Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Sri Caitanya Caritamrita

CC Madhya 10 Summary

CC Madhya 10.1: I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is compared to a cloud that pours water on fields of grain, which are like devotees suffering due to a shortage of rain. Separation from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is like a drought, but when the Lord returns, His presence is like a nectarean rain that falls on all the grains and saves them from perishing.

CC Madhya 10.2: All glories to Lord Caitanya! All glories to Nityananda Prabhu! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!

CC Madhya 10.3: When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu departed for South India, King Prataparudra called Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya to his palace.

CC Madhya 10.4: When Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya met with the King, the King offered him a seat with all respects and inquired about news of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Madhya 10.5: The King said to the Bhattacarya, "I have heard that a great personality has come from Bengal and is staying at your home. I have also heard that He is very, very merciful.

CC Madhya 10.6: "I have also heard that this great personality has shown you great favor. At any rate, this is what I hear from many different people. Now, being merciful upon me, you should do me the favor of arranging an interview."

CC Madhya 10.7: The Bhattacarya replied, "All that you have heard is true, but as far as an interview is concerned, it is very difficult to arrange.

CC Madhya 10.8: "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is in the renounced order and is very much detached from worldly affairs. He stays in solitary places, and even in dreams He does not grant interviews to a king.

CC Madhya 10.9: "Still, I would have tried to arrange your interview, but He has recently left to tour South India."

CC Madhya 10.10: The King asked, "Why has He left Jagannatha Puri?"The Bhattacarya replied, "Such are the pastimes of a great personality.

CC Madhya 10.11: "Great saints go to holy places of pilgrimage in order to purify them. For that reason Caitanya Mahaprabhu is visiting many tirthas and delivering many, many conditioned souls.

CC Madhya 10.12: "'Saints of your caliber are themselves places of pilgrimage. Because of their purity, they are constant companions of the Lord, and therefore they can purify even the places of pilgrimage.'

CC Madhya 10.13: "A Vaishnava travels to places of pilgrimage to purify them and reclaim fallen conditioned souls. This is one of the duties of a Vaishnava. Actually, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is not a living entity but the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Consequently, He is a fully independent controller, yet in His position as a devotee, He carries out the activities of a devotee."

CC Madhya 10.14: Upon hearing this, the King replied, "Why did you allow Him to leave? Why didn't you fall at His lotus feet and keep Him here?"

CC Madhya 10.15: Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya replied, "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself and is completely independent. Being Lord Krishna Himself, He is not dependent on anyone.

CC Madhya 10.16: "Still, I endeavored very hard to keep Him here, but because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and completely independent, I was not successful."

CC Madhya 10.17: The King said, "Bhattacarya, you are the most learned and experienced person I know. Therefore when you address Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as Lord Krishna, I accept this as the truth.

CC Madhya 10.18: "When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returns, I wish to see Him just once in order to make my eyes perfect."

CC Madhya 10.19: Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya replied, "His Holiness Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will return very soon. I wish to have a nice place ready for Him, a place solitary and peaceful.

CC Madhya 10.20: "Lord Caitanya's residence should be very secluded and also near the temple of Jagannatha. Please consider this proposal and give me a nice place for Him."

CC Madhya 10.21: The King replied, "Kasi Misra's house is exactly what you require. It is near the temple and is very secluded, calm and quiet."

CC Madhya 10.22: After saying this, the King became very anxious for the Lord to return. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya then went to Kasi Misra to convey the King's desire.

CC Madhya 10.23: When Kasi Misra heard the proposal, he said, "I am very fortunate that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord of all prabhus, will stay at my home."

CC Madhya 10.24: Thus all the residents of Jagannatha Puri, which is also known as Purushottama, became anxious to meet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again.

CC Madhya 10.25: When all the residents of Jagannatha Puri became extremely anxious to meet the Lord again, He returned from South India.

CC Madhya 10.26: Hearing of the Lord's return, everyone became very happy, and they all went to Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and spoke to him as follows.

CC Madhya 10.27: "Please arrange our meeting with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is only by your mercy that we can attain the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord."

CC Madhya 10.28: The Bhattacarya replied to the people, "Tomorrow the Lord will be at the house of Kasi Misra. I shall arrange for you all to meet Him."

CC Madhya 10.29: The next day Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived and went with Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, with great enthusiasm, to see the temple of Lord Jagannatha.

CC Madhya 10.30: All the servants of Lord Jagannatha delivered remnants of the Lord's food to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In return, Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced them all.

CC Madhya 10.31: After seeing Lord Jagannatha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left the temple. The Bhattacarya then took Him to the house of Kasi Misra.

CC Madhya 10.32: When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived at his house, Kasi Misra immediately fell down at His lotus feet and surrendered himself and all his possessions.

CC Madhya 10.33: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then showed Kasi Misra His four-armed form. Then, accepting him for His service, the Lord embraced him.

CC Madhya 10.34: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu next sat down at the place prepared for Him, and all the devotees, headed by Lord Nityananda Prabhu, surrounded Him.

CC Madhya 10.35: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very happy to see His residential quarters, in which all His necessities were taken care of.

CC Madhya 10.36: Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said, "This place is just befitting You. Please accept it. It is the hope of Kasi Misra that You do."

CC Madhya 10.37: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "My body belongs to all of you. Therefore I agree to whatever you say."

CC Madhya 10.38: After this, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, sitting at the right hand of the Lord, began to introduce all the inhabitants of Purushottama, Jagannatha Puri.

CC Madhya 10.39: The Bhattacarya said, "My dear Lord, all these people who are residents of Nilacala, Jagannatha Puri, have been very anxious to meet You.

CC Madhya 10.40: "In Your absence all these people have been exactly like thirsty cataka birds crying in disappointment. Kindly accept them."

CC Madhya 10.41: Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya first introduced Janardana, saying, "Here is Janardana, servant of Lord Jagannatha. He renders service to the Lord when it is time to renovate His transcendental body."

CC Madhya 10.42: Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya continued, "This is Krishnadasa, who carries a golden cane, and here is Sikhi Mahiti, who is in charge of writing.

CC Madhya 10.43: "This is Pradyumna Misra, who is chief of all Vaishnavas. He is a great servitor of Jagannatha, and his name is Dasa.

CC Madhya 10.44: "This is Murari Mahiti, the brother of Sikhi Mahiti. He has nothing other than Your lotus feet.

CC Madhya 10.45: "Here are Candanesvara, Simhesvara, Murari Brahmana and Vishnudasa. They are all constantly engaged in meditating on Your lotus feet.

CC Madhya 10.46: "This is Paramananda Prahararaja, who is also known as Mahapatra. He is very, very intelligent.

CC Madhya 10.47: "All these pure devotees serve as ornaments to Jagannatha Puri. They are always undeviatingly meditating upon Your lotus feet."

CC Madhya 10.48: After this introduction, everyone fell to the ground like rods. Being very merciful upon them all, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced each one of them.

CC Madhya 10.49: At this time Bhavananda Raya appeared with four of his sons, and all of them fell down at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Madhya 10.50: Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya continued, "This is Bhavananda Raya, the father of Sri Ramananda Raya, who is his first son."

CC Madhya 10.51: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced Bhavananda Raya and with great respect spoke of his son Ramananda Raya.

CC Madhya 10.52: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu honored Bhavananda Raya by saying, "The glories of a person who has a jewel of a son like Ramananda Raya cannot be described within this mortal world.

CC Madhya 10.53: "You are Maharaja Pandu himself, and your wife is Kuntidevi herself. All your highly intellectual sons are representatives of the five Pandavas."

CC Madhya 10.54: After hearing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's praise, Bhavananda Raya submitted, "I am in the fourth class of the social order, and I engage in mundane affairs. Although I am very fallen, You have still touched me. This is proof that You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

CC Madhya 10.55: Appreciating Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's favor, Bhavananda Raya also said, "Along with my home, riches, servants and five sons, I surrender myself at Your lotus feet.

CC Madhya 10.56: "This son Vaninatha will remain at Your lotus feet to always immediately attend to Your orders and serve You.

CC Madhya 10.57: "My dear Lord, please consider me Your relative. Do not hesitate to order whatever You desire at any time You desire it."

CC Madhya 10.58: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted Bhavananda Raya's offer, saying, "I accept without hesitation because you are not an outsider. Birth after birth you have been My servant, along with your family members.

CC Madhya 10.59: "Sri Ramananda Raya is coming within five to seven days. As soon as he arrives, My desires will be fulfilled. I take great pleasure in his company."

CC Madhya 10.60: Saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced Bhavananda Raya. The Lord then touched the heads of his sons with His lotus feet.

CC Madhya 10.61: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then sent Bhavananda Raya back to his home, and He kept only Vaninatha Pattanayaka in His personal service.

CC Madhya 10.62: Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya then asked all the people to leave. Afterward, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu called for Kala Krishnadasa, who had accompanied the Lord during His South Indian tour.

CC Madhya 10.63: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "My dear Bhattacarya, just consider the character of this man who went with Me to South India.

CC Madhya 10.64: "He left My company to associate with the Bhattatharis, but I rescued him from their company and brought him here.

CC Madhya 10.65: "Now that I have brought him here, I am asking him to leave. Now he can go wherever he likes, for I am no longer responsible for him."

CC Madhya 10.66: Hearing the Lord reject him, Kala Krishnadasa began to cry. However, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, not caring for him, immediately left to take His noon lunch.

CC Madhya 10.67: After this, the other devotees -- headed by Nityananda Prabhu, Jagadananda, Mukunda and Damodara -- began to consider a certain plan.

CC Madhya 10.68: The Lord's four devotees considered, "We want a person to go to Bengal just to inform Sacimata about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's arrival at Jagannatha Puri.

CC Madhya 10.69: "After hearing news of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's arrival, devotees like Advaita and Srivasa will certainly come to see Him.

CC Madhya 10.70: "Let us therefore send Krishnadasa to Bengal." Saying this, they kept Krishnadasa engaged in the service of the Lord and gave him assurance.

CC Madhya 10.71: The next day, all the devotees asked Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "Please give permission for a person to go to Bengal.

CC Madhya 10.72: "Mother Saci and all the devotees headed by Advaita Prabhu are all very unhappy due to not receiving news about Your return from Your South Indian tour.

CC Madhya 10.73: "One person should go to Bengal and inform them about the auspicious news of Your return to Jagannatha Puri."Upon hearing this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "Do whatever you decide."

CC Madhya 10.74: In this way Kala Krishnadasa was sent to Bengal, and he was given sufficient quantities of Lord Jagannatha's food remnants to distribute there.

CC Madhya 10.75: Thus Kala Krishnadasa went to Bengal, and he first went to Navadvipa to see mother Saci.

CC Madhya 10.76: Upon reaching mother Saci, Kala Krishnadasa first offered his obeisances and delivered the food remnants [maha-prasadam]. He then informed her of the good news that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had returned from His South Indian tour.

CC Madhya 10.77: This good news gave much pleasure to mother Saci, as well as to all the devotees of Navadvipa, headed by Srivasa Thakura.

CC Madhya 10.78: Hearing of Lord Caitanya's return to Puri, everyone became very glad. Krishnadasa next went to the house of Advaita Acarya.

CC Madhya 10.79: After paying Him respectful obeisances, Krishnadasa offered maha-prasadam to Advaita Acarya. He then informed Him of the news of Lord Caitanya in complete detail.

CC Madhya 10.80: When Advaita Acarya Gosvami heard of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's return, He became very pleased. In His great ecstasy of love, He made a rumbling sound and danced and chanted for a long time.

CC Madhya 10.81: Also hearing this auspicious news, Haridasa Thakura became very pleased. So also did Vasudeva Datta, Murari Gupta and Sivananda Sena.

CC Madhya 10.82: Acaryaratna, Vakresvara Pandita, Acaryanidhi and Gadadhara Pandita were all very pleased to hear this news.

CC Madhya 10.83: Srirama Pandita, Damodara Pandita, Sriman Pandita, Vijaya and Sridhara were also very pleased to hear it.

CC Madhya 10.84: Raghava Pandita, the son of Advaita Acarya and all the devotees became very satisfied. How many can I describe?

CC Madhya 10.85: Everyone was very pleased, and they all gathered together at the house of Advaita Acarya.

CC Madhya 10.86: All the devotees offered respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of Advaita Acarya, and in return Advaita Acarya embraced them all.

CC Madhya 10.87: Advaita Acarya then held a festival that lasted two or three days. Thereafter, they all made a firm decision to go to Jagannatha Puri.

CC Madhya 10.88: All the devotees met together at Navadvipa and, with mother Saci's permission, departed for Niladri, Jagannatha Puri.

CC Madhya 10.89: The inhabitants of Kulina-grama -- Satyaraja, Ramananda and all the other devotees there -- came and joined Advaita Acarya.

CC Madhya 10.90: Mukunda, Narahari, Raghunandana and all the others came from Khanda to Advaita Acarya's home to accompany Him to Jagannatha Puri.

CC Madhya 10.91: At that time Paramananda Puri came from South India. Traveling along the banks of the Ganges, he ultimately reached the town of Nadia.

CC Madhya 10.92: At Navadvipa, Paramananda Puri took his board and lodging at the house of Sacimata. She provided him with everything very respectfully.

CC Madhya 10.93: While residing at the house of Sacimata, Paramananda Puri heard the news of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's return to Jagannatha Puri. He therefore decided to go there as soon as possible.

CC Madhya 10.94: There was a devotee of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's named Dvija Kamalakanta, whom Paramananda Puri took with him to Jagannatha Puri.

CC Madhya 10.95: Paramananda Puri very soon arrived at Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's place. The Lord was very happy to see him.

CC Madhya 10.96: In the great ecstasy of love, the Lord worshiped the lotus feet of Paramananda Puri, and in turn Paramananda Puri embraced the Lord in great ecstasy.

CC Madhya 10.97: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Please stay with Me and thus show Me favor, accepting the shelter of Jagannatha Puri."

CC Madhya 10.98: Paramananda Puri replied, "I also wish to stay with You. Therefore I have come from Bengal, Gauda, to Jagannatha Puri.

CC Madhya 10.99: "At Navadvipa, mother Saci and all the other devotees were very glad to hear about Your return from South India.

CC Madhya 10.100: "They are all coming here to see You, but seeing that they were delayed, I came alone very quickly."

CC Madhya 10.101: There was a solitary room at Kasi Misra's house, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave it to Paramananda Puri. He also gave him a servant.

CC Madhya 10.102: Svarupa Damodara also arrived the next day. He was a very intimate friend of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's, and he was an ocean of transcendental mellows.

CC Madhya 10.103: When Svarupa Damodara was residing at Navadvipa under the shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, his name was Purushottama Acarya.

CC Madhya 10.104: After seeing that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the renounced order, Purushottama Acarya became like a madman and immediately went to Varanasi to take sannyasa.

CC Madhya 10.105: At the conclusion of his sannyasa, his spiritual master, Caitanyananda Bharati, ordered him, "Read the Vedanta-sutra and teach it to all others."

CC Madhya 10.106: Svarupa Damodara was a great renunciant as well as a great learned scholar. With heart and soul he took shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna.

CC Madhya 10.107: He was very enthusiastic to worship Sri Krishna without disturbance, and therefore, almost in madness, he accepted the sannyasa order.

CC Madhya 10.108: Upon accepting sannyasa, Purushottama Acarya followed the regulative principles by giving up his tuft of hair and sacred thread, but he did not accept the saffron-colored dress. Also, he did not accept a sannyasi title but remained as a naishthika-brahmacari.

CC Madhya 10.109: After taking permission from his sannyasa-guru, Svarupa Damodara went to Nilacala and accepted the shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Then all day and night, in ecstatic love of Krishna, he enjoyed transcendental mellows in the loving service of the Lord.

CC Madhya 10.110: Svarupa Damodara was the limit of all learned scholarship, but he did not exchange words with anyone. He simply remained in a solitary place, and no one could understand where he was.

CC Madhya 10.111: Sri Svarupa Damodara was the personification of ecstatic love, fully cognizant of the transcendental mellows in relationship with Krishna. He directly represented Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as His second expansion.

CC Madhya 10.112: If someone wrote a book or composed verses and songs and wanted to recite them before Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Svarupa Damodara would first examine them and then correctly present them. Only then would Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu agree to listen.

CC Madhya 10.113: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was never pleased to hear books or verses opposed to the conclusive statements of devotional service. The Lord did not like hearing rasabhasa, the overlapping of transcendental mellows.

CC Madhya 10.114: It was the practice of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami to examine all literatures to find out whether their conclusions were correct. Only then would he allow them to be heard by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Madhya 10.115: Sri Svarupa Damodara used to read the poems of Vidyapati and Candidasa and Jayadeva Gosvami's Sri Gita-govinda. He used to make Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu very happy by singing these songs.

CC Madhya 10.116: Svarupa Damodara was as expert a musician as the Gandharvas, and in scriptural discussion he was just like Brihaspati, the priest of the heavenly gods. Therefore it is to be concluded that there was no great personality quite like Svarupa Damodara.

CC Madhya 10.117: Sri Svarupa Damodara was very dear to Advaita Acarya and Nityananda Prabhu, and he was the life and soul of all the devotees, headed by Srivasa Thakura.

CC Madhya 10.118: When Svarupa Damodara came to Jagannatha Puri, he fell flat before the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, offering Him obeisances and reciting a verse.

CC Madhya 10.119: "O ocean of mercy, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! Let there be an awakening of Your auspicious mercy, which easily drives away all kinds of material lamentation by making everything pure and blissful. Indeed, Your mercy awakens transcendental bliss and covers all material pleasures. By Your auspicious mercy, quarrels and disagreements arising among different scriptures are vanquished. Your auspicious mercy pours forth transcendental mellows and thus causes the heart to jubilate. Your mercy, which is full of joy, always stimulates devotional service and glorifies conjugal love of God. May transcendental bliss be awakened within my heart by Your causeless mercy."

CC Madhya 10.120: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu raised Svarupa Damodara to his feet and embraced him. They both became ecstatic in love and fell unconscious.

CC Madhya 10.121: After they had regained their patience, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to speak.

CC Madhya 10.122: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "I saw in a dream that you were coming, and so this is very auspicious. I have been like a blind man, but your coming here restores My vision."

CC Madhya 10.123: Svarupa said, "My dear Lord, please excuse my offense. I gave up Your company to go elsewhere, and that was my great mistake.

CC Madhya 10.124: "My dear Lord, I do not possess even a trace of love for Your lotus feet. If I did, how could I have gone to another country? I am therefore a most sinful man.

CC Madhya 10.125: "I gave up Your company, but You did not give me up. By Your rope of mercy You have bound me by the neck and brought me back again to Your lotus feet."

CC Madhya 10.126: Svarupa Damodara then worshiped the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu, and Nityananda Prabhu in turn embraced him in the ecstasy of love.

CC Madhya 10.127: After worshiping Nityananda Prabhu, Svarupa Damodara met Jagadananda, Mukunda, Sankara and Sarvabhauma, as was befitting.

CC Madhya 10.128: Svarupa Damodara also offered his worshipful prayers at the lotus feet of Paramananda Puri, who, in return, embraced him in ecstatic love.

CC Madhya 10.129: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then gave Svarupa Damodara residence in a solitary place and ordered a servant to serve him with a supply of water and other necessities.

CC Madhya 10.130: The next day Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sat with all the devotees, headed by Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, and they discussed the pastimes of Krishna.

CC Madhya 10.131: At that time Govinda appeared on the scene, offered his respectful obeisances and spoke submissively.

CC Madhya 10.132: "I am the servant of Isvara Puri. My name is Govinda, and following the orders of my spiritual master, I have come here.

CC Madhya 10.133: "Just before his departure from this mortal world to attain the highest perfection, Isvara Puri told me that I should go to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and render service unto Him.

CC Madhya 10.134: "Kasisvara will also come here after visiting all the holy places. However, following the orders of my spiritual master, I have hastily come to be present at Your lotus feet."

CC Madhya 10.135: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "My spiritual master, Isvara Puri, always favors Me with paternal affection. Therefore, out of his causeless mercy, he has sent you here."

CC Madhya 10.136: After hearing this, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya asked Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "Why did Isvara Puri keep a servant who comes from a sudra family?"

CC Madhya 10.137: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Both the Supreme Personality of Godhead and My spiritual master, Isvara Puri, are completely independent. Therefore neither the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead nor that of Isvara Puri is subject to any Vedic rules and regulations.

CC Madhya 10.138: "The mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not restricted to the jurisdiction of caste and creed. Vidura was a sudra, yet Krishna accepted lunch at his home.

CC Madhya 10.139: "Lord Krishna's mercy is dependent only on affection. Being obliged only by affection, Lord Krishna acts very independently.

CC Madhya 10.140: "In conclusion, dealings in affection with the Supreme Personality of Godhead bring happiness many millions of times greater than dealings with Him in awe and veneration. Simply by hearing the holy name of the Lord, the devotee is merged in transcendental bliss."

CC Madhya 10.141: After saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced Govinda, and Govinda in turn offered his respectful obeisances unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's lotus feet.

CC Madhya 10.142: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then continued speaking to Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya: "Consider this point. The servant of the spiritual master is always respectable for Me.

CC Madhya 10.143: "As such, it is not befitting that the guru's servant should engage in My personal service. Yet My spiritual master has given this order. What shall I do?"

CC Madhya 10.144: Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said, "The order of the spiritual master is very strong and cannot be disobeyed. That is the injunction of the sastras, the revealed scriptures.

CC Madhya 10.145: "'Being ordered by his father, Parasurama killed his mother, Renuka, just as if she were an enemy. When Lakshmana, the younger brother of Lord Ramacandra, heard of this, He immediately engaged Himself in the service of His elder brother and accepted His orders. The order of the spiritual master must be obeyed without consideration.'

CC Madhya 10.146: "'The order of a great personality like a father must be executed without consideration because there is good fortune in such an order for both of us. In particular, there is good fortune for Me.'"

CC Madhya 10.147: After Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced Govinda and engaged him in the service of His personal body.

CC Madhya 10.148: Everyone respected Govinda as the dearest servant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and Govinda served all the Vaishnavas and saw to their needs.

CC Madhya 10.149: Both Haridasa senior and Haridasa junior, who were musicians, as well as Ramai and Nandai, used to stay with Govinda.

CC Madhya 10.150: They all remained with Govinda to serve Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; therefore no one could estimate the good fortune of Govinda.

CC Madhya 10.151: The next day Mukunda Datta informed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "Brahmananda Bharati has come to see You."

CC Madhya 10.152: Mukunda Datta then asked the Lord, "Shall I bring him here?"Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Brahmananda Bharati is like My spiritual master. It is better that I go to him."

CC Madhya 10.153: After saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees came into the presence of Brahmananda Bharati.

CC Madhya 10.154: When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees approached him, they saw that he was covered with a deerskin. Seeing this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu became very unhappy.

CC Madhya 10.155: Seeing Brahmananda Bharati wearing the deerskin, Caitanya Mahaprabhu pretended not to see him. Instead, He asked Mukunda Datta, "Where is Brahmananda Bharati, My spiritual master?"

CC Madhya 10.156: Mukunda Datta replied, "Here is Brahmananda Bharati, in Your presence."The Lord replied, "You are incorrect. This is not Brahmananda Bharati.

CC Madhya 10.157: "You must be talking of someone else, for this is surely not Brahmananda Bharati. You simply have no knowledge. Why should Brahmananda Bharati wear a deerskin?"

CC Madhya 10.158: When Brahmananda Bharati heard this, he thought, "My deerskin is not approved by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu."

CC Madhya 10.159: Thus admitting his mistake, Brahmananda Bharati thought, "He spoke well. I put on this deerskin only for prestige. I cannot cross over the ocean of nescience simply by wearing a deerskin.

CC Madhya 10.160: "From today on I shall not wear this deerskin." As soon as Brahmananda Bharati decided this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, understanding his mind, immediately sent for the robes of a sannyasi.

CC Madhya 10.161: As soon as Brahmananda Bharati gave up his deerskin and covered himself with sannyasi robes, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came and offered His respects at his lotus feet.

CC Madhya 10.162: Brahmananda Bharati said, "You instruct the general populace by Your behavior. I will not do anything against Your wishes; otherwise You will not offer me respects but will neglect me. I am afraid of this.

CC Madhya 10.163: "At the present moment I see two Brahmans. One Brahman is Lord Jagannatha, who does not move, and the other Brahman, who is moving, is You. Lord Jagannatha is the arca-vigraha, the worshipable Deity, and it is He who is the nonmoving Brahman. But You are Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and You are moving here and there. The two of You are the same Brahman, master of the material nature, but You are playing two parts -- one moving and one not moving. In this way two Brahmans are now residing at Jagannatha Puri, Purushottama.

CC Madhya 10.164: "Of the two Brahmans, You are fair-complexioned, and the other, Lord Jagannatha, is blackish. Both of You are delivering the whole world."

CC Madhya 10.165: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "Actually, to tell you the truth, due to your presence there are now two Brahmans at Jagannatha Puri.

CC Madhya 10.166: "Both Brahmananda and Gaurahari are moving, whereas the blackish Lord Jagannatha is sitting tight and immobile."

CC Madhya 10.167: Brahmananda Bharati said, "My dear Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, please become the mediator in this logical argument between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and me."

CC Madhya 10.168: Brahmananda Bharati continued, "The living entity is localized, whereas the Supreme Brahman is all-pervading. That is the verdict of the revealed scriptures.

CC Madhya 10.169: "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu purified me by taking away my deerskin. This is proof that He is all-pervasive and all-powerful and that I am subordinate to Him.

CC Madhya 10.170: "'His bodily hue is golden, and His whole body is like molten gold. Every part of His body is very beautifully constructed and smeared with sandalwood pulp. Accepting the renounced order, the Lord is always equipoised. He is firmly fixed in His mission of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, and He is firmly situated in His dualistic conclusion and in His peace.'

CC Madhya 10.171: "All the symptoms mentioned in the verse from the Vishnu-sahasra-nama-stotra are visible in the body of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. His arms are decorated with sandalwood pulp and the thread received from the Sri Jagannatha Deity, and these are His ornamental bangles."

CC Madhya 10.172: After hearing this, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya rendered his judgment, saying, "Brahmananda Bharati, I see that you are victorious."Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately said, "I accept whatever Brahmananda Bharati has said. It is quite all right with Me."

CC Madhya 10.173: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu thus posed Himself as a disciple and accepted Brahmananda Bharati as His spiritual master. He then said, "The disciple is certainly defeated in an argument with the spiritual master."Brahmananda Bharati immediately countered these words, saying, "This is not the cause of Your defeat. There is another cause.

CC Madhya 10.174: "It is Your natural characteristic to accept defeat at the hands of Your devotee. There is also another glory of Yours, which I ask You to hear attentively.

CC Madhya 10.175: "I have been meditating on the impersonal Brahman since my birth, but since I have seen You, I have fully experienced Krishna."

CC Madhya 10.176: Brahmananda Bharati continued, "Since I have seen You, I have been feeling Lord Krishna's presence in my mind and have been seeing Him before my eyes. I now want to chant the holy name of Lord Krishna. Over and above this, within my heart I consider You to be Krishna, and I am therefore very eager to serve You.

CC Madhya 10.177: "Bilvamangala Thakura abandoned his impersonal realization for the realization of the Personality of Godhead. I now see that my condition is similar to his, for it has already changed."

CC Madhya 10.178: Brahmananda Bharati concluded, "'Although I was worshiped by those on the path of monism and initiated into self-realization through the yoga system, I have nonetheless been forcibly turned into a maidservant by some cunning boy who is always joking with the gopis.'"

CC Madhya 10.179: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "You have a deep ecstatic love for Krishna; therefore wherever you turn your eyes, you simply heighten your Krishna consciousness."

CC Madhya 10.180: Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said, "The statements of both of you are correct. Krishna gives direct audience through His mercy.

CC Madhya 10.181: "Without having ecstatic love for Krishna, one cannot see Him directly. Therefore through the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Brahmananda Bharati has acquired direct vision of the Lord."

CC Madhya 10.182: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, what are you saying? Lord Vishnu, save Me! Such glorification is simply another form of blasphemy."

CC Madhya 10.183: After saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took Brahmananda Bharati with Him to His residence. From that time on, Brahmananda Bharati remained with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Madhya 10.184: Later, Ramabhadra Acarya and Bhagavan Acarya joined them and, giving up all other responsibilities, remained under Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's shelter.

CC Madhya 10.185: The next day, Kasisvara Gosani also came and remained with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who received him with great respect.

CC Madhya 10.186: Kasisvara used to usher Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu into the Jagannatha temple. He would precede the Lord into the crowd and keep the people from touching Him.

CC Madhya 10.187: As all the rivers flow into the sea, all the devotees throughout the country finally came to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's shelter.

CC Madhya 10.188: Since all the devotees came to Him for shelter, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu showed them all mercy and kept them under His protection.

CC Madhya 10.189: Thus I have described the meeting of all the Vaishnavas with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Whoever hears this description ultimately attains shelter at His lotus feet.

CC Madhya 10.190: Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always desiring their mercy, I, Krishnadasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, following in their footsteps.

Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness