Shri Chaitanya-bhagavata
Adi-khanda -
By
Vyasa Avatara Shrila Vrindavana dasa Thakura
Chapter Nine: Nityananda’s
Childhood Pastimes and Travels to Holy Places
CB Adi-khanda 9.51
TEXT 51
lakshmanera bhave prabhu haya sei-rupa
bujhite na pare shishu manaye kautuka
TRANSLATION
Lord
Nityananda was absorbed in the mood of Lakshmana. The boys, however, could not
understand this and thought it was just a game.
COMMENTARY
In
this verse the word bhave means “in the mood of” or “in the nature of.”
CB Adi-khanda 9.52
TEXT 52
panca-vanarera rupe bule shishu-gana
varta jijnasaye prabhu haiya lakshmana
TRANSLATION
On
another occasion, five boys took the role of monkeys and the Lord took the role
of Lakshmana.
COMMENTARY
The
panca-vanarera, or five monkeys, are the king, Sugriva, and his four
ministers-Hanuman, Nala, Nila, and Tara (Ramayana, Kishkindha-kanda, 13.4) or
Hanuman, Jambavan, Mainda, and Dvivida (Mahabharata, Vana-parva, 279.23).
CB Adi-khanda 9.53
TEXT 53
“ke tora vanara saba, bula’ vane-vane
ami-raghunatha-bhritya, bola mora sthane”
TRANSLATION
“Who
are you monkeys, wandering in the forest? I am the servant of Ramacandra. Tell
Me who you are.”
CB Adi-khanda 9.54
TEXT 54
ta’ra bole,-“amara valira bhaye buli
dekhaha shri-ramacandra, lai pada-dhuli”
TRANSLATION
They
replied, “We are wandering out of fear of Vali. Please take us to Ramacandra.
We wish to take the dust of His lotus feet.”
CB Adi-khanda 9.55
TEXT 55
ta’sabare kole kari’ aise laiya
shri-rama-carane pade dandavat haiya
TRANSLATION
The
Lord embraced them and led them to Ramacandra, whereupon they all fell at His
feet.
COMMENTARY
For
an elaboration on verses 52-55, one should refer to the Ramayana,
Kishkindha-kanda, Chapters 2 and 4 and the Mahabharata (Vana 279.9-11).
CB Adi-khanda 9.56
TEXT 56
indrajit-vadha-lila kona-dina kare
kona-dina apane lakshmana-bhave hare
TRANSLATION
One
day the Lord enacted the pastime of killing Indrajit, the son of Ravana, and
one day, in the mood of Lakshmana, He accepted defeat.
COMMENTARY
One
may refer to the Ramayana (Lanka 88.64, 91.68-72) and the Mahabharata (Vana
288.15-24) for an elaboration on indrajit-vadha-lila, the killing of Indrajit.
The
pastime of lakshmana-bhave hare, “accepting defeat as Lakshmana,” is found in
the Ramayana, Lanka-kanda, Chapters 45, 49, 50, and 73 and in the Mahabharata
(Vana 287.20-26 and 288.1-7).
CB Adi-khanda 9.57
TEXT 57
vibhishana kariya anena rama-sthane
lankeshvara-abhisheka karena tahane
TRANSLATION
Someone
in the role of Vibhishana was brought before Ramacandra, and Rama performed his
abhisheka, or coronation, installing him as the King of Lanka.
COMMENTARY
A
description of Vibhishana’s arrival in Rama’s camp and his coronation as the
King of Lanka is found in the Ramayana (Lanka 18.39 and 19.25-26) and in the
Mahabharata (Vana 282.46, 49).
CB Adi-khanda 9.58
TEXT 58
kona shishu bole,-“muni ailun ravana
shakti-shela-hani ei, samvara’ lakshmana!”
TRANSLATION
One
boy said, “I am the mighty Ravana. Now I’m releasing the shakti-shela weapon.
Stop it if You can, Lakshmana!”
COMMENTARY
The
word hani (from the ha dhatu) means “to release,” “to throw,” “to beat,” or “to
hit.” The word samvara means “to stop,” “to control,” “to check,” “to save,”
“to halt,” “to obstruct,” “to suppress,” “or to curb the movement of.”
CB Adi-khanda 9.59
TEXT 59
eta bali’ padma-pushpa marila pheliya
lakshmanera bhave prabhu padila dhaliya
TRANSLATION
Saying
this, the boy threw a lotus flower at Nityananda, and in the mood of Lakshmana,
He fell to the ground.
COMMENTARY
The
phrase padma-pushpa refers to the imitation of the shakti-shela weapon.
A
description of Lakshmana acting unconscious due to being hit by the
shakti-shela weapon is found in the Ramayana (Lanka 101.28-36).
