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CHAPTER TWELVE

The Loving Dealings Between Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Jagadānanda Paṇḍita

A summary of the twelfth chapter is given by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya as follows. This chapter discusses the transformations of ecstatic love that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exhibited day and night. The devotees from Bengal again journeyed to Jagannātha Purī to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. As usual, the leader was Śivānanda Sena, who traveled with his wife and children. Because arrangements were delayed en route and Lord Nityānanda did not have a suitable place to reside, He became somewhat disturbed. Thus He became very angry with Śivānanda Sena, who was in charge of the affairs of the party, and kicked him in loving anger. Śivānanda Sena felt highly favored to have been kicked by Nityānanda Prabhu, but his nephew Śrīkānta Sena became upset and therefore left their company. He met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Jagannātha Purī before the rest of the party arrived.

That year a devotee named Parameśvara dāsa Modaka also went with his family to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Jagannātha Purī. The devotees often invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to eat with them. When the Lord bade them all farewell, He talked very pleasingly with them. The year before, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita had been sent to Śacīmātā with prasādam and cloth. This year he returned to Purī with a big pot of floral-scented sandalwood oil to massage the Lord’s head. The Lord, however, would not accept the oil, and because of His refusal, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita broke the pot in front of Him and began to fast. The Lord tried to pacify him and asked Jagadānanda Paṇḍita to cook for Him. Jagadānanda Paṇḍita became so pleased when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted his cooking that he broke his fast.

Text 1:
O devotees, may the transcendental life and characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu always be heard, chanted and meditated upon with great happiness.
Text 2:
All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is all-merciful! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu, who is an ocean of mercy!
Text 3:
All glories to Advaita Ācārya, who is also an ocean of mercy! All glories to all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, whose hearts are always filled with mercy!
Text 4:
The mind of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was always morose because of a continuously manifested feeling of separation from Kṛṣṇa.
Text 5:
The Lord would cry, “O My Lord Kṛṣṇa, My life and soul! O son of Mahārāja Nanda, where shall I go? Where shall I attain You? O Supreme Personality who play with Your flute to Your mouth!”
Text 6:
This was His situation day and night. Unable to find peace of mind, He passed His nights with great difficulty in the company of Svarūpa Dāmodara and Rāmānanda Rāya.
Text 7:
Meanwhile, all the devotees journeyed from their homes in Bengal to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Text 8:
Headed by Śivānanda Sena, Advaita Ācārya and others, all the devotees assembled in Navadvīpa.
Text 9:
The inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma and Khaṇḍa village also assembled at Navadvīpa.
Text 10:
Because Nityānanda Prabhu was preaching in Bengal, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had ordered Him not to come to Jagannātha Purī. That year, however, He went with the rest of the party to see the Lord.
Text 11:
Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura was also there with his three brothers and his wife, Mālinī. Ācāryaratna was similarly accompanied by his wife.
Text 12:
The wife of Śivānanda Sena also came, along with their three sons. Rāghava Paṇḍita joined them, carrying his famous bags of food.
Text 13:
Vāsudeva Datta, Murāri Gupta, Vidyānidhi and many other devotees went to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. All together, they numbered two or three hundred.
Text 14:
The devotees first saw Śacīmātā and took her permission. Then in great happiness they started for Jagannātha Purī, congregationally chanting the holy name of the Lord.
Text 15:
Śivānanda Sena managed the payment of tolls at different places. Maintaining everyone, he guided all the devotees in great happiness.
Text 16:
Śivānanda Sena took care of everyone and gave each devotee places to stay. He knew all the paths leading to Orissa.
Text 17:
One day when the party was being checked by a toll collector, the devotees were allowed to pass, and Śivānanda Sena remained behind alone to pay the taxes.
Text 18:
The party went into a village and waited beneath a tree because no one but Śivānanda Sena could arrange for their residential quarters.
Text 19:
Nityānanda Prabhu meanwhile became very hungry and upset. Because He had not yet obtained a suitable residence, He began calling Śivānanda Sena ill names.
Text 20:
“Śivānanda Sena has not arranged for My residence,” He complained, “and I am so hungry I could die. Because he has not come, I curse his three sons to die.”
Text 21:
Hearing this curse, Śivānanda Sena’s wife began to cry. Just then, Śivānanda returned from the toll station.
