731217 - Chanting CC Adi-lila 10th and 11th Chapters - Los Angeles
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
(Chapter 10: The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree)
- śrī-caitanya-padāmbhoja-
- madhupebhyo namo namaḥ
- kathañcid āśrayād yeṣāṁ
- śvāpi tad-gandha-bhāg bhavet
Let me repeatedly offer my respectful obeisances unto the beelike devotees who always taste the honey of the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. If even a doggish nondevotee somehow takes shelter of such devotees, he enjoys the aroma of the lotus flower.
- jaya jaya śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nityānanda
- jayādvaitacandra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda
All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaita Prabhu, and all glories to the devotees of Lord Caitanya, headed by Śrīvāsa!
- ei mālīra—ei vṛkṣera akathya kathana
- ebe śuna mukhya-śākhāra nāma-vivaraṇa
The description of Lord Caitanya as the gardener and the tree is inconceivable. Now hear with attention about the branches of this tree.
- caitanya-gosāñira yata pāriṣada-caya
- guru-laghu-bhāva tāṅra nā haya niścaya
The associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were many, but none of them should be considered lower or higher. This cannot be ascertained.
- yata yata mahānta kailā tāṅ-sabāra gaṇana
- keha karibāre nāre jyeṣṭha-laghu-krama
All the great personalities in the line of Lord Caitanya enumerated these devotees, but they could not distinguish between the greater and the lesser.
- ataeva tāṅ-sabāre kari’ namaskāra
- nāma-mātra kari, doṣa nā labe āmāra
I offer my obeisances unto them as a token of respect. I request them not to consider my offenses.
- vande śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-
- premāmara-taroḥ priyān
- śākhā-rūpān bhakta-gaṇān
- kṛṣṇa-prema-phala-pradān
I offer my obeisances to all the dear devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the eternal tree of love of Godhead. I offer my respects to all the branches of the tree, the devotees of the Lord who distribute the fruit of love of Kṛṣṇa.
- śrīvāsa paṇḍita, āra śrī-rāma paṇḍita
- dui bhāi—dui śākhā, jagate vidita
The two brothers Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita and Śrī Rāma Paṇḍita started two branches that are well known in the world.
- śrīpati, śrīnidhi—tāṅra dui sahodara
- cāri bhāira dāsa-dāsī, gṛha-parikara
Their two brothers were named Śrīpati and Śrīnidhi. These four brothers and their servants and maidservants are considered one big branch.
- dui śākhāra upaśākhāya tāṅ-sabāra gaṇana
- yāṅra gṛhe mahāprabhura sadā saṅkīrtana
There is no counting the subbranches of these two branches. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu held congregational chanting daily at the house of Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita.
- cāri bhāi sa-vaṁśe kare caitanyera sevā
- gauracandra vinā nāhi jāne devī-devā
These four brothers and their family members fully engaged in the service of Lord Caitanya. They knew no other god or goddess.
- ‘ācāryaratna’ nāma dhare baḍa eka śākhā
- tāṅra parikara, tāṅra śākhā-upaśākhā
Another big branch was Ācāryaratna, and his associates were subbranches.
- ācāryaratnera nāma ‘śrī-candraśekhara’
- yāṅra ghare devī-bhāve nācilā īśvara
Ācāryaratna was also named Śrī Candraśekhara Ācārya. In a drama in his house, Lord Caitanya played the goddess of fortune.
- puṇḍarīka vidyānidhi—baḍa-śākhā jāni
- yāṅra nāma lañā prabhu kāndilā āpani
Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi, the third big branch, was so dear to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu that in his absence Lord Caitanya Himself would sometimes cry.
- baḍa śākhā,—gadādhara paṇḍita-gosāñi
- teṅho lakṣmī-rūpā, tāṅra sama keha nāi
Gadādhara Paṇḍita, the fourth branch, is described as an incarnation of the pleasure potency of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. No one, therefore, can equal him.
- tāṅra śiṣya-upaśiṣya,—tāṅra upaśākhā
- eimata saba śākhā-upaśākhāra lekhā
His disciples and granddisciples are his subbranches. To describe them all would be difficult.
- vakreśvara paṇḍita—prabhura baḍa priya bhṛtya
- eka-bhāve cabbiśa prahara yāṅra nṛtya
Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, the fifth branch of the tree, was a very dear servant of Lord Caitanya’s. He could dance with constant ecstasy for seventy-two hours.
- āpane mahāprabhu gāya yāṅra nṛtya-kāle
- prabhura caraṇa dhari’ vakreśvara bale
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally sang while Vakreśvara Paṇḍita danced, and thus Vakreśvara Paṇḍita fell at the lotus feet of the Lord and spoke as follows.
- “daśa-sahasra gandharva more deha’ candramukha
- tārā gāya, muñi nācoṅ—tabe mora sukha”
“O Candramukha! Please give me ten thousand Gandharvas. Let them sing as I dance, and then I will be greatly happy.”
- prabhu bale—tumi mora pakṣa eka śākhā
- ākāśe uḍitāma yadi pāṅ āra pākhā
Lord Caitanya replied, “I have only one wing like you, but if I had another, certainly I would fly in the sky!”
- paṇḍita jagadānanda prabhura prāṇa-rūpa
- loke khyāta yeṅho satyabhāmāra svarūpa
Paṇḍita Jagadānanda, the sixth branch of the Caitanya tree, was celebrated as the life and soul of the Lord. He is known to have been an incarnation of Satyabhāmā [one of the chief queens of Lord Kṛṣṇa].
- prītye karite cāhe prabhura lālana-pālana
- vairāgya-loka-bhaye prabhu nā māne kakhana
Jagadānanda Paṇḍita [as an incarnation of Satyabhāmā] always wanted to see to the comfort of Lord Caitanya, but since the Lord was a sannyāsī He did not accept the luxuries that Jagadānanda Paṇḍita offered.
- dui-jane khaṭmaṭi lāgāya kondala
- tāṅra prītyera kathā āge kahiba sakala
They sometimes appeared to fight over trifles, but these quarrels were based on their affection, of which I shall speak later.
- rāghava-paṇḍita—prabhura ādya-anucara
- tāṅra eka śākhā mukhya—makaradhvaja kara
Rāghava Paṇḍita, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s original follower, is understood to have been the seventh branch. From him proceeded another subbranch, headed by Makaradhvaja Kara.
- tāṅhāra bhaginī damayantī prabhura priya dāsī
- prabhura bhoga-sāmagrī ye kare vāra-māsi
Rāghava Paṇḍita’s sister Damayantī was the dear maidservant of the Lord. She always collected various ingredients with which to cook for Lord Caitanya.
- se saba sāmagrī yata jhālite bhariyā
- rāghava la-iyā yā’na gupata kariyā
The foods Damayantī cooked for Lord Caitanya when He was at Purī were carried in bags by her brother Rāghava without the knowledge of others.
- vāra-māsa tāhā prabhu karena aṅgīkāra
- ‘rāghavera jhāli’ bali’ prasiddhi yāhāra
The Lord accepted these foods throughout the entire year. Those bags are still celebrated as rāghavera jhāli [“the bags of Rāghava Paṇḍita”].
- se-saba sāmagrī āge kariba vistāra
- yāhāra śravaṇe bhaktera vahe aśrudhāra
I shall describe the contents of the bags of Rāghava Paṇḍita later in this book. Hearing this narration, devotees generally cry, and tears glide down from their eyes.
- prabhura atyanta priya—paṇḍita gaṅgādāsa
- yāṅhāra smaraṇe haya sarva-bandha-nāśa
Paṇḍita Gaṅgādāsa was the eighth dear branch of the tree of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. One who remembers his activities attains freedom from all bondage.
- caitanya-pārṣada—śrī-ācārya purandara
- pitā kari’ yāṅre bale gaurāṅga-sundara
Śrī Ācārya Purandara, the ninth branch, was a constant associate of Lord Caitanya’s. The Lord accepted him as His father.
