Sri Caitanya-caritamrta: Antya-lila
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter 11
The Passing of Haridasa Thakura
The summary of the chapter is given by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya as follows. In this chapter, Brahma Haridasa Thakura gave up his body with the consent of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and the Lord Himself personally performed the funeral ceremony and carried the body to the sea. He personally entombed the body, covered it with sand, and erected a platform on the site. After taking bath in the sea, He personally begged prasada of Jagannatha from shopkeepers and distributed prasada to the assembled devotees.
Antya11.1
TEXT 1
namami haridasam tam
caitanyam tam ca tat-prabhum
samsthitam api yan-murtim
svanke krtva nanarta yah
SYNONYMS
namami—I offer my respectful obeisances; haridasam—unto Haridasa Thakura; tam—him; caitanyam—unto Lord Caitanya; tam—Him; ca—also; tat-prabhum—his master; samsthitam—dead; api—certainly; yat—whose; murtim—bodily form; sva-anke—on His lap; krtva—keeping; nanarta—danced; yah—He who.
TRANSLATION
Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Haridasa Thakura and his master, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who danced with the body of Haridasa Thakura on His lap.
Antya11.2
TEXT 2
jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya dayamaya
jayadvaita-priya nityananda-priya jaya
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya—all glories; sri-caitanya—to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jaya—all glories; daya-maya—to the most merciful; jaya—all glories; advaita-priya—to the dear master of Advaita Acarya; nityananda-priya—to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is very dear to Lord Nityananda; jaya—all glories.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is very merciful and who is very dear to Advaita Acarya and Lord Nityananda.
Antya11.3
TEXT 3
jaya srinivasesvara haridasa-natha
jaya gadadhara-priya svarupa-prana-natha
SYNONYMS
jaya—all glories; srinivasa-isvara—to the master of Srinivasa; haridasa-natha—the master of Haridasa Thakura; jaya—all glories; gadadhara-priya—to the dear master of Gadadhara; svarupa-prana-natha—the master of the life of Svarupa Damodara.
TRANSLATION
All glories to the master of Srinivasa Thakura! All glories to the master of Haridasa Thakura! All glories to the dear master of Gadadhara Pandita! All glories to the master of the life of Svarupa Damodara!
Antya11.4
TEXT 4
jaya kasi-priya jagadananda-pranesvara
jaya rupa-sanatana-raghunathesvara
SYNONYMS
jaya—all glories; kasi-priya—to Lord Sri Caitanya, who is very dear to Kasi Misra; jagadananda-prana-isvara—the Lord of the life of Jagadananda Pandita; jaya—all glories; rupa-sanatana-raghunatha-isvara—to the Lord of Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami and Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Lord Sri Caitanya, who is very dear to Kasi Misra. He is the Lord of the life of Jagadananda and the Lord of Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami and Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.
Antya11.5
TEXT 5
jaya gaura-deha krsna svayam bhagavan
krpa kari’ deha’ prabhu, nija-pada-dana
SYNONYMS
jaya—all glories; gaura-deha—to the transcendental body of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krsna—Lord Krsna; svayam—personally; bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; krpa kari’-being merciful; deha’-please give; prabhu—my Lord; nija-pada-dana—shelter at Your lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
All glories to the transcendental form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is Krsna Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. My dear Lord, kindly give me shelter at Your lotus feet by Your causeless mercy.
Antya11.6
TEXT 6
jaya nityananda-candra jaya caitanyera prana
tomara caranaravinde bhakti deha’ dana
SYNONYMS
jaya—all glories; nityananda-candra—to Lord Nityananda Prabhu; jaya—all glories; caitanyera prana—to the life and soul of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tomara carana-aravinde—at Your lotus feet; bhakti—devotional service; deha’-please give; dana—the gift.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Lord Nityananda, who is the life and soul of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. My dear Lord, kindly give me engagement in devotional service at Your lotus feet.
Antya11.7
TEXT 7
jaya jayadvaita-candra caitanyera arya
sva-carane bhakti deha’ jayadvaitacarya
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya—all glories; advaita-candra—to Advaita Acarya; caitanyera arya—respected by the Lord; sva-carane—at Your lotus feet; bhakti deha’-please give devotional service; jaya—all glories; advaita-acarya—to Advaita Acarya.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Advaita Acarya, who is treated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as superior due to His age and respectability. Please give me engagement in devotional service at Your lotus feet.
Antya11.8
TEXT 8
jaya gaura-bhakta-gana,--gaura yanra prana
saba bhakta mili’ more bhakti deha’ dana
SYNONYMS
jaya—all glories; gaura-bhakta-gana—to the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gaura—Lord Caitanya; yanra—of whom; prana—the life and soul; saba—all; bhakta—devotees; mili’-together; more—to me; bhakti—devotional service; deha’ dana—kindly give the charity.
TRANSLATION
All glories to all the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, for the Lord is their life and soul. All of you, kindly bestow devotional service upon me.
Antya11.9
TEXT 9
jaya rupa, sanatana, jiva, raghunatha
raghunatha, gopala,--chaya mora natha
SYNONYMS
jaya—all glories; rupa—to Rupa Gosvami; sanatana—Sanatana Gosvami; jiva—Jiva Gosvami; raghunatha—Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; raghunatha—Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami; gopala—Gopala Bhatta Gosvami; chaya—six; mora—my; natha—lords.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, Jiva Gosvami, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, and Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, the six Gosvamis of Vrndavana. They are all my masters.
Antya11.10
TEXT 10
e-saba prasade likhi caitanya-lila-guna
yaiche taiche likhi, kari apana pavana
SYNONYMS
e-saba—of all these; prasade—by the mercy; likhi—I am writing; caitanya-lila guna—the attributes and pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yaiche taiche—somehow or other; likhi—I am writing; kari—I do; apana pavana—purifying myself.
TRANSLATION
I am writing this narration of the pastimes and attributes of the Lord by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates. I do not know how to write properly, but I am purifying myself by writing this description.
Antya11.11
TEXT 11
ei-mata mahaprabhura nilacale vasa
sange bhakta-gana lana kirtana-vilasa
SYNONYMS
ei-mata—in this way; mahaprabhura—of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nilacale vasa—residence at Jagannatha Puri; sange—along; bhakta-gana lana—taking His devotees; kirtana-vilasa—enjoyment of performance of congregational chanting.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu thus resided at Jagannatha Puri with His personal devotees and enjoyed the congregational chanting of the Hare Krsna maha mantra.
Antya11.12
TEXT 12
dine nrtya-kirtana, isvara-darasana
ratrye raya-svarupa-sane rasa-asvadana
SYNONYMS
dine—during the daytime; nrtya-kirtana—dancing and chanting; isvara darasana—visiting the temple of Lord Jagannatha; ratrye—at night; raya—Ramananda Raya; svarupa—Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; sane—with; rasa-asvadana—tasting the transcendental mellows.
TRANSLATION
In the daytime Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu engaged in dancing and chanting and in seeing the temple of Lord Jagannatha. At night, in the company of His most confidential devotees, such as Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, He tasted the nectar of the transcendental mellows of Lord Sri Krsna’s pastimes.
Antya11.13
TEXT 13
ei-mata mahaprabhura sukhe kala yaya
krsnera viraha-vikara ange nana haya
SYNONYMS
ei-mata—in this way; mahaprabhura—of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sukhe—in happiness; kala yaya—time passes; krsnera—of Lord Krsna; viraha—from separation; vikara—transformations; ange—on the body; nana—various; haya—there are.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu very happily passed His days in this way at Nilacala, Jagannatha Puri. Feeling separation from Krsna, He exhibited many transcendental symptoms all over His body.
Antya11.14
TEXT 14
dine dine bade vikara, ratrye atisaya
cinta, udvega, pralapadi yata sastre kaya
SYNONYMS
dine dine—day after day; bade—increase; vikara—transformations; ratrye atisaya—especially at night; cinta—anxiety; udvega—agitation; pralapa—talking like a madman; adi—and so on; yata—as many as; sastre kaya—are mentioned in the sastras.
TRANSLATION
Day after day the symptoms increased, and at night they increased even more. All these symptoms, such as transcendental anxiety, agitation, and talking like a madman, were present, just as they are described in the sastras.
Antya11.15
TEXT 15
svarupa gosani, ara ramananda-raya
ratri-dine kare donhe prabhura sahaya
SYNONYMS
svarupa gosani—Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; ara—and; ramananda-raya—Ramananda Raya; ratri-dine—day and night; kare—do; donhe—both of them; prabhura—of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sahaya—help.
TRANSLATION
Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and Ramananda Raya, the chief assistants in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastimes, remained with Him both day and night.
Antya11.16
TEXT 16
eka-dina govinda maha-prasada lana
haridase dite gela anandita hana
SYNONYMS
eka-dina—one day; govinda—the personal servant of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; maha-prasada lana—taking maha-prasada; haridase dite—to deliver to Haridasa; gela—went; anandita hana—in great jubilation.
