731217 - Chanting CC Adi-lila 10th and 11th Chapters - Los Angeles

Lectures by Date, 1973

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

731217CH-LOS ANGELES - December 17, 1973 - 35:23 Minutes

(Chapter 10: The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree)

TEXT 1

śrī-caitanya-padāmbhoja-

madhupebhyo namo namaḥ

kathañcid āśrayād yeṣāṁ

śvāpi tad-gandha-bhāg bhavet

Let me repeatedly offer my respectful obeisances unto the beelike devotees who always taste the honey of the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. If even a doggish nondevotee somehow takes shelter of such devotees, he enjoys the aroma of the lotus flower.

TEXT 2

jaya jaya śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nityānanda

jayādvaitacandra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaita Prabhu, and all glories to the devotees of Lord Caitanya, headed by Śrīvāsa!

TEXT 3

ei mālīra—ei vṛkṣera akathya kathana

ebe śuna mukhya-śākhāra nāma-vivaraṇa

The description of Lord Caitanya as the gardener and the tree is inconceivable. Now hear with attention about the branches of this tree.

TEXT 4

caitanya-gosāñira yata pāriṣada-caya

guru-laghu-bhāva tāṅra nā haya niścaya

The associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were many, but none of them should be considered lower or higher. This cannot be ascertained.

TEXT 5

yata yata mahānta kailā tāṅ-sabāra gaṇana

keha karibāre nāre jyeṣṭha-laghu-krama

All the great personalities in the line of Lord Caitanya enumerated these devotees, but they could not distinguish between the greater and the lesser.

TEXT 6

ataeva tāṅ-sabāre kari’ namaskāra

nāma-mātra kari, doṣa nā labe āmāra

I offer my obeisances unto them as a token of respect. I request them not to consider my offenses.

TEXT 7

vande śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-

premāmara-taroḥ priyān

śākhā-rūpān bhakta-gaṇān

kṛṣṇa-prema-phala-pradān

I offer my obeisances to all the dear devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the eternal tree of love of Godhead. I offer my respects to all the branches of the tree, the devotees of the Lord who distribute the fruit of love of Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 8

śrīvāsa paṇḍita, āra śrī-rāma paṇḍita

dui bhāi—dui śākhā, jagate vidita

The two brothers Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita and Śrī Rāma Paṇḍita started two branches that are well known in the world.

TEXT 9

śrīpati, śrīnidhi—tāṅra dui sahodara

cāri bhāira dāsa-dāsī, gṛha-parikara

Their two brothers were named Śrīpati and Śrīnidhi. These four brothers and their servants and maidservants are considered one big branch.

TEXT 10

dui śākhāra upaśākhāya tāṅ-sabāra gaṇana

yāṅra gṛhe mahāprabhura sadā saṅkīrtana

There is no counting the subbranches of these two branches. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu held congregational chanting daily at the house of Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita.

TEXT 11

cāri bhāi sa-vaṁśe kare caitanyera sevā

gauracandra vinā nāhi jāne devī-devā

These four brothers and their family members fully engaged in the service of Lord Caitanya. They knew no other god or goddess.

TEXT 12

‘ācāryaratna’ nāma dhare baḍa eka śākhā

tāṅra parikara, tāṅra śākhā-upaśākhā

Another big branch was Ācāryaratna, and his associates were subbranches.

TEXT 13

ācāryaratnera nāma ‘śrī-candraśekhara’

yāṅra ghare devī-bhāve nācilā īśvara

Ācāryaratna was also named Śrī Candraśekhara Ācārya. In a drama in his house, Lord Caitanya played the goddess of fortune.

TEXT 14

puṇḍarīka vidyānidhi—baḍa-śākhā jāni

yāṅra nāma lañā prabhu kāndilā āpani

Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi, the third big branch, was so dear to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu that in his absence Lord Caitanya Himself would sometimes cry.

TEXT 15

baḍa śākhā,—gadādhara paṇḍita-gosāñi

teṅho lakṣmī-rūpā, tāṅra sama keha nāi

Gadādhara Paṇḍita, the fourth branch, is described as an incarnation of the pleasure potency of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. No one, therefore, can equal him.

TEXT 16

tāṅra śiṣya-upaśiṣya,—tāṅra upaśākhā

eimata saba śākhā-upaśākhāra lekhā

His disciples and granddisciples are his subbranches. To describe them all would be difficult.

TEXT 17

vakreśvara paṇḍita—prabhura baḍa priya bhṛtya

eka-bhāve cabbiśa prahara yāṅra nṛtya

Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, the fifth branch of the tree, was a very dear servant of Lord Caitanya’s. He could dance with constant ecstasy for seventy-two hours.

TEXT 18

āpane mahāprabhu gāya yāṅra nṛtya-kāle

prabhura caraṇa dhari’ vakreśvara bale

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally sang while Vakreśvara Paṇḍita danced, and thus Vakreśvara Paṇḍita fell at the lotus feet of the Lord and spoke as follows.

TEXT 19

“daśa-sahasra gandharva more deha’ candramukha

tārā gāya, muñi nācoṅ—tabe mora sukha”

“O Candramukha! Please give me ten thousand Gandharvas. Let them sing as I dance, and then I will be greatly happy.”

TEXT 20

prabhu bale—tumi mora pakṣa eka śākhā

ākāśe uḍitāma yadi pāṅ āra pākhā

Lord Caitanya replied, “I have only one wing like you, but if I had another, certainly I would fly in the sky!”

TEXT 21

paṇḍita jagadānanda prabhura prāṇa-rūpa

loke khyāta yeṅho satyabhāmāra svarūpa

Paṇḍita Jagadānanda, the sixth branch of the Caitanya tree, was celebrated as the life and soul of the Lord. He is known to have been an incarnation of Satyabhāmā [one of the chief queens of Lord Kṛṣṇa].

TEXT 22

prītye karite cāhe prabhura lālana-pālana

vairāgya-loka-bhaye prabhu nā māne kakhana

Jagadānanda Paṇḍita [as an incarnation of Satyabhāmā] always wanted to see to the comfort of Lord Caitanya, but since the Lord was a sannyāsī He did not accept the luxuries that Jagadānanda Paṇḍita offered.

TEXT 23

dui-jane khaṭmaṭi lāgāya kondala

tāṅra prītyera kathā āge kahiba sakala

They sometimes appeared to fight over trifles, but these quarrels were based on their affection, of which I shall speak later.

TEXT 24

rāghava-paṇḍita—prabhura ādya-anucara

tāṅra eka śākhā mukhya—makaradhvaja kara

Rāghava Paṇḍita, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s original follower, is understood to have been the seventh branch. From him proceeded another subbranch, headed by Makaradhvaja Kara.

TEXT 25

tāṅhāra bhaginī damayantī prabhura priya dāsī

prabhura bhoga-sāmagrī ye kare vāra-māsi

Rāghava Paṇḍita’s sister Damayantī was the dear maidservant of the Lord. She always collected various ingredients with which to cook for Lord Caitanya.

TEXT 26

se saba sāmagrī yata jhālite bhariyā

rāghava la-iyā yā’na gupata kariyā

The foods Damayantī cooked for Lord Caitanya when He was at Purī were carried in bags by her brother Rāghava without the knowledge of others.

TEXT 27

vāra-māsa tāhā prabhu karena aṅgīkāra

‘rāghavera jhāli’ bali’ prasiddhi yāhāra

The Lord accepted these foods throughout the entire year. Those bags are still celebrated as rāghavera jhāli [“the bags of Rāghava Paṇḍita”].

TEXT 28

se-saba sāmagrī āge kariba vistāra

yāhāra śravaṇe bhaktera vahe aśrudhāra

I shall describe the contents of the bags of Rāghava Paṇḍita later in this book. Hearing this narration, devotees generally cry, and tears glide down from their eyes.

TEXT 29

prabhura atyanta priya—paṇḍita gaṅgādāsa

yāṅhāra smaraṇe haya sarva-bandha-nāśa

Paṇḍita Gaṅgādāsa was the eighth dear branch of the tree of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. One who remembers his activities attains freedom from all bondage.

TEXT 30

caitanya-pārṣada—śrī-ācārya purandara

pitā kari’ yāṅre bale gaurāṅga-sundara

Śrī Ācārya Purandara, the ninth branch, was a constant associate of Lord Caitanya’s. The Lord accepted him as His father.

TEXT 31

dāmodara-paṇḍita śākhā premete pracaṇḍa

prabhura upare yeṅho kaila vākya-daṇḍa

Dāmodara Paṇḍita, the tenth branch of the Caitanya tree, was so elevated in love of Lord Caitanya that he once unhesitatingly chastised the Lord with strong words.

TEXT 32

daṇḍa-kathā kahiba āge vistāra kariyā

daṇḍe tuṣṭa prabhu tāṅre pāṭhāilā nadīyā

Later in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta I shall describe this incident of chastisement in detail. The Lord, being very much satisfied by this chastisement, sent Dāmodara Paṇḍita to Navadvīpa.

TEXT 33

tāṅhāra anuja śākhā—śaṅkara-paṇḍita

‘prabhu-pādopādhāna’ yāṅra nāma vidita

The eleventh branch, the younger brother of Dāmodara Paṇḍita, was known as Śaṅkara Paṇḍita. He was celebrated as the shoes of the Lord.

TEXT 34

sadāśiva-paṇḍita yāṅra prabhu-pade āśa

prathamei nityānandera yāṅra ghare vāsa

Sadāśiva Paṇḍita, the twelfth branch, was always eager to serve the lotus feet of the Lord. It was his good fortune that when Lord Nityānanda came to Navadvīpa He resided at his house.

TEXT 35

śrī-nṛsiṁha-upāsaka—pradyumna brahmacārī

prabhu tāṅra nāma kailā ‘nṛsiṁhānanda’ kari’

The thirteenth branch was Pradyumna Brahmacārī. Since he was a worshiper of Lord Nṛsiṁha-deva, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu changed his name to Nṛsiṁhānanda Brahmacārī.

TEXT 36

nārāyaṇa-paṇḍita eka baḍai udāra

caitanya-caraṇa vinu nāhi jāne āra

Nārāyaṇa Paṇḍita, the fourteenth branch, a great and liberal devotee, did not know any shelter but Lord Caitanya’s lotus feet.

TEXT 37

śrīmān-paṇḍita śākhā—prabhura nija bhṛtya

deuṭi dharena, yabe prabhu karena nṛtya

The fifteenth branch was Śrīmān Paṇḍita, who was a constant servitor of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He used to carry a torch while the Lord danced.

TEXT 38

śuklāmbara-brahmacārī baḍa bhāgyavān

yāṅra anna māgi’ kāḍi’ khāilā bhagavān

The sixteenth branch, Śuklāmbara Brahmacārī, was very fortunate because Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu jokingly or seriously begged food from him or sometimes snatched it from him forcibly and ate it.

TEXT 39

nandana-ācārya-śākhā jagate vidita

lukāiyā dui prabhura yāṅra ghare sthita

Nandana Ācārya, the seventeenth branch of the Caitanya tree, is celebrated within the world because the two Prabhus [Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda] sometimes hid in his house.

TEXT 40

śrī-mukunda-datta śākhā—prabhura samādhyāyī

yāṅhāra kīrtane nāce caitanya-gosāñi

Mukunda Datta, a class friend of Lord Caitanya’s, was another branch of the Caitanya tree. Lord Caitanya danced while he sang.

TEXT 41

vāsudeva datta—prabhura bhṛtya mahāśaya

sahasra-mukhe yāṅra guṇa kahile nā haya

Vāsudeva Datta, the nineteenth branch of the Śrī Caitanya tree, was a great personality and a most confidential devotee of the Lord. One could not describe his qualities even with thousands of mouths.

TEXT 42

jagate yateka jīva, tāra pāpa lañā

naraka bhuñjite cāhe jīva chāḍāiyā

Śrīla Vāsudeva Datta Ṭhākura wanted to suffer for the sinful activities of all the people of the world so that Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu might deliver them.

TEXT 43

haridāsa-ṭhākura śākhāra adbhuta carita

tina lakṣa nāma teṅho layena apatita

The twentieth branch of the Caitanya tree was Haridāsa Ṭhākura. His character was wonderful. He used to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa 300,000 times a day without fail.

TEXT 44

tāṅhāra ananta guṇa—kahi diṅmātra

ācārya gosāñi yāṅre bhuñjāya śrāddha-pātra

There was no end to the transcendental qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Here I mention but a fraction of his qualities. He was so exalted that Advaita Gosvāmī, when performing the śrāddha ceremony of his father, offered him the first plate.

TEXT 45

prahlāda-samāna tāṅra guṇera taraṅga

yavana-tāḍaneo yāṅra nāhika bhrū-bhaṅga

The waves of his good qualities were like those of Prahlāda Mahārāja. He did not even slightly raise an eyebrow when persecuted by the Muslim ruler.

TEXT 46

teṅho siddhi pāile tāṅra deha lañā kole

nācila caitanya-prabhu mahā-kutūhale

After the passing away of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the Lord Himself took his body on His lap and danced with it in great ecstasy.

TEXT 47

tāṅra līlā varṇiyāchena vṛndāvana-dāsa

yebā avaśiṣṭa, āge kariba prakāśa

Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has vividly described the pastimes of Haridāsa Ṭhākura in his Caitanya-bhāgavata. Whatever has remained undescribed I shall try to explain later in this book.

TEXT 48

tāṅra upaśākhā—yata kulīna-grāmī jana

satyarāja-ādi—tāṅra kṛpāra bhājana

One subbranch of Haridāsa Ṭhākura consisted of the residents of Kulīna-grāma. The most important among them was Satyarāja Khān, or Satyarāja Vasu, who was a recipient of all the mercy of Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

TEXT 49

śrī-murāri gupta śākhā—premera bhāṇḍāra

prabhura hṛdaya drave śuni’ dainya yāṅra

Murāri Gupta, the twenty-first branch of the tree of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, was a storehouse of love of Godhead. His great humility and meekness melted the heart of Lord Caitanya.

TEXT 50

pratigraha nāhi kare, nā laya kāra dhana

ātma-vṛtti kari’ kare kuṭumba bharaṇa

Śrīla Murāri Gupta never accepted charity from friends, nor did he accept money from anyone. He practiced as a physician and maintained his family with his earnings.

TEXT 51

cikitsā karena yāre ha-iyā sadaya

deha-roga bhāva-roga,—dui tāra kṣaya

As Murāri Gupta treated his patients, by his mercy both their bodily and spiritual diseases subsided.

TEXT 52

śrīmān sena prabhura sevaka pradhāna

caitanya-caraṇa vinu nāhi jāne āna

Śrīmān Sena, the twenty-second branch of the Caitanya tree, was a very faithful servant of Lord Caitanya. He knew nothing else but the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

TEXT 53

śrī-gadādhara dāsa śākhā sarvopari

kājī-gaṇera mukhe yeṅha bolāila hari

Śrī Gadādhara dāsa, the twenty-third branch, was understood to be the topmost, for he induced all the Muslim Kazis to chant the holy name of Lord Hari.

TEXT 54

śivānanda sena—prabhura bhṛtya antaraṅga

prabhu-sthāne yāite sabe layena yāṅra saṅga

Śivānanda Sena, the twenty-fourth branch of the tree, was an extremely confidential servant of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Everyone who went to Jagannātha Purī to visit Lord Caitanya took shelter and guidance from Śrī Śivānanda Sena.

TEXT 55

prativarṣe prabhu-gaṇa saṅgete lā-iyā

nīlācale calena pathe pālana kariyā

Every year he took a party of devotees from Bengal to Jagannātha Purī to visit Lord Caitanya. He maintained the entire party as they journeyed on the road.

TEXT 56

bhakte kṛpā karena prabhu e-tina svarūpe

‘sākṣāt,’ ‘āveśa’ āra ‘āvirbhāva’-rūpe

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bestows His causeless mercy upon His devotees in three features: His own direct appearance [sākṣāt], His prowess within someone He empowers [āveśa], and His manifestation [āvirbhāva].

TEXT 57

‘sākṣāte’ sakala bhakta dekhe nirviśeṣa

nakula brahmacāri-dehe prabhura ‘āveśa’

The appearance of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in every devotee’s presence is called sākṣāt. His appearance in Nakula Brahmacārī as a symptom of special prowess is an example of āveśa.

TEXT 58

‘pradyumna brahmacārī’ tāṅra āge nāma chila

‘nṛsiṁhānanda’ nāma prabhu pāche ta’ rākhila

The former Pradyumna Brahmacārī was given the name Nṛsiṁhānanda Brahmacārī by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

TEXT 59

tāṅhāte ha-ila caitanyera ‘āvirbhāva’

alaukika aiche prabhura aneka svabhāva

In his body there were symptoms of āvirbhāva. Such appearances are uncommon, but Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu displayed many such pastimes through His different features.

TEXT 60

āsvādila e saba rasa sena śivānanda

vistāri’ kahiba āge e-saba ānanda

Śrīla Śivānanda Sena experienced the three features of sākṣāt, āveśa and āvirbhāva. Later I shall vividly describe this transcendentally blissful subject.

TEXT 61

śivānandera upaśākhā, tāṅra parikara

putra-bhṛty-ādi kari’ caitanya-kiṅkara

The sons, servants and family members of Śivānanda Sena constituted a subbranch. They were all sincere servants of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

TEXT 62

caitanya-dāsa, rāmadāsa, āra karṇapūra

tina putra śivānandera prabhura bhakta-śūra

The three sons of Śivānanda Sena, named Caitanya dāsa, Rāmadāsa and Karṇapūra, were all heroic devotees of Lord Caitanya.

TEXT 63

śrī-vallabhasena, āra sena śrīkānta

śivānanda-sambandhe prabhura bhakta ekānta

Śrīvallabha Sena and Śrīkānta Sena were also subbranches of Śivānanda Sena, for they were not only his nephews but also unalloyed devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

TEXT 64

prabhu-priya govindānanda mahābhāgavata

prabhura kīrtanīyā ādi śrī-govinda datta

Govindānanda and Govinda Datta, the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth branches of the tree, were performers of kīrtana in the company of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Govinda Datta was the principal singer in Lord Caitanya’s kīrtana party.

TEXT 65

śrī-vijaya-dāsa-nāma prabhura ākhariyā

prabhure aneka puṅthi diyāche likhiyā

Śrī Vijaya dāsa, the twenty-seventh branch, another of the Lord’s chief singers, gave the Lord many books written by hand.

TEXT 66

‘ratnabāhu’ bali’ prabhu thuila tāṅra nāma

akiñcana prabhura priya kṛṣṇadāsa-nāma

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave Vijaya dāsa the name Ratnabāhu [“jewel-handed”] because he copied many manuscripts for Him. The twenty-eighth branch was Kṛṣṇadāsa, who was very dear to the Lord. He was known as Akiñcana Kṛṣṇadāsa.

TEXT 67

kholā-vecā śrīdhara prabhura priya-dāsa

yāṅhā-sane prabhu kare nitya parihāsa

The twenty-ninth branch was Śrīdhara, a trader in banana-tree bark. He was a very dear servant of the Lord. On many occasions, the Lord played jokes on him.

TEXT 68

prabhu yāṅra nitya laya thoḍa-mocā-phala

yāṅra phuṭā-lauhapātre prabhu pilā jala

Every day Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu jokingly snatched fruits, flowers and pulp from Śrīdhara and drank from his broken iron pot.

TEXT 69

prabhura atipriya dāsa bhagavān paṇḍita

yāṅra dehe kṛṣṇa pūrve hailā adhiṣṭhita

The thirtieth branch was Bhagavān Paṇḍita. He was an extremely dear servant of the Lord, but even previously he was a great devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa who always kept the Lord within his heart.

TEXT 70

jagadīśa paṇḍita, āra hiraṇya mahāśaya

yāre kṛpā kaila bālye prabhu dayāmaya

The thirty-first branch was Jagadīśa Paṇḍita, and the thirty-second was Hiraṇya Mahāśaya, unto whom Lord Caitanya in His childhood showed His causeless mercy.

TEXT 71

ei dui-ghare prabhu ekādaśī dine

viṣṇura naivedya māgi’ khāila āpane

In their two houses Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu begged food on the Ekādaśī day and personally ate it.

TEXT 72

prabhura paḍuyā dui,—puruṣottama, sañjaya

vyākaraṇe dui śiṣya—dui mahāśaya

The thirty-third and thirty-fourth branches were the two students of Caitanya Mahāprabhu named Puruṣottama and Sañjaya, who were stalwart students in grammar. They were very great personalities.

TEXT 73

vanamālī paṇḍita śākhā vikhyāta jagate

soṇāra muṣala hala dekhila prabhura hāte

Vanamālī Paṇḍita, the thirty-fifth branch of the tree, was very much celebrated in this world. He saw a golden club and plow in the hands of the Lord.

TEXT 74

śrī-caitanyera ati priya buddhimanta khān

ājanma ājñākārī teṅho sevaka-pradhāna

The thirty-sixth branch, Buddhimanta Khān, was extremely dear to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He was always prepared to carry out the Lord’s orders, and therefore he was considered to be a chief servant of the Lord.

TEXT 75

garuḍa paṇḍita laya śrīnāma-maṅgala

nāma-bale viṣa yāṅre nā karila bala

Garuḍa Paṇḍita, the thirty-seventh branch of the tree, always engaged in chanting the auspicious name of the Lord. Because of the strength of this chanting, even the effects of poison could not touch him.

TEXT 76

gopīnātha siṁha—eka caitanyera dāsa

akrūra bali’ prabhu yāṅre kailā parihāsa

Gopīnātha Siṁha, the thirty-eighth branch of the tree, was a faithful servant of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The Lord jokingly addressed him as Akrūra.

TEXT 77

bhāgavatī devānanda vakreśvara-kṛpāte

bhāgavatera bhakti-artha pāila prabhu haite

Devānanda Paṇḍita was a professional reciter of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, but by the mercy of Vakreśvara Paṇḍita and the grace of the Lord he understood the devotional interpretation of the Bhāgavatam.

TEXTS 78–79

khaṇḍavāsī mukunda-dāsa, śrī-raghunandana

narahari-dāsa, cirañjīva, sulocana

ei saba mahāśākhā—caitanya-kṛpādhāma

prema-phala-phula kare yāhāṅ tāhāṅ dāna

Śrī Khaṇḍavāsī Mukunda and his son Raghunandana were the thirty-ninth branch of the tree, Narahari was the fortieth, Cirañjīva the forty-first and Sulocana the forty-second. They were all big branches of the all-merciful tree of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. They distributed the fruits and flowers of love of Godhead anywhere and everywhere.

TEXT 80

kulīnagrāma-vāsī satyarāja, rāmānanda

yadunātha, puruṣottama, śaṅkara, vidyānanda

Satyarāja, Rāmānanda, Yadunātha, Puruṣottama, Śaṅkara and Vidyānanda all belonged to the twentieth branch. They were inhabitants of the village known as Kulīna-grāma.

TEXT 81

vāṇīnātha vasu ādi yata grāmī jana

sabei caitanya-bhṛtya,—caitanya-prāṇadhana

All the inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma village, headed by Vāṇīnātha Vasu, were servants of Lord Caitanya, who was their only life and wealth.

TEXT 82

prabhu kahe, kulīnagrāmera ye haya kukkura

sei mora priya, anya jana rahu dūra

The Lord said, “What to speak of others, even a dog in the village of Kulīna-grāma is My dear friend.

TEXT 83

kulīnagrāmīra bhāgya kahane nā yāya

śūkara carāya ḍoma, seha kṛṣṇa gāya

“No one can describe the fortunate position of Kulīna-grāma. It is so sublime that even sweepers who tend their hogs there also chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.”

TEXT 84

anupama-vallabha, śrī-rūpa, sanātana

ei tina śākhā vṛkṣera paścime sarvottama

On the western side were the forty-third, forty-fourth and forty-fifth branches—Śrī Sanātana, Śrī Rūpa and Anupama. They were the best of all.

TEXT 85

tāṅra madhye rūpa-sanātana—baḍa śākhā

anupama, jīva, rājendrādi upaśākhā

Among these branches, Rūpa and Sanātana were principal. Anupama, Jīva Gosvāmī and others, headed by Rājendra, were their subbranches.

TEXT 86

mālīra icchāya śākhā bahuta bāḍila

bāḍiyā paścima deśa saba ācchādila

By the will of the supreme gardener, the branches of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī grew many times over, expanding throughout the western countries and covering the entire region.

