Chaitanya Bhagavata
by Bhumipati Dāsa | 2008 | 1,349,850 words
The Chaitanya Bhagavata 2.125, 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 125 of Madhya-khanda chapter 2—“The Lord’s Manifestation at the House of Shrivasa and the Inauguration of Sankirtana”.
Verse 2.125
Bengali text, Devanagari and Unicode transliteration of verse 2.125:
এই-মতে আছে প্রভু বিশ্বম্ভর-রায কে তানে জানিতে পারে, যদি না জানায? ॥ ১২৫ ॥
एइ-मते आछे प्रभु विश्वम्भर-राय के ताने जानिते पारे, यदि ना जानाय? ॥ १२५ ॥
ei-mate āche prabhu viśvambhara-rāya ke tāne jānite pāre, yadi nā jānāya? || 125 ||
ei-mate ache prabhu visvambhara-raya ke tane janite pare, yadi na janaya? (125)
English translation:
(125) In this way Lord Viśvambhara resided in Navadvīpa. Who can know Him unless He reveals Himself?
Commentary: Gauḍīya-bhāṣya by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura:
Regarding the second line of this verse, in the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad (3.19) it is stated: sa vetti vedyaṃ na ca tasya vettā—“Nobody knows Him, yet He is the knower and the object of knowledge.” In the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad (3.2.3) and Kaṭha Upaniṣad (2.23) it is stated: yam evaiṣa vṛṇute tena labhyas tasyaiṣa ātmā vivṛṇute tanūṃ svām—“The Lord is obtained only by one whom He Himself chooses. To such a person He manifests His own form.” In the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (10.14.29) Brahmā prays to Lord Kṛṣṇa as follows:
athāpi te deva padāmbuja-dvaya- prasāda-leśānugṛhīta eva hi
jānāti tattvaṃ bhagavan-mahimno na cānya eko ‘pi ciraṃ vicinvan
“My Lord, if one is favored by even a slight trace of the mercy of Your lotus feet, he can understand the greatness of Your personality. But those who speculate to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead are unable to know You, even though they continue to study the Vedas for many years.” In Ālabandāru-stotra [or Stotra-ratna 12 and 13] it is stated: naivāsura-prakṛtayaḥ prabhavanti boddhum—“Those influenced by demoniac principles cannot realize You,” and paśyanti kecid aniśaṃ tvad-ananya-bhāvāḥ—“But Your unalloyed devotees are always able to see You under all circumstances.” In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya
6.82 and 87) it is stated: kṛpā vināīśvarere keha nāhi jāne—“One can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead only by His mercy,” and pāṇḍityādye īśvara-tattva-jñāna kabhu nahe’—“You cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead simply by scholarship.”