Sri Caitanya Caritamrita

Madhya-lila
Chapter 17: The Lord Travels to Vrindavana

Text* 1: On His way to Vá¹›ndÄvana, Lord ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu passed through the forest of JhÄrikhaṇá¸a and made all the tigers, elephants, deer and birds chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahÄ-mantra and dance. Thus all these animals were overwhelmed by ecstatic love.
Text* 2: All glories to ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu! All glories to Lord NityÄnanda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of the Lord!
Text* 3: When autumn arrived, ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu decided to go to Vá¹›ndÄvana. In a solitary place, He consulted with RÄmÄnanda RÄya and SvarÅ«pa DÄmodara GosvÄmÄ«.
Text* 4: The Lord requested RÄmÄnanda RÄya and SvarÅ«pa DÄmodara GosvÄmÄ« to help Him go to Vá¹›ndÄvana.
Text* 5: ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu said, “I shall leave early in the morning and go incognito, taking the road through the forest. I shall go alone — I shall not take anyone with Me.
Text* 6: “If someone wants to follow Me, please stop him. I don’t want anyone to go with Me.
Text* 7: “Please give Me your permission with great pleasure and do not be unhappy. If you are happy, I shall be happy on My way to Vá¹›ndÄvana.â€
Text* 8: Upon hearing this, RÄmÄnanda RÄya and SvarÅ«pa DÄmodara GosvÄmÄ« replied, “Dear Lord, You are completely independent. Since You are not dependent on anyone, You will do whatever You desire.
Text* 9: “Dear Lord, kindly hear our one petition. You have already said that You will derive happiness from our happiness. This is Your own statement.
Text* 10: “If You will please accept just one request, we shall be very, very happy.
Text* 11: “Our Lord, please take one very nice brÄhmaṇa with You. He will collect alms for You, cook for You, give You prasÄdam and carry Your waterpot while traveling.
Text* 12: “When You go through the jungle, there will be no brÄhmaṇa available from whom You can accept lunch. Therefore please give permission for at least one pure brÄhmaṇa to accompany You.â€
Text* 13: ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu said, “I shall not take any of My associates with Me, because if I choose someone, all the others will be unhappy.
Text 14: “Such a person must be a new man, and he must have a peaceful mind. If I can obtain such a man, I shall agree to take him with Me.â€
Text 15: SvarÅ«pa DÄmodara then said, “Here is Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya, who has great love for You. He is an honest, learned scholar, and he is advanced in spiritual consciousness.
Text* 16: “In the beginning, he came with You from Bengal. It is his desire to visit and see all the holy places of pilgrimage.
Text* 17: “In addition, You may take another brÄhmaṇa who will act as a servant en route and make arrangements for Your food.
Text* 18: “If You can also take him with You, we will be very happy. If two people go with You through the jungle, there will certainly be no difficulty or inconvenience.
Text* 19: “The other brÄhmaṇa can carry Your cloth and waterpot, and Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya will collect alms and cook for You.â€
Text* 20: Thus ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu accepted the request of SvarÅ«pa DÄmodara Paṇá¸ita and agreed to take Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya with Him.
Text* 21: On the previous night, ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu had visited Lord JagannÄtha and taken His permission. Now, near the end of the night, the Lord got up and started immediately. He was not seen by others.
Text* 22: Because the Lord had departed, the devotees, unable to see Him early in the morning, began to search for Him with great anxiety.
Text* 23: While all the devotees were searching for the Lord, SvarÅ«pa DÄmodara restrained them. Then everyone fell silent, knowing the mind of ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu.
Text* 24: The Lord abandoned walking on the well-known public road and went instead along a bypass. He thus kept the city of Kaá¹­aka on His right as He entered the forest.
Text* 25: When the Lord passed through the solitary forest chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, the tigers and elephants, seeing Him, gave way.
Text* 26: When the Lord passed through the jungle in great ecstasy, packs of tigers, elephants, rhinoceros and boars came, and the Lord passed right through them.
Text* 27: Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya was very much afraid to see them, but by ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu’s influence, all the animals stood to one side.
Text* 28: One day a tiger was lying on the path, and ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu, walking along the path in ecstatic love, touched the tiger with His feet.
Text* 29: The Lord said, “Chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa!†The tiger immediately got up and began to dance and to chant “Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!â€
Text* 30: Another day, while ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu was bathing in a river, a herd of maddened elephants came there to drink water.
Text 31: While the Lord was bathing and murmuring the GÄyatrÄ« mantra, the elephants came before Him. The Lord immediately splashed some water on the elephants and asked them to chant the name of Kṛṣṇa.
Text* 32: The elephants whose bodies were touched by the water splashed by the Lord began to chant “Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!†and dance and sing in ecstasy.
Text* 33: Some of the elephants fell to the ground, and some screamed in ecstasy. Seeing this, Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya was completely astonished.
Text* 34: Sometimes ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu chanted very loudly while passing through the jungle. Hearing His sweet voice, all the does came near Him.
Text* 35: Hearing the Lord’s great vibration, all the does followed Him left and right. While reciting a verse with great curiosity, the Lord patted them.
Text 36: “ ‘Blessed are all these foolish deer because they have approached MahÄrÄja Nanda’s son, who is gorgeously dressed and is playing on His flute. Indeed, both the does and the bucks worship the Lord with looks of love and affection.’ â€
Text* 37: While ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu was passing through the jungle, five or seven tigers came. Joining the deer, the tigers began to follow the Lord.
Text* 38: Seeing the tigers and deer following Him, ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu immediately remembered the land of Vá¹›ndÄvana. He then began to recite a verse describing the transcendental quality of Vá¹›ndÄvana.
Text 39: “ ‘Vá¹›ndÄvana is the transcendental abode of the Lord. There is no hunger, anger or thirst there. Though naturally inimical, human beings and fierce animals live together there in transcendental friendship.’ â€
Text* 40: When ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu said “Chant ‘Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!’ †the tigers and deer began to chant “Kṛṣṇa!†and dance.
Text* 41: When all the tigers and does danced and jumped, Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya saw them and was struck with wonder.
Text* 42: Indeed, the tigers and deer began to embrace one another, and touching mouths, they began to kiss.
Text* 43: When ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu saw all this fun, He began to smile. Finally He left the animals and continued on His way.
Text* 44: Various birds, including the peacock, saw ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu and began to follow Him, chanting and dancing. They were all maddened by the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.
Text 45: When the Lord loudly chanted “Haribol!†the trees and creepers became jubilant to hear Him.
Text 46: Thus all living entities in the forest of JhÄrikhaṇá¸a — some moving and some standing still — became maddened by hearing the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa vibrated by ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu.
Text* 47: In all the villages through which the Lord passed and in all the places He rested on His journey, everyone was purified and awakened to ecstatic love of God.
Text 48-49: When someone heard the chanting of the holy name from the mouth of ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu, and someone else heard this chanting from that second person, and someone again heard this chanting from the third person, everyone in all countries became a Vaiṣṇava through such disciplic succession. Thus everyone chanted the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and Hari, and they danced, cried and smiled.
Text* 50: The Lord did not always manifest His ecstasy. Being afraid of a great assembly of people, the Lord kept His ecstasy concealed.
Text 51: Although ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu did not manifest His natural ecstatic love, everyone became a pure devotee simply by seeing and hearing Him.
Text* 52: In this way, ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu personally toured Bengal, East Bengal, Orissa and the southern countries, and He delivered all kinds of people by spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Text 53: When ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu came to JhÄrikhaṇá¸a on His way to MathurÄ, He found that the people there were almost uncivilized and were devoid of God consciousness.
Text 54: ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu gave even the Bheels an opportunity to chant the holy name and come to the platform of ecstatic love. Thus He delivered all of them. Who has the power to understand the transcendental pastimes of the Lord?
Text* 55: When ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu passed through the JhÄrikhaṇá¸a forest, He took it for granted that it was Vá¹›ndÄvana. When He passed over the hills, He took it for granted that they were Govardhana.
Text* 56: Similarly, whenever ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu saw a river, He immediately accepted it as the river YamunÄ. Thus while in the forest He was filled with great ecstatic love, and He danced and fell down crying.
Text* 57: Along the way, Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya collected all kinds of spinach, roots and fruit whenever possible.
Text* 58: Whenever ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu visited a village, a few brÄhmaṇas — five or seven — would come and extend invitations to the Lord.
Text* 59: Some people would bring grain and deliver it to Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya. Others would bring milk and yogurt, and still others would bring ghee and sugar.
Text 60: In some villages there were no brÄhmaṇas; nonetheless, devotees born in non-brÄhmaṇa families came and extended invitations to Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya.
Text* 61: Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya used to cook all kinds of vegetables gathered from the forest, and ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu was very pleased to accept these preparations.
Text* 62-63: Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya used to keep a stock of food grain that would last from two to four days. Where there were no people, he would cook the grain and prepare vegetables, spinach, roots and fruits collected from the forest.
Text* 64: The Lord was always very happy to eat these forest vegetables, and He was even happier when He had an opportunity to stay in a solitary place.
Text* 65: Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya was so affectionate to the Lord that he was rendering service just like a menial servant. His assistant brÄhmaṇa carried the waterpot and garments.
Text* 66: The Lord used to bathe three times a day in the warm water of the waterfalls. He also used to heat Himself morning and evening with a fire made with the limitless wood.