CB Adi-khanda 9.60
TEXT 60
murchita haila prabhu lakshmanera bhave
jagaya chaoyala saba, tabu nahi jage
TRANSLATION
After
the Lord, in the mood of Lakshmana, fell unconscious, all the boys tried in
vain to revive Him.
COMMENTARY
The
words jagaya chaoyala refer to the boyfriends of Nityananda who were acting as
the best of the monkeys.
CB Adi-khanda 9.61
TEXT 61
paramarthe dhatu nahi sakala sharire
kandaye sakala shishu hata diya shire
TRANSLATION
When
they found no symptom of life remained in the body of Nityananda, they all held
their heads and began to cry.
COMMENTARY
The
first line of this verse indicates that His body was devoid of consciousness,
or completely devoid of movement and wounded at heart. The words paramartha
dhatu refer to the consciousness or life.
CB Adi-khanda 9.62
TEXT 62
shuni’ pita-mata dhai’ aila satvare
dekhaye,-putrera dhatu nahika sharire
TRANSLATION
The
Lord’s father and mother came running there and also observed that there was no
sign of life in their son.
CB Adi-khanda 9.63
TEXT 63
murchita haiya donhe padila bhumite
dekhi’ sarva-loka asi’ haila vismite
TRANSLATION
They
then also fell to the ground unconscious. Everyone who saw this tragedy was
struck with wonder.
CB Adi-khanda 9.64
TEXT 64
sakala vrittanta tabe kahila shishu-gana
keha bole,-“bujhilana bhavera karana
TRANSLATION
As
the boys described the entire incident, someone said, “I understand why He’s
unconscious.
COMMENTARY
The
word bhavera refers to His unconscious and fainted condition.
CB Adi-khanda 9.65
TEXT 65
purve dasharatha-bhave eka natavara
‘rama-vanavasi’ shuni’ edena kalevara”
TRANSLATION
“Previously
one great actor played the role of Dasharatha, and when He heard that Rama had
left for the forest, he left his body.”
COMMENTARY
The
word natavara refers to one who is expert at acting, or the best actor.
The
description of Dasharatha leaving his body out of grief due to Rama’s exile to
the forest is found in the Ramayana (Ayodhya 64.75-78).
CB Adi-khanda 9.66
TEXT 66
keha bole,-“kaca kaci’ achaye chaoyala
hanuman aushadha dile haibeka bhala
TRANSLATION
Someone
else said, “There is a boy dressed as Hanuman. If he gives Him medicine, He’ll
be cured.”
COMMENTARY
“If
Hanuman gives Him medicine, He’ll be cured,” was spoken by Sushena, the king of
the monkeys, in the Ramayana (Lanka 101.29-31).
CB Adi-khanda 9.67
TEXT 67
purve prabhu shikhaiyachilena sabare
“padile, tomara vedi’ kandiha amare
TRANSLATION
Before
the incident, the Lord had instructed His friends, “When I fall unconscious,
you should all gather around Me and cry.
CB Adi-khanda 9.68
TEXT 68
kshaneka vilambe pathaiha hanuman
nake dile aushadha, asibe mora prana”
TRANSLATION
“After
a while, send Hanuman for some medicine. I will recover when he puts the
medicine to My nose.”
COMMENTARY
[See
the purport to verse 66.]
CB Adi-khanda 9.69
TEXT 69
nija-bhave prabhu matra haila acetana
dekhi’ bada vikala haila shishu-gana
TRANSLATION
When
the Lord fell unconscious in His own mood, the boys were all bewildered.
COMMENTARY
The
words nija-bhave refer to the mood of His plenary portion, Lakshmana, the
incarnation of Maha-Sankarshana.
The
word vikala refers to one whose intelligence is lost; in other words, one who
is overwhelmed, unsteady, senseless, illusioned, or powerless.
CB Adi-khanda 9.70
TEXT 70
channa hailena sabe, shiksha nahi sphure
“utha bhai” bali’ matra kande uccaih-svare
TRANSLATION
Because
they were so confused they could not remember the Lord’s instructions. They
simply cried loudly, “O brother, please get up!”
COMMENTARY
The
word channa means “mad,” “forgetful,” “unintelligent,” or “ignorant.”
The
word shiksha refers to the instruction, “Send Hanuman to bring medicine and hold
it before My nose,” that was given by Lord Nityananda Prabhu (see verse 68).
CB Adi-khanda 9.71
TEXT 71
loka-mukhe shuni’ katha haila smarana
hanuman-kace shishu calila takhana
TRANSLATION
But
when the boys heard the people’s comments, they remembered Nityananda’s
instruction and the boy dressed as Hanuman immediately went for the medicine.
CB Adi-khanda 9.72
TEXT 72
ara eka shishu pathe tapasvira veshe
phala-mula diya hanumanere ashamse
TRANSLATION
Another
boy dressed as a renunciate welcomed Hanuman with fruits and roots.
COMMENTARY
Hanuman’s
conversation with Ravana’s demon uncle Kalanemi, who was dressed as an ascetic,
and Hanuman’s fight with the crocodile, demons, and Gandharvas are not found in
the original Ramayana written by Valmiki. [This applies to verses 72 through
86.]
The
word ashamse (used in ancient Bengali) means “to welcome.
CB Adi-khanda 9.73
TEXT 73
“raha, bapa, dhanya kara’ amara ashrama
bada bhagye asi’ mile toma’-hena jana”
TRANSLATION
He
said to Hanuman, “My dear sir, please stay and grace my ashrama. It is a great
fortune to meet such a person as you.”
CB Adi-khanda 9.74
TEXT 74
hanuman bole,-“karya-gaurave caliba
asibare cahi, rahibare na pariba
TRANSLATION
Hanuman
replied, “I must go and complete my important mission. I would like to come,
but I cannot delay.
COMMENTARY
The
words karya-gaurave refer to the importance of one’s duties.
CB Adi-khanda 9.75
TEXT 75
shuninacha,-ramacandra-anuja lakshmana
shakti-shele tan’re murcha karila ravana
TRANSLATION
“You
must have heard that Lakshmana, the younger brother of Ramacandra, has been
rendered unconscious by the shakti-shela weapon of Ravana.
CB Adi-khanda 9.76
TEXT 76
ataeva yai ami gandhamadana
aushadha anile rahe tanhana jivana”
TRANSLATION
“Therefore
I’m going to Gandhamadana Hill to bring medicine. Only then will He survive.”
CB Adi-khanda 9.77
TEXT 77
tapasvi bolaye,-“yadi yaiba nishcaya
snana kari’ kichu khai’ karaha vijaya”
TRANSLATION
The
renunciate then said, “If you must go, first take a bath and eat something.
Then you may go.”
CB Adi-khanda 9.78
TEXT 78
nityananda-shikshaya balake katha kahe
vismita haiya sarva loke cahi rahe
TRANSLATION
The
two boys repeated whatever Nityananda had instructed them. Therefore everyone
gazed at them in astonishment as they listened to their conversation.
CB Adi-khanda 9.79
TEXT 79
tapasvira bole sarovare gela snane
jale thaki’ ara shishu dharila carane
TRANSLATION
Then,
on the request of the renunciate, Hanuman went to take bath in the lake,
whereupon another boy in the lake grabbed hold of his feet.
CB Adi-khanda 9.80
TEXT 80
kumbhirera rupa dhari’ yaya jale lana
hanuman shishu ane kulete taniya
TRANSLATION
The
boy playing the role of a crocodile tried to pull Hanuman into the water, but
Hanuman pulled the boy to the shore.
CB Adi-khanda 9.81
TEXT 81
kathokshane rana kari’ jiniya kumbhira
asi’ dekhe hanuman ara mahavira
TRANSLATION
After
a short fight, Hanuman defeated the crocodile. When Hanuman returned to the
renunciate’s ashrama, he saw a mighty warrior.
CB Adi-khanda 9.82
TEXT 82
ara eka shishu dhari’ rakshasera kace
hanumane khaibare yaya ta’ra pache
TRANSLATION
A
boy dressed as a Rakshasa then attempted to swallow Hanuman.
CB Adi-khanda 9.83
TEXT 83
“kumbhira jinila, more jiniba kemane?
toma’ khana, tabe keba jiyabe lakshmane?”
TRANSLATION
He
challenged, “You have defeated the crocodile, but how will you defeat me? I
will eat you, then who will revive Lakshmana?”
CB Adi-khanda 9.84
TEXT 84
hanuman bole,-“tora ravana kukkura
ta’re nahi vastu-buddhi, tui pala dura
TRANSLATION
Hanuman
replied, “Your Ravana is a dog. I consider him most insignificant. Get out of my
way.”
COMMENTARY
The
phrase ta’re nahi vastu-buddhi means “I consider him (your master Ravana, who
is just like a dog) nothing, extremely impotent, or useless.”
CB Adi-khanda 9.85
TEXT 85
ei-mata dui-jane haya galagali
sheshe haya culaculi tabe kilakili
TRANSLATION
In
this way the two first exchanged some harsh words, then they began pulling each
other’s hair, and finally they began striking each other with their fists.