Text 22:
Crying, his wife informed him, “Lord Nityānanda has cursed our sons to die because His quarters have not been provided.”
Text 23:
Śivānanda Sena replied, “You crazy woman! Why are you needlessly crying? Let my three sons die for all the inconvenience we have caused Nityānanda Prabhu.”
Text 24:
After saying this, Śivānanda Sena went to Nityānanda Prabhu, who then stood up and kicked him.
Text 25:
Very pleased at being kicked, Śivānanda Sena quickly arranged for a milkman’s house to be the Lord’s residence.
Text 26:
Śivānanda Sena touched the lotus feet of Nityānanda Prabhu and led Him to His residence. After giving the Lord His quarters, Śivānanda Sena, being very pleased, spoke as follows.
Text 27:
“Today You have accepted me as Your servant and have properly punished me for my offense.
Text 28:
“My dear Lord, Your chastising me is Your causeless mercy. Who within the three worlds can understand Your real character?
Text 29:
“The dust of Your lotus feet is not attainable even by Lord Brahmā, yet Your lotus feet have touched my wretched body.
Text 30:
“Today my birth, my family and my activities have all become successful. Today I have achieved the fulfillment of religious principles, economic development, satisfaction of the senses and ultimately devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.”
Text 31:
When Lord Nityānanda heard this, He was very happy. He rose and embraced Śivānanda Sena in great love.
Text 32:
Being very much pleased by Nityānanda Prabhu’s behavior, Śivānanda Sena began to arrange residential quarters for all the Vaiṣṇavas, headed by Advaita Ācārya.
Text 33:
One of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu’s characteristics is His contradictory nature. When He becomes angry and kicks someone, it is actually for his benefit.
Text 34:
Śivānanda Sena’s nephew, Śrīkānta, the son of his sister, felt offended, and he commented on the matter when his uncle was absent.
Text 35:
“My uncle is well known as one of the associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, but Lord Nityānanda Prabhu asserts His superiority by kicking him.”
Text 36:
After saying this, Śrīkānta, who was only a boy, left the group and traveled on alone to the residence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Text 37:
When Śrīkānta offered obeisances to the Lord, he was still wearing his shirt and coat. Therefore Govinda told him, “My dear Śrīkānta, first take off these garments.”
Text 38:
As Govinda was warning Śrīkānta, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Don’t bother him. Let Śrīkānta do whatever he likes, for he has come here in a distressed state of mind.”
Text 39:
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired from Śrīkānta about all the Vaiṣṇavas, and the boy informed the Lord about them, naming them one after another.
Text 40:
When Śrīkānta Sena heard the Lord say “He is distressed,” he could understand that the Lord is omniscient.
Text 41:
As he described the Vaiṣṇavas, therefore, he did not mention Lord Nityānanda’s kicking Śivānanda Sena. Meanwhile, all the devotees arrived and went to meet the Lord.
Text 42:
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu received them all, just as He had in previous years. The women, however, saw the Lord from a distance.
Text 43:
The Lord again arranged for the residential quarters of all the devotees and thereafter called them to partake of the remnants of food offered to Lord Jagannātha.
Text 44:
Śivānanda Sena introduced his three sons to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Because they were his sons, the Lord showed the boys great mercy.
Text 45:
Lord Caitanya asked the youngest son’s name, and Śivānanda Sena informed the Lord that his name was Paramānanda dāsa.
Texts 46-47:
Once before when Śivānanda Sena had visited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at His residence, the Lord had told him, “When this son is born, give him the name Purī dāsa.”
Text 48:
The son was in the womb of Śivānanda’s wife, and when Śivānanda returned home the son was born.
Text 49:
The child was named Paramānanda dāsa in accordance with the Lord’s order, and the Lord jokingly called him Purī dāsa.
Text 50:
When Śivānanda Sena introduced the child to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord put His toe in the child’s mouth.
Text 51:
No one can cross over the ocean of Śivānanda Sena’s good fortune, for the Lord considered Śivānanda’s whole family His own.
Text 52:
The Lord ate lunch in the company of all the devotees, and after washing His hands and mouth He gave an order to Govinda.
Text 53:
“As long as Śivānanda Sena’s wife and children stay in Jagannātha Purī,” He said, “they must be given the remnants of My food.”
