1|Madhya 5-1975: The Activities of Saksi-gopala
2|Chapter 5
3|The Activities of Saksi-gopala
4|Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gives the following summary of
>|the Fifth Chapter in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya: After
>|passing through Yajapura, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu reached
>|the town of Kataka (Cuttak) and there went to see the
>|temple of Saksi-gopala. While there, He heard the story of
>|Saksi-gopala from the mouth of Sri Nityananda Prabhu.
5|Once there were two brahmanas, one elderly and the other
>|young, who were inhabitants of a place known as Vidyanagara.
>| After touring many places of pilgrimage, the two brahmanas
>|finally reached Vrndavana. The elderly brahmana was very
>|satisfied with the service of the young brahmana, and he
>|wanted to offer him his youngest daughter in marriage. The
>|young brahmana received the promise of his elder before the
>|Gopala Deity of Vrndavana. Thus the Gopala Deity acted as a
>|witness. When both brahmanas returned to Vidyanagara,
>|the younger brahmana raised the question of this marriage,
>|but the elderly brahmana, due to obligations to his friends
>|and wife, answered that he could not remember his promise.
>|Because of this, the younger brahmana returned to Vrndavana
>|and narrated the whole story to Gopalaji. Thus Gopalaji,
>|being obliged by the young man's devotional service,
>|accompanied him to southern India. Gopalaji followed the
>|younger brahmana, who could hear the tinkling sound of
>|Gopalaji's ankle bells. When all the respectable gentlemen
>|of Vidyanagara were assembled, Gopalaji testified to the
>|promise of the elderly brahmana. Thus the marriage was
>|performed. Later, the king of that country constructed a
>|fine temple for Gopala.
6|Afterwards, King Purusottama of Orissa was insulted by
>|the King of Kataka, who refused to give him his daughter in
>|marriage and called him a sweeper of Lord Jagannatha. With
>|the help of Lord Jagannatha, King Purusottama fought
>|the King of Kataka and defeated him. Thus he took charge of
>|both the King's daughter and the state of Kataka as well.
>|At that time, Gopalaji, being very much obligated by the
>|devotional service of King Purusottama , was brought
>|to the town of Kataka.
7|After hearing this narration, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
>|visited the temple of Gopala in great ecstasy of love of
>|God. From Kataka He went to Bhuvanesvara and saw the temple
>|of Lord Siva. In this way, He gradually arrived at
>|Kamalapura, and on the banks of the Bhargi River He came to
>|the temple of Lord Siva, where He entrusted His sannyasa
>|staff to Nityananda Prabhu. However, Nityananda Prabhu
>|broke the staff into three pieces and threw it into the
>|Bhargi River at a place known as Atharanala. Being angry at
>|not getting His staff back, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left
>|the company of Nityananda Prabhu and went alone to see the
>|Jagannatha temple.
8|Madhya 5.1
9|TEXT 1
10|TEXT
11|padbhyam calan yah pratima-svarupo
12|brahmanya-devo hi sataha-gamyam
13|desam yayau vipra-krte 'dbhuteham
14|tam saksi-gopalam aham nato 'smi
15|SYNONYMS
16|padbhyam-by the two legs; calan-walking; yah-one who;
>|pratima-of the Deity; svarupah-in the form; brahmanya-devah-
>|the Supreme Lord of brahminical culture; hi-certainly; sata-
>|aha-in one hundred days; gamyam-to be passed over; desam-
>|the country; yayau-went; vipra-krte-for the benefit of a
>|brahmana; adbhuta-most wonderful; iham-activity; tam-unto
>|that; saksi-gopalam-the Gopala known as the witness Gopala;
>|aham-I; natah asmi-offer respectful obeisances.
17|TRANSLATION
18|I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme
>|Personality of God [brahmanya-deva], who appeared as Saksi-
>|gopala to benefit a brahmana. For one hundred days He
>|traveled through the country, walking on His own legs. Thus
>|His activities are wonderful.
19|Madhya 5.2
20|TEXT 2
21|TEXT
22|jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda
23|jayadvaitacandra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda
24|SYNONYMS
25|jaya-all glories; jaya-all glories; sri-caitanya-to Lord
>|Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jaya-all glories; nityananda-to
>|Lord Sri Nityananda Prabhu; jaya-all glories; advaita-
>|candra-to Advaita Acarya; jaya-all glories; gaura-bhakta-
>|vrnda-to the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
26|TRANSLATION
27|All glories to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to
>|Lord Nityananda Prabhu! All glories to Sri Advaita Prabhu!
>|And all glories to the devotees of Sri Caitanya
>|Mahaprabhu!
28|Madhya 5.3
29|TEXT 3
30|TEXT
31|calite calite aila yajapura-grama
32|varaha-thakura dekhi' karila pranama
33|SYNONYMS
34|calite calite-walking on and on; aila-reached; yajapura-
>|grama-the village of Yajapura-grama; varaha-thakura-the
>|temple of Varahadeva; dekhi'-seeing; karila-offered;
>|pranama-obeisances.
35|TRANSLATION
36|Walking and walking, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His party
>|finally arrived at Yajapura on the river Vaitarani. There
>|He saw the temple of Varahadeva and offered His obeisances
>|unto Him.
37|Madhya 5.4
38|TEXT 4
39|TEXT
40|nrtya-gita kaila preme bahuta stavana
41|yajapure se ratri karila yapana
42|SYNONYMS
43|nrtya-gita-dancing and chanting; kaila-executed; preme-in
>|love of Godhead; bahuta-various; stavana-prayers; yajapure-
>|in the village of Yajapura; se ratri-that night; karila-did;
>| yapana-passing.
44|TRANSLATION
45|In the temple of Varahadeva, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
>|engaged in chanting and dancing and offered prayers. He
>|passed that night in the temple.
46|Madhya 5.5
47|TEXT 5
48|TEXT
49|katake aila saksi-gopala dekhite
50|gopala-saundarya dekhi' haila anandite
51|SYNONYMS
52|katake-in the town of Kataka (Cuttak); aila-arrived; saksi-
>|gopala-the witness Gopala; dekhite-to see; gopala-of the
>|Deity of Gopala; saundarya-the beauty; dekhi'-seeing; haila-
>|became; anandite-very pleased.
53|TRANSLATION
54|Afterwards, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to the town of
>|Kataka to see the temple of the witness Gopala. When He saw
>|the Deity of Gopala, He was very much pleased with His
>|beauty.
55|Madhya 5.6
56|TEXT 6
57|TEXT
58|premavese nrtya-gita kaila kata-ksana
59|avista hana kaila gopala stavana
60|SYNONYMS
61|prema-avese-in the ecstasy of love of God; nrtya-gita-
>|dancing and chanting; kaila-performed; kata-ksana-for some
>|time; avista hana-being overwhelmed; kaila-offered; gopala
>|stavana-prayers to Gopala.
62|TRANSLATION
63|While there, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu engaged in chanting
>|and dancing for some time, and being overwhelmed, He
>|offered many prayers to Gopala.
64|Madhya 5.7
65|TEXT 7
66|TEXT
67|sei ratri tahan rahi' bhakta-gana-sange
68|gopalera purva-katha sune bahu range
69|SYNONYMS
70|sei ratri-that night; tahan-there; rahi'-remaining; bhakta-
>|gana-sange-with the other devotees; gopalera-of Lord Gopala;
>| purva-katha-previous narration; sune-hears; bahu-much;
>|range-in pleasure.
71|TRANSLATION
72|That night Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed in the temple of
>|Gopala, and along with all the devotees, He heard the
>|narration of the witness Gopala with great pleasure.
73|Madhya 5.8
74|TEXT 8
75|TEXT
76|nityananda-gosani yabe tirtha bhramila
77|saksi-gopala dekhibare kataka aila
78|SYNONYMS
79|nityananda-gosani-Lord Nityananda Prabhu; yabe-when; tirtha
>|bhramila-traveled to the places of pilgrimage; saksi-gopala-
>|the witness Gopala; dekhibare-to see; kataka-to the town of
>|Kataka; aila-came.
