The innumerable, glorious followers of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu brought a constant flood to the desertlike hearts of the unfortunate with an inundation of ecstatic love.
jayādvaitācārya jaya jaya dayāmaya jaya gaura-bhakta-gaṇa saba rasamaya
[jayaadvaitaachaarya jaya jaya dayaamaya jaya gaura-bhakta-gana saba rasamaya]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
jayādvaitācārya jaya jaya dayāmaya jaya gaura-bhakta-gaṇa saba rasamaya
All glories to Advaita Ācārya, who is very merciful! All glories to the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who are always overwhelmed by transcendental bliss!
antare-bāhire kṛṣṇa-viraha-taraṅga nānā-bhāve vyākula prabhura mana āra aṅga
[antare-baahire krishna-viraha-taranga naanaa-bhaave vyaakula prabhura mana aara anga]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
antare-bāhire kṛṣṇa-viraha-taraṅga nānā-bhāve vyākula prabhura mana āra aṅga
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu always felt waves of separation from Kṛṣṇa, externally and internally. His mind and body were agitated by various spiritual transformations.
dine nṛtya-kīrtana, jagannātha-daraśana rātrye rāya-svarūpa-sane rasa-āsvādana
During the day He chanted, danced and saw Lord Jagannātha in the temple. At night He tasted transcendental bliss in the company of Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara.
The inhabitants of the seven higher planetary systems — including the demigods, the Gandharvas and the Kinnaras — and the inhabitants of the seven lower planetary systems [Pātālaloka], including the demons and serpentine living entities, all visited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in the dress of human beings.
Prahlāda Mahārāja, Bali Mahārāja, Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī and other great sages came to visit Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Upon seeing Him, they became unconscious in ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.
Purport
According to the opinion of some historians, Prahlāda Mahārāja was born in Tretā-yuga in the city of Multan, in the state of Punjab. He was born of Hiraṇyakaśipu, a king of the dynasty of Kaśyapa. Prahlāda Mahārāja was a great devotee of Lord Viṣṇu, but his father was very much against Viṣṇu. Because the father and son thus differed in their consciousness, the demon father inflicted all kinds of bodily pain upon Prahlāda. When this torture became intolerable, the Supreme Lord appeared as Nṛsiṁhadeva and killed the great demon Hiraṇyakaśipu. Bali Mahārāja was the grandson of Prahlāda Mahārāja. The son of Prahlāda Mahārāja was Virocana, and his son was known as Bali. Appearing as Vāmana and begging Bali Mahārāja for three feet of land, the Lord took possession of the entire three worlds. Thus Bali Mahārāja became a great devotee of Lord Vāmana. Bali Mahārāja had one hundred sons, of whom Mahārāja Bāṇa was the eldest and most famous. Vyāsadeva was the son of the great sage Parāśara. Other names for him are Sātyavateya and Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Bādarāyaṇa Muni. As one of the authorities on the Vedas, he divided the original Veda, for convenience, into four divisions — Sāma, Yajur, Ṛg and Atharva. He is the author of eighteen Purāṇas as well as the theosophical thesis Brahma-sūtra and its natural commentary, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. He belongs to the Brahma-sampradāya and is a direct disciple of Nārada Muni. Śukadeva Gosvāmī is the son of Vyāsadeva. He was a brahmacārī fully conscious of Brahman realization, but later he became a great devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. He narrated Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.
Being unable to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the populace outside His room would make a tumultuous sound. Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would go outside and tell them, “Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.”
prabhura darśane saba loka preme bhāse ei-mata yāya prabhura rātri-divase
[prabhura darshane saba loka preme bhaase ei-mata yaaya prabhura raatri-divase]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
prabhura darśane saba loka preme bhāse ei-mata yāya prabhura rātri-divase
All kinds of people would come to see the Lord, and upon seeing Him they would be overwhelmed with ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed His days and nights.
eka-dina loka āsi’ prabhure nivedila gopīnāthere ‘baḍa jānā’ cāṅge caḍāila
[eka-dina loka aasi’ prabhure nivedila gopeenaathere ‘bada jaanaa’ chaange chadaaila]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
eka-dina loka āsi’ prabhure nivedila gopīnāthere ‘baḍa jānā’ cāṅge caḍāila
One day people suddenly came to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and informed Him, “Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka, the son of Bhavānanda Rāya, has been condemned to death by the baḍa-jānā, the eldest son of the King, and has been raised on the cāṅga.
