Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
| Antya-līlā | Chapter 20: The Śikshāshtaka Prayers |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrī Caitanya Caritāmrita Antya 20.57
kushthī-viprera ramanī, pativratā-śiromani,
stambhila sūryera gati, jīyāila mrita pati,
SYNONYMS
kushthī-viprera — of a brāhmana who suffered from leprosy; ramanī — the wife; pati-vratā-śiromani — the topmost of chaste women; pati lāgi' — for the satisfaction of her husband; kailā — performed; veśyāra sevā — service to a prostitute; stambhila — stopped; sūryera gati — the movement of the sun; jīyāila — revived; mrita pati — the dead husband; tushta kaila — satisfied; mukhya — the principal; tina-devā — three deities or demigods.
TRANSLATION
"The wife of a brāhmana suffering from leprosy manifested herself as the topmost of all chaste women by serving a prostitute to satisfy her husband. She thus stopped the movement of the sun, brought her dead husband back to life and satisfied the three principal demigods [Brahmā, Vishnu and Maheśvara].
PURPORT
The Āditya Purāna, Mārkandeya Purāna and Padma Purāna tell about a brāhmana who was suffering from leprosy but had a very chaste and faithful wife. He desired to enjoy the company of a prostitute, and therefore his wife went to her and became her maidservant, just to draw her attention for his service. When the prostitute agreed to associate with him, the wife brought her the leprotic husband. When that leper, the sinful son of a brāhmana, saw the chastity of his wife, he finally abandoned his sinful intentions. While coming home, however, he touched the body of Mārkandeya Rishi, who thus cursed him to die at sunrise. Because of her chastity, the woman was very powerful. Therefore when she heard about the curse, she vowed to stop the sunrise. Because of her strong determination to serve her husband, the three deities — namely Brahmā, Vishnu and Maheśvara — were very happy, and they gave her the benediction that her husband would be cured and brought back to life. This example is given herein to emphasize that a devotee should engage himself exclusively for the satisfaction of Krishna, without personal motives. That will make his life successful.
Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness