Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata - Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura
Commentary by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.155
mādhavendra-purī prema-maya-kalevara
prema-maya yata saba saṅge anucara
TRANSLATION
The body of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī is imbued with ecstatic love of God, and his followers partake of those same sentiments.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.156
kṛṣṇa-rasa vinu āra nāhika āhāra
mādhavendra-purī-dehe kṛṣṇera vihāra
TRANSLATION
He did not relish anything other than loving sentiments for Lord Kṛṣṇa, who enjoyed His pastimes in the body of Mādhavendra Purī.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.157
yāṅ’ra śiṣya prabhu ācārya-vara-gosāñi
ki kahiba āra tāṅ’ra premera baḍāi
TRANSLATION
What more can I say about the devotion of he who was the spiritual master of Śrī Advaita Ācārya?
COMMENTARY
The word baḍāi (derived from the Sanskrit word vṛddhi and the common [Bengali] word baḍa) means “prominence,” “greatness,” “praiseworthy,” “glorious,” and “respectable.”
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.158
mādhava-purīre dekhilena nityānanda
tata-kṣaṇe preme mūrchā hailā nispanda
TRANSLATION
When Nityānanda saw Mādhavendra Purī, He was immediately stunned in ecstatic love and fell to the ground unconscious.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.159
nityānande dekhi’ mātra śrī-mādhava-purī
paḍilā mūrchita hai’ āpanā’ pāsari’
TRANSLATION
Seeing Nityānanda, Mādhavendra Purī forgot himself and fell unconscious.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.160
‘bhakti-rase mādhavendra ādi-sūtra-dhāra’
gauracandra ihā kahiyāchena bāre bāra
TRANSLATION
Śrī Gauracandra has repeatedly stated that Śrī Mādhavendra Purī is the original root of worship in ecstatic love.
COMMENTARY
The word bhakti-rase is explained as follows: Codes of devotional service were handed down through Lakṣmīpati Tīrtha of the Tattvavāda branch. The codes of pure devotional mellows, however, were inaugurated by Śrīpāda Mādhavendra Purī. See Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi 9.10 and Antya 8.34)
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.161
doṅhe mūrchā hailena doṅhā-daraśane
kāndaye īśvara-purī-ādi śiṣya-gaṇe
TRANSLATION
After they both fell unconscious, the disciples headed by Īśvara Purī all began to cry.
COMMENTARY
At the time of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī’s meeting with Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, his eternal associate and servant Śrīpāda Īśvara Purī was present. The phrase īśvara-purī-ādi refers to the nine Nidhis, or the nine sannyāsīs, headed by Paramānanda Purī.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.162
kṣaṇeke hailā bāhya-dṛṣṭi dui-jana
anyo ‘nye galā dhari’ karena krandana
TRANSLATION
After some time, when they regained external consciousness, they held each other’s neck and began to cry.
COMMENTARY
The word bāhya-dṛṣṭi means “after regaining consciousness” or “coming to external senses.”
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.163
bālu gaḍi yāya dui-prabhu prema-rase
huṅkāra karaye kṛṣṇa-premera āveśe
TRANSLATION
Overwhelmed in ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa, they then rolled in the sand and cried out loudly.
TRANSLATION
The words dui-prabhu refers to Śrīmad Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrīpāda Mādhavendra Purī.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.164
prema-nadī vahe dui prabhura nayane
pṛthivī haila sikta dhanya hena māne
TRANSLATION
Tears of love flowed like rivers from their eyes and soaked mother earth, thereby making her feel gratified.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.165
kampa, aśru, pulaka, bhāvera anta nāi
dui dehe viharaye caitanya-gosāñi
TRANSLATION
Shivering, shedding tears, hairs standing on end, and other ecstatic symptoms appeared without end, for Lord Caitanya personally resides in their bodies.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.166
nityānanda bole,—“yata tīrtha karilāṅa
samyak tāhāra phala āji pāilāṅa
TRANSLATION
Lord Nityānanda said, “Whatever pilgrimage I have performed till now has today born fruit.”
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.167
nayane dekhinu mādhavendrera caraṇa
e prema dekhiyā dhanya haila jīvana”
TRANSLATION
“Today I have seen the lotus feet of Mādhavendra Purī. By seeing his ecstatic love of God, My life has become successful.”
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.168
mādhavendra-purī nityānande kari’ kole
uttara nā sphure,—kaṇṭha-ruddha prema-jale
TRANSLATION
Mādhavendra Purī embraced Nityānanda and was unable to reply, for his throat was choked with love.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.169
hena prīta hailena mādhavendra-purī
vakṣa haite nityānande bāhira nā kari
TRANSLATION
Śrī Mādhavendra Purī was so pleased that he was unable to release Nityānanda from his embrace.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.170
īśvara-purī-brahmānanda-purī-ādi yata
sarva śiṣya hailena nityānande rata
TRANSLATION
Īśvara Purī, Brahmānanda Purī, and the other disciples of Mādhavendra Purī all felt great attachment for Lord Nityānanda.