Purport
The cāṅga was a device for killing a condemned person. It consisted of a raised platform on which the condemned was made to stand. Underneath the platform, there were stationary upright swords. The condemned man would be pushed down onto the swords, and in this way he would die. For some reason, Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka had been condemned to death and had therefore been raised upon the cāṅga.
tale khaḍga pāti’ tāre upare ḍāribe prabhu rakṣā karena yabe, tabe nistāribe
[tale khadga paati’ taare upare daaribe prabhu rakshaa karena yabe, tabe nistaaribe]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tale khaḍga pāti’ tāre upare ḍāribe prabhu rakṣā karena yabe, tabe nistāribe
“The baḍa-jānā has placed swords beneath the platform,” they said, “and will throw Gopīnātha upon them. O Lord, only if You protect him will he be saved.
“Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka replied, ‘There is no money I can immediately give you in cash. Please give me time. Gradually I shall purchase and sell my gross goods and in this way fill your treasury.
“ ‘There are ten to twelve good horses. Take them immediately for a proper price.’ After saying this, he brought all the horses to the door of the King.
sei rāja-putra mūlya kare ghāṭāñā gopīnāthera krodha haila mūlya śuniyā
[sei raaja-putra moolya kare ghaataanaa gopeenaathera krodha haila moolya shuniyaa]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sei rāja-putra mūlya kare ghāṭāñā gopīnāthera krodha haila mūlya śuniyā
“The prince, however, purposely gave a reduced estimate for the value of the horses. When Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka heard the price quoted, he was very angry.
“kauḍi nāhi dibe ei, beḍāya chadma kari’ ājñā deha yadi, — ‘cāṅge caḍāñā la-i kauḍi’
[“kaudi naahi dibe ei, bedaaya chadma kari’ aajnaa deha yadi, — ‘chaange chadaanaa la-i kaudi’]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
“kauḍi nāhi dibe ei, beḍāya chadma kari’ ājñā deha yadi, — ‘cāṅge caḍāñā la-i kauḍi’
“ ‘This Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka,’ he said, ‘is unwilling to pay the money due. Instead, he is squandering it under some pretext. If you issue an order, I can put him on the cāṅga and thus realize the money.’
After hearing this explanation, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied with affectionate anger. “Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka does not want to pay the King the money that is due,” the Lord said. “How then is the King at fault in punishing him?
rāja-vilāt sādhi’ khāya, nāhi rāja-bhaya dārī-nāṭuyāre diyā kare nānā vyaya
[raaja-vilaat saadhi’ khaaya, naahi raaja-bhaya daaree-naatuyaare diyaa kare naanaa vyaya]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
rāja-vilāt sādhi’ khāya, nāhi rāja-bhaya dārī-nāṭuyāre diyā kare nānā vyaya
“Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka is in charge of collecting money on behalf of the government, but he misappropriates it. Not fearing the King, he squanders it to see dancing girls.
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “The King must personally realize the money that is due. I am but a sannyāsī, a member of the renounced order. What can I do?”
“rāmānanda-rāyera goṣṭhī, saba — tomāra ‘dāsa’ tomāra ucita nahe aichana udāsa”
[“raamaananda-raayera goshthee, saba — tomaara ‘daasa’ tomaara uchita nahe aichana udaasa”]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
“rāmānanda-rāyera goṣṭhī, saba — tomāra ‘dāsa’ tomāra ucita nahe aichana udāsa”
“All the members of Rāmānanda Rāya’s family are Your eternal servants. Now they are in danger. It is not befitting for You to be indifferent to them in this way.”
pāṅca-gaṇḍāra pātra haya sannyāsī brāhmaṇa māgile vā kene dibe dui-lakṣa kāhana?”
[paancha-gandaara paatra haya sannyaasee braahmana maagile vaa kene dibe dui-laksha kaahana?”]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
pāṅca-gaṇḍāra pātra haya sannyāsī brāhmaṇa māgile vā kene dibe dui-lakṣa kāhana?”
“Of course, a sannyāsī or brāhmaṇa may beg for up to five gaṇḍās, but why should he be granted the inappropriate sum of 200,000 kāhanas of conchshells?”
Hearing this news, all the devotees again appealed to the Lord, but the Lord replied, “I am a beggar. It is impossible for Me to do anything about this.
