Sri Caitanya-caritamrta: Madhya-lila
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter 9
Madhya9.62
TEXT 62
krsna bali’ acarya prabhure karena vinaya
dekhiya sakala loka ha-ila vismaya
SYNONYMS
krsna bali’-chanting the holy name of Krsna; acarya—the so-called spiritual master of the Buddhists; prabhure—unto Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; karena—does; vinaya—submission; dekhiya—seeing this; sakala loka—all the people; ha-ila—became; vismaya—astonished.
TRANSLATION
When the spiritual master of the Buddhists began to chant the holy name of Krsna and submitted to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, all the people who were gathered there were astonished.
Madhya9.63
TEXT 63
ei-rupe kautuka kari’ sacira nandana
antardhana kaila, keha na paya darsana
SYNONYMS
ei-rupe—in this way; kautuka kari’-making fun; sacira nandana—the son of mother Saci; antardhana kaila—disappeared; keha—anyone; na—does not; paya—get; darsana—audience.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the son of Sacidevi, then suddenly and humorously disappeared from everyone’s sight, and it was impossible for anyone to find Him.
Madhya9.64
TEXT 64
mahaprabhu cali’ aila tripati-trimalle
catur-bhuja murti dekhi’ vyenkatadrye cale
SYNONYMS
mahaprabhu—Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; cali’ aila—arrived by walking; tripati-trimalle—at the holy places named Tirupati and Tirumala; catur-bhuja—fourhanded; murti—Deity; dekhi’-seeing; vyenkata-adrye—to the holy place Venkata Hill; cale—began to proceed.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu next arrived at Tirupati and Tirumala, where He saw a four-handed Deity. Then He next proceeded toward Venkata Hill.
PURPORT
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura has actually described the chronological order of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s visit. The Tirupati temple is sometimes called Tirupatura. It is situated on the northern side of Arcot in the district of Candragiri. It is a famous holy place of pilgrimage. In pursuance of His name, Venkatesvara, the four-handed Lord Visnu, the Deity of Balaji, with His potencies named Sri and Bhu, is located on Venkata Hill, about eight miles from Tirupati. This Venkatesvara Deity is in the form of Lord Visnu, and the place where He is situated is known as Venkata-ksetra. There are many temples in southern India, but this Balaji temple is especially opulent. A great fair is held there in the months of September and October. There is a railway station called Tirupati on the Southern Railway. Nimna-tirupati is located in the valley of the Venkata Hill. There are several temples there also, among which are those of Govindaraja and Lord Ramacandra.
Madhya9.65
TEXT 65
tripati asiya kaila sri-rama darasana
raghunatha-age kaila pranama stavana
SYNONYMS
tripati asiya—coming to Tirupati; kaila sri-rama darasana—visited the temple of Ramacandra; raghunatha-age—before Lord Ramacandra; kaila—did; pranama—obeisances; stavana—offering prayers.
TRANSLATION
After arriving at Tirupati, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited the temple of Lord Ramacandra. He offered His prayers and obeisances before Ramacandra, the descendant of King Raghu.
Madhya9.66
TEXT 66
sva-prabhave loka-sabara karana vismaya
pana-nrsimhe aila prabhu daya-maya
SYNONYMS
sva-prabhave—by His own influence; loka-sabara—of all the people; karana—inducing; vismaya—astonishment; pana-nrsimhe—to the Lord named Pana-nrsimha; aila—came; prabhu—Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; daya-maya—the most merciful.
TRANSLATION
Everywhere Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went, His influence astonished everyone. He next arrived at the temple of Pana-nrsimha. The Lord is so merciful.
PURPORT
Pana-nrsimha, or Panakal-narasimha, is located in the district of Krishna in the hills known as Mangalagiri, about seven miles from a city known as Vijayawada. One must climb six hundred steps to reach the temple. It is said that when the Lord is offered food with syrup here, He does not take more than half. Within this temple is a conchshell presented by the late king of Tanjor, and it is said that this shell was used by Lord Krsna Himself. During the month of March, a great fair takes place in this temple.
Madhya9.67
TEXT 67
nrsimhe pranati-stuti premavese kaila
prabhura prabhave loka camatkara haila
SYNONYMS
nrsimhe—unto Lord Nrsimha; pranati-stuti—obeisances and prayers; prema-avese—in ecstatic love; kaila—offered; prabhura—of the Lord; prabhave—by the influence; loka—the people; camatkara haila—were astonished.
TRANSLATION
In great ecstatic love, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu offered obeisances and prayers unto Lord Nrsimha. The people were astonished to see Lord Caitanya’s influence.
Madhya9.68
TEXT 68
siva-kanci asiya kaila siva darasana
prabhave ’vaisnava’ kaila saba saiva-gana
SYNONYMS
siva-kanci—to the holy place named Siva-kanci; asiya—coming; kaila—did; siva darasana—visiting the temple of Lord Siva; prabhave—by His influence; vaisnava kaila—turned into Vaisnavas; saba—all; saiva-gana—the devotees of Lord Siva.
TRANSLATION
Arriving at Siva-kanci, Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited the deity of Lord Siva. By His influence, He converted all the devotees of Lord Siva into Vaisnavas.
PURPORT
Siva-kanci is also known as Kanjivarama, or the Benares of southern India. In Siva-kanci there are hundreds of temples containing symbolic representations of Lord Siva, and one of these temples is said to be very, very old.
Madhya9.69
TEXT 69
visnu-kanci asi’ dekhila laksmi-narayana
pranama kariya kaila bahuta stavana
SYNONYMS
visnu-kanci—to the holy place named Visnu-kanci; asi’-coming; dekhila—the Lord saw; laksmi-narayana—the Deity of Lord Narayana with mother Laksmi, the goddess of fortune; pranama kariya—after offering obeisances; kaila—made; bahuta stavana—many prayers.
TRANSLATION
The Lord then visited a holy place known as Visnu-kanci. There He saw Laksmi-Narayana Deities, and He offered His respects and many prayers to please Them.
PURPORT
Visnu-kanci is situated about five miles away from Kanjivarama. It is here that Lord Varadaraja, another form of Lord Visnu, resides. There is also a big lake known as Ananta-sarovara.
Madhya9.70
TEXT 70
premavese nrtya-gita bahuta karila
dina-dui rahi’ loke ’krsna-bhakta’ kaila
SYNONYMS
prema-avese—in ecstatic love; nrtya-gita—dancing and chanting; bahuta—much; karila—performed; dina-dui—for two days; rahi’-staying; loke—the people in general; krsna-bhakta—devotees of Lord Krsna; kaila—made.
TRANSLATION
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at Visnu-kanci for two days, He danced and performed kirtana in ecstasy. When all the people saw Him, they were converted into devotees of Lord Krsna.
Madhya9.71
TEXT 71
trimalaya dekhi’ gela trikala-hasti-sthane
mahadeva dekhi’ tanre karila praname
SYNONYMS
trimalaya dekhi’-after seeing Trimalaya; gela—went; trikala-hasti-sthane—to the place named Trikala-hasti; mahadeva—Lord Siva; dekhi’-seeing; tanre—unto him; karila praname—offered obeisances.
TRANSLATION
After visiting Trimalaya, Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to see Trikala-hasti. There He saw Lord Siva and offered him all respects and obeisances.
PURPORT
Trikala-hasti is situated about twenty-two miles northeast of Tirupati. On its northern side is a river known as Suvarna-mukhi. The temple of Trikala-hasti is located on the southern side of the river. The place is generally known as Sri Kalahasti or Kalahasti and is famous for its temple of Lord Siva. There he is called Vayu-linga Siva.
Madhya9.72
TEXT 72
paksi-tirtha dekhi’ kaila siva darasana
vrddhakola-tirthe tabe karila gamana
SYNONYMS
paksi-tirtha dekhi’-after visiting the place known as Paksi-tirtha; kaila—did; siva darasana—visiting the temple of Lord Siva; vrddhakola-tirthe—to the holy place known as Vrddhakola; tabe—then; karila gamana—went.
TRANSLATION
At Paksi-tirtha, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited the temple of Lord Siva. Then He went to the Vrddhakola place of pilgrimage.
