Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta: Antya-līlā
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Chapter 1
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Second Meeting With the Lord
A summary of the First Chapter is given by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya as follows. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to Jagannātha Purī from Vṛndāvana, all His devotees from other parts of India, upon receiving the auspicious news, came to Puruṣottama-kṣetra, or Jagannātha Purī. Śivānanda Sena took a dog with him and even paid fees for it to cross the river. One night, however, the dog could not get any food and therefore went directly to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Jagannātha Purī. The next day, when Śivānanda and his party reached Jagannātha Purī, Śivānanda saw the dog eating some coconut pulp offered to it by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. After this incident, the dog was liberated and went back home, back to Godhead.
Meanwhile, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī reached Bengal, after returning from Vṛndāvana. Although he could not follow the Bengali devotees, after some time he also came to Jagannātha Purī, where he stayed with Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī composed an important verse beginning with the words priyaḥ so ’yam, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu relished it very much. One day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Rāmānanda Rāya, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and others went to the place of Haridāsa Ṭhākura and heard some of the verses Rūpa Gosvāmī had composed for his books Lalita-mādhava and Vidagdha-mādhava. After examining the manuscripts of these two books, Rāmānanda Rāya approved and appreciated them very much. After the period of Cāturmāsya, all the devotees who had come from Bengal returned to their homes. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, however, remained at Jagannātha Purī for some time.
Antya1.1 TEXT 1 paṅguṁ laṅghayate śailaṁ mūkam āvartayec chrutim yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande kṛṣṇa-caitanyam īśvaram SYNONYMS paṅgum—one who is lame; laṅghayate—causes to cross over; śailam—a mountain; mūkam—one who is dumb; āvartayet—can cause to recite; śrutim—Vedic literature; yat-kṛpā—the mercy of whom; tam—unto Him; aham—I; vande—offer obeisances; kṛṣṇa-caitanyam—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is Kṛṣṇa Himself; īśvaram—the Lord.
TRANSLATION I offer my respectful obeisances to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, by whose mercy even a lame man can cross over a mountain and a dumb man recite Vedic literature. Antya1.2 TEXT 2 durgame pathi me ’ndhasya skhalat-pāda-gater muhuḥ sva-kṛpā-yaṣṭi-dānena santaḥ santv avalambanam SYNONYMS durgame—very difficult; pathi—on the path; me—of me; andhasya—one who is blind; skhalat—slipping; pāda—on feet; gateḥ—whose manner of moving; muhuḥ—again and again; sva-kṛpā—of their own mercy; yaṣṭi—the stick; dānena—by giving; santaḥ—those saintly persons; santu—let that become; avalambanam—my support.
TRANSLATION My path is very difficult. I am blind, and my feet are slipping again and again. Therefore, may the saints help me by granting me the stick of their mercy as my support. Antya1.3-4 TEXTS 3–4 śrī-rūpa, sanātana bhaṭṭa-raghunātha śrī-jīva, gopāla-bhaṭṭa, dāsa-raghunātha ei chaya gurura karoṅ caraṇa vandana yāhā haite vighna-nāśa, abhīṣṭa-pūraṇa SYNONYMS śrī-rūpa—Śrī Rūpa; sanātana—Sanātana; bhaṭṭa-raghunātha—Bhaṭṭa Raghunātha; śrī-jīva—Śrī Jīva; gopāla-bhaṭṭa—Gopāla Bhaṭṭa; dāsa-raghunātha—Dāsa Raghunātha; ei chaya—these six; gurura—of spiritual masters; karoṅ—I offer; caraṇa vandana—prayers to the lotus feet; yāhā haite—from which; vighna-nāśa—destruction of all impediments; abhīṣṭa-pūraṇa—fulfillment of desires.
TRANSLATION I pray to the lotus feet of the six Gosvāmīs—Śrī Rūpa, Sanātana, Bhaṭṭa Raghunātha, Śrī Jīva, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa and Dāsa Raghunātha—so that all impediments to my writing this literature will be annihilated and my real desire will be fulfilled. PURPORT If one wants to benefit the entire world, he will certainly find persons like hogs and pigs who will put forward many impediments. That is natural. But if a devotee seeks shelter at the lotus feet of the six Gosvāmīs, the merciful Gosvāmīs will certainly give the Lord’s servitor all protection. It is not astonishing that impediments are placed before those who are spreading the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement all over the world. Nevertheless, if we adhere to the lotus feet of the six Gosvāmīs and pray for their mercy, all impediments will be annihilated, and the transcendental devotional desire to serve the Supreme Lord will be fulfilled.
Antya1.5 TEXT 5 jayatāṁ suratau paṅgor mama manda-mater gatī mat-sarvasva-padāmbhojau rādhā-madana-mohanau SYNONYMS jayatām—all glory to; su-ratau—most merciful, or attached in conjugal love; paṅgoḥ—of one who is lame; mama—of me; manda-mateḥ—foolish; gatī—refuge; mat—my; sarva-sva—everything; pada-ambhojau—whose lotus feet; rādhā-madana-mohanau—Rādhārāṇī and Madana-mohana.
TRANSLATION Glory to the all-merciful Rādhā and Madana-mohana! I am lame and ill advised, yet They are my directors, and Their lotus feet are everything to me. Antya1.6 TEXT 6 dīvyad-vṛndāraṇya-kalpa-drumādhaḥ śrīmad-ratnāgāra-siṁhāsana-sthau śrīmad-rādhā-śrīla-govinda-devau preṣṭhālībhiḥ sevyamānau smarāmi SYNONYMS dīvyat—shining; vṛndā-araṇya—in the forest of Vṛndāvana; kalpa-druma—desire tree; adhaḥ—beneath; śrīmat—most beautiful; ratna-āgāra—in a temple of jewels; siṁha-āsana-sthau—sitting on a throne; śrīmat—very beautiful; rādhā—Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; śrīla-govinda-devau—and Śrī Govindadeva; preṣṭha-ālībhiḥ—by most confidential associates; sevyamānau—being served; smarāmi—I remember.
TRANSLATION In a temple of jewels in Vṛndāvana, underneath a desire tree, Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda, served by Their most confidential associates, sit upon an effulgent throne. I offer my humble obeisances unto Them. Antya1.7 TEXT 7 śrīmān rāsa-rasārambhī vaṁśīvaṭa-taṭa-sthitaḥ karṣan veṇu-svanair gopīr gopī-nāthaḥ śriye ’stu naḥ SYNONYMS śrīmān—most beautiful; rāsa—of the rāsa dance; rasa—of the mellow; ārambhī—the initiator; vaṁśī-vaṭa—of Vaṁśīvaṭa; taṭa—on the shore; sthitaḥ—standing; karṣan—attracting; veṇu—of the flute; svanaiḥ—by the sounds; gopīḥ—the cowherd girls; gopī-nāthaḥ—Śrī Gopīnātha; śriye—benediction; astu—let there be; naḥ—our.
TRANSLATION Śrī Śrīla Gopīnātha, who originated the transcendental mellow of the rāsa dance, stands on the shore at Vaṁśīvaṭa and attracts the attention of the cowherd damsels with the sound of His celebrated flute. May they all confer upon us their benediction. Antya1.8 TEXT 8 jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda SYNONYMS jaya jaya śrī-caitanya—all glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; jaya nityānanda—all glories to Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu; jaya advaita-candra—all glories to Advaita Prabhu; jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda—all glories to the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TRANSLATION All glories to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! Antya1.9 TEXT 9 madhya-līlā saṅkṣepete kariluṅ varṇana antya-līlā-varṇana kichu śuna, bhakta-gaṇa SYNONYMS madhya-līlā—pastimes known as madhya-līlā; saṅkṣepete—in brief; kariluṅ varṇana—I have described; antya-līlā—the last pastimes; varṇana—description; kichu—something; śuna—hear; bhakta-gaṇa—O devotees.
TRANSLATION I have briefly described the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu known as the madhya-līlā. Now I shall attempt to describe something about His last pastimes, which are known as the antya-līlā. Antya1.10 TEXT 10 madhya-līlā-madhye antya-līlā-sūtra-gaṇa pūrva-granthe saṅkṣepete kariyāchi varṇana SYNONYMS madhya-līlā-madhye—within the madhya-līlā chapters; antya-līlā-sūtra-gaṇa—a synopsis of the antya-līlā; pūrva-granthe—in the previous chapter; saṅkṣepete—in brief; kariyāchi varṇana—I have described.