“Lord Jagannātha is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He possesses all potencies. Therefore He is able to act freely and can do and undo whatever He likes.”
viśeṣa tāhāra ṭhāñi kauḍi bākī haya prāṇa nile kibā lābha? nija dhana-kṣaya
[vishesha taahaara thaani kaudi baakee haya praana nile kibaa laabha? nija dhana-kshaya]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
viśeṣa tāhāra ṭhāñi kauḍi bākī haya prāṇa nile kibā lābha? nija dhana-kṣaya
“His only fault is that he owes some money to the government. If he is killed, however, what profit will there be? The government will be the loser, for it will not get the money.
Then he was told that the King demanded the money due him and asked what means he would adopt to pay it. “Kindly take my horses,” he replied, “for a proper price.
se kahe — “vāṇīnātha nirbhaye laya kṛṣṇa-nāma ‘hare kṛṣṇa, hare kṛṣṇa’ kahe aviśrāma
[se kahe — “vaaneenaatha nirbhaye laya krishna-naama ‘hare krishna, hare krishna’ kahe avishraama]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
se kahe — “vāṇīnātha nirbhaye laya kṛṣṇa-nāma ‘hare kṛṣṇa, hare kṛṣṇa’ kahe aviśrāma
The messenger replied, “He was fearlessly, incessantly chanting the mahā-mantra — Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
“What is the fault on the part of the King? He wants the government’s money. However, when they are punished for failing to pay the government its due, they come to Me to release them.
āji tāre jagannātha karilā rakṣaṇa kāli ke rākhibe, yadi nā dibe rāja-dhana?
[aaji taare jagannaatha karilaa rakshana kaali ke raakhibe, yadi naa dibe raaja-dhana?]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
āji tāre jagannātha karilā rakṣaṇa kāli ke rākhibe, yadi nā dibe rāja-dhana?
“Jagannātha has saved him once from death today, but if tomorrow he again does not pay what he owes the treasury, who will give him protection?
Purport
The Supreme Personality of Godhead will certainly protect a devotee who does something sinful accidentally. As the Lord says in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.30-31): api cet su-durācāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāksādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ saṁyag vyavasito hi saḥ kṣipraṁ bhavati dharmātmā śaśvac-chāntiṁ nigacchatikaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati “Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination. He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kuntī, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.” However, if a devotee or so-called devotee purposefully commits sinful activities continually in the hope that Kṛṣṇa will give him protection, Kṛṣṇa will not protect him. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, kāli ke rākhibe, yadi nā dibe rāja-dhana?: “Jagannātha has saved Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka from being killed by the King today, but if he commits the same offense again, who will give him protection?” Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thus warns all such foolish devotees that Jagannātha will not protect them if they continue to commit offenses.
viṣayīra vārtā śuni’ kṣubdha haya mana tāte ihāṅ rahi’ mora nāhi prayojana”
[vishayeera vaartaa shuni’ kshubdha haya mana taate ihaan rahi’ mora naahi prayojana”]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
viṣayīra vārtā śuni’ kṣubdha haya mana tāte ihāṅ rahi’ mora nāhi prayojana”
“If I hear about the activities of materialistic persons, My mind becomes agitated. There is no need for Me to stay here and be disturbed in that way.”
“You are a renounced sannyāsī. What connections do You have? One who worships You for some material purpose is blind to all knowledge.”
Purport
Becoming a devotee of the Lord to serve material purposes is a great mistake. Many people become showbottle devotees for material profits. Indeed, materialistic persons sometimes take to professional devotional service and keep Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as a means of livelihood. None of this, however, is approved. In the book known as Sapta-śatī, as mentioned by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, one can discover how a person worshiping the goddess Durgā begs her for different varieties of material profit. Such activities are very popular among people in general, but they are the attempts of foolish, blind people (sei jñāna-andha). A materialist does not actually know why one should become a devotee. A devotee’s only concern is to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Pure devotional service is defined by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī: anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtamānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu- śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā One should be completely free from all material desires and should serve Kṛṣṇa simply to please Him. When people become interested in their own sense gratification (bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kāmī), some of them desire to enjoy the material world to the fullest extent, some of them desire to be liberated and merge into the existence of Brahman, and others want to perform magic through mystic power and thus become incarnations of God. These are all against the principles of devotional service. One must be free from all material desires. The desire of the impersonalist to merge into the existence of Brahman is also material because such an impersonalist wants to gratify his senses by merging into the existence of Kṛṣṇa instead of serving His lotus feet. Even if such a person merges into the Brahman effulgence, he falls down again into material existence. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.2.32): āruhya kṛcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ patanty adho ’nādṛta-yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ Because Māyāvādī philosophers have no information regarding the transcendental service of the Lord, even after attaining liberation from material activities and merging into the Brahman effulgence, they must come down again to this material world.
tomāra bhajana-phale tomāte ‘prema-dhana’ viṣaya lāgi’ tomāya bhaje, sei mūrkha jana
Kāśī Miśra continued, “If one engages in devotional service for Your satisfaction, this will result in his increasingly awakening his dormant love for You. But if one engages in Your devotional service for material purposes, he should be considered a number-one fool.