PURPORT
Paksi-tirtha, also called Tirukadi-kundam, is located nine miles southeast of Cimlipat. It has a five-hundred-foot elevation and is situated in a chain of hills known as Vedagiri or Vedacalam. There is a temple of Lord Siva there, and the deity is known as Vedagirisvara. Two birds come there daily to receive food from the temple priest, and it is claimed that they have been coming since time immemorial.
Madhya9.73
TEXT 73
sveta-varaha dekhi, tanre namaskari’
pitambara-siva-sthane gela gaurahari
SYNONYMS
sveta-varaha—the white boar incarnation; dekhi—seeing; tanre—unto Him; namaskari’-offering respect; pita-ambara—dressed with yellow garments; siva-sthane—to the temple of Lord Siva; gela—went; gaurahari—Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
At Vrddhakola, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited the temple of Sveta-varaha, the white boar incarnation. After offering Him respects, the Lord visited the temple of Lord Siva, wherein the deity is dressed with yellow garments.
PURPORT
The temple of the white boar incarnation is situated at Vrddhakola. The temple is made of stone and is located about one mile south of an oasis known as Balipitham. There is a Deity of the white boar incarnation, above whose head Sesa Naga serves as an umbrella. The deity of Lord Siva is known as Pitambara and also as Cidambaram. This temple is located twenty-six miles south of Cuddaloreda, and the deity there is also known as Akasa-linga. The deity is in the form of Lord Siva. This temple is situated on about thirty-nine acres of land, and all this land is surrounded by a wall sixty feet high.
Madhya9.74
TEXT 74
siyali bhairavi devi kari’ darasana
kaverira tire aila sacira nandana
SYNONYMS
siyali bhairavi—Siyali-bhairavi; devi—goddess; kari’ darasana—visiting; kaverira tire—on the bank of the river Kaveri; aila—came; sacira nandana—the son of mother Saci.
TRANSLATION
After visiting the temple of Siyali-bhairavi [another form of the goddess Durga], Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the son of mother Saci, went to the bank of the river Kaveri.
PURPORT
Siyali-bhairavi is located in the Tanjorean district, about forty-eight miles northeast of Tanjorean City. There is a very much celebrated temple of Lord Siva there and also a very large lake. It is said that once a small boy who was a devotee of Lord Siva came to that temple and the goddess Durga, known as Bhairavi, gave him her breast to suck. After visiting this temple, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to the bank of the river Kaveri via the district of Tiruchchirapalli. The Kaveri is mentioned in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.40) as a very pious river.
Madhya9.75
TEXT 75
go-samaje siva dekhi’ aila vedavana
mahadeva dekhi’ tanre karila vandana
SYNONYMS
go-samaje—at the place named Go-samaja; siva dekhi’-seeing the deity of Lord Siva; aila vedavana—He arrived at Vedavana; mahadeva dekhi’-seeing Lord Siva; tanre—unto him; karila vandana—offered prayers.
TRANSLATION
The Lord then visited a place known as Go-samaja, where He saw Lord Siva’s temple. He then arrived at Vedavana, where He saw another deity of Lord Siva and offered him prayers.
PURPORT
Go-samaja is a place of pilgrimage for the devotees of Lord Siva. It is very important and is located next to Vedavana.
Madhya9.76
TEXT 76
amrtalinga-siva dekhi’ vandana karila
saba sivalaye saiva ’vaisnava’ ha-ila
SYNONYMS
amrta-linga-siva—the Lord Siva deity named Amrta-linga; dekhi’-seeing; vandana karila—offered obeisances; saba siva-alaye—in all the temples of Lord Siva; saiva—devotees of Lord Siva; vaisnava ha-ila—became devotees of Lord Krsna.
TRANSLATION
Seeing the Siva deity named Amrta-linga, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu offered His obeisances. Thus He visited all the temples of Lord Siva and converted the devotees of Lord Siva into Vaisnavas.
