Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya-lila Volume 1 Chapter 3 The Glories of Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura

 

 

Chapter 3
The Glories of Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura
A summary of this Third Chapter of Antya-līlā is given by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura as follows. A beautiful young brāhmaṇa girl in Jagannātha Purī had a very handsome son who was coming every day to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This was not very much to the liking of Dāmodara Paṇḍita, however, who therefore told Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "If You display so much love for this boy, people will doubt Your character." Hearing these words from Dāmodara Paṇḍita, the Lord sent him to Navadvīpa to supervise the affairs of His mother, Śacīdevī. He also especially requested Dāmodara Paṇḍita to remind His mother that He was sometimes going to her home to accept the food she offered. Thus, following the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Dāmodara Paṇḍita went to Navadvīpa, taking with him all kinds of prasāda from Lord Jagannātha.
On another occasion, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu once inquired from Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who was known as Brahma Haridāsa, how the yavanas, or persons bereft of Vedic culture, would be delivered in Kali-yuga. Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied that their deliverance would be possible if they very loudly chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, for hearing the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra chanted loudly, even with but little realization, would help them.
After describing this incident, the author of Caitanya-caritāmṛta also describes how Haridāsa Ṭhākura was tested at Benāpola, a village near Śāntipura. A person named Rāmacandra Khān, who was envious of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, sent a professional prostitute to attempt to defame him, but by the mercy of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, even the prostitute was delivered. Because of offending a pure Vaiṣṇava, Rāmacandra Khān was later cursed by Nityānanda Prabhu and ruined.
From Benāpola, Haridāsa Ṭhākura went to the village known as Cāndapura, where he lived at the house of Balarāma Ācārya. Thereafter, Haridāsa Ṭhākura was received by two brothers known as Hiraṇya and Govardhana Majumadāra, but in the course of a discussion he was offended by a caste brāhmaṇa known as Gopāla Cakravartī. Because of this offense, Gopāla Cakravartī was punished by being afflicted with leprosy.
Haridāsa Ṭhākura later left Cāndapura and went to the house of Advaita Ācārya, where he was tested by Māyādevī, the personification of the external energy. She also received his favor by being blessed with the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
TEXT 1
vande 'haṁ śrī-guroḥ śrī-yuta-pada-kamalaṁ śrī-gurūn vaiṣṇavāṁś ca
śrī-rūpaṁ sāgrajātaṁ saha-gaṇa-raghunāthānvitaṁ taṁ sa-jīvam
sādvaitaṁ sāvadhūtaṁ parijana-sahitaṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanya-devaṁ
śrī-rādhā-kṛṣṇa-pādān saha-gaṇa-lalitā-śrī-viśākhānvitāṁś ca
SYNONYMS
vande—offer my respectful obeisances; aham—I; śrī-guroḥ—of my spiritual master; śrī-yuta-pada-kamalam—unto the opulent lotus feet; śrī-gurūn—unto the spiritual masters in the paramparā system, beginning from Mādhavendra Purī down to Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda; vaiṣṇavān—unto all the Vaiṣṇavas, beginning from Lord Brahmā and others coming from the very point of creation; ca—and; śrī-rūpam—unto Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī; sa-agra-jātam—with his elder brother, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī; saha-gaṇa—with associates; raghunātha-anvitaṁ—with Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī; taṁ—unto him; sa-jīvam—with Jīva Gosvāmī; sa-advaitam—with Advaita Ācārya; sa-avadhūtam—with Nityānanda Prabhu; parijana-sahitam—and with Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura and all the other devotees; kṛṣṇa-caitanya-devam—unto Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; śrī rādhā-kṛṣṇa-pādān—unto the lotus feet of the all-opulent Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārāṇī; saha-gaṇa—with Their associates; lalitā-śrī-viśākhā-anvitān—accompanied by Lalitā and Śrī Viśākhā; ca—also.
TRANSLATION
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master and of all the other preceptors on the path of devotional service, unto all the Vaiṣṇavas and unto the six Gosvāmīs, including Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Jīva Gosvāmī and their associates. I offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrī Advaita Ācārya Prabhu, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, as well as all His devotees, headed by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura. I then offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and all the gopīs, headed by Lalitā and Viśākhā.
TEXT 2
jaya jaya gauracandra jaya nityānanda
jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya—all glories; gaura-candra—to Śrī Caitanya; jaya—all glories; nityānanda—to Lord Nityānanda; jaya advaita-candra—all glories to Advaita Ācārya; jaya—all glories; gaura-bhakta-vṛnda—to the devotees of Lord Caitanya.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!
TEXT 3
puruṣottame eka uḍiyā-brāhmaṇa-kumāra
pitṛ-śūnya, mahā-sundara, mṛdu-vyavahāra
SYNONYMS
puruṣottame—in Jagannātha Purī; eka—one; uḍiyā-brāhmaṇa-kumāra—young son of a brāhmaṇa from Orissa; pitṛ-śūnya—without his father; mahā-sundara—possessing very beautiful bodily features; mṛdu-vyavahāra—having very gentle behavior.
TRANSLATION
In Jagannātha Purī there was a young boy who had been born of an Orissa brāhmaṇa but had later lost his father. The boy's features were very beautiful, and his behavior was extremely gentle.
TEXTS 4-5
prabhu-sthāne nitya āise, kare namaskāra
prabhu-sane vāt kahe prabhu-'prāṇa' tāra
prabhute tāhāra prīti, prabhu dayā kare
dāmodara tāra prīti sahite nā pāre
SYNONYMS
prabhu-sthāne—to the place of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; nitya—daily; āise—comes; kare namaskāra—offers respectful obeisances; prabhu-sane—with the Lord; vāt kahe—talks; prabhu-prāṇa tāra—his life and soul was Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; prabhute—unto the Lord; tāhāra prīti—his affection; prabhu—the Lord; dayā kare—reciprocates His mercy; dāmodara—Dāmodara Paṇḍita; tāra—his; prīti—love of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; sahite nā pāre—could not tolerate.
TRANSLATION
The boy came dally to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and offered Him respectful obeisances. He was free to talk with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu because the Lord was his life and soul, but the boy's intimacy with the Lord and the Lord's mercy toward him were intolerable to Dāmodara Paṇḍita.
TEXT 6
bāra bāra niṣedha kare brāhmaṇa-kumāre
prabhure nā dekhile sei rahite nā pāre
SYNONYMS
bāra bāra—again and again; niṣedha kare—forbids; brāhmaṇa-kumāre—the son of the brāhmaṇa; prabhure—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; nā dekhile—without seeing; sei—that boy; rahite nā pāre—could not stay.
TRANSLATION
Dāmodara Paṇḍita again and again forbade the son of the brāhmaṇa to visit the Lord, but the boy could not bear staying home and not seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TEXT 7
nitya āise, prabhu tāre kare mahā-prīta
yāṅhā prīti tāṅhā āise,--bālakera rīta
SYNONYMS
nitya āise—he comes daily; prabhu—Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāre—to him; kare—does; mahā-prīta—very affectionate behavior; yāṅhā prīti—wherever there is love; tāṅhā āise—one comes there; bālakera rīta—the nature of a small boy.
TRANSLATION
The boy came every day to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who treated him with great affection. It is the nature of ay boy to go see a ma who loves him.
TEXT 8
tāhā dekhi' dāmodara duḥkha pāya mane
balite nā pāre, bālaka niṣedha nā māne
SYNONYMS
tāhā dekhi'-seeing that; dāmodara—Dāmodara Paṇḍita; duḥkha pāya—gets unhappiness; mane—in his mind; balite nā pāre—could not say anything; bālaka—the boy; niṣedha—prohibition; nā māne—would not care for.
TRANSLATION
This was intolerable for Dāmodara Paṇḍita. He became greatly unhappy, but there was nothing he could say, for the boy would ignore his restrictions.
TEXT 9
āra dina sei bālaka prabhu-sthāne āilā
gosā�i tāre prīti kari' vārtā puchilā
SYNONYMS
āra dina—one day; sei bālaka—that boy; prabhu-sthāne āilā—came to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; gosā�i—Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāre—unto him; prīti kari'-with great affection; vārtā—news; puchilā—inquired.
TRANSLATION
One day when the boy came to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord very affectionately inquired from him about all kinds of news.
TEXT 10
kata-kṣaṇe se bālaka uṭhi' yabe gelā
sahite nā pāre, dāmodara kahite lāgilā
SYNONYMS
kata-kṣaṇe—after some time; se bālaka—that boy; uṭhi'-standing up; yabe—when; gelā—left; sahite nā pāre—could not tolerate; dāmodara—Dāmodara Paṇḍita; kahite lāgilā—began to say.
TRANSLATION
After some time, when the boy stood up and left, the intolerant Dāmodara Paṇḍita began to speak.
TEXT 11
anyopadeśe paṇḍita--kahe gosā�ira ṭhā�i
'gosā�i"gosā�i' ebe jānimu 'gosā�i'
SYNONYMS
anya-upadeśe—by instructing others; paṇḍita—learned teacher; kahe—says; gosā�ira ṭhā�i—in front of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; gosā�i gosā�i—Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the supreme teacher; ebe—now; jānimu—we shall know; gosā�i—what kind of teacher.
TRANSLATION
Dāmodara Paṇḍita impudently said to the Lord, "Everyone says that You are a great teacher because of Your instructions to others, but now we shall find out what kind of teacher You are.
PURPORT
Dāmodara Paṇḍita was a great devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Sometimes, however, a person in such a position becomes impudent, being influenced by the external energy and material considerations. Thus a devotee mistakenly dares to criticize the activities of the spiritual master or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Despite the logic that "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion," a devotee should not be disturbed by the activities of his spiritual master and should not try to criticize him. A devotee should be fixed in the conclusion that the spiritual master cannot be subject to criticism and should never be considered equal to a common man. Even if there appears to be some discrepancy according to an imperfect devotee's estimation, the devotee should be fixed in the conviction that even if his spiritual master goes to a liquor shop, he is not a drunkard; rather, he must have some purpose in going there. it is said in a Bengali poem:
yadyapi nityānanda surā-bāḍi yāya
tathāpio haya nityānanda-rāya
"Even if I see that Lord Nityānanda has entered a liquor shop, I shall not be diverted from my conclusion that Nityānanda Rāya is the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
TEXT 12
ebe gosā�ira guṇa-yaśa saba loke gāibe
tabe gosā�ira pratiṣṭhā puruṣottame ha-ibe
SYNONYMS
ebe—now; gosā�ira—of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; guṇa-yaśa—attributes and reputation; saba loke—everyone; gāibe—will talk about; tabe—at that time; gosā�ira—of the Lord; pratiṣṭhā—the position; puruṣottame—in Puruṣottama (Jagannātha Purī); ha-ibe—will be.
TRANSLATION
"You are known as Gosā�i [teacher or ācārya], but now talk about Your attributes and reputation will spread throughout the city of Puruṣottama. How Your position will be impaired!"
TEXT 13
śuni' prabhu kahe,--'kyā kaha, dāmodara?'
dāmodara kahe,--tumi svatantra 'īśvara'
SYNONYMS
śuni'-hearing; prabhu kahe—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; kyā kaha—what nonsense are you speaking; dāmodara—My dear Dāmodara; dāmodara kahe—Dāmodara Paṇḍita replied; tumi—You; svatantra—independent; īśvara—the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
Although Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu knew that Dāmodara Paṇḍita was a pure and simple devotee, upon hearing this impudent talk the Lord said, "My dear Dāmodara, what nonsense are you speaking?" Dāmodara Paṇḍita replied, "You are the independent Personality of Godhead, beyond all criticism.
TEXT 14
svacchande ācāra kara, ke pāre balite?
mukhara jagatera mukha pāra ācchādite?
SYNONYMS
svacchande—without restriction; ācāra kara—You behave; ke pāre balite—who can talk; mukhara—talkative; jagatera—of the whole world; mukha—mouth; pāra ācchādite—can You cover.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Lord, You can act as You please. No one can say anything to restrict You. Nevertheless, the entire world is impudent. People can say anything. How can You stop them?
TEXT 15
paṇḍita ha�ā mane kene vicāra nā kara?
rāṇḍī brāhmaṇīra bālake prīti kene kara?
SYNONYMS
paṇḍita ha�ā—being a learned teacher; mane—in the mind; kene—why; vicāra nā kara—do You not consider; rāṇḍī brāhmaṇīra—of a widowed wife of a brāhmaṇa; bālake—unto the son; prīti—affection; kene kara—why do You show.
TRANSLATION
"Dear Lord, You are a learned teacher. Why then don't You consider that this boy is the son of a widowed brāhmaṇī? Why are You so affectionate to him?
TEXT 16
yadyapi brāhmaṇī sei tapasvinī satī
tathāpi tāhāra doṣa--sundarī yuvatī
SYNONYMS
yadyapi—although; brāhmaṇī—wife of a brāhmaṇa; sei—that; tapasvinī—austere; satī—chaste; tathāpi—still; tāhāra—her; doṣa—fault; sundarī—very beautiful; yuvatī—young girl.
TRANSLATION
"Although the boy's mother is completely austere and chaste, she has one natural fault-she is a very beautiful young girl.
TEXT 17
tumi-ha--parama yuvā, parama sundara
lokera kāṇākāṇi-vāte deha avasara"
SYNONYMS
tumi-ha—You also; parama yuvā—young man; parama sundara—very beautiful; lokera—of the people in general; kāṇākāṇi—whispering; vāte—talks; deha avasara—You are giving an opportunity for.
TRANSLATION
"And You, my dear Lord, are a handsome, attractive young man. Therefore certainly people will whisper about You. Why should You give them such a opportunity?"
PURPORT
As a simple and staunch devotee of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Dāmodara Paṇḍita could not tolerate criticism of the Lord, but unfortunately he himself was criticizing Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in his own way. The Lord could understand that it was because of Dāmodara Paṇḍita's simplicity that he impudently dared criticize Him. Nevertheless, such behavior by a devotee is not very good.
TEXT 18
eta bali' dāmodara mauna ha-ilā
antare santoṣa prabhu hāsi' vicārilā
SYNONYMS
eta bali'-saying this; dāmodara—Dāmodara Paṇḍita; mauna ha-ilā—became silent; antare—within Himself; santoṣa—pleased; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; hāsi'-smiling; vicārilā—considered.
TRANSLATION
Having said this, Dāmodara Paṇḍita became silent. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu smiled, pleased within Himself, and considered the impudence of Dāmodara Paṇḍita.
TEXT 19
"ihāre kahiye śuddha-premera taraṅga
dāmodara-sama mora nāhi 'antaraṅga' "
SYNONYMS
ihāre—such behavior; kahiye—I can say; śuddha-premera taraṅga—waves of pure devotional service; dāmodara-sama—like Dāmodara; mora—My; nāhi—there is not; antaraṅga—intimate friend.
TRANSLATION
"This impudence is also a sign of pure love for Me. I have no other intimate friend like Dāmodara Paṇḍita."
TEXT 20
eteka vicāri' prabhu madhyāhne calilā
āra dine dāmodare nibhṛte bolāilā
SYNONYMS
eteka vicāri'-considering like this; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; madhyāhne calilā—went to perform His noon duties; āra dine—the next day; dāmodare—unto Dāmodara Paṇḍita; nibhṛte—in a solitary place; bolāilā—called.
TRANSLATION
Thinking in this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to perform His noon duties. The next day, He called Dāmodara Paṇḍita to a solitary place.
TEXT 21
prabhu kahe,--"dāmodara, calaha nadīyā
mātāra samīpe tumi raha tāṅhā yā�ā
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; dāmodara—My dear friend Dāmodara; calaha nadīyā—you had better go to Nadia (Navadvīpa); mātāra samīpe—in the care of My mother; tumi—you; raha—stay; tāṅhā—there; yā�ā—going.
TRANSLATION
The Lord said,"My dear friend Dāmodara, you had better go to Nadia and stay with My mother.
TEXT 22
tomā vinā tāṅhāra rakṣaka nāhi dekhi āna
āmāke-ha yāte tumi kailā sāvadhāna
SYNONYMS
tomā vinā—besides you; tāṅhāra—of mother Śacīdevī; rakṣaka—protector; nāhi—not; dekhi—I see; āna—anyone else; āmāke-ha—even unto Me; yāte—by which; tumi—you; kailā—did; sāvadhāna—care.
TRANSLATION
"I see no one but you to protect her, for you are so careful that you can caution even Me.
TEXT 23
tomā sama 'nirapekṣa' nāhi mora gaṇe
'nirapekṣa' nahile 'dharma' nā yāya rakṣaṇe
SYNONYMS
tomā sama—like you; nirapekṣa—neutral; nāhi—there is not; mora gaṇe—among My associates; nirapekṣa—neutral; nahile—without being; dharma—religious principles; nā yāya rakṣaṇe—cannot be protected.
TRANSLATION
"You are the most neutral among My associates. This is very good, for without being neutral one cannot protect religious principles.
TEXT 24
āmā haite ye nā haya, se tomā haite haya
āmāre karilā daṇḍa, āna kebā haya
SYNONYMS
āmā haite—from Me; ye—whatever; nā haya—is not; se—that; tomā haite—from you; haya—becomes possible; āmāre—Me; karilā daṇḍa—punished; āna—others; kebā haya—what to speak of.
TRANSLATION
"You can do whatever I cannot. Indeed, you can chastise even Me, not to speak of others.
TEXT 25
mātāra gṛhe raha yāi mātāra caraṇe
tomāra āge nahibe kāro svacchandācaraṇe
SYNONYMS
mātāra—of My mother; gṛhe—at the home; raha—stay; yāi—going; mātāra caraṇe—at the shelter of My mother's lotus feet; tomāra āge—in front of you; nahibe—there will not be; kāro—of anyone; svacchanda-ācaraṇe—independent activities.
TRANSLATION
"It is best for you to go to the shelter of My mother's lotus feet, for no one will be able to behave independently in front of you.
TEXT 26
madhye madhye āsibā kabhu āmāra daraśane
śīghra kari' punaḥ tāhāṅ karaha gamane
SYNONYMS
madhye madhye—at intervals; āsibā—you will come; kabhu—sometimes; āmāra daraśane—to see Me; śīghra kari'-very soon; punaḥ—again; tāhāṅ—there; karaha gamane—arrange to go.
TRANSLATION
"At intervals you may come see Me here and then soon again go there.
TEXT 27
mātāre kahiha mora koṭī namaskāre
mora sukha-kathā kahi' sukha diha' tāṅre
SYNONYMS
mātāre—to My mother; kahiha—inform; mora—My; koṭī—ten million; namaskāre—obeisances; mora—My; sukha—of happiness; kathā—topics; kahi'-saying; sukha—happiness; diha' tāṅre—give to her.
TRANSLATION
"Offer My mother millions of My obeisances. Please speak to her about My happiness here and thus give her happiness.
TEXT 28
'nirantara nija-kathā tomāre śunāite
ei lāgi' prabhu more pāṭhāilā ihāṅte'
SYNONYMS
nirantara—constantly; nija-kathā—personal activities; tomāre śunāite—to inform you; ei lāgi'-for this reason; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; more—me; pāṭhāilā—has sent; ihāṅte—here.
TRANSLATION
"Tell her that I sent you to inform her of My personal activities so that she may share in My happiness.
TEXT 29
eta kahi' mātāra mane santoṣa janmāiha
āra guhya-kathā tāṅre smaraṇa karāiha
SYNONYMS
eta kahi'-saying this; mātāra mane—in the mind of My mother; santoṣa janmāiha—give satisfaction; āra—another; guhya-kathā—very confidential message; tāṅre—her; smaraṇa karāiha—make to remember.
TRANSLATION
"Speaking in this way, satisfy the mind of mother Śacī. Also, remind her of one most confidential incident with this message from Me.
TEXT 30
'bāre bāre āsi' āmi tomāra bhavane
miṣṭānna vya�jana saba kariye bhojane
SYNONYMS
bāre bāre—again and again; āsi'-coming; āmi—I; tomāra bhavane—at your place; miṣṭānna—sweetmeats; vya�jana—vegetables; saba—all; kariye—do; bhojane—eating.
TRANSLATION
"I come to your home again and again to eat all the sweetmeats and vegetables you offer.
TEXT 31
bhojana kariye āmi, tumi tāhā jāna
bāhya virahe tāhā svapna kari māna
SYNONYMS
bhojana—dining; kariye—do; āmi—I; tumi—you; tāhā—that; jāna—know; bāhya—externally; virahe—in separation; tāhā—that; svapna—dream; kari—as; māna—you accept.
TRANSLATION
" 'You know that I come and eat the offerings, but because of external separation, you consider this a dream.
PURPORT
Because mother Śacī was feeling separation from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, she thought she was dreaming that her son had come to her. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, wanted to inform her that actually it was not a dream. He actually came there and ate whatever His mother offered Him. Such are the dealings of advanced devotees with the Supreme personality of Godhead. As stated in the Brahma-saṁhitā:
premā�jana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti
yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṇa-svarūpaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
"I worship the primeval Lord, Govinda, who is always seen by the devotee whose eyes are anointed with the pulp of love. He is seen in His eternal form of Śyāmasundara, situated within the heart of the devotee." (Brahma-saṁhitā 5.38) pure devotees realize dealings with the Lord on the transcendental plane, but because the devotees are still in the material world, they think that these are dreams. The Lord, however, talks with the advanced devotee, and the advanced devotee also sees Him. It is all factual; it is not a dream.
TEXT 32
ei māgha-saṅkrāntye tumi randhana karilā
nānā vya�jana, kṣīra, piṭhā, pāyasa rāndhilā
SYNONYMS
ei—this; māgha-saṅkrāntye—on the occasion of the Māgha-saṅkrānti festival; tumi—you; randhana karilā—cooked; nānā vya�jana—varieties of vegetables; kṣīra—condensed milk; piṭhā—cakes; pāyasa—sweet rice; rāndhilā—cooked.
TRANSLATION
"During the last Māgha-saṅkrānti festival, you cooked varieties of vegetables, condensed milk, cakes and sweet rice for Me.
TEXT 33
kṛṣṇe bhoga lāgā�ā yabe kailā dhyāna
āmāra sphūrti haila, aśru bharila nayana
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇe—unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhoga—offering; lāgā�ā—giving; yabe—when; kailā dhyāna—you meditated; āmāra—My; sphūrti—sudden appearance; haila—there was; aśru—tears; bharila—filled; nayana—your eyes.
TRANSLATION
"You offered the food to Lord Kṛṣṇa, and while you were in meditation I suddenly appeared, and your eyes filled with tears.
TEXT 34
āste-vyaste āmi giyā sakali khāila
āmi khāi,--dekhi' tomāra sukha upajila
SYNONYMS
āste-vyaste—in great haste; āmi—I; giyā—going; sakali khāila—ate everything; āmi khāi—I eat; dekhi'-seeing; tomāra—your; sukha—happiness; upajila—grew.
TRANSLATION
"I went there in great haste and ate everything. When you saw Me eating, you felt great happiness.
TEXT 35
kṣaṇeke aśru muchiyā śūnya dekhi' pāta
svapana dekhiluṅ,'yena nimā�i khāila bhāta'
SYNONYMS
kṣaṇeke—in a moment; aśru—tears; muchiyā—wiping; śūnya—vacant; dekhi'-seeing; pāta—the plate; svapana dekhiluṅ—I saw a dream; yena—as if; nimā�i—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; khāila bhāta—ate the food.
TRANSLATION
"In a moment, after you had wiped your eyes, you saw that the plate you had offered Me was empty. Then you thought,"I dreamt as if Nimāi were eating everything."
TEXT 36
bāhya-viraha-daśāya punaḥ bhrānti haila
'bhoga nā lāgāiluṅ',--ei j�āna haila
SYNONYMS
bāhya-viraha—of external separation; daśāya—by the condition; punaḥ—again; bhrānti haila—there was illusion; bhoga—offering to the Deity; nā lāgāiluṅ—I have not given; ei—this; j�āna haila—you thought.
TRANSLATION
"In the condition of external separation, you were again under illusion, thinking that you had not offered the food to Lord Viṣṇu.
TEXT 37
pāka-pātre dekhilā saba anna āche bhari'
punaḥ bhoga lāgāilā sthāna-saṁskāra kari'
SYNONYMS
pāka-pātre—the cooking pots; dekhilā—she saw; saba—all; anna—food; āche bhari'-were filled with; punaḥ—again; bhoga lāgāilā—offered the food; sthāna—the place for offering; saṁskāra kari'-cleansing.
TRANSLATION
"Then you went to see the cooking pots and found that every pot was filled with food. Therefore you again offered the food, after cleansing the place for the offering.
TEXT 38
ei-mata bāra bāra kariye bhojana
tomāra śuddha-preme more kare ākarṣaṇa
SYNONYMS
ei-mata—in this way; bāra bāra—again and again; kariye bhojana—I eat; tomāra—your; śuddha-preme—pure love; more—Me; kare ākarṣaṇa—attracts.
TRANSLATION
"Thus I again and again eat everything you offer Me, for I am attracted by your pure love.
TEXT 39
tomāra āj�āte āmi āchi nīlācale
nikaṭe la�ā yāo āmā tomāra prema-bale'
SYNONYMS
tomāra āj�āte—on your order; āmi—I; āchi—reside; nīlācale—at Jagannātha Purī; nikaṭe—nearby; la�ā yāo—you take away; āmā—Me; tomāra—your; prema—transcendental love; bale—on the strength of.
TRANSLATION
"Only by your order am I living in Nīlācala [Jagannātha Purī]. Nevertheless, you still pull Me near you because of your great love for Me.' "
TEXT 40
ei-mata bāra bāra karāiha smaraṇa
mora nāma la�ā tāṅra vandiha caraṇa"
SYNONYMS
ei-mata—in this way; bāra bāra—again and again; karāiha—cause; smaraṇa—remembrance; mora—My; nāma—name; la�ā—taking; tāṅra—her; vandiha—worship; caraṇa—feet.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Dāmodara Paṇḍita, "Remind mother Śacī in this way again and again and worship her lotus feet in My name."
TEXT 41
eta kahi' jagannāthera prasāda ānāila
mātāke vaiṣṇave dite pṛthak pṛthak dila
SYNONYMS
eta kahi'-saying this; jagannāthera—of Jagannātha; prasāda—remnants of food; ānāila—ordered to be brought; mātāke—to His mother; vaiṣṇave—and all the Vaiṣṇavas; dite—to deliver; pṛthak pṛthak—separately; dila—he gave.
TRANSLATION
After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered that varieties of prasāda offered to Lord Jagannātha be brought. The Lord then gave him the prasāda, separately packed, to offer to various Vaiṣṇavas and His mother.
TEXT 42
tabe dāmodara cali' nadīyā āilā
mātāre miliyā tāṅra caraṇe rahilā
SYNONYMS
tabe—then; dāmodara—Dāmodara Paṇḍita; cali'-walking; nadīyā āilā—reached Nadia (Navadvīpa); mātāre miliyā—just after meeting Śacīmātā; tāṅra caraṇe—at her lotus feet; rahilā—remained.
TRANSLATION
In this way Dāmodara Paṇḍita went to Nadia [Navadvīpa]. After meeting mother Śacī, he stayed under the care of her lotus feet.
TEXT 43
ācāryādi vaiṣṇavere mahā-prasāda dilā
prabhura yaiche āj�ā, paṇḍita tāhā ācarilā
SYNONYMS
ācārya-ādi—headed by Advaita Ācārya; vaiṣṇavere—to all the Vaiṣṇavas; mahā-prasāda dilā—delivered all the prasāda of Lord Jagannātha; prabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; yaiche—as; āj�ā—the order; paṇḍita—Dāmodara Paṇḍita; tāhā—that; ācarilā—performed.
TRANSLATION
He delivered all the prasāda to such great Vaiṣṇavas as Advaita Ācārya. Thus he stayed there and behaved according to the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TEXT 44
dāmodara āge svātantrya nā haya kāhāra
tāra bhaye sabe kare saṅkoca vyavahāra
SYNONYMS
dāmodara āge—in front of Dāmodara Paṇḍita; svātantrya—independent behavior; nā haya kāhāra—no one dares to do; tāra bhaye—due to fear of him; sabe—all of them; kare—do; saṅkoca vyavahāra—dealings with great care.
TRANSLATION
Everyone knew that Dāmodara Paṇḍita was strict in practical dealings. Therefore everyone was afraid of him and dared not do anything independent.
TEXT 45
prabhu-gaṇe yāṅra dekhe alpa-maryādā-laṅghana
vākya-daṇḍa kari' kare maryādā sthāpana
SYNONYMS
prabhu-gaṇe—in the associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; yāṅra—whose; dekhe—sees; alpa-maryādā-laṅghana—a slight deviation from the standard etiquette and behavior; vākya-daṇḍa kari'-chastising with words; kare—does; maryādā—etiquette; sthāpana—establishing.
TRANSLATION
Dāmodara Paṇḍita would verbally chastise every devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu whom he found deviating even slightly from proper behavior. Thus he established the standard etiquette.
TEXT 46
ei-ta kahila dāmodarera vākya-daṇḍa
yāhāra śravaṇe bhāge 'aj�āna pāṣaṇḍa'
SYNONYMS
ei-ta—in this way; kahila—I have described; dāmodarera—of Dāmodara Paṇḍita; vākya-daṇḍa—chastisement by words; yāhāra śravaṇe—by hearing which; bhāge—goes away; aj�āna pāṣaṇḍa—the atheist of ignorance.
TRANSLATION
In this way I have described Dāmodara Paṇḍita's verbal chastisements. As one hears about this, atheistic principles and ignorance depart.
TEXT 47
caitanyera līlā--gambhīra, koṭi-samudra haite
ki lāgi' ki kare, keha nā pāre bujhite
SYNONYMS
caitanyera līlā—the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; gambhīra—very deep; koṭi-samudra haite—more than millions of seas; ki lāgi'-for what reason; ki kare—what He does; keha—anyone; nā—not; pāre bujhite—can understand.
TRANSLATION
The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are deeper than millions of seas and oceans. Therefore no one can understand what He does nor why He does it.
TEXT 48
ataeva gūḍha artha kichui nā jāni
bāhya artha karibāre kari ṭānāṭāni
SYNONYMS
ataeva—therefore; gūḍha artha—deep meaning; kichui—any; nā jāni—I do not know; bāhya artha karibāre—to explain the external meanings; kari—I make; ṭānāṭāni—hard endeavor.
TRANSLATION
I do not know the deep meaning of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's activities. As far as possible I shall try to explain them externally.
TEXT 49
eka-dina prabhu haridāsere mililā
tāṅhā la�ā goṣṭhī kari' tāṅhāre puchilā
SYNONYMS
eka-dina—one day; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; haridāsere—with Haridāsa Ṭhākura; mililā—met; tāṅhā la�ā—taking him; goṣṭhī kari'-making a discussion; tāṅhāre puchilā—the Lord inquired from him.
TRANSLATION
One day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu met Haridāsa Ṭhākura as usual, and in the course of discussion He inquired as follows.
TEXT 50
"haridāsa, kali-kāle yavana apāra
go-brāhmaṇe hiṁsā kare mahā durācāra
SYNONYMS
haridāsa—My dear Haridāsa; kali-kāle—in this age of Kali; yavana—demons against the Vedic principles; apāra—unlimited; go-brāhmaṇe—cows and brahminical culture; hiṁsā kare—do violence against; mahā durācāra—extremely fallen.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Ṭhākura Haridāsa, in this age of Kali most people are bereft of Vedic culture, and therefore they are called yavanas. They are concerned only with killing cows and brahminical culture. In this way they all engage in sinful acts.
PURPORT
From this statement by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu we can clearly understand that the word yavana does not refer only to a particular class of men. Anyone who is against the behavior of the Vedic principles is called a yavana. Such a yavana may be in India or outside of India. As described here, the symptom of yavanas is that they are violent killers of cows and brahminical culture. We offer our prayers to the Lord by saying, namo brahmaṇya-devāya go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya ca. The Lord is the maintainer of brahminical culture. His first concern is to see to the benefit of cows and brāhmaṇas. As soon as human civilization turns against brahminical culture and allows unrestricted killing of cows, we should understand that men are no longer under the control of the Vedic culture but are all yavanas and mlecchas. It is said that the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement will be prominent within the next ten thousand years, but after that people will all become mlecchas and yavanas. Thus at the end of the yuga, Kṛṣṇa will appear as the Kalki avatāra and kill them without consideration.
TEXT 51
ihā-sabāra kon mate ha-ibe nistāra?
tāhāra hetu nā dekhiye,--e duḥkha apāra"
SYNONYMS
ihā-sabāra—of all these yavanas; kon mate—by which way; ha-ibe nistāra—will be deliverance; tāhāra hetu—the cause of such deliverance; nā dekhiye—I do not see; e duḥkha apāra—it is My great unhappiness.
TRANSLATION
"How will these yavanas be delivered? To My great unhappiness, I do not see any way."
PURPORT
This verse reveals the significance of Lord Śrī Caitanya's appearance as patita-pāvana, the deliverer of all the fallen souls. Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura sings, patita-pāvana-hetu tava avatāra: "O my Lord, You have appeared just to deliver all the fallen souls." mo-sama patita prabhu nā pāibe āra: "And among all the fallen souls, I am the lowest." How Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu was always thinking about the deliverance of the fallen souls is shown by the statement e duḥkha apāra ("It is My great unhappiness"). This statement indicates that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is the Supreme personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa Himself, is always very unhappy to see the fallen souls in the material world. Therefore He Himself comes as He is, or He comes as a devotee in the form of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, to deliver love of Kṛṣṇa directly to the fallen souls. Namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is so merciful that He not only gives knowledge of Kṛṣṇa but by His practical activities teaches everyone how to love Kṛṣṇa (kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te).
Those who are following in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu should take the Lord's mission most seriously. In this age of Kali, people are gradually becoming less than animals. Nevertheless, although they are eating the flesh of cows and are envious of brahminical culture, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is considering how to deliver them from this horrible condition of life. Thus He asks all Indians to take up His mission.
bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya-janma yāra
janma sārthaka kari' kara para-upakāra
"One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India [Bhārata-varṣa] should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people." (Cc. Ādi-līlā 9.41) it is therefore the duty of every advanced and cultured Indian to take this cause very seriously. All Indians should help the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement in its progress, to the best of their ability. Then they will be considered real followers of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Unfortunately, even some so-called Vaiṣṇavas enviously refuse to cooperate with this movement but instead condemn it in so many ways. We are very sorry to say that these people try to find fault with us, being unnecessarily envious of our activities, although we are trying to the best of our ability to introduce the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement directly into the countries of the yavanas and mlecchas. Such yavanas and mlecchas are coming to us and becoming purified Vaiṣṇavas who follow in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. One who identifies himself as a follower of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu should feel like Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who said, ihā-sabāra kon mate ha-ibe nistāra: "How will all these yavanas be delivered?" Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was always anxious to deliver the fallen souls because their fallen condition gave Him great unhappiness. That is the platform on which one can propagate the mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TEXT 52
haridāsa kahe,--"prabhu, cintā nā kariha
yavanera saṁsāra dekhi' duḥkha nā bhāviha
SYNONYMS
haridāsa kahe—Haridāsa replied; prabhu—my dear Lord; cintā nā kariha—do not be in anxiety; yavanera saṁsāra—the material condition of the yavanas; dekhi'-seeing; duḥkha nā bhāviha—do not be sorry.
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "My dear Lord, do not be in anxiety. Do not be unhappy to see the condition of the yavanas in material existence.
PURPORT
These words of Haridāsa Ṭhākura are just befitting a devotee who has dedicated his life and soul to the service of the Lord. When the Lord is unhappy because of the condition of the fallen souls, the devotee consoles Him, saying, "My dear Lord, do not be in anxiety." This is service. Everyone should adopt the cause of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to try to relieve Him from the anxiety He feels. This is actually service to the Lord. One who tries to relieve Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's anxiety for the fallen souls is certainly a most dear and confidential devotee of the Lord. To blaspheme such a devotee who is trying his best to spread the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the greatest offense. One who does so is simply awaiting punishment for his envy.
TEXT 53
yavana-sakalera 'mukti' habe anāyāse
'hā rāma, hā rāma' bali' kahe nāmābhāse
SYNONYMS
yavana-sakalera—of all the yavanas; mukti—liberation; habe—there will be; anāyāse—very easily; hā rāma hā rāma—O Lord Rāma, O Lord Rāma; bali'-saying; kahe—they say; nāma-ābhāse—almost chanting the holy name of the Lord without offenses.
TRANSLATION
"Because the yavanas are accustomed to saying, 'hā rāma, hā rāma' [O Lord Rāmacandra], they will very easily be delivered by this nāmābhāsa.
TEXT 54
mahā-preme bhakta kahe,--'hā rāma, hā rāma'
yavanera bhāgya dekha, laya sei nāma
SYNONYMS
mahā-preme—in great ecstatic love; bhakta kahe—a devotee says; hā rāma hā rāma—O Lord Rāmacandra, O Lord Rāmacandra; yavanera—of the yavanas; bhāgya—fortune; dekha—just see; laya sei nāma—they are also chanting the same holy name.
TRANSLATION
"A devotee in advanced ecstatic love exclaims, 'O my Lord Rāmacandra! O my Lord Rāmacandra!' But the yavanas also chant, 'hā rāma, hā rāma!' Just see their good fortune!"
PURPORT
If a child touches fire, the fire will burn him, and if an elderly man touches fire, it will burn him also. Haridāsa Ṭhākura says that a great devotee of the Lord exclaims, "hā rāma, hā rāma," but although yavanas do not know the transcendental meaning of "hā rāma, hā rāma," they say those words in the course of their ordinary life. For the yavanas the words "hā rāma" mean "abominable," whereas the devotee exclaims the words "hā rāma" in ecstatic love. Nevertheless, because the words "hā rāma" are the spiritual summum bonum, the fact is the same, whether they are uttered by yavanas or by great devotees, just as fire is the same both for a child and for an elderly man. In other words, the holy name of the Lord, "hā rāma," always acts, even when the holy names are chanted without reference to the Supreme Lord. Yavanas utter the holy name in a different attitude than devotees, but the holy name "hā rāma" is so powerful spiritually that it acts anywhere, whether one knows it or not. This is explained as follows.
TEXT 55
yadyapi anya saṅkete anya haya nāmābhāsa
tathāpi nāmera teja nā haya vināśa
SYNONYMS
yadyapi—although; anya—another; saṅkete—by intimation; anya—that other; haya—is; nāma-ābhāsa—almost equal to the holy name; tathāpi—still; nāmera teja—the transcendental power of the holy name; nā haya vināśa—is not destroyed.
TRANSLATION
Nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the authority on the chanting of the holy name, said, "The chanting of the Lord's holy name to indicate something other than the Lord is an instance of nāmābhāsa. Even when the holy name is chanted in this way, its transcendental power is not destroyed.
TEXT 56
daṁṣṭri-daṁṣṭrāhato mleccho
hā rāmeti punaḥ punaḥ
uktvāpi muktim āpnoti
kiṁ punaḥ śraddhayā gṛṇan
SYNONYMS
daṁṣṭri—of a boar; daṁṣṭra—by the teeth; āhataḥ—killed; mlecchaḥ—a meat-eater; hā—O; rāma-my Lord Rāma; iti—thus; punaḥ punaḥ—again and again; uktvā—saying; api—even; muktim—liberation; āpnoti—gets; kim—what; punaḥ—again; śraddhayā—with faith and veneration; gṛṇan—chanting.
TRANSLATION
"Even a mleccha who is being killed by the tusk of a boar and who cries in distress again and again, "hā rāma, hā rāma" attains liberation. What then to speak of those who chant the holy name with veneration and faith?"
PURPORT
This refers to an instance in which a meat-eater being killed by a boar uttered the words "hā rāma, hā rāma"again and again at the time of his death. Since this is a quotation from the Nṛsiṁha Purāṇa, this indicates that in the purāṇic age there must also have been mlecchas and yavanas (meateaters), and the words "hā rāma,, meaning "condemned," were also uttered in those days. Thus Haridāsa Ṭhākura gives evidence that even a meat-eater who condemns something by uttering the words "hā rāma" gets the benefit of chanting the holy name that the devotee chants to mean "O my Lord Rāma."
TEXT 57
ajāmila putre bolāya bali 'nārāyaṇa'
viṣṇu-dūta āsi' chāḍāya tāhāra bandhana
SYNONYMS
ajāmila—Ajāmila; putre—unto his son; bolāya—calls; bali—saying; nārāyaṇa—the holy name of Nārāyaṇa; viṣṇu-dūta—the attendants of Lord Viṣṇu; āsi—coming; chāḍāya—remove; tāhāra—of him; bandhana—the bonds.
TRANSLATION
"Ajāmila was a great sinner during his life, but at the time of death he accidentally called for his youngest son, whose name was Nārāyaṇa, and the attendants of Lord Viṣṇu came to relieve him from the bonds of Yamarāja, the superintendent of death.
TEXT 58
'rāma' dui akṣara ihā nahe vyavahita
prema-vācī 'hā'-śabda tāhāte bhūṣita
SYNONYMS
rāma—the holy name of the Lord; dui—two; akṣara—syllables; ihā—these; nahe—are not; vyavahita—separated; prema-vācī—a word indicating love; hā—"O"; śabda—the word; tā-hāte—by that; bhūṣita—decorated.
TRANSLATION
"The word 'rāma' consists of the two syllables, 'rā' and 'ma.' These are unseparated and are decorated with the loving word 'hā,' meaning 'O.'
TEXT 59
nāmera akṣara-sabera ei ta' svabhāva
vyavahita haile nā chāḍe āpana-prabhāva
SYNONYMS
nāmera—of the holy name; akṣara—letters; sabera—of all; ei—this; ta'-certainly; sva-bhāva—the characteristic; vyavahita haile—even when improperly uttered; nā—do not; chāḍe—give up; āpana-prabhāva—their own spiritual influence.
TRANSLATION
"The letters of the holy name have so much spiritual potency that they act even when uttered improperly.
PURPORT
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura states that the word vyavahita ("improperly uttered") is not used here to refer to the mundane vibration of the letters of the alphabet. Such negligent utterance for the sense gratification of materialistic persons is not a vibration of transcendental sound. Utterance of the holy name while one engages in sense gratification is an impediment on the path toward achieving ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. On the other hand, if one who is eager for devotional service utters the holy name even partially or improperly, the holy name, who is identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, exhibits its spiritual potency because of that person's offenseless utterance. Thus one is relieved from all unwanted practices, and one gradually awakens his dormant love for Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 60
nāmaikaṁ yasya vāci smaraṇa-patha-gataṁ śrotra-mūlaṁ gataṁ vā
śuddhaṁ vāśuddha-varṇaṁ vyavahita-rahitaṁ tārayaty eva satyam
tac ced deha-draviṇa-janatā-lobha-pāṣaṇḍa-madhye
nikṣiptaṁ syān na phala-janakaṁ śīghram evātra vipra
SYNONYMS
nāma—the holy name; ekam—once; yasya—whose; vāci—in the mouth; smaraṇa-patha-gatam—entered the path of remembrance; śrotra-mūlam gatam—entered the roots of the ears; vā—or; śuddham—pure; vā—or; aśuddha-varṇam—impurely uttered; vyavahita-rahitam—without offenses or without being separated; tārayati—delivers; eva—certainly; satyam—truly; tat—that name; cet—if; deha—the material body; draviṇa—material opulence; janatā—public support; lobha—greed; pāṣaṇḍa—atheism; madhye—toward; nikṣiptam—directed; syāt—may be; na—not; phala-janakam—producing the results; śīghram—quickly; eva—certainly; atra—in this matter; vipra—O brāhmaṇa.
TRANSLATION
"If a devotee once utters the holy name of the Lord, or if it penetrates his mind or enters his ear, which is the channel of aural reception, that holy name will certainly deliver him from material bondage, whether vibrated properly or improperly, with correct or incorrect grammar, and properly joined or vibrated in separate parts. O brāhmaṇa, the potency of the holy name is therefore certainly great. However, if one uses the vibration of the holy name for the benefit of the material body, for material wealth and followers, or under the influence of greed or atheism-in other words, if one utters the name with offenses-such chanting will not produce the desired result very soon. Therefore one should diligently avoid offenses in chanting the holy name of the Lord.' "
PURPORT
This verse from the Padma Purāṇa is included in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (11.527) by Sanātana Gosvāmī. Therein Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī gives the following explanation:
vāci gataṁ prasaṅgād vāṅ-madhye pravṛttam api, smaraṇa-patha-gataṁ katha�cin manaḥ-spṛṣṭam api, śrotra-mūlaṁ gataṁ ki�cit śrutam api; śuddha-varṇaṁ vā aśuddha-varṇam api vā; 'vyavahitaṁ' śabdāntareṇa yad-vyavadhānaṁ vakṣyamāṇa-nārāyaṇa-śabdasya ki�cid uccāraṇānantaraṁ prasaṅgād āpatitaṁ śabdāntaraṁ tena rahitaṁ sat.
This means that if one somehow or other hears, utters or remembers the holy name, or if it catches his mind while coming near his ears, that holy name, even if vibrated in separate words, will act. An example of such separation is given as follows:
yadvā, yadyapi 'halaṁ riktam' ity ādy-uktau hakāra-rikārayor vṛttyā harīti-nāmāsty eva, tathā 'rāja-mahiṣī' ity atra rāma-nāmāpi, evam anyad apy ūhyam, tathāpi tat-tan-nāma-madhye vyavadhāyakam akṣarāntaram astīty etādṛśa-vyavadhāna-rahitam ity arthaḥ; yadvā, vyavahitaṁ ca tad-rahitaṁ cāpi vā; tatra 'vyavahitaṁ'--nāmnaḥ ki�cid uccāraṇānantaraṁ katha�cid āpatitaṁ śabdāntaraṁ samādhāya paścān nāmāvaśiṣṭākṣara-grahaṇam ity evaṁ rūpaṁ, madhye śabdāntareṇāntaritam ity arthaḥ, 'rahitaṁ' paścād avaśiṣṭākṣara-grahaṇa-varjitaṁ, kenacid aṁśena hīnam ity arthaḥ, tathāpi tārayaty eva.
Suppose one is using the two words "halaṁ riktam." Now the syllable ha in the word "halam" and the syllable ri in "riktam" are separately pronounced, but nevertheless it will act because one somehow or other utters the word "hari." Similarly, in the word "rāja-mahiṣī," the syllables rā and ma appear in two separate words, but because they somehow or other appear together, the holy name rāma will act, provided there are no offenses.
sarvebhyaḥ pāpebhyo 'parādhebhyaś ca saṁsārād apy uddhārayaty eveti satyam eva; kintu nāma-sevanasya mukhyaṁ yat phalaṁ, tan na sadyaḥ sampadyate. tathā deha-bharaṇādy-artham api nāma-sevanena mukhyaṁ phalam āśu na sidhyatīty āha--tac ced iti.
The holy name has so much spiritual potency that it can deliver one from all sinful reactions and material entanglements, but utterance of the holy name will not be very soon fruitful if done to facilitate sinning.
tan nāma ced yadi dehādi-madhye nikṣiptaṁ--deha-bharaṇādy-artham eva vinyastam, tadāpi phala-janakaṁ na bhavati kim? api tu bhavaty eva, kintu atra iha loke śīghraṁ na bhavati, kintu vilambenaiva bhavatīty arthaḥ.
The holy name is so powerful that it must act, but when one utters the holy name with offenses, its action will be delayed, not immediate, although in favorable circumstances the holy names of the Lord act very quickly.
TEXT 61
nāmābhāsa haite haya sarva-pāpa-kṣaya
SYNONYMS
nāma-ābhāsa haite—from the vibration of nāmābhāsa; haya—is; sarva-pāpa—of all reactions to sins; kṣaya—destruction;
TRANSLATION
Nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura continued, "If one offenselessly utters the holy name even imperfectly, one can be freed from all the results of sinful life.
TEXT 62
taṁ nirvyājaṁ bhaja guṇa-nidhe pāvanaṁ pāvanānāṁ
śraddhā-rajyan-matir atitarām uttamaḥ-śloka-maulim
prodyann antaḥ-karaṇa-kuhare hanta yan-nāma-bhānor
ābhāso 'pi kṣapayati mahā-pātaka-dhvānta-rāśim
SYNONYMS
tam—Him; nirvyājam—without duplicity; bhaja—worship; guṇa-nidhe—O reservoir of all good qualities; pāvanam—purifier; pāvanānām—of all other purifiers; śraddhā—with faith; rajyat—being enlivened; matiḥ—mind; atitarām—exceedingly; uttamaḥ-śloka-maulim—the best of the personalities who are worshiped by choice poetry or who are transcendental to all material positions; prodyan—manifesting; antaḥ-karaṇa-kuhare—in the core of the heart; hanta—alas; yat-nāma—whose holy name; bhānoḥ—of the sun; ābhāsaḥ—slight appearance; api—even; kṣapayati—eradicates; mahā-pātaka—the resultant actions of greatly sinful activities; dhvānta—of ignorance; rāśim—the mass.