TRANSLATION
One day Govinda, the personal servant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, went in great jubilation to deliver the remnants of Lord Jagannatha’s food to Haridasa Thakura.
Antya11.17
TEXT 17
dekhe,--haridasa thakura kariyache sayana
manda manda kariteche sankhya-sankirtana
SYNONYMS
dekhe—he saw; haridasa thakura—Haridasa Thakura; kariyache sayana—was lying down; manda manda—very slowly; kariteche—he was doing; sankhya sankirtana—chanting the fixed number of rounds.
TRANSLATION
When Govinda came to Haridasa, he saw that Haridasa Thakura was lying on his back and chanting his rounds very slowly.
Antya11.18
TEXT 18
govinda kahe,--’utha asi’ karaha bhojana’
haridasa kahe,--aji karimu langhana
SYNONYMS
govinda kahe—Govinda said; utha—please get up; asi’-coming; karaha bhojana—take your prasada; haridasa kahe—Haridasa replied; aji—today; karimu langhana—I shall observe fasting.
TRANSLATION
“Please rise and take your maha-prasada,” Govinda said. Haridasa Thakura replied, "Today I shall observe fasting.
Antya11.19
TEXT 19
sankhya-kirtana pure nahi, ke-mate khaiba?
maha-prasada aniyacha, ke-mate upeksiba?
SYNONYMS
sankhya-kirtana—the fixed amount of chanting; pure nahi—is not complete; ke-mate khaiba—how shall I eat; maha-prasada aniyacha—you have brought the maha-prasada; ke-mate upeksiba—how shall I neglect.
TRANSLATION
“I have not finished chanting my regular number of rounds. How, then, can I eat? But you have brought maha-prasada, and how can I neglect it?”
Antya11.20
TEXT 20
eta bali’ maha-prasada karila vandana
eka ranca lana tara karila bhaksana
SYNONYMS
eta bali’-saying this; maha-prasada—to the maha-prasada; karila vandana—he offered respect; eka ranca—one fractional part; lana—taking; tara karila bhaksana—ate it.
TRANSLATION
Saying this, he offered prayers to the maha-prasada, took a little portion, and ate it.
PURPORT
Maha-prasada is nondifferent from Krsna. Therefore, instead of eating maha-prasada, one should honor it. It is said here, karila vandana, “he offered prayers.” When taking maha-prasada, one should not consider the food ordinary preparations. Prasada means favor. One should consider maha-prasada a favor of Krsna. As stated by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, krsna bada dayamaya karibare jihva jaya svaprasada-anna dila bhai. Krsna is very kind. In this material world we are all very attached to tasting various types of food. Therefore, Krsna eats many nice varieties of food and offers the food back to the devotees, so that not only are one’s demands for various tastes satisfied, but by eating prasada he makes advancement in spiritual life. Therefore, we should never consider ordinary food on an equal level with maha-prasada.
Antya11.21
TEXT 21
ara dina mahaprabhu tanra thani aila
sustha hao, haridasa--bali’ tanre puchila
SYNONYMS
ara dina—the next day; mahaprabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanra thani—to his place; aila—came; su-stha hao—are you all right; haridasa—O Haridasa; bali’-saying; tanre—unto him; puchila—inquired.
TRANSLATION
The next day, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Haridasa’s place and inquired from him, “Haridasa, are you well?”
Antya11.22
TEXT 22
namaskara kari’ tenho kaila nivedana
sarira sustha haya mora, asustha buddhi-mana
SYNONYMS
namaskara kari’-after offering obeisances; tenho—he, Haridasa Thakura; kaila nivedana—submitted; sarira—body; su-stha—all right; haya—is; mora—my; asustha—not in a healthy condition; buddhi-mana—my mind and intelligence.
TRANSLATION
Haridasa offered his obeisances to the Lord and replied, “My body is all right, but my mind and intelligence are not well.”
Antya11.23
TEXT 23
prabhu kahe,--’kon vyadhi, kaha ta’ nirnaya?’
tenho kahe,--’sankhya-kirtana na puraya’
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; kon vyadhi—what disease; kaha ta’ nirnaya—can you ascertain; tenho kahe—he said; sankhya-kirtana—fixed amount of chanting; na puraya—has not become complete.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu further inquired from Haridasa, “Can you ascertain what your disease is?” Haridasa Thakura replied, “My disease is that I cannot complete my rounds.”
