Sri Caitanya-caritamrta: Madhya-lila
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chapter 5

Madhya5.79

TEXT 79

bada-viprera mane,--’krsna bada dayavan

avasya mora vakya tenho karibe pramana’

SYNONYMS

bada-viprera mane—within the mind of the elderly brahmana; krsna—Lord Krsna; bada—very; dayavan—merciful; avasya—certainly; mora—my; vakya—words; tenho—He; karibe—will make; pramana—evidence.

TRANSLATION

The elderly brahmana thought, “Since Lord Krsna is very merciful, He will certainly come to prove my statement.”

Madhya5.80

TEXT 80

putrera mane,--’pratima na asibe saksi dite’

ei buddhye dui-jana ha-ila sammate

SYNONYMS

putrera mane—in the mind of the son; pratima—the Deity; na—not; asibe—will come; saksi dite—to give witness; ei—this; buddhye—in understanding; dui-jana—both the father and the son; ha-ila sammate—agreed.

TRANSLATION

The atheistic son thought, “It is not possible for Gopala to come and bear witness.” Thinking thus, both father and son agreed.

Madhya5.81

TEXT 81

chota-vipra bale,--’patra karaha likhana

punah yena nahi cale e-saba vacana’

SYNONYMS

chota-vipra—the young brahmana; bale—says; patra—paper; karaha—do; likhana—writing; punah—again; yena—so that; nahi—not; cale—change; e-saba—all these; vacana—statements.

TRANSLATION

The young brahmana took this opportunity to speak: “Please write this down on paper in black and white so that you may not again change your word of honor.”

Madhya5.82

TEXT 82

tabe saba loka meli’ patra ta’ likhila

dunhara sammati lana madhyastha rakhila

SYNONYMS

tabe—then; saba loka—all the people; meli’-gathered together; patra—paper; ta’-indeed; likhila—wrote; dunh\ara—of both of them; sammati—the agreement; lana—taking; madhya-stha—as mediator; rakhila—remained.

TRANSLATION

All the assembled people got this statement down in black and white and, taking the signatures of agreement from both of them, served as the mediators.

Madhya5.83

TEXT 83

tabe chota-vipra kahe,--suna, sarva-jana

ei vipra--satya-vakya, dharma-parayana

SYNONYMS

tabe—at that time; chota-vipra—the young brahmana; kahe—says; suna—please hear; sarva-jana—O all gentlemen present here; ei vipra—this elderly brahmana; satya-vakya—always truthful; dharma-parayana—religious.

TRANSLATION

The young brahmana then said, "Will all you gentlemen present please hear me? This elderly brahmana is certainly truthful and is following religious principles.

Madhya5.84

TEXT 84

sva-vakya chadite inhara nahi kabhu mana

svajana-mrtyu-bhaye kahe asatya-vacana

SYNONYMS

sva-vakya—his own promise; chadite—to give up; inhara—of this brahmana; nahi—not; kabhu—at any time; mana—the mind; sva-jana—of his own kinsmen; mrtyu-bhaye—fearing the suicide; kahe—says; asatya-vacana—untruthful words.

TRANSLATION

"He had no desire to break his promise, but fearing that his kinsmen would commit suicide, he deviated from the truth.

Madhya5.85

TEXT 85

inhara punye krsne ani’ saksi bolaiba

tabe ei viprera satya-pratijna rakhiba

SYNONYMS

inhara punye—by his piety; krsne—Lord Krsna; ani’-bringing; saksi—witness; bolaiba—I shall call; tabe—at that time; ei viprera—of this brahmana; satya—truthful; pratijna—the promise; rakhiba—I shall keep.

TRANSLATION

“By the piety of the elderly brahmana, I shall call the Supreme Personality of Godhead as a witness. Thus I shall keep his truthful promise intact.”

Madhya5.86

TEXT 86

eta suni’ nastika loka upahasa kare

keha bale, isvara--dayalu, asiteha pare

SYNONYMS

eta suni’-hearing this; nastika—atheistic; loka—class of men; upahasa—joking; kare—do; keha bale—someone says; isvara—God; dayalu—merciful; asiteha pare—He is able to come.

TRANSLATION

Hearing the emphatic statement of the younger brahmana, some atheists in the meeting began to cut jokes. However, someone else said, “After all, the Lord is merciful, and if He likes, He can come.”

Madhya5.87

TEXT 87

tabe sei chota-vipra gela vrndavana

dandavat kari’ kahe saba vivarana

SYNONYMS

tabe—after this; sei—that; chota-vipra—young brahmana; gela—went; vrndavana—to Vrndavana; dandavat kari’-after offering respects; kahe—tells; saba—all; vivarana—the description.

TRANSLATION

After the meeting, the young brahmana started for Vrndavana. Upon arriving there, he first offered his respectful obeisances to the Deity and then narrated everything in full detail.

Madhya5.88

TEXT 88

"brahmanya-deva tumi bada daya-maya

dui viprera dharma rakha hana sadaya

SYNONYMS

brahmanya-deva—O Lord of brahminical culture; tumi—You; bada—very; daya-maya—merciful; dui—two; viprera—of brahmanas; dharma—the religious principles; rakha—protect; hana—becoming; sa-daya—merciful.

TRANSLATION

He said, "My Lord, You are the protector of brahminical culture, and You are also very merciful. Therefore, kindly show Your great mercy by protecting the religious principles of us two brahmanas.

Madhya5.89

TEXT 89

kanya paba,--mora mane iha nahi sukha

brahmanera pratijna yaya--ei bada duhkha

SYNONYMS

kanya paba—I shall get the daughter; mora—my; mane—in the mind; iha—this; nahi—is not; sukha—happiness; brahmanera—of a pure brahmana; pratijna—the promise; yaya—becomes lost; ei—this; bada—very much; duhkha—unhappiness.

TRANSLATION

“My dear Lord, I am not thinking to become happy by getting the daughter as a bride. I am simply thinking that the brahmana has broken his promise, and that is giving me great pain.”

PURPORT

It was not at all the intention of the young brahmana to get the daughter of the elderly brahmana in marriage and thus enjoy material happiness and sense gratification. It was not for that reason that the young brahmana went to Vrndavana to ask the Supreme Personality of Godhead to act as a witness. His only concern was that the elderly brahmana had promised something, and if Gopala did not bear witness to that transaction, then the older brahmana would incur a spiritual blemish. Therefore, the young brahmana wanted protection and help from the Deity. The young brahmana was thus a pure Vaisnava, and he had no desire for sense gratification. He wanted only to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the older brahmana, who was also a Vaisnava and very devoted to the Lord.

Madhya5.90

TEXT 90

eta jani’ tumi saksi deha, daya-maya

jani’ saksi nahi deya, tara papa haya

SYNONYMS

eta jani’-knowing this; tumi—You; saksi—witness; deha—please give; daya-maya—O most merciful one; jani’-knowing; saksi—witness; nahi deya—does not give; tara—for him; papa—sin; haya—there is.

TRANSLATION

The young brahmana continued, “My dear sir, You are very merciful and You know everything. Therefore, kindly be a witness in this case. A person who knows things as they are and still does not bear witness becomes involved in sinful activities.”

PURPORT

The dealings between a devotee and the Lord are very simple. The young brahmana said to the Lord, “You know everything, but if You do not bear witness, You will be involved in sinful activities.” There is no possibility, however, of the Lord’s being involved in sinful activities. A pure devotee, even though he knows everything of the Supreme Lord, can speak with the Lord exactly as if He were a common man. Although the dealings between the Lord and His devotee are always very simple and open, there is formality. All these things happen because of the connection between the Lord and the devotee.

Madhya5.91

TEXT 91

krsna kahe,--vipra, tumi yaha sva-bhavane

sabha kari’ more tumi kariha smarane

SYNONYMS

krsna kahe—Lord Krsna says; vipra—My dear brahmana; tumi—you; yaha—go back; sva-bhavane—to your own home; sabha kari’-calling a meeting of all the men; more—of Me; tumi—you; kariha—just do; smarane—remembering.

TRANSLATION

Lord Krsna replied, "My dear brahmana, go back to your home and call a meeting of all the men. In that meeting, just try to remember Me.

Madhya5.92

TEXT 92

avirbhava hana ami tahan saksi diba

tabe dui viprera satya pratijna rakhiba

SYNONYMS

avirbhava—appearance; hana—making; ami—I; tahan—there; saksi—witness; diba—shall give; tabe—at that time; dui—two; viprera—of the brahmanas; satya—truthful; pratijna—promise; rakhiba—I shall keep.

TRANSLATION

“I shall certainly appear there, and at that time I shall protect the honor of both you brahmanas by bearing witness to the promise.”