COMMENTARY
Śrī Īśvara Purī was born in a brāhmaṇa family of Kumārahaṭṭa (near the Halisahara Station on the E.B. Railway Line) and was a beloved disciple of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī. The Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Antya 8.28-30) describes how Śrīman Mādhavendra, being pleased by his service, benedicted him in the following words:
“May you obtain the wealth of love for Kṛṣṇa.”
Prior to enacting the pastime of initiating Mahāprabhu with the ten syllable mantra at Gayā, Śrī Īśvara Purī came to Navadvīpa and resided at the house of Gopīnātha Ācārya for one month. At that time he had discussions with Advaita Prabhu and Mahāprabhu in which he recited to Them his book, Śrī Kṛṣṇa-līlāmṛta (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, Chapter 11). When Śrīman Mahāprabhu visited Kumārahaṭṭa to see the birthplace of Śrīpāda Īśvara Purī, He took some dirt from that place and bound it in His outer garment in order to teach the living entities how to respect one’s spiritual master (Cc. Ādi 17.101). Even today every Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava who visits the place of Śrī Īśvara Purī carries some dirt back with him. Śrī Mādhavendra Purī was the first fructified seed of the desire tree of devotional service, and Śrī Īśvara Purī is the nourishment of that fructified seed (Cc. Ādi 9.11). The two brahmacārīs, Govinda and Kāśīśvara, were disciples of Śrī Īśvara Purīpāda. After his disappearance, these two brahmacārīs went to Nīlācala on his order to serve Mahāprabhu (Cc. Ādi 10.138-139 and Madhya 10.131-134). He received Mahāprabhu’s mercy on the pretext of giving Him mantra initiation in Gayā (Cc. Ādi 17.8).
Śrī Brahmānanda Purī was a disciple of Śrīman Mādhavendra Purī; in other words, he was one of the nine Nidhis or roots of the desire tree of devotional service (Cc. Ādi 9.13). He was a participant in Śrī Mahāprabhu’s saṅkīrtana pastimes in Navadvīpa. He also took part in Mahāprabhu’s pastimes in Nīlācala.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.171
sabhe yata mahājana sambhāṣā karena
kṛṣṇa-premā kāhāro śarīre nā dekhena
TRANSLATION
They had previously come across many sadhus, but they had never before seen such devotional symptoms.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.172
sabhei pāyena duḥkha durjana sambhāṣiyā
ataeva vana sabhe bhramena dekhiyā
TRANSLATION
They always felt distressed while conversing with materialistic people, so they decided to travel through the forests.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.173
anyo ‘nye se-saba duḥkhera haila nāśa
anyo ‘nye dekhi’ kṛṣṇa-premera prakāśa
TRANSLATION
Now, with this meeting, their distress was mitigated and their love for Kṛṣṇa was aroused.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.174
kata-dina nityānanda mādhavendra-saṅge
bhramena śrī-kṛṣṇa-kathā-parānanda-raṅge
TRANSLATION
For some days Nityānanda Prabhu travelled with Mādhavendra Purī and relished discussing topics of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.175
mādhavendra-kathā ati adbhuta kathana
megha dekhilei mātra haya acetana
TRANSLATION
The characteristics of Mādhavendra Purī are most wonderful; he fell unconscious just by seeing a dark cloud.
COMMENTARY
The megha, or “cloud” is an uddīpana, or reminder, of Kṛṣṇa, whose complexion resembles a newly formed cloud.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.176
ahar-niśa kṛṣṇa-preme madyapera prāya
hāse, kānde, hai hai kare hāya hāya
TRANSLATION
Out of love for Kṛṣṇa, he would day and night laugh, cry, and exclaim “Haya! Haya!” almost like a drunkard.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.177
nityānanda mahā-matta govindera rase
ḍhuliyā ḍhuliyā paḍe aṭṭa-aṭṭa hāse
TRANSLATION
Lord Nityānanda was intoxicated with loving sentiments for Govinda. He would laugh loudly and sway to and fro with love of God.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.178
doṅhāra adbhuta bhāva dekhi’ śiṣya-gaṇa
niravadhi ‘hari’ bali’ karaye kīrtana
TRANSLATION
Mādhavendra’s disciples constantly chanted the name of Hari as they observed their extraordinary symptoms of love.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.179
rātri-dina keha nāhi jāne prema-rase
kata kāla yāya’ keha-kṣaṇa nāhi vāse
TRANSLATION
The two forgot whether it was day or night in their absorption of ecstatic love. Although they remained together for a number of days, they considered that time hardly a moment.
COMMENTARY
The words kṣaṇa nāhi vāse indicate that although they both spent all their time constantly discussing topics of Kṛṣṇa, without considering external time, place, or circumstances, they did not feel that they had passed even a fraction of a moment.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.180
mādhavendra-saṅge yata haila ākhyāna
ke jānaye tāhā, kṛṣṇacandra se pramāṇa
TRANSLATION
Who can know all the incidents that took place between Nityānanda and Mādhavendra Purī? Only Kṛṣṇa can know.
COMMENTARY
The phrase kṛṣṇacandra se pramāṇa indicates that only Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the worshipable Lord for both Viṣṇu and the Vaiṣṇavas and, as the Supersoul of everyone, He knows everything.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.181
mādhavendra nityānande chāḍite nā pāre
niravadhi nityānanda-saṁhati vihare
TRANSLATION
Mādhavendra Purī was unable to give up the association of Nityānanda, so he constantly remained with Him.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.182
mādhavendra bole,—“prema nā dekhiluṅ kothā
sei mora sarva-tīrtha, hena prema yathā
TRANSLATION
Mādhavendra said, “I have never seen such ecstatic love. Wherever such love of God is found, that is my favourite holy place.”
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.183
jānilu kṛṣṇera kṛpā āche mora prati
nityānanda-hena bandhu pāinu saṁhati
TRANSLATION
“I know Kṛṣṇa has bestowed His mercy on me because He has given me the association of Nityānanda.”
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.184
ye-se sthāne yadi nityānanda-saṅga haya
sei sthāna sarva-tīrtha-vaikuṇṭhādi-maya
TRANSLATION
“Wherever Nityānanda’s association is found, that place is most sacred and completely transcendental.”
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.185
nityānanda hena bhakta śunile śravaṇe
avaśya pāibe kṛṣṇacandra sei jane
TRANSLATION
“If one hears the name of Nityānanda, he will certainly attain the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇacandra.”
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.186
nityānande yāhāra tileka dveṣa rahe
bhakta haile o se kṛṣṇera priya nahe”
TRANSLATION
“If one has the slightest envy for Nityānanda, he is never favoured by Kṛṣṇa even if he appears to be a devotee.”
COMMENTARY
It is to be understood that those who disrespect the spiritual master, who is non-different from the Supreme Lord, by considering him a mortal being and addressing him as “my spiritual master,” “his spiritual master,” and so on, have not actually accepted the spiritual master as the dear-most associate of Kṛṣṇa. Due to material considerations, people in this world have accepted the spiritual master, who is a direct manifestation of the Supreme Lord, as an object of enjoyment. It is impossible for members of these pseudo sampradāyas to come to the same platform or cooperate with the pure devotees. It is the nature of persons who are envious of the Vaiṣṇavas to consider the spiritual master as an object of enjoyment because any consideration other than:
āmāra prabhura prabhu gaurāṅga-sundara
e baḍa bharasā citte dhari nirantara
“Śrī Gaurāṅga-sundara is the Lord of my Lord. I always keep this conviction in my heart,”
creates thirteen pseudo sampradāyas like āula, bāula, kartābhajā, prākṛta-sahajiyā, sakhī-bhekī, jāti-gosāi, and gaura-nāgarī. Actually if one rejects the concept of guru or disrespects the eternally worshipable Supreme Personality of Godhead’s supreme servitor and attributes abominable, insignificant, mundane considerations on him, then according to the ardha-kukkuti-nyāya or the logic of accepting half of a hen, his atheistic nature will be revealed.
Whenever the so-called spiritual masters of the pseudo sampradāyas display their envy against the pure Vaiṣṇavas, one should abandon those apa-sampradāya so-called gurus, who are actually laghus, or insignificant, understanding them to be envious of the Vaiṣṇavas. One should then search out and take shelter of a pure Vaiṣṇava, who is spiritual master of the entire world and knower of the science of Kṛṣṇa.
Besides members of the Rūpānuga-sampradāya, members of the other thirteen apa-sampradāyas are envious of the devotees who follow Śrī Rūpa; therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa never considers them as dear. That is why people who maintain animosity towards the pure devotee followers of Śrī Rūpa actually become laghu. The spiritual masters who are dear to Kṛṣṇa are always attached to the Vaiṣṇava spiritual masters who follow Śrī Rūpa. On the pretext of devotional service, the members of the apa-sampradāyas appoint someone who is envious of the Supreme Lord as guru and thus maintain their pride. Knowing them as bad association, the pure devotees give up their company and remain firmly fixed at the feet of their spiritual master under the subordination of Śrī Rūpa.
While analysing the answer to the question:
“Which person who is accepted as guru is actually a pure Vaiṣṇava, or dear-most to Kṛṣṇa?”
If we find that a person does not accept the followers of Śrī Rūpa as his intimate friends, but rather envies them, then such a bogus guru should immediately be totally rejected.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.187
ei-mata mādhavendra nityānanda-prati
ahar-niśa bolena, karena rati-mati
TRANSLATION
In this way Mādhavendra Purī day and night exhibited affection for Nityānanda with his speech and activities.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.188
mādhavendra-prati nityānanda mahāśaya
guru-buddhi vyatirikta āra nā karaya
TRANSLATION
Nityānanda considered Mādhavendra to be His guru and nothing less.
COMMENTARY
Some people say that according to the accepted and listed disciplic succession of the Brahma-Mādhva-Gauḍīya-sampradāya, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu was a disciple of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī, and some people say that He was a disciple of Śrī Lakṣmīpati Tīrtha, which means that He was a Godbrother of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī. (An ancient verse quoted in the Fifth Wave of the Bhakti-ratnākara states:
nityānanda prabhuṁ vande śrīmal-lakṣmīpati-priyam
mādhva-sampradāyānanda- varddhanaṁ bhakta-vatsalam
“I worship Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, who is very dear to Śrī Lakṣmīpati. He increased the happiness of the Mādhva-sampradāya and was always affectionate to the devotees.”
The consideration of God-brotherhood is not separate from the consideration of Guru for the same reason that even though there is a difference between a historical incident and the description of that incident, both point to the same thing. The bogus guru sampradāya that follows the smārtas does not maintain a cordial relationship with the pure Vaiṣṇavas but have learned to illegitimately protect their selfish pride.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.189
ei-mata anyo ‘nye dui mahāmati
kṛṣṇa-preme nā jānena kothā divā-rāti
TRANSLATION
These two greatly learned personalities did not know whether it was day or night due to their ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.
COMMENTARY
Being maddened with love for Kṛṣṇa, both Śrī Mādhavendra Purī and Śrīmad Nityānanda Prabhu were not concerned with the days and nights of the mundane external world, which is unfavourable to Kṛṣṇa.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.190
kata-dina mādhavendra-saṅge nityānanda
thākiyā calilā śeṣe yathā setubandha
TRANSLATION
After remaining together for some days, Nityānanda left for Setubandha [Rāmeśvaram].
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.191
mādhavendra calilā sarayū dehkibāre
kṛṣṇāveśe keha nija-deha nāhi smare
TRANSLATION
Mādhavendra Purī went to see the Sarayū River. In their absorption of Kṛṣṇa consciousness they both forgot their own bodies.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.192
ataeva jīvanera rakṣā se-virahe
bāhya thākile ki se-virahe prāṇa rahe?
TRANSLATION
Therefore a devotee’s feelings of separation for the Lord maintain his life. Otherwise how could such intense feelings be tolerated if one were in external consciousness?
COMMENTARY
If one experiences intense feelings of distress in separation from the Lord while overwhelmed in love for Kṛṣṇa, then he cannot protect his life in separation from the Lord. That is why one who is devoid of external consciousness remains constantly in the transcendental internal mood of uninterrupted ecstatic love in spite of intolerable separation from the Lord and, due to an increase and nourishment of ecstatic devotional service, sustaining his life becomes possible. This is confirmed in the Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 2.43-47) in the following words:
“‘Pure love for Kṛṣṇa, just like gold from the Jāmbū River, does not exist in human society. If it existed, there could not be separation. If separation were there, one could not live.’
Thus speaking, the son of Śrīmatī Śacīmātā recited another wonderful verse, and Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara heard this verse with rapt attention. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said,
‘I feel shameful to disclose the activities of My heart. Nonetheless, I shall be done with all formalities and speak from the heart. Please hear.’
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued,
‘My dear friends, I have not the slightest tinge of love of Godhead within My heart. When you see Me crying in separation, I am just falsely exhibiting a demonstration of My great fortune. Indeed, not seeing the beautiful face of Kṛṣṇa playing His flute, I continue to live My life like an insect, without purpose. Actually, My love for Kṛṣṇa is far, far away. Whatever I do is actually false. When you see Me cry, I am simply exhibiting My great fortune. Please try to understand this beyond a doubt. Even though I do not see the moonlike face of Kṛṣṇa playing on His flute and although there is no possibility of My meeting Him, still I take care of My own body. That is the way of lust. In this way, I maintain My fly-like life.’”
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.193
nityānanda-mādhavendra, dui-daraśana
ye śunaye, tā’re mile kṛṣṇa-prema-dhana
TRANSLATION
Whoever hears these topics regarding the meeting between Nityānanda Prabhu and Mādhavendra Purī will certainly achieve the wealth of love for Kṛṣṇa.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.194
hena-mate nityānanda bhrame’ prema-rase
setubandhe āilena kateka divase
TRANSLATION
After traveling in this ecstatic mood for some days, Nityānanda arrived at Setubandha.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.195
dhanu-tīrthe snāna kari’ gelā rāmeśvara
tabe prabhu āilena vijayanagara
TRANSLATION
After taking bath at Dhanus-tīrtha, He went to see Lord Rāmeśvara. Then the Lord went to Vijayanagara.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.196
māyāpurī, avantī dekhiyā godāvarī
āilena jioḍa-nṛsiṁhadeva-purī
TRANSLATION
He visited Māyāpurī, Avantī, and the Godāvarī River, and then He went to the abode of Jiyaḍa-nṛsiṁha.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.197
trimalla dekhiyā kūrma-nātha puṇya-sthāna
śeṣe nīlācalacandra dekhite payāna
TRANSLATION
He visited Trimalla and Kūrma-kṣetra, and eventually He went to see Jagannātha, the Lord of Nīlācala.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.198
āilena nīlācalacandrera nagare
dhvaja dekhi’ mātra mūrchā haila śarīre
TRANSLATION
As He approached Śrī Nīlācala, He fell unconscious upon seeing the temple flag.
