CHAPTER FOUR
Sanātana Gosvāmī Visits the Lord at Jagannātha Purī
The fourth chapter is summarized by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya as follows. Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī came alone from Mathurā to Jagannātha Purī to see Lord Caitanya. Because of bathing in bad water and not getting enough food every day while traveling on the path through Jhārikhaṇḍa (Jharkhand) Forest, he developed a disease that made his body itch. Suffering greatly from this itching, he resolved that in the presence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu he would throw himself under the wheel of Jagannātha’s car and in this way commit suicide.
When Sanātana Gosvāmī came to Jagannātha Purī, he stayed under the care of Haridāsa Ṭhākura for some time, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very happy to see him. The Lord informed Sanātana Gosvāmī about the death of his younger brother Anupama, who had great faith in the lotus feet of Lord Rāmacandra. One day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said to Sanātana Gosvāmī, “Your decision to commit suicide is the result of the mode of ignorance. One cannot get love of God simply by committing suicide. You have already dedicated your life and body to My service; therefore your body does not belong to you, nor do you have any right to commit suicide. I have to execute many devotional services through your body. I want you to preach the cult of devotional service and go to Vṛndāvana to excavate the lost holy places.” After having thus spoken, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left, and Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Sanātana Gosvāmī had many talks about this subject.
One day Sanātana Gosvāmī was summoned by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who wanted him to come to Yameśvara-ṭoṭā. Sanātana Gosvāmī reached the Lord through the path along the beach by the sea. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked Sanātana Gosvāmī which way he had come, Sanātana replied, “Many servitors of Lord Jagannātha come and go on the path by the Siṁha-dvāra gate of the Jagannātha temple. Therefore, I did not go by that path, but instead went by the beach.” Sanātana Gosvāmī did not realize that there were burning blisters on his feet because of the heat of the sand. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was pleased to hear about Sanātana Gosvāmī’s great respect for the temple of Lord Śrī Jagannātha.
Because his disease produced wet sores on his body, Sanātana Gosvāmī used to avoid embracing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, but nevertheless the Lord would embrace him by force. This made Sanātana Gosvāmī very unhappy, and therefore he consulted Jagadānanda Paṇḍita about what he should do. Jagadānanda advised him to return to Vṛndāvana after the car festival of Jagannātha, but when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard about this instruction, He chastised Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and reminded him that Sanātana Gosvāmī was senior to him and also more learned. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu informed Sanātana Gosvāmī that because Sanātana was a pure devotee, the Lord was never inconvenienced by his bodily condition. Because the Lord was a sannyāsī, He did not consider one body better than another. The Lord also informed him that He was maintaining Sanātana and the other devotees just like a father. Therefore the moisture oozing from Sanātana’s itching skin did not affect the Lord at all. After speaking with Sanātana Gosvāmī in this way, the Lord again embraced him, and after this embrace, Sanātana Gosvāmī became free from the disease. The Lord ordered Sanātana Gosvāmī to stay with Him for that year, and the next year, after seeing the Ratha-yātrā festival, he left Puruṣottama-kṣetra and returned to Vṛndāvana.
After meeting Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī also returned to Bengal, where he remained for one year. Whatever money he owned, he distributed among his relatives, the brāhmaṇas and the temples. In this way he completely retired and returned to Vṛndāvana to meet Sanātana Gosvāmī.
After narrating these incidents, Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī has given a list of the main books of Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Jīva Gosvāmī.
Text
śrī-gauraḥ śrī-sanātanam
deha-pātād avan snehāt
śuddhaṁ cakre parīkṣayā
Synonyms
Translation
When Sanātana Gosvāmī returned from Vṛndāvana, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu affectionately saved him from his determination to commit suicide. Then, after testing him, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu purified his body.
Text
jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda
Synonyms
Translation
All glories to Lord Caitanya! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!
Text
mathurā haite sanātana nīlācala āilā
Synonyms
Translation
When Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī returned from Jagannātha Purī to Bengal, Sanātana Gosvāmī went from Mathurā to Jagannātha Purī to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Text
kabhu upavāsa, kabhu carvaṇa kariyā
Synonyms
Translation
Sanātana Gosvāmī walked alone on the path through the Jhārikhaṇḍa forest in central India. Sometimes he fasted, and sometimes he would eat.
Text
gātre kaṇḍu haila, rasā paḍe khājuyāite
Synonyms
Translation
Because of bad water in the Jhārikhaṇḍa forest and because of fasting, Sanātana Gosvāmī contracted a disease that made his body itch. Thus he was afflicted with itching sores from which fluid oozed.
Text
‘nīca-jāti, deha mora — atyanta asāra
Synonyms
Translation
In disappointment, Sanātana Gosvāmī considered, “I am of a low caste, and my body is useless for devotional service.
Text
prabhura darśana sadā karite nārimu
Synonyms
Translation
“When I go to Jagannātha Purī, I shall not be able to see Lord Jagannātha, nor shall I always be able to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Text
mandira-nikaṭe yāite mora nāhi śakti
Synonyms
Translation
“I have heard that the residential quarters of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are near the temple of Jagannātha. But I shall not have the power to go near the temple.
Text
tāṅra sparśa haile mora habe aparādhe
Synonyms
Translation
“The servants of Lord Jagannātha generally move about tending to their duties, but if they touch me I shall be an offender.
Text
duḥkha-śānti haya āra sad-gati pāiye
Synonyms
Translation
“Therefore if I sacrifice this body in a good place, my unhappiness will be mitigated and I shall attain an exalted destination.
Text
tāṅra ratha-cākāya chāḍimu ei śarīra
Synonyms
Translation
“During the Ratha-yātrā festival, when Lord Jagannātha comes out of the temple, I shall give up this body under the wheel of His car.
Text
rathe deha chāḍimu, — ei parama-puruṣārtha’
Synonyms
Translation
“After seeing Lord Jagannātha, I shall give up my body under the wheel of the car in the presence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This will be the highest benediction of my life.”
Text
loke puchi’ haridāsa-sthāne uttarilā
Synonyms
Translation
Having made this resolution, Sanātana Gosvāmī went to Nīlācala, where he asked directions from people and approached the residence of Haridāsa Ṭhākura.
Text
jāni’ haridāsa tāṅre kailā āliṅgana
Synonyms
Translation
He offered his respects to the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who knew him and thus embraced him.
Text
haridāsa kahe, — ‘prabhu āsibena ekhana’
Synonyms
mahāprabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dekhite — to see; tāṅra — his; utkaṇṭhita — eager; mana — mind; haridāsa kahe — Haridāsa said; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; āsibena ekhana — will come here.
Translation
Sanātana Gosvāmī was very eager to see the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, “The Lord is coming here very soon.”
Text
haridāse milite āilā bhakta-gaṇa lañā
Synonyms
Translation
At that very moment, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, after visiting the temple of Jagannātha to see the offering of upala-bhoga [morning refreshments], came with His other devotees to see Haridāsa Ṭhākura.
Text
prabhu āliṅgilā haridāsere uṭhāñā
Synonyms
Translation
Seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, both Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Sanātana Gosvāmī immediately fell flat like rods to offer obeisances. The Lord then lifted Haridāsa and embraced him.
Text
sanātane dekhi’ prabhu hailā camatkāra
Synonyms
Translation
Haridāsa Ṭhākura said to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “Here is Sanātana Gosvāmī offering his obeisances.” Seeing Sanātana Gosvāmī, the Lord was greatly surprised.
Text
pāche bhāge sanātana kahite lāgilā
Synonyms
Translation
When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came forward to embrace him, Sanātana backed away and spoke as follows.
Text
eke nīca-jāti adhama, āra kaṇḍu-rasā gāya”
Synonyms
Translation
“My Lord, please do not touch me. I fall at Your lotus feet. I am the lowest of men, having been born of a low caste. Besides that, I have infections on my body.”
Text
kaṇḍu-kleda mahāprabhura śrī-aṅge lāgila
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, embraced Sanātana Gosvāmī by force. Thus the moisture oozing from the itching sores touched the transcendental body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Text
sanātana kailā sabāra caraṇa vandane
Synonyms
Translation
The Lord introduced all the devotees to Sanātana Gosvāmī, who offered his respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of them all.
Text
piṇḍāra tale vasilā haridāsa sanātana
Synonyms
Translation
The Lord and His devotees sat on a raised platform, and below that sat Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Sanātana Gosvāmī.
Text
teṅha kahena, — ‘parama maṅgala dekhinu caraṇe’
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired from Sanātana about news of his well-being. Sanātana replied, “Everything is auspicious because I have seen Your lotus feet.”
Text
sabāra kuśala sanātana jānāilā
Synonyms
Translation
When the Lord asked about all the Vaiṣṇavas at Mathurā, Sanātana Gosvāmī informed Him of their good health and fortune.
Text
ihāṅ haite gauḍe gelā, haila dina daśa
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu informed Sanātana Gosvāmī, “Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī was here for ten months. He left for Bengal just ten days ago.
Text
bhāla chila, raghunāthe dṛḍha tāra bhakti”
Synonyms
Translation
“Your brother Anupama is now dead. He was a very good devotee who had firm conviction in Raghunātha [Lord Rāmacandra].”
Text
adharma anyāya yata, — āmāra kula-dharma
Synonyms
Translation
Sanātana Gosvāmī said, “I was born in a low family, for my family commits all kinds of irreligious acts that violate the scriptural injunctions.
Text
tomāra kṛpāya vaṁśe maṅgala āmāra
Synonyms
Translation
“My Lord, without hatred for my family You have accepted me as Your servant. Only by Your mercy is there good fortune in my family.
Text
raghunātha-upāsanā kare dṛḍha-citte
Synonyms
Translation
“From the very beginning of his childhood, my younger brother Anupama was a great devotee of Raghunātha [Lord Rāmacandra], and he worshiped Him with great determination.
Text
rāmāyaṇa niravadhi śune, kare gāna
Synonyms
Translation
“He always chanted the holy name of Raghunātha and meditated upon Him. He continuously heard about the activities of the Lord from the Rāmāyaṇa and chanted about them.
Text
āmā-doṅhā-saṅge teṅha rahe nirantara
Synonyms
Translation
“Rūpa and I are his elder brothers. He stayed with us continuously.
Text
tāhāra parīkṣā kailuṅ āmi-dui-jane
Synonyms
Translation
“He heard Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and talks about Lord Kṛṣṇa with us, and both of us examined him.
Text
saundarya, mādhurya, prema-vilāsa — pracura
Synonyms
Translation
“ ‘Dear Vallabha,’ we said, ‘please hear from us. Lord Kṛṣṇa is supremely attractive. His beauty, sweetness and pastimes of love are without limit.
Text
tina bhāi ekatra rahimu kṛṣṇa-kathā-raṅge”
Synonyms
Translation
“ ‘Engage yourself in devotional service to Kṛṣṇa with the two of us. We three brothers shall stay together and enjoy discussing the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa.’
Text
āmā-duṅhāra gaurave kichu phiri’ gela mana
Synonyms
Translation
“In this way we spoke to him again and again, and because of this persuasion and his respect for us, his mind turned somewhat toward our instructions.
Text
dīkṣā-mantra deha’ kṛṣṇa-bhajana karimu”
Synonyms
Translation
“Vallabha replied, ‘My dear brothers, how can I disobey your orders? Initiate me into the Kṛṣṇa mantra so that I may perform devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.’
Text
kemane chāḍimu raghunāthera caraṇa
Synonyms
Translation
“After saying this, at night he began to think, ‘How shall I give up the lotus feet of Lord Raghunātha?’
Text
prātaḥ-kāle āmā-duṅhāya kaila nivedana
Synonyms
Translation
“He stayed up all night and cried. In the morning, he came to us and submitted the following plea.
Text
kāḍite nā pāroṅ māthā, pāṅa baḍa vyathā
Synonyms
Translation
“ ‘I have sold my head at the lotus feet of Lord Rāmacandra. I cannot take it away. That would be too painful for me.
Text
janme-janme sevoṅ raghunāthera caraṇa
Synonyms
Translation
“ ‘The two of you please be merciful to me and order me in such a way that life after life I may serve the lotus feet of Lord Raghunātha.
Text
chāḍibāra mana haile prāṇa phāṭi’ yāya’
Synonyms
Translation
“ ‘It is impossible for me to give up the lotus feet of Lord Raghunātha. When I even think of giving them up, my heart breaks.’
Text
‘sādhu, dṛḍha-bhakti tomāra ’ — kahi’ praśaṁsiluṅ
Synonyms
Translation
“Upon hearing this, we each embraced him and encouraged him by saying, ‘You are a great saintly devotee, for your determination in devotional service is fixed.’ In this way we praised him.
Text
sakala maṅgala tāhe khaṇḍe saba kleśa’
Synonyms
Translation
“My dear Lord, the family upon which You bestow even a little mercy is always fortunate, for such mercy makes all miseries disappear.”
Text
pūrve āmi parīkṣiluṅ tāra ei rīta
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “There was a similar incident concerning Murāri Gupta. Formerly I examined him, and his determination was similar.
Text
sei prabhu dhanya, ye nā chāḍe nija-jana
Synonyms
Translation
“Glorious is that devotee who does not give up the shelter of his Lord, and glorious is that Lord who does not abandon His servant.
Text
sei ṭhākura dhanya tāre cule dhari’ āne
Synonyms
Translation
“If by chance a servant falls down and goes somewhere else, glorious is that master who captures him and brings him back by the hair.
Text
ei ghare raha ihāṅ haridāsa-sane
Synonyms
Translation
“It is very good that you have arrived here. Now stay in this room with Haridāsa Ṭhākura.
Text
kṛṣṇa-rasa āsvādana kara, laha kṛṣṇa-nāma”
Synonyms
Translation
“Both of you are expert in understanding the mellows of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service. Therefore you should both continue relishing the taste for such activities and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.”
Text
govinda-dvārāya duṅhe prasāda pāṭhāilā
Synonyms
Translation
Having said this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu got up and left, and through Govinda He sent prasādam for them to eat.
Text
jagannāthera cakra dekhi’ karena praṇāme
Synonyms
Translation
In this way, Sanātana Gosvāmī stayed under the care of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He would see the wheel on the pinnacle of the Jagannātha temple and offer respectful obeisances.
Text
iṣṭa-goṣṭhī, kṛṣṇa-kathā kahe kata-kṣaṇe
Synonyms
Translation
Every day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would go there to meet these two stalwart devotees and discuss topics of Kṛṣṇa with them for some time.
Text
tāhā āni’ nitya avaśya dena doṅhākāre
Synonyms
Translation
The offerings of prasādam in the temple of Lord Jagannātha were of the highest quality. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would bring this prasādam and deliver it to the two devotees.
Text
sanātane ācambite kahite lāgilā
Synonyms
Translation
One day when the Lord came to meet them, He suddenly began speaking to Sanātana Gosvāmī.
Text
koṭi-deha kṣaṇeke tabe chāḍite pāriye
Synonyms
Translation
“My dear Sanātana,” He said, “if I could attain Kṛṣṇa by committing suicide, I would certainly give up millions of bodies without a moment’s hesitation.
Text
kṛṣṇa-prāptyera upāya kona nāhi ‘bhakti’ vine
Synonyms
Translation
“You should know that one cannot attain Kṛṣṇa simply by giving up the body. Kṛṣṇa is attainable by devotional service. There is no other means for attaining Him.
Text
tamo-rajo-dharme kṛṣṇera nā pāiye marma
Synonyms
Translation
“Acts such as suicide are influenced by the mode of ignorance, and in ignorance and passion one cannot understand who Kṛṣṇa is.
Text
prema vinā kṛṣṇa-prāpti anya haite naya
Synonyms
Translation
“Unless one discharges devotional service, one cannot awaken one’s dormant love for Kṛṣṇa, and there is no means for attaining Him other than awakening that dormant love.
Text
na sāṅkhyaṁ dharma uddhava
na svādhyāyas tapas tyāgo
yathā bhaktir mamorjitā
Synonyms
na — never; sādhayati — causes to remain satisfied; mām — Me; yogaḥ — the process of control; na — nor; sāṅkhyam — the process of gaining philosophical knowledge about the Absolute Truth; dharmaḥ — such an occupation; uddhava — My dear Uddhava; na — nor; svādhyāyaḥ — study of the Vedas; tapaḥ — austerities; tyāgaḥ — renunciation, acceptance of sannyāsa, or charity; yathā — as much as; bhaktiḥ — devotional service; mama — unto Me; ūrjitā — developed.
Translation
“[The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, said:] ‘My dear Uddhava, neither through aṣṭāṅga-yoga [the mystic yoga system for controlling the senses], nor through impersonal monism or an analytical study of the Absolute Truth, nor through study of the Vedas, nor through austerities, charity or acceptance of sannyāsa can one satisfy Me as much as by developing unalloyed devotional service unto Me.’
Purport
This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.14.20).
Text
sādhaka nā pāya tāte kṛṣṇera caraṇa
Synonyms
Translation
“Measures like suicide are causes for sin. A devotee never achieves shelter at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet by such actions.
Text
preme kṛṣṇa mile, seha nā pāre marite
Synonyms
Translation
“Because of feelings of separation from Kṛṣṇa, an exalted devotee sometimes wants to give up his life. By such ecstatic love, however, one attains the audience of Kṛṣṇa, and at that time he cannot give up his body.
Text
tāte anurāgī vāñche āpana maraṇa
Synonyms
Translation
“One who is deeply in love with Kṛṣṇa cannot tolerate separation from the Lord. Therefore such a devotee always desires his own death.
Text
vāñchanty umā-patir ivātma-tamo-’pahatyai
yarhy ambujākṣa na labheya bhavat-prasādaṁ
jahyām asūn vrata-kṛśāñ chata-janmabhiḥ syāt
Synonyms
yasya — whose; aṅghri — of feet; paṅkaja — lotus; rajaḥ — in the dust; snapanam — bathing; mahāntaḥ — great personalities; vāñchanti — desire; umā-patiḥ — Lord Śiva; iva — like; ātma — personal; tamaḥ — ignorance; apahatyai — to drive away; yarhi — when; ambuja-akṣa — O lotus-eyed one; na labheya — I do not get; bhavat-prasādam — Your mercy; jahyām — I shall give up; asūn — life; vrata-kṛśān — reduced by observing vows; śata-janmabhiḥ — by hundreds of births; syāt — if it is possible.
Translation
“ ‘O lotus-eyed one, great personalities like Lord Śiva desire to bathe in the dust of Your lotus feet to drive away ignorance. If I do not get the mercy of Your Lordship, I shall observe vows to reduce the duration of my life, and thus I shall give up bodies for hundreds of births if it is possible to get Your mercy in that way.’
Purport
This verse was spoken by Rukmiṇīdevī in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.52.43). Rukmiṇīdevī, the daughter of King Bhīṣmaka, had heard about Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental attributes, and thus she desired to get Kṛṣṇa as her husband. Unfortunately, her elder brother Rukmī was envious of Kṛṣṇa and therefore wanted her to be offered to Śiśupāla. When Rukmiṇī became aware of this, she was greatly aggrieved. Thus she wrote Kṛṣṇa a confidential letter, which was presented and read to Him by a brāhmaṇa messenger. This verse appeared in that letter.
Text
hāsāvaloka-kala-gīta-ja-hṛc-chayāgnim
no ced vayaṁ viraha-jāgny-upayukta-dehā
dhyānena yāma padayoḥ padavīṁ sakhe te
Synonyms
siñca — just sprinkle water; aṅga — O my dear Kṛṣṇa; naḥ — our; tvat — Your; adhara — of the lips; amṛta — of nectar; pūrakeṇa — by the stream; hāsa — smile; avaloka — glancing; kala — melodious; gīta — speaking; ja — produced by; hṛt — in the heart; śaya — resting; agnim — upon the fire; na u cet — if not; vayam — we; viraha — from separation; ja — produced; agni — by the fire; upayukta — consumed; dehāḥ — whose bodies; dhyānena — by meditation; yāma — shall go; padayoḥ — of the lotus feet; padavīm — to the site; sakhe — O my dear friend; te — Your.
Translation
“ ‘O dear Kṛṣṇa, by Your smiling glances and melodious talk, You have awakened a fire of lusty desire in our hearts. Now You should extinguish that fire with a stream of nectar from Your lips by kissing us. Kindly do this. Otherwise, dear friend, the fire within our hearts will burn our bodies to ashes because of separation from You. Thus by meditation we shall claim shelter at Your lotus feet.’ ”
Purport
This verse (Bhāg. 10.29.35) was spoken by the gopīs when they were attracted by the vibration of Kṛṣṇa’s flute in the moonlight of autumn. All of them, being maddened, came to Kṛṣṇa, but to increase their ecstatic love, Kṛṣṇa gave them moral instructions to return home. The gopīs did not care for these instructions. They wanted to be kissed by Kṛṣṇa, for they had come there with lusty desires to dance with Him.
