.

'''[[CC Antya 20.155|Antya 20.155]]:''' Since this book, Caitanya-caritāmṛta, is now complete, having been written for the satisfaction of the most opulent Deities Madana-mohanajī and Govindajī, let it be offered at the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanyadeva.

'''[[CC Antya 20.156|Antya 20.156]]:''' Realized devotees are like bumblebees maddened by their own mellows at Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet. The scent of those lotus feet perfumes the entire world. Who is the realized soul that could give them up?

'''[[CC Antya 20.157|Antya 20.157]]:''' In Vṛndāvana in the year 1537 Śakābda Era [A.D 1615], in the month of Jyaiṣṭha [May-June], on Sunday, the fifth day of the waning moon, this Caitanya-caritāmṛta has been completed.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 19|Antya-līlā 19]] '''[[CC Antya 19|Antya-līlā 19]]'''</div>

CC Antya 19

2026-06-04T18:31:17Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 19 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 19|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 19: The Inconceivable Behavior of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 18|Antya-līlā 18]] '''[[CC Antya 18|Antya-līlā 18]] - [[CC Antya 20|Antya-līlā 20]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 20|Antya-līlā 20]]</div>

'''[[CC Antya 19 Summary|Antya 19 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 19.1|Antya 19.1]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the most exalted of all devotees of mothers, spoke like a madman and rubbed His face against the walls. Overwhelmed by emotions of ecstatic love, He would sometimes enter the Jagannātha-vallabha garden to perform His pastimes. I offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.

'''[[CC Antya 19.2|Antya 19.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Antya 19.3|Antya 19.3]]:''' In the ecstasy of love of Kṛṣṇa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thus behaved like a madman, talking insanely all day and night.

'''[[CC Antya 19.4|Antya 19.4]]:''' Jagadānanda Paṇḍita was a very dear devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The Lord derived great pleasure from his activities.

'''[[CC Antya 19.5|Antya 19.5]]:''' Knowing His mother to be greatly afflicted by separation from Him, the Lord would send Jagadānanda Paṇḍita to Navadvīpa every year to console her.

'''[[CC Antya 19.6|Antya 19.6]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, "Go to Nadia and offer My obeisances to My mother. Touch her lotus feet in My name.

'''[[CC Antya 19.7|Antya 19.7]]:''' "Tell her for Me, 'Please remember that I come here every day and offer My respects to your lotus feet.

'''[[CC Antya 19.8|Antya 19.8]]:''' "'Any day you desire to feed Me, I certainly come and accept what you offer.

'''[[CC Antya 19.9|Antya 19.9]]:''' "'I have given up service to you and have accepted the vow of sannyāsa. I have thus become mad and have destroyed the principles of religion.

'''[[CC Antya 19.10|Antya 19.10]]:''' "'Mother, please do not take this as an offense, for I, your son, am completely dependent upon you.

'''[[CC Antya 19.11|Antya 19.11]]:''' "'I am staying here at Nīlācala, Jagannātha Purī, according to your order. As long as I live, I shall not leave this place.'"

'''[[CC Antya 19.12|Antya 19.12]]:''' Following the order of Paramānanda Purī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sent His mother the prasāda clothing left by Lord Jagannātha after His pastimes as a cowherd boy.

'''[[CC Antya 19.13|Antya 19.13]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu very carefully brought first-class prasādam from Lord Jagannātha and sent it in separate packages to His mother and the devotees at Nadia.

'''[[CC Antya 19.14|Antya 19.14]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the topmost gem of all devotees of mothers. He rendered service to His mother even after He had accepted the vow of sannyāsa.

'''[[CC Antya 19.15|Antya 19.15]]:''' Jagadānanda Paṇḍita thus went to Nadia, and when he met Śacīmātā, he conveyed to her all the Lord's salutations.

'''[[CC Antya 19.16|Antya 19.16]]:''' He then met all the other devotees, headed by Advaita Ācārya, and gave them the prasādam of Jagannātha. After staying for one month, he took permission from mother Śacī to leave.

'''[[CC Antya 19.17|Antya 19.17]]:''' When he went to Advaita Ācārya and also asked His permission to return, Advaita Prabhu gave him a message to deliver to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 19.18|Antya 19.18]]:''' Advaita Ācārya had written a sonnet in equivocal language with an import that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could understand but others could not.

'''[[CC Antya 19.19|Antya 19.19]]:''' In His sonnet, Advaita Prabhu first offered His obeisances hundreds and thousands of times unto the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He then submitted the following statement at His lotus feet.

'''[[CC Antya 19.20|Antya 19.20]]:''' "Please inform Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is acting like a madman, that everyone here has become mad like Him. Inform Him also that in the marketplace rice is no longer in demand.

'''[[CC Antya 19.21|Antya 19.21]]:''' "Further tell Him that those now mad in ecstatic love are no longer interested in the material world. Also tell Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that one who has also become a madman in ecstatic love [Advaita Prabhu] has spoken these words."

'''[[CC Antya 19.22|Antya 19.22]]:''' When he heard Advaita Ācārya's statement, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita began to laugh, and when he returned to Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala, he informed Caitanya Mahāprabhu of everything.

'''[[CC Antya 19.23|Antya 19.23]]:''' After hearing the equivocal sonnet by Advaita Ācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu quietly smiled. "That is His order," He said. Then He fell silent.

'''[[CC Antya 19.24|Antya 19.24]]:''' Although he knew the secret, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī inquired from the Lord, "What is the meaning of this sonnet? I could not understand it."

'''[[CC Antya 19.25|Antya 19.25]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "Advaita Ācārya is a great worshiper of the Lord and is very expert in the regulative principles enjoined in the Vedic literatures.

'''[[CC Antya 19.26|Antya 19.26]]:''' "Advaita Ācārya invites the Lord to come and be worshiped, and to perform the worship He keeps the Deity for some time.

'''[[CC Antya 19.27|Antya 19.27]]:''' "After the worship is completed, He sends the Deity somewhere else. I do not know the meaning of this sonnet, nor do I know what is in Advaita Prabhu's mind.

'''[[CC Antya 19.28|Antya 19.28]]:''' "Advaita Ācārya is a great mystic. No one can understand Him. He is expert in writing sonnets that even I Myself cannot understand."

'''[[CC Antya 19.29|Antya 19.29]]:''' Hearing this, all the devotees were astonished, especially Svarūpa Dāmodara, who became somewhat morose.

'''[[CC Antya 19.30|Antya 19.30]]:''' From that day on, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's emotional state changed markedly; His feelings of separation from Kṛṣṇa doubled in intensity.

'''[[CC Antya 19.31|Antya 19.31]]:''' As His feelings of separation in the ecstasy of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī increased at every moment, the Lord's activities, both day and night, were now wild, insane performances.

'''[[CC Antya 19.32|Antya 19.32]]:''' Suddenly there awoke within Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu the scene of Lord Kṛṣṇa's departure to Mathurā, and He began exhibiting the symptom of ecstatic madness known as udghūrṇā.

'''[[CC Antya 19.33|Antya 19.33]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke like a madman, holding Rāmānanda Rāya by the neck, and He questioned Svarūpa Dāmodara, thinking him to be His gopī friend.

'''[[CC Antya 19.34|Antya 19.34]]:''' Just as Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī inquired from Her personal friend Viśākhā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, reciting that very verse, began speaking like a madman.

'''[[CC Antya 19.35|Antya 19.35]]:''' "'My dear friend, where is Kṛṣṇa, who is like the moon rising from the ocean of Mahārāja Nanda's dynasty? Where is Kṛṣṇa, His head decorated with a peacock feather? Where is He? Where is Kṛṣṇa, whose flute produces such a deep sound? Oh, where is Kṛṣṇa, whose bodily luster is like the luster of the blue indranīla jewel? Where is Kṛṣṇa, who is so expert in rāsa dancing? Oh, where is He, who can save My life? Kindly tell Me where to find Kṛṣṇa, the treasure of My life and best of My friends. Feeling separation from Him, I hereby condemn Providence, the shaper of My destiny.'

'''[[CC Antya 19.36|Antya 19.36]]:''' "The family of Mahārāja Nanda is just like an ocean of milk, wherein Lord Kṛṣṇa has arisen like the full moon to illuminate the entire universe. The eyes of the residents of Vraja are like cakora birds that continuously drink the nectar of His bodily luster and thus live peacefully.

'''[[CC Antya 19.37|Antya 19.37]]:''' "My dear friend, where is Kṛṣṇa? Kindly let Me see Him. My heart breaks at not seeing His face even for a moment. Kindly show Him to Me immediately; otherwise I cannot live.

'''[[CC Antya 19.38|Antya 19.38]]:''' "The women of Vṛndāvana are just like lilies growing hot in the sun of lusty desires. But moonlike Kṛṣṇa makes them all jubilant by bestowing upon them the nectar of His hands. O My dear friend, where is My moon now? Save My life by showing Him to Me!

'''[[CC Antya 19.39|Antya 19.39]]:''' "My dear friend, where is that beautiful helmet with a peacock feather upon it like a rainbow upon a new cloud? Where are those yellow garments, shining like lightning? And where is that necklace of pearls that resemble flocks of ducks flying in the sky? The blackish body of Kṛṣṇa triumphs over the new blackish rain cloud.

'''[[CC Antya 19.40|Antya 19.40]]:''' "If a person's eyes even once capture that beautiful body of Kṛṣṇa, it remains always prominent within his heart. Kṛṣṇa's body resembles the sap of the mango tree, for when it enters the minds of women, it will not come out, despite great endeavor. Thus Kṛṣṇa's extraordinary body is like a thorn of the seyā berry tree.

'''[[CC Antya 19.41|Antya 19.41]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa's bodily luster shines like the indranīla gem and surpasses the luster of the tamāla tree. The luster of His body drives the entire world mad because Providence has made it transparent by refining the essence of the mellow of conjugal love and mixing it with moonshine.

'''[[CC Antya 19.42|Antya 19.42]]:''' "The deep vibration of Kṛṣṇa's flute surpasses the thundering of new clouds and attracts the aural reception of the entire world. Thus the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana rise and pursue that sound, drinking the showering nectar of Kṛṣṇa's bodily luster like thirsty cātaka birds.

'''[[CC Antya 19.43|Antya 19.43]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa is the reservoir of art and culture, and He is the panacea that saves My life. O My dear friend, since I live without Him, who is the best among My friends, I condemn the duration of My life. I think that Providence has cheated Me in many ways.

'''[[CC Antya 19.44|Antya 19.44]]:''' "Why does Providence continue the life of one who does not wish to live?" This thought aroused anger and lamentation in Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who then recited a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that chastises Providence and makes an accusation against Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 19.45|Antya 19.45]]:''' "'O Providence, you have no mercy! You bring embodied souls together through friendship and affection, but before their desires are fulfilled, you separate them. Your activities are like the foolish pranks of children.'

'''[[CC Antya 19.46|Antya 19.46]]:''' "Providence, you do not know the purport of loving affairs, and therefore you baffle all Our endeavors. This is very childish of you. If We could catch you, We would give you such a lesson that you would never again make such arrangements.

'''[[CC Antya 19.47|Antya 19.47]]:''' "Oh, cruel Providence! You are very unkind, for you bring together in love people who are rarely in touch with each other. Then, after you have made Them meet but before They are fulfilled, you again spread Them far apart.

'''[[CC Antya 19.48|Antya 19.48]]:''' "O Providence, you are so unkind! You reveal the beautiful face of Kṛṣṇa and make the mind and eyes greedy, but after they have drunk that nectar for only a moment, you whisk Kṛṣṇa away to another place. This is a great sin because you thus take away what you have given as charity.

'''[[CC Antya 19.49|Antya 19.49]]:''' "O misbehaved Providence! If you reply to Us, 'Akrūra is actually at fault; why are You angry with me?' then I say to you, 'Providence, you have taken the form of Akrūra and have stolen Kṛṣṇa away. No one else would behave like this.'

'''[[CC Antya 19.50|Antya 19.50]]:''' "But this is the fault of My own destiny. Why should I needlessly accuse you? There is no intimate relationship between you and Me. Kṛṣṇa, however, is My life and soul. It is We who live together, and it is He who has become so cruel.

'''[[CC Antya 19.51|Antya 19.51]]:''' "He for whom I have left everything is personally killing Me with His own hands. Kṛṣṇa has no fear of killing women. Indeed, I am dying for Him, but He doesn't even turn back to look at Me. Within a moment, He has broken off Our loving affairs.

'''[[CC Antya 19.52|Antya 19.52]]:''' "Yet why should I be angry with Kṛṣṇa? It is the fault of My own misfortune. The fruit of My sinful activities has ripened, and therefore Kṛṣṇa, who has always been dependent on My love, is now indifferent. This means that My misfortune is very strong."

'''[[CC Antya 19.53|Antya 19.53]]:''' In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu lamented in the mood of separation, "Alas, alas! O Kṛṣṇa, where have You gone?" Feeling in His heart the ecstatic emotions of the gopīs, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu agonized in their words, saying, "O Govinda! O Dāmodara! O Mādhava!"

'''[[CC Antya 19.54|Antya 19.54]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara and Rāmānanda Rāya then devised various means to pacify the Lord. They sang songs of meeting that transformed His heart and made His mind peaceful.

'''[[CC Antya 19.55|Antya 19.55]]:''' As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu lamented in this way, half the night passed. Then Svarūpa Dāmodara made the Lord lie down in the room known as the Gambhīrā.

'''[[CC Antya 19.56|Antya 19.56]]:''' After the Lord was made to lie down, Rāmānanda Rāya returned home, and Svarūpa Dāmodara and Govinda lay down at the door of the Gambhīrā.

'''[[CC Antya 19.57|Antya 19.57]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed awake all night, chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, His mind overwhelmed by spiritual ecstasy.

'''[[CC Antya 19.58|Antya 19.58]]:''' Feeling separation from Kṛṣṇa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was so distraught that in great anxiety He stood up and began rubbing His face against the walls of the Gambhīrā.

'''[[CC Antya 19.59|Antya 19.59]]:''' Blood oozed from the many injuries on His mouth, nose and cheeks, but due to His ecstatic emotions, the Lord did not know it.

'''[[CC Antya 19.60|Antya 19.60]]:''' In ecstasy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu rubbed His face against the walls all night long, making a peculiar sound, "goń-goń," which Svarūpa Dāmodara could hear through the door.

'''[[CC Antya 19.61|Antya 19.61]]:''' Lighting a lamp, Svarūpa Dāmodara and Govinda entered the room. When they saw the Lord's face, they were filled with sorrow.

'''[[CC Antya 19.62|Antya 19.62]]:''' They brought the Lord to His bed, calmed Him and then asked, "Why have You done this to Yourself?"

'''[[CC Antya 19.63|Antya 19.63]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "I was in such anxiety that I could not stay in the room. I wanted to go out, and therefore I wandered about the room, looking for the door.

'''[[CC Antya 19.64|Antya 19.64]]:''' "Unable to find the door, I kept hitting the four walls with My face. My face was injured, and it bled, but I still could not get out."

'''[[CC Antya 19.65|Antya 19.65]]:''' In this state of madness, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mind was unsteady. Whatever He said or did was all symptomatic of madness.

'''[[CC Antya 19.66|Antya 19.66]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara was very anxious, but then he had an idea. The following day, he and the other devotees considered it together.

'''[[CC Antya 19.67|Antya 19.67]]:''' After consulting with one another, they entreated Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to allow Śańkara Paṇḍita to lie down in the same room with Him.

'''[[CC Antya 19.68|Antya 19.68]]:''' Thus Śańkara Paṇḍita lay at the feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and the Lord placed His legs upon Śańkara's body.

'''[[CC Antya 19.69|Antya 19.69]]:''' Śańkara became celebrated by the name Prabhu-pādopādhāna ["the pillow of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu"]. He was like Vidura, as Śukadeva Gosvāmī previously described him.

'''[[CC Antya 19.70|Antya 19.70]]:''' "When submissive Vidura, the resting place of the legs of Lord Kṛṣṇa, had thus spoken to Maitreya, Maitreya began speaking, his hair standing on end due to the transcendental pleasure of discussing topics concerning Lord Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Antya 19.71|Antya 19.71]]:''' Śańkara massaged the legs of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, but while massaging he would fall asleep and thus lie down.

'''[[CC Antya 19.72|Antya 19.72]]:''' He would lie asleep without a covering on his body, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would get up and wrap him with His own quilt.

'''[[CC Antya 19.73|Antya 19.73]]:''' Śańkara Paṇḍita would always fall asleep, but he would quickly awaken, sit up and again begin massaging the legs of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In this way he would stay awake the entire night.

'''[[CC Antya 19.74|Antya 19.74]]:''' Out of fear of Śańkara, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could neither leave His room nor rub His lotuslike face against the walls.

'''[[CC Antya 19.75|Antya 19.75]]:''' This pastime of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's has been described very nicely by Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī in his book known as Gaurāńga-stava-kalpavṛkṣa.

'''[[CC Antya 19.76|Antya 19.76]]:''' "Because of separation from His many friends in Vṛndāvana, who were like His own life, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke like a madman. His intelligence was transformed. Day and night He rubbed His moonlike face against the walls, and blood flowed from the injuries. May that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu rise in my heart and make me mad with love."

'''[[CC Antya 19.77|Antya 19.77]]:''' In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed immersed day and night in an ocean of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. Sometimes He was submerged, and sometimes He floated.

'''[[CC Antya 19.78|Antya 19.78]]:''' One full-moon night in the month of Vaiśākha [April-May], Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to a garden.

'''[[CC Antya 19.79|Antya 19.79]]:''' The Lord, along with His devotees, entered one of the nicest gardens, called Jagannātha-vallabha.

'''[[CC Antya 19.80|Antya 19.80]]:''' In the garden were fully blossomed trees and creepers exactly like those in Vṛndāvana. Bumblebees and birds like the śuka, śārī and pika talked with one another.

'''[[CC Antya 19.81|Antya 19.81]]:''' A mild breeze was blowing, carrying the fragrance of aromatic flowers. The breeze had become a guru and was teaching all the trees and creepers how to dance.

'''[[CC Antya 19.82|Antya 19.82]]:''' Brightly illuminated by the full moon, the trees and creepers glittered in the light.

'''[[CC Antya 19.83|Antya 19.83]]:''' The six seasons, especially spring, seemed present there. Seeing the garden, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was very happy.

'''[[CC Antya 19.84|Antya 19.84]]:''' In this atmosphere, the Lord had His associates sing the verse from the Gīta-govinda beginning with the words "lalita-lavańga-latā" as He danced and wandered about with them.

'''[[CC Antya 19.85|Antya 19.85]]:''' As He thus wandered around every tree and creeper, He came beneath an aśoka tree and suddenly saw Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 19.86|Antya 19.86]]:''' When He saw Kṛṣṇa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began running very swiftly, but Kṛṣṇa smiled and disappeared.

'''[[CC Antya 19.87|Antya 19.87]]:''' Having gotten Kṛṣṇa and then lost Him, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fell to the ground unconscious.

'''[[CC Antya 19.88|Antya 19.88]]:''' The entire garden was filled with the scent of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa's transcendental body. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu smelled it, He fell unconscious at once.

'''[[CC Antya 19.89|Antya 19.89]]:''' But the scent of Kṛṣṇa's body incessantly entered His nostrils, and the Lord became mad to relish it.

'''[[CC Antya 19.90|Antya 19.90]]:''' Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī once spoke a verse to Her gopī friends describing how She hankers for the transcendental scent of Kṛṣṇa's body. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recited that same verse and made its meaning clear.

'''[[CC Antya 19.91|Antya 19.91]]:''' "'The scent of Kṛṣṇa's transcendental body surpasses the aroma of musk and attracts the minds of all women. The eight lotuslike parts of His body distribute the fragrance of lotuses mixed with that of camphor. His body is anointed with aromatic substances like musk, camphor, sandalwood and aguru. O My dear friend, that Personality of Godhead, also known as the enchanter of Cupid, always increases the desire of My nostrils.'

'''[[CC Antya 19.92|Antya 19.92]]:''' "The scent of Kṛṣṇa's body surpasses the fragrances of musk and the bluish lotus flower. Spreading throughout the fourteen worlds, it attracts everyone and makes the eyes of all women blind.

'''[[CC Antya 19.93|Antya 19.93]]:''' "My dear friend, the scent of Kṛṣṇa's body enchants the entire world. It especially enters the nostrils of women and remains seated there. Thus it captures them and forcibly brings them to Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 19.94|Antya 19.94]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa's eyes, navel and face, hands and feet are like eight lotus flowers on His body. From those eight lotuses emanates a fragrance like a mixture of camphor and lotus. That is the scent associated with His body.

'''[[CC Antya 19.95|Antya 19.95]]:''' "When sandalwood pulp is mixed with aguru, kuńkuma, musk and camphor and spread on Kṛṣṇa's body, it combines with Kṛṣṇa's own original bodily perfume and seems to cover it.

'''[[CC Antya 19.96|Antya 19.96]]:''' "The scent of Kṛṣṇa's transcendental body is so attractive that it enchants the bodies and minds of all women. It bewilders their nostrils, loosens their belts and hair, and makes them madwomen. All the women of the world come under its influence, and therefore the scent of Kṛṣṇa's body is like a plunderer.

'''[[CC Antya 19.97|Antya 19.97]]:''' "Falling completely under its influence, the nostrils yearn for it continuously, although sometimes they obtain it and sometimes not. When they do they drink their fill, though they still want more and more, but if they don't, out of thirst they die.

'''[[CC Antya 19.98|Antya 19.98]]:''' "The dramatic actor Madana-mohana has opened a shop of scents that attract the women of the world to be His customers. He delivers the scents freely, but they make the women all so blind they cannot find the path returning home."

'''[[CC Antya 19.99|Antya 19.99]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, His mind thus stolen by the scent of Kṛṣṇa's body, ran here and there like a bumblebee. He ran to the trees and plants, hoping that Lord Kṛṣṇa would appear, but instead He found only that scent.

'''[[CC Antya 19.100|Antya 19.100]]:''' Both Svarūpa Dāmodara and Rāmānanda Rāya sang to the Lord, who danced and enjoyed happiness until the morning arrived. Then the Lord's two associates devised a plan to bring Him to external consciousness.

'''[[CC Antya 19.101|Antya 19.101]]:''' Thus, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, the servant of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, have sung of four divisions of the Lord's pastimes in this chapter: the Lord's devotion to His mother, His words of madness, His rubbing His face against the walls at night, and His dancing at the appearance of Lord Kṛṣṇa's fragrance.

'''[[CC Antya 19.102|Antya 19.102]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thus returned to external consciousness. He then bathed and went to see Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Antya 19.103|Antya 19.103]]:''' The pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa are uncommonly full of transcendental potency. It is a characteristic of such pastimes that they do not fall within the jurisdiction of experimental logic and arguments.

'''[[CC Antya 19.104|Antya 19.104]]:''' When transcendental love of Kṛṣṇa awakens in someone's heart, even a learned scholar cannot comprehend his activities.

'''[[CC Antya 19.105|Antya 19.105]]:''' "The activities and symptoms of that exalted personality in whose heart love of Godhead has awakened cannot be understood even by the most learned scholar."

'''[[CC Antya 19.106|Antya 19.106]]:''' The activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are undoubtedly uncommon, especially His talking like a madman. Therefore, one who hears of these pastimes should not put forward mundane arguments. He should simply hear the pastimes with full faith.

'''[[CC Antya 19.107|Antya 19.107]]:''' The evidence of the truth of these talks is found in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. There, in the section of the Tenth Canto known as the Bhramara-gīta, "The Song to the Bumblebee," Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī speaks insanely in ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 19.108|Antya 19.108]]:''' The songs of the queens at Dvārakā, which are mentioned at the end of the Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, have a very special meaning. They are not understood even by the most learned scholars.

'''[[CC Antya 19.109|Antya 19.109]]:''' If one becomes a servant of the servants of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Nityānanda Prabhu and is favored by Them, he can believe in all these discourses.

'''[[CC Antya 19.110|Antya 19.110]]:''' Just try to hear these topics with faith, for there is great pleasure even in hearing them. That hearing will destroy all miseries pertaining to the body, mind and other living entities, and the unhappiness of false arguments as well.

'''[[CC Antya 19.111|Antya 19.111]]:''' Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta is ever-increasingly fresh. For one who hears it again and again, the heart and ear become pacified.

'''[[CC Antya 19.112|Antya 19.112]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 18|Antya-līlā 18]] '''[[CC Antya 18|Antya-līlā 18]] - [[CC Antya 20|Antya-līlā 20]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 20|Antya-līlā 20]]</div>

CC Antya 18

2026-06-04T18:31:15Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 18 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 18|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 18: Rescuing the Lord from the Sea'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 17|Antya-līlā 17]] '''[[CC Antya 17|Antya-līlā 17]] - [[CC Antya 19|Antya-līlā 19]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 19|Antya-līlā 19]]</div>

'''[[CC Antya 18 Summary|Antya 18 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 18.1|Antya 18.1]]:''' In the brilliant autumn moonlight, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu mistook the sea for the river Yamunā. Greatly afflicted by separation from Kṛṣṇa, He ran and dove into the sea and remained unconscious in the water the entire night. In the morning, He was found by His personal devotees. May that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī, protect us by His transcendental pastimes.

'''[[CC Antya 18.2|Antya 18.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Antya 18.3|Antya 18.3]]:''' While thus living at Jagannātha Purī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu floated all day and night in an ocean of separation from Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 18.4|Antya 18.4]]:''' During a night of the autumn season when a full moon brightened everything, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wandered all night long with His devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 18.5|Antya 18.5]]:''' He walked from garden to garden, seeing the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa and hearing and reciting songs and verses concerning the rāsa-līlā.

'''[[CC Antya 18.6|Antya 18.6]]:''' He sang and danced in ecstatic love and sometimes imitated the rāsa dance in emotional ecstasy.

'''[[CC Antya 18.7|Antya 18.7]]:''' He sometimes ran here and there in the madness of ecstasy and sometimes fell and rolled on the ground. Sometimes He became completely unconscious.

'''[[CC Antya 18.8|Antya 18.8]]:''' When He heard Svarūpa Dāmodara recite a verse concerning the rāsa-līlā or He Himself recited one, He would personally explain it, as He had previously done.

'''[[CC Antya 18.9|Antya 18.9]]:''' In this way, He explained the meaning of all the verses concerning the rāsa-līlā. Sometimes He would be very sad and sometimes very happy.

'''[[CC Antya 18.10|Antya 18.10]]:''' To explain fully all those verses and all the transformations that took place in the Lord's body would require a very large volume.

'''[[CC Antya 18.11|Antya 18.11]]:''' So as not to increase the size of this book, I have not written about all the Lord's pastimes, for He performed them every moment of every day for twelve years.

'''[[CC Antya 18.12|Antya 18.12]]:''' As I have previously indicated, I am describing the mad speeches and bodily transformations of the Lord only in brief.

'''[[CC Antya 18.13|Antya 18.13]]:''' If Ananta, with His one thousand hoods, tried to describe even one day's pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He would find them impossible to describe fully.

'''[[CC Antya 18.14|Antya 18.14]]:''' If Gaṇeśa, Lord Śiva's son and the expert scribe of the demigods, tried for millions of millenniums to fully describe one day of the Lord's pastimes, he would be unable to find their limit.

'''[[CC Antya 18.15|Antya 18.15]]:''' Even Lord Kṛṣṇa is struck with wonder at seeing the transformations of ecstasy in His devotees. If Kṛṣṇa Himself cannot estimate the limits of such emotions, how could others?

'''[[CC Antya 18.16-17|Antya 18.16-17]]:''' Kṛṣṇa Himself cannot fully understand the conditions, the mode of progress, the happiness and unhappiness, and the moods of ecstatic love of His devotees. He therefore accepts the role of a devotee to taste these emotions fully.

'''[[CC Antya 18.18|Antya 18.18]]:''' Ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa makes Kṛṣṇa and His devotees dance, and it also dances personally. In this way, all three dance together in one place.

'''[[CC Antya 18.19|Antya 18.19]]:''' One who wants to describe the transformations of ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa is like a dwarf trying to catch the moon in the sky.

'''[[CC Antya 18.20|Antya 18.20]]:''' As the wind can carry away but a drop of the water in the ocean, a living entity can touch only a particle of the ocean of love of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 18.21|Antya 18.21]]:''' Endless waves arise moment after moment in that ocean of love. How could an insignificant living entity estimate their limits?

'''[[CC Antya 18.22|Antya 18.22]]:''' Only a person on the level of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī can fully know what Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu tastes in His love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 18.23|Antya 18.23]]:''' When an ordinary living entity describes the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he purifies himself by touching one drop of that great ocean.

'''[[CC Antya 18.24|Antya 18.24]]:''' Thus all the verses about the rāsa-līlā dance were recited. Then finally the verse concerning the pastimes in the water was recited.

'''[[CC Antya 18.25|Antya 18.25]]:''' "As an independent leader among elephants enters the water with its female elephants, Kṛṣṇa, who is transcendental to the Vedic principles of morality, entered the water of the Yamunā with the gopīs. His chest had brushed against their breasts, crushing His flower garland and coloring it with red kuńkuma powder. Attracted by the fragrance of that garland, humming bumblebees followed Kṛṣṇa like celestial beings of Gandharvaloka. In this way, Lord Kṛṣṇa mitigated the fatigue of the rāsa dance."

'''[[CC Antya 18.26|Antya 18.26]]:''' While thus wandering near the temple of Āiṭoṭā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu suddenly saw the sea.

'''[[CC Antya 18.27|Antya 18.27]]:''' Brightened by the shining light of the moon, the high waves of the sea glittered like the waters of the river Yamunā.

'''[[CC Antya 18.28|Antya 18.28]]:''' Mistaking the sea for the Yamunā, the Lord ran swiftly and jumped into the water, unseen by the others.

'''[[CC Antya 18.29|Antya 18.29]]:''' Falling into the sea, He lost consciousness and could not understand where He was. Sometimes He sank beneath the waves, and sometimes He floated above them.

'''[[CC Antya 18.30|Antya 18.30]]:''' The waves carried Him here and there like a piece of dry wood. Who can understand this dramatic performance by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu?

'''[[CC Antya 18.31|Antya 18.31]]:''' Keeping the Lord sometimes submerged and sometimes afloat, the waves carried Him toward the Koṇārka temple.

'''[[CC Antya 18.32|Antya 18.32]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fully merged in the pastimes Lord Kṛṣṇa performed with the gopīs in the waters of the Yamunā.

'''[[CC Antya 18.33|Antya 18.33]]:''' Meanwhile, all the devotees, headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara, lost sight of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Astonished, they began searching for Him, asking, "Where has the Lord gone?"

'''[[CC Antya 18.34|Antya 18.34]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had run off at the speed of the mind. No one could see Him. Thus everyone was puzzled as to His whereabouts.

'''[[CC Antya 18.35|Antya 18.35]]:''' "Has the Lord gone to the temple of Jagannātha, or has He fallen down in madness in some garden?

'''[[CC Antya 18.36|Antya 18.36]]:''' "Perhaps He went to the Guṇḍicā temple, or to Lake Narendra, or to the Caṭaka-parvata. Maybe He went to the temple at Koṇārka."

'''[[CC Antya 18.37|Antya 18.37]]:''' Talking like this, the devotees wandered here and there looking for the Lord. Finally they came to the shore, accompanied by many others.

'''[[CC Antya 18.38|Antya 18.38]]:''' While they were searching for the Lord, the night ended, and thus they all decided, "Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has now disappeared."

'''[[CC Antya 18.39|Antya 18.39]]:''' In separation from the Lord, everyone felt as though he had lost his very life. The devotees concluded that there must have been some mishap. They could not think of anything else.

'''[[CC Antya 18.40|Antya 18.40]]:''' "A relative or intimate friend is always fearful of some injury to his beloved."

'''[[CC Antya 18.41|Antya 18.41]]:''' When they arrived at the seashore, they conferred among themselves. Then some of them sought out Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Caṭaka-parvata.

'''[[CC Antya 18.42|Antya 18.42]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara proceeded east with others, looking for the Lord on the beach or in the water.

'''[[CC Antya 18.43|Antya 18.43]]:''' Everyone was overwhelmed with moroseness and almost unconscious, but out of ecstatic love they continued to wander here and there, searching for the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 18.44|Antya 18.44]]:''' Passing along the beach, they saw a fisherman approaching with his net over his shoulder. Laughing, crying, dancing and singing, he kept repeating the holy name "Hari, Hari."

'''[[CC Antya 18.45|Antya 18.45]]:''' Seeing the activities of the fisherman, everyone was astonished. Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, therefore, asked him for information.

'''[[CC Antya 18.46|Antya 18.46]]:''' "My dear fisherman," he said, "why are you behaving like this? Have you seen someone hereabouts? What is the cause of your behavior? Please tell us."

'''[[CC Antya 18.47|Antya 18.47]]:''' The fisherman replied, "I have not seen a single person here, but while casting my net in the water, I captured a dead body.

'''[[CC Antya 18.48|Antya 18.48]]:''' "I lifted it with great care, thinking it a big fish, but as soon as I saw that it was a corpse, great fear arose in my mind.

'''[[CC Antya 18.49|Antya 18.49]]:''' "As I tried to release the net, I touched the body, and as soon as I touched it, a ghost entered my heart.

'''[[CC Antya 18.50|Antya 18.50]]:''' "I shivered in fear and shed tears. My voice faltered, and all the hairs on my body stood up.

'''[[CC Antya 18.51|Antya 18.51]]:''' "I do not know whether the corpse I found was the ghost of a dead brāhmaṇa or an ordinary man, but as soon as one looks upon it, the ghost enters his body.

'''[[CC Antya 18.52|Antya 18.52]]:''' "The body of this ghost is very long, five to seven cubits. Each of its arms and legs is as much as three cubits long.

'''[[CC Antya 18.53|Antya 18.53]]:''' "Its joints are all separated beneath the skin, which is completely slack. No one could see it and remain alive in his body.

'''[[CC Antya 18.54|Antya 18.54]]:''' "That ghost has taken the form of a corpse, but He keeps his eyes open. Sometimes He utters the sounds 'goń-goń,' and sometimes He remains unconscious.

'''[[CC Antya 18.55|Antya 18.55]]:''' "I have seen that ghost directly, and He is haunting me. But if I die, who will take care of my wife and children?

'''[[CC Antya 18.56|Antya 18.56]]:''' "The ghost is certainly very difficult to talk about, but I am going to find an exorcist and ask him if he can release me from it.

'''[[CC Antya 18.57|Antya 18.57]]:''' "I wander alone at night killing fish in solitary places, but because I remember the hymn to Lord Nṛsiḿha, ghosts do not touch me.

'''[[CC Antya 18.58|Antya 18.58]]:''' "This ghost, however, overcomes me with redoubled strength when I chant the Nṛsiḿha mantra. When I even see the form of this ghost, great fear arises in my mind.

'''[[CC Antya 18.59|Antya 18.59]]:''' "Do not go near there. I forbid you. If you go, that ghost will catch you all."

'''[[CC Antya 18.60|Antya 18.60]]:''' Hearing this, Svarūpa Dāmodara could understand the full truth of the matter. He spoke sweetly to the fisherman.

'''[[CC Antya 18.61|Antya 18.61]]:''' "I am a famous exorcist," he said, "and I know how to rid you of this ghost." He then chanted some mantras and placed his hand on top of the fisherman's head.

'''[[CC Antya 18.62|Antya 18.62]]:''' He slapped the fisherman three times and said, "Now the ghost has gone away. Do not be afraid." By saying this, he pacified the fisherman.

'''[[CC Antya 18.63|Antya 18.63]]:''' The fisherman was affected by ecstatic love, but he was also fearful. He had thus become doubly agitated. Now that his fear had subsided, however, he had become somewhat normal.

'''[[CC Antya 18.64|Antya 18.64]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara said to the fisherman, "My dear sir, the person you are thinking is a ghost is not actually a ghost but is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 18.65|Antya 18.65]]:''' "Because of ecstatic love, the Lord fell into the sea, and you have caught Him in your net and rescued Him.

'''[[CC Antya 18.66|Antya 18.66]]:''' "Simply touching Him has awakened your dormant love of Kṛṣṇa, but because you thought Him a ghost, you were very much afraid of Him.

'''[[CC Antya 18.67|Antya 18.67]]:''' "Now that your fear has gone and your mind is peaceful, please show me where He is."

'''[[CC Antya 18.68|Antya 18.68]]:''' The fisherman replied, "I have seen the Lord many times, but this is not He. This body is very much deformed."

'''[[CC Antya 18.69|Antya 18.69]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara said, "The Lord's body becomes transformed in His love for God. Sometimes the joints of His bones separate, and His body becomes very much elongated."

'''[[CC Antya 18.70|Antya 18.70]]:''' Hearing this, the fisherman became very happy. He brought all the devotees with him and showed them Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 18.71|Antya 18.71]]:''' The Lord was lying on the ground, His body elongated and bleached white by the water. He was covered from head to foot with sand.

'''[[CC Antya 18.72|Antya 18.72]]:''' The Lord's body was stretched, and His skin was slack and hanging loose. To lift Him and take Him the long distance home would have been impossible.

'''[[CC Antya 18.73|Antya 18.73]]:''' The devotees removed His wet undergarment and replaced it with a dry one. Then, laying the Lord on an outer cloth, they cleaned the sand from His body.

'''[[CC Antya 18.74|Antya 18.74]]:''' They all performed sańkīrtana, loudly chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa into the Lord's ear.

'''[[CC Antya 18.75|Antya 18.75]]:''' After some time the sound of the holy name entered the ear of the Lord, who immediately got up, making a great noise.

'''[[CC Antya 18.76|Antya 18.76]]:''' As soon as He got up, His bones assumed their proper places. With half-external consciousness, the Lord looked here and there.

'''[[CC Antya 18.77|Antya 18.77]]:''' The Lord remained in one of three different states of consciousness at all times: internal, external and half-external.

'''[[CC Antya 18.78|Antya 18.78]]:''' When the Lord was deeply absorbed in internal consciousness but He nevertheless exhibited some external consciousness, devotees called His condition ardha-bāhya, or half-external consciousness.

'''[[CC Antya 18.79|Antya 18.79]]:''' In this half-external consciousness, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu talked like a madman. The devotees could distinctly hear Him speaking to the sky.

'''[[CC Antya 18.80|Antya 18.80]]:''' "Seeing the river Yamunā," He said, "I went to Vṛndāvana. There I saw the son of Nanda Mahārāja performing His sporting pastimes in the water.

'''[[CC Antya 18.81|Antya 18.81]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa was in the water of the Yamunā in the company of the gopīs, headed by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. They were performing pastimes in a great sporting manner.

'''[[CC Antya 18.82|Antya 18.82]]:''' "I saw this pastime as I stood on the bank of the Yamunā in the company of the gopīs. One gopī was showing some other gopīs the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in the water.

'''[[CC Antya 18.83|Antya 18.83]]:''' "All the gopīs entrusted their silken garments and ornaments to the care of their friends and then put on fine white cloth. Lord Kṛṣṇa, taking His beloved gopīs with Him, bathed and performed very nice pastimes in the water of the Yamunā.

'''[[CC Antya 18.84|Antya 18.84]]:''' "My dear friends, just see Lord Kṛṣṇa's sporting pastimes in the water! Kṛṣṇa's restless palms resemble lotus flowers. He is just like the chief of mad elephants, and the gopīs who accompany Him are like she-elephants.

'''[[CC Antya 18.85|Antya 18.85]]:''' "The sporting pastimes in the water began, and everyone started splashing water back and forth. In the tumultuous showers of water, no one could be certain which party was winning and which was losing. This sporting water fight increased unlimitedly.

'''[[CC Antya 18.86|Antya 18.86]]:''' "The gopīs were like steady streaks of lightning, and Kṛṣṇa resembled a blackish cloud. The lightning began sprinkling water upon the cloud, and the cloud upon the lightning. Like thirsty cātaka birds, the eyes of the gopīs joyously drank the nectarean water from the cloud.

'''[[CC Antya 18.87|Antya 18.87]]:''' "As the fight began, they splashed water on one another. Then they fought hand to hand, then face to face, then chest to chest, teeth to teeth and finally nail to nail.

'''[[CC Antya 18.88|Antya 18.88]]:''' "Thousands of hands splashed water, and the gopīs saw Kṛṣṇa with thousands of eyes. With thousands of legs they came near Him, and they kissed Him with thousands of faces. Thousands of bodies embraced Him. The gopīs heard His joking words with thousands of ears.

'''[[CC Antya 18.89|Antya 18.89]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa forcibly swept Rādhārāṇī away and took Her into water up to Her neck. Then He released Her where the water was very deep. She grasped Kṛṣṇa's neck, however, and floated on the water like a lotus flower plucked by the trunk of an elephant.

'''[[CC Antya 18.90|Antya 18.90]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa expanded Himself into as many forms as there were gopīs and then took away all the garments that covered them. The water of the river Yamunā was crystal clear, and Kṛṣṇa saw the glittering bodies of the gopīs in great happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 18.91|Antya 18.91]]:''' "The lotus stems were friends of the gopīs and therefore helped them by offering them lotus leaves. The lotuses pushed their large, round leaves over the surface of the water with their hands, the waves of the Yamunā, to cover the gopīs' bodies. Some gopīs undid their hair and kept it in front of them as dresses to cover the lower portions of their bodies and used their hands as bodices to cover their breasts.

'''[[CC Antya 18.92|Antya 18.92]]:''' "Then Kṛṣṇa quarreled with Rādhārāṇī, and all the gopīs hid themselves in a cluster of white lotus flowers. They submerged their bodies up to their necks in the water. Only their faces floated above the surface, and the faces were indistinguishable from the lotuses.

'''[[CC Antya 18.93|Antya 18.93]]:''' "In the absence of the other gopīs, Lord Kṛṣṇa behaved with Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī as freely as He desired. When the gopīs began searching for Kṛṣṇa, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, being of very fine intelligence and thus knowing the situation of Her friends, immediately mingled in their midst.

'''[[CC Antya 18.94|Antya 18.94]]:''' "Many white lotus flowers were floating in the water, and as many bluish lotus flowers came nearby. As they came close together, the white and blue lotuses collided and began fighting with one another. The gopīs on the bank of the Yamunā watched with great amusement.

'''[[CC Antya 18.95|Antya 18.95]]:''' "When the raised breasts of the gopīs, which resembled the globelike bodies of cakravāka birds, emerged from the water in separate couples, the bluish lotuses of Kṛṣṇa's hands rose to cover them.

'''[[CC Antya 18.96|Antya 18.96]]:''' "The hands of the gopīs, which resembled red lotus flowers, arose from the water in pairs to obstruct the bluish flowers. The blue lotuses tried to plunder the white cakravāka birds, and the red lotuses tried to protect them. Thus there was a fight between the two.

'''[[CC Antya 18.97|Antya 18.97]]:''' "Blue and red lotus flowers are unconscious objects, whereas cakravākas are conscious and alive. Nevertheless, in ecstatic love, the blue lotuses began to taste the cakravākas. This is a reversal of their natural behavior, but in Lord Kṛṣṇa's kingdom such reversals are a principle of His pastimes.

'''[[CC Antya 18.98|Antya 18.98]]:''' "The blue lotuses are friends of the sun-god, and though they all live together, the blue lotuses plunder the cakravākas. The red lotuses, however, blossom at night and are therefore strangers or enemies to the cakravākas. Yet in Kṛṣṇa's pastimes the red lotuses, which are the hands of the gopīs, protect their cakravāka breasts. This is a metaphor of contradiction."

'''[[CC Antya 18.99|Antya 18.99]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "In His pastimes, Kṛṣṇa displayed the two ornaments of hyperbole and reverse analogy. Tasting them brought gladness to My mind and fully satisfied My ears and eyes.

'''[[CC Antya 18.100|Antya 18.100]]:''' "After performing such wonderful pastimes, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa went up on the shore of the Yamunā River, taking with Him all His beloved gopīs. Then the gopīs on the riverbank rendered service by massaging Kṛṣṇa and the other gopīs with scented oil and smearing paste of āmalakī fruit on their bodies.

'''[[CC Antya 18.101|Antya 18.101]]:''' "Then they all bathed again, and after putting on dry clothing, they went to a small jeweled house, where the gopī Vṛndā arranged to dress them in forest clothing by decorating them with fragrant flowers, green leaves and all kinds of other ornaments.

'''[[CC Antya 18.102|Antya 18.102]]:''' "In Vṛndāvana, the trees and creepers are wonderful because throughout the entire year they produce all kinds of fruits and flowers. The gopīs and maidservants in the bowers of Vṛndāvana picked these fruits and flowers and brought them before Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 18.103|Antya 18.103]]:''' "The gopīs peeled all the fruits and placed them together on large plates on a platform in the jeweled cottage. They arranged the fruit in orderly rows for eating, and in front of it they made a place to sit.

'''[[CC Antya 18.104|Antya 18.104]]:''' "Among the fruits were many varieties of coconuts and mangoes, bananas, berries, jackfruits, dates, tangerines, oranges, blackberries, santarās, grapes, almonds and all kinds of dried fruit.

'''[[CC Antya 18.105|Antya 18.105]]:''' "There were cantaloupes, kṣīrikās, palm fruits, keśuras, water fruits, lotus fruits, bel, pīlus, pomegranates and many others. Some of them are variously known in different places, but in Vṛndāvana all of them are always available in so many thousands of varieties that no one can fully describe them.

'''[[CC Antya 18.106|Antya 18.106]]:''' "At home Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī had made various types of sweetmeats from milk and sugar, such as gańgājala, amṛtakeli, pīyūṣagranthi, karpūrakeli, sarapūrī, amṛti, padmacini and khaṇḍa-kṣīrisāra-vṛkṣa. She had then brought them all for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 18.107|Antya 18.107]]:''' "When Kṛṣṇa saw the very nice arrangement of food, He happily sat down and had a forest picnic. Then, after Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and Her gopī friends partook of the remnants, Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa lay down together in the jeweled house.

'''[[CC Antya 18.108|Antya 18.108]]:''' "Some of the gopīs fanned Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, others massaged Their feet, and some fed Them betel leaves to chew. When Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa fell asleep, all the gopīs also lay down. When I saw this, My mind was very happy.

'''[[CC Antya 18.109|Antya 18.109]]:''' "Suddenly, all of you created a great tumult and picked Me up and brought Me back here. Where now is the river Yamunā? Where is Vṛndāvana? Where are Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs? You have broken My happy dream!"

'''[[CC Antya 18.110|Antya 18.110]]:''' Speaking in this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fully returned to external consciousness. Seeing Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, the Lord questioned him.

'''[[CC Antya 18.111|Antya 18.111]]:''' "Why have you brought Me here?" He asked. Then Svarūpa Dāmodara answered Him.

'''[[CC Antya 18.112|Antya 18.112]]:''' "You mistook the sea for the Yamunā River," he said, "and You jumped into it. You have been carried this far by the waves of the sea.

'''[[CC Antya 18.113|Antya 18.113]]:''' "This fisherman caught You in his net and rescued You from the water. Because of Your touch, he is now mad with ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 18.114|Antya 18.114]]:''' "Throughout the night, we all walked about in search of You. After hearing from this fisherman, we came here and found You.

'''[[CC Antya 18.115|Antya 18.115]]:''' "While apparently unconscious, You witnessed the pastimes in Vṛndāvana, but when we saw You unconscious, we suffered great agony in our minds.

'''[[CC Antya 18.116|Antya 18.116]]:''' "When we chanted the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, however, You came to semiconsciousness, and we have all been hearing You speak like a madman."

'''[[CC Antya 18.117|Antya 18.117]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "In My dream I went to Vṛndāvana, where I saw Lord Kṛṣṇa perform the rāsa dance with all the gopīs.

'''[[CC Antya 18.118|Antya 18.118]]:''' "After sporting in the water, Kṛṣṇa enjoyed a picnic. I can understand that after seeing this I must certainly have talked like a madman."

'''[[CC Antya 18.119|Antya 18.119]]:''' Thereafter, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī had Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bathe in the sea, and then he very happily brought Him back home.

'''[[CC Antya 18.120|Antya 18.120]]:''' Thus I have described the incident of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's falling into the ocean. Anyone who listens to this pastime will certainly attain shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 18.121|Antya 18.121]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 17|Antya-līlā 17]] '''[[CC Antya 17|Antya-līlā 17]] - [[CC Antya 19|Antya-līlā 19]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 19|Antya-līlā 19]]</div>

CC Antya 17

2026-06-04T18:31:13Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 17 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 17|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 17: The Bodily Transformations of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 16|Antya-līlā 16]] '''[[CC Antya 16|Antya-līlā 16]] - [[CC Antya 18|Antya-līlā 18]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 18|Antya-līlā 18]]</div>

'''[[CC Antya 17 Summary|Antya 17 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 17.1|Antya 17.1]]:''' I am simply trying to write about Lord Gauracandra's transcendental activities and spiritual madness, which are very wonderful and uncommon. I dare to write of them only because I have heard from the mouths of those who have personally seen the Lord's activities.

'''[[CC Antya 17.2|Antya 17.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of the Lord!

'''[[CC Antya 17.3|Antya 17.3]]:''' Absorbed in ecstasy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu acted and talked like a madman day and night.

'''[[CC Antya 17.4|Antya 17.4]]:''' In the company of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and Rāmānanda Rāya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu once passed half the night talking about the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 17.5|Antya 17.5]]:''' As they talked of Kṛṣṇa, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī would sing songs exactly suitable for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's transcendental emotions.

'''[[CC Antya 17.6|Antya 17.6]]:''' To complement the ecstasy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Rāmānanda Rāya would quote verses from the books of Vidyāpati and Caṇḍīdāsa, and especially from the Gīta-govinda, by Jayadeva Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 17.7|Antya 17.7]]:''' At intervals, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would also recite a verse. Then, in great lamentation, He would explain it.

'''[[CC Antya 17.8|Antya 17.8]]:''' In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed half the night experiencing varieties of emotions. Finally, after making the Lord lie down on His bed, Svarūpa Dāmodara and Rāmānanda Rāya returned to their homes.

'''[[CC Antya 17.9|Antya 17.9]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's personal servant, Govinda, lay down at the door of His room, and the Lord very loudly chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra all night.

'''[[CC Antya 17.10|Antya 17.10]]:''' Suddenly, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard the vibration of Kṛṣṇa's flute. Then, in ecstasy, He began to depart to see Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 17.11|Antya 17.11]]:''' All three doors were fastened as usual, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, in great ecstasy, nevertheless got out of the room and left the house.

'''[[CC Antya 17.12|Antya 17.12]]:''' He went to a cow shed on the southern side of the Siḿha-dvāra. There the Lord fell down unconscious among cows from the district of Tailańga.

'''[[CC Antya 17.13|Antya 17.13]]:''' Meanwhile, not hearing any sounds from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Govinda immediately sent for Svarūpa Dāmodara and opened the doors.

'''[[CC Antya 17.14|Antya 17.14]]:''' Then Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī lit a torch and went out with all the devotees to search for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 17.15|Antya 17.15]]:''' After searching here and there, they finally came to the cow shed near the Siḿha-dvāra. There they saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu lying unconscious among the cows.

'''[[CC Antya 17.16|Antya 17.16]]:''' His arms and legs had entered the trunk of His body, exactly like those of a tortoise. His mouth was foaming, there were eruptions on His body, and tears flowed from His eyes.

'''[[CC Antya 17.17|Antya 17.17]]:''' As the Lord lay there unconscious, His body resembled a large pumpkin. Externally He was completely inert, but within He felt overwhelming transcendental bliss.

'''[[CC Antya 17.18|Antya 17.18]]:''' All the cows around the Lord were sniffing His transcendental body. When the devotees tried to check them, they refused to give up their association with the transcendental body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 17.19|Antya 17.19]]:''' The devotees tried to rouse the Lord by various means, but His consciousness did not return. Therefore they all lifted Him and brought Him back home.

'''[[CC Antya 17.20|Antya 17.20]]:''' All the devotees began to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra very loudly in the Lord's ears, and after a considerable time Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu regained consciousness.

'''[[CC Antya 17.21|Antya 17.21]]:''' When He regained consciousness, His arms and legs came out of His body, and His whole body returned to normal.

'''[[CC Antya 17.22|Antya 17.22]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stood up and then sat down again. Looking here and there, He inquired from Svarūpa Dāmodara, "Where have you brought Me?

'''[[CC Antya 17.23|Antya 17.23]]:''' "After hearing the vibration of a flute, I went to Vṛndāvana, and there I saw that Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, was playing on His flute in the pasturing grounds.

'''[[CC Antya 17.24|Antya 17.24]]:''' "He brought Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī to a bower by signaling with His flute. Then He entered within that bower to perform pastimes with Her.

'''[[CC Antya 17.25|Antya 17.25]]:''' "I entered the bower just behind Kṛṣṇa, My ears captivated by the sound of His ornaments.

'''[[CC Antya 17.26|Antya 17.26]]:''' "I saw Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs enjoying all kinds of pastimes while laughing and joking together. Hearing their vocal expressions enhanced the joy of My ears.

'''[[CC Antya 17.27|Antya 17.27]]:''' "Just then, all of you made a tumultuous sound and brought Me back here by force.

'''[[CC Antya 17.28|Antya 17.28]]:''' "Because you brought Me back here, I could no longer hear the nectarean voices of Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs, nor could I hear the sounds of their ornaments or the flute."

'''[[CC Antya 17.29|Antya 17.29]]:''' In great ecstasy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said to Svarūpa Dāmodara in a faltering voice, "My ears are dying of thirst. Please recite something to quench this thirst. Let Me hear it."

'''[[CC Antya 17.30|Antya 17.30]]:''' Understanding the ecstatic emotions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Svarūpa Dāmodara, in a sweet voice, recited the following verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

'''[[CC Antya 17.31|Antya 17.31]]:''' [The gopīs said:] "My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, where is that woman within the three worlds who would not be captivated by the rhythms of the sweet songs coming from Your wonderful flute? Who would not fall down from the path of chastity in this way? Your beauty is the most sublime within the three worlds. Upon seeing Your beauty, even cows, birds, animals and trees in the forest are stunned in jubilation."

'''[[CC Antya 17.32|Antya 17.32]]:''' Upon hearing this verse, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, overwhelmed with the ecstasy of the gopīs, began to explain it.

'''[[CC Antya 17.33|Antya 17.33]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "The gopīs entered the arena of the rāsa dance in ecstasy, but after hearing Kṛṣṇa's words of negligence and detachment, they understood that He was going to renounce them. Thus they began to chastise Him in anger.

'''[[CC Antya 17.34|Antya 17.34]]:''' O dear lover, they said, please answer just one question. Who among all the youthful women within this universe is not attracted by the sound of Your flute?

'''[[CC Antya 17.35|Antya 17.35]]:''' When You play Your flute, the vibration acts like a messenger in the form of a yoginī perfect in the art of chanting mantras. This messenger enchants all the women in the universe and attracts them to You. Then she increases their great anxiety and induces them to give up the regulative principle of obeying superiors. Finally, she forcibly brings them to You to surrender in amorous love.

'''[[CC Antya 17.36|Antya 17.36]]:''' "'The vibration of Your flute, accompanied by Your glance, which pierces us forcibly with the arrows of lust, induces us to ignore the regulative principles of religious life. Thus we become excited by lusty desires and come to You, giving up all shame and fear. But now You are angry with us. You are finding fault with our violating religious principles and leaving our homes and husbands. And as You instruct us about religious principles, we become helpless.

'''[[CC Antya 17.37|Antya 17.37]]:''' "'We know that this is all a well-planned trick. You know how to make jokes that cause the complete annihilation of women, but we can understand that Your real mind, words and behavior are different. Therefore please give up all these clever tricks.

'''[[CC Antya 17.38|Antya 17.38]]:''' "'The nectarean buttermilk of Your flute's vibration, the nectar of Your sweet words and the nectarean sound of Your ornaments mix together to attract our ears, minds and lives. In this way You are killing us.'"

'''[[CC Antya 17.39|Antya 17.39]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke these words in a mood of anger as He floated on waves of ecstatic love. Merged in an ocean of anxiety, He recited a verse spoken by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī expressing the same emotion. Then He personally explained the verse and thus tasted the sweetness of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 17.40|Antya 17.40]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "'My dear friend, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, has a voice as deep as a cloud resounding in the sky. With the tinkling of His ornaments He attracts the ears of the gopīs, and with the sound of His flute He attracts even the goddess of fortune and other beautiful women. That Personality of Godhead, known as Madana-mohana, whose joking words carry many indications and deep meanings, is increasing the lusty desires of My ears.'

'''[[CC Antya 17.41|Antya 17.41]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa's deep voice is more resonant than newly arrived clouds, and His sweet song defeats even the sweet voice of the cuckoo. Indeed, His song is so sweet that even one particle of its sound can inundate the entire world. If such a particle enters one's ear, one is immediately bereft of all other types of hearing.

'''[[CC Antya 17.42|Antya 17.42]]:''' "My dear friend, please tell Me what to do. My ears have been plundered by the qualities of Kṛṣṇa's sound. Now, however, I cannot hear His transcendental sound, and I am almost dead for want of it.

'''[[CC Antya 17.43|Antya 17.43]]:''' "The tinkling of Kṛṣṇa's ankle bells surpasses the songs of even the swan and crane, and the sound of His bangles puts the singing of the caṭaka bird to shame. Having allowed these sounds to enter the ears even once, one cannot tolerate hearing anything else.

'''[[CC Antya 17.44|Antya 17.44]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa's speech is far sweeter than nectar. Each of His jubilant words is full of meaning, and when His speech mixes with His smile, which is like camphor, the resultant sound and the deep meaning of Kṛṣṇa's words create various transcendental mellows.

'''[[CC Antya 17.45|Antya 17.45]]:''' "One particle of that transcendental, blissful nectar is the life and soul of the ear, which is like a cakora bird that lives in hope of tasting that nectar. Sometimes, by good fortune, the bird can taste it, but at other times he unfortunately cannot and therefore almost dies of thirst.

'''[[CC Antya 17.46|Antya 17.46]]:''' "The transcendental vibration of Kṛṣṇa's flute disturbs the hearts of women all over the world, even if they hear it only once. Thus their fastened belts become loose, and these women become the unpaid maidservants of Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, they run toward Kṛṣṇa exactly like madwomen.

'''[[CC Antya 17.47|Antya 17.47]]:''' "When she hears the vibration of Kṛṣṇa's flute, even the goddess of fortune comes to Him, greatly hoping for His association, but nevertheless she does not get it. When the waves of thirst for His association increase, she performs austerities, but still she cannot meet Him.

'''[[CC Antya 17.48|Antya 17.48]]:''' "Only the most fortunate can hear these four nectarean sounds — Kṛṣṇa's words, the tinkling of His ankle bells and bangles, His voice and the vibration of His flute. If one does not hear these sounds, his ears are as useless as small conchshells with holes."

'''[[CC Antya 17.49|Antya 17.49]]:''' While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu lamented in this way, agitation and ecstasy awoke in His mind, and He became very restless. Many transcendental ecstasies combined in Him, including anxiety, lamentation, attention, eagerness, fear, determination and remembrance.

'''[[CC Antya 17.50|Antya 17.50]]:''' The aggregate of all these ecstasies once awoke a statement by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī in the mind of Bilvamańgala Ṭhākura [Līlā-śuka]. In the same ecstatic mood, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu now recited that verse, and on the strength of madness He described its meaning, which is unknown to people in general.

'''[[CC Antya 17.51|Antya 17.51]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "'Alas, what shall I do? To whom shall I speak? Let whatever I have done in hopes of meeting Kṛṣṇa be finished now. Please say something auspicious, but do not speak about Kṛṣṇa. Alas, Kṛṣṇa is lying within My heart like Cupid; therefore how can I possibly give up talking of Him? I cannot forget Kṛṣṇa, whose smile is sweeter than sweetness itself and who gives pleasure to My mind and eyes. Alas, My great thirst for Kṛṣṇa is increasing moment by moment!'

'''[[CC Antya 17.52|Antya 17.52]]:''' "The anxiety caused by separation from Kṛṣṇa has made Me impatient, and I can think of no way to meet Him. O My friends, you are also deranged by lamentation. Who, therefore, will tell Me how to find Him?

'''[[CC Antya 17.53|Antya 17.53]]:''' "O My dear friends, how shall I find Kṛṣṇa? What shall I do? Where shall I go? Where can I meet Him? Because I cannot find Kṛṣṇa, My life is leaving Me."

'''[[CC Antya 17.54|Antya 17.54]]:''' Suddenly, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became calm and considered His state of mind. He remembered the words of Pińgalā, and this aroused an ecstasy that moved Him to speak. Thus He explained the meaning of the verse.

'''[[CC Antya 17.55|Antya 17.55]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "If I give up hope of meeting Kṛṣṇa, I shall then be happy. Therefore, let us stop this most inglorious discussion of Kṛṣṇa. It would be better for us to talk of glorious topics and forget Him."

'''[[CC Antya 17.56|Antya 17.56]]:''' While speaking in this way, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī suddenly remembered Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, He appeared within Her heart. Greatly astonished, She told Her friends, "The person I want to forget is lying in My heart."

'''[[CC Antya 17.57|Antya 17.57]]:''' Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's ecstasy also made Her think of Kṛṣṇa as Cupid, and this understanding frightened Her. She said, "This Cupid, who has conquered the whole world and entered My heart, is My greatest enemy, for He does not allow Me to forget Him."

'''[[CC Antya 17.58|Antya 17.58]]:''' Then great eagerness conquered all the other soldiers of ecstasy, and an uncontrollable desire arose in the kingdom of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's mind. Greatly unhappy, She then chastised Her own mind.

'''[[CC Antya 17.59|Antya 17.59]]:''' "If I do not think of Kṛṣṇa, My impoverished mind will die within a moment like a fish out of water. But when I see Kṛṣṇa's sweetly smiling face, My mind and eyes are so pleased that My desire for Him redoubles.

'''[[CC Antya 17.60|Antya 17.60]]:''' "Alas! Where is Kṛṣṇa, the treasure of My life? Where is the lotus-eyed one? Alas! Where is the divine ocean of all transcendental qualities? Alas! Where is the beautiful blackish youth dressed in yellow garments? Alas! Where is the hero of the rāsa dance?

'''[[CC Antya 17.61|Antya 17.61]]:''' "Where shall I go? Where can I find You? Please tell Me. I shall go there." Speaking in this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began running. But Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī stood up, caught Him and took Him on his lap. Then Svarūpa Dāmodara brought Him back to His place and made Him sit down.

'''[[CC Antya 17.62|Antya 17.62]]:''' Suddenly Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to external consciousness and said to Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, "My dear Svarūpa, please sing some sweet songs." The Lord's ears were satisfied when He heard Svarūpa Dāmodara sing songs from the Gīta-govinda and those by the poet Vidyāpati.

'''[[CC Antya 17.63|Antya 17.63]]:''' Each day and night, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would become deranged in this way and talk like a madman.

'''[[CC Antya 17.64|Antya 17.64]]:''' Even Anantadeva, who possesses thousands of mouths, cannot fully describe the ecstatic transformations that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu experienced in a single day.

'''[[CC Antya 17.65|Antya 17.65]]:''' What can a poor creature like me describe of those transformations? I can give only a hint of them, as if showing the moon through the branches of a tree.

'''[[CC Antya 17.66|Antya 17.66]]:''' This description, however, will satisfy the mind and ears of anyone who hears it, and he will be able to understand these uncommon activities of deep ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 17.67|Antya 17.67]]:''' Ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa is wonderfully deep. By personally tasting the glorious sweetness of that love, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu showed us its extreme limit.

'''[[CC Antya 17.68|Antya 17.68]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is wonderfully merciful and wonderfully magnanimous. We have heard of no one else within this world so merciful and charitable.

'''[[CC Antya 17.69|Antya 17.69]]:''' O people of the world, worship the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in all respects. Only in this way will you achieve the nectarean treasure of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 17.70|Antya 17.70]]:''' Thus I have described Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's ecstatic transformation of becoming like a tortoise. In that ecstasy, He talked and acted like a madman.

'''[[CC Antya 17.71|Antya 17.71]]:''' Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī has fully described this pastime in his book Gaurāńga-stava-kalpavṛkṣa.

'''[[CC Antya 17.72|Antya 17.72]]:''' "How wonderful it is! Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left His residence without opening the three strongly bolted doors. Then He crossed over three high walls, and later, because of strong feelings of separation from Kṛṣṇa, He fell down amidst the cows of the Tailańga district and retracted all the limbs of His body like a tortoise. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who appeared in that way, rises in my heart and maddens me."

'''[[CC Antya 17.73|Antya 17.73]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 16|Antya-līlā 16]] '''[[CC Antya 16|Antya-līlā 16]] - [[CC Antya 18|Antya-līlā 18]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 18|Antya-līlā 18]]</div>

CC Antya 16

2026-06-04T18:31:11Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 16 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 16|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 16: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Tastes Nectar from the Lips of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 15|Antya-līlā 15]] '''[[CC Antya 15|Antya-līlā 15]] - [[CC Antya 17|Antya-līlā 17]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 17|Antya-līlā 17]]</div>

'''[[CC Antya 16 Summary|Antya 16 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 16.1|Antya 16.1]]:''' Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who personally tasted the nectar of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa and then instructed His devotees how to taste it. Thus He enlightened them about ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa to initiate them into transcendental knowledge.

'''[[CC Antya 16.2|Antya 16.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of the Lord!

'''[[CC Antya 16.3|Antya 16.3]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thus stayed at Jagannātha Purī in the association of His devotees, always merged in ecstatic devotional love.

'''[[CC Antya 16.4|Antya 16.4]]:''' The next year, as usual, all the devotees from Bengal went to Jagannātha Purī, and, as in previous years, there was a meeting between Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 16.5|Antya 16.5]]:''' Along with the devotees from Bengal came a gentleman named Kālidāsa. He never uttered anything but the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 16.6|Antya 16.6]]:''' Kālidāsa was a very advanced devotee, yet he was simple and liberal. He would chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa while performing all his ordinary dealings.

'''[[CC Antya 16.7|Antya 16.7]]:''' When he used to throw dice in jest, he would chant Hare Kṛṣṇa while throwing the dice.

'''[[CC Antya 16.8|Antya 16.8]]:''' Kālidāsa was an uncle of Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī. Throughout his entire life, even in his old age, he tried to eat the remnants of food left by Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Antya 16.9|Antya 16.9]]:''' Kālidāsa ate the remnants of food of as many Vaiṣṇavas as there were in Bengal.

'''[[CC Antya 16.10|Antya 16.10]]:''' He would go to all the Vaiṣṇavas born in brāhmaṇa families, be they neophyte or advanced devotees, and present them with gifts of first-class eatables.

'''[[CC Antya 16.11|Antya 16.11]]:''' He would beg remnants of food from such Vaiṣṇavas, and if he did not receive any, he would hide.

'''[[CC Antya 16.12|Antya 16.12]]:''' After the Vaiṣṇavas finished eating, they would throw away their leaf dishes, and Kālidāsa would come out of hiding, take the leaves and lick up the remnants.

'''[[CC Antya 16.13|Antya 16.13]]:''' He would also take gifts to the homes of Vaiṣṇavas born in śūdra families. Then he would hide and in this manner eat the remnants of food they threw away.

'''[[CC Antya 16.14|Antya 16.14]]:''' There was a great Vaiṣṇava named Jhaḍu Ṭhākura, who belonged to the bhūńimāli caste. Kālidāsa went to his home, taking mangoes with him.

'''[[CC Antya 16.15|Antya 16.15]]:''' Kālidāsa presented the mangoes to Jhaḍu Ṭhākura and offered him respectful obeisances. Then he also offered respectful obeisances to the Ṭhākura's wife.

'''[[CC Antya 16.16|Antya 16.16]]:''' When Kālidāsa went to Jhaḍu Ṭhākura, he saw that saintly person sitting with his wife. As soon as Jhaḍu Ṭhākura saw Kālidāsa, he likewise offered his respectful obeisances unto him.

'''[[CC Antya 16.17|Antya 16.17]]:''' After a discussion with Kālidāsa that lasted for some time, Jhaḍu Ṭhākura spoke the following sweet words.

'''[[CC Antya 16.18|Antya 16.18]]:''' "I belong to a low caste, and you are a very respectable guest. How shall I serve you?

'''[[CC Antya 16.19|Antya 16.19]]:''' "If you will permit me, I shall send some food to a brāhmaṇa's house, and there you may take prasādam. If you do so, I shall then live very comfortably."

'''[[CC Antya 16.20|Antya 16.20]]:''' Kālidāsa replied, "My dear sir, please bestow your mercy upon me. I have come to see you, although I am very fallen and sinful.

'''[[CC Antya 16.21|Antya 16.21]]:''' "Simply by seeing you, I have become purified. I am very much obligated to you, for my life is now successful.

'''[[CC Antya 16.22|Antya 16.22]]:''' "My dear sir, I have one desire. Please be merciful to me by kindly placing your feet upon my head so that the dust on your feet may touch it."

'''[[CC Antya 16.23|Antya 16.23]]:''' Jhaḍu Ṭhākura replied, "It does not befit you to ask this of me. I belong to a very low-caste family, whereas you are a respectable rich gentleman."

'''[[CC Antya 16.24|Antya 16.24]]:''' Kālidāsa then recited some verses, which Jhaḍu Ṭhākura was very happy to hear.

'''[[CC Antya 16.25|Antya 16.25]]:''' "'Even though one is a very learned scholar in Sanskrit literature, if he is not engaged in pure devotional service, he is not accepted as My devotee. But if someone born in a family of dog-eaters is a pure devotee with no motives for enjoyment through fruitive activity or mental speculation, he is very dear to Me. All respect should be given to him, and whatever he offers should be accepted, for such devotees are indeed as worshipable as I am.'

'''[[CC Antya 16.26|Antya 16.26]]:''' "'A person may be born in a brāhmaṇa family and have all twelve brahminical qualities, but if in spite of being qualified he is not devoted to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who has a navel shaped like a lotus, he is not as good as a caṇḍāla who has dedicated his mind, words, activities, wealth and life to the service of the Lord. Simply to take birth in a brāhmaṇa family or to have brahminical qualities is not sufficient. One must become a pure devotee of the Lord. If a śva-paca or caṇḍāla is a devotee, he delivers not only himself but his whole family, whereas a brāhmaṇa who is not a devotee but simply has brahminical qualifications cannot even purify himself, what to speak of his family.'

'''[[CC Antya 16.27|Antya 16.27]]:''' "'My dear Lord, anyone who always keeps Your holy name on his tongue is greater than an initiated brāhmaṇa. Although he may be born in a family of dog-eaters and therefore, by material calculations, be the lowest of men, he is glorious nevertheless. That is the wonderful power of chanting the holy name of the Lord. One who chants the holy name is understood to have performed all kinds of austerities. He has studied all the Vedas, he has performed all the great sacrifices mentioned in the Vedas, and he has already taken his bath in all the holy places of pilgrimage. It is he who is factually the Āryan.'"

'''[[CC Antya 16.28|Antya 16.28]]:''' Hearing these quotations from the revealed scripture Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Jhaḍu Ṭhākura replied, "Yes, this is true, for it is the version of śāstra. It is true, however, for one who is genuinely advanced in devotion to Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 16.29|Antya 16.29]]:''' "Such a position may befit others, but I do not possess such spiritual power. I belong to a lower class and have not even a pinch of devotion to Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Antya 16.30|Antya 16.30]]:''' Kālidāsa again offered his obeisances to Jhaḍu Ṭhākura and asked his permission to go. The saint Jhaḍu Ṭhākura followed him as he left.

'''[[CC Antya 16.31|Antya 16.31]]:''' After bidding farewell to Kālidāsa, Jhaḍu Ṭhākura returned to his home, leaving the marks of his feet plainly visible in many places.

'''[[CC Antya 16.32|Antya 16.32]]:''' Kālidāsa smeared the dust from those footprints all over his body. Then he hid in a place near Jhaḍu Ṭhākura's home.

'''[[CC Antya 16.33|Antya 16.33]]:''' Upon returning home, Jhaḍu Ṭhākura saw the mangoes Kālidāsa had presented. Within his mind he offered them to Kṛṣṇa-candra.

'''[[CC Antya 16.34|Antya 16.34]]:''' Jhaḍu Ṭhākura's wife then took the mangoes from their covering of banana tree leaves and bark and offered them to Jhaḍu Ṭhākura, who began to suck and eat them.

'''[[CC Antya 16.35|Antya 16.35]]:''' When he finished eating, he left the seeds on the banana leaf, and his wife, after feeding her husband, later began to eat.

'''[[CC Antya 16.36|Antya 16.36]]:''' After she finished eating, she filled the banana leaves and bark with the seeds, picked up the refuse and then threw it into the ditch where all the refuse was thrown.

'''[[CC Antya 16.37|Antya 16.37]]:''' Kālidāsa licked the banana bark and the mango seeds and skins, and while licking them he was overwhelmed with jubilation in ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Antya 16.38|Antya 16.38]]:''' In this way Kālidāsa ate the remnants of food left by all the Vaiṣṇavas residing in Bengal.

'''[[CC Antya 16.39|Antya 16.39]]:''' When Kālidāsa visited Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bestowed great mercy upon him.

'''[[CC Antya 16.40|Antya 16.40]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would regularly visit the temple of Jagannātha every day, and at that time Govinda, His personal servant, used to carry His waterpot and go with Him.

'''[[CC Antya 16.41|Antya 16.41]]:''' On the northern side of the Siḿha-dvāra, behind the door, there are twenty-two steps leading to the temple, and at the bottom of those steps is a ditch.

'''[[CC Antya 16.42|Antya 16.42]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would wash His feet in this ditch, and then He would enter the temple to see Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Antya 16.43|Antya 16.43]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered His personal servant Govinda that no one should take the water that had washed His feet.

'''[[CC Antya 16.44|Antya 16.44]]:''' Because of the Lord's strict order, no living being could take the water. Some of His intimate devotees, however, would take it by some trick.

'''[[CC Antya 16.45|Antya 16.45]]:''' One day as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was washing His feet in that place, Kālidāsa came and extended his palm to take the water.

'''[[CC Antya 16.46|Antya 16.46]]:''' Kālidāsa drank one palmful and then a second and a third. Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu forbade him to drink more.

'''[[CC Antya 16.47|Antya 16.47]]:''' "Do not act in this way any more. I have fulfilled your desire as far as possible."

'''[[CC Antya 16.48|Antya 16.48]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the most exalted, omniscient Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore He knew that Kālidāsa, in the core of his heart, had full faith in Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Antya 16.49|Antya 16.49]]:''' Because of this quality, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu satisfied him with mercy not attainable by anyone else.

'''[[CC Antya 16.50|Antya 16.50]]:''' On the southern side, behind and above the twenty-two steps, is a Deity of Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva. It is on the left as one goes up the steps toward the temple.

'''[[CC Antya 16.51|Antya 16.51]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, His left side toward the Deity, offered obeisances to Lord Nṛsiḿha as He proceeded toward the temple. He recited the following verses again and again while offering obeisances.

'''[[CC Antya 16.52|Antya 16.52]]:''' "'I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva. You are the giver of pleasure to Mahārāja Prahlāda, and Your nails cut the chest of Hiraṇyakaśipu like a chisel cutting stone.

'''[[CC Antya 16.53|Antya 16.53]]:''' "'Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva is here, and He is also there on the opposite side. Wherever I go, there I see Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva. He is outside and within my heart. Therefore I take shelter of Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead.'"

'''[[CC Antya 16.54|Antya 16.54]]:''' Having offered obeisances to Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the temple of Lord Jagannātha. Then He returned to His residence, finished His noon duties and took His lunch.

'''[[CC Antya 16.55|Antya 16.55]]:''' Kālidāsa was standing outside the door, expecting the remnants of food from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Knowing this, Mahāprabhu gave an indication to Govinda.

'''[[CC Antya 16.56|Antya 16.56]]:''' Govinda understood all the indications of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore he immediately delivered the remnants of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's food to Kālidāsa.

'''[[CC Antya 16.57|Antya 16.57]]:''' Taking the remnants of the food of Vaiṣṇavas is so valuable that it induced Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to offer Kālidāsa His supreme mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 16.58|Antya 16.58]]:''' Therefore, giving up hatred and hesitation, try to eat the remnants of the food of Vaiṣṇavas, for you will thus be able to achieve your desired goal of life.

'''[[CC Antya 16.59|Antya 16.59]]:''' The remnants of food offered to Lord Kṛṣṇa are called mahā-prasādam. After this same mahā-prasādam has been taken by a devotee, the remnants are elevated to mahā-mahā-prasādam.

'''[[CC Antya 16.60|Antya 16.60]]:''' The dust of the feet of a devotee, the water that has washed the feet of a devotee, and the remnants of food left by a devotee are three very powerful substances.

'''[[CC Antya 16.61|Antya 16.61]]:''' By rendering service to these three, one attains the supreme goal of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. In all the revealed scriptures this is loudly declared again and again.

'''[[CC Antya 16.62|Antya 16.62]]:''' Therefore, my dear devotees, please hear from me, for I insist again and again: please keep faith in these three and render service to them without hesitation.

'''[[CC Antya 16.63|Antya 16.63]]:''' From these three one achieves the highest goal of life — ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa. This is the greatest mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa. The evidence is Kālidāsa himself.

'''[[CC Antya 16.64|Antya 16.64]]:''' In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained at Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala, and He invisibly bestowed great mercy upon Kālidāsa.

'''[[CC Antya 16.65|Antya 16.65]]:''' That year, Śivānanda Sena brought with him his wife and youngest son, Purī dāsa.

'''[[CC Antya 16.66|Antya 16.66]]:''' Taking his son, Śivānanda Sena went to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at His residence. He made his son offer respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 16.67|Antya 16.67]]:''' Again and again Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked the boy to chant the name of Kṛṣṇa, but the boy would not utter the holy name.

'''[[CC Antya 16.68|Antya 16.68]]:''' Although Śivānanda Sena tried with much endeavor to get his boy to speak Kṛṣṇa's holy name, the boy would not utter it.

'''[[CC Antya 16.69|Antya 16.69]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "I have induced the whole world to take to the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. I have induced even the trees and immovable plants to chant the holy name.

'''[[CC Antya 16.70|Antya 16.70]]:''' "But I could not induce this boy to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa." Hearing this, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī began to speak.

'''[[CC Antya 16.71|Antya 16.71]]:''' "My Lord," he said, "You have given him initiation into the name of Kṛṣṇa, but after receiving the mantra he will not express it in front of everyone.

'''[[CC Antya 16.72|Antya 16.72]]:''' "This boy chants the mantra within his mind but does not say it aloud. That is his intention, as far as I can guess."

'''[[CC Antya 16.73|Antya 16.73]]:''' Another day, when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said to the boy, "Recite, My dear Purī dāsa," the boy composed the following verse and expressed it before everyone.

'''[[CC Antya 16.74|Antya 16.74]]:''' "Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is just like a bluish lotus flower for the ears; He is ointment for the eyes, a necklace of indranīla gems for the chest, and universal ornaments for the gopī damsels of Vṛndāvana. Let that Lord Śrī Hari, Kṛṣṇa, be glorified."

'''[[CC Antya 16.75|Antya 16.75]]:''' Although the boy was only seven years old and still had no education, he composed such a nice verse. Everyone was struck with wonder.

'''[[CC Antya 16.76|Antya 16.76]]:''' This is the glory of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's causeless mercy, which even the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, cannot estimate.

'''[[CC Antya 16.77|Antya 16.77]]:''' All the devotees remained with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continuously for four months. Then the Lord ordered them back to Bengal, and therefore they returned.

'''[[CC Antya 16.78|Antya 16.78]]:''' As long as the devotees were in Nīlācala, Jagannātha Purī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu maintained His external consciousness, but after their departure His chief engagement was again the madness of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 16.79|Antya 16.79]]:''' Throughout the entire day and night, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu directly relished Kṛṣṇa's beauty, fragrance and taste as if He were touching Kṛṣṇa hand to hand.

'''[[CC Antya 16.80|Antya 16.80]]:''' One day, when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to visit the temple of Lord Jagannātha, the gatekeeper at the Siḿha-dvāra approached Him and offered respectful obeisances.

'''[[CC Antya 16.81|Antya 16.81]]:''' The Lord asked him, "Where is Kṛṣṇa, My life and soul? Please show Me Kṛṣṇa." Saying this, He caught the doorkeeper's hand.

'''[[CC Antya 16.82|Antya 16.82]]:''' The doorkeeper replied, "The son of Mahārāja Nanda is here; please come along with me, and I shall show You."

'''[[CC Antya 16.83|Antya 16.83]]:''' Lord Caitanya said to the doorman, "You are My friend. Please show Me where the Lord of My heart is." After the Lord said this, they both went to the place known as Jagamohana, where everyone views Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Antya 16.84|Antya 16.84]]:''' "Just see!" the doorkeeper said. "Here is the best of the Personalities of Godhead. From here You may see the Lord to the full satisfaction of Your eyes."

'''[[CC Antya 16.85|Antya 16.85]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed behind the huge column called the Garuḍa-stambha and looked upon Lord Jagannātha, but as He looked He saw that Lord Jagannātha had become Lord Kṛṣṇa, with His flute to His mouth.

'''[[CC Antya 16.86|Antya 16.86]]:''' In his book known as Gaurāńga-stava-kalpavṛkṣa, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī has described this incident very nicely.

'''[[CC Antya 16.87|Antya 16.87]]:''' "'My dear friend the doorkeeper, where is Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of My heart? Kindly show Him to Me quickly.' With these words, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu addressed the doorkeeper like a madman. The doorkeeper grasped His hand and replied very hastily, 'Come, see Your beloved!' May that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu rise within my heart and thus make me mad also."

'''[[CC Antya 16.88|Antya 16.88]]:''' The offering of food known as gopāla-vallabha-bhoga was then given to Lord Jagannātha, and ārati was performed with the sound of the conch and the ringing of bells.

'''[[CC Antya 16.89|Antya 16.89]]:''' When the ārati finished, the prasādam was taken out, and the servants of Lord Jagannātha came to offer some to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 16.90|Antya 16.90]]:''' The servants of Lord Jagannātha first garlanded Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and then offered Him Lord Jagannātha's prasādam. The prasādam was so nice that its aroma alone, to say nothing of its taste, would drive the mind mad.

'''[[CC Antya 16.91|Antya 16.91]]:''' The prasādam was made of very valuable ingredients. Therefore the servant wanted to feed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu a portion of it.

'''[[CC Antya 16.92|Antya 16.92]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu tasted a portion of the prasādam. Govinda took the rest and bound it in the end of his wrapper.

'''[[CC Antya 16.93|Antya 16.93]]:''' To Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu the prasādam tasted millions upon millions of times better than nectar, and thus He was fully satisfied. The hair all over His body stood on end, and incessant tears flowed from His eyes.

'''[[CC Antya 16.94|Antya 16.94]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu considered, "Where has such a taste in this prasādam come from? Certainly it is due to its having been touched by the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's lips."

'''[[CC Antya 16.95|Antya 16.95]]:''' Understanding this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt an emotion of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa, but upon seeing the servants of Lord Jagannātha, He restrained Himself.

'''[[CC Antya 16.96|Antya 16.96]]:''' The Lord said again and again, "Only by great fortune may one come by a particle of the remnants of food offered to the Lord."The servants of the Jagannātha temple inquired, "What is the meaning of this?"

'''[[CC Antya 16.97|Antya 16.97]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "These are remnants of food that Kṛṣṇa has eaten and thus turned to nectar with His lips. It surpasses heavenly nectar, and even such demigods as Lord Brahmā find it difficult to obtain.

'''[[CC Antya 16.98|Antya 16.98]]:''' "Remnants left by Kṛṣṇa are called phelā. Anyone who obtains even a small portion must be considered very fortunate.

'''[[CC Antya 16.99|Antya 16.99]]:''' "One who is only ordinarily fortunate cannot obtain such mercy. Only persons who have the full mercy of Kṛṣṇa can receive such remnants.

'''[[CC Antya 16.100|Antya 16.100]]:''' "The word 'sukṛti' refers to pious activities performed by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa. One who is fortunate enough to obtain such mercy receives the remnants of the Lord's food and thus becomes glorious."

'''[[CC Antya 16.101|Antya 16.101]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade farewell to all the servants. After seeing the next offering of food to Lord Jagannātha, a function known as upala-bhoga, He returned to His own quarters.

'''[[CC Antya 16.102|Antya 16.102]]:''' After finishing His noon duties, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ate His lunch, but He constantly remembered the remnants of Kṛṣṇa's food.

'''[[CC Antya 16.103|Antya 16.103]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed His external activities, but His mind was filled with ecstatic love. With great difficulty He tried to restrain His mind, but it would always be overwhelmed by very deep ecstasy.

'''[[CC Antya 16.104|Antya 16.104]]:''' After finishing His evening duties, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat down with His personal associates in a secluded place and discussed the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa in great jubilation.

'''[[CC Antya 16.105|Antya 16.105]]:''' Following the indications of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Govinda brought the prasādam of Lord Jagannātha. The Lord sent some to Paramānanda Purī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī.

'''[[CC Antya 16.106|Antya 16.106]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then gave shares of the prasādam to Rāmānanda Rāya, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and all the other devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 16.107|Antya 16.107]]:''' As they tasted the uncommon sweetness and fragrance of the prasādam, everyone's mind was struck with wonder.

'''[[CC Antya 16.108-109|Antya 16.108-109]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "These ingredients, such as sugar, camphor, black pepper, cardamom, cloves, butter, spices and licorice, are all material. Everyone has tasted these material substances before.

'''[[CC Antya 16.110|Antya 16.110]]:''' "However," the Lord continued, "in these ingredients there are extraordinary tastes and uncommon fragrances. Just taste them and see the difference in the experience.

'''[[CC Antya 16.111|Antya 16.111]]:''' "Apart from the taste, even the fragrance pleases the mind and makes one forget any other sweetness besides its own.

'''[[CC Antya 16.112|Antya 16.112]]:''' "Therefore, it is to be understood that the spiritual nectar of Kṛṣṇa's lips has touched these ordinary ingredients and transferred to them all their spiritual qualities.

'''[[CC Antya 16.113|Antya 16.113]]:''' "A fragrance and taste that are uncommon and greatly enchanting and that make one forget all other experiences are attributes of Kṛṣṇa's lips.

'''[[CC Antya 16.114|Antya 16.114]]:''' "This prasādam has been made available only as a result of many pious activities. Now taste it with great faith and devotion."

'''[[CC Antya 16.115|Antya 16.115]]:''' Loudly chanting the holy name of Hari, all of them tasted the prasādam. As they tasted it, their minds became mad in the ecstasy of love.

'''[[CC Antya 16.116|Antya 16.116]]:''' In ecstatic love, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Rāmānanda Rāya to recite some verses. Thus Rāmānanda Rāya spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 16.117|Antya 16.117]]:''' "'O hero of charity, please deliver unto us the nectar of Your lips. That nectar increases lusty desires for enjoyment and diminishes lamentation in the material world. Kindly give us the nectar of Your lips, which are touched by Your transcendentally vibrating flute, for that nectar makes all human beings forget all other attachments.'"

'''[[CC Antya 16.118|Antya 16.118]]:''' Upon hearing Rāmānanda Rāya quote this verse, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very satisfied. Then He recited the following verse, which had been spoken by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī in great anxiety.

'''[[CC Antya 16.119|Antya 16.119]]:''' "'My dear friend, the all-surpassing nectar from the lips of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, can be obtained only after many, many pious activities. For the beautiful gopīs of Vṛndāvana, that nectar vanquishes the desire for all other tastes. Madana-mohana always chews pan that surpasses the nectar of heaven. He is certainly increasing the desires of My tongue.'"

'''[[CC Antya 16.120|Antya 16.120]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was overwhelmed by ecstatic loving emotions. Talking like a madman, He began to explain the meaning of the two verses.

'''[[CC Antya 16.121-122|Antya 16.121-122]]:''' "My dear lover," Lord Caitanya said in the mood of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, "let Me describe some of the characteristics of Your transcendental lips. They agitate the mind and body of everyone, they increase lusty desires for enjoyment, they destroy the burden of material happiness and lamentation, and they make one forget all material tastes. The whole world falls under their control. They vanquish shame, religion and patience, especially in women. Indeed, they inspire madness in the minds of all women. Your lips increase the greed of the tongue and thus attract it. Considering all this, We see that the activities of Your transcendental lips are always paradoxical.

'''[[CC Antya 16.123|Antya 16.123]]:''' "My dear Kṛṣṇa, since You are a male, it is not very extraordinary that the attraction of Your lips can disturb the minds of women. But I am ashamed to say that Your impudent lips sometimes attract even Your flute, which is also considered a male. It likes to drink the nectar of Your lips, and thus it also forgets all other tastes.

'''[[CC Antya 16.124|Antya 16.124]]:''' "Aside from conscious living beings, even unconscious matter is sometimes made conscious by Your lips. Therefore, Your lips are great magicians. Paradoxically, although Your flute is nothing but dry wood, Your lips constantly make it drink their nectar. They create a mind and senses in the dry wooden flute and give it transcendental bliss.

'''[[CC Antya 16.125|Antya 16.125]]:''' "That flute is a very cunning male who drinks again and again the taste of another male's lips. It advertises its qualities and says to the gopīs, 'O gopīs, if you are so proud of being women, come forward and enjoy your property — the nectar of the lips of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.'

'''[[CC Antya 16.126|Antya 16.126]]:''' "Thereupon, the flute said angrily to Me, 'Give up Your shame, fear and religion and come drink the lips of Kṛṣṇa. On that condition, I shall give up my attachment for them. If You do not give up Your shame and fear, however, I shall continuously drink the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's lips. I am slightly fearful because You also have the right to drink that nectar, but as for the others, I consider them like straw.'

'''[[CC Antya 16.127|Antya 16.127]]:''' "The nectar of Kṛṣṇa's lips, combined with the vibration of His flute, attracts all the people of the three worlds. But if we gopīs remain patient out of respect for religious principles, the flute then criticizes us.

'''[[CC Antya 16.128|Antya 16.128]]:''' "The nectar of Your lips and the vibration of Your flute join together to loosen our belts and induce us to give up shame and religion, even before our superiors. As if catching us by our hair, they forcibly take us away and deliver us unto You to become Your maidservants. Hearing of these incidents, people laugh at us. We have thus become completely subordinate to the flute.

'''[[CC Antya 16.129|Antya 16.129]]:''' "This flute is nothing but a dry stick of bamboo, but it becomes our master and insults us in so many ways that it forces us into a predicament. What can we do but tolerate it? The mother of a thief cannot cry loudly for justice when the thief is punished. Therefore we simply remain silent.

'''[[CC Antya 16.130|Antya 16.130]]:''' "Such is the policy of these lips. Just consider some other injustices. Everything that touches those lips — including food, drink or betel — becomes just like nectar. It is then called kṛṣṇa-phelā, or remnants left by Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 16.131|Antya 16.131]]:''' "Even after much prayer, the demigods themselves cannot obtain even a small portion of the remnants of such food. Just imagine the pride of those remnants! Only a person who has acted piously for many, many births and has thus become a devotee can obtain the remnants of such food.

'''[[CC Antya 16.132|Antya 16.132]]:''' "The betel chewed by Kṛṣṇa is priceless, and the remnants of such chewed betel from His mouth are said to be the essence of nectar. When the gopīs accept these remnants, their mouths become His spittoons.

'''[[CC Antya 16.133|Antya 16.133]]:''' "Therefore, My dear Kṛṣṇa, please give up all the tricks You have set up so expertly. Do not try to kill the life of the gopīs with the vibration of Your flute. Because of Your joking and laughing, You are becoming responsible for the killing of women. It would be better for You to satisfy us by giving us the charity of the nectar of Your lips."

'''[[CC Antya 16.134|Antya 16.134]]:''' While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was talking like this, His mind changed. His anger subsided, but His mental agitation increased.

'''[[CC Antya 16.135|Antya 16.135]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "This nectar from Kṛṣṇa's lips is supremely difficult to obtain, but if one gets some, his life becomes successful.

'''[[CC Antya 16.136|Antya 16.136]]:''' "When a person competent to drink that nectar does not do so, that shameless person continues his life uselessly.

'''[[CC Antya 16.137|Antya 16.137]]:''' "There are persons who are unfit to drink that nectar but who nevertheless drink it continuously, whereas some who are suitable never get it and thus die of greed.

'''[[CC Antya 16.138|Antya 16.138]]:''' "It is therefore to be understood that such an unfit person must have obtained the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's lips on the strength of some austerity."

'''[[CC Antya 16.139|Antya 16.139]]:''' Again Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said to Rāmānanda Rāya, "Please say something. I want to hear." Understanding the situation, Rāmānanda Rāya recited the following words of the gopīs.

'''[[CC Antya 16.140|Antya 16.140]]:''' "'My dear gopīs, what auspicious activities must the flute have performed to enjoy the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's lips independently and leave only a taste for us gopīs, for whom that nectar is actually meant. The forefathers of the flute, the bamboo trees, shed tears of pleasure. His mother, the river on whose bank the bamboo was born, feels jubilation, and therefore her blooming lotus flowers are standing like hair on her body.'"

'''[[CC Antya 16.141|Antya 16.141]]:''' Upon hearing the recitation of this verse, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became absorbed in ecstatic love, and with a greatly agitated mind He began to explain its meaning like a madman.

'''[[CC Antya 16.142|Antya 16.142]]:''' "Some gopīs said to other gopīs, 'Just see the astonishing pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Vrajendra! He will certainly marry all the gopīs of Vṛndāvana. Therefore, the gopīs know for certain that the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's lips is their own property and cannot be enjoyed by anyone else.

'''[[CC Antya 16.143|Antya 16.143]]:''' "'My dear gopīs, fully consider how many pious activities this flute performed in his past life. We do not know what places of pilgrimage he visited, what austerities he performed, or what perfect mantra he chanted.

'''[[CC Antya 16.144|Antya 16.144]]:''' "'This flute is utterly unfit because it is merely a dead bamboo stick. Moreover, it belongs to the male sex. Yet this flute is always drinking the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's lips, which surpasses nectarean sweetness of every description. Only by hoping for that nectar do the gopīs continue to live.

'''[[CC Antya 16.145|Antya 16.145]]:''' "'Although the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's lips is the absolute property of the gopīs, the flute, which is just an insignificant stick, is forcibly drinking that nectar and loudly inviting the gopīs to come drink it also. Just imagine the strength of the flute's austerities and good fortune! Even great devotees drink the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's lips after the flute has done so.

'''[[CC Antya 16.146|Antya 16.146]]:''' "'When Kṛṣṇa takes His bath in universally purifying rivers like the Yamunā and the Ganges of the celestial world, the great personalities of those rivers greedily and jubilantly drink the remnants of the nectarean juice from His lips.

'''[[CC Antya 16.147|Antya 16.147]]:''' "'Aside from the rivers, the trees standing on the banks like great ascetics and engaging in welfare activities for all living entities drink the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's lips by drawing water from the river with their roots. We cannot understand why they drink like that.

'''[[CC Antya 16.148|Antya 16.148]]:''' "'The trees on the bank of the Yamunā and Ganges are always jubilant. They appear to be smiling with their flowers and shedding tears in the form of flowing honey. Just as the forefathers of a Vaiṣṇava son or grandson feel transcendental bliss, the trees feel blissful because the flute is a member of their family.'

'''[[CC Antya 16.149|Antya 16.149]]:''' "The gopīs considered, 'The flute is completely unfit for his position. We want to know what kind of austerities the flute executed, so that we may also perform the same austerities. Although the flute is unfit, he is drinking the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's lips. Seeing this, we qualified gopīs are dying of unhappiness. Therefore, we must consider the austerities the flute underwent in his past life.'"

'''[[CC Antya 16.150|Antya 16.150]]:''' While thus speaking like a madman, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became full of ecstatic emotion. In the company of His two friends, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and Rāmānanda Rāya, He sometimes danced, sometimes sang and sometimes became unconscious in ecstatic love. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed His days and nights in this way.

'''[[CC Antya 16.151|Antya 16.151]]:''' Expecting the mercy of Svarūpa, Rūpa, Sanātana and Raghunātha dāsa, and taking their lotus feet on my head, I, the most fallen Kṛṣṇadāsa, continue chanting the epic Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, which is sweeter than the nectar of transcendental bliss.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 15|Antya-līlā 15]] '''[[CC Antya 15|Antya-līlā 15]] - [[CC Antya 17|Antya-līlā 17]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 17|Antya-līlā 17]]</div>

CC Antya 15

2026-06-04T18:31:09Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 15 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 15|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 15: The Transcendental Madness of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 14|Antya-līlā 14]] '''[[CC Antya 14|Antya-līlā 14]] - [[CC Antya 16|Antya-līlā 16]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 16|Antya-līlā 16]]</div>

'''[[CC Antya 15 Summary|Antya 15 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 15.1|Antya 15.1]]:''' The ocean of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa is very difficult to understand, even for such demigods as Lord Brahmā. By enacting His pastimes, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu submerged Himself in that ocean, and His heart was absorbed in that love. Thus He exhibited in various ways the exalted position of transcendental love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 15.2|Antya 15.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, the Supreme Personality of Godhead! All glories to Lord Nityānanda, whose body is always filled with transcendental bliss!

'''[[CC Antya 15.3|Antya 15.3]]:''' All glories to Śrī Advaita Ācārya, who is very dear to Lord Caitanya! And all glories to all the devotees of the Lord, headed by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura!

'''[[CC Antya 15.4|Antya 15.4]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu forgot Himself throughout the entire day and night, being merged in an ocean of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 15.5|Antya 15.5]]:''' The Lord would maintain Himself in three states of consciousness: sometimes He merged totally in ecstatic emotion, sometimes He was in partial external consciousness, and sometimes He was in full external consciousness.

'''[[CC Antya 15.6|Antya 15.6]]:''' Actually, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was always merged in ecstatic emotion, but just as a potter's wheel turns without the potter's touching it, the Lord's bodily activities, like bathing, going to the temple to see Lord Jagannātha, and taking lunch, went on automatically.

'''[[CC Antya 15.7|Antya 15.7]]:''' One day, while Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was looking at Lord Jagannātha in the temple, Lord Jagannātha appeared to be personally Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja.

'''[[CC Antya 15.8|Antya 15.8]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu realized Lord Jagannātha to be Kṛṣṇa Himself, Lord Caitanya's five senses immediately became absorbed in attraction for the five attributes of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 15.9|Antya 15.9]]:''' Just as in a tug-of-war, the single mind of Lord Caitanya was attracted in five directions by the five transcendental attributes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Thus the Lord became unconscious.

'''[[CC Antya 15.10|Antya 15.10]]:''' Just then, the upala-bhoga ceremony of Lord Jagannātha concluded, and the devotees who had accompanied Lord Caitanya to the temple took Him back home.

'''[[CC Antya 15.11|Antya 15.11]]:''' That night, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was attended by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and Rāmānanda Rāya. Keeping His hands around their necks, the Lord began to lament.

'''[[CC Antya 15.12|Antya 15.12]]:''' When Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī was very much agitated due to feeling great separation from Kṛṣṇa, She spoke a verse to Viśākhā explaining the cause of Her great anxiety and restlessness.

'''[[CC Antya 15.13|Antya 15.13]]:''' Reciting that verse, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu expressed His burning emotions. Then, with great lamentation, He explained the verse to Svarūpa Dāmodara and Rāmānanda Rāya.

'''[[CC Antya 15.14|Antya 15.14]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "'Though the hearts of the gopīs are like high-standing hills, they are inundated by the waves of the nectarean ocean of Kṛṣṇa's beauty. His sweet voice enters their ears and gives them transcendental bliss, the touch of His body is cooler than millions and millions of moons together, and the nectar of His bodily fragrance overfloods the entire world. O My dear friend, that Kṛṣṇa, who is the son of Nanda Mahārāja and whose lips are exactly like nectar, is attracting My five senses by force.'

'''[[CC Antya 15.15|Antya 15.15]]:''' "Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa's beauty, the sound of His words and the vibration of His flute, His touch, His fragrance and the taste of His lips are full of an indescribable sweetness. When all these features attract My five senses at once, My senses all ride together on the single horse of My mind but want to go in five different directions.

'''[[CC Antya 15.16|Antya 15.16]]:''' "O My dear friend, please hear the cause of My misery. My five senses are actually extravagant rogues. They know very well that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but they still want to plunder Kṛṣṇa's property.

'''[[CC Antya 15.17|Antya 15.17]]:''' "My mind is just like a single horse being ridden by the five senses of perception, headed by sight. Each of My senses wants to ride that horse, and thus they pull My mind in five directions simultaneously. In what direction will it go? If they all pull at one time, certainly the horse will lose its life. How can I tolerate this atrocity?

'''[[CC Antya 15.18|Antya 15.18]]:''' "My dear friend, if you say, 'Just try to control Your senses,' what shall I say? I cannot become angry at My senses. Is it their fault? Kṛṣṇa's beauty, sound, touch, fragrance and taste are by nature extremely attractive. These five features are attracting My senses, and each wants to drag My mind in a different direction. In this way the life of My mind is in great danger, just like a horse ridden in five directions at once. Thus I am also in danger of dying.

'''[[CC Antya 15.19|Antya 15.19]]:''' "The consciousness of each woman within the three worlds is certainly like a high hill, but the sweetness of Kṛṣṇa's beauty is like an ocean. Even a drop of water from that ocean can flood the entire world and submerge all the high hills of consciousness.

'''[[CC Antya 15.20|Antya 15.20]]:''' "The sweetness of Kṛṣṇa's joking words plays indescribable havoc with the hearts of all women. His words bind a woman's ear to the qualities of their sweetness. Thus there is a tug-of-war, and the life of the ear departs.

'''[[CC Antya 15.21|Antya 15.21]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa's transcendental body is so cool that it cannot be compared even to sandalwood pulp or to millions upon millions of moons. It expertly attracts the breasts of all women, which resemble high hills. Indeed, the transcendental body of Kṛṣṇa attracts the minds of all women within the three worlds.

'''[[CC Antya 15.22|Antya 15.22]]:''' "The fragrance of Kṛṣṇa's body is more maddening than the aroma of musk, and it surpasses the fragrance of the bluish lotus flower. It enters the nostrils of all the women of the world and, making a nest there, thus attracts them.

'''[[CC Antya 15.23|Antya 15.23]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa's lips are so sweet when combined with the camphor of His gentle smile that they attract the minds of all women, forcing them to give up all other attractions. If the sweetness of Kṛṣṇa's smile is unobtainable, great mental difficulties and lamentation result. That sweetness is the only wealth of the gopīs of Vṛndāvana."

'''[[CC Antya 15.24|Antya 15.24]]:''' After speaking in this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu caught hold of the necks of Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara. Then the Lord said, "My dear friends, please listen to Me. What shall I do? Where shall I go? Where can I go to get Kṛṣṇa? Please, both of you, tell Me how I can find Him."

'''[[CC Antya 15.25|Antya 15.25]]:''' Thus absorbed in transcendental pain, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu lamented day after day in the company of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and Rāmānanda Rāya.

'''[[CC Antya 15.26|Antya 15.26]]:''' To enhance the ecstatic mood of the Lord, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī would sing appropriate songs and Rāmānanda Rāya would recite suitable verses. In this way they were able to pacify Him.

'''[[CC Antya 15.27|Antya 15.27]]:''' The Lord especially liked to hear Bilvamańgala Ṭhākura's Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta, the poetry of Vidyāpati, and Śrī Gīta-govinda, by Jayadeva Gosvāmī. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt great pleasure in His heart when His associates chanted verses and sang songs from these books.

'''[[CC Antya 15.28|Antya 15.28]]:''' One day, while going to the beach by the sea, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu suddenly saw a flower garden.

'''[[CC Antya 15.29|Antya 15.29]]:''' Lord Caitanya mistook that garden for Vṛndāvana and very quickly entered it. Absorbed in ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa, He wandered throughout the garden, searching for Him.

'''[[CC Antya 15.30|Antya 15.30]]:''' After Kṛṣṇa disappeared with Rādhārāṇī during the rāsa dance, the gopīs wandered in the forest looking for Him. In the same way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wandered in that garden by the sea.

'''[[CC Antya 15.31|Antya 15.31]]:''' Absorbed in the ecstatic mood of the gopīs, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wandered here and there. He began to inquire after Kṛṣṇa by quoting verses to all the trees and creepers.

'''[[CC Antya 15.32|Antya 15.32]]:''' [The gopīs said:] "O cūta tree, priyāla tree, panasa, āsana and kovidāra! O jambu tree, O arka tree, O bel, bakula and mango! O kadamba tree, O nīpa tree and all other trees living on the bank of the Yamunā for the welfare of others, please let us know where Kṛṣṇa has gone. We have lost our minds and are almost dead."

'''[[CC Antya 15.33|Antya 15.33]]:''' "'O all-auspicious tulasī plant, you are very dear to Govinda's lotus feet, and He is very dear to you. Have you seen Kṛṣṇa walking here wearing a garland of your leaves, surrounded by a swarm of bumblebees?

'''[[CC Antya 15.34|Antya 15.34]]:''' "'O plants of mālatī flowers, mallikā flowers, jātī and yūthikā flowers, have you seen Kṛṣṇa passing this way, touching you with His hand to give you pleasure?'"

'''[[CC Antya 15.35|Antya 15.35]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "'O mango tree, O jackfruit tree, O piyāla, jambu and kovidāra trees, you are all inhabitants of a holy place. Therefore kindly act for the welfare of others.

'''[[CC Antya 15.36|Antya 15.36]]:''' "'Have you seen Kṛṣṇa coming this way? Kindly tell us which way He has gone and save our lives.'"

'''[[CC Antya 15.37|Antya 15.37]]:''' When the trees did not reply, the gopīs guessed, "'Since all of these trees belong to the male class, all of them must be friends of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 15.38|Antya 15.38]]:''' "'Why should the trees tell us where Kṛṣṇa has gone? Let us rather inquire from the creepers; they are female and are therefore like friends to us.

'''[[CC Antya 15.39|Antya 15.39]]:''' "'They will certainly tell us where Kṛṣṇa has gone, since they have seen Him personally.'" Guessing in this way, the gopīs inquired from the plants and creepers, headed by tulasī.

'''[[CC Antya 15.40|Antya 15.40]]:''' "'O tulasī! O mālatī! O yūthī, mādhavī and mallikā! Kṛṣṇa is very dear to you; therefore He must have come near you.

'''[[CC Antya 15.41|Antya 15.41]]:''' "'You are all just like dear friends to us. Kindly tell us which way Kṛṣṇa has gone and save our lives.'"

'''[[CC Antya 15.42|Antya 15.42]]:''' When they still received no reply, the gopīs thought, "'These plants are all Kṛṣṇa's maidservants, and out of fear they will not speak to us.'"

'''[[CC Antya 15.43|Antya 15.43]]:''' The gopīs then came upon a group of she-deer. Smelling the aroma of Kṛṣṇa's body and seeing the faces of the deer, the gopīs inquired from them to ascertain if Kṛṣṇa was nearby.

'''[[CC Antya 15.44|Antya 15.44]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "'O wife of the deer, Lord Kṛṣṇa has been embracing His beloved, and thus the kuńkuma powder on Her raised breasts has covered His garland of kunda flowers. The fragrance of this garland is flowing here. O my dear friend, have you seen Kṛṣṇa passing this way with His dearmost companion, increasing the pleasure of the eyes of all of you?'

'''[[CC Antya 15.45|Antya 15.45]]:''' "'O dear doe, Śrī Kṛṣṇa is always very pleased to give you pleasure. Kindly inform us whether He passed this way in the company of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. We think They must certainly have come this way.

'''[[CC Antya 15.46|Antya 15.46]]:''' "'We are not outsiders. Being very dear friends of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, we can perceive the bodily fragrance of Kṛṣṇa from a distance.

'''[[CC Antya 15.47|Antya 15.47]]:''' "'Kṛṣṇa has been embracing Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, and the kuńkuma powder on Her breasts has mixed with the garland of kunda flowers decorating His body. The fragrance of the garland has scented the entire atmosphere.

'''[[CC Antya 15.48|Antya 15.48]]:''' "'Lord Kṛṣṇa has left this place, and therefore the deer are feeling separation. They do not hear our words; therefore how can they reply?'"

'''[[CC Antya 15.49|Antya 15.49]]:''' The gopīs then came upon many trees so laden with fruits and flowers that their branches were bent down to the ground.

'''[[CC Antya 15.50|Antya 15.50]]:''' The gopīs thought that because all the trees must have seen Kṛṣṇa pass by they were offering respectful obeisances to Him. To be certain, the gopīs inquired from the trees.

'''[[CC Antya 15.51|Antya 15.51]]:''' Lord Caitanya continued, "'O trees, kindly tell us whether Balarāma's younger brother, Kṛṣṇa, welcomed your obeisances with loving glances as He passed this way, resting one hand on the shoulder of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, holding a lotus flower in the other, and being followed by a swarm of bumblebees maddened by the fragrance of tulasī flowers.

'''[[CC Antya 15.52|Antya 15.52]]:''' "'To stop the bumblebees from landing on the face of His beloved, He whisked them away with the lotus flower in His hand, and thus His mind was slightly diverted.

'''[[CC Antya 15.53|Antya 15.53]]:''' "'Did He or did He not pay attention while you offered Him obeisances? Kindly give evidence supporting your words.

'''[[CC Antya 15.54|Antya 15.54]]:''' "'Separation from Kṛṣṇa has made these servants very unhappy. Having lost consciousness, how can they answer us?'"

'''[[CC Antya 15.55|Antya 15.55]]:''' Saying this, the gopīs stepped onto the beach by the Yamunā River. There they saw Lord Kṛṣṇa beneath a kadamba tree.

'''[[CC Antya 15.56|Antya 15.56]]:''' Standing there with His flute to His lips, Kṛṣṇa, who enchants millions upon millions of Cupids, attracted the eyes and minds of all the world with His unlimited beauty.

'''[[CC Antya 15.57|Antya 15.57]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the transcendental beauty of Kṛṣṇa, He fell down on the ground unconscious. At that time, all the devotees, headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, joined Him in the garden.

'''[[CC Antya 15.58|Antya 15.58]]:''' Just as before, they saw all the symptoms of transcendental ecstatic love manifested in the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Although externally He appeared bewildered, He was tasting transcendental bliss within.

'''[[CC Antya 15.59|Antya 15.59]]:''' Once again all the devotees brought Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu back to consciousness by a concerted effort. Then the Lord got up and began wandering here and there, looking all around.

'''[[CC Antya 15.60|Antya 15.60]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Where has My Kṛṣṇa gone? I saw Him just now, and His beauty has captivated My eyes and mind.

'''[[CC Antya 15.61|Antya 15.61]]:''' "Why can't I again see Kṛṣṇa holding His flute to His lips? My eyes are wandering in hopes of seeing Him once more."

'''[[CC Antya 15.62|Antya 15.62]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then recited the following verse, which was spoken by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī to Her dear friend Viśākhā.

'''[[CC Antya 15.63|Antya 15.63]]:''' "'My dear friend, the luster of Kṛṣṇa's body is more brilliant than that of a newly formed cloud, and His yellow dress is more attractive than newly arrived lightning. A peacock feather decorates His head, and on His neck hangs a lovely necklace of brilliant pearls. As He holds His charming flute to His lips, His face looks as beautiful as the full autumn moon. By such beauty, Madana-mohana, the enchanter of Cupid, is increasing the desire of My eyes to see Him.'"

'''[[CC Antya 15.64|Antya 15.64]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "Śrī Kṛṣṇa's complexion is as polished as powdered eye ointment. It surpasses the beauty of a newly formed cloud and is softer than a blue lotus flower. Indeed, His complexion is so pleasing that it attracts the eyes and minds of everyone, and it is so powerful that it defies all comparison.

'''[[CC Antya 15.65|Antya 15.65]]:''' "My dear friend, please tell Me what I should do. Kṛṣṇa is as attractive as a wonderful cloud, and My eyes are just like cātaka birds, which are dying of thirst because they do not see such a cloud.

'''[[CC Antya 15.66|Antya 15.66]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa's yellow garments look exactly like restless lightning in the sky, and the pearl necklace on His neck appears like a line of ducks flying below a cloud. Both the peacock feather on His head and His vaijayantī garland [containing flowers of five colors] resemble rainbows.

'''[[CC Antya 15.67|Antya 15.67]]:''' "The luster of Kṛṣṇa's body is as beautiful as the glow of a spotless full moon that has just risen, and the vibration of His flute sounds exactly like the sweet thundering of a newly formed cloud. When the peacocks in Vṛndāvana hear that vibration, they all begin to dance.

'''[[CC Antya 15.68|Antya 15.68]]:''' "The cloud of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes is drenching the fourteen worlds with a shower of nectar. Unfortunately, when that cloud appeared, a whirlwind arose and blew it away from Me. Being unable to see the cloud, the cātaka bird of My eyes is almost dead from thirst."

'''[[CC Antya 15.69|Antya 15.69]]:''' In a faltering voice, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again said, "Alas, go on reciting, Rāma Rāya." Thus Rāmānanda Rāya began to recite a verse. While listening to this verse, the Lord was sometimes very jubilant and sometimes overcome by lamentation. Afterwards the Lord personally explained the verse.

'''[[CC Antya 15.70|Antya 15.70]]:''' "'Dear Kṛṣṇa, by seeing Your beautiful face decorated with tresses of hair, by seeing the beauty of Your earrings falling on Your cheeks, and by seeing the nectar of Your lips, the beauty of Your smiling glances, Your two arms, which assure complete fearlessness, and Your broad chest, whose beauty arouses conjugal attraction, we have simply surrendered ourselves to becoming Your maidservants.'"

'''[[CC Antya 15.71|Antya 15.71]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "After conquering the moon and the lotus flower, Kṛṣṇa wished to capture the doelike gopīs. Thus He spread the noose of His beautiful face, and within that noose He placed the bait of His sweet smile to misguide the gopīs. The gopīs fell prey to that trap and became Kṛṣṇa's maidservants, giving up their homes, families, husbands and prestige.

'''[[CC Antya 15.72|Antya 15.72]]:''' "My dear friend, Kṛṣṇa acts just like a hunter. This hunter does not care for piety or impiety; He simply creates many devices to conquer the cores of the hearts of the doelike gopīs.

'''[[CC Antya 15.73|Antya 15.73]]:''' "The earrings dancing on Kṛṣṇa's cheeks are shaped like sharks, and they shine very brightly. These dancing earrings attract the minds of all women. Over and above this, Kṛṣṇa pierces the hearts of women with the arrows of His sweetly smiling glances. He is not at all afraid to kill women in this way.

'''[[CC Antya 15.74|Antya 15.74]]:''' "On Kṛṣṇa's chest are the ornaments of the Śrīvatsa marks, indicating the residence of the goddess of fortune. His chest, which is as broad as a plunderer's, attracts thousands upon thousands of damsels of Vraja, conquering their minds and breasts by force. Thus they all become maidservants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Antya 15.75|Antya 15.75]]:''' "The two very beautiful arms of Kṛṣṇa are just like long bolts. They also resemble the bodies of black snakes that enter the space between the two hill-like breasts of women and bite their hearts. The women then die from the burning poison.

'''[[CC Antya 15.76|Antya 15.76]]:''' "The combined cooling effect of camphor, roots of khasakhasa and sandalwood is surpassed by the coolness of Kṛṣṇa's palms and the soles of His feet, which are cooler and more pleasing than millions upon millions of moons. If women are touched by them even once, their minds are enticed, and the burning poison of lusty desire for Kṛṣṇa is immediately vanquished."

'''[[CC Antya 15.77|Antya 15.77]]:''' Lamenting in ecstatic love, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then recited the following verse, which was spoken by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī while exposing the lamentation of Her heart to Her friend Śrīmatī Viśākhā.

'''[[CC Antya 15.78|Antya 15.78]]:''' "'My dear friend, Kṛṣṇa's chest is as broad and attractive as a door made of indranīla gems, and His two arms, as strong as bolts, can relieve the mental anguish of young girls distressed by lusty desires for Him. His body is cooler than the moon, sandalwood, the lotus flower and camphor. In this way, Madana-mohana, the attractor of Cupid, is increasing the desire of My breasts.'"

'''[[CC Antya 15.79|Antya 15.79]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, "I just now had Kṛṣṇa, but unfortunately I have lost Him again.

'''[[CC Antya 15.80|Antya 15.80]]:''' "By nature, Kṛṣṇa is very restless; He does not stay in one place. He meets with someone, enchants his mind and then disappears.

'''[[CC Antya 15.81|Antya 15.81]]:''' "'The gopīs became proud of their great fortune. To subdue their sense of superiority and show them special favor, Keśava, the subduer of even Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, disappeared from the rāsa dance.'"

'''[[CC Antya 15.82|Antya 15.82]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said to Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, "Please sing a song that will bring consciousness to My heart."

'''[[CC Antya 15.83|Antya 15.83]]:''' Thus for the pleasure of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī began very sweetly singing the following verse from the Gīta-govinda.

'''[[CC Antya 15.84|Antya 15.84]]:''' "'Here in the arena of the rāsa dance, I remember Kṛṣṇa, who is always fond of joking and performing pastimes.'"

'''[[CC Antya 15.85|Antya 15.85]]:''' When Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī sang this special song, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately got up and began to dance in ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Antya 15.86|Antya 15.86]]:''' At that time, all eight kinds of spiritual transformations became manifest in Lord Caitanya's body. The thirty-three symptoms of vyabhicāri-bhāva, beginning with lamentation and jubilation, became prominent as well.

'''[[CC Antya 15.87|Antya 15.87]]:''' All the ecstatic symptoms, such as bhāvodaya, bhāva-sandhi and bhāva-śābalya, awakened in the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. A great fight arose between one emotion and another, and each of them became prominent.

'''[[CC Antya 15.88|Antya 15.88]]:''' Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu had Svarūpa Dāmodara sing the same verse again and again. Each time he sang it, the Lord tasted it anew, and thus He danced again and again.

'''[[CC Antya 15.89|Antya 15.89]]:''' After the Lord had been dancing for a long time, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī stopped singing the verse.

'''[[CC Antya 15.90|Antya 15.90]]:''' Over and over again Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Go on! Sing! Sing!" But Svarūpa Dāmodara, seeing the Lord's fatigue, did not resume singing.

'''[[CC Antya 15.91|Antya 15.91]]:''' When the devotees heard Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu say "Go on singing!" they all gathered around Him and began to chant the holy name of Hari in unison.

'''[[CC Antya 15.92|Antya 15.92]]:''' At that time, Rāmānanda Rāya made the Lord sit down and dissipated His fatigue by fanning Him.

'''[[CC Antya 15.93|Antya 15.93]]:''' Then all the devotees took Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to the beach and bathed Him. Finally, they brought Him back home.

'''[[CC Antya 15.94|Antya 15.94]]:''' After they fed Him lunch, they made Him lie down. Then all the devotees, headed by Rāmānanda Rāya, returned to their respective homes.

'''[[CC Antya 15.95|Antya 15.95]]:''' Thus I have described Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's pastimes in the garden, which He entered, mistaking it for Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Antya 15.96|Antya 15.96]]:''' There He exhibited transcendental madness and ecstatic ravings, which Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī has described very nicely in his Stava-mālā as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 15.97|Antya 15.97]]:''' "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the topmost of all devotees. Sometimes, while walking on the beach, He would see a beautiful garden nearby and mistake it for the forest of Vṛndāvana. Thus He would be completely overwhelmed by ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa and begin to chant the holy name and dance. His tongue worked incessantly as He chanted, 'Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!' Will He again become visible before the path of my eyes?"

'''[[CC Antya 15.98|Antya 15.98]]:''' The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are unlimited; it is not possible to write of them properly. I can give only an indication of them as I try to introduce them.

'''[[CC Antya 15.99|Antya 15.99]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 14|Antya-līlā 14]] '''[[CC Antya 14|Antya-līlā 14]] - [[CC Antya 16|Antya-līlā 16]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 16|Antya-līlā 16]]</div>

CC Antya 14

2026-06-04T18:31:08Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 14 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 14|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 14: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's Feelings of Separation from Kṛṣṇa'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 13|Antya-līlā 13]] '''[[CC Antya 13|Antya-līlā 13]] - [[CC Antya 15|Antya-līlā 15]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 15|Antya-līlā 15]]</div>

'''[[CC Antya 14 Summary|Antya 14 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 14.1|Antya 14.1]]:''' I shall now describe a very small portion of the activities performed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with His mind, intelligence and body when He was bewildered by strong feelings of separation from Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 14.2|Antya 14.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead! All glories to Lord Gauracandra, the life and soul of His devotees!

'''[[CC Antya 14.3|Antya 14.3]]:''' All glories to Lord Nityānanda, who is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's very life! And all glories to Advaita Ācārya, who is extremely dear to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Antya 14.4|Antya 14.4]]:''' All glories to Svarūpa Dāmodara and all the other devotees, headed by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura! Please give me the strength to describe the character of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 14.5|Antya 14.5]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's emotion of transcendental madness in separation from Kṛṣṇa is very deep and mysterious. Even though one is very advanced and learned, he cannot understand it.

'''[[CC Antya 14.6|Antya 14.6]]:''' How can one describe unfathomable subject matters? It is possible only if Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gives him the capability.

'''[[CC Antya 14.7|Antya 14.7]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī recorded all these transcendental activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in their notebooks.

'''[[CC Antya 14.8|Antya 14.8]]:''' In those days, Svarūpa Dāmodara and Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī lived with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, whereas all other commentators lived far away from Him.

'''[[CC Antya 14.9|Antya 14.9]]:''' These two great personalities [Svarūpa Dāmodara and Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī] recorded the activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu moment by moment. They described these activities briefly as well as elaborately in their notebooks.

'''[[CC Antya 14.10|Antya 14.10]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara wrote short notes, whereas Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī wrote elaborate descriptions. I shall now describe Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's activities more elaborately, as if fluffing out compressed cotton.

'''[[CC Antya 14.11|Antya 14.11]]:''' Please hear faithfully this description of Caitanya Mahāprabhu's ecstatic emotions. Thus you will come to know of His ecstatic love, and ultimately you will achieve love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Antya 14.12|Antya 14.12]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt separation from Kṛṣṇa, His condition exactly corresponded to that of the gopīs in Vṛndāvana after Kṛṣṇa's departure for Mathurā.

'''[[CC Antya 14.13|Antya 14.13]]:''' The lamentation of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī when Uddhava visited Vṛndāvana gradually became a feature of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's transcendental madness.

'''[[CC Antya 14.14|Antya 14.14]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's emotions exactly corresponded to those of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī when She met Uddhava. The Lord always conceived of Himself in Her position and sometimes thought that He was Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī Herself.

'''[[CC Antya 14.15|Antya 14.15]]:''' Such is the state of transcendental madness. Why is it difficult to understand? When one is highly elevated in love of Kṛṣṇa, he becomes transcendentally mad and talks like a madman.

'''[[CC Antya 14.16|Antya 14.16]]:''' "When the ecstatic emotion of enchantment gradually progresses, it becomes similar to bewilderment. Then one reaches the stage of astonishment [vaicitrī], which awakens transcendental madness. Udghūrṇā and citra-jalpa are two among the many divisions of transcendental madness."

'''[[CC Antya 14.17|Antya 14.17]]:''' One day while He was resting, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu dreamed He saw Kṛṣṇa performing His rāsa dance.

'''[[CC Antya 14.18|Antya 14.18]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Lord Kṛṣṇa standing with His beautiful body curved in three places, holding His flute to His lips. Wearing yellow garments and garlands of forest flowers, He was enchanting even to Cupid.

'''[[CC Antya 14.19|Antya 14.19]]:''' The gopīs were dancing in a circle, and in the middle of that circle, Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, danced with Rādhārāṇī.

'''[[CC Antya 14.20|Antya 14.20]]:''' Seeing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was overwhelmed with the transcendental mellow of the rāsa dance, and He thought, "Now I am with Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana."

'''[[CC Antya 14.21|Antya 14.21]]:''' When Govinda saw that the Lord had not yet risen, he awakened Him. Understanding that He had only been dreaming, the Lord was somewhat unhappy.

'''[[CC Antya 14.22|Antya 14.22]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed His customary daily duties, and at the usual time He went to see Lord Jagannātha in the temple.

'''[[CC Antya 14.23|Antya 14.23]]:''' As He viewed Lord Jagannātha from behind the Garuḍa column, hundreds and thousands of people in front of Him were seeing the Deity.

'''[[CC Antya 14.24|Antya 14.24]]:''' Suddenly, a woman from Orissa, unable to see Lord Jagannātha because of the crowd, climbed the column of Garuḍa, placing her foot on Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's shoulder.

'''[[CC Antya 14.25|Antya 14.25]]:''' When he saw this, Caitanya Mahāprabhu's personal servant, Govinda, hastily got her down from her position. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, chastised him for this.

'''[[CC Antya 14.26|Antya 14.26]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said to Govinda, "O ādi-vasyā [uncivilized man], do not forbid this woman to climb the Garuḍa-stambha. Let her see Lord Jagannātha to her satisfaction."

'''[[CC Antya 14.27|Antya 14.27]]:''' When the woman came to her senses, however, she quickly climbed back down to the ground and, seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, immediately begged at His lotus feet for forgiveness.

'''[[CC Antya 14.28|Antya 14.28]]:''' Seeing the woman's eagerness, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Lord Jagannātha has not bestowed so much eagerness upon Me.

'''[[CC Antya 14.29|Antya 14.29]]:''' "She has fully absorbed her body, mind and life in Lord Jagannātha. Therefore she was unaware that she was putting her foot on My shoulder.

'''[[CC Antya 14.30|Antya 14.30]]:''' "Alas! How fortunate this woman is! I pray at her feet that she favor Me with her great eagerness to see Lord Jagannātha."

'''[[CC Antya 14.31|Antya 14.31]]:''' Just previously, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had been seeing Lord Jagannātha as Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, in person.

'''[[CC Antya 14.32|Antya 14.32]]:''' Becoming fully absorbed in that vision, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had assumed the mood of the gopīs, so much so that everywhere He looked He saw Kṛṣṇa standing with His flute to His lips.

'''[[CC Antya 14.33|Antya 14.33]]:''' After seeing the woman, the Lord's external consciousness returned, and He saw the original deity forms of Lord Jagannātha, Subhadrā and Lord Balarāma.

'''[[CC Antya 14.34|Antya 14.34]]:''' When He saw the deities, Lord Caitanya thought He was seeing Kṛṣṇa in Kurukṣetra. He wondered, "Have I come to Kurukṣetra? Where is Vṛndāvana?"

'''[[CC Antya 14.35|Antya 14.35]]:''' Lord Caitanya grew very much agitated, like a person who has just lost a recently acquired jewel. Then He became very morose and returned home.

'''[[CC Antya 14.36|Antya 14.36]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat down on the ground and began to mark it with His fingernails. He was blinded by tears, which flowed from His eyes like the Ganges.

'''[[CC Antya 14.37|Antya 14.37]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "I found Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of Vṛndāvana, but I have lost Him again. Who has taken My Kṛṣṇa? Where have I come?"

'''[[CC Antya 14.38|Antya 14.38]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu dreamed of the rāsa dance, He was fully absorbed in transcendental bliss, but when His dream broke, He thought He had lost a precious jewel.

'''[[CC Antya 14.39|Antya 14.39]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would chant and dance, always absorbed in the bliss of transcendental madness. He carried out the necessities of the body, such as eating and bathing, merely out of habit.

'''[[CC Antya 14.40|Antya 14.40]]:''' At night, Lord Caitanya would reveal to Svarūpa Dāmodara and Rāmānanda Rāya the ecstatic feelings of His mind.

'''[[CC Antya 14.41|Antya 14.41]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "At first My mind somehow achieved the treasure of Kṛṣṇa, but it again lost Him. Therefore it gave up My body and home because of lamentation and accepted the religious principles of a kāpālika-yogī. Then My mind went to Vṛndāvana with its disciples, My senses."

'''[[CC Antya 14.42|Antya 14.42]]:''' Having lost His acquired gem, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became overwhelmed with lamentation by remembering its attributes. Then, grasping the necks of Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, He cried, "Alas, where is My Lord Hari? Where is Hari?" Finally He became restless and lost all patience.

'''[[CC Antya 14.43|Antya 14.43]]:''' "My dear friends," He said, "please hear of Kṛṣṇa's sweetness. Because of a great desire for that sweetness, My mind has given up all social and Vedic religious principles and taken to the profession of begging, exactly like a mystic yogī.

'''[[CC Antya 14.44|Antya 14.44]]:''' "The ring of Kṛṣṇa's rāsa-līlā, manufactured by Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the most auspicious craftsman, is as pure as an earring made from a conchshell. The yogī of My mind is wearing that earring upon his ear. From a gourd he has carved out the bowl of My aspirations, and he has taken the bag of My expectations on his shoulder.

'''[[CC Antya 14.45|Antya 14.45]]:''' "The yogī of My mind wears the torn quilt of anxiety on his dirty body, which is covered with dust and ashes. His only words are 'Alas! Kṛṣṇa!' He wears twelve bangles of distress on his wrist and a turban of greed on his head. Because he has not eaten anything, he is very thin.

'''[[CC Antya 14.46|Antya 14.46]]:''' "The great yogī of My mind always studies the poetry and discussions of Lord Kṛṣṇa's Vṛndāvana pastimes. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and other scriptures, great saintly yogīs like Vyāsadeva and Śukadeva Gosvāmī have described Lord Kṛṣṇa as the Supersoul, beyond all material contamination.

'''[[CC Antya 14.47|Antya 14.47]]:''' "The mystic yogī of My mind has assumed the name Mahābāula and made disciples of My ten senses. Thus My mind has gone to Vṛndāvana, leaving aside the home of My body and the great treasure of material enjoyment.

'''[[CC Antya 14.48|Antya 14.48]]:''' "In Vṛndāvana, he goes from door to door begging alms with all his disciples. He begs from both the moving and the inert inhabitants — the citizens, the trees and the creepers. In this way he lives on fruits, roots and leaves.

'''[[CC Antya 14.49|Antya 14.49]]:''' "The gopīs of Vrajabhūmi always taste the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's attributes, His beauty, His sweetness, His aroma, the sound of His flute and the touch of His body. My mind's five disciples, the senses of perception, gather the remnants of that nectar from the gopīs and bring them to the yogī of My mind. The senses maintain their lives by eating those remnants.

'''[[CC Antya 14.50|Antya 14.50]]:''' "There is a solitary garden where Kṛṣṇa enjoys His pastimes, and in one corner of a pavilion in that garden, the yogī of My mind, along with his disciples, practices mystic yoga. Wanting to see Kṛṣṇa directly, this yogī remains awake throughout the night, meditating on Kṛṣṇa, who is the Supersoul, uncontaminated by the three modes of nature.

'''[[CC Antya 14.51|Antya 14.51]]:''' "When My mind lost the association of Kṛṣṇa and could no longer see Him, he became depressed and took up mystic yoga. In the void of separation from Kṛṣṇa, he experienced ten transcendental transformations. Agitated by these transformations, My mind fled, leaving My body, his place of residence, empty. Thus I am completely in trance."

'''[[CC Antya 14.52|Antya 14.52]]:''' When the gopīs felt separation from Kṛṣṇa, they experienced ten kinds of bodily transformations. These same symptoms appeared in the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 14.53|Antya 14.53]]:''' "The ten bodily transformations resulting from separation from Kṛṣṇa are anxiety, wakefulness, mental agitation, thinness, uncleanliness, talking like a madman, disease, madness, illusion and death."

'''[[CC Antya 14.54|Antya 14.54]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was overwhelmed night and day by these ten ecstatic conditions. Whenever such symptoms arose, His mind became unsteady.

'''[[CC Antya 14.55|Antya 14.55]]:''' After speaking in this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fell silent. Then Rāmānanda Rāya began to recite various verses.

'''[[CC Antya 14.56|Antya 14.56]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya recited verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī sang of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes. In this way, they brought Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to external consciousness.

'''[[CC Antya 14.57|Antya 14.57]]:''' After half the night had passed in this way, Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī made Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu lie down on His bed in the inner room.

'''[[CC Antya 14.58|Antya 14.58]]:''' Then Rāmānanda Rāya returned home, and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and Govinda lay down in front of the door to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's room.

'''[[CC Antya 14.59|Antya 14.59]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained awake throughout the entire night, chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra very loudly.

'''[[CC Antya 14.60|Antya 14.60]]:''' After some time, Svarūpa Dāmodara could no longer hear Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanting. When he entered the room, he found the three doors locked, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was gone.

'''[[CC Antya 14.61|Antya 14.61]]:''' All the devotees were very anxious when they saw that the Lord was not in His room. They wandered about searching for Him with a warning lamp.

'''[[CC Antya 14.62|Antya 14.62]]:''' After searching for some time, they came upon Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu lying in a corner by the northern side of the Siḿha-dvāra gate.

'''[[CC Antya 14.63|Antya 14.63]]:''' At first they were overjoyed to see Him, but when they saw His condition, all the devotees, headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, were very anxious.

'''[[CC Antya 14.64|Antya 14.64]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was lying unconscious, and His body had become elongated to five or six cubits. There was no breath from His nostrils.

'''[[CC Antya 14.65-66|Antya 14.65-66]]:''' Each of His arms and legs had become three cubits long; only skin connected the separated joints. The Lord's body temperature, indicating life, was very low. All the joints in His arms, legs, neck and waist were separated by at least six inches.

'''[[CC Antya 14.67|Antya 14.67]]:''' It appeared that only skin covered His elongated joints. Seeing the Lord's condition, all the devotees were very unhappy.

'''[[CC Antya 14.68|Antya 14.68]]:''' They almost died when they saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with His mouth full of saliva and foam and His eyes turned upward.

'''[[CC Antya 14.69|Antya 14.69]]:''' When they saw this, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and all the other devotees began to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa very loudly into Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's ear.

'''[[CC Antya 14.70|Antya 14.70]]:''' After they had chanted in this way for a long time, the holy name of Kṛṣṇa entered the heart of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and He suddenly arose with a loud shout of "Haribol!"

'''[[CC Antya 14.71|Antya 14.71]]:''' As soon as the Lord returned to external consciousness, all His joints contracted and His entire body returned to normal.

'''[[CC Antya 14.72|Antya 14.72]]:''' Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī has described these pastimes elaborately in his book Gaurāńga-stava-kalpavṛkṣa.

'''[[CC Antya 14.73|Antya 14.73]]:''' "In the house of Kāśī Miśra, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would sometimes be greatly aggrieved, feeling separation from Kṛṣṇa. The joints of His transcendental body would slacken, and His arms and legs would become elongated. Rolling on the ground, the Lord would cry out in distress in a faltering voice and weep very sorrowfully. The appearance of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, awakening in my heart, maddens me."

'''[[CC Antya 14.74|Antya 14.74]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very much astonished to find Himself in front of the Siḿha-dvāra. He asked Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, "Where am I? What am I doing here?"

'''[[CC Antya 14.75|Antya 14.75]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara said, "My dear Lord, please get up. Let us go to Your place. There I shall tell You everything that has happened."

'''[[CC Antya 14.76|Antya 14.76]]:''' Thus all the devotees, supporting Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, took Him back to His residence. Then they all described to Him what had happened.

'''[[CC Antya 14.77|Antya 14.77]]:''' Hearing the description of His condition while He had lain near the Siḿha-dvāra, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very much astonished. He said, "I do not remember any of these things.

'''[[CC Antya 14.78|Antya 14.78]]:''' "All I can remember is that I saw My Kṛṣṇa, but only for an instant. He appeared before Me and then, like lightning, immediately disappeared."

'''[[CC Antya 14.79|Antya 14.79]]:''' Just then, everyone heard the blowing of the conchshell at the Jagannātha temple. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately took His bath and went to see Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Antya 14.80|Antya 14.80]]:''' Thus I have described the uncommon transformations of the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. When people hear about this, they are very much astonished.

'''[[CC Antya 14.81|Antya 14.81]]:''' No one has witnessed such bodily changes elsewhere, nor has anyone read of them in the revealed scriptures. Yet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the supreme sannyāsī, exhibited these ecstatic symptoms.

'''[[CC Antya 14.82|Antya 14.82]]:''' These ecstasies are not described in the śāstras, and they are inconceivable to common men. Therefore people in general do not believe in them.

'''[[CC Antya 14.83|Antya 14.83]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī lived continuously with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. I am simply recording whatever I have heard from him. Although common men do not believe in these pastimes, I believe in them totally.

'''[[CC Antya 14.84|Antya 14.84]]:''' One day, while Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was going to the sea to bathe, He suddenly saw a sand dune named Caṭaka-parvata.

'''[[CC Antya 14.85|Antya 14.85]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu mistook the sand dune for Govardhana Hill and ran toward it.

'''[[CC Antya 14.86|Antya 14.86]]:''' [Lord Caitanya said:] "Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O my friends, this hill supplies Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, as well as Their calves, cows and cowherd friends, with all kinds of necessities — water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respect to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant."

'''[[CC Antya 14.87|Antya 14.87]]:''' Reciting this verse, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ran toward the sand dune as fast as the wind. Govinda ran after Him, but he could not approach Him.

'''[[CC Antya 14.88|Antya 14.88]]:''' First one devotee shouted loudly, and then a tumultuous uproar arose as all the devotees stood up and began to run after the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 14.89|Antya 14.89]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Rāmāi, Nandāi and Śańkara Paṇḍita are some of the devotees who ran after Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 14.90|Antya 14.90]]:''' Paramānanda Purī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī also went toward the beach, and Bhagavān Ācārya, who was lame, followed them very slowly.

'''[[CC Antya 14.91|Antya 14.91]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was running with the speed of the wind, but He suddenly became stunned in ecstasy and lost all strength to proceed further.

'''[[CC Antya 14.92|Antya 14.92]]:''' The flesh at each of His pores erupted like pimples, and His bodily hairs, standing on end, appeared like kadamba flowers.

'''[[CC Antya 14.93|Antya 14.93]]:''' Blood and perspiration flowed incessantly from every pore of His body, and He could not speak a word but simply produced a gargling sound within His throat.

'''[[CC Antya 14.94|Antya 14.94]]:''' The Lord's eyes filled and overflowed with unlimited tears, like the Ganges and Yamunā meeting in the sea.

'''[[CC Antya 14.95|Antya 14.95]]:''' His entire body faded to the color of a white conchshell, and then He began to quiver like the waves in the ocean.

'''[[CC Antya 14.96|Antya 14.96]]:''' While quivering in this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fell down on the ground. Then Govinda approached Him.

'''[[CC Antya 14.97|Antya 14.97]]:''' Govinda sprinkled water from a karańga waterpot all over the Lord's body, and then, taking His own outer garment, he began to fan Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 14.98|Antya 14.98]]:''' When Svarūpa Dāmodara and the other devotees reached the spot and saw the condition of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they began to cry.

'''[[CC Antya 14.99|Antya 14.99]]:''' All eight kinds of transcendental transformations were visible in the Lord's body. All the devotees were struck with wonder to see such a sight.

'''[[CC Antya 14.100|Antya 14.100]]:''' The devotees loudly chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra near Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and washed His body with cold water.

'''[[CC Antya 14.101|Antya 14.101]]:''' After the devotees had been chanting for a long time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu suddenly stood up and shouted, "Haribol!"

'''[[CC Antya 14.102|Antya 14.102]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stood up, all the Vaiṣṇavas loudly chanted, "Hari! Hari!" in great jubilation. The auspicious sound filled the air in all directions.

'''[[CC Antya 14.103|Antya 14.103]]:''' Astonished, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stood up and began looking here and there, trying to see something. But He could not catch sight of it.

'''[[CC Antya 14.104|Antya 14.104]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw all the Vaiṣṇavas, He returned to partial external consciousness and spoke to Svarūpa Dāmodara.

'''[[CC Antya 14.105|Antya 14.105]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Who has brought Me here from Govardhana Hill? I was seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa's pastimes, but now I cannot see them.

'''[[CC Antya 14.106|Antya 14.106]]:''' "Today I went from here to Govardhana Hill to find out if Kṛṣṇa was tending His cows there.

'''[[CC Antya 14.107|Antya 14.107]]:''' "I saw Lord Kṛṣṇa climbing Govardhana Hill and playing His flute, surrounded on all sides by grazing cows.

'''[[CC Antya 14.108|Antya 14.108]]:''' "Hearing the vibration of Kṛṣṇa's flute, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and all Her gopī friends came there to meet Him. They were all very nicely dressed.

'''[[CC Antya 14.109|Antya 14.109]]:''' "When Kṛṣṇa and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī entered a cave together, the other gopīs asked Me to pick some flowers.

'''[[CC Antya 14.110|Antya 14.110]]:''' "Just then, all of you made a tumultuous sound and carried Me from there to this place.

'''[[CC Antya 14.111|Antya 14.111]]:''' "Why have you brought Me here, causing Me unnecessary pain? I had a chance to see Kṛṣṇa's pastimes, but I could not see them."

'''[[CC Antya 14.112|Antya 14.112]]:''' Saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to weep. When all the Vaiṣṇavas saw the Lord's condition, they also wept.

'''[[CC Antya 14.113|Antya 14.113]]:''' At that time, Paramānanda Purī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī arrived. Seeing them, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became somewhat respectful.

'''[[CC Antya 14.114|Antya 14.114]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to complete external consciousness and immediately offered prayers to them. Then these two elderly gentlemen both embraced the Lord with loving affection.

'''[[CC Antya 14.115|Antya 14.115]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said to Purī Gosvāmī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī, "Why have the two of you come so far?"Purī Gosvāmī replied, "Just to see Your dancing."

'''[[CC Antya 14.116|Antya 14.116]]:''' When He heard this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt somewhat ashamed. Then He went to bathe in the sea with all the Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Antya 14.117|Antya 14.117]]:''' After bathing in the sea, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to His residence with all the devotees. Then they all lunched on the remnants of food offered to Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Antya 14.118|Antya 14.118]]:''' Thus I have described the transcendental ecstatic emotions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Even Lord Brahmā cannot describe their influence.

'''[[CC Antya 14.119|Antya 14.119]]:''' In his book Gaurāńga-stava-kalpavṛkṣa, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī has very vividly described Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's pastime of running toward the Caṭaka-parvata sand dune.

'''[[CC Antya 14.120|Antya 14.120]]:''' "Near Jagannātha Purī is a great sand dune known as Caṭaka-parvata. Seeing that hill, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, 'Oh, I shall go to the land of Vraja to see Govardhana Hill!' Then He began running madly toward it, and all the Vaiṣṇavas ran after Him. This scene awakens in my heart and maddens me."

'''[[CC Antya 14.121|Antya 14.121]]:''' Who can properly describe all the uncommon pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu? They are all simply His play.

'''[[CC Antya 14.122|Antya 14.122]]:''' I have briefly described them just to give an indication of His transcendental pastimes. Nevertheless, anyone who hears this will certainly attain the shelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet.

'''[[CC Antya 14.123|Antya 14.123]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 13|Antya-līlā 13]] '''[[CC Antya 13|Antya-līlā 13]] - [[CC Antya 15|Antya-līlā 15]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 15|Antya-līlā 15]]</div>

CC Antya 13

2026-06-04T18:31:05Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 13 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 13|1]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 13: Pastimes with Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī'''</div>
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'''[[CC Antya 13 Summary|Antya 13 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 13.1|Antya 13.1]]:''' Let me take shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Gauracandra. His mind became exhausted and His body very thin from the pain of separation from Kṛṣṇa, but when He felt ecstatic love for the Lord, He again became fully developed.

'''[[CC Antya 13.2|Antya 13.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of the Lord!

'''[[CC Antya 13.3|Antya 13.3]]:''' In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would taste various transcendental relationships of pure love in the company of Jagadānanda Paṇḍita.

'''[[CC Antya 13.4|Antya 13.4]]:''' The unhappiness of separation from Kṛṣṇa exhausted the Lord's mind and reduced the structure of His body, but when He felt emotions of ecstatic love, He again became developed and healthy.

'''[[CC Antya 13.5|Antya 13.5]]:''' Because He was very thin, when He lay down to rest on the dry bark of plantain trees, it caused Him pain in His bones.

'''[[CC Antya 13.6|Antya 13.6]]:''' All the devotees felt very unhappy to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in pain. Indeed, they could not tolerate it. Then Jagadānanda Paṇḍita devised a remedy.

'''[[CC Antya 13.7|Antya 13.7]]:''' He acquired some fine cloth and colored it with red oxide. Then he filled it with cotton from a śimula tree.

'''[[CC Antya 13.8|Antya 13.8]]:''' In this way he made a quilt and a pillow, which he then gave to Govinda, saying, "Ask the Lord to lie on this."

'''[[CC Antya 13.9|Antya 13.9]]:''' Jagadānanda said to Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, "Today please personally persuade Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to lie down on the bed."

'''[[CC Antya 13.10|Antya 13.10]]:''' When it was time for the Lord to go to bed, Svarūpa Dāmodara stayed nearby, but when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the quilt and pillow, He was immediately very angry.

'''[[CC Antya 13.11|Antya 13.11]]:''' The Lord inquired from Govinda, "Who has made this?" When Govinda named Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was somewhat fearful.

'''[[CC Antya 13.12|Antya 13.12]]:''' After asking Govinda to put aside the quilt and pillow, the Lord lay down on the dry plantain bark.

'''[[CC Antya 13.13|Antya 13.13]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara said to the Lord, "I cannot contradict Your supreme will, my Lord, but if You do not accept the bedding, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita will feel great unhappiness."

'''[[CC Antya 13.14|Antya 13.14]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "You might as well bring a bedstead here for Me to lie on. Jagadānanda wants Me to enjoy material happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 13.15|Antya 13.15]]:''' "I am in the renounced order, and therefore I must lie on the floor. For Me to use a bedstead, quilt or pillow would be very shameful."

'''[[CC Antya 13.16|Antya 13.16]]:''' When Svarūpa Dāmodara returned and related all these incidents, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita felt very unhappy.

'''[[CC Antya 13.17|Antya 13.17]]:''' Then Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī devised another method. First he secured a large quantity of dry banana leaves.

'''[[CC Antya 13.18|Antya 13.18]]:''' He then tore the leaves into very fine fibers with his nails and filled two of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's outer garments with the fibers.

'''[[CC Antya 13.19|Antya 13.19]]:''' In this way, Svarūpa Dāmodara made some bedding and a pillow, and after much endeavor by the devotees, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted them.

'''[[CC Antya 13.20|Antya 13.20]]:''' Everyone was happy to see the Lord lie down on that bed, but Jagadānanda was inwardly angry, and externally he appeared very unhappy.

'''[[CC Antya 13.21|Antya 13.21]]:''' Formerly, when Jagadānanda Paṇḍita had desired to go to Vṛndāvana, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had not given His permission, and therefore he could not go.

'''[[CC Antya 13.22|Antya 13.22]]:''' Now, concealing his anger and unhappiness, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita again asked Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for permission to go to Mathurā.

'''[[CC Antya 13.23|Antya 13.23]]:''' With great affection, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "If you are angry with Me when you go to Mathurā, you will merely become a beggar and criticize Me."

'''[[CC Antya 13.24|Antya 13.24]]:''' Grasping the Lord's feet, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita then said, "For a long time I have desired to go to Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Antya 13.25|Antya 13.25]]:''' "I could not go without Your Lordship's permission. Now You must give me permission, and I shall certainly go there."

'''[[CC Antya 13.26|Antya 13.26]]:''' Because of affection for Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would not permit him to depart, but Jagadānanda Paṇḍita repeatedly insisted that the Lord give him permission to go.

'''[[CC Antya 13.27|Antya 13.27]]:''' Jagadānanda then submitted a plea to Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī. "For a very long time," he said, "I have wanted to go to Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Antya 13.28|Antya 13.28]]:''' "I cannot go there, however, without the Lord's permission, which at present He denies me. He says, 'You are going because you are angry at Me.'

'''[[CC Antya 13.29|Antya 13.29]]:''' "Naturally I have a desire to go to Vṛndāvana; therefore please humbly request Him to grant His permission."

'''[[CC Antya 13.30|Antya 13.30]]:''' Thereafter, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī submitted this appeal at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu: "Jagadānanda Paṇḍita intensely desires to go to Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Antya 13.31|Antya 13.31]]:''' "He begs for Your permission again and again. Therefore, please permit him to go to Mathurā and then return.

'''[[CC Antya 13.32|Antya 13.32]]:''' "You permitted him to go see mother Śacī in Bengal, and You may similarly permit him to go see Vṛndāvana and then return here."

'''[[CC Antya 13.33|Antya 13.33]]:''' At the request of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu granted Jagadānanda Paṇḍita permission to go. The Lord sent for him and instructed him as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 13.34|Antya 13.34]]:''' "You may go as far as Vārāṇasī without encountering disturbances, but beyond Vārāṇasī you should be very careful to travel on the path in the company of the kṣatriyas.

'''[[CC Antya 13.35|Antya 13.35]]:''' "As soon as the plunderers on the road see a Bengali traveling alone, they take everything from him, arrest him and do not let him go.

'''[[CC Antya 13.36|Antya 13.36]]:''' "When you reach Mathurā, you should remain with Sanātana Gosvāmī and offer respectful obeisances to the feet of all the leading men there.

'''[[CC Antya 13.37|Antya 13.37]]:''' "Do not mix freely with the residents of Mathurā; show them respect from a distance. Because you are on a different platform of devotional service, you cannot adopt their behavior and practices.

'''[[CC Antya 13.38|Antya 13.38]]:''' "Visit all twelve forests of Vṛndāvana in the company of Sanātana Gosvāmī. Do not leave his association for even a moment.

'''[[CC Antya 13.39|Antya 13.39]]:''' "You should remain in Vṛndāvana for only a short time and then return here as soon as possible. Also, do not climb Govardhana Hill to see the Gopāla Deity.

'''[[CC Antya 13.40|Antya 13.40]]:''' "Inform Sanātana Gosvāmī that I am coming to Vṛndāvana for a second time and that he should therefore arrange a place for Me to stay."

'''[[CC Antya 13.41|Antya 13.41]]:''' After saying this, the Lord embraced Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, who then worshiped the Lord's lotus feet and started for Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Antya 13.42|Antya 13.42]]:''' He took permission from all the devotees and then departed. Traveling on the forest path, he soon reached Vārāṇasī.

'''[[CC Antya 13.43|Antya 13.43]]:''' When he met Tapana Miśra and Candraśekhara in Vārāṇasī, they heard from him about topics concerning Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 13.44|Antya 13.44]]:''' Finally Jagadānanda Paṇḍita reached Mathurā, where he met Sanātana Gosvāmī. They were very pleased to see each other.

'''[[CC Antya 13.45|Antya 13.45]]:''' After Sanātana Gosvāmī had taken Jagadānanda to see all twelve forests of Vṛndāvana, concluding with Mahāvana, the two of them remained in Gokula.

'''[[CC Antya 13.46|Antya 13.46]]:''' They stayed in Sanātana Gosvāmī's cave, but Jagadānanda Paṇḍita would go to a nearby temple and cook for himself.

'''[[CC Antya 13.47|Antya 13.47]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī would beg alms from door to door in the vicinity of Mahāvana. Sometimes he would go to a temple and sometimes to a brāhmaṇa's house.

'''[[CC Antya 13.48|Antya 13.48]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī attended to all of Jagadānanda Paṇḍita's needs. He begged in the area of Mahāvana and brought Jagadānanda all kinds of things to eat and drink.

'''[[CC Antya 13.49|Antya 13.49]]:''' One day Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, having invited Sanātana to the nearby temple for lunch, finished his routine duties and began to cook.

'''[[CC Antya 13.50|Antya 13.50]]:''' Previously, a great sannyāsī named Mukunda Sarasvatī had given Sanātana Gosvāmī an outer garment.

'''[[CC Antya 13.51|Antya 13.51]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī was wearing this cloth bound about his head when he came to Jagadānanda Paṇḍita's door and sat down.

'''[[CC Antya 13.52|Antya 13.52]]:''' Assuming the reddish cloth to be a gift from Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita was overwhelmed with ecstatic love. Thus he questioned Sanātana Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 13.53|Antya 13.53]]:''' "Where did you get that reddish cloth on your head?" Jagadānanda asked.Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, "Mukunda Sarasvatī gave it to me."

'''[[CC Antya 13.54|Antya 13.54]]:''' Hearing this, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita immediately became very angry and took a cooking pot in his hand, intending to beat Sanātana Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 13.55|Antya 13.55]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī, however, knew Jagadānanda Paṇḍita very well and was consequently somewhat ashamed. Jagadānanda therefore left the cooking pot on the stove and spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 13.56|Antya 13.56]]:''' "You are one of the chief associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Indeed, no one is dearer to Him than you.

'''[[CC Antya 13.57|Antya 13.57]]:''' "Still, you have bound your head with a cloth given to you by another sannyāsī. Who can tolerate such behavior?"

'''[[CC Antya 13.58|Antya 13.58]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī said, "My dear Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, you are a greatly learned saint. No one is dearer to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu than you.

'''[[CC Antya 13.59|Antya 13.59]]:''' "This faith in Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu quite befits you. Unless you demonstrate it, how could I learn such faith?

'''[[CC Antya 13.60|Antya 13.60]]:''' "My purpose in binding my head with the cloth has now been fulfilled because I have personally seen your uncommon love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 13.61|Antya 13.61]]:''' "This saffron cloth is unfit for a Vaiṣṇava to wear; therefore I have no use for it. I shall give it to a stranger."

'''[[CC Antya 13.62|Antya 13.62]]:''' When Jagadānanda Paṇḍita finished cooking, he offered the food to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then he and Sanātana Gosvāmī sat down and ate the prasādam.

'''[[CC Antya 13.63|Antya 13.63]]:''' After eating the prasādam, they embraced each other and cried due to separation from Lord Caitanya.

'''[[CC Antya 13.64|Antya 13.64]]:''' They passed two months in Vṛndāvana in this way. Finally they could no longer tolerate the unhappiness of separation from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 13.65|Antya 13.65]]:''' Jagadānanda Paṇḍita therefore gave Sanātana Gosvāmī the message from the Lord: "I am also coming to Vṛndāvana; please arrange a place for Me to stay."

'''[[CC Antya 13.66|Antya 13.66]]:''' When Sanātana Gosvāmī granted permission for Jagadānanda to return to Jagannātha Purī, he gave Jagadānanda some gifts for Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 13.67|Antya 13.67]]:''' The gifts consisted of some sand from the site of the rāsa-līlā, a stone from Govardhana Hill, dry ripened pīlu fruits and a garland of small conchshells.

'''[[CC Antya 13.68|Antya 13.68]]:''' Thus Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, bearing all these gifts, started on his journey. Sanātana Gosvāmī, however, was very much agitated after bidding him farewell.

'''[[CC Antya 13.69|Antya 13.69]]:''' Soon afterward, Sanātana Gosvāmī selected a place where Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could stay while in Vṛndāvana. It was a temple in the highlands named Dvādaśāditya-ṭilā.

'''[[CC Antya 13.70|Antya 13.70]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī kept the temple very clean and in good repair. In front of it he erected a small hut.

'''[[CC Antya 13.71|Antya 13.71]]:''' Meanwhile, traveling very quickly, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita soon arrived in Jagannātha Purī, much to the joy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 13.72|Antya 13.72]]:''' After offering prayers at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita greeted everyone. Then the Lord embraced Jagadānanda very strongly.

'''[[CC Antya 13.73|Antya 13.73]]:''' Jagadānanda Paṇḍita offered obeisances to the Lord on behalf of Sanātana Gosvāmī. Then he gave the Lord the dust from the site of the rāsa dance, along with the other gifts.

'''[[CC Antya 13.74|Antya 13.74]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu kept all the gifts except the pīlu fruits, which He distributed to the devotees. Because the fruits were from Vṛndāvana, everyone ate them with great happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 13.75|Antya 13.75]]:''' Those devotees who were familiar with pīlu fruits sucked on the seeds, but the Bengali devotees who did not know what they were chewed the seeds and swallowed them.

'''[[CC Antya 13.76|Antya 13.76]]:''' The hot chili-like taste burned the tongues of those who chewed the seeds. Thus the eating of pīlu fruits from Vṛndāvana became a pastime of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's.

'''[[CC Antya 13.77|Antya 13.77]]:''' When Jagadānanda Paṇḍita returned from Vṛndāvana, everyone was jubilant. Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu enjoyed His pastimes while residing at Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Antya 13.78|Antya 13.78]]:''' One day when the Lord was going to the temple of Yameśvara, a female singer began to sing in the Jagannātha temple.

'''[[CC Antya 13.79|Antya 13.79]]:''' She sang a gujjarī tune in a very sweet voice, and because the subject was Jayadeva Gosvāmī's Gīta-govinda, the song attracted the attention of the entire world.

'''[[CC Antya 13.80|Antya 13.80]]:''' Hearing the song from a distance, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately became ecstatic. He did not know whether it was a man or a woman singing.

'''[[CC Antya 13.81|Antya 13.81]]:''' As the Lord ran in ecstasy to meet the singer, thorny hedges pricked His body.

'''[[CC Antya 13.82|Antya 13.82]]:''' Govinda ran very quickly behind the Lord, who did not feel any pain from the pricking of the thorns.

'''[[CC Antya 13.83|Antya 13.83]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was running very rapidly, and the girl was only a short distance away. Just then Govinda caught the Lord in his arms and cried, "It is a woman singing!"

'''[[CC Antya 13.84|Antya 13.84]]:''' As soon as He heard the word "woman," the Lord became externally conscious and turned back.

'''[[CC Antya 13.85|Antya 13.85]]:''' "My dear Govinda," He said, "you have saved My life. If I had touched the body of a woman, I would certainly have died.

'''[[CC Antya 13.86|Antya 13.86]]:''' "I shall never be able to repay My debt to you."Govinda replied, "Lord Jagannātha has saved You. I am insignificant."

'''[[CC Antya 13.87|Antya 13.87]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "My dear Govinda, you should stay with Me always. There is danger anywhere and everywhere; therefore you should protect Me very carefully."

'''[[CC Antya 13.88|Antya 13.88]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned home. When Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and His other attendants heard about the incident, they became very much afraid.

'''[[CC Antya 13.89|Antya 13.89]]:''' During this time, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭācārya, the son of Tapana Miśra, gave up all his duties and left home, intending to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 13.90|Antya 13.90]]:''' Accompanied by a servant carrying his baggage, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa started from Vārāṇasī and traveled along the path leading through Bengal.

'''[[CC Antya 13.91|Antya 13.91]]:''' In Bengal he met Rāmadāsa Viśvāsa, who belonged to the kāyastha caste. He was one of the king's secretaries.

'''[[CC Antya 13.92|Antya 13.92]]:''' Rāmadāsa Viśvāsa was very learned in all the revealed scriptures. He was a teacher of the famous book Kāvya-prakāśa and was known as an advanced devotee and worshiper of Raghunātha [Lord Rāmacandra].

'''[[CC Antya 13.93|Antya 13.93]]:''' Rāmadāsa had renounced everything and was going to see Lord Jagannātha. While traveling, he chanted the holy name of Lord Rāma twenty-four hours a day.

'''[[CC Antya 13.94|Antya 13.94]]:''' When he met Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa on the way, he took Raghunātha's baggage on his head and carried it.

'''[[CC Antya 13.95|Antya 13.95]]:''' Rāmadāsa served Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa in various ways, even massaging his legs. Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa felt some hesitation in accepting all this service.

'''[[CC Antya 13.96|Antya 13.96]]:''' "You are a respectable gentleman, a learned scholar and a great devotee," Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa said. "Please do not try to serve me. Just come with me in a happy mood."

'''[[CC Antya 13.97|Antya 13.97]]:''' Rāmadāsa replied, "I am a śūdra, a fallen soul. To serve a brāhmaṇa is my duty and religious principle.

'''[[CC Antya 13.98|Antya 13.98]]:''' "Therefore please do not be hesitant. I am your servant, and when I serve you my heart becomes jubilant."

'''[[CC Antya 13.99|Antya 13.99]]:''' Thus Rāmadāsa carried the baggage of Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa and served him sincerely. He constantly chanted the holy name of Lord Rāmacandra day and night.

'''[[CC Antya 13.100|Antya 13.100]]:''' Traveling in this way, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa soon arrived at Jagannātha Purī. There he met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with great delight and fell at His lotus feet.

'''[[CC Antya 13.101|Antya 13.101]]:''' Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa fell straight as a rod at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then the Lord embraced him, knowing well who he was.

'''[[CC Antya 13.102|Antya 13.102]]:''' Raghunātha offered respectful obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu on behalf of Tapana Miśra and Candraśekhara, and the Lord also inquired about them.

'''[[CC Antya 13.103|Antya 13.103]]:''' "It is very good that you have come here," the Lord said. "Now go see the lotus-eyed Lord Jagannātha. Today you will accept prasādam here at My place."

'''[[CC Antya 13.104|Antya 13.104]]:''' The Lord asked Govinda to arrange for Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa's accommodations and then introduced him to all the devotees, headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 13.105|Antya 13.105]]:''' Thus Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa lived with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continuously for eight months, and by the Lord's mercy he felt increasing transcendental happiness every day.

'''[[CC Antya 13.106|Antya 13.106]]:''' He would periodically cook rice with various vegetables and invite Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home.

'''[[CC Antya 13.107|Antya 13.107]]:''' Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa was an expert cook. Whatever he prepared tasted just like nectar.

'''[[CC Antya 13.108|Antya 13.108]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would accept with great satisfaction all the food he prepared. After the Lord was satisfied, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa would eat His remnants.

'''[[CC Antya 13.109|Antya 13.109]]:''' When Rāmadāsa Viśvāsa met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord did not show him any special mercy, although this was their first meeting.

'''[[CC Antya 13.110|Antya 13.110]]:''' Within his heart, Rāmadāsa Viśvāsa was an impersonalist who desired to merge into the existence of the Lord, and he was very proud of his learning. Since Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the omniscient Supreme Personality of Godhead, He can understand the heart of everyone, and thus He knew all these things.

'''[[CC Antya 13.111|Antya 13.111]]:''' Rāmadāsa Viśvāsa then took up residence in Jagannātha Purī and taught the Kāvya-prakāśa to the Paṭṭanāyaka family [the descendants of Bhavānanda Rāya].

'''[[CC Antya 13.112|Antya 13.112]]:''' After eight months, when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade farewell to Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, the Lord flatly forbade him to marry. "Do not marry," the Lord said.

'''[[CC Antya 13.113|Antya 13.113]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said to Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, "When you return home, serve your aged father and mother, who are devotees, and try to study Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from a pure Vaiṣṇava who has realized God."

'''[[CC Antya 13.114|Antya 13.114]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu concluded, "Come again to Nīlācala [Jagannātha Purī]." After saying this, the Lord put His own neck beads on Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa's neck.

'''[[CC Antya 13.115|Antya 13.115]]:''' Then the Lord embraced him and bade him farewell. Overwhelmed with ecstatic love, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa began to cry due to imminent separation from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 13.116|Antya 13.116]]:''' After taking permission from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and all the devotees, headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa returned to Vārāṇasī.

'''[[CC Antya 13.117|Antya 13.117]]:''' In accordance with the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he continuously rendered service to his mother and father for four years. He also regularly studied Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from a self-realized Vaiṣṇava.

'''[[CC Antya 13.118|Antya 13.118]]:''' Then his parents died at Kāśī [Vārāṇasī], and he became detached. He therefore returned to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, giving up all relationships with his home.

'''[[CC Antya 13.119|Antya 13.119]]:''' As previously, Raghunātha remained continuously with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for eight months. Then the Lord gave him the following order.

'''[[CC Antya 13.120|Antya 13.120]]:''' "My dear Raghunātha, on My order go to Vṛndāvana and live there under the care of Rūpa and Sanātana Gosvāmīs.

'''[[CC Antya 13.121|Antya 13.121]]:''' "In Vṛndāvana you should chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra twenty-four hours a day and read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam continuously. Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, will very soon bestow His mercy upon you."

'''[[CC Antya 13.122|Antya 13.122]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, and by the Lord's mercy Raghunātha was enlivened with ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 13.123|Antya 13.123]]:''' At a festival Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had been given some unspiced betel and a garland of tulasī leaves fourteen cubits long. The garland had been worn by Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Antya 13.124|Antya 13.124]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave the garland and betel to Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, who accepted them as a worshipable Deity and preserved them very carefully.

'''[[CC Antya 13.125|Antya 13.125]]:''' Taking permission from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa then departed for Vṛndāvana. When he arrived there, he put himself under the care of Rūpa and Sanātana Gosvāmīs.

'''[[CC Antya 13.126|Antya 13.126]]:''' When reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the company of Rūpa and Sanātana, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa would be overwhelmed with ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 13.127|Antya 13.127]]:''' By the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he experienced the symptoms of ecstatic love — tears, trembling and faltering of the voice. His eyes filled with tears and his throat became choked, and thus he could not recite Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

'''[[CC Antya 13.128|Antya 13.128]]:''' His voice was as sweet as a cuckoo's, and he would recite each verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in three or four tunes. Thus his recitations were very sweet to hear.

'''[[CC Antya 13.129|Antya 13.129]]:''' When he recited or heard about the beauty and sweetness of Kṛṣṇa, he would be overwhelmed with ecstatic love and become oblivious to everything.

'''[[CC Antya 13.130|Antya 13.130]]:''' Thus Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa surrendered fully at the lotus feet of Lord Govinda, and those lotus feet became his life and soul.

'''[[CC Antya 13.131|Antya 13.131]]:''' Subsequently Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa ordered his disciples to construct a temple for Govinda. He prepared various ornaments for Govinda, including a flute and shark-shaped earrings.

'''[[CC Antya 13.132|Antya 13.132]]:''' Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa would neither hear nor speak about anything of the material world. He would simply discuss Kṛṣṇa and worship the Lord day and night.

'''[[CC Antya 13.133|Antya 13.133]]:''' He would not listen to blasphemy of a Vaiṣṇava, nor would he listen to talk of a Vaiṣṇava's misbehavior. He knew only that everyone was engaged in Kṛṣṇa's service; he did not understand anything else.

'''[[CC Antya 13.134|Antya 13.134]]:''' When Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī was absorbed in remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa, he would take the tulasī garland and the prasādam of Lord Jagannātha given to him by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, bind them together and wear them on his neck.

'''[[CC Antya 13.135|Antya 13.135]]:''' Thus I have described the powerful mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, by which Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī remained constantly overwhelmed with ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 13.136-137|Antya 13.136-137]]:''' In this chapter I have spoken about three topics: Jagadānanda Paṇḍita's visit to Vṛndāvana, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's listening to the song of the deva-dāsī at the temple of Jagannātha, and how Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī achieved ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa by the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 13.138|Antya 13.138]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu [Gaurahari] bestows ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa upon anyone who hears all these topics with faith and love.

'''[[CC Antya 13.139|Antya 13.139]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 12|Antya-līlā 12]] '''[[CC Antya 12|Antya-līlā 12]] - [[CC Antya 14|Antya-līlā 14]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 14|Antya-līlā 14]]</div>

CC Antya 12

2026-06-04T18:31:03Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 12 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 12|1]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 12: The Loving Dealings Between Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Jagadānanda Paṇḍita'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 11|Antya-līlā 11]] '''[[CC Antya 11|Antya-līlā 11]] - [[CC Antya 13|Antya-līlā 13]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 13|Antya-līlā 13]]</div>

'''[[CC Antya 12 Summary|Antya 12 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 12.1|Antya 12.1]]:''' O devotees, may the transcendental life and characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu always be heard, chanted and meditated upon with great happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 12.2|Antya 12.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is all-merciful! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu, who is an ocean of mercy!

'''[[CC Antya 12.3|Antya 12.3]]:''' All glories to Advaita Ācārya, who is also an ocean of mercy! All glories to all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, whose hearts are always filled with mercy!

'''[[CC Antya 12.4|Antya 12.4]]:''' The mind of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was always morose because of a continuously manifested feeling of separation from Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 12.5|Antya 12.5]]:''' The Lord would cry, "O My Lord Kṛṣṇa, My life and soul! O son of Mahārāja Nanda, where shall I go? Where shall I attain You? O Supreme Personality who play with Your flute to Your mouth!"

'''[[CC Antya 12.6|Antya 12.6]]:''' This was His situation day and night. Unable to find peace of mind, He passed His nights with great difficulty in the company of Svarūpa Dāmodara and Rāmānanda Rāya.

'''[[CC Antya 12.7|Antya 12.7]]:''' Meanwhile, all the devotees journeyed from their homes in Bengal to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 12.8|Antya 12.8]]:''' Headed by Śivānanda Sena, Advaita Ācārya and others, all the devotees assembled in Navadvīpa.

'''[[CC Antya 12.9|Antya 12.9]]:''' The inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma and Khaṇḍa village also assembled at Navadvīpa.

'''[[CC Antya 12.10|Antya 12.10]]:''' Because Nityānanda Prabhu was preaching in Bengal, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had ordered Him not to come to Jagannātha Purī. That year, however, He went with the rest of the party to see the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 12.11|Antya 12.11]]:''' Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura was also there with his three brothers and his wife, Mālinī. Ācāryaratna was similarly accompanied by his wife.

'''[[CC Antya 12.12|Antya 12.12]]:''' The wife of Śivānanda Sena also came, along with their three sons. Rāghava Paṇḍita joined them, carrying his famous bags of food.

'''[[CC Antya 12.13|Antya 12.13]]:''' Vāsudeva Datta, Murāri Gupta, Vidyānidhi and many other devotees went to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. All together, they numbered two or three hundred.

'''[[CC Antya 12.14|Antya 12.14]]:''' The devotees first saw Śacīmātā and took her permission. Then in great happiness they started for Jagannātha Purī, congregationally chanting the holy name of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 12.15|Antya 12.15]]:''' Śivānanda Sena managed the payment of tolls at different places. Maintaining everyone, he guided all the devotees in great happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 12.16|Antya 12.16]]:''' Śivānanda Sena took care of everyone and gave each devotee places to stay. He knew all the paths leading to Orissa.

'''[[CC Antya 12.17|Antya 12.17]]:''' One day when the party was being checked by a toll collector, the devotees were allowed to pass, and Śivānanda Sena remained behind alone to pay the taxes.

'''[[CC Antya 12.18|Antya 12.18]]:''' The party went into a village and waited beneath a tree because no one but Śivānanda Sena could arrange for their residential quarters.

'''[[CC Antya 12.19|Antya 12.19]]:''' Nityānanda Prabhu meanwhile became very hungry and upset. Because He had not yet obtained a suitable residence, He began calling Śivānanda Sena ill names.

'''[[CC Antya 12.20|Antya 12.20]]:''' "Śivānanda Sena has not arranged for My residence," He complained, "and I am so hungry I could die. Because he has not come, I curse his three sons to die."

'''[[CC Antya 12.21|Antya 12.21]]:''' Hearing this curse, Śivānanda Sena's wife began to cry. Just then, Śivānanda returned from the toll station.

'''[[CC Antya 12.22|Antya 12.22]]:''' Crying, his wife informed him, "Lord Nityānanda has cursed our sons to die because His quarters have not been provided."

'''[[CC Antya 12.23|Antya 12.23]]:''' Śivānanda Sena replied, "You crazy woman! Why are you needlessly crying? Let my three sons die for all the inconvenience we have caused Nityānanda Prabhu."

'''[[CC Antya 12.24|Antya 12.24]]:''' After saying this, Śivānanda Sena went to Nityānanda Prabhu, who then stood up and kicked him.

'''[[CC Antya 12.25|Antya 12.25]]:''' Very pleased at being kicked, Śivānanda Sena quickly arranged for a milkman's house to be the Lord's residence.

'''[[CC Antya 12.26|Antya 12.26]]:''' Śivānanda Sena touched the lotus feet of Nityānanda Prabhu and led Him to His residence. After giving the Lord His quarters, Śivānanda Sena, being very pleased, spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 12.27|Antya 12.27]]:''' "Today You have accepted me as Your servant and have properly punished me for my offense.

'''[[CC Antya 12.28|Antya 12.28]]:''' "My dear Lord, Your chastising me is Your causeless mercy. Who within the three worlds can understand Your real character?

'''[[CC Antya 12.29|Antya 12.29]]:''' "The dust of Your lotus feet is not attainable even by Lord Brahmā, yet Your lotus feet have touched my wretched body.

'''[[CC Antya 12.30|Antya 12.30]]:''' "Today my birth, my family and my activities have all become successful. Today I have achieved the fulfillment of religious principles, economic development, satisfaction of the senses and ultimately devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Antya 12.31|Antya 12.31]]:''' When Lord Nityānanda heard this, He was very happy. He rose and embraced Śivānanda Sena in great love.

'''[[CC Antya 12.32|Antya 12.32]]:''' Being very much pleased by Nityānanda Prabhu's behavior, Śivānanda Sena began to arrange residential quarters for all the Vaiṣṇavas, headed by Advaita Ācārya.

'''[[CC Antya 12.33|Antya 12.33]]:''' One of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu's characteristics is His contradictory nature. When He becomes angry and kicks someone, it is actually for his benefit.

'''[[CC Antya 12.34|Antya 12.34]]:''' Śivānanda Sena's nephew, Śrīkānta, the son of his sister, felt offended, and he commented on the matter when his uncle was absent.

'''[[CC Antya 12.35|Antya 12.35]]:''' "My uncle is well known as one of the associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, but Lord Nityānanda Prabhu asserts His superiority by kicking him."

'''[[CC Antya 12.36|Antya 12.36]]:''' After saying this, Śrīkānta, who was only a boy, left the group and traveled on alone to the residence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 12.37|Antya 12.37]]:''' When Śrīkānta offered obeisances to the Lord, he was still wearing his shirt and coat. Therefore Govinda told him, "My dear Śrīkānta, first take off these garments."

'''[[CC Antya 12.38|Antya 12.38]]:''' As Govinda was warning Śrīkānta, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Don't bother him. Let Śrīkānta do whatever he likes, for he has come here in a distressed state of mind."

'''[[CC Antya 12.39|Antya 12.39]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired from Śrīkānta about all the Vaiṣṇavas, and the boy informed the Lord about them, naming them one after another.

'''[[CC Antya 12.40|Antya 12.40]]:''' When Śrīkānta Sena heard the Lord say "He is distressed," he could understand that the Lord is omniscient.

'''[[CC Antya 12.41|Antya 12.41]]:''' As he described the Vaiṣṇavas, therefore, he did not mention Lord Nityānanda's kicking Śivānanda Sena. Meanwhile, all the devotees arrived and went to meet the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 12.42|Antya 12.42]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu received them all, just as He had in previous years. The women, however, saw the Lord from a distance.

'''[[CC Antya 12.43|Antya 12.43]]:''' The Lord again arranged for the residential quarters of all the devotees and thereafter called them to partake of the remnants of food offered to Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Antya 12.44|Antya 12.44]]:''' Śivānanda Sena introduced his three sons to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Because they were his sons, the Lord showed the boys great mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 12.45|Antya 12.45]]:''' Lord Caitanya asked the youngest son's name, and Śivānanda Sena informed the Lord that his name was Paramānanda dāsa.

'''[[CC Antya 12.46-47|Antya 12.46-47]]:''' Once before when Śivānanda Sena had visited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at His residence, the Lord had told him, "When this son is born, give him the name Purī dāsa."

'''[[CC Antya 12.48|Antya 12.48]]:''' The son was in the womb of Śivānanda's wife, and when Śivānanda returned home the son was born.

'''[[CC Antya 12.49|Antya 12.49]]:''' The child was named Paramānanda dāsa in accordance with the Lord's order, and the Lord jokingly called him Purī dāsa.

'''[[CC Antya 12.50|Antya 12.50]]:''' When Śivānanda Sena introduced the child to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord put His toe in the child's mouth.

'''[[CC Antya 12.51|Antya 12.51]]:''' No one can cross over the ocean of Śivānanda Sena's good fortune, for the Lord considered Śivānanda's whole family His own.

'''[[CC Antya 12.52|Antya 12.52]]:''' The Lord ate lunch in the company of all the devotees, and after washing His hands and mouth He gave an order to Govinda.

'''[[CC Antya 12.53|Antya 12.53]]:''' "As long as Śivānanda Sena's wife and children stay in Jagannātha Purī," He said, "they must be given the remnants of My food."

'''[[CC Antya 12.54|Antya 12.54]]:''' There was a resident of Nadia named Parameśvara, who was a confectioner living near the home of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 12.55|Antya 12.55]]:''' When the Lord was a boy, He would visit the house of Parameśvara Modaka again and again. The confectioner would supply the Lord milk and sweetmeats, and the Lord would eat them.

'''[[CC Antya 12.56|Antya 12.56]]:''' Parameśvara Modaka had been affectionate toward the Lord since His childhood, and he was one of those who came that year to see the Lord at Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Antya 12.57|Antya 12.57]]:''' When he offered his obeisances to the Lord, he said, "I am the same Parameśvara." Upon seeing him, the Lord asked him questions with great affection.

'''[[CC Antya 12.58|Antya 12.58]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Parameśvara, may you be blessed. It is very good that you have come here."Parameśvara then informed the Lord, "Mukundāra Mātā has also come."

'''[[CC Antya 12.59|Antya 12.59]]:''' Hearing the name of Mukundāra Mātā, Lord Caitanya hesitated, but because of affection for Parameśvara, He did not say anything.

'''[[CC Antya 12.60|Antya 12.60]]:''' An intimate relationship sometimes makes a person overstep formal etiquette. Thus Parameśvara actually pleased the Lord in His heart by his simple and affectionate behavior.

'''[[CC Antya 12.61|Antya 12.61]]:''' All the devotees engaged in the cleansing ceremony of the Guṇḍicā temple and danced in front of the Ratha-yātrā chariot, just as they had done in the past.

'''[[CC Antya 12.62|Antya 12.62]]:''' For four consecutive months, the devotees observed all the festivals. The wives, such as Mālinī, extended invitations for lunch to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 12.63|Antya 12.63]]:''' From Bengal the devotees had brought varieties of Bengali food that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu liked. They also cooked various grains and vegetables in their homes and offered them to the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 12.64|Antya 12.64]]:''' During the day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu engaged in various activities with His devotees, but at night He felt great separation from Kṛṣṇa and used to cry.

'''[[CC Antya 12.65|Antya 12.65]]:''' In this way the Lord spent the four months of the rainy season in various pastimes, and then He ordered the Bengali devotees to return to their homes.

'''[[CC Antya 12.66|Antya 12.66]]:''' All the devotees from Bengal would regularly invite Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for lunch, and the Lord would speak to them in very sweet words.

'''[[CC Antya 12.67|Antya 12.67]]:''' "All of you come to see Me every year," the Lord said. "To come here and then return must certainly give you great trouble.

'''[[CC Antya 12.68|Antya 12.68]]:''' "I would like to forbid you to do this, but I enjoy your company so much that My desire for your association only increases.

'''[[CC Antya 12.69|Antya 12.69]]:''' "I ordered Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu not to leave Bengal, but He has transgressed My order and come to see Me. What can I say?

'''[[CC Antya 12.70|Antya 12.70]]:''' "Out of His causeless mercy upon Me, Advaita Ācārya has also come here. I am indebted to Him for His affectionate behavior. This debt is impossible for Me to liquidate.

'''[[CC Antya 12.71|Antya 12.71]]:''' "All My devotees come here just for Me. Leaving aside their homes and families, they travel by very difficult paths to come here in great haste.

'''[[CC Antya 12.72|Antya 12.72]]:''' "There is no fatigue or trouble for Me, for I stay here at Nīlācala, Jagannātha Purī, and do not move at all. This is the favor of all of you.

'''[[CC Antya 12.73|Antya 12.73]]:''' "I am a mendicant and have no money. How can I clear My debt for the favor you have shown Me?

'''[[CC Antya 12.74|Antya 12.74]]:''' "I have only this body, and therefore I surrender it unto you. Now, if you wish, you may sell it anywhere you like. It is your property."

'''[[CC Antya 12.75|Antya 12.75]]:''' When all the devotees heard these sweet words of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, their hearts melted, and they began to shed incessant tears.

'''[[CC Antya 12.76|Antya 12.76]]:''' Catching hold of His devotees, the Lord embraced them all and began to cry and cry.

'''[[CC Antya 12.77|Antya 12.77]]:''' Unable to leave, everyone remained there, and five to seven more days thus passed by.

'''[[CC Antya 12.78|Antya 12.78]]:''' Advaita Prabhu and Lord Nityānanda Prabhu submitted these words at the lotus feet of the Lord: "The entire world is naturally obligated to You for Your transcendental attributes.

'''[[CC Antya 12.79|Antya 12.79]]:''' "Yet You bind Your devotees again with Your sweet words. Under these circumstances, who can go anywhere?"

'''[[CC Antya 12.80|Antya 12.80]]:''' Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu peacefully calmed them all and bade each of them farewell.

'''[[CC Antya 12.81|Antya 12.81]]:''' The Lord specifically advised Nityānanda Prabhu, "You should not come here again and again. You will have My association in Bengal."

'''[[CC Antya 12.82|Antya 12.82]]:''' The devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began their journey crying, while the Lord remained morosely at His residence.

'''[[CC Antya 12.83|Antya 12.83]]:''' The Lord bound everyone by His transcendental mercy. Who can repay his debt for the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu?

'''[[CC Antya 12.84|Antya 12.84]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the fully independent Personality of Godhead and makes everyone dance as He likes. Leaving His company, therefore, all the devotees returned to their homes in different parts of the country.

'''[[CC Antya 12.85|Antya 12.85]]:''' As a wooden doll dances to the will of a puppeteer, everything is accomplished by the will of the Lord. Who can understand the characteristics of the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

'''[[CC Antya 12.86|Antya 12.86]]:''' The previous year, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, following the Lord's order, had returned to the city of Nadia to see Śacīmātā.

'''[[CC Antya 12.87|Antya 12.87]]:''' When he arrived, he offered prayers at her lotus feet and then offered her the cloth and prasādam of Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Antya 12.88|Antya 12.88]]:''' He offered obeisances to Śacīmātā in the name of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and informed her of all the Lord's submissive prayers to her.

'''[[CC Antya 12.89|Antya 12.89]]:''' Jagadānanda's coming pleased mother Śacī very much. As he talked of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, she listened day and night.

'''[[CC Antya 12.90|Antya 12.90]]:''' Jagadānanda Paṇḍita said, "My dear mother, sometimes the Lord comes here and eats all the food you have offered.

'''[[CC Antya 12.91|Antya 12.91]]:''' "After eating the food, the Lord says, 'Today Mother has fed Me up to My neck.

'''[[CC Antya 12.92|Antya 12.92]]:''' "'I go there and eat the food My mother offers, but she cannot understand that I am eating it directly. She thinks that this is a dream.'"

'''[[CC Antya 12.93|Antya 12.93]]:''' Śacīmātā said, "I wish Nimāi would eat all the nice vegetables I cook. That is my desire.

'''[[CC Antya 12.94|Antya 12.94]]:''' "Sometimes I think that Nimāi has eaten them, but afterwards I think that I was only dreaming."

'''[[CC Antya 12.95|Antya 12.95]]:''' In this way, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and mother Śacī talked day and night about the happiness of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 12.96|Antya 12.96]]:''' Jagadānanda Paṇḍita met all the other devotees in Nadia. They were all very happy to have him present.

'''[[CC Antya 12.97|Antya 12.97]]:''' Jagadānanda Paṇḍita thereafter went to meet Advaita Ācārya, who also was very happy to have him.

'''[[CC Antya 12.98|Antya 12.98]]:''' Vāsudeva Datta and Murāri Gupta were so pleased to see Jagadānanda Paṇḍita that they kept him at their homes and would not allow him to leave.

'''[[CC Antya 12.99|Antya 12.99]]:''' They heard confidential narrations about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu from the mouth of Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and forgot themselves in the great happiness of hearing about the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 12.100|Antya 12.100]]:''' Whenever Jagadānanda Paṇḍita went to visit a devotee's house, that devotee immediately forgot himself in great happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 12.101|Antya 12.101]]:''' All glories to Jagadānanda Paṇḍita! He is so favored by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that anyone who meets him thinks, "Now I have gotten the association of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu directly."

'''[[CC Antya 12.102|Antya 12.102]]:''' Jagadānanda Paṇḍita stayed at the house of Śivānanda Sena for some time, and they prepared about sixteen seers of scented sandalwood oil.

'''[[CC Antya 12.103|Antya 12.103]]:''' They filled a large earthen pot with the aromatic oil, and with great care Jagadānanda Paṇḍita brought it to Nīlācala, Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Antya 12.104|Antya 12.104]]:''' This oil was placed in the care of Govinda, and Jagadānanda requested him, "Please rub this oil on the body of the Lord."

'''[[CC Antya 12.105|Antya 12.105]]:''' Govinda therefore told Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Jagadānanda Paṇḍita has brought some scented sandalwood oil.

'''[[CC Antya 12.106|Antya 12.106]]:''' "It is his desire that Your Lordship apply a little of this oil on Your head so that blood pressure due to bile and air will be considerably diminished.

'''[[CC Antya 12.107|Antya 12.107]]:''' "He prepared a large jug of it in Bengal, and with great care he has brought it here."

'''[[CC Antya 12.108|Antya 12.108]]:''' The Lord replied, "A sannyāsī has no use for oil, especially perfumed oil such as this. Take it out immediately."

'''[[CC Antya 12.109|Antya 12.109]]:''' "Deliver this oil to the temple of Jagannātha, where it may be burned in the lamps. In this way, Jagadānanda's labor in manufacturing the oil will be perfectly successful."

'''[[CC Antya 12.110|Antya 12.110]]:''' When Govinda informed Jagadānanda Paṇḍita of this message, Jagadānanda remained silent, not saying even a word.

'''[[CC Antya 12.111|Antya 12.111]]:''' When ten days had passed, Govinda again told Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "It is the desire of Jagadānanda Paṇḍita that Your Lordship accept the oil."

'''[[CC Antya 12.112|Antya 12.112]]:''' When the Lord heard this, He angrily said, "Why not keep a masseur to massage Me?

'''[[CC Antya 12.113|Antya 12.113]]:''' "Have I taken sannyāsa for such happiness? Accepting this oil would bring My ruination, and all of you would laugh.

'''[[CC Antya 12.114|Antya 12.114]]:''' "If someone passing on the road smelled this oil on My head, he would think Me a dārī sannyāsī, a tantric sannyāsī who keeps women."

'''[[CC Antya 12.115|Antya 12.115]]:''' Hearing these words of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Govinda remained silent. The next morning, Jagadānanda went to see the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 12.116|Antya 12.116]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said to Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, "My dear Paṇḍita, you have brought Me some oil from Bengal, but since I am in the renounced order, I cannot accept it.