80|TRANSLATION
81|Previously, when Nityananda Prabhu had toured all over
>|India to see different places of pilgrimage, He also had
>|come to see Saksi-gopala at Kataka.
82|Madhya 5.9
83|TEXT 9
84|TEXT
85|saksi-gopalera katha suni, loka-mukhe
86|sei katha kahena, prabhu sune maha-sukhe
87|SYNONYMS
88|saksi-gopalera-of the witness Gopala; katha-the narration;
>|suni-hearing; loka-mukhe-from the people; sei katha-that
>|narration; kahena-Nityananda Prabhu narrates; prabhu-Lord
>|Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sune-hears; maha-sukhe-in great
>|pleasure.
89|TRANSLATION
90|At that time, Nityananda Prabhu had heard the story of
>|Saksi-gopala from the townspeople. He now recited this
>|again, and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard the narration
>|with great pleasure.
91|PURPORT
92|The Saksi-gopala temple is situated between the Khurda Road
>|junction railway station and the Jagannatha Puri station.
>|The Deity is not presently situated in Kataka, but when
>|Nityananda Prabhu traveled there, the Deity was present.
>|Kataka is a town in Orissa situated on the Mahanadi River.
>|When Saksi-gopala was brought from Vidyanagara in southern
>|India, He stayed for some time at Kataka. Thereafter, He
>|was situated for some time in the Jagannatha temple. It
>|seems that in the temple of Jagannatha there was some
>|disagreement between Jagannatha and Saksi-gopala, a
>|disagreement called prema-kalaha, a quarrel of love. In
>|order to settle this love quarrel, the King of Orissa
>|constructed a village about six miles from Jagannatha
>|Puri. The village was called Satyavadi, and Gopala was
>|stationed there. Thereafter, a new temple was constructed.
>|Now there is a Saksi-gopala station, and people go there
>| to see the witness Gopala.
93|Madhya 5.10
94|TEXT 10
95|TEXT
96|purve vidyanagarera dui ta' brahmana
97|tirtha karibare dunhe karila gamana
98|SYNONYMS
99|purve-previously; vidyanagarera-of the town known as
>|Vidyanagara; dui-two; ta'-certainly; brahmana-brahmanas;
>|tirtha karibare-to tour places of pilgrimage; dunhe-both of
>|them; karila-began; gamana-journey.
100|TRANSLATION
101|Formerly at Vidyanagara in South India there were two
>|brahmanas who made a long tour to see different places of
>|pilgrimage.
102|Madhya 5.11
103|TEXT 11
104|TEXT
105|gaya, varanasi, prayaga-sakala kariya
106|mathurate aila dunhe anandita hana
107|SYNONYMS
108|gaya-the pilgrimage site of the name Gaya; varanasi-Benares,
>| or Kasi; prayaga-Allahabad; sakala-all; kariya-touring;
>|mathurate-Mathura; aila-they reached; dunhe-both; anandita-
>|pleased; hana-becoming.
109|TRANSLATION
110|First of all they visited Gaya, then Kasi, then Prayaga.
>|Finally, with great pleasure, they came to Mathura.
111|Madhya 5.12
112|TEXT 12
113|TEXT
114|vana-yatraya vana dekhi' dekhe govardhana
115|dvadasa-vana dekhi' sese gela vrndavana
116|SYNONYMS
117|vana-yatraya-in touring the different forests; vana dekhi'-
>|while seeing the forests; dekhe-they see; govardhana-
>|Govardhana Hill; dvadasa-vana dekhi'-visiting the twelve
>|forests in Vrndavana; sese-at last; gela-reached; vrndavana-
>|Vrndavana.
118|TRANSLATION
119|After reaching Mathura, they started visiting the different
>|forests of Vrndavana and came to Govardhana Hill. They
>|visited all twelve forests [vanas] and at last came to the
>|town of Vrndavana.
120|PURPORT
121|The five forests situated on the eastern side of the river
>|Yamuna are Bhadra, Bilva, Loha, Bhandira and Mahavana. The
>|seven forests situated on the western side of the Yamuna
>|are Madhu, Tala, Kumuda, Bahula, Kamya, Khadira and
>|Vrndavana. After visiting all these forests, these pilgrims
>|went to a place known as Pancakrosi Vrndavana. Out of the
>|twelve forests, the Vrndavana forest extends from the town
>|of Vrndavana up to Nanda-grama and Varsana, a distance of
>|thirty-two miles, within which the Pancakrosi Vrndavana
>|town is situated.
122|Madhya 5.13
123|TEXT 13
124|TEXT
125|vrndavane govinda-sthane maha-devalaya
126|se mandire gopalera maha-seva haya
127|SYNONYMS
128|vrndavane-within Pancakrosi Vrndavana; govinda-sthane-at
>|the place where the present Govinda temple is situated;
>|maha-deva-alaya-a great temple; se mandire-in that temple;
>|gopalera-of the Deity of Gopala; maha-seva-gorgeous worship;
>| haya-there is.
129|TRANSLATION
130|In the village of Pancakrosi Vrndavana, at the site where
>|the Govinda temple is now situated, there was a great
>|temple where gorgeous worship of Gopala was performed.
131|Madhya 5.14
132|TEXT 14
133|TEXT
134|kesi-tirtha, kaliya-hradadike kaila snana
135|sri-gopala dekhi' tahan karila visrama
136|SYNONYMS
137|kesi-tirtha-the bathing place on the bank of the Yamuna
>|known as Kesi-ghata; kaliya-hrada-the bathing place on the
>|bank of the Yamuna known as Kaliya-ghata; adike-in such
>|different bathing places; kaila-did; snana-bathing; sri-
>|gopala dekhi'-by visiting the temple of Gopala; tahan-there;
>| karila-took; visrama-rest.
138|TRANSLATION
139|After taking baths at different bathing places along the
>|river Yamuna, such as Kesi-ghata and Kaliya-ghata, the
>|pilgrims visited the temple of Gopala. Afterwards, they
>|took rest in that temple.
140|Madhya 5.15
141|TEXT 15
142|TEXT
143|gopala-saundarya dunhara mana nila hari'
144|sukha pana rahe tahan dina dui-cari
145|SYNONYMS
146|gopala-saundarya-the beauty of the Gopala Deity; dunhara-of
>|both of them; mana-the minds; nila-took away; hari'-
>|carrying; sukha pana-feeling this transcendental happiness;
>|rahe-remained; tahan-in that temple; dina-days; dui-cari-
>|two or four.
147|TRANSLATION
148|The beauty of the Gopala Deity stole away their minds, and
>|feeling great happiness, they remained there for two or
>|four days.
149|Madhya 5.16
150|TEXT 16
151|TEXT
152|dui-vipra-madhye eka vipra-vrddha-praya
153|ara vipra-yuva, tanra karena sahaya
154|SYNONYMS
155|dui-vipra-madhye-between the two brahmanas; eka vipra-one
>|brahmana; vrddha-praya-elderly man; ara vipra-the second
>|brahmana; yuva-young man; tanra-of the older brahmana;
>|karena-does; sahaya-assistance.
156|TRANSLATION
157|One of the two brahmanas was an old man, and the other was
>|young. The young man was assisting the old one.
158|Madhya 5.17
159|TEXT 17
160|TEXT
161|chota-vipra kare sada tanhara sevana
162|tanhara sevaya viprera tusta haila mana
163|SYNONYMS
164|chota-vipra-the younger brahmana; kare-does; sada-always;
>|tanhara-his (the old brahmana's); sevana-service; tanhara-
>|his; sevaya-by the service; viprera-of the old brahmana;
>|tusta-pacified; haila-became; mana-the mind.
165|TRANSLATION
166|Indeed, the young brahmana always rendered service to the
>|older one, and the old man, being very satisfied with his
>|service, was pleased with him.
167|Madhya 5.18
168|TEXT 18
169|TEXT
170|vipra bale-tumi mora bahu seva kaila
171|sahaya hana more tirtha karaila
172|SYNONYMS
173|vipra bale-the elderly brahmana says; tumi-you; mora-my;
>|bahu-various; seva-service; kaila-have rendered; sahaya-
>|assistant; hana-being; more-to me; tirtha-pilgrimage;
>|karaila-helped to do.