Text* 67: While traveling in this secluded forest and feeling very happy, ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu made the following statement.
Text* 68: “My dear Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya, I have traveled very far through the forest, and I have not even slightly received any trouble.
Text* 69: “Kṛṣṇa is very merciful, especially to Me. He has shown His mercy by bringing Me on this path through the forest. Thus He has given Me great pleasure.
Text* 70: “Before this, I decided to go to Vá¹›ndÄvana and on the way see My mother, the river Ganges and other devotees once again.
Text* 71: “I thought that once again I would see and meet all the devotees and take them with Me to Vá¹›ndÄvana.
Text* 72: “Thus I went to Bengal, and I was very happy to see My mother, the river Ganges and the devotees.
Text* 73: “However, when I started for Vá¹›ndÄvana, many thousands and millions of people gathered and began to go with Me.
Text* 74: “In this way I was going to Vá¹›ndÄvana with a big crowd, but through the mouth of SanÄtana, Kṛṣṇa taught Me a lesson. Thus by making some impediment, He has brought Me to Vá¹›ndÄvana on the path through the forest.
Text* 75: “Kṛṣṇa is an ocean of mercy. He is especially merciful to the poor and fallen. Without His mercy, there is no possibility of happiness.â€
Text* 76: ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu then embraced Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya and told him, “It is only by your kindness that I am now so happy.â€
Text* 77: Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya replied, “My dear Lord, You are Kṛṣṇa Himself, and therefore You are merciful. I am a fallen living entity, but You have bestowed a great favor upon me.
Text* 78: “Sir, I am most fallen, yet You have brought me with You. Showing great mercy, You have accepted food prepared by me.
Text* 79: “You have made me Your carrier Garuá¸a, although I am no better than a condemned crow. Thus You are the independent Personality of Godhead, the original Lord.
Text 80: “ ‘The Supreme Personality of Godhead has the form of sac-cid-Änanda-vigraha — transcendental bliss, knowledge and eternity. I offer my respectful obeisances unto Him, who turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains. Such is the mercy of the Lord.’ â€
Text* 81: In this way Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya offered his prayers to the Lord. By rendering service unto Him in ecstatic love, he pacified the Lord’s mind.
Text 82: Finally the Lord arrived with great happiness at the holy place called KÄśī. There He took His bath in the bathing ghat known as MaṇikarṇikÄ.
Text* 83: At that time, Tapana Miśra was taking his bath in the Ganges, and he was astonished to see the Lord there.
Text* 84: Tapana MiÅ›ra then began to think, “I have heard that ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu has accepted the renounced order.†Thinking this, Tapana MiÅ›ra became very jubilant within his heart.
Text* 85: He then clasped the lotus feet of ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu and began to cry. The Lord raised him up and embraced him.
Text 86: Tapana MiÅ›ra then took ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu to visit the temple of ViÅ›veÅ›vara. Coming from there, they saw the lotus feet of Lord Bindu MÄdhava.
Text* 87: With great pleasure Tapana MiÅ›ra brought ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu to his home and rendered service unto Him. Indeed, he began to dance, waving his cloth.
Text* 88: He washed the lotus feet of ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu, and afterwards he and his whole family drank the wash water. He also worshiped Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya and showed him respect.
Text 89: Tapana MiÅ›ra invited ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu to take lunch at his home, and he had Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya cook.
Text* 90: When ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu took His rest after lunch, the son of Tapana MiÅ›ra, named Raghu, used to massage His legs.
Text* 91: The remnants of food left by ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu were taken by the whole family of Tapana MiÅ›ra. When news spread that the Lord had come, CandraÅ›ekhara came to see Him.
Text* 92: CandraÅ›ekhara happened to be a friend of Tapana MiÅ›ra’s, and he was long known to ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu as His servant. He was a physician by caste, and by profession he was a clerk. At the time he was living in VÄrÄṇasÄ«.
Text* 93: When CandreÅ›ekhara came there, he fell down before the lotus feet of ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu and began to cry. The Lord, standing up, embraced him out of His causeless mercy.
Text* 94: Candraśekhara said, “My dear Lord, You have bestowed Your causeless mercy upon me because I am Your old servant. Indeed, You have come here personally to give me Your audience.
Text 95: “Due to my past deeds, I am residing at VÄrÄṇasÄ«, but here I do not hear anything but the words ‘mÄyÄ’ and ‘Brahman.’ â€
Text 96: CandraÅ›ekhara continued, “There is no talk at VÄrÄṇasÄ« other than discussions on the six philosophical theses. Nonetheless, Tapana MiÅ›ra has been very kind to me, for he speaks about topics relating to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Text* 97: “My dear Lord, we two think of Your lotus feet incessantly. Although You are the omniscient Supreme Personality of Godhead, You have granted us Your audience.