Purport
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura comments that there are many materialistic persons who become preachers, gurus, religionists or philosophers only for the sake of maintaining a high standard of living and sense gratification for themselves and their families. Sometimes they adopt the dress of a sannyāsī or preacher. They train some of their family members as lawyers and continually seek help from a high court to acquire riches on the plea of maintaining temples. Although such persons may call themselves preachers, live in Vṛndāvana or Navadvīpa, and also print many religious books, it is all for the same purpose, namely to earn a living to maintain their wives and children. They may also professionally recite the Bhāgavatam or other scriptures, worship the Deity in the temple and initiate disciples. Making a show of devotional paraphernalia, they may also collect money from the public and use it to cure the disease of some family member or near relative. Sometimes they become bābājīs or collect money on the plea of worshiping the poor, whom they call daridra-nārāyaṇa, or for social and political upliftment. Thus they spread a network of business schemes to collect money for sense gratification by cheating people in general, who have no knowledge of pure devotional service. Such cheaters cannot understand that by offering devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one can be elevated to a position of eternal servitude to the Lord, which is even greater than the position of Brahmā and other demigods. Unfortunately, fools have no understanding of the perpetual pleasure of devotional service.
“However, because he has received the mercy of Your lotus feet, he does not even accept his father’s money. Instead he eats by begging alms from centers for the distribution of food.
“It is not Gopīnātha who sent all those men so that You would release him from his plight. Rather, his friends and servants, seeing his distressed condition, informed You because they all knew that Gopīnātha is a soul surrendered unto You.
sei ‘śuddha-bhakta’, ye tomā bhaje tomā lāgi’ āpanāra sukha-duḥkhe haya bhoga-bhogī’
[sei ‘shuddha-bhakta’, ye tomaa bhaje tomaa laagi’ aapanaara sukha-duhkhe haya bhoga-bhogee’]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sei ‘śuddha-bhakta’, ye tomā bhaje tomā lāgi’ āpanāra sukha-duḥkhe haya bhoga-bhogī’
“Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka is a pure devotee who worships You only for Your satisfaction. He does not care about his personal happiness or distress, for that is the business of a materialist.
tat te ’nukampāṁ su-samīkṣamāṇo bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṁ vipākam hṛd-vāg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te jīveta yo mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk
[tat te ’nukampaam su-sameekshamaano bhunjaana evaatma-kritam vipaakam hrid-vaag-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te jeeveta yo mukti-pade sa daaya-bhaak]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tat te ’nukampāṁ su-samīkṣamāṇo bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṁ vipākam hṛd-vāg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te jīveta yo mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk
“ ‘One who seeks Your compassion and thus tolerates all kinds of adverse conditions due to the karma of his past deeds, who engages always in Your devotional service with his mind, words and body, and who always offers obeisances unto You is certainly a bona fide candidate for becoming Your unalloyed devotee.’
yadi vā tomāra tāre rākhite haya mana āji ye rākhila, sei karibe rakṣaṇa”
[yadi vaa tomaara taare raakhite haya mana aaji ye raakhila, sei karibe rakshana”]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yadi vā tomāra tāre rākhite haya mana āji ye rākhila, sei karibe rakṣaṇa”
Finally Kāśī Miśra told the Lord, “If You want to give protection to Gopīnātha, then Lord Jagannātha, who protected him today, will also protect him in the future.”
eta bali’ kāśī-miśra gelā sva-mandire madhyāhne pratāparudra āilā tāṅra ghare
After saying this, Kāśī Miśra left the abode of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and returned to his own temple. At noon King Pratāparudra came to Kāśī Miśra’s home.
nitya āsi’ kare miśrera pāda saṁvāhana jagannātha-sevāra kare bhiyāna śravaṇa
[nitya aasi’ kare mishrera paada samvaahana jagannaatha-sevaara kare bhiyaana shravana]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
nitya āsi’ kare miśrera pāda saṁvāhana jagannātha-sevāra kare bhiyāna śravaṇa
He would come daily to the house of Kāśī Miśra to massage his lotus feet. The King would also hear from him about how opulently Lord Jagannātha was being served.
