Verse 1.17.148

Bengali text, Devanagari and Unicode transliteration of verse 1.17.148:

পক্ষী যেন আকাশের অন্ত নাহি পায যত-দূর শক্তি তত-দূর উডি’ যায ॥ ১৪৮ ॥

पक्षी येन आकाशेर अन्त नाहि पाय यत-दूर शक्ति तत-दूर उडि’ याय ॥ १४८ ॥

pakṣī yena ākāśera anta nāhi pāya yata-dūra śakti tata-dūra uḍi’ yāya || 148 ||

paksi yena akasera anta nahi paya yata-dura sakti tata-dura udi’ yaya (148)

English translation:

(148) As there is no end to the vast sky, a bird only flies as far it is able.

Commentary: Gauḍīya-bhāṣya by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura:

In Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi 8.78-79) it is stated: “Actually Śrī Caitanya- caritāmṛta is not my writing but the dictation of Śrī Madana-mohana. My writing is like the repetition of a parrot. As a wooden doll is made to dance by a magician, I write as Madana-gopāla orders me to do so.” Also in Chapter 12, verses 93-94, it is stated: “The ocean of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is immeasurable and unfathomable. Who can take the courage to measure that great ocean? It is not possible to dip into

that great ocean, but its sweet mellow fragrance attracts my mind. I therefore stand on the shore of that ocean to try to taste but a drop of it.” Since the sky is beginningless and unlimited, a bird is able to fly in the sky only as far as its physical strength allows; similarly without finding the limit of the unlimited pastimes of Lord Caitanya, I am only describing a small portion according to my ability. In the Caitanya- caritāmṛta (Madhya 17.233) it is stated: “The whole world became merged in the inundation of the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

One can swim in that water to the extent that he has the strength.” Also in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Antya 20.71, 77, 79-81, 90-92, and 98-99) it is stated: “How, then, could an ordinary living being with very little intelligence describe such pastimes? Nevertheless, I am trying to touch but a particle of them just to rectify my own self. I cannot understand the very deep, meaningful pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. My intelligence cannot penetrate them, and therefore I could not properly describe them. The sky is unlimited, but many birds fly higher and higher according to their own abilities. The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are like the unlimited sky. How, then, can an ordinary living being describe them all? I have tried to describe them as far as my intelligence allows, as if trying to touch a drop in the midst of a great ocean. I am a very insignificant living being, like a small red-beaked bird. Just as such a bird drinks the water of the sea to quench its thirst, so I have touched only a drop of the ocean of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pastimes. From this example, you may all understand how expansive are the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. I infer that ‘I have written’ is a false understanding, for my body is like a wooden doll. By the mercy of these great personalities I am able to write. I have also been specifically favored by another Supreme Personality. Śrī Madana-mohana Deity of Vṛndāvana has given the order that is making me write. Although this should not be disclosed, I disclose it because I am unable to remain silent.”