Chaitanya Bhagavata

by Bhumipati Dāsa | 2008 | 1,349,850 words

The Chaitanya Bhagavata 1.1.16, English translation, including a commentary (Gaudiya-bhasya). This text is similair to the Caitanya-caritamrita and narrates the pastimes of Lord Caitanya, proclaimed to be the direct incarnation of Krishna (as Bhagavan) This is verse 16 of Adi-khanda chapter 1—“Summary of Lord Gaura’s Pastimes”.

Bengali text, Devanagari and Unicode transliteration of verse 1.1.16:

হলধর-মহাপ্রভু প্রকাণ্ড-শরীর চৈতন্য-চন্দ্রের যশোমত্ত মহাধীর ॥ ১৬ ॥

हलधर-महाप्रभु प्रकाण्ड-शरीर चैतन्य-चन्द्रेर यशोमत्त महाधीर ॥ १६ ॥

haladhara-mahāprabhu prakāṇḍa-śarīra caitanya-candrera yaśomatta mahādhīra || 16 ||

haladhara-mahaprabhu prakanda-sarira caitanya-candrera yasomatta mahadhira (16)

English translation:

(16) The Supreme Lord Balarāma carries a plow and possesses a gigantic body. Although He is exceptionally grave, He is intoxicated by the glories of Lord Caitanya.

Commentary: Gauḍīya-bhāṣya by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura:

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes the characteristics of Anantadeva, who sustains the universes and is the Lord of Pātālaloka, in the following words from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (5.25.7): “Dressed in bluish garments and wearing a single earring, He holds a plow on His back with His two beautiful and well-constructed hands.”

While describing the prābhava and vaibhava features of the Lord in his Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta (Pūrva 62), Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī writes: “Lord Ananta, the plenary portion of Śrī Baladeva who holds the universes on His hoods, resides in Pātālaloka. This Saṅkarṣaṇa recited Śrīmad

Bhāgavatam to the brāhmaṇas and sages headed by the four Kumāras. His neck is beautified with a forest flower garland, His hoods are decorated with brightly shining jewels, He is dressed in blue garments, and He holds a plow, a club, and a trident in His hands.”

The word mahāprabhu is explained in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (7.14) as follows: “One of Them is Mahāprabhu, and the other two are prabhus.

These two prabhus serve the lotus feet of Mahāprabhu.” Nevertheless the plow-carrying Śrī Baladeva Prabhu is the personal manifestation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Gaura-Kṛṣṇa; He is the predominating Deity of the sandhinī energy, the original Saṅkarṣaṇa, the reservoir of all living entities, and the original source of all viṣṇu-tattvas. Being a fully devoted servant of Baladeva, the author therefore uses the title Mahāprabhu to address Śrī Ananta Śeṣa, who is the plenary portion of Balarāma and nondifferent from Him. The author’s conclusion is therefore justified.

The word prakāṇḍa-śarīra in this verse is explained in the Caitanya- caritāmṛta (5.119) as follows: “The universe, which measures five hundred million yojanas in diameter, rests on one of His hoods like a mustard seed.”

King Citraketu prays to Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (6.16.37) as follows: “There are innumerable universes besides this one, and although they are unlimitedly large, they move about like atoms in You. Therefore You are called unlimited [ananta].” Please also refer to the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam verses (5.17.21, 5.25.2, and 6.16.48) as cited in verse 15 of this chapter.

Another reading for the second line is caitanya-candrera rase matta mahādhīra—“Although He is exceptionally grave, He is intoxicated by the transcendental mellows of Lord Caitanya.”

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