śuni rājā duḥkhī hailā, puchilena kāraṇa tabe miśra kahe tāṅre saba vivaraṇa
[shuni raajaa duhkhee hailaa, puchilena kaarana tabe mishra kahe taanre saba vivarana]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śuni rājā duḥkhī hailā, puchilena kāraṇa tabe miśra kahe tāṅre saba vivaraṇa
When the King heard that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was going to Ālālanātha, he was very unhappy and inquired about the reason. Then Kāśī Miśra informed him of all the details.
‘ajitendriya hañā kare rāja-viṣaya nānā asat-pathe kare rāja-dravya vyaya
[‘ajitendriya hanaa kare raaja-vishaya naanaa asat-pathe kare raaja-dravya vyaya]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
‘ajitendriya hañā kare rāja-viṣaya nānā asat-pathe kare rāja-dravya vyaya
“ ‘Because he is mad after sense gratification,’ the Lord said, ‘he acts as a government servant but spends the government’s revenue for various sinful activities.
brahmasva-adhika ei haya rāja-dhana tāhā hari’ bhoga kare mahā-pāpī jana
[brahmasva-adhika ei haya raaja-dhana taahaa hari’ bhoga kare mahaa-paapee jana]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
brahmasva-adhika ei haya rāja-dhana tāhā hari’ bhoga kare mahā-pāpī jana
“ ‘The revenue of the government is more sacred than the property of a brāhmaṇa. One who misappropriates the government’s money and uses it to enjoy sense gratification is most sinful.
rājāra vartana khāya, āra curi kare rāja-daṇḍya haya sei śāstrera vicāre
[raajaara vartana khaaya, aara churi kare raaja-dandya haya sei shaastrera vichaare]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
rājāra vartana khāya, āra curi kare rāja-daṇḍya haya sei śāstrera vicāre
“ ‘One who serves the government but misappropriates the government’s revenue is liable to be punished by the king. That is the verdict of all revealed scriptures.
nija-kauḍi māge, rājā nāhi kare daṇḍa rājā — mahā-dhārmika, ei haya pāpī bhaṇḍa!
[nija-kaudi maage, raajaa naahi kare danda raajaa — mahaa-dhaarmika, ei haya paapee bhanda!]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
nija-kauḍi māge, rājā nāhi kare daṇḍa rājā — mahā-dhārmika, ei haya pāpī bhaṇḍa!
“ ‘The King wanted his revenue paid and did not want to enforce punishment. Therefore the King is certainly very religious. But Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka is a great cheat.
“ ‘Therefore I shall leave Jagannātha Purī and go to Ālālanātha, where I shall live peacefully and not hear about all these affairs of materialistic people.’ ”
eta śuni’ kahe rājā pāñā mane vyathā “saba dravya chāḍoṅ, yadi prabhu rahena ethā
[eta shuni’ kahe raajaa paanaa mane vyathaa “saba dravya chaadon, yadi prabhu rahena ethaa]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
eta śuni’ kahe rājā pāñā mane vyathā “saba dravya chāḍoṅ, yadi prabhu rahena ethā
When King Pratāparudra heard all these details, he felt great pain in his mind. “I shall give up all that is due from Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka,” he said, “if Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will stay here at Jagannātha Purī.
kon chāra padārtha ei dui-lakṣa kāhana? prāṇa-rājya karoṅ prabhu-pade nirmañchana”
[kon chaara padaartha ei dui-laksha kaahana? praana-raajya karon prabhu-pade nirmanchana”]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kon chāra padārtha ei dui-lakṣa kāhana? prāṇa-rājya karoṅ prabhu-pade nirmañchana”
“I do not care about this small sum of 200,000 kāhanas. What to speak of this, I would indeed sacrifice everything at the lotus feet of the Lord, including my life and kingdom.”
The King replied, “I had no desire to give pain to Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka and his family, nor did I know about his being lifted onto the cāṅga to be thrown on the swords and killed.
tumi yāha, prabhure rākhaha yatna kari’ ei mui tāhāre chāḍinu saba kauḍi”
[tumi yaaha, prabhure raakhaha yatna kari’ ei mui taahaare chaadinu saba kaudi”]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tumi yāha, prabhure rākhaha yatna kari’ ei mui tāhāre chāḍinu saba kauḍi”
“Go personally to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and keep Him at Jagannātha Purī with great attention. I shall excuse Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka from all his debts.”
The King said, “I shall absolve Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka of all his debts, but don’t speak of this to the Lord. Simply let Him know that all the family members of Bhavānanda Rāya, including Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka, are naturally my dear friends.
rājā kahe, — “saba kauḍi tomāre chāḍiluṅ sei mālajāṭhyā daṇḍa pāṭa tomāre ta’ diluṅ
[raajaa kahe, — “saba kaudi tomaare chaadilun sei maalajaathyaa danda paata tomaare ta’ dilun]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
rājā kahe, — “saba kauḍi tomāre chāḍiluṅ sei mālajāṭhyā daṇḍa pāṭa tomāre ta’ diluṅ
The King told Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka, “You are excused for all the money you owe the treasury, and the place known as Mālajāṭhyā Daṇḍapāṭa is again given to you for collections.
After saying this, the King appointed him by offering him a silken wrapper for his body. “Go to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu,” he said. “After taking permission from Him, go to your home. I bid you farewell. Now you may go.”
‘rājya-viṣaya’-phala ei — kṛpāra ‘ābhāse’! tāhāra gaṇanā kāro mane nāhi āise!
[‘raajya-vishaya’-phala ei — kripaara ‘aabhaase’! taahaara gananaa kaaro mane naahi aaise!]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
‘rājya-viṣaya’-phala ei — kṛpāra ‘ābhāse’! tāhāra gaṇanā kāro mane nāhi āise!
Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka achieved the result of kingly opulence due to but a glimpse of the Lord’s mercy. Therefore no one can calculate the full value of His mercy.
kāhāṅ cāṅge caḍāñā laya dhana-prāṇa! kāhāṅ saba chāḍi’ sei rājyādi-pradāna!
[kaahaan chaange chadaanaa laya dhana-praana! kaahaan saba chaadi’ sei raajyaadi-pradaana!]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kāhāṅ cāṅge caḍāñā laya dhana-prāṇa! kāhāṅ saba chāḍi’ sei rājyādi-pradāna!
Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka was lifted onto the cāṅga to be killed, and all his money was taken away, but instead his debts were excused, and he was appointed collector in the same place.
On one hand Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka was unable to clear his debt even by selling all his possessions, but on the other his salary was doubled, and he was honored with the silken wrapper.
It was not the desire of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu that Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka be excused of his debt to the government, nor was it His desire that his salary be doubled or that he be reappointed collector at the same place.
When Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka’s servant went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and informed the Lord of his plight, the Lord was somewhat agitated and dissatisfied.
viṣaya-sukha dite prabhura nāhi manobala nivedana-prabhāveha tabu phale eta phala
[vishaya-sukha dite prabhura naahi manobala nivedana-prabhaaveha tabu phale eta phala]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
viṣaya-sukha dite prabhura nāhi manobala nivedana-prabhāveha tabu phale eta phala
The Lord had no intention of awarding His devotee the happiness of material opulence, yet simply because of His being informed, such a great result was obtained.
No one can estimate the wonderful characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Even Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva cannot understand the intentions of the Lord.
Upon hearing about Kāśī Miśra’s tactics with the King, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Kāśī Miśra, what have you done? You have made Me indirectly take help from the King.”
Purport
When the King heard the details of Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka’s unfortunate condemnation, he was induced to excuse his debt, in particular because he felt that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very sorry about this incident. The Lord did not like the idea that the money forfeited to Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka was indirectly a contribution to Him. Therefore He immediately protested.
“The King said, ‘Speak to the Lord in such a way that He will not think, “For My sake the King has forfeited 200,000 kāhanas of kauḍis.”
Purport
The kauḍi is like an American cent or Japanese yen. In the old medium of exchange, the first unit of currency was a small conchshell called a kauḍi. Four kauḍis made one gaṇḍā, twenty gaṇḍās made one paṇa, and sixteen paṇas made one kāhana. Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka owed the government 200,000 kāhanas. The King absolved him of this debt, reappointed him to his post and doubled his salary.
“ ‘Therefore I have appointed them collectors in various places, and although they spend the government’s money, eat, drink, plunder and distribute it as they like, I do not take them very seriously.
rājamahindāra ‘rājā’ kainu rāma-rāya ye khāila, yebā dila, nāhi lekhā-dāya
[raajamahindaara ‘raajaa’ kainu raama-raaya ye khaaila, yebaa dila, naahi lekhaa-daaya]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
rājamahindāra ‘rājā’ kainu rāma-rāya ye khāila, yebā dila, nāhi lekhā-dāya
“ ‘I made Rāmānanda Rāya the governor of Rajahmundry. There is practically no account of whatever money he took and distributed in that position.