Text
acirāt pābe tabe kṛṣṇera caraṇa
Synonyms
Translation
Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Sanātana Gosvāmī, “Give up all your nonsensical desires, for they are unfavorable for getting shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Engage yourself in chanting and hearing. Then you will soon achieve the shelter of Kṛṣṇa without a doubt.
Text
sat-kula-vipra nahe bhajanera yogya
Synonyms
Translation
“A person born in a low family is not unfit for discharging devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, nor is one fit for devotional service simply because he is born in an aristocratic family of brāhmaṇas.
Text
kṛṣṇa-bhajane nāhi jāti-kulādi-vicāra
Synonyms
Translation
“Anyone who takes to devotional service is exalted, whereas a nondevotee is always condemned and abominable. Therefore in the discharge of devotional service to the Lord, there is no consideration of the status of one’s family.
Text
kulīna, paṇḍita, dhanīra baḍa abhimāna
Synonyms
Translation
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is always favorable to the humble and meek, but aristocrats, learned scholars and the wealthy are always proud of their positions.
Text
pādāravinda-vimukhāt śva-pacaṁ variṣṭham
manye tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitārtha-
prāṇaṁ punāti sa kulaṁ na tu bhūri-mānaḥ
Synonyms
viprāt — than a brāhmaṇa; dvi-ṣaṭ-guṇa-yutāt — who has twelve brahminical qualifications; aravinda-nābha — of Lord Viṣṇu, who has a lotuslike navel; pāda-aravinda — unto the lotus feet; vimukhāt — than a person bereft of devotion; śva-pacam — a caṇḍāla, or a person accustomed to eating dogs; variṣṭham — more glorified; manye — I think; tat-arpita — dedicated unto Him; manaḥ — mind; vacana — words; īhita — activities; artha — wealth; prāṇam — life; punāti — purifies; saḥ — he; kulam — his family; na tu — but not; bhūri-mānaḥ — a brāhmaṇa proud of possessing such qualities.
Translation
“ ‘One may be born in a brāhmaṇa family and have all twelve brahminical qualities, but if in spite of being thus qualified he is not devoted to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who has a navel shaped like a lotus, he is not as good as a caṇḍāla who has dedicated his mind, words, activities, wealth and life to the service of the Lord. Simply to take birth in a brāhmaṇa family or to have brahminical qualities is not sufficient. One must be a pure devotee of the Lord. Thus if a śva-paca, or caṇḍāla, is a devotee, he delivers not only himself but his entire family as well, whereas a brāhmaṇa who is not a devotee but simply has brahminical qualifications cannot even purify himself, what to speak of his family.’
Purport
This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.9.10).
Text
‘kṛṣṇa-prema’, ‘kṛṣṇa’ dite dhare mahā-śakti
Synonyms
Translation
“Among the ways of executing devotional service, the nine prescribed methods are the best, for these processes have great potency to deliver Kṛṣṇa and ecstatic love for Him.
Purport
The nine kinds of devotional service are mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.23):
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam
These nine are hearing, chanting, remembering Kṛṣṇa, offering service to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, offering worship in the temple, offering prayers, working as a servant, making friendship with Kṛṣṇa and unreservedly surrendering to Kṛṣṇa. These nine processes of devotional service can grant one Kṛṣṇa and ecstatic love for Him. In the beginning one has to discharge devotional service according to regulative principles, but gradually, as devotional service becomes one’s life and soul, one achieves the most exalted position of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. Ultimately, Kṛṣṇa is the goal of life. One need not have taken birth in an aristocratic brāhmaṇa family to attain the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, nor is a person born in a low family unfit for achieving Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.33.7) Devahūti says to Kapiladeva:
yaj-jihvāgre vartate nāma tubhyam
tepus tapas te juhuvuḥ sasnur āryā
brahmānūcur nāma gṛṇanti ye te
“O my Lord, even a person born in a low family of dog-eaters is glorious if he always chants the holy name of the Lord. Such a person has already performed all types of austerities, penances and Vedic sacrifices, has already bathed in the sacred rivers, and has also studied all the Vedic literature. Thus he has become an exalted personality.” Similarly, Kuntīdevī says to Lord Kṛṣṇa:
naivārhaty abhidhātuṁ vai tvām akiñcana-gocaram
“A person who is proud of his birth, opulence, knowledge and beauty cannot achieve Your lotus feet. You are available only to the humble and meek, not to the proud.” (Bhāg. 1.8.26.)
Text
niraparādhe nāma laile pāya prema-dhana
Synonyms
tāra madhye — of the nine different types of devotional service; sarva-śreṣṭha — the most important of all; nāma-saṅkīrtana — chanting of the holy name of the Lord; niraparādhe — without offenses; nāma laile — if one chants the holy name; pāya — he gets; prema-dhana — the most valuable ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa.
Translation
“Of the nine processes of devotional service, the most important is to always chant the holy name of the Lord. If one does so, avoiding the ten kinds of offenses, one very easily obtains the most valuable love of Godhead.”
Purport
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī Prabhu gives the following directions in his Bhakti-sandarbha (270):
iyaṁ ca kīrtanākhyā bhaktir bhagavato dravya-jāti-guṇa-kriyābhir dīna-janaika-viṣayāpāra-karuṇā-mayīti śruti-purāṇādi-viśrutiḥ. ata eva kalau svabhāvata evāti-dīneṣu lokeṣu āvirbhūya tān anāyāsenaiva tat-tad-yuga-gata-mahā-sādhanānāṁ sarvam eva phalaṁ dadānā sā kṛtārthayati. yata eva tayaiva kalau bhagavato viśeṣataś ca santoṣo bhavati.
“Chanting the holy name is the chief means of attaining love of Godhead. This chanting or devotional service does not depend on any paraphernalia, nor on one’s having taken birth in a good family. By humility and meekness one attracts the attention of Kṛṣṇa. That is the verdict of all the Vedas. Therefore if one becomes very humble and meek, he can easily attain the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa in this Age of Kali. That is the fulfillment of all great sacrifices, penances and austerities because when one achieves ecstatic love of Godhead, he attains the complete perfection of life. Therefore whatever one does in executing devotional service must be accompanied by the chanting of the holy name of the Lord.” The chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa — Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare — has been praised by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in his Nāmāṣṭaka (verse 1):
dyuti-nīrājita-pāda-paṅkajānta
ayi mukta-kulair upāsyamānaṁ
paritas tvāṁ hari-nāma saṁśrayāmi
“O Hari-nāma! The tips of the toes of Your lotus feet are constantly being worshiped by the glowing radiance emanating from the string of gems known as the Upaniṣads, the crown jewels of all the Vedas. You are eternally adored by liberated souls such as Nārada and Śukadeva. O Hari-nāma! I take complete shelter of You.”
Similarly, Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī has praised the chanting of the holy name as follows in his Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta (part one, chapter One, verse 9):
viramita-nija-dharma-dhyāna-pūjādi-yatnam
katham api sakṛd āttaṁ mukti-daṁ prāṇināṁ yat
paramam amṛtam ekaṁ jīvanaṁ bhūṣaṇaṁ me
“All glories, all glories to the all-blissful holy name of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, which causes the devotee to give up all conventional religious duties, meditation and worship. When somehow or other uttered even once by a living entity, the holy name awards him liberation. The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is the highest nectar. It is my very life and my only treasure.”
In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.1.11) Śukadeva Gosvāmī says:
yogināṁ nṛpa nirṇītaṁ harer nāmānukīrtanam
“O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge.”
In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.3.22) Yamarāja says:
bhakti-yogo bhagavati tan-nāma-grahaṇādibhiḥ
“Devotional service, beginning with the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is the ultimate religious principle for the living entity in human society.”
Similarly, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has said in His Śikṣāṣṭaka (3):
amāninā māna-dena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
“One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street. One should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.” Regarding the ten offenses in chanting the holy name, one may refer to Ādi-līlā, chapter eight, verse 24.
Text
prabhure nā bhāya mora maraṇa-vicāra
Synonyms
Translation
After hearing this, Sanātana Gosvāmī was exceedingly astonished. He could understand, “My decision to commit suicide has not been greatly appreciated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.”
Text
prabhura caraṇa dhari’ kahena tāṅhāre
Synonyms
Translation
Sanātana Gosvāmī concluded, “Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who knows everything — past, present and future — has forbidden me to commit suicide.” He then fell down, touching the lotus feet of the Lord, and spoke to Him as follows.
Text
yaiche nācāo, taiche nāci, — yena kāṣṭha-yantra
Synonyms
Translation
“My Lord, You are the omniscient, merciful, independent Supreme Lord. Exactly like an instrument of wood, I dance as You make me do so.
Text
more jiyāile tomāra kibā habe lābha?”
Synonyms
Translation
“I am lowborn. Indeed, I am the lowest. I am condemned, for I have all the characteristics of a sinful man. If You keep me alive, what will be the profit?”
Text
tumi more kariyācha ātma-samarpaṇa
Synonyms
Translation
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Your body is My property. You have already surrendered unto Me. Therefore you no longer have any claim to your body.
Text
dharmādharma vicāra kibā nā pāra karite?
Synonyms
Translation
“Why should you want to destroy another’s property? Can’t you consider what is right and wrong?
Text
e śarīre sādhimu āmi bahu prayojana
Synonyms
Translation
“Your body is My principal instrument for executing many necessary functions. By your body I shall carry out many tasks.
Text
vaiṣṇavera kṛtya, āra vaiṣṇava-ācāra
Synonyms
Translation
“You shall have to ascertain the basic principles of a devotee, devotional service, love of Godhead, Vaiṣṇava duties and Vaiṣṇava characteristics.
Text
lupta-tīrtha-uddhāra, āra vairāgya-śikṣaṇa
Synonyms
Translation
“You will also have to explain Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service, establish centers for cultivation of love of Kṛṣṇa, excavate lost places of pilgrimage and teach people how to adopt the renounced order.