- dāmodara-paṇḍita śākhā premete pracaṇḍa
- prabhura upare yeṅho kaila vākya-daṇḍa
Dāmodara Paṇḍita, the tenth branch of the Caitanya tree, was so elevated in love of Lord Caitanya that he once unhesitatingly chastised the Lord with strong words.
- daṇḍa-kathā kahiba āge vistāra kariyā
- daṇḍe tuṣṭa prabhu tāṅre pāṭhāilā nadīyā
Later in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta I shall describe this incident of chastisement in detail. The Lord, being very much satisfied by this chastisement, sent Dāmodara Paṇḍita to Navadvīpa.
- tāṅhāra anuja śākhā—śaṅkara-paṇḍita
- ‘prabhu-pādopādhāna’ yāṅra nāma vidita
The eleventh branch, the younger brother of Dāmodara Paṇḍita, was known as Śaṅkara Paṇḍita. He was celebrated as the shoes of the Lord.
- sadāśiva-paṇḍita yāṅra prabhu-pade āśa
- prathamei nityānandera yāṅra ghare vāsa
Sadāśiva Paṇḍita, the twelfth branch, was always eager to serve the lotus feet of the Lord. It was his good fortune that when Lord Nityānanda came to Navadvīpa He resided at his house.
- śrī-nṛsiṁha-upāsaka—pradyumna brahmacārī
- prabhu tāṅra nāma kailā ‘nṛsiṁhānanda’ kari’
The thirteenth branch was Pradyumna Brahmacārī. Since he was a worshiper of Lord Nṛsiṁha-deva, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu changed his name to Nṛsiṁhānanda Brahmacārī.
- nārāyaṇa-paṇḍita eka baḍai udāra
- caitanya-caraṇa vinu nāhi jāne āra
Nārāyaṇa Paṇḍita, the fourteenth branch, a great and liberal devotee, did not know any shelter but Lord Caitanya’s lotus feet.
- śrīmān-paṇḍita śākhā—prabhura nija bhṛtya
- deuṭi dharena, yabe prabhu karena nṛtya
The fifteenth branch was Śrīmān Paṇḍita, who was a constant servitor of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He used to carry a torch while the Lord danced.
- śuklāmbara-brahmacārī baḍa bhāgyavān
- yāṅra anna māgi’ kāḍi’ khāilā bhagavān
The sixteenth branch, Śuklāmbara Brahmacārī, was very fortunate because Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu jokingly or seriously begged food from him or sometimes snatched it from him forcibly and ate it.
- nandana-ācārya-śākhā jagate vidita
- lukāiyā dui prabhura yāṅra ghare sthita
Nandana Ācārya, the seventeenth branch of the Caitanya tree, is celebrated within the world because the two Prabhus [Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda] sometimes hid in his house.
- śrī-mukunda-datta śākhā—prabhura samādhyāyī
- yāṅhāra kīrtane nāce caitanya-gosāñi
Mukunda Datta, a class friend of Lord Caitanya’s, was another branch of the Caitanya tree. Lord Caitanya danced while he sang.
- vāsudeva datta—prabhura bhṛtya mahāśaya
- sahasra-mukhe yāṅra guṇa kahile nā haya
Vāsudeva Datta, the nineteenth branch of the Śrī Caitanya tree, was a great personality and a most confidential devotee of the Lord. One could not describe his qualities even with thousands of mouths.
- jagate yateka jīva, tāra pāpa lañā
- naraka bhuñjite cāhe jīva chāḍāiyā
Śrīla Vāsudeva Datta Ṭhākura wanted to suffer for the sinful activities of all the people of the world so that Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu might deliver them.
- haridāsa-ṭhākura śākhāra adbhuta carita
- tina lakṣa nāma teṅho layena apatita
The twentieth branch of the Caitanya tree was Haridāsa Ṭhākura. His character was wonderful. He used to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa 300,000 times a day without fail.
- tāṅhāra ananta guṇa—kahi diṅmātra
- ācārya gosāñi yāṅre bhuñjāya śrāddha-pātra
There was no end to the transcendental qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Here I mention but a fraction of his qualities. He was so exalted that Advaita Gosvāmī, when performing the śrāddha ceremony of his father, offered him the first plate.
- prahlāda-samāna tāṅra guṇera taraṅga
- yavana-tāḍaneo yāṅra nāhika bhrū-bhaṅga
The waves of his good qualities were like those of Prahlāda Mahārāja. He did not even slightly raise an eyebrow when persecuted by the Muslim ruler.
- teṅho siddhi pāile tāṅra deha lañā kole
- nācila caitanya-prabhu mahā-kutūhale
After the passing away of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the Lord Himself took his body on His lap and danced with it in great ecstasy.
- tāṅra līlā varṇiyāchena vṛndāvana-dāsa
- yebā avaśiṣṭa, āge kariba prakāśa
Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has vividly described the pastimes of Haridāsa Ṭhākura in his Caitanya-bhāgavata. Whatever has remained undescribed I shall try to explain later in this book.
- tāṅra upaśākhā—yata kulīna-grāmī jana
- satyarāja-ādi—tāṅra kṛpāra bhājana
One subbranch of Haridāsa Ṭhākura consisted of the residents of Kulīna-grāma. The most important among them was Satyarāja Khān, or Satyarāja Vasu, who was a recipient of all the mercy of Haridāsa Ṭhākura.
- śrī-murāri gupta śākhā—premera bhāṇḍāra
- prabhura hṛdaya drave śuni’ dainya yāṅra
Murāri Gupta, the twenty-first branch of the tree of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, was a storehouse of love of Godhead. His great humility and meekness melted the heart of Lord Caitanya.
- pratigraha nāhi kare, nā laya kāra dhana
- ātma-vṛtti kari’ kare kuṭumba bharaṇa
Śrīla Murāri Gupta never accepted charity from friends, nor did he accept money from anyone. He practiced as a physician and maintained his family with his earnings.
- cikitsā karena yāre ha-iyā sadaya
- deha-roga bhāva-roga,—dui tāra kṣaya
As Murāri Gupta treated his patients, by his mercy both their bodily and spiritual diseases subsided.
- śrīmān sena prabhura sevaka pradhāna
- caitanya-caraṇa vinu nāhi jāne āna
Śrīmān Sena, the twenty-second branch of the Caitanya tree, was a very faithful servant of Lord Caitanya. He knew nothing else but the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
- śrī-gadādhara dāsa śākhā sarvopari
- kājī-gaṇera mukhe yeṅha bolāila hari
Śrī Gadādhara dāsa, the twenty-third branch, was understood to be the topmost, for he induced all the Muslim Kazis to chant the holy name of Lord Hari.
- śivānanda sena—prabhura bhṛtya antaraṅga
- prabhu-sthāne yāite sabe layena yāṅra saṅga
Śivānanda Sena, the twenty-fourth branch of the tree, was an extremely confidential servant of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Everyone who went to Jagannātha Purī to visit Lord Caitanya took shelter and guidance from Śrī Śivānanda Sena.
- prativarṣe prabhu-gaṇa saṅgete lā-iyā
- nīlācale calena pathe pālana kariyā
Every year he took a party of devotees from Bengal to Jagannātha Purī to visit Lord Caitanya. He maintained the entire party as they journeyed on the road.
- bhakte kṛpā karena prabhu e-tina svarūpe
- ‘sākṣāt,’ ‘āveśa’ āra ‘āvirbhāva’-rūpe
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bestows His causeless mercy upon His devotees in three features: His own direct appearance [sākṣāt], His prowess within someone He empowers [āveśa], and His manifestation [āvirbhāva].
- ‘sākṣāte’ sakala bhakta dekhe nirviśeṣa
- nakula brahmacāri-dehe prabhura ‘āveśa’
The appearance of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in every devotee’s presence is called sākṣāt. His appearance in Nakula Brahmacārī as a symptom of special prowess is an example of āveśa.
- ‘pradyumna brahmacārī’ tāṅra āge nāma chila
- ‘nṛsiṁhānanda’ nāma prabhu pāche ta’ rākhila
The former Pradyumna Brahmacārī was given the name Nṛsiṁhānanda Brahmacārī by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
- tāṅhāte ha-ila caitanyera ‘āvirbhāva’
- alaukika aiche prabhura aneka svabhāva
In his body there were symptoms of āvirbhāva. Such appearances are uncommon, but Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu displayed many such pastimes through His different features.
- āsvādila e saba rasa sena śivānanda
- vistāri’ kahiba āge e-saba ānanda
Śrīla Śivānanda Sena experienced the three features of sākṣāt, āveśa and āvirbhāva. Later I shall vividly describe this transcendentally blissful subject.
- śivānandera upaśākhā, tāṅra parikara
- putra-bhṛty-ādi kari’ caitanya-kiṅkara
The sons, servants and family members of Śivānanda Sena constituted a subbranch. They were all sincere servants of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
- caitanya-dāsa, rāmadāsa, āra karṇapūra
- tina putra śivānandera prabhura bhakta-śūra
The three sons of Śivānanda Sena, named Caitanya dāsa, Rāmadāsa and Karṇapūra, were all heroic devotees of Lord Caitanya.
- śrī-vallabhasena, āra sena śrīkānta
- śivānanda-sambandhe prabhura bhakta ekānta
Śrīvallabha Sena and Śrīkānta Sena were also subbranches of Śivānanda Sena, for they were not only his nephews but also unalloyed devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
- prabhu-priya govindānanda mahābhāgavata
- prabhura kīrtanīyā ādi śrī-govinda datta
Govindānanda and Govinda Datta, the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth branches of the tree, were performers of kīrtana in the company of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Govinda Datta was the principal singer in Lord Caitanya’s kīrtana party.
- śrī-vijaya-dāsa-nāma prabhura ākhariyā
- prabhure aneka puṅthi diyāche likhiyā
Śrī Vijaya dāsa, the twenty-seventh branch, another of the Lord’s chief singers, gave the Lord many books written by hand.
- ‘ratnabāhu’ bali’ prabhu thuila tāṅra nāma
- akiñcana prabhura priya kṛṣṇadāsa-nāma
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave Vijaya dāsa the name Ratnabāhu [“jewel-handed”] because he copied many manuscripts for Him. The twenty-eighth branch was Kṛṣṇadāsa, who was very dear to the Lord. He was known as Akiñcana Kṛṣṇadāsa.
- kholā-vecā śrīdhara prabhura priya-dāsa
- yāṅhā-sane prabhu kare nitya parihāsa
The twenty-ninth branch was Śrīdhara, a trader in banana-tree bark. He was a very dear servant of the Lord. On many occasions, the Lord played jokes on him.
- prabhu yāṅra nitya laya thoḍa-mocā-phala
- yāṅra phuṭā-lauhapātre prabhu pilā jala
Every day Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu jokingly snatched fruits, flowers and pulp from Śrīdhara and drank from his broken iron pot.
- prabhura atipriya dāsa bhagavān paṇḍita
- yāṅra dehe kṛṣṇa pūrve hailā adhiṣṭhita
The thirtieth branch was Bhagavān Paṇḍita. He was an extremely dear servant of the Lord, but even previously he was a great devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa who always kept the Lord within his heart.
- jagadīśa paṇḍita, āra hiraṇya mahāśaya
- yāre kṛpā kaila bālye prabhu dayāmaya
The thirty-first branch was Jagadīśa Paṇḍita, and the thirty-second was Hiraṇya Mahāśaya, unto whom Lord Caitanya in His childhood showed His causeless mercy.
- ei dui-ghare prabhu ekādaśī dine
- viṣṇura naivedya māgi’ khāila āpane
In their two houses Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu begged food on the Ekādaśī day and personally ate it.
- prabhura paḍuyā dui,—puruṣottama, sañjaya
- vyākaraṇe dui śiṣya—dui mahāśaya
The thirty-third and thirty-fourth branches were the two students of Caitanya Mahāprabhu named Puruṣottama and Sañjaya, who were stalwart students in grammar. They were very great personalities.
- vanamālī paṇḍita śākhā vikhyāta jagate
- soṇāra muṣala hala dekhila prabhura hāte
Vanamālī Paṇḍita, the thirty-fifth branch of the tree, was very much celebrated in this world. He saw a golden club and plow in the hands of the Lord.
- śrī-caitanyera ati priya buddhimanta khān
- ājanma ājñākārī teṅho sevaka-pradhāna
The thirty-sixth branch, Buddhimanta Khān, was extremely dear to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He was always prepared to carry out the Lord’s orders, and therefore he was considered to be a chief servant of the Lord.
- garuḍa paṇḍita laya śrīnāma-maṅgala
- nāma-bale viṣa yāṅre nā karila bala
Garuḍa Paṇḍita, the thirty-seventh branch of the tree, always engaged in chanting the auspicious name of the Lord. Because of the strength of this chanting, even the effects of poison could not touch him.
- gopīnātha siṁha—eka caitanyera dāsa
- akrūra bali’ prabhu yāṅre kailā parihāsa
Gopīnātha Siṁha, the thirty-eighth branch of the tree, was a faithful servant of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The Lord jokingly addressed him as Akrūra.
- bhāgavatī devānanda vakreśvara-kṛpāte
- bhāgavatera bhakti-artha pāila prabhu haite
Devānanda Paṇḍita was a professional reciter of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, but by the mercy of Vakreśvara Paṇḍita and the grace of the Lord he understood the devotional interpretation of the Bhāgavatam.
- khaṇḍavāsī mukunda-dāsa, śrī-raghunandana
- narahari-dāsa, cirañjīva, sulocana
- ei saba mahāśākhā—caitanya-kṛpādhāma
- prema-phala-phula kare yāhāṅ tāhāṅ dāna
Śrī Khaṇḍavāsī Mukunda and his son Raghunandana were the thirty-ninth branch of the tree, Narahari was the fortieth, Cirañjīva the forty-first and Sulocana the forty-second. They were all big branches of the all-merciful tree of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. They distributed the fruits and flowers of love of Godhead anywhere and everywhere.
- kulīnagrāma-vāsī satyarāja, rāmānanda
- yadunātha, puruṣottama, śaṅkara, vidyānanda
Satyarāja, Rāmānanda, Yadunātha, Puruṣottama, Śaṅkara and Vidyānanda all belonged to the twentieth branch. They were inhabitants of the village known as Kulīna-grāma.
- vāṇīnātha vasu ādi yata grāmī jana
- sabei caitanya-bhṛtya,—caitanya-prāṇadhana
All the inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma village, headed by Vāṇīnātha Vasu, were servants of Lord Caitanya, who was their only life and wealth.
- prabhu kahe, kulīnagrāmera ye haya kukkura
- sei mora priya, anya jana rahu dūra
The Lord said, “What to speak of others, even a dog in the village of Kulīna-grāma is My dear friend.
- kulīnagrāmīra bhāgya kahane nā yāya
- śūkara carāya ḍoma, seha kṛṣṇa gāya
“No one can describe the fortunate position of Kulīna-grāma. It is so sublime that even sweepers who tend their hogs there also chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.”
- anupama-vallabha, śrī-rūpa, sanātana
- ei tina śākhā vṛkṣera paścime sarvottama
On the western side were the forty-third, forty-fourth and forty-fifth branches—Śrī Sanātana, Śrī Rūpa and Anupama. They were the best of all.
- tāṅra madhye rūpa-sanātana—baḍa śākhā
- anupama, jīva, rājendrādi upaśākhā
Among these branches, Rūpa and Sanātana were principal. Anupama, Jīva Gosvāmī and others, headed by Rājendra, were their subbranches.
- mālīra icchāya śākhā bahuta bāḍila
- bāḍiyā paścima deśa saba ācchādila
By the will of the supreme gardener, the branches of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī grew many times over, expanding throughout the western countries and covering the entire region.
