Chaitanya Bhagavata

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

The Chaitanya Bhagavata 2.9.239, 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 239 of Madhya-khanda chapter 9—“The Lord’s Twenty-One Hour Ecstasy and Descriptions of Shridhara and Other Devotees’ Characteristics”.

Bengali text, Devanagari and Unicode transliteration of verse 2.9.239:

খোলা-বেচাশ্রীধর তাহার এই সাক্ষী ভক্তি-মাত্র নিল অষ্ট-সিদ্ধিকে উপেক্ষি’ ॥ ২৩৯ ॥

खोला-वेचाश्रीधर ताहार एइ साक्षी भक्ति-मात्र निल अष्ट-सिद्धिके उपेक्षि’ ॥ २३९ ॥

kholā-vecāśrīdhara tāhāra ei sākṣī bhakti-mātra nila aṣṭa-siddhike upekṣi’ || 239 ||

khola-vecasridhara tahara ei saksi bhakti-matra nila asta-siddhike upeksi’ (239)

English translation:

(239) The story of Śrīdhara, the banana seller, is proof of this, for he accepted only devotional service and rejected the eight mystic perfections.

Commentary: Gauḍīya-bhāṣya by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura:

The eight mystic perfections, which are adored by people desirous of fruitive results and engaged in sense gratification, were easily trampled under foot by the seemingly poor Śrīdhara, who obtained the benediction of devotional service. The opulences of freedom from rebirth, mystic perfections, sovereignty in the lower planetary systems, and the position of Brahmā are goals of persons who have not realized their self. But for the Vaiṣṇava who has taken shelter of a self-realized soul, such goals are naturally insignificant. Those who receive the opportunity to discuss the pastimes of Śrīdhara obtain the prime example of these topics.

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