Text
tāhāṅ eta dharma cāhi karite pracāraṇa
Synonyms
Translation
“Mathurā-Vṛndāvana is My own very dear abode. I want to do many things there to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Purport
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to accomplish many purposes through the exegetical endeavors of Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī. First Sanātana Gosvāmī compiled the book called Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta to teach people how to become devotees, execute devotional service and attain love of Kṛṣṇa. Second, he compiled the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa,wherein he collected authoritative scriptural injunctions regarding how a Vaiṣṇava should behave. Only by the endeavors of Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī were all the lost places of pilgrimage in the Vṛndāvana area excavated. He established Madana-mohana, the first Deity in the Vṛndāvana area, and by his personal behavior he taught how one should act in the renounced order, completely devoted to the service of the Lord. By his personal example, he taught people how to stay in Vṛndāvana to execute devotional service. The principal mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Mathurā and Vṛndāvana are the abodes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore these two places are very dear to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and He wanted to develop their glories through Sanātana Gosvāmī.
Text
tāhāṅ ‘dharma’ śikhāite nāhi nija-bale
Synonyms
Translation
“By the order of My mother I am sitting here in Jagannātha Purī; therefore, I cannot go to Mathurā-Vṛndāvana to teach people how to live there according to religious principles.
Text
tāhā chāḍite cāha tumi, kemane sahimu?”
Synonyms
Translation
“I have to do all this work through your body, but you want to give it up. How can I tolerate this?”
Text
tomāra gambhīra hṛdaya ke bujhite pāre?
Synonyms
Translation
At that time Sanātana Gosvāmī said to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. No one can understand the deep ideas You plan within Your heart.
Text
āpane nā jāne, putalī kibā nāce gāya!
Synonyms
Translation
“A wooden doll chants and dances according to the direction of a magician but does not know how he is dancing and singing.
Text
kaiche nāce, kebā nācāya, seha nāhi jāne”
Synonyms
Translation
“My dear Lord, as You cause one to dance, he dances accordingly, but how he dances and who is causing him to dance he does not know.”
Text
parera dravya iṅho cāhena karite vināśa
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, “My dear Haridāsa, please hear Me. This gentleman wants to destroy another’s property.
Text
niṣedhiha iṅhāre, — yena nā kare anyāya”
Synonyms
Translation
“One who is entrusted with another’s property does not distribute it or use it for his own purposes. Therefore, tell him not to do such an unlawful thing.”
Text
tomāra gambhīra hṛdaya bujhite nā pāri
Synonyms
Translation
Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, “We are falsely proud of our capabilities. Actually we cannot understand Your deep intentions.
Text
tumi nā jānāile keha jānite nā pāre
Synonyms
Translation
“Unless You inform us, we cannot understand what Your purpose is or what You want to do through whom.
Text
eta saubhāgya ihāṅ nā haya kāhāra”
Synonyms
Translation
“My dear Sir, since You, a great personality, have accepted Sanātana Gosvāmī, he is greatly fortunate; no one can be as fortunate as he.”
Text
‘madhyāhna’ karite uṭhi’ karilā gamana
Synonyms
Translation
Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced both Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Sanātana Gosvāmī and then got up and left to perform His noon duties.
Text
“tomāra bhāgyera sīmā nā yāya kathana
Synonyms
Translation
“My dear Sanātana,” Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, embracing him, “no one can find the limits of your good fortune.
Text
tomā-sama bhāgyavān nāhi kona jana
Synonyms
Translation
“Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has accepted your body as His own property. Therefore no one can equal you in good fortune.
Text
se kārya karāibe tomā, seha mathurāte
Synonyms
Translation
“What Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu cannot do with His personal body He wants to do through you, and He wants to do it in Mathurā.
Text
tomāra saubhāgya ei kahiluṅ niścaya
Synonyms
Translation
“Whatever the Supreme Personality of Godhead wants us to do will successfully be accomplished. This is your great fortune. That is my mature opinion.
Text
tomā-dvāre karāibena, bujhiluṅ āśaya
Synonyms
Translation
“I can understand from the words of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that He wants you to write books about the conclusive decision of devotional service and about the regulative principles ascertained from the revealed scriptures.
Text
bhārata-bhūmite janmi’ ei deha vyartha haila”
Synonyms
Translation
“My body could not be used in the service of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore although it took birth in the land of India, this body has been useless.”
Purport
For a further explanation of the importance of Bhārata-bhūmi, one may refer to Ādi-līlā 9.41 and also Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.19.19-27. The special feature of a birth in India is that a person born in India becomes automatically God conscious. In every part of India, and especially in the holy places of pilgrimage, even an ordinary uneducated man is inclined toward Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and as soon as he sees a Kṛṣṇa conscious person, he offers obeisances. India has many sacred rivers, such as the Ganges, Yamunā, Narmadā, Kāverī and Kṛṣṇā, and simply by bathing in these rivers people are liberated and become Kṛṣṇa conscious. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore says:
janma sārthaka kari’ kara para-upakāra
One who has taken birth in the land of Bhārata-bhūmi, India, should take full advantage of his birth. He should become completely well versed in the knowledge of the Vedas and spiritual culture and should distribute the experience of Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world. People all over the world are madly engaging in sense gratification and in this way spoiling their human lives, with the risk that in the next life they may become animals or less. Human society should be saved from such a risky civilization and the danger of animalism by awakening to God consciousness, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement has been started for this purpose. Therefore unbiased men of the highest echelon should study the principles of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and fully cooperate with this movement to save human society.
Text
mahāprabhura gaṇe tumi — mahā-bhāgyavān!
Synonyms
Translation
Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, “O Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who is equal to you? You are one of the associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore you are the most fortunate.
Text
sei nija-kārya prabhu karena tomāra dvāre
Synonyms
Translation
“The mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, for which He has descended as an incarnation, is to spread the importance of chanting the holy name of the Lord. Now instead of personally doing so, He is spreading it through you.
Text
sabāra āge kara nāmera mahimā kathana
Synonyms
Translation
“My dear sir, you are chanting the holy name 300,000 times daily and informing everyone of the importance of such chanting.
Text
pracāra karena keha, nā karena ācāra
Synonyms
Translation
“Some behave very well but do not preach the cult of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, whereas others preach but do not behave properly.
Text
tumi — sarva-guru, tumi jagatera ārya
Synonyms
Translation
“You simultaneously perform both duties in relation to the holy name by your personal behavior and by your preaching. Therefore you are the spiritual master of the entire world, for you are the most advanced devotee in the world.”
Purport
Sanātana Gosvāmī clearly defines herein the bona fide spiritual master of the world. The qualifications expressed in this connection are that one must act according to the scriptural injunctions and at the same time preach. One who does so is a bona fide spiritual master. Haridāsa Ṭhākura was the ideal spiritual master because he regularly chanted on his beads a prescribed number of times. Indeed, he was chanting the holy name of the Lord 300,000 times a day. Similarly, the members of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement chant a minimum of sixteen rounds a day, which can be done without difficulty, and at the same time they must preach the cult of Caitanya Mahāprabhu according to the gospel of Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. One who does so is quite fit to become a spiritual master for the entire world.
Text
kṛṣṇa-kathā āsvādaya rahi’ eka-saṅge
Synonyms
Translation
In this way the two of them passed their time discussing subjects concerning Kṛṣṇa. Thus they enjoyed life together.
Text
pūrvavat kailā sabe ratha-yātrā daraśana
Synonyms
Translation
During the time of Ratha-yātrā, all the devotees arrived from Bengal to visit the car festival as they had done previously.
Text
dekhi camatkāra haila sanātanera mana
Synonyms
Translation
During the Ratha-yātrā festival, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again danced before the car of Jagannātha. When Sanātana Gosvāmī saw this, his mind was astonished.
Text
sabā-saṅge prabhu milāilā sanātane
Synonyms
Translation
The Lord’s devotees from Bengal stayed at Jagannātha Purī during the four months of the rainy season, and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu introduced Sanātana Gosvāmī to them all.
Text
vāsudeva, murāri, rāghava, dāmodara
sārvabhauma, rāmānanda, jagadānanda, śaṅkara
sabā-sane sanātanera karāilā milana
Synonyms
advaita — Advaita Ācārya; nityānanda — Nityānanda Prabhu; śrīvāsa — Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura; vakreśvara — Vakreśvara Paṇḍita; vāsudeva — Vāsudeva Datta; murāri — Murāri Gupta; rāghava — Rāghava Paṇḍita; dāmodara — Dāmodara Paṇḍita; purī — Paramānanda Purī; bhāratī — Brahmānanda Bhāratī; svarūpa — Svarūpa Dāmodara; paṇḍita-gadādhara — Gadādhara Paṇḍita; sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; rāmānanda — Rāmānanda Rāya; jagadānanda — Jagadānanda Paṇḍita; śaṅkara — Śaṅkara Paṇḍita; kāśīśvara — Kāśīśvara; govinda — Govinda; ādi — and others; yata bhakta-gaṇa — all the devotees; sabā-sane — with all of them; sanātanera — of Sanātana Gosvāmī; karāilā milana — made introduction.
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu introduced Sanātana Gosvāmī to these and other selected devotees: Advaita Ācārya, Nityānanda Prabhu, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, Vāsudeva Datta, Murāri Gupta, Rāghava Paṇḍita, Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Paramānanda Purī, Brahmānanda Bhāratī, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Rāmānanda Rāya, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, Śaṅkara Paṇḍita, Kāśīśvara and Govinda.
Text
tāṅre karāilā sabāra kṛpāra bhājana
Synonyms
Translation
The Lord asked Sanātana Gosvāmī to offer obeisances to all the devotees in a way that befitted each one. Thus He introduced Sanātana Gosvāmī to them all, just to make him an object of their mercy.
Text
yathā-yogya kṛpā-maitrī-gaurava-bhājana
Synonyms
Translation
Sanātana Gosvāmī was dear to everyone because of his exalted qualities and learning. Suitably, therefore, they bestowed upon him mercy, friendship and honor.
Text
sanātana mahāprabhura caraṇe rahilā
Synonyms
Translation
When all the other devotees returned to Bengal after the Ratha-yātrā festival, Sanātana Gosvāmī stayed under the care of the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Text
dine-dine prabhu-saṅge ānanda bāḍila
Synonyms
Translation
Sanātana Gosvāmī observed the Dola-yātrā ceremony with Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In this way, his pleasure increased in the company of the Lord.
Text
jyaiṣṭha-māse prabhu tāṅre parīkṣā karilā
Synonyms
Translation
Sanātana Gosvāmī had come to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Jagannātha Purī during the month of April-May, and during the month of May-June Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu tested him.
Text
bhakta-anurodhe tāhāṅ bhikṣā ye karilā
Synonyms
Translation
In that month of May-June, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to the garden of Yameśvara [Lord Śiva] and accepted prasādam there at the request of the devotees.
Text
prabhu bolāilā, tāṅra ānanda bāḍila
Synonyms
Translation
At noon, when it was time for lunch, the Lord called for Sanātana Gosvāmī, whose happiness increased because of the call.
Text
sei-pathe sanātana karilā gamana
Synonyms
Translation
At noon the sand on the beach was as hot as fire, but Sanātana Gosvāmī came by that path.
Text
tapta-vālukāte pā poḍe, tāhā nāhi jāne
Synonyms
Translation
Overwhelmed by joy at being called by the Lord, Sanātana Gosvāmī did not feel that his feet were burning in the hot sand.
Text
bhikṣā kari’ mahāprabhu kariyāchena viśrāme
Synonyms
Translation
Although the soles of his feet were blistered because of the heat, he nevertheless went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. There he found that the Lord, having taken His lunch, was resting.
Text
prasāda pāñā sanātana prabhu-pāśe āilā
Synonyms
Translation
Govinda gave Sanātana Gosvāmī the plate with the remnants of Lord Caitanya’s food. After taking the prasādam, Sanātana Gosvāmī approached Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Text
teṅha kahe, — ‘samudra-pathe, kariluṅ āgamana’
Synonyms
Translation
When the Lord inquired, “By which path have you come?” Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, “I have come on the path along the beach.”
Text
siṁha-dvārera patha — śītala, kene nā āilā?
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “How did you come along the beach, where the sand is so hot? Why didn’t you come by the path in front of the Siṁha-dvāra gate? It is very cool.
Purport
Siṁha-dvāra refers to the main gate on the eastern side of the Jagannātha temple.
Text
calite nā pāra, kemane karilā sahana?”
Synonyms
Translation
“The hot sand must have blistered your soles. Now you cannot walk. How did you tolerate it?”
Text
pāye vraṇa hañāche tāhā nā jāniluṅ
Synonyms
Translation
Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, “I did not feel much pain, nor did I know that there were blisters because of the heat.
Text
viśeṣe — ṭhākurera tāhāṅ sevakera pracāra
Synonyms
Translation
“I have no right to pass by the Siṁha-dvāra, for the servants of Jagannātha are always coming and going there.
Text
tāra sparśa haile, sarva-nāśa habe mora”
Synonyms
Translation
“The servants are always coming and going without interval. If I touch them, I shall be ruined.”
Purport
Herein it is very clearly indicated that priests performing Deity worship should be careful to keep themselves completely pure and not be touched by outsiders. Sanātana Gosvāmī and Haridāsa Ṭhākura, thinking themselves mlecchas and yavanas because of their past association with Muslims, did not enter the temple or even travel on the path in front of the temple gate. It is customary for the priests of temples in India not even to touch outsiders or enter the Deity room after having been touched. This is a very important item in temple worship.
Text
tuṣṭa hañā tāṅre kichu kahite lāgilā
Synonyms
Translation
Having heard all these details, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, greatly pleased, spoke as follows.
Text
tomā-sparśe pavitra haya deva-muni-gaṇa
maryādā-pālana haya sādhura bhūṣaṇa
Synonyms
yadyapio — although; tumi — you; hao — are; jagat-pāvana — the deliverer of the entire universe; tomā — you; sparśe — by touching; pavitra — purified; haya — becomes; deva-muni-gaṇa — the demigods and great saintly persons; tathāpi — still; bhakta-svabhāva — the nature of a devotee; maryādā — etiquette; rakṣaṇa — to protect or observe; maryādā pālana — to maintain etiquette; haya — is; sādhura bhūṣaṇa — ornament of devotees.
Translation
“My dear Sanātana, although you are the deliverer of the entire universe and although even the demigods and great saints are purified by touching you, it is the characteristic of a devotee to observe and protect the Vaiṣṇava etiquette. Maintenance of the Vaiṣṇava etiquette is the ornament of a devotee.
Text
iha-loka, para-loka — dui haya nāśa
Synonyms
Translation
“If one transgresses the laws of etiquette, people make fun of him, and thus he is vanquished in both this world and the next.
Text
tumi aiche nā karile kare kon jana?”
Synonyms
Translation
“By observing the etiquette, you have satisfied My mind. Who else but you could show this example?”
Text
tāṅra kaṇḍu-rasā prabhura śrī-aṅge lāgila
Synonyms
Translation
After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Sanātana Gosvāmī, and the moisture oozing from the itching sores on Sanātana’s body smeared the body of the Lord.
Text
aṅge rasā lāge, duḥkha pāya sanātana
Synonyms
Translation
Although Sanātana Gosvāmī repeatedly forbade Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to embrace him, the Lord still did so. Thus His body was smeared with the moisture from Sanātana’s body, and Sanātana became greatly distressed.
Text
āra dina jagadānanda sanātanere mililā
Synonyms
Translation
Thus both servant and master departed for their respective homes. The next day, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita went to meet Sanātana Gosvāmī.
Text
paṇḍitere sanātana duḥkha nivedilā
Synonyms
Translation
When Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and Sanātana Gosvāmī sat together and began to discuss topics about Kṛṣṇa, Sanātana Gosvāmī submitted to Jagadānanda Paṇḍita the cause of his distress.
Text
yebā mane, tāhā prabhu nā dilā karite
Synonyms
Translation
“I came here to diminish my unhappiness by seeing Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, but the Lord did not allow me to execute what was in my mind.
Text
mora kaṇḍu-rasā lāge prabhura śarīre
Synonyms
Translation
“Although I forbid Him to do so, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu nevertheless embraces me, and therefore His body becomes smeared with the discharges from my itching sores.
Text
jagannātheha nā dekhiye, — e duḥkha apāra
Synonyms
Translation
“In this way I am committing offenses at His lotus feet, and from these offenses I shall certainly not be delivered. At the same time, I cannot see Lord Jagannātha. This is my great unhappiness.
Text
ki karile hita haya nāri nirdhārite”
Synonyms
Translation
“I came here for my benefit, but now I see that I am getting just the opposite. I do not know, nor can I ascertain, how there will be benefit for me.”
Text
ratha-yātrā dekhi’ tāhāṅ karaha gamana
Synonyms
Translation
Jagadānanda Paṇḍita said, “The most suitable place for you to reside is Vṛndāvana. After seeing the Ratha-yātrā festival, you can return there.
Text
vṛndāvane vaisa, tāhāṅ sarva-sukha pāiye
Synonyms
Translation
“The Lord has already ordered both of you brothers to situate yourselves in Vṛndāvana. There you will achieve all happiness.
Text
rathe jagannātha dekhi’ karaha gamana”
Synonyms
Translation
“Your purpose in coming has been fulfilled, for you have seen the lotus feet of the Lord. Therefore, after seeing Lord Jagannātha on the Ratha-yātrā car, you can leave.”
Text
tāhāṅ yāba, sei mora ‘prabhu-datta deśa’ ”
Synonyms
Translation
Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, “You have given me very good advice. I shall certainly go there, for that is the place the Lord has given me for my residence.”
Purport
The words prabhu-datta deśa are very significant. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s devotional cult teaches one not to sit down in one place but to spread the devotional cult all over the world. The Lord dispatched Sanātana Gosvāmī and Rūpa Gosvāmī to Vṛndāvana to excavate and renovate the holy places and from there establish the cult of bhakti. Therefore Vṛndāvana was given to Sanātana Gosvāmī and Rūpa Gosvāmī as their place of residence. Similarly, everyone in the line of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s devotional cult should accept the words of the spiritual master and thus spread the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. They should go everywhere, to all parts of the world, accepting those places as their prabhu-datta deśa, the places of residence given by the spiritual master or Lord Kṛṣṇa. The spiritual master is the representative of Lord Kṛṣṇa; therefore one who has carried out the orders of the spiritual master is understood to have carried out the orders of Kṛṣṇa or Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to spread the bhakti cult all over the world (pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi grāma). Therefore devotees in the line of Kṛṣṇa consciousness must go to different parts of the world and preach, as ordered by the spiritual master. That will satisfy Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Text
āra dina mahāprabhu milibāre āilā
Synonyms
Translation
After talking in this way, Sanātana Gosvāmī and Jagadānanda Paṇḍita returned to their respective duties. The next day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to see Haridāsa and Sanātana Gosvāmī.
Text
haridāse kailā prabhu prema-āliṅgana
Synonyms
Translation
Haridāsa Ṭhākura offered obeisances to the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and the Lord embraced him in ecstatic love.
Text
prabhu bolāya bāra bāra karite āliṅgana
Synonyms
Translation
Sanātana Gosvāmī offered his obeisances and daṇḍavats from a distant place, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called him again and again to embrace him.
Text
mahāprabhu milibāre sei ṭhāñi gela
Synonyms
Translation
Out of fear of committing offenses, Sanātana Gosvāmī did not come forward to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The Lord, however, went forward to meet him.
Text
balātkāre dhari, prabhu kailā āliṅgana
Synonyms
Translation
Sanātana Gosvāmī backed away, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu caught him by force and embraced him.
Text
nirviṇṇa sanātana lāgilā kahite
Synonyms
Translation
The Lord took them both with Him and sat down in a sacred place. Then Sanātana Gosvāmī, who was advanced in renunciation, began to speak.
Text
sevā-yogya nahi, aparādha karoṅ niti niti
Synonyms
Translation
“I came here for my benefit,” he said, “but I see that I am getting just the opposite. I am unfit to render service. I simply commit offenses day after day.
Text
more tumi chuṅile mora aparādha haya
Synonyms
Translation
“By nature I am lowborn. I am a contaminated reservoir of sinful activities. If You touch me, Sir, that will be a great offense on my part.
Text
tomāra aṅge lāge, tabu sparśaha tumi bale
Synonyms
Translation
“Moreover, blood is running from infected itching sores on my body, smearing Your body with moisture, but still You touch me by force.
Text
ei aparādhe mora habe sarva-nāśe
Synonyms
Translation
“My dear Sir, You do not have even a pinch of aversion to touching my body, which is in a horrible condition. Because of this offense, everything auspicious will be vanquished for me.
