Madhya-lilaChapter 7: The Lord Begins His Tour of South India

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Sri Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya 7.109

navadvipe yei sakti na kaila prakase

se sakti prakasi' nistarila dakshina-dese

SYNONYMS

navadvipe -- at Navadvipa; yei -- that which; sakti -- the potency; na -- not; kaila -- did; prakase -- manifestation; se -- that; sakti -- potency; prakasi' -- manifesting; nistarila -- delivered; dakshina-dese -- South India.

TRANSLATION

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not manifest His spiritual potencies at Navadvipa, but He did manifest them in South India and liberated all the people there.

PURPORT

At that time there were many smartas (nondevotee followers of Vedic rituals) at the holy place of Navadvipa, which was also the birthplace of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Followers of the smriti-sastra are called smartas. Most of them are nondevotees, and their main business is following the brahminical principles strictly. However, they are not enlightened in devotional service. In Navadvipa all the learned scholars are followers of the smriti-sastra, and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not attempt to convert them. Therefore the author has remarked that the spiritual potency Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not manifest at Navadvipa was by His grace manifested in South India. Thus everyone there became a Vaishnava. By this it is to be understood that people are really interested in preaching in a favorable situation. If the candidates for conversion are too disturbing, a preacher may not attempt to spread Krishna consciousness amongst them. It is better to go where the situation is more favorable. This Krishna consciousness movement was first attempted in India, but the people of India, being absorbed in political thoughts, did not take to it. They were entranced by the political leaders. We preferred, therefore, to come to the West, following the order of our spiritual master, and by the grace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu this movement is becoming successful.

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