Adi11.1

TEXT 1

nityananda-padambhoja-

bhrngan prema-madhunmadan

natvakhilan tesu mukhya

likhyante katicin maya

SYNONYMS

nityananda—of Lord Sri Nityananda; pada-ambhoja—lotus feet; bhrngan—the bumblebees; prema—of love of Godhead; madhu—by the honey; unmadan—maddened; natva—offering obeisances; akhilan—to all of them; tesu—out of them; mukhyah—the chief; likhyante—being described; katicit—a few of them; maya—by me.

TRANSLATION

After offering my obeisances unto all of the devotees of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, who are like bumblebees collecting honey from His lotus feet, I shall try to describe those who are the most prominent.

Adi11.2

TEXT 2

jaya jaya mahaprabhu sri-krsna-caitanya

tanhara caranasrita yei, sei dhanya

SYNONYMS

jaya jaya—all glories; mahaprabhu—unto Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sri-krsna-caitanya—known as Krsna Caitanya; tanhara carana-asrita—all who have taken shelter at His lotus feet; yei—anyone; sei—he is; dhanya—glorious.

TRANSLATION

All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! Anyone who has taken shelter at His lotus feet is glorious.

Adi11.3

TEXT 3

jaya jaya sri-advaita, jaya nityananda

jaya jaya mahaprabhura sarva-bhakta-vrnda

SYNONYMS

jaya jaya—all glories; sri-advaita—unto Sri Advaita Acarya; jaya—all glories; nityananda—unto Lord Sri Nityananda Prabhu; jaya jaya—all glories; mahaprabhura—of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sarva—all; bhakta-vrnda—devotees.

TRANSLATION

All glories to Sri Advaita Prabhu, Nityananda Prabhu and all the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu!

Adi11.4

TEXT 4

tasya sri-krsna-caitanya-

sat-premamara-sakhinah

urdhva-skandhavadhutendoh

sakha-rupan ganan numah

SYNONYMS

tasya—His; sri-krsna-caitanya—Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sat-prema—of eternal love of Godhead; amara—indestructible; sakhinah—of the tree; urdhva—very high; skandha—branch; avadhuta-indoh—of Sri Nityananda; sakha-rupan—in the form of different branches; ganan—to the devotees; numah—I offer my respects.

TRANSLATION

Sri Nityananda Prabhu is the topmost branch of the indestructible tree of eternal love of Godhead, Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I offer my respectful obeisances to all the subbranches of that topmost branch.

Adi11.5

TEXT 5

sri-nityananda-vrksera skandha gurutara

tahate janmila sakha-prasakha vistara

SYNONYMS

sri-nityananda-vrksera—of the tree known as Sri Nityananda; skandha—main branch; gurutara—extremely heavy; tahate—from that branch; janmila—grew; sakha—branches; prasakha—subbranches; vistara—expansively.

TRANSLATION

Sri Nityananda Prabhu is an extremely heavy branch of the Sri Caitanya tree. From that branch grow many branches and subbranches.

Adi11.6

TEXT 6

malakarera iccha jale bade sakha-gana

prema-phula-phale bhari’ chaila bhuvana

SYNONYMS

mala-karera—of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; iccha-jale—by the water of His wish; bade—increase; sakha-gana—the branches; prema—love of Godhead; phula-phale—with flowers and fruits; bhari’-filling; chaila—covered; bhuvana—the whole world.

TRANSLATION

Watered by the desire of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, these branches and subbranches have grown unlimitedly and covered the entire world with fruits and flowers.

Adi11.7

TEXT 7

asankhya ananta gana ke karu ganana

apana sodhite kahi mukhya mukhya jana

SYNONYMS

asankhya—innumerable; ananta—unlimited; gana—devotees; ke—who; karu—can; ganana—count; apana—the self; sodhite—to purify; kahi—I speak; mukhya mukhya—only the chief; jana—persons.

TRANSLATION

These branches and subbranches of devotees are innumerable and unlimited. Who could count them? For my personal purification I shall try to enumerate only the most prominent among them.

PURPORT

One should not write books or essays on transcendental subject matter for material name, fame or profit. Transcendental literature must be written under the direction of a superior authority because it is not meant for material purposes. If one tries to write under superior authority, he becomes purified. All Krsna conscious activities should be undertaken for personal purification (apana sodhite), not for material gain.

Adi11.8

TEXT 8

sri-virabhadra gosani--skandha-mahasakha

tanra upasakha yata, asankhya tara lekha

SYNONYMS

sri-virabhadra gosani—of the name Sri Virabhadra Gosani; skandha—of the trunk; maha-sakha—the biggest branch; tanra—his; upasakha—subbranches; yata—all; asankhya—innumerable; tara—of that; lekha—the description.

TRANSLATION

After Nityananda Prabhu, the greatest branch is Virabhadra Gosani, who also has innumerable branches and subbranches. It is not possible to describe them all.

PURPORT

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura describes Virabhadra Gosani as the direct son of Srila Nityananda Prabhu and a disciple of Jahnava-devi. His real mother was Vasudha. In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 67, he is mentioned as an incarnation of Ksirodakasayi Visnu. Therefore Virabhadra Gosani is nondifferent from Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In a village of the name Jhamatapura, in the district of Hugali, Virabhadra Gosani had a disciple named Yadunathacarya, who had two daughters-a real daughter named Srimati and a foster daughter named Narayani. Both these daughters married, and they are mentioned in Bhakti-ratnakara (Thirteenth Wave). Virabhadra Gosani had three disciples who are celebrated as his sons-Gopijana-vallabha, Ramakrsna and Ramacandra. The youngest, Ramacandra, belonged to the Sandilya dynasty and had the surname Vatavyala. He established his family at Khadadaha, and its members are known as the gosvamis of Khadadaha. The eldest disciple, Gopijana-vallabha, was a resident of a village known as Lata, near the Manakara railway station in the district of Burdwan. The second, Ramakrsna, lived near Maladaha, in a village named Gayesapura. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura notes that since these three disciples belonged to different gotras, or dynasties, and also had different surnames and lived in different places, it is not possible to accept them as real sons of Virabhadra Gosani. Ramacandra had four sons, of whom the eldest was Radhamadhava, whose third son was named Yadavendra. Yadavendra’s son was Nandakisora, his son was Nidhikrsna, his son was Caitanyacanda, his son was Krsnamohana, his son was Jaganmohana, his son was Vrajanatha, and his son was Syamalala Gosvami. This is the genealogical table given by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura for the descendants of Virabhadra Gosani.

Adi11.9

TEXT 9

isvara ha-iya kahaya maha-bhagavata

veda-dharmatita hana veda-dharme rata

SYNONYMS

isvara—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ha-iya—being; kahaya—calls Himself; maha-bhagavata—great devotee; veda-dharma—the principles of Vedic religion; atita—transcendental; hana—being; veda-dharme—in the Vedic system; rata—engaged.

TRANSLATION

Although Virabhadra Gosani was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He presented Himself as a great devotee. And although the Supreme Godhead is transcendental to all Vedic injunctions, He strictly followed the Vedic rituals.

Adi11.10

TEXT 10

antare isvara-cesta, bahire nirdambha

caitanya-bhakti-mandape tenho mula-stambha

SYNONYMS

antare—within Himself; isvara-cesta—the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bahire—externally; nirdambha—without pride; caitanya-bhakti-mandape—in the devotional hall of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tenho—He is; mula-stambha—the main pillar.

TRANSLATION

He is the main pillar in the hall of devotional service erected by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He knew within Himself that He acted as the Supreme Lord Visnu, but externally He was prideless.

Adi11.11

TEXT 11

adyapi yanhara krpa-mahima ha-ite

caitanya-nityananda gaya sakala jagate

SYNONYMS

adyapi—until today; yanhara—whose; krpa—mercy; mahima—glorious; ha-ite—from; caitanya-nityananda—Sri Caitanya-Nityananda; gaya—sing; sakala—all; jagate—in the world.

TRANSLATION

It is by the glorious mercy of Sri Virabhadra Gosani that people all over the world now have the chance to chant the names of Caitanya and Nityananda.

Adi11.12

TEXT 12

sei virabhadra-gosanira la-inu sarana

yanhara prasade haya abhista-purana

SYNONYMS

sei—that; virabhadra-gosanira—of Sri Virabhadra Gosani; la-inu—I take; sarana—shelter; yanhara—whose; prasade—by mercy; haya—it becomes so; abhista-purana—fulfillment of desire.

TRANSLATION

I therefore take shelter of the lotus feet of Virabhadra Gosani so that by His mercy my great desire to write Sri Caitanya-caritamrta will be properly guided.

Adi11.13

TEXT 13

sri-ramadasa ara, gadadhara dasa

caitanya-gosanira bhakta rahe tanra pasa

SYNONYMS

sri-ramadasa—of the name Sri Ramadasa; ara—and; gadadhara dasa—of the name Gadadhara dasa; caitanya-gosanira—of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhakta—devotees; rahe—stay; tanra pasa—with Him.

TRANSLATION

Two devotees of Lord Caitanya, named Sri Ramadasa and Gadadhara dasa, always lived with Sri Virabhadra Gosani.

PURPORT

Sri Ramadasa, later known as Abhirama Thakura, was one of the twelve gopalas, cowherd boyfriends, of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. The Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 126, states that Sri Ramadasa was formerly Sridama. In Bhakti-ratnakara (Fourth Wave), there is a description of Srila Abhirama Thakura. By the order of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Abhirama Thakura became a great acarya and preacher of the Caitanya cult of devotional service. He was a very influential personality, and nondevotees were very afraid of him. Empowered by Sri Nityananda Prabhu, he was always in ecstasy and was extremely kind to all fallen souls. It is said that if he offered obeisances to any stone other than a salagrama-sila, it would immediately fracture.

Ten miles southwest of the Canpadanga railway station on the narrow-gauge railway line from Howrah, in Calcutta, to Amta, a village in the Hugali district, is a small town named Khanakula-krsnanagara, where the temple of Abhirama Thakura is situated. During the rainy season, when this area is inundated with water, people must go there by another line, which is now called the southeastern railway. On this line there is a station named Kolaghata, from which one has to go by steamer to Ranicaka. Seven and a half miles north of Ranicaka is Khanakula. The temple of Abhirama Thakura is situated in Krsnanagara, which is near the kula (bank) of the Khana (Dvarakesvara River); therefore this place is celebrated as Khanakula-krsnanagara. Outside of the temple is a bakula tree. This place is known as Siddha-bakula-kunja. It is said that when Abhirama Thakura came there, he sat down under this tree. In Khanakula-krsnanagara there is a big fair held every year in the month of Caitra (March-April) on the Krsna-saptami, the seventh day of the dark moon. Many hundreds and thousands of people gather for this festival. The temple of Abhirama Thakura has a very old history. The Deity in the temple is known as Gopinatha. There are many sevaita families living near the temple. It is said that Abhirama Thakura had a whip and that whoever he touched with it would immediately become an elevated devotee of Krsna. Among his many disciples, Sriman Srinivasa Acarya was the most famous and the most dear, but it is doubtful that he was his initiated disciple.

Adi11.14-15

TEXTS 14-15

nityanande ajna dila yabe gaude yaite

mahaprabhu ei dui dila tanra sathe

ataeva dui-gane dunhara ganana

madhava-vasudeva ghoserao ei vivarana

SYNONYMS

nityanande—unto Lord Nityananda; ajna—order; dila—gave; yabe—when; gaude—to Bengal; yaite—to go; mahaprabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ei dui—these two; dila—gave; tanra sathe—with Him; ataeva—therefore; dui-gane—in both the parties; dunhara—two of them; ganana—are counted; madhava—of the name Madhava; vasudeva—of the name Vasudeva; ghoserao—of the surname Ghosa; ei—this; vivarana—description.

TRANSLATION

When Nityananda Prabhu was ordered to go to Bengal to preach, these two devotees [Sri Ramadasa and Gadadhara dasa] were ordered to go with Him. Thus they are sometimes counted among the devotees of Lord Caitanya and sometimes among the devotees of Lord Nityananda. Similarly, Madhava and Vasudeva Ghosa belonged to both groups of devotees simultaneously.

PURPORT

There is a place named Danihata, near the Agradvipa railway station and Patuli in the district of Burdwan, where the Deity of Sri Gopinathaji is still situated. This Deity accepted Govinda Ghosa as His father. Even until today, the Deity performs the sraddha ceremony on the anniversary of the death of Govinda Ghosa. The temple of this Deity is managed by the raja-vamsa family of Krsnanagara, whose members are descendants of Raja Krsnacandra. Every year in the month of Vaisakha, when there is a baradola ceremony, this Gopinatha Deity is taken to Krsnanagara. The ceremony is performed with eleven other Deities, and then Sri Gopinathaji is brought back to the temple in Agradvipa.

Adi11.16

TEXT 16

ramadasa--mukhya-sakha, sakhya-prema-rasi

solasangera kastha yei tuli’ kaila vamsi

SYNONYMS

rama-dasa—of the name Ramadasa; mukhya-sakha—chief branch; sakhya-prema-rasi—full of fraternal love; solasa-angera—of sixteen knots; kastha—wood; yei—that; tuli’-raising; kaila—made; vamsi—flute.

TRANSLATION

Ramadasa, one of the chief branches, was full of fraternal love of Godhead. He made a flute from a stick with sixteen knots.

Adi11.17

TEXT 17

gadadhara dasa gopibhave purnananda

yanra ghare danakeli kaila nityananda

SYNONYMS

gadadhara dasa—of the name Gadadhara dasa; gopi-bhave—in the ecstasy of the gopis; purna-ananda—fully in transcendental bliss; yanra ghare—in whose house; dana-keli—performance of danakeli-lila; kaila—did; nityananda—Lord Nityananda Prabhu.

TRANSLATION

Srila Gadadhara dasa was always fully absorbed in ecstasy as a gopi. In his house Lord Nityananda enacted the drama Danakeli.

Adi11.18

TEXT 18

sri-madhava ghosa--mukhya kirtaniya-gane

nityananda-prabhu nrtya kare yanra gane

SYNONYMS

sri-madhava ghosa—of the name Sri Madhava Ghosa; mukhya—chief; kirtaniya-gane—amongst the performers of sankirtana; nityananda-prabhu—of the name Nityananda Prabhu; nrtya—dance; kare—does; yanra—whose; gane—in song.

TRANSLATION

Sri Madhava Ghosa was a principal performer of kirtana. While he sang, Nityananda Prabhu danced.

Adi11.19

TEXT 19

vasudeva gite kare prabhura varnane

kastha-pasana drave yahara sravane

SYNONYMS

vasudeva—of the name Vasudeva; gite—while singing; kare—does; prabhura—of Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; varnane—in description; kastha—wood; pasana—stone; drave—melt; yahara—whose; sravane—by hearing.

TRANSLATION

When Vasudeva Ghosa performed kirtana, describing Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, even wood and stone would melt upon hearing it.

Adi11.20

TEXT 20

murari-caitanya-dasera alaukika lila

vyaghra-gale cada mare, sarpa-sane khela

SYNONYMS

murari—of the name Murari; caitanya-dasera—of the servant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; alaukika—uncommon; lila—pastimes; vyaghra—tiger; gale—on the cheek; cada mare—slaps; sarpa—a snake; sane—with; khela—playing.

TRANSLATION

There were many extraordinary activities performed by Murari, a great devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sometimes in his ecstasy he would slap the cheek of a tiger, and sometimes he would play with a venomous snake.

PURPORT

Murari Caitanya dasa was born in the village of Sar-vrndavana-pura, which is situated about two miles from the Galasi station on the Burdwan line. When Murari Caitanya dasa came to Navadvipa, he settled in the village of Modadruma, or Mamagachi-grama. At that time he became known as Sarnga or Saranga Murari Caitanya dasa. The descendants of his family still reside in Sarer Pata. In the Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-lila, Chapter Five, there is the following statement: “Murari Caitanya dasa had no material bodily features, for he was completely spiritual. Thus he would sometimes chase after tigers in the jungle and treat them just like cats and dogs. He would slap the cheek of a tiger and take a venomous snake on his lap. He had no fear for his external body, of which he was completely forgetful. He could spend all twenty-four hours of the day chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra or speaking about Lord Caitanya and Nityananda. Sometimes he would remain submerged in water for two or three days, but he would feel no bodily inconvenience. Thus he behaved almost like stone or wood, but he always used his energy in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. No one can describe his specific characteristics, but it is understood that wherever Murari Caitanya dasa passed, whoever was present would be enlightened in Krsna consciousness simply by the atmosphere he created.”

Adi11.21

TEXT 21

nityanandera gana yata--saba vraja-sakha

srnga-vetra-gopavesa, sire sikhi-pakha

SYNONYMS

nityanandera—of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; gana—followers; yata—all; saba—all; vraja-sakha—residents of Vrndavana; srnga—horn; vetra—cane stick; gopa-vesa—dressed like a cowherd boy; sire—on the head; sikhi-pakha—the plume of a peacock.

TRANSLATION

All the associates of Lord Nityananda were formerly cowherd boys in Vrajabhumi. Their symbolic representations were the horns and sticks they carried, their cowherd dress and the peacock plumes on their heads.

PURPORT

Jahnava-mata is also within the list of Lord Nityananda’s followers. She is described in the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 66, as Ananga-manjari of Vrndavana. All the devotees who are followers of Jahnava-mata are counted within the list of Sri Nityananda Prabhu’s devotees.

Adi11.22

TEXT 22

raghunatha vaidya upadhyaya mahasaya

yanhara darsane krsna-prema-bhakti haya

SYNONYMS

raghunatha vaidya—the physician Raghunatha; upadhyaya mahasaya—a great personality with the title Upadhyaya; yanhara—whose; darsane—by visiting; krsna-prema—love of Krsna; bhakti—devotional service; haya—awakened.

TRANSLATION

The physician Raghunatha, also known as Upadhyaya, was so great a devotee that simply by seeing him one would awaken his dormant love of Godhead.

Adi11.23

TEXT 23

sundarananda--nityanandera sakha, bhrtya marma

yanra sange nityananda kare vraja-narma

SYNONYMS

sundarananda—of the name Sundarananda; nityanandera sakha—a branch of Nityananda Prabhu; bhrtya marma—very intimate servant; yanra sange—with whom; nityananda—Lord Nityananda; kare—performs; vraja-narma—activities of Vrndavana.

TRANSLATION

Sundarananda, another branch of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, was Lord Nityananda’s most intimate servant. Lord Nityananda Prabhu perceived the life of Vrajabhumi in his company.

PURPORT

In the Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-lila, Chapter Fives, it is stated that Sundarananda was an ocean of love of Godhead and the chief associate of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika he is stated to have been Sudama in krsna-lila. Thus he was one of the twelve cowherd boys who came down with Balarama when He descended as Sri Nityananda Prabhu. The holy place where Sundarananda lived is situated in the village known as Mahesapura, which is about fourteen miles east of the Majadiya railway station of the eastern railway from Calcutta to Burdwan. This place is within the district of Jeshore, which is now in Bangladesh. Among the relics of this village, only the old residential house of Sundarananda still exists. At the end of the village resides a baula (pseudo-Vaisnava), and all the buildings, both the temples and the house, appear to be newly constructed. In Mahesapura there are Deities of Sri Radhavallabha and Sri Sri Radharamana. Near the temple is a small river of the name Vetravati.

Sundarananda Prabhu was a naisthika-brahmacari: he never married in his life. Therefore he had no direct descendants except his disciples, but the descendants of his family still reside in the village known as Mangaladihi in the district of Birbhum. In that same village is a temple of Balarama, and the Deity there is regularly worshiped. The original Deity of Mahesapura, Radhavallabha, was taken by the Saidabad Gosvamis of Berhampur, and since the present Deities were installed, a Zamindar family of Mahesapura has looked after Their worship. On the full moon day of the month of Magha (January-February), the anniversary of Sundarananda’s disappearance is regularly celebrated, and people from the neighboring areas gather together to observe this festival.

Adi11.24

TEXT 24

kamalakara pippalai--alaukika rita

alaukika prema tanra bhuvane vidita

SYNONYMS

kamalakara pippalai—of the name Kamalakara Pippalai; alaukika—uncommon; rita—behavior or pastime; alaukika—uncommon; prema—love of Godhead; tanra—his; bhuvane—in the world; vidita—celebrated.

TRANSLATION

Kamalakara Pippalai is said to have been the third gopala. His behavior and love of Godhead were uncommon, and thus he is celebrated all over the world.

PURPORT

In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 128, Kamalakara Pippalai is described as the third gopala. His former name was Mahabala. The Jagannatha Deity at Mahesa in Sri Ramapura was installed by Kamalakara Pippalai. This village of Mahesa is situated about two and a half miles from the Sri Ramapura railway station. The genealogy of the family of Kamalakara Pippalai is given as follows. Kamalakara Pippalai had a son named Caturbhuja, who had two sons named Narayana and Jagannatha. Narayana had one son named Jagadananda, and his son’s name was Rajivalocana. During the time of Rajivalocana, there was a scarcity of finances for the worship of the Jagannatha Deity, and it is said that the Nawab of Dacca, whose name was Shah Suja, donated 1,185 bighas of land in the Bengali year 1060 (A.D. 1653). The land being the possession of Jagannatha, the village was named Jagannatha-pura. It is said that when Kamalakara Pippalai left home his younger brother Nidhipati Pippalai searched for him and in due course of time found him in the village of Mahesa. Nidhipati Pippalai tried his best to bring his elder brother home, but he would not return. Under these circumstances, Nidhipati Pippalai, with all his family members, came to Mahesa to reside. The members of this family still reside in the vicinity of the Mahesa village. Their family name is Adhikari, and they are a brahmana family.

The history of the Jagannatha temple in Mahesa is as follows. One devotee of the name Dhruvananda went to see Lord Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra at Jagannatha Puri, wanting to offer food to Jagannathaji that he had cooked with his own hands. This being his desire, one night Jagannathaji appeared to him in a dream and asked him to go to Mahesa on the bank of the Ganges and there start worship of Him in a temple. Thus Dhruvananda went to Mahesa, where he saw the three deities-Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra-floating in the Ganges. He picked up all those deities and installed them in a small cottage, and with great satisfaction he executed the worship of Lord Jagannatha. When he became old, he was very anxious to hand over the worship to the charge of someone reliable, and in a dream he got permission from Jagannatha Prabhu to hand it over to a person whom he would meet the next morning. The next morning he met Kamalakara Pippalai, who was formerly an inhabitant of the village Khalijuli in the Sundaravana Forest area of Bengal and was a pure Vaisnava, a great devotee of Lord Jagannatha; thus he immediately gave him charge of the worship. In this way, Kamalakara Pippalai became the worshiper of Lord Jagannatha, and since then his family members have been designated as Adhikari, which means “one who is empowered to worship the Lord.” These Adhikaris belong to a respectable brahmana family. Five types of upper-class brahmanas are recognized by the surname Pippalai.

Adi11.25

TEXT 25

suryadasa sarakhela, tanra bhai krsnadasa

nityanande drdha visvasa, premera nivasa

SYNONYMS

suryadasa sarakhela—of the name Suryadasa Sarakhela; tanra bhai—his brother; krsnadasa—of the name Krsnadasa; nityanande—unto Lord Nityananda; drdha visvasa—firm faith; premera nivasa—the reservoir of all love of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

Suryadasa Sarakhela and his younger brother Krsnadasa Sarakhela both possessed firm faith in Nityananda Prabhu. They were a reservoir of love of Godhead.

PURPORT

In the Bhakti-ratnakara (Twelfth Wave), it is stated that a few miles from Navadvipa is a place called Saligrama that was the residence of Suryadasa Sarakhela. He was employed as a secretary in the Muslim government of that time, and thus he amassed a good fortune. Suryadasa had four brothers, all of whom were pure Vaisnavas. Vasudha and Jahnava were two daughters of Suryadasa Sarakhela.