Madhya5.93

TEXT 93

vipra bale,--"yadi hao caturbhuja-murti

tabu tomara vakye karu na habe pratiti

SYNONYMS

vipra bale—the young brahmana says; yadi—if; hao—You become; catuh-bhuja—four-handed; murti—Deity; tabu—still; tomara—Your; vakye—in the word; karu—of anyone; na—not; habe—there will be; pratiti—belief.

TRANSLATION

The young brahmana replied, "My dear sir, even if You appear there as a four-handed Visnu Deity, still, none of those people will believe in Your words.

Madhya5.94

TEXT 94

ei murti giya yadi ei sri-vadane

saksi deha yadi--tabe sarva-loka sune"

SYNONYMS

ei—this; murti—in the form; giya—going; yadi—if; ei—this; sri-vadane—from Your beautiful face; saksi—witness; deha—You give; yadi—if; tabe—then; sarva-loka—all people; sune—will hear.

TRANSLATION

“Only if You go there in this form of Gopala and speak the words from Your beautiful face will Your testimony be heard by all the people.”

Madhya5.95

TEXT 95

krsna kahe,--“pratima cale, kothaha na suni”

vipra bale,--"pratima hana kaha kene vani

SYNONYMS

krsna kahe—Lord Krsna says; pratima cale—a Deity walks; kothaha—anywhere; na suni—I have not heard; vipra bale—the young brahmana replies; pratima hana—in Your Deity form; kaha kene vani—how do You speak words.

TRANSLATION

Lord Krsna said, “I’ve never heard of a Deity’s walking from one place to another.” The brahmana replied, "That is true, but how is it that You are speaking to me, although You are a Deity?

Madhya5.96

TEXT 96

pratima naha tumi--saksat vrajendra-nandana

vipra lagi’ kara tumi akarya-karana"

SYNONYMS

pratima—a statue; naha—are not; tumi—You; saksat—directly; vrajendra-nandana—the son of Nanda Maharaja; vipra lagi’-for the sake of the brahmana; kara tumi—You can do; akarya-karana—an action You have never done before.

TRANSLATION

“My dear Lord, You are not a statue; You are directly the son of Maharaja Nanda. Now, for the sake of the old brahmana, You can do something You have never done before.”

Madhya5.97

TEXT 97

hasina gopala kahe,--"sunaha, brahmana

tomara pache pache ami kariba gamana

SYNONYMS

hasina—smiling; gopala—the Lord Gopala; kahe—says; sunaha—just hear; brahmana—O My dear brahmana; tomara—you; pache pache—behind; ami—I; kariba—shall do; gamana—walking.

TRANSLATION

Sri Gopalaji then smiled and said, “My dear brahmana, just listen to Me. I shall walk behind you, and in this way I shall go with you.”

PURPORT

The conversation between Lord Sri Krsna and the brahmana is proof that the Lord in His arca-murti, or form made of material elements, is not material, for those elements, although separated from the Lord, are also a part of the Lord’s energy, as stated in the Bhagavad-gita. Because the elements are the Lord’s own energy and because there is no difference between the energy and the energetic, the Lord can appear through any element. Just as the sun can act through the sunshine and thus distribute its heat and light, so Krsna, by His inconceivable power, can appear in His original spiritual form in any material element, including stone, wood, paint, gold, silver and jewels, because the material elements are all His energy. The sastras warn, arcye visnau sila-dhih . . . naraki sah: one should never think of the arca-murti, the Deity within the temple, as stone, wood or any other material element. Because of his advanced devotional position, the younger brahmana knew that although the Deity of Gopala appeared to be stone, He was not stone. He was the son of Nanda Maharaja, Vrajendra-nandana Himself.

As such, the Deity can act exactly as the Lord did in His original form as Krsna. Lord Krsna was talking to the young brahmana just to test his knowledge about the arca-vigraha. In other words, those who have understood the science of Krsna-Krsna’s name, form, quality and so forth-can also talk with the Deity. To an ordinary person, however, the Deity will appear to be made of stone, wood or some other material. In the higher sense, since all material elements ultimately emanate from the supreme spiritual entity, nothing is really material. Being omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, Krsna can deal with His devotees in any form without difficulty. By the mercy of the Lord, the devotee knows perfectly well about the Lord’s dealings. Indeed, he can talk face to face with the Lord.

Madhya5.98

TEXT 98

ulatiya ama tumi na kariha darasane

amake dekhile, ami rahiba sei sthane

SYNONYMS

ulatiya—turning your face; ama—Me; tumi—you; na—not; kariha—do; darasane—seeing; amake—Me; dekhile—if you see; ami—I; rahiba—shall stay; sei sthane—in that very place.

TRANSLATION

The Lord continued, "Do not try to see Me by turning around. As soon as you see Me, I shall remain stationary in that very place.

Madhya5.99

TEXT 99

nupurera dhvani-matra amara suniba

sei sabde amara gamana pratiti kariba

SYNONYMS

nupurera—of the ankle bells; dhvani-matra—the sound only; amara—My; suniba—you will hear; sei sabde—by hearing that sound; amara—My; gamana—coming; pratiti—understanding; kariba—you will do.

TRANSLATION

"You will know that I am walking behind you by the sound of My ankle bells.

Madhya5.100

TEXT 100

eka-sera anna randhi’ kariha samarpana

taha khana tomara sange kariba gamana

SYNONYMS

eka-sera—one kilogram; anna—of rice; randhi’-cooking; kariha—do; samarpana—offering; taha—that; khana—eating; tomara—of you; sange—in the company; kariba—I shall do; gamana—walking.

TRANSLATION

“Cook one kilogram of rice daily and offer it. I shall eat that rice and follow behind you.”

Madhya5.101

TEXT 101

ara dina ajna magi’ calila brahmana

tara pache pache gopala karila gamana

SYNONYMS

ara dina—the next day; ajna—permission; magi’-begging; calila—started; brahmana—the young brahmana; tara—him; pache—behind; pache—behind; gopala—Lord Gopala; karila—began; gamana—following.

TRANSLATION

The next day, the brahmana begged permission from Gopala and started for his country. Gopala followed him, step by step.

Madhya5.102

TEXT 102

nupurera dhvani suni’ anandita mana

uttamanna paka kari’ karaya bhojana

SYNONYMS

nupurera—of the ankle bells; dhvani—the sounds; suni’-hearing; anandita—very much pleased; mana—the mind; uttama-anna—first-class rice; paka—cooking; kari’-doing; karaya—causes; bhojana—eating.

TRANSLATION

While Gopala followed the young brahmana, the tinkling sound of His ankle bells could be heard. The brahmana became very pleased, and he cooked first-class rice for Gopala to eat.

Madhya5.103

TEXT 103

ei-mate cali’ vipra nija-dese aila

gramera nikata asi’ manete cintila

SYNONYMS

ei-mate—in this way; cali’-walking; vipra—the brahmana; nija—own; dese—to the country; aila—returned; gramera—to the village; nikata—near; asi’-coming; manete—within his mind; cintila—thought.

TRANSLATION

The young brahmana walked and walked in this way until he eventually arrived in his own country. When he neared his own village, he began to think as follows.

Madhya5.104

TEXT 104

’ebe muni grame ainu, yaimu bhavana

lokere kahiba giya saksira agamana

SYNONYMS

ebe—now; muni—I; grame—to the village; ainu—have come; yaimu—I shall go; bhavana—to my home; lokere—the people; kahiba—I shall tell; giya—going there; saksira—of the witness; agamana—about the arrival.

TRANSLATION

“I have now come to my village, and I shall go to my home and tell all the people that the witness has arrived.”

Madhya5.105

TEXT 105

saksate na dekhile mane pratiti na haya

ihan yadi rahena, tabu nahi kichu bhaya’

SYNONYMS

saksate—directly; na—not; dekhile—if seeing; mane—in the mind; pratiti—assurance; na—not; haya—there is; ihan—here; yadi—if; rahena—the Lord stays; tabu—still; nahi—there is not; kichu—any; bhaya—fear.

TRANSLATION

The brahmana then began to think that if the people didn’t directly see the Gopala Deity, they would not believe that He had arrived. “But even if Gopala stays here,” he thought, “there is still nothing to fear.”

Madhya5.106

TEXT 106

eta bhavi’ sei vipra phiriya cahila

hasina gopala-deva tathaya rahila

SYNONYMS

eta bhavi’-thinking like this; sei—that; viprabrahmana; phiriya—turning; cahila—saw; hasina—smiling; gopala-deva—Lord Gopaladeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tathaya—there; rahila—stayed.

TRANSLATION

Thinking this, the brahmana turned to look back, and He saw that Gopala, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was standing there smiling.

Madhya5.107

TEXT 107

brahmanere kahe,--"tumi yaha nija-ghara

ethaya rahiba ami, na yaba atahpara"

SYNONYMS

brahmanere kahe—He asked the brahmana; tumi—you; yaha—go; nija-ghara—to your own home; ethaya—here in this place; rahiba—shall stay; ami—I; na—not; yaba—shall go; atahpara—hereafter.