PURPORT
If one cannot complete the fixed number of rounds he is assigned, he should be considered to be in a diseased condition of spiritual life. Srila Haridasa Thakura is called namacarya. Of course, we cannot imitate Haridasa Thakura, but everyone must chant a prescribed number of rounds. In our Krsna consciousness movement we have fixed sixteen rounds as the minimum so that the Westerners will not feel burdened. These sixteen rounds must be chanted, and chanted loudly, so that one can hear himself and others.
Antya11.24
TEXT 24
prabhu kahe,--"vrddha ha-ila ’sankhya’ alpa kara
siddha-deha tumi, sadhane agraha kene kara?
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe—Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; vrddha ha-ila—you have become old; sankhya alpa kara—reduce your number; siddha-deha tumi—you are already liberated; sadhane—in the regulative principles; agraha kene kara—why are you eager.
TRANSLATION
“Now that you have become old,” the Lord said, "you may reduce the number of rounds you chant daily. You are already liberated, and therefore you need not follow the regulative principles very strictly.
PURPORT
Unless one has come to the platform of spontaneous love of God, he must follow the regulative principles. Thakura Haridasa was the living example of how to follow the regulative principles. Similarly, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was also such a living example. In the Sad-gosvamy-astaka it is stated: sankhya-purvaka-nama-gana-natibhih kalavasanikrtau. The Gosvamis, especially Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, strictly followed all the regulative principles. The first regulative principle is that one must chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra loudly enough so that he can hear himself, and one must vow to chant a fixed number of rounds. Not only was Raghunatha dasa Gosvami chanting a fixed number of rounds, but he had also taken a vow to bow down many times and offer obeisances to the Lord.
Antya11.25
TEXT 25
loka nistarite ei tomara ’avatara’
namera mahima loke karila pracara
SYNONYMS
loka nistarite—to deliver the people in general; ei—this; tomara avatara—your incarnation; namera mahima—the glories of the holy name; loke—in this world; karila pracara—you have preached.
TRANSLATION
“Your role in this incarnation is to deliver the people in general. You have sufficiently preached the glories of the holy name in this world.”
PURPORT
Haridasa Thakura is known as namacarya because it is he who preached the glories of chanting hari-nama, the holy name of God. By using the words tomara avatara (“your incarnation”), Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu confirms that Haridasa Thakura is the incarnation of Lord Brahma. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that advanced devotees help the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His mission and that such devotees or personal associates incarnate by the will of the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord incarnates by His own will, and, by His will, competent devotees also incarnate to help Him in His mission. Haridasa Thakura is thus the incarnation of Lord Brahma, and other devotees are likewise incarnations who help in the prosecution of the Lord’s mission.
Antya11.26
TEXT 26
ebe alpa sankhya kari’ kara sankirtana"
haridasa kahe,--"suna mora satya nivedana
SYNONYMS
ebe—now; alpa sankhya—a reduced number of chanting; kari’-doing; kara sankirtana—chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra; haridasa kahe—Haridasa Thakura replied; suna—kindly hear; mora—my; satya—real; nivedana—submission.
TRANSLATION
The Lord concluded, “Now, therefore, please reduce the fixed number of times you chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.” Haridasa Thakura replied, "Kindly hear my real plea.
Antya11.27
TEXT 27
hina-jati janma mora nindya-kalevara
hina-karme rata muni adhama pamara
SYNONYMS
hina-jati—in a low family; janma mora—my birth; nindya—abominable; kalevara—body; hina-karme—in low activities; rata muni—I am fully engaged; adhama—the lowest of men; pamara—most condemned.
TRANSLATION
"I was born in an inferior family, and my body is most abominable. I always engage in low work. Therefore, I am the lowest, most condemned of men.
Antya11.28
TEXT 28
adrsya, asprsya more angikara kaila
raurava ha-ite kadi’ more vaikunthe cadaila
SYNONYMS
adrsya—unseeable; asprsya—untouchable; more—me; angikara kaila—You have accepted; raurava ha-ite—from a hellish condition; kadi’-taking away; more—me; vaikunthe cadaila—have raised to the Vaikuntha platform.
TRANSLATION
"I am unseeable and untouchable, but You have accepted me as Your servant. This means that You have delivered me from a hellish condition and raised me to the Vaikuntha platform.
Antya11.29
TEXT 29
svatantra isvara tumi hao icchamaya
jagat nacao, yare yaiche iccha haya
SYNONYMS
svatantra—fully independent; isvara—Supreme Personality of Godhead; tumi—You; hao—are; iccha-maya—free to act according to Your desire; jagat—the world; nacao—You are causing to dance; yare—which; yaiche—as; iccha haya—You like.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Lord, You are the fully independent Personality of Godhead. You act by Your own free will. You cause the whole world to dance and act as You like.
Antya11.30
TEXT 30
aneka nacaila more prasada kariya
viprera sraddha-patra khainu ’mleccha’ hana
SYNONYMS
aneka—in many ways; nacaila—You have made dance; more—me; prasada kariya—by Your mercy; viprera—of the brahmanas; sraddha-patra—the dish of the sraddha ceremony; khainu—I have eaten; mleccha hana—although born in a family of meateaters.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Lord, by Your mercy You have made me dance in many ways. For example, I was offered the sraddha-patra that should have been offered to first-class brahmanas. I ate from it even though I was born in a family of meateaters.
PURPORT
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, in his Anubhasya, quotes from the Visnu-smrti in reference to sraddha-patra.
brahmanapasada hy ete
kathitah pankti-dusakah
etan vivarjayed yatnat
sraddha-karmani panditah
According to this verse, if one is born in a brahmana family but does not behave according to brahminical standards, he should not be offered the sraddha-patra, which is prasada offered to the forefathers. Advaita Acarya offered the sraddha-patra to Haridasa Thakura, not to a brahmana who had been born in a brahmana family. Although Haridasa Thakura was born in the family of meateaters, because he was an advanced devotee he was shown more respect than a first-class brahmana.
Antya11.31
TEXT 31
eka vancha haya mora bahu dina haite
lila samvaribe tumi--laya mora citte
SYNONYMS
eka vancha—one desire; haya—is; mora—my; bahu dina—a very long time; haite—since; lila—Your activities; samvaribe tumi—You will close; laya mora citte—I am thinking.
TRANSLATION
"I have had one desire for a very long time. I think that quite soon, my Lord, You will bring to a close Your pastimes within this material world.
Antya11.32
TEXT 32
sei lila prabhu more kabhu na dekhaiba
apanara age mora sarira padiba
SYNONYMS
sei lila—that pastime; prabhu—my Lord; more—unto me; kabhu—ever; na dekhaiba—do not show; apanara age—before You; mora sarira—my body; padiba—let fall down.
TRANSLATION
"I wish that You not show me this closing chapter of Your pastimes. Before that time comes, kindly let my body fall down in Your presence.
Antya11.33
TEXT 33
hrdaye dharimu tomara kamala carana
nayane dekhimu tomara canda vadana
SYNONYMS
hrdaye—upon my heart; dharimu—I shall catch; tomara—Your; kamala carana—lotuslike feet; nayane—with my eyes; dekhimu—I shall see; tomara—Your; canda vadana—face like the moon.
TRANSLATION
"I wish to catch Your lotuslike feet upon my heart and see Your moonlike face.
Antya11.34
TEXT 34
jihvaya uccarimu tomara ’krsna-caitanya’-nama
ei-mata mora iccha,--chadimu parana
SYNONYMS
jihvaya—with my tongue; uccarimu—I shall chant; tomara—Your; krsna-caitanya-nama—holy name of Lord Krsna Caitanya; ei-mata—in this way; mora iccha—my desire; chadimu parana—I shall give up life.
TRANSLATION
"With my tongue I shall chant Your holy name, ’Sri Krsna Caitanya!’ That is my desire. Kindly let me give up my body in this way.
Antya11.35
TEXT 35
mora ei iccha yadi tomara prasade haya
ei nivedana mora kara, dayamaya
SYNONYMS
mora—my; ei—this; iccha—desire; yadi—if; tomara prasade—by Your mercy; haya—is; ei nivedana—this submission; mora—my; kara—just do; daya-maya—O merciful one.
TRANSLATION
"O most merciful Lord, if by Your mercy it is possible, kindly grant my desire.
Antya11.36
TEXT 36
ei nica deha mora paduka tava age
ei vancha-siddhi mora tomatei lage"
SYNONYMS
ei—this; nica—lowborn; deha—body; mora—my; paduka—let it fall down; tava age—in front of You; ei—this; vancha-siddhi—perfection of desire; mora—my; tomatei—by You; lage—can become possible.
TRANSLATION
“Let this lowborn body fall down before You. You can make possible this perfection of all my desires.”
Antya11.37
TEXT 37
prabhu kahe,--"haridasa, ye tumi magibe
krsna krpamaya taha avasya karibe
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied; haridasa—My dear Haridasa; ye—whatever; tumi—you; magibe—request; krsna—Lord Krsna; krpa-maya—all-merciful; taha—that; avasya—certainly; karibe—will execute.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "My dear Haridasa, Krsna is so merciful that He must execute whatever you want.