Text
ājñā deha’ — ratha dekhi’ yāṅa vṛndāvana
Synonyms
Translation
“Therefore I see that I will get nothing auspicious by staying here. Kindly give me orders allowing me to return to Vṛndāvana after the Ratha-yātrā festival.
Text
vṛndāvana yāite teṅha upadeśa dila”
Synonyms
Translation
“I have consulted Jagadānanda Paṇḍita for his opinion, and he has also advised me to return to Vṛndāvana.”
Text
jagadānande kruddha hañā kare tiraskāre
Synonyms
Translation
Hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, in an angry mood, began to chastise Jagadānanda Paṇḍita.
Text
tomā-sabāreha upadeśa karite lāgila
Synonyms
Translation
“Jagā [Jagadānanda Paṇḍita] is only a new boy, but he has become so proud that he thinks himself competent to advise a person like you.
Text
tomāre upadeśe, nā jāne āpana-mūlya
Synonyms
Translation
“In affairs of spiritual advancement and even in ordinary dealings, you are on the level of his spiritual master. Yet not knowing his own value, he dares to advise you.
Text
tomāreha upadeśe — bālakā kare aiche kārya
Synonyms
Translation
“My dear Sanātana, you are on the level of My advisor, for you are an authorized person. But Jagā wants to advise you. This is but the impudence of a naughty boy.”
Text
‘jagadānandera saubhāgya āji se jānila
Synonyms
Translation
When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was thus chastising Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, Sanātana Gosvāmī fell at the Lord’s feet and said, “I can now understand the fortunate position of Jagadānanda.
Text
jagate nāhi jagadānanda-sama bhāgyavān
Synonyms
āpanāra — my personal; asaubhāgya — misfortune; āji — today; haila jñāna — I can understand; jagate — within this world; nāhi — there is not; jagadānanda-sama — like Jagadānanda Paṇḍita; bhāgyavān — fortunate person.
Translation
“I can also understand my misfortune. No one in this world is as fortunate as Jagadānanda.
Text
more piyāo gaurava-stuti-nimba-niśindā-rasa
Synonyms
Translation
“Sir, You are making Jagadānanda drink the nectar of affectionate relationships, whereas by offering me honorable prayers, You are making me drink the bitter juice of nimba and niśindā.
Text
mora abhāgya, tumi — svatantra bhagavān!”
Synonyms
Translation
“It is my misfortune that You have not accepted me as one of Your intimate relations. But You are the completely independent Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
Text
tāṅre santoṣite kichu balena vacane
Synonyms
Translation
Hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was somewhat ashamed. Just to satisfy Sanātana Gosvāmī, He spoke the following words.
Text
maryādā-laṅghana āmi nā pāroṅ sahite
Synonyms
Translation
“My dear Sanātana, please do not think that Jagadānanda is more dear to Me than you. However, I cannot tolerate transgressions of the standard etiquette.
Text
kāhāṅ jagā — kālikāra baṭuyā navīna!
Synonyms
Translation
“You are an experienced authority in the śāstras, whereas Jagā is just a young boy.
Text
kata ṭhāñi bujhāñācha vyavahāra-bhakti
Synonyms
Translation
“You have the power to convince even Me. In many places you have already convinced Me about ordinary behavior and devotional service.
Text
ataeva tāre āmi kariye bhartsana
Synonyms
Translation
“Jagā’s advising you is intolerable for Me. Therefore I am chastising him.
Text
tomāra guṇe stuti karāya yaiche tomāra guṇa
Synonyms
Translation
“I offer you praise not because I think of you as being outside an intimate relationship with Me but because you are actually so qualified that one is forced to praise your qualities.
Text
prīti-svabhāve kāhāte kona bhāvodaya
Synonyms
Translation
“Although one has affection for many persons, different types of ecstatic love awaken according to the nature of one’s personal relationships.
Text
tomāra deha āmāre lāge amṛta-samāna
Synonyms
Translation
“You consider your body dangerous and awful, but I think that your body is like nectar.
Text
tathāpi tomāra tāte prākṛta-buddhi haya
Synonyms
Translation
“Actually your body is transcendental, never material. You are thinking of it, however, in terms of a material conception.
Purport
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura gives his opinion about how a person completely engaged in the service of the Lord transforms his body from material to transcendental. He says, “A pure devotee engaged in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa has no desire for his personal sense gratification, and thus he never accepts anything for that purpose. He desires only the happiness of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, and because of his ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa, he acts in various ways. Karmīs think that the material body is an instrument for material enjoyment, and that is why they work extremely hard. A devotee, however, has no such desires. A devotee always engages wholeheartedly in the service of the Lord, forgetting about bodily conceptions and bodily activities. The body of a karmī is called material because the karmī, being too absorbed in material activities, is always eager to enjoy material facilities, but the body of a devotee who tries his best to work very hard for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa by fully engaging in the Lord’s service must be accepted as transcendental. Whereas karmīs are interested only in the personal satisfaction of their senses, devotees work for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord. Therefore one who cannot distinguish between devotion and ordinary karma may mistakenly consider the body of a pure devotee material. One who knows does not commit such a mistake. Nondevotees who consider devotional activities and ordinary material activities to be on the same level are offenders to the chanting of the transcendental holy name of the Lord. A pure devotee knows that a devotee’s body, being always transcendental, is just suitable for rendering service to the Lord.
“A devotee on the topmost platform of devotional service always humbly thinks that he is not rendering any devotional service. He thinks that he is poor in devotional service and that his body is material. On the other hand, those known as the sahajiyās foolishly think that their material bodies are transcendental. Because of this, they are always bereft of the association of pure devotees, and thus they cannot behave like Vaiṣṇavas. Observing the defects of the sahajiyās, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has sung as follows in his book Kalyāṇa-kalpataru:
amānī nā haba āmi
pratiṣṭhāśā āsi’, hṛdaya dūṣibe,
ha-iba niraya-gāmī
nije śreṣṭha jāni’, ucchiṣṭādi-dāne,
habe abhimāna bhāra
tāi śiṣya tava, thākiyā sarvadā,
nā la-iba pūjā kāra
“ ‘If I think I am a Vaiṣṇava, I shall look forward to receiving respect from others. And if the desire for fame and reputation pollutes my heart, certainly I shall go to hell. By giving others the remnants of my food, I shall consider myself superior and shall be burdened with the weight of false pride. Therefore, always remaining your surrendered disciple, I shall not accept worship from anyone else.’ Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī has written (Antya-līlā 20.28):
sei māne, — ‘kṛṣṇe mora nāhi prema-gandha’
“ ‘Wherever there is a relationship of love of Godhead, the natural symptoms are that the devotee does not think himself a devotee, but always thinks that he has not even a drop of love for Kṛṣṇa.’ ”
Text
bhadrābhadra-vastu-jñāna nāhika ‘prākṛte’
Synonyms
Translation
“Even if your body were material, I still could not neglect it, for the material body should be considered neither good nor bad.
Purport
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Sanātana Gosvāmī, “Since you are a Vaiṣṇava, your body is spiritual, not material. Therefore you should not consider this body to be subjected to superior or inferior qualities. Moreover, I am a sannyāsī. Therefore even if your body were material, a sannyāsī should see no distinction between a good body and a bad body.”
Text
dvaitasyāvastunaḥ kiyat
vācoditaṁ tad anṛtaṁ
manasā dhyātam eva ca
Synonyms
kim — what; bhadram — good; kim — what; abhadram — bad; vā — or; dvaitasya — of this material world; avastunaḥ — that which has temporary existence; kiyat — how much; vācā — by words; uditam — vibrated; tat — that; anṛtam — without permanent existence; manasā — by the mind; dhyātam — conceived; eva — certainly; ca — and.
Translation
“ ‘Anything not conceived in relationship to Kṛṣṇa should be understood to be illusion [māyā]. None of the illusions uttered by words or conceived in the mind are factual. Because illusion is not factual, there is no distinction between what we think is good and what we think is bad. When we speak of the Absolute Truth, such speculations do not apply.’
Purport
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.28.4).
Text
‘ei bhāla, ei manda’, — ei saba ‘bhrama’
Synonyms
Translation
“In the material world, conceptions of good and bad are all mental speculations. Therefore, saying ‘This is good’ and ‘This is bad’ is all a mistake.
Purport
Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the Absolute Truth, ever existing with different varieties of energies. When one is absorbed in the illusory energy of Kṛṣṇa and cannot understand Kṛṣṇa, one cannot ascertain what is good for him and what is bad. Conceptions of good and bad are all imaginations or mental speculations. When one forgets that he is an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, he wants to enjoy the material world through different plans. At that time he distinguishes between material plans that are good and those that are bad. Actually, however, they are all false.
Text
brāhmaṇe gavi hastini
śuni caiva śva-pāke ca
paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ
Synonyms
vidyā — knowledge; vinaya — gentleness; sampanne — endowed with; brāhmaṇe — unto a brāhmaṇa; gavi — unto a cow; hastini — unto an elephant; śuni — unto a dog; ca — and; eva — also; śva-pāke — unto a dog-eater; ca — also; paṇḍitāḥ — those who are actually learned in spiritual understanding; sama-darśinaḥ — equipoised.
Translation
“ ‘The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater.’
Purport
This is a quotation from the Bhagavad-gītā (5.18).
Text
kūṭa-stho vijitendriyaḥ
yukta ity ucyate yogī
sama-loṣṭrāśma-kāñcanaḥ
Synonyms
jñāna — by acquired knowledge; vijñāna — realized knowledge; tṛpta — satisfied; ātmā — living entity; kūṭa-sthaḥ — fixed in his constitutional position; vijita — controlled; indriyaḥ — whose senses; yuktaḥ — in touch with the Supreme; iti — thus; ucyate — is said; yogī — a yogī; sama — equal; loṣṭra — pebbles; aśma — stone; kāñcanaḥ — gold.
Translation
“ ‘One who is fully satisfied in knowledge obtained and practically applied in life, who is always determined and fixed in his spiritual position, who completely controls his senses, and who sees pebbles, stones and gold on the same level is understood to be a perfect yogī.’
Purport
This is also a quotation from the Bhagavad-gītā (6.8).
Text
candana-paṅkete āmāra jñāna haya ‘sama’
Synonyms
Translation
“Since I am in the renounced order, My duty is to make no distinctions and be equipoised. My knowledge must be equally disposed toward sandalwood pulp and dirty mud.
