Chaitanya Bhagavata

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

The Chaitanya Bhagavata 1.9.44, 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 44 of Adi-khanda chapter 9—“Nityananda’s Childhood Pastimes and Travels to Holy Places”.

Bengali text, Devanagari and Unicode transliteration of verse 1.9.44:

বৃদ্ধ-কাচে শুক্র-রূপে কেহ মানা করে ভিক্ষা লৈ’ চডে প্রভু শেষে তা’ন শিরে ॥ ৪৪ ॥

वृद्ध-काचे शुक्र-रूपे केह माना करे भिक्षा लै’ चडे प्रभु शेषे ता’न शिरे ॥ ४४ ॥

vṛddha-kāce śukra-rūpe keha mānā kare bhikṣā lai’ caḍe prabhu śeṣe tā’na śire || 44 ||

vrddha-kace sukra-rupe keha mana kare bhiksa lai’ cade prabhu sese ta’na sire (44)

English translation:

(44) Someone played the role of the aged Śukrācārya, who forbid Bali from giving the three steps. After accepting the gift, the Lord placed His last step on the head of Bali.

Commentary: Gauḍīya-bhāṣya by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura:

The word vṛddha-kāce means “acting or dressing like an old man.”

The word mānā is formed by the combination of (indicating “to show respect”) and , or “not,” and thus means “prohibiting” or “forbidding.” For a description of Śukrācārya’s prohibition to Bali Mahārāja, one should see Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (8.19.30-43 and 8.20.1-15).

The phrase caḍe tā’ra śire means “climbed on his head;” in other words, after punishing and freeing Bali from bondage, the Lord accepted service as Bali’s doorman. In this regard one should refer to the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (8.22.35 and 8.23.6, 10).

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