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Chapter Summary

Purport
ÅšrÄ«la Bhaktivinoda ṬhÄkura gives the following summary of the fifth chapter in his Amá¹›ta-pravÄha-bhÄá¹£ya. After passing through YÄjapura, ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu reached the town of Kaá¹­aka (Cuttack) and there went to see the temple of SÄká¹£i-gopÄla. While there, He heard the story of SÄká¹£i-gopÄla from the mouth of ÅšrÄ« NityÄnanda Prabhu.Once there were two brÄhmaṇas, one elderly and the other young, who were inhabitants of a place known as VidyÄnagara. After touring many places of pilgrimage, the two brÄhmaṇas finally reached Vá¹›ndÄvana. The elderly brÄhmaṇa was very satisfied with the service of the young brÄhmaṇa, and he wanted to offer him his youngest daughter in marriage. The young brÄhmaṇa received the promise of his elder before the GopÄla Deity of Vá¹›ndÄvana. Thus the GopÄla Deity acted as a witness. When the two brÄhmaṇas returned to VidyÄnagara, the younger brÄhmaṇa raised the question of this marriage, but the elderly brÄhmaṇa, due to obligations to his friends and wife, answered that he could not remember his promise. Because of this, the younger brÄhmaṇa returned to Vá¹›ndÄvana and narrated the whole story to GopÄlajÄ«. Thus GopÄlajÄ«, being obliged by the young man’s devotional service, accompanied him to southern India. GopÄlajÄ« followed the younger brÄhmaṇa, who could hear the tinkling sound of GopÄlajī’s ankle bells. When all the respectable gentlemen of VidyÄnagara were assembled, GopÄlajÄ« testified to the promise of the elderly brÄhmaṇa. Thus the marriage was performed. Later, the king of that country constructed a fine temple for GopÄla.Afterwards, King Puruá¹£ottama-deva of Orissa was insulted by the King of VidyÄnagara, who refused to give him his daughter in marriage and called him a sweeper of Lord JagannÄtha. With the help of Lord JagannÄtha, King Puruá¹£ottama-deva fought the King of VidyÄnagara and defeated him. Thus he took charge of both the King’s daughter and his kingdom as well. At that time, GopÄlajÄ«, being very much obligated by the devotional service of King Puruá¹£ottama-deva, was brought to the town of Kaá¹­aka.After hearing this narration, ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu visited the temple of GopÄla in great ecstasy of love of God. From Kaá¹­aka He went to BhuvaneÅ›vara and saw the temple of Lord Åšiva. In this way, He gradually arrived at Kamalapura, and on the banks of the BhÄrgÄ« River He came to the temple of Lord Åšiva, where He entrusted His sannyÄsa staff to NityÄnanda Prabhu. However, NityÄnanda Prabhu broke the staff into three pieces and threw it into the BhÄrgÄ« River at a place known as ĀṭhÄranÄlÄ. Being angry at not getting His staff back, ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu left the company of NityÄnanda Prabhu and went alone to see the JagannÄtha temple.