Through the endless verdant forest, Sri Caitanya roams In the jungle Jharikhanda, this time so happy on His own. In His blissful mood, the Lord’s ecstasy soars
Dancing with the elephants, to the tigers’ delighted roars!
He and they, together again! - the animals had no fears,
Theirs the greatest fortune when Mahaprabhu appears.
Imagine that! The Supreme Himself, playing at the role
Of His own greatest devotee, calling, “ Hari Hari bol!”
Bringing love of God for all, without any reserve
distributing it freely, so beautifully He served
The goal of life; to take pleasure, but in the rightful way
So eternal knowledge and spiritual bliss may be ours, today.
Giving up their material animosity, the animals approached with curiosity.
Within their hearts the Supersoul, reminding them of the final goal;
To return to their pure and free spiritual state,
The Lord so kindly relieving them of a bestial and hostile state.
Splashing water, singing “Krsna”, the animals were freed
by Lord Caitanya’s mercies, the greatest good indeed.
Hogs and dogs, tigers and deer, plants and tiny insects even
All of them were granted love, their sinful pasts forgiven.
He embraced the ancient trees and they were gone
On their way directly back to home.
No one can calculate the great good fortune they will meet
Having obtained the blessed dust of Lord Caitanya‘s lotus feet.
He so enjoyed to take prasad of vegetables and spinach growing wild
Bathing in forest waterfalls, our Lord so sweetly smiled.
Warming himself in evenings, with a fire made from fallen wood,
Always remembering Sri Krsna, He did so very much good;
For those who saw or heard Him obtained the highest goal,
Of love, in true Self-knowledge, their life restored, now whole.
Beautiful youthful strong and pure, radiantly golden, deeply blissful for sure
Glancing kindly, wishing the best for all the creatures of forest and nest.
Just see how wonderful Lord Caitanya appears to the tearful eyes of Tamoharadasa
Prabhupada, Los Angeles, January 16, 1969: [...] Actually, when Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed through the forest known as Jharikhanda in central India, He was only accompanied by his personal attendant, and He was alone, and when He was passing through the forest He touched one tiger. He was sleeping, and the tiger answered roaring. The company, Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s attendant, he thought, “Now we are gone.’’ But actually, Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked the tiger, “Why you are sleeping? Just stand up. Chant Hare Krishna.’’ And the tiger began to dance. So actually, this happened. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu preached this Hare Krishna movement, the tigers, the deers, the Everyone joined.
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