Text 98: “My Lord, I have heard that You are going to Vá¹›ndÄvana. Please stay here at VÄrÄṇasÄ« for some days and deliver us, for we are Your two servants.â€
Text* 99: Tapana MiÅ›ra then said, “My dear Lord, as long as You stay at VÄrÄṇasÄ«, please do not accept any invitation other than mine.â€
Text* 100: Even though He had not made such a plan, ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu remained for ten days at VÄrÄṇasÄ«, being obligated by the requests of His two servants.
Text* 101: At VÄrÄṇasÄ« there was a Maharashtriyan brÄhmaṇa who used to come daily to see ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu. This brÄhmaṇa was simply astonished to see the Lord’s personal beauty and ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.
Text* 102: When the brÄhmaṇas of VÄrÄṇasÄ« would invite ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu to lunch, the Lord would not accept their invitations. He would reply, “I have already been invited somewhere else.â€
Text 103: Every day ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu refused their invitations because He feared associating with MÄyÄvÄdÄ« sannyÄsÄ«s.
Text 104: There was a great MÄyÄvÄdÄ« sannyÄsÄ« named PrakÄÅ›Änanda SarasvatÄ«, who used to teach VedÄnta philosophy to a great assembly of followers.
Text* 105: A brÄhmaṇa who saw the wonderful behavior of ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu came to PrakÄÅ›Änanda SarasvatÄ« and described the Lord’s characteristics.
Text* 106: The brÄhmaṇa told PrakÄÅ›Änanda SarasvatÄ«, “There is a sannyÄsÄ« who has come from JagannÄtha PurÄ«, and I cannot describe His wonderful influence and glories.
Text* 107: “Everything is wonderful about that sannyÄsÄ«. He has a very well built and luxuriant body, and His complexion is like purified gold.
Text* 108: “He has arms that extend to His knees, and His eyes are like the petals of a lotus. In His person are all the transcendental symptoms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Text* 109: “When one sees all these features, one takes Him to be NÄrÄyaṇa Himself. Whoever sees Him immediately begins to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.
Text* 110: “We have heard about the symptoms of a first-class devotee in ÅšrÄ«mad-BhÄgavatam, and all those symptoms are manifest in the body of ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu.
Text* 111: “His tongue is always chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, and from His eyes tears incessantly fall like the flowing Ganges.
Text* 112: “Sometimes He dances, laughs, sings and cries, and sometimes He roars like a lion.
Text* 113: “His name, Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, is all-auspicious for the world. Everything about Him — His name, form and qualities — is unparalleled.
Text* 114: “Simply by seeing Him, one understands that He possesses all the characteristics of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such characteristics are certainly uncommon. Who will believe it?â€
Text* 115: PrakÄÅ›Änanda SarasvatÄ« laughed very much to hear this description. Joking and laughing at the brÄhmaṇa, he began to speak as follows.
Text 116: PrakÄÅ›Änanda SarasvatÄ« said, “Yes, I have heard about Him. He is a sannyÄsÄ« from Bengal, and He is very sentimental. I have also heard that He belongs to the BhÄratÄ«-sampradÄya, for He is a disciple of KeÅ›ava BhÄratÄ«. However, He is only a pretender.â€
Text* 117: PrakÄÅ›Änanda SarasvatÄ« continued, “I know that His name is Caitanya and that He is accompanied by many sentimentalists. His followers dance with Him, and He tours from country to country and village to village.
Text* 118: “Whoever sees Him accepts Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Since He has some mystic power by which He hypnotizes people, everyone who sees Him becomes illusioned.
Text* 119: “SÄrvabhauma Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya was a very learned scholar, but I have heard that he also has become a madman due to his association with this Caitanya.
Text* 120: “This Caitanya is a sannyÄsÄ« in name only. Actually He is a first-class magician. In any case, His sentimentalism cannot be very much in demand here in KÄśī.
Text 121: “Do not go to see Caitanya. Just continue hearing VedÄnta. If you associate with upstarts, you will be lost in this world and in the next.â€
Text* 122: When the brÄhmaṇa heard PrakÄÅ›Änanda SarasvatÄ« speak like this about ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu, he became very much grief-stricken. Chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, he immediately left.
Text* 123: The mind of the brÄhmaṇa was already purified by his seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu. He therefore went to ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu and described what had taken place before the MÄyÄvÄdÄ« sannyÄsÄ« PrakÄÅ›Änanda.
Text* 124: Hearing this, ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu mildly smiled. The brÄhmaṇa then spoke again to the Lord.
Text* 125: The brÄhmaṇa said, “As soon as I uttered Your name before him, he immediately confirmed the fact that he knew Your name.
Text* 126: “While finding fault with You, he uttered Your name three times, saying ‘Caitanya, Caitanya, Caitanya.’
Text 127: “Although he spoke Your name three times, he did not utter the name ‘Kṛṣṇa.’ Because he uttered Your name in contempt, I was very much aggrieved.
Text* 128: “Why could PrakÄÅ›Änanda not utter the names ‘Kṛṣṇa’ and ‘Hari’? He chanted the name ‘Caitanya’ thrice. As far as I am concerned, simply by seeing You I am moved to chant the holy names ‘Kṛṣṇa’ and ‘Hari.’ â€
Text* 129: ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu replied, “The MÄyÄvÄdÄ« impersonalists are great offenders unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; therefore they simply utter the words ‘Brahman,’ ‘ÄtmÄ’ and ‘caitanya.’
Text* 130: “Because they are offenders unto Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is identical with His holy name, the holy name ‘Kṛṣṇa’ does not manifest in their mouths.
Text* 131: “The Lord’s holy name, His form and His personality are all one and the same. There is no difference between them. Since all of them are absolute, they are all transcendentally blissful.
Text 132: “There is no difference between Kṛṣṇa’s body and Himself or between His name and Himself. But as far as the conditioned soul is concerned, one’s name is different from one’s body, from one’s original form and so on.
Text 133: “ ‘The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Kṛṣṇa Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Kṛṣṇa’s name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Kṛṣṇa Himself. Since Kṛṣṇa’s name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with mÄyÄ. Kṛṣṇa’s name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa Himself are identical.’
Text 134: “The holy name of Kṛṣṇa, His body and His pastimes cannot be understood by the blunt material senses. They are manifested independently.
Text* 135: “Kṛṣṇa’s holy name, transcendental qualities and transcendental pastimes are all equal to Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. They are all spiritual and full of bliss.
Text 136: “ ‘Therefore material senses cannot appreciate Kṛṣṇa’s holy name, form, qualities and pastimes. When a conditioned soul is awakened to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and renders service by using his tongue to chant the Lord’s holy name and taste the remnants of the Lord’s food, the tongue is purified, and one gradually comes to understand who Kṛṣṇa really is.’
Text 137: “The mellows of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, which are full of bliss, attract the jñÄnÄ« from the pleasure of Brahman realization and conquer him.
Text 138: “ ‘Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the son of VyÄsadeva, Åšukadeva GosvÄmÄ«. It is he who defeats all inauspicious things within this universe. Although in the beginning he was absorbed in the happiness of Brahman realization and was living in a secluded place, giving up all other types of consciousness, he became attracted by the most melodious pastimes of Lord ÅšrÄ« Kṛṣṇa. He therefore mercifully spoke the supreme PurÄṇa, known as ÅšrÄ«mad-BhÄgavatam, which is the bright light of the Absolute Truth and which describes the activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa.’
Text* 139: “The transcendental qualities of Śrī Kṛṣṇa are completely blissful and relishable. Consequently Lord Kṛṣṇa’s qualities attract even the minds of self-realized persons from the bliss of self-realization.
Text* 140: “ ‘Those who are self-satisfied and unattracted by external material desires are also attracted to the loving service of ÅšrÄ« Kṛṣṇa, whose qualities are transcendental and whose activities are wonderful. Hari, the Personality of Godhead, is called Kṛṣṇa because He has such transcendentally attractive features.’
Text* 141: “Apart from the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa, when tulasī leaves are offered at the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, even the aroma of the leaves attracts the minds of self-realized persons.
Text 142: “ ‘When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasÄ« leaves and saffron from the lotus feet of the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead entered through the nostrils into the hearts of those sages [the KumÄras], they experienced a change in both body and mind, even though they were attached to the impersonal Brahman understanding.’
Text 143: “Because the MÄyÄvÄdÄ«s are great offenders and atheistic philosophers, the holy name of Kṛṣṇa does not come from their mouths.
Text* 144: “I have come here to sell My emotional ecstatic sentiments in this city of KÄśī, but I cannot find any customers. If they are not sold, I must take them back home.
Text 145: “I have brought a heavy load to sell in this city. To take it back again is a very difficult job; therefore if I get but a fraction of the price, I shall sell it here in this city of KÄśī.â€
Text* 146: After saying this, ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu accepted that brÄhmaṇa as His devotee. The next morning, rising very early, the Lord started for MathurÄ.
Text* 147: When ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu started for MathurÄ, all three devotees started to go with Him. But the Lord forbade them to accompany Him, and from a distance He asked them to return home.
Text* 148: Feeling separation from the Lord, the three used to meet and glorify the holy qualities of the Lord. Thus they were absorbed in ecstatic love.
Text 149: ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu then went to PrayÄga, where He bathed at the confluence of the Ganges and the YamunÄ. He then visited the temple of Veṇī MÄdhava and chanted and danced there in ecstatic love.
Text* 150: As soon as ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu saw the river YamunÄ, He threw Himself into it. Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya hastily caught the Lord and very carefully raised Him up again.
Text* 151: The Lord stayed at PrayÄga for three days. He delivered the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and ecstatic love. Thus He delivered many people.
Text* 152: Wherever the Lord stopped to rest on the way to MathurÄ, He delivered the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa. Thus He made the people dance.
Text 153: When the Lord toured South India, He delivered many people, and when He traveled in the western sector, He similarly converted many people to Vaiṣṇavism.
Text* 154: While the Lord was going to MathurÄ, He came across the river YamunÄ several times, and as soon as He saw the river YamunÄ, He would immediately jump in, falling unconscious in the water in the ecstasy of love of Kṛṣṇa.
Text* 155: When He approached MathurÄ and saw the city, He immediately fell to the ground and offered obeisances with great ecstatic love.
Text 156: When ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu entered the city of MathurÄ, He took His bath at ViÅ›rÄma-ghÄá¹­a. He then visited the birthplace of Kṛṣṇa and saw the Deity named KeÅ›avajÄ«. He offered His respectful obeisances to this Deity.
Text* 157: When ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu chanted, danced and made loud vibrations, all the people were astonished to see His ecstatic love.
Text* 158: One brÄhmaṇa fell at the lotus feet of ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu and then began to dance with Him in ecstatic love.
Text* 159: The two of them danced in ecstatic love and embraced each other. Raising their arms, they said, “Chant the holy names of Hari and Kṛṣṇa!â€
Text* 160: All the people then began to chant, “Hari! Hari!†and there was a great uproar. The priest in Lord KeÅ›ava’s service offered ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu a garland.
Text* 161: When the people saw ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu’s dancing and chanting, they were struck with wonder, and they all said, “Such transcendental love is never an ordinary thing.â€
Text* 162: The people said, “Simply by seeing ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu, everyone is maddened with love of Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, everyone is laughing, crying, dancing, chanting and taking the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.
Text* 163: “Certainly ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu is in all respects the incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Now He has come to MathurÄ to deliver everyone.â€
Text* 164: After this, ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu took the brÄhmaṇa aside. Sitting in a solitary place, the Lord began to question him.
Text* 165: ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu said, “You are an elderly brÄhmaṇa, you are sincere, and you are advanced in spiritual life. Wherefrom have you gotten this transcendental opulence of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa?â€
Text* 166: The brÄhmaṇa replied, “His Holiness ÅšrÄ«la MÄdhavendra PurÄ« came to the city of MathurÄ while he was on tour.
Text* 167: “While at MathurÄ, ÅšrÄ«pÄda MÄdhavendra PurÄ« visited my house and accepted me as a disciple. He even took lunch at my home.
Text* 168: “After installing the Deity of GopÄla, ÅšrÄ«la MÄdhavendra PurÄ« rendered Him service. That very Deity is still being worshiped at Govardhana Hill.â€
Text* 169: As soon as Caitanya MahÄprabhu heard about MÄdhavendra Purī’s relationship with the brÄhmaṇa, He immediately offered obeisances at his feet. Becoming fearful, the brÄhmaṇa also immediately fell at the Lord’s feet.
Text* 170: ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu said, “You are on the platform of My spiritual master, and I am your disciple. Since you are My spiritual master, it is not befitting that you offer Me obeisances.â€
Text* 171: Upon hearing this, the brÄhmaṇa became afraid. He then said, “Why do You speak like this? You are a sannyÄsÄ«.
Text* 172: “Upon seeing Your ecstatic love, I can just imagine that You must have some relationship with MÄdhavendra PurÄ«. This is my understanding.
Text* 173: “This kind of ecstatic love can be experienced only when one has a relationship with MÄdhavendra PurÄ«. Without him, even a scent of such transcendental ecstatic love is impossible.â€
Text* 174: Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya then explained the relationship between MÄdhavendra PurÄ« and ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu. After hearing this, the brÄhmaṇa became very pleased and began to dance.
Text* 175: The brÄhmaṇa then took ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu to his home and, out of his own free will, began to serve the Lord in various ways.
Text* 176: He asked Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya to cook ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu’s lunch. At that time the Lord, smiling, spoke as follows.
Text* 177: ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu said, “MÄdhavendra PurÄ« has already taken lunch at your place. Therefore you may cook and give Me the food. That is My instruction.â€
Text 178: “Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.â€
Text 179: The brÄhmaṇa belonged to the Sanoá¸iyÄ brÄhmaṇa community, and a sannyÄsÄ« does not accept food from such a brÄhmaṇa.
Text* 180: Although the brÄhmaṇa belonged to the Sanoá¸iyÄ community, ÅšrÄ«la MÄdhavendra PurÄ« had seen that he behaved like a Vaiṣṇava and had therefore accepted him as his disciple. The food he had cooked had also been accepted by MÄdhavendra PurÄ«.
Text* 181: Therefore ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu willingly requested food from the brÄhmaṇa, and the brÄhmaṇa, feeling natural humility, began to speak as follows.
Text* 182: “It is a great fortune for me to offer You food. You are the Supreme Lord, and being in the transcendental position, You are not restricted in any way.
Text 183: “Foolish people will blaspheme You, but I shall not tolerate the words of such mischievous people.â€
Text 184: ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu replied, “The Vedas, PurÄṇas and great learned sages are not always in agreement with one another. Consequently there are different religious principles.
Text 185: “A devotee’s behavior establishes the true purpose of religious principles. The behavior of MÄdhavendra PurÄ« GosvÄmÄ« is the essence of such religious principles.â€
Text 186: ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu continued, “ ‘Dry arguments are inconclusive. A great personality whose opinion does not differ from others is not considered a great sage. Simply by studying the Vedas, which are variegated, one cannot come to the right path by which religious principles are understood. The solid truth of religious principles is hidden in the heart of an unadulterated, self-realized person. Consequently, as the Å›Ästras confirm, one should accept whatever progressive path the mahÄjanas advocate.’ â€
Text* 187: After this discussion, the brÄhmaṇa served lunch to ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu. Then all the people residing in MathurÄ came to see the Lord.
Text* 188: People came by the hundreds of thousands, and no one could count them. Therefore ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu came out of the house to give audience to the people.
Text* 189: When the people assembled, ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu raised His arms and said very loudly, “Haribol!†The people responded to the Lord and became ecstatic. As if mad, they began to dance and to vibrate the transcendental sound “Hari!â€
Text 190: ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu bathed in the twenty-four ghats along the banks of the YamunÄ, and the brÄhmaṇa showed Him all the places of pilgrimage.
Text* 191: ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu visited all the holy places on the banks of the YamunÄ, including Svayambhu, ViÅ›rÄma-ghÄá¹­a, DÄ«rgha Viṣṇu, BhÅ«teÅ›vara, MahÄvidyÄ and Gokarṇa.
Text* 192: When ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu wanted to see the various forests of Vá¹›ndÄvana, He took the brÄhmaṇa with Him.
Text 193: ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu visited the different forests, including Madhuvana, TÄlavana, Kumudavana and BahulÄvana. Wherever He went, He took His bath with great ecstatic love.
Text* 194: When ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu passed through Vá¹›ndÄvana, herds of grazing cows saw Him pass and, immediately surrounding Him, began to moo very loudly.
Text* 195: Seeing the herds approach Him, the Lord was stunned with ecstatic love. The cows then began to lick His body out of great affection.
Text* 196: Becoming pacified, ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu began to caress the cows, and the cows, being unable to give up His company, went with Him.
Text* 197: It was only with great difficulty that the cowherd men were able to keep the cows back. Then when the Lord chanted, all the deer heard His sweet voice and approached Him.
Text* 198: When the does and bucks came and saw the Lord’s face, they began to lick His body. Not being at all afraid of Him, they accompanied Him along the path.
Text* 199: Bumblebees and birds like the parrot and cuckoo all began to sing loudly on the fifth note, and the peacocks began to dance in front of the Lord.
Text* 200: Upon seeing ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu, the trees and creepers of Vá¹›ndÄvana became jubilant. Their twigs stood up, and they began to shed tears of ecstasy in the form of honey.
Text* 201: The tree branches and creepers, overloaded with fruits and flowers, fell down at the lotus feet of the Lord and greeted Him with various presentations as if they were friends.
Text* 202: Thus all the moving and nonmoving living entities of Vá¹›ndÄvana became very jubilant to see the Lord. It was as if friends were made happy by seeing another friend.
Text* 203: Seeing their affection, the Lord was moved by ecstatic love. He began to sport with them exactly as a friend sports with his friends. Thus He voluntarily came under the control of His friends.
Text* 204: ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu began to embrace each and every tree and creeper, and they began to offer their fruits and flowers as if in meditation.
Text* 205: The Lord’s body was restless, and tears, trembling and jubilation were manifest. He said very loudly, “Chant ‘Kṛṣṇa!’ Chant ‘Kṛṣṇa!’ â€
Text* 206: All moving and nonmoving creatures then began to vibrate the transcendental sound of Hare Kṛṣṇa, as if they were echoing the deep sound of Caitanya MahÄprabhu.
Text* 207: The Lord then clasped the necks of the deer and began to cry. There was jubilation manifest in the bodies of the deer, and tears were in their eyes.
Text* 208: When a male and female parrot appeared on the branches of a tree, the Lord saw them and wanted to hear them speak.
Text* 209: Both parrots flew onto the hand of the Lord and began to chant the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa, and the Lord listened to them.
Text 210: The male parrot sang, “The glorification of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is beneficial to everyone in the universe. His beauty is victorious over the gopÄ«s of Vá¹›ndÄvana, and it subdues their patience. His pastimes astound the goddess of fortune, and His bodily strength turns Govardhana Hill into a small toy like a ball. His spotless qualities are unlimited, and His behavior satisfies everyone. Lord Kṛṣṇa is attractive to everyone. Oh, may our Lord maintain the whole universe!â€
Text* 211: After hearing this description of Lord Kṛṣṇa from the male parrot, the female parrot began to recite a description of ÅšrÄ«matÄ« RÄdhÄrÄṇī.
Text 212: The female parrot said, “ŚrÄ«matÄ« RÄdhÄrÄṇī’s affection, Her exquisite beauty and good behavior, Her artistic dancing and chanting and Her poetic compositions are all so attractive that they attract the mind of Kṛṣṇa, who attracts the mind of everyone in the universe.â€
Text* 213: Thereafter the male parrot said, “Kṛṣṇa is the enchanter of the mind of Cupid.†He then began to recite another verse.
Text 214: The male parrot then said, “My dear Å›ÄrÄ« [female parrot], ÅšrÄ« Kṛṣṇa carries a flute and enchants the hearts of all women throughout the universe. He is specifically the enjoyer of the beautiful gopÄ«s, and He is the enchanter of Cupid also. Let Him be glorified!â€
Text* 215: Then the female parrot began to speak jokingly to the male parrot, and ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu was struck with wonderful ecstatic love to hear her speak.
Text 216: The female parrot said, “When Lord ÅšrÄ« Kṛṣṇa is with RÄdhÄrÄṇī, He is the enchanter of Cupid; otherwise, when He is alone, He Himself is enchanted by erotic feelings even though He enchants the whole universe.â€
Text* 217: Both parrots then flew onto a tree branch, and ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu began to watch the dancing of the peacocks with curiosity.
Text* 218: When the Lord saw the bluish necks of the peacocks, His remembrance of Kṛṣṇa immediately awakened, and He fell to the ground in ecstatic love.
Text* 219: When the brÄhmaṇa saw that ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu was unconscious, he and Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya took care of Him.
Text* 220: They hastily sprinkled water over the Lord’s body. Then they took up His outer cloth and began to fan Him with it.
Text* 221: They then began to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa into the Lord’s ear. When the Lord regained consciousness, He began rolling on the ground.
Text* 222: When the Lord rolled on the ground, sharp thorns injured His body. Taking Him on his lap, Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya pacified Him.
Text* 223: The mind of ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu wandered in ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa. He immediately stood up and said, “Chant! Chant!†Then He Himself began to dance.
Text* 224: Being thus ordered by the Lord, both Balabhadra Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya and the brÄhmaṇa began to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Then the Lord, dancing and dancing, proceeded along the path.
Text* 225: The brÄhmaṇa was astounded to see the symptoms of ecstatic love exhibited by ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu. He then became anxious to give the Lord protection.
Text* 226: ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu’s mind was absorbed in ecstatic love at JagannÄtha PurÄ«, but when He passed along the road on the way to Vá¹›ndÄvana, that love increased a hundred times.
Text* 227: The Lord’s ecstatic love increased a thousand times when He visited MathurÄ, but it increased a hundred thousand times when He wandered in the forests of Vá¹›ndÄvana.
Text* 228-229: When ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu was elsewhere, the very name of Vá¹›ndÄvana was sufficient to increase His ecstatic love. Now, when He was actually traveling in the Vá¹›ndÄvana forest, His mind was absorbed in great ecstatic love day and night. He ate and bathed simply out of habit.
Text* 230: Thus I have written a description of the ecstatic love Lord Caitanya manifested in one of the places He visited while walking through the twelve forests of Vá¹›ndÄvana. To describe what He experienced everywhere would be impossible.
Text* 231: Lord Ananta writes millions of books elaborately describing the transformations of ecstatic love experienced by ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu in Vá¹›ndÄvana.
Text* 232: Since Lord Ananta Himself cannot describe even a fragment of these pastimes, I am simply pointing out the direction.
Text* 233: The whole world became merged in the inundation of the pastimes of ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu. One can swim in that water to the extent that he has the strength.
Text 234: Praying at the lotus feet of ÅšrÄ« RÅ«pa and ÅšrÄ« RaghunÄtha, always desiring their mercy, I, KṛṣṇadÄsa, narrate ÅšrÄ« Caitanya-caritÄmá¹›ta, following in their footsteps.
Text 0: Chapter Summary