Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 17 Summary

The following summary of the Seventeenth Chapter is given by Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. After attending the Ratha-yatra ceremony of Sri Jagannatha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu decided to start for Vrndavana. Sri Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami selected a brahmana named Balabhadra Bhattacarya to personally assist Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Early in the morning before sunrise, the Lord started for the town of Kataka. North of Kataka, He penetrated a dense forest and came upon many tigers and elephants, whom He engaged in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Whenever He had a chance to visit a village, He would beg alms and acquire some rice and vegetables. If there were no village, He would cook whatever rice remained and collect some spinach from the forest to eat. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very pleased with the behavior of Balabhadra Bhattacarya.

In this way the Lord passed through the jungle of Jharikhanda and finally reached Varanasi. After taking His bath at the Manikarnika-ghata at Varanasi, He met Tapana Misra, who took the Lord to his place and respectfully gave Him a comfortable residence. At Varanasi, Vaidya Candrasekhara, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's old friend, also rendered service unto Him. Seeing the behavior of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, a Maharashtriyan brahmana informed Prakasananda Sarasvati, the leader of the Mayavadi sannyasis. Prakasananda made various accusations against the Lord. The Maharashtriyan brahmana was very sorry about this, and he brought the news to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, inquiring from Him why the Mayavadi sannyasis did not utter the holy name of Krsna. In reply, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that they were offenders and that one should not associate with them. In this way the Lord bestowed His blessings upon the brahmana.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu next passed through Prayaga and Mathura and then took His lunch at the home of a Sanodiya brahmana, a disciple of Madhavendra Puri. He bestowed His blessings upon the brahmana by accepting lunch at his place. Thereafter the Lord visited the twelve forests of Vrndavana and was filled with great ecstatic love. As He toured the Vrndavana forests, He heard the chirping of parrots and other birds.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness