1|Madhya 17-1975: The Lord Travels to Vrndavana
2|Chapter 17
3|The Lord Travels to Vrndavana
4|The following summary of the Seventeenth Chapter is given
>|by Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. After
>|attending the Ratha-yatra ceremony of Sri Jagannatha, Sri
>|Caitanya Mahaprabhu decided to start for Vrndavana. Sri
>|Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami selected a
>|brahmana named Balabhadra Bhattacarya to personally assist
>|Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Early in the morning before
>|sunrise, the Lord started for the town of Kataka. North of
>|Kataka, He penetrated a dense forest and visited many
>|tigers and elephants, whom He engaged in chanting the Hare
>|Krsna maha-mantra. Whenever He had a chance to visit
>|a village, He would beg alms and
>|acquire some rice and vegetables. If there were no village,
>|He would cook whatever rice remained and collect
>|some spinach from the forest to eat. Sri
>|Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very pleased with the behavior of
>|Balabhadra Bhattacarya.
5|In this way the Lord passed through the jungle of
>|Jharikhanda and finally reached Varanasi. After taking His
>|bath at the Manikarnika-ghata at Varanasi, He met Tapana
>|Misra, who took the Lord to his place and respectfully gave
>|Him a comfortable residence. At Varanasi, Vaidya
>|Candrasekhara, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's old friend, also
>|rendered service unto Him. Seeing the behavior of Sri
>|Caitanya Mahaprabhu, one Maharastriya brahmana informed
>|Prakasananda Sarasvati, the leader of the Mayavadi
>|sannyasis. Prakasananda made various accusations against
>|the Lord. The Maharastriya brahmana was very sorry about
>|this, and he brought the news to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
>|inquiring from Him why the Mayavadi sannyasis did not utter
>|the holy name of Krsna. In reply, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
>|said that they were offenders and that one should not
>|associate with them. In this way the Lord bestowed His
>|blessings upon the brahmana.
6|Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu next passed through Prayaga and
>|Mathura and then took His lunch at the home of a Sanodiya
>|brahmana, a disciple of Madhavendra Puri. He bestowed His
>|blessings upon the brahmana by accepting lunch at his place.
>| Thereafter the Lord visited the twelve forests of
>|Vrndavana and was filled with great ecstatic love. As He
>|toured the Vrndavana forests, He heard the chirping of
>|parrots and other birds.
7|Madhya 17.1
8|TEXT 1
9|TEXT
10|gacchan vrndavanam gauro
11|vyaghrebhaina-khagan vane
12|premonmattan sahonnrtyan
13|vidadhe krsna-jalpinah
14|SYNONYMS
15|gacchan-going; vrndavanam-to Vrndavana-dhama; gaurah-Sri
>|Caitanya Mahaprabhu; vyaghra-tigers; ibha-elephants; ena-
>|deer; khagan-and birds; vane-in the forest; prema-unmattan-
>|maddened by ecstatic love; saha-with; unnrtyan-dancing;
>|vidadhe-made; krsna-Lord Krsna's name; jalpinah-chanting.
16|TRANSLATION
17|On His way to Vrndavana, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
>|passed through the forest of Jharikhanda and made all the
>|tigers, elephants, deer and birds dance and chant the Hare
>|Krsna maha-mantra . Thus all these animals were
>|overwhelmed by ecstatic love.
18|Madhya 17.2
19|TEXT 2
20|TEXT
21|jaya jaya gauracandra jaya nityananda
22|jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda
23|SYNONYMS
24|jaya jaya-all glories; gauracandra-to Sri Caitanya
>|Mahaprabhu; jaya-all glories; nityananda-to Nityananda
>|Prabhu; jaya-all glories; advaita-candra-to Advaita Acarya;
>|jaya-all glories; gaura-bhakta-vrnda-to the devotees of
>|Lord Caitanya.
25|TRANSLATION
26|All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Lord
>|Nityananda! All glories to Advaitacandra! all glories
>|to all the devotees of the Lord!
27|Madhya 17.3
28|TEXT 3
29|TEXT
30|sarat-kala haila, prabhura calite haila mati
31|ramananda-svarupa-sange nibhrte yukati
32|SYNONYMS
33|sarat-kala haila-autumn arrived; prabhura-of Lord Sri
>|Caitanya Mahaprabhu; calite-to travel; haila-was; mati-
>|desire; ramananda-Ramananda Raya; svarupa-Svarupa Damodara;
>|sange-with; nibhrte-solitary; yukati-consultation.
34|TRANSLATION
35|When autumn arrived, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu decided to go
>|to Vrndavana. In a solitary place, He consulted with
>|Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami.
36|Madhya 17.4
37|TEXT 4
38|TEXT
39|"mora sahaya kara yadi, tumi-dui jana
40|tabe ami yana dekhi sri-vrndavana
41|SYNONYMS
42|mora-of Me; sahaya-help; kara-you do; yadi-if; tumi-you;
>|dui jana-two persons; tabe-then; ami-I; yana-going; dekhi-
>|shall see; sri-vrndavana-Sri Vrndavana-dhama.
43|TRANSLATION
44|The Lord requested Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara
>|Gosvami to help Him go to Vrndavana.
45|Madhya 17.5
46|TEXT 5
47|TEXT
48|ratrye uthi' vana-pathe palana yaba
49|ekaki yaiba, kahon sange na la-iba
50|SYNONYMS
51|ratrye uthi'-rising at night; vana-pathe-on the road
>|to the forest; palana yaba-I shall go away secretly;
>|ekaki yaiba-I shall go alone; kahon-anyone; sange-with Me;
>|na la-iba-I shall not take.
52|TRANSLATION
53|Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "I shall leave early in the
>|morning and go incognito, taking the road to the
>|forest. I shall go alone and not take anyone with Me.
54|Madhya 17.6
55|TEXT 6
56|TEXT
57|keha yadi sanga la-ite pache uthi' dhaya
58|sabare rakhiba, yena keha nahi yaya
59|SYNONYMS
60|keha-someone; yadi-if; sanga la-ite-to take company; pache-
>|behind; uthi'-getting up; dhaya-runs; sabare-everyone;
>|rakhiba-please stop; yena-so that; keha-anyone; nahi yaya-
>|does not go.
61|TRANSLATION
62|"If someone wants to follow Me, please stop him. I don't
>|want anyone to go with Me.
63|Madhya 17.7
64|TEXT 7
65|TEXT
66|prasanna hana ajna diba, na maniba 'duhkha'
67|toma-sabara 'sukhe' pathe habe mora 'sukha' "
68|SYNONYMS
69|prasanna hana-being pleased; ajna diba-give permission; na-
>|do not; maniba duhkha-become unhappy; toma-sabara-of all of
>|you; sukhe-by the happiness; pathe-on the road; habe-there
>|will be; mora-My; sukha-happiness.
70|TRANSLATION
71|"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 Vrndavana."
72|Madhya 17.8
73|TEXT 8
74|TEXT
75|dui-jana kahe,-'tumi isvara 'svatantra'
76|yei iccha, sei kariba, naha 'paratantra'
77|SYNONYMS
78|dui-jana kahe-the two persons replied; tumi-You; isvara-the
>|Supreme Personality of Godhead; svatantra -
>|completely independent; yei iccha-whatever You desire; sei-
>|that; kariba-You will do; naha-You are not; para-tantra-
>|dependent on anyone.
79|TRANSLATION
80|Upon hearing this, Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara
>|Gosvami replied, "Dear Lord, You are completely independent.
>| Since You are not dependent on anyone, You do
>|whatever You desire.
81|Madhya 17.9
82|TEXT 9
83|TEXT
84|kintu ama-dunhara suna eka nivedane
85|'tomara sukhe amara sukha'-kahila apane
86|SYNONYMS
87|kintu-but; ama-dunhara-of both of us; suna-please hear; eka
>|nivedane-one submission; tomara sukhe-by your happiness;
>|amara sukha-our happiness; kahila-You have already stated;
>|apane-personally.
88|TRANSLATION
89|"Dear Lord, kindly hear our one petition. You have already
>|said that You will derive happiness from our happiness.
>|This is Your own statement.
90|Madhya 17.10
91|TEXT 10
92|TEXT
93|ama-dunhara mane tabe bada 'sukha' haya
94|eka nivedana yadi dhara, dayamaya
95|SYNONYMS
96|ama-dunhara-of us two; mane-in the mind; tabe-therefore;
>|bada-very much; sukha haya-there is happiness; eka nivedana-
>|one request; yadi-if; dhara-You accept; daya-maya-merciful.