TEXT 87

ā-sindhunadī-tīra āra himālaya

vṛndāvana-mathurādi yata tīrtha haya

Extending to the borders of the river Sindhu and the Himalayan Mountain valleys, these two branches expanded throughout India, including all the places of pilgrimage, such as Vṛndāvana, Mathurā and Haridvāra.

TEXT 88

dui śākhāra prema-phale sakala bhāsila

prema-phalāsvāde loka unmatta ha-ila

The fruits of love of Godhead which fructified on these two branches were distributed in abundance. Tasting these fruits, everyone became mad after them.

TEXT 89

paścimera loka saba mūḍha anācāra

tāhāṅ pracārila doṅhe bhakti-sadācāra

The people in general on the western side of India were neither intelligent nor well behaved, but by the influence of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī they were trained in devotional service and good behavior.

TEXT 90

śāstra-dṛṣṭye kaila lupta-tīrthera uddhāra

vṛndāvane kaila śrīmūrti-sevāra pracāra

In accordance with the directions of the revealed scriptures, both Gosvāmīs excavated the lost places of pilgrimage and inaugurated the worship of Deities in Vṛndāvana.

TEXT 91

mahāprabhura priya bhṛtya—raghunātha-dāsa

sarva tyaji’ kaila prabhura pada-tale vāsa

Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, the forty-sixth branch of the tree, was one of the most dear servants of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He left all his material possessions to surrender completely unto the Lord and live at His lotus

feet.

TEXT 92

prabhu samarpila tāṅre svarūpera hāte

prabhura gupta-sevā kaila svarūpera sāthe

When Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī approached Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Jagannātha Purī, the Lord entrusted him to the care of Svarūpa Dāmodara, His secretary. Thus they both engaged in the confidential service of the Lord.

TEXT 93

ṣoḍaśa vatsara kaila antaraṅga-sevana

svarūpera antardhāne āilā vṛndāvana

He rendered confidential service to the Lord for sixteen years at Jagannātha Purī, and after the disappearance of both the Lord and Svarūpa Dāmodara, he left Jagannātha Purī and went to Vṛndāvana.

TEXT 94

vṛndāvane dui bhāira caraṇa dekhiyā

govardhane tyajiba deha bhṛgupāta kariyā

Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī intended to go to Vṛndāvana to see the lotus feet of Rūpa and Sanātana and then give up his life by jumping from Govardhana Hill.

TEXT 95

ei ta’ niścaya kari’ āila vṛndāvane

āsi’ rūpa-sanātanera vandila caraṇe

Thus Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī came to Vṛndāvana, visited Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī and offered them his obeisances.

TEXT 96

tabe dui bhāi tāṅre marite nā dila

nija tṛtīya bhāi kari’ nikaṭe rākhila

These two brothers, however, did not allow him to die. They accepted him as their third brother and kept him in their company.

TEXT 97

mahāprabhura līlā yata bāhira-antara

dui bhāi tāṅra mukhe śune nirantara

Because Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī was an assistant to Svarūpa Dāmodara, he knew much about the external and internal features of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya. Thus the two brothers Rūpa and Sanātana always used to hear of this from him.

TEXT 98

anna-jala tyāga kaila anya-kathana

pala dui-tina māṭhā karena bhakṣaṇa

Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī gradually gave up all food and drink but a few drops of buttermilk.

TEXT 99

sahasra daṇḍavat kare, laya lakṣa nāma

dui sahasra vaiṣṇavere nitya paraṇāma

As a daily duty, he regularly offered one thousand obeisances to the Lord, chanted at least one hundred thousand holy names and offered obeisances to two thousand Vaiṣṇavas.

TEXT 100

rātri-dine rādhā-kṛṣṇera mānasa sevana

prahareka mahāprabhura caritra-kathana

Day and night he rendered service within his mind to Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, and for three hours a day he discoursed about the character of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

TEXT 101

tina sandhyā rādhā-kuṇḍe apatita snāna

vraja-vāsī vaiṣṇave kare āliṅgana māna

Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī took three baths daily in the Rādhā-kuṇḍa lake. As soon as he found a Vaiṣṇava residing in Vṛndāvana, he would embrace him and give him all respect.

TEXT 102

sārdha sapta-prahara kare bhaktira sādhane

cāri daṇḍa nidrā, seha nahe kona-dine

He engaged himself in devotional service for more than twenty-two and a half hours a day, and for less than two hours he slept, although on some days that also was not possible.

TEXT 103

tāṅhāra sādhana-rīti śunite camatkāra

sei rūpa-raghunātha prabhu ye āmāra

I am struck with wonder when I hear about the devotional service he executed. I accept Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī as my guides.

TEXT 104

iṅhā-sabāra yaiche haila prabhura milana

āge vistāriyā tāhā kariba varṇana

I shall later explain very elaborately how all these devotees met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

TEXT 105

śrī-gopāla bhaṭṭa eka śākhā sarvottama

rūpa-sanātana-saṅge yāṅra prema-ālāpana

Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, the forty-seventh branch, was one of the great and exalted branches of the tree. He always engaged in discourses about love of Godhead in the company of Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī.

TEXT 106

śaṅkarāraṇya—ācārya-vṛkṣera eka śākhā

mukunda, kāśīnātha, rudra—upaśākhā lekhā

The ācārya Śaṅkarāraṇya was considered the forty-eighth branch of the original tree. From Him proceeded the subbranches known as Mukunda, Kāśīnātha and Rudra.

TEXT 107

śrīnātha paṇḍita—prabhura kṛpāra bhājana

yāṅra kṛṣṇa-sevā dekhi’ vaśa tri-bhuvana

Śrīnātha Paṇḍita, the forty-ninth branch, was the beloved recipient of all the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Everyone in the three worlds was astonished to see how he worshiped Lord Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 108

jagannātha ācārya prabhura priya dāsa

prabhura ājñāte teṅho kaila gaṅgā-vāsa

Jagannātha Ācārya, the fiftieth branch of the Caitanya tree, was an extremely dear servant of the Lord, by whose order he decided to live on the bank of the Ganges.

TEXT 109

kṛṣṇadāsa vaidya, āra paṇḍita-śekhara

kavicandra, āra kīrtanīyā ṣaṣṭhīvara

The fifty-first branch of the Caitanya tree was Kṛṣṇadāsa Vaidya, the fifty-second was Paṇḍita Śekhara, the fifty-third was Kavicandra, and the fifty-fourth was Ṣaṣṭhīvara, who was a great saṅkīrtana performer.

TEXT 110

śrīnātha miśra, śubhānanda, śrīrāma, īśāna

śrīnidhi, śrīgopīkānta, miśra bhagavān

The fifty-fifth branch was Śrīnātha Miśra, the fifty-sixth was Śubhānanda, the fifty-seventh was Śrīrāma, the fifty-eighth was Īśāna, the fifty-ninth was Śrīnidhi, the sixtieth was Śrī Gopīkānta, and the sixty-first was Miśra Bhagavān.

TEXT 111

subuddhi miśra, hṛdayānanda, kamala-nayana

maheśa paṇḍita, śrīkara, śrī-madhusūdana

The sixty-second branch of the tree was Subuddhi Miśra, the sixty-third was Hṛdayānanda, the sixty-fourth was Kamala-nayana, the sixty-fifth was Maheśa Paṇḍita, the sixty-sixth was Śrīkara, and the sixty-seventh was Śrī Madhusūdana.

TEXT 112

puruṣottama, śrī-gālīma, jagannātha-dāsa

śrī-candraśekhara vaidya, dvija haridāsa

The sixty-eighth branch of the original tree was Puruṣottama, the sixty-ninth was Śrī Gālīma, the seventieth was Jagannātha dāsa, the seventy-first was Śrī Candraśekhara Vaidya, and the seventy-second was Dvija Haridāsa.

TEXT 113

rāmadāsa, kavicandra, śrī-gopāladāsa

bhāgavatācārya, ṭhākura sāraṅgadāsa

The seventy-third branch of the original tree was Rāmadāsa, the seventy-fourth was Kavicandra, the seventy-fifth was Śrī Gopāla dāsa, the seventy-sixth was Bhāgavata Ācārya, and the seventy-seventh was Ṭhākura Sāraṅga dāsa.

TEXT 114

jagannātha tīrtha, vipra śrī-jānakīnātha

gopāla ācārya, āra vipra vāṇīnātha

The seventy-eighth branch of the original tree was Jagannātha Tīrtha, the seventy-ninth was the brāhmaṇa Śrī Jānakīnātha, the eightieth was Gopāla Ācārya, and the eighty-first was the brāhmaṇa Vāṇīnātha.

TEXT 115

govinda, mādhava, vāsudeva—tina bhāi

yāṅ-sabāra kīrtane nāce caitanya-nitāi

The three brothers Govinda, Mādhava and Vāsudeva were the eighty-second, eighty-third and eighty-fourth branches of the tree. Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda used to dance in their kīrtana performances.

TEXT 116

rāmadāsa abhirāma—sakhya-premarāśi

ṣolasāṅgera kāṣṭha tuli’ ye karila vāṅśī

Rāmadāsa Abhirāma was fully absorbed in the mellow of friendship. He made a flute of a bamboo stick with sixteen knots.

TEXT 117

prabhura ājñāya nityānanda gauḍe calilā

tāṅra saṅge tina-jana prabhu-ājñāya āilā

By the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, three devotees accompanied Lord Nityānanda Prabhu when He returned to Bengal to preach.

TEXT 118

rāmadāsa, mādhava, āra vāsudeva ghoṣa

prabhu-saṅge rahe govinda pāiyā santoṣa

These three were Rāmadāsa, Mādhava Ghoṣa and Vāsudeva Ghoṣa. Govinda Ghoṣa, however, remained with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Jagannātha Purī and thus felt great satisfaction.

TEXT 119

bhāgavatācārya, cirañjīva śrī-raghunandana

mādhavācārya, kamalākānta, śrī-yadunandana

Bhāgavata Ācārya, Cirañjīva, Śrī Raghunandana, Mādhavācārya, Kamalākānta and Śrī Yadunandana were all among the branches of the Caitanya tree.

TEXT 120

mahā-kṛpā-pātra prabhura jagāi, mādhāi

‘patita-pāvana’ nāmera sākṣī dui bhāi

Jagāi and Mādhāi, the eighty-ninth and ninetieth branches of the tree, were the greatest recipients of Lord Caitanya’s mercy. These two brothers were the witnesses who proved that Lord Caitanya was rightly named Patita-pāvana, “the deliverer of the fallen souls.”

TEXT 121

gauḍa-deśa-bhaktera kaila saṅkṣepa kathana

ananta caitanya-bhakta nā yāya gaṇana

I have given a brief description of the devotees of Lord Caitanya in Bengal. Actually His devotees are innumerable.

TEXT 122

nīlācale ei saba bhakta prabhu-saṅge

dui sthāne prabhu-sevā kaila nānā-raṅge

I have especially mentioned all these devotees because they accompanied Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu in Bengal and Orissa and served Him in many ways.

TEXT 123

kevala nīlācale prabhura ye ye bhakta-gaṇa

saṅkṣepe kariye kichu se saba kathana

Let me briefly describe some of the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu in Jagannātha Purī.

TEXTS 124–126

nīlācale prabhu-saṅge yata bhakta-gaṇa

sabāra adhyakṣa prabhura marma dui-jana

paramānanda-purī, āra svarūpa-dāmodara

gadādhara, jagadānanda, śaṅkara, vakreśvara

dāmodara paṇḍita, ṭhākura haridāsa

raghunātha vaidya, āra raghunātha-dāsa

Among the devotees who accompanied the Lord in Jagannātha Purī, two of them—Paramānanda Purī and Svarūpa Dāmodara—were the heart and soul of the Lord. Among the other devotees were Gadādhara, Jagadānanda, Śaṅkara, Vakreśvara, Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Ṭhākura Haridāsa, Raghunātha Vaidya and Raghunātha dāsa.

TEXT 127

ityādika pūrva-saṅgī baḍa bhakta-gaṇa

nīlācale rahi’ kare prabhura sevana

All these devotees were associates of the Lord from the very beginning, and when the Lord took up residence in Jagannātha Purī, they remained there to serve Him faithfully.

TEXT 128

āra yata bhakta-gaṇa gauḍa-deśa-vāsī

pratyabde prabhure dekhe nīlācale āsi’

All the devotees who resided in Bengal used to visit Jagannātha Purī every year to see the Lord.

TEXT 129

nīlācale prabhu-saha prathama milana

sei bhakta-gaṇera ebe kariye gaṇana

Now let me enumerate the devotees of Bengal who first came to see the Lord at Jagannātha Purī.

TEXT 130

baḍa-śākhā eka,—sārvabhauma bhaṭṭācārya

tāṅra bhagnī-pati śrī-gopīnāthācārya

There was Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, one of the biggest branches of the tree of the Lord, and his sister’s husband, Śrī Gopīnātha Ācārya.

TEXT 131

kāśī-miśra, pradyumna-miśra, rāya bhavānanda

yāṅhāra milane prabhu pāilā ānanda

In the list of devotees at Jagannātha Purī [which begins with Paramānanda Purī, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Gopīnātha Ācārya], Kāśī Miśra was the fifth, Pradyumna Miśra the sixth and Bhavānanda Rāya the seventh. Lord Caitanya took great pleasure in meeting with them.

TEXT 132

āliṅgana kari’ tāṅre balila vacana

tumi pāṇḍu, pañca-pāṇḍava—tomāra nandana

Embracing Rāya Bhavānanda, the Lord declared to him, “You formerly appeared as Pāṇḍu, and your five sons appeared as the five Pāṇḍavas.”

TEXT 133

rāmānanda rāya, paṭṭanāyaka gopīnātha

kalānidhi, sudhānidhi, nāyaka vāṇīnātha

The five sons of Bhavānanda Rāya were Rāmānanda Rāya, Paṭṭanāyaka Gopīnātha, Kalānidhi, Sudhānidhi and Nāyaka Vāṇīnātha.

TEXT 134

ei pañca putra tomāra mora priyapātra

rāmānanda saha mora deha-bheda mātra

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Bhavānanda Rāya, “Your five sons are all My dear devotees. Rāmānanda Rāya and I are one, although our bodies are different.”

TEXTS 135–136

pratāparudra rājā, āra oḍhra kṛṣṇānanda

paramānanda mahāpātra, oḍhra śivānanda

bhagavān ācārya, brahmānandākhya bhāratī

śrī-śikhi māhiti, āra murāri māhiti

King Pratāparudra of Orissa, the Oriyā devotees Kṛṣṇānanda and Śivānanda, and Paramānanda Mahāpātra, Bhagavān Ācārya, Brahmānanda Bhāratī, Śrī Śikhi Māhiti and Murāri Māhiti constantly associated with Caitanya Mahāprabhu while He resided in Jagannātha Purī.

TEXT 137

mādhavī-devī—śikhi-māhitira bhaginī

śrī-rādhāra dāsī-madhye yāṅra nāma gaṇi

Mādhavīdevī, the seventeenth of the prominent devotees, was the younger sister of Śikhi Māhiti. She is considered to have formerly been a maidservant of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

TEXT 138

īśvara-purīra śiṣya—brahmacārī kāśīśvara

śrī-govinda nāma tāṅra priya anucara

Brahmacārī Kāśīśvara was a disciple of Īśvara Purī, and Śrī Govinda was another of his dear disciples.

TEXT 139

tāṅra siddhi-kāle doṅhe tāṅra ājñā pāñā

nīlācale prabhu-sthāne milila āsiyā

In the list of prominent devotees at Nīlācala [Jagannātha Purī], Kāśīśvara was the eighteenth and Govinda the nineteenth. They both came to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Jagannātha Purī, being thus ordered by Īśvara Purī at the time of his passing away.

TEXT 140

gurura sambandhe mānya kaila duṅhākāre

tāṅra ājñā māni’ sevā dilena doṅhāre

Both Kāśīśvara and Govinda were Godbrothers of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and thus the Lord duly honored them as soon as they arrived. But because Īśvara Purī had ordered them to give Caitanya Mahāprabhu personal service, the Lord accepted their service.

TEXT 141

aṅga-sevā govindere dilena īśvara

jagannātha dekhite calena āge kāśīśvara

Govinda cared for the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, whereas Kāśīśvara went in front of the Lord when He went to see Jagannātha in the temple.

TEXT 142

aparaśa yāya gosāñi manuṣya-gahane

manuṣya ṭheli’ patha kare kāśī balavāne

When Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the temple of Jagannātha, Kāśīśvara, being very strong, cleared the crowds aside with his hands so that Caitanya Mahāprabhu could pass untouched.

TEXT 143

rāmāi-nandāi—doṅhe prabhura kiṅkara

govindera saṅge sevā kare nirantara

Rāmāi and Nandāi, the twentieth and twenty-first among the important devotees in Jagannātha Purī, always assisted Govinda twenty-four hours a day in rendering service to the Lord.

TEXT 144

bāiśa ghaḍā jala dine bharena rāmāi

govinda-ājñāya sevā karena nandāi

Every day Rāmāi filled twenty-two big waterpots, whereas Nandāi personally assisted Govinda.

TEXT 145

kṛṣṇadāsa nāma śuddha kulīna brāhmaṇa

yāre saṅge laiyā kailā dakṣiṇa gamana

The twenty-second devotee, Kṛṣṇadāsa, was born of a pure and respectable brāhmaṇa family. While touring southern India, Lord Caitanya took Kṛṣṇadāsa with Him.

TEXT 146

balabhadra bhaṭṭācārya—bhakti adhikārī

mathurā-gamane prabhura yeṅho brahmacārī

As a bona fide devotee, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya, the twenty-third principal associate, acted as the brahmacārī of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu when He toured Mathurā.

TEXT 147

baḍa haridāsa, āra choṭa haridāsa

dui kīrtanīyā rahe mahāprabhura pāśa

Baḍa Haridāsa and Choṭa Haridāsa, the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth devotees in Nīlācala, were good singers who always accompanied Lord Caitanya.

TEXT 148

rāmabhadrācārya, āra oḍhra siṁheśvara

tapana ācārya, āra raghu, nīlāmbara

Among the devotees who lived with Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Jagannātha Purī, Rāmabhadra Ācārya was the twenty-sixth, Siṁheśvara the twenty-seventh, Tapana Ācārya the twenty-eighth, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭācārya the twenty-ninth and Nīlāmbara the thirtieth.

TEXT 149

siṅgābhaṭṭa, kāmābhaṭṭa, dantura śivānanda

gauḍe pūrva bhṛtya prabhura priya kamalānanda

Siṅgābhaṭṭa was the thirty-first, Kāmābhaṭṭa the thirty-second, Śivānanda the thirty-third and Kamalānanda the thirty-fourth. They all formerly served Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in Bengal, but later these servants left Bengal to live with the Lord in Jagannātha Purī.

TEXT 150

acyutānanda—advaita-ācārya-tanaya

nīlācale rahe prabhura caraṇa āśraya

Acyutānanda, the thirty-fifth devotee, was the son of Advaita Ācārya. He also lived with Lord Caitanya, taking shelter of His lotus feet at Jagannātha Purī.

TEXT 151

nirloma gaṅgādāsa, āra viṣṇudāsa

ei sabera prabhu-saṅge nīlācale vāsa

Nirloma Gaṅgādāsa and Viṣṇudāsa were the thirty-sixth and thirty-seventh among the devotees who lived at Jagannātha Purī as servants of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

TEXTS 152–154

vārāṇasī-madhye prabhura bhakta tina jana

candraśekhara vaidya, āra miśra tapana

raghunātha bhaṭṭācārya—miśrera nandana

prabhu yabe kāśī āilā dekhi’ vṛndāvana

candraśekhara-gṛhe kaila dui māsa vāsa

tapana-miśrera ghare bhikṣā dui māsa

The prominent devotees at Vārāṇasī were the physician Candraśekhara, Tapana Miśra and Raghunātha Bhaṭṭācārya, Tapana Miśra’s son. When Lord Caitanya came to Vārāṇasī after seeing Vṛndāvana, for two months He lived at the residence of Candraśekhara Vaidya and accepted prasādam at the house of Tapana Miśra.

TEXT 155

raghunātha bālye kaila prabhura sevana

ucchiṣṭa-mārjana āra pāda-saṁvāhana

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed at the house of Tapana Miśra, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, who was then a boy, washed His dishes and massaged His legs.

TEXT 156

baḍa haile nīlācale gelā prabhura sthāne

aṣṭa-māsa rahila bhikṣā dena kona dine

When Raghunātha grew to be a young man, he visited Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Jagannātha Purī and stayed there for eight months. Sometimes he offered prasādam to the Lord.

TEXT 157

prabhura ājñā pāñā vṛndāvanere āilā

āsiyā śrī-rūpa-gosāñira nikaṭe rahilā

Later, by the order of Lord Caitanya, Raghunātha went to Vṛndāvana and remained there under the shelter of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.

TEXT 158

tāṅra sthāne rūpa-gosāñi śunena bhāgavata

prabhura kṛpāya teṅho kṛṣṇa-preme matta

While he stayed with Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, his engagement was to recite Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam for him to hear. As a result of this Bhāgavatam recitation, he attained perfectional love of Kṛṣṇa, by which he remained always maddened.

TEXT 159

ei-mata saṅkhyātīta caitanya-bhakta-gaṇa

diṅmātra likhi, samyak nā yāya kathana

I list in this way only a portion of the innumerable devotees of Lord Caitanya. To describe them all fully is not possible.

TEXT 160

ekaika-śākhāte lāge koṭi koṭi ḍāla

tāra śiṣya-upaśiṣya, tāra upaḍāla

From each branch of the tree have grown hundreds and thousands of subbranches of disciples and granddisciples.

TEXT 161

sakala bhariyā āche prema-phula-phale

bhāsāila tri-jagat kṛṣṇa-prema-jale

Every branch and subbranch of the tree is full of innumerable fruits and flowers. They inundate the world with the waters of love of Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 162

eka eka śākhāra śakti ananta mahimā

‘sahasra vadane’ yāra dite nāre sīmā

Each and every branch of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s devotees has unlimited spiritual power and glory. Even if one had thousands of mouths, it would be impossible to describe the limits of their activities.

TEXT 163

saṅkṣepe kahila mahāprabhura bhakta-gaṇa

samagra balite nāre ‘sahasra-vadana’

I have briefly described the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu in different places. Even Lord Śeṣa, who has thousands of mouths, could not list them all.

TEXT 164

śrī-rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa

caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇadāsa

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.

---

(Chapter 11: The Expansions of Lord Nityānanda)

TEXT 1

nityānanda-padāmbhoja-

bhṛṅgān prema-madhūnmadān

natvākhilān teṣu mukhyā

likhyante katicin mayā

After offering my obeisances unto all the devotees of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, who are like bumblebees collecting honey from His lotus feet, I shall try to describe those who are the most prominent.

TEXT 2

jaya jaya mahāprabhu śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya

tāṅhāra caraṇāśrita yei, sei dhanya

All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! Anyone who has taken shelter at His lotus feet is glorious.

TEXT 3

jaya jaya śrī-advaita, jaya nityānanda

jaya jaya mahāprabhura sarva-bhakta-vṛnda

All glories to Śrī Advaita Prabhu, Nityānanda Prabhu and all the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

TEXT 4

tasya śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-

sat-premāmara-śākhinaḥ

ūrdhva-skandhāvadhūtendoḥ

śākhā-rūpān gaṇān numaḥ

Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu is the topmost branch of the indestructible tree of eternal love of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. I offer my respectful obeisances to all the subbranches of that topmost branch.

TEXT 5

śrī-nityānanda-vṛkṣera skandha gurutara

tāhāte janmila śākhā-praśākhā vistara

Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu is an extremely heavy branch of the Śrī Caitanya tree. From that branch grow many branches and subbranches.

TEXT 6

mālākarera icchā jale bāḍe śākhā-gaṇa

prema-phula-phale bhari’ chāila bhuvana

Watered by the desire of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, these branches and subbranches have grown unlimitedly and covered the entire world with fruits and flowers.

TEXT 7

asaṅkhya ananta gaṇa ke karu gaṇana

āpanā śodhite kahi mukhya mukhya jana

These branches and subbranches of devotees are innumerable and unlimited. Who could count them? For my personal purification I shall try to enumerate only the most prominent among them.

TEXT 8

śrī-vīrabhadra gosāñi—skandha-mahāśākhā

tāṅra upaśākhā yata, asaṅkhya tāra lekhā

After Nityānanda Prabhu, the greatest branch is Vīrabhadra Gosāñi, who also has innumerable branches and subbranches. It is not possible to describe them all.

TEXT 9

īśvara ha-iyā kahāya mahā-bhāgavata

veda-dharmātīta hañā veda-dharme rata

Although Vīrabhadra Gosāñi was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He presented Himself as a great devotee. And although the Supreme Godhead is transcendental to all Vedic injunctions, He strictly followed the Vedic rituals.

TEXT 10

antare īśvara-ceṣṭā, bāhire nirdambha

caitanya-bhakti-maṇḍape teṅho mūla-stambha

He is the main pillar in the hall of devotional service erected by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He knew within Himself that He acted as the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, but externally He was prideless.

TEXT 11

adyāpi yāṅhāra kṛpā-mahimā ha-ite

caitanya-nityānanda gāya sakala jagate

It is by the glorious mercy of Śrī Vīrabhadra Gosāñi that people all over the world now have the chance to chant the names of Caitanya and Nityānanda.

TEXT 12

sei vīrabhadra-gosāñira la-inu śaraṇa

yāṅhāra prasāde haya abhīṣṭa-pūraṇa

I therefore take shelter of the lotus feet of Vīrabhadra Gosāñi, so that by His mercy my great desire to write Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta will be properly guided.

TEXT 13

śrī-rāmadāsa āra, gadādhara dāsa

caitanya-gosāñira bhakta rahe tāṅra pāśa

Two devotees of Lord Caitanya named Śrī Rāmadāsa and Gadādhara dāsa always lived with Śrī Vīrabhadra Gosāñi.

TEXTS 14–15

nityānande ājñā dila yabe gauḍe yāite

mahāprabhu ei dui dilā tāṅra sāthe

ataeva dui-gaṇe duṅhāra gaṇana

mādhava-vāsudeva ghoṣerao ei vivaraṇa

When Nityānanda Prabhu was ordered to go to Bengal to preach, these two devotees [Śrī Rāmadāsa and Gadādhara dāsa] were ordered to go with Him. Thus they are sometimes counted among the devotees of Lord Caitanya and sometimes among the devotees of Lord Nityānanda. Similarly, Mādhava Ghoṣa and Vāsudeva Ghoṣa belonged to both groups of devotees simultaneously.

TEXT 16

rāmadāsa—mukhya-śākhā, sakhya-prema-rāśi

ṣolasāṅgera kāṣṭha yei tuli’ kaila vaṁśī

Rāmadāsa, one of the chief branches, was full of fraternal love of Godhead. He made a flute from a stick with sixteen knots.

TEXT 17

gadādhara dāsa gopībhāve pūrṇānanda

yāṅra ghare dānakeli kaila nityānanda

Śrīla Gadādhara dāsa was always fully absorbed in ecstasy as a gopī. In his house Lord Nityānanda enacted the drama Dāna-keli.

TEXT 18

śrī-mādhava ghoṣa—mukhya kīrtanīyā-gaṇe

nityānanda-prabhu nṛtya kare yāṅra gāne

Śrī Mādhava Ghoṣa was a principal performer of kīrtana. While he sang, Nityānanda Prabhu danced.

TEXT 19

vāsudeva gīte kare prabhura varṇane

kāṣṭha-pāṣāṇa drave yāhāra śravaṇe

When Vāsudeva Ghoṣa described Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda while performing kīrtana, even wood and stone would melt upon hearing it.

TEXT 20

murāri-caitanya-dāsera alaukika līlā

vyāghra-gāle caḍa māre, sarpa-sane khelā

There were many extraordinary activities performed by Murāri, a great devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Sometimes in his ecstasy he would slap the cheek of a tiger, and sometimes he would play with a venomous snake.

TEXT 21

nityānandera gaṇa yata—saba vraja-sakhā

śṛṅga-vetra-gopaveśa, śire śikhi-pākhā

All the associates of Lord Nityānanda were formerly cowherd boys in Vrajabhūmi. Their symbolic representations were the horns and sticks they carried, their cowherd dress and the peacock plumes on their heads.

TEXT 22

raghunātha vaidya upādhyāya mahāśaya

yāṅhāra darśane kṛṣṇa-prema-bhakti haya

The physician Raghunātha, also known as Upādhyāya, was so great a devotee that simply by seeing him one would awaken his dormant love of Godhead.

TEXT 23

sundarānanda—nityānandera śākhā, bhṛtya marma

yāṅra saṅge nityānanda kare vraja-narma

Sundarānanda, another branch of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, was Lord Nityānanda’s most intimate servant. Lord Nityānanda Prabhu perceived the life of Vrajabhūmi in his company.

TEXT 24

kamalākara pippalāi—alaukika rīta

alaukika prema tāṅra bhuvane vidita

Kamalākara Pippalāi is said to have been the third gopāla. His behavior and love of Godhead were uncommon, and thus he is celebrated all over the world.

TEXT 25

sūryadāsa sarakhela, tāṅra bhāi kṛṣṇadāsa

nityānande dṛḍha viśvāsa, premera nivāsa

Sūryadāsa Sarakhela and his younger brother Kṛṣṇadāsa Sarakhela both possessed firm faith in Nityānanda Prabhu. They were a reservoir of love of Godhead.

TEXT 26

gaurīdāsa paṇḍita yāṅra premoddaṇḍa-bhakti

kṛṣṇa-premā dite, nite, dhare mahāśakti

Gaurīdāsa Paṇḍita, the emblem of the most elevated devotional service in love of Godhead, had the greatest potency to receive and deliver such love.

TEXT 27

nityānande samarpila jāti-kula-pāṅti

śrī-caitanya-nityānande kari prāṇapati

Making Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda the Lords of his life, Gaurīdāsa Paṇḍita sacrificed everything for the service of Lord Nityānanda, even the fellowship of his own family.

TEXT 28

nityānanda prabhura priya—paṇḍita purandara

premārṇava-madhye phire yaichana mandara

The thirteenth important devotee of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu was Paṇḍita Purandara, who moved in the ocean of love of Godhead just like the Mandara Hill.

TEXT 29

parameśvara-dāsa—nityānandaika-śaraṇa

kṛṣṇa-bhakti pāya, tāṅre ye kare smaraṇa

Parameśvara dāsa, said to be the fifth gopāla of kṛṣṇa-līlā, completely surrendered to the lotus feet of Nityānanda. Anyone who remembers his name, Parameśvara dāsa, will get love of Kṛṣṇa very easily.

TEXT 30

jagadīśa paṇḍita haya jagat-pāvana

kṛṣṇa-premāmṛta varṣe, yena varṣā ghana

Jagadīśa Paṇḍita, the fifteenth branch of Lord Nityānanda’s followers, was the deliverer of the entire world. Devotional love of Kṛṣṇa showered from him like torrents of rain.

TEXT 31

nityānanda-priyabhṛtya paṇḍita dhanañjaya

atyanta virakta, sadā kṛṣṇa-premamaya

The sixteenth dear servant of Nityānanda Prabhu was Dhanañjaya Paṇḍita. He was very much renounced and always merged in love of Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 32

maheśa paṇḍita—vrajera udāra gopāla

ḍhakkā-vādye nṛtya kare preme mātoyāla

Maheśa Paṇḍita, the seventh of the twelve gopālas, was very liberal. In great love of Kṛṣṇa he danced to the beating of a kettledrum like a madman.

TEXT 33

navadvīpe puruṣottama paṇḍita mahāśaya

nityānanda-nāme yāṅra mahonmāda haya

Puruṣottama Paṇḍita, a resident of Navadvīpa, was the eighth gopāla. He would become almost mad as soon as he heard the holy name of Nityānanda Prabhu.

TEXT 34

balarāma dāsa—kṛṣṇa-prema-rasāsvādī

nityānanda-nāme haya parama unmādī

Balarāma dāsa always fully tasted the nectar of love of Kṛṣṇa. Upon hearing the name of Nityānanda Prabhu, he would become greatly maddened.

TEXT 35

mahā-bhāgavata yadunātha kavicandra

yāṅhāra hṛdaye nṛtya kare nityānanda

Yadunātha Kavicandra was a great devotee. Lord Nityānanda Prabhu always danced in his heart.

TEXT 36

rāḍhe yāṅra janma kṛṣṇadāsa dvija-vara

śrī-nityānandera teṅho parama kiṅkara

The twenty-first devotee of Śrī Nityānanda in Bengal was Kṛṣṇadāsa Brāhmaṇa, who was a first-class servant of the Lord.

TEXT 37

kālā-kṛṣṇadāsa baḍa vaiṣṇava-pradhāna

nityānanda-candra vinu nahi jāne āna

The twenty-second devotee of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu was Kālā Kṛṣṇadāsa, who was the ninth cowherd boy. He was a first-class Vaiṣṇava and did not know anything beyond Nityānanda Prabhu.

TEXT 38

śrī-sadāśiva kavirāja—baḍa mahāśaya

śrī-puruṣottama-dāsa—tāṅhāra tanaya

The twenty-third and twenty-fourth prominent devotees of Nityānanda Prabhu were Sadāśiva Kavirāja and his son Puruṣottama dāsa, who was the tenth gopāla.

TEXT 39

ājanma nimagna nityānandera caraṇe

nirantara bālya-līlā kare kṛṣṇa-sane

From birth, Puruṣottama dāsa was merged in the service of the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, and he always engaged in childish play with Lord Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 40

tāṅra putra—mahāśaya śrī-kānu ṭhākura

yāṅra dehe rahe kṛṣṇa-premāmṛta-pūra

Śrī Kānu Ṭhākura, a very respectable gentleman, was the son of Puruṣottama dāsa Ṭhākura. He was such a great devotee that Lord Kṛṣṇa always lived in his body.

TEXT 41

mahā-bhāgavata-śreṣṭha datta uddhāraṇa

sarva-bhāve seve nityānandera caraṇa

Uddhāraṇa Datta Ṭhākura, the eleventh among the twelve cowherd boys, was an exalted devotee of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu. He worshiped the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda in all respects.

TEXT 42

ācārya vaiṣṇavānanda bhakti-adhikārī

pūrve nāma chila yāṅra ‘raghunātha purī’

The twenty-seventh prominent devotee of Nityānanda Prabhu was Ācārya Vaiṣṇavānanda, a great personality in devotional service. He was formerly known as Raghunātha Purī.

TEXT 43

viṣṇudāsa, nandana, gaṅgādāsa—tina bhāi

pūrve yāṅra ghare chilā ṭhākura nitāi

Another important devotee of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu was Viṣṇudāsa, who had two brothers, Nandana and Gaṅgādāsa. Lord Nityānanda Prabhu sometimes stayed at their house.

TEXT 44

nityānanda-bhṛtya—paramānanda upādhyāya

śrī-jīva paṇḍita nityānanda-guṇa gāya

Paramānanda Upādhyāya was Nityānanda Prabhu’s great servitor. Śrī Jīva Paṇḍita glorified the qualities of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu.

TEXT 45

paramānanda gupta—kṛṣṇa-bhakta mahāmatī

pūrve yāṅra ghare nityānandera vasati

The thirty-first devotee of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu was Paramānanda Gupta, who was greatly devoted to Lord Kṛṣṇa and highly advanced in spiritual consciousness. Formerly Nityānanda Prabhu also resided at his house for some time.

TEXT 46

nārāyaṇa, kṛṣṇadāsa āra manohara

devānanda—cāri bhāi nitāi-kiṅkara

The thirty-second, thirty-third, thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth prominent devotees were Nārāyaṇa, Kṛṣṇadāsa, Manohara and Devānanda, who always engaged in the service of Lord Nityānanda.

TEXT 47

hoḍa kṛṣṇadāsa—nityānanda-prabhu-prāṇa

nityānanda-pada vinu nāhi jāne āna

The thirty-sixth devotee of Lord Nityānanda was Hoḍa Kṛṣṇadāsa, whose life and soul was Nityānanda Prabhu. He was always dedicated to the lotus feet of Nityānanda, and he knew no one else but Him.

TEXT 48

nakaḍi, mukunda, sūrya, mādhava, śrīdhara

rāmānanda vasu, jagannātha, mahīdhara

Among Lord Nityānanda’s devotees, Nakaḍi was the thirty-seventh, Mukunda the thirty-eighth, Sūrya the thirty-ninth, Mādhava the fortieth, Śrīdhara the forty-first, Rāmānanda the forty-second, Jagannātha the forty-third and Mahīdhara the forty-fourth.

TEXT 49

śrīmanta, gokula-dāsa hariharānanda

śivāi, nandāi, avadhūta paramānanda

Śrīmanta was the forty-fifth, Gokula dāsa the forty-sixth, Hariharānanda the forty-seventh, Śivāi the forty-eighth, Nandāi the forty-ninth and Paramānanda the fiftieth.

TEXT 50

vasanta, navanī hoḍa, gopāla, sanātana

viṣṇāi hājarā, kṛṣṇānanda, sulocana

Vasanta was the fifty-first, Navanī Hoḍa the fifty-second, Gopāla the fifty-third, Sanātana the fifty-fourth, Viṣṇāi the fifty-fifth, Kṛṣṇānanda the fifty-sixth and Sulocana the fifty-seventh.

TEXT 51

kaṁsāri sena, rāmasena, rāmacandra kavirāja

govinda, śrīraṅga, mukunda, tina kavirāja

The fifty-eighth great devotee of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu was Kaṁsāri Sena, the fifty-ninth was Rāmasena, the sixtieth was Rāmacandra Kavirāja, and the sixty-first, sixty-second and sixty-third were Govinda, Śrīraṅga and Mukunda, who were all physicians.

TEXT 52

pītāmbara, mādhavācārya, dāsa dāmodara

śaṅkara, mukunda, jñāna-dāsa, manohara

Among the devotees of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, Pītāmbara was the sixty-fourth, Mādhavācārya the sixty-fifth, Dāmodara dāsa the sixty-sixth, Śaṅkara the sixty-seventh, Mukunda the sixty-eighth, Jñāna dāsa the sixty-ninth and Manohara the seventieth.

TEXT 53

nartaka gopāla, rāmabhadra, gaurāṅga-dāsa

nṛsiṁha-caitanya, mīnaketana rāmadāsa

The dancer Gopāla was the seventy-first, Rāmabhadra the seventy-second, Gaurāṅga dāsa the seventy-third, Nṛsiṁha-caitanya the seventy-fourth and Mīnaketana Rāmadāsa the seventy-fifth.

TEXT 54

vṛndāvana-dāsa—nārāyaṇīra nandana

‘caitanya-maṅgala’ yeṅho karila racana

Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, the son of Śrīmatī Nārāyaṇī, composed Śrī Caitanya-maṅgala [later known as Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata].

TEXT 55

bhāgavate kṛṣṇa-līlā varṇilā vedavyāsa

caitanya-līlāte vyāsa—vṛndāvana dāsa

Śrīla Vyāsadeva described the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. The Vyāsa of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was Vṛndāvana dāsa.

TEXT 56

sarvaśākhā-śreṣṭha vīrabhadra gosāñi

tāṅra upaśākhā yata, tāra anta nāi

Among all the branches of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, Vīrabhadra Gosāñi was the topmost. His subbranches were unlimited.

TEXT 57

ananta nityānanda-gaṇa—ke karu gaṇana

ātma-pavitratā-hetu likhilāṅ kata jana

No one can count the unlimited followers of Nityānanda Prabhu. I have mentioned some of them just for my self-purification.

TEXT 58

ei sarva-śākhā pūrṇa—pakva prema-phale

yāre dekhe, tāre diyā bhāsāila sakale

All these branches, the devotees of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, being full of ripened fruits of love of Kṛṣṇa, distributed these fruits to all they met, flooding them with love of Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 59

anargala prema sabāra, ceṣṭā anargala

prema dite, kṛṣṇa dite dhare mahābala

All these devotees had unlimited strength to deliver unobstructed, unceasing love of Kṛṣṇa. By their own strength they could offer anyone Kṛṣṇa and love of Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 60

saṅkṣepe kahilāṅ ei nityānanda-gaṇa

yāṅhāra avadhi nā pāya ‘sahasra-vadana’

I have briefly described only some of the followers and devotees of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu. Even the thousand-mouthed Śeṣa Nāga cannot describe all of these unlimited devotees.

TEXT 61

śrī-rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa

caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇadāsa

With an ardent desire to serve the purpose of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.