Adi17.224

TEXT 224

kirtana karite prabhu karila gamana

sange cali’ aise kaji ullasita mana

SYNONYMS

kirtana—chanting; karite—to perform; prabhu—the Lord; karila—made; gamana—departure; sange—accompanying Him; cali’-walking; aise—comes; kaji—the Kazi; ullasita—jubilant; mana—mind.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went back to perform kirtana, and the Kazi, his mind jubilant, went with Him.

Adi17.225

TEXT 225

kajire vidaya dila sacira nandana

nacite nacite aila apana bhavana

SYNONYMS

kajire—unto the Kazi; vidaya—farewell; dila—gave; sacira—of mother Saci; nandana—the son; nacite nacite—dancing and dancing; aila—came back; apana—own; bhavana—house.

TRANSLATION

The Lord asked the Kazi to go back home. Then the son of mother Saci came back to His own home, dancing and dancing.

Adi17.226

TEXT 226

ei mate kajire prabhu karila prasada

iha yei sune tara khande aparadha

SYNONYMS

ei mate—in this way; kajire—unto the Kazi; prabhu—the Lord; karila—did; prasada—mercy; iha—this; yei—anyone who; sune—hears; tara—his; khande—vanquishes; aparadha—offenses.

TRANSLATION

This is the incident concerning the Kazi and the Lord’s mercy upon him. Anyone who hears this is also freed from all offenses.

Adi17.227

TEXT 227

eka dina srivasera mandire gosani

nityananda-sange nrtya kare dui bhai

SYNONYMS

eka dina—one day; srivasera—of Srivasa Thakura; mandire—in the house; gosani—Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nityananda—Lord Nityananda; sange—accompanied by; nrtya—dancing; kare—performed; dui—two; bhai—brothers.

TRANSLATION

One day the two brothers Lord Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu were dancing in the holy house of Srivasa Thakura.

Adi17.228

TEXT 228

srivasa-putrera tahan haila paraloka

tabu srivasera citte na janmila soka

SYNONYMS

srivasa—of Srivasa Thakura; putrera—of the son; tahan—there; haila—took place; paraloka—death; tabu—still; srivasera—of Srivasa Thakura; citte—in the mind; na—not; janmila—there was; soka—lamentation.

TRANSLATION

At that time a calamity took place-Srivasa Thakura’s son died. Yet Srivasa Thakura was not at all sorry.

Adi17.229

TEXT 229

mrta-putra-mukhe kaila jnanera kathana

apane dui bhai haila srivasa-nandana

SYNONYMS

mrta-putra—of the dead son; mukhe—in the mouth; kaila—did; jnanera—of knowledge; kathana—conversation; apane—personally; dui—the two; bhai—brothers; haila—became; srivasa-nandana—sons of Srivasa Thakura.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu caused the dead son to speak about knowledge, and then the two brothers personally became the sons of Srivasa Thakura.

PURPORT

Adi17.230

TEXT 230

tabe ta’ karila saba bhakte vara dana

ucchista diya narayanira karila sammana

SYNONYMS

tabe—thereafter; ta’-certainly; karila—did; saba bhakte—unto all devotees; vara—benediction; dana—charity; ucchista—food remnants; diya—giving; narayanira—of Narayani; karila—did; sammana—respect.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter the Lord charitably bestowed His benediction upon all His devotees. He gave the remnants of His food to Narayani, showing her special respect.

PURPORT

Narayani was a niece of Srivasa Thakura, and later she became the mother of Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura. In this connection the sahajiyas cite a malicious story that after eating the remnants of Lord Caitanya’s food Narayani became pregnant and gave birth to Vrndavana dasa Thakura. The rascal sahajiyas may manufacture such false statements, but no one should believe them because they are motivated by enmity against the Vaisnavas.

Adi17.231

TEXT 231

srivasera vastra sinye daraji yavana

prabhu tare nija-rupa karaila darsana

SYNONYMS

srivasera—of Srivasa Thakura; vastra—cloth; sinye—sewing; daraji—tailor; yavana—meat-eater; prabhu—the Lord; tare—unto him; nija-rupa—His own form; karaila—caused; darsana—vision.

TRANSLATION

There was a tailor who was a meat-eater but was sewing garments for Srivasa Thakura. The Lord, being merciful to him, showed him His own form.

Adi17.232

TEXT 232

’dekhinu’ ’dekhinu’ bali’ ha-ila pagala

preme nrtya kare, haila vaisnava agala

SYNONYMS

dekhinu—I have seen; dekhinu—I have seen; bali’-saying; ha-ila—became; pagala—mad; preme—in the ecstasy of love; nrtya—dancing; kare—does; haila—became; vaisnava—devotee; agala—first class.

TRANSLATION

Saying “I have seen! I have seen!” and dancing in ecstatic love as though mad, he became a first-class Vaisnava.

PURPORT

There was a Muslim tailor near the house of Srivasa Thakura who used to sew the garments of the family. One day he was very much pleased with the dancing of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; indeed, he was enchanted. The Lord, understanding his attitude, showed him His original form as Krsna. The tailor then began to dance, saying, “I have seen! I have seen!” He became absorbed in ecstatic love and began to dance with Lord Caitanya. Thus he became one of the foremost Vaisnava adherents of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Adi17.233

TEXT 233

avesete srivase prabhu vamsi ta’ magila

srivasa kahe,--vamsi tomara gopi hari’ nila

SYNONYMS

avesete—in ecstasy; srivase—unto Srivasa; prabhu—the Lord; vamsi—a flute; ta’-certainly; magila—asked; srivasa—Srivasa Thakura; kahe—replied; vamsi—flute; tomara—Your; gopi—the gopis; hari—stealing; nila—took away.

TRANSLATION

In ecstasy the Lord asked Srivasa Thakura to deliver His flute, but Srivasa Thakura replied, “Your flute has been stolen away by the gopis.”

Adi17.234

TEXT 234

suni’ prabhu ’bala’ ’bala’ balena avese

srivasa varnena vrndavana-lila-rase

SYNONYMS

suni’-hearing; prabhu—the Lord; bala bala—go on speaking, go on speaking; balena—He says; avese—in ecstasy; srivasa—Srivasa Thakura; varnena—describes; vrndavana—of Vrndavana; lila-rase—the transcendental mellow of the pastimes.

TRANSLATION

Hearing this reply, the Lord said in ecstasy, “Go on talking! Go on talking!” Thus Srivasa described the transcendental mellow pastimes of Sri Vrndavana.

Adi17.235

TEXT 235

prathamete vrndavana-madhurya varnila

suniya prabhura citte ananda badila

SYNONYMS

prathamete—in the beginning; vrndavana-madhurya—sweet pastimes of Vrndavana; varnila—described; suniya—hearing; prabhura—of the Lord; citte—in the heart; ananda—jubilation; badila—increased.

TRANSLATION

In the beginning Srivasa Thakura described the transcendental sweetness of Vrndavana’s pastimes. Hearing this, the Lord felt great and increasing jubilation in His heart.

Adi17.236

TEXT 236

tabe ’bala’ ’bala’ prabhu bale vara-vara

punah punah kahe srivasa kariya vistara

SYNONYMS

tabe—thereafter; bala bala—go on speaking, go on speaking; prabhu—the Lord; bale—says; vara-vara—again, again; punah punah—again, again; kahe—speaks; srivasa—Srivasa Thakura; kariya—making; vistara—expansion.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter the Lord again and again asked him, “Speak on! Speak on!” Thus Srivasa again and again described the pastimes of Vrndavana, vividly expanding them.

Adi17.237

TEXT 237

vamsi-vadye gopi-ganera vane akarsana

tan-sabara sange yaiche vana-viharana

SYNONYMS

vamsi-vadye—on hearing the sound of the flute; gopi-ganera—of all the gopis; vane—in the forest; akarsana—the attraction; tan-sabara—of all of them; sange—in the company; yaiche—in what way; vana—in the forest; viharana—wandering.

TRANSLATION

Srivasa Thakura extensively explained how the gopis were attracted to the forests of Vrndavana by the vibration of Krsna’s flute and how they wandered together in the forest.

Adi17.238

TEXT 238

tahi madhye chaya-rtu lilara varnana

madhu-pana, rasotsava, jala-keli kathana

SYNONYMS

tahi madhye—during that; chaya-rtu—the six seasons; lilara—of the pastimes; varnana—description; madhu-pana—drinking of the honey; rasa-utsava—dancing the rasa-lila; jala-keli—swimming in the Yamuna; kathana—narrations.

TRANSLATION

Srivasa Pandita narrated all the pastimes enacted during the six changing seasons. He described the drinking of honey, the celebration of the rasa dance, the swimming in the Yamuna, and other such incidents.

Adi17.239

TEXT 239

’bala’ ’bala’ bale prabhu sunite ullasa

srivasa kahena tabe rasa rasera vilasa

SYNONYMS

bala bala—go on speaking, go on speaking; bale—says; prabhu—the Lord; sunite—hearing; ullasa—very jubilantly; srivasa—Srivasa Thakura; kahena—says; tabe—then; rasa—rasa dance; rasera—filled with transcendental humors; vilasa—pastimes.

TRANSLATION

When the Lord, hearing with great pleasure, said, “Go on speaking! Go on speaking!” Srivasa Thakura described the rasa-lila dance, which is filled with transcendental mellows.

Adi17.240

TEXT 240

kahite, sunite aiche pratah-kala haila

prabhu srivasere tosi’ alingana kaila

SYNONYMS

kahite—speaking; sunite—hearing; aiche—in that way; pratah-kala—morning; haila—appeared; prabhu—Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; srivasere—unto Srivasa Thakura; tosi’-satisfying; alingana—embracing; kaila—did.

TRANSLATION

As the Lord thus requested and Srivasa Thakura spoke, the morning appeared, and the Lord embraced Srivasa Thakura and satisfied him.

Adi17.241

TEXT 241

tabe acaryera ghare kaila krsna-lila

rukmini-svarupa prabhu apane ha-ila

SYNONYMS

tabe—thereafter; acaryera—of Advaita Acarya; ghare—in the house; kaila—performed; krsna-lila—pastimes of Lord Krsna; rukmini—of Rukmini; svarupa—form; prabhu—the Lord; apane—personally; ha-ila—became.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter a dramatization of Krsna’s pastimes was performed in the house of Advaita Acarya. The Lord personally took the part of Rukmini, the foremost of Krsna’s queens.

Adi17.242

TEXT 242

kabhu durga, laksmi haya, kabhu va cic-chakti

khate vasi’ bhakta-gane dila prema-bhakti

SYNONYMS

kabhu—sometimes; durga—the part of Goddess Durga; laksmi—the goddess of fortune; haya—is; kabhu—sometimes; va—or; cit-sakti—the spiritual potency; khate—on a cot; vasi’-sitting; bhakta-gane—unto the devotees; dila—gave; prema-bhakti—love of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

The Lord sometimes took the part of Goddess Durga, Laksmi [the goddess of fortune] or the chief potency, Yogamaya. Sitting on a cot, He delivered love of Godhead to all the devotees present.

Adi17.243

TEXT 243

eka-dina mahaprabhura nrtya-avasane

eka brahmani asi’ dharila carane

SYNONYMS

eka-dina—one day; mahaprabhura—of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nrtya-avasane—at the end of the dancing; eka—one; brahmani—wife of a brahmana; asi’-coming; dharila—caught hold; carane—of His lotus feet.

TRANSLATION

One day when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had finished His dancing, a woman, the wife of a brahmana, came there and caught hold of His lotus feet.

Adi17.244

TEXT 244

caranera dhuli sei laya vara vara

dekhiya prabhura duhkha ha-ila apara

SYNONYMS

caranera—of His lotus feet; dhuli—the dust; sei—that woman; laya—takes; vara vara—again and again; dekhiya—seeing this; prabhura—of the Lord; duhkha—unhappiness; ha-ila—there was; apara—unlimited.

TRANSLATION

As she took the dust of His lotus feet again and again, the Lord became unlimitedly unhappy.

PURPORT

This holding of a great personality’s lotus feet is certainly very good for the person who takes the dust, but this example of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s unhappiness indicates that a Vaisnava should not allow anyone to take dust from his feet.

One who takes the dust of a great personality’s lotus feet transfers his sinful activities to that great personality. Unless the person whose dust is taken is very strong, he must suffer the sinful activities of the person who takes the dust. Therefore ordinarily it should not be allowed. Sometimes in big meetings people come to take the same advantage by touching our feet. On account of this, sometimes we have to suffer from some disease. As far as possible, no outsider should be allowed to touch one’s feet to take dust from them. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally showed this by His example, as explained in the next verse.

Adi17.245

TEXT 245

sei-ksane dhana prabhu gangate padila

nityananda-haridasa dhari’ uthaila

SYNONYMS

sei-ksane—immediately; dhana—running; prabhu—the Lord; gangate—in the water of the Ganges; padila—plunged; nityananda—Lord Nityananda; haridasa—Haridasa Thakura; dhari’-catching Him; uthaila—raised Him.

TRANSLATION

Immediately He ran to the river Ganges and jumped in to counteract the sinful activities of that woman. Lord Nityananda and Haridasa Thakura caught Him and raised Him from the river.

PURPORT

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is God Himself, but He was playing the part of a preacher. Every preacher should know that being allowed to touch a Vaisnava’s feet and take dust may be good for the person who takes it, but it is not good for the person who allows it to be taken. As far as possible, this practice should ordinarily be avoided. Only initiated disciples should be allowed to take this advantage, not others. Those who are full of sinful activities should generally be avoided.

Adi17.246

TEXT 246

vijaya acaryera ghare se ratre rahila

pratah-kale bhakta sabe ghare lana gela

SYNONYMS

vijaya—named Vijaya; acaryera—of the teacher; ghare—at the home; se—that; ratre—on the night; rahila—remained; pratah-kale—in the morning; bhakta—the devotees; sabe—all; ghare—home; lana—taking them; gela—went.

TRANSLATION

That night the Lord stayed at the house of Vijaya Acarya. In the morning the Lord took all His devotees and returned home.

Adi17.247

TEXT 247

eka-dina gopi-bhave grhete vasiya

’gopi’ ’gopi’ nama laya visanna hana

SYNONYMS

eka-dina—one day; gopi-bhave—in the ecstasy of the gopis; grhete—at home; vasiya—sitting; gopi gopi—“Gopi, Gopi”; nama—the name; laya—chants; visanna—morose; hana—becoming.

TRANSLATION

One day the Lord, in the ecstasy of the gopis, was sitting in His house. Very morose in separation, He was calling, “Gopi! Gopi!”

Adi17.248

TEXT 248

eka paduya aila prabhuke dekhite

’gopi’ ’gopi’ nama suni’ lagila balite

SYNONYMS

eka paduya—one student; aila—came there; prabhuke—the Lord; dekhite—to see; gopi gopi—“Gopi, Gopi”; nama—the name; suni’-hearing; lagila—began; balite—to say.

TRANSLATION

A student who came to see the Lord was astonished that the Lord was chanting “Gopi! Gopi!” Thus he spoke as follows.

Adi17.249

TEXT 249

krsna-nama na lao kene, krsna-nama--dhanya

’gopi’ ’gopi’ balile va kiba haya punya

SYNONYMS

krsna-nama—the holy name of Lord Krsna; na—not; lao—You take; kene—why; krsna-nama—the holy name of Lord Krsna; dhanya—glorious; gopi gopi—the names “Gopi, Gopi”; balile—on saying; va—or; kiba—what; haya—there is; punya—piety.

TRANSLATION

“Why are You chanting the names ’Gopi, Gopi’ instead of the holy name of Lord Krsna, which is so glorious? What pious result will You achieve by such chanting?”

PURPORT

It is said, vaisnavera kriya-mudra vijneha na bujhaya: no one can understand the activities of a pure devotee. A student or neophyte devotee could not possibly understand why Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was chanting the name of the gopis, nor should the student have asked the Lord about the potency of chanting “Gopi, Gopi.” The neophyte student was certainlv convinced of the piety in the chanting of Krsna’s holy name, but this sort of attitude is also offensive. Dharma-vrata-tyaga-hutadi-sarva-subha-kriya-samyam api pramadah: to chant the holy name of Krsna in exchange for the achievement of piety is an offense. This, of course, was unknown to the student. Thus he innocently asked, “What piety is there in the chanting of the name Gopi?” He did not know that there is no question of piety or impiety. The chanting of the holy name of Krsna or the holy name Gopi is on the transcendental platform of loving affairs. Since he was not expert in understanding such transcendental activities, his question was merely impudent. Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, apparently greatly angry at him, reacted as follows.

Adi17.250

TEXT 250

suni’ prabhu krodhe kaila krsne dosodgara

thenga lana uthila prabhu paduya maribara

SYNONYMS

suni’-hearing; prabhu—the Lord; krodhe—in anger; kaila—did; krsne—unto Lord Krsna; dosa-udgara—many accusations; thenga—stick; lana—taking; uthila—got up; prabhu—the Lord; paduya—the student; maribara—to strike.

TRANSLATION

Hearing the foolish student, the Lord became greatly angry and rebuked Lord Krsna in various ways. Taking up a stick, He rose to strike the student.

PURPORT

It is mentioned in Srimad-Bhagavatam that when Uddhava came from Lord Krsna with a message for the gopis, all the gopis, especially Srimati Radharani, denounced Krsna in various ways. Such denunciations, however, reflect an exuberant loving attitude that an ordinary man cannot understand. When the foolish student questioned Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Caitanya similarly rebuked Lord Krsna in loving exuberance. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was in the mood of the gopis and the student advocated the cause of Sri Krsna, Lord Caitanya was greatly angry. Seeing His anger, the foolish student, who was an ordinary atheistic smarta-brahmana, foolishly misjudged Him. Thus he and a party of students were ready to strike the Lord in retaliation. After this incident, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu decided to take sannyasa so that people would not commit offenses against Him, considering Him an ordinary householder, for in India even now a sannyasi is naturally offered respect.

Adi17.251

TEXT 251

bhaye palaya paduya, prabhu pache pache dhaya

aste vyaste bhakta-gana prabhure rahaya

SYNONYMS

bhaye—out of fear; palaya—runs away; paduya—the student; prabhu—the Lord; pache pache—after him; dhaya—runs; aste vyaste—somehow or other; bhakta-gana—all the devotees; prabhure—the Lord; rahaya—checked.

TRANSLATION

The student ran away in fear, and the Lord followed him. But somehow or other the devotees checked the Lord.

Adi17.252

TEXT 252

prabhure santa kari’ anila nija ghare

paduya palaya gela paduya-sabhare

SYNONYMS

prabhure—the Lord; santa kari’-pacifying; anila—brought; nija—His own; ghare—to the house; paduya—the student; palaya—running away; gela—went; paduya—of students; sabhare—to the assembly.

TRANSLATION

The devotees pacified the Lord and brought Him home, and the student ran away to an assembly of other students.

Adi17.253

TEXT 253

paduya sahasra yahan pade eka-thani

prabhura vrttanta dvija kahe tahan yai

SYNONYMS

paduya—students; sahasra—a thousand; yahan—where; pade—they study; eka-thani—in one place; prabhura—of the Lord; vrttanta—incident; dvija—the brahmana; kahe—says; tahan—there; yai—he goes.

TRANSLATION

The brahmana student ran to a place where a thousand students were studying together. There he described the incident to them.

PURPORT

In this verse we find the word dvija, indicating that the student was a brahmana. Actually, in those days, only members of the brahmana class became students of Vedic literature. Schooling is meant especially for brahmanas; previously there was no question of schooling for ksatriyas, vaisyas or sudras. Ksatriyas used to learn the technology of warfare, and vaisyas learned business from their fathers or other businessmen; they were not meant to study the Vedas. At present, however, everyone goes to school, and everyone is given the same type of education, although no one knows what the result will be. The result, however, is most unsatisfactory, as we have seen in the Western countries especially. The United States has vast educational institutions where everyone is allowed to receive an education, but the result is that most students become like hippies.

Higher education is not meant for everyone. Only selected individuals trained in brahminical culture should be allowed to pursue a higher education. Educational institutions should not aim to teach technology, for a technologist cannot properly be called educated. A technologist is a sudra; only one who studies the Vedas may properly be called a learned man (pandita). The duty of a brahmana is to become learned in the Vedic literature and teach the Vedic knowledge to other brahmanas. In our Krsna consciousness movement we are simply teaching our students to become fit brahmanas and Vaisnavas. In our school at Dallas, the students are learning English and Sanskrit, and through these two languages they are studying all our books, such as Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita As It Is and The Nectar of Devotion. It is a mistake to educate every student as a technologist. There must be a group of students who become brahmanas. Without brahmanas who study the Vedic literature, human society will be entirely chaotic.

Adi17.254

TEXT 254

suni’ krodha kaila saba paduyara gana

sabe meli’ kare tabe prabhura nindana

SYNONYMS

suni’-hearing; krodha—angry; kaila—became; saba—all; paduyara—of students; gana—the groups; sabe—all; meli’-joining to gether; kare—do; tabe—then; prabhura—of the Lord; nindana—accusation.

TRANSLATION

Hearing of the incident, all the students became greatly angry and joined together in criticizing the Lord.

Adi17.255

TEXT 255

saba desa bhrasta kaila ekala nimani

brahmana marite cahe, dharma-bhaya nai

SYNONYMS

saba—all; desa—countries; bhrasta—spoiled; kaila—has; ekala—alone; nimani—Nimai Pandita; brahmana—a caste brahmana; marite—to strike; cahe—He wants; dharma—of religious principles; bhaya—fear; nai—there is not.

TRANSLATION

“Nimai Pandita alone has spoiled the entire country,” they accused. "He wants to strike a caste brahmana. He has no fear of religious principles.

PURPORT

In those days also, the caste brahmanas were very proud. They were not prepared to accept chastisement even from a teacher or spiritual master.

Adi17.256

TEXT 256

punah yadi aiche kare mariba tahare

kon va manusa haya, ki karite pare

SYNONYMS

punah—again; yadi—if; aiche—like that; kare—He does; mariba—we shall strike; tahare—Him; kon—who; va—or; manusa—the man; haya—is; ki—what; karite—to do; pare—He is able.

TRANSLATION

“If He again performs such an atrocious act, certainly we shall retaliate and strike Him in turn. What kind of important person is He, that He can check us in this way?”

Adi17.257

TEXT 257

prabhura nindaya sabara buddhi haila nasa

supathita vidya karao na haya prakasa

SYNONYMS

prabhura—of the Lord; nindaya—in accusation; sabara—of everyone; buddhi—the intelligence; haila—became; nasa—spoiled; su-pathita—well-studied; vidya—knowledge; karao—everyone’s; na—does not; haya—become; prakasa—manifest.

TRANSLATION

When all the students thus resolved, criticizing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, their intelligence was spoiled. Thus although they were learned scholars, because of this offense the essence of knowledge was not manifest in them.

PURPORT

In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, mayayapahrta-jnana asuram bhavam asritah: when one becomes inimical to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, adopting an atheistic attitude (asuram bhavam), even if one is a learned scholar the essence of knowledge does not become manifest in him; in other words, the essence of his knowledge is stolen by the illusory energy of the Lord. In this connection Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura quotes a mantra from the Svetasvatara Upanisad (6.23):

yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
prakasante mahatmanah