'''[[CC Antya 12.117|Antya 12.117]]:''' "Deliver the oil to the temple of Jagannātha so that it may be burned in the lamps. Thus your labor in preparing the oil will be fruitful."

'''[[CC Antya 12.118|Antya 12.118]]:''' Jagadānanda Paṇḍita replied, "Who tells You all these false stories? I never brought any oil from Bengal."

'''[[CC Antya 12.119|Antya 12.119]]:''' After saying this, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita took the jug of oil from the room and threw it down before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in the courtyard and broke it.

'''[[CC Antya 12.120|Antya 12.120]]:''' After breaking the jug, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita returned to his residence, bolted the door and lay down.

'''[[CC Antya 12.121|Antya 12.121]]:''' Three days later, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the door of his room and said, "My dear Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, please get up.

'''[[CC Antya 12.122|Antya 12.122]]:''' "I want you personally to cook My lunch today. I am going now to see the Lord in the temple. I shall return at noon."

'''[[CC Antya 12.123|Antya 12.123]]:''' After Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said this and left, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita got up from his bed, bathed and began to cook varieties of vegetables.

'''[[CC Antya 12.124|Antya 12.124]]:''' After finishing His noontime ritualistic duties, the Lord arrived for lunch. Jagadānanda Paṇḍita washed the Lord's feet and gave the Lord a sitting place.

'''[[CC Antya 12.125|Antya 12.125]]:''' He had cooked fine rice, mixed it with ghee and piled it high on a banana leaf. There were also varieties of vegetables, placed all around in pots made of banana tree bark.

'''[[CC Antya 12.126|Antya 12.126]]:''' On the rice and vegetables were tulasī flowers, and in front of the Lord were cakes, sweet rice and other prasādam of Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Antya 12.127|Antya 12.127]]:''' The Lord said, "Spread another leaf with a helping of rice and vegetables so that today you and I may take lunch together."

'''[[CC Antya 12.128|Antya 12.128]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu kept His hands raised and would not accept the prasādam until Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, with great affection and love, spoke the following words.

'''[[CC Antya 12.129|Antya 12.129]]:''' "Please first take prasādam Yourself, and I shall eat later. I shall not refuse Your request."

'''[[CC Antya 12.130|Antya 12.130]]:''' In great happiness, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then accepted the lunch. When He had tasted the vegetables, He again began to speak.

'''[[CC Antya 12.131|Antya 12.131]]:''' "Even when you cook in an angry mood," He said, "the food is very delicious. This shows how pleased Kṛṣṇa is with you.

'''[[CC Antya 12.132|Antya 12.132]]:''' "Because He will personally eat the food, Kṛṣṇa makes you cook so nicely.

'''[[CC Antya 12.133|Antya 12.133]]:''' "You offer such nectarean rice to Kṛṣṇa. Who can estimate the limit of your fortune?"

'''[[CC Antya 12.134|Antya 12.134]]:''' Jagadānanda Paṇḍita replied, "He who will eat has cooked this. As far as I am concerned, I simply collect the ingredients."

'''[[CC Antya 12.135|Antya 12.135]]:''' Jagadānanda Paṇḍita continued to offer the Lord varieties of vegetables. Out of fear, the Lord said nothing but continued eating happily.

'''[[CC Antya 12.136|Antya 12.136]]:''' Jagadānanda Paṇḍita eagerly forced the Lord to eat so much that He ate ten times more than on other days.

'''[[CC Antya 12.137|Antya 12.137]]:''' Again and again when the Lord wished to get up, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita would feed Him more vegetables.

'''[[CC Antya 12.138|Antya 12.138]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu dared not forbid him to feed Him more. He just continued eating, fearful that Jagadānanda would fast if He stopped.

'''[[CC Antya 12.139|Antya 12.139]]:''' At last the Lord respectfully submitted, "My dear Jagadānanda, you have already made Me eat ten times more than I am used to. Now please stop."

'''[[CC Antya 12.140|Antya 12.140]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stood up and washed His hands and mouth, while Jagadānanda Paṇḍita brought spices, a garland and sandalwood pulp.

'''[[CC Antya 12.141|Antya 12.141]]:''' Accepting the sandalwood pulp and garland, the Lord sat down and said, "Now, in front of Me, you must eat."

'''[[CC Antya 12.142|Antya 12.142]]:''' Jagadānanda replied, "My Lord, You go take rest. I shall take prasādam after I finish making some arrangements.

'''[[CC Antya 12.143|Antya 12.143]]:''' "Rāmāi Paṇḍita and Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa did the cooking, and I want to give them some rice and vegetables."

'''[[CC Antya 12.144|Antya 12.144]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told Govinda, "You remain here. When the Paṇḍita has taken his food, come inform Me."

'''[[CC Antya 12.145|Antya 12.145]]:''' After Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had said this and left, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita spoke to Govinda.

'''[[CC Antya 12.146|Antya 12.146]]:''' "Go quickly and massage the Lord's feet," he said. "You may tell Him, 'The Paṇḍita has just sat down to take his meal.'

'''[[CC Antya 12.147|Antya 12.147]]:''' "I shall keep some remnants of the Lord's food for you. When He is asleep, come and take your portion."

'''[[CC Antya 12.148|Antya 12.148]]:''' Jagadānanda Paṇḍita thus distributed remnants of the Lord's food to Rāmāi, Nandāi, Govinda and Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa.

'''[[CC Antya 12.149|Antya 12.149]]:''' He also personally ate the remnants of food left by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then the Lord again sent Govinda.

'''[[CC Antya 12.150|Antya 12.150]]:''' The Lord told him, "Go see whether Jagadānanda Paṇḍita is eating. Then quickly return and let Me know."

'''[[CC Antya 12.151|Antya 12.151]]:''' Seeing that Jagadānanda Paṇḍita was indeed eating, Govinda informed the Lord, who then became peaceful and went to sleep.

'''[[CC Antya 12.152|Antya 12.152]]:''' The affectionate loving exchanges between Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued in this manner, exactly like the exchanges between Satyabhāmā and Lord Kṛṣṇa related in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

'''[[CC Antya 12.153|Antya 12.153]]:''' Who can estimate the limit of Jagadānanda Paṇḍita's fortune? He himself is the example of his own great fortune.

'''[[CC Antya 12.154|Antya 12.154]]:''' Anyone who hears about the loving exchanges between Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, or who reads Jagadānanda's book Prema-vivarta, can understand what love is. Moreover, he achieves ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 12.155|Antya 12.155]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 11|Antya-līlā 11]] '''[[CC Antya 11|Antya-līlā 11]] - [[CC Antya 13|Antya-līlā 13]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 13|Antya-līlā 13]]</div>

CC Antya 11

2026-06-04T18:31:01Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 11 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 11|1]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 11: The Passing of Haridāsa Ṭhākura'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 10|Antya-līlā 10]] '''[[CC Antya 10|Antya-līlā 10]] - [[CC Antya 12|Antya-līlā 12]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 12|Antya-līlā 12]]</div>

'''[[CC Antya 11 Summary|Antya 11 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 11.1|Antya 11.1]]:''' Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Haridāsa Ṭhākura and his master, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who danced with the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura on His lap.

'''[[CC Antya 11.2|Antya 11.2]]:''' All glories to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is very merciful and who is very dear to Advaita Ācārya and Lord Nityānanda!

'''[[CC Antya 11.3|Antya 11.3]]:''' All glories to the master of Śrīnivāsa Ṭhākura! All glories to the master of Haridāsa Ṭhākura! All glories to the dear master of Gadādhara Paṇḍita! All glories to the master of the life of Svarūpa Dāmodara!

'''[[CC Antya 11.4|Antya 11.4]]:''' All glories to Lord Śrī Caitanya, who is very dear to Kāśī Miśra! He is the Lord of the life of Jagadānanda and the Lord of Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī and Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 11.5|Antya 11.5]]:''' All glories to the transcendental form of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is Kṛṣṇa Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead! My dear Lord, kindly give me shelter at Your lotus feet by Your causeless mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 11.6|Antya 11.6]]:''' All glories to Lord Nityānanda, who is the life and soul of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! My dear Lord, kindly give me engagement in devotional service at Your lotus feet.

'''[[CC Antya 11.7|Antya 11.7]]:''' All glories to Advaita Ācārya, who is treated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as superior due to His age and respectability! Please give me engagement in devotional service at Your lotus feet.

'''[[CC Antya 11.8|Antya 11.8]]:''' All glories to all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, for the Lord is their life and soul! All of you, kindly bestow devotional service upon me.

'''[[CC Antya 11.9|Antya 11.9]]:''' All glories to Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī, Jīva Gosvāmī, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī and Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, the six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana! They are all my masters.

'''[[CC Antya 11.10|Antya 11.10]]:''' I am writing this narration of the pastimes and attributes of the Lord by the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates. I do not know how to write properly, but I am purifying myself by writing this description.

'''[[CC Antya 11.11|Antya 11.11]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thus resided at Jagannātha Purī with His personal devotees and enjoyed the congregational chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

'''[[CC Antya 11.12|Antya 11.12]]:''' In the daytime Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu engaged in dancing and chanting and in seeing the temple of Lord Jagannātha. At night, in the company of His most confidential devotees, such as Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, He tasted the nectar of the transcendental mellows of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa's pastimes.

'''[[CC Antya 11.13|Antya 11.13]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu very happily passed His days in this way at Nīlācala, Jagannātha Purī. Feeling separation from Kṛṣṇa, He exhibited many transcendental symptoms all over His body.

'''[[CC Antya 11.14|Antya 11.14]]:''' Day after day the symptoms increased, and at night they increased even more. All these symptoms, such as transcendental anxiety, agitation and talking like a madman, were present, just as they are described in the śāstras.

'''[[CC Antya 11.15|Antya 11.15]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and Rāmānanda Rāya, the chief assistants in Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's pastimes, remained with Him both day and night.

'''[[CC Antya 11.16|Antya 11.16]]:''' One day Govinda, the personal servant of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, went in great jubilation to deliver the remnants of Lord Jagannātha's food to Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Antya 11.17|Antya 11.17]]:''' When Govinda came to Haridāsa, he saw that Haridāsa Ṭhākura was lying on his back and chanting his rounds very slowly.

'''[[CC Antya 11.18|Antya 11.18]]:''' "Please rise and take your mahā-prasādam," Govinda said.Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "Today I shall observe fasting.

'''[[CC Antya 11.19|Antya 11.19]]:''' "I have not finished chanting my regular number of rounds. How, then, can I eat? But you have brought mahā-prasādam, and how can I neglect it?"

'''[[CC Antya 11.20|Antya 11.20]]:''' Saying this, he offered prayers to the mahā-prasādam, took a little portion, and ate it.

'''[[CC Antya 11.21|Antya 11.21]]:''' The next day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Haridāsa's place and inquired from him, "Haridāsa, are you well?"

'''[[CC Antya 11.22|Antya 11.22]]:''' Haridāsa offered his obeisances to the Lord and replied, "My body is all right, but my mind and intelligence are not well."

'''[[CC Antya 11.23|Antya 11.23]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu further inquired from Haridāsa, "Can you ascertain what your disease is?"Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "My disease is that I cannot complete my rounds."

'''[[CC Antya 11.24|Antya 11.24]]:''' "Now that you have become old," the Lord said, "you may reduce the number of rounds you chant daily. You are already liberated, and therefore you need not follow the regulative principles very strictly.

'''[[CC Antya 11.25|Antya 11.25]]:''' "Your role in this incarnation is to deliver the people in general. You have sufficiently preached the glories of the holy name in this world."

'''[[CC Antya 11.26|Antya 11.26]]:''' The Lord concluded, "Now, therefore, please reduce the fixed number of times you chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra."Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "Kindly hear my real plea.

'''[[CC Antya 11.27|Antya 11.27]]:''' "I was born in an inferior family, and my body is most abominable. I always engage in low work. Therefore, I am the lowest, most condemned of men.

'''[[CC Antya 11.28|Antya 11.28]]:''' "I am unseeable and untouchable, but You have accepted me as Your servant. This means that You have delivered me from a hellish condition and raised me to the Vaikuṇṭha platform.

'''[[CC Antya 11.29|Antya 11.29]]:''' "My dear Lord, You are the fully independent Personality of Godhead. You act by Your own free will. You cause the whole world to dance and act as You like.

'''[[CC Antya 11.30|Antya 11.30]]:''' "My dear Lord, by Your mercy You have made me dance in many ways. For example, I was offered the śrāddha-pātra, which should have been offered to first-class brāhmaṇas. I ate from it even though I was born in a family of meat-eaters.

'''[[CC Antya 11.31|Antya 11.31]]:''' "I have had one desire for a very long time. I think that quite soon, my Lord, You will bring to a close Your pastimes within this material world.

'''[[CC Antya 11.32|Antya 11.32]]:''' "I wish that You not show me this closing chapter of Your pastimes. Before that time comes, kindly let my body fall down in Your presence.

'''[[CC Antya 11.33|Antya 11.33]]:''' "I wish to catch Your lotuslike feet upon my heart and see Your moonlike face.

'''[[CC Antya 11.34|Antya 11.34]]:''' "With my tongue I shall chant Your holy name, 'Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya!' That is my desire. Kindly let me give up my body in this way.

'''[[CC Antya 11.35|Antya 11.35]]:''' "O most merciful Lord, if by Your mercy it is possible, kindly grant my desire.

'''[[CC Antya 11.36|Antya 11.36]]:''' "Let this lowborn body fall down before You. You can make possible this perfection of all my desires."

'''[[CC Antya 11.37|Antya 11.37]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "My dear Haridāsa, Kṛṣṇa is so merciful that He must execute whatever you want.

'''[[CC Antya 11.38|Antya 11.38]]:''' "But whatever happiness is Mine is all due to your association. It is not fitting for you to go away and leave Me behind."

'''[[CC Antya 11.39|Antya 11.39]]:''' Catching the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, "My Lord, do not create an illusion! Although I am so fallen, You must certainly show me this mercy!

'''[[CC Antya 11.40|Antya 11.40]]:''' "My Lord, there are many respectable personalities, millions of devotees, who are fit to sit on my head. They are all helpful in Your pastimes.

'''[[CC Antya 11.41|Antya 11.41]]:''' "My Lord, if an insignificant insect like me dies, what is the loss? If an ant dies, where is the loss to the material world?

'''[[CC Antya 11.42|Antya 11.42]]:''' "My Lord, You are always affectionate to Your devotees. I am just an imitation devotee, but nevertheless I wish that You fulfill my desire. That is my expectation."

'''[[CC Antya 11.43|Antya 11.43]]:''' Because He had to perform His noon duties, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu got up to leave, but it was settled that the following day, after He saw Lord Jagannātha, He would return to visit Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Antya 11.44|Antya 11.44]]:''' After embracing him, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left to perform His noon duties and went to the sea to take His bath.

'''[[CC Antya 11.45|Antya 11.45]]:''' The next morning, after visiting the Jagannātha temple, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, accompanied by all His devotees, went hastily to see Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Antya 11.46|Antya 11.46]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the devotees came before Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who offered his respects to the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and all the Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Antya 11.47|Antya 11.47]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired, "My dear Haridāsa, what is the news?"Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "My Lord, whatever mercy You can bestow upon me."

'''[[CC Antya 11.48|Antya 11.48]]:''' Upon hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately began great congregational chanting in the courtyard. Vakreśvara Paṇḍita was the chief dancer.

'''[[CC Antya 11.49|Antya 11.49]]:''' Headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu surrounded Haridāsa Ṭhākura and began congregational chanting.

'''[[CC Antya 11.50|Antya 11.50]]:''' In front of all the great devotees like Rāmānanda Rāya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to describe the holy attributes of Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Antya 11.51|Antya 11.51]]:''' As He described the transcendental attributes of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu seemed to possess five mouths. The more He described, the more His great happiness increased.

'''[[CC Antya 11.52|Antya 11.52]]:''' After hearing of the transcendental qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, all the devotees present were struck with wonder. They all offered their respectful obeisances to the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Antya 11.53|Antya 11.53]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura made Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sit down in front of him, and then he fixed his eyes, like two bumblebees, on the lotus face of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 11.54|Antya 11.54]]:''' He held the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu on his heart and then took the dust of the feet of all the devotees present and put it on his head.

'''[[CC Antya 11.55|Antya 11.55]]:''' He began to chant the holy name of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya again and again. As he drank the sweetness of the face of the Lord, tears constantly glided down from his eyes.

'''[[CC Antya 11.56|Antya 11.56]]:''' While chanting the holy name of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, he gave up his air of life and left his body.

'''[[CC Antya 11.57|Antya 11.57]]:''' Seeing the wonderful death of Haridāsa Ṭhākura by his own will, which was just like a great mystic yogī's, everyone remembered the passing away of Bhīṣma.

'''[[CC Antya 11.58|Antya 11.58]]:''' There was a tumultuous noise as they all chanted the holy names "Hari" and "Kṛṣṇa." Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became overwhelmed with ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Antya 11.59|Antya 11.59]]:''' The Lord raised the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura and placed it on His lap. Then He began to dance in the courtyard in great ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Antya 11.60|Antya 11.60]]:''' Because of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's ecstatic love, all the devotees were helpless, and in ecstatic love they also began to dance and chant congregationally.

'''[[CC Antya 11.61|Antya 11.61]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced for some time, and then Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī informed Him of other rituals for the body of Ṭhākura Haridāsa.

'''[[CC Antya 11.62|Antya 11.62]]:''' The body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura was then raised onto a carrier that resembled an airship and taken to the sea, accompanied by congregational chanting.

'''[[CC Antya 11.63|Antya 11.63]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced in front of the procession, and Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, along with the other devotees, chanted and danced behind Him.

'''[[CC Antya 11.64|Antya 11.64]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bathed the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura in the sea and then declared, "From this day on, this sea has become a great pilgrimage site."

'''[[CC Antya 11.65|Antya 11.65]]:''' Everyone drank the water that had touched the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, and then they smeared remnants of Lord Jagannātha's sandalwood pulp over Haridāsa Ṭhākura's body.

'''[[CC Antya 11.66|Antya 11.66]]:''' After a hole was dug in the sand, the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura was placed into it. Remnants from Lord Jagannātha, such as His silken ropes, sandalwood pulp, food and cloth, were placed on the body.

'''[[CC Antya 11.67|Antya 11.67]]:''' All around the body, the devotees performed congregational chanting, and Vakreśvara Paṇḍita danced in jubilation.

'''[[CC Antya 11.68|Antya 11.68]]:''' With His transcendental hands, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally covered the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura with sand, chanting "Haribol! Haribol!"

'''[[CC Antya 11.69|Antya 11.69]]:''' The devotees covered the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura with sand and then constructed a platform upon the site. The platform was protected all around by fencing.

'''[[CC Antya 11.70|Antya 11.70]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced and chanted all around the platform, and as the holy name of Hari roared tumultuously, the whole universe became filled with the vibration.

'''[[CC Antya 11.71|Antya 11.71]]:''' After sańkīrtana, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bathed in the sea with His devotees, swimming and playing in the water in great jubilation.

'''[[CC Antya 11.72|Antya 11.72]]:''' After circumambulating the tomb of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the Siḿha-dvāra gate of the Jagannātha temple. The whole city chanted in congregation, and the tumultuous sound vibrated all over the city.

'''[[CC Antya 11.73|Antya 11.73]]:''' Approaching the Siḿha-dvāra gate, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spread His cloth and began to beg prasādam from all the shopkeepers there.

'''[[CC Antya 11.74|Antya 11.74]]:''' "I am begging prasādam for a festival honoring the passing away of Haridāsa Ṭhākura," the Lord said. "Please give Me alms."

'''[[CC Antya 11.75|Antya 11.75]]:''' Hearing this, all the shopkeepers immediately came forward with big baskets of prasādam, which they jubilantly delivered to Lord Caitanya.

'''[[CC Antya 11.76|Antya 11.76]]:''' However, Svarūpa Dāmodara stopped them, and the shopkeepers returned to their shops and sat down with their baskets.

'''[[CC Antya 11.77|Antya 11.77]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara sent Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu back to His residence and kept with him four Vaiṣṇavas and four servant carriers.

'''[[CC Antya 11.78|Antya 11.78]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara said to all the shopkeepers, "Deliver to me four palmfuls of prasādam from each and every item."

'''[[CC Antya 11.79|Antya 11.79]]:''' In this way varieties of prasādam were collected, then packed up in different loads and carried on the heads of the four servants.

'''[[CC Antya 11.80|Antya 11.80]]:''' Not only did Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī bring prasādam, but Vāṇīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka and Kāśī Miśra also sent large quantities.

'''[[CC Antya 11.81|Antya 11.81]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu made all the devotees sit in rows and personally began to distribute the prasādam, assisted by four other men.

'''[[CC Antya 11.82|Antya 11.82]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was not accustomed to taking prasādam in small quantities. He therefore put on each plate what at least five men could eat.

'''[[CC Antya 11.83|Antya 11.83]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī requested Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Please sit down and watch. With these men to help me, I shall distribute the prasādam."

'''[[CC Antya 11.84|Antya 11.84]]:''' The four men — Svarūpa Dāmodara, Jagadānanda, Kāśīśvara and Śańkara — distributed the prasādam continuously.

'''[[CC Antya 11.85|Antya 11.85]]:''' All the devotees who sat down would not eat the prasādam as long as the Lord had not eaten. On that day, however, Kāśī Miśra had extended an invitation to the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 11.86|Antya 11.86]]:''' Therefore Kāśī Miśra personally went there and delivered prasādam to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with great attention and made Him eat.

'''[[CC Antya 11.87|Antya 11.87]]:''' With Paramānanda Purī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat down and accepted the prasādam. When He began to eat, so did all the Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Antya 11.88|Antya 11.88]]:''' Everyone was filled up to the neck because Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu kept telling the distributors, "Give them more! Give them more!"

'''[[CC Antya 11.89|Antya 11.89]]:''' After all the devotees finished accepting prasādam and had washed their hands and mouths, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu decorated each of them with a flower garland and sandalwood pulp.

'''[[CC Antya 11.90|Antya 11.90]]:''' Overwhelmed with ecstatic love, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered a benediction to all the devotees, which all the devotees heard with great satisfaction.

'''[[CC Antya 11.91-93|Antya 11.91-93]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave this benediction: "Anyone who has seen the festival of Śrī Haridāsa Ṭhākura's passing away, anyone who has chanted and danced here, anyone who has offered sand on the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, and anyone who has joined this festival to partake of the prasādam will achieve the favor of Kṛṣṇa very soon. There is such wonderful power in seeing Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Antya 11.94|Antya 11.94]]:''' "Being merciful upon Me, Kṛṣṇa gave Me the association of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Being independent in His desires, He has now broken that association.

'''[[CC Antya 11.95|Antya 11.95]]:''' "When Haridāsa Ṭhākura wanted to leave this material world, it was not within My power to detain him.

'''[[CC Antya 11.96|Antya 11.96]]:''' "Simply by his will, Haridāsa Ṭhākura could give up his life and go away, exactly like Bhīṣma, who previously died simply by his own desire, as we have heard from śāstra.

'''[[CC Antya 11.97|Antya 11.97]]:''' "Haridāsa Ṭhākura was the crown jewel on the head of this world; without him, this world is now bereft of its valuable jewel."

'''[[CC Antya 11.98|Antya 11.98]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told everyone, "Say 'All glories to Haridāsa Ṭhākura!' and chant the holy name of Hari." Saying this, He personally began to dance.

'''[[CC Antya 11.99|Antya 11.99]]:''' Everyone began to chant, "All glories to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who revealed the importance of chanting the holy name of the Lord!"

'''[[CC Antya 11.100|Antya 11.100]]:''' Thereafter, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade farewell to all the devotees, and He Himself, with mixed feelings of happiness and distress, took rest.

'''[[CC Antya 11.101|Antya 11.101]]:''' Thus I have spoken about the victorious passing away of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Anyone who hears this narration will certainly fix his mind firmly in devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 11.102|Antya 11.102]]:''' From the incident of Haridāsa Ṭhākura's passing away and the great care Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took in commemorating it, one can understand just how affectionate He is toward His devotees. Although He is the topmost of all sannyāsīs, He fully satisfied the desire of Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Antya 11.103|Antya 11.103]]:''' When Haridāsa Ṭhākura was at the last stage of his life, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave him His company and allowed him to touch Him. Thereafter, He took the body of Ṭhākura Haridāsa on His lap and personally danced with it.

'''[[CC Antya 11.104|Antya 11.104]]:''' Out of His causeless mercy the Lord personally covered the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura with sand and personally begged alms from the shopkeepers. Then He conducted a great festival to celebrate the passing away of Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Antya 11.105|Antya 11.105]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura was not only the topmost devotee of the Lord but also a great and learned scholar. It was his great fortune that he passed away before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 11.106|Antya 11.106]]:''' The life and characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are exactly like an ocean of nectar, one drop of which can please the mind and ear.

'''[[CC Antya 11.107|Antya 11.107]]:''' Anyone who desires to cross over the ocean of nescience, please hear with great faith the life and characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 11.108|Antya 11.108]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 10|Antya-līlā 10]] '''[[CC Antya 10|Antya-līlā 10]] - [[CC Antya 12|Antya-līlā 12]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 12|Antya-līlā 12]]</div>

CC Antya 10

2026-06-04T18:30:59Z

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 10 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 10|1]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 10: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Accepts Prasādam from His Devotees'''</div>
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'''[[CC Antya 10 Summary|Antya 10 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 10.1|Antya 10.1]]:''' Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is always pleased to accept anything given with faith and love by His devotees and is always ready to bestow mercy upon them.

'''[[CC Antya 10.2|Antya 10.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!

'''[[CC Antya 10.3|Antya 10.3]]:''' The next year, all the devotees were very pleased to go to Jagannātha Purī [Nīlācala] to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 10.4|Antya 10.4]]:''' Advaita Ācārya Gosāñi led the party from Bengal. He was followed by Ācāryaratna, Ācāryanidhi, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura and other glorious devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 10.5|Antya 10.5]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had ordered Lord Nityānanda to stay in Bengal, but nevertheless, because of ecstatic love, Lord Nityānanda also went to see Him.

'''[[CC Antya 10.6|Antya 10.6]]:''' Indeed, it is a symptom of real affection that one breaks the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not caring for the regulative principles, to associate with Him.

'''[[CC Antya 10.7|Antya 10.7]]:''' During the rāsa dance, Kṛṣṇa asked all the gopīs to return home, but they neglected His order and stayed there for His association.

'''[[CC Antya 10.8|Antya 10.8]]:''' If one carries out Kṛṣṇa's order, Kṛṣṇa is certainly pleased, but if one sometimes breaks His order due to ecstatic love, that gives Him millions of times greater happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 10.9-11|Antya 10.9-11]]:''' Vāsudeva Datta, Murāri Gupta, Gańgādāsa, Śrīmān Sena, Śrīmān Paṇḍita, Akiñcana Kṛṣṇadāsa, Murāri Gupta, Garuḍa Paṇḍita, Buddhimanta Khān, Sañjaya Puruṣottama, Bhagavān Paṇḍita, Śuklāmbara Brahmacārī, Nṛsiḿhānanda Brahmacārī and many others joined together to go to Jagannātha Purī. It would be impossible to mention the names of them all.

'''[[CC Antya 10.12|Antya 10.12]]:''' The inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma and Khaṇḍa also came and joined. Śivānanda Sena took the leadership and thus started taking care of them all.

'''[[CC Antya 10.13|Antya 10.13]]:''' Rāghava Paṇḍita came with bags full of food prepared very nicely by his sister, Damayantī.

'''[[CC Antya 10.14|Antya 10.14]]:''' Damayantī made varieties of unparalleled food just suitable for Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to eat. The Lord ate it continually for one year.

'''[[CC Antya 10.15-16|Antya 10.15-16]]:''' These are the names of some of the pickles and condiments in the bags of Rāghava Paṇḍita: āmra-kāśandi, ādā-kāśandi, jhāla-kāśandi, nembu-ādā, āmra-koli, āmsi, āma-khaṇḍa, tailāmra and āma-sattā. With great attention, Damayantī also made dried bitter vegetables into a powder.

'''[[CC Antya 10.17|Antya 10.17]]:''' Do not neglect sukutā because it is a bitter preparation. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu derived more happiness from eating this sukutā than from drinking pañcāmṛta [a preparation of milk, sugar, ghee, honey and yogurt].

'''[[CC Antya 10.18|Antya 10.18]]:''' Since Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He extracts the purpose from everything. He accepted Damayantī's affection for Him, and therefore He derived great pleasure even from the dried bitter leaves of sukutā and from kāśandi [a sour condiment].

'''[[CC Antya 10.19|Antya 10.19]]:''' Because of her natural love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Damayantī considered the Lord an ordinary human being. Therefore she thought that He would become sick by overeating and there would be mucus within His abdomen.

'''[[CC Antya 10.20|Antya 10.20]]:''' Because of sincere affection, she thought that eating this sukutā would cure the Lord's disease. Considering these affectionate thoughts of Damayantī, the Lord was very pleased.

'''[[CC Antya 10.21|Antya 10.21]]:''' "A dear lover strung a garland and placed it on the shoulder of his beloved in the presence of her co-wives. She had raised breasts and was very beautiful, yet although the garland was tainted with mud, she did not reject it, for its value lay not in material things but in love."

'''[[CC Antya 10.22|Antya 10.22]]:''' Damayantī powdered coriander and anise seeds, cooked them with sugar and made them into sweetmeats in the shape of small balls.

'''[[CC Antya 10.23|Antya 10.23]]:''' She made sweetmeat balls with dried ginger to remove mucus caused by too much bile. She put all these preparations separately into small cloth bags.

'''[[CC Antya 10.24|Antya 10.24]]:''' She made a hundred varieties of condiments and pickles. She also made koli-śuṇṭhi, koli-cūrṇa, koli-khaṇḍa and many other preparations. How many should I name?

'''[[CC Antya 10.25|Antya 10.25]]:''' She made many sweetmeats in the shape of balls. Some were made with powdered coconut, and others looked as white as the water of the Ganges. In this way she made many varieties of long-lasting sugar confections.

'''[[CC Antya 10.26|Antya 10.26]]:''' She made long-lasting cheese, many varieties of sweetmeats with milk and cream, and many other varied preparations, such as amṛta-karpūra.

'''[[CC Antya 10.27|Antya 10.27]]:''' She made flat rice from fine, unboiled, śāli paddy and filled a large bag made of new cloth.

'''[[CC Antya 10.28|Antya 10.28]]:''' She made some of the flat rice into puffed rice, fried it in ghee, cooked it in sugar juice, mixed in some camphor and rolled it into balls.

'''[[CC Antya 10.29-30|Antya 10.29-30]]:''' She powdered fried grains of fine rice, moistened the powder with ghee and cooked it in a solution of sugar. Then she added camphor, black pepper, cloves, cardamom and other spices and rolled the mixture into balls that were very palatable and aromatic.

'''[[CC Antya 10.31|Antya 10.31]]:''' She took parched rice from fine paddy, fried it in ghee, cooked it in a sugar solution, mixed in some camphor and thus made a preparation called ukhḍā or muḍki.

'''[[CC Antya 10.32|Antya 10.32]]:''' Another variety of sweet was made with fused peas that were powdered, fried in ghee and then cooked in sugar juice. Camphor was added, and then the mixture was rolled into balls.

'''[[CC Antya 10.33|Antya 10.33]]:''' I could not mention the names of all these wonderful eatables, even in a lifetime. Damayantī made hundreds and thousands of varieties.

'''[[CC Antya 10.34|Antya 10.34]]:''' Damayantī made all these preparations following the order of her brother, Rāghava Paṇḍita. Both of them had unlimited affection for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and were advanced in devotional service.

'''[[CC Antya 10.35|Antya 10.35]]:''' Damayantī took earth from the Ganges, dried it, powdered it, strained it through a fine cloth, mixed in aromatic ingredients and rolled it into small balls.

'''[[CC Antya 10.36|Antya 10.36]]:''' The condiments and similar items were put into thin earthen pots, and everything else was put into small cloth bags.

'''[[CC Antya 10.37|Antya 10.37]]:''' From small bags Damayantī made bags that were twice as large. Then with great attention she filled all the large ones with the small ones.

'''[[CC Antya 10.38|Antya 10.38]]:''' She then wrapped and sealed each and every bag with great attention. The bags were carried by three bearers, one after another.

'''[[CC Antya 10.39|Antya 10.39]]:''' Thus I have briefly described the bags that have become famous as rāghavera jhāli.

'''[[CC Antya 10.40|Antya 10.40]]:''' The superintendent for all those bags was Makaradhvaja Kara, who kept them with great attention like his very life.

'''[[CC Antya 10.41|Antya 10.41]]:''' Thus all the Vaiṣṇavas from Bengal went to Jagannātha Purī. By chance, they arrived on the day when Lord Jagannātha performs pastimes in the water.

'''[[CC Antya 10.42|Antya 10.42]]:''' Boarding a boat in the water of Narendra-sarovara, Lord Govinda performed His water pastimes with all the devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 10.43|Antya 10.43]]:''' Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived with His personal associates to see the jubilant pastimes of Lord Jagannātha in Narendra-sarovara.

'''[[CC Antya 10.44|Antya 10.44]]:''' At the same time, all the devotees from Bengal arrived at the lake and had a great meeting with the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 10.45|Antya 10.45]]:''' All the devotees immediately fell at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and the Lord lifted and embraced every one of them.

'''[[CC Antya 10.46|Antya 10.46]]:''' The Gauḍīya-sampradāya, consisting of all the devotees from Bengal, began congregational chanting. When they met the Lord, they began to cry loudly in ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Antya 10.47|Antya 10.47]]:''' Because of the pastimes in the water, there was great jubilation on the shore, with music, singing, chanting and dancing creating a tumultuous sound.

'''[[CC Antya 10.48|Antya 10.48]]:''' Indeed, the chanting and crying of the Gauḍīyā Vaiṣṇavas mixed and created a tumultuous sound vibration that filled the entire universe.

'''[[CC Antya 10.49|Antya 10.49]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu entered the water with His devotees and began His pastimes with them in great jubilation.

'''[[CC Antya 10.50|Antya 10.50]]:''' In his Caitanya-mańgala [now known as Caitanya-bhāgavata], Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has given a detailed description of the activities the Lord performed in the water.

'''[[CC Antya 10.51|Antya 10.51]]:''' There is no use in again describing here the activities of the Lord. It would simply be repetitious and would increase the size of this book.

'''[[CC Antya 10.52|Antya 10.52]]:''' After concluding His pastimes in the water, Lord Govinda returned to His residence. Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the temple, taking all His devotees with Him.

'''[[CC Antya 10.53|Antya 10.53]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to His residence after visiting the temple of Jagannātha, He asked for a large quantity of Lord Jagannātha's prasādam, which He then distributed among His devotees so that they could eat sumptuously.

'''[[CC Antya 10.54|Antya 10.54]]:''' After talking with all the devotees for some time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked them to occupy the individual residences in which they had lived the previous year.

'''[[CC Antya 10.55|Antya 10.55]]:''' Rāghava Paṇḍita delivered the bags of eatables to Govinda, who kept them in a corner of the dining room.

'''[[CC Antya 10.56|Antya 10.56]]:''' Govinda thoroughly emptied the bags from the previous year and kept them in another room to fill them with other goods.

'''[[CC Antya 10.57|Antya 10.57]]:''' The next day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went with His personal devotees to see Lord Jagannātha when Lord Jagannātha arose early in the morning.

'''[[CC Antya 10.58|Antya 10.58]]:''' After seeing Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began His all-encompassing sańkīrtana. He formed seven groups, which then began to chant.

'''[[CC Antya 10.59|Antya 10.59]]:''' In each of the seven groups was a principal dancer, such as Advaita Ācārya or Lord Nityānanda.

'''[[CC Antya 10.60|Antya 10.60]]:''' The dancers in the other groups were Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, Acyutānanda, Paṇḍita Śrīvāsa, Satyarāja Khān and Narahari dāsa.

'''[[CC Antya 10.61|Antya 10.61]]:''' As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu walked from one group to another inspecting them, the men in each group thought, "The Lord is within our group."

'''[[CC Antya 10.62|Antya 10.62]]:''' The congregational chanting made a tumultuous roar that filled the sky. All the inhabitants of Jagannātha Purī came to see the kīrtana.

'''[[CC Antya 10.63|Antya 10.63]]:''' Accompanied by his personal staff, the King also came there and watched from a distance, and all the queens watched from the elevated parts of the palace.

'''[[CC Antya 10.64|Antya 10.64]]:''' Due to the forceful vibration of kīrtana, the entire world began trembling. When everyone chanted the holy name, they made a tumultuous sound.

'''[[CC Antya 10.65|Antya 10.65]]:''' In this way the Lord had congregational chanting performed for some time, and then He Himself desired to dance.

'''[[CC Antya 10.66|Antya 10.66]]:''' The seven groups began chanting and beating their drums in seven directions, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began dancing in the center in great ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Antya 10.67|Antya 10.67]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remembered a line in the Orissan language and ordered Svarūpa Dāmodara to sing it.

'''[[CC Antya 10.68|Antya 10.68]]:''' "Let my head fall at the feet of Jagannātha in the kīrtana hall known as Jagamohana."

'''[[CC Antya 10.69|Antya 10.69]]:''' Simply because of this line, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was dancing in greatly ecstatic love. People all around Him floated in the water of His tears.

'''[[CC Antya 10.70|Antya 10.70]]:''' Raising His two arms, the Lord said, "Chant! Chant!" Floating in transcendental bliss, the people responded by chanting the holy name of Hari.

'''[[CC Antya 10.71|Antya 10.71]]:''' The Lord fell to the ground unconscious, not even breathing. Then suddenly He stood up, making a loud sound.

'''[[CC Antya 10.72|Antya 10.72]]:''' The hairs on His body constantly stood up like the thorns on a śimula tree. Sometimes His body was swollen and sometimes lean and thin.

'''[[CC Antya 10.73|Antya 10.73]]:''' He bled and perspired from every pore of His body. His voice faltered. Unable to say the line properly, He uttered only "jaja gaga pari mumu."

'''[[CC Antya 10.74|Antya 10.74]]:''' All His teeth shook, as if each was separate from the others. Indeed, they seemed about to fall to the ground.

'''[[CC Antya 10.75|Antya 10.75]]:''' His transcendental bliss increased at every moment. Therefore even by midafternoon the dancing had not ended.

'''[[CC Antya 10.76|Antya 10.76]]:''' The ocean of transcendental bliss overflowed, and everyone present forgot his body, mind and home.

'''[[CC Antya 10.77|Antya 10.77]]:''' Then Lord Nityānanda found a way to end the kīrtana. He gradually stopped all the chanters.

'''[[CC Antya 10.78|Antya 10.78]]:''' Thus only one group continued chanting with Svarūpa Dāmodara, and they chanted very softly.

'''[[CC Antya 10.79|Antya 10.79]]:''' When there was no longer a tumultuous sound, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to external consciousness. Then Nityānanda Prabhu informed Him of the fatigue of the chanters and dancers.

'''[[CC Antya 10.80|Antya 10.80]]:''' Understanding the fatigue of the devotees, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stopped the congregational chanting. Then He bathed in the sea, accompanied by them all.

'''[[CC Antya 10.81|Antya 10.81]]:''' Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took prasādam with all of them and then asked them to return to their dwellings and take rest.

'''[[CC Antya 10.82|Antya 10.82]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu lay down at the door of the Gambhīrā, and Govinda came there to massage His legs.

'''[[CC Antya 10.83-84|Antya 10.83-84]]:''' It was a steady, long-standing rule that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would lie down to rest after lunch and Govinda would come to massage His legs. Then Govinda would honor the remnants of food left by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 10.85|Antya 10.85]]:''' This time when the Lord lay down, He occupied the entire doorway. Govinda could not enter the room, and therefore he made the following request.

'''[[CC Antya 10.86|Antya 10.86]]:''' Govinda said, "Kindly turn on one side. Let me pass to enter the room."However, the Lord replied, "I don't have the strength to move My body."

'''[[CC Antya 10.87|Antya 10.87]]:''' Govinda made his request again and again, but the Lord replied, "I cannot move My body."

'''[[CC Antya 10.88|Antya 10.88]]:''' Govinda repeatedly requested, "I want to massage Your legs."But the Lord said, "Do it or don't do it. It depends upon your mind."

'''[[CC Antya 10.89|Antya 10.89]]:''' Then Govinda spread the Lord's wrapper over His body and in this way entered the room by crossing over the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 10.90|Antya 10.90]]:''' Govinda massaged the Lord's legs as usual. He pressed the Lord's waist and back very softly, and thus all the Lord's fatigue went away.

'''[[CC Antya 10.91|Antya 10.91]]:''' As Govinda stroked His body, the Lord slept very nicely for about forty-five minutes, and then His sleep broke.

'''[[CC Antya 10.92|Antya 10.92]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Govinda sitting by His side, He was somewhat angry. "Why have you been sitting here for so long today?" the Lord asked.

'''[[CC Antya 10.93|Antya 10.93]]:''' "Why didn't you go to take your meal after I fell asleep?" the Lord asked.Govinda replied, "You were lying down, blocking the door, and there was no way to go."

'''[[CC Antya 10.94|Antya 10.94]]:''' The Lord asked, "How did you enter the room? Why didn't you go out to take your lunch in the same way?"

'''[[CC Antya 10.95|Antya 10.95]]:''' Govinda mentally replied, "My duty is to serve, even if I have to commit offenses or go to hell.

'''[[CC Antya 10.96|Antya 10.96]]:''' "I would not mind committing hundreds and thousands of offenses for the service of the Lord, but I greatly fear committing even a glimpse of an offense for my own self."

'''[[CC Antya 10.97|Antya 10.97]]:''' Thinking in this way, Govinda kept silent. He did not reply to the Lord's inquiry.

'''[[CC Antya 10.98|Antya 10.98]]:''' It was Govinda's practice to go take lunch when the Lord was asleep. On that day, however, seeing the Lord's weariness, Govinda continued massaging His body.

'''[[CC Antya 10.99|Antya 10.99]]:''' There was no way to go. How could he leave? When he thought of crossing over the Lord's body, he considered it a great offense.

'''[[CC Antya 10.100|Antya 10.100]]:''' These are some of the finer points of etiquette in devotional service. Only one who has received the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu can understand these principles.

'''[[CC Antya 10.101|Antya 10.101]]:''' The Lord is very interested in manifesting the exalted qualities of His devotees, and that is why He engineered this incident.

'''[[CC Antya 10.102|Antya 10.102]]:''' Thus I have briefly described Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's dancing in the hall of the Jagannātha temple. The servants of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sing about this dancing even now.

'''[[CC Antya 10.103|Antya 10.103]]:''' Accompanied by His personal associates, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu washed and swept the Guṇḍicā temple, cleansing it as usual.

'''[[CC Antya 10.104|Antya 10.104]]:''' The Lord danced and chanted and then enjoyed a picnic in the garden as He had done before.

'''[[CC Antya 10.105|Antya 10.105]]:''' As previously, He danced in front of the Jagannātha car and observed the festival of Herā-pañcamī.

'''[[CC Antya 10.106|Antya 10.106]]:''' All the devotees from Bengal stayed in Jagannātha Purī for the four months of the rainy season and observed many other ceremonies, such as the anniversary of Lord Kṛṣṇa's birth.

'''[[CC Antya 10.107|Antya 10.107]]:''' Formerly, when all the devotees had arrived from Bengal, they all desired to give Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu something to eat.

'''[[CC Antya 10.108|Antya 10.108]]:''' Each devotee would bring a certain type of prasādam. He would entrust it to Govinda and request him, "Please arrange that the Lord will surely eat this prasādam."

'''[[CC Antya 10.109|Antya 10.109]]:''' Some brought paiḍa [a coconut preparation], some brought sweetballs, and some brought cakes and sweet rice. The prasādam was of different varieties, all very costly.

'''[[CC Antya 10.110|Antya 10.110]]:''' Govinda would present the prasādam and say to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "This has been given by such-and-such devotee." The Lord, however, would not actually eat it. He would simply say, "Keep it in storage."

'''[[CC Antya 10.111|Antya 10.111]]:''' Govinda kept accumulating the food, and soon it filled a corner of the room. There was quite enough to feed at least a hundred people.

'''[[CC Antya 10.112|Antya 10.112]]:''' All the devotees asked Govinda with great eagerness, "Have you given Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu the prasādam brought by me?"

'''[[CC Antya 10.113|Antya 10.113]]:''' When the devotees questioned Govinda, he had to tell them lies. Therefore one day he spoke to the Lord in disappointment.

'''[[CC Antya 10.114|Antya 10.114]]:''' "Many respectable devotees, headed by Advaita Ācārya, make a great endeavor to entrust me with varieties of food for You.

'''[[CC Antya 10.115|Antya 10.115]]:''' "You do not eat it, but they ask me again and again. How long shall I go on cheating them? How shall I be freed from this responsibility?"

'''[[CC Antya 10.116|Antya 10.116]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "Why are you so foolishly unhappy? Bring here to Me whatever they have given you."

'''[[CC Antya 10.117|Antya 10.117]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat down to eat. Then Govinda offered Him the preparations one after another, and as he did so he spoke the name of the person who had given each one.

'''[[CC Antya 10.118|Antya 10.118]]:''' "These preparations — paiḍa, sweet rice, cakes made with cream, and also amṛta-guṭikā, maṇḍā and a pot of camphor — have been given by Advaita Ācārya.

'''[[CC Antya 10.119|Antya 10.119]]:''' "Next there are varieties of food — cakes, cream, amṛta-maṇḍā and padmacini — given by Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita.

'''[[CC Antya 10.120|Antya 10.120]]:''' "All these are gifts of Ācāryaratna, and these varieties of gifts are from Ācāryanidhi.

'''[[CC Antya 10.121|Antya 10.121]]:''' "And all these varieties of food have been given by Vāsudeva Datta, Murāri Gupta and Buddhimanta Khān.

'''[[CC Antya 10.122|Antya 10.122]]:''' "These are gifts given by Śrīmān Sena, Śrīmān Paṇḍita and Ācārya Nandana. Please eat them all.

'''[[CC Antya 10.123|Antya 10.123]]:''' "Here are the preparations made by the inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma, and these have been made by the inhabitants of Khaṇḍa."

'''[[CC Antya 10.124|Antya 10.124]]:''' In this way, Govinda gave everyone's name as he put the food before the Lord. Being very satisfied, the Lord began to eat it all.

'''[[CC Antya 10.125-126|Antya 10.125-126]]:''' The hard sweets made of coconut, mukuta nārikela, the sweetballs, the many kinds of sweet drinks and all the other preparations were at least a month old, but although they were old, they had not become tasteless or stale. Indeed, they had all stayed fresh. That is the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 10.127|Antya 10.127]]:''' Within a very short time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ate enough for a hundred people. Then He asked Govinda, "Is there anything more left?"

'''[[CC Antya 10.128|Antya 10.128]]:''' Govinda replied, "Now there are only the bags of Rāghava."The Lord said, "Let them remain today. I shall see them later."

'''[[CC Antya 10.129|Antya 10.129]]:''' The next day, while taking His lunch in a secluded place, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu opened the bags of Rāghava and inspected their contents one after another.

'''[[CC Antya 10.130|Antya 10.130]]:''' He tasted a little of everything they contained and praised it all for its flavor and aroma.

'''[[CC Antya 10.131|Antya 10.131]]:''' All the varieties of the remaining prasādam were kept to eat throughout the year. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ate His lunch, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī would serve it little by little.

'''[[CC Antya 10.132|Antya 10.132]]:''' Sometimes Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would take some of it at night. The Lord certainly enjoys preparations made with faith and love by His devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 10.133|Antya 10.133]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spent the entire period of Cāturmāsya [the four months of the rainy season] in the happiness of discussing topics of Kṛṣṇa with His devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 10.134|Antya 10.134]]:''' From time to time, Advaita Ācārya and others would invite Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for home-cooked rice and varieties of vegetables.

'''[[CC Antya 10.135-136|Antya 10.135-136]]:''' They offered pungent preparations made with black pepper, sweet-and-sour preparations, ginger, salty preparations, limes, milk, yogurt, cheese, two or four kinds of spinach, soup made with bitter melon, eggplant mixed with nimba flowers, and fried paṭola.

'''[[CC Antya 10.137|Antya 10.137]]:''' They also offered phula-baḍī, liquid mung dhal and many vegetables, all cooked according to the Lord's taste.

'''[[CC Antya 10.138|Antya 10.138]]:''' They would mix these preparations with the remnants of food from Lord Jagannātha. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted the invitations, He went sometimes alone and sometimes with His associates.

'''[[CC Antya 10.139|Antya 10.139]]:''' Devotees like Ācāryaratna, Ācāryanidhi, Nandana Ācārya, Rāghava Paṇḍita and Śrīvāsa were all of the brāhmaṇa caste.

'''[[CC Antya 10.140-141|Antya 10.140-141]]:''' They would extend invitations to the Lord. Vāsudeva Datta, Gadādhara dāsa, Murāri Gupta, the inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma and Khaṇḍa and many other devotees who were not brāhmaṇas by caste would purchase food offered to Lord Jagannātha and then extend invitations to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 10.142|Antya 10.142]]:''' Now hear about the invitation Śivānanda Sena extended to the Lord. His eldest son was named Caitanya dāsa.

'''[[CC Antya 10.143|Antya 10.143]]:''' When Śivānanda brought his son, Caitanya dāsa, to be introduced to the Lord, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired about his name.

'''[[CC Antya 10.144|Antya 10.144]]:''' When the Lord heard that his name was Caitanya dāsa, He said, "What kind of name have you given him? It is very difficult to understand."

'''[[CC Antya 10.145|Antya 10.145]]:''' Śivānanda Sena replied, "He has kept the name that appeared to me from within." Then he invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for lunch.

'''[[CC Antya 10.146|Antya 10.146]]:''' Śivānanda Sena had bought very costly remnants of Lord Jagannātha's food. He brought it in and offered it to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who sat down to accept the prasādam with His associates.

'''[[CC Antya 10.147|Antya 10.147]]:''' Because of Śivānanda Sena's glories, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ate all kinds of prasādam to honor his request. However, the Lord ate more than necessary, and therefore His mind was dissatisfied.

'''[[CC Antya 10.148|Antya 10.148]]:''' The next day, Caitanya dāsa, the son of Śivānanda Sena, extended an invitation to the Lord. He could understand the Lord's mind, however, and therefore he arranged for a different kind of food.

'''[[CC Antya 10.149|Antya 10.149]]:''' He offered yogurt, limes, ginger, soft baḍā and salt. Seeing all these arrangements, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased.

'''[[CC Antya 10.150|Antya 10.150]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "This boy knows My mind. Therefore I am very satisfied to accept his invitation."

'''[[CC Antya 10.151|Antya 10.151]]:''' After saying this, the Lord ate the rice mixed with yogurt and offered Caitanya dāsa the remnants of His food.

'''[[CC Antya 10.152|Antya 10.152]]:''' The four months of Cāturmāsya passed in this manner, with the Lord accepting invitations from His devotees. Because of a heavy schedule of invitations, however, some of the Vaiṣṇavas could not get an open day on which to invite the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 10.153|Antya 10.153]]:''' Every month Gadādhara Paṇḍita and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya had fixed dates on which Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would accept their invitations.

'''[[CC Antya 10.154-155|Antya 10.154-155]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya, Jagadānanda, Kāśīśvara, Bhagavān, Rāmabhadra Ācārya, Śańkara and Vakreśvara, who were all brāhmaṇas, extended invitations to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and offered Him food cooked at home, whereas other devotees would pay two paṇas of small conchshells to purchase Jagannātha's prasādam and then invite the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 10.156|Antya 10.156]]:''' At first the cost of Jagannātha prasādam for an invitation was four paṇas of conchshells, but when Rāmacandra Purī was there, the price was cut in half.

'''[[CC Antya 10.157|Antya 10.157]]:''' The devotees who came from Bengal stayed with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for four consecutive months, and then the Lord bade them farewell. After the Bengali devotees departed, the devotees who were the Lord's constant companions at Jagannātha Purī stayed with the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 10.158|Antya 10.158]]:''' Thus I have described how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted invitations and how He accepted and tasted the prasādam offered by His devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 10.159|Antya 10.159]]:''' In the midst of that narration are descriptions of Rāghava Paṇḍita's bags of food and the dancing in the temple of Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Antya 10.160|Antya 10.160]]:''' One who hears about the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with faith and love will certainly attain ecstatic love for the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu without fail.

'''[[CC Antya 10.161|Antya 10.161]]:''' Narrations of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's activities are just like nectar to hear. Indeed, they satisfy both the ears and mind. One who tastes the nectar of these activities is certainly very fortunate.

'''[[CC Antya 10.162|Antya 10.162]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 9|Antya-līlā 9]] '''[[CC Antya 9|Antya-līlā 9]] - [[CC Antya 11|Antya-līlā 11]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 11|Antya-līlā 11]]</div>

CC Antya 9

2026-06-04T18:30:57Z

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 9 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 09|1]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 9: The Deliverance of Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka'''</div>
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'''[[CC Antya 9 Summary|Antya 9 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 9.1|Antya 9.1]]:''' The innumerable, glorious followers of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu brought a constant flood to the desertlike hearts of the unfortunate with an inundation of ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Antya 9.2|Antya 9.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the most merciful incarnation! All glories to Lord Nityānanda, whose heart is always compassionate!

'''[[CC Antya 9.3|Antya 9.3]]:''' All glories to Advaita Ācārya, who is very merciful! All glories to the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who are always overwhelmed by transcendental bliss!

'''[[CC Antya 9.4|Antya 9.4]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu lived at Nīlācala [Jagannātha Purī] with His personal devotees, always merged in ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 9.5|Antya 9.5]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu always felt waves of separation from Kṛṣṇa, externally and internally. His mind and body were agitated by various spiritual transformations.

'''[[CC Antya 9.6|Antya 9.6]]:''' During the day He chanted, danced and saw Lord Jagannātha in the temple. At night He tasted transcendental bliss in the company of Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara.

'''[[CC Antya 9.7|Antya 9.7]]:''' People from the three worlds used to come visit Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Anyone who saw Him received the transcendental treasure of love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 9.8|Antya 9.8]]:''' The inhabitants of the seven higher planetary systems — including the demigods, the Gandharvas and the Kinnaras — and the inhabitants of the seven lower planetary systems [Pātālaloka], including the demons and serpentine living entities, all visited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in the dress of human beings.

'''[[CC Antya 9.9|Antya 9.9]]:''' Dressed in different ways, people from the seven islands and nine khaṇḍas visited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 9.10|Antya 9.10]]:''' Prahlāda Mahārāja, Bali Mahārāja, Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī and other great sages came to visit Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Upon seeing Him, they became unconscious in ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 9.11|Antya 9.11]]:''' Being unable to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the populace outside His room would make a tumultuous sound. Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would go outside and tell them, "Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Antya 9.12|Antya 9.12]]:''' All kinds of people would come to see the Lord, and upon seeing Him they would be overwhelmed with ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed His days and nights.

'''[[CC Antya 9.13|Antya 9.13]]:''' One day people suddenly came to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and informed Him, "Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka, the son of Bhavānanda Rāya, has been condemned to death by the baḍa-jānā, the eldest son of the King, and has been raised on the cāńga.

'''[[CC Antya 9.14|Antya 9.14]]:''' "The baḍa-jānā has placed swords beneath the platform," they said, "and will throw Gopīnātha upon them. O Lord, only if You protect him will he be saved.

'''[[CC Antya 9.15|Antya 9.15]]:''' "Bhavānanda Rāya and his entire family are your servants. Therefore it is quite fitting for You to save the son of Bhavānanda Rāya."

'''[[CC Antya 9.16|Antya 9.16]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired, "Why is the King chastising him?" Thereupon the people described the entire incident.

'''[[CC Antya 9.17|Antya 9.17]]:''' They said, "Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka, the brother of Rāmānanda Rāya, has always been a treasurer for the government.

'''[[CC Antya 9.18|Antya 9.18]]:''' "He served in the place known as Mālajāṭhyā Daṇḍapāta, soliciting and collecting money there and depositing it in the government treasury.

'''[[CC Antya 9.19|Antya 9.19]]:''' "Once when he deposited the collection, however, a balance of 200,000 kāhanas of conchshells was due from him. Therefore the King demanded this sum.

'''[[CC Antya 9.20|Antya 9.20]]:''' "Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka replied, 'There is no money I can immediately give you in cash. Please give me time. Gradually I shall purchase and sell my gross goods and in this way fill your treasury.

'''[[CC Antya 9.21|Antya 9.21]]:''' "'There are ten to twelve good horses. Take them immediately for a proper price.' After saying this, he brought all the horses to the door of the King.

'''[[CC Antya 9.22|Antya 9.22]]:''' "One of the princes knew how to estimate the price of horses very well. Thus the King sent for him to come with his ministers and friends.

'''[[CC Antya 9.23|Antya 9.23]]:''' "The prince, however, purposely gave a reduced estimate for the value of the horses. When Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka heard the price quoted, he was very angry.

'''[[CC Antya 9.24|Antya 9.24]]:''' "That prince had a personal idiosyncrasy of turning his neck and facing the sky, looking here and there again and again.

'''[[CC Antya 9.25|Antya 9.25]]:''' "Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka criticized the prince. He was unafraid of the prince because the King was very kind toward him.

'''[[CC Antya 9.26|Antya 9.26]]:''' "Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka said, 'My horses never turn their necks or look upward. Therefore the price for them should not be reduced.'

'''[[CC Antya 9.27|Antya 9.27]]:''' "Hearing this criticism, the prince became very angry. Going before the King, he made some false allegations against Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka.

'''[[CC Antya 9.28|Antya 9.28]]:''' "'This Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka,' he said, 'is unwilling to pay the money due. Instead, he is squandering it under some pretext. If you issue an order, I can put him on the cāńga and thus realize the money.'

'''[[CC Antya 9.29|Antya 9.29]]:''' "The King replied, 'You can adopt whatever means you think best. Any device by which you can somehow or other realize the money is all right.'

'''[[CC Antya 9.30|Antya 9.30]]:''' "Thus the prince went back, raised Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka onto the platform of the cāńga and spread swords below upon which to throw him."

'''[[CC Antya 9.31|Antya 9.31]]:''' After hearing this explanation, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied with affectionate anger. "Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka does not want to pay the King the money that is due," the Lord said. "How then is the King at fault in punishing him?

'''[[CC Antya 9.32|Antya 9.32]]:''' "Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka is in charge of collecting money on behalf of the government, but he misappropriates it. Not fearing the King, he squanders it to see dancing girls.

'''[[CC Antya 9.33|Antya 9.33]]:''' "If one is intelligent, let him perform service to the government, and after paying the government, he can spend whatever money is left."

'''[[CC Antya 9.34|Antya 9.34]]:''' At that time another person came there in great haste, bringing the news that Vāṇīnātha Rāya and his entire family had been arrested.

'''[[CC Antya 9.35|Antya 9.35]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "The King must personally realize the money that is due. I am but a sannyāsī, a member of the renounced order. What can I do?"

'''[[CC Antya 9.36|Antya 9.36]]:''' Then all the devotees, headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, fell at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and submitted the following plea.

'''[[CC Antya 9.37|Antya 9.37]]:''' "All the members of Rāmānanda Rāya's family are Your eternal servants. Now they are in danger. It is not befitting for You to be indifferent to them in this way."

'''[[CC Antya 9.38|Antya 9.38]]:''' After hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke in an angry mood. "You want to order Me to go to the King," He said.

'''[[CC Antya 9.39|Antya 9.39]]:''' "Your opinion is that I should go to the King's palace and spread My cloth to beg money from him.

'''[[CC Antya 9.40|Antya 9.40]]:''' "Of course, a sannyāsī or brāhmaṇa may beg for up to five gaṇḍās, but why should he be granted the inappropriate sum of 200,000 kāhanas of conchshells?"

'''[[CC Antya 9.41|Antya 9.41]]:''' Then another person came with the news that Gopīnātha had already been set up to be thrown upon the points of the swords.

'''[[CC Antya 9.42|Antya 9.42]]:''' Hearing this news, all the devotees again appealed to the Lord, but the Lord replied, "I am a beggar. It is impossible for Me to do anything about this.

'''[[CC Antya 9.43|Antya 9.43]]:''' "Therefore if you want to save him, you should all pray together at the lotus feet of Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Antya 9.44|Antya 9.44]]:''' "Lord Jagannātha is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He possesses all potencies. Therefore He is able to act freely and can do and undo whatever He likes."

'''[[CC Antya 9.45|Antya 9.45]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied in this way, an officer named Haricandana Pātra went to the King and spoke with him.

'''[[CC Antya 9.46|Antya 9.46]]:''' "After all," he said, "Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka is your faithful servant. To condemn a servant to death is not good behavior.

'''[[CC Antya 9.47|Antya 9.47]]:''' "His only fault is that he owes some money to the government. If he is killed, however, what profit will there be? The government will be the loser, for it will not get the money.

'''[[CC Antya 9.48|Antya 9.48]]:''' "It would be better to take the horses for a proper price and let him gradually repay the balance. Why are you killing him unnecessarily?"

'''[[CC Antya 9.49|Antya 9.49]]:''' The King answered in surprise, "I did not know about all this. Why should his life be taken? I only want the money from him.

'''[[CC Antya 9.50|Antya 9.50]]:''' "Go there and adjust everything. I want only the payment, not his life."

'''[[CC Antya 9.51|Antya 9.51]]:''' Haricandana then returned and informed the prince of the King's desire, and immediately Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka was taken down from the cāńga.

'''[[CC Antya 9.52|Antya 9.52]]:''' Then he was told that the King demanded the money due him and asked what means he would adopt to pay it. "Kindly take my horses," he replied, "for a proper price.

'''[[CC Antya 9.53|Antya 9.53]]:''' "I shall gradually pay the balance as I can. Without consideration, however, you were going to take my life. What can I say?"

'''[[CC Antya 9.54|Antya 9.54]]:''' Then the government took all the horses for a proper price, a time was set for payment of the balance, and Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka was released.

'''[[CC Antya 9.55|Antya 9.55]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired from the messenger, "What was Vāṇīnātha doing when he was arrested and brought there?"

'''[[CC Antya 9.56|Antya 9.56]]:''' The messenger replied, "He was fearlessly, incessantly chanting the mahā-mantra — Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

'''[[CC Antya 9.57|Antya 9.57]]:''' "He counted the chants on the fingers of both hands, and after he had finished chanting one thousand times, he would make a mark on his body."

'''[[CC Antya 9.58|Antya 9.58]]:''' Hearing this news, the Lord was very pleased. Who can understand the mercy of the Lord upon His devotee?

'''[[CC Antya 9.59|Antya 9.59]]:''' At that time Kāśī Miśra came to the residence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and the Lord talked with him with some agitation.

'''[[CC Antya 9.60|Antya 9.60]]:''' "I cannot stay here any longer," the Lord said. "I shall go to Ālālanātha. There are too many disturbances here, and I cannot get any rest.

'''[[CC Antya 9.61|Antya 9.61]]:''' "All the family members of Bhavānanda Rāya are engaged in government service, but they spend the government's revenue in various ways.

'''[[CC Antya 9.62|Antya 9.62]]:''' "What is the fault on the part of the King? He wants the government's money. However, when they are punished for failing to pay the government its due, they come to Me to release them.

'''[[CC Antya 9.63|Antya 9.63]]:''' "When the King put Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka on the cāńga, messengers came four times to inform Me about the incident.

'''[[CC Antya 9.64|Antya 9.64]]:''' "As a beggar sannyāsī, a mendicant, I wish to live alone in a solitary place, but these people come to tell Me about their unhappiness and disturb Me.

'''[[CC Antya 9.65|Antya 9.65]]:''' "Jagannātha has saved him once from death today, but if tomorrow he again does not pay what he owes the treasury, who will give him protection?

'''[[CC Antya 9.66|Antya 9.66]]:''' "If I hear about the activities of materialistic persons, My mind becomes agitated. There is no need for Me to stay here and be disturbed in that way."

'''[[CC Antya 9.67|Antya 9.67]]:''' Kāśī Miśra caught hold of the Lord's lotus feet and said, "Why should You be agitated by these affairs?

'''[[CC Antya 9.68|Antya 9.68]]:''' "You are a renounced sannyāsī. What connections do You have? One who worships You for some material purpose is blind to all knowledge."

'''[[CC Antya 9.69|Antya 9.69]]:''' Kāśī Miśra continued, "If one engages in devotional service for Your satisfaction, this will result in his increasingly awakening his dormant love for You. But if one engages in Your devotional service for material purposes, he should be considered a number-one fool.

'''[[CC Antya 9.70|Antya 9.70]]:''' "It is only for Your sake that Rāmānanda Rāya resigned from the governorship of South India and Sanātana Gosvāmī gave up his post as minister.

'''[[CC Antya 9.71|Antya 9.71]]:''' "It is for Your sake that Raghunātha dāsa gave up all his family relationships. His father sent money and men here to serve him.

'''[[CC Antya 9.72|Antya 9.72]]:''' "However, because he has received the mercy of Your lotus feet, he does not even accept his father's money. Instead he eats by begging alms from centers for the distribution of food.

'''[[CC Antya 9.73|Antya 9.73]]:''' "Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka is a good gentleman. He does not desire material benefits from You.

'''[[CC Antya 9.74|Antya 9.74]]:''' "It is not Gopīnātha who sent all those men so that You would release him from his plight. Rather, his friends and servants, seeing his distressed condition, informed You because they all knew that Gopīnātha is a soul surrendered unto You.

'''[[CC Antya 9.75|Antya 9.75]]:''' "Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka is a pure devotee who worships You only for Your satisfaction. He does not care about his personal happiness or distress, for that is the business of a materialist.

'''[[CC Antya 9.76|Antya 9.76]]:''' "One who engages in Your devotional service twenty-four hours a day, desiring only Your mercy, will very soon attain shelter at Your lotus feet.

'''[[CC Antya 9.77|Antya 9.77]]:''' "'One who seeks Your compassion and thus tolerates all kinds of adverse conditions due to the karma of his past deeds, who engages always in Your devotional service with his mind, words and body, and who always offers obeisances unto You is certainly a bona fide candidate for becoming Your unalloyed devotee.'

'''[[CC Antya 9.78|Antya 9.78]]:''' "Kindly stay here at Jagannātha Purī. Why should You go to Ālālanātha? Henceforward, no one will approach You about material affairs."

'''[[CC Antya 9.79|Antya 9.79]]:''' Finally Kāśī Miśra told the Lord, "If You want to give protection to Gopīnātha, then Lord Jagannātha, who protected him today, will also protect him in the future."

'''[[CC Antya 9.80|Antya 9.80]]:''' After saying this, Kāśī Miśra left the abode of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and returned to his own temple. At noon King Pratāparudra came to Kāśī Miśra's home.

'''[[CC Antya 9.81|Antya 9.81]]:''' As long as King Pratāparudra stayed in Puruṣottama, he performed one regular duty.

'''[[CC Antya 9.82|Antya 9.82]]:''' He would come daily to the house of Kāśī Miśra to massage his lotus feet. The King would also hear from him about how opulently Lord Jagannātha was being served.

'''[[CC Antya 9.83|Antya 9.83]]:''' When the King began pressing his lotus feet, Kāśī Miśra informed him about something through hints.

'''[[CC Antya 9.84|Antya 9.84]]:''' "My dear King," he said, "please hear one uncommon item of news. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wants to leave Jagannātha Purī and go to Ālālanātha."

'''[[CC Antya 9.85|Antya 9.85]]:''' When the King heard that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was going to Ālālanātha, he was very unhappy and inquired about the reason. Then Kāśī Miśra informed him of all the details.

'''[[CC Antya 9.86|Antya 9.86]]:''' "When Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka was lifted onto the cāńga," he said, "all his servants went to inform Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 9.87|Antya 9.87]]:''' "Hearing about this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was extremely sorry at heart, and in anger He chastised Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka.

'''[[CC Antya 9.88|Antya 9.88]]:''' "'Because he is mad after sense gratification,' the Lord said, 'he acts as a government servant but spends the government's revenue for various sinful activities.

'''[[CC Antya 9.89|Antya 9.89]]:''' "'The revenue of the government is more sacred than the property of a brāhmaṇa. One who misappropriates the government's money and uses it to enjoy sense gratification is most sinful.

'''[[CC Antya 9.90|Antya 9.90]]:''' "'One who serves the government but misappropriates the government's revenue is liable to be punished by the king. That is the verdict of all revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Antya 9.91|Antya 9.91]]:''' "'The King wanted his revenue paid and did not want to enforce punishment. Therefore the King is certainly very religious. But Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka is a great cheat.

'''[[CC Antya 9.92|Antya 9.92]]:''' "'He does not pay the revenue to the King, but he wants My help for release. This is a greatly sinful affair. I cannot tolerate it here.

'''[[CC Antya 9.93|Antya 9.93]]:''' "'Therefore I shall leave Jagannātha Purī and go to Ālālanātha, where I shall live peacefully and not hear about all these affairs of materialistic people.'"

'''[[CC Antya 9.94|Antya 9.94]]:''' When King Pratāparudra heard all these details, he felt great pain in his mind. "I shall give up all that is due from Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka," he said, "if Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will stay here at Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Antya 9.95|Antya 9.95]]:''' "If even for a moment I could get an interview with Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, I would not care for the profit of millions of cintāmaṇi stones.

'''[[CC Antya 9.96|Antya 9.96]]:''' "I do not care about this small sum of 200,000 kāhanas. What to speak of this, I would indeed sacrifice everything at the lotus feet of the Lord, including my life and kingdom."

'''[[CC Antya 9.97|Antya 9.97]]:''' Kāśī Miśra hinted to the King, "It is not the Lord's desire that you forfeit the payment. He is unhappy only because the whole family is troubled."

'''[[CC Antya 9.98|Antya 9.98]]:''' The King replied, "I had no desire to give pain to Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka and his family, nor did I know about his being lifted onto the cāńga to be thrown on the swords and killed.

'''[[CC Antya 9.99|Antya 9.99]]:''' "He sneered at Puruṣottama Jānā. Therefore the prince tried to scare him as a punishment.

'''[[CC Antya 9.100|Antya 9.100]]:''' "Go personally to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and keep Him at Jagannātha Purī with great attention. I shall excuse Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka from all his debts."

'''[[CC Antya 9.101|Antya 9.101]]:''' Kāśī Miśra said, "Excusing Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka of all his debts will make the Lord unhappy, for that is not His intention."

'''[[CC Antya 9.102|Antya 9.102]]:''' The King said, "I shall absolve Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka of all his debts, but don't speak of this to the Lord. Simply let Him know that all the family members of Bhavānanda Rāya, including Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka, are naturally my dear friends.

'''[[CC Antya 9.103|Antya 9.103]]:''' "Bhavānanda Rāya is worthy of my worship and respect. Therefore I am always naturally affectionate to his sons."

'''[[CC Antya 9.104|Antya 9.104]]:''' After offering obeisances to Kāśī Miśra, the King returned to his palace and called for both Gopīnātha and the eldest prince.

'''[[CC Antya 9.105|Antya 9.105]]:''' The King told Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka, "You are excused for all the money you owe the treasury, and the place known as Mālajāṭhyā Daṇḍapāṭa is again given to you for collections.

'''[[CC Antya 9.106|Antya 9.106]]:''' "Do not again misappropriate the revenue of the government. In case you think your salary insufficient, henceforward it will be doubled."

'''[[CC Antya 9.107|Antya 9.107]]:''' After saying this, the King appointed him by offering him a silken wrapper for his body. "Go to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu," he said. "After taking permission from Him, go to your home. I bid you farewell. Now you may go."

'''[[CC Antya 9.108|Antya 9.108]]:''' By the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, one can certainly become spiritually advanced. Indeed, no one can estimate the results of His mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 9.109|Antya 9.109]]:''' Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka achieved the result of kingly opulence due to but a glimpse of the Lord's mercy. Therefore no one can calculate the full value of His mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 9.110|Antya 9.110]]:''' Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka was lifted onto the cāńga to be killed, and all his money was taken away, but instead his debts were excused, and he was appointed collector in the same place.

'''[[CC Antya 9.111|Antya 9.111]]:''' On one hand Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka was unable to clear his debt even by selling all his possessions, but on the other his salary was doubled, and he was honored with the silken wrapper.

'''[[CC Antya 9.112|Antya 9.112]]:''' It was not the desire of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu that Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka be excused of his debt to the government, nor was it His desire that his salary be doubled or that he be reappointed collector at the same place.

'''[[CC Antya 9.113|Antya 9.113]]:''' When Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka's servant went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and informed the Lord of his plight, the Lord was somewhat agitated and dissatisfied.

'''[[CC Antya 9.114|Antya 9.114]]:''' The Lord had no intention of awarding His devotee the happiness of material opulence, yet simply because of His being informed, such a great result was obtained.

'''[[CC Antya 9.115|Antya 9.115]]:''' No one can estimate the wonderful characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Even Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva cannot understand the intentions of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 9.116|Antya 9.116]]:''' Kāśī Miśra went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and informed Him in detail of all the King's intentions.

'''[[CC Antya 9.117|Antya 9.117]]:''' Upon hearing about Kāśī Miśra's tactics with the King, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Kāśī Miśra, what have you done? You have made Me indirectly take help from the King."

'''[[CC Antya 9.118|Antya 9.118]]:''' Kāśī Miśra said, "My dear Lord, the King has done this without reservations. Kindly hear his statement.

'''[[CC Antya 9.119|Antya 9.119]]:''' "The King said, 'Speak to the Lord in such a way that He will not think, "For My sake the King has forfeited 200,000 kāhanas of kauḍis."

'''[[CC Antya 9.120|Antya 9.120]]:''' "'Inform Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that all the sons of Bhavānanda Rāya are especially dear to me. I consider them like members of my family.

'''[[CC Antya 9.121|Antya 9.121]]:''' "'Therefore I have appointed them collectors in various places, and although they spend the government's money, eat, drink, plunder and distribute it as they like, I do not take them very seriously.

'''[[CC Antya 9.122|Antya 9.122]]:''' "'I made Rāmānanda Rāya the governor of Rājamahendrī. There is practically no account of whatever money he took and distributed in that position.

'''[[CC Antya 9.123|Antya 9.123]]:''' "'Having been appointed collector, Gopīnātha, in the same way, also generally spends 200,000 to 400,000 kāhanas as he likes.

'''[[CC Antya 9.124|Antya 9.124]]:''' "'Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka would collect some and pay some, spending it at will, but I would not consider this very seriously. This time, however, he was put into trouble because of a misunderstanding with the prince.

'''[[CC Antya 9.125|Antya 9.125]]:''' "'The prince created this situation without my knowledge, but actually I consider all the sons of Bhavānanda Rāya to be like my relatives.

'''[[CC Antya 9.126|Antya 9.126]]:''' "'Because of my intimate relationship with them, I have absolved Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka of all his debts. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu does not know this fact. Whatever I have done is because of my intimate relationship with the family of Bhavānanda Rāya.'"

'''[[CC Antya 9.127|Antya 9.127]]:''' Having heard from Kāśī Miśra all these statements concerning the King's mentality, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very happy. At that time, Bhavānanda Rāya arrived there.

'''[[CC Antya 9.128|Antya 9.128]]:''' Bhavānanda Rāya, along with his five sons, fell at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who lifted him up and embraced him.

'''[[CC Antya 9.129|Antya 9.129]]:''' Thus Rāmānanda Rāya, all his brothers and their father met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then Bhavānanda Rāya began speaking.

'''[[CC Antya 9.130|Antya 9.130]]:''' "All these members of my family," he said, "are Your eternal servants. You have saved us from this great danger. Therefore You have purchased us for a proper price.

'''[[CC Antya 9.131|Antya 9.131]]:''' "You have now demonstrated Your love for Your devotees, just as when You previously saved the five Pāṇḍavas from great danger."

'''[[CC Antya 9.132|Antya 9.132]]:''' Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka, his head covered with the silken wrapper, fell at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and described in detail the King's mercy toward him.

'''[[CC Antya 9.133|Antya 9.133]]:''' "The King has excused me for the balance due," he said. "He has reappointed me to my post by honoring me with this silken cloth and has doubled my salary.

'''[[CC Antya 9.134|Antya 9.134]]:''' "I was lifted upon the cāńga to be killed, but instead I was honored with this silken cloth. This is all Your mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 9.135|Antya 9.135]]:''' "On the cāńga I began meditating upon Your lotus feet, and the power of that remembrance has yielded all these results.

'''[[CC Antya 9.136|Antya 9.136]]:''' "Struck with wonder by my affairs, the populace is glorifying the greatness of Your mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 9.137|Antya 9.137]]:''' "However, my Lord, these are not the principal results of meditating upon Your lotus feet. Material opulence is very flickering. Therefore it is simply a glimpse of the result of Your mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 9.138|Antya 9.138]]:''' "Your real mercy has been granted to Rāmānanda Rāya and Vāṇīnātha Rāya, for You have detached them from all material opulence. I think that I have not been favored by such mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 9.139|Antya 9.139]]:''' "Kindly bestow upon me Your pure mercy so that I may also become renounced. I am no longer interested in material enjoyment."

'''[[CC Antya 9.140|Antya 9.140]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "If you all adopt the renounced order and lose interest in dealing with pounds, shillings and pence, who will take charge of maintaining your large family?

'''[[CC Antya 9.141|Antya 9.141]]:''' "Whether you are involved in material activities or become completely renounced, you five brothers are all My eternal servants, birth after birth.

'''[[CC Antya 9.142|Antya 9.142]]:''' "However, just obey one order from Me. Do not spend any of the King's revenue.

'''[[CC Antya 9.143|Antya 9.143]]:''' "First you should pay the revenue due the King, and then you may spend the balance for religious and fruitive activities.

'''[[CC Antya 9.144|Antya 9.144]]:''' "Don't spend a farthing for sinful activities, for which you will be the loser both in this life and the next." After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade them farewell.

'''[[CC Antya 9.145|Antya 9.145]]:''' Thus the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was spoken of in the family of Bhavānanda Rāya. That mercy was clearly demonstrated, although it appeared to be something different.

'''[[CC Antya 9.146|Antya 9.146]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced them all and bade them farewell. Then all the devotees got up and left, loudly chanting the holy name of Hari.

'''[[CC Antya 9.147|Antya 9.147]]:''' Seeing the extraordinary mercy the Lord granted to the family of Bhavānanda Rāya, everyone was struck with wonder. They could not understand the behavior of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 9.148|Antya 9.148]]:''' Indeed, when all the devotees had requested the Lord to bestow His mercy upon Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka, the Lord had replied that He could do nothing.

'''[[CC Antya 9.149|Antya 9.149]]:''' I have simply described the chastisement of Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's indifference. But the deep meaning of this behavior is very difficult to understand.

'''[[CC Antya 9.150|Antya 9.150]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave so much to Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka without directly making requests of either Kāśī Miśra or the King.

'''[[CC Antya 9.151|Antya 9.151]]:''' The intentions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are so deep that one can understand them only if he has complete faith in service to the lotus feet of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 9.152|Antya 9.152]]:''' Whether or not one understands it, if one hears of this incident concerning the activities of Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's causeless mercy upon him, certainly he will be promoted to the platform of ecstatic love for the Lord, and for him all dangers will be nullified.

'''[[CC Antya 9.153|Antya 9.153]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 8|Antya-līlā 8]] '''[[CC Antya 8|Antya-līlā 8]] - [[CC Antya 10|Antya-līlā 10]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 10|Antya-līlā 10]]</div>

CC Antya 8

2026-06-04T18:30:54Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 8 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 08|1]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 8: Rāmacandra Purī Criticizes the Lord'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 7|Antya-līlā 7]] '''[[CC Antya 7|Antya-līlā 7]] - [[CC Antya 9|Antya-līlā 9]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 9|Antya-līlā 9]]</div>

'''[[CC Antya 8 Summary|Antya 8 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 8.1|Antya 8.1]]:''' Let me offer my respectful obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who reduced His eating due to fear of the criticism of Rāmacandra Purī.

'''[[CC Antya 8.2|Antya 8.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the incarnation of the ocean of mercy! His lotus feet are worshiped by demigods like Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva.

'''[[CC Antya 8.3|Antya 8.3]]:''' All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu, the greatest of mendicants, who bound the entire world with a knot of ecstatic love for God!

'''[[CC Antya 8.4|Antya 8.4]]:''' All glories to Advaita Prabhu, the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead! He induced Kṛṣṇa to descend and thus delivered the entire world.

'''[[CC Antya 8.5|Antya 8.5]]:''' All glories to all the devotees, headed by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura! Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu is their life and soul.

'''[[CC Antya 8.6|Antya 8.6]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, at Jagannātha Purī, performed His various pastimes with His devotees in the waves of love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 8.7|Antya 8.7]]:''' Then a sannyāsī named Rāmacandra Purī Gosāñi came to see Paramānanda Purī and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 8.8|Antya 8.8]]:''' Paramānanda Purī offered respects at the feet of Rāmacandra Purī, and Rāmacandra Purī strongly embraced him.

'''[[CC Antya 8.9|Antya 8.9]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu also offered obeisances unto Rāmacandra Purī, who then embraced Him and thus remembered Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 8.10|Antya 8.10]]:''' The three of them talked about Kṛṣṇa for some time, and then Jagadānanda came and extended an invitation to Rāmacandra Purī.

'''[[CC Antya 8.11|Antya 8.11]]:''' A large quantity of the remnants of food from Lord Jagannātha was brought in for distribution. Rāmacandra Purī ate sumptuously, and then he wanted to find faults in Jagadānanda Paṇḍita.

'''[[CC Antya 8.12|Antya 8.12]]:''' After finishing the meal, Rāmacandra Purī requested, "My dear Jagadānanda, please listen. You eat the food that is left."

'''[[CC Antya 8.13|Antya 8.13]]:''' With great eagerness Rāmacandra Purī seated Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and personally served him prasādam.

'''[[CC Antya 8.14|Antya 8.14]]:''' Encouraging him again and again, Rāmacandra Purī fed him sumptuously, but when Jagadānanda had washed his hands and mouth, Rāmacandra Purī began criticizing him.

'''[[CC Antya 8.15|Antya 8.15]]:''' "I have heard," he said, "that the followers of Caitanya Mahāprabhu eat more than necessary. Now I have directly seen that this is true.

'''[[CC Antya 8.16|Antya 8.16]]:''' "Feeding a sannyāsī too much breaks his regulative principles, for when a sannyāsī eats too much, his renunciation is destroyed."

'''[[CC Antya 8.17|Antya 8.17]]:''' The characteristic of Rāmacandra Purī was that first he would induce someone to eat more than necessary and then he would criticize him.

'''[[CC Antya 8.18|Antya 8.18]]:''' Formerly, when Mādhavendra Purī was at the last stage of his life, Rāmacandra Purī came to where he was staying.

'''[[CC Antya 8.19|Antya 8.19]]:''' Mādhavendra Purī was chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, and sometimes he would cry, "O my Lord, I did not get shelter at Mathurā."

'''[[CC Antya 8.20|Antya 8.20]]:''' Then Rāmacandra Purī was so foolish that he fearlessly dared to instruct his spiritual master.

'''[[CC Antya 8.21|Antya 8.21]]:''' "If you are in full transcendental bliss," he said, "you should now remember only Brahman. Why are you crying?"

'''[[CC Antya 8.22|Antya 8.22]]:''' Hearing this instruction, Mādhavendra Purī, greatly angry, rebuked him by saying, "Get out, you sinful rascal!

'''[[CC Antya 8.23|Antya 8.23]]:''' "O my Lord Kṛṣṇa, I could not reach You, nor could I reach Your abode, Mathurā. I am dying in my unhappiness, and now this rascal has come to give me more pain.

'''[[CC Antya 8.24|Antya 8.24]]:''' "Don't show your face to me! Go anywhere else you like. If I die seeing your face, I shall not achieve the destination of my life.

'''[[CC Antya 8.25|Antya 8.25]]:''' "I am dying without achieving the shelter of Kṛṣṇa, and therefore I am greatly unhappy. Now this condemned foolish rascal has come to instruct me about Brahman."

'''[[CC Antya 8.26|Antya 8.26]]:''' Rāmacandra Purī was thus denounced by Mādhavendra Purī. Due to his offense, gradually material desire appeared within him.

'''[[CC Antya 8.27|Antya 8.27]]:''' One who is attached to dry speculative knowledge has no relationship with Kṛṣṇa. His occupation is criticizing Vaiṣṇavas. Thus he is situated in criticism.

'''[[CC Antya 8.28|Antya 8.28]]:''' Īśvara Purī, the spiritual master of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, performed service to Mādhavendra Purī, cleaning up his stool and urine with his own hand.

'''[[CC Antya 8.29|Antya 8.29]]:''' Īśvara Purī was always chanting the holy name and pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa for Mādhavendra Purī to hear. In this way he helped Mādhavendra Purī remember the holy name and pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa at the time of death.

'''[[CC Antya 8.30|Antya 8.30]]:''' Pleased with Īśvara Purī, Mādhavendra Purī embraced him and gave him the benediction that he would be a great devotee and lover of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 8.31|Antya 8.31]]:''' Thus Īśvara Purī became like an ocean of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa, whereas Rāmacandra Purī became a dry speculator and a critic of everyone else.

'''[[CC Antya 8.32|Antya 8.32]]:''' Īśvara Purī received the blessing of Mādhavendra Purī, whereas Rāmacandra Purī received a rebuke from him. Therefore these two persons, Īśvara Purī and Rāmacandra Purī, are examples of the objects of a great personality's benediction and punishment. Mādhavendra Purī instructed the entire world by presenting these two examples.

'''[[CC Antya 8.33|Antya 8.33]]:''' His Divine Grace Mādhavendra Purī, the spiritual master of the entire world, thus distributed ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. While passing away from the material world, he chanted the following verse.

'''[[CC Antya 8.34|Antya 8.34]]:''' "O My Lord! O most merciful master! O master of Mathurā! When shall I see You again? Because of My not seeing You, My agitated heart has become unsteady. O most beloved one, what shall I do now?"

'''[[CC Antya 8.35|Antya 8.35]]:''' In this verse Mādhavendra Purī teaches how to achieve ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. By feeling separation from Kṛṣṇa, one becomes spiritually situated.

'''[[CC Antya 8.36|Antya 8.36]]:''' Mādhavendra Purī sowed the seed of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa within this material world and then departed. That seed later became a great tree in the form of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 8.37|Antya 8.37]]:''' I have incidentally described the passing away of Mādhavendra Purī. Anyone who hears this must be considered very fortunate.

'''[[CC Antya 8.38|Antya 8.38]]:''' Thus Rāmacandra Purī stayed at Jagannātha Purī. As is customary for those in the renounced order, he would sometimes stay someplace and then go away.

'''[[CC Antya 8.39|Antya 8.39]]:''' There was no certainty of where Rāmacandra Purī would take his meal, for he would do so even uninvited. Nevertheless, he was very particular about keeping account of how others were taking their meals.

'''[[CC Antya 8.40|Antya 8.40]]:''' To invite Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would cost 320 kauḍis [small conchshells]. This would provide lunch for three people, including Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and sometimes Kāśīśvara and Govinda.

'''[[CC Antya 8.41|Antya 8.41]]:''' Every day the Lord would take His meal at a different place, and if someone was prepared to pay for a meal, the price was fixed at only four paṇas.

'''[[CC Antya 8.42|Antya 8.42]]:''' Rāmacandra Purī concerned himself with gathering all sorts of information about how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was situated, including His regulative principles, His lunch, His sleep and His movements.

'''[[CC Antya 8.43|Antya 8.43]]:''' Because Rāmacandra Purī was interested only in finding faults, he could not understand the transcendental qualities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. His only concern was finding faults, but still he could not find any.

'''[[CC Antya 8.44|Antya 8.44]]:''' At last he found a fault. "How can a person in the renounced order eat so many sweetmeats?" he said. "If one eats sweets, controlling the senses is very difficult."

'''[[CC Antya 8.45|Antya 8.45]]:''' In this way Rāmacandra Purī blasphemed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu before everyone, but nevertheless he would regularly come to see the Lord every day.

'''[[CC Antya 8.46|Antya 8.46]]:''' When they met, the Lord would offer him respectful obeisances, considering him a Godbrother of His spiritual master. Rāmacandra Purī's business, however, was to search for faults in the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 8.47|Antya 8.47]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu knew that Rāmacandra Purī was criticizing Him before everyone, but whenever Rāmacandra Purī came to see Him, the Lord offered him respects with great attention.

'''[[CC Antya 8.48|Antya 8.48]]:''' One day Rāmacandra Purī came in the morning to the abode of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Seeing many ants, he said something to criticize the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 8.49|Antya 8.49]]:''' "Last night there was sugar candy here," he said. "Therefore ants are wandering about. Alas, this renounced sannyāsī is attached to such sense gratification!" After speaking in this way, he got up and left.

'''[[CC Antya 8.50|Antya 8.50]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had heard rumors about Rāmacandra Purī's blasphemy. Now He directly heard his fanciful accusations.

'''[[CC Antya 8.51|Antya 8.51]]:''' Ants generally crawl about here, there and everywhere, but Rāmacandra Purī, imagining faults, criticized Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by alleging that there had been sweetmeats in His room.

'''[[CC Antya 8.52|Antya 8.52]]:''' After hearing this criticism, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was doubtful and apprehensive. Therefore He called Govinda and instructed him as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 8.53|Antya 8.53]]:''' "From today on it will be a rule that I shall accept only one-fourth of a pot of Lord Jagannātha's prasādam and five gaṇḍās' worth of vegetables.

'''[[CC Antya 8.54|Antya 8.54]]:''' "If you bring any more than this, you will not see Me here anymore."

'''[[CC Antya 8.55|Antya 8.55]]:''' Govinda relayed this message to all the devotees. When they heard it, they felt as if their heads had been struck by thunderbolts.

'''[[CC Antya 8.56|Antya 8.56]]:''' All the devotees condemned Rāmacandra Purī, saying, "This sinful man has come here and taken our lives."

'''[[CC Antya 8.57-58|Antya 8.57-58]]:''' That day, a brāhmaṇa extended an invitation to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. When Govinda accepted only five gaṇḍās' worth of vegetables and a fourth of a pot of rice, the brāhmaṇa, in great despair, struck his head with his hand and cried, "Alas! Alas!"

'''[[CC Antya 8.59|Antya 8.59]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ate only half of the rice and vegetables, and whatever remained was taken by Govinda.

'''[[CC Antya 8.60|Antya 8.60]]:''' Thus both Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Govinda ate only half the food they needed. Because of this, all the other devotees gave up eating.

'''[[CC Antya 8.61|Antya 8.61]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Govinda and Kāśīśvara, "You may both take alms elsewhere to fill your bellies."

'''[[CC Antya 8.62|Antya 8.62]]:''' In this way, some days passed in great unhappiness. Hearing of all this, Rāmacandra Purī went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 8.63|Antya 8.63]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered His obeisances to Rāmacandra Purī, worshiping his feet. Then Rāmacandra Purī smiled and spoke to the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 8.64|Antya 8.64]]:''' Rāmacandra Purī advised, "It is not the business of a sannyāsī to gratify his senses. He should fill his belly some way or other.

'''[[CC Antya 8.65|Antya 8.65]]:''' "I have heard that You have cut Your eating in half. Indeed, I see that You are skinny. Such dry renunciation is also not the religion of a sannyāsī.

'''[[CC Antya 8.66|Antya 8.66]]:''' "A sannyāsī eats as much as necessary to maintain his body, but he does not enjoy satisfying his senses materially. Thus a sannyāsī becomes perfect in his spiritual advancement in knowledge.

'''[[CC Antya 8.67-68|Antya 8.67-68]]:''' [Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] "My dear Arjuna, one cannot perform mystic yoga if he eats more than necessary or needlessly fasts, sleeps and dreams too much or does not sleep enough. One should eat and enjoy his senses as much as necessary, one should properly endeavor to execute his duties, and one should regulate his sleep and wakefulness. Thus one can become freed from material pains by executing mystic yoga."

'''[[CC Antya 8.69|Antya 8.69]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then humbly submitted, "I am just like an ignorant boy and am like your disciple. It is My great fortune that you are instructing Me."

'''[[CC Antya 8.70|Antya 8.70]]:''' Hearing this, Rāmacandra Purī got up and left. He also heard from various sources that all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were eating half as much as usual.

'''[[CC Antya 8.71|Antya 8.71]]:''' The next day, Paramānanda Purī and other devotees approached Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with great humility and submission.

'''[[CC Antya 8.72|Antya 8.72]]:''' Paramānanda Purī said, "My Godbrother Rāmacandra Purī is by nature a bad critic. If You give up eating because of his words, what will be the profit?

'''[[CC Antya 8.73|Antya 8.73]]:''' "It is the nature of Rāmacandra Purī that first he lets one eat as much as desired, and if one does not eat more than necessary, with great attention he makes him eat more.

'''[[CC Antya 8.74|Antya 8.74]]:''' "In this way he induces one to eat more than necessary, and then he directly criticizes him, saying, 'You eat so much. How much money do you have in your treasury?

'''[[CC Antya 8.75|Antya 8.75]]:''' "'Also, by inducing sannyāsīs to eat so much, you spoil their religious principles. Therefore I can understand that you have no advancement.'

'''[[CC Antya 8.76|Antya 8.76]]:''' "It is Rāmacandra Purī's business to inquire always about how others are eating and conducting their daily affairs.

'''[[CC Antya 8.77|Antya 8.77]]:''' "The two kinds of activities rejected in the revealed scriptures constitute his daily affairs.

'''[[CC Antya 8.78|Antya 8.78]]:''' "'One should see that because of the meeting of material nature and the living entity, the universe is acting uniformly. Thus one should neither praise nor criticize the characteristics or activities of others.'

'''[[CC Antya 8.79|Antya 8.79]]:''' "Of the two rules, Rāmacandra Purī obeys the first by abandoning praise, but although he knows that the second is more prominent, he neglects it by criticizing others.

'''[[CC Antya 8.80|Antya 8.80]]:''' "'Between the former rule and the latter rule, the latter is more important.'

'''[[CC Antya 8.81|Antya 8.81]]:''' "Even where there are hundreds of good qualities, a critic does not consider them. Rather, he attempts by some trick to point out a fault in those attributes.

'''[[CC Antya 8.82|Antya 8.82]]:''' "One should not, therefore, follow the principles of Rāmacandra Purī. Nevertheless, I have to say something against him because he is making our hearts unhappy.

'''[[CC Antya 8.83|Antya 8.83]]:''' "Why have You given up proper eating due to the criticism of Rāmacandra Purī? Please accept invitations as before. This is the request of us all."

'''[[CC Antya 8.84|Antya 8.84]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "Why are all of you angry at Rāmacandra Purī? He is expounding the natural principles of sannyāsa life. Why are you accusing him?

'''[[CC Antya 8.85|Antya 8.85]]:''' "For a sannyāsī to indulge in satisfying the tongue is a great offense. The duty of a sannyāsī is to eat only as much as needed to keep body and soul together."

'''[[CC Antya 8.86|Antya 8.86]]:''' When they all requested very fervently that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu take a full meal, He still would not do so. Instead, He responded to their request by accepting half as much as usual.

'''[[CC Antya 8.87|Antya 8.87]]:''' The cost for the food needed to invite Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was fixed at two paṇas of kauḍis [160 conchshells], and that food would be taken by two men and sometimes three.

'''[[CC Antya 8.88|Antya 8.88]]:''' When a brāhmaṇa at whose home an invitation could not be accepted invited the Lord, he would pay two paṇas of conchshells to purchase the prasādam.

'''[[CC Antya 8.89|Antya 8.89]]:''' When a brāhmaṇa at whose home an invitation could be accepted invited Him, the brāhmaṇa would purchase part of the prasādam and cook the rest at home.

'''[[CC Antya 8.90-91|Antya 8.90-91]]:''' Even on a day when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was invited to dine by others, if Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Bhagavān Ācārya or Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya invited Him, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had no independence. He would accept their invitations as they desired.

'''[[CC Antya 8.92|Antya 8.92]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu actually descended to give happiness to the devotees. Thus He behaved in whatever way fit the time and circumstances.

'''[[CC Antya 8.93|Antya 8.93]]:''' Because of His full independence, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sometimes behaved like a common man and sometimes manifested His godly opulence.

'''[[CC Antya 8.94|Antya 8.94]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sometimes accepted Rāmacandra Purī as His master and considered Himself a servant, and sometimes the Lord, not caring for him, would see him as being just like a straw.

'''[[CC Antya 8.95|Antya 8.95]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu behaved exactly like the Supreme Personality of Godhead, beyond the restriction of anyone's intelligence. He did whatever He liked, but all His activities were very beautiful.

'''[[CC Antya 8.96|Antya 8.96]]:''' Thus Rāmacandra Purī stayed for some days at Nīlācala [Jagannātha Purī]. Then he left to visit various holy places of pilgrimage.

'''[[CC Antya 8.97|Antya 8.97]]:''' The devotees considered Rāmacandra Purī to be like a great burden on their heads. When he left Jagannātha Purī, everyone felt extremely happy, as if a great stone burden had suddenly fallen from their heads to the ground.

'''[[CC Antya 8.98|Antya 8.98]]:''' After his departure, everything was happy once again. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted invitations as usual and led congregational chanting and dancing. Everyone else also accepted prasādam without hindrances.

'''[[CC Antya 8.99|Antya 8.99]]:''' If one's spiritual master rejects him, one becomes so fallen that he, like Rāmacandra Purī, commits offenses even to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Antya 8.100|Antya 8.100]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not consider the offenses of Rāmacandra Purī, for the Lord considered him His spiritual master. However, his character instructed everyone about the result of offending the spiritual master.

'''[[CC Antya 8.101|Antya 8.101]]:''' The character of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is full of nectar. Hearing about it is pleasing to the ear and mind.

'''[[CC Antya 8.102|Antya 8.102]]:''' I write about the character of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. O readers, please hear with attention, for thus you will easily receive ecstatic love for the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 8.103|Antya 8.103]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 7|Antya-līlā 7]] '''[[CC Antya 7|Antya-līlā 7]] - [[CC Antya 9|Antya-līlā 9]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 9|Antya-līlā 9]]</div>

CC Antya 7

2026-06-04T18:30:52Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 7 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 07|1]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 7: The Meeting of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Vallabha Bhaṭṭa'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 6|Antya-līlā 6]] '''[[CC Antya 6|Antya-līlā 6]] - [[CC Antya 8|Antya-līlā 8]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 8|Antya-līlā 8]]</div>

'''[[CC Antya 7 Summary|Antya 7 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 7.1|Antya 7.1]]:''' Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Simply by the causeless mercy of the devotees engaged in licking honey from His lotus feet, even a fallen soul becomes eternally liberated.

'''[[CC Antya 7.2|Antya 7.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Antya 7.3|Antya 7.3]]:''' The next year, all the devotees of Bengal went to visit Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and as previously, the Lord met each and every one of them.

'''[[CC Antya 7.4|Antya 7.4]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed His pastimes with His devotees. Then a learned scholar named Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went to Jagannātha Purī to meet the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 7.5|Antya 7.5]]:''' When Vallabha Bhaṭṭa arrived, he offered his obeisances at the lotus feet of the Lord. Accepting him as a great devotee, the Lord embraced him.

'''[[CC Antya 7.6|Antya 7.6]]:''' With great respect, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu seated Vallabha Bhaṭṭa near Him. Then Vallabha Bhaṭṭa very humbly began to speak.

'''[[CC Antya 7.7|Antya 7.7]]:''' "For a long time," he said, "I have desired to see You, my Lord. Now Lord Jagannātha has fulfilled this desire; therefore I am seeing You.

'''[[CC Antya 7.8|Antya 7.8]]:''' "One who receives Your audience is fortunate indeed, for You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.

'''[[CC Antya 7.9|Antya 7.9]]:''' "Since one who remembers You is purified, why should it be astonishing that one becomes purified by seeing You?

'''[[CC Antya 7.10|Antya 7.10]]:''' "'One can immediately purify his entire house simply by remembering exalted personalities, to say nothing of directly seeing them, touching their lotus feet, washing their feet or offering them places to sit.'

'''[[CC Antya 7.11|Antya 7.11]]:''' "The fundamental religious system in the Age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Unless empowered by Kṛṣṇa, one cannot propagate the sańkīrtana movement.

'''[[CC Antya 7.12|Antya 7.12]]:''' "You have spread the sańkīrtana movement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore it is evident that You have been empowered by Lord Kṛṣṇa. There is no question about it.

'''[[CC Antya 7.13|Antya 7.13]]:''' "You have manifested the holy name of Kṛṣṇa throughout the entire world. Anyone who sees You is immediately absorbed in ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 7.14|Antya 7.14]]:''' "Without being especially empowered by Kṛṣṇa, one cannot manifest ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa, for Kṛṣṇa is the only one who gives ecstatic love. That is the verdict of all revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Antya 7.15|Antya 7.15]]:''' "'There may be many all-auspicious incarnations of the Personality of Godhead, but who other than Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa can bestow love of God upon the surrendered souls?'"

'''[[CC Antya 7.16|Antya 7.16]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "My dear Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, you are a learned scholar. Kindly listen to Me. I am a sannyāsī of the Māyāvāda school. Therefore I have no chance of knowing what kṛṣṇa-bhakti is.

'''[[CC Antya 7.17|Antya 7.17]]:''' "Nevertheless, My mind has become purified because I have associated with Advaita Ācārya, who is directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Antya 7.18|Antya 7.18]]:''' "He is unparalleled in His understanding of all the revealed scriptures and the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore He is called Advaita Ācārya.

'''[[CC Antya 7.19|Antya 7.19]]:''' "He is such a great personality that by His mercy He can convert even the meat-eaters [mlecchas] to the devotional service of Kṛṣṇa. Who, therefore, can estimate the power of His Vaiṣṇavism?

'''[[CC Antya 7.20|Antya 7.20]]:''' "Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, the avadhūta, is also directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is always intoxicated with the madness of ecstatic love. Indeed, He is an ocean of love of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 7.21|Antya 7.21]]:''' "Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya perfectly knows the six philosophical theses. He is therefore the spiritual master of the entire world in teaching the six paths of philosophy. He is the best of devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 7.22|Antya 7.22]]:''' "Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya has shown Me the limit of devotional service. Only by his mercy have I understood that devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is the essence of all mystic yoga.

'''[[CC Antya 7.23|Antya 7.23]]:''' "Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya is the ultimate knower of the transcendental mellows of Lord Kṛṣṇa's devotional service. He has instructed Me that Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Antya 7.24|Antya 7.24]]:''' "Through the mercy of Rāmānanda Rāya, I have understood that ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa is the highest goal of life and that spontaneous love of Kṛṣṇa is the highest perfection.

'''[[CC Antya 7.25|Antya 7.25]]:''' "The servant, friend, superior and conjugal lover are the shelters of the transcendental mellows called dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and śṛńgāra.

'''[[CC Antya 7.26|Antya 7.26]]:''' "There are two kinds of emotion [bhāva]. Emotion with an understanding of the Lord's full opulences is called aiśvarya-jñāna-yukta, and pure, uncontaminated emotion is called kevala. One cannot achieve shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, simply by knowing His opulences.

'''[[CC Antya 7.27|Antya 7.27]]:''' "'The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the son of mother Yaśodā, is accessible to those devotees engaged in spontaneous loving service, but He is not as easily accessible to mental speculators, to those striving for self-realization by severe austerities and penances, or to those who consider the body the same as the self.'

'''[[CC Antya 7.28|Antya 7.28]]:''' "The word 'ātma-bhūta' means 'personal associates.' Through the understanding of the Lord's opulence, the goddess of fortune could not receive the shelter of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja.

'''[[CC Antya 7.29|Antya 7.29]]:''' "'When Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was dancing with the gopīs in the rāsa-līlā, the gopīs were embraced around the neck by the Lord's arms. This transcendental favor was never bestowed upon the goddess of fortune or the other consorts in the spiritual world. Nor was such a thing ever imagined by the most beautiful girls in the heavenly planets, girls whose bodily luster and aroma resemble the beauty and fragrance of lotus flowers. And what to speak of worldly women, who may be very, very beautiful according to material estimation?'

'''[[CC Antya 7.30|Antya 7.30]]:''' "In pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness, a friend mounts the shoulder of Kṛṣṇa, and mother Yaśodā binds the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 7.31|Antya 7.31]]:''' "In pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness, without knowledge of the Lord's opulences, a devotee considers Kṛṣṇa his friend or son. Therefore this devotional attitude is praised even by Śukadeva Gosvāmī and Vyāsadeva, the supreme authority.

'''[[CC Antya 7.32|Antya 7.32]]:''' "'Neither those who are engaged in self-realization, appreciating the Brahman effulgence of the Lord, nor those engaged in devotional service while accepting the Supreme Personality of Godhead as master, nor those who are under the clutches of Māyā, thinking the Lord an ordinary person, can understand that certain exalted personalities, after accumulating volumes of pious activities, are now playing with the Lord in friendship as cowherd boys.'

'''[[CC Antya 7.33|Antya 7.33]]:''' "'When mother Yaśodā saw all the universes within Kṛṣṇa's mouth, she was astonished for the time being. The Lord is worshiped like Indra and other demigods by the followers of the three Vedas, who offer Him sacrifices. He is worshiped as impersonal Brahman by saintly persons who understand His greatness through studying the Upaniṣads, as the puruṣa by great philosophers who analytically study the universe, as the all-pervading Supersoul by great yogīs, and as the Supreme Personality of Godhead by devotees. Nevertheless, mother Yaśodā considered the Lord her own son.'

'''[[CC Antya 7.34|Antya 7.34]]:''' "'O brāhmaṇa, what pious activities did Nanda Mahārāja perform to receive the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa as his son? And what pious activities did mother Yaśodā perform that made the Absolute Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa call her "Mother" and suck her breasts?'

'''[[CC Antya 7.35|Antya 7.35]]:''' "Even if a pure devotee sees the opulence of Kṛṣṇa, he does not accept it. Therefore pure consciousness is more exalted than consciousness of the Lord's opulence.

'''[[CC Antya 7.36|Antya 7.36]]:''' "Rāmānanda Rāya is extremely aware of transcendental mellows. He is incessantly absorbed in the happiness of ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa. It is he who has taught Me all this.

'''[[CC Antya 7.37|Antya 7.37]]:''' "It is impossible to describe the influence and knowledge of Rāmānanda Rāya, for only by his mercy have I understood the unalloyed love of the residents of Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Antya 7.38|Antya 7.38]]:''' "The transcendental mellows of ecstatic love are personified by Svarūpa Dāmodara. By his association I have understood Vṛndāvana's transcendental mellow of conjugal love.

'''[[CC Antya 7.39|Antya 7.39]]:''' "The unalloyed love of the gopīs and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is without any trace of material lust. The criterion of such transcendental love is that its only purpose is to satisfy Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 7.40|Antya 7.40]]:''' "'O dearly beloved! Your lotus feet are so soft that we place them gently on our breasts, fearing that Your feet will be hurt. Our lives rest only in You. Our minds, therefore, are filled with anxiety that Your tender feet might be wounded by pebbles as You roam about on the forest path.'

'''[[CC Antya 7.41|Antya 7.41]]:''' "Obsessed with pure love, without knowledge of opulences, the gopīs sometimes chastise Kṛṣṇa. That is a symptom of pure ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Antya 7.42|Antya 7.42]]:''' "'O dear Kṛṣṇa, we gopīs have neglected the order of our husbands, sons, family, brothers and friends and have left their company to come to You. You know everything about our desires. We have come only because we are attracted by the supreme music of Your flute. But You are a great cheater, for who else would give up the company of young girls like us in the dead of night?'

'''[[CC Antya 7.43|Antya 7.43]]:''' "The conjugal love of the gopīs is the most exalted devotional service, surpassing all other methods of bhakti. Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa is obliged to say, 'My dear gopīs, I cannot repay you. Indeed, I am always indebted to you.'

'''[[CC Antya 7.44|Antya 7.44]]:''' "'O gopīs, I am not able to repay My debt for your spotless service, even within a lifetime of Brahmā. Your connection with Me is beyond reproach. You have worshiped Me, cutting off all domestic ties, which are difficult to break. Therefore please let your own glorious deeds be your compensation.'

'''[[CC Antya 7.45|Antya 7.45]]:''' "Completely distinct from love of Kṛṣṇa in opulence, pure love of Kṛṣṇa is on the highest level. On the surface of the world there is no devotee greater than Uddhava.

'''[[CC Antya 7.46|Antya 7.46]]:''' "Uddhava desires to take on his head the dust of the gopīs' lotus feet. I have learned about all these transcendental loving affairs of Lord Kṛṣṇa from Svarūpa Dāmodara.

'''[[CC Antya 7.47|Antya 7.47]]:''' "'The gopīs of Vṛndāvana have given up the association of their husbands, sons and other family members, who are very difficult to give up, and they have forsaken the path of chastity to take shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, Kṛṣṇa, which one should search for by Vedic knowledge. Oh, let me be fortunate enough to become one of the bushes, creepers or herbs in Vṛndāvana, for the gopīs trample them and bless them with the dust of their lotus feet.'

'''[[CC Antya 7.48|Antya 7.48]]:''' "Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the teacher of the holy name, is the most exalted of all pure devotees. Every day he chants 300,000 holy names of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 7.49|Antya 7.49]]:''' "I have learned about the glories of the Lord's holy name from Haridāsa Ṭhākura, and by his mercy I have understood these glories.

'''[[CC Antya 7.50-52|Antya 7.50-52]]:''' "Ācāryaratna, Ācāryanidhi, Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Jagadānanda, Dāmodara, Śańkara, Vakreśvara, Kāśīśvara, Mukunda, Vāsudeva, Murāri and many other devotees have descended in Bengal to preach to everyone the glories of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and the value of love for Him. I have learned from them the meaning of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Antya 7.53|Antya 7.53]]:''' Knowing that Vallabha Bhaṭṭa's heart was full of pride, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke these words, hinting at how one can learn about devotional service.

'''[[CC Antya 7.54|Antya 7.54]]:''' [Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was thinking:] "I am a great Vaiṣṇava. Having learned all the conclusions of Vaiṣṇava philosophy, I can understand the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and explain it very well."

'''[[CC Antya 7.55|Antya 7.55]]:''' Such pride had existed for a long time within the mind of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, but as he heard the preaching of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, his pride was cut down.

'''[[CC Antya 7.56|Antya 7.56]]:''' When Vallabha Bhaṭṭa heard from the mouth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu about the pure Vaiṣṇavism of all these devotees, he immediately desired to see them.

'''[[CC Antya 7.57|Antya 7.57]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said, "Where do all these Vaiṣṇavas live, and how can I see them?"

'''[[CC Antya 7.58|Antya 7.58]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "Although some of them live in Bengal and some in other states, they have all come here to see the Ratha-yātrā festival.

'''[[CC Antya 7.59|Antya 7.59]]:''' "At present they are all living here. Their residences are in various quarters. Here you will get the audience of them all."

'''[[CC Antya 7.60|Antya 7.60]]:''' Thereafter, with great submission and humility, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to dine at his home.

'''[[CC Antya 7.61|Antya 7.61]]:''' The next day, when all the Vaiṣṇavas came to the abode of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord introduced Vallabha Bhaṭṭa to them all.

'''[[CC Antya 7.62|Antya 7.62]]:''' He was surprised to see the brilliance of their faces. Indeed, among them Vallabha Bhaṭṭa seemed just like a glowworm.

'''[[CC Antya 7.63|Antya 7.63]]:''' Then Vallabha Bhaṭṭa brought in a great quantity of Lord Jagannātha's mahā-prasādam and sumptuously fed Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates.

'''[[CC Antya 7.64|Antya 7.64]]:''' All the sannyāsī associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, headed by Paramānanda Purī, sat on one side and thus partook of the prasādam.

'''[[CC Antya 7.65|Antya 7.65]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat in the midst of the devotees. Advaita Ācārya and Lord Nityānanda each sat on one side of the Lord. The other devotees sat in front of the Lord and behind Him.

'''[[CC Antya 7.66|Antya 7.66]]:''' The devotees from Bengal, whom I am unable to count, all sat down in lines in the courtyard.

'''[[CC Antya 7.67|Antya 7.67]]:''' When Vallabha Bhaṭṭa saw all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he was greatly surprised, and in devotion he offered his obeisances at the lotus feet of each and every one of them.

'''[[CC Antya 7.68|Antya 7.68]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara, Jagadānanda, Kāśīśvara and Śańkara, along with Rāghava and Dāmodara Paṇḍita, took charge of distributing the prasādam.

'''[[CC Antya 7.69|Antya 7.69]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭa had brought a large quantity of mahā-prasādam offered to Lord Jagannātha. Thus all the sannyāsīs sat down to eat with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 7.70|Antya 7.70]]:''' Accepting the prasādam, all the Vaiṣṇavas chanted the holy names "Hari! Hari!" The rising vibration of the holy name of Hari filled the entire universe.

'''[[CC Antya 7.71|Antya 7.71]]:''' When all the Vaiṣṇavas had finished eating, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa brought a large quantity of garlands, sandalwood pulp, spices and betel. He worshiped the devotees very respectfully and became extremely happy.

'''[[CC Antya 7.72|Antya 7.72]]:''' On the day of the car festival, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began the congregational chanting. As He had done previously, He divided all the devotees into seven groups.

'''[[CC Antya 7.73-74|Antya 7.73-74]]:''' Seven devotees — Advaita, Nityānanda, Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Vakreśvara, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, Rāghava Paṇḍita and Gadādhara Paṇḍita — formed seven groups and began dancing. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, chanting "Haribol!" wandered from one group to another.

'''[[CC Antya 7.75|Antya 7.75]]:''' Fourteen mṛdańgas resounded with the loud congregational chanting, and in each group was a dancer whose dance of ecstatic love inundated the entire world.

'''[[CC Antya 7.76|Antya 7.76]]:''' Seeing all this, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was completely astonished. He was overwhelmed by transcendental bliss and lost himself.

'''[[CC Antya 7.77|Antya 7.77]]:''' Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stopped the dancing of the others, and as He had done previously, He personally began to dance.

'''[[CC Antya 7.78|Antya 7.78]]:''' Seeing the beauty of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the awakening of His ecstatic love, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa concluded, "Here is Lord Kṛṣṇa, without a doubt."

'''[[CC Antya 7.79|Antya 7.79]]:''' Thus Vallabha Bhaṭṭa witnessed the car festival. He was simply astonished by the characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 7.80|Antya 7.80]]:''' One day, after the festival was over, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went to the abode of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and submitted a request at the lotus feet of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 7.81|Antya 7.81]]:''' "I have written some commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam," he said. "Would Your Lordship kindly hear it?"

'''[[CC Antya 7.82|Antya 7.82]]:''' The Lord replied, "I do not understand the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Indeed, I am not a suitable person to hear its meaning.

'''[[CC Antya 7.83|Antya 7.83]]:''' "I simply sit and try to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, and although I chant all day and night, I nevertheless cannot complete the chanting of My prescribed number of rounds."

'''[[CC Antya 7.84|Antya 7.84]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said, "I have tried to describe elaborately the meaning of Kṛṣṇa's holy name. Kindly hear the explanation."

'''[[CC Antya 7.85|Antya 7.85]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "I do not accept many different meanings for the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. I know only that Lord Kṛṣṇa is Śyāmasundara and Yaśodānandana. That's all I know.

'''[[CC Antya 7.86|Antya 7.86]]:''' "The only purport of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa is that He is dark blue like a tamāla tree and is the son of mother Yaśodā. This is the conclusion of all the revealed scriptures.'

'''[[CC Antya 7.87|Antya 7.87]]:''' "I conclusively know these two names, Śyāmasundara and Yaśodānandana. I do not understand any other meanings, nor have I the capacity to understand them."

'''[[CC Antya 7.88|Antya 7.88]]:''' Being omniscient, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could understand that Vallabha Bhaṭṭa's explanations of Kṛṣṇa's name and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam were useless. Therefore He did not care about them.

'''[[CC Antya 7.89|Antya 7.89]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu rigidly declined to hear his explanations, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went home feeling morose. His faith in the Lord and devotion to Him changed.

'''[[CC Antya 7.90|Antya 7.90]]:''' Thereafter, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went to the home of Gadādhara Paṇḍita. He kept coming and going, showing affection in various ways, and thus maintained a relationship with him.

'''[[CC Antya 7.91|Antya 7.91]]:''' Because Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not take Vallabha Bhaṭṭa very seriously, none of the people in Jagannātha Purī would hear any of his explanations.

'''[[CC Antya 7.92|Antya 7.92]]:''' Ashamed, insulted and unhappy, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went to Gadādhara Paṇḍita.

'''[[CC Antya 7.93|Antya 7.93]]:''' Approaching him with great humility, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said, "I have taken shelter of you, my dear sir. Kindly be merciful to me and save my life.

'''[[CC Antya 7.94|Antya 7.94]]:''' "Please hear my explanation of the meaning of Lord Kṛṣṇa's name. In that way the mud of the shame that has come upon me will be washed off."

'''[[CC Antya 7.95|Antya 7.95]]:''' Thus Paṇḍita Gosāñi fell into a dilemma. He was in such doubt that he could not decide alone what to do.

'''[[CC Antya 7.96|Antya 7.96]]:''' Although Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi did not want to hear it, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa began to read his explanation with great force.

'''[[CC Antya 7.97|Antya 7.97]]:''' Because Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was a learned brāhmaṇa, Gadādhara Paṇḍita could not forbid him. Thus he began to think of Lord Kṛṣṇa. "My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa," he requested, "please protect me in this danger. I have taken shelter of You.

'''[[CC Antya 7.98|Antya 7.98]]:''' "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is present in everyone's heart, and He will certainly know my mind. Therefore I do not fear Him. His associates, however, are extremely critical."

'''[[CC Antya 7.99|Antya 7.99]]:''' Although Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi was not in the least at fault, some of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's devotees showed affectionate anger toward him.

'''[[CC Antya 7.100|Antya 7.100]]:''' Every day, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa would come to the place of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to engage in unnecessary arguments with Advaita Ācārya and other great personalities, such as Svarūpa Dāmodara.

'''[[CC Antya 7.101|Antya 7.101]]:''' Whatever conclusions Vallabha Bhaṭṭa eagerly presented were refuted by personalities like Advaita Ācārya.

'''[[CC Antya 7.102|Antya 7.102]]:''' Whenever Vallabha Bhaṭṭa entered the society of devotees, headed by Advaita Ācārya, he was like a duck in a society of white swans.

'''[[CC Antya 7.103|Antya 7.103]]:''' One day Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said to Advaita Ācārya, "Every living entity is female [prakṛti] and considers Kṛṣṇa her husband [pati].

'''[[CC Antya 7.104|Antya 7.104]]:''' "It is the duty of a chaste wife, devoted to her husband, not to utter her husband's name, but all of you chant the name of Kṛṣṇa. How can this be called a religious principle?"

'''[[CC Antya 7.105|Antya 7.105]]:''' Advaita Ācārya responded, "In front of you is Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the personification of religious principles. You should ask Him, for He will give you the proper answer."

'''[[CC Antya 7.106|Antya 7.106]]:''' Hearing this, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "My dear Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, you do not know religious principles. Actually, the first duty of a chaste woman is to carry out the order of her husband.

'''[[CC Antya 7.107|Antya 7.107]]:''' "The order of Kṛṣṇa is to chant His name incessantly. Therefore one who is chaste and adherent to the husband Kṛṣṇa must chant the Lord's name, for she cannot deny the husband's order.

'''[[CC Antya 7.108|Antya 7.108]]:''' "Following this religious principle, a pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa always chants the holy name. As a result of this, he gets the fruit of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Antya 7.109|Antya 7.109]]:''' Hearing this, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was speechless. He returned home greatly unhappy and began to consider thus.

'''[[CC Antya 7.110-111|Antya 7.110-111]]:''' "Every day I am defeated in this assembly. If by chance I am one day victorious, that will be a great source of happiness for me, and all my shame will go away. But what means shall I adopt to establish my statements?"

'''[[CC Antya 7.112|Antya 7.112]]:''' The next day when he came to the assembly of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he sat down after offering obeisances to the Lord and said something with great pride.

'''[[CC Antya 7.113|Antya 7.113]]:''' "In my commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam," he said, "I have refuted the explanations of Śrīdhara Svāmī. I cannot accept his explanations.

'''[[CC Antya 7.114|Antya 7.114]]:''' "Whatever Śrīdhara Svāmī reads he explains according to the circumstances. Therefore he is inconsistent in his explanations and cannot be accepted as an authority."

'''[[CC Antya 7.115|Antya 7.115]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu smilingly replied, "One who does not accept the svāmī [husband] as an authority I consider a prostitute."

'''[[CC Antya 7.116|Antya 7.116]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very grave. All the devotees present derived great satisfaction from hearing this statement.

'''[[CC Antya 7.117|Antya 7.117]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu descended as an incarnation for the benefit of the entire world. Thus He knew the mind of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa very well.

'''[[CC Antya 7.118|Antya 7.118]]:''' By various hints and refutations, Lord Caitanya, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, corrected Vallabha Bhaṭṭa exactly as Kṛṣṇa had cut down the false pride of Indra.

'''[[CC Antya 7.119|Antya 7.119]]:''' An ignorant living being does not recognize his actual profit. Because of ignorance and material pride, he sometimes considers profit a loss, but when his pride is cut down he can actually see his true benefit.

'''[[CC Antya 7.120|Antya 7.120]]:''' Returning home that night, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa thought, "Previously, at Prayāga, Lord Caitanya was very kind to me.

'''[[CC Antya 7.121|Antya 7.121]]:''' "He accepted my invitation with His other devotees, and He was kind to me. Why has He now changed so much here at Jagannātha Purī?

'''[[CC Antya 7.122|Antya 7.122]]:''' "Being very proud of my learning, I am thinking, 'Let me become victorious.' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, is trying to purify me by nullifying this false pride, for a characteristic of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is that He acts for everyone's welfare.

'''[[CC Antya 7.123|Antya 7.123]]:''' "I am falsely proud, advertising myself as a learned scholar. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu insults me just to favor me by cutting down this false pride.

'''[[CC Antya 7.124|Antya 7.124]]:''' "He is actually acting for my benefit, although I interpret His actions as insults. This is exactly like the incident in which Lord Kṛṣṇa cut down Indra, the great, puffed-up fool, to correct him."

'''[[CC Antya 7.125|Antya 7.125]]:''' Thinking in this way, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa approached Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu the next morning, and in great humility, offering many prayers, he sought shelter and surrendered at the lotus feet of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 7.126|Antya 7.126]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭa admitted, "I am a great fool, and indeed I have acted like a fool by trying to demonstrate my learning to You.

'''[[CC Antya 7.127|Antya 7.127]]:''' "My dear Lord, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You have showed mercy to me in a way just befitting Your position by insulting me to cut down all my false pride.

'''[[CC Antya 7.128|Antya 7.128]]:''' "I am an ignorant fool, for I interpret as an insult what is meant for my benefit. In this way I am just like King Indra, who out of ignorance tried to surpass Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 7.129|Antya 7.129]]:''' "My dear Lord, You have cured the blindness of my false pride by smearing my eyes with the ointment of Your mercy. You have bestowed so much mercy upon me that my ignorance is now gone.

'''[[CC Antya 7.130|Antya 7.130]]:''' "My dear Lord, I have committed offenses. Please excuse me. I seek shelter of You. Please be merciful unto me by placing Your lotus feet on my head."

'''[[CC Antya 7.131|Antya 7.131]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "You are both a greatly learned scholar and a great devotee. Wherever there are two such attributes, there cannot be a mountain of false pride.

'''[[CC Antya 7.132|Antya 7.132]]:''' "You have dared criticize Śrīdhara Svāmī, and you have begun your own commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, not accepting his authority. That is your false pride.

'''[[CC Antya 7.133|Antya 7.133]]:''' "Śrīdhara Svāmī is the spiritual master of the entire world because by his mercy we can understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. I therefore accept him as a spiritual master.

'''[[CC Antya 7.134|Antya 7.134]]:''' "Whatever you might write due to false pride, trying to surpass Śrīdhara Svāmī, would carry a contrary purport. Therefore no one would pay attention to it.

'''[[CC Antya 7.135|Antya 7.135]]:''' "One who comments on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam following in the footsteps of Śrīdhara Svāmī will be honored and accepted by everyone.

'''[[CC Antya 7.136|Antya 7.136]]:''' "Put forth your explanation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam following in the footsteps of Śrīdhara Svāmī. Giving up your false pride, worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 7.137|Antya 7.137]]:''' "Abandoning your offenses, chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, the holy names of the Lord. Then very soon you will achieve shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Antya 7.138|Antya 7.138]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭa Ācārya requested Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "If You are actually pleased with me, please accept my invitation once again."

'''[[CC Antya 7.139|Antya 7.139]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who had descended to deliver the entire universe, accepted the invitation of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa just to give him happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 7.140|Antya 7.140]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is always eager to see everyone in the material world happy. Therefore sometimes He chastises someone just to purify his heart.

'''[[CC Antya 7.141|Antya 7.141]]:''' When Vallabha Bhaṭṭa invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates, the Lord was very pleased with him.

'''[[CC Antya 7.142|Antya 7.142]]:''' Jagadānanda Paṇḍita's pure ecstatic love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very deep. It can be compared to the love of Satyabhāmā, who always quarreled with Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 7.143|Antya 7.143]]:''' Jagadānanda Paṇḍita was accustomed to provoking loving quarrels with the Lord. There was always some disagreement between them.

'''[[CC Antya 7.144|Antya 7.144]]:''' Gadādhara Paṇḍita's pure ecstatic love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was also very deep. It was like that of Rukmiṇīdevī, who was always especially submissive to Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 7.145|Antya 7.145]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sometimes desired to see Gadādhara Paṇḍita's affectionate anger, but because of his knowledge of the Lord's opulences, his anger was never invoked.

'''[[CC Antya 7.146|Antya 7.146]]:''' For this purpose Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sometimes showed His apparent anger. Hearing of this anger inspired great fear in the heart of Gadādhara Paṇḍita.

'''[[CC Antya 7.147|Antya 7.147]]:''' Previously, in kṛṣṇa-līlā, when Lord Kṛṣṇa joked with Rukmiṇīdevī, she took His words seriously, and fear awoke within her mind.

'''[[CC Antya 7.148|Antya 7.148]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was accustomed to worshiping the Lord as child Kṛṣṇa. Therefore he had been initiated into the Bāla-gopāla mantra and was thus worshiping the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 7.149|Antya 7.149]]:''' In the association of Gadādhara Paṇḍita, his mind was converted, and he dedicated his mind to worshiping Kiśora-gopāla, Kṛṣṇa as a young boy.

'''[[CC Antya 7.150|Antya 7.150]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭa wanted to be initiated by Gadādhara Paṇḍita, but Gadādhara Paṇḍita refused, saying, "The work of acting as a spiritual master is not possible for me.

'''[[CC Antya 7.151|Antya 7.151]]:''' "I am completely dependent. My Lord is Gauracandra, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. I cannot do anything independently, without His order.

'''[[CC Antya 7.152|Antya 7.152]]:''' "My dear Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, your coming to me is not appreciated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore He sometimes speaks to chastise me."

'''[[CC Antya 7.153-154|Antya 7.153-154]]:''' Some days passed, and when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, finally pleased with Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, accepted his invitation, the Lord sent Svarūpa Dāmodara, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and Govinda to call for Gadādhara Paṇḍita.

'''[[CC Antya 7.155|Antya 7.155]]:''' On the way, Svarūpa Dāmodara said to Gadādhara Paṇḍita, "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to test you. Therefore He neglected you.

'''[[CC Antya 7.156|Antya 7.156]]:''' "Why did you not retaliate by reproaching Him? Why did you fearfully tolerate His criticism?"

'''[[CC Antya 7.157|Antya 7.157]]:''' Gadādhara Paṇḍita said, "Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is completely independent. He is the topmost omniscient personality. It would not look well for me to talk to Him as if I were His equal.

'''[[CC Antya 7.158|Antya 7.158]]:''' "I can tolerate whatever He says, bearing it upon my head. He will automatically be merciful to me after considering my faults and attributes."

'''[[CC Antya 7.159|Antya 7.159]]:''' After saying this, Gadādhara Paṇḍita went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and fell down crying at the lotus feet of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 7.160|Antya 7.160]]:''' Smiling slightly, the Lord embraced him and spoke sweet words so that others would also hear.

'''[[CC Antya 7.161|Antya 7.161]]:''' "I wanted to agitate you," the Lord said, "but you did not become agitated. Indeed, you could not say anything in anger. Instead, you tolerated everything.

'''[[CC Antya 7.162|Antya 7.162]]:''' "Your mind was not disturbed by My tricks. Rather, you stayed fixed in your simplicity. In this way you have purchased Me."

'''[[CC Antya 7.163|Antya 7.163]]:''' No one can describe the characteristics and ecstatic love of Gadādhara Paṇḍita. Therefore another name for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Gadādhara-prāṇanātha, "the life and soul of Gadādhara Paṇḍita."

'''[[CC Antya 7.164|Antya 7.164]]:''' No one can say how merciful the Lord is to Gadādhara Paṇḍita, but people know the Lord as Gadāira Gaurāńga, "the Lord Gaurāńga of Gadādhara Paṇḍita."

'''[[CC Antya 7.165|Antya 7.165]]:''' No one can understand the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. They are like the Ganges, for hundreds and thousands of branches flow from even one of His activities.

'''[[CC Antya 7.166|Antya 7.166]]:''' Gadādhara Paṇḍita is celebrated all over the world for his gentle behavior, his brahminical attributes and his steady love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 7.167|Antya 7.167]]:''' The Lord purified Vallabha Bhaṭṭa by cleansing him of the mud of false pride. By such activities the Lord also instructed others.

'''[[CC Antya 7.168|Antya 7.168]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was actually always merciful within His heart, but He was sometimes externally negligent of His devotees. We should not be preoccupied with His external feature, however, for if we do so we shall be vanquished.

'''[[CC Antya 7.169|Antya 7.169]]:''' The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are very deep. Who can understand them? Only one who has firm, deep devotion to His lotus feet can understand these pastimes.

'''[[CC Antya 7.170|Antya 7.170]]:''' Another day, Gadādhara Paṇḍita invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to dinner. The Lord took prasādam at his home with His personal associates.

'''[[CC Antya 7.171|Antya 7.171]]:''' There Vallabha Bhaṭṭa took permission from Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and his desire to be initiated by Gadādhara Paṇḍita was thus fulfilled.

'''[[CC Antya 7.172|Antya 7.172]]:''' I have thus explained the Lord's meeting with Vallabha Bhaṭṭa. By hearing of this incident, one can achieve the treasure of love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 7.173|Antya 7.173]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

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CC Antya 6

2026-06-04T18:30:50Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 6 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 06|1]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 6: The Meeting of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Raghunatha dasa Gosvāmī'''</div>
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'''[[CC Antya 6 Summary|Antya 6 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 6.1|Antya 6.1]]:''' With the ropes of His causeless mercy, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu employed a trick to deliver Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī from the blind well of contemptible family life. He made Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī one of His personal associates, placing him under the charge of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī. I offer my obeisances unto Him.

'''[[CC Antya 6.2|Antya 6.2]]:''' All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Śrī Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Antya 6.3|Antya 6.3]]:''' Thus Lord Gauracandra performed various pastimes with His associates at Jagannātha Purī in varieties of transcendental pleasure.

'''[[CC Antya 6.4|Antya 6.4]]:''' Although Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt pangs of separation from Kṛṣṇa, He did not manifest His feelings externally, for He feared the unhappiness of His devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 6.5|Antya 6.5]]:''' The transformations undergone by the Lord when He manifested severe unhappiness due to separation from Kṛṣṇa cannot be described.

'''[[CC Antya 6.6|Antya 6.6]]:''' When the Lord acutely felt pangs of separation from Kṛṣṇa, only Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya's talks about Kṛṣṇa and the sweet songs of Svarūpa Dāmodara kept Him alive.

'''[[CC Antya 6.7|Antya 6.7]]:''' Because the Lord associated with various devotees during the day, His mind was somewhat diverted, but at night the pangs of separation from Kṛṣṇa increased very rapidly.

'''[[CC Antya 6.8|Antya 6.8]]:''' Two people — Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī — stayed with the Lord to pacify Him by reciting various verses about Kṛṣṇa's pastimes and by singing appropriate songs for His satisfaction.

'''[[CC Antya 6.9|Antya 6.9]]:''' Previously, when Lord Kṛṣṇa was personally present, Subala, one of His cowherd boyfriends, gave Him happiness when He felt separation from Rādhārāṇī. Similarly, Rāmānanda Rāya helped give happiness to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 6.10|Antya 6.10]]:''' Previously, when Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī felt the pangs of separation from Kṛṣṇa, Her constant companion Lalitā kept Her alive by helping Her in many ways. Similarly, when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt Rādhārāṇī's emotions, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī helped Him maintain His life.

'''[[CC Antya 6.11|Antya 6.11]]:''' To describe the fortunate position of Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī is extremely difficult. They were renowned as intimately confidential friends of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 6.12|Antya 6.12]]:''' The Lord thus enjoyed His life with His devotees. O devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, now hear how Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī met the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 6.13|Antya 6.13]]:''' When Raghunātha dāsa, during his family life, went to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Śāntipura, the Lord gave him worthy instructions by His causeless mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 6.14|Antya 6.14]]:''' Instead of becoming a so-called renunciant, Raghunātha dāsa, following the instructions of the Lord, returned home and played exactly like a pounds-and-shillings man.

'''[[CC Antya 6.15|Antya 6.15]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa was inwardly completely renounced, even in family life, but he did not express his renunciation externally. Instead, he acted just like an ordinary businessman. Seeing this, his father and mother were satisfied.

'''[[CC Antya 6.16|Antya 6.16]]:''' When he received a message that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had returned from Mathurā City, Raghunātha dāsa endeavored to go to the lotus feet of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 6.17|Antya 6.17]]:''' At that time there was a Muslim official collecting the taxes of Saptagrāma.

'''[[CC Antya 6.18|Antya 6.18]]:''' When Hiraṇya dāsa, Raghunātha dāsa's uncle, made an agreement with the government to collect taxes, the Muslim caudhurī, or tax collector, having lost his position, became extremely envious of him.

'''[[CC Antya 6.19|Antya 6.19]]:''' Hiraṇya dāsa was collecting 2,000,000 coins and therefore should have delivered 1,500,000 to the government. Instead, he was giving only 1,200,000, thus making an extra profit of 300,000 coins. Seeing this, the Muslim caudhurī, who was a Turk, became his rival.

'''[[CC Antya 6.20|Antya 6.20]]:''' After sending a confidential account to the government treasury, the caudhurī brought the minister in charge. The caudhurī came, wanting to arrest Hiraṇya dāsa, but Hiraṇya dāsa had left home. Therefore the caudhurī arrested Raghunātha dāsa.

'''[[CC Antya 6.21|Antya 6.21]]:''' Every day, the Muslim would chastise Raghunātha dāsa and tell him, "Bring your father and his elder brother. Otherwise you will be punished."

'''[[CC Antya 6.22|Antya 6.22]]:''' The caudhurī wanted to beat him, but as soon as he saw Raghunātha's face, his mind changed, and he could not beat him.

'''[[CC Antya 6.23|Antya 6.23]]:''' Indeed, the caudhurī was afraid of Raghunātha dāsa because Raghunātha dāsa belonged to the kāyastha community. Although the caudhurī would chastise him with oral vibrations, he was afraid to beat him.

'''[[CC Antya 6.24|Antya 6.24]]:''' While this was going on, Raghunātha dāsa thought of a tricky method of escape. Thus he humbly submitted this plea at the feet of the Muslim caudhurī.

'''[[CC Antya 6.25|Antya 6.25]]:''' "My dear sir, my father and his elder brother are your brothers. All brothers always fight about something.

'''[[CC Antya 6.26|Antya 6.26]]:''' "Sometimes brothers fight among themselves, and sometimes they have very friendly dealings. There is no certainty when such changes will take place. Thus I am sure that although today you are fighting, tomorrow you three brothers will be sitting together in peace.

'''[[CC Antya 6.27|Antya 6.27]]:''' "Just as I am my father's son, so I am also yours. I am your dependent, and you are my maintainer.

'''[[CC Antya 6.28|Antya 6.28]]:''' "For a maintainer to punish the person he maintains is not good. You are expert in all the scriptures. Indeed, you are like a living saint."

'''[[CC Antya 6.29|Antya 6.29]]:''' When the Muslim heard Raghunātha dāsa's appealing voice, his heart softened. He began to cry, and tears glided down his beard.

'''[[CC Antya 6.30|Antya 6.30]]:''' The Muslim caudhurī told Raghunātha dāsa, "You are my son from this day on. Today, by some means, I shall have you released."

'''[[CC Antya 6.31|Antya 6.31]]:''' After informing the minister, the caudhurī released Raghunātha dāsa and then began to speak to him with great affection.

'''[[CC Antya 6.32|Antya 6.32]]:''' "Your father's elder brother is less intelligent," he said. "He enjoys 800,000 coins, but since I am also a shareholder, he should give some portion of it to me.

'''[[CC Antya 6.33|Antya 6.33]]:''' "Now you go arrange a meeting between me and your uncle. Let him do whatever he thinks best. I shall completely depend on his decision."

'''[[CC Antya 6.34|Antya 6.34]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa arranged a meeting between his uncle and the caudhurī. The matter was settled, and everything was peaceful.

'''[[CC Antya 6.35|Antya 6.35]]:''' In this way Raghunātha dāsa passed one year exactly like a first-class business manager, but the next year he again decided to leave home.

'''[[CC Antya 6.36|Antya 6.36]]:''' He got up alone one night and left, but his father caught him in a distant place and brought him back.

'''[[CC Antya 6.37|Antya 6.37]]:''' This became almost a daily affair. Raghunātha would run away from home, and his father would again bring him back. Then Raghunātha dāsa's mother spoke to his father as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 6.38|Antya 6.38]]:''' "Our son has become mad," she said. "Just keep him by binding him with ropes." His father, being very unhappy, replied to her as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 6.39|Antya 6.39]]:''' "Raghunātha dāsa, our son, has opulences like Indra, the heavenly King, and his wife is as beautiful as an angel. Yet all this could not tie down his mind.

'''[[CC Antya 6.40|Antya 6.40]]:''' "How then could we keep this boy home by binding him with ropes? It is not possible even for one's father to nullify the reactions of one's past activities.

'''[[CC Antya 6.41|Antya 6.41]]:''' "Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has fully bestowed His mercy on him. Who can keep home such a madman of Caitanyacandra?"

'''[[CC Antya 6.42|Antya 6.42]]:''' Then Raghunātha dāsa considered something in his mind, and the next day he went to Nityānanda Gosāñi.

'''[[CC Antya 6.43|Antya 6.43]]:''' In the village of Pānihāṭi, Raghunātha dāsa obtained an interview with Nityānanda Prabhu, who was accompanied by many kīrtana performers, servants and others.

'''[[CC Antya 6.44|Antya 6.44]]:''' Sitting on a rock under a tree on the bank of the Ganges, Lord Nityānanda seemed as effulgent as hundreds of thousands of rising suns.

'''[[CC Antya 6.45|Antya 6.45]]:''' Many devotees sat on the ground surrounding Him. Seeing the influence of Nityānanda Prabhu, Raghunātha dāsa was astonished.

'''[[CC Antya 6.46|Antya 6.46]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa offered his obeisances by falling prostrate at a distant place, and the servant of Nityānanda Prabhu pointed out, "There is Raghunātha dāsa, offering You obeisances."

'''[[CC Antya 6.47|Antya 6.47]]:''' Hearing this, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu said, "You are a thief. Now you have come to see Me. Come here, come here. Today I shall punish you!"

'''[[CC Antya 6.48|Antya 6.48]]:''' The Lord called him, but Raghunātha dāsa did not go near the Lord. Then the Lord forcibly caught him and placed His lotus feet upon Raghunātha dāsa's head.

'''[[CC Antya 6.49|Antya 6.49]]:''' Lord Nityānanda was by nature very merciful and funny. Being merciful, He spoke to Raghunātha dāsa as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 6.50|Antya 6.50]]:''' "You are just like a thief, for instead of coming near, you stay away at a distant place. Now that I have captured you, I shall punish you.

'''[[CC Antya 6.51|Antya 6.51]]:''' "Make a festival and feed all My associates yogurt and chipped rice." Hearing this, Raghunātha dāsa was greatly pleased.

'''[[CC Antya 6.52|Antya 6.52]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa immediately sent his own men to the village to purchase all kinds of eatables and bring them back.

'''[[CC Antya 6.53|Antya 6.53]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa brought chipped rice, yogurt, milk, sweetmeats, sugar, bananas and other eatables and placed them all around.

'''[[CC Antya 6.54|Antya 6.54]]:''' As soon as they heard that a festival was going to be held, all kinds of brāhmaṇas and other gentlemen began to arrive. Thus there were innumerable people.

'''[[CC Antya 6.55|Antya 6.55]]:''' Seeing the crowd increasing, Raghunātha dāsa arranged to get more eatables from other villages. He also brought two to four hundred large, round earthen pots.

'''[[CC Antya 6.56|Antya 6.56]]:''' He also obtained five or seven especially large earthen pots, and in these pots a brāhmaṇa began soaking chipped rice for the satisfaction of Lord Nityānanda.

'''[[CC Antya 6.57|Antya 6.57]]:''' In one place, chipped rice was soaked in hot milk in each of the large pots. Then half the rice was mixed with yogurt, sugar and bananas.

'''[[CC Antya 6.58|Antya 6.58]]:''' The other half was mixed with condensed milk and a special type of banana known as cāńpā-kalā. Then sugar, clarified butter and camphor were added.

'''[[CC Antya 6.59|Antya 6.59]]:''' After Nityānanda Prabhu had changed His cloth for a new one and sat on a raised platform, the brāhmaṇa brought before Him the seven huge pots.

'''[[CC Antya 6.60|Antya 6.60]]:''' On that platform, all the most important associates of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, as well as other important men, sat down in a circle around the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 6.61|Antya 6.61]]:''' Among them were Rāmadāsa, Sundarānanda, Gadādhara dāsa, Murāri, Kamalākara, Sadāśiva and Purandara.

'''[[CC Antya 6.62|Antya 6.62]]:''' Dhanañjaya, Jagadīśa, Parameśvara dāsa, Maheśa, Gaurīdāsa and Hoḍa Kṛṣṇadāsa were also there.

'''[[CC Antya 6.63|Antya 6.63]]:''' Similarly, Uddhāraṇa Datta Ṭhākura and many other personal associates of the Lord sat on the raised platform with Nityānanda Prabhu. No one could count them all.

'''[[CC Antya 6.64|Antya 6.64]]:''' Hearing about the festival, all kinds of learned scholars, brāhmaṇas and priests went there. Lord Nityānanda Prabhu honored them and made them sit on the raised platform with Him.

'''[[CC Antya 6.65|Antya 6.65]]:''' Everyone was offered two earthen pots. In one was put chipped rice with condensed milk, and in the other chipped rice with yogurt.

'''[[CC Antya 6.66|Antya 6.66]]:''' All the other people sat in groups around the platform. No one could count how many people there were.

'''[[CC Antya 6.67|Antya 6.67]]:''' Each and every one of them was supplied two earthen pots — one of chipped rice soaked in yogurt and the other of chipped rice soaked in condensed milk.

'''[[CC Antya 6.68|Antya 6.68]]:''' Some of the brāhmaṇas, not having gotten a place on the platform, went to the bank of the Ganges with their two earthen pots and soaked their chipped rice there.

'''[[CC Antya 6.69|Antya 6.69]]:''' Others, who could not get a place even on the bank of the Ganges, got down into the water and began eating their two kinds of chipped rice.

'''[[CC Antya 6.70|Antya 6.70]]:''' Thus some sat on the platform, some at the base of the platform, and some on the bank of the Ganges, and they were all supplied two pots each by the twenty men who distributed the food.

'''[[CC Antya 6.71|Antya 6.71]]:''' At that time, Rāghava Paṇḍita arrived there. Seeing the situation, he began to laugh in great surprise.

'''[[CC Antya 6.72|Antya 6.72]]:''' He brought many kinds of food cooked in ghee and offered to the Lord. This prasādam he first placed before Lord Nityānanda and then distributed among the devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 6.73|Antya 6.73]]:''' Rāghava Paṇḍita said to Lord Nityānanda, "For You, Sir, I have already offered food to the Deity, but You are engaged in a festival here, and so the food is lying there untouched."

'''[[CC Antya 6.74|Antya 6.74]]:''' Lord Nityānanda replied, "Let Me eat all this food here during the day, and I shall eat at your home at night.

'''[[CC Antya 6.75|Antya 6.75]]:''' "I belong to a community of cowherd boys, and therefore I generally have many cowherd associates with Me. I am happy when we eat together in a picnic like this by the sandy bank of the river."

'''[[CC Antya 6.76|Antya 6.76]]:''' Lord Nityānanda made Rāghava Paṇḍita sit down and had two pots delivered to him also. There were two kinds of chipped rice soaked in them.

'''[[CC Antya 6.77|Antya 6.77]]:''' When chipped rice had been served to everyone, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, in meditation, brought Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 6.78|Antya 6.78]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu stood up. They then saw how the others were enjoying the chipped rice with yogurt and condensed milk.

'''[[CC Antya 6.79|Antya 6.79]]:''' From each and every pot, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu took one morsel of chipped rice and pushed it into the mouth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as a joke.

'''[[CC Antya 6.80|Antya 6.80]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, also smiling, took a morsel of food, pushed it into the mouth of Nityānanda and laughed as He made Lord Nityānanda eat it.

'''[[CC Antya 6.81|Antya 6.81]]:''' In this way Lord Nityānanda was walking through all the groups of eaters, and all the Vaiṣṇavas standing there were seeing the fun.

'''[[CC Antya 6.82|Antya 6.82]]:''' No one could understand what Nityānanda Prabhu was doing as He walked about. Some, however, who were very fortunate, could see that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was also present.

'''[[CC Antya 6.83|Antya 6.83]]:''' Then Nityānanda Prabhu smiled and sat down. On His right side He kept four pots of chipped rice that had not been made from boiled paddy.

'''[[CC Antya 6.84|Antya 6.84]]:''' Lord Nityānanda offered Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu a place and had Him sit down. Then together the two brothers began eating chipped rice.

'''[[CC Antya 6.85|Antya 6.85]]:''' Seeing Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu eating with Him, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu became very happy and exhibited varieties of ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Antya 6.86|Antya 6.86]]:''' Lord Nityānanda Prabhu ordered, "All of you eat, chanting the holy name of Hari." Immediately the holy names "Hari, Hari" resounded, filling the entire universe.

'''[[CC Antya 6.87|Antya 6.87]]:''' When all the Vaiṣṇavas were chanting the holy names "Hari, Hari" and eating, they remembered how Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma ate with Their companions the cowherd boys on the bank of the Yamunā.

'''[[CC Antya 6.88|Antya 6.88]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Nityānanda Prabhu are extremely merciful and liberal. It was Raghunātha dāsa's good fortune that They accepted all these dealings.

'''[[CC Antya 6.89|Antya 6.89]]:''' Who can understand the influence and mercy of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu? He is so powerful that He induced Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to come eat chipped rice on the bank of the Ganges.

'''[[CC Antya 6.90|Antya 6.90]]:''' All the confidential devotees who were cowherd boys, headed by Śrī Rāmadāsa, were absorbed in ecstatic love. They thought the bank of the Ganges to be the bank of the Yamunā.

'''[[CC Antya 6.91|Antya 6.91]]:''' When the shopkeepers of many other villages heard about the festival, they arrived there to sell chipped rice, yogurt, sweetmeats and bananas.

'''[[CC Antya 6.92|Antya 6.92]]:''' As they came, bringing all kinds of food, Raghunātha dāsa purchased it all. He gave them the price for their goods and later fed them the very same food.

'''[[CC Antya 6.93|Antya 6.93]]:''' Anyone who came to see how these funny things were going on was also fed chipped rice, yogurt and bananas.

'''[[CC Antya 6.94|Antya 6.94]]:''' After Lord Nityānanda Prabhu finished eating, He washed His hands and mouth and gave Raghunātha dāsa the food remaining in the four pots.

'''[[CC Antya 6.95|Antya 6.95]]:''' There was food remaining in the three other big pots of Lord Nityānanda, and a brāhmaṇa distributed it to all the devotees, giving a morsel to each.

'''[[CC Antya 6.96|Antya 6.96]]:''' Then a brāhmaṇa brought a flower garland, placed the garland on Nityānanda Prabhu's neck and smeared sandalwood pulp all over His body.

'''[[CC Antya 6.97|Antya 6.97]]:''' When a servant brought betel nuts and offered them to Lord Nityānanda, the Lord smiled and chewed them.

'''[[CC Antya 6.98|Antya 6.98]]:''' With His own hands Lord Nityānanda Prabhu distributed to all the devotees whatever flower garlands, sandalwood pulp and betel nuts remained.

'''[[CC Antya 6.99|Antya 6.99]]:''' After receiving the remnants of food left by Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, Raghunātha dāsa, who was greatly happy, ate some and distributed the rest among his own associates.

'''[[CC Antya 6.100|Antya 6.100]]:''' Thus I have described the pastimes of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu in relation to the celebrated festival of chipped rice and yogurt.

'''[[CC Antya 6.101|Antya 6.101]]:''' Nityānanda Prabhu rested for the day, and when the day ended He went to the temple of Rāghava Paṇḍita and began congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 6.102|Antya 6.102]]:''' Lord Nityānanda Prabhu first influenced all the devotees to dance, and finally He Himself began dancing, thus inundating the entire world in ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Antya 6.103|Antya 6.103]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was observing the dancing of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu. Nityānanda Prabhu could see this, but the others could not.

'''[[CC Antya 6.104|Antya 6.104]]:''' The dancing of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, like the dancing of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, cannot be compared to anything within these three worlds.

'''[[CC Antya 6.105|Antya 6.105]]:''' No one can properly describe the sweetness of Lord Nityānanda's dancing. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally comes to see it.

'''[[CC Antya 6.106|Antya 6.106]]:''' After the dancing and after Lord Nityānanda had rested, Rāghava Paṇḍita submitted his request that the Lord take supper.

'''[[CC Antya 6.107|Antya 6.107]]:''' Lord Nityānanda Prabhu sat down for supper with His personal associates and made a sitting place on His right side for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 6.108|Antya 6.108]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came there and sat down at His place. Seeing this, Rāghava Paṇḍita felt increasing happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 6.109|Antya 6.109]]:''' Rāghava Paṇḍita brought the prasādam before the two brothers and thereafter distributed prasādam to all the other Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Antya 6.110|Antya 6.110]]:''' There were varieties of cakes, sweet rice and fine cooked rice that surpassed the taste of nectar. There were also varieties of vegetables.

'''[[CC Antya 6.111|Antya 6.111]]:''' The food prepared and offered to the Deity by Rāghava Paṇḍita was like the essence of nectar. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came there again and again to eat such prasādam.

'''[[CC Antya 6.112|Antya 6.112]]:''' When Rāghava Paṇḍita offered the food to the Deity after cooking, he would make a separate offering for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 6.113|Antya 6.113]]:''' Every day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would eat at the house of Rāghava Paṇḍita. Sometimes He would give Rāghava Paṇḍita the opportunity to see Him.

'''[[CC Antya 6.114|Antya 6.114]]:''' Rāghava Paṇḍita would bring and distribute prasādam to the two brothers, feeding Them with great attention. They ate everything, and therefore there were no remnants left.

'''[[CC Antya 6.115|Antya 6.115]]:''' He brought so many presentations that no one could know them perfectly. Indeed, it was a fact that the supreme mother, Rādhārāṇī, personally cooked in the house of Rāghava Paṇḍita.

'''[[CC Antya 6.116|Antya 6.116]]:''' Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī received from Durvāsā Muni the benediction that whatever She cooked would be sweeter than nectar. That is the special feature of Her cooking.

'''[[CC Antya 6.117|Antya 6.117]]:''' Aromatic and pleasing to see, the food was the essence of all sweetness. Thus the two brothers, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, ate it with great satisfaction.

'''[[CC Antya 6.118|Antya 6.118]]:''' All the devotees present requested Raghunātha dāsa to sit down and take prasādam, but Rāghava Paṇḍita told them, "He will take prasādam later."

'''[[CC Antya 6.119|Antya 6.119]]:''' All the devotees took prasādam, filling themselves to the brim. Thereafter, chanting the holy name of Hari, they stood up and washed their hands and mouths.

'''[[CC Antya 6.120|Antya 6.120]]:''' After eating, the two brothers washed Their hands and mouths. Then Rāghava Paṇḍita brought flower garlands and sandalwood pulp and decorated Them.

'''[[CC Antya 6.121|Antya 6.121]]:''' Rāghava Paṇḍita offered Them betel nuts and worshiped Their lotus feet. He also distributed betel nuts, flower garlands and sandalwood pulp to the devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 6.122|Antya 6.122]]:''' Rāghava Paṇḍita, being very merciful toward Raghunātha dāsa, offered him the dishes with the remnants of food left by the two brothers.

'''[[CC Antya 6.123|Antya 6.123]]:''' He said, "Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has eaten this food. If you take His remnants, you will be released from the bondage of your family."

'''[[CC Antya 6.124|Antya 6.124]]:''' The Supreme Personality of Godhead always resides either in the heart or in the home of a devotee. This fact is sometimes hidden and sometimes manifest, for the Supreme Personality of Godhead is fully independent.

'''[[CC Antya 6.125|Antya 6.125]]:''' The Supreme Personality of Godhead is all-pervasive, and therefore He resides everywhere. Anyone who doubts this will be annihilated.

'''[[CC Antya 6.126|Antya 6.126]]:''' In the morning, after taking His bath in the Ganges, Nityānanda Prabhu sat down with His associates beneath the same tree under which He had previously sat.

'''[[CC Antya 6.127|Antya 6.127]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa went there and worshiped Lord Nityānanda's lotus feet. Through Rāghava Paṇḍita, he submitted his desire.

'''[[CC Antya 6.128|Antya 6.128]]:''' "I am the lowest of men, the most sinful, fallen and condemned. Nevertheless, I desire to attain shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 6.129|Antya 6.129]]:''' "Like a dwarf who wants to catch the moon, I have tried my best many times, but I have never been successful.

'''[[CC Antya 6.130|Antya 6.130]]:''' "Every time I tried to go away and give up my home relationships, my father and mother unfortunately kept me bound.

'''[[CC Antya 6.131|Antya 6.131]]:''' "No one can attain the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu without Your mercy, but if You are merciful, even the lowest of men can attain shelter at His lotus feet.

'''[[CC Antya 6.132|Antya 6.132]]:''' "Although I am unfit and greatly afraid to submit this plea, I nevertheless request You, Sir, to be especially merciful toward me by granting me shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 6.133|Antya 6.133]]:''' "Placing Your feet on my head, give me the benediction that I may achieve the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu without difficulty. I pray for this benediction."

'''[[CC Antya 6.134|Antya 6.134]]:''' After hearing this appeal by Raghunātha dāsa, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu smiled and told all the devotees, "Raghunātha dāsa's standard of material happiness is equal to that of Indra, the King of heaven.

'''[[CC Antya 6.135|Antya 6.135]]:''' "Because of the mercy bestowed upon him by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Raghunātha dāsa, although situated in such material happiness, does not like it at all. Therefore let every one of you be merciful toward him and give him the benediction that he may very soon attain shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 6.136|Antya 6.136]]:''' "One who experiences the fragrance of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa does not value even the standard of happiness available in Brahmaloka, the topmost planet. And what to speak of heavenly happiness?

'''[[CC Antya 6.137|Antya 6.137]]:''' "'Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is offered sublime, poetic prayers by those trying to attain His favor. Thus He is known as Uttamaśloka. Being very eager to gain the association of Lord Kṛṣṇa, King Bharata, although in the prime of youth, gave up his very attractive wife, affectionate children, most beloved friends and opulent kingdom, exactly as one gives up stool after excreting it.'"

'''[[CC Antya 6.138|Antya 6.138]]:''' Then Lord Nityānanda Prabhu called Raghunātha dāsa near Him, placed His lotus feet upon Raghunātha dāsa's head and began to speak.

'''[[CC Antya 6.139|Antya 6.139]]:''' "My dear Raghunātha dāsa," He said, "since you arranged the feast on the bank of the Ganges, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came here just to show you His mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 6.140|Antya 6.140]]:''' "By His causeless mercy He ate the chipped rice and milk. Then, after seeing the dancing of the devotees at night, He took His supper.

'''[[CC Antya 6.141|Antya 6.141]]:''' "Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Gaurahari, came here personally to deliver you. Now rest assured that all the impediments meant for your bondage are gone.

'''[[CC Antya 6.142|Antya 6.142]]:''' "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will accept you and place you under the charge of His secretary, Svarūpa Dāmodara. You will thus become one of the most confidential internal servants and will attain shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 6.143|Antya 6.143]]:''' "Being assured of all this, return to your own home. Very soon, without impediments, you will attain shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu."

'''[[CC Antya 6.144|Antya 6.144]]:''' Lord Nityānanda had Raghunātha dāsa blessed by all the devotees, and Raghunātha dāsa offered his respects to their lotus feet.

'''[[CC Antya 6.145|Antya 6.145]]:''' After taking leave of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu and then all the other Vaiṣṇavas, Śrī Raghunātha dāsa consulted secretly with Rāghava Paṇḍita.

'''[[CC Antya 6.146|Antya 6.146]]:''' After consulting with Rāghava Paṇḍita, he secretly delivered one hundred gold coins and about seven tolās of gold into the hand of Nityānanda Prabhu's treasurer.

'''[[CC Antya 6.147|Antya 6.147]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa admonished the treasurer, "Do not speak about this to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu now, but when He returns home, kindly inform Him about this presentation."

'''[[CC Antya 6.148|Antya 6.148]]:''' Thereupon, Rāghava Paṇḍita took Raghunātha dāsa to his home. After inducing him to see the Deity, he gave Raghunātha dāsa a garland and sandalwood pulp.

'''[[CC Antya 6.149|Antya 6.149]]:''' He gave Raghunātha dāsa a large quantity of prasādam to eat on his way home. Then Raghunātha dāsa again spoke to Rāghava Paṇḍita.

'''[[CC Antya 6.150|Antya 6.150]]:''' "I want to give money," he said, "just to worship the lotus feet of all the great devotees, servants and subservants of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 6.151|Antya 6.151]]:''' "As you think fit, give twenty, fifteen, twelve, ten or five coins to each of them."

'''[[CC Antya 6.152|Antya 6.152]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa drew up an account of the amount to be given and submitted it to Rāghava Paṇḍita, who then made up a list showing how much money was to be paid to each and every devotee.

'''[[CC Antya 6.153|Antya 6.153]]:''' With great humility, Raghunātha dāsa placed one hundred gold coins and about two tolās of gold before Rāghava Paṇḍita for all the other devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 6.154|Antya 6.154]]:''' After taking dust from the feet of Rāghava Paṇḍita, Raghunātha dāsa returned to his home, feeling greatly obligated to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu because of having received His merciful benediction.

'''[[CC Antya 6.155|Antya 6.155]]:''' From that day on, he did not go into the interior section of the house. Instead, he would sleep on the Durgā-maṇḍapa [the place where mother Durgā was worshiped].

'''[[CC Antya 6.156|Antya 6.156]]:''' There, however, the watchmen alertly kept guard. Raghunātha dāsa was thinking of various means by which to escape their vigilance.

'''[[CC Antya 6.157|Antya 6.157]]:''' At that time, all the devotees of Bengal were going to Jagannātha Purī to see Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 6.158|Antya 6.158]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa could not accompany them, for they were so famous that he would have been caught immediately.

'''[[CC Antya 6.159-160|Antya 6.159-160]]:''' Thus Raghunātha dāsa thought deeply about how to escape, and one night while he was sleeping on the Durgā-maṇḍapa, the priest Yadunandana Ācārya entered the house when only four daṇḍas remained until the end of the night.

'''[[CC Antya 6.161|Antya 6.161]]:''' Yadunandana Ācārya was the priest and spiritual master of Raghunātha dāsa. Although born in a brāhmaṇa family, he had accepted the mercy of Vāsudeva Datta.

'''[[CC Antya 6.162|Antya 6.162]]:''' Yadunandana Ācārya had been officially initiated by Advaita Ācārya. Thus he considered Lord Caitanya his life and soul.

'''[[CC Antya 6.163|Antya 6.163]]:''' When Yadunandana Ācārya entered the house of Raghunātha dāsa and stood in the courtyard, Raghunātha dāsa went there and fell down to offer his obeisances.

'''[[CC Antya 6.164|Antya 6.164]]:''' One of Yadunandana Ācārya's disciples had been worshiping the Deity but had left that service. Yadunandana Ācārya wanted Raghunātha dāsa to induce the disciple to take up that service again.

'''[[CC Antya 6.165|Antya 6.165]]:''' Yadunandana Ācārya requested Raghunātha dāsa, "Please induce the brāhmaṇa to resume the service, for there is no other brāhmaṇa to do it."

'''[[CC Antya 6.166|Antya 6.166]]:''' After saying this, Yadunandana Ācārya took Raghunātha dāsa with him and went out. By that time all the watchmen were deeply asleep because it was the end of the night.

'''[[CC Antya 6.167|Antya 6.167]]:''' East of the house of Raghunātha dāsa was the house of Yadunandana Ācārya. Yadunandana Ācārya and Raghunātha dāsa talked together as they went toward that house.

'''[[CC Antya 6.168|Antya 6.168]]:''' Halfway along the path, Raghunātha dāsa submitted at the lotus feet of his spiritual master, "I shall go to the home of that brāhmaṇa, induce him to return, and send him to your home.

'''[[CC Antya 6.169|Antya 6.169]]:''' "You may go home without anxiety. Following your order, I shall persuade the brāhmaṇa." On this plea, after asking permission, Raghunātha dāsa decided to go away.

'''[[CC Antya 6.170|Antya 6.170]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa thought, "This is the greatest opportunity to go away because this time there are no servants or watchmen with me."

'''[[CC Antya 6.171|Antya 6.171]]:''' Thinking in this way, he quickly proceeded toward the east. Sometimes he turned around and looked back, but no one was following him.

'''[[CC Antya 6.172|Antya 6.172]]:''' Thinking of the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, he left the general path and proceeded with great haste on the one not generally used.

'''[[CC Antya 6.173|Antya 6.173]]:''' Giving up the general path from village to village, he passed through the jungles, thinking with heart and soul about the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 6.174|Antya 6.174]]:''' He walked about thirty miles in one day, and in the evening he took rest in the cowshed of a milkman.

'''[[CC Antya 6.175|Antya 6.175]]:''' When the milkman saw that Raghunātha dāsa was fasting, he gave him some milk. Raghunātha dāsa drank the milk and lay down to rest there for the night.

'''[[CC Antya 6.176|Antya 6.176]]:''' At the house of Raghunātha dāsa, the servant and watchman, not seeing him there, immediately went to inquire about him from his spiritual master, Yadunandana Ācārya.

'''[[CC Antya 6.177|Antya 6.177]]:''' Yadunandana Ācārya said, "He has already asked my permission and returned home." Thus there arose a tumultuous sound, as everyone cried, "Now Raghunātha has gone away!"

'''[[CC Antya 6.178|Antya 6.178]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa's father said, "Now all the devotees from Bengal have gone to Jagannātha Purī to see Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 6.179|Antya 6.179]]:''' "Raghunātha dāsa has fled with them. Ten men should immediately go catch him and bring him back."

'''[[CC Antya 6.180|Antya 6.180]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa's father wrote a letter to Śivānanda Sena, asking him with great humility, "Please return my son."

'''[[CC Antya 6.181|Antya 6.181]]:''' In Jhāńkarā, the ten men caught up with the group of Vaiṣṇavas going to Nīlācala.

'''[[CC Antya 6.182|Antya 6.182]]:''' After delivering the letter, the men inquired from Śivānanda Sena about Raghunātha dāsa, but Śivānanda Sena replied, "He did not come here."

'''[[CC Antya 6.183|Antya 6.183]]:''' The ten men returned home, and Raghunātha dāsa's father and mother were filled with anxiety.

'''[[CC Antya 6.184|Antya 6.184]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa, who had been resting at the milkman's house, got up early in the morning. Instead of going to the east, he turned his face south and proceeded.

'''[[CC Antya 6.185|Antya 6.185]]:''' He crossed Chatrabhoga, but instead of going on the general path, he proceeded on the path that went from village to village.

'''[[CC Antya 6.186|Antya 6.186]]:''' Not caring about eating, he traveled all day. Hunger was not an impediment, for his mind was concentrated upon obtaining shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 6.187|Antya 6.187]]:''' Sometimes he chewed fried grains, sometimes he cooked, and sometimes he drank milk. In this way he kept his life and soul together with whatever was available wherever he went.

'''[[CC Antya 6.188|Antya 6.188]]:''' He reached Jagannātha Purī in twelve days but could eat only for three days on the way.

'''[[CC Antya 6.189|Antya 6.189]]:''' When Raghunātha dāsa met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord was sitting with His companions, headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara.

'''[[CC Antya 6.190|Antya 6.190]]:''' Staying at a distant place in the courtyard, he fell down to offer obeisances. Then Mukunda Datta said, "Here is Raghunātha."

'''[[CC Antya 6.191|Antya 6.191]]:''' As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard these words, He immediately welcomed Raghunātha dāsa. "Come here," He said. Raghunātha dāsa then clasped the lotus feet of the Lord, but the Lord stood up and embraced him out of His causeless mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 6.192|Antya 6.192]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa offered prayers at the lotus feet of all the devotees, headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī. Seeing the special mercy Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had bestowed upon Raghunātha dāsa, they embraced him also.

'''[[CC Antya 6.193|Antya 6.193]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "The mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa is stronger than anything else. Therefore the Lord has delivered you from the ditch of materialistic life, which is like a hole into which people pass stool."

'''[[CC Antya 6.194|Antya 6.194]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa answered within his mind, "I do not know who Kṛṣṇa is. I simply know that Your mercy, O my Lord, has saved me from my family life."

'''[[CC Antya 6.195|Antya 6.195]]:''' The Lord continued, "Your father and his elder brother are both related as brothers to My grandfather, Nīlāmbara Cakravartī. Therefore I consider them My grandfathers.

'''[[CC Antya 6.196|Antya 6.196]]:''' "Since your father and his elder brother are younger brothers of Nīlāmbara Cakravartī, I may joke about them in this way.

'''[[CC Antya 6.197|Antya 6.197]]:''' "My dear Raghunātha dāsa, your father and his elder brother are just like worms in stool in the ditch of material enjoyment, for the great disease of the poison of material enjoyment is what they consider happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 6.198|Antya 6.198]]:''' "Although your father and uncle are charitable to brāhmaṇas and greatly help them, they are nevertheless not pure Vaiṣṇavas. However, they are almost like Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Antya 6.199|Antya 6.199]]:''' "Those who are attached to materialistic life and are blind to spiritual life must act in such a way that they are bound to repeated birth and death by the actions and reactions of their activities.

'''[[CC Antya 6.200|Antya 6.200]]:''' "By His own free will, Lord Kṛṣṇa has delivered you from such a condemned materialistic life. Therefore the glories of Lord Kṛṣṇa's causeless mercy cannot be expressed."

'''[[CC Antya 6.201|Antya 6.201]]:''' Seeing Raghunātha dāsa skinny and dirty because of having traveled for twelve days and fasted, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, His heart melting due to causeless mercy, spoke to Svarūpa Dāmodara.

'''[[CC Antya 6.202|Antya 6.202]]:''' "My dear Svarūpa," He said, "I entrust this Raghunātha dāsa to you. Please accept him as your son or servant.

'''[[CC Antya 6.203|Antya 6.203]]:''' "There are now three Raghunāthas among My associates. From this day forward, this Raghunātha should be known as the Raghu of Svarūpa Dāmodara."

'''[[CC Antya 6.204|Antya 6.204]]:''' Saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu grasped the hand of Raghunātha dāsa and entrusted him to the hands of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 6.205|Antya 6.205]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī accepted Raghunātha dāsa, saying, "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, whatever You order is accepted." He then embraced Raghunātha dāsa again.

'''[[CC Antya 6.206|Antya 6.206]]:''' I cannot properly express the affection of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for His devotees. Being merciful toward Raghunātha dāsa, the Lord spoke as follows to Govinda.

'''[[CC Antya 6.207|Antya 6.207]]:''' "On the way, Raghunātha dāsa has fasted and undergone hardships for many days. Therefore, take good care of him for some days so that he may eat to his satisfaction."

'''[[CC Antya 6.208|Antya 6.208]]:''' Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Raghunātha dāsa, "Go bathe in the sea. Then see Lord Jagannātha in the temple and return here to take your meal."

'''[[CC Antya 6.209|Antya 6.209]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu got up and went to perform His midday duties, and Raghunātha met all the devotees present.

'''[[CC Antya 6.210|Antya 6.210]]:''' Having seen the causeless mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu upon Raghunātha dāsa, all the devotees, struck with wonder, praised his good fortune.

'''[[CC Antya 6.211|Antya 6.211]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa took his bath in the sea and saw Lord Jagannātha. Then he returned to Govinda, the personal servant of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 6.212|Antya 6.212]]:''' Govinda offered him a plate with the remnants of food left by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and Raghunātha dāsa accepted the prasādam with great happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 6.213|Antya 6.213]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa stayed under the care of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, and Govinda supplied him remnants of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's food for five days.

'''[[CC Antya 6.214|Antya 6.214]]:''' Beginning from the sixth day, Raghunātha dāsa would stand at the gate known as Siḿha-dvāra to beg alms after the puṣpa-añjali ceremony, in which flowers were offered to the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 6.215|Antya 6.215]]:''' After finishing their prescribed duties, the many servants of Lord Jagannātha, who are known as viṣayīs, return home at night.

'''[[CC Antya 6.216|Antya 6.216]]:''' If they see a Vaiṣṇava standing at the Siḿha-dvāra begging alms, out of mercy they arrange with the shopkeepers to give him something to eat.

'''[[CC Antya 6.217|Antya 6.217]]:''' Thus it is a custom for all time that a devotee who has no other means of support stands at the Siḿha-dvāra gate to receive alms from the servants.

'''[[CC Antya 6.218|Antya 6.218]]:''' A completely dependent Vaiṣṇava thus chants the holy name of the Lord all day and sees Lord Jagannātha with full freedom.

'''[[CC Antya 6.219|Antya 6.219]]:''' It is a custom for some Vaiṣṇavas to beg from the charity booths and eat whatever they obtain, whereas others stand at night at the Siḿha-dvāra gate, begging alms from the servants.

'''[[CC Antya 6.220|Antya 6.220]]:''' Renunciation is the basic principle sustaining the lives of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's devotees. Seeing this renunciation, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is extremely satisfied.

'''[[CC Antya 6.221|Antya 6.221]]:''' Govinda said to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Raghunātha dāsa no longer takes prasādam here. Now he stands at the Siḿha-dvāra, where he begs some alms to eat."

'''[[CC Antya 6.222|Antya 6.222]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard this, He was greatly satisfied. "Raghunātha dāsa has done well," He said. "He has acted suitably for a person in the renounced order.

'''[[CC Antya 6.223|Antya 6.223]]:''' "A person in the renounced order should always chant the holy name of the Lord. He should beg some alms to eat, and he should sustain his life in this way.

'''[[CC Antya 6.224|Antya 6.224]]:''' "A vairāgī [a person in the renounced order] should not depend on others. If he does so, he will be unsuccessful, and he will be neglected by Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 6.225|Antya 6.225]]:''' "If a renunciant is eager for his tongue to taste different foods, his spiritual life will be lost, and he will be subservient to the tastes of his tongue.

'''[[CC Antya 6.226|Antya 6.226]]:''' "The duty of a person in the renounced order is to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra always. He should satisfy his belly with whatever vegetables, leaves, fruits and roots are available.

'''[[CC Antya 6.227|Antya 6.227]]:''' "One who is subservient to the tongue and who thus goes here and there, devoted to the genitals and the belly, cannot attain Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Antya 6.228|Antya 6.228]]:''' The next day, Raghunātha dāsa inquired at the lotus feet of Svarūpa Dāmodara about his duty.

'''[[CC Antya 6.229|Antya 6.229]]:''' "I do not know why I have given up household life," he said. "What is my duty? Kindly give me instructions."

'''[[CC Antya 6.230|Antya 6.230]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa never even spoke a word before the Lord. Instead, he informed the Lord of his desires through Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and Govinda.

'''[[CC Antya 6.231|Antya 6.231]]:''' The next day, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī submitted to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Raghunātha dāsa has this to say at Your lotus feet.

'''[[CC Antya 6.232|Antya 6.232]]:''' "'I do not know my duty or the goal of my life. Therefore, please personally give me instructions from Your transcendental mouth.'"

'''[[CC Antya 6.233|Antya 6.233]]:''' Smiling, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Raghunātha dāsa, "I have already appointed Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī as your instructor.

'''[[CC Antya 6.234|Antya 6.234]]:''' "You may learn from him what your duty is and how to discharge it. I do not know as much as he.

'''[[CC Antya 6.235|Antya 6.235]]:''' "Nevertheless, if you want to take instructions from Me with faith and love, you may ascertain your duties from the following words.

'''[[CC Antya 6.236|Antya 6.236]]:''' "Do not talk like people in general or hear what they say. You should not eat very palatable food, nor should you dress very nicely.

'''[[CC Antya 6.237|Antya 6.237]]:''' "Do not expect honor, but offer all respect to others. Always chant the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and within your mind render service to Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Antya 6.238|Antya 6.238]]:''' "I have briefly given you My instructions. Now you will get all details about them from Svarūpa Dāmodara.

'''[[CC Antya 6.239|Antya 6.239]]:''' "One who thinks himself lower than grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor but is always prepared to give respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord."

'''[[CC Antya 6.240|Antya 6.240]]:''' Having heard this, Raghunātha dāsa offered prayers at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and the Lord, out of great mercy, embraced him.

'''[[CC Antya 6.241|Antya 6.241]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again entrusted him to Svarūpa Dāmodara. Thus Raghunātha dāsa rendered very confidential service with Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 6.242|Antya 6.242]]:''' At this time, all the devotees from Bengal arrived, and, as previously, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu met them with great feeling.

'''[[CC Antya 6.243|Antya 6.243]]:''' As He had previously done, He cleansed the Guṇḍicā temple and held a picnic feast in the garden with the devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 6.244|Antya 6.244]]:''' The Lord again danced with the devotees during the Ratha-yātrā festival. Seeing this, Raghunātha dāsa was struck with wonder.

'''[[CC Antya 6.245|Antya 6.245]]:''' When Raghunātha dāsa met all the devotees, Advaita Ācārya showed him great mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 6.246|Antya 6.246]]:''' He also met Śivānanda Sena, who informed him, "Your father sent ten men to take you away.

'''[[CC Antya 6.247|Antya 6.247]]:''' "He wrote me a letter asking me to send you back, but when those ten men received no information about you, they returned home from Jhāńkarā."

'''[[CC Antya 6.248|Antya 6.248]]:''' When all the devotees from Bengal returned home after staying at Jagannātha Purī for four months, Raghunātha dāsa's father heard about their arrival and therefore sent a man to Śivānanda Sena.

'''[[CC Antya 6.249|Antya 6.249]]:''' That man inquired from Śivānanda Sena, "Did you see anyone in the renounced order at the residence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu?

'''[[CC Antya 6.250|Antya 6.250]]:''' "That person is Raghunātha dāsa, the son of Govardhana Majumadāra. Did you meet him in Nīlācala?"

'''[[CC Antya 6.251|Antya 6.251]]:''' Śivānanda Sena replied, "Yes, sir. Raghunātha dāsa is with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and is a very famous man. Who does not know him?

'''[[CC Antya 6.252|Antya 6.252]]:''' "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has placed him under the charge of Svarūpa Dāmodara. Raghunātha dāsa has become just like the life of all the Lord's devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 6.253|Antya 6.253]]:''' "He chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra all day and night. He never gives up the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, not even for a moment.

'''[[CC Antya 6.254|Antya 6.254]]:''' "He is in the supreme order of renounced life. Indeed, he does not care about eating or dressing. Somehow or other he eats and maintains his life.

'''[[CC Antya 6.255|Antya 6.255]]:''' "After ten daṇḍas [four hours] of the night have passed and Raghunātha dāsa has seen the performance of puṣpāñjali, he stands at the Siḿha-dvāra gate to beg some alms to eat.

'''[[CC Antya 6.256|Antya 6.256]]:''' "He eats if someone gives him something to eat. Sometimes he fasts, and sometimes he chews fried grains."

'''[[CC Antya 6.257|Antya 6.257]]:''' After hearing this, the messenger returned to Govardhana Majumadāra and informed him all about Raghunātha dāsa.

'''[[CC Antya 6.258|Antya 6.258]]:''' Hearing the description of Raghunātha dāsa's behavior in the renounced order, his father and mother were very unhappy. Therefore they decided to send Raghunātha some men with goods for his comfort.

'''[[CC Antya 6.259|Antya 6.259]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa's father immediately sent four hundred coins, two servants and one brāhmaṇa to Śivānanda Sena.

'''[[CC Antya 6.260|Antya 6.260]]:''' Śivānanda Sena informed them, "You cannot go to Jagannātha Purī directly. When I go there, you may accompany me.

'''[[CC Antya 6.261|Antya 6.261]]:''' "Now go home. When all of us go, I shall take all of you with me."

'''[[CC Antya 6.262|Antya 6.262]]:''' Describing this incident, the great poet Śrī Kavi-karṇapūra has written extensively about the glorious activities of Raghunātha dāsa in his Śrī Caitanya-candrodaya-nāṭaka.

'''[[CC Antya 6.263|Antya 6.263]]:''' "Raghunātha dāsa is a disciple of Yadunandana Ācārya, who is very gentle and is extremely dear to Vāsudeva Datta, a resident of Kāñcanapallī. Because of Raghunātha dāsa's transcendental qualities, he is always more dear than life for all of us devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Since he has been favored by the abundant mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he is always pleasing. Vividly providing a superior example for the renounced order, this very dear follower of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī is the ocean of renunciation. Who among the residents of Nīlācala [Jagannātha Purī] does not know him very well?

'''[[CC Antya 6.264|Antya 6.264]]:''' "Because he is very pleasing to all the devotees, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī easily became like the fertile earth of good fortune in which it was suitable for the seed of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to be sown. At the same time that the seed was sown, it grew into a matchless tree of the love of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and produced fruit."

'''[[CC Antya 6.265|Antya 6.265]]:''' In these verses, the great poet Kavi-karṇapūra gives the same information that Śivānanda Sena conveyed to the messenger from Raghunātha dāsa's father.

'''[[CC Antya 6.266|Antya 6.266]]:''' The next year, when Śivānanda Sena was going to Jagannātha Purī as usual, the servants and the brāhmaṇa, who was a cook, went with him.

'''[[CC Antya 6.267|Antya 6.267]]:''' The servants and brāhmaṇa brought four hundred coins to Jagannātha Purī, and there they met Raghunātha dāsa.

'''[[CC Antya 6.268|Antya 6.268]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa did not accept the money and men sent by his father. Therefore the brāhmaṇa and one of the servants stayed there with the money.

'''[[CC Antya 6.269|Antya 6.269]]:''' At that time, Raghunātha dāsa began inviting Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his house with great attention for two days every month.

'''[[CC Antya 6.270|Antya 6.270]]:''' The cost for these two occasions was 640 kauḍis. Therefore he would take that much from the servant and the brāhmaṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 6.271|Antya 6.271]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa continued to invite Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in this way for two years, but at the end of the second year he stopped.

'''[[CC Antya 6.272|Antya 6.272]]:''' When Raghunātha dāsa neglected to invite Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for two consecutive months, the Lord, the son of Śacī, questioned Svarūpa Dāmodara.

'''[[CC Antya 6.273|Antya 6.273]]:''' The Lord asked, "Why has Raghunātha dāsa stopped inviting Me?"Svarūpa Dāmodara replied, "He must have reconsidered something in his mind.

'''[[CC Antya 6.274|Antya 6.274]]:''' "'I invite Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by accepting goods from materialistic people. I know that the Lord's mind is not satisfied by this.

'''[[CC Antya 6.275|Antya 6.275]]:''' "'My consciousness is impure because I accept all these goods from people who are interested only in pounds, shillings and pence. Therefore by this kind of invitation I get only some material reputation.

'''[[CC Antya 6.276|Antya 6.276]]:''' "'At my request Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepts the invitations because He knows that a foolish person like me would be unhappy if He did not accept them.'

'''[[CC Antya 6.277|Antya 6.277]]:''' "Considering all these points," Svarūpa Dāmodara concluded, "he has stopped inviting You." Hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu smiled and spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 6.278|Antya 6.278]]:''' "When one eats food offered by a materialistic man, one's mind becomes contaminated, and when the mind is contaminated, one is unable to think of Kṛṣṇa properly.

'''[[CC Antya 6.279|Antya 6.279]]:''' "When one accepts an invitation from a person contaminated by the material mode of passion, the person who offers the food and the person who accepts it are both mentally contaminated.

'''[[CC Antya 6.280|Antya 6.280]]:''' "Because of Raghunātha dāsa's eagerness, I accepted his invitation for many days. It is very good that Raghunātha dāsa, knowing this, has now automatically given up this practice."

'''[[CC Antya 6.281|Antya 6.281]]:''' After some days, Raghunātha dāsa gave up standing near the Siḿha-dvāra gate and instead began eating by begging alms from a booth for free distribution of food.

'''[[CC Antya 6.282|Antya 6.282]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard this news from Govinda, He inquired from Svarūpa Dāmodara, "Why does Raghunātha dāsa no longer stand at the Siḿha-dvāra gate to beg alms?"

'''[[CC Antya 6.283|Antya 6.283]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara replied, "Raghunātha dāsa felt unhappy standing at the Siḿha-dvāra. Therefore he is now going at midday to beg alms from the charity booth."

'''[[CC Antya 6.284|Antya 6.284]]:''' Hearing this news, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "He has done very well by no longer standing at the Siḿha-dvāra gate. Such begging of alms resembles the behavior of a prostitute.

'''[[CC Antya 6.285|Antya 6.285]]:''' "'Here is a person coming near. He will give me something. This person gave me something last night. Now another person is coming near. He may give me something. The person who just passed did not give me anything, but another person will come, and he will give me something.' Thus a person in the renounced order gives up his neutrality and depends on the charity of this person or that. Thinking in this way, he adopts the occupation of a prostitute.

'''[[CC Antya 6.286|Antya 6.286]]:''' "If one goes to the booth where free food is distributed and fills his belly with whatever he obtains, there is no chance of further unwanted talk, and one can very peacefully chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra."

'''[[CC Antya 6.287|Antya 6.287]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again bestowed His mercy upon Raghunātha dāsa by giving him a stone from Govardhana Hill and a garland of small conchshells.

'''[[CC Antya 6.288|Antya 6.288]]:''' Previously, when Śańkarānanda Sarasvatī had returned from Vṛndāvana, he had brought the stone from Govardhana Hill and also the garland of conchshells.

'''[[CC Antya 6.289|Antya 6.289]]:''' He presented Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with these two items — the garland of conchshells and the stone from Govardhana Hill.

'''[[CC Antya 6.290|Antya 6.290]]:''' Upon receiving these two uncommon items, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was extremely happy. While chanting, He would put the garland around His neck.

'''[[CC Antya 6.291|Antya 6.291]]:''' The Lord would put the stone to His heart or sometimes to His eyes. Sometimes He would smell it with His nose and sometimes place it on His head.

'''[[CC Antya 6.292|Antya 6.292]]:''' The stone from Govardhana was always moist with tears from His eyes. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would say, "This stone is directly the body of Lord Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Antya 6.293|Antya 6.293]]:''' For three years He kept the stone and garland. Then, greatly satisfied by the behavior of Raghunātha dāsa, the Lord delivered both of them to him.

'''[[CC Antya 6.294|Antya 6.294]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu instructed Raghunātha dāsa, "This stone is the transcendental form of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Worship the stone with great eagerness."

'''[[CC Antya 6.295|Antya 6.295]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "Worship this stone in the mode of goodness like a perfect brāhmaṇa, for by such worship you will surely attain ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa without delay.

'''[[CC Antya 6.296|Antya 6.296]]:''' "For such worship, one needs a jug of water and a few flowers from a tulasī tree. This is worship in complete goodness when performed in complete purity.

'''[[CC Antya 6.297|Antya 6.297]]:''' "With faith and love, you should offer eight soft tulasī flowers, each with two tulasī leaves, one on each side of each flower."

'''[[CC Antya 6.298|Antya 6.298]]:''' After thus advising him how to worship, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally offered Raghunātha dāsa the govardhana-śilā with His transcendental hand. As advised by the Lord, Raghunātha dāsa worshiped the śilā in great transcendental jubilation.

'''[[CC Antya 6.299|Antya 6.299]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara gave Raghunātha dāsa two cloths, each about six inches long, a wooden platform and a jug in which to keep water.

'''[[CC Antya 6.300|Antya 6.300]]:''' Thus Raghunātha dāsa began worshiping the stone from Govardhana, and as he worshiped he saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, directly in the stone.

'''[[CC Antya 6.301|Antya 6.301]]:''' Thinking of how he had received the govardhana-śilā directly from the hands of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Raghunātha dāsa was always overflooded with ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Antya 6.302|Antya 6.302]]:''' The amount of transcendental bliss that Raghunātha dāsa enjoyed simply by offering water and tulasī is impossible to achieve even if one worships the Deity with sixteen kinds of paraphernalia.

'''[[CC Antya 6.303|Antya 6.303]]:''' After Raghunātha dāsa had thus worshiped the govardhana-śilā for some time, Svarūpa Dāmodara one day spoke to him as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 6.304|Antya 6.304]]:''' "Offer the Govardhana stone eight kauḍis worth of the first-class sweetmeats known as khājā and sandeśa. If you offer them with faith and love, they will be just like nectar."

'''[[CC Antya 6.305|Antya 6.305]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa then began offering the costly sweetmeats known as khājā, which Govinda, following the order of Svarūpa Dāmodara, would supply.

'''[[CC Antya 6.306|Antya 6.306]]:''' When Raghunātha dāsa received from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu the stone and the garland of conchshells, he could understand the Lord's intention. Thus he thought as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 6.307|Antya 6.307]]:''' "By offering me the govardhana-śilā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has offered me a place near Govardhana Hill, and by offering me the garland of conchshells, He has offered me shelter at the lotus feet of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī."

'''[[CC Antya 6.308|Antya 6.308]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa's transcendental bliss was boundless. Forgetting everything external, he served the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with his body and mind.

'''[[CC Antya 6.309|Antya 6.309]]:''' Who could list the unlimited transcendental attributes of Raghunātha dāsa? His strict regulative principles were exactly like lines on a stone.

'''[[CC Antya 6.310|Antya 6.310]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa spent more than twenty-two hours out of every twenty-four chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and remembering the lotus feet of the Lord. He ate and slept for less than an hour and a half, and on some days that also was impossible.

'''[[CC Antya 6.311|Antya 6.311]]:''' Topics concerning his renunciation are wonderful. Throughout his life he never allowed his tongue sense gratification.

'''[[CC Antya 6.312|Antya 6.312]]:''' He never touched anything to wear except a small torn cloth and a patchwork wrapper. Thus he very rigidly executed the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 6.313|Antya 6.313]]:''' Whatever he ate was only to keep his body and soul together, and when he ate he would reproach himself thus.

'''[[CC Antya 6.314|Antya 6.314]]:''' "'If one's heart has been cleansed by perfect knowledge and one has understood Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Brahman, he then gains everything. Why should such a person act like a debauchee by trying to maintain his material body very carefully?'"

'''[[CC Antya 6.315|Antya 6.315]]:''' Lord Jagannātha's prasādam is sold by shopkeepers, and that which is not sold decomposes after two or three days.

'''[[CC Antya 6.316|Antya 6.316]]:''' All the decomposed food is thrown before the cows from Tailańga at the Siḿha-dvāra gate. Because of its rotten odor, even the cows cannot eat it.

'''[[CC Antya 6.317|Antya 6.317]]:''' At night Raghunātha dāsa would collect that decomposed rice, bring it home and wash it with ample water.

'''[[CC Antya 6.318|Antya 6.318]]:''' Then he ate the hard inner portion of the rice with salt.

'''[[CC Antya 6.319|Antya 6.319]]:''' One day Svarūpa Dāmodara saw the activities of Raghunātha dāsa. Thus he smiled and asked for a small portion of that food and ate it.

'''[[CC Antya 6.320|Antya 6.320]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara said, "You eat such nectar every day, but you never offer it to us. What is your character?"

'''[[CC Antya 6.321|Antya 6.321]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard news of this from the mouth of Govinda, He went there the next day and spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 6.322|Antya 6.322]]:''' "What nice things are you eating? Why don't you give anything to Me?" Saying this, He forcibly took a morsel and began to eat.

'''[[CC Antya 6.323|Antya 6.323]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was taking another morsel of food, Svarūpa Dāmodara caught Him by the hand and said, "It is not fit for You." Thus he forcibly took the food away.

'''[[CC Antya 6.324|Antya 6.324]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Of course, every day I eat varieties of prasādam, but I have never tasted such nice prasādam as that which Raghunātha is eating."

'''[[CC Antya 6.325|Antya 6.325]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed many pastimes at Jagannātha Purī. Seeing the severe penances performed by Raghunātha dāsa in the renounced order, the Lord was greatly satisfied.

'''[[CC Antya 6.326|Antya 6.326]]:''' In his poem known as the Gaurāńga-stava-kalpavṛkṣa, Raghunātha dāsa has described his personal deliverance.

'''[[CC Antya 6.327|Antya 6.327]]:''' "Although I am a fallen soul, the lowest of men, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu delivered me from the blazing forest fire of great material opulence by His mercy. He handed me over in great pleasure to Svarūpa Dāmodara, His personal associate. The Lord also gave me the garland of small conchshells that He wore on His chest and a stone from Govardhana Hill, although they were very dear to Him. That same Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu awakens within my heart and makes me mad after Him."

'''[[CC Antya 6.328|Antya 6.328]]:''' Thus I have described the meeting of Raghunātha dāsa with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Anyone who hears about this incident attains the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 6.329|Antya 6.329]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 5|Antya-līlā 5]] '''[[CC Antya 5|Antya-līlā 5]] - [[CC Antya 7|Antya-līlā 7]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 7|Antya-līlā 7]]</div>

CC Antya 5

2026-06-04T18:30:48Z

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 5 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 05|1]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 5: How Pradyumna Miśra Received Instructions from Rāmānanda Rāya'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 4|Antya-līlā 4]] '''[[CC Antya 4|Antya-līlā 4]] - [[CC Antya 6|Antya-līlā 6]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 6|Antya-līlā 6]]</div>

'''[[CC Antya 5 Summary|Antya 5 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 5.1|Antya 5.1]]:''' I am infected by the germs of material activity and am suffering from the boils of envy. Therefore, falling in an ocean of humility, I take shelter of the great physician Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 5.2|Antya 5.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī! All glories to Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu! Indeed, He is the most glorious and merciful.

'''[[CC Antya 5.3|Antya 5.3]]:''' I offer my respectful obeisances unto Advaita Prabhu, the ocean of mercy, and to all the devotees, such as Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 5.4|Antya 5.4]]:''' One day Pradyumna Miśra came to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, offering his respects and inquiring from Him with great submission.

'''[[CC Antya 5.5|Antya 5.5]]:''' "My Lord," he said, "kindly hear me. I am a cripple-minded householder, the most fallen of men, but somehow, by my good fortune, I have received the shelter of Your lotus feet, which are rarely to be seen.

'''[[CC Antya 5.6|Antya 5.6]]:''' "I wish to hear topics concerning Lord Kṛṣṇa constantly. Be merciful unto me and kindly tell me something about Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Antya 5.7|Antya 5.7]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "I do not know about topics concerning Lord Kṛṣṇa. I think that only Rāmānanda Rāya knows, for I hear these topics from him.

'''[[CC Antya 5.8|Antya 5.8]]:''' "It is your good fortune that you are inclined to hear topics regarding Kṛṣṇa. The best course for you would be to go to Rāmānanda Rāya and hear these topics from him.

'''[[CC Antya 5.9|Antya 5.9]]:''' "I see that you have acquired a taste for hearing talks regarding Kṛṣṇa. Therefore you are extremely fortunate. Not only you but anyone who has awakened such a taste is considered most fortunate.

'''[[CC Antya 5.10|Antya 5.10]]:''' "'A person who properly performs his regulative duties according to varṇa and āśrama but does not develop his dormant attachment for Kṛṣṇa or awaken his taste for hearing and chanting about Kṛṣṇa is certainly laboring fruitlessly.'"

'''[[CC Antya 5.11|Antya 5.11]]:''' Pradyumna Miśra, being thus advised by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, went to the home of Rāmānanda Rāya. There the servant of Rāmānanda Rāya gave him a proper place to sit down.

'''[[CC Antya 5.12|Antya 5.12]]:''' Unable to see Rāmānanda Rāya immediately, Pradyumna Miśra inquired from the servant, who then described what Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya was doing.

'''[[CC Antya 5.13|Antya 5.13]]:''' "There are two dancing girls who are extremely beautiful. They are very youthful, and they are expert in dancing and singing.

'''[[CC Antya 5.14|Antya 5.14]]:''' "Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya has taken these two girls to a solitary place in his garden, where he is teaching and directing them to dance according to the songs he has composed for his drama.

'''[[CC Antya 5.15|Antya 5.15]]:''' "Please sit here and wait for a few moments. As soon as he comes, he will execute whatever order you give him."

'''[[CC Antya 5.16|Antya 5.16]]:''' While Pradyumna Miśra remained seated there, Rāmānanda Rāya took the two girls to a solitary place.

'''[[CC Antya 5.17|Antya 5.17]]:''' With his own hand, Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya massaged their bodies with oil and bathed them with water. Indeed, Rāmānanda Rāya cleansed their entire bodies with his own hand.

'''[[CC Antya 5.18|Antya 5.18]]:''' Although he dressed the two young girls and decorated their bodies with his own hand, he remained unchanged. Such is the mind of Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya.

'''[[CC Antya 5.19|Antya 5.19]]:''' While touching the young girls, he was like a person touching wood or stone, for his body and mind were unaffected.

'''[[CC Antya 5.20|Antya 5.20]]:''' Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya used to act in that way because he thought of himself in his original position as a maidservant of the gopīs. Thus although externally he appeared to be a man, internally, in his original spiritual position, he considered himself a maidservant and considered the two girls gopīs.

'''[[CC Antya 5.21|Antya 5.21]]:''' The greatness of the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is exceedingly difficult to understand. Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya is unique among them all, for he showed how one can extend his ecstatic love to the extreme limit.

'''[[CC Antya 5.22|Antya 5.22]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya directed the two girls how to dance and express the deep meaning of his songs through dramatic performances.

'''[[CC Antya 5.23|Antya 5.23]]:''' He taught them how to express the symptoms of continuous, natural and transitional ecstasies with the movements of their faces, their eyes and the other parts of their bodies.

'''[[CC Antya 5.24|Antya 5.24]]:''' Through the feminine poses and dances they were taught by Rāmānanda Rāya, the two girls precisely exhibited all these expressions of ecstasy before Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Antya 5.25|Antya 5.25]]:''' Then Rāmānanda Rāya fed the two girls sumptuous prasādam and sent them to their homes unexposed.

'''[[CC Antya 5.26|Antya 5.26]]:''' Every day he trained the two deva-dāsīs how to dance. Who among the small living entities, their minds always absorbed in material sense gratification, could understand the mentality of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya?

'''[[CC Antya 5.27|Antya 5.27]]:''' When the servant informed Rāmānanda Rāya of Pradyumna Miśra's arrival, Rāmānanda Rāya immediately went to the assembly room.

'''[[CC Antya 5.28|Antya 5.28]]:''' He offered his obeisances to Pradyumna Miśra with all respect and then, with great humility, spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 5.29|Antya 5.29]]:''' "Sir, you came here long ago, but no one informed me. Therefore I have certainly become an offender at your lotus feet.

'''[[CC Antya 5.30|Antya 5.30]]:''' "My entire home has been purified by your arrival. Kindly order me. What can I do for you? I am your servant."

'''[[CC Antya 5.31|Antya 5.31]]:''' Pradyumna Miśra replied, "I came simply to see you. Now I have purified myself by seeing Your Honor."

'''[[CC Antya 5.32|Antya 5.32]]:''' Because Pradyumna Miśra saw that it was late, he did not say anything else to Rāmānanda Rāya. Instead, he took leave of him and returned to his own home.

'''[[CC Antya 5.33|Antya 5.33]]:''' The next day, when Pradyumna Miśra arrived in the presence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord inquired, "Have you heard talks about Kṛṣṇa from Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya?"

'''[[CC Antya 5.34|Antya 5.34]]:''' Pradyumna Miśra thereupon described the activities of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya. After hearing about these activities, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to speak.

'''[[CC Antya 5.35-36|Antya 5.35-36]]:''' "I am a sannyāsī," He said, "and I certainly consider Myself renounced. But what to speak of seeing a woman, if I even hear the name of a woman, I feel changes in My mind and body. Therefore who could remain unmoved by the sight of a woman? It is very difficult.

'''[[CC Antya 5.37|Antya 5.37]]:''' "Everyone please hear these topics about Rāmānanda Rāya, although they are so wonderful and uncommon that they should not be spoken.

'''[[CC Antya 5.38|Antya 5.38]]:''' "The two professional dancing girls are beautiful and youthful, yet Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya personally massages their entire bodies with oil.

'''[[CC Antya 5.39|Antya 5.39]]:''' "He personally bathes and dresses them and decorates them with ornaments. In this way, he naturally sees and touches the private parts of their bodies.

'''[[CC Antya 5.40|Antya 5.40]]:''' "Nevertheless, the mind of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya never changes, although he teaches the girls how to physically express all the transformations of ecstasy.

'''[[CC Antya 5.41|Antya 5.41]]:''' "His mind is as steady as wood or stone. Indeed, it is wonderful that even when he touches such young girls, his mind never changes.

'''[[CC Antya 5.42|Antya 5.42]]:''' "The authority for such acts is the prerogative of Rāmānanda Rāya alone, for I can understand that his body is not material but has been completely transformed into a spiritual entity.

'''[[CC Antya 5.43|Antya 5.43]]:''' "He alone, and no one else, can understand the position of his mind.

'''[[CC Antya 5.44|Antya 5.44]]:''' "But I can make a guess in terms of directions from the śāstra. The Vedic scripture Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam gives the direct evidence in this matter.

'''[[CC Antya 5.45-46|Antya 5.45-46]]:''' "When one hears or describes with great faith the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa, such as His rāsa dance with the gopīs, the disease of lusty desires in his heart and the agitation caused by the three modes of material nature are immediately nullified, and he becomes sober and silent.

'''[[CC Antya 5.47|Antya 5.47]]:''' "Tasting transcendental, effulgent, sweetly ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa, such a person can enjoy life twenty-four hours a day in the transcendental bliss of the sweetness of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes.

'''[[CC Antya 5.48|Antya 5.48]]:''' "'A transcendentally sober person who, with faith and love, continually hears from a realized soul about the activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa in His rāsa dance with the gopīs, or one who describes such activities, can attain full transcendental devotional service at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus lusty material desires, which are the heart disease of all materialistic persons, are for him quickly and completely vanquished.'

'''[[CC Antya 5.49-50|Antya 5.49-50]]:''' "If a transcendentally situated person, following in the footsteps of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, hears and speaks about the rāsa-līlā dance of Kṛṣṇa and is always absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa while serving the Lord day and night within his mind, what shall I say about the result? It is so spiritually exalted that it cannot be expressed in words. Such a person is an eternally liberated associate of the Lord, and his body is completely spiritualized. Although he is visible to material eyes, he is spiritually situated, and all his activities are spiritual. By the will of Kṛṣṇa, such a devotee is understood to possess a spiritual body.

'''[[CC Antya 5.51|Antya 5.51]]:''' "Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya is situated on the path of spontaneous love of Godhead. Therefore he is in his spiritual body, and his mind is not materially affected.

'''[[CC Antya 5.52|Antya 5.52]]:''' "I also hear topics about Kṛṣṇa from Rāmānanda Rāya. If you want to hear such topics, go to him again.

'''[[CC Antya 5.53|Antya 5.53]]:''' "You can mention My name before him, saying, 'He has sent me to hear about Lord Kṛṣṇa from you.'

'''[[CC Antya 5.54|Antya 5.54]]:''' "Go hastily, while he is in the assembly room." Hearing this, Pradyumna Miśra immediately departed.

'''[[CC Antya 5.55|Antya 5.55]]:''' Pradyumna Miśra went to Rāmānanda Rāya, who offered him respectful obeisances and said, "Please order me. For what purpose have you come?"

'''[[CC Antya 5.56|Antya 5.56]]:''' Pradyumna Miśra answered, "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has sent me to hear topics about Lord Kṛṣṇa from you."

'''[[CC Antya 5.57|Antya 5.57]]:''' Hearing this, Rāmānanda Rāya became absorbed in ecstatic love and began to speak with great transcendental pleasure.

'''[[CC Antya 5.58|Antya 5.58]]:''' "Following the instruction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, you have come to hear about Kṛṣṇa. This is my great fortune. How else would I get such an opportunity?"

'''[[CC Antya 5.59|Antya 5.59]]:''' Saying this, Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya took Pradyumna Miśra to a secluded place and inquired from him, "What kind of kṛṣṇa-kathā do you want to hear from me?"

'''[[CC Antya 5.60|Antya 5.60]]:''' Pradyumna Miśra replied, "Kindly tell me about the same topics you spoke about at Vidyānagara.

'''[[CC Antya 5.61|Antya 5.61]]:''' "You are an instructor even for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, what to speak of others. I am but a beggar brāhmaṇa, and you are my maintainer.

'''[[CC Antya 5.62|Antya 5.62]]:''' "I do not know how to inquire, for I do not know what is good and what is bad. Seeing me to be poor in knowledge, kindly speak whatever is good for me by your own good will."

'''[[CC Antya 5.63|Antya 5.63]]:''' Thereupon Rāmānanda Rāya gradually began speaking on topics of Kṛṣṇa. Thus the ocean of the transcendental mellows of those topics became agitated.

'''[[CC Antya 5.64|Antya 5.64]]:''' He began personally posing questions and then answering them with conclusive statements. When afternoon came, the topics still did not end.

'''[[CC Antya 5.65|Antya 5.65]]:''' The speaker and listener spoke and heard in ecstatic love. Thus they forgot their bodily consciousness. How, then, could they perceive the end of the day?

'''[[CC Antya 5.66|Antya 5.66]]:''' The servant informed them, "The day has already ended." Then Rāmānanda Rāya ended his discourses about Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 5.67|Antya 5.67]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya paid great respect to Pradyumna Miśra and bade him farewell. Pradyumna Miśra said, "I have become very satisfied." He then began to dance.

'''[[CC Antya 5.68|Antya 5.68]]:''' After returning home, Pradyumna Miśra bathed and ate his meal. In the evening he came to see the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 5.69|Antya 5.69]]:''' In great happiness he worshiped the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The Lord inquired, "Have you heard topics about Kṛṣṇa?"

'''[[CC Antya 5.70|Antya 5.70]]:''' Pradyumna Miśra said, "My dear Lord, You have made me extremely obliged to You because You have drowned me in a nectarean ocean of talks about Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 5.71|Antya 5.71]]:''' "I cannot properly describe the discourses of Rāmānanda Rāya, for he is not an ordinary human being. He is fully absorbed in the devotional service of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 5.72|Antya 5.72]]:''' "There is one other thing Rāmānanda Rāya said to me: 'Do not consider me the speaker in these talks about Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 5.73|Antya 5.73]]:''' "'Whatever I speak is personally spoken by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Like a stringed instrument, I vibrate whatever He causes me to speak.

'''[[CC Antya 5.74|Antya 5.74]]:''' "'In this way the Lord speaks through my mouth to preach the cult of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Within the world, who will understand this pastime of the Lord's?'

'''[[CC Antya 5.75|Antya 5.75]]:''' "What I have heard from Rāmānanda Rāya is like a nectarean ocean of discourses about Kṛṣṇa. Even the demigods, beginning with Lord Brahmā, cannot understand all these topics.

'''[[CC Antya 5.76|Antya 5.76]]:''' "My dear Lord, You have made me drink this transcendental nectar of kṛṣṇa-kathā. Therefore I am sold to Your lotus feet, life after life."

'''[[CC Antya 5.77|Antya 5.77]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Rāmānanda Rāya is a mine of great humility. Therefore he has attributed his own words to another's intelligence.

'''[[CC Antya 5.78|Antya 5.78]]:''' "This is a natural characteristic of those advanced in devotional service. They do not personally speak of their own good qualities."

'''[[CC Antya 5.79|Antya 5.79]]:''' I have described but a fraction of the transcendental attributes of Rāmānanda Rāya, as revealed when he instructed Pradyumna Miśra.

'''[[CC Antya 5.80|Antya 5.80]]:''' Although Rāmānanda Rāya was a householder, he was not under the control of the six kinds of bodily changes. Although apparently a pounds-and-shillings man, he advised even persons in the renounced order.

'''[[CC Antya 5.81|Antya 5.81]]:''' To demonstrate the transcendental attributes of Rāmānanda Rāya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sent Pradyumna Miśra to hear discourses about Kṛṣṇa from him.

'''[[CC Antya 5.82|Antya 5.82]]:''' The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, knows very well how to demonstrate the qualities of His devotees. Therefore, acting like an artistic painter, He does so in various ways and considers this His personal profit.

'''[[CC Antya 5.83|Antya 5.83]]:''' There is yet another characteristic of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. O devotees, listen carefully to how He manifests His opulence and characteristics, although they are exceptionally deep.

'''[[CC Antya 5.84|Antya 5.84]]:''' To vanquish the false pride of so-called renunciants and learned scholars, He spreads real religious principles, even through a śūdra, or lowborn, fourth-class man.

'''[[CC Antya 5.85|Antya 5.85]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu preached about devotional service, ecstatic love and the Absolute Truth by making Rāmānanda Rāya, a gṛhastha born in a low family, the speaker. Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself, the exalted brāhmaṇa-sannyāsī, and Pradyumna Miśra, the purified brāhmaṇa, both became the hearers of Rāmānanda Rāya.

'''[[CC Antya 5.86|Antya 5.86]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exhibited the glories of the holy name of the Lord through Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who was born in a Muslim family. Similarly, He exhibited the essence of devotional service through Sanātana Gosvāmī, who had almost been converted into a Muslim.

'''[[CC Antya 5.87|Antya 5.87]]:''' Also, the Lord fully exhibited the ecstatic love and transcendental pastimes of Vṛndāvana through Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. Considering all this, who can understand the deep plans of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu?

'''[[CC Antya 5.88|Antya 5.88]]:''' The activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are just like an ocean of nectar. Even a drop of this ocean can inundate all the three worlds.

'''[[CC Antya 5.89|Antya 5.89]]:''' O devotees, relish daily the nectar of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta and the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, for by doing so one can merge in transcendental bliss and attain full knowledge of devotional service.

'''[[CC Antya 5.90|Antya 5.90]]:''' Thus Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, accompanied by His associates, His pure devotees, enjoyed transcendental bliss in Jagannātha Purī [Nīlācala] by preaching the bhakti cult in many ways.

'''[[CC Antya 5.91|Antya 5.91]]:''' A brāhmaṇa from Bengal wrote a drama about the characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and came with his manuscript to induce the Lord to hear it.

'''[[CC Antya 5.92|Antya 5.92]]:''' The brāhmaṇa was acquainted with Bhagavān Ācārya, one of the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore after meeting him at Jagannātha Purī, the brāhmaṇa made his residence at Bhagavān Ācārya's home.

'''[[CC Antya 5.93|Antya 5.93]]:''' First the brāhmaṇa induced Bhagavān Ācārya to hear the drama, and then many other devotees joined Bhagavān Ācārya in listening to it.

'''[[CC Antya 5.94|Antya 5.94]]:''' All the Vaiṣṇavas praised the drama, saying, "Very good, very good." They also desired that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu hear the drama.

'''[[CC Antya 5.95|Antya 5.95]]:''' Customarily, anyone who composed a song, verse, literary composition or poem about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu first had to bring it to Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī to be heard.

'''[[CC Antya 5.96|Antya 5.96]]:''' If passed by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, it could be presented for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to hear.

'''[[CC Antya 5.97|Antya 5.97]]:''' If there were a hint that transcendental mellows overlapped in a manner contrary to the principles of the bhakti cult, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would not tolerate it and would become very angry.

'''[[CC Antya 5.98|Antya 5.98]]:''' Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would not hear anything before Svarūpa Dāmodara heard it first. The Lord made this etiquette a regulative principle.

'''[[CC Antya 5.99|Antya 5.99]]:''' Bhagavān Ācārya submitted to Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, "A good brāhmaṇa has prepared a drama about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that appears exceptionally well composed.

'''[[CC Antya 5.100|Antya 5.100]]:''' "First you hear it, and if it is acceptable to your mind, I shall request Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to hear it."

'''[[CC Antya 5.101|Antya 5.101]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī replied, "Dear Bhagavān Ācārya, you are a very liberal cowherd boy. Sometimes the desire awakens within you to hear any kind of poetry.

'''[[CC Antya 5.102|Antya 5.102]]:''' "In the writings of so-called poets there is generally a possibility of overlapping transcendental mellows. When the mellows thus go against the conclusive understanding, no one likes to hear such poetry.

'''[[CC Antya 5.103|Antya 5.103]]:''' "A so-called poet who has no knowledge of transcendental mellows and the overlapping of transcendental mellows cannot cross the ocean of the conclusions of devotional service.

'''[[CC Antya 5.104-105|Antya 5.104-105]]:''' "A poet who does not know the grammatical regulative principles, who is unfamiliar with metaphorical ornaments, especially those employed in drama, and who does not know how to present the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa is condemned. Moreover, the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are especially difficult to understand.

'''[[CC Antya 5.106|Antya 5.106]]:''' "One who has accepted the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as his life and soul can describe the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa or the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 5.107|Antya 5.107]]:''' "Hearing the poetry of a person who has no transcendental knowledge and who writes about the relationships between man and woman simply causes unhappiness, whereas hearing the words of a devotee fully absorbed in ecstatic love causes great happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 5.108|Antya 5.108]]:''' "The standard for writing dramas has been set by Rūpa Gosvāmī. If a devotee hears the introductory portions of his two dramas, they enhance his transcendental pleasure."

'''[[CC Antya 5.109|Antya 5.109]]:''' Despite the explanation of Svarūpa Dāmodara, Bhagavān Ācārya requested, "Please hear the drama once. If you hear it, you can consider whether it is good or bad."

'''[[CC Antya 5.110|Antya 5.110]]:''' For two or three days Bhagavān Ācārya continually asked Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī to hear the poetry. Because of his repeated requests, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī wanted to hear the poetry written by the brāhmaṇa from Bengal.

'''[[CC Antya 5.111|Antya 5.111]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī sat down with other devotees to hear the poetry, and then the poet began to read the introductory verse.

'''[[CC Antya 5.112|Antya 5.112]]:''' "The Supreme Personality of Godhead has assumed a golden complexion and has become the soul of the body named Lord Jagannātha, whose blooming lotus eyes are widely expanded. Thus He has appeared in Jagannātha Purī and brought dull matter to life. May that Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanyadeva, bestow all good fortune upon you."

'''[[CC Antya 5.113|Antya 5.113]]:''' When everyone present heard the verse, they all commended the poet, but Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī requested him, "Kindly explain this verse."

'''[[CC Antya 5.114|Antya 5.114]]:''' The poet said, "Lord Jagannātha is a most beautiful body, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is exceptionally grave, is the owner of that body.

'''[[CC Antya 5.115|Antya 5.115]]:''' "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has appeared here in Nīlācala [Jagannātha Purī] to spiritualize the entire dull material world."

'''[[CC Antya 5.116|Antya 5.116]]:''' Hearing this, everyone present was greatly happy. But Svarūpa Dāmodara, who alone was very unhappy, began to speak in great anger.

'''[[CC Antya 5.117|Antya 5.117]]:''' "You are a fool," he said. "You have brought ill fortune upon yourself, for you have no knowledge of the existence of the two Lords, Jagannāthadeva and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, nor have you faith in Them.

'''[[CC Antya 5.118|Antya 5.118]]:''' "Lord Jagannātha is completely spiritual and full of transcendental bliss, but you have compared Him to a dull, destructible body composed of the inert, external energy of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 5.119|Antya 5.119]]:''' "You have calculated Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full in six opulences, to be on the level of an ordinary living being. Instead of knowing Him as the supreme fire, you have accepted Him as a spark."

'''[[CC Antya 5.120|Antya 5.120]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara continued, "Because you have committed an offense to Lord Jagannātha and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, you will attain a hellish destination. You do not know how to describe the Absolute Truth, but nevertheless you have tried to do so. Therefore you must be condemned.

'''[[CC Antya 5.121|Antya 5.121]]:''' "You are in complete illusion, for you have distinguished between the body and the soul of His Lordship [Lord Jagannātha or Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu]. That is a great offense.

'''[[CC Antya 5.122|Antya 5.122]]:''' "At no time is there a distinction between the body and the soul of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His personal identity and His body are made of blissful spiritual energy. There is no distinction between them.

'''[[CC Antya 5.123|Antya 5.123]]:''' "'There is no distinction between the body and the soul of the Supreme Personality of Godhead at any time.'

'''[[CC Antya 5.124-125|Antya 5.124-125]]:''' "'O my Lord, I do not see a form superior to Your present form of eternal bliss and knowledge. In Your impersonal Brahman effulgence in the spiritual sky, there is no occasional change and no deterioration of internal potency. I surrender unto You because, whereas I am proud of my material body and senses, Your Lordship is the cause of the cosmic manifestation. Yet You are untouched by matter."'This present form, or any transcendental form expanded by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is equally auspicious for all the universes. Since You have manifested this eternal personal form, upon whom Your devotees meditate, I therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto You. Those who are destined to be dispatched to the path of hell neglect Your personal form because of speculating on material topics.'

'''[[CC Antya 5.126|Antya 5.126]]:''' "Whereas Kṛṣṇa, the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is full of transcendental bliss, possesses all six spiritual opulences in full, and is the master of the material energy, the small conditioned soul, who is always unhappy, is the servant of the material energy.

'''[[CC Antya 5.127|Antya 5.127]]:''' "'The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supreme controller, is always full of transcendental bliss and is accompanied by the potencies known as hlādinī and samvit. The conditioned soul, however, is always covered by ignorance and embarrassed by the threefold miseries of life. Thus he is a treasure house of all kinds of tribulations.'"

'''[[CC Antya 5.128|Antya 5.128]]:''' Hearing this explanation, all the members of the assembly were struck with wonder. "Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī has spoken the real truth," they admitted. "The brāhmaṇa from Bengal has committed an offense by wrongly describing Lord Jagannātha and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu."

'''[[CC Antya 5.129|Antya 5.129]]:''' When the Bengali poet heard this chastisement from Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, he was ashamed, fearful and astonished. Indeed, being like a duck in a society of white swans, he could not say anything.

'''[[CC Antya 5.130|Antya 5.130]]:''' Seeing the poet's unhappiness, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, who was naturally very kindhearted, advised him so that he could derive some benefit.

'''[[CC Antya 5.131|Antya 5.131]]:''' "If you want to understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam," he said, "you must approach a self-realized Vaiṣṇava and hear from him. You can do this when you have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu."

'''[[CC Antya 5.132|Antya 5.132]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara continued, "Associate regularly with the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, for then only will you understand the waves of the ocean of devotional service.

'''[[CC Antya 5.133|Antya 5.133]]:''' "Only if you follow the principles of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees will your learning be successful. Then you will be able to write about the transcendental pastimes of Kṛṣṇa without material contamination.

'''[[CC Antya 5.134|Antya 5.134]]:''' "You have composed this introductory verse to your great satisfaction, but the meaning you have expressed is contaminated by offenses to both Lord Jagannātha and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 5.135|Antya 5.135]]:''' "You have written something irregular, not knowing the regulative principles, but the goddess of learning, Sarasvatī, has used your words to offer her prayers to the Supreme Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 5.136|Antya 5.136]]:''' "Sometimes demons, and even Lord Indra, the King of heaven, chastised Kṛṣṇa, but mother Sarasvatī, taking advantage of their words, offered prayers to the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 5.137|Antya 5.137]]:''' [Lord Indra said:] "This Kṛṣṇa, who is an ordinary human being, is talkative, childish, impudent and ignorant, although He thinks Himself very learned. The cowherd men in Vṛndāvana have offended me by accepting Him. This has not been greatly appreciated by me."

'''[[CC Antya 5.138|Antya 5.138]]:''' "Indra, the King of heaven, being too proud of his heavenly opulences, became like a madman. Thus bereft of his intelligence, he could not restrain himself from speaking nonsensically about Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 5.139|Antya 5.139]]:''' "Thus Indra thought, 'I have properly chastised Kṛṣṇa and defamed Him.' But Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning, took this opportunity to offer prayers to Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 5.140|Antya 5.140]]:''' "The word 'vācāla' is used to refer to a person who can speak according to Vedic authority, and the word 'bāliśa' means 'innocent.' Kṛṣṇa spoke the Vedic knowledge, yet He always presents Himself as a prideless, innocent boy.

'''[[CC Antya 5.141|Antya 5.141]]:''' "When there is no one else to receive obeisances, one may be called 'anamra,' or one who offers obeisances to no one. This is the meaning of the word 'stabdha.' And because no one is found to be more learned than Kṛṣṇa, He may be called 'ajña,' indicating that nothing is unknown to Him.

'''[[CC Antya 5.142|Antya 5.142]]:''' "The word 'paṇḍita-mānī' can be used to indicate that Kṛṣṇa is honored even by learned scholars. Nevertheless, because of affection for His devotees, Kṛṣṇa appears like an ordinary human being and may therefore be called 'martya.'

'''[[CC Antya 5.143|Antya 5.143]]:''' "The demon Jarāsandha chastised Kṛṣṇa, saying, 'You are the lowest of human beings. I shall not fight with You, for You killed Your own relatives.'

'''[[CC Antya 5.144|Antya 5.144]]:''' "Mother Sarasvatī takes 'puruṣādhama' to mean 'puruṣottama,' 'He to whom all men are subordinate.'

'''[[CC Antya 5.145|Antya 5.145]]:''' "Nescience, or māyā, may be called 'bandhu' because she entangles everyone in the material world. Therefore by using the word 'bandhu-han,' mother Sarasvatī says that Lord Kṛṣṇa is the vanquisher of māyā.

'''[[CC Antya 5.146|Antya 5.146]]:''' "Śiśupāla also blasphemed Kṛṣṇa in this way, but the goddess of learning, Sarasvatī, offered her prayers to Kṛṣṇa even by his words.

'''[[CC Antya 5.147|Antya 5.147]]:''' "In that way, although your verse is blasphemous according to your meaning, mother Sarasvatī has taken advantage of it to offer prayers to the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 5.148|Antya 5.148]]:''' "There is no difference between Lord Jagannātha and Kṛṣṇa, but here Lord Jagannātha is fixed as the Absolute Person appearing in wood. Therefore He does not move.

'''[[CC Antya 5.149|Antya 5.149]]:''' "Thus Lord Jagannātha and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, although appearing as two, are one because They are both Kṛṣṇa, who is one alone.

'''[[CC Antya 5.150|Antya 5.150]]:''' "The supreme desire to deliver the entire world meets in the two of Them, and for that reason also They are one and the same.

'''[[CC Antya 5.151|Antya 5.151]]:''' "To deliver all the materially contaminated people of the world, that same Kṛṣṇa has descended in the moving form of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 5.152|Antya 5.152]]:''' "By visiting Lord Jagannātha one is freed from material existence, but not all men of all countries can come or be admitted here in Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Antya 5.153|Antya 5.153]]:''' "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, moves from one country to another, personally or by His representative. Thus He, as the moving Brahman, delivers all the people of the world.

'''[[CC Antya 5.154|Antya 5.154]]:''' "Thus I have explained the meaning intended by mother Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning. It is your great fortune that you have described Lord Jagannātha and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in that way.

'''[[CC Antya 5.155|Antya 5.155]]:''' "Sometimes it so happens that one who wants to chastise Kṛṣṇa utters the holy name, and thus the holy name becomes the cause of his liberation."

'''[[CC Antya 5.156|Antya 5.156]]:''' Upon hearing this proper explanation by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, the Bengali poet fell down at the feet of all the devotees and took shelter of them with a straw in his mouth.

'''[[CC Antya 5.157|Antya 5.157]]:''' Thereupon all the devotees accepted his association. Explaining his humble behavior, they introduced him to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 5.158|Antya 5.158]]:''' By the mercy of the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, that poet from Bengal gave up all other activities and stayed with them at Jagannātha Purī. Who can explain the mercy of the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu?

'''[[CC Antya 5.159|Antya 5.159]]:''' I have thus described the narration concerning Pradyumna Miśra and how, following the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he listened to discourses about Kṛṣṇa spoken by Rāmānanda Rāya.

'''[[CC Antya 5.160|Antya 5.160]]:''' Within the narration I have explained the glorious characteristics of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, through whom Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally described the limits of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 5.161|Antya 5.161]]:''' In the course of the narration, I have also told about the drama by the poet from Bengal. Although he was ignorant, because of his faith and humility he nevertheless obtained shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 5.162|Antya 5.162]]:''' The pastimes of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu are the essence of nectar. From the stream of one of His pastimes flow hundreds and thousands of branches.

'''[[CC Antya 5.163|Antya 5.163]]:''' Anyone who reads and hears these pastimes with faith and love can understand the truth about devotional service, devotees and the transcendental mellows of the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 5.164|Antya 5.164]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 4|Antya-līlā 4]] '''[[CC Antya 4|Antya-līlā 4]] - [[CC Antya 6|Antya-līlā 6]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 6|Antya-līlā 6]]</div>

CC Antya 4

2026-06-04T18:30:47Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 4 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 04|1]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 4: Sanātana Gosvāmī Visits the Lord at Jagannātha Purī'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 3|Antya-līlā 3]] '''[[CC Antya 3|Antya-līlā 3]] - [[CC Antya 5|Antya-līlā 5]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 5|Antya-līlā 5]]</div>

'''[[CC Antya 4 Summary|Antya 4 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 4.1|Antya 4.1]]:''' When Sanātana Gosvāmī returned from Vṛndāvana, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu affectionately saved him from his determination to commit suicide. Then, after testing him, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu purified his body.

'''[[CC Antya 4.2|Antya 4.2]]:''' All glories to Lord Caitanya! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Antya 4.3|Antya 4.3]]:''' When Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī returned from Jagannātha Purī to Bengal, Sanātana Gosvāmī went from Mathurā to Jagannātha Purī to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 4.4|Antya 4.4]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī walked alone on the path through the Jhārikhaṇḍa forest in central India. Sometimes he fasted, and sometimes he would eat.

'''[[CC Antya 4.5|Antya 4.5]]:''' Because of bad water in the Jhārikhaṇḍa forest and because of fasting, Sanātana Gosvāmī contracted a disease that made his body itch. Thus he was afflicted with itching sores from which fluid oozed.

'''[[CC Antya 4.6|Antya 4.6]]:''' In disappointment, Sanātana Gosvāmī considered, "I am of a low caste, and my body is useless for devotional service.

'''[[CC Antya 4.7|Antya 4.7]]:''' "When I go to Jagannātha Purī, I shall not be able to see Lord Jagannātha, nor shall I always be able to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 4.8|Antya 4.8]]:''' "I have heard that the residential quarters of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are near the temple of Jagannātha. But I shall not have the power to go near the temple.

'''[[CC Antya 4.9|Antya 4.9]]:''' "The servants of Lord Jagannātha generally move about tending to their duties, but if they touch me I shall be an offender.

'''[[CC Antya 4.10|Antya 4.10]]:''' "Therefore if I sacrifice this body in a good place, my unhappiness will be mitigated and I shall attain an exalted destination.

'''[[CC Antya 4.11|Antya 4.11]]:''' "During the Ratha-yātrā festival, when Lord Jagannātha comes out of the temple, I shall give up this body under the wheel of His car.

'''[[CC Antya 4.12|Antya 4.12]]:''' "After seeing Lord Jagannātha, I shall give up my body under the wheel of the car in the presence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This will be the highest benediction of my life."

'''[[CC Antya 4.13|Antya 4.13]]:''' Having made this resolution, Sanātana Gosvāmī went to Nīlācala, where he asked directions from people and approached the residence of Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Antya 4.14|Antya 4.14]]:''' He offered his respects to the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who knew him and thus embraced him.

'''[[CC Antya 4.15|Antya 4.15]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī was very eager to see the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, "The Lord is coming here very soon."

'''[[CC Antya 4.16|Antya 4.16]]:''' At that very moment, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, after visiting the temple of Jagannātha to see the offering of upala-bhoga [morning refreshments], came with His other devotees to see Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Antya 4.17|Antya 4.17]]:''' Seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, both Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Sanātana Gosvāmī immediately fell flat like rods to offer obeisances. The Lord then lifted Haridāsa and embraced him.

'''[[CC Antya 4.18|Antya 4.18]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura said to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Here is Sanātana Gosvāmī offering his obeisances." Seeing Sanātana Gosvāmī, the Lord was greatly surprised.

'''[[CC Antya 4.19|Antya 4.19]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came forward to embrace him, Sanātana backed away and spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 4.20|Antya 4.20]]:''' "My Lord, please do not touch me. I fall at Your lotus feet. I am the lowest of men, having been born of a low caste. Besides that, I have infections on my body."

'''[[CC Antya 4.21|Antya 4.21]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, embraced Sanātana Gosvāmī by force. Thus the moisture oozing from the itching sores touched the transcendental body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 4.22|Antya 4.22]]:''' The Lord introduced all the devotees to Sanātana Gosvāmī, who offered his respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of them all.

'''[[CC Antya 4.23|Antya 4.23]]:''' The Lord and His devotees sat on a raised platform, and below that sat Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Sanātana Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 4.24|Antya 4.24]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired from Sanātana about news of his well-being. Sanātana replied, "Everything is auspicious because I have seen Your lotus feet."

'''[[CC Antya 4.25|Antya 4.25]]:''' When the Lord asked about all the Vaiṣṇavas at Mathurā, Sanātana Gosvāmī informed Him of their good health and fortune.

'''[[CC Antya 4.26|Antya 4.26]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu informed Sanātana Gosvāmī, "Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī was here for ten months. He left for Bengal just ten days ago.

'''[[CC Antya 4.27|Antya 4.27]]:''' "Your brother Anupama is now dead. He was a very good devotee who had firm conviction in Raghunātha [Lord Rāmacandra]."

'''[[CC Antya 4.28|Antya 4.28]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī said, "I was born in a low family, for my family commits all kinds of irreligious acts that violate the scriptural injunctions.

'''[[CC Antya 4.29|Antya 4.29]]:''' "My Lord, without hatred for my family You have accepted me as Your servant. Only by Your mercy is there good fortune in my family.

'''[[CC Antya 4.30|Antya 4.30]]:''' "From the very beginning of his childhood, my younger brother Anupama was a great devotee of Raghunātha [Lord Rāmacandra], and he worshiped Him with great determination.

'''[[CC Antya 4.31|Antya 4.31]]:''' "He always chanted the holy name of Raghunātha and meditated upon Him. He continuously heard about the activities of the Lord from the Rāmāyaṇa and chanted about them.

'''[[CC Antya 4.32|Antya 4.32]]:''' "Rūpa and I are his elder brothers. He stayed with us continuously.

'''[[CC Antya 4.33|Antya 4.33]]:''' "He heard Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and talks about Lord Kṛṣṇa with us, and both of us examined him.

'''[[CC Antya 4.34|Antya 4.34]]:''' "'Dear Vallabha,' we said, 'please hear from us. Lord Kṛṣṇa is supremely attractive. His beauty, sweetness and pastimes of love are without limit.

'''[[CC Antya 4.35|Antya 4.35]]:''' "'Engage yourself in devotional service to Kṛṣṇa with the two of us. We three brothers shall stay together and enjoy discussing the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa.'

'''[[CC Antya 4.36|Antya 4.36]]:''' "In this way we spoke to him again and again, and because of this persuasion and his respect for us, his mind turned somewhat toward our instructions.

'''[[CC Antya 4.37|Antya 4.37]]:''' "Vallabha replied, 'My dear brothers, how can I disobey your orders? Initiate me into the Kṛṣṇa mantra so that I may perform devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.'

'''[[CC Antya 4.38|Antya 4.38]]:''' "After saying this, at night he began to think, 'How shall I give up the lotus feet of Lord Raghunātha?'

'''[[CC Antya 4.39|Antya 4.39]]:''' "He stayed up all night and cried. In the morning, he came to us and submitted the following plea.

'''[[CC Antya 4.40|Antya 4.40]]:''' "'I have sold my head at the lotus feet of Lord Rāmacandra. I cannot take it away. That would be too painful for me.

'''[[CC Antya 4.41|Antya 4.41]]:''' "'The two of you please be merciful to me and order me in such a way that life after life I may serve the lotus feet of Lord Raghunātha.

'''[[CC Antya 4.42|Antya 4.42]]:''' "'It is impossible for me to give up the lotus feet of Lord Raghunātha. When I even think of giving them up, my heart breaks.'

'''[[CC Antya 4.43|Antya 4.43]]:''' "Upon hearing this, we each embraced him and encouraged him by saying, 'You are a great saintly devotee, for your determination in devotional service is fixed.' In this way we praised him.

'''[[CC Antya 4.44|Antya 4.44]]:''' "My dear Lord, the family upon which You bestow even a little mercy is always fortunate, for such mercy makes all miseries disappear."

'''[[CC Antya 4.45|Antya 4.45]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "There was a similar incident concerning Murāri Gupta. Formerly I examined him, and his determination was similar.

'''[[CC Antya 4.46|Antya 4.46]]:''' "Glorious is that devotee who does not give up the shelter of his Lord, and glorious is that Lord who does not abandon His servant.

'''[[CC Antya 4.47|Antya 4.47]]:''' "If by chance a servant falls down and goes somewhere else, glorious is that master who captures him and brings him back by the hair.

'''[[CC Antya 4.48|Antya 4.48]]:''' "It is very good that you have arrived here. Now stay in this room with Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Antya 4.49|Antya 4.49]]:''' "Both of you are expert in understanding the mellows of Lord Kṛṣṇa's devotional service. Therefore you should both continue relishing the taste for such activities and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra."

'''[[CC Antya 4.50|Antya 4.50]]:''' Having said this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu got up and left, and through Govinda He sent prasādam for them to eat.

'''[[CC Antya 4.51|Antya 4.51]]:''' In this way, Sanātana Gosvāmī stayed under the care of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He would see the wheel on the pinnacle of the Jagannātha temple and offer respectful obeisances.

'''[[CC Antya 4.52|Antya 4.52]]:''' Every day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would go there to meet these two stalwart devotees and discuss topics of Kṛṣṇa with them for some time.

'''[[CC Antya 4.53|Antya 4.53]]:''' The offerings of prasādam in the temple of Lord Jagannātha were of the highest quality. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would bring this prasādam and deliver it to the two devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 4.54|Antya 4.54]]:''' One day when the Lord came to meet them, He suddenly began speaking to Sanātana Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 4.55|Antya 4.55]]:''' "My dear Sanātana," He said, "if I could attain Kṛṣṇa by committing suicide, I would certainly give up millions of bodies without a moment's hesitation.

'''[[CC Antya 4.56|Antya 4.56]]:''' "You should know that one cannot attain Kṛṣṇa simply by giving up the body. Kṛṣṇa is attainable by devotional service. There is no other means for attaining Him.

'''[[CC Antya 4.57|Antya 4.57]]:''' "Acts such as suicide are influenced by the mode of ignorance, and in ignorance and passion one cannot understand who Kṛṣṇa is.

'''[[CC Antya 4.58|Antya 4.58]]:''' "Unless one discharges devotional service, one cannot awaken one's dormant love for Kṛṣṇa, and there is no means for attaining Him other than awakening that dormant love.

'''[[CC Antya 4.59|Antya 4.59]]:''' [The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, said:] "My dear Uddhava, neither through aṣṭāńga-yoga [the mystic yoga system for controlling the senses], nor through impersonal monism or an analytical study of the Absolute Truth, nor through study of the Vedas, nor through austerities, charity or acceptance of sannyāsa can one satisfy Me as much as by developing unalloyed devotional service unto Me."

'''[[CC Antya 4.60|Antya 4.60]]:''' "Measures like suicide are causes for sin. A devotee never achieves shelter at Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet by such actions.

'''[[CC Antya 4.61|Antya 4.61]]:''' "Because of feelings of separation from Kṛṣṇa, an exalted devotee sometimes wants to give up his life. By such ecstatic love, however, one attains the audience of Kṛṣṇa, and at that time he cannot give up his body.

'''[[CC Antya 4.62|Antya 4.62]]:''' "One who is deeply in love with Kṛṣṇa cannot tolerate separation from the Lord. Therefore such a devotee always desires his own death.

'''[[CC Antya 4.63|Antya 4.63]]:''' "'O lotus-eyed one, great personalities like Lord Śiva desire to bathe in the dust of Your lotus feet to drive away ignorance. If I do not get the mercy of Your Lordship, I shall observe vows to reduce the duration of my life, and thus I shall give up bodies for hundreds of births if it is possible to get Your mercy in that way.'

'''[[CC Antya 4.64|Antya 4.64]]:''' "'O dear Kṛṣṇa, by Your smiling glances and melodious talk, You have awakened a fire of lusty desire in our hearts. Now You should extinguish that fire with a stream of nectar from Your lips by kissing us. Kindly do this. Otherwise, dear friend, the fire within our hearts will burn our bodies to ashes because of separation from You. Thus by meditation we shall claim shelter at Your lotus feet.'"

'''[[CC Antya 4.65|Antya 4.65]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Sanātana Gosvāmī, "Give up all your nonsensical desires, for they are unfavorable for getting shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Engage yourself in chanting and hearing. Then you will soon achieve the shelter of Kṛṣṇa without a doubt.

'''[[CC Antya 4.66|Antya 4.66]]:''' "A person born in a low family is not unfit for discharging devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, nor is one fit for devotional service simply because he is born in an aristocratic family of brāhmaṇas.

'''[[CC Antya 4.67|Antya 4.67]]:''' "Anyone who takes to devotional service is exalted, whereas a nondevotee is always condemned and abominable. Therefore in the discharge of devotional service to the Lord, there is no consideration of the status of one's family.

'''[[CC Antya 4.68|Antya 4.68]]:''' "The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is always favorable to the humble and meek, but aristocrats, learned scholars and the wealthy are always proud of their positions.

'''[[CC Antya 4.69|Antya 4.69]]:''' "'One may be born in a brāhmaṇa family and have all twelve brahminical qualities, but if in spite of being thus qualified he is not devoted to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who has a navel shaped like a lotus, he is not as good as a caṇḍāla who has dedicated his mind, words, activities, wealth and life to the service of the Lord. Simply to take birth in a brāhmaṇa family or to have brahminical qualities is not sufficient. One must be a pure devotee of the Lord. Thus if a śva-paca, or caṇḍāla, is a devotee, he delivers not only himself but his entire family as well, whereas a brāhmaṇa who is not a devotee but simply has brahminical qualifications cannot even purify himself, what to speak of his family.'

'''[[CC Antya 4.70|Antya 4.70]]:''' "Among the ways of executing devotional service, the nine prescribed methods are the best, for these processes have great potency to deliver Kṛṣṇa and ecstatic love for Him.

'''[[CC Antya 4.71|Antya 4.71]]:''' "Of the nine processes of devotional service, the most important is to always chant the holy name of the Lord. If one does so, avoiding the ten kinds of offenses, one very easily obtains the most valuable love of Godhead."

'''[[CC Antya 4.72|Antya 4.72]]:''' After hearing this, Sanātana Gosvāmī was exceedingly astonished. He could understand, "My decision to commit suicide has not been greatly appreciated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu."

'''[[CC Antya 4.73|Antya 4.73]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī concluded, "Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who knows everything — past, present and future — has forbidden me to commit suicide." He then fell down, touching the lotus feet of the Lord, and spoke to Him as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 4.74|Antya 4.74]]:''' "My Lord, You are the omniscient, merciful, independent Supreme Lord. Exactly like an instrument of wood, I dance as You make me do so.

'''[[CC Antya 4.75|Antya 4.75]]:''' "I am lowborn. Indeed, I am the lowest. I am condemned, for I have all the characteristics of a sinful man. If You keep me alive, what will be the profit?"

'''[[CC Antya 4.76|Antya 4.76]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Your body is My property. You have already surrendered unto Me. Therefore you no longer have any claim to your body.

'''[[CC Antya 4.77|Antya 4.77]]:''' "Why should you want to destroy another's property? Can't you consider what is right and wrong?

'''[[CC Antya 4.78|Antya 4.78]]:''' "Your body is My principal instrument for executing many necessary functions. By your body I shall carry out many tasks.

'''[[CC Antya 4.79|Antya 4.79]]:''' "You shall have to ascertain the basic principles of a devotee, devotional service, love of Godhead, Vaiṣṇava duties and Vaiṣṇava characteristics.

'''[[CC Antya 4.80|Antya 4.80]]:''' "You will also have to explain Kṛṣṇa's devotional service, establish centers for cultivation of love of Kṛṣṇa, excavate lost places of pilgrimage and teach people how to adopt the renounced order.

'''[[CC Antya 4.81|Antya 4.81]]:''' "Mathurā-Vṛndāvana is My own very dear abode. I want to do many things there to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

'''[[CC Antya 4.82|Antya 4.82]]:''' "By the order of My mother I am sitting here in Jagannātha Purī; therefore, I cannot go to Mathurā-Vṛndāvana to teach people how to live there according to religious principles.

'''[[CC Antya 4.83|Antya 4.83]]:''' "I have to do all this work through your body, but you want to give it up. How can I tolerate this?"

'''[[CC Antya 4.84|Antya 4.84]]:''' At that time Sanātana Gosvāmī said to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. No one can understand the deep ideas You plan within Your heart.

'''[[CC Antya 4.85|Antya 4.85]]:''' "A wooden doll chants and dances according to the direction of a magician but does not know how he is dancing and singing.

'''[[CC Antya 4.86|Antya 4.86]]:''' "My dear Lord, as You cause one to dance, he dances accordingly, but how he dances and who is causing him to dance he does not know."

'''[[CC Antya 4.87|Antya 4.87]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, "My dear Haridāsa, please hear Me. This gentleman wants to destroy another's property.

'''[[CC Antya 4.88|Antya 4.88]]:''' "One who is entrusted with another's property does not distribute it or use it for his own purposes. Therefore, tell him not to do such an unlawful thing."

'''[[CC Antya 4.89|Antya 4.89]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "We are falsely proud of our capabilities. Actually we cannot understand Your deep intentions.

'''[[CC Antya 4.90|Antya 4.90]]:''' "Unless You inform us, we cannot understand what Your purpose is or what You want to do through whom.

'''[[CC Antya 4.91|Antya 4.91]]:''' "My dear Sir, since You, a great personality, have accepted Sanātana Gosvāmī, he is greatly fortunate; no one can be as fortunate as he."

'''[[CC Antya 4.92|Antya 4.92]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced both Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Sanātana Gosvāmī and then got up and left to perform His noon duties.

'''[[CC Antya 4.93|Antya 4.93]]:''' "My dear Sanātana," Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, embracing him, "no one can find the limits of your good fortune.

'''[[CC Antya 4.94|Antya 4.94]]:''' "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has accepted your body as His own property. Therefore no one can equal you in good fortune.

'''[[CC Antya 4.95|Antya 4.95]]:''' "What Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu cannot do with His personal body He wants to do through you, and He wants to do it in Mathurā.

'''[[CC Antya 4.96|Antya 4.96]]:''' "Whatever the Supreme Personality of Godhead wants us to do will successfully be accomplished. This is your great fortune. That is my mature opinion.

'''[[CC Antya 4.97|Antya 4.97]]:''' "I can understand from the words of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that He wants you to write books about the conclusive decision of devotional service and about the regulative principles ascertained from the revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Antya 4.98|Antya 4.98]]:''' "My body could not be used in the service of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore although it took birth in the land of India, this body has been useless."

'''[[CC Antya 4.99|Antya 4.99]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, "O Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who is equal to you? You are one of the associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore you are the most fortunate.

'''[[CC Antya 4.100|Antya 4.100]]:''' "The mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, for which He has descended as an incarnation, is to spread the importance of chanting the holy name of the Lord. Now instead of personally doing so, He is spreading it through you.

'''[[CC Antya 4.101|Antya 4.101]]:''' "My dear sir, you are chanting the holy name 300,000 times daily and informing everyone of the importance of such chanting.

'''[[CC Antya 4.102|Antya 4.102]]:''' "Some behave very well but do not preach the cult of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, whereas others preach but do not behave properly.

'''[[CC Antya 4.103|Antya 4.103]]:''' "You simultaneously perform both duties in relation to the holy name by your personal behavior and by your preaching. Therefore you are the spiritual master of the entire world, for you are the most advanced devotee in the world."

'''[[CC Antya 4.104|Antya 4.104]]:''' In this way the two of them passed their time discussing subjects concerning Kṛṣṇa. Thus they enjoyed life together.

'''[[CC Antya 4.105|Antya 4.105]]:''' During the time of Ratha-yātrā, all the devotees arrived from Bengal to visit the car festival as they had done previously.

'''[[CC Antya 4.106|Antya 4.106]]:''' During the Ratha-yātrā festival, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again danced before the car of Jagannātha. When Sanātana Gosvāmī saw this, his mind was astonished.

'''[[CC Antya 4.107|Antya 4.107]]:''' The Lord's devotees from Bengal stayed at Jagannātha Purī during the four months of the rainy season, and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu introduced Sanātana Gosvāmī to them all.

'''[[CC Antya 4.108-110|Antya 4.108-110]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu introduced Sanātana Gosvāmī to these and other selected devotees: Advaita Ācārya, Nityānanda Prabhu, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, Vāsudeva Datta, Murāri Gupta, Rāghava Paṇḍita, Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Paramānanda Purī, Brahmānanda Bhāratī, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Rāmānanda Rāya, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, Śańkara Paṇḍita, Kāśīśvara and Govinda.

'''[[CC Antya 4.111|Antya 4.111]]:''' The Lord asked Sanātana Gosvāmī to offer obeisances to all the devotees in a way that befitted each one. Thus He introduced Sanātana Gosvāmī to them all, just to make him an object of their mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 4.112|Antya 4.112]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī was dear to everyone because of his exalted qualities and learning. Suitably, therefore, they bestowed upon him mercy, friendship and honor.

'''[[CC Antya 4.113|Antya 4.113]]:''' When all the other devotees returned to Bengal after the Ratha-yātrā festival, Sanātana Gosvāmī stayed under the care of the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 4.114|Antya 4.114]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī observed the Dola-yātrā ceremony with Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In this way, his pleasure increased in the company of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 4.115|Antya 4.115]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī had come to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Jagannātha Purī during the month of April-May, and during the month of May-June Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu tested him.

'''[[CC Antya 4.116|Antya 4.116]]:''' In that month of May-June, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to the garden of Yameśvara [Lord Śiva] and accepted prasādam there at the request of the devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 4.117|Antya 4.117]]:''' At noon, when it was time for lunch, the Lord called for Sanātana Gosvāmī, whose happiness increased because of the call.

'''[[CC Antya 4.118|Antya 4.118]]:''' At noon the sand on the beach was as hot as fire, but Sanātana Gosvāmī came by that path.

'''[[CC Antya 4.119|Antya 4.119]]:''' Overwhelmed by joy at being called by the Lord, Sanātana Gosvāmī did not feel that his feet were burning in the hot sand.

'''[[CC Antya 4.120|Antya 4.120]]:''' Although the soles of his feet were blistered because of the heat, he nevertheless went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. There he found that the Lord, having taken His lunch, was resting.

'''[[CC Antya 4.121|Antya 4.121]]:''' Govinda gave Sanātana Gosvāmī the plate with the remnants of Lord Caitanya's food. After taking the prasādam, Sanātana Gosvāmī approached Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 4.122|Antya 4.122]]:''' When the Lord inquired, "By which path have you come?" Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, "I have come on the path along the beach."

'''[[CC Antya 4.123|Antya 4.123]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "How did you come along the beach, where the sand is so hot? Why didn't you come by the path in front of the Siḿha-dvāra gate? It is very cool.

'''[[CC Antya 4.124|Antya 4.124]]:''' "The hot sand must have blistered your soles. Now you cannot walk. How did you tolerate it?"

'''[[CC Antya 4.125|Antya 4.125]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, "I did not feel much pain, nor did I know that there were blisters because of the heat.

'''[[CC Antya 4.126|Antya 4.126]]:''' "I have no right to pass by the Siḿha-dvāra, for the servants of Jagannātha are always coming and going there.

'''[[CC Antya 4.127|Antya 4.127]]:''' "The servants are always coming and going without interval. If I touch them, I shall be ruined."

'''[[CC Antya 4.128|Antya 4.128]]:''' Having heard all these details, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, greatly pleased, spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 4.129-130|Antya 4.129-130]]:''' "My dear Sanātana, although you are the deliverer of the entire universe and although even the demigods and great saints are purified by touching you, it is the characteristic of a devotee to observe and protect the Vaiṣṇava etiquette. Maintenance of the Vaiṣṇava etiquette is the ornament of a devotee.

'''[[CC Antya 4.131|Antya 4.131]]:''' "If one transgresses the laws of etiquette, people make fun of him, and thus he is vanquished in both this world and the next.

'''[[CC Antya 4.132|Antya 4.132]]:''' "By observing the etiquette, you have satisfied My mind. Who else but you could show this example?"

'''[[CC Antya 4.133|Antya 4.133]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Sanātana Gosvāmī, and the moisture oozing from the itching sores on Sanātana's body smeared the body of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 4.134|Antya 4.134]]:''' Although Sanātana Gosvāmī repeatedly forbade Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to embrace him, the Lord still did so. Thus His body was smeared with the moisture from Sanātana's body, and Sanātana became greatly distressed.

'''[[CC Antya 4.135|Antya 4.135]]:''' Thus both servant and master departed for their respective homes. The next day, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita went to meet Sanātana Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 4.136|Antya 4.136]]:''' When Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and Sanātana Gosvāmī sat together and began to discuss topics about Kṛṣṇa, Sanātana Gosvāmī submitted to Jagadānanda Paṇḍita the cause of his distress.

'''[[CC Antya 4.137|Antya 4.137]]:''' "I came here to diminish my unhappiness by seeing Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, but the Lord did not allow me to execute what was in my mind.

'''[[CC Antya 4.138|Antya 4.138]]:''' "Although I forbid Him to do so, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu nevertheless embraces me, and therefore His body becomes smeared with the discharges from my itching sores.

'''[[CC Antya 4.139|Antya 4.139]]:''' "In this way I am committing offenses at His lotus feet, and from these offenses I shall certainly not be delivered. At the same time, I cannot see Lord Jagannātha. This is my great unhappiness.

'''[[CC Antya 4.140|Antya 4.140]]:''' "I came here for my benefit, but now I see that I am getting just the opposite. I do not know, nor can I ascertain, how there will be benefit for me."

'''[[CC Antya 4.141|Antya 4.141]]:''' Jagadānanda Paṇḍita said, "The most suitable place for you to reside is Vṛndāvana. After seeing the Ratha-yātrā festival, you can return there.

'''[[CC Antya 4.142|Antya 4.142]]:''' "The Lord has already ordered both of you brothers to situate yourselves in Vṛndāvana. There you will achieve all happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 4.143|Antya 4.143]]:''' "Your purpose in coming has been fulfilled, for you have seen the lotus feet of the Lord. Therefore, after seeing Lord Jagannātha on the Ratha-yātrā car, you can leave."

'''[[CC Antya 4.144|Antya 4.144]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, "You have given me very good advice. I shall certainly go there, for that is the place the Lord has given me for my residence."

'''[[CC Antya 4.145|Antya 4.145]]:''' After talking in this way, Sanātana Gosvāmī and Jagadānanda Paṇḍita returned to their respective duties. The next day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to see Haridāsa and Sanātana Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 4.146|Antya 4.146]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura offered obeisances to the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and the Lord embraced him in ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Antya 4.147|Antya 4.147]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī offered his obeisances and daṇḍavats from a distant place, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called him again and again to embrace him.

'''[[CC Antya 4.148|Antya 4.148]]:''' Out of fear of committing offenses, Sanātana Gosvāmī did not come forward to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The Lord, however, went forward to meet him.

'''[[CC Antya 4.149|Antya 4.149]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī backed away, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu caught him by force and embraced him.

'''[[CC Antya 4.150|Antya 4.150]]:''' The Lord took them both with Him and sat down in a sacred place. Then Sanātana Gosvāmī, who was advanced in renunciation, began to speak.

'''[[CC Antya 4.151|Antya 4.151]]:''' "I came here for my benefit," he said, "but I see that I am getting just the opposite. I am unfit to render service. I simply commit offenses day after day.

'''[[CC Antya 4.152|Antya 4.152]]:''' "By nature I am lowborn. I am a contaminated reservoir of sinful activities. If You touch me, Sir, that will be a great offense on my part.

'''[[CC Antya 4.153|Antya 4.153]]:''' "Moreover, blood is running from infected itching sores on my body, smearing Your body with moisture, but still You touch me by force.

'''[[CC Antya 4.154|Antya 4.154]]:''' "My dear Sir, You do not have even a pinch of aversion to touching my body, which is in a horrible condition. Because of this offense, everything auspicious will be vanquished for me.

'''[[CC Antya 4.155|Antya 4.155]]:''' "Therefore I see that I will get nothing auspicious by staying here. Kindly give me orders allowing me to return to Vṛndāvana after the Ratha-yātrā festival.

'''[[CC Antya 4.156|Antya 4.156]]:''' "I have consulted Jagadānanda Paṇḍita for his opinion, and he has also advised me to return to Vṛndāvana."

'''[[CC Antya 4.157|Antya 4.157]]:''' Hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, in an angry mood, began to chastise Jagadānanda Paṇḍita.

'''[[CC Antya 4.158|Antya 4.158]]:''' "Jagā [Jagadānanda Paṇḍita] is only a new boy, but he has become so proud that he thinks himself competent to advise a person like you.

'''[[CC Antya 4.159|Antya 4.159]]:''' "In affairs of spiritual advancement and even in ordinary dealings, you are on the level of his spiritual master. Yet not knowing his own value, he dares to advise you.

'''[[CC Antya 4.160|Antya 4.160]]:''' "My dear Sanātana, you are on the level of My advisor, for you are an authorized person. But Jagā wants to advise you. This is but the impudence of a naughty boy."

'''[[CC Antya 4.161|Antya 4.161]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was thus chastising Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, Sanātana Gosvāmī fell at the Lord's feet and said, "I can now understand the fortunate position of Jagadānanda.

'''[[CC Antya 4.162|Antya 4.162]]:''' "I can also understand my misfortune. No one in this world is as fortunate as Jagadānanda.

'''[[CC Antya 4.163|Antya 4.163]]:''' "Sir, You are making Jagadānanda drink the nectar of affectionate relationships, whereas by offering me honorable prayers, You are making me drink the bitter juice of nimba and niśindā.

'''[[CC Antya 4.164|Antya 4.164]]:''' "It is my misfortune that You have not accepted me as one of Your intimate relations. But You are the completely independent Supreme Personality of Godhead."

'''[[CC Antya 4.165|Antya 4.165]]:''' Hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was somewhat ashamed. Just to satisfy Sanātana Gosvāmī, He spoke the following words.

'''[[CC Antya 4.166|Antya 4.166]]:''' "My dear Sanātana, please do not think that Jagadānanda is more dear to Me than you. However, I cannot tolerate transgressions of the standard etiquette.

'''[[CC Antya 4.167|Antya 4.167]]:''' "You are an experienced authority in the śāstras, whereas Jagā is just a young boy.

'''[[CC Antya 4.168|Antya 4.168]]:''' "You have the power to convince even Me. In many places you have already convinced Me about ordinary behavior and devotional service.

'''[[CC Antya 4.169|Antya 4.169]]:''' "Jagā's advising you is intolerable for Me. Therefore I am chastising him.

'''[[CC Antya 4.170|Antya 4.170]]:''' "I offer you praise not because I think of you as being outside an intimate relationship with Me but because you are actually so qualified that one is forced to praise your qualities.

'''[[CC Antya 4.171|Antya 4.171]]:''' "Although one has affection for many persons, different types of ecstatic love awaken according to the nature of one's personal relationships.

'''[[CC Antya 4.172|Antya 4.172]]:''' "You consider your body dangerous and awful, but I think that your body is like nectar.

'''[[CC Antya 4.173|Antya 4.173]]:''' "Actually your body is transcendental, never material. You are thinking of it, however, in terms of a material conception.

'''[[CC Antya 4.174|Antya 4.174]]:''' "Even if your body were material, I still could not neglect it, for the material body should be considered neither good nor bad.

'''[[CC Antya 4.175|Antya 4.175]]:''' "'Anything not conceived in relationship to Kṛṣṇa should be understood to be illusion [māyā]. None of the illusions uttered by words or conceived in the mind are factual. Because illusion is not factual, there is no distinction between what we think is good and what we think is bad. When we speak of the Absolute Truth, such speculations do not apply.'

'''[[CC Antya 4.176|Antya 4.176]]:''' "In the material world, conceptions of good and bad are all mental speculations. Therefore, saying 'This is good' and 'This is bad' is all a mistake.

'''[[CC Antya 4.177|Antya 4.177]]:''' "'The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater.'

'''[[CC Antya 4.178|Antya 4.178]]:''' "'One who is fully satisfied in knowledge obtained and practically applied in life, who is always determined and fixed in his spiritual position, who completely controls his senses, and who sees pebbles, stones and gold on the same level is understood to be a perfect yogī.'

'''[[CC Antya 4.179|Antya 4.179]]:''' "Since I am in the renounced order, My duty is to make no distinctions and be equipoised. My knowledge must be equally disposed toward sandalwood pulp and dirty mud.

'''[[CC Antya 4.180|Antya 4.180]]:''' "For this reason, I cannot reject you. If I hated you, I would deviate from My occupational duty."

'''[[CC Antya 4.181|Antya 4.181]]:''' Haridāsa said, "My dear Lord, what You have spoken deals with external formalities. I do not accept it.

'''[[CC Antya 4.182|Antya 4.182]]:''' "My Lord, we are all fallen, but You have accepted us due to Your attribute of being merciful to the fallen. This is well known all over the world."

'''[[CC Antya 4.183|Antya 4.183]]:''' Lord Caitanya smiled and said, "Listen, Haridāsa and Sanātana. Now I am speaking the truth about how My mind is attached to you.

'''[[CC Antya 4.184|Antya 4.184]]:''' "My dear Haridāsa and Sanātana, I think of you as My little boys, to be maintained by Me. The maintainer never takes seriously any faults of the maintained.

'''[[CC Antya 4.185|Antya 4.185]]:''' "I always think of Myself as deserving no respect, but because of affection I always consider you to be like My little children.

'''[[CC Antya 4.186|Antya 4.186]]:''' "When a child passes stool and urine that touch the body of the mother, the mother never hates the child. On the contrary, she takes much pleasure in cleansing him.

'''[[CC Antya 4.187|Antya 4.187]]:''' "The stool and urine of the maintained child appear like sandalwood pulp to the mother. Similarly, when the foul moisture oozing from the sores of Sanātana touches My body, I have no hatred for him."

'''[[CC Antya 4.188|Antya 4.188]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, "My dear Sir, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead and are most merciful toward us. No one can understand what is within Your deeply affectionate heart.

'''[[CC Antya 4.189|Antya 4.189]]:''' "You embraced the leper Vāsudeva, whose body was fully infected by worms. You are so kind that in spite of his condition You embraced him.

'''[[CC Antya 4.190|Antya 4.190]]:''' "By embracing him You made his body as beautiful as that of Cupid. We cannot understand the waves of Your mercy."

'''[[CC Antya 4.191|Antya 4.191]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "The body of a devotee is never material. It is considered to be transcendental, full of spiritual bliss.

'''[[CC Antya 4.192|Antya 4.192]]:''' "At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders unto the service of the Lord, Kṛṣṇa accepts him to be as good as Himself.

'''[[CC Antya 4.193|Antya 4.193]]:''' "When the devotee's body is thus transformed into spiritual existence, the devotee, in that transcendental body, renders service to the lotus feet of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 4.194|Antya 4.194]]:''' "'The living entity who is subjected to birth and death attains immortality when he gives up all material activities, dedicates his life to the execution of My order, and acts according to My directions. In this way he becomes fit to enjoy the spiritual bliss derived from exchanging loving mellows with Me.'

'''[[CC Antya 4.195|Antya 4.195]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa somehow or other manifested these itching sores on the body of Sanātana Gosvāmī and sent him here to test Me.

'''[[CC Antya 4.196|Antya 4.196]]:''' "If I had hated Sanātana Gosvāmī and had not embraced him, I would certainly have been chastised for offenses to Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 4.197|Antya 4.197]]:''' "Sanātana Gosvāmī is one of the associates of Kṛṣṇa. There could not be any bad odor from his body. On the first day I embraced him, I smelled the aroma of catuḥsama [a mixture of sandalwood pulp, camphor, aguru and musk]."

'''[[CC Antya 4.198|Antya 4.198]]:''' In fact, however, when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced the body of Sanātana Gosvāmī, by the Lord's touch alone there was manifested a fragrance exactly like that of sandalwood pulp.

'''[[CC Antya 4.199|Antya 4.199]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "My dear Sanātana, do not be aggrieved, for when I embrace you I actually get great pleasure.

'''[[CC Antya 4.200|Antya 4.200]]:''' "Stay with Me at Jagannātha Purī for one year, and after that I shall send you to Vṛndāvana."

'''[[CC Antya 4.201|Antya 4.201]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again embraced Sanātana Gosvāmī. Thus immediately Sanātana's sores disappeared, and his entire body resembled the color of gold.

'''[[CC Antya 4.202|Antya 4.202]]:''' Seeing the change, Haridāsa Ṭhākura, greatly astonished, told the Lord, "This is Your pastime.

'''[[CC Antya 4.203|Antya 4.203]]:''' "My dear Lord, You made Sanātana Gosvāmī drink the water of Jhārikhaṇḍa, and You actually generated the consequent itching sores on his body.

'''[[CC Antya 4.204|Antya 4.204]]:''' "After thus causing these itching sores, You examined Sanātana Gosvāmī. No one can understand Your transcendental pastimes."

'''[[CC Antya 4.205|Antya 4.205]]:''' After embracing both Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to His residence. Then Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Sanātana Gosvāmī, in great ecstatic love, began to describe the Lord's transcendental attributes.

'''[[CC Antya 4.206|Antya 4.206]]:''' In this way Sanātana Gosvāmī stayed under the care of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and discussed the transcendental qualities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Antya 4.207|Antya 4.207]]:''' After they saw the Dola-yātrā festival, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu instructed Sanātana Gosvāmī fully about what to do in Vṛndāvana and bade him farewell.

'''[[CC Antya 4.208|Antya 4.208]]:''' The scene of separation that took place when Sanātana Gosvāmī and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took leave of each other is so piteous that it cannot be described herein.

'''[[CC Antya 4.209|Antya 4.209]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī decided to go to Vṛndāvana by the very forest path Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had traversed.

'''[[CC Antya 4.210|Antya 4.210]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī noted from Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya all the villages, rivers and hills where Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had performed His pastimes.

'''[[CC Antya 4.211|Antya 4.211]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī met all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and then, traveling by that same path, visited the places through which Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had passed.

'''[[CC Antya 4.212|Antya 4.212]]:''' As soon as Sanātana Gosvāmī visited a place where Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had performed His pastimes on the way, he was immediately filled with ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Antya 4.213|Antya 4.213]]:''' In this way Sanātana Gosvāmī reached Vṛndāvana. Later Rūpa Gosvāmī came and met him.

'''[[CC Antya 4.214|Antya 4.214]]:''' Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī had been delayed in Bengal for a year because he was dividing his money among his relatives to situate them in their proper positions.

'''[[CC Antya 4.215|Antya 4.215]]:''' He collected whatever money he had accumulated in Bengal and divided it among his relatives, the brāhmaṇas and the temples.

'''[[CC Antya 4.216|Antya 4.216]]:''' Thus after finishing all the tasks he had on his mind, he returned to Vṛndāvana fully satisfied.

'''[[CC Antya 4.217|Antya 4.217]]:''' The brothers met at Vṛndāvana, where they stayed to execute the will of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 4.218|Antya 4.218]]:''' Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī collected many revealed scriptures, and from the evidence in those scriptures they excavated all the lost sites of pilgrimage. Thus they established temples for the worship of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 4.219|Antya 4.219]]:''' Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī compiled the Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta. From this book one can understand who is a devotee, what is the process of devotional service, and who is Kṛṣṇa, the Absolute Truth.

'''[[CC Antya 4.220|Antya 4.220]]:''' Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī wrote a commentary on the Tenth Canto known as Daśama-ṭippanī, from which we can understand the transcendental pastimes and ecstatic love of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 4.221|Antya 4.221]]:''' He also compiled the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa, from which we can understand the standard behavior of a devotee and the full extent of a Vaiṣṇava's duty.

'''[[CC Antya 4.222|Antya 4.222]]:''' Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī also compiled many other books. Who can enumerate them? The basic principle of all these books is to show us how to love Madana-mohana and Govindajī.

'''[[CC Antya 4.223|Antya 4.223]]:''' Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī also wrote many books, the most famous of which is the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu. From that book one can understand the essence of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa and the transcendental mellows one can derive from such service.

'''[[CC Antya 4.224|Antya 4.224]]:''' Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī also compiled the book named Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi, from which one can understand, to the fullest limits, the loving affairs of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 4.225|Antya 4.225]]:''' Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī also compiled two important dramas named Vidagdha-mādhava and Lalita-mādhava, from which one can understand all the mellows derived from the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 4.226|Antya 4.226]]:''' Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī compiled 100,000 verses, beginning with the book Dāna-keli-kaumudī. In all these scriptures he elaborately explained the transcendental mellows of the activities of Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Antya 4.227|Antya 4.227]]:''' The son of Śrī Vallabha, or Anupama, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī's younger brother, was the great learned scholar named Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 4.228|Antya 4.228]]:''' After renouncing everything, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī went to Vṛndāvana. Later he also wrote many books on devotional service and expanded the work of preaching.

'''[[CC Antya 4.229|Antya 4.229]]:''' In particular, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī compiled the book named Bhāgavata-sandarbha, or Ṣaṭ-sandarbha, which is the essence of all scriptures. From this book one can obtain a conclusive understanding of devotional service and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Antya 4.230|Antya 4.230]]:''' He also compiled the book named Gopāla-campū, which is the essence of all Vedic literature. In this book he has exhibited the ecstatic loving transactions and pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Antya 4.231|Antya 4.231]]:''' In the Ṣaṭ-sandarbha Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī set forth the truths about transcendental love of Kṛṣṇa. In this way he expanded 400,000 verses in all his books.

'''[[CC Antya 4.232|Antya 4.232]]:''' When Jīva Gosvāmī wanted to go to Mathurā from Bengal, he requested permission from Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 4.233|Antya 4.233]]:''' Because of Jīva Gosvāmī's relationship with Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī, who were greatly favored by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu placed His feet on the head of Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī and embraced him.

'''[[CC Antya 4.234|Antya 4.234]]:''' Lord Nityānanda Prabhu ordered, "Yes, go soon to Vṛndāvana. That place has been awarded to your family, to your father and uncles, by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and therefore you must go there immediately."

'''[[CC Antya 4.235|Antya 4.235]]:''' By the order of Nityānanda Prabhu, he went to Vṛndāvana and actually achieved the result of His order, for he compiled many books for a long time and preached the cult of bhakti from there.

'''[[CC Antya 4.236|Antya 4.236]]:''' These three — Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī and Jīva Gosvāmī — are my spiritual masters, and so also is Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī. I therefore offer prayers at their lotus feet, for I am their servant.

'''[[CC Antya 4.237|Antya 4.237]]:''' Thus I have described how the Lord again met with Sanātana Gosvāmī. By hearing this I can understand the Lord's desire.

'''[[CC Antya 4.238|Antya 4.238]]:''' These characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are like sugar cane that one can chew to relish transcendental juice.

'''[[CC Antya 4.239|Antya 4.239]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 3|Antya-līlā 3]] '''[[CC Antya 3|Antya-līlā 3]] - [[CC Antya 5|Antya-līlā 5]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 5|Antya-līlā 5]]</div>

CC Antya 3

2026-06-04T18:30:44Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 3 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 03|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 3: The Glories of Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 2|Antya-līlā 2]] '''[[CC Antya 2|Antya-līlā 2]] - [[CC Antya 4|Antya-līlā 4]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 4|Antya-līlā 4]]</div>

'''[[CC Antya 3 Summary|Antya 3 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 3.1|Antya 3.1]]:''' I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master and of all the other preceptors on the path of devotional service, unto all the Vaiṣṇavas and unto the six Gosvāmīs, including Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Jīva Gosvāmī and their associates. I offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrī Advaita Ācārya Prabhu, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, as well as all His devotees, headed by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura. I then offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and all the gopīs, headed by Lalitā and Viśākhā.

'''[[CC Antya 3.2|Antya 3.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Antya 3.3|Antya 3.3]]:''' In Jagannātha Purī there was a young boy who had been born of an Orissan brāhmaṇa but had later lost his father. The boy's features were very beautiful, and his behavior was extremely gentle.

'''[[CC Antya 3.4-5|Antya 3.4-5]]:''' The boy came daily to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and offered Him respectful obeisances. He was free to talk with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu because the Lord was his life and soul, but the boy's intimacy with the Lord and the Lord's mercy toward him were intolerable for Dāmodara Paṇḍita.

'''[[CC Antya 3.6|Antya 3.6]]:''' Dāmodara Paṇḍita again and again forbade the son of the brāhmaṇa to visit the Lord, but the boy could not bear staying home and not seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 3.7|Antya 3.7]]:''' The boy came every day to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who treated him with great affection. It is the nature of any boy to go see a man who loves him.

'''[[CC Antya 3.8|Antya 3.8]]:''' This was intolerable for Dāmodara Paṇḍita. He became greatly unhappy, but there was nothing he could say, for the boy would ignore his restrictions.

'''[[CC Antya 3.9|Antya 3.9]]:''' One day when the boy came to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord very affectionately inquired from him about all kinds of news.

'''[[CC Antya 3.10|Antya 3.10]]:''' After some time, when the boy stood up and left, the intolerant Dāmodara Paṇḍita began to speak.

'''[[CC Antya 3.11|Antya 3.11]]:''' Dāmodara Paṇḍita impudently said to the Lord, "Everyone says that You are a great teacher because of Your instructions to others, but now we shall find out what kind of teacher You are.

'''[[CC Antya 3.12|Antya 3.12]]:''' "You are known as Gosāñi [teacher or ācārya], but now talk about Your attributes and reputation will spread throughout the city of Puruṣottama. How Your position will be impaired!"

'''[[CC Antya 3.13|Antya 3.13]]:''' Although Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu knew that Dāmodara Paṇḍita was a pure and simple devotee, upon hearing this impudent talk the Lord said, "My dear Dāmodara, what nonsense are you speaking?"Dāmodara Paṇḍita replied, "You are the independent Personality of Godhead, beyond all criticism.

'''[[CC Antya 3.14|Antya 3.14]]:''' "My dear Lord, You can act as You please. No one can say anything to restrict You. Nevertheless, the entire world is impudent. People can say anything. How can You stop them?

'''[[CC Antya 3.15|Antya 3.15]]:''' "Dear Lord, You are a learned teacher. Why then don't You consider that this boy is the son of a widowed brāhmaṇī? Why are You so affectionate to him?

'''[[CC Antya 3.16|Antya 3.16]]:''' "Although the boy's mother is completely austere and chaste, she has one natural fault — she is a very beautiful young girl.

'''[[CC Antya 3.17|Antya 3.17]]:''' "And You, my dear Lord, are a handsome, attractive young man. Therefore certainly people will whisper about You. Why should You give them such an opportunity?"

'''[[CC Antya 3.18|Antya 3.18]]:''' Having said this, Dāmodara Paṇḍita became silent. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu smiled, pleased within Himself, and considered the impudence of Dāmodara Paṇḍita.

'''[[CC Antya 3.19|Antya 3.19]]:''' [Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thought:] "This impudence is also a sign of pure love for Me. I have no other intimate friend like Dāmodara Paṇḍita."

'''[[CC Antya 3.20|Antya 3.20]]:''' Thinking in this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to perform His noon duties. The next day, He called Dāmodara Paṇḍita to a solitary place.

'''[[CC Antya 3.21|Antya 3.21]]:''' The Lord said, "My dear friend Dāmodara, you had better go to Nadia and stay with My mother.

'''[[CC Antya 3.22|Antya 3.22]]:''' "I see no one but you to protect her, for you are so careful that you can caution even Me.

'''[[CC Antya 3.23|Antya 3.23]]:''' "You are the most neutral among My associates. This is very good, for without being neutral one cannot protect religious principles.

'''[[CC Antya 3.24|Antya 3.24]]:''' "You can do whatever I cannot. Indeed, you can chastise even Me, what to speak of others.

'''[[CC Antya 3.25|Antya 3.25]]:''' "It is best for you to go to the shelter of My mother's lotus feet, for no one will be able to behave independently in front of you.

'''[[CC Antya 3.26|Antya 3.26]]:''' "At intervals you may come see Me here and then soon again go there.

'''[[CC Antya 3.27|Antya 3.27]]:''' "Offer My mother millions of My obeisances. Please speak to her about My happiness here and thus give her happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 3.28|Antya 3.28]]:''' "Tell her that I sent you to inform her of My personal activities so that she may share in My happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 3.29|Antya 3.29]]:''' "Speaking in this way, satisfy the mind of mother Śacī. Also, remind her of one most confidential incident with this message from Me.

'''[[CC Antya 3.30|Antya 3.30]]:''' "'I come to your home again and again to eat all the sweetmeats and vegetables you offer.

'''[[CC Antya 3.31|Antya 3.31]]:''' "'You know that I come and eat the offerings, but because of external separation, you consider this a dream.

'''[[CC Antya 3.32|Antya 3.32]]:''' "'During the last Māgha-sańkrānti festival, you cooked varieties of vegetables, condensed milk, cakes and sweet rice for Me.

'''[[CC Antya 3.33|Antya 3.33]]:''' "'You offered the food to Lord Kṛṣṇa, and while you were in meditation I suddenly appeared, and your eyes filled with tears.

'''[[CC Antya 3.34|Antya 3.34]]:''' "'I went there in great haste and ate everything. When you saw Me eating, you felt great happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 3.35|Antya 3.35]]:''' "'In a moment, after you had wiped your eyes, you saw that the plate you had offered Me was empty. Then you thought, "I dreamt as if Nimāi were eating everything."

'''[[CC Antya 3.36|Antya 3.36]]:''' "'In the condition of external separation, you were again under illusion, thinking that you had not offered the food to Lord Viṣṇu.

'''[[CC Antya 3.37|Antya 3.37]]:''' "'Then you went to see the cooking pots and found that every pot was filled with food. Therefore you again offered the food, after cleansing the place for the offering.

'''[[CC Antya 3.38|Antya 3.38]]:''' "'Thus I again and again eat everything you offer Me, for I am attracted by your pure love.

'''[[CC Antya 3.39|Antya 3.39]]:''' "'Only by your order am I living in Nīlācala [Jagannātha Purī]. Nevertheless, you still pull Me near you because of your great love for Me.'"

'''[[CC Antya 3.40|Antya 3.40]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Dāmodara Paṇḍita, "Remind mother Śacī in this way again and again and worship her lotus feet in My name."

'''[[CC Antya 3.41|Antya 3.41]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered that varieties of prasādam offered to Lord Jagannātha be brought. The Lord then gave him the prasādam, separately packed, to offer to various Vaiṣṇavas and His mother.

'''[[CC Antya 3.42|Antya 3.42]]:''' In this way Dāmodara Paṇḍita went to Nadia [Navadvīpa]. After meeting mother Śacī, he stayed under the care of her lotus feet.

'''[[CC Antya 3.43|Antya 3.43]]:''' He delivered all the prasādam to such great Vaiṣṇavas as Advaita Ācārya. Thus he stayed there and behaved according to the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 3.44|Antya 3.44]]:''' Everyone knew that Dāmodara Paṇḍita was strict in practical dealings. Therefore everyone was afraid of him and dared not do anything independent.

'''[[CC Antya 3.45|Antya 3.45]]:''' Dāmodara Paṇḍita would verbally chastise every devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu whom he found deviating even slightly from proper behavior. Thus he established the standard etiquette.

'''[[CC Antya 3.46|Antya 3.46]]:''' In this way I have described Dāmodara Paṇḍita's verbal chastisements. As one hears about this, atheistic principles and ignorance depart.

'''[[CC Antya 3.47|Antya 3.47]]:''' The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are deeper than millions of seas and oceans. Therefore no one can understand what He does or why He does it.

'''[[CC Antya 3.48|Antya 3.48]]:''' I do not know the deep meaning of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's activities. As far as possible I shall try to explain them externally.

'''[[CC Antya 3.49|Antya 3.49]]:''' One day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu met Haridāsa Ṭhākura as usual, and in the course of discussion He inquired as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 3.50|Antya 3.50]]:''' "My dear Ṭhākura Haridāsa, in this Age of Kali most people are bereft of Vedic culture, and therefore they are called yavanas. They are concerned only with killing cows and brahminical culture. In this way they all engage in sinful acts.

'''[[CC Antya 3.51|Antya 3.51]]:''' "How will these yavanas be delivered? To My great unhappiness, I do not see any way."

'''[[CC Antya 3.52|Antya 3.52]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "My dear Lord, do not be in anxiety. Do not be unhappy to see the condition of the yavanas in material existence.

'''[[CC Antya 3.53|Antya 3.53]]:''' "Because the yavanas are accustomed to saying 'hā rāma, hā rāma' ['O Lord Rāmacandra'], they will very easily be delivered by this nāmābhāsa.

'''[[CC Antya 3.54|Antya 3.54]]:''' "A devotee in advanced ecstatic love exclaims, 'O my Lord Rāmacandra! O my Lord Rāmacandra!' But the yavanas also chant, 'hā rāma, hā rāma!' Just see their good fortune!"

'''[[CC Antya 3.55|Antya 3.55]]:''' Nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the authority on the chanting of the holy name, said, "The chanting of the Lord's holy name to indicate something other than the Lord is an instance of nāmābhāsa. Even when the holy name is chanted in this way, its transcendental power is not destroyed.

'''[[CC Antya 3.56|Antya 3.56]]:''' "'Even a mleccha who is being killed by the tusk of a boar and who cries in distress again and again, "hā rāma, hā rāma" attains liberation. What then to speak of those who chant the holy name with veneration and faith?'

'''[[CC Antya 3.57|Antya 3.57]]:''' "Ajāmila was a great sinner during his life, but at the time of death he accidentally called for his youngest son, whose name was Nārāyaṇa, and the attendants of Lord Viṣṇu came to relieve him from the bonds of Yamarāja, the superintendent of death.

'''[[CC Antya 3.58|Antya 3.58]]:''' "The word 'rāma' consists of the two syllables 'rā' and 'ma.' These are unseparated and are decorated with the loving word 'hā,' meaning 'O.'

'''[[CC Antya 3.59|Antya 3.59]]:''' "The letters of the holy name have so much spiritual potency that they act even when uttered improperly.

'''[[CC Antya 3.60|Antya 3.60]]:''' "If a devotee once utters the holy name of the Lord, or if it penetrates his mind or enters his ear, which is the channel of aural reception, that holy name will certainly deliver him from material bondage, whether vibrated properly or improperly, with correct or incorrect grammar, or properly joined or vibrated in separate parts. O brāhmaṇa, the potency of the holy name is therefore certainly great. However, if one uses the vibration of the holy name for the benefit of the material body, for material wealth and followers, or under the influence of greed or atheism — in other words, if one utters the name with offenses — such chanting will not produce the desired result very soon. Therefore one should diligently avoid offenses in chanting the holy name of the Lord.'"

'''[[CC Antya 3.61|Antya 3.61]]:''' Nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura continued, "If one offenselessly utters the holy name even imperfectly, one can be freed from all the results of sinful life.

'''[[CC Antya 3.62|Antya 3.62]]:''' "'O reservoir of all good qualities, just worship Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the purifier of all purifiers, the most exalted of the personalities worshiped by choice poetry. Worship Him with a faithful, unflinching mind, without duplicity and in a highly elevated manner. Thus worship the Lord, whose name is like the sun, for just as a slight appearance of the sun dissipates the darkness of night, so a slight appearance of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa can drive away all the darkness of ignorance that arises in the heart due to greatly sinful activities performed in previous lives.'

'''[[CC Antya 3.63|Antya 3.63]]:''' "Even a faint light from the holy name of the Lord can eradicate all the reactions of sinful life.

'''[[CC Antya 3.64|Antya 3.64]]:''' "'While dying, Ajāmila chanted the holy name of the Lord, intending to call his son Nārāyaṇa. Nevertheless, he attained the spiritual world. What then to speak of those who chant the holy name with faith and reverence?'

'''[[CC Antya 3.65|Antya 3.65]]:''' "Because of even the faintest rays of the effulgence of the Lord's holy name, one can attain liberation. We can see this in all the revealed scriptures. The evidence appears in the story of Ajāmila in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam."

'''[[CC Antya 3.66|Antya 3.66]]:''' As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard this from Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the happiness within His heart increased, but as a matter of course, He still inquired further.

'''[[CC Antya 3.67|Antya 3.67]]:''' "On this earth there are many living entities," the Lord said, "some moving and some not moving. What will happen to the trees, plants, insects and other living entities? How will they be delivered from material bondage?"

'''[[CC Antya 3.68|Antya 3.68]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "My dear Lord, the deliverance of all moving and nonmoving living entities takes place only by Your mercy. You have already granted this mercy and delivered them.

'''[[CC Antya 3.69|Antya 3.69]]:''' "You have loudly chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, and everyone, moving or not moving, has benefited by hearing it.

'''[[CC Antya 3.70|Antya 3.70]]:''' "My Lord, the moving entities who have heard Your loud sańkīrtana have already been delivered from bondage to the material world, and after the nonmoving living entities like trees hear it, there is an echo.

'''[[CC Antya 3.71|Antya 3.71]]:''' "Actually, however, it is not an echo: it is the kīrtana of the nonmoving living entities. All this, although inconceivable, is possible by Your mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 3.72|Antya 3.72]]:''' "When loud chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is performed all over the world by those who follow in Your footsteps, all living entities, moving and nonmoving, dance in ecstatic devotional love.

'''[[CC Antya 3.73|Antya 3.73]]:''' "My dear Lord, all the incidents that took place while You were going to Vṛndāvana through the forest known as Jhārikhaṇḍa have been related to me by Your servant Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya.

'''[[CC Antya 3.74|Antya 3.74]]:''' "When Your devotee Vāsudeva Datta submitted his plea at Your lotus feet for the deliverance of all living entities, You accepted that request.

'''[[CC Antya 3.75|Antya 3.75]]:''' "My dear Lord, You have accepted the form of a devotee just to deliver all the fallen souls of this world.

'''[[CC Antya 3.76|Antya 3.76]]:''' "You have preached the loud chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and in this way freed all moving and nonmoving living entities from material bondage."

'''[[CC Antya 3.77|Antya 3.77]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "If all living entities are liberated, the entire universe will be devoid of living beings."

'''[[CC Antya 3.78-79|Antya 3.78-79]]:''' Haridāsa said, "My Lord, as long as You are situated within the material world, You will send to the spiritual sky all the developed moving and nonmoving living entities in different species. Then again You will awaken the living entities who are not yet developed and engage them in activities.

'''[[CC Antya 3.80|Antya 3.80]]:''' "In this way all moving and nonmoving living entities will come into existence, and the entire universe will be filled as it was previously.

'''[[CC Antya 3.81|Antya 3.81]]:''' "Previously, when Lord Rāmacandra left this world, He took with Him all the living entities of Ayodhyā. Then He filled Ayodhyā again with other living entities.

'''[[CC Antya 3.82|Antya 3.82]]:''' "My dear Lord, You have set a plan in motion by descending to the material world, but no one can understand how You are acting.

'''[[CC Antya 3.83|Antya 3.83]]:''' "Formerly, when Lord Kṛṣṇa descended in Vṛndāvana, He freed all living entities in the universe from material existence in the same way.

'''[[CC Antya 3.84|Antya 3.84]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa, the unborn Supreme Personality of Godhead, master of all masters of mystic power, delivers all living entities, moving and nonmoving. Nothing is astonishing in the activities of the Lord.'

'''[[CC Antya 3.85|Antya 3.85]]:''' "'Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead may be seen, glorified or remembered with an attitude of envy, He nevertheless awards the most confidential liberation, which is rarely achieved by the demigods and demons. What, then, can be said of those who are already fully engaged in devotional service to the Lord?'

'''[[CC Antya 3.86|Antya 3.86]]:''' "By descending as an incarnation at Navadvīpa, You, just like Kṛṣṇa, have already delivered all the living entities of the universe.

'''[[CC Antya 3.87|Antya 3.87]]:''' "One may say that he understands the glories of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He may know whatever he may know, but as far as I am concerned, this is my conclusion.

'''[[CC Antya 3.88|Antya 3.88]]:''' "My dear Lord, Your pastimes are just like an ocean of nectar. It is not possible for me to conceive how great that ocean is or even to understand a drop of it."

'''[[CC Antya 3.89|Antya 3.89]]:''' Hearing all this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was astonished. "These are actually My confidential pastimes," He thought. "How could Haridāsa have understood them?"

'''[[CC Antya 3.90|Antya 3.90]]:''' Greatly satisfied by the statements of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced him. Outwardly, however, He avoided further discussions of these matters.

'''[[CC Antya 3.91|Antya 3.91]]:''' This is a characteristic of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although He wants to cover His opulence, He cannot do so before His devotees. This is well known everywhere.

'''[[CC Antya 3.92|Antya 3.92]]:''' "O my Lord, everything within material nature is limited by time, space and thought. Your characteristics, however, being unequaled and unsurpassed, are always transcendental to such limitations. You sometimes cover such characteristics by Your own energy, but nevertheless Your unalloyed devotees are always able to see You under all circumstances."

'''[[CC Antya 3.93|Antya 3.93]]:''' Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to His personal devotees and began speaking about Haridāsa Ṭhākura's transcendental qualities as if He had hundreds of mouths.

'''[[CC Antya 3.94|Antya 3.94]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu derives great pleasure from glorifying His devotees, and among the devotees, Haridāsa Ṭhākura is the foremost.

'''[[CC Antya 3.95|Antya 3.95]]:''' The transcendental qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura are innumerable and unfathomable. One may describe a portion of them, but to count them all is impossible.

'''[[CC Antya 3.96|Antya 3.96]]:''' In the Caitanya-mańgala, Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has described the attributes of Haridāsa Ṭhākura to some extent.

'''[[CC Antya 3.97|Antya 3.97]]:''' No one can describe all the qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. One may say something about them just to purify himself.

'''[[CC Antya 3.98|Antya 3.98]]:''' O devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, please hear something about the qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura that Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has not described in detail.

'''[[CC Antya 3.99|Antya 3.99]]:''' After leaving his home, Haridāsa Ṭhākura stayed for some time in the forest of Benāpola.

'''[[CC Antya 3.100|Antya 3.100]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura constructed a cottage in a solitary forest. There he planted a tulasī plant, and in front of the tulasī he would chant the holy name of the Lord 300,000 times daily. He chanted throughout the entire day and night.

'''[[CC Antya 3.101|Antya 3.101]]:''' For his bodily maintenance he would go to a brāhmaṇa's house and beg some food. He was spiritually so influential that all the neighboring people worshiped him.

'''[[CC Antya 3.102|Antya 3.102]]:''' A landholder named Rāmacandra Khān was the zamindar of that district. He was envious of Vaiṣṇavas and was therefore a great atheist.

'''[[CC Antya 3.103|Antya 3.103]]:''' Unable to tolerate that such respect was being offered to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Rāmacandra Khān planned in various ways to dishonor him.

'''[[CC Antya 3.104|Antya 3.104]]:''' By no means could he find any fault in the character of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Therefore he called for local prostitutes and began a plan to discredit His Holiness.

'''[[CC Antya 3.105|Antya 3.105]]:''' Rāmacandra Khān said to the prostitutes, "There is a mendicant named Haridāsa Ṭhākura. All of you devise a way to deviate him from his vows of austerity."

'''[[CC Antya 3.106|Antya 3.106]]:''' Among the prostitutes, one attractive young girl was selected. "I shall attract the mind of Haridāsa Ṭhākura," she promised, "within three days."

'''[[CC Antya 3.107|Antya 3.107]]:''' Rāmacandra Khān said to the prostitute, "My constable will go with you so that as soon as he sees you with Haridāsa Ṭhākura, immediately he will arrest him and bring both of you to me."

'''[[CC Antya 3.108|Antya 3.108]]:''' The prostitute replied, "First let me have union with him once; then the second time I shall take your constable with me to arrest him."

'''[[CC Antya 3.109|Antya 3.109]]:''' At night the prostitute, after dressing herself most attractively, went to the cottage of Haridāsa Ṭhākura with great jubilation.

'''[[CC Antya 3.110|Antya 3.110]]:''' After offering obeisances to the tulasī plant, she went to the door of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, offered him obeisances and stood there.

'''[[CC Antya 3.111|Antya 3.111]]:''' Exposing part of her body to his view, she sat down on the threshold of the door and spoke to him in very sweet words.

'''[[CC Antya 3.112|Antya 3.112]]:''' "My dear Ṭhākura, O great preacher, great devotee, you are so beautifully built, and your youth is just beginning. Who is the woman who could control her mind after seeing you?

'''[[CC Antya 3.113|Antya 3.113]]:''' "I am eager to be united with you. My mind is greedy for this. If I don't obtain you, I shall not be able to keep my body and soul together."

'''[[CC Antya 3.114-115|Antya 3.114-115]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "I shall accept you without fail, but you will have to wait until I have finished chanting my regular rounds on my beads. Until that time, please sit and listen to the chanting of the holy name. As soon as I am finished, I shall fulfill your desire."

'''[[CC Antya 3.116|Antya 3.116]]:''' Hearing this, the prostitute remained sitting there while Haridāsa Ṭhākura chanted on his beads until the light of morning appeared.

'''[[CC Antya 3.117|Antya 3.117]]:''' When she saw that it was morning, the prostitute stood up and left. Coming before Rāmacandra Khān, she informed him of all the news.

'''[[CC Antya 3.118|Antya 3.118]]:''' "Today Haridāsa Ṭhākura has promised to enjoy with me. Tomorrow certainly I shall have union with him."

'''[[CC Antya 3.119|Antya 3.119]]:''' The next night, when the prostitute came again, Haridāsa Ṭhākura gave her many assurances.

'''[[CC Antya 3.120|Antya 3.120]]:''' "Last night you were disappointed. Please excuse my offense. I shall certainly accept you.

'''[[CC Antya 3.121|Antya 3.121]]:''' "Please sit down and hear the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra until my regular chanting is finished. Then your desire will surely be fulfilled."

'''[[CC Antya 3.122|Antya 3.122]]:''' After offering her obeisances to the tulasī plant and Haridāsa Ṭhākura, she sat down at the door. Hearing Haridāsa Ṭhākura chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, she also chanted, "O my Lord Hari, O my Lord Hari."

'''[[CC Antya 3.123|Antya 3.123]]:''' When the night came to an end, the prostitute was restless. Seeing this, Haridāsa Ṭhākura spoke to her as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 3.124|Antya 3.124]]:''' "I have vowed to chant ten million names in a month. I have taken this vow, but now it is nearing its end.

'''[[CC Antya 3.125|Antya 3.125]]:''' "I thought that today I would be able to finish my performance of yajña, my chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. I tried my best to chant the holy name all night, but I still did not finish.

'''[[CC Antya 3.126|Antya 3.126]]:''' "Tomorrow I will surely finish, and my vow will be fulfilled. Then it will be possible for me to enjoy with you in full freedom."

'''[[CC Antya 3.127|Antya 3.127]]:''' The prostitute returned to Rāmacandra Khān and informed him of what had happened. The next day she came earlier, at the beginning of the evening, and stayed with Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Antya 3.128|Antya 3.128]]:''' After offering obeisances to the tulasī plant and Haridāsa Ṭhākura, she sat down on the threshold of the room. Thus she began to hear Haridāsa Ṭhākura's chanting, and she also personally chanted "Hari, Hari," the holy name of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 3.129|Antya 3.129]]:''' "Today it will be possible for me to finish my chanting," Haridāsa Ṭhākura informed her. "Then I shall satisfy all your desires."

'''[[CC Antya 3.130|Antya 3.130]]:''' The night ended while Haridāsa Ṭhākura was chanting, but by his association the mind of the prostitute had changed.

'''[[CC Antya 3.131|Antya 3.131]]:''' The prostitute, now purified, fell at the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura and confessed that Rāmacandra Khān had appointed her to pollute him.

'''[[CC Antya 3.132|Antya 3.132]]:''' "Because I have taken the profession of a prostitute," she said, "I have performed unlimited sinful acts. My lord, be merciful to me. Deliver my fallen soul."

'''[[CC Antya 3.133|Antya 3.133]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "I know everything about the conspiracy of Rāmacandra Khān. He is nothing but an ignorant fool. Therefore his activities do not make me feel unhappy.

'''[[CC Antya 3.134|Antya 3.134]]:''' "On the very day Rāmacandra Khān was planning his intrigue against me, I would have left this place immediately, but because you came to me I stayed here for three days to deliver you."

'''[[CC Antya 3.135|Antya 3.135]]:''' The prostitute said, "Kindly act as my spiritual master. Instruct me in my duty, by which I can get relief from material existence."

'''[[CC Antya 3.136|Antya 3.136]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "Immediately go home and distribute to the brāhmaṇas whatever property you have. Then come back to this room and stay here forever in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

'''[[CC Antya 3.137|Antya 3.137]]:''' "Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra continuously and render service to the tulasī plant by watering her and offering prayers to her. In this way you will very soon get the opportunity to be sheltered at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Antya 3.138|Antya 3.138]]:''' After thus instructing the prostitute about the process of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, Haridāsa Ṭhākura stood up and left, continuously chanting "Hari, Hari."

'''[[CC Antya 3.139|Antya 3.139]]:''' Thereafter, the prostitute distributed to the brāhmaṇas whatever household possessions she had, following the order of her spiritual master.

'''[[CC Antya 3.140|Antya 3.140]]:''' The prostitute shaved her head clean in accordance with Vaiṣṇava principles and stayed in that room wearing only one cloth. Following in the footsteps of her spiritual master, she began chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa 300,000 times a day. She chanted throughout the entire day and night.

'''[[CC Antya 3.141|Antya 3.141]]:''' She worshiped the tulasī plant, following in the footsteps of her spiritual master. Instead of eating regularly, she chewed whatever food she received as alms, and if nothing was supplied she would fast. Thus by eating frugally and fasting she conquered her senses, and as soon as her senses were controlled, symptoms of love of Godhead appeared in her person.

'''[[CC Antya 3.142|Antya 3.142]]:''' Thus the prostitute became a celebrated devotee. She became very advanced in spiritual life, and many stalwart Vaiṣṇavas would come to see her.

'''[[CC Antya 3.143|Antya 3.143]]:''' Seeing the sublime character of the prostitute, everyone was astonished. Everyone glorified the influence of Haridāsa Ṭhākura and offered him obeisances.

'''[[CC Antya 3.144|Antya 3.144]]:''' By inducing a prostitute to disturb Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Rāmacandra Khān caused a seed of offense at his lotus feet to germinate. This seed later became a tree, and when it fructified, Rāmacandra Khān ate its fruits.

'''[[CC Antya 3.145|Antya 3.145]]:''' This offense at the lotus feet of an exalted devotee has resulted in a wonderful narration. Taking advantage of the opportunity afforded by these incidents, I shall explain what happened. O devotees, please listen.

'''[[CC Antya 3.146|Antya 3.146]]:''' Rāmacandra Khān was naturally a nondevotee. Now, having offended the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, he became just like a demoniac atheist.

'''[[CC Antya 3.147|Antya 3.147]]:''' Because of blaspheming the cult of Vaiṣṇavism and insulting the devotees for a long time, he now received the results of his offensive activities.

'''[[CC Antya 3.148|Antya 3.148]]:''' When Lord Nityānanda returned to Bengal to preach the cult of bhakti, love of Godhead, He began touring all over the country.

'''[[CC Antya 3.149|Antya 3.149]]:''' For two purposes — to spread the cult of bhakti and to defeat and subdue the atheists — Lord Nityānanda, the most dedicated devotee of the Lord, moved throughout the country.

'''[[CC Antya 3.150|Antya 3.150]]:''' Lord Nityānanda, who is omniscient because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, came to the house of Rāmacandra Khān and sat down on the altar of the Durgā-maṇḍapa.

'''[[CC Antya 3.151|Antya 3.151]]:''' When the Durgā-maṇḍapa and courtyard became filled with crowds of men, Rāmacandra Khān, who was inside the house, sent his servant to Lord Nityānanda.

'''[[CC Antya 3.152|Antya 3.152]]:''' The servant informed Lord Nityānanda, "My dear Sir, Rāmacandra Khān has sent me to accommodate You in some common man's house.

'''[[CC Antya 3.153|Antya 3.153]]:''' "You might go to the house of a milkman, for the cowshed is spacious, whereas the space here in the Durgā-maṇḍapa is insufficient because You have many followers with You."

'''[[CC Antya 3.154|Antya 3.154]]:''' When Nityānanda Prabhu heard this order from the servant of Rāmacandra Khān, He became very angry and came out. Laughing very loudly, He spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 3.155|Antya 3.155]]:''' "Rāmacandra Khān has spoken rightly. This place is unfit for Me. It is fit for cow-killing meat-eaters."

'''[[CC Antya 3.156|Antya 3.156]]:''' Having said this, Lord Nityānanda stood up and left in an angry mood. To chastise Rāmacandra Khān, He did not even stay in that village.

'''[[CC Antya 3.157|Antya 3.157]]:''' Rāmacandra Khān ordered the servant to dig up the dirt in the place where Nityānanda Prabhu had sat.

'''[[CC Antya 3.158|Antya 3.158]]:''' To purify the Durgā-maṇḍapa temple and the courtyard, Rāmacandra Khān sprinkled and smeared it with water mixed with cow dung, but still his mind was unsatisfied.

'''[[CC Antya 3.159|Antya 3.159]]:''' Rāmacandra Khān's business was questionable, for he tried to avoid paying income tax to the government. Therefore the government's minister of finance was angry and came to his residence.

'''[[CC Antya 3.160|Antya 3.160]]:''' The Muslim minister made his residence in the Durgā-maṇḍapa of Rāmacandra Khān. He killed a cow and cooked the meat at that very place.

'''[[CC Antya 3.161|Antya 3.161]]:''' He arrested Rāmacandra Khān, along with his wife and sons, and then he continuously plundered the house and village for three days.

'''[[CC Antya 3.162|Antya 3.162]]:''' In that very room he cooked the flesh of a cow for three consecutive days. Then the next day he left, accompanied by his followers.

'''[[CC Antya 3.163|Antya 3.163]]:''' The Muslim minister took away Rāmacandra Khān's position, wealth and followers. For many days the village remained deserted.

'''[[CC Antya 3.164|Antya 3.164]]:''' Wherever an advanced devotee is insulted, for one man's fault the entire town or place is afflicted.

'''[[CC Antya 3.165|Antya 3.165]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura walked until he came to the village known as Cāndapura. There he stayed at the house of Balarāma Ācārya.

'''[[CC Antya 3.166|Antya 3.166]]:''' Hiraṇya and Govardhana were the two governmental treasurers in that division of the country. Their priest was named Balarāma Ācārya.

'''[[CC Antya 3.167|Antya 3.167]]:''' Balarāma Ācārya, being favored by Haridāsa Ṭhākura, was very much attached to him. Therefore he kept Haridāsa Ṭhākura in the village with great care and attention.

'''[[CC Antya 3.168|Antya 3.168]]:''' In the village, Haridāsa Ṭhākura was given a solitary thatched cottage, where he performed the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. He accepted prasādam at the house of Balarāma Ācārya.

'''[[CC Antya 3.169|Antya 3.169]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa, who was the son of Govardhana Majumadāra and was later to become Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, was at that time a boy engaged in study. He came to see Haridāsa Ṭhākura daily.

'''[[CC Antya 3.170|Antya 3.170]]:''' Naturally Haridāsa Ṭhākura was merciful toward him, and because of the merciful benediction of this Vaiṣṇava, he later attained the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's lotus feet.

'''[[CC Antya 3.171|Antya 3.171]]:''' At the residence of Hiraṇya and Govardhana, discourses took place by which Haridāsa Ṭhākura was glorified. O devotees, please listen to that wonderful story.

'''[[CC Antya 3.172|Antya 3.172]]:''' One day Balarāma Ācārya requested Haridāsa Ṭhākura with great humility to come to the assembly of the Majumadāras, Hiraṇya and Govardhana. Thus Balarāma Ācārya went there with Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Antya 3.173|Antya 3.173]]:''' Seeing Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the two brothers immediately stood up and fell at his lotus feet. Then with great respect they offered him a place to sit.

'''[[CC Antya 3.174|Antya 3.174]]:''' In that assembly were many learned scholars, brāhmaṇas and respectable gentlemen. The two brothers Hiraṇya and Govardhana were also greatly learned.

'''[[CC Antya 3.175|Antya 3.175]]:''' Everyone there began to speak of Haridāsa Ṭhākura's great qualities as if they had five mouths. Hearing this, both brothers were extremely happy.

'''[[CC Antya 3.176|Antya 3.176]]:''' It was mentioned in the assembly that Haridāsa Ṭhākura chanted the holy names of Kṛṣṇa 300,000 times a day. Thus all the learned scholars began to discuss the glories of the holy name.

'''[[CC Antya 3.177|Antya 3.177]]:''' Some of them said, "By chanting the holy name of the Lord, one is freed from the reactions of all sinful life."Others said, "Simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord, a living being is liberated from material bondage."

'''[[CC Antya 3.178|Antya 3.178]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura protested, "These two benedictions are not the true result of chanting the holy name. Actually, by chanting the holy name without offenses, one awakens his ecstatic love for the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 3.179|Antya 3.179]]:''' "'When a person is actually advanced and takes pleasure in chanting the holy name of the Lord, who is very dear to him, he is agitated and loudly chants the holy name. He also laughs, cries, becomes agitated and chants just like a madman, not caring for outsiders.'

'''[[CC Antya 3.180|Antya 3.180]]:''' "Liberation and extinction of the reactions of sinful life are two concomitant by-products of chanting the holy name of the Lord. An example is found in the gleams of morning sunlight.

'''[[CC Antya 3.181|Antya 3.181]]:''' "'As the rising sun immediately dissipates all the world's darkness, which is deep like an ocean, so the holy name of the Lord, if chanted once without offenses, dissipates all the reactions of a living being's sinful life. All glories to that holy name of the Lord, which is auspicious for the entire world.'"

'''[[CC Antya 3.182|Antya 3.182]]:''' After reciting this verse, Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, "O learned scholars, please explain the meaning of this verse."But the audience requested Haridāsa Ṭhākura, "It is better for you to explain the meaning of this important verse."

'''[[CC Antya 3.183|Antya 3.183]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, "As the sun begins to rise, even before it is visible it dissipates the darkness of night.

'''[[CC Antya 3.184|Antya 3.184]]:''' "With the first glimpse of sunlight, fear of thieves, ghosts and demons immediately disappears, and when the sun is actually visible, everything is manifest, and everyone begins performing his religious activities and regulative duties.

'''[[CC Antya 3.185|Antya 3.185]]:''' "Similarly, the first hint that offenseless chanting of the Lord's holy name has awakened dissipates the reactions of sinful life immediately. And when one chants the holy name offenselessly, one awakens to service in ecstatic love at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 3.186|Antya 3.186]]:''' "Liberation is the insignificant result derived from a glimpse of the awakening of offenseless chanting of the holy name.

'''[[CC Antya 3.187|Antya 3.187]]:''' "'While dying, Ajāmila chanted the holy name of the Lord, intending to call his son Nārāyaṇa. Nevertheless, he attained the spiritual world. What then to speak of those who chant the holy name with faith and reverence?'

'''[[CC Antya 3.188|Antya 3.188]]:''' "Liberation, which is unacceptable for a pure devotee, is always offered by Kṛṣṇa without difficulty.

'''[[CC Antya 3.189|Antya 3.189]]:''' "'My devotees do not accept sālokya, sārṣṭi, sārūpya, sāmīpya or oneness with Me — even if I offer these liberations — in preference to serving Me.'"

'''[[CC Antya 3.190|Antya 3.190]]:''' At the house of Hiraṇya and Govardhana Majumadāra, a person named Gopāla Cakravartī was officially the chief tax collector.

'''[[CC Antya 3.191|Antya 3.191]]:''' This Gopāla Cakravartī lived in Bengal. His duty as chief tax collector was to collect 1,200,000 coins to deposit in the treasury of the emperor.

'''[[CC Antya 3.192|Antya 3.192]]:''' He had handsome bodily features, and he was learned and youthful, but he could not tolerate the statement that simply by glimpsing the awakening of the Lord's holy name one can attain liberation.

'''[[CC Antya 3.193|Antya 3.193]]:''' This young man, Gopāla Cakravartī, became very angry upon hearing the statements of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. He immediately criticized him. "O assembly of learned scholars," he said, "just hear the conclusion of the emotional devotee.

'''[[CC Antya 3.194|Antya 3.194]]:''' "After many millions upon millions of births, when one is complete in absolute knowledge, one still may not attain liberation, yet this man says that one may attain it simply by the awakening of a glimpse of the holy name."

'''[[CC Antya 3.195|Antya 3.195]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, "Why are you doubtful? The revealed scriptures say that one can attain liberation simply by a glimpse of offenseless chanting of the holy name.

'''[[CC Antya 3.196|Antya 3.196]]:''' "For a devotee who enjoys the transcendental bliss of devotional service, liberation is most insignificant. Therefore pure devotees never desire to achieve liberation.

'''[[CC Antya 3.197|Antya 3.197]]:''' "'My dear Lord, O master of the universe, since I have directly seen You, my transcendental bliss has taken the shape of a great ocean. Being situated in that ocean, I now realize all other so-called happiness, including even brahmānanda, to be like the water contained in the hoofprint of a calf.'"

'''[[CC Antya 3.198|Antya 3.198]]:''' Gopāla Cakravartī said, "If one is not liberated by nāmābhāsa, then you may be certain that I shall cut off your nose."

'''[[CC Antya 3.199|Antya 3.199]]:''' Then Haridāsa Ṭhākura accepted the challenge offered by Gopāla Cakravartī. "If by nāmābhāsa liberation is not available," he said, "certainly I shall cut off my nose."

'''[[CC Antya 3.200|Antya 3.200]]:''' All the members of the assembly who had heard the challenge were greatly agitated, and they got up, making a tumultuous sound. Hiraṇya and Govardhana Majumadāra both immediately chastised the brāhmaṇa tax collector.

'''[[CC Antya 3.201|Antya 3.201]]:''' The priest named Balarāma Ācārya also chastised Gopāla Cakravartī. "You are a foolish logician," he said. "What do you know about the devotional service of the Lord?

'''[[CC Antya 3.202|Antya 3.202]]:''' "You have insulted Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Thus there will be a dangerous position for you. You should not expect anything auspicious."

'''[[CC Antya 3.203|Antya 3.203]]:''' Then Haridāsa Ṭhākura got up to leave, and the Majumadāras, the masters of Gopāla Cakravartī, immediately kicked him out and dismissed him from their service.

'''[[CC Antya 3.204|Antya 3.204]]:''' With all the members of the assembly, the two Majumadāras fell at the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Haridāsa Ṭhākura was smiling, however, and he spoke in a sweet voice.

'''[[CC Antya 3.205|Antya 3.205]]:''' "None of you are at fault," he said. "Indeed, even this ignorant so-called brāhmaṇa is not at fault, for he is accustomed to dry speculation and logic.

'''[[CC Antya 3.206|Antya 3.206]]:''' "One cannot understand the glories of the holy name simply by logic and argument. Therefore this man cannot possibly understand the glories of the holy name.

'''[[CC Antya 3.207|Antya 3.207]]:''' "All of you may now go to your homes. May Lord Kṛṣṇa bestow His blessings upon you all. Do not be sorry because of my being insulted."

'''[[CC Antya 3.208|Antya 3.208]]:''' Then Hiraṇya dāsa Majumadāra returned to his home and ordered that Gopāla Cakravartī not be admitted therein.

'''[[CC Antya 3.209|Antya 3.209]]:''' Within three days that brāhmaṇa was attacked by leprosy, and as a result his highly raised nose melted away and fell off.

'''[[CC Antya 3.210|Antya 3.210]]:''' The brāhmaṇa's toes and fingers were beautiful like golden-colored campaka buds, but because of leprosy they all withered and gradually melted away.

'''[[CC Antya 3.211|Antya 3.211]]:''' Seeing the condition of Gopāla Cakravartī, everyone was astonished. Everyone praised the influence of Haridāsa Ṭhākura and offered him obeisances.

'''[[CC Antya 3.212|Antya 3.212]]:''' Although Haridāsa Ṭhākura, as a Vaiṣṇava, did not take seriously the brāhmaṇa's offense, the Supreme Personality of Godhead could not tolerate it, and thus he made the brāhmaṇa suffer the consequences.

'''[[CC Antya 3.213|Antya 3.213]]:''' A characteristic of a pure devotee is that he excuses any offense by an ignorant rascal. A characteristic of Kṛṣṇa, however, is that He cannot tolerate blasphemy of His devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 3.214|Antya 3.214]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura was unhappy when he heard that the brāhmaṇa Gopāla Cakravartī had been attacked by leprosy. Thus after informing Balarāma Ācārya, the priest of Hiraṇya Majumadāra, he went to Śāntipura, the home of Advaita Ācārya.

'''[[CC Antya 3.215|Antya 3.215]]:''' Upon meeting Advaita Ācārya, Haridāsa Ṭhākura offered Him respect and obeisances. Advaita Ācārya embraced him and showed respect to him in return.

'''[[CC Antya 3.216|Antya 3.216]]:''' On the bank of the Ganges, in a solitary place, Advaita Ācārya made a cavelike home for Haridāsa Ṭhākura and spoke to him about the real meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the Bhagavad-gītā in terms of devotional service.

'''[[CC Antya 3.217|Antya 3.217]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura accepted food daily at the house of Advaita Ācārya. Meeting together, the two of them would taste the nectar of discourses on the subject matter of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 3.218|Antya 3.218]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, "My dear Advaita Ācārya, let me submit something before Your Honor. Every day You give me alms of food to eat. What is the necessity of this?

'''[[CC Antya 3.219|Antya 3.219]]:''' "Sir, You are living within a society of great, great brāhmaṇas and aristocrats, but without fear or shame You adore a lower-class man like me.

'''[[CC Antya 3.220|Antya 3.220]]:''' "My dear Sir, Your behavior is uncommon. Indeed, sometimes I am afraid to speak to You. But please favor me by protecting me from the behavior of society."

'''[[CC Antya 3.221|Antya 3.221]]:''' Advaita Ācārya replied, "My dear Haridāsa, do not be afraid. I shall behave strictly according to the principles of the revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Antya 3.222|Antya 3.222]]:''' "Feeding you is equal to feeding ten million brāhmaṇas," Advaita Ācārya said. "Therefore, accept this śrāddha-pātra." Thus Advaita Ācārya made him eat.

'''[[CC Antya 3.223|Antya 3.223]]:''' Advaita Ācārya was always absorbed in thoughts of how to deliver the fallen souls of the entire world. "The entire world is full of nondevotees," He thought. "How will they be delivered?"

'''[[CC Antya 3.224|Antya 3.224]]:''' Determined to deliver all the fallen souls, Advaita Ācārya decided to cause Kṛṣṇa to descend. With this vow, He began to offer Ganges water and tulasī leaves to worship the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 3.225|Antya 3.225]]:''' Similarly, Haridāsa Ṭhākura chanted in his cave on the bank of the Ganges with the intention of causing Kṛṣṇa's descent.

'''[[CC Antya 3.226|Antya 3.226]]:''' Because of the devotional service of these two persons, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu descended as an incarnation. Thus He preached the holy name of the Lord and ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa to deliver the entire world.

'''[[CC Antya 3.227|Antya 3.227]]:''' There is another incident concerning Haridāsa Ṭhākura's uncommon behavior. One will be astonished to hear about it.

'''[[CC Antya 3.228|Antya 3.228]]:''' Hear about such incidents without putting forth dry arguments, for these incidents are beyond our material reasoning. One must believe in them with faith.

'''[[CC Antya 3.229|Antya 3.229]]:''' One day Haridāsa Ṭhākura was sitting in his cave, reciting the holy name of the Lord very loudly.

'''[[CC Antya 3.230|Antya 3.230]]:''' The night was full of moonlight, which made the waves of the Ganges look dazzling. All directions were clear and bright.

'''[[CC Antya 3.231|Antya 3.231]]:''' Thus everyone who saw the beauty of the cave, with the tulasī plant on a clean altar, was astonished and satisfied at heart.

'''[[CC Antya 3.232|Antya 3.232]]:''' At that time, in that beautiful scene, a woman appeared in the courtyard. The beauty of her body was so bright that it tinged the entire place with a yellow hue.

'''[[CC Antya 3.233|Antya 3.233]]:''' The scent of her body perfumed all directions, and the tinkling of her ornaments startled the ear.

'''[[CC Antya 3.234|Antya 3.234]]:''' After coming there, the woman offered obeisances to the tulasī plant, and after circumambulating the tulasī plant she came to the door of the cave where Haridāsa Ṭhākura was sitting.

'''[[CC Antya 3.235|Antya 3.235]]:''' With folded hands she offered obeisances at the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Sitting at the door, she then spoke in a very sweet voice.

'''[[CC Antya 3.236|Antya 3.236]]:''' "My dear friend," she said, "you are the friend of the entire world. You are so beautiful and qualified. I have come here only for union with you.

'''[[CC Antya 3.237|Antya 3.237]]:''' "My dear sir, kindly accept me and be merciful toward me, for it is a characteristic of all saintly persons to be kind toward the poor and fallen."

'''[[CC Antya 3.238|Antya 3.238]]:''' After saying this, she began to manifest various postures, which even the greatest philosopher would lose his patience upon seeing.

'''[[CC Antya 3.239|Antya 3.239]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura was immovable, for he was deeply determined. He began to speak to her, being very merciful toward her.

'''[[CC Antya 3.240|Antya 3.240]]:''' "I have been initiated into a vow to perform a great sacrifice by chanting the holy name a certain number of times every day.

'''[[CC Antya 3.241|Antya 3.241]]:''' "As long as the vow to chant is unfulfilled, I do not desire anything else. When I finish my chanting, then I have an opportunity to do anything.

'''[[CC Antya 3.242|Antya 3.242]]:''' "Sit down at the door and hear the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. As soon as the chanting is finished, I shall satisfy you as you desire."

'''[[CC Antya 3.243|Antya 3.243]]:''' After saying this, Haridāsa Ṭhākura continued to chant the holy name of the Lord. Thus the woman sitting before him began to hear the chanting of the holy name.

'''[[CC Antya 3.244|Antya 3.244]]:''' In this way, as he chanted and chanted, the morning approached, and when the woman saw that it was morning, she got up and left.

'''[[CC Antya 3.245|Antya 3.245]]:''' For three days she approached Haridāsa Ṭhākura in this way, exhibiting various feminine postures that would bewilder the mind of even Lord Brahmā.

'''[[CC Antya 3.246|Antya 3.246]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura was always absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa and the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore the feminine poses the woman exhibited were just like crying in the forest.

'''[[CC Antya 3.247|Antya 3.247]]:''' At the end of the night of the third day, the woman spoke to Haridāsa Ṭhākura as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 3.248|Antya 3.248]]:''' "My dear sir, for three days you have cheated me by giving me false assurances, for I see that throughout the entire day and night your chanting of the holy name is never finished."

'''[[CC Antya 3.249|Antya 3.249]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, "My dear friend, what can I do? I have made a vow. How, then, can I give it up?"

'''[[CC Antya 3.250|Antya 3.250]]:''' After offering obeisances to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the woman said, "I am the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I came here to test you.

'''[[CC Antya 3.251|Antya 3.251]]:''' "I have previously captivated the mind of even Brahmā, what to speak of others. Your mind alone have I failed to attract.

'''[[CC Antya 3.252-253|Antya 3.252-253]]:''' "My dear sir, you are the foremost devotee. Simply seeing you and hearing you chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa has purified my consciousness. Now I want to chant the holy name of the Lord. Please be kind to me by instructing me about the ecstasy of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

'''[[CC Antya 3.254|Antya 3.254]]:''' "There is now a flood of the eternal nectar of love of Godhead due to the incarnation of Lord Caitanya. All living entities are floating in that flood. The entire world is now thankful to the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 3.255|Antya 3.255]]:''' "Anyone who does not float in this inundation is most condemned. Such a person cannot be delivered for millions of kalpas.

'''[[CC Antya 3.256|Antya 3.256]]:''' "Formerly I received the holy name of Lord Rāma from Lord Śiva, but now, due to your association, I am greatly eager to chant the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 3.257|Antya 3.257]]:''' "The holy name of Lord Rāma certainly gives liberation, but the holy name of Kṛṣṇa transports one to the other side of the ocean of nescience and at last gives one ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 3.258|Antya 3.258]]:''' "Please give me the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and thus make me fortunate, so that I also may float in the flood of love of Godhead inaugurated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu."

'''[[CC Antya 3.259|Antya 3.259]]:''' After speaking in this way, Māyā worshiped the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who initiated her by saying, "Just perform chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra."

'''[[CC Antya 3.260|Antya 3.260]]:''' After thus being instructed by Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Māyā left with great pleasure. Unfortunately, some people have no faith in these narrations.

'''[[CC Antya 3.261|Antya 3.261]]:''' Therefore I shall explain the reasons why people should have faith. Everyone who hears this will be faithful.

'''[[CC Antya 3.262|Antya 3.262]]:''' During the incarnation of Lord Caitanya to inaugurate the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, even such personalities as Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and the four Kumāras took birth upon this earth, being allured by ecstatic love of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 3.263|Antya 3.263]]:''' All of them, including the great sage Nārada and devotees like Prahlāda, came here in the guise of human beings, chanting the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa together and dancing and floating in the inundation of love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Antya 3.264|Antya 3.264]]:''' The goddess of fortune and others, allured by love of Kṛṣṇa, also came down in the form of human beings and tasted the holy name of the Lord in love.

'''[[CC Antya 3.265|Antya 3.265]]:''' What to speak of others, even Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, personally descends to taste the nectar of love of Godhead in the form of the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 3.266|Antya 3.266]]:''' What is the wonder if the maidservant of Kṛṣṇa, His external energy, begs for love of Godhead? Without the mercy of a devotee and without the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, love of Godhead cannot be possible.

'''[[CC Antya 3.267|Antya 3.267]]:''' In the activities of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the three worlds dance and chant, having come in touch with love of Godhead. This is the characteristic of His pastimes.

'''[[CC Antya 3.268|Antya 3.268]]:''' The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is so attractive that anyone who chants it — including all living entities, moving and nonmoving, and even Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself — becomes imbued with love of Kṛṣṇa. This is the effect of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

'''[[CC Antya 3.269|Antya 3.269]]:''' I have heard from the mouth of Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī all that Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī recorded in his notes about the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 3.270|Antya 3.270]]:''' I have briefly described those pastimes. Whatever I have written is by the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, since I am an insignificant living being.

'''[[CC Antya 3.271|Antya 3.271]]:''' I have described but a fragment of the glories of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Hearing this satisfies the aural reception of every devotee.

'''[[CC Antya 3.272|Antya 3.272]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 2|Antya-līlā 2]] '''[[CC Antya 2|Antya-līlā 2]] - [[CC Antya 4|Antya-līlā 4]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 4|Antya-līlā 4]]</div>

CC Antya 2

2026-06-04T18:30:42Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 2 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 02|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 2: The Chastisement of Junior Haridāsa'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 1|Antya-līlā 1]] '''[[CC Antya 1|Antya-līlā 1]] - [[CC Antya 3|Antya-līlā 3]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 3|Antya-līlā 3]]</div>

'''[[CC Antya 2 Summary|Antya 2 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 2.1|Antya 2.1]]:''' I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master and of all the other preceptors on the path of devotional service. I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaiṣṇavas and unto the six Gosvāmīs, including Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Jīva Gosvāmī and their associates. I offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrī Advaita Ācārya Prabhu, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and all His devotees, headed by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura. I then offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and all the gopīs, headed by Lalitā and Viśākhā.

'''[[CC Antya 2.2|Antya 2.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Antya 2.3|Antya 2.3]]:''' In His incarnation as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa descended to deliver all the living beings in the three worlds, from Brahmaloka down to Pātālaloka. He caused their deliverance in three ways.

'''[[CC Antya 2.4|Antya 2.4]]:''' The Lord delivered the fallen souls in some places by meeting them directly, in other places by empowering a pure devotee, and in still other places by appearing before someone Himself.

'''[[CC Antya 2.5-6|Antya 2.5-6]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu delivered almost all the fallen souls by directly meeting them. He delivered others by entering the bodies of great devotees, such as Nakula Brahmacārī. And He delivered still others by appearing before them, as in the case of Nṛsiḿhānanda Brahmacārī. "I shall deliver the fallen souls." This statement characterizes the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Antya 2.7|Antya 2.7]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was personally present, anyone in the world who met Him even once was fully satisfied and became spiritually advanced.

'''[[CC Antya 2.8|Antya 2.8]]:''' Every year, devotees from Bengal would go to Jagannātha Purī to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and after the meeting they would return to Bengal.

'''[[CC Antya 2.9|Antya 2.9]]:''' Similarly, people who went to Jagannātha Purī from various provinces of India were fully satisfied after seeing the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 2.10|Antya 2.10]]:''' People from all over the universe, including the seven islands, the nine khaṇḍas, the planets of the demigods, Gandharvaloka and Kinnaraloka, would go there in the forms of human beings.

'''[[CC Antya 2.11|Antya 2.11]]:''' Having seen the Lord, they all became Vaiṣṇavas. Thus in ecstatic love of Godhead they chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and danced.

'''[[CC Antya 2.12|Antya 2.12]]:''' Thus by direct meetings, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu delivered the three worlds. Some people, however, were entangled in material activities and could not go.

'''[[CC Antya 2.13|Antya 2.13]]:''' To deliver people in regions throughout the universe who could not meet Him, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally entered the bodies of pure devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 2.14|Antya 2.14]]:''' Thus He empowered living beings [His pure devotees] by manifesting in them so much of His own devotion that people in all other countries became devotees by seeing them.

'''[[CC Antya 2.15|Antya 2.15]]:''' In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu delivered the entire three worlds, not only by His personal presence but also by empowering others. I shall briefly describe how He empowered a living being in Bengal.

'''[[CC Antya 2.16|Antya 2.16]]:''' In Āmbuyā-muluka there was a person named Nakula Brahmacārī, who was a perfectly pure devotee, greatly advanced in devotional service.

'''[[CC Antya 2.17|Antya 2.17]]:''' Desiring to deliver all the people of Bengal, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu entered the heart of Nakula Brahmacārī.

'''[[CC Antya 2.18|Antya 2.18]]:''' Nakula Brahmacārī became exactly like a man haunted by a ghost. Thus he sometimes laughed, sometimes cried, sometimes danced and sometimes chanted like a madman.

'''[[CC Antya 2.19|Antya 2.19]]:''' He continuously exhibited bodily transformations of transcendental love. Thus he cried, trembled, became stunned, perspired, danced in love of Godhead and made sounds like those of a cloud.

'''[[CC Antya 2.20|Antya 2.20]]:''' His body shone with the same luster as that of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and he showed the same absorption in ecstatic love of Godhead. People came from all provinces of Bengal to see these symptoms.

'''[[CC Antya 2.21|Antya 2.21]]:''' He advised whomever he met to chant the holy names Hare Kṛṣṇa. Thus upon seeing him, people were overwhelmed with love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Antya 2.22|Antya 2.22]]:''' When Śivānanda Sena heard that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had entered the body of Nakula Brahmacārī, he went there with doubts in his mind.

'''[[CC Antya 2.23|Antya 2.23]]:''' Desiring to test the authenticity of Nakula Brahmacārī, he stayed outside, thinking as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 2.24-25|Antya 2.24-25]]:''' "If Nakula Brahmacārī personally calls me and knows my worshipable mantra, then I shall understand that he is inspired by the presence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu." Thinking in this way, he stayed some distance apart.

'''[[CC Antya 2.26|Antya 2.26]]:''' There was a large crowd of people, some coming and some going. Indeed, some people in that great crowd could not even see Nakula Brahmacārī.

'''[[CC Antya 2.27|Antya 2.27]]:''' In his inspired state, Nakula Brahmacārī said, "Śivānanda Sena is staying some distance away. Two or four of you go call him."

'''[[CC Antya 2.28|Antya 2.28]]:''' Thus people began running here and there, calling in all directions, "Śivānanda! Whoever is Śivānanda, please come. Nakula Brahmacārī is calling you."

'''[[CC Antya 2.29|Antya 2.29]]:''' Hearing these calls, Śivānanda Sena quickly went there, offered obeisances to Nakula Brahmacārī, and sat down near him.

'''[[CC Antya 2.30|Antya 2.30]]:''' Nakula Brahmacārī said, "I know that you are doubtful. Now please hear this evidence with great attention.

'''[[CC Antya 2.31|Antya 2.31]]:''' "You are chanting the Gaura-gopāla mantra, composed of four syllables. Now please give up the doubts that have resided within you."

'''[[CC Antya 2.32|Antya 2.32]]:''' Śivānanda Sena thereupon developed full confidence in his mind that Nakula Brahmacārī was filled with the presence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śivānanda Sena then offered him respect and devotional service.

'''[[CC Antya 2.33|Antya 2.33]]:''' In this way, one should understand the inconceivable potencies of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Now please hear how His appearance [āvirbhāva] takes place.

'''[[CC Antya 2.34-35|Antya 2.34-35]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu always appeared in four places — in the household temple of mother Śacī, in the places where Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu danced, in the house of Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita during congregational chanting, and in the house of Rāghava Paṇḍita. He appeared because of His attraction to the love of His devotees. That is His natural characteristic.

'''[[CC Antya 2.36|Antya 2.36]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared before Nṛsiḿhānanda Brahmacārī and ate his offerings. Please hear about this with attention.

'''[[CC Antya 2.37|Antya 2.37]]:''' Śivānanda Sena had a nephew named Śrīkānta Sena, who by the grace of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was extremely fortunate.

'''[[CC Antya 2.38|Antya 2.38]]:''' One year, Śrīkānta Sena came alone to Jagannātha Purī in great eagerness to see the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 2.39|Antya 2.39]]:''' Seeing Śrīkānta Sena, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bestowed causeless mercy upon him. Śrīkānta Sena stayed near Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for about two months at Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Antya 2.40|Antya 2.40]]:''' When he was about to return to Bengal, the Lord told him, "Forbid the devotees of Bengal to come to Jagannātha Purī this year.

'''[[CC Antya 2.41|Antya 2.41]]:''' "This year I shall personally go to Bengal and meet all the devotees there, headed by Advaita Ācārya.

'''[[CC Antya 2.42|Antya 2.42]]:''' "Please inform Śivānanda Sena that in the month of Pauṣa [December-January] I shall certainly go to his home.

'''[[CC Antya 2.43|Antya 2.43]]:''' "Jagadānanda is there, and he will give Me offerings of food. Inform them all that no one should come to Jagannātha Purī this year."

'''[[CC Antya 2.44|Antya 2.44]]:''' When Śrīkānta Sena returned to Bengal and delivered this message, the minds of all the devotees were very pleased.

'''[[CC Antya 2.45|Antya 2.45]]:''' Advaita Ācārya was just about to go to Jagannātha Purī with the other devotees, but upon hearing this message, He waited. Śivānanda Sena and Jagadānanda also stayed back, awaiting the arrival of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 2.46|Antya 2.46]]:''' When the month of Pauṣa arrived, Jagadānanda and Śivānanda collected all kinds of paraphernalia for the Lord's reception. Every day, they would wait until evening for the Lord to come.

'''[[CC Antya 2.47|Antya 2.47]]:''' As the month passed but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not come, Jagadānanda and Śivānanda became most unhappy.

'''[[CC Antya 2.48-49|Antya 2.48-49]]:''' Suddenly Nṛsiḿhānanda arrived, and Jagadānanda and Śivānanda arranged for him to sit near them. Seeing them both so unhappy, Nṛsiḿhānanda inquired, "Why do I see that you are both despondent?"

'''[[CC Antya 2.50|Antya 2.50]]:''' Then Śivānanda Sena told him, "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu promised that He would come. Why, then, has He not arrived?"

'''[[CC Antya 2.51|Antya 2.51]]:''' Hearing this, Nṛsiḿhānanda Brahmacārī replied, "Please be satisfied. I assure you that I shall bring Him here three days from now."

'''[[CC Antya 2.52|Antya 2.52]]:''' Śivānanda and Jagadānanda knew of Nṛsiḿhānanda Brahmacārī's influence and love of Godhead. Therefore they now felt assured that he would certainly bring Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 2.53|Antya 2.53]]:''' His real name was Pradyumna Brahmacārī. The name Nṛsiḿhānanda had been given to him by Lord Gaurasundara Himself.

'''[[CC Antya 2.54|Antya 2.54]]:''' After meditating for two days, Nṛsiḿhānanda Brahmacārī told Śivānanda Sena, "I have already brought Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to the village known as Pāṇihāṭi.

'''[[CC Antya 2.55|Antya 2.55]]:''' "Tomorrow at noon He will come to your home. Therefore please bring all kinds of cooking ingredients. I shall personally cook and offer Him food.

'''[[CC Antya 2.56|Antya 2.56]]:''' "In this way I shall bring Him here very soon. Be assured that I am telling you the truth. Do not be doubtful.

'''[[CC Antya 2.57|Antya 2.57]]:''' "Bring all the ingredients very soon, for I want to begin cooking immediately. Please do what I say."

'''[[CC Antya 2.58|Antya 2.58]]:''' Nṛsiḿhānanda Brahmacārī said to Śivānanda, "Please bring whatever cooking ingredients I want." Thus Śivānanda Sena immediately brought whatever he asked for.

'''[[CC Antya 2.59|Antya 2.59]]:''' Beginning early in the morning, Nṛsiḿhānanda Brahmacārī cooked many varieties of food, including vegetables, cakes, sweet rice and other preparations.

'''[[CC Antya 2.60|Antya 2.60]]:''' After he finished cooking, he brought separate dishes for Jagannātha and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 2.61|Antya 2.61]]:''' He also separately offered dishes to Nṛsiḿhadeva, his worshipable Deity. Thus he divided all the food into three offerings. Then, outside the temple, he began to meditate upon the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 2.62|Antya 2.62]]:''' In his meditation he saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu quickly come, sit down and eat all three offerings, leaving behind no remnants.

'''[[CC Antya 2.63|Antya 2.63]]:''' Pradyumna Brahmacārī was overwhelmed by transcendental ecstasy upon seeing Caitanya Mahāprabhu eating everything. Thus tears flowed from his eyes. Nevertheless, he expressed dismay, saying, "Alas, alas! My dear Lord, what are You doing? You are eating everyone's food!

'''[[CC Antya 2.64|Antya 2.64]]:''' "My dear Lord, You are one with Jagannātha; therefore I have no objection to Your eating His offering. But why are You touching the offering for Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva?

'''[[CC Antya 2.65|Antya 2.65]]:''' "I think that Nṛsiḿhadeva could not eat anything today, and therefore He is fasting. If the master fasts, how can the servant live?"

'''[[CC Antya 2.66|Antya 2.66]]:''' Although Nṛsiḿha Brahmacārī felt jubilation within his heart to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu eating everything, for the sake of Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva he externally expressed disappointment.

'''[[CC Antya 2.67|Antya 2.67]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Therefore there is no difference between Him, Lord Jagannātha and Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva.

'''[[CC Antya 2.68|Antya 2.68]]:''' Pradyumna Brahmacārī was deeply eager to understand this fact. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu revealed it to him by a practical demonstration.

'''[[CC Antya 2.69|Antya 2.69]]:''' After eating all the offerings, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu started for Pāṇihāṭi. There, He was greatly satisfied to see the different varieties of vegetables prepared in the house of Rāghava.

'''[[CC Antya 2.70|Antya 2.70]]:''' Śivānanda said to Nṛsiḿhānanda, "Why are you expressing dismay?"Nṛsiḿhānanda replied, "Just see the behavior of your Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 2.71|Antya 2.71]]:''' "He alone has eaten the offerings for all three Deities. Because of this, both Jagannātha and Nṛsiḿhadeva remain fasting."

'''[[CC Antya 2.72|Antya 2.72]]:''' When Śivānanda Sena heard this statement, he was unsure whether Nṛsiḿhānanda Brahmacārī was speaking that way because of ecstatic love or because it was actually a fact.

'''[[CC Antya 2.73|Antya 2.73]]:''' When Śivānanda Sena was thus perplexed, Nṛsiḿhānanda Brahmacārī said to him, "Bring more food. Let me cook again for Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva."

'''[[CC Antya 2.74|Antya 2.74]]:''' Then Śivānanda Sena again brought the ingredients with which to cook, and Pradyumna Brahmacārī again cooked and offered the food to Nṛsiḿhadeva.

'''[[CC Antya 2.75|Antya 2.75]]:''' The next year, Śivānanda went to Jagannātha Purī with all the other devotees to see the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 2.76|Antya 2.76]]:''' One day, in the presence of all the devotees, the Lord raised these topics concerning Nṛsiḿhānanda Brahmacārī and praised his transcendental qualities.

'''[[CC Antya 2.77|Antya 2.77]]:''' The Lord said, "Last year in the month of Pauṣa, when Nṛsiḿhānanda gave Me varieties of sweetmeats and vegetables to eat, they were so good that I felt I had never before eaten such preparations."

'''[[CC Antya 2.78|Antya 2.78]]:''' Hearing this, all the devotees were struck with wonder, and Śivānanda became confident that the incident was true.

'''[[CC Antya 2.79|Antya 2.79]]:''' In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to eat at the temple of Śacīmātā every day and also visit the house of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura when kīrtana was performed.

'''[[CC Antya 2.80|Antya 2.80]]:''' Similarly, He was always present when Nityānanda Prabhu danced, and He regularly appeared at the house of Rāghava.

'''[[CC Antya 2.81|Antya 2.81]]:''' Lord Gaurasundara is greatly influenced by the love of His devotees. Therefore wherever there is pure devotion to the Lord, the Lord Himself, subdued by such love, appears, and His devotees see Him.

'''[[CC Antya 2.82|Antya 2.82]]:''' Influenced by the loving affairs of Śivānanda Sena, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came again and again. Therefore who can estimate the limits of his love?

'''[[CC Antya 2.83|Antya 2.83]]:''' Thus I have described the appearance of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Anyone who hears about these incidents can understand the transcendental opulence of the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 2.84|Antya 2.84]]:''' At Jagannātha Purī, in the association of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, lived Bhagavān Ācārya, who was certainly a gentleman, a learned scholar and a great devotee.

'''[[CC Antya 2.85|Antya 2.85]]:''' He was fully absorbed in thoughts of fraternal relationships with God. He was an incarnation of a cowherd boy, and thus his dealings with Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī were very friendly.

'''[[CC Antya 2.86|Antya 2.86]]:''' He sought the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's lotus feet with full surrender. Sometimes he would invite the Lord to dine at his home.

'''[[CC Antya 2.87|Antya 2.87]]:''' Bhagavān Ācārya prepared varieties of rice and vegetables at home and brought the Lord there alone to eat.

'''[[CC Antya 2.88|Antya 2.88]]:''' Bhagavān Ācārya's father, whose name was Śatānanda Khān, was an expert statesman, whereas Bhagavān Ācārya was not at all interested in the management of the state. Indeed, he was almost in the renounced order of life.

'''[[CC Antya 2.89|Antya 2.89]]:''' Bhagavān Ācārya's brother, whose name was Gopāla Bhaṭṭācārya, had studied Vedānta philosophy at Benares and had then returned to Bhagavān Ācārya's home.

'''[[CC Antya 2.90|Antya 2.90]]:''' Bhagavān Ācārya took his brother to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, but the Lord, knowing that Gopāla Bhaṭṭācārya was a Māyāvādī philosopher, could not get much happiness from meeting him.

'''[[CC Antya 2.91|Antya 2.91]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu derives no happiness from meeting one who is not a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa. Thus because Gopāla Bhaṭṭācārya was a Māyāvādī scholar, the Lord felt no jubilation in meeting him. Nevertheless, because Gopāla Bhaṭṭācārya was related to Bhagavān Ācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu feigned pleasure in seeing him.

'''[[CC Antya 2.92|Antya 2.92]]:''' Bhagavān Ācārya said to Svarūpa Dāmodara, "Gopāla, my younger brother, has returned to my home, having concluded his study of Vedānta philosophy."

'''[[CC Antya 2.93|Antya 2.93]]:''' Bhagavān Ācārya requested Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī to hear from Gopāla the commentary upon Vedānta. Svarūpa Dāmodara, however, somewhat angry because of love, spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 2.94|Antya 2.94]]:''' "You have lost your intelligence in the association of Gopāla, and therefore you are eager to hear the Māyāvāda philosophy.

'''[[CC Antya 2.95|Antya 2.95]]:''' "When a Vaiṣṇava listens to the Śārīraka-bhāṣya, the Māyāvāda commentary upon the Vedānta-sūtra, he gives up the Kṛṣṇa conscious attitude that the Lord is the master and the living entity is His servant. Instead, he considers himself the Supreme Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 2.96|Antya 2.96]]:''' "The Māyāvāda philosophy presents such a jugglery of words that even a highly elevated devotee who has accepted Kṛṣṇa as his life and soul changes his decision when he reads the Māyāvāda commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra."

'''[[CC Antya 2.97|Antya 2.97]]:''' In spite of Svarūpa Dāmodara's protest, Bhagavān Ācārya continued, "We are all fixed at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa with our hearts and souls. Therefore the Śārīraka-bhāṣya cannot change our minds."

'''[[CC Antya 2.98|Antya 2.98]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara replied, "Nevertheless, when we hear the Māyāvāda philosophy, we hear that Brahman is knowledge and that the universe of māyā is false, but we gain no spiritual understanding.

'''[[CC Antya 2.99|Antya 2.99]]:''' "The Māyāvādī philosopher tries to establish that the living entity is only imaginary and that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is under the influence of māyā. Hearing this kind of commentary breaks the heart and life of a devotee."

'''[[CC Antya 2.100|Antya 2.100]]:''' Thus Bhagavān Ācārya, greatly ashamed and fearful, remained silent. The next day, he asked Gopāla Bhaṭṭācārya to return to his own district.

'''[[CC Antya 2.101|Antya 2.101]]:''' One day Bhagavān Ācārya invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to dine at his home. Thus he was preparing rice and various types of vegetables.

'''[[CC Antya 2.102|Antya 2.102]]:''' A devotee named Choṭa Haridāsa used to sing for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Bhagavān Ācārya called him to his home and spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 2.103|Antya 2.103]]:''' "Please go to the sister of Śikhi Māhiti. In my name, ask her for a māna of white rice and bring it here."

'''[[CC Antya 2.104|Antya 2.104]]:''' Śikhi Māhiti's sister was named Mādhavī-devī. She was an elderly lady who always performed austerities. She was very advanced in devotional service.

'''[[CC Antya 2.105|Antya 2.105]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted her as having formerly been an associate of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. In the entire world, three and a half people were His intimate devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 2.106|Antya 2.106]]:''' The three were Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, Rāmānanda Rāya and Śikhi Māhiti, and the half a person was Śikhi Māhiti's sister.

'''[[CC Antya 2.107|Antya 2.107]]:''' After begging the rice from her, Junior Haridāsa brought it to Bhagavān Ācārya, who was very pleased to see its quality.

'''[[CC Antya 2.108|Antya 2.108]]:''' In great affection, Bhagavān Ācārya cooked varieties of vegetables and other preparations dear to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He also obtained remnants of food from Lord Jagannātha and digestive aids such as ground ginger and also lime with salt.

'''[[CC Antya 2.109|Antya 2.109]]:''' At noon, when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to eat the offerings of Bhagavān Ācārya, He first appreciated the fine rice and therefore questioned him.

'''[[CC Antya 2.110|Antya 2.110]]:''' "Where did you get such fine rice?" the Lord asked.Bhagavān Ācārya replied, "I got it by begging from Mādhavī-devī."

'''[[CC Antya 2.111|Antya 2.111]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked who had begged the rice and brought it back, Bhagavān Ācārya mentioned the name of Junior Haridāsa.

'''[[CC Antya 2.112|Antya 2.112]]:''' Praising the quality of the rice, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu partook of the prasādam. Then, after returning to His residence, He gave the following order to Govinda, His personal assistant.

'''[[CC Antya 2.113|Antya 2.113]]:''' "From this day forward, do not allow Choṭa Haridāsa to come here."

'''[[CC Antya 2.114|Antya 2.114]]:''' When Junior Haridāsa heard that he had been ordered not to approach Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he was very unhappy. No one could understand why he had been ordered not to come.

'''[[CC Antya 2.115|Antya 2.115]]:''' Haridāsa fasted continuously for three days. Then Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and other confidential devotees approached Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to inquire from Him.

'''[[CC Antya 2.116|Antya 2.116]]:''' "What great offense has Junior Haridāsa committed? Why has he been forbidden to come to Your door? He has now been fasting for three days."

'''[[CC Antya 2.117|Antya 2.117]]:''' The Lord replied, "I cannot tolerate seeing the face of a person who has accepted the renounced order of life but who still talks intimately with a woman.

'''[[CC Antya 2.118|Antya 2.118]]:''' "So strongly do the senses adhere to the objects of their enjoyment that indeed a wooden statue of a woman attracts the mind of even a great saintly person.

'''[[CC Antya 2.119|Antya 2.119]]:''' "'One should not sit closely with one's mother, sister or daughter, for the senses are so strong that they may attract even a person advanced in knowledge.'

'''[[CC Antya 2.120|Antya 2.120]]:''' "There are many persons with little in their possession who accept the renounced order of life like monkeys. They go here and there engaging in sense gratification and speaking intimately with women."

'''[[CC Antya 2.121|Antya 2.121]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu entered His room. Seeing Him in such an angry mood, all the devotees fell silent.

'''[[CC Antya 2.122|Antya 2.122]]:''' The next day, all the devotees together approached the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to submit an appeal on behalf of Junior Haridāsa.

'''[[CC Antya 2.123|Antya 2.123]]:''' "Haridāsa has committed a small offense," they said. "Therefore, O Lord, please be merciful to him. Now he has received a sufficient lesson. In the future he will not commit such an offense."

'''[[CC Antya 2.124|Antya 2.124]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "My mind is not under My control. It does not like to see anyone in the renounced order who talks intimately with women.

'''[[CC Antya 2.125|Antya 2.125]]:''' "You should all tend to your respective engagements. Give up this useless talk. If you speak this way again, I shall go away, and you will no longer see Me here."

'''[[CC Antya 2.126|Antya 2.126]]:''' Hearing this, all the devotees covered their ears with their hands, got up and went about their respective duties.

'''[[CC Antya 2.127|Antya 2.127]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu also left that place to perform His noon duties. No one could understand His pastimes.

'''[[CC Antya 2.128|Antya 2.128]]:''' The next day, all the devotees went to Śrī Paramānanda Purī and requested him to pacify the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 2.129|Antya 2.129]]:''' Paramānanda Purī thereupon went alone to the residence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The Lord, after offering him obeisances, seated him by His side with great respect.

'''[[CC Antya 2.130|Antya 2.130]]:''' The Lord inquired, "What is your order? For what purpose have you come here?" Paramānanda Purī then submitted his prayer that the Lord show favor to Junior Haridāsa.

'''[[CC Antya 2.131|Antya 2.131]]:''' Hearing this request, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "My dear lord, please hear Me. It is better for you to stay here with all the Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Antya 2.132|Antya 2.132]]:''' "Please give Me permission to go to Ālālanātha. I shall remain there alone; only Govinda will go with Me."

'''[[CC Antya 2.133|Antya 2.133]]:''' After saying this, the Lord called for Govinda. Offering obeisances to Paramānanda Purī, He got up and began to leave.

'''[[CC Antya 2.134|Antya 2.134]]:''' In great haste Paramānanda Purī Gosāñi went before Him and with great humility persuaded Him to sit down in His room.

'''[[CC Antya 2.135|Antya 2.135]]:''' Paramānanda Purī said, "My dear Lord Caitanya, You are the independent Personality of Godhead. You can do whatever You like. Who can say anything above You?

'''[[CC Antya 2.136|Antya 2.136]]:''' "All Your activities are for the benefit of people in general. We cannot understand them, for Your intentions are deep and grave."

'''[[CC Antya 2.137|Antya 2.137]]:''' After saying this, Paramānanda Purī Gosāñi left for his own home. Then all the devotees went to see Junior Haridāsa.

'''[[CC Antya 2.138|Antya 2.138]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosāñi said, "Please hear us, Haridāsa, for we all wish you well. Please believe this.

'''[[CC Antya 2.139|Antya 2.139]]:''' "At present Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is persisting in His mood of anger because He is the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead. At some time, however, He will surely be merciful, for at heart He is very kind.

'''[[CC Antya 2.140|Antya 2.140]]:''' "The Lord is persisting, and if you also persist, His persistence will increase. It is better for you to bathe and take prasādam. In due course, His anger will automatically subside."

'''[[CC Antya 2.141|Antya 2.141]]:''' Having said this, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī induced Haridāsa to bathe and take prasādam. After thus reassuring him, he returned home.

'''[[CC Antya 2.142|Antya 2.142]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to see Lord Jagannātha in the temple, Haridāsa would stay a long distance away and see Him.

'''[[CC Antya 2.143|Antya 2.143]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the ocean of mercy. Who can understand Him? When He chastises His dear devotees, He certainly does so to reestablish the principles of religion or duty.

'''[[CC Antya 2.144|Antya 2.144]]:''' After all the devotees saw this example, a mentality of fear grew among them. Therefore they all stopped talking with women, even in dreams.

'''[[CC Antya 2.145|Antya 2.145]]:''' In this way a complete year passed for Junior Haridāsa, but still there was not a sign of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mercy toward him.

'''[[CC Antya 2.146|Antya 2.146]]:''' Thus at the end of one night, Junior Haridāsa, after offering Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu his respectful obeisances, departed for Prayāga without saying anything to anyone.

'''[[CC Antya 2.147|Antya 2.147]]:''' Junior Haridāsa had conclusively decided to attain shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Thus he entered deep into the water at Triveṇī, the confluence of the Ganges and Yamunā at Prayāga, and in this way gave up his life.

'''[[CC Antya 2.148|Antya 2.148]]:''' Immediately after committing suicide in this way, he went in his spiritual body to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and received the mercy of the Lord. However, he still remained invisible.

'''[[CC Antya 2.149|Antya 2.149]]:''' In a spiritual body resembling that of a Gandharva, Junior Haridāsa, although invisible, would sing at night for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to hear. No one but the Lord, however, knew of this.

'''[[CC Antya 2.150|Antya 2.150]]:''' One day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired from the devotees, "Where is Haridāsa? Now you may bring him here."

'''[[CC Antya 2.151|Antya 2.151]]:''' The devotees all replied, "One night at the end of a full year, Junior Haridāsa got up and went away. No one knows where he has gone."

'''[[CC Antya 2.152|Antya 2.152]]:''' While hearing the devotees lament, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was mildly smiling. Thus all the devotees were very much astonished.

'''[[CC Antya 2.153-154|Antya 2.153-154]]:''' One day Jagadānanda, Svarūpa, Govinda, Kāśīśvara, Śańkara, Dāmodara and Mukunda all went to bathe in the sea. They could hear Haridāsa singing from a distant place as if calling them in his original voice.

'''[[CC Antya 2.155|Antya 2.155]]:''' No one could see him, but they could hear him singing in a sweet voice. Therefore all the devotees, headed by Govinda, made this guess.

'''[[CC Antya 2.156|Antya 2.156]]:''' "Haridāsa must have committed suicide by drinking poison, and because of this sinful act, he has now become a brāhmaṇa ghost.

'''[[CC Antya 2.157|Antya 2.157]]:''' "We cannot see his material form," they said, "but still we hear his sweet singing. Therefore he must have become a ghost."Svarūpa Dāmodara, however, protested, "This is a false guess.

'''[[CC Antya 2.158|Antya 2.158]]:''' "Junior Haridāsa chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra throughout his entire life and served the Supreme Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Moreover, he is dear to the Lord and has died in a holy place.

'''[[CC Antya 2.159|Antya 2.159]]:''' "Haridāsa cannot have been degraded; he must have attained liberation. This is a pastime of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's. You will all understand it later."

'''[[CC Antya 2.160|Antya 2.160]]:''' A devotee returned to Navadvīpa from Prayāga and told everyone the details of Junior Haridāsa's suicide.

'''[[CC Antya 2.161|Antya 2.161]]:''' He explained how Junior Haridāsa had made his resolution and had thus entered the waters at the confluence of the Yamunā and Ganges. Hearing these details, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura and the other devotees were very surprised.

'''[[CC Antya 2.162|Antya 2.162]]:''' At the end of the year, Śivānanda Sena came to Jagannātha Purī as usual, accompanied by the other devotees, and thus in great happiness met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 2.163|Antya 2.163]]:''' When Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura inquired from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Where is Junior Haridāsa?" the Lord replied, "A person is sure to achieve the results of his fruitive activities."

'''[[CC Antya 2.164|Antya 2.164]]:''' Then Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura related the details of Haridāsa's decision and his entering the waters at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamunā.

'''[[CC Antya 2.165|Antya 2.165]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard these details, He smiled in a pleased mood and said, "If with sensual intentions one looks at women, this is the only process of atonement."

'''[[CC Antya 2.166|Antya 2.166]]:''' Then all the devotees, headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, concluded that because Haridāsa had committed suicide at the confluence of the rivers Ganges and Yamunā, he must have ultimately attained shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 2.167|Antya 2.167]]:''' In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī, performs His pastimes, which greatly satisfy the ears and minds of pure devotees who hear about them.

'''[[CC Antya 2.168|Antya 2.168]]:''' This incident manifests the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, His teaching that a sannyāsī should remain in the renounced order, and the deep attachment to Him felt by His faithful devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 2.169|Antya 2.169]]:''' It also demonstrates the glories of holy places and shows how the Lord accepts His faithful devotee. Thus the Lord fulfilled five or seven purposes by performing one pastime.

'''[[CC Antya 2.170|Antya 2.170]]:''' The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are like nectar, and they are deep like the ocean. People in general cannot understand them, but a sober devotee can.

'''[[CC Antya 2.171|Antya 2.171]]:''' Please hear the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with faith and confidence. Do not argue, for arguments will produce a contrary result.

'''[[CC Antya 2.172|Antya 2.172]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Antya 1|Antya-līlā 1]] '''[[CC Antya 1|Antya-līlā 1]] - [[CC Antya 3|Antya-līlā 3]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 3|Antya-līlā 3]]</div>

CC Antya 1

2026-06-04T18:30:40Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Antya 1 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya-lila Chapter 01|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Antya|Antya-līlā]], Chapter 1: Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī's Second Meeting With the Lord'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 25|Madhya-līlā 25]] '''[[CC Madhya 25|Madhya-līlā 25]] - [[CC Antya 2|Antya-līlā 2]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 2|Antya-līlā 2]]</div>

'''[[CC Antya 1 Summary|Antya 1 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Antya 1.1|Antya 1.1]]:''' I offer my respectful obeisances to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, by whose mercy even a lame man can cross over a mountain and a dumb man recite Vedic literature.

'''[[CC Antya 1.2|Antya 1.2]]:''' My path is very difficult. I am blind, and my feet are slipping again and again. Therefore, may the saints help me by granting me the stick of their mercy as my support.

'''[[CC Antya 1.3-4|Antya 1.3-4]]:''' I pray to the lotus feet of the six Gosvāmīs — Śrī Rūpa, Sanātana, Bhaṭṭa Raghunātha, Śrī Jīva, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa and Dāsa Raghunātha — so that all impediments to my writing this literature will be annihilated and my real desire will be fulfilled.

'''[[CC Antya 1.5|Antya 1.5]]:''' Glory to the all-merciful Rādhā and Madana-mohana! I am lame and ill advised, yet They are my directors, and Their lotus feet are everything to me.

'''[[CC Antya 1.6|Antya 1.6]]:''' In a temple of jewels in Vṛndāvana, underneath a desire tree, Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda, served by Their most confidential associates, sit upon an effulgent throne. I offer my humble obeisances unto Them.

'''[[CC Antya 1.7|Antya 1.7]]:''' Śrī Śrīla Gopīnātha, who originated the transcendental mellow of the rāsa dance, stands on the shore at Vaḿśīvaṭa and attracts the attention of the cowherd damsels with the sound of His celebrated flute. May they all confer upon us their benediction.

'''[[CC Antya 1.8|Antya 1.8]]:''' All glories to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Antya 1.9|Antya 1.9]]:''' I have briefly described the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu known as the madhya-līlā. Now I shall attempt to describe something about His last pastimes, which are known as the antya-līlā.

'''[[CC Antya 1.10|Antya 1.10]]:''' I have briefly described the antya-līlā within the description of the madhya-līlā.

'''[[CC Antya 1.11|Antya 1.11]]:''' I am now almost an invalid because of old age, and I know that at any moment I may die. Therefore I have already described some portions of the antya-līlā.

'''[[CC Antya 1.12|Antya 1.12]]:''' In accordance with the synopsis previously written, I shall describe in detail whatever I have not mentioned.

'''[[CC Antya 1.13|Antya 1.13]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to Jagannātha Purī from Vṛndāvana, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosāñi immediately sent news of the Lord's arrival to the devotees in Bengal.

'''[[CC Antya 1.14|Antya 1.14]]:''' Upon hearing this news, mother Śacī and all the other devotees of Navadvīpa were very joyful, and they all departed together for Nīlācala [Jagannātha Purī].

'''[[CC Antya 1.15|Antya 1.15]]:''' Thus all the devotees of Kulīna-grāma and Śrī Khaṇḍa, as well as Advaita Ācārya, came together to meet Śivānanda Sena.

'''[[CC Antya 1.16|Antya 1.16]]:''' Śivānanda Sena arranged for the journey. He maintained everyone and provided residential quarters.

'''[[CC Antya 1.17|Antya 1.17]]:''' While going to Jagannātha Purī, Śivānanda Sena allowed a dog to go with him. He supplied it food to eat and maintained it.

'''[[CC Antya 1.18|Antya 1.18]]:''' One day, when they needed to cross a river, an Orissan boatman would not allow the dog to get in the boat.

'''[[CC Antya 1.19|Antya 1.19]]:''' Śivānanda Sena, unhappy that the dog had to stay behind, paid the boatman ten paṇa of conchshells to take the dog across the river.

'''[[CC Antya 1.20|Antya 1.20]]:''' One day while Śivānanda was detained by a tollman, his servant forgot to give the dog its cooked rice.

'''[[CC Antya 1.21|Antya 1.21]]:''' At night, when Śivānanda Sena returned and was taking his meal, he inquired from the servant whether the dog had gotten its meals.

'''[[CC Antya 1.22|Antya 1.22]]:''' When he learned that the dog had not been supplied food in his absence, he was very unhappy. He then immediately sent ten men to find the dog.

'''[[CC Antya 1.23|Antya 1.23]]:''' When the men returned without success, Śivānanda Sena became very unhappy and fasted for the night.

'''[[CC Antya 1.24|Antya 1.24]]:''' In the morning they looked for the dog, but it could not be found anywhere. All the Vaiṣṇavas were astonished.

'''[[CC Antya 1.25|Antya 1.25]]:''' Thus in great anxiety they all walked to Jagannātha Purī, where Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu met them as usual.

'''[[CC Antya 1.26|Antya 1.26]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went with them to see the Lord in the temple, and on that day He also took lunch in the company of all those devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 1.27|Antya 1.27]]:''' As previously, the Lord provided them all with residential quarters. And the next morning all the devotees came to see the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 1.28|Antya 1.28]]:''' When all the devotees came to the place of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they saw the same dog sitting a little apart from the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 1.29|Antya 1.29]]:''' Furthermore, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was throwing remnants of green coconut pulp to the dog. Smiling in His own way, He was saying to the dog, "Chant the holy names 'Rāma,' 'Kṛṣṇa' and 'Hari.'"

'''[[CC Antya 1.30|Antya 1.30]]:''' Seeing the dog eating the green coconut pulp and chanting "Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa" again and again, all the devotees present were very surprised.

'''[[CC Antya 1.31|Antya 1.31]]:''' When he saw the dog sitting in that way and chanting the name of Kṛṣṇa, Śivānanda, because of his natural humility, immediately offered his obeisances to the dog just to counteract his offenses to it.

'''[[CC Antya 1.32|Antya 1.32]]:''' The next day, no one saw that dog, for it had obtained its spiritual body and departed for Vaikuṇṭha, the spiritual kingdom.

'''[[CC Antya 1.33|Antya 1.33]]:''' Such are the transcendental pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī. He even delivered a dog simply by inducing it to chant the mahā-mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 1.34|Antya 1.34]]:''' Meanwhile, following the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī returned to Vṛndāvana. He desired to write dramas concerning the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 1.35|Antya 1.35]]:''' In Vṛndāvana, Rūpa Gosvāmī began to write a drama. In particular, he composed the introductory verses to invoke good fortune.

'''[[CC Antya 1.36|Antya 1.36]]:''' On his way to Gauḍa-deśa, Rūpa Gosvāmī had been thinking of how to write the action of the drama. Thus he had made some notes and begun to write.

'''[[CC Antya 1.37|Antya 1.37]]:''' In this way the two brothers Rūpa and Anupama reached Bengal, but when they arrived there Anupama died.

'''[[CC Antya 1.38|Antya 1.38]]:''' Rūpa Gosvāmī then departed to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, for he was very eager to see Him.

'''[[CC Antya 1.39|Antya 1.39]]:''' There was some delay because of the death of Anupama, and therefore when Rūpa Gosvāmī went to Bengal to see the devotees there, he could not get in touch with them because they had already left.

'''[[CC Antya 1.40|Antya 1.40]]:''' In the province of Orissa there is a place known as Satyabhāmā-pura. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī rested for a night in that village on his way to Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Antya 1.41|Antya 1.41]]:''' While resting in Satyabhāmā-pura, he dreamed that a celestially beautiful woman came before him and very mercifully gave him the following order.

'''[[CC Antya 1.42|Antya 1.42]]:''' "Write a separate drama about me," she said. "By my mercy it will be extraordinarily beautiful."

'''[[CC Antya 1.43|Antya 1.43]]:''' After having that dream, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī considered, "It is the order of Satyabhāmā that I write a separate drama for her.

'''[[CC Antya 1.44|Antya 1.44]]:''' "I have brought together in one work all the pastimes performed by Lord Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana and in Dvārakā. Now I shall have to divide them into two dramas."

'''[[CC Antya 1.45|Antya 1.45]]:''' Thus absorbed in thought, he quickly reached Jagannātha Purī. When he arrived, he approached the hut of Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Antya 1.46|Antya 1.46]]:''' Out of affectionate love and mercy, Haridāsa Ṭhākura told Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has already informed me that you would come here."

'''[[CC Antya 1.47|Antya 1.47]]:''' After seeing the upala-bhoga ceremony at the Jagannātha temple, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would regularly come to see Haridāsa every day. Thus He suddenly arrived there.

'''[[CC Antya 1.48|Antya 1.48]]:''' When the Lord arrived, Rūpa Gosvāmī immediately offered his obeisances. Haridāsa informed the Lord, "This is Rūpa Gosvāmī offering You obeisances," and the Lord embraced him.

'''[[CC Antya 1.49|Antya 1.49]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then sat down with Haridāsa and Rūpa Gosvāmī. They inquired from one another about auspicious news and then continued to talk together for some time.

'''[[CC Antya 1.50|Antya 1.50]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired about Sanātana Gosvāmī, Rūpa Gosvāmī replied, "I did not meet him.

'''[[CC Antya 1.51|Antya 1.51]]:''' "I came by the path on the bank of the Ganges, whereas Sanātana Gosvāmī came by the public road. Therefore we did not meet.

'''[[CC Antya 1.52|Antya 1.52]]:''' "In Prayāga I heard that he had already gone to Vṛndāvana." Rūpa Gosvāmī next informed the Lord about the death of Anupama.

'''[[CC Antya 1.53|Antya 1.53]]:''' After allotting residential quarters there to Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left. Then all of the Lord's personal associates met Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 1.54|Antya 1.54]]:''' On the next day, Caitanya Mahāprabhu again met Rūpa Gosvāmī, and with great mercy the Lord introduced him to all the devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 1.55|Antya 1.55]]:''' Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī offered his respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of them all, and all the devotees, by their mercy, embraced him.

'''[[CC Antya 1.56|Antya 1.56]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Advaita Ācārya and Nityānanda Prabhu, "You should both show Your mercy wholeheartedly to Rūpa Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 1.57|Antya 1.57]]:''' "May Rūpa Gosvāmī, by Your mercy, become so powerful that he will be able to describe the transcendental mellows of devotional service."

'''[[CC Antya 1.58|Antya 1.58]]:''' Thus Rūpa Gosvāmī became the object of love and affection for all the devotees of the Lord, including those who came from Bengal and those who resided in Orissa.

'''[[CC Antya 1.59|Antya 1.59]]:''' Every day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would go to see Rūpa Gosvāmī, and whatever prasādam He received from the temple He would deliver to Rūpa Gosvāmī and Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Antya 1.60|Antya 1.60]]:''' He would talk for some time with them both and then leave to perform His noontime duties.

'''[[CC Antya 1.61|Antya 1.61]]:''' In this way Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu's dealings with them continued every day. Thus receiving the transcendental favor of the Lord, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī felt unlimited pleasure.

'''[[CC Antya 1.62|Antya 1.62]]:''' After Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, taking all His devotees with Him, performed the Guṇḍicā-mārjana [washing and cleansing of the Guṇḍicā temple], He went to the garden known as Āiṭoṭā and accepted prasādam at a picnic within the garden.

'''[[CC Antya 1.63|Antya 1.63]]:''' When Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Rūpa Gosvāmī saw that all the devotees were accepting prasādam and chanting the holy name of Hari, they both were greatly pleased.

'''[[CC Antya 1.64|Antya 1.64]]:''' When they received the remnants of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's prasādam through Govinda, they respected it, and then they both began to dance in ecstasy.

'''[[CC Antya 1.65|Antya 1.65]]:''' On the next day, when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to see Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, the omniscient Lord spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 1.66|Antya 1.66]]:''' "Do not try to take Kṛṣṇa out of Vṛndāvana, for He does not go anywhere else at any time.

'''[[CC Antya 1.67|Antya 1.67]]:''' "'The Kṛṣṇa known as Yadu-kumāra is Vāsudeva Kṛṣṇa. He is different from the Kṛṣṇa who is the son of Nanda Mahārāja. Yadu-kumāra Kṛṣṇa manifests His pastimes in the cities of Mathurā and Dvārakā, but Kṛṣṇa the son of Nanda Mahārāja never at any time leaves Vṛndāvana.'"

'''[[CC Antya 1.68|Antya 1.68]]:''' After saying this, Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to perform His noontime duties, leaving Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī somewhat surprised.

'''[[CC Antya 1.69|Antya 1.69]]:''' "Satyabhāmā ordered me to write two different dramas," Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī thought. "Now I understand that this order has been confirmed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 1.70|Antya 1.70]]:''' "Formerly I wrote the two dramas as one composition. Now I shall divide it and describe the incidents in two separate works.

'''[[CC Antya 1.71|Antya 1.71]]:''' "I shall write two separate invocations of good fortune and two different introductions. Let me think deeply about the matter and then describe two different sets of incidents."

'''[[CC Antya 1.72|Antya 1.72]]:''' During the Ratha-yātrā ceremony Rūpa Gosvāmī saw Lord Jagannātha. He also saw Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu dancing and chanting in front of the ratha.

'''[[CC Antya 1.73|Antya 1.73]]:''' When Rūpa Gosvāmī heard a verse uttered by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu during the ceremony, he immediately composed another verse dealing with the same subject.

'''[[CC Antya 1.74|Antya 1.74]]:''' I have already described all these incidents, but I still wish to add briefly something more.

'''[[CC Antya 1.75|Antya 1.75]]:''' Generally Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recited a verse while dancing and chanting before the ratha, but no one knew why He was reciting that particular verse.

'''[[CC Antya 1.76|Antya 1.76]]:''' Only Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī knew the purpose for which the Lord recited that verse. According to the Lord's attitude, he used to quote other verses to enable the Lord to relish mellows.

'''[[CC Antya 1.77|Antya 1.77]]:''' Rūpa Gosvāmī, however, could understand the intention of the Lord, and thus he composed another verse that appealed to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 1.78|Antya 1.78]]:''' "That very personality who stole my heart during my youth is now again my master. These are the same moonlit nights of the month of Caitra. The same fragrance of mālatī flowers is there, and the same sweet breezes are blowing from the kadamba forest. In our intimate relationship, I am also the same lover, yet still my mind is not happy here. I am eager to go back to that place on the bank of the Revā under the Vetasī tree. That is my desire."

'''[[CC Antya 1.79|Antya 1.79]]:''' "My dear friend, now I have met My very old and dear friend Kṛṣṇa on this field of Kurukṣetra. I am the same Rādhārāṇī, and now We are meeting together. It is very pleasant, but I would still like to go to the bank of the Yamunā beneath the trees of the forest there. I wish to hear the vibration of His sweet flute playing the fifth note within that forest of Vṛndāvana."

'''[[CC Antya 1.80|Antya 1.80]]:''' After writing this verse on a palm leaf, Rūpa Gosvāmī put it somewhere in his thatched roof and went to bathe in the sea.

'''[[CC Antya 1.81|Antya 1.81]]:''' At that time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went there to meet him, and when He saw the leaf pushed into the roof and saw the verse, He began to read it.

'''[[CC Antya 1.82|Antya 1.82]]:''' After reading the verse, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was overwhelmed by ecstatic love. At that very time, Rūpa Gosvāmī returned, having finished bathing in the sea.

'''[[CC Antya 1.83|Antya 1.83]]:''' Seeing the Lord, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī fell flat in the courtyard to offer obeisances. The Lord slapped him mildly in love and spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Antya 1.84|Antya 1.84]]:''' "My heart is very confidential. How did you know My mind in this way?" After saying this, He firmly embraced Rūpa Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 1.85|Antya 1.85]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took that verse and showed it to Svarūpa Dāmodara for him to examine. Then the Lord questioned him.

'''[[CC Antya 1.86|Antya 1.86]]:''' "How could Rūpa Gosvāmī have understood My heart?" the Lord asked.Svarūpa Dāmodara replied, "I can understand that You have already bestowed Your causeless mercy upon him.

'''[[CC Antya 1.87|Antya 1.87]]:''' "No one could otherwise understand this meaning. I can therefore guess that previously You bestowed upon him Your causeless mercy."

'''[[CC Antya 1.88|Antya 1.88]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "Rūpa Gosvāmī met Me at Prayāga. Knowing him to be a suitable person, I naturally bestowed My mercy upon him.

'''[[CC Antya 1.89|Antya 1.89]]:''' "I thereupon also bestowed upon him My transcendental potency. Now you also should give him instructions. In particular, instruct him in transcendental mellows."

'''[[CC Antya 1.90|Antya 1.90]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara said, "As soon as I saw the unique composition of this verse, I could immediately understand that You had bestowed upon him Your special mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 1.91|Antya 1.91]]:''' "'By seeing a result, one can understand the cause of that result.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.92|Antya 1.92]]:''' "'The river Ganges flowing in the heavenly planets is full of golden lotus flowers, and we, the residents of those planets, eat the stems of the flowers. Thus we are very beautiful, more so than the inhabitants of any other planet. This is due to the law of cause and effect, for if one eats food in the mode of goodness, the mode of goodness increases the beauty of his body.'"

'''[[CC Antya 1.93|Antya 1.93]]:''' After the four months of Cāturmāsya [Śrāvaṇa, Bhādra, Āśvina and Kārttika], all the Vaiṣṇavas of Bengal returned to their homes, but Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī remained in Jagannātha Purī under the shelter of the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 1.94|Antya 1.94]]:''' One day while Rūpa Gosvāmī was writing his book, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu suddenly appeared.

'''[[CC Antya 1.95|Antya 1.95]]:''' As soon as Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Rūpa Gosvāmī saw the Lord coming, they both stood up and then fell down to offer Him their respectful obeisances. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced them both and then sat down.

'''[[CC Antya 1.96|Antya 1.96]]:''' The Lord inquired, "What kind of book are you writing?" He held up a palm leaf that was a page of the manuscript, and when He saw the fine handwriting, His mind was very pleased.

'''[[CC Antya 1.97|Antya 1.97]]:''' Thus being pleased, the Lord praised the writing by saying, "The handwriting of Rūpa Gosvāmī is just like rows of pearls."

'''[[CC Antya 1.98|Antya 1.98]]:''' While reading the manuscript, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw a verse on that page, and as soon as He read it He was overwhelmed by ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Antya 1.99|Antya 1.99]]:''' "I do not know how much nectar the two syllables 'Kṛṣ-ṇa' have produced. When the holy name of Kṛṣṇa is chanted, it appears to dance within the mouth. We then desire many, many mouths. When that name enters the holes of the ears, we desire many millions of ears. And when the holy name dances in the courtyard of the heart, it conquers the activities of the mind, and therefore all the senses become inert."

'''[[CC Antya 1.100|Antya 1.100]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanted this verse, Haridāsa Ṭhākura, upon hearing the vibration, became jubilant and began to dance while praising its meaning.

'''[[CC Antya 1.101|Antya 1.101]]:''' One has to learn about the beauty and transcendental position of the holy name of the Lord by hearing the revealed scriptures from the mouths of devotees. Nowhere else can we hear of the sweetness of the Lord's holy name.

'''[[CC Antya 1.102|Antya 1.102]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Haridāsa and Rūpa Gosvāmī and left for the seaside to perform His noontime duties.

'''[[CC Antya 1.103-104|Antya 1.103-104]]:''' On the next day, after visiting the temple of Jagannātha as usual, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu met Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara. They all went together to Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, and on the way the Lord greatly praised his qualities.

'''[[CC Antya 1.105|Antya 1.105]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recited the two important verses, He felt great pleasure; thus, as if He had five mouths, He began to praise His devotee.

'''[[CC Antya 1.106|Antya 1.106]]:''' Just to examine Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Rāmānanda Rāya, the Lord began to praise the transcendental qualities of Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī before them.

'''[[CC Antya 1.107|Antya 1.107]]:''' Characteristically, the Supreme Personality of Godhead does not take seriously an offense committed by a pure devotee. The Lord accepts whatever small service a devotee renders as being such a great service that He is prepared to give even Himself, what to speak of other benedictions.

'''[[CC Antya 1.108|Antya 1.108]]:''' "The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as Puruṣottama, the greatest of all persons, has a pure mind. He is so gentle that even if His servant is implicated in a great offense, He does not take it very seriously. Indeed, if His servant renders some small service, the Lord accepts it as being very great. Even if an envious person blasphemes the Lord, the Lord never manifests anger against him. Such are His great qualities."

'''[[CC Antya 1.109|Antya 1.109]]:''' When Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Rūpa Gosvāmī saw that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had come with His intimate devotees, they both immediately fell down like logs and offered prayers to their lotus feet.

'''[[CC Antya 1.110|Antya 1.110]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His personal devotees met Rūpa Gosvāmī and Haridāsa Ṭhākura. The Lord then sat down in an elevated place with His devotees.

'''[[CC Antya 1.111|Antya 1.111]]:''' Rūpa Gosvāmī and Haridāsa Ṭhākura sat at the foot of the elevated place where Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was sitting. Although everyone asked them to sit on the same level as the Lord and His associates, they did not do so.

'''[[CC Antya 1.112|Antya 1.112]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Rūpa Gosvāmī to read the verse they had previously heard, Rūpa Gosvāmī, because of great shyness, did not read it but instead remained silent.

'''[[CC Antya 1.113|Antya 1.113]]:''' Then Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī recited the verse, and when all the devotees heard it, their minds were struck with wonder.

'''[[CC Antya 1.114|Antya 1.114]]:''' "'My dear friend, now I have met My very old and dear friend Kṛṣṇa on this field of Kurukṣetra. I am the same Rādhārāṇī, and now We are meeting together. It is very pleasant, but I would still like to go to the bank of the Yamunā beneath the trees of the forest there. I wish to hear the vibration of His sweet flute playing the fifth note within that forest of Vṛndāvana.'"

'''[[CC Antya 1.115|Antya 1.115]]:''' After hearing this verse, Rāmānanda Rāya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said to Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Without Your special mercy, how could this Rūpa Gosvāmī have understood Your mind?"

'''[[CC Antya 1.116|Antya 1.116]]:''' Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya said that previously Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had empowered his heart so that he could express elevated and conclusive statements to which even Lord Brahmā has no access.

'''[[CC Antya 1.117|Antya 1.117]]:''' "Had You not previously bestowed Your mercy on him," they said, "it would not have been possible for him to express Your internal feelings."

'''[[CC Antya 1.118|Antya 1.118]]:''' Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "My dear Rūpa, please recite that verse from your drama which, upon being heard, makes all people's unhappiness and lamentation go away."

'''[[CC Antya 1.119|Antya 1.119]]:''' When the Lord persisted in asking this again and again, Rūpa Gosvāmī recited that verse [as follows].

'''[[CC Antya 1.120|Antya 1.120]]:''' "'I do not know how much nectar the two syllables "Kṛṣ-ṇa" have produced. When the holy name of Kṛṣṇa is chanted, it appears to dance within the mouth. We then desire many, many mouths. When that name enters the holes of the ears, we desire many millions of ears. And when the holy name dances in the courtyard of the heart, it conquers the activities of the mind, and therefore all the senses become inert.'"

'''[[CC Antya 1.121|Antya 1.121]]:''' When all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, especially Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, heard this verse, they were all filled with transcendental bliss and were struck with wonder.

'''[[CC Antya 1.122|Antya 1.122]]:''' Everyone admitted that although they had heard many statements glorifying the holy name of the Lord, they had never heard such sweet descriptions as those of Rūpa Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 1.123|Antya 1.123]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya inquired, "What kind of drama are you writing? We can understand that it is a mine of conclusive statements."

'''[[CC Antya 1.124|Antya 1.124]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara replied for Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī: "He wanted to compose a drama about the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. He planned to describe in one book both the pastimes of Vṛndāvana and those of Dvārakā and Mathurā.

'''[[CC Antya 1.125|Antya 1.125]]:''' "He began it in that way, but now, following the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he has divided it in two and is writing two plays, one concerning the pastimes of Mathurā and Dvārakā and the other concerning the pastimes of Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Antya 1.126|Antya 1.126]]:''' "The two plays are called Vidagdha-mādhava and Lalita-mādhava. Both of them wonderfully describe ecstatic emotional love of God."

'''[[CC Antya 1.127|Antya 1.127]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya said, "Please recite the introductory verse of the Vidagdha-mādhava so that I can hear and examine it." Thus Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, being ordered by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, recited the verse (1.1).

'''[[CC Antya 1.128|Antya 1.128]]:''' "'May the pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa reduce the miseries existing in the material world and nullify all unwanted desires. The pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are like śikhariṇī, a blend of yogurt and sugar candy. They overpower the pride of even the nectar produced on the moon, for they distribute the sweet fragrance of the concentrated loving affairs of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and the gopīs.'"

'''[[CC Antya 1.129|Antya 1.129]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya said, "Now please recite the description of the glories of your worshipable Deity." Rūpa Gosvāmī, however, hesitated due to embarrassment because Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was present.

'''[[CC Antya 1.130|Antya 1.130]]:''' The Lord, however, encouraged Rūpa Gosvāmī, saying, "Why are you embarrassed? You should recite it so the devotees can hear the good fruit of your writing."

'''[[CC Antya 1.131|Antya 1.131]]:''' When Rūpa Gosvāmī thus recited his verse, Caitanya Mahāprabhu disapproved of it because it described His personal glories. He expressed the opinion that it was an exaggerated explanation.

