731209 - Chanting CC Adi-lila 7th Chapter Verses 1-171 - Los Angeles
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
(Lord Caitanya in Five Features)
- agaty-eka-gatiṁ natvā
- hīnārthādhika-sādhakam
- śrī-caitanyaṁ likhyate ’sya
- prema-bhakti-vadānyatā
Let me first offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is the ultimate goal of life for one bereft of all possessions in this material world and is the only meaning for one advancing in spiritual life. Thus let me write about His magnanimous contribution of devotional service in love of God.
- jaya jaya mahāprabhu śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya
- tāṅhāra caraṇāśrita, sei baḍa dhanya
Let me offer glorification to the Supreme Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. One who has taken shelter of His lotus feet is the most glorified person.
- pūrve gurv-ādi chaya tattve kaila namaskāra
- guru-tattva kahiyāchi, ebe pāṅcera vicāra
In the beginning I have discussed the truth about the spiritual master. Now I shall try to explain the Pañca-tattva.
- pañca-tattva avatīrṇa caitanyera saṅge
- pañca-tattva lañā karena saṅkīrtana raṅge
These five tattvas incarnate with Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and thus the Lord executes His saṅkīrtana movement with great pleasure.
- pañca-tattva—eka-vastu, nāhi kichu bheda
- rasa āsvādite tabu vividha vibheda
Spiritually there are no differences between these five tattvas, for on the transcendental platform everything is absolute. Yet there are also varieties in the spiritual world, and in order to taste these spiritual varieties one should distinguish between them.
- pañca-tattvātmakaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ
- bhakta-rūpa-svarūpakam
- bhaktāvatāraṁ bhaktākhyaṁ
- namāmi bhakta-śaktikam
Let me offer my obeisances unto Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who has manifested Himself in five as a devotee, expansion of a devotee, incarnation of a devotee, pure devotee and devotional energy.
- svayaṁ bhagavān kṛṣṇa ekale īśvara
- advitīya, nandātmaja, rasika-śekhara
SKṛṣṇa, the reservoir of all pleasure, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, the supreme controller. No one is greater than or equal to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, yet He appears as the son of Mahārāja Nanda.
- rāsādi-vilāsī, vrajalalanā-nāgara
- āra yata saba dekha,—tāṅra parikara
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the supreme enjoyer in the rāsa dance. He is the leader of the damsels of Vraja, and all others are simply His associates.
- sei kṛṣṇa avatīrṇa śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya
- sei parikara-gaṇa saṅge saba dhanya
The selfsame Lord Kṛṣṇa advented Himself as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with all His eternal associates, who are also equally glorious.
- ekale īśvara-tattva caitanya-īśvara
- bhakta-bhāvamaya tāṅra śuddha kalevara
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is the supreme controller, the one Personality of Godhead, has ecstatically become a devotee, yet His body is transcendental and not materially tinged.
- kṛṣṇa-mādhuryera eka adbhuta svabhāva
- āpanā āsvādite kṛṣṇa kare bhakta-bhāva
The transcendental mellow of conjugal love of Kṛṣṇa is so wonderful that Kṛṣṇa Himself accepts the form of a devotee to relish and taste it fully.
- ithe bhakta-bhāva dhare caitanya gosāñi
- ‘bhakta-svarūpa’ tāṅra nityānanda-bhāi
For this reason Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the supreme teacher, accepts the form of a devotee and accepts Lord Nityānanda as His elder brother.
- ‘bhakta-avatāra’ tāṅra ācārya-gosāñi
- ei tina tattva sabe prabhu kari’ gāi
Śrī Advaita Ācārya is Lord Caitanya’s incarnation as a devotee. Therefore these three tattvas [Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Nityānanda Prabhu and Advaita Gosāñi] are the predominators, or masters.
- eka mahāprabhu, āra prabhu duijana
- dui prabhu seve mahāprabhura caraṇa
One of Them is Mahāprabhu, and the other two are prabhus. These two prabhus serve the lotus feet of Mahāprabhu.
- ei tina tattva,—‘sarvārādhya’ kari māni
- caturtha ye bhakta-tattva,—‘ārādhaka’ jāni
The three predominators [Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Nityānanda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu] are worshipable by all living entities, and the fourth principle [Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu] is to be understood as Their worshiper.
- śrīvāsādi yata koṭi koṭi bhakta-gaṇa
- ‘śuddha-bhakta’-tattva-madhye tāṅ-sabāra gaṇana
There are innumerable pure devotees of the Lord, headed by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, who are known as unalloyed devotees.
- gadādhara-paṇḍitādi prabhura ‘śakti’-avatāra
- ‘antaraṅga-bhakta’ kari’ gaṇana yāṅhāra
The devotees headed by Gadādhara Paṇḍita are to be considered incarnations of the internal potency of the Lord. They are confidential devotees engaged in the service of the Lord.
- yāṅ-sabā lañā prabhura nitya vihāra
- yāṅ-sabā lañā prabhura kīrtana-pracāra
- yāṅ-sabā lañā karena prema āsvādana
- yāṅ-sabā lañā dāna kare prema-dhana
The internal devotees or potencies are all eternal associates in the pastimes of the Lord. Only with them does the Lord advent to propound the saṅkīrtana movement, only with them does the Lord taste the mellow of conjugal love, and only with them does He distribute this love of God to people in general.
- sei pañca-tattva mili’ pṛthivī āsiyā
- pūrva-premabhāṇḍārera mudrā ughāḍiyā
- pāṅce mili’ luṭe prema, kare āsvādana
- yata yata piye, tṛṣṇā bāḍhe anukṣaṇa
The characteristics of Kṛṣṇa are understood to be a storehouse of transcendental love. Although that storehouse of love certainly came with Kṛṣṇa when He was present, it was sealed. But when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came with His associates of the Pañca-tattva, they broke the seal and plundered the storehouse to taste transcendental love of Kṛṣṇa. The more they tasted it, the more their thirst for it grew.
- punaḥ punaḥ piyāiyā haya mahāmatta
- nāce, kānde, hāse, gāya, yaiche mada-matta
Śrī Pañca-tattva themselves danced again and again and thus made it easier to drink nectarean love of Godhead. They danced, cried, laughed and chanted like madmen, and in this way they distributed love of Godhead.
- pātrāpātra-vicāra nāhi, nāhi sthānāsthāna
- yei yāṅhā pāya, tāṅhā kare prema-dāna
In distributing love of Godhead, Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates did not consider who was a fit candidate and who was not, nor where such distribution should or should not take place. They made no conditions. Wherever they got the opportunity, the members of the Pañca-tattva distributed love of Godhead.
- luṭiyā, khāiyā, diyā, bhāṇḍāra ujāḍe
- āścarya bhāṇḍāra, prema śata-guṇa bāḍe
Although the members of the Pañca-tattva plundered the storehouse of love of Godhead and ate and distributed its contents, there was no scarcity, for this wonderful storehouse is so complete that as the love is distributed, the supply increases hundreds of times.
- uchalila prema-vanyā caudike veḍāya
- strī, vṛddha, bālaka, yuvā, sabāre ḍubāya
The flood of love of Godhead swelled in all directions, and thus young men, old men, women and children were all immersed in that inundation.
- aj-jana, durjana, paṅgu, jaḍa, andha-gaṇa
- prema-vanyāya ḍubāila jagatera jana
The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement will inundate the entire world and drown everyone, whether one be a gentleman, a rogue or even lame, invalid or blind.
- jagat ḍubila, jīvera haila bīja nāśa
- tāhā dekhi’ pāṅca janera parama ullāsa
When the five members of the Pañca-tattva saw the entire world drowned in love of Godhead and the seed of material enjoyment in the living entities completely destroyed, they all became exceedingly happy.
- yata yata prema-vṛṣṭi kare pañca-jane
- tata tata bāḍhe jala, vyāpe tri-bhuvane
The more the five members of the Pañca-tattva cause the rains of love of Godhead to fall, the more the inundation increases and spreads all over the world.
- māyāvādī, karma-niṣṭha kutārkika-gaṇa
- nindaka, pāsaṇḍī yata paḍuyā adhama
- sei saba mahādakṣa dhāñā palāila
- sei vanyā tā-sabāre chuṅite nārila
The impersonalists, fruitive workers, false logicians, blasphemers, nondevotees and lowest among the student community are very expert in avoiding the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, and therefore the inundation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot touch them.
- tāhā dekhi’ mahāprabhu karena cintana
- jagat ḍubāite āmi kariluṅ yatana
- keha keha eḍāila, pratijñā ha-ila bhaṅga
- tā-sabā ḍubāite pātiba kichu raṅga
Seeing that the Māyāvādīs and others were fleeing, Lord Caitanya thought, “I wanted everyone to be immersed in this inundation of love of Godhead, but some of them have escaped. Therefore I shall devise a trick to drown them also.”
- eta bali’ mane kichu kariyā vicāra
- sannyāsa-āśrama prabhu kailā aṅgīkāra
Thus the Lord accepted the sannyāsa order of life after full consideration.
- cabbiśa vatsara chilā gṛhastha-āśrame
- pañca-viṁśati varṣe kaila yati-dharme
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained in householder life for twenty-four years, and on the verge of His twenty-fifth year He accepted the sannyāsa order.
- sannyāsa kariyā prabhu kailā ākarṣaṇa
- yateka pālāñāchila tārkikādigaṇa
After accepting the sannyāsa order, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu attracted the attention of all those who had evaded Him, beginning with the logicians.
- paḍuyā, pāṣaṇḍī, karmī, nindakādi yata
- tārā āsi’ prabhu-pāya haya avanata
Thus the students, infidels, fruitive workers and critics all came to surrender unto the lotus feet of the Lord.
- aparādha kṣamāila, ḍubila prema-jale
- kebā eḍāibe prabhura prema-mahājāle
Lord Caitanya excused them all, and they merged into the ocean of devotional service, for no one can escape the unique loving network of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
- sabā nistārite prabhu kṛpā-avatāra
- sabā nistārite kare cāturī apāra
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared in order to deliver all the fallen souls. Therefore He devised many methods to liberate them from the clutches of māyā.
- tabe nija bhakta kaila yata mleccha ādi
- sabe eḍāila mātra kāśīra māyāvādī
All were converted into devotees of Lord Caitanya, even the mlecchas and yavanas. Only the impersonalist followers of Śaṅkarācārya evaded Him.
- vṛndāvana yāite prabhu rahilā kāśīte
- māyāvādi-gaṇa tāṅre lāgila nindite
While Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was passing through Vārāṇasī on His way to Vṛndāvana, the Māyāvādī sannyāsī philosophers blasphemed against Him in many ways.
- sannyāsī ha-iyā kare gāyana, nācana
- nā kare vedānta-pāṭha, kare saṅkīrtana
The blasphemers said, “Although a sannyāsī, He does not take interest in the study of Vedānta but instead always engages in chanting and dancing in saṅkīrtana.
- mūrkha sannyāsī nija-dharma nāhi jāne
- bhāvuka ha-iyā phere bhāvukera sane
“This Caitanya Mahāprabhu is an illiterate sannyāsī and therefore does not know His real function. Guided only by His sentiments, He wanders about in the company of other sentimentalists.”
- e saba śuniyā prabhu hāse mane mane
- upekṣā kariyā kāro nā kaila sambhāṣaṇe
Hearing all this blasphemy, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu merely smiled to Himself, rejected all these accusations and did not talk with the Māyāvādīs.
- upekṣā kariyā kaila mathurā gamana
- mathurā dekhiyā punaḥ kaila āgamana
Thus neglecting the blasphemy of the Vārāṇasī Māyāvādīs, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu proceeded to Mathurā, and after visiting Mathurā He returned to meet the situation.
- kāśīte lekhaka śūdra-śrīcandraśekhara
- tāṅra ghare rahilā prabhu svatantra īśvara
This time Lord Caitanya stayed at the house of Candraśekhara, although he was regarded as a śūdra or kāyastha, for the Lord, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is completely independent.
- tapana-miśrera ghare bhikṣā-nirvāhaṇa
- sannyāsīra saṅge nāhi māne nimantraṇa
As a matter of principle, Lord Caitanya regularly accepted His food at the house of Tapana Miśra. He never mixed with other sannyāsīs, nor did He accept invitations from them.
- sanātana gosāñi āsi’ tāṅhāi mililā
- tāṅra śikṣā lāgi’ prabhu du-māsa rahilā
When Sanātana Gosvāmī came from Bengal, he met Lord Caitanya at the house of Tapana Miśra, where Lord Caitanya remained continuously for two months to teach him devotional service.
- tāṅre śikhāilā saba vaiṣṇavera dharma
- bhāgavata-ādi śāstrera yata gūḍha marma
On the basis of scriptures like Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which reveal these confidential directions, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu instructed Sanātana Gosvāmī regarding all the regular activities of a devotee.
- itimadhye candraśekhara, miśra-tapana
- duḥkhī hañā prabhu-pāya kaila nivedana
While Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was instructing Sanātana Gosvāmī, both Candraśekhara and Tapana Miśra became very unhappy. Therefore they submitted an appeal unto the lotus feet of the Lord.
- kateka śuniba prabhu tomāra nindana
- nā pāri sahite, ebe chāḍiba jīvana
“How long can we tolerate the blasphemy by Your critics against Your conduct? We should give up our lives rather than hear such blasphemy.
- tomāre nindaye yata sannyāsīra gaṇa
- śunite nā pāri, phāṭe hṛdaya-śravaṇa
“The Māyāvādī sannyāsīs are all criticizing Your Holiness. We cannot tolerate hearing such criticism, for this blasphemy breaks our hearts.”
- ihā śuni rahe prabhu īṣat hāsiyā
- sei kāle eka vipra milila āsiyā
While Tapana Miśra and Candraśekhara were thus talking with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He only smiled slightly and remained silent. At that time a brāhmaṇa came there to meet the Lord.
- āsi’ nivedana kare caraṇe dhariyā
- eka vastu māgoṅ, deha prasanna ha-iyā
The brāhmaṇa immediately fell at the lotus feet of Caitanya Mahāprabhu and requested Him to accept his proposal in a joyful mood.
- sakala sannyāsī muñi kainu nimantraṇa
- tumi yadi āisa, pūrṇa haya mora mana
“My dear Lord, I have invited all the sannyāsīs of Benares to my home. My desires will be fulfilled if You also accept my invitation.
- nā yāha sannyāsi-goṣṭhī, ihā āmi jāni
- more anugraha kara nimantraṇa māni’
“My dear Lord, I know that You never mix with other sannyāsīs, but please be merciful unto me and accept my invitation.”
- prabhu hāsi’ nimantraṇa kaila aṅgīkāra
- sannyāsīre kṛpā lāgi’ e bhaṅgī tāṅhāra
Lord Caitanya smiled and accepted the invitation of the brāhmaṇa. He made this gesture to show His mercy to the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs.
- se vipra jānena prabhu nā yā’na kā’ra ghare
- tāṅhāra preraṇāya tāṅre atyāgraha kare
The brāhmaṇa knew that Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu never went to anyone else’s house, yet due to inspiration from the Lord he earnestly requested Him to accept this invitation.
- āra dine gelā prabhu se vipra-bhavane
- dekhilena, vasiyāchena sannyāsīra gaṇe
The next day, when Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the house of that brāhmaṇa, He saw all the sannyāsīs of Benares sitting there.
- sabā namaskari’ gelā pāda-prakṣālane
- pāda prakṣālana kari vasilā sei sthāne
As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the sannyāsīs He immediately offered obeisances, and then He went to wash His feet. After washing His feet, He sat down by the place where He had done so.
- vasiyā karilā kichu aiśvarya prakāśa
- mahātejomaya vapu koṭi-sūryābhāsa
After sitting on the ground, Caitanya Mahāprabhu exhibited His mystic power by manifesting an effulgence as brilliant as the illumination of millions of suns.
- prabhāve ākarṣila saba sannyāsīra mana
- uṭhila sannyāsī saba chāḍiyā āsana
When the sannyāsīs saw the brilliant illumination of the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, their minds were attracted, and they all immediately gave up their sitting places and stood in respect.
- prakāśānanda-nāme sarva sannyāsi-pradhāna
- prabhuke kahila kichu kariyā sammāna
The leader of all the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs present was named Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, and after standing up he addressed Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu as follows with great respect.
- ihāṅ āisa, ihāṅ āisa, śunaha śrīpāda
- apavitra sthāne vaisa, kibā avasāda
“Please come here. Please come here, Your Holiness. Why do You sit in that unclean place? What has caused Your lamentation?”
- prabhu kahe,—āmi ha-i hīna-sampradāya
- tomā-sabāra sabhāya vasite nā yuyāya
The Lord replied, “I belong to a lower order of sannyāsīs. Therefore I do not deserve to sit with you.”
- āpane prakāśānanda hātete dhariyā
- vasāilā sabhā-madhye sammāna kariyā
Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, however, caught Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally by the hand and seated Him with great respect in the midst of the assembly.
- puchila, tomāra nāma ‘śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya’
- keśava-bhāratīra śiṣya, tāte tumi dhanya
Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī then said, “I understand that Your name is Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. You are a disciple of Śrī Keśava Bhāratī, and therefore You are glorious.
- sāmpradāyika sannyāsī tumi, raha ei grāme
- ki kāraṇe āmā-sabāra nā kara darśane
“You belong to our Śaṅkara-sampradāya and live in our village, Vārāṇasī. Why then do You not associate with us? Why is it that You avoid even seeing us?
- sannyāsī ha-iyā kara nartana-gāyana
- bhāvuka saba saṅge lañā kara saṅkīrtana
“You are a sannyāsī. Why then do You indulge in chanting and dancing, engaging in Your saṅkīrtana movement in the company of fanatics?
- vedānta-paṭhana, dhyāna,—sannyāsīra dharma
- tāhā chāḍi’ kara kene bhāvukera karma
“Meditation and the study of Vedānta are the sole duties of a sannyāsī. Why do You abandon these to dance with fanatics?
- prabhāve dekhiye tomā sākṣāt nārāyaṇa
- hīnācāra kara kene, ithe ki kāraṇa
“You look as brilliant as if You were Nārāyaṇa Himself. Will You kindly explain the reason that You have adopted the behavior of lower-class people?”
- prabhu kahe—śuna, śrīpāda, ihāra kāraṇa
- guru more mūrkha dekhi’ karila śāsana
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied to Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, “My dear sir, kindly hear the reason. My spiritual master considered Me a fool, and therefore he chastised Me.
- mūrkha tumi, tomāra nāhika vedāntādhikāra
- ‘kṛṣṇa-mantra’ japa sadā,—ei mantra-sāra
“‘You are a fool,’ he said. ‘You are not qualified to study Vedānta philosophy, and therefore You must always chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. This is the essence of all mantras, or Vedic hymns.
- kṛṣṇa-mantra haite habe saṁsāra-mocana
- kṛṣṇa-nāma haite pābe kṛṣṇera caraṇa
“‘Simply by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa one can obtain freedom from material existence. Indeed, simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra one will be able to see the lotus feet of the Lord.
- nāma vinu kali-kāle nāhi āra dharma
- sarva-mantra-sāra nāma, ei śāstra-marma
“‘In this Age of Kali there is no religious principle other than the chanting of the holy name, which is the essence of all Vedic hymns. This is the purport of all scriptures.’
- eta bali’ eka śloka śikhāila more
- kaṇṭhe kari’ ei śloka kariha vicāre
“After describing the potency of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, My spiritual master taught Me another verse, advising Me to always keep it within My throat.
- harer nāma harer nāma
- harer nāmaiva kevalam
- kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
- nāsty eva gatir anyathā
“‘For spiritual progress in this Age of Kali, there is no alternative, there is no alternative, there is no alternative to the holy name, the holy name, the holy name of the Lord.’
- ei ājñā pāñā nāma la-i anukṣaṇa
- nāma laite laite mora bhrānta haila mana
“Since I received this order from My spiritual master, I always chant the holy name, but I thought that by chanting and chanting the holy name I had been bewildered.
- dhairya dharite nāri, hailāma unmatta
- hāsi, kāndi, nāci, gāi, yaiche madamatta
“While chanting the holy name of the Lord in pure ecstasy, I lose Myself, and thus I laugh, cry, dance and sing just like a madman.
- tabe dhairya dhari’ mane kariluṅ vicāra
- kṛṣṇa-nāme jñānācchanna ha-ila āmāra
“Collecting My patience, therefore, I began to consider that chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa had covered all My spiritual knowledge.
- pāgala ha-ilāṅ āmi, dhairya nāhi mane
- eta cinti’ nivediluṅ gurura caraṇe
“I saw that I had become mad by chanting the holy name, and I immediately submitted this at the lotus feet of my spiritual master.
- kibā mantra dilā, gosāñi, kibā tāra bala
- japite japite mantra karila pāgala
“‘My dear lord, what kind of mantra have you given Me? I have become mad simply by chanting this mahā-mantra!
- hāsāya, nācāya, more karāya krandana
- eta śuni’ guru hāsi balilā vacana
“‘Chanting the holy name in ecstasy causes Me to dance, laugh and cry.’ When My spiritual master heard all this, he smiled and then began to speak.
- kṛṣṇa-nāma-mahā-mantrera ei ta’ svabhāva
- yei jape, tāra kṛṣṇe upajaye bhāva
“‘It is the nature of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra that anyone who chants it immediately develops his loving ecstasy for Kṛṣṇa.
- kṛṣṇa-viṣayaka premā—parama puruṣārtha
- yāra āge tṛṇa-tulya cāri puruṣārtha
“‘Religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation are known as the four goals of life, but before love of Godhead, the fifth and highest goal, these appear as insignificant as straw in the street.
- pañcama puruṣārtha—premānandāmṛta-sindhu
- mokṣādi ānanda yāra nahe eka bindu
“‘For a devotee who has actually developed bhāva, the pleasure derived from dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa appears like a drop in the presence of the sea.
- kṛṣṇa-nāmera phala—‘premā’, sarva-śāstre kaya
- bhāgye sei premā tomāya karila udaya
“‘The conclusion of all revealed scriptures is that one should awaken his dormant love of Godhead. You are greatly fortunate to have already done so.
- premāra svabhāve kare citta-tanu kṣobha
- kṛṣṇera caraṇa-prāptye upajāya lobha
“‘It is a characteristic of love of Godhead that by nature it induces transcendental symptoms in one’s body and makes one more and more greedy to achieve the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord.
- premāra svabhāve bhakta hāse, kānde, gāya
- unmatta ha-iyā nāce, iti-uti dhāya
“‘When one actually develops love of Godhead, he naturally sometimes cries, sometimes laughs, sometimes chants and sometimes runs here and there just like a madman.
- sveda, kampa, romāñcāśru, gadgada, vaivarṇya
- unmāda, viṣāda, dhairya, garva, harṣa, dainya
- eta bhāve premā bhaktagaṇere nācāya
- kṛṣṇera ānandāmṛta-sāgare bhāsāya
“‘Perspiration, trembling, standing on end of one’s bodily hairs, tears, faltering voice, fading complexion, madness, melancholy, patience, pride, joy and humility—these are various natural symptoms of ecstatic love of Godhead, which causes a devotee to dance and float in an ocean of transcendental bliss while chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.
- bhāla haila, pāile tumi parama-puruṣārtha
- tomāra premete āmi hailāṅ kṛtārtha
“‘It is very good, my dear child, that You have attained the supreme goal of life by developing love of Godhead. Thus You have pleased me very much, and I am very much obliged to You.
- nāca, gāo, bhakta-saṅge kara saṅkīrtana
- kṛṣṇa-nāma upadeśi’ tāra’ sarva-jana
“‘My dear child, continue dancing, chanting and performing saṅkīrtana in association with devotees. Furthermore, go out and preach the value of chanting kṛṣṇa-nāma, for by this process You will be able to deliver all fallen souls.’
- eta bali’ eka śloka śikhāila more
- bhāgavatera sāra ei—bale vāre vāre
“Saying this, My spiritual master taught Me a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. It is the essence of all the Bhāgavatam’s instructions; therefore he recited this verse again and again.
- Sevaṁ-vrataḥ sva-priya-nāma-kīrtyā
- jātānurāgo druta-citta uccaiḥ
- hasaty atho roditi rauti gāyaty
- unmāda-van nṛtyati loka-bāhyaḥ
“‘When a person is actually advanced and takes pleasure in chanting the holy name of the Lord, who is very dear to him, he is agitated and loudly chants the holy name. He also laughs, cries, becomes agitated and chants just like a madman, not caring for outsiders.’
- ei tāṅra vākye āmi dṛḍha viśvāsa dhari’
- nirantara kṛṣṇa-nāma saṅkīrtana kari
- sei kṛṣṇa-nāma kabhu gāoyāya, nācāya
- gāhi, nāci nāhi āmi āpana-icchāya
“I firmly believe in these words of My spiritual master, and therefore I always chant the holy name of the Lord, alone and in the association of devotees. That holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa sometimes causes Me to chant and dance, and therefore I chant and dance. Please do not think that I intentionally do it. I do it automatically.
- kṛṣṇa-nāme ye ānanda-sindhu-āsvādana
- brahmānanda tāra āge khātodaka-sama
“Compared to the ocean of transcendental bliss that one tastes by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, the pleasure derived from impersonal Brahman realization [brahmānanda] is like the shallow water in a canal.
- tvat-sākṣāt-karaṇāhlāda-
- viśuddhābdhi-sthitasya me
- sukhāni goṣpadāyante
- brāhmāṇy api jagad-guro
“‘My dear Lord, O master of the universe, since I have directly seen You, my transcendental bliss has taken the shape of a great ocean. Being situated in that ocean, I now realize all other so-called happiness to be like the water contained in the hoofprint of a calf.’”
- prabhura miṣṭa-vākya śuni’ sannyāsīra gaṇa
- citta phiri’ gela, kahe madhura vacana
After hearing Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs were moved. Their minds changed, and thus they spoke with pleasing words.
- ye kichu kahile tumi, saba satya haya
- kṛṣṇa-premā sei pāya, yāra bhāgyodaya
“Dear Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, what You have said is all true. Only one who is favored by fortune attains love of Godhead.
- kṛṣṇe bhakti kara—ihāya sabāra santoṣa
- vedānta nā śuna kene, tāra kibā doṣa
“Dear Sir, there is no objection to Your being a great devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Everyone is satisfied with this. But why do You avoid discussion on the Vedānta-sūtra? What is the fault in it?”
- eta śuni’ hāsi’ prabhu balilā vacana
- duḥkha nā mānaha yadi, kari nivedana
After hearing the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs speak in that way, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu smiled slightly and said, “My dear sirs, if you don’t mind I can say something to you regarding Vedānta philosophy.”
- ihā śuni’ bale sarva sannyāsīra gaṇa
- tomāke dekhiye yaiche sākṣāt nārāyaṇa
Hearing this, the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs became somewhat humble and addressed Caitanya Mahāprabhu as Nārāyaṇa Himself, who they all agreed He was.
- tomāra vacana śuni’ juḍāya śravaṇa
- tomāra mādhurī dekhi’ juḍāya nayana
“Dear Caitanya Mahāprabhu,” they said, “to tell You the truth, we are greatly pleased to hear Your words, and furthermore Your bodily features are so pleasing that we feel extraordinary satisfaction in seeing You.
- tomāra prabhāve sabāra ānandita mana
- kabhu asaṅgata nahe tomāra vacana
“Dear Sir, by Your influence our minds are greatly satisfied, and we believe that Your words will never be unreasonable. Therefore You may speak on the Vedānta-sūtra.”
- prabhu kahe, vedānta-sūtra īśvara-vacana
- vyāsa-rūpe kaila yāhā śrī-nārāyaṇa
The Lord said, “Vedānta philosophy consists of words spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Nārāyaṇa in the form of Vyāsadeva.
- bhrama, pramāda, vipralipsā, karaṇāpāṭava
- īśvarera vākye nāhi doṣa ei saba
“The material defects of mistakes, illusions, cheating and sensory inefficiency do not exist in the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- upaniṣat-sahita sūtra kahe yei tattva
- mukhya-vṛttye sei artha parama mahattva
“Śaṅkarācārya is not at fault, for it is under the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead that he has covered the real purport of the Vedas.
- ‘brahma’-śabde mukhya arthe kahe—‘bhagavān’
- cid-aiśvarya-paripūrṇa, anūrdhva-samāna
“According to direct understanding, the Absolute Truth is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has all spiritual opulences. No one can be equal to or greater than Him.
- tāṅhāra vibhūti, deha,—saba cid-ākāra
- cid-vibhūti ācchādi’ tāṅre kahe ‘nirākāra’
“Everything about the Supreme Personality of Godhead is spiritual, including His body, opulence and paraphernalia. Māyāvāda philosophy, however, covering His spiritual opulence, advocates the theory of impersonalism.
- cid-ānanda—teṅho, tāṅra sthāna, parivāra
- tāṅāra yei śune tāra haya sarva-nāśa
“Śaṅkarācārya, who is an incarnation of Lord Śiva, is faultless because he is a servant carrying out the orders of the Lord. But those who follow his Māyāvādī philosophy are doomed. They will lose all their advancement in spiritual knowledge.
- prākṛta kariyā māne viṣṇu-kalevara
- viṣṇu-nindā āra nāhi ihāra upara
“One who considers the transcendental body of Lord Viṣṇu to be made of material nature is the greatest offender at the lotus feet of the Lord. There is no greater blasphemy against the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- īśvarera tattva—yena jvalita jvalana
- jīvera svarūpa—yaiche sphuliṅgera kaṇa
“The Lord is like a great blazing fire, and the living entities are like small sparks of that fire.
- jīva-tattva—śakti, kṛṣṇa-tattva—śaktimān
- gītā-viṣṇupurāṇādi tāhāte pramāṇa
The living entities are energies, not the energetic. The energetic is Kṛṣṇa. This is very vividly described in the Bhagavad-gītā, the Viṣṇu Purāṇa and other Vedic literatures.
- apareyam itas tv anyāṁ
- prakṛtiṁ viddhi me parām
- jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho
- yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat
“‘Besides these inferior energies, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is another, superior energy of Mine, which comprises the living entities who are exploiting the resources of this material, inferior nature.’
- viṣṇu-śaktiḥ parā proktā
- kṣetra-jñākhyā tathā parā
- avidyā-karma-saṁjñānyā
- tṛtīyā śaktir iṣyate
“‘The potency of Lord Viṣṇu is summarized in three categories—namely, the spiritual potency, the living entities and ignorance. The spiritual potency is full of knowledge; the living entities, although belonging to the spiritual potency, are subject to bewilderment; and the third energy, which is full of ignorance, is always visible in fruitive activities.’
- hena jīva-tattva lañā likhi’ para-tattva
- ācchanna karila śreṣṭha īśvara-mahattva
“The Māyāvāda philosophy is so degraded that it has taken the insignificant living entities to be the Lord, the Supreme Truth, thus covering the glory and supremacy of the Absolute Truth with monism.
- vyāsera sūtrete kahe ‘pariṇāma’-vāda
- ‘vyāsa bhrānta’—bali’ tāra uṭhāila vivāda
“In his Vedānta-sūtra Śrīla Vyāsadeva has described that everything is but a transformation of the energy of the Lord. Śaṅkarācārya, however, has misled the world by commenting that Vyāsadeva was mistaken. Thus he has raised great opposition to theism throughout the entire world.
- pariṇāma-vāde īśvara hayena vikārī
- eta kahi’ ‘vivarta’-vāda sthāpanā ye kari
“According to Śaṅkarācārya, by accepting the theory of the transformation of the energy of the Lord, one creates an illusion by indirectly accepting that the Absolute Truth is transformed.
- vastutaḥ pariṇāma-vāda—sei se pramāṇa
- dehe ātma-buddhi—ei vivartera sthāna
“Transformation of energy is a proven fact. It is the false bodily conception of the self that is an illusion.
- avicintya-śakti-yukta śrī-bhagavān
- icchāya jagad-rūpe pāya pariṇāma
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead is opulent in all respects. Therefore by His inconceivable energies He has transformed the material cosmic manifestation.
- tathāpi acintya-śaktye haya avikārī
- prākṛta cintāmaṇi tāhe dṛṣṭānta ye dhari
“Using the example of a touchstone, which by its energy turns iron to gold and yet remains the same, we can understand that although the Supreme Personality of Godhead transforms His innumerable energies, He remains unchanged.
- nānā ratna-rāśi haya cintāmaṇi haite
- tathāpiha maṇi rahe svarūpe avikṛte
“Although a touchstone produces many varieties of valuable jewels, it nevertheless remains the same. It does not change its original form.
- prākṛta-vastute yadi acintya-śakti haya
- īśvarera acintya-śakti,—ithe ki vismaya
“If there is such inconceivable potency in material objects, why should we not believe in the inconceivable potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead?
- ‘praṇava’ se mahāvākya—vedera nidāna
- īśvara-svarūpa praṇava sarva-viśva-dhāma
“The Vedic sound vibration oṁkāra, the principal word in the Vedic literatures, is the basis of all Vedic vibrations. Therefore one should accept oṁkāra as the sound representation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the reservoir of the cosmic manifestation.
- sarvāśraya īśvarera praṇava uddeśa
- ‘tat tvam asi’—vākya haya vedera ekadeśa
“It is the purpose of the Supreme Personality of Godhead to present praṇava [oṁkāra] as the reservoir of all Vedic knowledge. The words ‘tat tvam asi’ are only a partial explanation of the Vedic knowledge.
- ‘praṇava', mahā-vākya—tāhā kari’ ācchādana
- mahāvākye kari ‘tat tvam asi’ra sthāpana
“Praṇava [oṁkāra] is the mahā-vākya [mahā-mantra] in the Vedas. Śaṅkarācārya’s followers cover this to stress without authority the mantra tat tvam asi.
- sarva-veda-sūtre kare kṛṣṇera abhidhāna
- mukhya-vṛtti chāḍi’ kaila lakṣaṇā-vyākhyāna
“In all the Vedic sūtras and literatures, it is Lord Kṛṣṇa who is to be understood, but the followers of Śaṅkarācārya have covered the real meaning of the Vedas with indirect explanations.
- svataḥ-pramāṇa veda—pramāṇa-śiromaṇi
- lakṣaṇā karile svataḥ-pramāṇatā-hāni
“The self-evident Vedic literatures are the highest evidence of all, but if these literatures are interpreted, their self-evident nature is lost.
- ei mata pratisūtre sahajārtha chāḍiyā
- gauṇārtha vyākhyā kare kalpanā kariyā
“To prove their philosophy, the members of the Māyāvāda school have given up the real, easily understood meaning of the Vedic literature and introduced indirect meanings based on their imaginative powers.”
- ei mate pratisūtre karena dūṣaṇa
- śuni’ camatkāra haila sannyāsīra gaṇa
When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thus showed for each and every sūtra the defects in Śaṅkarācārya’s explanations, all the assembled Māyāvādī sannyāsīs were struck with wonder.
- sakala sannyāsī kahe,—‘śunaha śrīpāda
- tumi ye khaṇḍile artha, e nahe vivāda
All the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs said, “Your Holiness, kindly know from us that we actually have no quarrel with Your refutation of these meanings, for You have given a clear understanding of the sūtras.
- ācārya-kalpita artha,—ihā sabhe jāni
- sampradāya-anurodhe tabu tāhā māni
“We know that all this word jugglery springs from the imagination of Śaṅkarācārya, and yet because we belong to his sect, we accept it although it does not satisfy us.
- mukhyārtha vyākhyā kara, dekhi tomāra bala’
- mukhyārthe lāgāla prabhu sūtra-sakala
“Now let us see,” the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs continued, “how well You can describe the sūtras in terms of their direct meaning.” Hearing this, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu began His direct explanation of the Vedānta-sūtra.
- bṛhad-vastu ‘brahma’ kahi—‘śrī-bhagavān’
- ṣaḍ-vidhaiśvarya-pūrṇa, para-tattva-dhāma
“Brahman, who is greater than the greatest, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is full in six opulences, and therefore He is the reservoir of ultimate truth and absolute knowledge.
- svarūpa-aiśvarye tāṅra nāhi māyā-gandha
- sakala vedera haya bhagavān se ‘sambandha’
“In His original form the Supreme Personality of Godhead is full with transcendental opulences, which are free from the contamination of the material world. It is to be understood that in all Vedic literature the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ultimate goal.
- tāṅre ‘nirviśeṣa’ kahi, cic-chakti nā māni
- ardha-svarūpa nā mānile pūrṇatā haya hāni
“When we speak of the Supreme as impersonal, we deny His spiritual potencies. Logically, if you accept half of the truth, you cannot understand the whole.
- bhagavān-prāpti-hetu ye kari upāya
- śravaṇādi bhakti—kṛṣṇa-prāptira sahāya
“It is only by devotional service, beginning with hearing, that one can approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the only means to approach Him.
- sei sarva-vedera ‘abhidheya’ nāma
- sādhana-bhakti haite haya premera udgama
“By practicing this regulated devotional service under the direction of the spiritual master, certainly one awakens his dormant love of Godhead. This process is called abhidheya.
- kṛṣṇera caraṇe haya yadi anurāga
- kṛṣṇa vinu anyatra tāra nāhi rahe rāga
“If one develops his love of Godhead and becomes attached to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, gradually he loses his attachment to everything else.
- pañcama puruṣārtha sei prema-mahādhana
- kṛṣṇera mādhurya-rasa karāya āsvādana
“Love of Godhead is so exalted that it is considered to be the fifth goal of human life. By awakening one’s love of Godhead, one can attain the platform of conjugal love, tasting it even during the present span of life.
- premā haite kṛṣṇa haya nija bhakta-vaśa
- premā haite pāya kṛṣṇera sevā-sukha-rasa
“The Supreme Lord, who is greater than the greatest, becomes submissive to even a very insignificant devotee because of his devotional service. It is the beautiful and exalted nature of devotional service that the infinite Lord becomes submissive to the infinitesimal living entity because of it. In reciprocal devotional activities with the Lord, the devotee actually enjoys the transcendental mellow of devotional service.
- sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana nāma
- ei tina artha sarva-sūtre paryavasāna
“One’s relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, activities in terms of that relationship, and the ultimate goal of life [to develop love of God]—these three subjects are explained in every aphorism of the Vedānta-sūtra, for they form the culmination of the entire Vedānta philosophy.”
- ei-mata sarva-sūtrera vyākhyāna śuniyā
- sakala sannyāsī kahe vinaya kariyā
When all the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs thus heard the explanation of Caitanya Mahāprabhu on the basis of sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana, they spoke very humbly.
- vedamaya-mūrti tumi,—sākṣāt nārāyaṇa
- kṣama aparādha,—pūrve ye kailuṅ nindana
“Dear Sir, You are Vedic knowledge personified and are directly Nārāyaṇa Himself. Kindly excuse us for the offenses we previously committed by criticizing You.”
- sei haite sannyāsīra phiri gela mana
- ‘kṛṣṇa’ ‘kṛṣṇa’ nāma sadā karaye grahaṇa
From that moment when the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs heard the explanation of the Vedānta-sūtra from the Lord, their minds changed, and on the instruction of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they too chanted “Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!” always.
- ei-mate tāṅ-sabāra kṣami’ aparādha
- sabākāre kṛṣṇa-nāma karilā prasāda
Thus Lord Caitanya excused all the offenses of the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs and very mercifully blessed them with kṛṣṇa-nāma.
- tabe saba sannyāsī mahāprabhuke laiyā
- bhikṣā karilena sabhe, madhye vasāiyā
After this, all the sannyāsīs took the Lord into their midst, and thus they all took their meal together.
- bhikṣā kari’ mahāprabhu āilā vāsāghara
- hena citra-līlā kare gaurāṅga-sundara
After taking lunch among the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is known as Gaurasundara, returned to His residence. Thus the Lord performs His wonderful pastimes.
- candraśekhara, tapana miśra, āra sanātana
- śuni’ dekhi’ ānandita sabākāra mana
Hearing the arguments of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and seeing His victory, Candraśekhara, Tapana Miśra and Sanātana Gosvāmī were all extremely pleased.
- prabhuke dekhite āise sakala sannyāsī
- prabhura praśaṁsā kare saba vārāṇasī
Many Māyāvādī sannyāsīs of Vārāṇasī came to see the Lord after this incident, and the entire city praised Him.
- vārāṇasī-purī āilā śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya
- purī-saha sarva-loka haila mahā-dhanya
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the city of Vārāṇasī, and all of its people were very thankful.
- lakṣa lakṣa loka āise prabhuke dekhite
- mahā-bhiḍa haila dvāre, nāre praveśite
The crowd at the door of His residence was so great that it numbered hundreds of thousands.
- prabhu yabe yā’na viśveśvara-daraśane
- lakṣa lakṣa loka āsi’ mile sei sthāne
When the Lord went to visit the temple of Viśveśvara, hundreds of thousands of people assembled to see Him.
- snāna karite yabe yā’na gaṅgā-tīre
- tāhāñi sakala loka haya mahā-bhiḍe
Whenever Lord Caitanya went to the banks of the Ganges to take His bath, big crowds of many hundreds of thousands of people assembled there.
- bāhu tuli’ prabhu bale,—bala hari hari
- hari-dhvani kare loka svarga-martya bhari’
Whenever the crowds were too great, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stood up, raised His hands and chanted, “Hari! Hari!” to which all the people responded, filling both the land and sky with the vibration.
- loka nistāriyā prabhura calite haila mana
- vṛndāvane pāṭhāilā śrī-sanātana
After thus delivering the people in general, the Lord desired to leave Vārāṇasī. After instructing Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, He sent him toward Vṛndāvana.
- rātri-divase lokera śuni’ kolāhala
- vārāṇasī chāḍi’ prabhu āilā nīlācala
Because the city of Vārāṇasī was always full of tumultuous crowds, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, after sending Sanātana to Vṛndāvana, returned to Jagannātha Purī.
- ei līlā kahiba āge vistāra kariyā
- saṅkṣepe kahilāṅ ihāṅ prasaṅga pāiyā
I have here given a brief account of these pastimes of Lord Caitanya, but later I shall describe them in an extensive way.
- ei pañca-tattva-rūpe śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya
- kṛṣṇa-nāma-prema diyā viśva kailā dhanya
Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates of the Pañca-tattva distributed the holy name of the Lord to invoke love of Godhead throughout the universe, and thus the entire universe was thankful.
- mathurāte pāṭhāila rūpa-sanātana
- dui senā-pati kaila bhakti pracāraṇa
Lord Caitanya dispatched the two generals Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī to Vṛndāvana to preach the bhakti cult.
- nityānanda-gosāñe pāṭhāilā gauḍa-deśe
- teṅho bhakti pracārilā aśeṣa-viśeṣe
As Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī were sent toward Mathurā, so Nityānanda Prabhu was sent to Bengal to preach extensively the cult of Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
- āpane dakṣiṇa deśa karilā gamana
- grāme grāme kailā kṛṣṇa-nāma pracāraṇa
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally went to South India, and He broadcast the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa in every village and town.
- setubandha paryanta kailā bhaktira pracāra
- kṛṣṇa-prema diyā kailā sabāra nistāra
Thus the Lord went to the southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula, known as Setubandha [Cape Comorin]. Everywhere He distributed the bhakti cult and love of Kṛṣṇa, and in this way He delivered everyone.
- ei ta’ kahila pañca-tattvera vyākhyāna
- ihāra śravaṇe haya caitanya-tattva jñāna
I have thus explained the truth of the Pañca-tattva. One who hears this explanation increases in knowledge of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
- śrī-caitanya, nityānanda, advaita,—tina jana
- śrīvāsa-gadādhara-ādi yata bhakta-gaṇa
While chanting the Pañca-tattva mahā-mantra, one must chant the names of Śrī Caitanya, Nityānanda, Advaita, Gadādhara and Śrīvāsa with their many devotees. This is the process.
- sabākāra pādapadme koṭi namaskāra
- yaiche taiche kahi kichu caitanya-vihāra
I again and again offer obeisances unto the Pañca-tattva. Thus I think that I will be able to describe something about the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
- 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.