Purport
It is the duty of a sannyāsī, a person in the renounced order, to be always equipoised, and that is also the duty of a learned man and a Vaiṣṇava. A Vaiṣṇava, a sannyāsī or a learned person has no conception of the material world; in other words, he has no conception of anything materially important. He has no desire to use sandalwood pulp for sense gratification, nor does sense gratification make him hate mud. Acceptance or rejection of material things is not the concern of a sannyāsī, a Vaiṣṇava or a learned person. An advanced devotee has no desire to enjoy or reject anything. His only duty is to accept whatever is favorable for the advancement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. A Vaiṣṇava should be indifferent to material enjoyment and renunciation and should always hanker for the spiritual life of rendering service to the Lord.
Text
ghṛṇā-buddhi kari yadi, nija-dharma yāya”
Synonyms
Translation
“For this reason, I cannot reject you. If I hated you, I would deviate from My occupational duty.”
Text
ei ‘bāhya pratāraṇā’ nāhi māni āmi
Synonyms
Translation
Haridāsa said, “My dear Lord, what You have spoken deals with external formalities. I do not accept it.
Text
dīna-dayālu-guṇa tomāra tāhāte pracāra”
Synonyms
Translation
“My Lord, we are all fallen, but You have accepted us due to Your attribute of being merciful to the fallen. This is well known all over the world.”
Text
tattvataḥ kahi tomā-viṣaye yaiche mora mana
Synonyms
Translation
Lord Caitanya smiled and said, “Listen, Haridāsa and Sanātana. Now I am speaking the truth about how My mind is attached to you.
Text
lālakera lālye nahe doṣa-parijñāna
Synonyms
Translation
“My dear Haridāsa and Sanātana, I think of you as My little boys, to be maintained by Me. The maintainer never takes seriously any faults of the maintained.
Purport
When a father maintains a child and the child is maintained by the father, the father never takes seriously the faults of the child. Even if they actually are faults, the father does not mind them.
Text
tomā-sabāre karoṅ muñi bālaka-abhimāna
Synonyms
Translation
“I always think of Myself as deserving no respect, but because of affection I always consider you to be like My little children.
Text
ghṛṇā nāhi janme, āra mahā-sukha pāya
Synonyms
Translation
“When a child passes stool and urine that touch the body of the mother, the mother never hates the child. On the contrary, she takes much pleasure in cleansing him.
Text
sanātanera klede āmāra ghṛṇā nā upajāya”
Synonyms
Translation
“The stool and urine of the maintained child appear like sandalwood pulp to the mother. Similarly, when the foul moisture oozing from the sores of Sanātana touches My body, I have no hatred for him.”
Text
tomāra gambhīra hṛdaya bujhana nā yāya
Synonyms
Translation
Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, “My dear Sir, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead and are most merciful toward us. No one can understand what is within Your deeply affectionate heart.
Text
tāre āliṅgana kailā hañā sadaya
Synonyms
Translation
“You embraced the leper Vāsudeva, whose body was fully infected by worms. You are so kind that in spite of his condition You embraced him.
Text
bujhite nā pāri tomāra kṛpāra taraṅga”
Synonyms
Translation
“By embracing him You made his body as beautiful as that of Cupid. We cannot understand the waves of Your mercy.”
Text
‘aprākṛta’ deha bhaktera ‘cid-ānanda-maya’
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “The body of a devotee is never material. It is considered to be transcendental, full of spiritual bliss.
Purport
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is trying to convince Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Sanātana Gosvāmī that a devotee whose life is dedicated to the service of the Lord is never in the material conception. Because he always engages in the service of the Lord, his body is transcendental and full of spiritual bliss. One should never consider his body material, just as one should never consider the body of the Deity worshiped in the temple to be made of stone or wood. Factually, the Deity is directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without a doubt. The injunctions of the Padma Purāṇa therefore state, arcye viṣṇau śilā-dhīr guruṣu nara-matir vaiṣṇave jāti-buddhiḥ . . . yasya vā nārakī saḥ: “That person is a resident of hell who considers the Deity worshiped in the temple to be stone or wood, who considers the spiritual master an ordinary man, and who thinks that the body of a Vaiṣṇava fully dedicated to the service of the Lord belongs to the material modes of nature.”
Text
sei-kāle kṛṣṇa tāre kare ātma-sama
Synonyms
Translation
“At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders unto the service of the Lord, Kṛṣṇa accepts him to be as good as Himself.
Text
aprākṛta-dehe tāṅra caraṇa bhajaya
Synonyms
Translation
“When the devotee’s body is thus transformed into spiritual existence, the devotee, in that transcendental body, renders service to the lotus feet of the Lord.
Text
niveditātmā vicikīrṣito me
tadāmṛtatvaṁ pratipadyamāno
mayātma-bhūyāya ca kalpate vai
Synonyms
martyaḥ — the living entity subjected to birth and death; yadā — as soon as; tyakta — giving up; samasta — all; karmāḥ — fruitive activities; nivedita-ātmā — a fully surrendered soul; vicikīrṣitaḥ — desired to act; me — by Me; tadā — at that time; amṛtatvam — immortality; pratipadyamānaḥ — attaining; mayā — with Me; ātma-bhūyāya — for becoming of a similar nature; ca — also; kalpate — is eligible; vai — certainly.
Translation
“ ‘The living entity who is subjected to birth and death attains immortality when he gives up all material activities, dedicates his life to the execution of My order, and acts according to My directions. In this way he becomes fit to enjoy the spiritual bliss derived from exchanging loving mellows with Me.’
Purport
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.29.34). At the time of initiation, a devotee gives up all his material conceptions. Therefore, being in touch with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is situated on the transcendental platform. Thus having attained knowledge and the spiritual platform, he always engages in the service of the spiritual body of Kṛṣṇa. When one is freed from material connections in this way, his body immediately becomes spiritual, and Kṛṣṇa accepts his service. However, Kṛṣṇa does not accept anything from a person with a material conception of life. When a devotee no longer has any desire for material sense gratification, in his spiritual identity he engages in the service of the Lord, for his dormant spiritual consciousness awakens. This awakening of spiritual consciousness makes his body spiritual, and thus he becomes fit to render service to the Lord. Karmīs may consider the body of a devotee material, but factually it is not, for a devotee has no conception of material enjoyment. If one thinks that the body of a pure devotee is material, he is an offender, for that is a vaiṣṇava-aparādha. In this connection one should consult Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī’s Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta (1.3.45 and 2.3.139).
Text
āmā parīkṣite ihāṅ dilā pāṭhāñā
Synonyms
Translation
“Kṛṣṇa somehow or other manifested these itching sores on the body of Sanātana Gosvāmī and sent him here to test Me.
Text
kṛṣṇa-ṭhāñi aparādha-daṇḍa pāitāma tabe
Synonyms
Translation
“If I had hated Sanātana Gosvāmī and had not embraced him, I would certainly have been chastised for offenses to Kṛṣṇa.
Text
prathama divase pāiluṅ catuḥsama-gandha”
Synonyms
Translation
“Sanātana Gosvāmī is one of the associates of Kṛṣṇa. There could not be any bad odor from his body. On the first day I embraced him, I smelled the aroma of catuḥsama [a mixture of sandalwood pulp, camphor, aguru and musk].”
Purport
An associate of the Lord is one whose body is fully engaged in the service of the Lord. A materialist might see Sanātana Gosvāmī’s body as being full of itching sores that exuded foul moisture and a bad smell. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, said that actually the aroma of his body was the excellent scent of a mixture of sandalwood pulp, camphor, musk and aguru. In the Garuḍa Purāṇa this mixture, which is called catuḥsama, is described as follows:
kuṅkumasya trayaś caikaḥ śaśinaḥ syāt catuḥ-samam
“Two parts of musk, four parts of sandalwood, three parts of aguru or saffron and one part of camphor, when mixed together, form catuḥsama.” The aroma of catuḥsama is very pleasing. It is also mentioned in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (sixth vilāsa).
Text
tāṅra sparśe gandha haila candanera sama
Synonyms
Translation
In fact, however, when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced the body of Sanātana Gosvāmī, by the Lord’s touch alone there was manifested a fragrance exactly like that of sandalwood pulp.
Text
tomāra āliṅgane āmi pāi baḍa sukha
Synonyms
Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “My dear Sanātana, do not be aggrieved, for when I embrace you I actually get great pleasure.
Text
vatsara rahi’ tomāre āmi pāṭhāimu vṛndāvane
Synonyms
Translation
“Stay with Me at Jagannātha Purī for one year, and after that I shall send you to Vṛndāvana.”
Text
kaṇḍu gela, aṅga haila suvarṇera sama
Synonyms
Translation
After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again embraced Sanātana Gosvāmī. Thus immediately Sanātana’s sores disappeared, and his entire body resembled the color of gold.
Text
prabhure kahena, — “ei bhaṅgī ye tomāra
Synonyms
Translation
Seeing the change, Haridāsa Ṭhākura, greatly astonished, told the Lord, “This is Your pastime.
Text
sei pānī-lakṣye iṅhāra kaṇḍu upajāilā
Synonyms
Translation
“My dear Lord, You made Sanātana Gosvāmī drink the water of Jhārikhaṇḍa, and You actually generated the consequent itching sores on his body.
Text
ei līlā-bhaṅgī tomāra keha nāhi jāne”
Synonyms
Translation
“After thus causing these itching sores, You examined Sanātana Gosvāmī. No one can understand Your transcendental pastimes.”
Text
prabhura guṇa kahe duṅhe hañā prema-maya
Synonyms
Translation
After embracing both Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to His residence. Then Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Sanātana Gosvāmī, in great ecstatic love, began to describe the Lord’s transcendental attributes.
Text
kṛṣṇa-caitanya-guṇa-kathā haridāsa-sane
Synonyms
Translation
In this way Sanātana Gosvāmī stayed under the care of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and discussed the transcendental qualities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with Haridāsa Ṭhākura.
Text
vṛndāvane ye karibena, saba śikhāilā
Synonyms
Translation
After they saw the Dola-yātrā festival, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu instructed Sanātana Gosvāmī fully about what to do in Vṛndāvana and bade him farewell.
Text
dui-janāra viccheda-daśā nā yāya varṇane
Synonyms
Translation
The scene of separation that took place when Sanātana Gosvāmī and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took leave of each other is so piteous that it cannot be described herein.
Text
sei-pathe yāite mana kailā sanātana
Synonyms
Translation
Sanātana Gosvāmī decided to go to Vṛndāvana by the very forest path Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had traversed.
Text
balabhadra-bhaṭṭa-sthāne saba likhi’ nilā
Synonyms
Translation
Sanātana Gosvāmī noted from Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya all the villages, rivers and hills where Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had performed His pastimes.
Text
sei-pathe cali’ yāya se-sthāna dekhiyā
Synonyms
Translation
Sanātana Gosvāmī met all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and then, traveling by that same path, visited the places through which Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had passed.
Purport
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura writes in a song (Śaraṇāgati 31.3):
karala bhramaṇa raṅge
se-saba sthāna, heriba āmi,
praṇayi-bhakata-saṅge
“May I visit all the holy places associated with the līlās of Lord Caitanya and His devotees.” A devotee should make a point of visiting all the places where Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed His pastimes. Indeed, pure devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu even want to see the places He simply visited for only hours or minutes.
Text
tāhā dekhi’ premāveśa haya sanātane
Synonyms
Translation
As soon as Sanātana Gosvāmī visited a place where Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had performed His pastimes on the way, he was immediately filled with ecstatic love.
Text
pāche āsi’ rūpa-gosāñi tāṅhāre mililā
Synonyms
Translation
In this way Sanātana Gosvāmī reached Vṛndāvana. Later Rūpa Gosvāmī came and met him.
Text
kuṭumbera ‘sthiti’-artha vibhāga kari’ dila
Synonyms
Translation
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī had been delayed in Bengal for a year because he was dividing his money among his relatives to situate them in their proper positions.
Purport
Although Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī renounced his family life, he nevertheless was not unjust to his family members. Even after renunciation, he returned to Bengal, where he properly divided whatever money he had and gave it to his relatives so that they would not be inconvenienced.
Text
kuṭumba-brāhmaṇa-devālaye bāṅṭi’ dilā
Synonyms
Translation
He collected whatever money he had accumulated in Bengal and divided it among his relatives, the brāhmaṇas and the temples.
Text
niścinta hañā śīghra āilā vṛndāvana
Synonyms
Translation
Thus after finishing all the tasks he had on his mind, he returned to Vṛndāvana fully satisfied.
Text
prabhura ye ājñā, duṅhe saba nirvāhilā
Synonyms
Translation
The brothers met at Vṛndāvana, where they stayed to execute the will of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Purport
PURPORT:
svayaṁ rūpaḥ kadā mahyaṁ dadāti sva-padāntikam
“When will Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī Prabhupāda, who has established within the material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet?” Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī were previously ministers directly in charge of the government of Nawab Hussain Shah, and they were also householders, but later they became gosvāmīs. A gosvāmī, therefore, is one who executes the will of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The title gosvāmī is not an inherited designation; it is meant for a person who has controlled his sense gratification and dedicated his life to executing the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī and Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī became genuine gosvāmīs after dedicating their lives to the service of the Lord.
Text
vṛndāvane kṛṣṇa-sevā prakāśa karilā
Synonyms
Translation
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī collected many revealed scriptures, and from the evidence in those scriptures they excavated all the lost sites of pilgrimage. Thus they established temples for the worship of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Text
bhakta-bhakti-kṛṣṇa-tattva jāni yāhā haite
Synonyms
Translation
Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī compiled the Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta. From this book one can understand who is a devotee, what is the process of devotional service, and who is Kṛṣṇa, the Absolute Truth.
Text
kṛṣṇa-līlā-rasa-prema yāhā haite jāni
Synonyms
Translation
Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī wrote a commentary on the Tenth Canto known as Daśama-ṭippanī, from which we can understand the transcendental pastimes and ecstatic love of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Text
vaiṣṇavera kartavya yāhāṅ pāiye pāra
Synonyms
Translation
He also compiled the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa, from which we can understand the standard behavior of a devotee and the full extent of a Vaiṣṇava’s duty.
Purport
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura writes, “The Hari-bhakti-vilāsa was originally compiled by Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī. Later, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī produced a shortened version of it and added the Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā. In the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa there are so many quotations from the sātvata scriptures that sometimes it is inquired how the atheistic smārtas can refuse to accept them and instead imagine some other opinions. What is recorded in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa strictly follows the Vedic scriptures and is certainly pure, but the attitude of the karmīs is always one of giving up the conclusion of pure Vaiṣṇava understanding. Because the karmīs are very much attached to the world and material activities, they always try to establish atheistic principles that oppose the understanding of the Vaiṣṇavas.”
Text
‘madana-gopāla-govindera sevā’-prakāśana
Synonyms
Translation
Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī also compiled many other books. Who can enumerate them? The basic principle of all these books is to show us how to love Madana-mohana and Govindajī.
Purport
The Bhakti-ratnākara refers to the following books by Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī: (1) the Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta, (2) the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa and his commentary known as Dig-darśinī, (3) the Līlā-stava and (4) the commentary on the Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam known as Vaiṣṇava-toṣaṇī. Sanātana Gosvāmī compiled many, many books, all with the aim of describing how to serve the principal Deities of Vṛndāvana — Govinda and Madana-gopāla. Later, other Deities were gradually established, and the importance of Vṛndāvana increased.
Text
kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasera yāhāṅ pāiye vistāra
Synonyms
rūpa-gosāñi — Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī; kailā — compiled; rasāmṛta-sindhu — the book known as Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu; sāra — the essence of knowledge in devotional service; kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasera — of the transcendental mellows in devotional service; yāhāṅ — wherein; pāiye — we can get; vistāra — elaboration.
Translation
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī also wrote many books, the most famous of which is the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu. From that book one can understand the essence of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa and the transcendental mellows one can derive from such service.
Text
rādhā-kṛṣṇa-līlā-rasa tāhāṅ pāiye pāra
Synonyms
Translation
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī also compiled the book named Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi, from which one can understand, to the fullest limits, the loving affairs of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
Text
kṛṣṇa-līlā-rasa tāhāṅ pāiye sakala
Synonyms
Translation
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī also compiled two important dramas named Vidagdha-mādhava and Lalita-mādhava, from which one can understand all the mellows derived from the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Text
sei saba granthe vrajera rasa vicārila
Synonyms
Translation
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī compiled 100,000 verses, beginning with the book Dāna-keli-kaumudī. In all these scriptures he elaborately explained the transcendental mellows of the activities of Vṛndāvana.
Purport
Referring to the words lakṣa-grantha (“100,000 verses”), Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura says that the total number of verses written by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī is 100,000 (eka-lakṣa or lakṣa-grantha). The copyists count both the verses and the prose sections of the Sanskrit works. One should not mistakenly think that Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī compiled 100,000 books. He actually wrote sixteen books, as mentioned in the First Wave of the Bhakti-ratnākara (śrī-rūpa-gosvāmī grantha ṣoḍaśa karila).
Text
tāṅra putra mahā-paṇḍita — jīva-gosāñi nāma
Synonyms
Translation
The son of Śrī Vallabha, or Anupama, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s younger brother, was the great learned scholar named Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī.
Text
teṅha bhakti-śāstra bahu kailā pracāraṇa
Synonyms
Translation
After renouncing everything, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī went to Vṛndāvana. Later he also wrote many books on devotional service and expanded the work of preaching.
Text
bhāgavata-siddhāntera tāhāṅ pāiye pāra
Synonyms
bhāgavata-sandarbha — the Bhāgavata-sandarbha, which is also known as the Ṣaṭ-sandarbha; nāma — named; kaila — made; grantha-sāra — the essence of all scriptures; bhāgavata-siddhāntera — of conclusive information about the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His service; tāhāṅ — there; pāiye — we get; pāra — the limit.
Translation
In particular, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī compiled the book named Bhāgavata-sandarbha, or Ṣaṭ-sandarbha, which is the essence of all scriptures. From this book one can obtain a conclusive understanding of devotional service and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Text
vraja-prema-līlā-rasa-sāra dekhāila
Synonyms
Translation
He also compiled the book named Gopāla-campū, which is the essence of all Vedic literature. In this book he has exhibited the ecstatic loving transactions and pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana.
Text
cāri-lakṣa grantha teṅho vistāra karila
Synonyms
Translation
In the Ṣaṭ-sandarbha Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī set forth the truths about transcendental love of Kṛṣṇa. In this way he expanded 400,000 verses in all his books.
Text
nityānanda-prabhu-ṭhāñi ājñā māgilā
Synonyms
Translation
When Jīva Gosvāmī wanted to go to Mathurā from Bengal, he requested permission from Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu.
Text
rūpa-sanātana-sambandhe kailā āliṅgana
Synonyms
Translation
Because of Jīva Gosvāmī’s relationship with Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī, who were greatly favored by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu placed His feet on the head of Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī and embraced him.
Text
tomāra vaṁśe prabhu diyāchena sei-sthāne
Synonyms
Translation
Lord Nityānanda Prabhu ordered, “Yes, go soon to Vṛndāvana. That place has been awarded to your family, to your father and uncles, by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and therefore you must go there immediately.”
Text
śāstra kari’ kata-kāla ‘bhakti’ pracārilā
Synonyms
Translation
By the order of Nityānanda Prabhu, he went to Vṛndāvana and actually achieved the result of His order, for he compiled many books for a long time and preached the cult of bhakti from there.
Text
iṅhā-sabāra caraṇa vandoṅ, yāṅra muñi ‘dāsa’
Synonyms
Translation
These three — Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī and Jīva Gosvāmī — are my spiritual masters, and so also is Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī. I therefore offer prayers at their lotus feet, for I am their servant.
Text
prabhura āśaya jāni yāhāra śravaṇe
Synonyms
Translation
Thus I have described how the Lord again met with Sanātana Gosvāmī. By hearing this I can understand the Lord’s desire.
Text
carvaṇa karite haya rasa-āsvādana
Synonyms
Translation
These characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are like sugar cane that one can chew to relish transcendental juice.
Text
caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇadāsa
Synonyms
śrī-rūpa — Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī; raghunātha — Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī; pade — at the lotus feet; yāra — whose; āśa — expectation; caitanya-caritāmṛta — the book named Caitanya-caritāmṛta; kahe — describes; kṛṣṇadāsa — Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī.
Translation
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.
Purport
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, fourth chapter, describing Sanātana Gosvāmī’s stay with the Lord at Jagannātha Purī.