Sri Caitanya-caritamrta: Madhya-lila
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chapter 11

Madhya11.67

TEXT 67

gauda haite vaisnava asitechena dui-sata

mahaprabhura bhakta saba-maha-bhagavata

SYNONYMS

gauda haite—from Bengal; vaisnava—devotees; asitechena—are coming; dui-sata—numbering about two hundred; mahaprabhura—of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhakta—the devotees; saba—all; maha-bhagavata—greatly advanced devotees.

TRANSLATION

"About two hundred devotees are coming from Bengal. All of them are greatly advanced devotees and specifically devoted to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Madhya11.68

TEXT 68

narendre asiya sabe haila vidyamana

tan-sabare cahi vasa prasada-samadhana

SYNONYMS

narendre—on the bank of Lake Narendra; asiya—coming; sabe—all of them; haila vidyamana—staying; tan-sabare—for all of them; cahi—I want; vasa—residential quarters; prasada—for distributing prasada; samadhana—arrangement.

TRANSLATION

“All of them have already arrived on the bank of Lake Narendra and are waiting there. I desire residential quarters and prasada arrangements for them.”

PURPORT

Narendra is a small lake still existing in Jagannatha Puri, where the Candana-yatra festival takes place. Up to the present date, all the Bengali devotees who visit the Jagannatha temple first take their bath in this lake. There they wash their hands and feet before entering the temple.

Madhya11.69

TEXT 69

raja kahe,-padichake ami ajna diba

vasa adi ye cahiye,-padicha saba diba

SYNONYMS

raja kahe—the King said; padichake—unto the attendant; ami—I; ajna diba—shall give orders; vasa—residential quarters; adi—and other arrangements; ye cahiye—whatever you want; padicha—the attendant; saba—everything; diba—will supply.

TRANSLATION

The King replied, "I shall give orders to the attendant in the temple. He will arrange for everyone’s residential quarters and prasada, as you desire.

Madhya11.70

TEXT 70

mahaprabhura gana yata aila gauda haite

bhattacarya, eke eke dekhaha amate

SYNONYMS

mahaprabhura—of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gana—associates; yata—all; aila—who have come; gauda haite—from Bengal; bhattacarya—Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; eke eke—one after another; dekhaha—please show; amate—to me.

TRANSLATION

“Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, please show me, one after another, all of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s devotees who are coming from Bengal.”

Madhya11.71

TEXT 71

bhatta kahe,-attalikaya kara arohana

gopinatha cine sabare, karabe darasana

SYNONYMS

bhatta kahe—the Bhattacarya said; attalikaya—on the roof of the palace; kara arohana—just go up; gopinatha—Gopinatha Acarya; cine—knows; sabare—everyone; karabe darasana—he will show.

TRANSLATION

Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya requested the King, "Go up on the roof of the palace. Gopinatha Acarya knows every one of the devotees. He will identify them for you.

Madhya11.72

TEXT 72

ami kaho nahi cini, cinite mana haya

gopinathacarya sabare kara’be paricaya

SYNONYMS

ami—I; kaho—anyone; nahi—do not; cini—know; cinite mana haya—I desire to know; gopinatha-acarya—Gopinatha Acarya; sabare—all of them; kara’be paricaya—will identify.

TRANSLATION

“Actually I do not know any of them, although I have a desire to know them. Since Gopinatha Acarya knows them all, he will give you their names.”

Madhya11.73

TEXT 73

eta bali’ tina jana attalikaya cadila

hena-kale vaisnava saba nikate aila

SYNONYMS

eta bali’-saying this; tina jana—the three persons (namely, the King, Gopinatha Acarya and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya); attalikaya—on the roof of the palace; cadila—went up; hena-kale—at this time; vaisnava—the Vaisnava devotees; saba—all; nikate—nearby; aila—came.

TRANSLATION

After Sarvabhauma said this, he went up to the top of the palace with the King and Gopinatha Acarya. At this time all the Vaisnava devotees from Bengal drew closer to the palace.

Madhya11.74

TEXT 74

damodara-svarupa, govinda,-dui jana

mala-prasada lana yaya, yahan vaisnava-gana

SYNONYMS

damodara-svarupa—Svarupa Damodara; govinda—Govinda; dui jana—two persons; mala-prasada—flower garlands and remnants of Lord Jagannatha’s food; lana—taking; yaya—went; yahan—where; vaisnava-gana—the Vaisnavas.

TRANSLATION

Svarupa Damodara and Govinda, taking the flower garlands and prasada of Lord Jagannatha, proceeded to where all the Vaisnavas were standing.

Madhya11.75

TEXT 75

prathamete mahaprabhu pathaila dunhare

raja kahe, ei dui kon cinaha amare

SYNONYMS

prathamete—at first; mahaprabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; pathaila—sent; dunhare—two persons; raja kahe—the King said; ei dui—these two; kon—who are they; cinaha—kindly identify; amare—to me.

TRANSLATION

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu first sent them both in advance. The King inquired, “Who are these two? Please let me know their identities.”

Madhya11.76

TEXT 76

bhattacarya kahe,-ei svarupa-damodara

mahaprabhura haya inha dvitiya kalevara

SYNONYMS

bhattacarya kahe—the Bhattacarya said; ei—this gentleman; svarupa-damodara—his name is Svarupa Damodara; mahaprabhura—of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; haya—is; inha—he; dvitiya—the second; kalevara—expansion of the body.

TRANSLATION

Sri Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya replied, "Here is Svarupa Damodara, who is practically the second expansion of the body of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Madhya11.77

TEXT 77

dvitiya, govinda-bhrtya, ihan donha diya

mala pathanachena prabhu gaurava kariya

SYNONYMS

dvitiya—the second; govinda—Govinda; bhrtya—personal servant; ihan—here; donha diya—through these two persons; mala—flower garlands; pathanachena—has sent; prabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gaurava kariya—giving much honor.

TRANSLATION

“The second person is Govinda, Lord Caitanya’s personal servant. The Lord has sent garlands and remnants of Lord Jagannatha’s food with these two persons simply to honor the devotees from Bengal.”

Madhya11.78

TEXT 78

adau mala advaitere svarupa paraila

pache govinda dvitiya mala ani’ tanre dila

SYNONYMS

adau—in the beginning; mala—a garland; advaitere—unto Advaita Acarya; svarupa—Svarupa Damodara; paraila—offered; pache—after that; govinda—Govinda, the Lord’s personal servant; dvitiya—a second; mala—garland; ani’—bringing; tanre dila—delivered to Him.

TRANSLATION

At the beginning, Svarupa Damodara came forward and garlanded Advaita Acarya. Govinda next came and offered a second garland to Advaita Acarya.

Madhya11.79

TEXT 79

tabe govinda dandavat kaila acaryere

tanre nahi cine acarya, puchila damodare

SYNONYMS

tabe—at that time; govinda—Govinda; dandavat—falling flat to offer obeisances; kaila—did; acaryere—unto Advaita Acarya; tanre—him; nahi—not; cine—recognized; acarya—Advaita Acarya; puchila—inquired; damodare—to Svarupa Damodara.

TRANSLATION

When Govinda offered his obeisances by falling down flat before Advaita Acarya, Advaita Acarya asked Svarupa Damodara about his identity, for He did not know Govinda at that time.

Madhya11.80

TEXT 80

damodara kahe,-ihara ’govinda’ nama

isvara-purira sevaka ati gunavan

SYNONYMS

damodara kahe—Damodara said; ihara—of him; govinda—Govinda; nama—the name; isvara-purira sevaka—servant of Isvara Puri; ati gunavan—very much qualified.

TRANSLATION

Svarupa Damodara informed Him, "Govinda was the servant of Isvara Puri. He is very highly qualified.

Madhya11.81

TEXT 81

prabhura seva karite puri ajna dila

ataeva prabhu inhake nikate rakhila

SYNONYMS

prabhura—of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; seva—the service; karite—to perform; puri—Isvara Puri; ajna dila—ordered; ataeva—therefore; prabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; inhake—him; nikate—by His side; rakhila—kept.

TRANSLATION

“Isvara Puri ordered Govinda to serve Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thus the Lord keeps him by His side.”

Madhya11.82

TEXT 82

raja kahe,-yanre mala dila dui-jana

ascarya teja, bada mahanta,-kaha kon jana?

SYNONYMS

raja kahe—the King inquired; yanre—unto which person; mala—garlands; dila—offered; dui-jana—Svarupa Damodara and Govinda; ascarya teja—wonderfully effulgent; bada mahanta—a very great devotee; kaha kon jana—kindly let me know who He is.

TRANSLATION

The King inquired, “To whom did Svarupa Damodara and Govinda offer the two garlands? His bodily effulgence is so great that He must be a very great devotee. Please let me know who He is.”

Madhya11.83

TEXT 83

acarya kahe,-inhara nama advaita acarya

mahaprabhura manya-patra, sarva-sirodharya

SYNONYMS

acarya kahe—Gopinatha Acarya said; inhara nama—His name; advaita acarya—Advaita Acarya; mahaprabhura—of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; manya-patra—honorable; sarva-sirodharya—the topmost devotee.

TRANSLATION

Gopinatha Acarya replied, "His name is Advaita Acarya. He is honored even by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and He is therefore the topmost devotee.

Madhya11.84

TEXT 84

srivasa-pandita inha, pandita-vakresvara

vidyanidhi-acarya, inha pandita-gadadhara

SYNONYMS

srivasa-pandita—Srivasa Pandita; inha—here; pandita-vakresvara—Vakresvara Pandita; vidyanidhi-acarya—Vidyanidhi Acarya; inha—here; pandita-gadadhara—Gadadhara Pandita.

TRANSLATION

"Here are Srivasa Pandita, Vakresvara Pandita, Vidyanidhi Acarya and Gadadhara Pandita.

Madhya11.85

TEXT 85

acaryaratna inha, pandita-purandara

gangadasa pandita inha, pandita-sankara

SYNONYMS

acaryaratna—Candrasekhara; inha—here; pandita-purandara—Purandara Pandita; gangadasa pandita—Gangadasa Pandita; inha—here; pandita-sankara—Sankara Pandita.

TRANSLATION

"Here are Acaryaratna, Purandara Pandita, Gangadasa Pandita and Sankara Pandita.

Madhya11.86

TEXT 86

ei murari gupta, inha pandita narayana

haridasa thakura inha bhuvana-pavana

SYNONYMS

ei—this; murari gupta—Murari Gupta; inha—here; pandita narayana—Narayana Pandita; haridasa thakura—Haridasa Thakura; inha—here; bhuvana-pavana—deliverer of the whole universe.

TRANSLATION

"Here are Murari Gupta, Pandita Narayana and Haridasa Thakura, the deliverer of the whole universe.

Madhya11.87

TEXT 87

ei hari-bhatta, ei sri-nrsimhananda

ei vasudeva datta, ei sivananda

SYNONYMS

ei—this; hari-bhatta—Hari Bhatta; ei—this; sri-nrsimhananda—Sri Nrsimhananda; ei—this; vasudeva datta—Vasudeva Datta; ei—this; sivananda—Sivananda.

TRANSLATION

"Here is Hari Bhatta, and there is Nrsimhananda. Here are Vasudeva Datta and Sivananda Sena.

Madhya11.88

TEXT 88

govinda, madhava ghosa, ei vasu-ghosa

tina bhaira kirtane prabhu payena santosa

SYNONYMS

govinda—Govinda Ghosa; madhava ghosa—Madhava Ghosa; ei—this; vasu-ghosa—Vasudeva Ghosa; tina bhaira—of the three brothers; kirtane—in the sankirtana; prabhu—the Lord; payena santosa—gets very much pleasure.

TRANSLATION

"Here also are Govinda Ghosa, Madhava Ghosa and Vasudeva Ghosa. They are three brothers, and their sankirtana, congregational chanting, pleases the Lord very much.

PURPORT

Govinda Ghosa belonged to the kayastha dynasty of the Uttara-radhiya section, and he was known as Ghosa Thakura. Even to the present day there is a place named Agradvipa, near Katwa, where a fair takes place and is named after Ghosa Thakura. As far as Vasudeva Ghosa is concerned, he composed many nice songs about Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and these are all authorized Vaisnava songs, like the songs of Narottama dasa Thakura, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Locana dasa Thakura, Govinda dasa Thakura and other great Vaisnavas.

Madhya11.89

TEXT 89

raghava pandita, inha acarya nandana

sriman pandita ei, srikanta, narayana

SYNONYMS

raghava pandita—Raghava Pandita; inha—here; acarya nandana—Acarya Nandana; sriman pandita—Sriman Pandita; ei—this; srikanta—Srikanta; narayana—and also Narayana.

TRANSLATION

“Here is Raghava Pandita, here is Acarya Nandana, there is Sriman Pandita, and here are Srikanta and Narayana.”

PURPORT

Narottama dasa Thakura, honoring the personal associates of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, has sung as follows (Prarthana 13):

gaurangera sangi-gane,     nitya-siddha kari’ mane
se yaya vrajendra-suta-pasa

One who is intelligent understands that all the personal associates and devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are ever liberated. This means that they do not belong to this material world because they are always engaged in the devotional service of the Lord. One who is engaged in the Lord’s devotional service twenty-four hours daily and never forgets the Lord is called nitya-siddha. Srila Rupa Gosvami confirms this statement:

iha yasya harer dasye
karmana manasa gira
nikhilasv apy avasthasu
jivan-muktah sa ucyate

“A person acting in the service of Krsna with body, mind, intelligence and words is a liberated person even within the material world, although he may be engaged in many so-called material activities.” (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.187)

A devotee is always thinking of how better to serve Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and how to broadcast His name, fame and qualities throughout the world. One who is nitya-siddha has no business other than broadcasting the glories of the Lord all over the world according to his ability. Such people are already associates of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura says, nitya-siddha kari’ mane. One should not think that because Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was personally present five hundred years ago, only His associates were liberated. Rather, Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says that anyone is a nitya-siddha if he acts on behalf of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by spreading the glories of the holy name of the Lord. We should respect those devotees preaching the glories of the Lord as nitya-siddha and should not consider them conditioned.

mam ca yo ’vyabhicarena
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunan samatityaitan
brahma-bhuyaya kalpate

(Bg. 14.26)

One who has transcended the material modes of nature is said to be on the Brahman platform. That is also the platform of nitya-siddha. The nitya-siddha not only stays on the Brahman platform but also works on that platform. Simply by accepting the associates of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu as nitya-siddha, one can very easily go back home, back to Godhead.

Madhya11.90

TEXT 90

suklambara dekha, ei sridhara, vijaya

vallabha-sena, ei purusottama, sanjaya

SYNONYMS

suklambara—Suklambara; dekha—see; ei—this; sridhara—Sridhara; vijaya—Vijaya; vallabha-sena—Vallabha Sena; ei—this; purusottama—Purusottama; sanjaya—Sanjaya.

TRANSLATION

Gopinatha Acarya continued to point out the devotees. "Here is Suklambara. See, there is Sridhara. Here is Vijaya, and there is Vallabha Sena. Here is Purusottama, and there is Sanjaya.

Madhya11.91

TEXT 91

kulina-grama-vasi ei satyaraja-khana

ramananda-adi sabe dekha vidyamana

SYNONYMS

kulina-grama-vasi—residents of the village known as Kulina-grama; ei—these; satyaraja-khana—Satyaraja Khan; ramananda-adi—headed by Ramananda; sabe—everyone; dekha—you see; vidyamana—present.

TRANSLATION

"And here are all the residents of Kulina-grama, such as Satyaraja Khan and Ramananda. Indeed, all of them are present here. Please see.

Madhya11.92

TEXT 92

mukunda-dasa, narahari, sri-raghunandana

khanda-vasi ciranjiva, ara sulocana

SYNONYMS

mukunda-dasa—Mukunda dasa; narahari—Narahari; sri-raghunandana—Sri Raghunandana; khanda-vasi—residents of Khanda; ciranjiva—Ciranjiva; ara—and; sulocana—Sulocana.

TRANSLATION

"Here are Mukunda dasa, Narahari, Sri Raghunandana, Ciranjiva and Sulocana, all residents of Khanda.

Madhya11.93

TEXT 93

kateka kahiba, ei dekha yata jana

caitanyera gana, saba-caitanya-jivana

SYNONYMS

kateka kahiba—how many shall I speak; ei—these; dekha—see; yata jana—all the persons; caitanyera gana—associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; saba—all of them; caitanya-jivana—considering Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu their life and soul.

TRANSLATION

“How many names shall I speak to you? All the devotees you see here are associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is their life and soul.”

Madhya11.94

TEXT 94

raja kahe-dekhi’ mora haila camatkara

vaisnavera aiche teja dekhi nahi ara

SYNONYMS

raja kahe—the King said; dekhi’—after seeing; mora—my; haila—there is; camatkara—astonishment; vaisnavera—of the devotees of the Lord; aiche—such; teja—effulgence; dekhi—I see; nahi—not; ara—anyone else.

TRANSLATION

The King said, "Upon seeing all these devotees, I am very much astonished, for I have never seen such an effulgence.

Madhya11.95

TEXT 95

koti-surya-sama saba-ujjvala-varana

kabhu nahi suni ei madhura kirtana

SYNONYMS

koti-surya-sama—equal to the shining of millions of suns; saba—all of them; ujjvala-varana—very bright luster; kabhu nahi suni—I have never heard; ei—this; madhura kirtana—such melodious performance of congregational chanting.

TRANSLATION

"Indeed, their effulgence is like the brilliance of a million suns. Nor have I ever heard the Lord’s names chanted so melodiously.

PURPORT

Such are the symptoms of pure devotees when they are chanting. All the pure devotees are as bright as sunshine, and their bodily luster is very effulgent. In addition, their performance of sankirtana is unparalleled. There are many professional chanters who can perform congregational chanting with various musical instruments in an artistic and musical way, but their chanting cannot be as attractive as the congregational chanting of pure devotees. If a devotee sticks strictly to the principles governing Vaisnava behavior, his bodily luster will naturally be attractive, and his singing and chanting of the holy names of the Lord will be effective. People will appreciate such kirtana without hesitation. Even dramas about the pastimes of Lord Caitanya or Sri Krsna should be played by devotees. Such dramas will immediately interest an audience and be full of potency. The students of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness should note these two points and try to apply these principles in their spreading of the Lord’s glories.

Madhya11.96

TEXT 96

aiche prema, aiche nrtya, aiche hari-dhvani

kahan nahi dekhi, aiche kahan nahi suni

SYNONYMS

aiche—such; prema—ecstatic love; aiche nrtya—such dancing; aiche hari-dhvani—such vibration of the chanting of the holy name; kahan—anywhere; nahi dekhi—I have never seen; aiche—such; kahan—anywhere; nahi suni—I never heard.

TRANSLATION

“I have never before seen such ecstatic love, nor heard the vibration of the holy name of the Lord chanted in such a way, nor seen such dancing during sankirtana.”

PURPORT

Because the temple of Lord Jagannatha is situated at Jagannatha Puri, many devotees from all parts of the world came to perform sankirtana in glorification of the Lord. All these devotees were certainly seen and heard by Maharaja Prataparudra, but he herein admits that the kirtana performed by the associates of the Lord was unique. He had never before heard such sankirtana nor seen such attractive features manifest by the devotees. The members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness should go to India during the birthday ceremony of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Mayapura and perform sankirtana congregationally. This will attract the attention of all the important personalities in India, just as the beauty, bodily luster and sankirtana performance by the associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu attracted the attention of Maharaja Prataparudra. The associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu were unlimited during the Lord’s presence on this planet, but anyone who is pure in life and devoted to the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is to be understood as a nitya-siddha associate of the Lord.

Madhya11.97

TEXT 97

bhattacarya kahe ei madhura vacana

caitanyera srsti-ei prema-sankirtana

SYNONYMS

bhattacarya—Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; kahe—replied; ei—this; madhura vacana—transcendental sweetness of the voice; caitanyera srsti—the creation of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ei—this; prema-sankirtana—chanting in the ecstasy of love of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya replied, "This sweet transcendental sound is a special creation of the Lord known as prema-sankirtana, congregational chanting in love of Godhead.

Madhya11.98

TEXT 98

avatari’ caitanya kaila dharma-pracarana

kali-kale dharma-krsna-nama-sankirtana

SYNONYMS

avatari’-descending; caitanya—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila—did; dharma-pracarana—preaching of real religion; kali-kale—in this Age of Kali; dharma—religious principle; krsna-nama—of the holy name of Lord Krsna; sankirtana—chanting.

TRANSLATION

"In this Age of Kali, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has descended to preach the religion of Krsna consciousness. Therefore the chanting of the holy names of Lord Krsna is the religious principle for this age.

Madhya11.99

TEXT 99

sankirtana-yajne tanre kare aradhana

sei ta’ sumedha, ara-kali-hata-jana

SYNONYMS

sankirtana-yajne—in the performance of congregational chanting; tanre—unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare—does; aradhana—worship; sei ta’—such a person; su-medha—sharply intelligent; ara—others; kali-hata-jana—victims of this Age of Kali.

TRANSLATION

"Anyone who worships Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu by congregational chanting should be understood to be very intelligent. One who does not do so must be considered a victim of this age and bereft of all intelligence.

PURPORT

Rascals propose that anyone can invent his own religious process, and this proposition is condemned herein. If one actually wants to become religious, he must take up the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. The real meaning of religion is stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.3.19-22).

dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam
na vai vidur rsayo napi devah
na siddha-mukhya asura manusyah
kuto nu vidyadhara-caranadayah

svayambhur naradah sambhuh
kumarah kapilo manuh
prahlado janako bhismo
balir vaiyasakir vayam

dvadasaite vijanimo
dharmam bhagavatam bhatah
guhyam visuddham durbodham
yam jnatvamrtam asnute

etavan eva loke ’smin
pumsam dharmah parah smrtah
bhakti-yogo bhagavati
tan-nama-grahanadibhih

The purport of these verses is that dharma, or religion, cannot be manufactured by a human being. Religion is the law or code of the Lord. Consequently religion cannot be manufactured even by great saintly persons, demigods or siddha-mukhyas, and what to speak of asuras, human beings, Vidyadharas, Caranas, and so on. The principles of dharma, religion, come down in the parampara system beginning with twelve personalities-namely, Lord Brahma; the great saint Narada; Lord Siva; the four Kumaras; Kapila, the son of Devahuti; Svayambhuva Manu; Prahlada Maharaja; King Janaka; grandfather Bhisma; Bali Maharaja; Sukadeva Gosvami; and Yamaraja. The principles of religion are known to these twelve personalities. Dharma refers to the religious principles by which one can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Dharma is very confidential, uncontaminated by any material influence, and very difficult for ordinary men to understand. However, if one actually understands dharma, he immediately becomes liberated and is transferred to the kingdom of God. Bhagavata-dharma, or the principle of religion enunciated by the parampara system, is the supreme principle of religion. In other words, dharma refers to the science of bhakti-yoga, which begins by the novice’s chanting the holy name of the Lord (tan-nama-grahanadibhih).

Therefore in this Age of Kali, as recommended here in the Caitanya-caritamrta (text 98), kali-kale dharma-krsna-nama-sankirtana: the chanting of the holy name of the Lord is the method of religion approved by all Vedic scriptures. In the next text of the Caitanya-caritamrta, quoted from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.32), this principle is further stressed.

Madhya11.100

TEXT 100

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam

sangopangastra-parsadam

yajnaih sankirtana-prayair

yajanti hi su-medhasah

SYNONYMS

krsna-varnam—repeating the syllables krs-na; tvisa—with a luster; akrsnam—not black (golden); sa-anga—along with associates; upanga—servitors; astra—weapons; parsadam—confidential companions; yajnaih—by sacrifice; sankirtana-prayaih—consisting chiefly of congregational chanting; yajanti—they worship; hi—certainly; su-medhasah—intelligent persons.

TRANSLATION

“ ’In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the name of Krsna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krsna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.’ ”

PURPORT

For an explanation of this verse, refer to Adi-lila, Chapter Three, verse 52.

Madhya11.101

TEXT 101

raja kahe,-sastra-pramane caitanya hana krsna

tabe kene pandita saba tanhate vitrsna?

SYNONYMS

raja kahe—the King said; sastra-pramane—by the evidence of revealed scripture; caitanya—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; hana—is; krsna—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna; tabe—therefore; kene—why; pandita—so-called learned scholars; saba—all; tanhate—unto Him; vitrsna—indifferent.

TRANSLATION

The King said, “According to evidence given in the revealed scriptures, it is concluded that Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Lord Krsna Himself. Why, then, are learned scholars sometimes indifferent to Him?”

Madhya11.102

TEXT 102

bhatta kahe,-tanra krpa-lesa haya yanre

sei se tanhare ’krsna’ kari’ la-ite pare

SYNONYMS

bhatta kahe—Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya said; tanra krpa—of Lord Caitanya’s mercy; lesa—even a fraction; haya—there is; yanre—unto whom; sei se—that person only; tanhare—Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krsna kari’—accepting as Krsna; la-ite pare—can take up.

TRANSLATION

The Bhattacarya replied, "A person who has received but a small fraction of mercy from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu can understand that He is Lord Krsna. No one else can.

PURPORT

The sankirtana movement can be spread by a person who is especially favored by Lord Krsna (krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana). Without first obtaining the mercy of the Lord, one cannot spread the holy name of the Lord. One who can spread the Lord’s name is called labdha-caitanya in the words of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. The labdha-caitanya is one who has actually awakened his original consciousness, Krsna consciousness. The influence of the pure devotees in Krsna consciousness is such that it can awaken others to become immediately Krsna conscious and engage themselves in the transcendental loving service of Krsna. In this way the descendants of pure devotees increase, and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu takes much pleasure in seeing the increase of His devotees. The word su-medhasah means “sharply intelligent.” When one’s intelligence is sharp, he can increase the interests of common men in loving Caitanya Mahaprabhu and through Him in loving Radha-Krsna. Those not interested in understanding Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are simply material in their attempts at professional chanting and dancing for money, despite their supposed artistry. If one does not have full faith in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he cannot properly chant and dance in the sankirtana movement. Artificial chanting and dancing may be due to sentiments or sentimental agitation, but this cannot help one advance in Krsna consciousness.

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