TRANSLATION
"O reservoir of all good qualities, just worship Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the purifier of all purifiers, the most exalted of the personalities worshiped by choice poetry. Worship Him with a faithful, unflinching mind, without duplicity and in a highly elevated manner. Thus worship the Lord, whose name is like the sun, for just as a slight appearance of the sun dissipates the darkness of night, so a slight appearance of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa can drive away all the darkness of ignorance that arises in the heart due to greatly sinful activities performed in previous lives."
PURPORT
This verse is found in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (2.1.103).
TEXT 63
nāmābhāsa haite haya saṁsārera kṣaya
SYNONYMS
nāma-ābhāsa haite—even on account of nāmābhāsa; haya—there is; saṁsārera kṣaya—deliverance from material bondage;
TRANSLATION
"Even a faint light from the holy name of the Lord can eradicate all the reactions of sinful life."
TEXT 64
mriyamāṇo harer nāma
gṛṇan putropacāritam
ajāmilo 'py agād dhāma
kim uta śraddhayā gṛṇan
SYNONYMS
mriyamāṇaḥ—dying; hareḥ nāma—the holy name of the Supreme Lord; gṛṇan—chanting; putra-upacāritam—though spoken for his son; ajāmilaḥ—Ajāmila; api—also; agāt—attained; dhāma—the spiritual world; kim uta—what to speak of; śraddhayā—with faith and reverence; gṛṇan—chanting;
TRANSLATION
"While dying, Ajāmila chanted the holy name of the Lord, intending to call his son Nārāyaṇa. Nevertheless, he attained the spiritual world. What then to speak of those who chant the holy name with faith and reverence?'
PURPORT
This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.2.49);
TEXT 65
nāmābhāse 'mukti' haya sarva-śāstre dekhi
śrī-bhāgavate tāte ajāmila--sākṣī"
SYNONYMS
nāma-ābhāse—simply by a glimpse of the rays of the holy name; mukti—liberation; haya—there is; sarva-śāstre—in all the revealed scriptures; dekhi—I find; śrī-bhāgavate—in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; tāte—to that; ajāmila—Ajāmila; sākṣī—witness.
TRANSLATION
"Because of even the faintest rays of the effulgence of the Lord's holy name, one ca attain liberation. We can see this in all the revealed scriptures. The evidence appears in the story of Ajāmila in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam."
TEXT 66
śuniyā prabhura sukha bāḍaye antare
punarapi bhaṅgī kari' puchaye tāṅhāre
SYNONYMS
śuniyā—hearing; prabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; sukha—happiness; bāḍaye—increased; antare—within the heart; punarapi—still; bhaṅgī kari'-as a matter of course; puchaye tāṅhāre—inquires from Haridāsa Ṭhākura.
TRANSLATION
As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard this from Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the happiness within His heart increased, but as a matter of course, He still inquired further.
TEXT 67
"pṛthivīte bahu-jīva--sthāvara-jaṅgama
ihā-sabāra ki prakāre ha-ibe mocana?"
SYNONYMS
pṛthivīte—on this earth; bahu-jīva—many living entities; sthāvara—not moving; jaṅgama—moving; ihā-sabāra—of all of these; ki prakāre—how; ha-ibe mocana—there will be deliverance.
TRANSLATION
"On this earth there are many living entities," the Lord said, "some moving and some not moving. What will happen to the trees, plants, insects and other living entities? How will they be delivered from material bondage?"
TEXT 68
haridāsa kahe,--"prabhu, se kṛpā tomāra
sthāvara-jaṅgama āge kariyācha nistāra
SYNONYMS
haridāsa kahe—Haridāsa replied; prabhu—my dear Lord; se—that; kṛpā—mercy; tomāra—Your; sthāvara-jaṅgama—nonmoving and moving living entities; āge—previously; kariyācha nistāra—You have delivered.
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "My dear Lord, the deliverance of all moving and nonmoving living entities takes place only by Your mercy. You have already grated this mercy and delivered them.
TEXT 69
tumi ye kariyācha ei ucca saṅkīrtana
sthāvara-jaṅgamera sei hayata' śravaṇa
SYNONYMS
tumi—You; ye—what; kariyācha—have executed; ei—this; ucca—loud; saṅkīrtana—chanting; sthāvara-jaṅgamera—of all living entities, moving and nonmoving; sei—they; hayata'-there is; śravaṇa—hearing;
TRANSLATION
"You have loudly chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, and everyone, moving or not moving, has benefited by hearing it.
TEXT 70
śuniyā jaṅgamera haya saṁsāra-kṣaya
sthāvare se śabda lāge, pratidhvani haya
SYNONYMS
śuniyā—hearing; jaṅgamera—of the living entities who can move; haya—there is; saṁsāra-kṣaya—annihilation of bondage to the material world; sthāvare—unto the nonmoving living entities; se śabda—that transcendental vibration; lāge—touches; prati-dhvani—echo; haya—there is.
TRANSLATION
"My Lord, the moving entities who have heard Your loud saṅkīrtana have already been delivered from bondage to the material world, and after the nonmoving living entities like trees hear it, there is an echo.
TEXT 71
'pratidhvani' nahe, sei karaye 'kīrtana'
tomāra kṛpāra ei akathya kathana
SYNONYMS
prati-dhvani nahe—that sound vibration is not an echo; sei—they; karaye kīrtana—are chanting; tomāra kṛpāra—of Your mercy; ei—this; akathya kathana—inconceivable incident;
TRANSLATION
"Actually, however, it is not an echo; it is the kīrtana of the nonmoving living entities. All this, although inconceivable, is possible by Your mercy.
TEXT 72
sakala jagate haya ucca saṅkīrtana
śuniyā premāveśe nāce sthāvara-jaṅgama
SYNONYMS
sakala jagate—all over the universe; haya—there is; ucca saṅkīrtana—loud chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra; śuniyā—hearing; prema-āveśe—in ecstatic emotional love; nāce—dance; sthāvara-jaṅgama—all living entities, nonmoving and moving;
TRANSLATION
"When loud chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is performed all over the world by those who follow in Your footsteps, all living entities, moving and nonmoving, dance in ecstatic devotional love.
TEXT 73
yaiche kailā jhārikhaṇḍe vṛndāvana yāite
balabhadra-bhaṭṭācārya kahiyāchena āmāte
SYNONYMS
yaiche—as; kailā—You have performed; jhārikhaṇḍe—in the forest known as Jhārikhaṇḍa; vṛndāvana yāite—while going to Vṛndāvana; balabhadra-bhaṭṭācārya—Your servant Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya; kahiyāchena āmāte—has said to me.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Lord, all the incidents that took place while You were going to Vṛndāvana through the forest known as Jhārikhaṇḍa have been related to me by Your servant Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya.
TEXT 74
vāsudeva jīva lāgi' kaila nivedana
tabe aṅgīkāra kailā jīvera mocana
SYNONYMS
vāsudeva—the Lord's devotee named Vāsudeva; jīva lāgi'-for all living entities; kaila nivedana—submitted his appeal; tabe—at that time; aṅgīkāra kailā—You accepted; jīvera mocana—the deliverance of all living entities.
TRANSLATION
"When Your devotee Vāsudeva Datta submitted his plea at Your lotus feet for the deliverance of all living entities, You accepted that request.
TEXT 75
jagat nistārite ei tomāra avatāra
bhakta-bhāva āge tāte kailā aṅgīkāra
SYNONYMS
jagat nistārite—to deliver the whole world; ei—this; tomāra avatāra—Your incarnation; bhakta-bhāva—the mood of a devotee; āge—previously; tāte—therefore; kailā aṅgīkāra—You accepted;
TRANSLATION
"My dear Lord, You have accepted the form of a devotee just to deliver all the fallen souls of this world.
TEXT 76
ucca saṅkīrtana tāte karilā pracāra
sthira-cara jīvera saba khaṇḍāilā saṁsāra"
SYNONYMS
ucca saṅkīrtana—loud chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra; tāte—therefore; karilā pracāra—You have spread; sthira-cara—nonmoving and moving; jīvera—of the living entities; saba—all; khaṇḍāilā—You finished; saṁsāra—the bondage to material existence;
TRANSLATION
"You have preached the loud chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and in this way freed all moving and nonmoving living entities from material bondage."
TEXT 77
prabhu kahe,--"saba jīva mukti yabe pābe
ei ta' brahmāṇḍa tabe jīva-śūnya habe!"
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe—the Lord replied; saba jīva—all living entities; mukti—liberation; yabe—when; pābe—will achieve; ei—this; ta'-certainly; brahmāṇḍa—universe; tabe—then; jīva-śūnya—devoid of living entities; habe—will be;
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "If all living entities were liberated, the entire universe would be devoid of living beings."
TEXTS 78-79
haridāsa bale,--"tomāra yāvat martye sthiti
tāvat sthāvara-jaṅgama, sarva jīva-jāti
saba mukta kari' tumi vaikuṇṭhe pāṭhāibā
sūkṣma-jīve punaḥ karme udbuddha karibā
SYNONYMS
haridāsa bale—Haridāsa Ṭhākura said; tomāra—Your; yāvat—as long as; martye—in this material world; sthiti—situation; tāvat—for that duration of time; sthāvara-jaṅgama—nonmoving and moving; sarva—all; jīva-jāti—species of living entities; saba—all; mukta kari'-liberating; tumi—You; vaikuṇṭhe—to the spiritual world; pāṭhāibā—will send; sūkṣma-jīve—the undeveloped living entities; punaḥ—again; karme—in their activities; udbuddha karibā—You will awaken;
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa said, "My Lord, as long as You are situated within the material world, You will send to the spiritual sky all the developed moving and nonmoving living entities in different species. Then again You will awaken the living entities who are not yet developed and engage them in activities.
TEXT 80
sei jīva habe ihāṅ sthāvara-jaṅgama
tāhāte bharibe brahmāṇḍa yena pūrva-sama
SYNONYMS
sei jīva—such living entities; habe—will be; ihāṅ—in this material world; sthāvara-jaṅgama—nonmoving and moving living entities; tāhāte—in that way; bharibe—You will fill; brahmāṇḍa—the entire universe; yena—as; pūrva-sama—the same as previously.
TRANSLATION
"In this way all moving and nonmoving living entities will come into existence, and the entire universe will be filled as it was previously.
PURPORT
While we are preaching, opposing elements sometimes argue, "If all living entities were delivered by the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, what would happen then? The universe would be devoid of living entities." In answer to this, we may say that in a prison there are many prisoners, but if one thinks that the prison would be empty if all the prisoners adopted good behavior, he is incorrect. Even if all the prisoners within a jail are freed, other criminals will fill it again. A prison will never be vacant, for there are many prospective criminals who will fill the prison cells, even if the present criminals are freed by the government. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā, kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu: "Because of the living entity's association with material nature, he meets with good and evil among various species." (Bg. 13.22) There are many unmanifested living entities covered by the mode of ignorance who will gradually come to the mode of passion. Most of them will become criminals because of their fruitive activities and again fill the prisons.
TEXT 81
pūrve yena raghunātha saba āyodhyā la�ā
vaikuṇṭhake gelā, anya-jīve āyodhyā bharā�ā
SYNONYMS
pūrve—previously; yena—as; raghunātha—Rāmacandra; saba—all; āyodhyā—the population of Āyodhyā; la�ā—taking with Him; vaikuṇṭhake gelā—went back to Vaikuṇṭhaloka; anya-jīve—other living entities; āyodhyā—Āyodhyā; bharā�ā—filling.
TRANSLATION
"Previously, when Lord Rāmacandra left this world, He took with Him all the living entities of Āyodhyā. Then He filled Āyodhyā again with other living entities.
TEXT 82
avatari' tumi aiche pātiyācha hāṭa
keha nā bujhite pāre tomāra gūḍha nāṭa
SYNONYMS
avatari'-descending; tumi—You; aiche—like that; pātiyācha hāṭa—have set up a market; keha nā bujhite pāre—no one can understand; tomāra—Your; gūḍha nāṭa—deep acting.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Lord, You have set a plan in motion by descending on the material world, but no one can understand how You are acting.
TEXT 83
pūrve yena vraje kṛṣṇa kari' avatāra
sakala brahmāṇḍa-jīvera khaṇḍāilā saṁsāra
SYNONYMS
pūrve—previously; yena—as; vraje—in Vṛndāvana; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; kari' avatāra—descending as an incarnation; sakala—all; brahmāṇḍa-jīvera—of living entities within this universe; khaṇḍāilā—destroyed; saṁsāra—the material existence.
TRANSLATION
"Formerly, when Lord Kṛṣṇa descended in Vṛndāvana, He freed all living entities in the universe from material existence in the same way.
TEXT 84
na caivaṁ vismayaḥ kāryo
bhavatā bhagavaty aje
yogeśvareśvare kṛṣṇe
yata etad vimucyate
SYNONYMS
na—not; ca—also; evam—thus; vismayaḥ—wonder; kāryaḥ—to be done; bhavatā—by You; bhagavati—unto the Supreme personality of Godhead; aje—the unborn; yoga-īśvara-īśvare—the master of all masters of mystic power; kṛṣṇe—unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; yataḥ—by whom; etat—all living entities; vimucyate—are delivered.
TRANSLATION
"Kṛṣṇa, the unborn Supreme Personality of Godhead, master of all of the masters of mystic power, delivers all living entities, moving and nonmoving. Nothing is astonishing in the activities of the Lord.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.29.16).
TEXT 85
"ayaṁ hi bhagavān dṛṣṭaḥ kīrtitaḥ saṁsmṛtaś ca
dveṣānubandhenāpy akhila-surāsurādi-durlabhaṁ
phalaṁ prayacchati, kim uta samyag bhaktimatām" iti
SYNONYMS
ayam—this; hi—certainly; bhagavān—Supreme Personality of Godhead; dṛṣṭaḥ—seen; kīrtitaḥ—glorified; saṁsmṛtaḥ—remembered; ca—and; dveṣa—of envy; anubandhena—with the conception; api—although; akhila-sura-asura-ādi—by all demigods and demons; durlabham—very rarely achieved; phalam—result; prayacchati—awards; kim uta—what to speak of; samyak—fully; bhakti-matām—of those engaged in devotional service; iti—thus.
TRANSLATION
"Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead may be seen, glorified or remembered with an attitude of envy, He nevertheless awards the most confidential liberation, which is rarely achieved by the demigods and demons. What, then, can be said of those who are already fully engaged in devotional service to the Lord?'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (4.15.17).
TEXT 86
taiche tumi navadvīpe kari' avatāra
sakala-brahmāṇḍa-jīvera karilā nistāra
SYNONYMS
taiche—in that way; tumi—You; navadvīpe—at Navadvīpa; kari' avatāra—descending as an incarnation; sakala—all; brahmāṇḍa—of the universe; jīvera—the living entities; karilā nistāra—have delivered;
TRANSLATION
"By descending as an incarnation at Navadvīpa, You, just like Kṛṣṇa, have already delivered all the living entities of the universe.
TEXT 87
ye kahe,--caitanya-mahimā mora gocara haya'
se jānuka, mora punaḥ ei ta' niścaya
SYNONYMS
ye kahe—whoever says; caitanya-mahimā—the glories of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; mora gocara—known to me; haya—are; se jānuka—he may know; mora—of me; punaḥ—again; ei ta' niścaya—this is the decision;
TRANSLATION
"One may say that he understands the glories of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He may know whatever he may know, but as far as I am concerned, this is my conclusion.
TEXT 88
tomāra ye līlā mahā-amṛtera sindhu
mora mano-gocara nahe tāra eka bindu"
SYNONYMS
tomāra—Your; ye—whatever; līlā—pastimes; mahā-amṛtera sindhu—a great ocean of nectar; mora—for me; manaḥ-gocara nahe—it is not possible to conceive; tāra—of it; eka bindu—one drop;
TRANSLATION
"My dear Lord, Your pastimes are just like an ocean of nectar. It is not possible for me to conceive how great that ocean is or even to understand a drop of it."
TEXT 89
eta śuni' prabhura mane camatkāra haila
'mora gūḍha-līlā haridāsa kemane jānila?'
SYNONYMS
eta śuni'-hearing this; prabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; mane—in the mind; camatkāra haila—there was astonishment; mora—My; gūḍha-līlā—confidential pastimes; haridāsa—Haridāsa; kemane—how; jānila—has understood.
TRANSLATION
Hearing all this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was astonished. "These are actually My confidential pastimes," He thought. "How could Haridāsa have understood them?"
TEXT 90
manera santoṣe tāṅre kailā āliṅgana
bāhye prakāśite e-saba karilā varjana
SYNONYMS
manera santoṣe—with complete satisfaction of the mind; tāṅre—him; kailā āliṅgana—He embraced; bāhye—externally; prakāśite—to disclose; e-saba—all this; karilā varjana—He avoided;
TRANSLATION
Greatly satisfied by the statements of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced him. Outwardly, however, He avoided further discussions of these matters.
TEXT 91
īśvara-svabhāva,--aiśvarya cāhe ācchādite
bhakta-ṭhā�i lukāite nāre, haya ta' vidite
SYNONYMS
īśvara-svabhāva—the characteristic of the Supreme personality of Godhead; aiśvarya—opulence; cāhe—wants; ācchādite—to cover; bhakta-ṭhā�i—before His devotee; lukāite nāre—He cannot cover; haya ta' vidite—is well-known.
TRANSLATION
This is a characteristic of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although He wants to cover His opulence, He cannot do so before His devotees. This is well-known everywhere.
TEXT 92
ullaṅghita-trividha-sīma-samātiśāyi-
sambhāvanaṁ tava parivraḍhima-svabhāvam
māyā-balena bhavatāpi niguhyamānaṁ
paśyanti kecid aniśaṁ tvad-ananya-bhāvāḥ
SYNONYMS
ullaṅghita—passed over; tri-vidha—three kinds; sīma—the limitations; sama—of equal; atiśāyi—and of excelling; sambhāvanam—by which the adequacy; tava—Your; parivraḍhima—of supremacy; sva-bhāvam—the real nature; māyā-balena—by the strength of the illusory energy; bhavatā—Your; api—although; niguhyamānam—being hidden; paśyanti—they see; kecit—some; aniśam—always; tvat—to You; ananya-bhāvāḥ—those who are exclusively devoted;
TRANSLATION
"O my Lord, everything within material nature is limited by time, space and thought. Your characteristics, however, being unequaled and unsurpassed, are always transcendental to such limitations. You sometimes cover such characteristics by Your own energy, but nevertheless Your unalloyed devotees are always able to see You under all circumstances."
PURPORT
This is a verse from the Stotra-ratna of Yāmunācārya;
TEXT 93
tabe mahāprabhu nija-bhakta-pāśe yā�ā
haridāsera guṇa kahe śata-mukha ha�ā
SYNONYMS
tabe—after this; mahāprabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; nija-bhakta-pāśe—to His personal devotees; yā�ā—going; haridāsera guṇa—the transcendental qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; kahe—explains; śata-mukha—as if with hundreds of mouths; ha�ā—becoming.
TRANSLATION
Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to His personal devotees and began speaking about Haridāsa Ṭhākura's transcendental qualities as if He had hundreds of mouths. hundreds of mouths.
TEXT 94
bhaktera guṇa kahite prabhura bāḍaye ullāsa
bhakta-gaṇa-śreṣṭha tāte śrī-haridāsa
SYNONYMS
bhaktera—of the devotees; guṇa—qualities; kahite—speaking; prabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bāḍaye—increases; ullāsa—jubilation; bhakta-gaṇa—of all devotees; śreṣṭha—topmost; tāte—in that; śrī-haridāsa—Haridāsa Ṭhākura.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu derives great pleasure from glorifying His devotees, and among the devotees, Haridāsa Ṭhākura is the foremost.
TEXT 95
haridāsera guṇa-gaṇa--asaṅkhya, apāra
keha kona aṁśe varṇe, nāhi pāya pāra
SYNONYMS
haridāsera guṇa-gaṇa—the stock of transcendental qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; asaṅkhya—innumerable; apāra—unfathomed; keha—someone; kona aṁśe—some part; varṇe—describes; nāhi pāya pāra—cannot reach the limit.
TRANSLATION
The transcendental qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura are innumerable and unfathomable. One may describe a portion of them, but to count them all is impossible.
TEXT 96
caitanya-maṅgale śrī-vṛndāvana-dāsa
haridāsera guṇa kichu kariyāchena prakāśa
SYNONYMS
caitanya-maṅgale—in the book known as Caitanya-maṅgala (Caitanya-bhāgavata); śrī-vṛndāvana-dāsa—Śrī Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura; haridāsera—of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; guṇa—qualities; kichu—some; kariyāchena prakāśa—manifested.
TRANSLATION
In Caitanya-maṅgala, Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has described the attributes of Haridāsa Ṭhākura to some extent.
TEXT 97
saba kahā nā yāya haridāsera caritra
keha kichu kahe karite āpanā pavitra
SYNONYMS
saba—all; kahā—to speak; nā yāya—is not possible; haridāsera caritra—the characteristics of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; keha kichu kahe—someone says something; karite—just to make; āpanā—himself; pavitra—purified.
TRANSLATION
No one can describe all the qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. One may say something about them just to purify himself.
TEXT 98
vṛndāvana-dāsa yāhā nā kaila varṇana
haridāsera guṇa kichu śuna, bhakta-gaṇa
SYNONYMS
vṛndāvana-dāsa—Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura; yāhā—whatever; nā—not; kaila varṇana—described; haridāsera guṇa—qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; kichu—something; śuna—hear; bhakta-gaṇa—O devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TRANSLATION
O devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, please hear something about the qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura that Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has not described in detail.
TEXT 99
haridāsa yabe nija-gṛha tyāga kailā
benāpolera vana-madhye kata-dina rahilā
SYNONYMS
haridāsa—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; yabe—when; nija-gṛha—his own residence; tyāga kailā—gave up; benāpolera—of the village known as Benāpola; vana-madhye—in the forest; kata-dina—for some time; rahilā—stayed.
TRANSLATION
After leaving his home, Haridāsa Ṭhākura stayed for some time in the forest of Benāpola.
TEXT 100
nirjana-vane kuṭira kari' tulasī sevana
rātri-dine tina lakṣa nāma-saṅkīrtana
SYNONYMS
nirjana-vane—in a solitary forest; kuṭira—a cottage; kari'-making; tulasī—the tulasī plant; sevana—worshiping; rātri-dine—throughout the entire day and night; tina—three; lakṣa—hundred thousand; nāma-saṅkīrtana—chanting of the holy name.
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa Ṭhākura constructed a cottage in a solitary forest. There he planted a tulasī plant, and in front of the tulasī he would chant the holy name of the Lord 300,000 times daily. He chanted throughout the entire day and night.
PURPORT
The village of Benāpola is situated in the district of Yaśohara, which is now in Bangladesh. Benāpola is near the Banagāṅo station, which is at the border of Bangladesh and may be reached by the eastern railway from Shelda Station in Calcutta. Haridāsa Ṭhākura, being the ācārya of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, is called Nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura. From his personal Example we can understand that chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and becoming highly elevated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is very simple. Without difficulty one can sit down anywhere, especially on the bank of the Ganges, Yamunā or any sacred river, devise a sitting place or cottage, plant a tulasī, and before the tulasī chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra undisturbed.
Haridāsa Ṭhākura used to chant the holy name on his beads 300,000 times daily. Throughout the entire day and night, he would chant the sixteen names of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. One should not, however, imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura, for no one else can chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra 300,000 times a day. Such chanting is for the mukta-puruṣa, or liberated soul. We can follow his example, however, by chanting sixteen rounds of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra on beads every day and offering respect to the tulasī plant. This is not at all difficult for anyone, and the process of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra with a vow before the tulasī plant has such great spiritual potency that simply by doing this one can become spiritually strong. Therefore we request the members of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement to follow Haridāsa Ṭhākura's example rigidly. Chanting sixteen rounds does not take much time, nor is offering respects to the tulasī plant difficult. The process has immense spiritual potency. One should not miss this opportunity.
TEXT 101
brāhmaṇera ghare kare bhikṣā nirvāhaṇa
prabhāve sakala loka karaye pūjana
SYNONYMS
brāhmaṇera ghare—in the house of a brāhmaṇa; kare—does; bhikṣā nirvāhaṇa—asking alms of food; prabhāve—by spiritual potency; sakala loka—all people; karaye pūjana—worship.
TRANSLATION
For his bodily maintenance he would go to a brāhmaṇa's house and beg some food. He was spiritually so influential that all the neighboring people worshiped him.
