I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is compared to a cloud that pours water on fields of grain, which are like devotees suffering due to a shortage of rain. Separation from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is like a drought, but when the Lord returns, His presence is like a nectarean rain that falls on all the grains and saves them from perishing. (1) All glories to Lord Caitanya! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya! (2) When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu departed for South India, King Pratāparudra called Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya to his palace. (3) When Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya met with the King, the King offered him a seat with all respects and inquired about news of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. (4)
The King said to the Bhaṭṭācārya, “I have heard that a great personality has come from Bengal and is staying at your home. I have also heard that He is very, very merciful. (5) “I have also heard that this great personality has shown you great favor. At any rate, this is what I hear from many different people. Now, being merciful upon me, you should do me the favor of arranging an interview.” (6) The Bhaṭṭācārya replied, “All that you have heard is true, but as far as an interview is concerned, it is very difficult to arrange. (7) “Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is in the renounced order and is very much detached from worldly affairs. He stays in solitary places, and even in dreams He does not grant interviews to a king. (8) “Still, I would have tried to arrange your interview, but He has recently left to tour South India.” (9) The King asked, “Why has He left Jagannātha Purī?” The Bhaṭṭācārya replied, “Such are the pastimes of a great personality. (10)
“Great saints go to holy places of pilgrimage in order to purify them. For that reason Caitanya Mahāprabhu is visiting many tīrthas and delivering many, many conditioned souls. (11) “‘Saints of your caliber are themselves places of pilgrimage. Because of their purity, they are constant companions of the Lord, and therefore they can purify even the places of pilgrimage.’ (12) “A Vaiṣṇava travels to places of pilgrimage to purify them and reclaim fallen conditioned souls. This is one of the duties of a Vaiṣṇava. Actually, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is not a living entity but the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Consequently, He is a fully independent controller, yet in His position as a devotee, He carries out the activities of a devotee.” (13) Upon hearing this, the King replied, “Why did you allow Him to leave? Why didn’t you fall at His lotus feet and keep Him here?” (14) Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, “Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself and is completely independent. Being Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, He is not dependent on anyone. (15)
“Still, I endeavored very hard to keep Him here, but because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and completely independent, I was not successful.” (16) The King said, “Bhaṭṭācārya, you are the most learned and experienced person I know. Therefore when you address Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as Lord Kṛṣṇa, I accept this as the truth. (17) “When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returns, I wish to see Him just once in order to make my eyes perfect.” (18) Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, “His Holiness Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will return very soon. I wish to have a nice place ready for Him, a place solitary and peaceful. (19) “Lord Caitanya’s residence should be very secluded and also near the temple of Jagannātha. Please consider this proposal and give me a nice place for Him.” (20) The King replied, “Kāśī Miśra’s house is exactly what you require. It is near the temple and is very secluded, calm and quiet.” (21) After saying this, the King became very anxious for the Lord to return. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then went to Kāśī Miśra to convey the King’s desire. (22) When Kāśī Miśra heard the proposal, he said, “I am very fortunate that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord of all prabhus, will stay at my home.” (23)
Thus all the residents of Jagannātha Purī, which is also known as Puruṣottama, became anxious to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again. (24) When all the residents of Jagannātha Purī became extremely anxious to meet the Lord again, He returned from South India. (25) Hearing of the Lord’s return, everyone became very happy, and they all went to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and spoke to him as follows. (26) “Please arrange our meeting with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. It is only by your mercy that we can attain the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord.” (27) The Bhaṭṭācārya replied to the people, “Tomorrow the Lord will be at the house of Kāśī Miśra. I shall arrange for you all to meet Him.” (28) The next day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived and went with Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, with great enthusiasm, to see the temple of Lord Jagannātha. (29) All the servants of Lord Jagannātha delivered remnants of the Lord’s food to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In return, Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced them all. (30) After seeing Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left the temple. The Bhaṭṭācārya then took Him to the house of Kāśī Miśra. (31)
When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived at his house, Kāśī Miśra immediately fell down at His lotus feet and surrendered himself and all his possessions. (32) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then showed Kāśī Miśra His four- armed form. Then, accepting him for His service, the Lord embraced him. (33) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next sat down at the place prepared for Him, and all the devotees, headed by Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, surrounded Him. (34) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very happy to see His residential quarters, in which all His necessities were taken care of. (35) Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, “This place is just befitting You. Please accept it. It is the hope of Kāśī Miśra that You do.” (36) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “My body belongs to all of you. Therefore I agree to whatever you say.” (37) After this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, sitting at the right hand of the Lord, began to introduce all the inhabitants of Puruṣottama, Jagannātha Purī. (38)
The Bhaṭṭācārya said, “My dear Lord, all these people who are residents of Nīlācala, Jagannātha Purī, have been very anxious to meet You. (39) “In Your absence all these people have been exactly like thirsty cātaka birds crying in disappointment. Kindly accept them.” (40) Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya first introduced Janārdana, saying, “Here is Janārdana, servant of Lord Jagannātha. He renders service to the Lord when it is time to renovate His transcendental body.” (41) Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, “This is Kṛṣṇadāsa, who carries a golden cane, and here is Śikhi Māhiti, who is in charge of writing. (42) “This is Pradyumna Miśra, who is chief of all Vaiṣṇavas. He is a great servitor of Jagannātha, and his name is Dāsa. (43) “This is Murāri Māhiti, the brother of Śikhi Māhiti. He has nothing other than Your lotus feet. (44) “Here are Candaneśvara, Siṁheśvara, Murāri Brāhmaṇa and Viṣṇudāsa. They are all constantly engaged in meditating on Your lotus feet. (45) “This is Paramānanda Prahararāja, who is also known as Mahāpātra. He is very, very intelligent. (46) “All these pure devotees serve as ornaments to Jagannātha Purī. They are always undeviatingly meditating upon Your lotus feet.” (47)
After this introduction, everyone fell to the ground like rods. Being very merciful upon them all, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced each one of them. (48) At this time Bhavānanda Rāya appeared with four of his sons, and all of them fell down at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. (49) Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, “This is Bhavānanda Rāya, the father of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, who is his first son.” (50) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Bhavānanda Rāya and with great respect spoke of his son Rāmānanda Rāya. (51) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu honored Bhavānanda Rāya by saying, “The glories of a person who has a jewel of a son like Rāmānanda Rāya cannot be described within this mortal world.(52) “You are Mahārāja Pāṇḍu himself, and your wife is Kuntīdevī herself. All your highly intellectual sons are representatives of the five Pāṇḍavas.”(53)
After hearing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s praise, Bhavānanda Rāya submitted, “I am in the fourth class of the social order, and I engage in mundane affairs. Although I am very fallen, You have still touched me. This is proof that You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”(54) Appreciating Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s favor, Bhavānanda Rāya also said, “Along with my home, riches, servants and five sons, I surrender myself at Your lotus feet. (55) “This son Vāṇīnātha will remain at Your lotus feet to always immediately attend to Your orders and serve You. (56) “My dear Lord, please consider me Your relative. Do not hesitate to order whatever You desire at any time You desire it.” (57)
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted Bhavānanda Rāya’s offer, saying, “I accept without hesitation because you are not an outsider. Birth after birth you have been My servant, along with your family members. (58) “Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya is coming within five to seven days. As soon as he arrives, My desires will be fulfilled. I take great pleasure in his company.”(59) Saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Bhavānanda Rāya. The Lord then touched the heads of his sons with His lotus feet. (60) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then sent Bhavānanda Rāya back to his home, and He kept only Vāṇīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka in His personal service. (61) Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then asked all the people to leave. Afterward, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called for Kālā Kṛṣṇadāsa, who had accompanied the Lord during His South Indian tour. (62)
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