Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Sri Caitanya Caritamrta

CC Madhya 13 Summary

CC Madhya 13.1: May the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna Caitanya, who danced in front of the car of Sri Jagannatha, be all glorified! By seeing His dancing, not only was the whole universe held in wonder, but Lord Jagannatha Himself became very much astonished.

CC Madhya 13.2: All glories to Sri Krsna Caitanya and Prabhu Nityananda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to the devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!

CC Madhya 13.3: All glories to the listeners of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta! Please hear the description of the dancing of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu at the Ratha-yatra festival. His dancing is very enchanting. Please hear of it with great attention.

CC Madhya 13.4: The next day, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His personal associates got up in the dark and attentively took their early-morning baths.

CC Madhya 13.5: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His personal associates then went to see the ceremony of Pandu-vijaya. During this ceremony, Lord Jagannatha leaves His throne and gets up onto the car.

CC Madhya 13.6: King Prataparudra in person, as well as his entourage, allowed the Pandu-vijaya ceremony to be seen by all the associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Madhya 13.7: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His prominent devotees -- Advaita Acarya, Nityananda Prabhu and others -- were very happy to observe how Lord Jagannatha began the Ratha-yatra.

CC Madhya 13.8: The very strongly built dayitas [carriers of the Jagannatha Deity] were as powerful as drunken elephants. They manually carried Lord Jagannatha from the throne to the car.

CC Madhya 13.9: While carrying the Deity of Lord Jagannatha, some of the dayitas took hold of the shoulders of the Lord, and some caught His lotus feet.

CC Madhya 13.10: The Lord Jagannatha Deity was bound at the waist by a strong, thick rope made of silk. From two sides the dayitas caught hold of this rope and raised the Deity.

CC Madhya 13.11: Strong, puffed-up cotton pads called tulis were spread out from the throne to the car, and the heavy Deity of Lord Jagannatha was carried from one pillowlike pad to the next by the dayitas.

CC Madhya 13.12: While the dayitas carried the heavy Jagannatha Deity from one pad to the next, some of the pads broke, and the cotton contents floated into the air. When they broke, they made a heavy cracking sound.

CC Madhya 13.13: Lord Jagannatha is the maintainer of the whole universe. Who can carry Him from one place to another? The Lord moves by His personal will just to perform His pastimes.

CC Madhya 13.14: While the Lord was transported from the throne to the car, tumultuous sounds were made on various musical instruments. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was chanting "Manima! Manima!" but He could not be heard.

CC Madhya 13.15: While the Lord was being carried from the throne to the car, King Prataparudra personally engaged in the Lord's service by cleansing the road with a broom that had a golden handle.

CC Madhya 13.16: The King sprinkled the road with sandalwood-scented water. Although he was the owner of the royal throne, he engaged in menial service for the sake of Lord Jagannatha.

CC Madhya 13.17: Although the King was the most exalted respectable person, still he accepted menial service for the Lord; he therefore became a suitable candidate for receiving the Lord's mercy.

CC Madhya 13.18: Upon seeing the King engaged in such menial service, Caitanya Mahaprabhu became very happy. Simply by rendering this service, the King received the mercy of the Lord.

CC Madhya 13.19: Everyone was astonished to see the decorations on the Ratha car. The car appeared to be newly made of gold, and it was as high as Mount Sumeru.

CC Madhya 13.20: The decorations included bright mirrors and hundreds and hundreds of camaras [white whisks made of yak tails]. On top of the car were a neat and clean canopy and a very beautiful flag.

CC Madhya 13.21: The car was also decorated with silken cloth and various pictures. Many brass bells, gongs and ankle bells rang.

CC Madhya 13.22: For the pastimes of the Ratha-yatra ceremony, Lord Jagannatha got aboard one car, and His sister, Subhadra, and elder brother, Balarama, got aboard two other cars.

CC Madhya 13.23: For fifteen days the Lord had remained in a secluded place with the supreme goddess of fortune and had performed His pastimes with her.

CC Madhya 13.24: Having taken permission from the goddess of fortune, the Lord came out to ride on the Ratha car and perform His pastimes for the pleasure of the devotees.

CC Madhya 13.25: The fine, white sand spread all over the path resembled the bank of the Yamuna, and the small gardens on both sides looked just like those in Vrndavana.

CC Madhya 13.26: As Lord Jagannatha rode in His car and saw the beauty on both sides, His mind was filled with pleasure.

CC Madhya 13.27: The pullers of the car were known as gaudas, and they pulled with great pleasure. However, the car sometimes went very fast and sometimes very slow.

CC Madhya 13.28: Sometimes the car would stand still and not move, even though it was pulled very vigorously. The chariot therefore moved by the will of the Lord, not by the strength of any ordinary person.

CC Madhya 13.29: As the car stood still, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gathered all His devotees and, with His own hand, decorated them with flower garlands and sandalwood pulp.

CC Madhya 13.30: Paramananda Puri and Brahmananda Bharati were both personally given garlands and sandalwood pulp from the very hands of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This increased their transcendental pleasure.

CC Madhya 13.31: Similarly, when Advaita Acarya and Nityananda Prabhu felt the touch of the transcendental hand of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, They were very pleased.

CC Madhya 13.32: The Lord also gave garlands and sandalwood pulp to the performers of sankirtana. The two chief performers were Svarupa Damodara and Srivasa Thakura.

CC Madhya 13.33: There were altogether four parties of kirtana performers, comprising twenty-four chanters. In each party there were also two mrdanga players, making an additional eight persons.

CC Madhya 13.34: When the four parties were formed, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, after some consideration, divided the chanters.

CC Madhya 13.35: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Acarya, Haridasa Thakura and Vakresvara Pandita to dance in each of the four respective parties.

CC Madhya 13.36: Svarupa Damodara was chosen as the leader of the first party and was given five assistants to respond to his chanting.

CC Madhya 13.37: The five who responded to the singing of Svarupa Damodara were Damodara Pandita, Narayana, Govinda Datta, Raghava Pandita and Sri Govindananda.

CC Madhya 13.38: Advaita Acarya Prabhu was ordered to dance in the first group. The Lord then formed another group with Srivasa Thakura as the chief man.

CC Madhya 13.39: The five singers who responded to the singing of Srivasa Thakura were Gangadasa, Haridasa, Sriman, Subhananda and Sri Rama Pandita. Sri Nityananda Prabhu was appointed as a dancer.

CC Madhya 13.40: Another group was formed consisting of Vasudeva, Gopinatha and Murari. All these were responsive singers, and Mukunda was the chief singer.

CC Madhya 13.41: Another two persons, Srikanta and Vallabha Sena, joined as responsive singers. In this group, the senior Haridasa [Haridasa Thakura] was the dancer.

CC Madhya 13.42: The Lord formed another group, appointing Govinda Ghosa as leader. In this group the younger Haridasa, Visnudasa and Raghava were the responding singers.

CC Madhya 13.43: Two brothers named Madhava Ghosa and Vasudeva Ghosa also joined this group as responsive singers. Vakresvara Pandita was the dancer.

CC Madhya 13.44: There was a sankirtana party from the village known as Kulina-grama, and Ramananda and Satyaraja were appointed the dancers in this group.

CC Madhya 13.45: There was another party that came from Santipura and was formed by Advaita Acarya. Acyutananda was the dancer, and the rest of the men were singers.

CC Madhya 13.46: Another party was formed by the people of Khanda. These people were singing in a different place. In that group, Narahari Prabhu and Raghunandana were dancing.

CC Madhya 13.47: Four parties chanted and danced in front of Lord Jagannatha, and on either side was another party. Yet another was at the rear.

CC Madhya 13.48: There were altogether seven parties of sankirtana, and in each party two men were beating drums. Thus fourteen drums were being played at once. The sound was tumultuous, and all the devotees became mad.

CC Madhya 13.49: All the Vaisnavas came together like an assembly of clouds. As the devotees chanted the holy names in great ecstasy, tears fell from their eyes like rain.

CC Madhya 13.50: When the sankirtana resounded, it filled the three worlds. Indeed, no one could hear any sounds or musical instruments other than the sankirtana.

CC Madhya 13.51: Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu wandered through all seven groups chanting the holy name, "Hari, Hari!" Raising His arms, He shouted, "All glories to Lord Jagannatha!"

CC Madhya 13.52: Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu then exhibited another mystic power by performing pastimes simultaneously in all seven groups.

CC Madhya 13.53: Everyone said, "Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is present in my group. Indeed, He does not go anywhere else. He is bestowing His mercy upon us."

CC Madhya 13.54: Actually, no one could see the inconceivable potency of the Lord. Only the most confidential devotees, those in pure, unalloyed devotional service, could understand.

CC Madhya 13.55: Lord Jagannatha was very much pleased by the sankirtana, and He brought His car to a standstill just to see the performance.

CC Madhya 13.56: King Prataparudra was also astonished to see the sankirtana. He became inactive and was converted to ecstatic love of Krsna.

CC Madhya 13.57: When the King informed Kasi Misra of the glories of the Lord, Kasi Misra replied, "O King, your fortune has no limit!"

CC Madhya 13.58: The King and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya were both aware of the Lord's activities, but no one else could see the tricks of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Madhya 13.59: Only a person who has received the mercy of the Lord can understand. Without the Lord's mercy, even the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, cannot understand.

CC Madhya 13.60: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had been very satisfied to see the King accept the menial task of sweeping the street, and for this humility the King received the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He could therefore observe the mystery of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's activities.

CC Madhya 13.61: Although the King had been refused an interview, he was indirectly bestowed causeless mercy. Who can understand the internal potency of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu?

CC Madhya 13.62: When the two great personalities Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and Kasi Misra saw Caitanya Mahaprabhu's causeless mercy upon the King, they were astonished.

CC Madhya 13.63: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu performed His pastimes for some time in this way. He personally sang and induced His personal associates to dance.

CC Madhya 13.64: According to His need, the Lord sometimes exhibited one form and sometimes many. This was being executed by His internal potency.

CC Madhya 13.65: Indeed, the Personality of Godhead forgot Himself in the course of His transcendental pastimes, but His internal potency [lila-sakti], knowing the intentions of the Lord, made all arrangements.

CC Madhya 13.66: Just as Lord Sri Krsna formerly performed the rasa-lila dance and other pastimes at Vrndavana, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu performed uncommon pastimes moment after moment.

CC Madhya 13.67: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's dancing before the Ratha-yatra car could be perceived only by pure devotees. Others could not understand. Descriptions of Lord Krsna's uncommon dancing can be found in the revealed scripture Srimad-Bhagavatam.

CC Madhya 13.68: In this way Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced in great jubilation and inundated all the people with waves of ecstatic love.

CC Madhya 13.69: Thus Lord Jagannatha mounted His car, and Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu inspired all His devotees to dance in front of it.

CC Madhya 13.70: Now please hear about Lord Jagannatha's going to the Gundica temple while Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced before the Ratha car.

CC Madhya 13.71: The Lord performed kirtana for some time and, through His own endeavor, inspired all the devotees to dance.

CC Madhya 13.72: When the Lord Himself wanted to dance, all seven groups combined together.

CC Madhya 13.73: The Lord's devotees -- including Srivasa, Ramai, Raghu, Govinda, Mukunda, Haridasa, Govindananda, Madhava and Govinda -- all combined together.

CC Madhya 13.74: When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu desired to jump high while dancing, He placed these nine people in the charge of Svarupa Damodara.

CC Madhya 13.75: These devotees [Svarupa Damodara and the devotees in his charge] sang along with the Lord, and they also ran beside Him. All the other groups of men also sang.

CC Madhya 13.76: Offering obeisances to the Lord with folded hands, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu raised His face toward Jagannatha and prayed as follows.

CC Madhya 13.77: "'Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Krsna, who is the worshipable Deity for all brahminical men, who is the well-wisher of cows and brahmanas, and who is always benefiting the whole world. I offer my repeated obeisances to the Personality of Godhead, known as Krsna and Govinda.'

CC Madhya 13.78: "'All glories unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as the son of Devaki! All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as the light of the dynasty of Vrsni! All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose bodily luster is like that of a new cloud, and whose body is as soft as a lotus flower! All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appeared on this planet to deliver the world from the burden of demons, and who can offer liberation to everyone!'

CC Madhya 13.79: "'Lord Sri Krsna is He who is known as jana-nivasa, the ultimate resort of all living entities, and who is also known as Devaki-nandana or Yasoda-nandana, the son of Devaki and Yasoda. He is the guide of the Yadu dynasty, and with His mighty arms He kills everything inauspicious, as well as every man who is impious. By His presence He destroys all things inauspicious for all living entities, moving and inert. His blissful smiling face always increases the lusty desires of the gopis of Vrndavana. May He be all-glorious and happy!'

CC Madhya 13.80: "'I am not a brahmana, I am not a ksatriya, I am not a vaisya or a sudra. Nor am I a brahmacari, a householder, a vanaprastha or a sannyasi. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krsna, the maintainer of the gopis. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance.'"

CC Madhya 13.81: Having recited all these verses from scripture, the Lord again offered His obeisances, and all the devotees, with folded hands, also offered prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

CC Madhya 13.82: When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced and jumped high, roaring like thunder and moving in a circle like a wheel, He appeared like a circling firebrand.