Madhya9.77
TEXT 77
deva-sthane asi’ kaila visnu darasana
sri-vaisnavera sange tahan gosthi anuksana
SYNONYMS
deva-sthane—to the place known as Devasthana; asi’-coming; kaila—did; visnu darasana—visiting the temple of Lord Visnu; sri-vaisnavera sange—with the Vaisnavas in the disciplic succession of Ramanuja; tahan—there; gosthi—discussion; anuksana—always.
TRANSLATION
At Devasthana, Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited the temple of Lord Visnu, and there He talked with the Vaisnavas in the disciplic succession of Ramanujacarya. These Vaisnavas are known as Sri Vaisnavas.
Madhya9.78
TEXT 78
kumbhakarna-kapale dekhi’ sarovara
siva-ksetre siva dekhe gauranga-sundara
SYNONYMS
kumbhakarna-kapale—at Kumbhakarna-kapala; dekhi’-after seeing; sarovara—the lake; siva-ksetre—at Siva-ksetra; siva—Lord Siva; dekhe—sees; gauranga-sundara—Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
At Kumbhakarna-kapala, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw a great lake and then the holy place named Siva-ksetra, where a temple of Lord Siva is located.
PURPORT
Kumbhakarna is the name of the brother of Ravana. At the present moment the city of Kumbhakarna-kapala is known as Kumbhakonnam; it is situated twenty miles northeast of the city of Tanjorean. There are twelve temples of Lord Siva located at Kumbhakonnam, as well as four Visnu temples and one temple to Lord Brahma. Siva-ksetra, within the city of Tanjorean, is situated near a big lake known as Siva-ganga. At this place is a large temple of Lord Siva known as Brhatisvara-siva-mandira.
Madhya9.79
TEXT 79
papa-nasane visnu kaila darasana
sri-ranga-ksetre tabe karila gamana
SYNONYMS
papa-nasane—at the place named Papanasana; visnu—Lord Visnu; kaila—did; darasana—visiting; sri-ranga-ksetre—to the holy place named Sri Ranga-ksetra; tabe—then; karila—did; gamana—departure.
TRANSLATION
After visiting the holy place named Siva-ksetra, Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived at Papanasana and there saw the temple of Lord Visnu. Then He finally reached Sri Ranga-ksetra.
PURPORT
According to some, the place known as Papanasana was located eight miles southwest of Kumbhakonnam. Others say that in the district of Tinebheli there is a city known as Palamakota and that Twenty miles west of there is the holy place known as Papanasana, near the river Tamraparni. Sri Ranga-ksetra is a very famous place. Near Tiruchchirapalli is a river named Kaveri, or Kolirana. A city known as Sri Rangam is located on this river in the district of Tanjorean, about ten miles west of Kumbhakonnam. The Sri Ranga temple is the largest in India, and there are seven walls surrounding it. There are also seven roads leading to Sri Ranga. The ancient names of these roads are the road of Dharma, the road of Rajamahendra, the road of Kulasekhara, the road of Alinadana, the road of Tiruvikrama, the Tirubidi road of Madamadi-gaisa, and the road of Ada-iyavala-indana. The temple was founded before the reign of Dharmavarma, who reigned before Rajamahendra. Many celebrated kings like Kulasekhara, and others such as Alabandaru, resided in the temple of Sri Rangam. Yamunacarya, Sri Ramanuja, Sudarsanacarya and others also supervised this temple.
The incarnation of the goddess of fortune known as Godadevi, who was one of the twelve liberated persons known as divya-suris, was married to the Deity, Lord Sri Ranganatha. Later she entered into the body of the Lord. An incarnation of Karmuka, Tirumanga (one of the Alwars), acquired some money by stealing and built the fourth boundary wall of Sri Rangam. It is said that in the year 289 of the Age of Kali, the Alwar of the name Tondaradippadi was born. While engaged in devotional service, he fell victim to a prostitute, and Sri Ranganatha, seeing His devotee so degraded, sent one of His servants with a golden plate to that prostitute. When the golden plate was discovered missing from the temple, there was a search, and it was found in the prostitute’s house. When the devotee saw Ranganatha’s mercy upon this prostitute, his mistake was rectified. He then prepared the third boundary wall of the Ranganatha temple and cultivated a tulasi garden there.
There was also a celebrated disciple of Ramanujacarya’s known as Kuresa. Sri Ramapilla was the son of Kuresa, and his son was Vagvijaya Bhatta, whose son was Vedavyasa Bhatta, or Sri Sudarsanacarya. When Sudarsanacarya was an old man, the Mohammedans attacked the temple of Ranganatha and killed about twelve hundred Sri Vaisnavas. At that time the Deity of Ranganatha was transferred to the temple of Tirupati in the kingdom of Vijaya-nagara. The governor of Gingeen, Goppanarya, brought Sri Ranganatha from the temple of Tirupati to a place known as Simha-brahma, where the Lord was situated for three years. In the year 1293 Saka (A.D. 1372) the Deity was reinstalled in the Ranganatha temple. On the eastern wall of the Ranganatha temple is an inscription written by Vedanta-desika relating how Ranganatha was returned to the temple.
Madhya9.80
TEXT 80
kaverite snana kari’ dekhi’ ranganatha
stuti-pranati kari’ manila krtartha
SYNONYMS
kaverite—in the river known as Kaveri; snana kari’-after bathing; dekhi’-visiting; ranga-natha—the Ranganatha temple; stuti—prayers; pranati—obeisances; kari’-offering; manila—thought Himself; krta-artha—very successful.
TRANSLATION
After bathing in the river Kaveri, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw the temple of Ranganatha and offered His ardent prayers and obeisances. Thus He felt Himself successful.
Madhya9.81
TEXT 81
premavese kaila bahuta gana nartana
dekhi’ camatkara haila saba lokera mana
SYNONYMS
prema-avese—in the ecstasy of love; kaila—did; bahuta—various; gana—songs; nartana—dancing; dekhi’-seeing which; camatkara—astonished; haila—were; saba—all; lokera—of persons; mana—minds.
TRANSLATION
In the temple of Ranganatha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu chanted and danced in ecstatic love of Godhead. Seeing His performance, everyone was struck with wonder.
Madhya9.82
TEXT 82
sri-vaisnava eka,--’vyenkata bhatta’ nama
prabhure nimantrana kaila kariya sammana
SYNONYMS
sri-vaisnava eka—a devotee belonging to the Ramanuja-sampradaya; vyenkata bhatta—Venkata Bhatta; nama—named; prabhure—unto Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nimantrana—invitation; kaila—did; kariya—offering; sammana—great respect.
TRANSLATION
One Vaisnava known as Venkata Bhatta then invited Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his home with great respect.
PURPORT
Sri Venkata Bhatta was a Vaisnava brahmana and an inhabitant of Sri Ranga-ksetra. He belonged to the disciplic succession of Sri Ramanujacarya. Sri Ranga is one of the places of pilgrimage in the province of Tamil Nadus. The inhabitants of that province do not retain the name Venkata. It is therefore supposed that Venkata Bhatta did not belong to that province, although he may have been residing there for a very long time. Venkata Bhatta was in a branch of the Ramanuja-sampradaya known as Badagala-i. He had a brother in the Ramanuja-sampradaya known as Sripada Prabodhananda Sarasvati. The son of Venkata Bhatta was later known in the Gaudiya-sampradaya as Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, and he established the Radharamana temple in Vrndavana. More information about him may be found in a book known as Bhakti-ratnakara, by Narahari Cakravarti.
Madhya9.83
TEXT 83
nija-ghare lana kaila pada-praksalana
sei jala lana kaila sa-vamse bhaksana
SYNONYMS
nija-ghare—to his own home; lana—bringing; kaila—did; pada-praksalana—washing of the feet; sei jala—that water; lana—taking; kaila—did; sa-vamse—with all the family members; bhaksana—drinking.
TRANSLATION
Sri Venkata Bhatta took Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his home. After he washed the Lord’s feet, all the members of his family drank the water.
Madhya9.84
TEXT 84
bhiksa karana kichu kaila nivedana
caturmasya asi’ prabhu, haila upasanna
SYNONYMS
bhiksa karana—after offering lunch; kichu—some; kaila—did; nivedana—submission; caturmasya—the period of Caturmasya; asi’-coming; prabhu—my Lord; haila upasanna—has already arrived.