174|TRANSLATION
175|The older man told the younger, "You have rendered various
>|types of service to me. You have assisted me in traveling
>|to all these places of pilgrimage.
176|Madhya 5.19
177|TEXT 19
178|TEXT
179|putreo pitara aiche na kare sevana
180|tomara prasade ami na pailama srama
181|SYNONYMS
182|putreo-even my own son; pitara-of the father; aiche-in this
>|way; na-not; kare-renders; sevana-service; tomara-your;
>|prasade-by the mercy; ami-I; na-not; pailama-have gotten;
>|srama-fatigue.
183|TRANSLATION
184|"Even my own son does not render such service. By your
>|mercy, I did not become fatigued while on this tour.
185|Madhya 5.20
186|TEXT 20
187|TEXT
188|krta-ghnata haya tomaya na kaile sammana
189|ataeva tomaya ami diba kanya-dana
190|SYNONYMS
191|krta-ghnata-ungratefulness; haya-it is; tomaya-to you; na-
>|not; kaile-if doing; sammana-respect; ataeva-therefore;
>|tomaya-to you; ami-I; diba-shall give; kanya-dana-my
>|daughter as charity.
192|TRANSLATION
193|"If I do not show you any respect, I will be ungrateful.
>|Therefore, I promise to give you my daughter in charity."
194|Madhya 5.21
195|TEXT 21
196|TEXT
197|chota-vipra kahe, "suna, vipra-mahasaya
198|asambhava kaha kene, yei nahi haya
199|SYNONYMS
200|chota-vipra-the younger brahmana; kahe-replies; suna-hear;
>|vipra-mahasaya-my dear brahmana; asambhava-unlikely; kaha-
>|you say; kene-why; yei-which; nahi-not; haya-happens.
201|TRANSLATION
202|The younger brahmana replied, "My dear sir, please hear me.
>|You are saying something very unusual. Such a thing never
>|happens.
203|Madhya 5.22
204|TEXT 22
205|TEXT
206|maha-kulina tumi-vidya-dhanadi-pravina
207|ami akulina, ara dhana-vidya-hina
208|SYNONYMS
209|maha-kulina-highly aristocratic; tumi-you; vidya-education;
>|dhana-adi-riches; pravina-enriched; ami-I; akulina-not
>|aristocratic; ara-and; dhana-vidya-hina-without any wealth
>|and education.
210|TRANSLATION
211|"You are a most aristocratic family man, well educated and
>|very rich. I am not at all aristocratic, and I am without a
>|decent education and have no wealth.
212|PURPORT
213|Due to pious activities, one can be enriched by four
>|opulences: one may obtain birth in an aristocratic family,
>|become highly educated, become very beautiful or get a
>|sufficient quantity of riches. These are symptoms of pious
>|activities performed in one's past life. In India it is
>|still current for an aristocratic family never to consider
>|a marriage with a common family. Though the caste may be
>|the same, to maintain the aristocracy such marriages are
>|rejected. No poor man will dare marry the daughter of a
>|rich man. Because of this, when the elderly brahmana
>|offered the young brahmana his daughter, the young brahmana
>|did not believe that it would be possible to marry her.
>|Therefore he asked the elderly brahmana why he was
>|proposing something unprecedented (asambhava). It was
>|unheard of for an aristocratic person to offer his daughter
>|to a person who was both uneducated and poor.
214|Madhya 5.23
215|TEXT 23
216|TEXT
217|kanya-dana-patra ami na ha-i tomara
218|krsna-pritye kari tomara seva-vyavahara
219|SYNONYMS
220|kanya-dana-patra-a bridegroom suitable for one's daughter;
>|ami-I; na-not; ha-i-am; tomara-of you; krsna-pritye-only
>|for satisfaction of Krsna; kari-I do; tomara-of you; seva-
>|of service; vyavahara-activities.
221|TRANSLATION
222|"Sir, I am not a suitable bridegroom for your daughter. I
>|render service to you only for the satisfaction of Krsna.
