Madhya8.1

TEXT 1

sancarya ramabhidha-bhakta-meghe

sva-bhakti-siddhanta-cayamrtani

gaurabdhir etair amuna vitirnais

taj-jnatva-ratnalayatam prayati

SYNONYMS

sancarya—by empowering; rama-abhidha—of the name Rama; bhakta-meghe—in the cloudlike devotee; sva-bhakti—of His own devotional service; siddhanta—of conclusions; caya—all collections; amrtani—nectar; gaura-abdhih—the ocean known as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; etaih—by these; amuna—by the cloud known as Ramananda Raya; vitirnaih—distributed; tat-jnatva—of knowledge of devotional service; ratna-alayatam—the quality of being an ocean containing valuable jewels; prayati—achieved.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is known as Gauranga, is the ocean of all conclusive knowledge in devotional service. He empowered Sri Ramananda Raya, who may be likened to a cloud of devotional service. This cloud was filled with the water of all the conclusive purports of devotional service and was empowered by the ocean to spread this water over the ocean of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself. Thus the ocean of Caitanya Mahaprabhu became filled with the jewels of the knowledge of pure devotional service.

Madhya8.2

TEXT 2

jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda

jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda

SYNONYMS

jaya jaya—all glories; sri-caitanya—Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jaya—all glories; nityananda—to Lord Nityananda; jaya advaita-candra—all glories to Advaita Acarya; jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda—all glories to the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

TRANSLATION

All glories to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityananda! All glories to Advaita Acarya! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!

Madhya8.3

TEXT 3

purva-rite prabhu age gamana karila

’jiyada-nrsimha’-ksetre kata-dine gela

SYNONYMS

purva-rite—according to His previous program; prabhu—Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; age—ahead; gamana—going; karila—did; jiyada-nrsimha—of the name Jiyada-nrsimha; ksetre—at the place of pilgrimage; kata-dine—after some days; gela—arrived.

TRANSLATION

According to His previous program, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went forward on His tour and after some days arrived at the place of pilgrimage known as Jiyada-nrsimha.

PURPORT

The Jiyada-nrsimha temple is situated on the top of a hill about five miles away from Visakhapatnam. There is a railway station on the South Indian Railway known as Simhacala. The temple known as Simhacala is the best temple in the vicinity of Visakhapatnam. This temple is very affluent and is a typical example of the architecture of the area. In one stone tablet it is mentioned that formerly a queen covered the Deity with gold plate. This is mentioned in the Visakhapatnam Gazetteer. About the temple, there are residential quarters for the priests and devotees. Indeed, at the present moment there are many residential quarters to accommodate visiting devotees. The original Deity is situated within the depths of the temple, but there is another Deity, a duplicate, known as the vijaya-murti. This smaller Deity can be moved from the temple and taken on public processions. Priests who generally belong to the Ramanuja-sampradaya are in charge of the Deity worship.

Madhya8.4

TEXT 4

nrsimha dekhiya kaila dandavat-pranati

premavese kaila bahu nrtya-gita-stuti

SYNONYMS

nrsimha dekhiya—by seeing Lord Nrsimha in the temple; kaila—did; dandavat-pranati—offering of obeisances, falling flat before the Deity; premavese—in ecstatic love; kaila—did; bahu—all kinds of; nrtya—dancing; gita—chanting; stuti—and offering of prayers.

TRANSLATION

After seeing the Deity of Lord Nrsimha in the temple, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu offered His respectful obeisances by falling flat. Then, in ecstatic love, He performed various dances, chanted, and offered prayers.

Madhya8.5

TEXT 5

"sri-nrsimha, jaya nrsimha, jaya jaya nrsimha

prahladesa jaya padma-mukha-padma-bhrnga"

SYNONYMS

sri-nrsimha—Lord Nrsimha with Laksmi; jaya nrsimha—all glories to Lord Nrsimha; jaya jaya—again and again glories; nrsimha—to Nrsimhadeva; prahlada-isa—to the Lord of Prahlada Maharaja; jaya—all glories; padma—of the goddess of fortune; mukha-padma—of the lotuslike face; bhrnga—the bee.

TRANSLATION

" ’All glories to Nrsimhadeva! All glories to Nrsimhadeva, who is the Lord of Prahlada Maharaja and, like a honeybee, is always engaged in beholding the lotuslike face of the goddess of fortune.

PURPORT

The goddess of fortune is always embraced by Lord Nrsimhadeva. This is mentioned in the commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam written by the great commentator Srila Sridhara Svami. The following verse was composed by Sridhara Svami in his commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.87.1):

vag-isa yasya vadane
laksmir yasya ca vaksasi
yasyaste hrdaye samvit
tam nrsimham aham bhaje

“Lord Nrsimhadeva is always assisted by Sarasvati, the goddess of learning, and He is always embracing to His chest the goddess of fortune. The Lord is always complete in knowledge within Himself. Let us offer obeisances unto Nrsimhadeva.”

Madhya8.6

TEXT 6

ugro ’py anugra evayam

sva-bhaktanam nr-kesari

kesariva sva-potanam

anyesam ugra-vikramah

SYNONYMS

ugrah—ferocious; api—although; anugrah—not ferocious; eva—certainly; ayam—this; sva-bhaktanam—to His pure devotees; nr-kesari—having the body of a human being and a lion; kesari iva—like a lioness; sva-potanam—to her young cubs; anyesam—to others; ugra—ferocious; vikramah—whose strength.

TRANSLATION

“ ’Although very ferocious, the lioness is very kind to her cubs. Similarly, although very ferocious to nondevotees like Hiranyakasipu, Lord Nrsimhadeva is very, very soft and kind to devotees like Prahlada Maharaja.’ ”

PURPORT

Madhya8.7

TEXT 7

ei-mata nana sloka padi’ stuti kaila

nrsimha-sevaka mala-prasada ani’ dila

SYNONYMS

ei-mata—in this way; nana—various; sloka—verses; padi’-reciting; stuti—prayers; kaila—offered; nrsimha-sevaka—the priest of Lord Nrsimhadeva in the temple; mala—garlands; prasada—and remnants of the food of Lord Nrsimhadeva; ani’-bringing; dila—offered.

TRANSLATION

In this way Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu recited different verses from the sastra. The priest of Lord Nrsimhadeva then brought garlands and the remnants of the Lord’s food and offered them to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Madhya8.8

TEXT 8

purvavat kona vipre kaila nimantrana

sei ratri tahan rahi’ karila gamana

SYNONYMS

purva-vat—as previously; kona—some; vipre—brahmana; kaila—made; nimantrana—invitation; sei ratri—that night; tahan—there; rahi’-staying; karila—did; gamana—touring.

TRANSLATION

As usual, a brahmana offered Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu an invitation. The Lord passed the night in the temple and then commenced His tour again.

Madhya8.9

TEXT 9

prabhate uthiya prabhu calila premavese

dig-vidik nahi jnana ratri-divase

SYNONYMS

prabhate—in the morning; uthiya—rising; prabhu—Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; calila—went; prema-avese—in great ecstatic love; dik-vidik—the right or wrong direction; nahi—there was not; jnana—knowledge; ratri-divase—day and night.

TRANSLATION

The next morning, in the great ecstasy of love, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu started on His tour with no knowledge of the proper direction, and He continued the whole day and night.

Madhya8.10

TEXT 10

purvavat ’vaisnava’ kari’ sarva loka-gane

godavari-tire prabhu aila kata-dine

SYNONYMS

purva-vat—as previously; vaisnava—devotees; kari’-making; sarva—all; loka-gane—the people; godavari-tire—on the bank of the river Godavari; prabhu—the Lord; aila—arrived; kata-dine—after some days.

TRANSLATION

As previously, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu converted to Vaisnavism many people He met on the road. After some days, the Lord reached the banks of the River Godavari.

Madhya8.11

TEXT 11

godavari dekhi’ ha-ila ’yamuna’-smarana

tire vana dekhi’ smrti haila vrndavana

SYNONYMS

godavari—the River Godavari; dekhi’-seeing; ha-ila—there was; yamuna smarana—remembrance of the River Yamuna; tire—on the banks; vana—the forests; dekhi’-seeing; smrti—remembrance; haila—there was; vrndavana—Sri Vrndavana.

TRANSLATION

When He saw the River Godavari, the Lord remembered the River Yamuna, and when He saw the forest on the banks of the river, He remembered Sri Vrndavana-dhama.

Madhya8.12

TEXT 12

sei vane kata-ksana kari’ nrtya-gana

godavari para hana tahan kaila snana

SYNONYMS

sei vane—in that forest; kata-ksana—for some time; kari’-performing; nrtya-gana—dancing and chanting; godavari—the river; para hana—crossing; tahan—there; kaila—took; snana—bath.

TRANSLATION

After performing His usual chanting and dancing for some time in this forest, the Lord crossed the river and took His bath on the other bank.

Madhya8.13

TEXT 13

ghata chadi’ kata-dure jala-sannidhane

vasi’ prabhu kare krsna-nama-sankirtane

SYNONYMS

ghata chadi’-leaving the bathing place; kata-dure—a short distance away; jala-sannidhane—near the water; vasi’-sitting; prabhu—the Lord; kare—does; krsna-nama-sankirtane—chanting of the holy name of Lord Krsna.

TRANSLATION

After bathing in the river, the Lord walked a little distance from the bathing place and engaged in chanting the holy name of Krsna.

Madhya8.14

TEXT 14

hena-kale dolaya cadi’ ramananda raya

snana karibare aila, bajana bajaya

SYNONYMS

hena-kale—at this time; dolaya cadi’-riding on a palanquin; ramananda raya—Srila Ramananda Raya; snana—bath; karibare—to take; aila—came there; bajana bajaya—accompanied by a musical band.

TRANSLATION

At that time, accompanied by the sounds of music, Ramananda Raya came there on a palanquin to take his bath.

Madhya8.15

TEXT 15

tanra sange bahu aila vaidika brahmana

vidhi-mate kaila tenho snanadi-tarpana

SYNONYMS

tanra sange—with him; bahu—many; aila—came; vaidika—following the Vedic principles; brahmana—brahmanas; vidhi-mate—according to ritualistic ceremonies; kaila—did; tenho—he, Srila Ramananda Raya; snana-adi-tarpana—bathing and offering oblations, etc.

TRANSLATION

Many brahmanas, following the Vedic principles, accompanied Ramananda Raya. According to the Vedic rituals, Ramananda Raya took his bath and offered oblations to his forefathers.

Madhya8.16

TEXT 16

prabhu tanre dekhi’ janila--ei rama-raya

tanhare milite prabhura mana uthi’ dhaya

SYNONYMS

prabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre—him; dekhi’-seeing; janila—could understand; ei—this; rama-raya—Srila Ramananda Raya; tanhare—him; milite—to meet; prabhura—of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mana—mind; uthi’-rising; dhaya—runs after.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu could understand that the person who had come to bathe in the river was Ramananda Raya. The Lord wanted so much to meet him that His mind immediately began running after him.

Madhya8.17

TEXT 17

tathapi dhairya dhari’ prabhu rahila vasiya

ramananda aila apurva sannyasi dekhiya

SYNONYMS

tathapi—still; dhariya dhari’-keeping patient; prabhu—Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; rahila—remained; vasiya—sitting; ramananda—Srila Ramananda Raya; aila—arrived; apurva—wonderful; sannyasi—renunciant; dekhiya—seeing.

TRANSLATION

Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was running after him mentally, He patiently remained sitting. Ramananda Raya, seeing the wonderful sannyasi, then came to see Him.

Madhya8.18

TEXT 18

surya-sata-sama kanti, aruna vasana

subalita prakanda deha, kamala-locana

SYNONYMS

surya-sata—hundreds of suns; sama—like; kanti—luster; aruna—saffron; vasana—garments; subalita—very strongly built; prakanda—big; deha—body; kamala-locana—eyes like lotus petals.

TRANSLATION

Srila Ramananda Raya then saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be as brilliant as a hundred suns. The Lord was covered by a saffron garment. He was large in body and very strongly built, and His eyes were like lotus petals.

Madhya8.19

TEXT 19

dekhiya tanhara mane haila camatkara

asiya karila dandavat namaskara

SYNONYMS

dekhiya—seeing; tanhara—his; mane—in the mind; haila—there was; camatkara—wonder; asiya—coming there; karila—did; danda-vat—like a rod; namaskara—obeisances.

TRANSLATION

When Ramananda Raya saw the wonderful sannyasi, he was struck with wonder. He went to Him and immediately offered his respectful obeisances, falling down flat like a rod.

Madhya8.20

TEXT 20

uthi’ prabhu kahe,--utha, kaha ’krsna’ ’krsna’

tare alingite prabhura hrdaya satrsna

SYNONYMS

uthi’-rising; prabhu—the Lord; kahe—said; utha—get up; kaha—chant; krsna krsna—the holy name of Lord Krsna; tare—him; alingite—to embrace; prabhura—of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; hrdaya—the heart; sa-trsna—very eager.

TRANSLATION

The Lord stood up and asked Ramananda Raya to arise and chant the holy name of Krsna. Indeed, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very eager to embrace him.

Madhya8.21

TEXT 21

tathapi puchila,--tumi raya ramananda?

tenho kahe,--sei hana dasa sudra manda

SYNONYMS

tathapi—still; puchila—He inquired; tumi—you; raya ramananda—Ramananda Raya; tenho kahe—he replied; sei hana—I am that; dasa—servant; sudra—belonging to the sudra community; manda—very low.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then inquired whether he was Ramananda Raya, and he replied, “Yes, I am Your very low servant, and I belong to the sudra community.”

Madhya8.22

TEXT 22

tabe tare kaila prabhu drdha alingana

premavese prabhu-bhrtya donhe acetana

SYNONYMS

tabe—thereafter; tare—him; kaila—did; prabhu—Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; drdha—firm; alingana—embracing; prema-avese—in ecstatic love; prabhu-bhrtya—the servant and the master; donhe—both; acetana—unconscious.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then embraced Sri Ramananda Raya very firmly. Indeed, both the master and the servant almost lost consciousness due to ecstatic love.

Madhya8.23

TEXT 23

svabhavika prema donhara udaya karila

dunha alingiya dunhe bhumite padila

SYNONYMS

svabhavika—natural; prema—love; donhara—of both of them; udaya—awakening; karila—there was; dunha—both; alingiya—embracing; dunhe—both of them; bhumite—on the ground; padila—fell down.

TRANSLATION

Their natural love for each other was awakened in them both, and they embraced and fell down on the ground.

PURPORT

Srila Ramananda Raya was an incarnation of the gopi Visakha. Since Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was Lord Krsna Himself, there was naturally an awakening of love between Visakha and Krsna. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the combination of Srimati Radharani and Krsna. The gopi Visakha is a principal gopi assisting Srimati Radharani. Ramananda Raya and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced, since their natural love also was awakened.

Madhya8.24

TEXT 24

stambha, sveda, asru, kampa, pulaka, vaivarnya

dunhara mukhete suni’ gadgada ’krsna’ varna

SYNONYMS

stambha—paralysis; sveda—perspiration; asru—tears; kampa—shivering; pulaka—horripilation; vaivarnya—paleness; dunhara—of both of them; mukhete—in the mouth; suni’-hearing; gadgada—faltering; krsna varna—Krsna’s name.

TRANSLATION

When they embraced each other, ecstatic symptoms-paralysis, perspiration, tears, shivering, paleness and standing up of the bodily hairs-appeared. The word “Krsna” came from their mouths falteringly.

Madhya8.25

TEXT 25

dekhiya brahmana-ganera haila camatkara

vaidika brahmana saba karena vicara

SYNONYMS

dekhiya—seeing this; brahmana-ganera—of the ritualistic brahmanas; haila—there was; camatkara—wonder; vaidika—followers of Vedic ritualistic ceremonies; brahmana—the brahmanas; saba—all; karena—did; vicara—consideration.

TRANSLATION

When the stereotyped, ritualistic brahmanas who were following the Vedic principles saw this ecstatic manifestation of love, they were struck with wonder. All these brahmanas began to reflect as follows.

Madhya8.26

TEXT 26

ei ta’ sannyasira teja dekhi brahma-sama

sudre alingiya kene karena krandana

SYNONYMS

ei ta’-this indeed; sannyasira—of the sannyasi, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; teja—bodily effulgence; dekhi—we see; brahma-sama—exactly like Brahman; sudre—a sudra, or worker; alingiya—embracing; kene—why; karena—does; krandana—crying.

TRANSLATION

These brahmanas began to think, “We can see that this sannyasi has a luster like the effulgence of Brahman, but how is it He is crying upon embracing a sudra, a member of the fourth caste in the social order?”

Madhya8.27

TEXT 27

ei maharaja--maha-pandita, gambhira

sannyasira sparse matta ha-ila asthira

SYNONYMS

ei maharaja—this Ramananda Raya, who is the Governor; maha-pandita—a very learned person; gambhira—grave; sannyasira sparse—by touching a sannyasi; matta—mad; ha-ila—became; asthira—restless.

TRANSLATION

They thought, “This Ramananda Raya is the Governor of Madras, a highly learned and grave person, a maha-pandita, but upon touching this sannyasi he has become restless like a madman.”

Madhya8.28

TEXT 28

ei-mata vipra-gana bhave mane mana

vijatiya loka dekhi, prabhu kaila samvarana

SYNONYMS

ei-mata—in this way; vipra-gana—all the brahmanas; bhave—think; mane mana—within their minds; vijatiya loka—outside people; dekhi—seeing; prabhu—Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila—did; samvarana—restraining.

TRANSLATION

While the brahmanas were thinking in this way about the activities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw those outsiders and restrained His transcendental emotions.

PURPORT

Ramananda Raya was intimately related to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; therefore he can be accepted as a sajatiya, a person within the intimate circle of the Lord. The brahmanas, however, were followers of the Vedic rituals and were not able to have an intimate connection with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Consequently they are called vijatiya-loka. In other words, they were not pure devotees. One may be a highly learned brahmana, but if he is not a pure devotee he is a vijatiya, an outcaste, one outside devotional service-in other words, a nondevotee. Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya were embracing in ecstasy, the Lord restrained His transcendental emotions upon seeing the outsider brahmanas.

Madhya8.29

TEXT 29

sustha hana dunhe sei sthanete vasila

tabe hasi’ mahaprabhu kahite lagila

SYNONYMS

su-stha hana—becoming steady; dunhe—both of them; sei—that; sthanete—in the place; vasila—sat down; tabe—then; hasi’-smiling; mahaprabhu—Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahite—to speak; lagila—began.

TRANSLATION

When they regained their sanity, they both sat down, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu smiled and began to speak as follows.

Madhya8.30

TEXT 30

’sarvabhauma bhattacarya kahila tomara gune

tomare milite more karila yatane

SYNONYMS

sarvabhauma bhattacarya—of the name Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; kahila—has spoken; tomara—your; gune—good qualities; tomare—you; milite—to meet; more—Me; karila—made; yatane—endeavor.

TRANSLATION

"Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya spoke of your good qualities, and he made a great endeavor to convince Me to meet you.

Madhya8.31

TEXT 31

toma milibare mora etha agamana

bhala haila, anayase pailun darasana’

SYNONYMS

toma—you; milibare—to meet; mora—My; etha—here; agamana—coming; bhala haila—it was very good; anayase—without difficulty; pailun—I have gotten; darasana—interview.

TRANSLATION

“Indeed, I have come here just to meet you. It is very good that even without making an effort I have gotten your interview here.”

Madhya8.32

TEXT 32

raya kahe,--sarvabhauma kare bhrtya-jnana

parokseha mora hite haya savadhana

SYNONYMS

raya kahe—Ramananda Raya replied; sarvabhauma—Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; kare—does; bhrtya-jnana—thinks of me as his servant; parokseha—in my absence; mora—of me; hite—for the benefit; haya—is; savadhana—always careful.

TRANSLATION

Ramananda Raya replied, "Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya thinks of me as his servant. Even in my absence he is very careful to do me good.

Madhya8.33

TEXT 33

tanra krpaya painu tomara darasana

aji saphala haila mora manusya-janama

SYNONYMS

tanra krpaya—by his mercy; painu—I have gotten; tomara—Your; darasana—interview; aji—today; sa-phala—successful; haila—has become; mora—my; manusya-janama—birth as a human being.

TRANSLATION

"By his mercy I have received Your interview here. Consequently I consider that today I have become a successful human being.

Madhya8.34

TEXT 34

sarvabhaume tomara krpa,--tara ei cihna

asprsya sparsile hana tanra premadhina

SYNONYMS

sarvabhaume—unto Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; tomara—Your; krpa—mercy; tara—of such mercy; ei—this; cihna—the symptom; asprsya—untouchable; sparsile—You have touched; hana—becoming; tanra—his; prema-adhina—influenced by love.

TRANSLATION

"I can see that You have bestowed special mercy upon Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. Therefore You have touched me, although I am untouchable. This is due only to his love for You.

Madhya8.35

TEXT 35

kahan tumi--saksat isvara narayana

kahan muni--raja-sevi visayi sudradhama

SYNONYMS

kahan—whereas; tumi—You; saksat—directly; isvara narayana—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kahan—whereas; muni—I; raja-sevi—government servant; visayi—materialist; sudra-adhama—worse than a sudra, or fourth-class man.

TRANSLATION

"You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana Himself, and I am only a government servant interested in materialistic activities. Indeed, I am the lowest amongst men of the fourth caste.

Madhya8.36

TEXT 36

mora sparse na karile ghrna, veda-bhaya

mora darsana toma vede nisedhaya

SYNONYMS

mora—of me; sparse—by the touch; na—not; karile—You did; ghrna—hatred; veda-bhaya—afraid of the injunctions of the Vedas; mora—of me; darsana—seeing; toma—You; vede—the Vedic injunctions; nisedhaya—forbid.

TRANSLATION

"You do not fear the Vedic injunctions stating that You should not associate with a sudra. You were not contemptuous of my touch, although in the Vedas You are forbidden to associate with sudras.

PURPORT