TRANSLATION
After offering lunch to the Lord, Venkata Bhatta submitted that the period of Caturmasya had already arrived.
Madhya9.85
TEXT 85
caturmasye krpa kari’ raha mora ghare
krsna-katha kahi’ krpaya uddhara’ amare
SYNONYMS
caturmasye—during this period of Caturmasya; krpa kari’-being merciful; raha—please stay; mora ghare—at my place; krsna-katha—topics of Lord Krsna; kahi’-speaking; krpaya—by Your mercy; uddhara’ amare—kindly deliver me.
TRANSLATION
Venkata Bhatta said, “Please be merciful to me and stay at my house during Caturmasya. Speak about Lord Krsna’s pastimes and kindly deliver me by Your mercy.”
Madhya9.86
TEXT 86
tanra ghare rahila prabhu krsna-katha-rase
bhatta-sange gonaila sukhe cari mase
SYNONYMS
tanra ghare—in his home; rahila—stayed; prabhu—Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krsna-katha-rase—enjoying the transcendental mellow of discussing Lord Krsna’s pastimes; bhatta-sange—with Venkata Bhatta; gonaila—passed; sukhe—in happiness; cari mase—four months.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu remained at the house of Venkata Bhatta for four continuous months. The Lord passed His days in great happiness, enjoying the transcendental mellow of discussing Lord Krsna’s pastimes.
Madhya9.87
TEXT 87
kaverite snana kari’ sri-ranga darsana
pratidina premavese karena nartana
SYNONYMS
kaverite—in the river known as Kaveri; snana kari’-taking a bath; sri-ranga darsana—visiting the temple of Sri Ranga; prati-dina—every day; prema-avese—in great happiness; karena—does perform; nartana—dancing.
TRANSLATION
While there, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took His bath in the river Kaveri and visited the temple of Sri Ranga. Every day the Lord also danced in ecstasy.
Madhya9.88
TEXT 88
saundaryadi premavesa dekhi, sarva-loka
dekhibare aise, dekhe, khande duhkha-soka
SYNONYMS
saundarya-adi—the beauty of the body, etc.; prema-avesa—His ecstatic love; dekhi—seeing; sarva-loka—all men; dekhibare—to see; aise—come there; dekhe—and see; khande duhkha-soka—are relieved from all unhappiness and distress.
TRANSLATION
The beauty of Lord Caitanya’s body and His ecstatic love of God were witnessed by everyone. Many people used to come see Him, and as soon as they saw Him, all their unhappiness and distress vanished.
Madhya9.89
TEXT 89
laksa laksa loka aila nana-desa haite
sabe krsna-nama kahe prabhuke dekhite
SYNONYMS
laksa laksa—many hundreds of thousands; loka—of people; aila—came there; nana-desa—different countries; haite—from; sabe—all of them; krsna-nama kahe—chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra; prabhuke—the Lord; dekhite—seeing.
TRANSLATION
Many hundreds of thousands of people from various countries came to see the Lord, and after seeing Him they all chanted the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.
Madhya9.90
TEXT 90
krsna-nama vina keha nahi kahe ara
sabe krsna-bhakta haila,--loke camatkara
SYNONYMS
krsna-nama vina—without chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra; keha—anyone; nahi—does not; kahe—speak; ara—anything else; sabe—all of them; krsna-bhakta—Lord Krsna’s devotees; haila—became; loke—the people; camatkara—astonished.
TRANSLATION
Indeed, they did not chant anything but the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, and all of them became Lord Krsna’s devotees. Thus the general populace was astonished.
Madhya9.91
TEXT 91
sri-ranga-ksetre vaise yata vaisnava-brahmana
eka eka dina sabe kaila nimantrana
SYNONYMS
sri-ranga-ksetre—in Sri Ranga-ksetra; vaise—residing; yata—all; vaisnava-brahmana—Vaisnava brahmanas; eka eka dina—every day; sabe—all of them; kaila nimantrana—invited the Lord.