223|PURPORT
224|Both brahmanas were pure Vaisnavas. The younger man took
>|special care of the older one simply to please Krsna. In
>|Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.19.21) Krsna says, mad-bhakta-
>|pujabhyadhika: "It is better to render service to My
>|devotee." Thus, according to the Gaudiya-Vaisnava
>|philosophy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, it is better to be a
>|servant of the servant of God. One
>|should not try to serve Krsna directly. A pure Vaisnava
>|serves a servant of Krsna and identifies himself as a
>|servant of a servant of Krsna. This is pleasing to Lord
>|Krsna. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura confirms this
>|philosophy: chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba.
>|Unless one serves a liberated Vaisnava, he cannot attain
>|liberation by directly serving Krsna. He must serve the
>|servant of Krsna.
225|Madhya 5.24
226|TEXT 24
227|TEXT
228|brahmana-sevaya krsnera priti bada haya
229|tanhara santose bhakti-sampad badaya"
230|SYNONYMS
231|brahmana-sevaya-by rendering service to a brahmana; krsnera-
>|of Lord Krsna; priti-the satisfaction; bada-very great;
>|haya-is; tanhara santose-by pleasing the Lord; bhakti-of
>|devotional service; sampad-the opulence; badaya-increases.
232|TRANSLATION
233|"Lord Krsna is very pleased by service rendered to
>|brahmanas, and when the Lord is pleased, the opulence of
>|one's devotional service increases."
234|PURPORT
235|In this regard, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
>|comments that the younger brahmana rendered service to the
>|older one with the purpose of pleasing Krsna. It was not a
>|matter of ordinary worldly dealings. Krsna is pleased when
>|a Vaisnava is rendered service. Because the younger
>|brahmana served the older one, Lord Gopala agreed to become
>|a witness of the marriage negotiation in order to maintain
>|the prestige of both devotees. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
>|would certainly not have liked to hear about marital
>|dealings unless such dealings were exchanged between two
>|Vaisnavas. Marriage arrangements and ceremonies belong to
>|ordinary material karma-kanda sections of the scriptures.
>|The Vaisnavas, however, are not interested in any kind of
>|karma-kanda dealings. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says:
>|karma-kanda jnana-kanda kevala visera bhanda. For a
>|Vaisnava, the karma-kanda and jnana-kanda sections of the
>|Vedas are unnecessary. Indeed, a real Vaisnava takes these
>|sections as a poison pot (visera bhanda). Sometimes we take
>|part in a marriage ceremony for our disciples, but this
>|does not mean that we are interested in karma-kanda
>|activities. Sometimes, not knowing the Vaisnava philosophy,
>|an outsider criticizes such activity, maintaining that a
>|sannyasi should not take part in a marriage ceremony
>|between a young boy and a young girl. However, this is not
>|a karma-kanda activity, because our purpose is to spread
>|the Krsna consciousness movement. We are giving all
>|facility to the general populace to take to Krsna
>|consciousness, and in order to fix the devotees in
>|concentration on the service of the Lord, marriage is
>|sometimes allowed. We have experienced that such married
>|couples actually render very important service to the
>|mission. Therefore, one should not misunderstand when a
>|sannyasi takes part in a marriage ceremony. Sri Caitanya
>|Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu took great pleasure in
>|hearing about the marriage ceremony between the young
>|brahmana and the daughter of the elderly brahmana.
236|Madhya 5.25
237|TEXT 25
238|TEXT
239|bada-vipra kahe,-"tumi na kara samsaya
240|tomake kanya diba ami, karila niscaya"
241|SYNONYMS
242|bada-vipra-the older brahmana; kahe-replies; tumi-you; na-
>|not; kara-do; samsaya-doubt; tomake-to you; kanya-the
>|daughter; diba-shall give; ami-I; karila-made; niscaya-
>|certainty.
243|TRANSLATION
244|The older brahmana replied, "My dear boy, do not doubt me.
>|I will give you my daughter in charity. I have already
>|decided this."
245|Madhya 5.26
246|TEXT 26
247|TEXT
248|chota-vipra bale,-"tomara stri-putra saba
249|bahu jnati-gosthi tomara bahuta bandhava
250|SYNONYMS
251|chota-vipra-the young brahmana; bale-says; tomara-your;
>|stri-putra-wife and sons; saba-all; bahu-many; jnati-of
>|family relations; gosthi-group; tomara-your; bahuta-many;
>|bandhava-friends.
252|TRANSLATION
253|The young brahmana said, "You have a wife and sons, and you
>|have a large circle of relatives and friends.
254|Madhya 5.27
255|TEXT 27
256|TEXT
257|ta'-sabara sammati vina nahe kanya-dana
258|rukminira pita bhismaka tahate pramana
259|SYNONYMS
260|ta'-sabara-of all of them; sammati-consent; vina-without;
>|nahe-not; kanya-dana-giving the daughter in charity;
>|rukminira-of Queen Rukmini; pita-father; bhismaka-of the
>|name Bhismaka; tahate-of that; pramana-evidence.
261|TRANSLATION
262|"Without the consent of all your friends and relatives, it
>|is not possible to give me your daughter in charity. Just
>|consider the story of Queen Rukmini and her father,
>|Bhismaka.
263|Madhya 5.28
264|TEXT 28
265|TEXT
266|bhismakera iccha,-krsne kanya samarpite
267|putrera virodhe kanya narila arpite"
268|SYNONYMS
269|bhismakera-of King Bhismaka; iccha-the desire; krsne-unto
>|Krsna; kanya-daughter; samarpite-to give; putrera-of his
>|son; virodhe-by the objection; kanya-daughter; narila-was
>|unable; arpite-to offer.
270|TRANSLATION
271|"King Bhismaka wanted to give his daughter, Rukmini, in
>|charity to Krsna, but Rukmi, his eldest son, objected.
>|Therefore he could not carry out his decision."
272|PURPORT
273|As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.52.25):
274|bandhunam icchatam datum
275|krsnaya bhaginim nrpa
276|tato nivarya
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>| Krsna -
>|dvid
277|rukmi caidyam amanyata
278|King Bhismaka of Vidarbha wanted to offer Krsna his
>|daughter, Rukmini, but Rukmi, the eldest of his five sons,
>|objected. Therefore he withdrew his decision and decided to
>|offer Rukmini to the King of Cedi, Sisupala, who was a
>|cousin of Krsna's. However, Rukmini conceived of a trick:
>|she sent a letter to Krsna asking Him to kidnap her. Thus
>|in order to please Rukmini, who was His great devotee,
>|Krsna kidnapped her. There ensued a great fight between
>|Krsna and the opposing party, headed by Rukmini's brother
>|Rukmi. Rukmi was defeated and, because of his harsh words
>|against Krsna, was about to be killed, but he was saved at
>|the request of Rukmini. However, Krsna shaved off all of
>|Rukmi's hair with His sword. Sri Balarama did not like this,
>| and so to please Rukmini, Balarama rebuked Krsna.
279|Madhya 5.29
280|TEXT 29
281|TEXT
282|bada-vipra kahe,-"kanya mora nija-dhana
283|nija-dhana dite nisedhibe kon jana
284|SYNONYMS
285|bada-vipra kahe-the elderly brahmana says; kanya-the
>|daughter; mora-my; nija-dhana-own property; nija-dhana-one'
>|s own property; dite-to give; nisedhibe-will object; kon-
>|what; jana-person.
286|TRANSLATION
287|The elderly brahmana said, "My daughter is my own property.
>|If I choose to give my property to someone, who has the
>|power to stop me?
288|Madhya 5.30
289|TEXT 30
290|TEXT
291|tomake kanya diba, sabake kari' tiraskara
292|samsaya na kara tumi, karaha svikara"
293|SYNONYMS
294|tomake-to you; kanya-the daughter; diba-I shall offer;
>|sabake-all others; kari'-doing; tiraskara-neglecting;
>|samsaya-doubt; na-not; kara-do; tumi-you; karaha-just do;
>|svikara-acceptance.
295|TRANSLATION
296|"My dear boy, I will give my daughter to you in charity,
>|and I will neglect the position of all others. Don't doubt
>|me in this regard; just accept my proposal."
297|Madhya 5.31
298|TEXT 31
299|TEXT
300|chota-vipra kahe,-"yadi kanya dite mana
301|gopalera age kaha e satya-vacana"
302|SYNONYMS
303|chota-vipra kahe-the younger brahmana replies; yadi-if;
>|kanya-daughter; dite-to give in charity; mana-the mind;
>|gopalera-of the Gopala Deity; age-in front; kaha-say; e-
>|these; satya-vacana-words in truth.
304|TRANSLATION
305|The younger brahmana replied, "If you have decided to give
>|your young daughter to me, then say so before the Gopala
>|Deity."
306|Madhya 5.32
307|TEXT 32
308|TEXT
309|gopalera age vipra kahite lagila
310|'tumi jana, nija-kanya ihare ami dila'
311|SYNONYMS
312|gopalera age-in front of the Gopala Deity; vipra-the
>|elderly brahmana; kahite-to speak; lagila-began; tumi jana-
>|my Lord, please know; nila-kanya-my own daughter; ihare-to
>|this boy; ami-I; dila-have given in charity.
313|TRANSLATION
314|Coming before Gopala, the elderly brahmana said, "My dear
>|Lord, please witness that I have given my daughter to this
>|boy."
315|PURPORT
316|In India it is still the custom for a daughter to be
>|offered to someone simply by word. This is called vag-datta.
>| This means that the father, brother or guardian of a girl
>|has given his word that she will be married to a certain
>|man. Consequently, that daughter cannot be married to
>|anyone else. She is reserved by virtue of the honest words
>|of the father or guardian. There are many instances in
>|which the parents of a female child have given someone a
>|verbal promise that their daughter will be married to his
>|son. Both parties agree to wait until the boy and girl are
>|grown up, and then the marriage takes place. Following this
>|custom, which is very old in India, the elderly brahmana
>|promised to give his daughter to the younger brahmana in
>|charity, and he promised this before the Gopala Deity. In
>|India the custom is to honor any promise made before the
>|Deity. Such a promise cannot be canceled. In Indian
>|villages, whenever there is a quarrel between two parties,
>|they go to a temple to settle the quarrel. Whatever is
>|spoken in front of the Deity is taken to be true, for no
>|one would dare lie before the Deity. This same principle
>|was followed in the Battle of Kuruksetra. Therefore in the
>|very beginning of the Bhagavad-gita it is stated: dharma-
>|ksetre kuru-ksetre.
317|By not becoming God conscious, human society is
>|deteriorating to the lowest standard of animal life. This
>|Krsna consciousness movement is very essential to reviving
>|God consciousness among the general populace. If people
>|actually become God conscious, all quarrels can be settled
>|outside of court, as happened in the case of the two
>|brahmanas whose disagreement was settled by the witness
>|Gopala.
318|Madhya 5.33
319|TEXT 33
320|TEXT
321|chota-vipra bale,-"thakura, tumi mora saksi
322|toma saksi bolaimu, yadi anyatha dekhi"
323|SYNONYMS
324|chota-vipra bale-the younger brahmana replied; thakura-my
>|dear Lord Gopala; tumi-You; mora-my; saksi-witness; toma-
>|unto You; saksi-witness; bolaimu-I shall call as; yadi-if;
>|anyatha-otherwise; dekhi-I see.
325|TRANSLATION
326|Then the younger brahmana addressed the Deity, saying, "My
>|dear Lord, You are my witness. I shall call for You to
>|testify if it is necessary later on."
327|Madhya 5.34
328|TEXT 34
329|TEXT
330|eta bali' dui-jane calila desere
331|guru-buddhye chota-vipra bahu seva kare
332|SYNONYMS
333|eta bali'-speaking this; dui-jane-both the brahmanas;
>|calila-went; desere-toward their own country; guru-buddhye-
>|accepting the elderly brahmana as guru; chota-vipra-the
>|young brahmana; bahu-various; seva-services; kare-renders.
334|TRANSLATION
335|After these talks, the two brahmanas started for home. As
>|usual, the young brahmana accompanied the elderly brahmana
>|as if the older brahmana were a guru [spiritual master] and
>|rendered him service in various ways.
336|Madhya 5.35