Purport
Near Rajahmundry is a famous railway station. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī notes that the present Rajahmundry City is located on the northern bank of the Godāvarī. At the time when Rāmānanda Rāya was governor, however, the state capital, which was known as Vidyānagara or Vidyāpura, was located on the southern side of the Godāvarī, at the confluence of the Godāvarī and the sea. That was the part of the country which at that time was known as Rajahmundry. North of Kaliṅga-deśa is Utkaliṅga, or the state of Orissa. The capital of southern Orissa was known as Rajahmundry, but now the location of Rajahmundry has changed.
“ ‘Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka would collect some and pay some, spending it at will, but I would not consider this very seriously. This time, however, he was put into trouble because of a misunderstanding with the prince.
tāṅhā lāgi’ dravya chāḍi’ — ihā māt jāne ‘sahajei mora prīti haya tāhā-sane’ ”
[taanhaa laagi’ dravya chaadi’ — ihaa maat jaane ‘sahajei mora preeti haya taahaa-sane’ ”]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tāṅhā lāgi’ dravya chāḍi’ — ihā māt jāne ‘sahajei mora prīti haya tāhā-sane’ ”
“ ‘Because of my intimate relationship with them, I have absolved Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka of all his debts. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu does not know this fact. Whatever I have done is because of my intimate relationship with the family of Bhavānanda Rāya.’ ”
Having heard from Kāśī Miśra all these statements concerning the King’s mentality, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very happy. At that time, Bhavānanda Rāya arrived there.
“tomāra kiṅkara ei saba mora kula e vipade rākhi’ prabhu, punaḥ nilā mūla
[“tomaara kinkara ei saba mora kula e vipade raakhi’ prabhu, punah nilaa moola]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
“tomāra kiṅkara ei saba mora kula e vipade rākhi’ prabhu, punaḥ nilā mūla
“All these members of my family,” he said, “are Your eternal servants. You have saved us from this great danger. Therefore You have purchased us for a proper price.
‘netadhaṭī’-māthe gopīnātha caraṇe paḍilā rājāra kṛpā-vṛttānta sakala kahilā
[‘netadhatee’-maathe gopeenaatha charane padilaa raajaara kripaa-vrittaanta sakala kahilaa]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
‘netadhaṭī’-māthe gopīnātha caraṇe paḍilā rājāra kṛpā-vṛttānta sakala kahilā
Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka, his head covered with the silken wrapper, fell at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and described in detail the King’s mercy toward him.
“The King has excused me for the balance due,” he said. “He has reappointed me to my post by honoring me with this silken cloth and has doubled my salary.
kintu tomāra smaraṇera nahe ei ‘mukhya-phala’ ‘phalābhāsa’ ei, — yāte ‘viṣaya’ cañcala
[kintu tomaara smaranera nahe ei ‘mukhya-phala’ ‘phalaabhaasa’ ei, — yaate ‘vishaya’ chanchala]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kintu tomāra smaraṇera nahe ei ‘mukhya-phala’ ‘phalābhāsa’ ei, — yāte ‘viṣaya’ cañcala
“However, my Lord, these are not the principal results of meditating upon Your lotus feet. Material opulence is very flickering. Therefore it is simply a glimpse of the result of Your mercy.
Purport
One can achieve the highest perfection of life simply by meditating upon the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Generally people are concerned with the four religious principles, namely religion, material opulence, sense gratification and liberation. However, as indicated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo ’tra), success in these four kinds of material and spiritual gain are not the true results of devotional service. The true result of devotional service is the actual development of one’s dormant love for Kṛṣṇa in every circumstance. By the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka could understand that the material benefits he had achieved were not the ultimate result of meditating upon His lotus feet. The true result comes when one is detached from material opulences. Therefore Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka prayed to the Lord for such detachment.
“Your real mercy has been granted to Rāmānanda Rāya and Vāṇīnātha Rāya, for You have detached them from all material opulence. I think that I have not been favored by such mercy.
prabhu kahe, — “sannyāsī yabe ha-ibā pañca-jana kuṭumba-bāhulya tomāra ke kare bharaṇa?
[prabhu kahe, — “sannyaasee yabe ha-ibaa pancha-jana kutumba-baahulya tomaara ke kare bharana?]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
prabhu kahe, — “sannyāsī yabe ha-ibā pañca-jana kuṭumba-bāhulya tomāra ke kare bharaṇa?
