Madhya8.247

TEXT 247

’sampattira madhye jivera kon sampatti gani?’

’radha-krsne prema yanra, sei bada dhani’

SYNONYMS

sampattira—riches; madhye—among; jivera—of the living entities; kon—what; sampatti—the wealth; gani—we accept; radha-krsne—to Srimati Radharani and Krsna; prema—loving service; yanra—whose; sei—he; bada—very great; dhani—capitalist.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, “Of the many capitalists who possess great riches, who is the topmost?” Ramananda Raya replied, “He who is richest in love for Radha and Krsna is the greatest capitalist.”

PURPORT

Everyone in this material world is attempting to acquire riches to satisfy the senses. Actually no one cares for anything other than acquiring material possessions and maintaining them. The wealthy are generally accepted as the most important personalities in this material world, but when we compare a material man of wealth to one wealthy in devotional service to Radha and Krsna, the latter is found to be the greatest capitalist. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.39.2):

kim alabhyam bhagavati
prasanne sri-niketane
tathapi tat-para rajan
na hi vanchanti kincana

“What is difficult for the devotees of Lord Krsna, who is the shelter of the goddess of fortune? Although such devotees can obtain anything, O King, they do not desire anything.”

Madhya8.248

TEXT 248

’duhkha-madhye kona duhkha haya gurutara?’

’krsna-bhakta-viraha vina duhkha nahi dekhi para’

SYNONYMS

duhkha-madhye—among the miserable conditions of life; kona—what; duhkha—misery; haya—is; gurutara—more painful; krsna-bhakta-viraha—separation from the devotee of Lord Krsna; vina—besides; duhkha—unhappiness; nahi—there is not; dekhi—I see; para—other.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, “Of all kinds of distress, what is the most painful?”

Sri Ramananda Raya replied, “Apart from separation from the devotee of Krsna, I know of no unbearable unhappiness.”

PURPORT

Concerning this, the Lord states in the Vedic literature:

mam anaradhya duhkhartah
kutumbasakta-manasah
sat-sanga-rahito martyo
vrddha-seva-paricyutah

“A person who does not worship Me, who is unduly attached to family and who does not stick to devotional service must be considered a most unhappy person. Similarly, one who does not associate with Vaisnavas, or who does not render service to his superior, is also a most unhappy person.”

There is also a statement given in the Brhad-bhagavatamrta (1.5.51):

sva-jivanadhikam prarthyam
sri-visnu-jana-sangatah
vicchedena ksanam catra
na sukhamsam labhamahe

“[King Yudhisthira said:] ’Out of all kinds of desirable things experienced in the life of a living entity, association with the devotees of the Lord is the greatest. When we are separated from a devotee even for a moment, we cannot enjoy happiness.’ ”

Madhya8.249

TEXT 249

’mukta-madhye kon jiva mukta kari’ mani?’

’krsna-prema yanra, sei mukta-siromani’

SYNONYMS

mukta-madhye—among the liberated; kon—what; jiva—living entity; mukta—liberated; kari’-considering as; mani—We accept; krsna-prema—one who loves Krsna; yanra—of whom; sei—such a person; mukta-siromani—the topmost of all liberated souls.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then inquired, “Out of all liberated persons, who should be accepted as the greatest?”

Ramananda Raya replied, “He who has love for Krsna has attained the topmost liberation.”

PURPORT

Madhya8.250

TEXT 250

’gana-madhye kona gana--jivera nija dharma?’

’radha-krsnera prema-keli’--yei gitera marma’

SYNONYMS

gana-madhye—among songs; kona gana—which song; jivera—of the living entity; nija—his own; dharma—religion; radha-krsnera prema-keli—the loving affairs of Radha and Krsna; yei—which; gitera—of the song; marma—purport.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu next asked Ramananda Raya, “Among many songs, which song is to be considered the actual religion of the living entity?”

Ramananda Raya replied, “That song describing the loving affairs of Sri Radha and Krsna is superior to all other songs.”