97|TRANSLATION
98|"If You will please accept just one request, we shall be
>|very, very happy.
99|Madhya 17.11
100|TEXT 11
101|TEXT
102|'uttama brahmana' eka sange avasya cahi
103|bhiksa kari' bhiksa dibe, yabe patra vahi'
104|SYNONYMS
105|uttama brahmana-a high-class brahmana; eka-one; sange-along;
>| avasya-certainly; cahi-we want; bhiksa kari'-collecting
>|alms; bhiksa dibe-will give You food; yabe-will go; patra
>|vahi'-bearing Your waterpot.
106|TRANSLATION
107|"Our Lord, please take one very nice brahmana with You. He
>|will collect alms for You, cook for You, give You prasada ,
>| and carry Your waterpot while traveling.
108|Madhya 17.12
109|TEXT 12
110|TEXT
111|ana - pathe yaite nahi ' bhojyanna
>|'- brahmana
112|ajna kara,-sange caluka vipra eka-jana'
113|SYNONYMS
114|vana-pathe-on the forest path; yaite-going; nahi-there is
>|not; bhojya-anna-brahmana-a brahmana whose food can be
>|accepted; ajna kara-please give permission; sange-along;
>|caluka-may go; vipra-brahmana; eka-jana-one person.
115|TRANSLATION
116|"When You go through the jungle, there will be no brahmana
>|available from whom You can accept lunch. Therefore please
>|give permission for at least one pure brahmana to accompany
>|You."
117|Madhya 17.13
118|TEXT 13
119|TEXT
120|prabhu kahe,-nija-sangi kanho na la-iba
121|eka-jane nile, anera mane duhkha ha-iba
122|SYNONYMS
123|prabhu kahe-Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied; nija-sangi-of
>|My associates; kanho-anyone; na-not; la-iba-I shall take;
>|eka-jane nile-if I take someone; anera mane-in the mind of
>|others; duhkha ha-iba-there will be unhappiness.
124|TRANSLATION
125|Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said,"I shall not take any of My
>|associates with Me because if I choose someone, all the
>|others will be unhappy.
126|Madhya 17.14
127|TEXT 14
128|TEXT
129|nutana sangi ha-ibeka,-snigdha yanra mana
130|aiche yabe pai, tabe la-i 'eka' jana
131|SYNONYMS
132|nutana-new; sangi-associate; ha-ibeka-must be; snigdha-very
>|peaceful; yanra-whose; mana-mind; aiche-such; yabe-if; pai-
>|I get; tabe-then; la-i-I take; eka jana-one person.
133|TRANSLATION
134|"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."
135|PURPORT
136|when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu formerly went to
>|South India, a brahmana named Kala Krsnadasa went with Him.
>|It was Kala Krsnadasa who fell victim to a woman, and Sri
>|Caitanya Mahaprabhu had to take the trouble to free him
>|from the clutches of the gypsies. Therefore the Lord here
>|says that He wants a new man who is peaceful in mind. One
>|whose mind is not peaceful is agitated by certain drives,
>|especially sex desire, even though he be in the company of
>|Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Such a man will become a victim of
>|women and will fall down even in the company of the Supreme
>|Personality of Godhead. Maya is so strong that unless one
>|is determined not to fall victim, even the Supreme
>|Personality of Godhead cannot give protection. The Supreme
>|Lord and His representative always want to give protection,
>|but a person must take advantage of their personal contact.
>|If one thinks that the Supreme Personality of Godhead or
>|His representative is an ordinary man, he will certainly
>|fall down. Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not want a
>|person like Kala Krsnadasa to accompany Him. He wanted
>|someone who was determined, who had a peaceful mind and
>|who was not agitated by ulterior motives.
137|Madhya 17.15
138|TEXT 15
139|TEXT
140|svarupa kahe,-ei balabhadra-bhattacarya
141|tomate susnigdha bada, pandita, sadhu, arya
142|SYNONYMS
143|svarupa kahe-Svarupa Damodara Gosvami said; ei-this;
>|balabhadra-bhattacarya-Balabhadra Bhattacarya; tomate-unto
>|You; su-snigdha-affectionate; bada-very; pandita-educated;
>|sadhu-honest; arya-advanced in spiritual consciousness.
144|TRANSLATION
145|Svarupa Damodara then said, "Here is Balabhadra Bhattacarya,
>| who has great love for You. He is an honest, learned
>|scholar, and he is advanced in spiritual consciousness.
146|PURPORT
147|Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted a new man, not a person like
>|Kala Krsnadasa who would fall for women. Svarupa Damodara
>|therefore immediately pointed out a new brahmana named
>|Balabhadra Bhattacarya. Sri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami had
>|studied this person very thoroughly and had seen that he
>|had great love for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Not only did he
>|love the Lord, but he was also learned and honest. He was
>|not duplicitous, and he was advanced in Krsna consciousness.
>| According to a Bengali proverb, ati bhakti corera laksana:
>|"Too much devotion is a symptom of a thief." A person who
>|assumes himself to be a great devotee but mentally is
>|thinking of something else is duplicitous. One who is not
>|duplicitous is called sadhu. Svarupa Damodara immediately
>|pointed out that Balabhadra Bhattacarya was quite fit to
>|accompany the Lord because he was a learned scholar and was
>|simple and had great love for Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
>| He was also advanced in Krsna consciousness; therefore he
>|was considered appropriate to accompany the Lord as a
>|personal servant.
148|The word snigdha ( very peaceful ) and the word su-
>|snigdha ( affectionate ) are used in verses fourteen and
>|fifteen , and they are also found in Srimad-
>|Bhagavatam (1.1.8): bruyuh snigdhasya sisyasya guravo
>|guhyam apy uta. "A disciple who has actual love for his
>|spiritual master is endowed, by the blessings of the
>|spiritual master, with all confidential knowledge." Srila
>|Sridhara Svami has commented that the word snigdhasya means
>|prema-vatah. The word prema-vatah indicates that one has
>|great love for his spiritual master.
149|Madhya 17.16
150|TEXT 16
151|TEXT
152|prathamei toma-sange aila gauda haite
153|inhara iccha ache 'sarva-tirtha' karite
154|SYNONYMS
155|prathamei-in the beginning; toma-sange-with You; aila-came;
>|gauda haite-from Bengal; inhara iccha-his desire; ache-is;
>|sarva-tirtha-all places of pilgrimage; karite-to go see.
156|TRANSLATION
157|"In the beginning, he came with You from Bengal. It is his
>|desire to see and visit all the holy places of pilgrimage.
158|Madhya 17.17
159|TEXT 17
160|TEXT
161|inhara sange ache vipra eka 'bhrtya'
162|inho pathe karibena seva-bhiksa-krtya
163|SYNONYMS
164|inhara sange-with him; ache-is; vipra-brahmana; eka-one;
>|bhrtya-servant; inho-this man; pathe-on the way; karibena-
>|will do; seva-service; bhiksa-krtya-and arrangements for
>|cooking.
165|TRANSLATION
166|"In addition, You may take another brahmana who would act
>|as a servant en route and make arrangements for Your food.
167|Madhya 17.18
168|TEXT 18
169|TEXT
170|inhare sange laha yadi, sabara haya 'sukha'
171|vana-pathe yaite tomara nahibe kona 'duhkha'
172|SYNONYMS
173|inhare-him; sange-along; laha-You accept; yadi-if; sabara
>|haya sukha-everyone will be happy; vana-pathe-on the path
>|through the jungle; yaite-going; tomara-Your; nahibe-there
>|will not be; kona-any; duhkha-difficulty.
174|TRANSLATION
175|"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.
176|Madhya 17.19
177|TEXT 19
178|TEXT
179|sei vipra vahi' nibe vastrambu-bhajana
180|bhattacarya bhiksa dibe kari' bhiksatana
181|SYNONYMS
182|sei vipra-the other brahmana; vahi' nibe-will carry; vastra-
>|ambu-bhajana-the cloth and waterpot; bhattacarya-Balabhadra
>|Bhattacarya; bhiksa dibe-will arrange for cooking; kari'-
>|performing; bhiksa-atana-collecting alms.
183|TRANSLATION
184|"The other brahmana can carry Your cloth and waterpot, and
>|Balabhadra Bhattacarya will collect alms and cook for You."
185|Madhya 17.20
186|TEXT 20
187|TEXT
188|tanhara vacana prabhu angikara kaila
189|balabhadra-bhattacarye sange kari' nila
190|SYNONYMS
191|tanhara vacana-his words; prabhu-Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
>|angikara kaila-accepted; balabhadra-bhattacarye-Balabhadra
>|Bhattacarya; sange kari' nila-took with Him.
192|TRANSLATION
193|Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the request of
>|Svarupa Damodara Pandita and agreed to take Balabhadra
>|Bhattacarya with Him.
194|Madhya 17.21
195|TEXT 21
196|TEXT
197|purva-ratrye jagannatha dekhi' 'ajna' lana
198|sesa-ratre uthi' prabhu calila lukana
199|SYNONYMS
200|purva-ratrye-on the previous night; jagannatha dekhi'-
>|seeing Lord Jagannatha; ajna lana-taking permission; sesa-
>|ratre-near the end of night; uthi'-rising; prabhu-Sri
>|Caitanya Mahaprabhu; calila-started; lukana-without being
>|seen.
201|TRANSLATION
202|On the previous night, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had visited
>|Lord Jagannatha and taken His permission. Now, near the end
>|of night, the Lord got up and started immediately. He
>|was not seen by others.
203|Madhya 17.22
204|TEXT 22
205|TEXT
206|pratah-kale bhakta-gana prabhu na dekhiya
207|anvesana kari' phire vyakula hana
208|SYNONYMS
209|pratah-kale-early in the morning; bhakta-gana-all the
>|devotees; prabhu-Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; na dekhiya-
>|not seeing; anvesana kari'-searching; phire-wander; vyakula
>|hana-becoming very anxious.
210|TRANSLATION
211|Because the Lord had departed, the devotees, unable to see
>|Him early in the morning, began to search for Him with
>|great anxiety.
212|Madhya 17.23
213|TEXT 23
214|TEXT
215|svarupa-gosani sabaya kaila nivarana
216|nivrtta hana rahe sabe jani' prabhura mana
217|SYNONYMS
218|svarupa-gosani-Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; sabaya-unto
>|everyone; kaila-did; nivarana-forbidding; nivrtta hana-
>|being restrained; rahe-remain; sabe-all; jani'-knowing;
>|prabhura mana-the mind of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
219|TRANSLATION
220|While all the devotees were searching for the Lord, Svarupa
>|Damodara restrained them. Then everyone fell silent,
>|knowing the mind of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
221|Madhya 17.24
222|TEXT 24
223|TEXT
224|prasiddha patha chadi' prabhu upapathe calila
225|'kataka' dahine kari' vane pravesila
226|SYNONYMS
227|prasiddha-well-known; patha-public way; chadi'-giving up;
>|prabhu-Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; upapathe-through a bypass;
>|calila-began to walk; kataka-the city of Kataka; dahine-on
>|the right side; kari'-keeping; vane-within the forest;
>|pravesila-entered.
228|TRANSLATION
229|The Lord abandoned walking on the well-known public road
>|and went instead along a bypass. He thus kept the city of
>|Kataka on His right as He entered the forest.
230|Madhya 17.25
231|TEXT 25
232|TEXT
233|nirjana-vane cale prabhu krsna-nama lana
234|hasti-vyaghra patha chade prabhure dekhiya
235|SYNONYMS
236|nirjana-vane-in a solitary forest; cale-walks; prabhu-Sri
>|Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krsna-nama lana-chanting the holy name
>|of Krsna; hasti-elephants; vyaghra-tigers; patha chade-
>|leave the path; prabhure-Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dekhiya-
>|seeing.
237|TRANSLATION
238|When the Lord passed through the solitary forest chanting
>|the holy name of Krsna, the tigers and elephants, seeing
>|Him, gave way.
239|Madhya 17.26
240|TEXT 26
241|TEXT
242|pale-pale vyaghra, hasti, gandara, sukara-gana
243|tara madhye avese prabhu karila gamana
244|SYNONYMS
245|pale-pale-in flocks; vyaghra-tigers; hasti-elephants;
>|gandara-rhinoceros; sukara-gana-boars; tara madhye-through
>|them; avese-in ecstasy; prabhu-Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
>|karila gamana-passed.
246|TRANSLATION
247|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.
248|Madhya 17.27
249|TEXT 27
250|TEXT
251|dekhi' bhattacaryera mane haya maha-bhaya
252|prabhura pratape tara eka pasa haya
253|SYNONYMS
254|dekhi'-seeing; bhattacaryera-of Bhattacarya; mane-in the
>|mind; haya-there was; maha-bhaya-great fear; prabhura
>|pratape-by the influence of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tara-
>|they; eka pasa haya-stand to one side.
255|TRANSLATION
256|Balabhadra Bhattacarya was very much afraid to see them,
>|but by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's influence, all the animals
>|stood to one side.
257|Madhya 17.28
258|TEXT 28
259|TEXT
260|eka-dina pathe vyaghra kariyache sayana
261|avese tara gaye prabhura lagila carana
262|SYNONYMS
263|eka-dina-one day; pathe-on the path; vyaghra-a tiger;
>|kariyache sayana-was lying down; avese-in ecstatic love;
>|tara gaye-on his body; prabhura-of Lord Sri Caitanya
>|Mahaprabhu; lagila-touched; carana-lotus feet.
264|TRANSLATION
265|One day a tiger was lying on the path, and Sri Caitanya
>|Mahaprabhu, walking along the path in ecstatic love,
>|touched the tiger with His feet.
266|Madhya 17.29
267|TEXT 29
268|TEXT
269|prabhu kahe,-kaha 'krsna', vyaghra uthila
270|'krsna' 'krsna' kahi' vyaghra nacite lagila
271|SYNONYMS
272|prabhu kahe-Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; kaha krsna-please
>|chant Hare Krsna; vyaghra uthila-the tiger got up; krsna
>|krsna kahi'-chanting the holy name of Krsna; vyaghra-the
>|tiger; nacite-to dance; lagila-began.
273|TRANSLATION
274|The Lord said, "Chant the holy name of Krsna!" The tiger
>|immediately got up and began to dance and chant ,"Krsna!
>|Krsna!"
275|Madhya 17.30
276|TEXT 30
277|TEXT
278|ara dine mahaprabhu kare nadi snana
279|matta-hasti-yutha aila karite jala-pana
280|SYNONYMS
281|ara dine-another day; mahaprabhu-Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
>|kare-does; nadi snana-bathing in the river; matta-hasti-
>|yutha-a herd of maddened elephants; aila-came; karite-to do;
>| jala-pana-drinking water.
282|TRANSLATION
283|Another day, while Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was bathing in a
>|river, a herd of maddened elephants came there to drink
>|water.
284|Madhya 17.31
285|TEXT 31
286|TEXT
287|prabhu jala-krtya kare, age hasti aila
288|'krsna kaha' bali' prabhu jala pheli' marila
289|SYNONYMS
290|prabhu-Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jala-krtya kare-bathed
>|and was chanting the Gayatri mantra within the water; age-
>|in front; hasti-the elephants; aila-came; krsna kaha-chant
>|Hare Krsna; bali'-saying; prabhu-Lord Sri Caitanya
>|Mahaprabhu; jala pheli'-throwing water; marila-struck.
291|TRANSLATION
292|While the Lord was bathing and murmuring the Gayatri mantra,
>| the elephants came before Him. The Lord immediately
>|splashed some water on the elephants and asked them to
>|chant the name of Krsna.
293|PURPORT
294|Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was the Supreme personality of
>|Godhead playing the part of a very great advanced devotee.
>|On the maha-bhagavata platform, the devotee makes no
>|distinction between friends and enemies. On that platform
>|he sees everyone as a servant of Krsna. As stated in
>|Bhagavad-gita :
295|vidya-vinaya-sampanne
296|brahmane gavi hastini
297|suni caiva svapake ca
>|
>|
298|panditah sama- darsinah
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
>|
299|"The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with
>|equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an
>|elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater [outcaste]." (Bg. 5.18)
300|A maha-bhagavata, being learned and advanced in spiritual
>|consciousness, sees no difference between a tiger, an
>|elephant or a learned scholar. The test of advanced
>|spiritual consciousness is that one becomes fearless. He
>|envies no one, and he is always engaged in the Lord's
>|service. He sees every living entity as an eternal part and
>|parcel of the Lord, rendering service according to his
>|capacity by the will of the Supreme Lord. As Bhagavad-gita
>|confirms:
301|sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto
302|mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca
303|"I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come
>|remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness." (Bg. 15.15)
304|The maha-bhagavata knows that Krsna is in everyone's heart.
>|Krsna is dictating, and the living entity is following His
>|dictations. Krsna is within the heart of the tiger,
>|elephant and boar. Therefore Krsna tells them, "Here is a
>|maha-bhagavata. Please do not disturb him." Why, then,
>|should the animals be envious of such a great personality?