TRANSLATION
All the Vaisnava brahmanas residing in Sri Ranga-ksetra invited the Lord to their homes. Indeed, He had an invitation every day.
Madhya9.92
TEXT 92
eka eka dine caturmasya purna haila
kataka brahmana bhiksa dite na paila
SYNONYMS
eka eka dine—day by day; caturmasya—the period of Caturmasya; purna haila—became filled; kataka brahmana—some of the brahmanas; bhiksa dite—to offer Him lunch; na—did not; paila—get the opportunity.
TRANSLATION
Each day the Lord was invited by a different brahmana, but some of the brahmanas did not get the opportunity to offer Him lunch because the period of Caturmasya came to an end.
Madhya9.93
TEXT 93
sei ksetre rahe eka vaisnava-brahmana
devalaye asi’ kare gita avartana
SYNONYMS
sei ksetre-in that holy place; rahe-there was; eka-one; vaisnava-brahmana-a brahmana following the Vaisnava cult; deva-alaye-in the temple; asi’-coming; kare-does; gita-of the Bhagavad-gita; avartana-recitation.
TRANSLATION
In the holy place of Sri Ranga-ksetra, a brahmana Vaisnava used to visit the temple daily and recite the entire text of the Bhagavad-gita.
Madhya9.94
TEXT 94
astadasadhyaya pade ananda-avese
asuddha padena, loka kare upahase
SYNONYMS
astadasa-adhyaya—eighteen chapters; pade—reads; ananda-avese—in great ecstasy; asuddha padena—could not pronounce the text correctly; loka—people in general; kare—do; upahase—joking.
TRANSLATION
The brahmana regularly read the eighteen chapters of the Bhagavad-gita in great transcendental ecstasy, but because he could not pronounce the words correctly, people used to joke about him.
Madhya9.95
TEXT 95
keha hase, keha ninde, taha nahi mane
avista hana gita pade anandita-mane
SYNONYMS
keha hase—someone laughs; keha ninde—someone criticizes; taha—that; nahi mane—he does not care for; avista hana—being in great ecstasy; gita pade—reads the Bhagavad-gita; anandita—in great happiness; mane—his mind.
TRANSLATION
Due to his incorrect pronunciation, people sometimes criticized him and laughed at him, but he did not care. He was full of ecstasy due to reading the Bhagavad-gita and was personally very happy.
Madhya9.96
TEXT 96
pulakasru, kampa, sveda,--yavat pathana
dekhi’ anandita haila mahaprabhura mana
SYNONYMS
pulaka—standing of the hairs of the body; asru—tears; kampa—trembling; sveda—perspiration; yavat—during; pathana—the reading of the book; dekhi’-seeing this; anandita—very happy; haila—became; mahaprabhura—of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mana—the mind.
TRANSLATION
While reading the book, the brahmana experienced transcendental bodily transformations. His hair stood on end, tears welled in his eyes, and his body trembled and perspired as he read. Seeing this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu became very happy.
PURPORT
Although the brahmana could not pronounce the words very well due to illiteracy, he still experienced ecstatic symptoms while reading the Bhagavad-gita. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very much pleased to observe these symptoms, and this indicates that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased by devotion, not by erudite scholarship. Even though the words were imperfectly pronounced, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Krsna Himself, did not think this very serious. Rather, the Lord was pleased by the bhava (devotion). In Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.11) this is confirmed:
tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo
yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api
namany anantasya yaso-’nkitani yat
srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah
“On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms and pastimes of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world’s misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literature, even though imperfectly composed, is heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.”
The purport to this verse may be considered for further information on this subject.
Madhya9.97
TEXT 97
mahaprabhu puchila tanre, suna, mahasaya
kon artha jani’ tomara eta sukha haya
SYNONYMS
mahaprabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; puchila—inquired; tanre—from him; suna—please hear; maha-asaya—My dear sir; kon—what; artha—meaning; jani’-knowing; tomara—your; eta—so great; sukha—happiness; haya—is.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked the brahmana, “My dear sir, why are you in such ecstatic love? Which portion of the Bhagavad-gita gives you such transcendental pleasure?”