TRANSLATION

The Lord told the brahmana, “Now you can go home. I shall stay here and shall not leave.”

Madhya5.108

TEXT 108

tabe sei vipra yai nagare kahila

sunina sakala loka camatkara haila

SYNONYMS

tabe—thereafter; sei—that; viprabrahmana; yai—going; nagare—to the town; kahila—said; sunina—hearing; sakala—all; loka—the people; camatkara—struck with wonder; haila—were.

TRANSLATION

The young brahmana then went to the town and informed all the people about Gopala’s arrival. Hearing this, the people were struck with wonder.

Madhya5.109

TEXT 109

aila sakala loka saksi dekhibare

gopala dekhina loka dandavat kare

SYNONYMS

aila—came; sakala—all; loka—the people; saksi—the witness; dekhibare—to see; gopala—Lord Gopala; dekhina—seeing; loka—all the people; dandavat—offering obeisances; kare—do.

TRANSLATION

All the townspeople went to see the witness Gopala, and when they saw the Lord actually standing there, they all offered their respectful obeisances.

Madhya5.110

TEXT 110

gopala-saundarya dekhi’ loke anandita

pratima calina aila,--sunina vismita

SYNONYMS

gopala—of Lord Gopala; saundarya—the beauty; dekhi’-seeing; loke—everyone; anandita—pleased; pratima—the Deity; calina—walking; aila—came; sunina—hearing this; vismita—surprised.

TRANSLATION

When the people arrived, they were very pleased to see the beauty of Gopala, and when they heard that He had actually walked there, they were all surprised.

Madhya5.111

TEXT 111

tabe sei bada-vipra anandita hana

gopalera age pade dandavat hana

SYNONYMS

tabe—thereafter; sei—that; bada-vipra—elderly brahmana; anandita—pleased; hana—becoming; gopalera—of Lord Gopala; age—in front; pade—falls down; dandavat—like a stick; hana—becoming.

TRANSLATION

Then the elderly brahmana, being very pleased, came forward and immediately fell like a stick in front of Gopala.

Madhya5.112

TEXT 112

sakala lokera age gopala saksi dila

bada-vipra chota-vipre kanya-dana kaila

SYNONYMS

sakala—all; lokera—of the people; age—in the presence; gopala—Lord Gopala; saksi—witness; dila—gave; bada-vipra—the elderly brahmana; chota-vipre—unto the young brahmana; kanya-dana—giving the daughter in charity; kaila—did.

TRANSLATION

Thus in the presence of all the townspeople, Lord Gopala bore witness that the elderly brahmana had offered his daughter in charity to the young brahmana.

Madhya5.113

TEXT 113

tabe sei dui vipre kahila isvara

"tumi-dui--janme-janme amara kinkara

SYNONYMS

tabe—thereafter; sei—those; dui—two; vipre—unto the brahmanas; kahila—spoke; isvara—the Lord; tumi-dui—both of you; janme-janme—birth after birth; amara—My; kinkara—servants.

TRANSLATION

After the marriage ceremony was performed, the Lord informed both brahmanas, “You two brahmanas are My eternal servants, birth after birth.”

PURPORT

Like these two brahmanas of Vidyanagara, there are many devotees who are eternal servants of the Lord. They are specifically known as nitya-siddha, eternally perfect. Although the nitya-siddhas appear in the material world and seem to be common members of the world, they never forget the Supreme Personality of Godhead in any condition. This is the symptom of a nitya-siddha.

There are two kinds of living entities-nitya-siddha and nitya-baddha. The nitya-siddha never forgets his relationship with the Supreme Personality, whereas the nitya-baddha is always conditioned, even before the creation. He always forgets his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Here the Lord informs the two brahmanas that they are His servants birth after birth. The phrase birth after birth refers to the material world because in the spiritual world there is no birth, death, old age or disease. By the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the nitya-siddha remains within this material world like an ordinary man, but the only business of the nitya-siddha is to broadcast the glories of the Lord. This incident appears to be an ordinary story about a marriage transaction involving two ordinary people. However, Krsna accepted the two brahmanas as His eternal servants. Both brahmanas took much trouble in these negotiations, just like mundane people, yet they were acting as eternal servants of the Lord. All nitya-siddhas within this material world may appear to toil like ordinary men, but they never forget their position as servants of the Lord.

Another point: The elderly brahmana belonged to an aristocratic family and was learned and wealthy. The young brahmana belonged to an ordinary family and was uneducated. But these mundane qualifications do not concern a nitya-siddha engaged in the service of the Lord. We have to accept the fact that the nitya-siddhas are completely distinct from the nitya-baddhas, who are ordinary human beings. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura confirms this statement:

gaurangera sangi-gane,    nitya-siddha kari’ mane,
se yaya vrajendra-suta-pasa
sri-gauda-mandala-bhumi, yeba jane cintamani,
tara haya vraja-bhume vasa

One who accepts the associates of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu as nitya-siddhas is certain to be elevated to the spiritual kingdom to become an associate of the Supreme Lord. One should also know that Gauda-mandala-bhumi-those places in Bengal where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed-are equal to Vrajabhumi, or Vrndavana. There is no difference between the inhabitants of Vrndavana and those of Gauda-mandala-bhumi, or Sridhama Mayapura.

Madhya5.114

TEXT 114

dunhara satye tusta ha-ilan, dunhe maga’ vara"

dui-vipra vara mage ananda-antara

SYNONYMS

dunhara satye—in the truthfulness of both of you; tusta ha-ilan—I have be come satisfied; dunhe—both of you; maga’-ask; vara—some benediction; dui-vipra—both the brahmanas; vara—a benediction; mage—beg; ananda—pleased; antara—within.

TRANSLATION

The Lord continued, “I have become very pleased by the truthfulness of you both. Now you can ask for a benediction.” Thus with great pleasure the two brahmanas begged for a benediction.

Madhya5.115

TEXT 115

"yadi vara dibe, tabe raha ei sthane

kinkarere daya tava sarva-loke jane"

SYNONYMS

yadi—if; vara—benediction; dibe—You will offer; tabe—then; raha—stay; ei sthane—in this quarter; kinkarere—to Your servants; daya—mercy; tava—Your; sarva-loke—all people; jane—may know.

TRANSLATION

The brahmanas said, “Please remain here so that people all over the world will know how merciful You are to Your servants.”

Madhya5.116

TEXT 116

gopala rahila, dunhe karena sevana

dekhite aila saba desera loka-jana

SYNONYMS

gopala—Lord Gopala; rahila—stayed; dunhe—both of them; karena—do; sevana—service; dekhite—to see; aila—came; saba—all; desera—of the countries; loka-jana—the people.

TRANSLATION

Lord Gopala stayed, and the two brahmanas engaged in His service. After hearing of the incident, many people from different countries began to come to see Gopala.

Madhya5.117

TEXT 117

se desera raja aila ascarya sunina

parama santosa paila gopale dekhina

SYNONYMS

se desera—of that country; raja—the King; aila—came; ascarya—about the wonder; sunina—hearing; parama—great; santosa—satisfaction; paila—achieved; gopale—Gopala; dekhina—by seeing.

TRANSLATION

Eventually the King of that country heard of this wonderful story, and he also came to see Gopala and thus became very satisfied.

Madhya5.118

TEXT 118

mandira kariya raja seva calaila

’saksi-gopala’ bali’ tanra nama khyati haila

SYNONYMS

mandira—a temple; kariya—constructing; raja—the King; seva—service; calaila—regularly carried on; saksi-gopala—by the name Saksi-gopala; bali’-known as; tanra—His; nama—name; khyati—celebrated; haila—was.

TRANSLATION

The King constructed a nice temple, and regular service was executed. Gopala became very famous under the name of Saksi-gopala [the witness Gopala].

Madhya5.119

TEXT 119

ei mata vidyanagare saksi-gopala

seva angikara kari’ achena cira-kala

SYNONYMS

ei mata—in this way; vidyanagare—in the town of Vidyanagara; saksi-gopala—the witness Gopala; seva—service; angikara—acceptance; kari’-doing; achena—remains; cira-kala—a long time.

TRANSLATION

Thus Saksi-gopala stayed in Vidyanagara and accepted service for a very long time.

PURPORT

This city of Vidyanagara is situated in Trailanga-desa, South India, on the bank of the river Godavari. The place where the Godavari flows into the Bay of Bengal is called Kotadesa. The Orissa kingdom was very powerful, and this Kotadesa was the capital of Orissa. It was then known as Vidyanagara. Formerly this city was situated on the southern side of the river Godavari. At that time King Purusottama-deva managed to control Orissa and appoint a government. The present city of Vidyanagara is on the southeast side of the river, only twenty to twenty-five miles from Rajamahendri. During the time of Maharaja Prataparudra, Sri Ramananda Raya was the governor there. Vijaya-nagara is not identical with Vidyanagara.

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