PURPORT
In the days of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, all the brāhmaṇas worshiped Nārāyaṇa in the form of the śālagrama-śilā. Therefore begging from a brāhmaṇa's house meant taking kṛṣṇa-prasāda, which is transcendental (nirguṇa). If we take food from the house of others, such as karmīs, we shall have to share the qualities of those from whom we take alms. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took prasāda in the houses of Vaiṣṇavas. This is the general process. The members of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement are advised not to take food from anywhere but a Vaiṣṇava's or brāhmaṇa's house where Deity worship is performed. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has said, viṣayīra anna khāile duṣṭa haya mana: if a devotee takes alms or food from the house of a karmī who is simply interested in money, his mind will be unclean. We must always remember that a devotee's life is one of vairāgya-vidyā, or renunciation and knowledge. Therefore all devotees are warned not to live unnecessarily luxurious lives at the cost of others. Gṛhasthas living within the jurisdiction of the temple must be especially careful not to imitate karmīs by acquiring opulent clothing, food and conveyances. As far as possible, these should be avoided. A member of the temple, whether gṛhastha, brahmacārī or sannyāsī, must practice a life of renunciation, following in the footsteps of Haridāsa Ṭhākura and the six Gosvāmīs. Otherwise, because māyā is very strong, at any time one may become a victim of māyā and fall down from spiritual life.
TEXT 102
sei deśādhyakṣa nāma--rāmacandra khāṅna
vaiṣṇava-vidveṣī sei pāṣaṇḍa-pradhāna
SYNONYMS
sei—that; deśa-adhyakṣa—landholder; nāma—whose name; rāmacandra khāṅna—Rāmacandra Khān; vaiṣṇava-vidveṣī—envious of Vaiṣṇavas; sei—that; pāṣaṇḍa-pradhāna—chief of the atheists.
TRANSLATION
A landholder named Rāmacandra Khān was the zamindar of that district. He was envious of Vaiṣṇavas and was therefore a great atheist.
TEXT 103
haridāse loke pūje, sahite nā pāre
tāṅra apamāna karite nānā upāya kare
SYNONYMS
haridāse—unto Haridāsa Ṭhākura; loke—people; pūje—offer respect; sahite nā pāre—he could not tolerate; tāṅra—his; apamāna—dishonor; karite—to do; nānā—various; upāya—means; kare—plans.
TRANSLATION
Unable to tolerate that such respect was being offered to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Rāmacandra Khān planned in various ways to dishonor him.
TEXT 104
kona-prakāre haridāsera chidra nāhi pāya
veśyā-gaṇe āni' kare chidrera upāya
SYNONYMS
kona-prakāre—by any means; haridāsera—of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; chidra—fault; nāhi—not; pāya—gets; veśyā-gaṇe—prostitutes; āni'-bringing; kare—makes; chidrera upāya—a means to find some fault.
TRANSLATION
By no means could he find any fault in the character of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Therefore he called for local prostitutes and began a plan to discredit His Holiness.
PURPORT
This is typical of atheistic men, but even among so-called religionists, sādhus, mendicants, sannyāsīs and brahmacārīs, there are many enemies of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement who always try to find faults in it, not considering that the movement is spreading automatically by the grace of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who wanted it spread all over the world, in every town and village. We are trying to fulfill the Lord's desire, and our attempt has become fairly successful, but the enemies of this movement unnecessarily try to find faults in it, exactly like the old rascal Rāmacandra Khān, who opposed Haridāsa Ṭhākura.
TEXT 105                                                                                                                                                veśyā-gaṇe kahe,--"ei vairāgī haridāsa
tumi-saba kara ihāra vairāgya-dharma nāśa"
SYNONYMS
veśyā-gaṇe—unto the prostitutes; kahe—said; ei—this; vairāgī—mendicant; haridāsa—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; tumi-saba—all of you; kara—cause; ihāra—his; vairāgya-dharma—from the life of a mendicant; nāśa—deviation.
TRANSLATION
Rāmacandra Khān said to the prostitutes, "There is a mendicant named Haridāsa Ṭhākura. All of you devise a way to deviate him from his vows of austerity."
PURPORT
Devotional service is the path of vairāgya-vidyā (renunciation and knowledge). Haridāsa Ṭhākura was following this path, but Rāmacandra Khān planned to induce him to break his vows. Renunciation means renunciation of sensual pleasure, especially the pleasure of sex. Therefore a brahmacārī, sannyāsī or vānaprastha is strictly prohibited from having relationships with women. Haridāsa Ṭhākura was strictly renounced, and thus Rāmacandra Khān called for prostitutes because prostitutes know how to break a man's vow of celibacy by their feminine influence and thus pollute a mendicant or a person engaged in devotional life. It was impossible for Rāmacandra Khān to induce any other women to break Haridāsa Ṭhākura's vow, and therefore he called for prostitutes. Free mingling with women has never been possible in India, but for one who wanted to associate with society girls, they were available in a district of prostitutes. There were prostitutes in human society even in Lord Kṛṣṇa's time, for it is said that the prostitutes of Dvārakā City came forth to receive the Lord. Although they were prostitutes, they were also devotees of Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 106
veśyā-gaṇa-madhye eka sundarī yuvatī
se kahe,--"tina-dine hariba tāṅra mati"
SYNONYMS
veśyā-gaṇa-madhye—among the prostitutes; eka—one; sundarī—attractive; yuvatī—young; se—she; kahe—said; tina-dine—in three days; hariba—I shall attract: tāṅra—his; mati—mind.
TRANSLATION
Among the prostitutes, one attractive young girl was selected."I shall attract the mind of Haridāsa Ṭhākura," she promised, "within three days."
TEXT 107
khāṅna kahe,--"mora pāika yāuka tomāra sane
tomāra sahita ekatra tāre dhari' yena āne"
SYNONYMS
khāṅna kahe—Rāmacandra Khān said; mora pāika—my constable; yāuka—let him go; tomāra sane—with you; tomāra sahita—with you; ekatra—together; tāre—him; dhari'-arresting; yena—so that; āne—can bring.
TRANSLATION
Rāmacandra Khān said to the prostitute,"My constable will go with you so that as soon as he sees you with Haridāsa Ṭhākura, immediately he will arrest him and bring both of you to me."
TEXT 108
veśyā kahe,--"mora saṅga ha-uka eka-bāra
dvitīya-bāre dharite pāika la-imu tomāra"
SYNONYMS
veśyā kahe—the prostitute said; mora saṅga—union with me; ha-uka—let there be; eka-bāra—one time; dvitīya-bāre—the second time; dharite—to arrest; pāika—constable; la-imu—I shall take; tomāra—your.
TRANSLATION
The prostitute replied,"First let me have union with him once; then the second time I shall take your constable with me to arrest him."
TEXT 109
rātri-kāle sei veśyā suveśa dhariyā
haridāsera vāsāya gela ullasita ha�ā
SYNONYMS
rātri-kāle—at night; sei—that; veśyā—prostitute; su-veśa dhariyā—dressing herself very nicely; haridāsera—of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; vāsāya—to the place; gela—went; ullasita ha�ā—with great jubilation.
TRANSLATION
At night the prostitute, after dressing herself most attractively, went to the cottage of Haridāsa Ṭhākura with great jubilation.
TEXT 110
tulasī namaskari' haridāsera dvāre yā�ā
gosā�ire namaskari' rahilā dāṇḍā�ā
SYNONYMS
tulasī namaskari'-after offering obeisances to the tulasī plant; haridāsera—of Ṭhākura Haridāsa; dvāre—at the door; yā�ā—going; gosā�ire—unto the ācārya; namaskari'-offering obeisances; rahilā dāṇḍā�ā—remained standing.
TRANSLATION
After offering obeisances to the tulasī plant, she went to the door of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, offered him obeisances and stood there.
TEXT 111
aṅga ughāḍiyā dekhāi vasilā duyāre
kahite lāgilā kichu sumadhura svare
SYNONYMS
aṅga ughāḍiyā—exposing part of her body; dekhāi—visible; vasilā—sat down; duyāre—on the threshold of the door; kahite lāgilā—began to speak; kichu—something; su-madhura svare—in very sweet language.
TRANSLATION
Exposing part of her body to his view, she sat down on the threshold of the door and spoke to him in very sweet words.
TEXT 112
"ṭhākura, tumi--parama-sundara, prathama yauvana
tomā dekhi' kon nārī dharite pāre mana?
SYNONYMS
ṭhākura—O great devotee ācārya; tumi—you; parama-sundara—very beautifully constructed; prathama yauvana—the beginning of youth; tomā dekhi'-seeing you; kon nārī—what woman; dharite pāre—can control; mana—her mind.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Ṭhākura, O great preacher, great devotee, you are so beautifully built, and your youth is just beginning. Who is the woman who could control her mind after seeing you?
TEXT 113
tomāra saṅgama lāgi' lubdha mora mana
tomā nā pāile prāṇa nā yāya dhāraṇa"
SYNONYMS
tomāra saṅgama—union with you; lāgi'-for the sake of; lubdha—greedy; mora mana—my mind; tomā—you; nā pāile—if I do not get; prāṇa—my life; nā—not; yāya—can be; dhāraṇa—maintained.
TRANSLATION
"I am eager to be united with you. My mind is greedy for this. If I don't obtain you, I shall not be able to keep my body and soul together."
TEXTS 114-115
haridāsa kahe,--"tomā karimu aṅgīkāra
saṅkhyā-nāma-samāpti yāvat nā haya āmāra
tāvat tumi vasi' śuna nāma-saṅkīrtana
nāma-samāpti haile karimu ye tomāra mana"
SYNONYMS
haridāsa kahe—Haridāsa Ṭhākura said; tomā—you; karimu aṅgīkāra—I shall accept; saṅkhyā-nāma—the number of holy names; samāpti—finishing; yāvat—as long as; nā—not; haya—it is; āmāra—my; tāvat—so long; tumi—you; vasi'-sitting; śuna—hear; nāma-saṅkīrtana—chanting of the holy name; nāma—of the holy name; samāpti—finishing; haile—when there is; karimu—I shall do; ye—what; tomāra—your; mana—mind.
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied,"I shall accept you without fall, but you will have to wait until I have finished chanting my regular rounds on my beads. Until that time, please sit and listen to the chanting of the holy name. As soon as I am finished, I shall fulfill your desire."
TEXT 116
eta śuni' sei veśyā vasiyā rahilā
kīrtana kare haridāsa prātaḥ-kāla hailā
SYNONYMS
eta śuni'-hearing this; sei veśyā—that prostitute; vasiyā rahilā—stayed there sitting; kīrtana—chanting; kare—performs; haridāsa—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; prātaḥ-kāla hailā—there was the light of morning.
TRANSLATION
Hearing this, the prostitute remained sitting there while Haridāsa Ṭhākura chanted on his beads until the light of morning appeared.
TEXT 117
prātaḥ-kāla dekhi' veśyā uṭhiyā calilā
saba samācāra yāi khāṅnere kahilā
SYNONYMS
prātaḥ-kāla dekhi'-seeing the morning; veśyā—the prostitute; uṭhiyā calilā—stood up and left; saba samācāra—all information; yāi—going; khāṅnere kahilā—she spoke to Rāmacandra Khān.
TRANSLATION
When she saw that it was morning, the prostitute stood up and left. Coming before Rāmacandra Khān, she informed him of all the news.
TEXT 118
'āji āmā aṅgīkāra kariyāche vacane
kāli avaśya tāhāra saṅge ha-ibe saṅgame'
SYNONYMS
āji—today; āmā—me; aṅgīkāra—acceptance; kariyāche—he has done; vacane—by word; kāli—tomorrow; avaśya—certainly; tāhāra saṅge—with him; ha-ibe—there will be; saṅgame—union.
TRANSLATION
"Today Haridāsa Ṭhākura has promised to enjoy with me. Tomorrow certainly I shall have union with him."
TEXT 119
āra dina rātri haile veśyā āila
haridāsa tāre bahu āśvāsa karila
SYNONYMS
āra dina—the next day; rātri—night; haile—when there was; veśyā—the prostitute; āila—came; haridāsa—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; tāre—unto her; bahu—many; āśvāsa karila—gave assurances.
TRANSLATION
The next night, when the prostitute came again, Haridāsa Ṭhākura gave her many assurances.
TEXT 120
'kāli duḥkha pāilā, aparādha nā la-ibā mora
avaśya karimu āmi tomāya aṅgīkāra
SYNONYMS
kāli—yesterday; duḥkha pāilā—you were disappointed; aparādha—offense; nā la-ibā—please do not take; mora—my; avaśya—certainly; karimu—shall do; āmi—I; tomāya—unto you; aṅgīkāra—acceptance.
TRANSLATION
"Last night you were disappointed. Please excuse my offense. I shall certainly accept you.
TEXT 121
tāvat ihāṅ vasi' śuna nāma-saṅkīrtana
nāma pūrṇa haile, pūrṇa habe tomāra mana'
SYNONYMS
tāvat—until that time; ihāṅ—here; vasi'-sitting; śuna—hear; nāma-saṅkīrtana—chanting of the holy name of the Lord; nāma pūrṇa haile—as soon as the regular chanting is fulfilled; pūrṇa—satisfied; habe—will be; tomāra mana—your mind.
TRANSLATION
"Please sit down and hear the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra until my regular chanting is finished. Then your desire will surely be fulfilled."
TEXT 122
tulasīre tāṅke veśyā namaskāra kari'
dvāre vasi' nāma śune bale 'hari' 'hari'
SYNONYMS
tulasīre—unto the tulasī plant; tāṅke—unto Haridāsa Ṭhākura; veśyā—the prostitute; namaskāra kari'-offering obeisances; dvāre vasi'-sitting at the door; nāma—the holy name; śune—hears; bale—says; hari hari—O my Lord Hari, O my Lord Hari.
TRANSLATION
After offering her obeisances to the tulasī plant and Haridāsa Ṭhākura, she sat down at the door. Hearing Haridāsa Ṭhākura chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, she also chanted,"O my Lord Hari, O my Lord Hari."
PURPORT
Herein one can clearly see how a Vaiṣṇava delivers a fallen soul by a transcendental trick. The prostitute came to pollute Haridāsa Ṭhākura but he took it as his duty to deliver the prostitute. As clearly demonstrated here, the process of deliverance is very simple. With faith and reverence the prostitute associated with Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who personally treated her material disease by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. Although the prostitute had an ulterior motive, somehow or other she got the association of a Vaiṣṇava and satisfied him by occasionally chanting in imitation, "O my Lord Hari, O my Lord Hari." The conclusion is that associating with a Vaiṣṇava, chanting the holy name of the Lord and offering obeisances to the tulasī plant or a Vaiṣṇava all lead one to become a transcendental devotee who is completely cleansed of all material contamination.
TEXT 123
rātri-śeṣa haila, veśyā usimisi kare
tāra rīti dekhi' haridāsa kahena tāhāre
SYNONYMS
rātri—night; śeṣa haila—came to an end; veśyā—the prostitute; usimisi—restless; kare—became; tāra—her; rīti—activities; dekhi'-seeing; haridāsa—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; kahena—says; tāhāre—unto her.
TRANSLATION
When the night came to an end, the prostitute was restless. Seeing this, Haridāsa Ṭhākura spoke to her as follows.
TEXT 124
"koṭi-nāma-grahaṇa-yaj�a kari eka-māse
ei dīkṣā kariyāchi, haila āsi' śeṣe
SYNONYMS
koṭi-nāma-grahaṇa—chanting ten million names; yaj�a—such a sacrifice; kari—I perform; eka-māse—in one month; ei—this; dīkṣā—vow; kariyāchi—I have taken; haila—it was; āsi'-nearing; śeṣe—the end.
TRANSLATION
"I have vowed to chant ten million names in a month. I have taken this vow, but now it is nearing its end.
PURPORT
If one regularly chants 333,333 times daily for a month and then chants one time more, he will thus chant ten million times. In this way a devotee worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such worship is called yaj�a. Yaj�aiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ: those whose intelligence is brilliant accept this hari-nāma-yaj�a, the yaj�a of chanting the holy name of the Lord. By performing this yaj�a, one satisfies the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus attains perfection in spiritual life. According to external vision, Haridāsa Ṭhākura belonged to a Mohammedan family. Nevertheless, because he engaged himself in performing the yaj�a of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, he became a regularly initiated brāhmaṇa. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.33.6):
yan-nāmadheya-śravaṇānukīrtanād
yat-prahvaṇād yat-smaraṇād api kvacit
śvādo 'pi sadyaḥ savanāya kalpate
kutaḥ punas te bhagavan nu darśanāt
Even if a devotee comes from a family of dog-eaters, if he surrenders to the personality of Godhead he immediately becomes a qualified brāhmaṇa and is immediately fit to perform yaj�a, whereas a person born in a family of brāhmaṇas has to wait until completing the reformatory processes before he may be called saṁskṛta, purified. It is further said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (12.1.40):
asaṁskṛtāḥ kriyā-hīnā
rajasā tamasāvṛtāḥ
prajās te bhakṣayiṣyanti
mlecchā rājanya-rūpiṇaḥ
"In the age of Kali, mlecchas, or lowborn people who have not undergone the purifying process of saṁskāra, who do not know how to apply that process in actual life and who are covered by the modes of passion and ignorance, will take the posts of administrators. They will devour the citizens with their atheistic activities." A person who is not purified by the prescribed process of saṁskāra is called asaṁskṛta, but if one remains kriyā-hīna even after being purified by initiation-in other words, if one fails to actually apply the principles of purity in his life-he remains an unpurified mleccha or yavana. On the other hand, we find that Haridāsa Ṭhākura, although born in a mleccha or yavana family, became Nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura because he performed the nāma-yaj�a a minimum of 300,000 times every day.
Herein we find that Haridāsa Ṭhākura strictly followed his regulative principle of chanting 300,000 times. Thus when the prostitute became restless, he informed her that first he had to finish his chanting and then he would be able to satisfy her. Actually Haridāsa Ṭhākura chanted the holy name of the Lord for three nights continuously and gave the prostitute a chance to hear him. Thus she became purified, as will be seen in the following verses.
TEXT 125
āji samāpta ha-ibe,--hena j�āna chila
samasta rātri niluṅ nāma samāpta nā haila
SYNONYMS
āji—today; samāpta ha-ibe—will be finished; hena j�āna chila—I thought that; samasta rātri—all night; niluṅ—I took; nāma—the holy name of the Lord; samāpta—finished; nā haila—was not.
TRANSLATION
"I thought that today I would be able to finish my performance of yaj�a, my chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. I tried my best to chant the holy name all night, but I still did not finish.
TEXT 126
kāli samāpta habe, tabe habe vrata-bhaṅga
svacchande tomāra saṅge ha-ibeka saṅga"
SYNONYMS
kāli—tomorrow; samāpta habe—it will end; tabe—at that time; habe—there will be; vrata-bhaṅga—the end of my vow; svacchande—in full freedom; tomāra saṅge—with you; ha-ibeka—there will be; saṅga—union.
TRANSLATION
"Tomorrow I will surely finish, and my vow will be fulfilled. Then it will be possible for me to enjoy with you in full freedom."
PURPORT
Haridāsa Ṭhākura never wanted to enjoy the prostitute, but he tricked her to deliver her by giving her a chance to hear the holy name of the Lord while he chanted. Pure devotees chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, and simply by hearing this chanting from a purified transcendental person, one is purified of all sinful activities, no matter how lowborn or fallen one may be. As soon as one is thus completely free from the reactions of sinful activities, he is eligible to render devotional service to the Lord. This is the process for engaging the fallen souls in devotional service. As Lord Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (7.28):
yeṣāṁ tv anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ
janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām
te dvandva-moha-nirmuktā
bhajante māṁ dṛḍha-vratāḥ
"Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of delusion, engage themselves in My service with determination."
TEXT 127
veśyā giyā samācāra khāṅnere kahila
āra dina sandhyā ha-ite ṭhākura-ṭhā�i āila
SYNONYMS
veśyā—the prostitute; giyā—returning; samācāra—information; khāṅnere kahila—spoke to Rāmacandra Khān; āra dina—the next day; sandhyā ha-ite—beginning from the evening; ṭhākura-ṭhā�i āila—she came and remained at the residence of Haridāsa Ṭhākura.
TRANSLATION
The prostitute returned to Rāmacandra Khān and informed him of what had happened. The next day she came earlier, at the beginning of the evening, and stayed with Haridāsa Ṭhākura.
TEXT 128
tulasīke, ṭhākurake namaskāra kari'
dvāre vasi' nāma śune, bale 'hari' 'hari'
SYNONYMS
tulasīke—unto the tulasī plant; ṭhākurake—and unto Haridāsa Ṭhākura; namaskāra kari'-offers her obeisances; dvāre vasi'-sitting at the door; nāma śune—hears the holy name; bale—chants; hari hari—the holy name of the Lord.
TRANSLATION
After offering obeisances to the tulasī plant and Haridāsa Ṭhākura, she sat down on the threshold of the room. Thus she began to hear Haridāsa Ṭhākura's chanting, and she also personally chanted "Hari, Hari," the holy name of the Lord.
TEXT 129
'nāma pūrṇa habe āji',--bale haridāsa
'tabe pūrṇa karimu āji tomāra abhilāṣa'
SYNONYMS
nāma—chanting of the holy name; pūrṇa—complete; habe—will be; āji—today; bale haridāsa—Haridāsa Ṭhākura said; tabe—then; pūrṇa karimu—I shall satisfy; āji—today; tomāra abhilāṣa—your desires.
TRANSLATION
"Today it will be possible for me to finish my chanting," Haridāsa Ṭhākura informed her. "Then I shall satisfy all your desires."
TEXT 130
kīrtana karite aiche rātri-śeṣa haila
ṭhākurera sane veśyāra mana phiri' gela
SYNONYMS
kīrtana karite—chanting and chanting; aiche—in that way; rātri-śeṣa haila—the night ended; ṭhākurera sane—by the association of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; veśyāra—of the prostitute; mana—mind; phiri' gela—was converted.
TRANSLATION
The night ended while Haridāsa Ṭhākura was chanting, but by his association the mind of the prostitute had changed.
TEXT 131
daṇḍavat ha�ā paḍe ṭhākura-caraṇe
rāmacandra-khāṅnera kathā kaila nivedane
SYNONYMS
daṇḍavat ha�ā—offering obeisances; paḍe—she fell down; ṭhākura-caraṇe—at the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; rāmacandra-khāṅnera—of Rāmacandra Khān; kathā—policy; kaila—did; nivedane—submission.
TRANSLATION
The prostitute, now purified, fell at the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura and confessed that Rāmacandra Khān had appointed her to pollute him.
TEXT 132
"veśyā ha�ā mu�i pāpa kariyāchoṅ apāra
kṛpā kari' kara mo-adhame nistāra"
SYNONYMS
veśyā ha�ā—being a prostitute; mu�i—I; pāpa—sinful activities; kariyāchoṅ—have done; apāra—unlimited; kṛpā kari'-being merciful; kara—please do; mo-adhame—unto me, the most fallen; nistāra—deliverance.
TRANSLATION
"Because I have taken the profession of a prostitute," she said, "I have performed unlimited sinful acts. My lord, be merciful to me. Deliver my fallen soul."
TEXT 133
ṭhākura kahe,--khāṅnera kathā saba āmi jāni
aj�a mūrkha sei, tāre duḥkha nāhi māni
SYNONYMS
ṭhākura kahe—Haridāsa Ṭhākura said; khāṅnera kathā—the plans of Rāmacandra Khān; saba—all; āmi jāni—I know; aj�a mūrkha sei—he is an ignorant fool; tāre—by that; duḥkha nāhi māni—I do not feel unhappiness.
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "I know everything about the conspiracy of Rāmacandra Khān. He is nothing but an ignorant fool. Therefore his activities do not make me feel unhappy.
TEXT 134
sei-dina yāitāma e-sthāna chāḍiyā
tina dina rahilāṅa tomā nistāra lāgiyā
SYNONYMS
sei-dina—on that very day; yāitāma—I would have left; e-sthāna—this place; chāḍiyā—giving up; tina dina—for three days; rahilāṅa—I stayed; tomā—you; nistāra lāgiyā—for delivering.
TRANSLATION
"On the very day Rāmacandra Khān was planning his intrigue against me, I would have left this place immediately, but because you came to me I stayed here for three days to deliver you."
TEXT 135
veśyā kahe,--"kṛpā kari' karaha upadeśa
ki mora kartavya, yāte yāya bhava-kleśa"
SYNONYMS
veśyā kahe—the prostitute said; kṛpā kari'-being merciful; karaha upadeśa—please give instructions; ki—what; mora kartavya—my duty; yāte—by which; yāya—go away; bhava-kleśa—all material tribulations.
TRANSLATION
The prostitute said, "Kindly act as my spiritual master. Instruct me in my duty by which to get relief from material existence."
TEXT 136
ṭhākura kahe,--"gharera dravya brāhmaṇe kara dāna
ei ghare āsi' tumi karaha viśrāma
SYNONYMS
ṭhākura kahe—Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura said; gharera—at home; dravya—articles; brāhmaṇe—to the brāhmaṇas; kara dāna—give as charity; ei ghare—in this room; āsi'-returning; tumi—you; karaha viśrāma—stay.
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "Immediately go home and distribute to the brāhmaṇas whatever property you have. Then come back to this room and stay here forever in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
PURPORT
Haridāsa Ṭhākura's instruction that the prostitute should distribute to the brāhmaṇas all the property she had at home is very significant. Haridāsa Ṭhākura never advised the prostitute to give charity to the so-called daridra-nārāyaṇa ("poor Nārāyaṇa") or any other such persons. According to Vedic civilization, charity should be given only to the qualified brāhmaṇas. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (18.42):
śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ
kṣāntir ārjavam eva ca
j�ānaṁ vij�ānam āstikyaṁ
brahma-karma svabhāva-jam
The brahminical qualifications are truthfulness, control of the senses and mind, tolerance, simplicity, knowledge, practical application of transcendental knowledge in one's life, and full faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. persons engaged in pursuing spiritual understanding have no time to earn their livelihood. They depend completely on the mercy of the Lord, who says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.22) that He personally carries to them all their necessities (yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham).
The Vedic civilization recommends that one give charity to brāhmaṇas and sannyāsīs, not to the so-called daridra-nārāyaṇa. Nārāyaṇa cannot be daridra, nor can daridra be Nārāyaṇa, for these are contradictory terms. Atheistic men invent such concoctions and preach them to fools, but charity should actually be given to brāhmaṇas and sannyāsīs because whatever money they get they spend for Kṛṣṇa. Whatever charity one gives to a brāhmaṇa goes to Kṛṣṇa, who says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.27):
yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi
yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam
"O son of Kunti, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me." Everything actually belongs to Kṛṣṇa, but so-called civilized men unfortunately think that everything belongs to them. This is the mistake of materialistic civilization. The prostitute (veśyā) had earned money by questionable means, and therefore Haridāsa Ṭhākura advised her to distribute to the brāhmaṇas whatever she possessed. When Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī retired from family life, he distributed fifty percent of his income to the brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas. A brāhmaṇa knows what the Absolute Truth is, and a Vaiṣṇava, knowing the Absolute Truth, acts on behalf of the Absolute Truth, the Supreme personality of Godhead. Generally one earns money by many questionable means. Therefore at some time one should retire and distribute whatever one has to the brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas who engage in devotional service by preaching the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TEXT 137
nirantara nāma lao, kara tulasī sevana
acirāt pābe tabe kṛṣṇera caraṇa"
SYNONYMS
nirantara—twenty-four hours a day; nāma lao—chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra; kara—perform; tulasī sevana—worship of the tulasī plant; acirāt—very soon; pābe—you will get; tabe—then; kṛṣṇera caraṇa—the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
"Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra continuously and render service to the tulasī plant by watering her and offering prayers to her. In this way you will very soon get the opportunity to be sheltered at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa."
PURPORT
At least five thousand years ago, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa expressed His desire that everyone surrender to Him (sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja). Why is it that people cannot do this? Kṛṣṇa assures, ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ: "I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear." Everyone is suffering from the results of sinful activities, but Kṛṣṇa says that if one surrenders unto Him, He will protect one from sinful reactions. Modern civilization, however, is interested neither in Kṛṣṇa nor in getting relief from sinful acts. Therefore men are suffering. Surrender is the ultimate instruction of Bhagavad-gītā, but for one who cannot surrender to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, it is better to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra constantly, under the instruction of Haridāsa Ṭhākura.
In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement we are teaching our followers to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra continuously on beads. Even those who are not accustomed to this practice are advised to chant at least sixteen rounds on their beads so that they may be trained. Otherwise, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommended:
tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
"One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street. One should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly." Sadā means "always." Haridāsa Ṭhākura says, nirantara nāma lao: "Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra without stopping."
Although Kṛṣṇa wants everyone to surrender to His lotus feet, because of people's sinful activities they cannot do this. Na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ: rascals and fools, the lowest of men, who engage in sinful activities, cannot suddenly surrender to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Nevertheless, if they begin chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and rendering service unto the tulasī plant, they will very soon be able to surrender. One's real duty is to surrender to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa but if one is unable to do so, he should adopt this process, as introduced by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His most confidential servant, Nāmācārya Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura. This is the way to achieve success in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
TEXT 138
eta bali' tāre 'nāma' upadeśa kari'
uṭhiyā calilā ṭhākura bali' 'hari' 'hari'
SYNONYMS
eta bali'-saying this; tāre—her; nāma upadeśa kari'-instructing about the process of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra; uṭhiyā—standing up; calilā—left; ṭhākura—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; bali'-chanting; hari hari—the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
TRANSLATION
After thus instructing the prostitute about the process of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, Haridāsa Ṭhākura stood up and left, continuously chanting "Hari, Hari."
TEXT 139
tabe sei veśyā gurura āj�ā la-ila
gṛha-vitta yebā chila, brāhmaṇere dila
SYNONYMS
tabe—thereafter; sei—that; veśyā—prostitute; gurura—of the spiritual master; āj�ā—order; la-ila—took; gṛha-vitta—all household possessions; yebā—whatever; chila—there was; brāhmaṇere—to the brāhmaṇas; dila—gave.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, the prostitute distributed to the brāhmaṇas whatever household possessions she had, following the order of her spiritual master.
PURPORT
Sometimes the word gṛha-vṛtti is substituted for the word gṛha-vitta. Vṛtti means "profession." The gṛha-vṛtti of the prostitute was to enchant foolish people and induce them to indulge in sex. Here, however, gṛha-vṛtti is not a suitable word. The proper word is gṛha-vitta, which means "all the possessions she had in her home." All the girl's possessions had been earned by professional prostitution and were therefore products of her sinful life. When such possessions are given to brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas who can engage them in the service of the Lord because of their advancement in spiritual life, this indirectly helps the person who gives the charity, for he is thus relieved of sinful reactions. As Kṛṣṇa promises, ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi: "I shall save you from all sinful reactions." When our Kṛṣṇa conscious devotees go out to beg charity or collect contributions in the form of membership fees, the money thus coming to the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is strictly employed to advance Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world. The Kṛṣṇa conscious devotees collect the money of others for the service of Kṛṣṇa, and they are satisfied with Kṛṣṇa's prasāda and whatever He gives them for their maintenance. They do not desire material comforts. However, they go to great pains to engage the possessions of prostitutes, or persons who are more or less like prostitutes, in the service of the Lord and thus free them from sinful reactions. A Vaiṣṇava guru accepts money or other contributions, but he does not employ such contributions for sense gratification. A pure Vaiṣṇava thinks himself unfit to help free even one person from the reactions of sinful life, but he engages one's hard-earned money in the service of the Lord and thus frees one from sinful reactions. A Vaiṣṇava guru is never dependent on the contributions of his disciples. Following the instructions of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, a pure Vaiṣṇava does not personally take even a single paisa from anyone, but he induces his followers to spend for the service of the Lord whatever possessions they have.
TEXT 140
māthā muḍi' eka-vastre rahila sei ghare
rātri-dine tina-lakṣa nāma grahaṇa kare
SYNONYMS
māthā muḍi'-shaving her head; eka-vastre—wearing one cloth; rahila—remained; sei ghare—in that room; rātri-dine—throughout the entire day and night; tina-lakṣa—300,000; nāma—holy names; grahaṇa kare—chants.
TRANSLATION
The prostitute shaved her head clean in accordance with Vaiṣṇava principles and stayed in that room wearing only one cloth. Following in the footsteps of her spiritual master, she began chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra 300,000 times a day. She chanted throughout the entire day and night.
TEXT 141
tulasī sevana kare, carvaṇa, upavāsa
indriya-damana haila, premera prakāśa
SYNONYMS
tulasī—the tulasī plant; sevana kare—she worshiped; carvaṇa—chewing; upavāsa—fasting; indriya-damana—controlling the senses; haila—there was; premera prakāśa—manifestations symptomizing love of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
She worshiped the tulasī plant, following in the footsteps of her spiritual master. Instead of eating regularly, she chewed whatever food she received as alms, and if nothing was supplied she would fast. Thus by eating frugally and fasting she conquered her senses, and as soon as her senses were controlled, symptoms of love of Godhead appeared in her person.
TEXT 142
prasiddhā vaiṣṇavī haila parama-mahāntī
baḍa baḍa vaiṣṇava tāṅra darśanete yānti
SYNONYMS
prasiddhā—celebrated; vaiṣṇavī—devotee of the Lord; haila—became; parama-mahāntī—very advanced; baḍa baḍa vaiṣṇava—many recognized, highly situated devotees; tāṅra—her; darśanete—to see; yānti—used to go.
TRANSLATION
Thus the prostitute became a celebrated devotee. She became very advanced in spiritual life, and many stalwart Vaiṣṇavas would come to see her.
PURPORT
Stalwart, highly advanced Vaiṣṇava devotees are not interested in seeing prostitutes, but when a prostitute or any other fallen soul becomes a Vaiṣṇava, stalwart Vaiṣṇavas are interested in seeing them. Anyone can be turned into a Vaiṣṇava if he or she follows the Vaiṣṇava principles. A devotee who follows these principles is no longer on the material platform. Therefore, it is one's strict adherence to the principles that should be considered, not the country of one's birth. Many devotees join our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement from Europe and America, but one should not therefore consider them European Vaiṣṇavas or American Vaiṣṇavas. A Vaiṣṇava is a Vaiṣṇava and should therefore be given all the respect due a Vaiṣṇava.
TEXT 143
veśyāra caritra dekhi' loke camatkāra
haridāsera mahimā kahe kari' namaskāra
SYNONYMS
veśyāra—of the prostitute; caritra—character; dekhi'-seeing; loke—all people; camatkāra—astonished; haridāsera—of Ṭhākura Haridāsa; mahimā—glories; kahe—speak; kari' namaskāra—offering obeisances.
TRANSLATION
Seeing the sublime character of the prostitute, everyone was astonished. Everyone glorified the influence of Haridāsa Ṭhākura and offered him obeisances.
PURPORT
It is said, phalena paricīyate: one is recognized by the result of his actions. In Vaiṣṇava society there are many types of Vaiṣṇavas. Some of them are called gosvāmīs, some are called svāmīs, some are prabhus, and some are prabhupāda. One is not recognized, however, simply by such a name. A spiritual master is recognized as an actual guru when it is seen that he has changed the character of his disciples. Haridāsa Ṭhākura actually changed the character of the professional prostitute. People greatly appreciated this, and therefore they all offered obeisances to Haridāsa Ṭhākura and glorified him.
TEXT 144
rāmacandra khāṅna aparādha-bīja kaila
sei bīja vṛkṣa ha�ā āgete phalila
SYNONYMS
rāmacandra khāṅna—Rāmacandra Khān; aparādha—of the offense; bīja—seed; kaila—caused to germinate; sei bīja—that seed; vṛkṣa ha�ā—becoming a tree; āgete—later; phalila—fructified.
TRANSLATION
By inducing a prostitute to disturb Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Rāmacandra Khān caused a seed of offense at his lotus feet to germinate. This seed later became a tree, and when it fructified, Rāmacandra Khān ate its fruits.
TEXT 145
mahad-aparādhera phala adbhuta kathana
prastāva pā�ā kahi, śuna, bhakta-gaṇa
SYNONYMS
mahat-aparādhera—of a great offense at the feet of the exalted devotee; phala—the result; adbhuta—wonderful; kathana—narration; prastāva—opportunity; pā�ā—taking advantage of; kahi—I say; śuna—hear; bhakta-gaṇa—O devotees.
TRANSLATION
This offense at the lotus feet of an exalted devotee has resulted in a wonderful narration. Taking advantage of the opportunity afforded by these incidents, I shall explain what happened. O devotees, please listen.
TEXT 146
sahajei avaiṣṇava rāmacandra-khāṅna
haridāsera aparādhe haila asura-samāna
SYNONYMS
sahajei-naturally; avaiṣṇava-nondevotee; rāmacandra-khāṅna-Rāmacandra Khān; haridāsera-at the lotus feet of Haridāsa; aparādhe-by offenses; haila-was; asura-samāna-exactly like a demon.
TRANSLATION
Rāmacandra Khān was naturally a nondevotee. Now, having offended the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, he became just like a demoniac atheist.
TEXT 147
vaiṣṇava-dharma nindā kare, vaiṣṇava-apamāna
bahu-dinera aparādhe pāila pariṇāma
SYNONYMS
vaiṣṇava-dharma—the cult of Vaiṣṇavism; nindā kare—blasphemes; vaiṣṇava apamāna—insults to the devotees; bahu-dinera—for a long time; aparādhe—by offensive activities; pāila—got; pariṇāma—the resultant action.
TRANSLATION
Because of blaspheming the cult of Vaiṣṇavism and insulting the devotees for a long time, he now received the results of his offensive activities.
PURPORT
Rāmacandra Khān was a great offender at the lotus feet of the Vaiṣṇavas and Viṣṇu. Just as Rāvaṇa, although born of a brāhmaṇa father, Viśvaśravā, was nevertheless called an asura or rākṣasa because of his offenses against Lord Rāmacandra (Viṣṇu) and Hanumān (a Vaiṣṇava), so Rāmacandra Khān also became such an asura because of his offenses against Haridāsa Ṭhākura and many others.
TEXT 148
nityānanda-gosā�i gauḍe yabe āilā
prema pracārite tabe bhramite lāgilā
SYNONYMS
nityānanda-gosā�i—Lord Nityānanda; gauḍe—in Bengal; yabe—when; āilā—came back; prema pracārite—to preach the cult of bhakti, love of Godhead; tabe—at that time; bhramite lāgilā—began to tour.
TRANSLATION
When Lord Nityānanda returned to Bengal to preach the cult of bhakti, love of Godhead, He began touring all over the country.
TEXT 149
prema-pracāraṇa āra pāṣaṇḍa-dalana
dui-kārye avadhūta karena bhramaṇa
SYNONYMS
prema-pracāraṇa—preaching the cult of bhakti; āra—and; pāṣaṇḍa-dalana—subduing atheistic men; dui-kārye—with two kinds of activities; avadhūta—the great devotee and mendicant; karena—does; bhramaṇa—touring.
TRANSLATION
For two purposes-to spread the cult of bhakti and to defeat and subdue the atheists-Lord Nityānanda, the most dedicated devotee of the Lord, moved throughout the country.
PURPORT
As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.8):
paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ-
vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya
sambhavāmi yuge yuge
Lord Kṛṣṇa appears in every millennium for two purposes, namely to deliver the devotees and kill the nondevotees. His devotees also have two similar purposes-to preach the bhakti cult of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and defeat all kinds of agnostics and atheistic demons. Nityānanda Prabhu carried out the order of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in this way, and those who strictly follow Nityānanda Prabhu perform the same activities. There are two classes of devotees. One is called goṣṭhyānandī, and the other is called bhajanānandī. A devotee who does not preach but always engages in devotional activities is called a bhajanānandī, whereas a devotee who not only is expert in devotional service but who also preaches the cult of bhakti and defeats all kinds of agnostics is called a goṣṭhyānandī.
TEXT 150
sarvaj�a nityānanda āilā tāra ghare
āsiyā vasilā durgā-maṇḍapa-upare
SYNONYMS
sarva-j�a—omniscient; nityānanda—Lord Nityānanda; āilā—came; tāra ghare—at his house; āsiyā—coming; vasilā—sat down; durgā-maṇḍapa-upare—on the altar of the Durgā-maṇḍapa.
TRANSLATION
Lord Nityānanda, who is omniscient because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, came to the house of Rāmacandra Khān and sat down on the altar of the Durgā-maṇḍapa.
PURPORT
Well-to-do Hindu gentlemen constructed their houses with a place called the Durgā-maṇḍapa for the worship of the goddess Durgā. There they generally held worship of the goddess every year in the month of Āśvina (October). Rāmacandra Khān possessed such a Durgā-maṇḍapa at his residence.
TEXT 151
aneka loka-jana saṅge aṅgana bharila
bhitara haite rāmacandra sevaka pāṭhāila
SYNONYMS
aneka—many; loka-jana—crowds of people; saṅge—accompanied by; aṅgana—the courtyard; bharila—became filled; bhitara haite—from inside; rāmacandra—Rāmacandra Khān; sevaka—servant; pāṭhāila—sent.
TRANSLATION
When the Durgā-maṇḍapa and courtyard were filled with crowds of men, Rāmacandra Khān, who was inside the house, sent his servant to Lord Nityānanda.
PURPORT
In those days, and also even now, the palatial buildings of respectable people, especially in the villages of Bengal, were divided into two parts. The inside part was especially meant for the family, and the ladies would live there unexposed to men. That part was called the bhitara-bāḍi, or inside house. In the outside house, or bahir-bāḍi, the respectable gentleman received visitors and kept his business office. The Durgā-maṇḍapa would be part of the outside house. Thus when Lord Nityānanda entered the outside house, Rāmacandra Khān was in the inside house with the members of his family. When Nityānanda Prabhu arrived, Rāmacandra Khān did not receive Him personally but sent his servant to inform Him indirectly to go away.
TEXT 152
sevaka bale--"gosā�i, more pāṭhāila khāṅna
gṛhasthera ghare tomāya diba vāsā-sthāna
SYNONYMS
sevaka bale—the servant said; gosā�i—my dear Lord; more—me; pāṭhāila—sent; khāṅna—Rāmacandra Khān; gṛhasthera ghare—at the house of some ordinary person; tomāya—unto You; diba—I shall give; vāsā-sthāna—residential place.
TRANSLATION
The servant informed Lord Nityānanda, "My dear sir, Rāmacandra Khān has sent me to accommodate You in some common man's house.
TEXT 153
goyālāra gośālā haya atyanta vistāra
ihāṅ saṅkīrṇa-sthala, tomāra manuṣya--apāra"
SYNONYMS
goyālāra—of a milkman; go-śālā—cow shed; haya—is; atyanta—very; vistāra—spacious; ihāṅ—here; saṅkīrṇa-sthala—very narrow place; tomāra—Your; manuṣya—adherents; apāra—unlimited.
TRANSLATION
"You might go to the house of a milkman, for the cow shed is spacious, whereas the space here in the Durgā-maṇḍapa is insufficient because You have many followers with You."
TEXT 154
bhitare āchilā, śuni' krodhe bāhirilā
aṭṭa aṭṭa hāsi' gosā�i kahite lāgilā
SYNONYMS
bhitare āchilā—was staying inside; śuni'-hearing; krodhe—in anger; bāhirilā—came out; aṭṭa aṭṭa—very loudly; hāsi'-laughing; gosā�i—Lord Nityānanda Prabhu; kahite lāgilā—began to say.
TRANSLATION
When Nityānanda Prabhu heard this order from the servant of Rāmacandra Khān, He became very angry and came out. Laughing very loudly, He spoke as follows.
TEXT 155
"satya kahe,--ei ghara mora yogya naya
mleccha go-vadha kare, tāra yogya haya"
SYNONYMS
satya kahe—Rāmacandra Khān says rightly; ei ghara—this house; mora—for Me; yogya naya—is not fit; mleccha—the meateaters; go-vadha kare—who kill cows; tāra—for them; yogya haya—it is fit.
TRANSLATION
"Rāmacandra Khān has spoken rightly. This place is unfit for Me. It is fit for cow-killing meateaters."
TEXT 156
eta bali' krodhe gosā�i uṭhiyā calilā
tāre daṇḍa dite se grāme nā rahilā
SYNONYMS
eta bali'-saying this; krodhe—in anger; gosā�i—Lord Nityānanda; uṭhiyā calilā—got up and left; tāre—him; daṇḍa dite—to chastise; se—that; grāme—in the village; nā rahilā—did not stay.
TRANSLATION
Having said this, Lord Nityānanda stood up and left in an angry mood. To chastise Rāmacandra Khān, He did not even stay in that village.
TEXT 157
ihāṅ rāmacandra khāna sevake āj�ā dila
gosā�i yāhāṅ vasilā, tāra māṭī khodāila
SYNONYMS
ihāṅ—here; rāmacandra khāna—Rāmacandra Khān; sevake—to the servant; āj�ā dila—ordered; gosā�i—Lord Nityānanda Prabhu; yāhāṅ—where; vasilā—sat down; tāra—of that place; māṭī—earth; khodāila—caused to dig.
TRANSLATION
Rāmacandra Khān ordered the servant to dig up the dirt in the place where Nityānanda Prabhu had sat.
TEXT 158
gomaya-jale lepilā saba mandira-prāṅgaṇa
tabu rāmacandrera mana nā haila parasanna
SYNONYMS
go-maya-jale—with water mixed with cow dung; lepilā—smeared; saba—all; mandira—the Durgā-maṇḍapa temple; prāṅgaṇa—the courtyard; tabu—still; rāmacandrera mana—the mind of Rāmacandra Khān; nā haila parasanna—was not happy.
TRANSLATION
To purify the Durgā-maṇḍapa temple and the courtyard, Rāmacandra Khān sprinkled and smeared it with water mixed with cow dung, but still his mind was unsatisfied.
TEXT 159
dasyu-vṛtti kare rāmacandra rājāre nā deya kara
kruddha ha�ā mleccha ujira āila tāra ghara
SYNONYMS
dasyu-vṛtti—the business of a thief; kare—does; rāmacandra—Rāmacandra; rājāre—to the government; nā—does not; deya—pay; kara—tax; kruddha ha�ā—being angry; mleccha—the Mohammedan; ujira—minister; āila—came; tāra ghara—to his house.
TRANSLATION
Rāmacandra Khān's business was questionable, for he tried to avoid paying income tax to the government. Therefore the government's minister of finance was angry and came to his residence.
TEXT 160
āsi' sei durgā-maṇḍape vāsā kaila
avadhya vadha kari' māṁsa se-ghare rāndhāila
SYNONYMS
āsi'-coming; sei durgā-maṇḍape—at that very place of the Durgā-maṇḍapa; vāsā kaila—made his residence; avadhya—a cow or calf, which is not to be killed; vadha kari'-killing; māṁsa—meat; se-ghare—in that place; rāndhāila—cooked.
TRANSLATION
The Mohammedan minister made his residence in the Durgā-maṇḍapa of Rāmacandra Khān. He killed a cow and cooked the meat at that very place.
TEXT 161
strī-putra-sahita rāmacandrere bāndhiyā
tāra ghara-grāma luṭe tina-dina rahiyā
SYNONYMS
strī-putra—his wife and children; sahita—with; rāmacandrere bāndhiyā—arresting Rāmacandra Khān; tāra—his; ghara-grāma—house and village; luṭe—plundered; tina-dina rahiyā—staying three days.
TRANSLATION
He arrested Rāmacandra Khān, along with his wife and sons, and then he continuously plundered the house and village for three days.
TEXT 162
sei ghare tina dina kare amedhya randhana
āra dina sabā la�ā karilā gamana
SYNONYMS
sei ghare—in that room; tina dina—for three days; kare—does; amedhya randhana—cooking the flesh of a cow; āra dina—the next day; sabā la�ā—accompanied by his followers; karilā gamana—left.
TRANSLATION
In that very room he cooked the flesh of a cow for three consecutive days. Then the next day he left, accompanied by his followers.
TEXT 163
jāti-dhana-jana khānera sakala la-ila
bahu-dina paryanta grāma ujāḍa rahila
SYNONYMS
jāti—birthright; dhana—riches; jana—followers; khānera—of Rāmacandra Khān; sakala—everything; la-ila—he took away; bahu-dina—a long time; paryanta—for; grāma—the village; ujāḍa rahila—remained deserted.
TRANSLATION
The Mohammedan minister took away Rāmacandra Khān's position, wealth and followers. For many days the village remained deserted.
TEXT 164
mahāntera apamāna ye deśa-grāme haya
eka janāra doṣe saba deśa ujāḍaya
SYNONYMS
mahāntera—of persons who are highly advanced in spiritual life; apamāna—disrespect; ye deśa-grāme—in which country or village; haya—is; eka janāra—of one man; doṣe—for the fault; saba deśa—the whole country; ujāḍaya—becomes afflicted.
TRANSLATION
Wherever an advanced devotee is insulted, for one man's fault the entire town or place is afflicted.
TEXT 165
haridāsa-ṭhākura cali' āilā cāndapure
āsiyā rahilā balarāma-ācāryera ghare
SYNONYMS
haridāsa-ṭhākura—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; cali'-walking; āilā—came; cāndapure—in the village known as Cāndapura; āsiyā—coming; rahilā—remained; balarāma-ācāryera ghare—at the residence of Balarāma Ācārya
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa Ṭhākura walked until he came to the village known as Cāndapura. There he stayed at the house of Balarāma Ācārya.
PURPORT
The village of Cāndapura is situated near the confluence of the rivers Ganges and Yamunā at Saptagrāma in the district of Huglī. Cāndapura is just east of the house of the two brothers Hiraṇya and Govardhana, the father and uncle of Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī. In Cāndapura lived Balarāma Ācārya and Yadunandana Ācārya, the priests of these two personalities, and when Haridāsa Ṭhākura went there he lived with them. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura says that the name of this village was later changed to Kṛṣṇapura.
TEXT 166
hiraṇya, govardhana--dui mulukera majumadāra
tāra purohita--'balarāma' nāma tāṅra
SYNONYMS
hiraṇya—Hiraṇya; govardhana—Govardhana; dui—two; mulukera—of that country; majumadāra—treasurers of the government; tāra—their; purohita—priest; balarāma—Balarāma; nāma—name; tāṅra—his.
TRANSLATION
Hiraṇya and Govardhana were the two governmental treasurers in that division of the country. Their priest was named Balarāma Ācārya.
PURPORT
The word majumadāra refers to a treasurer who keeps accounts of revenue.
TEXT 167
haridāsera kṛpā-pātra, tāte bhakti-māne
yatna kari' ṭhākurere rākhilā sei grāme
SYNONYMS
haridāsera kṛpā-pātra—favored by Haridāsa Ṭhākura; tāte—therefore; bhakti-māne—a great devotee of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; yatna kari'-with great care and attention; ṭhākurere—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; rākhilā—kept; sei grāme—in the village.
TRANSLATION
Balarāma Ācārya, being favored by Haridāsa Ṭhākura, was very attached to him. Therefore he kept Haridāsa Ṭhākura in the village with great care and attention.
TEXT 168
nirjana parṇa-śālāya karena kīrtana
balarāma-ācārya-gṛhe bhikṣā-nirvāhaṇa
SYNONYMS
nirjana—solitary; parṇa-śālāya—in a thatched cottage; karena—performs; kīrtana—chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra; balarāma-ācārya-gṛhe—at the house of Balarāma Ācārya; bhikṣā-nirvāhaṇa—accepting alms.
TRANSLATION
In the village, Haridāsa Ṭhākura was given a solitary thatched cottage, where he performed the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra He accepted prasāda at the house of Balarāma Ācārya.
TEXT 169
raghunātha-dāsa bālaka karena adhyayana
haridāsa-ṭhākurere yāi' karena darśana
SYNONYMS
raghunātha-dāsa—Raghunātha dāsa; bālaka—a boy; karena adhyayana—was engaged in study; haridāsa-ṭhākurere—to Haridāsa Ṭhākura; yāi'-going; karena darśana—used to see.
TRANSLATION
Raghunātha dāsa, who was the son of Hiraṇya Majumadāra and was later to become Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, was at that time a boy engaged in study. He came to see Haridāsa Ṭhākura daily.
TEXT 170
haridāsa kṛpā kare tāṅhāra upare
sei kṛpā 'kāraṇa' haila caitanya pāibāre
SYNONYMS
haridāsa—Ṭhākura Haridāsa; kṛpā kare—shows mercy; tāṅhāra upare—upon him; sei kṛpā—that mercy; kāraṇa—the cause; haila—became; caitanya—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; pāibāre—to attain.
TRANSLATION
Naturally Haridāsa Ṭhākura was merciful toward him, and because of the merciful benediction of this Vaiṣṇava, he later attained the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's lotus feet.
TEXT 171
tāhāṅ yaiche haila haridāsera mahimā kathana
vyākhyāna,--adbhuta kathā śuna, bhakta-gaṇa
SYNONYMS
tāhāṅ—at that place; yaiche—just as; haila—there was; haridāsera—of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; mahimā—glories; kathana—discussion; vyākhyāna—discourse; adbhuta—wonderful; kathā—incident; śuna—hear; bhakta-gaṇa—O devotees.
TRANSLATION
At the residence of Hiraṇya and Govardhana, discourses took place by which Haridāsa Ṭhākura was glorified. O devotees, please listen to that wonderful story.
TEXT 172
eka-dina balarāma minati kariyā
majumadārera sabhāya āilā ṭhākure la�ā
SYNONYMS
eka-dina—one day; balarāma—Balarāma Ācārya; minati kariyā—in great humility; majumadārera—of the Majumadāras, Hiraṇya and Govardhana; sabhāya—at the assembly; āilā—came; ṭhākure—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; la�ā—taking with him.
TRANSLATION
One day Balarāma Ācārya requested Haridāsa Ṭhākura with great humility to come to the assembly of the Majumadāras, Hiraṇya and Govardhana. Thus Balarāma Ācārya went there with Haridāsa Ṭhākura.
TEXT 173
ṭhākura dekhi' dui bhāi kailā abhyutthāna
pāya paḍi' āsana dilā kariyā sammāna
SYNONYMS
ṭhākura dekhi'-seeing Haridāsa Ṭhākura; dui bhāi—the two brothers; kailā abhyutthāna—stood up; pāya paḍi'-falling at the lotus feet; āsana dilā—offered a sitting place; kariyā sammāna—with great respect.
TRANSLATION
Seeing Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the two brothers immediately stood up and fell at his lotus feet. Then with great respect they offered him a place to sit.
TEXT 174
aneka paṇḍita sabhāya, brāhmaṇa, sajjana
dui bhāi mahā-paṇḍita--hiraṇya, govardhana
SYNONYMS
aneka paṇḍita—many learned scholars; sabhāya—in that assembly; brāhmaṇa—brāhmaṇas; sat-jana—respectable gentlemen; dui bhāi—the two brothers; mahā-paṇḍita—very learned scholars; hiraṇya—Hiraṇya; govardhana—Govardhana.
TRANSLATION
In that assembly were many learned scholars, brāhmaṇas and respectable gentlemen. The two brothers Hiraṇya and Govardhana were also greatly learned.
TEXT 175
haridāsera guṇa sabe kahe pa�ca-mukhe
śuniyā ta' dui bhāi pāilā baḍa sukhe
SYNONYMS
haridāsera—of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; guṇa—the qualities; sabe—all of them; kahe—began to speak; pa�ca-mukhe—as if speaking with five mouths; śuniyā—hearing; ta'-certainly; dui bhāi—the two brothers; pāilā—got; baḍa sukhe—very great happiness.
TRANSLATION
Everyone there began to speak of Haridāsa Ṭhākura's great qualities as if they had five mouths. Hearing this, both brothers were extremely happy.
TEXT 176
tina-lakṣa nāma ṭhākura karena kīrtana
nāmera mahimā uṭhāila paṇḍita-gaṇa
SYNONYMS
tina-lakṣa—300,000; nāma—holy names of the Lord; ṭhākura—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; karena kīrtana—used to chant; nāmera—of the holy name; mahimā—glories; uṭhāila—raised; paṇḍita-gaṇa—all the learned scholars.
TRANSLATION
It was mentioned in the assembly that Haridāsa Ṭhākura chanted the holy names of Kṛṣṇa 300,000 times a day. Thus all the learned scholars began to discuss the glories of the holy name.
TEXT 177
keha bale,--'nāma haite haya pāpa-kṣaya'
keha bale,--'nāma haite jīvera mokṣa haya'
SYNONYMS
keha bale—some of them said; nāma haite—by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra; haya—there is; pāpa-kṣaya—disappearance of all reactions to sinful activities; keha bale—some of them said; nāma haite—by chanting the holy name; jīvera—of the living entities; mokṣa haya—there is liberation.
TRANSLATION
Some of them said, "By chanting the holy name of the Lord, one is freed from the reactions of all sinful life." Others said, "Simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord, a living being is liberated from material bondage."
TEXT 178
haridāsa kahena,--"nāmera ei dui phala naya
nāmera phale kṛṣṇa-pade prema upajaya
SYNONYMS
haridāsa kahena—Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied; nāmera—of chanting the holy name of the Lord; ei—these, dui—two; phala—results; naya—are not; nāmera phale—by the result of chanting the holy name; kṛṣṇa-pade—at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa; prema upajaya—awakening of ecstatic love.
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa Ṭhākura protested, "These two benedictions are not the true result of chanting the holy name. By actually chanting the holy name without offenses, one awakens his ecstatic love for the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 179
evaṁ-vrataḥ sva-priya-nāma-kīrtyā
jātānurāgo druta-citta uccaiḥ
hasaty atho roditi rauti gāyaty
unmādavan nṛtyati loka-bāhyaḥ
SYNONYMS
evam-vrataḥ—when one thus engages in the vow to chant and dance; sva—own; priya—very dear; nāma—holy name; kīrtyā—by chanting; jāta—in this way develops; anurāgaḥ—attachment; druta-cittaḥ—very eagerly; uccaiḥ—loudly; hasati—laughs; atho—also; roditi—cries; rauti—becomes agitated; gāyati—chants; unmāda-vat—like a madman; nṛtyati—dances; loka-bāhyaḥ—not caring for outsiders.
TRANSLATION
"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.'
PURPORT
For an explanation of this verse (Bhāg. 11.2.40) one may consult Chapter Seven, text 94, of the Ādi-līlā.
TEXT 180
ānuṣaṅgika phala nāmera--'mukti', 'pāpa-nāśa'
tāhāra dṛṣṭānta yaiche sūryera prakāśa
SYNONYMS
ānuṣaṅgika—concomitant; phala—result; nāmera—of the holy name; mukti—liberation; pāpa-nāśa—extinction of the resultant actions of sinful life; tāhāra—of that; dṛṣṭānta—example; yaiche—as; sūryera prakāśa—light of the sun.
TRANSLATION
"Liberation and extinction of the reactions of sinful life are two concomitant by-products of chanting the holy name of the Lord. An example is found in the gleams of morning sunlight.
TEXT 181
aṁhaḥ saṁharad akhilaṁ sakṛd
udayād eva sakala-lokasya
taraṇir iva timira-jaladhiṁ
jayati jagan-maṅgalaṁ harer nāma
SYNONYMS
aṁhaḥ—the resultant action of sinful life, which causes material bondage; saṁharat—completely eradicating; akhilam—all; sakṛt—once only; udayāt—by rising; eva—certainly; sakala—all; lokasya—of the people of the world; taraṇiḥ—the sun; iva—like; timira—of darkness; jala-dhim—the ocean; jayati—all glories to; jagat-maṅgalam—auspicious for the whole world; hareḥ nāma—the holy name of the Lord. name of the Lord.
TRANSLATION
"As the rising sun immediately dissipates all the world's darkness, which is deep like an ocean, so the holy name of the Lord, if chanted once without offenses, can dissipate all the reactions of a living being's sinful life. All glories to that holy name of the Lord, which is auspicious for the entire world.' "
PURPORT
This verse is found in the Padyāvalī (16).
TEXT 182
ei ślokera artha kara paṇḍitera gaṇa"
sabe kahe,--'tumi kaha artha-vivaraṇa'
SYNONYMS
ei ślokera—of this verse; artha—meaning; kara—explain; paṇḍitera gaṇa—O groups of learned scholars; sabe kahe—everyone said; tumi kaha—you speak; artha-vivaraṇa—the meaning and explanation.
TRANSLATION
After reciting this verse, Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, "O learned scholars, please explain the meaning of this verse." But the audience requested Haridāsa Ṭhākura,"It is better for you to explain the meaning of this important verse."
TEXT 183
haridāsa kahena,--"yaiche sūryera udaya
udaya nā haite ārambhe tamera haya kṣaya
SYNONYMS
haridāsa kahena—Haridāsa Ṭhākura began to explain; yaiche—like; sūryera udaya—sunrise; udaya nā haite—although not visible; ārambhe—from the beginning; tamera—of darkness; haya kṣaya—there is dissipation.
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, "As the sun begins to rise, even before visible it dissipates the darkness of night.
TEXT 184
caura-preta-rākṣasādira bhaya haya nāśa
udaya haile dharma-karma-ādi parakāśa
SYNONYMS
caura—thieves; preta—ghosts; rākṣasa—demons; ādira—of them and others; bhaya—fear; haya—becomes; nāśa—destroyed; udaya haile—when the sunrise is actually visible; dharma-karma—all religious activities and regulative principles; ādi—everything; parakāśa—becomes manifest.
TRANSLATION
"With the first glimpse of sunlight, fear of thieves, ghosts and demons immediately disappears, and when the sun is actually visible, everything is manifest, and everyone begins performing his religious activities and regulative duties.
TEXT 185
aiche nāmodayārambhe pāpa-ādira kṣaya
udaya kaile kṛṣṇa-pade haya premodaya
SYNONYMS
aiche—similarly; nāma-udaya—of the appearance of the holy name; ārambhe—by the beginning; pāpa—reactions of sinful activities; ādira—of them and others; kṣaya—dissipation; udaya kaile—when there is actually awakening of offenseless chanting; kṛṣṇa-pade—at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa; haya prema-udaya—there is awakening of ecstatic love.
TRANSLATION
"Similarly, the first hint that offenseless chanting of the Lord's holy name has awakened dissipates the reactions of sinful life immediately. And when one chants the holy name offenselessly, one awakens to service in ecstatic love at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 186
mukti' tuccha-phala haya nāmābhāsa haite
SYNONYMS
'mukti—liberation; tuccha-phala—insignificant result; haya—is; nāma-ābhāsa haite—from a glimpse of awakening of offenseless chanting of the holy name.
TRANSLATION
"Liberation is the insignificant result derived from a glimpse of awakening of offenseless chanting of the holy name.
TEXT 187
mriyamāṇo harer nāma
gṛṇan putropacāritam
ajāmilo 'py agād dhāma
kim uta śraddhayā gṛṇan
SYNONYMS
mriyamāṇaḥ—dying; hareḥ nāma—the holy name of the Supreme Lord; gṛṇan—chanting; putra-upacāritam—though spoken for his son; ajāmilaḥ—Ajāmila; api—also; agāt—attained; dhāma—the spiritual world; kim uta—what to speak of; śraddhayā—with faith and reverence; gṛṇan-chanting.
TRANSLATION
"While dying, Ajāmila chanted the holy name of the Lord, intending to call his son Nārāyaṇa. Nevertheless, he attained the spiritual world. What then to speak of those who chant the holy name with faith and reverence?'
PURPORT
This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.2.49).
TEXT 188
ye mukti bhakta nā laya, se kṛṣṇa cāhe dite"
SYNONYMS
ye—which; mukti—liberation; bhakta—a devotee; nā laya—does not take; se—that; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; cāhe dite—wants to offer.
TRANSLATION
"Liberation, which is unacceptable for a pure devotee, is always offered by Kṛṣṇa without difficulty.
TEXT 189
sālokya-sārṣṭi-sārūpya-
sāmīpyaikatvam apy uta
dīyamānaṁ na gṛhṇanti
vinā mat-sevanaṁ janāḥ
SYNONYMS
sālokya—to live on the same planet; sārṣṭi—to acquire the same opulence; sārūpya—to achieve the same bodily features; sāmīpya—to live always near the Supreme Lord; ekatvam—to merge into the existence of the Lord; api—even; uta—certainly; dīyamānam—being offered; na gṛhṇanti—do not take; vinā—without; mat-sevanam—My service; janāḥ—the devotees.
TRANSLATION
"My devotees do not accept sālokya, sārṣṭi, sārūpya, sāmīpya, or oneness with Me-even if I offer these liberations-in preference to serving Me.' "
PURPORT
This verse is spoken by Lord Kapila, an avatāra of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.29.13).
TEXT 190
'gopāla cakravartī' nāma eka-jana
majumadārera ghare sei ārindā pradhāna
SYNONYMS
gopāla cakravartī—Gopāla Cakravartī; nāma—named; eka-jana—one person; majumadārera ghare—at the residence of Hiraṇya and Govardhana Majumadāra; sei—he; ārindā pradhāna—the chief tax collector.
TRANSLATION
At the house of Hiraṇya and Govardhana Majumadāra, a person named Gopāla Cakravartī was officially the chief tax collector.
TEXT 191
gauḍe rahi' pātsāhā-āge ārindā-giri kare
bāra-lakṣa mudrā sei pātsāra ṭhā�i bhare
SYNONYMS
gauḍe rahi'-living in Bengal; pātsāhā-āge—on behalf of the emperor; ārindā-giri kare—acts as the chief tax collector; bāra-lakṣa—twelve hundred thousand; mudrā—coins; sei—he; pātsāra ṭhā�i—for the emperor; bhare—collects.
TRANSLATION
This Gopāla Cakravartī lived in Bengal. His duty as chief tax collector was to collect 1,200,000 coins to deposit in the treasury of the emperor.
TEXT 192
parama-sundara, paṇḍita, nūtana-yauvana
nāmābhāse 'mukti' śuni' nā ha-ila sahana
SYNONYMS
parama-sundara—very beautiful; paṇḍita—learned; nūtana—new; yauvana—youth; nāma-ābhāse—by the glimpse of awakening of pure chanting of the holy name; mukti—liberation; śuni'-hearing; nā ha-ila sahana—could not tolerate.
TRANSLATION
He had handsome bodily features, and he was learned and youthful, but he could not tolerate the statement that simply by glimpsing the awakening of the Lord's holy name one can attain liberation.
PURPORT
Vaiṣṇavas strictly follow the directions of the śāstras regarding how one can be liberated simply by a slight awakening of pure chanting of the holy name. Māyāvādīs cannot tolerate the statements of the śāstras about how easily liberation can be achieved, for as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (12.5), kleśo 'dhikataras teṣām avyaktāsakta-cetasām: impersonalists must work hard for many, many births, and only then will they perhaps be liberated. Vaiṣṇavas know that simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord offenselessly, one achieves liberation as a by-product. Thus there is no need to endeavor separately for liberation. Śrīla Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura has said, muktiḥ svayaṁ mukulitā�jali sevate 'smān: liberation stands at one's door, ready to render any kind of service, if one is a pure devotee with unflinching faith and reverence. This the Māyāvādīs cannot tolerate. Therefore the ārindā pradhāna, chief tax collector, although very learned, handsome and youthful, could not tolerate the statements of Haridāsa Ṭhākura
TEXT 193
kruddha ha�ā bale sei saroṣa vacana
"bhāvukera siddhānta śuna, paṇḍitera gaṇa
SYNONYMS
kruddha ha�ā—becoming very angry; bale—said; sei—he; sa-roṣa vacana—angry words; bhāvukera—of an emotional person; siddhānta—conclusion; śuna—just hear; paṇḍitera gaṇa—O assembly of learned scholars.
TRANSLATION
This young man, Gopāla Cakravartī, became very angry upon hearing the statements of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. He immediately criticized him. "O assembly of learned scholars," he said, "just hear the conclusion of the emotional devotee.
TEXT 194
koṭi-janme brahma-j�āne yei 'mukti' naya
ei kahe,--nāmābhāse sei 'mukti' haya"
SYNONYMS
koṭi-janme—after millions upon millions of births; brahma-j�āne—by absolute knowledge; yei—which; mukti naya—liberation is not possible; ei—this person; kahe—says; nāma-ābhāse—simply by the awakening of a glimpse of the pure chanting of the holy name; sei—that; mukti—liberation; haya—becomes possible.
TRANSLATION
"After many millions upon millions of births, when one is complete in absolute knowledge, one still may not attain liberation, yet this ma says that one may attain it simply by the awakening of a glimpse of the holy name."
TEXT 195
haridāsa kahena,--kene karaha saṁśaya?
śāstre kahe,--nāmābhāsa-mātre 'mukti' haya
SYNONYMS
haridāsa kahena—Haridāsa Ṭhākura said; kene—why; karaha saṁśaya—are you doubtful; śāstre kahe—it is stated in the revealed scriptures; nāma-ābhāsa mātre—simply by a glimpse of the chanting of the holy name; mukti haya—there is liberation.
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, "Why are you doubtful? The revealed scriptures say that one can attain liberation simply by a glimpse of offenseless chanting of the holy name.
TEXT 196
bhakti-sukha-āge 'mukti' ati-tuccha haya
ataeva bhakta-gaṇa 'mukti' nāhi laya
SYNONYMS
bhakti-sukha—transcendental bliss derived from devotional service; āge—before; mukti—liberation; ati-tuccha—extremely insignificant; haya—is; ataeva—therefore; bhakta-gaṇa—pure devotees; mukti—liberation; nāhi laya—do not accept.
TRANSLATION
"For a devotee who enjoys the transcendental bliss of devotional service, liberation is most insignificant. Therefore pure devotees never desire to achieve liberation.
TEXT 197
tvat-sākṣātkaraṇāhlāda-
viśuddhābdhi-sthitasya me
sukhāni goṣpadāyante
brāhmāṇy api jagad-guro
SYNONYMS
tvat—You; sākṣāt-karaṇa—by meeting; āhlāda—of pleasure; viśuddha—spiritually purified; abdhi—in an ocean; sthitasya—situated; me—of me; sukhāni—happiness; goṣpadāyante—is like a calf's hoofprint; brāhmāṇi—derived from understanding of impersonal Brahman; api—also; jagat-guro—O master of the universe.
TRANSLATION
"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, including even brahmānanda, to be like the water contained in the hoofprint of a calf.' "
PURPORT
This verse is quoted from the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (14.36).
TEXT 198
vipra kahe,--"nāmābhāse yadi 'mukti' naya
tabe tomāra nāka kāṭi' karaha niścaya"
SYNONYMS
vipra kahe—the brāhmaṇa said; nāma-ābhāse—simply by the awakening of offenseless chanting of the holy name; yadi—if; mukti naya—liberation is not attainable; tabe—then; tomāra—your; nāka—nose; kāṭi'-I shall cut off; karaha niścaya—take it as certain.
TRANSLATION
Gopāla Cakravartī said, "if one is not liberated by nāmābhāsa, then you may be certain that I shall cut off your nose."
TEXT 199
haridāsa kahena,--"yadi nāmābhāse 'mukti' naya
tabe āmāra nāka kāṭimu,--ei suniścaya"
SYNONYMS
haridāsa kahena—Haridāsa Ṭhākura said; yadi—if; nāma-ābhāse—simply by the awakening of the holy name of the Lord; mukti naya—mukti is not available; tabe—then; āmāra—my; nāka—nose; kāṭimu—I shall cut off; ei—this; suniścaya—certain.
TRANSLATION
Then Haridāsa Ṭhākura accepted the challenge offered by Gopāla Cakravartī. "If by nāmābhāsa liberation is not available," he said, "certainly I shall cut off my nose."
TEXT 200
śuni' sabhā-sad uṭhe kari' hāhākāra
majumadāra sei vipre karila dhikkāra
SYNONYMS
śuni'-hearing; sabhā-sat—all the members of the assembly; uṭhe—got up; kari' hāhā-kāra—making a tumultuous sound; majumadāra—Hiraṇya and Govardhana Majumadāra; sei vipre—unto that brāhmaṇa who was their servant; karila—made; dhik-kāra—chastisement.
TRANSLATION
All the members of the assembly who had heard the challenge were greatly agitated, and they got up, making a tumultuous sound. Hiraṇya and Govardhana Majumadāra both immediately chastised the brāhmaṇa tax collector.
TEXT 201
balāi-purohita tāre karilā bhartsana
"ghaṭa-paṭiyā mūrkha tu�i bhakti kāṅhā jāna?
SYNONYMS
balāi-purohita—the priest named Balarāma Ācārya; tāre—unto Gopāla Cakravartī; karilā—did; bhartsana—chastisement; ghaṭa-paṭiyā—interested in the pot and the earth; mūrkha—fool; tu�i—you; bhakti—devotional service; kāṅhā—what; jāna—do know.
TRANSLATION
The priest named Balarāma Ācārya chastised Gopāla Cakravartī. "You are a foolish logician," he said, "What do you know about the devotional service of the Lord?
PURPORT
The philosophy enunciated by the Māyāvādīs is called ghaṭa-paṭiyā philosophy. According to this philosophy, everything is one, everything is earth, and therefore anything made of earth, such as different pots, is also the same earth. Such philosophers see no distinction between a pot made of earth and the earth itself. Since Gopāla Cakravartī was a ghaṭa-paṭiyā logician, a gross materialist, what could he understand about the transcendental devotional service of the Lord?
TEXT 202
haridāsa-ṭhākure tu�i kaili apamāna!
sarva-nāśa habe tora, nā habe kalyāṇa"
SYNONYMS
haridāsa-ṭhākure—unto Haridāsa Ṭhākura; tu�i—you; kaili—did; apamāna—insult; sarva-nāśa—destruction of everything; habe—there will be; tora—your; nā—not; habe—will be; kalyāṇa—auspicious result.
TRANSLATION
"You have insulted Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Thus there will be a dangerous position for you. You should not expect anything auspicious."
TEXT 203
śuni' haridāsa tabe uṭhiyā calilā
majumadāra sei vipre tyāga karilā
SYNONYMS
śuni'-hearing; haridāsa—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; tabe—then; uṭhiyā calilā—got up and began to go away; majumadāra—Hiraṇya and Govardhana Majumadāra; sei vipre—this tyāga karilā—kicked out.
TRANSLATION
Then Haridāsa Ṭhākura got up to leave, and the Majumadāras, the masters of Gopāla Cakravartī, immediately dismissed Gopāla Cakravartī from their service.
TEXT 204
sabhā-sahite haridāsera paḍilā caraṇe
haridāsa hāsi' kahe madhura-vacane
SYNONYMS
sabhā-sahite—with all the members of the assembly; haridāsera—of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; paḍilā caraṇe—fell down at the lotus feet; haridāsa—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; hāsi'-smiling; kahe—said; madhura-vacane—in a sweet voice.
TRANSLATION
With all the members of the assembly, the two Majumadāras fell at the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Haridāsa Ṭhākura was smiling, however, and he spoke in a sweet voice.
TEXT 205
"tomā-sabāra doṣa nāhi, ei aj�a brāhmaṇa
tāra doṣa nāhi, tāra tarka-niṣṭha mana
SYNONYMS
tomā-sabāra—of all of you; doṣa—fault; nāhi—there is not; ei—this; aj�a—ignorant; brāhmaṇa—so-called brāhmaṇa; tāra doṣa nāhi—he is also not at fault; tāra—his; tarka-niṣṭha—accustomed to speculation; mana—mind.
TRANSLATION
"None of you are at fault," he said. "Indeed, even this ignorant so-called brāhmaṇa is not at fault, for he is accustomed to dry speculation and logic.
TEXT 206
tarkera gocara nahe nāmera mahattva
kothā haite jānibe se ei saba tattva?
SYNONYMS
tarkera—by argument and logic; gocara—appreciable; nahe—is not; nāmera—of the holy name; mahattva—the glory; kothā haite—from where; jānibe—will know; se—he; ei—this; saba—all; tattva—truth.
TRANSLATION
"One cannot understand the glories of the holy name simply by logic and argument. Therefore this man cannot possibly understand the glories of the holy name.
TEXT 207
yāha ghara, kṛṣṇa karuna kuśala sabāra
āmāra sambandhe duḥkha nā ha-uka kāhāra"
SYNONYMS
yāha ghara—go to your homes; kṛṣṇa karuna—may Lord Kṛṣṇa bestow; kuśala sabāra—blessings to everyone; āmāra sambandhe—on my account; duḥkha—unhappiness; nā ha-uka—may there not be; kāhāra—of anyone.
TRANSLATION
"All of you may now go to your homes. May Lord Kṛṣṇa bestow his blessings upon you all. Do not be sorry because of my being insulted."
PURPORT
From this statement by Haridāsa Ṭhākura, it is understood that a pure Vaiṣṇava never takes anyone's insults seriously. This is the teaching of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu:
tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
"One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street. One should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and ready to offer all respects to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly." A Vaiṣṇava is always tolerant and submissive like trees and grass. He tolerates insults offered by others, for he is simply interested in chanting the holy name of the Lord without being disturbed.
TEXT 208
tabe se hiraṇya-dāsa nija ghare āila
sei brāhmaṇe nija dvāra-mānā kaila
SYNONYMS
tabe—thereupon; se—that; hiraṇya-dāsa—Hiraṇya Majumadāra; nija—own; ghare—to home; āila—returned; sei—that; brāhmaṇe—to Gopāla Cakravartī; nija—own; dvāra—door; mānā—prohibition; kaila—issued.
TRANSLATION
Then Hiraṇya dāsa Majumadāra returned to his home and ordered that Gopāla Cakravartī not be admitted therein.                                                                                                TEXT 209
tina dina bhitare sei viprera 'kuṣṭha' haila
ati ucca nāsā tāra galiyā paḍila
SYNONYMS
tina dina—three days; bhitare—within; sei—that; viprera—of the brāhmaṇa; kuṣṭha—leprosy; haila—appeared; ati—very; ucca—raised; nāsā—nose; tāra—his; galiyā—melting; paḍila—fell.
TRANSLATION
Within three days that brāhmaṇa was attacked by leprosy, and as a result his highly raised nose melted away and fell off.
TEXT 210
campaka-kali-sama hasta-padāṅguli
koṅkaḍa ha-ila saba, kuṣṭhe gela gali'
SYNONYMS
campaka—of a golden-hued flower; kali—buds; sama—like; hasta-pada-aṅguli—fingers and toes; koṅkaḍa ha-ila—became crumpled; saba—all; kuṣṭhe—because of leprosy; gela gali'-melted away.
TRANSLATION
The brāhmaṇa's toes and fingers were beautiful like golden-colored campaka buds, but because of leprosy they all withered and gradually melted away.
TEXT 211
dekhiyā sakala loka haila camatkāra
haridāse praśaṁsi' tāṅre kare namaskāra
SYNONYMS
dekhiyā—seeing; sakala loka—all people; haila—became; camatkāra—astonished; haridāse—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; praśaṁsi'-praising; tāṅre—unto him; kare—offer; namaskāra—obeisances.
TRANSLATION
Seeing the condition of Gopāla Cakravartī, everyone was astonished. Everyone praised the influence of Haridāsa Ṭhākura and offered him obeisances.
TEXT 212
yadyapi haridāsa viprera doṣa nā la-ilā
tathāpi īśvara tāre phala bhu�jāilā
SYNONYMS
yadyapi—although; haridāsa—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; viprera—of the brāhmaṇa; doṣa—offense; nā—did not; la-ilā—take seriously; tathāpi—still; īśvara—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tāre—unto him; phala—the result of insulting a Vaiṣṇava; bhu�jāilā—made to suffer.
TRANSLATION
Although Haridāsa Ṭhākura, as a Vaiṣṇava, did not take seriously the brāhmaṇa's offense, the Supreme Personality of Godhead could not tolerate it, and thus he made the brāhmaṇa suffer the consequences.
TEXT 213
bhakta-svabhāva,--aj�a-doṣa kṣamā kare
kṛṣṇa-svabhāva,--bhakta-nindā sahite nā pāre
SYNONYMS
bhakta-svabhāva—the characteristic of a pure devotee; aj�a-doṣa—offense by an ignorant rascal; kṣamā kare—excuses; kṛṣṇa-svabhāva—the characteristic of Kṛṣṇa; bhakta-nindā—blaspheming the devotees; sahite nā pāre—cannot tolerate.
TRANSLATION
A characteristic of a pure devotee is that he excuses any offense by an ignorant rascal. The characteristic of Kṛṣṇa, however, is that He cannot tolerate blasphemy of His devotees.
PURPORT
tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
A Vaiṣṇava strictly follows this principle of being humbler than the grass and more tolerant than a tree, expecting no honor from others but offering honor to everyone. In this way, a Vaiṣṇava is simply interested in chanting about the Supreme personality of Godhead and glorifying Him. Haridāsa Ṭhākura epitomized this foremost order of Vaiṣṇavism. Kṛṣṇa cannot tolerate any insults or blasphemy against a Vaiṣṇava. For example, Prahlāda Mahārāja was chastised by his father, Hiraṇyakaśipu, in so many ways, but although Prahlāda tolerated this, Kṛṣṇa did not. The Lord therefore came in the form of Nṛsiṁhadeva to kill Hiraṇyakaśipu. Similarly, although Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura tolerated the insult by Gopāla Cakravartī, Kṛṣṇa could not. The Lord immediately punished Gopāla Cakravartī by making him suffer from leprosy. While instructing Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī about the many restrictive rules and regulations for Vaiṣṇavas, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has very vividly described the effects of offenses at the lotus feet of a Vaiṣṇava. Yadi vaiṣṇava-aparādha uṭhe hātī mātā (Madhya 19.156). Offending or blaspheming a Vaiṣṇava has been described as the greatest offense, and it has been compared to a mad elephant. When a mad elephant enters a garden, it ruins all the creepers, flowers and trees. Similarly, if a devotee properly executing his devotional service becomes an offender at the lotus feet of his spiritual master or a Vaiṣṇava, his devotional service is spoiled.
TEXT 214
viprera kuṣṭha śuni' haridāsa mane duḥkhī hailā
balāi-purohite kahi' śāntipura āilā
SYNONYMS
viprera—of the brāhmaṇa; kuṣṭha—leprosy; śuni'-hearing; haridāsa—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; mane—within the mind; duḥkhī hailā—became unhappy; balāi-purohite—unto Balarāma Ācārya; kahi'-speaking; śāntipura āilā—came to Śāntipura.
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa Ṭhākura was unhappy when he heard that the brāhmaṇa Gopāla Cakravartī had been attacked by leprosy. Thus after informing Balarāma Ācārya, the priest of Hiraṇya Majumadāra, he went to Śāntipura, the home of Advaita Ācārya.
TEXT 215
ācārye miliyā kailā daṇḍavat praṇāma
advaita āliṅgana kari' karilā sammāna
SYNONYMS
ācārye miliyā—meeting Advaita Ācārya; kailā—offered; daṇḍavat praṇāma—obeisances and respects; advaita—Advaita Ācārya; āliṅgana kari'-embracing; karilā sammāna—showed respect.
TRANSLATION
Upon meeting Advaita Ācārya, Haridāsa Ṭhākura offered Him respect and obeisances. Advaita Ācārya embraced him and showed respect to him in return.
TEXT 216
gaṅgā-tīre goṅphā kari' nirjane tāṅre dilā
bhāgavata-gītāra bhakti-artha śunāilā
SYNONYMS
gaṅgā-tīre—on the bank of the Ganges; goṅphā kari'-constructing a small cavelike residence; nirjane—in a solitary place; tāṅre—unto him; dilā—offered; bhāgavata—of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; gītāra—of Bhagavad-gītā; bhakti-artha—the real meaning of devotional service; śunāilā—spoke to him.
TRANSLATION
On the bank of the Ganges, in a solitary place, Advaita Ācārya made a cavelike home for Haridāsa Ṭhākura and spoke to him about the real meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad-gītā in terms of devotional service.
TEXT 217
ācāryera ghare nitya bhikṣā-nirvāhaṇa
dui janā mili' kṛṣṇa-kathā-āsvādana
SYNONYMS
ācāryera ghare—at the house of Advaita Ācārya; nitya—daily; bhikṣā-nirvāhaṇa—accepting food as alms; dui janā—the two of them; mili'-meeting together; kṛṣṇa-kathā—discourses on the subject matter of Kṛṣṇa; āsvādana—tasting.
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa Ṭhākura accepted food daily at the house of Advaita Ācārya. Meeting together, the two of them would taste the nectar of discourses on the subject matter of Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 218
haridāsa kahe,--"gosā�i, kari nivedane
more pratyaha anna deha' kon prayojane?
SYNONYMS
haridāsa kahe—Haridāsa Ṭhākura said; gosā�i—my dear Advaita Ācārya; kari nivedane—let me submit one prayer; more—unto me; prati-aha—daily; anna deha'-You give food; kon prayojane—what is the necessity.
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, "My dear Advaita Ācārya, let me submit something before Your Honor. Every day You give me alms of food to eat. What is the necessity of this?
TEXT 219
mahā-mahā-vipra ethā kulīna-samāja
nīce ādara kara, nā vāsaha bhaya lāja!!
SYNONYMS
mahā-mahā-vipra—great, great brāhmaṇas; ethā—here; kulīna-samāja—aristocratic society; nīce—to a low-class person; ādara kara—You show honor; nā vāsaha—You do not care for; bhaya lāja—fear or shame.
TRANSLATION
"Sir, You are living within a society of great, great brāhmaṇas and aristocrats, but without fear or shame You adore a lower-class man like me.
TEXT 220
alaukika ācāra tomāra kahite pāi bhaya
sei kṛpā karibā,--yāte mora rakṣā haya"
SYNONYMS
alaukika ācāra-uncommon behavior; tomāra-Your; kahite-to speak; pāi bhaya-I am afraid; sei kṛpā-that favor; karibā-kindly do; yāte-by which; mora-my; rakṣā-protection; haya-there is.
TRANSLATION
"My dear sir, Your behavior is uncommon. Indeed, sometimes I am afraid to speak to You. But please favor me by protecting me from the behavior of society."
PURPORT
While Haridāsa Ṭhākura was staying under the care of Advaita Ācārya, he was afraid of the behavior of society in Śāntipura, Navadvīpa, which was full of exceedingly aristocratic brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas. Haridāsa Ṭhākura was born in a Mohammedan family and was later recognized as a great Vaiṣṇava, but nevertheless the brāhmaṇas were very critical of him. Thus Haridāsa Ṭhākura was afraid that Advaita Ācārya would be put into some difficulty because of His familiarity with Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Śrī Advaita Ācārya treated Haridāsa Ṭhākura as a most elevated Vaiṣṇava, but others, like Rāmacandra Khān, were envious of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Of course, we have to follow in the footsteps of Advaita Ācārya, not caring for people like Rāmacandra Khān. At present, many Vaiṣṇavas are coming to our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement from among the Europeans and Americans, and although a man like Rāmacandra Khān is always envious of such Vaiṣṇavas, one should follow in the footsteps of Śrī Advaita Ācārya by treating all of them as Vaiṣṇavas. Although they are not as exalted as Haridāsa Ṭhākura, such Americans and Europeans, having accepted the principles of Vaiṣṇava philosophy and behavior, should never be excluded from Vaiṣṇava society.
TEXT 221
ācārya kahena,--"tumi nā kariha bhaya
sei ācariba, yei śāstra-mata haya
SYNONYMS
ācārya kahena—Advaita Ācārya said; tumi—you; nā—not; kariha—do; bhaya—fear; sei ācariba—I shall behave in that way; yei—whatever; śāstra-mata—sanctioned by the revealed scriptures; haya—is.
TRANSLATION
Advaita Ācārya replied, "My dear Haridāsa, do not be afraid. I shall behave strictly according to the principles of the revealed scriptures.
PURPORT
Śrīla Advaita Ācārya was not afraid of the strict brahminical culture and customs of society. As stated in the śāstric injunctions, which are the true medium of evidence or proof, anyone can go back to Godhead, even if born of a low family. Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā:
māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya
ye 'pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ
striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās
te 'pi yānti parāṁ gatim
"O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth-women, vaiśyas [merchants], as well as śūdras [workers]-can approach the supreme destination." (Bg. 9.32) Though having taken a low birth in human society, one who accepts Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead is quite competent to go back home, back to Godhead; and one who is a bona fide candidate for going back to Godhead should not be considered lowborn, or caṇḍāla. That is also a śāstric injunction. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.18):
kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā
ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ
ye 'nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ
śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ
Not only the yavanas and khasādayaḥ but even those born in still lower families can be purified (śudhyanti) by the grace of a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, for Kṛṣṇa empowers such devotees to perform this purification. Advaita Ācārya had confidence in the śāstric evidence and did not care about social customs. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, therefore, is a cultural movement that does not care about local social conventions. Following in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Advaita Ācārya, we can accept a devotee from any part of the world and recognize him as a brāhmaṇa as soon as he is qualified due to following the principles of Vaiṣṇava behavior.
TEXT 222
tumi khāile haya koṭi-brāhmaṇa-bhojana"
eta bali, śrāddha-pātra karāilā bhojana
SYNONYMS
tumi khāile—if you eat; haya—there is; koṭi-brāhmaṇa-bhojana—feeding ten million brāhmaṇas; eta bali—saying this; śrāddha-pātra—the dish offered to the forefathers; karāilā bhojana—made to eat.
TRANSLATION
"Feeding you is equal to feeding ten million brāhmaṇas," Advaita Ācārya said. "Therefore, accept this śrāddha-pātra." Thus Advaita Ācārya made him eat.
PURPORT
Śrāddha is prasāda offered to the forefathers at a certain date of the year or month. The śrāddha-pātra, or plate offered to the forefathers, is then offered to the best of the brāhmaṇas in society. instead of offering the śrāddha-pātra to any other brāhmaṇa, Advaita Ācārya offered it to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, considering him greater than any of the foremost brāhmaṇas. This act by Śrī Advaita Ācārya proves that Haridāsa Ṭhākura was always situated in a transcendental position and was therefore always greater than even the most exalted brāhmaṇa, for he was situated above the mode of goodness of the material world. Referring to the Bhakti-sandarbha, verse 177, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura quotes the following statements from the Garuḍa Purāṇa in this connection:
brāhmaṇānāṁ sahasrebhyaḥ
satra-yājī viśiṣyate
satra-yāji-sahasrebhyaḥ
sarva-vedānta-pāragaḥ
sarva-vedānta-vit-koṭyā
viṣṇu-bhakto viśiṣyate
vaiṣṇavānāṁ sahasrebhya
ekānty eko viśiṣyate
"A brāhmaṇa qualified to offer sacrifices is better than an ordinary brāhmaṇa and better than such a brāhmaṇa is one who has studied all the Vedic scriptures. Among many such brāhmaṇas, one who is a devotee of Lord Viṣṇu is the best; and among many such Vaiṣṇavas, one who fully engages in the service of the Lord is the best."
bhaktir aṣṭa-vidhā hy eṣā
yasmin mlecche 'pi vartate
sa viprendro muni-śreṣṭhaḥ
sa j�ānī sa ca paṇḍitaḥ
tasmai deyaṁ tato grāhyaṁ
sa ca pūjyo yathā hariḥ
"There are many different kinds of devotees, but even a Vaiṣṇava coming from a family of mlecchas or yavanas is understood to be a learned scholar, complete in knowledge, if he knows the Vaiṣṇava philosophy. He should therefore be given charity, for such a Vaiṣṇava is as worshipable as the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
na me 'bhaktaś catur-vedī
mad-bhaktaḥ śva-pacaḥ priyaḥ
tasmai deyaṁ tato grāhyaṁ
sa ca pūjyo yathā hy aham
Lord Kṛṣṇa says, "Even if a nondevotee comes from a brāhmaṇa family and is expert in studying the Vedas, he is not very dear to Me, whereas even if a sincere devotee comes from a low family of meat-eaters, he is very dear to Me. Such a sincere pure devotee should be given charity, for he is as worshipable as I."
TEXT 223
jagat-nistāra lāgi' karena cintana
avaiṣṇava-jagat kemane ha-ibe mocana?
SYNONYMS
jagat-nistāra—the deliverance of the people of the whole world; lāgi'-for; karena cintana—was always thinking; avaiṣṇava—full of nondevotees; jagat—the whole world; kemane—how; ha-ibe mocana—will be delivered.
TRANSLATION
Advaita Ācārya was always absorbed in thoughts of how to deliver the fallen souls of the entire world. "The entire world is full of nondevotees," He thought. "How will they be delivered?"
PURPORT
Śrīla Advaita Ācārya sets the standard for ācāryas in the Vaiṣṇava sampradāya. An ācārya must always be eager to deliver the fallen souls. A person who establishes a temple or maṭha to take advantage of people's sentiments by using for his livelihood what people contribute for the worship of the Deity cannot be called a gosvāmī or ācārya. One who knows the conclusion of the śāstras, follows in the footsteps of his predecessors and endeavors to preach the bhakti cult all over the world is to be considered an ācārya. The role of an ācārya is not to earn his livelihood through the income of the temple. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura used to say that if one earns his livelihood by displaying the Deity in the temple, he is not an ācārya or gosvāmī. it would be better for him to accept service even as a sweeper in the street, for that is a more honorable means of earning one's living.
TEXT 224
kṛṣṇe avatārite advaita pratij�ā karilā
jala-tulasī diyā pūjā karite lāgilā
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇe—Lord Kṛṣṇa; avatārite—to cause to descend; advaita—Advaita Ācārya; pratij�ā—promise; karilā—made; jala-tulasī—Ganges water and tulasī leaves; diyā—offering; pūjā—worship; karite—to do; lāgilā—began.
TRANSLATION
Determined to deliver all the fallen souls, Advaita Ācārya decided to cause Kṛṣṇa to descend. With this vow, he began to offer Ganges water and tulasī leaves to worship the Lord.
TEXT 225
haridāsa kare goṅphāya nāma-saṅkīrtana
kṛṣṇa avatīrṇa ha-ibena,--ei tāṅra mana
SYNONYMS
haridāsa—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; kare—performed; goṅphāya—in the cave; nāma-saṅkīrtana—chanting of the holy name of the Lord; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; avatīrṇa ha-ibena—will descend; ei—this; tāṅra mana—his mind.
TRANSLATION
Similarly, Haridāsa Ṭhākura chanted in his cave on the bank of the Ganges with the intention to cause Kṛṣṇa's descent.
TEXT 226
dui-janera bhaktye caitanya kailā avatāra
nāma-prema pracāri' kailā jagat uddhāra
SYNONYMS
dui-janera—of these two persons; bhaktye—because of the devotional service; caitanya—Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kailā—made; avatāra—incarnation; nāma-prema—the holy name and love of Kṛṣṇa; pracāri'-preaching; kailā—did; jagat uddhāra—deliverance of the whole world.
TRANSLATION
Because of the devotional service of these two persons, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu descended as an incarnation. Thus He preached the holy name of the Lord and ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa to deliver the entire world.
TEXT 227
āra alaukika eka caritra tāṅhāra
yāhāra śravaṇe loke haya camatkāra
SYNONYMS
āra—another; alaukika—uncommon; eka—one; caritra—characteristic; tāṅhāra—of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; yāhāra śravaṇe—in hearing which; loke—in human society; haya—there is; camatkāra—astonishment.
TRANSLATION
There is another incident concerning Haridāsa Ṭhākura's uncommon behavior. One will be astonished to hear about it.
TEXT 228
tarka nā kariha, tarkāgocara tāṅra rīti
viśvāsa kariyā śuna kariyā pratīti
SYNONYMS
tarka nā kariha—do not argue; tarka-agocara—beyond argument; tāṅra—his; rīti—behavior; viśvāsa kariyā—believing; śuna—listen; kariyā pratīti—having confidence.
TRANSLATION
Hear about such incidents without putting forth dry arguments, for these incidents are beyond our material reasoning. One must believe in them with faith.
TEXT 229
eka-dina haridāsa goṅphāte vasiyā
nāma-saṅkīrtana karena ucca kariyā
SYNONYMS
eka-dina—one day; haridāsa—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; goṅphāte vasiyā—sitting in his cave; nāma-saṅkīrtana karena—was chanting the holy name of the Lord; ucca kariyā—resounding very loudly.
TRANSLATION
One day Haridāsa Ṭhākura was sitting in his cave, reciting very loudly the holy name of the Lord.
TEXT 230
jyotsnāvatī rātri, daśa dik sunirmala
gaṅgāra laharī jyotsnāya kare jhala-mala
SYNONYMS
jyotsnāvatī—full of moonlight; rātri—the night; daśa dik—ten directions; su-nirmala—very clear and bright; gaṅgāra laharī—the waves of the Ganges; jyotsnāya—in the moonlight; kare jhala-mala—appear dazzling.
TRANSLATION
The night was full of moonlight, which made the waves of the Ganges look dazzling. All directions were clear and bright.
TEXT 231
dvāre tulasī lepā-piṇḍira upara
goṅphāra śobhā dekhi' lokera juḍāya antara
SYNONYMS
dvāre—at the door; tulasī—the tulasī plant; lepā—very clean; piṇḍira upara—on the altar; goṅphāra śobhā—the beauty of the cave; dekhi'-seeing; lokera—of everyone; juḍāya—was satisfied; antara—the heart.
TRANSLATION
Thus everyone who saw the beauty of the cave, with the tulasī plant on a clean altar, was astonished and satisfied at heart.
TEXT 232
hena-kāle eka nārī aṅgane āila
tāṅra aṅga-kāntye sthāna pīta-varṇa ha-ila
SYNONYMS
hena-kāle—at this time; eka—one; nārī—woman; aṅgane āila—came to the courtyard; tāṅra—her; aṅga-kāntye—by the beauty of the body; sthāna—that place; pīta-varṇa ha-ila—became yellowish.
TRANSLATION
At that time, in that beautiful scene, a woman appeared in the courtyard. The beauty of her body was so bright that it tinged the entire place with a hue of yellow.
TEXT 233
tāṅra aṅga-gandhe daśa dik āmodita
bhūṣaṇa-dhvanite karṇa haya camakita
SYNONYMS
tāṅra—her; aṅga-gandhe—the scent of the body; daśa dik—ten directions; āmodita—perfumed; bhūṣaṇa-dhvanite—by the tinkling of her ornaments; karṇa—the ear; haya—becomes; camakita—startled.
TRANSLATION
The scent of her body perfumed all directions, and the tinkling of her ornaments startled the ear.
TEXT 234
āsiyā tulasīre sei kailā namaskāra
tulasī parikramā kari' gelā goṅphā-dvāra
SYNONYMS
āsiyā—coming; tulasīre—unto the tulasī plant; sei—that woman; kailā—did; namaskāra—obeisances; tulasī—the tulasī plant; parikramā—circumambulating; kari'-doing; gelā—went; goṅphā-dvāra—to the door of the cave.
TRANSLATION
After coming there, the woman offered obeisances to the tulasī plant, and after circumambulating the tulasī plant she came to the door of the cave where Haridāsa Ṭhākura was sitting.
TEXT 235
yoḍa-hāte haridāsera vandilā caraṇa
dvāre vasi' kahe kichu madhura vacana
SYNONYMS
yoḍa-hāte—with folded hands; haridāsera—of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; vandilā caraṇa—offered prayers at the lotus feet; dvāre vasi'-sitting at the door; kahe—says; kichu—some; madhura vacana—sweet words.
TRANSLATION
With folded hands she offered obeisances at the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Sitting at the door, she then spoke in a very sweet voice.
TEXT 236
"jagatera bandhu tumi rūpa-guṇavān
tava saṅga lāgi' mora ethāke prayāṇa
SYNONYMS
jagatera—of the whole world; bandhu—friend; tumi—you; rūpa-guṇa-vān—so beautiful and qualified; tava saṅga—your union; lāgi'-for; mora—my; ethāke prayāṇa—coming here.
TRANSLATION
"My dear friend," she said, "you are the friend of the entire world. You are so beautiful and qualified. I have come here only for union with you.
TEXT 237
more aṅgīkāra kara ha�ā sadaya
dīne dayā kare,--ei sādhu-svabhāva haya"
SYNONYMS
more—me; aṅgīkāra kara—accept; ha�ā sa-daya—being very kind; dīne—to the fallen souls; dayā kare—show favor; ei—this; sādhu-svabhāva—the characteristic of saintly persons; haya—is.
TRANSLATION
"My dear sir, kindly accept me and be merciful toward me, for it is a characteristic of all saintly persons to be kind toward the poor and fallen."
TEXT 238
eta bali' nānā-bhāva karaye prakāśa
yāhāra darśane munira haya dhairya-nāśa
SYNONYMS
eta bali'-saying this; nānā-bhāva—various postures; karaye prakāśa—began to manifest; yāhāra darśane—seeing which; munira—of even the great philosophers; haya—there is; dhairya-nāśa—loss of patience.
TRANSLATION
After saying this, she began to manifest various postures, which even the greatest philosopher would lose his patience upon seeing.
TEXT 239
nirvikāra haridāsa gambhīra-āśaya
balite lāgilā tāṅre ha�ā sadaya
SYNONYMS
nirvikāra—unmoved; haridāsa—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; gambhīra—very deep; āśaya—determination; balite lāgilā—began to speak; tāṅre—unto her; ha�ā sadaya—being merciful.
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa Ṭhākura was immovable, for he was deeply determined. He began to speak to her, being very merciful toward her.
TEXT 240
"saṅkhyā-nāma-saṅkīrtana--ei 'mahā-yaj�a' manye
tāhāte dīkṣita āmi ha-i prati-dine
SYNONYMS
saṅkhyā-nāma-saṅkīrtana—numerical chanting of the holy name; ei—this; mahā-yaj�a—great sacrifice; manye—I have vowed; tāhāte dīkṣita—initiated in that; āmi—I; ha-i—am; prati-dine—every day.
TRANSLATION
"I have been initiated into a vow to perform a great sacrifice by chanting the holy name a certain number of times every day.
TEXT 241
yāvat kīrtana samāpta nahe, nā kari anya kāma
kīrtana samāpta haile, haya dīkṣāra viśrāma
SYNONYMS
yāvat—as long as; kīrtana—chanting; samāpta—finished; nahe—is not; nā—not; kari—I do; anya—other; kāma—desire; kīrtana—chanting; samāpta—finished; haile—becoming; haya—there is; dīkṣāra—of initiation; viśrāma—rest
TRANSLATION
"As long as the vow to chant is unfulfilled, I do not desire anything else. When I finish my chanting, then I have an opportunity to do anything.
TEXT 242
dvāre vasi' śuna tumi nāma-saṅkīrtana
nāma samāpta haile karimu tava prīti-ācaraṇa
SYNONYMS
dvāre vasi'-sitting at the door; śuna—hear; tumi—you; nāma-saṅkīrtana—chanting of the holy names; nāma—the holy name; samāpta haile—when finished; karimu—I shall do; tava—your; prīti-pleasure; ācaraṇa—activities.
TRANSLATION
"Sit down at the door and hear the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. As soon as the chanting is finished, I shall satisfy you as you desire."
TEXT 243
eta bali' karena teṅho nāma-saṅkīrtana
sei nārī vasi' kare śrī-nāma-śravaṇa
SYNONYMS
eta bali'-saying this; karena—performs; teṅho—he; nāma-saṅkīrtana—chanting of the holy name; sei nārī—that woman; vasi'-sitting; kare—does; śrī-nāma-śravaṇa—hearing the holy name.
TRANSLATION
After saying this, Haridāsa Ṭhākura continued to chant the holy name of the Lord. Thus the woman sitting before him began to hear the chanting of the holy name.
TEXT 244
kīrtana karite āsi' prātaḥ-kāla haila
prātaḥ-kāla dekhi' nārī uṭhiyā calila
SYNONYMS
kīrtana karite—chanting and chanting; āsi'-coming; prātaḥ-kāla—morning; haila—appeared; prātaḥ-kāla dekhi'-seeing the morning light; nārī—the woman; uṭhiyā calila—got up and left.
TRANSLATION
In this way, as he chanted and chanted, the morning approached, and when the woman saw that it was morning, she got up and left.
TEXT 245
ei-mata tina-dina kare āgamana
nānā bhāva dekhāya, yāte brahmāra hare mana
SYNONYMS
ei-mata—in this way; tina-dina—three days; kare—she does; āgamana—approaching; nānā bhāva—all kinds of feminine postures; dekhāya—exhibits; yāte—by which; brahmāra—even of Lord Brahmā; hare—attracts; mana—mind.
TRANSLATION
For three days she approached Haridāsa Ṭhākura in this way, exhibiting various feminine postures that would bewilder the mind of even Lord Brahmā.
TEXT 246
kṛṣṇe nāmāviṣṭa-manā sadā haridāsa
araṇye rodita haila strī-bhāva-prakāśa
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇe—unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; nāma-āviṣṭa—absorbed in chanting the holy name; manā—mind; sadā—always; haridāsa—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; araṇye—in the wilderness; rodita—crying; haila—became; strī-bhāva-prakāśa—exhibition of feminine postures.
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa Ṭhākura was always absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa and the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore the feminine poses the woman exhibited were just like crying in the forest.
TEXT 247
tṛtīya divasera rātri-śeṣa yabe haila
ṭhākurera sthāne nārī kahite lāgila
SYNONYMS
tṛtīya divasera—of the third day; rātri-śeṣa—the end of the night; yabe—when; haila—there was; ṭhākurera—of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; sthāne—at the place; nārī—the woman; kahite lāgila—began to speak.
TRANSLATION
At the end of the night of the third day, the woman spoke to Haridāsa Ṭhākura as follows.
TEXT 248
"tina dina va�cilā āmā kari' āśvāsana
rātri-dine nahe tomāra nāma-samāpana"
SYNONYMS
tina dina—for three days; va�cilā—you have cheated; āmā—me; kari' āśvāsana—giving assurance; rātri-dine—throughout the entire day and night; nahe—is not; tomāra—your; nāma-samāpana—finishing of the chanting of the holy name.
TRANSLATION
"My dear sir, for three days you have cheated me by giving me false assurances, for I see that throughout the entire day and night your chanting of the holy name is never finished."
TEXT 249
haridāsa ṭhākura kahena,--"āmi ki karimu?
niyama kariyāchi, tāhā kemane chāḍimu?"
SYNONYMS
haridāsa ṭhākura—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; kahena—said; āmi ki karimu—what shall I do; niyama kariyāchi—I have made a vow; tāhā—that; kemane—how; chāḍimu—shall I give up.
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, "My dear friend, what ca I do? I have made a vow. How, then, can I give it up?"
TEXT 250
tabe nārī kahe tāṅre kari' namaskāra
'āmi--māyā' karite āilāṅa parīkṣā tomāra
SYNONYMS
tabe—at that time; nārī—the woman; kahe—said; tāṅre—unto Haridāsa Ṭhākura; kari' namaskāra—offering obeisances; āmi—I; māyā—the illusory energy; karite—to do; āilāṅa—I came; parīkṣā—testing; tomāra—your.
TRANSLATION
After offering obeisances to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the woman said: "I am the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I came here to test you.
PURPORT
In Bhagavad-gītā (7.14) Lord Kṛṣṇa says:
daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī
mama māyā duratyayā
mām eva ye prapadyante
māyām etāṁ taranti te
"This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it." This was actually proved by the behavior of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Māyā enchants the entire world. Indeed, people have forgotten the ultimate goal of life because of the dazzling attractions of the material world. But this dazzling attraction, especially the attractive beauty of a woman, is meant for persons who are not surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord says, mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te: "One who is surrendered unto Me cannot be conquered by the illusory energy." The illusory energy personally came to test Haridāsa Ṭhākura, but herein she admits her defeat, for she was unable to captivate him. How is this possible? it was because Haridāsa Ṭhākura, fully surrendered to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, was always absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa by chanting the holy names of the Lord 300,000 times daily as a vow.
TEXT 251
brahmādi jīva, āmi sabāre mohiluṅ
ekelā tomāre āmi mohite nāriluṅ
SYNONYMS
brahma-ādi jīva—all living entities, beginning from Lord Brahmā; āmi—I; sabāre mohiluṅ—captivated everyone; ekelā—alone; tomāre—you; āmi—I; mohite nāriluṅ—could not attract.
TRANSLATION
"I have previously captivated the mind of even Brahmā, not to speak of others. Your mind alone have I failed to attract.
PURPORT
Beginning from Lord Brahmā down to the insignificant ant, everyone, without exception, is attracted by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The demigods, human beings, animals, birds, beasts, trees and plants are all attracted by sexual desire. That is the illusion of māyā. Everyone, whether man or woman, thinks that he is the enjoyer of the illusory energy. In this way, everyone is captivated and engaged in material activities. However, because Haridāsa Ṭhākura was always thinking of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and was always busy satisfying the senses of the Lord, this process alone saved him from the captivation of māyā. This is practical proof of the strength of devotional service. Because of his full engagement in the service of the Lord, he could not be induced to enjoy māyā. The verdict of the śāstras is that a pure Vaiṣṇava, or devotee of the Lord, never thinks of enjoying the material world, which culminates in sex life. He never thinks himself an enjoyer; instead, he always wants to be enjoyed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore the conclusion is that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is eternal, transcendental, beyond the perception of sense gratification and beyond the material qualities. Only if a living entity gives up the false conception that the body is the self and always thinks himself an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa and the Vaiṣṇavas can he surpass the influence of māyā (mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te). A pure living entity who thus attains the stage of anartha-nivṛtti, cessation of everything unwanted, has nothing to enjoy in the material world. One attains this stage only by properly performing the functions of devotional service. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has written:
ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-
saṅgo 'tha bhajana-kriyā
tato 'nartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt
tato niṣṭhā rucis tataḥ
"In the beginning one must have a preliminary desire for self-realization. This will bring one to the stage of trying to associate with persons who are spiritually elevated. In the next stage, one becomes initiated by an elevated spiritual master, and under his instruction the neophyte devotee begins the process of devotional service. By execution of devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master, one becomes freed from all material attachments, attains steadiness in self-realization and acquires a taste for hearing about the Absolute Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa." (Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.4.15) If one is actually executing devotional service, then anarthas, the unwanted things associated with material enjoyment, will automatically disappear.
TEXTS 252-253
mahā-bhāgavata tumi,--tomāra darśane
tomāra kṛṣṇa-nāma-kīrtana-śravaṇe
citta śuddha haila, cāhe kṛṣṇa-nāma laite
kṛṣṇa-nāma upadeśi' kṛpā kara mote
SYNONYMS
mahā-bhāgavata—the foremost devotee; tumi—you; tomāra darśane—by seeing you; tomāra—your; kṛṣṇa-nāma—of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa; kīrtana—chanting; śravaṇe—by hearing; citta—consciousness; śuddha haila—became purified; cāhe—wants; kṛṣṇa-nāma laite—to chant the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇa-nāma upadeśi'-instructing about chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra; kṛpā kara—show mercy; mote—unto me.
TRANSLATION
"My dear sir, you are the foremost devotee. Simply seeing you and hearing you chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa has purified my consciousness. Now I want to chant the holy name of the Lord. Please be kind to me by instructing me about the ecstasy of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
TEXT 254
caitanyāvatāre vahe premāmṛta-vanyā
saba jīva preme bhāse, pṛthivī haila dhanyā
SYNONYMS
caitanya-avatāre—by the incarnation of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; vahe—flows; prema-amṛta—of the eternal nectar of love of Godhead; vanyā—the flood; saba jīva—all living entities; preme—in ecstatic love; bhāse—float; pṛthivī—the whole world; haila—became; dhanyā—thankful.
TRANSLATION
"There is now a flood of the eternal nectar of love of Godhead due to the incarnation of Lord Caitanya, All living entities are floating in that flood. The entire world is now thankful to the Lord.
TEXT 255
e-vanyāya ye nā bhāse, sei jīva chāra
koṭi-kalpe kabhu tāra nāhika nistāra
SYNONYMS
e-vanyāya—in this inundation; ye—anyone who; nā bhāse—does not float; sei—that; jīva—living entity; chāra—most condemned; koṭi-kalpe—in millions of kalpas; kabhu—at any time; tāra—his; nāhika—there is not; nistāra—deliverance.
TRANSLATION
"Anyone who does not float in this inundation is most condemned. Such a person cannot be delivered for millions of kalpas.
PURPORT
The kalpa is explained in Bhagavad-gītā. Sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmaṇo viduḥ. One day of Brahmā is called a kalpa. A yuga, or mahā-yuga, consists of 4,320,000 years, and one thousand such mahā-yugas constitute one kalpa. The author of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta says that if one does not take advantage of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he cannot be delivered for millions of such kalpas.
TEXT 256
pūrve āmi rāma-nāma pā�āchi 'śiva' haite
tomāra saṅge lobha haila kṛṣṇa-nāma laite
SYNONYMS
pūrve—formerly; āmi—I; rāma-nāma—the holy name of Lord Rāma; pā�āchi—got; śiva haite—from Lord Śiva; tomāra saṅge—by your association; lobha haila—I became greedy; kṛṣṇa-nāma laite—to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
TRANSLATION
"Formerly I received the holy name of Lord Rāma from Lord Śiva, but now, due to your association, I am greatly eager to chant the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 257
mukti-hetuka tāraka haya 'rāma-nāma'
'kṛṣṇa-nāma' pāraka ha�ā kare prema-dāna
SYNONYMS
mukti-hetuka—the cause of liberation; tāraka—deliverer; haya—is; rāma-nāma—the holy name of Lord Rāma; kṛṣṇa-nāma—the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; pāraka—that which gets one to the other side of the ocean of nescience; ha�ā—being; kare—gives; prema-dāna—the gift of love of Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
"The holy name of Lord Rāma certainly gives liberation, but the holy name of Kṛṣṇa transports one to the other side of the ocean of nescience and at last gives one ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa.
PURPORT
In an indirect way, this verse explains the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. The Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra-Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare-includes both the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa and the name of Lord Rāma. Lord Rāma gives one the opportunity to be liberated, but simply by liberation one does not get actual spiritual benefit. Sometimes if one is liberated from the material world but has no shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, one falls down to the material world again. Liberation is like a state of convalescence, in which one is free from a fever but is still not healthy. Even in the stage of convalescence, if one is not very careful, one may have a relapse. Similarly, liberation does not offer as much security as the shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. It is stated in the śāstra:
ye 'nye 'ravindākṣa vimukta-māninas
tvayy asta-bhāvād aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ
āruhya kṛcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ
patanty adho 'nādṛta-yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ
"O Lord, the intelligence of those who think themselves liberated but who have no devotion is impure. Even though they rise to the highest point of liberation by dint of severe penances and austerities, they are sure to fall down again into material existence, for they do not take shelter at Your lotus feet." (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.2.32) Yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ refers to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. If one does not take shelter of Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, he falls down (patanty adhaḥ), even from liberation. The Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, however, gives liberation and at the same time offers shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. If one takes shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa after liberation, he develops his dormant ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. That is the highest perfection of life.
TEXT 258
kṛṣṇa-nāma deha' tumi more kara dhanyā
āmāre bhāsāya yaiche ei prema-vanyā
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa nāma—the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; deha'-please give; tumi—you; more—me; kara dhanyā—make fortunate; āmāre—me; bhāsāya—may cause to float; yaiche—so that; ei—this; prema-vanyā—inundation of ecstatic love of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
"Please give me the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and thus make me fortunate, so that I also may float in the flood of love of Godhead inaugurated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu."
TEXT 259
eta bali' vandilā haridāsera caraṇa
haridāsa kahe,--"kara kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana"
SYNONYMS
eta bali'-saying this; vandilā—worshiped; haridāsera caraṇa—the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; haridāsa kahe—Haridāsa said; kara—just perform; kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana—chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
After speaking in this way, Māyā worshiped the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who initiated her by saying,"Just perform chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra."
PURPORT
Now even Māyā wanted to be favored by Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Therefore Haridāsa Ṭhākura formally initiated her by asking her to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
TEXT 260
upadeśa pā�ā māyā calilā ha�ā prīta
e-saba kathāte kāro nā janme pratīta
SYNONYMS
upadeśa pā�ā—getting this instruction; māyā—Māyā; calilā—left; ha�ā prīta—being very pleased; e-saba kathāte—in all these narrations; kāro—of someone; nā—not; janme—there is; pratīta—faith.
TRANSLATION
After thus being instructed by Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Māyā left with great pleasure. Unfortunately, some people have no faith in these narrations.
TEXT 261
pratīta karite kahi kāraṇa ihāra
yāhāra śravaṇe haya viśvāsa sabāra
SYNONYMS
pratīta karite—just to make one faithful; kahi—I say; kāraṇa ihāra—the reason for this; yāhāra śravaṇe—hearing which; haya—there is; viśvāsa—faith; sabāra—of everyone.
TRANSLATION
Therefore I shall explain the reasons why people should have faith. Everyone who hears this will be faithful.
TEXT 262
caitanyāvatāre kṛṣṇa-preme lubdha ha�ā
brahma-śiva-sanakādi pṛthivīte janmiyā
SYNONYMS
caitanya-avatāre—in the incarnation of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kṛṣṇa-preme—for ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa; lubdha ha�ā—being very greedy; brahma—Lord Brahmā; śiva—Lord Śiva; sanaka-ādi—the Kumāras and others; pṛthivīte—on this earth; janmiyā—taking birth.
TRANSLATION
During the incarnation of Lord Caitanya to inaugurate the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, even such personalities as Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and the four Kumāras took birth upon this earth, being allured by ecstatic love of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 263
kṛṣṇa-nāma la�ā nāce, prema-vanyāya bhāse
nārada-prahlādādi āse manuṣya-prakāśe
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa-nāma—the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; la�ā—chanting; nāce—dance; prema-vanyāya—in the inundation of the flood of love of Godhead; bhāse—float; nārada—the sage Nārada; prahlāda-ādi—and devotees like Prahlāda; āse—come; manuṣya-prakāśe—as if human beings.
TRANSLATION
All of them, including the great sage Nārada and devotees like Prahlāda, came here as if human beings, chanting the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa together and dancing and floating in the inundation of love of Godhead.
TEXT 264
lakṣmī-ādi kari' kṛṣṇa-preme lubdha ha�ā
nāma-prema āsvādilā manuṣye janmiyā
SYNONYMS
lakṣmī-ādi—the goddess of fortune and others; kari'-in this way; kṛṣṇa-preme—for love of Kṛṣṇa; lubdha ha�ā—being greedy; nāma-prema—the holy name of Kṛṣṇa in love; āsvādilā—tasted; manuṣye janmiyā—taking birth in human society.
TRANSLATION
The goddess of fortune and others, allured by love of Kṛṣṇa, also came down in the form of human beings and tasted the holy name of the Lord in love.
TEXT 265
anyera kā kathā, āpane vrajendra-nandana
avatari' karena prema-rasa āsvādana
SYNONYMS
anyera kā kathā—what to speak of others; āpane—personally; vrajendra-nandana—the son of Nanda Mahārāja, Kṛṣṇa; avatari'-descending; karena—performs; prema-rasa āsvādana—tasting of the nectar of love of Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
What to speak of others, even Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, personally descends to taste the nectar of love of Godhead in the form of the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 266
māyā-dāsī 'prema' māge,--ithe ki vismaya?
'sādhu-kṛpā-'nāma' vinā 'prema' nā janmaya
SYNONYMS
māyā-dāsī—the external energy is a maidservant; prema māge—she wants love of Godhead; ithe—in this; ki vismaya—what is the wonder; sādhu-kṛpā—the mercy of the devotee; nāma—chanting of the holy name; vinā—without; prema—love of Godhead; nā janmaya—is not possible.
TRANSLATION
What is the wonder if the maidservant of Kṛṣṇa, His external energy, begs for love of Godhead? Without the mercy of a devotee and without the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, love of Godhead cannot be possible.
TEXT 267
caitanya-gosā�ira līlāra ei ta' svabhāva
tribhuvana nāce, gāya, pā�ā prema-bhāva
SYNONYMS
caitanya-gosā�ira—of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; līlāra—of the pastimes; ei—this; ta'-certainly; sva-bhāva—the characteristic; tri-bhuvana nāce—the three worlds dance; gāya—chant; pā�ā—getting; prema-bhāva—love of Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
In the activities of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the three worlds dance and chant, having come in touch with love of Godhead. This is the characteristic of His pastimes.
TEXT 268
kṛṣṇa-ādi, āra yata sthāvara-jaṅgame
kṛṣṇa-preme matta kare kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtane
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa-ādi—beginning from Kṛṣṇa; āra—and; yata—ail; sthāvara-jaṅgame—moving and nonmoving creatures; kṛṣṇa-preme—in love of Kṛṣṇa; matta—maddened; kare—make; kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtane—chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is so attractive that anyone who chants it-including all living entities, moving and nonmoving, and even Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself-becomes imbued with love of Kṛṣṇa. This is the effect of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
TEXT 269
svarūpa-gosā�i kaḍacāya ye-līlā likhila
raghunātha-dāsa-mukhe ye saba śunila
SYNONYMS
svarūpa-gosā�i—Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī; kaḍacāya—in his notes; ye—whatever; līlā—pastimes; likhila—has noted; raghunātha-dāsa-mukhe—from the mouth of Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī; ye—that; saba—all; śunila—I have heard.
TRANSLATION
I have heard from the mouth of Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī all that Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī recorded in his notes about the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TEXT 270
sei saba līlā kahi saṅkṣepa kariyā
caitanya-kṛpāte likhi kṣudra-jīva ha�ā
SYNONYMS
sei saba—all those; līlā—pastimes; kahi—I say; saṅkṣepa kariyā—in brief; caitanya-kṛpāte—by the mercy of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; likhi—I write; kṣudra-jīva ha�ā—being a very insignificant living entity.
TRANSLATION
I have briefly described those pastimes. Whatever I have written is by the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, since I am an insignificant living being.
TEXT 271
haridāsa ṭhākurera kahiluṅ mahimāra kaṇa
yāhāra śravaṇe bhaktera juḍāya śravaṇa
SYNONYMS
haridāsa ṭhākurera—of Haridāsa Ṭhākura; kahiluṅ—I have described; mahimāra—of the glories; kaṇa—a fragment; yāhāra—of which; śravaṇe—the hearing; bhaktera—of the devotees; juḍāya—satisfies; śravaṇa—the aural reception.
TRANSLATION
I have described but a fragment of the glories of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Hearing this satisfies the aural reception of every devotee.
TEXT 272
śrī-rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa
caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇadāsa
SYNONYMS
śrī-rūpa—Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī; raghunātha—Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī; pade—at the lotus feet; yāra—whose; āśa—expectation; caitanya-caritāmṛta—the book named Caitanya-caritāmṛta; kahe—describes; kṛṣṇa-dāsa—Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī.
TRANSLATION
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.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, Third Chapter, describing the glories of Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura.