Chapter 17
The Pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His Youth
This Seventeenth Chapter, as summarized by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, describes Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes from His sixteenth year until the time He accepted the renounced order of life. Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura has already vividly described these pastimes in the Caitanya-bhagavata. Therefore Krsna dasa Kaviraja Gosvami describes them only briefly. Vivid descriptions of some portions of His pastimes are seen in this chapter, however, because Vrndavana dasa Thakura has not elaborately described them.
In this chapter we shall find descriptions of the mango distribution festival and Lord Caitanya's discourses with Chand Kazi. Finally, the chapter shows that the same son of mother Yasoda, Lord Krsna, tasted four transcendental mellows of devotional service in His form of Sacinandana, the son of mother Saci. To understand Srimati Radharani's ecstatic love for Him, Lord Sri Krsna assumed the form of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The attitude of Srimati Radharani is considered the superexcellent devotional mentality. As Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Krsna Himself assumed the position of Srimati Radharani to taste Her ecstatic situation. No one else could do this.
When Sri Krsna assumed the form of the four-armed Narayana, the gopis showed their respect, but they were not very much interested in Him. In the ecstatic love of the gopis, all worshipable forms but Krsna are rejected. Among all the gopis, Srimati Radharani has the highest ecstatic love. When Krsna in His form of Narayana saw Radharani, He could not keep His position as Narayana, and again He assumed the form of Krsna.
The King of Vrajabhumi is Nanda Maharaja, and the same person in Navadvipa is Jagannatha Misra, the father of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Similarly, mother Yasoda is the Queen of Vrajabhumi, and in the pastimes of Lord Caitanya she is Sacimata. Therefore the son of Saci is the son of Yasoda. Sri Nityananda occupies an ecstatic position of parental love in servitude and fraternal attraction. Sri Advaita Prabhu exhibits the ecstasy of both fraternity and servitude. All the Lord's other associates, situated in their original love, engage in the service of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
The same Absolute Truth who enjoys as Krsna, Syamasundara, who plays His flute and dances with the gopis, sometimes takes birth in a brahmana family and plays the part of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, accepting the renounced order of life. It appears contradictory that the same Krsna accepted the ecstasy of the gopis, and of course this is very difficult for an ordinary person to understand. But if we accept the inconceivable energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we can understand that everything is possible. There is no need of mundane arguments in this connection because mundane arguments are meaningless in regard to inconceivable potency.
In the end of this Seventeenth Chapter Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, following in the footsteps of Srila Vyasadeva, has analyzed all the Adi-lila pastimes separately.
TEXT 1
TEXT
vande svairadbhuteham tam
caitanyam yat-prasadatah
yavanah sumanayante
krsna-nama-prajalpakah
SYNONYMS
vande--let me offer my obeisances; svaira--completely independent; adbhuta--and uncommon; iham--whose activities; tam--unto Him; caitanyam--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yat--of whom; prasadatah--by the mercy; yavanah--even the unclean; sumanayante--are transformed into gentlemen; krsna-nama--of the holy name of Lord Krsna; prajalpakah--taking to the chanting.
TRANSLATION
Let me offer my respectful obeisances to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, by whose mercy even unclean yavanas become perfectly well-bred gentlemen by chanting the holy name of the Lord. Such is the power of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
PURPORT
There is a persistent misunderstanding between caste brahmanas and advanced Vaisnavas, or gosvamis, because caste brahmanas, or smartas, are of the opinion that one cannot become a brahmana unless he changes his body. As we have discussed several times, it is to be understood that by the supremely powerful potency of the Lord, as described by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, everything is possible. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is as fully independent as Krsna. Therefore no one can interfere with His activities. If He wants, by His mercy He can convert even a yavana, an unclean follower of non-Vedic principles, into a perfectly well-behaved gentleman. This is actually happening in our propagation of the Krsna consciousness movement. The members of the present Krsna consciousness movement were not born in India, nor do they belong to the Vedic culture, but within the short time of four or five years they have become such wonderful devotees, simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, that even in India they are well received as perfectly well-behaved Vaisnavas wherever they go.
Although less intelligent men cannot understand it, this is the special power of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Actually, the body of a Krsna conscious person changes in many ways. Even in the United States, when our devotees chant on the street, American ladies and gentlemen inquire from them whether they are actually Americans because no one could expect Americans to become such nice devotees all of a sudden. Even Christian priests are greatly surprised that all these boys from Jewish and Christian families have joined this Krsna consciousness movement; before joining, they never regarded any principles of religion seriously, but now they have become sincere devotees of the Lord. Everywhere people express this astonishment, and we take great pride in the transcendental behavior of our students. Such wonders are possible, however, only by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They are not ordinary or mundane.
TEXT 2
TEXT
jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda
jayadvaitacandra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya--all glories; sri-caitanya--to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jaya--all glories; nityananda--to Lord Nityananda Prabhu; jaya advaita-candra--all glories to Advaita Acarya; jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda--all glories to the devotees of Lord Caitanya.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityananda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Acarya! And all glories to the devotees of Lord Caitanya!
TEXT 3
TEXT
kaisora-lilara sutra karila ganana
yauvana-lilara sutra kari anukrama
SYNONYMS
kaisora-lilara--of the activities before His youth; sutra--synopsis; karila--I have done; ganana--an enumeration; yauvana-lilara--of the pastimes of youth; sutra--synopsis; kari--I enumerate; anukrama--in chronological order.
TRANSLATION
I have already given a synopsis of the kaisora-lila of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Now let me enumerate His youthful pastimes in chronological order.
TEXT 4
TEXT
vidya-saundarya-sad-vesa-
sambhoga-nrtya-kirtanaih
prema-nama-pradanais ca
gauro divyati yauvane
SYNONYMS
vidya--education; saundarya--beauty; sat-vesa--nice dress; sambhoga--enjoyment; nrtya--dancing; kirtanaih--by chanting; prema-nama--the holy name of the Lord, which induces one to become a devotee; pradanaih--by distributing; ca--and; gaurah--Lord Sri Gaurasundara; divyati--illuminated; yauvane--in His youth.
TRANSLATION
Exhibiting His scholarship, beauty and fine dress, Lord Caitanya danced, as He chanted and distributed the holy name of the Lord to awaken dormant love of Krsna. Thus Lord Sri Gaurasundara shone in His youthful pastimes.
TEXT 5
TEXT
yauvana-pravese angera anga vibhusana
divya vastra, divya vesa, malya-candana
SYNONYMS
yauvana-pravese--on the entrance of His youth; angera--of the body; anga--limbs; vibhusana--ornaments; divya--transcendental; vastra--garments; divya--transcendental; vesa--dress; malya--garland; candana--(smeared with) sandalwood pulp.
TRANSLATION
As He entered His youth, the Lord decorated Himself with ornaments, dressed Himself in fine cloth, garlanded Himself with flowers and smeared Himself with sandalwood.
TEXT 6
TEXT
vidyara auddhatye kahon na kare ganana
sakala pandita jini' kare adhyapana
SYNONYMS
vidyara auddhatye--because of pride in education; kahon--anyone; na--does not; kare--do; ganana--care; sakala--all; pandita--learned scholars; jini'--conquering; kare--does; adhyapana--studies.
TRANSLATION
By dint of pride in His education, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, not caring for anyone else, defeated all kinds of learned scholars while executing His studies.
TEXT 7
TEXT
vayu-vyadhi-cchale kaila prema parakasa
bhakta-gana lana kaila vividha vilasa
SYNONYMS
vayu-vyadhi--disease caused by disturbance of the air in the body; chale--on the plea of; kaila--made; prema--love of Godhead; parakasa--manifestation; bhakta-gana--the devotees; lana--taking with Him; kaila--did; vividha--varieties of; vilasa--pastimes.
TRANSLATION
In His youth, the Lord exhibited His ecstatic love of Krsna on the plea of disturbances of the bodily airs. Accompanied by His confidential devotees, He enjoyed various pastimes in this way.
PURPORT
According to Ayur-vedic treatment, the entire physiological system is conducted by three elements, namely, vayu, pitta and kapha (air, bile and mucus). Secretions within the body transform into other secretions like blood, urine and stool, but if there are disturbances in the metabolism, the secretions turn into kapha (mucus) by the influence of the air within the body. According to the Ayur-vedic system, when the secretion of bile and formation of mucus disturb the air circulating within the body, fifty-nine varieties of disease may occur. One of such diseases is craziness.
On the plea of disturbance of the bodily air and metabolism, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu acted as if crazy. Thus in His school He began to explain the grammar of verbs through Krsna consciousness. Explaining everything in grammar in relationship to Krsna, the Lord induced His students to refrain from worldly education, for it is better to become Krsna conscious and in this way attain the highest perfectional platform of education. On these grounds, Sri Jiva Gosvami later compiled the grammar entitled Hari-namamrta-vyakarana. People in general consider such explanations crazy. Therefore the Lord's purpose in His attitude of craziness was to explain that there is nothing within our experience but Krsna consciousness, for everything may be dovetailed with Krsna consciousness. These pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu have been very vividly described in the Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya-khanda, Chapter One.
TEXT 8
TEXT
tabeta karila prabhu gayate gamana
isvara-purira sange tathai milana
SYNONYMS
tabeta--thereafter; karila--did; prabhu--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gayate--to Gaya; gamana--travel; isvara-purira sange--with Isvara Puri; tathai--there; milana--meeting.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter the Lord went to Gaya. There He met Srila Isvara Puri.
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Gaya to offer respectful oblations to His forefathers. This process is called pinda-dana. In Vedic society, after the death of a relative, especially one's father or mother, one must go to Gaya and there offer oblations to the lotus feet of Lord Visnu. Therefore hundreds and thousands of men gather in Gaya daily to offer such oblations, or sraddha. Following this principle, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu also went there to offer pinda to His dead father. Fortunately He met Isvara Puri there.
TEXT 9
TEXT
diksa-anantare haila, premera prakasa
dese agamana punah premera vilasa
SYNONYMS
diksa--initiation; anantare--immediately after; haila--became; premera--of love of Godhead; prakasa--exhibition; dese--in His home country; agamana--coming back; punah--again; premera--of love of God; vilasa--enjoyment.
TRANSLATION
In Gaya, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was initiated by Isvara Puri, and immediately afterwards He exhibited signs of love of Godhead. He again displayed such symptoms after returning home.
PURPORT
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Gaya, accompanied by many of His disciples, He became sick on the way. He had such a high fever that He asked His students to bring water that had washed the feet of brahmanas, and when they brought it the Lord drank it and was cured. Therefore everyone should respect the position of a brahmana, as indicated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Neither the Lord nor His followers displayed any disrespect to brahmanas.
The followers of the Lord must be prepared to offer brahmanas all due respect. But preachers of Lord Caitanya's cult object if someone presents himself as a brahmana without having the necessary qualifications. The followers of Lord Caitanya cannot blindly accept that everyone born in a brahmana family is a brahmana. Therefore one should not indiscriminately follow the Lord's example of showing respect to brahmanas by drinking water that has washed their feet. Gradually the brahmana families have become degraded because of the contamination of Kali-yuga. Thus they misguide people by exploiting their sentiments.
TEXT 10
TEXT
sacike prema-dana, tabe advaita-milana
advaita paila visvarupa-darasana
SYNONYMS
sacike--unto mother Sacidevi; prema-dana--giving love of Godhead; tabe--thereafter; advaita--with Advaita Acarya; milana--meeting; advaita--Advaita Acarya; paila--received; visva-rupa--of the universal form of the Lord; darasana--vision.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter the Lord delivered love of Krsna to His mother, Sacidevi, nullifying her offense at the feet of Advaita Acarya. Thus there was a meeting with Advaita Acarya, who later had a vision of the Lord's universal form.
PURPORT
One day Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was sitting on the throne of Visnu in the house of Srivasa Prabhu, and in a mood of His own He said, "My mother has offended the lotus feet of Advaita Acarya. Unless she nullifies this offense at the lotus feet of a Vaisnava, it will not be possible for her to achieve love of Krsna." Hearing this, all the devotees went to bring Advaita Acarya there. While coming to see the Lord, Advaita Acarya was glorifying the characteristics of mother Sacidevi, and thus upon arriving He fell down on the ground in ecstasy. Then, under the instruction of Lord Caitanya, Sacidevi took advantage of this situation to touch Advaita Acarya's lotus feet. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very much pleased by His mother's action, and He said, "Now My mother's offense at the lotus feet of Advaita Acarya has been rectified, and she may have love of Krsna without difficulty." By this example Lord Caitanya taught everyone that although one may be very much advanced in Krsna consciousness, if one offends the lotus feet of a Vaisnava his advancement will not bear fruit. We should therefore be very much conscious not to offend a Vaisnava. Caitanya-caritamrta has described such an offense as follows:
yadi vaisnava-aparadha uthe hati mata
upade va chinde, tara sukhi' yaya pata
(Cc. Madhya 19.156)
As a mad elephant may trample all the plants in a garden, so by committing one offense at the lotus feet of a Vaisnava one may spoil all the devotional service he has accumulated in his life.
After this incident, one day Advaita Acarya Prabhu requested Caitanya Mahaprabhu to display the universal form He had very kindly shown Arjuna. Lord Caitanya agreed to this proposal, and Advaita Prabhu was fortunate enough to see the universal form of the Lord.
TEXT 11
TEXT
prabhura abhiseka tabe karila srivasa
khate vasi' prabhu kaila aisvarya prakasa
SYNONYMS
prabhura--of the Lord; abhiseka--worship; tabe--after that; karila--did; srivasa--of the name Srivasa; khate--on the cot; vasi'--sitting; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila--did; aisvarya--opulence; prakasa--manifestation.
TRANSLATION
Srivasa Thakura then worshiped Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu by the process of abhiseka. Sitting on a cot, the Lord exhibited transcendental opulence.
PURPORT
Abhiseka is a special function for the installation of the Deity. In this ceremony the Deity is bathed with milk and water and then worshiped and given a change of dress. This abhiseka function was especially observed at the house of Srivasa. All the devotees, according to their means, worshiped the Lord with all kinds of paraphernalia, and the Lord gave benedictions to each devotee according to his desire.
TEXT 12
TEXT
tabe nityananda-svarupera agamana
prabhuke miliya paila sad-bhuja-darsana
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; nityananda-svarupera--of the Personality of Godhead Nityananda; agamana--appearance; prabhuke--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; miliya--meeting; paila--obtained; sat-bhuja-darsana--a vision of the six-armed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
After this function at the house of Srivasa Thakura, Nityananda Prabhu appeared, and when He met with Lord Caitanya He got the opportunity to see Him in His six-armed form.
PURPORT
The form of Sad-bhuja, the six-armed Lord Gaurasundara, is a representation of three incarnations. The form of Sri Ramacandra is symbolized by a bow and arrow, the form of Lord Sri Krsna is symbolized by a stick and flute like those generally held by a cowherd boy, and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is symbolized by a sannyasa-danda and kamandalu, or waterpot.
Srila Nityananda Prabhu was born in the village of Ekacakra in the district of Birbhum as the son of Padmavati and Hadai Pandita. In His childhood He played like Balarama. When He was growing up, a sannyasi came to the house of Hadai Pandita, begging to have the pandita's son as his brahmacari assistant. Hadai Pandita immediately agreed and delivered his son to him, although the separation was greatly shocking, so much so that Hadai lost his life after the separation. Nityananda Prabhu traveled on many pilgrimages with the sannyasi. It is said that for many days He lived at Mathura with him, and at that time He heard about Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes in Navadvipa. Therefore He came down to Bengal to see the Lord. When Lord Nityananda came to Navadvipa, He was a guest at the house of Nandana Acarya. Understanding that Nityananda Prabhu had arrived, Lord Caitanya sent His devotees to Him, and thus there was a meeting between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu.
TEXT 13
TEXT
prathame sad-bhuja tanre dekhaila isvara
sankha-cakra-gada-padma-sarnga-venu-dhara
SYNONYMS
prathame--at first; sat-bhuja--six-armed; tanre--unto Him; dekhaila--showed; isvara--the Lord; sankha--conchshell; cakra--disc; gada--club; padma--lotus flower; sarnga--bow; venu--flute; dhara--carrying.
TRANSLATION
One day Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu exhibited to Lord Nityananda Prabhu a six-armed form bearing a conchshell, disc, club, lotus flower, bow and flute.
TEXT 14
TEXT
tabe catur-bhuja haila, tina anga vakra
dui haste venu bajaya, duye sankha-cakra
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; catuh-bhuja--four-armed; haila--became; tina--three; anga--body; vakra--curved; dui haste--in two hands; venu bajaya--blowing the flute; duye--in two (hands); sankha-cakra--conchshell and disc.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter the Lord showed Him His four-armed form, standing in a three-curved posture. With two hands He played upon a flute, and in the other two He carried a conchshell and disc.
TEXT 15
TEXT
tabe ta' dvi-bhuja kevala vamsi-vadana
syama-anga pita-vastra vrajendra-nandana
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; ta'--certainly; dvi-bhuja--two-handed; kevala--only; vamsi--flute; vadana--on the mouth; syama--bluish; anga--body; pita-vastra--yellow dress; vrajendra-nandana--the son of Nanda Maharaja.
TRANSLATION
Finally the Lord showed Nityananda Prabhu His two-armed form of Krsna, the son of Maharaja Nanda, simply playing on His flute, His bluish body dressed in yellow garments.
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya-mangala vividly elaborates upon this description.
TEXT 16
TEXT
tabe nityananda-gosanira vyasa-pujana
nityanandavese kaila musala dharana
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; nityananda--of the name Nityananda; gosanira--of the Lord; vyasa-pujana--worshiping Vyasadeva or the spiritual master; nityananda-avese--in the ecstasy of becoming Nityananda; kaila--did; musala dharana--carrying a plowlike weapon called a musala.
TRANSLATION
Nityananda Prabhu then arranged to offer Vyasa-puja, or worship of the spiritual master, to Lord Sri Gaurasundara. But Lord Caitanya carried the plowlike weapon called musala in the ecstasy of being Nityananda Prabhu.
PURPORT
By the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu arranged for Vyasa-puja of the Lord on the night of the full moon. He arranged for the Vyasa-puja, or guru-puja, through the agency of Vyasadeva. Since Vyasadeva is the original guru (spiritual master) of all who follow the Vedic principles, worship of the spiritual master is called Vyasa-puja. Nityananda Prabhu arranged for the Vyasa-puja, and sankirtana was going on, but when He tried to put a garland on the shoulder of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He saw Himself in Lord Caitanya. There is no difference between the spiritual positions of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu, or Krsna and Balarama. All of Them are but different manifestations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. During this special ceremony, all the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu could understand that there is no difference between Lord Caitanya and Nityananda Prabhu.
TEXT 17
TEXT
tabe saci dekhila, rama-krsna----dui bhai
tabe nistarila prabhu jagai-madhai
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; saci--mother Sacidevi; dekhila--saw; rama-krsna--Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama; dui bhai--two brothers; tabe--thereafter; nistarila--delivered; prabhu--the Lord; jagai-madhai--the two brothers Jagai and Madhai.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter mother Sacidevi saw the brothers Krsna and Balarama in Their manifestation of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda. Then the Lord delivered the two brothers Jagai and Madhai.
PURPORT
One night Sacidevi dreamt that the Deities in her house, Krsna and Balarama, had taken the forms of Caitanya and Nityananda and were fighting one another, as children do, to eat the naivedya, or offering to the Deities. On the next day, by the will of Lord Caitanya, Sacidevi invited Nityananda to take prasada at her house. Thus Visvambhara (Lord Caitanya) and Nityananda were eating together, and Sacidevi realized that They were none other than Krsna and Balarama. Seeing this, she fainted.
Jagai and Madhai were two brothers born in Navadvipa in a respectable brahmana family who later became addicted to all kinds of sinful activities. By the order of Lord Caitanya, both Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa Thakura used to preach the cult of Krsna consciousness door to door. In the course of such preaching they found Jagai and Madhai, two maddened drunken brothers, who, upon seeing them, began to chase them. On the next day, Madhai struck Nityananda Prabhu on the head with a piece of earthen pot, thus drawing blood. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard of this, He immediately came to the spot, ready to punish both brothers, but when the all-merciful Lord Gauranga saw Jagai's repentant behavior, He immediately embraced him. By seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face and embracing Him, both the sinful brothers were at once cleansed. Thus they received initiation into the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra from the Lord and were delivered.
TEXT 18
TEXT
tabe sapta-prahara chila prabhu bhavavese
yatha tatha bhakta-gana dekhila visese
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; sapta-prahara--twenty-one hours; chila--remained; prabhu--the Lord; bhava-avese--in ecstasy; yatha--anywhere; tatha--everywhere; bhakta-gana--the devotees; dekhila--saw; visese--specifically.
TRANSLATION
After this incident, the Lord remained in an ecstatic position for twenty-one hours, and all the devotees saw His specific pastimes.
PURPORT
In the Deity's room there must be a bed for the Deity behind the Deity's throne. (This system should immediately be introduced in all our centers. It does not matter whether the bed is big or small; it should be of a size the Deity room can conveniently accommodate, but there must be at least a small bed.) One day in the house of Srivasa Thakura, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu sat down on the bed of Visnu, and all the devotees worshiped Him with the Vedic mantras of the Purusa-sukta, beginning with sahasra-sirsa purusah sahasraksah sahasra-pat. This veda-stuti should also be introduced, if possible, for installations of Deities. While bathing the Deity, all the priests and devotees must chant this Purusa-sukta and offer the appropriate paraphernalia for worshiping the Deity, such as flowers, fruits, incense, arati paraphernalia, naivedya, vastra and ornaments. All the devotees worshiped Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in this way, and the Lord remained in ecstasy for seven praharas, or twenty-one hours. He took this opportunity to show the devotees that He is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, who is the source of all other incarnations, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita (10.8): aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate. All the different forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or visnu-tattva, emanate from the body of Lord Krsna. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu exposed all the private desires of the devotees, and thus all of them became fully confident that Lord Caitanya is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Some devotees call this exhibition of ecstasy by the Lord sata-prahariya bhava, or "the ecstasy of twenty-one hours," and others call it mahabhava-prakasa or maha-prakasa. There are other descriptions of this sata-prahariya bhava in the Caitanya-bhavagata, Chapter Nine, which mentions that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu blessed a maidservant named Duhkhi with the name Sukhi. He called for Kholaveca Sridhara, and showed him His maha-prakasa. Then He called for Murari Gupta and showed him His feature as Lord Ramacandra. He offered His blessings to Haridasa Thakura, and at this time He also asked Advaita Prabhu to explain the Bhagavad-gita as it is (gitara satya-patha) and showed special favor to Mukunda.
TEXT 19
TEXT
varaha-avesa haila murari-bhavane
tanra skandhe cadi' prabhu nacila angane
SYNONYMS
varaha-avesa--the ecstasy of becoming Varahadeva; haila--became; murari-bhavane--in the house of Murari Gupta; tanra skandhe--on the shoulders of Murari Gupta; cadi'--riding; prabhu--the Lord; nacila--danced; angane--in the yard.
TRANSLATION
One day Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu felt the ecstasy of the boar incarnation and got up on the shoulders of Murari Gupta. Thus they both danced in Murari Gupta's courtyard.
PURPORT
One day Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to cry out, "Sukara! Sukara!" Thus crying out for the boar incarnation of the Lord, He assumed His form as the boar incarnation and got up on the shoulders of Murari Gupta. He carried a small gadu, a small waterpot with a nozzle, and thus He symbolically picked up the earth from the depths of the ocean, for this is the pastime of Lord Varaha.
TEXT 20
TEXT
tabe suklambarera kaila tandula-bhaksana
'harer nama' slokera kaila artha vivarana
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; suklambarera--of Suklambara Brahmacari; kaila--did; tandula--raw rice; bhaksana--eating; harer nama slokera--of the verse celebrated as such; kaila--did; artha--of the meaning; vivarana--explanation.
TRANSLATION
After this incident the Lord ate raw rice given by Suklambara Brahmacari and explained very elaborately the import of the "harer nama" sloka mentioned in the Brhan-naradiya Purana.
PURPORT
Suklambara Brahmacari resided in Navadvipa on the bank of the Ganges. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was dancing in ecstasy, he approached the Lord with a begging bag containing rice. The Lord was so pleased with His devotee that immediately He snatched the bag and began to eat the raw rice. No one forbade Him, and thus He finished the entire supply of rice.
TEXT 21
TEXT
harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha
SYNONYMS
hareh nama--the holy name of the Lord; hareh nama--the holy name of the Lord; hareh nama--the holy name of the Lord; eva--certainly; kevalam--only; kalau--in the Age of Kali; na asti--there is none; eva--certainly; na asti--there is none; eva--certainly; na asti--there is none; eva--certainly; gatih--destination; anyatha--otherwise.
TRANSLATION
" 'In this Age of Kali there is no other means, no other means, no other means for self-realization than chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name of Lord Hari.'
TEXT 22
TEXT
kali-kale nama-rupe krsna-avatara
nama haite haya sarva-jagat-nistara
SYNONYMS
kali-kale--in this Age of Kali; nama-rupe--in the form of the holy name; krsna--Lord Krsna; avatara--incarnation; nama--holy name; haite--from; haya--becomes; sarva--all; jagat--of the world; nistara--deliverance.
TRANSLATION
"In this Age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Krsna. Simply by chanting the holy name, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered.
TEXT 23
TEXT
dardhya lagi' 'harer nama'-ukti tina-vara
jada loka bujhaite punah 'eva'-kara
SYNONYMS
dardhya lagi'--in the matter of emphasizing; harer nama--of the holy name of Lord Hari; ukti--there is utterance; tina-vara--three times; jada loka--ordinary common people; bujhaite--just to make them understand; punah--again; eva-kara--the word eva, or "certainly."
TRANSLATION
"This verse repeats the word 'eva' ['certainly'] three times for emphasis, and it also three times repeats 'harer nama' ['the holy name of the Lord'], just to make common people understand.
PURPORT
To emphasize something to an ordinary person, one may repeat it three times, just as one might say, "You must do this! You must do this! You must do this!" Thus the Brhan-naradiya Purana repeatedly emphasizes the chanting of the holy name so that people may take it seriously and thus free themselves from the clutches of maya. It is our practical experience in the Krsna consciousness movement all over the world that many millions of people are factually coming to the spiritual stage of life simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra regularly, according to the prescribed principles. Therefore our request to all our students is that they daily chant at least sixteen rounds of this harer nama maha-mantra offenselessly, following the regulative principles. Thus their success will be assured without a doubt.
TEXT 24
TEXT
'kevala'-sabde punarapi niscaya-karana
jnana-yoga-tapa-karma-adi nivarana
SYNONYMS
'kevala'-sabde--by the word kevala, or "only"; punarapi--again; niscaya-karana--final decision; jnana--cultivation of knowledge; yoga--practice of the mystic yoga system; tapa--austerity; karma--fruitive activities; adi--and so on; nivarana--prohibition.
TRANSLATION
"The use of the word 'kevala' ['only'] prohibits all other processes, such as cultivation of knowledge, practice of mystic yoga, and performance of austerities and fruitive activities.
PURPORT
Our Krsna consciousness movement stresses the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra only, whereas those who do not know the secret of success for this Age of Kali unnecessarily indulge in the cultivation of knowledge, the practice of mystic yoga or the performance of fruitive activities or useless austerities. They are simply wasting their time and misleading their followers. When we point this out very plainly to an audience, members of opposing groups become angry at us. But according to the injunctions of the sastras, we cannot make compromises with these so-called jnanis, yogis, karmis and tapasvis. When they say they are as good as we are, we must say that only we are good and that they are not good. This is not our obstinacy; it is the injunction of the sastras. We must not deviate from the injunctions of the sastras. This is confirmed in the next verse of Caitanya-caritamrta.
TEXT 25
TEXT
anyatha ye mane, tara nahika nistara
nahi, nahi, nahi----e tina 'eva'-kara
SYNONYMS
anyatha--otherwise; ye--anyone who; mane--accepts; tara--of him; nahika--there is no; nistara--deliverance; nahi nahi nahi--there is nothing else, nothing else, nothing else; e--in this; tina--three; eva-kara--bearing the meaning of emphasis.
TRANSLATION
"This verse clearly states that anyone who accepts any other path cannot be delivered. This is the reason for the triple repetition 'nothing else, nothing else, nothing else,' which emphasizes the real process of self-realization.
TEXT 26
TEXT
trna haite nica hana sada labe nama
apani nirabhimani, anye dibe mana
SYNONYMS
trna--grass; haite--than; nica--lower; hana--becoming; sada--always; labe--chant; nama--the holy name; apani--personally; nirabhimani--without honor; anye--unto others; dibe--you should give; mana--all respect.
TRANSLATION
"To chant the holy name always, one should be humbler than the grass in the street and devoid of all desire for personal honor, but one should offer others all respectful obeisances.
TEXT 27
TEXT
taru-sama sahisnuta vaisnava karibe
bhartsana-tadane kake kichu na balibe
SYNONYMS
taru-sama--like a tree; sahisnuta--forbearance; vaisnava--devotee; karibe--should practice; bhartsana--rebuking; tadane--chastising; kake--unto anyone; kichu--something; na--not; balibe--will utter.
TRANSLATION
"A devotee engaged in chanting the holy name of the Lord should practice forbearance like that of a tree. Even if rebuked or chastised, he should not say anything to others to retaliate.
TEXT 28
TEXT
katileha taru yena kichu na bolaya
sukaiya mare, tabu jala na magaya
SYNONYMS
katileha--even being cut; taru--the tree; yena--as; kichu--something; na--not; bolaya--says; sukaiya--drying up; mare--dies; tabu--still; jala--water; na--does not; magaya--ask for.
TRANSLATION
"For even if one cuts a tree, it never protests, and even if it is drying up and dying it does not ask anyone for water.
PURPORT
This practice of forbearance (trnad api sunicena) is very difficult, but when one actually engages in chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, the quality of forbearance automatically develops. A person advanced in spiritual consciousness through the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra need not practice to develop it separately, for a devotee develops all good qualities simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra regularly.
TEXT 29
TEXT
ei-mata vaisnava kare kichu na magiba
ayacita-vrtti, kimva saka-phala khaiba
SYNONYMS
ei-mata--in this way; vaisnava--a devotee; kare--from anyone; kichu--anything; na--not; magiba--shall ask for; ayacita-vrtti--the profession of not asking for anything; kimva--or; saka--vegetables; phala--fruits; khaiba--shall eat.
TRANSLATION
"Thus a Vaisnava should not ask anything from anyone else. If someone gives him something without being asked, he should accept it, but if nothing comes, a Vaisnava should be satisfied to eat whatever vegetables and fruits are easily available.
TEXT 30
TEXT
sada nama la-iba, yatha-labhete santosa
eita acara kare bhakti-dharma-posa
SYNONYMS
sada--always; nama--the holy name; la-iba--one should chant; yatha--inasmuch as; labhete--gains; santosa--satisfaction; eita--this; acara--behavior; kare--does; bhakti-dharma--of devotional service; posa--maintenance.
TRANSLATION
"One should strictly follow the principle of always chanting the holy name, and one should be satisfied with whatever he gets easily. Such devotional behavior solidly maintains one's devotional service.
TEXT 31
TEXT
trnad api su-nicena
taror iva sahisnuna
amanina mana-dena
kirtaniyah sada harih
SYNONYMS
trnat api--than downtrodden grass; su-nicena--being lower; taroh--than a tree; iva--like; sahisnuna--with tolerance; amanina--without being puffed up by false pride; mana-dena--giving respect to all; kirtaniyah--to be chanted; sada--always; harih--the holy name of the Lord.
TRANSLATION
"One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor yet is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord."
PURPORT
The grass is specifically mentioned in this verse because everyone tramples upon it yet the grass never protests. This example indicates that a spiritual master or leader should not be proud of his position; being always humbler than an ordinary common man, he should go on preaching the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra.
TEXT 32
TEXT
urdhva-bahu kari' kahon, suna, sarva-loka
nama-sutre ganthi' para kanthe ei sloka
SYNONYMS
urdhva-bahu--raising my hands; kari'--doing so; kahon--I declare; suna--please hear; sarva-loka--all persons; nama--of the holy name; sutre--on the thread; ganthi--stringing; para--get it; kanthe--on the neck; ei--this; sloka--verse.
TRANSLATION
Raising my hands, I declare, "Everyone please hear me! String this verse on the thread of the holy name and wear it on your neck for continuous remembrance."
PURPORT
When chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, in the beginning one may commit many offenses, which are called namabhasa and nama-aparadha. In this stage there is no possibility of achieving perfect love of Krsna by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Therefore one must chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra according to the principles of the above verse, trnad api su-nicena taror iva sahisnuna. One should note in this connection that chanting involves the activities of the upper and lower lips as well as the tongue. All three must be engaged in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. The words "Hare Krsna" should be very distinctly pronounced and heard. Sometimes one mechanically produces a hissing sound instead of chanting with the proper pronunciation with the help of the lips and tongue. Chanting is very simple, but one must practice it seriously. Therefore the author of Caitanya-caritamrta, Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, advises everyone to keep this verse always strung about his neck.
TEXT 33
TEXT
prabhu-ajnaya kara ei sloka acarana
avasya paibe tabe sri-krsna-carana
SYNONYMS
prabhu--of the Lord; ajnaya--on the order; kara--do; ei sloka--of this verse; acarana--practice; avasya--certainly; paibe--he will get; tabe--afterwards; sri-krsna-carana--the lotus feet of Lord Krsna.
TRANSLATION
One must strictly follow the principles given by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in this verse. If one simply follows in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya and the Gosvamis, certainly he will achieve the ultimate goal of life, the lotus feet of Sri Krsna.
TEXT 34
TEXT
tabe prabhu srivasera grhe nirantara
ratre sankirtana kaila eka samvatsara
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; prabhu--the Lord, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; srivasera--of Srivasa Thakura; grhe--in the home; nirantara--always; ratre--at night; sankirtana--congregational chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra; kaila--performed; eka samvatsara--one full year.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu regularly led congregational chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra in the house of Srivasa Thakura every night for one full year.
TEXT 35
TEXT
kapata diya kirtana kare parama avese
pasandi hasite aise, na paya pravese
SYNONYMS
kapata--door; diya--closing; kirtana--chanting; kare--performed; parama--very high; avese--in an ecstatic condition; pasandi--nonbelievers; hasite--to laugh; aise--come; na--does not; paya--get; pravese--entrance.
TRANSLATION
This ecstatic chanting was performed with the doors closed so that nonbelievers who came to make fun could not gain entrance.
PURPORT
Chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is open to everyone, but sometimes nonbelievers come to disturb the ceremony of chanting. It is indicated herein that under such circumstances the temple doors should be closed. Only bona fide chanters should be admitted; others should not. But when there is large-scale congregational chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, we keep our temples for everyone to join, and by the grace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu this policy has given good results.
TEXT 36
TEXT
kirtana suni' bahire tara jvali' pudi' mare
srivasere duhkha dite nana yukti kare
SYNONYMS
kirtana suni'--after hearing the chanting; bahire--outside; tara--the nonbelievers; jvali'--burned; pudi'--to ashes; mare--die; srivasere--unto Srivasa Thakura; duhkha--troubles; dite--to give; nana--various; yukti--plans; kare--do.
TRANSLATION
Thus the nonbelievers almost burned to ashes and died in envy. To retaliate, they planned various ways to give trouble to Srivasa Thakura.
TEXTS 37-38
TEXT
eka-dina vipra, nama----'gopala capala'
pasandi-pradhana sei durmukha, vacala
bhavani-pujara saba samagri lana
ratre srivasera dvare sthana lepana
SYNONYMS
eka-dina--one day; vipra--one brahmana; nama--named; gopala capala--of the name Gopala Capala; pasandi-pradhana--the chief of the nonbelievers; sei--he; durmukha--ferocious, using strong words; vacala--talkative; bhavani-pujara--for worshiping the goddess Bhavani; saba--all; samagri--ingredients, paraphernalia; lana--taking; ratre--at night; srivasera--of Srivasa Thakura; dvare--on the door; sthana--the place; lepana--smearing.
TRANSLATION
One night while kirtana was going on inside Srivasa Thakura's house, a brahmana named Gopala Capala, the chief of the nonbelievers, who was talkative and very rough in his speech, placed all the paraphernalia for worshiping the goddess Durga outside Srivasa Thakura's door.
PURPORT
This brahmana, Gopala Capala, wanted to defame Srivasa Thakura by proving that he was actually a sakta, or a worshiper of Bhavani, the goddess Durga, but was externally posing as a Vaisnava. In Bengal there is perpetual competition between the devotees of Goddess Kali and the devotees of Lord Krsna. Generally Bengalis, especially those who are meat-eaters and drunkards, are very much attached to worshiping the goddesses Durga, Kali, Sitala and Candi. Such devotees, who are known as saktas, or worshipers of the sakti-tattva, are always envious of Vaisnavas. Since Srivasa Thakura was a well-known and respected Vaisnava in Navadvipa, Gopala Capala wanted to reduce his prestige by bringing him down to the platform of the saktas. Therefore outside Srivasa Thakura's door he placed various paraphernalia for worshiping Bhavani, the wife of Lord Siva, such as a red flower, a plantain leaf, a pot of wine, and reddish sandalwood paste. In the morning, when Srivasa Thakura saw all this paraphernalia in front of his door, he called for the respectable gentlemen of the neighborhood and showed them that at night he was worshiping Bhavani. Very much sorry, these gentlemen called for a sweeper to cleanse the place and purify it by sprinkling water and cow dung there. This incident concerning Gopala Capala is not mentioned in the Caitanya-bhagavata.
TEXT 39
TEXT
kalara pata upare thuila oda-phula
haridra, sindura ara rakta-candana, tandula
SYNONYMS
kalara pata--a banana leaf; upare--upon it; thuila--placed; oda-phula--a particular type of flower; haridra--turmeric; sindura--vermilion; ara--and; rakta-candana--red sandalwood; tandula--rice.
TRANSLATION
On the upper portion of a plantain leaf he placed such paraphernalia for worship as oda-phula, turmeric, vermilion, red sandalwood and rice.
TEXT 40
TEXT
madya-bhanda-pase dhari' nija-ghare gela
pratah-kale srivasa taha ta' dekhila
SYNONYMS
madya-bhanda--a pot of wine; pase--by the side of; dhari'--placing; nija-ghare--to his own home; gela--went; pratah-kale--in the morning; srivasa--Srivasa Thakura; taha--all those things; ta'--certainly; dekhila--saw.
TRANSLATION
He placed a pot of wine beside all this, and in the morning when Srivasa Thakura opened his door he saw this paraphernalia.
TEXT 41
TEXT
bada bada loka saba anila bolaiya
sabare kahe srivasa hasiya hasiya