Verse 1.2.44-45

Bengali text, Devanagari and Unicode transliteration of verse 1.2.44-45:

গঙ্গা-তীর পুণ্য-স্থান-সকল থাকিতে ‘বৈষ্ণব’ জন্মযে কেনে শোচ্য-দেশেতে? আপনে হৈলা অবতীর্ণ গঙ্গা-তীরে সঙ্গের পার্ষদে কেনে জন্মযেন দূরে? ॥ ৪৪-৪৫ ॥

गङ्गा-तीर पुण्य-स्थान-सकल थाकिते ‘वैष्णव’ जन्मये केने शोच्य-देशेते? आपने हैला अवतीर्ण गङ्गा-तीरे सङ्गेर पार्षदे केने जन्मयेन दूरे? ॥ ४४-४५ ॥

gaṅgā-tīra puṇya-sthāna-sakala thākite ‘vaiṣṇava’ janmaye kene śocya-deśete? āpane hailā avatīrṇa gaṅgā-tīre saṅgera pārṣade kene janmayena dūre? || 44-45 ||

ganga-tira punya-sthana-sakala thakite ‘vaisnava’ janmaye kene socya-desete? apane haila avatirna ganga-tire sangera parsade kene janmayena dure? (44-45)

English translation:

(44-45) The banks of the Ganges are most sanctified. Why then would a Vaiṣṇava take birth at an impious place? The Lord appeared on the bank of the Ganges, so why did His associates appear in distant places?

Commentary: Gauḍīya-bhāṣya by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura:

The term śocya-deśa, or impious places, is described in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (11.21.8) as follows: “Among places, those bereft of the spotted antelope, those devoid of devotion to the brāhmaṇas, those possessing spotted antelopes but bereft of respectable men, provinces like Kīkaṭa and places where cleanliness and purificatory rites are neglected, where meat-eaters are prominent or where the earth is barren, are all considered to be contaminated lands.” In Manu-saṃhitā (2.23) it is stated: “Places devoid of sacrificial performances and naturally grazing spotted antelopes are known as Mleccha-deśas, or impious lands.”

The Ganges, which emanates from the lotus feet of Viṣṇu and which is the best of the seven sacred rivers, is glorified by the Purāṇas as possessing the topmost potency for purification. That is why she has a special position amongst the devotees. The Ganges, also known as Bhāgīrathī, flows through Navadvīpa of Gauḍa-deśa. Since many of Śrī Caitanya’s associates appeared outside of Gauḍa-deśa, many questions may arise in the hearts of materialistic people. If Vaiṣṇavas appear in a place that is so contaminated that the visitor requires atonement, a place that hinders one’s purification, then people will consider these pure Vaiṣṇavas as materially contaminated and forced to enjoy the fruits of pious and impious activities. Therefore the following question arises: Why did the pious Vaiṣṇavas take birth in places not visited by the Pāṇḍavas or touched by the Ganges instead of appearing on the banks of the Ganges? One may also question why Śrī Caitanyadeva personally appeared in the highest brāhmaṇa family of Navadvīpa, which is situated on the banks of the supremely pure Ganges, yet He had His associates appear in places far from the Ganges in families other than brāhmaṇas. In answer to these questions it may be said that pure Vaiṣṇavas appeared in such places and in such families in order to purify those places and families. This will be explained by the author in verses 46 to 52.