PURPORT

As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.33.36):

anugrahaya bhakutanam
manusam deham asthitah
bhajate tadrsih krida
yah srutva tat-paro bhavet

“Lord Krsna descends apparently as a human being, and He exhibits His transcendental pastimes in Vrndavana so that the conditioned soul may be attracted to hearing His transcendental activities.” Nondevotees are strictly prohibited from participating in songs celebrating the loving affairs of Radha and Krsna. Unless one is a devotee, it is very dangerous to hear the songs about the pastimes of Radha and Krsna that were written by Jayadeva Gosvami, Candidasa and other exalted devotees. Lord Siva drank an ocean of poison, but one should not imitate this. One must first become a pure devotee of Lord Krsna. Only then can one enjoy hearing the songs of Jayadeva and relish transcendental bliss. If one simply imitates the activities of Lord Siva and drinks poison, one will certainly meet with death.

Talks between Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya were meant for advanced devotees only. Those who are on the mundane platform and who study these talks in order to put forward some thesis for a Ph.D. will not be able to understand them. Instead, these conversations will have a poisonous effect.

Madhya8.251

TEXT 251

’sreyo-madhye kona sreyah jivera haya sara?’

’krsna-bhakta-sanga vina sreyah nahi ara’

SYNONYMS

sreyah-madhye—among beneficial activities; kona—which; sreyah—beneficial function; jivera—of the living entity; haya—is; sara—the essence; krsna-bhakta-sanga—for associating with the devotees of Lord Krsna; vina—except; sreyah—beneficial activity; nahi—there is not; ara—another.

TRANSLATION

“Out of all auspicious and beneficial activities, which is best for the living entity?”

Ramananda Raya replied, “The only auspicious activity is association with the devotees of Krsna.”

PURPORT

According to Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.30):

ata atyantikam ksemam
prcchamo bhavato ’naghah
samsare ’smin ksanardho ’pi
sat-sangah sevadhir nrnam

“We are asking you to tell us what is the most perfect welfare activity. I think that in this material world, association with devotees-even if it be for a moment-is the greatest treasure house for mankind.”

Madhya8.252

TEXT 252

’kanhara smarana jiva karibe anuksana?’

’krsna-nama-guna-lila--pradhana smarana’

SYNONYMS

kanhara—of whom; smarana—remembering; jiva—the living entity; karibe—should do; anuksana—constantly; krsna-nama—the holy name of Lord Krsna; guna-lila—His qualities and pastimes; pradhana smarana—most important remembrance.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, “What should all living entities constantly remember?”

Ramananda Raya replied, “The chief objects of remembrance are always the Lord’s holy name, qualities and pastimes.”

PURPORT

Madhya8.253

TEXT 253

’dhyeya-madhye jivera kartavya kon dhyana?’

’radha-krsna-padambuja-dhyana--pradhana’

SYNONYMS

dhyeya-madhye—out of all types of meditation; jivera—of the living entity; kartavya—the duty; kon—what; dhyana—meditation; radha-krsna-pada-ambuja—on the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna; dhyana—meditation; pradhana—is the chief.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu further inquired, “Out of many types of meditation, which is required for all living entities?”

Srila Ramananda Raya replied, “The chief duty of every living entity is to meditate upon the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna.”

PURPORT

Madhya8.254

TEXT 254

’sarva tyaji’ jivera kartavya kahan vasa?’

’vraja-bhumi vrndavana yahan lila-rasa’

SYNONYMS

sarva—everything; tyaji’-giving up; jivera—of the living entity; kartavya—to be done; kahan—where; vasa—residence; vraja-bhumi—the land known as Vrajabhumi; vrndavana—the holy place named Vrndavana; yahan—where; lila-rasa—Lord Krsna performed His rasa dance.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, “Where should the living entity live, abandoning all other places?”

Ramananda Raya replied, “The holy place known as Vrndavana or Vrajabhumi, where the Lord performed His rasa dance.”

PURPORT

According to Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.47.61):

asam aho carana-renu-jusam aham syam
vrndavane kim api gulma-latausadhinam
ya dustyajam sva-janam arya-patham ca hitva
bhejur mukunda-padavim srutibhir vimrgyam

“[Uddhava said:] ’Let me become one of Vrndavana’s herbs and plants that are trampled by the gopis, who gave up all connections with family and friends and decided to worship the lotus feet of Mukunda. Those lotus feet are sought by all great saintly persons expert in the study of Vedic literature.’ ”

Madhya8.255

TEXT 255

’sravana-madhye jivera kon srestha sravana?’

’radha-krsna-prema-keli karna-rasayana’

SYNONYMS

sravana-madhye—out of all topics for hearing; jivera—of the living entity; kon—what; srestha—most important; sravana—topic of hearing; radha-krsna-prema-keli—the loving affairs between Radha and Krsna; karna-rasa-ayana—most pleasing to the ear.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, “Out of all topics people listen to, which is best for all living entities?”

Ramananda Raya replied, “Hearing about the loving affairs between Radha and Krsna is most pleasing to the ear.”

PURPORT

According to Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.33.39):

vikriditam vraja-vadhubhir idam ca visnoh
sraddhanvito ’nusrnuyad atha varnayed yah
bhaktim param bhagavati pratilabhya kamam
hrd-rogam asv apahinoty acirena dhirah

“He who faithfully hears about the dealings between Lord Krsna and the gopis in the rasa dance and he who describes these activities attain to the perfectional stage of devotional service and simultaneously lose material, lusty desires.”

A liberated person who hears about the loving affairs of Radha and Krsna is not inclined to have lusty desires. One mundane rogue once said that when the Vaisnavas chant the name “Radha, Radha,” he simply remembers a barber’s wife named Radha. This is a practical example. Unless one is liberated, he should not try to hear about the loving affairs between Radha and Krsna. If one is not liberated and listens to a relation of the rasa dance, he may remember his mundane activities and illicit connections with some woman whose name may also be Radha. In the conditioned stage one should not even try to remember such things. By practicing the regulative principles, one should rise to the platform of spontaneous attraction for Krsna. Then and only then should one hear about radha-krsna-lila. Although these affairs may be very pleasing both to conditioned and to liberated souls, the conditioned soul should not try to hear them. The talks between Ramananda Raya and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are conducted on the platform of liberation.

Madhya8.256

TEXT 256

’upasyera madhye kon upasya pradhana?’

’srestha upasya--yugala ’radha-krsna’ nama’

SYNONYMS

upasyera—objects of worship; madhye—among; kon—which; upasya—worshipable object; pradhana—the chief; srestha—the chief; upasya—worshipable object; yugala—the couple; radha-krsna nama—the holy name of Radha-Krsna, or Hare Krsna.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, “Among all worshipable objects, which is the chief?”

Ramananda Raya replied, “The chief worshipable object is the holy name of Radha and Krsna, the Hare Krsna mantra.”

PURPORT

Madhya8.257

TEXT 257

’mukti, bhukti vanche yei, kahan dunhara gati?’

’sthavara-deha, deva-deha yaiche avasthiti’

SYNONYMS

mukti—liberation; bhukti—sense enjoyment; vanche—desires; yei—one who; kahan—where; dunhara—of both of them; gati—the destination; sthavara-deha—the body of a tree; deva-deha—the body of a demigod; yaiche—just as; avasthiti—situated.

TRANSLATION

“And what is the destination of those who desire liberation and those who desire sense gratification?” Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked.

Ramananda Raya replied, “Those who attempt to merge into the existence of the Supreme Lord will have to accept a body like that of a tree. And those who are overly inclined toward sense gratification will attain the bodies of demigods.”

PURPORT

Those who desire liberation by merging into the existence of God do not desire sense gratification within the material world. On the other hand, they have no information about serving the lotus feet of the Lord. Consequently, they are doomed to stand like trees for many thousands of years. Although trees are living entities, they are nonmoving. The liberated soul who merges into the existence of the Lord is no better than the trees. Trees also stand in the Lord’s existence because material energy and the Lord’s energy are the same. Similarly, the Brahman effulgence is also the energy of the Supreme Lord. It is the same whether one remains in the Brahman effulgence or in the material energy because in either there is no spiritual activity. Better situated are those who desire sense gratification and promotion to the heavenly planets. Such people want to enjoy themselves like denizens of heaven in the gardens of paradise. They at least retain their individuality in order to enjoy life. But the impersonalists, who try to lose their individuality, also lose both material and spiritual pleasure. The last destination of the Buddhist philosophers is to become just like a stone, which is immovable and has neither material nor spiritual activity. As far as the hard-working karmis are concerned, Srimad-Bhagavatam states (11.10.23):

istveha devata yajnaih
svar-lokam yati yajnikah
bhunjita deva-vat tatra
bhogan divyan nijarjitan

“After performing various sacrificial rituals for elevation to the heavenly planets, the karmis go there and enjoy themselves with the demigods to the extent that they have obtained the results of pious activities.”

Madhya8.258

TEXT 258

arasa-jna kaka cuse jnana-nimba-phale

rasa-jna kokila khaya premamra-mukule

SYNONYMS

arasa-jna—those who are without mellows; kaka—the crows; cuse—suck; jnana—of knowledge; nimba-phale—on the bitter nimba fruit; rasa-jna—those who enjoy transcendental mellows; kokila—the cuckoos; khaya—eat; prema-amra-mukule—the buds of the mango of love of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

Ramananda Raya continued, “Those who are devoid of all transcendental mellows are like the crows that suck the juice from the bitter fruits of the nimba tree of knowledge, whereas those who enjoy mellows are like the cuckoos who eat the buds of the mango tree of love of Godhead.”

PURPORT

The speculative process of empiric philosophy is as bitter as the fruit of the nimba tree. Tasting this fruit is the business of crows. In other words, the philosophical process of realizing the Absolute Truth is a process taken up by crowlike men. But the cuckoolike devotees have very sweet voices with which to chant the holy name of the Lord and taste the sweet fruit of the mango tree of love of Godhead. Such devotees relish sweet mellows with the Lord.

Madhya8.259

TEXT 259

abhagiya jnani asvadaye suska jnana

krsna-premamrta pana kare bhagyavan

SYNONYMS

abhagiya—unfortunate; jnani—the philosophical speculators; asvadaye—taste; suska—dry; jnana—empiric knowledge; krsna-prema-amrta—the nectar of love of Krsna; pana—drinking; kare—do; bhagyavan—the fortunate.

TRANSLATION

Ramananda Raya concluded, “The unfortunate empiric philosophers taste the dry process of philosophical knowledge, whereas the devotees regularly drink the nectar of love of Krsna. Therefore they are most fortunate of all.”

Madhya8.260

TEXT 260

ei-mata dui jana krsna-katha-rase

nrtya-gita-rodane haila ratri-sese

SYNONYMS

ei-mata—in this way; dui jana—both of them (Lord Caitanya and Ramananda Raya); krsna-katha-rase—in the mellows of discussing topics about Krsna; nrtya-gita—in dancing and chanting; rodane—in crying; haila—there was; ratri-sese—the end of the night.

TRANSLATION

In this way Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya passed the full night relishing the mellow of krsna-katha, topics about Krsna. While they were chanting, dancing and crying, the night ended.

Madhya8.261

TEXT 261

donhe nija-nija-karye calila vihane

sandhya-kale raya asi’ milila ara dine

SYNONYMS

donhe—both of them; nija-nija-karye—in their respective duties; calila—departed; vihane—in the morning; sandhya-kale—in the evening; raya—Ramananda Raya; asi’-coming again; milila—met; ara—next; dine—on the day.

TRANSLATION

The next morning they both departed to perform their respective duties, but in the evening Ramananda Raya returned to meet the Lord again.

Madhya8.262

TEXT 262

ista-gosthi krsna-katha kahi’ kata-ksana

prabhu-pada dhari’ raya kare nivedana

SYNONYMS

ista-gosthi—spiritual discussion; krsna-katha—topics of Krsna; kahi’-talking; kata-ksana—for some time; prabhu-pada—the lotus feet of the Lord; dhari’-catching; raya—Ramananda Raya; kare—makes; nivedana—submission.

TRANSLATION

That next evening, after discussing the topic of Krsna for some time, Ramananda Raya caught hold of the lotus feet of the Lord and spoke as follows.

Madhya8.263

TEXT 263

’krsna-tattva’, ’radha-tattva’, ’prema-tattva-sara’

’rasa-tattva’ ’lila-tattva’ vividha prakara

SYNONYMS

krsna-tattva—the truth about Krsna; radha-tattva—the truth about Radha; prema-tattva-sara—the essence of Their loving affairs; rasa-tattva—the truth about transcendental mellows; lila-tattva—the truth about the pastimes of the Lord; vividha prakara—of different varieties.

TRANSLATION

“There is transcendental variety in talks about Krsna and Radharani and Their transcendental loving affairs, humors and pastimes.”

Madhya8.264

TEXT 264

eta tattva mora citte kaile prakasana

brahmake veda yena padaila narayana

SYNONYMS

eta tattva—all these varieties of truth; mora citte—in my heart; kaile—you did; prakasana—manifesting; brahmake—unto Lord Brahma; veda—the Vedic knowledge; yena—as; padaila—taught; narayana—the Supreme Lord.

TRANSLATION

Ramananda Raya then admitted, “You have manifested many transcendental truths in my heart. This is exactly the way Narayana educated Lord Brahma.”

PURPORT

The heart of Brahma was enlightened by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is Vedic information given in the Svetasvatara Upanisad (6.18):

yo brahmanam vidadhati purvam
yo vai vedams ca prahinoti tasmai
tam ha devam atma-buddhi-prakasam
mumuksur vai saranam aham prapadye

Madhya8.265

TEXT 265

antaryami isvarera ei riti haye

bahire na kahe, vastu prakase hrdaye

SYNONYMS

antaryami—the Supersoul; isvarera—of the Personality of Godhead; ei—this; riti—the system; haye—is; bahire—externally; na kahe—does not speak; vastu—the facts; prakase—manifests; hrdaye—within the heart.

TRANSLATION

Ramananda Raya continued, “The Supersoul within everyone’s heart speaks not externally but from within. He instructs the devotees in all respects, and that is His way of instruction.”

PURPORT

Madhya8.266

TEXT 266

janmady asya yato ’nvayad itaratas carthesv abhijnah sva-rat

tene brahma hrda ya adi-kavaye muhyanti yat surayah

tejo-vari-mrdam yatha vinimayo yatra tri-sargo ’mrsa

dhamna svena sada nirasta-kuhakam satyam param dhimahi

SYNONYMS

janma-adi—creation, maintenance and dissolution; asya—of this (the universe); yatah—from whom; anvayat—directly from the spiritual connection; itaratah—indirectly from the lack of material contact; ca—also; arthesu—in all affairs; abhijnah—perfectly cognizant; sva-rat—independent; tene—imparted; brahma—the Absolute Truth; hrda—through the heart; yah—who; adi-kavaye—unto Lord Brahma; muhyanti—are bewildered; yat—in whom; surayah—great personalities like Lord Brahma and other demigods or great brahmanas; tejah-vari-mrdam—of fire, water and earth; yatha—as; vinimayah—the exchange; yatra—in whom; tri-sargah—the material creation of three modes; amrsa—factual; dhamna—with the abode; svena—His own personal; sada—always; nirasta-kuhakam—devoid of all illusion; satyam—the truth; param—absolute; dhimahi—let us meditate upon.

TRANSLATION

“ ’O my Lord, Sri Krsna, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I meditate upon Lord Sri Krsna because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction of the manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations, and He is independent because there is no other cause beyond Him. It is He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmaji, the original living being. By Him even the great sages and demigods are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only because of Him do the material universes, temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three modes of nature, appear factual, although they are unreal. I therefore meditate upon Him, Lord Sri Krsna, who is eternally existent in the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the illusory representations of the material world. I meditate upon Him, for He is the Absolute Truth.’ ”

PURPORT

Madhya8.267

TEXT 267

eka samsaya mora achaye hrdaye

krpa kari’ kaha more tahara niscaye

SYNONYMS

eka samsaya—one doubt; mora—my; achaye—there is; hrdaye—in the heart; krpa kari’-being merciful; kaha—please say; more—unto me; tahara—of that; niscaye—the ascertainment.

TRANSLATION

Ramananda Raya then said that he had but one doubt within his heart, and he petitioned the Lord, “Please be merciful upon me and just remove my doubt.”

Madhya8.268

TEXT 268

pahile dekhilun tomara sannyasi-svarupa

ebe toma dekhi muni syama-gopa-rupa

SYNONYMS

pahile—in the beginning; dekhilun—I saw; tomara—Your; sannyasi-svarupa—form as a person in the renounced order; ebe—now; toma—You; dekhi—see; muni—I; syama-gopa-rupa—form as Syamasundara, the cowherd boy.

TRANSLATION

Ramananda Raya then told Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "At first I saw You appear like a sannyasi, but now I am seeing You as Syamasundara, the cowherd boy.

Madhya8.269

TEXT 269

tomara sammukhe dekhi kancana-pancalika

tanra gaura-kantye tomara sarva anga dhaka

SYNONYMS

tomara—of You; sammukhe—in front; dekhi—I see; kancana-pancalika—a doll made of gold; tanra—of it; gaura-kantye—by a golden complexion; tomara—Your; sarva—all; anga—body; dhaka—covering.

TRANSLATION

"I now see You appearing like a golden doll, and Your entire body appears covered by a golden luster.

PURPORT

Syamasundara is blackish, but here Ramananda Raya says that he saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appear golden. The lustrous body of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was covered by the bodily complexion of Srimati Radharani.

Madhya8.270

TEXT 270

tahate prakata dekhon sa-vamsi vadana

nana bhave cancala tahe kamala-nayana

SYNONYMS

tahate—in that; prakata—manifested; dekhon—I see; sa-vamsi—with the flute; vadana—the face; nana bhave—in various modes; cancala—restless; tahe—in that; kamala-nayana—the lotus eyes.

TRANSLATION

"I see that You are holding a flute to Your mouth, and Your lotus eyes are moving very restlessly due to various ecstasies.

Madhya8.271

TEXT 271

ei-mata toma dekhi’ haya camatkara

akapate kaha, prabhu, karana ihara

SYNONYMS

ei-mata—in this way; toma—You; dekhi’-seeing; haya—there is; camatkara—wonder; akapate—without duplicity; kaha—please tell; prabhu—my Lord; karana—the cause; ihara—of this.

TRANSLATION

“I actually see You in this way, and this is very wonderful. My Lord, please tell me without duplicity what is causing this.”

Madhya8.272

TEXT 272

prabhu kahe,--krsne tomara gadha-prema haya

premara svabhava ei janiha niscaya

SYNONYMS

prabhu kahe—the Lord replied; krsne—unto Krsna; tomara—your; gadha-prema—deep love; haya—there is; premara—of such transcendental love; svabhava—the nature; ei—this; janiha—please know; niscaya—certainly.

TRANSLATION

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "You have a deep love for Krsna, and one who has such deep ecstatic love for the Lord naturally sees things in such a way. Please take this from Me to be certain.

Madhya8.273

TEXT 273

maha-bhagavata dekhe sthavara-jangama

tahan tahan haya tanra sri-krsna-sphurana

SYNONYMS

maha-bhagavata—a first-class advanced devotee; dekhe—sees; sthavara-jangama—the movable and inert; tahan tahan—here and there; haya—is; tanra—his; sri-krsna-sphurana—manifestation of Lord Krsna.

TRANSLATION

"A devotee advanced on the spiritual platform sees everything movable and inert as the Supreme Lord. For him, everything he sees here and there is but a manifestation of Lord Krsna.