Adi7.1

TEXT 1

agaty-eka-gatim natva

hinarthadhika-sadhakam

sri-caitanyam likhyate ’sya

prema-bhakti-vadanyata

SYNONYMS

agati—of the most fallen; eka—the only one; gatim—destination; natva—after offering obeisances; hina—inferior; artha—interest; adhika—greater than that; sadhakam—who can render; sri-caitanyam—unto Lord Sri Caitanya; likhyate—is being written; asya—of the Lord, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prema—love; bhakti—devotional service; vadanyata—magnanimity.

TRANSLATION

Let me first offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is the ultimate goal of life for one bereft of all possessions in this material world and is the only meaning for one advancing in spiritual life. Thus let me write about His magnanimous contribution of devotional service in love of God.

PURPORT

Adi7.2

TEXT 2

jaya jaya mahaprabhu sri-krsna-caitanya

tanhara caranasrita, sei bada dhanya

SYNONYMS

jaya—all glories; jaya—all glories; mahaprabhu—unto the Supreme Lord; sri-krsna-caitanya—of the name Sri Krsna Caitanya; tanhara—of His; carana-asrita—one who has taken shelter of the lotus feet; sei—he; bada—is very much; dhanya—glorified.

TRANSLATION

Let me offer glorification to the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One who has taken shelter of His lotus feet is the most glorified person.

PURPORT

Prabhu means master. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the supreme master of all masters; therefore He is called Mahaprabhu. Any person who takes shelter of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is most glorified because by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu he is able to get promotion to the platform of loving service to the Lord, which is transcendental to salvation.

Adi7.3

TEXT 3

purve gurv-adi chaya tattve kaila namaskara

guru-tattva kahiyachi, ebe pancera vicara

SYNONYMS

purve—in the beginning; guru-adi—the spiritual master and others; chaya—six; tattve—in the subjects of; kaila—I have done; namaskara—obeisances; guru-tattva—the truth in understanding the spiritual master; kahiyachi—I have already described; ebe—now; pancera—of the five; vicara—consideration.

TRANSLATION

In the beginning I have discussed the truth about the spiritual master. Now I shall try to explain the Panca-tattva.

PURPORT

In the First Chapter of Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, the author, Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, has described the initiator spiritual master and the instructor spiritual master in the verse beginning with the words vande gurun isa-bhaktan isam isavatarakan. In that verse there are six transcendental subject matters, of which the truth regarding the spiritual master has already been described. Now the author will describe the other five tattvas (truths), namely, isa-tattva (the Supreme Lord), His expansion tattva, His incarnation tattva, His energy tattva and His devotee tattva.

Adi7.4

TEXT 4

panca-tattva avatirna caitanyera sange

panca-tattva lana karena sankirtana range

SYNONYMS

panca-tattva—these five tattvas; avatirna—advented; caitanyera—with Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sange—in company with; panca-tattva—the same five subjects; lana—taking with Himself; karena—He does; sankirtana—the sankirtana movement; range—in great pleasure.

TRANSLATION

These five tattvas incarnate with Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and thus the Lord executes His sankirtana movement with great pleasure.

PURPORT

In Srimad-Bhagavatam there is the following statement regarding Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu:

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam
sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair
yajanti hi su-medhasah

“In the Age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of sankirtana-yajna.” (Bhag. 11.5.32) Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is always accompanied by His plenary expansion Sri Nityananda Prabhu, His incarnation Sri Advaita Prabhu, His internal potency Sri Gadadhara Prabhu and His marginal potency Srivasa Prabhu. He is in the midst of them as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One should know that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is always accompanied by these other tattvas. Therefore our obeisances to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are complete when we say sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu -ityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. As preachers of the Krsna consciousness movement, we first offer our obeisances to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by chanting this Panca-tattva mantra; then we say Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. There are ten offenses in the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, but these are not considered in the chanting of the Panca-tattva mantra, namely, sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is known as maha-vadanyavatara, the most magnanimous incarnation, for He does not consider the offenses of the fallen souls. Thus to derive the full benefit of the chanting of the maha-mantra (Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare), we must first take shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, learn the Panca-tattva maha-mantra, and then chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. That will be very effective.