>|Those who are neophytes or even a little progressed in
>|devotional service should not try to imitate the maha-
>|bhagavata. Rather, they should only follow in their
>|footsteps. The word anukara means "imitating," and anusara
>|means "trying to follow in the footsteps." We should not
>|try to imitate the activities of a maha-bhagavata or Sri
>|Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Our best efforts should be exerted in
>|trying to follow them according to our ability. The maha-
>|bhagavata's heart is completely freed from material
>|contamination, and he can become very dear even to fierce
>|animals like tigers and elephants. Indeed, the maha-
>|bhagavata treats them as his very intimate friends. On this
>|platform there is no question of envy. When the Lord was
>|passing through the forest, He was in ecstasy, thinking the
>|forest to be Vrndavana. He was simply searching for Krsna.
305|Madhya 17.32
306|TEXT 32
307|TEXT
308|sei jala-bindu-kana lage yara gaya
309|sei 'krsna' 'krsna' kahe, preme nace, gaya
310|SYNONYMS
311|sei-those; jala-of water; bindu-drops; kana-particles; lage-
>|touch; yara-whose; gaya-body; sei-they; krsna krsna-Krsna,
>|Krsna; kahe-say; preme-in ecstasy; nace-dance; gaya-sing.
312|TRANSLATION
313|The elephants whose bodies were touched by the water
>|splashed by the Lord began to chant,"Krsna! Krsna!" and
>|dance and sing in ecstasy.
314|Madhya 17.33
315|TEXT 33
316|TEXT
317|keha bhume pade, keha karaye citkara
318|dekhi' bhattacaryera mane haya camatkara
319|SYNONYMS
320|keha-some of them; bhume-on the ground; pade-fall down;
>|keha-some of them; karaye-perform; cit-kara-screaming;
>|dekhi'-seeing; bhattacaryera-of Bhattacarya; mane-in the
>|mind; haya-there was; camatkara-astonishment.
321|TRANSLATION
322|Some of the elephants fell to the ground, and some screamed
>|in ecstasy. Seeing this, Balabhadra Bhattacarya was
>|completely astonished.
323|Madhya 17.34
324|TEXT 34
325|TEXT
326|pathe yaite kare prabhu ucca sankirtana
327|madhura kantha-dhvani suni' aise mrgi-gana
328|SYNONYMS
329|pathe yaite-while passing on the path; kare-does; prabhu-
>|Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ucca-loud; sankirtana-chanting of
>|Hare Krsna; madhura-sweet; kantha-dhvani-the voice from His
>|throat; suni'-hearing; aise-came; mrgi-gana-she-deer.
330|TRANSLATION
331|Sometimes Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu chanted very loudly while
>|passing through the jungle. Hearing His sweet voice, all
>|the does came near Him.
332|Madhya 17.35
333|TEXT 35
334|TEXT
335|dahine-vame dhvani suni' yaya prabhu-sange
336|prabhu tara anga muche, sloka pade range
337|SYNONYMS
338|dahine-vame-right and left; dhvani-vibration; suni'-hearing;
>| yaya-they follow; prabhu-sange-with the Lord; prabhu-Sri
>|Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tara-their; anga-bodies; muche-pats;
>|sloka-verse; pade-recites; range-in great curiosity.
339|TRANSLATION
340|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.
341|Madhya 17.36
342|TEXT 36
343|TEXT
344|dhanyah sma mudha-matayo 'pi harinya eta
345|ya nanda-nandanam upatta-vicitra-vesam
346|akarnya venu-ranitam saha-krsna-sarah
347|pujam dadhur viracitam pranayavalokaih
348|SYNONYMS
349|dhanyah-fortunate, blessed; sma-certainly; mudha-matayah-
>|foolish, without good sense; api-although; harinyah-she-
>|deer; etah-these; yah-who; nanda-nandanam-the son of
>|Maharaja Nanda; upatta-vicitra-vesam-dressed very
>|attractively; akarnya-hearing; venu-ranitam-the sound of
>|His flute; saha-krsna-sarah-accompanied by the black deer (
>|their husbands); pujam dadhuh-they worshiped; viracitam-
>|performed; pranaya-avalokaih-by their affectionate glances.
350|TRANSLATION
351|"Blessed are all these foolish deer because they have
>|approached the son of Maharaja Nanda , who is
>|gorgeously dressed and is playing on His flute. Indeed,
>|both&