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

Chapter 24

Madhya24.331

TEXT 331

mantra-adhikari, mantra-siddhy-adi-sodhana

diksa, pratah-smrti-krtya, sauca, acamana

SYNONYMS

mantra-adhikari—qualification for receiving mantra initiation; mantra-siddhi-adi—the perfection of the mantra and so on; sodhana—purification; diksa—initiation; pratah-smrti-krtya—morning duties and remembrance of the Supreme Lord; sauca—cleanliness; acamana—washing the mouth and other parts of the body.

TRANSLATION

"You should discuss the qualifications necessary for receiving a mantra, the perfection of the mantra, the purification of the mantra, initiation, morning duties, remembrance of the Supreme Lord, cleanliness, and washing the mouth and other parts of the body.

PURPORT

The following injunction is given in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa (1.194):

tantrikesu ca mantresu
diksayam yositam api
sadhvinam adhikaro ’sti
sudradinam ca sad-dhiyam

Sudras and women who are chaste and sincerely interested in understanding the Absolute Truth are qualified to be initiated with the pancaratrika-mantras.” This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (9.32):

mam hi partha vyapasritya
ye ’pi syuh papa-yonayah
striyo vaisyas tatha sudras
te ’pi yanti param gatim

“O son of Prtha, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth-women, vaisyas [merchants], as well as sudras [workers]-can approach the supreme destination.”

If one actually wants to serve Krsna, it doesn’t matter whether one is a sudra, vaisya, or even a woman. If one is sincerely eager to chant the Hare Krsna mantra or diksa-mantra, he is qualified to be initiated according to the pancaratrika process. According to Vedic principles, only a brahmana who is fully engaged in his occupational duties can be initiated. Sudras and women are not admitted to a vaidika initiation. Unless one is fit according to the estimation of the spiritual master, one cannot accept a mantra from the pancaratrika-vidhi or the vaidika-vidhi. When one is fit to accept the mantra, he is initiated by the pancaratrika-vidhi or the vaidika-vidhi. In any case, the result is the same.

Regarding mantra-siddhi-adi-sodhana, the efficiency of the mantra, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gives sixteen divisions, which are confirmed in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa (beginning with 1.204):

siddha-sadhya-susiddhari-
kramaj jneyo vicaksanaih

These are (1) siddha, (2) sadhya, (3) susiddha and (4) ari. These four principles can be divided further: (1) siddha-siddha, (2) siddha-sadhya, (3) siddha-susiddha, (4) siddha-ari, (5) sadhya-siddha, (6) sadhya-sadhya, (7) sadhya-susiddha, (8) sadhya-ari, (9) susiddha-siddha, (10) susiddha-sadhya, (11) susiddha-susiddha, (12) susiddha-ari, (13) ari-siddha, (14) ari-sadhya, (15) ari-susiddha, and (16) ari-ari.

Those who are initiated with the eighteen-alphabet mantra do not need to consider the above-mentioned sixteen divisions. As enjoined in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa (1.215, 219, 220):

na catra satrava dosa
narnasvadi-vicarana
rksarasi-vicaro va
na kartavyo manau priye

natra cintyo ’ri-suddhyadir
   nari-mitradi-laksanam
siddha-sadhya-susiddhari-
   rupa natra vicarana

There is sodhana, or purification of the mantra, but there is no such consideration for the Krsna mantra. Balitvat krsna-mantranam samskarapeksanam na hi. "The Krsna mantra is so strong that there is no question of sodhana. (1.235)

As far as diksa is concerned, one should consult Madhya-lila, Chapter Fifteen (108). On the whole, when a person is initiated according to the pancaratrika-vidhi, he has already attained the position of a brahmana. This is enjoined in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa (2.12):

yatha kancanatam yati
kamsyam rasa-vidhanatah
tatha diksa-vidhanena
dvijatvam jayate nrnam

“As bell metal can be turned into gold when treated with mercury, a disciple initiated by a bona fide guru immediately attains the position of a brahmana.”

As far as the time of diksa (initiation) is concerned, everything depends on the position of the guru. As soon as a bona fide guru is received by chance or by a program, one should immediately take the opportunity to receive initiation. In the book called Tattva-sagara, it is stated:

durlabhe sad-gurunam ca
sakrt-sanga upasthite
tad-anujna yada labdha
sa diksavasaro mahan

grame va yadi varanye
ksetre va divase nisi
agacchati gurur daivad
yatha diksa tad-ajnaya

yadaiveccha tada diksa
guror ajnanurupatah
na tirtham na vratam hemo
na snanam na japa-kriya

diksayah karanam kintu
sveccha-prapte tu sad-gurau

“If, by chance, one gets a sad-guru, it doesn’t matter whether one is in the temple or the forest. If the sad-guru, the bona fide spiritual master, agrees, one can be initiated immediately, without waiting for a suitable time or place.”

In the early morning hours (known as brahma-muhurta) one should get up and immediately chant the Hare Krsna mantra, or, at least, “Krsna, Krsna, Krsna.” In this way, one should remember Krsna. Some slokas or prayers should also be chanted. By chanting, one immediately becomes auspicious and transcendental to the infection of material qualities. Actually one has to chant and remember Lord Krsna twenty-four hours daily, or as much as possible.

smartavyah satatam visnur
vismartavyo na jatucit
sarve vidhi-nisedhah syur
etayor eva kinkarah

“Krsna is the origin of Lord Visnu. He should always be remembered and never forgotten at any time. All the rules and prohibitions mentioned in the sastras should be the servants of these two principles.” This is a quotation from padma Purana in the portion called Brhat-sahasra-nama-stotra. pratah-krtya means that one should evacuate regularly and then cleanse himself by taking a bath. One has to gargle (acamana) and brush his teeth (danta-dhavana). He should do this either with twigs or a toothbrush-whatever is available. This will purify the mouth. Then one should take his bath. Actually householders and vanaprasthas should bathe two times a day (pratar-madhyahnayoh snanam vanaprastha-grhasthayoh). A sannyasi should bathe three times daily, and a brahmacari may take only one bath a day. Whenever one is not able to bathe in water, he can bathe by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra. One also has to perform his sandhyadi-vandana-that is, one has to chant his Gayatri mantra three times daily-morning, noon and evening.

Madhya24.332

TEXT 332

danta-dhavana, snana, sandhyadi vandana

guru-seva, urdhva-pundra-cakradi-dharana

SYNONYMS

danta-dhavana—washing the teeth; snana—bath; sandhya-adi vandana—regular chanting of the mantras; guru-seva—serving the spiritual master; urdhva-pundra—wearing perpendicularly straight tilaka; cakra-adi-dharana—stamping the body with different names and symbols of the Lord.

TRANSLATION

"In the morning, one should regularly brush his teeth, take his bath, offer prayers to the Lord and offer obeisances to the spiritual master. One should render service to the spiritual master and paint one’s body in twelve places with urdhva-pundra [tilaka]. One should stamp the holy names of the Lord on his body, or one should stamp the symbols of the Lord, such as the disc and club.

Madhya24.333

TEXT 333

gopicandana-malya-dhrti, tulasi-aharana

vastra-pitha-grha-samskara, krsna-prabodhana

SYNONYMS

gopi-candana—gopi-candana (available in Vrndavana and Dvaraka); malya—beads on the neck; dhrti—wearing regularly; tulasi-aharana—collecting tulasi leaves; vastra—cloth; pitha—temple; grha—the house; samskara—cleansing; krsna-prabodhana—awakening the Deity of Lord Krsna.

TRANSLATION

"After this, you should describe how one should decorate his body with gopicandana, wear neck beads, collect tulasi leaves from the tulasi tree, cleanse his cloth and the altar, cleanse one’s own house or apartment and go to the temple and ring the bell just to draw the attention of Lord Krsna.

Madhya24.334

TEXT 334

panca, sodasa, pancasat upacare arcana

panca-kala puja arati, krsnera bhojana-sayana

SYNONYMS

panca—five; sodasa—sixteen; pancasat—fifty; upacare—with ingredients; arcana—offering worship; panca-kala—five times; puja—worshiping; arati—offering arati; krsnera bhojana-sayana—in this way offering eatables to Krsna and laying Him down to rest.

TRANSLATION

"Also describe Deity worship, wherein one should offer food to Krsna at least five times daily. One should in due time place Krsna on a bed. You should also describe the process for offering arati and the worship of the Lord according to the list of five, sixteen or fifty ingredients.

PURPORT

The five ingredients are (1) very good scents, (2) very good flowers, (3) incense, (4) a lamp and (5) something edible. As for sodasopacara, the sixteen ingredients, one should (1) provide a sitting place (asana), (2) ask Krsna to sit down, (3) offer arghya, (4) offer water to wash the legs, (5) wash the mouth, (6) offer madhu-parka, (7) offer water for washing the mouth, (8) bathe, (9) offer garments, (10) decorate the Lord’s body with ornaments, (11) offer sweet scents, (12) offer flowers with good fragrance, like the rose or campaka, (13) offer incense, (14) offer a lamp, (15) give good food, and (16) offer prayers.

In the Hari-bhakti-vilasa (Eleventh Vilasa, verses 127-140) there is a vivid description of what is required in Deity worship. There are sixty-four items mentioned. In the temple, worship should be so gorgeous that all sixty-four items should be available for the satisfaction of the Personality of Godhead. Sometimes it is impossible to get all sixty-four items; therefore we recommend that at least on the first day of installation all sixty-four items should be available. When the Lord is established, worship with all sixty-four items should continue as far as possible. The sixty-four items are as follows: (1) There must be a big bell hanging in front of the temple room so that whoever comes in the room can ring the bell. This item is called prabodhana, or offering oneself submissively to the Lord. This is the first item. (2) The visitor must chant jaya Sri Radha-Govinda, or jaya Sri Radha-Madhava when he rings the bell. In either case, the word jaya must be uttered. (3) One should immediately offer obeisances to the Lord, falling down like a stick. (4) There must be regular mangala-arati in the temple during the early morning, an hour and a half before the sun rises. (5) There must be an asana, a sitting place before the altar. This asana is for the spiritual master. The disciple brings everything before the spiritual master, and the spiritual master offers everything to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (6) After mangala-arati, the Deity is supposed to wash His teeth by using a twig; therefore a twig must be offered. (7) Water must be offered for washing the Deity’s feet. (8) Arghya should be offered. (9) Water for acamana should be offered. (10) Madhu-parka, a small bowl containing madhu (honey, a little ghee, a little water, a little sugar, yogurt and milk) should be offered. This is called madhu-parka-acamana. (11) One should place wooden slippers before the Lord. (12) One should massage the body of the Lord. (13) One should massage the body of the Lord with oil. (14) With a soft, wet sponge one should remove all the oil smeared over the Lord’s body. (15) One should bathe the Lord with water in which nicely scented flowers have been soaking for some time. (16) After bathing the body of the Lord with water, one should bathe Him with milk. (17) Then with yogurt. (18) Then with ghee. (19) Then with honey. (20) Then with sugar. (21) Then one should wash the Deity with water and chant this mantra:

cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa-
laksavrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam
laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

(22) One should dry the entire body with a towel. (23) A new dress should be put on the body. (24) A sacred thread should be given to the body. (25) Water should be offered for cleansing the mouth (acamana). (26) Nicely scented oils like liquid sandalwood pulp should be smeared over the body. (27) All kinds of ornaments and crowns should be placed on the body. (28) Then one should offer flower garlands and decorative flowers. (29) One should burn incense. (30) Lamps should be offered. (31) Precautions should always be taken so that demons and atheists cannot harm the body of the Lord. (32) Food offerings should be placed before the Lord. (33) Spices for chewing should be offered. (34) Betel nuts should be offered. (35) At the proper time, there should be arrangements so that the Lord may take rest in bed. (36) The Lord’s hair should be combed and decorated. (37) First-class garments should be offered. (38) A first-class helmet should be offered. (39) The garments should be scented. (40) There should be Kaustubha jewels and other ornaments offered. (41) A variety of flowers should be offered. (42) Another mangala-arati should be offered. (43) A mirror should be offered. (44) The Lord should be carried on a nice palanquin to the altar. (45) The Lord should be seated on the throne. (46) Again water should be given for the washing of His feet. (47) Something again should be offered for eating. (48) Evening arati. (49) The Lord should be fanned with a camara fan, and an umbrella should be placed over His head. (50) The Hare Krsna mantra and approved songs should be sung. (51) Musical instruments should be played. (52) One should dance before the Deity. (53) One should circumambulate the Deity. (54) One should again offer obeisances. (55) One should offer different types of prayers and hymns at the Lord’s lotus feet. (56) One should touch the lotus feet of the Lord with one’s head. This may not be possible for everyone, but at least the pujari should do this. (57) The flowers offered on the previous day should touch one’s head. (58) One should take the remnants of the Lord’s food. (59) One should sit before the Lord and think that he is massaging the Lord’s legs. (60) One should decorate the Lord’s bed with flowers before the Lord takes His rest. (61) One should offer one’s hand to the Lord. (62) One should take the Deity to His bed. (63) One should wash the feet of the Lord and then sit Him on the bed. (64) One should place the Lord on the bed and then massage His feet.

Arati should be offered to the Deities five times daily-early in the morning before sunrise, later in the morning, at noon, in the evening and at night. This means that there should be worship and a change of dress and flowers. As far as the eatables are concerned, all items should be first-class preparations. There should be first-class rice, dhal, fruit, sweet rice, vegetables and a variety of foods to be sucked, drunk and chewed. All the eatables offered to the Deities should be extraordinarily excellent. In Europe and America there is presently no monetary scarcity. People are not poor, and if they follow these principles of Deity worship, they will advance in spiritual life. As far as placing the Deity in the bed is concerned, if the Deity is large and heavy, it is not possible to move Him daily. It is better that a small Deity, which is also worshiped, be taken to the bed. This mantra should be chanted: agaccha sayana-sthanam priyabhih saha kesava. “O Kesava, kindly come to Your bed along with Srimati Radharani.” (Hari-bhakti-vilasa 11.40)

The Deity should be placed in bed with Srimati Radharani, and this should be indicated by bringing the wooden slippers from the altar to the bedside. When the Deity is laid down, His legs should be massaged. Before laying the Deity down, a pot of milk and sugar should be offered to Him. After taking this thick milk, the Deity should lie down and should be offered betel nuts and spices to chew.

Madhya24.335

TEXT 335

sri-murti -laksana, ara salagrama-laksana

krsna-ksetra-yatra, krsna-murti-darasana

SYNONYMS

sri-murti-laksana—characteristics of the Deity; ara—and; salagrama-laksana—characteristics of the salagrama-sila; krsna-ksetra-yatra—visiting places like Vrndavana, Dvaraka and Mathura; krsna-murti-darasana—visiting the Deity in the temple.

TRANSLATION

"The characteristics of the Deities should be discussed as well as the characteristics of the salagrama-sila. One should also discuss visiting the Deities in the temple and touring holy places like Vrndavana, Mathura and Dvaraka.

Madhya24.336

TEXT 336

nama-mahima, namaparadha dure varjana

vaisnava-laksana, sevaparadha-khandana

SYNONYMS

nama-mahima—the glories of the holy name; nama-aparadha—offenses in chanting the holy name; dure varjana—giving up very carefully; vaisnava-laksana—the symptoms of a Vaisnava; seva-aparadha-khandana—rejecting offenses in worshiping the Deity.

TRANSLATION

"You should glorify the holy name and carefully give up offenses when chanting the holy name. One should know the symptoms of a Vaisnava. One must give up or nullify all kinds of seva-aparadha, offenses in Deity worship.

PURPORT

The devotee should always be very careful not to commit the ten offenses when chanting the Hare Krsna mantra. If a devotee very strictly follows the methods of Deity worship, he will naturally and quickly become a pure Vaisnava. A pure Vaisnava has unflinching faith in the Lord, and he does not deviate at all. He is always engaged in perfect Deity worship.

One should also notice the specific offenses against Deity worship. These are mentioned in the Skanda Purana (Avanti-khanda), spoken by Vyasadeva himself. One should liquidate all kinds of offenses.

The salagrama-sila should be worshiped with tulasi where a sufficient quantity of tulasi leaves are available. Worship of salagrama-sila should be introduced in all ISKCON temples. Salagrama-sila is the form of the Lord’s mercy. To worship the Deity with the sixty-four items mentioned may be a difficult job, but the Lord has become so small that anyone in any temple can carefully handle Deity worship simply by performing the same activities with salagrama-sila.

There are thirty-two offenses that should be avoided. (1) One should not enter the temple in a vehicle. Shoes and slippers should be removed before entering the temple. (2) One should offer obeisances as soon as he sees the Deity. (3) One should enter the temple after taking a bath. In other words, one should be very clean. (4) One should not offer obeisances to the Lord with one hand. (5) One should not circumambulate demigods before the Deities. (6) One should not spread out his legs before the Deity. (7) One should not sit down before the Deity with his legs crossed, nor should one touch his legs with his hands. (8) One should not lie down before the Deity. (9) One should not eat before the Deity. (10) One should not speak lies before the Deity. (11) One should not speak very loudly before the Deity. (12) One should not talk nonsense before the Deity. (13) One should not cry before the Deity. (14) One should not deal with others before the Deity. (15) One should not utter harsh words before the Deity. (16) One should not cover himself with a blanket. (17) One should not talk enviously of others before the Deity. (18) One should not praise others before the Deity. (19) One should not use slang before the Deity. (20) One should not pass air before the Deity. (21) One should not neglect the sixty-four items of Deity worship. (22) One should not eat anything not offered to the Deity. (23) One should not neglect offering seasonal fruits as soon as they are available. (24) One should always offer fresh, untouched fruit to the Deity. (25) One should not sit with his back toward the Deity. (26) One should not offer obeisances to others before the Deity. (27) One should not sit near the Deity without taking the spiritual master’s permission. (28) One should not be proud to hear himself praised before the Deity. (29) One should not blaspheme the demigods. (30) One should not be unkind to others before the Deities. (31) One should observe all festivals in the temple. (32) One should not fight or quarrel before the Deity.

Madhya24.337

TEXT 337

sankha-jala-gandha-puspa-dhupadi-laksana

japa, stuti, parikrama, dandavat vandana

SYNONYMS

sankha—of a conchshell; jala—of water; gandha—of incense or scents; puspa—of flowers; dhupa-adi—of incense, and so on; laksana—the characteristics; japa—murmuring; stuti—offering prayers; parikrama—circumambulation; dandavat—offering obeisances; vandana—offering prayers.

TRANSLATION

"The items of worship, such as water, conchshell, flowers, incense and lamp, should be described. You should also mention chanting softly, offering prayers, circumambulating, and offering obeisances. All these should be carefully studied.

PURPORT

All these are mentioned in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa. The Astama Vilasa of that book should be consulted as far as possible.

Madhya24.338

TEXT 338

purascarana-vidhi, krsna-prasada-bhojana

anivedita-tyaga, vaisnava-nindadi-varjana

SYNONYMS

purascarana-vidhi—ritualistic ceremonies; krsna-prasada-bhojana—eating the remnants of food offered to the Lord; anivedita-tyaga—not touching anything not offered to the Lord; vaisnava-ninda-adi-varjana—completely avoiding blaspheming a Vaisnava.

TRANSLATION

"Other items to be considered are the method of performing purascarana, taking krsna-prasada, giving up unoffered food and not blaspheming the Lord’s devotees.

PURPORT

Regarding the vaisnava-ninda, see Madhya-lila, 15.260.

Madhya24.339

TEXT 339

sadhu-laksana, sadhu-sanga, sadhu-sevana

asatsanga-tyaga, sri-bhagavata-sravana

SYNONYMS

sadhu-laksana—the symptoms of a devotee; sadhu-sanga—association with devotees; sadhu-sevana—offering service to devotees; asat-sanga-tyaga—giving up the company of nondevotees; sri-bhagavata-sravana—regularly hearing the recitation of Srimad-Bhagavatam.

TRANSLATION

"One should know the symptoms of a devotee and how to associate with devotees. One should know how to satisfy the devotee by rendering service, and one should know how to give up the association of nondevotees. One should also regularly hear the recitation of Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Madhya24.340

TEXT 340

dina-krtya, paksa-krtya, ekadasy-adi-vivarana

masa-krtya, janmastamyadi-vidhi-vicarana

SYNONYMS

dina-krtya—daily duties; paksa-krtya—duties on the fortnights; ekadasi-adi-vivarana—description of Ekadasi and so on; masa-krtya—duties every month; janmastami-adi—of performing Janmastami and other ceremonies; vidhi—of the process; vicarana—consideration.

TRANSLATION

"You should describe the ritualistic duties of every day, and you should describe the fortnightly duties-especially observing Ekadasi fast, which comes every fortnight. You should also describe the duties of every month, especially the observance of ceremonies like Janmastami, Rama-navami and Nrsimha-caturdasi.

Madhya24.341

TEXT 341

ekadasi, janmastami, vamana-dvadasi

sri-rama-navami, ara nrsimha-caturdasi

SYNONYMS

ekadasi—the eleventh day of the fortnight; janmastami—the birthday ceremony of Lord Krsna; vamana-dvadasi—the birthday or appearance day of Lord Vamana; sri-rama-navami—the birthday ceremony of Lord Ramacandra; ara—and; nrsimha-caturdasi—the appearance day of Lord Nrsimha.

TRANSLATION

"Ekadasi, Janmastami, Vamana-dvadasi, Rama-navami and Nrsimha-caturdasi should all be observed.

Madhya24.342

TEXT 342

ei sabe viddha-tyaga, aviddha-karana

akarane dosa, kaile bhaktira lambhana

SYNONYMS

ei sabe—all these things; viddha-tyaga—to avoid viddha-ekadasi or mixed Ekadasi; aviddha-karana—performing the pure Ekadasi; akarane dosa—the fault of not performing them; kaile—if done so; bhaktira lambhana—there will be discrepancies in devotional service.

TRANSLATION

"You should recommend the avoidance of mixed Ekadasi and the performance of pure Ekadasi. You should also describe the fault in not observing this. One should be very careful as far as these items are concerned. If one is not careful, one will be negligent in executing devotional service.

Madhya24.343

TEXT 343

sarvatra pramana dibe purana-vacana

sri-murti-visnu-mandira karana-laksana

SYNONYMS

sarvatra—everywhere; pramana—evidence; dibe—you should give; purana-vacana—quoting from the Puranas; sri-murti—the Deity; visnu-mandira—of the Visnu temple; karana-laksana—the characteristics of constructing.

TRANSLATION

"Whatever you say about Vaisnava behavior, the establishment of Vaisnava temples and Deities and everything else should be supported by evidence from the Puranas.

Madhya24.344

TEXT 344

’samanya’ sad-acara, ara ’vaisnava’-acara

kartavyakartavya saba ’smarta’ vyavahara

SYNONYMS

samanya—general; sat-acara—good behavior; ara—and; vaisnava—of devotees of Lord Visnu; acara—etiquette; kartavya-akartavya—things which are to be done and which are not to be done; saba—all; smarta—connected with regulative principles; vyavahara—business.

TRANSLATION

"You should give general and specific descriptions of the behavior and activities of a Vaisnava. You should outline things that are to be done and things that are not to be done. All this should be described as regulations and etiquette.

Madhya24.345

TEXT 345

ei sanksepe sutra kahilun dig-darasana

yabe tumi likhiba, krsna karabe sphurana

SYNONYMS

ei—thus; sanksepe—in brief; sutra—codes; kahilun—I have described; dik-darasana—just a little direction; yabe—whenever; tumi—you; likhiba—will attempt to write; krsna—Lord Krsna; karabe—will do; sphurana—manifesting.

TRANSLATION

“I have thus given a synopsis of the Vaisnava regulative principles. I have given this in brief just to give you a little direction. When you write on this subject, Krsna will help you by spiritually awakening you.”

PURPORT

One cannot write on spiritual matters without being blessed by Krsna and the disciplic succession of gurus. The blessings of the authorities are one’s power of attorney. One should not try to write anything about Vaisnava behavior and activities without being authorized by superior authorities. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita: evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh.

Madhya24.346

TEXT 346

ei ta’ kahilu prabhura sanatane prasada

yahara sravane cittera khande avasada

SYNONYMS

ei ta’—in this way; kahilu—l have described; prabhura—of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sanatane—unto Sanatana Gosvami; prasada—mercy; yahara sravane—hearing which; cittera—of the mind; khande—disappears; avasada—all moroseness.

TRANSLATION

Thus I have narrated Lord Caitanya’s mercy upon Sanatana Gosvami. When one hears these topics, one’s heart will be cleansed of all contamination.

Madhya24.347

TEXT 347

nija-granthe karnapura vistara kariya

sanatane prabhura prasada rakhiyache likhiya

SYNONYMS

nija-granthe—in his own book; karnapura—Kavi-karnapura; vistara kariya—vividly describing; sanatane—unto Sanatana Gosvami; prabhura—of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prasada—the mercy; rakhiyache—has kept; likhiya—writing.

TRANSLATION

The authorized poet Kavi-karnapura has written a book named Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka. This book tells how Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu blessed Sanatana Gosvami with His specific mercy.

Madhya24.348

TEXT 348

gaudendrasya sabha-vibhusana-manis tyaktva ya rddham sriyam

rupasyagraja esa eva tarunim vairagya-laksmim dadhe

antar-bhakti-rasena purna-hrdayo bahye ’vadhutakrtih

saivalaih pihitam maha-sara iva priti-pradas tad-vidam

SYNONYMS

gauda-indrasya—of the ruler of Gauda-desa (Bengal); sabha—of the parliament; vibhusana—fundamental; manih—the gem; tyaktva—relinquishing; yah—one who; rddham—opulent; sriyam—kingly enjoyment; rupasya agrajah—the elder brother of Srila Rupa Gosvami; esah—this; eva—certainly; tarunim—youthful; vairagya-laksmim—the fortune of renunciation; dadhe—accepted; antah-bhakti-rasena—by the mellows of inner love of Krsna; purna-hrdayah—satisfied fully; bahye—externally; avadhuta-akrtih—the dress of a mendicant; saivalaih—by moss; pihitam—covered; maha-sarah—a great lake or very deep lake; iva—like; priti-pradah—very pleasing; tat-vidam—to persons acquainted with the science of devotional service.

TRANSLATION

"Srila Sanatana Gosvami, the elder brother of Srila Rupa Gosvami, was a most important minister in the government of Hussain Shah, the ruler of Bengal, and he was considered a most brilliant gem in that assembly. He possessed all the opulences of a royal position, but he gave up everything just to accept the youthful goddess of renunciation. Although he externally appeared to be a mendicant who had renounced everything, he was filled with the pleasure of devotional service within his heart. Thus he can be compared to a deep lake covered with moss. He was the object of pleasure for all the devotees who knew the science of devotional service.

PURPORT

This and the following two verses are from Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka (9.34, 35, 38).

Madhya24.349

TEXT 349

tam sanatanam upagatam aksnor

drsta-matram atimatra-dayardrah

alilinga parighayata-dorbhyam

sanukampam atha campaka-gaurah

SYNONYMS

tam—unto him; sanatanam—Sanatana Gosvami; upagatam—having arrived; aksnoh—with the eyes; drsta-matram—being only seen;  ati-matra—greatly; daya-ardrah—merciful; alilinga—embraced;         parighayata-dorbhyam—with His two arms; sa-anukampam—with great affection; atha—thus; campaka-gaurah—Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who has a complexion the color of a campaka flower (golden).

TRANSLATION

“As soon as Sanatana Gosvami arrived in front of Lord Caitanya, the Lord, seeing him, became merciful to him. The Lord, who has the complexion of a golden campaka flower, opened His arms and embraced him while expressing great affection.”

Madhya24.350

TEXT 350

kalena vrndavana-keli-varta

lupteti tam khyapayitum visisya

krpamrtenabhisiseca devas

tatraiva rupam ca sanatanam ca

SYNONYMS

kalena—in the course of time; vrndavana-keli-varta—topics concerning the transcendental mellows of the pastimes of Lord Krsna in Vrndavana; lupta—almost lost; iti—thus; tam—all those; khyapayitum—to enunciate; visisya—making specific; krpa-amrtena—with the nectar of mercy; abhisiseca—sprinkled; devah—the Lord; tatra—there; eva—indeed; rupam—Srila Rupa Gosvami; ca—and; sanatanam—Sanatana Gosvami; ca—as well as.

TRANSLATION

“In the course of time, the transcendental news of Krsna’s pastimes in Vrndavana was almost lost. To enunciate explicitly those transcendental pastimes, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, at Prayaga, empowered Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami with the nectar of His mercy to carry out this work in Vrndavana.”

Madhya24.351

TEXT 351

ei ta’ kahilun sanatane prabhura prasada

yahara sravane cittera khande avasada

SYNONYMS

ei ta’—thus; kahilun—I have explained; sanatane—unto Sanatana Gosvami; prabhura prasada—the mercy of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yahara sravane—hearing which; cittera—of the heart; khande—disappears; avasada—moroseness.

TRANSLATION

I have thus explained the mercy bestowed on Sanatana Gosvami by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If one hears this, all moroseness in the heart will diminish.

Madhya24.352

TEXT 352

krsnera svarupa-ganera sakala haya ’jnana’

vidhi-raga-marge ’sadhana bhakti’ra vidhana

SYNONYMS

krsnera svarupa-ganera—of Lord Krsna in His various expansions; sakala—all; haya—there is; jnana—knowledge; vidhi-raga-marge—in the process of devotional service under regulative principles or in spontaneous love; sadhana bhaktira vidhana—the authorized means of executing devotional service.

TRANSLATION

By reading these instructions to Sanatana Gosvami, one will become fully aware of Lord Krsna’s various expansions and the process of devotional service according to the regulative principles and spontaneous love. Thus everything can be fully known.

Madhya24.353

TEXT 353

’krsna-prema’, ’bhakti-rasa’, ’bhaktira siddhanta’

ihara sravane bhakta janena saba anta

SYNONYMS

krsna-prema—love of Godhead; bhakti-rasa—the mellows of devotional service; bhaktira siddhanta—the conclusions of devotional service; ihara sravane—by hearing this chapter; bhakta—a devotee; janena—knows; saba—all; anta—limits.

TRANSLATION

By reading this chapter, a pure devotee can understand love of Krsna, the mellows of devotional service and the conclusion of devotional service. Everyone can understand all these things to their ultimate end by studying this chapter.

Madhya24.354

TEXT 354

sri-caitanya-nityananda-advaita-carana

yanra prana-dhana, sei paya ei dhana

SYNONYMS

sri-caitanya-nityananda-advaita-carana—the lotus feet of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Nityananda and Advaita Prabhu; yanra prana-dhana—whose life and soul; sei—such a person; paya—gets; ei dhana—this treasure-house of devotional service.

TRANSLATION

The conclusion of this chapter can be known to one whose life and soul are the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu.

Madhya24.355

TEXT 355

sri-rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa

caitanya-caritamrta kahe krsnadasa

SYNONYMS

sri-rupa—Srila Rupa Gosvami; raghunatha—Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; pade—at the lotus feet; yara—whose; asa—expectation; caitanya-caritamrta—the book named Caitanya-caritamrta; kahe—describes; krsnadasa—Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami.

TRANSLATION

Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always desiring their mercy, I, Krsnadasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, following in their footsteps.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Twenty-fourth Chapter, describing the atmarama verse and the Lord’s mercy upon Sanatana Gosvami.

Next chapter (Madhya 25)