Taking advantage of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, many unscrupulous devotees manufacture a maha-mantra of their own. Sometimes they sing, bhaja nitai gaura radhe syama hare krsna hare rama or sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda hare krsna hare rama sri-radhe govinda. Actually, however, one should chant the names of the full Panca-tattva (sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda) and then the sixteen words Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, but these unscrupulous, less intelligent men confuse the entire process. Of course, since they are also devotees they can express their feelings in that way, but the method prescribed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s pure devotees is to chant first the full Panca-tattva mantra and then chant the maha-mantra-Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Adi7.5

TEXT 5

panca-tattva--eka-vastu, nahi kichu bheda

rasa asvadite tabu vividha vibheda

SYNONYMS

panca-tattva—the five subjects; eka-vastu—they are one in five; nahi—there is not; kichu—anything; bheda—difference; rasa—mellows; asvadite—to taste; tabu—yet; vividha—varieties; vibheda—differences.

TRANSLATION

Spiritually there are no differences between these five tattvas, for on the transcendental platform everything is absolute. Yet there are also varieties in the spiritual world, and in order to taste these spiritual varieties one should distinguish between them.

PURPORT

In his Anubhasya commentary Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura describes the Panca-tattva as follows: The supreme energetic, the Personality of Godhead, manifesting in five kinds of pastimes, appears as the Panca-tattva. Actually there is no difference between them because they are situated on the absolute platform, but they manifest different spiritual varieties as a challenge to impersonalists to taste different kinds of spiritual humors (rasas). In the Vedas it is said, parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate: “The varieties of energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are differently known.” From this statement of the Vedas one can understand that there are eternal varieties of humors, or tastes, in the spiritual world. Sri Gauranga, Sri Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Sri Gadadhara and Srivasa are all on the same platform, but in spiritually distinguishing between them one should understand that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the form of a devotee, Nityananda Prabhu appears in the form of a devotee’s spiritual master, Advaita Prabhu is the form of a bhakta (devotee) incarnation, Gadadhara Prabhu is the energy of a bhakta, and Srivasa is a pure devotee. Thus there are spiritual distinctions between them. The bhakta-rupa (Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu), the bhakta-svarupa (Sri Nityananda Prabhu) and the bhakta-avatara (Sri Advaita Prabhu) are described as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, His immediate manifestation and His plenary expansion, and They all belong to the Visnu category. Although the spiritual and marginal energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are nondifferent from the Supreme Personality of Godhead Visnu, they are predominated subjects, whereas Lord Visnu is the predominator. As such, although they are on the same platform, they have appeared differently in order to facilitate tasting of transcendental mellows. Actually, however, there is no possibility of one being different from the other, for the worshiper and the worshipable cannot be separated at any stage. On the absolute platform, one cannot be understood without the other.

Adi7.6

TEXT 6

panca-tattvatmakam krsnam

bhakta-rupa-svarupakam

bhaktavataram bhaktakhyam

namami bhakta-saktikam

SYNONYMS

panca-tattva-atmakam—comprehending the five transcendental subject matters; krsnam—unto Lord Krsna; bhakta-rupa—in the form of a devotee; svarupakam—in the expansion of a devotee; bhakta-avataram—in the incarnation of a devotee; bhakta-akhyam—known as a devotee; namami—I offer my obeisances; bhakta-saktikam—the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

Let me offer my obeisances unto Lord Sri Krsna, who has manifested Himself in five as a devotee, expansion of a devotee, incarnation of a devotee, pure devotee and devotional energy.

PURPORT

Sri Nityananda Prabhu is the immediate expansion of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as His brother. He is the personified spiritual bliss of sac-cid-ananda-vigraha. His body is transcendental and full of ecstasy in devotional service. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is therefore called bhakta-rupa (the form of a devotee), and Sri Nityananda Prabhu is called bhakta-svarupa (the expansion of a devotee). Sri Advaita Prabhu, the incarnation of a devotee, is visnu-tattva and belongs to the same category. There are also different types of bhaktas, or devotees, on the platforms of neutrality, servitude, friendship, parenthood and conjugal love. Devotees like Sri Damodara, Sri Gadadhara and Sri Ramananda are different energies. This confirms the Vedic sutra parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate. All these bhakta subjects taken together constitute Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is Krsna Himself.

Adi7.7

TEXT 7

svayam bhagavan krsna ekale isvara

advitiya, nandatmaja, rasika-sekhara

SYNONYMS

svayam—Himself; bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; krsna—Lord Krsna; ekale—the only one; isvara—the supreme controller; advitiya—without a second; nanda-atmaja—appeared as the son of Maharaja Nanda; rasika—the most mellow; sekhara—summit.

TRANSLATION

Krsna, the reservoir of all pleasure, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, the supreme controller. No one is greater than or equal to Sri Krsna, yet He appears as the son of Maharaja Nanda.

PURPORT

In this verse Kaviraja Gosvami gives an accurate description of Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by stating that although no one is equal to or greater than Him and He is the reservoir of all spiritual pleasure, He nevertheless appears as the son of Maharaja Nanda and Yasodamayi.

Adi7.8

TEXT 8

rasadi-vilasi, vrajalalana-nagara

ara yata saba dekha,--tanra parikara

SYNONYMS

rasa-adi—the rasa dance; vilasi—the enjoyer; vraja-lalana—the damsels of Vrndavana; nagara—the leader; ara—others; yata—all; saba—everyone; dekha—must know; tanra—His; parikara—associates.

TRANSLATION

Lord Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the supreme enjoyer in the rasa dance. He is the leader of the damsels of Vraja, and all others are simply His associates.

PURPORT

The word rasadi-vilasi (“the enjoyer of the rasa dance”) is very important. The rasa dance can be enjoyed only by Sri Krsna because He is the supreme leader and chief of the damsels of Vrndavana. All other devotees are His associates. Although no one can compare with Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there are many unscrupulous rascals who imitate the rasa dance of Sri Krsna. They are Mayavadis, and people should be wary of them. The rasa dance can be performed only by Sri Krsna and no one else.

Adi7.9

TEXT 9

sei krsna avatirna sri-krsna-caitanya

sei parikara-gana sange saba dhanya

SYNONYMS

sei krsna—that very Lord Krsna; avatirna—has advented; sri-krsna-caitanya—in the form of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sei—those; parikara-gana—associates; sange—with Him; saba—all; dhanya—glorious.

TRANSLATION

The selfsame Lord Krsna advented Himself as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with all His eternal associates, who are also equally glorious.

Adi7.10

TEXT 10

ekale isvara-tattva caitanya-isvara

bhakta-bhavamaya tanra suddha kalevara

SYNONYMS

ekale—only one person; isvara-tattva—the supreme controller; caitanya—the supreme living force; isvara—controller; bhakta-bhava-maya—in the ecstasy of a devotee; tanra—His; suddha—transcendental; kalevara—body.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is the supreme controller, the one Personality of Godhead, has ecstatically become a devotee, yet His body is transcendental and not materially tinged.

PURPORT

There are different tattvas, or truths, including isa-tattva, jiva-tattva and sakti-tattva. Isa-tattva refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead Visnu, who is the supreme living force. In the Katha Upanisad it is said, nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam: the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the supreme eternal and the supreme living force. The living entities are also eternal and are also living forces, but they are very minute in quantity, whereas the Supreme Lord is the supreme living force and the supreme eternal. The supreme eternal never accepts a body of a temporary material nature, whereas the living entities, who are part and parcel of the supreme eternal, are prone to do so. Thus according to the Vedic mantras the Supreme Lord is the supreme master of innumerable living entities.

The Mayavadi philosophers, however, try to equate the minute living entities with the supreme living entity. Because they recognize no distinctions between them, their philosophy is called Advaita-vada, or monism. Factually, however, there is a distinction. This verse is especially meant to impart to the Mayavadi philosopher the understanding that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the supreme controller. The supreme controller, the Personality of Godhead, is Krsna Himself, but as a transcendental pastime He has accepted the form of a devotee, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

As stated in the Bhagavad-gita, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna comes to this planet exactly like a human being, some rascals consider Him to be one of the ordinary humans. One who thinks in that mistaken way is described as mudha, or foolish. Therefore one should not foolishly consider Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be an ordinary human being. He has accepted the ecstasy of a devotee, but He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Since Caitanya Mahaprabhu, there have been many imitation incarnations of Krsna who cannot understand that Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself and not an ordinary human being. Less intelligent men create their own “Gods” by advertising a human being as God. This is their mistake. Therefore here the words tanra suddha kalevara warn that Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s body is not material but purely spiritual. One should not, therefore, accept Caitanya Mahaprabhu as an ordinary devotee, although He has assumed the form of a devotee. Yet one must certainly know that although Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, because He accepted the ecstasy of a devotee one should not misunderstand His pastimes and place Him in exactly the same position as Krsna. It is for this reason only that when Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu was addressed as Krsna or Visnu He blocked His ears, not wanting to hear Himself addressed as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There is a class of devotees called Gauranga-nagari, who stage plays of Krsna’s pastimes using a vigraha, or form, of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This is a mistake that is technically called rasabhasa. While Caitanya Mahaprabhu is trying to enjoy as a devotee, one should not disturb Him by addressing Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Adi7.11

TEXT 11

krsna-madhuryera eka adbhuta svabhava

apana asvadite krsna kare bhakta-bhava

SYNONYMS

krsna-madhuryera—the supreme pleasure potency of Krsna; eka—is one; adbhuta—wonderful; svabhava—nature; apana—Himself; asvadite—to taste; krsna—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kare—does; bhakta-bhava—accept the form of a devotee.

TRANSLATION

The transcendental mellow of conjugal love of Krsna is so wonderful that Krsna Himself accepts the form of a devotee to relish and taste it fully.

PURPORT

Although Krsna is the reservoir of all pleasure, He has a special intention to taste Himself by accepting the form of a devotee. It is to be concluded that although Lord Caitanya is present in the form of a devotee, He is Krsna Himself. Therefore Vaisnavas sing, sri-krsna-caitanya radha-krsna nahe anya: Radha and Krsna combined together are Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Caitanyakhyam prakatam adhuna tad-dvayam caikyam aptam. Sri Svarupa-damodara Gosvami has said that Radha and Krsna assumed oneness in the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Adi7.12

TEXT 12

ithe bhakta-bhava dhare caitanya gosani

’bhakta-svarupa’ tanra nityananda-bhai

SYNONYMS

ithe—for this reason; bhakta-bhava—the ecstasy of a devotee; dhare—accepts; caitanya—Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gosani—the transcendental teacher; bhakta-svarupa—exactly like a pure devotee; tanra—His; nityananda—Lord Nityananda; bhai—brother.

TRANSLATION

For this reason Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the supreme teacher, accepts the form of a devotee and accepts Lord Nityananda as His elder brother.

Adi7.13

TEXT 13

’bhakta-avatara’ tanra acarya-gosani

ei tina tattva sabe prabhu kari’ gai

SYNONYMS

bhakta-avatara—incarnation as a devotee; tanra—His; acarya-gosani—the supreme teacher, Advaita Acarya Prabhu; ei—all these; tina—three; tattva—truths; sabe—all; prabhu—the predominator; kari’-by such understanding; gai—we sing.

TRANSLATION

Sri Advaita Acarya is Lord Caitanya’s incarnation as a devotee. Therefore these three tattvas [Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita Gosani] are the predominators, or masters.

PURPORT

Gosani means gosvami. A person who has full control over the senses and mind is called a gosvami or gosani. One who does not have such control is called godasa, or a servant of the senses, and cannot become a spiritual master. A spiritual master who actually has control over the mind and senses is called gosvami. Although the gosvami title has become a hereditary designation for unscrupulous men, actually the title gosani, or gosvami, began from Sri Rupa Gosvami, who presented himself as an ordinary grhastha and minister in government service but became gosvami when he was actually elevated by the instruction of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore gosvami is not a hereditary title but refers to one’s qualifications. When one is highly elevated in spiritual advancement, regardless of wherefrom he comes, he may be called gosvami. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Advaita Gosani Prabhu are natural gosvamis because They belong to the visnu-tattva category. As such, all of Them are prabhus (“predominators” or “masters”), and They are sometimes called Caitanya Gosani, Nityananda Gosani and Advaita Gosani. Unfortunately Their so-called descendants who do not have the qualifications of gosvamis have accepted this title as a hereditary designation or a professional degree. That is not in accord with the sastric injunctions.

Adi7.14

TEXT 14

eka mahaprabhu, ara prabhu duijana

dui prabhu seve mahaprabhura carana

SYNONYMS

eka mahaprabhu—one Mahaprabhu, or the supreme predominator; ara prabhu duijana—and the other two (Nityananda and Advaita) are two prabhus (masters); dui prabhu—the two prabhus (Nityananda and Advaita Gosani); seve—serve; mahaprabhura—of the supreme predominator, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carana—the lotus feet.

TRANSLATION

One of Them is Mahaprabhu, and the other two are prabhus. These two prabhus serve the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu.

PURPORT

Adi7.15

TEXT 15

ei tina tattva,--’sarvaradhya’ kari mani

caturtha ye bhakta-tattva,--’aradhaka’ jani

SYNONYMS

ei tina tattva—all three of these truths; sarva-aradhya—worshipable by all living entities; kari mani—accepting such; caturtha—fourth; ye—who is; bhakta-tattva—in the category of devotees; aradhaka—worshiper; jani—I understand.

TRANSLATION

The three predominators [Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu] are worshipable by all living entities, and the fourth principle [Sri Gadadhara Prabhu] is to be understood as Their worshiper.

PURPORT

In his Anubhasya, Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, describing the truth about the Panca-tattva, explains that we can understand that Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the supreme predominator and that Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu are His subordinates but are also predominators. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Lord, and Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu are manifestations of the Supreme Lord. All of Them are visnu-tattva, the Supreme, and are therefore worshipable by the living entities. Although the other two tattvas within the category of Panca-tattva-namely, sakti-tattva and jiva-tattva, represented by Gadadhara and Srivasa-are worshipers of the Supreme Lord, they are in the same category because they eternally engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

Adi7.16

TEXT 16

srivasadi yata koti koti bhakta-gana

’suddha-bhakta’-tattva-madhye tan-sabara ganana

SYNONYMS

srivasa-adi—devotees headed by Srivasa Thakura; yata—all others; koti koti—innumerable; bhakta-gana—devotees; suddha-bhakta—pure devotees; tattva-madhye—in the truth; tan-sabara—all of them; ganana—counted.

TRANSLATION

There are innumerable pure devotees of the Lord, headed by Srivasa Thakura, who are known as unalloyed devotees.

Adi7.17

TEXT 17

gadadhara-panditadi prabhura ’sakti’-avatara

’antaranga-bhakta’ kari’ ganana yanhara

SYNONYMS

gadadhara—of the name Gadadhara; pandita—of the learned scholar; adi—headed by; prabhura—of the Lord; sakti—potency; avatara—incarnation; antaranga—very confidential; bhakta—devotee; kari’-accepting; ganana—counting; yanhara—of whom.

TRANSLATION

The devotees headed by Gadadhara Pandita are to be considered incarnations of the internal potency of the Lord. They are confidential devotees engaged in the service of the Lord.

PURPORT

In connection with verses sixteen and seventeen, Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura explains in his Anubhasya: “There are specific symptoms by which the internal devotees and the unalloyed or pure devotees are to be known. All unalloyed devotees are sakti-tattvas, or potencies of the Lord. Some of them are situated in conjugal love and others in filial affection, fraternity and servitude. Certainly all of them are devotees, but by making a comparative study it is found that the devotees or potencies who are engaged in conjugal love are better situated than the others. Thus devotees who are in a relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead in conjugal love are considered to be the most confidential devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Those who engage in the service of Lord Nityananda Prabhu and Lord Advaita Prabhu generally have relationships of parental love, fraternity, servitude and neutrality. When such devotees develop great attachment for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they too become situated within the intimate circle of devotees in conjugal love.” This gradual development of devotional service is described by Sri Narottama dasa Thakura as follows:

gauranga balite habe pulaka sarira
hari hari balite nayane ba’be nira

ara kabe nitaicanda karuna karibe
samsara-vasana mora kabe tuccha habe

visaya chadiya kabe suddha habe mana
kabe hama heraba sri-vrndavana

rupa-raghunatha-pade ha-ibe akuti
kabe hama bujhaba sri-yugala-piriti

“When will there be eruptions on my body as soon as I chant the name of Lord Caitanya, and when will there be incessant torrents of tears as soon as I chant the holy names Hare Krsna? When will Lord Nityananda be merciful toward me and free me from all desires for material enjoyment? When will my mind be completely freed from all contamination of desires for material pleasure? Only at that time will it be possible for me to understand Vrndavana. Only if I become attached to the instructions given by the six Gosvamis, headed by Rupa Gosvami and Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, will it be possible for me to understand the conjugal love of Radha and Krsna.” By attachment to the devotional service of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu one immediately comes to the ecstatic position. When he develops his love for Nityananda Prabhu he is freed from all attachment to the material world, and at that time he becomes eligible to understand the Lord’s pastimes in Vrndavana. In that condition, when one develops his love for the six Gosvamis, he can understand the conjugal love between Radha and Krsna. These are the different stages of a pure devotee’s promotion to conjugal love in the service of Radha and Krsna in an intimate relationship with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Adi7.18-19

TEXTS 18-19

yan-saba lana prabhura nitya vihara

yan-saba lana prabhura kirtana-pracara

yan-saba lana karena prema asvadana

yan-saba lana dana kare prema-dhana

SYNONYMS

yan-saba—all; lana—taking company; prabhura—of the Lord; nitya—eternal; vihara—pastime; yan-saba—all those who are; lana—taking company; prabhura—of the Lord; kirtana—sankirtana; pracara—movement; yan-saba—persons with whom; lana—in accompaniment; karena—He does; prema—love of God; asvadana—taste; yan-saba—those who are; lana—in accompaniment; dana kare—gives in charity; prema-dhana—love of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

The internal devotees or potencies are all eternal associates in the pastimes of the Lord. Only with them does the Lord advent to propound the sankirtana movement, only with them does the Lord taste the mellow of conjugal love, and only with them does He distribute this love of God to people in general.

PURPORT

Distinguishing between pure devotees and internal or confidential devotees, Sri Rupa Gosvami, in his book Upadesamrta, traces the following gradual process of development. Out of many thousands of karmis, one is better when he is situated in perfect Vedic knowledge. Out of many such learned scholars and philosophers, one who is actually liberated from material bondage is better, and out of many such persons who are actually liberated, one who is a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is considered to be the best. Among the many such transcendental lovers of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the gopis are the best, and among the gopis Srimati Radhika is the best. Srimati Radhika is very dear to Lord Krsna, and similarly Her ponds, namely, Syama-kunda and Radha-kunda, are also very dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments in his Anubhasya that among the five tattvas, two are energies (sakti-tattva) and the three others are energetic (saktiman tattva). Unalloyed and internal devotees are both engaged in the favorable culture of Krsna consciousness untinged by philosophical speculation or fruitive activities. They are all understood to be pure devotees, and those among them who simply engage in conjugal love are called madhurya-bhaktas, or internal devotees. The loving services in parental love, fraternity and servitude are included in conjugal love of God. In conclusion, therefore, every confidential devotee is a pure devotee of the Lord.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu enjoys His pastimes with His immediate expansion Nityananda Prabhu. His pure devotees and His three purusa incarnations, namely, Karanodakasayi Visnu, Garbhodakasayi Visnu and Ksirodakasayi Visnu, always accompany the Supreme Lord to propound the sankirtana movement.