TEXT 58
TEXT
āratira kāle dui prabhu bolāila
prabhu-saṅge sabe āsi’ ārati dekhila
SYNONYMS
āratira kāle—during the time of ārati; dui prabhu—Lord Nityānanda and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; bolāila—He called; prabhu-saṅge—with the Lords; sabe—all other people; āsi’—coming there; ārati—the ārati ceremony; dekhila—observed.
TRANSLATION
It is the system, after offering food, to perform bhoga-ārati. Advaita Prabhu asked the two brothers, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu, to come see the ārati. The two Lords and all others present went to see the ārati ceremony.
Madhya 3.59
TEXT 59
TEXT
ārati kariyā kṛṣṇe karā’la śayana
ācārya āsi’ prabhure tabe kailā nivedana
SYNONYMS
ārati kariyā—after finishing the ārati; kṛṣṇe—Lord Kṛṣṇa; karā’la—made to do; śayana—lying down to rest; ācārya—Advaita Ācārya; āsi’—coming; prabhure—unto Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tabe—then; kailā—made; nivedana—submission.
TRANSLATION
After ārati was performed for the Deities in the temple, Lord Kṛṣṇa was made to lie down to rest. Advaita Ācārya then came out to submit something to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Madhya 3.60
TEXT 60
TEXT
gṛhera bhitare prabhu karuna gamana
dui bhāi āilā tabe karite bhojana
SYNONYMS
gṛhera bhitare—within the room; prabhu—Caitanya Mahāprabhu; karuna—kindly do; gamana—entering; dui bhāi—the two brothers, Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu; āilā—came; tabe—then; karite bhojana—to partake of the prasādam.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Advaita Prabhu said, “My dear Lords, kindly enter this room.” The two brothers, Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu, then came forward to take the prasādam.
Madhya 3.61
TEXT 61
TEXT
mukunda, haridāsa,—dui prabhu bolāila
yoḍa-hāte dui-jana kahite lāgila
SYNONYMS
mukunda—Mukunda; haridāsa—Haridāsa; dui prabhu—the two Lords; bolāila—called for; yoḍa-hāte—with folded hands; dui-jana—two persons; kahite lāgila—began to say.
TRANSLATION
When Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu went to accept the prasādam, They both called Mukunda and Haridāsa to come with Them. However, Mukunda and Haridāsa, both with folded hands, spoke as follows.
Madhya 3.62
TEXT 62
TEXT
mukunda kahe—mora kichu kṛtya nāhi sare
pāche muñi prasāda pāmu, tumi yāha ghare
SYNONYMS
mukunda kahe—Mukunda said; mora—of me; kichu—something; kṛtya—to perform; nāhi sare—not yet finished; pāche—later; muñi—I; prasāda—prasādam; pāmu—shall accept; tumi yāha ghare—You both kindly enter the room.
TRANSLATION
When Mukunda was called for, he submitted, “My dear sir, I have something to do that is not yet finished. Later I shall accept the prasādam, so You two Prabhus should now please enter the room.”
Madhya 3.63
TEXT 63
TEXT
haridāsa kahe—muñi pāpiṣṭha adhama
bāhire eka muṣṭi pāche karimu bhojana
SYNONYMS
haridāsa kahe—Haridāsa said; muñi—I; pāpiṣṭha—sinful; adhama—the lowest of men; bāhire—outside; eka—one; muṣṭi—palmful; pāche—later; karimu—I shall do; bhojana—eating.
TRANSLATION
Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, “I am the most sinful and lowest among men. Later I shall eat one palmful of prasādam while waiting outside.”
PURPORT
Although the Hindus and Muslims lived together in a very friendly manner, still there were distinctions between them. The Muslims were considered yavanas, or low-born, and whenever a Muslim was invited, he would be fed outside of the house. Although personally called by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu to take prasādam with Them, still, out of great humility, Haridāsa Ṭhākura submitted, “I shall take the prasādam outside of the house.” Although Haridāsa Ṭhākura was an exalted Vaiṣṇava accepted by Advaita Ācārya, Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, nonetheless, in order not to disturb social tranquillity, he humbly kept himself in the position of a Muslim, outside the jurisdiction of the Hindu community. Therefore he proposed to take prasādam outside the house. Although he was in an exalted position and equal to other great Vaiṣṇavas, he considered himself a pāpiṣṭha, a most sinful man, and adhama, the lowest among men. Although a Vaiṣṇava may be very advanced spiritually, he keeps himself externally humble and submissive.
Madhya 3.64
TEXT 64
TEXT
dui prabhu lañā ācārya gelā bhitara ghare
prasāda dekhiyā prabhura ānanda antare
SYNONYMS
dui prabhu—the two prabhus (Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu); lañā—with; ācārya—Advaita Ācārya; gelā—went; bhitara—within; ghare—the room; prasāda—the prasādam; dekhiyā—seeing; prabhura—of Caitanya Mahāprabhu; ānanda antare—was very pleased within Himself.
TRANSLATION
Advaita Ācārya took Lord Nityānanda Prabhu and Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu within the room, and the two Lords saw the arrangement of the prasādam. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was especially very pleased.