'''[[CC Antya 1.132|Antya 1.132]]:''' "'May the Supreme Lord who is known as the son of Śrīmatī Śacīdevī be transcendentally situated in the innermost core of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has descended in the Age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation has ever offered before: the most elevated mellow of devotional service, the mellow of conjugal love.'"

'''[[CC Antya 1.133|Antya 1.133]]:''' All the devotees present so greatly appreciated this verse that they expressed their gratitude to Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī for his transcendental recitation.

'''[[CC Antya 1.134|Antya 1.134]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya inquired, "How have you introduced the assembly of the players?"Rūpa Gosvāmī replied, "The players assemble at a suitable time under the heading of pravartaka.

'''[[CC Antya 1.135|Antya 1.135]]:''' "'When the entrance of the actors is set in motion by the arrival of a suitable time, the entrance is called pravartaka.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.136|Antya 1.136]]:''' "'Springtime had arrived, and the full moon of that season inspired the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is complete in everything, with new attraction to meet the beautiful Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī at night to increase the beauty of Their pastimes.'"

'''[[CC Antya 1.137|Antya 1.137]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya said, "Please recite the prarocanā portion so that I may hear and examine it."Śrī Rūpa replied, "I think that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's desire to hear is prarocanā.

'''[[CC Antya 1.138|Antya 1.138]]:''' "'The devotees now present are constantly thinking of the Supreme Lord and are therefore highly advanced. This work named Vidagdha-mādhava depicts the characteristic pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa with decorations of poetic ornaments. And the inner grounds of the forest of Vṛndāvana provide a suitable platform for the dancing of Kṛṣṇa with the gopīs. Therefore I think that the pious activities of persons like us, who have tried to advance in devotional service, have now attained maturity.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.139|Antya 1.139]]:''' "'O learned devotees, I am by nature ignorant and low, yet even though it is from me that the Vidagdha-mādhava has come, it is filled with descriptions of the transcendental attributes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, will not such a literature bring about the attainment of the highest goal of life? Although its wood may be ignited by a low-class man, fire can nevertheless purify gold. Similarly, although I am very low by nature, this book may help cleanse the dirt from within the hearts of the golden devotees.'"

'''[[CC Antya 1.140|Antya 1.140]]:''' Then Rāmānanda Rāya inquired from Rūpa Gosvāmī about the causes of the loving affairs between Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs, such as previous attachment, transformations of love, endeavors for love, and exchanges of letters disclosing the gopīs' awakening love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Antya 1.141|Antya 1.141]]:''' Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī gradually informed Rāmānanda Rāya about everything he asked. Hearing his explanations, all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were struck with wonder.

'''[[CC Antya 1.142|Antya 1.142]]:''' "[Experiencing previous attachment to Kṛṣṇa (pūrva-rāga), Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī thought:] 'Since I have heard the name of a person called Kṛṣṇa, I have practically lost My good sense. Then, there is another person who plays His flute in such a way that after I hear the vibration, intense madness arises in My heart. And again there is still another person to whom My mind becomes attached when I see His beautiful lightninglike effulgence in His picture. Therefore I think that I am greatly condemned, for I have become simultaneously attached to three persons. It would be better for Me to die because of this.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.143|Antya 1.143]]:''' "'My dear friend, these palpitations of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's heart are extremely difficult to cure. Even if one applied some medical treatment, it would only end in defamation.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.144|Antya 1.144]]:''' "'"O dearly beautiful one, the artistic loveliness of Your picture is now impressed within My mind. Since You are now living within My mind, wherever I wish to run because I am agitated by impressions of You, I find that You, O My friend, are blocking My way."'

'''[[CC Antya 1.145|Antya 1.145]]:''' "'Upon seeing peacock feathers in front of Her, this girl suddenly begins trembling. When She sometimes sees a necklace of guñjā [small conchshells], She sheds tears and cries loudly. I do not know what kind of new ecstatic influence has entered the heart of this poor girl. It has imbued Her with the dancing attitude of a player creating wonderful, unprecedented dances on a stage.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.146|Antya 1.146]]:''' "[Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī said to Her constant companion Viśākhā:] 'My dear friend, if Kṛṣṇa is unkind to Me, there will be no need for you to cry, for it will not be due to any fault of yours. I shall then have to die, but afterwards please do one thing for Me: to observe My funeral ceremony, place My body with its arms embracing a tamāla tree like creepers so that I may remain forever in Vṛndāvana undisturbed. That is My last request.'"

'''[[CC Antya 1.147|Antya 1.147]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya inquired, "What are the characteristics of emotional love?"Rūpa Gosvāmī replied, "This is the nature of emotional love for Kṛṣṇa:

'''[[CC Antya 1.148|Antya 1.148]]:''' "'My dear beautiful friend, if one develops love of Godhead, love of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, all the bitter and sweet influences of this love will manifest in one's heart. Such love of Godhead acts in two ways. The poisonous effects of love of Godhead defeat the severe and fresh poison of the serpent. Yet there is simultaneously transcendental bliss, which pours down and defeats the poisonous effects of a snake, as well as the happiness derived from pouring nectar on one's head. It is perceived as doubly effective, simultaneously poisonous and nectarean.'"

'''[[CC Antya 1.149|Antya 1.149]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya further inquired, "What are the natural characteristics of awakening love of Godhead?"Rūpa Gosvāmī replied, "These are the natural characteristics of love of God:

'''[[CC Antya 1.150|Antya 1.150]]:''' "'When one hears praise from his beloved, he outwardly remains neutral but feels pain within his heart. When he hears his beloved making accusations about him, he takes them to be jokes and enjoys pleasure. When he finds faults in his beloved, they do not diminish his love, nor do the beloved's good qualities increase his spontaneous affection. Thus spontaneous love continues under all circumstances. That is how spontaneous love of Godhead acts within the heart.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.151|Antya 1.151]]:''' "'Upon hearing of My cruelty, moon-faced Rādhārāṇī may establish some kind of tolerance in Her aggrieved heart. But then She might turn against Me. Or, indeed, being fearful of the lusty desires invoked by the bow of formidable Cupid, She might even give up Her life. Alas! I have foolishly uprooted the soft creeper of Her desire just when it was ready to bear fruit.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.152|Antya 1.152]]:''' "'Desiring the happiness of His association and embraces, My dear friend, I disregarded even My superiors and relaxed My shyness and gravity before them. Furthermore, although you are My best friend, more dear to Me than My own life, I have given you so much trouble. Indeed, I even put aside the vow of dedication to My husband, a vow kept by the most elevated women. Oh, alas! Although He is now neglecting Me, I am so sinful that I am still living. Therefore I must condemn My so-called patience.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.153|Antya 1.153]]:''' "'I was engaged in My own playful activities in My home, and because of My childish innocence I did not know right from wrong. Therefore, is it good for You to have forced Us into being so much attracted to You and then to have neglected Us? Now You are indifferent to Us. Do You think this is right?'

'''[[CC Antya 1.154|Antya 1.154]]:''' "'Our hearts are so polluted by miserable conditions that we are certainly going to Pluto's kingdom. Nevertheless, Kṛṣṇa does not give up His beautiful loving smiling, which is full of cheating tricks. O Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, You are very intelligent. How could You have developed such great loving affection for this deceitful debauchee from the neighborhood of the cowherds?'

'''[[CC Antya 1.155|Antya 1.155]]:''' "'O Lord Kṛṣṇa, You are just like an ocean. The river of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī has reached You from a long distance — leaving far behind the tree of Her husband, breaking through the bridge of social convention, and forcibly crossing the hills of elder relatives. Coming here because of fresh feelings of love for You, that river has now received Your shelter, but now You are trying to turn Her back by the waves of unfavorable words. How is it that You are spreading this attitude?'"

'''[[CC Antya 1.156|Antya 1.156]]:''' Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya further inquired, "How have you described Vṛndāvana, the vibration of the transcendental flute, and the relationship between Kṛṣṇa and Rādhikā?

'''[[CC Antya 1.157|Antya 1.157]]:''' "Please tell me all this, for your poetic ability is wonderful." After offering obeisances to Rāmānanda Rāya, Rūpa Gosvāmī gradually began answering his inquiries.

'''[[CC Antya 1.158|Antya 1.158]]:''' "'The sweet, fragrant honey oozing from newly grown mango buds is again and again attracting groups of bumblebees, and this forest is trembling in the softly moving breezes from the Malaya Hills, which are full of sandalwood trees. Thus the forest of Vṛndāvana is increasing My transcendental pleasure.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.159|Antya 1.159]]:''' "'My dear friend, see how this forest of Vṛndāvana is full of transcendental creepers and trees. The tops of the creepers are full of flowers, and intoxicated bumblebees are buzzing around them, humming songs that please the ear and surpass even the Vedic hymns.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.160|Antya 1.160]]:''' "'My dear friend, this forest of Vṛndāvana is giving great pleasure to our senses in various ways. Somewhere bumblebees are singing in groups, and in some places mild breezes are cooling the entire atmosphere. Somewhere the creepers and tree twigs are dancing, the mallikā flowers are expanding their fragrance, and an overabundance of juice is constantly flowing in showers from pomegranate fruits.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.161|Antya 1.161]]:''' "'The flute of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes measures three fingers in length, and it is bedecked with indranīla gems. At the ends of the flute are aruṇa gems [rubies], glittering beautifully, and between its ends the flute is plated with gold set ablaze by diamonds. This auspicious flute, pleasing to Kṛṣṇa, is glittering in His hand with transcendental brilliance.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.162|Antya 1.162]]:''' "'My dear friend the flute, it appears that you have been born of a very good family, for your residence is in the hands of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. By birth you are simple and are not at all crooked. Why then have you taken initiation into this dangerous mantra that enchants the assembled gopīs?'

'''[[CC Antya 1.163|Antya 1.163]]:''' "'My dear friend the flute, you are actually full of many holes or faults. You are light, hard, juiceless and full of knots. But what kind of pious activities have engaged you in the service of being kissed by the Lord and embraced by His hands?'

'''[[CC Antya 1.164|Antya 1.164]]:''' "'The transcendental vibration of Kṛṣṇa's flute blocked the movements of the rain clouds, struck the Gandharvas full of wonder, and agitated the meditation of great saintly persons like Sanaka and Sanandana. It created wonder in Lord Brahmā, wrought intense curiosity that agitated the mind of Bali Mahārāja, who was otherwise firmly fixed, made Mahārāja Ananta, the carrier of the planets, whirl around, and penetrated the strong coverings of the universe. Thus the sound of the flute in the hands of Kṛṣṇa created a wonderful situation.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.165|Antya 1.165]]:''' "'The beauty of Kṛṣṇa's eyes surpasses the beauty of white lotus flowers, His yellow garments surpass the brilliance of fresh decorations of kuńkuma, His ornaments of selected forest flowers subdue the hankering for the best of garments, and His bodily beauty possesses mind-attracting splendor greater than the jewels known as marakata-maṇi [emeralds].'

'''[[CC Antya 1.166|Antya 1.166]]:''' "'O most beautiful friend, please accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is standing before You full of transcendental bliss. The borders of His eyes roam from side to side, and His eyebrows move slowly like bumblebees on His lotuslike face. Standing with His right foot placed below the knee of His left leg, the middle of His body curved in three places, and His neck gracefully tilted to the side, He takes His flute to His pursed lips and moves His fingers upon it here and there.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.167|Antya 1.167]]:''' "'O beautiful-faced one, who is this creative person standing before us? With the sharp chisels of His loving glances, He is splitting the hard stones of many women's devotion to their husbands. And with the luster of His body, surpassing the brilliance of countless emeralds, He is simultaneously constructing private meeting places for His pastimes.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.168|Antya 1.168]]:''' "'My dear friend, this newly youthful Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the moon in the family of Nanda Mahārāja, is so beautiful that He defies the beauty of clusters of valuable jewels. All glories to the vibration of His flute, for it is cunningly breaking the patience of chaste ladies by loosening their belts and tight dresses.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.169|Antya 1.169]]:''' "'The beauty of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's eyes forcibly devours the beauty of newly grown blue lotus flowers, and the beauty of Her face surpasses that of an entire forest of fully blossomed lotuses. Her bodily luster seems to place even gold into a painful situation. Thus the wonderful, unprecedented beauty of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is awakening in Vṛndāvana.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.170|Antya 1.170]]:''' "'Although the effulgence of the moon is brilliant initially at night, in the daytime it fades away. Similarly, although the lotus is beautiful during the daytime, at night it closes. But, O My friend, the face of My most dear Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is always bright and beautiful, both day and night. Therefore, to what can Her face be compared?'

'''[[CC Antya 1.171|Antya 1.171]]:''' "'When Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī smiles, waves of joy flow over Her cheeks, and Her arched eyebrows dance like the bow of Cupid. Her glance is so enchanting that it is like a dancing bumblebee moving unsteadily due to intoxication. That bee has bitten the whorl of My heart.'"

'''[[CC Antya 1.172|Antya 1.172]]:''' Having heard these verses recited by Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya said, "Your poetic expressions are like continuous showers of nectar. Kindly let me hear the introductory portion of the second drama."

'''[[CC Antya 1.173|Antya 1.173]]:''' Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī said, "In your presence, which is just like brilliant sunshine, I am as insignificant as the light of a glowworm.

'''[[CC Antya 1.174|Antya 1.174]]:''' "It is even impudent for me to open my mouth before you." Then, having said this, he recited the introductory verse of the Lalita-mādhava.

'''[[CC Antya 1.175|Antya 1.175]]:''' "'The beautiful moonlike glories of Mukunda give distress to the lotuslike faces of the wives of the demons and to their raised breasts, which are like gleaming cakravāka birds. Those glories, however, are pleasing to all His devotees, who are like cakora birds. May those glories forever give pleasure to you all.'"

'''[[CC Antya 1.176|Antya 1.176]]:''' When Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya further inquired about the second introductory verse, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī was somewhat hesitant, but nevertheless he began to recite.

'''[[CC Antya 1.177|Antya 1.177]]:''' "'The moonlike Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as the son of mother Śacī, has now appeared on earth to spread devotional love of Himself. He is the emperor of the brāhmaṇa community. He can drive away all the darkness of ignorance and control the mind of everyone in the world. May that rising moon bestow upon us all good fortune.'"

'''[[CC Antya 1.178|Antya 1.178]]:''' Although Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was inwardly greatly pleased when He heard this verse, externally He spoke as if angry.

'''[[CC Antya 1.179|Antya 1.179]]:''' "Your exalted poetic descriptions of the mellows of Lord Kṛṣṇa's pastimes are like an ocean of nectar. But why have you put in a false prayer about Me? It is like a drop of detestable alkali."

'''[[CC Antya 1.180|Antya 1.180]]:''' Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya objected, "It is not alkali at all. It is a particle of camphor he has put into the nectar of his exalted poetic expression."

'''[[CC Antya 1.181|Antya 1.181]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "My dear Rāmānanda Rāya, you are jubilant at hearing these poetic expressions, but I am ashamed to hear them, for people in general will joke about the subject of this verse."

'''[[CC Antya 1.182|Antya 1.182]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya said, "Instead of joking, people in general will feel great pleasure in hearing such poetry, for the initial remembrance of the worshipable Deity invokes good fortune."

'''[[CC Antya 1.183|Antya 1.183]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya inquired, "By which subdivision of style do the players enter?" Rūpa Gosvāmī then began to speak specifically about this subject.

'''[[CC Antya 1.184|Antya 1.184]]:''' "'While dancing on the stage after having killed the ruler of uncivilized men [Kaḿsa], Lord Kṛṣṇa, master of all arts, will at the proper time accept the hand of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, who is qualified with all transcendental attributes.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.185|Antya 1.185]]:''' "This introduction is technically called udghātyaka, and the whole scene is called vīthī. You are so expert in dramatic expression that each of my statements before you is like a wave from an ocean of impudence.

'''[[CC Antya 1.186|Antya 1.186]]:''' "'To explain an unclear word, men generally join it with other words. Such an attempt is called udghātyaka.'"

'''[[CC Antya 1.187|Antya 1.187]]:''' When Rāmānanda Rāya requested Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī to speak further about various portions of the play, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī briefly quoted his Lalita-mādhava.

'''[[CC Antya 1.188|Antya 1.188]]:''' "'The dust from cows and calves on the road creates a kind of darkness indicating that Kṛṣṇa is returning home from the pasture. Also, the darkness of evening provokes the gopīs to meet Kṛṣṇa. Thus the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs are covered by a kind of transcendental darkness and are therefore impossible for ordinary scholars of the Vedas to see.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.189|Antya 1.189]]:''' "'May the sweet sound of Lord Kṛṣṇa's flute, His authorized messenger, be glorified, for it expertly releases Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī from Her shyness and attracts Her from Her home to the forest.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.190|Antya 1.190]]:''' "'My dear friend, who is this fearless young man? He is as bright as a lightning cloud, and He wanders in His pastimes like a maddened elephant. From where has He come to Vṛndāvana? Alas, by His restless movements and attractive glances He is plundering from the vault of My heart the treasure of My patience.'

'''[[CC Antya 1.191|Antya 1.191]]:''' "'Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the Ganges in which the elephant of My mind enjoys pastimes. She is the shining of the full autumn moon for the cakora birds of My eyes. She is the dazzling ornament, the bright and beautiful arrangement of stars, on the border of the sky of My chest. Now today I have gained Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī because of the highly elevated state of My mind.'"

'''[[CC Antya 1.192|Antya 1.192]]:''' After hearing this, Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya submitted at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu the superexcellence of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī's poetic expression and began to praise it as if he had thousands of mouths.

'''[[CC Antya 1.193|Antya 1.193]]:''' Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya said, "This is not a poetic presentation; it is a continuous shower of nectar. Indeed, it is the essence of all ultimate realizations, appearing in the form of plays.

'''[[CC Antya 1.194|Antya 1.194]]:''' "The wonderful descriptions of Rūpa Gosvāmī are superb arrangements to express loving affairs. Hearing them will plunge the heart and ears of everyone into a whirlpool of transcendental bliss.

'''[[CC Antya 1.195|Antya 1.195]]:''' "'What is the use of a bowman's arrow or a poet's poetry if they penetrate the heart but do not cause the head to spin?'

'''[[CC Antya 1.196|Antya 1.196]]:''' "Without Your mercy such poetic expressions would be impossible for an ordinary living being to write. My guess is that You have given him the power."

'''[[CC Antya 1.197|Antya 1.197]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "I met Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī at Prayāga. He attracted and satisfied Me because of his qualities."

'''[[CC Antya 1.198|Antya 1.198]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu praised the metaphors and other literary ornaments of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī's transcendental poetry. Without such poetic attributes, He said, there is no possibility of preaching transcendental mellows.

'''[[CC Antya 1.199|Antya 1.199]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested all His personal associates to bless Rūpa Gosvāmī so that he might continuously describe the pastimes of Vṛndāvana, which are full of emotional love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Antya 1.200|Antya 1.200]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī's elder brother, whose name is Sanātana Gosvāmī, is such a wise and learned scholar that no one is equal to him."

'''[[CC Antya 1.201|Antya 1.201]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Rāmānanda Rāya, "Sanātana Gosvāmī's renunciation of material connections is just like yours. Humility, renunciation and excellent learning exist in him simultaneously.

'''[[CC Antya 1.202|Antya 1.202]]:''' "I empowered both of these brothers to go to Vṛndāvana to expand the literature of bhakti."

'''[[CC Antya 1.203|Antya 1.203]]:''' Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya replied to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "My Lord, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If You like, You can cause even a wooden doll to dance.

'''[[CC Antya 1.204|Antya 1.204]]:''' "I see that the truths regarding transcendental mellows that You expounded through my mouth are all explained in the writings of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 1.205|Antya 1.205]]:''' "Because of Your causeless mercy toward Your devotees, You want to describe the transcendental pastimes in Vṛndāvana. Anyone empowered to do this can bring the entire world under Your influence."

'''[[CC Antya 1.206|Antya 1.206]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then embraced Rūpa Gosvāmī and asked him to offer prayers at the lotus feet of all the devotees present.

'''[[CC Antya 1.207|Antya 1.207]]:''' Advaita Ācārya, Nityānanda Prabhu and all the other devotees showed their causeless mercy to Rūpa Gosvāmī by embracing him in return.

'''[[CC Antya 1.208|Antya 1.208]]:''' Seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's special mercy toward Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and seeing his personal qualities, all the devotees were struck with wonder.

'''[[CC Antya 1.209|Antya 1.209]]:''' Then, when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left with all of His devotees, Haridāsa Ṭhākura also embraced Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Antya 1.210|Antya 1.210]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura told him, "There is no limit to your good fortune. No one can understand the glories of what you have described."

'''[[CC Antya 1.211|Antya 1.211]]:''' Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī said, "I do not know anything. The only transcendental words I can utter are those which Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu makes me speak.

'''[[CC Antya 1.212|Antya 1.212]]:''' "Although I am the lowest of men and have no knowledge, the Lord has mercifully bestowed upon me the inspiration to write transcendental literature about devotional service. Therefore I offer my obeisances at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has given me the chance to write these books."

'''[[CC Antya 1.213|Antya 1.213]]:''' In this way Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī passed his time in close association with Haridāsa Ṭhākura by discussing the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa in great happiness.

'''[[CC Antya 1.214|Antya 1.214]]:''' All the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thus spent four months with Him. Then the Lord bade them farewell, and they returned to Bengal.

'''[[CC Antya 1.215|Antya 1.215]]:''' Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, however, stayed at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and when the Dola-yātrā festival took place, he saw it in great happiness with the Lord.

'''[[CC Antya 1.216|Antya 1.216]]:''' After the Dola-yātrā festival ended, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade farewell to Rūpa Gosvāmī also. The Lord empowered him and bestowed upon him all kinds of mercy.

'''[[CC Antya 1.217|Antya 1.217]]:''' "Now go to Vṛndāvana and stay there," the Lord said. "You may send here your elder brother, Sanātana.

'''[[CC Antya 1.218|Antya 1.218]]:''' "When you go to Vṛndāvana, stay there, preach transcendental literature and excavate the lost holy places.

'''[[CC Antya 1.219|Antya 1.219]]:''' "Establish the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa and preach the mellows of Lord Kṛṣṇa's devotional service. I shall also go to Vṛndāvana once more."

'''[[CC Antya 1.220|Antya 1.220]]:''' Having thus spoken, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Rūpa Gosvāmī, who then placed the lotus feet of the Lord upon his head.

'''[[CC Antya 1.221|Antya 1.221]]:''' Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī took leave of all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and returned to Vṛndāvana by the path through Bengal.

'''[[CC Antya 1.222|Antya 1.222]]:''' Thus I have described the second meeting of Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Anyone who hears of this incident will certainly attain shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Antya 1.223|Antya 1.223]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

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CC Madhya 25

2026-06-04T18:29:21Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 25 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 25|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 25: How All the Residents of Vārāṇasī Became Vaiṣṇavas'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 24|Madhya-līlā 24]] '''[[CC Madhya 24|Madhya-līlā 24]] - [[CC Antya 1|Antya-līlā 1]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 1|Antya-līlā 1]]</div>

'''[[CC Madhya 25 Summary|Madhya 25 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 25.1|Madhya 25.1]]:''' After converting into Vaiṣṇavas all the residents of Vārāṇasī, who were headed by the sannyāsīs, and after completely educating and instructing Sanātana Gosvāmī there, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.2|Madhya 25.2]]:''' All glories to Lord Caitanya! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!

'''[[CC Madhya 25.3|Madhya 25.3]]:''' Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu instructed Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī in all the conclusions of devotional service for two consecutive months.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.4|Madhya 25.4]]:''' For as long as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was in Vārāṇasī, Paramānanda Kīrtanīyā, who was a friend of Candraśekhara's, chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and other songs to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in a very humorous way.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.5|Madhya 25.5]]:''' When the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs at Vārāṇasī criticized Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord's devotees became very much depressed. To satisfy them, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu showed His mercy to the sannyāsīs.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.6|Madhya 25.6]]:''' In the Seventh Chapter of the Ādi-līlā I have already elaborately described Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's deliverance of the sannyāsīs at Vārāṇasī, but I shall briefly repeat it in this chapter.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.7|Madhya 25.7]]:''' When the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs were criticizing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu anywhere and everywhere in Vārāṇasī, the Maharashtriyan brāhmaṇa, hearing this blasphemy, began to think about this unhappily.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.8|Madhya 25.8]]:''' The Maharashtriyan brāhmaṇa thought, "Whoever closely sees the characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately realizes His personality and accepts Him as the Supreme Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.9|Madhya 25.9]]:''' "If by some means I can assemble all the sannyāsīs together, they will certainly become His devotees after seeing His personal characteristics.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.10|Madhya 25.10]]:''' "I shall have to reside at Vārāṇasī the rest of my life. If I do not try to carry out this plan, I shall certainly continue to suffer mental depression."

'''[[CC Madhya 25.11|Madhya 25.11]]:''' Thinking like this, the Maharashtriyan brāhmaṇa extended an invitation to all the sannyāsīs of Vārāṇasī. After doing this, he finally approached Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to extend Him an invitation.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.12|Madhya 25.12]]:''' At this time, Candraśekhara and Tapana Miśra both heard blasphemous criticism against Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and felt very unhappy. They came to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's lotus feet to submit a request.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.13|Madhya 25.13]]:''' They submitted their request, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, seeing His devotees' unhappiness, decided to turn the minds of the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.14|Madhya 25.14]]:''' While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was seriously considering meeting with the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs, the Maharashtriyan brāhmaṇa approached Him and extended an invitation. The brāhmaṇa submitted his invitation with great humility, and he touched the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.15|Madhya 25.15]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted his invitation, and the next day, after finishing His noontime activities, He went to the brāhmaṇa's house.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.16|Madhya 25.16]]:''' I have already described Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's deliverance of the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs in the Seventh Chapter of the Ādi-līlā, when I described the glories of the Pañca-tattva — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, Gadādhara Prabhu and Śrīvāsa.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.17|Madhya 25.17]]:''' Since I have already described this incident very elaborately in the Seventh Chapter of the Ādi-līlā, I do not wish to increase the size of this book by giving another description. However, I shall try to include in this chapter whatever was not described there.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.18|Madhya 25.18]]:''' Beginning from the day on which Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu showed His mercy to the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs, there were vivid discussions about this conversion among the inhabitants of Vārāṇasī.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.19|Madhya 25.19]]:''' Crowds of people came to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu from that day on, and scholars of various scriptures discussed different subject matters with the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.20|Madhya 25.20]]:''' When people came to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to discuss the principles of various scriptures, the Lord defeated their false conclusions and established the predominance of devotional service to the Lord. With logic and argument He very politely changed their minds.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.21|Madhya 25.21]]:''' As soon as people received instructions from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they began to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. Thus everyone laughed, chanted and danced with the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.22|Madhya 25.22]]:''' All the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs offered their obeisances unto Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and then began to discuss His movement, giving up their studies of Vedānta and Māyāvāda philosophy.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.23|Madhya 25.23]]:''' One of the disciples of Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, who was as learned as his guru, began to speak in that assembly, offering all respects to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.24|Madhya 25.24]]:''' He said, "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa Himself. When He explains the Vedānta-sūtra, He does so very nicely.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.25|Madhya 25.25]]:''' "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explains the direct meaning of the Upaniṣads. When all learned scholars hear this, their minds and ears are satisfied.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.26|Madhya 25.26]]:''' "Giving up the direct meaning of the Vedānta-sūtra and the Upaniṣads, Śańkarācārya imagines some other interpretation.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.27|Madhya 25.27]]:''' "All the interpretations of Śańkarācārya are imaginary. Such imaginary interpretations are verbally accepted by learned scholars, but they do not appeal to the heart.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.28|Madhya 25.28]]:''' "The words of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu are firm and convincing, and I accept them as true. In this Age of Kali, one cannot be delivered from the material clutches simply by formally accepting the renounced order.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.29|Madhya 25.29]]:''' "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's explanation of the verse beginning 'harer nāma harer nāma [Adi 17.21]' is not only pleasing to the ear but is strong, factual evidence.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.30|Madhya 25.30]]:''' "In this Age of Kali, one cannot attain liberation without taking to the devotional service of the Lord. In this age, even if one chants the holy name of Kṛṣṇa imperfectly, he still attains liberation very easily.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.31|Madhya 25.31]]:''' "'My dear Lord, devotional service unto You is the only auspicious path. If one gives it up simply for speculative knowledge or the understanding that these living beings are spirit souls and the material world is false, he undergoes a great deal of trouble. He only gains troublesome and inauspicious activities. His actions are like beating a husk that is already devoid of rice. His labor becomes fruitless.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.32|Madhya 25.32]]:''' "'O lotus-eyed one, those who think they are liberated in this life but who are devoid of devotional service to You are of impure intelligence. Although they accept severe austerities and penances and rise to the spiritual position, to impersonal Brahman realization, they fall down again because they neglect to worship Your lotus feet.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.33|Madhya 25.33]]:''' "The word 'Brahman' ['the greatest'] indicates the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full in all six opulences. But if we take the onesided impersonalist view, His fullness is diminished.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.34|Madhya 25.34]]:''' "The Vedas, the Upaniṣads, the Brahma-sūtra and the Purāṇas all describe the activities of the spiritual potency of the Lord. If one cannot accept the personal activities of the Lord, he jokes foolishly and gives an impersonal description.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.35|Madhya 25.35]]:''' "The Māyāvādīs do not recognize the personal form of the Lord as spiritual and full of bliss. This is a great sin. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's statements are actually factual.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.36|Madhya 25.36]]:''' "'O supreme one, the transcendental form I am now seeing is full of transcendental bliss. It is not contaminated by the external energy. It is full of effulgence. My Lord, there is no better understanding of You than this. You are the Supreme Soul and the creator of this material world, but You are not connected with this material world. You are completely different from created form and variety. I sincerely take shelter of that form of Yours which I am now seeing. This form is the original source of all living beings and their senses.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.37|Madhya 25.37]]:''' "'Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the cause of all causes. He is past, present and future, and He is the movable and immovable. He is the greatest and the smallest, and He is visible and directly experienced. He is celebrated in the Vedic literature. Everything is Kṛṣṇa, and without Him there is no existence. He is the root of all understanding, and He is that which is understood by all words.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.38|Madhya 25.38]]:''' "'O most auspicious one! For our benefit, You enable our worship of You by manifesting Your transcendental form, which You show to us in our meditation. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You, the Supreme Person, and we worship You, whom impersonalists do not accept due to their poor fund of knowledge. Thus they are liable to descend into a hellish condition.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.39|Madhya 25.39]]:''' "'Fools disrespect Me because I appear like a human being. They do not know My supreme position as the cause of all causes, the creator of the material energy.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.40|Madhya 25.40]]:''' "'Those who are envious of My form, who are cruel and mischievous and the lowest among men, are perpetually cast by Me into hellish existence in various demoniac species of life.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.41|Madhya 25.41]]:''' "Not accepting the transformation of energy, Śrīpāda Śańkarācārya has tried to establish the theory of illusion under the plea that Vyāsadeva has made a mistake.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.42|Madhya 25.42]]:''' "Śrīpāda Śańkarācārya has given his interpretation and imaginary meaning. It does not actually appeal to the mind of any sane man. He has done this to convince the atheists and bring them under his control.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.43|Madhya 25.43]]:''' "The atheists, headed by the Māyāvādī philosophers, do not care for liberation or Kṛṣṇa's mercy. They simply continue to put forward false arguments and countertheories to atheistic philosophy, not considering or engaging in spiritual matters.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.44|Madhya 25.44]]:''' "The conclusion is that the import of the Vedānta-sūtra is covered by the imaginary explanation of Śańkarācārya. Whatever Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu has said is perfectly true.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.45|Madhya 25.45]]:''' "Whatever meaning Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gives is perfect. Any other interpretation is only a distortion."

'''[[CC Madhya 25.46|Madhya 25.46]]:''' After saying this, the disciple of Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī began to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Hearing this, Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī made the following statement.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.47|Madhya 25.47]]:''' Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī said, "Śańkarācārya was very eager to establish the philosophy of monism. Therefore he explained the Vedānta-sūtra, or Vedānta philosophy, in a different way to support monistic philosophy.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.48|Madhya 25.48]]:''' "If one accepts the Personality of Godhead, the philosophy that maintains that God and the living entity are one cannot be established. Therefore Śańkarācārya argued against and refuted all kinds of revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.49|Madhya 25.49]]:''' "Anyone who wants to establish his own opinion or philosophy certainly cannot explain any scripture according to the principle of direct interpretation.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.50|Madhya 25.50]]:''' "The Mīmāḿsaka philosophers conclude that if there is a God, He is subject to our fruitive activities. Similarly, the Sāńkhya philosophers, who analyze the cosmic manifestation, say that the cause of the cosmos is material nature.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.51|Madhya 25.51]]:''' "The followers of nyāya, the philosophy of logic, maintain that the atom is the cause of the cosmic manifestation, and the Māyāvādī philosophers maintain that the impersonal Brahman effulgence is the cause of the cosmic manifestation.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.52|Madhya 25.52]]:''' "The Pātañjala philosophers say that when one is self-realized, he understands the Lord. Similarly, according to the Vedas and Vedic principles, the original cause is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.53|Madhya 25.53]]:''' "After studying the six philosophical theses, Vyāsadeva completely summarized them all in the aphorisms of Vedānta philosophy.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.54|Madhya 25.54]]:''' "According to Vedānta philosophy, the Absolute Truth is a person. When the word 'nirguṇa' ['without qualities'] is used, it is to be understood that the Lord has attributes that are totally spiritual.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.55|Madhya 25.55]]:''' "Of the philosophers mentioned, none really cares for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cause of all causes. They are always busy refuting the philosophical theories of others and establishing their own.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.56|Madhya 25.56]]:''' "By studying the six philosophical theories, one cannot reach the Absolute Truth. It is therefore our duty to follow the path of the mahājanas, the authorities. Whatever they say should be accepted as the supreme truth.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.57|Madhya 25.57]]:''' "'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 śāstras confirm, one should accept whatever progressive path the mahājanas advocate.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.58|Madhya 25.58]]:''' "The words of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are a shower of nectar. Whatever He concludes to be the ultimate truth is indeed the summum bonum of all spiritual knowledge."

'''[[CC Madhya 25.59|Madhya 25.59]]:''' After hearing all these statements, the Maharashtriyan brāhmaṇa very jubilantly went to inform Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.60|Madhya 25.60]]:''' When the Maharashtriyan brāhmaṇa went to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord was going to the temple of Bindu Mādhava after bathing in the waters of the Pañca-nada.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.61|Madhya 25.61]]:''' While the Lord was on His way, the Maharashtriyan brāhmaṇa informed Him about the incident that took place in the camp of Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī. Hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu smiled happily.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.62|Madhya 25.62]]:''' Upon reaching the temple of Bindu Mādhava, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, seeing the beauty of Lord Bindu Mādhava, became overwhelmed in ecstatic love. He then began to dance in the courtyard of the temple.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.63|Madhya 25.63]]:''' There were four people accompanying Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and these were Candraśekhara, Paramānanda Purī, Tapana Miśra and Sanātana Gosvāmī. They were all chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra in the following way.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.64|Madhya 25.64]]:''' They chanted, "Haraye namaḥ kṛṣṇa yādavāya namaḥ, gopāla govinda rāma śrī-madhusūdana."

'''[[CC Madhya 25.65|Madhya 25.65]]:''' In all directions, hundreds of thousands of people began to chant, "Hari! Hari!" Thus there arose a tumultuous and auspicious sound filling the entire universe.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.66|Madhya 25.66]]:''' When Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, who was staying nearby, heard this tumultuous chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, he and his disciples immediately came to see the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.67|Madhya 25.67]]:''' When Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī saw the Lord, he and his disciples also joined the chanting with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī was charmed by the Lord's dancing and ecstatic love and by the transcendental beauty of His body.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.68|Madhya 25.68]]:''' Ecstatic spiritual transformations began to take place in the Lord's body. His body trembled, and His voice faltered. He perspired, turned pale and wept a constant flow of tears, which wet all the people standing there. The eruptions on the Lord's body appeared like kadamba flowers.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.69|Madhya 25.69]]:''' All the people were astonished to see the Lord's jubilation and humility and to hear Him talk in ecstasy. Indeed, all the residents of Benares [Kāśī] saw the bodily transformations and were astonished.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.70|Madhya 25.70]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu regained His external consciousness, He saw that many Māyāvādī sannyāsīs and other people were gathered there. He therefore suspended His dancing for the time being.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.71|Madhya 25.71]]:''' After stopping the kīrtana, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is a great example of humility, offered prayers unto the feet of Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī. At this, Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī immediately came forward and clasped the Lord's lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.72|Madhya 25.72]]:''' When Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī caught hold of the Lord's lotus feet, the Lord said, "My dear sir, you are the spiritual master of the whole world; therefore you are most worshipable. As far as I am concerned, I am not even on the level of the disciple of your disciple."

'''[[CC Madhya 25.73|Madhya 25.73]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "You are a great, spiritually advanced personality, and therefore you cannot worship a person like Me. I am far inferior. If you do so, My spiritual power will be diminished, for you are as good as the impersonal Brahman.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.74|Madhya 25.74]]:''' "My dear sir, for you everyone is on the level of impersonal Brahman, but for the enlightenment of people in general you should not behave in that way."

'''[[CC Madhya 25.75|Madhya 25.75]]:''' Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī replied, "Formerly I committed many offenses against You by blaspheming You, but now the effects of my offenses are counteracted by my touching Your lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.76|Madhya 25.76]]:''' "'If a person considered liberated in this life commits offenses against the reservoir of inconceivable potencies, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he will again fall down and desire the material atmosphere for material enjoyment.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.77|Madhya 25.77]]:''' "'Being touched by the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, that serpent was immediately freed from the reactions of his sinful life. Thus the serpent gave up his body and assumed the body of a beautiful Vidyādhara demigod.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 25.78|Madhya 25.78]]:''' When Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī supported himself by quoting the verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately protested by uttering the holy name of Lord Viṣṇu. The Lord then presented Himself as a most fallen living entity, and He said, "If someone accepts a fallen conditioned soul as Viṣṇu, Bhagavān, or an incarnation, he commits a great offense."

'''[[CC Madhya 25.79|Madhya 25.79]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "To say nothing of ordinary living entities, even Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva cannot be considered on the level of Viṣṇu or Nārāyaṇa. If one considers them as such, he is immediately considered an offender and atheist.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.80|Madhya 25.80]]:''' "'A person who considers demigods like Brahmā and Śiva to be on an equal level with Nārāyaṇa is to be considered an offender, a pāṣaṇḍī.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 25.81|Madhya 25.81]]:''' Prakāśānanda replied, "You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa Himself. Nonetheless, You are considering Yourself His eternal servant.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.82|Madhya 25.82]]:''' "My dear Lord, You are the Supreme Lord, and although You consider Yourself the Lord's servant, You are nonetheless worshipable. You are much greater than I am; therefore all my spiritual achievements have been lost because I have blasphemed You.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.83|Madhya 25.83]]:''' "'O great sage, out of many millions of materially liberated people who are free from ignorance, and out of many millions of siddhas who have nearly attained perfection, there is hardly one pure devotee of Nārāyaṇa. Only such a devotee is actually completely satisfied and peaceful.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.84|Madhya 25.84]]:''' "'When a person mistreats great souls, his life span, opulence, reputation, religion, possessions and good fortune are all destroyed.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.85|Madhya 25.85]]:''' "'Unless human society accepts the dust of the lotus feet of great mahātmās — devotees who have nothing to do with material possessions — mankind cannot turn its attention to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Those lotus feet vanquish all the unwanted, miserable conditions of material life.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.86|Madhya 25.86]]:''' "Henceforward I shall certainly develop devotional service unto Your lotus feet. For this reason I have come to You and have fallen down at Your lotus feet."

'''[[CC Madhya 25.87|Madhya 25.87]]:''' After saying this, Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī sat down with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and began to question the Lord as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.88|Madhya 25.88]]:''' Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī said, "We can understand the faults You have pointed out in the Māyāvāda philosophy. All the explanations given by Śańkarācārya are imaginary.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.89|Madhya 25.89]]:''' "My dear Lord, whatever direct meaning You have given when explaining the Brahma-sūtra is certainly very wonderful to all of us.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.90|Madhya 25.90]]:''' "You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore You have inconceivable energies. I wish to hear from You briefly about the Brahma-sūtra."

'''[[CC Madhya 25.91|Madhya 25.91]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "I am an ordinary living being, and therefore my knowledge is very insignificant. However, the meaning of the Brahma-sūtra is very grave because its author, Vyāsadeva, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.92|Madhya 25.92]]:''' "The purport of the Vedānta-sūtra is very difficult for an ordinary person to understand, but Vyāsadeva, out of his causeless mercy, has personally explained the meaning.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.93|Madhya 25.93]]:''' "If the Vedānta-sūtra is explained by Vyāsadeva himself, who has written it, its original meaning can be understood by the people in general.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.94|Madhya 25.94]]:''' "The meaning of the sound vibration oḿkāra is present in the Gāyatrī mantra. The same is elaborately explained in the four ślokas of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam known as the catuḥ-ślokī.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.95|Madhya 25.95]]:''' "Whatever was spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to Lord Brahmā in those four verses of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was also explained to Nārada by Lord Brahmā.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.96|Madhya 25.96]]:''' "Whatever Lord Brahmā told Nārada Muni was again explained by Nārada Muni to Vyāsadeva. Vyāsadeva later considered these instructions in his mind.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.97|Madhya 25.97]]:''' "Śrīla Vyāsadeva considered that whatever he had received from Nārada Muni as an explanation of oḿkāra he would elaborately explain in his book Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as a commentary on the Brahma-sūtra.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.98|Madhya 25.98]]:''' "Vyāsadeva collected whatever Vedic conclusions were in the four Vedas and 108 Upaniṣads and placed them in the aphorisms of the Vedānta-sūtra.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.99|Madhya 25.99]]:''' "In the Vedānta-sūtra, the purport of all Vedic knowledge is explained, and in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam the same purport has been explained in eighteen thousand verses.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.100|Madhya 25.100]]:''' "Therefore it is to be concluded that the Brahma-sūtra is explained vividly in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Also, what is explained in the verses of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam has the same purport as what is explained in the Upaniṣads.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.101|Madhya 25.101]]:''' "'Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things for himself that are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.102|Madhya 25.102]]:''' "The essence of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam — our relationship with the Supreme Lord, our activities in that connection and the goal of life — is manifest in the four verses of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam known as the catuḥ-ślokī. Everything is explained in those verses.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.103|Madhya 25.103]]:''' "[Lord Kṛṣṇa says:] 'I am the center of all relationships. Knowledge of Me and the practical application of that knowledge is actual knowledge. Approaching Me for devotional service is called abhidheya.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.104|Madhya 25.104]]:''' "'By rendering devotional service, one gradually rises to the platform of love of Godhead. That is the chief goal of life. On the platform of love of Godhead, one is eternally engaged in the service of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.105|Madhya 25.105]]:''' "'Please hear attentively what I shall speak to you, for transcendental knowledge about Me is not only scientific but full of mysteries.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.106|Madhya 25.106]]:''' "'O Brahmā, I shall explain all these truths to you. Since you are a living being [jīva], without My explanation you will not be able to understand your relationship with Me, devotional activity and life's ultimate goal.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.107|Madhya 25.107]]:''' "'I shall explain to you My actual form and situation, My attributes, activities and six opulences.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.108|Madhya 25.108]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa assured Lord Brahmā, 'By My mercy all these things will be awakened in you.' Saying this, the Lord began to explain the three truths [tattvas] to Lord Brahmā.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.109|Madhya 25.109]]:''' "'By My causeless mercy, be enlightened in truth about My personality, manifestations, qualities and pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.110|Madhya 25.110]]:''' "'Before the creation of the cosmic manifestation,' the Lord said, 'I existed, and the total material energy, material nature and the living entities all existed in Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.111|Madhya 25.111]]:''' "'After creating the cosmic manifestation, I entered into it. Whatever you see in the cosmic manifestation is but an expansion of My energy.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.112|Madhya 25.112]]:''' "'When the whole universe dissolves, I remain full in Myself, and everything that was manifested is again preserved in Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.113|Madhya 25.113]]:''' "'Prior to the cosmic manifestation, only I exist, and no phenomena exist, either gross, subtle or primordial. After creation, only I exist in everything, and after annihilation, only I remain eternally.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.114|Madhya 25.114]]:''' "In the verse beginning 'aham eva,' the word 'aham' is expressed three times. In the beginning there are the words 'aham eva.' In the second line there are the words 'paścād aham.' At the end are the words 'so 'smy aham.' This 'aham' indicates the Supreme Person. By the repetition of 'aham,' the transcendental personality who is complete with six opulences is confirmed.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.115|Madhya 25.115]]:''' "Impersonalists do not accept the personal feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Personality of Godhead is stressed in this verse in order to impress upon them the necessity of accepting Him. Therefore the word 'aham' is mentioned three times. To stress something important, one repeats it three times.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.116|Madhya 25.116]]:''' "[Lord Kṛṣṇa continued:] 'Actual spiritual knowledge and its practical application are considered in all these sound vibrations. Although the external energy comes from Me, I am different from it.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.117|Madhya 25.117]]:''' "'Sometimes a reflection of the sun is experienced in place of the sun, but its illumination is never possible independent of the sun.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.118|Madhya 25.118]]:''' "'When one is transcendentally situated, he can perceive Me. This perception is the basis of one's relationship with the Supreme Lord. Now let Me further explain this subject matter.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.119|Madhya 25.119]]:''' "'What appears to be truth without Me is certainly My illusory energy, for nothing can exist without Me. It is like a reflection of a real light in the shadows, for in the light there are neither shadows nor reflections.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.120|Madhya 25.120]]:''' "'Now please hear from Me about the process of devotional service, which is applicable in any country, for any person, at all times and in all circumstances.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.121|Madhya 25.121]]:''' "'As far as religious principles are concerned, there is a consideration of the person, the country, the time and the circumstance. In devotional service, however, there are no such considerations. Devotional service is transcendental to all such considerations.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.122|Madhya 25.122]]:''' "'It is therefore the duty of every man — in every country, in every circumstance and at all times — to approach a bona fide spiritual master, question him about devotional service and listen to him explain the process.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.123|Madhya 25.123]]:''' "'A person interested in transcendental knowledge must therefore always directly and indirectly inquire about it to know about the all-pervading truth.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.124|Madhya 25.124]]:''' "'Supreme affection for Me is called love of Godhead, and that is the ultimate goal of life. Let Me explain by a practical example the natural characteristics of such love.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.125|Madhya 25.125]]:''' "'The five material elements are existing inside and outside of every living entity. Similarly, I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, am manifest within the heart of the devotee as well as outside his body.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.126|Madhya 25.126]]:''' "'As the material elements enter the bodies of all living beings and yet remain outside them all, I exist within all material creations and yet am not within them.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.127|Madhya 25.127]]:''' "'A highly elevated devotee can bind Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in his heart by love. Wherever he looks, he sees Me and nothing else.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.128|Madhya 25.128]]:''' "'Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who destroys everything inauspicious for His devotees, does not leave the hearts of His devotees even if they remember Him and chant about Him inattentively. This is because the rope of love always binds the Lord within the devotees' hearts. Such devotees should be accepted as most elevated.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.129|Madhya 25.129]]:''' "'A person advanced in devotional service sees within everything the soul of souls, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Consequently he always sees the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the cause of all causes and understands that all things are situated in Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.130|Madhya 25.130]]:''' "'All the gopīs assembled to chant the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa very loudly, and they began to wander from one forest to another like madwomen. They began to inquire about the Lord, who is situated in all living entities, internally and externally. Indeed, they even asked all the plants and vegetables about Him, the Supreme Person.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 25.131|Madhya 25.131]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "Thus one's relationship with the Lord, activities in devotional service, and the attainment of the highest goal of life, love of Godhead, are the subject matters of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.132|Madhya 25.132]]:''' "'The Absolute Truth is known by the self-realized souls as a unified identity known by different names — impersonal Brahman, localized Paramātmā, and Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.133|Madhya 25.133]]:''' "'Before the cosmic manifestation was created, the creative propensity was merged in the Supreme Lord's person. At that time all potencies and manifestations were preserved in His personality. The Lord is the cause of all causes, and He is the all-pervading, self-sufficient person. Before the creation, He existed with His spiritual potency in the spiritual world, wherein various Vaikuṇṭha planets are manifested.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.134|Madhya 25.134]]:''' "'All these incarnations of Godhead are either plenary portions or parts of the plenary portions of the puruṣa-avatāras. But Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. In every age He protects the world through His different features when the world is disturbed by the enemies of Indra.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.135|Madhya 25.135]]:''' "This is one's eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Now please hear about the execution of devotional service. This principle pervades each and every verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.136|Madhya 25.136]]:''' "[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] 'Being very dear to the devotees and sādhus, I am attained through unflinching faith and devotional service. This bhakti-yoga system, which gradually increases attachment for Me, purifies even a human being born among dog-eaters. That is to say, everyone can be elevated to the spiritual platform by the process of bhakti-yoga.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.137|Madhya 25.137]]:''' "[The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, said:] 'My dear Uddhava, neither through aṣṭāńga-yoga [the mystic yoga system to control the senses], nor through impersonal monism or an analytical study of the Absolute Truth, nor through study of the Vedas, nor through austerities, charity or acceptance of sannyāsa can one satisfy Me as much as by developing unalloyed devotional service unto Me.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.138|Madhya 25.138]]:''' "'When the living entity is attracted by the material energy, which is separate from Kṛṣṇa, he is overpowered by fear. Because he is separated from the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the material energy, his conception of life is reversed. In other words, instead of being the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, he becomes Kṛṣṇa's competitor. This is called viparyayo 'smṛtiḥ. To nullify this mistake, one who is actually learned and advanced worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead as his spiritual master, worshipful Deity and source of life. He thus worships the Lord by the process of unalloyed devotional service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.139|Madhya 25.139]]:''' "Now hear from Me what actual love of Godhead is. It is the prime object of life and is symptomized by bodily trembling, tears in the eyes, chanting and dancing.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.140|Madhya 25.140]]:''' "'Pure devotees manifest spiritual bodily symptoms of ecstatic love simply by remembering and reminding others of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who takes away everything inauspicious from the devotee. This position is attained by rendering devotional service according to the regulative principles and then rising to the platform of spontaneous love.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.141|Madhya 25.141]]:''' "'When a person is actually advanced and takes pleasure in chanting the holy name of the Lord, who is very dear to him, he is agitated and loudly chants the holy name. He also laughs, cries, becomes agitated and chants like a madman, not caring for outsiders.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.142|Madhya 25.142]]:''' "Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam gives the actual meaning of the Vedānta-sūtra. The author of the Vedānta-sūtra is Vyāsadeva, and he himself has explained those aphorisms in the form of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.143-144|Madhya 25.143-144]]:''' "'The meaning of the Vedānta-sūtra is present in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. The full purport of the Mahābhārata is also there. The commentary of the Brahma-gāyatrī is also there and fully expanded with all Vedic knowledge. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the supreme Purāṇa, and it was compiled by the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as Vyāsadeva. There are twelve cantos, 335 chapters and eighteen thousand verses.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.145|Madhya 25.145]]:''' "'The essence of all Vedic literature and all histories has been collected in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.146|Madhya 25.146]]:''' "'Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is accepted as the essence of all Vedic literature and Vedānta philosophy. Whoever tastes the transcendental mellow of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is never attracted to any other literature.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.147|Madhya 25.147]]:''' "In the beginning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam there is an explanation of the Brahma-gāyatrī mantra. 'The Absolute Truth [satyaḿ param]' indicates the relationship, and 'we meditate [dhīmahi] on Him' indicates the execution of devotional service and the ultimate goal of life.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.148|Madhya 25.148]]:''' "'O my Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I meditate upon Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction of the manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations, and He is independent because there is no other cause beyond Him. It is He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmājī, the original living being. By Him even the great sages and demigods are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only because of Him do the material universes, temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three modes of nature, appear factual, although they are unreal. I therefore meditate upon Him, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is eternally existent in the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the illusory representations of the material world. I meditate upon Him, for He is the Absolute Truth.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.149|Madhya 25.149]]:''' "'Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhāgavata Purāṇa propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries. This beautiful Bhāgavatam, compiled by the great sage Vyāsadeva [in his maturity], is sufficient in itself for God realization. What is the need of any other scripture? As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhāgavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.150|Madhya 25.150]]:''' "Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam gives direct information of the mellow derived from service to Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is above all other Vedic literatures.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.151|Madhya 25.151]]:''' "'The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the essence of all Vedic literatures, and it is considered the ripened fruit of the wish-fulfilling tree of Vedic knowledge. It has been sweetened by emanating from the mouth of Śukadeva Gosvāmī. You who are thoughtful and who relish mellows should always try to taste this ripened fruit. O thoughtful devotees, as long as you are not absorbed in transcendental bliss, you should continue tasting this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and when you are fully absorbed in bliss, you should go on tasting its mellows forever.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.152|Madhya 25.152]]:''' "'We never tire of hearing the transcendental pastimes of the Personality of Godhead, who is glorified by hymns and prayers. Those who enjoy association with Him relish hearing His pastimes at every moment.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 25.153|Madhya 25.153]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, "Study Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam very scrutinizingly. Then you will understand the actual meaning of the Brahma-sūtra."

'''[[CC Madhya 25.154|Madhya 25.154]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "Always discuss Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and constantly chant the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa. In this way you will be able to attain liberation very easily, and you will be elevated to the enjoyment of love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.155|Madhya 25.155]]:''' "'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 toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.156|Madhya 25.156]]:''' "'Even a liberated soul merged in the impersonal Brahman effulgence is attracted to the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa. He thus installs a Deity and renders the Lord service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.157|Madhya 25.157]]:''' "[Śukadeva Gosvāmī addressed Parīkṣit Mahārāja:] 'My dear King, although I was fully situated in the transcendental position, I was nonetheless attracted to the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore I studied Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from my father.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.158|Madhya 25.158]]:''' "'When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasī 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 Kumāras], they experienced a change in both body and mind, even though they were attached to the impersonal Brahman understanding.'

'''[[CC Madhya 25.159|Madhya 25.159]]:''' "'Those who are self-satisfied and unattracted by external material desires are also attracted to the loving service of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, whose qualities are transcendental and whose activities are wonderful. Hari, the Personality of Godhead, is called Kṛṣṇa because He has such transcendentally attractive features.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 25.160|Madhya 25.160]]:''' At this time the brāhmaṇa from the province of Maharashtra mentioned Lord Caitanya's explanation of the ātmārāma verse.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.161|Madhya 25.161]]:''' The Maharashtriyan brāhmaṇa stated that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had already explained that verse in sixty-one ways. Everyone was astonished to hear this.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.162|Madhya 25.162]]:''' When all the people gathered there expressed the desire to hear again the sixty-one different meanings of the ātmārāma-śloka, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again explained them.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.163|Madhya 25.163]]:''' When everyone heard Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's explanation of the ātmārāma-śloka, everyone was astonished and struck with wonder. They concluded that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was none other than Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.164|Madhya 25.164]]:''' After giving those explanations again, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arose and took His leave. All the people there offered their obeisances unto Him and chanted the mahā-mantra.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.165|Madhya 25.165]]:''' All the inhabitants of Kāśī [Vārāṇasī] began chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra in ecstatic love. Sometimes they laughed, sometimes they cried, sometimes they chanted, and sometimes they danced.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.166|Madhya 25.166]]:''' After this, all the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs and learned scholars at Vārāṇasī began discussing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu delivered them.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.167|Madhya 25.167]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then returned to His residence with His personal associates. Thus He turned the whole city of Vārāṇasī into another Navadvīpa [Nadīyā-nagara].

'''[[CC Madhya 25.168|Madhya 25.168]]:''' Among His own associates, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu laughingly said, "I came here to sell My emotional ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.169|Madhya 25.169]]:''' "Although I came to Vārāṇasī to sell My goods, there were no customers, and it appeared necessary for Me to carry them back to My own country.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.170|Madhya 25.170]]:''' "All of you were feeling unhappy that no one was purchasing My goods and that I would have to carry them away. Therefore, by your will only, I have distributed them without charging."

'''[[CC Madhya 25.171|Madhya 25.171]]:''' All the Lord's devotees then said, "You have incarnated to deliver fallen souls. You have delivered them in the east and in the south, and now you are delivering them in the west.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.172|Madhya 25.172]]:''' "Only Vārāṇasī was left because the people there were against Your missionary activities. Now You have delivered them, and we are all very happy."

'''[[CC Madhya 25.173|Madhya 25.173]]:''' After the news of these events was broadcast, everyone from the surrounding neighborhoods began to pour in to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.174|Madhya 25.174]]:''' Hundreds of thousands of people came to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. There was no counting the number. Because the Lord's residence was very small, not everyone could see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.175|Madhya 25.175]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to take His bath in the Ganges and to see the temple of Viśveśvara, people would line up on both sides to see the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.176|Madhya 25.176]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed by the people, He would raise His arms and say, "Please chant Kṛṣṇa! Please chant Hari!" All the people received Him by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, and they offered their respects to Him by this chanting.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.177|Madhya 25.177]]:''' In this way, for five days Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu delivered the people of Vārāṇasī. Finally, on the next day, He became very eager to leave.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.178|Madhya 25.178]]:''' After rising very early on the sixth day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu started to leave, and five devotees began to follow Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.179|Madhya 25.179]]:''' These five devotees were Tapana Miśra, Raghunātha, the Maharashtriyan brāhmaṇa, Candraśekhara and Paramānanda Kīrtanīyā.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.180|Madhya 25.180]]:''' These five wanted to accompany Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to Jagannātha Purī, but the Lord attentively bade them farewell.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.181|Madhya 25.181]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "If you want to see Me, you may come later, but for the time being I shall go alone through the Jhārikhaṇḍa forest."

'''[[CC Madhya 25.182|Madhya 25.182]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised Sanātana Gosvāmī to proceed toward Vṛndāvana, and He informed him that his two brothers had already gone there.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.183|Madhya 25.183]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Sanātana Gosvāmī, "All My devotees who go to Vṛndāvana are generally very poor. They each have nothing with them but a torn quilt and a small waterpot. Therefore, Sanātana, you should give them shelter and maintain them."

'''[[CC Madhya 25.184|Madhya 25.184]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced them all and began to proceed on His way, and they all fainted and fell down.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.185|Madhya 25.185]]:''' After some time, all the devotees got up and returned to their homes very much grief-stricken. Sanātana Gosvāmī proceeded toward Vṛndāvana alone.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.186|Madhya 25.186]]:''' When Rūpa Gosvāmī reached Mathurā, he met Subuddhi Rāya on the banks of the Yamunā, at a place called Dhruva-ghāṭa.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.187|Madhya 25.187]]:''' Formerly Subuddhi Rāya had been a big landholder in Gauḍa-deśa [Bengal]. Saiyada Hussain Khān was then a servant of Subuddhi Rāya.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.188|Madhya 25.188]]:''' Subuddhi Rāya put Hussain Khān in charge of digging a big lake, but once, finding fault with him, he struck him with a whip.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.189|Madhya 25.189]]:''' Later Hussain Khān somehow or other was appointed Nawab by the central Muslim government. As a matter of obligation, he increased the opulences of Subuddhi Rāya.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.190|Madhya 25.190]]:''' Later, when the wife of Nawab Saiyada Hussain Khān saw the whip marks on his body, she requested him to kill Subuddhi Rāya.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.191|Madhya 25.191]]:''' Hussain Khān replied, "Subuddhi Rāya has maintained me very carefully. He was just like a father to me," he said. "Now you are asking me to kill him. This is not a very good proposal."

'''[[CC Madhya 25.192|Madhya 25.192]]:''' As a last alternative, the wife suggested that the Nawab take away Subuddhi Rāya's caste and turn him into a Muslim, but Hussain Khān replied that if he did this, Subuddhi Rāya would not live.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.193|Madhya 25.193]]:''' This became a perplexing problem for him because his wife kept requesting him to kill Subuddhi Rāya. Finally the Nawab sprinkled a little water on Subuddhi Rāya's head from a pitcher that had been used by a Muslim.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.194|Madhya 25.194]]:''' Taking the Nawab's sprinkling water upon him as an opportunity, Subuddhi Rāya left his family and business affairs and went to Vārāṇasī.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.195|Madhya 25.195]]:''' When Subuddhi Rāya consulted the learned brāhmaṇas at Vārāṇasī, asking them how his conversion to Islam could be counteracted, they advised him to drink hot ghee and give up his life.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.196|Madhya 25.196]]:''' When Subuddhi Rāya consulted some other brāhmaṇas, they told him that he had not committed a grievous fault and that consequently he should not drink hot ghee and give up his life. As a result, Subuddhi Rāya was doubtful about what to do.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.197|Madhya 25.197]]:''' In his state of perplexity, Subuddhi Rāya met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu when the Lord was at Vārāṇasī. Subuddhi Rāya explained his position and asked Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu what he should do.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.198|Madhya 25.198]]:''' The Lord advised him, "Go to Vṛndāvana and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra constantly."

'''[[CC Madhya 25.199|Madhya 25.199]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu further advised Subuddhi Rāya: "Begin chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, and when your chanting is almost pure, all your sinful reactions will go away. After you chant perfectly, you will get shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.200|Madhya 25.200]]:''' "When you are situated at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, no sinful reaction can touch you. This is the best solution to all sinful activity."

'''[[CC Madhya 25.201|Madhya 25.201]]:''' Thus receiving the order from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to go to Vṛndāvana, Subuddhi Rāya left Vārāṇasī and went through Prayāga, Ayodhyā and Naimiṣāraṇya toward Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.202|Madhya 25.202]]:''' Subuddhi Rāya stayed for some time at Naimiṣāraṇya. During that time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Prayāga after visiting Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.203|Madhya 25.203]]:''' After reaching Mathurā, Subuddhi Rāya received information of the Lord's itinerary. He became very unhappy because he was not able to contact the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.204|Madhya 25.204]]:''' Subuddhi Rāya would collect dry wood in the forest and take it to the city of Mathurā to sell. For each load he would receive five or six paise.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.205|Madhya 25.205]]:''' Earning his livelihood by selling dry wood, Subuddhi Rāya would live on only one paisa's worth of fried chick-peas, and he would deposit whatever other paise he had with some merchant.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.206|Madhya 25.206]]:''' Subuddhi Rāya used to spend his savings to supply yogurt to Bengali Vaiṣṇavas who came to Mathurā. He also gave them cooked rice and oil massages. When he saw a poverty-stricken Vaiṣṇava, he would use his money to feed him.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.207|Madhya 25.207]]:''' When Rūpa Gosvāmī arrived at Mathurā, Subuddhi Rāya, out of love and affection for him, wanted to serve him in so many ways. He personally took Rūpa Gosvāmī to see all the twelve forests of Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.208|Madhya 25.208]]:''' Rūpa Gosvāmī remained in Mathurā and Vṛndāvana for one month in the association of Subuddhi Rāya. After that, he left Vṛndāvana to search for his elder brother, Sanātana Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.209|Madhya 25.209]]:''' When Rūpa Gosvāmī heard that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had gone to Prayāga on the road along the banks of the Ganges, Rūpa and his brother Anupama went that way to meet the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.210|Madhya 25.210]]:''' After reaching Prayāga, Sanātana Gosvāmī, following the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, went to Vṛndāvana along the public road.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.211|Madhya 25.211]]:''' When Sanātana Gosvāmī met Subuddhi Rāya at Mathurā, Subuddhi Rāya explained everything about his younger brothers Rūpa Gosvāmī and Anupama.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.212|Madhya 25.212]]:''' Since Sanātana Gosvāmī went along the public road to Vṛndāvana and Rūpa Gosvāmī and Anupama went on the road along the Ganges' banks, it was not possible for them to meet.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.213|Madhya 25.213]]:''' Subuddhi Rāya and Sanātana Gosvāmī had known each other before accepting the renounced order. Therefore Subuddhi Rāya showed much affection to Sanātana Gosvāmī, but Sanātana Gosvāmī hesitated to accept his sentiments and affections.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.214|Madhya 25.214]]:''' Being very advanced in the renounced order, Sanātana Gosvāmī used to wander from forest to forest, never taking shelter of any habitation built of stone. He used to live under trees or beneath bushes both day and night.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.215|Madhya 25.215]]:''' Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī collected some books about archaeological excavations in Mathurā, and wandering in the forest, he sought to renovate all those holy places.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.216|Madhya 25.216]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī remained in Vṛndāvana, and Rūpa Gosvāmī and Anupama returned to Vārāṇasī.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.217|Madhya 25.217]]:''' When Rūpa Gosvāmī arrived at Vārāṇasī, he met the Maharashtriyan brāhmaṇa, Candraśekhara and Tapana Miśra.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.218|Madhya 25.218]]:''' While Rūpa Gosvāmī was staying at Vārāṇasī, he resided at the house of Candraśekhara and took prasādam at the house of Tapana Miśra. In this way he heard of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's instructions to Sanātana Gosvāmī in Vārāṇasī.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.219|Madhya 25.219]]:''' While staying at Vārāṇasī, Rūpa Gosvāmī heard of all Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's activities. When he heard of His deliverance of the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs, he became very happy.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.220|Madhya 25.220]]:''' When Rūpa Gosvāmī saw that all the people of Vārāṇasī respected Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he became very happy. He even heard stories from the general populace.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.221|Madhya 25.221]]:''' After staying in Vārāṇasī for about ten days, Rūpa Gosvāmī returned to Bengal. In this way I have described the activities of Rūpa and Sanātana.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.222|Madhya 25.222]]:''' As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was returning to Jagannātha Purī, He passed through the solitary forest, and He received great pleasure in doing so.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.223|Madhya 25.223]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu happily returned to Jagannātha Purī in the company of His servant, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya. As previously, the Lord performed many pleasing pastimes with the forest animals.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.224|Madhya 25.224]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived at a place known as Āṭhāranālā, near Jagannātha Purī, He sent Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya to call for His devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.225|Madhya 25.225]]:''' Hearing news of the Lord's arrival from Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya, hordes of devotees became so happy that they seemed to be getting their lives back. It was as though their consciousness had returned to their bodies. Their senses also became agitated.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.226|Madhya 25.226]]:''' Being overwhelmed with great pleasure, all the devotees hastily went to see the Lord. They met Him on the banks of the celebrated lake called Narendra-sarovara.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.227|Madhya 25.227]]:''' When Paramānanda Purī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord offered them His respectful obeisances due to their being Godbrothers of His spiritual master. They both then embraced Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in love and affection.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.228|Madhya 25.228]]:''' Devotees like Svarūpa Dāmodara, Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Jagadānanda, Kāśīśvara, Govinda and Vakreśvara all came to meet the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.229|Madhya 25.229]]:''' Kāśī Miśra, Pradyumna Miśra, Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Śańkara Paṇḍita also came there to meet the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.230|Madhya 25.230]]:''' All the other devotees also came and fell down at the Lord's lotus feet. In return, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced them all with great ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.231|Madhya 25.231]]:''' Thus they all merged in the ocean of transcendental bliss. Then the Lord and all His devotees proceeded toward the temple of Jagannātha to see the Deity.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.232|Madhya 25.232]]:''' As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Lord Jagannātha in the temple, He was immediately overwhelmed with love and affection. He chanted and danced with His devotees for a long time.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.233|Madhya 25.233]]:''' The priests immediately brought them flower garlands and prasādam. The temple's watchman, who was named Tulasī, also came and offered his obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.234|Madhya 25.234]]:''' When the news spread that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had arrived at Jagannātha Purī, devotees like Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Rāmānanda Rāya and Vāṇīnātha Rāya all came to meet Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.235|Madhya 25.235]]:''' The Lord and all His devotees then went to the residence of Kāśī Miśra. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Paṇḍita Gosāñi also invited the Lord to dine at their homes.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.236|Madhya 25.236]]:''' Accepting their invitation, the Lord asked them to bring all the prasādam there so that He could eat it with His devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.237|Madhya 25.237]]:''' Upon receiving Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's order, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Paṇḍita Gosāñi brought sufficient prasādam from the temple of Jagannātha. The Lord then dined with everyone at His own place.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.238|Madhya 25.238]]:''' Thus I have described how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to Jagannātha Purī from Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.239|Madhya 25.239]]:''' Whoever hears Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's pastimes with faith and love very soon attains shelter at the Lord's lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.240|Madhya 25.240]]:''' I have thus given a summary description of the madhya-līlā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's travels to and from Jagannātha Purī. Indeed, the Lord traveled to and fro continuously for six years.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.241|Madhya 25.241]]:''' After taking sannyāsa at the age of twenty-four, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu lived another twenty-four years. For six of these years, He traveled extensively throughout India, sometimes going to Jagannātha Purī and sometimes leaving. After traveling for six years, the Lord fixed His residence at Jagannātha Purī and stayed there for the eighteen remaining years of His life. During these eighteen years He mainly chanted Hare Kṛṣṇa with His devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.242|Madhya 25.242]]:''' I shall now review the chapters of the Madhya-līlā chronologically so that one can relish the transcendental features of these topics.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.243|Madhya 25.243]]:''' In the First Chapter I have given a synopsis of the last pastimes [antya-līlā]. Within this chapter is a vivid description of some of the pastimes of the Lord that took place toward the end of His life.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.244|Madhya 25.244]]:''' In the Second Chapter I have described Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's talking like a crazy man. Within this chapter it is indicated how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu manifested His different emotional moods.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.245|Madhya 25.245]]:''' In the Third Chapter I have described the Lord's acceptance of the renounced order and how He enjoyed His pastimes at the house of Advaita Ācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.246|Madhya 25.246]]:''' In the Fourth Chapter I have described Mādhavendra Purī's installation of the Gopāla Deity as well as Gopīnātha's stealing a pot of condensed milk at Remuṇā.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.247|Madhya 25.247]]:''' In the Fifth Chapter I have narrated the story of Sākṣi-gopāla. Lord Nityānanda Prabhu narrated this while Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu listened.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.248|Madhya 25.248]]:''' In the Sixth Chapter I have told how Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was delivered, and in the Seventh Chapter I have described the Lord's tour of different holy places and His deliverance of Vāsudeva.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.249|Madhya 25.249]]:''' In the Eighth Chapter I have recorded the Lord's elaborate discussion with Rāmānanda Rāya. The Lord personally listened as Rāmānanda gave the conclusive essence of all Vedic literatures.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.250|Madhya 25.250]]:''' In the Ninth Chapter I have described the Lord's tour of South India and the different places of pilgrimage. In the Tenth Chapter I have described His meeting with all His devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.251|Madhya 25.251]]:''' In the Eleventh Chapter I have described the great chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra that surrounded the Lord. In the Twelfth Chapter I have given a narration of the cleansing and washing of the Guṇḍicā temple.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.252|Madhya 25.252]]:''' In the Thirteenth Chapter I have described Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's dancing before the chariot of Jagannātha. In the Fourteenth Chapter, there is an account of the Herā-pañcamī function.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.253|Madhya 25.253]]:''' Also in the Fourteenth Chapter is an account of how the emotional ecstasy of the gopīs was described by Svarūpa Dāmodara and tasted by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.254|Madhya 25.254]]:''' In the Fifteenth Chapter I have described how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu highly praised the qualities of His devotees and accepted lunch at the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. At that time, He delivered Amogha.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.255|Madhya 25.255]]:''' In the Sixteenth Chapter I have described how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu departed for Vṛndāvana and journeyed through Bengal. He later returned to Jagannātha Purī from Kānāi Nāṭaśālā.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.256|Madhya 25.256]]:''' In the Seventeenth Chapter I have described the Lord's journey through the great forest of Jhārikhaṇḍa and His arrival at Mathurā. In the Eighteenth Chapter there is a description of His tour of the forest of Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.257|Madhya 25.257]]:''' In the Nineteenth Chapter I have described how the Lord returned to Prayāga from Mathurā and empowered Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī to spread devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.258|Madhya 25.258]]:''' In the Twentieth Chapter the Lord's meeting with Sanātana Gosvāmī is described. The Lord described the personal features of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in depth.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.259|Madhya 25.259]]:''' In the Twenty-first Chapter there is a description of Kṛṣṇa's beauty and opulence, and in the Twenty-second Chapter there is a description of the twofold discharge of devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.260|Madhya 25.260]]:''' In the Twenty-third Chapter there is a description of the mellows of transcendental loving service, and in the Twenty-fourth Chapter I have described how the Lord analyzed the ātmārāma verse.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.261|Madhya 25.261]]:''' In the Twenty-fifth Chapter there is a description of how the residents of Vārāṇasī were converted to Vaiṣṇavism and how the Lord returned to Nīlācala [Jagannātha Purī] from Vārāṇasī.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.262|Madhya 25.262]]:''' I have thus summarized these pastimes in the Twenty-fifth Chapter. Hearing this summary, one can understand the whole purport of this scripture.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.263|Madhya 25.263]]:''' I have now summarized the entire subject matter of the Madhya-līlā. These pastimes cannot be described elaborately even in millions of books.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.264|Madhya 25.264]]:''' To deliver all fallen souls, the Lord traveled from country to country. He personally tasted the transcendental pleasure of devotional service, and He simultaneously spread the cult of devotion everywhere.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.265|Madhya 25.265]]:''' Kṛṣṇa consciousness means understanding the truth of Kṛṣṇa, the truth of devotional service, the truth of love of Godhead, the truth of emotional ecstasy, the truth of transcendental mellows and the truth of the pastimes of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.266|Madhya 25.266]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has personally preached the transcendental truths and mellows of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the Supreme Personality of Godhead are identical, for Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the sound incarnation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.267|Madhya 25.267]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu broadcast the purport of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. He sometimes spoke for the benefit of His devotees and sometimes empowered one of His devotees to speak while He listened.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.268|Madhya 25.268]]:''' All sane men within these three worlds certainly accept the conclusion that no one is more merciful and magnanimous than Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and that no one is as kind to his devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.269|Madhya 25.269]]:''' All devotees should hear about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's pastimes with faith and love. By the grace of the Lord, one can thus attain shelter at His lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.270|Madhya 25.270]]:''' By understanding the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, one can understand the truth about Kṛṣṇa. By understanding Kṛṣṇa, one can understand the limit of all knowledge described in various revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.271|Madhya 25.271]]:''' The pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa are the essence of all nectar, and that nectar is flowing in hundreds of rivers in all directions. The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are an eternal reservoir, and one is advised to let his mind swim like a swan on this transcendental lake.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.272|Madhya 25.272]]:''' With all humility, I submit myself to the lotus feet of all of you devotees, taking the dust from your feet as my bodily ornaments. Now, my dear devotees, please hear one thing more from me.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.273|Madhya 25.273]]:''' Devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is exactly like a pleasing, jubilant forest of lotus flowers wherein there is ample honey. I request everyone to taste this honey. If all the mental speculators bring the bees of their minds into this forest of lotus flowers and jubilantly enjoy ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa day and night, their mental speculation will be completely transcendentally satisfied.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.274|Madhya 25.274]]:''' The devotees who have a relationship with Kṛṣṇa are like the swans and cakravāka birds who play in that forest of lotus flowers. The buds of those lotus flowers are the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, and they are edibles for the swanlike devotees. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is always engaged in His transcendental pastimes; therefore the devotees, following in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, can always eat those lotus buds, for they are the pastimes of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.275|Madhya 25.275]]:''' All the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu should go to that lake and, remaining always under the shelter of the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, become swans and cakravāka birds in those celestial waters. They should go on rendering service to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and enjoy life perpetually. In this way all miseries will be diminished, the devotees will attain great happiness, and there will be jubilant love of God.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.276|Madhya 25.276]]:''' The devotees who have taken shelter of the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu take the responsibility for distributing nectarean devotional service all over the world. They are like clouds pouring water on the ground that nourishes the fruit of love of Godhead in this world. The devotees eat that fruit to their hearts' content, and whatever remnants they leave are eaten by the general populace. Thus they live happily.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.277|Madhya 25.277]]:''' The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are full of nectar, and the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa are like camphor. When one mixes these, they taste very sweet. By the mercy of the pure devotees, whoever tastes them can understand the depths of that sweetness.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.278|Madhya 25.278]]:''' Men become strong and stout by eating sufficient grains, but the devotee who simply eats ordinary grains but does not taste the transcendental pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Kṛṣṇa gradually becomes weak and falls down from the transcendental position. However, if one drinks but a drop of the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes, his body and mind begin to bloom, and he begins to laugh, sing and dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.279|Madhya 25.279]]:''' The readers should relish this wonderful nectar because nothing compares to it. Keeping their faith firmly fixed within their minds, they should be careful not to fall into the pit of false arguments or the whirlpools of unfortunate situations. If one falls into such positions, he is finished.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.280|Madhya 25.280]]:''' In conclusion, I submit to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Nityānanda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu and all the other devotees and readers that I accept your lotus feet as the helmet on my head. In this way, all my purposes will be served.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.281|Madhya 25.281]]:''' Taking the feet of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī and Jīva Gosvāmī on my head, I always desire their mercy. Thus I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, humbly try to describe the nectar of the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, which are mixed with the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.282|Madhya 25.282]]:''' For the satisfaction of Śrī Madana-gopāla and Govindadeva, we pray that this book, Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, may be offered to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 25.283|Madhya 25.283]]:''' The Caitanya-caritāmṛta pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu constitute a very secret literature. It is the life and soul of all devotees. Those who are not fit to relish this literature, who are envious like hogs and pigs, will certainly not adore it. However, this will not harm my attempt. These pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will certainly please all saintly people who have clear hearts. They will certainly enjoy it. We wish that this will enhance their enjoyment more and more.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 24|Madhya-līlā 24]] '''[[CC Madhya 24|Madhya-līlā 24]] - [[CC Antya 1|Antya-līlā 1]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Antya 1|Antya-līlā 1]]</div>

CC Madhya 24

2026-06-04T18:29:19Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 24 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 24|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 24: The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmārāma Verse'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 23|Madhya-līlā 23]] '''[[CC Madhya 23|Madhya-līlā 23]] - [[CC Madhya 25|Madhya-līlā 25]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 25|Madhya-līlā 25]]</div>

'''[[CC Madhya 24 Summary|Madhya 24 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 24.1|Madhya 24.1]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who acted as the eastern horizon where the sun of the ātmārāma verse rose. He manifested its rays in the form of different meanings and thus eradicated the darkness of the material world. May He protect the universe.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.2|Madhya 24.2]]:''' All glories to Lord Caitanya! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!

'''[[CC Madhya 24.3|Madhya 24.3]]:''' Thereafter, Sanātana Gosvāmī clasped the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and humbly submitted the following petition.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.4|Madhya 24.4]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī said, "My Lord, I have heard that previously, at the home of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, You explained the ātmārāma verse in eighteen different ways.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.5|Madhya 24.5]]:''' "'Those who are self-satisfied and unattracted by external material desires are also attracted to the loving service of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, whose qualities are transcendental and whose activities are wonderful. Hari, the Personality of Godhead, is called Kṛṣṇa because He has such transcendentally attractive features.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.6|Madhya 24.6]]:''' "I have heard this wonderful story and am therefore very inquisitive to hear Your explanation again. If You would kindly repeat it, I would be very pleased to hear."

'''[[CC Madhya 24.7|Madhya 24.7]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "I am one madman, and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya is another. Therefore he took My words to be the truth.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.8|Madhya 24.8]]:''' "I do not recall what I spoke in that connection, but if something comes to My mind due to association with you, I shall explain it.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.9|Madhya 24.9]]:''' "Generally by Myself I cannot give an explanation, but by the strength of your association something may manifest itself.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.10|Madhya 24.10]]:''' "There are eleven clear words in this verse, but when they are studied separately, various meanings glitter from each word.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.11|Madhya 24.11]]:''' "The seven different meanings of the word 'ātmā' are the Absolute Truth, the body, the mind, endeavor, firmness, intelligence and nature.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.12|Madhya 24.12]]:''' "'The following are synonyms of the word "ātmā": the body, mind, Absolute Truth, natural characteristics, firmness, intelligence and endeavor.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.13|Madhya 24.13]]:''' "The word 'ātmārāma' refers to one who enjoys these seven items [the Absolute Truth, body, mind and so on]. Later, I shall enumerate the ātmārāmas.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.14|Madhya 24.14]]:''' "My dear Sanātana, first hear the meanings of the other words, beginning with the word 'muni.' I shall first explain their separate meanings, then combine them.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.15|Madhya 24.15]]:''' "The word 'muni' refers to one who is thoughtful, one who is grave or silent, an ascetic, one who keeps great vows, one in the renounced order and a saint. These are the different meanings of the word 'muni.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.16|Madhya 24.16]]:''' "The word 'nirgrantha' refers to one who is liberated from the material knots of ignorance. It also refers to one who is devoid of all regulative principles enjoined in the Vedic literature. It also refers to one who does not have knowledge.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.17|Madhya 24.17]]:''' "'Nirgrantha' also refers to one who is illiterate, lowborn, misbehaved, unregulated and devoid of respect for the Vedic literature. The word also refers to one who is a capitalist and to one who has no riches.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.18|Madhya 24.18]]:''' "'The prefix "niḥ" may be used for a sense of ascertainment, gradation, construction or forbidding. The word "grantha" means "riches," "thesis" and "composition."'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.19|Madhya 24.19]]:''' "The word 'urukrama' refers to one whose krama [step] is great. The word 'krama' means 'throwing the foot forward,' that is, 'stepping.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.20|Madhya 24.20]]:''' "'Krama' also means 'power,' 'trembling,' 'a systematic method,' 'argument' and 'a forcible attack by stepping forward.' Thus Vāmana caused the three worlds to tremble.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.21|Madhya 24.21]]:''' "'Even if a learned man is able to count all the minute atoms in this material world, he still cannot count the potencies of Lord Viṣṇu. In the form of the Vāmana incarnation, Lord Viṣṇu, without hindrance, captured all the planets, extending from the root of the material world up to Satyaloka. Indeed, He caused every planetary system to tremble by the force of His steps.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.22|Madhya 24.22]]:''' "Through His all-pervasive feature, the Supreme Personality of Godhead has expanded the entire creation. He is holding and maintaining this creation by His extraordinary potency. By His conjugal potency, He maintains the planetary system known as Goloka Vṛndāvana. Through His six opulences, He maintains many Vaikuṇṭha planets.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.23|Madhya 24.23]]:''' "The word 'urukrama' indicates the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who, by His external potency, has perfectly created innumerable universes.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.24|Madhya 24.24]]:''' "'These are the different meanings of the word "krama." It is used in the sense of potency, systematic arrangement, step, moving or trembling.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.25|Madhya 24.25]]:''' "The word 'kurvanti' means 'they do something for others,' since it is a form of the verb 'to do' indicating things done for others. It is used in connection with devotional service, which must be executed for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. That is the purport of the word 'kurvanti.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.26|Madhya 24.26]]:''' "'The terminations of the ātmane-pada are employed when the fruit of the action accrues to the agent of verbs having an indicatory ñ or a svarita accent.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.27|Madhya 24.27]]:''' "The word 'hetu' ['cause'] means that a thing is done for some motive. There can be three motives. One may act to enjoy the result personally, to achieve some material perfection, or to attain liberation.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.28|Madhya 24.28]]:''' "First we take the word 'bhukti' ['material enjoyment'], which is of unlimited variety. We may also take the word 'siddhi' ['perfection'], which has eighteen varieties. Similarly, the word 'mukti' has five varieties.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.29|Madhya 24.29]]:''' "Causeless devotional service is unmotivated by sense enjoyment, perfection or liberation. When one is freed from all these contaminations, he can bring Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is very funny, under control.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.30|Madhya 24.30]]:''' "There are ten meanings for the word 'bhakti' ['devotional service']. One is sādhana-bhakti, execution of devotional service according to the regulative principles, and the other nine are varieties of prema-bhakti, ecstatic love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.31|Madhya 24.31]]:''' "Next are explained the symptoms of love of Godhead, which can be divided into nine varieties, beginning with attraction and extending up to ecstatic love and finally up to the topmost ecstatic love [mahābhāva].

'''[[CC Madhya 24.32|Madhya 24.32]]:''' "The attraction to Kṛṣṇa of devotees on the platform of neutrality increases up to love of Godhead [prema], and the attraction of devotees on the platform of servitorship increases to spontaneous attachment [rāga].

'''[[CC Madhya 24.33|Madhya 24.33]]:''' "Devotees in Vṛndāvana who are friends of the Lord can increase their ecstatic love to the point of anurāga. Parental affectionate lovers, Kṛṣṇa's father and mother, can increase their love of Godhead up to the end of anurāga.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.34|Madhya 24.34]]:''' "The gopīs of Vṛndāvana who are attached to Kṛṣṇa in conjugal love can increase their ecstatic love up to the point of mahābhāva, the greatest ecstatic love. These are some of the glorious meanings of the word 'bhakti.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.35|Madhya 24.35]]:''' "Please hear the meaning of the word 'ittham-bhūta-guṇa,' which is found in the ātmārāma verse. 'Ittham-bhūta' has different meanings, and 'guṇa' has other meanings.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.36|Madhya 24.36]]:''' "The word 'ittham-bhūta' is transcendentally exalted because it means 'full of transcendental bliss.' Before this transcendental bliss, the bliss derived from merging into the existence of the Absolute [brahmānanda] becomes like a piece of straw in comparison.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.37|Madhya 24.37]]:''' "'My dear Lord, O master of the universe, since I have directly seen You, my transcendental bliss has taken the shape of a great ocean. Being situated in that ocean, I now realize all other so-called happiness to be like the water contained in the hoofprint of a calf.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.38|Madhya 24.38]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa is so exalted that He is more attractive than anything else and more pleasing than anything else. He is the most sublime abode of bliss. By His own strength, He causes one to forget all other ecstasies.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.39|Madhya 24.39]]:''' "Pure devotional service is so sublime that one can very easily forget the happiness derived from material enjoyment, material liberation and mystic or yogic perfection. Thus the devotee is bound by Kṛṣṇa's mercy and His uncommon power and qualities.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.40|Madhya 24.40]]:''' "When one is attracted to Kṛṣṇa on the transcendental platform, there is no longer any logical argument on the basis of revealed scripture, nor are there considerations of such conclusions. This is His transcendental quality that is the essence of all transcendental sweetness.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.41|Madhya 24.41]]:''' "The word 'guṇa' means 'quality.' The qualities of Kṛṣṇa are transcendentally situated and are unlimited in quantity. All of the spiritual qualities are full of transcendental bliss.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.42|Madhya 24.42]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa's transcendental qualities of opulence, sweetness and mercy are perfect and full. As far as Kṛṣṇa's affectionate leaning toward His devotees is concerned, He is so magnanimous that He can give Himself to His devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.43|Madhya 24.43]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa has unlimited qualities. The devotees are attracted by His uncommon beauty, mellows and fragrance. Thus they are differently situated in the different transcendental mellows. Therefore Kṛṣṇa is called all-attractive.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.44|Madhya 24.44]]:''' "The minds of the four boy sages [Sanaka, Sanātana, Sanandana and Sanat-kumāra] were attracted to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa by the aroma of the tulasī that had been offered to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.45|Madhya 24.45]]:''' "'When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasī 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 Kumāras], they experienced a change in both body and mind, even though they were attached to the impersonal Brahman understanding.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.46|Madhya 24.46]]:''' "Śukadeva's mind was carried away by hearing the pastimes of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.47|Madhya 24.47]]:''' "[Śukadeva Gosvāmī addressed Parīkṣit Mahārāja:] 'My dear King, although I was fully situated in the transcendental position, I was nonetheless attracted to the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore I studied Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from my father.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.48|Madhya 24.48]]:''' "'I offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the son of Vyāsadeva and the destroyer of all sinful reactions. Being full in self-realization and bliss, he had no material desire. Still, he was attracted by the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and out of compassion for the people he described the transcendental historical literature called Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. This is compared to the light of the Absolute Truth.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.49|Madhya 24.49]]:''' "Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa attracts the minds of all the gopīs with His beautiful, transcendental bodily features.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.50|Madhya 24.50]]:''' "'Dear Kṛṣṇa, we have simply surrendered ourselves as Your maidservants, for we have seen Your beautiful face decorated with tresses of hair, Your earrings falling upon Your cheeks, the nectar of Your lips, and the beauty of Your smile. Indeed, because we have also been embraced by Your arms, which give us courage, and seen Your chest, which is beautiful and broad, we have surrendered ourselves.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.51|Madhya 24.51]]:''' "The queens in Dvārakā, headed by Rukmiṇī, are also attracted to Kṛṣṇa simply by hearing about His transcendental beauty and qualities.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.52|Madhya 24.52]]:''' "'O most beautiful Kṛṣṇa, I have heard about Your transcendental qualities from others, and therefore all my bodily miseries are relieved. If someone sees Your transcendental beauty, his eyes have attained everything profitable in life. O infallible one, I have become shameless after hearing of Your qualities, and I have become attracted to You.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.53|Madhya 24.53]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa even attracts the mind of the goddess of fortune simply by vibrating His transcendental flute.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.54|Madhya 24.54]]:''' "'O Lord, we do not know how the serpent Kāliya attained such an opportunity to be touched by the dust of Your lotus feet. For this end, the goddess of fortune performed austerities for centuries, giving up all other desires and taking austere vows. Indeed, we do not know how this serpent Kāliya got such an opportunity.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.55|Madhya 24.55]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa attracts not only the minds of the gopīs and the goddesses of fortune but the minds of all the young girls in the three worlds as well.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.56|Madhya 24.56]]:''' "'My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, where is that woman within the three worlds who would not be captivated by the rhythms of the sweet songs coming from Your wonderful flute? Who would not fall down from the path of chastity in this way? Your beauty is the most sublime within the three worlds. Upon seeing Your beauty, even cows, birds, animals and trees in the forest become stunned in jubilation.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.57|Madhya 24.57]]:''' "The women of Vṛndāvana who are on the level of superior guardians are attracted to Lord Kṛṣṇa maternally. The men of Vṛndāvana are attracted as servants, friends and fathers.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.58|Madhya 24.58]]:''' "The qualities of Kṛṣṇa captivate and attract everything, living and nonliving. Even birds, animals and trees are attracted to Kṛṣṇa's qualities.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.59|Madhya 24.59]]:''' "Although the word 'hari' has many different meanings, two of them are foremost. One meaning is that the Lord takes away all inauspicious things from His devotee, and the second meaning is that He attracts the mind by ecstatic love for God.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.60|Madhya 24.60]]:''' "When the devotee somehow or other always remembers the Supreme Personality of Godhead anywhere and everywhere, Lord Hari takes away life's four miserable conditions.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.61|Madhya 24.61]]:''' "'As all fuel is burned to ashes by a full-fledged fire, all sinful activities are totally erased when one engages in devotional service to Me.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.62|Madhya 24.62]]:''' "In this way, when all sinful activities are vanquished by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one gradually vanquishes all kinds of impediments on the path of devotional service, as well as the ignorance resulting from these impediments. After this, one totally manifests his original love of Godhead through devotional service in nine different ways — hearing, chanting and so forth.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.63|Madhya 24.63]]:''' "When the devotee is freed from all sinful material activities, Kṛṣṇa attracts his body, mind and senses to His service. Thus Kṛṣṇa is very merciful, and His transcendental qualities are very attractive.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.64|Madhya 24.64]]:''' "When one's mind, senses and body are attracted to the transcendental qualities of Hari, one gives up the four principles of material success. Thus I have explained the chief meanings of the word 'hari.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.65|Madhya 24.65]]:''' "When the conjunction 'ca' ['and'] and the adverb 'api' ['although'] are added to this verse, the verse can assume whatever meaning one wants to give it.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.66|Madhya 24.66]]:''' "The word 'ca' can be explained in seven ways.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.67|Madhya 24.67]]:''' "'The word "ca" ["and"] is used to connect a word or sentence with a previous word or sentence, to give the sense of aggregation, to assist the meaning, to give a collective understanding, to suggest another effort or exertion, or to fulfill the meter of a verse. It is also used in the sense of certainty.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.68|Madhya 24.68]]:''' "There are seven chief meanings of the word 'api.' They are as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.69|Madhya 24.69]]:''' "'The word "api" is used in the sense of possibility, question, doubt, censure, aggregation, appropriate application of things, and extravagance.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.70|Madhya 24.70]]:''' "I have now described the different meanings of the eleven separate words. Now let Me give the complete meaning of the śloka, as it is applied in different places.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.71|Madhya 24.71]]:''' "The word 'brahma' indicates the summum bonum, the Absolute Truth, which is greater than all other truths. It is the original identity, and there can be nothing equal to that Absolute Truth.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.72|Madhya 24.72]]:''' "'I offer my respectful obeisances to the Absolute Truth, the summum bonum. He is the all-pervasive, all-increasing subject matter for the great yogīs. He is changeless, and He is the soul of all.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.73|Madhya 24.73]]:''' "The proper meaning of the word 'brahma' is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is one without a second and without whom nothing else exists.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.74|Madhya 24.74]]:''' "'Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth say that it is nondual knowledge and is called impersonal Brahman, localized Paramātmā and the Personality of Godhead.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.75|Madhya 24.75]]:''' "That Absolute Truth without a second is Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the supreme truth in the past, present and future. That is the evidence of all revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.76|Madhya 24.76]]:''' "'Prior to the cosmic creation, only I exist, and no phenomena exist, either gross, subtle or primordial. After creation, only I exist in everything, and after annihilation only I remain eternally.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.77|Madhya 24.77]]:''' "The word 'ātmā' ['self'] indicates the highest truth, Kṛṣṇa. He is the all-pervasive witness of all, and He is the supreme form.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.78|Madhya 24.78]]:''' "'Hari, the Personality of Godhead, is the all-pervasive original source of everything; He is therefore the Supersoul of everything.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.79|Madhya 24.79]]:''' "There are three ways to attain the lotus feet of the Absolute Truth, Kṛṣṇa. There is the process of philosophical speculation, the practice of mystic yoga and the execution of devotional service. Each of these has its different characteristics.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.80|Madhya 24.80]]:''' "The Absolute Truth is the same, but according to the process by which one understands Him, He appears in three forms — as Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.81|Madhya 24.81]]:''' "'Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth say that it is nondual knowledge and is called impersonal Brahman, localized Paramātmā and the Personality of Godhead.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.82|Madhya 24.82]]:''' "Although the words 'brahma' and 'ātmā' indicate Kṛṣṇa, their direct meaning refers only to the impersonal Brahman and the Supersoul respectively.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.83|Madhya 24.83]]:''' "If one follows the path of philosophical speculation, the Absolute Truth manifests Himself as impersonal Brahman, and if one follows the path of mystic yoga, He manifests Himself as the Supersoul.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.84|Madhya 24.84]]:''' "There are two kinds of devotional activity — spontaneous and regulative. By spontaneous devotional service, one attains the original Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, and by the regulative process one attains the expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.85|Madhya 24.85]]:''' "By executing spontaneous devotional service in Vṛndāvana, one attains the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.86|Madhya 24.86]]:''' "'The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the son of mother Yaśodā, is accessible to those devotees engaged in spontaneous loving service, but He is not as easily accessible to mental speculators, to those striving for self-realization by severe austerities and penances, or to those who consider the body the same as the self.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.87|Madhya 24.87]]:''' "By executing regulative devotional service, one becomes an associate of Nārāyaṇa and attains the Vaikuṇṭhalokas, the spiritual planets in the spiritual sky.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.88|Madhya 24.88]]:''' "'Those who discuss the activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa are on the highest platform of devotional life, and they evince the symptoms of tears in the eyes and bodily jubilation. Such persons discharge devotional service to Kṛṣṇa without practicing the rules and regulations of the mystic yoga system. They possess all spiritual qualities, and they are elevated to the Vaikuṇṭha planets, which exist above us.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.89|Madhya 24.89]]:''' "The devotees are divided into three categories — akāma [desireless], mokṣa-kāma [desiring liberation] and sarva-kāma [desiring material perfection].

'''[[CC Madhya 24.90|Madhya 24.90]]:''' "'One who is actually intelligent, although he may be a devotee free from material desires, a karmī desiring all kinds of material facilities, or a jñānī desiring liberation, should seriously engage in bhakti-yoga for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.91|Madhya 24.91]]:''' "The meaning of the word 'udāra-dhī' is buddhimān — intelligent or considerate. Because of this, even for one's own sense gratification one engages in the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.92|Madhya 24.92]]:''' "The other processes cannot yield results unless they are associated with devotional service. Devotional service, however, is so strong and independent that it can give one all the desired results.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.93|Madhya 24.93]]:''' "With the exception of devotional service, all the methods of self-realization are like the nipples on the neck of a goat. Therefore an intelligent person adopts only devotional service, giving up all other processes of self-realization.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.94|Madhya 24.94]]:''' "'O best among the Bharatas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me — the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.95|Madhya 24.95]]:''' "Materialistic devotees take to devotional service and worship Kṛṣṇa when they are distressed or in need of money. Those who are actually inquisitive to understand the supreme source of everything and those who are in search of knowledge are called transcendentalists, for they desire liberation from all material contamination.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.96|Madhya 24.96]]:''' "Because they have a pious background, all four types of people are to be considered greatly fortunate. Such people gradually give up material desires and become pure devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.97|Madhya 24.97]]:''' "One is elevated to the platform of devotional life by the mercy of a Vaiṣṇava, the bona fide spiritual master, and by the special mercy of Kṛṣṇa. On that platform, one gives up all material desires and the association of unwanted people. Thus one is elevated to the platform of pure devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.98|Madhya 24.98]]:''' "'The intelligent, who have understood the Supreme Lord in the association of pure devotees and have become free from bad, materialistic association, can never avoid hearing the glories of the Lord, even though they have heard them only once.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.99|Madhya 24.99]]:''' "Cheating oneself and cheating others is called kaitava. Associating with those who cheat in this way is called duḥsańga, bad association. Those who desire things other than Kṛṣṇa's service are also called duḥsańga, bad association.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.100|Madhya 24.100]]:''' "'The great scripture Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, compiled by Mahāmuni Vyāsadeva from four original verses, describes the most elevated and kindhearted devotees and completely rejects the cheating ways of materially motivated religiosity. It propounds the highest principle of eternal religion, which can factually mitigate the threefold miseries of a living being and award the highest benediction of full prosperity and knowledge. Those willing to hear the message of this scripture in a submissive attitude of service can at once capture the Supreme Lord in their hearts. Therefore there is no need for any scripture other than Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.101|Madhya 24.101]]:''' "The prefix 'pra' in the word 'projjhita' specifically refers to those desiring liberation or oneness with the Supreme. Such a desire should be understood to be the foremost cheating propensity. The great commentator Śrīdhara Svāmī has explained this verse in that way.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.102|Madhya 24.102]]:''' "When merciful Lord Kṛṣṇa understands that a foolish devotee desires material prosperity, He gratefully gives him the shelter of His lotus feet. In this way, the Lord covers the devotee's undesirable ambitions.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.103|Madhya 24.103]]:''' "'Whenever Kṛṣṇa is requested to fulfill one's desire, He undoubtedly does so, but He does not award anything which, after being enjoyed, will cause one to petition Him again and again to fulfill further desires. When one has other desires but engages in the Lord's service, Kṛṣṇa forcibly gives one shelter at His lotus feet, where one will forget all other desires.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.104|Madhya 24.104]]:''' "Association with a devotee, the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, and the nature of devotional service help one to give up all undesirable association and gradually attain elevation to the platform of love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.105|Madhya 24.105]]:''' "In this way I shall progressively explain all the words in the ātmārāma verse. It should be understood that all these words are meant to enable one to taste the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.106|Madhya 24.106]]:''' "I have given all these explanations just to give some indication of the verse's meaning. Now let Me explain the real meaning of the verse.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.107|Madhya 24.107]]:''' "There are two kinds of worshipers on the path of philosophical speculation — one is called brahma-upāsaka, a worshiper of the impersonal Brahman, and the other is called mokṣākāńkṣī, one who desires liberation.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.108|Madhya 24.108]]:''' "There are three types of people who worship the impersonal Brahman. The first is the beginner, the second is one whose thoughts are absorbed in Brahman, and the third is one who is actually merged in the impersonal Brahman.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.109|Madhya 24.109]]:''' "One cannot attain liberation simply through philosophical speculation devoid of devotional service. However, if one renders devotional service, he is automatically on the Brahman platform.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.110|Madhya 24.110]]:''' "Characteristically, one in devotional service is attracted away from the impersonal Brahman platform. He is offered a transcendental body to engage in Lord Kṛṣṇa's service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.111|Madhya 24.111]]:''' "When one gets a devotee's spiritual body, he can remember the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa. Simply by being attracted to Kṛṣṇa's transcendental qualities, one becomes a pure devotee engaged in His service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.112|Madhya 24.112]]:''' "'Even a liberated soul merged in the impersonal Brahman effulgence is attracted to the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa. He thus installs a Deity and renders the Lord service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.113|Madhya 24.113]]:''' "Although Śukadeva Gosvāmī and the four Kumāras were always absorbed in the thought of impersonal Brahman and were thus Brahmavādīs, they were nonetheless attracted by the transcendental pastimes and qualities of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore they later became devotees of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.114|Madhya 24.114]]:''' "The minds of the four Kumāras were attracted by the aroma of the flowers offered to Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet. Being thus attracted by the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa, they engaged in pure devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.115|Madhya 24.115]]:''' "'When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasī 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 Kumāras], they experienced a change in both body and mind, even though they were attached to the impersonal Brahman understanding.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.116|Madhya 24.116]]:''' "By the mercy of Śrīla Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī was attracted by the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Being thus attracted by Kṛṣṇa's transcendental qualities, he also became a devotee and engaged in His service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.117|Madhya 24.117]]:''' "'Being very much attracted by the transcendental pastimes of the Lord, the mind of Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī was agitated by Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He therefore began to study Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by the grace of his father.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.118|Madhya 24.118]]:''' "From their very births, the nine great mystic yogīs [Yogendras] were impersonal philosophers of the Absolute Truth. But because they heard about Lord Kṛṣṇa's qualities from Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and the great sage Nārada, they also became Kṛṣṇa's devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.119|Madhya 24.119]]:''' "In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam there is a full description of the devotional service of the nine Yogendras, who rendered devotional service because they were attracted by the Lord's transcendental qualities.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.120|Madhya 24.120]]:''' "'The nine Yogendras entered Lord Brahmā's association and heard from him the real meaning of the topmost Vedic literatures, the Upaniṣads. Although the Yogendras were already conversant in Vedic knowledge, they became very jubilant in Kṛṣṇa consciousness just by listening to Brahmā. Thus they wanted to enter Dvārakā, the abode of Lord Kṛṣṇa. In this way they finally achieved the place known as Rańga-kṣetra.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.121|Madhya 24.121]]:''' "Those who wish to merge into the impersonal Brahman are also divided into three categories — those desiring to be liberated, those already liberated and those who have realized Brahman.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.122|Madhya 24.122]]:''' "There are many people within this material world who desire liberation, and for this purpose they render devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.123|Madhya 24.123]]:''' "'Those who want to be relieved from the material clutches give up the worship of the various demigods who have fearful bodily features. Such peaceful devotees, who are not envious of the demigods, worship the different forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.124|Madhya 24.124]]:''' "If those who are attached to demigod worship fortunately associate with the devotees, their dormant devotional service and appreciation of the Lord's qualities gradually awaken. In this way they also engage in Kṛṣṇa's devotional service and give up the desire for liberation and the desire to merge into the existence of impersonal Brahman.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.125|Madhya 24.125]]:''' "'O great learned devotee, although there are many faults in this material world, there is one good opportunity — the association with devotees. Such association brings about great happiness. Due to this good quality, our strong desire to achieve liberation by merging into the Brahman effulgence has become weakened.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.126|Madhya 24.126]]:''' "By associating with the great saint Nārada, Śaunaka and other great sages gave up the desire for liberation and engaged in Kṛṣṇa's devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.127|Madhya 24.127]]:''' "Simply by meeting Kṛṣṇa or receiving Kṛṣṇa's special favor, one can give up the desire for liberation. Being attracted by the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa, one can engage in His service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.128|Madhya 24.128]]:''' "'In this Dvārakā-dhāma, I am being attracted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, who is personified spiritual bliss. Simply by seeing Him, I am feeling great happiness. Oh, I have wasted so much time trying to become self-realized through impersonal cultivation. This is a cause for lamentation!'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.129|Madhya 24.129]]:''' "There are many people who are liberated even in this lifetime. Some are liberated by discharging devotional service, and others are liberated through the philosophical speculative process.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.130|Madhya 24.130]]:''' "Those who are liberated by devotional service become more and more attracted by the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa. Thus they engage in His service. Those who are liberated by the speculative process eventually fall down again due to offensive activity.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.131|Madhya 24.131]]:''' "'O lotus-eyed one, those who think they are liberated in this life but are without devotional service to You are of impure intelligence. Although they accept severe austerities and penances and rise to the spiritual position, to impersonal Brahman realization, they fall down again because they neglect to worship Your lotus feet.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.132|Madhya 24.132]]:''' "'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.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.133|Madhya 24.133]]:''' "'Although I was worshiped by those on the path of monism and initiated into self-realization through the yoga system, I have nonetheless been forcibly turned into a maidservant by some cunning boy who is always joking with the gopīs.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.134|Madhya 24.134]]:''' "One who has attained his constitutional position by the strength of devotional service attains a transcendental body even in this lifetime. Being attracted by Lord Kṛṣṇa's transcendental qualities, he fully engages in service at His lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.135|Madhya 24.135]]:''' "'The living entities and other potencies merge into Mahā-Viṣṇu as the Lord lies down and winds up [destroys] the cosmic manifestation. Liberation means being situated in one's eternal, original form after giving up the changeable gross and subtle bodies.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.136|Madhya 24.136]]:''' "By opposing Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one becomes conditioned and fearful due to the influence of māyā. By executing devotional service faithfully, one is liberated from māyā.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.137|Madhya 24.137]]:''' "'When the living entity is attracted by the material energy, which is separate from Kṛṣṇa, he is overpowered by fear. Because he is separated from the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the material energy, his conception of life is reversed. In other words, instead of being the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, he becomes Kṛṣṇa's competitor. This is called viparyayo 'smṛtiḥ. To nullify this mistake, one who is actually learned and advanced worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead as his spiritual master, worshipful Deity and source of life. He thus worships the Lord by the process of unalloyed devotional service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.138|Madhya 24.138]]:''' "'This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.139|Madhya 24.139]]:''' "One does not attain liberation without rendering devotional service. Liberation is attained only by devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.140|Madhya 24.140]]:''' "'My dear Lord, devotional service unto You is the only auspicious path. If one gives it up simply for speculative knowledge or the understanding that these living beings are spirit souls and the material world is false, he undergoes a great deal of trouble. He only gains troublesome and inauspicious activities. His actions are like beating a husk that is already devoid of rice. His labor becomes fruitless.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.141|Madhya 24.141]]:''' "'O lotus-eyed one, those who think they are liberated in this life but are without devotional service to You are of impure intelligence. Although they accept severe austerities and penances and rise to the spiritual position, to impersonal Brahman realization, they fall down again because they neglect to worship Your lotus feet.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.142|Madhya 24.142]]:''' "'If one simply maintains an official position in the four varṇas and āśramas but does not worship the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, he falls down from his puffed-up position into a hellish condition.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.143|Madhya 24.143]]:''' "When one is actually liberated by executing devotional service, he always engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.144|Madhya 24.144]]:''' "'Even a liberated soul merged in the impersonal Brahman effulgence is attracted to the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa. He thus installs a Deity and renders the Lord service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.145|Madhya 24.145]]:''' "These six kinds of ātmārāmas engage in the loving service of Kṛṣṇa. The varieties of service are indicated by adding 'ca,' and they also bear the meaning of 'api' ['indeed'].

'''[[CC Madhya 24.146|Madhya 24.146]]:''' "The six kinds of ātmārāmas render devotional service to Kṛṣṇa without ulterior motives. The words 'munayaḥ' and 'santaḥ' indicate those who are very much attached to meditating upon Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.147|Madhya 24.147]]:''' "The word 'nirgranthāḥ' means 'without ignorance' and 'devoid of rules and regulations.' Whichever meaning fits may be applied.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.148|Madhya 24.148]]:''' "The use of the word 'ca' in different places produces different meanings. Over and above them, there is another meaning that is very important.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.149|Madhya 24.149]]:''' "Although the words 'ātmārāmāś ca' would be repeated six times, simply by adding the word 'ca,' five 'ātmārāmas' are deleted.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.150|Madhya 24.150]]:''' "Therefore there is no need to repeat the word 'ātmārāma.' One is sufficient, and that one word indicates six persons.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.151|Madhya 24.151]]:''' "'Of words having the same form and case termination, the last one is the only one retained. For example, the word "rāmāḥ" is used to stand for "rāmaś ca, rāmaś ca, rāmaś ca, etc."'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.152|Madhya 24.152]]:''' "By the aggregate use of the word 'ca,' it is indicated that all the ātmārāmas and saints serve and worship Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.153|Madhya 24.153]]:''' "'Api' added to the word 'nirgranthāḥ' is used for exposition. Thus I have tried to clarify seven meanings [of the ātmārāma verse].

'''[[CC Madhya 24.154|Madhya 24.154]]:''' "The yogī who worships the Supersoul within himself is also called ātmārāma. There are two types of ātmārāma-yogīs.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.155|Madhya 24.155]]:''' "The two types of ātmārāma-yogīs are called sagarbha and nigarbha. Each of these is divided into three; therefore there are six types of worshipers of the Supersoul.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.156|Madhya 24.156]]:''' "'Some yogīs think of the Lord within their hearts as measuring about six inches. The Lord has four hands, in which He holds a conchshell, club, disc and lotus flower. Those who worship this form of Viṣṇu within the heart are called sagarbha-yogīs.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.157|Madhya 24.157]]:''' "'When one is in ecstatic love with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one's heart is melted by bhakti-yoga and one feels transcendental bliss. There are bodily symptoms manifest, and due to eagerness, there are tears in the eyes. Thus one is subjected to spiritual bliss. When the heart is overly afflicted, the meditative mind, like a fishing hook, is gradually separated from the object of meditation.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.158|Madhya 24.158]]:''' "By these three divisions of advancement in yoga — yogārurukṣu, yogārūḍha and prāpta-siddhi — there are six kinds of mystic yogīs.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.159|Madhya 24.159]]:''' "'For those saintly persons who wish to rise to the platform of yogic perfection, the means consists of practicing the yoga system by strictly following its regulative principles and practicing the yoga postures, āsanas and breathing exercises. And for those who are already elevated to this platform, the means consists of maintaining mental equilibrium [śama] by rejecting all material activity and practicing meditation to keep the mind on the Supreme Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.160|Madhya 24.160]]:''' "'When a person is no longer interested in acting for sense gratification and when he renounces all material desires, he is said to be situated in perfect yoga [yogārūḍha].'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.161|Madhya 24.161]]:''' "When a purified yogī associates with devotees, he engages in Lord Kṛṣṇa's devotional service, being attracted by the Lord's transcendental qualities.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.162|Madhya 24.162]]:''' "The meanings of the words 'ca' and 'api' can be applied here. The meanings of the words 'muni' and 'nirgrantha' are the same as before.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.163|Madhya 24.163]]:''' "The word 'ahaitukī' is always applicable to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Urukrama. In this way I have described thirteen complete meanings [of the ātmārāma verse].

'''[[CC Madhya 24.164|Madhya 24.164]]:''' "These thirteen types of yogīs and munis are called śānta-bhaktas, for they render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the neutral stage.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.165|Madhya 24.165]]:''' "The word 'ātmā' sometimes means 'the mind.' In this case the word 'ātmārāma' means 'a person who is satisfied by mental speculation.' When such a person associates with a pure devotee, he takes to devotional service at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.166|Madhya 24.166]]:''' "'Those who follow the path of great, saintly mystic yogīs take to the yogic gymnastic process and begin worshiping from the abdomen, where it is said that Brahman is located. Such people are called śārkarākṣa, which means that they are situated in the gross bodily conception. There are also followers of the ṛṣi known as Āruṇa. Following his path, they observe the activities of the arteries. Thus they gradually rise to the heart, where subtle Brahman, Paramātmā, is situated. They then worship Him. O unlimited Ananta! Better than these persons are the mystic yogīs who worship You from the top of their heads. Beginning with the abdomen and proceeding through the heart, they reach the top of the head and pass through the brahma-randhra, the hole at the top of the skull. Thus these yogīs attain the perfectional platform and do not enter the cycle of birth and death again.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.167|Madhya 24.167]]:''' "Being attracted by the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa, such yogīs become great saints. At that time, not being hampered by the yogic process, they engage in unalloyed devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.168|Madhya 24.168]]:''' "'Ātmā' also means 'endeavor.' Being attracted by Kṛṣṇa's transcendental qualities, some saints make a great endeavor to come to the point of rendering service to Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.169|Madhya 24.169]]:''' "'The transcendental position cannot be attained by wandering up and down from Brahmaloka and Satyaloka to Pātālaloka. If one is actually intelligent and learned, he should endeavor for that rare transcendental position. By the force of time one attains whatever material happiness is available within the fourteen worlds, just as one attains distress in due course of time. But since spiritual consciousness is not attained in this way, one should try for it.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.170|Madhya 24.170]]:''' "'Those who are eager to awaken their spiritual consciousness and who thus have unflinching, undeviated intelligence certainly attain the desired goal of life very soon.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.171|Madhya 24.171]]:''' "The word 'ca' may be used in place of 'api,' which gives emphasis to something. Thus it means that without sincere endeavor in devotional service, one cannot attain love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.172|Madhya 24.172]]:''' "'Devotional perfection is very difficult to attain for two reasons. First, unless one is attached to Kṛṣṇa, he cannot attain devotional perfection even if he renders devotional service for a long time. Second, Kṛṣṇa does not easily deliver perfection in devotional service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.173|Madhya 24.173]]:''' "'To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.174|Madhya 24.174]]:''' "Another meaning of 'ātmā' is dhṛti, or endurance. A person who endeavors with endurance is ātmārāma. With endurance, such a person engages in devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.175|Madhya 24.175]]:''' "The word 'muni' also means 'bird' and 'bumblebee.' The word 'nirgrantha' refers to foolish people. By the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, such creatures contact a sādhu [spiritual master] and thus engage in devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.176|Madhya 24.176]]:''' "'My dear mother, in this forest, all the birds, after rising on the beautiful branches of the trees, are closing their eyes and, not being attracted by any other sound, are simply listening to the vibration of Kṛṣṇa's flute. Such birds must be on the same level as great saints.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.177|Madhya 24.177]]:''' "'O good fortune personified! O original Personality of Godhead, all these bees are chanting about Your transcendental fame, which will purify the entire universe. Indeed, they are following Your path in the forest and are worshiping You. Actually they are all saintly persons, but now they have taken the form of bees. Although You are playing like a human being, they could not forget that You are their worshipable Deity.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.178|Madhya 24.178]]:''' "'All the cranes and swans in the water are being enchanted by the melodious song of Kṛṣṇa's flute. They have approached and are worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead with full attention. Alas, they are closing their eyes and are becoming completely silent.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.179|Madhya 24.179]]:''' "'Kirātas, Hūnas, Āndhras, Pulindas, Pukkaśas, Ābhīras, Śumbhas, Yavanas and members of the Khaśa races, and even others who are addicted to sinful acts, can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.180|Madhya 24.180]]:''' "The word 'dhṛti' is also used when one is fully perfect in knowledge. When, due to having obtained the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one has no material miseries, he attains mahā-pūrṇa, the highest level of perfection.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.181|Madhya 24.181]]:''' "'Dhṛti is the fullness felt due to the absence of misery and the attainment of knowledge of the Supreme Lord and pure love for Him. The lamentation that accrues from not obtaining a goal or from losing something already attained does not affect this completeness.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.182|Madhya 24.182]]:''' "A devotee of Kṛṣṇa is never in a miserable condition, nor does he have any desire other than to serve Kṛṣṇa. He is experienced and advanced. He feels the transcendental bliss of love of Kṛṣṇa and always engages in His service in full perfection.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.183|Madhya 24.183]]:''' "'My devotees, having fulfilled their desires by serving Me, do not accept the four kinds of salvation that are easily earned by such service. Why then should they accept any pleasures that are lost in the course of time?'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.184|Madhya 24.184]]:''' "'In this material world, all living entities are disturbed due to their flickering position. A devotee, however, is fixed in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord, the master of the senses. Such a person is to be considered situated in endurance and patience.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.185|Madhya 24.185]]:''' "The word 'ca' is for emphasis, and the word 'api' is used to indicate an aggregate. Thus it is to be understood that even dull creatures [birds and illiterates] can also be situated in endurance and engage in Kṛṣṇa's devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.186|Madhya 24.186]]:''' "The word 'ātmā' is also used for a particular type of intelligence. Since all living entities generally have some intelligence, more or less, they are included.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.187|Madhya 24.187]]:''' "Everyone has some kind of intelligence, and one who utilizes his intelligence is called an ātmārāma. There are two types of ātmārāmas. One is a learned scholar and philosopher, and the other is an uneducated, illiterate, foolish person.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.188|Madhya 24.188]]:''' "By the mercy of Kṛṣṇa and by the association of devotees, one increases his attraction to and intelligence for pure devotional service; therefore one gives up everything and engages himself at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and His pure devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.189|Madhya 24.189]]:''' "'I [Kṛṣṇa] am the original source of everything. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My service with love and devotion.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.190|Madhya 24.190]]:''' "'Women, fourth-class men, uncivilized hill tribes, hunters and many others born of low families, as well as birds and beasts, can engage in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead — who acts very wonderfully — and follow the path of the devotees and take lessons from them. Although the ocean of nescience is vast, they can still cross over it. What, then, is the difficulty for those who are advanced in Vedic knowledge?'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.191|Madhya 24.191]]:''' "Considering all these points, when one engages in the service of Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, Kṛṣṇa gives one the intelligence by which he can gradually progress toward perfection in service to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.192|Madhya 24.192]]:''' "'To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.193|Madhya 24.193]]:''' "To be elevated to the platform of devotional service, the following five items should be observed: association with devotees, engagement in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the reading of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the chanting of the holy names and residence at Vṛndāvana or Mathurā.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.194|Madhya 24.194]]:''' "One's dormant love for Kṛṣṇa gradually awakens if one is a little advanced in one of these five items and is intelligent.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.195|Madhya 24.195]]:''' "'The power of these five principles is very wonderful and difficult to understand. Even without faith in them, a person who is offenseless can awaken his dormant love of Kṛṣṇa simply by being a little connected with them.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.196|Madhya 24.196]]:''' "If a person is actually liberal and intelligent, he can advance and become perfect in devotional service even if he has material desires and serves the Lord with some motive.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.197|Madhya 24.197]]:''' "'Whether one desires everything or nothing, or whether he desires to merge into the existence of the Lord, he is intelligent only if he worships Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by rendering transcendental loving service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.198|Madhya 24.198]]:''' "Devotional service is so strong that when one engages in it, he gradually gives up all material desires and becomes fully attracted to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. All this is brought about by attraction for the transcendental qualities of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.199|Madhya 24.199]]:''' "'Whenever Kṛṣṇa is requested to fulfill one's desire, He undoubtedly does so, but He does not award anything which, after being enjoyed, will cause one to petition Him again and again to fulfill further desires. When one has other desires but engages in the Lord's service, Kṛṣṇa forcibly gives one shelter at His lotus feet, where one will forget all other desires.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.200|Madhya 24.200]]:''' "Another meaning of the word 'ātmā' is 'one's characteristic nature.' Whoever enjoys his particular type of nature is called ātmārāma. Therefore, all living entities — be they moving or nonmoving — are also called ātmārāma.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.201|Madhya 24.201]]:''' "The original nature of every living entity is to consider himself the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa. But under the influence of māyā he thinks himself to be the body, and thus his original consciousness is covered.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.202|Madhya 24.202]]:''' "In that case, by the word 'ca,' the word 'eva' is meant. The word 'api' can be taken in the sense of aggregation. Thus the verse would read ātmārāmā eva — that is, 'even all kinds of living beings worship Kṛṣṇa.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.203|Madhya 24.203]]:''' "Living entities include great personalities like the four Kumāras, and also low-class foolish people, trees, plants, birds and beasts.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.204|Madhya 24.204]]:''' "The devotional service of Vyāsa, Śuka and the four Kumāras has already been well celebrated. Now let Me explain how immovable living entities like trees and plants engage in the Lord's devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.205|Madhya 24.205]]:''' "Everyone is eligible to receive Kṛṣṇa's mercy — including Vyāsadeva, the four Kumāras, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, lowborn creatures, trees, plants and beasts. By Kṛṣṇa's mercy they are elevated and engaged in His service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.206|Madhya 24.206]]:''' "'This land of Vṛndāvana [Vrajabhūmi] is glorified today because Your lotus feet have touched her earth and grass, Your fingernails have touched her trees and creepers, and Your merciful eyes have glanced upon her rivers, hills, birds and beasts. The gopīs have been embraced by Your arms, and even the goddess of fortune desires this. Now all of these are glorified.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.207|Madhya 24.207]]:''' "'My dear friend, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are passing through the forest leading Their cows with Their cowherd boyfriends. They both carry ropes with which, at the time of milking, They bind the rear legs of the cows. When They play on Their flutes, all moving living entities are stunned, and nonmoving living entities experience ecstatic jubilation by Their sweet music. All these things are certainly very wonderful.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.208|Madhya 24.208]]:''' "'The plants, creepers and trees were full of fruits and flowers due to ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, being so full, they were bowing down. They were inspired by such deep love for Kṛṣṇa that they were constantly pouring showers of honey. In this way the gopīs saw all the forests of Vṛndāvana.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.209|Madhya 24.209]]:''' "'Kirātas, Hūnas, Āndhras, Pulindas, Pukkaśas, Ābhīras, Śumbhas, Yavanas and members of the Khaśa races, and even others who are addicted to sinful acts, can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.210|Madhya 24.210]]:''' "I have already spoken about thirteen meanings [of the ātmārāma verse]. Now there are six more. Combined, these make nineteen.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.211|Madhya 24.211]]:''' "I have already explained nineteen different meanings. Now please hear further meanings. The word 'ātma' also refers to the body, and this can be taken in four ways.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.212|Madhya 24.212]]:''' "One in the bodily conception worships his own body as Brahman, but when he comes in contact with a devotee, he gives up this mistaken idea and engages himself in the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.213|Madhya 24.213]]:''' "'Those who follow the path of great, saintly mystic yogīs take to the yogic gymnastic process and begin worshiping from the abdomen, where it is said that Brahman is located. Such people are called śārkarākṣa, which means that they are situated in the gross bodily conception. There are also followers of the ṛṣi known as Āruṇa. Following his path, they observe the activities of the arteries. Thus they gradually rise to the heart, where subtle Brahman, Paramātmā, is situated. They then worship Him. O unlimited Ananta! Better than these persons are the mystic yogīs who worship You from the top of their heads. Beginning with the abdomen and proceeding through the heart, they reach the top of the head and pass through the brahma-randhra, the hole at the top of the skull. Thus these yogīs attain the perfectional platform and do not enter the cycle of birth and death again.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.214|Madhya 24.214]]:''' "Those who are in the bodily conception mainly engage in fruitive activity. Those who perform yajñas and ritualistic ceremonies are also considered in the same category. However, when such persons come in contact with the pure devotee, they give up their fruitive activity and fully engage in the service of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.215|Madhya 24.215]]:''' "'We have just begun performing this fruitive activity, a sacrificial fire, but due to the many imperfections in our action, we are not certain of its result. Our bodies have become black from the smoke, but we are factually pleased by the nectar of the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, Govinda, which you are distributing.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.216|Madhya 24.216]]:''' "The tapasvīs, those who undergo severe austerities and penances to elevate themselves to the higher planetary systems, are also in the same category. When such persons come in contact with a devotee, they give up all those practices and engage in Lord Kṛṣṇa's service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.217|Madhya 24.217]]:''' "'The taste for loving service is like the water of the river Ganges, which flows from the feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Every day that taste diminishes the results of sinful activities acquired over a period of many births by those who perform austerities.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.218|Madhya 24.218]]:''' "As long as one labors under the bodily conception, he must fulfill volumes and volumes of material desires. Thus a person is called ātmārāma. When such an ātmārāma is favored by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, he gives up his so-called self-satisfaction and engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.219|Madhya 24.219]]:''' "[When he was being blessed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Dhruva Mahārāja said:] 'O my Lord, because I was seeking an opulent material position, I was performing severe types of penance and austerity. Now I have gotten You, who are very difficult for the great demigods, saintly persons and kings to attain. I was searching after a piece of glass, but instead I have found a most valuable jewel. Therefore I am so satisfied that I do not wish to ask any benediction from You.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.220|Madhya 24.220]]:''' "In addition to the nineteen meanings of the verse mentioned previously, there are these four further meanings when the word 'ātmārāma' is taken to mean 'those laboring under the bodily conception.' This brings the total to twenty-three. Now hear of another three meanings, which are very suitable.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.221|Madhya 24.221]]:''' "As mentioned above, the word 'ca' can be used to mean 'aggregate.' According to this meaning, all the ātmārāmas and munis engage in Kṛṣṇa's service. Besides 'aggregate,' there is another meaning of the word 'ca.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.222|Madhya 24.222]]:''' "The word 'nirgranthāḥ' can be used as an adjective, and 'api' can be used in the sense of certainty. For instance, rāmaś ca kṛṣṇaś ca means that both Rāma and Kṛṣṇa enjoy walking in the forest.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.223|Madhya 24.223]]:''' "The word 'ca' can also present a secondary thing to be done at the same time. This way of understanding the word 'ca' is called anvācaye. An example is 'O brahmacārī, go out to collect alms and at the same time bring in the cows.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.224|Madhya 24.224]]:''' "Saintly persons who are always meditating upon Kṛṣṇa are engaged in the devotional service of the Lord. The ātmārāmas are also engaged in the Lord's service. That is the indirect import.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.225|Madhya 24.225]]:''' "The word 'ca' can also be used to indicate the certainty that only saintly persons are engaged in rendering devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. In the combination 'ātmārāmā api,' 'api' is used in the sense of censure.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.226|Madhya 24.226]]:''' "The word 'nirgrantha' can be taken as an adjective modifying 'muni' and 'ātmārāma.' There is another meaning, which you may hear from Me, indicating association with a devotee. Now I shall explain how it is that through the association of devotees, even a nirgrantha can become a devotee.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.227|Madhya 24.227]]:''' "The word 'nirgrantha,' when combined with 'api' used in the sense of certainty, indicates a person who is a hunter by profession or who is very poor. Nonetheless, when such a person associates with a great saint like Nārada, he engages in Lord Kṛṣṇa's devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.228|Madhya 24.228]]:''' "The words 'kṛṣṇārāmaś ca' refer to one who takes pleasure in thinking of Kṛṣṇa. Even though such a person may be a hunter, he is still worshipable and is the best of devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.229|Madhya 24.229]]:''' "I shall now narrate the story of how a hunter became a great devotee by the association of such an exalted personality as Nārada Muni. From this story, one can understand the greatness of association with pure devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.230|Madhya 24.230]]:''' "Once upon a time the great saint Nārada, after visiting Lord Nārāyaṇa in the Vaikuṇṭhas, went to Prayāga to bathe at the confluence of three rivers — the Ganges, Yamunā and Sarasvatī.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.231|Madhya 24.231]]:''' "Nārada Muni saw that a deer was lying on the path through the forest and that it was pierced by an arrow. It had broken legs and was twisting due to much pain.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.232|Madhya 24.232]]:''' "Farther ahead, Nārada Muni saw a boar pierced by an arrow. Its legs were also broken, and it was twisting in pain.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.233|Madhya 24.233]]:''' "When he went farther, he saw a rabbit that was also suffering. Nārada Muni was greatly pained at heart to see living entities suffer so.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.234|Madhya 24.234]]:''' "When Nārada Muni advanced farther, he saw a hunter behind a tree. This hunter was holding arrows, and he was ready to kill more animals.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.235|Madhya 24.235]]:''' "The hunter's body was blackish. He had reddish eyes, and he appeared fierce. It was as if the superintendent of death, Yamarāja, were standing there with a bow and arrows in his hands.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.236|Madhya 24.236]]:''' "When Nārada Muni left the forest path and went to the hunter, all the animals immediately saw him and fled.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.237|Madhya 24.237]]:''' "When all the animals fled, the hunter wanted to chastise Nārada with abusive language, but due to Nārada's presence, he could not utter anything abusive.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.238|Madhya 24.238]]:''' "The hunter addressed Nārada Muni: 'O gosvāmī! O great saintly person! Why have you left the general path through the forest to come to me? Simply by seeing you, all the animals I was hunting have now fled.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.239|Madhya 24.239]]:''' "Nārada Muni replied, 'Leaving the path, I have come to you to settle a doubt that is in my mind.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.240|Madhya 24.240]]:''' "'I was wondering whether all the boars and other animals that are half-killed belong to you.'"The hunter replied, 'Yes, what you are saying is so.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.241|Madhya 24.241]]:''' "Nārada Muni then inquired, 'Why did you not kill the animals completely? Why did you half-kill them by piercing their bodies with arrows?'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.242|Madhya 24.242]]:''' "The hunter replied, 'My dear saintly person, my name is Mṛgāri, enemy of animals. My father taught me to kill them in that way.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.243|Madhya 24.243]]:''' "'When I see half-killed animals suffer, I feel great pleasure.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.244|Madhya 24.244]]:''' "Nārada Muni then told the hunter, 'I have one thing to beg of you.'"The hunter replied, 'You may take whatever animals or anything else you would like.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.245|Madhya 24.245]]:''' "'I have many skins, if you would like them. I shall give you either a deerskin or a tiger skin.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.246|Madhya 24.246]]:''' "Nārada Muni said, 'I do not want any of the skins. I am asking only one thing from you in charity.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.247|Madhya 24.247]]:''' "'I beg you that from this day on you will kill animals completely and not leave them half-dead.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.248|Madhya 24.248]]:''' "The hunter replied, 'My dear sir, what are you asking of me? What is wrong with the animals' lying there half-killed? Will you please explain this to me?'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.249|Madhya 24.249]]:''' "Nārada Muni replied, 'If you leave the animals half-dead, you are purposefully giving them pain. Therefore you will have to suffer in retaliation.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.250|Madhya 24.250]]:''' "Nārada Muni continued, 'My dear hunter, your business is killing animals. That is a slight offense on your part. But when you consciously give them unnecessary pain by leaving them half-dead, you incur very great sins.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.251|Madhya 24.251]]:''' "Nārada Muni continued, 'All the animals that you have killed and given unnecessary pain will kill you one after the other in your next life and in life after life.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.252|Madhya 24.252]]:''' "In this way, through the association of the great sage Nārada Muni, the hunter was a little convinced of his sinful activity. He therefore became somewhat afraid due to his offenses.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.253|Madhya 24.253]]:''' "The hunter then admitted that he was convinced of his sinful activity, and he said, 'I have been taught this business from my very childhood. Now I am wondering how I can become freed from these unlimited volumes of sinful activity.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.254|Madhya 24.254]]:''' "The hunter continued, 'My dear sir, please tell me how I can be relieved from the reactions of my sinful life. Now I fully surrender unto you and fall down at your lotus feet. Please deliver me from sinful reactions.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.255|Madhya 24.255]]:''' "Nārada Muni assured the hunter, 'If you listen to my instructions, I shall find the way you can be liberated.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.256|Madhya 24.256]]:''' "The hunter then said, 'My dear sir, whatever you say I shall do.'"Nārada immediately ordered him, 'First of all, break your bow. Then I shall tell you what is to be done.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.257|Madhya 24.257]]:''' "The hunter replied, 'If I break my bow, how shall I maintain myself?'"Nārada Muni replied, 'Do not worry. I shall supply all your food every day.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.258|Madhya 24.258]]:''' "Being thus assured by the great sage Nārada Muni, the hunter broke his bow, immediately fell down at the saint's lotus feet and fully surrendered. After this, Nārada Muni raised him with his hand and gave him instructions for spiritual advancement.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.259|Madhya 24.259]]:''' "Nārada Muni then advised the hunter, 'Return home and distribute whatever riches you have to the pure brāhmaṇas who know the Absolute Truth. After you have distributed all your riches to the brāhmaṇas, you and your wife should leave home, each of you taking only one cloth to wear.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.260|Madhya 24.260]]:''' "Nārada Muni continued, 'Leave your home and go to the river. There you should construct a small cottage, and in front of the cottage you should grow a tulasī plant on a raised platform.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.261|Madhya 24.261]]:''' "'After planting the tulasī tree before your house, you should daily circumambulate that tulasī plant, serve her by giving her water and other things, and continuously chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.262|Madhya 24.262]]:''' "Nārada Muni continued, 'Every day I shall send sufficient food to you both. You can take as much food as you want.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.263|Madhya 24.263]]:''' "The three animals that were half-killed were then brought to their consciousness by the sage Nārada. Indeed, the animals got up and swiftly fled.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.264|Madhya 24.264]]:''' "When the hunter saw the half-killed animals flee, he was certainly struck with wonder. He then offered his respectful obeisances to the sage Nārada and returned home.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.265|Madhya 24.265]]:''' "After all this, Nārada Muni went to his destination. After the hunter returned home, he exactly followed the instructions of his spiritual master, Nārada.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.266|Madhya 24.266]]:''' "The news that the hunter had become a Vaiṣṇava spread all over the village. Indeed, all the villagers brought alms and presented them to the Vaiṣṇava who had formerly been a hunter.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.267|Madhya 24.267]]:''' "In one day enough food was brought for ten or twenty people, but the hunter and his wife would accept only as much as they could eat.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.268|Madhya 24.268]]:''' "One day, while speaking to his friend Parvata Muni, Nārada Muni requested him to go with him to see his disciple the hunter.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.269|Madhya 24.269]]:''' "As the saintly sages approached the hunter's place, the hunter could see them from a distance.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.270|Madhya 24.270]]:''' "With great alacrity the hunter began to run toward his spiritual master, but he could not fall down and offer obeisances because ants were running hither and thither around his feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.271|Madhya 24.271]]:''' "Seeing the ants, the hunter whisked them away with a piece of cloth. After thus clearing the ants from the ground, he fell down flat to offer his obeisances.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.272|Madhya 24.272]]:''' "Nārada Muni said, 'My dear hunter, such behavior is not at all astonishing. A man in devotional service is automatically nonviolent. He is the best of gentlemen.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.273|Madhya 24.273]]:''' "'O hunter, good qualities like nonviolence, which you have developed, are not very astonishing, for those engaged in the Lord's devotional service are never inclined to give pain to others because of envy.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.274|Madhya 24.274]]:''' "The hunter then received the two great sages in the courtyard of his house. He spread out a straw mat for them to sit upon, and with great devotion he begged them to sit down.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.275|Madhya 24.275]]:''' "He then fetched water and washed the sages' feet with great devotion. Then both husband and wife drank that water and sprinkled it on their heads.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.276|Madhya 24.276]]:''' "When the hunter chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra before his spiritual master, his body trembled and tears welled up in his eyes. Filled with ecstatic love, he raised his hands and began to dance, waving his garments up and down.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.277|Madhya 24.277]]:''' "When Parvata Muni saw the ecstatic loving symptoms of the hunter, he told Nārada, 'Certainly you are a touchstone.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.278|Madhya 24.278]]:''' "Parvata Muni continued, 'My dear friend Nārada Muni, you are glorified as the sage among the demigods. By your mercy, even a lowborn person like this hunter can immediately become attached to Lord Kṛṣṇa.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.279|Madhya 24.279]]:''' "Nārada Muni then asked the hunter, 'My dear Vaiṣṇava, do you have some income for your maintenance?'"The hunter replied, 'My dear spiritual master, whoever you send gives me something when he comes to see me.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.280|Madhya 24.280]]:''' "The former hunter said, 'Please do not send so much grain. Only send what is sufficient for two people, no more.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.281|Madhya 24.281]]:''' "Nārada Muni approved his not wanting more than a daily supply of food, and he blessed him, saying, 'You are fortunate.' Nārada Muni and Parvata Muni then disappeared from that place.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.282|Madhya 24.282]]:''' "Thus I have narrated the incident of the hunter. By hearing this narration, one can understand the influence of association with devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.283|Madhya 24.283]]:''' "In this way we have found three more meanings [of the ātmārāma verse]. Combine these with the other meanings, and the total number of meanings adds up to twenty-six in all.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.284|Madhya 24.284]]:''' "There is yet another meaning, which is full of a variety of imports. Actually there are two gross meanings and thirty-two subtle meanings.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.285|Madhya 24.285]]:''' "The word 'ātmā' refers to all the different expansions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One of them is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, Kṛṣṇa, and the others are different incarnations or expansions of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.286|Madhya 24.286]]:''' "One who always engages in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is called ātmārāma. There are two types of ātmārāmas. One is an ātmārāma engaged in regulative devotional service, and the other is an ātmārāma engaged in spontaneous devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.287|Madhya 24.287]]:''' "Both the ātmārāmas engaged in regulative devotional service and those engaged in spontaneous devotional service are further categorized into four groups. There are the eternal associates, the associates who have become perfect by devotional service, and those who are practicing devotional service and are called sādhakas, of whom there are two varieties.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.288|Madhya 24.288]]:''' "Those who are practicing devotional service are either mature or immature. Therefore the sādhakas are of two types. Since the devotees execute either regulative devotional service or spontaneous devotional service and there are four groups within these two divisions, altogether there are eight varieties.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.289|Madhya 24.289]]:''' "By executing regulative devotional service, one is elevated to the platform of an eternally perfect associate, such as a servant, friend, superior or beloved woman. Each of these is of four varieties.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.290|Madhya 24.290]]:''' "Among those who have perfected themselves by devotional service, there are servants, friends, superiors and beloved damsels. Similarly, there are four types of mature devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.291|Madhya 24.291]]:''' "Within the category of regulative devotional service, there are also immature devotees. These are also of four varieties. Thus in regulative devotional service there are altogether sixteen varieties.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.292|Madhya 24.292]]:''' "On the path of spontaneous devotional service, there are also sixteen categories of devotees. Thus there are thirty-two types of ātmārāmas enjoying the Supreme Lord on these two paths.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.293|Madhya 24.293]]:''' "When these thirty-two types of devotees are qualified with the words 'muni,' 'nirgrantha,' 'ca' and 'api,' the meanings can be increased in different ways and very soundly elaborated upon.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.294|Madhya 24.294]]:''' "When we add the twenty-six types of devotees to these thirty-two, they altogether number fifty-eight. You may now hear from Me of further manifestations of meanings.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.295|Madhya 24.295]]:''' "In this way, as I add the word 'ca' to one word after another, I make a compound. Thus the different names of ātmārāmas can be taken fifty-eight times.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.296|Madhya 24.296]]:''' "In this way, one can repeat the word 'ātmārāmāḥ' with 'ca' for each of the fifty-eight meanings. By following the rule previously stated and rejecting all but the last, we retain that which represents all the meanings.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.297|Madhya 24.297]]:''' "'Of words having the same form and case termination, the last one is the only one retained.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.298|Madhya 24.298]]:''' "When all the ca-kāras, or additions of the word 'ca,' are taken away, fifty-eight different meanings can still be understood by the one word 'ātmārāma.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.299|Madhya 24.299]]:''' "'By the plural word 'vṛkṣāḥ' ['trees'], all trees, such as banyan trees, fig trees, kapittha trees and mango trees, are indicated.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.300|Madhya 24.300]]:''' "The ātmārāma verse is like the sentence 'In this forest many different trees bear fruit.' All ātmārāmas render devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.301|Madhya 24.301]]:''' "After uttering the word 'ātmārāmāḥ' fifty-eight times and taking 'ca' in a sense of aggregation, one may add the word 'munayaḥ.' That will mean that great sages also render devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa. In this way there are fifty-nine meanings.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.302|Madhya 24.302]]:''' "Then taking the word 'nirgranthāḥ' and considering 'api' in the sense of sustenance, I have tried to explain a fifty-ninth meaning of the verse.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.303|Madhya 24.303]]:''' "Taking all the words together, there is another meaning. Whether one is an ātmārāma, a great sage or a nirgrantha, everyone must engage in the service of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.304|Madhya 24.304]]:''' "The word 'api' is then used in the sense of ascertainment, and then the word 'eva' can be uttered four times with four words.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.305|Madhya 24.305]]:''' "The words 'urukrama,' 'bhakti,' 'ahaitukī' and 'kurvanti' are added to the word 'eva' again and again. Thus another meaning is explained.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.306|Madhya 24.306]]:''' "Now I have given sixty different meanings of the verse, and yet there is another meaning which is also very strongly evident.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.307|Madhya 24.307]]:''' "The word 'ātmā' also refers to the living entity who knows about his body. That is another symptom. From Lord Brahmā down to the insignificant ant, everyone is counted as the marginal potency of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.308|Madhya 24.308]]:''' "'The potency of Lord Viṣṇu is summarized in three categories — namely the spiritual potency, the living entities and ignorance. The spiritual potency is full of knowledge; the living entities, although belonging to the spiritual potency, are subject to bewilderment; and the third energy, which is full of ignorance, is always visible in fruitive activities.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.309|Madhya 24.309]]:''' "'The word 'kṣetrajña' refers to the living entity, the enjoyer, the chief and material nature.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.310|Madhya 24.310]]:''' "The living entities are wandering in different species of life on different planets, but if by chance they get the association of a pure devotee [sādhu], they give up all other engagements and engage in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.311|Madhya 24.311]]:''' "I have thus explained sixty different meanings, and all of them aim at the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa. After giving so many examples, that is the only meaning.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.312|Madhya 24.312]]:''' "Now, due to your association, another meaning has awakened. It is due to your devotional service that these waves of meaning are arising.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.313|Madhya 24.313]]:''' "[Lord Śiva said:] 'I may know; Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the son of Vyāsadeva, may know; and Vyāsadeva may know or may not know Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. On the whole, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the spotless Purāṇa, can be learned only through devotional service, not by material intelligence, speculative methods or imaginary commentaries.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 24.314|Madhya 24.314]]:''' After hearing all the explanations of all the different meanings of the ātmārāma verse, Sanātana Gosvāmī was struck with wonder. He fell down at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and began to offer prayers.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.315|Madhya 24.315]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī said, "My dear Lord, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda. All the Vedic literatures are vibrated through Your breathing.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.316|Madhya 24.316]]:''' "My dear Lord, You are the original speaker of the Bhāgavatam. You therefore know its real import. But for You, no one can understand the confidential meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam."

'''[[CC Madhya 24.317|Madhya 24.317]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "Why are you glorifying Me personally? You should understand the transcendental position of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Why don't you consider this important point?

'''[[CC Madhya 24.318|Madhya 24.318]]:''' "Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is as great as Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord and shelter of everything. In each and every verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and in each and every syllable, there are various meanings.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.319|Madhya 24.319]]:''' "The form of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is given in questions and answers. Thus the conclusion is established. By hearing these questions and answers, one is highly astonished.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.320|Madhya 24.320]]:''' "'Now that Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Absolute Truth, the master of all mystic powers, has departed for His own abode, please tell us by whom religious principles are presently protected.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.321|Madhya 24.321]]:''' "'After Lord Kṛṣṇa departed for His abode along with religious principles and transcendental knowledge, this Purāṇa, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, has arisen like the sun in this Age of Kali to enlighten those who have no spiritual vision.'

'''[[CC Madhya 24.322|Madhya 24.322]]:''' "In this way, like a madman, I have explained the meaning of just one verse. I do not know who will take this as evidence.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.323|Madhya 24.323]]:''' "If one becomes a madman like Me, he may also understand the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by this process."

'''[[CC Madhya 24.324|Madhya 24.324]]:''' Folding his hands, Sanātana Gosvāmī said, "My Lord, You ordered me to write a directory about the activities of Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.325|Madhya 24.325]]:''' "I am a most lowborn person. I have no knowledge of good behavior. How is it possible for me to write authorized directions about Vaiṣṇava activities?"

'''[[CC Madhya 24.326|Madhya 24.326]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī then requested the Lord, "Please personally tell me how I can write this difficult book about Vaiṣṇava behavior. Please manifest Yourself in my heart.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.327|Madhya 24.327]]:''' "If You would please manifest Yourself within my heart and personally direct me in writing this book, then, although I am lowborn, I may hope to be able to write it. You can do this because You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead Yourself, and whatever You direct is perfect."

'''[[CC Madhya 24.328|Madhya 24.328]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "Whatever you want to do you will be able to do correctly by Lord Kṛṣṇa's favor. He will manifest the real purport.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.329|Madhya 24.329]]:''' "Because you asked Me for a synopsis, please hear these few indications. In the beginning describe how one must take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.330|Madhya 24.330]]:''' "Your book should describe the characteristics of the bona fide guru and the bona fide disciple. Then, before accepting a spiritual master, one can be assured of the spiritual master's position. Similarly, the spiritual master can also be assured of the disciple's position. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, should be described as the worshipable object, and you should describe the bīja-mantra for the worship of Kṛṣṇa, as well as that for Rāma or any other expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.331|Madhya 24.331]]:''' "You should discuss the qualifications necessary for receiving a mantra, the perfection of the mantra, the purification of the mantra, initiation, morning duties, remembrance of the Supreme Lord, cleanliness and washing the mouth and other parts of the body.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.332|Madhya 24.332]]:''' "You should describe how in the morning one should regularly brush his teeth, take his bath, offer prayers to the Lord and offer obeisances to the spiritual master. You should also describe how one should render service to the spiritual master and paint one's body in twelve places with ūrdhva-puṇḍra [tilaka], as well as how one should stamp one's body with the holy names of the Lord or the symbols of the Lord, such as the disc and club.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.333|Madhya 24.333]]:''' "After this, you should describe how one should decorate his body with gopīcandana, wear neck beads, collect tulasī leaves from the tulasī tree, cleanse his cloth and the altar, cleanse his own house or apartment and go to the temple and ring the bell just to draw the attention of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.334|Madhya 24.334]]:''' "Also describe Deity worship, wherein one should offer food to Kṛṣṇa at least five times daily and in due time place Him on a bed. You should also describe the process for offering ārati and the worship of the Lord according to the list of five, sixteen or fifty ingredients.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.335|Madhya 24.335]]:''' "The characteristics of the Deities should be discussed, as well as the characteristics of the śālagrāma-śilā. You should also discuss visiting the Deities in the temple and touring holy places like Vṛndāvana, Mathurā and Dvārakā.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.336|Madhya 24.336]]:''' "You should glorify the holy name and explain that one must carefully give up offenses when chanting the holy name. You should also describe the symptoms of a Vaiṣṇava and explain that one must give up or nullify all kinds of sevā-aparādha, offenses in Deity worship.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.337|Madhya 24.337]]:''' "The items of worship, such as water, conchshell, flowers, incense and lamp, should be described. You should also mention chanting softly, offering prayers, circumambulating and offering obeisances. All these should be carefully described.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.338|Madhya 24.338]]:''' "Other items you should describe are the method of performing puraścaraṇa, taking kṛṣṇa-prasādam, giving up unoffered food and not blaspheming the Lord's devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.339|Madhya 24.339]]:''' "You should describe the symptoms of a devotee, how to associate with devotees, how to satisfy a devotee by rendering service, and how to give up the association of nondevotees. You should also explain the value of regularly hearing the recitation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.340|Madhya 24.340]]:''' "You should describe the ritualistic duties to be performed every day, and you should also describe the fortnightly duties — especially how to observe the fortnightly Ekādaśī fast. You should also describe the duties to be observed every month, and you should especially describe the observance of ceremonies like Janmāṣṭamī, Rāma-navamī and Nṛsiḿha-caturdaśī.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.341|Madhya 24.341]]:''' "Ekādaśī, Janmāṣṭamī, Vāmana-dvādaśī, Rāma-navamī and Nṛsiḿha-caturdaśī — all these should be described.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.342|Madhya 24.342]]:''' "You should recommend the avoidance of mixed Ekādaśī and the performance of pure Ekādaśī. You should also describe the fault in not observing Ekādaśī. One should be very careful as far as these items are concerned. If one is not careful, one will be negligent in executing devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.343|Madhya 24.343]]:''' "Whatever you say about Vaiṣṇava behavior, the establishment of Vaiṣṇava temples and Deities, and everything else should be supported by evidence from the Purāṇas.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.344|Madhya 24.344]]:''' "You should give general and specific descriptions of the behavior and activities of a Vaiṣṇava. You should outline things that are to be done and things that are not to be done. All this should be described as regulations and etiquette.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.345|Madhya 24.345]]:''' "I have thus given a synopsis of the Vaiṣṇava regulative principles. I have given this in brief just to give you a little direction. When you write on this subject, Kṛṣṇa will help you by spiritually awakening you."

'''[[CC Madhya 24.346|Madhya 24.346]]:''' Thus I have narrated Lord Caitanya's mercy upon Sanātana Gosvāmī. When one hears these topics, one's heart will be cleansed of all contamination.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.347|Madhya 24.347]]:''' The authorized poet Kavi-karṇapūra has written a book named Caitanya-candrodaya-nāṭaka. This book tells how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu blessed Sanātana Gosvāmī with His specific mercy.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.348|Madhya 24.348]]:''' "Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī, the elder brother of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, was a most important minister in the government of Hussain Shah, the ruler of Bengal, and he was considered a most brilliant gem in that assembly. He possessed all the opulences of a royal position, but he gave up everything just to accept the youthful goddess of renunciation. Although he externally appeared to be a mendicant who had renounced everything, he was filled with the pleasure of devotional service within his heart. Thus he can be compared to a deep lake covered with moss. He was the object of pleasure for all the devotees who knew the science of devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.349|Madhya 24.349]]:''' "As soon as Sanātana Gosvāmī arrived in front of Lord Caitanya, the Lord, seeing him, became merciful to him. The Lord, who has the complexion of a golden campaka flower, opened His arms and embraced him while expressing great affection."

'''[[CC Madhya 24.350|Madhya 24.350]]:''' "In the course of time, the transcendental news of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes in Vṛndāvana was almost lost. To enunciate explicitly those transcendental pastimes, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu empowered Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī with the nectar of His mercy to carry out this work in Vṛndāvana."

'''[[CC Madhya 24.351|Madhya 24.351]]:''' I have thus explained the mercy bestowed on Sanātana Gosvāmī by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. If one hears this description, all moroseness in the heart will diminish.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.352|Madhya 24.352]]:''' By reading these instructions to Sanātana Gosvāmī, one will become fully aware of Lord Kṛṣṇa's various expansions and the process of devotional service according to the regulative principles and spontaneous love. Thus everything can be fully known.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.353|Madhya 24.353]]:''' By reading these instructions, a pure devotee can understand love of Kṛṣṇa, the mellows of devotional service and the conclusion of devotional service. Everyone can understand all these things to their ultimate end by studying these instructions.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.354|Madhya 24.354]]:''' The conclusion of these instructions can be known to one whose life and soul are the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Nityānanda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 24.355|Madhya 24.355]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 23|Madhya-līlā 23]] '''[[CC Madhya 23|Madhya-līlā 23]] - [[CC Madhya 25|Madhya-līlā 25]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 25|Madhya-līlā 25]]</div>

CC Madhya 23

2026-06-04T18:29:17Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 23 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 23|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 23: Life's Ultimate Goal - Love of Godhead'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 22|Madhya-līlā 22]] '''[[CC Madhya 22|Madhya-līlā 22]] - [[CC Madhya 24|Madhya-līlā 24]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 24|Madhya-līlā 24]]</div>

'''[[CC Madhya 23 Summary|Madhya 23 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 23.1|Madhya 23.1]]:''' The most munificent Supreme Personality of Godhead, known as Gaurakṛṣṇa, distributed to everyone — even the lowest of men — His own confidential treasury in the form of the nectar of love of Himself and the holy name. This was never given to the people at any time before. I therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.2|Madhya 23.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Madhya 23.3|Madhya 23.3]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "Now hear, O Sanātana, about the result of devotional service, which is love of Godhead, life's ultimate goal. One who hears this description will be enlightened in the transcendental mellows of devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.4|Madhya 23.4]]:''' "When affection for Kṛṣṇa becomes deeper, one attains love of Godhead in devotional service. Such a position is called sthāyi-bhāva, permanent enjoyment of the mellows of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.5|Madhya 23.5]]:''' "'When devotional service is executed on the transcendental platform of pure goodness, it is like a sun-ray of love for Kṛṣṇa. At such a time, devotional service causes the heart to be softened by various tastes, and one is then situated in bhāva [emotion].'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.6|Madhya 23.6]]:''' "Bhāva [emotion] has two different symptoms — constitutional and marginal. Now, My dear Sanātana, listen to the symptoms of love.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.7|Madhya 23.7]]:''' "'When that bhāva softens the heart completely, becomes endowed with a great feeling of possessiveness in relation to the Lord and becomes very much condensed and intensified, it is called prema [love of Godhead] by learned scholars.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.8|Madhya 23.8]]:''' "'When one develops an unflinching sense of ownership or possessiveness in relation to Lord Viṣṇu, or, in other words, when one thinks Viṣṇu and no one else to be the only object of love, such an awakening is called bhakti [devotion] by exalted persons like Bhīṣma, Prahlāda, Uddhava and Nārada.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.9|Madhya 23.9]]:''' "If, by good fortune, a living entity develops faith in Kṛṣṇa, he begins to associate with devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.10|Madhya 23.10]]:''' "When one is encouraged in devotional service by the association of devotees, one becomes free from all unwanted contamination by following the regulative principles and chanting and hearing.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.11|Madhya 23.11]]:''' "When one is freed from all unwanted contamination, he advances with firm faith. When firm faith in devotional service awakens, a taste for hearing and chanting also awakens.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.12|Madhya 23.12]]:''' "After taste is awakened, a deep attachment arises, and from that attachment the seed of love for Kṛṣṇa grows in the heart.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.13|Madhya 23.13]]:''' "When that ecstatic emotional stage intensifies, it is called love of Godhead. Such love is life's ultimate goal and the reservoir of all pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.14-15|Madhya 23.14-15]]:''' "'In the beginning there must be faith. Then one becomes interested in associating with pure devotees. Thereafter one is initiated by the spiritual master and executes the regulative principles under his orders. Thus one is freed from all unwanted habits and becomes firmly fixed in devotional service. Thereafter, one develops taste and attachment. This is the way of sādhana-bhakti, the execution of devotional service according to the regulative principles. Gradually emotions intensify, and finally there is an awakening of love. This is the gradual development of love of Godhead for the devotee interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.16|Madhya 23.16]]:''' "'The spiritually powerful message of Godhead can be properly discussed only in a society of devotees, and it is greatly pleasing to hear in that association. If one hears from devotees, the way of transcendental experience quickly opens, and gradually one attains firm faith that in due course develops into attraction and devotion.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.17|Madhya 23.17]]:''' "If one actually has the seed of transcendental emotion in his heart, the symptoms will be visible in his activities. That is the verdict of all revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.18-19|Madhya 23.18-19]]:''' "'When the seed of ecstatic emotion for Kṛṣṇa fructifies, the following nine symptoms manifest in one's behavior: forgiveness, concern that time should not be wasted, detachment, absence of false prestige, hope, eagerness, a taste for chanting the holy name of the Lord, attachment to descriptions of the transcendental qualities of the Lord, and affection for those places where the Lord resides — that is, a temple or a holy place like Vṛndāvana. These are all called anubhāva, subordinate signs of ecstatic emotion. They are visible in a person in whose heart the seed of love of God has begun to fructify.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.20|Madhya 23.20]]:''' "If love for Kṛṣṇa in a seedling state has fructified in one's heart, one is not agitated by material things.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.21|Madhya 23.21]]:''' "'O brāhmaṇas, just accept me as a completely surrendered soul, and let mother Ganges, the representative of the Lord, also accept me in that way, for I have already taken the lotus feet of the Lord into my heart. Let the snakebird — or whatever magical thing the brāhmaṇa created — bite me at once. I only desire that you all continue singing the deeds of Lord Viṣṇu.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.22|Madhya 23.22]]:''' "Not a moment should be lost. Every moment should be utilized for Kṛṣṇa or connected with Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.23|Madhya 23.23]]:''' "'With their words, they offer prayers to the Lord. With their minds, they always remember the Lord. With their bodies, they offer obeisances to the Lord. Despite all these activities, they are still not satisfied. This is the nature of pure devotees. Shedding tears from their eyes, they dedicate their whole lives to the Lord's service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.24|Madhya 23.24]]:''' "In the material field, people are interested in material enjoyment, mystic power and sense gratification. But these things do not appeal to the devotee at all.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.25|Madhya 23.25]]:''' "'King Bharata was very eager to attain the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, who is called Uttamaḥśloka because poems and prayers are offered to Him for His favor. In his youth, King Bharata gave up his attractive wife and children, as well as his beloved friends and opulent kingdom, just as one gives up stool after passing it.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.26|Madhya 23.26]]:''' "Although a pure devotee's standard is above all, he still considers himself to be in the lowest stage of life.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.27|Madhya 23.27]]:''' "'Bharata Mahārāja always carried affection for Kṛṣṇa within his heart. Although Bharata Mahārāja was the crown jewel of kings, he was still wandering about and begging alms in the city of his enemies. He was even offering respects to caṇḍālas, low-class men who eat dogs.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.28|Madhya 23.28]]:''' "A fully surrendered devotee always hopes that Lord Kṛṣṇa will be kind to him. This hope is very firm in him.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.29|Madhya 23.29]]:''' "'O my Lord, I do not have any love for You, nor am I qualified for discharging devotional service by chanting and hearing. Nor do I possess the mystic power of a Vaiṣṇava, knowledge or pious activities. Nor do I belong to a very high-caste family. On the whole, I do not possess anything. Still, O beloved of the gopīs, because You bestow Your mercy on the most fallen, I have an unbreakable hope that is constantly in my heart. That hope is always giving me pain.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.30|Madhya 23.30]]:''' "This eagerness is chiefly characterized by an ardent desire to associate with the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.31|Madhya 23.31]]:''' "'O Kṛṣṇa, O flute-player, the sweetness of Your early age is wonderful within these three worlds. You know My unsteadiness, and I know Yours. No one else knows about this. I want to see Your beautiful, attractive face somewhere in a solitary place, but how can this be accomplished?'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.32|Madhya 23.32]]:''' "Due to having great relish for the holy name, one is inclined to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra constantly.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.33|Madhya 23.33]]:''' "'O Govinda, this youthful girl named Rādhikā is today constantly pouring forth tears like nectar falling from flowers as She sings Your holy names in a sweet voice.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.34|Madhya 23.34]]:''' "At this stage of bhāva, a devotee has awakened the tendency to chant and describe the transcendental qualities of the Lord. He has attachment for this process.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.35|Madhya 23.35]]:''' "'O my Lord, the transcendental body of Kṛṣṇa is very sweet, and His face is even sweeter than His body. But His soft smile, which has the fragrance of honey, is sweeter still.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.36|Madhya 23.36]]:''' "A devotee absorbed in ecstatic emotion for Kṛṣṇa always resides in a place where Kṛṣṇa's pastimes were performed.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.37|Madhya 23.37]]:''' "'O Lord Puṇḍarīkākṣa, while chanting Your holy name with tears in my eyes, when shall I dance in ecstasy on the bank of the Yamunā?'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.38|Madhya 23.38]]:''' "These are the symptoms of a person who has developed attraction [bhāva] for Kṛṣṇa. Now let Me describe the symptoms of a person who is actually elevated to love of Kṛṣṇa. O Sanātana, please hear this from Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.39|Madhya 23.39]]:''' "Even the most learned man cannot understand the words, activities and symptoms of a person situated in love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.40|Madhya 23.40]]:''' "'Even a most learned scholar cannot understand the activities and symptoms of an exalted personality in whose heart love of Godhead has awakened.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.41|Madhya 23.41]]:''' "'When a person is actually advanced and takes pleasure in chanting the holy name of the Lord, who is very dear to him, he is agitated and loudly chants the holy name. He also laughs, cries, becomes agitated and chants just like a madman, not caring for outsiders.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.42|Madhya 23.42]]:''' "Love of Godhead increases and is manifested as affection, counterlove, love, attachment, subattachment, ecstasy and sublime ecstasy.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.43|Madhya 23.43]]:''' "This development is compared to sugarcane seeds, sugarcane plants, sugarcane juice, molasses, crude sugar, refined sugar, sugar candy and rock candy.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.44|Madhya 23.44]]:''' "One should understand that just as the taste of sugar increases as it is gradually purified, so when love of Godhead increases from rati, which is compared to the beginning seed, its taste increases.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.45|Madhya 23.45]]:''' "According to the candidate possessing these transcendental qualities [sneha, māna and so on], there are five transcendental mellows — neutrality, servitorship, friendship, parental love and conjugal love.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.46|Madhya 23.46]]:''' "These five transcendental mellows exist permanently. The devotee may be attracted to one of these mellows, and thus he becomes happy. Kṛṣṇa also becomes inclined toward such a devotee and comes under his control.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.47|Madhya 23.47]]:''' "When the permanent ecstasies [neutrality, servitorship and so on] are mixed with other ingredients, devotional service in love of Godhead is transformed and becomes composed of transcendental mellows.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.48|Madhya 23.48]]:''' "Permanent ecstasy becomes a more and more tasteful transcendental mellow through the mixture of special ecstasy, subordinate ecstasy, natural ecstasy and transitory ecstasy.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.49|Madhya 23.49]]:''' "Yogurt mixed with sugar candy, black pepper and camphor is very palatable and tasty. Similarly, when permanent ecstasy mixes with other ecstatic symptoms, it becomes unprecedentedly tasty.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.50|Madhya 23.50]]:''' "There are two kinds of particular ecstasies [vibhāva]. One is called the support, and the other is called the awakening. The vibration of Kṛṣṇa's flute is an example of the awakening, and Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself is an example of the support.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.51|Madhya 23.51]]:''' "The subordinate ecstasies are smiling, dancing and singing, as well as different manifestations in the body. The natural ecstasies, such as being stunned, are considered among the subordinate ecstasies [anubhāva].

'''[[CC Madhya 23.52|Madhya 23.52]]:''' "There are other ingredients, beginning with complete despondency and jubilation. Altogether there are thirty-three varieties, and when these combine, the mellow becomes very wonderful.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.53|Madhya 23.53]]:''' "There are five transcendental mellows — neutrality, servitorship, friendship, parental affection and conjugal love, which is also known as the mellow of sweetness. Conjugal love excels all the others.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.54|Madhya 23.54]]:''' "The position of neutrality increases up to the point where one can appreciate love of Godhead. The mellow of servitorship gradually increases to the point of spontaneous love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.55|Madhya 23.55]]:''' "After the mellow of servitorship, there are the mellows of friendship and parental love, which increase to subordinate spontaneous love. The greatness of the love found in friends like Subala extends to the standard of ecstatic love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.56|Madhya 23.56]]:''' "There are two divisions of each of the five mellows — yoga [connection] and viyoga [separation]. Among the mellows of friendship and parental affection, there are many divisions of connection and separation.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.57|Madhya 23.57]]:''' "Only in the conjugal mellow are there two ecstatic symptoms called rūḍha [advanced] and adhirūḍha [highly advanced]. The advanced ecstasies are found among the queens of Dvārakā, and the highly advanced ecstasies are found among the gopīs.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.58|Madhya 23.58]]:''' "Highly advanced ecstasy is divided into two categories — mādana and mohana. Meeting together is called mādana, and separation is called mohana.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.59|Madhya 23.59]]:''' "On the mādana platform there are kissing and many other symptoms, which are unlimited. In the mohana stage, there are two divisions — udghūrṇā [unsteadiness] and citra-jalpa [varieties of mad emotional talks].

'''[[CC Madhya 23.60|Madhya 23.60]]:''' "Mad emotional talks include ten divisions, called prajalpa and other names. An example of this is the ten verses spoken by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī called 'The Song to the Bumblebee.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.61|Madhya 23.61]]:''' "Udghūrṇā [unsteadiness] and vivaśa-ceṣṭā [boastful activities] are aspects of transcendental madness. In separation from Kṛṣṇa, one experiences the manifestation of Kṛṣṇa, and one thinks oneself to be Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.62|Madhya 23.62]]:''' "In conjugal love [śṛńgāra] there are two departments — meeting and separation. On the platform of meeting, there are unlimited varieties that are beyond description.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.63|Madhya 23.63]]:''' "Vipralambha has four divisions — pūrva-rāga, māna, pravāsa and prema-vaicittya.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.64|Madhya 23.64]]:''' "Of the four kinds of separation, three [pūrva-rāga, pravāsa and māna] are celebrated in Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and the gopīs. In Dvārakā, among the queens, feelings of prema-vaicittya are very prominent.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.65|Madhya 23.65]]:''' "'My dear friend kurarī, it is now night, and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is sleeping. You yourself are not asleep or resting but are lamenting. Should I presume that you, like us, are affected by the smiling, liberal, playful glances of lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa? If so, your heart is deeply pierced. Is that why you are showing these signs of sleepless lamentation?'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.66|Madhya 23.66]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appeared as the son of Nanda Mahārāja, is the supreme hero in all dealings. Similarly, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the topmost heroine in all dealings.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.67|Madhya 23.67]]:''' "'Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, and He is the crown jewel of all heroes. In Kṛṣṇa, all transcendental good qualities are permanently situated.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.68|Madhya 23.68]]:''' "'The transcendental goddess Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the direct counterpart of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all the attraction to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.69|Madhya 23.69]]:''' "The transcendental qualities of Lord Kṛṣṇa are unlimited. Out of these, sixty-four are considered prominent. The ears of the devotees are satisfied simply by hearing all these qualities one after the other.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.70|Madhya 23.70]]:''' "'Kṛṣṇa, the supreme hero, has the most beautiful transcendental body. This body possesses all good features. It is radiant and very pleasing to the eyes. His body is powerful, strong and youthful.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.71|Madhya 23.71]]:''' "'Kṛṣṇa is the linguist of all wonderful languages. He is a truthful and very pleasing speaker. He is expert in speaking, and He is a very wise, learned scholar and a genius.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.72|Madhya 23.72]]:''' "'Kṛṣṇa is very expert in artistic enjoyment. He is highly cunning, expert, grateful and firmly determined in His vows. He knows how to deal according to time, person and country, and He sees through the scriptures and authoritative books. He is very clean and self-controlled.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.73|Madhya 23.73]]:''' "'Lord Kṛṣṇa is steady, His senses are controlled, and He is forgiving, grave and calm. He is also equal to all. Moreover, He is magnanimous, religious, chivalrous and kind. He is always respectful to respectable people.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.74|Madhya 23.74]]:''' "'Kṛṣṇa is very simple and liberal, He is humble and bashful, and He is the protector of the surrendered souls. He is very happy, and He is always the well-wisher of His devotees. He is all-auspicious, and He is submissive to love.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.75|Madhya 23.75]]:''' "'Kṛṣṇa is very influential and famous, and He is the object of attachment for everyone. He is the shelter of the good and the virtuous. He is attractive to the minds of women, and He is worshiped by everyone. He is very, very rich.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.76|Madhya 23.76]]:''' "'Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme, and He is always glorified as the Supreme Lord and controller. Thus all the previously mentioned transcendental qualities are in Him. The fifty qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead mentioned above are as deep as an ocean. In other words, they are difficult to fully comprehend.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.77|Madhya 23.77]]:''' "'These qualities are sometimes very minutely exhibited in living beings, but they are fully manifested in the Supreme Personality of Godhead.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.78|Madhya 23.78]]:''' "'Apart from these fifty qualities, there are five other qualities found in the Supreme Personality of Godhead that are partially present in demigods like Śiva.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.79-81|Madhya 23.79-81]]:''' "'These qualities are (1) the Lord is always situated in His original position, (2) He is omniscient, (3) He is always fresh and youthful, (4) He is the concentrated form of eternity, knowledge and bliss, and (5) He is the possessor of all mystic perfection. There are another five qualities, which exist in the Vaikuṇṭha planets in Nārāyaṇa, the Lord of Lakṣmī. These qualities are also present in Kṛṣṇa, but they are not present in demigods like Lord Śiva or in other living entities. These are (1) the Lord possesses inconceivable supreme power, (2) He generates innumerable universes from His body, (3) He is the original source of all incarnations, (4) He bestows salvation upon enemies He kills, and (5) He has the ability to attract exalted persons who are satisfied in themselves. Although these qualities are present in Nārāyaṇa, the dominating Deity of the Vaikuṇṭha planets, they are even more wonderfully present in Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.82-83|Madhya 23.82-83]]:''' "'Apart from these sixty transcendental qualities, Kṛṣṇa has an additional four transcendental qualities, which are not manifested even in the personality of Nārāyaṇa. These are: (1) Kṛṣṇa is like an ocean filled with waves of pastimes that evoke wonder within everyone in the three worlds. (2) In His activities of conjugal love, He is always surrounded by His dear devotees who possess unequaled love for Him. (3) He attracts the minds of all three worlds with the melodious vibration of His flute. (4) His personal beauty and opulence are beyond compare. No one is equal to Him, and no one is greater than Him. Thus the Personality of Godhead astonishes all living entities, both moving and nonmoving, within the three worlds. He is so beautiful that He is called Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.84-85|Madhya 23.84-85]]:''' "'Above Nārāyaṇa, Kṛṣṇa has four specific transcendental qualities — His wonderful pastimes, an abundance of wonderful associates who are very dear to Him [like the gopīs], His wonderful beauty and the wonderful vibration of His flute. Lord Kṛṣṇa is more exalted than ordinary living beings and demigods like Lord Śiva. He is even more exalted than His personal expansion Nārāyaṇa. In all, the Supreme Personality of Godhead has sixty-four transcendental qualities in full.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.86|Madhya 23.86]]:''' "Similarly, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī has unlimited transcendental qualities, of which twenty-five are principal. Śrī Kṛṣṇa is controlled by these transcendental qualities of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.87-91|Madhya 23.87-91]]:''' "'Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's twenty-five chief transcendental qualities are: (1) She is very sweet. (2) She is always freshly youthful. (3) Her eyes are restless. (4) She smiles brightly. (5) She has beautiful, auspicious lines. (6) She makes Kṛṣṇa happy with Her bodily aroma. (7) She is very expert in singing. (8) Her speech is charming. (9) She is very expert in joking and speaking pleasantly. (10) She is very humble and meek. (11) She is always full of mercy. (12) She is cunning. (13) She is expert in executing Her duties. (14) She is shy. (15) She is always respectful. (16) She is always calm. (17) She is always grave. (18) She is expert in enjoying life. (19) She is situated at the topmost level of ecstatic love. (20) She is the reservoir of loving affairs in Gokula. (21) She is the most famous of submissive devotees. (22) She is very affectionate to elderly people. (23) She is very submissive to the love of Her friends. (24) She is the chief gopī. (25) She always keeps Kṛṣṇa under Her control. In short, She possesses unlimited transcendental qualities, just as Lord Kṛṣṇa does.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.92|Madhya 23.92]]:''' "The basis of all transcendental mellows is the hero and the heroine, and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, are the best.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.93|Madhya 23.93]]:''' "Just as Lord Kṛṣṇa and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī are the object and shelter of the mellow of conjugal love, so, in the mellow of servitorship, Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, is the object, and servants like Citraka, Raktaka and Patraka are the shelter. Similarly, in the transcendental mellow of friendship, Lord Kṛṣṇa is the object, and friends like Śrīdāmā, Sudāmā and Subala are the shelter. In the transcendental mellow of parental affection, Kṛṣṇa is the object, and mother Yaśodā and Mahārāja Nanda are the shelter.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.94|Madhya 23.94]]:''' "Now hear how the mellows appear and how they are realized by the devotees on different transcendental platforms.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.95-98|Madhya 23.95-98]]:''' "'For those who are completely washed of all material contamination by pure devotional service, who are always satisfied and brightly enlightened in the heart, who are always attached to understanding the transcendental meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, who are always eager to associate with advanced devotees, whose happiness in the service of the lotus feet of Govinda is their very life, who always discharge the confidential activities of love — for such advanced devotees, who are by nature situated in bliss, the seed of love [rati] is expanded in the heart by previous and current reformatory processes. Thus the mixture of ecstatic ingredients becomes tasty and, being within the perception of the devotee, reaches the highest platform of wonder and deep bliss.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.99|Madhya 23.99]]:''' "The exchange between Kṛṣṇa and different devotees situated in different transcendental mellows is not to be experienced by nondevotees. Advanced devotees can understand and appreciate the different varieties of devotional service reciprocated with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.100|Madhya 23.100]]:''' "'Nondevotees cannot understand the exchange of transcendental mellows between the devotees and the Lord. In all respects, this is very difficult to understand, but one who has dedicated everything to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa can taste the transcendental mellows.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.101|Madhya 23.101]]:''' "This brief description is an elaboration of the ultimate goal of life. Indeed, this is the fifth and ultimate goal, which is beyond the platform of liberation. It is called kṛṣṇa-prema-dhana, the treasure of love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.102|Madhya 23.102]]:''' "Previously I empowered your brother Rūpa Gosvāmī to understand these mellows. I did this while instructing him at the Daśāśvamedha-ghāṭa in Prayāga.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.103|Madhya 23.103]]:''' "O Sanātana, you should broadcast the revealed scriptures on devotional service and excavate the lost places of pilgrimage in the district of Mathurā.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.104|Madhya 23.104]]:''' "Establish devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārāṇī in Vṛndāvana. You should also compile bhakti scriptures and preach the bhakti cult from Vṛndāvana."

'''[[CC Madhya 23.105|Madhya 23.105]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told Sanātana Gosvāmī about proper renunciation according to a particular situation, and the Lord forbade dry renunciation and speculative knowledge in all respects.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.106-107|Madhya 23.106-107]]:''' "'One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who is always satisfied, forgiving and self-controlled, and who is engaged in devotional service with determination, his mind and intelligence dedicated to Me — such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.108|Madhya 23.108]]:''' "'He by whom no one is put into difficulty or anxiety and who is not disturbed by anyone, who is liberated from jubilation, anger, fear and anxiety, is very dear to Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.109|Madhya 23.109]]:''' "'A devotee who is not dependent on others but is dependent solely on Me, who is clean inwardly and outwardly, who is expert, indifferent to material things, without cares and free from all pains, and who rejects all pious and impious activities is very dear to Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.110|Madhya 23.110]]:''' "One who is free of all material jubilation, hatred, lamentation and desire, who renounces both materially auspicious and materially inauspicious things, and who is devoted to Me is very dear to Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.111-112|Madhya 23.111-112]]:''' "'One who is equal to friends and enemies, who is equipoised in honor and dishonor, heat and cold, happiness and distress, fame and infamy, who is always free from attachment to material things and always grave and satisfied in all circumstances, who doesn't care for any residence, and who is always fixed in devotional service — such a person is very dear to Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.113|Madhya 23.113]]:''' "'Devotees who follow these imperishable religious principles of Kṛṣṇa consciousness with great faith and devotion, fully accepting Me as the supreme goal, are very, very dear to Me.'

'''[[CC Madhya 23.114|Madhya 23.114]]:''' "'Are there no torn clothes lying on the common road? Do the trees, which exist for maintaining others, no longer give alms in charity? Do the rivers, being dried up, no longer supply water to the thirsty? Are the caves of the mountains now closed, or, above all, does the unconquerable Supreme Personality of Godhead not protect the fully surrendered souls? Why then should learned persons like devotees go to flatter those who are intoxicated by hard-earned wealth?'"

'''[[CC Madhya 23.115|Madhya 23.115]]:''' Thereafter Sanātana Gosvāmī inquired from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu about all the conclusive statements concerning devotional service, and the Lord very vividly explained all the confidential meanings of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.116|Madhya 23.116]]:''' In the revealed scripture Hari-vaḿśa, there is a description of Goloka Vṛndāvana, the planet where Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa eternally resides. This information was given by King Indra when he surrendered to Kṛṣṇa and offered prayers after Kṛṣṇa had raised Govardhana Hill.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.117-118|Madhya 23.117-118]]:''' Illusory stories opposed to the conclusions of Kṛṣṇa consciousness concern the destruction of the Yadu dynasty, Kṛṣṇa's disappearance, the story that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma arise from a black hair and a white hair of Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, and the story about the kidnapping of the queens. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained to Sanātana Gosvāmī the proper conclusions of these stories.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.119|Madhya 23.119]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī then humbly accepted his position as lower than a piece of straw, and symbolically holding some straw in his mouth, he fell down, clasped the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and submitted the following petition.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.120|Madhya 23.120]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī said, "My dear Lord, I am a very lowborn person. Indeed, I am a servant to lowborn people; therefore I am very, very downtrodden. Nonetheless, You have taught me conclusions unknown even to Lord Brahmā.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.121|Madhya 23.121]]:''' "The conclusions that You have told me are the ocean of the ambrosia of truth. My mind is unable to approach even a drop of that ocean.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.122|Madhya 23.122]]:''' "If You want to make a lame man like me dance, kindly bestow Your transcendental blessings by placing Your lotus feet on my head.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.123|Madhya 23.123]]:''' "Now, will You please tell me, 'Let whatever I have instructed all be fully manifested unto you.' By blessing me in this way, You will give me strength to describe all this."

'''[[CC Madhya 23.124|Madhya 23.124]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then placed His hand on Sanātana Gosvāmī's head and blessed him, saying, "Let all these instructions be manifested to you."

'''[[CC Madhya 23.125|Madhya 23.125]]:''' Thus I have briefly described a discussion of the ultimate goal of life, love of Godhead. The mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu cannot be described expansively.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.126|Madhya 23.126]]:''' Whoever hears these instructions given to Sanātana Gosvāmī by the Lord comes very soon to realize love of God, Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 23.127|Madhya 23.127]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 22|Madhya-līlā 22]] '''[[CC Madhya 22|Madhya-līlā 22]] - [[CC Madhya 24|Madhya-līlā 24]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 24|Madhya-līlā 24]]</div>

CC Madhya 22

2026-06-04T18:29:15Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 22 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 22|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 22: The Process of Devotional Service'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 21|Madhya-līlā 21]] '''[[CC Madhya 21|Madhya-līlā 21]] - [[CC Madhya 23|Madhya-līlā 23]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 23|Madhya-līlā 23]]</div>

'''[[CC Madhya 22 Summary|Madhya 22 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 22.1|Madhya 22.1]]:''' I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He is an ocean of transcendental mercy, and although the subject matter of bhakti-yoga is very confidential, He has nonetheless manifested it so nicely, even in this Age of Kali, the age of quarrel.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.2|Madhya 22.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Madhya 22.3|Madhya 22.3]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "I have described one's relationship with Kṛṣṇa in various ways. This is the subject matter of all the Vedas. Kṛṣṇa is the center of all activities.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.4|Madhya 22.4]]:''' "Now I shall speak about the characteristics of devotional service, by which one can attain the shelter of Kṛṣṇa and His loving transcendental service.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.5|Madhya 22.5]]:''' "A human being's activities should be centered only on devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa. That is the verdict of all Vedic literatures, and all saintly people have firmly concludeded this.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.6|Madhya 22.6]]:''' "'When the mother Vedas [śruti] is questioned as to whom to worship, she says that You are the only Lord and worshipable object. Similarly, the corollaries of the śruti-śāstras, the smṛti-śāstras, give the same instructions, just like sisters. The Purāṇas, which are like brothers, follow in the footsteps of their mother. O enemy of the demon Mura, the conclusion is that You are the only shelter. Now I have understood this in truth.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.7|Madhya 22.7]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa is the nondual Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although He is one, He maintains different personal expansions and energies for His pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.8|Madhya 22.8]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa expands Himself in many forms. Some of them are personal expansions, and some are separate expansions. Thus He performs pastimes in both the spiritual and the material worlds. The spiritual worlds are the Vaikuṇṭha planets, and the material universes are the brahmāṇḍas, gigantic globes governed by Lord Brahmā.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.9|Madhya 22.9]]:''' "Expansions of His personal self — like the quadruple manifestations of Sańkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha and Vāsudeva — descend as incarnations from Vaikuṇṭha to this material world. The separated expansions are the living entities. Although they are expansions of Kṛṣṇa, they are counted among His different potencies.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.10|Madhya 22.10]]:''' "The living entities [jīvas] are divided into two categories. Some are eternally liberated, and others are eternally conditioned.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.11|Madhya 22.11]]:''' "Those who are eternally liberated are always awake to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and they render transcendental loving service at the feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa. They are to be considered eternal associates of Kṛṣṇa, and they are eternally enjoying the transcendental bliss of serving Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.12|Madhya 22.12]]:''' "Apart from the ever-liberated devotees, there are the conditioned souls, who always turn away from the service of the Lord. They are perpetually conditioned in this material world and are subjected to the material tribulations brought about by different bodily forms in hellish conditions.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.13|Madhya 22.13]]:''' "Due to his being opposed to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the conditioned soul is punished by the witch of the external energy, māyā. He is thus ready to suffer the threefold miseries — miseries brought about by the body and mind, the inimical behavior of other living entities and natural disturbances caused by the demigods.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.14-15|Madhya 22.14-15]]:''' "In this way the conditioned soul becomes the servant of lusty desires, and when these are not fulfilled, he becomes the servant of anger and continues to be kicked by the external energy, māyā. Wandering and wandering throughout the universe, he may by chance get the association of a devotee physician, whose instructions and hymns make the witch of the external energy flee. The conditioned soul thus gets into touch with devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, and in this way he can approach nearer and nearer to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.16|Madhya 22.16]]:''' "'O my Lord, there is no limit to the unwanted orders of lusty desires. Although I have rendered these desires so much service, they have not shown any mercy to me. I have not been ashamed to serve them, nor have I even desired to give them up. O my Lord, O head of the Yadu dynasty, recently, however, my intelligence has been awakened, and now I am giving them up. Due to transcendental intelligence, I now refuse to obey the unwanted orders of these desires, and I now come to You to surrender myself at Your fearless lotus feet. Kindly engage me in Your personal service and save me.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.17|Madhya 22.17]]:''' "Devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is the chief function of the living entity. There are different methods for the liberation of the conditioned soul — karma, jñāna, yoga and bhakti — but all are dependent on bhakti.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.18|Madhya 22.18]]:''' "Without devotional service, all other methods for spiritual self-realization are weak and insignificant. Unless one comes to the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa, jñāna and yoga cannot give the desired results.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.19|Madhya 22.19]]:''' "'When pure knowledge is beyond all material affinity but is not dedicated to the Supreme Personality of Godhead [Kṛṣṇa], it does not appear very beautiful, although it is knowledge without a material tinge. What, then, is the use of fruitive activities — which are naturally painful from the beginning and transient by nature — if they are not utilized for the devotional service of the Lord? How can they be very attractive?'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.20|Madhya 22.20]]:''' "'Those who perform severe austerities and penances, those who give away all their possessions out of charity, those who are very famous for their auspicious activity, those who are engaged in meditation and mental speculation, and even those who are very expert in reciting the Vedic mantras are not able to obtain any auspicious results, although they are engaged in auspicious activities, if they do not dedicate their activities to the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I therefore repeatedly offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose glories are always auspicious.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.21|Madhya 22.21]]:''' "Speculative knowledge alone, without devotional service, is not able to give liberation. On the other hand, even without knowledge one can obtain liberation if one engages in the Lord's devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.22|Madhya 22.22]]:''' "'My dear Lord, devotional service unto You is the only auspicious path. If one gives it up simply for speculative knowledge or the understanding that these living beings are spirit souls and the material world is false, he undergoes a great deal of trouble. He only gains troublesome and inauspicious activities. His endeavors are like beating a husk that is already devoid of rice. His labor becomes fruitless.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.23|Madhya 22.23]]:''' "'This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.24|Madhya 22.24]]:''' "The living entity is bound around the neck by the chain of māyā because he has forgotten that he is eternally a servant of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.25|Madhya 22.25]]:''' "If the conditioned soul engages in the service of the Lord and simultaneously carries out the orders of his spiritual master and serves him, he can get out of the clutches of māyā and become eligible for shelter at Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.26|Madhya 22.26]]:''' "The followers of the varṇāśrama institution accept the regulative principles of the four social orders [brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra] and four spiritual orders [brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa]. However, if one carries out the regulative principles of these orders but does not render transcendental service to Kṛṣṇa, he falls into a hellish condition of material life.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.27|Madhya 22.27]]:''' "'From the mouth of Brahmā, the brahminical order has come into existence. Similarly, from his arms the kṣatriyas have come, from his waist the vaiśyas have come, and from his legs the śūdras have come. These four orders and their spiritual counterparts [brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa] combine to make human society complete.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.28|Madhya 22.28]]:''' "'If one simply maintains an official position in the four varṇas and āśramas but does not worship the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, he falls down from his puffed-up position into a hellish condition.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.29|Madhya 22.29]]:''' "There are many philosophical speculators [jñānīs] belonging to the Māyāvāda school who consider themselves liberated and call themselves Nārāyaṇa. But their intelligence is not purified unless they engage in Kṛṣṇa's devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.30|Madhya 22.30]]:''' "'O lotus-eyed one, those who think they are liberated in this life but do not render devotional service to You must be of impure intelligence. Although they accept severe austerities and penances and rise to the spiritual position, to impersonal Brahman realization, they fall down again because they neglect to worship Your lotus feet.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.31|Madhya 22.31]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa is compared to sunshine, and māyā is compared to darkness. Wherever there is sunshine, there cannot be darkness. As soon as one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the darkness of illusion (the influence of the external energy) will immediately vanish.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.32|Madhya 22.32]]:''' "'The external illusory energy of Kṛṣṇa, known as māyā, is always ashamed to stand in front of Kṛṣṇa, just as darkness is ashamed to remain before the sunshine. However, that māyā bewilders unfortunate people who have no intelligence. Thus they simply boast that this material world is theirs and that they are its enjoyers.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.33|Madhya 22.33]]:''' "One is immediately freed from the clutches of māyā if he seriously and sincerely says, 'My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, although I have forgotten You for so many long years in the material world, today I am surrendering unto You. I am Your sincere and serious servant. Please engage me in Your service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.34|Madhya 22.34]]:''' "'It is My vow that if one only once seriously surrenders unto Me, saying "My dear Lord, from this day I am Yours," and prays to Me for courage, I shall immediately award courage to that person, and he will always remain safe from that time on.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.35|Madhya 22.35]]:''' "Due to bad association, the living entity desires material happiness, liberation or merging into the impersonal aspect of the Lord, or he engages in mystic yoga for material power. If such a person actually becomes intelligent, he takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness by engaging himself in intense devotional service to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.36|Madhya 22.36]]:''' "'Whether one desires everything or nothing, or whether he desires to merge into the existence of the Lord, he is intelligent only if he worships Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by rendering transcendental loving service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.37|Madhya 22.37]]:''' "If those who desire material enjoyment or merging into the existence of the Absolute Truth engage in the Lord's transcendental loving service, they will immediately attain shelter at Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, although they did not ask for it. Kṛṣṇa is therefore very merciful.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.38|Madhya 22.38]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa says, 'If one engages in My transcendental loving service but at the same time wants the opulence of material enjoyment, he is very, very foolish. Indeed, he is just like a person who gives up ambrosia to drink poison.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.39|Madhya 22.39]]:''' "'Since I am very intelligent, why should I give this fool material prosperity? Instead I shall induce him to take the nectar of the shelter of My lotus feet and make him forget illusory material enjoyment.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.40|Madhya 22.40]]:''' "'Whenever Kṛṣṇa is requested to fulfill one's desire, He undoubtedly does so, but He does not award anything which, after being enjoyed, will cause one to petition Him again and again to fulfill further desires. When one has other desires but engages in the Lord's service, Kṛṣṇa forcibly gives one shelter at His lotus feet, where one will forget all other desires.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.41|Madhya 22.41]]:''' "When someone engages in Lord Kṛṣṇa's devotional service for the satisfaction of the senses and instead acquires a taste for serving Kṛṣṇa, he gives up his material desires and willingly offers himself as an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.42|Madhya 22.42]]:''' "[When he was being blessed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Dhruva Mahārāja said:] 'O my Lord, because I was seeking an opulent material position, I was performing severe types of penance and austerity. Now I have gotten You, who are very difficult for the great demigods, saintly persons and kings to attain. I was searching after a piece of glass, but instead I have found a most valuable jewel. Therefore I am so satisfied that I do not wish to ask any benediction from You.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.43|Madhya 22.43]]:''' "The conditioned souls are wandering throughout the different planets of the universe, entering various species of life. By good fortune one of these souls may somehow or other be delivered from the ocean of nescience, just as one of the many big logs in a flowing river may by chance reach the bank.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.44|Madhya 22.44]]:''' "'"Because I am so fallen, I shall never get a chance to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead." This was my false apprehension. Rather, by chance a person as fallen as I am may get to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although one is being carried away by the waves of the river of time, one may eventually reach the shore.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.45|Madhya 22.45]]:''' "By good fortune one becomes eligible to cross the ocean of nescience, and when one's term of material existence decreases, one may get an opportunity to associate with pure devotees. By such association, one's attraction to Kṛṣṇa is awakened.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.46|Madhya 22.46]]:''' "'O my Lord! O infallible Supreme Person! When a person wandering throughout the universes becomes eligible for liberation from material existence, he gets an opportunity to associate with devotees. When he associates with devotees, his attraction for You is awakened. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the highest goal of the topmost devotees and the Lord of the universe.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.47|Madhya 22.47]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa is situated in everyone's heart as the caittya-guru, the spiritual master within. When He is kind to some fortunate conditioned soul, He personally gives him lessons so he can progress in devotional service, instructing the person as the Supersoul within and the spiritual master without.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.48|Madhya 22.48]]:''' "'O my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual science could not fully express their indebtedness to You, even if they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of Brahmā, for You appear in two features — externally as the ācārya and internally as the Supersoul — to deliver the embodied living being by directing him how to come to You.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.49|Madhya 22.49]]:''' "By associating with a devotee, one awakens his faith in devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. Because of devotional service, one's dormant love for Kṛṣṇa awakens, and thus one's material, conditioned existence comes to an end.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.50|Madhya 22.50]]:''' "'Somehow or other, if one is attracted to talks about Me and has faith in the instructions I have set forth in the Bhagavad-gītā, and if one is neither falsely detached from material things nor very much attracted to material existence, his dormant love for Me will be awakened by devotional service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.51|Madhya 22.51]]:''' "Unless one is favored by a pure devotee, one cannot attain the platform of devotional service. To say nothing of kṛṣṇa-bhakti, one cannot even be relieved from the bondage of material existence.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.52|Madhya 22.52]]:''' "'O King Rahūgaṇa, without taking upon one's head the dust from the lotus feet of a pure devotee [a mahājana or mahātmā], one cannot attain devotional service. Devotional service is not possible to attain simply by undergoing severe austerities and penances, by gorgeously worshiping the Deity, or by strictly following the rules and regulations of the sannyāsa or gṛhastha order; nor is it attained by studying the Vedas, submerging oneself in water, or exposing oneself to fire or scorching sunlight.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.53|Madhya 22.53]]:''' "'Unless human society accepts the dust of the lotus feet of great mahātmās — devotees who have nothing to do with material possessions — mankind cannot turn its attention to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Those lotus feet vanquish all the unwanted, miserable conditions of material life.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.54|Madhya 22.54]]:''' "The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment's association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.55|Madhya 22.55]]:''' "'The value of a moment's association with a devotee of the Lord cannot be compared even to the attainment of the heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which is for those who are meant for death.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.56|Madhya 22.56]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa is so merciful that simply by aiming His instructions at Arjuna, He has given protection to the whole world.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.57-58|Madhya 22.57-58]]:''' "'Because you are My very dear friend, I am speaking to you My supreme instruction, the most confidential knowledge of all. Hear this from Me, for it is for your benefit. Always think of Me and become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.59|Madhya 22.59]]:''' "Although Kṛṣṇa previously explained the proficiency of executing Vedic rituals, performing fruitive activity as enjoined in the Vedas, practicing yoga and cultivating jñāna, these last instructions are most powerful and stand above all the others.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.60|Madhya 22.60]]:''' "If the devotee has faith in the strength of this order, he worships Lord Kṛṣṇa and gives up all other activities.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.61|Madhya 22.61]]:''' "'As long as one is not satiated by fruitive activity and has not awakened his taste for devotional service by śravaṇaḿ kīrtanaḿ viṣṇoḥ [SB 7.5.23], one has to act according to the regulative principles of the Vedic injunctions.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.62|Madhya 22.62]]:''' "Śraddhā is confident, firm faith that by rendering transcendental loving service to Kṛṣṇa one automatically performs all subsidiary activities. Such faith is favorable to the discharge of devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.63|Madhya 22.63]]:''' "'By pouring water on the root of a tree, one automatically satisfies the trunk, branches and twigs. Similarly, by supplying food to the stomach, where it nourishes the life air, one satisfies all the senses. In the same way, by worshiping Kṛṣṇa and rendering Him service, one automatically satisfies all the demigods.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.64|Madhya 22.64]]:''' "A faithful devotee is a truly eligible candidate for the loving service of the Lord. According to one's faith, one is classified as a topmost devotee, an intermediate devotee or an inferior devotee.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.65|Madhya 22.65]]:''' "One who is expert in logic, argument and the revealed scriptures and who has firm faith in Kṛṣṇa is classified as a topmost devotee. He can deliver the whole world.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.66|Madhya 22.66]]:''' "'One who is expert in logic and in understanding the revealed scriptures, and who always has firm conviction and deep faith that is not blind, is to be considered a topmost devotee in devotional service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.67|Madhya 22.67]]:''' "One who is not very expert in argument and logic based on the revealed scriptures but who has firm faith is considered a second-class devotee. He also must be considered most fortunate.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.68|Madhya 22.68]]:''' "'He who does not know scriptural argument very well but who has firm faith is called an intermediate or second-class devotee.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.69|Madhya 22.69]]:''' "One whose faith is soft and pliable is called a neophyte, but by gradually following the process he will rise to the platform of a first-class devotee.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.70|Madhya 22.70]]:''' "'One whose faith is not very strong, who is just beginning, should be considered a neophyte devotee.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.71|Madhya 22.71]]:''' "A devotee is considered superlative or superior according to his attachment and love. In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the following symptoms have been given.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.72|Madhya 22.72]]:''' "'A person advanced in devotional service sees within everything the soul of souls, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Consequently he always sees the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the cause of all causes and understands that all things are situated in Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.73|Madhya 22.73]]:''' "'An intermediate, second-class devotee shows love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is friendly to all devotees and is very merciful to neophytes and ignorant people. The intermediate devotee neglects those who are envious of devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.74|Madhya 22.74]]:''' "'A prākṛta-bhakta, or materialistic devotee, does not purposefully study the śāstra and try to understand the actual standard of pure devotional service. Consequently he does not show proper respect to advanced devotees. He may, however, follow the regulative principles learned from his spiritual master or from his family who worships the Deity. He is to be considered on the material platform, although he is trying to advance in devotional service. Such a person is a bhakta-prāya [neophyte devotee], or bhaktābhāsa, for he is a little enlightened by Vaiṣṇava philosophy.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.75|Madhya 22.75]]:''' "A Vaiṣṇava is one who has developed all good transcendental qualities. All the good qualities of Kṛṣṇa gradually develop in Kṛṣṇa's devotee.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.76|Madhya 22.76]]:''' "'In one who has unflinching devotional faith in Kṛṣṇa, all the good qualities of Kṛṣṇa and the demigods are consistently manifest. However, he who has no devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead has no good qualifications because he is engaged by mental concoction in material existence, which is the external feature of the Lord.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.77|Madhya 22.77]]:''' "All these transcendental qualities are the characteristics of pure Vaiṣṇavas, and they cannot be fully explained, but I shall try to point out some of the important qualities.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.78-80|Madhya 22.78-80]]:''' "Devotees are always merciful, humble, truthful, equal to all, faultless, magnanimous, mild and clean. They are without material possessions, and they perform welfare work for everyone. They are peaceful, surrendered to Kṛṣṇa and desireless. They are indifferent to material acquisitions and are fixed in devotional service. They completely control the six bad qualities — lust, anger, greed and so forth. They eat only as much as required, and they are not inebriated. They are respectful, grave, compassionate and without false prestige. They are friendly, poetic, expert and silent.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.81|Madhya 22.81]]:''' "'Devotees are always tolerant, forbearing and very merciful. They are the well-wishers of every living entity. They follow the scriptural injunctions, and because they have no enemies, they are very peaceful. These are the decorations of devotees.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.82|Madhya 22.82]]:''' "'It is the verdict of all śāstras and great personalities that service to a pure devotee is the path of liberation. By contrast, association with materialistic people who are attached to material enjoyment and women is the path of darkness. Those who are actually devotees are broadminded, equal to everyone and very peaceful. They never become angry, and they are friendly to all living entities.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.83|Madhya 22.83]]:''' "The root cause of devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa is association with advanced devotees. Even when one's dormant love for Kṛṣṇa awakens, association with devotees is still most essential.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.84|Madhya 22.84]]:''' "'O my Lord! O infallible Supreme Person! When a person wandering throughout the universes becomes eligible for liberation from material existence, he gets an opportunity to associate with devotees. When he associates with devotees, his attraction for You is awakened. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the highest goal of the topmost devotees, and the Lord of the universe.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.85|Madhya 22.85]]:''' "'O devotees! O you who are free from all sins! Let me inquire from you about that which is supremely auspicious for all living entities. Association with a pure devotee for even half a moment in this material world is the greatest treasure for human society.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.86|Madhya 22.86]]:''' "'The spiritually powerful message of Godhead can be properly discussed only in a society of devotees, and it is greatly pleasing to hear in that association. If one hears from devotees, the way of transcendental experience quickly opens, and gradually one attains firm faith that in due course develops into attraction and devotion.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.87|Madhya 22.87]]:''' "A Vaiṣṇava should always avoid the association of ordinary people. Common people are very much materially attached, especially to women. Vaiṣṇavas should also avoid the company of those who are not devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.88-90|Madhya 22.88-90]]:''' "'By association with worldly people, one becomes devoid of truthfulness, cleanliness, mercy, gravity, spiritual intelligence, shyness, austerity, fame, forgiveness, control of the mind, control of the senses, fortune and all opportunities. One should not at any time associate with a coarse fool who is bereft of the knowledge of self-realization and who is no more than a toy animal in the hands of a woman. The illusion and bondage that accrue to a man from attachment to any other object are not as complete as that resulting from association with a woman or with men too much attached to women.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.91|Madhya 22.91]]:''' "'It is better to accept the miseries of being encaged within bars and surrounded by burning flames than to associate with those bereft of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Such association is a very great hardship.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.92|Madhya 22.92]]:''' "'One should not even see those who are bereft of devotional service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and who are therefore devoid of pious activities.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.93|Madhya 22.93]]:''' "Without hesitation, one should take exclusive shelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa with full confidence, giving up bad association and even neglecting the regulative principles of the four varṇas and four āśramas. That is to say, one should abandon all material attachment.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.94|Madhya 22.94]]:''' "'After giving up all kinds of religious and occupational duties, if you come to Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and take shelter, I shall give you protection from all of life's sinful reactions. Do not worry. [[

'''[[CC Madhya 22.95|Madhya 22.95]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa is very kind to His devotees. He is always very grateful and magnanimous, and He possesses all abilities. A learned man does not give up Kṛṣṇa to worship anyone else.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.96|Madhya 22.96]]:''' "'My dear Lord, You are very affectionate to Your devotees. You are also a truthful and grateful friend. Where is that learned man who would give You up and surrender to someone else? You fulfill all the desires of Your devotees, so much so that sometimes You even give Yourself to them. Still, You neither increase nor decrease by such activity.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.97|Madhya 22.97]]:''' "Whenever an experienced person develops real knowledge of Kṛṣṇa and His transcendental qualities, he naturally gives up all other engagements and renders service to the Lord. Uddhava gives evidence concerning this.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.98|Madhya 22.98]]:''' "'Oh, how wonderful it is! Pūtanā, the sister of Bakāsura, wanted to kill Kṛṣṇa by smearing deadly poison on her breasts and having Kṛṣṇa take it. Nonetheless, Lord Kṛṣṇa accepted her as His mother, and thus she attained the destination befitting Kṛṣṇa's mother. Of whom should I take shelter but Kṛṣṇa, who is most merciful?'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.99|Madhya 22.99]]:''' "There are two kinds of devotees — those who are fully satiated and free from all material desires and those who are fully surrendered to the lotus feet of the Lord. Their qualities are one and the same, but those who are fully surrendered to Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet are qualified with another transcendental quality — ātma-samarpaṇa, full surrender without reservation.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.100|Madhya 22.100]]:''' "'The six divisions of surrender are the acceptance of those things favorable to devotional service, the rejection of unfavorable things, the conviction that Kṛṣṇa will give protection, the acceptance of the Lord as one's guardian or master, full self-surrender, and humility.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.101|Madhya 22.101]]:''' "'One whose body is fully surrendered takes shelter at the holy place where Kṛṣṇa had His pastimes, and he prays to the Lord, "My Lord, I am Yours." Understanding this with his mind, he enjoys spiritual bliss.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.102|Madhya 22.102]]:''' "When a devotee thus fully surrenders unto Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, Kṛṣṇa accepts him as one of His confidential associates.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.103|Madhya 22.103]]:''' "'The living entity who is subjected to birth and death attains immortality when he gives up all material activities, dedicates his life to the execution of My order, and acts according to My directions. In this way he becomes fit to enjoy the spiritual bliss derived from exchanging loving mellows with Me.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.104|Madhya 22.104]]:''' "My dear Sanātana, please now hear about the regulative principles for the execution of devotional service. By this process, one can attain the highest perfection of love of Godhead, which is the most desirable treasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.105|Madhya 22.105]]:''' "'When transcendental devotional service, by which love for Kṛṣṇa is attained, is executed by the senses, it is called sādhana-bhakti, or the regulative discharge of devotional service. Such devotion eternally exists within the heart of every living entity. The awakening of this eternal devotion is the potentiality of devotional service in practice.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.106|Madhya 22.106]]:''' "The spiritual activities of hearing, chanting, remembering and so forth are the natural characteristics of devotional service. The marginal characteristic is that it awakens pure love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.107|Madhya 22.107]]:''' "Pure love for Kṛṣṇa is eternally established in the hearts of the living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, this love naturally awakens.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.108|Madhya 22.108]]:''' "There are two processes of practical devotional service. One is regulative devotional service, and the other is spontaneous devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.109|Madhya 22.109]]:''' "Those who have not attained the platform of spontaneous attachment in devotional service render devotional service under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master according to the regulative principles mentioned in the revealed scriptures. According to the revealed scriptures, this kind of devotional service is called vaidhī bhakti.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.110|Madhya 22.110]]:''' "'O descendant of Bharata! O Mahārāja Parīkṣit! The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in everyone's heart as Paramātmā, who is the supreme controller, and who always removes the miseries of the living entities, must always be heard about from reliable sources, and He must be glorified and remembered by one who wishes to become fearless.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.111|Madhya 22.111]]:''' "'From the mouth of Brahmā, the brahminical order has come into existence. Similarly, from his arms the kṣatriyas have come, from his waist the vaiśyas have come, and from his legs the śūdras have come. These four orders and their spiritual counterparts [brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa] combine to make human society complete.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.112|Madhya 22.112]]:''' "'If one simply maintains an official position in the four varṇas and āśramas but does not worship the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, he falls down from his puffed-up position into a hellish condition.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.113|Madhya 22.113]]:''' "'Kṛṣṇa is the origin of Lord Viṣṇu. He should always be remembered and never forgotten at any time. All the rules and prohibitions mentioned in the śāstras should be the servants of these two principles.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.114|Madhya 22.114]]:''' "I shall say something about the various practices of devotional service, which is expanded in so many ways. I wish to speak briefly of the essential practices.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.115|Madhya 22.115]]:''' "On the path of regulative devotional service, one must observe the following items: (1) One must accept a bona fide spiritual master. (2) One must accept initiation from him. (3) One must serve him. (4) One must receive instructions from the spiritual master and make inquiries in order to learn devotional service. (5) One must follow in the footsteps of the previous ācāryas and follow the directions given by the spiritual master.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.116|Madhya 22.116]]:''' "The next steps are as follows: (6) One should be prepared to give up everything for Kṛṣṇa's satisfaction, and one should also accept everything for Kṛṣṇa's satisfaction. (7) One must live in a place where Kṛṣṇa is present — a city like Vṛndāvana or Mathurā or a Kṛṣṇa temple. (8) One should acquire a livelihood that is just sufficient to keep body and soul together. (9) One must fast on the Ekādaśī day.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.117|Madhya 22.117]]:''' "(10) One should worship dhātrī trees, banyan trees, cows, brāhmaṇas and devotees of Lord Viṣṇu. (11) One should avoid offenses against devotional service and the holy name.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.118|Madhya 22.118]]:''' "The twelfth item is to give up the company of nondevotees. (13) One should not accept an unlimited number of disciples. (14) One should not partially study many scriptures just to be able to give references and expand explanations.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.119|Madhya 22.119]]:''' "(15) The devotee should treat loss and gain equally. (16) The devotee should not be overwhelmed by lamentation. (17) The devotee should not worship demigods, nor should he disrespect them. Similarly, the devotee should not study or criticize other scriptures.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.120|Madhya 22.120]]:''' "(18) The devotee should not hear Lord Viṣṇu or His devotees blasphemed. (19) The devotee should avoid reading or hearing newspapers or mundane books that contain stories of love affairs between men and women or subjects palatable to the senses. (20) Neither by mind nor words should the devotee cause anxiety to any living entity, regardless how insignificant he may be.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.121|Madhya 22.121]]:''' "After one is established in devotional service, the positive actions are (1) hearing, (2) chanting, (3) remembering, (4) worshiping, (5) praying, (6) serving, (7) accepting servitorship, (8) becoming a friend and (9) surrendering fully.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.122|Madhya 22.122]]:''' "One should also (10) dance before the Deity, (11) sing before the Deity, (12) open one's mind to the Deity, (13) offer obeisances to the Deity, (14) stand up before the Deity and the spiritual master just to show them respect, (15) follow the Deity or the spiritual master and (16) visit different places of pilgrimage or go see the Deity in the temple.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.123|Madhya 22.123]]:''' "One should (17) circumambulate the temple, (18) recite various prayers, (19) chant softly, (20) chant congregationally, (21) smell the incense and flower garlands offered to the Deity, and (22) eat the remnants of food offered to the Deity.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.124|Madhya 22.124]]:''' "One should (23) attend ārati and festivals, (24) see the Deity, (25) present what is very dear to oneself to the Deity, (26) meditate on the Deity, and (27-30) serve those related to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.125|Madhya 22.125]]:''' "Tadīya means the tulasī leaves, the devotees of Kṛṣṇa, the birthplace of Kṛṣṇa (Mathurā), and the Vedic literature Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Kṛṣṇa is very eager to see His devotee serve tulasī, Vaiṣṇavas, Mathurā and Bhāgavatam.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.126|Madhya 22.126]]:''' "(31) One should perform all endeavors for Kṛṣṇa. (32) One should look forward to His mercy. (33) One should partake of various ceremonies with devotees — ceremonies like Lord Kṛṣṇa's birthday or Rāmacandra's birthday.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.127|Madhya 22.127]]:''' "(34) One should surrender to Kṛṣṇa in all respects. (35) One should observe particular vows like kārtika-vrata. These are some of the sixty-four important items of devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.128|Madhya 22.128]]:''' "One should associate with devotees, chant the holy name of the Lord, hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, reside at Mathurā and worship the Deity with faith and veneration.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.129|Madhya 22.129]]:''' "These five limbs of devotional service are the best of all. Even a slight performance of these five awakens love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.130|Madhya 22.130]]:''' "'With love and full faith one should worship the lotus feet of the Deity.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.131|Madhya 22.131]]:''' "'One should taste the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the association of pure devotees, and one should associate with the devotees who are more advanced than oneself and who are endowed with a similar type of affection for the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.132|Madhya 22.132]]:''' "'One should congregationally chant the holy name of the Lord and reside in Vṛndāvana.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.133|Madhya 22.133]]:''' "'The power of these five principles is very wonderful and difficult to understand. Even without faith in them, a person who is offenseless can awaken his dormant love of Kṛṣṇa simply by being a little connected with them.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.134|Madhya 22.134]]:''' "When one is firmly fixed in devotional service, whether he executes one or many processes of devotional service, the waves of love of Godhead will awaken.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.135|Madhya 22.135]]:''' "There are many devotees who execute only one of the nine processes of devotional service. Nonetheless, they get ultimate success. Devotees like Mahārāja Ambarīṣa execute all nine items, and they also get ultimate success.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.136|Madhya 22.136]]:''' "'Mahārāja Parīkṣit attained the highest perfection, shelter at Lord Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, simply by hearing about Lord Viṣṇu. Śukadeva Gosvāmī attained perfection simply by reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Prahlāda Mahārāja attained perfection by remembering the Lord. The goddess of fortune attained perfection by massaging the transcendental legs of Mahā-Viṣṇu. Mahārāja Pṛthu attained perfection by worshiping the Deity, and Akrūra attained perfection by offering prayers unto the Lord. Vajrāńgajī [Hanumān] attained perfection by rendering service to Lord Rāmacandra, and Arjuna attained perfection simply by being Kṛṣṇa's friend. Bali Mahārāja attained perfection by dedicating everything to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.137-139|Madhya 22.137-139]]:''' "'Mahārāja Ambarīṣa always engaged his mind at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, his words in describing the spiritual world and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his hands in cleansing and washing the Lord's temple, his ears in hearing topics about the Supreme Lord, his eyes in seeing the Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa in the temple, his body in embracing Vaiṣṇavas or touching their lotus feet, his nostrils in smelling the aroma of the tulasī leaves offered to Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, his tongue in tasting food offered to Kṛṣṇa, his legs in going to places of pilgrimage like Vṛndāvana and Mathurā or to the Lord's temple, his head in touching the lotus feet of the Lord and offering Him obeisances, and his desires in serving the Lord faithfully. In this way Mahārāja Ambarīṣa engaged his senses in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. As a result, he awakened his dormant loving propensity for the Lord's service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.140|Madhya 22.140]]:''' "If a person gives up all material desires and completely engages in the transcendental loving service of Kṛṣṇa, as enjoined in the revealed scriptures, he is never indebted to the demigods, sages or forefathers.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.141|Madhya 22.141]]:''' "'One who has given up all material duties and taken full shelter at the lotus feet of Mukunda, who gives shelter to all, is not indebted to the demigods, great sages, ordinary living beings, relatives, friends, mankind or even his forefathers who have passed away.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.142|Madhya 22.142]]:''' "Although the pure devotee does not follow all the regulative principles of varṇāśrama, he worships the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore he naturally has no tendency to commit sin.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.143|Madhya 22.143]]:''' "If, however, a devotee accidentally becomes involved in a sinful activity, Kṛṣṇa purifies him. He does not have to undergo the regulative form of atonement.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.144|Madhya 22.144]]:''' "'One who has given up everything and taken full shelter at the lotus feet of Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is very dear to Kṛṣṇa. If he is involved in some sinful activity by accident, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is seated within everyone's heart, removes his sins without difficulty.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.145|Madhya 22.145]]:''' "The path of speculative knowledge and renunciation is not essential for devotional service. Indeed, good qualities such as nonviolence and control of the mind and senses automatically accompany a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.146|Madhya 22.146]]:''' "'For one who is fully engaged in My devotional service, whose mind is fixed on Me in bhakti-yoga, the path of speculative knowledge and dry renunciation is not very beneficial.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.147|Madhya 22.147]]:''' "'O hunter, good qualities like nonviolence, which you have developed, are not very astonishing, for those who are engaged in the Lord's devotional service are never inclined to give pain to others because of envy.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.148|Madhya 22.148]]:''' "My dear Sanātana, I have now in detail described devotional service according to the regulative principles. Now hear from Me about spontaneous devotional service and its characteristics.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.149|Madhya 22.149]]:''' "The original inhabitants of Vṛndāvana are attached to Kṛṣṇa spontaneously in devotional service. Nothing can compare to such spontaneous devotional service, which is called rāgātmikā bhakti. When a devotee follows in the footsteps of the devotees of Vṛndāvana, his devotional service is called rāgānugā bhakti.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.150|Madhya 22.150]]:''' "'When one becomes attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his natural inclination to love is fully absorbed in thoughts of the Lord. That is called transcendental attachment, and devotional service according to that attachment is called rāgātmikā, or spontaneous devotional service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.151|Madhya 22.151]]:''' "The primary characteristic of spontaneous love is deep attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Absorption in thought of Him is a marginal characteristic.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.152|Madhya 22.152]]:''' "Thus devotional service which consists of rāga [deep attachment] is called rāgātmikā, spontaneous loving service. If a devotee covets such a position, he is considered to be most fortunate.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.153|Madhya 22.153]]:''' "If one follows in the footsteps of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana out of such transcendental covetousness, he does not care for the injunctions or reasonings of śāstra. That is the way of spontaneous love.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.154|Madhya 22.154]]:''' "'Devotional service in spontaneous love is vividly expressed and manifested by the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. Devotional service that accords with their devotional service is called rāgānugā bhakti, or devotional service following in the wake of spontaneous loving service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.155|Madhya 22.155]]:''' "'When an advanced, realized devotee hears about the affairs of the devotees of Vṛndāvana — in the mellows of śānta, dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and mādhurya — he becomes inclined in one of these ways, and his intelligence becomes attracted. Indeed, he begins to covet that particular type of devotion. When such covetousness is awakened, one's intelligence no longer depends on the instructions of śāstra [revealed scripture] or on logic and argument.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.156-157|Madhya 22.156-157]]:''' "There are two processes by which one may execute this rāgānugā bhakti — external and internal. When self-realized, the advanced devotee externally remains like a neophyte and executes all the śāstric injunctions, especially those concerning hearing and chanting. But within his mind, in his original, purified, self-realized position, he serves Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana in his particular way. He serves Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours a day, all day and night.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.158|Madhya 22.158]]:''' "'The advanced devotee who is inclined to spontaneous loving service should follow the activities of a particular associate of Kṛṣṇa's in Vṛndāvana. He should execute service externally as a regulative devotee as well as internally from his self-realized position. Thus he should perform devotional service both externally and internally.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.159|Madhya 22.159]]:''' "Actually the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana are very dear to Kṛṣṇa. If one wants to engage in spontaneous loving service, he must follow the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana and constantly engage in devotional service within his mind.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.160|Madhya 22.160]]:''' "'The devotee should always think of Kṛṣṇa within himself and should choose a very dear devotee who is a servitor of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana. One should constantly engage in topics about that servitor and his loving relationship with Kṛṣṇa, and one should live in Vṛndāvana. If one is physically unable to go to Vṛndāvana, he should mentally live there.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.161|Madhya 22.161]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa has many types of devotees — some are servants, some are friends, some are parents, and some are conjugal lovers. Devotees who are situated in one of these attitudes of spontaneous love according to their choice are considered to be on the path of spontaneous loving service.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.162|Madhya 22.162]]:''' "'My dear mother, Devahūti! O emblem of peace! My weapon, the disc of time, never vanquishes those for whom I am very dear — for whom I am the Supersoul, son, friend, spiritual master, well-wisher, worshipable Deity and desired goal. Since the devotees are always attached to Me, they are never vanquished by the agents of time.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.163|Madhya 22.163]]:''' "'Let me offer my respectful obeisances again and again to those who always eagerly meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead as a husband, son, friend, brother, father or intimate friend.'

'''[[CC Madhya 22.164|Madhya 22.164]]:''' "If one engages in spontaneous loving service to the Lord, his affection for the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa gradually increases.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.165|Madhya 22.165]]:''' "In the seed of affection, there is attachment which goes by two names, rati and bhāva. The Supreme Personality of Godhead comes under the control of such attachment.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.166|Madhya 22.166]]:''' "That by which one can attain loving service to the Lord I have described in detail as the execution of devotional service, called abhidheya.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.167|Madhya 22.167]]:''' "My dear Sanātana, I have briefly described the process of devotional service in practice, which is the means for obtaining love of Kṛṣṇa. It cannot be described broadly."

'''[[CC Madhya 22.168|Madhya 22.168]]:''' Whoever hears this description of the process of practical devotional service very soon attains shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa in love and affection.

'''[[CC Madhya 22.169|Madhya 22.169]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 21|Madhya-līlā 21]] '''[[CC Madhya 21|Madhya-līlā 21]] - [[CC Madhya 23|Madhya-līlā 23]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 23|Madhya-līlā 23]]</div>

CC Madhya 21

2026-06-04T18:29:13Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 21 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 21|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 21: The Opulence and Sweetness of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 20|Madhya-līlā 20]] '''[[CC Madhya 20|Madhya-līlā 20]] - [[CC Madhya 22|Madhya-līlā 22]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 22|Madhya-līlā 22]]</div>

'''[[CC Madhya 21 Summary|Madhya 21 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 21.1|Madhya 21.1]]:''' Offering my obeisances unto Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, let me describe a particle of His opulence and sweetness. He is most valuable for a fallen conditioned soul bereft of spiritual knowledge, and He is the only shelter for those who do not know the real goal of life.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.2|Madhya 21.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Madhya 21.3|Madhya 21.3]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "All the transcendental forms of the Lord are situated in the spiritual sky. They preside over spiritual planets in that abode, but there is no counting those Vaikuṇṭha planets.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.4|Madhya 21.4]]:''' "The breadth of each Vaikuṇṭha planet is described as eight miles multiplied by one hundred, by one thousand, by ten thousand, by one hundred thousand and by ten million. In other words, each Vaikuṇṭha planet is expanded beyond our ability to measure.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.5|Madhya 21.5]]:''' "Each Vaikuṇṭha planet is very large, and each is made of spiritual bliss. The inhabitants are all associates of the Supreme Lord, and they have full opulence like the Lord Himself. This is how the Vaikuṇṭha planets are all situated.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.6|Madhya 21.6]]:''' "Since all the Vaikuṇṭha planets are located in a certain corner of the spiritual sky, who can measure the spiritual sky?

'''[[CC Madhya 21.7|Madhya 21.7]]:''' "The shape of the spiritual sky is compared to a lotus flower. The topmost region of that flower is called the whorl, and within that whorl is Kṛṣṇa's abode. The petals of the spiritual lotus flower consist of many Vaikuṇṭha planets.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.8|Madhya 21.8]]:''' "Each Vaikuṇṭha planet is full of spiritual bliss, complete opulence and space, and each is inhabited by incarnations. If Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva cannot estimate the length and breadth of the spiritual sky and the Vaikuṇṭha planets, how can ordinary living entities begin to imagine them?

'''[[CC Madhya 21.9|Madhya 21.9]]:''' "'O supreme great one! O Supreme Personality of Godhead! O Supersoul, master of all mystic power! Your pastimes are taking place continuously in these worlds, but who can estimate where, how and when You are employing Your spiritual energy and performing Your pastimes? No one can understand the mystery of these activities.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.10|Madhya 21.10]]:''' "The spiritual qualities of Kṛṣṇa are also unlimited. Great personalities like Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and the four Kumāras cannot estimate the spiritual qualities of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.11|Madhya 21.11]]:''' "'In time, great scientists may be able to count all the atoms of the universe, all the stars and planets in the sky, and all the particles of snow, but who among them can count the unlimited transcendental qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead? He descends on the surface of the globe for the benefit of all living entities.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.12|Madhya 21.12]]:''' "To say nothing of Lord Brahmā, even Lord Ananta, who has thousands of heads, cannot reach the end of the Lord's transcendental qualities, even though He is continuously chanting their praises.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.13|Madhya 21.13]]:''' "'If I, Lord Brahmā, and your elder brothers, the great saints and sages, cannot understand the limits of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is full of various energies, who else can understand them? Although constantly chanting about His transcendental qualities, the thousand-hooded Lord Śeṣa has not yet reached the end of the Lord's activities.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.14|Madhya 21.14]]:''' "To say nothing of Anantadeva, even Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself cannot find an end to His own transcendental qualities. Indeed, He Himself is always eager to know them.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.15|Madhya 21.15]]:''' "'My Lord, You are unlimited. Even the predominating deities of the higher planetary systems, including Lord Brahmā, cannot find Your limitations. Nor can You Yourself ascertain the limit of Your qualities. Like atoms in the sky, there are multi-universes with seven coverings, and these are rotating in due course of time. All the experts in Vedic understanding are searching for You by eliminating the material elements. In this way, searching and searching, they come to the conclusion that everything is complete in You. Thus You are the resort of everything. This is the conclusion of all Vedic experts.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.16|Madhya 21.16]]:''' "Apart from all argument, logic and negative or positive processes, when Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was present as the Supreme Personality of Godhead at Vṛndāvana, no one could find a limit to His potencies by studying His characteristics and activities.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.17|Madhya 21.17]]:''' "At Vṛndāvana, the Lord immediately created all material and spiritual planets in one moment. Indeed, all of them were created with their predominating deities.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.18|Madhya 21.18]]:''' "We do not hear of such wonderful things anywhere else. Simply by one's hearing of those incidents, one's consciousness is agitated and cleansed.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.19|Madhya 21.19]]:''' "According to Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Kṛṣṇa had unlimited calves and cowherd boys with Him. No one could count their actual number.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.20|Madhya 21.20]]:''' "Each of the cowherd boys was tending calves to the extent of a koṭi, arbuda, śańkha and padma. That is the way of counting.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.21|Madhya 21.21]]:''' "All the cowherd boys had unlimited calves. Similarly, their canes, flutes, lotus flowers, horns, garments and ornaments were all unlimited. They cannot be limited by writing about them.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.22|Madhya 21.22]]:''' "The cowherd boys then became four-handed Nārāyaṇas, predominating Deities of Vaikuṇṭha planets. All the separate Brahmās from different universes began to offer their prayers unto the Lords.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.23|Madhya 21.23]]:''' "All these transcendental bodies emanated from the body of Kṛṣṇa, and within a second They all entered again into His body.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.24|Madhya 21.24]]:''' "When the Lord Brahmā from this universe saw this pastime, he was astonished and struck with wonder. After offering his prayers, he gave the following conclusion.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.25|Madhya 21.25]]:''' "Lord Brahmā said, 'If someone says that he knows everything about Kṛṣṇa's opulence, let him think that way. But as far as I am concerned, with my body and mind I consider it in this way.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.26|Madhya 21.26]]:''' "'My Lord, Your opulence is like an unlimited ocean of nectar, and it is verbally and mentally impossible for me to realize even a drop of that ocean.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.27|Madhya 21.27]]:''' "'There are people who say, "I know everything about Kṛṣṇa." Let them think that way. As far as I am concerned, I do not wish to speak very much about this matter. O my Lord, let me say this much. As far as Your opulences are concerned, they are all beyond the reach of my mind, body and words.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.28|Madhya 21.28]]:''' "Let the glories of Lord Kṛṣṇa be! Who could be aware of all of them? His abode, Vṛndāvana, has many wonderful opulences. Just try to see them all.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.29|Madhya 21.29]]:''' "According to the revelations of revealed scripture, Vṛndāvana extends only sixteen krośas [thirty-two miles]. Nonetheless, all the Vaikuṇṭha planets and innumerable universes are located in one corner of this tract.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.30|Madhya 21.30]]:''' "No one can estimate the opulence of Kṛṣṇa. That is unlimited. However, just as one sees the moon through the branches of a tree, I wish to give a little indication."

'''[[CC Madhya 21.31|Madhya 21.31]]:''' While describing the transcendental opulences of Kṛṣṇa, the ocean of opulence manifested in the mind of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and His mind and senses were immersed in this ocean. Thus He was perplexed.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.32|Madhya 21.32]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally recited the following verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and to relish the meaning, He began to explain it Himself.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.33|Madhya 21.33]]:''' "'The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is the master of the three worlds and the three principal demigods [Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva]. No one is equal to or greater than Him. By His spiritual potency, known as svārājya-lakṣmī, all His desires are fulfilled. While offering their dues and presents in worship, the predominating deities of all the planets touch the lotus feet of the Lord with their helmets. Thus they offer prayers to the Lord.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.34|Madhya 21.34]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead; therefore He is the greatest of all. No one is equal to Him, nor is anyone greater than Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.35|Madhya 21.35]]:''' "'Kṛṣṇa, known as Govinda, is the supreme controller. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin, for He is the prime cause of all causes.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.36|Madhya 21.36]]:''' "The primary predominating deities of this material creation are Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and Lord Viṣṇu. Nonetheless, they simply carry out the orders of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is master of them all.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.37|Madhya 21.37]]:''' "[Lord Brahmā said:] 'Following the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I create, Lord Śiva destroys, and He Himself in the form of Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu maintains all the affairs of material nature. Thus the supreme controller of the three modes of material nature is Lord Viṣṇu.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.38|Madhya 21.38]]:''' "This is only a general description. Please try to understand another meaning of tryadhīśa. The three puruṣa incarnations of Viṣṇu are the original cause of the material creation.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.39|Madhya 21.39]]:''' "Mahā-Viṣṇu, Padmanābha and Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu are the Supersouls of all subtle and gross existences.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.40|Madhya 21.40]]:''' "Although Mahā-Viṣṇu, Padmanābha and Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu are all shelters and controllers of the entire universe, They are nonetheless but plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore He is the original Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.41|Madhya 21.41]]:''' "'The Brahmās and other lords of the mundane worlds appear from the pores of Mahā-Viṣṇu and remain alive for the duration of His one exhalation. I adore the primeval Lord, Govinda, of whom Mahā-Viṣṇu is a portion of a plenary portion.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.42|Madhya 21.42]]:''' "This is the middle meaning. Now please hear the confidential meaning. Lord Kṛṣṇa has three places of residence, which are well known from the revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.43|Madhya 21.43]]:''' "The internal abode is called Goloka Vṛndāvana. It is there that Lord Kṛṣṇa's personal friends, associates, father and mother live.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.44|Madhya 21.44]]:''' "Vṛndāvana is the storehouse of Kṛṣṇa's mercy and the sweet opulences of conjugal love. That is where the spiritual energy, working as a maidservant, exhibits the rāsa dance, the quintessence of all pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.45|Madhya 21.45]]:''' "'Vṛndāvana-dhāma is very soft due to the mercy of the Supreme Lord, and it is especially opulent due to conjugal love. The transcendental glories of the son of Mahārāja Nanda are exhibited here. Under the circumstances, not the least anxiety is awakened within us.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.46|Madhya 21.46]]:''' "Below the Vṛndāvana planet is the spiritual sky, which is known as Viṣṇuloka. In Viṣṇuloka there are innumerable Vaikuṇṭha planets controlled by Nārāyaṇa and innumerable other expansions of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.47|Madhya 21.47]]:''' "The spiritual sky, which is full in all six opulences, is the intermediate residence of Lord Kṛṣṇa. It is there that an unlimited number of forms of Kṛṣṇa enjoy Their pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.48|Madhya 21.48]]:''' "Innumerable Vaikuṇṭha planets, which are just like different rooms of a treasure-house, are all there, filled with all opulences. Those unlimited planets house the Lord's eternal associates, who are also enriched with the six opulences.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.49|Madhya 21.49]]:''' "'Below the planet named Goloka Vṛndāvana are the planets known as Devī-dhāma, Maheśa-dhāma and Hari-dhāma. These are opulent in different ways. They are managed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda, the original Lord. I offer my obeisances unto Him.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.50|Madhya 21.50]]:''' "'Between the spiritual and the material world is a body of water known as the river Virajā. This water is generated from the bodily perspiration of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as Vedāńga. Thus the river flows.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.51|Madhya 21.51]]:''' "'Beyond the river Virajā is the spiritual nature, which is indestructible, eternal, inexhaustible and unlimited. It is the supreme abode, consisting of three fourths of the Lord's opulences. It is known as paravyoma, the spiritual sky.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.52|Madhya 21.52]]:''' "On the other side of the river Virajā is the external abode, which is full of unlimited universes, each containing unlimited atmospheres.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.53|Madhya 21.53]]:''' "The abode of the external energy is called Devī-dhāma, and its inhabitants are the conditioned souls. It is there that the material energy, Durgā, resides with many opulent maidservants.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.54|Madhya 21.54]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa is the supreme proprietor of all dhāmas, including Goloka-dhāma, Vaikuṇṭha-dhāma and Devī-dhāma. The paravyoma and Goloka-dhāma are beyond Devī-dhāma, this material world.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.55|Madhya 21.55]]:''' "The spiritual world is considered to be three fourths of the energy and opulence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whereas this material world is only one fourth of that energy. That is our understanding.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.56|Madhya 21.56]]:''' "'Because it consists of three fourths of the Lord's energy, the spiritual world is called tri-pād-bhūta. Being a manifestation of one fourth of the Lord's energy, the material world is called eka-pāda.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.57|Madhya 21.57]]:''' "The three-fourths part of Lord Kṛṣṇa's energy is beyond our speaking power. Let us therefore hear elaborately about the remaining one fourth of His energy.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.58|Madhya 21.58]]:''' "Actually it is very difficult to ascertain the number of universes. Every universe has its separate Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, who are known as permanent governors. Therefore there is also no counting them.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.59|Madhya 21.59]]:''' "Once, when Kṛṣṇa was ruling Dvārakā, Lord Brahmā came to see Him, and the doorman immediately informed Lord Kṛṣṇa of Brahmā's arrival.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.60|Madhya 21.60]]:''' "When Kṛṣṇa was so informed, He immediately asked the doorman, 'Which Brahmā? What is his name?' The doorman therefore returned and questioned Lord Brahmā.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.61|Madhya 21.61]]:''' "When the doorman asked, 'Which Brahmā?' Lord Brahmā was surprised. He told the doorman, 'Please go inform Lord Kṛṣṇa that I am the four-headed Brahmā who is the father of the four Kumāras.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.62|Madhya 21.62]]:''' "The doorman then informed Lord Kṛṣṇa of Lord Brahmā's description, and Lord Kṛṣṇa gave him permission to enter. The doorman escorted Lord Brahmā in, and as soon as Brahmā saw Lord Kṛṣṇa, he offered obeisances at His lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.63|Madhya 21.63]]:''' "After being worshiped by Lord Brahmā, Lord Kṛṣṇa also honored him with suitable words. Then Lord Kṛṣṇa asked him, 'Why have you come here?'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.64|Madhya 21.64]]:''' "Being questioned, Lord Brahmā immediately replied, 'Later I shall tell You why I have come. First of all there is a doubt in my mind which I wish You would kindly dissipate.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.65|Madhya 21.65]]:''' "'Why did you inquire which Brahmā had come to see You? What is the purpose of such an inquiry? Is there any other Brahmā besides me within this universe?'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.66|Madhya 21.66]]:''' "Upon hearing this, Śrī Kṛṣṇa smiled and immediately meditated. Unlimited Brahmās arrived instantly.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.67|Madhya 21.67]]:''' "These Brahmās had different numbers of heads. Some had ten heads, some twenty, some a hundred, some a thousand, some ten thousand, some a hundred thousand, some ten million and others a hundred million. No one can count the number of faces they had.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.68|Madhya 21.68]]:''' "There also arrived many Lord Śivas with various heads numbering one hundred thousand and ten million. Many Indras also arrived, and they had hundreds of thousands of eyes all over their bodies.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.69|Madhya 21.69]]:''' "When the four-headed Brahmā of this universe saw all these opulences of Kṛṣṇa, he became very much bewildered and considered himself a rabbit among many elephants.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.70|Madhya 21.70]]:''' "All the Brahmās who came to see Kṛṣṇa offered their respects at His lotus feet, and when they did this, their helmets touched His lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.71|Madhya 21.71]]:''' "No one can estimate the inconceivable potency of Kṛṣṇa. All the Brahmās who were there were resting in the one body of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.72|Madhya 21.72]]:''' "When all the helmets struck together at Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, there was a tumultuous sound. It appeared that the helmets themselves were offering prayers unto Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.73|Madhya 21.73]]:''' "With folded hands, all the Brahmās and Śivas began to offer prayers unto Lord Kṛṣṇa, saying, 'O Lord, You have shown me a great favor. I have been able to see Your lotus feet.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.74|Madhya 21.74]]:''' "All of them then said, 'It is my great fortune, Lord, that You have called me, thinking of me as Your servant. Now let me know what Your order is so that I may carry it on my heads.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.75|Madhya 21.75]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa replied, 'Since I wanted to see all of you together, I have called all of you here.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.76|Madhya 21.76]]:''' "'All of you should be happy. Is there any fear from the demons?'"They replied, 'By Your mercy, we are victorious everywhere.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.77|Madhya 21.77]]:''' "'Whatever burden was upon the earth You have taken away by descending to that planet.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.78|Madhya 21.78]]:''' "This is the proof of Dvārakā's opulence: all the Brahmās thought, 'Kṛṣṇa is now staying in my jurisdiction.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.79|Madhya 21.79]]:''' "Thus the opulence of Dvārakā was perceived by each and every one of them. Although they were all assembled together, no one could see anyone but himself.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.80|Madhya 21.80]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa then bade farewell to all the Brahmās there, and after offering their obeisances, they all returned to their respective homes.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.81|Madhya 21.81]]:''' "After observing all these opulences, the four-headed Brahmā of this universe was astonished. He again came before the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and offered Him obeisances.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.82|Madhya 21.82]]:''' "Brahmā then said, 'Whatever I formerly decided about my knowledge I have just now had personally verified.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.83|Madhya 21.83]]:''' "'There are people who say, "I know everything about Kṛṣṇa." Let them think in that way. As far as I am concerned, I do not wish to speak very much about this matter. O my Lord, let me say this much. As far as Your opulences are concerned, they are all beyond the reach of my mind, body and words.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.84|Madhya 21.84]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa said, 'Your particular universe has a diameter of four billion miles; therefore it is the smallest of all the universes. Consequently you have only four heads.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.85|Madhya 21.85]]:''' "'Some of the universes are one billion yojanas in diameter, some one trillion, some ten trillion and some one hundred trillion yojanas. Thus they are almost unlimited in area.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.86|Madhya 21.86]]:''' "'According to the size of the universe, there are so many heads on the body of Brahmā. In this way I maintain innumerable universes [brahmāṇḍas].

'''[[CC Madhya 21.87|Madhya 21.87]]:''' "'No one can measure the length and breadth of the one fourth of My energy manifested in the material world. Who then can measure the three fourths that is manifested in the spiritual world?'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.88|Madhya 21.88]]:''' "'"Beyond the river Virajā is the spiritual nature, which is indestructible, eternal, inexhaustible and unlimited. It is the supreme abode, consisting of three fourths of the Lord's opulences. It is known as paravyoma, the spiritual sky."'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.89|Madhya 21.89]]:''' "In this way Lord Kṛṣṇa bade farewell to the four-headed Brahmā of this universe. We may thus understand that no one can calculate the extent of Kṛṣṇa's energies.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.90|Madhya 21.90]]:''' "There is a very deep meaning in the word 'try-adhīśvara,' which indicates that Kṛṣṇa possesses three different lokas, or natures.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.91|Madhya 21.91]]:''' "The three lokas are Gokula (Goloka), Mathurā and Dvārakā. Kṛṣṇa lives eternally in these three places.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.92|Madhya 21.92]]:''' "These three places are full of internal potencies, and Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is their sole proprietor.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.93-94|Madhya 21.93-94]]:''' "As previously mentioned, the jewels on the helmets of all the predominating deities of all the universes and Vaikuṇṭha planets touched the throne and the lotus feet of the Lord when those deities all offered obeisances.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.95|Madhya 21.95]]:''' "When the gems on the helmets of all the predominating deities collided before the throne and the Lord's lotus feet, there was a jingling sound, which seemed like prayers offered by the helmets at Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.96|Madhya 21.96]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa is thus situated eternally in His spiritual potency, and the opulence of that spiritual potency is called ṣaḍ-aiśvarya, indicating six kinds of opulences.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.97|Madhya 21.97]]:''' "Because He possesses the spiritual potencies, which fulfill all His desires, Kṛṣṇa is accepted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the Vedic version.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.98|Madhya 21.98]]:''' "The unlimited potencies of Kṛṣṇa are just like an ocean of nectar. Since one cannot bathe within that ocean, I have only touched a drop of it."

'''[[CC Madhya 21.99|Madhya 21.99]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was describing the opulences and spiritual potencies of Kṛṣṇa in this way, there was an awakening of love of Kṛṣṇa within Him. His mind became immersed in the sweetness of conjugal love, and He quoted the following verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.100|Madhya 21.100]]:''' "'To exhibit the strength of His own spiritual potency, Lord Kṛṣṇa manifested a form just suitable for His pastimes in the material world. This form was wonderful even for Him and was the supreme abode of the wealth of good fortune. Its limbs were so beautiful that they increased the beauty of the ornaments worn on different parts of His body.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.101|Madhya 21.101]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa has many pastimes, of which His pastimes as a human being are the best. His form as a human being is the supreme transcendental form. In this form He is a cowherd boy. He carries a flute in His hand, and His youth is new. He is also an expert dancer. All this is just suitable for His pastimes as a human being.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.102|Madhya 21.102]]:''' "My dear Sanātana, the sweet, attractive transcendental form of Kṛṣṇa is so nice. Just try to understand it. Even a fractional understanding of Kṛṣṇa's beauty can merge all three worlds in the ocean of love. He attracts all living entities within the three worlds.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.103|Madhya 21.103]]:''' "The transcendental form of Kṛṣṇa is shown to the world by Lord Kṛṣṇa's internal, spiritual energy, which is a transformation of pure goodness. This jewellike form is the most confidential treasure of the devotees. This form is manifested from Kṛṣṇa's eternal pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.104|Madhya 21.104]]:''' "The wonderful form of Kṛṣṇa in His personal feature is so great that it attracts even Kṛṣṇa to taste His own association. Indeed, Kṛṣṇa becomes very eager to taste it. Total beauty, knowledge, wealth, strength, fame and renunciation are the six opulences of Kṛṣṇa. He is eternally situated in His opulences.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.105|Madhya 21.105]]:''' "Ornaments caress that body, but the transcendental body of Kṛṣṇa is so beautiful that it beautifies the ornaments He wears. Therefore Kṛṣṇa's body is said to be the ornament of ornaments. Enhancing the wonderful beauty of Kṛṣṇa is His three-curved style of standing. Above all these beautiful features, Kṛṣṇa's eyes dance and move obliquely, acting like arrows to pierce the minds of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and the gopīs. When the arrow succeeds in hitting its target, their minds become agitated.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.106|Madhya 21.106]]:''' "The beauty of Kṛṣṇa's body is so attractive that it attracts not only the demigods and other living entities within this material world but the personalities of the spiritual sky as well, including the Nārāyaṇas, who are expansions of Kṛṣṇa's personality. The minds of the Nārāyaṇas are thus attracted by the beauty of Kṛṣṇa's body. In addition, the goddesses of fortune [Lakṣmīs], who are the wives of the Nārāyaṇas and are the women described in the Vedas as most chaste, are also attracted by the wonderful beauty of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.107|Madhya 21.107]]:''' "Favoring the gopīs, Kṛṣṇa rides on the chariots of their minds, and just to receive loving service from them, He attracts their minds like Cupid. Therefore He is also called Madana-mohana, the attractor of Cupid. Cupid has five arrows, representing form, taste, smell, sound and touch. Kṛṣṇa is the owner of these five arrows, and with His Cupid-like beauty He conquers the minds of the gopīs, though they are very proud of their superexcellent beauty. Becoming a new Cupid, Kṛṣṇa attracts their minds and engages in the rāsa dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.108|Madhya 21.108]]:''' "When Lord Kṛṣṇa wanders in the forest of Vṛndāvana with His friends on an equal level, there are innumerable cows grazing. This is another of the Lord's blissful enjoyments. When He plays on His flute, all living entities — including trees, plants, animals and human beings — tremble and are saturated with jubilation. Tears flow constantly from their eyes.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.109|Madhya 21.109]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa wears a pearl necklace that appears like a chain of white ducks around His neck. The peacock feather in His hair appears like a rainbow, and His yellow garments appear like lightning in the sky. Kṛṣṇa appears like a newly risen cloud, and the gopīs appear like newly grown grains in the field. Constant rains of nectarean pastimes fall upon these newly grown grains, and it seems that the gopīs are receiving beams of life from Kṛṣṇa, exactly as grains receive life from the rains.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.110|Madhya 21.110]]:''' "The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is full in all six opulences, including His attractive beauty, which engages Him in conjugal love with the gopīs. Such sweetness is the quintessence of His qualities. Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the son of Vyāsadeva, has described these pastimes of Kṛṣṇa throughout Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Hearing the descriptions, the devotees become mad with love of God."

'''[[CC Madhya 21.111|Madhya 21.111]]:''' Just as the women of Mathurā ecstatically described the fortune of the gopīs of Vṛndāvana and the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu described the different mellows of Kṛṣṇa and became overwhelmed with ecstatic love. Grasping the hand of Sanātana Gosvāmī, He recited the following verse.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.112|Madhya 21.112]]:''' "'What austerities must the gopīs have performed? With their eyes they always drink the nectar of the form of Lord Kṛṣṇa, which is the essence of loveliness and is not to be equaled or surpassed. That loveliness is the only abode of beauty, fame and opulence. It is self-perfect, ever fresh and unique.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.113|Madhya 21.113]]:''' "The bodily beauty of Śrī Kṛṣṇa is like a wave in the ocean of eternal youth. In that great ocean is the whirlpool of the awakening of ecstatic love. The vibration of Kṛṣṇa's flute is like a whirlwind, and the flickering minds of the gopīs are like straws and dry leaves. After they fall down in the whirlwind, they never rise again but remain eternally at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.114|Madhya 21.114]]:''' "O My dear friend, what severe austerities have the gopīs performed to drink His transcendental beauty and sweetness through their eyes in complete fulfillment? Thus they glorify their births, bodies and minds.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.115|Madhya 21.115]]:''' "The sweetness of Kṛṣṇa's beauty enjoyed by the gopīs is unparalleled. Nothing is equal to or greater than such ecstatic sweetness. Even the predominating Deities of the Vaikuṇṭha planets, the Nārāyaṇas, do not possess such sweetness. Indeed, none of the incarnations of Kṛṣṇa up to Nārāyaṇa possess such transcendental beauty.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.116|Madhya 21.116]]:''' "The vivid evidence in this regard is that the dearest consort of Nārāyaṇa, the goddess of fortune, who is worshiped by all chaste women, gave up everything in her desire to enjoy Kṛṣṇa, being captivated by His unparalleled sweetness. Thus she took a great vow and underwent severe austerities.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.117|Madhya 21.117]]:''' "The quintessence of Kṛṣṇa's sweet bodily luster is so perfect that there is no perfection above it. He is the immutable mine of all transcendental qualities. In His other manifestations and personal expansions, there is only a partial exhibition of such qualities. We understand all His personal expansions in this way.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.118|Madhya 21.118]]:''' "Both the gopīs and Kṛṣṇa are complete. The gopīs' ecstatic love is like a mirror that becomes newer and newer at every moment and reflects Kṛṣṇa's bodily luster and sweetness. Thus competition increases. Since neither give up, their pastimes become newer and newer, and both sides constantly increase.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.119|Madhya 21.119]]:''' "The transcendental mellows generated from the dealings between the gopīs and Kṛṣṇa cannot be tasted by means of fruitive activity, yogic austerities, speculative knowledge, regulative devotional service, mantra-yoga or meditation. This sweetness can be tasted only through the spontaneous love of liberated persons who chant the holy names with great ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.120|Madhya 21.120]]:''' "Such ecstatic transactions between Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs are possible only in Vṛndāvana, which is full of the opulences of transcendental love. The form of Kṛṣṇa is the original source of all transcendental qualities. It is like a mine of gems. The opulences belonging to all the personal expansions of Kṛṣṇa are to be understood to be bestowed by Kṛṣṇa; therefore Kṛṣṇa is the original source and shelter of everyone.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.121|Madhya 21.121]]:''' "Beauty, humility, mercy, merit, patience and expert intelligence are all manifested in Kṛṣṇa. But besides these, Kṛṣṇa has other qualities like good behavior, mildness and magnanimity. He also performs welfare activities for the whole world. All these qualities are not visible in expansions like Nārāyaṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.122|Madhya 21.122]]:''' "After seeing Kṛṣṇa, various people criticize the blinking of their eyes. In Vṛndāvana especially, all the gopīs criticize Lord Brahmā because of this defect in the eyes." Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recited some verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and explained them vividly, thus enjoying the taste of transcendental sweetness with great happiness.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.123|Madhya 21.123]]:''' "'All men and women were accustomed to enjoying the beauty of the shining face of Lord Kṛṣṇa, as well as His shark-shaped earrings swinging on His ears. His beautiful features, His cheeks and His playful smiles all combined to form a constant festival for the eyes, and the blinking of the eyes became obstacles that impeded one from seeing that beauty. For this reason, men and women became very angry at the creator [Lord Brahmā].'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.124|Madhya 21.124]]:''' "'O Kṛṣṇa, when You go to the forest during the day and we do not see Your sweet face, which is surrounded by beautiful curly hair, half a second becomes as long as an entire age for us. And we consider the creator, who has put eyelids on the eyes we use for seeing You, to be simply a fool.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.125|Madhya 21.125]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is identical with the Vedic hymn known as the Kāma-gāyatrī, which is composed of twenty-four and a half syllables. Those syllables are compared to moons that arise in Kṛṣṇa. Thus all three worlds are filled with desire.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.126|Madhya 21.126]]:''' "The face of Kṛṣṇa is the king of all moons, and the body of Kṛṣṇa is the throne. Thus the king governs a society of moons.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.127|Madhya 21.127]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa has two cheeks that shine like glowing gems. Both are considered full moons. His forehead is considered a half moon, and the spot of sandalwood there is considered a full moon.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.128|Madhya 21.128]]:''' "His fingernails are many full moons, and they dance on the flute in His hands. Their song is the melody of that flute. His toenails are also many full moons, and they dance on the ground. Their song is the jingling of His ankle bells.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.129|Madhya 21.129]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa's face is the enjoyer king. That full-moon face makes His shark-shaped earrings and lotus eyes dance. His eyebrows are like bows, and His eyes are like arrows. His ears are fixed on the string of that bow, and when His eyes spread to His ears, He pierces the hearts of the gopīs.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.130|Madhya 21.130]]:''' "The dancing features of His face surpass all other full moons and expand the marketplace of full moons. Although priceless, the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's face is distributed to everyone. Some purchase the moonrays of His sweet smiles, and others purchase the nectar of His lips. Thus He pleases everyone.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.131|Madhya 21.131]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa has two reddish, widely spread eyes. These are ministers of the king, and they subdue the pride of Cupid, who also has beautiful eyes. That face of Govinda, which is full of happiness, is the home of the pastimes of beauty, and it is very pleasing to everyone's eyes.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.132|Madhya 21.132]]:''' "If by devotional service one gets the results of pious activities and sees Lord Kṛṣṇa's face, what can he relish with only two eyes? His greed and thirst increase twofold by seeing the nectarean face of Kṛṣṇa. Due to his inability to sufficiently drink that nectar, he becomes very unhappy and criticizes the creator for not having given more than two eyes.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.133|Madhya 21.133]]:''' "When the onlooker of Kṛṣṇa's face becomes dissatisfied in this way, he thinks, 'Why didn't the creator give me thousands and millions of eyes? Why has he given me only two? Even these two eyes are disturbed by blinking, which keeps me from continuously seeing Kṛṣṇa's face.' Thus one accuses the creator of being dry and tasteless due to engaging in severe austerities. 'The creator is only a dry manufacturer. He does not know how to create and set things in their proper places.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.134|Madhya 21.134]]:''' "'The creator says, "Let those who will see Kṛṣṇa's beautiful face have two eyes." Just see the lack of consideration exhibited by this person posing as a creator. If the creator took my advice, he would give millions of eyes to the person who intends to see Śrī Kṛṣṇa's face. If the creator will accept this advice, then I would say that he is competent in his work.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.135|Madhya 21.135]]:''' "The transcendental form of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is compared to an ocean. A particularly extraordinary vision is the moon above that ocean — Śrī Kṛṣṇa's face — and an even more extraordinary vision is His smile, which is sweeter than sweet and is like shining beams of moonlight." While speaking of these things with Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to remember one thing after another. Moving His hands in ecstasy, He recited a verse.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.136|Madhya 21.136]]:''' "'O my Lord, the transcendental body of Kṛṣṇa is very sweet, and His face is even sweeter than His body. But His soft smile, which has the fragrance of honey, is sweeter still.'

'''[[CC Madhya 21.137|Madhya 21.137]]:''' "My dear Sanātana, the sweetness of Kṛṣṇa's personality is just like an ocean of ambrosia. Although My mind is now afflicted by convulsive diseases and I wish to drink that entire ocean, the repressive physician does not allow Me to drink even one drop.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.138|Madhya 21.138]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa's body is a city of attractive features, and it is sweeter than sweet. His face, which is like the moon, is sweeter still. And the supremely sweet gentle smile on that moonlike face is like rays of moonshine.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.139|Madhya 21.139]]:''' "The beauty of Kṛṣṇa's smile is the sweetest feature of all. His smile is like a full moon that spreads its rays throughout the three worlds — Goloka Vṛndāvana, the spiritual sky of the Vaikuṇṭhas, and Devī-dhāma, the material world. Thus Kṛṣṇa's shining beauty spreads in all ten directions.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.140|Madhya 21.140]]:''' "His slight smiling and fragrant illumination are compared to camphor, which enters the sweetness of His lips. That sweetness is transformed and enters into space as vibrations from the holes of His flute.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.141|Madhya 21.141]]:''' "The sound of Kṛṣṇa's flute spreads in the four directions. Even though Kṛṣṇa vibrates His flute within this universe, its sound pierces the universal covering and goes to the spiritual sky. Thus the vibration enters the ears of all inhabitants. It especially enters Goloka Vṛndāvana-dhāma and attracts the minds of the young damsels of Vrajabhūmi, bringing them forcibly to where Kṛṣṇa is present.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.142|Madhya 21.142]]:''' "The vibration of Kṛṣṇa's flute is very aggressive, and it breaks the vows of all chaste women. Indeed, its vibration takes them forcibly from the laps of their husbands. The vibration of His flute attracts even the goddesses of fortune in the Vaikuṇṭha planets, to say nothing of the poor damsels of Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.143|Madhya 21.143]]:''' "The vibration of His flute slackens the knots of their underwear even in front of their husbands. Thus the gopīs are forced to abandon their household duties and come before Lord Kṛṣṇa. In this way all social etiquette, shame and fear are vanquished. The vibration of His flute causes all women to dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.144|Madhya 21.144]]:''' "The vibration of His flute is just like a bird that creates a nest within the ears of the gopīs and always remains prominent there, not allowing any other sound to enter their ears. Indeed, the gopīs cannot hear anything else, nor are they able to concentrate on anything else, not even to give a suitable reply. Such are the effects of the vibration of Lord Kṛṣṇa's flute."

'''[[CC Madhya 21.145|Madhya 21.145]]:''' Resuming His external consciousness, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Sanātana Gosvāmī, "I have not spoken of what I intended. Lord Kṛṣṇa is very merciful to you because by bewildering My mind He has revealed His personal opulence and sweetness. He has caused you to hear all these things from Me for your understanding.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.146|Madhya 21.146]]:''' "Since I have become a madman, I am saying one thing instead of another. This is because I am being carried away by the waves of the nectarean ocean of Lord Kṛṣṇa's transcendental sweetness."

'''[[CC Madhya 21.147|Madhya 21.147]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then remained silent for a moment. Finally, adjusting things within His mind, He again spoke to Sanātana Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.148|Madhya 21.148]]:''' If anyone gets an opportunity to hear about the sweetness of Kṛṣṇa in this chapter of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, he will certainly be eligible to float in the transcendentally blissful ocean of love of God.

'''[[CC Madhya 21.149|Madhya 21.149]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 20|Madhya-līlā 20]] '''[[CC Madhya 20|Madhya-līlā 20]] - [[CC Madhya 22|Madhya-līlā 22]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 22|Madhya-līlā 22]]</div>

CC Madhya 20

2026-06-04T18:29:10Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 20 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 20|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 20: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Instructs Sanātana Gosvāmī in the Science of the Absolute Truth'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 19|Madhya-līlā 19]] '''[[CC Madhya 19|Madhya-līlā 19]] - [[CC Madhya 21|Madhya-līlā 21]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 21|Madhya-līlā 21]]</div>

'''[[CC Madhya 20 Summary|Madhya 20 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 20.1|Madhya 20.1]]:''' Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who has unlimited, wonderful opulences. By His mercy, even a person born as the lowest of men can spread the science of devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.2|Madhya 20.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Madhya 20.3|Madhya 20.3]]:''' While Sanātana Gosvāmī was imprisoned in Bengal, a letter arrived from Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.4|Madhya 20.4]]:''' When Sanātana Gosvāmī received this note from Rūpa Gosvāmī, he became very pleased. He immediately went to the jail superintendent, who was a meat-eater, and spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.5|Madhya 20.5]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī told the Muslim jailkeeper, "Dear sir, you are a saintly person and are very fortunate. You have full knowledge of the revealed scriptures such as the Koran and similar books.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.6|Madhya 20.6]]:''' "If one releases a conditioned soul or imprisoned person according to religious principles, he himself is also released from material bondage by the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.7|Madhya 20.7]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī continued, "Previously I have done much for you. Now I am in difficulty. Please return my goodwill by releasing me.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.8|Madhya 20.8]]:''' "Here are five thousand gold coins. Please accept them. By releasing me, you will receive the results of pious activities and gain material profit as well. Thus you will profit in two ways simultaneously."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.9|Madhya 20.9]]:''' In this way Sanātana Gosvāmī convinced the jailkeeper, who replied, "Please hear me, my dear sir. I am willing to release you, but I am afraid of the government."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.10-11|Madhya 20.10-11]]:''' Sanātana replied, "There is no danger. The Nawab has gone to the south. If he returns, tell him that Sanātana went to pass stool near the bank of the Ganges and that as soon as he saw the Ganges, he jumped in.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.12|Madhya 20.12]]:''' "Tell him, 'I looked for him a long time, but I could not find any trace of him. He jumped in with his shackles, and therefore he was drowned and washed away by the waves.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.13|Madhya 20.13]]:''' "There is no reason for you to be afraid, for I shall not remain in this country. I shall become a mendicant and go to the holy city of Mecca."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.14|Madhya 20.14]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī could see that the mind of the meat-eater was still not satisfied. He then stacked seven thousand gold coins before him.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.15|Madhya 20.15]]:''' When the meat-eater saw the coins, he was attracted to them. He then agreed, and that night he cut Sanātana's shackles and let him cross the Ganges.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.16|Madhya 20.16]]:''' In this way, Sanātana Gosvāmī was released. However, he was not able to walk along the path of the fortress. Walking day and night, he finally arrived at the hilly tract of land known as Pātaḍā.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.17|Madhya 20.17]]:''' After reaching Pātaḍā, he met a landholder and submissively requested him to get him across that hilly tract of land.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.18|Madhya 20.18]]:''' A man who was expert in palmistry was at that time staying with the landlord. Knowing about Sanātana, he whispered the following in the landlord's ear.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.19|Madhya 20.19]]:''' The palmist said, "This man Sanātana possesses eight gold coins." Hearing this, the landlord was very pleased and spoke the following to Sanātana Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.20|Madhya 20.20]]:''' The landlord said, "I shall get you across that hilly tract at night with my own men. Now just cook for yourself and take your lunch."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.21|Madhya 20.21]]:''' Saying this, the landlord offered Sanātana grain to cook. Sanātana then went to the riverside and took his bath.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.22|Madhya 20.22]]:''' Because Sanātana had been fasting for two days, he cooked the food and ate it. However, having formerly been a minister of the Nawab, he began to contemplate the situation.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.23|Madhya 20.23]]:''' As a former minister for the Nawab, Sanātana could certainly understand diplomacy. He therefore thought, "Why is this landlord offering me such respect?" Thinking in this way, he questioned his servant, whose name was Īśāna.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.24|Madhya 20.24]]:''' Sanātana asked his servant, "Īśāna, I think you have some valuable things with you."Īśāna replied, "Yes, I have seven gold coins."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.25|Madhya 20.25]]:''' Hearing this, Sanātana Gosvāmī chastised his servant, saying, "Why have you brought this death knell with you?"

'''[[CC Madhya 20.26|Madhya 20.26]]:''' Thereupon, Sanātana Gosvāmī took the seven gold coins in his hands and went to the landlord. Holding the gold coins before him, he spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.27|Madhya 20.27]]:''' "I have these seven gold coins with me. Please accept them, and from a religious point of view please get me across that hilly tract of land.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.28|Madhya 20.28]]:''' "I am a prisoner of the government, and I cannot go along the way of the ramparts. It will be very pious of you to take this money and kindly get me across this hilly tract of land."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.29|Madhya 20.29]]:''' Smiling, the landlord said, "Before you offered them, I already knew that there were eight gold coins in your servant's possession.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.30|Madhya 20.30]]:''' "On this very night I would have killed you and taken your coins. It is very good that you have voluntarily offered them to me. I am now relieved from such a sinful activity.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.31|Madhya 20.31]]:''' "I am very satisfied with your behavior. I shall not accept these gold coins, but I shall get you across that hilly tract of land simply to perform a pious activity."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.32|Madhya 20.32]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, "If you do not accept these coins, someone else will kill me for them. It is better that you save me from the danger by accepting the coins."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.33|Madhya 20.33]]:''' After this settlement was made, the landlord gave Sanātana Gosvāmī four watchmen to accompany him. They went through the forest path for the whole night and thus brought him over the hilly tract of land.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.34|Madhya 20.34]]:''' After crossing the hills, Sanātana Gosvāmī told his servant, "Īśāna, I think you still have some balance left from the gold coins."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.35|Madhya 20.35]]:''' Īśāna replied, "I still have one gold coin in my possession."Sanātana Gosvāmī then said, "Take the coin and return to your home."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.36|Madhya 20.36]]:''' After departing from Īśāna, Sanātana Gosvāmī began traveling alone with a waterpot in his hand. Simply covered with a torn quilt, he thus lost all his anxiety.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.37|Madhya 20.37]]:''' Walking and walking, Sanātana Gosvāmī finally arrived at a place called Hājipura. That evening he sat down within a garden.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.38|Madhya 20.38]]:''' In Hājipura there was a gentlemen named Śrīkānta, who happened to be the husband of Sanātana Gosvāmī's sister. He was engaged there in government service.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.39|Madhya 20.39]]:''' Śrīkānta had 300,000 gold coins with him, which had been given to him by the emperor for the purchase of horses. Thus Śrīkānta was buying horses and dispatching them to the emperor.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.40|Madhya 20.40]]:''' When Śrīkānta was sitting in an elevated place, he could see Sanātana Gosvāmī. That night he took a servant and went to see Sanātana Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.41|Madhya 20.41]]:''' When they met, they had many conversations. Sanātana Gosvāmī told him in detail about his arrest and release.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.42|Madhya 20.42]]:''' Śrīkānta then told Sanātana Gosvāmī, "Stay here for at least two days and dress up like a gentleman. Abandon these dirty garments."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.43|Madhya 20.43]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, "I shall not stay here even for a moment. Please help me cross the Ganges. I shall leave immediately."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.44|Madhya 20.44]]:''' With great care, Śrīkānta gave him a woolen blanket and helped him cross the Ganges. Thus Sanātana Gosvāmī departed again.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.45|Madhya 20.45]]:''' After a few days, Sanātana Gosvāmī arrived at Vārāṇasī. He was very pleased to hear about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's arrival there.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.46|Madhya 20.46]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī then went to the house of Candraśekhara and sat down by the door. Understanding what was happening, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke to Candraśekhara.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.47|Madhya 20.47]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "There is a devotee at your door. Please call him in." Going outside, Candraśekhara could not see a Vaiṣṇava at his door.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.48|Madhya 20.48]]:''' When Candraśekhara informed the Lord that no Vaiṣṇava was at his door, the Lord asked him, "Is there anyone at all at your door?"

'''[[CC Madhya 20.49|Madhya 20.49]]:''' Candraśekhara replied, "There is a Muslim mendicant."Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately said, "Please bring him here." Candraśekhara then spoke to Sanātana Gosvāmī, who was still sitting beside the door.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.50|Madhya 20.50]]:''' "O Muslim mendicant, please come in. The Lord is calling you." Sanātana Gosvāmī was very pleased to hear this order, and he entered Candraśekhara's house.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.51|Madhya 20.51]]:''' As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Sanātana Gosvāmī in the courtyard, He immediately went up to him with great haste. After embracing him, the Lord was overwhelmed with ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.52|Madhya 20.52]]:''' As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu touched Sanātana Gosvāmī, Sanātana was also overwhelmed with ecstatic love. In a faltering voice, he said, "O my Lord, do not touch me."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.53|Madhya 20.53]]:''' Shoulder to shoulder, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Sanātana Gosvāmī began to cry unlimitedly. Candraśekhara was very much astonished to see this.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.54|Madhya 20.54]]:''' Catching his hand, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took Sanātana Gosvāmī inside and made him sit on an elevated place next to Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.55|Madhya 20.55]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began cleansing Sanātana Gosvāmī's body with His own transcendental hand, Sanātana Gosvāmī said, "O my Lord, please do not touch me."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.56|Madhya 20.56]]:''' The Lord replied, "I am touching you just to purify Myself, because by the force of your devotional service you can purify the whole universe.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.57|Madhya 20.57]]:''' "'Saints of your caliber are themselves places of pilgrimage. Because of their purity, they are constant companions of the Lord, and therefore they can purify even the places of pilgrimage.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.58|Madhya 20.58]]:''' "[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] 'Even though a person is a very learned scholar of the Sanskrit Vedic literatures, he is not accepted as My devotee unless he is pure in devotional service. However, even though a person is born in a family of dog-eaters, he is very dear to Me if he is a pure devotee who has no motive to enjoy fruitive activity or mental speculation. Indeed, all respects should be given to him, and whatever he offers should be accepted. Such devotees are as worshipable as I am.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.59|Madhya 20.59]]:''' "'One may be born in a brāhmaṇa family and have all twelve brahminical qualities, but if he is not devoted to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who has a navel shaped like a lotus, he is not as good as a caṇḍāla who has dedicated his mind, words, activities, wealth and life to the service of the Lord. Simply to take birth in a brāhmaṇa family or to have brahminical qualities is not sufficient. One must become a pure devotee of the Lord. If a śva-paca or caṇḍāla is a devotee, he delivers not only himself but his whole family, whereas a brāhmaṇa who is not a devotee but simply has brahminical qualifications cannot even purify himself, what to speak of his family.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 20.60|Madhya 20.60]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "By seeing you, by touching you and by glorifying your transcendental qualities, one can perfect the purpose of all sense activity. This is the verdict of the revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.61|Madhya 20.61]]:''' "'My dear Vaiṣṇava, seeing a person like you is the perfection of one's eyesight, touching your lotus feet is the perfection of the sense of touch, and glorifying your good qualities is the tongue's real activity, for in the material world it is very difficult to find a pure devotee of the Lord.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 20.62|Madhya 20.62]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "My dear Sanātana, please hear from Me. Kṛṣṇa is very merciful, and He is the deliverer of all fallen souls.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.63|Madhya 20.63]]:''' "My dear Sanātana, Kṛṣṇa has saved you from Mahāraurava, life's deepest hell. He is an ocean of mercy, and His activities are very grave."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.64|Madhya 20.64]]:''' Sanātana replied, "I do not know who Kṛṣṇa is. As far as I am concerned, I have been released from prison only by Your mercy."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.65|Madhya 20.65]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then asked Sanātana Gosvāmī, "How were you released from prison?" Sanātana then described the story from beginning to end.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.66|Madhya 20.66]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "I met your two brothers, Rūpa and Anupama, at Prayāga. They have now gone to Vṛndāvana."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.67|Madhya 20.67]]:''' By the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Sanātana Gosvāmī met both Tapana Miśra and Candraśekhara.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.68|Madhya 20.68]]:''' Tapana Miśra then extended an invitation to Sanātana, and Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked Sanātana to go get a shave.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.69|Madhya 20.69]]:''' After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called Candraśekhara and asked him to take Sanātana Gosvāmī with him. He also asked him to take away Sanātana's present dress.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.70|Madhya 20.70]]:''' Candraśekhara then made Sanātana Gosvāmī look like a gentleman. He took him to bathe in the Ganges, and afterwards he brought him a new set of clothes.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.71|Madhya 20.71]]:''' Candraśekhara offered a new set of garments to Sanātana Gosvāmī, but Sanātana did not accept them. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard news of this, He became unlimitedly happy.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.72|Madhya 20.72]]:''' After bathing at noon, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the house of Tapana Miśra for lunch. He took Sanātana Gosvāmī with Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.73|Madhya 20.73]]:''' After washing His feet, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat down for lunch. He asked Tapana Miśra to supply Sanātana Gosvāmī lunch also.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.74|Madhya 20.74]]:''' Tapana Miśra then said, "Sanātana has some duty to perform; therefore he cannot accept lunch now. At the conclusion of the meal, I shall supply Sanātana with some remnants."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.75|Madhya 20.75]]:''' After eating, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took rest for a while. Tapana Miśra then gave Sanātana Gosvāmī the remnants of food left by Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.76|Madhya 20.76]]:''' When Tapana Miśra offered Sanātana Gosvāmī a new cloth, he did not accept it. Instead, he spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.77|Madhya 20.77]]:''' "If you want to give me some cloth according to your desire, please give me an old cloth you have used."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.78|Madhya 20.78]]:''' When Tapana Miśra gave Sanātana Gosvāmī a used dhotī, Sanātana immediately tore it into pieces to make two sets of outer cloth and underwear.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.79|Madhya 20.79]]:''' When Caitanya Mahāprabhu introduced the Maharashtrian brāhmaṇa to Sanātana, the brāhmaṇa immediately invited Sanātana Gosvāmī for full meals.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.80|Madhya 20.80]]:''' The brāhmaṇa said, "My dear Sanātana, as long as you remain at Kāśī, please accept lunch at my place."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.81|Madhya 20.81]]:''' Sanātana replied, "I shall practice the process of mādhukarī. Why should I accept full meals in the house of a brāhmaṇa?"

'''[[CC Madhya 20.82|Madhya 20.82]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt unlimited happiness to observe Sanātana Gosvāmī's strict following of the principles of sannyāsa. However, He repeatedly glanced at the woolen blanket Sanātana Gosvāmī was wearing.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.83|Madhya 20.83]]:''' Because Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was repeatedly glancing at this valuable woolen blanket, Sanātana Gosvāmī could understand that the Lord did not approve of it. He then began to consider a way to give it up.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.84|Madhya 20.84]]:''' Thinking in this way, Sanātana went to the bank of the Ganges to bathe. While there, he saw that a mendicant from Bengal had washed his quilt and spread it out to dry.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.85|Madhya 20.85]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī then told the Bengali mendicant, "My dear brother, please do me a favor. Trade me your quilt for this woolen blanket."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.86|Madhya 20.86]]:''' The mendicant replied, "Sir, you are a respectable gentleman. Why are you joking with me? Why would you trade your valuable blanket for my torn quilt?"

'''[[CC Madhya 20.87|Madhya 20.87]]:''' Sanātana said, "I am not joking; I am speaking the truth. Kindly take this blanket in exchange for your torn quilt."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.88|Madhya 20.88]]:''' Saying this, Sanātana Gosvāmī exchanged the blanket for the quilt. He then returned to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with the quilt on his shoulder.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.89|Madhya 20.89]]:''' When Sanātana Gosvāmī returned, the Lord asked, "Where is your woolen blanket?" Sanātana Gosvāmī then narrated the whole story to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.90-91|Madhya 20.90-91]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, "I have already deliberately considered this matter. Since Lord Kṛṣṇa is very merciful, He has nullified your attachment for material things. Why should Kṛṣṇa allow you to maintain a last bit of material attachment? After vanquishing a disease, a good physician does not allow any of the disease to remain.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.92|Madhya 20.92]]:''' "It is contradictory to practice mādhukarī and at the same time wear a valuable blanket. One loses his spiritual strength by doing this, and one will also become an object of jokes."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.93|Madhya 20.93]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, "The Supreme Personality of Godhead has saved me from the sinful life of material existence. By His desire, my last piece of material attraction is now gone."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.94|Madhya 20.94]]:''' Being pleased with Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bestowed His causeless mercy upon him. By the Lord's mercy, Sanātana Gosvāmī received the spiritual strength to inquire from Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.95-96|Madhya 20.95-96]]:''' Formerly, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had asked Rāmānanda Rāya spiritual questions, and by the Lord's causeless mercy, Rāmānanda Rāya could properly reply. Now, by the Lord's mercy, Sanātana Gosvāmī questioned the Lord, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally supplied the truth.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.97|Madhya 20.97]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, personally told Sanātana Gosvāmī about Lord Kṛṣṇa's real identity. He also told him about the Lord's conjugal love, His personal opulence and the mellows of devotional service. All these truths were explained to Sanātana Gosvāmī by the Lord Himself out of His causeless mercy.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.98|Madhya 20.98]]:''' Putting a straw in his mouth and bowing down, Sanātana Gosvāmī clasped the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and humbly spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.99|Madhya 20.99]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī said, "I was born in a low family, and my associates are all low-class men. I myself am fallen and am the lowest of men. Indeed, I have passed my whole life fallen in the well of sinful materialism.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.100|Madhya 20.100]]:''' "I do not know what is beneficial for me or what is detrimental. Nonetheless, in ordinary dealings people consider me a learned scholar, and I am also thinking of myself as such.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.101|Madhya 20.101]]:''' "Out of Your causeless mercy, You have delivered me from the materialistic path. Now, by the same causeless mercy, please tell me what my duty is.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.102|Madhya 20.102]]:''' "Who am I? Why do the threefold miseries always give me trouble? If I do not know this, how can I be benefited?

'''[[CC Madhya 20.103|Madhya 20.103]]:''' "Actually I do not know how to inquire about the goal of life and the process for obtaining it. Being merciful upon me, please explain all these truths."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.104|Madhya 20.104]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Lord Kṛṣṇa has bestowed His full mercy upon you so that all these things are known to you. For you, the threefold miseries certainly do not exist.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.105|Madhya 20.105]]:''' "Since you possess Lord Kṛṣṇa's potency, you certainly know these things. However, it is the nature of a sādhu to inquire. Although he knows these things, the sādhu inquires for the sake of strictness.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.106|Madhya 20.106]]:''' "'Those who are eager to awaken their spiritual consciousness and who thus have unflinching, undeviated intelligence certainly attain the desired goal of life very soon.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.107|Madhya 20.107]]:''' "You are fit to propagate the cult of devotional service. Therefore gradually hear all the truths about it from Me. I shall tell you about them.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.108-109|Madhya 20.108-109]]:''' "It is the living entity's constitutional position to be an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa because he is the marginal energy of Kṛṣṇa and a manifestation simultaneously one with and different from the Lord, like a molecular particle of sunshine or fire. Kṛṣṇa has three varieties of energy.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.110|Madhya 20.110]]:''' "'Just as the illumination of a fire, which is situated in one place, is spread all over, the energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Parabrahman, are spread all over this universe.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.111|Madhya 20.111]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa naturally has three energetic transformations, and these are known as the spiritual potency, the living entity potency and the illusory potency.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.112|Madhya 20.112]]:''' "'Originally, Kṛṣṇa's energy is spiritual, and the energy known as the living entity is also spiritual. However, there is another energy, called illusion, which consists of fruitive activity. That is the Lord's third potency.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.113|Madhya 20.113]]:''' "'All the creative energies, which are inconceivable to a common man, exist in the Supreme Absolute Truth. These inconceivable energies act in the process of creation, maintenance and annihilation. O chief of the ascetics, just as there are two energies possessed by fire — namely heat and light — these inconceivable creative energies are the natural characteristics of the Absolute Truth.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.114|Madhya 20.114]]:''' "'O King, the kṣetra-jña-śakti is the living entity. Although he has the facility to live in either the material or the spiritual world, he suffers the threefold miseries of material existence because he is influenced by the avidyā [nescience] potency, which covers his constitutional position.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.115|Madhya 20.115]]:''' "'This living entity, covered by the influence of nescience, exists in different forms in the material condition. O King, he is thus proportionately freed from the influence of the material energy, to greater or lesser degrees.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.116|Madhya 20.116]]:''' "'Besides these inferior energies, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is another, superior energy of Mine, which comprises the living entities who are exploiting the resources of this material, inferior nature.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.117|Madhya 20.117]]:''' "Forgetting Kṛṣṇa, the living entity has been attracted by the external feature from time immemorial. Therefore the illusory energy [māyā] gives him all kinds of misery in his material existence.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.118|Madhya 20.118]]:''' "In the material condition, the living entity is sometimes raised to higher planetary systems and material prosperity and sometimes drowned in a hellish situation. His state is exactly like that of a criminal whom a king punishes by submerging him in water and then raising him again from the water.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.119|Madhya 20.119]]:''' "'When the living entity is attracted by the material energy, which is separate from Kṛṣṇa, he is overpowered by fear. Because he is separated from the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the material energy, his conception of life is reversed. In other words, instead of being the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, he becomes Kṛṣṇa's competitor. This is called viparyayo 'smṛtiḥ. To nullify this mistake, one who is actually learned and advanced worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead as his spiritual master, worshipful Deity and source of life. He thus worships the Lord by the process of unalloyed devotional service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.120|Madhya 20.120]]:''' "If the conditioned soul becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious by the mercy of saintly persons who voluntarily preach scriptural injunctions and help him to become Kṛṣṇa conscious, the conditioned soul is liberated from the clutches of māyā, who gives him up.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.121|Madhya 20.121]]:''' "'This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.122|Madhya 20.122]]:''' "The conditioned soul cannot revive his Kṛṣṇa consciousness by his own effort. But out of causeless mercy, Lord Kṛṣṇa compiled the Vedic literature and its supplements, the Purāṇas.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.123|Madhya 20.123]]:''' "The forgetful conditioned soul is educated by Kṛṣṇa through the Vedic literatures, the realized spiritual master and the Supersoul. Through these, he can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is, and he can understand that Lord Kṛṣṇa is his eternal master and deliverer from the clutches of māyā. In this way one can acquire real knowledge of his conditioned life and can come to understand how to attain liberation.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.124|Madhya 20.124]]:''' "The Vedic literatures give information about the living entity's eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa, which is called sambandha. The living entity's understanding of this relationship and his acting accordingly is called abhidheya. Returning home, back to Godhead, is the ultimate goal of life and is called prayojana.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.125|Madhya 20.125]]:''' "Devotional service, or sense activity for the satisfaction of the Lord, is called abhidheya because it can develop one's original love of Godhead, which is the goal of life. This goal is the living entity's topmost interest and greatest wealth. Thus one attains the platform of transcendental loving service unto the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.126|Madhya 20.126]]:''' "When one attains the transcendental bliss of an intimate relationship with Kṛṣṇa, he renders service to Him and tastes the mellows of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.127|Madhya 20.127]]:''' "The following parable may be given. Once a learned astrologer came to the house of a poor man and, seeing his distressed condition, questioned him.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.128|Madhya 20.128]]:''' "The astrologer asked, 'Why are you unhappy? Your father was very wealthy, but he did not disclose his wealth to you because he died elsewhere.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.129|Madhya 20.129]]:''' "Just as the words of the astrologer Sarvajñā gave news of the poor man's treasure, the Vedic literatures advise one about Kṛṣṇa consciousness when one is inquisitive to know why he is in a distressed material condition.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.130|Madhya 20.130]]:''' "By the words of the astrologer, the poor man's connection with the treasure was established. Similarly, the Vedic literature advises us that our real connection is with Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.131|Madhya 20.131]]:''' "Although being assured of his father's treasure, the poor man cannot acquire this treasure by such knowledge alone. Therefore the astrologer had to inform him of the means whereby he could actually find the treasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.132|Madhya 20.132]]:''' "The astrologer said, 'The treasure is in this place, but if you dig toward the southern side, the wasps and drones will rise, and you will not get your treasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.133|Madhya 20.133]]:''' "'If you dig on the western side, there is a ghost who will create such a disturbance that your hands will not even touch the treasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.134|Madhya 20.134]]:''' "'If you dig on the northern side, there is a big black snake that will devour you if you attempt to dig up the treasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.135|Madhya 20.135]]:''' "'However, if you dig up a small quantity of dirt on the eastern side, your hands will immediately touch the pot of treasure.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.136|Madhya 20.136]]:''' "The revealed scriptures conclude that one should give up fruitive activity, speculative knowledge and the mystic yoga system and instead take to devotional service, by which Kṛṣṇa can be fully satisfied.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.137|Madhya 20.137]]:''' "[The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, said:] 'My dear Uddhava, neither through aṣṭāńga-yoga [the mystic yoga system to control the senses], nor through impersonal monism or an analytical study of the Absolute Truth, nor through study of the Vedas, nor through austerities, charity or acceptance of sannyāsa can one satisfy Me as much as by developing unalloyed devotional service unto Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.138|Madhya 20.138]]:''' "'Being very dear to the devotees and sādhus, I am attained through unflinching faith and devotional service. This bhakti-yoga system, which gradually increases attachment for Me, purifies even a human being born among dog-eaters. That is to say, everyone can be elevated to the spiritual platform by the process of bhakti-yoga.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.139|Madhya 20.139]]:''' "The conclusion is that devotional service is the only means for approaching the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This system is therefore called abhidheya. This is the verdict of all revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.140|Madhya 20.140]]:''' "When one actually becomes rich, he naturally enjoys all kinds of happiness. When one is actually in a happy mood, all distressful conditions go away by themselves. No extraneous endeavor is needed.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.141|Madhya 20.141]]:''' "Similarly, as a result of bhakti, one's dormant love for Kṛṣṇa awakens. When one is so situated that he can taste the association of Lord Kṛṣṇa, material existence, the repetition of birth and death, comes to an end.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.142|Madhya 20.142]]:''' "The goal of love of Godhead is not to become materially rich or free from material bondage. The real goal is to be situated in devotional service to the Lord and to enjoy transcendental bliss.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.143|Madhya 20.143]]:''' "In the Vedic literatures, Kṛṣṇa is the central point of attraction, and His service is our activity. To attain the platform of love of Kṛṣṇa is life's ultimate goal. Therefore Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa's service and love of Kṛṣṇa are the three great riches of life.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.144|Madhya 20.144]]:''' "In all revealed scriptures, beginning with the Vedas, the central point of attraction is Kṛṣṇa. When complete knowledge of Him is realized, the bondage of māyā, the illusory energy, is automatically broken.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.145|Madhya 20.145]]:''' "'There are many types of Vedic literatures and supplementary Purāṇas. In each of them there are particular demigods who are spoken of as the chief demigods. This is just to create an illusion for moving and nonmoving living entities. Let them perpetually engage in such imaginations. However, when one analytically studies all these Vedic literatures collectively, he comes to the conclusion that Lord Viṣṇu is the one and only Supreme Personality of Godhead.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.146|Madhya 20.146]]:''' "When one accepts the Vedic literature by interpretation or even by dictionary meaning, directly or indirectly the ultimate declaration of Vedic knowledge points to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.147-148|Madhya 20.147-148]]:''' "[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] 'What is the purpose of all Vedic literatures? On whom do they focus? Who is the object of all speculation? Outside of Me no one knows these things. Now you should know that all these activities are aimed at ordaining and setting forth Me. The purpose of the Vedic literatures is to know Me by different speculations, either by indirect understanding or by dictionary understanding. Everyone is speculating about Me. The essence of all Vedic literatures is to distinguish Me from māyā. By considering the illusory energy, one comes to the platform of understanding Me. In this way one becomes free from speculation about the Vedas and comes to Me as the conclusion. Thus one is satisfied.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.149|Madhya 20.149]]:''' "The transcendental form of Lord Kṛṣṇa is unlimited and also has unlimited opulence. He possesses the internal potency, external potency and marginal potency.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.150|Madhya 20.150]]:''' "The material and the spiritual world are transformations of Kṛṣṇa's external and internal potencies respectively. Therefore Kṛṣṇa is the original source of both the material and the spiritual manifestations.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.151|Madhya 20.151]]:''' "'The Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam reveals the tenth object, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the shelter of all surrendered souls. He is known as Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and He is the ultimate source of all the universes. Let me offer my obeisances unto Him.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.152|Madhya 20.152]]:''' "O Sanātana, please hear about the eternal form of Lord Kṛṣṇa. He is the Absolute Truth, devoid of duality but present in Vṛndāvana as the son of Nanda Mahārāja.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.153|Madhya 20.153]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa is the original source of everything and the sum total of everything. He appears as the supreme youth, and His whole body is composed of spiritual bliss. He is the shelter of everything and master of everyone.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.154|Madhya 20.154]]:''' "'Kṛṣṇa, who is known as Govinda, is the supreme controller. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin, for He is the prime cause of all causes.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.155|Madhya 20.155]]:''' "The original Supreme Personality of Godhead is Kṛṣṇa. His original name is Govinda. He is full of all opulences, and His eternal abode is known as Goloka Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.156|Madhya 20.156]]:''' "'All these incarnations of Godhead are either plenary portions or parts of the plenary portions of the puruṣa-avatāras. But Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. In every age He protects the world through His different features when the world is disturbed by the enemies of Indra.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.157|Madhya 20.157]]:''' "There are three kinds of spiritual processes for understanding the Absolute Truth — the processes of speculative knowledge, mystic yoga and bhakti-yoga. According to these three processes, the Absolute Truth is manifested as Brahman, Paramātmā or Bhagavān.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.158|Madhya 20.158]]:''' "'Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramātmā or Bhagavān.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.159|Madhya 20.159]]:''' "The manifestation of the impersonal Brahman effulgence, which is without variety, is the rays of Kṛṣṇa's bodily effulgence. It is exactly like the sun. When the sun is seen by our ordinary eyes, it appears to consist simply of effulgence.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.160|Madhya 20.160]]:''' "'I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is endowed with great power. The glowing effulgence of His transcendental form is the impersonal Brahman, which is absolute, complete and unlimited and which displays the varieties of countless planets, with their different opulences, in millions and millions of universes.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.161|Madhya 20.161]]:''' "The Paramātmā, the Supersoul feature, is a plenary portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the original soul of all living entities. Kṛṣṇa is the source of the Paramātmā.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.162|Madhya 20.162]]:''' "'You should know Kṛṣṇa to be the original soul of all ātmās [living entities]. For the benefit of the whole universe, He has, out of His causeless mercy, appeared as an ordinary human being. He has done this by the strength of His own internal potency.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.163|Madhya 20.163]]:''' "'But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.164|Madhya 20.164]]:''' "Only by devotional activity can one understand the transcendental form of the Lord, which is perfect in all respects. Although His form is one, He can expand His form into unlimited numbers by His supreme will.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.165|Madhya 20.165]]:''' "The Supreme Personality of Godhead exists in three principal forms — svayaḿ-rūpa, tad-ekātma-rūpa and āveśa-rūpa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.166|Madhya 20.166]]:''' "The original form of the Lord [svayaḿ-rūpa] is exhibited in two forms — svayaḿ-rūpa and svayaḿ-prakāśa. In His original form as svayaḿ-rūpa, Kṛṣṇa is observed as a cowherd boy in Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.167|Madhya 20.167]]:''' "In His original form, Kṛṣṇa manifests Himself in two features — prābhava and vaibhava. He expands His one original form into many, as He did during the rāsa-līlā dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.168|Madhya 20.168]]:''' "When the Lord married 16,108 wives at Dvārakā, He expanded Himself into many forms. These expansions and the expansions at the rāsa dance are called prābhava-prakāśa, according to the directions of revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.169|Madhya 20.169]]:''' "The prābhava-prakāśa expansions of Lord Kṛṣṇa are not like the expansions of the sage Saubhari. Had they been so, Nārada would not have been astonished to see them.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.170|Madhya 20.170]]:''' "'It is astounding that Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is one without a second, expanded Himself in sixteen thousand similar forms to marry sixteen thousand queens in their respective homes.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.171|Madhya 20.171]]:''' "If one form or feature is differently manifested according to different emotional features, it is called vaibhava-prakāśa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.172|Madhya 20.172]]:''' "When the Lord expands Himself in innumerable forms, there is no difference in the forms, but due to different features, bodily colors and weapons, the names are different.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.173|Madhya 20.173]]:''' "'In different Vedic scriptures, there are prescribed rules and regulative principles for worshiping different types of forms. When one is purified by these rules and regulations, he worships You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although manifested in many forms, You are one.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.174|Madhya 20.174]]:''' "The first manifestation of the vaibhava feature of Kṛṣṇa is Śrī Balarāmajī. Śrī Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa have different bodily colors, but otherwise Śrī Balarāma is equal to Kṛṣṇa in all respects.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.175|Madhya 20.175]]:''' "An example of vaibhava-prakāśa is the son of Devakī. He sometimes has two hands and sometimes four hands.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.176|Madhya 20.176]]:''' "When the Lord is two-handed He is called vaibhava-prakāśa, and when He is four-handed He is called prābhava-prakāśa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.177|Madhya 20.177]]:''' "In His original form, the Lord dresses like a cowherd boy and thinks Himself one. When He appears as Vāsudeva, the son of Vasudeva and Devakī, His dress and consciousness are those of a kṣatriya, a warrior.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.178|Madhya 20.178]]:''' "When one compares the beauty, opulence, sweetness and intellectual pastimes of Vāsudeva, the warrior, to Kṛṣṇa, the cowherd boy, son of Nanda Mahārāja, one sees that Kṛṣṇa's attributes are more pleasant.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.179|Madhya 20.179]]:''' "Indeed, Vāsudeva is agitated just to see the sweetness of Govinda, and a transcendental greed awakens in Him to enjoy that sweetness.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.180|Madhya 20.180]]:''' "'My dear friend, this dramatic actor appears like a second form of My own self. Like a picture, He displays My pastimes as a cowherd boy overflowing with wonderfully attractive sweetness and fragrance, which are so dear to the damsels of Vraja. When I see such a display, My heart becomes greatly excited. I long for such pastimes and desire a form exactly like that of the damsels of Vraja.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.181|Madhya 20.181]]:''' "One instance of Vāsudeva's attraction to Kṛṣṇa occurred when Vāsudeva saw the Gandharva dance at Mathurā. Another instance occurred in Dvārakā when Vāsudeva was surprised to see a picture of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.182|Madhya 20.182]]:''' "'Who manifests an abundance of sweetness greater than Mine, which has never been experienced before and which causes wonder to all? Alas, I Myself, My mind bewildered upon seeing this beauty, impetuously desire to enjoy it like Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.183|Madhya 20.183]]:''' "When that body is a little differently manifested and its features are a little different in transcendental emotion and form, it is called tad-ekātma.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.184|Madhya 20.184]]:''' "In the tad-ekātma-rūpa there are pastime expansions [vilāsa] and personal expansions [svāḿśa]. Consequently there are two divisions. According to pastime and personal expansion, there are various differences.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.185|Madhya 20.185]]:''' "Again the vilāsa forms are divided into twofold categories — prābhava and vaibhava. Again the pastimes of these forms are of unlimited variety.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.186|Madhya 20.186]]:''' "The chief quadruple expansions are named Vāsudeva, Sańkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. These are called prābhava-vilāsa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.187|Madhya 20.187]]:''' "Balarāma, who has the same original form as Kṛṣṇa, is Himself a cowherd boy in Vṛndāvana, and He also considers Himself a member of the kṣatriya race in Dvārakā. Thus His color and dress are different, and He is called a pastime form of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.188|Madhya 20.188]]:''' "Śrī Balarāma is a vaibhava-prakāśa manifestation of Kṛṣṇa. He is also manifested in the original quadruple expansions of Vāsudeva, Sańkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. These are prābhava-vilāsa expansions with different emotions.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.189|Madhya 20.189]]:''' "The first expansion of the caturvyūha, quadruple forms, is unique. There is nothing to compare with Them. These quadruple forms are the source of unlimited quadruple forms.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.190|Madhya 20.190]]:''' "These four prābhava pastime forms of Lord Kṛṣṇa reside eternally in Dvārakā and Mathurā.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.191|Madhya 20.191]]:''' "From the original quadruple expansions, twenty-four forms are manifested. They differ according to the placement of the weapons in Their four hands. They are called vaibhava-vilāsa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.192|Madhya 20.192]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa again expands, and within the paravyoma, the spiritual sky, He is situated in fullness as the four-handed Nārāyaṇa, accompanied by expansions of the original quadruple form.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.193|Madhya 20.193]]:''' "Thus the original quadruple forms again manifest Themselves in a second set of quadruple expansions. The residences of these second quadruple expansions cover the four directions.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.194|Madhya 20.194]]:''' "Again these quadruple forms expand three times, beginning with Keśava. That is the fulfillment of the pastime forms.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.195|Madhya 20.195]]:''' "Out of the catur-vyūha, there are three expansions of each and every form, and They are named differently according to the position of the weapons. The Vāsudeva expansions are Keśava, Nārāyaṇa and Mādhava.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.196|Madhya 20.196]]:''' "The expansions of Sańkarṣaṇa are Govinda, Viṣṇu and Madhusūdana. This Govinda is different from the original Govinda, for He is not the son of Mahārāja Nanda.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.197|Madhya 20.197]]:''' "The expansions of Pradyumna are Trivikrama, Vāmana and Śrīdhara. The expansions of Aniruddha are Hṛṣīkeśa, Padmanābha and Dāmodara.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.198|Madhya 20.198]]:''' "These twelve are the predominating Deities of the twelve months. Keśava is the predominating Deity of Agrahāyana, and Nārāyaṇa is the predominating Deity of Pauṣa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.199|Madhya 20.199]]:''' "The predominating Deity of the month of Māgha is Mādhava, and the predominating Deity of the month of Phālguna is Govinda. Viṣṇu is the predominating Deity of Caitra, and Madhusūdana is the predominating Deity of Vaiśākha.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.200|Madhya 20.200]]:''' "In the month of Jyaiṣṭha, the predominating Deity is Trivikrama. In Āṣāḍha the Deity is Vāmana, in Śrāvaṇa the Deity is Śrīdhara, and in Bhādra the Deity is Hṛṣīkeśa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.201|Madhya 20.201]]:''' "In the month of Āśvina, the predominating Deity is Padmanābha, and in Kārttika it is Dāmodara. This Dāmodara is different from Rādhā-Dāmodara, the son of Nanda Mahārāja in Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.202|Madhya 20.202]]:''' "When putting the twelve tilaka marks on the twelve places of the body, one has to chant the mantra consisting of these twelve Viṣṇu names. After daily worship, when one anoints the different parts of the body with water, these names should be chanted as one touches each part of the body.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.203|Madhya 20.203]]:''' "From Vāsudeva, Sańkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha, there are eight additional pastime expansions. O Sanātana, please hear Me as I mention Their names.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.204|Madhya 20.204]]:''' "The eight pastime expansions are Puruṣottama, Acyuta, Nṛsiḿha, Janārdana, Hari, Kṛṣṇa, Adhokṣaja and Upendra.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.205|Madhya 20.205]]:''' "Of these eight expansions, two are pastime forms of Vāsudeva. Their names are Adhokṣaja and Puruṣottama. The two pastime forms of Sańkarṣaṇa are Upendra and Acyuta.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.206|Madhya 20.206]]:''' "The pastime forms of Pradyumna are Nṛsiḿha and Janārdana, and the pastime forms of Aniruddha are Hari and Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.207|Madhya 20.207]]:''' "All these twenty-four forms constitute the chief prābhava-vilāsa pastime forms of the Lord. They are named differently according to the position of the weapons in Their hands.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.208|Madhya 20.208]]:''' "Of all these, the forms that differ in dress and features are distinguished as vaibhava-vilāsa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.209|Madhya 20.209]]:''' "Of Them, Padmanābha, Trivikrama, Nṛsiḿha, Vāmana, Hari, Kṛṣṇa and so on all have different bodily features.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.210|Madhya 20.210]]:''' "Vāsudeva and the three others are direct prābhava pastime forms of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Of these quadruple forms, the pastime expansions are twenty in number.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.211|Madhya 20.211]]:''' "All these forms preside over different Vaikuṇṭha planets in the spiritual world, beginning from the east in consecutive order. In each of the eight directions, there are three different forms.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.212|Madhya 20.212]]:''' "Although They all have Their residences eternally in the spiritual sky, some of Them are situated within the material universes.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.213|Madhya 20.213]]:''' "There is an eternal residence of Nārāyaṇa in the spiritual sky. In the upper portion of the spiritual sky is a planet known as Kṛṣṇaloka, which is filled with all opulences.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.214|Madhya 20.214]]:''' "The planet of Kṛṣṇaloka is divided into three sections — Gokula, Mathurā and Dvārakā.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.215|Madhya 20.215]]:''' "Lord Keśava eternally resides at Mathurā, and Lord Puruṣottama, known by the name Jagannātha, eternally resides at Nīlācala.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.216|Madhya 20.216]]:''' "At Prayāga, the Lord is situated as Bindu Mādhava, and at Mandāra-parvata, the Lord is known as Madhusūdana. Vāsudeva, Padmanābha and Janārdana reside at Ānandāraṇya.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.217|Madhya 20.217]]:''' "At Viṣṇu-kāñcī there is Lord Viṣṇu, at Māyāpur Lord Hari, and throughout the universe a variety of other forms.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.218|Madhya 20.218]]:''' "Within the universe the Lord is situated in different spiritual manifestations. These are situated on seven islands in nine sections. Thus Their pastimes are going on.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.219|Madhya 20.219]]:''' "The Lord is situated in all the universes in different forms just to please His devotees. Thus the Lord destroys irreligious principles and establishes religious principles.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.220|Madhya 20.220]]:''' "Of these forms, some are considered incarnations. Examples are Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Trivikrama, Lord Nṛsiḿha and Lord Vāmana.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.221|Madhya 20.221]]:''' "My dear Sanātana, just hear from Me as I tell you how the different viṣṇu-mūrtis hold Their weapons, beginning with the disc, and how They are named differently according to the placement of the weapons in Their hands.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.222|Madhya 20.222]]:''' "The procedure for counting begins with the lower right hand and goes to the upper right hand, the upper left hand, and the lower left hand. Lord Viṣṇu is named according to the order of the weapons He holds in His hands.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.223|Madhya 20.223]]:''' "According to the Siddhārtha-saḿhitā there are twenty-four forms of Lord Viṣṇu. First I shall describe, according to the opinion of that book, the location of the weapons, beginning with the disc.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.224|Madhya 20.224]]:''' "In His lower right hand, Lord Vāsudeva holds a club, in the upper right hand a conchshell, in the upper left hand a disc and in the lower left hand a lotus flower. In His lower right hand, Sańkarṣaṇa holds a club, in His upper right hand a conchshell, in His upper left hand a lotus flower and in His lower left hand a disc.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.225|Madhya 20.225]]:''' "Pradyumna holds the disc, conch, club and lotus. Aniruddha holds the disc, club, conch and lotus.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.226|Madhya 20.226]]:''' "Thus in the spiritual sky the expansions, headed by Vāsudeva, hold weapons in Their own respective order. I am repeating the opinion of the Siddhārtha-saḿhitā in describing Them.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.227|Madhya 20.227]]:''' "Lord Keśava holds the lotus, conch, disc and club. Lord Nārāyaṇa holds the conch, lotus, club and disc.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.228|Madhya 20.228]]:''' "Lord Mādhava holds the club, disc, conch and lotus. Lord Govinda holds the disc, club, lotus and conch.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.229|Madhya 20.229]]:''' "Lord Viṣṇu holds the club, lotus, conch and disc. Lord Madhusūdana holds the disc, conch, lotus and club.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.230|Madhya 20.230]]:''' "Lord Trivikrama holds the lotus, club, disc and conch. Lord Vāmana holds the conch, disc, club and lotus.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.231|Madhya 20.231]]:''' "Lord Śrīdhara holds the lotus, disc, club and conch. Lord Hṛṣīkeśa holds the club, disc, lotus and conch.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.232|Madhya 20.232]]:''' "Lord Padmanābha holds the conch, lotus, disc and club. Lord Dāmodara holds the lotus, disc, club and conch.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.233|Madhya 20.233]]:''' "Lord Puruṣottama holds the disc, lotus, conch and club. Lord Acyuta holds the club, lotus, disc and conch.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.234|Madhya 20.234]]:''' "Lord Nṛsiḿha holds the disc, lotus, club and conch. Lord Janārdana holds the lotus, disc, conch and club.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.235|Madhya 20.235]]:''' "Śrī Hari holds the conch, disc, lotus and club. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa holds the conch, club, lotus and disc.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.236|Madhya 20.236]]:''' "Lord Adhokṣaja holds the lotus, club, conch and disc. Lord Upendra holds the conch, club, disc and lotus.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.237|Madhya 20.237]]:''' "According to the Hayaśīrṣa-pañcarātra, there are sixteen personalities. I shall now describe that opinion of how They hold the weapons.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.238|Madhya 20.238]]:''' "Keśava is described differently as holding the lotus, conch, club and disc, and Mādhava is described as holding the disc, club, conch and lotus in His hands.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.239|Madhya 20.239]]:''' "According to the Hayaśīrṣa Pañcarātra, Nārāyaṇa and others are also presented differently as holding the weapons in different hands.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.240|Madhya 20.240]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, indicated as the son of Mahārāja Nanda, has two names. One is svayaḿ bhagavān, and the other is līlā-puruṣottama.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.241|Madhya 20.241]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa personally surrounds Dvārakā-purī as its protector. In different parts of the city, in nine places, He expands in nine different forms.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.242|Madhya 20.242]]:''' "'The nine personalities mentioned are Vāsudeva, Sańkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Nārāyaṇa, Nṛsiḿha, Hayagrīva, Varāha and Brahmā.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.243|Madhya 20.243]]:''' "I have already described the pastime and prakāśa forms. Now please hear about the different personal expansions.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.244|Madhya 20.244]]:''' "The first personal expansion is Sańkarṣaṇa, and the others are incarnations like the fish incarnation. Sańkarṣaṇa is an expansion of the Puruṣa, or Viṣṇu. The incarnations such as Matsya, the fish incarnation, appear in different yugas for specific pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.245|Madhya 20.245]]:''' "There are six types of incarnations [avatāras] of Kṛṣṇa. One includes the incarnations of Viṣṇu [puruṣa-avatāras], and another includes the incarnations meant for the performance of pastimes [līlā-avatāras].

'''[[CC Madhya 20.246|Madhya 20.246]]:''' "There are incarnations that control the material qualities [guṇa-avatāras], incarnations who appear during the reign of each Manu [manvantara-avatāras], incarnations in different millenniums [yuga-avatāras] and incarnations of empowered living entities [śaktyāveśa-avatāras].

'''[[CC Madhya 20.247|Madhya 20.247]]:''' "Childhood and boyhood are the typical ages of the Deity. Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, performed His pastimes as a child and as a boy.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.248|Madhya 20.248]]:''' "There are innumerable incarnations of Kṛṣṇa, and there is no possibility of counting them. We can simply indicate them by giving the example of the moon and the branches of a tree.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.249|Madhya 20.249]]:''' "'O learned brāhmaṇas, just as hundreds and thousands of small rivulets issue from great reservoirs of water, innumerable incarnations flow from Śrī Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the reservoir of all power.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.250|Madhya 20.250]]:''' "In the beginning, Kṛṣṇa incarnates Himself as the puruṣa-avatāras, or Viṣṇu incarnations. These are of three types.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.251|Madhya 20.251]]:''' "'Viṣṇu has three forms called puruṣas. The first, Mahā-Viṣṇu, is the creator of the total material energy [mahat], the second is Garbhodaśāyī, who is situated within each universe, and the third is Kṣīrodaśāyī, who lives in the heart of every living being. He who knows these three becomes liberated from the clutches of māyā.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.252|Madhya 20.252]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa has unlimited potencies, out of which three are chief — willpower, the power of knowledge and the creative energy.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.253|Madhya 20.253]]:''' "The predominator of the willing potency is Lord Kṛṣṇa, for by His supreme will everything comes into existence. In willing, there is a need for knowledge, and that knowledge is expressed through Vāsudeva.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.254|Madhya 20.254]]:''' "There is no possibility of creation without thinking, feeling, willing, knowledge and activity. The combination of the supreme will, knowledge and action brings about the cosmic manifestation.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.255|Madhya 20.255]]:''' "Lord Sańkarṣaṇa is Lord Balarāma. Being the predominator of the creative energy, He creates both the material and the spiritual world.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.256|Madhya 20.256]]:''' "That original Sańkarṣaṇa [Lord Balarāma] is the cause of both the material and the spiritual creation. He is the predominating deity of egotism, and by the will of Kṛṣṇa and the power of the spiritual energy, He creates the spiritual world, which consists of the planet Goloka Vṛndāvana and the Vaikuṇṭha planets.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.257|Madhya 20.257]]:''' "Although there is no question of creation as far as the spiritual world is concerned, the spiritual world is nonetheless manifested by the supreme will of Sańkarṣaṇa. The spiritual world is the abode of the pastimes of the eternal spiritual energy.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.258|Madhya 20.258]]:''' "'Gokula, the supreme abode and planet, appears like a lotus flower that has a thousand petals. The whorl of that lotus is the abode of the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa. This lotus-shaped supreme abode is created by the will of Lord Ananta.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.259|Madhya 20.259]]:''' "By the agency of the material energy, this same Lord Sańkarṣaṇa creates all the universes. The dull material energy — known in modern language as nature — is not the cause of the material universe.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.260|Madhya 20.260]]:''' "Without the Supreme Personality of Godhead's energy, dull matter cannot create the cosmic manifestation. Its power does not arise from the material energy itself but is endowed by Sańkarṣaṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.261|Madhya 20.261]]:''' "Dull matter alone cannot create anything. The material energy produces the creation by the power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Iron itself has no power to burn, but when iron is placed in fire, it is empowered to burn.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.262|Madhya 20.262]]:''' "'Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa are the original efficient and material causes of the material world. As Mahā-Viṣṇu and the material energy, They enter into the material elements and create the diversities by multi-energies. Thus They are the cause of all causes.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.263|Madhya 20.263]]:''' "The form of the Lord that descends into the material world to create is called an avatāra, or incarnation.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.264|Madhya 20.264]]:''' "All the expansions of Lord Kṛṣṇa are actually residents of the spiritual world. But when they descend into the material world, they are called incarnations [avatāras].

'''[[CC Madhya 20.265|Madhya 20.265]]:''' "To glance over that material energy and empower her, Lord Sańkarṣaṇa first incarnates as Lord Mahā-Viṣṇu.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.266|Madhya 20.266]]:''' "'In the beginning of the creation, the Lord expanded Himself in the form of the puruṣa incarnation, accompanied by all the ingredients of material creation. First He created the sixteen principal energies suitable for creation. This was for the purpose of manifesting the material universes.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.267|Madhya 20.267]]:''' "'Kāraṇābdhiśāyī Viṣṇu [Mahā-Viṣṇu] is the first incarnation of the Supreme Lord, and He is the master of eternal time, space, cause and effects, the mind, the elements, the material ego, the modes of nature, the senses, the universal form of the Lord, Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu and the sum total of all living beings, both moving and nonmoving.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.268|Madhya 20.268]]:''' "That original Personality of Godhead, named Sańkarṣaṇa, first lies down in the river Virajā, which serves as a border between the material and the spiritual world. As Kāraṇābdhiśāyī Viṣṇu, He is the original cause of the material creation.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.269|Madhya 20.269]]:''' "The Virajā, or Causal Ocean, is the border between the spiritual and the material world. The material energy is situated on one shore of that ocean, and it cannot enter onto the other shore, which is the spiritual sky.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.270|Madhya 20.270]]:''' "'In the spiritual world, there is neither the mode of passion, the mode of ignorance nor a mixture of both, nor is there adulterated goodness, the influence of time or māyā herself. Only the pure devotees of the Lord, who are worshiped both by demigods and by demons, reside in the spiritual world as the Lord's associates.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.271|Madhya 20.271]]:''' "Māyā has two functions. One is called māyā, and the other is called pradhāna. Māyā refers to the efficient cause, and pradhāna refers to the ingredients that create the cosmic manifestation.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.272|Madhya 20.272]]:''' "When the Supreme Personality of Godhead glances over the material energy, she becomes agitated. At that time, the Lord injects the original semen of the living entities.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.273|Madhya 20.273]]:''' "To impregnate with the seeds of the living entities, the Lord Himself does not directly touch the material energy, but by His specific functional expansion He touches the material energy, and thus the living entities, who are His parts and parcels, are impregnated into material nature.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.274|Madhya 20.274]]:''' "'At a time beyond memory, after agitating the material nature into three qualities, the Supreme Personality of Godhead placed the semen of innumerable living entities within the womb of that material nature. Thus material nature gave birth to the total material energy, known as the hiraṇmaya-mahat-tattva, the original symbolic representation of the cosmic manifestation.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.275|Madhya 20.275]]:''' "'In due course of time, the Supreme Personality of Godhead [Mahā-Vaikuṇṭhanātha], by the agency of a further expansion of His personal self [Mahā-Viṣṇu], placed the seed of the living entities within the womb of material nature.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.276|Madhya 20.276]]:''' "First the total material energy is manifested, and from this arise the three types of egotism, which are the original sources from which all demigods [controlling deities], senses and material elements expand.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.277|Madhya 20.277]]:''' "Combining all the different elements, the Supreme Lord created all the universes. Those universes are unlimited in number; there is no possibility of counting them.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.278|Madhya 20.278]]:''' "The first form of Lord Viṣṇu is called Mahā-Viṣṇu. He is the original creator of the total material energy. The innumerable universes emanate from the pores of His body.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.279-280|Madhya 20.279-280]]:''' "These universes are understood to be floating in the air that Mahā-Viṣṇu exhales. They are like atomic particles that float in sunshine and pass through the holes of a screen. All these universes are thus created by the exhalation of Mahā-Viṣṇu, and when Mahā-Viṣṇu inhales, they re-enter His body. The unlimited opulences of Mahā-Viṣṇu are completely beyond material conception.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.281|Madhya 20.281]]:''' "'The Brahmās and other lords of the mundane worlds appear from the pores of Mahā-Viṣṇu and remain alive for the duration of His one exhalation. I adore the primeval Lord, Govinda, of whom Mahā-Viṣṇu is a portion of a plenary portion.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.282|Madhya 20.282]]:''' "Mahā-Viṣṇu is the Supersoul of all the universes. Lying on the Causal Ocean, He is the master of all material worlds.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.283|Madhya 20.283]]:''' "I have thus explained the truth of the first Personality of Godhead, Mahā-Viṣṇu. I shall now explain the glories of the second Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.284|Madhya 20.284]]:''' "After creating the total number of universes, which are unlimited, Mahā-Viṣṇu expanded Himself into unlimited forms and entered into each of them.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.285|Madhya 20.285]]:''' "When Mahā-Viṣṇu entered each of the limitless universes, He saw that there was darkness all around and that there was no place to stay. He therefore began to consider the situation.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.286|Madhya 20.286]]:''' "With the perspiration produced from His own body, the Lord filled half the universe with water. He then lay down on that water, on the bed of Lord Śeṣa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.287|Madhya 20.287]]:''' "A lotus flower then sprouted from the lotus navel of that Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. That lotus flower became Lord Brahmā's birthplace.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.288|Madhya 20.288]]:''' "In the stem of that lotus flower, the fourteen worlds were generated. Then He became Lord Brahmā and manifested the entire universe.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.289|Madhya 20.289]]:''' "In this way, the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His form of Viṣṇu maintains the entire material world. Since He is always beyond the material qualities, the material nature cannot touch Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.290|Madhya 20.290]]:''' "The Supreme Lord in His form of Rudra [Lord Śiva] brings about the dissolution of this material creation. In other words, only by His will are there creation, maintenance and dissolution of the whole cosmic manifestation.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.291|Madhya 20.291]]:''' "Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva are His three incarnations of the material qualities. Creation, maintenance and destruction respectively are under the charge of these three personalities.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.292|Madhya 20.292]]:''' "Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, known within the universe as Hiraṇyagarbha and the antaryāmī, or Supersoul, is glorified in the Vedic hymns, beginning with the hymn that starts with the word 'sahasra-śīrṣā.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.293|Madhya 20.293]]:''' "This second Personality of Godhead, known as Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, is the master of each and every universe and the shelter of the external energy. Nonetheless, He remains beyond the touch of the external energy.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.294|Madhya 20.294]]:''' "The third expansion of Viṣṇu is Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, who is the incarnation of the quality of goodness. He is to be counted within both types of incarnations [puruṣa-avatāras and guṇa-avatāras].

'''[[CC Madhya 20.295|Madhya 20.295]]:''' "Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu is the universal form of the Lord and is the Supersoul within every living entity. He is known as Kṣīrodakaśāyī because He is the Lord who lies on the ocean of milk. He is the maintainer and master of the universe.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.296|Madhya 20.296]]:''' "O Sanātana, I have definitively described the three puruṣa-avatāras of Viṣṇu. Now please hear from Me about the pastime incarnations.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.297|Madhya 20.297]]:''' "No one can count the innumerable pastime incarnations of Lord Kṛṣṇa, but I shall describe the principal ones.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.298|Madhya 20.298]]:''' "Some of the pastime incarnations are the fish incarnation, the tortoise incarnation, Lord Rāmacandra, Lord Nṛsiḿha, Lord Vāmana and Lord Varāha. There is no end to them.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.299|Madhya 20.299]]:''' "'O Lord of the universe, best of the Yadu dynasty, we are offering our prayers unto You mainly to diminish the heavy burden of the universe. Indeed, You diminished this burden formerly by incarnating in the form of a fish, a horse [Hayagrīva], a tortoise, a lion [Lord Nṛsiḿha], a boar [Lord Varāha] and a swan. You also incarnated as Lord Rāmacandra, Paraśurāma and Vāmana, the dwarf. You have always protected us demigods and the universe in this way. Now please continue.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.300|Madhya 20.300]]:''' "I have given a few examples of pastime incarnations. Now I will describe the guṇa-avatāras, the incarnations of the material qualities. Please listen.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.301|Madhya 20.301]]:''' "There are three functions within this material world. Everything here is created, everything is maintained for some time, and everything is finally dissolved. The Lord therefore incarnates Himself as the controllers of the three qualities — sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa [goodness, passion and ignorance]. Thus the transactions of the material world take place.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.302|Madhya 20.302]]:''' "Because of his past pious activities mixed with devotional service, the first-class living entity is influenced by the mode of passion within his mind.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.303|Madhya 20.303]]:''' "Such a devotee is empowered by Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. In this way, an incarnation of Kṛṣṇa in the form of Brahmā engineers the total creation of the universe.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.304|Madhya 20.304]]:''' "'The sun manifests his brilliance in a gem, although it is stone. Similarly, the original Personality of Godhead, Govinda, manifests His special power in a pious living entity. Thus the living entity becomes Brahmā and manages the affairs of the universe. Let me worship Govinda, the original Personality of Godhead.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.305|Madhya 20.305]]:''' "If in a kalpa a suitable living entity is not available to take charge of Brahmā's post, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself personally expands and becomes Lord Brahmā.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.306|Madhya 20.306]]:''' "'What is the value of a throne to Lord Kṛṣṇa? The masters of the various planetary systems accept the dust of His lotus feet on their crowned heads. That dust makes the holy places sacred, and even Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, Lakṣmī and I Myself, who are all portions of His plenary portion, eternally carry that dust on our heads.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.307|Madhya 20.307]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, expands a portion of His plenary portion and, accepting the association of the material mode of ignorance, assumes the form of Rudra to dissolve the cosmic manifestation.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.308|Madhya 20.308]]:''' "Rudra, Lord Śiva, has various forms, which are transformations brought about by association with māyā. Although Rudra is not on a level with the jīva-tattvas, he still cannot be considered a personal expansion of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.309|Madhya 20.309]]:''' "Milk is transformed into yogurt when it associates with a yogurt culture. Thus yogurt is nothing but milk, but still it is not milk.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.310|Madhya 20.310]]:''' "'Milk changes into yogurt when mixed with a yogurt culture, but actually it is constitutionally nothing but milk. Similarly, Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, assumes the form of Lord Śiva [Śambhu] for the special purpose of material transactions. I offer my obeisances at His lotus feet.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.311|Madhya 20.311]]:''' "Lord Śiva is an associate of the external energy; therefore he is absorbed in the material quality of darkness. Lord Viṣṇu is transcendental to māyā and the qualities of māyā. Therefore He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.312|Madhya 20.312]]:''' "'The truth about Lord Śiva is that he is always covered with three material coverings — vaikārika, taijasa and tāmasa. Because of these three modes of material nature, he always associates with the external energy and egotism itself.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.313|Madhya 20.313]]:''' "'Śrī Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is situated beyond the range of material nature; therefore He is the supreme transcendental person. He can see everything inside and outside; therefore He is the supreme overseer of all living entities. If someone takes shelter at His lotus feet and worships Him, he also attains a transcendental position.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.314|Madhya 20.314]]:''' "For the maintenance of the universe, Lord Kṛṣṇa descends as His personal plenary expansion in the form of Viṣṇu. He is the director of the mode of goodness; therefore He is transcendental to the material energy.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.315|Madhya 20.315]]:''' "Lord Viṣṇu is in the category of svāḿśa because He has opulences almost equal to Kṛṣṇa's. Kṛṣṇa is the original person, and Lord Viṣṇu is His personal expansion. This is the verdict of all Vedic literatures.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.316|Madhya 20.316]]:''' "'When the flame of one candle is expanded to another candle and placed in a different position, it burns separately, and its illumination is as powerful as the original candle's. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda, expands Himself in different forms as Viṣṇu, who is equally luminous, powerful and opulent. Let me worship that Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.317|Madhya 20.317]]:''' "The conclusion is that Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva are simply devotee incarnations who carry out orders. However, Lord Viṣṇu, the maintainer, is the personal feature of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.318|Madhya 20.318]]:''' "[Lord Brahmā said:] 'I am engaged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to create. Following His orders, Lord Śiva dissolves everything. The Supreme Personality of Godhead in His form of Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu maintains all the affairs of material nature. Thus the supreme controller of the three modes of material nature is Lord Viṣṇu.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.319|Madhya 20.319]]:''' "O Sanātana, now just hear about the incarnations who appear during the reign of each Manu [manvantara-avatāras]. They are unlimited, and no one can count them. Just hear of their source.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.320|Madhya 20.320]]:''' "In one day of Brahmā, there are fourteen changes of the Manus, and during the reign of each of those fourteen Manus, an incarnation is manifested by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.321|Madhya 20.321]]:''' "There are 14 manvantara-avatāras in one day of Brahmā, 420 in one month, and 5,040 in one year.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.322|Madhya 20.322]]:''' "During the hundred years of Brahmā's life, there are 504,000 manvantara-avatāras.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.323|Madhya 20.323]]:''' "The number of manvantara-avatāras for only one universe has been given. One can only imagine how many manvantara-avatāras exist in the innumerable universes. And all these universes and Brahmās exist only during one exhalation of Mahā-Viṣṇu.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.324|Madhya 20.324]]:''' "There is no limit to the exhalations of Mahā-Viṣṇu. Just see how impossible it is to speak or write of only the manvantara-avatāras!

'''[[CC Madhya 20.325|Madhya 20.325]]:''' "In the Svāyambhuva-manvantara, the avatāra is named Yajña. In the Svārociṣa-manvantara, he is named Vibhu. In the Auttama-manvantara, He is named Satyasena, and in the Tāmasa-manvantara, He is named Hari.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.326|Madhya 20.326]]:''' "In the Raivata-manvantara, the avatāra is named Vaikuṇṭha, and in the Cākṣuṣa-manvantara, He is named Ajita. In the Vaivasvata-manvantara, He is named Vāmana, and in the Sāvarṇya-manvantara, He is named Sārvabhauma. In the Dakṣa-sāvarṇya-manvantara, he is named Ṛṣabha.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.327|Madhya 20.327]]:''' "In the Brahma-sāvarṇya-manvantara, the avatāra is named Viṣvaksena, and in the Dharma-sāvarṇya, he is named Dharmasetu. In the Rudra-sāvarṇya he is named Sudhāmā, and in the Deva-sāvarṇya, he is named Yogeśvara.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.328|Madhya 20.328]]:''' "In the Indra-sāvarṇya-manvantara, the avatāra is named Bṛhadbhānu. These are the names of the fourteen avatāras in the fourteen manvantaras.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.329|Madhya 20.329]]:''' "O Sanātana, now hear from Me about the yuga-avatāras, the incarnations for the millenniums. First of all, there are four yugas — Satya-yuga, Tretā-yuga, Dvāpara-yuga and Kali-yuga.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.330|Madhya 20.330]]:''' "In the four yugas — Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali — the Lord incarnates in four colors: white, red, black and yellow respectively. These are the colors of the incarnations in different millenniums.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.331|Madhya 20.331]]:''' "'This child formerly had three colors according to the prescribed color for different millenniums. Formerly He was white, red and yellow, and now He has assumed a blackish color.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.332|Madhya 20.332]]:''' "'In Satya-yuga the Lord appeared in a body colored white, with four arms and matted hair. He wore tree bark and bore a black antelope skin. He wore a sacred thread and a garland of rudrākṣa beads. He carried a rod and a waterpot, and He was a brahmacārī.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.333|Madhya 20.333]]:''' "'In Tretā-yuga, the Lord appeared in a body that had a reddish hue and four arms. There were three distinctive lines on His abdomen, and His hair was golden. His form manifested the Vedic knowledge, and He bore the symbols of a sacrificial spoon, ladle and so on.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.334|Madhya 20.334]]:''' "As the white incarnation, the Lord taught religion and meditation. He offered benedictions to Kardama Muni, and in this way He showed His causeless mercy.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.335|Madhya 20.335]]:''' "In Satya-yuga the people were generally advanced in spiritual knowledge and could meditate upon Kṛṣṇa very easily. The people's occupational duty in Tretā-yuga was to perform great sacrifices. This was induced by the Personality of Godhead in His reddish incarnation.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.336|Madhya 20.336]]:''' "In Dvāpara-yuga the people's occupational duty was to worship the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa, appearing in a blackish body, personally induced people to worship Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.337|Madhya 20.337]]:''' "'In Dvāpara-yuga the Personality of Godhead appears in a blackish hue. He is dressed in yellow, He holds His own weapons, and He is decorated with the Kaustubha jewel and the mark of Śrīvatsa. That is how His symptoms are described.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.338|Madhya 20.338]]:''' "'I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, expanded as Vāsudeva, Sańkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.339|Madhya 20.339]]:''' "By this mantra, the people worship Lord Kṛṣṇa in Dvāpara-yuga. In Kali-yuga the occupational duty of the people is to chant congregationally the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.340|Madhya 20.340]]:''' "In the Age of Kali, Lord Kṛṣṇa assumes a golden color and, accompanied by His personal devotees, introduces hari-nāma-sańkīrtana, the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. By this process He delivers love for Kṛṣṇa to the general populace.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.341|Madhya 20.341]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, personally introduces the occupational duty of the Age of Kali. He personally chants and dances in ecstatic love, and thus the entire world chants congregationally.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.342|Madhya 20.342]]:''' "'In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the name of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.343|Madhya 20.343]]:''' "In the other three yugas — Satya, Tretā and Dvāpara — people perform different types of spiritual activities. Whatever results they achieve in that way, they can achieve in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.344|Madhya 20.344]]:''' "'My dear King, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.345|Madhya 20.345]]:''' "'Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Viṣṇu, in Tretā-yuga by performing sacrifices and in Dvāpara-yuga by serving the Lord's lotus feet can also be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.346|Madhya 20.346]]:''' "'Whatever is achieved by meditation in Satya-yuga, by the performance of yajña in Tretā-yuga or by the worship of Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet in Dvāpara-yuga is also obtained in the Age of Kali simply by chanting the glories of Lord Keśava.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.347|Madhya 20.347]]:''' "'Those who are advanced and highly qualified and are interested in the essence of life know the good qualities of Kali-yuga. Such people worship the Age of Kali because in this age one can advance in spiritual knowledge and attain life's goal simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.348|Madhya 20.348]]:''' "As stated before when I described the incarnations of the material modes [guṇa-avatāras], one should consider that these incarnations also are unlimited and that no one can count them.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.349|Madhya 20.349]]:''' "Thus I have given a description of the incarnations of the four different yugas." After hearing all this, Sanātana Gosvāmī gave an indirect hint to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.350|Madhya 20.350]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī had been a minister under Nawab Hussain Shah, and he was undoubtedly as intelligent as Bṛhaspati, the chief priest of the heavenly kingdom. Due to the Lord's unlimited mercy, Sanātana Gosvāmī questioned Him without hesitation.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.351|Madhya 20.351]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī said, "I am a very insignificant living entity. I am low and poorly behaved. How can I understand who is the incarnation for this Age of Kali?"

'''[[CC Madhya 20.352|Madhya 20.352]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "As in other ages an incarnation is accepted according to the directions of the śāstras, in this Age of Kali an incarnation of God should be accepted in that way.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.353|Madhya 20.353]]:''' "The Vedic literatures composed by the omniscient Mahāmuni Vyāsadeva are evidence of all spiritual existence. Only through these revealed scriptures can all conditioned souls attain knowledge.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.354|Madhya 20.354]]:''' "An actual incarnation of God never says 'I am God' or 'I am an incarnation of God.' The great sage Vyāsadeva, knowing all, has already recorded the characteristics of the avatāras in the śāstras.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.355|Madhya 20.355]]:''' "'The Lord does not have a material body, yet He descends among human beings in His transcendental body as an incarnation. Therefore it is very difficult for us to understand who is an incarnation. Only by His extraordinary prowess and uncommon activities, which are impossible for embodied living entities, can one partially understand the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.356|Madhya 20.356]]:''' "By two symptoms — personal characteristics and marginal characteristics — the great sages can understand an object.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.357|Madhya 20.357]]:''' "Bodily features, nature and form are the personal characteristics. Knowledge of His activities provides the marginal characteristics.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.358|Madhya 20.358]]:''' "In the auspicious invocation at the beginning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Śrīla Vyāsadeva has described the Supreme Personality of Godhead by these symptoms.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.359|Madhya 20.359]]:''' "'O my Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I meditate upon Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction of the manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations, and He is independent because there is no other cause beyond Him. It is He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmājī, the original living being. By Him even the great sages and demigods are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only because of Him do the material universes, temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three modes of nature, appear factual, although they are unreal. I therefore meditate upon Him, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is eternally existent in the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the illusory representations of the material world. I meditate upon Him, for He is the Absolute Truth.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.360|Madhya 20.360]]:''' "In this invocation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the word 'param' indicates Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the word 'satyam' indicates His personal characteristics.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.361|Madhya 20.361]]:''' "In that same verse it is stated that the Lord is the creator, maintainer and annihilator of the cosmic manifestation and that He enabled Lord Brahmā to create the universe by infusing him with the knowledge of the Vedas. It is also stated that the Lord has full knowledge, directly and indirectly, that He knows past, present and future, and that His personal energy is separate from māyā, the illusory energy.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.362|Madhya 20.362]]:''' "All these activities are His marginal characteristics. Great saintly persons understand the incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the indications of the two characteristics known as svarūpa and taṭastha. All the incarnations of Kṛṣṇa should be understood in this way.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.363|Madhya 20.363]]:''' "At the time of Their appearance, the incarnations of the Lord are known in the world because people can consult the śāstras to understand an incarnation's chief characteristics, known as svarūpa and taṭastha. In this way the incarnations become known to great saintly persons."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.364|Madhya 20.364]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī, "The color of the personality in whom the characteristics of the Lord are found is yellowish. His activities include the distribution of love of Godhead and the chanting of the holy names of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.365|Madhya 20.365]]:''' "The incarnation of Kṛṣṇa for this age is indicated by these symptoms. Please confirm this definitely so that all my doubts will go away."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.366|Madhya 20.366]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "O Sanātana, you must give up your intelligent tricks. Now just try to understand the description of the śaktyāveśa-avatāras.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.367|Madhya 20.367]]:''' "There are unlimited śaktyāveśa-avatāras of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Let Me describe the chief among them.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.368|Madhya 20.368]]:''' "Empowered incarnations are of two types — primary and secondary. The primary ones are directly empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead and are called incarnations. The secondary ones are indirectly empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead and are called vibhūti.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.369|Madhya 20.369]]:''' "Some śaktyāveśa-avatāras are the four Kumāras, Nārada, Mahārāja Pṛthu and Paraśurāma. When a living being is empowered to act as Lord Brahmā, he is also considered a śaktyāveśa-avatāra.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.370|Madhya 20.370]]:''' "Lord Śeṣa in the spiritual world of Vaikuṇṭha and, in the material world, Lord Ananta, who carries innumerable planets on His hoods, are two primary empowered incarnations. There is no need to count the others, for they are unlimited.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.371|Madhya 20.371]]:''' "The power of knowledge was invested in the four Kumāras, and the power of devotional service was invested in Nārada. The power of creation was invested in Lord Brahmā, and the power to carry innumerable planets was invested in Lord Ananta.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.372|Madhya 20.372]]:''' "The Supreme Personality of Godhead invested the power of personal service in Lord Śeṣa, and He invested the power to rule the earth in King Pṛthu. Lord Paraśurāma received the power to kill rogues and miscreants.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.373|Madhya 20.373]]:''' "'Whenever the Lord is present in someone by portions of His various potencies, the living entity representing the Lord is called a śaktyāveśa-avatāra — that is, an incarnation invested with special power.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.374|Madhya 20.374]]:''' "As explained in the Eleventh Chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa has spread Himself all over the universe in many personalities through specific powers, known as vibhūti.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.375|Madhya 20.375]]:''' "'Know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.376|Madhya 20.376]]:''' "'But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.377|Madhya 20.377]]:''' "Thus I have explained specifically empowered incarnations. Now please hear about the characteristics of Lord Kṛṣṇa's childhood, boyhood and youth.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.378|Madhya 20.378]]:''' "As the son of Mahārāja Nanda, Lord Kṛṣṇa is by nature the paragon of kiśora [youth]. He chooses to exhibit His pastimes at that age.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.379|Madhya 20.379]]:''' "Before His personal appearance, the Lord causes some of His devotees to appear as His mother, father and intimate associates. He then appears later as if He were taking birth and growing from a baby to a child and gradually into a youth.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.380|Madhya 20.380]]:''' "'The Supreme Personality of Godhead is eternally enjoying Himself, and He is the shelter of all kinds of devotional service. Although His ages are various, His age known as kiśora [pre-youth] is best of all.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.381|Madhya 20.381]]:''' "When Lord Kṛṣṇa appears, from moment to moment He exhibits His different pastimes, beginning with the killing of Pūtanā. All these pastimes are eternally being demonstrated one after another.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.382|Madhya 20.382]]:''' "The consecutive pastimes of Kṛṣṇa are being manifested in one of the innumerable universes moment after moment. There is no possibility of counting the universes, but in any case some pastime of the Lord is being manifested at every moment in one universe or another.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.383|Madhya 20.383]]:''' "Thus the Lord's pastimes are like the flowing Ganges water. In this way all the pastimes are manifested by the son of Nanda Mahārāja.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.384|Madhya 20.384]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa exhibits His pastimes of childhood, boyhood and pre-youth. When He reaches pre-youth, He continues to exist eternally to perform His rāsa dance and other pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.385|Madhya 20.385]]:''' "Descriptions of Kṛṣṇa's eternal pastimes are in all the revealed scriptures. But one cannot understand how they are continuing eternally.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.386|Madhya 20.386]]:''' "Let me give an example by which people may understand Lord Kṛṣṇa's eternal pastimes. An example can be found in the zodiac.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.387|Madhya 20.387]]:''' "The sun moves across the zodiac day and night and crosses the oceans between the seven islands one after the other.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.388|Madhya 20.388]]:''' "According to Vedic astronomical calculations, the rotation of the sun consists of sixty daṇḍas, and it is divided into thirty-six hundred palas.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.389|Madhya 20.389]]:''' "The sun rises in steps consisting of sixty palas. Sixty palas equal one daṇḍa, and eight daṇḍas comprise one prahara.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.390|Madhya 20.390]]:''' "The day and the night are divided into eight praharas — four belonging to the day and four belonging to the night. After eight praharas, the sun rises again.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.391|Madhya 20.391]]:''' "Just as there is an orbit of the sun, there is an orbit of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes, which are manifested one after the other. During the lifetime of fourteen Manus, this orbit expands through all the universes, and gradually it returns. Thus Kṛṣṇa moves with His pastimes through all the universes, one after another.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.392|Madhya 20.392]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa remains within a universe for 125 years, and He enjoys His pastimes both in Vṛndāvana and Dvārakā.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.393|Madhya 20.393]]:''' "The cycle of His pastimes turns like a wheel of fire. Thus Kṛṣṇa exhibits His pastimes one after the other in every universe.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.394|Madhya 20.394]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa's pastimes — appearance, childhood, boyhood and youth — are all manifested, beginning with the killing of Pūtanā and extending to the end of the mauṣala-līlā, the annihilation of the Yadu dynasty. All of these pastimes are rotating in every universe.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.395|Madhya 20.395]]:''' "Since all Kṛṣṇa's pastimes are taking place continuously, at every moment some pastime is existing in one universe or another. Consequently these pastimes are called eternal by the Vedas and Purāṇas.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.396|Madhya 20.396]]:''' "The spiritual abode known as Goloka, which is a pasturing land for surabhi cows, is as powerful and opulent as Kṛṣṇa. By the will of Kṛṣṇa, the original Goloka and Gokula dhāmas are manifested with Him in all the universes.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.397|Madhya 20.397]]:''' "The eternal pastimes of Kṛṣṇa are continuously taking place in the original Goloka Vṛndāvana planet. These same pastimes are gradually manifested within the material world, in each and every brahmāṇḍa.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.398|Madhya 20.398]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa is complete in the spiritual sky [Vaikuṇṭha], He is more complete in Mathurā and Dvārakā, and He is most complete in Vṛndāvana, Vraja, due to His manifesting all His opulences.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.399|Madhya 20.399]]:''' "'This is stated in the dramatic literatures as "perfect," "more perfect" and "most perfect." Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa manifests Himself in three ways — perfect, more perfect and most perfect.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.400|Madhya 20.400]]:''' "'When the Supreme Personality of Godhead does not manifest all His transcendental qualities, He is called complete. When all the qualities are manifested, but not fully, He is called more complete. When He manifests all His qualities in fullness, He is called most complete. This is the version of all learned scholars in the devotional science.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.401|Madhya 20.401]]:''' "'The most complete qualities of Kṛṣṇa are manifested within Vṛndāvana, and His complete and more complete qualities are manifested in Dvārakā and Mathurā.'

'''[[CC Madhya 20.402|Madhya 20.402]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa is the most complete Supreme Personality of Godhead in Vṛndāvana. Elsewhere all His expansions are either complete or more complete.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.403|Madhya 20.403]]:''' "Thus I have briefly described Kṛṣṇa's manifestation of transcendental forms. This subject matter is so large that even Lord Ananta cannot describe it fully.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.404|Madhya 20.404]]:''' "In this way Kṛṣṇa's transcendental forms are expanded unlimitedly. No one can count them. Whatever I have explained is simply a little glimpse. It is like showing the moon through the branches of a tree."

'''[[CC Madhya 20.405|Madhya 20.405]]:''' Whoever hears or recites these descriptions of the expansions of Kṛṣṇa's body is certainly a very fortunate man. Although this is very difficult to understand, one can nonetheless acquire some knowledge about the different features of Kṛṣṇa's body.

'''[[CC Madhya 20.406|Madhya 20.406]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 19|Madhya-līlā 19]] '''[[CC Madhya 19|Madhya-līlā 19]] - [[CC Madhya 21|Madhya-līlā 21]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 21|Madhya-līlā 21]]</div>

CC Madhya 19

2026-06-04T18:29:08Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 19 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 19|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 19: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Instructs Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 18|Madhya-līlā 18]] '''[[CC Madhya 18|Madhya-līlā 18]] - [[CC Madhya 20|Madhya-līlā 20]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 20|Madhya-līlā 20]]</div>

'''[[CC Madhya 19 Summary|Madhya 19 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 19.1|Madhya 19.1]]:''' Before the creation of this cosmic manifestation, the Lord enlightened the heart of Lord Brahmā with the details of the creation and manifested the Vedic knowledge. In exactly the same way, the Lord, being anxious to revive the Vṛndāvana pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa, impregnated the heart of Rūpa Gosvāmī with spiritual potency. By this potency, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī could revive the activities of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana, activities almost lost to memory. In this way, He spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness throughout the world.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.2|Madhya 19.2]]:''' All glories to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of the Lord!

'''[[CC Madhya 19.3|Madhya 19.3]]:''' After meeting Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in the village of Rāmakeli, the brothers Rūpa and Sanātana returned to their homes.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.4|Madhya 19.4]]:''' The two brothers devised a means whereby they could give up their material activities. For this purpose, they appointed two brāhmaṇas and paid them a large amount of money.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.5|Madhya 19.5]]:''' The brāhmaṇas performed religious ceremonies and chanted the holy name of Kṛṣṇa so that the two brothers might attain shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu very soon.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.6|Madhya 19.6]]:''' At this time, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī returned home, taking with him large quantities of riches loaded in boats.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.7|Madhya 19.7]]:''' Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī divided the wealth that he brought back home. He gave fifty percent in charity to brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas and twenty-five percent to his relatives.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.8|Madhya 19.8]]:''' He kept one-fourth of his wealth with a respectable brāhmaṇa. He kept this for his personal safety because he was expecting some legal complications.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.9|Madhya 19.9]]:''' He deposited ten thousand coins, which were later spent by Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, in the custody of a local Bengali grocer.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.10|Madhya 19.10]]:''' Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī heard that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had returned to Jagannātha Purī and was preparing to go to Vṛndāvana through the forest.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.11|Madhya 19.11]]:''' Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī sent two people to Jagannātha Purī to find out when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would depart for Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.12|Madhya 19.12]]:''' Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī told the two men, "You are to return quickly and let me know when He will depart. Then I shall make the proper arrangements."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.13|Madhya 19.13]]:''' While Sanātana Gosvāmī was in Gauḍa-deśa, he was thinking, "The Nawab is very pleased with me. I certainly have an obligation.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.14|Madhya 19.14]]:''' "If the Nawab somehow or other becomes angry with me, I shall be greatly relieved. That is my conclusion."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.15|Madhya 19.15]]:''' On the pretext of bad health, Sanātana Gosvāmī remained home. Thus he gave up government service and did not go to the royal court.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.16|Madhya 19.16]]:''' The greedy masters of his clerical and secretarial staff performed the government duties while Sanātana personally remained home and discussed the revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.17|Madhya 19.17]]:''' Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī used to discuss Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in an assembly of twenty or thirty learned brāhmaṇa scholars.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.18|Madhya 19.18]]:''' While Sanātana Gosvāmī was studying Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the assembly of learned brāhmaṇas, one day the Nawab of Bengal and another person suddenly appeared.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.19|Madhya 19.19]]:''' As soon as all the brāhmaṇas and Sanātana Gosvāmī saw the Nawab appear, they all stood up and respectfully gave him a sitting place to honor him.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.20|Madhya 19.20]]:''' The Nawab said, "I sent my physician to you, and he has reported that you are not diseased. As far as he could see, you are completely healthy.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.21|Madhya 19.21]]:''' "I am depending on you to carry out so many of my activities, but you have given up your governmental duties to sit here at home.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.22|Madhya 19.22]]:''' "You have spoiled all my activities. What is your intention? Please tell me frankly."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.23|Madhya 19.23]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, "You can no longer expect any service from me. Please arrange for someone else to tend to the management."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.24|Madhya 19.24]]:''' Becoming angry with Sanātana Gosvāmī, the Nawab said, "Your elder brother is acting just like a plunderer.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.25|Madhya 19.25]]:''' "By killing many living entities, your elder brother has destroyed all Bengal. Now here you are destroying all my plans."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.26|Madhya 19.26]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī said, "You are the supreme ruler of Bengal and are completely independent. Whenever someone commits a fault, you punish him accordingly."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.27|Madhya 19.27]]:''' Hearing this, the Nawab of Bengal stood up and returned to his home. He ordered the arrest of Sanātana Gosvāmī so that he would not be able to leave.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.28|Madhya 19.28]]:''' At this time the Nawab was going to attack the province of Orissa, and he told Sanātana Gosvāmī, "Come along with me."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.29|Madhya 19.29]]:''' Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, "You are going to Orissa to give pain to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. For this reason I am powerless to go with you."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.30|Madhya 19.30]]:''' The Nawab again arrested Sanātana Gosvāmī and kept him in prison. At this time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu departed for Vṛndāvana from Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.31|Madhya 19.31]]:''' The two persons who went to Jagannātha Purī to inquire about the Lord's departure returned and informed Rūpa Gosvāmī that the Lord had already departed for Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.32|Madhya 19.32]]:''' Upon receiving this message from his two messengers, Rūpa Gosvāmī immediately wrote a letter to Sanātana Gosvāmī saying that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had departed for Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.33|Madhya 19.33]]:''' In his letter to Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī wrote, "We two brothers are starting out to go see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. You must also somehow or other get released and come meet us."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.34|Madhya 19.34]]:''' Rūpa Gosvāmī further informed Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī: "I have left a deposit of ten thousand coins with the grocer. Use that money to get out of prison.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.35|Madhya 19.35]]:''' "Somehow or other get yourself released and come to Vṛndāvana." After writing this, the two brothers [Rūpa Gosvāmī and Anupama] went to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.36|Madhya 19.36]]:''' Rūpa Gosvāmī's younger brother was a great devotee whose actual name was Śrī Vallabha, but he was given the name Anupama Mallika.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.37|Madhya 19.37]]:''' Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī and Anupama Mallika went to Prayāga, and they were very pleased to hear the news that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was there.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.38|Madhya 19.38]]:''' At Prayāga, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to see the temple of Bindu Mādhava, and many hundreds of thousands of people followed Him just to meet Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.39|Madhya 19.39]]:''' Some of the people following the Lord were crying. Some were laughing, some dancing and some chanting. Indeed, some of them were rolling on the ground, exclaiming "Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!"

'''[[CC Madhya 19.40|Madhya 19.40]]:''' Prayāga is located at the confluence of two rivers — the Ganges and the Yamunā. Although these rivers were not able to flood Prayāga with water, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inundated the whole area with waves of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.41|Madhya 19.41]]:''' Seeing the great crowd, the two brothers remained standing in a secluded place. They could see that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was ecstatic to see Lord Bindu Mādhava.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.42|Madhya 19.42]]:''' The Lord was loudly chanting the holy name of Hari. Dancing in ecstatic love and raising His arms, He asked everyone to chant "Hari! Hari!"

'''[[CC Madhya 19.43|Madhya 19.43]]:''' Everyone was astounded to see the greatness of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Indeed, I cannot properly describe the pastimes of the Lord at Prayāga.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.44|Madhya 19.44]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had made an acquaintance with a brāhmaṇa from Deccan [in South India], and that brāhmaṇa invited Him for meals and took Him to his place.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.45|Madhya 19.45]]:''' While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was sitting in a solitary place in the home of that Deccan brāhmaṇa, Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrī Vallabha [Anupama Mallika] came to meet Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.46|Madhya 19.46]]:''' Seeing the Lord from a distance, the two brothers put two clumps of straw between their teeth and immediately fell down on the ground like rods, offering Him obeisances.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.47|Madhya 19.47]]:''' Both brothers were overwhelmed with ecstatic emotion, and reciting various Sanskrit verses, they stood up and fell down again and again.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.48|Madhya 19.48]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased to see Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, and He told him, "Stand up! Stand up! My dear Rūpa, come here."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.49|Madhya 19.49]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, "It is not possible to describe Kṛṣṇa's mercy, for He has delivered you both from the well of material enjoyment.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.50|Madhya 19.50]]:''' "[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] 'Even though a person is a very learned scholar of the Sanskrit Vedic literatures, he is not accepted as My devotee unless he is pure in devotional service. Even though a person is born in a family of dog-eaters, he is very dear to Me if he is a pure devotee who has no motive to enjoy fruitive activities or mental speculation. Indeed, all respects should be given to him, and whatever he offers should be accepted. Such devotees are as worshipable as I am."'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.51|Madhya 19.51]]:''' After reciting this verse, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced the two brothers, and out of His causeless mercy He placed His feet on their heads.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.52|Madhya 19.52]]:''' After receiving the Lord's causeless mercy, the two brothers folded their hands and in great humility offered the following prayers unto the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.53|Madhya 19.53]]:''' "O most munificent incarnation! You are Kṛṣṇa Himself appearing as Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. You have assumed the golden color of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, and You are widely distributing pure love of Kṛṣṇa. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.54|Madhya 19.54]]:''' "We offer our respectful obeisances unto that merciful Supreme Personality of Godhead who has converted all three worlds, which were maddened by ignorance, and saved them from their diseased condition by making them mad with the nectar from the treasure-house of love of God. Let us take full shelter of that Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, whose activities are wonderful."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.55|Madhya 19.55]]:''' After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat them down by His side and asked them, "What news do you have of Sanātana?"

'''[[CC Madhya 19.56|Madhya 19.56]]:''' Rūpa Gosvāmī replied, "Sanātana has now been arrested by the government of Hussain Shah. If You kindly save him, he can be liberated from that entanglement."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.57|Madhya 19.57]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately replied, "Sanātana has already been released from his confinement, and he will very soon meet with Me."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.58|Madhya 19.58]]:''' The brāhmaṇa then requested Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to accept His lunch. Rūpa Gosvāmī also remained there that day.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.59|Madhya 19.59]]:''' Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya invited the two brothers to take lunch also. The remnants of food from the plate of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were offered to them.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.60|Madhya 19.60]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu selected His residence beside the confluence of the Ganges and the Yamunā, a place called Triveṇī. The two brothers — Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrī Vallabha — selected their residence near the Lord's.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.61|Madhya 19.61]]:''' At that time, Śrī Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was staying at Āḍāila-grāma, and when he heard that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had arrived, he went to His place to see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.62|Madhya 19.62]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya offered Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu his obeisances, and the Lord embraced him. After that, they discussed topics about Kṛṣṇa for some time.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.63|Madhya 19.63]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt great ecstatic love when they began discussing Kṛṣṇa, but the Lord checked His feelings because He felt shy before Vallabha Bhaṭṭa.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.64|Madhya 19.64]]:''' Although the Lord restrained Himself externally, ecstatic love raged within. There was no checking that. Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was astonished to detect this.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.65|Madhya 19.65]]:''' Thereafter, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for lunch, and the Lord introduced the brothers Rūpa and Vallabha to him.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.66|Madhya 19.66]]:''' From a distance, the brothers Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrī Vallabha fell on the ground and offered obeisances to Vallabha Bhaṭṭa with great humility.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.67|Madhya 19.67]]:''' When Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya walked toward them, they ran away to a more distant place. Rūpa Gosvāmī said, "I am untouchable and most sinful. Please do not touch me."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.68|Madhya 19.68]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya was very much surprised at this. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, was very pleased, and He therefore spoke to him this description of Rūpa Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.69|Madhya 19.69]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Don't touch him, for he belongs to a very low caste. You are a follower of Vedic principles and are a well experienced performer of many sacrifices. You also belong to the aristocracy."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.70|Madhya 19.70]]:''' Hearing the holy name constantly vibrated by the two brothers, Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya could understand the hints of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.71|Madhya 19.71]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya said, "Since these two are constantly chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, how can they be untouchable? On the contrary, they are most exalted."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.72|Madhya 19.72]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya then recited the following verse: "'My dear Lord, one who always keeps Your holy name on his tongue becomes greater than an initiated brāhmaṇa. Although he may be born in a family of dog-eaters and may therefore, by material calculation, be the lowest among men, he is still glorious. This is the wonderful effect of chanting the holy name of the Lord. It is therefore concluded that one who chants the holy name of the Lord should be understood to have performed all kinds of austerities and great sacrifices mentioned in the Vedas. He has already taken his bath in all the holy places of pilgrimage, he has studied all the Vedas, and he is actually an Aryan.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 19.73|Madhya 19.73]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased to hear Vallabha Bhaṭṭa quoting from śāstra about the position of a devotee. The Lord praised him personally, and, feeling ecstatic love of Godhead, began to quote many verses from śāstra.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.74|Madhya 19.74]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "'A person who has the pure characteristics of a brāhmaṇa due to devotional service, which is like a blazing fire burning to ashes all the sinful reactions of past lives, is certainly saved from the consequences of sinful acts, such as taking birth in a lower family. Even though he may be born in a family of dog-eaters, he is recognized by learned scholars. But although a person may be a learned scholar in Vedic knowledge, he is not recognized if he is an atheist.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.75|Madhya 19.75]]:''' "'For a person devoid of devotional service, birth in a great family or nation, knowledge of the revealed scriptures, performance of austerities and penance, and chanting of Vedic mantras are all like ornaments on a dead body. Such ornaments simply serve the concocted pleasures of the general populace.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 19.76|Madhya 19.76]]:''' When he saw the Lord's ecstatic love, Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya was certainly very much astonished. He was also astonished by the Lord's knowledge of the essence of devotional service, as well as by His personal beauty and influence.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.77|Madhya 19.77]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya then put Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates aboard a boat and took them to his own place to offer them lunch.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.78|Madhya 19.78]]:''' While crossing the river Yamunā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the glossy black water and was immediately bewildered with ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.79|Madhya 19.79]]:''' Indeed, as soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the river Yamunā, He immediately made a great sound and jumped into the water. Everyone was filled with fear and trembling to see this.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.80|Madhya 19.80]]:''' They all hastily grabbed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and pulled Him out of the water. Once on the boat's platform, the Lord began to dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.81|Madhya 19.81]]:''' Due to the Lord's heavy weight, the boat began to tilt. It began filling up with water and was on the verge of sinking.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.82|Madhya 19.82]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu tried to restrain Himself as far as possible before Vallabhācārya, but although He tried to keep calm, His ecstatic love could not be checked.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.83|Madhya 19.83]]:''' Seeing the circumstances, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu finally became calm so that the boat was able to reach the shore of Āḍāila and land there.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.84|Madhya 19.84]]:''' Fearing for the Lord's welfare, Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya stayed in His association. After arranging for His bath, the Bhaṭṭācārya took the Lord to his own house.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.85|Madhya 19.85]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived at his home, Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya, being greatly pleased, offered the Lord a nice sitting place and personally washed His feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.86|Madhya 19.86]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya and his whole family then sprinkled that water over their heads. They then offered the Lord new underwear and outer garments.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.87|Madhya 19.87]]:''' Vallabhācārya worshiped the Lord with great pomp, offering scents, incense, flowers and lamps, and with great respect he induced Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya [the Lord's cook] to cook.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.88|Madhya 19.88]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was offered lunch with great care and affection. The brothers Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrī Vallabha were also offered food.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.89|Madhya 19.89]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya first offered the remnants of the Lord's food to Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, and then to Kṛṣṇadāsa.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.90|Madhya 19.90]]:''' The Lord was then given spices to purify His mouth. Afterwards He was made to rest, and Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya personally massaged His legs.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.91|Madhya 19.91]]:''' While Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya was massaging Him, the Lord asked him to go take prasādam. After taking prasādam, he returned to the lotus feet of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.92|Madhya 19.92]]:''' At that time Raghupati Upādhyāya of the Tiruhitā district arrived. He was a very learned scholar, a great devotee and a respectable gentleman.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.93|Madhya 19.93]]:''' Raghupati Upādhyāya first offered his respects to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and the Lord gave him His blessings, saying, "Always stay in Kṛṣṇa consciousness."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.94|Madhya 19.94]]:''' Raghupati Upādhyāya was very pleased to hear the Lord's blessings. The Lord then asked him to describe Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.95|Madhya 19.95]]:''' When Raghupati Upādhyāya was requested to describe Kṛṣṇa, he began to recite some verses he had personally composed about Kṛṣṇa's pastimes. Hearing those verses, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was overwhelmed with ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.96|Madhya 19.96]]:''' Raghupati Upādhyāya recited, "Those who are afraid of material existence worship the Vedic literature. Some worship smṛti, the corollaries to the Vedic literature, and others worship the Mahābhārata. As far as I am concerned, I worship Kṛṣṇa's father, Mahārāja Nanda, in whose courtyard the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth, is playing."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.97|Madhya 19.97]]:''' When Raghupati Upādhyāya was requested by the Lord to recite more, he immediately offered his respects to the Lord and granted His request.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.98|Madhya 19.98]]:''' "To whom can I speak who will believe me when I say that Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is hunting the gopīs in the bushes by the banks of the river Yamunā? In this way the Lord demonstrates His pastimes."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.99|Madhya 19.99]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested Raghupati Upādhyāya to continue speaking about the pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Thus the Lord was absorbed in ecstatic love, and His mind and body slackened.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.100|Madhya 19.100]]:''' When Raghupati Upādhyāya saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's ecstatic symptoms, he decided that the Lord was not a human being but Kṛṣṇa Himself.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.101|Madhya 19.101]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked Raghupati Upādhyāya, "According to your decision, who is the foremost being?"Raghupati Upādhyāya replied, "Lord Śyāmasundara is the supreme form."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.102|Madhya 19.102]]:''' "Of all Kṛṣṇa's abodes, which do you think is the best?"Raghupati Upādhyāya said, "Madhu-purī, or Mathurā-dhāma, is certainly the best."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.103|Madhya 19.103]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked, "Of the three ages of Kṛṣṇa known as childhood, boyhood and fresh youth, which do you consider best?"Raghupati Upādhyāya replied, "Fresh youth is the best age."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.104|Madhya 19.104]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked, "Among all the mellows, which do you consider best?"Raghupati Upādhyāya replied, "The mellow of conjugal love is supermost."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.105|Madhya 19.105]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, "You have certainly given first-class conclusions." After saying this, He began to recite the full verse in a faltering voice.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.106|Madhya 19.106]]:''' "'The form of Śyāmasundara is the supreme form, the city of Mathurā is the supreme abode, Lord Kṛṣṇa's fresh youth should always be meditated upon, and the mellow of conjugal love is the supreme mellow.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 19.107|Madhya 19.107]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then embraced Raghupati Upādhyāya in ecstatic love. Raghupati Upādhyāya also was overwhelmed by love, and he began to dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.108|Madhya 19.108]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya was struck with wonder to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Raghupati Upādhyāya dance. He even brought forward his two sons and made them fall down at the Lord's lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.109|Madhya 19.109]]:''' Upon hearing that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had arrived, all the villagers went to see Him. Simply by seeing Him, they all became devotees of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.110|Madhya 19.110]]:''' All the brāhmaṇas of the village were eager to extend invitations to the Lord, but Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya forbade them to do so.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.111|Madhya 19.111]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭa then decided not to keep Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Āḍāila because the Lord had jumped into the river Yamunā in ecstatic love. Therefore he decided to bring Him to Prayāga.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.112|Madhya 19.112]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said, "If anyone likes, he can go to Prayāga and extend invitations to the Lord." In this way he took the Lord with him and departed for Prayāga.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.113|Madhya 19.113]]:''' Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya avoided the river Yamunā. Putting the Lord on a boat in the river Ganges, he went with Him to Prayāga.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.114|Madhya 19.114]]:''' Due to the great crowds in Prayāga, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to a place called Daśāśvamedha-ghāṭa. It was there that the Lord instructed Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī and empowered him in the philosophy of devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.115|Madhya 19.115]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī the ultimate limit of the truth about Lord Kṛṣṇa, the truth about devotional service and the truth about transcendental mellows, culminating in conjugal love between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Finally He told Rūpa Gosvāmī about the ultimate conclusions of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.116|Madhya 19.116]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught Rūpa Gosvāmī all the conclusions He had heard from Rāmānanda Rāya and duly empowered him so that he could understand them.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.117|Madhya 19.117]]:''' By entering the heart of Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu empowered him to ascertain properly the conclusions of all truths. He made him an experienced devotee whose decisions correctly agreed with the verdicts of the disciplic succession. Thus Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī was personally empowered by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.118|Madhya 19.118]]:''' In his book Caitanya-candrodaya, Kavi-karṇapūra, the son of Śivānanda Sena, has elaborately described the meeting between Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.119|Madhya 19.119]]:''' "In the course of time, the transcendental news of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes in Vṛndāvana was almost lost. To enunciate explicitly those transcendental pastimes, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu empowered Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī with the nectar of His mercy to carry out this work in Vṛndāvana."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.120|Madhya 19.120]]:''' "From the very beginning, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī was deeply attracted by the transcendental qualities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Thus he was permanently relieved from family life. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and his younger brother, Vallabha, were blessed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Although the Lord was transcendentally situated in His transcendental eternal form, at Prayāga He told Rūpa Gosvāmī about transcendental ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa. The Lord then embraced him very fondly and bestowed all His mercy upon him."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.121|Madhya 19.121]]:''' "Indeed, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, whose dear friend was Svarūpa Dāmodara, was the exact replica of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and he was very, very dear to the Lord. Being the embodiment of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's ecstatic love, Rūpa Gosvāmī was naturally very beautiful. He very carefully followed the principles enunciated by the Lord, and he was a competent person to explain properly the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu expanded His mercy to Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī just so he could render service by writing transcendental literatures."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.122|Madhya 19.122]]:''' The characteristics of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī have thus been described in various places by the poet Kavi-karṇapūra. An account has also been given of how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bestowed His causeless mercy upon Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.123|Madhya 19.123]]:''' Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī were the objects of love and honor for all the great stalwart devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.124|Madhya 19.124]]:''' If someone returned to his country after seeing Vṛndāvana, the associates of the Lord would ask him questions.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.125|Madhya 19.125]]:''' They would ask those returning from Vṛndāvana, "How are Rūpa and Sanātana doing in Vṛndāvana? What are their activities in the renounced order? How do they manage to eat?" These were the questions asked.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.126|Madhya 19.126]]:''' The Lord's associates would also ask, "How is it that Rūpa and Sanātana are engaging in devotional service twenty-four hours daily?" At that time the person who had returned from Vṛndāvana would praise Śrīla Rūpa and Sanātana Gosvāmīs.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.127|Madhya 19.127]]:''' "The brothers actually have no fixed residence. They reside beneath trees — one night under one tree and the next night under another.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.128|Madhya 19.128]]:''' "Śrīla Rūpa and Sanātana Gosvāmī beg a little food from the houses of brāhmaṇas. Giving up all kinds of material enjoyment, they take only some dry bread and fried chickpeas.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.129|Madhya 19.129]]:''' "They carry only waterpots, and they wear torn quilts. They always chant the holy names of Kṛṣṇa and discuss His pastimes. In great jubilation, they also dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.130|Madhya 19.130]]:''' "They engage almost twenty-four hours daily in rendering service to the Lord. They usually sleep only an hour and a half, and some days, when they continuously chant the Lord's holy name, they do not sleep at all.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.131|Madhya 19.131]]:''' "Sometimes they write transcendental literatures about devotional service, and sometimes they hear about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and spend their time thinking about the Lord."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.132|Madhya 19.132]]:''' When the personal associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would hear of the activities of Rūpa and Sanātana Gosvāmīs, they would say, "What is wonderful for a person who has been granted the Lord's mercy?"

'''[[CC Madhya 19.133|Madhya 19.133]]:''' Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has personally spoken about the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in his auspicious introduction to his book Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu [1.1.2].

'''[[CC Madhya 19.134|Madhya 19.134]]:''' "Although I am the lowest of men and have no knowledge, the inspiration to write transcendental literatures about devotional service has been mercifully bestowed upon me. Therefore I am offering my obeisances at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has given me the chance to write these books."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.135|Madhya 19.135]]:''' For ten days Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed at Prayāga and instructed Rūpa Gosvāmī, empowering him with the necessary potency.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.136|Madhya 19.136]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "My dear Rūpa, please listen to Me. It is not possible to describe devotional service completely; therefore I am just trying to give you a synopsis of the symptoms of devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.137|Madhya 19.137]]:''' "The ocean of the transcendental mellows of devotional service is so big that no one can estimate its length and breadth. However, just to help you taste it, I am describing but one drop.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.138|Madhya 19.138]]:''' "In this universe there are limitless living entities in 8,400,000 species, and all are wandering within this universe.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.139|Madhya 19.139]]:''' "The length and breadth of the living entity is described as one ten-thousandth part of the tip of a hair. This is the original subtle nature of the living entity.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.140|Madhya 19.140]]:''' "'If we divide the tip of a hair into a hundred parts and then take one of these parts and divide it again into a hundred parts, that very fine division is the size of but one of the numberless living entities. They are all cit-kaṇa, particles of spirit, not matter.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.141|Madhya 19.141]]:''' "'If we divide the tip of a hair into one hundred parts and then take one part and divide this into another one hundred parts, that ten-thousandth part is the dimension of the living entity. This is the verdict of the chief Vedic mantras.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.142|Madhya 19.142]]:''' "[Lord Kṛṣṇa says:] 'Among minute particles, I am the living entity.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.143|Madhya 19.143]]:''' "'O Lord, although the living entities who have accepted material bodies are spiritual and unlimited in number, if they were all-pervading there would be no question of their being under Your control. If they are accepted, however, as particles of the eternally existing spiritual entity — as part of You, who are the supreme spirit whole — we must conclude that they are always under Your control. If the living entities are simply satisfied with being identical with You as spiritual particles, then they will be happy being controllers of so many things. The conclusion that the living entities and the Supreme Personality of Godhead are one and the same is a faulty conclusion. It is not a fact.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.144|Madhya 19.144]]:''' "The unlimited living entities can be divided into two divisions — those that can move and those that cannot move. Among living entities that can move, there are birds, aquatics and animals.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.145|Madhya 19.145]]:''' "Although the living entities known as human beings are very small in quantity, that division may be still further subdivided, for there are many uncultured human beings like mlecchas, pulindas, bauddhas and śabaras.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.146|Madhya 19.146]]:''' "Among human beings, those who are followers of the Vedic principles are considered civilized. Among these, almost half simply give lip service while committing all kinds of sinful activities against these principles. Such people do not care for the regulative principles.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.147|Madhya 19.147]]:''' "Among the followers of Vedic knowledge, most are following the process of fruitive activity and distinguishing between good and bad work. Out of many such sincere fruitive actors, there may be one who is actually wise.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.148|Madhya 19.148]]:''' "Out of many millions of such wise men, one may actually become liberated [mukta], and out of many millions of such liberated persons, a pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa is very difficult to find.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.149|Madhya 19.149]]:''' "Because a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa is desireless, he is peaceful. Fruitive workers desire material enjoyment, jñānīs desire liberation, and yogīs desire material opulence; therefore they are all lusty and cannot be peaceful.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.150|Madhya 19.150]]:''' "'O great sage, out of many millions of materially liberated people who are free from ignorance, and out of many millions of siddhas who have nearly attained perfection, there is hardly one pure devotee of Nārāyaṇa. Only such a devotee is actually completely satisfied and peaceful.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.151|Madhya 19.151]]:''' "According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. By the mercy of both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.152|Madhya 19.152]]:''' "When a person receives the seed of devotional service, he should take care of it by becoming a gardener and sowing the seed in his heart. If he waters the seed gradually by the process of śravaṇa and kīrtana [hearing and chanting], the seed will begin to sprout.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.153|Madhya 19.153]]:''' "As one waters the bhakti-latā-bīja, the seed sprouts, and the creeper gradually grows to the point where it penetrates the walls of this universe and goes beyond the Virajā River, lying between the spiritual world and the material world. It attains brahma-loka, the Brahman effulgence, and penetrating through that stratum, it reaches the spiritual sky and the spiritual planet Goloka Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.154|Madhya 19.154]]:''' "Being situated in one's heart and being watered by śravaṇa-kīrtana, the bhakti creeper grows more and more. In this way it attains the shelter of the desire tree of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, who is eternally situated in the planet known as Goloka Vṛndāvana, in the topmost region of the spiritual sky.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.155|Madhya 19.155]]:''' "The creeper greatly expands in the Goloka Vṛndāvana planet, and there it produces the fruit of love for Kṛṣṇa. Although remaining in the material world, the gardener regularly sprinkles the creeper with the water of hearing and chanting.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.156|Madhya 19.156]]:''' "If the devotee commits an offense at the feet of a Vaiṣṇava while cultivating the creeper of devotional service in the material world, his offense is compared to a mad elephant that uproots the creeper and breaks it. In this way the leaves of the creeper are dried up.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.157|Madhya 19.157]]:''' "The gardener must defend the creeper by fencing it all around so that the powerful elephant of offenses may not enter.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.158|Madhya 19.158]]:''' "Sometimes unwanted creepers, such as the creepers of desires for material enjoyment and liberation from the material world, grow along with the creeper of devotional service. The varieties of such unwanted creepers are unlimited.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.159|Madhya 19.159]]:''' "Some unnecessary creepers growing with the bhakti creeper are the creepers of behavior unacceptable for those trying to attain perfection, diplomatic behavior, animal-killing, mundane profiteering, mundane adoration and mundane importance. All these are unwanted creepers.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.160|Madhya 19.160]]:''' "If one does not distinguish between the bhakti creeper and the other creepers, the sprinkling of water is misused because the other creepers are nourished while the bhakti creeper is curtailed.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.161|Madhya 19.161]]:''' "As soon as an intelligent devotee sees an unwanted creeper growing beside the original creeper, he must cut it down instantly. Then the real creeper, the bhakti-latā, grows nicely, returns home, back to Godhead, and seeks shelter under the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.162|Madhya 19.162]]:''' "When the fruit of devotional service becomes ripe and falls down, the gardener tastes the fruit and thus takes advantage of the creeper and reaches the desire tree of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa in Goloka Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.163|Madhya 19.163]]:''' "There the devotee serves the lotus feet of the Lord, which are compared to a wish-fulfilling tree. With great bliss he tastes the juice of the fruit of love and becomes eternally happy.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.164|Madhya 19.164]]:''' "To taste the fruit of devotional service in Goloka Vṛndāvana is the highest perfection of life, and in the presence of such perfection, the four material perfections — religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation — are very insignificant achievements.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.165|Madhya 19.165]]:''' "'As long as there is not the slightest fragrance of pure love of Kṛṣṇa, which is the perfect medicinal herb for controlling Lord Kṛṣṇa within the heart, the opulences of the material perfections known as the siddhis, the brahminical perfections [satya, śama, titikṣā and so on], the trance of the yogīs and the monistic bliss of Brahman all seem wonderful for men.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.166|Madhya 19.166]]:''' "When one is situated in pure devotional service, he develops love of Godhead; therefore let me describe some of the symptoms of pure devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.167|Madhya 19.167]]:''' "'When first-class devotional service develops, one must be devoid of all material desires, knowledge obtained by monistic philosophy, and fruitive action. The devotee must constantly serve Kṛṣṇa favorably, as Kṛṣṇa desires.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.168|Madhya 19.168]]:''' "A pure devotee must not cherish any desire other than to serve Kṛṣṇa. He should not offer worship to the demigods or to mundane personalities. He should not cultivate artificial knowledge, which is devoid of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and he should not engage himself in anything other than Kṛṣṇa conscious activities. One must engage all one's purified senses in the service of the Lord. This is the favorable execution of Kṛṣṇa conscious activities.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.169|Madhya 19.169]]:''' "These activities are called śuddha-bhakti, pure devotional service. If one renders such pure devotional service, he develops his original love for Kṛṣṇa in due course of time. In Vedic literatures like the Pañcarātras and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, these symptoms are described.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.170|Madhya 19.170]]:''' "'Bhakti, or devotional service, means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the senses. When the spirit soul renders service unto the Supreme, there are two side effects. One is freed from all material designations, and one's senses are purified simply by being employed in the service of the Lord.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.171|Madhya 19.171]]:''' "'Just as the celestial waters of the Ganges flow unobstructed into the ocean, so when My devotees simply hear of Me, their minds come to Me. I reside in the hearts of all.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.172|Madhya 19.172]]:''' "'These are the characteristics of transcendental loving service to Puruṣottama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead: it is causeless, and it cannot be obstructed in any way.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.173|Madhya 19.173]]:''' "'My devotees do not accept sālokya, sārṣṭi, sārūpya, sāmīpya or oneness with Me — even if I offer these liberations — in preference to serving Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.174|Madhya 19.174]]:''' "'Bhakti-yoga, as described above, is the ultimate goal of life. By rendering devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one transcends the modes of material nature and attains the spiritual position on the platform of direct devotional service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.175|Madhya 19.175]]:''' "If one is infected with the desire for material enjoyment or material liberation, he cannot rise to the platform of pure loving service unto the Lord, even though he may superficially render devotional service according to the routine regulative principles.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.176|Madhya 19.176]]:''' "'The material desire to enjoy the material world and the desire to become liberated from material bondage are considered to be two witches, and they haunt one like ghosts. As long as these witches remain within the heart, how can one feel transcendental bliss? As long as these two witches remain in the heart, there is no possibility of enjoying the transcendental bliss of devotional service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.177|Madhya 19.177]]:''' "By regularly rendering devotional service, one gradually becomes attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When that attachment is intensified, it becomes love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.178|Madhya 19.178]]:''' "The basic aspects of prema, when gradually increasing to different states, are affection, abhorrence, love, attachment, further attachment, ecstasy and great ecstasy.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.179|Madhya 19.179]]:''' "The gradual development of prema may be compared to different states of sugar. First there is the seed of the sugarcane, then sugarcane and then the juice extracted from the cane. When this juice is boiled, it forms liquid molasses, then solid molasses, then sugar, candy, rock candy and finally lozenges.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.180|Madhya 19.180]]:''' "All these stages combined are called sthāyibhāva, or continuous love of Godhead in devotional service. In addition to these stages, there are vibhāva and anubhāva.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.181|Madhya 19.181]]:''' "When the higher standard of ecstatic love is mixed with the symptoms of sāttvika and vyabhicārī, the devotee relishes the transcendental bliss of loving Kṛṣṇa in a variety of nectarean tastes.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.182|Madhya 19.182]]:''' "These tastes are like a combination of yogurt, sugar candy, ghee [clarified butter], black pepper and camphor and are as palatable as sweet nectar.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.183-184|Madhya 19.183-184]]:''' "According to the devotee, attachment falls within the five categories of śānta-rati, dāsya-rati, sakhya-rati, vātsalya-rati and madhura-rati. These five categories arise from devotees' different attachments to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The transcendental mellows derived from devotional service are also of five varieties.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.185|Madhya 19.185]]:''' "The chief transcendental mellows experienced with the Supreme Personality of Godhead are five — śānta, dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and madhura.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.186|Madhya 19.186]]:''' "'Besides the five direct mellows, there are seven indirect mellows, known as laughter, wonder, chivalry, compassion, anger, disaster and fear.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.187|Madhya 19.187]]:''' "In addition to the five direct mellows, there are seven indirect mellows, known as laughter, wonder, chivalry, compassion, anger, disaster and fear.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.188|Madhya 19.188]]:''' "The five direct transcendental mellows of devotional service are permanently situated in the heart of the devotee, whereas the seven indirect emotions appear suddenly under certain conditions and appear more powerful.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.189|Madhya 19.189]]:''' "Examples of śānta-bhaktas are the nine Yogendras and the four Kumāras. Examples of devotees in dāsya-bhakti are innumerable, for such devotees exist everywhere.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.190|Madhya 19.190]]:''' "In Vṛndāvana, examples of devotees in fraternity are Śrīdāmā and Sudāmā; in Dvārakā the Lord's friends are Bhīma and Arjuna; in Vṛndāvana the devotees in parental love are mother Yaśodā and father Nanda Mahārāja, and in Dvārakā the Lord's parents are Vasudeva and Devakī. There are also other superior persons who are devotees in parental love.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.191|Madhya 19.191]]:''' "The chief devotees in conjugal love are the gopīs in Vṛndāvana, the queens in Dvārakā and the goddesses of fortune in Vaikuṇṭha. These devotees are innumerable.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.192|Madhya 19.192]]:''' "Attachment for Kṛṣṇa is divided into two categories. One is attachment with awe and reverence, and the other is pure attachment without reverence.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.193|Madhya 19.193]]:''' "Pure attachment without reverence is found in Gokula Vṛndāvana. Attachment in which awe and reverence are prominent is found in the two cities Mathurā and Dvārakā and in Vaikuṇṭha.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.194|Madhya 19.194]]:''' "When opulence is very prominent, love of Godhead is somewhat crippled. According to kevalā devotion, however, even though the devotee sees the unlimited potency of Kṛṣṇa, he considers himself equal to Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.195|Madhya 19.195]]:''' "On the transcendental platform of neutrality and service, sometimes the opulence of the Lord is prominent. But in the transcendental mellows of fraternal, parental and conjugal love, the opulence is minimized.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.196|Madhya 19.196]]:''' "When Kṛṣṇa offered prayers at the lotus feet of His mother and father, Vasudeva and Devakī, they both felt awe, reverence and fear due to knowledge of His opulences.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.197|Madhya 19.197]]:''' "'When Devakī and Vasudeva understood that their two sons Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, who had paid obeisances to them, were the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they became fearful and did not embrace Them.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.198|Madhya 19.198]]:''' "When Kṛṣṇa manifested His universal form, Arjuna became reverent and fearful, and he begged forgiveness for his past impudence toward Kṛṣṇa as a friend.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.199-200|Madhya 19.199-200]]:''' "'Thinking of You as my friend, I have rashly addressed You "O Kṛṣṇa," "O Yādava," "O my friend," not knowing Your glories. Please forgive whatever I may have done in madness or in love. I have dishonored You many times, jesting as we relaxed, lay on the same bed, or sat or ate together, sometimes alone and sometimes in front of many friends. O infallible one, please excuse me for all those offenses.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.201|Madhya 19.201]]:''' "Although Kṛṣṇa was joking with Queen Rukmiṇī, she was thinking that He was going to give up her company, and she was therefore shocked.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.202|Madhya 19.202]]:''' "'While Kṛṣṇa was joking with Rukmiṇī in Dvārakā, she was full of distress, fear and lamentation. She had also lost her intelligence. She dropped her hand bangles and the fan she was using to fan the Lord. Her hair became disarrayed, and she fainted and fell suddenly, appearing like a banana tree knocked down by high winds.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.203|Madhya 19.203]]:''' "In the stage of kevalā [unalloyed devotion] a devotee does not consider the unlimited opulence of Kṛṣṇa, even though he experiences it. He takes seriously only his own relationship with Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.204|Madhya 19.204]]:''' "'When mother Yaśodā saw all the universes within Kṛṣṇa's mouth, she was astonished for the time being. The Lord is worshiped like Indra and other demigods by the followers of the three Vedas, who offer Him sacrifices. He is worshiped as impersonal Brahman by saintly persons who understand His greatness through studying the Upaniṣads, as the Puruṣa by great philosophers who analytically study the universe, as the all-pervading Supersoul by great yogīs, and as the Supreme Personality of Godhead by devotees. Nevertheless, mother Yaśodā considered the Lord her own son.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.205|Madhya 19.205]]:''' "'Although Kṛṣṇa is beyond sense perception and is unmanifest to human beings, he takes up the guise of a human being with a material body. Thus mother Yaśodā thought Him to be her son, and she bound Lord Kṛṣṇa with rope to a wooden mortar, as if He were an ordinary child.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.206|Madhya 19.206]]:''' "'When Kṛṣṇa was defeated by Śrīdāmā, He had to carry him on His shoulders. Similarly, Bhadrasena carried Vṛṣabha, and Pralamba carried Balarāma, the son of Rohiṇī.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.207-209|Madhya 19.207-209]]:''' "'"My dearmost Kṛṣṇa, You are worshiping Me and giving up the company of all the other gopīs, who wanted to enjoy themselves with You." Thinking like this, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī considered Herself Kṛṣṇa's most beloved gopī. She had become proud and had left the rāsa-līlā with Kṛṣṇa. In the deep forest She said, "My dear Kṛṣṇa, I cannot walk any more. You can take Me wherever You like." When Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī petitioned Kṛṣṇa in this way, Kṛṣṇa said, "Just get up on My shoulders." As soon as Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī began to do so, He disappeared. Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī then began to grieve over Her request and Kṛṣṇa's disappearance.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.210|Madhya 19.210]]:''' "'Dear Kṛṣṇa, we gopīs have neglected the order of our husbands, sons, family, brothers and friends and have left their company to come to You. You know everything about our desires. We have come only because we are attracted by the supreme music of Your flute. But You are a great cheater, for who else would give up the company of young girls like us in the dead of night?'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.211|Madhya 19.211]]:''' "When one is fully attached to Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, one attains the śamatā stage. The word 'śamatā' is derived from the word 'śama'; therefore śānta-rasa, the position of neutrality, means being fully attached to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. This is the verdict from the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. This state is called self-realization.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.212|Madhya 19.212]]:''' "'These are the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead: "When one's intelligence is fully attached to My lotus feet but one does not render practical service, one has attained the stage called śānta-rati, or śama." Without śānta-rati, attachment to Kṛṣṇa is very difficult to achieve.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.213|Madhya 19.213]]:''' "'The word "śama" or "śānta-rasa" indicates that one is attached to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. "Dama" means controlling the senses and not being deviated from the Lord's service. Endurance of unhappiness is "titikṣā," and "dhṛti" means controlling the tongue and the genitals.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.214|Madhya 19.214]]:''' "Giving up all desires not connected with Kṛṣṇa is the business of one who is in śānta-rasa. Only a devotee of Kṛṣṇa can be situated on that platform. He is thus called a śānta-rasa-bhakta.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.215|Madhya 19.215]]:''' "When a devotee is situated on the platform of śānta-rasa, he desires neither elevation to the heavenly planets nor liberation. These are the results of karma and jñāna, and the devotee considers them no better than hell. A person situated on the śānta-rasa platform manifests the two transcendental qualities of detachment from all material desires and full attachment to Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.216|Madhya 19.216]]:''' "'A person who is devoted to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, is not afraid of anything. Elevation to the heavenly kingdom, condemnation to hell and liberation from material bondage all appear the same to a devotee.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.217|Madhya 19.217]]:''' "These two qualities of the śānta stage spread through the lives of all devotees. They are like the quality of sound in the sky. Sound vibration is found in all material elements.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.218|Madhya 19.218]]:''' "It is the nature of śānta-rasa that not even the smallest intimacy exists. Rather, knowledge of impersonal Brahman and localized Paramātmā is prominent.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.219|Madhya 19.219]]:''' "On the platform of śānta-rasa, one realizes only his constitutional position. But when one is raised to the platform of dāsya-rasa, he better understands the full opulence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.220|Madhya 19.220]]:''' "On the dāsya-rasa platform, knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is revealed with awe and veneration. By rendering service unto Lord Kṛṣṇa, the devotee in dāsya-rasa gives constant happiness to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.221|Madhya 19.221]]:''' "The qualities of śānta-rasa are also present in dāsya-rasa, but service is added. Thus the dāsya-rasa platform contains the qualities of both śānta-rasa and dāsya-rasa.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.222|Madhya 19.222]]:''' "The qualities of śānta-rasa and the service of dāsya-rasa are both present on the platform of sakhya-rasa. On the platform of fraternity, the qualities of dāsya-rasa are mixed with the confidence of fraternity instead of awe and veneration.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.223|Madhya 19.223]]:''' "On the sakhya-rasa platform, the devotee sometimes offers the Lord service and sometimes makes Kṛṣṇa serve him in exchange. In their mock fighting, the cowherd boys would sometimes climb on Kṛṣṇa's shoulders, and sometimes they would make Kṛṣṇa climb on their shoulders.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.224|Madhya 19.224]]:''' "Awe and veneration are absent on the platform of fraternity, since this rasa is predominated by service imbued with confidentiality. Therefore sakhya-rasa is characterized by the qualities of three rasas.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.225|Madhya 19.225]]:''' "On the platform of sakhya-rasa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa is controlled by the devotees who are intimate with Him and think themselves equal to Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.226|Madhya 19.226]]:''' "On the platform of parental love, the qualities of śānta-rasa, dāsya-rasa and sakhya-rasa are transformed into a form of service called maintenance.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.227|Madhya 19.227]]:''' "The essence of fraternal love is intimacy devoid of the formality and veneration found in dāsya-rasa. Due to a greater sense of intimacy, the devotee functioning in parental love chastises and rebukes the Lord in an ordinary way.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.228|Madhya 19.228]]:''' "On the platform of parental love, the devotee considers himself the Lord's maintainer. Thus the Lord is the object of maintenance, like a son, and therefore this mellow is full of the qualities of four rasas — śānta-rasa, dāsya-rasa, fraternity and parental love. This is more transcendental nectar.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.229|Madhya 19.229]]:''' "The exchange of spiritual happiness between Kṛṣṇa and His devotee in which Kṛṣṇa is controlled by His devotee is compared to an ocean of nectar into which the devotee and Kṛṣṇa plunge. This is the verdict of learned scholars who appreciate Kṛṣṇa's opulence.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.230|Madhya 19.230]]:''' "'Again let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. O my Lord, I offer my obeisances hundreds and thousands of times with all affection because by Your personal pastimes You plunge the gopīs into an ocean of nectar. Appreciating Your opulence, devotees generally declare that You are always subjugated by their feelings.'

'''[[CC Madhya 19.231|Madhya 19.231]]:''' "On the platform of conjugal love, attachment for Kṛṣṇa, rendering service unto Him, the relaxed feelings of fraternity and the feelings of maintenance all increase in intimacy.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.232|Madhya 19.232]]:''' "On the platform of conjugal love, the devotee offers his body in the service of the Lord. Thus on this platform the transcendental qualities of all five rasas are present.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.233|Madhya 19.233]]:''' "All the material qualities evolve one after another in the material elements, beginning from ether. By gradual evolution, first one quality develops, then two qualities develop, then three and four, until all five qualities are found in earth.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.234|Madhya 19.234]]:''' "Similarly, on the platform of conjugal love, all the feelings of the devotees are amalgamated. The intensified taste is certainly wonderful."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.235|Madhya 19.235]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then concluded, "I have simply given a general survey describing the mellows of devotional service. You can consider how to adjust and expand this.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.236|Madhya 19.236]]:''' "When one thinks of Kṛṣṇa constantly, love for Him manifests within the heart. Even though one may be ignorant, one can reach the far shore of the ocean of transcendental love by Lord Kṛṣṇa's mercy."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.237|Madhya 19.237]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. The Lord then decided to go to the city of Benares.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.238|Madhya 19.238]]:''' The next morning, when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arose and prepared to leave for Vārāṇasī [Benares], Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī submitted the following statement at the Lord's lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.239|Madhya 19.239]]:''' "If You give me permission, I shall go with Your Lordship. It is not possible for me to tolerate the waves of separation."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.240|Madhya 19.240]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "Your duty is to carry out My order. You have come near Vṛndāvana. Now you should go there.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.241|Madhya 19.241]]:''' "Later, you can go from Vṛndāvana to Jagannātha Purī through Bengal [Gauḍa-deśa]. There you will meet Me again."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.242|Madhya 19.242]]:''' After embracing Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu got into a boat. Rūpa Gosvāmī fainted and fell down on the spot.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.243|Madhya 19.243]]:''' The brāhmaṇa from Deccan took Rūpa Gosvāmī to his home, and thereafter the two brothers departed for Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.244|Madhya 19.244]]:''' After walking and walking, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu finally arrived at Vārāṇasī, where He met Candraśekhara, who was coming out of the city.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.245|Madhya 19.245]]:''' In a dream Candraśekhara had seen that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had come to his home; therefore in the morning Candraśekhara went outside the city to receive the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.246|Madhya 19.246]]:''' While Candraśekhara was waiting outside the city, he suddenly saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrive, and he fell down at the Lord's feet. Being very happy, he took the Lord to his home.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.247|Madhya 19.247]]:''' Tapana Miśra also heard news of the Lord's arrival in Vārāṇasī, and he went to Candraśekhara's house to meet Him. After talking, he invited the Lord to take lunch at his place.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.248|Madhya 19.248]]:''' Tapana Miśra took Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his house and gave Him lunch. Candraśekhara invited Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya to take lunch at his home.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.249|Madhya 19.249]]:''' After offering lunch to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Tapana Miśra begged a favor from the Lord and requested Him to award him mercy.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.250|Madhya 19.250]]:''' Tapana Miśra said, "As long as Your Lordship stays in Vārāṇasī, please do not accept an invitation from anyone but me."

'''[[CC Madhya 19.251|Madhya 19.251]]:''' It was known to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that He would remain there only five or seven days. He would not accept any invitation that involved Māyāvādī sannyāsīs.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.252|Madhya 19.252]]:''' With this understanding, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu agreed to accept lunch at the place of Tapana Miśra. The Lord made His residence at the home of Candraśekhara.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.253|Madhya 19.253]]:''' The Maharashtrian brāhmaṇa came, and the Lord met him. Out of affection, the Lord bestowed His mercy upon him.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.254|Madhya 19.254]]:''' Hearing that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had come, all the respectable members of the brāhmaṇa and kṣatriya communities came to see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.255|Madhya 19.255]]:''' Much mercy was thus bestowed upon Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, and I have briefly described all those topics.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.256|Madhya 19.256]]:''' Whoever hears this narration with faith and love certainly develops love of God at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 19.257|Madhya 19.257]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 18|Madhya-līlā 18]] '''[[CC Madhya 18|Madhya-līlā 18]] - [[CC Madhya 20|Madhya-līlā 20]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 20|Madhya-līlā 20]]</div>

CC Madhya 18

2026-06-04T18:29:06Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 18 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 18|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 18: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's Visit to Śrī Vṛndāvana'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 17|Madhya-līlā 17]] '''[[CC Madhya 17|Madhya-līlā 17]] - [[CC Madhya 19|Madhya-līlā 19]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 19|Madhya-līlā 19]]</div>

'''[[CC Madhya 18 Summary|Madhya 18 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 18.1|Madhya 18.1]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu traveled all over Vṛndāvana and pleased all living entities, moving and nonmoving, with His glances. The Lord took much personal pleasure in seeing everyone. In this way Lord Gaurāńga traveled in Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.2|Madhya 18.2]]:''' All glories to Lord Gauracandra! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Prabhu! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya, headed by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura!

'''[[CC Madhya 18.3|Madhya 18.3]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced in ecstasy, but when He arrived at Āriṭ-grāma, His sense perception was awakened.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.4|Madhya 18.4]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked the local people, "Where is Rādhā-kuṇḍa?" No one could inform Him, and the brāhmaṇa accompanying Him did not know either.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.5|Madhya 18.5]]:''' The Lord then understood that the holy place called Rādhā-kuṇḍa was no longer visible. However, being the omniscient Supreme Personality of Godhead, He discovered Rādhā-kuṇḍa and Śyāma-kuṇḍa in two paddy fields. There was only a little water, but He took His bath there.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.6|Madhya 18.6]]:''' When the people of the village saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu taking His bath in those two ponds in the middle of the paddy fields, they were very much astonished. The Lord then offered His prayers to Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.7|Madhya 18.7]]:''' "Of all the gopīs, Rādhārāṇī is the dearmost. Similarly, the lake known as Rādhā-kuṇḍa is very dear to the Lord because it is very dear to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.8|Madhya 18.8]]:''' "'Just as Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is most dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa, so Her lake, known as Rādhā-kuṇḍa, is also very dear to Him. Of all the gopīs, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is certainly the most beloved.'

'''[[CC Madhya 18.9|Madhya 18.9]]:''' "In that lake, Lord Kṛṣṇa and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī used to sport daily in the water and have a rāsa dance on the bank.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.10|Madhya 18.10]]:''' "Indeed, Lord Kṛṣṇa gives ecstatic love like that of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī to whoever bathes in that lake even once in his life.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.11|Madhya 18.11]]:''' "The attraction of Rādhā-kuṇḍa is as sweet as that of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Similarly, the glories of the kuṇḍa [lake] are as great as Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.12|Madhya 18.12]]:''' "'Because of its wonderful transcendental qualities, Rādhā-kuṇḍa is as dear to Kṛṣṇa as Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. It was in that lake that the all-opulent Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa performed His pastimes with Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī with great pleasure and transcendental bliss. Whoever bathes just once in Rādhā-kuṇḍa attains Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's loving attraction for Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Who within this world can describe the glories and sweetness of Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa?'"

'''[[CC Madhya 18.13|Madhya 18.13]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thus offered prayers to Rādhā-kuṇḍa. Overwhelmed by ecstatic love, He danced on the bank, remembering the pastimes Lord Kṛṣṇa performed on the bank of Rādhā-kuṇḍa.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.14|Madhya 18.14]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then marked His body with tilaka made from the mud of Rādhā-kuṇḍa, and with the help of Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya, He collected some of the mud and took it with Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.15|Madhya 18.15]]:''' From Rādhā-kuṇḍa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Sumanas Lake. When He saw Govardhana Hill from there, He was overwhelmed with joy.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.16|Madhya 18.16]]:''' When the Lord saw Govardhana Hill, He immediately offered obeisances, falling down on the ground like a rod. He embraced one piece of rock from Govardhana Hill and became mad.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.17|Madhya 18.17]]:''' Mad with ecstatic love, the Lord came to the village known as Govardhana. There He saw the Deity named Harideva and offered His obeisances unto Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.18|Madhya 18.18]]:''' Harideva is an incarnation of Nārāyaṇa, and His residence is on the western petal of the lotus of Mathurā.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.19|Madhya 18.19]]:''' Mad with ecstatic love, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to dance before the Harideva Deity. Hearing of the Lord's wonderful activities, all the people came to see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.20|Madhya 18.20]]:''' The people were astonished when they saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's ecstatic love and personal beauty. The priests who served the Harideva Deity offered the Lord a good reception.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.21|Madhya 18.21]]:''' At Brahma-kuṇḍa, the Bhaṭṭācārya cooked food, and the Lord, after taking His bath at Brahma-kuṇḍa, accepted His lunch.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.22|Madhya 18.22]]:''' That night the Lord stayed at the temple of Harideva, and during the night He began to reflect.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.23|Madhya 18.23]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thought, "Since I shall not at any time climb Govardhana Hill, how shall I be able to see Gopāla Rāya?"

'''[[CC Madhya 18.24|Madhya 18.24]]:''' Thinking in this way, the Lord remained silent, and Lord Gopāla, knowing His contemplation, played a trick.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.25|Madhya 18.25]]:''' Coming down from Govardhana Hill, Lord Gopāla granted an interview to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who was unwilling to climb the hill, thinking Himself a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.26|Madhya 18.26]]:''' Gopāla stayed in a village called Annakūṭa-grāma on Govardhana Hill. The villagers who lived in that village were mainly from Rajasthan.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.27|Madhya 18.27]]:''' One person who came to the village informed the inhabitants, "The Turkish soldiers are now preparing to attack your village.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.28|Madhya 18.28]]:''' "Flee this village tonight, and do not allow one person to remain. Take the Deity with you and leave, for the Muslim soldiers will come tomorrow."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.29|Madhya 18.29]]:''' Hearing this, all the villagers became very anxious. They first took Gopāla and moved Him to a village known as Gāńṭhuli.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.30|Madhya 18.30]]:''' The Gopāla Deity was kept in the house of a brāhmaṇa, and His worship was conducted secretly. Everyone fled, and thus the village of Annakūṭa was deserted.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.31|Madhya 18.31]]:''' Due to fear of the Muslims, the Gopāla Deity was moved from one place to another again and again. Thus giving up His temple, Lord Gopāla would sometimes live in a bush and sometimes in one village after another.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.32|Madhya 18.32]]:''' In the morning, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took His bath in a lake called Mānasa-gańgā. He then circumambulated Govardhana Hill.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.33|Madhya 18.33]]:''' Just by seeing Govardhana Hill, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became ecstatic with love of Kṛṣṇa. While dancing and dancing, He recited the following verse.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.34|Madhya 18.34]]:''' "'Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O my friends, this hill supplies Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, as well as Their calves, cows and cowherd friends, with all kinds of necessities — water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respect to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 18.35|Madhya 18.35]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then took His bath in a lake called Govinda-kuṇḍa, and while He was there, He heard that the Gopāla Deity had already gone to Gāńṭhuli-grāma.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.36|Madhya 18.36]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then went to the village of Gāńṭhuli-grāma and saw the Lord Gopāla Deity. Overwhelmed by ecstatic love, He began to chant and dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.37|Madhya 18.37]]:''' As soon as the Lord saw the beauty of the Gopāla Deity, He was immediately overwhelmed by ecstatic love, and He recited the following verse. He then chanted and danced until the day ended.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.38|Madhya 18.38]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "'May the left arm of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, whose eyes are like the petals of a lotus flower, always protect you. With His left arm He raised Govardhana Hill as if it were a toy.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 18.39|Madhya 18.39]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the Gopāla Deity for three days. On the fourth day, the Deity returned to His own temple.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.40|Madhya 18.40]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu walked with the Deity of Gopāla, and He chanted and danced. A large and jubilant crowd of people also chanted the transcendental name of Kṛṣṇa, "Hari! Hari!"

'''[[CC Madhya 18.41|Madhya 18.41]]:''' The Gopāla Deity then returned to His own temple, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained at the bottom of the hill. Thus all the desires of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were satisfied by the Gopāla Deity.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.42|Madhya 18.42]]:''' This is the way of Lord Gopāla's kind behavior to His devotees. Seeing this, the devotees were overwhelmed by ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.43|Madhya 18.43]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very eager to see Gopāla, but He did not want to climb Govardhana Hill. Therefore by some trick the Gopāla Deity personally descended.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.44|Madhya 18.44]]:''' In this way, giving some excuse, Gopāla sometimes remains in the bushes of the forest, and sometimes He stays in a village. One who is a devotee comes to see the Deity.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.45|Madhya 18.45]]:''' The two brothers Rūpa and Sanātana did not climb the hill. To them also Lord Gopāla granted an interview.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.46|Madhya 18.46]]:''' In ripe old age, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī could not go there, but he had a desire to see the beauty of Gopāla.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.47|Madhya 18.47]]:''' Due to fear of the Muslims, Gopāla went to Mathurā, where He remained in the house of Viṭhṭhaleśvara for one full month.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.48|Madhya 18.48]]:''' Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and his associates stayed in Mathurā for one month and saw the Gopāla Deity.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.49|Madhya 18.49]]:''' When Rūpa Gosvāmī stayed at Mathurā, he was accompanied by Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī and Lokanātha dāsa Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.50|Madhya 18.50]]:''' Bhūgarbha Gosvāmī, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī, Śrī Yādava Ācārya and Govinda Gosvāmī also accompanied Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.51|Madhya 18.51]]:''' He was also accompanied by Śrī Uddhava dāsa, Mādhava, Śrī Gopāla dāsa and Nārāyaṇa dāsa.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.52|Madhya 18.52]]:''' The great devotee Govinda, Vāṇī Kṛṣṇadāsa, Puṇḍarīkākṣa, Īśāna and Laghu Haridāsa also accompanied him.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.53|Madhya 18.53]]:''' It was with great jubilation that Rūpa Gosvāmī visited Lord Gopāla, accompanied by all these devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.54|Madhya 18.54]]:''' After staying at Mathurā for one month, the Gopāla Deity returned to His own place, and Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī returned to Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.55|Madhya 18.55]]:''' In the course of this story, I have given a description of Lord Gopāla's mercy. After seeing the Gopāla Deity, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Śrī Kāmyavana.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.56|Madhya 18.56]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's touring Vṛndāvana has been previously described. In the same ecstatic way, He traveled all over Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.57|Madhya 18.57]]:''' After visiting the places of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes at Kāmyavana, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Nandīśvara. While there, He was overwhelmed with ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.58|Madhya 18.58]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bathed in all the celebrated lakes, beginning with Lake Pāvana. Thereafter He climbed a hill and spoke to the people.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.59|Madhya 18.59]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked, "Are there any deities on top of this hill?"The local people replied, "There are deities on this hill, but they are located within a cave.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.60|Madhya 18.60]]:''' "There are a father and mother with well-built bodies, and between them is a very beautiful child who is curved in three places."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.61|Madhya 18.61]]:''' Hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy. After excavating the cave, He saw the three deities.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.62|Madhya 18.62]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered His respects to Nanda Mahārāja and mother Yaśodā, and with great ecstatic love He touched the body of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.63|Madhya 18.63]]:''' Every day the Lord chanted and danced in ecstatic love. Finally He went to Khadiravana.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.64|Madhya 18.64]]:''' After seeing the places of Lord Kṛṣṇa's pastimes, Śrī Caitanya went to Śeṣaśāyī, where He saw Lakṣmī and recited the following verse.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.65|Madhya 18.65]]:''' "'O dearly beloved! Your lotus feet are so soft that we place them gently on our breasts, fearing that Your feet will be hurt. Our life rests only in You. Our minds, therefore, are filled with anxiety that Your tender feet might be wounded by pebbles as You roam about on the forest path.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 18.66|Madhya 18.66]]:''' Afterwards, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Khelā-tīrtha and then went to Bhāṇḍīravana. After crossing the Yamunā River, He went to Bhadravana.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.67|Madhya 18.67]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then visited Śrīvana and Lohavana. He then went to Mahāvana and saw Gokula, the place of Lord Kṛṣṇa's early childhood pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.68|Madhya 18.68]]:''' Upon seeing the place where the twin arjuna trees had been broken by Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was moved to great ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.69|Madhya 18.69]]:''' After seeing Gokula, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to Mathurā, where He saw the birthplace of the Lord. While there, He stayed at the house of the Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.70|Madhya 18.70]]:''' Seeing a great crowd assemble at Mathurā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left and went to Akrūra-tīrtha. He remained there in a solitary place.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.71|Madhya 18.71]]:''' The next day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Vṛndāvana and took His bath at Kālīya Lake and Praskandana.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.72|Madhya 18.72]]:''' After seeing the holy place called Praskandana, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Dvādaśāditya. From there He went to Keśī-tīrtha, and when He saw the place where the rāsa dance had taken place, He immediately lost consciousness due to ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.73|Madhya 18.73]]:''' When the Lord regained His senses, He began to roll on the ground. He would sometimes laugh, cry, dance and fall down. He would also chant very loudly.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.74|Madhya 18.74]]:''' Being thus transcendentally amused, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed that day happily at Keśī-tīrtha. In the evening He returned to Akrūra-tīrtha, where He took His meal.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.75|Madhya 18.75]]:''' The next morning Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to Vṛndāvana and took His bath at Cīra-ghāṭa. He then went to Teńtulī-talā, where He took rest.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.76|Madhya 18.76]]:''' The tamarind tree named Teńtulī-talā was very old, having been there since the time of Lord Kṛṣṇa's pastimes. Beneath the tree was a very shiny platform.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.77|Madhya 18.77]]:''' Since the river Yamunā flowed near Teńtulī-talā, a very cool breeze blew there. While there, the Lord saw the beauty of Vṛndāvana and the water of the river Yamunā.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.78|Madhya 18.78]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to sit beneath the old tamarind tree and chant the holy name of the Lord. At noon He would return to Akrūra-tīrtha to take lunch.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.79|Madhya 18.79]]:''' All the people who lived near Akrūra-tīrtha came to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and due to the large crowds, the Lord could not peacefully chant the holy name.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.80|Madhya 18.80]]:''' Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would go to Vṛndāvana and sit in a solitary place, where He would chant the holy name until noon.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.81|Madhya 18.81]]:''' In the afternoon, people were able to speak to Him. The Lord told everyone of the importance of chanting the holy name.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.82|Madhya 18.82]]:''' During this time, a Vaiṣṇava named Kṛṣṇadāsa came to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He was a householder belonging to the kṣatriya caste, and his house was located on the other side of the Yamunā.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.83|Madhya 18.83]]:''' After bathing at Keśī-tīrtha, Kṛṣṇadāsa went toward Kālīya-daha and suddenly saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sitting at Āmli-talā [Teńtulī-talā].

'''[[CC Madhya 18.84|Madhya 18.84]]:''' Upon seeing the Lord's personal beauty and ecstatic love, Kṛṣṇadāsa was very much astonished. Out of ecstatic love, he offered his respectful obeisances unto the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.85|Madhya 18.85]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked Kṛṣṇadāsa, "Who are you? Where is your home?"Kṛṣṇadāsa replied, "I am a most fallen householder.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.86|Madhya 18.86]]:''' "I belong to the Rājaputa caste, and my home is just on the other side of the river Yamunā. But I wish to be the servant of a Vaiṣṇava.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.87|Madhya 18.87]]:''' "Today I have had a dream, and according to that dream I have come here and found You."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.88|Madhya 18.88]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then bestowed upon Kṛṣṇadāsa His causeless mercy by embracing him. Kṛṣṇadāsa became mad with ecstatic love and began to dance and to chant the holy name of Hari.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.89|Madhya 18.89]]:''' Kṛṣṇadāsa returned to Akrūra-tīrtha with the Lord, and remnants of the Lord's food were given to him.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.90|Madhya 18.90]]:''' The next morning, Kṛṣṇadāsa went with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to Vṛndāvana and carried His waterpot. Kṛṣṇadāsa thus left his wife, home and children in order to remain with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.91|Madhya 18.91]]:''' Everywhere the Lord went, all the people said, "Kṛṣṇa has again manifested at Vṛndāvana."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.92|Madhya 18.92]]:''' One morning many people came to Akrūra-tīrtha. As they came from Vṛndāvana, they made a tumultuous sound.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.93|Madhya 18.93]]:''' Upon seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the people offered respects at His lotus feet. The Lord then asked them, "Where are you all coming from?"

'''[[CC Madhya 18.94|Madhya 18.94]]:''' The people replied, "Kṛṣṇa has again manifested Himself on the waters of Kālīya Lake. He dances on the hoods of the serpent Kālīya, and the jewels on those hoods are blazing.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.95|Madhya 18.95]]:''' "Everyone has seen Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. There is no doubt about it." Hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to laugh. He then said, "Everything is correct."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.96|Madhya 18.96]]:''' For three successive nights people went to Kālīya-daha to see Kṛṣṇa, and everyone returned saying, "Now we have seen Kṛṣṇa Himself."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.97|Madhya 18.97]]:''' Everyone came before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and said, "Now we have directly seen Lord Kṛṣṇa." Thus by the mercy of the goddess of learning they were made to speak the truth.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.98|Madhya 18.98]]:''' When the people saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they actually saw Kṛṣṇa, but because they were following their own imperfect knowledge, they accepted the wrong thing as Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.99|Madhya 18.99]]:''' At that time Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya placed a request at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He said, "Please give me permission to go see Lord Kṛṣṇa directly."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.100|Madhya 18.100]]:''' When Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya asked to see Kṛṣṇa at Kālīya-daha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu mercifully slapped him, saying, "You are a learned scholar, but you have become a fool, being influenced by the statements of other fools.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.101|Madhya 18.101]]:''' "Why would Kṛṣṇa appear in the Age of Kali? Foolish people who are mistaken are simply causing agitation and making a tumult.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.102|Madhya 18.102]]:''' "Do not become mad. Simply sit down here, and tomorrow night you will go see Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.103|Madhya 18.103]]:''' The next morning some respectable gentlemen came to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and the Lord asked them, "Have you seen Kṛṣṇa?"

'''[[CC Madhya 18.104|Madhya 18.104]]:''' These respectable gentlemen replied, "At night in Kālīya Lake a fisherman lights a torch in his boat and catches many fish.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.105|Madhya 18.105]]:''' "From a distance, people mistakenly think that they are seeing Kṛṣṇa dancing on the body of the Kālīya serpent.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.106|Madhya 18.106]]:''' "These fools think that the boat is the Kālīya serpent and the torchlight the jewels on his hoods. People also mistake the fisherman for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.107|Madhya 18.107]]:''' "Actually Lord Kṛṣṇa has returned to Vṛndāvana. That is the truth, and it is also true that people have seen Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.108|Madhya 18.108]]:''' "But where they are seeing Kṛṣṇa is their mistake. It is like considering a dry tree to be a person."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.109|Madhya 18.109]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then asked them, "Where have you seen Kṛṣṇa directly?"The people replied, "You are a sannyāsī, a renunciant; therefore You are a moving Nārāyaṇa [jańgama-nārāyaṇa]."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.110|Madhya 18.110]]:''' The people then said, "You have appeared in Vṛndāvana as an incarnation of Kṛṣṇa. Just by seeing You, everyone is now liberated."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.111|Madhya 18.111]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately exclaimed, "Viṣṇu! Viṣṇu! Do not call Me the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A jīva cannot become Kṛṣṇa at any time. Do not even say such a thing!

'''[[CC Madhya 18.112|Madhya 18.112]]:''' "A sannyāsī in the renounced order is certainly part and parcel of the complete whole, just as a shining molecular particle of sunshine is part and parcel of the sun itself. Kṛṣṇa is like the sun, full of six opulences, but the living entity is only a fragment of the complete whole.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.113|Madhya 18.113]]:''' "A living entity and the Absolute Personality of Godhead are never to be considered equal, just as a fragmental spark can never be considered the original flame.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.114|Madhya 18.114]]:''' "'The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supreme controller, is always full of transcendental bliss and is accompanied by the potencies known as hlādinī and saḿvit. The conditioned soul, however, is always covered by ignorance and embarrassed by the threefold miseries of life. Thus he is a treasure-house of all kinds of tribulations.'

'''[[CC Madhya 18.115|Madhya 18.115]]:''' "A foolish person who says that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the same as the living entity is an atheist, and he becomes subject to punishment by the superintendent of death, Yamarāja.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.116|Madhya 18.116]]:''' "'A person who considers demigods like Brahmā and Śiva to be on an equal level with Nārāyaṇa is to be considered an offender, or pāṣaṇḍī.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 18.117|Madhya 18.117]]:''' After Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained the difference between an ordinary living being and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the people said, "No one considers You an ordinary human being. You are like Kṛṣṇa in every respect, in both bodily features and characteristics.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.118|Madhya 18.118]]:''' "By Your bodily features we can see that You are none other than the son of Nanda Mahārāja, although the golden luster of Your body has covered Your original complexion.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.119|Madhya 18.119]]:''' "As the aroma of deer musk cannot be concealed by wrapping it in a cloth, Your characteristics as the Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be concealed by any means.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.120|Madhya 18.120]]:''' "Indeed, Your characteristics are uncommon and beyond the imagination of an ordinary living being. Simply by seeing You, the entire universe becomes mad with ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.121-122|Madhya 18.121-122]]:''' "If they see You just once, even women, children, old men, meat-eaters and members of the lowest caste immediately chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, dance like madmen and become spiritual masters capable of delivering the whole world.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.123|Madhya 18.123]]:''' "Apart from seeing You, whoever listens to Your holy name is made mad with ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa and is able to deliver the three worlds.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.124|Madhya 18.124]]:''' "Simply by hearing Your holy name, dog-eaters become holy saints. Your uncommon potencies cannot be described in words.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.125|Madhya 18.125]]:''' "'To say nothing of the spiritual advancement of persons who see the Supreme Person face to face, even a person born in a family of dog-eaters becomes immediately eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices if he once utters the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or chants about Him, hears about His pastimes, offers Him obeisances or even remembers Him.'

'''[[CC Madhya 18.126|Madhya 18.126]]:''' "These glories of Yours are only marginal. Originally You are the son of Mahārāja Nanda."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.127|Madhya 18.127]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then bestowed His causeless mercy upon all the people there, and everyone became ecstatic with love of God. Finally they all returned to their homes.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.128|Madhya 18.128]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained for some days in Akrūra-tīrtha. He delivered everyone there simply by distributing the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and ecstatic love for the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.129|Madhya 18.129]]:''' The brāhmaṇa disciple of Mādhavendra Purī went from house to house in Mathurā and inspired other brāhmaṇas to invite Caitanya Mahāprabhu to their homes.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.130|Madhya 18.130]]:''' Thus all the respectable people of Mathurā, headed by the brāhmaṇas, came to Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya and extended invitations to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.131|Madhya 18.131]]:''' In one day, ten to twenty invitations were received, but Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya would accept only one of them.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.132|Madhya 18.132]]:''' Since not everyone got an opportunity to offer invitations to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally, those who did not requested the Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa to ask the Lord to accept their invitations.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.133|Madhya 18.133]]:''' The brāhmaṇas from different places, such as Kānyakubja and South India, who were all strict followers of the Vedic religion, offered invitations to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with great humility.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.134|Madhya 18.134]]:''' In the morning they would come to Akrūra-tīrtha and cook food. After offering it to the śālagrāma-śilā, they offered it to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.135|Madhya 18.135]]:''' One day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat at the bathing ghat of Akrūra-tīrtha and thought the following thoughts.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.136|Madhya 18.136]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thought, "At this bathing place, Akrūra saw Vaikuṇṭha, the spiritual world, and all the inhabitants of Vraja saw Goloka Vṛndāvana."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.137|Madhya 18.137]]:''' While considering how Akrūra remained within the water, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately jumped in and stayed under water for some time.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.138|Madhya 18.138]]:''' When Kṛṣṇadāsa saw that Caitanya Mahāprabhu was drowning, he cried and shouted very loudly. Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya immediately came and pulled the Lord out.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.139|Madhya 18.139]]:''' After this, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya took the Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa to a secluded place and consulted with him.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.140|Madhya 18.140]]:''' Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya said, "Since I was present today, it was possible for me to pull the Lord up. But if He starts to drown at Vṛndāvana, who will help Him?

'''[[CC Madhya 18.141|Madhya 18.141]]:''' "Now there is a crowd of people here, and these invitations are causing much disturbance. In addition, the Lord is always ecstatic and emotional. I do not find the situation here very good.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.142|Madhya 18.142]]:''' "It would be good if we could get Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu out of Vṛndāvana. That is my final conclusion."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.143|Madhya 18.143]]:''' The Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa said, "Let us take Him to Prayāga and go along the banks of the Ganges. It will be very pleasurable to go that way.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.144|Madhya 18.144]]:''' "After going to the holy place named Soro-kṣetra and bathing in the Ganges, let us take Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that way and go.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.145|Madhya 18.145]]:''' "It is now the beginning of the month of Māgha. If we go to Prayāga at this time, we shall have an opportunity to bathe for a few days during Makara-sańkrānti."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.146|Madhya 18.146]]:''' The Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa continued, "Kindly submit to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu the unhappiness you are feeling within yourself. Then propose that we all go to Prayāga on the full-moon day of the month of Māgha.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.147|Madhya 18.147]]:''' "Tell the Lord of the happiness you will feel in traveling via the banks of the Ganges." Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya therefore submitted this prayer to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.148|Madhya 18.148]]:''' Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya told the Lord, "I can no longer tolerate the disturbance of the crowd. People are coming one after another to offer invitations.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.149|Madhya 18.149]]:''' "Early in the morning people come here, and not seeing You present, they simply tax my brain.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.150|Madhya 18.150]]:''' "I will be very happy if we all leave and take the path by the banks of the Ganges. Then we can have the opportunity of bathing in the Ganges at Prayāga during Makara-sańkrānti.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.151|Madhya 18.151]]:''' "My mind has become very much agitated, and I cannot bear this anxiety. Now everything rests on the permission of Your Lordship. I will accept whatever You want to do."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.152|Madhya 18.152]]:''' Although Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had no desire to leave Vṛndāvana, He began to speak sweet words just to fulfill the desire of His devotee.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.153|Madhya 18.153]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "You have brought Me here to show Me Vṛndāvana. I am very much indebted to you, and I shall not be able to repay this debt.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.154|Madhya 18.154]]:''' "Whatever you desire, I must do. Wherever you take Me, I shall go."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.155|Madhya 18.155]]:''' The next morning, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu got up early. After taking His bath, He became ecstatic with love, knowing that He now had to leave Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.156|Madhya 18.156]]:''' Although the Lord did not exhibit any external symptoms, His mind was filled with ecstatic love. At that time, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya said, "Let us go to Mahāvana [Gokula]."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.157|Madhya 18.157]]:''' Saying this, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya made Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sit aboard a boat. After they crossed the river, he took the Lord with him.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.158|Madhya 18.158]]:''' Both Rājaputa Kṛṣṇadāsa and the Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa knew the path along the Ganges bank very well.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.159|Madhya 18.159]]:''' While walking, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, understanding that the others were fatigued, took them all beneath a tree and sat down.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.160|Madhya 18.160]]:''' There were many cows grazing near that tree, and the Lord was very pleased to see them.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.161|Madhya 18.161]]:''' Suddenly a cowherd boy blew on his flute, and immediately the Lord was struck with ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.162|Madhya 18.162]]:''' Filled with ecstatic love, the Lord fell to the ground unconscious. He foamed about the mouth, and His breathing stopped.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.163|Madhya 18.163]]:''' While the Lord was unconscious, ten cavalry soldiers belonging to the Muslim Pāṭhāna military order rode up and dismounted.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.164|Madhya 18.164]]:''' Seeing the Lord unconscious, the soldiers thought, "This sannyāsī must have possessed a large quantity of gold.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.165|Madhya 18.165]]:''' "These four rogues here must have taken away that sannyāsī's riches after killing Him by making Him take the poison dhuturā."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.166|Madhya 18.166]]:''' Thinking this, the Pāṭhāna soldiers arrested the four persons and decided to kill them. Because of this, the two Bengalis began to tremble.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.167|Madhya 18.167]]:''' The devotee Kṛṣṇadāsa, who belonged to the Rājaputa race, was very fearless. The Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa was also fearless, and he spoke very bravely.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.168|Madhya 18.168]]:''' The brāhmaṇa said, "You Pāṭhāna soldiers are all under the protection of your king. Let us go to your commander and get his decision.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.169|Madhya 18.169]]:''' "This sannyāsī is my spiritual master, and I am from Mathurā. I am a brāhmaṇa, and I know many people who are in the service of the Muslim king.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.170|Madhya 18.170]]:''' "This sannyāsī sometimes falls unconscious due to the influence of a disease. Please sit down here, and you will see that He will very soon regain consciousness and His normal condition.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.171|Madhya 18.171]]:''' "Sit down here for a while and keep us all under arrest. When the sannyāsī regains his senses, you can question Him. Then, if you like, you can kill us all."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.172|Madhya 18.172]]:''' The Pāṭhāna soldiers said, "You are all rogues. One of you belongs to the western lands, one to the district of Mathurā, and the other two, who are trembling, belong to Bengal."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.173|Madhya 18.173]]:''' Rājaputa Kṛṣṇadāsa said, "I have my home here, and I also have about two hundred Turkish soldiers and about one hundred cannons.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.174|Madhya 18.174]]:''' "If I call loudly, they will come immediately to kill you and plunder your horses and saddles.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.175|Madhya 18.175]]:''' "The Bengali pilgrims are not rogues. You are rogues, for you want to kill the pilgrims and plunder them."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.176|Madhya 18.176]]:''' Upon hearing this challenge, the Pāṭhāna soldiers became hesitant. Then suddenly Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu regained consciousness.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.177|Madhya 18.177]]:''' Coming to His senses, the Lord very loudly began chanting the holy name, "Hari! Hari!" The Lord raised His arms upward and began to dance in ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.178|Madhya 18.178]]:''' When the Lord shouted very loudly in ecstatic love, it appeared to the Muslim soldiers that their hearts were struck by thunderbolts.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.179|Madhya 18.179]]:''' Seized by fear, all the Pāṭhāna soldiers immediately released the four persons. Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not see His personal associates arrested.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.180|Madhya 18.180]]:''' At that time, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and made Him sit down. Seeing the Muslim soldiers, the Lord regained His normal senses.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.181|Madhya 18.181]]:''' All the Muslim soldiers then came before the Lord, worshiped His lotus feet and said, "Here are four rogues.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.182|Madhya 18.182]]:''' "These rogues have made You take dhuturā. Having made You mad, they have taken all Your possessions."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.183|Madhya 18.183]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "These are not rogues. They are My associates. Being a sannyāsī beggar, I do not possess anything.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.184|Madhya 18.184]]:''' "Due to epilepsy, I sometimes fall unconscious. Out of their mercy, these four men maintain Me."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.185|Madhya 18.185]]:''' Among the Muslims was a grave person who was wearing a black dress. People called him a saintly person.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.186|Madhya 18.186]]:''' The heart of that saintly person softened upon seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He wanted to talk to Him and establish impersonal Brahman on the basis of his own scripture, the Koran.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.187|Madhya 18.187]]:''' When that person tried to establish the impersonal Brahman conception of the Absolute Truth on the basis of the Koran, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu refuted his argument.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.188|Madhya 18.188]]:''' Whatever arguments he put forward, the Lord refuted them all. Finally the person became stunned and could not speak.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.189|Madhya 18.189]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "The Koran certainly establishes impersonalism, but at the end it refutes that impersonalism and establishes the personal God.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.190|Madhya 18.190]]:''' "The Koran accepts the fact that ultimately there is only one God. He is full of opulence, and His bodily complexion is blackish.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.191|Madhya 18.191]]:''' "According to the Koran, the Lord has a supreme, blissful, transcendental body. He is the Absolute Truth, the all-pervading, omniscient and eternal being. He is the origin of everything.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.192|Madhya 18.192]]:''' "Creation, maintenance and dissolution come from Him. He is the original shelter of all gross and subtle cosmic manifestations.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.193|Madhya 18.193]]:''' "The Lord is the Supreme Truth, worshipable by everyone. He is the cause of all causes. By engaging in His devotional service, the living entity is relieved from material existence.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.194|Madhya 18.194]]:''' "No conditioned soul can get out of material bondage without serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Love at His lotus feet is the ultimate goal of life.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.195|Madhya 18.195]]:''' "The happiness of liberation, whereby one merges into the Lord's existence, cannot even be compared to a fragment of the transcendental bliss obtained by service unto the Lord's lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.196|Madhya 18.196]]:''' "In the Koran there are descriptions of fruitive activity, speculative knowledge, mystic power and union with the Supreme, but ultimately all this is refuted and the Lord's personal feature established, along with His devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.197|Madhya 18.197]]:''' "The scholars of the Koran are not very advanced in knowledge. Although there are many methods prescribed, they do not know that the ultimate conclusion should be considered the most powerful.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.198|Madhya 18.198]]:''' "Seeing your own Koran and deliberating over what is written there, what is your conclusion?"

'''[[CC Madhya 18.199|Madhya 18.199]]:''' The saintly Muslim replied, "All that You have said is true. This has certainly been written in the Koran, but our scholars can neither understand nor accept it.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.200|Madhya 18.200]]:''' "Usually they describe the Lord's impersonal aspect, but they hardly know that the Lord's personal feature is worshipable. They are undoubtedly lacking this knowledge.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.201|Madhya 18.201]]:''' "Since You are that very same Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, please be merciful upon me. I am fallen and unfit.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.202|Madhya 18.202]]:''' "I have studied the Muslim scripture very extensively, but from it I cannot conclusively decide what the ultimate goal of life is or how I can approach it.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.203|Madhya 18.203]]:''' "Now that I have seen You, my tongue is chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. The false prestige I felt from being a learned scholar is now gone."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.204|Madhya 18.204]]:''' Saying this, the saintly Muslim fell at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and requested Him to speak of life's ultimate goal and the process by which it could be obtained.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.205|Madhya 18.205]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Please get up. You have chanted the holy name of Kṛṣṇa; therefore the sinful reactions you have accrued for many millions of lives are now gone. You are now pure."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.206|Madhya 18.206]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told all the Muslims there, "Chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa! Chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa!" As they all began to chant, they were overwhelmed by ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.207|Madhya 18.207]]:''' In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu directly initiated the saintly Muslim by advising him to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. The Muslim's name was changed to Rāmadāsa. Another Pāṭhāna Muslim present there was named Vijulī Khān.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.208|Madhya 18.208]]:''' Vijulī Khān was very young, and he was the son of the king. All the other Muslims, or Pāṭhānas, headed by Rāmadāsa, were his servants.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.209|Madhya 18.209]]:''' Vijulī Khān also fell down at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and the Lord placed His foot on his head.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.210|Madhya 18.210]]:''' After bestowing His mercy upon them in this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left. All those Pāṭhāna Muslims then became mendicants.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.211|Madhya 18.211]]:''' Later these very Pāṭhānas became celebrated as the Pāṭhāna Vaiṣṇavas. They toured all over the country and chanted the glorious activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.212|Madhya 18.212]]:''' Vijulī Khān became a greatly advanced devotee, and his importance was celebrated at every holy place of pilgrimage.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.213|Madhya 18.213]]:''' In this way Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed His pastimes. Coming to the western part of India, He bestowed good fortune upon the yavanas and mlecchas.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.214|Madhya 18.214]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next went to a holy place of pilgrimage called Soro-kṣetra. He took His bath in the Ganges there and started for Prayāga on the path along the banks of the Ganges.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.215|Madhya 18.215]]:''' At Soro-kṣetra, the Lord requested the Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa and Rājaputa Kṛṣṇadāsa to return home, but with folded hands they began to speak as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.216|Madhya 18.216]]:''' They prayed, "Let us go to Prayāga with You. If we do not go, when shall we again get the association of Your lotus feet?

'''[[CC Madhya 18.217|Madhya 18.217]]:''' "This country is mainly occupied by Muslims. At any place someone can create a disturbance, and although Your companion Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya is a learned scholar, he does not know how to speak the local language."

'''[[CC Madhya 18.218|Madhya 18.218]]:''' Hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted their proposal by smiling mildly. Thus those two persons continued to accompany Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.219|Madhya 18.219]]:''' Whoever got to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would feel himself overwhelmed with ecstatic love and would begin to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.220|Madhya 18.220]]:''' Whoever met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became a Vaiṣṇava, and whoever met that Vaiṣṇava also became a Vaiṣṇava. In this way, all the towns and villages became Vaiṣṇava, one after the other.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.221|Madhya 18.221]]:''' Just as the Lord inundated South India on His tour there, He also inundated the western part of the country with love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.222|Madhya 18.222]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu finally arrived at Prayāga and for ten successive days bathed in the confluence of the rivers Yamunā and Ganges during the festival of Makara-sańkrānti [Māgha-melā].

'''[[CC Madhya 18.223|Madhya 18.223]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's visit to Vṛndāvana and His activities there are unlimited. Even Lord Śeṣa, who has thousands of hoods, cannot reach the end of His activities.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.224|Madhya 18.224]]:''' What ordinary living being can describe the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu? I have only indicated the general direction in the form of a summary.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.225|Madhya 18.225]]:''' The pastimes and methods of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are uncommon. Unfortunate is he who cannot believe even after hearing all these things.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.226|Madhya 18.226]]:''' From beginning to end the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are uncommon. Just hear them with faith and accept them as true and correct.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.227|Madhya 18.227]]:''' Whoever argues about this is a great fool. He intentionally and personally brings a thunderbolt down upon his head.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.228|Madhya 18.228]]:''' The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are an ocean of nectar. Even a drop of this ocean can inundate the whole world with transcendental bliss.

'''[[CC Madhya 18.229|Madhya 18.229]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 17|Madhya-līlā 17]] '''[[CC Madhya 17|Madhya-līlā 17]] - [[CC Madhya 19|Madhya-līlā 19]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 19|Madhya-līlā 19]]</div>

CC Madhya 17

2026-06-04T18:29:04Z

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 17 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 17|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 17: The Lord Travels to Vṛndāvana'''</div>
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'''[[CC Madhya 17 Summary|Madhya 17 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 17.1|Madhya 17.1]]:''' On His way to Vṛndāvana, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed through the forest of Jhārikhaṇḍa and made all the tigers, elephants, deer and birds chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and dance. Thus all these animals were overwhelmed by ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.2|Madhya 17.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of the Lord!

'''[[CC Madhya 17.3|Madhya 17.3]]:''' When autumn arrived, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu decided to go to Vṛndāvana. In a solitary place, He consulted with Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.4|Madhya 17.4]]:''' The Lord requested Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī to help Him go to Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.5|Madhya 17.5]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.6|Madhya 17.6]]:''' "If someone wants to follow Me, please stop him. I don't want anyone to go with Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.7|Madhya 17.7]]:''' "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 Vṛndāvana."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.8|Madhya 17.8]]:''' Upon hearing this, Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī replied, "Dear Lord, You are completely independent. Since You are not dependent on anyone, You will do whatever You desire.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.9|Madhya 17.9]]:''' "Dear Lord, kindly hear our one petition. You have already said that You will derive happiness from our happiness. This is Your own statement.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.10|Madhya 17.10]]:''' "If You will please accept just one request, we shall be very, very happy.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.11|Madhya 17.11]]:''' "Our Lord, please take one very nice brāhmaṇa with You. He will collect alms for You, cook for You, give You prasādam and carry Your waterpot while traveling.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.12|Madhya 17.12]]:''' "When You go through the jungle, there will be no brāhmaṇa available from whom You can accept lunch. Therefore please give permission for at least one pure brāhmaṇa to accompany You."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.13|Madhya 17.13]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "I shall not take any of My associates with Me, because if I choose someone, all the others will be unhappy.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.14|Madhya 17.14]]:''' "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."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.15|Madhya 17.15]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara then said, "Here is Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya, who has great love for You. He is an honest, learned scholar, and he is advanced in spiritual consciousness.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.16|Madhya 17.16]]:''' "In the beginning, he came with You from Bengal. It is his desire to visit and see all the holy places of pilgrimage.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.17|Madhya 17.17]]:''' "In addition, You may take another brāhmaṇa who will act as a servant en route and make arrangements for Your food.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.18|Madhya 17.18]]:''' "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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.19|Madhya 17.19]]:''' "The other brāhmaṇa can carry Your cloth and waterpot, and Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya will collect alms and cook for You."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.20|Madhya 17.20]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted the request of Svarūpa Dāmodara Paṇḍita and agreed to take Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya with Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.21|Madhya 17.21]]:''' On the previous night, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had visited Lord Jagannātha and taken His permission. Now, near the end of the night, the Lord got up and started immediately. He was not seen by others.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.22|Madhya 17.22]]:''' Because the Lord had departed, the devotees, unable to see Him early in the morning, began to search for Him with great anxiety.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.23|Madhya 17.23]]:''' While all the devotees were searching for the Lord, Svarūpa Dāmodara restrained them. Then everyone fell silent, knowing the mind of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.24|Madhya 17.24]]:''' The Lord abandoned walking on the well-known public road and went instead along a bypass. He thus kept the city of Kaṭaka on His right as He entered the forest.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.25|Madhya 17.25]]:''' When the Lord passed through the solitary forest chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, the tigers and elephants, seeing Him, gave way.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.26|Madhya 17.26]]:''' 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.27|Madhya 17.27]]:''' Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya was very much afraid to see them, but by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's influence, all the animals stood to one side.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.28|Madhya 17.28]]:''' One day a tiger was lying on the path, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, walking along the path in ecstatic love, touched the tiger with His feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.29|Madhya 17.29]]:''' The Lord said, "Chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa!" The tiger immediately got up and began to dance and to chant "Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!"

'''[[CC Madhya 17.30|Madhya 17.30]]:''' Another day, while Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was bathing in a river, a herd of maddened elephants came there to drink water.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.31|Madhya 17.31]]:''' While the Lord was bathing and murmuring the Gāyatrī mantra, the elephants came before Him. The Lord immediately splashed some water on the elephants and asked them to chant the name of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.32|Madhya 17.32]]:''' The elephants whose bodies were touched by the water splashed by the Lord began to chant "Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!" and dance and sing in ecstasy.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.33|Madhya 17.33]]:''' Some of the elephants fell to the ground, and some screamed in ecstasy. Seeing this, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya was completely astonished.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.34|Madhya 17.34]]:''' Sometimes Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanted very loudly while passing through the jungle. Hearing His sweet voice, all the does came near Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.35|Madhya 17.35]]:''' 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.36|Madhya 17.36]]:''' "'Blessed are all these foolish deer because they have approached Mahārāja 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.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 17.37|Madhya 17.37]]:''' While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was passing through the jungle, five or seven tigers came. Joining the deer, the tigers began to follow the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.38|Madhya 17.38]]:''' Seeing the tigers and deer following Him, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately remembered the land of Vṛndāvana. He then began to recite a verse describing the transcendental quality of Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.39|Madhya 17.39]]:''' "'Vṛndāvana 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.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 17.40|Madhya 17.40]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said "Chant 'Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!'" the tigers and deer began to chant "Kṛṣṇa!" and dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.41|Madhya 17.41]]:''' When all the tigers and does danced and jumped, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya saw them and was struck with wonder.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.42|Madhya 17.42]]:''' Indeed, the tigers and deer began to embrace one another, and touching mouths, they began to kiss.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.43|Madhya 17.43]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw all this fun, He began to smile. Finally He left the animals and continued on His way.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.44|Madhya 17.44]]:''' Various birds, including the peacock, saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and began to follow Him, chanting and dancing. They were all maddened by the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.45|Madhya 17.45]]:''' When the Lord loudly chanted "Haribol!" the trees and creepers became jubilant to hear Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.46|Madhya 17.46]]:''' Thus all living entities in the forest of Jhārikhaṇḍa — some moving and some standing still — became maddened by hearing the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa vibrated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.47|Madhya 17.47]]:''' 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.48-49|Madhya 17.48-49]]:''' When someone heard the chanting of the holy name from the mouth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, 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 Vaiṣṇava through such disciplic succession. Thus everyone chanted the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and Hari, and they danced, cried and smiled.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.50|Madhya 17.50]]:''' The Lord did not always manifest His ecstasy. Being afraid of a great assembly of people, the Lord kept His ecstasy concealed.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.51|Madhya 17.51]]:''' Although Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not manifest His natural ecstatic love, everyone became a pure devotee simply by seeing and hearing Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.52|Madhya 17.52]]:''' In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally toured Bengal, East Bengal, Orissa and the southern countries, and He delivered all kinds of people by spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.53|Madhya 17.53]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to Jhārikhaṇḍa on His way to Mathurā, He found that the people there were almost uncivilized and were devoid of God consciousness.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.54|Madhya 17.54]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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?

'''[[CC Madhya 17.55|Madhya 17.55]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed through the Jhārikhaṇḍa forest, He took it for granted that it was Vṛndāvana. When He passed over the hills, He took it for granted that they were Govardhana.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.56|Madhya 17.56]]:''' Similarly, whenever Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw a river, He immediately accepted it as the river Yamunā. Thus while in the forest He was filled with great ecstatic love, and He danced and fell down crying.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.57|Madhya 17.57]]:''' Along the way, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya collected all kinds of spinach, roots and fruit whenever possible.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.58|Madhya 17.58]]:''' Whenever Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited a village, a few brāhmaṇas — five or seven — would come and extend invitations to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.59|Madhya 17.59]]:''' Some people would bring grain and deliver it to Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya. Others would bring milk and yogurt, and still others would bring ghee and sugar.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.60|Madhya 17.60]]:''' In some villages there were no brāhmaṇas; nonetheless, devotees born in non-brāhmaṇa families came and extended invitations to Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.61|Madhya 17.61]]:''' Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya used to cook all kinds of vegetables gathered from the forest, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased to accept these preparations.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.62-63|Madhya 17.62-63]]:''' Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.64|Madhya 17.64]]:''' 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.65|Madhya 17.65]]:''' Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya was so affectionate to the Lord that he was rendering service just like a menial servant. His assistant brāhmaṇa carried the waterpot and garments.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.66|Madhya 17.66]]:''' 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.67|Madhya 17.67]]:''' While traveling in this secluded forest and feeling very happy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu made the following statement.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.68|Madhya 17.68]]:''' "My dear Bhaṭṭācārya, I have traveled very far through the forest, and I have not even slightly received any trouble.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.69|Madhya 17.69]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.70|Madhya 17.70]]:''' "Before this, I decided to go to Vṛndāvana and on the way see My mother, the river Ganges and other devotees once again.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.71|Madhya 17.71]]:''' "I thought that once again I would see and meet all the devotees and take them with Me to Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.72|Madhya 17.72]]:''' "Thus I went to Bengal, and I was very happy to see My mother, the river Ganges and the devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.73|Madhya 17.73]]:''' "However, when I started for Vṛndāvana, many thousands and millions of people gathered and began to go with Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.74|Madhya 17.74]]:''' "Thus I was going to Vṛndāvana with a big crowd, but through the mouth of Sanātana, Kṛṣṇa taught Me a lesson. Thus by making some impediment, He has brought Me on a path through the forest to Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.75|Madhya 17.75]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa is an ocean of mercy. He is especially merciful to the poor and fallen. Without His mercy, there is no possibility of happiness."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.76|Madhya 17.76]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then embraced Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya and told him, "It is only by your kindness that I am now so happy."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.77|Madhya 17.77]]:''' Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "My dear Lord, You are Kṛṣṇa Himself, and therefore You are merciful. I am a fallen living entity, but You have bestowed a great favor upon me.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.78|Madhya 17.78]]:''' "Sir, I am most fallen, yet You have brought me with You. Showing great mercy, You have accepted food prepared by me.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.79|Madhya 17.79]]:''' "You have made me Your carrier Garuḍa, although I am no better than a condemned crow. Thus You are the independent Personality of Godhead, the original Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.80|Madhya 17.80]]:''' "'The Supreme Personality of Godhead has the form of sac-cid-ānanda-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.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 17.81|Madhya 17.81]]:''' In this way Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya offered his prayers to the Lord. By rendering service unto Him in ecstatic love, He pacified the Lord's mind.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.82|Madhya 17.82]]:''' Finally the Lord arrived with great happiness at the holy place called Kāśī. There He took His bath in the bathing ghat known as Maṇikarṇikā.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.83|Madhya 17.83]]:''' At that time, Tapana Miśra was taking his bath in the Ganges, and he was astonished to see the Lord there.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.84|Madhya 17.84]]:''' Tapana Miśra then began to think, "I have heard that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has accepted the renounced order." Thinking this, Tapana Miśra became very jubilant within his heart.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.85|Madhya 17.85]]:''' He then clasped the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and began to cry. The Lord raised him up and embraced him.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.86|Madhya 17.86]]:''' Tapana Miśra then took Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to visit the temple of Viśveśvara. Coming from there, they saw the lotus feet of Lord Bindu Mādhava.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.87|Madhya 17.87]]:''' With great pleasure Tapana Miśra brought Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home and rendered service unto Him. Indeed, he began to dance, waving his cloth.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.88|Madhya 17.88]]:''' He washed the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and afterwards he and his whole family drank the wash water. He also worshiped Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya and showed him respect.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.89|Madhya 17.89]]:''' Tapana Miśra invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to take lunch at his home, and he had Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya cook.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.90|Madhya 17.90]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took His rest after lunch, the son of Tapana Miśra, named Raghu, used to massage His legs.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.91|Madhya 17.91]]:''' The remnants of food left by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were taken by the whole family of Tapana Miśra. When news spread that the Lord had come, Candraśekhara came to see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.92|Madhya 17.92]]:''' Candraśekhara happened to be a friend of Tapana Miśra's, and he was long known to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as His servant. He was a physician by caste, and by profession he was a clerk. At the time he was living in Vārāṇasī.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.93|Madhya 17.93]]:''' When Candreśekhara came there, he fell down before the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and began to cry. The Lord, standing up, embraced him out of His causeless mercy.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.94|Madhya 17.94]]:''' Candraśekhara 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.95|Madhya 17.95]]:''' "Due to my past deeds, I am residing at Vārāṇasī, but here I do not hear anything but the words 'māyā' and 'Brahman.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 17.96|Madhya 17.96]]:''' Candraśekhara continued, "There is no talk at Vārāṇasī other than discussions on the six philosophical theses. Nonetheless, Tapana Miśra has been very kind to me, for he speaks about topics relating to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.97|Madhya 17.97]]:''' "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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.98|Madhya 17.98]]:''' "My Lord, I have heard that You are going to Vṛndāvana. Please stay here at Vārāṇasī for some days and deliver us, for we are Your two servants."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.99|Madhya 17.99]]:''' Tapana Miśra then said, "My dear Lord, as long as You stay at Vārāṇasī, please do not accept any invitation other than mine."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.100|Madhya 17.100]]:''' Even though He had not made such a plan, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained for ten days at Vārāṇasī, being obligated by the requests of His two servants.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.101|Madhya 17.101]]:''' At Vārāṇasī there was a Maharashtriyan brāhmaṇa who used to come daily to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This brāhmaṇa was simply astonished to see the Lord's personal beauty and ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.102|Madhya 17.102]]:''' When the brāhmaṇas of Vārāṇasī would invite Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to lunch, the Lord would not accept their invitations. He would reply, "I have already been invited somewhere else."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.103|Madhya 17.103]]:''' Every day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu refused their invitations because He feared associating with Māyāvādī sannyāsīs.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.104|Madhya 17.104]]:''' There was a great Māyāvādī sannyāsī named Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, who used to teach Vedānta philosophy to a great assembly of followers.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.105|Madhya 17.105]]:''' A brāhmaṇa who saw the wonderful behavior of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī and described the Lord's characteristics.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.106|Madhya 17.106]]:''' The brāhmaṇa told Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, "There is a sannyāsī who has come from Jagannātha Purī, and I cannot describe His wonderful influence and glories.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.107|Madhya 17.107]]:''' "Everything is wonderful about that sannyāsī. He has a very well built and luxuriant body, and His complexion is like purified gold.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.108|Madhya 17.108]]:''' "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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.109|Madhya 17.109]]:''' "When one sees all these features, one takes Him to be Nārāyaṇa Himself. Whoever sees Him immediately begins to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.110|Madhya 17.110]]:''' "We have heard about the symptoms of a first-class devotee in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and all those symptoms are manifest in the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.111|Madhya 17.111]]:''' "His tongue is always chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, and from His eyes tears incessantly fall like the flowing Ganges.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.112|Madhya 17.112]]:''' "Sometimes He dances, laughs, sings and cries, and sometimes He roars like a lion.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.113|Madhya 17.113]]:''' "His name, Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, is all-auspicious for the world. Everything about Him — His name, form and qualities — is unparalleled.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.114|Madhya 17.114]]:''' "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?"

'''[[CC Madhya 17.115|Madhya 17.115]]:''' Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī laughed very much to hear this description. Joking and laughing at the brāhmaṇa, he began to speak as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.116|Madhya 17.116]]:''' Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī said, "Yes, I have heard about Him. He is a sannyāsī from Bengal, and He is very sentimental. I have also heard that He belongs to the Bhāratī-sampradāya, for He is a disciple of Keśava Bhāratī. However, He is only a pretender."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.117|Madhya 17.117]]:''' Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.118|Madhya 17.118]]:''' "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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.119|Madhya 17.119]]:''' "Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was a very learned scholar, but I have heard that he also has become a madman due to his association with this Caitanya.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.120|Madhya 17.120]]:''' "This Caitanya is a sannyāsī in name only. Actually He is a first-class magician. In any case, His sentimentalism cannot be very much in demand here in Kāśī.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.121|Madhya 17.121]]:''' "Do not go to see Caitanya. Just continue hearing Vedānta. If you associate with upstarts, you will be lost in this world and in the next."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.122|Madhya 17.122]]:''' When the brāhmaṇa heard Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī speak like this about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he became very much grief-stricken. Chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, he immediately left.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.123|Madhya 17.123]]:''' The mind of the brāhmaṇa was already purified by his seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He therefore went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and described what had taken place before the Māyāvādī sannyāsī Prakāśānanda.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.124|Madhya 17.124]]:''' Hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu mildly smiled. The brāhmaṇa then spoke again to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.125|Madhya 17.125]]:''' The brāhmaṇa said, "As soon as I uttered Your name before him, he immediately confirmed the fact that he knew Your name.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.126|Madhya 17.126]]:''' "While finding fault with You, he uttered Your name three times, saying 'Caitanya, Caitanya, Caitanya.'

'''[[CC Madhya 17.127|Madhya 17.127]]:''' "Although he spoke Your name three times, he did not utter the name 'Kṛṣṇa.' Because he uttered Your name in contempt, I was very much aggrieved.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.128|Madhya 17.128]]:''' "Why could Prakāśānanda not utter the names 'Kṛṣṇa' 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 'Kṛṣṇa' and 'Hari.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 17.129|Madhya 17.129]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "The Māyāvādī impersonalists are great offenders unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; therefore they simply utter the words 'Brahman,' 'ātmā' and 'caitanya.'

'''[[CC Madhya 17.130|Madhya 17.130]]:''' "Because they are offenders unto Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is identical with His holy name, the holy name 'Kṛṣṇa' does not manifest in their mouths.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.131|Madhya 17.131]]:''' "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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.132|Madhya 17.132]]:''' "There is no difference between Kṛṣṇa'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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.133|Madhya 17.133]]:''' "'The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Kṛṣṇa Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Kṛṣṇa'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 Kṛṣṇa Himself. Since Kṛṣṇa's name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with māyā. Kṛṣṇa's name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa Himself are identical.'

'''[[CC Madhya 17.134|Madhya 17.134]]:''' "The holy name of Kṛṣṇa, His body and His pastimes cannot be understood by the blunt material senses. They are manifested independently.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.135|Madhya 17.135]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa's holy name, transcendental qualities and transcendental pastimes are all equal to Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. They are all spiritual and full of bliss.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.136|Madhya 17.136]]:''' "'Therefore material senses cannot appreciate Kṛṣṇa's holy name, form, qualities and pastimes. When a conditioned soul is awakened to Kṛṣṇa 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 Kṛṣṇa really is.'

'''[[CC Madhya 17.137|Madhya 17.137]]:''' "The mellows of Lord Kṛṣṇa's pastimes, which are full of bliss, attract the jñānī from the pleasure of Brahman realization and conquer him.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.138|Madhya 17.138]]:''' "'Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the son of Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī. 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 Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He therefore mercifully spoke the supreme Purāṇa, known as Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is the bright light of the Absolute Truth and which describes the activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa.'

'''[[CC Madhya 17.139|Madhya 17.139]]:''' "The transcendental qualities of Śrī Kṛṣṇa are completely blissful and relishable. Consequently Lord Kṛṣṇa's qualities attract even the minds of self-realized persons from the bliss of self-realization.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.140|Madhya 17.140]]:''' "'Those who are self-satisfied and unattracted by external material desires are also attracted to the loving service of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, whose qualities are transcendental and whose activities are wonderful. Hari, the Personality of Godhead, is called Kṛṣṇa because He has such transcendentally attractive features.'

'''[[CC Madhya 17.141|Madhya 17.141]]:''' "Apart from the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa, when tulasī leaves are offered at the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, even the aroma of the leaves attracts the minds of self-realized persons.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.142|Madhya 17.142]]:''' "'When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasī 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 Kumāras], they experienced a change in both body and mind, even though they were attached to the impersonal Brahman understanding.'

'''[[CC Madhya 17.143|Madhya 17.143]]:''' "Because the Māyāvādīs are great offenders and atheistic philosophers, the holy name of Kṛṣṇa does not come from their mouths.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.144|Madhya 17.144]]:''' "I have come here to sell My emotional ecstatic sentiments in this city of Kāśī, but I cannot find any customers. If they are not sold, I must take them back home.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.145|Madhya 17.145]]:''' "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 Kāśī."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.146|Madhya 17.146]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted that brāhmaṇa as His devotee. The next morning, rising very early, the Lord started for Mathurā.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.147|Madhya 17.147]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu started for Mathurā, 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.148|Madhya 17.148]]:''' 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.149|Madhya 17.149]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then went to Prayāga, where He bathed at the confluence of the Ganges and the Yamunā. He then visited the temple of Veṇī Mādhava and chanted and danced there in ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.150|Madhya 17.150]]:''' As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the river Yamunā, He threw Himself into it. Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya hastily caught the Lord and very carefully raised Him up again.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.151|Madhya 17.151]]:''' The Lord stayed at Prayāga for three days. He delivered the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and ecstatic love. Thus He delivered many people.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.152|Madhya 17.152]]:''' Wherever the Lord stopped to rest on the way to Mathurā, He delivered the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa. Thus He made the people dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.153|Madhya 17.153]]:''' When the Lord toured South India, He delivered many people, and when He traveled in the western sector, He similarly converted many people to Vaiṣṇavism.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.154|Madhya 17.154]]:''' While the Lord was going to Mathurā, He came across the river Yamunā several times, and as soon as He saw the river Yamunā, He would immediately jump in, falling unconscious in the water in the ecstasy of love of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.155|Madhya 17.155]]:''' When He approached Mathurā and saw the city, He immediately fell to the ground and offered obeisances with great ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.156|Madhya 17.156]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu entered the city of Mathurā, He took His bath at Viśrāma-ghāṭa. He then visited the birthplace of Kṛṣṇa and saw the Deity named Keśavajī. He offered His respectful obeisances to this Deity.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.157|Madhya 17.157]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanted, danced and made loud vibrations, all the people were astonished to see His ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.158|Madhya 17.158]]:''' One brāhmaṇa fell at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and then began to dance with Him in ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.159|Madhya 17.159]]:''' The two of them danced in ecstatic love and embraced each other. Raising their arms, they said, "Chant the holy names of Hari and Kṛṣṇa!"

'''[[CC Madhya 17.160|Madhya 17.160]]:''' All the people then began to chant, "Hari! Hari!" and there was a great uproar. The priest in Lord Keśava's service offered Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu a garland.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.161|Madhya 17.161]]:''' When the people saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's dancing and chanting, they were struck with wonder, and they all said, "Such transcendental love is never an ordinary thing."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.162|Madhya 17.162]]:''' The people said, "Simply by seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, everyone is maddened with love of Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, everyone is laughing, crying, dancing, chanting and taking the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.163|Madhya 17.163]]:''' "Certainly Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is in all respects the incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Now He has come to Mathurā to deliver everyone."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.164|Madhya 17.164]]:''' After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took the brāhmaṇa aside. Sitting in a solitary place, the Lord began to question him.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.165|Madhya 17.165]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "You are an elderly brāhmaṇa, you are sincere, and you are advanced in spiritual life. Wherefrom have you gotten this transcendental opulence of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa?"

'''[[CC Madhya 17.166|Madhya 17.166]]:''' The brāhmaṇa replied, "His Holiness Śrīla Mādhavendra Purī came to the city of Mathurā while he was on tour.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.167|Madhya 17.167]]:''' "While at Mathurā, Śrīpāda Mādhavendra Purī visited my house and accepted me as a disciple. He even took lunch at my home.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.168|Madhya 17.168]]:''' "After installing the Deity of Gopāla, Śrīla Mādhavendra Purī rendered Him service. That very Deity is still being worshiped at Govardhana Hill."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.169|Madhya 17.169]]:''' As soon as Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard about Mādhavendra Purī's relationship with the brāhmaṇa, He immediately offered obeisances at his feet. Becoming fearful, the brāhmaṇa also immediately fell at the Lord's feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.170|Madhya 17.170]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.171|Madhya 17.171]]:''' Upon hearing this, the brāhmaṇa became afraid. He then said, "Why do You speak like this? You are a sannyāsī.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.172|Madhya 17.172]]:''' "Upon seeing Your ecstatic love, I can just imagine that You must have some relationship with Mādhavendra Purī. This is my understanding.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.173|Madhya 17.173]]:''' "This kind of ecstatic love can be experienced only when one has a relationship with Mādhavendra Purī. Without him, even a scent of such transcendental ecstatic love is impossible."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.174|Madhya 17.174]]:''' Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya then explained the relationship between Mādhavendra Purī and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. After hearing this, the brāhmaṇa became very pleased and began to dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.175|Madhya 17.175]]:''' The brāhmaṇa then took Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home and, out of his own free will, began to serve the Lord in various ways.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.176|Madhya 17.176]]:''' He asked Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya to cook Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's lunch. At that time the Lord, smiling, spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.177|Madhya 17.177]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Mādhavendra Purī has already taken lunch at your place. Therefore you may cook and give Me the food. That is My instruction."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.178|Madhya 17.178]]:''' "Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.179|Madhya 17.179]]:''' The brāhmaṇa belonged to the Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa community, and a sannyāsī does not accept food from such a brāhmaṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.180|Madhya 17.180]]:''' Although the brāhmaṇa belonged to the Sanoḍiyā community, Śrīla Mādhavendra Purī had seen that he behaved like a Vaiṣṇava and had therefore accepted him as his disciple. The food he had cooked had also been accepted by Mādhavendra Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.181|Madhya 17.181]]:''' Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu willingly requested food from the brāhmaṇa, and the brāhmaṇa, feeling natural humility, began to speak as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.182|Madhya 17.182]]:''' "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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.183|Madhya 17.183]]:''' "Foolish people will blaspheme You, but I shall not tolerate the words of such mischievous people."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.184|Madhya 17.184]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "The Vedas, Purāṇas and great learned sages are not always in agreement with one another. Consequently there are different religious principles.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.185|Madhya 17.185]]:''' "A devotee's behavior establishes the true purpose of religious principles. The behavior of Mādhavendra Purī Gosvāmī is the essence of such religious principles."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.186|Madhya 17.186]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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 śāstras confirm, one should accept whatever progressive path the mahājanas advocate.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 17.187|Madhya 17.187]]:''' After this discussion, the brāhmaṇa served lunch to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then all the people residing in Mathurā came to see the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.188|Madhya 17.188]]:''' People came by the hundreds of thousands, and no one could count them. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came out of the house to give audience to the people.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.189|Madhya 17.189]]:''' When the people assembled, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 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!"

'''[[CC Madhya 17.190|Madhya 17.190]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bathed in the twenty-four ghats along the banks of the Yamunā, and the brāhmaṇa showed Him all the places of pilgrimage.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.191|Madhya 17.191]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited all the holy places on the banks of the Yamunā, including Svayambhu, Viśrāma-ghāṭa, Dīrgha Viṣṇu, Bhūteśvara, Mahāvidyā and Gokarṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.192|Madhya 17.192]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to see the various forests of Vṛndāvana, He took the brāhmaṇa with Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.193|Madhya 17.193]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the different forests, including Madhuvana, Tālavana, Kumudavana and Bahulāvana. Wherever He went, He took His bath with great ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.194|Madhya 17.194]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed through Vṛndāvana, herds of grazing cows saw Him pass and, immediately surrounding Him, began to moo very loudly.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.195|Madhya 17.195]]:''' Seeing the herds approach Him, the Lord was stunned with ecstatic love. The cows then began to lick His body out of great affection.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.196|Madhya 17.196]]:''' Becoming pacified, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to caress the cows, and the cows, being unable to give up His company, went with Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.197|Madhya 17.197]]:''' 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.198|Madhya 17.198]]:''' 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.199|Madhya 17.199]]:''' 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.200|Madhya 17.200]]:''' Upon seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the trees and creepers of Vṛndāvana became jubilant. Their twigs stood up, and they began to shed tears of ecstasy in the form of honey.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.201|Madhya 17.201]]:''' 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.202|Madhya 17.202]]:''' Thus all the moving and nonmoving living entities of Vṛndāvana became very jubilant to see the Lord. It was as if friends were made happy by seeing another friend.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.203|Madhya 17.203]]:''' 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.204|Madhya 17.204]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to embrace each and every tree and creeper, and they began to offer their fruits and flowers as if in meditation.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.205|Madhya 17.205]]:''' The Lord's body was restless, and tears, trembling and jubilation were manifest. He said very loudly, "Chant 'Kṛṣṇa!' Chant 'Kṛṣṇa!'"

'''[[CC Madhya 17.206|Madhya 17.206]]:''' All moving and nonmoving creatures then began to vibrate the transcendental sound of Hare Kṛṣṇa, as if they were echoing the deep sound of Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.207|Madhya 17.207]]:''' 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.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.208|Madhya 17.208]]:''' When a male and female parrot appeared on the branches of a tree, the Lord saw them and wanted to hear them speak.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.209|Madhya 17.209]]:''' Both parrots flew onto the hand of the Lord and began to chant the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa, and the Lord listened to them.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.210|Madhya 17.210]]:''' The male parrot sang, "The glorification of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is beneficial to everyone in the universe. His beauty is victorious over the gopīs of Vṛndāvana, 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 Kṛṣṇa is attractive to everyone. Oh, may our Lord maintain the whole universe!"

'''[[CC Madhya 17.211|Madhya 17.211]]:''' After hearing this description of Lord Kṛṣṇa from the male parrot, the female parrot began to recite a description of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.212|Madhya 17.212]]:''' The female parrot said, "Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī'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 Kṛṣṇa, who attracts the mind of everyone in the universe."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.213|Madhya 17.213]]:''' Thereafter the male parrot said, "Kṛṣṇa is the enchanter of the mind of Cupid." He then began to recite another verse.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.214|Madhya 17.214]]:''' The male parrot then said, "My dear śārī [female parrot], Śrī Kṛṣṇa carries a flute and enchants the hearts of all women throughout the universe. He is specifically the enjoyer of the beautiful gopīs, and He is the enchanter of Cupid also. Let Him be glorified!"

'''[[CC Madhya 17.215|Madhya 17.215]]:''' Then the female parrot began to speak jokingly to the male parrot, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was struck with wonderful ecstatic love to hear her speak.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.216|Madhya 17.216]]:''' The female parrot said, "When Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is with Rādhārāṇī, 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."

'''[[CC Madhya 17.217|Madhya 17.217]]:''' Both parrots then flew onto a tree branch, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to watch the dancing of the peacocks with curiosity.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.218|Madhya 17.218]]:''' When the Lord saw the bluish necks of the peacocks, His remembrance of Kṛṣṇa immediately awakened, and He fell to the ground in ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.219|Madhya 17.219]]:''' When the brāhmaṇa saw that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was unconscious, he and Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya took care of Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.220|Madhya 17.220]]:''' They hastily sprinkled water over the Lord's body. Then they took up His outer cloth and began to fan Him with it.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.221|Madhya 17.221]]:''' They then began to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa into the Lord's ear. When the Lord regained consciousness, He began rolling on the ground.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.222|Madhya 17.222]]:''' When the Lord rolled on the ground, sharp thorns injured His body. Taking Him on his lap, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya pacified Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.223|Madhya 17.223]]:''' The mind of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wandered in ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa. He immediately stood up and said, "Chant! Chant!" Then He Himself began to dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.224|Madhya 17.224]]:''' Being thus ordered by the Lord, both Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya and the brāhmaṇa began to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Then the Lord, dancing and dancing, proceeded along the path.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.225|Madhya 17.225]]:''' The brāhmaṇa was astounded to see the symptoms of ecstatic love exhibited by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He then became anxious to give the Lord protection.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.226|Madhya 17.226]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mind was absorbed in ecstatic love at Jagannātha Purī, but when He passed along the road on the way to Vṛndāvana, that love increased a hundred times.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.227|Madhya 17.227]]:''' The Lord's ecstatic love increased a thousand times when He visited Mathurā, but it increased a hundred thousand times when He wandered in the forests of Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.228-229|Madhya 17.228-229]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was elsewhere, the very name of Vṛndāvana was sufficient to increase His ecstatic love. Now, when He was actually traveling in the Vṛndāvana forest, His mind was absorbed in great ecstatic love day and night. He ate and bathed simply out of habit.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.230|Madhya 17.230]]:''' 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 Vṛndāvana. To describe what He experienced everywhere would be impossible.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.231|Madhya 17.231]]:''' Lord Ananta writes millions of books elaborately describing the transformations of ecstatic love experienced by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.232|Madhya 17.232]]:''' Since Lord Ananta Himself cannot describe even a fragment of these pastimes, I am simply pointing out the direction.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.233|Madhya 17.233]]:''' The whole world became merged in the inundation of the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. One can swim in that water to the extent that he has the strength.

'''[[CC Madhya 17.234|Madhya 17.234]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 16|Madhya-līlā 16]] '''[[CC Madhya 16|Madhya-līlā 16]] - [[CC Madhya 18|Madhya-līlā 18]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 18|Madhya-līlā 18]]</div>

CC Madhya 16

2026-06-04T18:29:02Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 16 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 16|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 16: The Lord's Attempt to Go to Vṛndāvana'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 15|Madhya-līlā 15]] '''[[CC Madhya 15|Madhya-līlā 15]] - [[CC Madhya 17|Madhya-līlā 17]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 17|Madhya-līlā 17]]</div>

'''[[CC Madhya 16 Summary|Madhya 16 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 16.1|Madhya 16.1]]:''' By the nectar of His personal glance, the cloud known as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu poured water upon the garden of Gauḍa-deśa and revived the people, who were like creepers and plants burning in the forest fire of material existence.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.2|Madhya 16.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of the Lord!

'''[[CC Madhya 16.3|Madhya 16.3]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu decided to go to Vṛndāvana, and Mahārāja Pratāparudra became very morose upon hearing this news.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.4|Madhya 16.4]]:''' The King therefore called for Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Rāmānanda Rāya, and he spoke the following submissive words to them.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.5|Madhya 16.5]]:''' Pratāparudra Mahārāja said, "Please endeavor to keep Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu here at Jagannātha Purī, for now He is thinking of going elsewhere.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.6|Madhya 16.6]]:''' "Without Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, this kingdom is not pleasing to me. Therefore please try to devise some plan to enable the Lord to stay here."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.7|Madhya 16.7]]:''' After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself consulted Rāmānanda Rāya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, saying, "I shall go to Vṛndāvana."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.8|Madhya 16.8]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya requested the Lord to first observe the Ratha-yātrā festival. Then when the month of Kārttika arrived, He could go to Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.9|Madhya 16.9]]:''' However, when the month of Kārttika came, they both told the Lord, "Now it is very cold. It is better that You wait to see the Dola-yātrā festival and then go. That will be very nice."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.10|Madhya 16.10]]:''' In this way they both presented many impediments, indirectly not granting the Lord permission to go to Vṛndāvana. They did this because they were afraid of separation from Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.11|Madhya 16.11]]:''' Although the Lord is completely independent and no one can check Him, He still did not go without the permission of His devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.12|Madhya 16.12]]:''' Then, for the third year, all the devotees of Bengal wanted to return again to Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.13|Madhya 16.13]]:''' All the Bengali devotees gathered around Advaita Ācārya, and in great jubilation the Ācārya departed for Jagannātha Purī to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.14-15|Madhya 16.14-15]]:''' Although the Lord told Nityānanda Prabhu to stay in Bengal and spread ecstatic love of God, Nityānanda left to go see Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Who can understand Nityānanda Prabhu's ecstatic love?

'''[[CC Madhya 16.16-17|Madhya 16.16-17]]:''' All the devotees of Navadvīpa departed, including Ācāryaratna, Vidyānidhi, Śrīvāsa, Rāmāi, Vāsudeva, Murāri, Govinda and his two brothers and Rāghava Paṇḍita, who took bags of assorted foods. The inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma, carrying silken ropes, also departed.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.18|Madhya 16.18]]:''' Narahari and Śrī Raghunandana, who were from the village of Khaṇḍa, and many other devotees also departed. Who can count them?

'''[[CC Madhya 16.19|Madhya 16.19]]:''' Śivānanda Sena, who was in charge of the party, made arrangements to clear the tax collecting centers. He took care of all the devotees and happily traveled with them.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.20|Madhya 16.20]]:''' Śivānanda Sena took care of all the necessities the devotees required. In particular, he made arrangements for residential quarters, and he knew the roads of Orissa.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.21|Madhya 16.21]]:''' That year all the devotees' wives [ṭhākurāṇīs] also went to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Sītādevī, the mother of Acyutānanda, went with Advaita Ācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.22|Madhya 16.22]]:''' Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita also took his wife, Mālinī, and the wife of Śivānanda Sena also went with her husband.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.23|Madhya 16.23]]:''' Caitanya dāsa, the son of Śivānanda Sena, also jubilantly accompanied them as they went to see the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.24|Madhya 16.24]]:''' The wife of Candraśekhara [Ācāryaratna] also went. I cannot describe the greatness of Candraśekhara's love for the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.25|Madhya 16.25]]:''' To offer Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu various types of food, all the wives of the great devotees brought from home various dishes that pleased Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.26|Madhya 16.26]]:''' As stated, Śivānanda Sena made all arrangements for the party's necessities. In particular, he pacified the men in charge of levying taxes and found resting places for everyone.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.27|Madhya 16.27]]:''' Śivānanda Sena also supplied food to all the devotees and took care of them along the way. In this way, feeling great happiness, he went to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.28|Madhya 16.28]]:''' When they all arrived at Remuṇā, they went to see Lord Gopīnātha. In the temple there, Advaita Ācārya danced and chanted.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.29|Madhya 16.29]]:''' All the priests of the temple had been previously acquainted with Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu; therefore they all came to offer great respects to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.30|Madhya 16.30]]:''' That night, all the great devotees remained in the temple, and the priests brought twelve pots of condensed milk, which they placed before Lord Nityānanda Prabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.31|Madhya 16.31]]:''' When the condensed milk was placed before Nityānanda Prabhu, He distributed the prasādam to everyone, and thus everyone's transcendental bliss increased.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.32|Madhya 16.32]]:''' They then all discussed the story of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī's installation of the Gopāla Deity, and they discussed how Gopāla begged sandalwood from him.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.33|Madhya 16.33]]:''' It was Gopīnātha who stole condensed milk for the sake of Mādhavendra Purī. This incident had been previously related by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.34|Madhya 16.34]]:''' This same narration was again related by Lord Nityānanda to all the devotees, and their transcendental bliss increased as they heard the story again.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.35|Madhya 16.35]]:''' Walking and walking in this way, the devotees arrived at the city of Kaṭaka, where they remained for a day and saw the temple of Sākṣi-gopāla.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.36|Madhya 16.36]]:''' When Nityānanda Prabhu described all the activities of Sākṣi-gopāla, transcendental bliss increased in the minds of all the Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.37|Madhya 16.37]]:''' Everyone in the party was very anxious at heart to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu; therefore they hastily went on to Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.38|Madhya 16.38]]:''' When they all arrived at a bridge called Āṭhāranālā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, hearing the news of their arrival, sent two garlands with Govinda.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.39|Madhya 16.39]]:''' Govinda offered the two garlands to Advaita Ācārya and Nityānanda Prabhu, and They both became very happy.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.40|Madhya 16.40]]:''' Indeed, They began chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa on that very spot, and in this way, dancing and dancing, Advaita Ācārya and Nityānanda Prabhu reached Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.41|Madhya 16.41]]:''' Then, for the second time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sent garlands through Svarūpa Dāmodara and other personal associates. Thus they went forward, sent by the son of mother Śacī.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.42|Madhya 16.42]]:''' When the devotees from Bengal reached Lake Narendra, Svarūpa Dāmodara and the others met them and offered them the garlands given by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.43|Madhya 16.43]]:''' When the devotees finally reached the lion gate, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard the news and personally went to meet them.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.44|Madhya 16.44]]:''' Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and all His devotees visited Lord Jagannātha. Finally, accompanied by them all, He returned to His own residence.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.45|Madhya 16.45]]:''' Vāṇīnātha Rāya and Kāśī Miśra then brought a large quantity of prasādam, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu distributed it with His own hand and fed them all.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.46|Madhya 16.46]]:''' In the previous year, everyone had his own particular residence, and the same residences were again offered. Thus they all went to take rest.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.47|Madhya 16.47]]:''' For four continuous months all the devotees remained there and enjoyed chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.48|Madhya 16.48]]:''' As in the previous year, they all washed the Guṇḍicā temple when the time for Ratha-yātrā arrived.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.49|Madhya 16.49]]:''' The inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma delivered silken ropes to Lord Jagannātha, and, as previously, they all danced before the Lord's car.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.50|Madhya 16.50]]:''' After dancing a great deal, they all went to a nearby garden and took rest beside a lake.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.51|Madhya 16.51]]:''' A brāhmaṇa named Kṛṣṇadāsa, who was a resident of Rāḍha-deśa and a servant of Lord Nityānanda's, was a very fortunate person.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.52|Madhya 16.52]]:''' It was Kṛṣṇadāsa who filled a great waterpot and poured it over the Lord while He was taking His bath. The Lord was greatly satisfied by this.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.53|Madhya 16.53]]:''' The remnants of food offered to the Lord at Balagaṇḍi then arrived in great quantity, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and all His devotees ate it.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.54|Madhya 16.54]]:''' As in the previous year, the Lord, with all the devotees, saw the Ratha-yātrā festival and the Herā-pañcamī festival as well.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.55|Madhya 16.55]]:''' Advaita Ācārya then extended an invitation to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and there was a great rainstorm connected with that incident.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.56|Madhya 16.56]]:''' All these episodes have been elaborately described by Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura. Then one day Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura extended an invitation to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.57|Madhya 16.57]]:''' The Lord's favorite vegetables were cooked by Mālinīdevī, the wife of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura. She devotedly considered herself a maidservant of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, but in affection she was just like a mother.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.58|Madhya 16.58]]:''' All the chief devotees, headed by Candraśekhara [Ācāryaratna], used to extend invitations to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu periodically.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.59|Madhya 16.59]]:''' At the end of the four-month Cāturmāsya period, Caitanya Mahāprabhu again consulted with Nityānanda Prabhu daily in a solitary place. No one could understand what Their consultation was about.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.60|Madhya 16.60]]:''' Then Śrīla Advaita Ācārya said something to Caitanya Mahāprabhu through gestures and read some poetic passages, which no one understood.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.61|Madhya 16.61]]:''' Seeing the face of Advaita Ācārya, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu smiled. Understanding that the Lord had accepted the proposal, Advaita Ācārya started to dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.62|Madhya 16.62]]:''' No one knew what Advaita Ācārya requested or what the Lord ordered. After embracing the Ācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade Him farewell.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.63|Madhya 16.63]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told Nityānanda Prabhu, "Please hear Me, O holy man: I now request something of You. Kindly grant My request.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.64|Madhya 16.64]]:''' "Do not come to Jagannātha Purī every year, but stay in Bengal and fulfill My desire."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.65|Madhya 16.65]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "You can perform a task that even I cannot do. But for You, I cannot find anyone in Gauḍa-deśa who can fulfill My mission there."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.66|Madhya 16.66]]:''' Nityānanda Prabhu replied, "O Lord, You are the life, and I am the body. There is no difference between the body and life itself, but life is more important than the body.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.67|Madhya 16.67]]:''' "By Your inconceivable energy, You can do whatever You like, and whatever You make Me do, I do without restriction."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.68|Madhya 16.68]]:''' In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Nityānanda Prabhu and bade Him farewell. He then bade farewell to all the other devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.69|Madhya 16.69]]:''' As in the previous year, one of the inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma submitted a petition to the Lord, saying, "My Lord, kindly tell me what my duty is and how I should execute it."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.70|Madhya 16.70]]:''' The Lord replied, "You should engage yourself in the service of the servants of Kṛṣṇa and always chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. If you do these two things, you will very soon attain shelter at Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.71|Madhya 16.71]]:''' The inhabitant of Kulīna-grāma said, "Please let me know who is actually a Vaiṣṇava and what his symptoms are." Understanding his mind, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu smiled and gave the following reply.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.72|Madhya 16.72]]:''' "A person who is always chanting the holy name of the Lord is to be considered a first-class Vaiṣṇava, and your duty is to serve his lotus feet."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.73|Madhya 16.73]]:''' The following year, the inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma again asked the Lord the same question. Hearing this question, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again taught them about the different types of Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.74|Madhya 16.74]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "A first-class Vaiṣṇava is he whose very presence makes others chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.75|Madhya 16.75]]:''' In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught the distinctions between different types of Vaiṣṇavas — the Vaiṣṇava, Vaiṣṇavatara and Vaiṣṇavatama. He thus successively explained all the symptoms of a Vaiṣṇava to the inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.76|Madhya 16.76]]:''' Finally all the Vaiṣṇavas returned to Bengal, but that year Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi remained at Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.77|Madhya 16.77]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi had a friendly, intimate relationship, and as far as discussing topics about Kṛṣṇa, they were situated on the same platform.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.78|Madhya 16.78]]:''' Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi initiated Gadādhara Paṇḍita for the second time, and on the day of Oḍana-ṣaṣṭhī Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi saw the festival.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.79|Madhya 16.79]]:''' When Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi saw that Lord Jagannātha was given a starched garment, he became a little hateful. In this way his mind was polluted.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.80|Madhya 16.80]]:''' That night the brothers Lord Jagannātha and Balarāma came to Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi and, smiling, began to slap him.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.81|Madhya 16.81]]:''' Although his cheeks were swollen from the slapping, Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi was very happy within. This incident has been elaborately described by Ṭhākura Vṛndāvana dāsa.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.82|Madhya 16.82]]:''' Every year the devotees of Bengal would come and stay with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to see the Ratha-yātrā festival.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.83|Madhya 16.83]]:''' Whatever happened during those years that is worth noting shall be described later.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.84|Madhya 16.84]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed four years. He spent the first two years on His tour in South India.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.85|Madhya 16.85]]:''' The other two years, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to go to Vṛndāvana, but He could not leave Jagannātha Purī because of Rāmānanda Rāya's tricks.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.86|Madhya 16.86]]:''' During the fifth year, the devotees from Bengal came to see the Ratha-yātrā festival. After seeing it, they did not stay but returned to Bengal.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.87|Madhya 16.87]]:''' Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu placed a proposal before Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Rāmānanda Rāya. He embraced them and spoke sweet words.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.88|Madhya 16.88]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "My desire to go to Vṛndāvana has very much increased. Because of your tricks, I have not been able to go there for the past two years.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.89|Madhya 16.89]]:''' "This time I must go. Will you please give Me permission? Save for you two, I have no other resort.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.90|Madhya 16.90]]:''' "In Bengal I have two shelters — My mother and the river Ganges. Both of them are very merciful.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.91|Madhya 16.91]]:''' "I shall go to Vṛndāvana through Bengal and see both My mother and the river Ganges. Now would you two be pleased to give Me permission?"

'''[[CC Madhya 16.92|Madhya 16.92]]:''' When Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Rāmānanda Rāya heard these words, they began to consider that it was not at all good that they had played so many tricks on the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.93|Madhya 16.93]]:''' They both said, "Now that the rainy season is here, it will be difficult for You to travel. It is better to wait for Vijayā-daśamī before departing for Vṛndāvana."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.94|Madhya 16.94]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased to thus receive their permission. He waited until the rainy season passed, and when the day of Vijayā-daśamī arrived, He departed for Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.95|Madhya 16.95]]:''' The Lord collected whatever remnants of food were left by Lord Jagannātha. He also took remnants of the Lord's kaḍāra ointment, sandalwood and ropes with Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.96|Madhya 16.96]]:''' After taking Lord Jagannātha's permission early in the morning, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu departed, and all the devotees of Orissa began following Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.97|Madhya 16.97]]:''' With great care Caitanya Mahāprabhu forbade the Orissan devotees to follow Him. Then, accompanied by His personal associates, He first went to Bhavānīpura.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.98|Madhya 16.98]]:''' After Lord Caitanya reached Bhavānīpura, Rāmānanda Rāya arrived on his palanquin, and Vāṇīnātha Rāya had a large quantity of prasādam sent to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.99|Madhya 16.99]]:''' After taking prasādam, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained there for the night. Early in the morning He began walking, and finally He reached Bhuvaneśvara.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.100|Madhya 16.100]]:''' After reaching the city of Kaṭaka, He saw the temple of Gopāla, and a brāhmaṇa there named Svapneśvara invited the Lord to eat.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.101|Madhya 16.101]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya invited all the others for their meals, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu made His resting place in a garden outside the temple.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.102|Madhya 16.102]]:''' While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was taking rest beneath a bakula tree, Rāmānanda Rāya immediately went to Mahārāja Pratāparudra.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.103|Madhya 16.103]]:''' The King was very happy to hear the news, and he hastily went there. Upon seeing the Lord, he fell flat to offer Him obeisances.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.104|Madhya 16.104]]:''' Being overwhelmed with love, the King again and again got up and fell down. When he offered prayers, his whole body shivered, and tears fell from his eyes.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.105|Madhya 16.105]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased to see the devotion of the King, and He therefore stood up and embraced him.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.106|Madhya 16.106]]:''' When the Lord embraced the King, the King again and again offered prayers and obeisances. In this way, the Lord's mercy brought tears from the King, and the Lord's body was bathed with these tears.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.107|Madhya 16.107]]:''' Finally Rāmānanda Rāya pacified the King and made him sit down. The Lord bestowed mercy upon him through His body, mind and words.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.108|Madhya 16.108]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu showed such mercy to the King that from that day on the Lord became known as Pratāparudra-santrātā, the deliverer of Mahārāja Pratāparudra.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.109|Madhya 16.109]]:''' All the governmental officers also paid their respects to the Lord, and finally the King and his men were bade farewell by the son of mother Śacī.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.110|Madhya 16.110]]:''' The King then went outside and had orders written down and sent to the government servants within his kingdom.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.111|Madhya 16.111]]:''' His orders read: "In every village you should construct new residences, and in five or seven new houses you should store all kinds of food.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.112|Madhya 16.112]]:''' "You should personally take the Lord to these newly constructed houses. Day and night you should engage in His service with a stick in your hands."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.113|Madhya 16.113]]:''' The King ordered two respectable officers named Haricandana and Mardarāja to do whatever was necessary to carry out these orders.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.114-115|Madhya 16.114-115]]:''' The King also ordered them to maintain a new boat on the banks of the river, and wherever Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took His bath or crossed to the other side of the river, they should establish a memorial column and make that place a great place of pilgrimage. "Indeed," said the King, "I will take my bath there. And let me also die there."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.116|Madhya 16.116]]:''' The King continued, "At Caturdvāra, please construct new residential quarters. Now, Rāmānanda, you can return to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.117|Madhya 16.117]]:''' When the King heard that the Lord was leaving that evening, he immediately made arrangements for some elephants with small tents on their backs to be brought there. Then all the ladies of the palace got on the elephants.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.118|Madhya 16.118]]:''' All these ladies went to the road the Lord was taking and remained there in a line. That evening, the Lord departed with His devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.119|Madhya 16.119]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the bank of the river Citrotpalā to take His bath, all the queens and ladies of the palace offered their obeisances to Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.120|Madhya 16.120]]:''' Upon seeing the Lord, they all felt themselves overwhelmed with love of Godhead, and, tears pouring from their eyes, they began to chant the holy name, "Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!"

'''[[CC Madhya 16.121|Madhya 16.121]]:''' There is no one as merciful as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu within all three worlds. Simply by seeing Him from a distance, one is overwhelmed with love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.122|Madhya 16.122]]:''' The Lord then got into a new boat and crossed the river. Walking in the full moonlight, He finally reached the town known as Caturdvāra.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.123|Madhya 16.123]]:''' The Lord spent the night there and in the morning took His bath. At that time, remnants of Lord Jagannātha's food arrived.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.124|Madhya 16.124]]:''' Following the King's orders, the superintendent of the temple sent large quantities of prasādam every day, and it was carried by many persons.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.125|Madhya 16.125]]:''' After accepting the prasādam, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stood up and started to go, chanting the holy names, "Hari! Hari!"

'''[[CC Madhya 16.126|Madhya 16.126]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya, Mardarāja and Śrī Haricandana always went with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and rendered various services.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.127-129|Madhya 16.127-129]]:''' Paramānanda Purī Gosvāmī, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Jagadānanda, Mukunda, Govinda, Kāśīśvara, Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, Gopīnātha Ācārya, Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Rāmāi, Nandāi and many other devotees accompanied the Lord. I have mentioned only the chief devotees. No one can describe the total number.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.130|Madhya 16.130]]:''' When Gadādhara Paṇḍita started to go with the Lord, he was forbidden to come and was asked not to give up the vow of kṣetra-sannyāsa.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.131|Madhya 16.131]]:''' When he was requested to return to Jagannātha Purī, Gadādhara Paṇḍita told the Lord, "Wherever You are staying is Jagannātha Purī. Let my so-called kṣetra-sannyāsa go to hell."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.132|Madhya 16.132]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked Gadādhara Paṇḍita to remain at Jagannātha Purī and engage in Gopīnātha's service, Gadādhara Paṇḍita replied, "One renders service to Gopīnātha a million times simply by seeing Your lotus feet."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.133|Madhya 16.133]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, "If you abandon His service, it will be My fault. It is better that you remain here and render service. That will be My satisfaction."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.134|Madhya 16.134]]:''' The Paṇḍita replied, "Do not worry. All the faults will be on my head. I shall not accompany You but shall go alone.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.135|Madhya 16.135]]:''' "I shall go to see Śacīmātā, but I shall not go for Your sake. I shall be responsible for the abandoning of my vow and service to Gopīnātha."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.136|Madhya 16.136]]:''' Thus Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosvāmī traveled alone, but when they all arrived at Kaṭaka, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called him, and he went into the Lord's company.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.137|Madhya 16.137]]:''' No one can understand the loving intimacy between Gadādhara Paṇḍita and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Gadādhara Paṇḍita gave up his vow and service to Gopīnātha just as one gives up a piece of straw.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.138|Madhya 16.138]]:''' Gadādhara Paṇḍita's behavior was very pleasing to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's heart. Nevertheless, the Lord took his hand and spoke to him, displaying the anger of love.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.139|Madhya 16.139]]:''' "You have abandoned Gopīnātha's service and broken your vow to live in Purī. All that is now complete because you have come so far.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.140|Madhya 16.140]]:''' "Your wanting to go with Me is simply a desire for sense gratification. In this way, you are breaking two religious principles, and because of this I am very unhappy.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.141|Madhya 16.141]]:''' "If you want My happiness, please return to Nīlācala. You will simply condemn Me if you say any more about this matter."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.142|Madhya 16.142]]:''' Saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu got into a boat, and Gadādhara Paṇḍita immediately fell down unconscious.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.143|Madhya 16.143]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya to take Gadādhara Paṇḍita with him. The Bhaṭṭācārya told Gadādhara Paṇḍita, "Get up! Such are the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.144|Madhya 16.144]]:''' "You should know that Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself violated His own promise just to keep the promise of Grandfather Bhīṣma.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.145|Madhya 16.145]]:''' "'Intending to make my promise true, Lord Kṛṣṇa broke His own promise not to take up a weapon at Kurukṣetra. With His outer garment falling off, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa jumped from His chariot, picked up a wheel and came running at me to kill me. Indeed, He rushed at me like a lion going to kill an elephant, and He caused the whole earth to tremble.'

'''[[CC Madhya 16.146|Madhya 16.146]]:''' "Similarly, tolerating separation from you, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has protected your vow with great endeavor."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.147|Madhya 16.147]]:''' In this way Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya revived Gadādhara Paṇḍita. Then both of them, very much grief-stricken, returned to Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.148|Madhya 16.148]]:''' All the devotees would abandon all kinds of duties for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's sake, yet the Lord did not like the devotees' giving up their promised duties.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.149|Madhya 16.149]]:''' All these are the misgivings of loving affairs. Whoever listens to these incidents gets the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's lotus feet very soon.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.150|Madhya 16.150]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His party arrived at Yājapura, the Lord asked the two government officers who had come with Him to return.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.151|Madhya 16.151]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade farewell to the officers, and Rāya Rāmānanda continued on with the Lord. The Lord talked to Rāmānanda Rāya about Śrī Kṛṣṇa day and night.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.152|Madhya 16.152]]:''' In each and every village, in compliance with the King's order, government officers constructed new houses and filled each of them with stocks of grain. Thus they served the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.153|Madhya 16.153]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu finally arrived at Remuṇā, where He bade farewell to Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.154|Madhya 16.154]]:''' When Rāmānanda Rāya fell to the ground and lost consciousness, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took him upon His lap and began to cry.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.155|Madhya 16.155]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu's feelings of separation from Rāmānanda Rāya are very difficult to describe. Indeed, it is almost intolerable to do so, and therefore I cannot describe them further.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.156|Madhya 16.156]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu finally arrived at the border of the state of Orissa, a government officer came there to meet Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.157|Madhya 16.157]]:''' For two or four days, the government officer served the Lord. He also gave the Lord detailed information of what was ahead.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.158|Madhya 16.158]]:''' He informed the Lord that the territory ahead was ruled by a Muslim governor who was a drunkard. Out of fear of this king, no one could walk the road freely.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.159|Madhya 16.159]]:''' The jurisdiction of the Muslim government extended up to Pichaladā. Due to fear of the Muslims, no one would cross the river.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.160|Madhya 16.160]]:''' Mahārāja Pratāparudra's government officer further informed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that He should stay at the Orissa border for some days so that a peaceful agreement could be negotiated with the Muslim governor. In that way, the Lord would be able to cross the river peacefully in a boat.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.161|Madhya 16.161]]:''' At that time, a follower of the Muslim governor arrived at the Orissa encampment dressed in disguise.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.162-163|Madhya 16.162-163]]:''' The Muslim spy saw the wonderful characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and when he returned to the Muslim governor, he told him, "A mendicant has come from Jagannātha Purī with many liberated persons.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.164|Madhya 16.164]]:''' "All these saintly people incessantly chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, and they all laugh, dance, chant and cry.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.165|Madhya 16.165]]:''' "Many millions upon millions of people come to see Him, and after they see Him, they cannot return home.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.166|Madhya 16.166]]:''' "All these people become like madmen. They simply chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and dance. Sometimes they even cry and roll on the ground.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.167|Madhya 16.167]]:''' "Actually these things cannot even be described. One can understand them only by seeing. Considering His influence, I accept Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.168|Madhya 16.168]]:''' After saying this, the messenger began to chant the holy names of Hari and Kṛṣṇa. He also began to laugh and cry, dance and sing exactly like a madman.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.169|Madhya 16.169]]:''' When the Muslim governor heard this, his mind changed. He then sent his secretary to the representative of the Orissan government.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.170|Madhya 16.170]]:''' The Muslim secretary came to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. When he offered his respects to the Lord's lotus feet and uttered the holy name of the Lord, "Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa," he also was overwhelmed with ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.171|Madhya 16.171]]:''' After calming down, the Muslim secretary offered his respects and informed the representative of the Orissan government, "The Muslim governor has sent me here.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.172|Madhya 16.172]]:''' "If you agree, the Muslim governor will come here to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and then return.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.173|Madhya 16.173]]:''' "The Muslim governor is very eager, and he has submitted this petition with great respect. It is a proposal for peace. You need not fear that we will fight."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.174|Madhya 16.174]]:''' Upon hearing this proposal, the representative of the Orissan government, the mahā-pātra, was very much astonished. He thought, "The Muslim governor is a drunkard. Who has changed his mind?

'''[[CC Madhya 16.175|Madhya 16.175]]:''' "It must be Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself who has changed the Muslim's mind. Due to His presence and even due to His remembrance, the whole world is liberated."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.176|Madhya 16.176]]:''' After thinking this, the mahā-pātra immediately informed the Muslim secretary, "It is a great fortune for your governor. Let him come visit Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.177|Madhya 16.177]]:''' "However, let me make it understood that he should come here without weapons. He may bring with him five or seven servants."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.178|Madhya 16.178]]:''' The secretary returned to the Muslim governor and informed him of this news. Dressing himself like a Hindu, the Muslim governor then came to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.179|Madhya 16.179]]:''' Upon seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu from a distant place, the Muslim governor fell to the ground and offered obeisances. Tears came to his eyes, and he was jubilant with ecstatic emotions.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.180|Madhya 16.180]]:''' Arriving in that way, the Muslim governor was respectfully brought before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by the mahā-pātra. The governor then stood before the Lord with folded hands, and he chanted the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.181|Madhya 16.181]]:''' The governor then submissively asked, "Why was I born in a Muslim family? This is considered a low birth. Why didn't supreme Providence grant me a birth in a Hindu family?

'''[[CC Madhya 16.182|Madhya 16.182]]:''' "If I had taken birth in a Hindu family, it would have been easy for me to remain near Your lotus feet. Since my body is now useless, let me die immediately."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.183|Madhya 16.183]]:''' Upon hearing the governor's submissive statement, the mahā-pātra was overwhelmed with joy. He clasped the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and began to offer the following prayers.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.184|Madhya 16.184]]:''' "Simply by hearing Your holy name, a caṇḍāla, the lowest of men, can be purified. Now this conditioned soul has received Your personal interview.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.185|Madhya 16.185]]:''' "It is no wonder that this Muslim governor has attained such results. Simply by seeing You, all this is possible.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.186|Madhya 16.186]]:''' "'To say nothing of the spiritual advancement of persons who see the Supreme Person face to face, even a person born in a family of dog-eaters becomes immediately eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices if he once utters the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or chants about Him, hears about His pastimes, offers Him obeisances or even remembers Him.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 16.187|Madhya 16.187]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then glanced with mercy at the Muslim governor. Giving him assurance, He asked him to chant the holy names "Kṛṣṇa" and "Hari."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.188|Madhya 16.188]]:''' The Muslim governor then said, "Since You have so kindly accepted me, please give me some order so that I can render You some service."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.189|Madhya 16.189]]:''' The Muslim governor then prayed for liberation from the unlimited sinful reactions he had previously incurred by being envious of brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas and killing cows.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.190|Madhya 16.190]]:''' Mukunda Datta then told the Muslim governor, "My dear sir, please hear. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wishes to go to the bank of the Ganges.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.191|Madhya 16.191]]:''' "Please give Him all assistance so that He can go there. This is your first great order, and if you can comply, you will render a great service."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.192|Madhya 16.192]]:''' After this, the Muslim governor offered prayers to the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, as well as to the lotus feet of all His devotees. After that, the governor departed. Indeed, he was very pleased.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.193|Madhya 16.193]]:''' Before the governor left, the mahā-pātra embraced him and offered him many gifts. He thus established a friendship with him.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.194|Madhya 16.194]]:''' The next morning the governor sent his secretary with many nicely decorated boats to bring Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to the other side of the river.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.195|Madhya 16.195]]:''' The mahā-pātra crossed the river with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and when they reached the other shore, the Muslim governor personally received the Lord and worshiped His lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.196|Madhya 16.196]]:''' One of the boats had been newly constructed, and it had a room in the middle. It was on this boat that they put Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.197|Madhya 16.197]]:''' Finally Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade farewell to the mahā-pātra. Standing on the riverbank and looking at the boat, the mahā-pātra began to cry.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.198|Madhya 16.198]]:''' The Muslim governor then personally accompanied Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Because of pirates, the governor took ten boats full of many soldiers.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.199|Madhya 16.199]]:''' The Muslim governor accompanied Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu past Mantreśvara. This place was very dangerous due to pirates. He took the Lord to a place named Pichaldā, which was near Mantreśvara.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.200|Madhya 16.200]]:''' Finally Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade the governor farewell. The intense ecstatic love exhibited by the governor cannot be described.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.201|Madhya 16.201]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's pastimes are all uncommon. Whoever listens to His activities becomes glorious, and his life becomes perfect.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.202|Madhya 16.202]]:''' The Lord finally reached Pānihāṭi, and as an act of mercy He gave the captain of the boat one of His personal garments.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.203|Madhya 16.203]]:''' The place called Pānihāṭi was located on the bank of the Ganges. After hearing that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had arrived, all kinds of men assembled both on land and on the water.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.204|Madhya 16.204]]:''' At length Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was taken away by Rāghava Paṇḍita. There was a great crowd assembled along the way, and the Lord reached Rāghava Paṇḍita's residence with great difficulty.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.205|Madhya 16.205]]:''' The Lord stayed at Rāghava Paṇḍita's place for only one day. The next morning, He went to Kumārahaṭṭa, where Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura lived.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.206|Madhya 16.206]]:''' From the house of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, the Lord went to the house of Śivānanda Sena and then to the house of Vāsudeva Datta.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.207|Madhya 16.207]]:''' The Lord remained some time at the house of Vidyā-vācaspati, but then, because it was too crowded, He went to Kuliyā.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.208|Madhya 16.208]]:''' When the Lord stayed at the house of Mādhava dāsa, many hundreds of thousands of people came to see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.209|Madhya 16.209]]:''' The Lord stayed there for seven days and delivered all kinds of offenders and sinners.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.210|Madhya 16.210]]:''' After leaving Kuliyā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the house of Advaita Ācārya at Śāntipura. It was there that the Lord's mother, Śacīmātā, met Him and was thus relieved of her great unhappiness.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.211|Madhya 16.211]]:''' The Lord then visited the village known as Rāmakeli and the place known as Kānāi Nāṭaśālā. From there He returned to Śāntipura.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.212|Madhya 16.212]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed in Śāntipura for ten days. This has all been described very elaborately by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.213|Madhya 16.213]]:''' I will not narrate these incidents because they have already been described by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura. There is no need to repeat the same information, for such repetition would unlimitedly increase the size of this book.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.214-215|Madhya 16.214-215]]:''' Those narrations tell how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu met the brothers Rūpa and Sanātana and how Nṛsiḿhānanda decorated the road. I have already described these in an earlier synopsis of this book; therefore I will not repeat the narrations here.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.216|Madhya 16.216]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to Śāntipura, Raghunātha dāsa came to meet Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.217|Madhya 16.217]]:''' Two brothers named Hiraṇya and Govardhana, who were residents of Saptagrāma, had an annual income of 1,200,000 rupees.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.218|Madhya 16.218]]:''' Both Hiraṇya Majumadāra and Govardhana Majumadāra were very opulent and magnanimous. They were well behaved and devoted to brahminical culture. They belonged to an aristocratic family, and among religionists they were predominant.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.219|Madhya 16.219]]:''' Practically all the brāhmaṇas residing in Nadia were dependent on the charity of Hiraṇya and Govardhana, who gave them money, land and villages.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.220|Madhya 16.220]]:''' Nīlāmbara Cakravartī, the grandfather of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, was much worshiped by the two brothers, but Nīlāmbara Cakravartī used to treat them as his own brothers.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.221|Madhya 16.221]]:''' Formerly, these two brothers had rendered much service to Miśra Purandara, the father of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Because of this, the Lord knew them very well.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.222|Madhya 16.222]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa was the son of Govardhana Majumadāra. From childhood, he was uninterested in material enjoyment.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.223|Madhya 16.223]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to Śāntipura after accepting the renounced order, Raghunātha dāsa met Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.224|Madhya 16.224]]:''' When Raghunātha dāsa went to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he fell at the Lord's lotus feet in ecstatic love. Showing him mercy, the Lord touched him with His feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.225|Madhya 16.225]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa's father, Govardhana, always rendered much service to Advaita Ācārya. Consequently Advaita Ācārya was very pleased with the family.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.226|Madhya 16.226]]:''' When Raghunātha dāsa was there, Advaita Ācārya favored him by giving him the food remnants left by the Lord. Raghunātha dāsa was thus engaged for five or seven days in rendering service to the Lord's lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.227|Madhya 16.227]]:''' After bidding farewell to Raghunātha dāsa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to Jagannātha Purī. After returning home, Raghunātha dāsa became mad with ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.228|Madhya 16.228]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa used to run away from home again and again to go to Jagannātha Purī, but his father kept binding him and bringing him back.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.229|Madhya 16.229]]:''' His father even had five watchmen guard him day and night. Four personal servants were employed to look after his comfort, and two brāhmaṇas were employed to cook for him.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.230|Madhya 16.230]]:''' In this way, eleven people were incessantly keeping Raghunātha dāsa under control. Thus he could not go to Jagannātha Purī, and because of this he was very unhappy.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.231|Madhya 16.231]]:''' When Raghunātha dāsa learned that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had arrived at Śāntipura, he submitted a request to his father.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.232|Madhya 16.232]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa asked his father, "Please give me permission to go see the lotus feet of the Lord. If you do not, my life will not remain within this body."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.233|Madhya 16.233]]:''' Hearing this request, Raghunātha dāsa's father agreed. Giving him many servants and materials, the father sent him to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, requesting him to return soon.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.234|Madhya 16.234]]:''' For seven days Raghunātha dāsa associated with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in Śāntipura. During those days and nights, he had the following thoughts.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.235|Madhya 16.235]]:''' Raghunātha dāsa thought, "How shall I be able to get free from the hands of the watchmen? How shall I be able to go with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to Nīlācala?"

'''[[CC Madhya 16.236|Madhya 16.236]]:''' Since Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was omniscient, He could understand Raghunātha dāsa's mind. The Lord therefore instructed him with the following reassuring words.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.237|Madhya 16.237]]:''' "Be patient and return home. Don't be a crazy fellow. By and by you will be able to cross the ocean of material existence.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.238|Madhya 16.238]]:''' "You should not make yourself a showbottle devotee and become a false renunciant. For the time being, enjoy the material world in a befitting way and do not become attached to it."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.239|Madhya 16.239]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "Within your heart you should keep yourself very faithful, but externally you may behave like an ordinary man. Thus Kṛṣṇa will soon be very pleased and deliver you from the clutches of māyā.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.240|Madhya 16.240]]:''' "You may see me at Nīlācala, Jagannātha Purī, when I return after visiting Vṛndāvana. By that time you can think of some trick to escape.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.241|Madhya 16.241]]:''' "What kind of means you will have to use at that time will be revealed by Kṛṣṇa. If one has Kṛṣṇa's mercy, no one can check him."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.242|Madhya 16.242]]:''' In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade farewell to Raghunātha dāsa, who returned home and did exactly what the Lord told him.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.243|Madhya 16.243]]:''' After returning home, Raghunātha dāsa gave up all craziness and external pseudo renunciation and engaged in his household duties without attachment.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.244|Madhya 16.244]]:''' When Raghunātha dāsa's father and mother saw that their son was acting like a householder, they became very happy. Because of this, they slackened their guard.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.245-246|Madhya 16.245-246]]:''' Meanwhile, at Śāntipura, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu assembled all His devotees — headed by Advaita Ācārya and Nityānanda Prabhu — embraced them all and asked their permission to return to Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.247|Madhya 16.247]]:''' Because He had met them all at Śāntipura, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested all the devotees not to go to Jagannātha Purī that year.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.248|Madhya 16.248]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "I shall certainly go to Vṛndāvana from Jagannātha Purī. If all of you give Me permission, I shall return here again without difficulty."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.249|Madhya 16.249]]:''' Clasping the feet of His mother, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu very humbly requested her permission. Thus she gave Him leave to go to Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.250|Madhya 16.250]]:''' Śrīmatī Śacīdevī was sent back to Navadvīpa, and the Lord and His devotees started for Jagannātha Purī, Nīlādri.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.251|Madhya 16.251]]:''' The devotees who accompanied Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu rendered all kinds of service on the way to Nīlācala, Jagannātha Purī. Thus in great happiness the Lord returned.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.252|Madhya 16.252]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived in Jagannātha Purī, He visited the temple of the Lord. News then spread all over the city that He had returned.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.253|Madhya 16.253]]:''' All the devotees then came and met the Lord with great happiness. The Lord embraced each of them in great ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.254|Madhya 16.254]]:''' Kāśī Miśra, Rāmānanda Rāya, Pradyumna, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Vāṇīnātha Rāya, Śikhi Māhiti and all the other devotees met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.255|Madhya 16.255]]:''' Gadādhara Paṇḍita also came and met the Lord. Then, before all the devotees, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to speak as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.256|Madhya 16.256]]:''' "It was My decision to go to Vṛndāvana through Bengal in order to see My mother and the river Ganges.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.257|Madhya 16.257]]:''' "Thus I went to Bengal, but thousands of devotees began to follow Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.258|Madhya 16.258]]:''' "Many hundreds of thousands of people came to see Me out of curiosity, and due to such a large crowd I could not travel very freely on the road.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.259|Madhya 16.259]]:''' "Indeed, the crowd was so large that the house and the boundary walls of the house where I stayed were destroyed, and wherever I looked I could see only large crowds.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.260|Madhya 16.260]]:''' "With great difficulty I went to the town of Rāmakeli, where I met two brothers named Rūpa and Sanātana.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.261|Madhya 16.261]]:''' "These two brothers are great devotees and suitable recipients of Kṛṣṇa's mercy, but in their ordinary dealings they are government officials, ministers to the King.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.262|Madhya 16.262]]:''' "Śrīla Rūpa and Sanātana are very much experienced in education, devotional service, intelligence and strength, yet they think themselves inferior to straw in the street.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.263-264|Madhya 16.263-264]]:''' "Indeed, the humility of these two brothers could even melt stone. Because I was very pleased with their behavior, I told them, 'Although you are both very much exalted, you consider yourselves inferior, and because of this, Kṛṣṇa will very soon deliver you.'

'''[[CC Madhya 16.265-266|Madhya 16.265-266]]:''' "After speaking to them in this way, I bade them farewell. As I was leaving, Sanātana told Me, 'It is not appropriate for one to be followed by a crowd of thousands when going to Vṛndāvana.'

'''[[CC Madhya 16.267|Madhya 16.267]]:''' "Although I heard this, I did not pay it any attention, and in the morning I went to the place named Kānāi Nāṭaśālā.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.268|Madhya 16.268]]:''' "At night, however, I considered what Sanātana had told Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.269|Madhya 16.269]]:''' "I decided that Sanātana had spoken very well. I was certainly being followed by a large crowd, and when people would see so many men, they would surely rebuke Me, saying, 'Here is another imposter.'

'''[[CC Madhya 16.270|Madhya 16.270]]:''' "I then began to consider that Vṛndāvana is a very solitary place. It is invincible and very difficult to attain. I therefore decided to go there alone or, at the utmost, with only one person.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.271|Madhya 16.271]]:''' "Mādhavendra Purī went to Vṛndāvana alone, and Kṛṣṇa, on the pretext of giving him milk, granted him an audience.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.272|Madhya 16.272]]:''' "I then understood that I was going to Vṛndāvana like a magician with his show, and this is certainly not good. No one should go to Vṛndāvana with so many men.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.273|Madhya 16.273]]:''' "I have therefore resolved to go alone or, at the utmost, with one servant. In this way, My journey to Vṛndāvana will be beautiful.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.274|Madhya 16.274]]:''' "I thought, 'Instead of going to Vṛndāvana alone, I am going with soldiers and the beating of drums.'

'''[[CC Madhya 16.275|Madhya 16.275]]:''' "I therefore said, 'Fie upon Me!' and being very much agitated, I returned to the banks of the Ganges.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.276|Madhya 16.276]]:''' "I then left all the devotees there and brought only five or six persons with Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.277|Madhya 16.277]]:''' "Now I wish that you all will be pleased with Me and give Me good consultation. Tell Me how I shall be able to go to Vṛndāvana without impediments.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.278|Madhya 16.278]]:''' "I left Gadādhara Paṇḍita here, and he became very unhappy. For this reason I could not go to Vṛndāvana."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.279|Madhya 16.279]]:''' Being encouraged by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's words, Gadādhara Paṇḍita became absorbed in ecstatic love. Immediately clasping the lotus feet of the Lord, he began to speak with great humility.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.280|Madhya 16.280]]:''' Gadādhara Paṇḍita said, "Wherever You stay is Vṛndāvana, as well as the river Yamunā, the river Ganges and all other places of pilgrimage.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.281|Madhya 16.281]]:''' "Although wherever You stay is Vṛndāvana, You will still go to Vṛndāvana just to instruct people. Otherwise, You will do whatever You think best."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.282|Madhya 16.282]]:''' Taking this opportunity, Gadādhara Paṇḍita said, "Just now the four months of the rainy season have begun. You should therefore spend the next four months in Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.283|Madhya 16.283]]:''' "After remaining here for four months, You will be free to do as You like. Actually, no one can stop You from going or remaining."

'''[[CC Madhya 16.284|Madhya 16.284]]:''' Upon hearing this statement, the devotees present at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stated that Gadādhara Paṇḍita had properly presented their desire.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.285|Madhya 16.285]]:''' Being requested by all the devotees, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu agreed to remain at Jagannātha Purī for four months. Hearing this, King Pratāparudra became very happy.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.286|Madhya 16.286]]:''' That day Gadādhara Paṇḍita extended an invitation to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and the Lord took His lunch at his place with the other devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.287|Madhya 16.287]]:''' No ordinary human being can possibly describe Gadādhara Paṇḍita's affectionate presentation of food or Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's tasting this food.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.288|Madhya 16.288]]:''' In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performs His pastimes, which are unlimited and unfathomable. Somehow or other, these have briefly been described. It is not possible to describe them elaborately.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.289|Madhya 16.289]]:''' Although Lord Anantadeva is always describing the pastimes of the Lord with His thousands of mouths, He cannot reach the end of even one of the Lord's pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 16.290|Madhya 16.290]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 15|Madhya-līlā 15]] '''[[CC Madhya 15|Madhya-līlā 15]] - [[CC Madhya 17|Madhya-līlā 17]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 17|Madhya-līlā 17]]</div>

CC Madhya 15

2026-06-04T18:29:00Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 15 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 15|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 15: The Lord Accepts Prasādam at the House of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 14|Madhya-līlā 14]] '''[[CC Madhya 14|Madhya-līlā 14]] - [[CC Madhya 16|Madhya-līlā 16]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 16|Madhya-līlā 16]]</div>

'''[[CC Madhya 15 Summary|Madhya 15 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 15.1|Madhya 15.1]]:''' While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was taking prasādam at the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Amogha criticized Him. Still, the Lord accepted Amogha, thereby showing how much He was obliged to His devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.2|Madhya 15.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!

'''[[CC Madhya 15.3|Madhya 15.3]]:''' All glories to the listeners of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta who have accepted it as their life and soul!

'''[[CC Madhya 15.4|Madhya 15.4]]:''' While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed at Jagannātha Purī, He constantly enjoyed chanting and dancing with His devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.5|Madhya 15.5]]:''' In the beginning of the day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the Deity of Lord Jagannātha in the temple. He offered Him obeisances and prayers and danced and sang before Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.6|Madhya 15.6]]:''' After visiting the temple, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would remain outside during the upala-bhoga offering. He would then go meet Haridāsa Ṭhākura and return to His residence.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.7|Madhya 15.7]]:''' Sitting in His room, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would chant on His beads, and Advaita Prabhu would come there to worship the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.8|Madhya 15.8]]:''' While worshiping Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Advaita Ācārya would offer Him scented water to wash His mouth and feet. Then Advaita Ācārya would smear very fragrant sandalwood pulp all over His body.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.9|Madhya 15.9]]:''' Śrī Advaita Prabhu would also place a flower garland around the Lord's neck and tulasī flowers [mañjarīs] on His head. Then, with folded hands, Advaita Ācārya would offer obeisances and prayers unto the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.10|Madhya 15.10]]:''' After being worshiped by Advaita Ācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would take the dish containing flowers and tulasī and, with whatever paraphernalia remained, worship Advaita Ācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.11|Madhya 15.11]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would worship Advaita Ācārya by chanting the mantra "Whatever You are, You are — but I offer My respects unto You." In addition, the Lord would make some sounds within His mouth that would make Advaita Ācārya laugh.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.12|Madhya 15.12]]:''' In this way Advaita Ācārya and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would offer Their respectful obeisances unto each other. Then Advaita Ācārya would extend an invitation to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again and again.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.13|Madhya 15.13]]:''' Indeed, Śrī Advaita Ācārya's invitation is another wonderful story. It has been very vividly described by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.14|Madhya 15.14]]:''' Since Advaita Ācārya's invitation has been described by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, I shall not repeat the story. But I shall say that other devotees also extended invitations to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.15|Madhya 15.15]]:''' Day after day, one devotee after another would invite Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the other devotees to lunch and would also hold a festival.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.16|Madhya 15.16]]:''' All the devotees remained at Jagannātha Purī for four continuous months, and they observed all Lord Jagannātha's festivals with great pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.17|Madhya 15.17]]:''' The devotees celebrated the festival of Janmāṣṭamī, Kṛṣṇa's birthday, which is also called Nanda-mahotsava, the festival of Nanda Mahārāja. At that time Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees dressed themselves as cowherd boys.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.18|Madhya 15.18]]:''' Having dressed up like cowherd boys, all the devotees carried pots of milk and yogurt balanced on rods over their shoulders. Thus they all arrived at the festival grounds chanting the holy name of Hari.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.19|Madhya 15.19]]:''' Kānāñi Khuṭiyā dressed himself like Nanda Mahārāja, and Jagannātha Māhiti dressed himself as mother Yaśodā.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.20|Madhya 15.20]]:''' At that time, King Pratāparudra was also personally present with Kāśī Miśra, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Tulasī Paḍichāpātra.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.21|Madhya 15.21]]:''' As usual, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced jubilantly. Everyone was covered with milk, yogurt and yellow turmeric water.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.22|Madhya 15.22]]:''' At this time Śrīla Advaita Ācārya said, "Please do not be angry. I speak the truth. I shall know that You are a cowherd boy only if You can wheel this rod about."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.23|Madhya 15.23]]:''' Accepting Advaita Ācārya's challenge, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took a big rod and began to wheel it around and around. Again and again He threw the rod into the sky and caught it when it fell.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.24|Madhya 15.24]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wheeled and threw the rod, sometimes over His head, sometimes behind His back, sometimes in front of Him, sometimes to His side and sometimes between His legs. All the people laughed to see this.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.25|Madhya 15.25]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu whirled the rod in a circle like a firebrand, the heart of everyone who saw it was astonished.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.26|Madhya 15.26]]:''' Nityānanda Prabhu also played at whirling the rod. Who can understand how They were ecstatically immersed in the deep emotions of the cowherd boys?

'''[[CC Madhya 15.27|Madhya 15.27]]:''' Following the orders of Mahārāja Pratāparudra, the temple superintendent, named Tulasī, brought one of Lord Jagannātha's used cloths.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.28|Madhya 15.28]]:''' This valuable cloth was wrapped around the head of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The other devotees, headed by Advaita Ācārya, also had cloths wrapped about their heads.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.29|Madhya 15.29]]:''' In ecstasy, Kānāñi Khuṭiyā, who was dressed as Nanda Mahārāja, and Jagannātha Māhiti, who was dressed as mother Yaśodā, distributed all the riches they had stocked at home.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.30|Madhya 15.30]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was greatly satisfied to see this. Accepting them as His father and mother, He offered them obeisances.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.31|Madhya 15.31]]:''' In great ecstasy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to His residence. In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, known as Gaurāńga-sundara, performed various pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.32|Madhya 15.32]]:''' On the day celebrating the conquest of Lańkā — a day known as Vijayā-daśamī — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu dressed up all His devotees as monkey soldiers.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.33|Madhya 15.33]]:''' Displaying the emotions of Hanumān, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took up a large tree branch and, mounting the walls of the Lańkā fort, began to dismantle it.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.34|Madhya 15.34]]:''' In the ecstasy of Hanumān, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu angrily said, "Where is that rascal Rāvaṇa? He has kidnapped the universal mother, Sītā. Now I shall kill him and all his family."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.35|Madhya 15.35]]:''' Everyone became very much astonished to see the emotional ecstasy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and everyone began to chant, "All glories! All glories!" again and again.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.36|Madhya 15.36]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees participated in all the festivals, including Rāsa-yātrā, Dīpāvalī and Utthāna-dvādaśī.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.37|Madhya 15.37]]:''' One day the two brothers, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu, consulted with each other while sitting together in a solitary place.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.38|Madhya 15.38]]:''' No one could understand what the brothers discussed between Themselves, but later all the devotees could guess what the subject matter was.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.39|Madhya 15.39]]:''' Thereafter, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called for all the devotees and asked them to return to Bengal. In this way, He bade farewell to them.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.40|Madhya 15.40]]:''' Bidding farewell to all the devotees, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested them to return to Jagannātha Purī every year to see Him and then see the cleansing of the Guṇḍicā temple.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.41|Madhya 15.41]]:''' With great respect, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested Advaita Ācārya, "Give Kṛṣṇa consciousness, devotion to Kṛṣṇa, even to the lowest of men [caṇḍālas]."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.42|Madhya 15.42]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Nityānanda Prabhu, "Go to Bengal and, without restriction, manifest devotional service to the Lord, Kṛṣṇa consciousness."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.43|Madhya 15.43]]:''' Nityānanda Prabhu was given assistants like Rāmadāsa, Gadādhara dāsa and several others. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "I give them to You to assist You.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.44|Madhya 15.44]]:''' "I shall also go to see You at intervals. Keeping Myself invisible, I shall watch You dance."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.45|Madhya 15.45]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then embraced Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita and, with His arm about his neck, began to speak to him in sweet words.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.46|Madhya 15.46]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, "Perform congregational chanting daily, and be assured that I shall also dance in your presence. You will be able to see this dancing, but not others.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.47|Madhya 15.47]]:''' "Take this prasādam of Lord Jagannātha's and this cloth and deliver them to My mother, Śacīdevī. After offering her obeisances, please request her to excuse My offenses.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.48|Madhya 15.48]]:''' "I have given up the service of My mother and have accepted the sannyāsa order. Actually I should not have done this, for by so doing I have destroyed My religious principles.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.49|Madhya 15.49]]:''' "I am subordinate to the love of My mother, and it is My duty to serve her in return. Instead of doing so, I have accepted the renounced order. Certainly this is the act of a madman.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.50|Madhya 15.50]]:''' "A mother is not offended by her mad son, and knowing this, My mother is not offended by Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.51|Madhya 15.51]]:''' "I had no business in accepting the renounced order and sacrificing My love for My mother, which is My real property. Actually I was in a crazy state of mind when I accepted sannyāsa.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.52|Madhya 15.52]]:''' "I am staying here at Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala, to comply with her orders. But at intervals I go see her lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.53|Madhya 15.53]]:''' "Indeed, I go there daily to see her lotus feet. She is able to feel My presence, although she does not believe it to be true.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.54-55|Madhya 15.54-55]]:''' "One day My mother, Śacī, offered food to Śālagrāma Viṣṇu. She offered rice cooked from śāli paddies, various kinds of vegetables, spinach, curry made of banana flowers, fried paṭola with nimba leaves, pieces of ginger with lemon, and also yogurt, milk, sugar candy and many other foods.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.56|Madhya 15.56]]:''' "Taking the food upon her lap, Mother was crying to think that all that food was very dear to her Nimāi.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.57|Madhya 15.57]]:''' "My mother was thinking, 'Nimāi is not here. Who will accept all this food?' As she meditated upon Me in this way, her eyes filled with tears.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.58|Madhya 15.58]]:''' "While she was thus thinking and crying, I immediately went there with great haste and ate everything. Seeing the dish empty, she wiped her tears away.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.59|Madhya 15.59]]:''' "She then began to wonder who had eaten all that food. 'Why is the plate empty?' she wondered, doubting that Bāla-gopāla had eaten it all.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.60|Madhya 15.60]]:''' "She began to wonder whether there had actually been anything on the plate in the first place. Then again she thought that some animal might have come and eaten everything.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.61|Madhya 15.61]]:''' "She thought, 'Perhaps by mistake I did not put any food on the plate.' So thinking, she went into the kitchen and saw the pots.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.62|Madhya 15.62]]:''' "When she saw that all the pots were still filled with rice and vegetables, there was some doubt in her mind, and she was astonished.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.63|Madhya 15.63]]:''' "Thus wondering, she called Īśāna, the servant, and had the place cleaned again. She then offered another plate to Gopāla.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.64|Madhya 15.64]]:''' "Now whenever she prepares some good cooked food and wants to feed it to Me, she cries in great anxiety.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.65|Madhya 15.65]]:''' "Being obliged by her love, I am brought there to eat. Mother knows all these things internally and feels happiness, but externally she does not accept them.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.66|Madhya 15.66]]:''' "Such an incident took place on the last Vijayā-daśamī day. You can ask her about this incident and thus make her believe that I actually go there."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.67|Madhya 15.67]]:''' While describing all this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became a little overwhelmed, but just to finish bidding farewell to the devotees, He remained patient.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.68|Madhya 15.68]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next spoke some relishable words to Rāghava Paṇḍita. He said, "I am obliged to you due to your pure love for Me."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.69|Madhya 15.69]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then informed everyone, "Just hear about the pure devotional service rendered to Kṛṣṇa by Rāghava Paṇḍita. Indeed, Rāghava Paṇḍita's service is supremely pure and highly accomplished.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.70|Madhya 15.70]]:''' "Apart from other commodities, just hear about his offering of coconuts. A coconut is sold at the rate of five gaṇḍās each.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.71|Madhya 15.71]]:''' "Although he already has hundreds of trees and millions of fruits, he is still very eager to hear about the place where sweet coconuts are available.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.72|Madhya 15.72]]:''' "He collects coconuts with great endeavor from a place twenty miles away, and he pays four paṇas each for them.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.73|Madhya 15.73]]:''' "Every day five to seven coconuts are clipped and put into water to keep cool.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.74|Madhya 15.74]]:''' "At the time of offering bhoga, the coconuts are again clipped and cleansed. After holes are made in them at the top, they are offered to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.75|Madhya 15.75]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa drinks the juice from these coconuts, and sometimes the coconuts are left drained of juice. At other times the coconuts remain filled with juice.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.76|Madhya 15.76]]:''' "When Rāghava Paṇḍita sees that the juice has been drunk from the coconuts, he is very pleased. He then breaks the coconuts, takes out the pulp and puts it on another plate.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.77|Madhya 15.77]]:''' "After offering the pulp, he meditates outside the temple door. In the meantime, Lord Kṛṣṇa, having eaten the pulp, leaves the plate empty.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.78|Madhya 15.78]]:''' "Sometimes, after eating the pulp, Kṛṣṇa fills the plate again with new pulp. In this way, the faith of Rāghava Paṇḍita increases, and he floats in an ocean of love.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.79|Madhya 15.79]]:''' "One day it so happened that about ten coconuts were properly clipped and brought by a servant to offer to the Deity.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.80|Madhya 15.80]]:''' "When the coconuts were brought, there was little time to offer them because it was already late. The servant, holding the container of coconuts, remained standing at the door.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.81|Madhya 15.81]]:''' "Rāghava Paṇḍita then saw that the servant touched the ceiling above the door and then touched the coconuts with the same hand.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.82|Madhya 15.82]]:''' "Rāghava Paṇḍita then said, 'People are always coming and going through that door. The dust from their feet blows up and touches the ceiling.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.83|Madhya 15.83]]:''' "'After touching the ceiling above the door, you have touched the coconuts. Now they are no longer fit to be offered to Kṛṣṇa because they are contaminated.'

'''[[CC Madhya 15.84|Madhya 15.84]]:''' "Such is the service of Rāghava Paṇḍita. He did not accept the coconuts but threw them over the wall. His service is purely based on unalloyed love, and it conquers the whole world.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.85|Madhya 15.85]]:''' "Thereafter, Rāghava Paṇḍita had other coconuts gathered, cleansed and clipped, and with great attention he offered them to the Deity to eat.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.86|Madhya 15.86]]:''' "In this way, from distant villages he collects excellent bananas, mangoes, oranges, jackfruits and whatever other first-class fruits he has heard about.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.87|Madhya 15.87]]:''' "All these fruits are collected from distant places and bought at a high price. After trimming them with great care and purity, Rāghava Paṇḍita offers them to the Deity.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.88|Madhya 15.88]]:''' "Thus with great care and attention Rāghava Paṇḍita prepares spinach, other vegetables, radishes, fruits, chipped rice, powdered rice and sweetmeats.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.89|Madhya 15.89]]:''' "He prepares cakes, sweet rice, condensed milk and everything else with great attention, and the cooking conditions are purified so that the food is first class and delicious.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.90|Madhya 15.90]]:''' "Rāghava Paṇḍita also offers all kinds of pickles, such as kāśamdi. He offers various scents, garments, ornaments and the best of everything.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.91|Madhya 15.91]]:''' "Thus Rāghava Paṇḍita serves the Lord in an incomparable way. Everyone is very much satisfied just to see him."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.92|Madhya 15.92]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then mercifully embraced Rāghava Paṇḍita. The Lord also offered all the other devotees a farewell with similar respect.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.93|Madhya 15.93]]:''' The Lord also respectfully told Śivānanda Sena, "Take care of Vāsudeva Datta very nicely.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.94|Madhya 15.94]]:''' "Vāsudeva Datta is very liberal. Every day, whatever income he receives, he spends. He does not keep any balance.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.95|Madhya 15.95]]:''' "Being a householder, Vāsudeva Datta needs to save some money. Because he is not doing so, it is very difficult for him to maintain his family.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.96|Madhya 15.96]]:''' "Please take care of Vāsudeva Datta's family affairs. Become his manager and make the proper adjustments.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.97|Madhya 15.97]]:''' "Come every year and bring all My devotees with you to the Guṇḍicā festival. I also request you to maintain all of them."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.98|Madhya 15.98]]:''' The Lord then with great respect extended an invitation to all the inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma, asking them to come every year and bring silken rope to carry Lord Jagannātha during the Ratha-yātrā festival.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.99|Madhya 15.99]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, "Guṇarāja Khān of Kulīna-grāma compiled a book named Śrī Kṛṣṇa-vijaya, in which there is a sentence revealing the author's ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.100|Madhya 15.100]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "'Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, is my life and soul.' By this statement I am sold into the hands of the descendants of Guṇarāja Khān.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.101|Madhya 15.101]]:''' "To say nothing of you, even a dog living in your village is very dear to Me. What, then, to speak of others?"

'''[[CC Madhya 15.102|Madhya 15.102]]:''' After this, Rāmānanda Vasu and Satyarāja Khān both submitted questions at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.103|Madhya 15.103]]:''' Satyarāja Khān said, "My dear Lord, being a householder and a materialistic man, I do not know the process of advancing in spiritual life. I therefore submit myself unto Your lotus feet and request You to give me orders."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.104|Madhya 15.104]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "Without cessation continue chanting the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Whenever possible, serve Him and His devotees, the Vaiṣṇavas."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.105|Madhya 15.105]]:''' Upon hearing this, Satyarāja said, "How can I recognize a Vaiṣṇava? Please let me know what a Vaiṣṇava is. What are his common symptoms?"

'''[[CC Madhya 15.106|Madhya 15.106]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "Whoever chants the holy name of Kṛṣṇa just once is worshipable and is the topmost human being.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.107|Madhya 15.107]]:''' "Simply by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa once, a person is relieved from all the reactions of a sinful life. One can complete the nine processes of devotional service simply by chanting the holy name.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.108|Madhya 15.108]]:''' "One does not have to undergo initiation or execute the activities required before initiation. One simply has to vibrate the holy name with his lips. Thus even a man in the lowest class [caṇḍāla] can be delivered.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.109|Madhya 15.109]]:''' "By chanting the holy name of the Lord, one dissolves his entanglement in material activities. After this, one becomes very much attracted to Kṛṣṇa, and thus dormant love for Kṛṣṇa is awakened.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.110|Madhya 15.110]]:''' "'The holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa is an attractive feature for many saintly, liberal people. It is the annihilator of all sinful reactions and is so powerful that, save for the dumb who cannot chant it, it is readily available to everyone, including the lowest type of man, the caṇḍāla. The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is the controller of the opulence of liberation, and it is identical with Kṛṣṇa. When a person simply chants the holy name with his tongue, immediate effects are produced. Chanting the holy name does not depend on initiation, pious activities or the puraścaryā regulative principles generally observed before initiation. The holy name does not wait for any of these activities. It is self-sufficient.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 15.111|Madhya 15.111]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then finally advised, "One who is chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is understood to be a Vaiṣṇava; therefore you should offer all respects to him."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.112|Madhya 15.112]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then turned His attention to three persons — Mukunda dāsa, Raghunandana and Śrī Narahari — inhabitants of the place called Khaṇḍa.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.113|Madhya 15.113]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī, next asked Mukunda dāsa, "You are the father, and your son is Raghunandana. Is that so?

'''[[CC Madhya 15.114|Madhya 15.114]]:''' "Or is Śrīla Raghunandana your father and you are his son? Please let Me know the facts so that My doubts will go away."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.115|Madhya 15.115]]:''' Mukunda replied, "Raghunandana is my father, and I am his son. This is my decision.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.116|Madhya 15.116]]:''' "All of us have attained devotion to Kṛṣṇa due to Raghunandana. Therefore in my mind he is my father."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.117|Madhya 15.117]]:''' Hearing Mukunda dāsa give this proper decision, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu confirmed it, saying, "Yes, it is correct. One who awakens devotion to Kṛṣṇa is certainly the spiritual master."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.118|Madhya 15.118]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy just to speak of the glories of His devotees. Indeed, when He spoke of their glories, it was as if He had five faces.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.119|Madhya 15.119]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then informed all His devotees, "Please hear about Mukunda's love of Godhead. It is a very deep and pure love and can only be compared to purified gold.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.120|Madhya 15.120]]:''' "Mukunda dāsa externally appears to be a royal physician engaged in governmental service, but internally he has a deep love for Kṛṣṇa. Who can understand his love?

'''[[CC Madhya 15.121|Madhya 15.121]]:''' "One day Mukunda dāsa, the royal physician, was seated with the Muslim King on a high platform and was telling the King about medical treatment.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.122|Madhya 15.122]]:''' "While the King and Mukunda dāsa were conversing, a servant brought a fan made of peacock feathers to shade the King's head from the sun. Consequently he held the fan above the King's head.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.123|Madhya 15.123]]:''' "Just by seeing the peacock-feathered fan, Mukunda dāsa became absorbed in ecstatic love of Godhead and fell from the high platform onto the ground.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.124|Madhya 15.124]]:''' "The King, fearing that the royal physician had been killed, personally descended and brought him to consciousness.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.125|Madhya 15.125]]:''' "When the King asked Mukunda, 'Where is it paining you?' Mukunda replied, 'I am not very much pained.'

'''[[CC Madhya 15.126|Madhya 15.126]]:''' "The King then inquired, 'Mukunda, why did you fall down?'"Mukunda replied, 'My dear King, I have a disease like epilepsy.'

'''[[CC Madhya 15.127|Madhya 15.127]]:''' "Being extraordinarily intelligent, the King could understand the whole affair. In his estimation, Mukunda was a most uncommon, exalted, liberated personality.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.128-129|Madhya 15.128-129]]:''' "Raghunandana is constantly engaged in serving Lord Kṛṣṇa in the temple. Beside the entrance of the temple is a lake, and on its banks is a kadamba tree, which daily delivers two flowers to be used for Kṛṣṇa's service."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.130|Madhya 15.130]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again spoke to Mukunda with sweet words: "Your duty is to earn both material and spiritual wealth.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.131|Madhya 15.131]]:''' "Furthermore, it is the duty of Raghunandana to always engage in Lord Kṛṣṇa's service. He has no other intention but the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.132|Madhya 15.132]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then ordered Narahari: "I wish you to remain here with My devotees. In this way the three of you should always execute these three duties for the service of the Lord."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.133|Madhya 15.133]]:''' Out of His causeless mercy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave the following directions to the brothers Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Vidyā-vācaspati.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.134|Madhya 15.134]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "In this Age of Kali, Kṛṣṇa is manifest in two forms — wood and water. Thus, by enabling the conditioned souls to see the wood and bathe in the water, He helps them become liberated.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.135|Madhya 15.135]]:''' "Lord Jagannātha is the Supreme Lord Himself in the form of wood, and the river Ganges is the Supreme Lord Himself in the form of water.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.136|Madhya 15.136]]:''' "Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, you should engage in the worship of Lord Jagannātha Puruṣottama, and Vācaspati should worship mother Ganges."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.137|Madhya 15.137]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then embraced Murāri Gupta and began to speak about his firm faith in devotional service. This was heard by all the devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.138|Madhya 15.138]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Previously I induced Murāri Gupta again and again to be allured by Lord Kṛṣṇa. I said to him, 'My dear Gupta, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Vrajendra-kumāra, is the supreme sweetness.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.139|Madhya 15.139]]:''' "'Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the origin of all incarnations and the source of everything. He is pure transcendental love itself, and He is the reservoir of all pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.140|Madhya 15.140]]:''' "'Kṛṣṇa is the reservoir of all transcendental qualities. He is like a mine of gems. He is expert at everything, very intelligent and sober, and He is the summit of all transcendental humors.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.141|Madhya 15.141]]:''' "'His character is very sweet, and His pastimes are melodious. He is expert in intelligence, and thus He enjoys all His pastimes and mellows.'

'''[[CC Madhya 15.142|Madhya 15.142]]:''' "I then requested Murāri Gupta, 'Worship Kṛṣṇa and take shelter of Him. But for His service, nothing appeals to the mind.'

'''[[CC Madhya 15.143|Madhya 15.143]]:''' "In this way, he heard from Me again and again. By My influence, his mind was a little converted.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.144|Madhya 15.144]]:''' "Murāri Gupta then replied, 'I am Your servant and Your order-carrier. I have no independent existence.'

'''[[CC Madhya 15.145|Madhya 15.145]]:''' "After this, Murāri Gupta went home and spent the whole night thinking how he would have to give up the association of Raghunātha, Lord Rāmacandra. Thus he was overwhelmed.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.146|Madhya 15.146]]:''' "Murāri Gupta then began to pray at the lotus feet of Lord Rāmacandra. He prayed that death would come that night because it was not possible for him to give up the service of the lotus feet of Raghunātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.147|Madhya 15.147]]:''' "Thus Murāri Gupta cried the entire night. There was no rest for his mind; therefore he could not sleep but stayed awake the entire night.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.148|Madhya 15.148]]:''' "In the morning Murāri Gupta came to see Me. Catching hold of My feet and crying, he submitted an appeal.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.149|Madhya 15.149]]:''' "Murāri Gupta said, 'I have sold my head unto the lotus feet of Raghunātha. I cannot withdraw my head, for that would give me too much pain.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.150|Madhya 15.150]]:''' "'It is not possible for me to give up the service of Raghunātha's lotus feet. At the same time, if I do not do so I shall break Your order. What can I do?'

'''[[CC Madhya 15.151|Madhya 15.151]]:''' "In this way Murāri Gupta appealed to Me, saying, 'You are all-merciful, so kindly grant me this mercy: Let me die before You so that all my doubts will be finished.'

'''[[CC Madhya 15.152|Madhya 15.152]]:''' "Hearing this, I became very happy. I then raised Murāri Gupta and embraced him.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.153|Madhya 15.153]]:''' "I said to him, 'All glories to you, Murāri Gupta! Your method of worship is very firmly fixed — so much so that even upon My request your mind did not turn.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.154|Madhya 15.154]]:''' "'The servitor must have love and affection for the lotus feet of the Lord exactly like this. Even if the Lord wants separation, a devotee cannot abandon the shelter of His lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.155|Madhya 15.155]]:''' "'Just to test your firm faith in your Lord, I requested you again and again to change your worship from Lord Rāmacandra to Kṛṣṇa.'

'''[[CC Madhya 15.156|Madhya 15.156]]:''' "In this way, I congratulated Murāri Gupta, saying, 'Indeed, you are the incarnation of Hanumān. Consequently you are the eternal servant of Lord Rāmacandra. Why should you give up the worship of Lord Rāmacandra and His lotus feet?'"

'''[[CC Madhya 15.157|Madhya 15.157]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "I accept this Murāri Gupta as My life and soul. When I hear of his humility, it perturbs My very life."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.158|Madhya 15.158]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then embraced Vāsudeva Datta and began to speak of his glories as if He had a thousand mouths.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.159|Madhya 15.159]]:''' When Caitanya Mahāprabhu glorified him, Vāsudeva Datta immediately became very much embarrassed and shy. He then submitted himself, touching the Lord's lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.160|Madhya 15.160]]:''' Vāsudeva Datta told Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "My dear Lord, You incarnate just to deliver all conditioned souls. I now have one petition, which I wish You would accept.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.161|Madhya 15.161]]:''' "My Lord, You are certainly able to do whatever You like, and You are indeed merciful. If You so desire, You can very easily do whatever You want.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.162|Madhya 15.162]]:''' "My Lord, my heart breaks to see the sufferings of all the conditioned souls; therefore I request You to transfer the karma of their sinful lives upon my head.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.163|Madhya 15.163]]:''' "My dear Lord, let me suffer perpetually in a hellish condition, accepting all the sinful reactions of all living entities. Please finish their diseased material life."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.164|Madhya 15.164]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard Vāsudeva Datta's statement, His heart became very soft. Tears flowed from His eyes, and He began to tremble. In a faltering voice He spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.165|Madhya 15.165]]:''' Accepting Vāsudeva Datta as a great devotee, the Lord said, "Such a statement is not at all astonishing because you are the incarnation of Prahlāda Mahārāja. It appears that Lord Kṛṣṇa has bestowed complete mercy upon you. There is no doubt about it.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.166|Madhya 15.166]]:''' "Whatever a pure devotee wants from his master, Lord Kṛṣṇa doubtlessly grants because He has no duty other than to fulfill the desire of His devotee.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.167|Madhya 15.167]]:''' "If you desire the deliverance of all living entities within the universe, then all of them can be delivered even without your undergoing the tribulations of sinful activity.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.168|Madhya 15.168]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa is not incapable, for He has all potencies. Why would He induce you to suffer the sinful reactions of other living entities?

'''[[CC Madhya 15.169|Madhya 15.169]]:''' "Whosever welfare you desire immediately becomes a Vaiṣṇava, and Kṛṣṇa delivers all Vaiṣṇavas from the reactions of their past sinful activities.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.170|Madhya 15.170]]:''' "'Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the original Personality of Godhead, Govinda, who regulates the sufferings and enjoyments due to fruitive activity. He does this for everyone — from the heavenly King Indra down to the smallest insect [indra-gopa]. That very Personality of Godhead destroys the karmic reactions of one engaged in devotional service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 15.171|Madhya 15.171]]:''' "Because of your honest desire, all living entities within the universe will be delivered, for Kṛṣṇa does not have to do anything to deliver all the living entities of the universe.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.172|Madhya 15.172]]:''' "Just as there are millions of fruits on the uḍumbara tree, millions of universes float on the waters of the river Virajā.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.173|Madhya 15.173]]:''' "The uḍumbara tree is filled with millions of fruits, and if one falls down and is destroyed, the tree does not even consider the loss.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.174|Madhya 15.174]]:''' "In the same way, if one universe is vacated due to the living entities' having been liberated, that is a very little thing for Kṛṣṇa. He does not take it very seriously.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.175|Madhya 15.175]]:''' "The entire spiritual world constitutes the unlimited opulence of Kṛṣṇa, and there are innumerable Vaikuṇṭha planets there. The Causal Ocean is considered the surrounding waters of Vaikuṇṭhaloka.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.176|Madhya 15.176]]:''' "Māyā and her unlimited material universes are situated in that Causal Ocean. Indeed, māyā appears to be floating like a pot filled with mustard seeds.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.177|Madhya 15.177]]:''' "Of the millions of mustard seeds floating in that pot, if one seed is lost, the loss is not at all significant. Similarly, if one universe is lost, it is not significant to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.178|Madhya 15.178]]:''' "To say nothing of one universal mustard seed, even if all the universes and the material energy [māyā] are destroyed, Kṛṣṇa does not even consider the loss.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.179|Madhya 15.179]]:''' "If a person possessing millions of wish-fulfilling cows loses one she-goat, he does not consider the loss. Kṛṣṇa owns all six opulences in full. If the entire material energy is destroyed, what does He lose?"

'''[[CC Madhya 15.180|Madhya 15.180]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "'O my Lord, O unconquerable one, O master of all potencies, please exhibit Your internal potency to conquer the nescience of all moving and inert living entities. Due to nescience, they accept all kinds of faulty things, thus provoking a fearful situation. O Lord, please show Your glories! You can do this very easily, for Your internal potency is beyond the external potency, and You are the reservoir of all opulence. You are also the demonstrator of the material potency. You are also always engaged in Your pastimes in the spiritual world, where You exhibit Your reserved, internal potency, and sometimes You exhibit the external potency by glancing over it. Thus You manifest Your pastimes. The Vedas confirm Your two potencies and accept both types of pastimes due to them.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 15.181|Madhya 15.181]]:''' In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu described the good qualities of His devotees one after the other. He then embraced them and bade them farewell.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.182|Madhya 15.182]]:''' Due to the impending separation from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the devotees began to cry. The Lord was also morose due to separation from the devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.183|Madhya 15.183]]:''' Gadādhara Paṇḍita remained with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and he was given a place to live at Yameśvara.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.184-185|Madhya 15.184-185]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained at Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala, with Paramānanda Purī, Jagadānanda, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Govinda and Kāśīśvara. It was Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's daily practice to see Lord Jagannātha in the morning.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.186|Madhya 15.186]]:''' One day Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya came before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with folded hands and submitted a request.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.187|Madhya 15.187]]:''' Since all the Vaiṣṇavas had returned to Bengal, there was a good chance that the Lord would accept an invitation.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.188|Madhya 15.188]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "Please accept my invitation for lunch for one month."The Lord replied, "That is not possible, because it is against the religious principles of a sannyāsī."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.189|Madhya 15.189]]:''' Sārvabhauma then said, "Please accept the invitation for twenty days."But Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "It is not a religious principle of the renounced order."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.190|Madhya 15.190]]:''' When Sārvabhauma requested Caitanya Mahāprabhu to accept lunch for fifteen days, the Lord said, "I shall accept lunch at your place for one day only."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.191|Madhya 15.191]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then caught hold of the Lord's lotus feet and submissively begged, "Please accept lunch for at least ten days."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.192|Madhya 15.192]]:''' In this way, by and by, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu reduced the duration to five days. Thus for five days He regularly accepted the Bhaṭṭācārya's invitation to lunch.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.193|Madhya 15.193]]:''' After this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "My Lord, there are ten sannyāsīs with You."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.194|Madhya 15.194]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then submitted that Paramānanda Purī Gosvāmī would accept a five-day invitation at his place. This had already been settled before the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.195|Madhya 15.195]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "Dāmodara Svarūpa is my intimate friend. He will come sometimes with You and sometimes alone.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.196|Madhya 15.196]]:''' "The other eight sannyāsīs will accept invitations for two days each. In this way there will be engagements for each and every day during the entire month.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.197|Madhya 15.197]]:''' "If all the sannyāsīs came together, it would not be possible for me to pay them proper respects. Therefore I would be an offender.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.198|Madhya 15.198]]:''' "Sometimes You will come alone to my place, and sometimes You will be accompanied by Svarūpa Dāmodara."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.199|Madhya 15.199]]:''' Having this arrangement confirmed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Bhaṭṭācārya became very glad and immediately invited the Lord to his house on that very day.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.200|Madhya 15.200]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya's wife was known as Ṣāṭhīra Mātā, the mother of Ṣāṭhī. She was a great devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and she was affectionate like a mother.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.201|Madhya 15.201]]:''' After returning to his home, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya gave orders to his wife, and his wife, Ṣāṭhīra Mātā, began cooking with great pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.202|Madhya 15.202]]:''' At Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya's house, there was always a full stock of food. Whatever spinach, vegetables, fruit and so on were required, he collected and brought back home.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.203|Madhya 15.203]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya personally began to help Ṣāṭhīra Mātā cook. She was very experienced, and she knew how to cook nicely.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.204|Madhya 15.204]]:''' On the southern side of the kitchen were two rooms for offering food, and in one of them the food was offered to Śālagrāma Nārāyaṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.205|Madhya 15.205]]:''' The other room was for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's lunch. The Lord's lunchroom was very secluded, and it was newly constructed by the Bhaṭṭācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.206|Madhya 15.206]]:''' The room was so constructed that there was only one door opening on the outside, which served as an entrance for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. There was another door attached to the kitchen, and it was through this door that the food was brought.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.207|Madhya 15.207]]:''' First, three mānas of cooked rice — almost six pounds — was poured onto a big banana leaf.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.208|Madhya 15.208]]:''' Then the whole stack of rice was mixed with so much yellowish and fragrant clarified butter that it began to overflow the leaf.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.209|Madhya 15.209]]:''' There were a number of pots made of the bark of banana trees and the leaves of the keyā plant. These pots were filled with various cooked vegetables and placed on all sides of the leaf.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.210|Madhya 15.210]]:''' There were about ten kinds of spinach, a soup called sukhta, which was made with bitter nimba leaves, a pungent preparation made with black pepper, a mild cake made of fried curd, and buttermilk mixed with small fried pieces of dhal.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.211|Madhya 15.211]]:''' There were preparations of dugdha-tumbī, dugdha-kuṣmāṇḍa, vesara, lāphrā, mocā-ghaṇṭa, mocā-bhājā and other vegetables.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.212|Madhya 15.212]]:''' There were unlimited quantities of vṛddha-kuṣmāṇḍa-baḍī, phula-baḍī, fruits and various roots.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.213|Madhya 15.213]]:''' Other preparations included eggplant mixed with newly grown nimba leaves fried together, light baḍī, fried paṭola and fried rounds of squash and pumpkin.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.214|Madhya 15.214]]:''' There was a soup made with fried urad dhal and mung dhal, defeating nectar. There were also sweet chutney and five or six kinds of sour preparations, beginning with baḍāmla.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.215|Madhya 15.215]]:''' There were baḍās made of mung dhal, of urad dhal and of sweet bananas, and there were sweet-rice cakes, coconut cakes and various other cakes.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.216|Madhya 15.216]]:''' There were kāńji-baḍā, dugdha-ciḍā, dugdha-laklakī and various cakes that I am unable to describe.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.217|Madhya 15.217]]:''' Sweet rice mixed with ghee was poured into an earthen pot and mixed with cāńpā-kalā, condensed milk and mango.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.218|Madhya 15.218]]:''' Other preparations included a very delicious churned curd and a variety of sandeśa sweetmeats. Indeed, all the various eatables available in Bengal and Orissa were prepared.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.219|Madhya 15.219]]:''' Thus the Bhaṭṭācārya prepared a great variety of food and spread a fine cloth over a white wooden platform.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.220|Madhya 15.220]]:''' On two sides of the stack of food were pitchers filled with scented cold water. The flowers of the tulasī tree were placed atop the mound of rice.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.221|Madhya 15.221]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya also included several types of food that had been offered to Lord Jagannātha. These included sweetballs known as amṛta-guṭikā, sweet rice and cakes. All these were kept separate.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.222|Madhya 15.222]]:''' When everything was ready, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came there alone after finishing His midday duties. He knew the heart of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.223|Madhya 15.223]]:''' After Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya washed the Lord's feet, the Lord entered the room to take His lunch.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.224|Madhya 15.224]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was a little astonished to see the gorgeous arrangement, and gesturing, He spoke to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.225|Madhya 15.225]]:''' "This is most uncommon! How was this arrangement of rice and vegetables finished within six hours?

'''[[CC Madhya 15.226|Madhya 15.226]]:''' "Even a hundred men cooking on a hundred stoves could not possibly finish all these preparations within so short a time.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.227|Madhya 15.227]]:''' "I hope the food has already been offered to Kṛṣṇa, since I see there are tulasī flowers on it.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.228|Madhya 15.228]]:''' "You are most fortunate, and your endeavor is successful, for you have offered such wonderful food to Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.229|Madhya 15.229]]:''' "The color of the rice is so attractive and its aroma so good that it appears Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa have directly taken it.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.230|Madhya 15.230]]:''' "My dear Bhaṭṭācārya, your fortune is very great. How much shall I praise you? I also am very fortunate to be able to take the remnants of this food.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.231|Madhya 15.231]]:''' "Take away Kṛṣṇa's sitting place and put it aside. Then give Me prasādam on a different plate."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.232|Madhya 15.232]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "It is not so wonderful, my Lord. Everything has been made possible by the energy and mercy of Him who will eat the food.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.233|Madhya 15.233]]:''' "My wife and I did not especially exert ourselves in the cooking. He by whose power the food has been prepared knows everything.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.234|Madhya 15.234]]:''' "Now please sit in this place and take Your lunch."Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "This place is worshipable because it was used by Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.235|Madhya 15.235]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya said, "Both the food and the sitting place are the Lord's mercy. If You can eat the remnants of the food, what is the offense in Your sitting in this place?"

'''[[CC Madhya 15.236|Madhya 15.236]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, "Yes, you have spoken correctly. The śāstras enjoin that the devotee can partake of everything left by Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.237|Madhya 15.237]]:''' "'My dear Lord, the garlands, scented substances, garments, ornaments and other such things that have been offered to You may later be used by Your servants. By partaking of these things and eating the remnants of food You have left, we will be able to conquer the illusory energy.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 15.238|Madhya 15.238]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, "There is so much food here that it is impossible to eat it all."The Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "I know how much You can eat.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.239|Madhya 15.239]]:''' "After all, at Jagannātha Purī You eat fifty-two times a day, and each time You eat hundreds of buckets filled with prasādam.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.240|Madhya 15.240]]:''' "At Dvārakā, You keep sixteen thousand queens in sixteen thousand palaces. Also, there are eighteen mothers and numerous friends and relatives of the Yadu dynasty.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.241|Madhya 15.241]]:''' "In Vṛndāvana You also have Your father's elder brothers, Your father's younger brothers, maternal uncles, husbands of Your father's sisters and many cowherd men. There are also cowherd boyfriends, and You eat twice a day, morning and evening, in the house of each and every one.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.242|Madhya 15.242]]:''' "Indeed," Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, "at the Govardhana-pūjā ceremony You ate stacks of rice. In comparison to that, this small quantity is not even a morsel for You.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.243|Madhya 15.243]]:''' "You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whereas I am a most insignificant living being. Therefore please accept a little quantity of food from my house."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.244|Madhya 15.244]]:''' Hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu smiled and sat down to eat. The Bhaṭṭācārya, with great pleasure, first offered Him the prasādam from the Jagannātha temple.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.245|Madhya 15.245]]:''' At this time the Bhaṭṭācārya had a son-in-law named Amogha, who was the husband of his daughter Ṣāṭhī. Although born in an aristocratic brāhmaṇa family, Amogha was a great faultfinder and blasphemer.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.246|Madhya 15.246]]:''' Amogha wanted to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu eat, but he was not allowed to enter. Indeed, the Bhaṭṭācārya guarded the threshold of his house with a stick in his hand.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.247|Madhya 15.247]]:''' However, as soon as the Bhaṭṭācārya began distributing prasādam and was a little inattentive, Amogha came in. Seeing the quantity of food, he began to blaspheme.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.248|Madhya 15.248]]:''' "This much food is sufficient to satisfy ten or twelve men, but this sannyāsī alone is eating so much!"

'''[[CC Madhya 15.249|Madhya 15.249]]:''' As soon as Amogha said this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya turned his eyes upon him. Seeing the Bhaṭṭācārya's attitude, Amogha immediately left.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.250|Madhya 15.250]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya ran after him to strike him with a stick, but Amogha fled so fast that the Bhaṭṭācārya could not catch him.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.251|Madhya 15.251]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya then began to curse his son-in-law and call him ill names. When the Bhaṭṭācārya returned, he saw that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was laughing to hear him criticize Amogha.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.252|Madhya 15.252]]:''' When Ṣāṭhī's mother, the Bhaṭṭācārya's wife, heard of this incident, she immediately began to strike her head and chest, saying again and again, "Let Ṣāṭhī become a widow!"

'''[[CC Madhya 15.253|Madhya 15.253]]:''' Seeing the lamentation of both husband and wife, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu tried to pacify them. According to their desire, He ate the prasādam and was very satisfied.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.254|Madhya 15.254]]:''' After Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu finished eating, the Bhaṭṭācārya poured water for the Lord to wash His mouth, hands and legs and offered Him flavored spices, tulasī-mañjarīs, cloves and cardamom.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.255|Madhya 15.255]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya then placed a flower garland over Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and smeared His body with sandalwood pulp. After offering obeisances, the Bhaṭṭācārya submitted the following humble statement.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.256|Madhya 15.256]]:''' "I brought You to my home just to have You blasphemed. This is a great offense. Please excuse me. I beg Your pardon."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.257|Madhya 15.257]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "What Amogha has said is correct; therefore it is not blasphemy. What is your offense?"

'''[[CC Madhya 15.258|Madhya 15.258]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left and returned to His residence. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya followed Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.259|Madhya 15.259]]:''' Falling down at the Lord's feet, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said many things in self-reproach. The Lord then pacified him and sent him back to his home.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.260|Madhya 15.260]]:''' After returning to his home, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya consulted with his wife, the mother of Ṣāṭhī. After personally condemning himself, he began to speak as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.261|Madhya 15.261]]:''' "If the man who blasphemed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is killed, his sinful action may be atoned."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.262|Madhya 15.262]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, "Or, if I give up my own life, this sinful action may be atoned. However, neither of these ideas is befitting because both bodies belong to brāhmaṇas.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.263|Madhya 15.263]]:''' "Instead, I shall never see the face of that blasphemer. I reject him and give up my relationship with him. I shall never even speak his name.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.264|Madhya 15.264]]:''' "Inform my daughter Ṣāṭhī to abandon her relationship with her husband because he has fallen down. When the husband falls down, it is the wife's duty to relinquish the relationship.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.265|Madhya 15.265]]:''' "'When a husband is fallen, one's relationship with him must be given up.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 15.266|Madhya 15.266]]:''' That night Amogha, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya's son-in-law, fled, and in the morning he immediately fell sick with cholera.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.267|Madhya 15.267]]:''' When the Bhaṭṭācārya heard that Amogha was dying of cholera, he thought, "It is the favor of Providence that He is doing what I want to do.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.268|Madhya 15.268]]:''' "When one offends the Supreme Personality of Godhead, karma immediately takes effect." After saying this, he recited two verses from the revealed scripture.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.269|Madhya 15.269]]:''' "'What we have had to arrange with great endeavor by collecting elephants, horses, chariots and infantry soldiers has already been accomplished by the Gandharvas.'

'''[[CC Madhya 15.270|Madhya 15.270]]:''' "'When a person mistreats great souls, his life span, opulence, reputation, religion, possessions and good fortune are all destroyed.'

'''[[CC Madhya 15.271|Madhya 15.271]]:''' At this time, Gopīnātha Ācārya went to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and the Lord asked him about the events taking place in Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya's house.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.272|Madhya 15.272]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya informed the Lord that both the husband and the wife were fasting and that their son-in-law, Amogha, was dying of cholera.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.273|Madhya 15.273]]:''' As soon as Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard that Amogha was going to die, He immediately ran to him in great haste. Placing His hand on Amogha's chest, He spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.274|Madhya 15.274]]:''' "The heart of a brāhmaṇa is by nature very clean; therefore it is a proper place for Kṛṣṇa to sit.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.275|Madhya 15.275]]:''' "Why have you allowed the caṇḍāla of jealousy to sit here also? In this way you have contaminated a most purified place, your heart.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.276|Madhya 15.276]]:''' "However, due to the association of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, all your contamination is now vanquished. When a person's heart is cleansed of all contamination, he is able to chant the mahā-mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.277|Madhya 15.277]]:''' "Therefore, Amogha, get up and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra! If you do so, Kṛṣṇa will unfailingly bestow mercy upon you."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.278|Madhya 15.278]]:''' After hearing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and being touched by Him, Amogha, who was on his deathbed, immediately stood up and began to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Thus he became mad with ecstatic love and began to dance emotionally.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.279|Madhya 15.279]]:''' While Amogha danced in ecstatic love, he manifested all the ecstatic symptoms — trembling, tears, jubilation, trance, perspiration and a faltering voice. Seeing these waves of ecstatic emotion, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to laugh.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.280|Madhya 15.280]]:''' Amogha then fell before the Lord's lotus feet and submissively said, "O merciful Lord, please excuse my offense."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.281|Madhya 15.281]]:''' Not only did Amogha beg the Lord's pardon, but he also began slapping his own cheeks, saying, "By this mouth I have blasphemed You."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.282|Madhya 15.282]]:''' Indeed, Amogha continued slapping his face over and over until his cheeks were swollen. Finally Gopīnātha Ācārya stopped him by catching hold of his hands.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.283|Madhya 15.283]]:''' After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu pacified Amogha by touching his body and saying, "You are the object of My affection because you are the son-in-law of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.284|Madhya 15.284]]:''' "Everyone in Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya's house is very dear to Me, including his maids and servants and even his dog. And what to speak of his relatives?

'''[[CC Madhya 15.285|Madhya 15.285]]:''' "Amogha, always chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and do not commit any further offenses." After giving Amogha this instruction, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Sārvabhauma's house.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.286|Madhya 15.286]]:''' Upon seeing the Lord, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya immediately caught hold of His lotus feet. The Lord embraced him and then sat down.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.287|Madhya 15.287]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu pacified Sārvabhauma, saying, "After all, Amogha, your son-in-law, is a child. So what is his fault? Why are you fasting, and why are you angry?

'''[[CC Madhya 15.288|Madhya 15.288]]:''' "Just get up and take your bath and go see the face of Lord Jagannātha. Then return here to eat your lunch. In this way I shall be happy.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.289|Madhya 15.289]]:''' "I shall stay here until you return to take Lord Jagannātha's remnants for your lunch."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.290|Madhya 15.290]]:''' Catching hold of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's lotus feet, the Bhaṭṭācārya said, "Why did You bring Amogha back to life? It would have been better had he died."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.291|Madhya 15.291]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Amogha is a child and your son. The father does not take the faults of his son seriously, especially when he is maintaining him.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.292|Madhya 15.292]]:''' "Now that he has become a Vaiṣṇava, he is offenseless. You can bestow your mercy upon him without hesitation."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.293|Madhya 15.293]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "Please go, my Lord, to see Lord Jagannātha. After taking my bath, I shall go there and then return."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.294|Madhya 15.294]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told Gopīnātha, "Stay here and inform Me when Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya has taken his prasādam."

'''[[CC Madhya 15.295|Madhya 15.295]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to see Lord Jagannātha. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya completed his bath, went to see Lord Jagannātha and then returned to his house to accept food.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.296|Madhya 15.296]]:''' Thereafter, Amogha became an unalloyed devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He danced in ecstasy and peacefully chanted the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.297|Madhya 15.297]]:''' In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed His various pastimes. Whoever sees them or hears them recounted becomes truly astonished.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.298|Madhya 15.298]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu enjoyed eating in Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya's house. Within that one pastime, many wonderful pastimes were manifested.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.299|Madhya 15.299]]:''' These are the peculiar characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's pastimes. Thus the Lord ate in Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya's house, and in this way Sārvabhauma's love for the Lord has become very well known.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.300|Madhya 15.300]]:''' Thus I have related the ecstatic love of Sārvabhauma's wife, who is known as the mother of Ṣāṭhī. I have also related Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's great mercy, which He manifested by excusing Amogha's offense. He did so due to Amogha's relationship with a devotee.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.301|Madhya 15.301]]:''' Whoever hears these pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with faith and love will attain the shelter of the Lord's lotus feet very soon.

'''[[CC Madhya 15.302|Madhya 15.302]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 14|Madhya-līlā 14]] '''[[CC Madhya 14|Madhya-līlā 14]] - [[CC Madhya 16|Madhya-līlā 16]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 16|Madhya-līlā 16]]</div>

CC Madhya 14

2026-06-04T18:28:58Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 14 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 14|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 14: Performance of the Vṛndāvana Pastimes'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 13|Madhya-līlā 13]] '''[[CC Madhya 13|Madhya-līlā 13]] - [[CC Madhya 15|Madhya-līlā 15]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 15|Madhya-līlā 15]]</div>

'''[[CC Madhya 14 Summary|Madhya 14 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 14.1|Madhya 14.1]]:''' Accompanied by His personal devotees, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the festival known as Lakṣmī-vijayotsava. There He discussed the superexcellent love of the gopīs. Just by hearing about them, He became very pleased and danced in great ecstatic love for the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.2|Madhya 14.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, known as Gauracandra! All glories to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Ācārya, who is so exalted!

'''[[CC Madhya 14.3|Madhya 14.3]]:''' All glories to all the devotees, headed by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura! All glories to the readers who have taken Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as their life and soul!

'''[[CC Madhya 14.4|Madhya 14.4]]:''' While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was resting in ecstatic love, Mahārāja Pratāparudra entered the garden.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.5|Madhya 14.5]]:''' Following Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya's instructions, the King had given up his royal dress. He now entered the garden in the dress of a Vaiṣṇava.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.6|Madhya 14.6]]:''' Mahārāja Pratāparudra was so humble that with folded hands he first took permission from all the devotees. Then, with great courage, he fell down and touched the lotus feet of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.7|Madhya 14.7]]:''' As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu lay on the raised platform with His eyes closed in ecstatic love and emotion, the King very expertly began to massage His legs.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.8|Madhya 14.8]]:''' The King began to recite verses about the rāsa-līlā from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. He recited the chapter beginning with the words "jayati te 'dhikam."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.9|Madhya 14.9]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard these verses, He was pleased beyond limits, and He said again and again, "Go on reciting, go on reciting."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.10|Madhya 14.10]]:''' As soon as the King recited the verse beginning with the words "tava kathāmṛtam," the Lord arose in ecstatic love and embraced him.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.11|Madhya 14.11]]:''' Upon hearing the verse recited by the King, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "You have given Me invaluable gems, but I have nothing to give you in return. Therefore I am simply embracing you."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.12|Madhya 14.12]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to recite the same verse again and again. Both the King and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were trembling, and tears were flowing from their eyes.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.13|Madhya 14.13]]:''' "'My Lord, the nectar of Your words and the descriptions of Your activities are the life and soul of those who are always aggrieved in this material world. These narrations are transmitted by exalted personalities, and they eradicate all sinful reactions. Whoever hears these narrations attains all good fortune. These narrations are broadcast all over the world and are filled with spiritual power. Those who spread the message of Godhead are certainly the most munificent welfare workers.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 14.14|Madhya 14.14]]:''' After reciting this verse, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately embraced the King and cried, "You are the most munificent! You are the most munificent!" At this point Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not know who the King was.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.15|Madhya 14.15]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mercy was aroused because of the King's previous service. Therefore, without even asking who he was, the Lord immediately bestowed His mercy upon him.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.16|Madhya 14.16]]:''' How powerful is the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! Without even inquiring about the King, the Lord made everything successful.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.17|Madhya 14.17]]:''' Finally Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Who are you? You have done so much for Me. All of a sudden you have come here and made Me drink the nectar of the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.18|Madhya 14.18]]:''' The King replied, "My Lord, I am the most obedient servant of Your servants. It is my ambition that You will accept me as the servant of Your servants."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.19|Madhya 14.19]]:''' At that time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu displayed some of His divine opulences to the King, and He forbade him to disclose this to anyone.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.20|Madhya 14.20]]:''' Although within His heart Caitanya Mahāprabhu knew everything that was happening, externally He did not disclose it. Nor did He disclose that He knew He was talking with King Pratāparudra.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.21|Madhya 14.21]]:''' Seeing the Lord's special mercy upon King Pratāparudra, the devotees praised the King's good fortune, and their minds became open and blissful.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.22|Madhya 14.22]]:''' Submissively offering prayers to the devotees with folded hands and offering obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the King went outside.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.23|Madhya 14.23]]:''' After this, Vāṇīnātha Rāya brought all kinds of prasādam, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted lunch with the devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.24|Madhya 14.24]]:''' The King also sent a large quantity of prasādam through Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Rāmānanda Rāya and Vāṇīnātha Rāya.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.25|Madhya 14.25]]:''' The prasādam sent by the King had been offered at the Balagaṇḍi festival and included uncooked milk products and fruits. It was all of the finest quality, and there was no end to the variety.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.26|Madhya 14.26]]:''' There were curd, fruit juice, coconut, mango, dried coconut, jackfruit, various kinds of bananas and palm-fruit seeds.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.27|Madhya 14.27]]:''' There were also oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, almonds, dried fruit, raisins and dates.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.28|Madhya 14.28]]:''' There were hundreds of different types of sweetmeats like manoharā-lāḍu, sweets like amṛta-guṭikā and various types of condensed milk.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.29|Madhya 14.29]]:''' There were also papayas and saravatī, a type of orange, and also crushed squash. There were also regular cream, fried cream and a type of purī made with cream.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.30|Madhya 14.30]]:''' There were also the sweets known as hari-vallabha and sweets made of seńoti flowers, karpūra flowers and mālatī flowers. There were pomegranates, sweets made with black pepper, sweets made with fused sugar, and amṛti-jilipi.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.31|Madhya 14.31]]:''' There were lotus-flower sugar, a kind of bread made from urad dhal, crispy sweetmeats, sugar candy, fried-rice sweets, sesame-seed sweets and cookies made from sesame seeds.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.32|Madhya 14.32]]:''' There were sugar-candy sweetmeats formed into the shape of orange, lemon and mango trees and arranged with fruits, flowers and leaves.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.33|Madhya 14.33]]:''' There were yogurt, milk, butter, buttermilk, fruit juice, a preparation made of fried yogurt and sugar candy, and salty mung-dhal sprouts with shredded ginger.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.34|Madhya 14.34]]:''' There were also various types of pickles — lemon pickle, berry pickle and so on. Indeed, I am not able to describe the variety of food offered to Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.35|Madhya 14.35]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw half the garden filled with a variety of prasādam, He was very satisfied.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.36|Madhya 14.36]]:''' Indeed, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was fully satisfied just to see how Lord Jagannātha accepted all the food.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.37|Madhya 14.37]]:''' There then arrived five or seven loads of plates made of the leaves of the ketakī tree. Each man was supplied ten of these plates, and in this way the leaf dishes were distributed.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.38|Madhya 14.38]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu understood the labor of all the kīrtana chanters; therefore He was very eager to feed them sumptuously.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.39|Madhya 14.39]]:''' All the devotees sat down in lines, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally began to distribute the prasādam.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.40|Madhya 14.40]]:''' But the devotees would not accept the prasādam until Caitanya Mahāprabhu took it. Svarūpa Gosvāmī informed the Lord of this.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.41|Madhya 14.41]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara said, "My Lord, please sit down. No one will eat until You do."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.42|Madhya 14.42]]:''' At that time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat down with His personal associates and had every one of them fed very sumptuously until they were filled to the necks.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.43|Madhya 14.43]]:''' After finishing, the Lord washed His mouth and sat down. There was so much extra prasādam that it was distributed to thousands.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.44|Madhya 14.44]]:''' Following the orders of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Govinda, His personal servant, called for all the poor beggars, who were unhappy due to their poverty, and fed them sumptuously.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.45|Madhya 14.45]]:''' Observing the beggars eating prasādam, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanted, "Haribol!" and instructed them to chant the holy name.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.46|Madhya 14.46]]:''' As soon as the beggars chanted the holy name, "Haribol," they were immediately absorbed in ecstatic love of Godhead. In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed wonderful pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.47|Madhya 14.47]]:''' Outside the garden, when it was time to pull Jagannātha's car, all the workers called gauḍas tried to pull it, but it would not move forward.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.48|Madhya 14.48]]:''' When the gauḍas saw that they could not budge the car, they abandoned the attempt. Then the King arrived in great anxiety, and he was accompanied by his officers and friends.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.49|Madhya 14.49]]:''' The King then arranged for big wrestlers to try to pull the car, and even the King himself joined in, but the car could not be moved.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.50|Madhya 14.50]]:''' Becoming even more anxious to move the car, the King had very strong elephants brought forth and harnessed to it.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.51|Madhya 14.51]]:''' The strong elephants pulled with all their strength, but still the car remained at a standstill, not budging an inch.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.52|Madhya 14.52]]:''' As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard this news, He went there with all His personal associates. They then stood there and watched the elephants try to pull the car.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.53|Madhya 14.53]]:''' The elephants, being beaten by the elephant-goad, were crying, but still the car would not move. The assembled people cried out, "Alas!"

'''[[CC Madhya 14.54|Madhya 14.54]]:''' At that time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu let all the elephants go free and placed the car's ropes in the hands of His own men.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.55|Madhya 14.55]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then went to the back of the car and began to push with His head. It was then that the car began to move and roll along, making a rattling sound.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.56|Madhya 14.56]]:''' Indeed, the car began to move automatically, and the devotees simply carried the ropes in their hands. Since it was moving effortlessly, they did not need to pull it.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.57|Madhya 14.57]]:''' When the car moved forward, everyone began to chant with great pleasure, "All glories! All glories!" and "All glories to Lord Jagannātha!" No one could hear anything else.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.58|Madhya 14.58]]:''' In a moment the car reached the door of the Guṇḍicā temple. Upon seeing the uncommon strength of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the people were struck with wonder.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.59|Madhya 14.59]]:''' The crowd made a tumultuous vibration, chanting "Jaya Gauracandra! Jaya Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya!" Then the people began to chant, "Wonderful! Wonderful!"

'''[[CC Madhya 14.60|Madhya 14.60]]:''' Seeing the greatness of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Pratāparudra Mahārāja and his ministers and friends were so moved by ecstatic love that the hair on their bodies stood on end.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.61|Madhya 14.61]]:''' All the servants of Lord Jagannātha then took Him down from the car, and the Lord went to sit on His throne.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.62|Madhya 14.62]]:''' Subhadrā and Balarāma also sat on their respective thrones. There followed the bathing of Lord Jagannātha and finally the offering of food.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.63|Madhya 14.63]]:''' While Lord Jagannātha, Lord Balarāma and Subhadrā sat on their respective thrones, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees began to perform sańkīrtana with great pleasure, chanting and dancing in the yard of the temple.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.64|Madhya 14.64]]:''' While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was chanting and dancing, He was overwhelmed with ecstatic love, and all the people who saw Him were also flooded in the ocean of love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.65|Madhya 14.65]]:''' In the evening, after finishing His dancing in the yard of the Guṇḍicā temple, the Lord observed the ārati ceremony. Thereafter He went to a place called Aiṭoṭā and took rest for the night.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.66|Madhya 14.66]]:''' For nine days, nine chief devotees, headed by Advaita Ācārya, got an opportunity to invite the Lord to their homes.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.67|Madhya 14.67]]:''' During the four months of the rainy season, the remaining devotees extended invitations to the Lord for one day each. In this way they shared invitations.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.68|Madhya 14.68]]:''' For the four-month period, all the daily invitations were shared among the important devotees. The rest of the devotees did not get an opportunity to extend an invitation to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.69|Madhya 14.69]]:''' Since they could not get one day each, two or three devotees combined to extend an invitation. These are the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's acceptance of invitations.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.70|Madhya 14.70]]:''' After taking His bath early in the morning, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would go see Lord Jagannātha in the temple. Then He would perform sańkīrtana with His devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.71|Madhya 14.71]]:''' By chanting and dancing, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu induced Advaita Ācārya to dance. Sometimes He induced Nityānanda Prabhu, Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Acyutānanda to dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.72|Madhya 14.72]]:''' Sometimes Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu engaged Vakreśvara and other devotees in chanting and dancing. Three times daily — morning, noon and evening — He would perform sańkīrtana in the yard of the Guṇḍicā temple.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.73|Madhya 14.73]]:''' At this time Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt that Lord Kṛṣṇa had returned to Vṛndāvana. Thinking this, His feelings of separation from Kṛṣṇa subsided.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.74|Madhya 14.74]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was always thinking of the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, and He remained personally merged in this consciousness.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.75|Madhya 14.75]]:''' There were many gardens near the Guṇḍicā temple, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees used to perform the pastimes of Vṛndāvana in each of them. In the lake named Indradyumna, He sported in the water.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.76|Madhya 14.76]]:''' The Lord personally splashed all the devotees with water, and the devotees, surrounding Him on all sides, also splashed the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.77|Madhya 14.77]]:''' While in the water they sometimes formed one circle and sometimes many circles, and while in the water they used to play cymbals and imitate the croaking of frogs.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.78|Madhya 14.78]]:''' Sometimes two would pair off to fight in the water. One would emerge victorious and the other defeated, and the Lord would watch all this fun.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.79|Madhya 14.79]]:''' The first sporting took place between Advaita Ācārya and Nityānanda Prabhu, who threw water upon each other. Advaita Ācārya was defeated, and He later began to rebuke Nityānanda Prabhu, calling Him ill names.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.80|Madhya 14.80]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara and Vidyānidhi also threw water upon each other, and Murāri Gupta and Vāsudeva Datta also sported in that way.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.81|Madhya 14.81]]:''' Another duel took place between Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura and Gadādhara Paṇḍita, and yet another between Rāghava Paṇḍita and Vakreśvara Paṇḍita. Thus they all engaged in throwing water.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.82|Madhya 14.82]]:''' Indeed, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya engaged in water sports with Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, and they both lost their gravity and became like children.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.83|Madhya 14.83]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the exuberance of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Rāmānanda Rāya, He smiled and spoke to Gopīnātha Ācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.84|Madhya 14.84]]:''' "Tell the Bhaṭṭācārya and Rāmānanda Rāya to stop their childish play because they are both learned scholars and very grave and great personalities."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.85|Madhya 14.85]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya replied, "I believe that one drop of the ocean of Your great mercy has swelled up upon them.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.86|Madhya 14.86]]:''' "A drop from the ocean of Your mercy can drown great mountains like Sumeru and Mandara. Since these two gentlemen are little hills by comparison, it is no wonder that they are being drowned in the ocean of Your mercy.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.87|Madhya 14.87]]:''' "Logic is like a dry oil cake from which all the oil has been extracted. The Bhaṭṭācārya passed his life in eating such dry cakes, but now You have made him drink the nectar of transcendental pastimes. It is certainly Your great mercy upon him."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.88|Madhya 14.88]]:''' After Gopīnātha Ācārya finished talking, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu smiled and, calling for Advaita Ācārya, made Him act like the Śeṣa Nāga bed.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.89|Madhya 14.89]]:''' Lying down on Advaita Prabhu, who was floating on the water, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu demonstrated the pastime of Śeṣaśāyī Viṣṇu.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.90|Madhya 14.90]]:''' Manifesting His personal potency, Advaita Ācārya floated about on the water, carrying Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.91|Madhya 14.91]]:''' After sporting in the water for some time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to His place at Aiṭoṭā, accompanied by His devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.92|Madhya 14.92]]:''' Paramānanda Purī, Brahmānanda Bhāratī and all the other chief devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took lunch at the invitation of Advaita Ācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.93|Madhya 14.93]]:''' Whatever extra prasādam was brought by Vāṇīnātha Rāya was taken by the other associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.94|Madhya 14.94]]:''' In the afternoon, Śri Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the Guṇḍicā temple to visit the Lord and dance. At night He went to the garden to take rest.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.95|Madhya 14.95]]:''' The next day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu also went to the temple of Guṇḍicā and saw the Lord. He then chanted and danced in the yard for some time.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.96|Madhya 14.96]]:''' Accompanied by His devotees, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then went into the garden and enjoyed the pastimes of Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.97|Madhya 14.97]]:''' There were multifarious trees and creepers in the garden, and they were all jubilant to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Indeed, the birds were chirping, the bees were buzzing, and a cool breeze was blowing.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.98|Madhya 14.98]]:''' As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced beneath each and every tree, Vāsudeva Datta sang alone.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.99|Madhya 14.99]]:''' As Vāsudeva Datta sang a different song beneath each and every tree, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced there alone in great ecstasy.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.100|Madhya 14.100]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then ordered Vakreśvara Paṇḍita to dance, and as he began to dance, the Lord began to sing.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.101|Madhya 14.101]]:''' Then devotees like Svarūpa Dāmodara and other kīrtana performers began to sing along with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Being inundated with ecstatic love, they lost all consideration of time and circumstance.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.102|Madhya 14.102]]:''' After thus performing pastimes in the garden for some time, they all went to a lake called Narendra-sarovara and there enjoyed sporting in the water.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.103|Madhya 14.103]]:''' After sporting in the water, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to the garden and accepted prasādam with the devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.104|Madhya 14.104]]:''' For nine continuous days His Lordship Śrī Jagannātha-deva stayed at the Guṇḍicā temple. During this time Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu also stayed there and performed the pastimes with His devotees that have already been described.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.105|Madhya 14.105]]:''' The garden of His pastimes was very large and was named Jagannātha-vallabha. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took His rest there for nine days.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.106|Madhya 14.106]]:''' Knowing that the Herā-pañcamī festival was drawing near, King Pratāparudra attentively talked with Kāśī Miśra.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.107|Madhya 14.107]]:''' "Tomorrow will be the function of Herā-pañcamī or Lakṣmī-vijaya. Hold this festival in a way that it has never been held before."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.108|Madhya 14.108]]:''' King Pratāparudra said, "Hold this festival in such a gorgeous way that upon seeing it Caitanya Mahāprabhu will be completely pleased and astonished.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.109|Madhya 14.109]]:''' "Take as many printed cloths, small bells, umbrellas and cāmaras as there are in my storehouse and in the Deity's storehouse.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.110|Madhya 14.110]]:''' "Collect all kinds of small and large flags and ringing bells. Then decorate the carrier and have various musical and dancing parties accompany it. In this way decorate the carrier attractively.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.111|Madhya 14.111]]:''' "You should also double the quantity of prasādam. Make so much that it will even surpass the Ratha-yātrā festival.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.112|Madhya 14.112]]:''' "Arrange the festival in such a way that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu may freely go with His devotees to visit the Deity without difficulty."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.113|Madhya 14.113]]:''' In the morning, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took His personal associates with Him to see Lord Jagannātha at Sundarācala.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.114|Madhya 14.114]]:''' Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His personal devotees returned to Nīlācala with great eagerness to see the Herā-pañcamī festival.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.115|Madhya 14.115]]:''' Kāśī Miśra received Caitanya Mahāprabhu with great respect, and taking the Lord and His associates to a very nice place, he had them seated.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.116|Madhya 14.116]]:''' After taking His seat, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to hear about a particular mellow of devotional service; therefore, mildly smiling, He began to question Svarūpa Dāmodara.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.117-118|Madhya 14.117-118]]:''' "Although Lord Jagannātha enjoys His pastimes at Dvārakā-dhāma and naturally manifests sublime liberality there, still, once a year He becomes unlimitedly eager to see Vṛndāvana."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.119|Madhya 14.119]]:''' Pointing out the neighboring gardens, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "All these gardens exactly resemble Vṛndāvana; therefore Lord Jagannātha is very eager to see them again.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.120|Madhya 14.120]]:''' "Externally He gives the excuse that He wants to participate in the Ratha-yātrā festival, but actually He wants to leave Jagannātha Purī to go to Sundarācala, the Guṇḍicā temple, a replica of Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.121|Madhya 14.121]]:''' "The Lord enjoys His pastimes day and night in various flower gardens there. But why does He not take Lakṣmīdevī, the goddess of fortune, with Him?"

'''[[CC Madhya 14.122|Madhya 14.122]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara replied, "My dear Lord, please hear the reason for this. Lakṣmīdevī, the goddess of fortune, cannot be admitted to the pastimes of Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.123|Madhya 14.123]]:''' "In the pastimes of Vṛndāvana, the only assistants are the gopīs. But for the gopīs, no one can attract the mind of Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.124|Madhya 14.124]]:''' The Lord said, "Using the car festival as an excuse, Kṛṣṇa goes there with Subhadrā and Baladeva.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.125|Madhya 14.125]]:''' "All the pastimes with the gopīs that take place in those gardens are very confidential ecstasies of Lord Kṛṣṇa. No one knows them.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.126|Madhya 14.126]]:''' "Since there is no fault at all in Kṛṣṇa's pastimes, why does the goddess of fortune become angry?"

'''[[CC Madhya 14.127|Madhya 14.127]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara replied, "It is the nature of a girl afflicted by love to become immediately angry upon finding any neglect on the part of her lover."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.128|Madhya 14.128]]:''' While Svarūpa Dāmodara and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were talking, the procession of the goddess of fortune came by. She was riding upon a golden palanquin carried by four men and bedecked with a variety of jewels.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.129|Madhya 14.129]]:''' The palanquin was also surrounded by people carrying umbrellas, cāmara whisks and flags, and it was preceded by musicians and dancing girls.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.130|Madhya 14.130]]:''' The maidservants were carrying water pitchers, cāmara whisks and boxes for betel nuts. There were hundreds of maidservants, all attractively dressed and wearing valuable necklaces.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.131|Madhya 14.131]]:''' In an angry mood, the goddess of fortune arrived at the main gate of the temple accompanied by many members of her family, all of whom exhibited uncommon opulence.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.132|Madhya 14.132]]:''' When the procession arrived, the maidservants of the goddess of fortune began to arrest all the principal servants of Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.133|Madhya 14.133]]:''' The maidservants bound the servants of Jagannātha, handcuffed them and made them fall down at the lotus feet of the goddess of fortune. Indeed, they were arrested just like thieves who have all their riches taken away.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.134|Madhya 14.134]]:''' When the servants fell down before the lotus feet of the goddess of fortune, they almost fell unconscious. They were chastised and made the butt of jokes and loose language.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.135|Madhya 14.135]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's associates saw such impudence exhibited by the maidservants of the goddess of fortune, they covered their faces with their hands and began to smile.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.136|Madhya 14.136]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara said, "There is no egoistic pride like this within the three worlds. At least I have never seen it or heard of it.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.137|Madhya 14.137]]:''' "When a woman is neglected and disappointed, out of egoistic pride she gives up her ornaments and morosely sits down on the ground, marking lines on it with her nails.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.138|Madhya 14.138]]:''' "I have heard of this kind of pride in Satyabhāmā, Kṛṣṇa's proudest queen, and I have also heard of it in the gopīs of Vṛndāvana, who are the reservoirs of all transcendental mellows.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.139|Madhya 14.139]]:''' "But in the case of the goddess of fortune, I see a different kind of pride. She manifests her own opulences and even goes with her soldiers to attack her husband."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.140|Madhya 14.140]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Please tell me of the varieties of egoistic pride manifested in Vṛndāvana."Svarūpa Dāmodara replied, "The pride of the gopīs is like a river flowing with hundreds of tributaries.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.141|Madhya 14.141]]:''' "The characteristics and modes of love are different in different women. Their jealous anger also takes on different varieties and qualities.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.142|Madhya 14.142]]:''' "It is not possible to give a complete statement about the different types of jealous anger manifest by the gopīs, but a few principles may serve as an indication.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.143|Madhya 14.143]]:''' "There are three types of women experiencing jealous anger: sober women, restless women and women both restless and sober.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.144|Madhya 14.144]]:''' "When a sober heroine sees her hero approaching from a distance, she immediately stands up to receive him. When he comes near, she immediately offers him a place to sit.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.145|Madhya 14.145]]:''' "The sober heroine conceals her anger within her heart and externally speaks sweet words. When her lover embraces her, she returns his embrace.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.146|Madhya 14.146]]:''' "The sober heroine is very simple in her behavior. She keeps her jealous anger within her heart, but with mild words and smiles she rejects the advances of her lover.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.147|Madhya 14.147]]:''' "The restless heroine, however, sometimes chastises her lover with cruel words, sometimes pulls his ear and sometimes binds him with a flower garland.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.148|Madhya 14.148]]:''' "The heroine who is a combination of sobriety and restlessness always jokes with equivocal words. She sometimes praises her lover, sometimes blasphemes him and sometimes remains indifferent.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.149|Madhya 14.149]]:''' "Heroines may also be classified as captivated, intermediate and impudent. The captivated heroine does not know very much about the cunning intricacies of jealous anger.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.150|Madhya 14.150]]:''' "The captivated heroine simply covers her face and goes on crying. When she hears sweet words from her lover, she is very satisfied.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.151|Madhya 14.151]]:''' "Both the intermediate and impudent heroines can be classified as sober, restless and both sober and restless. All their characteristics can be further classified in three divisions.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.152|Madhya 14.152]]:''' "Some of these heroines are very talkative, some are mild, and some are equipoised. Each heroine, according to her own character, increases Śrī Kṛṣṇa's loving ecstasy.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.153|Madhya 14.153]]:''' "Although some of the gopīs are talkative, some mild and some equipoised, all of them are transcendental and faultless. They please Kṛṣṇa by their unique characteristics."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.154|Madhya 14.154]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt unlimited happiness upon hearing these descriptions, and He again and again requested Svarūpa Dāmodara to continue speaking.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.155|Madhya 14.155]]:''' Dāmodara Gosvāmī said, "Kṛṣṇa is the master of all transcendental mellows and the taster of all transcendental mellows, and His body is composed of transcendental bliss.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.156|Madhya 14.156]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa is full of ecstatic love and always subordinate to the love of His devotees. The gopīs are very much experienced in pure love and in the dealings of transcendental mellows.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.157|Madhya 14.157]]:''' "There is no flaw or adulteration in the love of the gopīs; therefore they give Kṛṣṇa the highest pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.158|Madhya 14.158]]:''' "'Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is the Absolute Truth, enjoyed His rāsa dance every night during the autumn season. He performed this dance in the moonlight and with full transcendental mellows. He used poetic words and surrounded Himself with women who were very much attracted to Him.'

'''[[CC Madhya 14.159|Madhya 14.159]]:''' "The gopīs can be divided into a left wing and a right wing. Both wings induce Kṛṣṇa to taste transcendental mellows by various manifestations of ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.160|Madhya 14.160]]:''' "Of all the gopīs, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the chief. She is a jewel mine of ecstatic love and the source of all purified transcendental conjugal mellows.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.161|Madhya 14.161]]:''' "Rādhārāṇī is grown up, and Her character is equipoised. She is always deeply absorbed in ecstatic love and always feeling in the mood of a left-wing gopī.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.162|Madhya 14.162]]:''' "Because She is a left-wing gopī, Her womanly anger is always awakening, but Kṛṣṇa derives transcendental bliss from Her activities.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.163|Madhya 14.163]]:''' "'The progress of loving affairs between a young boy and a young girl is by nature crooked, like the movement of a snake. Because of this, two types of anger arise between a young boy and girl — anger with a cause and anger without a cause.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 14.164|Madhya 14.164]]:''' As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard these talks, His ocean of transcendental bliss increased. He therefore told Svarūpa Dāmodara, "Go on speaking, go on speaking." And thus Svarūpa Dāmodara continued.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.165|Madhya 14.165]]:''' "Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's love is a highly advanced ecstasy. All Her dealings are completely pure and devoid of material tinge. Indeed, Her dealings are ten times purer than gold.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.166|Madhya 14.166]]:''' "As soon as Rādhārāṇī gets a chance to see Kṛṣṇa, Her body is suddenly decorated with various ecstatic ornaments.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.167|Madhya 14.167]]:''' "The transcendental ornaments of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's body include the eight sāttvikas, or transcendental symptoms, the thirty-three vyabhicārī-bhāvas, beginning with harṣa, or jubilation in natural love, and the twenty bhāvas, or ecstatic emotional ornaments.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.168|Madhya 14.168]]:''' "Some of the symptoms critically explained in the following verses are kila-kiñcita, kuṭṭamita, vilāsa, lalita, vivvoka, moṭṭāyita, maugdhya and cakita.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.169|Madhya 14.169]]:''' "When Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's body manifests the ornaments of many ecstatic symptoms, the ocean of Kṛṣṇa's happiness immediately displays transcendental waves.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.170|Madhya 14.170]]:''' "Now hear a description of different ecstasies, beginning with kila-kiñcita. With these ecstatic ornaments, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī enchants the mind of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.171|Madhya 14.171]]:''' "When Śrī Kṛṣṇa sees Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and wants to touch Her body, He prohibits Her from going to the spot where one can cross the river Yamunā.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.172|Madhya 14.172]]:''' "Approaching Her, Kṛṣṇa prohibits Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī from picking flowers. He may also touch Her in front of Her friends.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.173|Madhya 14.173]]:''' "At such times, the ecstatic symptoms of kila-kiñcita are awakened. First there is jubilation in ecstatic love, which is the root cause of these symptoms.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.174|Madhya 14.174]]:''' "'Pride, ambition, weeping, smiling, envy, fear and anger are the seven ecstatic loving symptoms manifested by a jubilant shrinking away, and these symptoms are called kila-kiñcita-bhāva.'

'''[[CC Madhya 14.175|Madhya 14.175]]:''' "There are seven other transcendental ecstatic symptoms, and when they combine on the platform of jubilation, the combination is called mahā-bhāva.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.176|Madhya 14.176]]:''' "The seven combined ingredients of mahā-bhāva are pride, ambition, fear, dry artificial crying, anger, envy and mild smiling.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.177|Madhya 14.177]]:''' "There are eight symptoms of ecstatic love on the platform of transcendental jubilation, and when they are combined and tasted by Kṛṣṇa, the Lord's mind is completely satisfied.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.178|Madhya 14.178]]:''' "Indeed, they are compared to a combination of yogurt, candy, ghee, honey, black pepper, camphor and cardamom, which, when mixed together, are very tasty and sweet.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.179|Madhya 14.179]]:''' "Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is thousands upon thousands of times more satisfied when He sees Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's face light up from this combination of ecstatic love than He is by direct union with Her.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.180|Madhya 14.180]]:''' "'May the sight of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's kila-kiñcita ecstasy, which is like a bouquet, bring good fortune to all. When Śrī Kṛṣṇa blocked Rādhārāṇī's way to the dāna-ghāṭi, there was laughter within Her heart. Her eyes grew bright, and fresh tears flowed from Her eyes, reddening them. Due to Her sweet relationship with Kṛṣṇa, Her eyes were enthusiastic, and when Her crying subsided, She appeared even more beautiful.'

'''[[CC Madhya 14.181|Madhya 14.181]]:''' "'Agitated by tears, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's eyes were tinged with red, just like the eastern horizon at sunrise. Her lips began to move with jubilation and lusty desire. Her eyebrows curved, and Her lotuslike face smiled mildly. Seeing Rādhārāṇī's face exhibit such emotion, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa felt a million times happier than when He embraced Her. Indeed, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa's happiness is not at all mundane.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 14.182|Madhya 14.182]]:''' Upon hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy, and being absorbed in this happiness, He embraced Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.183|Madhya 14.183]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then asked Svarūpa Dāmodara, "Please speak of the ecstatic ornaments decorating the body of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, by which She enchants the mind of Śrī Govinda."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.184|Madhya 14.184]]:''' Being thus requested, Svarūpa Dāmodara began to speak. All the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were very happy to hear him.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.185|Madhya 14.185]]:''' "Sometimes when Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is sitting or when She is going to Vṛndāvana, She sees Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.186|Madhya 14.186]]:''' "The symptoms of various ecstasies that become manifest at that time are called vilāsa.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.187|Madhya 14.187]]:''' "'The various symptoms manifested in a woman's face, eyes and the other parts of her body and the way she moves, stands or sits when she meets her beloved are called vilāsa.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 14.188|Madhya 14.188]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara said, "Timidity, jubilation, ambition, respect, fear and the characteristics of the left-wing gopīs are all ecstatic symptoms that combine to agitate Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.189|Madhya 14.189]]:''' "'When Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī saw Lord Kṛṣṇa just before Her, Her progress stopped and She assumed an attitude of opposition. Although Her face was slightly covered by a blue garment, Her two starry eyes were agitated, being wide and curved. Thus She was decorated with the ornaments of vilāsa, and Her beauty increased to give pleasure to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.'

'''[[CC Madhya 14.190|Madhya 14.190]]:''' "When Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī stands before Kṛṣṇa, She stands bent in three places — Her neck, waist and legs — and Her eyebrows dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.191|Madhya 14.191]]:''' "When there is an awakening of the various ecstatic features on Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's face and in Her eyes that are appropriate to a charming feminine attitude, the lalita ornament is manifest.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.192|Madhya 14.192]]:''' "'When the bodily features are delicate and expertly curved, and when the eyebrows are very beautifully agitated, the ornament of feminine charm, called lalita alańkāra, is manifest.'

'''[[CC Madhya 14.193|Madhya 14.193]]:''' "When Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa happens to see Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī decorated with these lalita ornaments, They both eagerly want to meet each other.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.194|Madhya 14.194]]:''' "'When Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī was decorated with the ornament of lalita alańkāra, just to increase Śrī Kṛṣṇa's love, an attractive curve was manifested by Her neck, knees and waist. This was brought about by Her timidity and apparent desire to avoid Kṛṣṇa. The flickering movements of Her eyebrows could conquer the powerful bow of Cupid. To increase the joy of Her beloved, Her body was decorated with the ornaments of lalita alańkāra.'

'''[[CC Madhya 14.195|Madhya 14.195]]:''' "When Kṛṣṇa comes forward and greedily snatches at the border of Her sari, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is actually very pleased within, but still She tries to stop Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.196|Madhya 14.196]]:''' "This ecstatic attitude of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's is called kuṭṭamita. When this ecstatic ornament is manifested, Rādhārāṇī externally tries to avoid Kṛṣṇa, and She apparently becomes angry, although She is very happy within.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.197|Madhya 14.197]]:''' "'When the border of Her sari and the cloth veiling Her face are caught, She externally appears offended and angry, but within Her heart She is very happy. Learned scholars call this attitude kuṭṭamita.'

'''[[CC Madhya 14.198|Madhya 14.198]]:''' "Although Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī was checking Kṛṣṇa with Her hand, internally She was thinking, 'Let Kṛṣṇa satisfy His desires.' In this way She was very pleased within, although She externally displayed opposition and anger.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.199|Madhya 14.199]]:''' "Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī externally displays a kind of dry crying, as if She is offended. Then She mildly smiles and admonishes Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.200|Madhya 14.200]]:''' "'Actually She has no desire to stop Kṛṣṇa's endeavor to touch Her body with His hands, yet Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, whose thighs are like the trunk of a baby elephant, protests His advances and, sweetly smiling, admonishes Him. At such times She cries without tears on Her charming face.'

'''[[CC Madhya 14.201|Madhya 14.201]]:''' "In this way, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is ornamented and decorated with various ecstatic symptoms, which attract the mind of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.202|Madhya 14.202]]:''' "It is not at all possible to describe the unlimited pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, even though He Himself describes them in His incarnation of Sahasra-vadana, the thousand-mouthed Śeṣa Nāga."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.203|Madhya 14.203]]:''' At this time, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura smiled and told Svarūpa Dāmodara, "My dear sir, please hear! Just see how opulent my goddess of fortune is!

'''[[CC Madhya 14.204|Madhya 14.204]]:''' "As far as Vṛndāvana's opulence is concerned, it consists of a few flowers and twigs, some minerals from the hills, a few peacock feathers and the plant known as guñjā.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.205|Madhya 14.205]]:''' "When Jagannātha decided to see Vṛndāvana, He went there, and upon hearing this, the goddess of fortune experienced restlessness and jealousy.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.206|Madhya 14.206]]:''' "She wondered, 'Why did Lord Jagannātha give up so much opulence and go to Vṛndāvana?' To make Him a laughingstock, the goddess of fortune made arrangements for much decoration.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.207|Madhya 14.207]]:''' "Then the maidservants of the goddess of fortune said to the servants of Lord Jagannātha, 'Why did your Lord Jagannātha abandon the great opulence of the goddess of fortune and, for the sake of a few leaves, fruits and flowers, go see the flower garden of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī?

'''[[CC Madhya 14.208|Madhya 14.208]]:''' "'Your master is so expert at everything, but why does He do such things? Now bring your master before the goddess of fortune.'

'''[[CC Madhya 14.209|Madhya 14.209]]:''' "In this way all the maidservants of the goddess of fortune arrested the servants of Jagannātha, bound them around the waist and brought them before the goddess of fortune.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.210|Madhya 14.210]]:''' "When all the maidservants brought Lord Jagannātha's servants before the lotus feet of the goddess of fortune, the Lord's servants were fined and forced to submit.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.211|Madhya 14.211]]:''' "All the maidservants began to beat the Ratha car with sticks, and they treated the servants of Lord Jagannātha almost like thieves.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.212|Madhya 14.212]]:''' "Finally all of Lord Jagannātha's servants submitted to the goddess of fortune with folded hands, assuring her that they would bring Lord Jagannātha before her the very next day.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.213|Madhya 14.213]]:''' "Being thus pacified, the goddess of fortune returned to her apartment. Just see! My goddess of fortune is opulent beyond all description."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.214|Madhya 14.214]]:''' Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura continued to address Svarūpa Dāmodara: "Your gopīs are engaged in boiling milk and churning it into yogurt, but my mistress, the goddess of fortune, sits on a throne made of jewels and gems."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.215|Madhya 14.215]]:''' Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, who was enjoying the mood of Nārada Muni, thus made jokes. Hearing him, all the personal servants of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to smile.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.216|Madhya 14.216]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, "My dear Śrīvāsa, your nature is exactly like that of Nārada Muni. The Supreme Personality of Godhead's opulence is having a direct influence upon you.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.217|Madhya 14.217]]:''' "Svarūpa Dāmodara is a pure devotee of Vṛndāvana. He does not even know what opulence is, for he is simply absorbed in pure devotional service."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.218|Madhya 14.218]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara then retorted, "My dear Śrīvāsa, please hear me with attention. You have forgotten the transcendental opulence of Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.219|Madhya 14.219]]:''' "The natural opulence of Vṛndāvana is just like an ocean. The opulence of Dvārakā and Vaikuṇṭha is not even to be compared to a drop.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.220|Madhya 14.220]]:''' "Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full of all opulences, and His complete opulences are exhibited only in Vṛndāvana-dhāma.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.221|Madhya 14.221]]:''' "Vṛndāvana-dhāma is made of transcendental touchstone. Its entire surface is the source of all valuable jewels, and the cintāmaṇi stone is used to decorate the lotus feet of the maidservants of Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.222|Madhya 14.222]]:''' "Vṛndāvana is a natural forest of desire trees and creepers, and the inhabitants do not want anything but the fruits and flowers of those desire trees.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.223|Madhya 14.223]]:''' "In Vṛndāvana there are cows that fulfill all desires [kāma-dhenus], and their number is unlimited. They graze from forest to forest and deliver only milk. The people want nothing else.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.224|Madhya 14.224]]:''' "In Vṛndāvana, the natural speech of the people sounds like music, and their natural motion resembles a dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.225|Madhya 14.225]]:''' "The water in Vṛndāvana is nectar, and the brahmajyoti effulgence, which is full of transcendental bliss, is directly perceived there in its form.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.226|Madhya 14.226]]:''' "The gopīs there are also goddesses of fortune, and they surpass the goddess of fortune who abides in Vaikuṇṭha. In Vṛndāvana, Lord Kṛṣṇa is always playing His transcendental flute, which is His dear companion.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.227|Madhya 14.227]]:''' "'The damsels of Vṛndāvana, the gopīs, are super goddesses of fortune. The enjoyer in Vṛndāvana is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. The trees there are all wish-fulfilling trees, and the land is made of transcendental touchstone. The water is all nectar, the talking is singing, the walking is dancing, and the constant companion of Kṛṣṇa is His flute. The effulgence of transcendental bliss is experienced everywhere. Therefore Vṛndāvana-dhāma is the only relishable abode.'

'''[[CC Madhya 14.228|Madhya 14.228]]:''' "'The anklets on the damsels of Vraja-bhūmi are made of cintāmaṇi stone. The trees are wish-fulfilling trees, and they produce flowers with which the gopīs decorate themselves. There are also wish-fulfilling cows [kāma-dhenus], which deliver unlimited quantities of milk. These cows constitute the wealth of Vṛndāvana. Thus Vṛndāvana's opulence is blissfully exhibited.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 14.229|Madhya 14.229]]:''' Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura then began to dance in ecstatic love. He vibrated sounds by slapping his armpits with the palms of his hands, and he laughed very loudly.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.230|Madhya 14.230]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard these discussions about the pure transcendental mellow of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Absorbed in transcendental ecstasy, the Lord began to dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.231|Madhya 14.231]]:''' While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was dancing in ecstatic love and Svarūpa Dāmodara was singing, the Lord said, "Go on singing! Go on singing!" The Lord then extended His own ears.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.232|Madhya 14.232]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's ecstatic love was awakened by hearing the songs of Vṛndāvana. In this way He inundated Puruṣottama, Jagannātha Purī, with love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.233|Madhya 14.233]]:''' Finally the goddess of fortune returned to her apartment. In due course of time, as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was dancing, afternoon arrived.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.234|Madhya 14.234]]:''' After much singing, all four sańkīrtana parties grew fatigued, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's ecstatic love increased twofold.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.235|Madhya 14.235]]:''' While dancing absorbed in Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's ecstatic love, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared in Her very form. Seeing this from a distant place, Nityānanda Prabhu offered prayers.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.236|Madhya 14.236]]:''' Seeing the ecstatic love of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Nityānanda Prabhu did not approach but remained a little distance away.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.237|Madhya 14.237]]:''' Only Nityānanda Prabhu could catch Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, but the ecstatic mood of the Lord would not stop. At the same time, kīrtana could not be continued.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.238|Madhya 14.238]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara then informed the Lord that all the devotees were fatigued. Seeing this situation, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to His external senses.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.239|Madhya 14.239]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then entered the flower garden with all His devotees. After resting there for some time, He took His afternoon bath.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.240|Madhya 14.240]]:''' Then there arrived in large quantities a variety of food that had been offered to Śrī Jagannātha and a variety that had been offered to the goddess of fortune.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.241|Madhya 14.241]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu finished His afternoon lunch, and after His evening bath He went to see Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.242|Madhya 14.242]]:''' As soon as He saw Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to chant and dance. Afterward, accompanied by His devotees, the Lord enjoyed sporting in the lake called Narendra-sarovara.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.243|Madhya 14.243]]:''' Then, entering the flower garden, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took His meal. In this way He continuously performed all kinds of pastimes for eight days.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.244|Madhya 14.244]]:''' The next day Lord Jagannātha came out from the temple and, riding on the car, returned to His own abode.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.245|Madhya 14.245]]:''' As previously, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees chanted and danced with great pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.246|Madhya 14.246]]:''' During the Pāṇḍu-vijaya, Lord Jagannātha was carried, and while He was being carried, a bunch of silken ropes broke.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.247|Madhya 14.247]]:''' When the Jagannātha Deity is carried, at intervals He is placed on cotton pads. When the ropes broke, the cotton pads also broke due to the weight of Lord Jagannātha, and the cotton floated into the air.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.248|Madhya 14.248]]:''' Rāmānanda Vasu and Satyarāja Khān were present from Kulīna-grāma, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, with great respect, gave them the following orders.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.249|Madhya 14.249]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Rāmānanda Vasu and Satyarāja Khān to become the worshipers of these ropes and every year bring silken ropes from their village.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.250|Madhya 14.250]]:''' After telling them this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu showed them the broken silken ropes, saying, "Just look at this sample. You must make ropes that are much stronger."

'''[[CC Madhya 14.251|Madhya 14.251]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then informed Rāmānanda Vasu and Satyarāja Khān that this rope was the abode of Lord Śeṣa, who expands Himself into ten forms and serves the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.252|Madhya 14.252]]:''' After receiving orders from the Lord for the rendering of service, the fortunate Satyarāja and Rāmānanda Vasu were highly pleased.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.253|Madhya 14.253]]:''' Every year thereafter, when the Guṇḍicā temple was being cleansed, Satyarāja and Rāmānanda Vasu would come with the other devotees and with great pleasure bring silken rope.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.254|Madhya 14.254]]:''' Thus Lord Jagannātha returned to His temple and sat on His throne while Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to His residence with His devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.255|Madhya 14.255]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu showed the Ratha-yātrā ceremony to His devotees and performed the Vṛndāvana pastimes with them.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.256|Madhya 14.256]]:''' The pastimes of Lord Caitanya are unlimited and endless. Even Sahasra-vadana, Lord Śeṣa, cannot reach the limits of His pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 14.257|Madhya 14.257]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

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CC Madhya 13

2026-06-04T18:28:56Z

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 13 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 13|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 13: The Ecstatic Dancing of the Lord at Ratha-yātrā'''</div>
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'''[[CC Madhya 13 Summary|Madhya 13 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 13.1|Madhya 13.1]]:''' May the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, who danced in front of the car of Śrī Jagannātha, be all glorified! By seeing His dancing, not only was the whole universe held in wonder, but Lord Jagannātha Himself became very much astonished.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.2|Madhya 13.2]]:''' All glories to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Prabhu Nityānanda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Madhya 13.3|Madhya 13.3]]:''' All glories to the listeners of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta! Please hear the description of the dancing of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu at the Ratha-yātrā festival. His dancing is very enchanting. Please hear of it with great attention.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.4|Madhya 13.4]]:''' The next day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His personal associates got up in the dark and attentively took their early-morning baths.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.5|Madhya 13.5]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His personal associates then went to see the ceremony of Pāṇḍu-vijaya. During this ceremony, Lord Jagannātha leaves His throne and gets up onto the car.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.6|Madhya 13.6]]:''' King Pratāparudra in person, as well as his entourage, allowed the Pāṇḍu-vijaya ceremony to be seen by all the associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.7|Madhya 13.7]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His prominent devotees — Advaita Ācārya, Nityānanda Prabhu and others — were very happy to observe how Lord Jagannātha began the Ratha-yātrā.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.8|Madhya 13.8]]:''' The very strongly built dayitās [carriers of the Jagannātha Deity] were as powerful as drunken elephants. They manually carried Lord Jagannātha from the throne to the car.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.9|Madhya 13.9]]:''' While carrying the Deity of Lord Jagannātha, some of the dayitās took hold of the shoulders of the Lord, and some caught His lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.10|Madhya 13.10]]:''' The Lord Jagannātha Deity was bound at the waist by a strong, thick rope made of silk. From two sides the dayitās caught hold of this rope and raised the Deity.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.11|Madhya 13.11]]:''' Strong, puffed-up cotton pads called tulīs were spread out from the throne to the car, and the heavy Deity of Lord Jagannātha was carried from one pillowlike pad to the next by the dayitās.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.12|Madhya 13.12]]:''' While the dayitās carried the heavy Jagannātha Deity from one pad to the next, some of the pads broke, and the cotton contents floated into the air. When they broke, they made a heavy cracking sound.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.13|Madhya 13.13]]:''' Lord Jagannātha is the maintainer of the whole universe. Who can carry Him from one place to another? The Lord moves by His personal will just to perform His pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.14|Madhya 13.14]]:''' While the Lord was transported from the throne to the car, tumultuous sounds were made on various musical instruments. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was chanting "Maṇimā! Maṇimā!" but He could not be heard.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.15|Madhya 13.15]]:''' While the Lord was being carried from the throne to the car, King Pratāparudra personally engaged in the Lord's service by cleansing the road with a broom that had a golden handle.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.16|Madhya 13.16]]:''' The King sprinkled the road with sandalwood-scented water. Although he was the owner of the royal throne, he engaged in menial service for the sake of Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.17|Madhya 13.17]]:''' Although the King was the most exalted respectable person, still he accepted menial service for the Lord; he therefore became a suitable candidate for receiving the Lord's mercy.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.18|Madhya 13.18]]:''' Upon seeing the King engaged in such menial service, Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy. Simply by rendering this service, the King received the mercy of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.19|Madhya 13.19]]:''' Everyone was astonished to see the decorations on the Ratha car. The car appeared to be newly made of gold, and it was as high as Mount Sumeru.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.20|Madhya 13.20]]:''' The decorations included bright mirrors and hundreds and hundreds of cāmaras [white whisks made of yak tails]. On top of the car were a neat and clean canopy and a very beautiful flag.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.21|Madhya 13.21]]:''' The car was also decorated with silken cloth and various pictures. Many brass bells, gongs and ankle bells rang.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.22|Madhya 13.22]]:''' For the pastimes of the Ratha-yātrā ceremony, Lord Jagannātha got aboard one car, and His sister, Subhadrā, and elder brother, Balarāma, got aboard two other cars.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.23|Madhya 13.23]]:''' For fifteen days the Lord had remained in a secluded place with the supreme goddess of fortune and had performed His pastimes with her.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.24|Madhya 13.24]]:''' Having taken permission from the goddess of fortune, the Lord came out to ride on the Ratha car and perform His pastimes for the pleasure of the devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.25|Madhya 13.25]]:''' The fine, white sand spread all over the path resembled the bank of the Yamunā, and the small gardens on both sides looked just like those in Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.26|Madhya 13.26]]:''' As Lord Jagannātha rode in His car and saw the beauty on both sides, His mind was filled with pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.27|Madhya 13.27]]:''' The pullers of the car were known as gauḍas, and they pulled with great pleasure. However, the car sometimes went very fast and sometimes very slow.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.28|Madhya 13.28]]:''' Sometimes the car would stand still and not move, even though it was pulled very vigorously. The chariot therefore moved by the will of the Lord, not by the strength of any ordinary person.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.29|Madhya 13.29]]:''' As the car stood still, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gathered all His devotees and, with His own hand, decorated them with flower garlands and sandalwood pulp.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.30|Madhya 13.30]]:''' Paramānanda Purī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī were both personally given garlands and sandalwood pulp from the very hands of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This increased their transcendental pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.31|Madhya 13.31]]:''' Similarly, when Advaita Ācārya and Nityānanda Prabhu felt the touch of the transcendental hand of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, They were very pleased.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.32|Madhya 13.32]]:''' The Lord also gave garlands and sandalwood pulp to the performers of sańkīrtana. The two chief performers were Svarūpa Dāmodara and Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.33|Madhya 13.33]]:''' There were altogether four parties of kīrtana performers, comprising twenty-four chanters. In each party there were also two mṛdańga players, making an additional eight persons.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.34|Madhya 13.34]]:''' When the four parties were formed, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, after some consideration, divided the chanters.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.35|Madhya 13.35]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Nityānanda Prabhu, Advaita Ācārya, Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Vakreśvara Paṇḍita to dance in each of the four respective parties.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.36|Madhya 13.36]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara was chosen as the leader of the first party and was given five assistants to respond to his chanting.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.37|Madhya 13.37]]:''' The five who responded to the singing of Svarūpa Dāmodara were Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Nārāyaṇa, Govinda Datta, Rāghava Paṇḍita and Śrī Govindānanda.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.38|Madhya 13.38]]:''' Advaita Ācārya Prabhu was ordered to dance in the first group. The Lord then formed another group with Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura as the chief man.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.39|Madhya 13.39]]:''' The five singers who responded to the singing of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura were Gańgādāsa, Haridāsa, Śrīmān, Śubhānanda and Śrī Rāma Paṇḍita. Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu was appointed as a dancer.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.40|Madhya 13.40]]:''' Another group was formed consisting of Vāsudeva, Gopīnātha and Murāri. All these were responsive singers, and Mukunda was the chief singer.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.41|Madhya 13.41]]:''' Another two persons, Śrīkānta and Vallabha Sena, joined as responsive singers. In this group, the senior Haridāsa [Haridāsa Ṭhākura] was the dancer.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.42|Madhya 13.42]]:''' The Lord formed another group, appointing Govinda Ghoṣa as leader. In this group the younger Haridāsa, Viṣṇudāsa and Rāghava were the responding singers.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.43|Madhya 13.43]]:''' Two brothers named Mādhava Ghoṣa and Vāsudeva Ghoṣa also joined this group as responsive singers. Vakreśvara Paṇḍita was the dancer.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.44|Madhya 13.44]]:''' There was a sańkīrtana party from the village known as Kulīna-grāma, and Rāmānanda and Satyarāja were appointed the dancers in this group.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.45|Madhya 13.45]]:''' There was another party that came from Śāntipura and was formed by Advaita Ācārya. Acyutānanda was the dancer, and the rest of the men were singers.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.46|Madhya 13.46]]:''' Another party was formed by the people of Khaṇḍa. These people were singing in a different place. In that group, Narahari Prabhu and Raghunandana were dancing.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.47|Madhya 13.47]]:''' Four parties chanted and danced in front of Lord Jagannātha, and on either side was another party. Yet another was at the rear.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.48|Madhya 13.48]]:''' There were altogether seven parties of sańkīrtana, and in each party two men were beating drums. Thus fourteen drums were being played at once. The sound was tumultuous, and all the devotees became mad.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.49|Madhya 13.49]]:''' All the Vaiṣṇavas came together like an assembly of clouds. As the devotees chanted the holy names in great ecstasy, tears fell from their eyes like rain.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.50|Madhya 13.50]]:''' When the sańkīrtana resounded, it filled the three worlds. Indeed, no one could hear any sounds or musical instruments other than the sańkīrtana.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.51|Madhya 13.51]]:''' Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu wandered through all seven groups chanting the holy name, "Hari, Hari!" Raising His arms, He shouted, "All glories to Lord Jagannātha!"

'''[[CC Madhya 13.52|Madhya 13.52]]:''' Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu then exhibited another mystic power by performing pastimes simultaneously in all seven groups.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.53|Madhya 13.53]]:''' Everyone said, "Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is present in my group. Indeed, He does not go anywhere else. He is bestowing His mercy upon us."

'''[[CC Madhya 13.54|Madhya 13.54]]:''' Actually, no one could see the inconceivable potency of the Lord. Only the most confidential devotees, those in pure, unalloyed devotional service, could understand.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.55|Madhya 13.55]]:''' Lord Jagannātha was very much pleased by the sańkīrtana, and He brought His car to a standstill just to see the performance.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.56|Madhya 13.56]]:''' King Pratāparudra was also astonished to see the sańkīrtana. He became inactive and was converted to ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.57|Madhya 13.57]]:''' When the King informed Kāśī Miśra of the glories of the Lord, Kāśī Miśra replied, "O King, your fortune has no limit!"

'''[[CC Madhya 13.58|Madhya 13.58]]:''' The King and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya were both aware of the Lord's activities, but no one else could see the tricks of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.59|Madhya 13.59]]:''' Only a person who has received the mercy of the Lord can understand. Without the Lord's mercy, even the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, cannot understand.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.60|Madhya 13.60]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had been very satisfied to see the King accept the menial task of sweeping the street, and for this humility the King received the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He could therefore observe the mystery of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's activities.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.61|Madhya 13.61]]:''' Although the King had been refused an interview, he was indirectly bestowed causeless mercy. Who can understand the internal potency of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu?

'''[[CC Madhya 13.62|Madhya 13.62]]:''' When the two great personalities Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Kāśī Miśra saw Caitanya Mahāprabhu's causeless mercy upon the King, they were astonished.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.63|Madhya 13.63]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed His pastimes for some time in this way. He personally sang and induced His personal associates to dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.64|Madhya 13.64]]:''' According to His need, the Lord sometimes exhibited one form and sometimes many. This was being executed by His internal potency.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.65|Madhya 13.65]]:''' Indeed, the Personality of Godhead forgot Himself in the course of His transcendental pastimes, but His internal potency [līlā-śakti], knowing the intentions of the Lord, made all arrangements.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.66|Madhya 13.66]]:''' Just as Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa formerly performed the rāsa-līlā dance and other pastimes at Vṛndāvana, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed uncommon pastimes moment after moment.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.67|Madhya 13.67]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's dancing before the Ratha-yātrā car could be perceived only by pure devotees. Others could not understand. Descriptions of Lord Kṛṣṇa's uncommon dancing can be found in the revealed scripture Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.68|Madhya 13.68]]:''' In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced in great jubilation and inundated all the people with waves of ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.69|Madhya 13.69]]:''' Thus Lord Jagannātha mounted His car, and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inspired all His devotees to dance in front of it.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.70|Madhya 13.70]]:''' Now please hear about Lord Jagannātha's going to the Guṇḍicā temple while Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced before the Ratha car.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.71|Madhya 13.71]]:''' The Lord performed kīrtana for some time and, through His own endeavor, inspired all the devotees to dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.72|Madhya 13.72]]:''' When the Lord Himself wanted to dance, all seven groups combined together.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.73|Madhya 13.73]]:''' The Lord's devotees — including Śrīvāsa, Rāmāi, Raghu, Govinda, Mukunda, Haridāsa, Govindānanda, Mādhava and Govinda — all combined together.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.74|Madhya 13.74]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu desired to jump high while dancing, He placed these nine people in the charge of Svarūpa Dāmodara.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.75|Madhya 13.75]]:''' These devotees [Svarūpa Dāmodara and the devotees in his charge] sang along with the Lord, and they also ran beside Him. All the other groups of men also sang.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.76|Madhya 13.76]]:''' Offering obeisances to the Lord with folded hands, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu raised His face toward Jagannātha and prayed as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.77|Madhya 13.77]]:''' "'Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is the worshipable Deity for all brahminical men, who is the well-wisher of cows and brāhmaṇas, and who is always benefiting the whole world. I offer my repeated obeisances to the Personality of Godhead, known as Kṛṣṇa and Govinda.'

'''[[CC Madhya 13.78|Madhya 13.78]]:''' "'All glories unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as the son of Devakī! All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as the light of the dynasty of Vṛṣṇi! All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose bodily luster is like that of a new cloud, and whose body is as soft as a lotus flower! All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appeared on this planet to deliver the world from the burden of demons, and who can offer liberation to everyone!'

'''[[CC Madhya 13.79|Madhya 13.79]]:''' "'Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is He who is known as jana-nivāsa, the ultimate resort of all living entities, and who is also known as Devakī-nandana or Yaśodā-nandana, the son of Devakī and Yaśodā. He is the guide of the Yadu dynasty, and with His mighty arms He kills everything inauspicious, as well as every man who is impious. By His presence He destroys all things inauspicious for all living entities, moving and inert. His blissful smiling face always increases the lusty desires of the gopīs of Vṛndāvana. May He be all-glorious and happy!'

'''[[CC Madhya 13.80|Madhya 13.80]]:''' "'I am not a brāhmaṇa, I am not a kṣatriya, I am not a vaiśya or a śūdra. Nor am I a brahmacārī, a householder, a vānaprastha or a sannyāsī. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the maintainer of the gopīs. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 13.81|Madhya 13.81]]:''' Having recited all these verses from scripture, the Lord again offered His obeisances, and all the devotees, with folded hands, also offered prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.82|Madhya 13.82]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced and jumped high, roaring like thunder and moving in a circle like a wheel, He appeared like a circling firebrand.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.83|Madhya 13.83]]:''' Wherever Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stepped while dancing, the whole earth, with its hills and seas, appeared to tilt.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.84|Madhya 13.84]]:''' When Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced, He displayed various blissful transcendental changes in His body. Sometimes He appeared as though stunned. Sometimes the hairs of His body stood on end. Sometimes He perspired, cried, trembled and changed color, and sometimes He exhibited symptoms of helplessness, pride, exuberance and humility.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.85|Madhya 13.85]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fell down with a crash while dancing, He would roll on the ground. At such times it appeared that a golden mountain was rolling on the ground.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.86|Madhya 13.86]]:''' Nityānanda Prabhu would stretch out His two hands and try to catch the Lord when He was running here and there.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.87|Madhya 13.87]]:''' Advaita Ācārya would walk behind the Lord and loudly chant "Haribol! Haribol!" again and again.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.88|Madhya 13.88]]:''' Just to check the crowds from coming too near the Lord, the devotees formed three circles. The first circle was guided by Nityānanda Prabhu, who is Balarāma Himself, the possessor of great strength.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.89|Madhya 13.89]]:''' All the devotees headed by Kāśīśvara and Govinda linked hands and formed a second circle around the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.90|Madhya 13.90]]:''' Mahārāja Pratāparudra and his personal assistants formed a third circle around the two inner circles just to check the crowds from coming too near.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.91|Madhya 13.91]]:''' With his hands on the shoulders of Haricandana, King Pratāparudra could see Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu dancing, and the King felt great ecstasy.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.92|Madhya 13.92]]:''' While the King beheld the dancing, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, standing in front of him, became ecstatic as he saw the dancing of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.93|Madhya 13.93]]:''' Seeing Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura standing before the King, Haricandana touched Śrīvāsa with his hand and requested him to step aside.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.94|Madhya 13.94]]:''' Absorbed in watching Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu dance, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura could not understand why he was being touched and pushed. After he was pushed again and again, he became angry.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.95|Madhya 13.95]]:''' Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura slapped Haricandana to stop him from pushing him. In turn, this made Haricandana angry.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.96|Madhya 13.96]]:''' As the angered Haricandana was about to speak to Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, Pratāparudra Mahārāja personally stopped him.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.97|Madhya 13.97]]:''' King Pratāparudra said, "You are very fortunate, for you have been graced by the touch of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura. I am not so fortunate. You should feel obliged to him."

'''[[CC Madhya 13.98|Madhya 13.98]]:''' Everyone was astonished by the dancing of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and even Lord Jagannātha became extremely happy to see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.99|Madhya 13.99]]:''' The car came to a complete standstill and remained immobile while Lord Jagannātha, with unblinking eyes, watched the dancing of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.100|Madhya 13.100]]:''' The goddess of fortune, Subhadrā, and Lord Balarāma both felt great happiness and ecstasy within their hearts. Indeed, they were seen smiling at the dancing.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.101|Madhya 13.101]]:''' When Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced and jumped high, eight wonderful transformations indicative of divine ecstasy were seen in His body. All these symptoms were visible simultaneously.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.102|Madhya 13.102]]:''' His skin erupted with goose pimples, and the hairs of His body stood on end. His body resembled the śimulī [silk cotton tree], all covered with thorns.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.103|Madhya 13.103]]:''' Indeed, the people became afraid just to see His teeth chatter, and they even thought that His teeth would fall out.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.104|Madhya 13.104]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's whole body flowed with perspiration and at the same time oozed blood. He made the sounds "jaja gaga, jaja gaga" in a voice choked with ecstasy.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.105|Madhya 13.105]]:''' Tears came forcefully from the eyes of the Lord, as if from a syringe, and all the people surrounding Him became wet.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.106|Madhya 13.106]]:''' Everyone saw the complexion of His body change from white to pink, so that His luster resembled that of the mallikā flower.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.107|Madhya 13.107]]:''' Sometimes He appeared stunned, and sometimes He rolled on the ground. Indeed, sometimes His legs and hands became as hard as dry wood, and He did not move.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.108|Madhya 13.108]]:''' When the Lord fell to the ground, sometimes His breathing almost stopped. When the devotees saw this, their lives also became very feeble.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.109|Madhya 13.109]]:''' Water flowed from His eyes and sometimes through His nostrils, and foam fell from His mouth. These flowings appeared to be torrents of nectar descending from the moon.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.110|Madhya 13.110]]:''' The foam that fell from the mouth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was taken and drunk by Śubhānanda because he was very fortunate and expert in relishing the mellow of ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.111|Madhya 13.111]]:''' After Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had performed His devastating dance for some time, His mind entered into a mood of ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.112|Madhya 13.112]]:''' After abandoning the dancing, the Lord ordered Svarūpa Dāmodara to sing. Understanding His mind, Svarūpa Dāmodara began to sing as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.113|Madhya 13.113]]:''' "'Now I have gained the Lord of My life, in the absence of whom I was being burned by Cupid and was withering away.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 13.114|Madhya 13.114]]:''' When this refrain was loudly sung by Svarūpa Dāmodara, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again began rhythmically dancing in transcendental bliss.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.115|Madhya 13.115]]:''' The car of Lord Jagannātha began to move slowly while the son of mother Śacī went ahead and danced in front.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.116|Madhya 13.116]]:''' While dancing and singing, all the devotees in front of Lord Jagannātha kept their eyes on Him. Caitanya Mahāprabhu then went to the end of the procession with the sańkīrtana performers.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.117|Madhya 13.117]]:''' His eyes and mind fully absorbed in Lord Jagannātha, Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to play the drama of the song with His two arms.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.118|Madhya 13.118]]:''' When Caitanya Mahāprabhu was dramatically enacting the song, He would sometimes fall behind in the procession. At such times, Lord Jagannātha would come to a standstill. When Caitanya Mahāprabhu again went forward, Lord Jagannātha's car would slowly start again.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.119|Madhya 13.119]]:''' Thus there was a sort of competition between Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Jagannātha in seeing who would lead, but Caitanya Mahāprabhu was so strong that He made Lord Jagannātha wait in His car.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.120|Madhya 13.120]]:''' While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was dancing, His ecstasy changed. Raising His two arms, He began to recite the following verse in a loud voice.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.121|Madhya 13.121]]:''' "'That very personality who stole away my heart during my youth is now again my master. These are the same moonlit nights of the month of Caitra. The same fragrance of mālatī flowers is there, and the same sweet breezes are blowing from the kadamba forest. In our intimate relationship, I am also the same lover, yet still my mind is not happy here. I am eager to go back to that place on the bank of the Revā under the Vetasī tree. That is my desire.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 13.122|Madhya 13.122]]:''' This verse was recited by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again and again. But for Svarūpa Dāmodara, no one could understand its meaning.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.123|Madhya 13.123]]:''' I have already explained this verse. Now I shall simply describe it in brief.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.124|Madhya 13.124]]:''' Formerly, all the gopīs of Vṛndāvana were very pleased when they met with Kṛṣṇa in the holy place Kurukṣetra.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.125|Madhya 13.125]]:''' Similarly, after seeing Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu awoke with the ecstasy of the gopīs. Being absorbed in this ecstasy, He asked Svarūpa Dāmodara to sing the refrain.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.126|Madhya 13.126]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke thus to Lord Jagannātha: "You are the same Kṛṣṇa, and I am the same Rādhārāṇī. We are meeting again in the same way that We met in the beginning of Our lives.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.127|Madhya 13.127]]:''' "Although We are both the same, My mind is still attracted to Vṛndāvana-dhāma. I wish that You will please again appear with Your lotus feet in Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.128|Madhya 13.128]]:''' "In Kurukṣetra there are crowds of people, elephants and horses, and also the rattling of chariots. But in Vṛndāvana there are flower gardens, and the humming of the bees and chirping of the birds can be heard.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.129|Madhya 13.129]]:''' "Here at Kurukṣetra You are dressed like a royal prince, accompanied by great warriors, but in Vṛndāvana You appeared just like an ordinary cowherd boy, accompanied only by Your beautiful flute.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.130|Madhya 13.130]]:''' "Here there is not even a drop of the ocean of transcendental happiness that I enjoyed with You in Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.131|Madhya 13.131]]:''' "I therefore request You to come to Vṛndāvana and enjoy pastimes with Me. If You do so, My ambition will be fulfilled."

'''[[CC Madhya 13.132|Madhya 13.132]]:''' I have already described in brief Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's statement from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.133|Madhya 13.133]]:''' In that ecstatic mood, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recited many other verses, but people in general could not understand their meaning.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.134|Madhya 13.134]]:''' The meaning of those verses was known to Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, but he did not reveal it. However, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī has broadcast the meaning.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.135|Madhya 13.135]]:''' While dancing, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to recite the following verse, which He tasted in the association of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.136|Madhya 13.136]]:''' "[The gopīs spoke thus:] 'Dear Lord, whose navel is just like a lotus flower, Your lotus feet are the only shelter for those who have fallen into the deep well of material existence. Your feet are worshiped and meditated upon by great mystic yogīs and highly learned philosophers. We wish that these lotus feet may also be awakened within our hearts, although we are only ordinary persons engaged in household affairs.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 13.137|Madhya 13.137]]:''' Speaking in the mood of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "For most people, the mind and heart are one, but because My mind is never separated from Vṛndāvana, I consider My mind and Vṛndāvana to be one. My mind is already Vṛndāvana, and since You like Vṛndāvana, will You please place Your lotus feet there? I would deem that Your full mercy.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.138|Madhya 13.138]]:''' "My dear Lord, kindly hear My true submission. My home is Vṛndāvana, and I wish Your association there. But if I do not get it, then it will be very difficult for Me to keep My life.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.139|Madhya 13.139]]:''' "My dear Kṛṣṇa, formerly, when You were staying in Mathurā, You sent Uddhava to teach Me speculative knowledge and mystic yoga. Now You Yourself are speaking the same thing, but My mind doesn't accept it. There is no place in My mind for jñāna-yoga or dhyāna-yoga. Although You know Me very well, You are still instructing Me in jñāna-yoga and dhyāna-yoga. It is not right for You to do so."

'''[[CC Madhya 13.140|Madhya 13.140]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "I would like to withdraw My consciousness from You and engage it in material activities, but even though I try, I cannot do so. I am naturally inclined to You only. Your instructions for Me to meditate on You are therefore simply ludicrous. In this way, You are killing Me. It is not very good for You to think of Me as a candidate for Your instructions.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.141|Madhya 13.141]]:''' "The gopīs are not like the mystic yogīs. They will never be satisfied simply by meditating on Your lotus feet and imitating the so-called yogīs. Teaching the gopīs about meditation is another kind of duplicity. When they are instructed to undergo mystic yoga practice, they are not at all satisfied. On the contrary, they become more and more angry with You."

'''[[CC Madhya 13.142|Madhya 13.142]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "The gopīs have fallen into the great ocean of separation and are being devoured by the timińgila fish of their ambition to serve You. The gopīs are to be delivered from the mouths of these timińgila fish, for they are pure devotees. Since they have no material conception of life, why should they aspire for liberation? The gopīs do not want that liberation desired by yogīs and jñānīs, for they are already liberated from the ocean of material existence.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.143|Madhya 13.143]]:''' "It is amazing that You have forgotten the land of Vṛndāvana. And how is it that You have forgotten Your father, mother and friends? How have You forgotten Govardhana Hill, the bank of the Yamunā and the forest where You enjoyed the rāsa-līlā dance?

'''[[CC Madhya 13.144|Madhya 13.144]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa, You are certainly a refined gentleman with all good qualities. You are well-behaved, softhearted and merciful. I know that there is not even a tinge of fault to be found in You. Yet Your mind does not even remember the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. This is only My misfortune, and nothing else.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.145|Madhya 13.145]]:''' "I do not care for My personal unhappiness, but when I see the morose face of mother Yaśodā and the hearts of all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana breaking because of You, I wonder whether You want to kill them all. Or do You want to enliven them by coming there? Why are You simply keeping them alive in a state of suffering?

'''[[CC Madhya 13.146|Madhya 13.146]]:''' "The inhabitants of Vṛndāvana do not want You dressed like a prince, nor do they want You to associate with great warriors in a different country. They cannot leave the land of Vṛndāvana, and without Your presence, they are all dying. What is their condition to be?

'''[[CC Madhya 13.147|Madhya 13.147]]:''' "My dear Kṛṣṇa, You are the life and soul of Vṛndāvana-dhāma. You are especially the life of Nanda Mahārāja. You are the only opulence in the land of Vṛndāvana, and You are very merciful. Please come and let all the residents of Vṛndāvana live. Kindly keep Your lotus feet again in Vṛndāvana."

'''[[CC Madhya 13.148|Madhya 13.148]]:''' After hearing Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's statements, Lord Kṛṣṇa's love for the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana was evoked, and His body and mind became very much perturbed. After hearing of their love for Him, He immediately thought Himself to be always indebted to the residents of Vṛndāvana. Then Kṛṣṇa began to pacify Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.149|Madhya 13.149]]:''' "My dearest Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, please hear Me. I am speaking the truth. I cry day and night simply upon remembering all you inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. No one knows how unhappy this makes Me."

'''[[CC Madhya 13.150|Madhya 13.150]]:''' Śrī Kṛṣṇa continued: "All the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana-dhāma — My mother, father, cowherd boyfriends and everything else — are like My life and soul. And among all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, the gopīs are My very life and soul. And among the gopīs, You, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, are the chief. Therefore You are the very life of My life.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.151|Madhya 13.151]]:''' "My dear Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, I am always subservient to the loving affairs of all of you. I am under your control only. My separation from you and residence in distant places have occurred due to My strong misfortune.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.152|Madhya 13.152]]:''' "When a woman is separated from the man she loves or a man is separated from his beloved woman, neither of them can live. It is a fact that they live only for each other, for if one dies and the other hears of it, he or she will die also.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.153|Madhya 13.153]]:''' "Such a loving, chaste wife and loving husband desire all welfare for each other in separation and do not care for personal happiness. Desiring only each other's well-being, such a pair certainly meet again without delay.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.154|Madhya 13.154]]:''' "You are My most dear, and I know that in My absence You cannot live for a moment. Just to keep You living, I worship Lord Nārāyaṇa. By His merciful potency, I come to Vṛndāvana every day to enjoy pastimes with You. I then return to Dvārakā-dhāma. Thus You can always feel My presence there in Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.155|Madhya 13.155]]:''' "Our love affair is more powerful because of My good fortune in receiving Nārāyaṇa's grace. This allows Me to come there unseen by others. I hope that very soon I will be visible to everyone.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.156|Madhya 13.156]]:''' "I have already killed all the mischievous demons who are enemies of the Yadu dynasty, and I have also killed Kaḿsa and his allies. But there are two or four demons still living. I want to kill them, and after doing so I shall very soon return to Vṛndāvana. Please know this for certain.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.157|Madhya 13.157]]:''' "I wish to protect the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana from the attacks of My enemies. That is why I remain in My kingdom; otherwise I am indifferent to My royal position. Whatever wives, sons and wealth I maintain in the kingdom are only for the satisfaction of the Yadus.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.158|Madhya 13.158]]:''' "Your loving qualities always attract Me to Vṛndāvana. Indeed, they will bring Me back within ten or twenty days, and when I return I shall enjoy both day and night with You and all the damsels of Vrajabhūmi."

'''[[CC Madhya 13.159|Madhya 13.159]]:''' While speaking to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Kṛṣṇa became very anxious to return to Vṛndāvana. He made Her listen to a verse which banished all Her difficulties and which assured Her that She would again attain Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.160|Madhya 13.160]]:''' Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: "Devotional service unto Me is the only way to attain Me. My dear gopīs, whatever love and affection you have attained for Me by good fortune is the only reason for My returning to you."

'''[[CC Madhya 13.161|Madhya 13.161]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would sit in His room with Svarūpa Dāmodara and taste the topics of these verses day and night.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.162|Madhya 13.162]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced completely absorbed in ecstatic emotion. While looking at the face of Lord Jagannātha, He danced and recited these verses.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.163|Madhya 13.163]]:''' No one can describe the good fortune of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, for he is always absorbed in the service of the Lord with his body, mind and words.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.164|Madhya 13.164]]:''' The senses of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were identical with the senses of Svarūpa. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to become fully absorbed in tasting the singing of Svarūpa Dāmodara.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.165|Madhya 13.165]]:''' In emotional ecstasy, Caitanya Mahāprabhu would sometimes sit on the ground and, looking down, would write on the ground with His finger.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.166|Madhya 13.166]]:''' Fearing that the Lord would injure His finger by writing in this way, Svarūpa Dāmodara checked Him with his own hand.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.167|Madhya 13.167]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara used to sing exactly according to the ecstatic emotion of the Lord. Whenever a particular mellow was being tasted by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Svarūpa Dāmodara would personify it by singing.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.168|Madhya 13.168]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu looked upon the beautiful lotuslike face and eyes of Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.169|Madhya 13.169]]:''' Lord Jagannātha was garlanded, dressed with nice garments and adorned with beautiful ornaments. His face was glittering from the rays of sunshine, and the entire atmosphere was fragrant.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.170|Madhya 13.170]]:''' An ocean of transcendental bliss expanded in the heart of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and symptoms of madness immediately intensified like a hurricane.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.171|Madhya 13.171]]:''' The madness of transcendental bliss created waves of various emotions. The emotions appeared like opposing soldiers staging a fight.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.172|Madhya 13.172]]:''' There was an increase in all the natural emotional symptoms. Thus there were awakening emotions, peacefulness, joined, mixed, transcendental and prevalent emotions, and impetuses for emotion.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.173|Madhya 13.173]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's body appeared like a transcendental Himalayan mountain bearing ecstatic emotional flower trees, all of them blooming.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.174|Madhya 13.174]]:''' The sight of all these symptoms attracted everyone's mind and consciousness. Indeed, the Lord sprinkled everyone's mind with the nectar of transcendental love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.175|Madhya 13.175]]:''' He sprinkled the minds of the servants of Lord Jagannātha, the government officers, the pilgrim visitors, the general populace and all the residents of Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.176|Madhya 13.176]]:''' Upon seeing the dancing and ecstatic love of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, everyone became astonished. In their hearts they became infatuated with love of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.177|Madhya 13.177]]:''' Everyone danced and chanted in ecstatic love, and a great noise resounded. Everyone was overwhelmed with transcendental bliss just to see the dancing of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.178|Madhya 13.178]]:''' Apart from the others, even Lord Jagannātha and Lord Balarāma, with great happiness, began to move very slowly upon seeing the dancing of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.179|Madhya 13.179]]:''' Lord Jagannātha and Lord Balarāma sometimes stopped the car and happily observed Lord Caitanya's dancing. Anyone who was able to see Them stop and watch the dancing bore witness to Their pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.180|Madhya 13.180]]:''' When Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was dancing and wandering in this way, He fell down in front of Mahārāja Pratāparudra.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.181|Madhya 13.181]]:''' Mahārāja Pratāparudra picked the Lord up with great respect, but upon seeing the King, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to His external senses.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.182|Madhya 13.182]]:''' After seeing the King, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu condemned Himself, saying, "Oh, how pitiful it is that I have touched a person who is interested in mundane affairs!"

'''[[CC Madhya 13.183|Madhya 13.183]]:''' Not even Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, Kāśīśvara or Govinda took care of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu when He fell down. Nityānanda was in great ecstasy, and Kāśīśvara and Govinda were elsewhere.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.184|Madhya 13.184]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had already been satisfied by the King's behavior, for the King had accepted the service of a sweeper for Lord Jagannātha. Therefore Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu actually desired to see the King.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.185|Madhya 13.185]]:''' However, just to warn His personal associates, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, externally expressed feelings of anger.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.186|Madhya 13.186]]:''' King Pratāparudra became frightened when Lord Caitanya showed external anger, but Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya told the King, "Don't worry."

'''[[CC Madhya 13.187|Madhya 13.187]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya informed the King, "The Lord is very satisfied with you. By pointing you out, He was teaching His personal associates how to behave with mundane people."

'''[[CC Madhya 13.188|Madhya 13.188]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, "I shall submit your petition when there is an opportune moment. It will then be easy for you to come and meet the Lord."

'''[[CC Madhya 13.189|Madhya 13.189]]:''' After circumambulating Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went behind the car and began pushing it with His head.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.190|Madhya 13.190]]:''' As soon as He pushed, the car immediately started to move, making a rattling noise. The people all around began to chant the holy name of the Lord, "Hari! Hari!"

'''[[CC Madhya 13.191|Madhya 13.191]]:''' As the car began to move, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took His personal associates in front of the cars occupied by Lord Balarāma and Subhadrā, the goddess of fortune. Greatly inspired, He then began to dance in front of them.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.192|Madhya 13.192]]:''' After finishing the dance before Lord Baladeva and Subhadrā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came before Lord Jagannātha's car. Upon seeing Lord Jagannātha, He began to dance again.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.193|Madhya 13.193]]:''' When they reached the place called Balagaṇḍi, Lord Jagannātha stopped His car and began to look left and right.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.194|Madhya 13.194]]:''' On the left side, Lord Jagannātha saw a neighborhood of brāhmaṇas and a coconut-tree grove. On the right side, He saw nice flower gardens resembling those in the holy place Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.195|Madhya 13.195]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees were dancing in front of the car, and Lord Jagannātha, having stopped the car, watched the dancing.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.196|Madhya 13.196]]:''' It was customary that food be offered to the Lord at vipra-śāsana. Indeed, innumerable dishes of food were offered, and Lord Jagannātha tasted each one of them.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.197|Madhya 13.197]]:''' All kinds of devotees of Lord Jagannātha — from neophytes to the most advanced — offered their best cooked food to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.198|Madhya 13.198]]:''' These devotees included the King, his queens, his ministers and friends and all other big and small residents of Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.199|Madhya 13.199]]:''' All the visitors who had come from different countries to Jagannātha Purī, as well as the local devotees, offered their personally cooked food to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.200|Madhya 13.200]]:''' The devotees offered their food everywhere — in front of the car and behind it, on the two sides and within the flower garden. Wherever possible, they made their offering to the Lord, for there were no hard and fast rules.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.201|Madhya 13.201]]:''' While the food was being offered, a large crowd of people gathered. At that time Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stopped His dancing and went to a nearby garden.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.202|Madhya 13.202]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu entered the garden and, immersed in great ecstatic emotion, fell flat on a raised platform there.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.203|Madhya 13.203]]:''' The Lord was very much fatigued from the hard labor of dancing, and there was perspiration all over His body. He therefore enjoyed the fragrant, cool breeze of the garden.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.204|Madhya 13.204]]:''' All the devotees who had been performing sańkīrtana came there and took rest under each and every tree.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.205|Madhya 13.205]]:''' Thus I have described the great performance of congregational chanting by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as He danced in front of Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.206|Madhya 13.206]]:''' In his prayer known as the Caitanyāṣṭaka, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has given a vivid description of the Lord's dancing before the car of Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.207|Madhya 13.207]]:''' "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced down the main road in great ecstasy before Lord Jagannātha, the master of Nīlācala, who was sitting on His car. Overwhelmed by the transcendental bliss of dancing and surrounded by Vaiṣṇavas who sang the holy names, He manifested waves of ecstatic love of Godhead. When will Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again be visible to my vision?"

'''[[CC Madhya 13.208|Madhya 13.208]]:''' Anyone who hears this description of the car festival will attain Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He will also attain the elevated state by which he will have firm conviction in devotional service and love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 13.209|Madhya 13.209]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 12|Madhya-līlā 12]] '''[[CC Madhya 12|Madhya-līlā 12]] - [[CC Madhya 14|Madhya-līlā 14]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 14|Madhya-līlā 14]]</div>

CC Madhya 12

2026-06-04T18:28:54Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 12 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 12|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 12: The Cleansing of the Guṇḍicā Temple'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 11|Madhya-līlā 11]] '''[[CC Madhya 11|Madhya-līlā 11]] - [[CC Madhya 13|Madhya-līlā 13]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 13|Madhya-līlā 13]]</div>

'''[[CC Madhya 12 Summary|Madhya 12 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 12.1|Madhya 12.1]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu washed and cleansed the Guṇḍicā temple with His devotees and associates. In this way He made it as cool and bright as His own heart, and thus He made the temple a befitting place for Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa to sit.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.2|Madhya 12.2]]:''' All glories to Gauracandra! All glories to Nityānanda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Madhya 12.3|Madhya 12.3]]:''' All glories to the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, headed by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura! I beg their power so that I can properly describe Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.4|Madhya 12.4]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned from His South Indian tour, Mahārāja Pratāparudra, the King of Orissa, became very anxious to meet Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.5|Madhya 12.5]]:''' The King sent a letter from his capital, Kaṭaka, to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, entreating him to obtain the Lord's permission so that he could go and see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.6|Madhya 12.6]]:''' Replying to the King's letter, the Bhaṭṭācārya wrote that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had not given His permission. After this, the King wrote him another letter.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.7|Madhya 12.7]]:''' In this letter the King requested Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, "Please appeal to all the devotees associated with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and submit this petition to them on my behalf.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.8|Madhya 12.8]]:''' "If all the devotees associated with the Lord are favorably disposed toward me, they can submit my petition at the lotus feet of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.9|Madhya 12.9]]:''' "By the mercy of all the devotees, one can attain the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord. Without His mercy, my kingdom does not appeal to me.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.10|Madhya 12.10]]:''' "If Gaurahari, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, will not show mercy to me, I shall give up my kingdom, become a mendicant and beg from door to door."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.11|Madhya 12.11]]:''' When the Bhaṭṭācārya received this letter, he became very anxious. He then took the letter and went to the devotees of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.12|Madhya 12.12]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya met with all the devotees and described the King's wishes. Then he presented the letter to all of them for inspection.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.13|Madhya 12.13]]:''' Upon reading the letter, everyone was astonished to see that King Pratāparudra had so much devotion for the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.14|Madhya 12.14]]:''' The devotees gave their opinion and said, "The Lord will never meet the King, and if we requested Him to do so, the Lord would surely feel very unhappy."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.15|Madhya 12.15]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then said, "We shall go once again to the Lord, but we shall not request Him to meet the King. Rather, we shall simply describe the good behavior of the King."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.16|Madhya 12.16]]:''' Having thus reached a decision, they all went to the place of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. There, although ready to speak, they could not even utter a word.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.17|Madhya 12.17]]:''' After they arrived at Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's place, the Lord, seeing them, said, "What have you all come here to say? I see that you want to say something, but you do not speak. What is the reason?"

'''[[CC Madhya 12.18|Madhya 12.18]]:''' Nityānanda Prabhu then said, "We want to tell You something. Although we cannot stay without speaking, we are still very much afraid to speak.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.19|Madhya 12.19]]:''' "We want to submit before You something that may or may not be befitting. The matter is this: unless he sees You, the King of Orissa will become a mendicant."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.20|Madhya 12.20]]:''' Nityānanda Prabhu continued, "The King has decided to become a mendicant and accept the sign of a mendicant by wearing an ivory earring. He does not want to enjoy his kingdom without seeing the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.21|Madhya 12.21]]:''' Nityānanda Prabhu continued, "The King also expressed his desire to see the moonlike face of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his eyes' full satisfaction. He would like to raise the lotus feet of the Lord to his heart."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.22|Madhya 12.22]]:''' Hearing all these statements, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mind was certainly softened, but externally He wished to speak some harsh words.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.23|Madhya 12.23]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "I can understand that you all desire to take Me to Kaṭaka to see the King."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.24|Madhya 12.24]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "What to speak of spiritual advancement — all the people will blaspheme Me. And what to speak of all the people — Dāmodara would chastise Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.25|Madhya 12.25]]:''' "I shall not meet the King at the request of all the devotees, but I shall do so if Dāmodara will give his permission."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.26|Madhya 12.26]]:''' Dāmodara immediately replied, "My Lord, You are the fully independent Supreme Personality of Godhead. Since everything is known to You, You know what is permissible and what is not permissible.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.27|Madhya 12.27]]:''' "I am merely an insignificant jīva, so what power do I have to give directions to You? By Your own personal choice You will meet with the King. I shall see it.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.28|Madhya 12.28]]:''' "The King is very much attached to You, and You are feeling affection and love toward him. Thus I can understand that by virtue of the King's affection for You, You will touch him.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.29|Madhya 12.29]]:''' "Although You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead and are completely independent, still You are dependent on the love and affection of Your devotees. That is Your nature."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.30|Madhya 12.30]]:''' Nityānanda Prabhu then said, "Who is there in the three worlds who can ask You to see the King?

'''[[CC Madhya 12.31|Madhya 12.31]]:''' "Still, isn't it the nature of an attached man to give up his life if he does not attain his desired object?

'''[[CC Madhya 12.32|Madhya 12.32]]:''' "For instance, some of the wives of the brāhmaṇas who were performing sacrifices gave up their lives in the presence of their husbands for the sake of Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.33|Madhya 12.33]]:''' Nityānanda Prabhu then submitted one suggestion for the Lord's consideration. "There is a way," He suggested, "by which You need not meet the King but which would enable the King to continue living.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.34|Madhya 12.34]]:''' "If You, out of Your mercy, send one of Your outer garments to the King, the King would live hoping to see You some time in the future."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.35|Madhya 12.35]]:''' The Lord said, "Since you are all very learned personalities, whatever you decide I shall accept."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.36|Madhya 12.36]]:''' Lord Nityānanda Prabhu then obtained an external garment used by the Lord by requesting it from Govinda.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.37|Madhya 12.37]]:''' Thus Nityānanda Prabhu delivered the old cloth into the care of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya sent it to the King.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.38|Madhya 12.38]]:''' When the King received the old cloth, he began to worship it exactly as he would worship the Lord personally.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.39|Madhya 12.39]]:''' After returning from his service in South India, Rāmānanda Rāya requested the King to allow him to remain with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.40|Madhya 12.40]]:''' When Rāmānanda Rāya requested the King to allow him to stay with the Lord, the King immediately gave him permission with great satisfaction. As for the King himself, he began to solicit Rāmānanda Rāya to make a meeting arrangement.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.41|Madhya 12.41]]:''' The King told Rāmānanda Rāya, "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is very, very merciful to you. Therefore please solicit my meeting with Him without fail."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.42|Madhya 12.42]]:''' The King and Rāmānanda Rāya returned together to Jagannātha-kṣetra [Purī], and Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.43|Madhya 12.43]]:''' At that time, Rāmānanda Rāya informed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu about the ecstatic love of the King. Indeed, as soon as there was some opportunity, he repeatedly informed the Lord about the King.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.44|Madhya 12.44]]:''' Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya was indeed a diplomatic minister for the King. His general behavior was very expert, and simply by describing the King's love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he gradually softened the Lord's mind.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.45|Madhya 12.45]]:''' Mahārāja Pratāparudra, in great anxiety, could not endure not seeing the Lord; therefore Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, by his diplomacy, arranged a meeting with the Lord for the King.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.46|Madhya 12.46]]:''' Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya frankly requested Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Please show Your lotus feet to the King at least once."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.47|Madhya 12.47]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "My dear Rāmānanda, you should make this request after duly considering whether it is befitting for a sannyāsī to meet a king.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.48|Madhya 12.48]]:''' "If a mendicant meets a king, this world and the next world are both destroyed for the mendicant. Indeed, what is there to say of the next world? In this world, people will joke if a sannyāsī meets a king."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.49|Madhya 12.49]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "My Lord, You are the supreme independent personality. You have nothing to fear from anyone because You are not dependent on anyone."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.50|Madhya 12.50]]:''' When Rāmānanda Rāya addressed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Caitanya Mahāprabhu objected, saying, "I am not the Supreme Personality of Godhead but an ordinary human being. Therefore I must fear public opinion in three ways — with My body, mind and words.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.51|Madhya 12.51]]:''' "As soon as the general public finds a little fault in the behavior of a sannyāsī, they advertise it like wildfire. A black spot of ink cannot be hidden on a white cloth. It is always very prominent."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.52|Madhya 12.52]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "My dear Lord, You have delivered so many sinful people. This King Pratāparudra, the King of Orissa, is actually a servitor of the Lord and Your devotee."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.53|Madhya 12.53]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, "There may be much milk in a big pot, but if it is contaminated by a drop of liquor, it is untouchable.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.54|Madhya 12.54]]:''' "The King certainly possesses all good qualities, but simply by taking up the name 'king,' he has infected everything.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.55|Madhya 12.55]]:''' "But if you are still very eager for the King to meet with Me, please first bring his son to meet Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.56|Madhya 12.56]]:''' "It is indicated in the revealed scriptures that the son represents the father; therefore the son's meeting with Me would be just as good as the King's meeting with Me."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.57|Madhya 12.57]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya then went to inform the King about his talks with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and, following the Lord's orders, brought the King's son to see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.58|Madhya 12.58]]:''' The prince, just entering upon his youth, was very beautiful. He was blackish in complexion and had large lotus eyes.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.59|Madhya 12.59]]:''' The prince was dressed in yellow cloth, and there were jeweled ornaments decorating his body. Therefore anyone who saw him would remember Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.60|Madhya 12.60]]:''' Seeing the boy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately remembered Kṛṣṇa. Meeting the boy in ecstatic love, the Lord began to speak.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.61|Madhya 12.61]]:''' "Here is a great devotee," Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said. "Upon seeing him, everyone can remember the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, son of Mahārāja Nanda."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.62|Madhya 12.62]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "I have become very much obligated just by seeing this boy." After saying this, the Lord again embraced the prince.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.63|Madhya 12.63]]:''' As soon as the prince was touched by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, symptoms of ecstatic love immediately manifested themselves in his body. These symptoms included perspiration, trembling, tears, being stunned and jubilation.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.64|Madhya 12.64]]:''' The boy began to cry and dance, and he chanted, "Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!" Upon seeing his bodily symptoms and his chanting and dancing, all the devotees praised him for his great spiritual fortune.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.65|Madhya 12.65]]:''' At that time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu calmed the youth and ordered him to come there daily to meet Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.66|Madhya 12.66]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya and the boy then departed from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and Rāmānanda took him back to the King's palace. The King was very happy when he heard of his son's activities.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.67|Madhya 12.67]]:''' Just by embracing his son, the King was filled with ecstatic love, just as if he had touched Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu directly.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.68|Madhya 12.68]]:''' From then on, the fortunate prince was one of the most intimate devotees of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.69|Madhya 12.69]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu acted in the society of His pure devotees, performing His pastimes and spreading the sańkīrtana movement.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.70|Madhya 12.70]]:''' Some of the prominent devotees like Advaita Ācārya used to invite Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to take His meals at their homes. The Lord accepted such invitations accompanied by His devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.71|Madhya 12.71]]:''' In this way, the Lord passed some days in great jubilation. Then the car festival of Lord Jagannātha approached.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.72|Madhya 12.72]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu first of all called for Kāśī Miśra, then for the superintendent of the temple, then for Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.73|Madhya 12.73]]:''' When these three people came before the Lord, He begged them for permission to wash the temple known as Guṇḍicā.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.74|Madhya 12.74]]:''' Upon hearing the Lord's request for permission to wash the Guṇḍicā temple, the paḍichā, the superintendent of the temple, said, "My dear Sir, we are all Your servants. Whatever You desire is our duty to perform.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.75|Madhya 12.75]]:''' "The King gave a special order for me to do without delay whatever Your Lordship orders.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.76|Madhya 12.76]]:''' "My dear Lord, washing the temple is not service befitting You. Nonetheless, if You wish to do so, it is to be accepted as one of Your pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.77|Madhya 12.77]]:''' "To wash the temple, You need many waterpots and brooms. Therefore order me. I can immediately bring all these things to You."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.78|Madhya 12.78]]:''' As soon as the superintendent understood the desire of the Lord, he immediately delivered a hundred new waterpots and a hundred brooms for sweeping the temple.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.79|Madhya 12.79]]:''' The next day, early in the morning, the Lord took His personal associates with Him and, with His own hand, smeared sandalwood pulp on their bodies.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.80|Madhya 12.80]]:''' He then gave each devotee a broom with His own hand, and taking all of them personally with Him, the Lord went to Guṇḍicā.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.81|Madhya 12.81]]:''' In this way the Lord and His associates went to cleanse the Guṇḍicā temple. At first they cleansed the temple with the brooms.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.82|Madhya 12.82]]:''' The Lord cleansed everything inside the temple very nicely, including the ceiling. He then took up the sitting place [siḿhāsana], cleansed it and again put it in its original place.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.83|Madhya 12.83]]:''' Thus the Lord and His companions cleansed and swept all the temple's buildings, big and small, and finally cleansed the area between the temple and the kīrtana hall.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.84|Madhya 12.84]]:''' Indeed, hundreds of devotees were engaged in cleansing all around the temple, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was personally carrying out the operation just to instruct others.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.85|Madhya 12.85]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu washed and cleansed the temple in great jubilation, chanting the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa all the time. Similarly, all the devotees were also chanting and at the same time performing their respective duties.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.86|Madhya 12.86]]:''' The entire beautiful body of the Lord was covered with dust and dirt. In this way it became transcendentally beautiful. At times, when cleansing the temple, the Lord shed tears, and in some places He even cleansed with those tears.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.87|Madhya 12.87]]:''' After this, the place where the Deity's food was kept [bhoga-mandira] was cleansed. Then the yard was cleansed, and then all the residential quarters, one after the other.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.88|Madhya 12.88]]:''' After Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu collected all the straw, dust and grains of sand in one place, He gathered it all in His cloth and threw it outside.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.89|Madhya 12.89]]:''' Following the example of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the devotees, in great jubilation, began to gather straws and dust with their own cloths and throw them outside the temple.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.90|Madhya 12.90]]:''' The Lord then told the devotees, "I can tell how much you have labored and how well you have cleansed the temple simply by seeing all the straw and dust you have collected outside."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.91|Madhya 12.91]]:''' Even though all the devotees collected dirt in one pile, the dirt collected by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was much greater.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.92|Madhya 12.92]]:''' After the inside of the temple was cleansed, the Lord again allotted areas for the devotees to cleanse.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.93|Madhya 12.93]]:''' The Lord then ordered everyone to cleanse the inside of the temple very perfectly by taking finer dust, straws and grains of sand and throwing them outside.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.94|Madhya 12.94]]:''' After Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and all the Vaiṣṇavas cleansed the temple for the second time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very happy to see the cleansing work.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.95|Madhya 12.95]]:''' While the temple was being swept, about a hundred men stood ready with filled waterpots, and they simply awaited the Lord's order to throw the water from them.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.96|Madhya 12.96]]:''' As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called for water, all the men immediately brought the hundred waterpots, which were completely filled, and delivered them before the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.97|Madhya 12.97]]:''' In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu first washed the main temple and then thoroughly washed the ceiling, the walls, the floor, the sitting place [siḿhāsana] and everything else within the room.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.98|Madhya 12.98]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself and His devotees began to throw water onto the ceiling. When this water fell, it washed the walls and floor.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.99|Madhya 12.99]]:''' Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to wash the sitting place of Lord Jagannātha with His own hands, and all the devotees began to bring water to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.100|Madhya 12.100]]:''' All the devotees within the temple began to wash. Each one had a broom in his hand, and in this way they cleansed the temple of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.101|Madhya 12.101]]:''' Someone brought water to pour into the hands of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and someone poured water on His lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.102|Madhya 12.102]]:''' The water that fell from the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was drunk by someone who hid himself. Someone else begged for that water, and another person was giving that water in charity.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.103|Madhya 12.103]]:''' After the room was washed, the water was let out through an outlet, and it then flowed and filled the yard outside.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.104|Madhya 12.104]]:''' The Lord mopped the rooms with His own clothes, and He polished the throne with them also.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.105|Madhya 12.105]]:''' In this way all the rooms were cleansed with a hundred waterpots. After the rooms had been cleansed, the minds of the devotees were as clean as the rooms.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.106|Madhya 12.106]]:''' When the temple was cleansed, it was purified, cool and pleasing, just as if the Lord's own pure mind had appeared.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.107|Madhya 12.107]]:''' Since hundreds of men were engaged in bringing water from the lake, there was no place to stand on the banks. Consequently someone began to draw water from a well.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.108|Madhya 12.108]]:''' Hundreds of devotees brought water in the pots, and hundreds took the empty pots away to fill them up again.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.109|Madhya 12.109]]:''' With the exception of Nityānanda Prabhu, Advaita Ācārya, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Brahmānanda Bhāratī and Paramānanda Purī, everyone was engaged in filling the waterpots and bringing them there.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.110|Madhya 12.110]]:''' Many of the waterpots were broken when people collided with one another, and hundreds of men had to bring new waterpots to fill.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.111|Madhya 12.111]]:''' Some people were filling the pots, and others were washing the rooms, but everyone was engaged in chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and Hari.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.112|Madhya 12.112]]:''' One person begged for a waterpot by chanting the holy names "Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa," and another delivered a pot while chanting "Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.113|Madhya 12.113]]:''' Whenever anyone had to speak, he did so by uttering the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Consequently, the holy name of Kṛṣṇa became an indication for everyone who wanted something.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.114|Madhya 12.114]]:''' As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was vibrating the holy name of Kṛṣṇa in ecstatic love, He Himself was performing the work of hundreds of men.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.115|Madhya 12.115]]:''' It appeared as though Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were cleansing and washing with a hundred hands. He approached every devotee just to teach him how to work.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.116|Madhya 12.116]]:''' When He saw someone doing nicely, the Lord praised him, but if He saw that someone was not working to His satisfaction, He immediately chastised that person, not bearing him any grudge.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.117|Madhya 12.117]]:''' The Lord would say, "You have done well. Please teach this to others so that they may act in the same way."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.118|Madhya 12.118]]:''' As soon as they heard Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu say this, everyone became ashamed. Thus the devotees began to work with great attention.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.119|Madhya 12.119]]:''' They washed the Jagamohana area and then the place where food was kept. All other places were also washed.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.120|Madhya 12.120]]:''' In this way the meeting place was washed, the entire yard, the raised sitting places, the kitchen and every other room.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.121|Madhya 12.121]]:''' Thus all places around the temple were thoroughly washed within and without.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.122|Madhya 12.122]]:''' After everything was thoroughly washed, a Vaiṣṇava from Bengal, who was very intelligent and simple, came and poured water on the lotus feet of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.123|Madhya 12.123]]:''' The Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava then took that water and drank it himself. Seeing that, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt a little unhappy and was also outwardly angry.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.124|Madhya 12.124]]:''' Although the Lord was certainly satisfied with him, He became angry externally in order to establish the etiquette of religious principles.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.125|Madhya 12.125]]:''' The Lord then called for Svarūpa Dāmodara and told him, "Just see the behavior of your Bengali Vaiṣṇava.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.126|Madhya 12.126]]:''' "This person from Bengal has washed My feet within the temple of the Personality of Godhead. Not only that, but he has drunk the water himself.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.127|Madhya 12.127]]:''' "I now do not know what My destination is because of this offense. Indeed, your Bengali Vaiṣṇava has greatly implicated Me."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.128|Madhya 12.128]]:''' At this point Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī caught the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava by the neck and, giving him a little push, ejected him from the Guṇḍicā Purī temple and made him stay outside.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.129|Madhya 12.129]]:''' After Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī returned within the temple, he requested Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to excuse that innocent person.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.130|Madhya 12.130]]:''' After this incident, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very satisfied. He then asked all of the devotees to sit down in two lines on both sides.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.131|Madhya 12.131]]:''' The Lord then personally sat down in the middle and picked up all kinds of straw, grains of sand and dirty things.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.132|Madhya 12.132]]:''' While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was picking up the straws and grains of sand, He said, "I shall gather everyone's collection, and I shall ask whoever has collected less than all the others to pay a fine of sweet cakes and sweet rice."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.133|Madhya 12.133]]:''' In this way all the quarters of the Guṇḍicā temple were completely cleansed and cleared. All quarters were cool and spotless, like one's cleansed and pacified mind.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.134|Madhya 12.134]]:''' When the water from the different rooms was finally let out through the halls, it appeared as if new rivers were rushing out to meet the waters of the ocean.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.135|Madhya 12.135]]:''' Outside the gateway of the temple, all the roads were also cleansed, and no one could tell exactly how this was done.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.136|Madhya 12.136]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu also cleansed the Nṛsiḿha temple inside and outside. Finally, He rested a few minutes and then began dancing.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.137|Madhya 12.137]]:''' All around Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu all the devotees performed congregational chanting. The Lord, just like a maddened lion, danced in the middle.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.138|Madhya 12.138]]:''' As usual, when Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced, there were perspiration, trembling, fading, tears, jubilation and roaring. Indeed, the tears from His eyes washed His body and those before Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.139|Madhya 12.139]]:''' In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu washed the bodies of all the devotees with the tears from His eyes. The tears poured like the rains in the month of Śrāvaṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.140|Madhya 12.140]]:''' The sky was filled with the great and loud chanting of sańkīrtana, and the earth shook from the jumping and dancing of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.141|Madhya 12.141]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu always liked the loud chanting of Svarūpa Dāmodara. Therefore when Svarūpa Dāmodara sang, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced and jumped high in jubilation.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.142|Madhya 12.142]]:''' The Lord thus chanted and danced for some time. Finally, understanding the circumstances, He stopped.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.143|Madhya 12.143]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then ordered Śrī Gopāla, the son of Advaita Ācārya, to dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.144|Madhya 12.144]]:''' While dancing in ecstatic love, Śrī Gopāla fainted and fell to the ground unconscious.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.145|Madhya 12.145]]:''' When Śrī Gopāla fainted, Advaita Ācārya hastily took him upon His lap. Seeing that he was not breathing, He became very much agitated.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.146|Madhya 12.146]]:''' Advaita Ācārya and others began to chant the holy name of Lord Nṛsiḿha and sprinkle water. The roaring of the chant was so great that it seemed to shake the entire universe.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.147|Madhya 12.147]]:''' When the boy did not regain consciousness after some time, Advaita Ācārya and the other devotees began to cry.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.148|Madhya 12.148]]:''' Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu placed His hand on the chest of Śrī Gopāla and said loudly, "Gopāla, stand up."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.149|Madhya 12.149]]:''' As soon as Gopāla heard the voice of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he immediately came to his senses. All the devotees then began to dance, chanting the holy name of Hari.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.150|Madhya 12.150]]:''' This incident has been described in detail by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura. Therefore I have described it only in brief.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.151|Madhya 12.151]]:''' After taking rest, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and all the devotees departed to take their baths.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.152|Madhya 12.152]]:''' After bathing, the Lord stood on the bank of the lake and put on dry garments. After offering obeisances to Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva, whose temple was nearby, the Lord entered a garden.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.153|Madhya 12.153]]:''' In the garden, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat down with the other devotees. Vāṇīnātha Rāya then came and brought all kinds of mahā-prasādam.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.154-155|Madhya 12.154-155]]:''' Kāśī Miśra and Tulasī, the superintendent of the temple, brought as much prasādam as five hundred men could eat. Seeing the large quantity of prasādam, which consisted of rice, cakes, sweet rice and a variety of vegetables, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very satisfied.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.156|Madhya 12.156]]:''' Among the devotees present with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were Paramānanda Purī, Brahmānanda Bhāratī, Advaita Ācārya and Nityānanda Prabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.157|Madhya 12.157]]:''' Ācāryaratna, Ācāryanidhi, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Śańkara, Nandanācārya, Rāghava Paṇḍita and Vakreśvara were also present.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.158|Madhya 12.158]]:''' Receiving the permission of the Lord, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya sat down. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and all His devotees sat on raised wooden seats.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.159|Madhya 12.159]]:''' In this way all the devotees sat down to take their lunch in consecutive lines, one beside the other.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.160|Madhya 12.160]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was repeatedly calling, "Haridāsa, Haridāsa," and at that time Haridāsa, standing at a distance, spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.161|Madhya 12.161]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, "Let Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu take His lunch with the devotees. Since I am abominable, I cannot sit down among you.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.162|Madhya 12.162]]:''' "Govinda will give me prasādam later, outside the door." Understanding his mind, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not call him again.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.163-164|Madhya 12.163-164]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, Jagadānanda, Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Kāśīśvara, Gopīnātha, Vāṇīnātha and Śańkara distributed prasādam, and the devotees chanted the holy names at intervals.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.165|Madhya 12.165]]:''' Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa had previously taken His lunch in the forest, and that very pastime was remembered by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.166|Madhya 12.166]]:''' Just by remembering the pastimes of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was agitated by ecstatic love. But considering the time and circumstance, He remained somewhat patient.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.167|Madhya 12.167]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "You can give Me the ordinary vegetable known as lāphrā-vyañjana, and you may deliver to all the devotees better preparations like cakes, sweet rice and amṛta-guṭikā."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.168|Madhya 12.168]]:''' Since Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is omniscient, He knew what types of preparations each person liked. He therefore had Svarūpa Dāmodara deliver these preparations to each devotee to his full satisfaction.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.169|Madhya 12.169]]:''' Jagadānanda went to distribute prasādam, and suddenly he placed all the first-class preparations on the plate of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.170|Madhya 12.170]]:''' When such nice prasādam was put on the plate of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord was outwardly very angry. Nonetheless, when the preparations were placed on His plate sometimes by tricks and sometimes by force, the Lord was satisfied.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.171|Madhya 12.171]]:''' When the food was thus delivered, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu looked at it for some time. Being afraid of Jagadānanda, He finally ate something.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.172|Madhya 12.172]]:''' The Lord knew that if He did not eat the food offered by Jagadānanda, Jagadānanda would certainly fast. Being afraid of this, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ate some of the prasādam he offered.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.173|Madhya 12.173]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī then brought some excellent sweetmeats and, standing before the Lord, offered them to Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.174|Madhya 12.174]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī then said, "Just take a little of this mahā-prasādam, and see how it is that Lord Jagannātha has accepted it."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.175|Madhya 12.175]]:''' Upon saying this, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī placed some food before the Lord, and the Lord, out of affection, ate it.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.176|Madhya 12.176]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara and Jagadānanda again and again offered the Lord some food. Thus they behaved affectionately with the Lord. This was very, very uncommon.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.177|Madhya 12.177]]:''' The Lord made Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya sit on His left side, and when Sārvabhauma saw the behavior of Svarūpa Dāmodara and Jagadānanda, he smiled.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.178|Madhya 12.178]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu also wanted to offer Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya first-class food; therefore, out of affection, He had the servers put first-class food on his plate again and again.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.179|Madhya 12.179]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya also brought first-class food and offered it to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya while speaking sweet words.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.180|Madhya 12.180]]:''' After serving the Bhaṭṭācārya with first-class prasādam, Gopīnātha Ācārya said, "Just consider what the Bhaṭṭācārya's previous mundane behavior was! Just consider how at present he is enjoying transcendental bliss!"

'''[[CC Madhya 12.181|Madhya 12.181]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied to Gopīnātha Ācārya, "I was simply a less intelligent logician. But by your grace I have received this opulence of perfection.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.182|Madhya 12.182]]:''' "But for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu," Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, "who is so merciful? He has converted a crow into a Garuḍa. Who could be so merciful?

'''[[CC Madhya 12.183|Madhya 12.183]]:''' "In the association of the jackals known as logicians, I simply continued to bark a resounding 'bheu bheu.' Now, from the same mouth I am chanting the holy names 'Kṛṣṇa' and 'Hari.'

'''[[CC Madhya 12.184|Madhya 12.184]]:''' "Whereas I once associated with the disciples of logic, all nondevotees, I am now merged in the waves of the nectarean ocean of the association of devotees."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.185|Madhya 12.185]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, "From your previous birth you have been in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Thus you love Kṛṣṇa so much that simply by your association we are all developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.186|Madhya 12.186]]:''' Thus there is no one within these three worlds — save for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu — who is always so willing to increase the glories of the devotees and give them satisfaction.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.187|Madhya 12.187]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then took all the remnants of food offered to Jagannātha, such as cakes and sweet rice, and distributed them to all the other devotees, calling them individually.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.188|Madhya 12.188]]:''' Śrī Advaita Ācārya and Nityānanda Prabhu sat side by side, and when prasādam was being distributed They engaged in a type of mock fighting.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.189|Madhya 12.189]]:''' First Advaita Ācārya said, "I am sitting in line with an unknown mendicant, and because I am eating with Him, I do not know what kind of destination is awaiting Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.190|Madhya 12.190]]:''' "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is in the renounced order of life. Consequently He does not recognize discrepancies. As a matter of fact, a sannyāsī is not affected by eating food from anywhere and everywhere.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.191|Madhya 12.191]]:''' "According to the śāstras, there is no discrepancy in a sannyāsī's eating at another's house. But for a householder brāhmaṇa, this kind of eating is faulty.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.192|Madhya 12.192]]:''' "It is not proper for householders to dine with those whose previous birth, family, character and behavior are unknown."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.193|Madhya 12.193]]:''' Nityānanda Prabhu immediately refuted Śrīla Advaita Ācārya, saying, "You are a teacher of impersonal monism, and the monistic conclusion is a great hindrance to progressive, pure devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.194|Madhya 12.194]]:''' "One who participates in Your impersonal monistic philosophy does not accept anything but the one Brahman."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.195|Madhya 12.195]]:''' Nityānanda Prabhu continued, "You are such a monist! And now I am eating beside You. I do not know how My mind will be affected in this way."

'''[[CC Madhya 12.196|Madhya 12.196]]:''' Thus They both went on talking and praising one another, although Their praise appeared negative, for it appeared as if They exchanged ill names.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.197|Madhya 12.197]]:''' Thereafter, calling all the Vaiṣṇavas, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu distributed mahā-prasādam as if sprinkling nectar. At that time the mock fight between Advaita Ācārya and Nityānanda Prabhu became more and more delicious.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.198|Madhya 12.198]]:''' After taking their lunch, all the Vaiṣṇavas stood up and chanted the holy name of Hari, and the resounding noise filled all the upper and lower planetary systems.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.199|Madhya 12.199]]:''' After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered flower garlands and sandalwood pulp to all His devoted personal associates.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.200|Madhya 12.200]]:''' The seven persons headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara who were engaged in distributing prasādam to others then took their meals within the room.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.201|Madhya 12.201]]:''' Govinda saved some remnants of food left by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and kept them carefully. Later, one portion of these remnants was delivered to Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.202|Madhya 12.202]]:''' The remnants of food left by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were later distributed among devotees who begged for them, and finally Govinda personally took the last remnants.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.203|Madhya 12.203]]:''' The fully independent Supreme Personality of Godhead performs various types of pastimes. The pastime of washing and cleansing the Guṇḍicā temple is but one of them.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.204|Madhya 12.204]]:''' The next day marked the performance of the festival of Netrotsava. This great festival was the life and soul of the devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.205|Madhya 12.205]]:''' Everyone was unhappy for a fortnight because they could not see the Deity of Lord Jagannātha. Upon seeing the Lord at the festival, the devotees were very happy.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.206|Madhya 12.206]]:''' On this occasion, greatly happy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took all the devotees with Him and visited the Lord in the temple.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.207|Madhya 12.207]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to visit the temple, Kāśīśvara walked in front, checking the crowds of people, and Govinda walked in the rear, bringing the sannyāsī's pitcher filled with water.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.208|Madhya 12.208]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went toward the temple, Paramānanda Purī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī walked in front of Him, and at His two sides walked Svarūpa Dāmodara and Advaita Ācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.209|Madhya 12.209]]:''' With great eagerness all the other devotees followed them into the temple of Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.210|Madhya 12.210]]:''' Out of great eagerness to see the Lord, they all neglected the regulative principles and, just to see the Lord's face, went to the place where the food was offered.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.211|Madhya 12.211]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very thirsty to see the Lord, and His eyes became like two bumblebees drinking the honey from the lotuslike eyes of Lord Jagannātha, who is Kṛṣṇa Himself.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.212|Madhya 12.212]]:''' The eyes of Lord Jagannātha conquered the beauty of blossoming lotus flowers, and His neck was as lustrous as a mirror made of sapphires.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.213|Madhya 12.213]]:''' The chin of the Lord, tinged with buff color, conquered the beauty of the bāndhulī flower. This increased the beauty of His mild smiling, which was like lustrous waves of nectar.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.214|Madhya 12.214]]:''' The luster of His beautiful face increased at every moment, and the eyes of hundreds and thousands of devotees drank its honey like bumblebees.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.215|Madhya 12.215]]:''' As their eyes began to drink the nectarean honey of His lotus face, their thirst increased. Thus their eyes did not leave Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.216|Madhya 12.216]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees enjoyed transcendental bliss upon seeing the face of Jagannātha. This continued to midday.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.217|Madhya 12.217]]:''' As usual, there were transcendental blissful symptoms in Caitanya Mahāprabhu's body. He perspired and trembled, and a constant flow of tears fell from His eyes. But the Lord checked these tears so they would not disturb His seeing the face of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.218|Madhya 12.218]]:''' Their looking at the face of Lord Jagannātha was interrupted only when He was offered food. Afterwards they would again look upon His face. When the food was being offered to the Lord, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed His kīrtana.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.219|Madhya 12.219]]:''' Feeling such great pleasure upon seeing the face of Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu forgot everything. The devotees, however, took Him to His lunch at noontime.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.220|Madhya 12.220]]:''' Knowing that the car festival would take place in the morning, all the servants of Lord Jagannātha were doubling their offerings of food.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.221|Madhya 12.221]]:''' I have briefly described the pastimes of the Lord in washing and cleansing the Guṇḍicā temple. By seeing or hearing these pastimes, even sinful men can awaken their Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

'''[[CC Madhya 12.222|Madhya 12.222]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 11|Madhya-līlā 11]] '''[[CC Madhya 11|Madhya-līlā 11]] - [[CC Madhya 13|Madhya-līlā 13]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 13|Madhya-līlā 13]]</div>

CC Madhya 11

2026-06-04T18:28:52Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 11 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 11|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 11: The Beḍā-kīrtana Pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 10|Madhya-līlā 10]] '''[[CC Madhya 10|Madhya-līlā 10]] - [[CC Madhya 12|Madhya-līlā 12]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 12|Madhya-līlā 12]]</div>

'''[[CC Madhya 11 Summary|Madhya 11 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 11.1|Madhya 11.1]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu merged the entire world into the ocean of ecstatic love by performing His beautiful dances within the temple of Jagannātha. He danced exquisitely and jumped high.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.2|Madhya 11.2]]:''' All glories to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Śrī Advaita Prabhu! And all glories to all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Madhya 11.3|Madhya 11.3]]:''' The next day Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya requested Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to give him permission to submit a statement without fear.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.4|Madhya 11.4]]:''' The Lord gave the Bhaṭṭācārya assurance that he could speak without fear, but added that if his statement were suitable He would accept it, and if it were not, He would reject it.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.5|Madhya 11.5]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "There is a king named Pratāparudra Rāya. He is very anxious to meet You, and he wants Your permission."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.6|Madhya 11.6]]:''' As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard this proposal, He immediately covered His ears with His hands and said, "My dear Sārvabhauma, why are you requesting such an undesirable thing from Me?

'''[[CC Madhya 11.7|Madhya 11.7]]:''' "Since I am in the renounced order, it is as dangerous for Me to meet a king as to meet a woman. To meet either would be just like drinking poison."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.8|Madhya 11.8]]:''' Greatly lamenting, the Lord then informed Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, "'Alas, for a person who is seriously desiring to cross the material ocean and engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord without material motives, seeing a materialist engaged in sense gratification or seeing a woman who is similarly interested is more abominable than drinking poison willingly.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 11.9|Madhya 11.9]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "My dear Lord, what You have said is correct, but this King is not an ordinary king. He is a great devotee and servant of Lord Jagannātha."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.10|Madhya 11.10]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Although it is correct that the King is a great devotee, he is still to be considered a venomous snake. Similarly, even though a woman be made of wood, one becomes agitated simply by touching her form.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.11|Madhya 11.11]]:''' "'Just as one is immediately frightened upon seeing a live serpent or even the form of a serpent, one endeavoring for self-realization should similarly fear a materialistic person and a woman. Indeed, he should not even glance at their bodily features.'

'''[[CC Madhya 11.12|Madhya 11.12]]:''' "Bhaṭṭācārya, if you continue to speak like this, you will never see Me here again. Therefore you should never let such a request come from your mouth."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.13|Madhya 11.13]]:''' Being afraid, Sārvabhauma returned home and began to meditate on the matter.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.14|Madhya 11.14]]:''' At this time, Mahārāja Pratāparudra arrived at Jagannātha Purī, Puruṣottama, and, accompanied by his secretaries, ministers and military officers, went to visit the temple of Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.15|Madhya 11.15]]:''' When King Pratāparudra returned to Jagannātha Purī, Rāmānanda Rāya came with him. Rāmānanda Rāya immediately went to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with great pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.16|Madhya 11.16]]:''' Upon meeting Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Rāmānanda Rāya offered his obeisances. The Lord embraced him, and both of them began to cry in the great ecstasy of love.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.17|Madhya 11.17]]:''' Seeing Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's intimate dealings with Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, all the devotees there were astonished.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.18|Madhya 11.18]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya said, "I duly informed King Pratāparudra of Your order for me to retire from service. By Your grace, the King was pleased to relieve me of these material activities.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.19|Madhya 11.19]]:''' "I said, 'Your Majesty, I am now not willing to engage in political activities. I desire only to stay at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Kindly give me permission.'

'''[[CC Madhya 11.20|Madhya 11.20]]:''' "When I submitted this proposal, the King immediately became very pleased upon hearing Your name. Indeed, he instantly rose from his throne and embraced me.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.21|Madhya 11.21]]:''' "My dear Lord, as soon as the King heard Your holy name, he was immediately overwhelmed by great ecstatic love. Catching my hand, he displayed all the symptoms of love.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.22|Madhya 11.22]]:''' "As soon as he heard my petition, he immediately granted me a pension without reductions. Thus the King granted me a full salary as a pension and requested me to engage without anxiety in the service of Your lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.23|Madhya 11.23]]:''' "Then Mahārāja Pratāparudra very humbly said, 'I am most fallen and abominable, and I am unfit to receive an interview with the Lord. One's life is successful if one engages in His service.'

'''[[CC Madhya 11.24|Madhya 11.24]]:''' "The King then said, 'Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda. He is very merciful, and I hope that in a future birth He will allow me an interview.'

'''[[CC Madhya 11.25|Madhya 11.25]]:''' "My Lord, I don't think that there is even a fraction of Mahārāja Pratāparudra's loving ecstasy in me."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.26|Madhya 11.26]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, "My dear Rāmānanda Rāya, you are the foremost of all the devotees of Kṛṣṇa; therefore whoever loves you is certainly a very fortunate person.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.27|Madhya 11.27]]:''' "Because the King has shown so much love for you, Lord Kṛṣṇa will certainly accept him.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.28|Madhya 11.28]]:''' "[Lord Kṛṣṇa told Arjuna:] 'Those who are My direct devotees are actually not My devotees, but those who are the devotees of My servant are factually My devotees.'

'''[[CC Madhya 11.29-30|Madhya 11.29-30]]:''' "'My devotees take great care and respect in rendering Me service. They offer obeisances to Me with all their bodily limbs. They worship other devotees and find all living entities related to Me. For Me they engage the entire energy of their bodies. They engage the power of speech in the glorification of My qualities and form. They also dedicate their minds unto Me and try to give up all kinds of material desires. Thus My devotees are characterized.'

'''[[CC Madhya 11.31|Madhya 11.31]]:''' "[Lord Śiva told the goddess Durgā:] 'My dear Devī, although the Vedas recommend worship of demigods, the worship of Lord Viṣṇu is topmost. However, above the worship of Lord Viṣṇu is the rendering of service to Vaiṣṇavas, who are related to Lord Viṣṇu.'

'''[[CC Madhya 11.32|Madhya 11.32]]:''' "'Those whose austerity is meager can hardly obtain the service of the pure devotees progressing on the path back to the kingdom of Godhead, the Vaikuṇṭhas. Pure devotees engage one hundred percent in glorifying the Supreme Lord, who is the Lord of the demigods and the controller of all living entities.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 11.33|Madhya 11.33]]:''' Paramānanda Purī, Brahmānanda Bhāratī Gosāñi, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosāñi, Lord Nityānanda, Jagadānanda, Mukunda and others were present before the Lord at that time.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.34|Madhya 11.34]]:''' Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya therefore offered his obeisances to all the Lord's devotees, in particular to the four spiritual masters. Thus Rāmānanda Rāya suitably met all the devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.35|Madhya 11.35]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next asked Rāmānanda Rāya, "Have you already visited the temple of the lotus-eyed Lord Jagannātha?"Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "I shall now go visit the temple."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.36|Madhya 11.36]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "What have you done, My dear Rāya? Why did you not first see Lord Jagannātha and then come here? Why have you come here first?"

'''[[CC Madhya 11.37|Madhya 11.37]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya said, "The legs are like the chariot, and the heart is like the charioteer. Wherever the heart takes the living entity, the living entity is obliged to go."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.38|Madhya 11.38]]:''' Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya continued, "What shall I do? My mind has brought me here. I could not consider going first to Lord Jagannātha's temple."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.39|Madhya 11.39]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised, "Immediately go to Lord Jagannātha's temple to see the Lord. Then go home and meet your family members."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.40|Madhya 11.40]]:''' Having received Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's permission, Rāmānanda Rāya hastily went to the temple of Lord Jagannātha. Who can understand the devotional service of Rāya Rāmānanda?

'''[[CC Madhya 11.41|Madhya 11.41]]:''' When King Pratāparudra returned to Jagannātha Purī, he called for Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. When the Bhaṭṭācārya went to see the King, the King offered him respects and made the following inquiries.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.42|Madhya 11.42]]:''' The King asked, "Have you submitted my petition to the Lord?"Sārvabhauma replied, "Yes, with much endeavor I have tried my best.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.43|Madhya 11.43]]:''' "Yet despite my great endeavor, the Lord would not agree to see a king. Indeed, He said that if He were asked again, He would quit Jagannātha Purī and go elsewhere."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.44|Madhya 11.44]]:''' Hearing this, the King became very unhappy and, greatly lamenting, began to speak as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.45|Madhya 11.45]]:''' The King said, "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has descended just to deliver all kinds of sinful, lowborn persons. Consequently He has delivered sinners like Jagāi and Mādhāi.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.46|Madhya 11.46]]:''' "Alas, has Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu incarnated to deliver all kinds of sinners with the exception of a king named Mahārāja Pratāparudra?

'''[[CC Madhya 11.47|Madhya 11.47]]:''' "'Alas, has Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu made His advent deciding that He will deliver all others with the exception of me? He bestows His merciful glance upon many lower-class men who are usually not even to be seen.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 11.48|Madhya 11.48]]:''' Mahārāja Pratāparudra continued, "If Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is determined not to see me, then I am determined to give up my life if I do not see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.49|Madhya 11.49]]:''' "If I do not receive Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mercy, my body and my kingdom are certainly useless."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.50|Madhya 11.50]]:''' Hearing King Pratāparudra's determination, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya became thoughtful. Indeed, he was very much astonished to see the King's determination.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.51|Madhya 11.51]]:''' Finally Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "My dear King, do not worry. Because of your firm determination, I am sure that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mercy will definitely be bestowed upon you."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.52|Madhya 11.52]]:''' As soon as the Bhaṭṭācārya saw the King's firm determination, he declared, "The Supreme Lord is approached only by pure love. Your love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is very, very deep; therefore without a doubt He will be merciful upon you."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.53|Madhya 11.53]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then suggested, "There is one means by which you can directly see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.54|Madhya 11.54]]:''' "On the day of the car festival, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will dance before the Deity in great ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.55|Madhya 11.55]]:''' "On that Ratha-yātrā festival day, after dancing before the Lord, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will enter the Guṇḍicā garden. At that time you should go there alone, without your royal dress.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.56|Madhya 11.56]]:''' "When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu enters the Guṇḍicā garden, you should also go there and read the five chapters of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam about Lord Kṛṣṇa's dancing with the gopīs. In this way you can catch hold of the Lord's lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.57|Madhya 11.57]]:''' "Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will be in a mood of ecstatic love, without external consciousness. At that time, as you recite those chapters from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, He will embrace you, knowing you to be a pure Vaiṣṇava.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.58|Madhya 11.58]]:''' "The Lord has already changed His mind due to Rāmānanda Rāya's description of your pure love for Him."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.59|Madhya 11.59]]:''' Mahārāja Pratāparudra took the Bhaṭṭācārya's advice and firmly decided to follow his instructions. Thus he felt transcendental happiness.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.60|Madhya 11.60]]:''' When the King asked the Bhaṭṭācārya when the bathing ceremony [Snāna-yātrā] of Lord Jagannātha would take place, the Bhaṭṭācārya replied that there were only three days left before the ceremony.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.61|Madhya 11.61]]:''' After thus encouraging the King, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya returned home. On the day of Lord Jagannātha's bathing ceremony, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very happy at heart.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.62|Madhya 11.62]]:''' Upon seeing the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy. But when Lord Jagannātha retired after the ceremony, Lord Caitanya became very unhappy because He could not see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.63|Madhya 11.63]]:''' Due to separation from Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt the same great anxiety the gopīs feel in separation from Kṛṣṇa. In this condition He gave up all association and went to Ālālanātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.64|Madhya 11.64]]:''' The devotees who had followed the Lord came into His presence and requested Him to return to Purī. They submitted that the devotees from Bengal were coming to Puruṣottama-kṣetra.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.65|Madhya 11.65]]:''' In this way Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya brought Lord Caitanya back to Jagannātha Purī. He then went to King Pratāparudra and informed him of the Lord's arrival.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.66|Madhya 11.66]]:''' At this time, Gopīnātha Ācārya came there while Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was with King Pratāparudra. Being a brāhmaṇa, he offered his benediction to the King and addressed Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.67|Madhya 11.67]]:''' "About two hundred devotees are coming from Bengal. All of them are greatly advanced and specifically devoted to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.68|Madhya 11.68]]:''' "All of them have already arrived on the bank of Lake Narendra and are waiting there. I desire residential quarters and prasādam arrangements for them."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.69|Madhya 11.69]]:''' The King replied, "I shall give orders to the attendant in the temple. He will arrange for everyone's residential quarters and prasādam, as you desire.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.70|Madhya 11.70]]:''' "Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, please show me, one after another, all of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's devotees who are coming from Bengal."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.71|Madhya 11.71]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya requested the King, "Go up on the roof of the palace. Gopīnātha Ācārya knows every one of the devotees. He will identify them for you.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.72|Madhya 11.72]]:''' "Actually I do not know any of them, although I have a desire to know them. Since Gopīnātha Ācārya knows them all, he will give you their names."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.73|Madhya 11.73]]:''' After Sārvabhauma said this, he went up to the top of the palace with the King and Gopīnātha Ācārya. At this time all the Vaiṣṇava devotees from Bengal drew closer to the palace.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.74|Madhya 11.74]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara and Govinda, taking the flower garlands and prasādam of Lord Jagannātha, proceeded to where all the Vaiṣṇavas were standing.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.75|Madhya 11.75]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu first sent those two persons in advance. The King inquired, "Who are these two? Please let me know their identities."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.76|Madhya 11.76]]:''' Śrī Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "Here is Svarūpa Dāmodara, who is practically the second expansion of the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.77|Madhya 11.77]]:''' "The second person is Govinda, Lord Caitanya's personal servant. The Lord has sent garlands and remnants of Lord Jagannātha's food with these two persons simply to honor the devotees from Bengal."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.78|Madhya 11.78]]:''' At the beginning, Svarūpa Dāmodara came forward and garlanded Advaita Ācārya. Govinda next came and offered a second garland to Advaita Ācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.79|Madhya 11.79]]:''' When Govinda offered his obeisances by falling down flat before Advaita Ācārya, Advaita Ācārya asked Svarūpa Dāmodara about his identity, for He did not know Govinda at that time.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.80|Madhya 11.80]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara informed Him, "Govinda was the servant of Īśvara Purī. He is very highly qualified.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.81|Madhya 11.81]]:''' "Īśvara Purī ordered Govinda to serve Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Thus the Lord keeps him by His side."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.82|Madhya 11.82]]:''' The King inquired, "To whom did Svarūpa Dāmodara and Govinda offer the two garlands? His bodily effulgence is so great that He must be a very great devotee. Please let me know who He is."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.83|Madhya 11.83]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya replied, "His name is Advaita Ācārya. He is honored even by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and He is therefore the topmost devotee.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.84|Madhya 11.84]]:''' "Here are Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita, Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, Vidyānidhi Ācārya and Gadādhara Paṇḍita.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.85|Madhya 11.85]]:''' "Here are Ācāryaratna, Purandara Paṇḍita, Gańgādāsa Paṇḍita and Śańkara Paṇḍita.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.86|Madhya 11.86]]:''' "Here are Murāri Gupta, Paṇḍita Nārāyaṇa and Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the deliverer of the whole universe.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.87|Madhya 11.87]]:''' "Here is Hari Bhaṭṭa, and there is Nṛsiḿhānanda. Here are Vāsudeva Datta and Śivānanda Sena.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.88|Madhya 11.88]]:''' "Here also are Govinda Ghoṣa, Mādhava Ghoṣa and Vāsudeva Ghoṣa. They are three brothers, and their sańkīrtana, congregational chanting, pleases the Lord very much.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.89|Madhya 11.89]]:''' "Here is Rāghava Paṇḍita, here is Ācārya Nandana, there is Śrīmān Paṇḍita, and here are Śrīkānta and Nārāyaṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.90|Madhya 11.90]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya continued to point out the devotees: "Here is Śuklāmbara. See, there is Śrīdhara. Here is Vijaya, and there is Vallabha Sena. Here is Puruṣottama, and there is Sañjaya.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.91|Madhya 11.91]]:''' "And here are all the residents of Kulīna-grāma, such as Satyarāja Khān and Rāmānanda. Indeed, all of them are present here. Please see.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.92|Madhya 11.92]]:''' "Here are Mukunda dāsa, Narahari, Śrī Raghunandana, Cirañjīva and Sulocana, all residents of Khaṇḍa.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.93|Madhya 11.93]]:''' "How many names shall I speak to you? All the devotees you see here are associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is their life and soul."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.94|Madhya 11.94]]:''' The King said, "Upon seeing all these devotees, I am very much astonished, for I have never seen such an effulgence.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.95|Madhya 11.95]]:''' "Indeed, their effulgence is like the brilliance of a million suns. Nor have I ever heard the Lord's names chanted so melodiously.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.96|Madhya 11.96]]:''' "I have never before seen such ecstatic love, nor heard the vibration of the holy name of the Lord chanted in such a way, nor seen such dancing during sańkīrtana."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.97|Madhya 11.97]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "This sweet transcendental sound is a special creation of the Lord known as prema-sańkīrtana, congregational chanting in love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.98|Madhya 11.98]]:''' "In this Age of Kali, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has descended to preach the religion of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore the chanting of the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa is the religious principle for this age.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.99|Madhya 11.99]]:''' "Anyone who worships Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu by congregational chanting should be understood to be very intelligent. One who does not do so must be considered a victim of this age and bereft of all intelligence.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.100|Madhya 11.100]]:''' "'In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the name of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 11.101|Madhya 11.101]]:''' The King said, "According to evidence given in the revealed scriptures, it is concluded that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. Why, then, are learned scholars sometimes indifferent to Him?"

'''[[CC Madhya 11.102|Madhya 11.102]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "A person who has received but a small fraction of mercy from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu can understand that He is Lord Kṛṣṇa. No one else can.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.103|Madhya 11.103]]:''' "If the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is not bestowed upon a person — regardless of how learned a scholar that person may be and regardless of his seeing or listening — he cannot accept Lord Caitanya as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.104|Madhya 11.104]]:''' "[Lord Brahmā said:] 'My Lord, if one is favored by even a slight trace of the mercy of Your lotus feet, he can understand the greatness of Your personality. But those who speculate to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead are unable to know You, even though they continue to study the Vedas for many years.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 11.105|Madhya 11.105]]:''' The King said, "Instead of visiting the temple of Lord Jagannātha, all the devotees are running toward the residence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.106|Madhya 11.106]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "This is spontaneous love. All the devotees are very anxious to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.107|Madhya 11.107]]:''' "First the devotees will meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and then take Him with them to the temple to see Lord Jagannātha."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.108|Madhya 11.108]]:''' The King said, "The son of Bhavānanda Rāya named Vāṇīnātha, along with five or seven other men, went there to obtain the remnants of Lord Jagannātha's food.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.109|Madhya 11.109]]:''' "Indeed, Vāṇīnātha has already gone to the residence of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and has taken a huge quantity of mahā-prasādam. Please let me know the reason for this."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.110|Madhya 11.110]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "Understanding that all the devotees have come, Lord Caitanya gave the sign, and therefore Vāṇīnātha and the others have brought such great quantities of mahā-prasādam."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.111|Madhya 11.111]]:''' The King then asked the Bhaṭṭācārya, "Why have the devotees not observed the regulations for visiting the pilgrimage place, such as fasting, shaving and so on? Why have they first eaten prasādam?"

'''[[CC Madhya 11.112|Madhya 11.112]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya told the King, "What you have said is right according to the regulative principles governing the visiting of holy places, but there is another path, which is the path of spontaneous love. According to those principles, there are subtle intricacies involved in the execution of religious principles.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.113|Madhya 11.113]]:''' "The scriptural injunctions for shaving and fasting are indirect orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. However, when there is a direct order from the Lord to take prasādam, naturally the devotees take prasādam as their first duty.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.114|Madhya 11.114]]:''' "When mahā-prasādam is not available, there must be fasting, but when the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly orders one to take prasādam, neglecting such an opportunity is offensive.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.115|Madhya 11.115]]:''' "When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is distributing prasādam with His transcendental hand, who will neglect such an opportunity and accept the regulative principle of fasting?

'''[[CC Madhya 11.116|Madhya 11.116]]:''' "Previously the Lord gave me mahā-prasādam rice one morning, and I ate it just sitting on my bed, without having even washed my mouth.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.117|Madhya 11.117]]:''' "The man to whom the Lord shows His mercy by inspiring him within the heart takes shelter only of Lord Kṛṣṇa and abandons all Vedic and social customs.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.118|Madhya 11.118]]:''' "'When one is inspired by the Lord, who is sitting in everyone's heart, he does not care for social custom or Vedic regulative principles.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 11.119|Madhya 11.119]]:''' After this, King Pratāparudra came down from the top of his palace to the ground and called for Kāśī Miśra and the inspector of the temple.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.120-121|Madhya 11.120-121]]:''' Mahārāja Pratāparudra then told both Kāśī Miśra and the temple inspector, "Provide all the devotees and associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with comfortable residences, convenient eating facilities for prasādam and convenient visiting arrangements at the temple so that there will not be any difficulty.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.122|Madhya 11.122]]:''' "The orders of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu must be carefully carried out. Although the Lord may not give direct orders, you are still to carry out His desires simply by understanding His indications."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.123|Madhya 11.123]]:''' Saying this, the King gave them permission to leave. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya also went to see the assembly of all the Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.124|Madhya 11.124]]:''' From a distant place, Gopīnātha Ācārya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya watched the meeting of all the Vaiṣṇavas with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.125|Madhya 11.125]]:''' Beginning from the right side of the lion gate, or the main gate of the temple, all the Vaiṣṇavas began to proceed toward the house of Kāśī Miśra.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.126|Madhya 11.126]]:''' In the meantime, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, accompanied by His personal associates, met all the Vaiṣṇavas on the road with great jubilation.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.127|Madhya 11.127]]:''' First Advaita Ācārya offered prayers to the lotus feet of the Lord, and the Lord immediately embraced Him in ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.128|Madhya 11.128]]:''' Indeed, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Advaita Ācārya displayed agitation due to ecstatic love. Seeing the time and circumstance, however, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained patient.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.129|Madhya 11.129]]:''' After this, all the devotees, headed by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, offered prayers to the lotus feet of the Lord, and the Lord embraced each and every one of them in great love and ecstasy.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.130|Madhya 11.130]]:''' The Lord addressed all the devotees one after another and took all of them with Him into the house.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.131|Madhya 11.131]]:''' Since the residence of Kāśī Miśra was insufficient, all the assembled devotees were very much overcrowded.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.132|Madhya 11.132]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu made all the devotees sit at His side, and with His own hand He offered them garlands and sandalwood pulp.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.133|Madhya 11.133]]:''' After this, Gopīnātha Ācārya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya met all the Vaiṣṇavas at the place of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in a befitting manner.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.134|Madhya 11.134]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu addressed Advaita Ācārya Prabhu, saying sweetly, "My dear Sir, today I have become perfect because of Your arrival."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.135-136|Madhya 11.135-136]]:''' Advaita Ācārya Prabhu replied, "This is a natural characteristic of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although He is personally complete and full in all opulences, He takes transcendental pleasure in the association of His devotees, with whom He has a variety of eternal pastimes."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.137|Madhya 11.137]]:''' As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Vāsudeva Datta, the older brother of Mukunda Datta, He immediately became very happy and, placing His hand on his body, began to speak.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.138|Madhya 11.138]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Although Mukunda is My friend from childhood, I nonetheless take greater pleasure in seeing you than in seeing him."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.139|Madhya 11.139]]:''' Vāsudeva replied, "Mukunda got Your association in the beginning. As such, he has taken shelter at Your lotus feet. That is his transcendental rebirth."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.140|Madhya 11.140]]:''' Thus Vāsudeva Datta admitted his inferiority to Mukunda, his younger brother. "Although Mukunda is my junior," he said, "he first received Your favor. Consequently he became transcendentally senior to me. Besides that, You very much favored Mukunda. Thus he is superior in all good qualities."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.141|Madhya 11.141]]:''' The Lord said, "For your sake only, I have brought two books from South India.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.142|Madhya 11.142]]:''' "The books are being kept with Svarūpa Dāmodara, and you can get them copied." Hearing this, Vāsudeva became very glad.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.143|Madhya 11.143]]:''' Indeed, each and every Vaiṣṇava copied the two books. By and by, the two books [the Brahma-saḿhitā and Śrī Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta] were broadcast all over India.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.144|Madhya 11.144]]:''' The Lord addressed Śrīvāsa and his brothers with great love and affection, saying, "I am so obliged that I am purchased by you four brothers."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.145|Madhya 11.145]]:''' Śrīvāsa then replied to the Lord, "Why are You speaking in a contradictory way? Rather, we four brothers have been purchased by Your mercy."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.146|Madhya 11.146]]:''' After seeing Śańkara, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Dāmodara, "My affection for you is on the platform of awe and reverence.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.147|Madhya 11.147]]:''' "Therefore keep your younger brother Śańkara with you because he is connected to Me by pure unalloyed love."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.148|Madhya 11.148]]:''' Dāmodara Paṇḍita replied, "Śańkara is my younger brother, but from today he becomes my elder brother because of Your special mercy upon him."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.149|Madhya 11.149]]:''' Then turning toward Śivānanda Sena, the Lord said, "I know that from the very beginning your affection for Me has been very great."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.150|Madhya 11.150]]:''' Immediately upon hearing this, Śivānanda Sena became absorbed in ecstatic love and fell down on the ground, offering obeisances to the Lord. He then began to recite the following verse.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.151|Madhya 11.151]]:''' "'O my Lord! O unlimited one! Although I was merged in the ocean of nescience, I have now, after a long time, attained You, just as one may attain the seashore. My dear Lord, by getting me, You have obtained the right person upon whom to bestow Your causeless mercy.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 11.152|Madhya 11.152]]:''' Murāri Gupta at first did not meet the Lord but rather remained outside the door, falling down like a stick to offer obeisances.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.153|Madhya 11.153]]:''' When Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could not see Murāri amongst the devotees, He inquired about him. Thereupon many people immediately went to Murāri, running to take him to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.154|Madhya 11.154]]:''' Thus Murāri Gupta, catching two bunches of straw in his teeth, went before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with humility and meekness.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.155|Madhya 11.155]]:''' Upon seeing Murāri come to meet Him, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went up to him, but Murāri began to run away and speak as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.156|Madhya 11.156]]:''' "My Lord, please do not touch me. I am most abominable and am not fit for You to touch because my body is sinful."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.157|Madhya 11.157]]:''' The Lord said, "My dear Murāri, please restrain your unnecessary humility. My mind is disturbed to see your meekness."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.158|Madhya 11.158]]:''' Saying this, the Lord embraced Murāri and had him sit down by His side. The Lord then began to cleanse his body with His own hands.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.159-160|Madhya 11.159-160]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then again and again embraced all the devotees, including Ācāryaratna, Vidyānidhi, Paṇḍita Gadādhara, Gańgādāsa, Hari Bhaṭṭa and Ācārya Purandara. The Lord described their good qualities and glorified them again and again.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.161|Madhya 11.161]]:''' After thus offering respect to each and every devotee, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very jubilant. However, not seeing Haridāsa Ṭhākura, He inquired, "Where is Haridāsa?"

'''[[CC Madhya 11.162|Madhya 11.162]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then saw in the distance that Haridāsa Ṭhākura was lying down flat on the road offering obeisances.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.163|Madhya 11.163]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura did not come to the Lord's meeting place but remained fallen flat on the common road at a distance.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.164|Madhya 11.164]]:''' All the devotees then went to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, saying, "The Lord wants to meet you. Please come immediately."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.165|Madhya 11.165]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "I cannot go near the temple because I am a low-caste, abominable person. I have no authority to go there."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.166|Madhya 11.166]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura then expressed his desire: "If I could just get a solitary place near the temple, I could stay there alone and pass my time.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.167|Madhya 11.167]]:''' "I do not wish the servants of Lord Jagannātha to touch me. I would remain there in the garden alone. That is my desire."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.168|Madhya 11.168]]:''' When this message was relayed to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by the people, the Lord became very happy to hear it.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.169|Madhya 11.169]]:''' At this time, Kāśī Miśra, along with the superintendent of the temple, came and offered his respects unto the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.170|Madhya 11.170]]:''' Upon seeing all the Vaiṣṇavas together, Kāśī Miśra and the superintendent became very happy. With great happiness they met with the devotees in a befitting manner.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.171|Madhya 11.171]]:''' Both submitted to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Please give us orders so that we may make proper arrangements to accommodate all the Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.172|Madhya 11.172]]:''' "Accommodations have been arranged for all the Vaiṣṇavas. Now let us distribute mahā-prasādam to all of them."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.173|Madhya 11.173]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately told Gopīnātha Ācārya, "Please go with the Vaiṣṇavas and accommodate them in whatever residences Kāśī Miśra and the temple superintendent offer."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.174|Madhya 11.174]]:''' Then the Lord told Kāśī Miśra and the temple superintendent, "As for the remnants of food left by Jagannātha, let them be delivered to Vāṇīnātha Rāya's charge, for he can take care of all the Vaiṣṇavas and distribute mahā-prasādam to them."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.175|Madhya 11.175]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, "Nearby My place, in this garden of flowers, is a single room that is very solitary.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.176|Madhya 11.176]]:''' "Please give that room to Me, for I have a need for it. Indeed, I shall remember the lotus feet of the Lord sitting in that solitary place."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.177|Madhya 11.177]]:''' Kāśī Miśra then told Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu: "Everything belongs to You. What is the use of Your begging? By Your own will You can take whatever You like.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.178|Madhya 11.178]]:''' "My Lord, we are Your two servants and are here just to carry out Your orders. By Your mercy, please tell us to do whatever You want."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.179|Madhya 11.179]]:''' Saying this, Kāśī Miśra and the temple inspector took their leave, and Gopīnātha and Vāṇīnātha went with them.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.180|Madhya 11.180]]:''' Gopīnātha was then shown all the residential places, and Vāṇīnātha was given large quantities of food [mahā-prasādam] left by Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.181|Madhya 11.181]]:''' Thus Vāṇīnātha Rāya returned with large quantities of Lord Jagannātha's food remnants, including cakes and other good eatables. Gopīnātha Ācārya also returned after cleansing all the residential quarters.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.182|Madhya 11.182]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then addressed all the Vaiṣṇavas and requested that they listen to Him. He said, "Now you can go to your respective residential quarters.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.183|Madhya 11.183]]:''' "Go to the sea and bathe and look at the top of the temple. After so doing, please come back here and take your lunch."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.184|Madhya 11.184]]:''' After offering obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the devotees departed for their residences, and Gopīnātha Ācārya showed them their respective quarters.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.185|Madhya 11.185]]:''' After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to meet Haridāsa Ṭhākura, and He saw him engaged in chanting the mahā-mantra with ecstatic love. Haridāsa chanted, "Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.186|Madhya 11.186]]:''' As soon as Haridāsa Ṭhākura saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he immediately fell down like a stick to offer Him obeisances, and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu raised him up and embraced him.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.187|Madhya 11.187]]:''' Then both the Lord and His servant began to cry in ecstatic love. Indeed, the Lord was transformed by the qualities of His servant, and the servant was transformed by the qualities of his master.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.188|Madhya 11.188]]:''' Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, "My dear Lord, please do not touch me, for I am most fallen and untouchable and am the lowest among men."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.189|Madhya 11.189]]:''' The Lord said, "I wish to touch you just to be purified, for your purified activities do not exist in Me."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.190|Madhya 11.190]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exalted Haridāsa Ṭhākura, stating, "At every moment you take your bath in all the holy places of pilgrimage, and at every moment you perform great sacrifices, austerity and charity.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.191|Madhya 11.191]]:''' "You are constantly studying the four Vedas, and you are far better than any brāhmaṇa or sannyāsī."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.192|Madhya 11.192]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then recited the following verse: "'My dear Lord, one who always keeps Your holy name on his tongue becomes greater than an initiated brāhmaṇa. Although he may be born in a family of dog-eaters and therefore by material calculation may be the lowest among men, he is still glorious. This is the wonderful effect of chanting the holy name of the Lord. It is therefore concluded that one who chants the holy name of the Lord should be understood to have performed all kinds of austerities and great sacrifices mentioned in the Vedas. He has already taken his bath in all the holy places of pilgrimage. He has studied all the Vedas, and he is actually an Āryan.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 11.193|Madhya 11.193]]:''' Saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took Haridāsa Ṭhākura within the flower garden, and there, in a very secluded place, He showed him his residence.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.194|Madhya 11.194]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested Haridāsa Ṭhākura, "Remain here and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. I shall personally come here to meet you daily.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.195|Madhya 11.195]]:''' "Remain here peacefully and look at the cakra on the top of the temple and offer obeisances. As far as your prasādam is concerned, I shall arrange to have that sent here."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.196|Madhya 11.196]]:''' When Nityānanda Prabhu, Jagadānanda Prabhu, Dāmodara Prabhu and Mukunda Prabhu met Haridāsa Ṭhākura, they all became very pleased.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.197|Madhya 11.197]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to His residence after taking a bath in the sea, all the devotees, headed by Advaita Prabhu, went to bathe in the sea.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.198|Madhya 11.198]]:''' After bathing in the sea, Advaita Prabhu and all the other devotees returned, and on their return they saw the top of the Jagannātha temple. They then went to the residence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to take their luncheon.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.199|Madhya 11.199]]:''' One after the other, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu made all the devotees sit in their proper places. He then began to distribute prasādam with His own transcendental hand.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.200|Madhya 11.200]]:''' All the devotees were served prasādam on plantain leaves, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu distributed on each leaf a quantity suitable for two or three men to eat, for His hand could not distribute less than that.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.201|Madhya 11.201]]:''' All the devotees kept their hands raised over the prasādam distributed to them, for they did not want to eat without seeing the Lord eat first.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.202|Madhya 11.202]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī then informed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Unless You sit and take prasādam, no one will accept it.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.203|Madhya 11.203]]:''' "Gopīnātha Ācārya has invited all the sannyāsīs who remain with You to come and take prasādam.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.204|Madhya 11.204]]:''' "Gopīnātha Ācārya has already come, bringing sufficient remnants of food to distribute to all the sannyāsīs, and sannyāsīs like Paramānanda Purī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī are waiting for You.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.205|Madhya 11.205]]:''' "You may sit down and accept the luncheon with Nityānanda Prabhu, and I shall distribute the prasādam to all the Vaiṣṇavas."

'''[[CC Madhya 11.206|Madhya 11.206]]:''' After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu carefully delivered some prasādam into the hands of Govinda to be given to Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.207|Madhya 11.207]]:''' Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally sat down to accept lunch with the other sannyāsīs, and Gopīnātha Ācārya began to distribute the prasādam with great pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.208|Madhya 11.208]]:''' Then Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, Dāmodara Paṇḍita and Jagadānanda all began to distribute prasādam to the devotees with great pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.209|Madhya 11.209]]:''' They ate all kinds of cakes and sweet rice, filling themselves up to their throats, and at intervals they vibrated the holy name of the Lord in great jubilation.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.210|Madhya 11.210]]:''' After everyone had finished his lunch and washed his mouth and hands, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally decorated everyone with flower garlands and sandalwood pulp.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.211|Madhya 11.211]]:''' After thus accepting prasādam, they all went to take rest at their respective residences, and in the evening they again came to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.212|Madhya 11.212]]:''' At this time Rāmānanda Rāya also came to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and the Lord took the opportunity to introduce him to all the Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.213|Madhya 11.213]]:''' The great Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, then took all of them to the temple of Jagannātha and began the congregational chanting of the holy name there.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.214|Madhya 11.214]]:''' After seeing the dhūpa-ārati of the Lord, they all began congregational chanting. Then the paḍichā, the superintendent of the temple, came and offered flower garlands and sandalwood pulp to everyone.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.215|Madhya 11.215]]:''' Four parties were then distributed in four directions to perform sańkīrtana, and in the middle of them the Lord Himself, known as the son of mother Śacī, began to dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.216|Madhya 11.216]]:''' In the four groups there were eight mṛdańgas and thirty-two cymbals. All together they began to vibrate the transcendental sound, and everyone said, "Very good! Very good!"

'''[[CC Madhya 11.217|Madhya 11.217]]:''' When the tumultuous vibration of sańkīrtana resounded, all good fortune immediately awakened, and the sound penetrated the whole universe through the fourteen planetary systems.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.218|Madhya 11.218]]:''' When the congregational chanting began, ecstatic love immediately overflooded everything, and all the residents of Jagannātha Purī came running.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.219|Madhya 11.219]]:''' Everyone was astonished to see such a performance of sańkīrtana, and they all agreed that never before had kīrtana been so performed and ecstatic love of God so exhibited.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.220|Madhya 11.220]]:''' At this time Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu circumambulated the temple of Jagannātha and continuously danced about the whole area.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.221|Madhya 11.221]]:''' As the circumambulation was performed, the four kīrtana parties sang in front and in the rear. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fell down to the ground, Śrī Nityānanda Rāya Prabhu lifted Him up.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.222|Madhya 11.222]]:''' While kīrtana was going on, there was a transformation of ecstatic love and much tears, jubilation, trembling, perspiration and deep resounding in the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Upon seeing this transformation, all the people present became very much astonished.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.223|Madhya 11.223]]:''' The tears from the eyes of the Lord came out with great force, like water from a syringe. Indeed, all the people who surrounded Him were moistened by His tears.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.224|Madhya 11.224]]:''' After circumambulating the temple, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for some time remained at the rear of the temple and continued His sańkīrtana.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.225|Madhya 11.225]]:''' On all four sides the four sańkīrtana groups chanted very loudly, and in the middle Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced, jumping high.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.226|Madhya 11.226]]:''' After dancing for a long time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became still and ordered four great personalities to begin to dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.227|Madhya 11.227]]:''' In one group Nityānanda Prabhu began to dance, and in another group Advaita Ācārya began to dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.228|Madhya 11.228]]:''' Vakreśvara Paṇḍita began to dance in another group, and in yet another group Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura began to dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.229|Madhya 11.229]]:''' While this dancing was going on, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu watched them and performed a miracle.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.230|Madhya 11.230]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stood in the middle of the dancers, and all the dancers in all directions perceived that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was looking at them.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.231|Madhya 11.231]]:''' Wanting to see the dancing of the four great personalities, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exhibited this miracle of seeing everyone simultaneously.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.232|Madhya 11.232]]:''' Everyone who saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could understand that He was performing a miracle, but they did not know how it was that He could see on all four sides.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.233|Madhya 11.233]]:''' In His own pastimes in Vṛndāvana, when Kṛṣṇa used to eat on the bank of the Yamunā and sit in the center of His friends, every one of the cowherd boys would perceive that Kṛṣṇa was looking at him. In the same way, when Caitanya Mahāprabhu observed the dancing, everyone saw that Caitanya Mahāprabhu was facing him.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.234|Madhya 11.234]]:''' When someone came nearby while dancing, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would tightly embrace him.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.235|Madhya 11.235]]:''' Upon seeing the great dancing, great love and great sańkīrtana, all the people of Jagannātha Purī floated in an ecstatic ocean of love.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.236|Madhya 11.236]]:''' Hearing the greatness of the sańkīrtana, King Pratāparudra went up to the top of his palace and watched the performance with his personal associates.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.237|Madhya 11.237]]:''' The King was very much astonished to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's kīrtana, and the King's anxiety to meet Him increased unlimitedly.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.238|Madhya 11.238]]:''' After the sańkīrtana ended, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu watched the offering of flowers to the Lord Jagannātha Deity. Then He and all the Vaiṣṇavas returned to His residence.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.239|Madhya 11.239]]:''' The superintendent of the temple then brought large quantities of prasādam, which Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally distributed to all the devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.240|Madhya 11.240]]:''' Finally they all departed to rest in bed. In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of Śacīmātā, performed His pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.241|Madhya 11.241]]:''' As long as the devotees remained at Jagannātha Purī with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the pastime of sańkīrtana was performed with great jubilation every day.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.242|Madhya 11.242]]:''' In this way I have explained the Lord's pastime of sańkīrtana, and I bless everyone with this benediction: By listening to this description, one will surely become a servant of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 11.243|Madhya 11.243]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 10|Madhya-līlā 10]] '''[[CC Madhya 10|Madhya-līlā 10]] - [[CC Madhya 12|Madhya-līlā 12]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 12|Madhya-līlā 12]]</div>

CC Madhya 10

2026-06-04T18:28:50Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 10 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 10|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 10: The Lord's Return to Jagannātha Purī'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 9|Madhya-līlā 9]] '''[[CC Madhya 9|Madhya-līlā 9]] - [[CC Madhya 11|Madhya-līlā 11]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 11|Madhya-līlā 11]]</div>

'''[[CC Madhya 10 Summary|Madhya 10 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 10.1|Madhya 10.1]]:''' I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is compared to a cloud that pours water on fields of grain, which are like devotees suffering due to a shortage of rain. Separation from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is like a drought, but when the Lord returns, His presence is like a nectarean rain that falls on all the grains and saves them from perishing.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.2|Madhya 10.2]]:''' All glories to Lord Caitanya! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!

'''[[CC Madhya 10.3|Madhya 10.3]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu departed for South India, King Pratāparudra called Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya to his palace.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.4|Madhya 10.4]]:''' When Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya met with the King, the King offered him a seat with all respects and inquired about news of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.5|Madhya 10.5]]:''' The King said to the Bhaṭṭācārya, "I have heard that a great personality has come from Bengal and is staying at your home. I have also heard that He is very, very merciful.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.6|Madhya 10.6]]:''' "I have also heard that this great personality has shown you great favor. At any rate, this is what I hear from many different people. Now, being merciful upon me, you should do me the favor of arranging an interview."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.7|Madhya 10.7]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "All that you have heard is true, but as far as an interview is concerned, it is very difficult to arrange.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.8|Madhya 10.8]]:''' "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is in the renounced order and is very much detached from worldly affairs. He stays in solitary places, and even in dreams He does not grant interviews to a king.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.9|Madhya 10.9]]:''' "Still, I would have tried to arrange your interview, but He has recently left to tour South India."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.10|Madhya 10.10]]:''' The King asked, "Why has He left Jagannātha Purī?"The Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "Such are the pastimes of a great personality.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.11|Madhya 10.11]]:''' "Great saints go to holy places of pilgrimage in order to purify them. For that reason Caitanya Mahāprabhu is visiting many tīrthas and delivering many, many conditioned souls.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.12|Madhya 10.12]]:''' "'Saints of your caliber are themselves places of pilgrimage. Because of their purity, they are constant companions of the Lord, and therefore they can purify even the places of pilgrimage.'

'''[[CC Madhya 10.13|Madhya 10.13]]:''' "A Vaiṣṇava travels to places of pilgrimage to purify them and reclaim fallen conditioned souls. This is one of the duties of a Vaiṣṇava. Actually, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is not a living entity but the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Consequently, He is a fully independent controller, yet in His position as a devotee, He carries out the activities of a devotee."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.14|Madhya 10.14]]:''' Upon hearing this, the King replied, "Why did you allow Him to leave? Why didn't you fall at His lotus feet and keep Him here?"

'''[[CC Madhya 10.15|Madhya 10.15]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself and is completely independent. Being Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, He is not dependent on anyone.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.16|Madhya 10.16]]:''' "Still, I endeavored very hard to keep Him here, but because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and completely independent, I was not successful."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.17|Madhya 10.17]]:''' The King said, "Bhaṭṭācārya, you are the most learned and experienced person I know. Therefore when you address Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as Lord Kṛṣṇa, I accept this as the truth.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.18|Madhya 10.18]]:''' "When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returns, I wish to see Him just once in order to make my eyes perfect."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.19|Madhya 10.19]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "His Holiness Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will return very soon. I wish to have a nice place ready for Him, a place solitary and peaceful.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.20|Madhya 10.20]]:''' "Lord Caitanya's residence should be very secluded and also near the temple of Jagannātha. Please consider this proposal and give me a nice place for Him."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.21|Madhya 10.21]]:''' The King replied, "Kāśī Miśra's house is exactly what you require. It is near the temple and is very secluded, calm and quiet."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.22|Madhya 10.22]]:''' After saying this, the King became very anxious for the Lord to return. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then went to Kāśī Miśra to convey the King's desire.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.23|Madhya 10.23]]:''' When Kāśī Miśra heard the proposal, he said, "I am very fortunate that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord of all prabhus, will stay at my home."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.24|Madhya 10.24]]:''' Thus all the residents of Jagannātha Purī, which is also known as Puruṣottama, became anxious to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.25|Madhya 10.25]]:''' When all the residents of Jagannātha Purī became extremely anxious to meet the Lord again, He returned from South India.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.26|Madhya 10.26]]:''' Hearing of the Lord's return, everyone became very happy, and they all went to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and spoke to him as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.27|Madhya 10.27]]:''' "Please arrange our meeting with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. It is only by your mercy that we can attain the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.28|Madhya 10.28]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya replied to the people, "Tomorrow the Lord will be at the house of Kāśī Miśra. I shall arrange for you all to meet Him."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.29|Madhya 10.29]]:''' The next day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived and went with Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, with great enthusiasm, to see the temple of Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.30|Madhya 10.30]]:''' All the servants of Lord Jagannātha delivered remnants of the Lord's food to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In return, Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced them all.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.31|Madhya 10.31]]:''' After seeing Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left the temple. The Bhaṭṭācārya then took Him to the house of Kāśī Miśra.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.32|Madhya 10.32]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived at his house, Kāśī Miśra immediately fell down at His lotus feet and surrendered himself and all his possessions.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.33|Madhya 10.33]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then showed Kāśī Miśra His four-armed form. Then, accepting him for His service, the Lord embraced him.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.34|Madhya 10.34]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next sat down at the place prepared for Him, and all the devotees, headed by Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, surrounded Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.35|Madhya 10.35]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very happy to see His residential quarters, in which all His necessities were taken care of.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.36|Madhya 10.36]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "This place is just befitting You. Please accept it. It is the hope of Kāśī Miśra that You do."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.37|Madhya 10.37]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "My body belongs to all of you. Therefore I agree to whatever you say."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.38|Madhya 10.38]]:''' After this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, sitting at the right hand of the Lord, began to introduce all the inhabitants of Puruṣottama, Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.39|Madhya 10.39]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya said, "My dear Lord, all these people who are residents of Nīlācala, Jagannātha Purī, have been very anxious to meet You.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.40|Madhya 10.40]]:''' "In Your absence all these people have been exactly like thirsty cātaka birds crying in disappointment. Kindly accept them."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.41|Madhya 10.41]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya first introduced Janārdana, saying, "Here is Janārdana, servant of Lord Jagannātha. He renders service to the Lord when it is time to renovate His transcendental body."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.42|Madhya 10.42]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, "This is Kṛṣṇadāsa, who carries a golden cane, and here is Śikhi Māhiti, who is in charge of writing.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.43|Madhya 10.43]]:''' "This is Pradyumna Miśra, who is chief of all Vaiṣṇavas. He is a great servitor of Jagannātha, and his name is Dāsa.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.44|Madhya 10.44]]:''' "This is Murāri Māhiti, the brother of Śikhi Māhiti. He has nothing other than Your lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.45|Madhya 10.45]]:''' "Here are Candaneśvara, Siḿheśvara, Murāri Brāhmaṇa and Viṣṇudāsa. They are all constantly engaged in meditating on Your lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.46|Madhya 10.46]]:''' "This is Paramānanda Prahararāja, who is also known as Mahāpātra. He is very, very intelligent.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.47|Madhya 10.47]]:''' "All these pure devotees serve as ornaments to Jagannātha Purī. They are always undeviatingly meditating upon Your lotus feet."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.48|Madhya 10.48]]:''' After this introduction, everyone fell to the ground like rods. Being very merciful upon them all, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced each one of them.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.49|Madhya 10.49]]:''' At this time Bhavānanda Rāya appeared with four of his sons, and all of them fell down at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.50|Madhya 10.50]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, "This is Bhavānanda Rāya, the father of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, who is his first son."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.51|Madhya 10.51]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Bhavānanda Rāya and with great respect spoke of his son Rāmānanda Rāya.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.52|Madhya 10.52]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu honored Bhavānanda Rāya by saying, "The glories of a person who has a jewel of a son like Rāmānanda Rāya cannot be described within this mortal world.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.53|Madhya 10.53]]:''' "You are Mahārāja Pāṇḍu himself, and your wife is Kuntīdevī herself. All your highly intellectual sons are representatives of the five Pāṇḍavas."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.54|Madhya 10.54]]:''' After hearing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's praise, Bhavānanda Rāya submitted, "I am in the fourth class of the social order, and I engage in mundane affairs. Although I am very fallen, You have still touched me. This is proof that You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.55|Madhya 10.55]]:''' Appreciating Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's favor, Bhavānanda Rāya also said, "Along with my home, riches, servants and five sons, I surrender myself at Your lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.56|Madhya 10.56]]:''' "This son Vāṇīnātha will remain at Your lotus feet to always immediately attend to Your orders and serve You.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.57|Madhya 10.57]]:''' "My dear Lord, please consider me Your relative. Do not hesitate to order whatever You desire at any time You desire it."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.58|Madhya 10.58]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted Bhavānanda Rāya's offer, saying, "I accept without hesitation because you are not an outsider. Birth after birth you have been My servant, along with your family members.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.59|Madhya 10.59]]:''' "Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya is coming within five to seven days. As soon as he arrives, My desires will be fulfilled. I take great pleasure in his company."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.60|Madhya 10.60]]:''' Saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Bhavānanda Rāya. The Lord then touched the heads of his sons with His lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.61|Madhya 10.61]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then sent Bhavānanda Rāya back to his home, and He kept only Vāṇīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka in His personal service.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.62|Madhya 10.62]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then asked all the people to leave. Afterward, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called for Kālā Kṛṣṇadāsa, who had accompanied the Lord during His South Indian tour.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.63|Madhya 10.63]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "My dear Bhaṭṭācārya, just consider the character of this man who went with Me to South India.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.64|Madhya 10.64]]:''' "He left My company to associate with the Bhaṭṭathāris, but I rescued him from their company and brought him here.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.65|Madhya 10.65]]:''' "Now that I have brought him here, I am asking him to leave. Now he can go wherever he likes, for I am no longer responsible for him."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.66|Madhya 10.66]]:''' Hearing the Lord reject him, Kālā Kṛṣṇadāsa began to cry. However, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, not caring for him, immediately left to take His noon lunch.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.67|Madhya 10.67]]:''' After this, the other devotees — headed by Nityānanda Prabhu, Jagadānanda, Mukunda and Dāmodara — began to consider a certain plan.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.68|Madhya 10.68]]:''' The Lord's four devotees considered, "We want a person to go to Bengal just to inform Śacīmātā about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's arrival at Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.69|Madhya 10.69]]:''' "After hearing news of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's arrival, devotees like Advaita and Śrīvāsa will certainly come to see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.70|Madhya 10.70]]:''' "Let us therefore send Kṛṣṇadāsa to Bengal." Saying this, they kept Kṛṣṇadāsa engaged in the service of the Lord and gave him assurance.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.71|Madhya 10.71]]:''' The next day, all the devotees asked Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Please give permission for a person to go to Bengal.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.72|Madhya 10.72]]:''' "Mother Śacī and all the devotees headed by Advaita Prabhu are all very unhappy due to not receiving news about Your return from Your South Indian tour.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.73|Madhya 10.73]]:''' "One person should go to Bengal and inform them about the auspicious news of Your return to Jagannātha Purī."Upon hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "Do whatever you decide."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.74|Madhya 10.74]]:''' In this way Kālā Kṛṣṇadāsa was sent to Bengal, and he was given sufficient quantities of Lord Jagannātha's food remnants to distribute there.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.75|Madhya 10.75]]:''' Thus Kālā Kṛṣṇadāsa went to Bengal, and he first went to Navadvīpa to see mother Śacī.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.76|Madhya 10.76]]:''' Upon reaching mother Śacī, Kālā Kṛṣṇadāsa first offered his obeisances and delivered the food remnants [mahā-prasādam]. He then informed her of the good news that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had returned from His South Indian tour.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.77|Madhya 10.77]]:''' This good news gave much pleasure to mother Śacī, as well as to all the devotees of Navadvīpa, headed by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.78|Madhya 10.78]]:''' Hearing of Lord Caitanya's return to Purī, everyone became very glad. Kṛṣṇadāsa next went to the house of Advaita Ācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.79|Madhya 10.79]]:''' After paying Him respectful obeisances, Kṛṣṇadāsa offered mahā-prasādam to Advaita Ācārya. He then informed Him of the news of Lord Caitanya in complete detail.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.80|Madhya 10.80]]:''' When Advaita Ācārya Gosvāmī heard of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's return, He became very pleased. In His great ecstasy of love, He made a rumbling sound and danced and chanted for a long time.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.81|Madhya 10.81]]:''' Also hearing this auspicious news, Haridāsa Ṭhākura became very pleased. So also did Vāsudeva Datta, Murāri Gupta and Śivānanda Sena.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.82|Madhya 10.82]]:''' Ācāryaratna, Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, Ācāryanidhi and Gadādhara Paṇḍita were all very pleased to hear this news.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.83|Madhya 10.83]]:''' Śrīrāma Paṇḍita, Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Śrīmān Paṇḍita, Vijaya and Śrīdhara were also very pleased to hear it.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.84|Madhya 10.84]]:''' Rāghava Paṇḍita, the son of Advaita Ācārya and all the devotees became very satisfied. How many can I describe?

'''[[CC Madhya 10.85|Madhya 10.85]]:''' Everyone was very pleased, and they all gathered together at the house of Advaita Ācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.86|Madhya 10.86]]:''' All the devotees offered respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of Advaita Ācārya, and in return Advaita Ācārya embraced them all.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.87|Madhya 10.87]]:''' Advaita Ācārya then held a festival that lasted two or three days. Thereafter, they all made a firm decision to go to Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.88|Madhya 10.88]]:''' All the devotees met together at Navadvīpa and, with mother Śacī's permission, departed for Nīlādri, Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.89|Madhya 10.89]]:''' The inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma — Satyarāja, Rāmānanda and all the other devotees there — came and joined Advaita Ācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.90|Madhya 10.90]]:''' Mukunda, Narahari, Raghunandana and all the others came from Khaṇḍa to Advaita Ācārya's home to accompany Him to Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.91|Madhya 10.91]]:''' At that time Paramānanda Purī came from South India. Traveling along the banks of the Ganges, he ultimately reached the town of Nadia.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.92|Madhya 10.92]]:''' At Navadvīpa, Paramānanda Purī took his board and lodging at the house of Śacīmātā. She provided him with everything very respectfully.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.93|Madhya 10.93]]:''' While residing at the house of Śacīmātā, Paramānanda Purī heard the news of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's return to Jagannātha Purī. He therefore decided to go there as soon as possible.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.94|Madhya 10.94]]:''' There was a devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's named Dvija Kamalākānta, whom Paramānanda Purī took with him to Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.95|Madhya 10.95]]:''' Paramānanda Purī very soon arrived at Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's place. The Lord was very happy to see him.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.96|Madhya 10.96]]:''' In the great ecstasy of love, the Lord worshiped the lotus feet of Paramānanda Purī, and in turn Paramānanda Purī embraced the Lord in great ecstasy.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.97|Madhya 10.97]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Please stay with Me and thus show Me favor, accepting the shelter of Jagannātha Purī."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.98|Madhya 10.98]]:''' Paramānanda Purī replied, "I also wish to stay with You. Therefore I have come from Bengal, Gauḍa, to Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.99|Madhya 10.99]]:''' "At Navadvīpa, mother Śacī and all the other devotees were very glad to hear about Your return from South India.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.100|Madhya 10.100]]:''' "They are all coming here to see You, but seeing that they were delayed, I came alone very quickly."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.101|Madhya 10.101]]:''' There was a solitary room at Kāśī Miśra's house, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave it to Paramānanda Purī. He also gave him a servant.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.102|Madhya 10.102]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara also arrived the next day. He was a very intimate friend of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's, and he was an ocean of transcendental mellows.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.103|Madhya 10.103]]:''' When Svarūpa Dāmodara was residing at Navadvīpa under the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, his name was Puruṣottama Ācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.104|Madhya 10.104]]:''' After seeing that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted the renounced order, Puruṣottama Ācārya became like a madman and immediately went to Vārāṇasī to take sannyāsa.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.105|Madhya 10.105]]:''' At the conclusion of his sannyāsa, his spiritual master, Caitanyānanda Bhāratī, ordered him, "Read the Vedānta-sūtra and teach it to all others."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.106|Madhya 10.106]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara was a great renunciant as well as a great learned scholar. With heart and soul he took shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.107|Madhya 10.107]]:''' He was very enthusiastic to worship Śrī Kṛṣṇa without disturbance, and therefore, almost in madness, he accepted the sannyāsa order.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.108|Madhya 10.108]]:''' Upon accepting sannyāsa, Puruṣottama Ācārya followed the regulative principles by giving up his tuft of hair and sacred thread, but he did not accept the saffron-colored dress. Also, he did not accept a sannyāsī title but remained as a naiṣṭhika-brahmacārī.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.109|Madhya 10.109]]:''' After taking permission from his sannyāsa-guru, Svarūpa Dāmodara went to Nīlācala and accepted the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then all day and night, in ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa, he enjoyed transcendental mellows in the loving service of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.110|Madhya 10.110]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara was the limit of all learned scholarship, but he did not exchange words with anyone. He simply remained in a solitary place, and no one could understand where he was.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.111|Madhya 10.111]]:''' Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara was the personification of ecstatic love, fully cognizant of the transcendental mellows in relationship with Kṛṣṇa. He directly represented Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as His second expansion.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.112|Madhya 10.112]]:''' If someone wrote a book or composed verses and songs and wanted to recite them before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Svarūpa Dāmodara would first examine them and then correctly present them. Only then would Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu agree to listen.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.113|Madhya 10.113]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was never pleased to hear books or verses opposed to the conclusive statements of devotional service. The Lord did not like hearing rasābhāsa, the overlapping of transcendental mellows.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.114|Madhya 10.114]]:''' It was the practice of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī to examine all literatures to find out whether their conclusions were correct. Only then would he allow them to be heard by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.115|Madhya 10.115]]:''' Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara used to read the poems of Vidyāpati and Caṇḍīdāsa and Jayadeva Gosvāmī's Śrī Gīta-govinda. He used to make Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu very happy by singing these songs.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.116|Madhya 10.116]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara was as expert a musician as the Gandharvas, and in scriptural discussion he was just like Bṛhaspati, the priest of the heavenly gods. Therefore it is to be concluded that there was no great personality quite like Svarūpa Dāmodara.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.117|Madhya 10.117]]:''' Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara was very dear to Advaita Ācārya and Nityānanda Prabhu, and he was the life and soul of all the devotees, headed by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.118|Madhya 10.118]]:''' When Svarūpa Dāmodara came to Jagannātha Purī, he fell flat before the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, offering Him obeisances and reciting a verse.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.119|Madhya 10.119]]:''' "O ocean of mercy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! Let there be an awakening of Your auspicious mercy, which easily drives away all kinds of material lamentation by making everything pure and blissful. Indeed, Your mercy awakens transcendental bliss and covers all material pleasures. By Your auspicious mercy, quarrels and disagreements arising among different scriptures are vanquished. Your auspicious mercy pours forth transcendental mellows and thus causes the heart to jubilate. Your mercy, which is full of joy, always stimulates devotional service and glorifies conjugal love of God. May transcendental bliss be awakened within my heart by Your causeless mercy."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.120|Madhya 10.120]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu raised Svarūpa Dāmodara to his feet and embraced him. They both became ecstatic in love and fell unconscious.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.121|Madhya 10.121]]:''' After they had regained their patience, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to speak.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.122|Madhya 10.122]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "I saw in a dream that you were coming, and so this is very auspicious. I have been like a blind man, but your coming here restores My vision."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.123|Madhya 10.123]]:''' Svarūpa said, "My dear Lord, please excuse my offense. I gave up Your company to go elsewhere, and that was my great mistake.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.124|Madhya 10.124]]:''' "My dear Lord, I do not possess even a trace of love for Your lotus feet. If I did, how could I have gone to another country? I am therefore a most sinful man.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.125|Madhya 10.125]]:''' "I gave up Your company, but You did not give me up. By Your rope of mercy You have bound me by the neck and brought me back again to Your lotus feet."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.126|Madhya 10.126]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara then worshiped the lotus feet of Nityānanda Prabhu, and Nityānanda Prabhu in turn embraced him in the ecstasy of love.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.127|Madhya 10.127]]:''' After worshiping Nityānanda Prabhu, Svarūpa Dāmodara met Jagadānanda, Mukunda, Śańkara and Sārvabhauma, as was befitting.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.128|Madhya 10.128]]:''' Svarūpa Dāmodara also offered his worshipful prayers at the lotus feet of Paramānanda Purī, who, in return, embraced him in ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.129|Madhya 10.129]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then gave Svarūpa Dāmodara residence in a solitary place and ordered a servant to serve him with a supply of water and other necessities.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.130|Madhya 10.130]]:''' The next day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat with all the devotees, headed by Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, and they discussed the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.131|Madhya 10.131]]:''' At that time Govinda appeared on the scene, offered his respectful obeisances and spoke submissively.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.132|Madhya 10.132]]:''' "I am the servant of Īśvara Purī. My name is Govinda, and following the orders of my spiritual master, I have come here.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.133|Madhya 10.133]]:''' "Just before his departure from this mortal world to attain the highest perfection, Īśvara Purī told me that I should go to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and render service unto Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.134|Madhya 10.134]]:''' "Kāśīśvara will also come here after visiting all the holy places. However, following the orders of my spiritual master, I have hastily come to be present at Your lotus feet."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.135|Madhya 10.135]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "My spiritual master, Īśvara Purī, always favors Me with paternal affection. Therefore, out of his causeless mercy, he has sent you here."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.136|Madhya 10.136]]:''' After hearing this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya asked Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Why did Īśvara Purī keep a servant who comes from a śūdra family?"

'''[[CC Madhya 10.137|Madhya 10.137]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Both the Supreme Personality of Godhead and My spiritual master, Īśvara Purī, are completely independent. Therefore neither the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead nor that of Īśvara Purī is subject to any Vedic rules and regulations.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.138|Madhya 10.138]]:''' "The mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not restricted to the jurisdiction of caste and creed. Vidura was a śūdra, yet Kṛṣṇa accepted lunch at his home.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.139|Madhya 10.139]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa's mercy is dependent only on affection. Being obliged only by affection, Lord Kṛṣṇa acts very independently.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.140|Madhya 10.140]]:''' "In conclusion, dealings in affection with the Supreme Personality of Godhead bring happiness many millions of times greater than dealings with Him in awe and veneration. Simply by hearing the holy name of the Lord, the devotee is merged in transcendental bliss."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.141|Madhya 10.141]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Govinda, and Govinda in turn offered his respectful obeisances unto Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.142|Madhya 10.142]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then continued speaking to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya: "Consider this point. The servant of the spiritual master is always respectable for Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.143|Madhya 10.143]]:''' "As such, it is not befitting that the guru's servant should engage in My personal service. Yet My spiritual master has given this order. What shall I do?"

'''[[CC Madhya 10.144|Madhya 10.144]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "The order of the spiritual master is very strong and cannot be disobeyed. That is the injunction of the śāstras, the revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.145|Madhya 10.145]]:''' "'Being ordered by his father, Paraśurāma killed his mother, Reṇukā, just as if she were an enemy. When Lakṣmaṇa, the younger brother of Lord Rāmacandra, heard of this, He immediately engaged Himself in the service of His elder brother and accepted His orders. The order of the spiritual master must be obeyed without consideration.'

'''[[CC Madhya 10.146|Madhya 10.146]]:''' "'The order of a great personality like a father must be executed without consideration because there is good fortune in such an order for both of us. In particular, there is good fortune for Me.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 10.147|Madhya 10.147]]:''' After Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Govinda and engaged him in the service of His personal body.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.148|Madhya 10.148]]:''' Everyone respected Govinda as the dearest servant of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and Govinda served all the Vaiṣṇavas and saw to their needs.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.149|Madhya 10.149]]:''' Both Haridāsa senior and Haridāsa junior, who were musicians, as well as Rāmāi and Nandāi, used to stay with Govinda.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.150|Madhya 10.150]]:''' They all remained with Govinda to serve Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; therefore no one could estimate the good fortune of Govinda.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.151|Madhya 10.151]]:''' The next day Mukunda Datta informed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Brahmānanda Bhāratī has come to see You."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.152|Madhya 10.152]]:''' Mukunda Datta then asked the Lord, "Shall I bring him here?"Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Brahmānanda Bhāratī is like My spiritual master. It is better that I go to him."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.153|Madhya 10.153]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees came into the presence of Brahmānanda Bhāratī.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.154|Madhya 10.154]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees approached him, they saw that he was covered with a deerskin. Seeing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very unhappy.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.155|Madhya 10.155]]:''' Seeing Brahmānanda Bhāratī wearing the deerskin, Caitanya Mahāprabhu pretended not to see him. Instead, He asked Mukunda Datta, "Where is Brahmānanda Bhāratī, My spiritual master?"

'''[[CC Madhya 10.156|Madhya 10.156]]:''' Mukunda Datta replied, "Here is Brahmānanda Bhāratī, in Your presence."The Lord replied, "You are incorrect. This is not Brahmānanda Bhāratī.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.157|Madhya 10.157]]:''' "You must be talking of someone else, for this is surely not Brahmānanda Bhāratī. You simply have no knowledge. Why should Brahmānanda Bhāratī wear a deerskin?"

'''[[CC Madhya 10.158|Madhya 10.158]]:''' When Brahmānanda Bhāratī heard this, he thought, "My deerskin is not approved by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.159|Madhya 10.159]]:''' Thus admitting his mistake, Brahmānanda Bhāratī thought, "He spoke well. I put on this deerskin only for prestige. I cannot cross over the ocean of nescience simply by wearing a deerskin.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.160|Madhya 10.160]]:''' "From today on I shall not wear this deerskin." As soon as Brahmānanda Bhāratī decided this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, understanding his mind, immediately sent for the robes of a sannyāsī.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.161|Madhya 10.161]]:''' As soon as Brahmānanda Bhāratī gave up his deerskin and covered himself with sannyāsī robes, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came and offered His respects at his lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.162|Madhya 10.162]]:''' Brahmānanda Bhāratī said, "You instruct the general populace by Your behavior. I will not do anything against Your wishes; otherwise You will not offer me respects but will neglect me. I am afraid of this.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.163|Madhya 10.163]]:''' "At the present moment I see two Brahmans. One Brahman is Lord Jagannātha, who does not move, and the other Brahman, who is moving, is You. Lord Jagannātha is the arcā-vigraha, the worshipable Deity, and it is He who is the nonmoving Brahman. But You are Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and You are moving here and there. The two of You are the same Brahman, master of the material nature, but You are playing two parts — one moving and one not moving. In this way two Brahmans are now residing at Jagannātha Purī, Puruṣottama.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.164|Madhya 10.164]]:''' "Of the two Brahmans, You are fair-complexioned, and the other, Lord Jagannātha, is blackish. Both of You are delivering the whole world."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.165|Madhya 10.165]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "Actually, to tell you the truth, due to your presence there are now two Brahmans at Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.166|Madhya 10.166]]:''' "Both Brahmānanda and Gaurahari are moving, whereas the blackish Lord Jagannātha is sitting tight and immobile."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.167|Madhya 10.167]]:''' Brahmānanda Bhāratī said, "My dear Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, please become the mediator in this logical argument between Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and me."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.168|Madhya 10.168]]:''' Brahmānanda Bhāratī continued, "The living entity is localized, whereas the Supreme Brahman is all-pervading. That is the verdict of the revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.169|Madhya 10.169]]:''' "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu purified me by taking away my deerskin. This is proof that He is all-pervasive and all-powerful and that I am subordinate to Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.170|Madhya 10.170]]:''' "'His bodily hue is golden, and His whole body is like molten gold. Every part of His body is very beautifully constructed and smeared with sandalwood pulp. Accepting the renounced order, the Lord is always equipoised. He is firmly fixed in His mission of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, and He is firmly situated in His dualistic conclusion and in His peace.'

'''[[CC Madhya 10.171|Madhya 10.171]]:''' "All the symptoms mentioned in the verse from the Viṣṇu-sahasra-nāma-stotra are visible in the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. His arms are decorated with sandalwood pulp and the thread received from the Śrī Jagannātha Deity, and these are His ornamental bangles."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.172|Madhya 10.172]]:''' After hearing this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya rendered his judgment, saying, "Brahmānanda Bhāratī, I see that you are victorious."Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately said, "I accept whatever Brahmānanda Bhāratī has said. It is quite all right with Me."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.173|Madhya 10.173]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thus posed Himself as a disciple and accepted Brahmānanda Bhāratī as His spiritual master. He then said, "The disciple is certainly defeated in an argument with the spiritual master."Brahmānanda Bhāratī immediately countered these words, saying, "This is not the cause of Your defeat. There is another cause.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.174|Madhya 10.174]]:''' "It is Your natural characteristic to accept defeat at the hands of Your devotee. There is also another glory of Yours, which I ask You to hear attentively.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.175|Madhya 10.175]]:''' "I have been meditating on the impersonal Brahman since my birth, but since I have seen You, I have fully experienced Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.176|Madhya 10.176]]:''' Brahmānanda Bhāratī continued, "Since I have seen You, I have been feeling Lord Kṛṣṇa's presence in my mind and have been seeing Him before my eyes. I now want to chant the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Over and above this, within my heart I consider You to be Kṛṣṇa, and I am therefore very eager to serve You.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.177|Madhya 10.177]]:''' "Bilvamańgala Ṭhākura abandoned his impersonal realization for the realization of the Personality of Godhead. I now see that my condition is similar to his, for it has already changed."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.178|Madhya 10.178]]:''' Brahmānanda Bhāratī concluded, "'Although I was worshiped by those on the path of monism and initiated into self-realization through the yoga system, I have nonetheless been forcibly turned into a maidservant by some cunning boy who is always joking with the gopīs.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 10.179|Madhya 10.179]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "You have a deep ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa; therefore wherever you turn your eyes, you simply heighten your Kṛṣṇa consciousness."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.180|Madhya 10.180]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "The statements of both of you are correct. Kṛṣṇa gives direct audience through His mercy.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.181|Madhya 10.181]]:''' "Without having ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa, one cannot see Him directly. Therefore through the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Brahmānanda Bhāratī has acquired direct vision of the Lord."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.182|Madhya 10.182]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, what are you saying? Lord Viṣṇu, save Me! Such glorification is simply another form of blasphemy."

'''[[CC Madhya 10.183|Madhya 10.183]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took Brahmānanda Bhāratī with Him to His residence. From that time on, Brahmānanda Bhāratī remained with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.184|Madhya 10.184]]:''' Later, Rāmabhadra Ācārya and Bhagavān Ācārya joined them and, giving up all other responsibilities, remained under Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's shelter.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.185|Madhya 10.185]]:''' The next day, Kāśīśvara Gosāñi also came and remained with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who received him with great respect.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.186|Madhya 10.186]]:''' Kāśīśvara used to usher Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu into the Jagannātha temple. He would precede the Lord into the crowd and keep the people from touching Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.187|Madhya 10.187]]:''' As all the rivers flow into the sea, all the devotees throughout the country finally came to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's shelter.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.188|Madhya 10.188]]:''' Since all the devotees came to Him for shelter, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu showed them all mercy and kept them under His protection.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.189|Madhya 10.189]]:''' Thus I have described the meeting of all the Vaiṣṇavas with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Whoever hears this description ultimately attains shelter at His lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 10.190|Madhya 10.190]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 9|Madhya-līlā 9]] '''[[CC Madhya 9|Madhya-līlā 9]] - [[CC Madhya 11|Madhya-līlā 11]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 11|Madhya-līlā 11]]</div>

CC Madhya 9

2026-06-04T18:28:47Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 9 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 09|1a]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 9: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's Travels to the Holy Places'''</div>
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'''[[CC Madhya 9 Summary|Madhya 9 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 9.1|Madhya 9.1]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu converted the inhabitants of South India. These people were as strong as elephants, but they were in the clutches of the crocodiles of various philosophies, such as the Buddhist, Jain and Māyāvāda philosophies. With His disc of mercy the Lord delivered them all by converting them into Vaiṣṇavas, devotees of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.2|Madhya 9.2]]:''' All glories to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Śrī Advaita Prabhu! And all glories to all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Madhya 9.3|Madhya 9.3]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's tour of South India was certainly very extraordinary because He visited many thousands of places of pilgrimage there.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.4|Madhya 9.4]]:''' On the plea of visiting all those holy places, the Lord converted many thousands of residents and thus delivered them. Simply by touching the holy places, He made them into great places of pilgrimage.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.5|Madhya 9.5]]:''' I cannot chronologically record all the places of pilgrimage visited by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. I can only summarize everything by saying that the Lord visited all holy places right and left, coming and going.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.6|Madhya 9.6]]:''' Because it is impossible for me to record all these places in chronological order, I will simply make a token gesture of recording them.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.7-8|Madhya 9.8]]:''' As previously stated, all the residents of the villages visited by Lord Caitanya became Vaiṣṇavas and began to chant Hari and Kṛṣṇa. In this way, in all the villages visited by the Lord, everyone became a Vaiṣṇava, a devotee.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.9|Madhya 9.9]]:''' In South India there were many types of people. Some were philosophical speculators, and some were fruitive workers, but in any case there were innumerable nondevotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.10|Madhya 9.10]]:''' By the influence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all these people abandoned their own opinions and became Vaiṣṇavas, devotees of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.11|Madhya 9.11]]:''' At the time, all the South Indian Vaiṣṇavas were worshipers of Lord Rāmacandra. Some were Tattvavādīs, and some were followers of Rāmānujācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.12|Madhya 9.12]]:''' After meeting Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all those different Vaiṣṇavas became devotees of Kṛṣṇa and began chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.13|Madhya 9.13]]:''' "'O Lord Rāmacandra, descendant of Mahārāja Raghu, kindly protect me! O Lord Kṛṣṇa, killer of the Keśī demon, kindly protect me!'"

'''[[CC Madhya 9.14|Madhya 9.14]]:''' While walking on the road, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to chant this Rāma Rāghava mantra. Chanting in this way, He arrived at the banks of the Gautamī-gańgā and took His bath there.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.15|Madhya 9.15]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then went to Mallikārjuna-tīrtha and saw the deity of Lord Śiva there. He also induced all the people to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.16|Madhya 9.16]]:''' There he saw Lord Mahādeva [Śiva], the servant of Lord Rāma. He then went to Ahovala-nṛsiḿha.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.17|Madhya 9.17]]:''' Upon seeing the Ahovala-nṛsiḿha Deity, Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered many prayers unto the Lord. He then went to Siddhavaṭa, where He saw the Deity of Rāmacandra, the Lord of Sītādevī.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.18|Madhya 9.18]]:''' Upon seeing the Deity of Lord Rāmacandra, the descendant of King Raghu, the Lord offered His prayers and obeisances. Then a brāhmaṇa invited the Lord to take lunch.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.19|Madhya 9.19]]:''' That brāhmaṇa constantly chanted the holy name of Rāmacandra. Indeed, but for chanting Lord Rāmacandra's holy name, that brāhmaṇa did not speak a word.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.20|Madhya 9.20]]:''' That day, Lord Caitanya remained there and accepted prasādam at his house. After bestowing mercy upon him in this way, the Lord proceeded ahead.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.21|Madhya 9.21]]:''' At the holy place known as Skanda-kṣetra, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the temple of Skanda. From there He went to Trimaṭha, where He saw the Viṣṇu Deity Trivikrama.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.22|Madhya 9.22]]:''' After visiting the temple of Trivikrama, the Lord returned to Siddhavaṭa, where He again visited the house of the brāhmaṇa, who was now constantly chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.23|Madhya 9.23]]:''' After finishing His lunch there, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked the brāhmaṇa, "My dear friend, kindly tell Me what your position is now.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.24|Madhya 9.24]]:''' "Formerly you were constantly chanting the holy name of Lord Rāma. Why are you now constantly chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa?"

'''[[CC Madhya 9.25|Madhya 9.25]]:''' The brāhmaṇa replied, "This is all due to Your influence, Sir. After seeing You, I have lost my lifelong practice.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.26|Madhya 9.26]]:''' "From my childhood I have been chanting the holy name of Lord Rāmacandra, but upon seeing You I chanted the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa just once.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.27|Madhya 9.27]]:''' "Since then, the holy name of Kṛṣṇa has been tightly fixed upon my tongue. Indeed, since I have been chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, the holy name of Lord Rāmacandra has gone far away.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.28|Madhya 9.28]]:''' "From my childhood I have been collecting the glories of the holy name from revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.29|Madhya 9.29]]:''' "'The Supreme Absolute Truth is called Rāma because the transcendentalists take pleasure in the unlimited true pleasure of spiritual existence.'

'''[[CC Madhya 9.30|Madhya 9.30]]:''' "'The word "kṛṣ" is the attractive feature of the Lord's existence, and "ṇa" means spiritual pleasure. When the verb "kṛṣ" is added to the affix "ṇa," it becomes "Kṛṣṇa," which indicates the Absolute Truth.'

'''[[CC Madhya 9.31|Madhya 9.31]]:''' "As far as the holy names of Rāma and Kṛṣṇa are concerned, they are on an equal level, but for further advancement we receive some specific information from the revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.32|Madhya 9.32]]:''' "[Lord Śiva addressed his wife, Durgā:] 'O Varānanā, 'I chant the holy name of Rāma, Rāma, Rāma and thus enjoy this beautiful sound. This holy name of Rāmacandra is equal to one thousand holy names of Lord Viṣṇu.'

'''[[CC Madhya 9.33|Madhya 9.33]]:''' "'The pious results derived from chanting the thousand holy names of Viṣṇu three times can be attained by only one utterance of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.'

'''[[CC Madhya 9.34|Madhya 9.34]]:''' "According to this statement of the śāstras, the glories of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa are unlimited. Still I could not chant His holy name. Please hear the reason for this.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.35|Madhya 9.35]]:''' "My worshipable Lord has been Lord Rāmacandra, and by chanting His holy name I received happiness. Because I received such happiness, I chanted the holy name of Lord Rāma day and night.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.36|Madhya 9.36]]:''' "By Your appearance, Lord Kṛṣṇa's holy name also appeared, and at that time the glories of Kṛṣṇa's name awoke in my heart.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.37|Madhya 9.37]]:''' "Sir, You are that Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. This is my conclusion." Saying this, the brāhmaṇa fell down at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.38|Madhya 9.38]]:''' After showing mercy to the brāhmaṇa, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left the next day and arrived at Vṛddhakāśī, where He visited the temple of Lord Śiva.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.39|Madhya 9.39]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then left Vṛddhakāśī and proceeded further. In one village He saw that most of the residents were brāhmaṇas, and He took His rest there.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.40|Madhya 9.40]]:''' Due to the influence of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, many millions of men came just to see Him. Indeed, the assembly being unlimited, its members could not be counted.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.41|Madhya 9.41]]:''' The Lord's bodily features were very beautiful, and in addition He was always in the ecstasy of love of Godhead. Simply by seeing Him, everyone began chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, and thus everyone became a Vaiṣṇava devotee.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.42|Madhya 9.42]]:''' There are many kinds of philosophers. Some are logicians who follow Gautama or Kaṇāda. Some follow the Mīmāḿsā philosophy of Jaimini. Some follow the Māyāvāda philosophy of Śańkarācārya, and others follow Kapila's Sāńkhya philosophy or the mystic yoga system of Patañjali. Some follow the smṛti-śāstra composed of twenty religious scriptures, and others follow the Purāṇas and the tantra-śāstra. In this way there are many different types of philosophers.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.43|Madhya 9.43]]:''' All of these adherents of various scriptures were ready to present the conclusions of their respective scriptures, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu broke all their opinions to pieces and established His own cult of bhakti based on the Vedas, Vedānta, the Brahma-sūtra and the philosophy of acintya-bhedābheda-tattva.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.44|Madhya 9.44]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu established the devotional cult everywhere. No one could defeat Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.45|Madhya 9.45]]:''' Being thus defeated by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all these philosophers and their followers entered into His cult. In this way Lord Caitanya made South India into a country of Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.46|Madhya 9.46]]:''' When the nonbelievers heard of the erudition of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they came to Him with great pride, bringing their disciples with them.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.47|Madhya 9.47]]:''' One of them was a leader of the Buddhist cult and was a very learned scholar. To establish the nine philosophical conclusions of Buddhism, he came before the Lord and began to speak.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.48|Madhya 9.48]]:''' Although the Buddhists are unfit for discussion and should not be seen by Vaiṣṇavas, Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke to them just to decrease their false pride.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.49|Madhya 9.49]]:''' The scriptures of the Buddhist cult are chiefly based on argument and logic, and they contain nine chief principles. Because Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu defeated the Buddhists in their argument, they could not establish their cult.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.50|Madhya 9.50]]:''' The teacher of the Buddhist cult set forth the nine principles, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu broke them to pieces with His strong logic.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.51|Madhya 9.51]]:''' All mental speculators and learned scholars were defeated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and when the people began to laugh, the Buddhist philosophers felt both shame and fear.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.52|Madhya 9.52]]:''' The Buddhists could understand that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was a Vaiṣṇava, and they returned home very unhappy. Later, however, they began to plot against the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.53|Madhya 9.53]]:''' Having made their plot, the Buddhists brought a plate of untouchable food before Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and called it mahā-prasādam.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.54|Madhya 9.54]]:''' When the contaminated food was offered to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, a very large bird appeared on the spot, picked up the plate in its beak and flew away.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.55|Madhya 9.55]]:''' Indeed, the untouchable food fell upon the Buddhists, and the large bird dropped the plate on the head of the chief Buddhist teacher. When it fell on his head, it made a big sound.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.56|Madhya 9.56]]:''' The plate was made of metal, and when its edge hit the head of the teacher, it cut him, and the teacher immediately fell to the ground unconscious.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.57|Madhya 9.57]]:''' When the teacher fell unconscious, his Buddhist disciples cried aloud and ran to the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for shelter.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.58|Madhya 9.58]]:''' They all prayed to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, addressing Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself and saying, "Sir, please excuse our offense. Please have mercy upon us and bring our spiritual master back to life."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.59|Madhya 9.59]]:''' The Lord then replied to the Buddhist disciples, "You should all chant the names of Kṛṣṇa and Hari very loudly near the ear of your spiritual master.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.60|Madhya 9.60]]:''' "By this method your spiritual master will regain his consciousness." Following Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's advice, all the Buddhist disciples began to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa congregationally.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.61|Madhya 9.61]]:''' When all the disciples chanted the holy names Kṛṣṇa, Rāma and Hari, the Buddhist teacher regained consciousness and immediately began to chant the holy name of Lord Hari.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.62|Madhya 9.62]]:''' When the spiritual master of the Buddhists began to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and submitted to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the people who were gathered there were astonished.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.63|Madhya 9.63]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of Śacīdevī, then suddenly and playfully disappeared from everyone's sight, and it was impossible for anyone to find Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.64|Madhya 9.64]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next arrived at Tirupati and Tirumala, where He saw a four-handed Deity. Then He proceeded toward Veńkaṭa Hill.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.65|Madhya 9.65]]:''' After arriving at Tirupati, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the temple of Lord Rāmacandra. He offered His prayers and obeisances before Rāmacandra, the descendant of King Raghu.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.66|Madhya 9.66]]:''' Everywhere Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went, His influence astonished everyone. He next arrived at the temple of Pānā-nṛsiḿha. The Lord is so merciful.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.67|Madhya 9.67]]:''' In great ecstatic love, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered obeisances and prayers unto Lord Nṛsiḿha. The people were astonished to see Lord Caitanya's influence.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.68|Madhya 9.68]]:''' Arriving at Śiva-kāñcī, Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the deity of Lord Śiva. By His influence, He converted all the devotees of Lord Śiva into Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.69|Madhya 9.69]]:''' The Lord then visited a holy place known as Viṣṇu-kāñcī. There He saw Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa Deities, and He offered His respects and many prayers to please Them.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.70|Madhya 9.70]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed at Viṣṇu-kāñcī for two days, He danced and performed kīrtana in ecstasy. When all the people saw Him, they were converted into devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.71|Madhya 9.71]]:''' After visiting Trimalaya, Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to see Trikāla-hasti. There He saw Lord Śiva and offered him all respects and obeisances.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.72|Madhya 9.72]]:''' At Pakṣi-tīrtha, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the temple of Lord Śiva. Then He went to the Vṛddhakola place of pilgrimage.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.73|Madhya 9.73]]:''' At Vṛddhakola, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the temple of Śveta-varāha, the white boar incarnation. After offering Him respects, the Lord visited the temple of Lord Śiva, wherein the deity is dressed with yellow garments.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.74|Madhya 9.74]]:''' After visiting the temple of Śiyālī-bhairavī [a form of the goddess Durgā], Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī, went to the bank of the river Kāverī.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.75|Madhya 9.75]]:''' The Lord then visited a place known as Go-samāja, where He saw Lord Śiva's temple. He then arrived at Vedāvana, where He saw another deity of Lord Śiva and offered him prayers.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.76|Madhya 9.76]]:''' Seeing the Śiva deity named Amṛta-lińga, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered His obeisances. Thus He visited all the temples of Lord Śiva and converted the devotees of Lord Śiva into Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.77|Madhya 9.77]]:''' At Devasthāna, Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the temple of Lord Viṣṇu, and there He talked with the Vaiṣṇavas in the disciplic succession of Rāmānujācārya. These Vaiṣṇavas are known as Śrī Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.78|Madhya 9.78]]:''' At Kumbhakarṇa-kapāla, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw a great lake and then the holy place named Śiva-kṣetra, where a temple of Lord Śiva is located.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.79|Madhya 9.79]]:''' After visiting the holy place named Śiva-kṣetra, Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived at Pāpanāśana and there saw the temple of Lord Viṣṇu. Then He finally reached Śrī Rańga-kṣetra.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.80|Madhya 9.80]]:''' After bathing in the river Kāverī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the temple of Rańganātha and offered His ardent prayers and obeisances. Thus He felt Himself successful.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.81|Madhya 9.81]]:''' In the temple of Rańganātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanted and danced in ecstatic love of Godhead. Seeing His performance, everyone was struck with wonder.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.82|Madhya 9.82]]:''' A Vaiṣṇava known as Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa then invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home with great respect.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.83|Madhya 9.83]]:''' Śrī Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa took Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home. After he washed the Lord's feet, all the members of his family drank the water.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.84|Madhya 9.84]]:''' After offering lunch to the Lord, Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa submitted that the period of Cāturmāsya had already arrived.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.85|Madhya 9.85]]:''' Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa said, "Please be merciful to me and stay at my house during Cāturmāsya. Speak about Lord Kṛṣṇa's pastimes and kindly deliver me by Your mercy."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.86|Madhya 9.86]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained at the house of Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa for four continuous months. The Lord passed His days in great happiness, enjoying the transcendental mellow of discussing Lord Kṛṣṇa's pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.87|Madhya 9.87]]:''' While there, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took His bath in the river Kāverī and visited the temple of Śrī Rańga. Every day the Lord also danced in ecstasy.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.88|Madhya 9.88]]:''' The beauty of Lord Caitanya's body and His ecstatic love of God were witnessed by everyone. Many people used to come see Him, and as soon as they saw Him, all their unhappiness and distress vanished.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.89|Madhya 9.89]]:''' Many hundreds of thousands of people from various countries came to see the Lord, and after seeing Him they all chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.90|Madhya 9.90]]:''' Indeed, they did not chant anything but the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, and all of them became Lord Kṛṣṇa's devotees. Thus the general populace was astonished.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.91|Madhya 9.91]]:''' All the Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇas residing in Śrī Rańga-kṣetra invited the Lord to their homes. Indeed, He had an invitation every day.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.92|Madhya 9.92]]:''' Each day the Lord was invited by a different brāhmaṇa, but some of the brāhmaṇas did not get the opportunity to offer Him lunch because the period of Cāturmāsya came to an end.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.93|Madhya 9.93]]:''' In the holy place of Śrī Rańga-kṣetra, a brāhmaṇa Vaiṣṇava used to visit the temple daily and recite the entire text of the Bhagavad-gītā.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.94|Madhya 9.94]]:''' The brāhmaṇa regularly read the eighteen chapters of the Bhagavad-gītā in great transcendental ecstasy, but because he could not pronounce the words correctly, people used to joke about him.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.95|Madhya 9.95]]:''' Due to his incorrect pronunciation, people sometimes criticized him and laughed at him, but he did not care. He was full of ecstasy due to reading the Bhagavad-gītā and was personally very happy.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.96|Madhya 9.96]]:''' While reading the book, the brāhmaṇa experienced transcendental bodily transformations. The hairs on his body stood on end, tears welled up in his eyes, and his body trembled and perspired as he read. Seeing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.97|Madhya 9.97]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked the brāhmaṇa, "My dear sir, why are you in such ecstatic love? Which portion of the Bhagavad-gītā gives you such transcendental pleasure?"

'''[[CC Madhya 9.98|Madhya 9.98]]:''' The brāhmaṇa replied, "I am illiterate and therefore do not know the meaning of the words. Sometimes I read the Bhagavad-gītā correctly and sometimes incorrectly, but in any case I am doing this in compliance with the orders of my spiritual master."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.99|Madhya 9.99]]:''' The brāhmaṇa continued, "Actually I only see Lord Kṛṣṇa sitting on a chariot as Arjuna's charioteer. Taking the reins in His hands, He appears very beautiful and blackish.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.100|Madhya 9.100]]:''' "While seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa sitting in a chariot and instructing Arjuna, I am filled with ecstatic happiness.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.101|Madhya 9.101]]:''' "As long as I read the Bhagavad-gītā, I simply see the Lord's beautiful features. It is for this reason that I am reading the Bhagavad-gītā, and my mind cannot be distracted from this."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.102|Madhya 9.102]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told the brāhmaṇa, "Indeed, you are an authority in the reading of the Bhagavad-gītā. Whatever you know constitutes the real purport of the Bhagavad-gītā."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.103|Madhya 9.103]]:''' After saying this, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced the brāhmaṇa, and the brāhmaṇa, catching the lotus feet of the Lord, began to cry.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.104|Madhya 9.104]]:''' The brāhmaṇa said, "Upon seeing You, my happiness is doubled. I take it that You are the same Lord Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.105|Madhya 9.105]]:''' The mind of the brāhmaṇa was purified by the revelation of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and therefore he could understand the truth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in all details.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.106|Madhya 9.106]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then taught the brāhmaṇa very thoroughly and requested him not to disclose the fact that He was Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.107|Madhya 9.107]]:''' That brāhmaṇa became a great devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and for four continuous months he did not give up the Lord's company.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.108|Madhya 9.108]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained at the house of Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa and constantly talked with him about Lord Kṛṣṇa. In this way He was very happy.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.109|Madhya 9.109]]:''' Being a Vaiṣṇava in the Rāmānuja-sampradāya, Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa worshiped the Deities of Lakṣmī and Nārāyaṇa. Seeing his pure devotion, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very satisfied.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.110|Madhya 9.110]]:''' Constantly associating with each other, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa gradually developed a friendly relationship. Indeed, sometimes they laughed and joked together.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.111|Madhya 9.111]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told the Bhaṭṭācārya, "Your worshipable goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, always remains on the chest of Nārāyaṇa, and she is certainly the most chaste woman in the creation.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.112|Madhya 9.112]]:''' "However, my Lord is Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, a cowherd boy who is engaged in tending cows. Why is it that Lakṣmī, being such a chaste wife, wants to associate with My Lord?

'''[[CC Madhya 9.113|Madhya 9.113]]:''' "Just to associate with Kṛṣṇa, Lakṣmī abandoned all transcendental happiness in Vaikuṇṭha and for a long time accepted vows and regulative principles and performed unlimited austerities."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.114|Madhya 9.114]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, "'O Lord, we do not know how the serpent Kāliya attained such an opportunity to be touched by the dust of Your lotus feet. Even the goddess of fortune, for this end, performed austerities for centuries, giving up all other desires and observing austere vows. Indeed, we do not know how the serpent Kāliya got such an opportunity.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 9.115|Madhya 9.115]]:''' Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa then said, "Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Nārāyaṇa are one and the same, but the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa are more relishable due to their sportive nature.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.116|Madhya 9.116]]:''' "Since Kṛṣṇa and Nārāyaṇa are the same personality, Lakṣmī's association with Kṛṣṇa does not break her vow of chastity. Rather, it was in great fun that the goddess of fortune wanted to associate with Lord Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.117|Madhya 9.117]]:''' Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa continued, "'According to transcendental realization, there is no difference between the forms of Nārāyaṇa and Kṛṣṇa. Yet in Kṛṣṇa there is a special transcendental attraction due to the conjugal mellow, and consequently He surpasses Nārāyaṇa. This is the conclusion of transcendental mellows.'

'''[[CC Madhya 9.118|Madhya 9.118]]:''' "The goddess of fortune considered that her vow of chastity would not be damaged by her relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Rather, by associating with Kṛṣṇa she could enjoy the benefit of the rāsa dance."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.119|Madhya 9.119]]:''' Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa further explained, "Mother Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, is also an enjoyer of transcendental bliss; therefore if she wanted to enjoy herself with Kṛṣṇa, what fault is there? Why are You joking so about this?"

'''[[CC Madhya 9.120|Madhya 9.120]]:''' Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "I know that there is no fault on the part of the goddess of fortune, but still she could not enter into the rāsa dance. We hear this from the revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.121|Madhya 9.121]]:''' "'When Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was dancing with the gopīs in the rāsa-līlā, the gopīs were embraced around the neck by the Lord's arms. This transcendental favor was never bestowed upon the goddess of fortune or the other consorts in the spiritual world. Nor was such a thing ever imagined by the most beautiful girls in the heavenly planets, girls whose bodily luster and aroma exactly resemble the beauty and fragrance of lotus flowers. And what to speak of worldly women, who may be very, very beautiful according to material estimation?'

'''[[CC Madhya 9.122|Madhya 9.122]]:''' "But can you tell Me why the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, could not enter the rāsa dance? The authorities of Vedic knowledge could enter the dance and associate with Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.123|Madhya 9.123]]:''' "'Great sages conquer the mind and senses by practicing the mystic yoga system and controlling the breath. Thus engaging in mystic yoga, they see the Supersoul within their hearts and ultimately enter into impersonal Brahman. But even the enemies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead attain that position simply by thinking of the Supreme Lord. However, the damsels of Vraja, the gopīs, being attracted by the beauty of Kṛṣṇa, simply wanted to embrace Him and His arms, which are like serpents. Thus the gopīs ultimately tasted the nectar of the lotus feet of the Lord. Similarly, we Upaniṣads can also taste the nectar of His lotus feet by following in the footsteps of the gopīs.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 9.124|Madhya 9.124]]:''' Having been asked by Caitanya Mahāprabhu why the goddess of fortune could not enter into the rāsa dance whereas the authorities on Vedic knowledge could, Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa replied, "I cannot enter into the mysteries of this behavior."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.125|Madhya 9.125]]:''' Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa then said, "I am an ordinary human being. Since my intelligence is very limited and I am easily agitated, my mind cannot enter within the deep ocean of the pastimes of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.126|Madhya 9.126]]:''' "You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa Himself. You know the purpose of Your activities, and the person whom You enlighten can also understand Your pastimes."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.127|Madhya 9.127]]:''' The Lord replied, "Lord Kṛṣṇa has a special characteristic: He attracts everyone's heart by the mellow of His personal conjugal love.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.128|Madhya 9.128]]:''' "By following in the footsteps of the inhabitants of the planet known as Vrajaloka or Goloka Vṛndāvana, one can attain the shelter of the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. However, in that planet the inhabitants do not know that Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.129|Madhya 9.129]]:''' "There someone may accept Him as a son and sometimes bind Him to a grinding mortar. Someone else may accept Him as an intimate friend and, attaining victory over Him, playfully mount His shoulders.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.130|Madhya 9.130]]:''' "The inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi know Kṛṣṇa as the son of Mahārāja Nanda, the King of Vrajabhūmi, and they consider that they can have no relationship with the Lord in the rasa of opulence.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.131|Madhya 9.131]]:''' "One who worships the Lord by following in the footsteps of the inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi attains Him in the transcendental planet of Vraja, where He is known as the son of Mahārāja Nanda."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.132|Madhya 9.132]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu then quoted, "'The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the son of mother Yaśodā, is accessible to those devotees engaged in spontaneous loving service, but He is not as easily accessible to mental speculators, to those striving for self-realization by severe austerities and penances, or to those who consider the body the same as the self.'

'''[[CC Madhya 9.133|Madhya 9.133]]:''' "The authorities in the Vedic literature who are known as the śruti-gaṇas worshiped Lord Kṛṣṇa in the ecstasy of the gopīs and followed in their footsteps.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.134|Madhya 9.134]]:''' "The personified authorities on the Vedic hymns acquired bodies like those of the gopīs and took birth in Vrajabhūmi. In those bodies they were allowed to enter into the Lord's rāsa-līlā dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.135|Madhya 9.135]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa belongs to the cowherd community, and the gopīs are the dearmost lovers of Kṛṣṇa. Although the wives of the denizens of the heavenly planets are most opulent within the material world, neither they nor any other women in the material universe can acquire Kṛṣṇa's association.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.136|Madhya 9.136]]:''' "The goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, wanted to enjoy Kṛṣṇa and at the same time retain her spiritual body in the form of Lakṣmī. However, she did not follow in the footsteps of the gopīs in her worship of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.137|Madhya 9.137]]:''' "Vyāsadeva, the supreme authority on Vedic literature, composed the verse beginning 'nāyaḿ sukhāpo bhagavān' because no one can enter into the rāsa-līlā dance in any body other than that of a gopī."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.138|Madhya 9.138]]:''' Before this explanation was given by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa thought that Śrī Nārāyaṇa was the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.139|Madhya 9.139]]:''' Thinking in this way, Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa believed that worship of Nārāyaṇa was the supreme form of worship, superior to all other processes of devotional service, for it was followed by the Śrī Vaiṣṇava disciples of Rāmānujācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.140|Madhya 9.140]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had understood this misconception of Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa's, and to correct it the Lord talked so much in a joking way.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.141|Madhya 9.141]]:''' The Lord then continued, "My dear Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa, please do not continue doubting. Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and this is the conclusion of the Vedic literatures.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.142|Madhya 9.142]]:''' "Lord Nārāyaṇa, the opulent form of Kṛṣṇa, attracts the minds of the goddess of fortune and her followers.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.143|Madhya 9.143]]:''' "'All these incarnations of Godhead are either plenary portions or parts of the plenary portions of the puruṣa-avatāras. But Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. In every age He protects the world through His different features when the world is disturbed by the enemies of Indra.'

'''[[CC Madhya 9.144|Madhya 9.144]]:''' "Because Kṛṣṇa has four extraordinary qualities not possessed by Lord Nārāyaṇa, the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, always desires His company.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.145|Madhya 9.145]]:''' "You have recited the śloka beginning with 'siddhāntatas tv abhede 'pi.' That very verse is evidence that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.146|Madhya 9.146]]:''' "'According to transcendental realization, there is no difference between the forms of Kṛṣṇa and Nārāyaṇa. Yet in Kṛṣṇa there is a special transcendental attraction due to the conjugal mellow, and consequently He surpasses Nārāyaṇa. This is the conclusion of transcendental mellows.'

'''[[CC Madhya 9.147|Madhya 9.147]]:''' "The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, attracts the mind of the goddess of fortune, but Lord Nārāyaṇa cannot attract the minds of the gopīs. This proves the superexcellence of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.148|Madhya 9.148]]:''' "To say nothing of Lord Nārāyaṇa personally, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself appeared as Nārāyaṇa just to play a joke on the gopīs.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.149|Madhya 9.149]]:''' "Although Kṛṣṇa assumed the four-armed form of Nārāyaṇa, He could not attract the serious attention of the gopīs in ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.150|Madhya 9.150]]:''' "'Once Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa playfully manifested Himself as Nārāyaṇa, with four victorious hands and a very beautiful form. When the gopīs saw this exalted form, however, their ecstatic feelings were crippled. A learned scholar, therefore, cannot understand the gopīs' ecstatic feelings, which are firmly fixed upon the original form of Lord Kṛṣṇa as the son of Nanda Mahārāja. The wonderful feelings of the gopīs in ecstatic parama-rasa with Kṛṣṇa constitute the greatest mystery in spiritual life.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 9.151|Madhya 9.151]]:''' In this way Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu deflated the pride of Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa, but just to make him happy again, He spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.152|Madhya 9.152]]:''' The Lord pacified Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa by saying, "Actually whatever I have said is by way of jest. Now you can hear from Me the conclusion of the śāstras, in which every Vaiṣṇava devotee has firm faith.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.153|Madhya 9.153]]:''' "There is no difference between Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Nārāyaṇa, for They are of the same form. Similarly, there is no difference between the gopīs and the goddess of fortune, for they also are of the same form.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.154|Madhya 9.154]]:''' "The goddess of fortune enjoys the association of Kṛṣṇa through the gopīs. One should not differentiate between the forms of the Lord, for such a conception is offensive.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.155|Madhya 9.155]]:''' "There is no difference between the transcendental forms of the Lord. Different forms are manifested due to different attachments of different devotees. Actually the Lord is one, but He appears in different forms just to satisfy His devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.156|Madhya 9.156]]:''' "'When the jewel known as vaidūrya touches various other materials, it appears to be separated into different colors, and consequently its forms also appear different. Similarly, according to the meditational ecstasy of the devotee, the Lord, who is known as Acyuta ["the infallible one"], appears in different forms, although He is essentially one.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 9.157|Madhya 9.157]]:''' Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa then said, "I am an ordinary fallen living entity, but You are Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.158|Madhya 9.158]]:''' "The transcendental pastimes of the Lord are unfathomable, and I do not know anything about them. Whatever You say I accept as the truth.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.159|Madhya 9.159]]:''' "I have been engaged in the service of Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa, and it is due to Their mercy that I have been able to see Your lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.160|Madhya 9.160]]:''' "Out of Your causeless mercy You have told me of the glories of Lord Kṛṣṇa. No one can reach the end of the opulence, qualities and forms of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.161|Madhya 9.161]]:''' "I can now understand that devotional service unto Lord Kṛṣṇa is the supreme form of worship. Out of Your causeless mercy You have made my life successful simply by explaining the facts."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.162|Madhya 9.162]]:''' After saying this, Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa fell down before the lotus feet of the Lord, and the Lord, out of His causeless mercy, embraced him.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.163|Madhya 9.163]]:''' When the period of Cāturmāsya was completed, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took permission to leave from Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa, and after visiting Śrī Rańga, He proceeded further toward southern India.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.164|Madhya 9.164]]:''' Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa did not want to return home but also wanted to go with the Lord. It was with great endeavor that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade him farewell.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.165|Madhya 9.165]]:''' When He did so, Veńkaṭa Bhaṭṭa fell down unconscious. Such are the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī, at Śrī Rańga-kṣetra.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.166|Madhya 9.166]]:''' When the Lord arrived at Ṛṣabha Hill, He saw the temple of Lord Nārāyaṇa and offered obeisances and various prayers.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.167|Madhya 9.167]]:''' Paramānanda Purī had stayed at Ṛṣabha Hill during the four months of the rainy season, and when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard this, He immediately went to see him.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.168|Madhya 9.168]]:''' Upon meeting Paramānanda Purī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered him all respects, touching his lotus feet, and Paramānanda Purī embraced the Lord in ecstasy.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.169|Madhya 9.169]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed with Paramānanda Purī in the brāhmaṇa's house where he was residing. The two of them passed three days there discussing topics of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.170|Madhya 9.170]]:''' Paramānanda Purī informed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that he was going to see Puruṣottama at Jagannātha Purī. After seeing Lord Jagannātha there, he would go to Bengal to bathe in the Ganges.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.171|Madhya 9.171]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told him, "Please return to Jagannātha Purī, for I will return there very soon from Rāmeśvara [Setubandha].

'''[[CC Madhya 9.172|Madhya 9.172]]:''' "It is My desire to stay with you, and therefore if you would return to Jagannātha Purī, you would show great mercy to Me."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.173|Madhya 9.173]]:''' After talking in this way with Paramānanda Purī, the Lord took his permission to leave and, very pleased, departed for southern India.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.174|Madhya 9.174]]:''' Thus Paramānanda Purī started for Jagannātha Purī, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began walking toward Śrī Śaila.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.175|Madhya 9.175]]:''' In Śrī Śaila Lord Śiva and his wife Durgā lived in the dress of brāhmaṇas, and when they saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they became very pleased.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.176|Madhya 9.176]]:''' Lord Śiva, dressed like a brāhmaṇa, gave alms to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and invited Him to spend three days in a solitary place. Sitting there together, they talked very confidentially.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.177|Madhya 9.177]]:''' After talking with Lord Śiva, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took his permission to leave and went to Kāmakoṣṭhī-purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.178|Madhya 9.178]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived at southern Mathurā from Kāmakoṣṭhī, He met a brāhmaṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.179|Madhya 9.179]]:''' The brāhmaṇa who met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu invited the Lord to his home. This brāhmaṇa was a great devotee and an authority on Lord Śrī Rāmacandra. He was always detached from material activities.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.180|Madhya 9.180]]:''' After bathing in the river Kṛtamālā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the brāhmaṇa's house to take lunch, but He saw that the food was unprepared because the brāhmaṇa had not cooked it.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.181|Madhya 9.181]]:''' Seeing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "My dear sir, please tell Me why you have not cooked. It is already noon."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.182|Madhya 9.182]]:''' The brāhmaṇa replied, "My dear Lord, we are living in the forest. For the time being we cannot get all the ingredients for cooking.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.183|Madhya 9.183]]:''' "When Lakṣmaṇa brings all the vegetables, fruits and roots from the forest, Sītā will do the necessary cooking."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.184|Madhya 9.184]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very satisfied to hear about the brāhmaṇa's method of worship. Finally the brāhmaṇa hastily made arrangements for cooking.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.185|Madhya 9.185]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took His lunch at about three o'clock, but the brāhmaṇa, being very sorrowful, fasted.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.186|Madhya 9.186]]:''' While the brāhmaṇa was fasting, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked him, "Why are you fasting? Why are you so unhappy? Why are you so worried?"

'''[[CC Madhya 9.187|Madhya 9.187]]:''' The brāhmaṇa replied, "I have no reason to live. I shall give up my life by entering either fire or water.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.188|Madhya 9.188]]:''' "My dear Sir, mother Sītā is the mother of the universe and the supreme goddess of fortune. She has been touched by the demon Rāvaṇa, and I am troubled upon hearing this news.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.189|Madhya 9.189]]:''' "Sir, due to my unhappiness I cannot continue living. Although my body is burning, my life is not leaving."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.190|Madhya 9.190]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "Please do not think this way any longer. You are a learned paṇḍita. Why don't you consider the case?"

'''[[CC Madhya 9.191|Madhya 9.191]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "Sītādevī, the dearmost wife of the Supreme Lord Rāmacandra, certainly has a spiritual form full of bliss. No one can see her with material eyes, for no materialist has such power.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.192|Madhya 9.192]]:''' "To say nothing of touching mother Sītā, a person with material senses cannot even see her. When Rāvaṇa kidnapped her, he kidnapped only her material, illusory form.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.193|Madhya 9.193]]:''' "As soon as Rāvaṇa arrived before Sītā, she disappeared. Then just to cheat Rāvaṇa she sent an illusory, material form.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.194|Madhya 9.194]]:''' "Spiritual substance is never within the jurisdiction of the material conception. This is always the verdict of the Vedas and Purāṇas."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.195|Madhya 9.195]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then assured the brāhmaṇa, "Have faith in My words and do not burden your mind any longer with this misconception."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.196|Madhya 9.196]]:''' Although the brāhmaṇa was fasting, he had faith in the words of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and accepted food. In this way his life was saved.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.197|Madhya 9.197]]:''' After thus assuring the brāhmaṇa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu proceeded further into southern India and finally arrived at Durvaśana, where He bathed in the river Kṛtamālā.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.198|Madhya 9.198]]:''' At Durvaśana Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the temple of Lord Rāmacandra, and on the hill known as Mahendra-śaila He saw Lord Paraśurāma.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.199|Madhya 9.199]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then went to Setubandha [Rāmeśvara], where He took His bath at the place called Dhanus-tīrtha. From there He visited the Rāmeśvara temple and then took rest.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.200|Madhya 9.200]]:''' There, among the brāhmaṇas, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu listened to the Kūrma Purāṇa, wherein is mentioned the chaste woman's narration.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.201|Madhya 9.201]]:''' Śrīmatī Sītādevī is the mother of the three worlds and the wife of Lord Rāmacandra. Among chaste women she is supreme, and she is the daughter of King Janaka.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.202|Madhya 9.202]]:''' When Rāvaṇa came to kidnap mother Sītā and she saw him, she took shelter of the fire-god, Agni. The fire-god covered the body of mother Sītā, and in this way she was protected from the hands of Rāvaṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.203|Madhya 9.203]]:''' Upon hearing from the Kūrma Purāṇa how Rāvaṇa had kidnapped a false form of mother Sītā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very satisfied.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.204|Madhya 9.204]]:''' The fire-god, Agni, took away the real Sītā and brought her to the place of Pārvatī, goddess Durgā. An illusory form of mother Sītā was then delivered to Rāvaṇa, and in this way Rāvaṇa was cheated.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.205|Madhya 9.205]]:''' After Rāvaṇa was killed by Lord Rāmacandra, Sītādevī was brought before the fire and tested.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.206|Madhya 9.206]]:''' When the illusory Sītā was brought before the fire by Lord Rāmacandra, the fire-god made the illusory form disappear and delivered the real Sītā to Lord Rāmacandra.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.207|Madhya 9.207]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard this story, He was very pleased, and He remembered the words of Rāmadāsa Vipra.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.208|Madhya 9.208]]:''' Indeed, when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard these conclusive statements from the Kūrma Purāṇa, He felt great happiness. After asking the brāhmaṇas' permission, He took possession of the manuscript leaves of the Kūrma Purāṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.209|Madhya 9.209]]:''' Since the Kūrma Purāṇa was very old, the manuscript was also very old. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took possession of the original leaves in order to have direct evidence. The text was copied onto new leaves in order that the Purāṇa be replaced.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.210|Madhya 9.210]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to southern Mathurā [Madurai] and delivered the original manuscript of the Kūrma Purāṇa to Rāmadāsa Vipra.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.211-212|Madhya 9.211-212]]:''' "When he was petitioned by mother Sītā, the fire-god, Agni, brought forth an illusory form of Sītā, and Rāvaṇa, who had ten heads, kidnapped the false Sītā. The original Sītā then went to the abode of the fire-god. When Lord Rāmacandra tested the body of Sītā, it was the false, illusory Sītā that entered the fire. At that time the fire-god brought the original Sītā from his abode and delivered her to Lord Rāmacandra."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.213|Madhya 9.213]]:''' Rāmadāsa Vipra was very pleased to receive the original leaf manuscript of the Kūrma Purāṇa, and he immediately fell down before the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and began to cry.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.214|Madhya 9.214]]:''' After receiving the manuscript, the brāhmaṇa, being very pleased, said, "Sir, You are Lord Rāmacandra Himself and have come in the dress of a sannyāsī to give me audience.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.215|Madhya 9.215]]:''' "My dear Sir, You have delivered me from a very unhappy condition. I request that You take Your lunch at my place. Please accept this invitation.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.216|Madhya 9.216]]:''' "Due to my mental distress I could not give You a very nice lunch the other day. Now, by good fortune, You have come again to my home."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.217|Madhya 9.217]]:''' Saying this, the brāhmaṇa very happily cooked food, and a first-class dinner was offered to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.218|Madhya 9.218]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed that night in the house of the brāhmaṇa. Then, after showing him mercy, the Lord started toward the Tāmraparṇī River in Pāṇḍya-deśa.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.219|Madhya 9.219]]:''' There were nine temples of Lord Viṣṇu at Naya-tripati, on the bank of the river Tāmraparṇī, and after bathing in the river, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the Deities with great curiosity and wandered on.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.220|Madhya 9.220]]:''' After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to a holy place known as Ciyaḍatalā, where He saw the Deities of the two brothers Lord Rāmacandra and Lakṣmaṇa. He then proceeded to Tila-kāñcī, where He saw the temple of Lord Śiva.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.221|Madhya 9.221]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then visited the holy place named Gajendra-mokṣaṇa, where He went to a temple of Lord Viṣṇu. He then came to Pānāgaḍi, a holy place where He saw the Deities of Lord Rāmacandra and Sītā.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.222|Madhya 9.222]]:''' Later the Lord went to Cāmtāpura, where He saw the Deities of Lord Rāmacandra and Lakṣmaṇa. He then went to Śrī Vaikuṇṭha and saw the temple of Lord Viṣṇu there.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.223|Madhya 9.223]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then went to Malaya-parvata and offered prayers to Agastya Muni. He then visited Kanyā-kumārī [Cape Comorin].

'''[[CC Madhya 9.224|Madhya 9.224]]:''' After visiting Kanyā-kumārī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to Āmlitalā, where He saw the Deity of Śrī Rāmacandra. Thereafter He went to a place known as Mallāra-deśa, where a community of Bhaṭṭathāris lived.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.225|Madhya 9.225]]:''' After visiting Mallāra-deśa, Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Tamāla-kārtika and then to Vetāpani. There He saw the temple of Raghunātha, Lord Rāmacandra, and passed the night.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.226|Madhya 9.226]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was accompanied by His servant, Kṛṣṇadāsa. He was a brāhmaṇa, but he met with the Bhaṭṭathāris there.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.227|Madhya 9.227]]:''' With women the Bhaṭṭathāris allured the brāhmaṇa Kṛṣṇadāsa, who was simple and gentle. By virtue of their bad association, they polluted his intelligence.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.228|Madhya 9.228]]:''' Allured by the Bhaṭṭathāris, Kṛṣṇadāsa went to their place early in the morning. The Lord also went there very quickly just to find him.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.229|Madhya 9.229]]:''' Upon reaching their community, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked the Bhaṭṭathāris, "Why are you keeping My brāhmaṇa assistant?

'''[[CC Madhya 9.230|Madhya 9.230]]:''' "I am in the renounced order of life, and so are you. Yet you are purposefully giving Me pain, and I do not see any good logic in this."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.231|Madhya 9.231]]:''' Upon hearing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the Bhaṭṭathāris came running from all sides with weapons in their hands, desiring to hurt the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.232|Madhya 9.232]]:''' However, their weapons fell from their hands and struck their own bodies. When some of the Bhaṭṭathāris were thus cut to pieces, the others ran away in the four directions.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.233|Madhya 9.233]]:''' While there was much roaring and crying at the Bhaṭṭathāri community, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu grabbed Kṛṣṇadāsa by the hair and took him away.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.234|Madhya 9.234]]:''' That very night, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His assistant Kṛṣṇadāsa arrived at the bank of the Payasvinī River. They took their bath and then went to see the temple of Ādi-keśava.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.235|Madhya 9.235]]:''' When the Lord saw the Ādi-keśava temple, He was immediately overwhelmed with ecstasy. Offering various obeisances and prayers, He chanted and danced.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.236|Madhya 9.236]]:''' All the people there were greatly astonished to see the ecstatic pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. They all received the Lord very well.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.237|Madhya 9.237]]:''' In the temple of Ādi-keśava, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu discussed spiritual matters among highly advanced devotees. While there, He found a chapter of the Brahma-saḿhitā.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.238|Madhya 9.238]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was greatly happy to find a chapter of that scripture, and symptoms of ecstatic transformation — trembling, tears, perspiration, trance and jubilation — were manifest in His body.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.239-240|Madhya 9.239-240]]:''' There is no scripture equal to the Brahma-saḿhitā as far as the final spiritual conclusion is concerned. Indeed, that scripture is the supreme revelation of the glories of Lord Govinda, for it reveals the topmost knowledge about Him. Since all conclusions are briefly presented in the Brahma-saḿhitā, it is essential among all the Vaiṣṇava literatures.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.241|Madhya 9.241]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu copied the Brahma-saḿhitā, and then with great pleasure He went to a place known as Ananta Padmanābha.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.242|Madhya 9.242]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained for two or three days at Ananta Padmanābha and visited the temple there. Then, in great ecstasy He went to see the temple of Śrī Janārdana.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.243|Madhya 9.243]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanted and danced at Śrī Janārdana for two days. He then went to the bank of the Payasvinī River and visited the temple of Śańkara-nārāyaṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.244|Madhya 9.244]]:''' Then He saw the monastery known as Śṛńgeri-maṭha, the abode of Ācārya Śańkara. He then visited Matsya-tīrtha, a place of pilgrimage, and took a bath in the river Tuńgabhadrā.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.245|Madhya 9.245]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu next arrived at Uḍupī, the place of Madhvācārya, where the philosophers known as Tattvavādīs resided. There He saw the Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa and became mad with ecstasy.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.246|Madhya 9.246]]:''' While at the Uḍupī monastery, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw "dancing Gopāla," a most beautiful Deity. This Deity appeared to Madhvācārya in a dream.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.247|Madhya 9.247]]:''' Madhvācārya had somehow or other acquired the Deity of Kṛṣṇa from a heap of gopī-candana that had been transported in a boat.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.248|Madhya 9.248]]:''' Madhvācārya brought this dancing Gopāla Deity to Uḍupī and installed Him in the temple. To date, the followers of Madhvācārya, known as Tattvavādīs, worship this Deity.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.249|Madhya 9.249]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu received great pleasure in seeing this beautiful form of Gopāla. For a long time He danced and chanted in ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.250|Madhya 9.250]]:''' When the Tattvavādī Vaiṣṇavas first saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they considered Him a Māyāvādī sannyāsī. Therefore they did not talk to Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.251|Madhya 9.251]]:''' Later, after seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in ecstatic love, they were struck with wonder. Then, considering Him a Vaiṣṇava, they gave Him a nice reception.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.252|Madhya 9.252]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could understand that the Tattvavādīs were very proud of their Vaiṣṇavism. He therefore smiled and began to speak to them.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.253|Madhya 9.253]]:''' Considering them very proud, Caitanya Mahāprabhu began His discussion.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.254|Madhya 9.254]]:''' The chief ācārya of the Tattvavāda community was very learned in the revealed scriptures. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu humbly questioned him.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.255|Madhya 9.255]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "I do not know very well the aim of life and how to achieve it. Please tell Me of the best ideal for humanity and how to attain it."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.256|Madhya 9.256]]:''' The ācārya replied, "When the activities of the four castes and the four āśramas are dedicated to Kṛṣṇa, they constitute the best means whereby one can attain the highest goal of life.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.257|Madhya 9.257]]:''' "When one dedicates the duties of varṇāśrama-dharma to Kṛṣṇa, he is eligible for five kinds of liberation. Thus he is transferred to the spiritual world in Vaikuṇṭha. This is the highest goal of life and the verdict of all revealed scriptures."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.258|Madhya 9.258]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "According to the verdict of the śāstras, the process of hearing and chanting is the best means to attain loving service to Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.259-260|Madhya 9.259-260]]:''' "'This process entails hearing, chanting and remembering the holy name, form, pastimes, qualities and entourage of the Lord, offering service according to the time, place and performer, worshiping the Deity, offering prayers, always considering oneself the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, making friends with Him and dedicating everything unto Him. These nine items of devotional service, when directly offered to Kṛṣṇa, constitute the highest attainment of life. This is the verdict of the revealed scriptures.'

'''[[CC Madhya 9.261|Madhya 9.261]]:''' "When one comes to the platform of loving service to Lord Kṛṣṇa by executing these nine processes, beginning with hearing and chanting, he has attained the fifth platform of success and the limit of life's goals.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.262|Madhya 9.262]]:''' "'When a person is actually advanced and takes pleasure in chanting the holy name of the Lord, who is very dear to him, he is agitated and loudly chants the holy name. He also laughs, cries, becomes agitated and chants just like a madman, not caring for outsiders.'

'''[[CC Madhya 9.263|Madhya 9.263]]:''' "In every revealed scripture there is condemnation of fruitive activities. It is advised everywhere to give up engagement in fruitive activities, for no one can attain the highest goal of life, love of Godhead, by executing them.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.264|Madhya 9.264]]:''' "'Occupational duties are described in the religious scriptures. If one analyzes them, he can fully understand their qualities and faults and then give them up completely to render service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A person who does so is considered a first-class man.'

'''[[CC Madhya 9.265|Madhya 9.265]]:''' "'Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear. [[

'''[[CC Madhya 9.266|Madhya 9.266]]:''' "'As long as one is not satiated by fruitive activity and has not awakened his taste for devotional service by śravaṇaḿ kīrtanaḿ viṣṇoḥ [[

'''[[CC Madhya 9.267|Madhya 9.267]]:''' "Pure devotees reject the five kinds of liberation; indeed, for them liberation is very insignificant because they see it as hellish.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.268|Madhya 9.268]]:''' "'Pure devotees always reject the five kinds of liberation, which include living in the spiritual Vaikuṇṭha planets, possessing the same opulences as those possessed by the Supreme Lord, having the same bodily features as the Lord's, associating with the Lord and merging into the body of the Lord. The pure devotees do not accept these benedictions without the service of the Lord.'

'''[[CC Madhya 9.269|Madhya 9.269]]:''' "'It is very difficult to give up material opulence, land, children, society, friends, riches, wife or the blessings of the goddess of fortune, which are desired even by great demigods. But King Bharata did not desire such things, and this was quite befitting his position, because for a pure devotee whose mind is always engaged in the service of the Lord, even liberation, or merging into the existence of the Lord, is insignificant. And what to speak of material opportunities?'

'''[[CC Madhya 9.270|Madhya 9.270]]:''' "'A person who is a devotee of Lord Nārāyaṇa is not afraid of a hellish condition, because he considers it the same as elevation to the heavenly planets or liberation. The devotees of Lord Nārāyaṇa are accustomed to seeing all these things on the same level.'

'''[[CC Madhya 9.271|Madhya 9.271]]:''' "Both liberation and fruitive activity are rejected by devotees. You are trying to establish these things as life's goal and the process for attaining it."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.272|Madhya 9.272]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued speaking to the Tattvavādī ācārya: "Seeing that I am a mendicant in the renounced order of life, you have been playing with Me in a duplicitous way. You have not actually described the process and ultimate objective."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.273|Madhya 9.273]]:''' After hearing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the ācārya of the Tattvavāda sampradāya became very much ashamed. Upon observing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's rigid faith in Vaiṣṇavism, he was struck with wonder.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.274|Madhya 9.274]]:''' The Tattvavādī ācārya replied, "What You have said is certainly factual. It is the conclusion of all the revealed scriptures of the Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.275|Madhya 9.275]]:''' "Still, whatever Madhvācārya has established as the formula for our party we practice as a party policy."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.276|Madhya 9.276]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Both the fruitive worker and the speculative philosopher are considered nondevotees. We see both elements present in your sampradāya.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.277|Madhya 9.277]]:''' "The only qualification that I see in your sampradāya is that you accept the form of the Lord as truth."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.278|Madhya 9.278]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu broke the pride of the Tattvavādīs to pieces. He then went to the holy place known as Phalgu-tīrtha.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.279|Madhya 9.279]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī, next went to Tritakūpa, and after seeing the Viśālā Deity there, He went to the holy place known as Pañcāpsarā-tīrtha.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.280|Madhya 9.280]]:''' After seeing Pañcāpsarā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Gokarṇa. While there, He visited the temple of Lord Śiva, and then He went to Dvaipāyani. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the crown jewel of all sannyāsīs, then went to Sūrpāraka-tīrtha.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.281|Madhya 9.281]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then visited the town of Kolāpura, where He saw the goddess of fortune in the temple of Kṣīra-bhagavatī and saw Lāńga-gaṇeśa in another temple, known as Cora-pārvatī.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.282|Madhya 9.282]]:''' From there Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Pāṇḍarapura, where He happily saw the temple of Viṭhṭhala Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.283|Madhya 9.283]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanted and danced in various ways as usual. A brāhmaṇa, seeing Him in ecstatic love, was very pleased and invited the Lord to his home for lunch.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.284|Madhya 9.284]]:''' The brāhmaṇa offered Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu food with great respect and love. After finishing His lunch, the Lord received auspicious news.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.285|Madhya 9.285]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu received word that Śrī Rańga Purī, one of the disciples of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī, was present in that village at the home of a brāhmaṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.286|Madhya 9.286]]:''' Hearing this news, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately went to see Śrī Rańga Purī at the brāhmaṇa's home. Upon entering, the Lord saw him sitting there.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.287|Madhya 9.287]]:''' As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Śrī Rańga Purī, He immediately offered him obeisances in ecstatic love, falling flat on the ground. The symptoms of transcendental transformation were visible — namely, tears, jubilation, trembling and perspiration.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.288|Madhya 9.288]]:''' Upon seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in such an ecstatic mood, Śrī Rańga Purī said, "Your Holiness, please get up.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.289|Madhya 9.289]]:''' "Your Holiness is certainly related to Śrī Mādhavendra Purī, without whom there is no fragrance of ecstatic love."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.290|Madhya 9.290]]:''' After saying this, Śrī Rańga Purī lifted Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu up and embraced Him. As they embraced shoulder to shoulder, they both began to cry in ecstasy.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.291|Madhya 9.291]]:''' After some moments, they came to their senses and became patient. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then informed Śrī Rańga Purī about His relationship with Īśvara Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.292|Madhya 9.292]]:''' They were both inundated by the wonderful ecstasy of love that was aroused in them. Finally they sat down and respectfully began to converse.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.293|Madhya 9.293]]:''' In this way they discussed topics about Lord Kṛṣṇa continually for five to seven days.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.294|Madhya 9.294]]:''' Out of curiosity, Śrī Rańga Purī asked Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu about His birthplace, and the Lord informed him that it was Navadvīpa-dhāma.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.295|Madhya 9.295]]:''' Śrī Rańga Purī had formerly gone to Navadvīpa with Śrī Mādhavendra Purī, and he therefore remembered the incidents that had taken place there.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.296|Madhya 9.296]]:''' As soon as Śrī Rańga Purī recalled Navadvīpa, he also recalled accompanying Śrī Mādhavendra Purī to the house of Jagannātha Miśra, where Rańga Purī had taken lunch. He even remembered the taste of an unprecedented curry made of banana flowers.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.297|Madhya 9.297]]:''' Śrī Rańga Purī also remembered the wife of Jagannātha Miśra. She was very devoted and chaste. As for her affection, she was exactly like the mother of the universe.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.298|Madhya 9.298]]:''' He also remembered how Śrī Jagannātha Miśra's wife, Śacīmātā, was expert in cooking. He recalled that she was very affectionate toward the sannyāsīs and fed them exactly like her own sons.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.299|Madhya 9.299]]:''' Śrī Rańga Purī also remembered that one of her deserving sons had accepted the renounced order at a very young age. His name was Śańkarāraṇya.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.300|Madhya 9.300]]:''' Śrī Rańga Purī informed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that the sannyāsī named Śańkarāraṇya had attained perfection in that holy place, Pāṇḍarapura.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.301|Madhya 9.301]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "In My previous āśrama, Śańkarāraṇya was My brother and Jagannātha Miśra was My father."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.302|Madhya 9.302]]:''' After finishing his talks with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Śrī Rańga Purī started for Dvārakā-dhāma.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.303|Madhya 9.303]]:''' After Śrī Rańga Purī departed for Dvārakā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained with the brāhmaṇa at Pāṇḍarapura for four more days. He took His bath in the Bhīmā River and visited the temple of Viṭhṭhala.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.304|Madhya 9.304]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next went to the bank of the Kṛṣṇa-veṇvā River, where He visited many holy places and the temples of various gods.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.305|Madhya 9.305]]:''' The brāhmaṇa community there was composed of pure devotees. They regularly studied a book entitled Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta, which was composed by Bilvamańgala Ṭhākura.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.306|Madhya 9.306]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased to hear the book Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta, and with great eagerness He had it copied and took it with Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.307|Madhya 9.307]]:''' There is no comparison to the Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta within the three worlds. By studying this book, one is elevated to the knowledge of pure devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.308|Madhya 9.308]]:''' One who constantly reads the Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta can fully understand the beauty and melodious taste of the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.309|Madhya 9.309]]:''' The Brahma-saḿhitā and Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta were two books that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu considered to be most valuable jewels. Therefore He took them with Him on His return trip.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.310|Madhya 9.310]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next arrived at the banks of the river Tāpī. After bathing there, He went to Māhiṣmatī-pura. While there, He saw many holy places on the banks of the river Narmadā.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.311|Madhya 9.311]]:''' The Lord next arrived at Dhanus-tīrtha, where He took His bath in the river Nirvindhyā. He then arrived at Ṛṣyamūka Mountain and then went to Daṇḍakāraṇya.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.312|Madhya 9.312]]:''' Within the Daṇḍakāraṇya forest Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then visited a place called Saptatāla. The seven palm trees there were very old, very bulky and very high.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.313|Madhya 9.313]]:''' Upon seeing the seven palm trees, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced them. As a result, they all returned to Vaikuṇṭhaloka, the spiritual world.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.314|Madhya 9.314]]:''' After the seven palm trees had departed for Vaikuṇṭha, everyone was astonished to see that they were gone. The people then began to say, "This sannyāsī called Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu must be an incarnation of Lord Rāmacandra.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.315|Madhya 9.315]]:''' "Only Lord Rāmacandra has the power to send seven palm trees to the spiritual Vaikuṇṭha planets."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.316|Madhya 9.316]]:''' Eventually Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived at a lake known as Pampā, where He took His bath. He then went to a place called Pañcavaṭī, where He rested.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.317|Madhya 9.317]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then visited Nāsika, where He saw the deity of Tryambaka [Lord Śiva]. He then went to Brahma-giri and then to Kuśāvarta, the source of the river Godāvarī.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.318|Madhya 9.318]]:''' After visiting many other holy places, the Lord went to Sapta-godāvarī. At last He returned to Vidyānagara.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.319|Madhya 9.319]]:''' When Rāmānanda Rāya heard of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's arrival, he was very pleased, and he immediately went to see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.320|Madhya 9.320]]:''' When Rāmānanda Rāya fell flat, touching the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord immediately raised him to his feet and embraced him.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.321|Madhya 9.321]]:''' In great ecstatic love they both began to cry, and thus their minds were slackened.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.322|Madhya 9.322]]:''' After some time they regained their senses and sat together to discuss various subjects.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.323|Madhya 9.323]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave Rāmānanda Rāya a vivid description of His travels to the holy places and told him how He had acquired the two books named Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta and Brahma-saḿhitā. The Lord delivered the books to Rāmānanda Rāya.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.324|Madhya 9.324]]:''' The Lord said, "Whatever you have told Me about devotional service is all supported by these two books."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.325|Madhya 9.325]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya was very happy to receive these books. He tasted their contents along with the Lord and made a copy of each.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.326|Madhya 9.326]]:''' News spread in the village of Vidyānagara about the arrival of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and everyone came to see Him once again.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.327|Madhya 9.327]]:''' After seeing the people who gathered there, Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya returned to his own home. At noon, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu got up to take His lunch.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.328|Madhya 9.328]]:''' Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya returned at night, and he and the Lord discussed topics concerning Kṛṣṇa. Thus they passed the night.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.329|Madhya 9.329]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu discussed Kṛṣṇa day and night, and thus they passed from five to seven days in great happiness.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.330|Madhya 9.330]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya said, "My dear Lord, with Your permission I have already written a letter to the King with great humility.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.331|Madhya 9.331]]:''' "The King has already given me an order to return to Jagannātha Purī, and I am making arrangements to do this."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.332|Madhya 9.332]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, "It is for this purpose alone that I have returned. I want to take you with Me to Jagannātha Purī."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.333|Madhya 9.333]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya said, "My dear Lord, it is better that You proceed to Jagannātha Purī alone because with me there will be many horses, elephants and soldiers, all roaring tumultuously.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.334|Madhya 9.334]]:''' "I shall make arrangements within ten days. Following You, I shall go to Nīlācala without delay."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.335|Madhya 9.335]]:''' Giving orders to Rāmānanda Rāya to come to Nīlācala, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu departed for Jagannātha Purī with great pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.336|Madhya 9.336]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned by the same road He had formerly taken to Vidyānagara, and all the Vaiṣṇavas along the way saw Him again.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.337|Madhya 9.337]]:''' Wherever Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went, the holy name of Śrī Hari was vibrated. Seeing this, the Lord became very happy.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.338|Madhya 9.338]]:''' When the Lord reached Ālālanātha, He sent His assistant Kṛṣṇadāsa ahead to call for Nityānanda Prabhu and other personal associates.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.339|Madhya 9.339]]:''' As soon as Nityānanda Prabhu received news of the arrival of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He immediately got up and started out to see Him. Indeed, He was very impatient in His great ecstasy.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.340|Madhya 9.340]]:''' Śrī Nityānanda Rāya, Jagadānanda, Dāmodara Paṇḍita and Mukunda all became ecstatic in their happiness, and dancing along the way, they went to meet the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.341|Madhya 9.341]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya also went in a very happy mood. They all went to meet the Lord, and they finally contacted Him on the way.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.342|Madhya 9.342]]:''' The Lord was also filled with ecstatic love, and He embraced them all. Out of their love, they began to cry with pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.343|Madhya 9.343]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya also went to see the Lord with great pleasure, and he met Him on the beach by the sea.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.344|Madhya 9.344]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya fell down at the lotus feet of the Lord, and the Lord pulled him up and embraced him.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.345|Madhya 9.345]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya cried in great ecstatic love. Then the Lord, accompanied by them all, went to the temple of Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.346|Madhya 9.346]]:''' Due to ecstatic love experienced upon visiting Lord Jagannātha, inundations of trembling, perspiration, tears and jubilation swept the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.347|Madhya 9.347]]:''' In ecstatic love Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced and chanted. At that time all the attendants and priests came to offer Him a garland and the remnants of Lord Jagannātha's food.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.348|Madhya 9.348]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became patient after receiving the garland and prasādam of Lord Jagannātha. All the servants of Lord Jagannātha met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with great pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.349|Madhya 9.349]]:''' Afterward, Kāśī Miśra came and fell down at the lotus feet of the Lord, and the Lord respectfully embraced him.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.350|Madhya 9.350]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then took the Lord with him to his home, saying, "Today's luncheon will be at my home." In this way he invited the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.351|Madhya 9.351]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya brought various types of food remnants that had been left by Lord Jagannātha. He brought all kinds of cakes and condensed-milk preparations.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.352|Madhya 9.352]]:''' Accompanied by all His associates, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya's house and took His noon lunch there.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.353|Madhya 9.353]]:''' After offering food to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya made Him lie down to rest, and he personally began to massage the legs of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.354|Madhya 9.354]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then sent Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya to take his lunch, and the Lord remained that night in his home just to please him.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.355|Madhya 9.355]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His personal associates remained with Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. They all stayed awake the entire night as the Lord spoke of His pilgrimage.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.356|Madhya 9.356]]:''' The Lord told Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, "I have traveled to many holy places, but I could not find a Vaiṣṇava as good as you anywhere."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.357|Madhya 9.357]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "I received much pleasure from the talks of Rāmānanda Rāya."The Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "For this reason I requested that You meet him."

'''[[CC Madhya 9.358|Madhya 9.358]]:''' Thus I have ended my narration about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's pilgrimage, describing it in brief. It cannot be described very broadly.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.359|Madhya 9.359]]:''' The pastimes of Lord Caitanya are unlimited. No one can properly describe His activities, yet I make the attempt out of greed. This but reveals my shamelessness.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.360|Madhya 9.360]]:''' Whoever hears of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's pilgrimage to various holy places attains the riches of very deep ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.361|Madhya 9.361]]:''' Please hear the transcendental pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with faith and devotion. Giving up envy of the Lord, everyone chant the Lord's holy name, Hari.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.362|Madhya 9.362]]:''' In this Age of Kali there are no genuine religious principles other than those established by Vaiṣṇava devotees and the Vaiṣṇava scriptures. This is the sum and substance of everything.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.363|Madhya 9.363]]:''' The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are just like an unfathomable ocean. It is not possible for me to enter into it. Simply standing on the shore, I am but touching the water.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.364|Madhya 9.364]]:''' The more one hears the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with faith, analytically studying them, the more one attains the ecstatic riches of love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 9.365|Madhya 9.365]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 8|Madhya-līlā 8]] '''[[CC Madhya 8|Madhya-līlā 8]] - [[CC Madhya 10|Madhya-līlā 10]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 10|Madhya-līlā 10]]</div>

CC Madhya 8

2026-06-04T18:28:45Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 8 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 08|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 8: Talks Between Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Rāmānanda Rāya'''</div>
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'''[[CC Madhya 8 Summary|Madhya 8 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 8.1|Madhya 8.1]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is known as Gaurāńga, is the ocean of all conclusive knowledge in devotional service. He empowered Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, who may be likened to a cloud of devotional service. This cloud was filled with the water of all the conclusive purports of devotional service and was empowered by the ocean to spread this water over the sea of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself. Thus the ocean of Caitanya Mahāprabhu became filled with the jewels of the knowledge of pure devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.2|Madhya 8.2]]:''' All glories to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

'''[[CC Madhya 8.3|Madhya 8.3]]:''' According to His previous program, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went forward on His tour and after some days arrived at the place of pilgrimage known as Jiyaḍa-nṛsiḿha.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.4|Madhya 8.4]]:''' Upon seeing the Deity of Lord Nṛsiḿha in the temple, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered His respectful obeisances by falling flat. Then, in ecstatic love, He performed various dances, chanted, and offered prayers.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.5|Madhya 8.5]]:''' "'All glories to Nṛsiḿhadeva! All glories to Nṛsiḿhadeva, who is the Lord of Prahlāda Mahārāja and, like a honeybee, is always engaged in beholding the lotuslike face of the goddess of fortune.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.6|Madhya 8.6]]:''' "'Although very ferocious, the lioness is very kind to her cubs. Similarly, although very ferocious to nondevotees like Hiraṇyakaśipu, Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva is very, very soft and kind to devotees like Prahlāda Mahārāja.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.7|Madhya 8.7]]:''' In this way Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recited different verses from the śāstra. The priest of Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva then brought garlands and the remnants of the Lord's food and offered them to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.8|Madhya 8.8]]:''' As usual, a brāhmaṇa offered Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu an invitation. The Lord passed the night in the temple and then commenced His tour again.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.9|Madhya 8.9]]:''' The next morning, in the great ecstasy of love, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu started on His tour with no knowledge of the proper direction, and He continued the whole day and night.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.10|Madhya 8.10]]:''' As previously, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu converted to Vaiṣṇavism many people He met on the road. After some days, the Lord reached the banks of the river Godāvarī.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.11|Madhya 8.11]]:''' When He saw the river Godāvarī, the Lord remembered the river Yamunā, and when He saw the forest on the banks of the river, He remembered Śrī Vṛndāvana-dhāma.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.12|Madhya 8.12]]:''' After performing His usual chanting and dancing for some time in this forest, the Lord crossed the river and took His bath on the other bank.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.13|Madhya 8.13]]:''' After bathing in the river, the Lord walked a little distance from the bathing place and engaged in chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.14|Madhya 8.14]]:''' At that time, accompanied by the sounds of music, Rāmānanda Rāya came there on a palanquin to take his bath.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.15|Madhya 8.15]]:''' Many brāhmaṇas following the Vedic principles accompanied Rāmānanda Rāya. According to the Vedic rituals, Rāmānanda Rāya took his bath and offered oblations to his forefathers.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.16|Madhya 8.16]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could understand that the person who had come to bathe in the river was Rāmānanda Rāya. The Lord wanted so much to meet him that His mind immediately began running after him.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.17|Madhya 8.17]]:''' Although Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was running after him mentally, He patiently remained sitting. Rāmānanda Rāya, seeing the wonderful sannyāsī, then came to see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.18|Madhya 8.18]]:''' Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya then saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to be as brilliant as a hundred suns. The Lord was covered by a saffron garment. He was large in body and very strongly built, and His eyes were like lotus petals.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.19|Madhya 8.19]]:''' When Rāmānanda Rāya saw the wonderful sannyāsī, he was struck with wonder. He went to Him and immediately offered his respectful obeisances, falling down flat like a rod.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.20|Madhya 8.20]]:''' The Lord stood up and asked Rāmānanda Rāya to arise and chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very eager to embrace him.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.21|Madhya 8.21]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then inquired whether he was Rāmānanda Rāya, and he replied, "Yes, I am Your very low servant, and I belong to the śūdra community."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.22|Madhya 8.22]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then embraced Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya very firmly. Indeed, both the master and the servant almost lost consciousness due to ecstatic love.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.23|Madhya 8.23]]:''' Their natural love for each other was awakened in them both, and they embraced and fell to the ground.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.24|Madhya 8.24]]:''' When they embraced each other, ecstatic symptoms — paralysis, perspiration, tears, shivering, paleness and standing up of the bodily hairs — appeared. The word "Kṛṣṇa" came from their mouths falteringly.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.25|Madhya 8.25]]:''' When the stereotyped, ritualistic brāhmaṇas who were following the Vedic principles saw this ecstatic manifestation of love, they were struck with wonder. All these brāhmaṇas began to reflect as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.26|Madhya 8.26]]:''' The brāhmaṇas thought, "We can see that this sannyāsī has a luster like the effulgence of Brahman, but how is it He is crying upon embracing a śūdra, a member of the fourth caste in the social order?"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.27|Madhya 8.27]]:''' They thought, "This Rāmānanda Rāya is the Governor of Madras, a highly learned and grave person, a mahā-paṇḍita, but upon touching this sannyāsī he has become restless like a madman."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.28|Madhya 8.28]]:''' While the brāhmaṇas were thinking in this way about the activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Rāmānanda Rāya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw those outsiders and restrained His transcendental emotions.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.29|Madhya 8.29]]:''' When they regained their sanity, they both sat down, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu smiled and began to speak as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.30|Madhya 8.30]]:''' "Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya spoke of your good qualities, and he made a great endeavor to convince Me to meet you.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.31|Madhya 8.31]]:''' "Indeed, I have come here just to meet you. It is very good that even without making an effort I have gotten your interview here."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.32|Madhya 8.32]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya thinks of me as his servant. Even in my absence he is very careful to do me good.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.33|Madhya 8.33]]:''' "By his mercy I have received Your interview here. Consequently I consider that today I have become a successful human being.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.34|Madhya 8.34]]:''' "I can see that You have bestowed special mercy upon Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. Therefore You have touched me, although I am untouchable. This is due only to his love for You.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.35|Madhya 8.35]]:''' "You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa Himself, and I am only a government servant interested in materialistic activities. Indeed, I am the lowest among men of the fourth caste.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.36|Madhya 8.36]]:''' "You do not fear the Vedic injunctions stating that You should not associate with a śūdra. You were not contemptuous of my touch, although in the Vedas You are forbidden to associate with śūdras.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.37|Madhya 8.37]]:''' "You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself; therefore no one can understand Your purpose. By Your mercy You are touching me, although this is not sanctioned by the Vedas.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.38|Madhya 8.38]]:''' "You have come here specifically to deliver me. You are so merciful that You alone can deliver all fallen souls.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.39|Madhya 8.39]]:''' "It is the general practice of all saintly people to deliver the fallen. Therefore they go to people's houses, although they have no personal business there.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.40|Madhya 8.40]]:''' "'My dear Lord, sometimes great saintly persons go to the homes of householders, although these householders are generally low-minded. When a saintly person visits their homes, one can understand that it is for no other purpose than to benefit the householders.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.41|Madhya 8.41]]:''' "Along with me there are about a thousand men — including the brāhmaṇas — and all of them appear to have had their hearts melted simply by seeing You.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.42|Madhya 8.42]]:''' "I hear everyone chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Everyone's body is thrilled with ecstasy, and there are tears in everyone's eyes.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.43|Madhya 8.43]]:''' "My dear Sir, according to Your behavior and bodily features, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is impossible for ordinary living beings to possess such transcendental qualities."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.44|Madhya 8.44]]:''' The Lord replied to Rāmānanda Rāya, "Sir, you are the best of the topmost devotees; therefore simply the sight of you has melted everyone's heart.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.45|Madhya 8.45]]:''' "Although I am a Māyāvādī sannyāsī, a nondevotee, I am also floating in the ocean of love of Kṛṣṇa simply by touching you. And what to speak of others?

'''[[CC Madhya 8.46|Madhya 8.46]]:''' "Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya knew this would happen, and thus to rectify My heart, which is very hard, he asked Me to meet you."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.47|Madhya 8.47]]:''' In this way each of them praised the qualities of the other, and both of them were pleased to see each other.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.48|Madhya 8.48]]:''' At this time a brāhmaṇa Vaiṣṇava following the Vedic principles came and offered obeisances. He fell flat before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and invited Him for lunch.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.49|Madhya 8.49]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted the invitation, knowing the brāhmaṇa to be a devotee, and slightly smiling, He spoke as follows to Rāmānanda Rāya.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.50|Madhya 8.50]]:''' "I wish to hear from you about Lord Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, My mind is inclined to desire this; therefore I wish to see you again."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.51-52|Madhya 8.51-52]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "My Lord, although You have come to correct me, a fallen soul, my mind is not yet purified simply by seeing You. Please stay for five or seven days and kindly cleanse my polluted mind. After that much time, my mind will certainly be pure."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.53|Madhya 8.53]]:''' Although neither could tolerate separation from the other, Rāmānanda Rāya nonetheless offered his obeisances to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and departed.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.54|Madhya 8.54]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then went to the house of the brāhmaṇa who had invited Him and took His lunch there. When the evening of that day arrived, both Rāmānanda Rāya and the Lord were eager to meet each other again.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.55|Madhya 8.55]]:''' After finishing His evening bath, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat down and waited for Rāmānanda Rāya to come. Then Rāmānanda Rāya, accompanied by one servant, came to meet Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.56|Madhya 8.56]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya approached Lord Śrī Caitanya and offered his respectful obeisances, and the Lord embraced him. Then they began to discuss Kṛṣṇa in a secluded place.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.57|Madhya 8.57]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Rāmānanda Rāya, "Recite a verse from the revealed scriptures concerning the ultimate goal of life."Rāmānanda replied, "If one executes the prescribed duties of his social position, he awakens his original Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.58|Madhya 8.58]]:''' "'The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, is worshiped by the proper execution of prescribed duties in the system of varṇa and āśrama. There is no other way to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One must be situated in the institution of the four varṇas and āśramas.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.59|Madhya 8.59]]:''' The Lord replied, "This is external. You had better tell Me of some other means."Rāmānanda replied, "To offer the results of one's activities to Kṛṣṇa is the essence of all perfection."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.60|Madhya 8.60]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya continued, "'My dear son of Kuntī, whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer in sacrifice, whatever you give in charity, and whatever austerities you perform, all the results of such activities should be offered to Me, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.61|Madhya 8.61]]:''' "This is also external," Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said. "Please proceed and speak further on this matter."Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "To give up one's occupational duties in the varṇāśrama system is the essence of perfection."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.62|Madhya 8.62]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya continued, "'Occupational duties are described in the religious scriptures. If one analyzes them, he can fully understand their qualities and faults and then give them up completely to render service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a person is considered a first-class man.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.63|Madhya 8.63]]:''' "As stated in scripture [[

'''[[CC Madhya 8.64|Madhya 8.64]]:''' After hearing Rāmānanda Rāya speak in this way, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again rejected his statement and said, "Go ahead and say something more."Rāmānanda Rāya then replied, "Devotional service mixed with empiric knowledge is the essence of perfection."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.65|Madhya 8.65]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya continued, "According to the Bhagavad-gītā, '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 toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.66|Madhya 8.66]]:''' After hearing this, the Lord, as usual, rejected it, considering it to be external devotional service. He again asked Rāmānanda Rāya to speak further, and Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "Pure devotional service without any touch of speculative knowledge is the essence of perfection."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.67|Madhya 8.67]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya continued, "Lord Brahmā said, 'My dear Lord, those devotees who have thrown away the impersonal conception of the Absolute Truth and have therefore abandoned discussing empiric philosophical truths should hear from self-realized devotees about Your holy name, form, pastimes and qualities. They should completely follow the principles of devotional service and remain free from illicit sex, gambling, intoxication and animal slaughter. Surrendering themselves fully with body, words and mind, they can live in any āśrama or social status. Indeed, You are conquered by such persons, although You are always unconquerable.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.68|Madhya 8.68]]:''' At this point, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "This is all right, but still you can speak more on the subject."Rāmānanda Rāya then replied, "Ecstatic love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the essence of all perfection."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.69|Madhya 8.69]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya continued, "'As long as there is hunger and thirst within the stomach, varieties of food and drink make one feel very happy. Similarly, when the Lord is worshiped with pure love, the various activities performed in the course of that worship awaken transcendental bliss in the heart of the devotee.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.70|Madhya 8.70]]:''' "'Pure devotional service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot be had even by pious activity in hundreds and thousands of lives. It can be attained only by paying one price — that is, intense greed to obtain it. If it is available somewhere, one must purchase it without delay.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.71|Madhya 8.71]]:''' Hearing up to the point of spontaneous love, the Lord said, "This is all right, but if you know more, please tell Me."In reply, Rāmānanda Rāya said, "Spontaneous loving service in servitude — as exchanged by master and servant — is the highest perfection.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.72|Madhya 8.72]]:''' "'A man becomes purified simply by hearing the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose lotus feet create the holy places of pilgrimage. Therefore what remains to be attained by those who have become His servants?'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.73|Madhya 8.73]]:''' "'By serving You constantly, one is freed from all material desires and is completely pacified. When shall I engage as Your permanent eternal servant and always feel joyful to have such a perfect master?'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.74|Madhya 8.74]]:''' Hearing this from Rāmānanda Rāya, the Lord again requested him to go a step further. In reply, Rāmānanda Rāya said, "Loving service to Kṛṣṇa rendered in fraternity is the highest perfection.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.75|Madhya 8.75]]:''' "'Neither those engaged in the self-realization of appreciating the Brahman effulgence of the Lord, nor those engaged in devotional service while accepting the Supreme Personality of Godhead as master, nor those under the clutches of Māyā, thinking the Lord an ordinary person, can understand that certain exalted personalities, after accumulating volumes of pious activities, are now playing with the Lord in friendship as cowherd boys.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.76|Madhya 8.76]]:''' The Lord said, "This statement is very good, but please proceed even further."Rāmānanda Rāya then replied, "Loving service to the Lord in the parental relationship is the highest perfectional stage."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.77|Madhya 8.77]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya continued, "'O brāhmaṇa, what pious activities did Nanda Mahārāja perform by which he received the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa as his son? And what pious activities did mother Yaśodā perform that made the Absolute Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa call her "Mother" and suck her breasts?'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.78|Madhya 8.78]]:''' "'The favor mother Yaśodā obtained from Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the bestower of liberation, was never obtained even by Lord Brahmā or Lord Śiva, nor even by the goddess of fortune, who always remains on the chest of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Viṣṇu.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.79|Madhya 8.79]]:''' The Lord said, "Your statements are certainly getting better and better one after the other, but surpassing all of them is another transcendental mellow, and you can speak of that as the most sublime."Rāmānanda Rāya then replied, "Conjugal attachment for Kṛṣṇa is the topmost position in love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.80|Madhya 8.80]]:''' "'When Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was dancing with the gopīs in the rāsa-līlā, the gopīs were embraced around the neck by the Lord's arms. This transcendental favor was never bestowed upon the goddess of fortune or the other consorts in the spiritual world. Nor was such a thing ever imagined by the most beautiful girls in the heavenly planets, girls whose bodily luster and aroma resemble the beauty and fragrance of lotus flowers. And what to speak of worldly women, who may be very, very beautiful according to material estimation?'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.81|Madhya 8.81]]:''' "'Suddenly, due to their feelings of separation, Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared among the gopīs dressed in yellow garments and wearing a flower garland. His lotus face was smiling, and He was directly attracting the mind of Cupid.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.82|Madhya 8.82]]:''' "There are various means and processes by which one may attain the favor of Lord Kṛṣṇa. All those transcendental processes will be studied from the viewpoint of comparative importance.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.83|Madhya 8.83]]:''' "It is true that whatever relationship a particular devotee has with the Lord is the best for him; still, when we study all the different methods from a neutral position, we can understand that there are higher and lower degrees of love.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.84|Madhya 8.84]]:''' "'Increasing love is experienced in various tastes, one above another. But that love which has the highest taste in the gradual succession of desires manifests itself in the form of conjugal love.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.85|Madhya 8.85]]:''' "There is a gradual order of improvement in transcendental mellows from the initial ones to the later ones. In each subsequent mellow the qualities of the previous mellows are manifested, counting from two, then three, and up to the point of five complete qualities.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.86|Madhya 8.86]]:''' "As the qualities increase, so the taste also increases in each and every mellow. Therefore the qualities found in śānta-rasa, dāsya-rasa, sakhya-rasa and vātsalya-rasa are all manifested in conjugal love [mādhurya-rasa].

'''[[CC Madhya 8.87|Madhya 8.87]]:''' "The qualities in the material elements — sky, air, fire, water and earth — increase one after another by a gradual process of one, two and three, and at the last stage, in the element earth, all five qualities are completely visible.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.88|Madhya 8.88]]:''' "Complete attainment of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa is made possible by love of Godhead, specifically mādhurya-rasa, or conjugal love. Lord Kṛṣṇa is indeed captivated by this standard of love. This is stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.89|Madhya 8.89]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa told the gopīs, 'The means of attaining My favor is loving service unto Me, and fortunately you are all thus engaged. Those living beings who render service unto Me are eligible to be transferred to the spiritual world and attain eternal life with knowledge and bliss.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.90|Madhya 8.90]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa has made a firm promise for all time. If one renders service unto Him, Kṛṣṇa correspondingly gives him an equal amount of success in devotional service to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.91|Madhya 8.91]]:''' "(According to Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā ([[

'''[[CC Madhya 8.92|Madhya 8.92]]:''' "In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[

'''[[CC Madhya 8.93|Madhya 8.93]]:''' "When the gopīs were overwhelmed with dissatisfaction due to Lord Kṛṣṇa's absence from the rāsa-līlā, Kṛṣṇa returned to them and told them, 'My dear gopīs, our meeting is certainly free of all material contamination. I must admit that in many lives it would be impossible for Me to repay My debt to you because you have cut off the bondage of family life just to search for Me. Consequently I am unable to repay you. Therefore please be satisfied with your honest activities in this regard.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.94|Madhya 8.94]]:''' "Although Kṛṣṇa's unparalleled beauty is the topmost sweetness of love of Godhead, His sweetness increases unlimitedly when He is in the company of the gopīs. Consequently Kṛṣṇa's exchange of love with the gopīs is the topmost perfection of love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.95|Madhya 8.95]]:''' "'Although the son of Devakī, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the reservoir of all kinds of beauty, when He is among the gopīs He nonetheless becomes more beautiful, for He resembles a marakata jewel surrounded by gold and other jewels.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.96|Madhya 8.96]]:''' Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "This is certainly the limit of perfection, but please be merciful to Me and speak more if there is more."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.97|Madhya 8.97]]:''' Rāya Rāmānanda replied, "Until this day I did not know anyone within this material world who could inquire beyond this perfectional stage of devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.98|Madhya 8.98]]:''' "Among the loving affairs of the gopīs," Rāmānanda Rāya continued, "Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's love for Śrī Kṛṣṇa is topmost. Indeed, the glories of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī are highly esteemed in all revealed scriptures.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.99|Madhya 8.99]]:''' "'Just as Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is most dear to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Her bathing place [Rādhā-kuṇḍa] is also dear to Him. Among all the gopīs, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is supermost and very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.100|Madhya 8.100]]:''' "[When the gopīs began to talk among themselves, they said:] 'Dear friends, the gopī who has been taken away by Kṛṣṇa to a secluded place must have worshiped the Lord more than anyone else.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.101|Madhya 8.101]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Please speak on. I am very happy to hear you because a river of unprecedented nectar is flowing from your mouth.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.102|Madhya 8.102]]:''' "During the rāsa dance Śrī Kṛṣṇa did not exchange loving affairs with Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī due to the presence of the other gopīs. Because of the dependence of the others, the intensity of love between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa was not manifest. Therefore He stole Her away.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.103|Madhya 8.103]]:''' "If Lord Kṛṣṇa rejected the company of the other gopīs for Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, we can understand that Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa has intense affection for Her."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.104|Madhya 8.104]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya continued, "Please therefore hear from me about the glories of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's loving affairs. They are beyond compare within these three worlds.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.105|Madhya 8.105]]:''' "Finding Herself treated equally with all the other gopīs, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī displayed Her tricky behavior and left the circle of the rāsa dance. Missing Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's presence, Kṛṣṇa became very unhappy and began to lament and wander throughout the forest to search Her out.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.106|Madhya 8.106]]:''' "'Lord Kṛṣṇa, the enemy of Kaḿsa, took Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī within His heart, for He desired to dance with Her. Thus He left the arena of the rāsa dance and the company of all the other beautiful damsels of Vraja.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.107|Madhya 8.107]]:''' "'Being afflicted by the arrow of Cupid and unhappily regretting His mistreating Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Mādhava, Lord Kṛṣṇa, began to search for Her along the banks of the Yamunā River. When He failed to find Her, He entered the bushes of Vṛndāvana and began to lament.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.108|Madhya 8.108]]:''' "Simply by considering these two verses one can understand what nectar there is in such dealings. It is exactly like freeing a mine of nectar.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.109|Madhya 8.109]]:''' "Although Kṛṣṇa was in the midst of hundreds of thousands of gopīs during the rāsa dance, He still kept Himself in one of His transcendental forms by the side of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.110|Madhya 8.110]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa is equal to everyone in His general dealings, but due to the conflicting ecstatic love of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, there were opposing elements.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.111|Madhya 8.111]]:''' "'The progress of loving affairs between a young boy and a young girl is like the movement of a snake. On account of this, two types of anger arise between a young boy and girl — anger with cause and anger without cause.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.112|Madhya 8.112]]:''' "When Rādhārāṇī left the rāsa dance out of anger and resentment, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa became very anxious because He could not see Her.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.113|Madhya 8.113]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa's desire in the rāsa-līlā circle is perfectly complete, but Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the binding link in that desire.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.114|Madhya 8.114]]:''' "The rāsa dance does not shine in the heart of Kṛṣṇa without Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Therefore, He also gave up the circle of the rāsa dance and went out to search for Her.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.115|Madhya 8.115]]:''' "When Kṛṣṇa went out to search for Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, He wandered here and there. Not finding Her, He became afflicted by the arrow of Cupid and began to lament.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.116|Madhya 8.116]]:''' "Since Kṛṣṇa's lusty desires were not satisfied even in the midst of hundreds of thousands of gopīs and He was thus searching after Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, we can easily imagine how transcendentally qualified She is."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.117|Madhya 8.117]]:''' After hearing this, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu said to Rāmānanda Rāya, "That for which I have come to your residence has now become an object of truth in My knowledge.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.118|Madhya 8.118]]:''' "Now I have come to understand the sublime goal of life and the process of achieving it. Nevertheless, I think that there is something more ahead, and My mind is desiring to have it.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.119|Madhya 8.119]]:''' "Kindly explain the transcendental features of Kṛṣṇa and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Also explain the truth of transcendental mellows and the transcendental form of love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.120|Madhya 8.120]]:''' "Kindly explain all these truths to Me. But for yourself, no one can ascertain them."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.121|Madhya 8.121]]:''' Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "I do not know anything about this. I simply vibrate the sound You make me speak.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.122|Madhya 8.122]]:''' "I simply repeat like a parrot whatever instructions You have given me. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Who can understand Your dramatic performances?

'''[[CC Madhya 8.123|Madhya 8.123]]:''' "You inspire me within the heart and make me speak with the tongue. I do not know whether I am speaking well or badly."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.124|Madhya 8.124]]:''' Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "I am a Māyāvādī in the renounced order of life, and I do not even know what transcendental loving service to the Lord is. I simply float in the ocean of Māyāvāda philosophy.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.125|Madhya 8.125]]:''' "Due to the association of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, My mind became enlightened. Therefore I asked him about the truths of transcendental loving service to Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.126|Madhya 8.126]]:''' "Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya told me, 'I do not actually know about the topics of Lord Kṛṣṇa. They are all known only to Rāmānanda Rāya, but he is not present here.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.127|Madhya 8.127]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "After hearing about your glories, I have come to your place. But you are offering Me words of praise out of respect for a sannyāsī, one in the renounced order of life.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.128|Madhya 8.128]]:''' "Whether one is a brāhmaṇa, a sannyāsī or a śūdra — regardless of what he is — he can become a spiritual master if he knows the science of Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.129|Madhya 8.129]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "Please do not try to cheat me, thinking of Me as a learned sannyāsī. Please satisfy My mind by just describing the truth of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.130-131|Madhya 8.130-131]]:''' Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya was a great devotee of the Lord and a lover of God, and although his mind could not be covered by Kṛṣṇa's illusory energy, and although he could understand the mind of the Lord, which was very strong and intense, Rāmānanda's mind became a little agitated.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.132|Madhya 8.132]]:''' Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya said, "I am just a dancing puppet, and You pull the strings. Whichever way You make me dance, I will dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.133|Madhya 8.133]]:''' "My dear Lord, my tongue is just like a stringed instrument, and You are its player. Therefore I simply vibrate whatever arises in Your mind."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.134|Madhya 8.134]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya then began to speak on kṛṣṇa-tattva. "Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead," he said. "He is personally the original Godhead, the source of all incarnations and the cause of all causes.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.135|Madhya 8.135]]:''' "There are innumerable Vaikuṇṭha planets, as well as innumerable incarnations. In the material world also there are innumerable universes, and Kṛṣṇa is the supreme resting place for all of them.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.136|Madhya 8.136]]:''' "The transcendental body of Śrī Kṛṣṇa is eternal and full of bliss and knowledge. He is the son of Nanda Mahārāja. He is full of all opulences and potencies, as well as all spiritual mellows.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.137|Madhya 8.137]]:''' "'Kṛṣṇa, who is known as Govinda, is the supreme controller. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin, for He is the prime cause of all causes.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.138|Madhya 8.138]]:''' "In the spiritual realm of Vṛndāvana, Kṛṣṇa is the spiritual, ever-fresh Cupid. He is worshiped by the chanting of the Kāma-gāyatrī mantra, with the spiritual seed klīm.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.139|Madhya 8.139]]:''' "The very name Kṛṣṇa means that He attracts even Cupid. He is therefore attractive to everyone — male and female, moving and inert living entities. Indeed, Kṛṣṇa is known as the all-attractive one.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.140|Madhya 8.140]]:''' "'When Kṛṣṇa left the rāsa-līlā dance, the gopīs became very morose, and when they were grieving, Kṛṣṇa reappeared dressed in yellow garments. Wearing a flower garland and smiling, He was attractive even to Cupid. In this way Kṛṣṇa appeared among the gopīs.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.141|Madhya 8.141]]:''' "Each and every devotee has a certain type of transcendental mellow in relation to Kṛṣṇa. But in all transcendental relationships the devotee is the worshiper [āśraya] and Kṛṣṇa is the object of worship [viṣaya].

'''[[CC Madhya 8.142|Madhya 8.142]]:''' "'Let Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, be glorified! By virtue of His expanding attractive features, He subjugated the gopīs named Tārakā and Pāli and absorbed the minds of Śyāmā and Lalitā. He is the most attractive lover of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and is the reservoir of pleasure for devotees in all transcendental mellows.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.143|Madhya 8.143]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa is all-attractive for devotees in all mellows because He is the personification of the conjugal mellow. Kṛṣṇa is attractive not only to all the devotees, but to Himself as well.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.144|Madhya 8.144]]:''' "'My dear friends, just see how Śrī Kṛṣṇa is enjoying the season of spring! With the gopīs embracing each of His limbs, He is like amorous love personified. With His transcendental pastimes, He enlivens all the gopīs and the entire creation. With His soft bluish black arms and legs, which resemble blue lotus flowers, He has created a festival for Cupid.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.145|Madhya 8.145]]:''' "He also attracts Nārāyaṇa, who is the incarnation of Sańkarṣaṇa and the husband of the goddess of fortune. He attracts not only Nārāyaṇa but also all women, headed by the goddess of fortune, the consort of Nārāyaṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.146|Madhya 8.146]]:''' "[Addressing Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, Lord Mahā-Viṣṇu (the Mahāpuruṣa) said:] 'I wanted to see both of you, and therefore I have brought the sons of the brāhmaṇa here. Both of you have appeared in the material world to reestablish religious principles, and you have both appeared here with all your potencies. After killing all the demons, please quickly return to the spiritual world.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.147|Madhya 8.147]]:''' "'O Lord, we do not know how the serpent Kāliya attained such an opportunity to be touched by the dust of Your lotus feet. For this end, the goddess of fortune performed austerities for centuries, giving up all other desires and observing austere vows. Indeed, we do not know how this serpent Kāliya got such an opportunity.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.148|Madhya 8.148]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa's sweetness is so attractive that it steals away His own mind. Thus even He wants to embrace Himself.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.149|Madhya 8.149]]:''' "'Upon seeing His own reflection in a bejeweled pillar of His Dvārakā palace, Kṛṣṇa desired to embrace it, saying, "Alas, I have never seen such a person before. Who is He? Just by seeing Him I have become eager to embrace Him, exactly like Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī."'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.150|Madhya 8.150]]:''' Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya then said, "I have thus briefly explained the original form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Now let me describe the position of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.151|Madhya 8.151]]:''' "Kṛṣṇa has unlimited potencies, which can be divided into three main parts. These are the spiritual potency, the material potency and the marginal potency, which is known as the living entities.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.152|Madhya 8.152]]:''' "In other words, these are all potencies of God — internal, external and marginal. But the internal potency is the Lord's personal energy and stands over the other two.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.153|Madhya 8.153]]:''' "'The original potency of Lord Viṣṇu is superior, or spiritual, and the living entity actually belongs to that superior energy. But there is another energy, called the material energy, and this third energy is full of ignorance.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.154|Madhya 8.154]]:''' "Originally Lord Kṛṣṇa is sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha (BS 5.1), the transcendental form of eternity, bliss and knowledge; therefore His personal potency, the internal potency, has three different forms.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.155|Madhya 8.155]]:''' "Hlādinī is His aspect of bliss; sandhinī, of eternal existence; and samvit, of cognizance, which is also accepted as knowledge.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.156|Madhya 8.156]]:''' "'My dear Lord, You are the transcendental reservoir of all transcendental qualities. Your pleasure potency, existence potency and knowledge potency are actually all one internal spiritual potency. The conditioned soul, although actually spiritual, sometimes experiences pleasure, sometimes pain and sometimes a mixture of pain and pleasure. This is due to his being touched by matter. But because You are above all material qualities, these are not found in You. Your superior spiritual potency is completely transcendental, and for You there is no such thing as relative pleasure, pleasure mixed with pain, or pain itself.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.157|Madhya 8.157]]:''' "The potency called hlādinī gives Kṛṣṇa transcendental pleasure. Through this pleasure potency, Kṛṣṇa personally tastes all spiritual pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.158|Madhya 8.158]]:''' "Lord Kṛṣṇa tastes all kinds of transcendental happiness, although He Himself is happiness personified. The pleasure relished by His pure devotees is also manifested by His pleasure potency.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.159|Madhya 8.159]]:''' "The most essential part of this pleasure potency is love of Godhead [prema]. Consequently, the explanation of love of Godhead is also a transcendental mellow full of pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.160|Madhya 8.160]]:''' "The essential part of love of Godhead is called mahābhāva, transcendental ecstasy, and that ecstasy is represented by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.161|Madhya 8.161]]:''' "'Among the gopīs of Vṛndāvana, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and another gopī are considered chief. But when we compare the gopīs, it appears that Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is most important because Her real feature expresses the highest ecstasy of love. The ecstasy of love experienced by the other gopīs cannot be compared to that of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.162|Madhya 8.162]]:''' "The body of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is a veritable transformation of love of Godhead; She is the dearmost friend of Kṛṣṇa, and this is known throughout the world.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.163|Madhya 8.163]]:''' "'I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who resides in His own realm, Goloka, with Rādhā, who resembles His own spiritual figure and who embodies the ecstatic potency [hlādinī]. Their companions are Her confidantes, who embody extensions of Her bodily form and who are imbued and permeated with ever-blissful spiritual rasa.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.164|Madhya 8.164]]:''' "That supreme ecstasy of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the essence of spiritual life. Her only business is to fulfill all the desires of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.165|Madhya 8.165]]:''' "Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the topmost spiritual gem, and the other gopīs — Lalitā, Viśākhā and so on — are expansions of Her spiritual body.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.166|Madhya 8.166]]:''' "Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's transcendental body is brilliant in luster and full of all transcendental fragrances. Lord Kṛṣṇa's affection for Her is like a perfumed massage.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.167|Madhya 8.167]]:''' "Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī takes Her first bath in the shower of the nectar of compassion, and She takes Her second bath in the nectar of youth.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.168|Madhya 8.168]]:''' "After Her midday bath, Rādhārāṇī takes another bath in the nectar of bodily luster, and She puts on the garment of shyness, which is Her black silk sari.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.169|Madhya 8.169]]:''' "Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's affection for Kṛṣṇa is Her upper garment, which is pinkish in color. She then covers Her breasts with another garment, composed of affection and anger toward Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.170|Madhya 8.170]]:''' "Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's personal beauty is the reddish powder known as kuńkuma, Her affection for Her associates is sandalwood pulp, and the sweetness of Her smile is camphor. All these, combined together, are smeared over Her body.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.171|Madhya 8.171]]:''' "Conjugal love for Kṛṣṇa is an abundance of musk, and with that musk Her whole body is decorated.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.172|Madhya 8.172]]:''' "Craftiness and covered anger constitute the arrangement of Her hair. The quality of anger due to jealousy is the silk garment covering Her body.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.173|Madhya 8.173]]:''' "Her attachment for Kṛṣṇa is the reddish color of betel nuts on Her brilliant lips. Her double-dealings in loving affairs constitute the black ointment around Her eyes.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.174|Madhya 8.174]]:''' "The ornaments decorating Her body are the blazing ecstasies of goodness and the constantly existing ecstasies, headed by jubilation. All these ecstasies are the ornaments all over Her body.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.175|Madhya 8.175]]:''' "Also ornamenting Her body are the twenty kinds of ecstatic symptoms beginning with kila-kiñcita. Her transcendental qualities constitute the flower garland hanging in fullness over Her body.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.176|Madhya 8.176]]:''' "The tilaka of good fortune is on Her beautiful broad forehead. Her various loving affairs are a gem, and Her heart is the locket.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.177|Madhya 8.177]]:''' "Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's gopī friends are Her mental activities, which are concentrated on the pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. She keeps Her hand on the shoulder of a friend, who represents youth.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.178|Madhya 8.178]]:''' "Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's bedstead is pride itself, and it is situated in the abode of Her bodily aroma. She is always seated there thinking of Kṛṣṇa's association.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.179|Madhya 8.179]]:''' "Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's earrings are the name, fame and qualities of Lord Kṛṣṇa. The glories of Lord Kṛṣṇa's name, fame and qualities are always inundating Her speech.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.180|Madhya 8.180]]:''' "Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī induces Kṛṣṇa to drink the honey of the conjugal relationship. She is therefore engaged in satisfying all the lusty desires of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.181|Madhya 8.181]]:''' "Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is a mine filled with valuable jewels of love for Kṛṣṇa. Her transcendental body is complete with unparalleled spiritual qualities.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.182|Madhya 8.182]]:''' "'If one asks about the origin of love of Kṛṣṇa, the answer is that the origin is in Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī alone. Who is the most dear friend of Kṛṣṇa? The answer again is Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī alone. No one else. Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's hair is very curly, Her two eyes are always moving to and fro, and Her breasts are firm. Since all transcendental qualities are manifested in Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, She alone is able to fulfill all the desires of Kṛṣṇa. No one else.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.183-184|Madhya 8.183-184]]:''' "Even Satyabhāmā, one of the queens of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, desires the fortunate position and excellent qualities of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. All the gopīs learn the art of dressing from Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, and even the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, and the wife of Lord Śiva, Pārvatī, desire Her beauty and qualities. Indeed, Arundhatī, the celebrated chaste wife of Vasiṣṭha, also wants to imitate the chastity and religious principles of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.185|Madhya 8.185]]:''' "Even Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself cannot reach the limit of the transcendental qualities of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. How, then, can an insignificant living entity count them?"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.186|Madhya 8.186]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "Now I have come to understand the truth of the loving affairs between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Nonetheless, I still want to hear how both of Them gloriously enjoy such love."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.187|Madhya 8.187]]:''' Rāya Rāmānanda replied, "Lord Kṛṣṇa is dhīra-lalita, for He can always keep His girlfriends in a subjugated state. Thus His only business is enjoying sense gratification.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.188|Madhya 8.188]]:''' "'A person who is very cunning and always youthful, expert in joking and without anxiety, and who can keep his girlfriends always subjugated, is called dhīra-lalita.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.189|Madhya 8.189]]:''' "Day and night Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa enjoys the company of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī in the bushes of Vṛndāvana. Thus His pre-youthful age is fulfilled through His affairs with Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.190|Madhya 8.190]]:''' "'Thus Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa spoke of the sexual activities of the previous night. In this way He made Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī close Her eyes out of shyness. Taking this opportunity, Śrī Kṛṣṇa painted various types of dolphins on Her breasts. Thus He became a very expert artist for all the gopīs. During such pastimes, the Lord enjoyed the fulfillment of His youth.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.191|Madhya 8.191]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "This is all right, but please continue."At that time Rāya Rāmānanda replied, "I don't think my intelligence goes beyond this."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.192|Madhya 8.192]]:''' Rāya Rāmānanda then informed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that there was another topic, known as prema-vilāsa-vivarta. "You may hear of this from me," Rāmānanda Rāya said, "but I do not know whether You will be happy with it or not."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.193|Madhya 8.193]]:''' Saying this, Rāmānanda Rāya began to sing a song he had composed, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, out of the ecstasy of love of Godhead, immediately covered Rāmānanda's mouth with His own hand.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.194|Madhya 8.194]]:''' "'Alas, before We met there was an initial attachment between Us brought about by an exchange of glances. In this way attachment evolved. That attachment has gradually grown, and there is no limit to it. Now that attachment has become a natural sequence between Ourselves. It is not that it is due to Kṛṣṇa, the enjoyer, nor is it due to Me, for I am the enjoyed. It is not like that. This attachment was made possible by mutual meeting. This mutual exchange of attraction is known as manobhava, or Cupid. Kṛṣṇa's mind and My mind have merged together. Now, during this time of separation, it is very difficult to explain these loving affairs. My dear friend, though Kṛṣṇa might have forgotten all these things, you can understand and bring this message to Him. But during Our first meeting there was no messenger between Us, nor did I request anyone to see Him. Indeed, Cupid's five arrows were Our via media. Now, during this separation, that attraction has increased to another ecstatic state. My dear friend, please act as a messenger on My behalf, because if one is in love with a beautiful person, this is the consequence.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.195|Madhya 8.195]]:''' "'O my Lord, You live in the forest of Govardhana Hill, and, like the king of elephants, You are expert in the art of conjugal love. O master of the universe, Your heart and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's heart are just like shellac and are now melted in Your spiritual perspiration. Therefore one can no longer distinguish between You and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Now You have mixed Your newly invoked affection, which is like vermilion, with Your melted hearts, and for the benefit of the whole world You have painted both Your hearts red within this great palace of the universe.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.196|Madhya 8.196]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu confirmed these verses recited by Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, saying, "This is the limit of the goal of human life. Only by your mercy have I come to understand it conclusively.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.197|Madhya 8.197]]:''' "The goal of life cannot be achieved unless one practices the process. Now, being merciful upon Me, please explain that means by which this goal can be attained."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.198|Madhya 8.198]]:''' Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "I do not know what I am saying, but You have made me speak what I have spoken, be it good or bad. I am simply repeating that message.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.199|Madhya 8.199]]:''' "Within these three worlds, who is so undisturbed that he can remain steady as You manipulate Your different energies?

'''[[CC Madhya 8.200|Madhya 8.200]]:''' "Actually You are speaking through my mouth, and at the same time You are listening. This is very mysterious. Anyway, kindly hear the explanation of the process by which the goal can be attained.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.201|Madhya 8.201]]:''' "The pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are very confidential. They cannot be understood through the mellows of servitude, fraternity or parental affection.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.202|Madhya 8.202]]:''' "Actually, only the gopīs have the right to appreciate these transcendental pastimes, and only from them can these pastimes be expanded.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.203|Madhya 8.203]]:''' "Without the gopīs, these pastimes between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa cannot be nourished. Only by their cooperation are such pastimes broadcast. It is their business to taste the mellows.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.204-205|Madhya 8.204-205]]:''' "Without the help of the gopīs, one cannot enter into these pastimes. Only one who worships the Lord in the ecstasy of the gopīs, following in their footsteps, can engage in the service of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa in the bushes of Vṛndāvana. Only then can one understand the conjugal love between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. There is no other procedure for understanding.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.206|Madhya 8.206]]:''' "'The pastimes of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are self-effulgent. They are happiness personified, unlimited and all-powerful. Even so, the spiritual humors of such pastimes are never complete without the gopīs, the Lord's personal friends. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is never complete without His spiritual potencies; therefore unless one takes shelter of the gopīs, one cannot enter into the company of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Who can be interested in Their spiritual pastimes without taking their shelter?'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.207|Madhya 8.207]]:''' "There is an inexplicable fact about the natural inclinations of the gopīs. The gopīs never want to enjoy themselves with Kṛṣṇa personally.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.208|Madhya 8.208]]:''' "The happiness of the gopīs increases ten million times when they serve to engage Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in Their transcendental pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.209|Madhya 8.209]]:''' "By nature, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is just like a creeper of love of Godhead, and the gopīs are the twigs, flowers and leaves of that creeper.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.210|Madhya 8.210]]:''' "When the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes is sprinkled on that creeper, the happiness derived by the twigs, flowers and leaves is ten million times greater than that derived by the creeper itself.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.211|Madhya 8.211]]:''' "'All the gopīs, the personal friends of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, are equal to Her. Kṛṣṇa is pleasing to the inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi, just as the moon is pleasing to the lotus flower. His pleasure-giving potency is known as āhlādinī, of which the active principle is Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. She is compared to a creeper with newly grown flowers and leaves. When the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes is sprinkled on Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, all Her friends, the gopīs, immediately appreciate the pleasure a hundred times more than if they were sprinkled themselves. Actually this is not at all wonderful.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.212|Madhya 8.212]]:''' "Although the gopīs, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's friends, do not desire to enjoy themselves directly with Kṛṣṇa, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī makes a great endeavor to induce Kṛṣṇa to enjoy Himself with the gopīs.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.213|Madhya 8.213]]:''' "Presenting various pleas for the gopīs, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī sometimes sends the gopīs to Kṛṣṇa just to enable them to associate with Him directly. At such times, She enjoys a happiness ten million times greater than that enjoyed through direct association.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.214|Madhya 8.214]]:''' "The transcendental mellow is nourished by that mutual behavior in transcendental love of Godhead. When Lord Kṛṣṇa sees how the gopīs have developed pure love for Him, He becomes very satisfied.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.215|Madhya 8.215]]:''' "It is to be noted that the natural characteristic of the gopīs is to love the Supreme Lord. Their lusty desire is not to be compared to material lust. Nonetheless, because their desire sometimes appears to resemble material lust, their transcendental love for Kṛṣṇa is sometimes described as lust.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.216|Madhya 8.216]]:''' "'Although the dealings of the gopīs with Kṛṣṇa are on the platform of pure love of Godhead, such dealings are sometimes considered to be lusty. But because they are completely spiritual, Uddhava and all the other dearmost devotees of the Lord desire to participate in them.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.217|Madhya 8.217]]:''' "Lusty desires are experienced when one is concerned with his own personal sense gratification. The mood of the gopīs is not like that. Their only desire is to satisfy the senses of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.218|Madhya 8.218]]:''' "Among the gopīs, there is not a pinch of desire for sense gratification. Their only desire is to give pleasure to Kṛṣṇa, and this is why they mingle with Him and enjoy with Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.219|Madhya 8.219]]:''' "[All the gopīs said:] 'Dear Kṛṣṇa, we carefully hold Your delicate lotus feet upon our hard breasts. When You walk in the forest, Your soft lotus feet are pricked by small bits of stone. We fear that this is paining You. Since You are our life and soul, our minds are very much disturbed when Your lotus feet are pained.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.220|Madhya 8.220]]:''' "One who is attracted by that ecstatic love of the gopīs does not care about popular opinion or the regulative principles of Vedic life. Rather, he completely surrenders unto Kṛṣṇa and renders service unto Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.221|Madhya 8.221]]:''' "If one worships the Lord on the path of spontaneous love and goes to Vṛndāvana, he receives the shelter of Vrajendra-nandana, the son of Nanda Mahārāja.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.222|Madhya 8.222]]:''' "In his liberated stage the devotee is attracted by one of the five humors in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. As he continues to serve the Lord in that transcendental mood, he attains a spiritual body to serve Kṛṣṇa in Goloka Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.223|Madhya 8.223]]:''' "Those saintly persons who represent the Upaniṣads are vivid examples of this. By worshiping the Lord on the path of spontaneous love, they attained the lotus feet of Vrajendra-nandana, the son of Nanda Mahārāja.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.224|Madhya 8.224]]:''' "'Great sages conquer the mind and senses by practicing the mystic yoga system and controlling the breath. Thus engaging in mystic yoga, they see the Supersoul within their hearts and ultimately enter into impersonal Brahman. But even the enemies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead attain that position simply by thinking of the Supreme Lord. However, the damsels of Vraja, the gopīs, being attracted by the beauty of Kṛṣṇa, simply wanted to embrace Him and His arms, which are like serpents. Thus the gopīs ultimately tasted the nectar of the lotus feet of the Lord. Similarly, we Upaniṣads can also taste the nectar of His lotus feet by following in the footsteps of the gopīs.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.225|Madhya 8.225]]:''' "The word 'sama-dṛśaḥ,' mentioned in the fourth line of the previous verse, means 'following the mood of the gopīs.' The word 'samāḥ' means 'the śrutis' attainment of bodies like those of the gopīs.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.226|Madhya 8.226]]:''' "The word 'ańghri-padma-sudhā' means 'associating intimately with Kṛṣṇa.' One can attain such perfection only by spontaneous love of God. One cannot obtain Kṛṣṇa in Goloka Vṛndāvana simply by serving the Lord according to regulative principles.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.227|Madhya 8.227]]:''' "'The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the son of mother Yaśodā, is accessible to those devotees engaged in spontaneous loving service, but He is not as easily accessible to mental speculators, to those striving for self-realization by severe austerities and penances, or to those who consider the body the same as the self.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.228|Madhya 8.228]]:''' "Therefore one should accept the mood of the gopīs in their service. In such a transcendental mood, one should always think of the pastimes of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.229|Madhya 8.229]]:''' "After thinking of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa and Their pastimes for a long time and after getting completely free from material contamination, one is transferred to the spiritual world. There the devotee attains an opportunity to serve Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa as one of the gopīs.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.230|Madhya 8.230]]:''' "Unless one follows in the footsteps of the gopīs, he cannot attain the service of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja. If one is overcome by knowledge of the Lord's opulence, he cannot attain the Lord's lotus feet, even though he is engaged in devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.231|Madhya 8.231]]:''' "The unspoken example in this connection is the goddess of fortune, who worshiped Lord Kṛṣṇa in order to attain His pastimes in Vṛndāvana. But due to her opulent life-style, she could not attain the service of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.232|Madhya 8.232]]:''' "'When Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was dancing with the gopīs in the rāsa-līlā, the gopīs were embraced around the neck by the Lord's arms. This transcendental favor was never bestowed upon the goddess of fortune or the other consorts in the spiritual world. Nor was such a thing ever imagined by the most beautiful girls in the heavenly planets, girls whose bodily luster and aroma resemble the beauty and fragrance of lotus flowers. And what to speak of worldly women, who may be very, very beautiful according to material estimation?'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.233|Madhya 8.233]]:''' After hearing this, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Rāmānanda Rāya, and both of them, embracing shoulder to shoulder, began to cry.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.234|Madhya 8.234]]:''' The entire night was passed in this way, in ecstatic love of Godhead. In the morning they both departed to tend to their respective duties.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.235|Madhya 8.235]]:''' Before departing from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Rāmānanda Rāya fell to the ground and caught hold of the Lord's lotus feet. He then spoke submissively as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.236|Madhya 8.236]]:''' Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya said, "You have come here just to show me Your causeless mercy. Therefore stay here for at least ten days and purify my polluted mind.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.237|Madhya 8.237]]:''' "But for You, there is no one who can deliver all the living entities, for You alone can deliver love of Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.238|Madhya 8.238]]:''' The Lord replied, "Having heard about your good qualities, I have come here. I have come to hear about Kṛṣṇa from you and thus purify My mind.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.239|Madhya 8.239]]:''' "Now that I have actually seen your glories, what I heard about you is confirmed. As far as the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in a loving mood are concerned, you are the limit of knowledge."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.240|Madhya 8.240]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "To say nothing of ten days, as long as I live I shall find it impossible to give up your company.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.241|Madhya 8.241]]:''' "You and I shall remain together at Jagannātha Purī. We shall pass our time together in joy, talking about Kṛṣṇa and His pastimes."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.242|Madhya 8.242]]:''' In this way they both departed to perform their respective duties. Then, in the evening, Rāmānanda Rāya returned to see Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.243|Madhya 8.243]]:''' Thus they met time and time again, sitting in a secluded place and jubilantly discussing devotional service by the question-and-answer process.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.244|Madhya 8.244]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked the questions, and Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya gave the answers. In this way they were engaged in discussion throughout the night.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.245|Madhya 8.245]]:''' On one occasion the Lord inquired, "Of all types of education, which is the most important?"Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "No education is important other than the transcendental devotional service of Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.246|Madhya 8.246]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then asked Rāmānanda Rāya, "Out of all glorious activities, which is the most glorious?"Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "That person who is reputed to be a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa enjoys the utmost fame and glory."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.247|Madhya 8.247]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked, "Of the many capitalists who possess great riches, who is the topmost?"Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "He who is richest in love for Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is the greatest capitalist."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.248|Madhya 8.248]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked, "Of all kinds of distress, what is the most painful?"Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "Apart from separation from the devotee of Kṛṣṇa, I know of no unbearable unhappiness."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.249|Madhya 8.249]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then inquired, "Out of all liberated persons, who should be accepted as the greatest?"Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "He who has love for Kṛṣṇa has attained the topmost liberation."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.250|Madhya 8.250]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next asked Rāmānanda Rāya, "Among many songs, which song is to be considered the actual religion of the living entity?"Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "That song describing the loving affairs of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is superior to all other songs."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.251|Madhya 8.251]]:''' Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked, "Out of all auspicious and beneficial activities, which is best for the living entity?"Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "The only auspicious activity is association with the devotees of Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.252|Madhya 8.252]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked, "What should all living entities constantly remember?"Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "The chief objects of remembrance are always the Lord's holy name, qualities and pastimes."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.253|Madhya 8.253]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu further inquired, "Out of many types of meditation, which is required for all living entities?"Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "The chief duty of every living entity is to meditate upon the lotus feet of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.254|Madhya 8.254]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked, "Where should the living entity live, abandoning all other places?"Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "He should live in the holy place known as Vṛndāvana or Vrajabhūmi, where the Lord performed His rāsa dance."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.255|Madhya 8.255]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked, "Out of all topics people listen to, which is best for all living entities?"Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "Hearing about the loving affairs between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is most pleasing to the ear."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.256|Madhya 8.256]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked, "Among all worshipable objects, which is the chief?"Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "The chief worshipable object is the holy name of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.257|Madhya 8.257]]:''' "And what is the destination of those who desire liberation and those who desire sense gratification?" Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked.Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "Those who attempt to merge into the existence of the Supreme Lord will have to accept bodies like those of trees. And those who are overly inclined toward sense gratification will attain the bodies of demigods."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.258|Madhya 8.258]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya continued, "Those who are devoid of all transcendental mellows are like the crows that suck the juice from the bitter fruits of the nimba tree of knowledge, whereas those who enjoy mellows are like the cuckoos who eat the buds of the mango tree of love of Godhead."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.259|Madhya 8.259]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya concluded, "The unfortunate empiric philosophers taste the dry process of philosophical knowledge, whereas the devotees regularly drink the nectar of love of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore they are the most fortunate of all."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.260|Madhya 8.260]]:''' In this way Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Rāmānanda Rāya passed the whole night relishing the mellows of kṛṣṇa-kathā, topics about Kṛṣṇa. While they were chanting, dancing and crying, the night ended.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.261|Madhya 8.261]]:''' The next morning they both departed to perform their respective duties, but in the evening Rāmānanda Rāya returned to meet the Lord again.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.262|Madhya 8.262]]:''' That evening, after discussing the topics of Kṛṣṇa for some time, Rāmānanda Rāya caught hold of the lotus feet of the Lord and spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.263|Madhya 8.263]]:''' "There is a variety of transcendental truths — the truth about Kṛṣṇa, the truth about Rādhārāṇī, the truth about Their loving affairs, the truth about transcendental humors, and the truth about the Lord's pastimes.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.264|Madhya 8.264]]:''' "You have manifested all these transcendental truths in my heart. This is exactly the way Nārāyaṇa educated Lord Brahmā."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.265|Madhya 8.265]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya continued, "The Supersoul within everyone's heart speaks not externally but from within. He instructs the devotees in all respects, and that is His way of instruction."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.266|Madhya 8.266]]:''' "'O my Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I meditate upon Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction of the manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations, and He is independent because there is no other cause beyond Him. It is He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmājī, the original living being. By Him even the great sages and demigods are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only because of Him do the material universes, temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three modes of nature, appear factual, although they are unreal. I therefore meditate upon Him, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is eternally existent in the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the illusory representations of the material world. I meditate upon Him, for He is the Absolute Truth.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.267|Madhya 8.267]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya then said that he had but one doubt within his heart, and he petitioned the Lord, "Please be merciful upon me and just remove my doubt."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.268|Madhya 8.268]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya then told Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "At first I saw You appear like a sannyāsī, but now I am seeing You as Śyāmasundara, the cowherd boy.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.269|Madhya 8.269]]:''' "I now see You appearing like a golden doll, and Your entire body appears covered by a golden luster.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.270|Madhya 8.270]]:''' "I see that You are holding a flute to Your mouth, and Your lotus eyes are moving very restlessly due to various ecstasies.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.271|Madhya 8.271]]:''' "I actually see You in this way, and this is very wonderful. My Lord, please tell me without duplicity what is causing this."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.272|Madhya 8.272]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "You have a deep love for Kṛṣṇa, and one who has such deep ecstatic love for the Lord naturally sees things in such a way. Please take this from Me to be certain.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.273|Madhya 8.273]]:''' "A devotee advanced on the spiritual platform sees everything movable and inert as the Supreme Lord. For him, everything he sees here and there is but a manifestation of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.274|Madhya 8.274]]:''' "The mahā-bhāgavata, the advanced devotee, certainly sees everything mobile and immobile, but he does not exactly see their forms. Rather, everywhere he immediately sees manifest the form of the Supreme Lord."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.275|Madhya 8.275]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "'A person advanced in devotional service sees within everything the soul of souls, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Consequently he always sees the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the cause of all causes and understands that all things are situated in Him.'

'''[[CC Madhya 8.276|Madhya 8.276]]:''' "'The plants, creepers and trees were full of fruits and flowers due to ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, being so full, they were bowing down. They were inspired by such deep love for Kṛṣṇa that they were constantly pouring showers of honey. In this way the gopīs saw all the forests of Vṛndāvana.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.277|Madhya 8.277]]:''' Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "My dear Rāya, you are an advanced devotee and are always filled with ecstatic love for Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Therefore whatever you see — anywhere and everywhere — simply awakens your Kṛṣṇa consciousness."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.278|Madhya 8.278]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "My dear Lord, please give up all these serious talks. Please do not conceal Your real form from me."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.279|Madhya 8.279]]:''' Rāmānanda Rāya continued, "My dear Lord, I can understand that You have assumed the ecstasy and bodily complexion of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. By accepting this, You are tasting Your own personal transcendental humor and have therefore appeared as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.280|Madhya 8.280]]:''' "My dear Lord, You have descended in this incarnation of Lord Caitanya for Your own personal reasons. You have come to taste Your own spiritual bliss, and at the same time You are transforming the whole world by spreading the ecstasy of love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.281|Madhya 8.281]]:''' "My dear Lord, by Your causeless mercy You have appeared before me to grant me liberation. Now You are playing in a duplicitous way. What is the reason for this behavior?"

'''[[CC Madhya 8.282|Madhya 8.282]]:''' Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the reservoir of all pleasure, and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the personification of ecstatic love of Godhead. These two forms had combined as one in Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This being the case, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu revealed His real form to Rāmānanda Rāya.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.283|Madhya 8.283]]:''' Upon seeing this form, Rāmānanda Rāya lost consciousness in transcendental bliss. Unable to remain standing, he fell to the ground.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.284|Madhya 8.284]]:''' When Rāmānanda Rāya fell to the ground unconscious, Caitanya Mahāprabhu touched his hand, and he immediately regained consciousness. But when he saw Lord Caitanya in the dress of a sannyāsī, he was struck with wonder.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.285|Madhya 8.285]]:''' After embracing Rāmānanda Rāya, the Lord pacified him, informing him, "But for you, no one has ever seen this form."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.286|Madhya 8.286]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu confirmed, "All the truths about My pastimes and mellows are within your knowledge. Therefore I have shown this form to you.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.287|Madhya 8.287]]:''' "Actually My body does not have a fair complexion. It only appears so because it has touched the body of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. However, She does not touch anyone but the son of Nanda Mahārāja.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.288|Madhya 8.288]]:''' "I have now converted My body and mind into the ecstasy of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; thus I am tasting My own personal sweetness in that form."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.289|Madhya 8.289]]:''' Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu then admitted to His pure devotee, Rāmānanda Rāya, "Now there is no confidential activity unknown to you. Even though I try to conceal My activities, you can understand everything in detail by virtue of your advanced love for Me."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.290|Madhya 8.290]]:''' The Lord then requested Rāmānanda Rāya, "Keep all these talks a secret. Please do not expose them anywhere and everywhere. Since My activities appear to be like those of a madman, people may take them lightly and laugh."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.291|Madhya 8.291]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, "Indeed, I am a madman, and you are also a madman. Therefore we are on the same platform."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.292|Madhya 8.292]]:''' For ten nights Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Rāmānanda Rāya spent a happy time discussing the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.293|Madhya 8.293]]:''' The conversations between Rāmānanda Rāya and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu contain the most confidential subject matters, touching the conjugal love between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana [Vrajabhūmi]. Although they talked at great length about these pastimes, they could not reach the limit of discussion.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.294|Madhya 8.294]]:''' Actually, these conversations are like a great mine where, from a single place, one can extract all kinds of metals — copper, bell metal, silver and gold — and also touchstone, the basis of all metals.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.295|Madhya 8.295]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Rāmānanda Rāya worked like miners, excavating all kinds of valuable metals, each one better than the other. Their questions and answers are exactly like that.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.296|Madhya 8.296]]:''' The next day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu begged Rāmānanda Rāya to give Him permission to leave, and at the time of farewell the Lord gave him the following orders.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.297|Madhya 8.297]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told him, "Give up all material engagements and come to Jagannātha Purī. I will return there very soon after finishing My tour and pilgrimage.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.298|Madhya 8.298]]:''' "The two of us shall remain together at Jagannātha Purī and happily pass our time discussing Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 8.299|Madhya 8.299]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then embraced Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, and after sending him back to his home, the Lord took rest.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.300|Madhya 8.300]]:''' After rising from bed the next morning, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the local temple, where there was a deity of Hanumān. After offering him obeisances, the Lord departed for South India.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.301|Madhya 8.301]]:''' All the residents of Vidyānagara were of different faiths, but after seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they abandoned their own faiths and became Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.302|Madhya 8.302]]:''' When Rāmānanda Rāya began to feel separation from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he was overwhelmed. Meditating on the Lord, he gave up all his material business.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.303|Madhya 8.303]]:''' I have briefly described the meeting between Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Rāmānanda Rāya. No one can actually describe this meeting exhaustively. It is even impossible for Lord Śeṣa Nāga, who has thousands of hoods.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.304|Madhya 8.304]]:''' The activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are like condensed milk, and the activities of Rāmānanda Rāya are like large quantities of sugar candy.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.305|Madhya 8.305]]:''' Their meeting is exactly like a mixture of condensed milk and sugar candy. When they talk of the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, camphor is added. One who tastes this combined preparation is most fortunate.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.306|Madhya 8.306]]:''' This wonderful preparation has to be taken aurally. If one takes it, he becomes greedy to relish it even further.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.307|Madhya 8.307]]:''' By hearing the talks between Rāmānanda Rāya and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, one becomes enlightened with the transcendental knowledge of the mellows of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa's pastimes. Thus one can develop unalloyed love for the lotus feet of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.308|Madhya 8.308]]:''' The author requests every reader to hear these talks with faith and without argument. By studying them in this way, one will be able to understand the confidential truth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.309|Madhya 8.309]]:''' This part of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's pastimes is most confidential. One can derive benefit quickly only by faith; otherwise, by arguing one will always remain far away.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.310|Madhya 8.310]]:''' He who has accepted as everything the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Nityānanda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu can attain this transcendental treasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.311|Madhya 8.311]]:''' I offer ten million obeisances unto the lotus feet of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya because from his mouth much spiritual information has been expanded by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.312|Madhya 8.312]]:''' I have tried to preach the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's meeting with Rāmānanda Rāya in accordance with the notebooks of Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara.

'''[[CC Madhya 8.313|Madhya 8.313]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 7|Madhya-līlā 7]] '''[[CC Madhya 7|Madhya-līlā 7]] - [[CC Madhya 9|Madhya-līlā 9]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 9|Madhya-līlā 9]]</div>

CC Madhya 7

2026-06-04T18:28:43Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 7 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 07|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 7: The Lord Begins His Tour of South India'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 6|Madhya-līlā 6]] '''[[CC Madhya 6|Madhya-līlā 6]] - [[CC Madhya 8|Madhya-līlā 8]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 8|Madhya-līlā 8]]</div>

'''[[CC Madhya 7 Summary|Madhya 7 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 7.1|Madhya 7.1]]:''' Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, being very compassionate toward a brāhmaṇa named Vāsudeva, cured him of leprosy. He transformed him into a beautiful man satisfied with devotional service. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the glorious Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.2|Madhya 7.2]]:''' All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!

'''[[CC Madhya 7.3|Madhya 7.3]]:''' After delivering Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, the Lord desired to go to South India to preach.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.4|Madhya 7.4]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted the renounced order during the waxing fortnight of the month of Māgha. During the following month, Phālguna, He went to Jagannātha Purī and resided there.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.5|Madhya 7.5]]:''' At the end of the month of Phālguna, He witnessed the Dola-yātrā ceremony, and in His usual ecstatic love of God, He chanted and danced in various ways on the occasion.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.6|Madhya 7.6]]:''' During the month of Caitra, while living at Jagannātha Purī, the Lord delivered Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, and at the beginning of the next month (Vaiśākha), He decided to go to South India.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.7-8|Madhya 7.7-8]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called all His devotees together and, holding them by the hand, humbly informed them, "You are all more dear to Me than My life. I can give up My life, but to give you up is difficult for Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.9|Madhya 7.9]]:''' "You are all My friends, and you have properly executed the duties of friends by bringing Me here to Jagannātha Purī and giving Me the chance to see Lord Jagannātha in the temple.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.10|Madhya 7.10]]:''' "I now beg all of you for one bit of charity. Please give Me permission to leave for a tour of South India.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.11|Madhya 7.11]]:''' "I shall go to search out Viśvarūpa. Please forgive Me, but I want to go alone; I do not wish to take anyone with Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.12|Madhya 7.12]]:''' "Until I return from Setubandha, all of you dear friends should remain at Jagannātha Purī."

'''[[CC Madhya 7.13|Madhya 7.13]]:''' Knowing everything, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was aware that Viśvarūpa had already passed away. A pretense of ignorance was necessary, however, so that He could go to South India and liberate the people there.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.14|Madhya 7.14]]:''' Upon hearing this message from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the devotees became very unhappy and remained silent with sullen faces.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.15|Madhya 7.15]]:''' Nityānanda Prabhu then said, "How is it possible for You to go alone? Who can tolerate this?

'''[[CC Madhya 7.16|Madhya 7.16]]:''' "Let one or two of us go with You; otherwise You may fall into the clutches of thieves and rogues along the way. They may be whomever You like, but two persons should go with You.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.17|Madhya 7.17]]:''' "Indeed, I know all the paths to the different places of pilgrimage in South India. Just order Me, and I shall go with You."

'''[[CC Madhya 7.18|Madhya 7.18]]:''' The Lord replied, "I am simply a dancer, and You are the wire-puller. However You pull the wires to make Me dance, I shall dance in that way.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.19|Madhya 7.19]]:''' "After accepting the sannyāsa order, I decided to go to Vṛndāvana, but You took Me instead to the house of Advaita Prabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.20|Madhya 7.20]]:''' "While on the way to Jagannātha Purī, You broke My sannyāsa staff. I know that all of you have great affection for Me, but such things disturb My activities.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.21|Madhya 7.21]]:''' "Jagadānanda wants Me to enjoy bodily sense gratification, and out of fear I do whatever he tells Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.22|Madhya 7.22]]:''' "If I sometimes do something against his desire, out of anger he will not talk to Me for three days.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.23|Madhya 7.23]]:''' "Being a sannyāsī, I have a duty to lie down on the ground and to take a bath three times a day, even during the winter. But Mukunda becomes very unhappy when he sees My severe austerities.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.24|Madhya 7.24]]:''' "Of course, Mukunda does not say anything, but I know that he is very unhappy within, and upon seeing him unhappy, I become twice as unhappy.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.25|Madhya 7.25]]:''' "Although I am in the renounced order of life and Dāmodara is a brahmacārī, he still keeps a stick in his hand just to educate Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.26|Madhya 7.26]]:''' "According to Dāmodara, I am still a neophyte as far as social etiquette is concerned; therefore he does not like My independent nature.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.27|Madhya 7.27]]:''' "Dāmodara Paṇḍita and others are more advanced in receiving the mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa; therefore they are independent of public opinion. As such, they want Me to enjoy sense gratification, even though it be unethical. But since I am a poor sannyāsī, I cannot abandon the duties of the renounced order, and therefore I follow them strictly.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.28|Madhya 7.28]]:''' "You should all therefore remain here in Nīlācala for some days while I tour the sacred places of pilgrimage alone."

'''[[CC Madhya 7.29|Madhya 7.29]]:''' Actually the Lord was controlled by the good qualities of all His devotees. On the pretense of attributing faults, He tasted all these qualities.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.30|Madhya 7.30]]:''' No one can properly describe Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's affection for His devotees. He always tolerated all kinds of personal unhappiness resulting from His acceptance of the renounced order of life.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.31|Madhya 7.31]]:''' The regulative principles observed by Caitanya Mahāprabhu were sometimes intolerable, and all the devotees became greatly affected by them. Although strictly observing the regulative principles, Caitanya Mahāprabhu could not tolerate the unhappiness felt by His devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.32|Madhya 7.32]]:''' Therefore, to prevent them from accompanying Him and becoming unhappy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu declared their good qualities to be faults.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.33|Madhya 7.33]]:''' Four devotees then humbly insisted that they go with the Lord, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, being the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead, did not accept their request.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.34|Madhya 7.34]]:''' Thereupon Lord Nityānanda said, "Whatever You order is My duty, regardless of whether it results in happiness or unhappiness.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.35|Madhya 7.35]]:''' "Yet I still submit one petition to You. Please consider it, and if You think it proper, please accept it.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.36|Madhya 7.36]]:''' "You must take with You a loincloth, external clothes and a waterpot. You should take nothing more than this.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.37|Madhya 7.37]]:''' "Since Your two hands will always be engaged in chanting and counting the holy names, how will You be able to carry the waterpot and external garments?

'''[[CC Madhya 7.38|Madhya 7.38]]:''' "When, along the way, You fall unconscious in ecstatic love of Godhead, who will protect Your belongings — the waterpot, garments and so forth?"

'''[[CC Madhya 7.39|Madhya 7.39]]:''' Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu continued, "Here is a simple brāhmaṇa named Kṛṣṇadāsa. Please accept him and take him with You. That is My request.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.40|Madhya 7.40]]:''' "He will carry Your waterpot and garments. You may do whatever You like; he will not say a word."

'''[[CC Madhya 7.41|Madhya 7.41]]:''' Accepting the request of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, Lord Caitanya took all His devotees and went to the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.42|Madhya 7.42]]:''' As soon as they entered his house, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya offered the Lord obeisances and a place to sit. After seating all the others, the Bhaṭṭācārya took his seat.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.43|Madhya 7.43]]:''' After they had discussed various topics about Lord Kṛṣṇa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu informed Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, "I have come to your place just to receive your order.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.44|Madhya 7.44]]:''' "My elder brother, Viśvarūpa, has taken sannyāsa and gone to South India. Now I must go search for Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.45|Madhya 7.45]]:''' "Please permit Me to go, for I must tour South India. With your permission, I shall soon return very happily."

'''[[CC Madhya 7.46|Madhya 7.46]]:''' Upon hearing this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya became very much agitated. Catching hold of the lotus feet of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he gave this sorrowful reply.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.47|Madhya 7.47]]:''' "After many births, due to some pious activity I got Your association. Now providence is breaking this invaluable association.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.48|Madhya 7.48]]:''' "If a thunderbolt falls on my head or if my son dies, I can tolerate it. But I cannot endure the unhappiness of separation from You.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.49|Madhya 7.49]]:''' "My dear Lord, You are the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead. Certainly You will depart. I know that. Still, I ask You to stay here a few days more so that I can see Your lotus feet."

'''[[CC Madhya 7.50|Madhya 7.50]]:''' Upon hearing Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya's request, Caitanya Mahāprabhu relented. He stayed a few days longer and did not depart.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.51|Madhya 7.51]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya eagerly invited Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home and fed Him very nicely.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.52|Madhya 7.52]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya's wife, whose name was Ṣāṭhīmātā (the mother of Ṣāṭhī), did the cooking. The narrations of these pastimes are very wonderful.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.53|Madhya 7.53]]:''' Later I shall tell about this in elaborate detail, but at present I wish to describe Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's South Indian tour.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.54|Madhya 7.54]]:''' After staying five days at the home of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally asked his permission to depart for South India.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.55|Madhya 7.55]]:''' After receiving the Bhaṭṭācārya's permission, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to see Lord Jagannātha in the temple. He took the Bhaṭṭācārya with Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.56|Madhya 7.56]]:''' Seeing Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu also begged His permission. The priest then immediately delivered prasādam and a garland to Lord Caitanya.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.57|Madhya 7.57]]:''' Thus receiving Lord Jagannātha's permission in the form of a garland, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered obeisances, and then in great jubilation He prepared to depart for South India.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.58|Madhya 7.58]]:''' Accompanied by His personal associates and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu circumambulated the altar of Jagannātha. The Lord then departed on His South Indian tour.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.59|Madhya 7.59]]:''' While the Lord was going along the path to Ālālanātha, which was located on the seashore, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya gave the following orders to Gopīnātha Ācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.60|Madhya 7.60]]:''' "Bring the four sets of loincloths and outer garments I keep at home, and also some prasādam of Lord Jagannātha. You may carry these things with the help of some brāhmaṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 7.61|Madhya 7.61]]:''' While Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was departing, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya submitted the following at His lotus feet: "My Lord, I have one final request that I hope You will kindly fulfill.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.62|Madhya 7.62]]:''' "In the town of Vidyānagara, on the bank of the Godāvarī, there is a responsible government officer named Rāmānanda Rāya.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.63|Madhya 7.63]]:''' "Please do not neglect him, thinking he belongs to a śūdra family engaged in material activities. It is my request that You meet him without fail."

'''[[CC Madhya 7.64|Madhya 7.64]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, "Rāmānanda Rāya is a fit person to associate with You; no other devotee can compare with him in knowledge of the transcendental mellows.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.65|Madhya 7.65]]:''' "He is a most learned scholar as well as an expert in devotional mellows. Actually he is most exalted, and if You talk with him, You will see how glorious he is.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.66|Madhya 7.66]]:''' "I could not realize when I first spoke with Rāmānanda Rāya that his topics and endeavors were all transcendentally uncommon. I made fun of him simply because he was a Vaiṣṇava."

'''[[CC Madhya 7.67|Madhya 7.67]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya said, "By Your mercy I can now understand the truth about Rāmānanda Rāya. In talking with him, You also will acknowledge his greatness."

'''[[CC Madhya 7.68|Madhya 7.68]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya's request that He meet Rāmānanda Rāya. Bidding Sārvabhauma farewell, the Lord embraced him.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.69|Madhya 7.69]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked the Bhaṭṭācārya to bless Him while he engaged in the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa at home, so that by Sārvabhauma's mercy the Lord could return to Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.70|Madhya 7.70]]:''' Saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu departed on His tour, and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya immediately fainted and fell to the ground.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.71|Madhya 7.71]]:''' Although Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya fainted, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not take notice of him. Rather, He left quickly. Who can understand the mind and intention of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu?

'''[[CC Madhya 7.72|Madhya 7.72]]:''' This is the nature of the mind of an uncommon personality. Sometimes it is soft like a flower, but sometimes it is as hard as a thunderbolt.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.73|Madhya 7.73]]:''' "The hearts of those above common behavior are sometimes harder than a thunderbolt and sometimes softer than a flower. How can one accommodate such contradictions in great personalities?"

'''[[CC Madhya 7.74|Madhya 7.74]]:''' Lord Nityānanda Prabhu raised Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and with the help of His men saw him to his home.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.75|Madhya 7.75]]:''' Immediately all the devotees came and partook of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's company. Afterwards, Gopīnātha Ācārya came with the garments and prasādam.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.76|Madhya 7.76]]:''' All the devotees followed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to a place known as Ālālanātha. There they all offered respects and various prayers.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.77|Madhya 7.77]]:''' In great ecstasy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced and chanted for some time. Indeed, all the neighbors came to see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.78|Madhya 7.78]]:''' All around Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is also known as Gaurahari, people began to shout the holy name of Hari. Lord Caitanya, immersed in His usual ecstasy of love, danced in the midst of them.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.79|Madhya 7.79]]:''' The body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was naturally very beautiful. It was like molten gold dressed in saffron cloth. Indeed, He was most beautiful for being ornamented with the ecstatic symptoms, which caused His bodily hair to stand on end, tears to well up in His eyes, and His body to tremble and perspire all over.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.80|Madhya 7.80]]:''' Everyone present was astonished to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's dancing and His bodily transformations. Whoever came did not want to return home.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.81|Madhya 7.81]]:''' Everyone — including children, old men and women — began to dance and to chant the holy names of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Gopāla. In this way they all floated in the ocean of love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.82|Madhya 7.82]]:''' Upon seeing the chanting and dancing of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Nityānanda predicted that later there would be dancing and chanting in every village.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.83|Madhya 7.83]]:''' Seeing that it was already getting late, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, the spiritual master, invented a means to disperse the crowd.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.84|Madhya 7.84]]:''' When Lord Nityānanda Prabhu took Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for lunch at noon, everyone came running around Them.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.85|Madhya 7.85]]:''' After finishing Their baths, They returned at noon to the temple. Admitting His own men, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu closed the outside door.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.86|Madhya 7.86]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya then brought prasādam for the two Lords to eat, and after They had eaten, the remnants of the food were distributed to all the devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.87|Madhya 7.87]]:''' Hearing about this, everyone there came to the outside door and began chanting the holy name, "Hari! Hari!" Thus there was a tumultuous sound.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.88|Madhya 7.88]]:''' After lunch, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu made them open the door. In this way everyone received His audience with great pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.89|Madhya 7.89]]:''' The people came and went until evening, and all of them became Vaiṣṇava devotees and began to chant and dance.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.90|Madhya 7.90]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then passed the night there and discussed the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa with His devotees with great pleasure.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.91|Madhya 7.91]]:''' The next morning, after taking His bath, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu started on His South Indian tour. He bade farewell to the devotees by embracing them.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.92|Madhya 7.92]]:''' Although they all fell to the ground unconscious, the Lord did not turn to see them but proceeded onward.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.93|Madhya 7.93]]:''' In separation, the Lord became very much perturbed and walked on unhappily. His servant, Kṛṣṇadāsa, who was carrying His waterpot, followed behind.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.94|Madhya 7.94]]:''' All the devotees remained there and fasted, and the next day they all unhappily returned to Jagannātha Purī.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.95|Madhya 7.95]]:''' Almost like a mad lion, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went on His tour filled with ecstatic love and performing sańkīrtana, chanting Kṛṣṇa's names as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.96|Madhya 7.96]]:''' The Lord chanted:Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! heKṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! heKṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! rakṣa māmKṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! pāhi māmThat is, "O Lord Kṛṣṇa, please protect Me and maintain Me." He also chanted:Rāma! Rāghava! Rāma! Rāghava! Rāma! Rāghava! rakṣa māmKṛṣṇa! Keśava! Kṛṣṇa! Keśava! Kṛṣṇa! Keśava! pāhi māmThat is, "O Lord Rāma, descendant of King Raghu, please protect Me. O Kṛṣṇa, O Keśava, killer of the Keśī demon, please maintain Me."

'''[[CC Madhya 7.97|Madhya 7.97]]:''' Chanting this verse, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, known as Gaurahari, went on His way. As soon as He saw someone, He would request him to chant "Hari! Hari!"

'''[[CC Madhya 7.98|Madhya 7.98]]:''' Whoever heard Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu chant "Hari! Hari!" also chanted the holy name of Lord Hari and Kṛṣṇa. In this way they all followed the Lord, very eager to see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.99|Madhya 7.99]]:''' After some time the Lord would embrace these people and bid them return home, having invested each of them with spiritual potency.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.100|Madhya 7.100]]:''' Each of these empowered persons would return to his own village, always chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and sometimes laughing, crying and dancing.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.101|Madhya 7.101]]:''' Such an empowered person would request everyone and anyone — whomever he saw — to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. In this way all the villagers would also become devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.102|Madhya 7.102]]:''' People from different villages who came to see such an empowered individual would become like him simply by seeing him and receiving the mercy of his glance.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.103|Madhya 7.103]]:''' When each of these newly empowered individuals returned to his own village, he also converted the villagers into devotees. And when others came from different villages to see him, they were also converted.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.104|Madhya 7.104]]:''' In this way, as empowered men went from one village to another, all the people of South India became devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.105|Madhya 7.105]]:''' Thus many hundreds of people became Vaiṣṇavas when they passed the Lord on the way and were embraced by Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.106|Madhya 7.106]]:''' In whatever village Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed to accept alms, many people came to see Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.107|Madhya 7.107]]:''' By the mercy of the Supreme Lord, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, everyone became a first-class devotee. Later they became teachers or spiritual masters and liberated the entire world.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.108|Madhya 7.108]]:''' In this way the Lord went to the extreme southern part of India, and He converted all the provinces to Vaiṣṇavism.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.109|Madhya 7.109]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not manifest His spiritual potencies at Navadvīpa, but He did manifest them in South India and liberated all the people there.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.110|Madhya 7.110]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's empowering of others can be understood by one who is actually a devotee of the Lord and who has received His mercy.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.111|Madhya 7.111]]:''' If one does not believe in the uncommon transcendental pastimes of the Lord, he is vanquished both in this world and in the next.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.112|Madhya 7.112]]:''' Whatever I have stated about the beginning of the Lord's tour should also be understood to hold for as long as the Lord toured South India.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.113|Madhya 7.113]]:''' When Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to the holy place known as Kūrma-kṣetra, He saw the Deity and offered prayers and obeisances.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.114|Madhya 7.114]]:''' While at this place, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was in His usual ecstasy of love of Godhead and was laughing, crying, dancing and chanting. Everyone who saw Him was astonished.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.115|Madhya 7.115]]:''' After hearing of these wonderful occurrences, everyone came to see Him there. When they saw the beauty of the Lord and His ecstatic condition, they were all struck with wonder.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.116|Madhya 7.116]]:''' Just by seeing Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, everyone became a devotee. They began to chant "Kṛṣṇa" and "Hari" and all the holy names. They all were merged in a great ecstasy of love, and they began to dance, raising their arms.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.117|Madhya 7.117]]:''' Always hearing them chant the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the residents of all the other villages also became Vaiṣṇavas.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.118|Madhya 7.118]]:''' By hearing the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, the entire country became Vaiṣṇava. It was as if the nectar of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa overflooded the entire country.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.119|Madhya 7.119]]:''' After some time, when Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu manifested His external consciousness, a priest of the Lord Kūrma Deity gave Him various offerings.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.120|Madhya 7.120]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mode of preaching has already been explained, and I shall not repeat the explanation. In whichever village the Lord entered, His behavior was the same.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.121|Madhya 7.121]]:''' In one village there was a Vedic brāhmaṇa named Kūrma. He invited Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home with great respect and devotion.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.122|Madhya 7.122]]:''' This brāhmaṇa brought Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home, washed His lotus feet and, with his family members, drank that water.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.123|Madhya 7.123]]:''' With great affection and respect, that Kūrma brāhmaṇa made Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu eat all kinds of food. After that, the remnants were shared by all the members of the family.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.124|Madhya 7.124]]:''' The brāhmaṇa then began to pray, "O my Lord, Your lotus feet are meditated upon by Lord Brahmā, and these very lotus feet have come into my home.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.125|Madhya 7.125]]:''' "My dear Lord, there is no limit to my great fortune. It cannot be described. Today my family, birth and riches have all been glorified."

'''[[CC Madhya 7.126|Madhya 7.126]]:''' The brāhmaṇa begged Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "My dear Lord, kindly show me favor and let me go with You. I can no longer tolerate the waves of misery caused by materialistic life."

'''[[CC Madhya 7.127|Madhya 7.127]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "Don't speak like that again. Better to remain at home and chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa always.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.128|Madhya 7.128]]:''' "Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land."

'''[[CC Madhya 7.129|Madhya 7.129]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu further advised the brāhmaṇa Kūrma, "If you follow this instruction, your materialistic life at home will not obstruct your spiritual advancement. Indeed, if you follow these regulative principles, we will again meet here, or, rather, you will never lose My company."

'''[[CC Madhya 7.130|Madhya 7.130]]:''' At whosever house Śrī Caitanya accepted His alms by taking prasādam, He would convert the dwellers to His sańkīrtana movement and advise them just as He advised the brāhmaṇa named Kūrma.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.131-132|Madhya 7.131-132]]:''' While on His tour, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would spend the night at a temple or on the roadside. Whenever He accepted food from a person, He would give him the same advice He gave the brāhmaṇa named Kūrma. He adopted this process until He returned to Jagannātha Purī from His South Indian tour.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.133|Madhya 7.133]]:''' Thus I have described the Lord's behavior elaborately in the case of Kūrma. In this way, you will know Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's dealings throughout South India.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.134|Madhya 7.134]]:''' Thus Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would remain at night in one place, and the next morning, after bathing, He would start again.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.135|Madhya 7.135]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left, the brāhmaṇa Kūrma followed Him a great distance, but eventually Lord Caitanya took care to send him back home.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.136|Madhya 7.136]]:''' There was also a brāhmaṇa named Vāsudeva, who was a great person but was suffering from leprosy. Indeed, his body was filled with living worms.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.137|Madhya 7.137]]:''' Although suffering from leprosy, the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva was enlightened. As soon as one worm fell from his body, he would pick it up and place it back again in the same location.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.138|Madhya 7.138]]:''' Then one night Vāsudeva heard of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu's arrival, and in the morning he came to see the Lord at the house of Kūrma.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.139|Madhya 7.139]]:''' When the leper Vāsudeva came to Kūrma's house to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he was informed that the Lord had already left. The leper then fell to the ground unconscious.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.140|Madhya 7.140]]:''' When Vāsudeva, the leper brāhmaṇa, was lamenting due to not being able to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord immediately returned to that spot and embraced him.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.141|Madhya 7.141]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu touched him, both the leprosy and his distress went to a distant place. Indeed, Vāsudeva's body became very beautiful, to his great happiness.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.142|Madhya 7.142]]:''' The brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva was astonished to behold the wonderful mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and he began to recite a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, touching the Lord's lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.143|Madhya 7.143]]:''' He said, "'Who am I? A sinful, poor friend of a brāhmaṇa. And who is Kṛṣṇa? The Supreme Personality of Godhead, full in six opulences. Nonetheless, He has embraced me with His two arms.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 7.144-145|Madhya 7.144-145]]:''' The brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva continued, "O my merciful Lord, such mercy is not possible for ordinary living entities. Such mercy can be found only in You. Upon seeing me, even a sinful person goes away due to my bad bodily odor. Yet You have touched me. Such is the independent behavior of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

'''[[CC Madhya 7.146|Madhya 7.146]]:''' Being meek and humble, the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva worried that he would become proud after being cured by the grace of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.147|Madhya 7.147]]:''' To protect the brāhmaṇa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised him to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra incessantly. By doing so, he would never become unnecessarily proud.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.148|Madhya 7.148]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu also advised Vāsudeva to preach about Kṛṣṇa and thus liberate living entities. As a result, Kṛṣṇa would very soon accept him as His devotee.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.149|Madhya 7.149]]:''' After instructing the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva in that way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu disappeared from that place. Then the two brāhmaṇas, Kūrma and Vāsudeva, embraced each other and began to cry, remembering the transcendental qualities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.150|Madhya 7.150]]:''' Thus I have described how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu reclaimed the leper Vāsudeva and so received the name Vāsudevāmṛta-prada.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.151|Madhya 7.151]]:''' Thus I end my description of the beginning of the tour of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, His visiting the temple of Kūrma and His liberating the leper brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.152|Madhya 7.152]]:''' One who hears these pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with great faith will surely very soon attain the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.153|Madhya 7.153]]:''' I admit that I do not know the beginning or the end of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's pastimes. However, whatever I have written I have heard from the mouths of great personalities.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.154|Madhya 7.154]]:''' O devotees, please do not consider my offenses in this regard. Your lotus feet are my only shelter.

'''[[CC Madhya 7.155|Madhya 7.155]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 6|Madhya-līlā 6]] '''[[CC Madhya 6|Madhya-līlā 6]] - [[CC Madhya 8|Madhya-līlā 8]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 8|Madhya-līlā 8]]</div>

CC Madhya 6

2026-06-04T18:28:41Z

Yadasampati: Bot: set display title

{{DISPLAYTITLE:CC Madhya 6 (1996)}}
[[Category:Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Madhya-lila Chapter 06|1b]]
<div style="float:left">'''[[Sri Caitanya-caritamrta|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]] - [[CC Madhya|Madhya-līlā]], Chapter 6: The Liberation of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya'''</div>
<div style="float:right">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=CC Madhya 5|Madhya-līlā 5]] '''[[CC Madhya 5|Madhya-līlā 5]] - [[CC Madhya 7|Madhya-līlā 7]]''' [[File:Go-next.png|link=CC Madhya 7|Madhya-līlā 7]]</div>

'''[[CC Madhya 6 Summary|Madhya 6 Summary]]'''

'''[[CC Madhya 6.1|Madhya 6.1]]:''' I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Gauracandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who converted the hardhearted Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, the reservoir of all bad logic, into a great devotee.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.2|Madhya 6.2]]:''' All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!

'''[[CC Madhya 6.3|Madhya 6.3]]:''' In ecstasy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went from Āṭhāranālā to the temple of Jagannātha. After seeing Lord Jagannātha, He became very restless due to love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.4|Madhya 6.4]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went swiftly to embrace Lord Jagannātha, but when He entered the temple, He was so overwhelmed with love of Godhead that He fainted to the floor.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.5|Madhya 6.5]]:''' When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fell down, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya happened to see Him. When the watchman threatened to beat the Lord, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya immediately forbade him.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.6|Madhya 6.6]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was very surprised to see the personal beauty of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, as well as the transcendental transformations wrought on His body due to love of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.7|Madhya 6.7]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained unconscious for a long time. Meanwhile, the time for offering prasādam to Lord Jagannātha came, and the Bhaṭṭācārya tried to think of a remedy.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.8|Madhya 6.8]]:''' While Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was unconscious, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, with the help of the watchman and some disciples, carried Him to his home and laid Him down in a very sanctified room.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.9|Madhya 6.9]]:''' Examining the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Sārvabhauma saw that His abdomen was not moving and that He was not breathing. Seeing His condition, the Bhaṭṭācārya became very anxious.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.10|Madhya 6.10]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya then took a fine cotton swab and put it before the Lord's nostrils. When he saw the cotton move very slightly, he became hopeful.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.11|Madhya 6.11]]:''' Sitting beside Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he thought, "This is a transcendental ecstatic transformation brought about by love of Kṛṣṇa."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.12|Madhya 6.12]]:''' Upon seeing the sign of sūddīpta-sāttvika, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya could immediately understand the transcendental ecstatic transformation in the body of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Such a sign takes place only in the bodies of eternally liberated devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.13|Madhya 6.13]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya considered, "The uncommon ecstatic symptoms of adhirūḍha-bhāva are appearing in the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This is very wonderful! How are they possible in the body of a human being?"

'''[[CC Madhya 6.14|Madhya 6.14]]:''' While the Bhaṭṭācārya was thinking in this way at his home, all the devotees of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, headed by Nityānanda Prabhu, approached the Siḿha-dvāra [the entrance door of the temple].

'''[[CC Madhya 6.15|Madhya 6.15]]:''' There the devotees heard the people talking about a mendicant who had come to Jagannātha Purī and seen the Deity of Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.16|Madhya 6.16]]:''' The people said that the sannyāsī had fallen unconscious upon seeing the Deity of Lord Jagannātha. Because His consciousness did not return, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya had taken Him to his home.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.17|Madhya 6.17]]:''' Hearing this, the devotees could understand that they were speaking of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Just then, Śrī Gopīnātha Ācārya arrived.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.18|Madhya 6.18]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya was a resident of Nadia, the son-in-law of Viśārada and a devotee of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He knew the true identity of His Lordship.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.19|Madhya 6.19]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya had previously been acquainted with Mukunda Datta, and when the Ācārya saw him at Jagannātha Purī, he was very much astonished.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.20|Madhya 6.20]]:''' Mukunda Datta offered obeisances unto Gopīnātha Ācārya upon meeting him. Then the Ācārya embraced Mukunda Datta and inquired about news of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.21|Madhya 6.21]]:''' Mukunda Datta replied, "The Lord has already arrived here. We have come with Him."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.22|Madhya 6.22]]:''' As soon as Gopīnātha Ācārya saw Nityānanda Prabhu, he offered his obeisances unto Him. In this way, meeting all the devotees, he asked about news of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu again and again.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.23|Madhya 6.23]]:''' Mukunda Datta continued, "After accepting the sannyāsa order, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu has come to Jagannātha Purī and has brought all of us with Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.24|Madhya 6.24]]:''' "Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu left our company and walked ahead to see Lord Jagannātha. We have just arrived and are now looking for Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.25|Madhya 6.25]]:''' "From the talk of the people in general, we have guessed that the Lord is now at the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.26|Madhya 6.26]]:''' "Upon seeing Lord Jagannātha, Caitanya Mahāprabhu became ecstatic and fell unconscious, and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya has taken Him to his home in this condition.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.27|Madhya 6.27]]:''' "Just as I was thinking of meeting you, by chance we have actually met.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.28|Madhya 6.28]]:''' "First let us all go to the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and see Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Later we shall come to see Lord Jagannātha."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.29|Madhya 6.29]]:''' Hearing this and feeling very pleased, Gopīnātha Ācārya immediately took all the devotees with him and approached the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.30|Madhya 6.30]]:''' Arriving at the home of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, everyone saw the Lord lying unconscious. Seeing Him in this condition, Gopīnātha Ācārya became very unhappy, but at the same time he was happy just to see the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.31|Madhya 6.31]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya permitted all the devotees to enter his house, and upon seeing Nityānanda Prabhu, the Bhaṭṭācārya offered Him obeisances.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.32|Madhya 6.32]]:''' Sārvabhauma met with all the devotees and offered them a proper welcome. They were all pleased to see Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.33|Madhya 6.33]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya then sent them all back to see Lord Jagannātha, and he asked his own son, Candaneśvara, to accompany them as a guide.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.34|Madhya 6.34]]:''' Everyone was then very pleased to see the Deity of Lord Jagannātha. Lord Nityānanda in particular was overwhelmed with ecstasy.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.35|Madhya 6.35]]:''' When Lord Nityānanda Prabhu nearly fainted, all the devotees caught Him and steadied Him. At that time, the priest of Lord Jagannātha brought a garland that had been offered to the Deity and offered it to Nityānanda Prabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.36|Madhya 6.36]]:''' Everyone was pleased to receive this garland worn by Lord Jagannātha. Afterwards they all returned to the place where Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was staying.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.37|Madhya 6.37]]:''' All of the devotees then began to loudly chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Just before noon the Lord regained His consciousness.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.38|Madhya 6.38]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu got up and very loudly chanted, "Hari! Hari!" Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was very pleased to see the Lord regain consciousness, and he took the dust of the Lord's lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.39|Madhya 6.39]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya informed all of them, "Please take your midday baths immediately. Today I shall offer you mahā-prasādam, the remnants of food offered to Lord Jagannātha."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.40|Madhya 6.40]]:''' After bathing in the sea, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees returned very soon. The Lord then washed His feet and sat down on a carpet to take lunch.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.41|Madhya 6.41]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya made arrangements to bring various kinds of mahā-prasādam from the Jagannātha temple. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then accepted lunch with great happiness.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.42|Madhya 6.42]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu was offered special rice and first-class vegetables on golden plates. He thus took lunch in the company of His devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.43|Madhya 6.43]]:''' While Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya personally distributed the prasādam, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested him, "Please give Me only boiled vegetables.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.44|Madhya 6.44]]:''' "You can offer the cakes and preparations made with condensed milk to all the devotees." Hearing this, the Bhaṭṭācārya folded his hands and spoke as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.45|Madhya 6.45]]:''' "Today, all of you please try to taste the lunch just as Lord Jagannātha accepted it."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.46|Madhya 6.46]]:''' After saying this, he made them all eat the various cakes and condensed-milk preparations. After feeding them, he offered them water to wash their hands, feet and mouths.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.47|Madhya 6.47]]:''' Begging permission from Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then went with Gopīnātha Ācārya to take lunch. After finishing their lunch, they returned to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.48|Madhya 6.48]]:''' Offering his obeisances to Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "Namo nārāyaṇāya" ["I offer my obeisances to Nārāyaṇa"].In return, Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Kṛṣṇe matir astu" ["Let your attention be on Kṛṣṇa"].

'''[[CC Madhya 6.49|Madhya 6.49]]:''' Hearing these words, Sārvabhauma understood Lord Caitanya to be a Vaiṣṇava sannyāsī.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.50|Madhya 6.50]]:''' Sārvabhauma then said to Gopīnātha Ācārya, "I want to know Caitanya Mahāprabhu's previous situation."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.51|Madhya 6.51]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya replied, "There was a man named Jagannātha, who was a resident of Navadvīpa, and whose surname was Miśra Purandara.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.52|Madhya 6.52]]:''' "Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the son of that Jagannātha Miśra, and His former name was Viśvambhara Miśra. He also happens to be the grandson of Nīlāmbara Cakravartī."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.53|Madhya 6.53]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya said, "Nīlāmbara Cakravartī was a classmate of my father, Maheśvara Viśārada. I knew him as such.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.54|Madhya 6.54]]:''' "Jagannātha Miśra Purandara was respected by my father. Thus because of their relationship with my father, I respect both Jagannātha Miśra and Nīlāmbara Cakravartī."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.55|Madhya 6.55]]:''' Hearing that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu belonged to the Nadia district, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya became very pleased and addressed the Lord as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.56|Madhya 6.56]]:''' "You are naturally respectable. Besides, You are a sannyāsī; thus I wish to become Your personal servant."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.57|Madhya 6.57]]:''' As soon as Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard this from the Bhaṭṭācārya, He immediately remembered Lord Viṣṇu and began to speak humbly to him as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.58|Madhya 6.58]]:''' "Because you are a teacher of Vedānta philosophy, you are the master of all the people in the world and their well-wisher as well. You are also the benefactor of all kinds of sannyāsīs.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.59|Madhya 6.59]]:''' "I am a young sannyāsī, and I actually have no knowledge of what is good and what is bad. Therefore I am taking shelter of you and accepting you as My spiritual master.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.60|Madhya 6.60]]:''' "I have come here only to associate with you, and I am now taking shelter of you. Will you kindly maintain Me in all respects?

'''[[CC Madhya 6.61|Madhya 6.61]]:''' "The incident that happened today was a great obstacle for Me, but you have kindly relieved Me of it."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.62|Madhya 6.62]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "Do not go alone to see the Deity at the Jagannātha temple. It is better that You go with me or my men."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.63|Madhya 6.63]]:''' The Lord said, "I shall never enter the temple but shall always view the Lord from the side of the Garuḍa-stambha."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.64|Madhya 6.64]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then told Gopīnātha Ācārya, "Take Gosvāmījī and show Him Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.65|Madhya 6.65]]:''' "Also, the apartment belonging to my maternal aunt is in a very solitary place. Make all arrangements for Him to stay there."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.66|Madhya 6.66]]:''' Thus Gopīnātha Ācārya took Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to His residential quarters and showed Him where to find water, tubs and waterpots. Indeed, he arranged everything.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.67|Madhya 6.67]]:''' The next day Gopīnātha Ācārya took Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to see the early rising of Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.68|Madhya 6.68]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya then took Mukunda Datta with him and went to Sārvabhauma's house. When they arrived, Sārvabhauma addressed Mukunda Datta as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.69|Madhya 6.69]]:''' "The sannyāsī is very meek and humble by nature, and His person is very beautiful to see. Consequently my affection for Him increases.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.70|Madhya 6.70]]:''' "From which sampradāya has He accepted the sannyāsa order, and what is His name?"

'''[[CC Madhya 6.71|Madhya 6.71]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya replied, "The Lord's name is Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, and His sannyāsa preceptor is the greatly fortunate Keśava Bhāratī."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.72|Madhya 6.72]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "'Śrī Kṛṣṇa' is a very good name, but He belongs to the Bhāratī community. Therefore He is a second-class sannyāsī."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.73|Madhya 6.73]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya replied, "Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu does not rely on any external formality. There is no need for Him to accept the sannyāsa order from a superior sampradāya."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.74|Madhya 6.74]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya inquired, "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is in His full-fledged youthful life. How can He keep the principles of sannyāsa?

'''[[CC Madhya 6.75|Madhya 6.75]]:''' "I shall continually recite Vedānta philosophy before Caitanya Mahāprabhu so that He may remain fixed in His renunciation and thus enter upon the path of monism."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.76|Madhya 6.76]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then suggested, "If Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would like, I could bring Him into a first-class sampradāya by offering Him saffron cloth and performing the reformatory process again."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.77|Madhya 6.77]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya and Mukunda Datta became very unhappy when they heard this. Gopīnātha Ācārya therefore addressed Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.78|Madhya 6.78]]:''' "My dear Bhaṭṭācārya, you do not know the greatness of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. All the symptoms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are found in Him to the highest degree."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.79|Madhya 6.79]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya continued, "Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is celebrated as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Those who are ignorant in this connection find the conclusion of knowledgeable men very difficult to understand."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.80|Madhya 6.80]]:''' The disciples of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya retaliated, "By what evidence do you conclude that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Supreme Lord?"Gopīnātha Ācārya replied, "The statements of authorized ācāryas who understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead are proof."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.81|Madhya 6.81]]:''' The disciples of the Bhaṭṭācārya said, "We derive knowledge of the Absolute Truth by logical hypothesis."Gopīnātha Ācārya replied, "One cannot attain real knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by such logical hypothesis and argument."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.82|Madhya 6.82]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya continued, "One can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead only by His mercy, not by guesswork or hypothesis."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.83|Madhya 6.83]]:''' The Ācārya continued, "If one receives but a tiny bit of the Lord's favor by dint of devotional service, he can understand the nature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.84|Madhya 6.84]]:''' "'My Lord, if one is favored by even a slight trace of the mercy of Your lotus feet, he can understand the greatness of Your personality. But those who speculate in order to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead are unable to know You, even though they continue to study the Vedas for many years.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 6.85-86|Madhya 6.85-86]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya then addressed Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya: "You are a great scholar and a teacher of many disciples. Indeed, there is no other scholar like you on earth. Nonetheless, because you are bereft of even a pinch of the Lord's mercy, you cannot understand Him, even though He is present in your home.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.87|Madhya 6.87]]:''' "It is not your fault; it is the verdict of the scriptures. You cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead simply by scholarship."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.88|Madhya 6.88]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "My dear Gopīnātha Ācārya, please speak with great care. What is the proof that you have received the mercy of the Lord?"

'''[[CC Madhya 6.89|Madhya 6.89]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya replied, "Knowledge of the summum bonum, the Absolute Truth, is evidence of the mercy of the Supreme Lord."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.90|Madhya 6.90]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya continued, "You have seen the symptoms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu during His absorption in an ecstatic mood.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.91|Madhya 6.91]]:''' "Despite directly perceiving the symptoms of the Supreme Lord in the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, you cannot understand Him. This is commonly called illusion.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.92|Madhya 6.92]]:''' "A person influenced by the external energy is called bahirmukha jana, a mundane person, because despite his perception, he cannot understand the real substance." Hearing Gopīnātha Ācārya say this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya smiled and began to speak as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.93|Madhya 6.93]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya said, "We are just having a discussion among friends and considering the points described in the scriptures. Do not become angry. I am simply speaking on the strength of the śāstras. Please don't take any offense.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.94|Madhya 6.94]]:''' "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is certainly a great, uncommon devotee, but we cannot accept Him as an incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu because, according to śāstra, there is no incarnation in this Age of Kali.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.95|Madhya 6.95]]:''' "Another name for Lord Viṣṇu is Triyuga because there is no incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu in Kali-yuga. Indeed, this is the verdict of the revealed scriptures."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.96|Madhya 6.96]]:''' Upon hearing this, Gopīnātha Ācārya became very unhappy. He said to the Bhaṭṭācārya, "You consider yourself the knower of all Vedic scriptures.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.97|Madhya 6.97]]:''' "Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the Mahābhārata are the two most important Vedic scriptures, but you have paid no attention to their statements.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.98|Madhya 6.98]]:''' "In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Mahābhārata it is stated that the Lord appears directly, but you say that in this age there is no manifestation or incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.99|Madhya 6.99]]:''' "In this Age of Kali there is no līlā-avatāra of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; therefore He is known as Triyuga. That is one of His holy names."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.100|Madhya 6.100]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya continued, "There is certainly an incarnation in every age, and such an incarnation is called the yuga-avatāra. But your heart has become so hardened by logic and argument that you cannot consider all these facts.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.101|Madhya 6.101]]:''' "'In the past, your son has had bodies of three different colors, according to the age. These colors were white, red and yellow. In this age [Dvāpara-yuga] He has accepted a blackish body.'

'''[[CC Madhya 6.102|Madhya 6.102]]:''' "'In the Age of Kali, as well as in Dvāpara-yuga, the people offer prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead by various mantras and observe the regulative principles of the supplementary Vedic literatures. Now please hear of this from me.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.103|Madhya 6.103]]:''' "'In this Age of Kali, those who are intelligent perform the congregational chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appears in this age always describing the glories of Kṛṣṇa. That incarnation is yellowish in hue and is always associated with His plenary expansions [such as Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu] and personal expansions [such as Gadādhara], as well as His devotees and associates [such as Svarūpa Dāmodara].'

'''[[CC Madhya 6.104|Madhya 6.104]]:''' "'The Lord [in the incarnation of Gaurasundara] has a golden complexion. Indeed, His entire body, which is very nicely constituted, is like molten gold. Sandalwood pulp is smeared all over His body. He will take the fourth order of spiritual life [sannyāsa] and will be very much self-controlled. He will be distinguished from Māyāvādī sannyāsīs in that He will be fixed in devotional service and will spread the sańkīrtana movement.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 6.105|Madhya 6.105]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya then said, "There is no need to quote so much evidence from the śāstras, for you are a very dry speculator. There is no need to sow seeds in barren land.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.106|Madhya 6.106]]:''' "When the Lord will be pleased with you, you will also understand these conclusions and will quote from the śāstras.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.107|Madhya 6.107]]:''' "The false arguments and philosophical word jugglery of your disciples are not faults of theirs. They have simply received the benediction of Māyāvāda philosophy.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.108|Madhya 6.108]]:''' "'I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is full of unlimited qualities and whose different potencies bring about agreement and disagreement between disputants. Thus the illusory energy again and again covers the self-realization of both disputants.'

'''[[CC Madhya 6.109|Madhya 6.109]]:''' "'In almost all cases, whatever learned brāhmaṇas speak becomes accepted; nothing is impossible for one who takes shelter of My illusory energy and speaks under her influence.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 6.110|Madhya 6.110]]:''' After hearing this from Gopīnātha Ācārya, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "First go to the place where Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is staying and invite Him here with His associates. Ask Him on my account.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.111|Madhya 6.111]]:''' "Take jagannātha-prasādam and first give it to Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates. After that, come back here and teach me well."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.112|Madhya 6.112]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya was the brother-in-law of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; therefore their relationship was very sweet and intimate. Under the circumstances, Gopīnātha Ācārya taught him by sometimes blaspheming him, sometimes praising him and sometimes laughing at him. This had been going on for some time.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.113|Madhya 6.113]]:''' Śrīla Mukunda Datta felt very satisfied to hear the conclusive statements of Gopīnātha Ācārya, but he became very unhappy and angry to hear the statements put forward by Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.114|Madhya 6.114]]:''' According to the instructions of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Gopīnātha Ācārya went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and invited Him on the Bhaṭṭācārya's behalf.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.115|Madhya 6.115]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya's statements were discussed before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Gopīnātha Ācārya and Mukunda Datta disapproved of the Bhaṭṭācārya's statements because they caused mental pain.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.116|Madhya 6.116]]:''' Hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Do not speak like that. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya has shown great affection and mercy toward Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.117|Madhya 6.117]]:''' "Out of paternal affection for Me, he wants to protect Me and see that I follow the regulative principles of a sannyāsī. What fault is there in this?"

'''[[CC Madhya 6.118|Madhya 6.118]]:''' The next morning, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya together visited the temple of Lord Jagannātha. Both of them were in a very pleasant mood.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.119|Madhya 6.119]]:''' When they entered the temple, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya offered Caitanya Mahāprabhu a seat, while he himself sat down on the floor out of due respect for a sannyāsī.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.120|Madhya 6.120]]:''' He then began to instruct Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu on Vedānta philosophy, and out of affection and devotion, he spoke to the Lord as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.121|Madhya 6.121]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya said, "Hearing Vedānta philosophy is a sannyāsī's main business. Therefore without hesitation You should study Vedānta philosophy, hearing it without cessation from a superior person."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.122|Madhya 6.122]]:''' Lord Caitanya replied, "You are very merciful to Me, and therefore I think it is My duty to obey your order."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.123|Madhya 6.123]]:''' Thus for seven days continually, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu listened to the Vedānta philosophy expounded by Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. However, Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not say anything and did not indicate whether it was right or wrong. He simply sat there and listened to the Bhaṭṭācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.124|Madhya 6.124]]:''' On the eighth day, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said to Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "You have been listening to Vedānta philosophy from me continually for seven days.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.125|Madhya 6.125]]:''' "You have simply been listening, fixed in Your silence. Since You do not say whether You think it is right or wrong, I cannot know whether You are actually understanding Vedānta philosophy or not."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.126|Madhya 6.126]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "I am a fool, and consequently I do not study the Vedānta-sūtra. I am just trying to hear it from you because you have ordered Me.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.127|Madhya 6.127]]:''' "Only for the sake of executing the duties of the renounced order of sannyāsa do I listen. Unfortunately, I cannot in the least understand the meaning you are presenting."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.128|Madhya 6.128]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "I accept that You do not understand, yet even one who does not understand inquires about the subject matter.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.129|Madhya 6.129]]:''' "You are hearing again and again, yet You keep silent. I cannot understand what is actually within Your mind."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.130|Madhya 6.130]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then revealed His mind, saying, "I can understand the meaning of each sūtra very clearly, but your explanations have simply agitated My mind.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.131|Madhya 6.131]]:''' "The meaning of the aphorisms in the Vedānta-sūtra contain clear purports in themselves, but other purports you presented simply covered the meaning of the sūtras like a cloud.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.132|Madhya 6.132]]:''' "You do not explain the direct meaning of the Brahma-sūtras. Indeed, it appears that your business is to cover their real meaning."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.133|Madhya 6.133]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "The Vedānta-sūtra is the summary of all the Upaniṣads; therefore whatever direct meaning is there in the Upaniṣads is also recorded in the Vedānta-sūtra, or Vyāsa-sūtra.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.134|Madhya 6.134]]:''' "For each sūtra the direct meaning must be accepted without interpretation. However, you simply abandon the direct meaning and proceed with your imaginative interpretation.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.135|Madhya 6.135]]:''' "Although there is other evidence, the evidence given in the Vedic version must be taken as foremost. Vedic versions understood directly are first-class evidence."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.136|Madhya 6.136]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "Conchshells and cow dung are nothing but the bones and the stool of some living entities, but according to the Vedic version they are both considered very pure.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.137|Madhya 6.137]]:''' "The Vedic statements are self-evident. Whatever is stated there must be accepted. If we interpret according to our own imagination, the authority of the Vedas is immediately lost."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.138|Madhya 6.138]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "The Brahma-sūtra, compiled by Śrīla Vyāsadeva, is as radiant as the sun. One who tries to interpret its meaning simply covers that sunshine with a cloud.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.139|Madhya 6.139]]:''' "All the Vedas and literature that strictly follows the Vedic principles explain that the Supreme Brahman is the Absolute Truth, the greatest of all, and a feature of the Supreme Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.140|Madhya 6.140]]:''' "Actually, the Supreme Absolute Truth is a person, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full with all opulences. You are trying to explain Him as impersonal and formless.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.141|Madhya 6.141]]:''' "Wherever there is an impersonal description in the Vedas, the Vedas mean to establish that everything belonging to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is transcendental and free of mundane characteristics."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.142|Madhya 6.142]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "'Whatever Vedic mantras describe the Absolute Truth impersonally only prove in the end that the Absolute Truth is a person. The Supreme Lord is understood in two features — impersonal and personal. If one considers the Supreme Personality of Godhead in both features, he can actually understand the Absolute Truth. He knows that the personal understanding is stronger because we see that everything is full of variety. No one can see anything that is not full of variety.'

'''[[CC Madhya 6.143|Madhya 6.143]]:''' "Everything in the cosmic manifestation emanates from the Absolute Truth, remains in the Absolute Truth, and after annihilation again enters the Absolute Truth.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.144|Madhya 6.144]]:''' "The personal features of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are categorized in three cases — namely ablative, instrumental and locative."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.145-146|Madhya 6.145-146]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "When the Supreme Personality of Godhead wished to become many, He glanced over the material energy. Before the creation there were no mundane eyes or mind; therefore the transcendental nature of the Absolute Truth's mind and eyes is confirmed.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.147|Madhya 6.147]]:''' "The word 'Brahman' indicates the complete Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is Śrī Kṛṣṇa. That is the verdict of all Vedic literature.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.148|Madhya 6.148]]:''' "The confidential meaning of the Vedas is not easily understood by common men; therefore that meaning is supplemented by the words of the Purāṇas.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.149|Madhya 6.149]]:''' "'How greatly fortunate are Nanda Mahārāja, the cowherd men and all the inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi! There is no limit to their fortune, because the Absolute Truth, the source of transcendental bliss, the eternal Supreme Brahman, has become their friend.'

'''[[CC Madhya 6.150|Madhya 6.150]]:''' "The Vedic 'apāṇi-pāda' mantra rejects material hands and legs, yet it states that the Lord goes very fast and accepts everything offered to Him.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.151|Madhya 6.151]]:''' "All these mantras confirm that the Absolute Truth is personal, but the Māyāvādīs, throwing away the direct meaning, interpret the Absolute Truth as impersonal.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.152|Madhya 6.152]]:''' "Are you describing as formless that Supreme Personality of Godhead whose transcendental form is complete with six transcendental opulences?

'''[[CC Madhya 6.153|Madhya 6.153]]:''' "The Supreme Personality of Godhead has three primary potencies. Are you trying to prove that He has no potencies?

'''[[CC Madhya 6.154|Madhya 6.154]]:''' "'The internal potency of the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu, is spiritual, as verified by the śāstras. There is another spiritual potency, known as kṣetra-jña, or the living entity. The third potency, which is known as nescience, makes the living entity godless and fills him with fruitive activity.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.155|Madhya 6.155]]:''' "'O King, the kṣetra-jña-śakti is the living entity. Although he has the facility to live in either the material or spiritual world, he suffers the threefold miseries of material existence because he is influenced by the avidyā [nescience] potency, which covers his constitutional position.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.156|Madhya 6.156]]:''' "'This living entity, covered by the influence of nescience, exists in different forms in the material condition. O King, he is thus proportionately freed from the influence of material energy, to a greater or lesser degree.'

'''[[CC Madhya 6.157|Madhya 6.157]]:''' "'The Supreme Personality of Godhead is sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha (BS 5.1). This means that He originally has three potencies — the pleasure potency, the potency of eternality and the potency of knowledge. Together these are called the cit potency, and they are present in full in the Supreme Lord. For the living entities, who are part and parcel of the Lord, the pleasure potency in the material world is sometimes displeasing and sometimes mixed. This is not the case with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, because He is not under the influence of the material energy or its modes.'

'''[[CC Madhya 6.158|Madhya 6.158]]:''' "The Supreme Personality of Godhead in His original form is full of eternity, knowledge and bliss. The spiritual potency in these three portions [sat, cit and ānanda] assumes three different forms.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.159|Madhya 6.159]]:''' "The three portions of the spiritual potency are called hlādinī [the bliss portion], sandhinī [the eternity portion] and samvit [the knowledge portion]. We accept knowledge of these as full knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.160|Madhya 6.160]]:''' "The spiritual potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead also appears in three phases — internal, marginal and external. These are all engaged in His devotional service in love.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.161|Madhya 6.161]]:''' "In His spiritual potency, the Supreme Lord enjoys six kinds of opulences. You do not accept this spiritual potency, and this is due to your great impudence.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.162|Madhya 6.162]]:''' "The Lord is the master of the potencies, and the living entity is the servant of them. That is the difference between the Lord and the living entity. However, you declare that the Lord and the living entities are one and the same.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.163|Madhya 6.163]]:''' "In the Bhagavad-gītā the living entity is established as the marginal potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Yet you say that the living entity is completely different from the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.164|Madhya 6.164]]:''' "'Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego are My eightfold separated energies.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.165|Madhya 6.165]]:''' "'Besides these inferior energies, which are material, there is another energy, a spiritual energy, and this is the living being, O mighty-armed one. The entire material world is sustained by the living entities.'

'''[[CC Madhya 6.166|Madhya 6.166]]:''' "The transcendental form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is complete in eternity, cognizance and bliss. However, you describe this transcendental form as a product of material goodness.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.167|Madhya 6.167]]:''' "One who does not accept the transcendental form of the Lord is certainly an agnostic. Such a person should be neither seen nor touched. Indeed, he is subject to be punished by Yamarāja.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.168|Madhya 6.168]]:''' "The Buddhists do not recognize the authority of the Vedas; therefore they are considered agnostics. However, those who have taken shelter of the Vedic scriptures yet preach agnosticism in accordance with the Māyāvāda philosophy are certainly more dangerous than the Buddhists.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.169|Madhya 6.169]]:''' "Śrīla Vyāsadeva presented the Vedānta philosophy for the deliverance of conditioned souls, but if one hears the commentary of Śańkarācārya, everything is spoiled.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.170|Madhya 6.170]]:''' "The Vedānta-sūtra aims at establishing that the cosmic manifestation has come into being by the transformation of the inconceivable potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.171|Madhya 6.171]]:''' "The touchstone, after touching iron, produces volumes of gold without being changed. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead manifests Himself as the cosmic manifestation by His inconceivable potency, yet He remains unchanged in His eternal, transcendental form.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.172|Madhya 6.172]]:''' "Śańkarācārya's theory states that the Absolute Truth is transformed. By accepting this theory, the Māyāvādī philosophers denigrate Śrīla Vyāsadeva by accusing him of error. They thus find fault in the Vedānta-sūtra and interpret it to try to establish the theory of illusion.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.173|Madhya 6.173]]:''' "The theory of illusion can be applied only when the living entity identifies himself with the body. As far as the cosmic manifestation is concerned, it cannot be called false, although it is certainly temporary.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.174|Madhya 6.174]]:''' "The transcendental vibration oḿkāra is the sound form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All Vedic knowledge and this cosmic manifestation are produced from this sound representation of the Supreme Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.175|Madhya 6.175]]:''' "The subsidiary vibration tat tvam asi ["you are the same"] is meant for the understanding of the living entity, but the principal vibration is oḿkāra. Not caring for oḿkāra, Śańkarācārya has stressed the vibration tat tvam asi."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.176|Madhya 6.176]]:''' Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu criticized Śańkarācārya's Śārīraka-bhāṣya as imaginary, and He pointed out hundreds of faults in it. To defend Śańkarācārya, however, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya presented unlimited opposition.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.177|Madhya 6.177]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya presented various types of false arguments with pseudo logic and tried to defeat his opponent in many ways. However, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu refuted all these arguments and established His own conviction.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.178|Madhya 6.178]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the central point of all relationships, acting in devotional service to Him is one's real occupation, and the attainment of love of Godhead is the ultimate goal of life. These three subject matters are described in the Vedic literature.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.179|Madhya 6.179]]:''' "If one tries to explain the Vedic literature in a different way, he is indulging in imagination. Any interpretation of the self-evident Vedic version is simply imaginary.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.180|Madhya 6.180]]:''' "Actually there is no fault on the part of Śańkarācārya. He simply carried out the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He had to imagine some kind of interpretation, and therefore he presented a kind of Vedic literature that is full of atheism.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.181|Madhya 6.181]]:''' "[Addressing Lord Śiva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead said:] 'Please make the general populace averse to Me by imagining your own interpretation of the Vedas. Also, cover Me in such a way that people will take more interest in advancing material civilization just to propagate a population bereft of spiritual knowledge.'

'''[[CC Madhya 6.182|Madhya 6.182]]:''' "[Lord Śiva informed goddess Durgā, the superintendent of the material world:] 'In the Age of Kali I take the form of a brāhmaṇa and explain the Vedas through false scriptures in an atheistic way, similar to Buddhist philosophy.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 6.183|Madhya 6.183]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya became very much astonished upon hearing this. He became stunned and said nothing.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.184|Madhya 6.184]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told him, "Do not be astonished. Actually, devotional service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the highest perfection of human activity.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.185|Madhya 6.185]]:''' "Even the self-satisfied sages perform devotional service to the Supreme Lord. Such are the transcendental qualities of the Lord. They are full of inconceivable spiritual potency.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.186|Madhya 6.186]]:''' "'Those who are self-satisfied and unattracted by external material desires are also attracted to the loving service of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, whose qualities are transcendental and whose activities are wonderful. Hari, the Personality of Godhead, is called Kṛṣṇa because He has such transcendentally attractive features.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 6.187|Madhya 6.187]]:''' After hearing the ātmārāma verse, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya addressed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "My dear Sir, please explain this verse. I have a great desire to hear Your explanation of it."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.188|Madhya 6.188]]:''' The Lord replied, "First let Me hear your explanation. After that, I shall try to explain what little I know."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.189|Madhya 6.189]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then began to explain the ātmārāma verse, and according to the principles of logic, he put forward various propositions.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.190|Madhya 6.190]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya explained the ātmārāma verse in nine different ways on the basis of scripture. After hearing his explanation, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, smiling a little, began to speak.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.191|Madhya 6.191]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "My dear Bhaṭṭācārya, you are exactly like Bṛhaspati, the priest of the heavenly kingdom. Indeed, no one within this world has the power to explain the scriptures in such a way.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.192|Madhya 6.192]]:''' "My dear Bhaṭṭācārya, you have certainly explained this verse by the prowess of your vast learning, but you should know that, besides this scholarly explanation, there is another purport to this verse."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.193|Madhya 6.193]]:''' Upon the request of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to explain the verse, without touching upon the nine explanations given by the Bhaṭṭācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.194|Madhya 6.194]]:''' There are eleven words in the ātmārāma verse, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained each word, one after the other.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.195|Madhya 6.195]]:''' Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu took each word specifically and combined it with the word "ātmārāma." He thus explained the word "ātmārāma" in eighteen different ways.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.196|Madhya 6.196]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "The Supreme Personality of Godhead, His different potencies and His transcendental qualities all have inconceivable prowess. It is not possible to explain them fully.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.197|Madhya 6.197]]:''' "These three items attract the mind of a perfect student engaged in spiritual activities and overcome all other processes of spiritual activity."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.198|Madhya 6.198]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained the meaning of the verse by giving evidence concerning Śukadeva Gosvāmī and the four ṛṣis Sanaka, Sanat-kumāra, Sanātana and Sanandana. Thus the Lord gave various meanings and explanations.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.199|Madhya 6.199]]:''' Upon hearing Caitanya Mahāprabhu's explanation of the ātmārāma verse, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was struck with wonder. He then understood Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to be Kṛṣṇa in person, and he thus condemned himself in the following words.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.200|Madhya 6.200]]:''' "Caitanya Mahāprabhu is certainly Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. Because I could not understand Him and was very proud of my own learning, I have committed many offenses."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.201|Madhya 6.201]]:''' When Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya denounced himself as an offender and took shelter of the Lord, the Lord desired to show him mercy.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.202|Madhya 6.202]]:''' To show him mercy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu allowed him to see His Viṣṇu form. Thus He immediately assumed four hands.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.203|Madhya 6.203]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu first showed him the four-handed form and then appeared before him in His original form of Kṛṣṇa, with a blackish complexion and a flute to His lips.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.204|Madhya 6.204]]:''' When Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya saw the form of Lord Kṛṣṇa manifested in Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he immediately fell down flat to offer Him obeisances. Then he stood up and with folded hands began to offer prayers.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.205|Madhya 6.205]]:''' By the mercy of the Lord, all truths were revealed to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, and he could understand the importance of chanting the holy name and distributing love of Godhead everywhere.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.206|Madhya 6.206]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya composed one hundred verses in a very short time. Indeed, not even Bṛhaspati, the priest of the heavenly planets, could compose verses as quickly.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.207|Madhya 6.207]]:''' After hearing the one hundred verses, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu happily embraced Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, who was immediately overwhelmed in ecstatic love of Godhead and fell unconscious.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.208|Madhya 6.208]]:''' Out of ecstatic love of God, the Bhaṭṭācārya shed tears, and his body was stunned. He exhibited an ecstatic mood, and he perspired, shook and trembled. He sometimes danced, sometimes chanted, sometimes cried and sometimes fell down to touch the lotus feet of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.209|Madhya 6.209]]:''' While Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was in this ecstasy, Gopīnātha Ācārya was very pleased. The associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu all laughed to see the Bhaṭṭācārya dance so.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.210|Madhya 6.210]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya told Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Sir, You have brought all this upon Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.211|Madhya 6.211]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "You are a devotee. Because of your association, Lord Jagannātha has shown him mercy."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.212|Madhya 6.212]]:''' After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu pacified the Bhaṭṭācārya, and when he was quieted, he offered many prayers to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.213|Madhya 6.213]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "My dear Sir, You have delivered the entire world, but that is not a very great task. However, You have also delivered me, and that is certainly the work of very wonderful powers.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.214|Madhya 6.214]]:''' "I had become dull-headed due to reading too many books on logic. Consequently I had become like an iron bar. Nonetheless, You have melted me, and therefore Your influence is very great."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.215|Madhya 6.215]]:''' After hearing the prayers offered by Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to His residence, and the Bhaṭṭācārya, through Gopīnātha Ācārya, induced the Lord to accept lunch there.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.216|Madhya 6.216]]:''' Early the following morning, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to see Lord Jagannātha in the temple, and He saw the Lord rise from His bed.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.217|Madhya 6.217]]:''' The priest there presented Him with garlands and prasādam that had been offered to Lord Jagannātha. This pleased Caitanya Mahāprabhu very much.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.218|Madhya 6.218]]:''' Carefully tying the prasādam and garlands in a cloth, Caitanya Mahāprabhu hastened to the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.219|Madhya 6.219]]:''' He arrived at the Bhaṭṭācārya's house a little before sunrise, just when the Bhaṭṭācārya was arising from bed.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.220|Madhya 6.220]]:''' As Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya arose from bed, he distinctly chanted, "Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa." Lord Caitanya was very pleased to hear him chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.221|Madhya 6.221]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya noticed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu outside, and with great haste he went to Him and offered prayers unto His lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.222|Madhya 6.222]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya offered a carpet for the Lord to sit upon, and both of them sat there. Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu opened the prasādam and placed it in the hands of the Bhaṭṭācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.223|Madhya 6.223]]:''' At that time the Bhaṭṭācārya had not even washed his mouth, nor had he taken his bath or finished his morning duties. Nonetheless, he was very pleased to receive the prasādam of Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.224|Madhya 6.224]]:''' By the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the dullness in the mind of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was eradicated. After reciting the following two verses, he ate the prasādam offered to him.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.225|Madhya 6.225]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya said, "'One should eat the mahā-prasādam of the Lord immediately upon receiving it, even though it is dried up, stale or brought from a distant country. One should consider neither time nor place.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.226|Madhya 6.226]]:''' "'The prasādam of Lord Kṛṣṇa is to be eaten by gentlemen as soon as it is received; there should be no hesitation. There are no regulative principles concerning time and place. This is the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 6.227|Madhya 6.227]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased to see this. He became ecstatic in love of Godhead and embraced Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.228|Madhya 6.228]]:''' The Lord and the servant embraced each other and began to dance. Simply by touching each other, they became ecstatic.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.229|Madhya 6.229]]:''' As they danced and embraced, spiritual symptoms manifested in their bodies. They perspired, trembled and shed tears, and the Lord began to speak in His ecstasy.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.230|Madhya 6.230]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Today I have conquered the three worlds very easily. Today I have ascended to the spiritual world."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.231|Madhya 6.231]]:''' Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, "I think that today all My desires have been fulfilled because I see that Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya has acquired faith in the mahā-prasādam of Lord Jagannātha.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.232|Madhya 6.232]]:''' "Indeed, today you have undoubtedly taken shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa, without reservation, has become very merciful toward you.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.233|Madhya 6.233]]:''' "My dear Bhaṭṭācārya, today you have been released from material bondage in the bodily conception of life; you have cut to pieces the shackles of the illusory energy.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.234|Madhya 6.234]]:''' "Today your mind has become fit to take shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa because, surpassing the Vedic regulative principles, you have eaten the remnants of food offered to the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.235|Madhya 6.235]]:''' "'When a person takes shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead without reservation, the unlimited, merciful Lord bestows His causeless mercy upon him. Thus he can pass over the insurmountable ocean of nescience. Those whose intelligence is fixed in the bodily conception, who think, "I am this body," are fit food for dogs and jackals. The Supreme Lord never bestows His mercy upon such people.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 6.236|Madhya 6.236]]:''' After speaking to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya in this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to His residence. From that day on, the Bhaṭṭācārya was free because his false pride had been dismantled.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.237|Madhya 6.237]]:''' From that day on, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya did not know anything but the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and from that day he could explain the revealed scriptures only in accordance with the process of devotional service.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.238|Madhya 6.238]]:''' Seeing that Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was firmly fixed in the cult of Vaiṣṇavism, Gopīnātha Ācārya, his brother-in-law, began to dance, clap his hands and chant, "Hari! Hari!"

'''[[CC Madhya 6.239|Madhya 6.239]]:''' The next day, the Bhaṭṭācārya went to visit the temple of Lord Jagannātha, but before he reached the temple, he went to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.240|Madhya 6.240]]:''' When he met Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Bhaṭṭācārya fell down flat to offer Him respects. After offering various prayers to Him, he spoke of his previous bad disposition with great humility.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.241|Madhya 6.241]]:''' Then the Bhaṭṭācārya asked Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Which item is most important in the execution of devotional service?" The Lord replied that the most important item was the chanting of the holy name of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.242|Madhya 6.242]]:''' "'In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 6.243|Madhya 6.243]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu very elaborately explained the harer nāma verse of the Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa, and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was struck with wonder to hear His explanation.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.244|Madhya 6.244]]:''' Gopīnātha Ācārya reminded Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, "My dear Bhaṭṭācārya, what I foretold to you has now taken place."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.245|Madhya 6.245]]:''' Offering his obeisances to Gopīnātha Ācārya, the Bhaṭṭācārya said, "Because I am related to you and you are a devotee, by your mercy the Lord has shown mercy to me.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.246|Madhya 6.246]]:''' "You are a first-class devotee, whereas I am in the darkness of logical arguments. Because of your relationship with the Lord, the Lord has bestowed His benediction upon me."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.247|Madhya 6.247]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased with this humble statement. After embracing the Bhaṭṭācārya, He said, "Now go see Lord Jagannātha in the temple."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.248|Madhya 6.248]]:''' After visiting the temple of Lord Jagannātha, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya returned home with Jagadānanda and Dāmodara.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.249|Madhya 6.249]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya brought large quantities of excellent food remnants blessed by Lord Jagannātha. All this prasādam was given to his own brāhmaṇa servant, along with Jagadānanda and Dāmodara.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.250|Madhya 6.250]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then composed two verses on the leaf of a palm tree. Giving the palm leaf to Jagadānanda Prabhu, the Bhaṭṭācārya requested him to deliver it to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.251|Madhya 6.251]]:''' Jagadānanda and Dāmodara then returned to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, bringing Him both the prasādam and the palm leaf on which the verses were composed. But Mukunda Datta took the palm leaf from the hands of Jagadānanda before he could deliver it to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.252|Madhya 6.252]]:''' Mukunda Datta then copied the two verses on the wall outside the room. After this, Jagadānanda took the palm leaf from Mukunda Datta and delivered it to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.253|Madhya 6.253]]:''' As soon as Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu read the two verses, He immediately tore up the palm leaf. However, all the devotees read these verses on the outside wall, and they all kept them within their hearts. The verses read as follows.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.254|Madhya 6.254]]:''' "Let me take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who has descended in the form of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to teach us real knowledge, His devotional service and detachment from whatever does not foster Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He has descended because He is an ocean of transcendental mercy. Let me surrender unto His lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.255|Madhya 6.255]]:''' "Let my consciousness, which is like a honeybee, take shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has just now appeared as Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu to teach the ancient system of devotional service to Himself. This system had almost been lost due to the influence of time."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.256|Madhya 6.256]]:''' These two verses composed by Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya will always declare his name and fame as loudly as a pounding drum, for they have become pearl necklaces around the necks of all devotees.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.257|Madhya 6.257]]:''' Indeed, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya became an unalloyed devotee of Caitanya Mahāprabhu; he did not know anything but the service of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.258|Madhya 6.258]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya always chanted the holy name of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, son of mother Śacī and reservoir of all good qualities. Indeed, chanting the holy names became his meditation.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.259|Madhya 6.259]]:''' One day Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya came before Caitanya Mahāprabhu and, after offering obeisances, began to recite a verse.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.260|Madhya 6.260]]:''' He began to quote one of Lord Brahmā's prayers from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, but he changed two syllables at the end of the verse.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.261|Madhya 6.261]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya recited, "'One who seeks Your compassion and thus tolerates all kinds of adverse conditions due to the karma of his past deeds, who engages always in Your devotional service with his mind, words and body, and who always offers obeisances unto You is certainly a bona fide candidate for becoming Your unalloyed devotee.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 6.262|Madhya 6.262]]:''' Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately pointed out, "In that verse the word is 'mukti-pade,' but you have changed it to 'bhakti-pade.' What is your intention?"

'''[[CC Madhya 6.263|Madhya 6.263]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "The awakening of pure love of Godhead, which is the result of devotional service, far surpasses liberation from material bondage. For those averse to devotional service, merging into the Brahman effulgence is a kind of punishment."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.264-265|Madhya 6.264-265]]:''' The Bhaṭṭācārya continued, "The impersonalists, who do not accept the transcendental form of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and the demons, who are always engaged in blaspheming and fighting with Him, are punished by being merged into the Brahman effulgence. But that does not happen to the person engaged in the devotional service of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.266|Madhya 6.266]]:''' "There are five kinds of liberation: sālokya, sāmīpya, sārūpya, sārṣṭi and sāyujya.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.267|Madhya 6.267]]:''' "If there is a chance to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a pure devotee sometimes accepts the sālokya, sārūpya, sāmīpya or sārṣṭi forms of liberation, but never sāyujya.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.268|Madhya 6.268]]:''' "A pure devotee does not like even to hear about sāyujya-mukti, which inspires him with fear and hatred. Indeed, the pure devotee would rather go to hell than merge into the effulgence of the Lord."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.269|Madhya 6.269]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, "There are two kinds of sāyujya-mukti: merging into the Brahman effulgence and merging into the personal body of the Lord. Merging into the Lord's body is even more abominable than merging into His effulgence."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.270|Madhya 6.270]]:''' Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya concluded, "'Even though he is offered all kinds of liberation, the pure devotee does not accept them. He is fully satisfied engaging in the service of the Lord.'"

'''[[CC Madhya 6.271|Madhya 6.271]]:''' Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "The word 'mukti-pade' has another meaning. 'Mukti-pada' directly refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.272|Madhya 6.272]]:''' "All kinds of liberation exist under the feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; therefore He is known as mukti-pada. According to another meaning, mukti is the ninth subject, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the shelter of liberation.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.273|Madhya 6.273]]:''' "Since I can understand Kṛṣṇa according to these two meanings," Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "what point is there in changing the verse?"Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "I was not able to give that reading to the verse.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.274|Madhya 6.274]]:''' "Although Your explanation is correct, it should not be used, because there is ambiguity in the word 'mukti-pada.'

'''[[CC Madhya 6.275|Madhya 6.275]]:''' "The word 'mukti' refers to five kinds of liberation. But its direct meaning usually conveys the idea of becoming one with the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.276|Madhya 6.276]]:''' "The very sound of the word 'mukti' immediately induces hate and fear, but when we say the word 'bhakti,' we naturally feel transcendental bliss within the mind."

'''[[CC Madhya 6.277|Madhya 6.277]]:''' Upon hearing this explanation, the Lord began to laugh and, with great pleasure, immediately embraced Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya very firmly.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.278|Madhya 6.278]]:''' Indeed, that very person who had been accustomed to reading and teaching Māyāvāda philosophy was now even hating the word "mukti." This was possible only by the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.279|Madhya 6.279]]:''' As long as it does not turn iron into gold by its touch, no one can recognize an unknown stone to be a touchstone.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.280|Madhya 6.280]]:''' Upon seeing transcendental Vaiṣṇavism in Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, everyone could understand that Lord Caitanya was none other than Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.281|Madhya 6.281]]:''' After this incident, all the inhabitants of Jagannātha Purī, headed by Kāśī Miśra, came to take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.282|Madhya 6.282]]:''' Later I shall describe how Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya always engaged in the service of the Lord.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.283|Madhya 6.283]]:''' I shall also describe in full detail how Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya perfectly rendered service to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by offering Him alms.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.284-285|Madhya 6.284-285]]:''' If one hears with faith and love these pastimes concerning Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu's meeting with Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, he very soon is freed from the net of speculation and fruitive activity and attains the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's lotus feet.

'''[[CC Madhya 6.286|Madhya 6.286]]:''' Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

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