TRANSLATION I have briefly described the antya-līlā within the description of the madhya-līlā. Antya1.11 TEXT 11 āmi jarā-grasta, nikaṭe jāniyā maraṇa antya kono kono līlā kariyāchi varṇana SYNONYMS āmi jarā-grasta—I am invalid because of old age; nikaṭe—very near; jāniyā—knowing; maraṇa—death; antya—final; kono kono—some; līlā—pastimes; kariyāchi varṇana—I have described.
TRANSLATION I am now almost an invalid because of old age, and I know that at any moment I may die. Therefore I have already described some portions of the antya-līlā. PURPORT Following in the footsteps of Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, I am trying to translate Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as quickly as possible. However, knowing myself to be an old man and almost an invalid because of rheumatism, I have already translated the essence of all literatures, the Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, as a summary study in English. I started the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement at the age of seventy. Now I am seventy-eight, and so my death is imminent. I am trying to finish the translation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as soon as possible, but before finishing it, I have given my readers the book Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, so that if I die before finishing the whole task, they may enjoy this book, which is the essence of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Antya1.12 TEXT 12 pūrva-likhita grantha-sūtra-anusāre yei nāhi likhi, tāhā likhiye vistāre SYNONYMS pūrva-likhita—previously mentioned; grantha-sūtra—the synopsis of the pastimes; anusāre—according to; yei—whatever; nāhi likhi—I have not mentioned; tāhā—that; likhiye—I shall write; vistāre—elaborately.
TRANSLATION In accordance with the synopsis previously written, I shall describe in detail whatever I have not mentioned. Antya1.13 TEXT 13 vṛndāvana haite prabhu nīlācale āilā svarūpa-gosāñi gauḍe vārtā pāṭhāilā SYNONYMS vṛndāvana haite—from Vṛndāvana; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; nīlācale āilā—returned to Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala; svarūpa-gosāñi—Svarūpa Dāmodara; gauḍe—to Bengal; vārtā pāṭhāilā—sent news.
TRANSLATION When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to Jagannātha Purī from Vṛndāvana, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosāñi immediately sent news of the Lord’s arrival to the devotees in Bengal. Antya1.14 TEXT 14 śuni’ śacī ānandita, saba bhakta-gaṇa sabe mili’ nīlācale karilā gamana SYNONYMS śuni’—hearing; śacī—mother Śacī; ānandita—very pleased; saba bhakta-gaṇa—as well as all the other devotees of Navadvīpa; sabe mili’—meeting together; nīlācale—to Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala; karilā gamana—departed.
TRANSLATION Upon hearing this news, mother Śacī and all the other devotees of Navadvīpa were very joyful, and they all departed together for Nīlācala [Jagannātha Purī]. Antya1.15 TEXT 15 kulīna-grāmī bhakta āra yata khaṇḍa-vāsī ācārya śivānanda sane mililā sabe āsi’ SYNONYMS kulīna-grāmī—residents of the village known as Kulīna-grāma; bhakta—devotees; āra—and; yata—all; khaṇḍa-vāsī—the residents of Śrī Khaṇḍa; ācārya—Advaita Ācārya; śivānanda—Śivānanda Sena; sane—with; mililā—met; sabe āsi’—all coming together.
TRANSLATION Thus all the devotees of Kulīna-grāma and Śrī Khaṇḍa, as well as Advaita Ācārya, came together to meet Śivānanda Sena. Antya1.16 TEXT 16 śivānanda kare sabāra ghāṭi samādhāna sabāre pālana kare, deya vāsā-sthāna SYNONYMS śivānanda—Śivānanda; kare—does; sabāra—of everyone; ghāṭi—the camp; samādhāna—arrangement; sabāre—of everyone; pālana—maintenance; kare—performs; deya—gives; vāsā-sthāna—residential quarters.
TRANSLATION Śivānanda Sena arranged for the journey. He maintained everyone and provided residential quarters. Antya1.17 TEXT 17 eka kukkura cale śivānanda-sane bhakṣya diyā lañā cale kariyā pālane SYNONYMS eka—one; kukkura—dog; cale—goes; śivānanda-sane—with Śivānanda Sena; bhakṣya—food; diyā—giving; lañā—taking; cale—goes; kariyā pālane—maintaining the dog.
TRANSLATION While going to Jagannātha Purī, Śivānanda Sena allowed a dog to go with him. He supplied it food to eat and maintained it. Antya1.18 TEXT 18 eka-dina eka-sthāne nadī pāra haite uḍiyā nāvika kukkura nā caḍāya naukāte SYNONYMS eka-dina—one day; eka-sthāne—in one place; nadī—a river; pāra—crossing; haite—to do; uḍiyā nāvika—a boatman who was an Oriyā (Orissan); kukkura—the dog; nā caḍāya—does not allow to mount; naukāte—on the boat.
TRANSLATION One day, when they needed to cross a river, an Orissan boatman would not allow the dog to get in the boat. Antya1.19 TEXT 19 kukkura rahilā,——śivānanda duḥkhī hailā daśa paṇa kaḍi diyā kukkure pāra kailā SYNONYMS kukkura rahilā—the dog remained; śivānanda duḥkhī hailā—Śivānanda became very unhappy; daśa paṇa—ten paṇa; kaḍi—small conchshells; diyā—paying; kukkure—the dog; pāra kailā—crossed to the other side of the river.
TRANSLATION Śivānanda Sena, unhappy that the dog had to stay behind, paid the boatman ten paṇa of conchshells to take the dog across the river. PURPORT SYNONYMS One paṇa is eighty kaḍis, or small conchshells. Formerly, even fifty or sixty years ago, there was no paper currency in India. Coins were generally made not of base metal but of gold, silver and copper. In other words, the medium of exchange was really something valuable. Four pieces of kaḍi made one gaṇḍā, and twenty such gaṇḍās equaled one paṇa. This kaḍi was also used as a medium of exchange; therefore Śivānanda Sena paid for the dog with daśa paṇa, or eighty times ten pieces of kaḍi. In those days one paisa was also subdivided into small conchshells, but at the present moment the prices for commodities have gone so high that there is nothing one can get in exchange for only one paisa. With one paisa in those days, however, one could purchase sufficient vegetables to provide for a whole family. Even thirty years ago, vegetables were occasionally so inexpensive that one paisa’s worth could provide for a whole family for a day.
Antya1.20 TEXT 20 eka-dina śivānande ghāṭiyāle rākhilā kukkurake bhāta dite sevaka pāsarilā SYNONYMS eka-dina—one day; śivānande—Śivānanda Sena; ghāṭiyāle—tollman; rākhilā—detained; kukkurake—unto the dog; bhāta dite—to supply rice; sevaka—the servant; pāsarilā—forgot.
TRANSLATION One day while Śivānanda was detained by a tollman, his servant forgot to give the dog its cooked rice. Antya1.21 TEXT 21 rātre āsi’ śivānanda bhojanera kāle ‘kukkura pāñāche bhāta?’——sevake puchile SYNONYMS rātre āsi’—returning at night; śivānanda—Śivānanda Sena; bhojanera kāle—at the time of eating; kukkura—the dog; pāñāche—has gotten; bhāta—rice; sevake—from the servant; puchile—he inquired.
TRANSLATION At night, when Śivānanda Sena returned and was taking his meal, he inquired from the servant whether the dog had gotten its meals. Antya1.22 TEXT 22 kukkura nāhi pāya bhāta śuni’ duḥkhī hailā kukkura cāhite daśa-manuṣya pāṭhāilā SYNONYMS kukkura—the dog; nāhi—did not; pāya—get; bhāta—rice; śuni’—hearing; duḥkhī hailā—Śivānanda Sena became very unhappy; kukkura cāhite—to look for the dog; daśa-manuṣya—ten men; pāṭhāilā—sent.
TRANSLATION When he learned that the dog had not been supplied food in his absence, he was very unhappy. He then immediately sent ten men to find the dog. Antya1.23 TEXT 23 cāhiyā nā pāila kukkura, loka saba āilā duḥkhī hañā śivānanda upavāsa kailā SYNONYMS cāhiyā—looking; nā—not; pāila—found; kukkura—the dog; loka saba āilā—all the men returned; duḥkhī hañā—being unhappy; śivānanda—Śivānanda Sena; upavāsa—fast; kailā—observed.
TRANSLATION When the men returned without success, Śivānanda Sena became very unhappy and fasted for the night. Antya1.24 TEXT 24 prabhāte kukkura cāhi’ kāṅhā nā pāila sakala vaiṣṇavera mane camatkāra haila SYNONYMS prabhāte—in the morning; kukkura—the dog; cāhi’—looking for; kāṅhā—anywhere; nā pāila—not found; sakala vaiṣṇavera—of all the Vaiṣṇavas present; mane—in the minds; camatkāra haila—there was great astonishment.
TRANSLATION In the morning they looked for the dog, but it could not be found anywhere. All the Vaiṣṇavas were astonished. PURPORT Śivānanda Sena’s attachment to the dog was a great boon for that animal. The dog appears to have been a street dog. Since it naturally began to follow Śivānanda Sena while he was going to Jagannātha Purī with his party, he accepted it into his party and maintained it the same way he was maintaining the other devotees. It appears that although on one occasion the dog was not allowed aboard a boat, Śivānanda did not leave the dog behind but paid more money just to induce the boatman to take the dog across the river. Then when the servant forgot to feed the dog and the dog disappeared, Śivānanda, being very anxious, sent ten men to find it. When they could not find it, Śivānanda observed a fast. Thus it appears that somehow or other Śivānanda had become attached to the dog.
As will be evident from the following verses, the dog got the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and was immediately promoted to Vaikuṇṭha to become an eternal devotee. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has therefore sung, tumi ta’ ṭhākura, tomāra kukkura, baliyā jānaha more (Śaraṇāgati 19). He thus offers to become the dog of a Vaiṣṇava. There are many other instances in which the pet animal of a Vaiṣṇava was delivered back home to Vaikuṇṭhaloka, back to Godhead. Such is the benefit of somehow or other becoming the favorite of a Vaiṣṇava. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has also sung, kīṭa-janma ha-u yathā tuyā dāsa (Śaraṇāgati 11). There is no harm in taking birth again and again. Our only desire should be to take birth under the care of a Vaiṣṇava. Fortunately we had the opportunity to be born of a Vaiṣṇava father who took care of us very nicely. He prayed to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī that in the future we would become a servant of the eternal consort of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Thus somehow or other we are now engaged in that service. We may conclude that even as dogs we must take shelter of a Vaiṣṇava. The benefit will be the same as that which accrues to an advanced devotee under a Vaiṣṇava’s care.
Antya1.25 TEXT 25 utkaṇṭhāya cali’ sabe āilā nīlācale pūrvavat mahāprabhu mililā sakale SYNONYMS utkaṇṭhāya—in great anxiety; cali’—walking; sabe—all the devotees; āilā—came to Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala; nīlācale—as usual; pūrvavat—as usual; mahāprabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; mililā sakale—met all of them.
TRANSLATION Thus in great anxiety they all walked to Jagannātha Purī, where Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu met them as usual. Antya1.26 TEXT 26 sabā lañā kailā jagannātha daraśana sabā lañā mahāprabhu karena bhojana SYNONYMS sabā lañā—taking all of them; kailā—did; jagannātha daraśana—visiting the Jagannātha temple; sabā lañā—with all of them; mahāprabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; karena bhojana—took prasādam.
TRANSLATION Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went with them to see the Lord in the temple, and on that day He also took lunch in the company of all those devotees. Antya1.27 TEXT 27 pūrvavat sabāre prabhu pāṭhāilā vāsā-sthāne prabhu-ṭhāñi prātaḥ-kāle āilā āra dine SYNONYMS pūrvavat—as it was previously; sabāre—everyone; prabhu—Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; pāṭhāilā—sent; vāsā-sthāne—to their respective residential quarters; prabhu-ṭhāñi—to the place of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; prātaḥ-kāle—in the morning; āilā—they came; āra dine—on the next day.
TRANSLATION As previously, the Lord provided them all with residential quarters. And the next morning all the devotees came to see the Lord. Antya1.28 TEXT 28 āsiyā dekhila sabe sei ta kukkure prabhu-pāśe vasiyāche kichu alpa-dūre SYNONYMS āsiyā—coming; dekhila—they saw; sabe—everyone; sei ta kukkure—that very same dog; prabhu-pāśe—near Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; vasiyāche—sat; kichu alpa-dūre—a little bit away from the Lord.
TRANSLATION When all the devotees came to the place of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they saw the same dog sitting a little apart from the Lord. Antya1.29 TEXT 29 prasāda nārikela-śasya dena phelāñā ‘rāma’ ‘kṛṣṇa’ ‘hari’ kaha’——balena hāsiyā SYNONYMS prasāda—food; nārikela-śasya—pulp of green coconut; dena—gives; phelāñā—throwing; rāma—Lord Rāmacandra; kṛṣṇa—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; hari—the holy name of Hari; kaha’—say; balena—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu says; hāsiyā—smiling.
TRANSLATION Furthermore, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was throwing remnants of green coconut pulp to the dog. Smiling in His own way, He was saying to the dog, “Chant the holy names ‘Rāma,’ ‘Kṛṣṇa’ and ‘Hari.’” Antya1.30 TEXT 30 śasya khāya kukkura, ‘kṛṣṇa’ kahe bāra bāra dekhiyā lokera mane haila camatkāra SYNONYMS śasya khāya—eats the pulp of green coconut; kukkura—the dog; kṛṣṇa—the holy name of Kṛṣṇa; kahe—chants; bāra bāra—again and again; dekhiyā—seeing this; lokera—of all the people; mane—in the minds; haila—there was; camatkāra—astonishment.
TRANSLATION Seeing the dog eating the green coconut pulp and chanting “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa” again and again, all the devotees present were very surprised. Antya1.31 TEXT 31 śivānanda kukkura dekhi’ daṇḍavat kailā dainya kari’ nija aparādha kṣamāilā SYNONYMS śivānanda—Śivānanda Sena; kukkura—the dog; dekhi’—seeing there; daṇḍavat kailā—offered obeisances; dainya kari’—exhibiting humbleness; nija—personal; aparādha—offenses; kṣamāilā—asked to be forgiven.
TRANSLATION When he saw the dog sitting in that way and chanting the name of Kṛṣṇa, Śivānanda, because of his natural humility, immediately offered his obeisances to the dog just to counteract his offenses to it. Antya1.32 TEXT 32 āra dina keha tāra dekhā nā pāilā siddha-deha pāñā kukkura vaikuṇṭhete gelā SYNONYMS āra dina—the next day; keha—all of them; tāra—of the dog; dekhā nā pāilā—did not get sight; siddha-deha pāñā—obtaining a spiritual body; kukkura—the dog; vaikuṇṭhete gelā—went to the spiritual kingdom, Vaikuṇṭha.
TRANSLATION The next day, no one saw that dog, for it had obtained its spiritual body and departed for Vaikuṇṭha, the spiritual kingdom. PURPORT This is the result of sādhu-saṅga—consequent association with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and promotion back home, back to Godhead. This result is possible even for a dog, by the mercy of the Vaiṣṇava. Therefore, everyone in the human form of life should be induced to associate with devotees. By rendering a little service, even by eating prasādam, what to speak of chanting and dancing, everyone can be promoted to Vaikuṇṭhaloka. It is therefore requested that all our devotees in the ISKCON community become pure Vaiṣṇavas, so that by their mercy all the people of the world will be transferred to Vaikuṇṭhaloka, even without their knowledge. Everyone should be given a chance to take prasādam and thus be induced to chant the holy names Hare Kṛṣṇa and also dance in ecstasy. By these three processes, although performed without knowledge or education, even an animal went back to Godhead.
Antya1.33 TEXT 33 aiche divya-līlā kare śacīra nandana kukkurake kṛṣṇa kahāñā karilā mocana SYNONYMS aiche—in that way; divya-līlā—transcendental activities; kare—performs; śacīra nandana—the son of mother Śacī; kukkurake—even a dog; kṛṣṇa kahāñā—inducing to chant the holy name “Kṛṣṇa”; karilā mocana—delivered.
TRANSLATION Such are the transcendental pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī. He even delivered a dog simply by inducing it to chant the mahā-mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa. Antya1.34 TEXT 34 ethā prabhu-ājñāya rūpa āilā vṛndāvana kṛṣṇa-līlā-nāṭaka karite haila mana SYNONYMS ethā—on the other side; prabhu-ājñāya—upon the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu: rūpa—Rūpa Gosvāmī; āilā—went; vṛndāvana—to Vṛndāvana; kṛṣṇa-līlā-nāṭaka—a drama on Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes; karite—to compose; haila—it was; mana—the mind.
TRANSLATION Meanwhile, following the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī returned to Vṛndāvana. He desired to write dramas concerning the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Antya1.35 TEXT 35 vṛndāvane nāṭakera ārambha karilā maṅgalācaraṇa ‘nāndī-śloka’ tathāi likhilā SYNONYMS vṛndāvane—at Vṛndāvana; nāṭakera—of the drama; ārambha—the beginning; karilā—wrote; maṅgalācaraṇa—invoking auspiciousness; nāndī-śloka—introductory verse; tathāi—there; likhilā—he wrote.
TRANSLATION In Vṛndāvana, Rūpa Gosvāmī began to write a drama. In particular, he composed the introductory verses to invoke good fortune. PURPORT Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura quotes from the Nāṭaka-candrikā, wherein it is written:
prastāvanāyās tu mukhe nāndī kāryā śubhāvahā aṣṭābhir daśabhir yuktā kiṁ vā dvādaśabhiḥ padaiḥ Similarly, in the Sixth Chapter of the Sāhitya-darpaṇa, text 282, it is said:
āśīr-vacana-saṁayuktā stutir yasmāt prayujyate The introductory portion of a drama, which is written to invoke good fortune, is called nāndī-śloka.
Antya1.36 TEXT 36 pathe cali’ āise nāṭakera ghaṭanā bhāvite kaḍacā kariyā kichu lāgilā likhite SYNONYMS pathe cali’—walking on the road; āise—goes; nāṭakera—of the drama; ghaṭanā—events; bhāvite—thinking of; kaḍacā kariyā—making notes; kichu—something; lāgilā likhite—he began to write.
TRANSLATION On his way to Gauḍa-deśa, Rūpa Gosvāmī had been thinking of how to write the action of the drama. Thus he had made some notes and begun to write. Antya1.37 TEXT 37 ei-mate dui bhāi gauḍa-deśe āilā gauḍe āsi’ anupamera gaṅgā-prāpti hailā SYNONYMS ei-mate—in this way; dui bhāi—Rūpa Gosvāmī and his younger brother, Anupama; gauḍa-deśe āilā—reached Bengal, which is known as Gauḍa-deśa; gauḍe āsi’—coming to Gauḍa; anupamera—of Anupama; gaṅgā-prāpti hailā—there was attainment of the shelter of mother Ganges (passing away).
TRANSLATION In this way the two brothers Rūpa and Anupama reached Bengal, but when they arrived there Anupama died. PURPORT Formerly when a person died it was commonly said that he had attained the shelter of mother Ganges, even if he did not die on the bank of the Ganges. It is customary among Hindus to carry a dying person to a nearby bank of the Ganges, for if one dies on the bank of the Ganges, his soul is considered to reach the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu, wherefrom the Ganges flows.
Antya1.38 TEXT 38 rūpa-gosāñi prabhu-pāśe karilā gamana prabhure dekhite tāṅra utkaṇṭhita mana SYNONYMS rūpa-gosāñi—Rūpa Gosvāmī; prabhu-pāśe—the place of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; karilā gamana—departed for; prabhure dekhite—to see Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅra—his; utkaṇṭhita—full of anxiety; mana—mind.
TRANSLATION Rūpa Gosvāmī then departed to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, for he was very eager to see Him. Antya1.39 TEXT 39 anupamera lāgi’ tāṅra kichu vilamba ha-ila bhakta-gaṇa-pāśa āilā, lāg nā pāila SYNONYMS anupamera lāgi’—on account of the passing away of Anupama; tāṅra—of Rūpa Gosvāmī; kichu—some; vilamba—delay; ha-ila—there was; bhakta-gaṇa-pāśa—to the devotees in Bengal; āilā—came; lāg nā pāila—he could not contact them.
TRANSLATION There was some delay because of the death of Anupama, and therefore when Rūpa Gosvāmī went to Bengal to see the devotees there, he could not get in touch with them because they had already left. THIS WEB PAGE URL: http://causelessmercy.com/Antya.htm
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