PURPORT
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was pleased because He saw how nicely so many varieties of food were prepared for Kṛṣṇa. Actually all kinds of prasādam are prepared for Kṛṣṇa, not for the people, but the devotees partake of prasādam with great pleasure.
Madhya 3.65
TEXT 65
TEXT
aiche anna ye kṛṣṇake karāya bhojana
janme janme śire dharoṅ tāṅhāra caraṇa
SYNONYMS
aiche—in this way; anna—the eatables; ye—anyone who; kṛṣṇake—unto Kṛṣṇa; karāya—made to do; bhojana—eating; janme janme—birth after birth; śire—on My head; dharoṅ—I keep; tāṅhāra—his; caraṇa—lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu approved of all the methods employed in cooking and offering food to Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, He was so pleased that He said, “Frankly, I will personally take the lotus feet of anyone who can offer Kṛṣṇa such nice food and place those lotus feet on My head birth after birth.”
Madhya 3.66
TEXT 66
TEXT
prabhu jāne tina bhoga—kṛṣṇera naivedya
ācāryera manaḥ-kathā nahe prabhura vedya
SYNONYMS
prabhu jāne—the Lord knows; tina bhoga—three divisions of bhoga; kṛṣṇera naivedya—offerings to Lord Kṛṣṇa; ācāryera—of Advaita Ācārya; manaḥ-kathā—the intentions; nahe—not; prabhura—to the Lord; vedya—understandable.
TRANSLATION
When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu entered the room, He saw three divisions of food, and He knew that all of these were meant for Kṛṣṇa. However, He did not understand the intentions of Advaita Ācārya.
PURPORT
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura states that one of these servings was offered in a metal dish and was meant for Kṛṣṇa, whereas the other two were placed on big banana leaves. The offering on the metal plate was personally offered by Advaita Ācārya to Kṛṣṇa. The other two servings, on banana leaves, were to be accepted by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Nityānanda. That was Advaita Ācārya’s intention, but He did not disclose this to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Thus when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the food offered in three places, He thought that all of it was meant for Kṛṣṇa.
Madhya 3.67
TEXT 67
TEXT
prabhu bale—vaisa tine kariye bhojana
ācārya kahe—āmi kariba pariveśana
SYNONYMS
prabhu bale—Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; vaisa—sit down; tine—in the three places; kariye—do; bhojana—eating; ācārya kahe—Advaita Ācārya replied; āmi kariba pariveśana—I shall distribute.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Let Us sit down in these three places, and We shall take prasādam.”
However, Advaita Ācārya said, “I shall distribute the prasādam.”
Madhya 3.68
TEXT 68
TEXT
kon sthāne vasiba, āra āna dui pāta
alpa kari’ āni’ tāhe deha vyañjana bhāta
SYNONYMS
kon sthāne vasiba—where shall We sit down; āra—other; āna—bring; dui pāta—two leaves; alpa kari’—making a small quantity; āni’—bringing; tāhe—on that; deha—give; vyañjana—vegetables; bhāta—and boiled rice.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thought that all three servings were meant for distribution; therefore He asked for another two banana leaves, saying, “Let Us have a very little quantity of vegetable and rice.”
Madhya 3.69
TEXT 69
TEXT
ācārya kahe—vaisa doṅhe piṅḍira upare
eta bali’ hāte dhari’ vasāila duṅhāre
SYNONYMS
ācārya kahe—Advaita Ācārya said; vaisa—sit down; doṅhe—You two; piṅḍira upare—on the planks of wood; eta bali’—saying this; hāte dhari’—catching Their hands; vasāila duṅhāre—sat the two Lords down.
TRANSLATION
Advaita Ācārya said, “Just sit down here on these seats.” Catching Their hands, He sat Them both down.
Madhya 3.70
TEXT 70
TEXT
prabhu kahe—sannyāsīra bhakṣya nahe upakaraṇa
ihā khāile kaiche haya indriya vāraṇa
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe—the Lord said; sannyāsīra—by a sannyāsī; bhakṣya—to be eaten; nahe—this is not; upakaraṇa—varieties of food; ihā—this; khāile—if eating; kaiche—how; haya—there is; indriya—senses; vāraṇa—controlling.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “It is not proper for a sannyāsī to eat such a variety of foods. If he does, how can he control his senses?”
PURPORT
The word upakaraṇa indicates a variety of foods, such as dhal, vegetables and other varieties of possible dishes that one can eat very nicely with rice. It is not proper, however, for a sannyāsī to eat such palatable dishes. If he did so, he would not be able to control his senses. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not encourage sannyāsīs to eat very palatable dishes, for the whole Vaiṣṇava cult is vairāgya-vidyā, as renounced as possible. Caitanya Mahāprabhu also advised Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī not to eat very palatable dishes, wear very nice garments or talk on mundane subjects. These things are all prohibited for those in the renounced order. A devotee does not accept anything to eat that is not first offered to Kṛṣṇa. All the rich foods offered to Kṛṣṇa are given to the gṛhasthas, the householders. There are many nice things offered to Kṛṣṇa—garlands, bedsteads, nice ornaments, nice food and even nicely prepared pan, betel nuts-but a humble Vaiṣṇava, thinking his body material and nasty, does not accept such preparations for himself. He thinks that by accepting such things he will offend the lotus feet of the Lord. Those who are sahajiyās cannot understand what Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu meant when He asked Advaita Ācārya to bring two separate leaves and give a small quantity of the prasādam to Him.
Madhya 3.71
TEXT 71
TEXT
ācārya kahe—chāḍa tumi āpanāra curi
āmi saba jāni tomāra sannyāsera bhāri-bhuri
SYNONYMS
ācārya kahe—Advaita Ācārya replied; chāḍa—give up; tumi—You; āpanāra—of Yourself; curi—the concealment; āmi—I; saba—all; jāni—know; tomāra—of You; sannyāsera—of the acceptance of the renounced order; bhāri-bhuri—the confidential meaning.
TRANSLATION
When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not accept the food that had already been served, Advaita Ācārya said, “Please give up Your concealment. I know what You are, and I know the confidential meaning of Your accepting the sannyāsa order.”
Madhya 3.72
TEXT 72
TEXT
bhojana karaha, chāḍa vacana-cāturī
prabhu kahe—eta anna khāite nā pāri
SYNONYMS
bhojana karaha—kindly accept this prasādam; chāḍa—give up; vacana-cāturī—jugglery of words; prabhu kahe—the Lord said; eta—so much; anna—food; khāite—to eat; nā pāri—I am not able.
TRANSLATION
Advaita Ācārya thus requested Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to eat and give up juggling words. The Lord replied, “I certainly cannot eat so much food.”
Madhya 3.73
TEXT 73
TEXT
ācārya bale—akapaṭe karaha āhāra
yadi khāite nā pāra pāte rahibeka āra
SYNONYMS
ācārya bale—Advaita Ācārya says; akapaṭe—without pretense; karaha—kindly do; āhāra—eating; yadi—if; khāite—to eat; nā pāra—You are not able; pāte—on the leaf; rahibeka āra—let the balance remain.
TRANSLATION
Advaita Ācārya then requested the Lord to simply accept the prasādam without pretense. If He could not eat it all, the balance could be left on the plate.
Madhya 3.74
TEXT 74
TEXT
prabhu bale—eta anna nāriba khāite
sannyāsīra dharma nahe ucchiṣṭa rākhite
SYNONYMS
prabhu bale—the Lord said; eta—so much; anna—eatables; nāriba—I will not be able; khāite—to eat; sannyāsīra—of a sannyāsī; dharma nahe—it is not the duty; ucchiṣṭa—remnants of food; rākhite—to keep.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “I will not be able to eat so much food, and it is not the duty of a sannyāsī to leave remnants.”
PURPORT
According to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.18.19):
bahir jalāśayaṁ gatvā tatopaspṛśya vāg-yataḥ
vibhajya pāvitaṁ śeṣaṁ bhuñjītāśeṣam āhṛtam
“Whatever edibles a sannyāsī gets from a householder’s house he should take outside near some lake or river, and after offering the food to Viṣṇu, Brahmā and the sun (three divisions), he should eat the entire offering and not leave anything for others to eat.”
Madhya 3.75
TEXT 75
TEXT
ācārya bale—nīlācale khāo cauyānna-bāra
eka-bāre anna khāo śata śata bhāra
SYNONYMS
ācārya bale—Advaita Ācārya replies; nīlācale—at Jagannātha Purī; khāo—You eat; cauyānna-bāra—fifty-four times; eka-bāre—at one time; anna—eatables; khāo—You eat; śata śata bhāra—hundreds of pots.
TRANSLATION
In this connection Advaita Ācārya referred to Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s eating at Jagannātha Purī. Lord Jagannātha and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are identical. Advaita Ācārya pointed out that at Jagannātha Purī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ate fifty-four times a day, and each time He ate many hundreds of pots of food.
Madhya 3.76
TEXT 76
TEXT
tina janāra bhakṣya-piṇḍa—tomāra eka grāsa
tāra lekhāya ei anna nahe pañca-grāsa
SYNONYMS
tina janāra—of three persons; bhakṣya-piṇḍa—the stack of eatables; tomāra—of You; eka grāsa—one morsel; tāra—to that; lekhāya—in proportion; ei anna—this food; nahe—is not; pañca-grāsa—five morsels.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Advaita Ācārya said, “The amount of food that three people can eat does not constitute even a morsel for You. In proportion to that, these edibles are not even five morsels of food for You.”
Madhya 3.77
TEXT 77
TEXT
mora bhāgye, mora ghare, tomāra āgamana
chāḍaha cāturī, prabhu, karaha bhojana
SYNONYMS
mora bhāgye—by My fortune; mora ghare—at My home; tomāra—Your; āgamana—appearance; chāḍaha—please give up; cāturī—all this jugglery; prabhu—My Lord; karaha—just do; bhojana—eating.
TRANSLATION
Advaita Ācārya continued, “By My great fortune You have just come to My home. Please do not juggle words. Just begin eating and do not talk.”
Madhya 3.78
TEXT 78
TEXT
eta bali’ jala dila dui gosāñira hāte
hāsiyā lāgilā duṅhe bhojana karite
SYNONYMS
eta bali’—saying this; jala dila—supplied water; dui gosāñira—of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Nityānanda; hāte—on the hands; hāsiyā—smiling; lāgilā—began; duṅhe—both of Them; bhojana karite—to eat.
TRANSLATION
Upon saying this, Advaita Ācārya supplied water to the two Lords so that They could wash Their hands. The two Lords then sat down and, smiling, began to eat the prasādam.
Madhya 3.79
TEXT 79
TEXT
nityānanda kahe—kailuṅ tina upavāsa
āji pāraṇā karite chila baḍa āśa
SYNONYMS
nityānanda kahe—Lord Nityānanda said; kailuṅ—I have undergone; tina—three; upavāsa—fasting days; āji—today; pāraṇā—breaking the fast; karite—to do; chila—there was; baḍa—great; āśa—hope.
TRANSLATION
Nityānanda Prabhu said, “I have undergone fasting for three days continuously. Today I had hoped to break My fast.”
Madhya 3.80
TEXT 80
TEXT
āji upavāsa haila ācārya-nimantraṇe
ardha-peṭa nā bharibe ei grāseka anne
SYNONYMS
āji—today also; upavāsa—fasting; haila—there was; ācārya-nimantraṇe—by the invitation of Advaita Ācārya; ardha-peṭa—half My belly; nā—not; bharibe—will fill; ei—this; grāseka anne—one morsel of food.
TRANSLATION
Although Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was thinking that the quantity of food was enormous, Nityānanda Prabhu, on the contrary, thought it not even a morsel. He had been fasting for three days and had greatly hoped to break fast on that day. Indeed, He said, “Although I am invited to eat by Advaita Ācārya, today also is a fast. So small a quantity of food will not fill even half My belly.”
Madhya 3.81
TEXT 81
TEXT
ācārya kahe—tumi hao tairthika sannyāsī
kabhu phala-mūla khāo, kabhu upavāsī
SYNONYMS
ācārya kahe—Advaita Ācārya replied to Nityānanda Prabhu; tumi—You; hao—are; tairthika sannyāsī—a mendicant wandering on pilgrimages; kabhu—sometimes; phala-mūla—fruits and roots; khāo—You eat; kabhu upavāsī—sometimes fasting.
TRANSLATION
Advaita Ācārya replied, “Sir, You are a mendicant traveling on pilgrimage. Sometimes You eat fruits and roots, and sometimes You simply go on fasting.
Madhya 3.82
TEXT 82
TEXT
daridra-brāhmaṇa-ghare ye pāilā muṣṭy-eka anna
ihāte santuṣṭa hao, chāḍa lobha-mana
SYNONYMS
daridra-brāhmaṇa—of a poor brāhmaṇa; ghare—at the home; ye—whatever; pāilā—You have gotten; muṣṭi-eka—one handful; anna—food; ihāte—in this; santuṣṭa hao—please be satisfied; chāḍa—give up; lobha-mana—Your greedy mentality.
TRANSLATION
“I am a poor brāhmaṇa, and You have come to My home. Please be satisfied with whatever little food You have received and give up Your greedy mentality.”
Madhya 3.83
TEXT 83
TEXT
nityānanda bale—yabe kaile nimantraṇa
tata dite cāha, yata kariye bhojana
SYNONYMS
nityānanda bale—Lord Nityānanda said; yabe—when; kaile—You have done; nimantraṇa—invitation; tata—so much; dite cāha—You must supply; yata—as much as; kariye bhojana—I can eat.
TRANSLATION
Lord Nityānanda Prabhu replied, “Whatever I may be, You have invited Me. Therefore You must supply as much as I want to eat.”
Madhya 3.84
TEXT 84
TEXT
śuni’ nityānandera kathā ṭhākura advaita
kahena tāṅhāre kichu pāiyā pirīta
SYNONYMS
śuni’—hearing; nityānandera—of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu; kathā—words; ṭhākura—His Divine Grace; advaita—Advaita Ācārya; kahena—spoke; tāṅhāre—unto Nityānanda Prabhu; kichu—something; pāiyā—taking the opportunity; pirīta—pleasing words.
TRANSLATION
His Divine Grace Advaita Ācārya, after hearing the statement of Nityānanda Prabhu, took the opportunity presented by the joking words and spoke to Him as follows.
Madhya 3.85
TEXT 85
TEXT
bhraṣṭa avadhūta tumi, udara bharite
sannyāsa la-iyācha, bujhi, brāhmaṇa daṇḍite
SYNONYMS
bhraṣṭa avadhūta—reject paramahaṁsa; tumi—You; udara bharite—to fill Your belly; sannyāsa la-iyācha—You have accepted the renounced order of life; bujhi—I understand; brāhmaṇa daṇḍite—to give trouble to a brāhmaṇa.
TRANSLATION
Advaita Ācārya said, “You are a reject paramahaṁsa, and You have accepted the renounced order of life just to fill up Your belly. I can understand that Your business is to give trouble to brāhmaṇas.”
PURPORT
There is always a difference of opinion between a smārta-brāhmaṇa and a Vaiṣṇava gosvāmī. There are even smārta opinions and Vaiṣṇava gosvāmī opinions available in astrological and astronomical calculations. By calling Nityānanda Prabhu a bhraṣṭa avadhūta (a rejected paramahaṁsa), Advaita Ācārya Prabhu in a sense accepted Nityānanda Prabhu as a paramahaṁsa. In other words, Nityānanda Prabhu had nothing to do with the rules governing smārta-brāhmaṇas. Thus under pretense of condemning Him, Advaita Ācārya was actually praising Him. In the avadhūta stage, the paramahaṁsa stage, which is the supermost stage, one may appear to be viṣayī, on the platform of sense gratification, but in actuality he has nothing to do with sense gratification. At that stage, a person sometimes accepts the symbols and dress of a sannyāsī and sometimes does not. Sometimes he dresses like a householder. We should know, however, that these are all joking words between Advaita Ācārya and Nityānanda Prabhu. They are not to be taken as insults.
In Khaḍadaha, sometimes people misunderstood Nityānanda Prabhu to belong to the śākta-sampradāya, whose philosophy is antaḥ śāktaḥ bahiḥ śaivaḥ sabhāyāṁ vaiṣṇavo mataḥ. According to the śākta-sampradāya, a person called kaulāvadhūta thinks materially while externally appearing to be a great devotee of Lord Śiva. When such a person is in an assembly of Vaiṣṇavas, he appears like a Vaiṣṇava. Actually Nityānanda Prabhu did not belong to such a community. Nityānanda Prabhu was always a brahmacārī of a sannyāsī of the vaidika order. Actually He was a paramahaṁsa. Sometimes He is accepted to be a disciple of Lakṣmīpati Tīrtha. If He is so accepted, Nityānanda Prabhu belonged to the Madhva-sampradāya. He did not belong to the tāntrika-sampradāya of Bengal.
Madhya 3.86
TEXT 86
TEXT
tumi khete pāra daśa-viśa mānera anna
āmi tāhā kāṅhā pāba daridra brāhmaṇa
SYNONYMS
tumi—You; khete—to eat; pāra—able; daśa-viśa—ten or twenty; mānera—of the measurement of a māna; anna—rice; āmi—I; tāhā—that; kāṅhā—where; pāba—shall get; daridra—poverty-stricken; brāhmaṇa—brāhmaṇa.
TRANSLATION
Advaita Ācārya accused Nityānanda Prabhu, saying, “You can eat ten to twenty mānas of rice. I am a poor brāhmaṇa. How shall I get so much rice?
PURPORT
A māna is a measurement containing about forty kilos.
Madhya 3.87
TEXT 87
TEXT
ye pāñācha muṣṭy-eka anna, tāhā khāñā uṭha
pāgalāmi nā kariha, nā chaḍāio jhuṭha
SYNONYMS
ye pāñācha—whatever You have; muṣṭi-eka—one handful; anna—rice; tāhā—that; khāñā—eating; uṭha—please get up; pāgalāmi—madness; nā—do not; kariha—do; nā—do not; chaḍāio—strew; jhuṭha—remnants of food.
TRANSLATION
“Whatever You have, though it be a palmful of rice, please eat it and get up. Don’t show Your madness and strew the remnants of food here and there.”
Madhya 3.88
TEXT 88
TEXT
ei mata hāsya-rase karena bhojana
ardha-ardha khāñā prabhu chāḍena vyañjana
SYNONYMS
ei mata—in this way; hāsya-rase—jokingly; karena—does; bhojana—eating; ardha-ardha—half and half; khāñā—after eating; prabhu—the Lord; chāḍena—gives up; vyañjana—all the vegetables.
TRANSLATION
In this way, Nityānanda Prabhu and Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu ate and talked with Advaita Ācārya jokingly. After eating half of each vegetable preparation given to Him, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu abandoned it and went on to the next.
Madhya 3.89
TEXT 89
TEXT
sei vyañjana ācārya punaḥ karena pūraṇa
ei mata punaḥ punaḥ pariveśe vyañjana
SYNONYMS
sei vyañjana—that half-finished vegetable; ācārya—Advaita Ācārya; punaḥ—again; karena—does; pūraṇa—filling; ei mata—in this way; punaḥ punaḥ—again and again; pariveśe—distributes; vyañjana—vegetables.
TRANSLATION
As soon as half of the vegetable in the pot was finished, Advaita Ācārya filled it up again. In this way, as the Lord finished half of a preparation, Advaita Ācārya again and again filled it up.
Madhya 3.90
TEXT 90
TEXT
donā vyañjane bhari’ karena prārthana
prabhu balena—āra kata kariba bhojana
SYNONYMS
donā—the pot; vyañjane—with vegetables; bhari’—filling; karena—makes; prārthana—request; prabhu balena—Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu says; āra—more; kata—how much; kariba—can I do; bhojana—eating.
TRANSLATION
After filling a pot with vegetables, Advaita Ācārya requested Them to eat more, and Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “How much more can I go on eating?”
Madhya 3.91
TEXT 91
TEXT
ācārya kahe—ye diyāchi, tāhā nā chāḍibā
ekhana ye diye, tāra ardheka khāibā
SYNONYMS
ācārya kahe—Advaita Ācārya said; ye diyāchi—whatever I have given; tāhā nā chāḍibā—please do not give it up; ekhana—now; ye—whatever; diye—I am giving; tāra ardheka—half of it; khāibā—You will eat.
TRANSLATION
Advaita Ācārya said, “Please do not give up whatever I have already given You. Now, whatever I am giving, You may eat half and leave half.”
Madhya 3.92
TEXT 92
TEXT
nānā yatna-dainye prabhure karāila bhojana
ācāryera icchā prabhu karila pūraṇa
SYNONYMS
nānā yatna-dainye—in this way, by various efforts and by humility; prabhure—Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; karāila—caused; bhojana—eating; ācāryera icchā—the wish of Advaita Ācārya; prabhu—Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; karila—did; pūraṇa—fulfillment.
TRANSLATION
In this way, by submitting various humble requests, Advaita Ācārya made Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Nityānanda eat. Thus Caitanya Mahāprabhu fulfilled all the desires of Advaita Ācārya.
Madhya 3.93
TEXT 93
TEXT
nityānanda kahe—āmāra peṭa nā bharila
lañā yāha, tora anna kichu nā khāila
SYNONYMS
nityānanda kahe—Nityānanda Prabhu said; āmāra—My; peṭa—belly; nā—not; bharila—filled; lañā—taking away; yāha—go; tora—Your; anna—food; kichu nā khāila—I have not eaten anything.
TRANSLATION
Again Nityānanda Prabhu jokingly said, “My belly is not yet filled up. Please take away Your food. I have not taken the least of it.”
Madhya 3.94
TEXT 94
TEXT
eta bali’ eka-grāsa bhāta hāte lañā
ujhāli’ phelila āge yena kruddha hañā
SYNONYMS
eta bali’—saying this; eka-grāsa—one palmful; bhāta—rice; hāte—in the hand; lañā—taking; ujhāli’—releasing; phelila—threw; āge—in front; yena—as if; kruddha hañā—becoming angry.
TRANSLATION
After saying this, Nityānanda Prabhu took a handful of rice and threw it on the floor in front of Him, as if He were angry.
Madhya 3.95
TEXT 95
TEXT
bhāta dui-cāri lāge ācāryera aṅge
bhāta aṅge lañā ācārya nāce bahu-raṅge
SYNONYMS
bhāta dui-cāri—two or four pieces of the thrown rice; lāge—touch; ācāryera aṅge—the body of Advaita Ācārya; bhāta—the rice; aṅge—on His body; lañā—with; ācārya nāce—the Ācārya began to dance; bahu-raṅge—in many ways.
TRANSLATION
When two or four pieces of the thrown rice touched His body, Advaita Ācārya began to dance in various ways with the rice still stuck to His body.
Madhya 3.96
TEXT 96
TEXT
avadhūtera jhuṭhā lāgila mora aṅge
parama pavitra more kaila ei ḍhaṅge
SYNONYMS
avadhūtera jhuṭhā—the remnants of the food of the avadhūta; lāgila—touched; mora—My; aṅge—on the body; parama pavitra—perfectly purified; more—Me; kaila—made; ei—this; ḍhaṅge—behavior.
TRANSLATION
When the rice thrown by Nityānanda Prabhu touched His body, Advaita Ācārya thought Himself purified by the touch of remnants thrown by Paramahaṁsa Nityānanda. Therefore He began dancing.
PURPORT
The word avadhūta refers to one above all rules and regulations. Sometimes, not observing all the rules and regulations of a sannyāsī, Nityānanda Prabhu exhibited the behavior of a mad avadhūta. He threw the remnants of food on the ground, and some of these remnants touched the body of Advaita Ācārya. Advaita Ācārya accepted this happily because He presented Himself as a member of the community of smārta-brāhmaṇas. By touching the remnants of food thrown by Nityānanda Prabhu, Advaita Ācārya immediately felt Himself purified of all smārta contamination. The remnants of food left by a pure Vaiṣṇava are called mahā-mahā-prasādam. This is completely spiritual and is identified with Lord Viṣṇu. Such remnants are not ordinary. The spiritual master is to be considered on the stage of paramahaṁsa and beyond the jurisdiction of the varṇāśrama institution. The remnants of food left by the spiritual master and similar paramahaṁsas, or pure Vaiṣṇavas, are purifying. When an ordinary person touches such prasādam, his mind is purified, and his mind is raised to the status of a pure brāhmaṇa. The behavior and statements of Advaita Ācārya are meant for the understanding of ordinary people who are unaware of the strength of spiritual values, not knowing the potency of food left by the bona fide spiritual master and pure Vaiṣṇavas.
Madhya 3.97
TEXT 97
TEXT
tore nimantraṇa kari’ pāinu tāra phala
tora jāti-kula nāhi, sahaje pāgala
SYNONYMS
tore—You; nimantraṇa—invitation; kari’—making; pāinu—I have gotten in return; tāra—of that; phala—the result; tora—Your; jāti-kula nāhi—there is no indication of Your caste and family; sahaje—by nature; pāgala—You are a madman.
TRANSLATION
Advaita Ācārya jokingly said, “My dear Nityānanda, I invited You, and indeed I have received the results. You have no fixed caste or dynasty. By nature You are a madman.
PURPORT
The words sahaje pāgala (“by nature a madman”) indicate that Nityānanda Prabhu was transcendentally situated on the paramahaṁsa stage. Because He always remembered Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa and Their service, this was transcendental madness. Śrī Advaita Ācārya was pointing out this fact.
Madhya 3.98
TEXT 98
TEXT
āpanāra sama more karibāra tare
jhuṭhā dile, vipra bali’ bhaya nā karile
SYNONYMS
āpanāra sama—like You; more—Me; karibāra tare—for making; jhuṭhā—remnants of food; dile—You have given; vipra bali’—considering as a brāhmaṇa; bhaya—fear; nā karile—You did not do.
TRANSLATION
“To make Me a madman like Yourself, You have thrown the remnants of Your food at Me. You did not even fear the fact that I am a brāhmaṇa.”
PURPORT
The words āpanāra sama indicate that Advaita Ācārya considered Himself to belong to the smārta-brāhmaṇas, and He considered Nityānanda Prabhu to be on the transcendental stage with pure Vaiṣṇavas. Lord Nityānanda gave Advaita Ācārya His remnants to situate Him on the same platform and make Him a pure unalloyed Vaiṣṇava or paramahaṁsa. Advaita Ācārya’s statement indicates that a paramahaṁsa Vaiṣṇava is transcendentally situated. A pure Vaiṣṇava is not subject to the rules and regulations of the smārta-brāhmaṇas. That was the reason for Advaita Ācārya’s stating, āpanāra sama more karibāra tare: “to raise Me to Your own standard.” A pure Vaiṣṇava, or a person on the paramahaṁsa stage, accepts the remnants of food (mahā-prasādam) as spiritual. He does not consider it to be material or sense gratificatory. He accepts mahā-prasādam not as ordinary dhal and rice but as spiritual substance. To say nothing of the remnants of food left by a pure Vaiṣṇava, prasādam is never polluted even if it is touched by the mouth of a caṇḍāla. Indeed, it retains its spiritual value. Therefore by eating or touching such mahā-prasādam, a brāhmaṇa is not degraded. There is no question of being polluted by touching the remnants of such food. Actually, by eating such mahā-prasādam, one is freed from all the contaminations of the material condition. That is the verdict of the śāstra.
Madhya 3.99
TEXT 99
TEXT
nityānanda bale,—ei kṛṣṇera prasāda
ihāke ‘jhuṭhā’ kahile, tumi kaile aparādha
SYNONYMS
nityānanda bale—Lord Nityānanda said; ei—this; kṛṣṇera prasāda—mahā—prasādam of Lord Kṛṣṇa; ihāke—unto it; jhuṭhā—remnants of food; kahile—if You say; tumi—You; kaile—have made; aparādha—offense.
TRANSLATION
Nityānanda Prabhu replied, “These are the remnants of food left by Lord Kṛṣṇa. If You take them to be ordinary remnants, You have committed an offense.”
PURPORT
In the Bṛhad-viṣṇu Purāṇa it is stated that one who considers mahā-prasādam to be equal to ordinary rice and dhal certainly commits a great offense. Ordinary edibles are touchable and untouchable, but there are no such dualistic considerations where prasādam is concerned. Prasādam is transcendental, and there are no transformations or contaminations, just as there are no contaminations or transformations in the body of Lord Viṣṇu Himself. Thus even if one is a brāhmaṇa he is certain to be attacked by leprosy and bereft of all family members if he makes such dualistic considerations. Such an offender goes to hell, never to return. This is the injunction of the Bṛhad-viṣṇu Purāṇa.
Madhya 3.100
TEXT 100
TEXT
śateka sannyāsī yadi karāha bhojana
tabe ei aparādha ha-ibe khaṇḍana
SYNONYMS
śateka sannyāsī—one hundred sannyāsīs; yadi—if; karāha—You make; bhojana—the eating; tabe—then; ei—this; aparādha—offense; ha-ibe—there will be; khaṇḍana—nullification.
TRANSLATION
Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu continued, “If You invite at least one hundred sannyāsīs to Your home and feed them sumptuously, Your offense will be nullified.”
Madhya 3.101
TEXT 101
TEXT
ācārya kahe—nā kariba sannyāsi-nimantraṇa
sannyāsī nāśila mora saba smṛti-dharma
SYNONYMS
ācārya kahe—Advaita Ācārya said; nā kariba—I shall never do; sannyāsi-nimantraṇa—invitation to the sannyāsīs; sannyāsī—a sannyāsī; nāśila—has spoiled; mora—My; saba—all; smṛti-dharma—regulative principles of the smṛti-śāstra.
TRANSLATION
Advaita Ācārya replied, “I shall never again invite another sannyāsī, for it is a sannyāsī who has spoiled all My brahminical smṛti regulations.”
Madhya 3.102
TEXT 102
TEXT
eta bali’ dui jane karāila ācamana
uttama śayyāte la-iyā karāila śayana
SYNONYMS
eta bali’—saying this; dui jane—unto the two personalities; karāila ācamana—washed Their hands and mouth; uttama—very nice; śayyāte—on a bed; la-iyā—taking; karāila—made Them do; śayana—lying down.
TRANSLATION
After this, Advaita Ācārya made the Lords wash Their hands and mouths. He then took Them to a nice bed and made Them lie down to take rest.
Madhya 3.103
TEXT 103
TEXT
lavaṅga elācī-bīja—uttama rasa-vāsa
tulasī-mañjarī saha dila mukha-vāsa
SYNONYMS
lavaṅga—cloves; elācī—cardamom; bīja—seeds; uttama—very nice; rasa-vāsa—tasteful spices; tulasī-mañjarī—the flowers of tulasī; saha—with; dila—gave; mukha-vāsa—perfume of the mouth.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Advaita Ācārya fed the two Lords cloves and cardamom mixed with tulasī flowers. Thus there was a good flavor within Their mouths.
Madhya 3.104
TEXT 104
TEXT
sugandhi candane lipta kaila kalevara
sugandhi puṣpa-mālā āni’ dila hṛdaya-upara
SYNONYMS
su-gandhi—fragrant; candane—in sandalwood; lipta—smeared; kaila—made; kalevara—the bodies; su-gandhi—very fragrant; puṣpa-mālā—flower garlands; āni’—bringing; dila—gave; hṛdaya-upara—on the chests.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Advaita Ācārya then smeared the bodies of the Lords with sandalwood pulp and then placed very fragrant flower garlands on Their chests.
Madhya 3.105
TEXT 105
TEXT
ācārya karite cāhe pāda-saṁvāhana
saṅkucita hañā prabhu balena vacana
SYNONYMS
ācārya—Advaita Ācārya; karite—to do; cāhe—wants; pāda-saṁvāhana—massaging the feet; saṅkucita—hesitant; hañā—becoming; prabhu—the Lord; balena—says; vacana—the words.
TRANSLATION
When the Lord lay down on the bed, Advaita Ācārya waited to massage His legs, but the Lord was very hesitant and spoke as follows to Advaita Ācārya.
Madhya 3.106
TEXT 106
TEXT
bahuta nācāile tumi, chāḍa nācāna
mukunda-haridāsa la-iyā karaha bhojana
SYNONYMS
bahuta—in various ways; nācāile—have made Me dance; tumi—You; chāḍa—give up; nācāna—dancing; mukunda—Mukunda; haridāsa—Haridāsa; la-iyā—with; karaha—do; bhojana—eating.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Advaita Ācārya, You have made Me dance in various ways. Now give up this practice. Go with Mukunda and Haridāsa and accept Your lunch.”
PURPORT
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is here telling Advaita Ācārya that it is not befitting for a sannyāsī to accept nice beds to lie on or to chew cloves and cardamom and have his body smeared with sandalwood pulp. Nor is it befitting for him to accept fragrant garlands and have his legs massaged by a pure Vaiṣṇava. “You have already made Me dance according to Your vow,” Caitanya Mahāprabhu said. “Now please stop it. You can go and take Your lunch with Mukunda and Haridāsa.”
Madhya 3.107
TEXT 107
TEXT
tabe ta’ ācārya saṅge lañā dui jane
karila icchāya bhojana, ye āchila mane
SYNONYMS
tabe ta’—thereafter; ācārya—Advaita Ācārya; saṅge—with; lañā—taking; dui jane—the two persons, namely Mukunda and Haridāsa; karila—did; icchāya—according to desire; bhojana—eating; ye āchila mane—whatever there was in mind.
TRANSLATION
Thereupon Advaita Ācārya took prasādam with Mukunda and Haridāsa, and they all wholeheartedly ate as much as they desired.
You need to be a member of puredevoteeseva to add comments!
Comments
When Vishnus talk, haha, yes, this is no ordinary talking!
Jagadananda Pandita once brought a pot of expensive fragrant oil to decorate the body of Lord Chaitanya. He refused it saying it was unfit for a sannyasi, to take the oil and sell it and use the money for service, but Jagadananda similarly saw through the external pretense of being a sannyasi, knowing Him to be his transcedent Supreme Lord, and so he became angry at this superficialitiy coming between him and his intimate relationship with the Lord, his friend from boyhood days in Navadvipa. Due to closeness to the Lord, that the offering was not being accepted, was unacceptable, so he instead threw the pot on the ground, and broke it as useless.
Thus we see that love leads to activities that are not readily understood from a mundane platform, but are fully understandable to the lovers and close associates. One not knowing the nature of these loving exchanges of this degree may see madness or impracticality, but it is a question of pastimes of intense affection and service, not of mundane interactions subject to mundane social laws or rules.
Thus, in these eating pastimes, the rules became a subject of amusement, and were taken as superficial and joked about.
Nityananda Avadhuta frequently challenged social caste rules and regulations, and so he is often a source of great fun, or bewilderment and amazement to the minds of the strict Vaisnavas and brahamanas, who are shaken from their stiff mind-sets seeing the Lords unrestricted behaviors.
Indeed, rules are a subject of amusement, because They are the rulers Themselves! The Lord being always beyond the rules and regulations ordinated by Him, has every right to make fun of Them and increase our pleasure in seeing His transcendence to all laws that, in the first place, were established by Him only :D
In this context I recollect a beautiful verse from the Maha Upanisad:
eko vai narayana asin na brahma na isano napo nagni-samau neme dyav aprithivi na naksatrani na suryah
"In the beginning there was only Narayana. There was neither Brahma, nor Siva, nor water, nor fire, nor sky, nor earth, nor the stars, nor the sun."