Madhya-līlāChapter 7: The Lord Begins His Tour of South India

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 7.109

navadvīpe yei śakti nā kailā prakāśe

se śakti prakāśi' nistārila dakṣiṇa-deśe

SYNONYMS

navadvīpe — at Navadvīpa; yei — that which; śakti — the potency; nā — not; kailā — did; prakāśe — manifestation; se — that; śakti — potency; prakāśi' — manifesting; nistārila — delivered; dakṣiṇa-deśe — South India.

TRANSLATION

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not manifest His spiritual potencies at Navadvīpa, but He did manifest them in South India and liberated all the people there.

PURPORT

At that time there were many smārtas (nondevotee followers of Vedic rituals) at the holy place of Navadvīpa, which was also the birthplace of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Followers of the smṛti-śāstra are called smārtas. Most of them are nondevotees, and their main business is following the brahminical principles strictly. However, they are not enlightened in devotional service. In Navadvīpa all the learned scholars are followers of the smṛti-śāstra, and Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not attempt to convert them. Therefore the author has remarked that the spiritual potency Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not manifest at Navadvīpa was by His grace manifested in South India. Thus everyone there became a Vaiṣṇava. By this it is to be understood that people are really interested in preaching in a favorable situation. If the candidates for conversion are too disturbing, a preacher may not attempt to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness amongst them. It is better to go where the situation is more favorable. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement was first attempted in India, but the people of India, being absorbed in political thoughts, did not take to it. They were entranced by the political leaders. We preferred, therefore, to come to the West, following the order of our spiritual master, and by the grace of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu this movement is becoming successful.

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