Text 54:
There was a resident of Nadia named Parameśvara, who was a confectioner living near the home of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Text 55:
When the Lord was a boy, He would visit the house of Parameśvara Modaka again and again. The confectioner would supply the Lord milk and sweetmeats, and the Lord would eat them.
Text 56:
Parameśvara Modaka had been affectionate toward the Lord since His childhood, and he was one of those who came that year to see the Lord at Jagannātha Purī.
Text 57:
When he offered his obeisances to the Lord, he said, “I am the same Parameśvara.” Upon seeing him, the Lord asked him questions with great affection.
Text 58:
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Parameśvara, may you be blessed. It is very good that you have come here.” Parameśvara then informed the Lord, “Mukundāra Mātā has also come.”
Text 59:
Hearing the name of Mukundāra Mātā, Lord Caitanya hesitated, but because of affection for Parameśvara, He did not say anything.
Text 60:
An intimate relationship sometimes makes a person overstep formal etiquette. Thus Parameśvara actually pleased the Lord in His heart by his simple and affectionate behavior.
Text 61:
All the devotees engaged in the cleansing ceremony of the Guṇḍicā temple and danced in front of the Ratha-yātrā chariot, just as they had done in the past.
Text 62:
For four consecutive months, the devotees observed all the festivals. The wives, such as Mālinī, extended invitations for lunch to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Text 63:
From Bengal the devotees had brought varieties of Bengali food that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu liked. They also cooked various grains and vegetables in their homes and offered them to the Lord.
Text 64:
During the day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu engaged in various activities with His devotees, but at night He felt great separation from Kṛṣṇa and used to cry.
Text 65:
In this way the Lord spent the four months of the rainy season in various pastimes, and then He ordered the Bengali devotees to return to their homes.
Text 66:
All the devotees from Bengal would regularly invite Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for lunch, and the Lord would speak to them in very sweet words.
Text 67:
“All of you come to see Me every year,” the Lord said. “To come here and then return must certainly give you great trouble.
Text 68:
“I would like to forbid you to do this, but I enjoy your company so much that My desire for your association only increases.
Text 69:
“I ordered Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu not to leave Bengal, but He has transgressed My order and come to see Me. What can I say?
Text 70:
“Out of His causeless mercy upon Me, Advaita Ācārya has also come here. I am indebted to Him for His affectionate behavior. This debt is impossible for Me to liquidate.
Text 71:
“All My devotees come here just for Me. Leaving aside their homes and families, they travel by very difficult paths to come here in great haste.
Text 72:
“There is no fatigue or trouble for Me, for I stay here at Nīlācala, Jagannātha Purī, and do not move at all. This is the favor of all of you.
Text 73:
“I am a mendicant and have no money. How can I clear My debt for the favor you have shown Me?
Text 74:
“I have only this body, and therefore I surrender it unto you. Now, if you wish, you may sell it anywhere you like. It is your property.”
Text 75:
When all the devotees heard these sweet words of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, their hearts melted, and they began to shed incessant tears.
Text 76:
Catching hold of His devotees, the Lord embraced them all and began to cry and cry.
Text 77:
Unable to leave, everyone remained there, and five to seven more days thus passed by.
Text 78:
Advaita Prabhu and Lord Nityānanda Prabhu submitted these words at the lotus feet of the Lord: “The entire world is naturally obligated to You for Your transcendental attributes.
Text 79:
“Yet You bind Your devotees again with Your sweet words. Under these circumstances, who can go anywhere?”
Text 80:
Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu peacefully calmed them all and bade each of them farewell.
Text 81:
The Lord specifically advised Nityānanda Prabhu, “You should not come here again and again. You will have My association in Bengal.”
Text 82:
The devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began their journey crying, while the Lord remained morosely at His residence.
Text 83:
The Lord bound everyone by His transcendental mercy. Who can repay his debt for the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu?
Text 84:
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the fully independent Personality of Godhead and makes everyone dance as He likes. Leaving His company, therefore, all the devotees returned to their homes in different parts of the country.
Text 85:
As a wooden doll dances to the will of a puppeteer, everything is accomplished by the will of the Lord. Who can understand the characteristics of the Supreme Personality of Godhead?
Text 86:
The previous year, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, following the Lord’s order, had returned to the city of Nadia to see Śacīmātā.
Text 87:
When he arrived, he offered prayers at her lotus feet and then offered her the cloth and prasādam of Lord Jagannātha.
Text 88:
He offered obeisances to Śacīmātā in the name of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and informed her of all the Lord’s submissive prayers to her.
Text 89:
Jagadānanda’s coming pleased mother Śacī very much. As he talked of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, she listened day and night.
Text 90:
Jagadānanda Paṇḍita said, “My dear mother, sometimes the Lord comes here and eats all the food you have offered.
Text 91:
“After eating the food, the Lord says, ‘Today Mother has fed Me up to My neck.
Text 92:
“ ‘I go there and eat the food My mother offers, but she cannot understand that I am eating it directly. She thinks that this is a dream.’ ”
Text 93:
Śacīmātā said, “I wish Nimāi would eat all the nice vegetables I cook. That is my desire.
Text 94:
“Sometimes I think that Nimāi has eaten them, but afterwards I think that I was only dreaming.”
Text 95:
In this way, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and mother Śacī talked day and night about the happiness of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Text 96:
Jagadānanda Paṇḍita met all the other devotees in Nadia. They were all very happy to have him present.
Text 97:
Jagadānanda Paṇḍita thereafter went to meet Advaita Ācārya, who also was very happy to have him.
Text 98:
Vāsudeva Datta and Murāri Gupta were so pleased to see Jagadānanda Paṇḍita that they kept him at their homes and would not allow him to leave.
Text 99:
They heard confidential narrations about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu from the mouth of Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and forgot themselves in the great happiness of hearing about the Lord.
Text 100:
Whenever Jagadānanda Paṇḍita went to visit a devotee’s house, that devotee immediately forgot himself in great happiness.
Text 101:
All glories to Jagadānanda Paṇḍita! He is so favored by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that anyone who meets him thinks, “Now I have gotten the association of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu directly.”
Text 102:
Jagadānanda Paṇḍita stayed at the house of Śivānanda Sena for some time, and they prepared about sixteen seers of scented sandalwood oil.
Text 103:
They filled a large earthen pot with the aromatic oil, and with great care Jagadānanda Paṇḍita brought it to Nīlācala, Jagannātha Purī.
Text 104:
This oil was placed in the care of Govinda, and Jagadānanda requested him, “Please rub this oil on the body of the Lord.”
Text 105:
Govinda therefore told Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “Jagadānanda Paṇḍita has brought some scented sandalwood oil.
Text 106:
“It is his desire that Your Lordship apply a little of this oil on Your head so that blood pressure due to bile and air will be considerably diminished.
Text 107:
“He prepared a large jug of it in Bengal, and with great care he has brought it here.”
Text 108:
The Lord replied, “A sannyāsī has no use for oil, especially perfumed oil such as this. Take it out immediately.”
Text 109:
“Deliver this oil to the temple of Jagannātha, where it may be burned in the lamps. In this way, Jagadānanda’s labor in manufacturing the oil will be perfectly successful.”
Text 110:
When Govinda informed Jagadānanda Paṇḍita of this message, Jagadānanda remained silent, not saying even a word.
Text 111:
When ten days had passed, Govinda again told Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “It is the desire of Jagadānanda Paṇḍita that Your Lordship accept the oil.”
Text 112:
When the Lord heard this, He angrily said, “Why not keep a masseur to massage Me?
Text 113:
“Have I taken sannyāsa for such happiness? Accepting this oil would bring My ruination, and all of you would laugh.
Text 114:
“If someone passing on the road smelled this oil on My head, he would think Me a dārī sannyāsī, a tantric sannyāsī who keeps women.”
Text 115:
Hearing these words of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Govinda remained silent. The next morning, Jagadānanda went to see the Lord.
Text 116:
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said to Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, “My dear Paṇḍita, you have brought Me some oil from Bengal, but since I am in the renounced order, I cannot accept it.
Text 117:
“Deliver the oil to the temple of Jagannātha so that it may be burned in the lamps. Thus your labor in preparing the oil will be fruitful.”
Text 118:
Jagadānanda Paṇḍita replied, “Who tells You all these false stories? I never brought any oil from Bengal.”
Text 119:
After saying this, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita took the jug of oil from the room and threw it down before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in the courtyard and broke it.
Text 120:
After breaking the jug, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita returned to his residence, bolted the door and lay down.