COMMENTARY
The
word galagali means “using foul language against each other.” The word culaculi
means “pulling each other’s hair.” The word kilakili means “punching each
other.”
CB Adi-khanda 9.86
TEXT 86
kathokshana se kautuke jinina rakshase
gandhamadane asi’ haila praveshe
TRANSLATION
After
promptly defeating the demon, Hanuman approached the Gandhamadana Hill.
CB Adi-khanda 9.87
TEXT 87
tanhi gandharvera vesha dhari’ shishu-gana
ta’sabara sange yuddha haya katakshana
TRANSLATION
There
Hanuman fought with some boys who were dressed as Gandharvas.
CB Adi-khanda 9.88
TEXT 88
yuddhe parajaya kari’ gandharvera gana
shire kari’ anilena gandhamadana
TRANSLATION
After
defeating the Gandharvas, Hanuman took the Gandhamadana Hill on his head to
Lanka.
CB Adi-khanda 9.89
TEXT 89
ara eka shishu tanhi vaidya-rupa dhari’
aushadha dilena nake ‘shri-rama’ smanari’
TRANSLATION
Another
boy playing the role of a doctor remembered Lord Rama as he held the medicine
to Lakshmana’s nose.
COMMENTARY
The
boy playing the role of Sushena, the doctor of the monkeys, imitated him by
holding the four medicines grown on Gandhamadana Hill-vishalya-karani,
savarna-karani, sanjiva-karani, and sandhana-karani-before the nose of
Nityananda, who was absorbed in the mood of Lakshmana. This pastime is described
in the Ramayana (Lanka 102.31 and 41-43).
CB Adi-khanda 9.90
TEXT 90
nityananda-mahaprabhu uthila takhane
dekhi’ pita-mata adi hase sarva-jane
TRANSLATION
At
that very moment Lord Nityananda regained His consciousness, upon which His
parents and others there all smiled in relief.
CB Adi-khanda 9.91
TEXT 91
kole karilena giya hadai-pandita
sakala balaka hailena harashita
TRANSLATION
Hadai
Pandita embraced his son, and all the boys became overjoyed.
CB Adi-khanda 9.92
TEXT 92
sabe bole,-“bapa, iha kothaya shikhila?”
hasi’ bole prabhu,-“mora e-sakala lila”
TRANSLATION
Everyone
asked, “Dear son, where have You learned all this?” The Lord smiled and said,
“These are all My pastimes.”
CB Adi-khanda 9.93
TEXT 93
prathama-vayasa prabhu ati sukumara
kola haite ka’ro citta nahi edibara
TRANSLATION
In
His early childhood the Lord was most attractive. No one wanted to let Him go
from their laps.
CB Adi-khanda 9.94
TEXT 94
sarva-loke putra haite bada sneha vase
cinite na pare keha vishnu-maya-vashe
TRANSLATION
Everyone
had more affection for Nityananda than they had for their own sons. But no one
could recognize Him due the influence of Lord Vishnu’s illusory energy.
CB Adi-khanda 9.95
TEXT 95
hena mate shishu-kala haite nityananda
krishna-lila vina ara na kare ananda
TRANSLATION
In
this way, from the beginning of His childhood, Nityananda had no happiness
other than enjoying the pastimes of Lord Krishna.
CB Adi-khanda 9.96
TEXT 96
pita-mata-griha chadi’ sarva-shishu-gana
nityananda-samhati vihare sarva-kshana
TRANSLATION
All
of His friends left their parents to constantly sport in the company of
Nityananda.
CB Adi-khanda 9.97
TEXT 97
se saba shishura paye bahu namaskara
nityananda-sange yan’ra e-mata vihara
TRANSLATION
I
offer repeated obeisances at the feet of those boys who enjoyed the association
of Lord Nityananda.
CB Adi-khanda 9.98
TEXT 98
ei-mata krida kari’ nityananda-raya
shishu haite krishna-lila vina nahi bhaya
TRANSLATION
Thus,
from His childhood, Nityananda had no interest other than enacting the various
pastimes of Lord Krishna.
CB Adi-khanda 9.99
TEXT 99
anantera lila keba pare kahibare?
tanhana kripaya yena mata sphure ya’re
TRANSLATION
Who
can describe the pastimes of Lord Ananta? They are only manifest to one who has
received His mercy.
CB Adi-khanda 9.100
TEXT 100
hena mate dvadasha vatsara thaki’ ghare
nityananda calilena tirtha karibare
TRANSLATION
Lord
Nityananda remained at home like this for twelve years. Thereafter He left for
visiting the holy places.
Commentary and Chapter Summaries of His
Divine Grace Om Vishnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya Shri Shrimad
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada.