Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta

CC Madhya 11 Summary

CC Madhya 11.1: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu merged the entire world into the ocean of ecstatic love by performing His beautiful dances within the temple of Jagannātha. He danced exquisitely and jumped high.

CC Madhya 11.2: All glories to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Śrī Advaita Prabhu! And all glories to all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

CC Madhya 11.3: The next day Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya requested Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to give him permission to submit a statement without fear.

CC Madhya 11.4: The Lord gave the Bhaṭṭācārya assurance that he could speak without fear, but added that if his statement were suitable He would accept it, and if it were not, He would reject it.

CC Madhya 11.5: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "There is a king named Pratāparudra Rāya. He is very anxious to meet You, and he wants Your permission."

CC Madhya 11.6: As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard this proposal, He immediately covered His ears with His hands and said, "My dear Sārvabhauma, why are you requesting such an undesirable thing from Me?

CC Madhya 11.7: "Since I am in the renounced order, it is as dangerous for Me to meet a king as to meet a woman. To meet either would be just like drinking poison."

CC Madhya 11.8: Greatly lamenting, the Lord then informed Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, "'Alas, for a person who is seriously desiring to cross the material ocean and engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord without material motives, seeing a materialist engaged in sense gratification or seeing a woman who is similarly interested is more abominable than drinking poison willingly.'"

CC Madhya 11.9: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "My dear Lord, what You have said is correct, but this King is not an ordinary king. He is a great devotee and servant of Lord Jagannātha."

CC Madhya 11.10: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Although it is correct that the King is a great devotee, he is still to be considered a venomous snake. Similarly, even though a woman be made of wood, one becomes agitated simply by touching her form.

CC Madhya 11.11: "'Just as one is immediately frightened upon seeing a live serpent or even the form of a serpent, one endeavoring for self-realization should similarly fear a materialistic person and a woman. Indeed, he should not even glance at their bodily features.'

CC Madhya 11.12: "Bhaṭṭācārya, if you continue to speak like this, you will never see Me here again. Therefore you should never let such a request come from your mouth."

CC Madhya 11.13: Being afraid, Sārvabhauma returned home and began to meditate on the matter.

CC Madhya 11.14: At this time, Mahārāja Pratāparudra arrived at Jagannātha Purī, Puruṣottama, and, accompanied by his secretaries, ministers and military officers, went to visit the temple of Lord Jagannātha.

CC Madhya 11.15: When King Pratāparudra returned to Jagannātha Purī, Rāmānanda Rāya came with him. Rāmānanda Rāya immediately went to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with great pleasure.

CC Madhya 11.16: Upon meeting Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Rāmānanda Rāya offered his obeisances. The Lord embraced him, and both of them began to cry in the great ecstasy of love.

CC Madhya 11.17: Seeing Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's intimate dealings with Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, all the devotees there were astonished.

CC Madhya 11.18: Rāmānanda Rāya said, "I duly informed King Pratāparudra of Your order for me to retire from service. By Your grace, the King was pleased to relieve me of these material activities.

CC Madhya 11.19: "I said, 'Your Majesty, I am now not willing to engage in political activities. I desire only to stay at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Kindly give me permission.'

CC Madhya 11.20: "When I submitted this proposal, the King immediately became very pleased upon hearing Your name. Indeed, he instantly rose from his throne and embraced me.

CC Madhya 11.21: "My dear Lord, as soon as the King heard Your holy name, he was immediately overwhelmed by great ecstatic love. Catching my hand, he displayed all the symptoms of love.

CC Madhya 11.22: "As soon as he heard my petition, he immediately granted me a pension without reductions. Thus the King granted me a full salary as a pension and requested me to engage without anxiety in the service of Your lotus feet.

CC Madhya 11.23: "Then Mahārāja Pratāparudra very humbly said, 'I am most fallen and abominable, and I am unfit to receive an interview with the Lord. One's life is successful if one engages in His service.'

CC Madhya 11.24: "The King then said, 'Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda. He is very merciful, and I hope that in a future birth He will allow me an interview.'

CC Madhya 11.25: "My Lord, I don't think that there is even a fraction of Mahārāja Pratāparudra's loving ecstasy in me."

CC Madhya 11.26: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, "My dear Rāmānanda Rāya, you are the foremost of all the devotees of Kṛṣṇa; therefore whoever loves you is certainly a very fortunate person.

CC Madhya 11.27: "Because the King has shown so much love for you, Lord Kṛṣṇa will certainly accept him.

CC Madhya 11.28: "[Lord Kṛṣṇa told Arjuna:] 'Those who are My direct devotees are actually not My devotees, but those who are the devotees of My servant are factually My devotees.'

CC Madhya 11.29-30: "'My devotees take great care and respect in rendering Me service. They offer obeisances to Me with all their bodily limbs. They worship other devotees and find all living entities related to Me. For Me they engage the entire energy of their bodies. They engage the power of speech in the glorification of My qualities and form. They also dedicate their minds unto Me and try to give up all kinds of material desires. Thus My devotees are characterized.'

CC Madhya 11.31: "[Lord Śiva told the goddess Durgā:] 'My dear Devī, although the Vedas recommend worship of demigods, the worship of Lord Viṣṇu is topmost. However, above the worship of Lord Viṣṇu is the rendering of service to Vaiṣṇavas, who are related to Lord Viṣṇu.'

CC Madhya 11.32: "'Those whose austerity is meager can hardly obtain the service of the pure devotees progressing on the path back to the kingdom of Godhead, the Vaikuṇṭhas. Pure devotees engage one hundred percent in glorifying the Supreme Lord, who is the Lord of the demigods and the controller of all living entities.'"

CC Madhya 11.33: Paramānanda Purī, Brahmānanda Bhāratī Gosāñi, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosāñi, Lord Nityānanda, Jagadānanda, Mukunda and others were present before the Lord at that time.

CC Madhya 11.34: Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya therefore offered his obeisances to all the Lord's devotees, in particular to the four spiritual masters. Thus Rāmānanda Rāya suitably met all the devotees.

CC Madhya 11.35: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next asked Rāmānanda Rāya, "Have you already visited the temple of the lotus-eyed Lord Jagannātha?"Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "I shall now go visit the temple."

CC Madhya 11.36: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "What have you done, My dear Rāya? Why did you not first see Lord Jagannātha and then come here? Why have you come here first?"

CC Madhya 11.37: Rāmānanda Rāya said, "The legs are like the chariot, and the heart is like the charioteer. Wherever the heart takes the living entity, the living entity is obliged to go."

CC Madhya 11.38: Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya continued, "What shall I do? My mind has brought me here. I could not consider going first to Lord Jagannātha's temple."

CC Madhya 11.39: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised, "Immediately go to Lord Jagannātha's temple to see the Lord. Then go home and meet your family members."

CC Madhya 11.40: Having received Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's permission, Rāmānanda Rāya hastily went to the temple of Lord Jagannātha. Who can understand the devotional service of Rāya Rāmānanda?

CC Madhya 11.41: When King Pratāparudra returned to Jagannātha Purī, he called for Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. When the Bhaṭṭācārya went to see the King, the King offered him respects and made the following inquiries.

CC Madhya 11.42: The King asked, "Have you submitted my petition to the Lord?"Sārvabhauma replied, "Yes, with much endeavor I have tried my best.

CC Madhya 11.43: "Yet despite my great endeavor, the Lord would not agree to see a king. Indeed, He said that if He were asked again, He would quit Jagannātha Purī and go elsewhere."

CC Madhya 11.44: Hearing this, the King became very unhappy and, greatly lamenting, began to speak as follows.

CC Madhya 11.45: The King said, "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has descended just to deliver all kinds of sinful, lowborn persons. Consequently He has delivered sinners like Jagāi and Mādhāi.

CC Madhya 11.46: "Alas, has Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu incarnated to deliver all kinds of sinners with the exception of a king named Mahārāja Pratāparudra?

CC Madhya 11.47: "'Alas, has Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu made His advent deciding that He will deliver all others with the exception of me? He bestows His merciful glance upon many lower-class men who are usually not even to be seen.'"

CC Madhya 11.48: Mahārāja Pratāparudra continued, "If Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is determined not to see me, then I am determined to give up my life if I do not see Him.

CC Madhya 11.49: "If I do not receive Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mercy, my body and my kingdom are certainly useless."

CC Madhya 11.50: Hearing King Pratāparudra's determination, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya became thoughtful. Indeed, he was very much astonished to see the King's determination.

CC Madhya 11.51: Finally Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "My dear King, do not worry. Because of your firm determination, I am sure that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mercy will definitely be bestowed upon you."

CC Madhya 11.52: As soon as the Bhaṭṭācārya saw the King's firm determination, he declared, "The Supreme Lord is approached only by pure love. Your love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is very, very deep; therefore without a doubt He will be merciful upon you."

CC Madhya 11.53: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then suggested, "There is one means by which you can directly see Him.

CC Madhya 11.54: "On the day of the car festival, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will dance before the Deity in great ecstatic love.

CC Madhya 11.55: "On that Ratha-yātrā festival day, after dancing before the Lord, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will enter the Guṇḍicā garden. At that time you should go there alone, without your royal dress.

CC Madhya 11.56: "When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu enters the Guṇḍicā garden, you should also go there and read the five chapters of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam about Lord Kṛṣṇa's dancing with the gopīs. In this way you can catch hold of the Lord's lotus feet.

CC Madhya 11.57: "Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will be in a mood of ecstatic love, without external consciousness. At that time, as you recite those chapters from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, He will embrace you, knowing you to be a pure Vaiṣṇava.

CC Madhya 11.58: "The Lord has already changed His mind due to Rāmānanda Rāya's description of your pure love for Him."

CC Madhya 11.59: Mahārāja Pratāparudra took the Bhaṭṭācārya's advice and firmly decided to follow his instructions. Thus he felt transcendental happiness.

CC Madhya 11.60: When the King asked the Bhaṭṭācārya when the bathing ceremony [Snāna-yātrā] of Lord Jagannātha would take place, the Bhaṭṭācārya replied that there were only three days left before the ceremony.

CC Madhya 11.61: After thus encouraging the King, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya returned home. On the day of Lord Jagannātha's bathing ceremony, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very happy at heart.

CC Madhya 11.62: Upon seeing the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy. But when Lord Jagannātha retired after the ceremony, Lord Caitanya became very unhappy because He could not see Him.

CC Madhya 11.63: Due to separation from Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt the same great anxiety the gopīs feel in separation from Kṛṣṇa. In this condition He gave up all association and went to Ālālanātha.

CC Madhya 11.64: The devotees who had followed the Lord came into His presence and requested Him to return to Purī. They submitted that the devotees from Bengal were coming to Puruṣottama-kṣetra.

CC Madhya 11.65: In this way Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya brought Lord Caitanya back to Jagannātha Purī. He then went to King Pratāparudra and informed him of the Lord's arrival.

CC Madhya 11.66: At this time, Gopīnātha Ācārya came there while Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was with King Pratāparudra. Being a brāhmaṇa, he offered his benediction to the King and addressed Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya as follows.

CC Madhya 11.67: "About two hundred devotees are coming from Bengal. All of them are greatly advanced and specifically devoted to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

CC Madhya 11.68: "All of them have already arrived on the bank of Lake Narendra and are waiting there. I desire residential quarters and prasādam arrangements for them."

CC Madhya 11.69: The King replied, "I shall give orders to the attendant in the temple. He will arrange for everyone's residential quarters and prasādam, as you desire.

CC Madhya 11.70: "Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, please show me, one after another, all of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's devotees who are coming from Bengal."

CC Madhya 11.71: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya requested the King, "Go up on the roof of the palace. Gopīnātha Ācārya knows every one of the devotees. He will identify them for you.

CC Madhya 11.72: "Actually I do not know any of them, although I have a desire to know them. Since Gopīnātha Ācārya knows them all, he will give you their names."

CC Madhya 11.73: After Sārvabhauma said this, he went up to the top of the palace with the King and Gopīnātha Ācārya. At this time all the Vaiṣṇava devotees from Bengal drew closer to the palace.

CC Madhya 11.74: Svarūpa Dāmodara and Govinda, taking the flower garlands and prasādam of Lord Jagannātha, proceeded to where all the Vaiṣṇavas were standing.

CC Madhya 11.75: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu first sent those two persons in advance. The King inquired, "Who are these two? Please let me know their identities."

CC Madhya 11.76: Śrī Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "Here is Svarūpa Dāmodara, who is practically the second expansion of the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

CC Madhya 11.77: "The second person is Govinda, Lord Caitanya's personal servant. The Lord has sent garlands and remnants of Lord Jagannātha's food with these two persons simply to honor the devotees from Bengal."

CC Madhya 11.78: At the beginning, Svarūpa Dāmodara came forward and garlanded Advaita Ācārya. Govinda next came and offered a second garland to Advaita Ācārya.

CC Madhya 11.79: When Govinda offered his obeisances by falling down flat before Advaita Ācārya, Advaita Ācārya asked Svarūpa Dāmodara about his identity, for He did not know Govinda at that time.

CC Madhya 11.80: Svarūpa Dāmodara informed Him, "Govinda was the servant of Īśvara Purī. He is very highly qualified.

CC Madhya 11.81: "Īśvara Purī ordered Govinda to serve Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Thus the Lord keeps him by His side."

CC Madhya 11.82: The King inquired, "To whom did Svarūpa Dāmodara and Govinda offer the two garlands? His bodily effulgence is so great that He must be a very great devotee. Please let me know who He is."

CC Madhya 11.83: Gopīnātha Ācārya replied, "His name is Advaita Ācārya. He is honored even by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and He is therefore the topmost devotee.

CC Madhya 11.84: "Here are Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita, Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, Vidyānidhi Ācārya and Gadādhara Paṇḍita.

CC Madhya 11.85: "Here are Ācāryaratna, Purandara Paṇḍita, Gańgādāsa Paṇḍita and Śańkara Paṇḍita.

CC Madhya 11.86: "Here are Murāri Gupta, Paṇḍita Nārāyaṇa and Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the deliverer of the whole universe.

CC Madhya 11.87: "Here is Hari Bhaṭṭa, and there is Nṛsiḿhānanda. Here are Vāsudeva Datta and Śivānanda Sena.

CC Madhya 11.88: "Here also are Govinda Ghoṣa, Mādhava Ghoṣa and Vāsudeva Ghoṣa. They are three brothers, and their sańkīrtana, congregational chanting, pleases the Lord very much.

CC Madhya 11.89: "Here is Rāghava Paṇḍita, here is Ācārya Nandana, there is Śrīmān Paṇḍita, and here are Śrīkānta and Nārāyaṇa."

CC Madhya 11.90: Gopīnātha Ācārya continued to point out the devotees: "Here is Śuklāmbara. See, there is Śrīdhara. Here is Vijaya, and there is Vallabha Sena. Here is Puruṣottama, and there is Sañjaya.

CC Madhya 11.91: "And here are all the residents of Kulīna-grāma, such as Satyarāja Khān and Rāmānanda. Indeed, all of them are present here. Please see.

CC Madhya 11.92: "Here are Mukunda dāsa, Narahari, Śrī Raghunandana, Cirañjīva and Sulocana, all residents of Khaṇḍa.

CC Madhya 11.93: "How many names shall I speak to you? All the devotees you see here are associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is their life and soul."

CC Madhya 11.94: The King said, "Upon seeing all these devotees, I am very much astonished, for I have never seen such an effulgence.

CC Madhya 11.95: "Indeed, their effulgence is like the brilliance of a million suns. Nor have I ever heard the Lord's names chanted so melodiously.

CC Madhya 11.96: "I have never before seen such ecstatic love, nor heard the vibration of the holy name of the Lord chanted in such a way, nor seen such dancing during sańkīrtana."

CC Madhya 11.97: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "This sweet transcendental sound is a special creation of the Lord known as prema-sańkīrtana, congregational chanting in love of Godhead.

CC Madhya 11.98: "In this Age of Kali, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has descended to preach the religion of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore the chanting of the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa is the religious principle for this age.

CC Madhya 11.99: "Anyone who worships Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu by congregational chanting should be understood to be very intelligent. One who does not do so must be considered a victim of this age and bereft of all intelligence.

CC Madhya 11.100: "'In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the name of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.'"

CC Madhya 11.101: The King said, "According to evidence given in the revealed scriptures, it is concluded that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. Why, then, are learned scholars sometimes indifferent to Him?"

CC Madhya 11.102: The Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "A person who has received but a small fraction of mercy from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu can understand that He is Lord Kṛṣṇa. No one else can.

CC Madhya 11.103: "If the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is not bestowed upon a person — regardless of how learned a scholar that person may be and regardless of his seeing or listening — he cannot accept Lord Caitanya as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

CC Madhya 11.104: "[Lord Brahmā said:] 'My Lord, if one is favored by even a slight trace of the mercy of Your lotus feet, he can understand the greatness of Your personality. But those who speculate to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead are unable to know You, even though they continue to study the Vedas for many years.'"

CC Madhya 11.105: The King said, "Instead of visiting the temple of Lord Jagannātha, all the devotees are running toward the residence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu."

CC Madhya 11.106: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "This is spontaneous love. All the devotees are very anxious to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

CC Madhya 11.107: "First the devotees will meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and then take Him with them to the temple to see Lord Jagannātha."

CC Madhya 11.108: The King said, "The son of Bhavānanda Rāya named Vāṇīnātha, along with five or seven other men, went there to obtain the remnants of Lord Jagannātha's food.

CC Madhya 11.109: "Indeed, Vāṇīnātha has already gone to the residence of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and has taken a huge quantity of mahā-prasādam. Please let me know the reason for this."

CC Madhya 11.110: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "Understanding that all the devotees have come, Lord Caitanya gave the sign, and therefore Vāṇīnātha and the others have brought such great quantities of mahā-prasādam."

CC Madhya 11.111: The King then asked the Bhaṭṭācārya, "Why have the devotees not observed the regulations for visiting the pilgrimage place, such as fasting, shaving and so on? Why have they first eaten prasādam?"

CC Madhya 11.112: The Bhaṭṭācārya told the King, "What you have said is right according to the regulative principles governing the visiting of holy places, but there is another path, which is the path of spontaneous love. According to those principles, there are subtle intricacies involved in the execution of religious principles.

CC Madhya 11.113: "The scriptural injunctions for shaving and fasting are indirect orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. However, when there is a direct order from the Lord to take prasādam, naturally the devotees take prasādam as their first duty.

CC Madhya 11.114: "When mahā-prasādam is not available, there must be fasting, but when the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly orders one to take prasādam, neglecting such an opportunity is offensive.

CC Madhya 11.115: "When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is distributing prasādam with His transcendental hand, who will neglect such an opportunity and accept the regulative principle of fasting?

CC Madhya 11.116: "Previously the Lord gave me mahā-prasādam rice one morning, and I ate it just sitting on my bed, without having even washed my mouth.

CC Madhya 11.117: "The man to whom the Lord shows His mercy by inspiring him within the heart takes shelter only of Lord Kṛṣṇa and abandons all Vedic and social customs.

CC Madhya 11.118: "'When one is inspired by the Lord, who is sitting in everyone's heart, he does not care for social custom or Vedic regulative principles.'"

CC Madhya 11.119: After this, King Pratāparudra came down from the top of his palace to the ground and called for Kāśī Miśra and the inspector of the temple.

CC Madhya 11.120-121: Mahārāja Pratāparudra then told both Kāśī Miśra and the temple inspector, "Provide all the devotees and associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with comfortable residences, convenient eating facilities for prasādam and convenient visiting arrangements at the temple so that there will not be any difficulty.

CC Madhya 11.122: "The orders of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu must be carefully carried out. Although the Lord may not give direct orders, you are still to carry out His desires simply by understanding His indications."

CC Madhya 11.123: Saying this, the King gave them permission to leave. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya also went to see the assembly of all the Vaiṣṇavas.

CC Madhya 11.124: From a distant place, Gopīnātha Ācārya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya watched the meeting of all the Vaiṣṇavas with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

CC Madhya 11.125: Beginning from the right side of the lion gate, or the main gate of the temple, all the Vaiṣṇavas began to proceed toward the house of Kāśī Miśra.

CC Madhya 11.126: In the meantime, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, accompanied by His personal associates, met all the Vaiṣṇavas on the road with great jubilation.

CC Madhya 11.127: First Advaita Ācārya offered prayers to the lotus feet of the Lord, and the Lord immediately embraced Him in ecstatic love.

CC Madhya 11.128: Indeed, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Advaita Ācārya displayed agitation due to ecstatic love. Seeing the time and circumstance, however, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained patient.

CC Madhya 11.129: After this, all the devotees, headed by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, offered prayers to the lotus feet of the Lord, and the Lord embraced each and every one of them in great love and ecstasy.

CC Madhya 11.130: The Lord addressed all the devotees one after another and took all of them with Him into the house.

CC Madhya 11.131: Since the residence of Kāśī Miśra was insufficient, all the assembled devotees were very much overcrowded.

CC Madhya 11.132: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu made all the devotees sit at His side, and with His own hand He offered them garlands and sandalwood pulp.

CC Madhya 11.133: After this, Gopīnātha Ācārya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya met all the Vaiṣṇavas at the place of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in a befitting manner.

CC Madhya 11.134: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu addressed Advaita Ācārya Prabhu, saying sweetly, "My dear Sir, today I have become perfect because of Your arrival."

CC Madhya 11.135-136: Advaita Ācārya Prabhu replied, "This is a natural characteristic of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although He is personally complete and full in all opulences, He takes transcendental pleasure in the association of His devotees, with whom He has a variety of eternal pastimes."

CC Madhya 11.137: As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Vāsudeva Datta, the older brother of Mukunda Datta, He immediately became very happy and, placing His hand on his body, began to speak.

CC Madhya 11.138: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Although Mukunda is My friend from childhood, I nonetheless take greater pleasure in seeing you than in seeing him."

CC Madhya 11.139: Vāsudeva replied, "Mukunda got Your association in the beginning. As such, he has taken shelter at Your lotus feet. That is his transcendental rebirth."

CC Madhya 11.140: Thus Vāsudeva Datta admitted his inferiority to Mukunda, his younger brother. "Although Mukunda is my junior," he said, "he first received Your favor. Consequently he became transcendentally senior to me. Besides that, You very much favored Mukunda. Thus he is superior in all good qualities."

CC Madhya 11.141: The Lord said, "For your sake only, I have brought two books from South India.

CC Madhya 11.142: "The books are being kept with Svarūpa Dāmodara, and you can get them copied." Hearing this, Vāsudeva became very glad.

CC Madhya 11.143: Indeed, each and every Vaiṣṇava copied the two books. By and by, the two books [the Brahma-saḿhitā and Śrī Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta] were broadcast all over India.

CC Madhya 11.144: The Lord addressed Śrīvāsa and his brothers with great love and affection, saying, "I am so obliged that I am purchased by you four brothers."

CC Madhya 11.145: Śrīvāsa then replied to the Lord, "Why are You speaking in a contradictory way? Rather, we four brothers have been purchased by Your mercy."

CC Madhya 11.146: After seeing Śańkara, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Dāmodara, "My affection for you is on the platform of awe and reverence.

CC Madhya 11.147: "Therefore keep your younger brother Śańkara with you because he is connected to Me by pure unalloyed love."

CC Madhya 11.148: Dāmodara Paṇḍita replied, "Śańkara is my younger brother, but from today he becomes my elder brother because of Your special mercy upon him."

CC Madhya 11.149: Then turning toward Śivānanda Sena, the Lord said, "I know that from the very beginning your affection for Me has been very great."

CC Madhya 11.150: Immediately upon hearing this, Śivānanda Sena became absorbed in ecstatic love and fell down on the ground, offering obeisances to the Lord. He then began to recite the following verse.

CC Madhya 11.151: "'O my Lord! O unlimited one! Although I was merged in the ocean of nescience, I have now, after a long time, attained You, just as one may attain the seashore. My dear Lord, by getting me, You have obtained the right person upon whom to bestow Your causeless mercy.'"

CC Madhya 11.152: Murāri Gupta at first did not meet the Lord but rather remained outside the door, falling down like a stick to offer obeisances.

CC Madhya 11.153: When Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could not see Murāri amongst the devotees, He inquired about him. Thereupon many people immediately went to Murāri, running to take him to the Lord.

CC Madhya 11.154: Thus Murāri Gupta, catching two bunches of straw in his teeth, went before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with humility and meekness.

CC Madhya 11.155: Upon seeing Murāri come to meet Him, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went up to him, but Murāri began to run away and speak as follows.

CC Madhya 11.156: "My Lord, please do not touch me. I am most abominable and am not fit for You to touch because my body is sinful."

CC Madhya 11.157: The Lord said, "My dear Murāri, please restrain your unnecessary humility. My mind is disturbed to see your meekness."

CC Madhya 11.158: Saying this, the Lord embraced Murāri and had him sit down by His side. The Lord then began to cleanse his body with His own hands.

CC Madhya 11.159-160: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then again and again embraced all the devotees, including Ācāryaratna, Vidyānidhi, Paṇḍita Gadādhara, Gańgādāsa, Hari Bhaṭṭa and Ācārya Purandara. The Lord described their good qualities and glorified them again and again.

CC Madhya 11.161: After thus offering respect to each and every devotee, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very jubilant. However, not seeing Haridāsa Ṭhākura, He inquired, "Where is Haridāsa?"

CC Madhya 11.162: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then saw in the distance that Haridāsa Ṭhākura was lying down flat on the road offering obeisances.

CC Madhya 11.163: Haridāsa Ṭhākura did not come to the Lord's meeting place but remained fallen flat on the common road at a distance.

CC Madhya 11.164: All the devotees then went to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, saying, "The Lord wants to meet you. Please come immediately."

CC Madhya 11.165: Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "I cannot go near the temple because I am a low-caste, abominable person. I have no authority to go there."

CC Madhya 11.166: Haridāsa Ṭhākura then expressed his desire: "If I could just get a solitary place near the temple, I could stay there alone and pass my time.

CC Madhya 11.167: "I do not wish the servants of Lord Jagannātha to touch me. I would remain there in the garden alone. That is my desire."

CC Madhya 11.168: When this message was relayed to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by the people, the Lord became very happy to hear it.

CC Madhya 11.169: At this time, Kāśī Miśra, along with the superintendent of the temple, came and offered his respects unto the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

CC Madhya 11.170: Upon seeing all the Vaiṣṇavas together, Kāśī Miśra and the superintendent became very happy. With great happiness they met with the devotees in a befitting manner.

CC Madhya 11.171: Both submitted to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Please give us orders so that we may make proper arrangements to accommodate all the Vaiṣṇavas.

CC Madhya 11.172: "Accommodations have been arranged for all the Vaiṣṇavas. Now let us distribute mahā-prasādam to all of them."

CC Madhya 11.173: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately told Gopīnātha Ācārya, "Please go with the Vaiṣṇavas and accommodate them in whatever residences Kāśī Miśra and the temple superintendent offer."

CC Madhya 11.174: Then the Lord told Kāśī Miśra and the temple superintendent, "As for the remnants of food left by Jagannātha, let them be delivered to Vāṇīnātha Rāya's charge, for he can take care of all the Vaiṣṇavas and distribute mahā-prasādam to them."

CC Madhya 11.175: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, "Nearby My place, in this garden of flowers, is a single room that is very solitary.

CC Madhya 11.176: "Please give that room to Me, for I have a need for it. Indeed, I shall remember the lotus feet of the Lord sitting in that solitary place."

CC Madhya 11.177: Kāśī Miśra then told Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu: "Everything belongs to You. What is the use of Your begging? By Your own will You can take whatever You like.

CC Madhya 11.178: "My Lord, we are Your two servants and are here just to carry out Your orders. By Your mercy, please tell us to do whatever You want."

CC Madhya 11.179: Saying this, Kāśī Miśra and the temple inspector took their leave, and Gopīnātha and Vāṇīnātha went with them.

CC Madhya 11.180: Gopīnātha was then shown all the residential places, and Vāṇīnātha was given large quantities of food [mahā-prasādam] left by Lord Jagannātha.

CC Madhya 11.181: Thus Vāṇīnātha Rāya returned with large quantities of Lord Jagannātha's food remnants, including cakes and other good eatables. Gopīnātha Ācārya also returned after cleansing all the residential quarters.

CC Madhya 11.182: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then addressed all the Vaiṣṇavas and requested that they listen to Him. He said, "Now you can go to your respective residential quarters.

CC Madhya 11.183: "Go to the sea and bathe and look at the top of the temple. After so doing, please come back here and take your lunch."

CC Madhya 11.184: After offering obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the devotees departed for their residences, and Gopīnātha Ācārya showed them their respective quarters.

CC Madhya 11.185: After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to meet Haridāsa Ṭhākura, and He saw him engaged in chanting the mahā-mantra with ecstatic love. Haridāsa chanted, "Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare."

CC Madhya 11.186: As soon as Haridāsa Ṭhākura saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he immediately fell down like a stick to offer Him obeisances, and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu raised him up and embraced him.

CC Madhya 11.187: Then both the Lord and His servant began to cry in ecstatic love. Indeed, the Lord was transformed by the qualities of His servant, and the servant was transformed by the qualities of his master.

CC Madhya 11.188: Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, "My dear Lord, please do not touch me, for I am most fallen and untouchable and am the lowest among men."

CC Madhya 11.189: The Lord said, "I wish to touch you just to be purified, for your purified activities do not exist in Me."

CC Madhya 11.190: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exalted Haridāsa Ṭhākura, stating, "At every moment you take your bath in all the holy places of pilgrimage, and at every moment you perform great sacrifices, austerity and charity.

CC Madhya 11.191: "You are constantly studying the four Vedas, and you are far better than any brāhmaṇa or sannyāsī."

CC Madhya 11.192: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then recited the following verse: "'My dear Lord, one who always keeps Your holy name on his tongue becomes greater than an initiated brāhmaṇa. Although he may be born in a family of dog-eaters and therefore by material calculation may be the lowest among men, he is still glorious. This is the wonderful effect of chanting the holy name of the Lord. It is therefore concluded that one who chants the holy name of the Lord should be understood to have performed all kinds of austerities and great sacrifices mentioned in the Vedas. He has already taken his bath in all the holy places of pilgrimage. He has studied all the Vedas, and he is actually an Āryan.'"

CC Madhya 11.193: Saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took Haridāsa Ṭhākura within the flower garden, and there, in a very secluded place, He showed him his residence.

CC Madhya 11.194: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested Haridāsa Ṭhākura, "Remain here and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. I shall personally come here to meet you daily.

CC Madhya 11.195: "Remain here peacefully and look at the cakra on the top of the temple and offer obeisances. As far as your prasādam is concerned, I shall arrange to have that sent here."

CC Madhya 11.196: When Nityānanda Prabhu, Jagadānanda Prabhu, Dāmodara Prabhu and Mukunda Prabhu met Haridāsa Ṭhākura, they all became very pleased.

CC Madhya 11.197: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to His residence after taking a bath in the sea, all the devotees, headed by Advaita Prabhu, went to bathe in the sea.

CC Madhya 11.198: After bathing in the sea, Advaita Prabhu and all the other devotees returned, and on their return they saw the top of the Jagannātha temple. They then went to the residence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to take their luncheon.

CC Madhya 11.199: One after the other, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu made all the devotees sit in their proper places. He then began to distribute prasādam with His own transcendental hand.

CC Madhya 11.200: All the devotees were served prasādam on plantain leaves, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu distributed on each leaf a quantity suitable for two or three men to eat, for His hand could not distribute less than that.

CC Madhya 11.201: All the devotees kept their hands raised over the prasādam distributed to them, for they did not want to eat without seeing the Lord eat first.

CC Madhya 11.202: Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī then informed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "Unless You sit and take prasādam, no one will accept it.

CC Madhya 11.203: "Gopīnātha Ācārya has invited all the sannyāsīs who remain with You to come and take prasādam.

CC Madhya 11.204: "Gopīnātha Ācārya has already come, bringing sufficient remnants of food to distribute to all the sannyāsīs, and sannyāsīs like Paramānanda Purī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī are waiting for You.

CC Madhya 11.205: "You may sit down and accept the luncheon with Nityānanda Prabhu, and I shall distribute the prasādam to all the Vaiṣṇavas."

CC Madhya 11.206: After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu carefully delivered some prasādam into the hands of Govinda to be given to Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

CC Madhya 11.207: Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally sat down to accept lunch with the other sannyāsīs, and Gopīnātha Ācārya began to distribute the prasādam with great pleasure.

CC Madhya 11.208: Then Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, Dāmodara Paṇḍita and Jagadānanda all began to distribute prasādam to the devotees with great pleasure.

CC Madhya 11.209: They ate all kinds of cakes and sweet rice, filling themselves up to their throats, and at intervals they vibrated the holy name of the Lord in great jubilation.

CC Madhya 11.210: After everyone had finished his lunch and washed his mouth and hands, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally decorated everyone with flower garlands and sandalwood pulp.

CC Madhya 11.211: After thus accepting prasādam, they all went to take rest at their respective residences, and in the evening they again came to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

CC Madhya 11.212: At this time Rāmānanda Rāya also came to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and the Lord took the opportunity to introduce him to all the Vaiṣṇavas.

CC Madhya 11.213: The great Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, then took all of them to the temple of Jagannātha and began the congregational chanting of the holy name there.

CC Madhya 11.214: After seeing the dhūpa-ārati of the Lord, they all began congregational chanting. Then the paḍichā, the superintendent of the temple, came and offered flower garlands and sandalwood pulp to everyone.

CC Madhya 11.215: Four parties were then distributed in four directions to perform sańkīrtana, and in the middle of them the Lord Himself, known as the son of mother Śacī, began to dance.

CC Madhya 11.216: In the four groups there were eight mṛdańgas and thirty-two cymbals. All together they began to vibrate the transcendental sound, and everyone said, "Very good! Very good!"

CC Madhya 11.217: When the tumultuous vibration of sańkīrtana resounded, all good fortune immediately awakened, and the sound penetrated the whole universe through the fourteen planetary systems.

CC Madhya 11.218: When the congregational chanting began, ecstatic love immediately overflooded everything, and all the residents of Jagannātha Purī came running.

CC Madhya 11.219: Everyone was astonished to see such a performance of sańkīrtana, and they all agreed that never before had kīrtana been so performed and ecstatic love of God so exhibited.

CC Madhya 11.220: At this time Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu circumambulated the temple of Jagannātha and continuously danced about the whole area.

CC Madhya 11.221: As the circumambulation was performed, the four kīrtana parties sang in front and in the rear. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fell down to the ground, Śrī Nityānanda Rāya Prabhu lifted Him up.

CC Madhya 11.222: While kīrtana was going on, there was a transformation of ecstatic love and much tears, jubilation, trembling, perspiration and deep resounding in the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Upon seeing this transformation, all the people present became very much astonished.

CC Madhya 11.223: The tears from the eyes of the Lord came out with great force, like water from a syringe. Indeed, all the people who surrounded Him were moistened by His tears.

CC Madhya 11.224: After circumambulating the temple, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for some time remained at the rear of the temple and continued His sańkīrtana.

CC Madhya 11.225: On all four sides the four sańkīrtana groups chanted very loudly, and in the middle Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced, jumping high.

CC Madhya 11.226: After dancing for a long time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became still and ordered four great personalities to begin to dance.

CC Madhya 11.227: In one group Nityānanda Prabhu began to dance, and in another group Advaita Ācārya began to dance.

CC Madhya 11.228: Vakreśvara Paṇḍita began to dance in another group, and in yet another group Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura began to dance.

CC Madhya 11.229: While this dancing was going on, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu watched them and performed a miracle.

CC Madhya 11.230: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stood in the middle of the dancers, and all the dancers in all directions perceived that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was looking at them.

CC Madhya 11.231: Wanting to see the dancing of the four great personalities, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exhibited this miracle of seeing everyone simultaneously.

CC Madhya 11.232: Everyone who saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could understand that He was performing a miracle, but they did not know how it was that He could see on all four sides.

CC Madhya 11.233: In His own pastimes in Vṛndāvana, when Kṛṣṇa used to eat on the bank of the Yamunā and sit in the center of His friends, every one of the cowherd boys would perceive that Kṛṣṇa was looking at him. In the same way, when Caitanya Mahāprabhu observed the dancing, everyone saw that Caitanya Mahāprabhu was facing him.

CC Madhya 11.234: When someone came nearby while dancing, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would tightly embrace him.

CC Madhya 11.235: Upon seeing the great dancing, great love and great sańkīrtana, all the people of Jagannātha Purī floated in an ecstatic ocean of love.

CC Madhya 11.236: Hearing the greatness of the sańkīrtana, King Pratāparudra went up to the top of his palace and watched the performance with his personal associates.

CC Madhya 11.237: The King was very much astonished to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's kīrtana, and the King's anxiety to meet Him increased unlimitedly.

CC Madhya 11.238: After the sańkīrtana ended, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu watched the offering of flowers to the Lord Jagannātha Deity. Then He and all the Vaiṣṇavas returned to His residence.

CC Madhya 11.239: The superintendent of the temple then brought large quantities of prasādam, which Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally distributed to all the devotees.

CC Madhya 11.240: Finally they all departed to rest in bed. In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of Śacīmātā, performed His pastimes.

CC Madhya 11.241: As long as the devotees remained at Jagannātha Purī with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the pastime of sańkīrtana was performed with great jubilation every day.

CC Madhya 11.242: In this way I have explained the Lord's pastime of sańkīrtana, and I bless everyone with this benediction: By listening to this description, one will surely become a servant of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

CC Madhya 11.243: 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.

Copyright © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness