CC Madhya 13 (1975)

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (1975) - Madhya-līlā, Chapter 13: The Ecstatic Dancing of the Lord at Ratha-yātrā

Madhya-līlā 12 - Madhya-līlā 14

Below is the 1996 edition text, ready to be substituted with the 1975 one using the compile form.

Madhya 13 Summary

Madhya 13.1: May the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, who danced in front of the car of Śrī Jagannātha, be all glorified! By seeing His dancing, not only was the whole universe held in wonder, but Lord Jagannātha Himself became very much astonished.

Madhya 13.2: All glories to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Prabhu Nityānanda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

Madhya 13.3: All glories to the listeners of Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Please hear the description of the dancing of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu at the Ratha-yātrā festival. His dancing is very enchanting. Please hear of it with great attention.

Madhya 13.4: The next day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His personal associates got up in the dark and attentively took their early morning baths.

Madhya 13.5: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His personal associates then went to see the ceremony of Pāṇḍu-vijaya. During this ceremony, Lord Jagannātha leaves His throne and gets up onto the car.

Madhya 13.6: King Pratāparudra in person, as well as his entourage, allowed the Pāṇḍu-vijaya ceremony to be seen by all the associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Madhya 13.7: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His prominent devotees-Advaita Ācārya, Nityānanda Prabhu and others-were very happy to observe how Lord Jagannātha began the Ratha-yātrā.

Madhya 13.8: The very strongly built dayitās [carriers of the Jagannātha Deity] were as powerful as drunken elephants. They manually carried Lord Jagannātha from the throne to the car.

Madhya 13.9: While carrying the Deity of Lord Jagannātha, some of the dayitās took hold of the shoulders of the Lord, and some caught His lotus feet.

Madhya 13.10: The Lord Jagannātha Deity was bound at the waist by a strong, thick rope made of silk. From two sides the dayitās caught hold of this rope and raised the Deity.

Madhya 13.11: Strong, puffed-up cotton pads called tulīs were spread out from the throne to the car, and the heavy Deity of Lord Jagannātha was carried from one pillow-like pad to the next by the dayitās.

Madhya 13.12: While the dayitās carried the heavy Jagannātha Deity from one pad to the next, some of the pads broke, and the cotton contents floated into the air. When they broke, they made a heavy, cracking sound.

Madhya 13.13: Lord Jagannātha is the maintainer of the whole universe. Who can carry Him from one place to another? However, the Lord moves by His personal will just to perform His pastimes.

Madhya 13.14: While the Lord was transported from the throne to the car, tumultuous sounds were made on various musical instruments. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was chanting "Maṇimā Maṇimā," but He could not be heard.

Madhya 13.15: While the Lord was being carried from the throne to the car, King Pratāparudra personally engaged in the Lord's service by cleansing the road with a broom that had a golden handle.

Madhya 13.16: The King sprinkled the road with sandalwood-scented water. Although he was the owner of the royal throne, he engaged in menial service for the sake of Lord Jagannātha.

Madhya 13.17: Although the King was the most exalted respectable person, still he accepted menial service for the Lord; he, therefore, became a suitable candidate for receiving the Lord's mercy.

Madhya 13.18: Upon seeing the King engaged in such menial service, Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy. Simply by rendering this service, the King received the mercy of the Lord.

Madhya 13.19: Everyone was astonished to see the decorations on the Ratha car. The car appeared to be newly made of gold, and it was as high as Mount Sumeru.

Madhya 13.20: The decorations included bright mirrors and hundreds and hundreds of cāmaras [white whisks made of yak tails]. On top of the car were a neat and clean canopy and very beautiful flag.

Madhya 13.21: The car was also decorated with silken cloth and various pictures. Many brass bells, gongs and ankle bells rang.

Madhya 13.22: For the pastimes of the Ratha-yātrā ceremony, Lord Jagannātha got aboard one car, and His sister, Subhadrā, and elder brother, Balarāma, got aboard two other cars.

Madhya 13.23: For fifteen days the Lord had remained in a secluded place with the supreme goddess of fortune and had performed His pastimes with her.

Madhya 13.24: Having taken permission from the goddess of fortune, the Lord came out to ride on the Ratha car and perform His pastimes for the pleasure of the devotees.

Madhya 13.25: The fine, white sand spread all over the path resembled the bank of the Yamunā, and the small gardens on both sides looked just like those in Vṛndāvana.

Madhya 13.26: As Lord Jagannātha rode in His car and saw the beauty on both sides, His mind was filled with pleasure.

Madhya 13.27: The pullers of the car were known as gauḍas, and they pulled with great pleasure. However, the car sometimes went very fast and sometimes very slow.

Madhya 13.28: Sometimes the car would stand still and not move, even though it was pulled very vigorously. The chariot therefore moved by the will of the Lord, not by the strength of any ordinary person.

Madhya 13.29: As the car stood still, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gathered all His devotees and, with His own hand, decorated them with flower garlands and sandalwood pulp.

Madhya 13.30: Paramānanda Purī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī were both personally given garlands and sandalwood pulp from the very hands of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This increased their transcendental pleasure.

Madhya 13.31: Similarly, when Advaita Ācārya and Nityānanda Prabhu felt the touch of the transcendental hand of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, They were both very pleased.

Madhya 13.32: The Lord also gave garlands and sandalwood pulp to the performers of saṅkīrtana. The chief two performers were Svarūpa Dāmodara and Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura.

Madhya 13.33: There were altogether four parties of kīrtana performers, comprising twenty-four chanters. In each party there were also two mṛdaṅga players, making an additional eight persons.

Madhya 13.34: When the four parties were formed, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, after some consideration, divided the chanters.

Madhya 13.35: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Nityānanda Prabhu, Advaita Ācārya, Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Vakreśvara Paṇḍita to dance in each of the four respective parties.

Madhya 13.36: Svarūpa Dāmodara was chosen as the leader of the first party and was given five assistants to respond to his chanting.

Madhya 13.37: The five who responded to the singing of Svarūpa Dāmodara were Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Nārāyaṇa, Govinda Datta, Rāghava Paṇḍita and Śrī Govindānanda.

Madhya 13.38: Advaita Ācārya Prabhu was ordered to dance in the first group. The Lord then formed another group with Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura as the chief man.

Madhya 13.39: The five singers who responded to the singing of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura were Gaṅgādāsa, Haridāsa, Śrīmān, Śubhānanda and Śrī Rāma Paṇḍita. Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu was appointed as a dancer.

Madhya 13.40: vāsudeva—Vāsudeva; gopīnātha—Gopīnātha; murāri—Murāri; yāhāṅ—where; gāya—sing; mukunda—Mukunda; pradhāna—chief; kaila—formed; āra—another; sampradāya—group.

Madhya 13.41: Another two persons, Śrīkānta and Vallabha Sena, joined as responsive singers. In this group, Haridāsa Ṭhākura [the senior] was the dancer.

Madhya 13.42: The Lord formed another group, appointing Govinda Ghosh as leader. In this group the younger Haridāsa, Viṣṇudāsa and Rāghava were the responding singers.

Madhya 13.43: Two brothers named Mādhava Ghosh and Vāsudeva Ghosh also joined this group as responsive singers. Vakreśvara Paṇḍita was the dancer.

Madhya 13.44: There was a saṅkīrtana party from the village known as Kulīna-grāma, and Rāmānanda and Satyarāja were appointed the dancers in this group.

Madhya 13.45: There was another party that came from Śāntipura and was formed by Advaita Ācārya. Acyutānanda was the dancer, and the rest of the men were singers.

Madhya 13.46: Another party was formed by the people of Khaṇḍa. These people were singing in a different place. In that group, Narahari Prabhu and Raghunandana were dancing.

Madhya 13.47: Four parties chanted and danced in front of Lord Jagannātha, and on both sides were two other parties. Another was at the rear.

Madhya 13.48: There were altogether seven parties of saṅkīrtana, and in each party two men were beating drums. Thus fourteen drums were being played at once. The sound was tumultuous, and all the devotees became mad.

Madhya 13.49: All the Vaiṣṇavas came together like an assembly of clouds. As the devotees chanted the holy names, tears fell in great ecstasy like rainfall from their eyes.

Madhya 13.50: When the saṅkīrtana resounded, it filled the three worlds. Indeed, no one could hear mundane sounds or musical instruments other than the saṅkīrtana.

Madhya 13.51: Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu wandered through all seven groups chanting the holy name,"Hari, Hari!" Raising His arms, He shouted, "All glories to Lord Jagannātha!"

Madhya 13.52: Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu then exhibited another mystic power by performing pastimes simultaneously in all seven groups.

Madhya 13.53: Everyone said, "Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is present in my group. Indeed, He does not go anywhere else. He is bestowing His mercy upon us."

Madhya 13.54: Actually, no one could see the inconceivable potency of the Lord. Only the most confidential devotees, those in pure, unalloyed devotional service, could understand.

Madhya 13.55: Lord Jagannātha was very pleased by the saṅkīrtana, and He brought His car to a standstill just to see the performance.

Madhya 13.56: King Pratāparudra also was astonished to see the saṅkīrtana. He became inactive and was converted to ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa.

Madhya 13.57: When the King informed Kāśī Miśra of the glories of the Lord, Kāśī Miśra replied,"O King, your fortune has no limit!"

Madhya 13.58: The King and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya were both aware of the Lord's activities, but no one else could see the tricks of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Madhya 13.59: Only a person who has received the mercy of the Lord can understand. Without the Lord's mercy, even the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, cannot understand.

Madhya 13.60: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very satisfied to see the King accept the menial task of sweeping the street, and for this humility, the King received the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He could therefore observe the mystery of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's activities.

Madhya 13.61: Although the King was refused an interview, he was indirectly bestowed causeless mercy. Who can understand the internal potency of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu?

Madhya 13.62: When the two great personalities Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Kāśī Miśra saw Caitanya Mahāprabhu's causeless mercy upon the King, they were astonished.

Madhya 13.63: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed His pastimes for some time in this way. He personally sang and induced His personal associates to dance.

Madhya 13.64: According to His need, the Lord sometimes exhibited one form and sometimes many. This was being executed by His internal potency.

Madhya 13.65: Indeed, the Personality of Godhead forgot Himself in the course of His transcendental pastimes, but His internal potency [līlā-śakti], knowing the intentions of the Lord, made all arrangements.

Madhya 13.66: Just as Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa formerly performed the rāsa-līlā dance and other pastimes at Vṛndāvana, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed uncommon pastimes moment after moment.

Madhya 13.67: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's dancing before the Ratha-yātrā car could be perceived only by pure devotees. Others could not understand. Descriptions of Lord Kṛṣṇa's uncommon dancing can be found in the revealed scripture Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Madhya 13.68: In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced in great jubilation and inundated all the people with waves of ecstatic love.

Madhya 13.69: Thus Lord Jagannātha mounted His car, and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inspired all His devotees to dance in front of it.

Madhya 13.70: Now please hear about Lord Jagannātha's going to the Guṇḍicā temple while Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced before the Ratha car.

Madhya 13.71: The Lord performed kīrtana for some time and, through His own endeavor, inspired all the devotees to dance.

Madhya 13.72: When the Lord Himself wanted to dance, all seven groups combined together.

Madhya 13.73: The Lord's devotees-including Śrīvāsa, Rāmāi, Raghu, Govinda, Mukunda, Haridāsa, Govindānanda, Mādhava and Govinda-all combined together.

Madhya 13.74: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu desired to jump high while dancing, He placed these nine people in the charge of Svarūpa Dāmodara.

Madhya 13.75: These devotees [Svarūpa Dāmodara and the devotees in his charge] sang along with the Lord, and they also ran beside Him. All the other groups of men also sang.

Madhya 13.76: Offering obeisances to the Lord with folded hands, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu raised His face toward Jagannātha and prayed as follows.

Madhya 13.77: " 'Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is the worshipable Deity for all brahminical men, who is the well-wisher of cows and brāhmaṇas, and who is always benefiting the whole world. I offer my repeated obeisances to the Personality of Godhead, known as Kṛṣṇa and Govinda.'

Madhya 13.78: " 'All glories unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is known as the son of Devakī. All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is known as the light of the dynasty of Vṛṣṇi. All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead whose bodily luster is like that of a new cloud and whose body is as soft as a lotus flower. All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead who appeared on this planet to deliver the world from the burden of demons and who can offer liberation to everyone.'

Madhya 13.79: " 'Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is He who is known as jana-nivāsa, the ultimate resort of all living entities, and who is also known as Devakī-nandana or Yaśodā-nandana, the son of Devakī and Yaśodā. He is the guide of the Yadu dynasty, and with His mighty arms He kills everything inauspicious as well as every man who is impious. By His presence He destroys all things inauspicious for all living entities, moving and inert. His blissful smiling face always increases the lusty desires of the gopīs of Vṛndāvana. May He be all glorious and happy!'

Madhya 13.80: " 'I am not a brāhmaṇa, I am not a kṣatriya, I am not a vaiśya or a śūdra. Nor am I a brahmacārī, a householder, a vānaprastha or a sannyāsī. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the maintainer of the gopīs. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance.' "

Madhya 13.81: Having recited all these verses from scripture, the Lord again offered His obeisances, and all the devotees, with folded hands, also offered prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Madhya 13.82: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced and jumped high, roaring like thunder and moving in a circle like a wheel, He appeared like a circling firebrand.

Madhya 13.83: Wherever Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stepped while dancing, the whole earth, with its hills and seas, appeared to tilt.

Madhya 13.84: When Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced, He displayed various blissful transcendental changes in His body. Sometimes He appeared as though stunned. Sometimes the hairs of His body stood on end. Sometimes He perspired, cried, trembled and changed color, and sometimes He exhibited symptoms of helplessness, pride, exuberance and humility.

Madhya 13.85: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fell down with a crash while dancing, He would roll on the ground. At such times it appeared that a golden mountain was rolling on the ground.

Madhya 13.86: Nityānanda Prabhu would stretch out His two hands and try to catch the Lord when He was running here and there.

Madhya 13.87: Advaita Ācārya would walk behind the Lord and loudly chant "Hari bol! Hari bol!" again and again.

Madhya 13.88: Just to check the crowds from coming too near the Lord, they formed three circles. The first circle was guided by Nityānanda Prabhu, who is Balarāma Himself, the possessor of great strength.

Madhya 13.89: All the devotees headed by Kāśīśvara and Govinda linked hands and formed a second circle around the Lord.

Madhya 13.90: Mahārāja Pratāparudra and his personal assistants formed a third circle around the two inner circles just to check the crowd from coming too near.

Madhya 13.91: With his hands on the shoulders of Haricandana, King Pratāparudra could see Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu dancing, and the King felt great ecstasy.

Madhya 13.92: While the King beheld the dancing, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, standing in front of him, became ecstatic as he saw the dancing of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Madhya 13.93: Seeing Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura standing before the King, Haricandana touched Śrīvāsa with his hand and requested him to step aside.

Madhya 13.94: Absorbed in watching Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu dance, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura could not understand why he was being touched and pushed. After he was pushed again and again, he became angry.

Madhya 13.95: Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura slapped Haricandana to stop him from pushing him. In turn, this made Haricandana angry.

Madhya 13.96: As the angered Haricandana was about to speak to Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, Pratāparudra Mahārāja personally stopped him.

Madhya 13.97: King Pratāparudra said, "You are very fortunate, for you have been graced by the touch of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura. I am not so fortunate. You should feel obliged to him."

Madhya 13.98: Everyone was astonished by the dancing of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and even Lord Jagannātha became extremely happy to see Him.

Madhya 13.99: The car came to a complete standstill and remained immobile while Lord Jagannātha, with unblinking eyes, watched the dancing of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Madhya 13.100: The goddess of fortune, Subhadrā, and Lord Balarāma both felt great happiness and ecstasy within Their hearts. Indeed, They were seen smiling at the dancing.

Madhya 13.101: When Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced and jumped high, eight wonderful transformations indicative of divine ecstasy were seen in His body. All these symptoms were visible simultaneously.

Madhya 13.102: His skin erupted with goose pimples, and the hairs of His body stood on end. His body resembled the śimulī [silk cotton tree], all covered with thorns.

Madhya 13.103: Indeed, the people became afraid just to see His teeth chatter, and they even thought that His teeth would fall out.

Madhya 13.104: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's whole body flowed with perspiration and at the same time oozed blood. He made the sounds "jaja gaga, jaja gaga" in a voice choked with ecstasy.

Madhya 13.105: Tears came forcefully from the eyes of the Lord, as if from a syringe, and all the people surrounding Him became wet.

Madhya 13.106: Everyone saw the complexion of His body change from white to pink, so that His luster resembled that of the mallikā flower.

Madhya 13.107: Sometimes He appeared stunned, and sometimes He rolled on the ground. Indeed, sometimes His legs and hands became as hard as dry wood, and He did not move.

Madhya 13.108: When the Lord fell on the ground, sometimes His breathing almost stopped. When the devotees saw this, their lives also became very feeble.

Madhya 13.109: Water flowed from His eyes and sometimes through His nostrils, and foam fell from His mouth. These flowings appeared to be torrents of nectar descending from the moon.

Madhya 13.110: The foam which fell from the mouth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was taken and drunk by Śubhānanda because he was very fortunate and expert in relishing the mellow of ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa.

Madhya 13.111: After performing His devastating dance for some time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mind entered into a mood of ecstatic love.

Madhya 13.112: After abandoning the dancing, the Lord ordered Svarūpa Dāmodara to sing. Understanding His mind, Svarūpa Dāmodara began to sing as follows.

Madhya 13.113: "Now I have gained the Lord of My life, in the absence of whom I was being burned by Cupid and was withering away."

Madhya 13.114: When this refrain was loudly sung by Svarūpa Dāmodara, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again began rhythmically dancing in transcendental bliss.

Madhya 13.115: The car of Lord Jagannātha began to move slowly while the son of mother Śacī went ahead and danced in front.

Madhya 13.116: While dancing and singing, all the devotees in front of Lord Jagannātha kept their eyes on Him. Caitanya Mahāprabhu then went to the end of the procession with the saṅkīrtana performers.

Madhya 13.117: His eyes and mind fully absorbed in Lord Jagannātha, Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to play the drama of the song with His two arms.

Madhya 13.118: When Caitanya Mahāprabhu was dramatically enacting the song, He would sometimes fall behind in the procession. At such times, Lord Jagannātha would come to a standstill. When Caitanya Mahāprabhu again went forward, Lord Jagannātha's car would slowly start again.

Madhya 13.119: Thus there was a sort of competition between Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Jagannātha in seeing who would lead, but Caitanya Mahāprabhu was so strong that He made Lord Jagannātha wait in His car.

Madhya 13.120: While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was dancing, His ecstasy changed. Raising His two arms, He began to recite the following verse in a loud voice.

Madhya 13.121: "That very personality who stole away my heart during my youth is now again my master. These are the same moonlit nights of the month of Caitra. The same fragrance of mālatī flowers is there, and the same sweet breezes are blowing from the kadamba forest. In our intimate relationship, I am also the same lover, yet still my mind is not happy here. I am eager to go back to that place on the bank of the Revā under the Vetasī tree. That is my desire."

Madhya 13.122: This verse was recited by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again and again. But for Svarūpa Dāmodara, no one could understand its meaning.

Madhya 13.123: I have already explained this verse. Now I shall simply describe it in brief.

Madhya 13.124: Formerly, all the gopīs of Vṛndāvana were very pleased when they met with Kṛṣṇa in the holy place Kurukṣetra.

Madhya 13.125: Similarly, after seeing Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu awoke with the ecstasy of the gopīs. Being absorbed in this ecstasy, He asked Svarūpa Dāmodara to sing the refrain.

Madhya 13.126: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke thus to Lord Jagannātha: "You are the same Kṛṣṇa, and I am the same Rādhārāṇī. We are meeting again in the same way that We met in the beginning of Our lives.

Madhya 13.127: "Although We are both the same, My mind is still attracted to Vṛndāvana-dhāma. I wish that You will please again appear with Your lotus feet in Vṛndāvana.

Madhya 13.128: "Kurukṣetra is crowded with people, their elephants and horses, and the rattling of chariots. In Vṛndāvana, however, there are flower gardens, and the humming of the bees and chirping of the birds can be heard.

Madhya 13.129: "Here at Kurukṣetra You are dressed like a royal prince, accompanied by great warriors, but in Vṛndāvana You appeared just like an ordinary cowherd boy, accompanied only by Your beautiful flute.

Madhya 13.130: "Here there is not even a drop of the ocean of transcendental happiness that I enjoyed with You in Vṛndāvana.

Madhya 13.131: "I therefore request You to come to Vṛndāvana and enjoy pastimes with Me. If You do so, My ambition will be fulfilled."

Madhya 13.132: I have already described in brief Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's statement from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Madhya 13.133: In that ecstatic mood, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recited many other verses, but people in general cannot understand their meaning.

Madhya 13.134: The meaning of those verses was known to Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, but he did not reveal it. However, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī has broadcast the meaning.

Madhya 13.135: While dancing, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again began to recite that verse, which He tasted in the association of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī.

Madhya 13.136: "The gopīs spoke thus: 'Dear Lord, whose navel is just like a lotus flower, Your lotus feet are the only shelter for those who have fallen into the deep well of material existence. Your feet are worshiped and meditated upon by great mystic yogīs and highly learned philosophers. We wish that these lotus feet may also be awakened within our hearts, although we are only ordinary persons engaged in household affairs.' "

Madhya 13.137: Speaking in the mood of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, " 'For most people, the mind and heart are one, but because My mind is never separated from Vṛndāvana, I consider My mind and Vṛndāvana to be one. My mind is already Vṛndāvana, and since You like Vṛndāvana, will You please place Your lotus feet there? I would deem that Your full mercy.

Madhya 13.138: " 'My dear Lord, kindly hear My true submission. My home is Vṛndāvana, and I wish Your association there. But if I do not get it, then it will be very difficult for Me to keep My life.

Madhya 13.139: " 'My dear Kṛṣṇa, formerly, when You were staying in Mathurā, You sent Uddhava to teach Me speculative knowledge and mystic yoga. Now You Yourself are speaking the same thing, but My mind doesn't accept it. There is no place in My mind for jñāna-yoga or dhyāna-yoga. Although You know Me very well, You are still instructing Me in jñāna-yoga and dhyāna-yoga. It is not right for You to do so.' "

Madhya 13.140: citta kāḍhi'-withdrawing the consciousness; tomā haite—from You; viṣaye—in mundane subject matters; cāhi—Iwant; lāgāite—to engage; yatna kari—I endeavor; nāri kāḍhibāre—I cannot withdraw; tāre—to such a servant; dhyāna—of meditation; śikṣā—instruction; karāha—You give; loka—people in general; hāsāñā—laugh; māra—You kill; sthāna-asthāna—proper or improper place; nā kara—You do not make; vicāre—consideration.

Madhya 13.141: " 'The gopīs are not like the mystic yogīs. They will never be satisfied simply by meditating on Your lotus feet and imitating the so-called yogīs. Teaching the gopīs about meditation is another kind of duplicity. When they are instructed to undergo mystic yoga practice, they are not at all satisfied. On the contrary, they become more angry with You.' "

Madhya 13.142: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued: " 'The gopīs are fallen in the great ocean of separation, and they are being devoured by the timiṅgila fish, which represent their ambition to serve You. The gopīs are to be delivered from the mouths of these timiṅgila fish, for they are pure devotees. Since they have no material conception of life, why should they aspire for liberation? The gopīs do not want that liberation desired by yogīs and jñānīs, for they are already liberated from the ocean of material existence.

Madhya 13.143: " 'It is amazing that You have forgotten the land of Vṛndāvana. And how is it that You have forgotten Your father, mother and friends? How have You forgotten Govardhana Hill, the bank of the Yamunā, and the forest where You enjoyed the rāsa-līlā dance?

Madhya 13.144: " 'Kṛṣṇa, You are certainly a refined gentleman with all good qualities. You are well-behaved, softhearted and merciful. I know that there is not even a tinge of fault to be found in You, yet Your mind does not even remember the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. This is only My misfortune, and nothing else.

Madhya 13.145: " 'I do not care for My personal unhappiness, but when I see the morose face of Your mother Yaśodā and the hearts of all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana breaking because of You, I wonder whether You want to kill them all. Is it that You want to enliven them by coming there? Why is it You are simply keeping them alive in a state of suffering?

Madhya 13.146: " 'The inhabitants of Vṛndāvana do not want You dressed like a prince, nor do they want You to associate with great warriors in a different country. They cannot leave the land of Vṛndāvana, and without Your presence, they are all dying. What is their condition to be?

Madhya 13.147: " 'My dear Kṛṣṇa, You are the life and soul of Vṛndāvana-dhāma. You are especially the life of Nanda Mahārāja. You are the only opulence in the land of Vṛndāvana, and You are very merciful. Please come and let them all live. Kindly keep Your lotus feet again in Vṛndāvana.'

Madhya 13.148: "After hearing Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's statements, Lord Kṛṣṇa's love for the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana was evoked, and His body and mind became very perturbed. After hearing of their love for Him, He immediately thought Himself to be always indebted to the residents of Vṛndāvana. Then Kṛṣṇa began to pacify Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī as follows.

Madhya 13.149: " 'My dearest Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, please hear Me. I am speaking the truth. I cry day and night simply upon remembering all you inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. No one knows how unhappy this makes Me.'

Madhya 13.150: "Śrī Kṛṣṇa continued: 'All the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana-dhāma-My mother, father, cowherd boy friends and everything else-are like My life and soul. And among all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, the gopīs are My very life and soul. Among the gopīs, You, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, are the chief. Therefore You are the very life of My life.

Madhya 13.151: " 'My dear Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, I am always subservient to the loving affairs of all of you. I am under your control only. My separation from you and residence in distant places have occurred due to My strong misfortune.

Madhya 13.152: " 'When a woman is separated from the man she loves or a man is separated from his beloved woman, neither of them can live. It is a fact that they live only for one another, for if one dies and the other hears of it, he or she will die also.

Madhya 13.153: " 'A loving, chaste wife and a loving husband who desire all welfare for each other in separation and do not care for personal happiness, desire only one another's well-being. Such a pair certainly meet again without delay.

Madhya 13.154: " 'You are My most dear, and I know that in My absence You cannot live for a moment. Just to keep You living, I worship Lord Nārāyaṇa. By His merciful potency, I come to Vṛndāvana every day to enjoy pastimes with You. I then return to Dvārakā-dhāma. Thus You can always feel My presence here in Vṛndāvana.

Madhya 13.155: " 'Our love affair is more powerful because of My good fortune in receiving Nārāyaṇa's grace. This allows Me to come here unseen by others. I hope that very soon I will be visible to everyone.

Madhya 13.156: " 'I have already killed all the mischievous demons who are enemies of the Yadu dynasty, and I have also killed Kaṁsa and his allies. However, there are two or four demons still living. I want to kill them, and after doing so I shall very soon return to Vṛndāvana. Please know this for certain.

Madhya 13.157: " 'I wish to protect the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana from the attacks of My enemies. That is why I remain in My kingdom; otherwise I am indifferent to My royal position. Whatever wives, sons and wealth I maintain in the kingdom are only for the satisfaction of the Yadus.

Madhya 13.158: " 'Your loving qualities always attract Me to Vṛndāvana. Indeed, they will bring Me back within ten or twenty days, and when I return I shall enjoy both day and night with You and all the damsels of Vrajabhūmi.'

Madhya 13.159: "While speaking to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Kṛṣṇa became very anxious to return to Vṛndāvana. He made Her listen to a verse which banished all Her difficulties and which assured Her that She would again attain Kṛṣṇa.

Madhya 13.160: "Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: 'Devotional service unto Me is the only way to attain Me. My dear gopīs, whatever love and affection you have attained for Me by good fortune is the only reason for My returning to you.' "

Madhya 13.161: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would sit in His room with Svarūpa Dāmodara and taste the topics of these verses day and night.

Madhya 13.162: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced completely absorbed in ecstatic emotion. While looking at the face of Lord Jagannātha, He danced and recited these verses.

Madhya 13.163: No one can describe the good fortune of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, for he is always absorbed in the service of the Lord with his body, mind and words.

Madhya 13.164: The senses of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were identical with the senses of Svarūpa. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to become fully absorbed in tasting the singing of Svarūpa Dāmodara.

Madhya 13.165: In emotional ecstasy, Caitanya Mahāprabhu would sometimes sit on the ground and, looking down, would write on the ground with His finger.

Madhya 13.166: Feeling that the Lord would injure His finger by writing in this way, Svarūpa Dāmodara checked Him with his own hand.

Madhya 13.167: Svarūpa Dāmodara used to sing exactly according to the ecstatic emotion of the Lord. Whenever a particular mellow was being tasted by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Svarūpa Dāmodara would personify it by singing.

Madhya 13.168: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu looked upon the beautiful lotuslike face and eyes of Lord Jagannātha.

Madhya 13.169: Lord Jagannātha was garlanded, dressed with nice garments and adorned with beautiful ornaments. His face was glittering from the rays of sunshine, and the entire atmosphere was fragrant.

Madhya 13.170: An ocean of transcendental bliss expanded in the heart of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and symptoms of madness immediately intensified like a hurricane.

Madhya 13.171: The madness of transcendental bliss created waves of various emotions. The emotions appeared like opposing soldiers staging a fight.

Madhya 13.172: There was an increase in all the natural emotional symptoms. Thus there were awakening emotions, peacefulness, joined, mixed, transcendental and prevalent emotions, and impetuses for emotion.

Madhya 13.173: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's body appeared like a transcendental Himalayan mountain bearing ecstatic emotional flower trees, all of them blooming.

Madhya 13.174: Upon seeing all these symptoms, everyone's mind and consciousness were attracted. Indeed, the Lord sprinkled everyone's mind with the nectar of transcendental love of Godhead.

Madhya 13.175: He sprinkled the minds of the servants of Lord Jagannātha, the government officers, the pilgrim visitors, the general populace and all the residents of Jagannātha Purī.

Madhya 13.176: After seeing the dancing and ecstatic love of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, everyone became astonished. In their hearts they became infatuated with love of Kṛṣṇa.

Madhya 13.177: Everyone danced and chanted in ecstatic love, and a great noise resounded. Everyone was overwhelmed with transcendental bliss just to see the dancing of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Madhya 13.178: Apart from the others, even Lord Jagannātha and Lord Balarāma, with great happiness, began to move very slowly upon seeing the dancing of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Madhya 13.179: Lord Jagannātha and Lord Balarāma sometimes stopped the car and happily observed Lord Caitanya's dancing. Anyone who was able to see Them stop and watch the dancing bore witness to Their pastimes.

Madhya 13.180: When Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was dancing and wandering in this way, He fell down in front of Mahārāja Pratāparudra.

Madhya 13.181: Mahārāja Pratāparudra picked the Lord up with great respect, but upon seeing the King, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to His external senses.

Madhya 13.182: After seeing the King, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu condemned Himself, saying, "Oh, how pitiful it is that I have touched a person who is interested in mundane affairs."

Madhya 13.183: Not even Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, Kāśīśvara or Govinda took care of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu when He fell down. Nityānanda was in great ecstasy, and Kāśīśvara and Govinda were elsewhere.

Madhya 13.184: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had already been satisfied by the King's behavior, for the King had accepted the service of a sweeper for Lord Jagannātha. Therefore Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu actually desired to see the King.

Madhya 13.185: However, just to warn His personal associates, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, externally expressed feelings of anger.

Madhya 13.186: King Pratāparudra became frightened when Lord Caitanya showed external anger, but Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya told the King, "Don't worry."

Madhya 13.187: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya informed the King, "The Lord is very satisfied with you. By pointing you out, He was teaching His personal associates how to behave with mundane people."

Madhya 13.188: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, "I shall submit your petition when there is an opportune moment. It will then be easy for you to come and meet the Lord."

Madhya 13.189: After circumambulating Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went behind the car and began pushing it with His head.

Madhya 13.190: As soon as He pushed, the car immediately started to move, making a rattling noise. The people all around began to chant the holy name of the Lord, "Hari! Hari!"

Madhya 13.191: As the car began to move, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took His personal associates in front of the cars occupied by Lord Balarāma and Subhadrā, the goddess of fortune. Greatly inspired, He then began to dance in front of Them.

Madhya 13.192: After finishing the dance before Lord Baladeva and Subhadrā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came before Lord Jagannātha's car. Upon seeing Lord Jagannātha, He began to dance again.

Madhya 13.193: When they reached the place called Balagaṇḍi, Lord Jagannātha stopped His car and began to look left and right.

Madhya 13.194: On the left side, Lord Jagannātha saw the neighborhood of brāhmaṇas known as vipra-śāsana and the coconut tree grove. On the right side, He saw nice flower gardens resembling those in the holy place Vṛndāvana.

Madhya 13.195: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees were dancing in front of the car, and, having stopped the car, Lord Jagannātha watched the dancing.

Madhya 13.196: It was customary that food be offered to the Lord at vipra-śāsana. Indeed, innumerable dishes of food were offered, and Lord Jagannātha tasted each one of them.

Madhya 13.197: All kinds of devotees of Lord Jagannātha-from neophytes to the most advanced-offered their best cooked food to the Lord.

Madhya 13.198: This included the King, his queens, his ministers and friends and all other big and small residents of Jagannātha Purī.

Madhya 13.199: All the visitors who had come from different countries to Jagannātha Purī, as well as the local devotees, offered their personally cooked food to the Lord.

Madhya 13.200: The devotees offered their foods everywhere, in front and behind the car, on the two sides and within the flower garden. Wherever possible, they made their offering to the Lord, for there were no hard-and-fast rules.

Madhya 13.201: While the food was being offered, a large crowd of people gathered. At that time Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stopped His dancing and went to a nearby garden.

Madhya 13.202: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the garden. Immersed in a great ecstatic emotion, He fell flat on a raised platform there.

Madhya 13.203: The Lord was very fatigued from the hard labor of dancing, and there was perspiration all over His body. He therefore enjoyed the fragrant, cool breeze of the garden.

Madhya 13.204: All the devotees who were performing saṅkīrtana came there and took rest under each and every tree.

Madhya 13.205: Thus I have described the great performance of congregational chanting by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as He danced in front of Lord Jagannātha.

Madhya 13.206: In his prayer known as the Caitanyāṣṭaka, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has given a vivid description of the Lord's dancing before the car of Jagannātha.

Madhya 13.207: "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced down the main road in great ecstasy before Lord Jagannātha, the master of Nīlācala, who was sitting on His car. Overwhelmed by the transcendental bliss of dancing and surrounded by Vaiṣṇavas who sang the holy names, He manifested waves of ecstatic love of Godhead. When will Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again be visible to my vision?"

Madhya 13.208: Anyone who hears this description of the car festival will attain Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He will also attain the elevated state by which he will have firm conviction in devotional service and love of Godhead.

Madhya 13.209: Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

Madhya-līlā 12 - Madhya-līlā 14