- ā-sindhunadī-tīra āra himālaya
- vṛndāvana-mathurādi yata tīrtha haya
Extending to the borders of the river Sindhu and the Himalayan Mountain valleys, these two branches expanded throughout India, including all the places of pilgrimage, such as Vṛndāvana, Mathurā and Haridvāra.
- dui śākhāra prema-phale sakala bhāsila
- prema-phalāsvāde loka unmatta ha-ila
The fruits of love of Godhead which fructified on these two branches were distributed in abundance. Tasting these fruits, everyone became mad after them.
- paścimera loka saba mūḍha anācāra
- tāhāṅ pracārila doṅhe bhakti-sadācāra
The people in general on the western side of India were neither intelligent nor well behaved, but by the influence of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī they were trained in devotional service and good behavior.
- śāstra-dṛṣṭye kaila lupta-tīrthera uddhāra
- vṛndāvane kaila śrīmūrti-sevāra pracāra
In accordance with the directions of the revealed scriptures, both Gosvāmīs excavated the lost places of pilgrimage and inaugurated the worship of Deities in Vṛndāvana.
- mahāprabhura priya bhṛtya—raghunātha-dāsa
- sarva tyaji’ kaila prabhura pada-tale vāsa
Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, the forty-sixth branch of the tree, was one of the most dear servants of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He left all his material possessions to surrender completely unto the Lord and live at His lotus
- feet.
- TEXT 92
- prabhu samarpila tāṅre svarūpera hāte
- prabhura gupta-sevā kaila svarūpera sāthe
When Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī approached Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Jagannātha Purī, the Lord entrusted him to the care of Svarūpa Dāmodara, His secretary. Thus they both engaged in the confidential service of the Lord.
- ṣoḍaśa vatsara kaila antaraṅga-sevana
- svarūpera antardhāne āilā vṛndāvana
He rendered confidential service to the Lord for sixteen years at Jagannātha Purī, and after the disappearance of both the Lord and Svarūpa Dāmodara, he left Jagannātha Purī and went to Vṛndāvana.
- vṛndāvane dui bhāira caraṇa dekhiyā
- govardhane tyajiba deha bhṛgupāta kariyā
Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī intended to go to Vṛndāvana to see the lotus feet of Rūpa and Sanātana and then give up his life by jumping from Govardhana Hill.
- ei ta’ niścaya kari’ āila vṛndāvane
- āsi’ rūpa-sanātanera vandila caraṇe
Thus Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī came to Vṛndāvana, visited Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī and offered them his obeisances.
- tabe dui bhāi tāṅre marite nā dila
- nija tṛtīya bhāi kari’ nikaṭe rākhila
These two brothers, however, did not allow him to die. They accepted him as their third brother and kept him in their company.
- mahāprabhura līlā yata bāhira-antara
- dui bhāi tāṅra mukhe śune nirantara
Because Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī was an assistant to Svarūpa Dāmodara, he knew much about the external and internal features of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya. Thus the two brothers Rūpa and Sanātana always used to hear of this from him.
- anna-jala tyāga kaila anya-kathana
- pala dui-tina māṭhā karena bhakṣaṇa
Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī gradually gave up all food and drink but a few drops of buttermilk.
- sahasra daṇḍavat kare, laya lakṣa nāma
- dui sahasra vaiṣṇavere nitya paraṇāma
As a daily duty, he regularly offered one thousand obeisances to the Lord, chanted at least one hundred thousand holy names and offered obeisances to two thousand Vaiṣṇavas.
- rātri-dine rādhā-kṛṣṇera mānasa sevana
- prahareka mahāprabhura caritra-kathana
Day and night he rendered service within his mind to Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, and for three hours a day he discoursed about the character of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
- tina sandhyā rādhā-kuṇḍe apatita snāna
- vraja-vāsī vaiṣṇave kare āliṅgana māna
Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī took three baths daily in the Rādhā-kuṇḍa lake. As soon as he found a Vaiṣṇava residing in Vṛndāvana, he would embrace him and give him all respect.
- sārdha sapta-prahara kare bhaktira sādhane
- cāri daṇḍa nidrā, seha nahe kona-dine
He engaged himself in devotional service for more than twenty-two and a half hours a day, and for less than two hours he slept, although on some days that also was not possible.
- tāṅhāra sādhana-rīti śunite camatkāra
- sei rūpa-raghunātha prabhu ye āmāra
I am struck with wonder when I hear about the devotional service he executed. I accept Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī as my guides.
- iṅhā-sabāra yaiche haila prabhura milana
- āge vistāriyā tāhā kariba varṇana
I shall later explain very elaborately how all these devotees met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
- śrī-gopāla bhaṭṭa eka śākhā sarvottama
- rūpa-sanātana-saṅge yāṅra prema-ālāpana
Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, the forty-seventh branch, was one of the great and exalted branches of the tree. He always engaged in discourses about love of Godhead in the company of Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī.
- śaṅkarāraṇya—ācārya-vṛkṣera eka śākhā
- mukunda, kāśīnātha, rudra—upaśākhā lekhā
The ācārya Śaṅkarāraṇya was considered the forty-eighth branch of the original tree. From Him proceeded the subbranches known as Mukunda, Kāśīnātha and Rudra.
- śrīnātha paṇḍita—prabhura kṛpāra bhājana
- yāṅra kṛṣṇa-sevā dekhi’ vaśa tri-bhuvana
Śrīnātha Paṇḍita, the forty-ninth branch, was the beloved recipient of all the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Everyone in the three worlds was astonished to see how he worshiped Lord Kṛṣṇa.
- jagannātha ācārya prabhura priya dāsa
- prabhura ājñāte teṅho kaila gaṅgā-vāsa
- Jagannātha Ācārya, the fiftieth branch of the Caitanya tree, was an extremely dear servant of the Lord, by whose order he decided to live on the bank of the Ganges.
- kṛṣṇadāsa vaidya, āra paṇḍita-śekhara
- kavicandra, āra kīrtanīyā ṣaṣṭhīvara
The fifty-first branch of the Caitanya tree was Kṛṣṇadāsa Vaidya, the fifty-second was Paṇḍita Śekhara, the fifty-third was Kavicandra, and the fifty-fourth was Ṣaṣṭhīvara, who was a great saṅkīrtana performer.
- śrīnātha miśra, śubhānanda, śrīrāma, īśāna
- śrīnidhi, śrīgopīkānta, miśra bhagavān
The fifty-fifth branch was Śrīnātha Miśra, the fifty-sixth was Śubhānanda, the fifty-seventh was Śrīrāma, the fifty-eighth was Īśāna, the fifty-ninth was Śrīnidhi, the sixtieth was Śrī Gopīkānta, and the sixty-first was Miśra Bhagavān.
- subuddhi miśra, hṛdayānanda, kamala-nayana
- maheśa paṇḍita, śrīkara, śrī-madhusūdana
The sixty-second branch of the tree was Subuddhi Miśra, the sixty-third was Hṛdayānanda, the sixty-fourth was Kamala-nayana, the sixty-fifth was Maheśa Paṇḍita, the sixty-sixth was Śrīkara, and the sixty-seventh was Śrī Madhusūdana.
- puruṣottama, śrī-gālīma, jagannātha-dāsa
- śrī-candraśekhara vaidya, dvija haridāsa
The sixty-eighth branch of the original tree was Puruṣottama, the sixty-ninth was Śrī Gālīma, the seventieth was Jagannātha dāsa, the seventy-first was Śrī Candraśekhara Vaidya, and the seventy-second was Dvija Haridāsa.
- rāmadāsa, kavicandra, śrī-gopāladāsa
- bhāgavatācārya, ṭhākura sāraṅgadāsa
The seventy-third branch of the original tree was Rāmadāsa, the seventy-fourth was Kavicandra, the seventy-fifth was Śrī Gopāla dāsa, the seventy-sixth was Bhāgavata Ācārya, and the seventy-seventh was Ṭhākura Sāraṅga dāsa.
- jagannātha tīrtha, vipra śrī-jānakīnātha
- gopāla ācārya, āra vipra vāṇīnātha
The seventy-eighth branch of the original tree was Jagannātha Tīrtha, the seventy-ninth was the brāhmaṇa Śrī Jānakīnātha, the eightieth was Gopāla Ācārya, and the eighty-first was the brāhmaṇa Vāṇīnātha.
- govinda, mādhava, vāsudeva—tina bhāi
- yāṅ-sabāra kīrtane nāce caitanya-nitāi
The three brothers Govinda, Mādhava and Vāsudeva were the eighty-second, eighty-third and eighty-fourth branches of the tree. Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda used to dance in their kīrtana performances.
- rāmadāsa abhirāma—sakhya-premarāśi
- ṣolasāṅgera kāṣṭha tuli’ ye karila vāṅśī
Rāmadāsa Abhirāma was fully absorbed in the mellow of friendship. He made a flute of a bamboo stick with sixteen knots.
- prabhura ājñāya nityānanda gauḍe calilā
- tāṅra saṅge tina-jana prabhu-ājñāya āilā
By the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, three devotees accompanied Lord Nityānanda Prabhu when He returned to Bengal to preach.
- rāmadāsa, mādhava, āra vāsudeva ghoṣa
- prabhu-saṅge rahe govinda pāiyā santoṣa
These three were Rāmadāsa, Mādhava Ghoṣa and Vāsudeva Ghoṣa. Govinda Ghoṣa, however, remained with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Jagannātha Purī and thus felt great satisfaction.
- bhāgavatācārya, cirañjīva śrī-raghunandana
- mādhavācārya, kamalākānta, śrī-yadunandana
Bhāgavata Ācārya, Cirañjīva, Śrī Raghunandana, Mādhavācārya, Kamalākānta and Śrī Yadunandana were all among the branches of the Caitanya tree.
- mahā-kṛpā-pātra prabhura jagāi, mādhāi
- ‘patita-pāvana’ nāmera sākṣī dui bhāi
Jagāi and Mādhāi, the eighty-ninth and ninetieth branches of the tree, were the greatest recipients of Lord Caitanya’s mercy. These two brothers were the witnesses who proved that Lord Caitanya was rightly named Patita-pāvana, “the deliverer of the fallen souls.”
- gauḍa-deśa-bhaktera kaila saṅkṣepa kathana
- ananta caitanya-bhakta nā yāya gaṇana
I have given a brief description of the devotees of Lord Caitanya in Bengal. Actually His devotees are innumerable.
- nīlācale ei saba bhakta prabhu-saṅge
- dui sthāne prabhu-sevā kaila nānā-raṅge
I have especially mentioned all these devotees because they accompanied Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu in Bengal and Orissa and served Him in many ways.
- kevala nīlācale prabhura ye ye bhakta-gaṇa
- saṅkṣepe kariye kichu se saba kathana
Let me briefly describe some of the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu in Jagannātha Purī.
- nīlācale prabhu-saṅge yata bhakta-gaṇa
- sabāra adhyakṣa prabhura marma dui-jana
- paramānanda-purī, āra svarūpa-dāmodara
- gadādhara, jagadānanda, śaṅkara, vakreśvara
- dāmodara paṇḍita, ṭhākura haridāsa
- raghunātha vaidya, āra raghunātha-dāsa
Among the devotees who accompanied the Lord in Jagannātha Purī, two of them—Paramānanda Purī and Svarūpa Dāmodara—were the heart and soul of the Lord. Among the other devotees were Gadādhara, Jagadānanda, Śaṅkara, Vakreśvara, Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Ṭhākura Haridāsa, Raghunātha Vaidya and Raghunātha dāsa.
- ityādika pūrva-saṅgī baḍa bhakta-gaṇa
- nīlācale rahi’ kare prabhura sevana
All these devotees were associates of the Lord from the very beginning, and when the Lord took up residence in Jagannātha Purī, they remained there to serve Him faithfully.
- āra yata bhakta-gaṇa gauḍa-deśa-vāsī
- pratyabde prabhure dekhe nīlācale āsi’
All the devotees who resided in Bengal used to visit Jagannātha Purī every year to see the Lord.
- nīlācale prabhu-saha prathama milana
- sei bhakta-gaṇera ebe kariye gaṇana
Now let me enumerate the devotees of Bengal who first came to see the Lord at Jagannātha Purī.
- baḍa-śākhā eka,—sārvabhauma bhaṭṭācārya
- tāṅra bhagnī-pati śrī-gopīnāthācārya
There was Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, one of the biggest branches of the tree of the Lord, and his sister’s husband, Śrī Gopīnātha Ācārya.
- kāśī-miśra, pradyumna-miśra, rāya bhavānanda
- yāṅhāra milane prabhu pāilā ānanda
In the list of devotees at Jagannātha Purī [which begins with Paramānanda Purī, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Gopīnātha Ācārya], Kāśī Miśra was the fifth, Pradyumna Miśra the sixth and Bhavānanda Rāya the seventh. Lord Caitanya took great pleasure in meeting with them.
- āliṅgana kari’ tāṅre balila vacana
- tumi pāṇḍu, pañca-pāṇḍava—tomāra nandana
Embracing Rāya Bhavānanda, the Lord declared to him, “You formerly appeared as Pāṇḍu, and your five sons appeared as the five Pāṇḍavas.”
- rāmānanda rāya, paṭṭanāyaka gopīnātha
- kalānidhi, sudhānidhi, nāyaka vāṇīnātha
The five sons of Bhavānanda Rāya were Rāmānanda Rāya, Paṭṭanāyaka Gopīnātha, Kalānidhi, Sudhānidhi and Nāyaka Vāṇīnātha.
- ei pañca putra tomāra mora priyapātra
- rāmānanda saha mora deha-bheda mātra
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Bhavānanda Rāya, “Your five sons are all My dear devotees. Rāmānanda Rāya and I are one, although our bodies are different.”
- pratāparudra rājā, āra oḍhra kṛṣṇānanda
- paramānanda mahāpātra, oḍhra śivānanda
- bhagavān ācārya, brahmānandākhya bhāratī
- śrī-śikhi māhiti, āra murāri māhiti
King Pratāparudra of Orissa, the Oriyā devotees Kṛṣṇānanda and Śivānanda, and Paramānanda Mahāpātra, Bhagavān Ācārya, Brahmānanda Bhāratī, Śrī Śikhi Māhiti and Murāri Māhiti constantly associated with Caitanya Mahāprabhu while He resided in Jagannātha Purī.
- mādhavī-devī—śikhi-māhitira bhaginī
- śrī-rādhāra dāsī-madhye yāṅra nāma gaṇi
Mādhavīdevī, the seventeenth of the prominent devotees, was the younger sister of Śikhi Māhiti. She is considered to have formerly been a maidservant of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.
- īśvara-purīra śiṣya—brahmacārī kāśīśvara
- śrī-govinda nāma tāṅra priya anucara
Brahmacārī Kāśīśvara was a disciple of Īśvara Purī, and Śrī Govinda was another of his dear disciples.
- tāṅra siddhi-kāle doṅhe tāṅra ājñā pāñā
- nīlācale prabhu-sthāne milila āsiyā
In the list of prominent devotees at Nīlācala [Jagannātha Purī], Kāśīśvara was the eighteenth and Govinda the nineteenth. They both came to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Jagannātha Purī, being thus ordered by Īśvara Purī at the time of his passing away.
- gurura sambandhe mānya kaila duṅhākāre
- tāṅra ājñā māni’ sevā dilena doṅhāre
Both Kāśīśvara and Govinda were Godbrothers of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and thus the Lord duly honored them as soon as they arrived. But because Īśvara Purī had ordered them to give Caitanya Mahāprabhu personal service, the Lord accepted their service.
- aṅga-sevā govindere dilena īśvara
- jagannātha dekhite calena āge kāśīśvara
Govinda cared for the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, whereas Kāśīśvara went in front of the Lord when He went to see Jagannātha in the temple.
- aparaśa yāya gosāñi manuṣya-gahane
- manuṣya ṭheli’ patha kare kāśī balavāne
When Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the temple of Jagannātha, Kāśīśvara, being very strong, cleared the crowds aside with his hands so that Caitanya Mahāprabhu could pass untouched.
- rāmāi-nandāi—doṅhe prabhura kiṅkara
- govindera saṅge sevā kare nirantara
Rāmāi and Nandāi, the twentieth and twenty-first among the important devotees in Jagannātha Purī, always assisted Govinda twenty-four hours a day in rendering service to the Lord.
- bāiśa ghaḍā jala dine bharena rāmāi
- govinda-ājñāya sevā karena nandāi
Every day Rāmāi filled twenty-two big waterpots, whereas Nandāi personally assisted Govinda.
- kṛṣṇadāsa nāma śuddha kulīna brāhmaṇa
- yāre saṅge laiyā kailā dakṣiṇa gamana
The twenty-second devotee, Kṛṣṇadāsa, was born of a pure and respectable brāhmaṇa family. While touring southern India, Lord Caitanya took Kṛṣṇadāsa with Him.
- balabhadra bhaṭṭācārya—bhakti adhikārī
- mathurā-gamane prabhura yeṅho brahmacārī
As a bona fide devotee, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya, the twenty-third principal associate, acted as the brahmacārī of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu when He toured Mathurā.
- baḍa haridāsa, āra choṭa haridāsa
- dui kīrtanīyā rahe mahāprabhura pāśa
Baḍa Haridāsa and Choṭa Haridāsa, the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth devotees in Nīlācala, were good singers who always accompanied Lord Caitanya.
- rāmabhadrācārya, āra oḍhra siṁheśvara
- tapana ācārya, āra raghu, nīlāmbara
Among the devotees who lived with Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Jagannātha Purī, Rāmabhadra Ācārya was the twenty-sixth, Siṁheśvara the twenty-seventh, Tapana Ācārya the twenty-eighth, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭācārya the twenty-ninth and Nīlāmbara the thirtieth.
- siṅgābhaṭṭa, kāmābhaṭṭa, dantura śivānanda
- gauḍe pūrva bhṛtya prabhura priya kamalānanda
Siṅgābhaṭṭa was the thirty-first, Kāmābhaṭṭa the thirty-second, Śivānanda the thirty-third and Kamalānanda the thirty-fourth. They all formerly served Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in Bengal, but later these servants left Bengal to live with the Lord in Jagannātha Purī.
- acyutānanda—advaita-ācārya-tanaya
- nīlācale rahe prabhura caraṇa āśraya
Acyutānanda, the thirty-fifth devotee, was the son of Advaita Ācārya. He also lived with Lord Caitanya, taking shelter of His lotus feet at Jagannātha Purī.
- nirloma gaṅgādāsa, āra viṣṇudāsa
- ei sabera prabhu-saṅge nīlācale vāsa
Nirloma Gaṅgādāsa and Viṣṇudāsa were the thirty-sixth and thirty-seventh among the devotees who lived at Jagannātha Purī as servants of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
- vārāṇasī-madhye prabhura bhakta tina jana
- candraśekhara vaidya, āra miśra tapana
- raghunātha bhaṭṭācārya—miśrera nandana
- prabhu yabe kāśī āilā dekhi’ vṛndāvana
- candraśekhara-gṛhe kaila dui māsa vāsa
- tapana-miśrera ghare bhikṣā dui māsa
The prominent devotees at Vārāṇasī were the physician Candraśekhara, Tapana Miśra and Raghunātha Bhaṭṭācārya, Tapana Miśra’s son. When Lord Caitanya came to Vārāṇasī after seeing Vṛndāvana, for two months He lived at the residence of Candraśekhara Vaidya and accepted prasādam at the house of Tapana Miśra.
- raghunātha bālye kaila prabhura sevana
- ucchiṣṭa-mārjana āra pāda-saṁvāhana
When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed at the house of Tapana Miśra, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, who was then a boy, washed His dishes and massaged His legs.
- baḍa haile nīlācale gelā prabhura sthāne
- aṣṭa-māsa rahila bhikṣā dena kona dine
When Raghunātha grew to be a young man, he visited Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Jagannātha Purī and stayed there for eight months. Sometimes he offered prasādam to the Lord.
- prabhura ājñā pāñā vṛndāvanere āilā
- āsiyā śrī-rūpa-gosāñira nikaṭe rahilā
Later, by the order of Lord Caitanya, Raghunātha went to Vṛndāvana and remained there under the shelter of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.
- tāṅra sthāne rūpa-gosāñi śunena bhāgavata
- prabhura kṛpāya teṅho kṛṣṇa-preme matta
While he stayed with Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, his engagement was to recite Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam for him to hear. As a result of this Bhāgavatam recitation, he attained perfectional love of Kṛṣṇa, by which he remained always maddened.
- ei-mata saṅkhyātīta caitanya-bhakta-gaṇa
- diṅmātra likhi, samyak nā yāya kathana
I list in this way only a portion of the innumerable devotees of Lord Caitanya. To describe them all fully is not possible.
- ekaika-śākhāte lāge koṭi koṭi ḍāla
- tāra śiṣya-upaśiṣya, tāra upaḍāla
From each branch of the tree have grown hundreds and thousands of subbranches of disciples and granddisciples.
- sakala bhariyā āche prema-phula-phale
- bhāsāila tri-jagat kṛṣṇa-prema-jale
Every branch and subbranch of the tree is full of innumerable fruits and flowers. They inundate the world with the waters of love of Kṛṣṇa.
- eka eka śākhāra śakti ananta mahimā
- ‘sahasra vadane’ yāra dite nāre sīmā
Each and every branch of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s devotees has unlimited spiritual power and glory. Even if one had thousands of mouths, it would be impossible to describe the limits of their activities.
- saṅkṣepe kahila mahāprabhura bhakta-gaṇa
- samagra balite nāre ‘sahasra-vadana’
I have briefly described the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu in different places. Even Lord Śeṣa, who has thousands of mouths, could not list them all.
- śrī-rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa
- caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇadāsa
Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.
(Chapter 11: The Expansions of Lord Nityānanda)
- nityānanda-padāmbhoja-
- bhṛṅgān prema-madhūnmadān
- natvākhilān teṣu mukhyā
- likhyante katicin mayā
After offering my obeisances unto all the devotees of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, who are like bumblebees collecting honey from His lotus feet, I shall try to describe those who are the most prominent.
- jaya jaya mahāprabhu śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya
- tāṅhāra caraṇāśrita yei, sei dhanya
All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! Anyone who has taken shelter at His lotus feet is glorious.
- jaya jaya śrī-advaita, jaya nityānanda
- jaya jaya mahāprabhura sarva-bhakta-vṛnda
All glories to Śrī Advaita Prabhu, Nityānanda Prabhu and all the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu!
- tasya śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-
- sat-premāmara-śākhinaḥ
- ūrdhva-skandhāvadhūtendoḥ
- śākhā-rūpān gaṇān numaḥ
Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu is the topmost branch of the indestructible tree of eternal love of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. I offer my respectful obeisances to all the subbranches of that topmost branch.
- śrī-nityānanda-vṛkṣera skandha gurutara
- tāhāte janmila śākhā-praśākhā vistara
Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu is an extremely heavy branch of the Śrī Caitanya tree. From that branch grow many branches and subbranches.
- mālākarera icchā jale bāḍe śākhā-gaṇa
- prema-phula-phale bhari’ chāila bhuvana
Watered by the desire of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, these branches and subbranches have grown unlimitedly and covered the entire world with fruits and flowers.
- asaṅkhya ananta gaṇa ke karu gaṇana
- āpanā śodhite kahi mukhya mukhya jana
These branches and subbranches of devotees are innumerable and unlimited. Who could count them? For my personal purification I shall try to enumerate only the most prominent among them.
- śrī-vīrabhadra gosāñi—skandha-mahāśākhā
- tāṅra upaśākhā yata, asaṅkhya tāra lekhā
After Nityānanda Prabhu, the greatest branch is Vīrabhadra Gosāñi, who also has innumerable branches and subbranches. It is not possible to describe them all.
- īśvara ha-iyā kahāya mahā-bhāgavata
- veda-dharmātīta hañā veda-dharme rata
Although Vīrabhadra Gosāñi was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He presented Himself as a great devotee. And although the Supreme Godhead is transcendental to all Vedic injunctions, He strictly followed the Vedic rituals.
- antare īśvara-ceṣṭā, bāhire nirdambha
- caitanya-bhakti-maṇḍape teṅho mūla-stambha
He is the main pillar in the hall of devotional service erected by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He knew within Himself that He acted as the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, but externally He was prideless.
- adyāpi yāṅhāra kṛpā-mahimā ha-ite
- caitanya-nityānanda gāya sakala jagate
It is by the glorious mercy of Śrī Vīrabhadra Gosāñi that people all over the world now have the chance to chant the names of Caitanya and Nityānanda.
- sei vīrabhadra-gosāñira la-inu śaraṇa
- yāṅhāra prasāde haya abhīṣṭa-pūraṇa
I therefore take shelter of the lotus feet of Vīrabhadra Gosāñi, so that by His mercy my great desire to write Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta will be properly guided.
- śrī-rāmadāsa āra, gadādhara dāsa
- caitanya-gosāñira bhakta rahe tāṅra pāśa
Two devotees of Lord Caitanya named Śrī Rāmadāsa and Gadādhara dāsa always lived with Śrī Vīrabhadra Gosāñi.
- nityānande ājñā dila yabe gauḍe yāite
- mahāprabhu ei dui dilā tāṅra sāthe
- ataeva dui-gaṇe duṅhāra gaṇana
- mādhava-vāsudeva ghoṣerao ei vivaraṇa
When Nityānanda Prabhu was ordered to go to Bengal to preach, these two devotees [Śrī Rāmadāsa and Gadādhara dāsa] were ordered to go with Him. Thus they are sometimes counted among the devotees of Lord Caitanya and sometimes among the devotees of Lord Nityānanda. Similarly, Mādhava Ghoṣa and Vāsudeva Ghoṣa belonged to both groups of devotees simultaneously.
- rāmadāsa—mukhya-śākhā, sakhya-prema-rāśi
- ṣolasāṅgera kāṣṭha yei tuli’ kaila vaṁśī
Rāmadāsa, one of the chief branches, was full of fraternal love of Godhead. He made a flute from a stick with sixteen knots.
- gadādhara dāsa gopībhāve pūrṇānanda
- yāṅra ghare dānakeli kaila nityānanda
Śrīla Gadādhara dāsa was always fully absorbed in ecstasy as a gopī. In his house Lord Nityānanda enacted the drama Dāna-keli.
- śrī-mādhava ghoṣa—mukhya kīrtanīyā-gaṇe
- nityānanda-prabhu nṛtya kare yāṅra gāne
Śrī Mādhava Ghoṣa was a principal performer of kīrtana. While he sang, Nityānanda Prabhu danced.
- vāsudeva gīte kare prabhura varṇane
- kāṣṭha-pāṣāṇa drave yāhāra śravaṇe
When Vāsudeva Ghoṣa described Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda while performing kīrtana, even wood and stone would melt upon hearing it.
- murāri-caitanya-dāsera alaukika līlā
- vyāghra-gāle caḍa māre, sarpa-sane khelā
There were many extraordinary activities performed by Murāri, a great devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Sometimes in his ecstasy he would slap the cheek of a tiger, and sometimes he would play with a venomous snake.
- nityānandera gaṇa yata—saba vraja-sakhā
- śṛṅga-vetra-gopaveśa, śire śikhi-pākhā
All the associates of Lord Nityānanda were formerly cowherd boys in Vrajabhūmi. Their symbolic representations were the horns and sticks they carried, their cowherd dress and the peacock plumes on their heads.
- raghunātha vaidya upādhyāya mahāśaya
- yāṅhāra darśane kṛṣṇa-prema-bhakti haya
The physician Raghunātha, also known as Upādhyāya, was so great a devotee that simply by seeing him one would awaken his dormant love of Godhead.
- sundarānanda—nityānandera śākhā, bhṛtya marma
- yāṅra saṅge nityānanda kare vraja-narma
Sundarānanda, another branch of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, was Lord Nityānanda’s most intimate servant. Lord Nityānanda Prabhu perceived the life of Vrajabhūmi in his company.
- kamalākara pippalāi—alaukika rīta
- alaukika prema tāṅra bhuvane vidita
Kamalākara Pippalāi is said to have been the third gopāla. His behavior and love of Godhead were uncommon, and thus he is celebrated all over the world.
- sūryadāsa sarakhela, tāṅra bhāi kṛṣṇadāsa
- nityānande dṛḍha viśvāsa, premera nivāsa
Sūryadāsa Sarakhela and his younger brother Kṛṣṇadāsa Sarakhela both possessed firm faith in Nityānanda Prabhu. They were a reservoir of love of Godhead.
- gaurīdāsa paṇḍita yāṅra premoddaṇḍa-bhakti
- kṛṣṇa-premā dite, nite, dhare mahāśakti
Gaurīdāsa Paṇḍita, the emblem of the most elevated devotional service in love of Godhead, had the greatest potency to receive and deliver such love.
- nityānande samarpila jāti-kula-pāṅti
- śrī-caitanya-nityānande kari prāṇapati
Making Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda the Lords of his life, Gaurīdāsa Paṇḍita sacrificed everything for the service of Lord Nityānanda, even the fellowship of his own family.
- nityānanda prabhura priya—paṇḍita purandara
- premārṇava-madhye phire yaichana mandara
The thirteenth important devotee of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu was Paṇḍita Purandara, who moved in the ocean of love of Godhead just like the Mandara Hill.
- parameśvara-dāsa—nityānandaika-śaraṇa
- kṛṣṇa-bhakti pāya, tāṅre ye kare smaraṇa
Parameśvara dāsa, said to be the fifth gopāla of kṛṣṇa-līlā, completely surrendered to the lotus feet of Nityānanda. Anyone who remembers his name, Parameśvara dāsa, will get love of Kṛṣṇa very easily.
- jagadīśa paṇḍita haya jagat-pāvana
- kṛṣṇa-premāmṛta varṣe, yena varṣā ghana
Jagadīśa Paṇḍita, the fifteenth branch of Lord Nityānanda’s followers, was the deliverer of the entire world. Devotional love of Kṛṣṇa showered from him like torrents of rain.
- nityānanda-priyabhṛtya paṇḍita dhanañjaya
- atyanta virakta, sadā kṛṣṇa-premamaya
The sixteenth dear servant of Nityānanda Prabhu was Dhanañjaya Paṇḍita. He was very much renounced and always merged in love of Kṛṣṇa.
- maheśa paṇḍita—vrajera udāra gopāla
- ḍhakkā-vādye nṛtya kare preme mātoyāla
Maheśa Paṇḍita, the seventh of the twelve gopālas, was very liberal. In great love of Kṛṣṇa he danced to the beating of a kettledrum like a madman.
- navadvīpe puruṣottama paṇḍita mahāśaya
- nityānanda-nāme yāṅra mahonmāda haya
Puruṣottama Paṇḍita, a resident of Navadvīpa, was the eighth gopāla. He would become almost mad as soon as he heard the holy name of Nityānanda Prabhu.
- balarāma dāsa—kṛṣṇa-prema-rasāsvādī
- nityānanda-nāme haya parama unmādī
Balarāma dāsa always fully tasted the nectar of love of Kṛṣṇa. Upon hearing the name of Nityānanda Prabhu, he would become greatly maddened.
- mahā-bhāgavata yadunātha kavicandra
- yāṅhāra hṛdaye nṛtya kare nityānanda
Yadunātha Kavicandra was a great devotee. Lord Nityānanda Prabhu always danced in his heart.
- rāḍhe yāṅra janma kṛṣṇadāsa dvija-vara
- śrī-nityānandera teṅho parama kiṅkara
The twenty-first devotee of Śrī Nityānanda in Bengal was Kṛṣṇadāsa Brāhmaṇa, who was a first-class servant of the Lord.
- kālā-kṛṣṇadāsa baḍa vaiṣṇava-pradhāna
- nityānanda-candra vinu nahi jāne āna
The twenty-second devotee of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu was Kālā Kṛṣṇadāsa, who was the ninth cowherd boy. He was a first-class Vaiṣṇava and did not know anything beyond Nityānanda Prabhu.
- śrī-sadāśiva kavirāja—baḍa mahāśaya
- śrī-puruṣottama-dāsa—tāṅhāra tanaya
The twenty-third and twenty-fourth prominent devotees of Nityānanda Prabhu were Sadāśiva Kavirāja and his son Puruṣottama dāsa, who was the tenth gopāla.
- ājanma nimagna nityānandera caraṇe
- nirantara bālya-līlā kare kṛṣṇa-sane
From birth, Puruṣottama dāsa was merged in the service of the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, and he always engaged in childish play with Lord Kṛṣṇa.
- tāṅra putra—mahāśaya śrī-kānu ṭhākura
- yāṅra dehe rahe kṛṣṇa-premāmṛta-pūra
Śrī Kānu Ṭhākura, a very respectable gentleman, was the son of Puruṣottama dāsa Ṭhākura. He was such a great devotee that Lord Kṛṣṇa always lived in his body.
- mahā-bhāgavata-śreṣṭha datta uddhāraṇa
- sarva-bhāve seve nityānandera caraṇa
Uddhāraṇa Datta Ṭhākura, the eleventh among the twelve cowherd boys, was an exalted devotee of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu. He worshiped the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda in all respects.
- ācārya vaiṣṇavānanda bhakti-adhikārī
- pūrve nāma chila yāṅra ‘raghunātha purī’
The twenty-seventh prominent devotee of Nityānanda Prabhu was Ācārya Vaiṣṇavānanda, a great personality in devotional service. He was formerly known as Raghunātha Purī.
- viṣṇudāsa, nandana, gaṅgādāsa—tina bhāi
- pūrve yāṅra ghare chilā ṭhākura nitāi
Another important devotee of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu was Viṣṇudāsa, who had two brothers, Nandana and Gaṅgādāsa. Lord Nityānanda Prabhu sometimes stayed at their house.
- nityānanda-bhṛtya—paramānanda upādhyāya
- śrī-jīva paṇḍita nityānanda-guṇa gāya
Paramānanda Upādhyāya was Nityānanda Prabhu’s great servitor. Śrī Jīva Paṇḍita glorified the qualities of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu.
- paramānanda gupta—kṛṣṇa-bhakta mahāmatī
- pūrve yāṅra ghare nityānandera vasati
The thirty-first devotee of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu was Paramānanda Gupta, who was greatly devoted to Lord Kṛṣṇa and highly advanced in spiritual consciousness. Formerly Nityānanda Prabhu also resided at his house for some time.
- nārāyaṇa, kṛṣṇadāsa āra manohara
- devānanda—cāri bhāi nitāi-kiṅkara
The thirty-second, thirty-third, thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth prominent devotees were Nārāyaṇa, Kṛṣṇadāsa, Manohara and Devānanda, who always engaged in the service of Lord Nityānanda.
- hoḍa kṛṣṇadāsa—nityānanda-prabhu-prāṇa
- nityānanda-pada vinu nāhi jāne āna
The thirty-sixth devotee of Lord Nityānanda was Hoḍa Kṛṣṇadāsa, whose life and soul was Nityānanda Prabhu. He was always dedicated to the lotus feet of Nityānanda, and he knew no one else but Him.
- nakaḍi, mukunda, sūrya, mādhava, śrīdhara
- rāmānanda vasu, jagannātha, mahīdhara
Among Lord Nityānanda’s devotees, Nakaḍi was the thirty-seventh, Mukunda the thirty-eighth, Sūrya the thirty-ninth, Mādhava the fortieth, Śrīdhara the forty-first, Rāmānanda the forty-second, Jagannātha the forty-third and Mahīdhara the forty-fourth.
- śrīmanta, gokula-dāsa hariharānanda
- śivāi, nandāi, avadhūta paramānanda
Śrīmanta was the forty-fifth, Gokula dāsa the forty-sixth, Hariharānanda the forty-seventh, Śivāi the forty-eighth, Nandāi the forty-ninth and Paramānanda the fiftieth.
- vasanta, navanī hoḍa, gopāla, sanātana
- viṣṇāi hājarā, kṛṣṇānanda, sulocana
Vasanta was the fifty-first, Navanī Hoḍa the fifty-second, Gopāla the fifty-third, Sanātana the fifty-fourth, Viṣṇāi the fifty-fifth, Kṛṣṇānanda the fifty-sixth and Sulocana the fifty-seventh.
- kaṁsāri sena, rāmasena, rāmacandra kavirāja
- govinda, śrīraṅga, mukunda, tina kavirāja
The fifty-eighth great devotee of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu was Kaṁsāri Sena, the fifty-ninth was Rāmasena, the sixtieth was Rāmacandra Kavirāja, and the sixty-first, sixty-second and sixty-third were Govinda, Śrīraṅga and Mukunda, who were all physicians.
- pītāmbara, mādhavācārya, dāsa dāmodara
- śaṅkara, mukunda, jñāna-dāsa, manohara
Among the devotees of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, Pītāmbara was the sixty-fourth, Mādhavācārya the sixty-fifth, Dāmodara dāsa the sixty-sixth, Śaṅkara the sixty-seventh, Mukunda the sixty-eighth, Jñāna dāsa the sixty-ninth and Manohara the seventieth.
- nartaka gopāla, rāmabhadra, gaurāṅga-dāsa
- nṛsiṁha-caitanya, mīnaketana rāmadāsa
The dancer Gopāla was the seventy-first, Rāmabhadra the seventy-second, Gaurāṅga dāsa the seventy-third, Nṛsiṁha-caitanya the seventy-fourth and Mīnaketana Rāmadāsa the seventy-fifth.
- vṛndāvana-dāsa—nārāyaṇīra nandana
- ‘caitanya-maṅgala’ yeṅho karila racana
Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, the son of Śrīmatī Nārāyaṇī, composed Śrī Caitanya-maṅgala [later known as Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata].
- bhāgavate kṛṣṇa-līlā varṇilā vedavyāsa
- caitanya-līlāte vyāsa—vṛndāvana dāsa
Śrīla Vyāsadeva described the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. The Vyāsa of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was Vṛndāvana dāsa.
- sarvaśākhā-śreṣṭha vīrabhadra gosāñi
- tāṅra upaśākhā yata, tāra anta nāi
Among all the branches of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, Vīrabhadra Gosāñi was the topmost. His subbranches were unlimited.
- ananta nityānanda-gaṇa—ke karu gaṇana
- ātma-pavitratā-hetu likhilāṅ kata jana
No one can count the unlimited followers of Nityānanda Prabhu. I have mentioned some of them just for my self-purification.
- ei sarva-śākhā pūrṇa—pakva prema-phale
- yāre dekhe, tāre diyā bhāsāila sakale
All these branches, the devotees of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, being full of ripened fruits of love of Kṛṣṇa, distributed these fruits to all they met, flooding them with love of Kṛṣṇa.
- anargala prema sabāra, ceṣṭā anargala
- prema dite, kṛṣṇa dite dhare mahābala
All these devotees had unlimited strength to deliver unobstructed, unceasing love of Kṛṣṇa. By their own strength they could offer anyone Kṛṣṇa and love of Kṛṣṇa.
- saṅkṣepe kahilāṅ ei nityānanda-gaṇa
- yāṅhāra avadhi nā pāya ‘sahasra-vadana’
I have briefly described only some of the followers and devotees of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu. Even the thousand-mouthed Śeṣa Nāga cannot describe all of these unlimited devotees.
- śrī-rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa
- caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇadāsa
With an ardent desire to serve the purpose of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.