COMMENTARY
The words nīlācalacandrera nagare refer to the abode of Jagadīśa, or Purī-dhāma.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.199
dekhilena catur-vyūha-rūpa jagannātha
prakaṭa paramānanda bhakta-varga-sātha
TRANSLATION
He saw Lord Jagannātha as the source of the catur-vyūha—Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha—and surrounded by His dear devotees.
COMMENTARY
The word catur-vyūha refers to Śrī Jagannātha, who is the combined form of Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha, in other words, Śrī Dvārakādhīśa.
The second line of this verse indicates that Śrī Nandanandana, who is the personification of ecstatic pastimes, has appeared at Nīlācala (Śrī Puruṣottama-kṣetra) along with His servants, who assist in His pastimes.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.200
dekhi’ mātra hailena pulake mūrchite
punaḥ bāhya haya, punaḥ paḍe pṛthivīte
TRANSLATION
Immediately upon seeing the Lord, Nityānanda’s hairs stood on end and He fell unconscious. When He regained consciousness, He again fell to the ground.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.201
kampa, sveda pulakāśru, āchāḍa, huṅkāra
ke kahite pāre nityānandera vikāra?
TRANSLATION
Shivering, perspiring, crying, falling to the ground, and loud roaring—who can describe these ecstatic transformations that were exhibited by Lord Nityānanda?
COMMENTARY
The word āchāḍa (as used in common language) means “falling to the ground.”
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.202
nityānanda thāki’ nīlācale
dekhi, gaṅgā-sāgara āilā kutuhale
TRANSLATION
After remaining in Nīlācala for some time, Nityānanda went in jubilation to Gaṅgā-sāgara.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.203
tāṅ’ra tīrtha-yātrā saba ke pāre kahite?
kichu likhilāṅa mātra tāṅ’ra kṛpā haite
TRANSLATION
Who can describe the Lord’s pilgrimage? I have written in brief only by His mercy.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.204
ei-mata tīrtha bhrami’ nityānanda-rāya
punar-bāra āsiyā mililā mathurāya
TRANSLATION
After visiting various holy places in this way, Lord Nityānanda returned again to Mathurā.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.205
niravadhi vṛndāvane karena vasati
kṛṣṇera āveśe nā jānena divā-rāti
TRANSLATION
He continually stayed in Vṛndāvana and became so absorbed in Kṛṣṇa that He did not know whether it was day or night.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.206
āhāra nāhika, kadācit dugdha-pāna
seha yadi ayācita keha kare dāna
TRANSLATION
He did not eat, but He occasionally drank some milk whenever someone offered it to Him.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.207
navadvīpe gauracandra āche gupta-bhāve
ihā nityānanda-svarūpera mane jāge
TRANSLATION
Lord Nityānanda knew well that Lord Gauracandra was living incognito in Navadvīpa. He thought to Himself.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.208
“āpana-aiśvarya prabhu prakāśibe yabe
āmi giyā karimu āpana sevā tabe”
TRANSLATION
“I will go serve Lord Gaurāṅga when He manifests His opulences.”
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.209
ei mānasika kari’ nityānanda-rāya
mathurā chāḍiyā navadvīpa nāhi yāya
TRANSLATION
Thinking in this way, Lord Nityānanda did not go to Navadvīpa but remained at Mathurā.
COMMENTARY
The word mānasika means “arising from the mind,” “thinking,” “desiring,” “aspiring,” and “wishing.”
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.210
niravadhi viharaye kālindīra jale
śiśu-saṅge vṛndāvane dhūlā khelā khele
TRANSLATION
He regularly enjoyed sporting in the waters of the Yamunā and playing with the children in Vṛndāvana.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.211-213
yadyāpiha nityānanda dhare sarva śakti
tathāpiha kā’reha nā dilena viṣṇu-bhakti
yabe gauracandra prabhu karibe prakāśa
tā’na se ājñāya bhakti-dānera vilāsa
keha kichu nā kare caitanya-ājñā vine
ihāte ‘alpatā’ nāhi pāya prabhu-gaṇe
TRANSLATION
Although Lord Nityānanda is omnipotent, He did not distribute devotional service to the Lord at that time. When Lord Gauracandra manifests His opulence, then on His order He would begin to distribute devotional service. The servants and associates of Lord Caitanya did not like to do anything without His instruction, but this does not diminish their glories in the least.
COMMENTARY
Being a personal expansion of and non-different from Śrī Gaura-Kṛṣṇa, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, who is Baladeva, the personification of pure goodness, and who is the only bestower of love for Gaura-Kṛṣṇa, neither displayed mercy on anyone nor distributed or preached chanting the holy names in love of God while visiting the holy places, thereby surpassing His eternally worshipable Lord Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s desire, direct order, or time for the pastimes of preaching the chanting of the holy names in love of God (see verse 208). When the supreme independent Lord Mahāprabhu, out of His own free will and causeless mercy, will manifest His own glories to the fallen souls, at that time Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu will also manifest the pastime of door to door distribution of the holy names and love of God to the sinful living entities.
Therefore, following in the footsteps of Śrī Nityānanda, anyone who desires his own welfare does not transgress etiquette and manifest elevated language or material ego on the pretext of preaching topics of Kṛṣṇa while proudly masquerading as a guru in the presence of the Supreme Lord or His empowered representative, the Vaiṣṇava guru. That is why Śrī Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has written in his pure devotional song book Kalyāṇa-kalpa-taru as follows:
āmi ta’ vaiṣṇava, e buddhi haile,
amānī nā ha’ba āmi
pratiṣṭhāśā āsi’ hṛdaya dūṣibe,
haiba nirayagāmī
“If I think I am a Vaiṣṇava, I shall look forward to receiving respect from others. And if the desire for fame and reputation pollute my heart, I shall certainly go to hell.”
The eternally blissful form of knowledge, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, is the eternal worshipable Lord of the living entities, and to carry out His order with body, mind, and speech is real Vaiṣṇava fame; this is pure transcendental spiritual identification. This position is most relishable and beyond the insignificant, partial, abominable nature of perishable matter. And becoming prominent or dominant in the material sense is actually abominable, anxiety-filled service and simply another way of describing one’s insignificance.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.214
ki ananta, kibā śiva-ajādi devatā
caitanya-ājñāya hartā-kartā pālayitā
TRANSLATION
Brahmā, Ananta, Śiva, and the other demigods create, maintain, and destroy under the order of Lord Caitanya.
COMMENTARY
The word ananta refers to Viṣṇu, the maintainer; the word aja refers to Brahmā, the creator, and the word śiva refers to Hara, the destroyer.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.215
ihāte ye pāpī-gaṇa mane duḥkha pāya
vaiṣṇavera adṛśya se pāpī sarvathāya
TRANSLATION
Sinful persons who do not like to hear such things are not fit to be seen by the Vaiṣṇavas.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.216
sākṣātei dekha sabe ei tribhuvane
nityānanda-dvāre pāilena prema-dhane
TRANSLATION
Just see for yourself how Nityānanda Prabhu has blessed the people of this universe with the treasure of devotional service.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.217
caitanyera ādi-bhakta nityānanda-rāya
caitanyera yaśa vaise yāṅhāra jihvāya
TRANSLATION
Lord Nityānanda is the foremost devotee of Lord Caitanya, for the glories of Lord Caitanya always resides on His tongue.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.218
ahar-niśa caitanyera kathā prabhu kaya
tāṅ’re bhajile se caitanya-bhakti haya
TRANSLATION
Day and night Lord Nityānanda chants the glories of Lord Caitanya, so when one worships Nityānanda he certainly attains devotion for Lord Caitanya.
COMMENTARY
If a living entity worships Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu and His Vaiṣṇava followers, who constantly chant the glories of Śrī Gaura-Kṛṣṇa, then his propensity for pure devotional service to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is enhanced.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.219
ādi-deva jaya jaya nityānanda-rāya
caitanya-mahimā sphure yāṅhāra kṛpāya
TRANSLATION
All glories to Lord Nityānanda, who is the first manifestation of Lord Caitanya. The glories of Lord Caitanya become manifest by His mercy.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.220
caitanya-kṛpāya haya nityānande rati
nityānande jānile āpad nāhi kati
TRANSLATION
One becomes attached to Nityānanda by the mercy of Śrī Caitanya, and one who knows Nityānanda never faces any adversities.
COMMENTARY
On the strength of non-duplicitous surrender to the lotus feet of Śrī Nityānanda Rāma, a living entity achieves freedom from the conditioned state and becomes qualified to assist Śrī Nityānanda in His ten forms of service to Gaura-Kṛṣṇa. Śrī Ṭhākura Narottama has sung:
hena nitāi vine bhāi, rādhā-kṛṣṇa pāite nāi,
dṛḍha kari’ dhara nitāira pāya
“Without the mercy of Lord Nityānanda, no one can achieve Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. Therefore tightly catch hold of Nitāi’s lotus feet.”
Liberated souls are eligible to drown in the ocean of Śrī Gaura’s service under the guidance of Śrī Nityānanda.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.221
saṁsārera pāra hañā bhaktira sāgare
ye ḍubibe, se bhajuka nitāicāndere
TRANSLATION
Those who wish to cross the ocean of material existence and drown in the ocean of devotional service must worship Lord Nityānanda.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.222
keha bole,—“nityānanda yena balarāma”
keha bole,—“caitanyera baḍa priya-dhāma”
TRANSLATION
Someone said, “Nityānanda is just like Balarāma.” Another person said, “He is most dear to Śrī Caitanya.”
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.223-224
kibā yati nityānanda, kibā bhakta jñānī
yā’ra yena mata icchā, nā bolaye keni
ye-se kene caitanyera nityānanda nahe
tabu sei pāda-padma rahuka hṛdaye
TRANSLATION
Someone may consider Nityānanda a sannyāsī, someone may consider Him a devotee, and someone may consider Him a jñānī. They may say whatever they like. Even if Nityānanda was a most insignificant servant of Lord Caitanya, still I would keep His lotus feet in my heart.
COMMENTARY
“Some people consider Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu as the sannyāsī disciple of Śrī Lakṣmīpati Tīrtha, some people, on seeing His love for Kṛṣṇa, consider Him a devotee, and other people consider Him a great renunciate and learned scholar of Vedānta. They may consider my Lord in whichever way they want, or my worshipable Lord Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu may be related to the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu simply as a menial servant, but I will not enter into this unnecessary subject. I will place the lotus feet of Śrī Nityānanda within my heart while considering him my eternal worshipable Lord.”
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.225
eta parihāre o ye pāpī nindā kare
tabe lāthi māroṅ tā’ra śirera upare
TRANSLATION
Therefore I kick the head of any sinful person who disregards the glories of Lord Nityānanda and dares to criticize Him.
COMMENTARY
The word parihāra means “to rectify the faults,” “to drop the charges,” “to pray,” “to offer,” “to abandon,” and “to neglect.”
In order to permanently stop the continual irreverence towards the Supreme Lord by those hellish people who enviously criticize Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu and to render them eternal benefit and good sense, the author is ready to kick them in the head. By this statement of the most merciful Śrī Ṭhākura Mahāśaya to the staunch atheists, the transcendental goddess of learning, Śuddhā Sarasvatī, displays the firm attachment of a servant towards his master, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, thus teaching everyone through illuminating words that although Ṭhākura Mahāśaya and other pure devotees who act and preach in his footsteps are detached from those who are extremely uninterested in their own welfare, who are determined to run towards hell, and who are ignorant of the truth regarding Śrī Nityānanda, they are nevertheless selflessly and causelessly merciful towards the fallen souls. While Śrīla Ṭhākura Vṛndāvana, who is a Vaiṣṇava ācārya, the direct incarnation of Vyāsa, and servant of Śrī Nityānanda, enacts his pastime of transcendentally kicking, if even one particle of dust falls on the head of some fortunate persons, they will certainly achieve auspiciousness, in other words, their anartha-nivṛtti, or freedom from unwanted things, is guaranteed. The exhibition of such great compassion by Śrī Viṣṇu or the Vaiṣṇavas is beyond the imagination or intelligence of the foolish non-devotees, who cannot discriminate between what is favourable and what is unfavourable for their own welfare. The all-auspicious endeavours and behaviour of the preachers and practitioners of pure devotional service to Gaura-Kṛṣṇa who follow in the footsteps of Ṭhākura Śrī Vṛndāvana, who is the direct incarnation of Śrī Vyāsa, display on one hand gross punishment on the fallen averse living entities and on the other hand subtle unlimited compassion on them.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.226
kona caitanyera loka nityānanda-prati
‘manda’ bole, hena dekha,—se kevala ‘stuti’
TRANSLATION
If you find any follower of Lord Caitanya appear to say something bad about Nityānanda, you should know for certain that what they said was actually glorification.
COMMENTARY
No pure devotee of Gaura can criticize or tolerate criticism against Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu. If anyone thinks that the statements of Śrī Advaita Prabhu towards Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu were criticisms, that is simply his misunderstanding and offense. One should not lose faith in the lotus feet of Nityānanda, who is the only shelter and goal of all living entities, by considering the so-called criticism of Nityānanda to be criticism, when it is actually glorification of Nityānanda.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.227
nitya śuddha jñānavanta vaiṣṇava-sakala
tabe ye kalaha dekha, saba kutuhala
TRANSLATION
Vaiṣṇavas are always pure and full of knowledge, so if there is ever any quarrel between them you should know it is simply part of their pastimes.
COMMENTARY
It should be understood that the apparent act of quarreling on the pretext of criticizing Nityānanda by the pure devotees of Gaura, headed by Advaita, is meant to awaken the living entities’ interest and increase their service attitude towards Nityānanda, because all of Śrī Gaura’s devotees are eternally pure and endowed with pure transcendental knowledge. Ignorance, such as dualities, aversion, or opposition to Viṣṇu and the Vaiṣṇavas, cannot remain in them.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.228
ithe eka-janera haiyā pakṣa yei
anya-jane nindā kare, kṣaya yāya sei
TRANSLATION
If a person takes the side of one Vaiṣṇava and criticizes another, he is certainly vanquished.
COMMENTARY
If someone due to misfortune and material conceptions considers the loving quarrels of the eternally liberated devotees, who are always eager to please Kṛṣṇa, to be like the dualities enjoyed by the conditioned souls, who are agitated by disturbances to their sense gratification, and thus takes the side of one and criticizes the other, then, as a result of his imprudence, his ruination is guaranteed. Without understanding how the most pleasing transcendental opposing parties, who nourish the pastimes of the Absolute Lord Śrī Gaura-Kṛṣṇa, are wonderfully increasing their respective attachment for the Lord, if someone praises one and condemns another due to his enjoying spirit and fruitive mentality, he is certainly inviting his own downfall, or in other words, he is ruining himself.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.229
nityānanda-svarūpe se nindā nā laoyāya
tā’na pathe thākile se gauracandra pāya
TRANSLATION
Anyone who follows Nityānanda without finding fault in Him will surely attain the shelter of Śrī Gauracandra.
COMMENTARY
If a living entity desiring his own welfare personally engages in the service of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu without taking any part whatsoever in criticizing Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, personally or through others, he can be qualified to receive the mercy of Śrīman Mahāprabhu. Simply by following in the footsteps of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, the merciful glance of Śrī Gaura is guaranteed. But endeavours to directly or indirectly criticize or diminish Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu’s glories, on the pretext of serving Him, certainly leads one to hell.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.230
hena dina haiba ki caitanya-nityānanda
dekhiba veṣṭita catur-dike bhakta-vṛnda
TRANSLATION
When will that day come when I will see Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda surrounded by Their devotees?
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.231
sarva-bhāve svāmī yena haya nityānanda
tāṅ’ra haiyā bhaji yena prabhu-gauracandra
TRANSLATION
Let me serve Lord Gauracandra under the instructions of Lord Nityānanda, who is my worshipable Lord in all respects.
COMMENTARY
Just by seeing the word svāmī [which also means “husband”] in this verse, no one should try, like the gaura-nāgarīs, to become the consort of Nityānanda. The eternal desire of the author, who is a devotee of Gaura, is to engage with firm determination in the service of Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu and Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu under the guidance of his spiritual master, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu. Under the guidance of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu and accepting Him as his Lord, the author’s endeavour to favourably assist in Śrī Gaura’s service, of which Nityānanda Prabhu is the proprietor and sole authority, proves the author’s strong attachment for worshiping Gaura.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.232
nityānanda-svarūpera sthāne bhāgavata
janme janme paḍibāṅa,—ei abhimata
TRANSLATION
I desire to study Śrīmad Bhāgavatam under Śrī Nityānanda Svarūpa birth after birth.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.233
jaya jaya mahāprabhu śrī-gaurāṅgacandra
dilā o nilā o tumi prabhu-nityānanda
TRANSLATION
All glories to the Supreme Lord, Śrī Gaurāṅga! You have given me and then taken from me the association of Lord Nityānanda.
COMMENTARY
“If Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu empowers me to understand the meaning of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, as His servant I will constantly keep the conclusions of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and the process of service approved by Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and learned from Him within my heart. May I never become controlled by self-interest and transgress the lotus feet of my spiritual master, Śrī Nityānanda, or consider Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, which is non-different from Śrī Nityānanda, as a commodity of sense gratification.”
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.234
tathāpiha ei kṛpā kara, mahāśaya
tomāte tāṅhāte yena citta-vṛtti raya
TRANSLATION
Still, I beg for Your mercy, so that my mind may remain absorbed in His and Your lotus feet.
COMMENTARY
“By sending Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu as my spiritual master, Śrīman Mahāprabhu has bestowed causeless mercy on such a fallen soul as me, and when the pastimes of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu were completed, He has taken Him away from me. O my Lord, bless me so that my mind may not deviate in Your absence after You have both enacted Your disappearance pastimes. May I ever fix my restless uncontrolled mind at the lotus feet of You both.” By this statement the author has taught the constitutional duty and principle of humility to every servant of the spiritual master.”
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.235
tomāra parama-bhakta nityānanda-rāya
vinā tumi dile tāṅ’re keha nāhi pāya
TRANSLATION
Lord Nityānanda is Your greatest devotee. No one can attain Him without Your sanction.
COMMENTARY
Unless Śrīman Mahāprabhu reveals Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu to a living entity, no one is able to attain His lotus feet. Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu alone is the highest respected servant and non-different from Śrīman Mahāprabhu.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.236
vṛndāvana-ādi kari’ bhrame nityānanda
yāvat nā āpanā’ prakāśe’ gauracandra
TRANSLATION
Lord Nityānanda travelled throughout the forests of Vṛndāvana until Lord Gauracandra displayed His opulences.
COMMENTARY
Until Śrī Gaurasundara displayed His pastimes of distributing His holy names and love of God, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu was traveling to various holy places like Śrīdhāma Vṛndāvana. Until Śrī Gaurasundara completed His covered scholastic pastimes and began manifesting His most magnanimous pastimes to His intimate devotees, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, being afflicted by separation from His Lord, visited holy places throughout India and thus exhibited the pastime of searching for Kṛṣṇa.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.237
nityānanda-svarūpera tīrtha-paryaṭana
yei ihā śune, tā’re mile prema-dhana
TRANSLATION
Whoever hears these descriptions of Nityānanda Svarūpa’s visit to the holy places will attain the treasure of divine love.
CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.238
śrī kṛṣṇa-caitanya nityānanda-cānda jāna
vṛndāvana dāsa tachu pada-yuge gāna
TRANSLATION
Accepting Śrī Caitanya and Nityānanda Prabhu as my life and soul, I, Vṛndāvana dāsa, sing the glories of Their lotus feet.
Thus ends this English translation of the Gauḍīya-bhāṣya commentary on Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa, Chapter Nine, entitled, “Nityānanda’s Childhood Pastimes and Travels to Holy Places.”
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