Chapter 6

  The Meeting of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Raghunatha dasa Gosvami

 

   A summary of this chapter is given by Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya as follows. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went into transcendental fits of ecstatic love, Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami attended to Him and satisfied Him as He desired. Raghunatha dasa Gosvami had been attempting to come to the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for a long time, and finally he left his home and met the Lord. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had gone to Santipura on His way to Vrndavana, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami had offered to dedicate his life at the Lord's lotus feet. in the meantime, however, a Mohammedan official became envious of Hiranya dasa, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami's uncle, and induced some big official court minister to have him arrested. Thus Hiranya dasa left his home, but by the intelligence of Raghunatha dasa the misunderstanding was mitigated. Then Raghunatha dasa went to Panihati, and, following the order of Nityananda Prabhu, he observed a festival (cida-dadhi-mahotsava) by distributing chipped rice mixed with yogurt. The day after the festival, Nityananda Prabhu gave Raghunatha dasa the blessing that he would very soon attain the shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. After this incident, Raghunatha dasa, with the help of his priest, whose name was Yadunandana Acarya, got out of his house by trickery and thus ran away. Not touching the general path, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami secretly went to Jagannatha Puri. After twelve days, he arrived in Jagannatha Puri at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu entrusted Raghunatha dasa Gosvami to Svarupa Damodara Gosvami. Therefore another name for Raghunatha dasa Gosvami is Svarupera Raghu, or the Raghunatha of Svarupa Damodara. For five days Raghunatha dasa Gosvami took prasada at the temple, but later he would stand at the Simha-dvara gate and eat only whatever he could gather by alms. Later he lived by taking alms from various chatras, or food distributing centers. When Raghunatha's father received news of this, he sent some men and money, but Raghunatha dasa Gosvami refused to accept the money. Understanding that Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was living by begging from the chatras, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu presented him with His own gunja-mala and a stone from Govardhana Hill. Thereafter, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami used to eat rejected food that he had collected and washed. This renounced life greatly pleased both

   Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One day Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took by force some of the same food, thus blessing Raghunatha dasa Gosvami for his renunciation.

 

                                TEXT 1

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   krpa-gunair yah kugrhandha-kupad

                  uddhrtya bhangya raghunatha-dasam

                  nyasya svarupe vidadhe 'ntarangam-

                  sri-krsna-caitanyam amum prapadye

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krpa-gunaih--by the ropes of causeless mercy; yah--who; ku-grha--of contemptible family life; andha-kupat--from the blind well; uddhrtya--having raised; bhangya--by a trick; raghunatha-dasam--Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; nyasya--giving over; svarupe--to Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; vidadhe--made; antarangam--one of His personal associates; sri-krsna-caitanyam--unto Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu; amum--unto Him; prapadye--I offer my obeisances.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   With the ropes of His causeless mercy, Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu employed a trick to deliver Raghunatha dasa Gosvami from the blind well of contemptible family life. He made Raghunatha dasa Gosvami one of His personal associates, placing him under the charge of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami. I offer my obeisances unto Him.

 

                                TEXT 2

 

                                 TEXT

 

               jaya jaya sri-caitanya, jaya nityananda

              jayadvaita-candra, jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jaya jaya--all glories; sri-caitanya--to Lord Caitanya; jaya--all glories; nityananda--to Lord Nityananda; jaya--all glories; advaita-candra--to Advaita Acarya; jaya--all glories; gaura-bhakta-vrnda--to the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All glory to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glory to Lord Nityananda! All glory to Sri Advaita Acarya! And all glory to all the devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!

 

                                TEXT 3

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ei-mata gauracandra bhakta-gana-sange

                  nilacale nana lila kare nana-range

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; gauracandra--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhaktagana-sange--with His associates; nilacale--at Nilacala (Jagannatha Puri); na-na--various; lila--pastimes; kare--performs; nana-range--in varieties of transcendental pleasure.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus Lord Gauracandra performed various pastimes with His associates at Jagannatha Puri in varieties of transcendental pleasure.

 

                                TEXT 4

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 yadyapi antare krsna-viyoga badha ye

               bahire na prakasaya bhakta-duhkha-bhaye

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yadyapi--although; antare--within the heart; krsna-viyoga--separation from Krsna; badhye--obstructs; bahire--externally; na prakasaya--does not exhibit; bhakta-duhkha-bhaye--fearing the unhappiness of the devotees.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu felt pangs of separation from Krsna, He did not manifest His feelings externally, for He feared the unhappiness of His devotees.

 

                                TEXT 5

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  utkata viraha-duhkha yabe bahiraya

              tabe ye vaikalya prabhura varnana na yaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   utkata--severe; viraha-duhkha--unhappiness of separation; yabe--when; bahiraya--is manifested; tabe--at that time; ye--what; vaikalya--transformations; prabhura--of the Lord; varnana na yaya--cannot be described.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The transformations undergone by the Lord when He manifested severe unhappiness due to separation from Krsna cannot be described.

 

                                TEXT 6

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ramanandera krsna-katha, svarupera gana

               viraha-vedanaya prabhura rakhaye parana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ramanandera--of Ramananda Raya; krsna-katha--talks of Lord Krsna; svarupera gana--the songs of Svarupa Damodara; viraha-vedanaya--at the time of pangs of separation; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; rakhaye--keep; parana--the life.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the Lord acutely felt pangs of separation from Krsna, only Sri Rama--nanda Raya's talk about Krsna and the sweet songs of Svarupa Damodara kept Him alive.

 

                                TEXT 7

 

                                 TEXT

 

                dine prabhu nana-sange haya anya mana

                ratri-kale bade prabhura viraha-vedana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dine--during the daytime; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; na-na--sange--by different association; haya--becomes; anya--diverted; mana--His mind; ratri-kale--at night; bade--increase; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; viraha-vedana--pangs of separation.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Because the Lord associated with various devotees during the day, His mind was somewhat diverted, but at night the pangs of separation from Krsna increased very rapidly.

 

                                TEXT 8

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 tanra sukha-hetu sange rahe dui jana

                krsna-rasa-sloka-gite karena santvana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tanra sukha-hetu--for His happiness; sange--in His association; rahe--remain; dui jana--two personalities; krsna-rasa--of the transcendental mellows of Krsna; sloka--verses; gite--by songs; karena santvana--they pacified.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Two people--Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami--stayed with the Lord to pacify Him by reciting various verses about Krsna's pastimes and by singing appropriate songs for His satisfaction.

 

                                TEXT 9

 

                                 TEXT

 

               subala yaiche purve krsna-sukhera sahaya

                gaura-sukha-dana-hetu taiche rama-raya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   subala--Subala, one of the cowherd boy friends of Krsna; yaiche--just as; purve--previously; krsna-sukhera--to give happiness to Krsna; sahaya--helper; gaura-sukha-dana-hetu--for giving happiness to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; taiche--similarly; rama-raya--Ramananda Raya.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Previously, when Lord Krsna was personally present, Subala, one of His cowherd boy friends, gave Him happiness when He felt separation from Radharani. Similarly, Ramananda Raya helped give happiness to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 10

 

                                 TEXT

 

             purve yaiche radhara lalita sahaya-pradhana

            taiche svarupa-gosani rakhe mahaprabhura prana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   purve--previously; yaiche--just as; radhara--of Srimati Radharani; lalita--Her companion named Lalita; sahaya-pradhana--the best helper; taiche--similarly; svarupa-gosani--Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; rakhe--keeps; mahaprabhura prana--the life of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Previously, when Srimati Radharani felt the pangs of separation from Krsna, Her constant companion Lalita kept Her alive by helping Her in many ways. Similarly, when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu felt Radharani's emotions, Svarupa Damodara Gosvami helped Him maintain His life.

 

                               TEXT 11

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ei dui janara saubhagya kahana na yaya

              prabhura 'antaranga' bali' yanre loke gaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei dui janara--of these two personalities; saubhagya--fortune; kahana na yaya--cannot be described; prabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; antaranga--very intimate and confidential associates; bali'--as; yanre--whom; loke--people; gaya--say.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   To describe the fortunate position of Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami is extremely difficult. They were renowned as intimately confidential friends of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 12

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ei-mata vihare gaura lana bhakta-gana

               raghunatha-milana ebe suna, bhakta-gana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; vihare--enjoys; gaura--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; lana bhakta-gana--keeping company with His devotees; raghunatha-milana--meeting with Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; ebe--now; suna--hear; bhakta-gana--O devotees.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Lord thus enjoyed His life with His devotees. O devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, now hear how Raghunatha dasa Gosvami met the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 13

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 purve santipure raghunatha yabe aila

                 mahaprabhu krpa kari' tanre sikhaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   purve--previously; santipure--to Santipura; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; yabe aila--when he came; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krpa kari'--showing causeless mercy; tanre sikhaila--gave him lessons.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Raghunatha dasa, during his family life, went to meet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Santipura, the Lord gave him worthy instructions by His causeless mercy.

 

                               TEXT 14

 

                                 TEXT

 

                prabhura siksate tenho nija-ghare yaya

             markata-vairagya chadi' haila 'visayi-praya'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhura siksate--by the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tenho--he; nija-ghare ya ya--returned to his home; markata-vairagya--monkey renunciation; chadi'--giving up; haila--became; visayi-praya--like a pounds-and-shillings man.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Instead of becoming a so-called renunciate, Raghunatha dasa, foIlowing the instructions of the Lord, returned home and played exactly like a pounds-and-shillings man.

 

                               TEXT 15

 

                                 TEXT

 

              bhitare vairagya, bahire kare sarva-karma

                dekhiya ta' mata-pitara anandita mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhitare--within his heart; vairagya--complete renunciation; bahire--externally; kare--does; sarva--all; karma--activities; dekhiya--seeing; ta'--certainly; mata-pitara--of the father and mother; anandita--satisfied; mana--the mind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa 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.

 

                               TEXT 16

 

                                 TEXT

 

           'mathura haite prabhu aila',----varta yabe paila

                  prabhu-pasa calibare udyoga karila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mathura haite--from Mathura; prabhu aila--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has come back; varta--message; yabe paila--when he received; prabhu-pasa--to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; calibare--to go; udyoga karila--made an endeavor.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When he received a message that Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had returned from Mathura City, Raghunatha dasa endeavored to go to the lotus feet of the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 17

 

                                 TEXT

 

               hena-kale mulukera eka mleccha adhikari

                saptagrama-mulukera se haya 'caudhuri'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hena-kale--at this time; mulukera--of the country; eka--one; mleccha--Mohammedan; adhikari--official; saptagrama-mulukera--of the place known as Saptagrama; se--that person; haya--is; caudhuri--tax collector.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   At that time there was a Mohammedan official collecting the taxes of Saptagrama.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Formerly, when the Mohammedan government was in power, the person appointed tax collector would collect the taxes of the local Zamindars, or landholders. He would keep one-fourth of the collection for himself as a profit, and the balance he would deliver to the treasury of the government.

 

                               TEXT 18

 

                                 TEXT

 

              hiranya-dasa muluka nila 'makrari' kariya

                 tara adhikara gela, mare se dekhiya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hiranya-dasa--the uncle of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; muluka nila--took charge of the country; makrari kariya--by some agreement; tara adhikara gela--the Mohammedan caudhuri lost his position; mare se dekhiya--became extremely envious of Hiranya dasa.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Hiranya dasa, Raghunatha dasa's uncle, made an agreement with the government to collect taxes, the Mohammedan caudhuri, or tax collector, having lost his position, became extremely envious of him.

 

                               TEXT 19

 

                                 TEXT

 

               bara laksa deya rajaya, sadhe bisa laksa

              se 'turuk' kichu na pana haila pratipaksa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bara laksa--1,200,000 coins; deya--delivers; rajaya--unto the Mohammedan government; sadhe--collects; bisa laksa--2,000,000 coins; se turuk--that Turk; kichu--anything; na pana--not getting; haila pratipaksa--became his rival.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Hiranya dasa 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 Mohammedan caudhuri, who was a Turk, became his rival.

 

                               TEXT 20

 

                                 TEXT

 

                raja-ghare kaiphiyat diya ujire anila

             hiranya-dasa palaila, raghunathere bandhila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raja-ghare--to the government treasury; kaiphiyat diya--sending a confidential account; ujire anila--brought the minister in charge; hiranya-dasa palaila--Hiranya dasa fled; raghunathere bandhila--he arrested Raghunatha dasa.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After sending a confidential account to the government treasury, the caudhuri brought the minister in charge. The caudhuri came, wanting to arrest Hiranya dasa, but Hiranya dasa had left home. Therefore the caudhuri arrested Raghunatha dasa.

 

                               TEXT 21

 

                                 TEXT

 

                prati-dina raghunathe karaye bhartsana

                'bapa-jyethare ana;, nahe paiba yatana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prati-dina--daily; raghunathe--Raghunatha dasa; karaye bhartsana--he chastised; bapa-jyethare ana--bring your father and his elder brother; nahe--otherwise; paiba yatana--you will be punished.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Every day, the Mohammedan would chastise Raghunatha dasa and tell him, "Bring your father and his elder brother. Otherwise you will be punished."

 

                               TEXT 22

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  marite anaye yadi dekhe raghunathe

                mana phiri' yaya, tabe na pare marite

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   marite--to beat; anaye--brings; yadi--when; dekhe--sees; raghunathe--Raghunatha dasa; mana--his mind; phiri' yaya--becomes changed; tabe--at that time; na pare marite--he could not beat.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The caudhuri wanted to beat him, but as soon as he saw Raghunatha's face, his mind changed, and he could not beat him.

 

                               TEXT 23

 

                                 TEXT

 

               visese kayastha-buddhye antare kare dara

               mukhe tarje garje, marite sabhaya antara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   visese--specifically; kayastha-buddhye--considering a kayastha; antare--within his heart; kare dara--is afraid; mukhe--with his mouth; tarje garje--threatens; marite--to beat; sa-bhaya--afraid; antara--at heart.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Indeed, the caudhuri was afraid of Raghunatha dasa because Raghunatha dasa belong to the kayastha community. Although the caudhuri would chastise him with oral vibrations, he was afraid to beat him.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Raghunatha dasa belonged to a very aristocratic family of the kayastha community. He had substantial influence with the local people, and therefore the caudhuri, or minister, was afraid to beat him. Superficially he would chastise Raghunatha dasa with threatening vibrations, but he did not beat him. The members of the kayastha community in India are generally very intelligent and expert in business management. Formerly they were mostly government officers. They were mentioned even by Yajnavalkya, as quoted by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya:

 

                       cata-taskara-durvrttair

                         maha-sahasikadibhih

                        pidyamana praja rakset

                        kayasthais ca visestah

 

   From this verse it appears that the governmental officials of the kayastha community would sometimes chastise the citizens, and thus it was the duty of the king to protect the people in general from the atrocities of the kayasthas. In Bengal the kayastha community is honored almost as much as the brahmana community, but in the up-country of India the kayasthas are considered sudras because they generally eat meat and drink wine. In any case, from history the kayasthas appear very intelligent. Thus the Mohammedan caudhuri was afraid of Raghunatha dasa because he belonged to the kayastha community.

 

                               TEXT 24

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 tabe raghunatha kichu cintila upaya

                 vinati kariya kahe sei mleccha-paya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--then; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; kichu--some; cintila--thought of; upaya--means; vinati kariya--in great humility; kahe--he says; sei mleccha--of that Mohammedan caudhuri; paya--at the feet.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   While this was going on, Raghunatha dasa thought of a tricky method of escape. Thus he humbly submitted this plea at the feet of the Mohammedan caudhuri.

 

                               TEXT 25

 

                                 TEXT

 

               "amara pita, jyetha haya tomara dui bhai

               bhai-bhaiye tomara kalaha kara sarvadai

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   amara pita--my father; jyetha--and his elder brother; haya--are; tomara--your; dui bhai--two brothers; bhai-bhaiye--between brother and brother; tomara--all of you; kalaha kara--fight; sarvadai--always.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "My dear sir, my father and his elder brother are both your brothers. All brothers always fight about something.

 

                               TEXT 26

 

                                 TEXT

 

            kabhu kalaha, kabhu priti----ihara niscaya nai

                kali punah tina bhai ha-iba eka-thani

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kabhu--sometimes; kalaha--fight; kabhu--sometimes; priti--very intimate friendly behavior; ihara--of these things; niscaya nai--there is no certainty; kali--the next day; punah--again; tina bhai--three brothers; ha-iba--will be; eka-thani--at one place.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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.

 

                               TEXT 27

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ami yaiche pitara, taiche tomara balaka

                 ami tomara palya, tumi amara palaka

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ami--I; yaiche--just like; pitara--of my father; taiche--similarly; tomara--your; balaka--son; ami--I; tomara--your; palya--person to be maintained; tumi--you; amara--my; palaka--maintainer.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Just as I am my father's son, so I am also yours. I am your dependent, and you are my maintainer.

 

                               TEXT 28

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 palaka hana palyere tadite na yuyaya

              tumi sarva-sastra jana jinda-pira'-praya"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   palaka hana--being a maintainer; palyere--the person who is maintained; tadite--to punish; na yuyaya--is not good; tumi--you; sarva-sastra--all scriptures; jana--know; jinda-pira--a living saintly person; praya--just like.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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."

 

                               TEXT 29

 

                                 TEXT

 

               eta suni' sei mlecchera mana ardra haila

                 dadi vahi' asru pade, kandite lagila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta suni'--hearing this; sei mlecchera--of that Mohammedan; mana--mind; ardra haila--became softened; dadi vahi'--flowing over his beard; asru pade--tears fell; kandite lagila--began to cry.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Hearing Raghunatha dasa's appealing voice, the Mohammedan's heart softened. He began to cry, and tears glided down his beard.

 

                               TEXT 30

 

                                 TEXT

 

           mleccha bale,----"aji haite tumi----mora'putra'

                 aji chadaimu toma' kari' eka sutra"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mleccha bale--the Mohammedan said; aji haite--from this day; tumi--you; mora putra--my son; aji--today; chadaimu toma'--i shall get you released; kari' eka sutra--by some means.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Mohammedan caudhuri told Raghunatha dasa,"You are my son from this day on. Today, by some means, I shall have you released."

 

                               TEXT 31

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   ujire kahiya raghunathe chadaila

                 priti kari' raghunathe kahite lagila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ujire--unto the minister; kahiya--speaking; raghunathe chadaila--released Raghu natha dasa; priti kari'--with great affection; raghunathe--unto Raghunatha dasa; kahite lagila--began to say.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After informing the minister, the caudhuri released Raghunatha dasa and then began to speak to him with great affection.

 

                               TEXT 32

 

                                 TEXT

 

              "tomara jyetha nirbuddhi asta-laksa khaya

               ami----bhagi, amare kichu dibare yuyaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tomara jyetha--the elder brother of your father; nirbuddhi--bereft of intelligence; asta-laksa khaya--enjoys 800,000 coins; ami--I; bhagi--shareholder, amare--unto me; kichu--something; dibare--to give; yuyaya--is proper.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The elder brother of your father is less intelligent," he said. "He enjoys of it to me.

 

                               TEXT 33

 

                                 TEXT

 

               yaha tumi, tomara jyethare milaha amare

             ye-mate bhala haya karuna, bhara dilun tanre

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yaha--go; tumi--you; tomara--your; jyethare--the elder brother of your father; milaha amare--arrange to meet with me; ye-mate--in whatever way; bhala--good; haya--is; karuna--let him do; bhara dilun tanre--I shall completely depend upon him.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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."

 

                               TEXT 34

 

                                 TEXT

 

                raghunatha asi' tabe jyethare milaila

            mleccha-sahita vasa kaila----saba santa haila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; asi'--coming; tabe--then; jyethare milaila--arranged a meeting between the caudhuri and the elder brother of his father; mleccha-sahita--with the Mohammedan; vasa kaila--he settled; saba--everything; santa haila--became peaceful.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa arranged a meeting between his uncle and the caudhuri. He settled the matter, and everything was peaceful.

 

                               TEXT 35

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ei-mata raghunathera vatsareka gela

                  dvitiya vatsare palaite mana kaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; raghunathera--of Raghunatha dasa; vatsareka--one year; gela--passed; dvitiya vatsare--the next year; palaite--to go away from home; mana kaila--he decided.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In this way Raghunatha dasa passed one year exactly like a first-class business manager, but the next year he again decided to leave home.

 

                               TEXT 36

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   ratre uthi' ekela calila palana

                 dura haite pita tanre anila dhariya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ratre--at night; uthi'--getting up; ekela--alone; calila--left; palana--running away; dura haite--from a distant place; pita--his father; tanre--him; anila--brought back; dhariya--catching.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   He got up alone one night and left, but his father caught him in a distant place and brought him back.

 

                               TEXT 37

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ei-mate bare bare palaya, dhari' ane

                 tabe tanra mata kahe tanra pita sane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mate--in this way; bare bare--again and again; palaya--he goes away; dhari' ane--brings him back; tabe--then; tanra mata--his mother; kahe--speaks; tanra pita sane--with his father.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   This became almost a daily affair. Raghunatha would run away from home, and his father would again bring him back. Then Raghunatha dasa's mother began speaking to his father.

 

                               TEXT 38

 

                                 TEXT

 

            "putra batula' ha-ila, ihaya rakhaha bandhiya"

                  tanra pita kahe tare nirvinna hana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   putra--son; batula ha-ila--has become mad; ihaya--him; rakhaha bandhiya--just keep by binding; tanra pita--his father; kahe--says; tare--to her; nirvinna hana--being very unhappy.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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.

 

                               TEXT 39

 

                                 TEXT

 

                "indra-sama aisvarya, stri apsara-sama

                 e saba bandhite narileka yanra mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   indra-sama--like the heavenly King, Indra; aisvarya--material opulence; stri--wife; apsara-sama--like an angel of heaven; e saba--all this; bandhite--to bind; narileka--was not able; yanra mana--whose mind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Raghunatha dasa, 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.

 

                               TEXT 40

 

                                 TEXT

 

                dadira bandhane tanre rakhiba ke-mate?

              janma-data-pita nare 'prarabdha' khandaite

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dadira bandhane--by bonds of ropes; tanre--him; rakhiba--will you keep; ke mate--how; janma-data pita--the father who begets the child; nare--is not able; prarabdha--the reaction of previous activities; khandaite--to nullify.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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.

 

                               TEXT 41

 

                                 TEXT

 

                caitanya-candrera krpa hanache inhare

             caitanya-candrera 'batula' ke rakhite pare?"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   caitanya-candrera--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krpa--mercy; hanache inhare--has been bestowed upon him; caitanya-candrera--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; batula--madman; ke--who; rakhite pare--can keep.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has fully bestowed His mercy on him. Who can keep home such a madman of Caitanyacandra?"

 

                               TEXT 42

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 tabe raghunatha kichu vicarila mane

               nityananda-gosanira pasa calila ara dine

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--thereupon; raghunatha--Raghu natha dasa; kichu--something; vicarila mane--considered within his mind; nityananda-gosanira pasa--unto Nityananda Gosani; calila--went; ara dine--the next day.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Then Raghunatha dasa considered something in his mind, and the next day he went to Nityananda Gosani.

 

                               TEXT 43

 

                                 TEXT

 

                panihati-grame paila prabhura darasana

                 kirtaniya sevaka sange ara bahu-jana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   panihati-grame--in the village known as Panihati; paila--got; prabhura darasana--the audience of Nityananda Prabhu; kirtaniya sevaka--performers of sankirtana and servants; sange--with; ara--and; bahu-jana--many other persons.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In the village of Panihati, Raghunatha dasa obtained an interview with Nityananda Prabhu, who was accompanied by many kirtana performers, servants and others.

 

                               TEXT 44

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ganga-tire vrksa-mule pindara upare

               vasiyachena----yena koti suryodaya kare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ganga-tire--on the bank of the Ganges; vrksa-mule--underneath a tree; pindara upare--on a rock; vasiyachena--was sitting; yena--as if; koti surya--hundreds of thousands of suns; udaya kare--rise.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sitting on a rock under a tree on the bank of the Ganges, Lord Nityananda seemed as effulgent as hundreds and thousands of rising suns.

 

                               TEXT 45

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tale upare bahu-bhakta hanache vestita

            dekhi' prabhura prabhava raghunatha----vismita

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tale--the surface; upare--upon; bahu-bhakta--many devotees; hanache vestita--He was surrounded; dekhi'--seeing; prabhura prabhava--the influence of Nityananda Prabhu; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; vismita--astonished.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Many devotees sat on the ground surrounding Him. Seeing the influence of Nityananda Prabhu, Raghunatha dasa was astonished.

 

                               TEXT 46

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  dandavat hana sei padila kata-dure

              sevaka kahe,----'raghunatha dandavat kare'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dandavat hana--falling flat like a rod; sei--he; padila kata-dure--fell down at a distant place; sevaka kahe--the servant of Nityananda Prabhu said; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; dandavat kare--is offering obeisances.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa offered his obeisances by falling prostrate at a distant place, and the servant of Nityananda Prabhu pointed out, "There is Raghunatha dasa, offering You obeisances."

 

                               TEXT 47

 

                                 TEXT

 

              suni' prabhu kahe,----"cora dili darasana

                  aya, aya, aji tora karimu dandana"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   suni'--hearing; prabhu kahe--Lord Nityananda Prabhu said; cora--thief; dili darasana--you have come to see Me; aya a ya--come here, come here; aji--today; tora--your; karimu--I shall do; dandana--punishment.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Hearing this, Lord Nityananda Prabhu said,"You are a thief. Now you have come to see Me. Come here, come here. Today I shall punish you!"

 

                               TEXT 48

 

                                 TEXT

 

              prabhu bolaya, tenho nikate na kare gamana

              akarsiya tanra mathe prabhu dharila carana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu bolaya--the Lord calls; tenho--he; nikate--nearby; na kare gamana--does not come; akarsiya--bringing him near; tanra mathe--on his head; prabhu--Nityananda Prabhu; dharila carana--placed His feet.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Lord called him, but Raghunatha dasa did not go near the Lord. Then the Lord forcibly caught him and placed His lotus feet upon Raghunatha dasa's head.

 

                               TEXT 49

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  kautuki nityananda sahaje dayamaya

                  raghunathe kahe kichu hana sadaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kautuki--very funny; nityananda--Lord Nityananda; sahaje--by nature; daya-maya--very merciful; raghunathe--unto Raghunatha dasa; kahe--says; kichu--something; hana sa-daya--being merciful.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Nityananda was by nature very merciful and funny. Being merciful, He spoke to Raghunatha dasa as follows.

 

                               TEXT 50

 

                                 TEXT

 

               "nikate na aisa, cora, bhaga' dure dure

                   aji lag panachi, dandimu tomare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nikate--nearby; na aisa--you do not come; cora--thief; bhaga'--you go away; dure dure--a long distance; aji--today; lag panachi--I have caught; dandimu tomare--I shall punish you.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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.

 

                               TEXT 51

 

                                 TEXT

 

                dadhi, cida bhaksana karaha mora gane"

                 suni' anandita haila raghunatha mane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dadhi--yogurt; cida--chipped rice; bhaksana karaha--feed; mora gane--My associates; suni'--hearing; anandita haila--became very happy; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; mane--in the mind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Make a festival and feed all My associates yogurt and chipped rice." Hearing this, Raghunatha dasa was greatly pleased.

 

                               TEXT 52

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  sei-ksane nija-loka pathaila grame

               bhaksya-dravya loka saba grama haite ane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei-ksane--immediately; nija-loka--his servants; pathaila grame--he sent to the nearby village; bhaksya-dravya--eatables; loka saba--all the persons; grama haite--from the village; ane--bring.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa immediately sent his own men to the village to purchase all kinds of eatables and bring them back.

 

                               TEXT 53

 

                                 TEXT

 

             cida, dadhi, dugdha, sandesa, ara cini, kala

                  saba dravya anana caudike dharila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   cida--chipped rice; dadhi--yogurt; dugdha--milk; sandesa--sweetmeats; ara--and; cini--sugar; kala--banana; saba--all; dravya--materials; anana--causing to be brought; cau-dike--all around; dharila--kept.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa brought chipped rice, yogurt, milk, sweetmeats, sugar, bananas and other eatables and placed them all around.

 

                               TEXT 54

 

                                 TEXT

 

               'mahotsava'-nama suni' brahmana-sajjana

                  asite lagila loka asankhya-ganana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mahotsava--festival; nama--name; suni--hearing; brahmana-sat-jana--brahmanas and other gentlemen; asite lagila--began to pour in; loka--people; asankhya-ganana--in numerable.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As soon as they heard that a festival was going to be held, all kinds of brahmanas and other gentlemen began to arrive. Thus there were innumerable people.

 

                               TEXT 55

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ara gramantara haite samagri anila

                   sata dui-cari holna tanha anaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ara--also; grama-antara haite--from other villages; samagri--articles; anila--brought; sata--hundred; dui-cari--two to four; holna--round earthen pots; tanha--there; anaila--caused to be brought.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Seeing the crowd increasing, Raghunatha dasa arranged to get more eatables from other villages. He also brought two to four hundred large, round earthen pots.

 

                               TEXT 56

 

                                 TEXT

 

               bada bada mrt-kundika anaila panca sate

               eka vipra prabhu lagi' cida bhijaya tate

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bada bada--big, big; mrt-kundika--earthen basins; anaila--arranged to be brought; panca sate--five or seven; eka vipra--one brahmana; prabhu lagi'--for Nityananda Prabhu; cida--the chipped rice; bhijaya--soaked; tate--in those.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   He also obtained five or seven especially large earthen pots, and in these pots a brahmana began soaking chipped rice for the satisfaction of Lord Nityananda.

 

                               TEXT 57

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 eka-thani tapta-dugdhe cida bhijana

                ardheka chanila dadhi, cini, kala diya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka-thani--in one place; tapta-dugdhe--in hot milk; cida--the chipped rice; bhijana--soaking; ardheka--half of it; chanila--mixed; dadhi--yogurt; cini--sugar; kala--bananas; diya--putting in.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 58

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ara ardheka ghanavrta-dugdhete chanila

              canpa-kala, cini, ghrta, karpura tate dila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ara ardheka--the other half; ghana-avrta--condensed; dugdhete--in milk; chanila--mixed; canpa-kala--a special type of banana; cini--sugar; ghrta--clarified butter, ghee; karpura--camphor; tate dila--put into that.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The other half was mixed with condensed milk and a special type of banana known as canpa-kala. Then sugar, clarified butter and camphor were added.

 

                               TEXT 59

 

                                 TEXT

 

                dhuti pari' prabhu yadi pindate vasila

                 sata-kundi vipra tanra agete dharila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dhuti pari'--putting on a new cloth; prabhu--Lord Nityananda; yadi--when; pindate vasila--sat on a high platform; sata-kundi--the seven big, big earthen pots; vipra--the brahmana,; tanra agete--in front of Him; dharila--placed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After Nityananda Prabhu had changed His cloth for a new one and sat on a raised platform, the brahmana brought before Him the seven huge pots.

 

                               TEXT 60

 

                                 TEXT

 

                cabutara-upare yata prabhura nija-gane

                 bada bada loka vasila mandali-racane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   cabutara-upare--on the raised platform; yata--all; prabhura nija-gane--very intimate associates of the Lord; bada bada loka--big, big people; vasila--sat down; mandali-racane--in a circle.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   On that platform, all the most important associates of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, as well as other important men, sat down in a circle around the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 61

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ramadasa, sundarananda, dasa-gadadhara

               murari, kamalakara, sadasiva, purandara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ramadasa--Ramadasa; sundarananda--Sundarananda; dasa-gadadhara--Gadadhara dasa; murari--Murari; kamalakara--Kamalakara; sadasiva--Sadasiva; purandara--Purandara.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Among them were Ramadasa, Sundarananda, Gadadhara dasa, Murari, Kamalakara, Sadasiva and Purandara.

 

                               TEXT 62

 

                                 TEXT

 

                dhananjaya, jagadisa, paramesvara-dasa

                  mahesa, gauridasa, hoda-krsnadasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dhananjaya--Dhananjaya; jagadisa--Jagadisa; paramesvara-dasa--Paramesvara dasa; mahesa--Mahesa; gauridasa--Gauridasa; hoda-krsnadasa--Hoda Krsnadasa.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Dhananjaya, Jagadisa, Paramesvara dasa, Mahesa, Gauridasa and Hoda Krsnadasa were also there.

 

                               TEXT 63

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  uddharana datta adi yata nija-gana

                  upare vasila saba, ke kare ganana?

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   uddharana datta--Uddharana Datta; adi--and similar other persons; yata nija gana--all personal associates; upare--above; vasila--sat down; saba--all; ke--who; kare ganana--can count.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Similarly, Uddharana Datta Thakura and many other personal associates of the Lord sat on the raised platform with Nityananda Prabhu. No one could count them all.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The devotees mentioned herein are described by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in his Anubhasya. For further information one may consult the following references in the Adi-lila. Ramadasa--Chapter Ten, texts 116 and 118, and Chapter Eleven, texts 13 and 16. Sundarananda--11.23, Gadadhara dasa--10.53, His full name is Murari Caitanya dasa, and he is a personal associate of Nityananda Prabhu. Thus one should consult Chapter Eleven, text 20. Kamalakara--11.24. Sadasiva--11.38. Purandara--11.28. Dhananjaya--11.31. Jagadisa--11.30. Paramesvara--11.29. Mahesa--11.32. Gauridasa--11.26. Hoda Krsnadasa--11.47. Uddharana Datta Thakura--11.41.

 

                               TEXT 64

 

                                 TEXT

 

              suni' pandita bhattacarya yata vipra aila

               manya kari' prabhu sabare upare vasaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   suni'--hearing; pandita bhattacarya--learned scholars and priests; yata--all; vipra--brahmanas; aila--came; man ya kari'--giving honor; prabhu--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; sabare--all of them; upare vasaila--seated on the top.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Hearing about the festival, all kinds of learned scholars, brahmanas and priests went there. Lord Nityananda Prabhu honored them and made them sit on the raised platform with Him.

 

                               TEXT 65

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 dui dui mrt-kundika sabara age dila

                eke dugdha-cida, are dadhi-cida kaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dui dui--two and two; mrt-kundika--earthen pots; sabara age--before everyone; dila--offered; eke--in one; dugdha-cida--chipped rice with condensed milk; are--in the other; dadhi-cida--chipped rice with yogurt; kaila--put.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Everyone was offered two earthen pots. In one was put chipped rice with condensed milk and in the other chipped rice with yogurt.

 

                               TEXT 66

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   ara yata loka saba cotara-talane

              mandali-bandhe vasila, tara na haya ganane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ara--other; yata--as many as; loka--people; saba--all; cotara-talane--at the base of the platform; mandali-bandhe--in groups; vasila--sat down; tara--of them; na haya ganane--there was no counting.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All the other people sat in groups around the platform. No one could count how many people there were.

 

                               TEXT 67

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   ekeka janare dui dui holna dila

                dadhi-cida dugdha-cida, duite bhijaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ekeka janare--to each and every one of them; dui dui--two and two; holna dila--earthen pots were supplied; dadhi-cida--chipped rice with yogurt; dugdha-cida--chipped rice with condensed milk; duite--in the two pots; bhijaila--were soaked.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 68

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 kona kona vipra upare sthana na pana

               dui holnaya cida bhijaya ganga-tire giya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kona kona--some; vipra--brahmanas; upare--on the platform; sthana na pana--not having gotten a place; dui holnaya--in two earthen pots; cida bhijaya--soak chipped rice; ganga-tire--on the bank of the Ganges; giya--going.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Some of the brahmanas, 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.

 

                               TEXT 69

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  tire sthana na pana ara kata jana

                jale nami' dadhi-cida karaye bhaksana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tire--on the bank; sthana--place; na pana--not having gotten; ara--other; kata--some; jana--persons; jale nami'--getting down into the water; dadhi-cida--yogurt and chipped rice; karaye bhaksana--began to eat.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 70

 

                                 TEXT

 

                keha upare, keha tale, keha ganga-tire

                 bisa-jana tina-thani parivesana kare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   keha upare--some on the platform; keha tale--some at the base of the platform; keha ganga-tire--some on the bank of the Ganges; bisa-jana--twenty men; tina-thani--in three places; parivesana kare--distributed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 71

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 hena-kale aila tatha raghava pandita

                  hasite lagila dekhi' hana vismita

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hena-kale--at this time; aila--arrived; tatha--there; raghava pandita--the great scholar named Raghava pandita; hasite lagila--began to laugh; dekhi'--seeing; hana vismita--being astonished.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   At that time, Raghava Pandita arrived there. Seeing the situation, he began to laugh in great surprise.

 

                               TEXT 72

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   ni-sakdi nana-mata prasada anila

               prabhure age diya bhakta-gane banti dila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ni-sakdi--food cooked in ghee; nana-mata--various types; prasada--remnants of the Lord's food; anila--he brought; prabhure age--in front of Lord Nityananda; diya--placing; bhakta-gane--to all the devotees; banti dila--distributed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   He brought many other kinds of food cooked in ghee and offered to the Lord. This prasada he first placed before Lord Nityananda and then distributed among the devotees.

 

                               TEXT 73

 

                                 TEXT

 

             prabhure kahe,----"toma lagi' bhoga lagaila

             tumi ihan utsava kara, ghare prasada rahila"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhure kahe--he said to Lord Nityananda prabhu; toma lagi'--for You; bhoga lagaila--I have offered food to the Deity; tumi--You; ihan--here; utsava kara--are engaged in a festival; ghare--at home; prasada--the prasada; rahila--remained.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghava Pandita said to Lord Nityananda, "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."

 

                               TEXT 74

 

                                 TEXT

 

            prabhu kahe,----"e-dravya dine kariye bhojana

             ratrye tomara ghare prasada karimu bhaksana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--Lord Nityananda Prabhu said; e-dravya--this food; dine--during the daytime; kariye bhojana--let Me eat; ratrye--at night; tomara ghare--in your house; prasada--the prasada; karimu bhaksana--I shall eat.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Nityananda replied, "Let Me eat all this food here during the day, and I shall eat at your home at night.

 

                               TEXT 75

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  gopa-jati ami bahu gopa-gana sange

                ami sukha pai ei pulina-bhojana-range"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gopa-jati--belonging to the community of cowherd boys; ami--I; bahu--many; gopa-gana--cowherd boys; sange--with; ami--I; sukha pai--become very happy; ei--this; pulina--by the riverside; bhojana-range--in the enjoyment of eating.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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."

 

                               TEXT 76

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  raghave vasana dui kundi deoyaila

                 raghava dvividha cida tate bhijaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghave--Raghava Pandita; vasana--making sit down; dui--two; kundi--earthen pots; deoyaila--arranged to be delivered to him; raghava--Raghava Pandita; dvi-vidha--two kinds; cida--chipped rice; tate--in them; bhijaila--soaked.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Nityananda made Raghava Pandita sit down and had two pots delivered to him also. There were two kinds of chipped rice soaked in them.

 

                               TEXT 77

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 sakala-lokera cida purna yabe ha-ila

                dhyane tabe prabhu mahaprabhure anila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sakala-lokera--of everyone; cida--chipped rice; purna--full; yabe--when; ha-ila--was; dhyane--in meditation; tabe--at that time; prabhu--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; mahaprabhure anila--brought Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When chipped rice had been served to everyone, Lord Nityananda Prabhu, in meditation, brought Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 78

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 mahaprabhu aila dekhi' nitai uthila

                tanre lana sabara cida dekhite lagila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; aila--came; dekhi'--seeing; nitai--Lord Nityananda; uthila--stood up; tanre lana--with Him; sabara--of everyone; cida--chipped rice; dekhite lagila--began to see.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived, Lord Nityananda Prabhu stood up. They then saw how the others were enjoying the chipped rice with yogurt and condensed milk.

 

                               TEXT 79

 

                                 TEXT

 

             sakala kundira, holnara cidara eka eka grasa

                mahaprabhura mukhe dena kari' parihasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sakala kundira--from all the pots; holnara--from the big pots; cidara--of chipped rice; eka eka grasa--one morsel; mahaprabhura mukhe--into the mouth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dena--puts; kari' parihasa--making a joke.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   From each and every pot, Lord Nityananda Prabhu took one morsel of chipped rice and pushed it into the mouth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as a joke.

 

                               TEXT 80

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 hasi' mahaprabhu ara eka grasa lana

               tanra mukhe diya khaoyaya hasiya hasiya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hasi'--smiling; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ara--another; eka grasa--one morsel; lana--taking; tanra mukhe--in the mouth of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; diya--putting; khaoyaya--makes eat; hasiya hasiya--laughing.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, also smiling, took a morsel of food, pushed it into the mouth of Nityananda and laughed as He made Lord Nityananda eat it.

 

                               TEXT 81

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ei-mata nitai bule sakala mandale

                 dandana ranga dekhe vaisnava sakale

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; nitai bule--Lord Nityananda was walking; sakala mandale--through all the groups; dandana--standing; ranga dekhe--see the fun; vaisnava sakale--all the Vaisnavas.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In this way Lord Nityananda was walking through all the groups of eaters, and all the Vaisnavas standing there were seeing the fun.

 

                               TEXT 82

 

                                 TEXT

 

               ki kariya bedaya,----iha keha nahi jane

              mahaprabhura darsana pa ya kona bhagyavane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ki kariya--doing what; bedaya--walks through; iha--this; keha nahi jane--no one could understand; mahaprabhura darsana paya--see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kona bhagyavane--some fortunate men.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   No one could understand what Nityananda Prabhu was doing as He walked about. Some, however, who were very fortunate, could see that Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was also present.

 

                               TEXT 83

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  tabe hasi' nityananda vasila asane

                 cari kundi aroya cida rakhila dahine

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe hasi'--thereupon smiling; nityananda--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; vasila asane--sat down on His seat; cari kundi--four earthen pots; aroya cida--chipped rice not made from boiled paddy; rakhila dahine--He kept on His right side.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Then Nityananda Prabhu smiled and sat down. On His right side He kept four pots of chipped rice that had not been made from boiled paddy.

 

                               TEXT 84

 

                                 TEXT

 

                asana diya mahaprabhure tahan vasaila

                   dui bhai tabe cida khaite lagila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   asana diya--offering a sitting place; mahaprabhure--unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tahan--there; vasaila--made sit; dui bhai--the two brothers, tabe--at that time; cida--chipped rice; khaite lagila--began to eat.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Nityananda offered Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu a place and had Him sit down. Then together the two brothers began eating chipped rice.

 

                               TEXT 85

 

                                 TEXT

 

               dekhi' nityananda-prabhu anandita haila

                  kata kata bhavavesa prakasa karila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dekhi'--seeing; nityananda-prabhu--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; anandita haila--became very happy; kata kata--so much; bhava-avesa--ecstatic love; prakasa karila--He manifested.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Seeing Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu eating with Him, Lord Nityananda Prabhu became very happy and exhibited varieties of ecstatic love.

 

                               TEXT 86

 

                                 TEXT

 

              ajna dila,----'hari bali' karaha bhojana'

              'hari' 'hari'-dhvani uthi' bharila bhuvana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ajna dila--He ordered; hari bali'--saying "Hari"; karaha bhojana--all of you eat; hari hari-dhvani--the resounding of "Hari, Hari"; uthi'--rising; bharila bhuvana--filled the universe.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Nityananda Prabhu ordered,"All of you eat, chanting the holy name of Hari." Immediately the holy names "Hari, Hari" resounded, filling the entire universe.

 

                               TEXT 87

 

                                 TEXT

 

             'hari' 'hari' bali' vaisnava karaye bhojana

                 pulina-bhojana sabara ha-ila smarana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hari hari bali'--chanting Hari, Hari; vaisnava--all the Vaisnavas; karaye bhojana--eat; pulina-bhojana--eating on the bank of the Yamuna; sabara ha-ila smarana--everyone could remember.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When all the Vaisnavas were chanting the holy names"Hari, Hari" and eating, they remembered how Krsna and Balarama ate with Their companions the cowherd boys on the bank of the Yamuna.

 

                               TEXT 88

 

                                 TEXT

 

                nityananda mahaprabhu----krpalu, udara

                raghunathera bhagye eta kaila angikara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nityananda mahaprabhu--Lord Nityananda Prabhu and Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krpalu--merciful; udara--liberal; raghunathera bhagye--by the great fortune of Raghunatha dasa; eta--all this; kaila angikara--They accepted.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda Prabhu are extremely merciful and liberal. It was Raghunatha dasa's good fortune that They accepted all these dealings.

 

                               TEXT 89

 

                                 TEXT

 

              nityananda-prabhava-krpa janibe kon jana?

                mahaprabhu ani' kara ya pulina-bhojana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nityananda--of Nityananda Prabhu; prabhava-krpa--influence and mercy, janibe--can know; kon jana--who; mahaprabhu ani'--bringing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karaya pulina-bhojana--induces Him to eat on the river bank.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Who can understand the influence and mercy of Lord Nityananda Prabhu? He is so powerful that He induced Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to come eat chipped rice on the bank of the Ganges.

 

                               TEXT 90

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 sri-ramadasadi gopa premavista haila

                ganga-tire 'yamuna-pulina' jnana kaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-ramadasa-adi--headed by Sri Ramadasa; gopa--the cowherd boys; prema-avista haila--became absorbed in ecstatic love; ganga-tire--the bank of the Ganges River; yamuna-pulina--the bank of the Yamuna River; jnana kaila--they thought.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All the confidential devotees who were cowherd boys, headed by Sri Ramadasa, were absorbed in ecstatic love. They thought the bank of the Ganges to be the bank of the Yamuna.

 

                               TEXT 91

 

                                 TEXT

 

               mahotsava suni' pasari nana-grama haite

               cida, dadhi, sandesa, kala anila vecite

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mahotsava suni'--hearing about this festival; pasari--the shopkeepers; nana-grama--various villages; haite--from; cida--chipped rice; dadhi--yogurt; sandesa--sweetmeats; kala--bananas; anila--brought; vecite--to sell.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the shopkeepers of many other villages heard about the festival, they arrived there to sell chipped rice, yogurt, sweetmeats and bananas.

 

                               TEXT 92

 

                                 TEXT

 

             yata dravya lana aise, saba mulya kari' laya

                tara dravya mulya diya tahare khaoyaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yata dravya--all materials; lana--bringing; aise--come; saba--all; mulya kari' laya--Raghunatha purchased; tara dravya--of their goods; mulya diya--giving the price; tahare khaoyaya--fed them.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As they came, bringing all kinds of food, Raghunatha dasa purchased it all. He gave them the price for their goods and later fed them the very same food.

 

                               TEXT 93

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 kautuka dekhite aila yata yata jana

                sei cida, dadhi, kala karila bhaksana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kautuka--these funny things; dekhite--to see; aila--arrived; yata yata jana--all kinds of men; sei--they; cida--chipped rice; dadhi--yogurt; kala--bananas; karila bhaksana--ate.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Anyone who came to see how these funny things were going on was also fed chipped rice, yogurt and bananas.

 

                               TEXT 94

 

                                 TEXT

 

                bhojana kari' nityananda acamana kaila

                 cari kundira avasesa raghunathe dila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhojana kari'--after finishing eating; nityananda--Nityananda Prabhu; acamana kaila--washing His hands and mouth; cari kundira--of the four pots; avasesa--what was remaining; raghunathe dila--delivered to Raghunatha dasa.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After Lord Nityananda Prabhu finished eating, He washed His hands and mouth and gave Raghunatha dasa the food remaining in the four pots.

 

                               TEXT 95

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   ara tina kundikaya avasesa chila

               grase-grase kari' vipra saba bhakte dila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ara--other; tina kundikaya--in three pots; avasesa chila--there was food remaining; grase-grase--by morsel; kari'--delivering; vipra--a brahmana; saba bhakte--to all the devotees; dila--delivered.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   There was food remaining in the three other big pots of Lord Nityananda, and a brahmana distributed it to all the devotees, giving a morsel to each.

 

                               TEXT 96

 

                                 TEXT

 

                puspa-mala vipra ani' prabhu-gale dila

                candana aniya prabhura sarvange lepila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   puspa-mala--a flower garland; vipra--one brahmana; ani'--bringing; prabhugale--on the neck of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; dila--placed; candana aniya--bringing sandalwood pulp; prabhura--of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; sarvange lepila--smeared all over the body.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Then a brahmana brought a flower garland, placed the garland on Nityananda Prabhu's neck and smeared sandalwood pulp all over His body.

 

                               TEXT 97

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  sevaka tambula lana kare samarpana

                 hasiya hasiya prabhu karaye carvana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sevaka--servant; tambula--betel nuts; lana--bringing; kare samarpana--offers; hasiya hasiya--smiling; prabhu--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; karaye carvana--chews.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When a servant brought betel nuts and offered them to Lord Nityananda, the Lord smiled and chewed them.

 

                               TEXT 98

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 mala-candana-tambula sesa ye achila

              sri-haste prabhu taha sabakare banti' dila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mala-candana-tambula--the flower garlands, sandalwood pulp and betel; sesa ye achila--whatever remained; sri-haste--in His own hand; prabhu--Nityananda Prabhu; taha--that; sabakare--to all; banti' dila--distributed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   With His own hands Lord Nityananda Prabhu distributed to all the devotees whatever flower garlands, sandalwood pulp and betel nuts remained.

 

                               TEXT 99

 

                                 TEXT

 

               anandita raghunatha prabhura 'sesa, pana

                   apanara gana-saha khaila bantiya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   anandita--being very happy; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; prabhura sesa pana--after getting the remnants left by Lord Nityananda prabhu; apanara gana--his own associates; saha--with; khaila--ate; bantiya--distributing.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After receiving the remnants of food left by Lord Nityananda Prabhu, Raghunatha dasa, who was greatly happy, ate some and distributed the rest among his own associates.

 

                               TEXT 100

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ei ta' kahilun nityanandera vihara

               'cida-dadhi-mahotsava'-name khyati yara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei ta'--in this way; kahilun--I have described; nityanandera vihara--the pastimes of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; cida-dadhi-mahotsava--the festival of eating chipped rice and yogurt; name--of the name; khyati--the fame; yara--of which.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus I have described the pastimes of Lord Nityananda Prabhu in relation to the celebrated festival of chipped rice and yogurt.

 

                               TEXT 101

 

                                 TEXT

 

              prabhu visrama kaila, yadi dina-sesa haila

                raghava-mandire tabe kirtana arambhila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu--Nityananda Prabhu; visrama kaila--took rest; yadi--when; dina-sesa haila--the day was ended; raghava-mandire--at the temple of Raghava Pandita; tabe--at that time; kirtana arambhila--began congregational chanting of the holy name.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Nityananda Prabhu rested for the day, and when the day ended He went to the temple of Raghava Pandita and began congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 102

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  bhakta saba nacana nityananda-raya

                 sese nrtya kare preme jagat bhasaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhakta saba--all the devotees; nacana--making to dance; nityananda-raya--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; sese--at the end; nrtya kare--began to dance; preme--in ecstatic love; jagat bhasaya--inundated the entire world.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Nityananda Prabhu first influenced all the devotees to dance, and finally He Himself began dancing, thus inundating the entire world in ecstatic love.

 

                               TEXT 103

 

                                 TEXT

 

                mahaprabhu tanra nrtya karena darasana

              sabe nityananda dekhe, na dekhe anya-jana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanra--His; nrtya--dancing; karena darasana--sees; sabe--all; nityananda dekhe--Nityananda Prabhu sees; na dekhe--do not see; anya-jana--others.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was observing the dancing of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. Nityananda Prabhu could see this, but the others could not.

 

                               TEXT 104

 

                                 TEXT

 

             nityanandera nrtya,----yena tanhara nartane

                   upama dibara nahi e-tina bhuvane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nityanandera nrtya--the dancing of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; yena--as; tanhara nartane--with the dancing of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; upama dibara nahi--there cannot be any comparison; e-tina bhuvane--within these three worlds.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The dancing of Lord Nityananda Prabhu, like the dancing of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, cannot be compared to anything within these three worlds.

 

                               TEXT 105

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 nrtyera madhuri keba varnibare pare

                 mahaprabhu aise yei nrtya dekhibare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nrtyera madhuri--the sweetness of the dancing; keba--who; varnibare pare--can describe; mahaprabhu aise--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu comes; yei--that; nrtya--dancing; dekhibare--to see.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   No one can properly describe the sweetness of Lord Nityananda's dancing. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally comes to see it.

 

                               TEXT 106

 

                                 TEXT

 

                nrtya kari' prabhu yabe visrama karila

                bhojanera lagi' pandita nivedana kaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nrtya kari'--after dancing; prabhu--Lord Nityananda; yabe--when; visrama karila--took rest; bhojanera lagi'--for His eating; pandita--Raghava Pandita; nivedana kaila--submitted a request.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After the dancing and after Lord Nityananda had rested, Raghava Pandita submitted his request that the Lord take supper.

 

                               TEXT 107

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 bhojane vasila prabhu nija-gana lana

                   mahaprabhura asana dahine patiya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhojane--to eat; vasila--sat down; prabhu--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; nija-gana lana--with His own personal associates; mahaprabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; asana--sitting place; dahine patiya--setting on the right side.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Nityananda Prabhu sat down for supper with His personal associates and made a sitting place on His right side for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 108

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   mahaprabhu asi' sei asane vasila

                 dekhi' raghavera mane ananda badila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; asi'--coming; sei asane--on that seat; vasila--sat down; dekhi'--seeing; raghavera mane--in the mind of Raghava Pandita; ananda--great happiness; badila--increased.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came there and sat down at His place. Seeing this, Raghava Pandita felt increasing happiness. Raghava Pandita felt increasing happiness.

 

                               TEXT 109

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  dui-bhai-age prasada aniya dharila

                sakala vaisnave piche parivesana kaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dui-bhai-age--in front of the two brothers; prasada--the remnants of food offered to Lord Krsna; aniya--bringing; dharila--put; sakala vaisnave--to all the Vaisnavas; piche--thereafter; parivesana kaila--distributed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghava Pandita brought the prasada before the two brothers and thereafter distributed prasada to all the other Vaisnavas.

 

                               TEXT 110

 

                                 TEXT

 

              nana-prakara pitha, payasa, divya salyanna

                 amrta nindaye aiche vividha vyanjana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nana-prakara pitha--various types of cake; payasa--sweet rice; divya salyanna--fine cooked rice; amrta--nectar; nindaye--surpassed; aiche--such; vividha vyanjana--varieties of vegetables.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   There were varieties of cakes, sweet rice and fine cooked rice that surpassed the taste of nectar. There were also varieties of vegetables.

 

                               TEXT 111

 

                                 TEXT

 

                raghava-thakurera prasada amrtera sara

                mahaprabhu yaha khaite aise bara bara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghava-thakurera--of Raghava Pandita; prasada--food offered to the Deity; amrtera sara--the essence of nectar; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yaha--which; khaite--to eat; aise--came; bara bara--again and again.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The food prepared and offered to the Deity by Raghava Pandita was like the essence of nectar. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came there again and again to eat such prasada.

 

                               TEXT 112

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 paka kari' raghava yabe bhoga lagaya

                mahaprabhura lagi' bhoga prthak badaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   paka kari'--after cooking; raghava--Raghava pandita; yabe--when; bhoga lagaya--offers food to the Deity; mahaprabhura lagi'--for Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhoga--offering; prthak--separate; badaya--arranges.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Raghava Pandita offered the food to the Deity after cooking, he would make a separate offering for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 113

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 prati-dina mahaprabhu karena bhojana

               madhye madhye prabhu tanre dena darasana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prati-dina--daily; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karena bhojana--eats; madhye madhye--sometimes; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--unto him; dena darasana--gives His audience.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Every day, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would eat at the house of Raghava Pandita. Sometimes He would give Raghava Pandita the opportunity to see Him.

 

                               TEXT 114

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   dui bhaire raghava ani' parivese

                yatna kari' khaoyaya, na rahe avasese

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dui bhaire--to the two brothers; raghava--Raghava pandita; ani'--bringing; parivese--distributed; yatna kari'--with great attention; khaoyaya--fed Them; na rahe avasese--there were no remnants.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghava Pandita would bring and distribute prasada to the two brothers, feeding Them with great attention. They ate everything, and therefore there were no remnants left.

 

                               TEXT 115

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   kata upahara ane, hena nahi jani

                raghavera ghare randhe radha-thakurani

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kata upahara--many presentations; ane--brings; hena--such; nahi jani--I cannot understand; raghavera ghare--at the house of Raghava pandita; randhe--cooks; radha-thakurani--the supreme mother, Srimati Radharani.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   He brought so many presentations that no one could know them perfectly. Indeed, it was a fact that the supreme mother, Radharani, personally cooked in the house of Raghava Pandita.

 

                               TEXT 116

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 durvasara thani tenho panachena vara

                amrta ha-ite paka tanra adhika madhura

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   durvasara thani--from Durvasa Muni; tenho--She; panachena vara--got the benediction; amrta ha-ite--than nectar; paka--cooking; tanra--Her; adhika madhura--more sweet.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Srimati Radharani received from Durvasa Muni the benediction that whatever She cooked would be sweeter than nectar. That is the special feature of Her cooking.

 

                               TEXT 117

 

                                 TEXT

 

             sugandhi sundara prasada----madhuryera sara

                  dui bhai taha khana santosa apara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   su-gandhi--fragrant; sundara--beautiful; prasada--food; madhuryera sara--the essence of all sweetness; dui bhai--the two brothers; taha--that; khana--eating; santosa apara--very, very happy.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Aromatic and pleasing to see, the food was the essence of all sweetness. Thus the two brothers, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda Prabhu, ate it with great satisfaction.

 

                               TEXT 118

 

                                 TEXT

 

              bhojane vasite raghunathe kahe sarva-jana

             pandita kahe,----inha pache karibe bhojana'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhojane--to eat; vasite--to sit down; raghunathe--unto Raghunatha dasa; kahe--requested; sarva-jana--everyone; pandita kahe--Raghava Pandita said; inha--this; pache--later; karibe bhojana--will take food.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All the devotees present requested Raghunatha dasa to sit down and take prasada, but Raghava Pandita told them,"He will take prasada later."

 

                               TEXT 119

 

                                 TEXT

 

              bhakta-gana akantha bhariya karila bhojana

               'hari' dhvani kari' uthi' kaila acamana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhakta-gana--all the devotees; akantha--up to the neck; bhariya--filling; karila bhojana--took prasada; hari dhvani--chanting of the holy name of Hari; kari'--doing; uthi'--getting up; kaila acamana--washed their mouths and hands.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All the devotees took prasada, filling themselves to the brim. Thereafter, chanting the holy name of Hari, they stood up and washed their hands and mouths.

 

                               TEXT 120

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 bhojana kari' dui bhai kaila acamana

                  raghava ani' paraila malya-candana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhojana kari'--after eating; dui bhai--the two brothers; kaila acamana--washed Their hands and mouths; raghava--Raghava Pandita; ani'--bringing; paraila--decorated Them with; malya-candana--flower garlands and sandalwood pulp.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After eating, the two brothers washed Their hands and mouths. Then Raghava Pandita brought fIower garlands and sandalwood pulp and decorated Them.

 

                               TEXT 121

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 bida khaoyaila, kaila carana vandana

                 bhakta-gane dila bida, malya-candana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bida khaoyaila--he offered betel nuts; kaila carana vandana--prayed to the lotus feet; bhakta-gane--unto the devotees; dila--gave; bida--betel nuts; malya-candana--garlands and sandalwood pulp.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghava Pandita offered Them betel nuts and worshiped Their lotus feet. He also distributed betel nuts, flower garlands and sandalwood pulp to the devotees.

 

                               TEXT 122

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  raghavera krpa raghunathera upare

                dui bhaiera avasista patra dila tanre

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghavera--of Raghava Pandita; krpa--mercy; raghunathera upare--unto Raghunatha dasa; dui bhaiera--of the two brothers; avasista--of remnants of food; patra--the dishes; dila tanre--offered to him.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghava Pandita, being very merciful toward Raghunatha dasa, offered him the dishes with the remnants of food left by the two brothers.

 

                               TEXT 123

 

                                 TEXT

 

           kahila,----"caitanya gosani kariyachena bhojana

             tanra sesa paile, tomara khandila bandhana"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kahila--he said; caitanya gosani--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kariyachena bhojana--has eaten; tanra sesa--His remnants; paile--if you take; tomara--your; khandila--will cease; bandhana--bondage.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   He said, "Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has eaten this food. If you take His remnants, you will be released from the bondage of your family."

 

                               TEXT 124

 

                                 TEXT

 

               bhakta-citte bhakta-grhe sada avasthana

            kabhu gupta, kabhu vyakta, svatantra bhagavan

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhakta-citte--in the heart of a devotee; bhakta-grhe--at the house of a devotee; sada avasthana--always resides; kabhu gupta--sometimes hidden; kabhu vyakta--sometimes manifest; svatantra--fully independent; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 125

 

                                 TEXT

 

            sarvatra 'vyapaka' prabhura sada sarvatra vasa

                  ihate samsaya yara, sei yaya nasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarvatra--everywhere; vyapaka--pervading; prabhura--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sada--always; sarvatra--everywhere; vasa--residence; ihate--about this; samsaya--doubt; yara--of whom; sei--he; yaya nasa--becomes annihilated.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Supreme Personality of Godhead is all-pervasive, and therefore He resides everywhere. Anyone who doubts this will be annihilated.

 

                               TEXT 126

 

                                 TEXT

 

              prate nityananda prabhu ganga-snana kariya

                 sei vrksa-mule vasila nija-gana lana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prate--in the morning; nityananda prabhu--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; ganga snana--bathing in the Ganges; kariya--after doing; sei vrksa-mule--under that tree; vasila--sat down; nija-gana lana--with His associates.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In the morning, after taking His bath in the Ganges, Nityananda Prabhu sat down with His associates beneath the same tree under which He had previously sat.

 

                               TEXT 127

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 raghunatha asi' kaila carana vandana

                 raghava-pandita-dvara kaila nivedana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; asi'--coming; kaila carana vandana--worshiped His lotus feet; raghava-pandita-dvara--through Raghava pandita; kaila nivedana--submitted his desire.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa went there and worshiped Lord Nityananda's lotus feet. Through Raghava Pandita, he submitted his desire.

 

                               TEXT 128

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 "adhama, pamara mui hina jivadhama!

               mora iccha haya----pana caitanya-carana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   adhama--the most fallen; pamara--the most sinful; mui--I; hina--condemned; jiva-adhama--the lowest of all living beings; mora--my; iccha--desire; haya--is; pana--I can get; caitanya-carana--the shelter of the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I am the lowest of men, the most sinful, fallen and condemned. Nevertheless, I desire to attain the shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 129

 

                                 TEXT

 

                vamana hana yena canda dharibare caya

              aneka yatna kainu, tate kabhu siddha naya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vamana hana--being a dwarf; yena--as if; canda--the moon; dharibare--to catch; caya--wants; aneka yatna--many attempts; kainu--I have made; tate--in that; kabhu siddha naya--I have not been successful.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Like a dwarf who wants to catch the moon, I have tried my best many times, but I have never been successful.

 

                               TEXT 130

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  yata-bara palai ami grhadi chadiya

               pita, mata----dui more rakhaye bandhiya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yata-bara--as many times; palai--go away; ami--I; grha-adi chadiya--giving up my relationship with home; pita mata--father and mother; dui--both of them; more--me; rakhaye bandhiya--keep bound.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Every time I tried to go away and give up my home relationships, my father and mother unfortunately kept me bound.

 

                               TEXT 131

 

                                 TEXT

 

               tomara krpa vina keha 'caitanya' na paya

                 tumi krpa kaile tanre adhameha paya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tomara krpa--Your mercy; vina--without; keha--anyone; caitanya--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; na paya--cannot get; tumi krpa kaile--if You are merciful; tanre--Him; adhameha--even the fallen soul; paya--can get.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "No one can attain the shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu without Your mercy, but if You are merciful, even the lowest of men ca attain shelter at His lotus feet.

 

                               TEXT 132

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ayogya mui nivedana karite kari bhaya

               more 'caitanya' deha' gosani hana sadaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ayogya--unfit; mui--I; nivedana karite--to submit my desires; kari bhaya--I am afraid; more--unto me; caitanya deha'--kindly give the shelter of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gosani--O my Lord; hana sa-daya--being merciful.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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 Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 133

 

                                 TEXT

 

                mora mathe pada dhari' karaha prasada

              nirvighne caitanya pana----kara asirvada"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mora mathe--upon my head; pada dhari'--keeping Your feet; karaha prasada--bless me; nirvighne--without difficulty; caitanya pana--I may get the shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kara asirvada--give this benediction.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Placing Your feet on my head, give me the benediction that I may achieve the shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu without difficulty. I pray for this benediction."

 

                               TEXT 134

 

                                 TEXT

 

               suni' hasi' kahe prabhu saba bhakta-gane

               "ihara visaya-sukha----indra-sukha-sama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   suni'--hearing; hasi'--smiling; kahe--says; prabhu--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; saba bhakta-gane--unto all the devotees; ihara--of Raghunatha dasa; visaya sukha--material happiness; indra-sukha--the material happiness of the King of heaven, Indra; sama--equal to.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After hearing this appeal by Raghunatha dasa, Lord Nityananda Prabhu smiled and told all the devotees, "Raghunatha dasa's standard of material happiness is equal to that of Indra, the King of heaven.

 

                               TEXT 135

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 caitanya-krpate seha nahi bhaya mane

             sabe asirvada kara----pauka caitanya-carane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   caitanya-krpate--by the mercy of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; seha--such a standard of material happiness; nahi bhaya--he does not take as valuable; mane--at mind; sabe--all of you; asirvada kara--give the benediction; pauka--let him get; caitanya-carane--the shelter of the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Because of the mercy bestowed upon him by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Raghunatha dasa, 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 Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 136

 

                                 TEXT

 

                krsna-pada-padma-gandha yei jana paya

                brahmaloka-adi-sukha tanre nahi bhaya"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krsna--of Lord Krsna; pada-padma--of the lotus feet; gandha--the fragrance; yei jana--anyone who; paya--gets; brahma-loka--of Brahmaloka; adi--and so on; sukha--happiness; tanre--to him; nahi bhaya--does not appear valuable.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "One who experiences the fragrance of the lotus feet of Lord Krsna does not even value the standard of happiness available in Brahmaloka, the topmost planet. And what to speak of heavenly happiness?

 

                               TEXT 137

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       yo dustyajan dara-sutan

                       suhrd-rajyam hrdi-sprsah

                        jahau yuvaiva malavad

                         uttama-sloka-lalasah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yah--who (Bharata Maharaja); dustyajan--difficult to give up; dara-sutan--wife and children; suhrt--friends; rajyam--kingdom; hrdi-sprsah--dear to the core of the heart; jahau--gave up; yuva--youth; eva--at that time; malavat--like stool; uttama-sloka-lalasah--being captivated by the transcendental qualities; pastimes and association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is offered sublime, poetic prayers by those trying to attain His favor. Thus He is known as Uttamasloka. Being very eager to gain the association of Lord Krsna, 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.' "

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This verse is from Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.14.43).

 

                               TEXT 138

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tabe raghunathe prabhu nikate bolaila

                tanra mathe pada dhari' kahite lagila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--then; raghunathe--Raghunatha dasa; prabhu--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; nikate bolaila--called nearby; tanra mathe--on his head; pada dhari'--keeping His feet; kahite lagila--began to speak.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Then Lord Nityananda Prabhu called Raghunatha dasa near Him, placed His lotus feet upon Raghunatha dasa's head and began to speak.

 

                               TEXT 139

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  "tumi ye karaila ei pulina-bhojana

                tomaya krpa kari' gaura kaila agamana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tumi--you; ye--that; karaila--caused to do; ei--this; pulina-bhojana--picnic on the bank of the Ganges; tomaya--unto you; krpa kari'--being merciful; gaura--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila agamana--came.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "My dear Raghunatha dasa," He said, "since you arranged the feast on the bank of the Ganges, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came here just to show you His mercy.

 

                               TEXT 140

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 krpa kari' kaila cida-dugdha bhojana

              nrtya dekhi' ratrye kaila prasada bhaksana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krpa kari'--by His causeless mercy; kaila--did; cida-dugdha bhojana--eating of the chipped rice and milk; nrtya dekhi'--after seeing the dancing; ratrye--at night; kaila prasada bhaksana--ate the prasada.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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.

 

                               TEXT 141

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   toma uddharite gaura aila apane

                chutila tomara yata vighnadi-bandhane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   toma--you; uddharite--to deliver; gaura--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Gaurahari; aila apane--came personally; chutila--have gone; tomara--your; yata--all kinds of; vighna-adi-bandhane--impediments for bondage.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Gaurahari, came here personally to deliver you. Now rest assured that all the impediments meant for your bondage are gone.

 

                               TEXT 142

 

                                 TEXT

 

                svarupera sthane toma karibe samarpane

               'antaranga' bhrtya bali' rakhibe carane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   svarupera sthane--unto Svarupa Damodara; toma--you; karibe samarpane--He will give; antaranga--very confidential; bhrtya--servant; bali'--as; rakhibe carane--will keep under His lotus feet.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will accept you and place you under the charge of His secretary, Svarupa Damodara. You will thus become one of the most confidential internal servants and will attain the shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 143

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   niscinta hana yaha apana-bhavana

                acire nirvighne pabe caitanya-carana"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   niscinta--without anxiety; hana--being; yaha--go; apana-bhavana--to your own place; acire--very soon; nirvighne--without impediments; pabe--you will get; caitanya-carana--the shelter of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Being assured of all this, return to your own home. Very soon, without impediments, you will attain the shelter of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu."

 

                               TEXT 144

 

                                 TEXT

 

               saba bhakta-dvare tanre asirvada karaila

                 tan-sabara carana raghunatha vandila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   saba--all; bhakta-dvare--by the devotees; tanre asirvada karaila--had him blessed; tan-sabara--of all of them; carana--the lotus feet; raghunatha--Raghu natha dasa; vandila--worshiped.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Nityananda had Raghunatha dasa blessed by all the devotees, and Raghunatha dasa offered his respects to their lotus feet.

 

                               TEXT 145

 

                                 TEXT

 

               prabhu-ajna lana vaisnavera ajna la-ila

                 raghava-sahite nibhrte yukti karila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu-ajna--the order of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; lana--taking; vaisnavera ajna--the permission of all the Vaisnavas; la-ila--he took; raghava-sahite--with Raghava Pandita; nibhrte--in a solitary place; yukti karila--he consulted.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After taking leave of Lord Nityananda Prabhu and then all the other Vaisnavas, Sri Raghunatha dasa consulted secretly with Raghava Pandita.

 

                               TEXT 146

 

                                 TEXT

 

                yukti kari' sata mudra, sona tola-sate

                nibhrte dila prabhura bhandarira hate

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yukti kari'--after consultation; sata mudra--one hundred coins; sona--in gold pieces; tola-sate--about seven tolas (about two and a half ounces); nibhrte--secretly; dila--delivered; prabhura--of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; bhandarira--of the treasurer; hate--into the hand.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After consulting with Raghava Pandita, he secretly delivered one hundred gold coins and about seven tolas of gold to the hand of Nityananda Prabhu's treasurer.

 

                               TEXT 147

 

                                 TEXT

 

             tanre nisedhila,----"prabhure ebe na kahiba

                nija-ghare yabena yabe tabe nivediba"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tanre--him; nisedhila--he forbade; prabhure--unto Lord Nityananda Prabhu; ebe--now; na kahiba--do not speak; nila-ghare--to His home; yabena--will return; yabe--when; tabe--then; nivediba--kindly inform Him.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa admonished the treasurer, "Do not speak about this to Lord Nityananda Prabhu now, but when He returns home, kindly inform Him about this presentation."

 

                               TEXT 148

 

                                 TEXT

 

              tabe raghava-pandita tanre ghare lana gela

               thakura darsana karana mala-candana dila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--thereupon; raghava-pandita--Raghava Pandita; tanre--him; ghare lana gela--took to his home; thakura darsana karana--after inducing him to see the Deity; mala-candana--a garland and sandalwood pulp; dila--delivered.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thereupon, Raghava Pandita took Raghunatha dasa to his home. After inducing him to see the Deity, he gave Raghunatha dasa a garland and sandalwood pulp.

 

                               TEXT 149

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 aneka 'prasada' dila pathe khaibare

                 tabe punah raghunatha kahe panditere

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   aneka prasada--much prasada; dila--delivered; pathe khaibare--to eat on his way; tabe--then; punah--again; raghunatha kahe--Raghunatha dasa said; panditere--to Raghava Pandita.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   He gave Raghunatha dasa a large quantity of prasada to eat on his way home. Then Raghunatha dasa again spoke to Raghava Pandita.

 

                               TEXT 150

 

                                 TEXT

 

           "prabhura sange yata mahanta, bhrtya asrita jana

                   pujite cahiye ami sabara carana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhura sange--with Lord Nityananda Prabhu; yata--all; mahanta--great devotees; bhrtya--servants; asrita jana--subservient people; pujite--to worship; cahiye--want; ami--I; sabara carana--the lotus feet of all of them.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I want to give money," he said, "just to worship the lotus feet of all the great devotees, servants and subservants of Lord Nityananda Prabhu.

 

                               TEXT 151

 

                                 TEXT

 

               bisa, panca-dasa, bara, dasa, panca haya

               mudra deha' vicari' yara yata yogya haya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bisa--twenty; panca-dasa--fifteen; bara--twelve; dasa--ten; panca--five; haya--are; mudra--coins; deha'--give; vicari'--considering; yara--of whom; yata--as much; yogya haya--is fit.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "As you think fit, give twenty, fifteen, twelve, ten or five coins to each of them."

 

                               TEXT 152

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 saba lekha kariya raghava-pasa dila

                yanra name yata raghava cithi lekhaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   saba--all; lekha kariya--writing; raghava-pasa dila--delivered to Raghava Pandita; yanra name--in whose name; yata--as much; raghava--Raghava Pandita; cithi--a list; lekhaila--had written.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa drew up an account of the amount to be given and submitted it to Raghava Pandita, who then made up a list showing how much money was to be paid to each and every devotee.

 

                               TEXT 153

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  eka-sata mudra ara sona tola-dvaya

                   panditera age dila kariya vinaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka-sata mudra--one hundred coins; ara--and; sona--gold; tola-dvaya--two tolas; panditera age--before Raghava Pandita; dila--presented; kariya vinaya--with great humility.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   With great humility, Raghunatha dasa placed one hundred gold coins and about two tolas of gold before Raghava Pandita for all the other devotees.

 

                               TEXT 154

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  tanra pada-dhuli lana svagrhe aila

                 nityananda-krpa pana krtartha manila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tanra--his; pada-dhuli--the dust of the feet; lana--taking; sva-grhe aila--returned to his home; nityananda-krpa--the mercy of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; pana--getting; krtartha manila--he felt greatly obligated.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After taking dust from the feet of Raghava Pandita, Raghunatha dasa returned to his home, feeling greatly obligated to Lord Nityananda Prabhu because of having received His merciful benediction.

 

                               TEXT 155

 

                                 TEXT

 

                sei haite abhyantare na karena gamana

               bahire durga-mandape yana karena sayana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei haite--from that day; abhyantare--in the interior rooms; na karena gamana--did not go; bahire--outside; durga-mandape--to the place where Durga worship was performed; yana--going; karena sayana--he sleeps.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   From that day on, he did not go into the interior section of the house. Instead, he would sleep on the Durga-mandapa [the place where mother Durga was worshiped].

 

                               TEXT 156

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  tanha jagi' rahe saba raksaka-gana

                  palaite karena nana upaya cintana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tanha--there; jagi'--keeping awake; rahe--stay; saba--all; raksaka-gana--the watch men; palaite--to go away; karena--does; nana--various; upaya--means; cintana--thinking of.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   There, however, the watchmen alertly kept guard. Raghunatha dasa was thinking of various means by which to escape their vigilance.

 

                               TEXT 157

 

                                 TEXT

 

               hena-kale gauda-desera saba bhakta-gana

               prabhure dekhite nilacale karila gamana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hena-kale--at this time; gauda-desera--of Bengal; saba--all; bhakta-gana--devotees; prabhure--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhite--to see; nilacale--to Jagannatha Puri; karila gamana--went.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   At that time, all the devotees of Bengal were going to Jagannatha Puri to see Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 158

 

                                 TEXT

 

              tan-sabara sange raghunatha yaite na pare

             prasiddha prakata sanga, tabahin dhara pade

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tan-sabara--all of them; sange--with; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; yaite na pare--could not go; prasiddha--famous; prakata--known; sanga--group; tabahin--immediately; dhara pade--he would be caught.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa could not accompany them, for they were so famous that he would immediately have been caught.

 

                            TEXTS 159-160

 

                                 TEXT

 

                    ei-mata cintite daive eka-dine

                bahire devi-mandape kariyachena sayane

 

                  danda-cari ratri yabe ache avasesa

                yadunandana-acarya tabe karila pravesa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; cintite--while he was thinking; daive--by chance; eka dine--one day; bahire--outside the house; devi-mandape--on the Durga platform; kariyachena sayane--was sleeping; danda-cari--four dandas (ninety-six minutes); ratri--night; yabe--when; ache avasesa--there remained; yadunandana-acarya--the priest of the name Yadunandana Acarya; tabe--then; karila pravesa--entered.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus Raghunatha dasa thought deeply about how to escape, and one night while he was sleeping on the Durga-mandapa, the priest Yadunandana Acarya entered the house when only four dandas remained until the end of the night.

 

                               TEXT 161

 

                                 TEXT

 

               vasudeva-dattera tenha haya 'anugrhita'

              raghunathera 'guru' tenho haya 'purohita'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vasudeva-dattera--of Vasudeva Datta; tenha--he; haya anugrhita--was given the mercy; raghunathera--of Raghunatha dasa; guru--the spiritual master; tenho--he; haya--was; purohita--the priest.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Yadunandana Acarya was the priest and spiritual master of Raghunatha dasa. Although born in a brahmana family, he had accepted the mercy of Vasudeva Datta.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments that although the atheists who have deviated from the order of Sri Advaita Acarya introduce themselves as followers of Advaita Acarya, they do not accept Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. Yadunandana Acarya, one of the most confidential followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, was the initiated disciple of Advaita Acarya. He was not polluted by sentimental distinctions classifying Vaisnavas according to birth. Therefore although Vasudeva Datta had not been born in a brahmana family, Yadunandana Acarya accepted Vasudeva Datta as his spiritual master.

 

                               TEXT 162

 

                                 TEXT

 

               advaita-acaryera tenha 'sisya antaranga'

             acarya-ajnate mane----caitanya 'prana-dhana'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   advaita-acaryera--of Advaita Acarya; tenha--Yadunandana Acarya; sisya--disciple; antaranga--very confidential; acarya-ajnate--by the order of Advaita Acarya; mane--he accepted; caitanya prana-dhana--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as his life and soul.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Yadunandana Acarya had been officially initiated by Advaita Acarya. Thus he considered Lord Caitanya his life and soul.

 

                               TEXT 163

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   angane asiya tenho yabe dandaila

                 raghunatha asi' tabe dandavat kaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   angane--in the courtyard; asiya--entering; tenho--Yadunandana Acarya; yabe--when; dandaila--stood up; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; asi'--coming; tabe--at that time; dandavat kaila--offered his respects, falling down.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Yadunandana Acarya entered the house of Raghunatha dasa and stood in the courtyard, Raghunatha dasa went there and fell down to offer his obeisances.

 

                               TEXT 164

 

                                 TEXT

 

              tanra eka sisya tanra thakurera seva kare

                 seva chadiyache, tare sadhibara tare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tanra--his; eka--one; sisya--disciple; tanra--his; thakurera--of the Deity; seva--service; kare--does; seva chadiyache--he has left that service; tare--him; sadhibara tare--to induce.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   One of Yadunandana Acarya's disciples had been worshiping the Deity but had left that service. Yadunandana Acarya wanted Raghunatha dasa to induce the disciple to take up that service again.

 

                               TEXT 165

 

                                 TEXT

 

               raghunathe kahe,----"tare karaha sadhana

                 seva yena kare, ara nahika brahmana"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghunathe kahe--he said to Raghunatha dasa; tare--him; karaha sadhana--induce to accept the service; seva--service; yena--that; kare--he does; ara--other; nahika--there is no; brahmana--brahmana.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Yadunandana Acarya requested Raghunatha dasa, "Please induce the brahmana to resume the service, for there is no other brahmana to do it."

 

                               TEXT 166

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   eta kahi' raghunathe lana calila

                raksaka saba sesa-ratre nidraya padila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta kahi'--saying this; raghunathe lana--taking Raghunatha dasa; calila--he went out; raksaka saba--all the watch men; sesa-ratre--at the end of night; nidraya padila--fell asleep.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After saying this, Yadunandana Acarya took Raghunatha dasa with him and went out. By that time all the watchmen were deeply asleep because it was the end of the night.

 

                               TEXT 167

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  acaryera ghara ihara purva-disate

                  kahite sunite dunhe cale sei pathe

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   acaryera ghara--the house of Yadunandana Acarya; ihara--of this; purva-disate--to the east; kahite--talking; sunite--listening; dunhe--both of them; cale--go; sei pathe--on that path.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   East of the house of Raghunatha dasa was the house of Yadunandana Acarya. Yadunandana Acarya and Raghunatha dasa talked together as they went toward that house.

 

                               TEXT 168

 

                                 TEXT

 

              ardha-pathe raghunatha kahe gurura carane

              "ami sei vipre sadhi' pathaimu toma sthane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ardha-pathe--halfway along the path; raghunatha kahe--Raghunatha dasa said; gurura carane--unto the lotus feet of his spiritual master; ami--I; sei--that; vipre--brahmana; sadhi'--inducing; pathaimu--shall send; toma sthane--to your place.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Halfway along the path, Raghunatha dasa submitted at the lotus feet of his spiritual master, "I shall go to the home of that brahmana, induce him to return, and send him to your home.

 

                               TEXT 169

 

                                 TEXT

 

               tumi sukhe ghare yaha----more ajna haya"

                  ei chale ajna magi' karila niscaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tumi--you; sukhe--in happiness; ghare yaha--go to your place; more--to me; ajna--order; haya--is; ei chale--on this plea; ajna magi'--asking permission; karila niscaya--decided.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "You may go home without anxiety. Following your order, I shall persuade the brahmana." On this plea, after asking permission, he decided to go away.

 

                               TEXT 170

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 "sevaka raksaka ara keha nahi sange

                  palaite amara bhala eita prasange

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sevaka--servant; raksaka--watchman; ara--and; keha nahi--there is no one; sange--along; palaite--to go away; amara--my; bhala--good; eita--this; prasange--opportunity.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa thought, "This is the greatest opportunity to go away because this time there are no servants or watchmen with me."

 

                               TEXT 171

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 eta cinti' purva-mukhe karila gamana

                ulatiya cahe pache,----nahi kona jana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta cinti'--thinking this; purva-mukhe--toward the east; karila gamana--began to proceed; ulatiya--turning around; cahe--looks; pache--behind; nahi kona jana--there was no one.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thinking in this way, he quickly proceeded toward the east. Sometimes he turned around and looked back, but no one was following him.

 

                               TEXT 172

 

                                 TEXT

 

                sri-caitanya-nityananda-carana cintiya

                  patha chadi' upapathe yayena dhana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-caitanya--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nityananda--of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; carana--the lotus feet; cintiya--thinking of; patha chadi'--giving up the general pathway; upapathe--by the path not generally used; yayena dhana--he went very swiftly.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thinking of the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda Prabhu, he left the general path and proceeded with great haste on the one not generally used.

 

                               TEXT 173

 

                                 TEXT

 

              grame-gramera patha chadi' yaya vane vane

                kaya-mano-vakye cinte caitanya-carane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   grame-gramera--from village to village; patha--the general path; chadi'--giving up; yaya--goes; vane vane--through the jungles; kaya-manah-vakye--with body, mind and words; cinte--thinks; caitanya carane--of the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Giving up the general path from village to village, he passed through the jungles, thinking with heart and soul about the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 174

 

                                 TEXT

 

              panca-dasa-krosa-patha cali' gela eka-dine

                sandhya-kale rahila eka gopera bathane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   panca-dasa-krosa--about thirty miles; patha cali'--walking on the path; gela--went; eka-dine--in one day; sandhya-kale--in the evening; rahila--remained; eka gopera--of a milkman; bathane--in the cowshed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   He walked about thirty miles in one day, and in the evening he took rest in the cowshed of a milkman.

 

                               TEXT 175

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 upavasi dekhi' gopa dugdha ani' dila

                 sei dugdha pana kari' padiya rahila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   upavasi--fasting; dekhi'--seeing; gopa--the milkman; dugdha--milk; ani'--bringing; dila--gave; sei dugdha--that milk; pana kari'--drinking; padiya--lying down; rahila--he remained.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the milkman saw that Raghunatha dasa was fasting, he gave him some milk. Raghunatha dasa drank the milk and lay down to rest there for the night.

 

                               TEXT 176

 

                                 TEXT

 

              etha tanra sevaka raksaka tanre na dekhiya

                 tanra guru-pase varta puchilena giya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   etha--here, at his home; tanra--his; sevaka--servant; raksaka--watchman; tanre--him; na dekhiya--not seeing; tanra guru-pase--from his spiritual master; varta--news; puchilena--inquired; giya--going.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   At the house of Raghunatha dasa, the servant and watchman, not seeing him there, immediately went to inquire about him from his spiritual master, Yadunandana Acarya.

 

                               TEXT 177

 

                                 TEXT

 

               tenha kahe, 'ajna magi' gela nija-ghara'

               'palaila raghunatha'----uthila kolahala

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tenha kahe--he said; ajna magi'--asking my permission; gela--went; nija ghara--to his home; palaila raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa has gone away; uthila--arose; kolahala--a tumultuous sound.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Yadunandana Acarya said, "He has already asked my permission and returned home." Thus there arose a tumultuous sound, as everyone cried, "Now Raghunatha has gone away!"

 

                               TEXT 178

 

                                 TEXT

 

            tanra pita kahe,----"gaudera saba bhakta-gana

                 prabhu-sthane nilacale karila gamana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tanra--his; pita--father; kahe--said; gaudera--of Bengal; saba--all; bhakta gana--the devotees; prabhu-sthane--to the place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nilacale--at Jagannatha puri; karila gamana--have gone.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa's father said, "Now all the devotees from Bengal have gone to Jagannatha Puri to see Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 179

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   sei-sange raghunatha gela palana

                 dasa jana yaha, tare anaha dhariya"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei-sange--with them; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; gela palana--has fled; dasa jana--ten men; yaha--go; tare--him; anaha--bring; dhariya--catching.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Raghunatha dasa has fled with them. Ten men should immediately go catch him and bring him back."

 

                               TEXT 180

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  sivanande patri dila vinaya kariya

                  'amara putrere tumi diba bahudiya'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sivanande--unto Sivananda Sena; patri--a letter; dila--sent; vinaya kariya--with great humility; amara putrere--my son; tumi--you; diba--please give; bahudiya--returning.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa's father wrote a letter to Sivananda Sena, asking him with great humility, "Please return my son."

 

                               TEXT 181

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 jhankara paryanta gela sei dasa jane

                jhankarate paila giya vaisnavera gane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jhankara paryanta--to the place known as Jhankara; gela--went; sei dasa jane--those ten men; jhankarate--at Jhankara; paila--caught up to; giya--going; vaisnavera gane--the group of Vaisnavas.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In Jhankara, the ten men caught up with the group of Vaisnavas going to Nilacala.

 

                               TEXT 182

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  patri diya sivanande varta puchila

               sivananda kahe,----'tenha etha na aila'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   patri--letter; diya--delivering; sivanande--unto Sivananda Sena; varta--news; puchila--inquired; sivananda kahe--Sivananda said; tenha--he; etha--here; na aila--did not come.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After delivering the letter, the men inquired from Sivananda Sena about Raghunatha dasa, but Sivananda Sena replied, "He did not come here."

 

                               TEXT 183

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  bahudiya sei dasa jana aila ghara

                tanra mata-pita ha-ila cintita antara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bahudiya--returning; sei--those; dasa jana--ten men; aila ghara--came back home; tanra--his; mata-pita--mother and father; ha-ila--became; cintita--full of anxiety; antara--within themselves.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The ten men returned home, and Raghunatha dasa's father and mother were filled with anxiety.

 

                               TEXT 184

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 etha raghunatha-dasa prabhate uthiya

              purva-mukha chadi' cale daksina-mukha hana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   etha--here; raghunatha-dasa--Raghunatha dasa; prabhate--early in the morning; uthiya--rising; purva-mukha--facing the east; chadi'--giving up; cale--began to proceed; daksina-mukha--facing south; hana--being.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa, 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.

 

                               TEXT 185

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 chatrabhoga para hana chadiya sarana

                   kugrama diya diya karila prayana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   chatra-bhoga--the place named Chatrabhoga; para hana--crossing; chadiya--giving up; sarana--the royal road; kugrama diya diya--going through village pathways; karila prayana--proceeded.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   He crossed Chatrabhoga, but instead of going on the general path, he proceeded on the path that went from village to village.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Chatrabhoga, known now as Chada-khadi, is in the district of twenty-four parganas in West Bengal. It is situated near the celebrated village Jayanagara-majilapura. Formerly the Ganges or some of its branches flowed through this region. Sometimes Chatrabhoga is misunderstood to have been a village on the River Kansai-nadi in Benapola.

 

                               TEXT 186

 

                                 TEXT

 

             bhaksana apeksa nahi, samasta divasa gamana

           ksudha nahi badhe, caitanya-carana-praptye mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhaksana apeksa nahi--did not care for eating; samasta divasa--all day; gamana--traveling; ksudha--hunger; nahi badhe--did not become an impediment; caitanya-carana--the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; praptye--on obtaining; mana--mind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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 Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 187

 

                                 TEXT

 

           kabhu carvana, kabhu randhana, kabhu dugdha-pana

                 yabe yei mile, tahe rakhe nija prana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kabhu carvana--sometimes chewing; kabhu randhana--sometimes cooking; kabhu dugdha-pana--sometimes drinking milk; yabe--when; yei--whoever; mile--meets; tahe--in that way; rakhe--keeps; nija prana--his life.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 188

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 bara dine cali' gela sri-purusottama

                 pathe tina-dina matra karila bhojana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bara dine--for twelve days; cali'--traveling; gela--reached; sri-purusottama--Jagannatha Puri, or Nilacala, the place of Purusottama; pathe--on the path; tina-dina--on three days; matra--only; karila bhojana--he ate.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   He reached Jagannatha Puri in twelve days but could only eat for three days on the way.

 

                               TEXT 189

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 svarupadi-saha gosani achena vasiya

                  hena-kale raghunatha milila asiya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   svarupa-adi-saha--in the company of devotees, headed by Svarupa Damodara; gosani--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; achena vasiya--was sitting; hena-kale--at this time; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; milila--met; asiya--coming.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Raghunatha dasa met Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord was sitting with His companions, headed by Svarupa Damodara.

 

                               TEXT 190

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 anganete dure rahi' karena pranipata

             mukunda-datta kahe,----'ei aila raghunatha'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   anganete--in the courtyard; dure rahi'--keeping himself at a distant place; karena pranipata--offered his obeisances; mukunda-datta kahe--Mukunda Datta said; ei--this; aila--has come; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Staying at a distant place in the courtyard, he fell down to offer obeisances. Then Mukunda Datta said, "Here is Raghunatha."

 

                               TEXT 191

 

                                 TEXT

 

            prabhu kahena,----'aisa;, tenho dharila carana

               uthi' prabhu krpaya tanre kaila alingana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahena--the Lord said; aisa--come here; tenho--he; dharila carana--caught His lotus feet; uthi'--standing up; prabhu--the Lord; krpaya--out of mercy; tanre--him; kaila alingana--embraced.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As soon as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard these words, He immediately welcomed Raghunatha dasa. "Come here," He said. Raghunatha dasa then clasped the lotus feet of the Lord, but the Lord stood up and embraced him out of His causeless mercy.

 

                               TEXT 192

 

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                svarupadi saba bhaktera carana vandila

                prabhu-krpa dekhi' sabe alingana kaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   svarupa-adi--headed by Svarupa Damodara; saba bhaktera--of all the devotees; carana vandila--offered prayers to the lotus feet; prabhu-krpa--the mercy of Lord Caitanya; dekhi'--seeing; sabe--all of them; alingana kaila--embraced.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa offered prayers at the lotus feet of all the devotees, headed by Svarupa Damodara Gosvami. Seeing the special mercy Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had bestowed upon Raghunatha dasa, they embraced him also.

 

                               TEXT 193

 

                                 TEXT

 

           prabhu kahe,----"krsna-krpa balistha saba haite

               tomare kadila visaya-vistha-garta haite"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; krsna-krpa--the mercy of Lord Krsna; balistha--more powerful; saba haite--than anything; tomare--you; kadila--He has delivered; visaya--of material enjoyment; vistha--of stool; garta--the ditch; haite--from.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "The mercy of Lord Krsna 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."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   According to the law of karma, everyone is destined to suffer or enjoy according to a certain material standard, but the mercy of Lord Krsna is so powerful that the Lord can change all the reactions of one's past karma, or fruitive activities. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu specifically drew attention to the mercy of Lord Krsna. That mercy is more powerful than anything else, for it had saved Raghunatha dasa from the strong bondage of materialistic life, which the Lord compared to a hole where people pass stool. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave His verdict that those addicted to the materialistic way of life are like worms that are living in stool but cannot give it up. A grhavrata, one who has decided to live in a comfortable home although it is actually miserable, is in a condemned position. Only the mercy of Krsna can save one from such misery. Without Krsna's mercy, one cannot get out of the filthy entanglement of materialistic life. The poor living entity cannot give up his materialistic position on his own; only when granted the special mercy of Krsna can he give it up. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu knew very well that Raghunatha dasa was already liberated. Nevertheless He emphasized that Raghunatha dasa's life of material comfort as a very rich man's son with a very beautiful wife and many servants to attend him was like a ditch of stool. The Lord thus specifically indicated that ordinary men who are very happy with material comforts and family life are in no better position than worms in stool.

 

                               TEXT 194

 

                                 TEXT

 

              raghunatha mane kahe,----'krsna nahi jani

                tava krpa kadila ama,----ei ami mani'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; mane kahe--answered within his mind; krsna--Lord Krsna; nahi jani--I do not know; tava--Your; krpa--mercy; kadila--has delivered; ama--me; ei--this; ami mani--I accept.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa answered within his mind, "I do not know who Krsna is. I simply know that Your mercy, O my Lord, has saved me from my family life."

 

                               TEXT 195

 

                                 TEXT

 

            prabhu kahena,----"tomara pita-jyetha dui jane

              cakravarti-sambandhe hama 'aja' kari' mane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahena--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; tomara--your; pita-jyetha--father and his elder brother; dui jane--both of them; cakravarti-sambandhe--be cause of a relationship with Nilambara Cakravarti; hama--I; aja kari'--as My grandfathers; mane--consider.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Lord continued, "Your father and his elder brother are both related as brothers to My grandfather, Nilambara Cakravarti. Therefore I consider them My grandfathers.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Nilambara Cakravarti, the grandfather of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, was very intimately related to Raghunatha dasa's father and uncle. Nilambara Cakravarti used to call them his younger brothers because both of them were very devoted to the brahmanas and were very respectable gentlemen. Similarly, they used to call him Dada Cakravarti, addressing him as an elder brother brahmana. Raghunatha dasa, however, was almost the same age as Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Generally a grandchild may joke about his grandfather. Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took advantage of the relationship between His grandfather and Raghunatha dasa's father and uncle to speak in a joking way.

 

                               TEXT 196

 

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               cakravartira duhe haya bhratr-rupa dasa

                    ataeva tare ami kari parihasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   cakravartira--of Nilambara Cakravarti; duhe--both; haya--are; bhratr-rupa dasa--servants as younger brothers; ataeva--therefore; tare--unto them; ami--I; kari parihasa--say something jokingly.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Since your father and his elder brother are younger brothers of Nilambara Cakravarti, I may joke about them in this way.

 

                               TEXT 197

 

                                 TEXT

 

           tomara bapa-jyetha----visaya-vistha-gartera kida

               sukha kari' mane visaya-visera maha-pida

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tomara--your; bapa--father; jyetha--his elder brother; visaya--of material enjoyment; vistha--stool; gartera--of the ditch; kida--worms; sukha kari'--as happiness; mane--they consider; visaya--of material enjoyment; visera--of the poison; maha-pida--the great disease.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "My dear Raghunatha dasa, 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.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   When a man is attached to material enjoyment, he is attached to many miserable conditions, but nevertheless he accepts his condemned position as one of happiness. Sense enjoyment is so strong for such a person that he cannot give it up, exactly as a worm in stool cannot give up the stool. From the spiritual point of view, when a person is too absorbed in material enjoyment, he is exactly like a worm in stool. Although such a position is utterly miserable to the eyes of liberated souls, the materialistic enjoyer is greatly attached to it.

 

                               TEXT 198

 

                                 TEXT

 

               yadyadi brahmanya kare brahmanera sahaya

           'suddha-vaisnava' nahe, haye 'vaisnavera praya'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yadyapi--although; brahmanya kare--give charity to the brahmanas; brahmanera sahaya--great helpers to the brahmanas; suddha-vaisnava--pure Vaisnavas; nahe--not; haye--they are; vaisnavera praya--almost like Vaisnavas.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Although your father and uncle are charitable to brahmanas and greatly help them, they are nevertheless not pure Vaishnavas. However, they are almost like Vaisnavas.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   As stated by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, some people, usually very rich men, dress like Vaisnavas and give charity to brahmanas. They are also attached to Deity worship, but because of their attachment to material enjoyment, they cannot be pure Vaisnavas. Anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam. The pure Vaisnava has no desire for material enjoyment. That is the basic qualification of a pure Vaisnava. There are men, especially rich men, who regularly worship the Deity, give charity to brahmanas and are pious in every respect, but they cannot be pure Vaisnavas. Despite their outward show of Vaisnavism and charity, their inner desire is to enjoy a higher standard of material life. Raghunatha dasa's father, Govardhana, and uncle, Hiranya dasa, were both very charitable to brahmanas. Indeed, the brahmanas from the Gaudiya district were practically dependent upon them. Thus they were accepted as very pious gentlemen. However, they presented themselves as Vaisnavas to the eyes of people in general, although from a purely spiritual point of view they were ordinary human beings, not pure Vaisnavas. Actual Vaisnavas considered them almost Vaisnavas, not pure Vaisnavas. In other words, they were kanistha-adhikaris, for they were ignorant of higher Vaisnava regulative principles. Nevertheless, they could not be called visayis, or blind materialistic enjoyers.

 

                               TEXT 199

 

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             tathapi visayera svabhava----kare maha-andha

               sei karma karaya, yate haya bhava-bandha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tathapi--still; visayera svabhava--the potency of material enjoyment; kare maha-andha--makes one completely blind; sei karma karaya--causes one to act in that way; yate--by which; haya--there is; bhava-bandha--the bondage of birth and death.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   As clearly stated in Bhagavad-gita (3.9), yajnarthat karmano 'nyatra loko 'yam-karma-bandhanah: if one does not act as a pure devotee, whatever acts he per forms will produce reactions of fruitive bondage (karma-bandhanah). In Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said:

 

                    nunam pramattah kurute vikarma

                     yad-indriya-prita ya aprnoti

                   na sadhu manye yata atmano 'yam

                     asann api klesada asa dehah

 

   "A materialistic person, madly engaged in activities for sense enjoyment, does not know that he is entangling himself in repeated birth and death and that his body, although temporary, is full of miseries." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.4) A visayi, a person blindly caught in a web of materialistic life, remains in the cycle of birth and death perpetually. Such a person cannot understand how to execute pure devotional service, and therefore he acts as a karmi, jnani, yogi or something else, according to his desire, but he does not know that the activities of karma, jnana and yoga simply bind one to the cycle of birth and death.

 

                               TEXT 200

 

                                 TEXT

 

              hena 'visaya' haite krsna uddharila toma'

                        kahana na yaya krsna-

                            krpara mahima"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hena visaya--such a fallen condition of material enjoyment; haite--from; krsna--Lord Krsna; uddharila toma'--has delivered you; kahana na yaya--cannot be described; krsna-krpara--of the mercy of Lord Krsna; mahima--the glories.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "By His own free will, Lord Krsna has delivered you from such a condemned materialistic life. Therefore the glories of Lord Krsna's causeless mercy cannot be expressed."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   in the Brahma-samhita (5.54) it is said, karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bha--jam. Lord Krsna is so merciful that He can stop the reaction of karma for His devotee. Everyone--from a small insect called indra-gopa up to Indra, the King of heaven--is bound by the reactions of fruitive activities.

 

            yas tv indra-gopam athavendram aho sva-karma-

                 bandhanurupa-phala-bhajanam atanoti

               karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam

                govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

 

   Everyone, whether like an insect or the King of heaven, is entangled and bound by the actions and reactions of his karma However, when one becomes a pure devotee, free from material desires and from bondage to karma, jnana and yoga, one is freed from material actions and reactions by the causeless mercy of Krsna. One cannot express sufficient gratitude to Krsna for being freed from the materialistic way of life.

 

                               TEXT 201

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 raghunathera ksinata-malinya dekhiya

             svarupere kahena prabhu krpardra-citta hana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghunathera--of Raghunatha dasa; ksinata--thinness; malinya--dirty condition of the body; dekhiya--seeing; svarupere kahena--said to Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; prabhu--Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu krpa--out of mercy; ardra--melted; citta--heart; hana--being.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Seeing Raghunatha dasa skinny and dirty because of having traveled for twelve days and fasted, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, His heart melting due to causeless mercy, spoke to Svarupa Damodara.

 

                               TEXT 202

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  "ei raghunathe ami sanpinu tomare

                 putra-bhrtya-rupe tumi kara angikare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei raghunathe--this Raghunatha dasa; ami--I; sanpinu tomare--am entrusting to you; putra--son; bhrtya--servant; rupe--as; tumi--you (Svarupa Damodara Gosvami); kara angikare--please accept.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "My dear Svarupa," He said, "I entrust this Raghunatha dasa to you. Please accept him as your son or servant.

 

                               TEXT 203

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tina 'raghunatha'-nama haya amara gane

              'svarupera raghu'----aji haite ihara name"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tina raghunatha--three Raghunathas; nama--named; haya--are; amara gane--among My associates; svarupera raghu--the Raghunatha of Svarupa Damodara; aji haite--from this day; ihara--of this one; name--the name.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "There are now three Raghunathas among My associates. From this day forward, this Raghunatha should be known as the Raghu of Svarupa Damodara."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had three Raghus among His associates--Vaidya Raghunatha (vide Adi-lila 11.22), Bhatta Raghunatha and Dasa Raghunatha. Dasa Raghunatha became celebrated as the Raghunatha of Svarupa.

 

                               TEXT 204

 

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                 eta kahi' raghunathera hasta dharila

                svarupera haste tanre samarpana kaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta kahi'--saying this; raghunathera--of Raghunatha dasa; hasta dharila--caught the hand; svarupera haste--in the hands of Svarupa Damodara; tanre--him; samarpana kaila--entrusted.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu grasped the hand of Raghunatha dasa and entrusted him to the hands of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami.

 

                               TEXT 205

 

                                 TEXT

 

            svarupa kahe,----'mahaprabhura ye ajna haila'

                 eta kahi' raghunathe punah alingila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   svarupa kahe--Svarupa Damodara said; mahaprabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ye--whatever; ajna--order; haila--there is; eta kahi'--saying this; raghunathe--Raghunatha dasa; punah--again; alingila--he embraced.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Svarupa Damodara Gosvami accepted Raghunatha dasa, saying, "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, whatever You order is accepted." He then embraced Raghunatha dasa again.

 

                               TEXT 206

 

                                 TEXT

 

              caitanyera bhakta-vatsalya kahite na pari

                 govindere kahe raghunathe daya kari'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   caitanyera--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhakta-vatsalya--affection for devotees; kahite na pari--I cannot express properly; govindere--to Govinda; kahe--He said; raghunathe--upon Raghunatha; daya kari'--being very merciful.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   I cannot properly express the affection of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for His devotees. Being merciful toward Raghunatha dasa, the Lord spoke as follows to Govinda.

 

                               TEXT 207

 

                                 TEXT

 

                "pathe inha kariyache bahuta langhana

                kata-dina kara ihara bhala santarpana"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   pathe--on the way; inha--this Raghunatha dasa; kariyache--has done; bahuta--much; langhana--fasting and difficult endeavor; kata-dina--for some days; kara--do; ihara--of him; bhala--good; santarpana--attention.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "On the way, Raghunatha dasa 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."

 

                               TEXT 208

 

                                 TEXT

 

             raghunathe kahe----"yana, kara sindhu-snana

                jagannatha dekhi' asi' karaha bhojana"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghunathe kahe--He said to Raghunatha dasa; yana--going; kara sindhu-snana--bathe in the sea; jagannatha dekhi'--after seeing Lord Jagannatha; asi'--after coming; karaha bhojana--take your meal.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Then Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu told Raghunatha dasa, "Go bathe in the sea. Then see Lord Jagannatha in the temple and return here to take your meal."

 

                               TEXT 209

 

                                 TEXT

 

               eta bali' prabhu madhyahna karite uthila

                 raghunatha-dasa saba bhaktere milila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta bali'--after saying this; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; madhyahna karite--for performing His midday duties; uthila--got up; raghunatha-dasa--Raghunatha dasa; saba--all; bhaktere--devotees; milila--met.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu got up and went to perform His midday duties, and Raghunatha met all the devotees present.

 

                               TEXT 210

 

                                 TEXT

 

             raghunathe prabhura krpa dekhi, bhakta-gana

              vismita hana kare tanra bhagya-prasamsana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghunathe--unto Raghunatha dasa; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krpa--mercy; dekhi--seeing; bhakta-gana--all the devotees; vismita--struck with wonder; hana--being; kare--do; tanra--his; bhagya--fortune; prasamsana--praise.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Having seen the causeless mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu upon Raghunatha dasa, all the devotees, struck with wonder, praised his good fortune.

 

                               TEXT 211

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 raghunatha samudre yana snana karila

              jagannatha dekhi' punah govinda-pasa aila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; samudre--to the sea; yana--going; snana karila--took a bath; jagannatha dekhi'--after seeing Lord Jagannatha; punah--again; govinda-pasa aila--came to Govinda.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa took his bath in the sea and saw Lord Jagannatha. Then he returned to Govinda, the personal servant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 212

 

                                 TEXT

 

              prabhura avasista patra govinda tanre dila

                anandita hana raghunatha prasada paila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; avasista patra--a plate of remnants of food; govinda--the personal servant of the Lord; tanre--to him; dila--offered; anandita hana--becoming very happy; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; prasada paila--accepted the prasada.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Govinda offered him a plate with the remnants of food left by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and Raghunatha dasa accepted the prasada with great happiness.

 

                               TEXT 213

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ei-mata rahe tenha svarupa-carane

                govinda prasada tanre dila panca dine

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; rahe--remained; tenha--he; svarupa-carane--under the shelter of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; govinda--the personal servant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prasada--the remnants of the food of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre--unto him; dila--gave; panca dine--for five days.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa stayed under the care of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, and Govinda supplied him remnants of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's food for five days.

 

                               TEXT 214

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ara dina haite 'puspa-anjali' dekhiya

                simha-dvare khada rahe bhiksara lagiya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ara dina--the next day; haite--from; puspa-anjali--the ceremony of offering flowers to the Lord; dekhiya--after seeing; simha-dvare--at the main gate; khada rahe--remains standing; bhiksara lagiya--for begging some alms.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Beginning from the sixth day, Raghunatha dasa would stand at the gate known as Simha-dvara to beg alms after the puspa-anjali ceremony, in which flowers were offered to the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 215

 

                                 TEXT

 

             jagannathera sevaka yata----'visayira gana'

                 seva sari' ratrye kare grhete gamana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jagannathera--of Lord Jagannatha; sevaka--servants; yata--all; visayira gana--generally known as visayi; seva sari'--after finishing their service; ratrye--at night; kare--do; grhete gamana--returning home.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After finishing their prescribed duties, the many servants of Lord Jagannatha, who are known as visayis, return home at night.

 

                               TEXT 216

 

                                 TEXT

 

                simha-dvare annarthi vaisnave dekhiya

               pasarira thani anna dena krpa ta' kariya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   simha-dvare--at the Simha gate; anna-arthi--in need of some eatables; vaisnave--Vaisnavas; dekhiya--seeing; pasarira thani--from the shopkeepers; anna dena--deliver some eatables; krpa ta' kariya--out of mercy.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   If they see a Vaisnava standing at the Simha-dvara begging alms, out of mercy they arrange with the shopkeepers to give him something to eat.

 

                               TEXT 217

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ei-mata sarva-kala ache vyavahara

               niskincana bhakta khada haya simha-dvara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; sarva-kala--for all time; ache--is; vyavahara--the etiquette; niskincana bhakta--a devotee who has no other support; khada haya--stands; simha-dvara--at the gate known as Simha-dvara.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus it is a custom for all time that a devotee who has no other means of support stands at the Simha-dvara gate to receive alms from the servants.

 

                               TEXT 218

 

                                 TEXT

 

              sarva-dina karena vaisnava nama-sankirtana

                svacchande karena jagannatha darasana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarva-dina--the whole day; karena--performs; vaisnava--a Vaisnava; nama-sankirtana--chanting of the holy name of the Lord; svacchande--with full freedom; karena--does; jagannatha darasana--seeing Lord Jagannatha. freedom; karena--does; jagannatha darasana--seeing Lord Jagannatha.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   A completely dependent Vaisnava thus chats the holy name of the Lord all day and sees Lord Jagannatha with full freedom.

 

                               TEXT 219

 

                                 TEXT

 

               keha chatre magi' khaya, yeba kichu paya

               keha ratre bhiksa lagi' simha-dvare raya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   keha--some; chatre--at the almshouse; magi'--begging; khaya--eat; yeba--whatever; kichu--little; paya--they receive; keha--some; ratre--at night; bhiksa lagi'--for begging alms; simha-dvare raya--stand at the gate known as Simha-dvara.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   It is a custom for some Vaisnavas to beg from the charity booths and eat whatever they obtain, whereas others stand at night at the Simha-dvara gate, begging alms from the servants.

 

                               TEXT 220

 

                                 TEXT

 

             mahaprabhura bhakta-ganera vairagya pradhana

                yaha dekhi' prita hana gaura-bhagavan

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mahaprabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhakta-ganera--of the devotees; vairagya--renunciation; pradhana--the basic principle; yaha dekhi'--seeing which; prita hana--becomes satisfied; gaura-bhagavan--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Renunciation is the basic principle sustaining the lives of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's devotees. Seeing this renunciation, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is extremely satisfied.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Anyone, whether an ordinary materialistic person or a pure devotee, can understand the behavior of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's devotees if he studies it minutely. One will thus find that the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are not at all attached to any kind of material enjoyment. They have completely given up sense enjoyment to engage fully in the service of Lord Sri Krsna and dedicate their lives and souls to serving Krsna without material desires. Because their devotional service is free from material desires, it is unimpeded by material circumstances. Although ordinary men have great difficulty understanding this attitude of the devotees, it is greatly appreciated by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 221

 

                                 TEXT

 

       prabhure govinda kahe,----"raghunatha 'prasada' na laya

              ratrye simha-dvare khada hana magi' khaya"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhure--unto Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; govinda kahe--Govinda said; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; prasada na laya--does not take prasada; ratrye--at night; simha-dvare--at the Simha-dvara gate; khada hana--standing; magi'--begging; khaya--he eats.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Govinda said to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "Raghunatha dasa no longer takes prasada here. Now he stands at the Simha-dvara, where he begs some alms to eat."

 

                               TEXT 222

 

                                 TEXT

 

                suni' tusta hana prabhu kahite lagila

                "bhala kaila, vairagira dharma acarila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   suni'--hearing; tusta hana--being very satisfied; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahite lagila--began to say; bhala kaila--he has done well; vairagira--of a person in the renounced order; dharma--the principles; acarila--he has performed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard this, He was greatly satisfied. "Raghunatha dasa has done well," He said."He has acted suitably for a person in the renounced order.

 

                               TEXT 223

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 vairagi karibe sada nama-sankirtana

                   magiya khana kare jivana raksana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vairagi--a person in the renounced order; karibe--will do; sada--always; nama-sankirtana--chanting of the holy name of the Lord; magiya--by begging; khana--eating; kare jivana raksana--he sustains his life.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   As stated in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa at the end of the Twentieth Vilasa (366, 379, 382):

 

                        krtyanyetani tu prayo

                        grhinam dhaninam satam

                       likhitani na tu tyakta-

                         parigraha-mahatmanam

 

                       prabhate cardha-ratre ca

                        madhyahne divasa-ksaye

                       kirtayanti harim ye vai

                        te taranti bhavarnavam

 

                        evam ekantinam prayah

                      kirtanam smaranam prabhoh

                        kurvatam parama-pritya

                        krtyam anyan na rocate

 

   A well-to-do householder Vaisnava cannot live like a person in the renounced order who completely takes shelter of the holy name. Such a householder should chant the holy name of Krsna in the morning, at midday and in the evening. Then he will be able to cross beyond nescience. Pure devotees in the renounced order, however, who fully surrender to the lotus feet of Krsna, should chant the holy name of the Lord with great love and faith, always thinking of Krsna's lotus feet. They should have no other occupation than chanting the holy name of the Lord. In the Bhakti-sandarbha, Srila Jiva Gosvami says:

 

yadyapi sri-bhagavata-mate panca-ratradivad-arcana-margasyavasyakatvam nasti, tad vinapi saranapattyadinam ekatarenapi purusartha-siddher abhihitatvat.

 

                               TEXT 224

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   vairagi hana yeba kare parapeksa

                karya-siddhi nahe, krsna karena upeksa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vairagi hana--being in the renounced order; yeba--anyone who; kare--does; parapeksa--dependence on others; karya-siddhi nahe--he does not become successful; krsna--Lord Krsna; karena upeksa--neglects.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "A vairagi [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 Krsna.

 

                               TEXT 225

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   vairagi hana kare jihvara lalasa

                paramartha yaya, ara haya rasera vasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vairagi hana--being in the renounced order; kare--does; jihvara--of the tongue; lalasa--lust; parama-artha--the goal of life; yaya--goes; ara--and; haya--becomes; rasera vasa--dependent on taste.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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.

 

                               TEXT 226

 

                                 TEXT

 

               vairagira krtya----sada nama-sankirtana

                 saka-patra-phala-mule udara-bharana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vairagira--of a person in the renounced order; krtya--duty; sada--always; nama-sankirtana--chanting the holy name of the Lord; saka--vegetables; patra--leaves; phala--fruit; mule--by roots; udara-bharana--filling the belly.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "The duty of a person in the renounced order is to chant the Hare Krsna mantra always. He should satisfy his belly with whatever vegetables, leaves, fruits and roots are available.

 

                               TEXT 227

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   jihvara lalase yei iti-uti dhaya

                 sisnodara-parayana krsna nahi paya"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jihvara--of the tongue; lalase--because of greed; yei--anyone who; iti-uti--here and there; dhaya--goes; sisna--genitals; udara--belly; parayana--devoted to; krsna--Lord Krsna; nahi paya--does not get.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "One who is subservient to the tongue and who thus goes here and there, devoted to the genitals and the belly, cannot attain Krsna."

 

                               TEXT 228

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ara dina raghunatha svarupa-carane

                  apanara krtya lagi' kaila nivedane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ara dina--the next day; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; svarupa-carane--unto the lotus feet of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; apanara--his; krtya--duty; lagi'--for; kaila nivedane--submitted.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The next day, Raghunatha dasa inquired at the lotus feet of Svarupa Damodara about his duty.

 

                               TEXT 229

 

                                 TEXT

 

               "ki lagi' chadaila ghara, na jani uddesa

                ki mora kartavya, prabhu kara upadesa"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ki lagi'--for what reason; chadaila ghara--have I been obliged to give up my household life; na jani--I do not know; uddesa--the purpose; ki--what; mora kartavya--my duty; prabhu--my dear Lord; kara upadesa--please give instruction.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I do not know why I have given up household life," he said."What is my duty? Kindly give me instructions."

 

                               TEXT 230

 

                                 TEXT

 

             prabhura age katha-matra na kahe raghunatha

                svarupa-govinda-dvara kaha ya nija-vat

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhura age--in front of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; katha-matra--any speaking; na kahe--does not say; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; svarupa-govinda-dvara--through Govinda and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; kahaya--he informs; nija-vat--his intention.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa never even spoke a word before the Lord. Instead, he informed the Lord of his desires through Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and Govinda.

 

                               TEXT 231

 

                                 TEXT

 

                prabhura age svarupa nivedila ara dine

                 raghunatha nivedaya prabhura carane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhura age--in front of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; svarupa--Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; nivedila--submitted; ara dine--on the next day; raghunatha nivedaya--Raghunatha dasa inquires; prabhura carane--at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The next day, Svarupa Damodara Gosvami submitted to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,"Raghunatha dasa has this to say at Your lotus feet.

 

                               TEXT 232

 

                                 TEXT

 

                "ki mora kartavya, muni na jani uddesa

                  apani sri-mukhe more kara upadesa"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ki--what; mora kartavya--my duty; muni--I; na jani--do not know; uddesa--the goal of my life; apani--personally; sri-mukhe--through Your transcendental mouth; more--unto me; kara upadesa--please give instructions.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I do not know my duty or the goal of my life. Therefore, please personally give me instructions from Your transcendental mouth.' "

 

                               TEXT 233

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 hasi' mahaprabhu raghunathere kahila

                "tomara upadesta kari' svarupere dila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hasi'--smiling; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; raghunathere--to Raghunatha dasa; kahila--said; tomara--your; upadesta--instructor; kari'--as; svarupere dila--I have appointed Svarupa Damodara Gosvami.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Smiling, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu told Raghunatha dasa,"I have already appointed Svarupa Damodara Gosvami as your instructor.

 

                               TEXT 234

 

                                 TEXT

 

            'sadhya'-'sadhana'-tattva sikha inhara sthane

                  ami tata nahi jani, inho yata jane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sadhya--duty; sadhana--how to execute it; tattva--truth; sikha--learn; inhara sthane--from him; ami--I; tata--so much; nahi jani--do not know; inho--he; yata--as much as; jane--knows.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "You may learn from him what your duty is and how to discharge it. I do not know as much as he.

 

                               TEXT 235

 

                                 TEXT

 

               tathapi amara ajna ya sraddha yadi haya

                  amara ei vakye tabe kariha niscaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tathapi--still; amara ajna ya--in My instruction; sraddha--faith; yadi--if; haya--there is; amara--My; ei--these; vakye--by words; tabe--then; kariha niscaya--you can ascertain.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Nevertheless, if you want to take instructions from Me with faith and love, you may ascertain your duties from the following words.

 

                               TEXT 236

 

                                 TEXT

 

            gramya-katha na sunibe, gramya-varta na kahibe

                 bhala na khaibe ara bhala na paribe

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gramya-katha--ordinary talks of common men; na sunibe--never hear; gramya-varta--ordinary news; na kahibe--do not speak; bhala--well; na khaibe--do not eat; ara--and; bhala--nicely; na paribe--do not dress.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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.

 

                               TEXT 237

 

                                 TEXT

 

               amani manada hana krsna-nama sada la'be

                 vraje radha-krsna-seva manase karibe

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   amani--not expecting any respect; mana-da--offering respect to others; hana--becoming; krsna-nama--the holy name of the Lord; sada--always; la'be--you should chant; vraje--in Vrndavana; radha-krsna-seva--service to Radha and Krsna; manase--within the mind; karibe--you should do.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Do not expect honor, but offer all respect to others. Always chant the holy name of Lord Krsna, and within your mind render service to Radha and Krsna in Vrndavana.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya that when a man and woman are married, they beget children and are thus entangled in family life. Talk concerning such family life is called gramya-katha. A person in the renounced order never indulges in either hearing or talking about such subjects. He should not eat palatable dishes, since that is unfit for a person in the renounced order. He should show all respect to others, but should not expect respect for himself. In this way, one should chant the holy name of the Lord and think of how to serve Radha and Krsna in Vrndavana.

 

                               TEXT 238

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ei ta' sanksepe ami kailun upadesa

                  svarupera thani ihara paibe visesa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei--this; ta'--certainly; sanksepe--in brief; ami--I; kailun upadesa--have given instruction; svarupera thani--from Svarupa Damodara; ihara--of this instruction; paibe--you will get; visesa--all details.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "I have briefly given you My instructions. Now you will get all details about them from Svarupa Damodara.

 

                               TEXT 239

 

                                 TEXT

 

                          trnad api sunicena

                         taror iva sahisnuna

                           amanina manadena

                        kirtaniyah sada harih"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   trnat api--than downtrodden grass; sunicena--being lower; taroh--than a tree; iva--indeed; sahisnuna--with more tolerance; amanina--without being puffed up by false pride; manadena--giving respect to all; kirtaniyah--to be chanted; sada--always; harih--the holy name of the Lord.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "One who thinks himself lower than grass, who is more tolerant tha 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."

 

                               TEXT 240

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 eta suni' raghunatha vandila carana

                 mahaprabhu kaila tanre krpa-alingana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta suni'--hearing this; raghunatha--Raghu natha dasa; vandila carana--offered prayers to the lotus feet; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila--did; tanre--him; krpa-alingana--embracing out of mercy.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Having heard this, Raghunatha dasa offered prayers at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and the Lord, with great mercy, embraced him.

 

                               TEXT 241

 

                                 TEXT

 

                punah samarpila tanre svarupera sthane

                 'antaranga-seva' kare svarupera sane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   punah--again; samarpila--handed over; tanre--him; svarupera sthane--to Svarupa Damodara; antaranga-seva--very confidential service; kare--he renders; svarupera sane--with Svarupa Damodara.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again entrusted him to Svarupa Damodara. Thus Raghunatha dasa rendered very confidential service with Svarupa Damodara Gosvami.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Antaranga-seva refers to service performed in one's spiritual body. Svarupa Damodara Gosvami was formerly Lalitadevi. Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, who was among his assistants, now also began to serve Radha and Krsna within his mind.

 

                               TEXT 242

 

                                 TEXT

 

               hena-kale aila saba gaudera bhakta-gana

                 purvavat prabhu sabaya karila milana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hena-kale--at this time; aila--came; saba--all; gaudera bhakta-gana--devotees from Bengal; purva-vat--as formerly; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sabaya--every one of them; karila milana--met.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   At this time, all the devotees from Bengal arrived, and, as previously, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu met them with great feeling.

 

                               TEXT 243

 

                                 TEXT

 

                saba lana kaila prabhu gundica-marjana

                 saba lana kaila prabhu vanya-bhojana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   saba lana--taking all of them; kaila--performed; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gundica-marjana--washing of the Gundica temple; saba lana--with all of them; kaila--performed; prabhu--Sri Caitanya; vanya-bhojana--eating in the garden.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As He had previously done, He cleansed the Gundica temple and held a picnic feast in the garden with the devotees.

 

                               TEXT 244

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ratha-yatraya saba lana karila nartana

               dekhi' raghunathera camatkara haila mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ratha-yatraya--during the Ratha-yatra performance; saba lana--taking all of them; karila nartana--danced; dekhi'--seeing; raghunathera--of Raghunatha dasa; camatkara--struck with wonder; haila--became; mana--the mind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Lord again danced with the devotees during the Ratha-yatra festival. Seeing this, Raghunatha dasa was struck with wonder.

 

                               TEXT 245

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  raghunatha-dasa yabe sabare milila

                 advaita-acarya tanre bahu krpa kaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghunatha-dasa--Raghunatha dasa; yabe--when; sabare milila--met all the devotees; advaita-acarya--Advaita Acarya; tanre--unto him; bahu--much; krpa--mercy; kaila--did.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Raghunatha dasa met all the devotees, Advaita Acarya showed him great mercy.

 

                               TEXT 246

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 sivananda-sena tanre kahena vivarana

              toma laite tomara pita pathaila dasa jana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sivananda-sena--Sivananda Sena; tanre--unto him; kahena--says; vivarana--description; toma laite--to take you; tomara pita--your father; pathaila--sent; dasa jana--ten men.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   He also met Sivananda Sena, who informed him, "Your father sent ten men to take you away.

 

                               TEXT 247

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 tomare pathaite patri pathaila more

               jhankara ha-ite toma na pana gela ghare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tomare--you; pathaite--to send back; patri--letter; pathaila more--sent to me; jhankara ha-ite--from Jhankara; toma--you; na pana--not getting; gela ghare--returned home.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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 Jhankara."

 

                               TEXT 248

 

                                 TEXT

 

                cari masa rahi' bhakta-gana gaude gela

               suni' raghunathera pita manusya pathaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   cari masa--for four months; rahi'--remaining; bhakta-gana--all the devotees; gaude gela--returned to Bengal; suni'--hearing; raghunathera pita--the father of Raghunatha dasa; manusya--a man; pathaila--sent.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When all the devotees from Bengal returned home after staying at Jagannatha Puri for four months, Raghunatha dasa's father heard about their arrival and therefore sent a man to Sivananda Sena.

 

                               TEXT 249

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 se manusya sivananda-senere puchila

              "mahaprabhura sthane eka 'vairagi' dekhila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   se manusya--that messenger; sivananda-senere--from Sivananda Sena; puchila--inquired; mahaprabhura sthane--at the place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; eka vairagi--a person in the renounced order; dekhila--did you see.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   That man inquired from Sivananda Sena, "Did you see anyone in the renounced order at the residence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu?

 

                               TEXT 250

 

                                 TEXT

 

            govardhanera putra tenho, nama----'raghunatha'

                nilacale paricaya ache tomara satha?"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   govardhanera--of Govardhana; putra--the son; tenho--he; nama--named; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; nilacale--in Nilacala; paricaya ache--is there acquaintance; tomara satha--with you.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "That person is Raghunatha dasa, the son of Govardhana Majumadara. Did you meet him in Nilacala?"

 

                               TEXT 251

 

                                 TEXT

 

            sivananda kahe,----"tenho haya prabhura sthane

                parama vikhyata tenho, keba nahi jane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sivananda kahe--Sivananda Sena replied; tenho--he; haya--is; prabhura sthane--with Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; parama vikhyata--very famous; tenho--he; keba--who; nahi jane--does not know.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sivananda Sena replied, "Yes, sir. Raghunatha dasa is with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and is a very famous man. Who does not know him?

 

                               TEXT 252

 

                                 TEXT

 

             svarupera sthane tare kariyachena samarpana

             prabhura bhakta-ganera tenho haya prana-sama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   svarupera sthane--to Svarupa Damodara; tare--him; kariyachena samarpana--Lord Caitanya has given charge of; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhakta-ganera--of all the devotees; tenho--he; haya--is; prana--the life; sama--like.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has placed him under the charge of Svarupa Damodara. Raghunatha dasa has become just like the life of all the Lord's devotees.

 

                               TEXT 253

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ratri-dina kare tenho nama-sankirtana

                ksana-matra nahi chade prabhura carana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ratri-dina--all day and night; kare--performs; tenho--he; nama-sankirtana--chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra; ksana-matra--even for a moment; nahi chade--does not give up; prabhura carana--the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "He chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra all day and night. He never gives up the shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, not even for a moment.

 

                               TEXT 254

 

                                 TEXT

 

             parama vairagya tara, nahi bhaksya-paridhana

               yaiche taiche ahara kari' rakhaye parana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   parama--supreme; vairagya--renunciation; tara--his; nahi--not; bhaksya--eating; paridhana--dressing; yaiche taiche--somehow or other; ahara kari'--eating; rakhaye parana--keeps life.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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.

 

                               TEXT 255

 

                                 TEXT

 

              dasa-danda ratri gele 'puspanjali' dekhiya

                 simha-dvare khada haya ahara lagiya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dasa-danda--ten dandas (240 minutes); ratri--night; gele--having gone; puspanjali--the puspanjali performance; dekhiya--after seeing; simha-dvare--at the Simha-dvara gate; khada haya--stands; ahara lagiya--to get some alms for eating.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "After ten dandas [four hours] of the night have passed and Raghunatha dasa has seen the performance of puspanjali, he stands at the Simha-dvara gate to beg some alms to eat.

 

                               TEXT 256

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 keha yadi deya, tabe karaye bhaksana

                 kabhu upavasa, kabhu karaye carvana"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   keha--someone; yadi--if; deya--offers; tabe--then; karaye bhaksana--he eats; kabhu--sometimes; upavasa--fasting; kabhu--sometimes; karaye carvana--he chews.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "He eats if someone gives him something to eat. Sometimes he fasts, and sometimes he chews fried grains."

 

                               TEXT 257

 

                                 TEXT

 

               eta suni' sei manusya govardhana-sthane

                 kahila giya saba raghunatha-vivarane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta suni'--hearing this; sei manusya--that messenger; govardhana-sthane--to Govardhana Majumadara; kahila--spoke; giya--going; saba--everything; raghunatha-vivarane--the description of Raghunatha dasa.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After hearing this, the messenger returned to Govardhana Majumadara and informed him all about Raghunatha dasa.

 

                               TEXT 258

 

                                 TEXT

 

                suni' tanra mata pita duhkhita ha-ila

            putra-thani dravya-manusya pathaite mana kaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   suni'--hearing; tanra--his; mata pita--father and mother; duhkhita ha-ila--became very unhappy; putra-thani--to their son; dravya-manusya--articles and men; pathaite--to send; mana kaila--decided.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Hearing the description of Raghunatha dasa's behavior in the renounced order, his father and mother were very unhappy. Therefore they decided to send him some men with goods for his comfort.

 

                               TEXT 259

 

                                 TEXT

 

              cari-sata mudra, dui bhrtya, eka brahmana

                sivanandera thani pathaila tata-ksana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   cari-sata mudra--four hundred coins; dui bhrtya--two servants; eka brahmana--one brahmana; sivanandera thani--to Sivananda Sena; pathaila--sent; tata-ksana--immediately.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa's father immediately sent four hundred coins, two servants and one brahmana to Sivananda Sena.

 

                               TEXT 260

 

                                 TEXT

 

              sivananda kahe,----"tumi saba yaite nariba

                   ami yai yabe, amara sange yaiba

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sivananda kahe--Sivananda Sena said; tumi--you; saba--all; yaite nariba--cannot go; ami yai--I go; yabe--when; amara sange--with me; yaiba--you will go.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sivananda Sena informed them, "You cannot go to Jagannatha Puri directly. When I go there, you may accompany me.

 

                               TEXT 261

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ebe ghara yaha, yabe ami saba calimu

                  tabe toma sabakare sange lana yamu

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ebe--now; ghara yaha--go home; yabe--when; ami--we; saba--all; calimu--will go; tabe--then; toma sabakare--all of you; sange--with; lana--taking; yamu--I shall go.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Now go home. When all of us go, I shall take all of you with me."

 

                               TEXT 262

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ei ta' prastave sri kavi-karnapura

              raghunatha-mahima granthe likhila pracura

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei ta' prastave--in this connection; sri kavi-karnapura--the poet named Kavi-karnapura; raghunatha-mahima--the glories of Raghunatha dasa; granthe--in his book; likhila--wrote; pracura--much.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Describing this incident, the great poet Sri Kavi-karnapura has written extensively about the glorious activities of Raghunatha dasa in his book.

 

                               TEXT 263

 

                                 TEXT

 

          acaryo yadunandanah sumadhurah sri-vasudeva-priyas

        tac-chisyo raghunatha ity adhigunah pranadhiko madrsam

         sri-caitanya-krpatireka-satata-snigdhah svarupanugo

        vairagyaika-nidhir na kasya vidito nilacale tisthatam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   acaryah yadunandanah--Yadunandana Acarya; su-madhurah--very well behaved; sri-vasudeva-priyah--very dear to Sri Vasudeva Datta Thakura; tat-sisyah--his disciple; raghunathah--Raghunatha dasa; iti--thus; adhigunah--so qualified; prana-adhikah--more dear than life; ma-drsam--of all the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu like me; sri-caitanya-krpa--by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; atireka--excess; satata-snigdhah--always pleasing; svarupa-anugah--following in the footsteps of Svarupa Damodara; vairagya--of renunciation; eka-nidhih--the ocean; na--not; kasya--by whom; viditah--known; nilacale--at Jagannatha Puri; tisthatam--of those who were staying.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Raghunatha dasa is a disciple of Yadunandana Acarya, who is very gentle and is extremely dear to Vasudeva Datta, a resident of Kancanapalli. Because of Raghunatha dasa's transcendental qualities, he is always more dear than life for all of us devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Since he has been favored by the abundant mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he is always pleasing. Vividly providing a superior example for the renounced order, this very dear follower of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami is the ocean of renunciation. Who among the residents of Nilacala [Jagannatha Puri] does not know him very well?

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This verse is from Sri Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka (10.3) of Kavi-karnapura.

 

                               TEXT 264

 

                                 TEXT

 

                    yah sarva-lokaika-manobhirucya

                  saubhagya-bhuh kacid akrsta-pacya

                     yatrayam aropana-tulya-kalam

                   tat-prema-sakhi phalavan atulyah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yah--who; sarva-loka--of all the devotees in Puri; eka--foremost; manah--of the minds; abhirucya--by the affection; saubhagya-bhuh--the ground of good fortune; kacit--indescribable; akrsta-pacya--perfect without tilling or perfect without practice; yatra--in which; ayam--this; aropana-tulya-kalam--at the same time as the sowing of the seed; tat-prema-sakhi--a tree of the love of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; phalavan--fruitful; atulyah--the matchless.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Because he is very pleasing to all the devotees, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami easily became like the fertile earth of good fortune in which it was suitable for the seed of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be sown. At the same time that the seed was sown, it grew into a matchless tree of the love of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and produced fruit."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This is the next verse from Sri Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka (10.4).

 

                               TEXT 265

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 sivananda yaiche sei manusye kahila

                   karnapura sei-rupe sloka varnila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sivananda--Sivananda Sena; yaiche--as; sei--unto the; manusye--messenger; kahila--said; karnapura--the great poet Kavi-karnapura; sei rupe--in that way; sloka varnila--composed verses.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In these verses, the great poet Kavi-karnapura gives the same information that Sivananda Sena conveyed to the messenger from Raghunatha dasa's father.

 

                               TEXT 266

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  varsantare sivananda cale nilacale

             raghunathera sevaka, vipra tanra sange cale

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   varsa-antare--the next year; sivananda--Sivananda Sena; cale nilacale--was going to Jagannatha Puri; raghunathera--of Raghunatha dasa; sevaka--the servants; vipra--and the brahmana; tanra sange--with him; cale--go.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The next year, when Sivananda Sena was going to Jagannatha Puri as usual, the servants and the brahmana, who was a cook, went with him.

 

                               TEXT 267

 

                                 TEXT

 

                sei vipra bhrtya, cari-sata mudra lana

                   nilacale raghunathe milila asiya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei vipra--that brahmana; bhrtya--the servants; cari-sata mudra--four hundred coins; lana--bringing; nilacale--at Jagannatha Puri; raghunathe--with Raghunatha dasa; milila--met; asiya--coming.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The servants and brahmana brought four hundred coins to Jagannatha Puri, and there they met Raghunatha dasa.

 

                               TEXT 268

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  raghunatha-dasa angikara na karila

                  dravya lana dui-jana tahani rahila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghunatha-dasa--Raghunatha dasa; angikara na karila--did not accept; dravya lana--taking the wealth; dui-jana--two persons; tahani rahila--remained there.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa did not accept the money and men sent by his father. Therefore a servant and the brahmana stayed there with the money.

 

                               TEXT 269

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  tabe raghunatha kari' aneka yatana

               mase dui-dina kaila prabhura nimantrana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--at that time; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; kari' aneka yatana--with great attention; mase--every month; dui-dina--two days; kaila--he made; prabhura nimantrana--invitation to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   At that time, Raghunatha dasa invited Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his house with great attention for two days every month.

 

                               TEXT 270

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 dui nimantrane lage kaudi asta-pana

              brahmana-bhrtya-thani karena eteka grahana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dui nimantrane--these two invitations; lage--cost; kaudi asta-pana--640 kaudis; brahmana-bhrtya-thani--from the brahmana and the servant; karena--does; eteka--so much; grahana--accepting.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The cost for these two occasions was 640 kaudis. Therefore he would take that much from the servant and the brahmana.

 

                               TEXT 271

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ei-mata nimantrana varsa dui kaila

               pache raghunatha nimantrana chadi' dila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; nimantrana--invitation; varsa dui--for two years; kaila--continued; pache--at the end; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; nimantrana--invitation; chadi' dila--gave up.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa continued to invite Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in this way for two years, but at the end of the second year he stopped.

 

                               TEXT 272

 

                                 TEXT

 

             masa-dui yabe raghunatha na kare nimantrana

                 svarupe puchila tabe sacira nandana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   masa-dui--for two months; yabe--when; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; na kare nimantrana--does not invite; svarupe puchila--inquired from Svarupa Damodara; tabe--at that time; sacira nandana--the son of mother Saci, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Raghunatha dasa neglected to invite Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for two consecutive months, the Lord, the son of Saci, questioned Svarupa Damodara.

 

                               TEXT 273

 

                                 TEXT

 

              'raghu kene amaya nimantrana chadi' dila?'

              svarupa kahe,----"mane kichu vicara karila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghu--Raghunatha dasa; kene--why; amaya--to Me; nimantrana--invitation; chadi' dila--has stopped; svarupa kahe--Svarupa Damodara replied; mane--within his mind; kichu--something; vicara karila--he has thought.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Lord asked, "Why has Raghunatha dasa stopped inviting Me?" Svarupa Damodara replied, "He must have reconsidered something in his mind.

 

                               TEXT 274

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 visayira dravya lana kari nimantrana

              prasanna na haya ihaya jani prabhura mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   visayira dravya--things supplied by materialistic men; lana--accepting; kari nimantrana--I invite; prasanna--satisfied; na haya--is not; ihaya--in this connection; jani--I can understand; prabhura mana--the mind of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'I invite Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by accepting goods from materialistic people. I know that the Lord's mind is not satisfied by this.

 

                               TEXT 275

 

                                 TEXT

 

               mora citta dravya la-ite na haya nirmala

           ei nimantrane dekhi,----'pratistha'-matra phala

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mora citta--my consciousness; dravya la-ite--to accept the goods; na haya--is not; nirmala--pure; ei nimantrane--by this invitation; dekhi--I see; pratistha--reputation; matra--only; phala--the result.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " '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 only get some material reputation.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura remarks that people who are under the bodily conception of life are called materialists. If we accept the offerings of such people, place them before the Lord and invite Vaisnavas to partake of the prasada, that attempt will gain us only a material reputation, not the actual benefit of service to a pure Vaisnava. One should therefore try to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead by fully surrendering at His lotus feet. If one engages for the service of the Lord whatever money one has honestly earned, that is spiritual service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the spiritual master and the Vaisnavas.

 

                               TEXT 276

 

                                 TEXT

 

                uparodhe prabhu mora manena nimantrana

                na manile duhkhi ha-ibeka murkha jana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   uparodhe--by my request; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mora--my; manena--accepts; nimantrana--invitation; na manile--if He does not accept; duhkhi--unhappy; ha-ibeka--will become; murkha jana--foolish person.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   " 'At my request Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepts the invitations because He knows that a foolish person like me would be unhappy if He did not accept them.'

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that people who are advanced in learning but attached to material enjoyment, who are puffed up by material possessions, by birth in an elevated aristocratic family or by education, may offer showbottle devotional service to the Deity and also offer prasada to Vaisnavas. Because of their ignorance, however, they cannot understand that since their minds are materially polluted, neither the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna, nor the Vaisnavas accept their offerings. If one accepts money from such materialistic persons to offer food to the Deity and Vaisnavas, a pure Vaisnava does not accept it. This causes unhappiness for the materialists because they are fully absorbed in the bodily conception of life. Therefore they sometimes turn against the Vaisnavas.

 

                               TEXT 277

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 eta vicariya nimantrana chadi' dila"

                 suni' mahaprabhu hasi' balite lagila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta vicariya--considering this; nimantrana--invitation; chadi' dila--he has stopped; suni'--hearing; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; hasi'--smiling; balite lagila--began to say.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Considering all these points," Svarupa Damodara concluded, "he has stopped inviting You." Hearing this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu smiled and spoke as follows.

 

                               TEXT 278

 

                                 TEXT

 

                "visayira anna khaile malina haya mana

                malina mana haile nahe krsnera smarana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   visayira--of materialistic persons; anna--food; khaile--if one eats; malina--contaminated; haya mana--the mind becomes; malina--contaminated; mana haile--when the mind becomes; nahe--is not; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; smarana--remembrance.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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 Krsna properly.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura suggests that people who are materialistically inclined and sahajiyas, or so-called Vaisnavas who take everything very casually, are both visayi materialists. Eating food offered by them causes contamination, and as a result of such contamination, even a serious devotee becomes like a materialistic man. There are six kinds of association--giving charity, accepting charity, accepting food, offering food, talking confidentially and inquiring confidentially. One should very carefully avoid associating with both the sahajiyas, who are sometimes known as Vaisnavas, and the non-Vaisnavas, or avaisnavas. Their association changes the transcendental devotional service of Lord Krsna into sense gratification, and when sense gratification enters the mind of a devotee, he is contaminated. The materialistic person who aspires after sense gratification cannot properly think of Krsna.

 

                               TEXT 279

 

                                 TEXT

 

                visayira anna haya 'rajasa' nimantrana

               data, bhokta----dunhara malina haya mana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   visayira--offered by materialistic men; anna--food; haya--is; rajasa--in the mode of passion; nimantrana--invitation; data--the person who offers; bhokta--the person who accepts such an offering; dunhara--of both of them; malina--contaminated; haya mana--the mind becomes.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that there are three varieties of invitations--those in the mode of goodness, those in passion and those in ignorance. An invitation accepted from a pure devotee is in the mode of goodness, an invitation accepted from a person who is pious but materially attached is in the mode of passion, and an invitation accepted from a person who is materially very sinful is in the mode of ignorance.

 

                               TEXT 280

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   inhara sankoce ami eta dina nila

               bhala haila----janiya apani chadi dila"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   inhara sankoce--because of his eagerness; ami--I; eta dina--for so many days; nila--I accepted; bhala haila--it is very good; janiya--knowing; apani--automatically; chadi dila--he has given up.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Because of Raghunatha dasa's eagerness, I accepted his invitation for many days. It is very good that Raghunatha dasa, knowing this, has now automatically given up this practice."

 

                               TEXT 281

 

                                 TEXT

 

               kata dine raghunatha simha-dvara chadila

               chatre yai' magiya khaite arambha karila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kata dine--after some days; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; simha-dvara chadila--gave up standing at the gate known as Simha-dvara; chatre yai'--going to an alms booth; magiya--begging; khaite--to eat; arambha karila--he began.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After some days, Raghunatha dasa gave up standing near the Simha-dvara gate and instead began eating by begging alms from a booth for free distribution of food.

 

                               TEXT 282

 

                                 TEXT

 

             govinda-pasa suni' prabhu puchena svarupere

          'raghu bhiksa lagi' thada kene nahe simha-dvare'?

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   govinda-pasa--from Govinda; suni'--hearing; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; puchena svarupere--inquired from Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; raghu--Raghunatha dasa; bhiksa lagi'--for begging; thada kene nahe--why does he not stand; simha-dvare--at the Simha-dvara gate.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard this news from Govinda, He inquired from Svarupa Damodara, "Why does Raghunatha dasa no longer stand at the Simha-dvara gate to beg alms?"

 

                               TEXT 283

 

                                 TEXT

 

           svarupa kahe,----"simha-dvare duhkha anubhaviya

               chatre magi' khaya madhyahna-kale giya"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   svarupa kahe--Svarupa Damodara replied; simha-dvare--at the Simha-dvara gate; duhkha anubhaviya--feeling unhappy; chatre--at the charity booth; magi'--begging; khaya--he eats; madhyahna-kale--at midday; giya--going.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Svarupa Damodara replied, "Raghunatha dasa felt unhappy standing at the Simha-dvara. Therefore he is now going at midday to beg alms from the charity booth."

 

                               TEXT 284

 

                                 TEXT

 

          prabhu kahe,----"bhala kaila, chadila simha-dvara

              simha-dvare bhiksa-vrtti----vesyara acara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; bhala kaila--he has done well; chadila simha-dvara--he has given up standing at the Simha-dvara; simha-dvare bhiksa-vrtti--to beg alms standing at the Simha-dvara; vesyara acara--the behavior of a prostitute.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Hearing this news, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "He has done very well by no longer standing at the Simha-dvara gate. Such begging of alms resembles the behavior of a prostitute.

 

                               TEXT 285

 

                                 TEXT

 

kim artham ayam agacchati, ayam dasyati, anena dattam ayam aparah. samety ayam dasyati, anenapi na dattam anyah samesyati, sa dasyati ity adi.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kim artham--why; ayam--this person; agacchati--is coming; ayam--this person; dasyati--will give; anena--by this person; dattam--given; ayam--this; aparah--other; sameti--comes near; ayam--this person; dasyati--will give; anena--by this person; api--also; na--not; dattam--given; anyah--another; samesyati--will come near; sah--he; dasyati--will give; iti--thus; adi--and so on.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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.

 

                               TEXT 286

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 chatre yai yatha-labha udara-bharana

               anya katha nahi, sukhe krsna-sankirtana"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   chatre yai--going to the booth for free food distribution; yatha-labha--with whatever is obtained; udara-bharana--filling the belly; anya--other; katha--talk; nahi--there is not; sukhe--happily; krsna-sankirtana--chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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 Krsna maha-mantra."

 

                               TEXT 287

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 eta bali' tanre punah prasada karila

             'govardhanera sila', 'gunja-mala' tanre dila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eta bali'--saying this; tanre--unto him; punah--again; prasada karila--gave something in mercy; govardhanera sila--a stone from Govardhana Hill; gunja-mala--a garland of small conchshells; tanre dila--delivered to him.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again bestowed His mercy upon Raghunatha dasa by giving him a piece of stone from Govardhana Hill and a garland of small conchshells.

 

                               TEXT 288

 

                                 TEXT

 

             sankarananda-sarasvati vrndavana haite aila

                 tenha sei sila-gunja-mala lana gela

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sankarananda-sarasvati--one of the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vrndavana haite--from Vrndavana; aila--came; tenha--he; sei--that; sila-gunja-mala--stone and the garland of small conchshells; lana--taking; gela--went.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Previously, when Sankarananda Sarasvati had returned from Vrndavana, he had brought the piece of stone from Govardhana Hill and also the garland of conchshells.

 

                               TEXT 289

 

                                 TEXT

 

              parsve gantha gunja-mala, govardhana-sila

                 dui vastu mahaprabhura age ani' dila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   parsve--on one side; gantha--strung together; gunja-mala--the garland of small conchshells; govardhana-sila--the stone from Govardhana; dui vastu--two things; mahaprabhura age--in front of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ani' dila --presented.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   He presented Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu these two items--the garland of conchshells and the stone from Govardhana Hill.

 

                               TEXT 290

 

                                 TEXT

 

               dui apurva-vastu pana prabhu tusta haila

                 smaranera kale gale pare gunja-mala

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dui--two; apurva-vastu--uncommon things; pana--getting; prabhu--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tusta haila--became very happy; smaranera kale--at the time of remembering (when He was chanting Hare Krsna); gale--on the neck; pare--wears; gunja-mala--the garland of small conchshells.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Upon receiving these two uncommon items, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was extremely happy. While chanting, He would put the garland around His neck.

 

                               TEXT 291

 

                                 TEXT

 

              govardhana-sila prabhu hrdaye-netre dhare

              kabhu nasaya ghrana laya, kabhu sire kare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   govardhana-sila--the stone from Govardhana Hill; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; hrdaye--on the heart; netre--on the eyes; dhare--puts; kabhu--sometimes; nasaya--with the nose; ghrana laya--smells; kabhu--sometimes; sire kare--He puts on His head.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 292

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 netra-jale sei sila bhije nirantara

               silare kahena prabhu----'krsna-kalevara'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   netra-jale--by the tears of His eyes; sei--that; sila--stone; bhije--remains wet; nirantara--always; silare--the stone; kahena--says; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krsna-kalevara--the body of Lord Krsna.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The stone from Govardhana was always moist with tears from His eyes. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would say, "This stone is directly the body of Lord Krsna."

 

                               TEXT 293

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ei-mata tina-vatsara sila-mala dharila

                 tusta hana sila-mala raghunathe dila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; tina-vatsara--for three years; sila-mala--the stone and the garland of conchshells; dharila--He kept; tusta hana--when He became very happy; sila-mala--the stone and the garland; raghunathe--to Raghunatha dasa; dila--He delivered.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   For three years He kept the stone and garland. Then, greatly satisfied by the behavior of Raghunatha dasa, the Lord delivered both of them to him.

 

                               TEXT 294

 

                                 TEXT

 

               prabhu kahe,----"ei sila krsnera vigraha

                 inhara seva kara tumi kariya agraha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; ei sila--this stone; krsnera vigraha--the form of Lord Krsna; inhara--of this; seva--worship; kara--do; tumi--you; kariya agraha--with great eagerness.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed Raghunatha dasa, "This stone is the transcendental form of Lord Krsna. Worship the stone with great eagerness."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes in his Anubhasya that in the opinion of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the govardhana-sila, the stone from Govardhana Hill, was directly the form of Krsna, the son of Maharaja Nanda. The Lord used the stone for three years, and then in the heart of Raghunatha dasa the Lord awakened devotional service to the stone. The Lord then gave the stone to Raghunatha dasa, accepting him as one of His most confidential servants. However, some envious people conclude that because Raghunatha dasa had not taken birth in the family of a brahmana, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not give him the right to worship the Deity directly, but instead gave him a stone from Govardhana. This kind of thought is naraki, or hellish. As stated in the Padma Purana, arcye visnau siladhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhih. ..yasya va naraki sah: "One who considers the arca-murti (the worshipable Deity of Lord Visnu) to be stone, the spiritual master to be an ordinary human being, or a Vaisnava to belong to a particular creed is possessed of hellish intelligence." If one thinks that the worshipable salagrama-sila is a mere stone, that the spiritual master is an ordinary human being or that a pure Vaisnava preaching the bhakti cult all over the world is a member of a particular caste or material division of society, he is considered a naraki, a candidate for hellish life. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed that the govardhana-sila, the stone taken from Govardhana, is nondifferent from the body of Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He indirectly advised such foolish persons that one should not be envious of a Vaisnava who belongs to a different caste or sect. One should accept a Vaisnava as transcendental. in this way one can be saved; otherwise, one is surely awaiting a hellish life.

 

                               TEXT 295

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ei silare kara tumi sattvika pujana

                  acirat pabe tumi krsna-prema-dhana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei silara--of this stone; kara--do; tumi--you; sattvika pujana--worshiping like a perfect brahmana, or in the mode of goodness; acirat--very soon; pabe tumi--you will get; krsna-prema--ecstatic love of Krsna; dhana--wealth.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "Worship this stone in the mode of goodness like a perfect brahmana, for by such worship you will surely attain ecstatic love of Krsna without delay.

 

                               TEXT 296

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  eka kunja jala ara tulasi-manjari

                sattvika-seva ei----suddha-bhave kari

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka--one; kunja--jug; jala--water; ara--and; tulasi-manjari--flowers of the tulasi tree; sattvika-seva--worship in goodness; ei--this; suddha-bhave--in complete purity; kari--performing.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "For such worship, one needs a jug of water and a few flowers from a tulasi tree. This is worship in complete goodness when performed in complete purity.

 

                               TEXT 297

 

                                 TEXT

 

               dui-dike dui-patra madhye komala manjari

              ei-mata asta-manjari dibe sraddha kari" '

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dui-dike--on two sides; dui-patra--two tulasi leaves; madhye--within; komala manjari--very soft tulasi flower; ei-mata--in this way; asta-manjari--eight tulasi flowers; dibe--you should offer; sraddha kari'--with faith and love.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "With faith and love, you should offer eight soft tulasi flowers, each with two tulasi leaves, one on each side of each flower."

 

                               TEXT 298

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   sri-haste sila diya ei ajna dila

                 anande raghunatha seva karite lagila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-haste--by His own transcendental hand; sila--the stone from Govardhana Hill; diya--delivering; ei ajna--this order; dila--He gave; anande--in great happiness; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; seva karite lagila--began to worship.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After thus advising him how to worship, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally offered Raghunatha dasa the govardhana-sila with His transcendental hand. As advised by the Lord, Raghunatha dasa worshiped the sila in great transcendental jubilation.

 

                               TEXT 299

 

                                 TEXT

 

               eka-vitasti dui-vastra, pinda eka-khani

                  svarupa dilena kunja anibare pani

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka-vitasti--about six inches long; dui-vastra--two cloths; pinda eka-khani--one wooden platform; svarupa dilena--Svarupa Damodara Gosvami delivered; kunja--a jug; anibare pani--for bringing water.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Svarupa Damodara gave Raghunatha dasa two cloths, each about six inches long, a wooden platform and a jug in which to keep water.

 

                               TEXT 300

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   ei-mata raghunatha karena pujana

              puja-kale dekhe silaya 'vrajendra-nandana'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; karena pujana--worships; puja-kale--while worshiping; dekhe--he sees; silaya--in the stone from Govardhana; vrajendra-nandana--the son of Nanda Maharaja.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus Raghunatha dasa began worshiping the stone from Govardhana, and as he worshiped he saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, the son of Nanda Maharaja, directly in the stone.

 

                               TEXT 301

 

                                 TEXT

 

               'prabhura svahasta-datta govardhana-sila

                ei cinti' raghunatha preme bhasi' gela

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sva-hasta--own hand; datta--handed over by; govardhana-sila--the stone from Govardhana Hill; ei cinti'--thinking this; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; preme--in ecstatic love; bhasi' gela--became overflooded.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thinking of how he had received the govardhana-sila directly from the hands of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Raghunatha dasa was always overflooded with ecstatic love.

 

                               TEXT 302

 

                                 TEXT

 

              jala-tulasira sevaya tanra yata sukhodaya

                 sodasopacara-pujaya tata sukha naya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jala-tulasira sevaya--by worshiping with water and tulasi; tanra--his; yata--as much as; sukha-udaya--rise of transcendental happiness; sodasa-upacara-pujaya--by worshiping with sixteen kinds of paraphernalia; tata--so much; sukha--happiness; naya--is not.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The amount of transcendental bliss that Raghunatha dasa enjoyed simply by offering water and tulasi is impossible to achieve even if one worships the Deity with sixteen kinds of paraphernalia.

 

                               TEXT 303

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   ei-mata kata dina karena pujana

               tabe svarupa-gosani tanre kahila vacana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; kata dina--for some days; karena pujana--he worshiped; tabe--at that time; svarupa-gosani--Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; tanre--to him; kahila vacana--said some words.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After Raghunatha dasa had thus worshiped the govardhana-sila for some time, Svarupa Damodara one day spoke to him as follows.

 

                               TEXT 304

 

                                 TEXT

 

              "asta-kaudira khaja-sandesa kara samarpana

                 sraddha kari' dile, sei amrtera sama

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   asta-kaudira--costing eight kaudis; khaja-sandesa--khaja and sandesa sweetmeats; kara samarpana--offer; sraddha kari'--with love and faith; dile--if you offer; sei--that; amrtera sama--just like nectar.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Offer the Govardhana stone eight kaudis worth of the first-class sweetmeats known as khaja and sandesa. If you offer them with faith and love, they will be just like nectar."

 

                               TEXT 305

 

                                 TEXT

 

                tabe asta-kaudira khaja kare samarpana

              svarupa-ajnaya govinda taha kare samadhana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tabe--then; asta-kaudira--costing eight kaudis; khaja--the sweetmeat named khaja; kare samarpana--offers; svarupa-ajnaya--by the order of Svarupa Damodara; govinda--the personal servant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; taha--that; kare samadhana--arranges.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa then began offering the costly sweetmeats known as khaja, which Govinda, following the order of Svarupa Damodara, would supply.

 

                               TEXT 306

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 raghunatha sei sila-mala yabe paila

                 gosanira abhipraya ei bhavana karila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; sei sila--that stone; mala--garland; yabe--when; paila--he got; gosanira--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; abhipraya--intention; ei--this; bhavana karila--he thought.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Raghunatha dasa received from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu the stone and the garland of conchshells, he could understand the Lord's intention. Thus he thought as follows.

 

                               TEXT 307

 

                                 TEXT

 

               "sila diya gosani samarpila 'govardhane'

                gunja-mala diya dila 'radhika-carane'

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sila diya--by offering this stone; gosani--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; samarpila--offered; govardhane--a place near Govardhana Hill; gunja-mala diya--by offering the garland of small conchshells; dila--offered; radhika-carane--shelter at the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "By offering me the govardhana-sila, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has offered me a place near Govardhana Hill, and by offering me the garland of conch shells, He has offered me shelter at the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani."

 

                               TEXT 308

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 anande raghunathera bahya vismarana

                  kaya-mane sevilena gauranga-carana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   anande--in transcendental bliss; raghunathera--of Raghunatha dasa; bahya vismarana--forgetting everything external; kaya-mane--by mind and body; sevilena--served; gauranga-carana--the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa's transcendental bliss was boundless. Forgetting everything external, he served the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with his body and mind.

 

                               TEXT 309

 

                                 TEXT

 

              ananta guna raghunathera ke karibe lekha?

             raghunathera niyama,----yena pasanera rekha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ananta guna--unlimited transcendental attributes; raghunathera--of Raghunatha dasa; ke--who; karibe lekha--can write; raghunathera--of Raghunatha dasa; niyama--the strict regulative principles; yena--like; pasanera rekha--lines on a stone.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Who could list the unlimited transcendental attributes of Raghunatha dasa? His strict regulative principles were exactly like lines on a stone.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The words pasanera rekha are very significant. Raghunatha dasa Gosvami followed the regulative principles so strictly and rigidly that they were compared to the lines on a stone. As such lines cannot be erased at any time, so the regulative principles observed by Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami could not be changed under any circumstances.

 

                               TEXT 310

 

                                 TEXT

 

                sade sata prahara yaya kirtana-smarane

              ahara-nidra cari danda seha nahe kona dine

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sade sata prahara--7.5 praharas (one prahara equals three hours); yaya--is spent; kirtana-smarane--in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and remembering the lotus feet of Krsna; ahara-nidra--eating and sleeping; cari danda--four dandas (one danda equals twenty-four minutes); seha--that; nahe--is not; kona dine--some days.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Raghunatha dasa spent more than twenty-two hours out of every twenty-four chanting the Hare Krsna maha-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.

 

                               TEXT 311

 

                                 TEXT

 

                vairagyera katha tanra adbhuta-kathana

                ajanma na dila jihvaya rasera sparsana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vairagyera--of the renunciation; katha--talks; tanra--of him; adbhuta-kathana--wonderful topics; a-janma--from birth; na dila--did not allow; jihvaya--to the tongue; rasera sparsana--tasting.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Topics concerning his renunciation are wonderful. Throughout his life he never allowed his tongue sense gratification.

 

                               TEXT 312

 

                                 TEXT

 

                chinda kani kantha vina na pare vasana

                savadhane prabhura kaila ajnara palana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   chinda kani--a small torn cloth; kantha--a patchwork cotton wrapper; vina--except; na pare--does not wear; vasana--clothing; savadhane--with great care; prabhura--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila--performed; ajnara palana --execution of the order.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   He never touched anything to wear except a small torn cloth and a patchwork wrapper. Thus he very rigidly executed the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The principle of very rigidly carrying out the order of the spiritual master must be observed. The spiritual master gives different orders to different people. For example, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Jiva Gosvami, Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami to preach, and He ordered Raghunatha dasa Gosvami to strictly follow the rules and regulations of the renounced order. All six Gosvamis strictly followed the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This is the principle for progress in devotional service. After receiving an order from the spiritual master, one must strictly try to execute the order. That is the way of success.

 

                               TEXT 313

 

                                 TEXT

 

                prana-raksa lagi' yeba karena bhaksana

                taha khana apanake kahe nirveda-vacana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prana-raksa lagi'--to maintain life; yeba--whatever; karena bhaksana--he ate; taha khana--eating that; apanake--to himself; kahe--said; nirveda-vacana--words of reproach.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Whatever he ate was only to keep his body and soul together, and when he ate he would reproach himself thus.

 

                               TEXT 314

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        atmanam ced vijaniyat

                        param jnana-dhutasayah

                      kim icchan kasya va hetor

                        deham pusnati lampatah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   atmanam--the soul; cet--if; vijaniyat--one understands; param--supreme; jnana--by knowledge; dhuta--thrown off; asayah--material desires; kim--what; icchan--desiring; kasya--what; va--or; hetoh--for reason; deham--the material body; pusnati--maintains; lampatah--debauchee.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "If one's heart has been cleansed by perfect knowledge and one has understood Krsna, the Supreme Brahman, he then gains everything. Why should such a person act like a debauchee by trying very carefully to maintain his material body?"

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This verse (Bhag. 7.15.40) was spoken by Narada to Yudhisthira Maharaja regarding a householder's liberation from material bondage. On the spiritual platform, one does not unnecessarily care for the body. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura has said, deha-smrti nahi yara, samsara bandhana kahan tara. One who is spiritually situated does not think that he is the body. Therefore he can transcendentally execute severe penances in the renounced order of life. The best example of such renunciation is Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.

 

                               TEXT 315

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  prasadanna pasarira yata na vikaya

                 dui-tina dina haile bhata sadi' yaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prasada-anna--food of Jagannatha; pasarira--of the shopkeepers; yata--as much as; na vikaya--is not sold; dui-tina dina--two and three days; haile--after; bhata--the rice; sadi' yaya--becomes decomposed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Jagannatha's prasada is sold by shopkeepers, and that which is not sold decomposes after two or three days.

 

                               TEXT 316

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 simha-dvare gabhi-age sei bhata dare

               sada-gandhe tailangi-gai khaite na pare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   simha-dvare--at the gate known as Simha-dvara; gabhi-age--in front of the cows; sei bhata--that food; dare--they throw; sada-gandhe--because of a rotten smell; tailangi-gai--the cows from Tailanga; khaite na pare--cannot eat.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All the decomposed food is thrown before the cows from Tailanga at the Simha-dvara gate. Because of its rotten odor, even the cows cannot eat it.

 

                               TEXT 317

 

                                 TEXT

 

                sei bhata raghunatha ratre ghare ani'

              bhata pakhaliya phele ghare diya bahu pani

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sei bhata--that rejected rice; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa; ratre--at night; ghare ani'--bringing home; bhata--the rice; pakhaliya--washing; phele--throws; ghare--at home; diya--putting; bahu pani--much water.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   At night Raghunatha dasa would collect that decomposed rice, bring it home and wash it with ample water.

 

                               TEXT 318

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 bhitarera drdha yei maji bhata paya

                lavana diya raghunatha sei anna khaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhitarera--within; drdha--the harder portion; yei--which; maji--the core; bhata--rice; paya--he gets; lavana diya--with a little salt; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; sei anna--that rice; khaya--eats.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Then he ate the hard inner portion of the rice with salt.

 

                               TEXT 319

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 eka-dina svarupa taha karite dekhila

                  hasiya tahara kichu magiya khaila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   eka-dina--one day; svarupa--Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; taha--that; karite--doing; dekhila--saw; hasiya--smiling; tahara--of that; kichu--some; magiya khaila--he begged and ate.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   One day Svarupa Damodara saw the activities of Raghunatha dasa. Thus he smiled and asked for a small portion of that food and ate it.

 

                               TEXT 320

 

                                 TEXT

 

             svarupa kahe,----"aiche amrta khao niti-niti

            ama-sabaya nahi deha',----ki tomara prakrti?"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   svarupa kahe--Svarupa Damodara said; aiche--such; amrta--nectar; khao--you eat; niti-niti--daily; ama-sabaya--to us; nahi deha'--you do not offer; ki--what; tomara--your; prakrti--nature.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Svarupa Damodara said, "You eat such nectar every day, but you never offer it to us. Where is your character?"

 

                               TEXT 321

 

                                 TEXT

 

                govindera mukhe prabhu se varta sunila

                  ara dina asi' prabhu kahite lagila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   govindera mukhe--from the mouth of Govinda; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; se varta--that news; sunila--heard; ara dina--the next day; asi'--coming; prabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahite lagila--began to say.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard news of this from the mouth of Govinda, He went there the next day and spoke as follows.

 

                               TEXT 322

 

                                 TEXT

 

             kanha vastu khao sabe, more na deha' kene?'

                 eta bali' eka grasa karila bhaksane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kanha--what; vastu--things; khao--you eat; sabe--all; more--to Me; na deha' kene--why do you not give; eta bali'--saying this; eka grasa--one morsel; karila bhaksane--ate.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "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.

 

                               TEXT 323

 

                                 TEXT

 

                ara grasa laite svarupa hatete dharila

               'tava yogya nahe' bali' bale kadi' nila

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ara--another; grasa--morsel; laite--taking; svarupa--Svarupa Damodara; hatete--the hand; dharila--caught; tava--for You; yogya--fit; nahe--is not; bali'--saying; bale--by force; kadi'--snatching; nila--he took.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was taking another morsel of food, Svarupa Damodara caught Him by the hand and said, "It is not fit for You." Thus he forcibly took the food away.

 

                               TEXT 324

 

                                 TEXT

 

             prabhu bale,----"niti-niti nana prasada khai

                 aiche svada ara kona prasade na pai"

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prabhu bale--Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; niti-niti--day after day; nana prasada--varieties of prasada; khai--I eat; aiche svada--such a nice taste; ara--other; kona--any; prasade--in the remnants of Lord Jagannatha's food; na pai--I do not get.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Of course, every day I eat varieties of prasada, but I have never tasted such nice prasada as that which Raghunatha is eating."

 

                               TEXT 325

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ei-mata mahaprabhu nana lila kare

             raghunathera vairagya dekhi' santosa antare

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei-mata--in this way; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nana lila--many pastimes; kare--performs; raghunathera--of Raghunatha dasa; vairagya--renunciation; dekhi'--by seeing; santosa antare--satisfied within.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu performed many pastimes at Jagannatha Puri. Seeing the severe penances performed by Raghunatha dasa in the renounced order, the Lord was greatly satisfied.

 

                               TEXT 326

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   apana-uddhara ei raghunatha-dasa

           'gauranga-stava-kalpa-vrkse' kariyachena prakasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   apana-uddhara--his personal deliverance; ei raghunatha-dasa--this Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; gauranga-stava-kalpa-vrkse--in his poem known as Gauranga-stava-kalpavrksa; kariyachena prakasa--has manifested.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In his own poem known as the Gauranga-stava-kalpavrksa, Raghunatha dasa has described his personal deliverance.

 

                               TEXT 327

 

                                 TEXT

 

            maha-sampad-davad api patitam uddhrtya krpaya

           svarupe yah sviye kujanam api mam nyasya muditah

            uro-gunja-haram priyam api ca govardhana-silam

             dadau me gaurango hrdaya udayan mam madayati

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   maha-sampat--of profuse material opulence; davat--from a forest fire; api--although; patitam--fallen; uddhrtya--delivering; krpaya--by mercy; svarupe--unto Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; yah--He who (Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu); sviye--His personal associate; ku-janam--low person; api--although; mam--me; nyasya--having delivered; muditah--pleased; urah--of the chest; gunja-haram--the garland of conchshells; priyam--dear; api--although; ca--and; govardhana-silam--a stone from Govardhana Hill; dadau--delivered; me--to me; gaurangah--Lord Gauranga; hrdaye--in my heart; udayan--by manifesting; mam--me; madayati--maddens.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Although I am a fallen soul, the lowest of men, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu delivered me from the blazing forest fire of great material opulence by His mercy. He handed me over in great pleasure to Svarupa Damodara, 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 Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu awakens within my heart and makes me mad after Him."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This verse is from Sri Gauranga-stava-kalpavrksa (11), written by Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.

 

                               TEXT 328

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  ei ta' kahilun raghunathera milana

                  iha yei sune paya caitanya-carana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ei--this; ta'--certainly; kahilun--I have described; raghunathera milana--the meeting of Raghunatha dasa; iha--this; yei--anyone who; sune--hears; paya--gets; caitanya-carana--the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus I have described the meeting of Raghunatha dasa with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Anyone who hears about this incident attains the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

                               TEXT 329

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  sri-rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa,

                  caitanya-caritamrta kahe krsnadasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-rupa--Srila Rupa Gosvami; raghunatha--Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; pade--at the lotus feet; yara--whose; asa--expectation; caitanya-caritamrta--the book named Caitanya-caritamrta; kahe--describes; krsnadasa--Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always desiring their mercy, I, Krsnadasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, following in their footsteps.

 

   Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, Sixth Chapter, describing Lord Caitanya's meeting with Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.

 


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