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “If you all adopt the renounced order and lose interest in dealing with pounds, shillings and pence, who will take charge of maintaining your large family?
mahā-viṣaya kara, kibā virakta udāsa janme-janme tumi pañca — mora ‘nija-dāsa’
[mahaa-vishaya kara, kibaa virakta udaasa janme-janme tumi pancha — mora ‘nija-daasa’]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
mahā-viṣaya kara, kibā virakta udāsa janme-janme tumi pañca — mora ‘nija-dāsa’
“Whether you are involved in material activities or become completely renounced, you five brothers are all My eternal servants, birth after birth.
Purport
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura comments that one should always remember that he is eternally a servant of Kṛṣṇa. Whether one is engaged in material activity involving pounds, shillings and pence or is in the renounced order, he should always think that he is an eternal servant of God, for that is the real position of the living being. Both taking sannyāsa and dealing in pounds, shillings and pence are external affairs. In any condition, one should always consider how to please and satisfy Kṛṣṇa. Thus even if one is involved in great material affairs, he will not become attached. As soon as one forgets that he is an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, he becomes involved in material attachments. However, if one is always conscious that Kṛṣṇa is the supreme master and that he is an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, he is a liberated person in any condition. Entangling material activities will not affect him.
“However, just obey one order from Me. Do not spend any of the King’s revenue.
Purport
When a person forgets his position as an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, he commits many sinful activities, but one who maintains his position as an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa cannot deviate from the path of morality, religion and ethics. At the present, people all over the world, especially in India, have forgotten their relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His eternal servants. Therefore the principles of morality, religion and ethics have almost disappeared. This situation is most unprofitable for human society. Therefore everyone should try to accept Kṛṣṇa consciousness and follow the principles of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
“Don’t spend a farthing for sinful activities, for which you will be the loser both in this life and the next.” After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade them farewell.
Thus the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was spoken of in the family of Bhavānanda Rāya. That mercy was clearly demonstrated, although it appeared to be something different.
Purport
The result of advancement in spiritual knowledge is not material improvement, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka how to use material opulence without incurring reactions to sinful life. From this advice, it appeared that the Lord encouraged Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka to enhance his material condition. Actually, however, He did not. In fact, this was but a manifestation of His great affection for His devotee.
Seeing the extraordinary mercy the Lord granted to the family of Bhavānanda Rāya, everyone was struck with wonder. They could not understand the behavior of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
tārā sabe yadi kṛpā karite sādhila ‘āmā’ haite kichu nahe — prabhu tabe kahila
[taaraa sabe yadi kripaa karite saadhila ‘aamaa’ haite kichu nahe — prabhu tabe kahila]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tārā sabe yadi kṛpā karite sādhila ‘āmā’ haite kichu nahe — prabhu tabe kahila
Indeed, when all the devotees had requested the Lord to bestow His mercy upon Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka, the Lord had replied that He could do nothing.
Purport
When a person is sinful, he loses both the chance for spiritual advancement and the chance for material opulence. If one enjoys the material world for sense gratification, he is certainly doomed. Advancement in material opulence is not the direct mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nevertheless, it indicates the indirect mercy of the Lord, for even a person too attached to material prosperity can gradually be detached and raised to the spiritual platform. Then he can offer causeless, purified service to the Lord. When Śrī Caitanya said, āmā haite kichu nahe (“It is not My business to do anything”), He set the ideal example for a person in the renounced order. If a sannyāsī takes the side of a viṣayī, a person engaged in material activities, his character will be criticized. A person in the renounced order should not take interest in material activities, but if he does so out of affection for a particular person, that should be considered his special mercy.
I have simply described the chastisement of Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s indifference. But the deep meaning of this behavior is very difficult to understand.
caitanya-caritra ei parama gambhīra sei bujhe, tāṅra pade yāṅra mana ‘dhīra’
[chaitanya-charitra ei parama gambheera sei bujhe, taanra pade yaanra mana ‘dheera’]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
caitanya-caritra ei parama gambhīra sei bujhe, tāṅra pade yāṅra mana ‘dhīra’
The intentions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are so deep that one can understand them only if he has complete faith in service to the lotus feet of the Lord.
Whether or not one understands it, if one hears of this incident concerning the activities of Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s causeless mercy upon him, certainly he will be promoted to the platform of ecstatic love for the Lord, and for him all dangers will be nullified.
śrī-rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇadāsa
[shree-roopa-raghunaatha-pade yaara aasha chaitanya-charitaamrita kahe krishnadaasa]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇadāsa
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, ninth chapter, describing the deliverance of Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka and the manifestation of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s causeless mercy to His devotee.