Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta: Madhya-līlā
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Chapter 17

Madhya17.186

TEXT 186

tarko ’pratiṣṭhaḥ śrutayo vibhinnā

 nāsāv ṛṣir yasya mataṁ na bhinnam

dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyāṁ

 mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ

SYNONYMS

tarkaḥ—dry argument; apratiṣṭhaḥ—not fixed; śrutayaḥ—Vedas; vibhinnāḥ—possessing different departments; na—not; asau—that; ṛṣiḥ—great sage; yasya—whose; matam—opinion; na—not; bhinnam—separate; dharmasya—of religious principles; tattvam—truth; nihitam—placed; guhāyām—in the heart of a realized person; mahā-janaḥ—self-realized predecessors; yena—by which way; gataḥ—acted; saḥ—that; panthāḥ—the pure unadulterated path.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “‘Dry arguments are inconclusive. A great personality whose opinion does not differ from others is not considered a great sage. Simply by studying the Vedas, which are variegated, one cannot come to the right path by which religious principles are understood. The solid truth of religious principles is hidden in the heart of an unadulterated, self-realized person. Consequently, as the śāstras confirm, one should accept whatever progressive path the mahājanas advocate.’”

PURPORT

This is a verse spoken by Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja in the Mahābhārata, Vana-pārva (313.117).

Madhya17.187

TEXT 187

tabe sei vipra prabhuke bhikṣā karāila

madhu-purīra loka saba prabhuke dekhite āila

SYNONYMS

tabe—after that; sei vipra—that brāhmaṇa; prabhuke—unto Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bhikṣā karāila—served lunch; madhu-purīra—of Mathurā; loka—people in general; saba—all; prabhuke—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dekhite āila—came to see.

TRANSLATION

After this discussion, the brāhmaṇa served lunch to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then all the people residing in Mathurā came to see the Lord.

Madhya17.188

TEXT 188

lakṣa-saṅkhya loka āise, nāhika gaṇana

bāhira hañā prabhu dila daraśana

SYNONYMS

lakṣa-saṅkhya—numbering hundreds of thousands; loka āise—people came; nāhika gaṇana—there is no counting; bāhira hañā—coming out; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dila daraśana—gave audience.

TRANSLATION

People came by the hundreds of thousands, and no one could count them. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came out of the house to give audience to the people.

Madhya17.189

TEXT 189

bāhu tuli’ bale prabhu ‘hari-bola’-dhvani

preme matta nāce loka kari’ hari-dhvani

SYNONYMS

bāhu tuli’—raising the arms; bale—says; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; hari-bola-dhvani—the transcendental sound vibration “Haribol”; preme—in ecstasy; matta—maddened; nāce—dance; loka—the people; kari’ hari-dhvani—making the transcendental vibration Hari.

TRANSLATION

When the people assembled, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu raised His arms and said very loudly, “Haribol!” The people responded to the Lord and became ecstatic. As if mad, they began to dance and to vibrate the transcendental sound “Hari!”

Madhya17.190

TEXT 190

yamunāra ‘cabbiśa ghāṭe’ prabhu kaila snāna

sei vipra prabhuke dekhāya tīrtha-sthāna

SYNONYMS

yamunāra—of the river Yamunā; cabbiśa ghāṭe—in the twenty-four ghats, or bathing places; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kaila—performed; snāna—bathing; sei vipra—that brāhmaṇa; prabhuke—unto Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dekhāya—shows; tīrtha-sthāna—the holy places of pilgrimage.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bathed in the twenty-four ghats along the banks of the Yamunā, and the brāhmaṇa showed Him all the places of pilgrimage.

PURPORT

The twenty-four ghats (bathing places) along the Yamunā are (1) Avimukta, (2) Adhirūḍha, (3) Guhya-tīrtha, (4) Prayāga-tīrtha, (5) Kanakhala-tīrtha, (6) Tinduka, (7) Sūrya-tīrtha, (8) Vaṭa-svāmī, (9) Dhruva-ghāṭa, (10) Ṛṣi-tīrtha, (11) Mokṣa-tīrtha, (12) Bodha-tīrtha, (13) Gokarṇa, (14) Kṛṣṇa-gaṅgā, (15) Vaikuṇṭha, (16) Asi-kuṇḍa, (17) Catuḥ-sāmudrika-kūpa, (18) Akrūra-tīrtha, (19) Yājñika-vipra-sthāna, (20) Kubjā-kūpa, (21) Raṅga-sthala, (22) Mañca-sthala, (23) Mallayuddha-sthāna and (24) Daśāśvamedha.

Madhya17.191

TEXT 191

svayambhu, viśrāma, dīrgha-viṣṇu, bhūteśvara

mahāvidyā, gokarṇādi dekhilā vistara

SYNONYMS

svayambhu—Svayambhu; viśrāma—Viśrāma; dīrgha-viṣṇu—Dīrgha Viṣṇu; bhūteśvara—Bhūteśvara; mahāvidyā—Mahāvidyā; gokarṇa—Gokarṇa; ādi—and so on; dekhilā—saw; vistara—many.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited all the holy places on the banks of the Yamunā, including Svayambhu, Viśrāma-ghāṭa, Dīrgha Viṣṇu, Bhūteśvara, Mahāvidyā and Gokarṇa.

Madhya17.192

TEXT 192

‘vana’ dekhibāre yadi prabhura mana haila

seita brāhmaṇe prabhu saṅgete la-ila

SYNONYMS

vana—the forests; dekhibāre—to see; yadi—when; prabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; mana—mind; haila—was; seita—indeed that; brāhmaṇe—brāhmaṇa; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; saṅgete la-ila—took along.

TRANSLATION

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to see the various forests of Vṛndāvana, He took the brāhmaṇa with Him.

Madhya17.193

TEXT 193

madhu-vana, tāla, kumuda, bahulā-vana gelā

tāhāṅ tāhāṅ snāna kari’ premāviṣṭa hailā

SYNONYMS

madhu-vana—Madhuvana; tāla—Tālavana; kumuda—Kumudavana; bahulā-vana—Bahulāvana; gelā—He visited; tāhāṅ tāhāṅ—here and there; snāna kari’—taking a bath; prema-āviṣṭa hailā—became overwhelmed by ecstatic love.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited the different forests, including Madhuvana, Tālavana, Kumudavana and Bahulāvana. Wherever He went, He took His bath with great ecstatic love.

PURPORT

The word vana means “forest.” Vṛndāvana is the name given to the forest where Śrīmatī Vṛndādevī (Tulasīdevī) grows profusely. Actually it is not a forest as we ordinarily consider a forest, because it is very thick with green vegetation. There are twelve such vanas in Vṛndāvana. Some are located on the western side of the Yamunā, and others are on the eastern side. The forests situated on the eastern side are Bhadravana, Bilvavana, Lauhavana, Bhāṇḍīravana and Mahāvana. On the western side are Madhuvana, Tālavana, Kumudavana, Bahulāvana, Kāmyavana, Khadiravana and Vṛndāvana. These are the twelve forests of the Vṛndāvana area.

Madhya17.194

TEXT 194

pathe gābhī-ghaṭā care prabhure dekhiyā

prabhuke beḍaya āsi’ huṅkāra kariyā

SYNONYMS

pathe—on the road; gābhī-ghaṭā—groups of cows; care—graze; prabhure dekhiyā—after seeing Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; prabhuke beḍaya—they surrounded the Lord; āsi’—coming; huṅ-kāra kariyā—making a loud vibration.

TRANSLATION

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed through Vṛndāvana, herds of grazing cows saw Him pass and, immediately surrounding Him, began to moo very loudly.

Madhya17.195

TEXT 195

gābhī dekhi’ stabdha prabhu premera taraṅge

vātsalye gābhī prabhura cāṭe saba-aṅge

SYNONYMS

gābhī dekhi’—seeing the cows; stabdha—stunned; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; premera taraṅge—in the waves of ecstatic love; vātsalye—out of great affection; gābhī—all the cows; prabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; cāṭe—licked; saba-aṅge—all over the body.

TRANSLATION

Seeing the herds approach Him, the Lord was stunned with ecstatic love. The cows then began to lick His body out of great affection.

Madhya17.196

TEXT 196

sustha hañā prabhu kare aṅga-kaṇḍūyana

prabhu-saṅge cale, nāhi chāḍe dhenu-gaṇa

SYNONYMS

sustha hañā—becoming patient; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kare—does; aṅga—of the body; kaṇḍūyana—scratching; prabhu-saṅge—with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; cale—go; nāhi chāḍe—do not give up; dhenu-gaṇa—all the cows.

TRANSLATION

Becoming pacified, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to caress the cows, and the cows, being unable to give up His company, went with Him.

Madhya17.197

TEXT 197

kaṣṭe-sṛṣṭye dhenu saba rākhila goyāla

prabhu-kaṇṭha-dhvani śuni’ āise mṛgī-pāla

SYNONYMS

kaṣṭe-sṛṣṭye—with great difficulty; dhenu—the cows; saba—all; rākhila—kept back; goyāla—the cowherd men; prabhu-kaṇṭha-dhvani—the musical voice of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; śuni’—hearing; āise—came; mṛgī-pāla—flocks of deer.

TRANSLATION

It was only with great difficulty that the cowherd men were able to keep the cows back. Then when the Lord chanted, all the deer heard His sweet voice and approached Him.

Madhya17.198

TEXT 198

mṛga-mṛgī mukha dekhi’ prabhu-aṅga cāṭe

bhaya nāhi kare, saṅge yāya vāṭe-vāṭe

SYNONYMS

mṛga-mṛgī—the deer, both male and female; mukha dekhi’—seeing His face; prabhu-aṅga cāṭe—began to lick the body of the Lord; bhaya nāhi kare—they were not at all afraid; saṅge yāya—go with Him; vāṭe-vāṭe—all along the road.

TRANSLATION

When the does and bucks came and saw the Lord’s face, they began to lick His body. Not being at all afraid of Him, they accompanied Him along the path.

Madhya17.199

TEXT 199

śuka, pika, bhṛṅga prabhure dekhi’ ‘pañcama’ gāya

śikhi-gaṇa nṛtya kari’ prabhu-āge yāya

SYNONYMS

śuka—parrots; pika—cuckoos; bhṛṅga—bumblebees; prabhure—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dekhi’—seeing; pañcama—the fifth musical note; gāya—sing; śikhi-gaṇa—peacocks; nṛtya—dancing; kari’—performing; prabhu-āge—in front of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; yāya—go.

TRANSLATION

Bumblebees and birds like the parrot and cuckoo all began to sing loudly on the fifth note, and the peacocks began to dance in front of the Lord.

Madhya17.200

TEXT 200

prabhu dekhi’ vṛndāvanera vṛkṣa-latā-gaṇe

aṅkura pulaka, madhu-aśru variṣaṇe

SYNONYMS

prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dekhi’—seeing; vṛndāvanera—of Vṛndāvana; vṛkṣa-latā-gaṇe—the trees and creepers; aṅkura—twigs; pulaka—jubilant; madhu-aśru—tears in the form of honey; variṣaṇe—pour.

TRANSLATION

Upon seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the trees and creepers of Vṛndāvana became jubilant. Their twigs stood up, and they began to shed tears of ecstasy in the form of honey.

Madhya17.201

TEXT 201

phula-phala bhari’ ḍāla paḍe prabhu-pāya

bandhu dekhi’ bandhu yena ‘bheṭa’ lañā yāya

SYNONYMS

phula-phala bhari’—loaded with fruits and flowers; ḍāla—the branches; paḍe—fall down; prabhu-pāya—at the lotus feet of the Lord; bandhu dekhi’—seeing one friend; bandhu—another friend; yena—as if; bheṭa—a presentation; lañā—taking; yāya—goes.

TRANSLATION

The tree branches and creepers, overloaded with fruits and flowers, fell down at the lotus feet of the Lord and greeted Him with various presentations as if they were friends.

Madhya17.202

TEXT 202

prabhu dekhi’ vṛndāvanera sthāvara-jaṅgama

ānandita——bandhu yena dekhe bandhu-gaṇa

SYNONYMS

prabhu dekhi’—seeing the Lord; vṛndāvanera—of Vṛndāvana; sthāvara-jaṅgama—all living entities, moving and not moving; ānandita—very jubilant; bandhu—friend; yena—as if; dekhe—see; bandhu-gaṇa—friends.

TRANSLATION

Thus all the moving and nonmoving living entities of Vṛndāvana became very jubilant to see the Lord. It was as if friends were made happy by seeing another friend.

Madhya17.203

TEXT 203

tā-sabāra prīti dekhi’ prabhu bhāvāveśe

sabā-sane krīḍā kare hañā tāra vaśe

SYNONYMS

tā-sabāra—of all of them; prīti—affection; dekhi’—seeing; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bhāva-āveśe—in ecstatic love; sabā-sane—with all of them; krīḍā—sporting; kare—performs; hañā—being; tāra—their; vaśe—under control.

TRANSLATION

Seeing their affection, the Lord was moved by ecstatic love. He began to sport with them exactly as a friend sports with his friends. Thus He voluntarily came under the control of His friends.

Madhya17.204

TEXT 204

prati vṛkṣa-latā prabhu karena āliṅgana

puṣpādi dhyāne karena kṛṣṇe samarpaṇa

SYNONYMS

prati—each and every; vṛkṣa-latā—tree and creeper; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; karena āliṅgana—embraced; puṣpa-ādi—all the flowers and fruits; dhyāne—in meditation; karena—do; kṛṣṇe—unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; samarpaṇa—offering.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to embrace each and every tree and creeper, and they began to offer their fruits and flowers as if in meditation.

Madhya17.205

TEXT 205

aśru-kampa-pulaka-preme śarīra asthire

‘kṛṣṇa’ bala, ‘kṛṣṇa’ bala——bale uccaiḥsvare

SYNONYMS

aśru—tears; kampa—trembling; pulaka—jubilation; preme—in ecstatic love; śarīra—the whole body; asthire—restless; kṛṣṇa bala—say Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇa bala—say Kṛṣṇa; bale—the Lord says; uccaiḥ-svare—very loudly.

TRANSLATION

The Lord’s body was restless, and tears, trembling and jubilation were manifest. He said very loudly, “Chant ‘Kṛṣṇa!’ Chant ‘Kṛṣṇa!’”

Madhya17.206

TEXT 206

sthāvara-jaṅgama mili’ kare kṛṣṇa-dhvani

prabhura gambhīra-svare yena prati-dhvani

SYNONYMS

sthāvara-jaṅgama—all living entities, nonmoving and moving; mili’—meeting together; kare—perform; kṛṣṇa-dhvani—vibration of the sound “Hare Kṛṣṇa”; prabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; gambhīra-svare—deep voice; yena—as if; prati-dhvani—responsive vibration.

TRANSLATION

All moving and nonmoving creatures then began to vibrate the transcendental sound of Hare Kṛṣṇa, as if they were echoing the deep sound of Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Madhya17.207

TEXT 207

mṛgera galā dhari’ prabhu karena rodane

mṛgera pulaka aṅge, aśru nayane

SYNONYMS

mṛgera—of the deer; galā dhari’—catching the necks; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; karena—does; rodane—crying; mṛgera—of the deer; pulaka aṅge—jubilation; aśru—tears; nayane—in the eyes.

TRANSLATION

The Lord then clasped the necks of the deer and began to cry. There was jubilation manifest in the bodies of the deer, and tears were in their eyes.

Madhya17.208

TEXT 208

vṛkṣa-ḍāle śuka-śārī dila daraśana

tāhā dekhi’ prabhura kichu śunite haila mana

SYNONYMS

vṛkṣa-ḍāle—on a branch of a tree; śuka-śārī—male and female parrots; dila—gave; daraśana—appearance; tāhā dekhi’—seeing that; prabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kichu—something; śunite—to hear; haila—there was; mana—mind.

TRANSLATION

When a male and female parrot appeared on the branches of a tree, the Lord saw them and wanted to hear them speak.

Madhya17.209

TEXT 209

śuka-śārikā prabhura hāte uḍi’ paḍe

prabhuke śunāñā kṛṣṇera guṇa-śloka paḍe

SYNONYMS

śuka-śārikā—the parrots, male and female; prabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; hāte—on the hand; uḍi’—flying; paḍe—fall; prabhuke—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; śunāñā—causing to hear; kṛṣṇera—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; guṇa-śloka paḍe—chanted verses about the transcendental qualities.

TRANSLATION

Both parrots flew onto the hand of the Lord and began to chant the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa, and the Lord listened to them.

Madhya17.210

TEXT 210

saundaryaṁ lalanāli-dhairya-dalanaṁ līlā ramā-stambhinī

 vīryaṁ kandukitādri-varyam amalāḥ pāre-parārdhaṁ guṇāḥ

śīlaṁ sarva-janānurañjanam aho yasyāyam asmat-prabhur

 viśvaṁ viśva-janīna-kīrtir avatāt kṛṣṇo jagan-mohanaḥ

SYNONYMS

saundaryam—the bodily beauty; lalanā-āli—of groups of gopīs; dhairya—the patience; dalanam—subduing; līlā—pastimes; ramā—the goddess of fortune; stambhinī—astounding; vīryam—strength; kandukita—making like a small ball for throwing; adri-varyam—the great mountain; amalāḥ—without a spot; pāre-parārdham—unlimited; guṇāḥ—qualities; śīlam—behavior; sarva-jana—all kinds of living entities; anurañjanam—satisfying; aho—oh; yasya—whose; ayam—this; asmat-prabhuḥ—our Lord; viśvam—the whole universe; viśva-janīna—for the benefit of everyone; kīrtiḥ—whose glorification; avatāt—may He maintain; kṛṣṇaḥ—Lord Kṛṣṇa; jagat-mohanaḥ—the attractor of the whole world.

TRANSLATION

The male parrot sang, “The glorification of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is beneficial to everyone in the universe. His beauty is victorious over the gopīs of Vṛndāvana, and it subdues their patience. His pastimes astound the goddess of fortune, and His bodily strength turns Govardhana Hill into a small toy like a ball. His spotless qualities are unlimited, and His behavior satisfies everyone. Lord Kṛṣṇa is attractive to everyone. Oh, may our Lord maintain the whole universe!”

PURPORT

This verse is found in the Govinda-līlāmṛta (13.29).

Madhya17.211

TEXT 211

śuka-mukhe śuni’ tabe kṛṣṇera varṇana

śārikā paḍaye tabe rādhikā-varṇana

SYNONYMS

śuka-mukhe—in the mouth of the male parrot; śuni’—hearing; kṛṣṇera varṇana—a description of Lord Kṛṣṇa; śārikā—female parrot; paḍaye—recites; tabe—then; rādhikā-varṇana—a description of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

TRANSLATION

After hearing this description of Lord Kṛṣṇa from the male parrot, the female parrot began to recite a description of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

Madhya17.212

TEXT 212

śrī-rādhikāyāḥ priyatā su-rūpatā

 su-śīlatā nartana-gāna-cāturī

guṇāli-sampat kavitā ca rājate

 jagan-mano-mohana-citta-mohinī

SYNONYMS

śrī-rādhikāyāḥ—of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; priyatā—affection; su-rūpatā—exquisite beauty; su-śīlatā—good behavior; nartana-gāna—in chanting and dancing; cāturī—artistry; guṇa-āli-sampat—possession of such transcendental qualities; kavitā—poetry; ca—also; rājate—shine; jagat-manaḥ-mohana—of Kṛṣṇa, who attracts the mind of the whole universe; citta-mohinī—the attractor of the mind.

TRANSLATION

The female parrot said, “Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s affection, Her exquisite beauty and good behavior, Her artistic dancing and chanting and Her poetic compositions are all so attractive that they attract the mind of Kṛṣṇa, who attracts the mind of everyone in the universe.”

PURPORT

This verse is also found in the Govinda-līlāmṛta (13.30).

Madhya17.213

TEXT 213

punaḥ śuka kahe,——kṛṣṇa ‘madana-mohana’

tabe āra śloka śuka karila paṭhana

SYNONYMS

punaḥ—again; śuka—the male parrot; kahe—says; kṛṣṇa madana-mohana—Kṛṣṇa is the conqueror of the mind of Cupid; tabe—thereafter; āra—another; śloka—verse; śuka—the male parrot; karila paṭhana—recited.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter the male parrot said, “Kṛṣṇa is the enchanter of the mind of Cupid.” He then began to recite another verse.

Madhya17.214

TEXT 214

vaṁśī-dhārī jagan-nārī-

 citta-hārī sa śārike

vihārī gopa-nārībhir

 jīyān madana-mohanaḥ

SYNONYMS

vaṁśī-dhārī—the carrier of the flute; jagat-nārī—of all women of the universe; citta-hārī—the stealer of the hearts; saḥ—He; śārike—my dear śārī; vihārī—enjoyer; gopa-nārībhiḥ—with the gopīs; jīyāt—let Him be glorified; madana—of Cupid; mohanaḥ—the enchanter.

TRANSLATION

The male parrot then said, “My dear śārī [female parrot], Śrī Kṛṣṇa carries a flute and enchants the hearts of all women throughout the universe. He is specifically the enjoyer of the beautiful gopīs, and He is the enchanter of Cupid also. Let Him be glorified!”

PURPORT

This verse is also found in the Govinda-līlāmṛta (13.31).

Madhya17.215

TEXT 215

punaḥ śārī kahe śuke kari’ parihāsa

tāhā śuni’ prabhura haila vismaya-premollāsa

SYNONYMS

punaḥ—again; śārī kahe—the female parrot said; śuke—unto the male parrot; kari’ parihāsa—jokingly; tāhā śuni’—hearing that; prabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; haila—there was; vismaya—wonderful; prema-ullāsa—awakening of ecstatic love.

TRANSLATION

Then the female parrot began to speak jokingly to the male parrot, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was struck with wonderful ecstatic love to hear her speak.

Madhya17.216

TEXT 216

rādhā-saṅge yadā bhāti

 tadā ‘madana-mohanaḥ’

anyathā viśva-moho ’pi

 svayaṁ ‘madana-mohitaḥ’

SYNONYMS

rādhā-saṅge—with Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; yadā—when; bhāti—shines; tadā—at that time; madana-mohanaḥ—the enchanter of the mind of Cupid; anyathā—otherwise; viśva-mohaḥ—the enchanter of the whole universe; api—even though; svayam—personally; madana-mohitaḥ—enchanted by Cupid.

TRANSLATION

The female parrot said, “When Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is with Rādhārāṇī, He is the enchanter of Cupid; otherwise, when He is alone, He Himself is enchanted by erotic feelings even though He enchants the whole universe.”

PURPORT

This is another verse from the Govinda-līlāmṛta (13.32).

Madhya17.217

TEXT 217

śuka-śārī uḍi’ punaḥ gela vṛkṣa-ḍāle

mayūrera nṛtya prabhu dekhe kutūhale

SYNONYMS

śuka-śārī—the male and female parrots; uḍi’—flying; punaḥ—again; gela—went; vṛkṣa-ḍāle—to the branch of a tree; mayūrera—of the peacocks; nṛtya—dancing; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dekhe—sees; kutūhale—with curiosity.

TRANSLATION

Both parrots then flew onto a tree branch, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to watch the dancing of the peacocks with curiosity.

Madhya17.218

TEXT 218

mayūrera kaṇṭha dekhi’ prabhura kṛṣṇa-smṛti haila

premāveśe mahāprabhu bhūmite paḍila

SYNONYMS

mayūrera—of the peacocks; kaṇṭha—necks; dekhi’—seeing; prabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kṛṣṇa-smṛti—remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa; haila—there was; prema-āveśe—in ecstatic love; mahāprabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bhūmite—on the ground; paḍila—fell down.

TRANSLATION

When the Lord saw the bluish necks of the peacocks, His remembrance of Kṛṣṇa immediately awakened, and He fell to the ground in ecstatic love.

Madhya17.219

TEXT 219

prabhure mūrcchita dekhi’ sei ta brāhmaṇa

bhaṭṭācārya-saṅge kare prabhura santarpaṇa

SYNONYMS

prabhure—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; mūrcchita—unconscious; dekhi’—seeing; sei ta brāhmaṇa—indeed that brāhmaṇa; bhaṭṭācārya-saṅge—with the Bhaṭṭācārya; kare—does; prabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; santarpaṇa—taking care.

TRANSLATION

When the brāhmaṇa saw that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was unconscious, he and Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya took care of Him.

Madhya17.220

TEXT 220

āste-vyaste mahāprabhura lañā bahirvāsa

jala-seka kare aṅge, vastrera vātāsa

SYNONYMS

āste-vyaste—with great haste; mahāprabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; lañā—taking; bahirvāsa—covering cloth; jala-seka kare—sprinkle water; aṅge—on the body; vastrera vātāsa—fanning with the cloth.

TRANSLATION

They hastily sprinkled water over the Lord’s body. Then they took up His outer cloth and began to fan Him with it.

Madhya17.221

TEXT 221

prabhu-karṇe kṛṣṇa-nāma kahe ucca kari’

cetana pāñā prabhu yā’na gaḍāgaḍi

SYNONYMS

prabhu-karṇe—in the ear of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kṛṣṇa-nāma—the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa; kahe—chant; ucca kari’—loudly; cetana pāñā—coming to consciousness; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; yā’na—goes; gaḍāgaḍi—rolling on the ground.

TRANSLATION

They then began to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa into the Lord’s ear. When the Lord regained consciousness, He began rolling on the ground.

Madhya17.222

TEXT 222

kaṇṭaka-durgama vane aṅga kṣata haila

bhaṭṭācārya kole kari’ prabhure sustha kaila

SYNONYMS

kaṇṭaka-durgama—difficult to traverse because of thorns; vane—in the forest; aṅga—the body; kṣata haila—became injured; bhaṭṭācārya—Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya; kole kari’—taking Him on his lap; prabhure—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; sustha kaila—pacified.

TRANSLATION

When the Lord rolled on the ground, sharp thorns injured His body. Taking Him on his lap, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya pacified Him.

Madhya17.223

TEXT 223

kṛṣṇāveśe prabhura preme garagara mana

‘bol’ ‘bol’ kari’ uṭhi’ karena nartana

SYNONYMS

kṛṣṇa-āveśe—in ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa; prabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; preme—by love; garagara—disturbed; mana—mind; bol bol—chant, chant; kari’—saying; uṭhi’—standing up; karena nartana—began to dance.

TRANSLATION

The mind of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wandered in ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa. He immediately stood up and said, “Chant! Chant!” Then He Himself began to dance.

Madhya17.224

TEXT 224

bhaṭṭācārya, sei vipra ‘kṛṣṇa-nāma’ gāya

nācite nācite pathe prabhu cali’ yāya

SYNONYMS

bhaṭṭācārya—the Bhaṭṭācārya; sei vipra—that brāhmaṇa; kṛṣṇa-nāma gāya—chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa; nācite nācite—dancing and dancing; pathe—on the road; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; cali’ yāya—goes forward.

TRANSLATION

Being thus ordered by the Lord, both Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya and the brāhmaṇa began to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Then the Lord, dancing and dancing, proceeded along the path.

Madhya17.225

TEXT 225

prabhura premāveśa dekhi’ brāhmaṇa——vismita

prabhura rakṣā lāgi’ vipra ha-ilā cintita

SYNONYMS

prabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; prema-āveśa—ecstatic love; dekhi’—seeing; brāhmaṇa—the brāhmaṇa; vismita—astonished; prabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; rakṣā lāgi’—for the protection; vipra—the brāhmaṇa; ha-ilā—became; cintita—very anxious.

TRANSLATION

The brāhmaṇa was astounded to see the symptoms of ecstatic love exhibited by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He then became anxious to give the Lord protection.

Madhya17.226

TEXT 226

nīlācale chilā yaiche premāveśa mana

vṛndāvana yāite pathe haila śata-guṇa

SYNONYMS

nīlācale—at Jagannātha Purī; chilā—was; yaiche—as; prema-āveśa mana—always in a mentality of ecstatic love; vṛndāvana—to Vṛndāvana; yāite—going; pathe—on the road; haila—became; śata-guṇa—one hundred times.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mind was absorbed in ecstatic love at Jagannātha Purī, but when He passed along the road on the way to Vṛndāvana, that love increased a hundred times.

Madhya17.227

TEXT 227

sahasra-guṇa prema bāḍe mathurā daraśane

lakṣa-guṇa prema bāḍe, bhramena yabe vane

SYNONYMS

sahasra-guṇa—one thousand times; prema—love; bāḍe—increased; mathurā—Mathurā; daraśane—upon seeing; lakṣa-guṇa—a hundred thousand times; prema bāḍe—love increases; bhramena—wanders; yabe—when; vane—in the forests of Vṛndāvana.

TRANSLATION

The Lord’s ecstatic love increased a thousand times when He visited Mathurā, but it increased a hundred thousand times when He wandered in the forests of Vṛndāvana.

Madhya17.228-229

TEXTS 228–229

anya-deśa prema uchale ‘vṛndāvana’-nāme

sākṣāt bhramaye ebe sei vṛndāvane

preme garagara mana rātri-divase

snāna-bhikṣādi-nirvāha karena abhyāse

SYNONYMS

anya-deśa—in other countries; prema—love; uchale—increases; vṛndāvana-nāme—by the name of Vṛndāvana; sākṣāt—directly; bhramaye—travels; ebe—now; sei vṛndāvane—in that Vṛndāvana; preme—in ecstatic love; garagara—faltering; mana—mind; rātri-divase—day and night; snāna-bhikṣā-ādi—bathing and accepting food; nirvāha—accomplishing; karena—does; abhyāse—by habit.

TRANSLATION

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was elsewhere, the very name of Vṛndāvana was sufficient to increase His ecstatic love. Now, when He was actually traveling in the Vṛndāvana forest, His mind was absorbed in great ecstatic love day and night. He ate and bathed simply out of habit.

Madhya17.230

TEXT 230

ei-mata prema——yāvat bhramila ‘bāra’ vana

ekatra likhiluṅ, sarvatra nā yāya varṇana

SYNONYMS

ei-mata—in this way; prema—ecstatic love; yāvat—so long; bhramila—He traveled; bāra vana—through the twelve forests of Vṛndāvana; ekatra—in one place; likhiluṅ—I have written; sarvatra—everywhere; nā yāya varṇana—cannot be described.

TRANSLATION

Thus I have written a description of the ecstatic love Lord Caitanya manifested in one of the places He visited while walking through the twelve forests of Vṛndāvana. To describe what He experienced everywhere would be impossible.

Madhya17.231

TEXT 231

vṛndāvane haila prabhura yateka premera vikāra

koṭi-granthe ‘ananta’ likhena tāhāra vistāra

SYNONYMS

vṛndāvane—in Vṛndāvana; haila—there were; prabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; yateka—as many; premera vikāra—transformations of ecstasy; koṭi-granthe—in millions of books; ananta—Lord Ananta; likhena—writes; tāhāra—of them; vistāra—elaboration.

TRANSLATION

Lord Ananta writes millions of books elaborately describing the transformations of ecstatic love experienced by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in Vṛndāvana.

Madhya17.232

TEXT 232

tabu likhibāre nāre tāra eka kaṇa

uddeśa karite kari dig-daraśana

SYNONYMS

tabu—yet; likhibāre—to write; nāre—is not able; tāra—of that; eka—one; kaṇa—fragment; uddeśa—indication; karite—to make; kari—I perform; dik-daraśana—pointing out the direction.

TRANSLATION

Since Lord Ananta Himself cannot describe even a fragment of these pastimes, I am simply pointing out the direction.

Madhya17.233

TEXT 233

jagat bhāsila caitanya-līlāra pāthāre

yāṅra yata śakti tata pāthāre sāṅtāre

SYNONYMS

jagat—the whole world; bhāsila—floated; caitanya-līlāra—of the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; pāthāre—in the inundation; yāṅra—of whom; yata—as much; śakti—power; tata—that much; pāthāre—in the inundation; sāṅtāre—swims.

TRANSLATION

The whole world became merged in the inundation of the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. One can swim in that water to the extent that he has the strength.

Madhya17.234

TEXT 234

śrī-rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa

caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇadāsa

SYNONYMS

śrī-rūpa—Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī; raghunātha—Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī; pade—at the lotus feet; yāra—whose; āśa—expectation; caitanya-caritāmṛta—the book named Caitanya-caritāmṛta; kahe—describes; kṛṣṇadāsa—Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī.

TRANSLATION

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.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Seventeenth Chapter, describing the Lord’s traveling to Vṛndāvana.

Next chapter (Madhya 18)

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