Text 121:
Three days later, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the door of his room and said, “My dear Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, please get up.
Text 122:
“I want you personally to cook My lunch today. I am going now to see the Lord in the temple. I shall return at noon.”
Text 123:
After Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said this and left, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita got up from his bed, bathed and began to cook varieties of vegetables.
Text 124:
After finishing His noontime ritualistic duties, the Lord arrived for lunch. Jagadānanda Paṇḍita washed the Lord’s feet and gave the Lord a sitting place.
Text 125:
He had cooked fine rice, mixed it with ghee and piled it high on a banana leaf. There were also varieties of vegetables, placed all around in pots made of banana tree bark.
Text 126:
On the rice and vegetables were tulasī flowers, and in front of the Lord were cakes, sweet rice and other prasādam of Jagannātha.
Text 127:
The Lord said, “Spread another leaf with a helping of rice and vegetables so that today you and I may take lunch together.”
Text 128:
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu kept His hands raised and would not accept the prasādam until Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, with great affection and love, spoke the following words.
Text 129:
“Please first take prasādam Yourself, and I shall eat later. I shall not refuse Your request.”
Text 130:
In great happiness, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then accepted the lunch. When He had tasted the vegetables, He again began to speak.
Text 131:
“Even when you cook in an angry mood,” He said, “the food is very delicious. This shows how pleased Kṛṣṇa is with you.
Text 132:
“Because He will personally eat the food, Kṛṣṇa makes you cook so nicely.
Text 133:
“You offer such nectarean rice to Kṛṣṇa. Who can estimate the limit of your fortune?”
Text 134:
Jagadānanda Paṇḍita replied, “He who will eat has cooked this. As far as I am concerned, I simply collect the ingredients.”
Text 135:
Jagadānanda Paṇḍita continued to offer the Lord varieties of vegetables. Out of fear, the Lord said nothing but continued eating happily.
Text 136:
Jagadānanda Paṇḍita eagerly forced the Lord to eat so much that He ate ten times more than on other days.
Text 137:
Again and again when the Lord wished to get up, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita would feed Him more vegetables.
Text 138:
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu dared not forbid him to feed Him more. He just continued eating, fearful that Jagadānanda would fast if He stopped.
Text 139:
At last the Lord respectfully submitted, “My dear Jagadānanda, you have already made Me eat ten times more than I am used to. Now please stop.”
Text 140:
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stood up and washed His hands and mouth, while Jagadānanda Paṇḍita brought spices, a garland and sandalwood pulp.
Text 141:
Accepting the sandalwood pulp and garland, the Lord sat down and said, “Now, in front of Me, you must eat.”
Text 142:
Jagadānanda replied, “My Lord, You go take rest. I shall take prasādam after I finish making some arrangements.
Text 143:
“Rāmāi Paṇḍita and Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa did the cooking, and I want to give them some rice and vegetables.”
Text 144:
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told Govinda, “You remain here. When the Paṇḍita has taken his food, come inform Me.”
Text 145:
After Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had said this and left, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita spoke to Govinda.
Text 146:
“Go quickly and massage the Lord’s feet,” he said. “You may tell Him, ‘The Paṇḍita has just sat down to take his meal.’
Text 147:
“I shall keep some remnants of the Lord’s food for you. When He is asleep, come and take your portion.”
Text 148:
Jagadānanda Paṇḍita thus distributed remnants of the Lord’s food to Rāmāi, Nandāi, Govinda and Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa.
Text 149:
He also personally ate the remnants of food left by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then the Lord again sent Govinda.
Text 150:
The Lord told him, “Go see whether Jagadānanda Paṇḍita is eating. Then quickly return and let Me know.”
Text 151:
Seeing that Jagadānanda Paṇḍita was indeed eating, Govinda informed the Lord, who then became peaceful and went to sleep.
Text 152:
The affectionate loving exchanges between Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued in this manner, exactly like the exchanges between Satyabhāmā and Lord Kṛṣṇa related in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Text 153:
Who can estimate the limit of Jagadānanda Paṇḍita’s fortune? He himself is the example of his own great fortune.
Text 154:
Anyone who hears about the loving exchanges between Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, or who reads Jagadānanda’s book Prema-vivarta, can understand what love is. Moreover, he achieves ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa.
Text 155:
Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.