CC Madhya 13.83: Wherever Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stepped while dancing, the whole earth, with its hills and seas, appeared to tilt.

CC Madhya 13.84: When Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced, He displayed various blissful transcendental changes in His body. Sometimes He appeared as though stunned. Sometimes the hairs of His body stood on end. Sometimes He perspired, cried, trembled and changed color, and sometimes He exhibited symptoms of helplessness, pride, exuberance and humility.

CC Madhya 13.85: When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu fell down with a crash while dancing, He would roll on the ground. At such times it appeared that a golden mountain was rolling on the ground.

CC Madhya 13.86: Nityananda Prabhu would stretch out His two hands and try to catch the Lord when He was running here and there.

CC Madhya 13.87: Advaita Acarya would walk behind the Lord and loudly chant "Haribol! Haribol!" again and again.

CC Madhya 13.88: Just to check the crowds from coming too near the Lord, the devotees formed three circles. The first circle was guided by Nityananda Prabhu, who is Balarama Himself, the possessor of great strength.

CC Madhya 13.89: All the devotees headed by Kasisvara and Govinda linked hands and formed a second circle around the Lord.

CC Madhya 13.90: Maharaja Prataparudra and his personal assistants formed a third circle around the two inner circles just to check the crowds from coming too near.

CC Madhya 13.91: With his hands on the shoulders of Haricandana, King Prataparudra could see Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu dancing, and the King felt great ecstasy.

CC Madhya 13.92: While the King beheld the dancing, Srivasa Thakura, standing in front of him, became ecstatic as he saw the dancing of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Madhya 13.93: Seeing Srivasa Thakura standing before the King, Haricandana touched Srivasa with his hand and requested him to step aside.

CC Madhya 13.94: Absorbed in watching Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu dance, Srivasa Thakura could not understand why he was being touched and pushed. After he was pushed again and again, he became angry.

CC Madhya 13.95: Srivasa Thakura slapped Haricandana to stop him from pushing him. In turn, this made Haricandana angry.

CC Madhya 13.96: As the angered Haricandana was about to speak to Srivasa Thakura, Prataparudra Maharaja personally stopped him.

CC Madhya 13.97: King Prataparudra said, "You are very fortunate, for you have been graced by the touch of Srivasa Thakura. I am not so fortunate. You should feel obliged to him."

CC Madhya 13.98: Everyone was astonished by the dancing of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and even Lord Jagannatha became extremely happy to see Him.

CC Madhya 13.99: The car came to a complete standstill and remained immobile while Lord Jagannatha, with unblinking eyes, watched the dancing of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Madhya 13.100: The goddess of fortune, Subhadra, and Lord Balarama both felt great happiness and ecstasy within their hearts. Indeed, they were seen smiling at the dancing.

CC Madhya 13.101: When Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced and jumped high, eight wonderful transformations indicative of divine ecstasy were seen in His body. All these symptoms were visible simultaneously.

CC Madhya 13.102: His skin erupted with goose pimples, and the hairs of His body stood on end. His body resembled the simuli [silk cotton tree], all covered with thorns.

CC Madhya 13.103: Indeed, the people became afraid just to see His teeth chatter, and they even thought that His teeth would fall out.

CC Madhya 13.104: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's whole body flowed with perspiration and at the same time oozed blood. He made the sounds "jaja gaga, jaja gaga" in a voice choked with ecstasy.

CC Madhya 13.105: Tears came forcefully from the eyes of the Lord, as if from a syringe, and all the people surrounding Him became wet.

CC Madhya 13.106: Everyone saw the complexion of His body change from white to pink, so that His luster resembled that of the mallika flower.

CC Madhya 13.107: Sometimes He appeared stunned, and sometimes He rolled on the ground. Indeed, sometimes His legs and hands became as hard as dry wood, and He did not move.

CC Madhya 13.108: When the Lord fell to the ground, sometimes His breathing almost stopped. When the devotees saw this, their lives also became very feeble.

CC Madhya 13.109: Water flowed from His eyes and sometimes through His nostrils, and foam fell from His mouth. These flowings appeared to be torrents of nectar descending from the moon.

CC Madhya 13.110: The foam that fell from the mouth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was taken and drunk by Subhananda because he was very fortunate and expert in relishing the mellow of ecstatic love of Krsna.

CC Madhya 13.111: After Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had performed His devastating dance for some time, His mind entered into a mood of ecstatic love.

CC Madhya 13.112: After abandoning the dancing, the Lord ordered Svarupa Damodara to sing. Understanding His mind, Svarupa Damodara began to sing as follows.

CC Madhya 13.113: "'Now I have gained the Lord of My life, in the absence of whom I was being burned by Cupid and was withering away.'"

CC Madhya 13.114: When this refrain was loudly sung by Svarupa Damodara, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again began rhythmically dancing in transcendental bliss.

CC Madhya 13.115: The car of Lord Jagannatha began to move slowly while the son of mother Saci went ahead and danced in front.

CC Madhya 13.116: While dancing and singing, all the devotees in front of Lord Jagannatha kept their eyes on Him. Caitanya Mahaprabhu then went to the end of the procession with the sankirtana performers.

CC Madhya 13.117: His eyes and mind fully absorbed in Lord Jagannatha, Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to play the drama of the song with His two arms.

CC Madhya 13.118: When Caitanya Mahaprabhu was dramatically enacting the song, He would sometimes fall behind in the procession. At such times, Lord Jagannatha would come to a standstill. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu again went forward, Lord Jagannatha's car would slowly start again.

CC Madhya 13.119: Thus there was a sort of competition between Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Jagannatha in seeing who would lead, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu was so strong that He made Lord Jagannatha wait in His car.

CC Madhya 13.120: While Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was dancing, His ecstasy changed. Raising His two arms, He began to recite the following verse in a loud voice.

CC Madhya 13.121: "'That very personality who stole away my heart during my youth is now again my master. These are the same moonlit nights of the month of Caitra. The same fragrance of malati flowers is there, and the same sweet breezes are blowing from the kadamba forest. In our intimate relationship, I am also the same lover, yet still my mind is not happy here. I am eager to go back to that place on the bank of the Reva under the Vetasi tree. That is my desire.'"

CC Madhya 13.122: This verse was recited by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again and again. But for Svarupa Damodara, no one could understand its meaning.

CC Madhya 13.123: I have already explained this verse. Now I shall simply describe it in brief.

CC Madhya 13.124: Formerly, all the gopis of Vrndavana were very pleased when they met with Krsna in the holy place Kuruksetra.

CC Madhya 13.125: Similarly, after seeing Lord Jagannatha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu awoke with the ecstasy of the gopis. Being absorbed in this ecstasy, He asked Svarupa Damodara to sing the refrain.

CC Madhya 13.126: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spoke thus to Lord Jagannatha: "You are the same Krsna, and I am the same Radharani. We are meeting again in the same way that We met in the beginning of Our lives.

CC Madhya 13.127: "Although We are both the same, My mind is still attracted to Vrndavana-dhama. I wish that You will please again appear with Your lotus feet in Vrndavana.

CC Madhya 13.128: "In Kuruksetra there are crowds of people, elephants and horses, and also the rattling of chariots. But in Vrndavana there are flower gardens, and the humming of the bees and chirping of the birds can be heard.

CC Madhya 13.129: "Here at Kuruksetra You are dressed like a royal prince, accompanied by great warriors, but in Vrndavana You appeared just like an ordinary cowherd boy, accompanied only by Your beautiful flute.

CC Madhya 13.130: "Here there is not even a drop of the ocean of transcendental happiness that I enjoyed with You in Vrndavana.

CC Madhya 13.131: "I therefore request You to come to Vrndavana and enjoy pastimes with Me. If You do so, My ambition will be fulfilled."

CC Madhya 13.132: I have already described in brief Srimati Radharani's statement from Srimad-Bhagavatam.

CC Madhya 13.133: In that ecstatic mood, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu recited many other verses, but people in general could not understand their meaning.

CC Madhya 13.134: The meaning of those verses was known to Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, but he did not reveal it. However, Sri Rupa Gosvami has broadcast the meaning.

CC Madhya 13.135: While dancing, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to recite the following verse, which He tasted in the association of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami.

CC Madhya 13.136: "[The gopis spoke thus:] 'Dear Lord, whose navel is just like a lotus flower, Your lotus feet are the only shelter for those who have fallen into the deep well of material existence. Your feet are worshiped and meditated upon by great mystic yogis and highly learned philosophers. We wish that these lotus feet may also be awakened within our hearts, although we are only ordinary persons engaged in household affairs.'"

CC Madhya 13.137: Speaking in the mood of Srimati Radharani, Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "For most people, the mind and heart are one, but because My mind is never separated from Vrndavana, I consider My mind and Vrndavana to be one. My mind is already Vrndavana, and since You like Vrndavana, will You please place Your lotus feet there? I would deem that Your full mercy.

CC Madhya 13.138: "My dear Lord, kindly hear My true submission. My home is Vrndavana, and I wish Your association there. But if I do not get it, then it will be very difficult for Me to keep My life.

CC Madhya 13.139: "My dear Krsna, formerly, when You were staying in Mathura, You sent Uddhava to teach Me speculative knowledge and mystic yoga. Now You Yourself are speaking the same thing, but My mind doesn't accept it. There is no place in My mind for jnana-yoga or dhyana-yoga. Although You know Me very well, You are still instructing Me in jnana-yoga and dhyana-yoga. It is not right for You to do so."

CC Madhya 13.140: Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "I would like to withdraw My consciousness from You and engage it in material activities, but even though I try, I cannot do so. I am naturally inclined to You only. Your instructions for Me to meditate on You are therefore simply ludicrous. In this way, You are killing Me. It is not very good for You to think of Me as a candidate for Your instructions.

CC Madhya 13.141: "The gopis are not like the mystic yogis. They will never be satisfied simply by meditating on Your lotus feet and imitating the so-called yogis. Teaching the gopis about meditation is another kind of duplicity. When they are instructed to undergo mystic yoga practice, they are not at all satisfied. On the contrary, they become more and more angry with You."

CC Madhya 13.142: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "The gopis have fallen into the great ocean of separation and are being devoured by the timingila fish of their ambition to serve You. The gopis are to be delivered from the mouths of these timingila fish, for they are pure devotees. Since they have no material conception of life, why should they aspire for liberation? The gopis do not want that liberation desired by yogis and jnanis, for they are already liberated from the ocean of material existence.

CC Madhya 13.143: "It is amazing that You have forgotten the land of Vrndavana. And how is it that You have forgotten Your father, mother and friends? How have You forgotten Govardhana Hill, the bank of the Yamuna and the forest where You enjoyed the rasa-lila dance?

CC Madhya 13.144: "Krsna, You are certainly a refined gentleman with all good qualities. You are well-behaved, softhearted and merciful. I know that there is not even a tinge of fault to be found in You. Yet Your mind does not even remember the inhabitants of Vrndavana. This is only My misfortune, and nothing else.

CC Madhya 13.145: "I do not care for My personal unhappiness, but when I see the morose face of mother Yasoda and the hearts of all the inhabitants of Vrndavana breaking because of You, I wonder whether You want to kill them all. Or do You want to enliven them by coming there? Why are You simply keeping them alive in a state of suffering?

CC Madhya 13.146: "The inhabitants of Vrndavana do not want You dressed like a prince, nor do they want You to associate with great warriors in a different country. They cannot leave the land of Vrndavana, and without Your presence, they are all dying. What is their condition to be?

CC Madhya 13.147: "My dear Krsna, You are the life and soul of Vrndavana-dhama. You are especially the life of Nanda Maharaja. You are the only opulence in the land of Vrndavana, and You are very merciful. Please come and let all the residents of Vrndavana live. Kindly keep Your lotus feet again in Vrndavana."

CC Madhya 13.148: After hearing Srimati Radharani's statements, Lord Krsna's love for the inhabitants of Vrndavana was evoked, and His body and mind became very much perturbed. After hearing of their love for Him, He immediately thought Himself to be always indebted to the residents of Vrndavana. Then Krsna began to pacify Srimati Radharani as follows.

CC Madhya 13.149: "My dearest Srimati Radharani, please hear Me. I am speaking the truth. I cry day and night simply upon remembering all you inhabitants of Vrndavana. No one knows how unhappy this makes Me."

CC Madhya 13.150: Sri Krsna continued: "All the inhabitants of Vrndavana-dhama -- My mother, father, cowherd boyfriends and everything else -- are like My life and soul. And among all the inhabitants of Vrndavana, the gopis are My very life and soul. And among the gopis, You, Srimati Radharani, are the chief. Therefore You are the very life of My life.

CC Madhya 13.151: "My dear Srimati Radharani, I am always subservient to the loving affairs of all of you. I am under your control only. My separation from you and residence in distant places have occurred due to My strong misfortune.

CC Madhya 13.152: "When a woman is separated from the man she loves or a man is separated from his beloved woman, neither of them can live. It is a fact that they live only for each other, for if one dies and the other hears of it, he or she will die also.

CC Madhya 13.153: "Such a loving, chaste wife and loving husband desire all welfare for each other in separation and do not care for personal happiness. Desiring only each other's well-being, such a pair certainly meet again without delay.

CC Madhya 13.154: "You are My most dear, and I know that in My absence You cannot live for a moment. Just to keep You living, I worship Lord Narayana. By His merciful potency, I come to Vrndavana every day to enjoy pastimes with You. I then return to Dvaraka-dhama. Thus You can always feel My presence there in Vrndavana.

CC Madhya 13.155: "Our love affair is more powerful because of My good fortune in receiving Narayana's grace. This allows Me to come there unseen by others. I hope that very soon I will be visible to everyone.

CC Madhya 13.156: "I have already killed all the mischievous demons who are enemies of the Yadu dynasty, and I have also killed Kamsa and his allies. But there are two or four demons still living. I want to kill them, and after doing so I shall very soon return to Vrndavana. Please know this for certain.

CC Madhya 13.157: "I wish to protect the inhabitants of Vrndavana from the attacks of My enemies. That is why I remain in My kingdom; otherwise I am indifferent to My royal position. Whatever wives, sons and wealth I maintain in the kingdom are only for the satisfaction of the Yadus.

CC Madhya 13.158: "Your loving qualities always attract Me to Vrndavana. Indeed, they will bring Me back within ten or twenty days, and when I return I shall enjoy both day and night with You and all the damsels of Vrajabhumi."

CC Madhya 13.159: While speaking to Srimati Radharani, Krsna became very anxious to return to Vrndavana. He made Her listen to a verse which banished all Her difficulties and which assured Her that She would again attain Krsna.

CC Madhya 13.160: Lord Sri Krsna said: "Devotional service unto Me is the only way to attain Me. My dear gopis, whatever love and affection you have attained for Me by good fortune is the only reason for My returning to you."

CC Madhya 13.161: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would sit in His room with Svarupa Damodara and taste the topics of these verses day and night.

CC Madhya 13.162: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced completely absorbed in ecstatic emotion. While looking at the face of Lord Jagannatha, He danced and recited these verses.

CC Madhya 13.163: No one can describe the good fortune of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, for he is always absorbed in the service of the Lord with his body, mind and words.

CC Madhya 13.164: The senses of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu were identical with the senses of Svarupa. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to become fully absorbed in tasting the singing of Svarupa Damodara.

CC Madhya 13.165: In emotional ecstasy, Caitanya Mahaprabhu would sometimes sit on the ground and, looking down, would write on the ground with His finger.

CC Madhya 13.166: Fearing that the Lord would injure His finger by writing in this way, Svarupa Damodara checked Him with his own hand.

CC Madhya 13.167: Svarupa Damodara used to sing exactly according to the ecstatic emotion of the Lord. Whenever a particular mellow was being tasted by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Svarupa Damodara would personify it by singing.

CC Madhya 13.168: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu looked upon the beautiful lotuslike face and eyes of Lord Jagannatha.

CC Madhya 13.169: Lord Jagannatha was garlanded, dressed with nice garments and adorned with beautiful ornaments. His face was glittering from the rays of sunshine, and the entire atmosphere was fragrant.

CC Madhya 13.170: An ocean of transcendental bliss expanded in the heart of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and symptoms of madness immediately intensified like a hurricane.

CC Madhya 13.171: The madness of transcendental bliss created waves of various emotions. The emotions appeared like opposing soldiers staging a fight.

CC Madhya 13.172: There was an increase in all the natural emotional symptoms. Thus there were awakening emotions, peacefulness, joined, mixed, transcendental and prevalent emotions, and impetuses for emotion.

CC Madhya 13.173: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's body appeared like a transcendental Himalayan mountain bearing ecstatic emotional flower trees, all of them blooming.

CC Madhya 13.174: The sight of all these symptoms attracted everyone's mind and consciousness. Indeed, the Lord sprinkled everyone's mind with the nectar of transcendental love of Godhead.

CC Madhya 13.175: He sprinkled the minds of the servants of Lord Jagannatha, the government officers, the pilgrim visitors, the general populace and all the residents of Jagannatha Puri.

CC Madhya 13.176: Upon seeing the dancing and ecstatic love of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, everyone became astonished. In their hearts they became infatuated with love of Krsna.

CC Madhya 13.177: Everyone danced and chanted in ecstatic love, and a great noise resounded. Everyone was overwhelmed with transcendental bliss just to see the dancing of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Madhya 13.178: Apart from the others, even Lord Jagannatha and Lord Balarama, with great happiness, began to move very slowly upon seeing the dancing of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Madhya 13.179: Lord Jagannatha and Lord Balarama sometimes stopped the car and happily observed Lord Caitanya's dancing. Anyone who was able to see Them stop and watch the dancing bore witness to Their pastimes.

CC Madhya 13.180: When Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was dancing and wandering in this way, He fell down in front of Maharaja Prataparudra.

CC Madhya 13.181: Maharaja Prataparudra picked the Lord up with great respect, but upon seeing the King, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to His external senses.

CC Madhya 13.182: After seeing the King, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu condemned Himself, saying, "Oh, how pitiful it is that I have touched a person who is interested in mundane affairs!"

CC Madhya 13.183: Not even Lord Nityananda Prabhu, Kasisvara or Govinda took care of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu when He fell down. Nityananda was in great ecstasy, and Kasisvara and Govinda were elsewhere.

CC Madhya 13.184: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had already been satisfied by the King's behavior, for the King had accepted the service of a sweeper for Lord Jagannatha. Therefore Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu actually desired to see the King.

CC Madhya 13.185: However, just to warn His personal associates, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, externally expressed feelings of anger.

CC Madhya 13.186: King Prataparudra became frightened when Lord Caitanya showed external anger, but Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya told the King, "Don't worry."

CC Madhya 13.187: Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya informed the King, "The Lord is very satisfied with you. By pointing you out, He was teaching His personal associates how to behave with mundane people."

CC Madhya 13.188: Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya continued, "I shall submit your petition when there is an opportune moment. It will then be easy for you to come and meet the Lord."

CC Madhya 13.189: After circumambulating Jagannatha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went behind the car and began pushing it with His head.

CC Madhya 13.190: As soon as He pushed, the car immediately started to move, making a rattling noise. The people all around began to chant the holy name of the Lord, "Hari! Hari!"

CC Madhya 13.191: As the car began to move, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took His personal associates in front of the cars occupied by Lord Balarama and Subhadra, the goddess of fortune. Greatly inspired, He then began to dance in front of them.

CC Madhya 13.192: After finishing the dance before Lord Baladeva and Subhadra, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came before Lord Jagannatha's car. Upon seeing Lord Jagannatha, He began to dance again.

CC Madhya 13.193: When they reached the place called Balagandi, Lord Jagannatha stopped His car and began to look left and right.

CC Madhya 13.194: On the left side, Lord Jagannatha saw a neighborhood of brahmanas and a coconut-tree grove. On the right side, He saw nice flower gardens resembling those in the holy place Vrndavana.

CC Madhya 13.195: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees were dancing in front of the car, and Lord Jagannatha, having stopped the car, watched the dancing.

CC Madhya 13.196: It was customary that food be offered to the Lord at vipra-sasana. Indeed, innumerable dishes of food were offered, and Lord Jagannatha tasted each one of them.

CC Madhya 13.197: All kinds of devotees of Lord Jagannatha -- from neophytes to the most advanced -- offered their best cooked food to the Lord.

CC Madhya 13.198: These devotees included the King, his queens, his ministers and friends and all other big and small residents of Jagannatha Puri.

CC Madhya 13.199: All the visitors who had come from different countries to Jagannatha Puri, as well as the local devotees, offered their personally cooked food to the Lord.

CC Madhya 13.200: The devotees offered their food everywhere -- in front of the car and behind it, on the two sides and within the flower garden. Wherever possible, they made their offering to the Lord, for there were no hard and fast rules.

CC Madhya 13.201: While the food was being offered, a large crowd of people gathered. At that time Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stopped His dancing and went to a nearby garden.

CC Madhya 13.202: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu entered the garden and, immersed in great ecstatic emotion, fell flat on a raised platform there.

CC Madhya 13.203: The Lord was very much fatigued from the hard labor of dancing, and there was perspiration all over His body. He therefore enjoyed the fragrant, cool breeze of the garden.

CC Madhya 13.204: All the devotees who had been performing sankirtana came there and took rest under each and every tree.

CC Madhya 13.205: Thus I have described the great performance of congregational chanting by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as He danced in front of Lord Jagannatha.

CC Madhya 13.206: In his prayer known as the Caitanyastaka, Srila Rupa Gosvami has given a vivid description of the Lord's dancing before the car of Jagannatha.

CC Madhya 13.207: "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced down the main road in great ecstasy before Lord Jagannatha, the master of Nilacala, who was sitting on His car. Overwhelmed by the transcendental bliss of dancing and surrounded by Vaisnavas who sang the holy names, He manifested waves of ecstatic love of Godhead. When will Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again be visible to my vision?"

CC Madhya 13.208: Anyone who hears this description of the car festival will attain Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He will also attain the elevated state by which he will have firm conviction in devotional service and love of Godhead.

CC Madhya 13.209: Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always desiring their mercy, I, Krsnadasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, 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